The Annotated Sense and Sensibility

by Jane Austen

  10. Mrs. Jennings is returning to London. Servants are shown in Austen’s novels as a frequent source of information, and Mrs. Jennings is a great lover of gossip. She was earlier described having her servant inquire of another servant for information (this page).

  11. Colonel Brandon, lacking his own carriage, may hire one, or he may go on horseback. Men often traveled that way for short distances, and Cleveland’s location near Bristol would make it reasonably close to his home in Dorsetshire (see map).

  12. The distance has earlier been stated to be eighty miles. That would be ten to eleven hours at prevailing speeds, but they probably proceeded more slowly, with frequent rests, because of Marianne’s condition. Below they are described as being home for dinner, which was usually at four or five o’clock, so they were not on the road the entire second day.

  13. direction: disposition.

  14. Marianne’s new spirit of resolution and improvement will be confirmed by her subsequent words and behavior.

  15. Opera music was very popular then. Even at public concerts a large proportion of the music would be songs from operas. For a picture of a woman at the opera, see this page.

  16. Duets were a favorite type of song in opera, and an opportunity to sing together would have naturally appealed to Marianne and Willoughby.

  17. This would be the outward page of the opera score. Many people bought or copied musical scores to play at home.

  18. Marianne’s misery in London, and the severe illness she suffered just after it, could call into question the decision to have her remain in London after her rejection by Willoughby. Her behavior here, however, suggests that her mother may have been right to keep her from scenes that had such distressing associations with Willoughby. Even now, after more time and with a spirit of fortitude opposite to her earlier state of mind, she is powerfully affected by every reminder of him.

  19. A farm usually meant a relatively small plot of land cultivated by someone of modest income; it often was rented from a wealthy landowner. The initial description of Barton spoke of it as full of downs, or expanses of elevated, generally treeless land.

  20. The plantations are probably woods of planted trees that Sir John has recently established, perhaps for timber.

  21. A priory is a monastery or nunnery, especially one that is an offshoot of a larger abbey; this priory may have been connected to the institution on what she calls the Abbeyland. All such institutions were dissolved in England during the sixteenth century when Henry VIII created the Church of England and rejected Roman Catholicism; the buildings frequently fell into ruin. Interest in ruins of various kinds had grown in England during the preceding century, and both Romanticism, which was fascinated by the past and tragic fates, and the taste for the picturesque, which considered ruins an invaluable part of a picturesque landscape, encouraged this interest further (see picture for an example). The taste for them was so prevalent that many landowners installed manufactured ruins on their grounds. In her youthful satire “The History of England,” Jane Austen, after denouncing the cruelties of Henry VIII, jokes that “nothing can be said in his vindication, but that his abolishing Religious Houses & leaving them to the ruinous depredations of time has been of infinite use to the landscape of England in general.” For a contemporary picture of the ruins of an abbey, see this page.

  22. It is currently late April (see chronology, this page). Marianne can anticipate many months when the days will be long enough for her to rise early in the morning and enjoy sufficient daylight for reading.

  23. amusement: enjoyment, diversion.

  24. The Park is the Middletons’ residence, which, like any grand country house, would contain a library. Marianne’s mention of getting more modern books from Colonel Brandon suggests that Sir John and Lady Middleton are not readers and have not bothered to add to the collections developed by previous generations. It also suggests that she knows, either from her own discussions with Colonel Brandon or from Elinor, that he is a reader. This would be a further affinity between them.

  25. appointed: determined the time for.

  26. What troubles Marianne is that if Willoughby never loved her but was only out to seduce her, then her quickness to show her feelings for him and her disregard of decorum would appear especially immodest and imprudent—“shamefully unguarded,” as she puts it. In effect, she would have exposed herself to a shocking attempt on her virtue through her own recklessness and impropriety. Her peace is “doubly involved” in this scenario, because it would force her to think much less both of Willoughby and herself. The seriousness of this matter is indicated by the incomplete termination of her final sentence, caused either by her inability to continue or by Elinor’s interruption to keep her from dwelling on such gloomy thoughts.

  27. eligibility: desirability, suitableness.

  A woman looking at an engraving by Michelangelo; an example of the kind of worthy reading Marianne has resolved to do.

  [From Sir Walter Armstrong, Lawrence (London, 1913), p. 90]

  [List of Illustrations]

  28. “My dearest Elinor” is a particularly affectionate designation. “Dear” and “my dear” are used frequently, but this is rarer, a product of Marianne’s heightened emotion.

  29. “Serious” often meant religious and probably does here in part, for below Marianne will discuss the profound religious implications of her case. But her “serious recollection” was also probably more general, as her subsequent words indicate. This long speech, in which she recognizes her various mistakes, traces their causes, identifies the means of correction, and resolves to undertake them, is similar to speeches of other Austen heroines.

  30. She believes that her death, had it occurred, would have been self-destruction. This means in her mind she came close to committing suicide, a mortal sin that would require atonement to God, even if uncompleted. Jane Austen was sincerely, if not fervently, religious, though her novels for the most part do not touch overtly on religious issues. A case of near suicide necessitates an exception.

  31. Her language becomes more halting and emotional as she proceeds.

  Old Abbey, Evesham. One of many pictures of the ruins of an abbey by a leading painter of the time, J. M. W. Turner.

  [From Geoffrey Holme, ed., Early English Water-colour Drawings (London, 1919), Plate I]

  [List of Illustrations]

  32. John and Fanny deserve some consideration as her brother and his wife. This is why Elinor paid them visits in London and spoke cordially to John, even though she was as contemptuous as Marianne of their principles and conduct and had more personal reason for resentment because they opposed a marriage between herself and Edward. Marianne’s words show her accepting the need to fulfill social obligations, regardless of the unpleasantness of the people involved.

  33. offices: duties, tasks.

  34. complaisance: civility, agreeableness, willingness to please others.

  35. Elinor had performed the duty of being civil to people in general and showing gratitude to those, such as Mrs. Jennings, who were particularly kind.

  36. Marianne’s vow of reformation climaxes her story. It has been well prepared by all that has happened. Unfortunately, in contrast to some other Austen heroines, she will not have a chance to demonstrate her new virtue and self-control in the remainder of the story.

  37. incitement: incentive, motive.

  38. Marianne’s vow never to leave home shows that she is not thinking of the marriage to Colonel Brandon that her mother contemplates. It also shows her again going to extremes—even in her worthy resolutions.

  39. The “lesser duties of life” would be the social obligations she has just discussed.

  40. The idea of religion and reason as the forces that could subdue bad passions and make people act correctly was a long-standing one, articulated in various writings of the time. Employment would add to their effect in this case by taking Marianne’s mind off Willoughby.

  41. propriety: wisdom and appropriateness.
She would not be thinking of etiquette here.

  42. Not able to figure out when to speak, she realizes she must simply resolve and act.

  43. address: skill, dexterity.

  44. She would not want Marianne to know the strength of his current regard for her, and preference for her over his wife, because that might make it harder for Marianne to get over him. Willoughby’s sentiments were also improper in themselves and not appropriate to repeat.

  45. Marianne could not bring herself to ask any questions to betray her curiosity.

  46. minute: precise, attentive to detail.

  47. She could not be specific on dangerous subjects, such as Willoughby’s continuing affection for Marianne.

  VOLUME III, CHAPTER XI

  1. This indicates the benevolence of Mrs. Dashwood, who has consistently shown a strong wish to think well of everybody.

  2. Willoughby in fact had little to say in his defense when it came to this matter.

  3. her retailed explanation: her retold explanation, or detailed explanation. Either meaning is possible, and both may be intended.

  4. Marianne’s emotions keep her from speaking steadily, but like Elinor under similar circumstances, she struggles to control her feelings.

  5. “The best of men” is Colonel Brandon, whose peace was severely injured by Willoughby’s seduction of Eliza Williams.

  6. expensiveness: extravagance.

  7. Marianne has no experience as a housekeeper, someone who would order meals, purchase items for the house, hire and supervise servants, and perform other basic tasks of the mistress of the house. In Northanger Abbey the mother of the heroine, who is also seventeen and shows some of the same romantic tendencies as Marianne, worries that when she marries she “would make a sad, heedless young housekeeper.” She consoles herself that her daughter will eventually learn to do the job well, but in Marianne’s case any initial mistakes would have been harder to amend because of Willoughby’s debts and irresponsible habits. Elinor describes it as a “very small income” even though, at “six or seven hundred a year” (this page), it is greater than their family’s current income and not much below the thousand a year she had earlier defined as wealth (this page). She is probably thinking of how small it would be for someone with Willoughby’s extravagant tastes.

  8. If he was already heading toward financial ruin while single, his situation would have become more acute once he also needed to support a wife, and probably children.

  9. connection: marriage.

  10. answered towards himself: satisfied him, fulfilled his wishes.

  11. His circumstances are now unembarrassed: He is now free from financial troubles.

  12. clear estate: estate clear of debts.

  13. In delivering such a comprehensive verdict, in which almost every aspect of the situation has been carefully considered, Elinor is serving as a useful mouthpiece for the author, though perhaps also showing greater and more systematic wisdom than is completely realistic.

  14. She is motivated both by her genuine friendship with Colonel Brandon and her design to promote a match between him and Marianne.

  15. Margaret had gone to stay with friends just before Mrs. Dashwood departed for the Palmers’. Her return may have been delayed from a fear of a lingering infection in Marianne, or from a belief that her presence would tax Marianne while she was still recovering.

  16. The distraction and heartbreak of previous events may have sapped some of their vigor. This also indicates that Marianne has not yet embarked on the program of voluminous reading she outlined when they first returned.

  17. The latest phase of Marianne’s story is now complete, so the situation of Elinor and Edward can return to the fore.

  18. John Dashwood’s letter does indicate some concern, despite his disapproval of Edward’s conduct, as well as some concern on Fanny’s part, if the letter is accurate in reporting her sentiments (John has exaggerated her compassion on other occasions). It also shows Mrs. Ferrars’s continued obstinacy, which is why the subject of Edward is still prohibited.

  19. intelligence: news.

  20. measures: plans, course of action.

  21. He would probably go to Exeter regularly, for he would be the servant to run most errands.

  22. Waiting at table would be another of his duties. It was something male or female servants could do, but men were preferred, and their two female servants would have their hands full with the essential tasks of cooking, cleaning, and washing clothes, all of which were normally female chores.

  23. event: result.

  24. The chaise would be stopping there because an inn was usually where those traveling could hire fresh horses.

  25. A postboy rides the post horses serving travelers. Thomas’s message gives a glimpse of servant society, in which those working in different households could be tied by family relationship or friendship. Thomas and Sally may have been more than friends; servants often married other servants. He probably went first to the Park, the Middletons’ residence, on some business of the Dashwoods and then received the commission from Sally. His casual mention of this indicates he has no fear that his employers will object to his conducting business of his own while on an errand for them.

  26. service: respects.

  27. Lucy (i.e., the youngest Miss Steele) recognized Thomas from her stay at Barton and took advantage of the opportunity to send a message by him. Her full reasons for doing this will appear later.

  28. further down: farther away from London. It later turns out they were going to Dawlish, which is farther south in Devonshire (see map).

  29. This speech constitutes the most sustained example of servant speech in any Austen novel. As with other servants, his language is less polished and grammatical than that of the genteel characters; while servants frequently could read, they would have received little or no formal education. At the same time, Austen does not caricature Thomas’s speech, as some writers of the time did when presenting servants: he gets his points across clearly and arranges his thoughts with reasonable coherence.

  30. free-spoken: unreserved.

  31. Thomas would know about Edward from his extended stay with the Dashwoods at Norland (their current servants were all taken from Norland), and from the week Edward spent visiting the Dashwoods in Barton.

  32. town: London.

  33. bide: stay, remain. This meaning of the word was somewhat archaic by then; it is used by nobody else in Austen’s novels. Older words and grammar were more likely to persist among the less educated.

  34. This is a logical surmise, since Mr. Pratt is Lucy’s uncle with whom Edward studied, and Plymouth is west of Exeter and therefore “further down.”

  35. The fresh horses they were hiring for the next stage of their journey were about to be harnessed to their carriage.

  36. The removal of the tablecloth, like the dismissal of Thomas, signifies the end of the meal.

  37. Dessert and wine normally appeared after the tablecloth was gone. The term “dessert” derives from the French desservir, meaning “to clear the table,” because dessert was traditionally served after the tablecloth and regular dishes had been removed.

  38. This disclosure functions, among other things, to show Mrs. Dashwood her injustice to Elinor, as well as her daughter’s merit in hiding her own suffering for the sake of the others.

  VOLUME III, CHAPTER XII

  1. establishment: settlement in life, specifically through marriage.

  2. She had speculated it might take him a few months to be ordained, though she admitted her lack of knowledge of the matter (this page). Only an ordained clergyman could perform the functions of the living.

  3. self-provident care: careful foresight regarding herself.

  4. contriving: skillful, inventive.

  5. Meaning a mental picture of him in his new situation.

  6. connections: relatives.

  7. The self-flattery would be that her relatives would consider her important enough to inform of
such news.

  8. Mrs. Dashwood continues to harbor boundless optimism about Colonel Brandon’s soon marrying Marianne.

  9. A gentleman’s dress differed from that of men of lower station (see note 20).

  10. air: outward character, demeanor.

  11. utterance: power of speech.

  12. Gravel was often used to form paths.

  13. complacency: pleasure, delight.

  14. Wishing someone joy was a standard formulation for congratulating someone on a recent marriage.

  15. coloured: blushed.

  16. Longstaple is the place near Plymouth where Mr. Pratt lives.

  17. work: needlework.

  18. accent: tone

  19. Scissors would often be found lying around in a house inhabited by ladies because they were used for needlework, a basic female activity in this society.

  20. Now it is Edward who is nervous and hesitant in speaking.

  21. For more on Dawlish, see note 32.

  22. sit it: endure it.

  23. Ladies were not supposed to run, and nobody was supposed to run inside a house. Her excitement stirs her to a speedy exit, but her self-control keeps her from actually running.

  24. Elinor’s self-control is also indicated by her still taking the trouble to close the door after herself, the correct behavior whenever leaving a room.

  25. emotion: agitation.

  VOLUME III, CHAPTER XIII

  1. Jane Austen is being humorous here, because of course Edward no longer has to worry about parental consent, since he has been effectively renounced by his one remaining parent.

  2. This silence on the actual words exchanged during a proposal is standard in Jane Austen. She may have found the heightened emotion of such a scene unsuitable to her general manner of presentation.

  3. Their having dinner at four o’clock shows that they do not worry too much about status, for a later dinner hour was a sign of greater wealth and rank. Edward’s joining them and fitting into their normal family life corresponds to the usual practice in Jane Austen, in which romantic love does not exclude other ties or override general social obligations.