[Elinor's] wisdom, too, limited the number of their servants to three; two maids and a man, with whom they were speedily provided from amongst those who had formed their establishment at Norland.

In light of Chapter Four, this passage from Sense and Sensibility speaks volumes about the reduced state of Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters. Although Norland might not have had the eighty-one servants listed for Wentworth Woodhouse (what a fine name for an establishment), it must certainly have had a hefty complement.

Elizabeth Shackleton thought seven an ideal number of live-in servants for a modest establishment. Now, here are the Dashwoods with two maids and a man.

It makes me wonder what tasks the ladies had to take on that were previously performed for them.