feat_summary_path: finished_summaries/pinkmonkey/Sense and Sensibility/section_41_part_0.txt
feat_book_id: Sense and Sensibility.chapter 42
feat_summary_id: chapter 42
feat_summary: {"name": "Chapter  42", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20180820034609/http://www.pinkmonkey.com/booknotes/monkeynotes/pmSenseSensibility58.asp", "summary": "Edward goes to meet Lucy after thanking Colonel Brandon. Mrs. Jennings is grateful to both Elinor and Brandon for helping Lucy to settle down. Elinor decides to visit her brother before the departure for Cleveland. Since Marianne refuses to accompany her, she goes alone to meet Lady Dashwood and her brother. John Dashwood welcomes her. He shows his surprise at Colonel Brandon's generosity towards Edward. He then informs her of Robert's plans to get married to Miss Morton. When John goes to inform his wife of Elinor's visit, Robert comes to meet her and keeps her company. He is amused at Edward's choosing to become a clergyman and takes pity on him for having to marry Lucy. Shortly afterwards, Fanny Dashwood comes forward to meet Elinor. She talks politely and expresses regret at their departure to Cleveland.", "analysis": "Notes Most of the scenes in which Mrs. Jennings and John Dashwood are present evoke humor. In this chapter John Dashwood amuses the readers through his conversation with Elinor. Obsessed with money and miserly in his attitude, he fails to believe that the Colonel has been so kind as to offer a position at Delaford to Edward. He assumes that the Colonel must have an ulterior motive. He dubs Brandon as unthinking and strange. However, he is happy at the thought that the wealthy Colonel may soon marry Elinor. A hen-pecked and indulgent husband, John Dashwood is afraid to hurt the feelings of his cunning wife. Thus he requests Elinor to refrain from mentioning the Colonel's benevolence to her. He is happy to see his wife talking politely to Elinor and appreciates Fanny's gesture. John Dashwood's views and ideas shock Elinor. Referring to the marriage of Robert Ferrars to Miss Morton, he voices his opinion that Miss Morton should not mind getting married to any one of the brothers  as long as he inherits the family property. His line of argument appalls Elinor thoroughly: her brother considers money superior to emotion. CHAPTER 42 Summary In early April the two families from Hanover Square and Berkeley Street set out on their journey to Cleveland. Passing through Somerset, they take three days to reach their destination. The Palmers' house is modern and spacious, and the surrounding flora and fauna enhance its beauty. Marianne is excited at the idea of being able to explore the countryside. However, she is forced to stay indoors due to rain. Mr. Palmer and Colonel Brandon arrive shortly afterwards. Elinor finds both Mr. and Mrs. Palmer charming and friendly hosts. Brandon talks to her about Delaford. He suspects that Marianne has caught a cold, and in fact, she falls ill with the flu a few days later. Notes Marianne and Elinor have different reactions to the departure for Cleveland. Marianne becomes emotional, recollecting the pleasures and pains she has experienced while in London. Elinor is quite content to leave the place, as she is not at all sentimental about it. In fact, she is relieved to be spared the company of Lucy Steele. She also hopes that a change of scene will help Marianne to regain her health. Jane Austen once again highlights Marianne's sensibility in contrast to Elinor's good sense. Mr. Palmer reveals himself to be a gentleman beneath his tough exterior. Elinor is at first apprehensive about living under his roof. However, she finds him refreshingly different at Cleveland. Austen writes, \"She found him, however, perfectly the gentleman in his behaviour to all his visitors, and only occasionally rude to his wife and her mother; she found him very capable of being a pleasant companion.\" Elinor is arguably the mouthpiece of the author, and therefore her renewed assessment of Mr. Palmer is important. John Dashwood is still under the impression that Colonel Brandon is in love with Elinor. Therefore he informs his sister that he will be making a visit to Delaford in the future. Elinor is merely amused at his remark, as she is well aware of the true object of the Colonel's desire: her sister, Marianne. CHAPTER 43 Summary This entire chapter deals with Marianne's illness. Her cold develops into influenza and then into a mysterious illness. The doctor administers medication and predicts her recovery, but Marianne's health turns from bad to worse. Mrs. Palmer, fearing an infection that could be caught by her new-born baby, moves to a friend's house near Bath. Mr. Palmer follows her after a few days. After four days, when Marianne's health shows no improvement, Elinor decides to consult with the Colonel before calling her mother to Cleveland. Colonel Brandon willingly offers to fetch Mrs. Dashwood from Barton and leaves immediately on this errand. Both Mrs. Jennings and Elinor are anxious after the doctor gives up hope, since the medication fails to cure Marianne. However, after a few more days, Marianne recovers miraculously. As Elinor waits for her mother to arrive, she gets a surprise visitor. It is Willoughby, who makes an appearance at the cottage. Notes Jane Austen throws light on the attitude of the different characters through their distinct reactions to Marianne's illness. When Marianne's condition worsens, Elinor is quite disturbed, but she does not panic. She thinks calmly and arrives at the decision to summon her mother from Barton. The Colonel is concerned about Marianne's health. He sensibly offers to fetch Mrs. Dashwood and undertakes his mission without delay. Both Elinor and the Colonel use their sense to the best advantage in order to improve the situation. Mrs. Jennings is highly emotional. She thinks of the worst when Marianne's health deteriorates. She feels sorry for the girl, as she is afraid that she may succumb to her illness. However, when Marianne recovers miraculously, she is overjoyed. Mrs. Jennings displays the extremes of emotion. Mr. Palmer conducts himself in a stable manner. When his wife panics about a possible threat to her baby's health, he chides her. As a host, he considers Marianne his responsibility and therefore shows reluctance to leave Cleveland."}
text: 
  
  One other short call in Harley Street, in which Elinor received her
  brother's congratulations on their travelling so far towards Barton
  without any expense, and on Colonel Brandon's being to follow them to
  Cleveland in a day or two, completed the intercourse of the brother and
  sisters in town;--and a faint invitation from Fanny, to come to Norland
  whenever it should happen to be in their way, which of all things was
  the most unlikely to occur, with a more warm, though less public,
  assurance, from John to Elinor, of the promptitude with which he should
  come to see her at Delaford, was all that foretold any meeting in the
  country.
  
  It amused her to observe that all her friends seemed determined to send
  her to Delaford;--a place, in which, of all others, she would now least
  chuse to visit, or wish to reside; for not only was it considered as
  her future home by her brother and Mrs. Jennings, but even Lucy, when
  they parted, gave her a pressing invitation to visit her there.
  
  Very early in April, and tolerably early in the day, the two parties
  from Hanover Square and Berkeley Street set out from their respective
  homes, to meet, by appointment, on the road.  For the convenience of
  Charlotte and her child, they were to be more than two days on their
  journey, and Mr. Palmer, travelling more expeditiously with Colonel
  Brandon, was to join them at Cleveland soon after their arrival.
  
  Marianne, few as had been her hours of comfort in London, and eager as
  she had long been to quit it, could not, when it came to the point, bid
  adieu to the house in which she had for the last time enjoyed those
  hopes, and that confidence, in Willoughby, which were now extinguished
  for ever, without great pain.  Nor could she leave the place in which
  Willoughby remained, busy in new engagements, and new schemes, in which
  SHE could have no share, without shedding many tears.
  
  Elinor's satisfaction, at the moment of removal, was more positive.
  She had no such object for her lingering thoughts to fix on, she left
  no creature behind, from whom it would give her a moment's regret to be
  divided for ever, she was pleased to be free herself from the
  persecution of Lucy's friendship, she was grateful for bringing her
  sister away unseen by Willoughby since his marriage, and she looked
  forward with hope to what a few months of tranquility at Barton might
  do towards restoring Marianne's peace of mind, and confirming her own.
  
  Their journey was safely performed.  The second day brought them into
  the cherished, or the prohibited, county of Somerset, for as such was
  it dwelt on by turns in Marianne's imagination; and in the forenoon of
  the third they drove up to Cleveland.
  
  Cleveland was a spacious, modern-built house, situated on a sloping
  lawn.  It had no park, but the pleasure-grounds were tolerably
  extensive; and like every other place of the same degree of importance,
  it had its open shrubbery, and closer wood walk, a road of smooth
  gravel winding round a plantation, led to the front, the lawn was
  dotted over with timber, the house itself was under the guardianship of
  the fir, the mountain-ash, and the acacia, and a thick screen of them
  altogether, interspersed with tall Lombardy poplars, shut out the
  offices.
  
  Marianne entered the house with a heart swelling with emotion from the
  consciousness of being only eighty miles from Barton, and not thirty
  from Combe Magna; and before she had been five minutes within its
  walls, while the others were busily helping Charlotte to show her child
  to the housekeeper, she quitted it again, stealing away through the
  winding shrubberies, now just beginning to be in beauty, to gain a
  distant eminence; where, from its Grecian temple, her eye, wandering
  over a wide tract of country to the south-east, could fondly rest on
  the farthest ridge of hills in the horizon, and fancy that from their
  summits Combe Magna might be seen.
  
  In such moments of precious, invaluable misery, she rejoiced in tears
  of agony to be at Cleveland; and as she returned by a different circuit
  to the house, feeling all the happy privilege of country liberty, of
  wandering from place to place in free and luxurious solitude, she
  resolved to spend almost every hour of every day while she remained
  with the Palmers, in the indulgence of such solitary rambles.
  
  She returned just in time to join the others as they quitted the house,
  on an excursion through its more immediate premises; and the rest of
  the morning was easily whiled away, in lounging round the kitchen
  garden, examining the bloom upon its walls, and listening to the
  gardener's lamentations upon blights, in dawdling through the
  green-house, where the loss of her favourite plants, unwarily exposed,
  and nipped by the lingering frost, raised the laughter of
  Charlotte,--and in visiting her poultry-yard, where, in the
  disappointed hopes of her dairy-maid, by hens forsaking their nests, or
  being stolen by a fox, or in the rapid decrease of a promising young
  brood, she found fresh sources of merriment.
  
  The morning was fine and dry, and Marianne, in her plan of employment
  abroad, had not calculated for any change of weather during their stay
  at Cleveland.  With great surprise therefore, did she find herself
  prevented by a settled rain from going out again after dinner.  She had
  depended on a twilight walk to the Grecian temple, and perhaps all over
  the grounds, and an evening merely cold or damp would not have deterred
  her from it; but a heavy and settled rain even SHE could not fancy dry
  or pleasant weather for walking.
  
  Their party was small, and the hours passed quietly away.  Mrs. Palmer
  had her child, and Mrs. Jennings her carpet-work; they talked of the
  friends they had left behind, arranged Lady Middleton's engagements,
  and wondered whether Mr. Palmer and Colonel Brandon would get farther
  than Reading that night.  Elinor, however little concerned in it,
  joined in their discourse; and Marianne, who had the knack of finding
  her way in every house to the library, however it might be avoided by
  the family in general, soon procured herself a book.
  
  Nothing was wanting on Mrs. Palmer's side that constant and friendly
  good humour could do, to make them feel themselves welcome.  The
  openness and heartiness of her manner more than atoned for that want of
  recollection and elegance which made her often deficient in the forms
  of politeness; her kindness, recommended by so pretty a face, was
  engaging; her folly, though evident was not disgusting, because it was
  not conceited; and Elinor could have forgiven every thing but her laugh.
  
  The two gentlemen arrived the next day to a very late dinner, affording
  a pleasant enlargement of the party, and a very welcome variety to
  their conversation, which a long morning of the same continued rain had
  reduced very low.
  
  Elinor had seen so little of Mr. Palmer, and in that little had seen so
  much variety in his address to her sister and herself, that she knew
  not what to expect to find him in his own family.  She found him,
  however, perfectly the gentleman in his behaviour to all his visitors,
  and only occasionally rude to his wife and her mother; she found him
  very capable of being a pleasant companion, and only prevented from
  being so always, by too great an aptitude to fancy himself as much
  superior to people in general, as he must feel himself to be to Mrs.
  Jennings and Charlotte.  For the rest of his character and habits, they
  were marked, as far as Elinor could perceive, with no traits at all
  unusual in his sex and time of life.  He was nice in his eating,
  uncertain in his hours; fond of his child, though affecting to slight
  it; and idled away the mornings at billiards, which ought to have been
  devoted to business.  She liked him, however, upon the whole, much
  better than she had expected, and in her heart was not sorry that she
  could like him no more;--not sorry to be driven by the observation of
  his Epicurism, his selfishness, and his conceit, to rest with
  complacency on the remembrance of Edward's generous temper, simple
  taste, and diffident feelings.
  
  Of Edward, or at least of some of his concerns, she now received
  intelligence from Colonel Brandon, who had been into Dorsetshire
  lately; and who, treating her at once as the disinterested friend of
  Mr. Ferrars, and the kind confidante of himself, talked to her a
  great deal of the parsonage at Delaford, described its deficiencies,
  and told her what he meant to do himself towards removing them.--His
  behaviour to her in this, as well as in every other particular, his
  open pleasure in meeting her after an absence of only ten days, his
  readiness to converse with her, and his deference for her opinion,
  might very well justify Mrs. Jennings's persuasion of his attachment,
  and would have been enough, perhaps, had not Elinor still, as from the
  first, believed Marianne his real favourite, to make her suspect it
  herself.  But as it was, such a notion had scarcely ever entered her
  head, except by Mrs. Jennings's suggestion; and she could not help
  believing herself the nicest observer of the two;--she watched his
  eyes, while Mrs. Jennings thought only of his behaviour;--and while his
  looks of anxious solicitude on Marianne's feeling, in her head and
  throat, the beginning of a heavy cold, because unexpressed by words,
  entirely escaped the latter lady's observation;--SHE could discover in
  them the quick feelings, and needless alarm of a lover.
  
  Two delightful twilight walks on the third and fourth evenings of her
  being there, not merely on the dry gravel of the shrubbery, but all
  over the grounds, and especially in the most distant parts of them,
  where there was something more of wildness than in the rest, where the
  trees were the oldest, and the grass was the longest and wettest,
  had--assisted by the still greater imprudence of sitting in her wet
  shoes and stockings--given Marianne a cold so violent as, though for a
  day or two trifled with or denied, would force itself by increasing
  ailments on the concern of every body, and the notice of herself.
  Prescriptions poured in from all quarters, and as usual, were all
  declined.  Though heavy and feverish, with a pain in her limbs, and a
  cough, and a sore throat, a good night's rest was to cure her entirely;
  and it was with difficulty that Elinor prevailed on her, when she went
  to bed, to try one or two of the simplest of the remedies.
  
  
  
feat_summary_name: Chapter  42
target: Edward goes to meet Lucy after thanking Colonel Brandon. Mrs. Jennings is grateful to both Elinor and Brandon for helping Lucy to settle down. Elinor decides to visit her brother before the departure for Cleveland. Since Marianne refuses to accompany her, she goes alone to meet Lady Dashwood and her brother. John Dashwood welcomes her. He shows his surprise at Colonel Brandon's generosity towards Edward. He then informs her of Robert's plans to get married to Miss Morton. When John goes to inform his wife of Elinor's visit, Robert comes to meet her and keeps her company. He is amused at Edward's choosing to become a clergyman and takes pity on him for having to marry Lucy. Shortly afterwards, Fanny Dashwood comes forward to meet Elinor. She talks politely and expresses regret at their departure to Cleveland.
feat_summary_analysis: Notes Most of the scenes in which Mrs. Jennings and John Dashwood are present evoke humor. In this chapter John Dashwood amuses the readers through his conversation with Elinor. Obsessed with money and miserly in his attitude, he fails to believe that the Colonel has been so kind as to offer a position at Delaford to Edward. He assumes that the Colonel must have an ulterior motive. He dubs Brandon as unthinking and strange. However, he is happy at the thought that the wealthy Colonel may soon marry Elinor. A hen-pecked and indulgent husband, John Dashwood is afraid to hurt the feelings of his cunning wife. Thus he requests Elinor to refrain from mentioning the Colonel's benevolence to her. He is happy to see his wife talking politely to Elinor and appreciates Fanny's gesture. John Dashwood's views and ideas shock Elinor. Referring to the marriage of Robert Ferrars to Miss Morton, he voices his opinion that Miss Morton should not mind getting married to any one of the brothers  as long as he inherits the family property. His line of argument appalls Elinor thoroughly: her brother considers money superior to emotion. CHAPTER 42 Summary In early April the two families from Hanover Square and Berkeley Street set out on their journey to Cleveland. Passing through Somerset, they take three days to reach their destination. The Palmers' house is modern and spacious, and the surrounding flora and fauna enhance its beauty. Marianne is excited at the idea of being able to explore the countryside. However, she is forced to stay indoors due to rain. Mr. Palmer and Colonel Brandon arrive shortly afterwards. Elinor finds both Mr. and Mrs. Palmer charming and friendly hosts. Brandon talks to her about Delaford. He suspects that Marianne has caught a cold, and in fact, she falls ill with the flu a few days later. Notes Marianne and Elinor have different reactions to the departure for Cleveland. Marianne becomes emotional, recollecting the pleasures and pains she has experienced while in London. Elinor is quite content to leave the place, as she is not at all sentimental about it. In fact, she is relieved to be spared the company of Lucy Steele. She also hopes that a change of scene will help Marianne to regain her health. Jane Austen once again highlights Marianne's sensibility in contrast to Elinor's good sense. Mr. Palmer reveals himself to be a gentleman beneath his tough exterior. Elinor is at first apprehensive about living under his roof. However, she finds him refreshingly different at Cleveland. Austen writes, "She found him, however, perfectly the gentleman in his behaviour to all his visitors, and only occasionally rude to his wife and her mother; she found him very capable of being a pleasant companion." Elinor is arguably the mouthpiece of the author, and therefore her renewed assessment of Mr. Palmer is important. John Dashwood is still under the impression that Colonel Brandon is in love with Elinor. Therefore he informs his sister that he will be making a visit to Delaford in the future. Elinor is merely amused at his remark, as she is well aware of the true object of the Colonel's desire: her sister, Marianne. CHAPTER 43 Summary This entire chapter deals with Marianne's illness. Her cold develops into influenza and then into a mysterious illness. The doctor administers medication and predicts her recovery, but Marianne's health turns from bad to worse. Mrs. Palmer, fearing an infection that could be caught by her new-born baby, moves to a friend's house near Bath. Mr. Palmer follows her after a few days. After four days, when Marianne's health shows no improvement, Elinor decides to consult with the Colonel before calling her mother to Cleveland. Colonel Brandon willingly offers to fetch Mrs. Dashwood from Barton and leaves immediately on this errand. Both Mrs. Jennings and Elinor are anxious after the doctor gives up hope, since the medication fails to cure Marianne. However, after a few more days, Marianne recovers miraculously. As Elinor waits for her mother to arrive, she gets a surprise visitor. It is Willoughby, who makes an appearance at the cottage. Notes Jane Austen throws light on the attitude of the different characters through their distinct reactions to Marianne's illness. When Marianne's condition worsens, Elinor is quite disturbed, but she does not panic. She thinks calmly and arrives at the decision to summon her mother from Barton. The Colonel is concerned about Marianne's health. He sensibly offers to fetch Mrs. Dashwood and undertakes his mission without delay. Both Elinor and the Colonel use their sense to the best advantage in order to improve the situation. Mrs. Jennings is highly emotional. She thinks of the worst when Marianne's health deteriorates. She feels sorry for the girl, as she is afraid that she may succumb to her illness. However, when Marianne recovers miraculously, she is overjoyed. Mrs. Jennings displays the extremes of emotion. Mr. Palmer conducts himself in a stable manner. When his wife panics about a possible threat to her baby's health, he chides her. As a host, he considers Marianne his responsibility and therefore shows reluctance to leave Cleveland.