 all infants being alike; and
though she could plainly perceive at different times, the most striking
resemblance between, this baby and every one of his relations on both sides,
there was no convincing his father of it; no persuading him to believe that it
was not exactly like every other baby of the same age; nor could he even be
brought to acknowledge the simple proposition of its being the finest child in
the world.
    I come now to the relation of a misfortune, which about this time befell
Mrs. John Dashwood. It so happened that while her two sisters with Mrs. Jennings
were first calling on her in Harley-street, another of her acquaintance had
dropt in - a circumstance in itself not apparently likely to produce evil to
her. But while the imaginations of other people will carry them away to form
wrong judgments of our conduct, and to decide on it by slight appearances, one's
happiness must in some measure be always at the mercy of chance. In the present
instance, this last-arrived lady allowed her fancy so far to outrun truth and
probability, that on merely hearing the name of the Miss Dashwoods, and
understanding them to be Mr. Dashwood's sisters, she immediately concluded them
to be staying in Harley-street; and this misconstruction produced within a day
or two afterwards, cards of invitation for them as well as for their brother and
sister, to a small musical party at her house. The consequence of which was,
that Mrs. John Dashwood was obliged to submit not only to the exceedingly great
inconvenience of sending her carriage for the Miss Dashwoods; but, what was
still worse, must be subject to all the unpleasantness of appearing to treat
them with attention; and who could tell that they might not expect to go out
with her a second time? The power of disappointing them, it was true, must
always be her's. But that was not enough; for when people are determined on a
mode of conduct which they know to be wrong, they feel injured by the
expectation of any thing better from them.
    Marianne had now been brought by degrees, so much into the habit of going
out every day, that it was become a matter of indifference to her, whether she
went or not: and she prepared quietly and mechanically for every evening's
engagement, though without expecting the smallest amusement from any, and very
often without knowing till the last moment, where it was to take her.
    To her dress and appearance she was grown, so perfectly indifferent, as not
to bestow half the consideration on it
