; two maids and a man,
with whom they were speedily provided from amongst those who had formed their
establishment at Norland.
    The man and one of the maids were sent off immediately into Devonshire, to
prepare the house for their mistress's arrival; for as Lady Middleton was
entirely unknown to Mrs. Dashwood, she preferred going directly to the cottage
to being a visitor at Barton Park; and she relied so undoubtingly on Sir John's
description of the house, as to feel no curiosity to examine it herself till she
entered it as her own. Her eagerness to be gone from Norland was preserved from
diminution by the evident satisfaction of her daughter-in-law in the prospect of
her removal; a satisfaction which was but feebly attempted to be concealed under
a cold invitation to her to defer her departure. Now was the time when her
son-in-law's promise to his father might with particular propriety be fulfilled.
Since he had neglected to do it on first coming to the estate, their quitting
his house might be looked on as the most suitable period for its accomplishment.
But Mrs. Dashwood began shortly to give over every hope of the kind, and to be
convinced, from the general drift of his discourse, that his assistance extended
no farther than their maintenance for six months at Norland. He so frequently
talked of the increasing expenses of housekeeping, and of the perpetual demands
upon his purse, which a man of any consequence in the world was beyond
calculation exposed to, that he seemed rather to stand in need of more money
himself than to have any design of giving money away.
    In a very few weeks from the day which brought Sir John Middleton's first
letter to Norland, every thing was so far settled in their future abode as to
enable Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters to begin their journey.
    Many were the tears shed by them in their last adieus to a place so much
beloved. »Dear, dear Norland!« said Marianne, as she wandered alone before the
house, on the last evening of their being there; »when shall I cease to regret
you! - when learn to feel a home elsewhere! - Oh! happy house, could you know
what I suffer in now viewing you from this spot, from whence perhaps I may view
you no more! - And you, ye well-known trees! - but you will continue the same. -
No leaf will decay because we are removed, nor any branch become motionless
although we can observe you no longer! - No; you will continue the same;
