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Barton Park was about half a mile from the cottage. The ladies had passed near it in their way along the valley, but it was screened from their view at home by the projection of a hill. The house was large and handsome; and the Middletons lived in a style of equal hospitality and elegance. The former was for Sir John's gratification, the latter for that of his lady. They were scarcely ever without some friends staying with them in the house, and they kept more company of every kind than any other family in the neighbourhood. It was necessary to the happiness of both; for however dissimilar in temper and outward behaviour, they strongly resembled each other in that total want of talent and taste which confined their employments, unconnected with such as society produced, within a very narrow compass.
巴頓莊園離鄉舍約半英里。達什伍德母女沿山谷進來時，曾從它近前走過，但是從家里望去，卻被一座山峰遮斷了視線。那座房子高大美觀，米德爾頓夫婦保持著一種好客、高雅的生活氣派。好客是為了滿足約翰爵士的愿望，高雅則是為了滿足他夫人的愿望。他們家里幾乎隨時都有朋友在作客。他們的客人各種各樣，比方圓左近誰家的都多。這事關系到兩人的幸福，實在不可缺少，因為他們不管在性情和舉止上多么不同，但在缺乏天資和情趣這一點上卻極其相似。因此，他們只好把自己的職業（這同社會上的職業毫無聯系）局限在一個非常狹小的天地。
Sir John was a sportsman, Lady Middleton a mother. He hunted and shot, and she humoured her children; and these were their only resources. Lady Middleton had the advantage of being able to spoil her children all the year round, while Sir John's independent employments were in existence only half the time. Continual engagements at home and abroad, however, supplied all the deficiencies of nature and education; supported the good spirits of Sir John, and gave exercise to the good breeding of his wife.
約翰爵士喜好打獵，米德爾頓夫人專當媽媽。一個追捕行獵，一個哄逗孩子，這是他們僅有的能耐。對米德爾頓夫人有利的是，她可以一年到頭地嬌慣孩子，而約翰爵士只有一半時間進行獨立活動。不過，里里外外的不斷忙碌倒彌補了天賦和教育上的一切不足，一方面使約翰爵士精神振奮，一方面使他妻于在教養子女上大顯身手。
Lady Middleton piqued herself upon the elegance of her table, and of all her domestic arrangements; and from this kind of vanity was her greatest enjoyment in any of their parties. But Sir John's satisfaction in society was much more real; he delighted in collecting about him more young people than his house would hold, and the noisier they were the better was he pleased. He was a blessing to all the juvenile part of the neighbourhood, for in summer he was for ever forming parties to eat cold ham and chicken out of doors, and in winter his private balls were numerous enough for any young lady who was not suffering under the unsatiable appetite of fifteen.
米德爾頓夫人素以做得一手好菜和善于料理家務為榮，出于這種虛榮心，她才對家里舉行的每次宴會感到其樂無窮。不過，約翰爵士對社交活動的興致卻真誠多了。他喜歡招來一大幫年輕人，屋里都容納不下，他們越吵鬧，他越覺得高興。他成了附近青少年一代的福星，因為一到夏天，他就接連不斷地把大伙兒聚集起來，在室外吃冷凍火腿和燒雞；到了冬天，他的家庭舞會多得不計其數，對于年輕姑娘來說，只要不是百跳不厭的十五歲少女，誰都會感覺心滿意足。
