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The land was so very desirable for me in every respect, so immediately adjoining my own property that I felt it my duty to buy it.

I could not have answered it to my conscience to let it fall into any other hands a man must pay for his convenience and it has cost me a vast deal of money more than you think it really and intrinsically worth why I hope not that I might have sold it again the next day for more than I gave

But with regard to the purchase money, I might have been very unfortunate indeed, for the stocks were at that time so low that if I had not happened to have the necessary sum in my banker's hands, I must have sold out to very great loss.

Eleanor could only smile.

Other great and inevitable expenses too we have had on first coming to Norland.

Our respected father, as you well know, bequeathed all the Stanhill effects that remained at Norland, and very valuable they were, to your mother, far be it from me to repine at his doing so.

He had an undoubted right to dispose of his own property as he chose.

But in consequence of it, we have been obliged to make large purchases of linen, china and so on to supply the place of what was taken away.

You may guess after all these expenses how very far we must be from being rich and how acceptable Mrs. Ferrars' kindness is.

Certainly, said Eleanor, and assisted by her liberality, I hope you may yet live to be in easy circumstances.

Another year or two may do much towards it, he gravely replied, but however there is still a great deal to be done.

There is not a stone laid of Fanny's greenhouse, and nothing but the plan of the flower garden marked out.

Where is the greenhouse to be?

Upon the knoll behind the house, the old walnut trees are all come down to make room for it.

It will be a very fine object from many parts of the park, and the flower garden will slope down just before it and be exceedingly pretty.

We have cleared away all the old thorns that grew in patches over the brow.

Eleanor kept her concern and her censure to herself, and was very thankful that Marianne was not present to share the provocation.

Having now said enough to make his poverty clear, and to do away the necessity of buying a pair of earrings for each of his sisters, in his next visit at Grey's, his thoughts took a cheerfuller turn, and he began to congratulate Eleanor on having such a friend as Mrs. Jennings.

She seems a most valuable woman indeed,

Her house, her style of living, all bespeak an exceeding good income, and it is an acquaintance that has not only been of great use to you hitherto, but in the end may prove materially advantageous.