feat_summary_path: finished_summaries/gradesaver/Sense and Sensibility/section_3_part_3.txt
feat_book_id: Sense and Sensibility.chapter 33
feat_summary_id: chapter 33
feat_summary: {"name": "Chapter 33", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20210419170735/https://www.gradesaver.com/sense-and-sensibility/study-guide/summary-chapters-31-40", "summary": "Marianne is persuaded to go out on a short errand to the jeweler's. They find John Dashwood there, as he and Fanny had just gotten into town. He comes to visit them the next day, to be introduced to Mrs. Jennings and to Sir John and Lady Middleton. Colonel Brandon comes in during his visit, and John is somehow convinced that the Colonel and Elinor will probably be married. He congratulates Elinor on the match, though she tries and fails to convince him that there is no such plan. John also tells her that Edward is to be married to Miss Morton, an orphan with a great deal of money left to her. To excuse himself from helping the Dashwood women, he goes on for some time about how little money he has, and the poor state of his finances. He also insists that Mrs. Jennings will probably leave some money for the girls in his will, thus convincing himself that he has no need to help them in their tough circumstances. He also laments that Marianne has lost her beauty and bloom through illness, and will hardly marry well now; he is then introduced to Sir John and Lady Middleton, and determines that Fanny will certainly find them charming and worthy company.", "analysis": "John Dashwood's meanness and miserly nature is displayed again here, as he makes a long, involved argument convincing himself that he has no obligations to the Dashwood girls. That he has to justify this before Elinor shows that he is not altogether cold-hearted, but shows him to be petty and wholly ungenerous. His condescension toward Elinor is also rather appalling, and serves to show Elinor in an even more positive light through the juxtaposition of their characters. Snobbery is also evident in John as he says that Fanny thought Mrs. Jennings and her daughters were below her because they got their money through trade. John Dashwood is a symbol of the petty, greedy type found often in the upper classes, and Austen is sure to expose all his foibles through his conversation and excuses"}
text: 
  
  After some opposition, Marianne yielded to her sister's entreaties, and
  consented to go out with her and Mrs. Jennings one morning for half an
  hour. She expressly conditioned, however, for paying no visits, and
  would do no more than accompany them to Gray's in Sackville Street,
  where Elinor was carrying on a negotiation for the exchange of a few
  old-fashioned jewels of her mother.
  
  When they stopped at the door, Mrs. Jennings recollected that there was
  a lady at the other end of the street on whom she ought to call; and as
  she had no business at Gray's, it was resolved, that while her young
  friends transacted their's, she should pay her visit and return for
  them.
  
  On ascending the stairs, the Miss Dashwoods found so many people before
  them in the room, that there was not a person at liberty to tend to
  their orders; and they were obliged to wait.  All that could be done
  was, to sit down at that end of the counter which seemed to promise the
  quickest succession; one gentleman only was standing there, and it is
  probable that Elinor was not without hope of exciting his politeness to
  a quicker despatch.  But the correctness of his eye, and the delicacy
  of his taste, proved to be beyond his politeness.  He was giving orders
  for a toothpick-case for himself, and till its size, shape, and
  ornaments were determined, all of which, after examining and debating
  for a quarter of an hour over every toothpick-case in the shop, were
  finally arranged by his own inventive fancy, he had no leisure to
  bestow any other attention on the two ladies, than what was comprised
  in three or four very broad stares; a kind of notice which served to
  imprint on Elinor the remembrance of a person and face, of strong,
  natural, sterling insignificance, though adorned in the first style of
  fashion.
  
  Marianne was spared from the troublesome feelings of contempt and
  resentment, on this impertinent examination of their features, and on
  the puppyism of his manner in deciding on all the different horrors of
  the different toothpick-cases presented to his inspection, by remaining
  unconscious of it all; for she was as well able to collect her thoughts
  within herself, and be as ignorant of what was passing around her, in
  Mr. Gray's shop, as in her own bedroom.
  
  At last the affair was decided.  The ivory, the gold, and the pearls,
  all received their appointment, and the gentleman having named the last
  day on which his existence could be continued without the possession of
  the toothpick-case, drew on his gloves with leisurely care, and
  bestowing another glance on the Miss Dashwoods, but such a one as
  seemed rather to demand than express admiration, walked off with a
  happy air of real conceit and affected indifference.
  
  Elinor lost no time in bringing her business forward, was on the point
  of concluding it, when another gentleman presented himself at her side.
  She turned her eyes towards his face, and found him with some surprise
  to be her brother.
  
  Their affection and pleasure in meeting was just enough to make a very
  creditable appearance in Mr. Gray's shop.  John Dashwood was really far
  from being sorry to see his sisters again; it rather gave them
  satisfaction; and his inquiries after their mother were respectful and
  attentive.
  
  Elinor found that he and Fanny had been in town two days.
  
  "I wished very much to call upon you yesterday," said he, "but it was
  impossible, for we were obliged to take Harry to see the wild beasts at
  Exeter Exchange; and we spent the rest of the day with Mrs. Ferrars.
  Harry was vastly pleased.  THIS morning I had fully intended to call on
  you, if I could possibly find a spare half hour, but one has always so
  much to do on first coming to town.  I am come here to bespeak Fanny a
  seal.  But tomorrow I think I shall certainly be able to call in
  Berkeley Street, and be introduced to your friend Mrs. Jennings.  I
  understand she is a woman of very good fortune.  And the Middletons
  too, you must introduce me to THEM.  As my mother-in-law's relations, I
  shall be happy to show them every respect.  They are excellent
  neighbours to you in the country, I understand."
  
  "Excellent indeed.  Their attention to our comfort, their friendliness
  in every particular, is more than I can express."
  
  "I am extremely glad to hear it, upon my word; extremely glad indeed.
  But so it ought to be; they are people of large fortune, they are
  related to you, and every civility and accommodation that can serve to
  make your situation pleasant might be reasonably expected.  And so you
  are most comfortably settled in your little cottage and want for
  nothing!  Edward brought us a most charming account of the place: the
  most complete thing of its kind, he said, that ever was, and you all
  seemed to enjoy it beyond any thing.  It was a great satisfaction to us
  to hear it, I assure you."
  
  Elinor did feel a little ashamed of her brother; and was not sorry to
  be spared the necessity of answering him, by the arrival of Mrs.
  Jennings's servant, who came to tell her that his mistress waited for
  them at the door.
  
  Mr. Dashwood attended them down stairs, was introduced to Mrs. Jennings
  at the door of her carriage, and repeating his hope of being able to
  call on them the next day, took leave.
  
  His visit was duly paid.  He came with a pretence at an apology from
  their sister-in-law, for not coming too; "but she was so much engaged
  with her mother, that really she had no leisure for going any where."
  Mrs. Jennings, however, assured him directly, that she should not stand
  upon ceremony, for they were all cousins, or something like it, and she
  should certainly wait on Mrs. John Dashwood very soon, and bring her
  sisters to see her.  His manners to THEM, though calm, were perfectly
  kind; to Mrs. Jennings, most attentively civil; and on Colonel
  Brandon's coming in soon after himself, he eyed him with a curiosity
  which seemed to say, that he only wanted to know him to be rich, to be
  equally civil to HIM.
  
  After staying with them half an hour, he asked Elinor to walk with him
  to Conduit Street, and introduce him to Sir John and Lady Middleton.
  The weather was remarkably fine, and she readily consented.  As soon as
  they were out of the house, his enquiries began.
  
  "Who is Colonel Brandon?  Is he a man of fortune?"
  
  "Yes; he has very good property in Dorsetshire."
  
  "I am glad of it.  He seems a most gentlemanlike man; and I think,
  Elinor, I may congratulate you on the prospect of a very respectable
  establishment in life."
  
  "Me, brother! what do you mean?"
  
  "He likes you.  I observed him narrowly, and am convinced of it.  What
  is the amount of his fortune?"
  
  "I believe about two thousand a year."
  
  "Two thousand a-year;" and then working himself up to a pitch of
  enthusiastic generosity, he added, "Elinor, I wish with all my heart it
  were TWICE as much, for your sake."
  
  "Indeed I believe you," replied Elinor; "but I am very sure that
  Colonel Brandon has not the smallest wish of marrying ME."
  
  "You are mistaken, Elinor; you are very much mistaken.  A very little
  trouble on your side secures him.  Perhaps just at present he may be
  undecided; the smallness of your fortune may make him hang back; his
  friends may all advise him against it.  But some of those little
  attentions and encouragements which ladies can so easily give will fix
  him, in spite of himself.  And there can be no reason why you should
  not try for him.  It is not to be supposed that any prior attachment on
  your side--in short, you know as to an attachment of that kind, it is
  quite out of the question, the objections are insurmountable--you have
  too much sense not to see all that.  Colonel Brandon must be the man;
  and no civility shall be wanting on my part to make him pleased with
  you and your family.  It is a match that must give universal
  satisfaction.  In short, it is a kind of thing that"--lowering his
  voice to an important whisper--"will be exceedingly welcome to ALL
  PARTIES." Recollecting himself, however, he added, "That is, I mean to
  say--your friends are all truly anxious to see you well settled; Fanny
  particularly, for she has your interest very much at heart, I assure
  you.  And her mother too, Mrs. Ferrars, a very good-natured woman, I am
  sure it would give her great pleasure; she said as much the other day."
  
  Elinor would not vouchsafe any answer.
  
  "It would be something remarkable, now," he continued, "something
  droll, if Fanny should have a brother and I a sister settling at the
  same time.  And yet it is not very unlikely."
  
  "Is Mr. Edward Ferrars," said Elinor, with resolution, "going to be
  married?"
  
  "It is not actually settled, but there is such a thing in agitation.
  He has a most excellent mother.  Mrs. Ferrars, with the utmost
  liberality, will come forward, and settle on him a thousand a year, if
  the match takes place.  The lady is the Hon. Miss Morton, only daughter
  of the late Lord Morton, with thirty thousand pounds.  A very desirable
  connection on both sides, and I have not a doubt of its taking place in
  time.  A thousand a-year is a great deal for a mother to give away, to
  make over for ever; but Mrs. Ferrars has a noble spirit.  To give you
  another instance of her liberality:--The other day, as soon as we came
  to town, aware that money could not be very plenty with us just now,
  she put bank-notes into Fanny's hands to the amount of two hundred
  pounds.  And extremely acceptable it is, for we must live at a great
  expense while we are here."
  
  He paused for her assent and compassion; and she forced herself to say,
  
  "Your expenses both in town and country must certainly be considerable;
  but your income is a large one."
  
  "Not so large, I dare say, as many people suppose.  I do not mean to
  complain, however; it is undoubtedly a comfortable one, and I hope will
  in time be better.  The enclosure of Norland Common, now carrying on,
  is a most serious drain.  And then I have made a little purchase within
  this half year; East Kingham Farm, you must remember the place, where
  old Gibson used to live.  The land was so very desirable for me in
  every respect, so immediately adjoining my own property, that I felt it
  my duty to buy it.  I could not have answered it to my conscience to
  let it fall into any other hands.  A man must pay for his convenience;
  and it HAS cost me a vast deal of money."
  
  "More than you think it really and intrinsically worth."
  
  "Why, I hope not that.  I might have sold it again, the next day, for
  more than I gave: but, with regard to the purchase-money, I might have
  been very unfortunate indeed; for the stocks were at that time so low,
  that if I had not happened to have the necessary sum in my banker's
  hands, I must have sold out to very great loss."
  
  Elinor could only smile.
  
  "Other great and inevitable expenses too we have had on first coming to
  Norland.  Our respected father, as you well know, bequeathed all the
  Stanhill effects that remained at Norland (and very valuable they were)
  to your mother.  Far be it from me to repine at his doing so; he had an
  undoubted right to dispose of his own property as he chose, but, in
  consequence of it, we have been obliged to make large purchases of
  linen, china, &c. to supply the place of what was taken away.  You may
  guess, after all these expenses, how very far we must be from being
  rich, and how acceptable Mrs. Ferrars's kindness is."
  
  "Certainly," said Elinor; "and assisted by her liberality, I hope you
  may yet live to be in easy circumstances."
  
  "Another year or two may do much towards it," he gravely replied; "but
  however there is still a great deal to be done.  There is not a stone
  laid of Fanny's green-house, and nothing but the plan of the
  flower-garden marked out."
  
  "Where is the green-house to be?"
  
  "Upon the knoll behind the house.  The old walnut trees are all come
  down to make room for it.  It will be a very fine object from many
  parts of the park, and the flower-garden will slope down just before
  it, and be exceedingly pretty.  We have cleared away all the old thorns
  that grew in patches over the brow."
  
  Elinor kept her concern and her censure to herself; and was very
  thankful that Marianne was not present, to share the provocation.
  
  Having now said enough to make his poverty clear, and to do away the
  necessity of buying a pair of ear-rings for each of his sisters, in his
  next visit at Gray's his thoughts took a cheerfuller turn, and he began
  to congratulate Elinor on having such a friend as Mrs. Jennings.
  
  "She seems a most valuable woman indeed--Her house, her style of
  living, all bespeak an exceeding good income; and it is an acquaintance
  that has not only been of great use to you hitherto, but in the end may
  prove materially advantageous.--Her inviting you to town is certainly a
  vast thing in your favour; and indeed, it speaks altogether so great a
  regard for you, that in all probability when she dies you will not be
  forgotten.-- She must have a great deal to leave."
  
  "Nothing at all, I should rather suppose; for she has only her
  jointure, which will descend to her children."
  
  "But it is not to be imagined that she lives up to her income.  Few
  people of common prudence will do THAT; and whatever she saves, she
  will be able to dispose of."
  
  "And do you not think it more likely that she should leave it to her
  daughters, than to us?"
  
  "Her daughters are both exceedingly well married, and therefore I
  cannot perceive the necessity of her remembering them farther.
  Whereas, in my opinion, by her taking so much notice of you, and
  treating you in this kind of way, she has given you a sort of claim on
  her future consideration, which a conscientious woman would not
  disregard.  Nothing can be kinder than her behaviour; and she can
  hardly do all this, without being aware of the expectation it raises."
  
  "But she raises none in those most concerned.  Indeed, brother, your
  anxiety for our welfare and prosperity carries you too far."
  
  "Why, to be sure," said he, seeming to recollect himself, "people have
  little, have very little in their power.  But, my dear Elinor, what is
  the matter with Marianne?-- she looks very unwell, has lost her colour,
  and is grown quite thin.  Is she ill?"
  
  "She is not well, she has had a nervous complaint on her for several
  weeks."
  
  "I am sorry for that.  At her time of life, any thing of an illness
  destroys the bloom for ever!  Hers has been a very short one!  She was
  as handsome a girl last September, as I ever saw; and as likely to
  attract the man.  There was something in her style of beauty, to please
  them particularly.  I remember Fanny used to say that she would marry
  sooner and better than you did; not but what she is exceedingly fond of
  YOU, but so it happened to strike her.  She will be mistaken, however.
  I question whether Marianne NOW, will marry a man worth more than five
  or six hundred a-year, at the utmost, and I am very much deceived if
  YOU do not do better.  Dorsetshire!  I know very little of Dorsetshire;
  but, my dear Elinor, I shall be exceedingly glad to know more of it;
  and I think I can answer for your having Fanny and myself among the
  earliest and best pleased of your visitors."
  
  Elinor tried very seriously to convince him that there was no
  likelihood of her marrying Colonel Brandon; but it was an expectation
  of too much pleasure to himself to be relinquished, and he was really
  resolved on seeking an intimacy with that gentleman, and promoting the
  marriage by every possible attention.  He had just compunction enough
  for having done nothing for his sisters himself, to be exceedingly
  anxious that everybody else should do a great deal; and an offer from
  Colonel Brandon, or a legacy from Mrs. Jennings, was the easiest means
  of atoning for his own neglect.
  
  They were lucky enough to find Lady Middleton at home, and Sir John
  came in before their visit ended.  Abundance of civilities passed on
  all sides.  Sir John was ready to like anybody, and though Mr. Dashwood
  did not seem to know much about horses, he soon set him down as a very
  good-natured fellow: while Lady Middleton saw enough of fashion in his
  appearance to think his acquaintance worth having; and Mr. Dashwood
  went away delighted with both.
  
  "I shall have a charming account to carry to Fanny," said he, as he
  walked back with his sister.  "Lady Middleton is really a most elegant
  woman!  Such a woman as I am sure Fanny will be glad to know.  And Mrs.
  Jennings too, an exceedingly well-behaved woman, though not so elegant
  as her daughter.  Your sister need not have any scruple even of
  visiting HER, which, to say the truth, has been a little the case, and
  very naturally; for we only knew that Mrs. Jennings was the widow of a
  man who had got all his money in a low way; and Fanny and Mrs. Ferrars
  were both strongly prepossessed, that neither she nor her daughters
  were such kind of women as Fanny would like to associate with.  But now
  I can carry her a most satisfactory account of both."
  
  
  
feat_summary_name: Chapter 33
target: Marianne is persuaded to go out on a short errand to the jeweler's. They find John Dashwood there, as he and Fanny had just gotten into town. He comes to visit them the next day, to be introduced to Mrs. Jennings and to Sir John and Lady Middleton. Colonel Brandon comes in during his visit, and John is somehow convinced that the Colonel and Elinor will probably be married. He congratulates Elinor on the match, though she tries and fails to convince him that there is no such plan. John also tells her that Edward is to be married to Miss Morton, an orphan with a great deal of money left to her. To excuse himself from helping the Dashwood women, he goes on for some time about how little money he has, and the poor state of his finances. He also insists that Mrs. Jennings will probably leave some money for the girls in his will, thus convincing himself that he has no need to help them in their tough circumstances. He also laments that Marianne has lost her beauty and bloom through illness, and will hardly marry well now; he is then introduced to Sir John and Lady Middleton, and determines that Fanny will certainly find them charming and worthy company.
feat_summary_analysis: John Dashwood's meanness and miserly nature is displayed again here, as he makes a long, involved argument convincing himself that he has no obligations to the Dashwood girls. That he has to justify this before Elinor shows that he is not altogether cold-hearted, but shows him to be petty and wholly ungenerous. His condescension toward Elinor is also rather appalling, and serves to show Elinor in an even more positive light through the juxtaposition of their characters. Snobbery is also evident in John as he says that Fanny thought Mrs. Jennings and her daughters were below her because they got their money through trade. John Dashwood is a symbol of the petty, greedy type found often in the upper classes, and Austen is sure to expose all his foibles through his conversation and excuses