Sense and Sensibility (The Wild and Wanton Edition) Read Online Free

It gave to his intentions whatever of decision was wanting before; and he finally resolved, that it would be absolutely unnecessary, if not highly indecorous, to do more for the widow and children of his father, than such kind of neighbourly acts as his own wife pointed out.
    Unable to hold off any longer, Mr. Dashwood pounced on his ready, waiting wife and thrust himself inside her, thanking God for bringing him such an intelligent, clever woman.

CHAPTER III
    Mrs. Dashwood remained at Norland several months; not from any disinclination to move when the sight of every well known spot ceased to raise the violent emotion which it produced for a while; for when her spirits began to revive, and her mind became capable of some other exertion than that of heightening its affliction by melancholy remembrances, she was impatient to be gone, and indefatigable in her inquiries for a suitable dwelling in the neighbourhood of Norland; for to remove far from that beloved spot was impossible. But she could hear of no situation that at once answered her notions of comfort and ease, and suited the prudence of her eldest daughter, whose steadier judgment rejected several houses as too large for their income, which her mother would have approved.
    Mrs. Dashwood had been informed by her husband of the solemn promise on the part of his son in their favour, which gave comfort to his last earthly reflections. She doubted the sincerity of this assurance no more than he had doubted it himself, and she thought of it for her daughters’ sake with satisfaction, though as for herself she was persuaded that a much smaller provision than 7000L would support her in affluence. For their brother’s sake, too, for the sake of his own heart, she rejoiced; and she reproached herself for being unjust to his merit before, in believing him incapable of generosity. His attentive behaviour to herself and his sisters convinced her that their welfare was dear to him, and, for a long time, she firmly relied on the liberality of his intentions.
    The contempt which she had, very early in their acquaintance, felt for her daughter-in-law, was very much increased by the farther knowledge of her character and her apparently severe aversion to modesty, which half a year’s residence in her family afforded; and perhaps in spite of every consideration of politeness or maternal affection on the side of the former, the two ladies might have found it impossible to have lived together so long, had not a particular circumstance occurred to give still greater eligibility, according to the opinions of Mrs. Dashwood, to her daughters’ continuance at Norland.
    This circumstance was a growing attachment between her eldest girl and the brother of Mrs. John Dashwood, a gentlemanlike and pleasing young man, who was introduced to their acquaintance soon after his sister’s establishment at Norland, and who had since spent the greatest part of his time there.
    Elinor and Edward’s first meeting was rather unremarkable. They greeted each other in the usual way and made their pleasantries, and then Edward was whisked away by Fanny to come see her child.
    But as the days went on, Elinor and Edward began to notice one another. When Edward came in from riding, Elinor’s gaze lingered on the way his hair swept across his forehead and fell over one eye, and she felt a sudden inclination to sweep it back with her hand. When Elinor bent down to pick some wildflowers in the front of the house and her bosom spilled slightly more than usual over the top of her dress, Edward could not stop himself from staring at the soft line between her breasts and wondering would it would be like to bury his face there.
    Though nothing was said aloud on the matter of their budding romance and though the young couple never crossed the line from intimacy of the emotional kind to that of the physical, it was clear to everyone in the house that the two had eyes for only each other.
    Some mothers might have