by Jane Austen
2. good breeding: politeness.
3. furniture: furnishings; the term was often broader then, referring to all the items inside a house.
4. Clerks would assist attorneys with matters like drawing up documents; usually they had been apprenticed to attorneys in order to learn the trade themselves. Many attorneys of the time had only one clerk, so Mr. Shepherd’s having more than one indicates his relative prosperity.
5. An indenture is a contract or agreement. Samples of rental agreements from the time show them consistently beginning with “This indenture,” as well as frequently employing archaic grammar, as “sheweth” (or “showeth”) would have been at this time.
6. Sir Walter’s own man would be his valet, the most personal servant for any man (see note 18). The valet was responsible for his master’s appearance, and arranging his hair was a critical part of this; some valets, or aspiring valets, would work under a professional hairdresser in order to master the art. Sir Walter would likely be particularly keen to have such a well-qualified man.
7. The park is the name for the grounds surrounding the house (see note 16). A park would normally be large enough—Sir Walter had boasted of the range of his—that one would need to drive through it, using roads built for carriages.
8. Presumably the experience of others in the county with Sir Walter has led to a general opinion of his being difficult to deal with, whether because of folly, irrationality, or excessive pride.
9. Michaelmas: September 29. Michaelmas was one of the four days used to divide the year into quarters. The others were Christmas, Lady Day (March 25), and Midsummer Day (June 24). Rent payments were frequently due on those days, and it would be standard to have somebody begin leasing a house on one of them.
10. Later information indicates that they left four weeks before Michaelmas, or right around the beginning of September (see chronology).
11. Lady Russell’s choice of when to go to Bath was standard. At this time its season extended from September to June, with the winter being especially popular; in both this novel and Northanger Abbey the characters’ visits to Bath occur during the winter. One reason was that Bath offered mainly indoor amusements, in contrast to destinations such as the increasingly popular seaside resorts that were best enjoyed in warmer weather. Another reason was that Bath tended to be warm, due to its location in the southwest of England and its being in a bowl surrounded by hills.
Anne must choose between going with her father or with Lady Russell because she cannot travel to Bath on her own. At this time it was considered inappropriate for genteel women, especially young and unmarried ones, to travel alone. An escort, preferably a male relative, was considered essential to guard against danger or any possible sexual impropriety. Jane Austen and her sister had to adjust their plans at various times to ensure that a man, usually one of their brothers, could accompany them. This would be less of an issue for Lady Russell, who is older and widowed, and who can use her own carriage (Anne would have to use a hired one).
12. white glare of Bath: Bath is distinguished by almost every building being of the same light yellow stone, a natural reflector of sunlight. Much of it also has little shade from trees.
13. Anne’s interest in experiencing both what is sweet and what is sad reflects a bent toward serious, and sometimes melancholy, reflection. A later passage will describe how the scenes of autumn evoke in her mind poetic descriptions of the season (this page).
14. Mary has written or spoken to Elizabeth because the latter, as mistress of the house, should be consulted, or at least informed, when requesting the presence of someone who is part of that household. It is not clear whether Mary thought to ask Anne herself, though, as Anne’s above deliberations show, she is not under Elizabeth’s authority and can decide for herself, within certain limitations, where she will go.
15. This emphasis on duty will characterize Anne throughout the novel. It was seen just above in her rueful decision to go to Bath because that would be right.
16. This means Mrs. Clay is leaving her children behind, presumably with her father (and mother, if she is living). Other cases of parents leaving children will occur in the novel, though never for the many months Mrs. Clay remains in Bath. Her decision indicates how determined she is to win the favor of Sir Walter.
17. was become: had become. This use of “to be” for the past tense, where “to have” is currently employed, can be found elsewhere in this novel and in the language of the time generally.
18. sensible: aware, conscious.
19. Meaning a marriage between Sir Walter and Mrs. Clay.
20. In Pride and Prejudice a young woman is denigrated for having freckles.
21. The limited dentistry and orthodontia available during this period meant that many people had problems with their teeth.
22. Mind and manners, both of which had broader meanings than they do at present, were frequently paired in phrases, with the first referring to someone’s inner character and the second to outer character or behavior.
23. Elizabeth would be more deserving of pity in such a case because any wife of Sir Walter’s would displace Elizabeth as mistress of the house, thereby undermining both her power and her status. She also would be displaced, at least partly, in her father’s affections, which are directed far more toward her than toward his other daughters.
24. nice: scrupulous, delicate.
25. condition: social position.
26. Elizabeth means Mrs. Clay reprobates a marriage based on inequality of rank, not that she reprobates inequality of rank. Acceptance of such inequality was standard at the time, as was disapproval of unequal marriages—though one can assume that Mrs. Clay’s strong expression of reprobation stemmed primarily from her wish to flatter Sir Walter and Elizabeth and to avoid any suspicion that she might be seeking such a marriage.
27. my father: saying “my” rather than “our” when speaking of one’s parent to a sibling is standard in Jane Austen. In her own letters to her sister she consistently refers to “my mother” or “my father.” She was sensitive to such matters of usage: in one letter she notes, as an apparent curiosity, a servant’s speaking of “Mother” rather than “my mother” (Jan. 24, 1809).
28. His keeping himself single could serve his children’s interests by guaranteeing that they would remain foremost in his affection, that they would never be placed under the authority of a stepmother, and that his available income would not be diverted into expenditure on his wife. In fact, it was earlier stated that Sir Walter made some efforts at marriage after his wife died, and decided to remain single for his progeny’s sake only after he failed (this page).
29. office: service, task.
30. Because of the easy availability of hired means of transport in Bath, the Elliots will not need to own horses or carriages there—that is one way they will save money. The horses will presumably be sold now. Sir Walter may employ them this last time to keep his neighbors from suspecting this sale.
31. condescending: gracious—or condescending in the current sense. The term then could be one of praise as well as of criticism.
32. The tenantry and cottagers would be those who lived, and probably worked, on the Elliot estate (cottages were the standard dwellings of poorer people in the country). Ideally, according to norms of the time, there should be a paternalistic relationship between them and the landowner, with the latter extending charity and benevolent supervision and the former offering deference and gratitude, as well as good service, in return. This is why the tenantry and cottagers would normally gather to pay their respects to a departing landowner, why he would offer condescending bows in return, and why they are supposed to be afflicted by his leaving. But in this case they had to be encouraged to come, perhaps by the manager of the estate, who would know that Sir Walter, probably believing himself to be loved and expecting signs of deference, would be humiliated and angered if nobody appeared. It is easy to imagine that Sir Walter was far from an ideal landlord.
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br /> 33. Journeys were made in stages, for horses needed to be changed approximately every ten miles (for this system of traveling, see note 90).
34. Yeomen were men who owned small pieces of land and farmed them. They would thus rank above laborers, who worked others’ land, but they would still be below large landowners like the Musgroves and would not have substantial houses.
35. “Squire” is a term frequently used for an important landowner; in this case it means Mr. Musgrove. The high walls and large gates were standard features of older houses. Many such houses had been rebuilt in more recent style, for the sake of convenience and appearance, but this one has not.
36. A parsonage is the home of the resident clergyman. Though generally not as wealthy as the leading landowners, the clergy belonged to the same genteel class, and their homes would reflect that.
37. Casement windows, which open out or in through hinges, mark this house as old-fashioned. They had been the main type of window in earlier times, but in the eighteenth century they had been largely superseded by sash windows, which go up and down.
38. aspect: appearance.
39. It is this cottage that marks the village as departing from the old English style, especially because, unlike the parsonage or the squire’s mansion, or Great House, it was built in the latest architectural style.
Traditionally a cottage was a small, humble dwelling for poorer people (like those described above as cottagers). Thus it would have represented no improvement or enlargement over a farmhouse, a term used for ordinary rural houses. But this period saw a brief vogue for cottages as habitations of the wealthy. One character in Sense and Sensibility, Robert Ferrars, proclaims his great love of cottages, even drawing up plans for one, while in Austen’s unfinished novel, Sanditon, one person is constructing a Cottage Ornée, the term (from the French for “adorned” or “decorated”) used for these cottages. This vogue was linked to the Romantic movement of the time, with its celebration of nature and the picturesque. This made cottages appealing due to their simple, bucolic associations, though cottages built for the wealthy were significantly larger and more comfortable than traditional ones. Their frequently elaborate design usually incorporated quaint, rustic elements, which gave them the “prettinesses” mentioned here—a contrast to the classical grandeur typical of the period’s country houses. Verandas and French windows were popular features of these cottages. Verandas, typically made of black-painted cast iron (the veranda here is described as black on this page) shaped into elaborate decorative patterns, had recently become a feature of many houses, and for cottages they offered access to the open air that fit with the rustic appeal of such dwellings. French windows, meaning floor-length ones, had also became popular, and they were a good complement to verandas, offering a full view of the outside world beyond the veranda, and frequently offering access as well, since many French windows opened and functioned as doors.
40. “Once elegant” probably means the furniture was new. Jane Austen often describes the current style of furniture as elegant (see note 27).
41. Mary is exaggerating. Morning at the time meant most of the day, and Anne says below, without being contradicted, that it is still early. It is appropriate that Mary’s first words should involve exaggeration, complaints of others’ mistreatment of her, and moans about the extremity of her illness (which does not stop her from talking at length). In these respects, and in her general selfishness and pride, Mary forms an excellent foil for Anne.
42. Jane Austen often ridicules hypochondria: Mrs. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice is another example. In a letter Austen describes someone as “the sort of woman who gives the idea of being determined never to be well—& who likes her spasms & nervousness & the consequence they give her, better than anything else” (Sept. 25, 1813).
43. Seized was often used to mean being afflicted with an ailment, especially one that drastically impacted someone.
44. She would ring the bell for a servant to attend her. By this time most houses of the wealthy were equipped with bells attached to wires running through the house: people in one room could pull a cord, and a bell would ring in the servants’ quarters, indicating where attendance was required.
45. Shooting game birds, usually partridges and pheasants, was a popular gentlemen’s pursuit. It often kept them out much of the day. One reason for Charles’s zeal may be that it is early September (see chronology), and the shooting season just started on September 1.
46. The family follows standard naming practice. The eldest boy is named after his father, the next oldest after his maternal grandfather—the paternal grandfather is probably also Charles.
47. This is the first extended conversation involving Anne. She exhibits here, in her attempts to cheer up Mary, two of her leading traits: a strong inclination to help others and a habit of trying to make the best of things.
48. Mr. Musgrove is Charles Musgrove’s father. He is consistently called only “Mr. Musgrove,” a sign of superior status. Charles is always called “Charles Musgrove”; once his father dies, he will be “Mr. Musgrove.”
49. A large library was a standard feature of country houses, even for someone like Sir Walter, whose reading seems to consist of only one book. Much of the library would have been handed down from earlier generations. Most houses also had numerous pictures (see note 13).
50. Mackenzie would be the gardener. Gardeners, whose work required great skill and knowledge, especially on properties with extensive landscaping, were upper servants; this is why Anne refers to him by his last name, a mark of respect. First names were used for lower servants.
51. This would be printed music. Large amounts of music were printed at this time, either in single sheets or in volumes with various pieces. Jane Austen, who played the piano daily for much of her life, owned numerous pieces, including many she had copied herself. Anne, who is soon revealed to be an accomplished pianist, would naturally have a substantial collection, and the task of division may not have been easy for her—presumably some music is to stay with her now, and some is to be sent to Bath for future use.
52. Wagons were the principal vehicles for transporting goods over land; in this case they would be conveying the Elliots’ possessions to Bath. By this time regular wagon service between important towns had become common in England; the wagons themselves could be very large, requiring as many as eight horses to pull them (see picture).
53. The Elliots would be the leading family in their parish, the basic unit of local government and rural society. Their departure would be an important event for others living there. Anne’s willingness to undertake the task of seeing all the residents shows her exercising the social duties of her class that Sir Walter and Elizabeth neglect. One of the most important of these duties, especially for women, was charity; this often involved visiting the houses of the local poor, so it is likely that Anne saw many people she had seen before and who genuinely wished to say good-bye. That may be why Anne describes it as trying. Later, when Anne is staying with Lady Russell, and thus back in the same parish, she engages in visits of charity in the village (this page).
54. It is later revealed that Charles has a curricle, a small open carriage (for a picture, see this page). He may have driven in it on this occasion (see note 55), but an open carriage would not be good for conveying ladies in evening clothes, which were typically made of lightweight, delicate material and were often white. A larger, enclosed carriage was very expensive to buy and maintain, and it would require hiring a coachman to drive it; moreover, carriages were taxed, and the rates were greater for larger ones and second family vehicles. Thus Charles and Mary, or at least Charles, presumably decided that a second carriage was not worth it, especially since Charles’s parents have a coach and live within easy walking distance.
55. As shown later, Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove have a coach, an enclosed carriage with two seats facing each other (see note 58; and picture). That is why Mrs. and Mr. Musgrove’s size could have inconvenienced Mary.
At the same time, since coach seats were designed to seat three, Mary was not really crowded. Charles would have either gone separately, perhaps in his curricle, or would have sat on one of the outside seats on the coach.
56. Because there was no meal between breakfast and dinner, usually at four or five o’clock, substantial snacks such as cold meat were often eaten during the day. For nosegays, see note 62.
57. Standard etiquette dictated that when someone new arrived, existing residents should make the first visit. Anne, while not disavowing this etiquette in general, sees no reason to follow it here, since she is not really a stranger.
58. This shows the difference in manners between the more aristocratic and formal Elliots and the Musgroves. The difference will surface frequently.
59. Carpets had been smaller in earlier periods. This would naturally put a premium on shiny floors.
60. grand piano forte: grand piano. Pianoforte was the initial name for the piano, and around 1790, a little more than fifty years after the appearance of pianofortes, an English manufacturer, John Broadwood, created a large, wing-shaped version. Broadwood’s manufacturing improvements also made the instrument very affordable: in 1815, the year this novel was begun, he was selling a simple pianoforte for less than 20 pounds, and a grand one for 46. The latter would be a modest sum for the Musgroves (see note 14, for the value of money), so their possession of a grand pianoforte does not necessarily indicate any great dedication to music.
61. harp: see note 34.
62. In earlier times all furniture was usually arranged against the wall, and taken out when needed. Scattering it permanently around the room was a recent development, a product of a greater casualness in decoration. This encouraged the placement of a variety of little tables next to the scattered chairs and sofas (for an example, see this page), and the resulting additional surfaces allowed for the increasing display of flowers, whose indoor use had been growing in popularity since the mid eighteenth century (as just seen in Mary’s “beautifying a nosegay”). Plant and flower stands became a standard feature of interiors, with many of these stands being made with multiple tiers and in highly elaborate designs; for an example, see this page.
