Pride and Prejudice; Sense and Sensibility

Chapter 72 Moving to a New Home
At the beginning of the journey, everyone felt depressed and felt that the road was long and boring.However, when we were about to reach the finish line, when I thought that I could immediately see what the cottage I was about to live in looked like, my interest burst out, and my frustration was immediately driven away.As they entered Barton's Hollow, the sights cheered them all in spite of themselves.This place has pleasant scenery, fertile soil, lush forests, and pastures everywhere.After detouring along the winding valley for more than a mile, they came to their home. There was only a green lawn in front of the house. The mother and daughter walked through a neat little door and entered the yard.

Barton Cottage, though too small for a residence, was comfortable and compact.But for a country house it had its faults, for it was so well built that it looked dull, and had a tiled roof, and the shutters were not painted green, and the walls were not covered with honeysuckle.A narrow hallway leads directly to the garden behind the house.There was a parlor on either side of the passage, about sixteen feet square, and beyond that were the lower rooms and the stairs.In addition, making up the rest of the small house, are four bedrooms and two attics.The house was not very old and was in good repair.Although compared with Nolan's house, it does look shabby and small!However, they immediately wiped away the bitter tears of nostalgia.When the servants saw their master coming, they were all beaming, and the master became happy too.Everyone pretended to be happy for someone else's sake.It's the beginning of September, and it's a good time.Thank goodness—the weather was fine, and the good impression they made on the place at first sight did a great deal to make them love it for a long time to come.

The location of the house was ideally chosen.Immediately behind the house, there are towering mountains; not far from the left and right, there are also layers of peaks and hills; between the mountains, open highlands, cultivated land and jungles are interspersed.Most of Barton Village is built on such a mountain. Standing in the window of the country house and looking up, the scenery is very pleasant.On the front of the house, the field of vision is even wider, from where you can overlook the entire valley, and as far as your eyes can see, you can directly reach the distant countryside.From there, looking in the direction of the cottage, the valley can be seen stretching up to the cottage, and finally interrupted by mountains surrounded on three sides.But between the two steepest hills, in the other direction, another branch valley branched out.

On the whole Mrs. Dashwood was satisfied with the size and fittings of the house.Although according to her previous way of life, she will have to add this and that in the future, but adding and repairing are both fun for her.At present she had enough cash, enough to buy all the necessities, and to make the rooms more refined. "As for the house itself," she said, "it's true that our family is too small to live in, but it's too late to build, so it's comfortable enough to make do with it. Maybe next spring, as long as I If you have the means - and I dare say I will - think about remodeling. Both living rooms are too small to satisfy my constant desire to invite friends to parties here. I have a thought, would like Merge this passage into one of them, and perhaps add part of the other, and make the rest of that parlour into a hallway. Then there is a new parlor (which can easily be added) , and an upstairs bedroom and a garret, would make our little house neat and comfortable. I wish the stairs were nicer. I would have liked to have the stairs nicer, too. But one can't eat a fat man, although I don't see much difficulty in widening the stairs. Come spring, let's see how much money I have, and then plan our construction according to the situation."

A woman who had never saved money in her life was now saving from her five hundred pounds a year to spend on improvements to her house.However, until the renovation work was completed, they thought wisely that even in its present form, the house would be very nice.Each of them is busy arranging the things they care about, placing their own books and utensils around, trying to arrange a small world for themselves.Marianne's piano was unpacked and put in its proper place.Eleanor's picture hung on their parlor wall too.

Soon after breakfast the next day, while the mother and daughter were so busy, their work was interrupted by a visit from their landlady.He welcomes them to Barton, and at the same time sees what their family lacks, and his mansion can provide them with all conveniences.Sir John Middleton was a handsome man of about forty.He had been to Stanhill before, but that was so many years ago that his young cousins ​​and nieces no longer remembered him.He had a pleasant countenance and an affectionate manner, as friendly and friendly as his letters.It seemed that he was sincerely pleased at their presence, and that their comfort was a matter of deep concern to him.He has repeatedly stated that he sincerely hopes that the two of them can get along closely, and that they must go to Barton Manor for dinner every day before they settle down at home.His earnest pleading was almost indecent, but not offensive.His kindness was more than lip service. Within half an hour after he left, he sent a large basket full of vegetables and fruits from Barton Manor, and some game before dark.In addition, he insisted on delivering letters to and from the post office for them, and he was also willing to give them his newspaper every day, which could not be refused.

Mrs. Middleton entrusted her husband with a very courteous message, offering to call on Mrs. Dashwood as soon as she was sure that her visit would not be inconvenient.Mrs. Dashwood's reply was equally polite, and her presence was respected, and the lady was presented to the Dashwood mother and daughter the next day.

They were, of course, very much desirous of seeing this lady, as their future comfort at Barton depended largely on her, and her presence was exactly what they wanted.Mrs. Middleton was only twenty-six or seven years old, with a pretty face, a slender figure, a charming manner, and a gentle conversation.Her graceful manner was what her husband lacked.But if she had some of his frankness and warmth, her manner would have been more attractive.For the length of her visits had shown the Dashwoods to see that, though well-bred, she was unsmiling and cold, and had nothing to say but very simple greetings.In this way they would not be so full of admiration for her as they had been at first.

In any case, there was no lack of talk between the two parties, for Sir John was very talkative, and Lady Middleton had the foresight to take the wise precaution of bringing her eldest child.He was a pretty little boy of about six years old, so that he could be the topic of conversation for the ladies over and over again when the conversation bogged down.Because they always had to ask him what his name was, how old he was, compliment him on his beauty, and ask him all kinds of questions.But all these questions were answered by his mother, because the child has always bowed his head and cuddled close to his mother.This was beyond Mrs. Middleton's expectation, and she couldn't help wondering: why is this child so quarrelsome at home, why is he so shy in front of guests.When formally visiting relatives and friends, people usually bring their children to go with them, so as to have something to talk about.At this moment, everyone talked about whether the child was like his father or his mother. It took a full 10 minutes, and they also talked about where he was like and who he was.

Of course, everyone's opinion is different, so everyone will be surprised by other people's opinions.

It was not long before the Dashwoods had an opportunity to argue with the other children of their guests, for Sir John made them promise to dine at Barton Park next day, or else he would not go.

(End of this chapter)