Margaret Dashwood

Mr. Atherton’s engagement was the chief topic of conversation on the ensuing days. All Margaret’s visitors must have something to say about it. It appeared that he had been very liberal in his confidences and every one could report something he had told them of the state of his mind either before or after his acceptance.

The power of love in determining the actions of humanity was once more demonstrated. Mr. Atherton could not quite succeed in attaching himself to Margaret, and altogether failed to win her affections, even though he had the inducement of a promised fortune. Now he was not only very much in love himself, but had obtained from the lady that gratitude and pleasure in his addresses which would certainly develop into a satisfactory degree of conjugal affection, all without any money in the question at all.

Mr. Atherton, though perhaps a little unreserved in his raptures, was a very much more respectable figure in the eyes of the ladies at Barton Cottage than he had been before. Miss Fairfield was an agreeable girl. His affection for her was readily understood, and if hers for him were increased by the prospect of a comfortable home and an affectionate companion in place of a dull school-room and other people’s children, it was not the less comprehensible for that. It was expected that she would prove a valuable neighbour.

Walter Carey’s attentions did not diminish as Margaret grew stronger, and Elinor’s encouragement of his visits became an anxiety. Elinor had interpreted Margaret’s moment of agitation over Mrs. Jennings’s news, “Your beau is to marry some one else,” as having reference to Walter, and in giving him every facility to see her sister believed herself to be doing a double service. That is, she wished to believe it, but was not always able to think of Margaret as being happy in the visits.

Margaret had an intense longing to escape from it all. The days of confinement to her room after a summer spent in the valley of Barton had given her a feeling of being hemmed in on all sides, and Elinor, and even her mother, increased this sensation by their affectionate solicitude. She longed greatly for change of scene and society, so much so that she took the first step to gaining her desire by confessing to her mother how much she would like to go away. She would even be willing for them to pay a short visit to her brother at Norland Park rather than remain without change.

“We can get back before the autumn, mamma. I should not wish to stay long, but we have the month of September before us, and it is a pleasant month at Norland or anywhere.”

Mrs. Dashwood was not prepared to take her daughter to Norland Park. The discussions with John Dashwood relating to Margaret’s marriage had given her no desire for his company, and the subsequent engagement of Mr. Atherton could not but be the occasion for reproaches, either expressed or felt, which would be neither pleasant nor profitable. Margaret, having no idea of her brother’s plans for her happiness, could not be aware how deeply he would resent Miss Fairfield’s.

Mrs. Dashwood would not hear of their going to Norland Park, but the idea that Margaret needed some change took root in her mind, and she suggested to Elinor that her sister should return to Delaford with her, and pass some time with Marianne. Elinor was very unwilling for such an arrangement to be made.

“Consider, mamma,” she said, “how much Margaret might be sacrificing when indulging this whim. Do you not think it would be an admirable thing if she became engaged to Walter Carey? It would be a marriage in every way desirable, and I cannot think it unlikely.”

“My Elinor, do not let us become affected by the Park, and imagine every young man who is reasonably attentive to be a possible suitor,” replied Mrs. Dashwood. “Margaret is very young. It is probable that she has not yet seen the man she is to marry. I cannot allow my plans to be ruled by any such consideration.”

Elinor could not restrain a smile. Her mother’s variableness was no doubt one of her attractions, but it was impossible for a more sober-minded daughter to forget so easily how her mother had furthered her own meetings with Edward at a time when she herself would have greatly preferred not to see him, and that Colonel Brandon undoubtedly owed his present happiness to his mother-in-law’s warm-hearted assistance. Marianne had always been quick to follow her mother’s mood, and at this point would have repudiated all idea of arranging Margaret’s future, but Elinor’s steadiness of purpose did not falter.

“I am convinced,” she went on, “that the marriage is expected, and would be welcomed by the Careys. Isabella has said as much to me on more than one occasion, and therefore I do not see why it should not be expected and desired by ourselves. There can be no indelicacy in wishing Walter Carey well. He makes no secret of his attachment, and I very much wish that Margaret would be equally unreserved. I sometimes fear she still thinks of Commander Pennington, and consider how advantageous it would be for this to be settled before he returns—if he ever does return.”

“I imagine her mind is not made up, therefore she can have nothing to confide,” said Mrs. Dashwood. “You would not wish to hurry her decision; and, indeed,” recollecting herself, “I have no knowledge that a decision is to be made. Young men do have their fancies, and it is quite unnecessary to take them seriously.”

“It is just for that reason that I feel Margaret should stay at home. If she leaves Walter may become attracted by some one else. It is a very desirable marriage, and, though I would not wish to take any action in order to bring it about, I do not see that we need do anything to discourage it. If Margaret goes to Delaford it will seem to Walter that she desires to put an end to everything.”

“I cannot take so serious a view of a change of air for an invalid,” Mrs. Dashwood said with impatience. “Walter would be a very unreasonable young man indeed, and an exasperating husband, if he did not consider Margaret’s health to be a more important consideration than his own pleasure in seeing her. I have no idea of his being of so exacting a nature.”

Elinor found herself no longer able to keep pace with her mother’s change of front, but perceiving that, for whatever reason, the visit to Delaford was considered desirable, she gave up the discussion and limited herself to writing to Edward to make a suggestion which would ensure Margaret’s absence from home being short.

Her plan was that Margaret should travel with Sir John alone; that she herself should remain with her mother; and that, as it would become necessary for Edward to fetch his wife later in the month, he could at the same time bring Margaret back to Barton. The advantages of this would be that her mother would not be left alone and that the time of her sister’s return would be fixed by her own and Edward’s wishes. By remaining at Barton she would be able to take some care of Walter’s feelings. She had been very much pleased with the young man, and her interest was awakened for his happiness almost more than for her sister’s good, and, though smiling as she thought of her mother comparing her with Mrs. Jennings and Sir John, she did not feel ashamed of her wise ordering of other people’s affairs.

Margaret learnt with great pleasure of the scheme so arranged. On an early day in September she was to leave Barton unaccompanied either by her mother or Elinor, with no companion but Sir John, whose wit would soon be lulled to rest by the motion of the carriage. He would sleep, and she would look out of the window and see other fields and other houses, and a different breed of cattle.

At the end of the journey there would be Marianne, beautiful and affectionate, and not too familiar; the mansion-house with its spacious rooms and comfortable corners, and the grounds surrounding it with trees and lawns. There she hoped to escape from her thoughts into wider interests. Colonel Brandon had always something to say worth hearing. Marianne had the newest books and music, and Edward Ferrars at the parsonage was always friendly. No one would think very much about her, or give her any hints or advice.

Sir John agreed to the scheme, after complaining that he would have only one young lady to amuse him instead of two. Edward, though reluctant to be without his wife for a further period, was willing to do as she desired. Mrs. Dashwood was glad to have Elinor’s visit prolonged. Marianne wrote many affectionate messages on Edward’s second sheet, and Walter Carey, though not consulted beforehand, was not more than reasonably disappointed on hearing that Margaret was to visit her sister in Dorset until her health should be completely restored.