Summaries of Jane Austens six novels

1. SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

It appears rather unjust that when Mr. Henry Dashwood dies, everything he owns has to go to his son by his first wife (long dead) - John Dashwood - and eventually thereafter to Johns little son. Despite Henrys dying wish that John take care of the less fortunate side of the family, Henrys second wife and her three daughters are left with no permanent home and very little income.

The second Mrs Dashwood and her daughters (Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret) are eventually invited to stay in a cottage owned by distant relations, the Middletons, at Barton Park, Devonshire. Elinor, along with her family, is sad to leave their home at Norland. To make her even sadder, she has become attached to Edward Ferrars, the hesitant yet attractive brother-in-law of her half-brother John. Edwards sister, Johns wife, has none of her brothers warmth and sensitivity, and is, unlike Edward, keen to be rid of the displaced mother and her three girls.

Once at Barton Park, Elinor and Marianne are drawn into the Middletons social networks and meet, among others, the reliable Colonel Brandon, and the dazzling young John Willoughby, who rescues Marianne after she hurts her ankle running down the hills of Barton in the rain. Willoughby openly courts

Marianne, and together the two flirt unreservedly, until Willoughby suddenly announces that he must depart for London, leaving Marianne devastated.

Meanwhile, Anne and Lucy Steele, two relations of Lady Middleton's mother, Mrs. Jennings, are invited to stay at Barton Park. Lucy apparently befriends Elinor and informs her in confidence that she (Lucy) has been secretly engaged to Mr. Ferrars for four years. Elinor just manages to conceal her anguish when she realizes that Lucy is actually referring to her own dear Edward, having hoped at first that Lucy meant it was Edwards brother, Robert, who was her secret fianc.

Elinor and Marianne travel to London with Mrs. Jennings. There, Colonel Brandon informs a surprised Elinor of the rumoured engagement between Willoughby and Marianne, though Marianne has not told her family of any such official attachment. Marianne is anxious to contact Willoughby immediately, but when she finally sees him at a social gathering, he cruelly rebuffs her and then sends her a letter denying that he ever cared for her. Colonel Brandon now feels able to tell Elinor of Willoughby's history of exploitative behaviour, and Mrs. Jennings confirms that Willoughby, having wasted his fortune, has become engaged to a rich heiress.

There is turmoil too for the Steele sisters. Lucy's older sister accidentally lets slip the news of Lucy and Edwards secret engagement. Edward's mother is aghast and promptly casts him off, promising his inheritance to her younger

son Robert instead. Meanwhile, the Dashwood sisters visit Mrs Jennings daughter and her family at Cleveland on their way home from London. The heart-broken Marianne soon develops a fever and Elinor nurses her sister lovingly, terrified that she might die. Upon hearing of her grave illness, Willoughby arrives unannounced, desperately attempting to explain his misconduct to Elinor and to seek forgiveness. However, once told that Marianne is beginning to recover, he eventually takes his leave again more calmly. Soon afterwards Colonel Brandon brings a distraught Mrs Dashwood to her daughters sickbed at Cleveland, and both rejoice to learn that Mariannes condition has stabilized.

Elinor has felt some compassion for Willoughby and later shares his story with Marianne, who finally realizes her errors of judgement, and recognises that her relationship with Willoughby would eventually have failed anyway.

When Mrs Dashwood and her daughters return to Barton, they learn from their servant that Lucy Steele and Mr. Ferrars are engaged. They assume that the servant is referring to Mr Edward Ferrars, and this is cruel news indeed for Elinor. However, Edward himself soon arrives and explains that it was his newly-rich younger brother Robert, not himself, whom the financially ambitious Lucy ultimately decided to marry, once Edwards inheritance had been reallocated by his angry mother. Thus, Edward is finally free to propose to his dear Elinor, and not long after, Marianne and Colonel Brandon become engaged as well. After their marriage, the couples live happily alongside one

another at Delaford, Elinor and Edward in the parsonage where Edward takes up his clerical duties, and Marianne and Colonel Brandon in the mansionhouse. The sisters are as mutually supportive as ever, but both couples also remain in close touch with the sisters mother and her youngest daughter at Barton Cottage. This level of harmony is only to be expected among good people with strong family affection.

Summaries of Jane Austens six novels

2. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

Jane and Elizabeth Bennet are the first and second of five girls born to Mr and Mrs Bennet of Longbourn. As the daughters have no brother, the family home is entailed to their cousin, a clergyman called William Collins. Mr Collins is not a wealthy man but he has a noble patron named Lady Catherine De Bourgh, mother of a frail only daughter and the proud owner of the Kentish estate of Rosings where Mr Collins serves as the clergyman. When a rich, young bachelor, Mr. Charles Bingley, leases a house called Netherfield Park in the neighbourhood of Longbourn, Mrs. Bennet is excitedly determined to provide introductions into high society for her eldest daughters. Mr Bennet makes contact with the young gentleman without participating in his wifes fervent hopes of marriage-making. Jane, kind and trusting to a fault, soon falls in love with Bingley. His even wealthier friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy, a nephew of Lady Catherine, appears to snub Elizabeth and the other local women at a public dance. His proud behaviour becomes the subject of considerable discussion and prejudice against him. He starts to take an interest in Elizabeth during the course of the evening, but she refuses to dance with him.

Jane is subsequently invited to visit the Bingleys but she walks there in the rain, and soon falls ill. Elizabeth later walks over to Netherfield to take care of her sister, impressing Darcy with her caring nature and her intelligence. However, Elizabeth is scorned by Bingley's sisters Mrs. (Louisa) Hurst and Miss (Caroline) Bingley. Miss Bingley has her own plans about possible marriage partners for the two young men; these schemes do not include a young woman without either money or position, who has mud on her skirts.

The handsome and dashing George Wickham, son of Darcy's father's steward, comes into the neighbourhood. He tells a sympathetic Elizabeth about Darcy depriving him of a living intended for him by Darcys father. Elizabeth believes Wickhams story and is even more hostile towards Darcy when they next meet. During the course of the Netherfield ball, the awful Mr Collins appears to be courting Elizabeth, his second object of affection among the five girls since Jane and Bingley are, according to Mrs Bennet, about to become engaged. He promptly proposes to Elizabeth and needs convincing about the sincerity of her refusal! In the wake of this refusal, her mother is upset, her father is delighted and Mr. Collins himself seems resilient since he swiftly proposes marriage to Elizabeth's friend, Charlotte Lucas. She accepts what seems like a practical proposition for her future.

Bingley and his party suddenly move back to London. Bingley has been persuaded to leave the area by his sisters and by Darcy, who all seek to prevent the developing romance between Bingley and Jane. Later, Jane is invited to visit Mrs. Bennet's brother, Edward Gardiner, and his wife in London. There Jane is apparently neglected by Bingley; she is unaware that Bingley has been kept ignorant of her presence in the city.

Elizabeth travels with Sir William and Lady Lucas and their second daughter Maria to the Gardiners home in London and then on to the Collins at Hunsford. There they are invited to dine with Lady Catherine at her estate Rosings along with her sickly daughter who is, in her mothers mind, destined for marriage to Mr Darcy. Elizabeth is questioned intrusively by the selfimportant Lady Catherine but she remains politely assertive despite intimidation by her hostess. Darcy and his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, arrive for a visit at Rosings. Elizabeth is intrigued by their presence but continues to display her apparent cool distaste for Darcys company.

Darcy, however, soon visits Mr Collins nearby parsonage where Elizabeth is staying. Charlotte wonders if he has fallen in love with Elizabeth, but both of them are still defensive with each other. Elizabeth learns from his cousin that Darcy caused Bingley to halt his relationship with Jane.

Darcy appears at the parsonage again and declares his love for Eizabeth, having struggled in vain against his distaste for her mother, sisters, and her

general lack of superior connections. Elizabeth angrily refuses him, prejudiced against him for the breaking up Jane's relationship with Bingley, and condemning his pride as well as his apparent injustice to Wickham. Later, Darcy sends Elizabeth a letter explaining that he had thought Jane was indifferent to Bingley. He goes on to explain that Wickham has been telling elaborate lies and was in fact only just prevented from disgracing Darcys fifteen year old sister Georgiana.

Elizabeth is soon to have personal reasons for believing this version of events. The local militia moves to Brighton and Lydia, though only fifteen, arranges to travel with Colonel Forster and his wife Harriet, to be near the camp, despite Elizabeth's unsuccessful effort to persuade her father to forbid this plan. Elizabeth is right to fear the consequences but she is to be far from home when these become all too apparent.

The Gardiners take her on a tour, and when they reach Derbyshire they decide to visit Darcy's estate, Pemberley, near Lambton where Elizabeth finds Darcy highly regarded by his loyal servants. She is then extremely embarrassed unexpectedly to encounter the man himself. He, however, treats them all with great hospitality, much to the surprise and delight of the Gardiners. He also makes a point of introducing Elizabeth to his shy sister, Georgiana.

Elizabeth is shocked to learn by a letter that the irresponsible Lydia has run off with Wickham. The news means that Elizabeth has to return home immediately. After a long painful period of tortured uncertainty, it appears that the runaway couple has been found and that Wickham has agreed to marry Lydia without any undue demands. When the newly-weds visit Longbourn they appear relaxed and carefree but Elizabeth picks up Lydias carelessly dropped remark that Darcy attended their wedding and realises that Darcy must have traced the couple and paid Wickham to marry Lydia in order to preserve her own respectability and that of her sisters.

Bingley and Darcy arrive to visit the Bennets. Bingley is evidently still in love with Jane and finds the courage to propose marriage, bringing new joy to the household. Lady Catherine then arrives to demand that Elizabeth renounce any possibility of marriage to Darcy, insisting he is engaged to her daughter. Elizabeth holds her ground against this bullying. Ironically, this aggressive behaviour of Lady Catherine and Elizabeths refusal to cooperate subsequently signals to Darcy that he could have a chance of winning Elizabeths hand after all.

Soon afterwards, Darcy and Elizabeth seize an opportunity to express their mutual love along with apologies to each other for past misunderstandings. Darcy asks for her hand, and the opinion about Darcy in the Bennet household swings round to fall in line with Elizabeths high regard for him.

Jane and Bingley marry joyfully but the marriage of Wickham and Lydia begins to cool. Elizabeth becomes mistress of Pemberley, good friends with Georgiana and a loving and beloved wife to Darcy.

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Summaries of Jane Austens six novels

3. MANSFIELD PARK
(Begun 1811; published 1814)

A shy young girl named Fanny Price comes to live with her rich uncle and aunt, Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram. Fanny's mother, unlike her sister Lady Bertram, married beneath her, sharing her life with a Marines lieutenant who drinks heavily. Fannys other aunt, the manipulative Mrs. Norris, likes to think she manages matters at Mansfield Park, the Bertrams' estate, and performs this role both while based at the Parsonage, as the clergymans wife, and subsequently as a widow, housed in the village by Sir Thomas. The Bertram daughters, Maria and Julia, are girls of no discernible quality. The elder son, Tom, seems self-indulgent but the younger son, Edmund, who is planning to be a clergyman, is a good-hearted youth. He alone takes the trouble to make Fanny feel welcome in her splendid new home.

Sir Thomas leaves Mansfield Park to inspect his properties abroad. Henry and Mary Crawford make their entrance into society while Sir Thomas is away. The brother and sister soon establish themselves within the Mansfield Park social circle. Henry is flirtatious with both the Bertram daughters while Mary focuses her attention on Tom before moving on to Edmund, although the younger brothers genuine vocation as a clergyman does not appeal to

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her. Fanny watches the Crawfords behaviour with pain, not quite aware of her own warm feelings for Edmund.

It is suggested that the group should dabble in amateur dramatics but Edmund and Fanny are horrified at the idea of acting in a play about romantic entanglements. After some time, Maria and Henry, Mary and a reluctant Edmund rehearse some scenes with one another, and Fanny is put under pressure to participate but Sir Thomass sudden return curtails the whole production.

Since Henry Crawford has not declared his love, Maria is married to her somewhat dull fianc, Rushworth, and leaves Mansfield Park for London. The Crawfords and the Bertrams continue their friendship and it seems likely that Edmund will propose to Mary, a possibility which upsets Fanny without her knowing why. In the meantime, Henry Crawford has, for his own amusement, switched his romantic focus from Maria to Fanny. After Fannys brother visits Mansfield Park, Henry helps young William to gain a promotion in the Navy and then actually proposes to Fanny, presuming he will be in favour with her. Her uncle is angrily disappointed that Fanny refuses such a wealthy man, and she soon finds herself back staying with her parents in their overcrowded little house in Portsmouth.

Henry comes to see Fanny at her parents' house and tries to propose again; he appears to be genuinely in love with her now, but must take his leave.

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Fanny receives written encouragement from Mary about the wisdom of accepting her brothers proposal. Before long, however, life back at Mansfield Park takes a sudden dramatic turn with a variety of unwelcome events. Tom Bertram has had a drunken fall and is very ill; the fickle Henry elopes with the married Maria, and her sister Julia elopes with Yates, Tom's friend. The Bertram familys great distress at all these events means that Fanny is recalled to Mansfield Park along with her younger sister Susan. She discovers that a sorrowful Edmund has finally come to realise that Mary is as unscrupulous as her brother. Maria and Henry eventually split, and the disgraced Maria and her aunt, Mrs. Norris, go off to live together abroad. After some time, Julia and Yates find their way back into favour with the family. Susan is pleased to be taken into service with the Bertrams and Edmund eventually marries his devoted Fanny, to the great happiness of both. Edmund later gains the opportunity to take over the parsonage at Mansfield, giving the happy couple a beloved home of their own.

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Summaries of Jane Austens six novels

4. EMMA
(Begun 1814; published 1816) Emma Woodhouse is "handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition." She sounds very fortunate but Emma mother died when she was little, and during the sixteen years since, she has been nurtured by Miss Taylor, her governess. Miss Taylor has just married their neighbour Mr. Weston, and Emma and her father are sad to lose Miss Taylor from their household, even though the families will keep in very close touch. Emma is inclined to think a little too well of herself and we see this when she meets Harriet Smith. Harriet has no real potential as a friend for Emma but serves as a distraction from Emmas profound loss of Miss Taylors company. Miss Smith is a boarder at Mrs. Goddard's school for girls and her parents are unknown. Perhaps it is this very social vulnerability which makes a lonely and bored Emma decide to practise on her, to groom her for refinement and an advantageous marriage. Mr. Knightley of Donwell Abbey, Emmas brotherin-law and neighbour, is critical of this project and of Emmas meddling in the private life of another but Emma pays no heed to him. Emma hopes to "improve" Harriet by association with more privileged people and to match her to the eligible bachelor, Mr. Elton. When Emma learns that Harriet is falling in love with the suitable Robert Martin, a decent tenant farmer, she immediately sets about changing Harriets romantic perspectives.

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Emma is here in total disagreement with Mr. Knightley, who very much wants the union with Robert Martin to succeed. Emma apparently cannot see that Mr. Elton's real intentions are to win her hand, not the lowly Harriets. Emma becomes more and more irritated by Mr. Elton's attentions to her, and she wonders why he is not more concerned about Harriet, particularly when Harriet is poorly. During an impromptu carriage ride, the truth is revealed when Mr. Elton suddenly proposes to Emma and finds himself abruptly rejected. Emma must now comfort Harriet for the illusions that Emma herself has created. Harriet seems to hold no grudge about the matter, but Emma is temporarily more aware of the dangers of manipulating others. A new subject of dispute arises between Emma and Mr. Knightley which concerns the personality Frank Churchill, who is expected to visit his father, Mr. Weston, and his new step mother, but who keeps postponing his arrival. Emma claims that Frank is likely to be an easy-going young man, although she has never actually met him. Mr. Knightley, however, suggests that Frank's pleasantness may be superficial, and his speculation is later to be proved right after the arrival of Jane Fairfax in Highbury. The elegant but aloof Jane Fairfax comes to live with her aunt, Miss Bates, who is poor in wealth but abundant in warm words for her musically talented niece. Jane is soon noticed by Emma, Mr. Knightley, Mrs. Elton (the former Augusta Hawkins, who has also just come to town with her new husband, Mr. Elton) and by Frank Churchill, among others.

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Frank Churchill's arrival corresponds almost exactly with Jane's. He bonds with Emma by collusively baiting Jane Fairfax about her supposed past love intrigue with a married man. The mysterious delivery of a piano as a gift for Jane heightens Emmas curiosity about Janes past. Emma enjoys her lively relationship with Frank but works out that she is not in love with him, despite her conviction that he loves her. All are disappointed when Frank must suddenly leave to visit his sick aunt. At the first gathering after Franks return, Mr. Knightley gallantly steps in to rescue Harriet from the embarrassment of a snub by Mr Elton on the dance floor. Frank continues his flirtation with Emma, but some days later, when gypsies alarm Harriet, it is Frank who gallantly comes to her aid. Emma promptly decides that Frank could be paired off with Harriet, quite unaware that Harriet may have become attached to the first, not the second, of her two rescuers. At a subsequent picnic on Box Hill, Emma's deliberate insult to the kindly Miss Bates makes Mr. Knightley so angry that Emma later feels deep shame and regret. Emma has another unpleasant shock later on when she learns through Mrs. Weston that Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax have been secretly engaged all along. Emma is very worried for Harriet, for she had begun to think of Frank and Harriet as a match. Now that Franks aunt has died, Frank and Jane can openly declare their love and marriage plans. Harriet, however, confesses to a shocked Emma that she has fallen in love with Mr. Knightley and believes that he might share her feelings. Emma is

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completely unnerved by this information, until it is proven delightfully false by Mr. Knightleys proposal of marriage to Emma herself. Harriets rejected admirer, Robert Martin, is still in love with her and at last gains the chance to propose to Harriet again, ensuring her and his own happiness in the future. Emma and Mr. Knightley also move forward towards marital harmony, and the couple appear extremely well suited, despite the considerable number of false trails they have followed before they have eventually found one another as husband and wife.

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Summaries of Jane Austens six novels

5. PERSUASION
(Written 1816/17; published posthumously 1818)

Sir Walter Elliot, widower and father of three daughters, Elizabeth, Anne, and Mary, lives in Kellynch Hall, his estate in Somersetshire. Sir Walter shares the unpleasant qualities of vanity and class consciousness with his eldest daughter who has been the mistress of Kellynch Hall for the thirteen years since their mothers death. Sir Walter decides that he would rather leave his home than to change his lifestyle to deal with his increasing debts. As a result, he determines to find a smaller but comfortable house in Bath and rent out Kellynch Hall. Anne is upset about leaving her home and moving to a city where she thinks she will not know anyone. When Admiral Croft shows interest in Kellynch Hall, Sir Walter notes his considerable wealth and determines that he and his wife would be suitable tenants. Anne also approves of the couple, especially since several years previously, she had fallen deeply in love with Mrs. Croft's brother, Frederick Wentworth, a young Naval officer. Back then, Wentworth lived at his brother's home near Kellynch Hall and had soon become devoted -and subsequently engaged - to Anne. After Anne had been persuaded by her trusted friend Lady Russell to break off their engagement, a deeply-wounded

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Wentworth went abroad and Anne gradually sank into an unacknowledged state of depression, much regretting the decision to reject Wentworth. Just before the move to Bath, Mary pleads illness and invites her comforting sister Anne to stay with her. While at Mary's, Anne becomes well acquainted with her brother-in-law Charles's parents, and also with the Musgroves' spirited and good-natured daughters, Henrietta and Louisa. Anne and Wentworth soon encounter one another in this social setting and Wentworths coldness toward her upsets Anne. He is popular with all the others, however, and it soon becomes apparent to all that Wentworth and Louisa will make a match. Despite this, Anne gains the impression that Wentworth does actually still care about her feelings a little, but in nothing like the way that she still cares for him. Wentworth organizes a trip for all of them to Lyme Regis, to visit his friend Captain Harville. While there, they meet Captain Benwick, who has been mourning the death of his fiance, Harville's sister. The party takes a walk along a long stone pier at the seas edge. Louisa demands that Wentworth catch her as she jumps down the steps, but she springs down too quickly to be caught and knocks herself unconscious. Anne copes very well with this emergency, which appears at first to be a matter of life and death. The party later becomes hopeful that if she is given time and cared for without yet undergoing the arduous journey back home, Louisa will eventually make a full recovery.

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After Anne moves to Bath, she seeks to renew her friendship with Mrs Smith, a widow in financial difficulties. Anne also becomes friendly with William Elliot, her cousin and the heir to the Elliot estate. A month later, Anne is very pleased to learn that Louisa, while recovering slowly in Lyme Regis, has become engaged to Captain Benwick, thus disqualifying herself as a potential partner for Wentworth! Wentworth soon comes to Bath to visit the Crofts, who have come for a short stay. Anne is once again pleased, this time because she notices that Wentworth seems uncomfortable about Mr. Elliot's attentions towards her. Anne subsequently visits Mrs. Smith who tells her that it was the unscrupulous Mr Eliot who had led her husband into debt. The next day Anne had a debate with Harville about the difference between men's and women's capacity to feel, both claiming a higher level of loving fidelity in their own sex. As they leave, Wentworth leaves a letter where Anne will discover it. She is profoundly moved to read that he still loves her and that he dares to hope that she might actually love him too. Shortly afterwards, they meet on the street and at last they seize the chance to establish their mutual love for each other. Anne admits that she now has a very different attitude to the persuasive guidance which she had been given concerning Wentworth in the past. Wentworths professional and social standing have, in the years of their separation, established him as a suitable match for Anne after all. At last Anne can marry the honourable, devoted man whom she has loved for many years.

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Summaries of Jane Austens six novels

6. NORTHANGER ABBEY
(Written 1798(?); published posthumously 1818)

The Allens, family friends of the Morlands, offer to take Catherine Morland with them to Bath, and the seventeen year old Catherine eagerly accepts the invitation. Catherines life has been relatively sheltered, so Bath is an exciting new world for her. Catherine is soon introduced to Henry Tilney, a young clergyman who impresses Catherine with his wit and warmth of personality. Catherine swiftly falls in love with Henry, but they do not meet again for some time. She makes other connections during this period, including young Isabella Thorpe who soon becomes a constant companion, providing useful information about balls, dances, fashion, and gossip.

James Morland, Catherine's brother, and John Thorpe, Isabella's brother, who are university friends, arrive in Bath. Isabella flirts with James, and John tries to impress Catherine, asking her to be his dance partner. However, when Catherine next sees Henry Tilney she much prefers him to John because Henry attracts her in many ways, not least because he is modest and sensitive in conversation.

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Catherine has an opportunity to become friends with Eleanor Tilney, Henry's sister, since Isabella is preoccupied with James. Eleanor privately senses that Catherine has feelings for Henry and retains this impression, even after Johns presumptuous behavior causes Catherine to appear dismissive of an arranged walk with Eleanor and Henry. An upset Catherine makes her apologies and another walk is planned. Yet another hitch occurs when Catherines brother and the Thorpes try to persuade Catherine into an alternative outing which clashes with the new walk promised to the Tilneys. Catherine firmly refuses this time and joins Eleanor and Henry in a cliff-side amble where the three young people share their love of reading with one another.

Henry's older brother, Captain Frederick Tilney, arrives in town and Isabella turns her attentions to him, as she has now discovered that her fianc James is a man of modest means. With her fathers encouragement, Eleanor invites Catherine to visit the Tilneys estate, Northanger Abbey, and a delighted Catherine immediately accepts the invitation. She is glad to escape the amorous attentions of John Thorpe and also the painful observation that Isabella and Frederick are flirting openly and thus wounding her poor brother James.

Catherine leaves with the Tilneys for Northanger Abbey. On the way, Catherine and Henry entertain one another with Gothic imaginings, setting

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these scenes in Northanger Abbey itself. Unfortunately, this conversation adds fuel to the fire of Catherines already fertile imagination and once established in the Abbey, she proceeds to seek for evidence of murderous deeds in secret locations. Henry soon catches her in the act and is taken aback to realise she thinks his father must have been the murderer of his long-dead mother. He rebukes Catherine mildly but she accepts the scolding in abject shame.

Things move from bad to worse when Catherine learns that Isabella has broken off her engagement to James; the situation is not improved by a further letter from Isabella saying she herself has now been rejected by Frederick. The next upset occurs when the General returns home unexpectedly from a journey he has made and commands his daughter Eleanor to dismiss Catherine immediately. Poor Eleanor has no choice but to send a distraught Catherine on the journey back home in the morning.

Catherine is welcomed back home on arrival, although her family is startled by the Generals inconsiderate behaviour. Catherines misery turns to joy when Henry suddenly arrives at her home and duly proposes to her! Henry later explains that his father, General Tilney, had been told by John Thorpe that Catherine was from a very rich family. When the General later encountered John again, he was given precisely the opposite information about Catherines family fortunes by a resentful John, who may have felt that he had been inexplicably spurned by Catherine in favour of Henry. The

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General is furious to learn that Henrys possible future fiance has no money and promptly ejects her from his home.

Within a few months, Eleanor receives a very advantageous proposal of marriage which puts the General in a better frame of mind. Once he learns that the Morlands finances are actually moderate, not dire, he consents to the marriage of Henry and Catherine who now see a clear path forward to their united happiness.

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