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as intruding on their ground； and sharing the kindness which they
wanted to monopolize。 Though nothing could be more polite than
Lady Middleton’s behaviour to Elinor and Marianne； she did not
really like them at all。 Because they neither flattered herself nor
her children； she could not believe them good…natured； and
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because they were fond of reading； she fancied them satirical：
perhaps without exactly knowing what it was to be satirical； but
that did not signify。 It was censure in common use； and easily
given。
Their presence was a restraint both on her and on Lucy。 It
checked the idleness of one； and the business of the other。 Lady
Middleton was ashamed of doing nothing before them； and the
flattery which Lucy was proud to think of and administer at other
times； she feared they would despise her for offering。 Miss Steele
was the least discomposed of the three； by their presence； and it
was in their power to reconcile her to it entirely。 Would either of
them only have given her a full and minute account of the whole
affair between Marianne and Mr。 Willoughby； she would have
thought herself amply rewarded for the sacrifice of the best place
by the fire after dinner； which their arrival occasioned。 But this
conciliation was not granted； for though she often threw out
expressions of pity for her sister to Elinor； and more than once
dropt a reflection on the inconstancy of beaux before Marianne； no
effect was produced； but a look of indifference from the former； or
of disgust in the latter。 An effort even yet lighter might have made
her their friend。 Would they only have laughed at her about the
Doctor！ But so little were they； anymore than the others； inclined
to oblige her； that if Sir John dined from home； she might spend a
whole day without hearing any other raillery on the subject； than
what she was kind enough to bestow on herself。
All these jealousies and discontents； however； were so totally
unsuspected by Mrs。 Jennings； that she thought it a delightful
thing for the girls to be together； and generally congratulated her
young friends every night； on having escaped the company of a
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stupid old woman so long。 She joined them sometimes at Sir
John’s； sometimes at her own house； but wherever it was； she
always came in excellent spirits； full of delight and importance；
attributing Charlotte’s well doing to her own care； and ready to
give so exact； so minute a detail of her situation； as only Miss
Steele had curiosity enough to desire。 One thing did disturb her；
and of that she made her daily complaint。 Mr。 Palmer maintained
the common； but unfatherly opinion among his sex； of all infants
being alike； and though she could plainly perceive； at different
times； the most striking resemblance between this baby and every
one of his relations on both sides； there was no convincing his
father of it； no persuading him to believe that it was not exactly
like every other baby of the same age； nor could he even be
brought to acknowledge the simple proposition of its being the
finest child in the world。
I come now to the relation of a misfortune； which about this
time befell Mrs。 John Dashwood。 It so happened that while her
two sisters with Mrs。 Jennings were first calling on her in Harley…
street； another of her acquaintance had dropt in—a circumstance
in itself not apparently likely to produce evil to her。 But while the
imaginations of other people will carry them away to form wrong
judgments of our conduct； and to decide on it by slight
appearances； one’s happiness must in some measure be always at
the mercy of chance。 In the present instance； this last…arrived lady
allowed her fancy to so far outrun truth and probability； that on
merely hearing the name of the Miss Dashwoods； and
understanding them to be Mr。 Dashwood’s sisters； she
immediately concluded them to be staying in Harley…street； and
this misconstruction produced within a day or two afterwards；
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cards of invitation for them as well as for their brother and sister；
to a small musical party at her house。 The consequence of which
was； that Mrs。 John Dashwood was obliged to submit not only to
the exceedingly great inconvenience of sending her carriage for
the Miss Dashwoods； but； what was still worse； must be subject to
all the unpleasantness of appearing to treat them with attention：
and who could tell that they might not expect to go out with her a
second time？ The power of disappointing them； it was true； must
always be her’s。 But that was not enough； for when people are
determined on a mode of conduct which they know to be wrong；
they feel injured by the expectation of any thing better from them。
Marianne had now been brought by degrees； so much into the
habit of going out every day； that it was become a matter of
indifference to her； whether she went or not： and she prepared
quietly and mechanically for every evening’s engagement； though
without expecting the smallest amusement from any； and very
often without knowing； till the last moment； where it was to take
her。
To her dress and appearance she was grown so perfectly
indifferent； as not to bestow half the consideration on it； during
the whole of her toilet； which it received from Miss Steele in the
first five minutes of their being together； when it was finished。
Nothing esc