Novels and Letters, Volume 1

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Society of English and French Literature, 1906
 

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Page xxviii - ... mother tongue, and has read little in that, would be totally without the power of giving. A classical education, or at any rate a very extensive acquaintance with English literature, ancient and modern, appears to me quite indispensable for the person who would do any justice to your clergyman; and I think I may boast myself to be, with all possible vanity, the most unlearned and uninformed female who ever dared to be an authoress.
Page 68 - Brandon is just the kind of man," said Willoughby one day, when they were talking of him together, "whom everybody speaks well of, and nobody cares about; whom all are delighted to see, and nobody remembers to talk to.
Page 1 - THE FAMILY of Dashwood had been long settled in Sussex. Their estate was large, and their residence was at Norland Park, in the centre of their property, where, for many generations, they had lived in so respectable a manner as to engage the general good opinion of their surrounding acquaintance.
Page 26 - His abilities in every respect improve as much upon acquaintance as his manners and person. At first sight, his address is certainly not striking ; and his person can hardly be called handsome, till the expression of his eyes, which are uncommonly good, and the general sweetness of his countenance, is perceived. At present, I know him so well, that I think him really handsome ; or, at least, almost so. What say you, Marianne ? " " I shall very soon think him handsome, Elinor, if I do not now.
Page 9 - He did not know what he was talking of, I daresay ; ten to one but he was light-headed at the time. Had he been in his right senses, he could not have thought of such a thing as begging you to give away half your fortune from your own child.
Page xxxii - The Big Bow-Wow strain I can do myself like any now going ; but the exquisite touch which renders ordinary common-place things and characters interesting, from the truth of the description and the sentiment, is denied to me" (Lockhart's Life tf Scott, chap.
Page 65 - ... scanty ? But I see what you mean. I have been too much at my ease, too happy, too frank. I have erred against every common-place notion of decorum ; I have been open and sincere where I ought to have been reserved, spiritless, dull, and deceitful : — had I talked only of the weather and the roads, and had I spoken only once in ten minutes, this reproach would have been spared.
Page 42 - It was necessary to the happiness of both ; for, however dissimilar in temper and outward behaviour, they strongly resembled each other in that total want of talent and taste which confined their employments, unconnected with such as society produced, within a very narrow compass. Sir John was a sportsman, Lady Middleton a mother. He hunted and shot, and she humoured her children ; and these were their only resources.
Page 14 - I dare say, was only such as might be reasonably expected of you ; for instance, such as looking out for a comfortable small house for them, helping them to move their things, and sending them presents of fish and game, and so forth, whenever they are in season.
Page 9 - Mrs. John Dashwood did not at all approve of what her husband intended to do for his sisters. To take three thousand pounds from the fortune of their dear little boy would be impoverishing him to the most dreadful degree. She begged him to think again on the subject. How could he answer it to himself to rob his child, and his only child too, of so large a sum?

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