Sanditon by Jane Austen

Author:Jane Austen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ulysses Press
Published: 2010-05-06T04:00:00+00:00

They were in no such danger in the drawing room. The wine was safe to drink, according to Sidney, the coffee a tolerably good blend, and the company pleasing.This last Charlotte knew to be directed at her, and Sidney Parker proved her case by paying her every attention, leading the conversation with particulars of his family.

“My sisters and poor Arthur are come into Sanditon I understand! Well there is a surprise. They never venture anywhere, Miss Heywood; they stay mostly at home, indoors. Away from light and germs and life! They live quietly, devotedly, with the express purpose of convincing my poor impressionable brother Arthur that he is at death’s door. My family, you will soon learn, has not a steady member amongst it!”

“Sidney!” exclaimed his sister-in-law.

“My sister-in-law is inclined to think me too harsh,” he confided, “but, I speak the truth, my brother here is quite demented over Sanditon, and my other relatives are quite demented about sickness, you would think, would you not, Miss Heywood, that between them some cures might be discovered?”

Miss Heywood smiled. “Your disapproval is too affectionate to be taken seriously.You clearly love your poor family and no doubt talk of them incessantly whenever you can. But you have given me quite enough details of them and none of yourself, by what means am I to make out your character?” said she.

“I am sure my brother here has given you particulars,” this with a warm smile to Mr. Parker, “my fault, if he is to be believed, is that I scoff at everything, apparently, and ... ”

Mr. Parker interjected with good humor. “I confess I have already described you as a saucy fellow to Miss Heywood,” he said. “The description befits you Sidney, you will not deny it, will you?”

Sidney laughed. “I dare not.You are quite fixed in your thinking. A saucy fellow, eh? How am I to live up to this expectation?”

“I do not foresee too much difficulty, Sir,” said Charlotte. “You seem to qualify for the title.”

Sidney Parker stood up, his feigned indignation at the affront serving very well to prove him something of a performer, a dramatist. He was a man who favored big gestures, exaggerations, and comedic turns.

“You have shocked me, Miss Heywood,” cried he, with a flourishing hand to his heart. “In truth, if I were less well-mannered, I should be inclined to call you a saucy girl!”

Ease and affability defined their discourse. Sidney Parker had about him the confidence of one who has no financial worries and the cool poise of a man who has the acumen to ensure he never will have. His jovial manner and propensity to jest about everything meant others were easy in his company. He was not all frivolity though, he simply preferred this stance. “In truth, Miss Heywood, someone has to be an easy sort of fellow in this family, Heaven help us!” he exclaimed.

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