Austen Said:

Patterns of Diction in Jane Austen's Major Novels

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to do every thing in his power to make them comfortable.
to increase the fortunes of his sisters by the present of a thousand pounds a-piece.
"Yes, he would give them three thousand pounds: it would be liberal and handsome! It would be enough to make them completely easy. Three thousand pounds! he could spare so considerable a sum with little inconvenience." —
"It was my father's last request to me,"
"that I should assist his widow and daughters."
"He did not stipulate for any particular sum, my dear Fanny; he only requested me, in general terms, to assist them, and make their situation more comfortable than it was in his power to do. Perhaps it would have been as well if he had left it wholly to myself. He could hardly suppose I should neglect them. But as he required the promise, I could not do less than give it; at least I thought so at the time. The promise, therefore, was given, and must be performed. Something must be done for them whenever they leave Norland and settle in a new home."
"Why, to be sure,"
"that would make great difference. The time may come when Harry will regret that so large a sum was parted with. If he should have a numerous family, for instance, it would be a very convenient addition."
"Perhaps, then, it would be better for all parties, if the sum were diminished one half. — Five hundred pounds would be a prodigious increase to their fortunes!"
"I would not wish to do any thing mean,"
"One had rather, on such occasions, do too much than too little. No one, at least, can think I have not done enough for them: even themselves, they can hardly expect more."
"Certainly — and I think I may afford to give them five hundred pounds a-piece. As it is, without any addition of mine, they will each have about three thousand pounds on their mother's death — a very comfortable fortune for any young woman."
"That is very true, and, therefore, I do not know whether, upon the whole, it would not be more advisable to do something for their mother while she lives, rather than for them — something of the annuity kind I mean. — My sisters would feel the good effects of it as well as herself. A hundred a year would make them all perfectly comfortable."
"Fifteen years! my dear Fanny; her life cannot be worth half that purchase."
"It is certainly an unpleasant thing,"
"to have those kind of yearly drains on one's income.
as your mother justly says,
To be tied down to the regular payment of such a sum, on every rent day, is by no means desirable: it takes away one's independence."
"I believe you are right, my love; it will be better that there should be no annuity in the case; whatever I may give them occasionally will be of far greater assistance than a yearly allowance, because they would only enlarge their style of living if they felt sure of a larger income, and would not be sixpence the richer for it at the end of the year. It will certainly be much the best way. A present of fifty pounds, now and then, will prevent their ever being distressed for money, and will, I think, be amply discharging my promise to my father."
"Upon my word,"
"I believe you are perfectly right. My father certainly could mean nothing more by his request to me than what you say. I clearly understand it now, and I will strictly fulfil my engagement by such acts of assistance and kindness to them as you have described. When my mother removes into another house my services shall be readily given to accommodate her as far as I can. Some little present of furniture too may be acceptable then."
"That is a material consideration undoubtedly. A valuable legacy indeed! And yet some of the plate would have been a very pleasant addition to our own stock here."
she was in need of a dwelling; and though the house he now offered her was merely a cottage,
everything should be done to it which she might think necessary, if the situation pleased her.
to come with her daughters to Barton Park, the place of his own residence, from whence she might judge, herself, whether Barton Cottage,
could, by any alteration, be made comfortable to her.
she would not be settled far from Norland.
"Devonshire! Are you, indeed, going there? So far from hence! And to what part of it?"
how exceedingly sorry he was that she had taken a house at such a distance from Norland as to prevent his being of any service to her in removing her furniture.
at being unable to get any smart young men to meet them.
They would see,
only one gentleman there besides himself; a particular friend who was staying at the park, but who was neither very young nor very gay. He hoped they would all excuse the smallness of the party, and could assure them it should never happen so again. He had been to several families that morning in hopes of procuring some addition to their number, but it was moonlight and every body was full of engagements. Luckily Lady Middleton's mother had arrived at Barton within the last hour, and as she was a very cheerful agreeable woman, he hoped the young ladies would not find it so very dull as they might imagine.
of a slight rheumatic feel in one of his shoulders."
  • Novel: Sense And Sensibility
  • Character: Elinor Dashwood speaking as Colonel Brandon
  • Link to text in chapter 8
  • Text ID: 00275
"Willoughby!"
"what, is HE in the country? That is good news however; I will ride over tomorrow, and ask him to dinner on Thursday."
"Know him! to be sure I do. Why, he is down here every year."
"As good a kind of fellow as ever lived, I assure you. A very decent shot, and there is not a bolder rider in England."
"Upon my soul,"
"I do not know much about him as to all THAT. But he is a pleasant, good humoured fellow, and has got the nicest little black bitch of a pointer I ever saw. Was she out with him today?"
Mr. Willoughby had no property of his own in the country;
he resided there only while he was visiting the old lady at Allenham Court, to whom he was related, and whose possessions he was to inherit;
"Yes, yes, he is very well worth catching I can tell you, Miss Dashwood; he has a pretty little estate of his own in Somersetshire besides; and if I were you, I would not give him up to my younger sister, in spite of all this tumbling down hills. Miss Marianne must not expect to have all the men to herself. Brandon will be jealous, if she does not take care."
"He is as good a sort of fellow, I believe, as ever lived,"
"I remember last Christmas at a little hop at the park, he danced from eight o'clock till four, without once sitting down."
"Yes; and he was up again at eight to ride to covert."
"Aye, aye, I see how it will be,"
"I see how it will be. You will be setting your cap at him now, and never think of poor Brandon."
"Ay, you will make conquests enough, I dare say, one way or other. Poor Brandon! he is quite smitten already, and he is very well worth setting your cap at, I can tell you, in spite of all this tumbling about and spraining of ankles."
"Brandon is just the kind of man,"
"whom every body speaks well of, and nobody cares about; whom all are delighted to see, and nobody remembers to talk to."