The Dashwoods were now settled at Barton with tolerable comfort to themselves. The house and the
garden, with all the objects surrounding them, were now become familiar, and the ordinary pursuits which had given to
Norland half its charms were engaged in again with far greater enjoyment than Norland had been able to afford, since the
loss of their father. Sir John Middleton, who called on them every day for the first fortnight, and who was not in the
habit of seeing much occupation at home, could not conceal his amazement on finding them always employed.

Their visitors, except those from Barton Park, were not many; for, in spite of Sir John’s urgent entreaties that they
would mix more in the neighbourhood, and repeated assurances of his carriage being always at their service, the
independence of Mrs. Dashwood’s spirit overcame the wish of society for her children; and she was resolute in declining
to visit any family beyond the distance of a walk. There were but few who could be so classed; and it was not all of them
that were attainable. About a mile and a half from the cottage, along the narrow winding valley of Allenham, which issued
from that of Barton, as formerly described, the girls had, in one of their earliest walks, discovered an ancient
respectable looking mansion which, by reminding them a little of Norland, interested their imagination and made them wish
to be better acquainted with it. But they learnt, on enquiry, that its possessor, an elderly lady of very good character,
was unfortunately too infirm to mix with the world, and never stirred from home.

The whole country about them abounded in beautiful walks. The high downs which invited them from almost every window
of the cottage to seek the exquisite enjoyment of air on their summits, were a happy alternative when the dirt of the
valleys beneath shut up their superior beauties; and towards one of these hills did Marianne and Margaret one memorable
morning direct their steps, attracted by the partial sunshine of a showery sky, and unable longer to bear the confinement
which the settled rain of the two preceding days had occasioned. The weather was not tempting enough to draw the two
others from their pencil and their book, in spite of Marianne’s declaration that the day would be lastingly fair, and
that every threatening cloud would be drawn off from their hills; and the two girls set off together.

They gaily ascended the downs, rejoicing in their own penetration at every glimpse of blue sky; and when they caught
in their faces the animating gales of a high south-westerly wind, they pitied the fears which had prevented their mother
and Elinor from sharing such delightful sensations.

“Is there a felicity in the world,” said Marianne, “superior to this? — Margaret, we will walk here at least two
hours.”

Margaret agreed, and they pursued their way against the wind, resisting it with laughing delight for about twenty
minutes longer, when suddenly the clouds united over their heads, and a driving rain set full in their face. — Chagrined
and surprised, they were obliged, though unwillingly, to turn back, for no shelter was nearer than their own house. One
consolation however remained for them, to which the exigence of the moment gave more than usual propriety; it was that of
running with all possible speed down the steep side of the hill which led immediately to their garden gate.

They set off. Marianne had at first the advantage, but a false step brought her suddenly to the ground; and Margaret,
unable to stop herself to assist her, was involuntarily hurried along, and reached the bottom in safety.

A gentleman carrying a gun, with two pointers playing round him, was passing up the hill and within a few yards of
Marianne, when her accident happened. He put down his gun and ran to her assistance. She had raised herself from the
ground, but her foot had been twisted in her fall, and she was scarcely able to stand. The gentleman offered his
services; and perceiving that her modesty declined what her situation rendered necessary, took her up in his arms without
farther delay, and carried her down the hill. Then passing through the garden, the gate of which had been left open by
Margaret, he bore her directly into the house, whither Margaret was just arrived, and quitted not his hold till he had
seated her in a chair in the parlour.

Elinor and her mother rose up in amazement at their entrance, and while the eyes of both were fixed on him with an
evident wonder and a secret admiration which equally sprung from his appearance, he apologized for his intrusion by
relating its cause, in a manner so frank and so graceful that his person, which was uncommonly handsome, received
additional charms from his voice and expression. Had he been even old, ugly, and vulgar, the gratitude and kindness of
Mrs. Dashwood would have been secured by any act of attention to her child; but the influence of youth, beauty, and
elegance, gave an interest to the action which came home to her feelings.

She thanked him again and again; and, with a sweetness of address which always attended her, invited him to be seated.
But this he declined, as he was dirty and wet. Mrs. Dashwood then begged to know to whom she was obliged. His name, he
replied, was Willoughby, and his present home was at Allenham, from whence he hoped she would allow him the honour of
calling tomorrow to enquire after Miss Dashwood. The honour was readily granted, and he then departed, to make himself
still more interesting, in the midst of a heavy rain.

His manly beauty and more than common gracefulness were instantly the theme of general admiration, and the laugh which
his gallantry raised against Marianne received particular spirit from his exterior attractions. — Marianne herself had
seen less of his person that the rest, for the confusion which crimsoned over her face, on his lifting her up, had robbed
her of the power of regarding him after their entering the house. But she had seen enough of him to join in all the
admiration of the others, and with an energy which always adorned her praise. His person and air were equal to what her
fancy had ever drawn for the hero of a favourite story; and in his carrying her into the house with so little previous
formality, there was a rapidity of thought which particularly recommended the action to her. Every circumstance belonging
to him was interesting. His name was good, his residence was in their favourite village, and she soon found out that of
all manly dresses a shooting-jacket was the most becoming. Her imagination was busy, her reflections were pleasant, and
the pain of a sprained ankle was disregarded.

Sir John called on them as soon as the next interval of fair weather that morning allowed him to get out of doors; and
Marianne’s accident being related to him, he was eagerly asked whether he knew any gentleman of the name of Willoughby at
Allenham.

“Willoughby!” cried Sir John; “what, is HE in the country? That is good news however; I will ride over tomorrow, and
ask him to dinner on Thursday.”

“You know him then,” said Mrs. Dashwood.

“Know him! to be sure I do. Why, he is down here every year.”

“And what sort of a young man is he?”

“As good a kind of fellow as ever lived, I assure you. A very decent shot, and there is not a bolder rider in
England.”

“And is that all you can say for him?” cried Marianne, indignantly. “But what are his manners on more intimate
acquaintance? What his pursuits, his talents, and genius?”

Sir John was rather puzzled.

“Upon my soul,” said he, “I do not know much about him as to all THAT. But he is a pleasant, good humoured fellow, and
has got the nicest little black bitch of a pointer I ever saw. Was she out with him today?”

But Marianne could no more satisfy him as to the colour of Mr. Willoughby’s pointer, than he could describe to her the
shades of his mind.

“But who is he?” said Elinor. “Where does he come from? Has he a house at Allenham?”

On this point Sir John could give more certain intelligence; and he told them that Mr. Willoughby had no property of
his own in the country; that he resided there only while he was visiting the old lady at Allenham Court, to whom he was
related, and whose possessions he was to inherit; adding, “Yes, yes, he is very well worth catching I can tell you, Miss
Dashwood; he has a pretty little estate of his own in Somersetshire besides; and if I were you, I would not give him up
to my younger sister, in spite of all this tumbling down hills. Miss Marianne must not expect to have all the men to
herself. Brandon will be jealous, if she does not take care.”

“I do not believe,” said Mrs. Dashwood, with a good humoured smile, “that Mr. Willoughby will be incommoded by the
attempts of either of MY daughters towards what you call CATCHING him. It is not an employment to which they have been
brought up. Men are very safe with us, let them be ever so rich. I am glad to find, however, from what you say, that he
is a respectable young man, and one whose acquaintance will not be ineligible.”

“He is as good a sort of fellow, I believe, as ever lived,” repeated Sir John. “I remember last Christmas at a little
hop at the park, he danced from eight o’clock till four, without once sitting down.”

“Did he indeed?” cried Marianne with sparkling eyes, “and with elegance, with spirit?”

“Yes; and he was up again at eight to ride to covert.”

“That is what I like; that is what a young man ought to be. Whatever be his pursuits, his eagerness in them should
know no moderation, and leave him no sense of fatigue.”

“Aye, aye, I see how it will be,” said Sir John, “I see how it will be. You will be setting your cap at him now, and
never think of poor Brandon.”

“That is an expression, Sir John,” said Marianne, warmly, “which I particularly dislike. I abhor every common-place
phrase by which wit is intended; and ‘setting one’s cap at a man,’ or ‘making a conquest,’ are the most odious of all.
Their tendency is gross and illiberal; and if their construction could ever be deemed clever, time has long ago destroyed
all its ingenuity.”

Sir John did not much understand this reproof; but he laughed as heartily as if he did, and then replied,

“Ay, you will make conquests enough, I dare say, one way or other. Poor Brandon! he is quite smitten already, and he
is very well worth setting your cap at, I can tell you, in spite of all this tumbling about and spraining of ankles.”