An income, perhaps, but no property. Clergymen, may
be, or lawyers from town, or half-pay officers, or widows with only a
jointure; and what good can such people do to anybody? Except just as
they take our empty houses, and (between ourselves) I think they are
great fools for not staying at home. Now, if we could get a young
heiress to be sent here for her health, and, as soon as she got well,
have her fall in love with Sir Edward! And Miss Esther must marry
somebody of fortune, too. She must get a rich husband. Ah! young ladies
that have no money are very much to be pitied.' After a short pause: 'If
Miss Esther thinks to talk me into inviting them to come and stay at
Sanditon House, she will find herself mistaken. Matters are altered with
me since last summer, you know: I have Miss Clara with me now, which
makes a great difference. I should not choose to have my two housemaid's
time taken up all the morning in dusting out bedrooms. They have Miss
Clara's room to put to rights, as well as mine, every day. If they had
hard work, they would want higher wages.
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