August 8, 2025 • 13 mins
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Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter sixteen. Mary Anne would have thought herself very inexcusable.
Had she been able to sleep at all the first
night after parting from Willoughby, she would have been ashamed
to look her family in the face the next morning,
had she not risen from her bed in more need
of repose than when she lay down in it. But
(00:23):
the feelings which made such composure a disgrace left her
in no danger of incurring it. She was awake the
whole night, and she wept the greatest part of it.
She got up with a headache, was unable to talk,
and unwilling to take any nourishment, giving pain every moment
to her mother and sisters, and forbidding all attempt at
(00:46):
consolation from either. Her sensibility was potent enough. When breakfast
was over, she walked out by herself and wandered about
the village of Allenham, indulging the recklle of past enjoyment
and crying over the present reverse for the chief of
the morning. The evening passed off in the equal indulgence
(01:09):
of feeling. She played over every favorite song that she
had been used to play to Willoughby, every air in
which their voices had been oftenest joined and sat at
the instrument, gazing on every line of music that he
had written out for her, till her heart was so
heavy that no farther sadness could be gained. And this
(01:32):
nourishment of grief was every day applied. She spent whole
hours at the pianoforte, alternately singing and crying, her voice
often totally suspended by her tears. In books, too, as
well as in music, she courted the misery which a
contrast between the past and present was certain of giving.
(01:54):
She read nothing but what they had been used to
read together. Such violence of affliction indeed could not be
supported forever. It sunk within a few days into a
calmer melancholy. But these employments, to which she daily recurred,
her solitary walks and silent meditations, still produced occasional effusions
(02:17):
of sorrow as lively as ever, no letter from Willoughby came,
and none seemed expected by Mary Anne. Her mother was surprised,
and Eleanor again became uneasy. But Missus Dashwood could find
explanations whenever she wanted them, which at least satisfied herself.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Remember, Eleanor said she how very often Sir John fetches
our letters himself from the post and carries them to it.
We have already agreed that secrecy may be necessary, and
we must acknowledge that it could not be maintained if
their correspondence were to pass through Sir John's hands.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Eleanor could not deny the truth of this, and she
tried to find in it a motive sufficient for their silence.
But there was one method, so direct, so simple, and
in her opinion, so eligible of knowing the real state
of the affair, and of instantly removing all mystery, that
she could not help suggesting it to her mother.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Why did not ask Marianne? At once? Said she whether
she is or she is not engaged? To Willoughby from you,
her mother, and so kind, so indulgent a mother, the
question could not give offense. It would be the natural
result of your affection for her, She used to be
all unreserved, and to you, more especially.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
I would not ask such a question for the world,
supposing it possible that they are not engaged. What distress
would not such an inquiry inflict? At any rate? It
would be most ungenerous. I should never deserve her confidence
again After forcing from her a confession of what is
meant at present to be unago knowledge to any one.
(04:02):
I know mari Anne's heart. I know that she dearly
loves me, and that I shall not be the last
to whom the affair is made known when circumstances make
the revealment of it eligible. I would not attempt to
force the confidence of any one of a child, much
less because a sense of duty would prevent the denial
(04:22):
which her wishes might direct.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Eleanor thought this generosity overstrained, considering her sister's youth, and
urged the matter farther. But in vain, common sense, common care,
common prudence were all sunk in Missus Dashwood's romantic delicacy.
It was several days before Willoughby's name was mentioned before
(04:45):
Marianne by any of her family. Sir John and Missus Jennings,
indeed were not so nice. Their witticisms added pain to
many a painful hour. But one evening, Missus Dashwood, accidentally
taking up a volume of Shakespeare, exclaimed, we have.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Never finished Hamlet. Mari Anne, our dear Willoughby went away
before we could get through it. We will put it
by that when he comes again. But it may be months,
perhaps before that happens.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Months, cried mary Anne, with strong surprise.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
No, no, many weeks.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Missus Dashwood was sorry for what she had said, but
it gave Eleanor pleasure as it produced a reply from
mary Anne so expressive of confidence in Willoughby and knowledge
of his intentions. One morning, about a week after his
leaving the country, mari Anne was prevailed on to join
her sisters in their usual walk instead of wandering away
(05:46):
by herself. Hitherto, she had carefully avoided every companion in
her rambles. If her sisters intended to walk on the downs,
she directly stole away towards the lanes. If they talked
of the valley, she was as speedy in climbing the
hills and could never be found when the others set off.
(06:06):
But at length she was secured by the exertions of Eleanor,
who greatly disapproved such continual seclusion. They walked along the
road through the valley, and chiefly in silence, for Marie
Anne's mind could not be controlled, and Eleanor, satisfied with
gaining one point, would not then attempt more beyond the
(06:28):
entrance of the valley, where the country though still rich,
was less wild and more open. A long stretch of
the road which they had traveled on first coming to Barton,
lay before them, and on reaching that point, they stopped
to look around them and examine a prospect which formed
the distance of their view from the cottage, from a
(06:50):
spot which they had never happened to reach in any
of their walks before. Amongst the objects in the scene,
they soon discovered an animated one was a man on
horseback riding towards them. In a few minutes they could
distinguish him to be a gentleman, and in a moment afterwards,
Marianne rapturously exclaimed.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
It is he.
Speaker 5 (07:13):
It is.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Indeed, I know it.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Is, and was hastening to meet him, when Eleanor cried out.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Indeed, Marianne, I think you are mistaken. It is not Willoughby.
The person is not tall enough for him and has
not his.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Air he has he has cried Marianne.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
I am sure he has his air, his coat, his horse.
I knew how soon he would come.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
She walked eagerly on as she spoke, and Eleanor to
screen mary Anne from particularity, as she felt almost certain
of its not being Willoughby quickened her pace and kept
up with her. They were soon within thirty yards of
the gentleman. Mary Anne looked again, her heart sunk within her,
(07:58):
and abruptly turning round. She was hurrying back when the
voices of both her sisters were raised to detain her.
A third, almost as well known as Willoughby's, joined them
in begging her to stop, and she turned round with
surprise to see and welcome Edward Ferrars. He was the
(08:18):
only person in the world who could, at that moment
be forgiven for not being Willoughby, the only one who
could have gained a smile from her. But she dispersed
her tears to smile on him, and in her sister's happiness,
forgot for a time her own disappointment. He dismounted, and,
giving his horse to his servant, walked back with them
(08:41):
to Barton, whither he was purposely coming to visit them.
He was welcomed by them all with great cordiality, but
especially by mari Anne, who showed more warmth of regard
in her reception of him than even eleanor herself. To
mary Anne, indeed, the meeting between edwind Word and her
sister was but a continuation of that unaccountable coldness which
(09:05):
she had often observed at Norland in their mutual behavior.
On Edward's side, more particularly, there was a deficiency of
all that a lover ought to look and say on
such an occasion, he was confused, seemed scarcely sensible of
pleasure in seeing them, looked neither rapturous nor gay, said
(09:27):
little but what was forced from him by questions, and
distinguished Eleanor by no mark of affection. Mary Anne saw
and listened with increasing surprise. She began almost to feel
a dislike of Edward, and it ended, as every feeling
must end, with her by carrying back her thoughts to Willoughby,
(09:49):
whose manners formed a contrast sufficiently striking to those of
his brother elect. After a short silence which succeeded the
first surprise and d inquiries of meeting, mary Anne asked
Edward if he came directly from London. No, he had
been in Devonshire a fortnight. A fortnight, she repeated, surprised
(10:12):
at his being so long in the same county with
Eleanor without seeing her before. He looked rather distressed as
he added that he had been staying with some friends
near Plymouth.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Have you been lately in Sussex?
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Said Eleanor.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
I was at Norland about a month ago.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
And how does dear dear Norland look.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Cried Mary Anne. Dear dear Norland, said Eleanor. Probably looks
much as it always does at this time of year,
the woods and walks thickly covered with dead laves.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Oh, cried mary Anne.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
With what transporting sensation have I formerly seen them fall?
How have I delighted as I walked to see them
driven in showers about me by the wind? What feelings
have they the season? The air altogether inspired? Now there
is no one to regard them. They are seen only
as a nuisance, swept hastily off and driven as much
(11:09):
as possible from the sight.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
It is not every one, said Eleanor, who has your
passion for dead leaves.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
No, my feelings are not often shared, not often understood,
but sometimes they are.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
As she said to this, she sunk into a reverie
for a few moments, but rousing herself again, now, Edward
said she, calling his attention to the prospect.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
Here is Barton Valley. Look up to it and be
tranquil if you can look at those hills. Did you
ever see their equals? To the left is Barton Park.
Amongst those woods and plantations, you may see the end
of the house. And there beneath that farthest hill, which
rises with such grandeur, is our cottage.
Speaker 5 (11:56):
It is a beautiful country, he replied. These bottoms must
be dirty in winter.
Speaker 4 (12:02):
How can you think of dot with such objects.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Before you, because, replied he, smiling, Among.
Speaker 5 (12:10):
The rest of the objects before me, I see a
very dirty lane.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
How strange, said Mary Anne to herself as she walked on.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
Have you an agreeable neighborhood, Tea? Are the Middleton's pleasant people? No?
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Not at all, answered Mary Anne.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
We could not be more unfortunately situated.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Mary Anne cried her sister.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
How can you say so? How can you be so unjust?
They are a very respectable family, mister Ferris, and towards
us have behaved in the friendliest manner. Have you forgot,
mary Anne, how many pleasant days we have owed to them?
Speaker 1 (12:46):
No, said Mary Anne in a low voice.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
Know how many painful moments?
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Eleanor took no notice of this, and, directing her attention
to their visitor, endeavored to support something like discourse with
him by talking of their present residence, its conveniences, et cetera,
extorting from him occasional questions and remarks. His coldness and
reserve mortified her severely. She was vexed and half angry,
(13:16):
but resolving to regulate her behavior to him by the
past rather than the present, she avoided every appearance of
resentment or displeasure, and treated him as she thought he
ought to be treated. From the family connection end of
Chapter sixteen.
Chapter sixteen. Mary Anne would have thought herself very inexcusable.
Had she been able to sleep at all the first
night after parting from Willoughby, she would have been ashamed
to look her family in the face the next morning,
had she not risen from her bed in more need
of repose than when she lay down in it. But
(00:23):
the feelings which made such composure a disgrace left her
in no danger of incurring it. She was awake the
whole night, and she wept the greatest part of it.
She got up with a headache, was unable to talk,
and unwilling to take any nourishment, giving pain every moment
to her mother and sisters, and forbidding all attempt at
(00:46):
consolation from either. Her sensibility was potent enough. When breakfast
was over, she walked out by herself and wandered about
the village of Allenham, indulging the recklle of past enjoyment
and crying over the present reverse for the chief of
the morning. The evening passed off in the equal indulgence
(01:09):
of feeling. She played over every favorite song that she
had been used to play to Willoughby, every air in
which their voices had been oftenest joined and sat at
the instrument, gazing on every line of music that he
had written out for her, till her heart was so
heavy that no farther sadness could be gained. And this
(01:32):
nourishment of grief was every day applied. She spent whole
hours at the pianoforte, alternately singing and crying, her voice
often totally suspended by her tears. In books, too, as
well as in music, she courted the misery which a
contrast between the past and present was certain of giving.
(01:54):
She read nothing but what they had been used to
read together. Such violence of affliction indeed could not be
supported forever. It sunk within a few days into a
calmer melancholy. But these employments, to which she daily recurred,
her solitary walks and silent meditations, still produced occasional effusions
(02:17):
of sorrow as lively as ever, no letter from Willoughby came,
and none seemed expected by Mary Anne. Her mother was surprised,
and Eleanor again became uneasy. But Missus Dashwood could find
explanations whenever she wanted them, which at least satisfied herself.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Remember, Eleanor said she how very often Sir John fetches
our letters himself from the post and carries them to it.
We have already agreed that secrecy may be necessary, and
we must acknowledge that it could not be maintained if
their correspondence were to pass through Sir John's hands.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Eleanor could not deny the truth of this, and she
tried to find in it a motive sufficient for their silence.
But there was one method, so direct, so simple, and
in her opinion, so eligible of knowing the real state
of the affair, and of instantly removing all mystery, that
she could not help suggesting it to her mother.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Why did not ask Marianne? At once? Said she whether
she is or she is not engaged? To Willoughby from you,
her mother, and so kind, so indulgent a mother, the
question could not give offense. It would be the natural
result of your affection for her, She used to be
all unreserved, and to you, more especially.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
I would not ask such a question for the world,
supposing it possible that they are not engaged. What distress
would not such an inquiry inflict? At any rate? It
would be most ungenerous. I should never deserve her confidence
again After forcing from her a confession of what is
meant at present to be unago knowledge to any one.
(04:02):
I know mari Anne's heart. I know that she dearly
loves me, and that I shall not be the last
to whom the affair is made known when circumstances make
the revealment of it eligible. I would not attempt to
force the confidence of any one of a child, much
less because a sense of duty would prevent the denial
(04:22):
which her wishes might direct.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Eleanor thought this generosity overstrained, considering her sister's youth, and
urged the matter farther. But in vain, common sense, common care,
common prudence were all sunk in Missus Dashwood's romantic delicacy.
It was several days before Willoughby's name was mentioned before
(04:45):
Marianne by any of her family. Sir John and Missus Jennings,
indeed were not so nice. Their witticisms added pain to
many a painful hour. But one evening, Missus Dashwood, accidentally
taking up a volume of Shakespeare, exclaimed, we have.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Never finished Hamlet. Mari Anne, our dear Willoughby went away
before we could get through it. We will put it
by that when he comes again. But it may be months,
perhaps before that happens.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Months, cried mary Anne, with strong surprise.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
No, no, many weeks.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Missus Dashwood was sorry for what she had said, but
it gave Eleanor pleasure as it produced a reply from
mary Anne so expressive of confidence in Willoughby and knowledge
of his intentions. One morning, about a week after his
leaving the country, mari Anne was prevailed on to join
her sisters in their usual walk instead of wandering away
(05:46):
by herself. Hitherto, she had carefully avoided every companion in
her rambles. If her sisters intended to walk on the downs,
she directly stole away towards the lanes. If they talked
of the valley, she was as speedy in climbing the
hills and could never be found when the others set off.
(06:06):
But at length she was secured by the exertions of Eleanor,
who greatly disapproved such continual seclusion. They walked along the
road through the valley, and chiefly in silence, for Marie
Anne's mind could not be controlled, and Eleanor, satisfied with
gaining one point, would not then attempt more beyond the
(06:28):
entrance of the valley, where the country though still rich,
was less wild and more open. A long stretch of
the road which they had traveled on first coming to Barton,
lay before them, and on reaching that point, they stopped
to look around them and examine a prospect which formed
the distance of their view from the cottage, from a
(06:50):
spot which they had never happened to reach in any
of their walks before. Amongst the objects in the scene,
they soon discovered an animated one was a man on
horseback riding towards them. In a few minutes they could
distinguish him to be a gentleman, and in a moment afterwards,
Marianne rapturously exclaimed.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
It is he.
Speaker 5 (07:13):
It is.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Indeed, I know it.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Is, and was hastening to meet him, when Eleanor cried out.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Indeed, Marianne, I think you are mistaken. It is not Willoughby.
The person is not tall enough for him and has
not his.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Air he has he has cried Marianne.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
I am sure he has his air, his coat, his horse.
I knew how soon he would come.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
She walked eagerly on as she spoke, and Eleanor to
screen mary Anne from particularity, as she felt almost certain
of its not being Willoughby quickened her pace and kept
up with her. They were soon within thirty yards of
the gentleman. Mary Anne looked again, her heart sunk within her,
(07:58):
and abruptly turning round. She was hurrying back when the
voices of both her sisters were raised to detain her.
A third, almost as well known as Willoughby's, joined them
in begging her to stop, and she turned round with
surprise to see and welcome Edward Ferrars. He was the
(08:18):
only person in the world who could, at that moment
be forgiven for not being Willoughby, the only one who
could have gained a smile from her. But she dispersed
her tears to smile on him, and in her sister's happiness,
forgot for a time her own disappointment. He dismounted, and,
giving his horse to his servant, walked back with them
(08:41):
to Barton, whither he was purposely coming to visit them.
He was welcomed by them all with great cordiality, but
especially by mari Anne, who showed more warmth of regard
in her reception of him than even eleanor herself. To
mary Anne, indeed, the meeting between edwind Word and her
sister was but a continuation of that unaccountable coldness which
(09:05):
she had often observed at Norland in their mutual behavior.
On Edward's side, more particularly, there was a deficiency of
all that a lover ought to look and say on
such an occasion, he was confused, seemed scarcely sensible of
pleasure in seeing them, looked neither rapturous nor gay, said
(09:27):
little but what was forced from him by questions, and
distinguished Eleanor by no mark of affection. Mary Anne saw
and listened with increasing surprise. She began almost to feel
a dislike of Edward, and it ended, as every feeling
must end, with her by carrying back her thoughts to Willoughby,
(09:49):
whose manners formed a contrast sufficiently striking to those of
his brother elect. After a short silence which succeeded the
first surprise and d inquiries of meeting, mary Anne asked
Edward if he came directly from London. No, he had
been in Devonshire a fortnight. A fortnight, she repeated, surprised
(10:12):
at his being so long in the same county with
Eleanor without seeing her before. He looked rather distressed as
he added that he had been staying with some friends
near Plymouth.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Have you been lately in Sussex?
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Said Eleanor.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
I was at Norland about a month ago.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
And how does dear dear Norland look.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Cried Mary Anne. Dear dear Norland, said Eleanor. Probably looks
much as it always does at this time of year,
the woods and walks thickly covered with dead laves.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Oh, cried mary Anne.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
With what transporting sensation have I formerly seen them fall?
How have I delighted as I walked to see them
driven in showers about me by the wind? What feelings
have they the season? The air altogether inspired? Now there
is no one to regard them. They are seen only
as a nuisance, swept hastily off and driven as much
(11:09):
as possible from the sight.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
It is not every one, said Eleanor, who has your
passion for dead leaves.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
No, my feelings are not often shared, not often understood,
but sometimes they are.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
As she said to this, she sunk into a reverie
for a few moments, but rousing herself again, now, Edward
said she, calling his attention to the prospect.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
Here is Barton Valley. Look up to it and be
tranquil if you can look at those hills. Did you
ever see their equals? To the left is Barton Park.
Amongst those woods and plantations, you may see the end
of the house. And there beneath that farthest hill, which
rises with such grandeur, is our cottage.
Speaker 5 (11:56):
It is a beautiful country, he replied. These bottoms must
be dirty in winter.
Speaker 4 (12:02):
How can you think of dot with such objects.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Before you, because, replied he, smiling, Among.
Speaker 5 (12:10):
The rest of the objects before me, I see a
very dirty lane.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
How strange, said Mary Anne to herself as she walked on.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
Have you an agreeable neighborhood, Tea? Are the Middleton's pleasant people? No?
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Not at all, answered Mary Anne.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
We could not be more unfortunately situated.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Mary Anne cried her sister.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
How can you say so? How can you be so unjust?
They are a very respectable family, mister Ferris, and towards
us have behaved in the friendliest manner. Have you forgot,
mary Anne, how many pleasant days we have owed to them?
Speaker 1 (12:46):
No, said Mary Anne in a low voice.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
Know how many painful moments?
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Eleanor took no notice of this, and, directing her attention
to their visitor, endeavored to support something like discourse with
him by talking of their present residence, its conveniences, et cetera,
extorting from him occasional questions and remarks. His coldness and
reserve mortified her severely. She was vexed and half angry,
(13:16):
but resolving to regulate her behavior to him by the
past rather than the present, she avoided every appearance of
resentment or displeasure, and treated him as she thought he
ought to be treated. From the family connection end of
Chapter sixteen.
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