The family of Dashwood had long been settled in Sussex. Their estate was large and their residence was at Norland Park in the centre of their property where for many generations they had lived in so respectable a manner as to engage the general good opinion of their surrounding acquaintance. The late owner of this estate was a single man who lived to a very advanced age and who for many years of his life had a constant companion and housekeeper in his sister. But her death which happened ten years before his own produced a great alteration in his home; for to supply her loss he invited and received into his house the family of his nephew Mr. Henry Dashwood the legal inheritor of the Norland estate and the person to whom he intended to bequeath it. In the society of his nephew and niece and their children the old Gentleman's days were comfortably spent. His attachment to them all increased. The constant attention of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dashwood to his wishes which proceeded not merely from interest but from goodness of heart gave him every degree of solid comfort which his age could receive; and the cheerfulness of the children added a relish to his existence.