His temper might perhaps be a little soured by finding, like many others of his sex, that through some unaccountable bias in favour of beauty, he was the husband of a very silly woman,--but she knew that this kind of blunder was too common for any sensible man to be lastingly hurt by it.-- It was rather a wish of distinction, she believed, which produced his contemptuous treatment of every body, and his general abuse of every thing before him.

It was the desire of appearing superior to other people.

The motive was too common to be wondered at; but the means, however they might succeed by establishing his superiority in ill-breeding, were not likely to attach any one to him except his wife.
"Oh, my dear Miss Dashwood," said Mrs.Palmer soon afterwards, "I have got such a favour to ask of you and your sister.

Will you come and spend some time at Cleveland this Christmas?
Now, pray do,--and come while the Westons are with us.

You cannot think how happy I shall be! It will be quite delightful!--My love," applying to her husband, "don't you long to have the Miss Dashwoods come to Cleveland ?" "Certainly," he replied, with a sneer--"I came into Devonshire with no other view." "There now,"-- said his lady, "you see Mr.Palmer expects you; so you cannot refuse to come." They both eagerly and resolutely declined her invitation.
"But indeed you must and shall come.