THE first part of their journey was performed in too melancholy1 a disposition2 to be otherwise than tedious and unpleasant. But as they drew towards the end of it, their interest in the appearance of a country which they were to inhabit overcame their dejection, and a view of Barton Valley, as they entered it, gave them cheerfulness. It was a pleasant, fertile spot, well wooded, and rich in pasture. After winding3 along it for more than a mile, they reached their own house. A small green court was the whole of its demesne4 in front; and a neat wicket-gate admitted them into it. As a house, Barton Cottage, though small, was comfortable and compact; but as a cottage it was defective5, for the building was regular, the roof was tiled, the window shutters6 were not painted green, nor were the walls covered with honeysuckles. A narrow passage led directly through the house into the garden behind. On each side of the entrance was a sitting room, about sixteen feet square; and beyond them were the offices and the stairs. Four bed-rooms and two garrets formed the rest of the house. It had not been built many years, and was in good repair. In comparison of Norland, it was poor and small indeed!- but the tears which recollection called forth7 as they entered the house were soon dried away. They were cheered by the joy of the servants on their arrival, and each for the sake of the others resolved to appear happy. It was very early in September; the season was fine; and from first seeing the place under the advantage of good weather, they received an impression in its favor which was of material service in recommending it to their lasting8 approbation9. The situation of the house was good. High hills rose immediately behind, and at no great distance on each side; some of which were open downs, the others cultivated and woody. The village of Barton was chiefly on one of these hills, and formed a pleasant view from the cottage windows. The prospect10 in front was more extensive; it commanded the whole of the valley, and reached into th
e country beyond. The hills which surrounded the cottage terminated the valley in that direction; under another name, and in another course, it branched out again between two of the steepest of them. With the size and furniture of the house Mrs. Dashwood was upon the whole well satisfied; for though her former style of life rendered many additions to the latter indispensable, yet to add and improve was a delight to her; and she had at this time ready money enough to supply all that was wanted of greater elegance11 to the apartments. "As for the house itself, to be sure," said she, "it is too small for our family, but we will make ourselves tolerably comfortable for the present, as it is too late in the year for improvements. Perhaps in the spring, if I have plenty of money, as I dare say I shall, we may think about building. These parlors12 are both too small for such parties of our friends as I hope to see often collected here; and I have some thoughts of throwing the passage into one of them, with perhaps a part of the other, and so leave the remainder of that other for an entrance; this, with a new drawing-room which may be easily added, and a bed-chamber and garret above, will make it a very snug13 little cottage. I could wish the stairs were handsome. But one must not expect everything; though I suppose it would be no difficult matter to widen them. I shall see how much I am before-hand with the world in the spring, and we will plan our improvements accordingly." In the meantime, till all these alterations14 could be made from the savings15 of an income of five hundred a year by a woman who never saved in her life, they were wise enough to be contented16 with the house as it was; and each of them was busy in arranging their particular concerns, and endeavoring, by placing around them books and other possessions, to form themselves a home. Marianne's piano-forte was unpacked17 and properly disposed of; and Elinor's drawings were affixed18 to the walls of their sitting room.
In such employments as these they were interrupted soon after breakfast the next day by the entrance of their landlord, who called to welcome them to Barton, and to offer them every accommodation from his own house and garden in which theirs might at present be deficient19. Sir John Middleton was a good looking man about forty. He had formerly20 visited at Stanhill, but it was too long for his young cousins to remember him. His countenance21 was thoroughly22 good-humoured; and his manners were as friendly as the style of his letter. Their arrival seemed to afford him real satisfaction, and their comfort to be an object of real solicitude23 to him. He said much of his earnest desire of their living in the most sociable24 terms with his family, and pressed them so cordially to dine at Barton Park every day till they were better settled at home that, though his entreaties25 were carried to a point of perseverance26 beyond civility, they could not give offence. His kindness was not confined to words; for within an hour after he left them, a large basket full of garden stuff and fruit arrived from the park, which was followed before the end of the day by a present of game. He insisted, moreover, on conveying all their letters to and from the post for them, and would not be denied the satisfaction of sending them his newspaper every day. Lady Middleton had sent a very civil message by him, denoting her intention of waiting on Mrs. Dashwood as soon as she could be assured that her visit would be no inconvenience; and as this message was answered by an invitation equally polite, her ladyship was introduced to them the next day.
They were, of course, very anxious to see a person on whom so much of their comfort at Barton must depend; and the elegance of her appearance was favourable27 to their wishes. Lady Middleton was not more than six or seven and twenty; her face was handsome, her figure tall and striking, and her address graceful28. Her manners had all the elegance which her husband's wanted. But they would have been improved by some share of his frankness and warmth; and her visit was long enough to detract something from their first admiration29, by showing that, though perfectly30 well-bred, she was reserved, cold, and had nothing to say for herself beyond the most common-place inquiry31 or remark.
Conversation, however, was not wanted, for Sir John was very chatty, and Lady Middleton had taken the wise precaution of bringing with her their eldest32 child, a fine little boy about six years old; by which means there was one subject always to be recurred33 to by the ladies in case of extremity34, for they had to enquire35 his name and age, admire his beauty, and ask him questions which his mother answered for him, while he hung about her and held down his head, to the great surprise of her ladyship, who wondered at his being so shy before company, as he could make noise enough at home. On every formal visit a child ought to be of the party, by way of provision for discourse36. In the present case it took up ten minutes to determine whether the boy were most like his father or mother, and in what particular he resembled either, for of course every body differed, and every body was astonished at the opinion of the others. An opportunity was soon to be given to the Dashwoods of debating on the rest of the children, as Sir John would not leave the house without securing their promise of dining at the Park the next day.
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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demesne
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| n.领域，私有土地 | |
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defective
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| adj.有毛病的，有问题的，有瑕疵的 | |
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shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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parlors
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| 客厅( parlor的名词复数 )； 起居室； （旅馆中的）休息室； （通常用来构成合成词）店 | |
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snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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alterations
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| n.改动( alteration的名词复数 )；更改；变化；改变 | |
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savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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unpacked
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| v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的过去式和过去分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等） | |
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affixed
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| adj.[医]附着的，附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
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deficient
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| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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recurred
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| 再发生，复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 )； 治愈 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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enquire
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| v.打听，询问；调查，查问 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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