CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Mrs Dashwood was surprised only for a moment at seeing him, as his coming to Barton seemed quite natural to her. During the visit, the Dashwood women noticed that he remained nervous.

During dinner, they began speaking of wealth and fortune, which Mrs Ferrars, Edward's mother, wished for him; only a woman of fortune would be sufficient for her son.

"My only wish in life is to be perfectly happy, although my mother wishes for me to become a city or government official, quite a high-class position," He told them. However, Edward had no desire for employment.

"How strange!" cried Marianne. "What connection do wealth and elegance have with happiness?"

"Elegance has very little," said Elinor, "but wealth has much to do with it."

"Elinor!" said Marianne. "Money can only give happiness when there is nothing else to give."

"Well," said Elinor, "what do you believe a proper income to be, Marianne?"

"About eighteen hundred or two thousand pounds a year, not more than that."

Elinor laughed. "Two thousand a year! One thousand is my only fortune!"

"And yet, two thousand a year is a modest income," said Marianne. "A family cannot live comfortably for less. A proper home with servants and a carriage, perhaps two."

Elinor smiled again to hear her sister describe such expenses, as she knew Marianne was thinking of Combe Magna, Willoughby's country home.

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