very hard terms； if we are to dine at the park whenever any one is
staying either with them； or with us。”
“They mean no less to be civil and kind to us now；” said Elinor；
“by these frequent invitations； than by those which we received
from them a few weeks ago。 The alteration is not in them； if their
parties are grown tedious and dull。 We must look for the change
elsewhere。”
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CHAPTER XX
s the Miss Dashwoods entered the drawing…room of the
Apark the next day； at one door； Mrs。 Palmer came running
in at the other； looking as good humoured and merry as
before。 She took them all most affectionately by the hand； and
expressed great delight in seeing them again。
“I am so glad to see you！” said she； seating herself between
Elinor and Marianne； “for it is so bad a day I was afraid you might
not come； which would be a shocking thing； as we go away again
tomorrow。 We must go； for the Westons come to us next week you
know。 It was quite a sudden thing our coming at all； and I knew
nothing of it till the carriage was coming to the door； and then Mr。
Palmer asked me if I would go with him to Barton。 He is so droll！
He never tells me any thing！ I am so sorry we cannot stay longer；
however we shall meet again in town very soon； I hope。”
They were obliged to put an end to such an expectation。
“Not go to town！” cried Mrs。 Palmer； with a laugh； “I shall be
quite disappointed if you do not。 I could get the nicest house in
world for you； next door to ours； in Hanover…square。 You must
come； indeed。 I am sure I shall be very happy to chaperon you at
any time till I am confined； if Mrs。 Dashwood should not like to go
into public。”
They thanked her； but were obliged to resist all her entreaties。
“Oh！ my love；” cried Mrs。 Palmer to her husband； who just then
entered the room—“you must help me to persuade the Miss
Dashwoods to go to town this winter。”
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Her love made no answer； and after slightly bowing to the
ladies； began complaining of the weather。
“How horrid all this is！” said he。 “Such weather makes every
thing and every body disgusting。 Dullness is as much produced
within doors as without； by rain。 It makes one detest all one’s
acquaintance。 What the devil does Sir John mean by not having a
billiard room in his house？ How few people know what comfort is！
Sir John is as stupid as the weather。”
The rest of the company soon dropt in。
“I am afraid； Miss Marianne；” said Sir John； “you have not been
able to take your usual walk to Allenham today。”
Marianne looked very grave and said nothing。
“Oh； don’t be so sly before us；” said Mrs。 Palmer； “for we know
all about it； I assure you； and I admire your taste very much； for I
think he is extremely handsome。 We do not live a great way from
him in the country； you know。 Not above ten miles； I dare say。”
“Much nearer thirty；” said her husband。
“Ah； well！ there is not much difference。 I never was at his
house； but they say it is a sweet pretty place。”
“As vile a spot as I ever saw in my life；” said Mr。 Palmer。
Marianne remained perfectly silent； though her countenance
betrayed her interest in what was said。
“Is it very ugly？” continued Mrs。 Palmer—“then it must be
some other place that is so pretty I suppose。”
When they were seated in the dining room； Sir John observed
with regret that they were only eight all together。
“My dear；” said he to his lady； “it is very provoking that we
should be so few。 Why did not you ask the Gilberts to come to us
to…day？”
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“Did not I tell you； Sir John； when you spoke to me about it
before； that it could not be done？ They dined with us last。”
“You and I； Sir John；” said Mrs。 Jennings； “should not stand
upon such ceremony。”
“Then you would be very ill…bred；” cried Mr。 Palmer。
“My love you contradict every body；” said his wife with her
usual laugh。 “Do you know that you are quite rude？”
“I did not know I contradicted any body in calling your mother
ill…bred。”
“Ay； you may abuse me as you please；” said the good…natured
old lady； “you have taken Charlotte off my hands； and cannot give
her back again。 So there I have the whip hand of you。”
Charlotte laughed heartily to think that her husband could not
get rid of her； and exultingly said； she did not care how cross he
was to her； as they must live together。 It was impossible for any
one to be more thoroughly good…natured； or more determined to
be happy than Mrs。 Palmer。 The studied indifference； insolence；
and discontent of her husband gave her no pain； and when he
scolded or abused her； she was highly diverted。
“Mr。 Palmer is so droll！” said she； in a whisper； to Elinor。 “He is
always out of humour。”
Elinor was not inclined； after a little observation； to give him
credit for being so genuinely and unaffectedly ill…natured or ill…
bred as he wished to appear。 His temper might perhaps be a little
soured by finding； like many others of his sex； that through some
unaccountable bias in favour of beauty； he was the husband of a
very silly woman；—but she knew that this kind of blunder was too
common for any sensible man to be lastingly hurt by it。—It was
rather a wish of distinction； she believed； which produced his
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contemptuous treatment of every body； and his general abuse of
every thing before him。 It was the desire of appearing superior to
other people。 The motive was too common to be wondered at； but
the means； however they might succeed by establishing his
superiority in ill…breeding； were not likely to attach any one to him
except his wife。
“Oh！ my dear Miss Dashwood；” said Mrs。 Palmer soon
afterwards； “I have got such a favour to ask of you and your sister。
Will you come and spend some time at Cleveland this Christmas？
Now； pray do；—and come while the Westons are with us。 You
cannot think how happy I shall be！ It will be quite delightful！—My
love；” applying to her husband； “don’t you long to have the Miss
Dashwoods come to Cleveland？”
“Certainly；” he replied； with a sneer—“I came into Devonshire
with no other view。”
“There now；”—said his lady； “you see Mr。 Palmer expects you；
so you cannot refuse to come。”
They both eagerly and resolutely declined her invitation。
“But indeed you must and shall come。 I am sure you will like it
of all things。 The Westons will be with us； and it will be quite
delightful。 You cannot think what a sweet place Cleveland is； and
we are so gay now； for Mr。 Palmer is always going about the
country canvassing against the election； and so many people came
to dine with us that I never saw before； it is quite charming！ But；
poor fellow！ it is very fatiguing to him！ for he is forced to make
every body like him。”
Elinor could hardly keep her countenance as she assented to
the hardship of such an obligation。
“How charming it will be；” said Charlotte； “when he is in
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Parliament！—won’t it？ How I shall laugh！ It will be so ridiculous to
see all his letters directed to him with an M。P。—But do you know；
he says； he will never frank for me？ He declares he won’t。 Don’t
you； Mr。 Palmer？”
Mr。 Palmer took no notice of her。
“He cannot bear writing； you know；” she continued—“he says it
is quite shocking。”
“No；” said he； “I never said any thing so irrational。 Don’t palm
all your abuses of languages upon me。”
“There now； you see how droll he is。 This is always the way
with him！ Sometimes he won’t speak to me for half a day together；
and then he comes out with something so droll—all about any
thing in the world。”
She surprised Elinor very much as they returned into the
drawing…room； by asking her whether she did not like Mr。 Palmer
excessively。
“Certainly；” said Elinor； “he seems very agreeable。”
“Well—I am so
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