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The family of Dashwood had long been settled in Norland Park, Sussex. Mr Henry Dashwood lived with his only son, as his wife had passed away. She had had a large fortune, and when she died, she left it all to her son, but with one condition; the money and house would only be passed on to her son once her husband had died as well. After several years, Mr Henry Dashwood married again and had three daughters. His new lady had no money at all and he understood, that to his daughters he would not be able to leave much on his death. Elinor, Marianne and Margaret would only get what Mr Dashwood would manage to save during his lifetime as he could give them nothing from his first wife’s fortune. But Mr Dashwood was a cheerful man and hoped to live many years, and by living economically he would be able to save enough money so that his three daughters would have reasonable incomes. Also, he hoped his eldest son would help his half sisters if such help was needed.
When his eldest daughter, Elinor, was only nineteen, Mr. Henry Dashwood 4suddenly became very ill and died within two months, leaving to his widow and daughters only ten thousand pounds. His son was sent for as soon as the danger was known, and Mr Dashwood’s last words were to ask him to help his stepmother and sisters.
The son, Mr John Dashwood was not a bad person, unless to be rather selfish and rather cold-hearted is to be bad. In fact, had he married a nicer woman, he might have been made a nice person himself. Unfortunately Fanny Ferrars, who he married, was even more narrow-minded and selfish than he. Consequently, during their marriage, her husband, who was very fond of her, had been made a strong caricature of his earlier self.
When his father was dying, Mr John Dashwood promised to do ‘everything in his power’ to make his stepmother and sisters comfortable. After his father’s death he had to consider how much ‘everything’ really was. At first, he thought he could give them a thousand pounds each.
‘Yes, I could spare the sum very easily.’ he thought to himself.
But his wife did not see it in the same light. To take three thousand pounds from the fortune of their dear little son would be making him almost poor! How could he rob his child of so large a sum? And then give it to his HALF-sisters!
‘It was my last promise to my father, my dear Fanny.’ her husband replied. ‘He begged me to do something for my sisters and their mother after his death.’
‘Well, then let something be done for them, but that something need not be three thousand pounds!’
‘I would not like them to think mean of me, you know...’ added Mr Dashwood.
‘There’s no knowing what they might expect, but the real question is what you can afford!’ said the lady. ‘To my mind, they need no more money. They may live very comfortably on the ten thousand pounds they have been left.’
‘That is true!’ Mr Dashwood brightened up. ‘Perhaps then, it would be better to do something for their mother while she lives. A hundred pounds a year would make them very comfortable.’
‘Undoubtedly,’ answered the lady, ‘but if Mrs Dashwood lives another fifteen years, we shall be ruined!’
‘Fifteen years! But my dear Fanny!’ exclaimed Mr Dashwood in horror.
‘Well, my experience is that people seem to live forever if there is money to be paid them.’ said Mrs Dashwood calmly.
‘Perhaps then,’ said Mr Dashwood after a moment’s thought.
When his eldest daughter, Elinor, was only nineteen, Mr. Henry Dashwood 4suddenly became very ill and died within two months, leaving to his widow and daughters only ten thousand pounds. His son was sent for as soon as the danger was known, and Mr Dashwood’s last words were to ask him to help his stepmother and sisters.
The son, Mr John Dashwood was not a bad person, unless to be rather selfish and rather cold-hearted is to be bad. In fact, had he married a nicer woman, he might have been made a nice person himself. Unfortunately Fanny Ferrars, who he married, was even more narrow-minded and selfish than he. Consequently, during their marriage, her husband, who was very fond of her, had been made a strong caricature of his earlier self.
When his father was dying, Mr John Dashwood promised to do ‘everything in his power’ to make his stepmother and sisters comfortable. After his father’s death he had to consider how much ‘everything’ really was. At first, he thought he could give them a thousand pounds each.
‘Yes, I could spare the sum very easily.’ he thought to himself.
But his wife did not see it in the same light. To take three thousand pounds from the fortune of their dear little son would be making him almost poor! How could he rob his child of so large a sum? And then give it to his HALF-sisters!
‘It was my last promise to my father, my dear Fanny.’ her husband replied. ‘He begged me to do something for my sisters and their mother after his death.’
‘Well, then let something be done for them, but that something need not be three thousand pounds!’
‘I would not like them to think mean of me, you know...’ added Mr Dashwood.
‘There’s no knowing what they might expect, but the real question is what you can afford!’ said the lady. ‘To my mind, they need no more money. They may live very comfortably on the ten thousand pounds they have been left.’
‘That is true!’ Mr Dashwood brightened up. ‘Perhaps then, it would be better to do something for their mother while she lives. A hundred pounds a year would make them very comfortable.’
‘Undoubtedly,’ answered the lady, ‘but if Mrs Dashwood lives another fifteen years, we shall be ruined!’
‘Fifteen years! But my dear Fanny!’ exclaimed Mr Dashwood in horror.
‘Well, my experience is that people seem to live forever if there is money to be paid them.’ said Mrs Dashwood calmly.
‘Perhaps then,’ said Mr Dashwood after a moment’s thought.
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