Austen Said:

"Devonshire! Are you, indeed, going there? So far from hence! And to what part of it?"

"Your sister, I understand, does not approve of second attachments."

"Or rather, as I believe, she considers them impossible to exist."

"This will probably be the case,"

"and yet there is something so amiable in the prejudices of a young mind, that one is sorry to see them give way to the reception of more general opinions."

"Does your sister make no distinction in her objections against a second attachment? or is it equally criminal in every body? Are those who have been disappointed in their first choice, whether from the inconstancy of its object, or the perverseness of circumstances, to be equally indifferent during the rest of their lives?"

"This,"

"cannot hold; but a change, a total change of sentiments — No, no, do not desire it; for when the romantic refinements of a young mind are obliged to give way, how frequently are they succeeded by such opinions as are but too common, and too dangerous! I speak from experience. I once knew a lady who in temper and mind greatly resembled your sister, who thought and judged like her, but who from an inforced change — from a series of unfortunate circumstances"

"None at all, ma'am, I thank you."

"No, ma'am. It came from town, and is merely a letter of business."

"No, indeed, it is not."

"Whom do you mean, ma'am?"

"I am particularly sorry, ma'am,"

"that I should receive this letter today, for it is on business which requires my immediate attendance in town."

"My own loss is great,"

"in being obliged to leave so agreeable a party; but I am the more concerned, as I fear my presence is necessary to gain your admittance at Whitwell."

"I wish it could be so easily settled. But it is not in my power to delay my journey for one day!"

"I cannot afford to lose ONE hour." —

"You are very obliging. But it is so uncertain, when I may have it in my power to return, that I dare not engage for it at all."

"No. Only to Honiton. I shall then go post."

"I assure you it is not in my power."

"Is there no chance of my seeing you and your sisters in town this winter, Miss Dashwood?"

"Then I must bid you farewell for a longer time than I should wish to do."

No, he had been in Devonshire a fortnight.

"I was at Norland about a month ago."

"It is a beautiful country,"

"but these bottoms must be dirty in winter."

"Because,"

"among the rest of the objects before me, I see a very dirty lane."

"Have you an agreeable neighbourhood here? Are the Middletons pleasant people?"

"No. I hope my mother is now convinced that I have no more talents than inclination for a public life!"

"I shall not attempt it. I have no wish to be distinguished; and have every reason to hope I never shall. Thank Heaven! I cannot be forced into genius and eloquence."

"As moderate as those of the rest of the world, I believe. I wish as well as every body else to be perfectly happy; but, like every body else it must be in my own way. Greatness will not make me so."

"Hunters!"

"but why must you have hunters? Every body does not hunt."

"What magnificent orders would travel from this family to London,"

"in such an event! What a happy day for booksellers, music-sellers, and print-shops! You, Miss Dashwood, would give a general commission for every new print of merit to be sent you — and as for Marianne, I know her greatness of soul, there would not be music enough in London to content her. And books! — Thomson, Cowper, Scott — she would buy them all over and over again: she would buy up every copy, I believe, to prevent their falling into unworthy hands; and she would have every book that tells her how to admire an old twisted tree. Should not you, Marianne? Forgive me, if I am very saucy. But I was willing to shew you that I had not forgot our old disputes."

"And the bulk of your fortune would be laid out in annuities on the authors or their heirs."

"Perhaps, then, you would bestow it as a reward on that person who wrote the ablest defence of your favourite maxim,

that

your opinion on that point is unchanged, I presume?"

"She is only grown a little more grave than she was."

"Why should you think so!"

"But gaiety never was a part of MY character."

"I believe you are right,"

"and yet I have always set her down as a lively girl."

"You have not been able to bring your sister over to your plan of general civility,"

"Do you gain no ground?"

"My judgment,"

"is all on your side of the question; but I am afraid my practice is much more on your sister's. I never wish to offend, but I am so foolishly shy, that I often seem negligent, when I am only kept back by my natural awkwardness. I have frequently thought that I must have been intended by nature to be fond of low company, I am so little at my ease among strangers of gentility!"