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The Dashwoods were now settled at Barton with tolerable comfort to themselves. The house and the garden, with all the objects surrounding them, were now become familiar, and the ordinary pursuits which had given to Norland half its charms were engaged in again with far greater enjoyment than Norland had been able to afford, since the loss of their father. Sir John Middleton, who called on them every day for the first fortnight, and who was not in the habit of seeing much occupation at home, could not conceal his amazement on finding them always employed.
達什伍德家母女在巴頓定居下來，日于過得還算舒適。房屋、花園以及周圍的一草一木都熟悉了，原先給諾蘭莊園帶來一半魅力的那些日常消遣，現今在這里也都恢復起來。自從父親下世以后，諾蘭莊園一直沒有使她們這么快樂過。約翰．米德爾頓爵士在頭半個月里天天都來拜訪。他在家里清閑慣了，見她們總是忙忙碌碌的，不禁大為驚奇。
Their visitors, except those from Barton Park, were not many; for, in spite of Sir John's urgent entreaties that they would mix more in the neighbourhood, and repeated assurances of his carriage being always at their service, the independence of Mrs. Dashwood's spirit overcame the wish of society for her children; and she was resolute in declining to visit any family beyond the distance of a walk. There were but few who could be so classed; and it was not all of them that were attainable.
達什伍德家的客人除了巴頓莊園一家人，來自別處的并不多。雖然約翰爵士一再懇請她們多與左近鄰舍交往，并且一再保證她們可以隨時使用他的馬車，怎奈達什伍德太太稟性好強，只能委屈女兒們少與外人來往。凡是步行所不能及的人家，她一概拒不走訪。其實，屬于這種情況的人家本來就寥寥無幾，何況還不都是能拜訪得成的。
About a mile and a half from the cottage, along the narrow winding valley of Allenham, which issued from that of Barton, as formerly described, the girls had, in one of their earliest walks, discovered an ancient respectable looking mansion which, by reminding them a little of Norland, interested their imagination and made them wish to be better acquainted with it. But they learnt, on enquiry, that its possessor, an elderly lady of very good character, was unfortunately too infirm to mix with the world, and never stirred from home.
一次，小姐們才到不久，出去散步，順著彎彎曲曲的艾倫漢峽谷漫步走去（前面提到，這就是從巴頓村分出的那條支谷）。在離鄉舍大約一英里半的地方，發現一幢古老氣派的大宅第。這座宅第多少使她們想起了諾蘭莊園，激起了她們的興趣和遐想，情不自禁地想仔細瞧瞧。誰知一打聽，才知道房主是個性情和悅的老太太，不幸的是，她體弱多病，不能與世交往，從來不出家門。
