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CHAPTER XX . As the Miss Dashwoods entered the drawing - room of the park the next day , at one door , Mrs . Palmer came running in at the other , looking as good humoured and merry as before . She took them all most affectionately by the hand , and expressed great delight in seeing them again . “ I am so glad to see you ! ” said she , seating herself between Elinor and Marianne , “ for it is so bad a day I was afraid you might not come , which would be a shocking thing , as we go away again tomorrow . We must go , for the Westons come to us next week you know . It was quite a sudden thing our coming at all , and I knew nothing of it till the carriage was coming to the door , and then Mr . Palmer asked me if I would go with him to Barton . He is so droll ! He never tells me any thing ! I am so sorry we cannot stay longer ; however we shall meet again in town very soon , I hope . ” They were obliged to put an end to such an expectation . “ Not go to town ! ” cried Mrs . Palmer , with a laugh , “ I shall be quite disappointed if you do not . I could get the nicest house in the world for you , next door to ours , in Hanover - square . You must come , indeed . I am sure I shall be very happy to chaperon you at any time till I am confined , if Mrs . Dashwood should not like to go into public . ” They thanked her ; but were obliged to resist all her entreaties . “ Oh , my love , ” cried Mrs . Palmer to her husband , who just then entered the room — “ you must help me to persuade the Miss Dashwoods to go to town this winter . ” Her love made no answer ; and after slightly bowing to the ladies , began complaining of the weather . “ How horrid all this is ! ” said he . “ Such weather makes every thing and every body disgusting . Dullness is as much produced within doors as without , by rain . It makes one detest all one’s acquaintance . What the devil does Sir John mean by not having a billiard room in his house ? How few people know what comfort is ! Sir John is as stupid as the weather . ” The rest of the company soon dropt in . “ I am afraid , Miss Marianne , ” said Sir John , “ you have not been able to take your usual walk to Allenham today . ” Marianne looked very grave and said nothing . “ Oh , don’t be so sly before us , ” said Mrs . Palmer ; “ for we know all about it , I assure you ; and I admire your taste very much , for I think he is extremely handsome . We do not live a great way from him in the country , you know . Not above ten miles , I dare say . ” “ Much nearer thirty , ” said her husband . “ Ah , well ! there is not much difference . I never was at his house ; but they say it is a sweet pretty place . ” “ As vile a spot as I ever saw in my life , ” said Mr . Palmer . Marianne remained perfectly silent , though her countenance betrayed her interest in what was said . “ Is it very ugly ? ” continued Mrs . Palmer — “ then it must be some other place that is so pretty I suppose . ” When they were seated in the dining room , Sir John observed with regret that they were only eight all together . “ My dear , ” said he to his lady , “ it is very provoking that we should be so few . Why did not you ask the Gilberts to come to us today ? ” “ Did not I tell you , Sir John , when you spoke to me about it before , that it could not be done ? They dined with us last . ”
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