Margaret Dashwood : $b or, Interference
| Language | en |
|---|---|
| First published | 2025-11-19 |
| Rights | Public domain in the USA. |
| Gutenberg ID | #77271 |
Description
"In peril on the sea" by Montague T. Hainsselin is a novel written in the early 20th century. It appears to be a continuation-style tale of manners in the Austen vein, focusing on Margaret Dashwood’s quiet coming-of-age, her unwanted courtship by a vain young clergyman, and a gentler, emerging attachment to a naval officer. The opening of the story presents Margaret, now seventeen at Barton Cottage, as a calm observer amid the meddlesome cheer of Sir John and Mrs. Jennings, the cool propriety of Lady Middleton, and the verbose attentions of the new vicar, Mr. Atherton. John Dashwood schemes to steer Margaret into marriage with Atherton, even dangling a conditional increase to her small fortune, while the Park’s endless jokes and Miss Nancy Steele’s chatter keep gossip alive. Against this bustle, Margaret accidentally meets a courteous naval officer on the downs—later known as Commander Pennington—and a quiet mutual understanding forms, which she initially keeps from her mother to avoid neighborhood talk. A ball brings Willoughby’s return and more social noise; soon after, Pennington dines with the Palmers, receives orders to sea, and privately asks Margaret to wait for him, a scene Mrs. Dashwood interrupts before mother and daughter reconcile in confidence. Atherton later proposes at the parsonage; Margaret declines, John presses in vain, and the timely arrival of Elinor and Edward steadies the household as John departs, his plans thwarted. (This is an automatically generated summary.)