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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
+
+
+Title: Sense and Sensibility
+
+Author: Jane Austen
+
+Release Date: May 25, 2008 [EBook #161]
+[This file last updated September 6, 2010]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SENSE AND SENSIBILITY ***
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+SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
+
+by Jane Austen
+
+(1811)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 1
+
+
+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.
+
+By a former marriage, Mr. Henry Dashwood had one son: by his present
+lady, three daughters.  The son, a steady respectable young man, was
+amply provided for by the fortune of his mother, which had been large,
+and half of which devolved on him on his coming of age.  By his own
+marriage, likewise, which happened soon afterwards, he added to his
+wealth.  To him therefore the succession to the Norland estate was not
+so really important as to his sisters; for their fortune, independent
+of what might arise to them from their father's inheriting that
+property, could be but small.  Their mother had nothing, and their
+father only seven thousand pounds in his own disposal; for the
+remaining moiety of his first wife's fortune was also secured to her
+child, and he had only a life-interest in it.
+
+The old gentleman died: his will was read, and like almost every other
+will, gave as much disappointment as pleasure.  He was neither so
+unjust, nor so ungrateful, as to leave his estate from his nephew;--but
+he left it to him on such terms as destroyed half the value of the
+bequest.  Mr. Dashwood had wished for it more for the sake of his wife
+and daughters than for himself or his son;--but to his son, and his
+son's son, a child of four years old, it was secured, in such a way, as
+to leave to himself no power of providing for those who were most dear
+to him, and who most needed a provision by any charge on the estate, or
+by any sale of its valuable woods.  The whole was tied up for the
+benefit of this child, who, in occasional visits with his father and
+mother at Norland, had so far gained on the affections of his uncle, by
+such attractions as are by no means unusual in children of two or three
+years old; an imperfect articulation, an earnest desire of having his
+own way, many cunning tricks, and a great deal of noise, as to outweigh
+all the value of all the attention which, for years, he had received
+from his niece and her daughters.  He meant not to be unkind, however,
+and, as a mark of his affection for the three girls, he left them a
+thousand pounds a-piece.
+
+Mr. Dashwood's disappointment was, at first, severe; but his temper was
+cheerful and sanguine; and he might reasonably hope to live many years,
+and by living economically, lay by a considerable sum from the produce
+of an estate already large, and capable of almost immediate
+improvement.  But the fortune, which had been so tardy in coming, was
+his only one twelvemonth.  He survived his uncle no longer; and ten
+thousand pounds, including the late legacies, was all that remained for
+his widow and daughters.
+
+His son was sent for as soon as his danger was known, and to him Mr.
+Dashwood recommended, with all the strength and urgency which illness
+could command, the interest of his mother-in-law and sisters.
+
+Mr. John Dashwood had not the strong feelings of the rest of the
+family; but he was affected by a recommendation of such a nature at
+such a time, and he promised to do every thing in his power to make
+them comfortable.  His father was rendered easy by such an assurance,
+and Mr. John Dashwood had then leisure to consider how much there might
+prudently be in his power to do for them.
+
+He was not an ill-disposed young man, unless to be rather cold hearted
+and rather selfish is to be ill-disposed: but he was, in general, well
+respected; for he conducted himself with propriety in the discharge of
+his ordinary duties.  Had he married a more amiable woman, he might
+have been made still more respectable than he was:--he might even have
+been made amiable himself; for he was very young when he married, and
+very fond of his wife.  But Mrs. John Dashwood was a strong caricature
+of himself;--more narrow-minded and selfish.
+
+When he gave his promise to his father, he meditated within himself to
+increase the fortunes of his sisters by the present of a thousand
+pounds a-piece.  He then really thought himself equal to it.  The
+prospect of four thousand a-year, in addition to his present income,
+besides the remaining half of his own mother's fortune, warmed his
+heart, and made him feel capable of generosity.-- "Yes, he would give
+them three thousand pounds: it would be liberal and handsome! It would
+be enough to make them completely easy.  Three thousand pounds! he
+could spare so considerable a sum with little inconvenience."-- He
+thought of it all day long, and for many days successively, and he did
+not repent.
+
+No sooner was his father's funeral over, than Mrs. John Dashwood,
+without sending any notice of her intention to her mother-in-law,
+arrived with her child and their attendants.  No one could dispute her
+right to come; the house was her husband's from the moment of his
+father's decease; but the indelicacy of her conduct was so much the
+greater, and to a woman in Mrs. Dashwood's situation, with only common
+feelings, must have been highly unpleasing;--but in HER mind there was
+a sense of honor so keen, a generosity so romantic, that any offence of
+the kind, by whomsoever given or received, was to her a source of
+immovable disgust.  Mrs. John Dashwood had never been a favourite with
+any of her husband's family; but she had had no opportunity, till the
+present, of shewing them with how little attention to the comfort of
+other people she could act when occasion required it.
+
+So acutely did Mrs. Dashwood feel this ungracious behaviour, and so
+earnestly did she despise her daughter-in-law for it, that, on the
+arrival of the latter, she would have quitted the house for ever, had
+not the entreaty of her eldest girl induced her first to reflect on the
+propriety of going, and her own tender love for all her three children
+determined her afterwards to stay, and for their sakes avoid a breach
+with their brother.
+
+Elinor, this eldest daughter, whose advice was so effectual, possessed
+a strength of understanding, and coolness of judgment, which qualified
+her, though only nineteen, to be the counsellor of her mother, and
+enabled her frequently to counteract, to the advantage of them all,
+that eagerness of mind in Mrs. Dashwood which must generally have led
+to imprudence.  She had an excellent heart;--her disposition was
+affectionate, and her feelings were strong; but she knew how to govern
+them: it was a knowledge which her mother had yet to learn; and which
+one of her sisters had resolved never to be taught.
+
+Marianne's abilities were, in many respects, quite equal to Elinor's.
+She was sensible and clever; but eager in everything: her sorrows, her
+joys, could have no moderation.  She was generous, amiable,
+interesting: she was everything but prudent.  The resemblance between
+her and her mother was strikingly great.
+
+Elinor saw, with concern, the excess of her sister's sensibility; but
+by Mrs. Dashwood it was valued and cherished.  They encouraged each
+other now in the violence of their affliction.  The agony of grief
+which overpowered them at first, was voluntarily renewed, was sought
+for, was created again and again.  They gave themselves up wholly to
+their sorrow, seeking increase of wretchedness in every reflection that
+could afford it, and resolved against ever admitting consolation in
+future.  Elinor, too, was deeply afflicted; but still she could
+struggle, she could exert herself.  She could consult with her brother,
+could receive her sister-in-law on her arrival, and treat her with
+proper attention; and could strive to rouse her mother to similar
+exertion, and encourage her to similar forbearance.
+
+Margaret, the other sister, was a good-humored, well-disposed girl; but
+as she had already imbibed a good deal of Marianne's romance, without
+having much of her sense, she did not, at thirteen, bid fair to equal
+her sisters at a more advanced period of life.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 2
+
+
+Mrs. John Dashwood now installed herself mistress of Norland; and her
+mother and sisters-in-law were degraded to the condition of visitors.
+As such, however, they were treated by her with quiet civility; and by
+her husband with as much kindness as he could feel towards anybody
+beyond himself, his wife, and their child.  He really pressed them,
+with some earnestness, to consider Norland as their home; and, as no
+plan appeared so eligible to Mrs. Dashwood as remaining there till she
+could accommodate herself with a house in the neighbourhood, his
+invitation was accepted.
+
+A continuance in a place where everything reminded her of former
+delight, was exactly what suited her mind.  In seasons of cheerfulness,
+no temper could be more cheerful than hers, or possess, in a greater
+degree, that sanguine expectation of happiness which is happiness
+itself.  But in sorrow she must be equally carried away by her fancy,
+and as far beyond consolation as in pleasure she was beyond alloy.
+
+Mrs. John Dashwood did not at all approve of what her husband intended
+to do for his sisters.  To take three thousand pounds from the fortune
+of their dear little boy would be impoverishing him to the most
+dreadful degree.  She begged him to think again on the subject.  How
+could he answer it to himself to rob his child, and his only child too,
+of so large a sum?  And what possible claim could the Miss Dashwoods,
+who were related to him only by half blood, which she considered as no
+relationship at all, have on his generosity to so large an amount.  It
+was very well known that no affection was ever supposed to exist
+between the children of any man by different marriages; and why was he
+to ruin himself, and their poor little Harry, by giving away all his
+money to his half sisters?
+
+"It was my father's last request to me," replied her husband, "that I
+should assist his widow and daughters."
+
+"He did not know what he was talking of, I dare say; ten to one but he
+was light-headed at the time.  Had he been in his right senses, he
+could not have thought of such a thing as begging you to give away half
+your fortune from your own child."
+
+"He did not stipulate for any particular sum, my dear Fanny; he only
+requested me, in general terms, to assist them, and make their
+situation more comfortable than it was in his power to do.  Perhaps it
+would have been as well if he had left it wholly to myself.  He could
+hardly suppose I should neglect them.  But as he required the promise,
+I could not do less than give it; at least I thought so at the time.
+The promise, therefore, was given, and must be performed.  Something
+must be done for them whenever they leave Norland and settle in a new
+home."
+
+"Well, then, LET something be done for them; but THAT something need
+not be three thousand pounds.  Consider," she added, "that when the
+money is once parted with, it never can return.  Your sisters will
+marry, and it will be gone for ever.  If, indeed, it could be restored
+to our poor little boy--"
+
+"Why, to be sure," said her husband, very gravely, "that would make
+great difference.  The time may come when Harry will regret that so
+large a sum was parted with.  If he should have a numerous family, for
+instance, it would be a very convenient addition."
+
+"To be sure it would."
+
+"Perhaps, then, it would be better for all parties, if the sum were
+diminished one half.--Five hundred pounds would be a prodigious
+increase to their fortunes!"
+
+"Oh! beyond anything great!  What brother on earth would do half so
+much for his sisters, even if REALLY his sisters!  And as it is--only
+half blood!--But you have such a generous spirit!"
+
+"I would not wish to do any thing mean," he replied.  "One had rather,
+on such occasions, do too much than too little.  No one, at least, can
+think I have not done enough for them: even themselves, they can hardly
+expect more."
+
+"There is no knowing what THEY may expect," said the lady, "but we are
+not to think of their expectations: the question is, what you can
+afford to do."
+
+"Certainly--and I think I may afford to give them five hundred pounds
+a-piece.  As it is, without any addition of mine, they will each have
+about three thousand pounds on their mother's death--a very comfortable
+fortune for any young woman."
+
+"To be sure it is; and, indeed, it strikes me that they can want no
+addition at all.  They will have ten thousand pounds divided amongst
+them.  If they marry, they will be sure of doing well, and if they do
+not, they may all live very comfortably together on the interest of ten
+thousand pounds."
+
+"That is very true, and, therefore, I do not know whether, upon the
+whole, it would not be more advisable to do something for their mother
+while she lives, rather than for them--something of the annuity kind I
+mean.--My sisters would feel the good effects of it as well as herself.
+A hundred a year would make them all perfectly comfortable."
+
+His wife hesitated a little, however, in giving her consent to this
+plan.
+
+"To be sure," said she, "it is better than parting with fifteen hundred
+pounds at once.  But, then, if Mrs. Dashwood should live fifteen years
+we shall be completely taken in."
+
+"Fifteen years! my dear Fanny; her life cannot be worth half that
+purchase."
+
+"Certainly not; but if you observe, people always live for ever when
+there is an annuity to be paid them; and she is very stout and healthy,
+and hardly forty.  An annuity is a very serious business; it comes over
+and over every year, and there is no getting rid of it.  You are not
+aware of what you are doing.  I have known a great deal of the trouble
+of annuities; for my mother was clogged with the payment of three to
+old superannuated servants by my father's will, and it is amazing how
+disagreeable she found it.  Twice every year these annuities were to be
+paid; and then there was the trouble of getting it to them; and then
+one of them was said to have died, and afterwards it turned out to be
+no such thing.  My mother was quite sick of it.  Her income was not her
+own, she said, with such perpetual claims on it; and it was the more
+unkind in my father, because, otherwise, the money would have been
+entirely at my mother's disposal, without any restriction whatever.  It
+has given me such an abhorrence of annuities, that I am sure I would
+not pin myself down to the payment of one for all the world."
+
+"It is certainly an unpleasant thing," replied Mr. Dashwood, "to have
+those kind of yearly drains on one's income.  One's fortune, as your
+mother justly says, is NOT one's own.  To be tied down to the regular
+payment of such a sum, on every rent day, is by no means desirable: it
+takes away one's independence."
+
+"Undoubtedly; and after all you have no thanks for it.  They think
+themselves secure, you do no more than what is expected, and it raises
+no gratitude at all.  If I were you, whatever I did should be done at
+my own discretion entirely.  I would not bind myself to allow them any
+thing yearly.  It may be very inconvenient some years to spare a
+hundred, or even fifty pounds from our own expenses."
+
+"I believe you are right, my love; it will be better that there should
+be no annuity in the case; whatever I may give them occasionally will
+be of far greater assistance than a yearly allowance, because they
+would only enlarge their style of living if they felt sure of a larger
+income, and would not be sixpence the richer for it at the end of the
+year.  It will certainly be much the best way.  A present of fifty
+pounds, now and then, will prevent their ever being distressed for
+money, and will, I think, be amply discharging my promise to my father."
+
+"To be sure it will.  Indeed, to say the truth, I am convinced within
+myself that your father had no idea of your giving them any money at
+all.  The assistance he thought of, I dare say, was only such as might
+be reasonably expected of you; for instance, such as looking out for a
+comfortable small house for them, helping them to move their things,
+and sending them presents of fish and game, and so forth, whenever they
+are in season.  I'll lay my life that he meant nothing farther; indeed,
+it would be very strange and unreasonable if he did.  Do but consider,
+my dear Mr. Dashwood, how excessively comfortable your mother-in-law
+and her daughters may live on the interest of seven thousand pounds,
+besides the thousand pounds belonging to each of the girls, which
+brings them in fifty pounds a year a-piece, and, of course, they will
+pay their mother for their board out of it.  Altogether, they will have
+five hundred a-year amongst them, and what on earth can four women want
+for more than that?--They will live so cheap! Their housekeeping will
+be nothing at all.  They will have no carriage, no horses, and hardly
+any servants; they will keep no company, and can have no expenses of
+any kind!  Only conceive how comfortable they will be!  Five hundred a
+year! I am sure I cannot imagine how they will spend half of it; and as
+to your giving them more, it is quite absurd to think of it.  They will
+be much more able to give YOU something."
+
+"Upon my word," said Mr. Dashwood, "I believe you are perfectly right.
+My father certainly could mean nothing more by his request to me than
+what you say.  I clearly understand it now, and I will strictly fulfil
+my engagement by such acts of assistance and kindness to them as you
+have described.  When my mother removes into another house my services
+shall be readily given to accommodate her as far as I can.  Some little
+present of furniture too may be acceptable then."
+
+"Certainly," returned Mrs. John Dashwood.  "But, however, ONE thing
+must be considered.  When your father and mother moved to Norland,
+though the furniture of Stanhill was sold, all the china, plate, and
+linen was saved, and is now left to your mother.  Her house will
+therefore be almost completely fitted up as soon as she takes it."
+
+"That is a material consideration undoubtedly.  A valuable legacy
+indeed! And yet some of the plate would have been a very pleasant
+addition to our own stock here."
+
+"Yes; and the set of breakfast china is twice as handsome as what
+belongs to this house.  A great deal too handsome, in my opinion, for
+any place THEY can ever afford to live in.  But, however, so it is.
+Your father thought only of THEM.  And I must say this: that you owe no
+particular gratitude to him, nor attention to his wishes; for we very
+well know that if he could, he would have left almost everything in the
+world to THEM."
+
+This argument was irresistible.  It gave to his intentions whatever of
+decision was wanting before; and he finally resolved, that it would be
+absolutely unnecessary, if not highly indecorous, to do more for the
+widow and children of his father, than such kind of neighbourly acts as
+his own wife pointed out.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 3
+
+
+Mrs. Dashwood remained at Norland several months; not from any
+disinclination to move when the sight of every well known spot ceased
+to raise the violent emotion which it produced for a while; for when
+her spirits began to revive, and her mind became capable of some other
+exertion than that of heightening its affliction by melancholy
+remembrances, she was impatient to be gone, and indefatigable in her
+inquiries for a suitable dwelling in the neighbourhood of Norland; for
+to remove far from that beloved spot was impossible.  But she could
+hear of no situation that at once answered her notions of comfort and
+ease, and suited the prudence of her eldest daughter, whose steadier
+judgment rejected several houses as too large for their income, which
+her mother would have approved.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood had been informed by her husband of the solemn promise on
+the part of his son in their favour, which gave comfort to his last
+earthly reflections.  She doubted the sincerity of this assurance no
+more than he had doubted it himself, and she thought of it for her
+daughters' sake with satisfaction, though as for herself she was
+persuaded that a much smaller provision than 7000L would support her in
+affluence.  For their brother's sake, too, for the sake of his own
+heart, she rejoiced; and she reproached herself for being unjust to his
+merit before, in believing him incapable of generosity.  His attentive
+behaviour to herself and his sisters convinced her that their welfare
+was dear to him, and, for a long time, she firmly relied on the
+liberality of his intentions.
+
+The contempt which she had, very early in their acquaintance, felt for
+her daughter-in-law, was very much increased by the farther knowledge
+of her character, which half a year's residence in her family afforded;
+and perhaps in spite of every consideration of politeness or maternal
+affection on the side of the former, the two ladies might have found it
+impossible to have lived together so long, had not a particular
+circumstance occurred to give still greater eligibility, according to
+the opinions of Mrs. Dashwood, to her daughters' continuance at Norland.
+
+This circumstance was a growing attachment between her eldest girl and
+the brother of Mrs. John Dashwood, a gentleman-like and pleasing young
+man, who was introduced to their acquaintance soon after his sister's
+establishment at Norland, and who had since spent the greatest part of
+his time there.
+
+Some mothers might have encouraged the intimacy from motives of
+interest, for Edward Ferrars was the eldest son of a man who had died
+very rich; and some might have repressed it from motives of prudence,
+for, except a trifling sum, the whole of his fortune depended on the
+will of his mother.  But Mrs. Dashwood was alike uninfluenced by either
+consideration.  It was enough for her that he appeared to be amiable,
+that he loved her daughter, and that Elinor returned the partiality.
+It was contrary to every doctrine of hers that difference of fortune
+should keep any couple asunder who were attracted by resemblance of
+disposition; and that Elinor's merit should not be acknowledged by
+every one who knew her, was to her comprehension impossible.
+
+Edward Ferrars was not recommended to their good opinion by any
+peculiar graces of person or address.  He was not handsome, and his
+manners required intimacy to make them pleasing.  He was too diffident
+to do justice to himself; but when his natural shyness was overcome,
+his behaviour gave every indication of an open, affectionate heart.
+His understanding was good, and his education had given it solid
+improvement.  But he was neither fitted by abilities nor disposition to
+answer the wishes of his mother and sister, who longed to see him
+distinguished--as--they hardly knew what.  They wanted him to make a
+fine figure in the world in some manner or other.  His mother wished to
+interest him in political concerns, to get him into parliament, or to
+see him connected with some of the great men of the day.  Mrs. John
+Dashwood wished it likewise; but in the mean while, till one of these
+superior blessings could be attained, it would have quieted her
+ambition to see him driving a barouche.  But Edward had no turn for
+great men or barouches.  All his wishes centered in domestic comfort
+and the quiet of private life.  Fortunately he had a younger brother
+who was more promising.
+
+Edward had been staying several weeks in the house before he engaged
+much of Mrs. Dashwood's attention; for she was, at that time, in such
+affliction as rendered her careless of surrounding objects.  She saw
+only that he was quiet and unobtrusive, and she liked him for it.  He
+did not disturb the wretchedness of her mind by ill-timed conversation.
+She was first called to observe and approve him farther, by a
+reflection which Elinor chanced one day to make on the difference
+between him and his sister.  It was a contrast which recommended him
+most forcibly to her mother.
+
+"It is enough," said she; "to say that he is unlike Fanny is enough.
+It implies everything amiable.  I love him already."
+
+"I think you will like him," said Elinor, "when you know more of him."
+
+"Like him!" replied her mother with a smile.  "I feel no sentiment of
+approbation inferior to love."
+
+"You may esteem him."
+
+"I have never yet known what it was to separate esteem and love."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood now took pains to get acquainted with him.  Her manners
+were attaching, and soon banished his reserve.  She speedily
+comprehended all his merits; the persuasion of his regard for Elinor
+perhaps assisted her penetration; but she really felt assured of his
+worth: and even that quietness of manner, which militated against all
+her established ideas of what a young man's address ought to be, was no
+longer uninteresting when she knew his heart to be warm and his temper
+affectionate.
+
+No sooner did she perceive any symptom of love in his behaviour to
+Elinor, than she considered their serious attachment as certain, and
+looked forward to their marriage as rapidly approaching.
+
+"In a few months, my dear Marianne." said she, "Elinor will, in all
+probability be settled for life.  We shall miss her; but SHE will be
+happy."
+
+"Oh! Mama, how shall we do without her?"
+
+"My love, it will be scarcely a separation.  We shall live within a few
+miles of each other, and shall meet every day of our lives.  You will
+gain a brother, a real, affectionate brother.  I have the highest
+opinion in the world of Edward's heart.  But you look grave, Marianne;
+do you disapprove your sister's choice?"
+
+"Perhaps," said Marianne, "I may consider it with some surprise.
+Edward is very amiable, and I love him tenderly.  But yet--he is not
+the kind of young man--there is something wanting--his figure is not
+striking; it has none of that grace which I should expect in the man
+who could seriously attach my sister.  His eyes want all that spirit,
+that fire, which at once announce virtue and intelligence.  And besides
+all this, I am afraid, Mama, he has no real taste.  Music seems
+scarcely to attract him, and though he admires Elinor's drawings very
+much, it is not the admiration of a person who can understand their
+worth.  It is evident, in spite of his frequent attention to her while
+she draws, that in fact he knows nothing of the matter.  He admires as
+a lover, not as a connoisseur.  To satisfy me, those characters must be
+united.  I could not be happy with a man whose taste did not in every
+point coincide with my own.  He must enter into all my feelings; the
+same books, the same music must charm us both.  Oh! mama, how
+spiritless, how tame was Edward's manner in reading to us last night!
+I felt for my sister most severely.  Yet she bore it with so much
+composure, she seemed scarcely to notice it.  I could hardly keep my
+seat.  To hear those beautiful lines which have frequently almost
+driven me wild, pronounced with such impenetrable calmness, such
+dreadful indifference!"-- "He would certainly have done more justice to
+simple and elegant prose.  I thought so at the time; but you WOULD give
+him Cowper."
+
+"Nay, Mama, if he is not to be animated by Cowper!--but we must allow
+for difference of taste.  Elinor has not my feelings, and therefore she
+may overlook it, and be happy with him.  But it would have broke MY
+heart, had I loved him, to hear him read with so little sensibility.
+Mama, the more I know of the world, the more am I convinced that I
+shall never see a man whom I can really love.  I require so much!  He
+must have all Edward's virtues, and his person and manners must
+ornament his goodness with every possible charm."
+
+"Remember, my love, that you are not seventeen.  It is yet too early in
+life to despair of such a happiness.  Why should you be less fortunate
+than your mother?  In one circumstance only, my Marianne, may your
+destiny be different from hers!"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 4
+
+
+"What a pity it is, Elinor," said Marianne, "that Edward should have no
+taste for drawing."
+
+"No taste for drawing!" replied Elinor, "why should you think so? He
+does not draw himself, indeed, but he has great pleasure in seeing the
+performances of other people, and I assure you he is by no means
+deficient in natural taste, though he has not had opportunities of
+improving it.  Had he ever been in the way of learning, I think he
+would have drawn very well.  He distrusts his own judgment in such
+matters so much, that he is always unwilling to give his opinion on any
+picture; but he has an innate propriety and simplicity of taste, which
+in general direct him perfectly right."
+
+Marianne was afraid of offending, and said no more on the subject; but
+the kind of approbation which Elinor described as excited in him by the
+drawings of other people, was very far from that rapturous delight,
+which, in her opinion, could alone be called taste.  Yet, though
+smiling within herself at the mistake, she honoured her sister for that
+blind partiality to Edward which produced it.
+
+"I hope, Marianne," continued Elinor, "you do not consider him as
+deficient in general taste.  Indeed, I think I may say that you cannot,
+for your behaviour to him is perfectly cordial, and if THAT were your
+opinion, I am sure you could never be civil to him."
+
+Marianne hardly knew what to say.  She would not wound the feelings of
+her sister on any account, and yet to say what she did not believe was
+impossible.  At length she replied:
+
+"Do not be offended, Elinor, if my praise of him is not in every thing
+equal to your sense of his merits.  I have not had so many
+opportunities of estimating the minuter propensities of his mind, his
+inclinations and tastes, as you have; but I have the highest opinion in
+the world of his goodness and sense.  I think him every thing that is
+worthy and amiable."
+
+"I am sure," replied Elinor, with a smile, "that his dearest friends
+could not be dissatisfied with such commendation as that.  I do not
+perceive how you could express yourself more warmly."
+
+Marianne was rejoiced to find her sister so easily pleased.
+
+"Of his sense and his goodness," continued Elinor, "no one can, I
+think, be in doubt, who has seen him often enough to engage him in
+unreserved conversation.  The excellence of his understanding and his
+principles can be concealed only by that shyness which too often keeps
+him silent.  You know enough of him to do justice to his solid worth.
+But of his minuter propensities, as you call them you have from
+peculiar circumstances been kept more ignorant than myself.  He and I
+have been at times thrown a good deal together, while you have been
+wholly engrossed on the most affectionate principle by my mother.  I
+have seen a great deal of him, have studied his sentiments and heard
+his opinion on subjects of literature and taste; and, upon the whole, I
+venture to pronounce that his mind is well-informed, enjoyment of books
+exceedingly great, his imagination lively, his observation just and
+correct, and his taste delicate and pure.  His abilities in every
+respect improve as much upon acquaintance as his manners and person.
+At first sight, his address is certainly not striking; and his person
+can hardly be called handsome, till the expression of his eyes, which
+are uncommonly good, and the general sweetness of his countenance, is
+perceived.  At present, I know him so well, that I think him really
+handsome; or at least, almost so.  What say you, Marianne?"
+
+"I shall very soon think him handsome, Elinor, if I do not now.  When
+you tell me to love him as a brother, I shall no more see imperfection
+in his face, than I now do in his heart."
+
+Elinor started at this declaration, and was sorry for the warmth she
+had been betrayed into, in speaking of him.  She felt that Edward stood
+very high in her opinion.  She believed the regard to be mutual; but
+she required greater certainty of it to make Marianne's conviction of
+their attachment agreeable to her.  She knew that what Marianne and her
+mother conjectured one moment, they believed the next--that with them,
+to wish was to hope, and to hope was to expect.  She tried to explain
+the real state of the case to her sister.
+
+"I do not attempt to deny," said she, "that I think very highly of
+him--that I greatly esteem, that I like him."
+
+Marianne here burst forth with indignation--
+
+"Esteem him! Like him! Cold-hearted Elinor! Oh!  worse than
+cold-hearted! Ashamed of being otherwise.  Use those words again, and I
+will leave the room this moment."
+
+Elinor could not help laughing.  "Excuse me," said she; "and be assured
+that I meant no offence to you, by speaking, in so quiet a way, of my
+own feelings.  Believe them to be stronger than I have declared;
+believe them, in short, to be such as his merit, and the suspicion--the
+hope of his affection for me may warrant, without imprudence or folly.
+But farther than this you must not believe.  I am by no means assured
+of his regard for me.  There are moments when the extent of it seems
+doubtful; and till his sentiments are fully known, you cannot wonder at
+my wishing to avoid any encouragement of my own partiality, by
+believing or calling it more than it is.  In my heart I feel
+little--scarcely any doubt of his preference.  But there are other
+points to be considered besides his inclination.  He is very far from
+being independent.  What his mother really is we cannot know; but, from
+Fanny's occasional mention of her conduct and opinions, we have never
+been disposed to think her amiable; and I am very much mistaken if
+Edward is not himself aware that there would be many difficulties in
+his way, if he were to wish to marry a woman who had not either a great
+fortune or high rank."
+
+Marianne was astonished to find how much the imagination of her mother
+and herself had outstripped the truth.
+
+"And you really are not engaged to him!" said she.  "Yet it certainly
+soon will happen.  But two advantages will proceed from this delay.  I
+shall not lose you so soon, and Edward will have greater opportunity of
+improving that natural taste for your favourite pursuit which must be
+so indispensably necessary to your future felicity.  Oh! if he should
+be so far stimulated by your genius as to learn to draw himself, how
+delightful it would be!"
+
+Elinor had given her real opinion to her sister.  She could not
+consider her partiality for Edward in so prosperous a state as Marianne
+had believed it.  There was, at times, a want of spirits about him
+which, if it did not denote indifference, spoke of something almost as
+unpromising.  A doubt of her regard, supposing him to feel it, need not
+give him more than inquietude.  It would not be likely to produce that
+dejection of mind which frequently attended him.  A more reasonable
+cause might be found in the dependent situation which forbade the
+indulgence of his affection.  She knew that his mother neither behaved
+to him so as to make his home comfortable at present, nor to give him
+any assurance that he might form a home for himself, without strictly
+attending to her views for his aggrandizement.  With such a knowledge
+as this, it was impossible for Elinor to feel easy on the subject.  She
+was far from depending on that result of his preference of her, which
+her mother and sister still considered as certain.  Nay, the longer
+they were together the more doubtful seemed the nature of his regard;
+and sometimes, for a few painful minutes, she believed it to be no more
+than friendship.
+
+But, whatever might really be its limits, it was enough, when perceived
+by his sister, to make her uneasy, and at the same time, (which was
+still more common,) to make her uncivil.  She took the first
+opportunity of affronting her mother-in-law on the occasion, talking to
+her so expressively of her brother's great expectations, of Mrs.
+Ferrars's resolution that both her sons should marry well, and of the
+danger attending any young woman who attempted to DRAW HIM IN; that
+Mrs. Dashwood could neither pretend to be unconscious, nor endeavor to
+be calm.  She gave her an answer which marked her contempt, and
+instantly left the room, resolving that, whatever might be the
+inconvenience or expense of so sudden a removal, her beloved Elinor
+should not be exposed another week to such insinuations.
+
+In this state of her spirits, a letter was delivered to her from the
+post, which contained a proposal particularly well timed.  It was the
+offer of a small house, on very easy terms, belonging to a relation of
+her own, a gentleman of consequence and property in Devonshire.  The
+letter was from this gentleman himself, and written in the true spirit
+of friendly accommodation.  He understood that she was in need of a
+dwelling; and though the house he now offered her was merely a cottage,
+he assured her that everything should be done to it which she might
+think necessary, if the situation pleased her.  He earnestly pressed
+her, after giving the particulars of the house and garden, to come with
+her daughters to Barton Park, the place of his own residence, from
+whence she might judge, herself, whether Barton Cottage, for the houses
+were in the same parish, could, by any alteration, be made comfortable
+to her.  He seemed really anxious to accommodate them and the whole of
+his letter was written in so friendly a style as could not fail of
+giving pleasure to his cousin; more especially at a moment when she was
+suffering under the cold and unfeeling behaviour of her nearer
+connections.  She needed no time for deliberation or inquiry.  Her
+resolution was formed as she read.  The situation of Barton, in a
+county so far distant from Sussex as Devonshire, which, but a few hours
+before, would have been a sufficient objection to outweigh every
+possible advantage belonging to the place, was now its first
+recommendation.  To quit the neighbourhood of Norland was no longer an
+evil; it was an object of desire; it was a blessing, in comparison of
+the misery of continuing her daughter-in-law's guest; and to remove for
+ever from that beloved place would be less painful than to inhabit or
+visit it while such a woman was its mistress.  She instantly wrote Sir
+John Middleton her acknowledgment of his kindness, and her acceptance
+of his proposal; and then hastened to shew both letters to her
+daughters, that she might be secure of their approbation before her
+answer were sent.
+
+Elinor had always thought it would be more prudent for them to settle
+at some distance from Norland, than immediately amongst their present
+acquaintance.  On THAT head, therefore, it was not for her to oppose
+her mother's intention of removing into Devonshire.  The house, too, as
+described by Sir John, was on so simple a scale, and the rent so
+uncommonly moderate, as to leave her no right of objection on either
+point; and, therefore, though it was not a plan which brought any charm
+to her fancy, though it was a removal from the vicinity of Norland
+beyond her wishes, she made no attempt to dissuade her mother from
+sending a letter of acquiescence.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 5
+
+
+No sooner was her answer dispatched, than Mrs. Dashwood indulged herself
+in the pleasure of announcing to her son-in-law and his wife that she
+was provided with a house, and should incommode them no longer than till
+every thing were ready for her inhabiting it. They heard her with
+surprise. Mrs. John Dashwood said nothing; but her husband civilly hoped
+that she would not be settled far from Norland. She had great
+satisfaction in replying that she was going into Devonshire.--Edward
+turned hastily towards her, on hearing this, and, in a voice of surprise
+and concern, which required no explanation to her, repeated,
+"Devonshire! Are you, indeed, going there? So far from hence! And to
+what part of it?" She explained the situation. It was within four miles
+northward of Exeter.
+
+"It is but a cottage," she continued, "but I hope to see many of my
+friends in it.  A room or two can easily be added; and if my friends
+find no difficulty in travelling so far to see me, I am sure I will
+find none in accommodating them."
+
+She concluded with a very kind invitation to Mr. and Mrs. John Dashwood
+to visit her at Barton; and to Edward she gave one with still greater
+affection.  Though her late conversation with her daughter-in-law had
+made her resolve on remaining at Norland no longer than was
+unavoidable, it had not produced the smallest effect on her in that
+point to which it principally tended.  To separate Edward and Elinor
+was as far from being her object as ever; and she wished to show Mrs.
+John Dashwood, by this pointed invitation to her brother, how totally
+she disregarded her disapprobation of the match.
+
+Mr. John Dashwood told his mother again and again how exceedingly sorry
+he was that she had taken a house at such a distance from Norland as to
+prevent his being of any service to her in removing her furniture.  He
+really felt conscientiously vexed on the occasion; for the very
+exertion to which he had limited the performance of his promise to his
+father was by this arrangement rendered impracticable.-- The furniture
+was all sent around by water.  It chiefly consisted of household linen,
+plate, china, and books, with a handsome pianoforte of Marianne's.
+Mrs. John Dashwood saw the packages depart with a sigh: she could not
+help feeling it hard that as Mrs. Dashwood's income would be so
+trifling in comparison with their own, she should have any handsome
+article of furniture.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood took the house for a twelvemonth; it was ready furnished,
+and she might have immediate possession.  No difficulty arose on either
+side in the agreement; and she waited only for the disposal of her
+effects at Norland, and to determine her future household, before she
+set off for the west; and this, as she was exceedingly rapid in the
+performance of everything that interested her, was soon done.--The
+horses which were left her by her husband had been sold soon after his
+death, and an opportunity now offering of disposing of her carriage,
+she agreed to sell that likewise at the earnest advice of her eldest
+daughter.  For the comfort of her children, had she consulted only her
+own wishes, she would have kept it; but the discretion of Elinor
+prevailed.  HER 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.
+
+The man and one of the maids were sent off immediately into Devonshire,
+to prepare the house for their mistress's arrival; for as Lady
+Middleton was entirely unknown to Mrs. Dashwood, she preferred going
+directly to the cottage to being a visitor at Barton Park; and she
+relied so undoubtingly on Sir John's description of the house, as to
+feel no curiosity to examine it herself till she entered it as her own.
+Her eagerness to be gone from Norland was preserved from diminution by
+the evident satisfaction of her daughter-in-law in the prospect of her
+removal; a satisfaction which was but feebly attempted to be concealed
+under a cold invitation to her to defer her departure.  Now was the
+time when her son-in-law's promise to his father might with particular
+propriety be fulfilled.  Since he had neglected to do it on first
+coming to the estate, their quitting his house might be looked on as
+the most suitable period for its accomplishment.  But Mrs. Dashwood
+began shortly to give over every hope of the kind, and to be convinced,
+from the general drift of his discourse, that his assistance extended
+no farther than their maintenance for six months at Norland.  He so
+frequently talked of the increasing expenses of housekeeping, and of
+the perpetual demands upon his purse, which a man of any consequence in
+the world was beyond calculation exposed to, that he seemed rather to
+stand in need of more money himself than to have any design of giving
+money away.
+
+In a very few weeks from the day which brought Sir John Middleton's
+first letter to Norland, every thing was so far settled in their future
+abode as to enable Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters to begin their
+journey.
+
+Many were the tears shed by them in their last adieus to a place so
+much beloved.  "Dear, dear Norland!" said Marianne, as she wandered
+alone before the house, on the last evening of their being there; "when
+shall I cease to regret you!--when learn to feel a home elsewhere!--Oh!
+happy house, could you know what I suffer in now viewing you from this
+spot, from whence perhaps I may view you no more!--And you, ye
+well-known trees!--but you will continue the same.--No leaf will decay
+because we are removed, nor any branch become motionless although we
+can observe you no longer!--No; you will continue the same; unconscious
+of the pleasure or the regret you occasion, and insensible of any
+change in those who walk under your shade!--But who will remain to
+enjoy you?"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 6
+
+
+The first part of their journey was performed in too melancholy a
+disposition to be otherwise than tedious and unpleasant.  But as they
+drew towards the end of it, their interest in the appearance of a
+country which they were to inhabit overcame their dejection, and a view
+of Barton Valley as they entered it gave them cheerfulness.  It was a
+pleasant fertile spot, well wooded, and rich in pasture.  After winding
+along it for more than a mile, they reached their own house.  A small
+green court was the whole of its demesne in front; and a neat wicket
+gate admitted them into it.
+
+As a house, Barton Cottage, though small, was comfortable and compact;
+but as a cottage it was defective, for the building was regular, the
+roof was tiled, the window shutters were not painted green, nor were
+the walls covered with honeysuckles.  A narrow passage led directly
+through the house into the garden behind.  On each side of the entrance
+was a sitting room, about sixteen feet square; and beyond them were the
+offices and the stairs.  Four bed-rooms and two garrets formed the rest
+of the house.  It had not been built many years and was in good repair.
+In comparison of Norland, it was poor and small indeed!--but the tears
+which recollection called forth as they entered the house were soon
+dried away.  They were cheered by the joy of the servants on their
+arrival, and each for the sake of the others resolved to appear happy.
+It was very early in September; the season was fine, and from first
+seeing the place under the advantage of good weather, they received an
+impression in its favour which was of material service in recommending
+it to their lasting approbation.
+
+The situation of the house was good.  High hills rose immediately
+behind, and at no great distance on each side; some of which were open
+downs, the others cultivated and woody.  The village of Barton was
+chiefly on one of these hills, and formed a pleasant view from the
+cottage windows.  The prospect in front was more extensive; it
+commanded the whole of the valley, and reached into the country beyond.
+The hills which surrounded the cottage terminated the valley in that
+direction; under another name, and in another course, it branched out
+again between two of the steepest of them.
+
+With the size and furniture of the house Mrs. Dashwood was upon the
+whole well satisfied; for though her former style of life rendered many
+additions to the latter indispensable, yet to add and improve was a
+delight to her; and she had at this time ready money enough to supply
+all that was wanted of greater elegance to the apartments.  "As for the
+house itself, to be sure," said she, "it is too small for our family,
+but we will make ourselves tolerably comfortable for the present, as it
+is too late in the year for improvements.  Perhaps in the spring, if I
+have plenty of money, as I dare say I shall, we may think about
+building.  These parlors are both too small for such parties of our
+friends as I hope to see often collected here; and I have some thoughts
+of throwing the passage into one of them with perhaps a part of the
+other, and so leave the remainder of that other for an entrance; this,
+with a new drawing room which may be easily added, and a bed-chamber
+and garret above, will make it a very snug little cottage.  I could
+wish the stairs were handsome.  But one must not expect every thing;
+though I suppose it would be no difficult matter to widen them.  I
+shall see how much I am before-hand with the world in the spring, and
+we will plan our improvements accordingly."
+
+In the mean time, till all these alterations could be made from the
+savings of an income of five hundred a-year by a woman who never saved
+in her life, they were wise enough to be contented with the house as it
+was; and each of them was busy in arranging their particular concerns,
+and endeavoring, by placing around them books and other possessions, to
+form themselves a home.  Marianne's pianoforte was unpacked and
+properly disposed of; and Elinor's drawings were affixed to the walls
+of their sitting room.
+
+In such employments as these they were interrupted soon after breakfast
+the next day by the entrance of their landlord, who called to welcome
+them to Barton, and to offer them every accommodation from his own
+house and garden in which theirs might at present be deficient.  Sir
+John Middleton was a good looking man about forty.  He had formerly
+visited at Stanhill, but it was too long for his young cousins to
+remember him.  His countenance was thoroughly good-humoured; and his
+manners were as friendly as the style of his letter.  Their arrival
+seemed to afford him real satisfaction, and their comfort to be an
+object of real solicitude to him.  He said much of his earnest desire
+of their living in the most sociable terms with his family, and pressed
+them so cordially to dine at Barton Park every day till they were
+better settled at home, that, though his entreaties were carried to a
+point of perseverance beyond civility, they could not give offence.
+His kindness was not confined to words; for within an hour after he
+left them, a large basket full of garden stuff and fruit arrived from
+the park, which was followed before the end of the day by a present of
+game.  He insisted, moreover, on conveying all their letters to and
+from the post for them, and would not be denied the satisfaction of
+sending them his newspaper every day.
+
+Lady Middleton had sent a very civil message by him, denoting her
+intention of waiting on Mrs. Dashwood as soon as she could be assured
+that her visit would be no inconvenience; and as this message was
+answered by an invitation equally polite, her ladyship was introduced
+to them the next day.
+
+They were, of course, very anxious to see a person on whom so much of
+their comfort at Barton must depend; and the elegance of her appearance
+was favourable to their wishes.  Lady Middleton was not more than six
+or seven and twenty; her face was handsome, her figure tall and
+striking, and her address graceful.  Her manners had all the elegance
+which her husband's wanted.  But they would have been improved by some
+share of his frankness and warmth; and her visit was long enough to
+detract something from their first admiration, by shewing that, though
+perfectly well-bred, she was reserved, cold, and had nothing to say for
+herself beyond the most common-place inquiry or remark.
+
+Conversation however was not wanted, for Sir John was very chatty, and
+Lady Middleton had taken the wise precaution of bringing with her their
+eldest child, a fine little boy about six years old, by which means
+there was one subject always to be recurred to by the ladies in case of
+extremity, for they had to enquire his name and age, admire his beauty,
+and ask him questions which his mother answered for him, while he hung
+about her and held down his head, to the great surprise of her
+ladyship, who wondered at his being so shy before company, as he could
+make noise enough at home.  On every formal visit a child ought to be
+of the party, by way of provision for discourse.  In the present case
+it took up ten minutes to determine whether the boy were most like his
+father or mother, and in what particular he resembled either, for of
+course every body differed, and every body was astonished at the
+opinion of the others.
+
+An opportunity was soon to be given to the Dashwoods of debating on the
+rest of the children, as Sir John would not leave the house without
+securing their promise of dining at the park the next day.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 7
+
+
+Barton Park was about half a mile from the cottage.  The ladies had
+passed near it in their way along the valley, but it was screened from
+their view at home by the projection of a hill.  The house was large
+and handsome; and the Middletons lived in a style of equal hospitality
+and elegance.  The former was for Sir John's gratification, the latter
+for that of his lady.  They were scarcely ever without some friends
+staying with them in the house, and they kept more company of every
+kind than any other family in the neighbourhood.  It was necessary to
+the happiness of both; for however dissimilar in temper and outward
+behaviour, they strongly resembled each other in that total want of
+talent and taste which confined their employments, unconnected with
+such as society produced, within a very narrow compass.  Sir John was a
+sportsman, Lady Middleton a mother.  He hunted and shot, and she
+humoured her children; and these were their only resources.  Lady
+Middleton had the advantage of being able to spoil her children all the
+year round, while Sir John's independent employments were in existence
+only half the time.  Continual engagements at home and abroad, however,
+supplied all the deficiencies of nature and education; supported the
+good spirits of Sir John, and gave exercise to the good breeding of his
+wife.
+
+Lady Middleton piqued herself upon the elegance of her table, and of
+all her domestic arrangements; and from this kind of vanity was her
+greatest enjoyment in any of their parties.  But Sir John's
+satisfaction in society was much more real; he delighted in collecting
+about him more young people than his house would hold, and the noisier
+they were the better was he pleased.  He was a blessing to all the
+juvenile part of the neighbourhood, for in summer he was for ever
+forming parties to eat cold ham and chicken out of doors, and in winter
+his private balls were numerous enough for any young lady who was not
+suffering under the unsatiable appetite of fifteen.
+
+The arrival of a new family in the country was always a matter of joy
+to him, and in every point of view he was charmed with the inhabitants
+he had now procured for his cottage at Barton.  The Miss Dashwoods were
+young, pretty, and unaffected.  It was enough to secure his good
+opinion; for to be unaffected was all that a pretty girl could want to
+make her mind as captivating as her person.  The friendliness of his
+disposition made him happy in accommodating those, whose situation
+might be considered, in comparison with the past, as unfortunate.  In
+showing kindness to his cousins therefore he had the real satisfaction
+of a good heart; and in settling a family of females only in his
+cottage, he had all the satisfaction of a sportsman; for a sportsman,
+though he esteems only those of his sex who are sportsmen likewise, is
+not often desirous of encouraging their taste by admitting them to a
+residence within his own manor.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters were met at the door of the house by
+Sir John, who welcomed them to Barton Park with unaffected sincerity;
+and as he attended them to the drawing room repeated to the young
+ladies the concern which the same subject had drawn from him the day
+before, at being unable to get any smart young men to meet them.  They
+would see, he said, only one gentleman there besides himself; a
+particular friend who was staying at the park, but who was neither very
+young nor very gay.  He hoped they would all excuse the smallness of
+the party, and could assure them it should never happen so again.  He
+had been to several families that morning in hopes of procuring some
+addition to their number, but it was moonlight and every body was full
+of engagements.  Luckily Lady Middleton's mother had arrived at Barton
+within the last hour, and as she was a very cheerful agreeable woman,
+he hoped the young ladies would not find it so very dull as they might
+imagine.  The young ladies, as well as their mother, were perfectly
+satisfied with having two entire strangers of the party, and wished for
+no more.
+
+Mrs. Jennings, Lady Middleton's mother, was a good-humoured, merry,
+fat, elderly woman, who talked a great deal, seemed very happy, and
+rather vulgar.  She was full of jokes and laughter, and before dinner
+was over had said many witty things on the subject of lovers and
+husbands; hoped they had not left their hearts behind them in Sussex,
+and pretended to see them blush whether they did or not.  Marianne was
+vexed at it for her sister's sake, and turned her eyes towards Elinor
+to see how she bore these attacks, with an earnestness which gave
+Elinor far more pain than could arise from such common-place raillery
+as Mrs. Jennings's.
+
+Colonel Brandon, the friend of Sir John, seemed no more adapted by
+resemblance of manner to be his friend, than Lady Middleton was to be
+his wife, or Mrs. Jennings to be Lady Middleton's mother.  He was
+silent and grave.  His appearance however was not unpleasing, in spite
+of his being in the opinion of Marianne and Margaret an absolute old
+bachelor, for he was on the wrong side of five and thirty; but though
+his face was not handsome, his countenance was sensible, and his
+address was particularly gentlemanlike.
+
+There was nothing in any of the party which could recommend them as
+companions to the Dashwoods; but the cold insipidity of Lady Middleton
+was so particularly repulsive, that in comparison of it the gravity of
+Colonel Brandon, and even the boisterous mirth of Sir John and his
+mother-in-law was interesting.  Lady Middleton seemed to be roused to
+enjoyment only by the entrance of her four noisy children after dinner,
+who pulled her about, tore her clothes, and put an end to every kind of
+discourse except what related to themselves.
+
+In the evening, as Marianne was discovered to be musical, she was
+invited to play.  The instrument was unlocked, every body prepared to
+be charmed, and Marianne, who sang very well, at their request went
+through the chief of the songs which Lady Middleton had brought into
+the family on her marriage, and which perhaps had lain ever since in
+the same position on the pianoforte, for her ladyship had celebrated
+that event by giving up music, although by her mother's account, she
+had played extremely well, and by her own was very fond of it.
+
+Marianne's performance was highly applauded.  Sir John was loud in his
+admiration at the end of every song, and as loud in his conversation
+with the others while every song lasted.  Lady Middleton frequently
+called him to order, wondered how any one's attention could be diverted
+from music for a moment, and asked Marianne to sing a particular song
+which Marianne had just finished.  Colonel Brandon alone, of all the
+party, heard her without being in raptures.  He paid her only the
+compliment of attention; and she felt a respect for him on the
+occasion, which the others had reasonably forfeited by their shameless
+want of taste.  His pleasure in music, though it amounted not to that
+ecstatic delight which alone could sympathize with her own, was
+estimable when contrasted against the horrible insensibility of the
+others; and she was reasonable enough to allow that a man of five and
+thirty might well have outlived all acuteness of feeling and every
+exquisite power of enjoyment.  She was perfectly disposed to make every
+allowance for the colonel's advanced state of life which humanity
+required.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 8
+
+
+Mrs. Jennings was a widow with an ample jointure.  She had only two
+daughters, both of whom she had lived to see respectably married, and
+she had now therefore nothing to do but to marry all the rest of the
+world.  In the promotion of this object she was zealously active, as
+far as her ability reached; and missed no opportunity of projecting
+weddings among all the young people of her acquaintance.  She was
+remarkably quick in the discovery of attachments, and had enjoyed the
+advantage of raising the blushes and the vanity of many a young lady by
+insinuations of her power over such a young man; and this kind of
+discernment enabled her soon after her arrival at Barton decisively to
+pronounce that Colonel Brandon was very much in love with Marianne
+Dashwood.  She rather suspected it to be so, on the very first evening
+of their being together, from his listening so attentively while she
+sang to them; and when the visit was returned by the Middletons' dining
+at the cottage, the fact was ascertained by his listening to her again.
+It must be so.  She was perfectly convinced of it.  It would be an
+excellent match, for HE was rich, and SHE was handsome.  Mrs. Jennings
+had been anxious to see Colonel Brandon well married, ever since her
+connection with Sir John first brought him to her knowledge; and she
+was always anxious to get a good husband for every pretty girl.
+
+The immediate advantage to herself was by no means inconsiderable, for
+it supplied her with endless jokes against them both.  At the park she
+laughed at the colonel, and in the cottage at Marianne.  To the former
+her raillery was probably, as far as it regarded only himself,
+perfectly indifferent; but to the latter it was at first
+incomprehensible; and when its object was understood, she hardly knew
+whether most to laugh at its absurdity, or censure its impertinence,
+for she considered it as an unfeeling reflection on the colonel's
+advanced years, and on his forlorn condition as an old bachelor.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood, who could not think a man five years younger than
+herself, so exceedingly ancient as he appeared to the youthful fancy of
+her daughter, ventured to clear Mrs. Jennings from the probability of
+wishing to throw ridicule on his age.
+
+"But at least, Mama, you cannot deny the absurdity of the accusation,
+though you may not think it intentionally ill-natured.  Colonel Brandon
+is certainly younger than Mrs. Jennings, but he is old enough to be MY
+father; and if he were ever animated enough to be in love, must have
+long outlived every sensation of the kind.  It is too ridiculous!  When
+is a man to be safe from such wit, if age and infirmity will not
+protect him?"
+
+"Infirmity!" said Elinor, "do you call Colonel Brandon infirm?  I can
+easily suppose that his age may appear much greater to you than to my
+mother; but you can hardly deceive yourself as to his having the use of
+his limbs!"
+
+"Did not you hear him complain of the rheumatism?  and is not that the
+commonest infirmity of declining life?"
+
+"My dearest child," said her mother, laughing, "at this rate you must
+be in continual terror of MY decay; and it must seem to you a miracle
+that my life has been extended to the advanced age of forty."
+
+"Mama, you are not doing me justice.  I know very well that Colonel
+Brandon is not old enough to make his friends yet apprehensive of
+losing him in the course of nature.  He may live twenty years longer.
+But thirty-five has nothing to do with matrimony."
+
+"Perhaps," said Elinor, "thirty-five and seventeen had better not have
+any thing to do with matrimony together.  But if there should by any
+chance happen to be a woman who is single at seven and twenty, I should
+not think Colonel Brandon's being thirty-five any objection to his
+marrying HER."
+
+"A woman of seven and twenty," said Marianne, after pausing a moment,
+"can never hope to feel or inspire affection again, and if her home be
+uncomfortable, or her fortune small, I can suppose that she might bring
+herself to submit to the offices of a nurse, for the sake of the
+provision and security of a wife.  In his marrying such a woman
+therefore there would be nothing unsuitable.  It would be a compact of
+convenience, and the world would be satisfied.  In my eyes it would be
+no marriage at all, but that would be nothing.  To me it would seem
+only a commercial exchange, in which each wished to be benefited at the
+expense of the other."
+
+"It would be impossible, I know," replied Elinor, "to convince you that
+a woman of seven and twenty could feel for a man of thirty-five
+anything near enough to love, to make him a desirable companion to her.
+But I must object to your dooming Colonel Brandon and his wife to the
+constant confinement of a sick chamber, merely because he chanced to
+complain yesterday (a very cold damp day) of a slight rheumatic feel in
+one of his shoulders."
+
+"But he talked of flannel waistcoats," said Marianne; "and with me a
+flannel waistcoat is invariably connected with aches, cramps,
+rheumatisms, and every species of ailment that can afflict the old and
+the feeble."
+
+"Had he been only in a violent fever, you would not have despised him
+half so much.  Confess, Marianne, is not there something interesting to
+you in the flushed cheek, hollow eye, and quick pulse of a fever?"
+
+Soon after this, upon Elinor's leaving the room, "Mama," said
+Marianne, "I have an alarm on the subject of illness which I cannot
+conceal from you.  I am sure Edward Ferrars is not well.  We have now
+been here almost a fortnight, and yet he does not come.  Nothing but
+real indisposition could occasion this extraordinary delay.  What else
+can detain him at Norland?"
+
+"Had you any idea of his coming so soon?" said Mrs. Dashwood.  "I had
+none.  On the contrary, if I have felt any anxiety at all on the
+subject, it has been in recollecting that he sometimes showed a want of
+pleasure and readiness in accepting my invitation, when I talked of his
+coming to Barton.  Does Elinor expect him already?"
+
+"I have never mentioned it to her, but of course she must."
+
+"I rather think you are mistaken, for when I was talking to her
+yesterday of getting a new grate for the spare bedchamber, she observed
+that there was no immediate hurry for it, as it was not likely that the
+room would be wanted for some time."
+
+"How strange this is! what can be the meaning of it!  But the whole of
+their behaviour to each other has been unaccountable! How cold, how
+composed were their last adieus! How languid their conversation the
+last evening of their being together! In Edward's farewell there was no
+distinction between Elinor and me: it was the good wishes of an
+affectionate brother to both.  Twice did I leave them purposely
+together in the course of the last morning, and each time did he most
+unaccountably follow me out of the room.  And Elinor, in quitting
+Norland and Edward, cried not as I did.  Even now her self-command is
+invariable.  When is she dejected or melancholy? When does she try to
+avoid society, or appear restless and dissatisfied in it?"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 9
+
+
+The Dashwoods were now settled at Barton with tolerable comfort to
+themselves.  The house and the garden, with all the objects surrounding
+them, were now become familiar, and the ordinary pursuits which had
+given to Norland half its charms were engaged in again with far greater
+enjoyment than Norland had been able to afford, since the loss of their
+father.  Sir John Middleton, who called on them every day for the first
+fortnight, and who was not in the habit of seeing much occupation at
+home, could not conceal his amazement on finding them always employed.
+
+Their visitors, except those from Barton Park, were not many; for, in
+spite of Sir John's urgent entreaties that they would mix more in the
+neighbourhood, and repeated assurances of his carriage being always at
+their service, the independence of Mrs. Dashwood's spirit overcame the
+wish of society for her children; and she was resolute in declining to
+visit any family beyond the distance of a walk.  There were but few who
+could be so classed; and it was not all of them that were attainable.
+About a mile and a half from the cottage, along the narrow winding
+valley of Allenham, which issued from that of Barton, as formerly
+described, the girls had, in one of their earliest walks, discovered an
+ancient respectable looking mansion which, by reminding them a little
+of Norland, interested their imagination and made them wish to be
+better acquainted with it.  But they learnt, on enquiry, that its
+possessor, an elderly lady of very good character, was unfortunately
+too infirm to mix with the world, and never stirred from home.
+
+The whole country about them abounded in beautiful walks.  The high
+downs which invited them from almost every window of the cottage to
+seek the exquisite enjoyment of air on their summits, were a happy
+alternative when the dirt of the valleys beneath shut up their superior
+beauties; and towards one of these hills did Marianne and Margaret one
+memorable morning direct their steps, attracted by the partial sunshine
+of a showery sky, and unable longer to bear the confinement which the
+settled rain of the two preceding days had occasioned.  The weather was
+not tempting enough to draw the two others from their pencil and their
+book, in spite of Marianne's declaration that the day would be
+lastingly fair, and that every threatening cloud would be drawn off
+from their hills; and the two girls set off together.
+
+They gaily ascended the downs, rejoicing in their own penetration at
+every glimpse of blue sky; and when they caught in their faces the
+animating gales of a high south-westerly wind, they pitied the fears
+which had prevented their mother and Elinor from sharing such
+delightful sensations.
+
+"Is there a felicity in the world," said Marianne, "superior to
+this?--Margaret, we will walk here at least two hours."
+
+Margaret agreed, and they pursued their way against the wind, resisting
+it with laughing delight for about twenty minutes longer, when suddenly
+the clouds united over their heads, and a driving rain set full in
+their face.-- Chagrined and surprised, they were obliged, though
+unwillingly, to turn back, for no shelter was nearer than their own
+house.  One consolation however remained for them, to which the
+exigence of the moment gave more than usual propriety; it was that of
+running with all possible speed down the steep side of the hill which
+led immediately to their garden gate.
+
+They set off.  Marianne had at first the advantage, but a false step
+brought her suddenly to the ground; and Margaret, unable to stop
+herself to assist her, was involuntarily hurried along, and reached the
+bottom in safety.
+
+A gentleman carrying a gun, with two pointers playing round him, was
+passing up the hill and within a few yards of Marianne, when her
+accident happened.  He put down his gun and ran to her assistance.  She
+had raised herself from the ground, but her foot had been twisted in
+her fall, and she was scarcely able to stand.  The gentleman offered
+his services; and perceiving that her modesty declined what her
+situation rendered necessary, took her up in his arms without farther
+delay, and carried her down the hill.  Then passing through the garden,
+the gate of which had been left open by Margaret, he bore her directly
+into the house, whither Margaret was just arrived, and quitted not his
+hold till he had seated her in a chair in the parlour.
+
+Elinor and her mother rose up in amazement at their entrance, and while
+the eyes of both were fixed on him with an evident wonder and a secret
+admiration which equally sprung from his appearance, he apologized for
+his intrusion by relating its cause, in a manner so frank and so
+graceful that his person, which was uncommonly handsome, received
+additional charms from his voice and expression.  Had he been even old,
+ugly, and vulgar, the gratitude and kindness of Mrs. Dashwood would
+have been secured by any act of attention to her child; but the
+influence of youth, beauty, and elegance, gave an interest to the
+action which came home to her feelings.
+
+She thanked him again and again; and, with a sweetness of address which
+always attended her, invited him to be seated.  But this he declined,
+as he was dirty and wet.  Mrs. Dashwood then begged to know to whom she
+was obliged.  His name, he replied, was Willoughby, and his present
+home was at Allenham, from whence he hoped she would allow him the
+honour of calling tomorrow to enquire after Miss Dashwood.  The honour
+was readily granted, and he then departed, to make himself still more
+interesting, in the midst of a heavy rain.
+
+His manly beauty and more than common gracefulness were instantly the
+theme of general admiration, and the laugh which his gallantry raised
+against Marianne received particular spirit from his exterior
+attractions.-- Marianne herself had seen less of his Mama the
+rest, for the confusion which crimsoned over her face, on his lifting
+her up, had robbed her of the power of regarding him after their
+entering the house.  But she had seen enough of him to join in all the
+admiration of the others, and with an energy which always adorned her
+praise.  His person and air were equal to what her fancy had ever drawn
+for the hero of a favourite story; and in his carrying her into the
+house with so little previous formality, there was a rapidity of
+thought which particularly recommended the action to her.  Every
+circumstance belonging to him was interesting.  His name was good, his
+residence was in their favourite village, and she soon found out that
+of all manly dresses a shooting-jacket was the most becoming.  Her
+imagination was busy, her reflections were pleasant, and the pain of a
+sprained ankle was disregarded.
+
+Sir John called on them as soon as the next interval of fair weather
+that morning allowed him to get out of doors; and Marianne's accident
+being related to him, he was eagerly asked whether he knew any
+gentleman of the name of Willoughby at Allenham.
+
+"Willoughby!" cried Sir John; "what, is HE in the country? That is good
+news however; I will ride over tomorrow, and ask him to dinner on
+Thursday."
+
+"You know him then," said Mrs. Dashwood.
+
+"Know him! to be sure I do.  Why, he is down here every year."
+
+"And what sort of a young man is he?"
+
+"As good a kind of fellow as ever lived, I assure you.  A very decent
+shot, and there is not a bolder rider in England."
+
+"And is that all you can say for him?" cried Marianne, indignantly.
+"But what are his manners on more intimate acquaintance? What his
+pursuits, his talents, and genius?"
+
+Sir John was rather puzzled.
+
+"Upon my soul," said he, "I do not know much about him as to all THAT.
+But he is a pleasant, good humoured fellow, and has got the nicest
+little black bitch of a pointer I ever saw.  Was she out with him
+today?"
+
+But Marianne could no more satisfy him as to the colour of Mr.
+Willoughby's pointer, than he could describe to her the shades of his
+mind.
+
+"But who is he?" said Elinor.  "Where does he come from?  Has he a
+house at Allenham?"
+
+On this point Sir John could give more certain intelligence; and he
+told them that Mr. Willoughby had no property of his own in the
+country; that he resided there only while he was visiting the old lady
+at Allenham Court, to whom he was related, and whose possessions he was
+to inherit; adding, "Yes, yes, he is very well worth catching I can
+tell you, Miss Dashwood; he has a pretty little estate of his own in
+Somersetshire besides; and if I were you, I would not give him up to my
+younger sister, in spite of all this tumbling down hills.  Miss
+Marianne must not expect to have all the men to herself.  Brandon will
+be jealous, if she does not take care."
+
+"I do not believe," said Mrs. Dashwood, with a good humoured smile,
+"that Mr. Willoughby will be incommoded by the attempts of either of MY
+daughters towards what you call CATCHING him.  It is not an employment
+to which they have been brought up.  Men are very safe with us, let
+them be ever so rich.  I am glad to find, however, from what you say,
+that he is a respectable young man, and one whose acquaintance will not
+be ineligible."
+
+"He is as good a sort of fellow, I believe, as ever lived," repeated
+Sir John.  "I remember last Christmas at a little hop at the park, he
+danced from eight o'clock till four, without once sitting down."
+
+"Did he indeed?" cried Marianne with sparkling eyes, "and with
+elegance, with spirit?"
+
+"Yes; and he was up again at eight to ride to covert."
+
+"That is what I like; that is what a young man ought to be.  Whatever
+be his pursuits, his eagerness in them should know no moderation, and
+leave him no sense of fatigue."
+
+"Aye, aye, I see how it will be," said Sir John, "I see how it will be.
+You will be setting your cap at him now, and never think of poor
+Brandon."
+
+"That is an expression, Sir John," said Marianne, warmly, "which I
+particularly dislike.  I abhor every common-place phrase by which wit
+is intended; and 'setting one's cap at a man,' or 'making a conquest,'
+are the most odious of all.  Their tendency is gross and illiberal; and
+if their construction could ever be deemed clever, time has long ago
+destroyed all its ingenuity."
+
+Sir John did not much understand this reproof; but he laughed as
+heartily as if he did, and then replied,
+
+"Ay, you will make conquests enough, I dare say, one way or other.
+Poor Brandon! he is quite smitten already, and he is very well worth
+setting your cap at, I can tell you, in spite of all this tumbling
+about and spraining of ankles."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 10
+
+
+Marianne's preserver, as Margaret, with more elegance than precision,
+styled Willoughby, called at the cottage early the next morning to make
+his personal enquiries.  He was received by Mrs. Dashwood with more
+than politeness; with a kindness which Sir John's account of him and
+her own gratitude prompted; and every thing that passed during the
+visit tended to assure him of the sense, elegance, mutual affection,
+and domestic comfort of the family to whom accident had now introduced
+him.  Of their personal charms he had not required a second interview
+to be convinced.
+
+Miss Dashwood had a delicate complexion, regular features, and a
+remarkably pretty figure.  Marianne was still handsomer.  Her form,
+though not so correct as her sister's, in having the advantage of
+height, was more striking; and her face was so lovely, that when in the
+common cant of praise, she was called a beautiful girl, truth was less
+violently outraged than usually happens.  Her skin was very brown, but,
+from its transparency, her complexion was uncommonly brilliant; her
+features were all good; her smile was sweet and attractive; and in her
+eyes, which were very dark, there was a life, a spirit, an eagerness,
+which could hardily be seen without delight.  From Willoughby their
+expression was at first held back, by the embarrassment which the
+remembrance of his assistance created.  But when this passed away, when
+her spirits became collected, when she saw that to the perfect
+good-breeding of the gentleman, he united frankness and vivacity, and
+above all, when she heard him declare, that of music and dancing he was
+passionately fond, she gave him such a look of approbation as secured
+the largest share of his discourse to herself for the rest of his stay.
+
+It was only necessary to mention any favourite amusement to engage her
+to talk.  She could not be silent when such points were introduced, and
+she had neither shyness nor reserve in their discussion.  They speedily
+discovered that their enjoyment of dancing and music was mutual, and
+that it arose from a general conformity of judgment in all that related
+to either.  Encouraged by this to a further examination of his
+opinions, she proceeded to question him on the subject of books; her
+favourite authors were brought forward and dwelt upon with so rapturous
+a delight, that any young man of five and twenty must have been
+insensible indeed, not to become an immediate convert to the excellence
+of such works, however disregarded before.  Their taste was strikingly
+alike.  The same books, the same passages were idolized by each--or if
+any difference appeared, any objection arose, it lasted no longer than
+till the force of her arguments and the brightness of her eyes could be
+displayed.  He acquiesced in all her decisions, caught all her
+enthusiasm; and long before his visit concluded, they conversed with
+the familiarity of a long-established acquaintance.
+
+"Well, Marianne," said Elinor, as soon as he had left them, "for ONE
+morning I think you have done pretty well.  You have already
+ascertained Mr. Willoughby's opinion in almost every matter of
+importance.  You know what he thinks of Cowper and Scott; you are
+certain of his estimating their beauties as he ought, and you have
+received every assurance of his admiring Pope no more than is proper.
+But how is your acquaintance to be long supported, under such
+extraordinary despatch of every subject for discourse?  You will soon
+have exhausted each favourite topic.  Another meeting will suffice to
+explain his sentiments on picturesque beauty, and second marriages, and
+then you can have nothing farther to ask."--
+
+"Elinor," cried Marianne, "is this fair? is this just? are my ideas so
+scanty?  But I see what you mean.  I have been too much at my ease, too
+happy, too frank.  I have erred against every common-place notion of
+decorum; I have been open and sincere where I ought to have been
+reserved, spiritless, dull, and deceitful--had I talked only of the
+weather and the roads, and had I spoken only once in ten minutes, this
+reproach would have been spared."
+
+"My love," said her mother, "you must not be offended with Elinor--she
+was only in jest.  I should scold her myself, if she were capable of
+wishing to check the delight of your conversation with our new
+friend."-- Marianne was softened in a moment.
+
+Willoughby, on his side, gave every proof of his pleasure in their
+acquaintance, which an evident wish of improving it could offer.  He
+came to them every day.  To enquire after Marianne was at first his
+excuse; but the encouragement of his reception, to which every day gave
+greater kindness, made such an excuse unnecessary before it had ceased
+to be possible, by Marianne's perfect recovery.  She was confined for
+some days to the house; but never had any confinement been less
+irksome.  Willoughby was a young man of good abilities, quick
+imagination, lively spirits, and open, affectionate manners.  He was
+exactly formed to engage Marianne's heart, for with all this, he joined
+not only a captivating person, but a natural ardour of mind which was
+now roused and increased by the example of her own, and which
+recommended him to her affection beyond every thing else.
+
+His society became gradually her most exquisite enjoyment.  They read,
+they talked, they sang together; his musical talents were considerable;
+and he read with all the sensibility and spirit which Edward had
+unfortunately wanted.
+
+In Mrs. Dashwood's estimation he was as faultless as in Marianne's; and
+Elinor saw nothing to censure in him but a propensity, in which he
+strongly resembled and peculiarly delighted her sister, of saying too
+much what he thought on every occasion, without attention to persons or
+circumstances.  In hastily forming and giving his opinion of other
+people, in sacrificing general politeness to the enjoyment of undivided
+attention where his heart was engaged, and in slighting too easily the
+forms of worldly propriety, he displayed a want of caution which Elinor
+could not approve, in spite of all that he and Marianne could say in
+its support.
+
+Marianne began now to perceive that the desperation which had seized
+her at sixteen and a half, of ever seeing a man who could satisfy her
+ideas of perfection, had been rash and unjustifiable.  Willoughby was
+all that her fancy had delineated in that unhappy hour and in every
+brighter period, as capable of attaching her; and his behaviour
+declared his wishes to be in that respect as earnest, as his abilities
+were strong.
+
+Her mother too, in whose mind not one speculative thought of their
+marriage had been raised, by his prospect of riches, was led before the
+end of a week to hope and expect it; and secretly to congratulate
+herself on having gained two such sons-in-law as Edward and Willoughby.
+
+Colonel Brandon's partiality for Marianne, which had so early been
+discovered by his friends, now first became perceptible to Elinor, when
+it ceased to be noticed by them.  Their attention and wit were drawn
+off to his more fortunate rival; and the raillery which the other had
+incurred before any partiality arose, was removed when his feelings
+began really to call for the ridicule so justly annexed to sensibility.
+Elinor was obliged, though unwillingly, to believe that the sentiments
+which Mrs. Jennings had assigned him for her own satisfaction, were now
+actually excited by her sister; and that however a general resemblance
+of disposition between the parties might forward the affection of Mr.
+Willoughby, an equally striking opposition of character was no
+hindrance to the regard of Colonel Brandon.  She saw it with concern;
+for what could a silent man of five and thirty hope, when opposed to a
+very lively one of five and twenty? and as she could not even wish him
+successful, she heartily wished him indifferent.  She liked him--in
+spite of his gravity and reserve, she beheld in him an object of
+interest.  His manners, though serious, were mild; and his reserve
+appeared rather the result of some oppression of spirits than of any
+natural gloominess of temper.  Sir John had dropped hints of past
+injuries and disappointments, which justified her belief of his being
+an unfortunate man, and she regarded him with respect and compassion.
+
+Perhaps she pitied and esteemed him the more because he was slighted by
+Willoughby and Marianne, who, prejudiced against him for being neither
+lively nor young, seemed resolved to undervalue his merits.
+
+"Brandon is just the kind of man," said Willoughby one day, when they
+were talking of him together, "whom every body speaks well of, and
+nobody cares about; whom all are delighted to see, and nobody remembers
+to talk to."
+
+"That is exactly what I think of him," cried Marianne.
+
+"Do not boast of it, however," said Elinor, "for it is injustice in
+both of you.  He is highly esteemed by all the family at the park, and
+I never see him myself without taking pains to converse with him."
+
+"That he is patronised by YOU," replied Willoughby, "is certainly in
+his favour; but as for the esteem of the others, it is a reproach in
+itself.  Who would submit to the indignity of being approved by such a
+woman as Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings, that could command the
+indifference of any body else?"
+
+"But perhaps the abuse of such people as yourself and Marianne will
+make amends for the regard of Lady Middleton and her mother.  If their
+praise is censure, your censure may be praise, for they are not more
+undiscerning, than you are prejudiced and unjust."
+
+"In defence of your protege you can even be saucy."
+
+"My protege, as you call him, is a sensible man; and sense will always
+have attractions for me.  Yes, Marianne, even in a man between thirty
+and forty.  He has seen a great deal of the world; has been abroad, has
+read, and has a thinking mind.  I have found him capable of giving me
+much information on various subjects; and he has always answered my
+inquiries with readiness of good-breeding and good nature."
+
+"That is to say," cried Marianne contemptuously, "he has told you, that
+in the East Indies the climate is hot, and the mosquitoes are
+troublesome."
+
+"He WOULD have told me so, I doubt not, had I made any such inquiries,
+but they happened to be points on which I had been previously informed."
+
+"Perhaps," said Willoughby, "his observations may have extended to the
+existence of nabobs, gold mohrs, and palanquins."
+
+"I may venture to say that HIS observations have stretched much further
+than your candour.  But why should you dislike him?"
+
+"I do not dislike him.  I consider him, on the contrary, as a very
+respectable man, who has every body's good word, and nobody's notice;
+who, has more money than he can spend, more time than he knows how to
+employ, and two new coats every year."
+
+"Add to which," cried Marianne, "that he has neither genius, taste, nor
+spirit.  That his understanding has no brilliancy, his feelings no
+ardour, and his voice no expression."
+
+"You decide on his imperfections so much in the mass," replied Elinor,
+"and so much on the strength of your own imagination, that the
+commendation I am able to give of him is comparatively cold and
+insipid.  I can only pronounce him to be a sensible man, well-bred,
+well-informed, of gentle address, and, I believe, possessing an amiable
+heart."
+
+"Miss Dashwood," cried Willoughby, "you are now using me unkindly.  You
+are endeavouring to disarm me by reason, and to convince me against my
+will.  But it will not do.  You shall find me as stubborn as you can be
+artful.  I have three unanswerable reasons for disliking Colonel
+Brandon; he threatened me with rain when I wanted it to be fine; he has
+found fault with the hanging of my curricle, and I cannot persuade him
+to buy my brown mare.  If it will be any satisfaction to you, however,
+to be told, that I believe his character to be in other respects
+irreproachable, I am ready to confess it.  And in return for an
+acknowledgment, which must give me some pain, you cannot deny me the
+privilege of disliking him as much as ever."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 11
+
+
+Little had Mrs. Dashwood or her daughters imagined when they first came
+into Devonshire, that so many engagements would arise to occupy their
+time as shortly presented themselves, or that they should have such
+frequent invitations and such constant visitors as to leave them little
+leisure for serious employment.  Yet such was the case.  When Marianne
+was recovered, the schemes of amusement at home and abroad, which Sir
+John had been previously forming, were put into execution.  The private
+balls at the park then began; and parties on the water were made and
+accomplished as often as a showery October would allow.  In every
+meeting of the kind Willoughby was included; and the ease and
+familiarity which naturally attended these parties were exactly
+calculated to give increasing intimacy to his acquaintance with the
+Dashwoods, to afford him opportunity of witnessing the excellencies of
+Marianne, of marking his animated admiration of her, and of receiving,
+in her behaviour to himself, the most pointed assurance of her
+affection.
+
+Elinor could not be surprised at their attachment.  She only wished
+that it were less openly shewn; and once or twice did venture to
+suggest the propriety of some self-command to Marianne.  But Marianne
+abhorred all concealment where no real disgrace could attend unreserve;
+and to aim at the restraint of sentiments which were not in themselves
+illaudable, appeared to her not merely an unnecessary effort, but a
+disgraceful subjection of reason to common-place and mistaken notions.
+Willoughby thought the same; and their behaviour at all times, was an
+illustration of their opinions.
+
+When he was present she had no eyes for any one else.  Every thing he
+did, was right.  Every thing he said, was clever.  If their evenings at
+the park were concluded with cards, he cheated himself and all the rest
+of the party to get her a good hand.  If dancing formed the amusement
+of the night, they were partners for half the time; and when obliged to
+separate for a couple of dances, were careful to stand together and
+scarcely spoke a word to any body else.  Such conduct made them of
+course most exceedingly laughed at; but ridicule could not shame, and
+seemed hardly to provoke them.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood entered into all their feelings with a warmth which left
+her no inclination for checking this excessive display of them.  To her
+it was but the natural consequence of a strong affection in a young and
+ardent mind.
+
+This was the season of happiness to Marianne.  Her heart was devoted to
+Willoughby, and the fond attachment to Norland, which she brought with
+her from Sussex, was more likely to be softened than she had thought it
+possible before, by the charms which his society bestowed on her
+present home.
+
+Elinor's happiness was not so great.  Her heart was not so much at
+ease, nor her satisfaction in their amusements so pure.  They afforded
+her no companion that could make amends for what she had left behind,
+nor that could teach her to think of Norland with less regret than
+ever.  Neither Lady Middleton nor Mrs. Jennings could supply to her the
+conversation she missed; although the latter was an everlasting talker,
+and from the first had regarded her with a kindness which ensured her a
+large share of her discourse.  She had already repeated her own history
+to Elinor three or four times; and had Elinor's memory been equal to
+her means of improvement, she might have known very early in their
+acquaintance all the particulars of Mr. Jennings's last illness, and
+what he said to his wife a few minutes before he died.  Lady Middleton
+was more agreeable than her mother only in being more silent.  Elinor
+needed little observation to perceive that her reserve was a mere
+calmness of manner with which sense had nothing to do.  Towards her
+husband and mother she was the same as to them; and intimacy was
+therefore neither to be looked for nor desired.  She had nothing to say
+one day that she had not said the day before.  Her insipidity was
+invariable, for even her spirits were always the same; and though she
+did not oppose the parties arranged by her husband, provided every
+thing were conducted in style and her two eldest children attended her,
+she never appeared to receive more enjoyment from them than she might
+have experienced in sitting at home;--and so little did her presence
+add to the pleasure of the others, by any share in their conversation,
+that they were sometimes only reminded of her being amongst them by her
+solicitude about her troublesome boys.
+
+In Colonel Brandon alone, of all her new acquaintance, did Elinor find
+a person who could in any degree claim the respect of abilities, excite
+the interest of friendship, or give pleasure as a companion.
+Willoughby was out of the question.  Her admiration and regard, even
+her sisterly regard, was all his own; but he was a lover; his
+attentions were wholly Marianne's, and a far less agreeable man might
+have been more generally pleasing.  Colonel Brandon, unfortunately for
+himself, had no such encouragement to think only of Marianne, and in
+conversing with Elinor he found the greatest consolation for the
+indifference of her sister.
+
+Elinor's compassion for him increased, as she had reason to suspect
+that the misery of disappointed love had already been known to him.
+This suspicion was given by some words which accidently dropped from
+him one evening at the park, when they were sitting down together by
+mutual consent, while the others were dancing.  His eyes were fixed on
+Marianne, and, after a silence of some minutes, he said, with a faint
+smile, "Your sister, I understand, does not approve of second
+attachments."
+
+"No," replied Elinor, "her opinions are all romantic."
+
+"Or rather, as I believe, she considers them impossible to exist."
+
+"I believe she does.  But how she contrives it without reflecting on
+the character of her own father, who had himself two wives, I know not.
+A few years however will settle her opinions on the reasonable basis of
+common sense and observation; and then they may be more easy to define
+and to justify than they now are, by any body but herself."
+
+"This will probably be the case," he replied; "and yet there is
+something so amiable in the prejudices of a young mind, that one is
+sorry to see them give way to the reception of more general opinions."
+
+"I cannot agree with you there," said Elinor.  "There are
+inconveniences attending such feelings as Marianne's, which all the
+charms of enthusiasm and ignorance of the world cannot atone for.  Her
+systems have all the unfortunate tendency of setting propriety at
+nought; and a better acquaintance with the world is what I look forward
+to as her greatest possible advantage."
+
+After a short pause he resumed the conversation by saying,--
+
+"Does your sister make no distinction in her objections against a
+second attachment? or is it equally criminal in every body?  Are those
+who have been disappointed in their first choice, whether from the
+inconstancy of its object, or the perverseness of circumstances, to be
+equally indifferent during the rest of their lives?"
+
+"Upon my word, I am not acquainted with the minutiae of her principles.
+I only know that I never yet heard her admit any instance of a second
+attachment's being pardonable."
+
+"This," said he, "cannot hold; but a change, a total change of
+sentiments--No, no, do not desire it; for when the romantic refinements
+of a young mind are obliged to give way, how frequently are they
+succeeded by such opinions as are but too common, and too dangerous!  I
+speak from experience.  I once knew a lady who in temper and mind
+greatly resembled your sister, who thought and judged like her, but who
+from an inforced change--from a series of unfortunate circumstances"--
+Here he stopt suddenly; appeared to think that he had said too much,
+and by his countenance gave rise to conjectures, which might not
+otherwise have entered Elinor's head.  The lady would probably have
+passed without suspicion, had he not convinced Miss Dashwood that what
+concerned her ought not to escape his lips.  As it was, it required but
+a slight effort of fancy to connect his emotion with the tender
+recollection of past regard.  Elinor attempted no more.  But Marianne,
+in her place, would not have done so little.  The whole story would
+have been speedily formed under her active imagination; and every thing
+established in the most melancholy order of disastrous love.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 12
+
+
+As Elinor and Marianne were walking together the next morning the
+latter communicated a piece of news to her sister, which in spite of
+all that she knew before of Marianne's imprudence and want of thought,
+surprised her by its extravagant testimony of both.  Marianne told her,
+with the greatest delight, that Willoughby had given her a horse, one
+that he had bred himself on his estate in Somersetshire, and which was
+exactly calculated to carry a woman.  Without considering that it was
+not in her mother's plan to keep any horse, that if she were to alter
+her resolution in favour of this gift, she must buy another for the
+servant, and keep a servant to ride it, and after all, build a stable
+to receive them, she had accepted the present without hesitation, and
+told her sister of it in raptures.
+
+"He intends to send his groom into Somersetshire immediately for it,"
+she added, "and when it arrives we will ride every day.  You shall
+share its use with me.  Imagine to yourself, my dear Elinor, the
+delight of a gallop on some of these downs."
+
+Most unwilling was she to awaken from such a dream of felicity to
+comprehend all the unhappy truths which attended the affair; and for
+some time she refused to submit to them.  As to an additional servant,
+the expense would be a trifle; Mama she was sure would never object to
+it; and any horse would do for HIM; he might always get one at the
+park; as to a stable, the merest shed would be sufficient.  Elinor then
+ventured to doubt the propriety of her receiving such a present from a
+man so little, or at least so lately known to her.  This was too much.
+
+"You are mistaken, Elinor," said she warmly, "in supposing I know very
+little of Willoughby.  I have not known him long indeed, but I am much
+better acquainted with him, than I am with any other creature in the
+world, except yourself and mama.  It is not time or opportunity that is
+to determine intimacy;--it is disposition alone.  Seven years would be
+insufficient to make some people acquainted with each other, and seven
+days are more than enough for others.  I should hold myself guilty of
+greater impropriety in accepting a horse from my brother, than from
+Willoughby.  Of John I know very little, though we have lived together
+for years; but of Willoughby my judgment has long been formed."
+
+Elinor thought it wisest to touch that point no more.  She knew her
+sister's temper.  Opposition on so tender a subject would only attach
+her the more to her own opinion.  But by an appeal to her affection for
+her mother, by representing the inconveniences which that indulgent
+mother must draw on herself, if (as would probably be the case) she
+consented to this increase of establishment, Marianne was shortly
+subdued; and she promised not to tempt her mother to such imprudent
+kindness by mentioning the offer, and to tell Willoughby when she saw
+him next, that it must be declined.
+
+She was faithful to her word; and when Willoughby called at the
+cottage, the same day, Elinor heard her express her disappointment to
+him in a low voice, on being obliged to forego the acceptance of his
+present.  The reasons for this alteration were at the same time
+related, and they were such as to make further entreaty on his side
+impossible.  His concern however was very apparent; and after
+expressing it with earnestness, he added, in the same low voice,--"But,
+Marianne, the horse is still yours, though you cannot use it now.  I
+shall keep it only till you can claim it.  When you leave Barton to
+form your own establishment in a more lasting home, Queen Mab shall
+receive you."
+
+This was all overheard by Miss Dashwood; and in the whole of the
+sentence, in his manner of pronouncing it, and in his addressing her
+sister by her Christian name alone, she instantly saw an intimacy so
+decided, a meaning so direct, as marked a perfect agreement between
+them.  From that moment she doubted not of their being engaged to each
+other; and the belief of it created no other surprise than that she, or
+any of their friends, should be left by tempers so frank, to discover
+it by accident.
+
+Margaret related something to her the next day, which placed this
+matter in a still clearer light.  Willoughby had spent the preceding
+evening with them, and Margaret, by being left some time in the parlour
+with only him and Marianne, had had opportunity for observations,
+which, with a most important face, she communicated to her eldest
+sister, when they were next by themselves.
+
+"Oh, Elinor!" she cried, "I have such a secret to tell you about
+Marianne.  I am sure she will be married to Mr. Willoughby very soon."
+
+"You have said so," replied Elinor, "almost every day since they first
+met on High-church Down; and they had not known each other a week, I
+believe, before you were certain that Marianne wore his picture round
+her neck; but it turned out to be only the miniature of our great
+uncle."
+
+"But indeed this is quite another thing.  I am sure they will be
+married very soon, for he has got a lock of her hair."
+
+"Take care, Margaret.  It may be only the hair of some great uncle of
+HIS."
+
+"But, indeed, Elinor, it is Marianne's. I am almost sure it is, for I
+saw him cut it off.  Last night after tea, when you and mama went out
+of the room, they were whispering and talking together as fast as could
+be, and he seemed to be begging something of her, and presently he took
+up her scissors and cut off a long lock of her hair, for it was all
+tumbled down her back; and he kissed it, and folded it up in a piece of
+white paper; and put it into his pocket-book."
+
+For such particulars, stated on such authority, Elinor could not
+withhold her credit; nor was she disposed to it, for the circumstance
+was in perfect unison with what she had heard and seen herself.
+
+Margaret's sagacity was not always displayed in a way so satisfactory
+to her sister.  When Mrs. Jennings attacked her one evening at the
+park, to give the name of the young man who was Elinor's particular
+favourite, which had been long a matter of great curiosity to her,
+Margaret answered by looking at her sister, and saying, "I must not
+tell, may I, Elinor?"
+
+This of course made every body laugh; and Elinor tried to laugh too.
+But the effort was painful.  She was convinced that Margaret had fixed
+on a person whose name she could not bear with composure to become a
+standing joke with Mrs. Jennings.
+
+Marianne felt for her most sincerely; but she did more harm than good
+to the cause, by turning very red and saying in an angry manner to
+Margaret,
+
+"Remember that whatever your conjectures may be, you have no right to
+repeat them."
+
+"I never had any conjectures about it," replied Margaret; "it was you
+who told me of it yourself."
+
+This increased the mirth of the company, and Margaret was eagerly
+pressed to say something more.
+
+"Oh! pray, Miss Margaret, let us know all about it," said Mrs.
+Jennings.  "What is the gentleman's name?"
+
+"I must not tell, ma'am. But I know very well what it is; and I know
+where he is too."
+
+"Yes, yes, we can guess where he is; at his own house at Norland to be
+sure.  He is the curate of the parish I dare say."
+
+"No, THAT he is not.  He is of no profession at all."
+
+"Margaret," said Marianne with great warmth, "you know that all this is
+an invention of your own, and that there is no such person in
+existence."
+
+"Well, then, he is lately dead, Marianne, for I am sure there was such
+a man once, and his name begins with an F."
+
+Most grateful did Elinor feel to Lady Middleton for observing, at this
+moment, "that it rained very hard," though she believed the
+interruption to proceed less from any attention to her, than from her
+ladyship's great dislike of all such inelegant subjects of raillery as
+delighted her husband and mother.  The idea however started by her, was
+immediately pursued by Colonel Brandon, who was on every occasion
+mindful of the feelings of others; and much was said on the subject of
+rain by both of them.  Willoughby opened the piano-forte, and asked
+Marianne to sit down to it; and thus amidst the various endeavours of
+different people to quit the topic, it fell to the ground.  But not so
+easily did Elinor recover from the alarm into which it had thrown her.
+
+A party was formed this evening for going on the following day to see a
+very fine place about twelve miles from Barton, belonging to a
+brother-in-law of Colonel Brandon, without whose interest it could not
+be seen, as the proprietor, who was then abroad, had left strict orders
+on that head.  The grounds were declared to be highly beautiful, and
+Sir John, who was particularly warm in their praise, might be allowed
+to be a tolerable judge, for he had formed parties to visit them, at
+least, twice every summer for the last ten years.  They contained a
+noble piece of water; a sail on which was to a form a great part of the
+morning's amusement; cold provisions were to be taken, open carriages
+only to be employed, and every thing conducted in the usual style of a
+complete party of pleasure.
+
+To some few of the company it appeared rather a bold undertaking,
+considering the time of year, and that it had rained every day for the
+last fortnight;--and Mrs. Dashwood, who had already a cold, was
+persuaded by Elinor to stay at home.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 13
+
+
+Their intended excursion to Whitwell turned out very different from
+what Elinor had expected.  She was prepared to be wet through,
+fatigued, and frightened; but the event was still more unfortunate, for
+they did not go at all.
+
+By ten o'clock the whole party was assembled at the park, where they
+were to breakfast.  The morning was rather favourable, though it had
+rained all night, as the clouds were then dispersing across the sky,
+and the sun frequently appeared.  They were all in high spirits and
+good humour, eager to be happy, and determined to submit to the
+greatest inconveniences and hardships rather than be otherwise.
+
+While they were at breakfast the letters were brought in.  Among the
+rest there was one for Colonel Brandon;--he took it, looked at the
+direction, changed colour, and immediately left the room.
+
+"What is the matter with Brandon?" said Sir John.
+
+Nobody could tell.
+
+"I hope he has had no bad news," said Lady Middleton.  "It must be
+something extraordinary that could make Colonel Brandon leave my
+breakfast table so suddenly."
+
+In about five minutes he returned.
+
+"No bad news, Colonel, I hope;" said Mrs. Jennings, as soon as he
+entered the room.
+
+"None at all, ma'am, I thank you."
+
+"Was it from Avignon?  I hope it is not to say that your sister is
+worse."
+
+"No, ma'am. It came from town, and is merely a letter of business."
+
+"But how came the hand to discompose you so much, if it was only a
+letter of business?  Come, come, this won't do, Colonel; so let us hear
+the truth of it."
+
+"My dear madam," said Lady Middleton, "recollect what you are saying."
+
+"Perhaps it is to tell you that your cousin Fanny is married?" said
+Mrs. Jennings, without attending to her daughter's reproof.
+
+"No, indeed, it is not."
+
+"Well, then, I know who it is from, Colonel.  And I hope she is well."
+
+"Whom do you mean, ma'am?" said he, colouring a little.
+
+"Oh! you know who I mean."
+
+"I am particularly sorry, ma'am," said he, addressing Lady Middleton,
+"that I should receive this letter today, for it is on business which
+requires my immediate attendance in town."
+
+"In town!" cried Mrs. Jennings.  "What can you have to do in town at
+this time of year?"
+
+"My own loss is great," he continued, "in being obliged to leave so
+agreeable a party; but I am the more concerned, as I fear my presence
+is necessary to gain your admittance at Whitwell."
+
+What a blow upon them all was this!
+
+"But if you write a note to the housekeeper, Mr. Brandon," said
+Marianne, eagerly, "will it not be sufficient?"
+
+He shook his head.
+
+"We must go," said Sir John.--"It shall not be put off when we are so
+near it.  You cannot go to town till tomorrow, Brandon, that is all."
+
+"I wish it could be so easily settled.  But it is not in my power to
+delay my journey for one day!"
+
+"If you would but let us know what your business is," said Mrs.
+Jennings, "we might see whether it could be put off or not."
+
+"You would not be six hours later," said Willoughby, "if you were to
+defer your journey till our return."
+
+"I cannot afford to lose ONE hour."--
+
+Elinor then heard Willoughby say, in a low voice to Marianne, "There
+are some people who cannot bear a party of pleasure.  Brandon is one of
+them.  He was afraid of catching cold I dare say, and invented this
+trick for getting out of it.  I would lay fifty guineas the letter was
+of his own writing."
+
+"I have no doubt of it," replied Marianne.
+
+"There is no persuading you to change your mind, Brandon, I know of
+old," said Sir John, "when once you are determined on anything.  But,
+however, I hope you will think better of it.  Consider, here are the
+two Miss Careys come over from Newton, the three Miss Dashwoods walked
+up from the cottage, and Mr. Willoughby got up two hours before his
+usual time, on purpose to go to Whitwell."
+
+Colonel Brandon again repeated his sorrow at being the cause of
+disappointing the party; but at the same time declared it to be
+unavoidable.
+
+"Well, then, when will you come back again?"
+
+"I hope we shall see you at Barton," added her ladyship, "as soon as
+you can conveniently leave town; and we must put off the party to
+Whitwell till you return."
+
+"You are very obliging.  But it is so uncertain, when I may have it in
+my power to return, that I dare not engage for it at all."
+
+"Oh! he must and shall come back," cried Sir John.  "If he is not here
+by the end of the week, I shall go after him."
+
+"Ay, so do, Sir John," cried Mrs. Jennings, "and then perhaps you may
+find out what his business is."
+
+"I do not want to pry into other men's concerns.  I suppose it is
+something he is ashamed of."
+
+Colonel Brandon's horses were announced.
+
+"You do not go to town on horseback, do you?" added Sir John.
+
+"No. Only to Honiton.  I shall then go post."
+
+"Well, as you are resolved to go, I wish you a good journey.  But you
+had better change your mind."
+
+"I assure you it is not in my power."
+
+He then took leave of the whole party.
+
+"Is there no chance of my seeing you and your sisters in town this
+winter, Miss Dashwood?"
+
+"I am afraid, none at all."
+
+"Then I must bid you farewell for a longer time than I should wish to
+do."
+
+To Marianne, he merely bowed and said nothing.
+
+"Come Colonel," said Mrs. Jennings, "before you go, do let us know what
+you are going about."
+
+He wished her a good morning, and, attended by Sir John, left the room.
+
+The complaints and lamentations which politeness had hitherto
+restrained, now burst forth universally; and they all agreed again and
+again how provoking it was to be so disappointed.
+
+"I can guess what his business is, however," said Mrs. Jennings
+exultingly.
+
+"Can you, ma'am?" said almost every body.
+
+"Yes; it is about Miss Williams, I am sure."
+
+"And who is Miss Williams?" asked Marianne.
+
+"What! do not you know who Miss Williams is? I am sure you must have
+heard of her before.  She is a relation of the Colonel's, my dear; a
+very near relation.  We will not say how near, for fear of shocking the
+young ladies." Then, lowering her voice a little, she said to Elinor,
+"She is his natural daughter."
+
+"Indeed!"
+
+"Oh, yes; and as like him as she can stare.  I dare say the Colonel
+will leave her all his fortune."
+
+When Sir John returned, he joined most heartily in the general regret
+on so unfortunate an event; concluding however by observing, that as
+they were all got together, they must do something by way of being
+happy; and after some consultation it was agreed, that although
+happiness could only be enjoyed at Whitwell, they might procure a
+tolerable composure of mind by driving about the country.  The
+carriages were then ordered; Willoughby's was first, and Marianne never
+looked happier than when she got into it.  He drove through the park
+very fast, and they were soon out of sight; and nothing more of them
+was seen till their return, which did not happen till after the return
+of all the rest.  They both seemed delighted with their drive; but said
+only in general terms that they had kept in the lanes, while the others
+went on the downs.
+
+It was settled that there should be a dance in the evening, and that
+every body should be extremely merry all day long.  Some more of the
+Careys came to dinner, and they had the pleasure of sitting down nearly
+twenty to table, which Sir John observed with great contentment.
+Willoughby took his usual place between the two elder Miss Dashwoods.
+Mrs. Jennings sat on Elinor's right hand; and they had not been long
+seated, before she leant behind her and Willoughby, and said to
+Marianne, loud enough for them both to hear, "I have found you out in
+spite of all your tricks.  I know where you spent the morning."
+
+Marianne coloured, and replied very hastily, "Where, pray?"--
+
+"Did not you know," said Willoughby, "that we had been out in my
+curricle?"
+
+"Yes, yes, Mr. Impudence, I know that very well, and I was determined
+to find out WHERE you had been to.-- I hope you like your house, Miss
+Marianne.  It is a very large one, I know; and when I come to see you,
+I hope you will have new-furnished it, for it wanted it very much when
+I was there six years ago."
+
+Marianne turned away in great confusion.  Mrs. Jennings laughed
+heartily; and Elinor found that in her resolution to know where they
+had been, she had actually made her own woman enquire of Mr.
+Willoughby's groom; and that she had by that method been informed that
+they had gone to Allenham, and spent a considerable time there in
+walking about the garden and going all over the house.
+
+Elinor could hardly believe this to be true, as it seemed very unlikely
+that Willoughby should propose, or Marianne consent, to enter the house
+while Mrs. Smith was in it, with whom Marianne had not the smallest
+acquaintance.
+
+As soon as they left the dining-room, Elinor enquired of her about it;
+and great was her surprise when she found that every circumstance
+related by Mrs. Jennings was perfectly true.  Marianne was quite angry
+with her for doubting it.
+
+"Why should you imagine, Elinor, that we did not go there, or that we
+did not see the house?  Is not it what you have often wished to do
+yourself?"
+
+"Yes, Marianne, but I would not go while Mrs. Smith was there, and with
+no other companion than Mr. Willoughby."
+
+"Mr. Willoughby however is the only person who can have a right to shew
+that house; and as he went in an open carriage, it was impossible to
+have any other companion.  I never spent a pleasanter morning in my
+life."
+
+"I am afraid," replied Elinor, "that the pleasantness of an employment
+does not always evince its propriety."
+
+"On the contrary, nothing can be a stronger proof of it, Elinor; for if
+there had been any real impropriety in what I did, I should have been
+sensible of it at the time, for we always know when we are acting
+wrong, and with such a conviction I could have had no pleasure."
+
+"But, my dear Marianne, as it has already exposed you to some very
+impertinent remarks, do you not now begin to doubt the discretion of
+your own conduct?"
+
+"If the impertinent remarks of Mrs. Jennings are to be the proof of
+impropriety in conduct, we are all offending every moment of our lives.
+I value not her censure any more than I should do her commendation.  I
+am not sensible of having done anything wrong in walking over Mrs.
+Smith's grounds, or in seeing her house.  They will one day be Mr.
+Willoughby's, and--"
+
+"If they were one day to be your own, Marianne, you would not be
+justified in what you have done."
+
+She blushed at this hint; but it was even visibly gratifying to her;
+and after a ten minutes' interval of earnest thought, she came to her
+sister again, and said with great good humour, "Perhaps, Elinor, it WAS
+rather ill-judged in me to go to Allenham; but Mr. Willoughby wanted
+particularly to shew me the place; and it is a charming house, I assure
+you.--There is one remarkably pretty sitting room up stairs; of a nice
+comfortable size for constant use, and with modern furniture it would
+be delightful.  It is a corner room, and has windows on two sides.  On
+one side you look across the bowling-green, behind the house, to a
+beautiful hanging wood, and on the other you have a view of the church
+and village, and, beyond them, of those fine bold hills that we have so
+often admired.  I did not see it to advantage, for nothing could be
+more forlorn than the furniture,--but if it were newly fitted up--a
+couple of hundred pounds, Willoughby says, would make it one of the
+pleasantest summer-rooms in England."
+
+Could Elinor have listened to her without interruption from the others,
+she would have described every room in the house with equal delight.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 14
+
+
+The sudden termination of Colonel Brandon's visit at the park, with his
+steadiness in concealing its cause, filled the mind, and raised the
+wonder of Mrs. Jennings for two or three days; she was a great
+wonderer, as every one must be who takes a very lively interest in all
+the comings and goings of all their acquaintance.  She wondered, with
+little intermission what could be the reason of it; was sure there must
+be some bad news, and thought over every kind of distress that could
+have befallen him, with a fixed determination that he should not escape
+them all.
+
+"Something very melancholy must be the matter, I am sure," said she.
+"I could see it in his face.  Poor man!  I am afraid his circumstances
+may be bad.  The estate at Delaford was never reckoned more than two
+thousand a year, and his brother left everything sadly involved.  I do
+think he must have been sent for about money matters, for what else can
+it be?  I wonder whether it is so.  I would give anything to know the
+truth of it.  Perhaps it is about Miss Williams and, by the bye, I dare
+say it is, because he looked so conscious when I mentioned her.  May be
+she is ill in town; nothing in the world more likely, for I have a
+notion she is always rather sickly.  I would lay any wager it is about
+Miss Williams.  It is not so very likely he should be distressed in his
+circumstances NOW, for he is a very prudent man, and to be sure must
+have cleared the estate by this time.  I wonder what it can be!  May be
+his sister is worse at Avignon, and has sent for him over.  His setting
+off in such a hurry seems very like it.  Well, I wish him out of all
+his trouble with all my heart, and a good wife into the bargain."
+
+So wondered, so talked Mrs. Jennings.  Her opinion varying with every
+fresh conjecture, and all seeming equally probable as they arose.
+Elinor, though she felt really interested in the welfare of Colonel
+Brandon, could not bestow all the wonder on his going so suddenly away,
+which Mrs. Jennings was desirous of her feeling; for besides that the
+circumstance did not in her opinion justify such lasting amazement or
+variety of speculation, her wonder was otherwise disposed of.  It was
+engrossed by the extraordinary silence of her sister and Willoughby on
+the subject, which they must know to be peculiarly interesting to them
+all.  As this silence continued, every day made it appear more strange
+and more incompatible with the disposition of both.  Why they should
+not openly acknowledge to her mother and herself, what their constant
+behaviour to each other declared to have taken place, Elinor could not
+imagine.
+
+She could easily conceive that marriage might not be immediately in
+their power; for though Willoughby was independent, there was no reason
+to believe him rich.  His estate had been rated by Sir John at about
+six or seven hundred a year; but he lived at an expense to which that
+income could hardly be equal, and he had himself often complained of
+his poverty.  But for this strange kind of secrecy maintained by them
+relative to their engagement, which in fact concealed nothing at all,
+she could not account; and it was so wholly contradictory to their
+general opinions and practice, that a doubt sometimes entered her mind
+of their being really engaged, and this doubt was enough to prevent her
+making any inquiry of Marianne.
+
+Nothing could be more expressive of attachment to them all, than
+Willoughby's behaviour.  To Marianne it had all the distinguishing
+tenderness which a lover's heart could give, and to the rest of the
+family it was the affectionate attention of a son and a brother.  The
+cottage seemed to be considered and loved by him as his home; many more
+of his hours were spent there than at Allenham; and if no general
+engagement collected them at the park, the exercise which called him
+out in the morning was almost certain of ending there, where the rest
+of the day was spent by himself at the side of Marianne, and by his
+favourite pointer at her feet.
+
+One evening in particular, about a week after Colonel Brandon left the
+country, his heart seemed more than usually open to every feeling of
+attachment to the objects around him; and on Mrs. Dashwood's happening
+to mention her design of improving the cottage in the spring, he warmly
+opposed every alteration of a place which affection had established as
+perfect with him.
+
+"What!" he exclaimed--"Improve this dear cottage!  No. THAT I will
+never consent to.  Not a stone must be added to its walls, not an inch
+to its size, if my feelings are regarded."
+
+"Do not be alarmed," said Miss Dashwood, "nothing of the kind will be
+done; for my mother will never have money enough to attempt it."
+
+"I am heartily glad of it," he cried.  "May she always be poor, if she
+can employ her riches no better."
+
+"Thank you, Willoughby.  But you may be assured that I would not
+sacrifice one sentiment of local attachment of yours, or of any one
+whom I loved, for all the improvements in the world.  Depend upon it
+that whatever unemployed sum may remain, when I make up my accounts in
+the spring, I would even rather lay it uselessly by than dispose of it
+in a manner so painful to you.  But are you really so attached to this
+place as to see no defect in it?"
+
+"I am," said he.  "To me it is faultless.  Nay, more, I consider it as
+the only form of building in which happiness is attainable, and were I
+rich enough I would instantly pull Combe down, and build it up again in
+the exact plan of this cottage."
+
+"With dark narrow stairs and a kitchen that smokes, I suppose," said
+Elinor.
+
+"Yes," cried he in the same eager tone, "with all and every thing
+belonging to it;--in no one convenience or INconvenience about it,
+should the least variation be perceptible.  Then, and then only, under
+such a roof, I might perhaps be as happy at Combe as I have been at
+Barton."
+
+"I flatter myself," replied Elinor, "that even under the disadvantage
+of better rooms and a broader staircase, you will hereafter find your
+own house as faultless as you now do this."
+
+"There certainly are circumstances," said Willoughby, "which might
+greatly endear it to me; but this place will always have one claim of
+my affection, which no other can possibly share."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood looked with pleasure at Marianne, whose fine eyes were
+fixed so expressively on Willoughby, as plainly denoted how well she
+understood him.
+
+"How often did I wish," added he, "when I was at Allenham this time
+twelvemonth, that Barton cottage were inhabited!  I never passed within
+view of it without admiring its situation, and grieving that no one
+should live in it.  How little did I then think that the very first
+news I should hear from Mrs. Smith, when I next came into the country,
+would be that Barton cottage was taken: and I felt an immediate
+satisfaction and interest in the event, which nothing but a kind of
+prescience of what happiness I should experience from it, can account
+for.  Must it not have been so, Marianne?" speaking to her in a lowered
+voice.  Then continuing his former tone, he said, "And yet this house
+you would spoil, Mrs. Dashwood?  You would rob it of its simplicity by
+imaginary improvement! and this dear parlour in which our acquaintance
+first began, and in which so many happy hours have been since spent by
+us together, you would degrade to the condition of a common entrance,
+and every body would be eager to pass through the room which has
+hitherto contained within itself more real accommodation and comfort
+than any other apartment of the handsomest dimensions in the world
+could possibly afford."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood again assured him that no alteration of the kind should
+be attempted.
+
+"You are a good woman," he warmly replied.  "Your promise makes me
+easy.  Extend it a little farther, and it will make me happy.  Tell me
+that not only your house will remain the same, but that I shall ever
+find you and yours as unchanged as your dwelling; and that you will
+always consider me with the kindness which has made everything
+belonging to you so dear to me."
+
+The promise was readily given, and Willoughby's behaviour during the
+whole of the evening declared at once his affection and happiness.
+
+"Shall we see you tomorrow to dinner?" said Mrs. Dashwood, when he was
+leaving them.  "I do not ask you to come in the morning, for we must
+walk to the park, to call on Lady Middleton."
+
+He engaged to be with them by four o'clock.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 15
+
+
+Mrs. Dashwood's visit to Lady Middleton took place the next day, and
+two of her daughters went with her; but Marianne excused herself from
+being of the party, under some trifling pretext of employment; and her
+mother, who concluded that a promise had been made by Willoughby the
+night before of calling on her while they were absent, was perfectly
+satisfied with her remaining at home.
+
+On their return from the park they found Willoughby's curricle and
+servant in waiting at the cottage, and Mrs. Dashwood was convinced that
+her conjecture had been just.  So far it was all as she had foreseen;
+but on entering the house she beheld what no foresight had taught her
+to expect.  They were no sooner in the passage than Marianne came
+hastily out of the parlour apparently in violent affliction, with her
+handkerchief at her eyes; and without noticing them ran up stairs.
+Surprised and alarmed they proceeded directly into the room she had
+just quitted, where they found only Willoughby, who was leaning against
+the mantel-piece with his back towards them.  He turned round on their
+coming in, and his countenance shewed that he strongly partook of the
+emotion which over-powered Marianne.
+
+"Is anything the matter with her?" cried Mrs. Dashwood as she
+entered--"is she ill?"
+
+"I hope not," he replied, trying to look cheerful; and with a forced
+smile presently added, "It is I who may rather expect to be ill--for I
+am now suffering under a very heavy disappointment!"
+
+"Disappointment?"
+
+"Yes, for I am unable to keep my engagement with you.  Mrs. Smith has
+this morning exercised the privilege of riches upon a poor dependent
+cousin, by sending me on business to London.  I have just received my
+dispatches, and taken my farewell of Allenham; and by way of
+exhilaration I am now come to take my farewell of you."
+
+"To London!--and are you going this morning?"
+
+"Almost this moment."
+
+"This is very unfortunate.  But Mrs. Smith must be obliged;--and her
+business will not detain you from us long I hope."
+
+He coloured as he replied, "You are very kind, but I have no idea of
+returning into Devonshire immediately.  My visits to Mrs. Smith are
+never repeated within the twelvemonth."
+
+"And is Mrs. Smith your only friend?  Is Allenham the only house in the
+neighbourhood to which you will be welcome?  For shame, Willoughby, can
+you wait for an invitation here?"
+
+His colour increased; and with his eyes fixed on the ground he only
+replied, "You are too good."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood looked at Elinor with surprise.  Elinor felt equal
+amazement.  For a few moments every one was silent.  Mrs. Dashwood
+first spoke.
+
+"I have only to add, my dear Willoughby, that at Barton cottage you
+will always be welcome; for I will not press you to return here
+immediately, because you only can judge how far THAT might be pleasing
+to Mrs. Smith; and on this head I shall be no more disposed to question
+your judgment than to doubt your inclination."
+
+"My engagements at present," replied Willoughby, confusedly, "are of
+such a nature--that--I dare not flatter myself"--
+
+He stopt.  Mrs. Dashwood was too much astonished to speak, and another
+pause succeeded.  This was broken by Willoughby, who said with a faint
+smile, "It is folly to linger in this manner.  I will not torment
+myself any longer by remaining among friends whose society it is
+impossible for me now to enjoy."
+
+He then hastily took leave of them all and left the room.  They saw him
+step into his carriage, and in a minute it was out of sight.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood felt too much for speech, and instantly quitted the
+parlour to give way in solitude to the concern and alarm which this
+sudden departure occasioned.
+
+Elinor's uneasiness was at least equal to her mother's.  She thought of
+what had just passed with anxiety and distrust.  Willoughby's behaviour
+in taking leave of them, his embarrassment, and affectation of
+cheerfulness, and, above all, his unwillingness to accept her mother's
+invitation, a backwardness so unlike a lover, so unlike himself,
+greatly disturbed her.  One moment she feared that no serious design
+had ever been formed on his side; and the next that some unfortunate
+quarrel had taken place between him and her sister;--the distress in
+which Marianne had quitted the room was such as a serious quarrel could
+most reasonably account for, though when she considered what Marianne's
+love for him was, a quarrel seemed almost impossible.
+
+But whatever might be the particulars of their separation, her sister's
+affliction was indubitable; and she thought with the tenderest
+compassion of that violent sorrow which Marianne was in all probability
+not merely giving way to as a relief, but feeding and encouraging as a
+duty.
+
+In about half an hour her mother returned, and though her eyes were
+red, her countenance was not uncheerful.
+
+"Our dear Willoughby is now some miles from Barton, Elinor," said she,
+as she sat down to work, "and with how heavy a heart does he travel?"
+
+"It is all very strange.  So suddenly to be gone! It seems but the work
+of a moment.  And last night he was with us so happy, so cheerful, so
+affectionate?  And now, after only ten minutes notice--Gone too without
+intending to return!--Something more than what he owned to us must have
+happened.  He did not speak, he did not behave like himself.  YOU must
+have seen the difference as well as I.  What can it be?  Can they have
+quarrelled?  Why else should he have shewn such unwillingness to accept
+your invitation here?"--
+
+"It was not inclination that he wanted, Elinor; I could plainly see
+THAT.  He had not the power of accepting it.  I have thought it all
+over I assure you, and I can perfectly account for every thing that at
+first seemed strange to me as well as to you."
+
+"Can you, indeed!"
+
+"Yes. I have explained it to myself in the most satisfactory way;--but
+you, Elinor, who love to doubt where you can--it will not satisfy YOU,
+I know; but you shall not talk ME out of my trust in it.  I am
+persuaded that Mrs. Smith suspects his regard for Marianne, disapproves
+of it, (perhaps because she has other views for him,) and on that
+account is eager to get him away;--and that the business which she
+sends him off to transact is invented as an excuse to dismiss him.
+This is what I believe to have happened.  He is, moreover, aware that
+she DOES disapprove the connection, he dares not therefore at present
+confess to her his engagement with Marianne, and he feels himself
+obliged, from his dependent situation, to give into her schemes, and
+absent himself from Devonshire for a while.  You will tell me, I know,
+that this may or may NOT have happened; but I will listen to no cavil,
+unless you can point out any other method of understanding the affair
+as satisfactory at this.  And now, Elinor, what have you to say?"
+
+"Nothing, for you have anticipated my answer."
+
+"Then you would have told me, that it might or might not have happened.
+Oh, Elinor, how incomprehensible are your feelings!  You had rather
+take evil upon credit than good.  You had rather look out for misery
+for Marianne, and guilt for poor Willoughby, than an apology for the
+latter.  You are resolved to think him blameable, because he took leave
+of us with less affection than his usual behaviour has shewn.  And is
+no allowance to be made for inadvertence, or for spirits depressed by
+recent disappointment?  Are no probabilities to be accepted, merely
+because they are not certainties?  Is nothing due to the man whom we
+have all such reason to love, and no reason in the world to think ill
+of?  To the possibility of motives unanswerable in themselves, though
+unavoidably secret for a while?  And, after all, what is it you suspect
+him of?"
+
+"I can hardly tell myself.  But suspicion of something unpleasant is
+the inevitable consequence of such an alteration as we just witnessed
+in him.  There is great truth, however, in what you have now urged of
+the allowances which ought to be made for him, and it is my wish to be
+candid in my judgment of every body.  Willoughby may undoubtedly have
+very sufficient reasons for his conduct, and I will hope that he has.
+But it would have been more like Willoughby to acknowledge them at
+once.  Secrecy may be advisable; but still I cannot help wondering at
+its being practiced by him."
+
+"Do not blame him, however, for departing from his character, where the
+deviation is necessary.  But you really do admit the justice of what I
+have said in his defence?--I am happy--and he is acquitted."
+
+"Not entirely.  It may be proper to conceal their engagement (if they
+ARE engaged) from Mrs. Smith--and if that is the case, it must be
+highly expedient for Willoughby to be but little in Devonshire at
+present.  But this is no excuse for their concealing it from us."
+
+"Concealing it from us! my dear child, do you accuse Willoughby and
+Marianne of concealment? This is strange indeed, when your eyes have
+been reproaching them every day for incautiousness."
+
+"I want no proof of their affection," said Elinor; "but of their
+engagement I do."
+
+"I am perfectly satisfied of both."
+
+"Yet not a syllable has been said to you on the subject, by either of
+them."
+
+"I have not wanted syllables where actions have spoken so plainly.  Has
+not his behaviour to Marianne and to all of us, for at least the last
+fortnight, declared that he loved and considered her as his future
+wife, and that he felt for us the attachment of the nearest relation?
+Have we not perfectly understood each other?  Has not my consent been
+daily asked by his looks, his manner, his attentive and affectionate
+respect?  My Elinor, is it possible to doubt their engagement?  How
+could such a thought occur to you?  How is it to be supposed that
+Willoughby, persuaded as he must be of your sister's love, should leave
+her, and leave her perhaps for months, without telling her of his
+affection;--that they should part without a mutual exchange of
+confidence?"
+
+"I confess," replied Elinor, "that every circumstance except ONE is in
+favour of their engagement; but that ONE is the total silence of both
+on the subject, and with me it almost outweighs every other."
+
+"How strange this is!  You must think wretchedly indeed of Willoughby,
+if, after all that has openly passed between them, you can doubt the
+nature of the terms on which they are together.  Has he been acting a
+part in his behaviour to your sister all this time?  Do you suppose him
+really indifferent to her?"
+
+"No, I cannot think that.  He must and does love her I am sure."
+
+"But with a strange kind of tenderness, if he can leave her with such
+indifference, such carelessness of the future, as you attribute to him."
+
+"You must remember, my dear mother, that I have never considered this
+matter as certain.  I have had my doubts, I confess; but they are
+fainter than they were, and they may soon be entirely done away.  If we
+find they correspond, every fear of mine will be removed."
+
+"A mighty concession indeed!  If you were to see them at the altar, you
+would suppose they were going to be married.  Ungracious girl!  But I
+require no such proof.  Nothing in my opinion has ever passed to
+justify doubt; no secrecy has been attempted; all has been uniformly
+open and unreserved.  You cannot doubt your sister's wishes.  It must
+be Willoughby therefore whom you suspect.  But why?  Is he not a man of
+honour and feeling? Has there been any inconsistency on his side to
+create alarm? can he be deceitful?"
+
+"I hope not, I believe not," cried Elinor.  "I love Willoughby,
+sincerely love him; and suspicion of his integrity cannot be more
+painful to yourself than to me.  It has been involuntary, and I will
+not encourage it.  I was startled, I confess, by the alteration in his
+manners this morning;--he did not speak like himself, and did not
+return your kindness with any cordiality.  But all this may be
+explained by such a situation of his affairs as you have supposed.  He
+had just parted from my sister, had seen her leave him in the greatest
+affliction; and if he felt obliged, from a fear of offending Mrs.
+Smith, to resist the temptation of returning here soon, and yet aware
+that by declining your invitation, by saying that he was going away for
+some time, he should seem to act an ungenerous, a suspicious part by
+our family, he might well be embarrassed and disturbed.  In such a
+case, a plain and open avowal of his difficulties would have been more
+to his honour I think, as well as more consistent with his general
+character;--but I will not raise objections against any one's conduct
+on so illiberal a foundation, as a difference in judgment from myself,
+or a deviation from what I may think right and consistent."
+
+"You speak very properly.  Willoughby certainly does not deserve to be
+suspected.  Though WE have not known him long, he is no stranger in
+this part of the world; and who has ever spoken to his disadvantage?
+Had he been in a situation to act independently and marry immediately,
+it might have been odd that he should leave us without acknowledging
+everything to me at once: but this is not the case.  It is an
+engagement in some respects not prosperously begun, for their marriage
+must be at a very uncertain distance; and even secrecy, as far as it
+can be observed, may now be very advisable."
+
+They were interrupted by the entrance of Margaret; and Elinor was then
+at liberty to think over the representations of her mother, to
+acknowledge the probability of many, and hope for the justice of all.
+
+They saw nothing of Marianne till dinner time, when she entered the
+room and took her place at the table without saying a word.  Her eyes
+were red and swollen; and it seemed as if her tears were even then
+restrained with difficulty.  She avoided the looks of them all, could
+neither eat nor speak, and after some time, on her mother's silently
+pressing her hand with tender compassion, her small degree of fortitude
+was quite overcome, she burst into tears and left the room.
+
+This violent oppression of spirits continued the whole evening.  She
+was without any power, because she was without any desire of command
+over herself.  The slightest mention of anything relative to Willoughby
+overpowered her in an instant; and though her family were most
+anxiously attentive to her comfort, it was impossible for them, if they
+spoke at all, to keep clear of every subject which her feelings
+connected with him.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 16
+
+
+Marianne would have thought herself very inexcusable had she been able
+to sleep at all the first night after parting from Willoughby.  She
+would have been ashamed to look her family in the face the next
+morning, had she not risen from her bed in more need of repose than
+when she lay down in it.  But the feelings which made such composure a
+disgrace, left her in no danger of incurring it.  She was awake the
+whole night, and she wept the greatest part of it.  She got up with a
+headache, was unable to talk, and unwilling to take any nourishment;
+giving pain every moment to her mother and sisters, and forbidding all
+attempt at consolation from either.  Her sensibility was potent enough!
+
+When breakfast was over she walked out by herself, and wandered about
+the village of Allenham, indulging the recollection of past enjoyment
+and crying over the present reverse for the chief of the morning.
+
+The evening passed off in the equal indulgence of feeling.  She played
+over every favourite song that she had been used to play to Willoughby,
+every air in which their voices had been oftenest joined, and sat at
+the instrument gazing on every line of music that he had written out
+for her, till her heart was so heavy that no farther sadness could be
+gained; and this nourishment of grief was every day applied.  She spent
+whole hours at the pianoforte alternately singing and crying; her voice
+often totally suspended by her tears.  In books too, as well as in
+music, she courted the misery which a contrast between the past and
+present was certain of giving.  She read nothing but what they had been
+used to read together.
+
+Such violence of affliction indeed could not be supported for ever; it
+sunk within a few days into a calmer melancholy; but these employments,
+to which she daily recurred, her solitary walks and silent meditations,
+still produced occasional effusions of sorrow as lively as ever.
+
+No letter from Willoughby came; and none seemed expected by Marianne.
+Her mother was surprised, and Elinor again became uneasy.  But Mrs.
+Dashwood could find explanations whenever she wanted them, which at
+least satisfied herself.
+
+"Remember, Elinor," said she, "how very often Sir John fetches our
+letters himself from the post, and carries them to it.  We have already
+agreed that secrecy may be necessary, and we must acknowledge that it
+could not be maintained if their correspondence were to pass through
+Sir John's hands."
+
+Elinor could not deny the truth of this, and she tried to find in it a
+motive sufficient for their silence.  But there was one method so
+direct, so simple, and in her opinion so eligible of knowing the real
+state of the affair, and of instantly removing all mystery, that she
+could not help suggesting it to her mother.
+
+"Why do you not ask Marianne at once," said she, "whether she is or she
+is not engaged to Willoughby?  From you, her mother, and so kind, so
+indulgent a mother, the question could not give offence.  It would be
+the natural result of your affection for her.  She used to be all
+unreserve, and to you more especially."
+
+"I would not ask such a question for the world.  Supposing it possible
+that they are not engaged, what distress would not such an enquiry
+inflict!  At any rate it would be most ungenerous.  I should never
+deserve her confidence again, after forcing from her a confession of
+what is meant at present to be unacknowledged to any one.  I know
+Marianne's heart: I know that she dearly loves me, and that I shall not
+be the last to whom the affair is made known, when circumstances make
+the revealment of it eligible.  I would not attempt to force the
+confidence of any one; of a child much less; because a sense of duty
+would prevent the denial which her wishes might direct."
+
+Elinor thought this generosity overstrained, considering her sister's
+youth, and urged the matter farther, but in vain; common sense, common
+care, common prudence, were all sunk in Mrs. Dashwood's romantic
+delicacy.
+
+It was several days before Willoughby's name was mentioned before
+Marianne by any of her family; Sir John and Mrs. Jennings, indeed, were
+not so nice; their witticisms added pain to many a painful hour;--but
+one evening, Mrs. Dashwood, accidentally taking up a volume of
+Shakespeare, exclaimed,
+
+"We have never finished Hamlet, Marianne; our dear Willoughby went away
+before we could get through it.  We will put it by, that when he comes
+again...But it may be months, perhaps, before THAT happens."
+
+"Months!" cried Marianne, with strong surprise.  "No--nor many weeks."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood was sorry for what she had said; but it gave Elinor
+pleasure, as it produced a reply from Marianne so expressive of
+confidence in Willoughby and knowledge of his intentions.
+
+One morning, about a week after his leaving the country, Marianne was
+prevailed on to join her sisters in their usual walk, instead of
+wandering away by herself.  Hitherto she had carefully avoided every
+companion in her rambles.  If her sisters intended to walk on the
+downs, she directly stole away towards the lanes; if they talked of the
+valley, she was as speedy in climbing the hills, and could never be
+found when the others set off.  But at length she was secured by the
+exertions of Elinor, who greatly disapproved such continual seclusion.
+They walked along the road through the valley, and chiefly in silence,
+for Marianne's MIND could not be controlled, and Elinor, satisfied with
+gaining one point, would not then attempt more.  Beyond the entrance of
+the valley, where the country, though still rich, was less wild and
+more open, a long stretch of the road which they had travelled on first
+coming to Barton, lay before them; and on reaching that point, they
+stopped to look around them, and examine a prospect which formed the
+distance of their view from the cottage, from a spot which they had
+never happened to reach in any of their walks before.
+
+Amongst the objects in the scene, they soon discovered an animated one;
+it was a man on horseback riding towards them.  In a few minutes they
+could distinguish him to be a gentleman; and in a moment afterwards
+Marianne rapturously exclaimed,
+
+"It is he; it is indeed;--I know it is!"--and was hastening to meet
+him, when Elinor cried out,
+
+"Indeed, Marianne, I think you are mistaken.  It is not Willoughby.
+The person is not tall enough for him, and has not his air."
+
+"He has, he has," cried Marianne, "I am sure he has.  His air, his
+coat, his horse.  I knew how soon he would come."
+
+She walked eagerly on as she spoke; and Elinor, to screen Marianne from
+particularity, as she felt almost certain of its not being Willoughby,
+quickened her pace and kept up with her.  They were soon within thirty
+yards of the gentleman.  Marianne looked again; her heart sunk within
+her; and abruptly turning round, she was hurrying back, when the voices
+of both her sisters were raised to detain her; a third, almost as well
+known as Willoughby's, joined them in begging her to stop, and she
+turned round with surprise to see and welcome Edward Ferrars.
+
+He was the only person in the world who could at that moment be
+forgiven for not being Willoughby; the only one who could have gained a
+smile from her; but she dispersed her tears to smile on HIM, and in her
+sister's happiness forgot for a time her own disappointment.
+
+He dismounted, and giving his horse to his servant, walked back with
+them to Barton, whither he was purposely coming to visit them.
+
+He was welcomed by them all with great cordiality, but especially by
+Marianne, who showed more warmth of regard in her reception of him than
+even Elinor herself.  To Marianne, indeed, the meeting between Edward
+and her sister was but a continuation of that unaccountable coldness
+which she had often observed at Norland in their mutual behaviour.  On
+Edward's side, more particularly, there was a deficiency of all that a
+lover ought to look and say on such an occasion.  He was confused,
+seemed scarcely sensible of pleasure in seeing them, looked neither
+rapturous nor gay, said little but what was forced from him by
+questions, and distinguished Elinor by no mark of affection.  Marianne
+saw and listened with increasing surprise.  She began almost to feel a
+dislike of Edward; and it ended, as every feeling must end with her, by
+carrying back her thoughts to Willoughby, whose manners formed a
+contrast sufficiently striking to those of his brother elect.
+
+After a short silence which succeeded the first surprise and enquiries
+of meeting, Marianne asked Edward if he came directly from London.  No,
+he had been in Devonshire a fortnight.
+
+"A fortnight!" she repeated, surprised at his being so long in the same
+county with Elinor without seeing her before.
+
+He looked rather distressed as he added, that he had been staying with
+some friends near Plymouth.
+
+"Have you been lately in Sussex?" said Elinor.
+
+"I was at Norland about a month ago."
+
+"And how does dear, dear Norland look?" cried Marianne.
+
+"Dear, dear Norland," said Elinor, "probably looks much as it always
+does at this time of the year.  The woods and walks thickly covered
+with dead leaves."
+
+"Oh," cried Marianne, "with what transporting sensation have I formerly
+seen them fall!  How have I delighted, as I walked, to see them driven
+in showers about me by the wind!  What feelings have they, the season,
+the air altogether inspired!  Now there is no one to regard them.  They
+are seen only as a nuisance, swept hastily off, and driven as much as
+possible from the sight."
+
+"It is not every one," said Elinor, "who has your passion for dead
+leaves."
+
+"No; my feelings are not often shared, not often understood.  But
+SOMETIMES they are."--As she said this, she sunk into a reverie for a
+few moments;--but rousing herself again, "Now, Edward," said she,
+calling his attention to the prospect, "here is Barton valley.  Look up
+to it, and be tranquil if you can.  Look at those hills!  Did you ever
+see their equals?  To the left is Barton park, amongst those woods and
+plantations.  You may see the end of the house.  And there, beneath
+that farthest hill, which rises with such grandeur, is our cottage."
+
+"It is a beautiful country," he replied; "but these bottoms must be
+dirty in winter."
+
+"How can you think of dirt, with such objects before you?"
+
+"Because," replied he, smiling, "among the rest of the objects before
+me, I see a very dirty lane."
+
+"How strange!" said Marianne to herself as she walked on.
+
+"Have you an agreeable neighbourhood here?  Are the Middletons pleasant
+people?"
+
+"No, not all," answered Marianne; "we could not be more unfortunately
+situated."
+
+"Marianne," cried her sister, "how can you say so? How can you be so
+unjust?  They are a very respectable family, Mr. Ferrars; and towards
+us have behaved in the friendliest manner.  Have you forgot, Marianne,
+how many pleasant days we have owed to them?"
+
+"No," said Marianne, in a low voice, "nor how many painful moments."
+
+Elinor took no notice of this; and directing her attention to their
+visitor, endeavoured to support something like discourse with him, by
+talking of their present residence, its conveniences, &c. extorting
+from him occasional questions and remarks.  His coldness and reserve
+mortified her severely; she was vexed and half angry; but resolving to
+regulate her behaviour to him by the past rather than the present, she
+avoided every appearance of resentment or displeasure, and treated him
+as she thought he ought to be treated from the family connection.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 17
+
+
+Mrs. Dashwood was surprised only for a moment at seeing him; for his
+coming to Barton was, in her opinion, of all things the most natural.
+Her joy and expression of regard long outlived her wonder.  He received
+the kindest welcome from her; and shyness, coldness, reserve could not
+stand against such a reception.  They had begun to fail him before he
+entered the house, and they were quite overcome by the captivating
+manners of Mrs. Dashwood.  Indeed a man could not very well be in love
+with either of her daughters, without extending the passion to her; and
+Elinor had the satisfaction of seeing him soon become more like
+himself.  His affections seemed to reanimate towards them all, and his
+interest in their welfare again became perceptible.  He was not in
+spirits, however; he praised their house, admired its prospect, was
+attentive, and kind; but still he was not in spirits.  The whole family
+perceived it, and Mrs. Dashwood, attributing it to some want of
+liberality in his mother, sat down to table indignant against all
+selfish parents.
+
+"What are Mrs. Ferrars's views for you at present, Edward?" said she,
+when dinner was over and they had drawn round the fire; "are you still
+to be a great orator in spite of yourself?"
+
+"No. I hope my mother is now convinced that I have no more talents than
+inclination for a public life!"
+
+"But how is your fame to be established? for famous you must be to
+satisfy all your family; and with no inclination for expense, no
+affection for strangers, no profession, and no assurance, you may find
+it a difficult matter."
+
+"I shall not attempt it.  I have no wish to be distinguished; and have
+every reason to hope I never shall.  Thank Heaven! I cannot be forced
+into genius and eloquence."
+
+"You have no ambition, I well know.  Your wishes are all moderate."
+
+"As moderate as those of the rest of the world, I believe.  I wish as
+well as every body else to be perfectly happy; but, like every body
+else it must be in my own way.  Greatness will not make me so."
+
+"Strange that it would!" cried Marianne.  "What have wealth or grandeur
+to do with happiness?"
+
+"Grandeur has but little," said Elinor, "but wealth has much to do with
+it."
+
+"Elinor, for shame!" said Marianne, "money can only give happiness
+where there is nothing else to give it.  Beyond a competence, it can
+afford no real satisfaction, as far as mere self is concerned."
+
+"Perhaps," said Elinor, smiling, "we may come to the same point.  YOUR
+competence and MY wealth are very much alike, I dare say; and without
+them, as the world goes now, we shall both agree that every kind of
+external comfort must be wanting.  Your ideas are only more noble than
+mine.  Come, what is your competence?"
+
+"About eighteen hundred or two thousand a year; not more than THAT."
+
+Elinor laughed.  "TWO thousand a year! ONE is my wealth! I guessed how
+it would end."
+
+"And yet two thousand a-year is a very moderate income," said Marianne.
+"A family cannot well be maintained on a smaller.  I am sure I am not
+extravagant in my demands.  A proper establishment of servants, a
+carriage, perhaps two, and hunters, cannot be supported on less."
+
+Elinor smiled again, to hear her sister describing so accurately their
+future expenses at Combe Magna.
+
+"Hunters!" repeated Edward--"but why must you have hunters?  Every body
+does not hunt."
+
+Marianne coloured as she replied, "But most people do."
+
+"I wish," said Margaret, striking out a novel thought, "that somebody
+would give us all a large fortune apiece!"
+
+"Oh that they would!" cried Marianne, her eyes sparkling with
+animation, and her cheeks glowing with the delight of such imaginary
+happiness.
+
+"We are all unanimous in that wish, I suppose," said Elinor, "in spite
+of the insufficiency of wealth."
+
+"Oh dear!" cried Margaret, "how happy I should be!  I wonder what I
+should do with it!"
+
+Marianne looked as if she had no doubt on that point.
+
+"I should be puzzled to spend so large a fortune myself," said Mrs.
+Dashwood, "if my children were all to be rich without my help."
+
+"You must begin your improvements on this house," observed Elinor, "and
+your difficulties will soon vanish."
+
+"What magnificent orders would travel from this family to London," said
+Edward, "in such an event!  What a happy day for booksellers,
+music-sellers, and print-shops!  You, Miss Dashwood, would give a
+general commission for every new print of merit to be sent you--and as
+for Marianne, I know her greatness of soul, there would not be music
+enough in London to content her.  And books!--Thomson, Cowper,
+Scott--she would buy them all over and over again: she would buy up
+every copy, I believe, to prevent their falling into unworthy hands;
+and she would have every book that tells her how to admire an old
+twisted tree.  Should not you, Marianne?  Forgive me, if I am very
+saucy.  But I was willing to shew you that I had not forgot our old
+disputes."
+
+"I love to be reminded of the past, Edward--whether it be melancholy or
+gay, I love to recall it--and you will never offend me by talking of
+former times.  You are very right in supposing how my money would be
+spent--some of it, at least--my loose cash would certainly be employed
+in improving my collection of music and books."
+
+"And the bulk of your fortune would be laid out in annuities on the
+authors or their heirs."
+
+"No, Edward, I should have something else to do with it."
+
+"Perhaps, then, you would bestow it as a reward on that person who
+wrote the ablest defence of your favourite maxim, that no one can ever
+be in love more than once in their life--your opinion on that point is
+unchanged, I presume?"
+
+"Undoubtedly. At my time of life opinions are tolerably fixed.  It is
+not likely that I should now see or hear any thing to change them."
+
+"Marianne is as steadfast as ever, you see," said Elinor, "she is not
+at all altered."
+
+"She is only grown a little more grave than she was."
+
+"Nay, Edward," said Marianne, "you need not reproach me.  You are not
+very gay yourself."
+
+"Why should you think so!" replied he, with a sigh.  "But gaiety never
+was a part of MY character."
+
+"Nor do I think it a part of Marianne's," said Elinor; "I should hardly
+call her a lively girl--she is very earnest, very eager in all she
+does--sometimes talks a great deal and always with animation--but she
+is not often really merry."
+
+"I believe you are right," he replied, "and yet I have always set her
+down as a lively girl."
+
+"I have frequently detected myself in such kind of mistakes," said
+Elinor, "in a total misapprehension of character in some point or
+other: fancying people so much more gay or grave, or ingenious or
+stupid than they really are, and I can hardly tell why or in what the
+deception originated.  Sometimes one is guided by what they say of
+themselves, and very frequently by what other people say of them,
+without giving oneself time to deliberate and judge."
+
+"But I thought it was right, Elinor," said Marianne, "to be guided
+wholly by the opinion of other people.  I thought our judgments were
+given us merely to be subservient to those of neighbours.  This has
+always been your doctrine, I am sure."
+
+"No, Marianne, never.  My doctrine has never aimed at the subjection of
+the understanding.  All I have ever attempted to influence has been the
+behaviour.  You must not confound my meaning.  I am guilty, I confess,
+of having often wished you to treat our acquaintance in general with
+greater attention; but when have I advised you to adopt their
+sentiments or to conform to their judgment in serious matters?"
+
+"You have not been able to bring your sister over to your plan of
+general civility," said Edward to Elinor.  "Do you gain no ground?"
+
+"Quite the contrary," replied Elinor, looking expressively at Marianne.
+
+"My judgment," he returned, "is all on your side of the question; but I
+am afraid my practice is much more on your sister's.  I never wish to
+offend, but I am so foolishly shy, that I often seem negligent, when I
+am only kept back by my natural awkwardness.  I have frequently thought
+that I must have been intended by nature to be fond of low company, I
+am so little at my ease among strangers of gentility!"
+
+"Marianne has not shyness to excuse any inattention of hers," said
+Elinor.
+
+"She knows her own worth too well for false shame," replied Edward.
+"Shyness is only the effect of a sense of inferiority in some way or
+other.  If I could persuade myself that my manners were perfectly easy
+and graceful, I should not be shy."
+
+"But you would still be reserved," said Marianne, "and that is worse."
+
+Edward started--"Reserved! Am I reserved, Marianne?"
+
+"Yes, very."
+
+"I do not understand you," replied he, colouring.  "Reserved!--how, in
+what manner?  What am I to tell you?  What can you suppose?"
+
+Elinor looked surprised at his emotion; but trying to laugh off the
+subject, she said to him, "Do not you know my sister well enough to
+understand what she means?  Do not you know she calls every one
+reserved who does not talk as fast, and admire what she admires as
+rapturously as herself?"
+
+Edward made no answer.  His gravity and thoughtfulness returned on him
+in their fullest extent--and he sat for some time silent and dull.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 18
+
+
+Elinor saw, with great uneasiness the low spirits of her friend.  His
+visit afforded her but a very partial satisfaction, while his own
+enjoyment in it appeared so imperfect.  It was evident that he was
+unhappy; she wished it were equally evident that he still distinguished
+her by the same affection which once she had felt no doubt of
+inspiring; but hitherto the continuance of his preference seemed very
+uncertain; and the reservedness of his manner towards her contradicted
+one moment what a more animated look had intimated the preceding one.
+
+He joined her and Marianne in the breakfast-room the next morning
+before the others were down; and Marianne, who was always eager to
+promote their happiness as far as she could, soon left them to
+themselves.  But before she was half way upstairs she heard the parlour
+door open, and, turning round, was astonished to see Edward himself
+come out.
+
+"I am going into the village to see my horses," said he, "as you are
+not yet ready for breakfast; I shall be back again presently."
+
+                    ***
+
+Edward returned to them with fresh admiration of the surrounding
+country; in his walk to the village, he had seen many parts of the
+valley to advantage; and the village itself, in a much higher situation
+than the cottage, afforded a general view of the whole, which had
+exceedingly pleased him.  This was a subject which ensured Marianne's
+attention, and she was beginning to describe her own admiration of
+these scenes, and to question him more minutely on the objects that had
+particularly struck him, when Edward interrupted her by saying, "You
+must not enquire too far, Marianne--remember I have no knowledge in the
+picturesque, and I shall offend you by my ignorance and want of taste
+if we come to particulars.  I shall call hills steep, which ought to be
+bold; surfaces strange and uncouth, which ought to be irregular and
+rugged; and distant objects out of sight, which ought only to be
+indistinct through the soft medium of a hazy atmosphere.  You must be
+satisfied with such admiration as I can honestly give.  I call it a
+very fine country--the hills are steep, the woods seem full of fine
+timber, and the valley looks comfortable and snug--with rich meadows
+and several neat farm houses scattered here and there.  It exactly
+answers my idea of a fine country, because it unites beauty with
+utility--and I dare say it is a picturesque one too, because you admire
+it; I can easily believe it to be full of rocks and promontories, grey
+moss and brush wood, but these are all lost on me.  I know nothing of
+the picturesque."
+
+"I am afraid it is but too true," said Marianne; "but why should you
+boast of it?"
+
+"I suspect," said Elinor, "that to avoid one kind of affectation,
+Edward here falls into another.  Because he believes many people
+pretend to more admiration of the beauties of nature than they really
+feel, and is disgusted with such pretensions, he affects greater
+indifference and less discrimination in viewing them himself than he
+possesses.  He is fastidious and will have an affectation of his own."
+
+"It is very true," said Marianne, "that admiration of landscape scenery
+is become a mere jargon.  Every body pretends to feel and tries to
+describe with the taste and elegance of him who first defined what
+picturesque beauty was.  I detest jargon of every kind, and sometimes I
+have kept my feelings to myself, because I could find no language to
+describe them in but what was worn and hackneyed out of all sense and
+meaning."
+
+"I am convinced," said Edward, "that you really feel all the delight in
+a fine prospect which you profess to feel.  But, in return, your sister
+must allow me to feel no more than I profess.  I like a fine prospect,
+but not on picturesque principles.  I do not like crooked, twisted,
+blasted trees.  I admire them much more if they are tall, straight, and
+flourishing.  I do not like ruined, tattered cottages.  I am not fond
+of nettles or thistles, or heath blossoms.  I have more pleasure in a
+snug farm-house than a watch-tower--and a troop of tidy, happy villages
+please me better than the finest banditti in the world."
+
+Marianne looked with amazement at Edward, with compassion at her
+sister.  Elinor only laughed.
+
+The subject was continued no farther; and Marianne remained
+thoughtfully silent, till a new object suddenly engaged her attention.
+She was sitting by Edward, and in taking his tea from Mrs. Dashwood,
+his hand passed so directly before her, as to make a ring, with a plait
+of hair in the centre, very conspicuous on one of his fingers.
+
+"I never saw you wear a ring before, Edward," she cried.  "Is that
+Fanny's hair? I remember her promising to give you some.  But I should
+have thought her hair had been darker."
+
+Marianne spoke inconsiderately what she really felt--but when she saw
+how much she had pained Edward, her own vexation at her want of thought
+could not be surpassed by his.  He coloured very deeply, and giving a
+momentary glance at Elinor, replied, "Yes; it is my sister's hair.  The
+setting always casts a different shade on it, you know."
+
+Elinor had met his eye, and looked conscious likewise.  That the hair
+was her own, she instantaneously felt as well satisfied as Marianne;
+the only difference in their conclusions was, that what Marianne
+considered as a free gift from her sister, Elinor was conscious must
+have been procured by some theft or contrivance unknown to herself.
+She was not in a humour, however, to regard it as an affront, and
+affecting to take no notice of what passed, by instantly talking of
+something else, she internally resolved henceforward to catch every
+opportunity of eyeing the hair and of satisfying herself, beyond all
+doubt, that it was exactly the shade of her own.
+
+Edward's embarrassment lasted some time, and it ended in an absence of
+mind still more settled.  He was particularly grave the whole morning.
+Marianne severely censured herself for what she had said; but her own
+forgiveness might have been more speedy, had she known how little
+offence it had given her sister.
+
+Before the middle of the day, they were visited by Sir John and Mrs.
+Jennings, who, having heard of the arrival of a gentleman at the
+cottage, came to take a survey of the guest.  With the assistance of
+his mother-in-law, Sir John was not long in discovering that the name
+of Ferrars began with an F. and this prepared a future mine of raillery
+against the devoted Elinor, which nothing but the newness of their
+acquaintance with Edward could have prevented from being immediately
+sprung.  But, as it was, she only learned, from some very significant
+looks, how far their penetration, founded on Margaret's instructions,
+extended.
+
+Sir John never came to the Dashwoods without either inviting them to
+dine at the park the next day, or to drink tea with them that evening.
+On the present occasion, for the better entertainment of their visitor,
+towards whose amusement he felt himself bound to contribute, he wished
+to engage them for both.
+
+"You MUST drink tea with us to night," said he, "for we shall be quite
+alone--and tomorrow you must absolutely dine with us, for we shall be a
+large party."
+
+Mrs. Jennings enforced the necessity.  "And who knows but you may raise
+a dance," said she.  "And that will tempt YOU, Miss Marianne."
+
+"A dance!" cried Marianne.  "Impossible! Who is to dance?"
+
+"Who! why yourselves, and the Careys, and Whitakers to be sure.--What!
+you thought nobody could dance because a certain person that shall be
+nameless is gone!"
+
+"I wish with all my soul," cried Sir John, "that Willoughby were among
+us again."
+
+This, and Marianne's blushing, gave new suspicions to Edward.  "And who
+is Willoughby?" said he, in a low voice, to Miss Dashwood, by whom he
+was sitting.
+
+She gave him a brief reply.  Marianne's countenance was more
+communicative.  Edward saw enough to comprehend, not only the meaning
+of others, but such of Marianne's expressions as had puzzled him
+before; and when their visitors left them, he went immediately round
+her, and said, in a whisper, "I have been guessing.  Shall I tell you
+my guess?"
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Shall I tell you."
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"Well then; I guess that Mr. Willoughby hunts."
+
+Marianne was surprised and confused, yet she could not help smiling at
+the quiet archness of his manner, and after a moment's silence, said,
+
+"Oh, Edward! How can you?--But the time will come I hope...I am sure
+you will like him."
+
+"I do not doubt it," replied he, rather astonished at her earnestness
+and warmth; for had he not imagined it to be a joke for the good of her
+acquaintance in general, founded only on a something or a nothing
+between Mr. Willoughby and herself, he would not have ventured to
+mention it.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 19
+
+
+Edward remained a week at the cottage; he was earnestly pressed by Mrs.
+Dashwood to stay longer; but, as if he were bent only on
+self-mortification, he seemed resolved to be gone when his enjoyment
+among his friends was at the height.  His spirits, during the last two
+or three days, though still very unequal, were greatly improved--he
+grew more and more partial to the house and environs--never spoke of
+going away without a sigh--declared his time to be wholly
+disengaged--even doubted to what place he should go when he left
+them--but still, go he must.  Never had any week passed so quickly--he
+could hardly believe it to be gone.  He said so repeatedly; other
+things he said too, which marked the turn of his feelings and gave the
+lie to his actions.  He had no pleasure at Norland; he detested being
+in town; but either to Norland or London, he must go.  He valued their
+kindness beyond any thing, and his greatest happiness was in being with
+them.  Yet, he must leave them at the end of a week, in spite of their
+wishes and his own, and without any restraint on his time.
+
+Elinor placed all that was astonishing in this way of acting to his
+mother's account; and it was happy for her that he had a mother whose
+character was so imperfectly known to her, as to be the general excuse
+for every thing strange on the part of her son.  Disappointed, however,
+and vexed as she was, and sometimes displeased with his uncertain
+behaviour to herself, she was very well disposed on the whole to regard
+his actions with all the candid allowances and generous qualifications,
+which had been rather more painfully extorted from her, for
+Willoughby's service, by her mother.  His want of spirits, of openness,
+and of consistency, were most usually attributed to his want of
+independence, and his better knowledge of Mrs. Ferrars's disposition
+and designs.  The shortness of his visit, the steadiness of his purpose
+in leaving them, originated in the same fettered inclination, the same
+inevitable necessity of temporizing with his mother.  The old
+well-established grievance of duty against will, parent against child,
+was the cause of all.  She would have been glad to know when these
+difficulties were to cease, this opposition was to yield,--when Mrs.
+Ferrars would be reformed, and her son be at liberty to be happy.  But
+from such vain wishes she was forced to turn for comfort to the renewal
+of her confidence in Edward's affection, to the remembrance of every
+mark of regard in look or word which fell from him while at Barton, and
+above all to that flattering proof of it which he constantly wore round
+his finger.
+
+"I think, Edward," said Mrs. Dashwood, as they were at breakfast the
+last morning, "you would be a happier man if you had any profession to
+engage your time and give an interest to your plans and actions.  Some
+inconvenience to your friends, indeed, might result from it--you would
+not be able to give them so much of your time.  But (with a smile) you
+would be materially benefited in one particular at least--you would
+know where to go when you left them."
+
+"I do assure you," he replied, "that I have long thought on this point,
+as you think now.  It has been, and is, and probably will always be a
+heavy misfortune to me, that I have had no necessary business to engage
+me, no profession to give me employment, or afford me any thing like
+independence.  But unfortunately my own nicety, and the nicety of my
+friends, have made me what I am, an idle, helpless being.  We never
+could agree in our choice of a profession.  I always preferred the
+church, as I still do.  But that was not smart enough for my family.
+They recommended the army.  That was a great deal too smart for me.
+The law was allowed to be genteel enough; many young men, who had
+chambers in the Temple, made a very good appearance in the first
+circles, and drove about town in very knowing gigs.  But I had no
+inclination for the law, even in this less abstruse study of it, which
+my family approved.  As for the navy, it had fashion on its side, but I
+was too old when the subject was first started to enter it--and, at
+length, as there was no necessity for my having any profession at all,
+as I might be as dashing and expensive without a red coat on my back as
+with one, idleness was pronounced on the whole to be most advantageous
+and honourable, and a young man of eighteen is not in general so
+earnestly bent on being busy as to resist the solicitations of his
+friends to do nothing.  I was therefore entered at Oxford and have been
+properly idle ever since."
+
+"The consequence of which, I suppose, will be," said Mrs. Dashwood,
+"since leisure has not promoted your own happiness, that your sons will
+be brought up to as many pursuits, employments, professions, and trades
+as Columella's."
+
+"They will be brought up," said he, in a serious accent, "to be as
+unlike myself as is possible.  In feeling, in action, in condition, in
+every thing."
+
+"Come, come; this is all an effusion of immediate want of spirits,
+Edward.  You are in a melancholy humour, and fancy that any one unlike
+yourself must be happy.  But remember that the pain of parting from
+friends will be felt by every body at times, whatever be their
+education or state.  Know your own happiness.  You want nothing but
+patience--or give it a more fascinating name, call it hope.  Your
+mother will secure to you, in time, that independence you are so
+anxious for; it is her duty, and it will, it must ere long become her
+happiness to prevent your whole youth from being wasted in discontent.
+How much may not a few months do?"
+
+"I think," replied Edward, "that I may defy many months to produce any
+good to me."
+
+This desponding turn of mind, though it could not be communicated to
+Mrs. Dashwood, gave additional pain to them all in the parting, which
+shortly took place, and left an uncomfortable impression on Elinor's
+feelings especially, which required some trouble and time to subdue.
+But as it was her determination to subdue it, and to prevent herself
+from appearing to suffer more than what all her family suffered on his
+going away, she did not adopt the method so judiciously employed by
+Marianne, on a similar occasion, to augment and fix her sorrow, by
+seeking silence, solitude and idleness.  Their means were as different
+as their objects, and equally suited to the advancement of each.
+
+Elinor sat down to her drawing-table as soon as he was out of the
+house, busily employed herself the whole day, neither sought nor
+avoided the mention of his name, appeared to interest herself almost as
+much as ever in the general concerns of the family, and if, by this
+conduct, she did not lessen her own grief, it was at least prevented
+from unnecessary increase, and her mother and sisters were spared much
+solicitude on her account.
+
+Such behaviour as this, so exactly the reverse of her own, appeared no
+more meritorious to Marianne, than her own had seemed faulty to her.
+The business of self-command she settled very easily;--with strong
+affections it was impossible, with calm ones it could have no merit.
+That her sister's affections WERE calm, she dared not deny, though she
+blushed to acknowledge it; and of the strength of her own, she gave a
+very striking proof, by still loving and respecting that sister, in
+spite of this mortifying conviction.
+
+Without shutting herself up from her family, or leaving the house in
+determined solitude to avoid them, or lying awake the whole night to
+indulge meditation, Elinor found every day afforded her leisure enough
+to think of Edward, and of Edward's behaviour, in every possible
+variety which the different state of her spirits at different times
+could produce,--with tenderness, pity, approbation, censure, and doubt.
+There were moments in abundance, when, if not by the absence of her
+mother and sisters, at least by the nature of their employments,
+conversation was forbidden among them, and every effect of solitude was
+produced.  Her mind was inevitably at liberty; her thoughts could not
+be chained elsewhere; and the past and the future, on a subject so
+interesting, must be before her, must force her attention, and engross
+her memory, her reflection, and her fancy.
+
+From a reverie of this kind, as she sat at her drawing-table, she was
+roused one morning, soon after Edward's leaving them, by the arrival of
+company.  She happened to be quite alone.  The closing of the little
+gate, at the entrance of the green court in front of the house, drew
+her eyes to the window, and she saw a large party walking up to the
+door.  Amongst them were Sir John and Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings,
+but there were two others, a gentleman and lady, who were quite unknown
+to her.  She was sitting near the window, and as soon as Sir John
+perceived her, he left the rest of the party to the ceremony of
+knocking at the door, and stepping across the turf, obliged her to open
+the casement to speak to him, though the space was so short between the
+door and the window, as to make it hardly possible to speak at one
+without being heard at the other.
+
+"Well," said he, "we have brought you some strangers.  How do you like
+them?"
+
+"Hush! they will hear you."
+
+"Never mind if they do.  It is only the Palmers.  Charlotte is very
+pretty, I can tell you.  You may see her if you look this way."
+
+As Elinor was certain of seeing her in a couple of minutes, without
+taking that liberty, she begged to be excused.
+
+"Where is Marianne? Has she run away because we are come? I see her
+instrument is open."
+
+"She is walking, I believe."
+
+They were now joined by Mrs. Jennings, who had not patience enough to
+wait till the door was opened before she told HER story.  She came
+hallooing to the window, "How do you do, my dear?  How does Mrs.
+Dashwood do?  And where are your sisters?  What! all alone! you will be
+glad of a little company to sit with you.  I have brought my other son
+and daughter to see you.  Only think of their coming so suddenly!  I
+thought I heard a carriage last night, while we were drinking our tea,
+but it never entered my head that it could be them.  I thought of
+nothing but whether it might not be Colonel Brandon come back again; so
+I said to Sir John, I do think I hear a carriage; perhaps it is Colonel
+Brandon come back again"--
+
+Elinor was obliged to turn from her, in the middle of her story, to
+receive the rest of the party; Lady Middleton introduced the two
+strangers; Mrs. Dashwood and Margaret came down stairs at the same
+time, and they all sat down to look at one another, while Mrs. Jennings
+continued her story as she walked through the passage into the parlour,
+attended by Sir John.
+
+Mrs. Palmer was several years younger than Lady Middleton, and totally
+unlike her in every respect.  She was short and plump, had a very
+pretty face, and the finest expression of good humour in it that could
+possibly be.  Her manners were by no means so elegant as her sister's,
+but they were much more prepossessing.  She came in with a smile,
+smiled all the time of her visit, except when she laughed, and smiled
+when she went away.  Her husband was a grave looking young man of five
+or six and twenty, with an air of more fashion and sense than his wife,
+but of less willingness to please or be pleased.  He entered the room
+with a look of self-consequence, slightly bowed to the ladies, without
+speaking a word, and, after briefly surveying them and their
+apartments, took up a newspaper from the table, and continued to read
+it as long as he staid.
+
+Mrs. Palmer, on the contrary, who was strongly endowed by nature with a
+turn for being uniformly civil and happy, was hardly seated before her
+admiration of the parlour and every thing in it burst forth.
+
+"Well! what a delightful room this is! I never saw anything so
+charming!  Only think, Mama, how it is improved since I was here last!
+I always thought it such a sweet place, ma'am! (turning to Mrs.
+Dashwood) but you have made it so charming!  Only look, sister, how
+delightful every thing is! How I should like such a house for myself!
+Should not you, Mr. Palmer?"
+
+Mr. Palmer made her no answer, and did not even raise his eyes from the
+newspaper.
+
+"Mr. Palmer does not hear me," said she, laughing; "he never does
+sometimes.  It is so ridiculous!"
+
+This was quite a new idea to Mrs. Dashwood; she had never been used to
+find wit in the inattention of any one, and could not help looking with
+surprise at them both.
+
+Mrs. Jennings, in the meantime, talked on as loud as she could, and
+continued her account of their surprise, the evening before, on seeing
+their friends, without ceasing till every thing was told.  Mrs. Palmer
+laughed heartily at the recollection of their astonishment, and every
+body agreed, two or three times over, that it had been quite an
+agreeable surprise.
+
+"You may believe how glad we all were to see them," added Mrs.
+Jennings, leaning forward towards Elinor, and speaking in a low voice
+as if she meant to be heard by no one else, though they were seated on
+different sides of the room; "but, however, I can't help wishing they
+had not travelled quite so fast, nor made such a long journey of it,
+for they came all round by London upon account of some business, for
+you know (nodding significantly and pointing to her daughter) it was
+wrong in her situation.  I wanted her to stay at home and rest this
+morning, but she would come with us; she longed so much to see you all!"
+
+Mrs. Palmer laughed, and said it would not do her any harm.
+
+"She expects to be confined in February," continued Mrs. Jennings.
+
+Lady Middleton could no longer endure such a conversation, and
+therefore exerted herself to ask Mr. Palmer if there was any news in
+the paper.
+
+"No, none at all," he replied, and read on.
+
+"Here comes Marianne," cried Sir John.  "Now, Palmer, you shall see a
+monstrous pretty girl."
+
+He immediately went into the passage, opened the front door, and
+ushered her in himself.  Mrs. Jennings asked her, as soon as she
+appeared, if she had not been to Allenham; and Mrs. Palmer laughed so
+heartily at the question, as to show she understood it.  Mr. Palmer
+looked up on her entering the room, stared at her some minutes, and
+then returned to his newspaper.  Mrs. Palmer's eye was now caught by
+the drawings which hung round the room.  She got up to examine them.
+
+"Oh! dear, how beautiful these are!  Well! how delightful!  Do but
+look, mama, how sweet! I declare they are quite charming; I could look
+at them for ever." And then sitting down again, she very soon forgot
+that there were any such things in the room.
+
+When Lady Middleton rose to go away, Mr. Palmer rose also, laid down
+the newspaper, stretched himself and looked at them all around.
+
+"My love, have you been asleep?" said his wife, laughing.
+
+He made her no answer; and only observed, after again examining the
+room, that it was very low pitched, and that the ceiling was crooked.
+He then made his bow, and departed with the rest.
+
+Sir John had been very urgent with them all to spend the next day at
+the park.  Mrs. Dashwood, who did not chuse to dine with them oftener
+than they dined at the cottage, absolutely refused on her own account;
+her daughters might do as they pleased.  But they had no curiosity to
+see how Mr. and Mrs. Palmer ate their dinner, and no expectation of
+pleasure from them in any other way.  They attempted, therefore,
+likewise, to excuse themselves; the weather was uncertain, and not
+likely to be good.  But Sir John would not be satisfied--the carriage
+should be sent for them and they must come.  Lady Middleton too, though
+she did not press their mother, pressed them.  Mrs. Jennings and Mrs.
+Palmer joined their entreaties, all seemed equally anxious to avoid a
+family party; and the young ladies were obliged to yield.
+
+"Why should they ask us?" said Marianne, as soon as they were gone.
+"The rent of this cottage is said to be low; but we have it on very
+hard terms, if we are to dine at the park whenever any one is staying
+either with them, or with us."
+
+"They mean no less to be civil and kind to us now," said Elinor, "by
+these frequent invitations, than by those which we received from them a
+few weeks ago.  The alteration is not in them, if their parties are
+grown tedious and dull.  We must look for the change elsewhere."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 20
+
+
+As the Miss Dashwoods entered the drawing-room of the park the next
+day, at one door, Mrs. Palmer came running in at the other, looking as
+good humoured and merry as before.  She took them all most
+affectionately by the hand, and expressed great delight in seeing them
+again.
+
+"I am so glad to see you!" said she, seating herself between Elinor and
+Marianne, "for it is so bad a day I was afraid you might not come,
+which would be a shocking thing, as we go away again tomorrow. We must
+go, for the Westons come to us next week you know.  It was quite a
+sudden thing our coming at all, and I knew nothing of it till the
+carriage was coming to the door, and then Mr. Palmer asked me if I
+would go with him to Barton.  He is so droll! He never tells me any
+thing! I am so sorry we cannot stay longer; however we shall meet again
+in town very soon, I hope."
+
+They were obliged to put an end to such an expectation.
+
+"Not go to town!" cried Mrs. Palmer, with a laugh, "I shall be quite
+disappointed if you do not.  I could get the nicest house in world for
+you, next door to ours, in Hanover-square.  You must come, indeed.  I
+am sure I shall be very happy to chaperon you at any time till I am
+confined, if Mrs. Dashwood should not like to go into public."
+
+They thanked her; but were obliged to resist all her entreaties.
+
+"Oh, my love," cried Mrs. Palmer to her husband, who just then entered
+the room--"you must help me to persuade the Miss Dashwoods to go to
+town this winter."
+
+Her love made no answer; and after slightly bowing to the ladies, began
+complaining of the weather.
+
+"How horrid all this is!" said he.  "Such weather makes every thing and
+every body disgusting.  Dullness is as much produced within doors as
+without, by rain.  It makes one detest all one's acquaintance.  What
+the devil does Sir John mean by not having a billiard room in his
+house?  How few people know what comfort is!  Sir John is as stupid as
+the weather."
+
+The rest of the company soon dropt in.
+
+"I am afraid, Miss Marianne," said Sir John, "you have not been able to
+take your usual walk to Allenham today."
+
+Marianne looked very grave and said nothing.
+
+"Oh, don't be so sly before us," said Mrs. Palmer; "for we know all
+about it, I assure you; and I admire your taste very much, for I think
+he is extremely handsome.  We do not live a great way from him in the
+country, you know.  Not above ten miles, I dare say."
+
+"Much nearer thirty," said her husband.
+
+"Ah, well! there is not much difference.  I never was at his house; but
+they say it is a sweet pretty place."
+
+"As vile a spot as I ever saw in my life," said Mr. Palmer.
+
+Marianne remained perfectly silent, though her countenance betrayed her
+interest in what was said.
+
+"Is it very ugly?" continued Mrs. Palmer--"then it must be some other
+place that is so pretty I suppose."
+
+When they were seated in the dining room, Sir John observed with regret
+that they were only eight all together.
+
+"My dear," said he to his lady, "it is very provoking that we should be
+so few.  Why did not you ask the Gilberts to come to us today?"
+
+"Did not I tell you, Sir John, when you spoke to me about it before,
+that it could not be done?  They dined with us last."
+
+"You and I, Sir John," said Mrs. Jennings, "should not stand upon such
+ceremony."
+
+"Then you would be very ill-bred," cried Mr. Palmer.
+
+"My love you contradict every body," said his wife with her usual
+laugh.  "Do you know that you are quite rude?"
+
+"I did not know I contradicted any body in calling your mother
+ill-bred."
+
+"Ay, you may abuse me as you please," said the good-natured old lady,
+"you have taken Charlotte off my hands, and cannot give her back again.
+So there I have the whip hand of you."
+
+Charlotte laughed heartily to think that her husband could not get rid
+of her; and exultingly said, she did not care how cross he was to her,
+as they must live together.  It was impossible for any one to be more
+thoroughly good-natured, or more determined to be happy than Mrs.
+Palmer.  The studied indifference, insolence, and discontent of her
+husband gave her no pain; and when he scolded or abused her, she was
+highly diverted.
+
+"Mr. Palmer is so droll!" said she, in a whisper, to Elinor.  "He is
+always out of humour."
+
+Elinor was not inclined, after a little observation, to give him credit
+for being so genuinely and unaffectedly ill-natured or ill-bred as he
+wished to appear.  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.  I am sure you will like it of all
+things.  The Westons will be with us, and it will be quite delightful.
+You cannot think what a sweet place Cleveland is; and we are so gay
+now, for Mr. Palmer is always going about the country canvassing
+against the election; and so many people came to dine with us that I
+never saw before, it is quite charming!  But, poor fellow! it is very
+fatiguing to him! for he is forced to make every body like him."
+
+Elinor could hardly keep her countenance as she assented to the
+hardship of such an obligation.
+
+"How charming it will be," said Charlotte, "when he is in
+Parliament!--won't it? How I shall laugh!  It will be so ridiculous to
+see all his letters directed to him with an M.P.--But do you know, he
+says, he will never frank for me?  He declares he won't.  Don't you,
+Mr. Palmer?"
+
+Mr. Palmer took no notice of her.
+
+"He cannot bear writing, you know," she continued--"he says it is quite
+shocking."
+
+"No," said he, "I never said any thing so irrational.  Don't palm all
+your abuses of languages upon me."
+
+"There now; you see how droll he is.  This is always the way with him!
+Sometimes he won't speak to me for half a day together, and then he
+comes out with something so droll--all about any thing in the world."
+
+She surprised Elinor very much as they returned into the drawing-room,
+by asking her whether she did not like Mr. Palmer excessively.
+
+"Certainly," said Elinor; "he seems very agreeable."
+
+"Well--I am so glad you do.  I thought you would, he is so pleasant;
+and Mr. Palmer is excessively pleased with you and your sisters I can
+tell you, and you can't think how disappointed he will be if you don't
+come to Cleveland.--I can't imagine why you should object to it."
+
+Elinor was again obliged to decline her invitation; and by changing the
+subject, put a stop to her entreaties.  She thought it probable that as
+they lived in the same county, Mrs. Palmer might be able to give some
+more particular account of Willoughby's general character, than could
+be gathered from the Middletons' partial acquaintance with him; and she
+was eager to gain from any one, such a confirmation of his merits as
+might remove the possibility of fear from Marianne.  She began by
+inquiring if they saw much of Mr. Willoughby at Cleveland, and whether
+they were intimately acquainted with him.
+
+"Oh dear, yes; I know him extremely well," replied Mrs. Palmer;--"Not
+that I ever spoke to him, indeed; but I have seen him for ever in town.
+Somehow or other I never happened to be staying at Barton while he was
+at Allenham.  Mama saw him here once before;--but I was with my uncle
+at Weymouth.  However, I dare say we should have seen a great deal of
+him in Somersetshire, if it had not happened very unluckily that we
+should never have been in the country together.  He is very little at
+Combe, I believe; but if he were ever so much there, I do not think Mr.
+Palmer would visit him, for he is in the opposition, you know, and
+besides it is such a way off.  I know why you inquire about him, very
+well; your sister is to marry him.  I am monstrous glad of it, for then
+I shall have her for a neighbour you know."
+
+"Upon my word," replied Elinor, "you know much more of the matter than
+I do, if you have any reason to expect such a match."
+
+"Don't pretend to deny it, because you know it is what every body talks
+of.  I assure you I heard of it in my way through town."
+
+"My dear Mrs. Palmer!"
+
+"Upon my honour I did.--I met Colonel Brandon Monday morning in
+Bond-street, just before we left town, and he told me of it directly."
+
+"You surprise me very much.  Colonel Brandon tell you of it!  Surely
+you must be mistaken.  To give such intelligence to a person who could
+not be interested in it, even if it were true, is not what I should
+expect Colonel Brandon to do."
+
+"But I do assure you it was so, for all that, and I will tell you how
+it happened.  When we met him, he turned back and walked with us; and
+so we began talking of my brother and sister, and one thing and
+another, and I said to him, 'So, Colonel, there is a new family come to
+Barton cottage, I hear, and mama sends me word they are very pretty,
+and that one of them is going to be married to Mr. Willoughby of Combe
+Magna.  Is it true, pray? for of course you must know, as you have been
+in Devonshire so lately.'"
+
+"And what did the Colonel say?"
+
+"Oh--he did not say much; but he looked as if he knew it to be true, so
+from that moment I set it down as certain.  It will be quite
+delightful, I declare!  When is it to take place?"
+
+"Mr. Brandon was very well I hope?"
+
+"Oh! yes, quite well; and so full of your praises, he did nothing but
+say fine things of you."
+
+"I am flattered by his commendation.  He seems an excellent man; and I
+think him uncommonly pleasing."
+
+"So do I.--He is such a charming man, that it is quite a pity he should
+be so grave and so dull.  Mama says HE was in love with your sister
+too.-- I assure you it was a great compliment if he was, for he hardly
+ever falls in love with any body."
+
+"Is Mr. Willoughby much known in your part of Somersetshire?" said
+Elinor.
+
+"Oh! yes, extremely well; that is, I do not believe many people are
+acquainted with him, because Combe Magna is so far off; but they all
+think him extremely agreeable I assure you.  Nobody is more liked than
+Mr. Willoughby wherever he goes, and so you may tell your sister.  She
+is a monstrous lucky girl to get him, upon my honour; not but that he
+is much more lucky in getting her, because she is so very handsome and
+agreeable, that nothing can be good enough for her.  However, I don't
+think her hardly at all handsomer than you, I assure you; for I think
+you both excessively pretty, and so does Mr. Palmer too I am sure,
+though we could not get him to own it last night."
+
+Mrs. Palmer's information respecting Willoughby was not very material;
+but any testimony in his favour, however small, was pleasing to her.
+
+"I am so glad we are got acquainted at last," continued
+Charlotte.--"And now I hope we shall always be great friends.  You
+can't think how much I longed to see you!  It is so delightful that you
+should live at the cottage!  Nothing can be like it, to be sure!  And I
+am so glad your sister is going to be well married!  I hope you will be
+a great deal at Combe Magna.  It is a sweet place, by all accounts."
+
+"You have been long acquainted with Colonel Brandon, have not you?"
+
+"Yes, a great while; ever since my sister married.-- He was a
+particular friend of Sir John's. I believe," she added in a low voice,
+"he would have been very glad to have had me, if he could.  Sir John
+and Lady Middleton wished it very much.  But mama did not think the
+match good enough for me, otherwise Sir John would have mentioned it to
+the Colonel, and we should have been married immediately."
+
+"Did not Colonel Brandon know of Sir John's proposal to your mother
+before it was made?  Had he never owned his affection to yourself?"
+
+"Oh, no; but if mama had not objected to it, I dare say he would have
+liked it of all things.  He had not seen me then above twice, for it
+was before I left school.  However, I am much happier as I am.  Mr.
+Palmer is the kind of man I like."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 21
+
+
+The Palmers returned to Cleveland the next day, and the two families at
+Barton were again left to entertain each other.  But this did not last
+long; Elinor had hardly got their last visitors out of her head, had
+hardly done wondering at Charlotte's being so happy without a cause, at
+Mr. Palmer's acting so simply, with good abilities, and at the strange
+unsuitableness which often existed between husband and wife, before Sir
+John's and Mrs. Jennings's active zeal in the cause of society,
+procured her some other new acquaintance to see and observe.
+
+In a morning's excursion to Exeter, they had met with two young ladies,
+whom Mrs. Jennings had the satisfaction of discovering to be her
+relations, and this was enough for Sir John to invite them directly to
+the park, as soon as their present engagements at Exeter were over.
+Their engagements at Exeter instantly gave way before such an
+invitation, and Lady Middleton was thrown into no little alarm on the
+return of Sir John, by hearing that she was very soon to receive a
+visit from two girls whom she had never seen in her life, and of whose
+elegance,--whose tolerable gentility even, she could have no proof; for
+the assurances of her husband and mother on that subject went for
+nothing at all.  Their being her relations too made it so much the
+worse; and Mrs. Jennings's attempts at consolation were therefore
+unfortunately founded, when she advised her daughter not to care about
+their being so fashionable; because they were all cousins and must put
+up with one another.  As it was impossible, however, now to prevent
+their coming, Lady Middleton resigned herself to the idea of it, with
+all the philosophy of a well-bred woman, contenting herself with merely
+giving her husband a gentle reprimand on the subject five or six times
+every day.
+
+The young ladies arrived: their appearance was by no means ungenteel or
+unfashionable.  Their dress was very smart, their manners very civil,
+they were delighted with the house, and in raptures with the furniture,
+and they happened to be so doatingly fond of children that Lady
+Middleton's good opinion was engaged in their favour before they had
+been an hour at the Park.  She declared them to be very agreeable girls
+indeed, which for her ladyship was enthusiastic admiration.  Sir John's
+confidence in his own judgment rose with this animated praise, and he
+set off directly for the cottage to tell the Miss Dashwoods of the Miss
+Steeles' arrival, and to assure them of their being the sweetest girls
+in the world.  From such commendation as this, however, there was not
+much to be learned; Elinor well knew that the sweetest girls in the
+world were to be met with in every part of England, under every
+possible variation of form, face, temper and understanding.  Sir John
+wanted the whole family to walk to the Park directly and look at his
+guests.  Benevolent, philanthropic man!  It was painful to him even to
+keep a third cousin to himself.
+
+"Do come now," said he--"pray come--you must come--I declare you shall
+come--You can't think how you will like them.  Lucy is monstrous
+pretty, and so good humoured and agreeable!  The children are all
+hanging about her already, as if she was an old acquaintance.  And they
+both long to see you of all things, for they have heard at Exeter that
+you are the most beautiful creatures in the world; and I have told them
+it is all very true, and a great deal more.  You will be delighted with
+them I am sure.  They have brought the whole coach full of playthings
+for the children.  How can you be so cross as not to come?  Why they
+are your cousins, you know, after a fashion.  YOU are my cousins, and
+they are my wife's, so you must be related."
+
+But Sir John could not prevail.  He could only obtain a promise of
+their calling at the Park within a day or two, and then left them in
+amazement at their indifference, to walk home and boast anew of their
+attractions to the Miss Steeles, as he had been already boasting of the
+Miss Steeles to them.
+
+When their promised visit to the Park and consequent introduction to
+these young ladies took place, they found in the appearance of the
+eldest, who was nearly thirty, with a very plain and not a sensible
+face, nothing to admire; but in the other, who was not more than two or
+three and twenty, they acknowledged considerable beauty; her features
+were pretty, and she had a sharp quick eye, and a smartness of air,
+which though it did not give actual elegance or grace, gave distinction
+to her person.-- Their manners were particularly civil, and Elinor soon
+allowed them credit for some kind of sense, when she saw with what
+constant and judicious attention they were making themselves agreeable
+to Lady Middleton.  With her children they were in continual raptures,
+extolling their beauty, courting their notice, and humouring their
+whims; and such of their time as could be spared from the importunate
+demands which this politeness made on it, was spent in admiration of
+whatever her ladyship was doing, if she happened to be doing any thing,
+or in taking patterns of some elegant new dress, in which her
+appearance the day before had thrown them into unceasing delight.
+Fortunately for those who pay their court through such foibles, a fond
+mother, though, in pursuit of praise for her children, the most
+rapacious of human beings, is likewise the most credulous; her demands
+are exorbitant; but she will swallow any thing; and the excessive
+affection and endurance of the Miss Steeles towards her offspring were
+viewed therefore by Lady Middleton without the smallest surprise or
+distrust.  She saw with maternal complacency all the impertinent
+encroachments and mischievous tricks to which her cousins submitted.
+She saw their sashes untied, their hair pulled about their ears, their
+work-bags searched, and their knives and scissors stolen away, and felt
+no doubt of its being a reciprocal enjoyment.  It suggested no other
+surprise than that Elinor and Marianne should sit so composedly by,
+without claiming a share in what was passing.
+
+"John is in such spirits today!" said she, on his taking Miss Steeles's
+pocket handkerchief, and throwing it out of window--"He is full of
+monkey tricks."
+
+And soon afterwards, on the second boy's violently pinching one of the
+same lady's fingers, she fondly observed, "How playful William is!"
+
+"And here is my sweet little Annamaria," she added, tenderly caressing
+a little girl of three years old, who had not made a noise for the last
+two minutes; "And she is always so gentle and quiet--Never was there
+such a quiet little thing!"
+
+But unfortunately in bestowing these embraces, a pin in her ladyship's
+head dress slightly scratching the child's neck, produced from this
+pattern of gentleness such violent screams, as could hardly be outdone
+by any creature professedly noisy.  The mother's consternation was
+excessive; but it could not surpass the alarm of the Miss Steeles, and
+every thing was done by all three, in so critical an emergency, which
+affection could suggest as likely to assuage the agonies of the little
+sufferer.  She was seated in her mother's lap, covered with kisses, her
+wound bathed with lavender-water, by one of the Miss Steeles, who was
+on her knees to attend her, and her mouth stuffed with sugar plums by
+the other.  With such a reward for her tears, the child was too wise to
+cease crying.  She still screamed and sobbed lustily, kicked her two
+brothers for offering to touch her, and all their united soothings were
+ineffectual till Lady Middleton luckily remembering that in a scene of
+similar distress last week, some apricot marmalade had been
+successfully applied for a bruised temple, the same remedy was eagerly
+proposed for this unfortunate scratch, and a slight intermission of
+screams in the young lady on hearing it, gave them reason to hope that
+it would not be rejected.-- She was carried out of the room therefore
+in her mother's arms, in quest of this medicine, and as the two boys
+chose to follow, though earnestly entreated by their mother to stay
+behind, the four young ladies were left in a quietness which the room
+had not known for many hours.
+
+"Poor little creatures!" said Miss Steele, as soon as they were gone.
+"It might have been a very sad accident."
+
+"Yet I hardly know how," cried Marianne, "unless it had been under
+totally different circumstances.  But this is the usual way of
+heightening alarm, where there is nothing to be alarmed at in reality."
+
+"What a sweet woman Lady Middleton is!" said Lucy Steele.
+
+Marianne was silent; it was impossible for her to say what she did not
+feel, however trivial the occasion; and upon Elinor therefore the whole
+task of telling lies when politeness required it, always fell.  She did
+her best when thus called on, by speaking of Lady Middleton with more
+warmth than she felt, though with far less than Miss Lucy.
+
+"And Sir John too," cried the elder sister, "what a charming man he is!"
+
+Here too, Miss Dashwood's commendation, being only simple and just,
+came in without any eclat.  She merely observed that he was perfectly
+good humoured and friendly.
+
+"And what a charming little family they have!  I never saw such fine
+children in my life.--I declare I quite doat upon them already, and
+indeed I am always distractedly fond of children."
+
+"I should guess so," said Elinor, with a smile, "from what I have
+witnessed this morning."
+
+"I have a notion," said Lucy, "you think the little Middletons rather
+too much indulged; perhaps they may be the outside of enough; but it is
+so natural in Lady Middleton; and for my part, I love to see children
+full of life and spirits; I cannot bear them if they are tame and
+quiet."
+
+"I confess," replied Elinor, "that while I am at Barton Park, I never
+think of tame and quiet children with any abhorrence."
+
+A short pause succeeded this speech, which was first broken by Miss
+Steele, who seemed very much disposed for conversation, and who now
+said rather abruptly, "And how do you like Devonshire, Miss Dashwood?
+I suppose you were very sorry to leave Sussex."
+
+In some surprise at the familiarity of this question, or at least of
+the manner in which it was spoken, Elinor replied that she was.
+
+"Norland is a prodigious beautiful place, is not it?" added Miss Steele.
+
+"We have heard Sir John admire it excessively," said Lucy, who seemed
+to think some apology necessary for the freedom of her sister.
+
+"I think every one MUST admire it," replied Elinor, "who ever saw the
+place; though it is not to be supposed that any one can estimate its
+beauties as we do."
+
+"And had you a great many smart beaux there?  I suppose you have not so
+many in this part of the world; for my part, I think they are a vast
+addition always."
+
+"But why should you think," said Lucy, looking ashamed of her sister,
+"that there are not as many genteel young men in Devonshire as Sussex?"
+
+"Nay, my dear, I'm sure I don't pretend to say that there an't.  I'm
+sure there's a vast many smart beaux in Exeter; but you know, how could
+I tell what smart beaux there might be about Norland; and I was only
+afraid the Miss Dashwoods might find it dull at Barton, if they had not
+so many as they used to have.  But perhaps you young ladies may not
+care about the beaux, and had as lief be without them as with them.
+For my part, I think they are vastly agreeable, provided they dress
+smart and behave civil.  But I can't bear to see them dirty and nasty.
+Now there's Mr. Rose at Exeter, a prodigious smart young man, quite a
+beau, clerk to Mr. Simpson, you know, and yet if you do but meet him of
+a morning, he is not fit to be seen.-- I suppose your brother was quite
+a beau, Miss Dashwood, before he married, as he was so rich?"
+
+"Upon my word," replied Elinor, "I cannot tell you, for I do not
+perfectly comprehend the meaning of the word.  But this I can say, that
+if he ever was a beau before he married, he is one still for there is
+not the smallest alteration in him."
+
+"Oh! dear! one never thinks of married men's being beaux--they have
+something else to do."
+
+"Lord! Anne," cried her sister, "you can talk of nothing but
+beaux;--you will make Miss Dashwood believe you think of nothing else."
+And then to turn the discourse, she began admiring the house and the
+furniture.
+
+This specimen of the Miss Steeles was enough.  The vulgar freedom and
+folly of the eldest left her no recommendation, and as Elinor was not
+blinded by the beauty, or the shrewd look of the youngest, to her want
+of real elegance and artlessness, she left the house without any wish
+of knowing them better.
+
+Not so the Miss Steeles.--They came from Exeter, well provided with
+admiration for the use of Sir John Middleton, his family, and all his
+relations, and no niggardly proportion was now dealt out to his fair
+cousins, whom they declared to be the most beautiful, elegant,
+accomplished, and agreeable girls they had ever beheld, and with whom
+they were particularly anxious to be better acquainted.-- And to be
+better acquainted therefore, Elinor soon found was their inevitable
+lot, for as Sir John was entirely on the side of the Miss Steeles,
+their party would be too strong for opposition, and that kind of
+intimacy must be submitted to, which consists of sitting an hour or two
+together in the same room almost every day.  Sir John could do no more;
+but he did not know that any more was required: to be together was, in
+his opinion, to be intimate, and while his continual schemes for their
+meeting were effectual, he had not a doubt of their being established
+friends.
+
+To do him justice, he did every thing in his power to promote their
+unreserve, by making the Miss Steeles acquainted with whatever he knew
+or supposed of his cousins' situations in the most delicate
+particulars,--and Elinor had not seen them more than twice, before the
+eldest of them wished her joy on her sister's having been so lucky as
+to make a conquest of a very smart beau since she came to Barton.
+
+"'Twill be a fine thing to have her married so young to be sure," said
+she, "and I hear he is quite a beau, and prodigious handsome.  And I
+hope you may have as good luck yourself soon,--but perhaps you may have
+a friend in the corner already."
+
+Elinor could not suppose that Sir John would be more nice in
+proclaiming his suspicions of her regard for Edward, than he had been
+with respect to Marianne; indeed it was rather his favourite joke of
+the two, as being somewhat newer and more conjectural; and since
+Edward's visit, they had never dined together without his drinking to
+her best affections with so much significancy and so many nods and
+winks, as to excite general attention.  The letter F--had been likewise
+invariably brought forward, and found productive of such countless
+jokes, that its character as the wittiest letter in the alphabet had
+been long established with Elinor.
+
+The Miss Steeles, as she expected, had now all the benefit of these
+jokes, and in the eldest of them they raised a curiosity to know the
+name of the gentleman alluded to, which, though often impertinently
+expressed, was perfectly of a piece with her general inquisitiveness
+into the concerns of their family.  But Sir John did not sport long
+with the curiosity which he delighted to raise, for he had at least as
+much pleasure in telling the name, as Miss Steele had in hearing it.
+
+"His name is Ferrars," said he, in a very audible whisper; "but pray do
+not tell it, for it's a great secret."
+
+"Ferrars!" repeated Miss Steele; "Mr. Ferrars is the happy man, is he?
+What! your sister-in-law's brother, Miss Dashwood? a very agreeable
+young man to be sure; I know him very well."
+
+"How can you say so, Anne?" cried Lucy, who generally made an amendment
+to all her sister's assertions.  "Though we have seen him once or twice
+at my uncle's, it is rather too much to pretend to know him very well."
+
+Elinor heard all this with attention and surprise.  "And who was this
+uncle?  Where did he live?  How came they acquainted?"  She wished very
+much to have the subject continued, though she did not chuse to join in
+it herself; but nothing more of it was said, and for the first time in
+her life, she thought Mrs. Jennings deficient either in curiosity after
+petty information, or in a disposition to communicate it.  The manner
+in which Miss Steele had spoken of Edward, increased her curiosity; for
+it struck her as being rather ill-natured, and suggested the suspicion
+of that lady's knowing, or fancying herself to know something to his
+disadvantage.--But her curiosity was unavailing, for no farther notice
+was taken of Mr. Ferrars's name by Miss Steele when alluded to, or even
+openly mentioned by Sir John.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 22
+
+
+Marianne, who had never much toleration for any thing like
+impertinence, vulgarity, inferiority of parts, or even difference of
+taste from herself, was at this time particularly ill-disposed, from
+the state of her spirits, to be pleased with the Miss Steeles, or to
+encourage their advances; and to the invariable coldness of her
+behaviour towards them, which checked every endeavour at intimacy on
+their side, Elinor principally attributed that preference of herself
+which soon became evident in the manners of both, but especially of
+Lucy, who missed no opportunity of engaging her in conversation, or of
+striving to improve their acquaintance by an easy and frank
+communication of her sentiments.
+
+Lucy was naturally clever; her remarks were often just and amusing; and
+as a companion for half an hour Elinor frequently found her agreeable;
+but her powers had received no aid from education: she was ignorant and
+illiterate; and her deficiency of all mental improvement, her want of
+information in the most common particulars, could not be concealed from
+Miss Dashwood, in spite of her constant endeavour to appear to
+advantage.  Elinor saw, and pitied her for, the neglect of abilities
+which education might have rendered so respectable; but she saw, with
+less tenderness of feeling, the thorough want of delicacy, of
+rectitude, and integrity of mind, which her attentions, her
+assiduities, her flatteries at the Park betrayed; and she could have no
+lasting satisfaction in the company of a person who joined insincerity
+with ignorance; whose want of instruction prevented their meeting in
+conversation on terms of equality, and whose conduct toward others made
+every shew of attention and deference towards herself perfectly
+valueless.
+
+"You will think my question an odd one, I dare say," said Lucy to her
+one day, as they were walking together from the park to the
+cottage--"but pray, are you personally acquainted with your
+sister-in-law's mother, Mrs. Ferrars?"
+
+Elinor DID think the question a very odd one, and her countenance
+expressed it, as she answered that she had never seen Mrs. Ferrars.
+
+"Indeed!" replied Lucy; "I wonder at that, for I thought you must have
+seen her at Norland sometimes.  Then, perhaps, you cannot tell me what
+sort of a woman she is?"
+
+"No," returned Elinor, cautious of giving her real opinion of Edward's
+mother, and not very desirous of satisfying what seemed impertinent
+curiosity-- "I know nothing of her."
+
+"I am sure you think me very strange, for enquiring about her in such a
+way," said Lucy, eyeing Elinor attentively as she spoke; "but perhaps
+there may be reasons--I wish I might venture; but however I hope you
+will do me the justice of believing that I do not mean to be
+impertinent."
+
+Elinor made her a civil reply, and they walked on for a few minutes in
+silence.  It was broken by Lucy, who renewed the subject again by
+saying, with some hesitation,
+
+"I cannot bear to have you think me impertinently curious.  I am sure I
+would rather do any thing in the world than be thought so by a person
+whose good opinion is so well worth having as yours.  And I am sure I
+should not have the smallest fear of trusting YOU; indeed, I should be
+very glad of your advice how to manage in such an uncomfortable
+situation as I am; but, however, there is no occasion to trouble YOU.
+I am sorry you do not happen to know Mrs. Ferrars."
+
+"I am sorry I do NOT," said Elinor, in great astonishment, "if it could
+be of any use to YOU to know my opinion of her.  But really I never
+understood that you were at all connected with that family, and
+therefore I am a little surprised, I confess, at so serious an inquiry
+into her character."
+
+"I dare say you are, and I am sure I do not at all wonder at it.  But
+if I dared tell you all, you would not be so much surprised.  Mrs.
+Ferrars is certainly nothing to me at present--but the time MAY
+come--how soon it will come must depend upon herself--when we may be
+very intimately connected."
+
+She looked down as she said this, amiably bashful, with only one side
+glance at her companion to observe its effect on her.
+
+"Good heavens!" cried Elinor, "what do you mean?  Are you acquainted
+with Mr. Robert Ferrars?  Can you be?" And she did not feel much
+delighted with the idea of such a sister-in-law.
+
+"No," replied Lucy, "not to Mr. ROBERT Ferrars--I never saw him in my
+life; but," fixing her eyes upon Elinor, "to his eldest brother."
+
+What felt Elinor at that moment? Astonishment, that would have been as
+painful as it was strong, had not an immediate disbelief of the
+assertion attended it.  She turned towards Lucy in silent amazement,
+unable to divine the reason or object of such a declaration; and though
+her complexion varied, she stood firm in incredulity, and felt in no
+danger of an hysterical fit, or a swoon.
+
+"You may well be surprised," continued Lucy; "for to be sure you could
+have had no idea of it before; for I dare say he never dropped the
+smallest hint of it to you or any of your family; because it was always
+meant to be a great secret, and I am sure has been faithfully kept so
+by me to this hour.  Not a soul of all my relations know of it but
+Anne, and I never should have mentioned it to you, if I had not felt
+the greatest dependence in the world upon your secrecy; and I really
+thought my behaviour in asking so many questions about Mrs. Ferrars
+must seem so odd, that it ought to be explained.  And I do not think
+Mr. Ferrars can be displeased, when he knows I have trusted you,
+because I know he has the highest opinion in the world of all your
+family, and looks upon yourself and the other Miss Dashwoods quite as
+his own sisters."--She paused.
+
+Elinor for a few moments remained silent.  Her astonishment at what she
+heard was at first too great for words; but at length forcing herself
+to speak, and to speak cautiously, she said, with calmness of manner,
+which tolerably well concealed her surprise and solicitude-- "May I ask
+if your engagement is of long standing?"
+
+"We have been engaged these four years."
+
+"Four years!"
+
+"Yes."
+
+Elinor, though greatly shocked, still felt unable to believe it.
+
+"I did not know," said she, "that you were even acquainted till the
+other day."
+
+"Our acquaintance, however, is of many years date.  He was under my
+uncle's care, you know, a considerable while."
+
+"Your uncle!"
+
+"Yes; Mr. Pratt.  Did you never hear him talk of Mr. Pratt?"
+
+"I think I have," replied Elinor, with an exertion of spirits, which
+increased with her increase of emotion.
+
+"He was four years with my uncle, who lives at Longstaple, near
+Plymouth.  It was there our acquaintance begun, for my sister and me
+was often staying with my uncle, and it was there our engagement was
+formed, though not till a year after he had quitted as a pupil; but he
+was almost always with us afterwards.  I was very unwilling to enter
+into it, as you may imagine, without the knowledge and approbation of
+his mother; but I was too young, and loved him too well, to be so
+prudent as I ought to have been.-- Though you do not know him so well
+as me, Miss Dashwood, you must have seen enough of him to be sensible
+he is very capable of making a woman sincerely attached to him."
+
+"Certainly," answered Elinor, without knowing what she said; but after
+a moment's reflection, she added, with revived security of Edward's
+honour and love, and her companion's falsehood--"Engaged to Mr. Edward
+Ferrars!--I confess myself so totally surprised at what you tell me,
+that really--I beg your pardon; but surely there must be some mistake
+of person or name.  We cannot mean the same Mr. Ferrars."
+
+"We can mean no other," cried Lucy, smiling.  "Mr. Edward Ferrars, the
+eldest son of Mrs. Ferrars, of Park Street, and brother of your
+sister-in-law, Mrs. John Dashwood, is the person I mean; you must allow
+that I am not likely to be deceived as to the name of the man on who
+all my happiness depends."
+
+"It is strange," replied Elinor, in a most painful perplexity, "that I
+should never have heard him even mention your name."
+
+"No; considering our situation, it was not strange.  Our first care has
+been to keep the matter secret.-- You knew nothing of me, or my family,
+and, therefore, there could be no OCCASION for ever mentioning my name
+to you; and, as he was always particularly afraid of his sister's
+suspecting any thing, THAT was reason enough for his not mentioning it."
+
+She was silent.--Elinor's security sunk; but her self-command did not
+sink with it.
+
+"Four years you have been engaged," said she with a firm voice.
+
+"Yes; and heaven knows how much longer we may have to wait.  Poor
+Edward!  It puts him quite out of heart." Then taking a small miniature
+from her pocket, she added, "To prevent the possibility of mistake, be
+so good as to look at this face.  It does not do him justice, to be
+sure, but yet I think you cannot be deceived as to the person it was
+drew for.--I have had it above these three years."
+
+She put it into her hands as she spoke; and when Elinor saw the
+painting, whatever other doubts her fear of a too hasty decision, or
+her wish of detecting falsehood might suffer to linger in her mind, she
+could have none of its being Edward's face.  She returned it almost
+instantly, acknowledging the likeness.
+
+"I have never been able," continued Lucy, "to give him my picture in
+return, which I am very much vexed at, for he has been always so
+anxious to get it!  But I am determined to set for it the very first
+opportunity."
+
+"You are quite in the right," replied Elinor calmly.  They then
+proceeded a few paces in silence.  Lucy spoke first.
+
+"I am sure," said she, "I have no doubt in the world of your faithfully
+keeping this secret, because you must know of what importance it is to
+us, not to have it reach his mother; for she would never approve of it,
+I dare say.  I shall have no fortune, and I fancy she is an exceeding
+proud woman."
+
+"I certainly did not seek your confidence," said Elinor; "but you do me
+no more than justice in imagining that I may be depended on.  Your
+secret is safe with me; but pardon me if I express some surprise at so
+unnecessary a communication.  You must at least have felt that my being
+acquainted with it could not add to its safety."
+
+As she said this, she looked earnestly at Lucy, hoping to discover
+something in her countenance; perhaps the falsehood of the greatest
+part of what she had been saying; but Lucy's countenance suffered no
+change.
+
+"I was afraid you would think I was taking a great liberty with you,"
+said she, "in telling you all this.  I have not known you long to be
+sure, personally at least, but I have known you and all your family by
+description a great while; and as soon as I saw you, I felt almost as
+if you was an old acquaintance.  Besides in the present case, I really
+thought some explanation was due to you after my making such particular
+inquiries about Edward's mother; and I am so unfortunate, that I have
+not a creature whose advice I can ask.  Anne is the only person that
+knows of it, and she has no judgment at all; indeed, she does me a
+great deal more harm than good, for I am in constant fear of her
+betraying me.  She does not know how to hold her tongue, as you must
+perceive, and I am sure I was in the greatest fright in the world
+t'other day, when Edward's name was mentioned by Sir John, lest she
+should out with it all.  You can't think how much I go through in my
+mind from it altogether.  I only wonder that I am alive after what I
+have suffered for Edward's sake these last four years.  Every thing in
+such suspense and uncertainty; and seeing him so seldom--we can hardly
+meet above twice a-year.  I am sure I wonder my heart is not quite
+broke."
+
+Here she took out her handkerchief; but Elinor did not feel very
+compassionate.
+
+"Sometimes." continued Lucy, after wiping her eyes, "I think whether it
+would not be better for us both to break off the matter entirely."  As
+she said this, she looked directly at her companion.  "But then at
+other times I have not resolution enough for it.-- I cannot bear the
+thoughts of making him so miserable, as I know the very mention of such
+a thing would do.  And on my own account too--so dear as he is to me--I
+don't think I could be equal to it.  What would you advise me to do in
+such a case, Miss Dashwood?  What would you do yourself?"
+
+"Pardon me," replied Elinor, startled by the question; "but I can give
+you no advice under such circumstances.  Your own judgment must direct
+you."
+
+"To be sure," continued Lucy, after a few minutes silence on both
+sides, "his mother must provide for him sometime or other; but poor
+Edward is so cast down by it!  Did you not think him dreadful
+low-spirited when he was at Barton?  He was so miserable when he left
+us at Longstaple, to go to you, that I was afraid you would think him
+quite ill."
+
+"Did he come from your uncle's, then, when he visited us?"
+
+"Oh, yes; he had been staying a fortnight with us.  Did you think he
+came directly from town?"
+
+"No," replied Elinor, most feelingly sensible of every fresh
+circumstance in favour of Lucy's veracity; "I remember he told us, that
+he had been staying a fortnight with some friends near Plymouth." She
+remembered too, her own surprise at the time, at his mentioning nothing
+farther of those friends, at his total silence with respect even to
+their names.
+
+"Did not you think him sadly out of spirits?" repeated Lucy.
+
+"We did, indeed, particularly so when he first arrived."
+
+"I begged him to exert himself for fear you should suspect what was the
+matter; but it made him so melancholy, not being able to stay more than
+a fortnight with us, and seeing me so much affected.-- Poor fellow!--I
+am afraid it is just the same with him now; for he writes in wretched
+spirits.  I heard from him just before I left Exeter;" taking a letter
+from her pocket and carelessly showing the direction to Elinor.  "You
+know his hand, I dare say, a charming one it is; but that is not
+written so well as usual.--He was tired, I dare say, for he had just
+filled the sheet to me as full as possible."
+
+Elinor saw that it WAS his hand, and she could doubt no longer.  This
+picture, she had allowed herself to believe, might have been
+accidentally obtained; it might not have been Edward's gift; but a
+correspondence between them by letter, could subsist only under a
+positive engagement, could be authorised by nothing else; for a few
+moments, she was almost overcome--her heart sunk within her, and she
+could hardly stand; but exertion was indispensably necessary; and she
+struggled so resolutely against the oppression of her feelings, that
+her success was speedy, and for the time complete.
+
+"Writing to each other," said Lucy, returning the letter into her
+pocket, "is the only comfort we have in such long separations.  Yes, I
+have one other comfort in his picture, but poor Edward has not even
+THAT.  If he had but my picture, he says he should be easy.  I gave him
+a lock of my hair set in a ring when he was at Longstaple last, and
+that was some comfort to him, he said, but not equal to a picture.
+Perhaps you might notice the ring when you saw him?"
+
+"I did," said Elinor, with a composure of voice, under which was
+concealed an emotion and distress beyond any thing she had ever felt
+before.  She was mortified, shocked, confounded.
+
+Fortunately for her, they had now reached the cottage, and the
+conversation could be continued no farther.  After sitting with them a
+few minutes, the Miss Steeles returned to the Park, and Elinor was then
+at liberty to think and be wretched.
+
+
+
+
+
+[At this point in the first and second editions, Volume 1 ends.]
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 23
+
+
+However small Elinor's general dependence on Lucy's veracity might be,
+it was impossible for her on serious reflection to suspect it in the
+present case, where no temptation could be answerable to the folly of
+inventing a falsehood of such a description.  What Lucy had asserted to
+be true, therefore, Elinor could not, dared not longer doubt; supported
+as it was too on every side by such probabilities and proofs, and
+contradicted by nothing but her own wishes.  Their opportunity of
+acquaintance in the house of Mr. Pratt was a foundation for the rest,
+at once indisputable and alarming; and Edward's visit near Plymouth,
+his melancholy state of mind, his dissatisfaction at his own prospects,
+his uncertain behaviour towards herself, the intimate knowledge of the
+Miss Steeles as to Norland and their family connections, which had
+often surprised her, the picture, the letter, the ring, formed
+altogether such a body of evidence, as overcame every fear of
+condemning him unfairly, and established as a fact, which no partiality
+could set aside, his ill-treatment of herself.--Her resentment of such
+behaviour, her indignation at having been its dupe, for a short time
+made her feel only for herself; but other ideas, other considerations,
+soon arose.  Had Edward been intentionally deceiving her?  Had he
+feigned a regard for her which he did not feel?  Was his engagement to
+Lucy an engagement of the heart?  No; whatever it might once have been,
+she could not believe it such at present.  His affection was all her
+own.  She could not be deceived in that.  Her mother, sisters, Fanny,
+all had been conscious of his regard for her at Norland; it was not an
+illusion of her own vanity.  He certainly loved her.  What a softener
+of the heart was this persuasion!  How much could it not tempt her to
+forgive!  He had been blamable, highly blamable, in remaining at
+Norland after he first felt her influence over him to be more than it
+ought to be.  In that, he could not be defended; but if he had injured
+her, how much more had he injured himself; if her case were pitiable,
+his was hopeless.  His imprudence had made her miserable for a while;
+but it seemed to have deprived himself of all chance of ever being
+otherwise.  She might in time regain tranquillity; but HE, what had he
+to look forward to?  Could he ever be tolerably happy with Lucy Steele;
+could he, were his affection for herself out of the question, with his
+integrity, his delicacy, and well-informed mind, be satisfied with a
+wife like her--illiterate, artful, and selfish?
+
+The youthful infatuation of nineteen would naturally blind him to every
+thing but her beauty and good nature; but the four succeeding
+years--years, which if rationally spent, give such improvement to the
+understanding, must have opened his eyes to her defects of education,
+while the same period of time, spent on her side in inferior society
+and more frivolous pursuits, had perhaps robbed her of that simplicity
+which might once have given an interesting character to her beauty.
+
+If in the supposition of his seeking to marry herself, his difficulties
+from his mother had seemed great, how much greater were they now likely
+to be, when the object of his engagement was undoubtedly inferior in
+connections, and probably inferior in fortune to herself.  These
+difficulties, indeed, with a heart so alienated from Lucy, might not
+press very hard upon his patience; but melancholy was the state of the
+person by whom the expectation of family opposition and unkindness,
+could be felt as a relief!
+
+As these considerations occurred to her in painful succession, she wept
+for him, more than for herself.  Supported by the conviction of having
+done nothing to merit her present unhappiness, and consoled by the
+belief that Edward had done nothing to forfeit her esteem, she thought
+she could even now, under the first smart of the heavy blow, command
+herself enough to guard every suspicion of the truth from her mother
+and sisters.  And so well was she able to answer her own expectations,
+that when she joined them at dinner only two hours after she had first
+suffered the extinction of all her dearest hopes, no one would have
+supposed from the appearance of the sisters, that Elinor was mourning
+in secret over obstacles which must divide her for ever from the object
+of her love, and that Marianne was internally dwelling on the
+perfections of a man, of whose whole heart she felt thoroughly
+possessed, and whom she expected to see in every carriage which drove
+near their house.
+
+The necessity of concealing from her mother and Marianne, what had been
+entrusted in confidence to herself, though it obliged her to unceasing
+exertion, was no aggravation of Elinor's distress.  On the contrary it
+was a relief to her, to be spared the communication of what would give
+such affliction to them, and to be saved likewise from hearing that
+condemnation of Edward, which would probably flow from the excess of
+their partial affection for herself, and which was more than she felt
+equal to support.
+
+From their counsel, or their conversation, she knew she could receive
+no assistance, their tenderness and sorrow must add to her distress,
+while her self-command would neither receive encouragement from their
+example nor from their praise.  She was stronger alone, and her own
+good sense so well supported her, that her firmness was as unshaken,
+her appearance of cheerfulness as invariable, as with regrets so
+poignant and so fresh, it was possible for them to be.
+
+Much as she had suffered from her first conversation with Lucy on the
+subject, she soon felt an earnest wish of renewing it; and this for
+more reasons than one.  She wanted to hear many particulars of their
+engagement repeated again, she wanted more clearly to understand what
+Lucy really felt for Edward, whether there were any sincerity in her
+declaration of tender regard for him, and she particularly wanted to
+convince Lucy, by her readiness to enter on the matter again, and her
+calmness in conversing on it, that she was no otherwise interested in
+it than as a friend, which she very much feared her involuntary
+agitation, in their morning discourse, must have left at least
+doubtful.  That Lucy was disposed to be jealous of her appeared very
+probable: it was plain that Edward had always spoken highly in her
+praise, not merely from Lucy's assertion, but from her venturing to
+trust her on so short a personal acquaintance, with a secret so
+confessedly and evidently important.  And even Sir John's joking
+intelligence must have had some weight.  But indeed, while Elinor
+remained so well assured within herself of being really beloved by
+Edward, it required no other consideration of probabilities to make it
+natural that Lucy should be jealous; and that she was so, her very
+confidence was a proof.  What other reason for the disclosure of the
+affair could there be, but that Elinor might be informed by it of
+Lucy's superior claims on Edward, and be taught to avoid him in future?
+She had little difficulty in understanding thus much of her rival's
+intentions, and while she was firmly resolved to act by her as every
+principle of honour and honesty directed, to combat her own affection
+for Edward and to see him as little as possible; she could not deny
+herself the comfort of endeavouring to convince Lucy that her heart was
+unwounded.  And as she could now have nothing more painful to hear on
+the subject than had already been told, she did not mistrust her own
+ability of going through a repetition of particulars with composure.
+
+But it was not immediately that an opportunity of doing so could be
+commanded, though Lucy was as well disposed as herself to take
+advantage of any that occurred; for the weather was not often fine
+enough to allow of their joining in a walk, where they might most
+easily separate themselves from the others; and though they met at
+least every other evening either at the park or cottage, and chiefly at
+the former, they could not be supposed to meet for the sake of
+conversation.  Such a thought would never enter either Sir John or Lady
+Middleton's head; and therefore very little leisure was ever given for
+a general chat, and none at all for particular discourse.  They met for
+the sake of eating, drinking, and laughing together, playing at cards,
+or consequences, or any other game that was sufficiently noisy.
+
+One or two meetings of this kind had taken place, without affording
+Elinor any chance of engaging Lucy in private, when Sir John called at
+the cottage one morning, to beg, in the name of charity, that they
+would all dine with Lady Middleton that day, as he was obliged to
+attend the club at Exeter, and she would otherwise be quite alone,
+except her mother and the two Miss Steeles.  Elinor, who foresaw a
+fairer opening for the point she had in view, in such a party as this
+was likely to be, more at liberty among themselves under the tranquil
+and well-bred direction of Lady Middleton than when her husband united
+them together in one noisy purpose, immediately accepted the
+invitation; Margaret, with her mother's permission, was equally
+compliant, and Marianne, though always unwilling to join any of their
+parties, was persuaded by her mother, who could not bear to have her
+seclude herself from any chance of amusement, to go likewise.
+
+The young ladies went, and Lady Middleton was happily preserved from
+the frightful solitude which had threatened her.  The insipidity of the
+meeting was exactly such as Elinor had expected; it produced not one
+novelty of thought or expression, and nothing could be less interesting
+than the whole of their discourse both in the dining parlour and
+drawing room: to the latter, the children accompanied them, and while
+they remained there, she was too well convinced of the impossibility of
+engaging Lucy's attention to attempt it.  They quitted it only with the
+removal of the tea-things.  The card-table was then placed, and Elinor
+began to wonder at herself for having ever entertained a hope of
+finding time for conversation at the park.  They all rose up in
+preparation for a round game.
+
+"I am glad," said Lady Middleton to Lucy, "you are not going to finish
+poor little Annamaria's basket this evening; for I am sure it must hurt
+your eyes to work filigree by candlelight.  And we will make the dear
+little love some amends for her disappointment to-morrow, and then I
+hope she will not much mind it."
+
+This hint was enough, Lucy recollected herself instantly and replied,
+"Indeed you are very much mistaken, Lady Middleton; I am only waiting
+to know whether you can make your party without me, or I should have
+been at my filigree already.  I would not disappoint the little angel
+for all the world: and if you want me at the card-table now, I am
+resolved to finish the basket after supper."
+
+"You are very good, I hope it won't hurt your eyes--will you ring the
+bell for some working candles?  My poor little girl would be sadly
+disappointed, I know, if the basket was not finished tomorrow, for
+though I told her it certainly would not, I am sure she depends upon
+having it done."
+
+Lucy directly drew her work table near her and reseated herself with an
+alacrity and cheerfulness which seemed to infer that she could taste no
+greater delight than in making a filigree basket for a spoilt child.
+
+Lady Middleton proposed a rubber of Casino to the others.  No one made
+any objection but Marianne, who with her usual inattention to the forms
+of general civility, exclaimed, "Your Ladyship will have the goodness
+to excuse ME--you know I detest cards.  I shall go to the piano-forte;
+I have not touched it since it was tuned."  And without farther
+ceremony, she turned away and walked to the instrument.
+
+Lady Middleton looked as if she thanked heaven that SHE had never made
+so rude a speech.
+
+"Marianne can never keep long from that instrument you know, ma'am,"
+said Elinor, endeavouring to smooth away the offence; "and I do not
+much wonder at it; for it is the very best toned piano-forte I ever
+heard."
+
+The remaining five were now to draw their cards.
+
+"Perhaps," continued Elinor, "if I should happen to cut out, I may be
+of some use to Miss Lucy Steele, in rolling her papers for her; and
+there is so much still to be done to the basket, that it must be
+impossible I think for her labour singly, to finish it this evening.  I
+should like the work exceedingly, if she would allow me a share in it."
+
+"Indeed I shall be very much obliged to you for your help," cried Lucy,
+"for I find there is more to be done to it than I thought there was;
+and it would be a shocking thing to disappoint dear Annamaria after
+all."
+
+"Oh! that would be terrible, indeed," said Miss Steele-- "Dear little
+soul, how I do love her!"
+
+"You are very kind," said Lady Middleton to Elinor; "and as you really
+like the work, perhaps you will be as well pleased not to cut in till
+another rubber, or will you take your chance now?"
+
+Elinor joyfully profited by the first of these proposals, and thus by a
+little of that address which Marianne could never condescend to
+practise, gained her own end, and pleased Lady Middleton at the same
+time.  Lucy made room for her with ready attention, and the two fair
+rivals were thus seated side by side at the same table, and, with the
+utmost harmony, engaged in forwarding the same work.  The pianoforte at
+which Marianne, wrapped up in her own music and her own thoughts, had
+by this time forgotten that any body was in the room besides herself,
+was luckily so near them that Miss Dashwood now judged she might
+safely, under the shelter of its noise, introduce the interesting
+subject, without any risk of being heard at the card-table.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 24
+
+
+In a firm, though cautious tone, Elinor thus began.
+
+"I should be undeserving of the confidence you have honoured me with,
+if I felt no desire for its continuance, or no farther curiosity on its
+subject.  I will not apologize therefore for bringing it forward again."
+
+"Thank you," cried Lucy warmly, "for breaking the ice; you have set my
+heart at ease by it; for I was somehow or other afraid I had offended
+you by what I told you that Monday."
+
+"Offended me! How could you suppose so? Believe me," and Elinor spoke
+it with the truest sincerity, "nothing could be farther from my
+intention than to give you such an idea.  Could you have a motive for
+the trust, that was not honourable and flattering to me?"
+
+"And yet I do assure you," replied Lucy, her little sharp eyes full of
+meaning, "there seemed to me to be a coldness and displeasure in your
+manner that made me quite uncomfortable.  I felt sure that you was
+angry with me; and have been quarrelling with myself ever since, for
+having took such a liberty as to trouble you with my affairs.  But I am
+very glad to find it was only my own fancy, and that you really do not
+blame me.  If you knew what a consolation it was to me to relieve my
+heart speaking to you of what I am always thinking of every moment of
+my life, your compassion would make you overlook every thing else I am
+sure."
+
+"Indeed, I can easily believe that it was a very great relief to you,
+to acknowledge your situation to me, and be assured that you shall
+never have reason to repent it.  Your case is a very unfortunate one;
+you seem to me to be surrounded with difficulties, and you will have
+need of all your mutual affection to support you under them.  Mr.
+Ferrars, I believe, is entirely dependent on his mother."
+
+"He has only two thousand pounds of his own; it would be madness to
+marry upon that, though for my own part, I could give up every prospect
+of more without a sigh.  I have been always used to a very small
+income, and could struggle with any poverty for him; but I love him too
+well to be the selfish means of robbing him, perhaps, of all that his
+mother might give him if he married to please her.  We must wait, it
+may be for many years.  With almost every other man in the world, it
+would be an alarming prospect; but Edward's affection and constancy
+nothing can deprive me of I know."
+
+"That conviction must be every thing to you; and he is undoubtedly
+supported by the same trust in your's.  If the strength of your
+reciprocal attachment had failed, as between many people, and under
+many circumstances it naturally would during a four years' engagement,
+your situation would have been pitiable, indeed."
+
+Lucy here looked up; but Elinor was careful in guarding her countenance
+from every expression that could give her words a suspicious tendency.
+
+"Edward's love for me," said Lucy, "has been pretty well put to the
+test, by our long, very long absence since we were first engaged, and
+it has stood the trial so well, that I should be unpardonable to doubt
+it now.  I can safely say that he has never gave me one moment's alarm
+on that account from the first."
+
+Elinor hardly knew whether to smile or sigh at this assertion.
+
+Lucy went on.  "I am rather of a jealous temper too by nature, and from
+our different situations in life, from his being so much more in the
+world than me, and our continual separation, I was enough inclined for
+suspicion, to have found out the truth in an instant, if there had been
+the slightest alteration in his behaviour to me when we met, or any
+lowness of spirits that I could not account for, or if he had talked
+more of one lady than another, or seemed in any respect less happy at
+Longstaple than he used to be.  I do not mean to say that I am
+particularly observant or quick-sighted in general, but in such a case
+I am sure I could not be deceived."
+
+"All this," thought Elinor, "is very pretty; but it can impose upon
+neither of us."
+
+"But what," said she after a short silence, "are your views? or have
+you none but that of waiting for Mrs. Ferrars's death, which is a
+melancholy and shocking extremity?--Is her son determined to submit to
+this, and to all the tediousness of the many years of suspense in which
+it may involve you, rather than run the risk of her displeasure for a
+while by owning the truth?"
+
+"If we could be certain that it would be only for a while!  But Mrs.
+Ferrars is a very headstrong proud woman, and in her first fit of anger
+upon hearing it, would very likely secure every thing to Robert, and
+the idea of that, for Edward's sake, frightens away all my inclination
+for hasty measures."
+
+"And for your own sake too, or you are carrying your disinterestedness
+beyond reason."
+
+Lucy looked at Elinor again, and was silent.
+
+"Do you know Mr. Robert Ferrars?" asked Elinor.
+
+"Not at all--I never saw him; but I fancy he is very unlike his
+brother--silly and a great coxcomb."
+
+"A great coxcomb!" repeated Miss Steele, whose ear had caught those
+words by a sudden pause in Marianne's music.-- "Oh, they are talking of
+their favourite beaux, I dare say."
+
+"No sister," cried Lucy, "you are mistaken there, our favourite beaux
+are NOT great coxcombs."
+
+"I can answer for it that Miss Dashwood's is not," said Mrs. Jennings,
+laughing heartily; "for he is one of the modestest, prettiest behaved
+young men I ever saw; but as for Lucy, she is such a sly little
+creature, there is no finding out who SHE likes."
+
+"Oh," cried Miss Steele, looking significantly round at them, "I dare
+say Lucy's beau is quite as modest and pretty behaved as Miss
+Dashwood's."
+
+Elinor blushed in spite of herself.  Lucy bit her lip, and looked
+angrily at her sister.  A mutual silence took place for some time.
+Lucy first put an end to it by saying in a lower tone, though Marianne
+was then giving them the powerful protection of a very magnificent
+concerto--
+
+"I will honestly tell you of one scheme which has lately come into my
+head, for bringing matters to bear; indeed I am bound to let you into
+the secret, for you are a party concerned.  I dare say you have seen
+enough of Edward to know that he would prefer the church to every other
+profession; now my plan is that he should take orders as soon as he
+can, and then through your interest, which I am sure you would be kind
+enough to use out of friendship for him, and I hope out of some regard
+to me, your brother might be persuaded to give him Norland living;
+which I understand is a very good one, and the present incumbent not
+likely to live a great while.  That would be enough for us to marry
+upon, and we might trust to time and chance for the rest."
+
+"I should always be happy," replied Elinor, "to show any mark of my
+esteem and friendship for Mr. Ferrars; but do you not perceive that my
+interest on such an occasion would be perfectly unnecessary?  He is
+brother to Mrs. John Dashwood--THAT must be recommendation enough to
+her husband."
+
+"But Mrs. John Dashwood would not much approve of Edward's going into
+orders."
+
+"Then I rather suspect that my interest would do very little."
+
+They were again silent for many minutes.  At length Lucy exclaimed with
+a deep sigh,
+
+"I believe it would be the wisest way to put an end to the business at
+once by dissolving the engagement.  We seem so beset with difficulties
+on every side, that though it would make us miserable for a time, we
+should be happier perhaps in the end.  But you will not give me your
+advice, Miss Dashwood?"
+
+"No," answered Elinor, with a smile, which concealed very agitated
+feelings, "on such a subject I certainly will not.  You know very well
+that my opinion would have no weight with you, unless it were on the
+side of your wishes."
+
+"Indeed you wrong me," replied Lucy, with great solemnity; "I know
+nobody of whose judgment I think so highly as I do of yours; and I do
+really believe, that if you was to say to me, 'I advise you by all
+means to put an end to your engagement with Edward Ferrars, it will be
+more for the happiness of both of you,' I should resolve upon doing it
+immediately."
+
+Elinor blushed for the insincerity of Edward's future wife, and
+replied, "This compliment would effectually frighten me from giving any
+opinion on the subject had I formed one.  It raises my influence much
+too high; the power of dividing two people so tenderly attached is too
+much for an indifferent person."
+
+"'Tis because you are an indifferent person," said Lucy, with some
+pique, and laying a particular stress on those words, "that your
+judgment might justly have such weight with me.  If you could be
+supposed to be biased in any respect by your own feelings, your opinion
+would not be worth having."
+
+Elinor thought it wisest to make no answer to this, lest they might
+provoke each other to an unsuitable increase of ease and unreserve; and
+was even partly determined never to mention the subject again.  Another
+pause therefore of many minutes' duration, succeeded this speech, and
+Lucy was still the first to end it.
+
+"Shall you be in town this winter, Miss Dashwood?" said she with all
+her accustomary complacency.
+
+"Certainly not."
+
+"I am sorry for that," returned the other, while her eyes brightened at
+the information, "it would have gave me such pleasure to meet you
+there!  But I dare say you will go for all that.  To be sure, your
+brother and sister will ask you to come to them."
+
+"It will not be in my power to accept their invitation if they do."
+
+"How unlucky that is! I had quite depended upon meeting you there.
+Anne and me are to go the latter end of January to some relations who
+have been wanting us to visit them these several years!  But I only go
+for the sake of seeing Edward.  He will be there in February, otherwise
+London would have no charms for me; I have not spirits for it."
+
+Elinor was soon called to the card-table by the conclusion of the first
+rubber, and the confidential discourse of the two ladies was therefore
+at an end, to which both of them submitted without any reluctance, for
+nothing had been said on either side to make them dislike each other
+less than they had done before; and Elinor sat down to the card table
+with the melancholy persuasion that Edward was not only without
+affection for the person who was to be his wife; but that he had not
+even the chance of being tolerably happy in marriage, which sincere
+affection on HER side would have given, for self-interest alone could
+induce a woman to keep a man to an engagement, of which she seemed so
+thoroughly aware that he was weary.
+
+From this time the subject was never revived by Elinor, and when
+entered on by Lucy, who seldom missed an opportunity of introducing it,
+and was particularly careful to inform her confidante, of her happiness
+whenever she received a letter from Edward, it was treated by the
+former with calmness and caution, and dismissed as soon as civility
+would allow; for she felt such conversations to be an indulgence which
+Lucy did not deserve, and which were dangerous to herself.
+
+The visit of the Miss Steeles at Barton Park was lengthened far beyond
+what the first invitation implied.  Their favour increased; they could
+not be spared; Sir John would not hear of their going; and in spite of
+their numerous and long arranged engagements in Exeter, in spite of the
+absolute necessity of returning to fulfill them immediately, which was
+in full force at the end of every week, they were prevailed on to stay
+nearly two months at the park, and to assist in the due celebration of
+that festival which requires a more than ordinary share of private
+balls and large dinners to proclaim its importance.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 25
+
+
+Though Mrs. Jennings was in the habit of spending a large portion of
+the year at the houses of her children and friends, she was not without
+a settled habitation of her own.  Since the death of her husband, who
+had traded with success in a less elegant part of the town, she had
+resided every winter in a house in one of the streets near Portman
+Square.  Towards this home, she began on the approach of January to
+turn her thoughts, and thither she one day abruptly, and very
+unexpectedly by them, asked the elder Misses Dashwood to accompany her.
+Elinor, without observing the varying complexion of her sister, and the
+animated look which spoke no indifference to the plan, immediately gave
+a grateful but absolute denial for both, in which she believed herself
+to be speaking their united inclinations.  The reason alleged was their
+determined resolution of not leaving their mother at that time of the
+year.  Mrs. Jennings received the refusal with some surprise, and
+repeated her invitation immediately.
+
+"Oh, Lord! I am sure your mother can spare you very well, and I DO beg
+you will favour me with your company, for I've quite set my heart upon
+it.  Don't fancy that you will be any inconvenience to me, for I shan't
+put myself at all out of my way for you.  It will only be sending Betty
+by the coach, and I hope I can afford THAT.  We three shall be able to
+go very well in my chaise; and when we are in town, if you do not like
+to go wherever I do, well and good, you may always go with one of my
+daughters.  I am sure your mother will not object to it; for I have had
+such good luck in getting my own children off my hands that she will
+think me a very fit person to have the charge of you; and if I don't
+get one of you at least well married before I have done with you, it
+shall not be my fault.  I shall speak a good word for you to all the
+young men, you may depend upon it."
+
+"I have a notion," said Sir John, "that Miss Marianne would not object
+to such a scheme, if her elder sister would come into it.  It is very
+hard indeed that she should not have a little pleasure, because Miss
+Dashwood does not wish it.  So I would advise you two, to set off for
+town, when you are tired of Barton, without saying a word to Miss
+Dashwood about it."
+
+"Nay," cried Mrs. Jennings, "I am sure I shall be monstrous glad of
+Miss Marianne's company, whether Miss Dashwood will go or not, only the
+more the merrier say I, and I thought it would be more comfortable for
+them to be together; because, if they got tired of me, they might talk
+to one another, and laugh at my old ways behind my back.  But one or
+the other, if not both of them, I must have.  Lord bless me! how do you
+think I can live poking by myself, I who have been always used till
+this winter to have Charlotte with me.  Come, Miss Marianne, let us
+strike hands upon the bargain, and if Miss Dashwood will change her
+mind by and bye, why so much the better."
+
+"I thank you, ma'am, sincerely thank you," said Marianne, with warmth:
+"your invitation has insured my gratitude for ever, and it would give
+me such happiness, yes, almost the greatest happiness I am capable of,
+to be able to accept it.  But my mother, my dearest, kindest mother,--I
+feel the justice of what Elinor has urged, and if she were to be made
+less happy, less comfortable by our absence--Oh! no, nothing should
+tempt me to leave her.  It should not, must not be a struggle."
+
+Mrs. Jennings repeated her assurance that Mrs. Dashwood could spare
+them perfectly well; and Elinor, who now understood her sister, and saw
+to what indifference to almost every thing else she was carried by her
+eagerness to be with Willoughby again, made no farther direct
+opposition to the plan, and merely referred it to her mother's
+decision, from whom however she scarcely expected to receive any
+support in her endeavour to prevent a visit, which she could not
+approve of for Marianne, and which on her own account she had
+particular reasons to avoid.  Whatever Marianne was desirous of, her
+mother would be eager to promote--she could not expect to influence the
+latter to cautiousness of conduct in an affair respecting which she had
+never been able to inspire her with distrust; and she dared not explain
+the motive of her own disinclination for going to London.  That
+Marianne, fastidious as she was, thoroughly acquainted with Mrs.
+Jennings' manners, and invariably disgusted by them, should overlook
+every inconvenience of that kind, should disregard whatever must be
+most wounding to her irritable feelings, in her pursuit of one object,
+was such a proof, so strong, so full, of the importance of that object
+to her, as Elinor, in spite of all that had passed, was not prepared to
+witness.
+
+On being informed of the invitation, Mrs. Dashwood, persuaded that such
+an excursion would be productive of much amusement to both her
+daughters, and perceiving through all her affectionate attention to
+herself, how much the heart of Marianne was in it, would not hear of
+their declining the offer upon HER account; insisted on their both
+accepting it directly; and then began to foresee, with her usual
+cheerfulness, a variety of advantages that would accrue to them all,
+from this separation.
+
+"I am delighted with the plan," she cried, "it is exactly what I could
+wish.  Margaret and I shall be as much benefited by it as yourselves.
+When you and the Middletons are gone, we shall go on so quietly and
+happily together with our books and our music! You will find Margaret
+so improved when you come back again!  I have a little plan of
+alteration for your bedrooms too, which may now be performed without
+any inconvenience to any one.  It is very right that you SHOULD go to
+town; I would have every young woman of your condition in life
+acquainted with the manners and amusements of London.  You will be
+under the care of a motherly good sort of woman, of whose kindness to
+you I can have no doubt.  And in all probability you will see your
+brother, and whatever may be his faults, or the faults of his wife,
+when I consider whose son he is, I cannot bear to have you so wholly
+estranged from each other."
+
+"Though with your usual anxiety for our happiness," said Elinor, "you
+have been obviating every impediment to the present scheme which
+occurred to you, there is still one objection which, in my opinion,
+cannot be so easily removed."
+
+Marianne's countenance sunk.
+
+"And what," said Mrs. Dashwood, "is my dear prudent Elinor going to
+suggest?  What formidable obstacle is she now to bring forward?  Do let
+me hear a word about the expense of it."
+
+"My objection is this; though I think very well of Mrs. Jennings's
+heart, she is not a woman whose society can afford us pleasure, or
+whose protection will give us consequence."
+
+"That is very true," replied her mother, "but of her society,
+separately from that of other people, you will scarcely have any thing
+at all, and you will almost always appear in public with Lady
+Middleton."
+
+"If Elinor is frightened away by her dislike of Mrs. Jennings," said
+Marianne, "at least it need not prevent MY accepting her invitation.  I
+have no such scruples, and I am sure I could put up with every
+unpleasantness of that kind with very little effort."
+
+Elinor could not help smiling at this display of indifference towards
+the manners of a person, to whom she had often had difficulty in
+persuading Marianne to behave with tolerable politeness; and resolved
+within herself, that if her sister persisted in going, she would go
+likewise, as she did not think it proper that Marianne should be left
+to the sole guidance of her own judgment, or that Mrs. Jennings should
+be abandoned to the mercy of Marianne for all the comfort of her
+domestic hours.  To this determination she was the more easily
+reconciled, by recollecting that Edward Ferrars, by Lucy's account, was
+not to be in town before February; and that their visit, without any
+unreasonable abridgement, might be previously finished.
+
+"I will have you BOTH go," said Mrs. Dashwood; "these objections are
+nonsensical.  You will have much pleasure in being in London, and
+especially in being together; and if Elinor would ever condescend to
+anticipate enjoyment, she would foresee it there from a variety of
+sources; she would, perhaps, expect some from improving her
+acquaintance with her sister-in-law's family."
+
+Elinor had often wished for an opportunity of attempting to weaken her
+mother's dependence on the attachment of Edward and herself, that the
+shock might be less when the whole truth were revealed, and now on this
+attack, though almost hopeless of success, she forced herself to begin
+her design by saying, as calmly as she could, "I like Edward Ferrars
+very much, and shall always be glad to see him; but as to the rest of
+the family, it is a matter of perfect indifference to me, whether I am
+ever known to them or not."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood smiled, and said nothing.  Marianne lifted up her eyes in
+astonishment, and Elinor conjectured that she might as well have held
+her tongue.
+
+After very little farther discourse, it was finally settled that the
+invitation should be fully accepted.  Mrs. Jennings received the
+information with a great deal of joy, and many assurances of kindness
+and care; nor was it a matter of pleasure merely to her.  Sir John was
+delighted; for to a man, whose prevailing anxiety was the dread of
+being alone, the acquisition of two, to the number of inhabitants in
+London, was something.  Even Lady Middleton took the trouble of being
+delighted, which was putting herself rather out of her way; and as for
+the Miss Steeles, especially Lucy, they had never been so happy in
+their lives as this intelligence made them.
+
+Elinor submitted to the arrangement which counteracted her wishes with
+less reluctance than she had expected to feel.  With regard to herself,
+it was now a matter of unconcern whether she went to town or not, and
+when she saw her mother so thoroughly pleased with the plan, and her
+sister exhilarated by it in look, voice, and manner, restored to all
+her usual animation, and elevated to more than her usual gaiety, she
+could not be dissatisfied with the cause, and would hardly allow
+herself to distrust the consequence.
+
+Marianne's joy was almost a degree beyond happiness, so great was the
+perturbation of her spirits and her impatience to be gone.  Her
+unwillingness to quit her mother was her only restorative to calmness;
+and at the moment of parting her grief on that score was excessive.
+Her mother's affliction was hardly less, and Elinor was the only one of
+the three, who seemed to consider the separation as any thing short of
+eternal.
+
+Their departure took place in the first week in January.  The
+Middletons were to follow in about a week.  The Miss Steeles kept their
+station at the park, and were to quit it only with the rest of the
+family.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 26
+
+
+Elinor could not find herself in the carriage with Mrs. Jennings, and
+beginning a journey to London under her protection, and as her guest,
+without wondering at her own situation, so short had their acquaintance
+with that lady been, so wholly unsuited were they in age and
+disposition, and so many had been her objections against such a measure
+only a few days before! But these objections had all, with that happy
+ardour of youth which Marianne and her mother equally shared, been
+overcome or overlooked; and Elinor, in spite of every occasional doubt
+of Willoughby's constancy, could not witness the rapture of delightful
+expectation which filled the whole soul and beamed in the eyes of
+Marianne, without feeling how blank was her own prospect, how cheerless
+her own state of mind in the comparison, and how gladly she would
+engage in the solicitude of Marianne's situation to have the same
+animating object in view, the same possibility of hope.  A short, a
+very short time however must now decide what Willoughby's intentions
+were; in all probability he was already in town.  Marianne's eagerness
+to be gone declared her dependence on finding him there; and Elinor was
+resolved not only upon gaining every new light as to his character
+which her own observation or the intelligence of others could give her,
+but likewise upon watching his behaviour to her sister with such
+zealous attention, as to ascertain what he was and what he meant,
+before many meetings had taken place.  Should the result of her
+observations be unfavourable, she was determined at all events to open
+the eyes of her sister; should it be otherwise, her exertions would be
+of a different nature--she must then learn to avoid every selfish
+comparison, and banish every regret which might lessen her satisfaction
+in the happiness of Marianne.
+
+They were three days on their journey, and Marianne's behaviour as they
+travelled was a happy specimen of what future complaisance and
+companionableness to Mrs. Jennings might be expected to be.  She sat in
+silence almost all the way, wrapt in her own meditations, and scarcely
+ever voluntarily speaking, except when any object of picturesque beauty
+within their view drew from her an exclamation of delight exclusively
+addressed to her sister.  To atone for this conduct therefore, Elinor
+took immediate possession of the post of civility which she had
+assigned herself, behaved with the greatest attention to Mrs. Jennings,
+talked with her, laughed with her, and listened to her whenever she
+could; and Mrs. Jennings on her side treated them both with all
+possible kindness, was solicitous on every occasion for their ease and
+enjoyment, and only disturbed that she could not make them choose their
+own dinners at the inn, nor extort a confession of their preferring
+salmon to cod, or boiled fowls to veal cutlets.  They reached town by
+three o'clock the third day, glad to be released, after such a journey,
+from the confinement of a carriage, and ready to enjoy all the luxury
+of a good fire.
+
+The house was handsome, and handsomely fitted up, and the young ladies
+were immediately put in possession of a very comfortable apartment.  It
+had formerly been Charlotte's, and over the mantelpiece still hung a
+landscape in coloured silks of her performance, in proof of her having
+spent seven years at a great school in town to some effect.
+
+As dinner was not to be ready in less than two hours from their
+arrival, Elinor determined to employ the interval in writing to her
+mother, and sat down for that purpose.  In a few moments Marianne did
+the same.  "I am writing home, Marianne," said Elinor; "had not you
+better defer your letter for a day or two?"
+
+"I am NOT going to write to my mother," replied Marianne, hastily, and
+as if wishing to avoid any farther inquiry.  Elinor said no more; it
+immediately struck her that she must then be writing to Willoughby; and
+the conclusion which as instantly followed was, that, however
+mysteriously they might wish to conduct the affair, they must be
+engaged.  This conviction, though not entirely satisfactory, gave her
+pleasure, and she continued her letter with greater alacrity.
+Marianne's was finished in a very few minutes; in length it could be no
+more than a note; it was then folded up, sealed, and directed with
+eager rapidity.  Elinor thought she could distinguish a large W in the
+direction; and no sooner was it complete than Marianne, ringing the
+bell, requested the footman who answered it to get that letter conveyed
+for her to the two-penny post.  This decided the matter at once.
+
+Her spirits still continued very high; but there was a flutter in them
+which prevented their giving much pleasure to her sister, and this
+agitation increased as the evening drew on.  She could scarcely eat any
+dinner, and when they afterwards returned to the drawing room, seemed
+anxiously listening to the sound of every carriage.
+
+It was a great satisfaction to Elinor that Mrs. Jennings, by being much
+engaged in her own room, could see little of what was passing.  The tea
+things were brought in, and already had Marianne been disappointed more
+than once by a rap at a neighbouring door, when a loud one was suddenly
+heard which could not be mistaken for one at any other house, Elinor
+felt secure of its announcing Willoughby's approach, and Marianne,
+starting up, moved towards the door.  Every thing was silent; this
+could not be borne many seconds; she opened the door, advanced a few
+steps towards the stairs, and after listening half a minute, returned
+into the room in all the agitation which a conviction of having heard
+him would naturally produce; in the ecstasy of her feelings at that
+instant she could not help exclaiming, "Oh, Elinor, it is Willoughby,
+indeed it is!" and seemed almost ready to throw herself into his arms,
+when Colonel Brandon appeared.
+
+It was too great a shock to be borne with calmness, and she immediately
+left the room.  Elinor was disappointed too; but at the same time her
+regard for Colonel Brandon ensured his welcome with her; and she felt
+particularly hurt that a man so partial to her sister should perceive
+that she experienced nothing but grief and disappointment in seeing
+him.  She instantly saw that it was not unnoticed by him, that he even
+observed Marianne as she quitted the room, with such astonishment and
+concern, as hardly left him the recollection of what civility demanded
+towards herself.
+
+"Is your sister ill?" said he.
+
+Elinor answered in some distress that she was, and then talked of
+head-aches, low spirits, and over fatigues; and of every thing to which
+she could decently attribute her sister's behaviour.
+
+He heard her with the most earnest attention, but seeming to recollect
+himself, said no more on the subject, and began directly to speak of
+his pleasure at seeing them in London, making the usual inquiries about
+their journey, and the friends they had left behind.
+
+In this calm kind of way, with very little interest on either side,
+they continued to talk, both of them out of spirits, and the thoughts
+of both engaged elsewhere.  Elinor wished very much to ask whether
+Willoughby were then in town, but she was afraid of giving him pain by
+any enquiry after his rival; and at length, by way of saying something,
+she asked if he had been in London ever since she had seen him last.
+"Yes," he replied, with some embarrassment, "almost ever since; I have
+been once or twice at Delaford for a few days, but it has never been in
+my power to return to Barton."
+
+This, and the manner in which it was said, immediately brought back to
+her remembrance all the circumstances of his quitting that place, with
+the uneasiness and suspicions they had caused to Mrs. Jennings, and she
+was fearful that her question had implied much more curiosity on the
+subject than she had ever felt.
+
+Mrs. Jennings soon came in.  "Oh! Colonel," said she, with her usual
+noisy cheerfulness, "I am monstrous glad to see you--sorry I could not
+come before--beg your pardon, but I have been forced to look about me a
+little, and settle my matters; for it is a long while since I have been
+at home, and you know one has always a world of little odd things to do
+after one has been away for any time; and then I have had Cartwright to
+settle with-- Lord, I have been as busy as a bee ever since dinner!
+But pray, Colonel, how came you to conjure out that I should be in town
+today?"
+
+"I had the pleasure of hearing it at Mr. Palmer's, where I have been
+dining."
+
+"Oh, you did; well, and how do they all do at their house?  How does
+Charlotte do?  I warrant you she is a fine size by this time."
+
+"Mrs. Palmer appeared quite well, and I am commissioned to tell you,
+that you will certainly see her to-morrow."
+
+"Ay, to be sure, I thought as much.  Well, Colonel, I have brought two
+young ladies with me, you see--that is, you see but one of them now,
+but there is another somewhere.  Your friend, Miss Marianne, too--which
+you will not be sorry to hear.  I do not know what you and Mr.
+Willoughby will do between you about her.  Ay, it is a fine thing to be
+young and handsome.  Well! I was young once, but I never was very
+handsome--worse luck for me.  However, I got a very good husband, and I
+don't know what the greatest beauty can do more.  Ah! poor man! he has
+been dead these eight years and better.  But Colonel, where have you
+been to since we parted?  And how does your business go on?  Come,
+come, let's have no secrets among friends."
+
+He replied with his accustomary mildness to all her inquiries, but
+without satisfying her in any.  Elinor now began to make the tea, and
+Marianne was obliged to appear again.
+
+After her entrance, Colonel Brandon became more thoughtful and silent
+than he had been before, and Mrs. Jennings could not prevail on him to
+stay long.  No other visitor appeared that evening, and the ladies were
+unanimous in agreeing to go early to bed.
+
+Marianne rose the next morning with recovered spirits and happy looks.
+The disappointment of the evening before seemed forgotten in the
+expectation of what was to happen that day.  They had not long finished
+their breakfast before Mrs. Palmer's barouche stopped at the door, and
+in a few minutes she came laughing into the room: so delighted to see
+them all, that it was hard to say whether she received most pleasure
+from meeting her mother or the Miss Dashwoods again.  So surprised at
+their coming to town, though it was what she had rather expected all
+along; so angry at their accepting her mother's invitation after having
+declined her own, though at the same time she would never have forgiven
+them if they had not come!
+
+"Mr. Palmer will be so happy to see you," said she; "What do you think
+he said when he heard of your coming with Mama?  I forget what it was
+now, but it was something so droll!"
+
+After an hour or two spent in what her mother called comfortable chat,
+or in other words, in every variety of inquiry concerning all their
+acquaintance on Mrs. Jennings's side, and in laughter without cause on
+Mrs. Palmer's, it was proposed by the latter that they should all
+accompany her to some shops where she had business that morning, to
+which Mrs. Jennings and Elinor readily consented, as having likewise
+some purchases to make themselves; and Marianne, though declining it at
+first was induced to go likewise.
+
+Wherever they went, she was evidently always on the watch.  In Bond
+Street especially, where much of their business lay, her eyes were in
+constant inquiry; and in whatever shop the party were engaged, her mind
+was equally abstracted from every thing actually before them, from all
+that interested and occupied the others.  Restless and dissatisfied
+every where, her sister could never obtain her opinion of any article
+of purchase, however it might equally concern them both: she received
+no pleasure from anything; was only impatient to be at home again, and
+could with difficulty govern her vexation at the tediousness of Mrs.
+Palmer, whose eye was caught by every thing pretty, expensive, or new;
+who was wild to buy all, could determine on none, and dawdled away her
+time in rapture and indecision.
+
+It was late in the morning before they returned home; and no sooner had
+they entered the house than Marianne flew eagerly up stairs, and when
+Elinor followed, she found her turning from the table with a sorrowful
+countenance, which declared that no Willoughby had been there.
+
+"Has no letter been left here for me since we went out?" said she to
+the footman who then entered with the parcels.  She was answered in the
+negative.  "Are you quite sure of it?" she replied.  "Are you certain
+that no servant, no porter has left any letter or note?"
+
+The man replied that none had.
+
+"How very odd!" said she, in a low and disappointed voice, as she
+turned away to the window.
+
+"How odd, indeed!" repeated Elinor within herself, regarding her sister
+with uneasiness.  "If she had not known him to be in town she would not
+have written to him, as she did; she would have written to Combe Magna;
+and if he is in town, how odd that he should neither come nor write!
+Oh! my dear mother, you must be wrong in permitting an engagement
+between a daughter so young, a man so little known, to be carried on in
+so doubtful, so mysterious a manner!  I long to inquire; and how will
+MY interference be borne."
+
+She determined, after some consideration, that if appearances continued
+many days longer as unpleasant as they now were, she would represent in
+the strongest manner to her mother the necessity of some serious
+enquiry into the affair.
+
+Mrs. Palmer and two elderly ladies of Mrs. Jennings's intimate
+acquaintance, whom she had met and invited in the morning, dined with
+them.  The former left them soon after tea to fulfill her evening
+engagements; and Elinor was obliged to assist in making a whist table
+for the others.  Marianne was of no use on these occasions, as she
+would never learn the game; but though her time was therefore at her
+own disposal, the evening was by no means more productive of pleasure
+to her than to Elinor, for it was spent in all the anxiety of
+expectation and the pain of disappointment.  She sometimes endeavoured
+for a few minutes to read; but the book was soon thrown aside, and she
+returned to the more interesting employment of walking backwards and
+forwards across the room, pausing for a moment whenever she came to the
+window, in hopes of distinguishing the long-expected rap.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 27
+
+
+"If this open weather holds much longer," said Mrs. Jennings, when they
+met at breakfast the following morning, "Sir John will not like leaving
+Barton next week; 'tis a sad thing for sportsmen to lose a day's
+pleasure.  Poor souls!  I always pity them when they do; they seem to
+take it so much to heart."
+
+"That is true," cried Marianne, in a cheerful voice, and walking to the
+window as she spoke, to examine the day.  "I had not thought of that.
+This weather will keep many sportsmen in the country."
+
+It was a lucky recollection, all her good spirits were restored by it.
+"It is charming weather for THEM indeed," she continued, as she sat
+down to the breakfast table with a happy countenance.  "How much they
+must enjoy it! But" (with a little return of anxiety) "it cannot be
+expected to last long.  At this time of the year, and after such a
+series of rain, we shall certainly have very little more of it.  Frosts
+will soon set in, and in all probability with severity.  In another day
+or two perhaps; this extreme mildness can hardly last longer--nay,
+perhaps it may freeze tonight!"
+
+"At any rate," said Elinor, wishing to prevent Mrs. Jennings from
+seeing her sister's thoughts as clearly as she did, "I dare say we
+shall have Sir John and Lady Middleton in town by the end of next week."
+
+"Ay, my dear, I'll warrant you we do.  Mary always has her own way."
+
+"And now," silently conjectured Elinor, "she will write to Combe by
+this day's post."
+
+But if she DID, the letter was written and sent away with a privacy
+which eluded all her watchfulness to ascertain the fact.  Whatever the
+truth of it might be, and far as Elinor was from feeling thorough
+contentment about it, yet while she saw Marianne in spirits, she could
+not be very uncomfortable herself.  And Marianne was in spirits; happy
+in the mildness of the weather, and still happier in her expectation of
+a frost.
+
+The morning was chiefly spent in leaving cards at the houses of Mrs.
+Jennings's acquaintance to inform them of her being in town; and
+Marianne was all the time busy in observing the direction of the wind,
+watching the variations of the sky and imagining an alteration in the
+air.
+
+"Don't you find it colder than it was in the morning, Elinor? There
+seems to me a very decided difference.  I can hardly keep my hands warm
+even in my muff.  It was not so yesterday, I think.  The clouds seem
+parting too, the sun will be out in a moment, and we shall have a clear
+afternoon."
+
+Elinor was alternately diverted and pained; but Marianne persevered,
+and saw every night in the brightness of the fire, and every morning in
+the appearance of the atmosphere, the certain symptoms of approaching
+frost.
+
+The Miss Dashwoods had no greater reason to be dissatisfied with Mrs.
+Jennings's style of living, and set of acquaintance, than with her
+behaviour to themselves, which was invariably kind.  Every thing in her
+household arrangements was conducted on the most liberal plan, and
+excepting a few old city friends, whom, to Lady Middleton's regret, she
+had never dropped, she visited no one to whom an introduction could at
+all discompose the feelings of her young companions.  Pleased to find
+herself more comfortably situated in that particular than she had
+expected, Elinor was very willing to compound for the want of much real
+enjoyment from any of their evening parties, which, whether at home or
+abroad, formed only for cards, could have little to amuse her.
+
+Colonel Brandon, who had a general invitation to the house, was with
+them almost every day; he came to look at Marianne and talk to Elinor,
+who often derived more satisfaction from conversing with him than from
+any other daily occurrence, but who saw at the same time with much
+concern his continued regard for her sister.  She feared it was a
+strengthening regard.  It grieved her to see the earnestness with which
+he often watched Marianne, and his spirits were certainly worse than
+when at Barton.
+
+About a week after their arrival, it became certain that Willoughby was
+also arrived.  His card was on the table when they came in from the
+morning's drive.
+
+"Good God!" cried Marianne, "he has been here while we were out."
+Elinor, rejoiced to be assured of his being in London, now ventured to
+say, "Depend upon it, he will call again tomorrow."  But Marianne
+seemed hardly to hear her, and on Mrs. Jennings's entrance, escaped with
+the precious card.
+
+This event, while it raised the spirits of Elinor, restored to those of
+her sister all, and more than all, their former agitation.  From this
+moment her mind was never quiet; the expectation of seeing him every
+hour of the day, made her unfit for any thing.  She insisted on being
+left behind, the next morning, when the others went out.
+
+Elinor's thoughts were full of what might be passing in Berkeley Street
+during their absence; but a moment's glance at her sister when they
+returned was enough to inform her, that Willoughby had paid no second
+visit there.  A note was just then brought in, and laid on the table.
+
+"For me!" cried Marianne, stepping hastily forward.
+
+"No, ma'am, for my mistress."
+
+But Marianne, not convinced, took it instantly up.
+
+"It is indeed for Mrs. Jennings; how provoking!"
+
+"You are expecting a letter, then?" said Elinor, unable to be longer
+silent.
+
+"Yes, a little--not much."
+
+After a short pause.  "You have no confidence in me, Marianne."
+
+"Nay, Elinor, this reproach from YOU--you who have confidence in no
+one!"
+
+"Me!" returned Elinor in some confusion; "indeed, Marianne, I have
+nothing to tell."
+
+"Nor I," answered Marianne with energy, "our situations then are alike.
+We have neither of us any thing to tell; you, because you do not
+communicate, and I, because I conceal nothing."
+
+Elinor, distressed by this charge of reserve in herself, which she was
+not at liberty to do away, knew not how, under such circumstances, to
+press for greater openness in Marianne.
+
+Mrs. Jennings soon appeared, and the note being given her, she read it
+aloud.  It was from Lady Middleton, announcing their arrival in Conduit
+Street the night before, and requesting the company of her mother and
+cousins the following evening.  Business on Sir John's part, and a
+violent cold on her own, prevented their calling in Berkeley Street.
+The invitation was accepted; but when the hour of appointment drew
+near, necessary as it was in common civility to Mrs. Jennings, that
+they should both attend her on such a visit, Elinor had some difficulty
+in persuading her sister to go, for still she had seen nothing of
+Willoughby; and therefore was not more indisposed for amusement abroad,
+than unwilling to run the risk of his calling again in her absence.
+
+Elinor found, when the evening was over, that disposition is not
+materially altered by a change of abode, for although scarcely settled
+in town, Sir John had contrived to collect around him, nearly twenty
+young people, and to amuse them with a ball.  This was an affair,
+however, of which Lady Middleton did not approve.  In the country, an
+unpremeditated dance was very allowable; but in London, where the
+reputation of elegance was more important and less easily attained, it
+was risking too much for the gratification of a few girls, to have it
+known that Lady Middleton had given a small dance of eight or nine
+couple, with two violins, and a mere side-board collation.
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Palmer were of the party; from the former, whom they had
+not seen before since their arrival in town, as he was careful to avoid
+the appearance of any attention to his mother-in-law, and therefore
+never came near her, they received no mark of recognition on their
+entrance.  He looked at them slightly, without seeming to know who they
+were, and merely nodded to Mrs. Jennings from the other side of the
+room.  Marianne gave one glance round the apartment as she entered: it
+was enough--HE was not there--and she sat down, equally ill-disposed to
+receive or communicate pleasure.  After they had been assembled about
+an hour, Mr. Palmer sauntered towards the Miss Dashwoods to express his
+surprise on seeing them in town, though Colonel Brandon had been first
+informed of their arrival at his house, and he had himself said
+something very droll on hearing that they were to come.
+
+"I thought you were both in Devonshire," said he.
+
+"Did you?" replied Elinor.
+
+"When do you go back again?"
+
+"I do not know." And thus ended their discourse.
+
+Never had Marianne been so unwilling to dance in her life, as she was
+that evening, and never so much fatigued by the exercise.  She
+complained of it as they returned to Berkeley Street.
+
+"Aye, aye," said Mrs. Jennings, "we know the reason of all that very
+well; if a certain person who shall be nameless, had been there, you
+would not have been a bit tired: and to say the truth it was not very
+pretty of him not to give you the meeting when he was invited."
+
+"Invited!" cried Marianne.
+
+"So my daughter Middleton told me, for it seems Sir John met him
+somewhere in the street this morning." Marianne said no more, but
+looked exceedingly hurt.  Impatient in this situation to be doing
+something that might lead to her sister's relief, Elinor resolved to
+write the next morning to her mother, and hoped by awakening her fears
+for the health of Marianne, to procure those inquiries which had been
+so long delayed; and she was still more eagerly bent on this measure by
+perceiving after breakfast on the morrow, that Marianne was again
+writing to Willoughby, for she could not suppose it to be to any other
+person.
+
+About the middle of the day, Mrs. Jennings went out by herself on
+business, and Elinor began her letter directly, while Marianne, too
+restless for employment, too anxious for conversation, walked from one
+window to the other, or sat down by the fire in melancholy meditation.
+Elinor was very earnest in her application to her mother, relating all
+that had passed, her suspicions of Willoughby's inconstancy, urging her
+by every plea of duty and affection to demand from Marianne an account
+of her real situation with respect to him.
+
+Her letter was scarcely finished, when a rap foretold a visitor, and
+Colonel Brandon was announced.  Marianne, who had seen him from the
+window, and who hated company of any kind, left the room before he
+entered it.  He looked more than usually grave, and though expressing
+satisfaction at finding Miss Dashwood alone, as if he had somewhat in
+particular to tell her, sat for some time without saying a word.
+Elinor, persuaded that he had some communication to make in which her
+sister was concerned, impatiently expected its opening.  It was not the
+first time of her feeling the same kind of conviction; for, more than
+once before, beginning with the observation of "your sister looks
+unwell to-day," or "your sister seems out of spirits," he had appeared
+on the point, either of disclosing, or of inquiring, something
+particular about her.  After a pause of several minutes, their silence
+was broken, by his asking her in a voice of some agitation, when he was
+to congratulate her on the acquisition of a brother?  Elinor was not
+prepared for such a question, and having no answer ready, was obliged
+to adopt the simple and common expedient, of asking what he meant?  He
+tried to smile as he replied, "your sister's engagement to Mr.
+Willoughby is very generally known."
+
+"It cannot be generally known," returned Elinor, "for her own family do
+not know it."
+
+He looked surprised and said, "I beg your pardon, I am afraid my
+inquiry has been impertinent; but I had not supposed any secrecy
+intended, as they openly correspond, and their marriage is universally
+talked of."
+
+"How can that be? By whom can you have heard it mentioned?"
+
+"By many--by some of whom you know nothing, by others with whom you are
+most intimate, Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. Palmer, and the Middletons.  But
+still I might not have believed it, for where the mind is perhaps
+rather unwilling to be convinced, it will always find something to
+support its doubts, if I had not, when the servant let me in today,
+accidentally seen a letter in his hand, directed to Mr. Willoughby in
+your sister's writing.  I came to inquire, but I was convinced before I
+could ask the question.  Is every thing finally settled?  Is it
+impossible to-?  But I have no right, and I could have no chance of
+succeeding.  Excuse me, Miss Dashwood.  I believe I have been wrong in
+saying so much, but I hardly know what to do, and on your prudence I
+have the strongest dependence.  Tell me that it is all absolutely
+resolved on, that any attempt, that in short concealment, if
+concealment be possible, is all that remains."
+
+These words, which conveyed to Elinor a direct avowal of his love for
+her sister, affected her very much.  She was not immediately able to
+say anything, and even when her spirits were recovered, she debated for
+a short time, on the answer it would be most proper to give.  The real
+state of things between Willoughby and her sister was so little known
+to herself, that in endeavouring to explain it, she might be as liable
+to say too much as too little.  Yet as she was convinced that
+Marianne's affection for Willoughby, could leave no hope of Colonel
+Brandon's success, whatever the event of that affection might be, and
+at the same time wished to shield her conduct from censure, she thought
+it most prudent and kind, after some consideration, to say more than
+she really knew or believed.  She acknowledged, therefore, that though
+she had never been informed by themselves of the terms on which they
+stood with each other, of their mutual affection she had no doubt, and
+of their correspondence she was not astonished to hear.
+
+He listened to her with silent attention, and on her ceasing to speak,
+rose directly from his seat, and after saying in a voice of emotion,
+"to your sister I wish all imaginable happiness; to Willoughby that he
+may endeavour to deserve her,"--took leave, and went away.
+
+Elinor derived no comfortable feelings from this conversation, to
+lessen the uneasiness of her mind on other points; she was left, on the
+contrary, with a melancholy impression of Colonel Brandon's
+unhappiness, and was prevented even from wishing it removed, by her
+anxiety for the very event that must confirm it.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 28
+
+
+Nothing occurred during the next three or four days, to make Elinor
+regret what she had done, in applying to her mother; for Willoughby
+neither came nor wrote.  They were engaged about the end of that time
+to attend Lady Middleton to a party, from which Mrs. Jennings was kept
+away by the indisposition of her youngest daughter; and for this party,
+Marianne, wholly dispirited, careless of her appearance, and seeming
+equally indifferent whether she went or staid, prepared, without one
+look of hope or one expression of pleasure.  She sat by the
+drawing-room fire after tea, till the moment of Lady Middleton's
+arrival, without once stirring from her seat, or altering her attitude,
+lost in her own thoughts, and insensible of her sister's presence; and
+when at last they were told that Lady Middleton waited for them at the
+door, she started as if she had forgotten that any one was expected.
+
+They arrived in due time at the place of destination, and as soon as
+the string of carriages before them would allow, alighted, ascended the
+stairs, heard their names announced from one landing-place to another
+in an audible voice, and entered a room splendidly lit up, quite full
+of company, and insufferably hot.  When they had paid their tribute of
+politeness by curtsying to the lady of the house, they were permitted
+to mingle in the crowd, and take their share of the heat and
+inconvenience, to which their arrival must necessarily add.  After some
+time spent in saying little or doing less, Lady Middleton sat down to
+Cassino, and as Marianne was not in spirits for moving about, she and
+Elinor luckily succeeding to chairs, placed themselves at no great
+distance from the table.
+
+They had not remained in this manner long, before Elinor perceived
+Willoughby, standing within a few yards of them, in earnest
+conversation with a very fashionable looking young woman.  She soon
+caught his eye, and he immediately bowed, but without attempting to
+speak to her, or to approach Marianne, though he could not but see her;
+and then continued his discourse with the same lady.  Elinor turned
+involuntarily to Marianne, to see whether it could be unobserved by
+her.  At that moment she first perceived him, and her whole countenance
+glowing with sudden delight, she would have moved towards him
+instantly, had not her sister caught hold of her.
+
+"Good heavens!" she exclaimed, "he is there--he is there--Oh! why does
+he not look at me? why cannot I speak to him?"
+
+"Pray, pray be composed," cried Elinor, "and do not betray what you
+feel to every body present.  Perhaps he has not observed you yet."
+
+This however was more than she could believe herself; and to be
+composed at such a moment was not only beyond the reach of Marianne, it
+was beyond her wish.  She sat in an agony of impatience which affected
+every feature.
+
+At last he turned round again, and regarded them both; she started up,
+and pronouncing his name in a tone of affection, held out her hand to
+him.  He approached, and addressing himself rather to Elinor than
+Marianne, as if wishing to avoid her eye, and determined not to observe
+her attitude, inquired in a hurried manner after Mrs. Dashwood, and
+asked how long they had been in town.  Elinor was robbed of all
+presence of mind by such an address, and was unable to say a word.  But
+the feelings of her sister were instantly expressed.  Her face was
+crimsoned over, and she exclaimed, in a voice of the greatest emotion,
+"Good God! Willoughby, what is the meaning of this?  Have you not
+received my letters?  Will you not shake hands with me?"
+
+He could not then avoid it, but her touch seemed painful to him, and he
+held her hand only for a moment.  During all this time he was evidently
+struggling for composure.  Elinor watched his countenance and saw its
+expression becoming more tranquil.  After a moment's pause, he spoke
+with calmness.
+
+"I did myself the honour of calling in Berkeley Street last Tuesday,
+and very much regretted that I was not fortunate enough to find
+yourselves and Mrs. Jennings at home.  My card was not lost, I hope."
+
+"But have you not received my notes?" cried Marianne in the wildest
+anxiety.  "Here is some mistake I am sure--some dreadful mistake.  What
+can be the meaning of it?  Tell me, Willoughby; for heaven's sake tell
+me, what is the matter?"
+
+He made no reply; his complexion changed and all his embarrassment
+returned; but as if, on catching the eye of the young lady with whom he
+had been previously talking, he felt the necessity of instant exertion,
+he recovered himself again, and after saying, "Yes, I had the pleasure
+of receiving the information of your arrival in town, which you were so
+good as to send me," turned hastily away with a slight bow and joined
+his friend.
+
+Marianne, now looking dreadfully white, and unable to stand, sunk into
+her chair, and Elinor, expecting every moment to see her faint, tried
+to screen her from the observation of others, while reviving her with
+lavender water.
+
+"Go to him, Elinor," she cried, as soon as she could speak, "and force
+him to come to me.  Tell him I must see him again--must speak to him
+instantly.-- I cannot rest--I shall not have a moment's peace till this
+is explained--some dreadful misapprehension or other.-- Oh go to him
+this moment."
+
+"How can that be done? No, my dearest Marianne, you must wait.  This is
+not the place for explanations.  Wait only till tomorrow."
+
+With difficulty however could she prevent her from following him
+herself; and to persuade her to check her agitation, to wait, at least,
+with the appearance of composure, till she might speak to him with more
+privacy and more effect, was impossible; for Marianne continued
+incessantly to give way in a low voice to the misery of her feelings,
+by exclamations of wretchedness.  In a short time Elinor saw Willoughby
+quit the room by the door towards the staircase, and telling Marianne
+that he was gone, urged the impossibility of speaking to him again that
+evening, as a fresh argument for her to be calm.  She instantly begged
+her sister would entreat Lady Middleton to take them home, as she was
+too miserable to stay a minute longer.
+
+Lady Middleton, though in the middle of a rubber, on being informed
+that Marianne was unwell, was too polite to object for a moment to her
+wish of going away, and making over her cards to a friend, they
+departed as soon the carriage could be found.  Scarcely a word was
+spoken during their return to Berkeley Street.  Marianne was in a
+silent agony, too much oppressed even for tears; but as Mrs. Jennings
+was luckily not come home, they could go directly to their own room,
+where hartshorn restored her a little to herself.  She was soon
+undressed and in bed, and as she seemed desirous of being alone, her
+sister then left her, and while she waited the return of Mrs. Jennings,
+had leisure enough for thinking over the past.
+
+That some kind of engagement had subsisted between Willoughby and
+Marianne she could not doubt, and that Willoughby was weary of it,
+seemed equally clear; for however Marianne might still feed her own
+wishes, SHE could not attribute such behaviour to mistake or
+misapprehension of any kind.  Nothing but a thorough change of
+sentiment could account for it.  Her indignation would have been still
+stronger than it was, had she not witnessed that embarrassment which
+seemed to speak a consciousness of his own misconduct, and prevented
+her from believing him so unprincipled as to have been sporting with
+the affections of her sister from the first, without any design that
+would bear investigation.  Absence might have weakened his regard, and
+convenience might have determined him to overcome it, but that such a
+regard had formerly existed she could not bring herself to doubt.
+
+As for Marianne, on the pangs which so unhappy a meeting must already
+have given her, and on those still more severe which might await her in
+its probable consequence, she could not reflect without the deepest
+concern.  Her own situation gained in the comparison; for while she
+could ESTEEM Edward as much as ever, however they might be divided in
+future, her mind might be always supported.  But every circumstance
+that could embitter such an evil seemed uniting to heighten the misery
+of Marianne in a final separation from Willoughby--in an immediate and
+irreconcilable rupture with him.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 29
+
+
+Before the house-maid had lit their fire the next day, or the sun
+gained any power over a cold, gloomy morning in January, Marianne, only
+half dressed, was kneeling against one of the window-seats for the sake
+of all the little light she could command from it, and writing as fast
+as a continual flow of tears would permit her.  In this situation,
+Elinor, roused from sleep by her agitation and sobs, first perceived
+her; and after observing her for a few moments with silent anxiety,
+said, in a tone of the most considerate gentleness,
+
+"Marianne, may I ask-?"
+
+"No, Elinor," she replied, "ask nothing; you will soon know all."
+
+The sort of desperate calmness with which this was said, lasted no
+longer than while she spoke, and was immediately followed by a return
+of the same excessive affliction.  It was some minutes before she could
+go on with her letter, and the frequent bursts of grief which still
+obliged her, at intervals, to withhold her pen, were proofs enough of
+her feeling how more than probable it was that she was writing for the
+last time to Willoughby.
+
+Elinor paid her every quiet and unobtrusive attention in her power; and
+she would have tried to sooth and tranquilize her still more, had not
+Marianne entreated her, with all the eagerness of the most nervous
+irritability, not to speak to her for the world.  In such
+circumstances, it was better for both that they should not be long
+together; and the restless state of Marianne's mind not only prevented
+her from remaining in the room a moment after she was dressed, but
+requiring at once solitude and continual change of place, made her
+wander about the house till breakfast time, avoiding the sight of every
+body.
+
+At breakfast she neither ate, nor attempted to eat any thing; and
+Elinor's attention was then all employed, not in urging her, not in
+pitying her, nor in appearing to regard her, but in endeavouring to
+engage Mrs. Jennings's notice entirely to herself.
+
+As this was a favourite meal with Mrs. Jennings, it lasted a
+considerable time, and they were just setting themselves, after it,
+round the common working table, when a letter was delivered to
+Marianne, which she eagerly caught from the servant, and, turning of a
+death-like paleness, instantly ran out of the room.  Elinor, who saw as
+plainly by this, as if she had seen the direction, that it must come
+from Willoughby, felt immediately such a sickness at heart as made her
+hardly able to hold up her head, and sat in such a general tremour as
+made her fear it impossible to escape Mrs. Jennings's notice.  That good
+lady, however, saw only that Marianne had received a letter from
+Willoughby, which appeared to her a very good joke, and which she
+treated accordingly, by hoping, with a laugh, that she would find it to
+her liking.  Of Elinor's distress, she was too busily employed in
+measuring lengths of worsted for her rug, to see any thing at all; and
+calmly continuing her talk, as soon as Marianne disappeared, she said,
+
+"Upon my word, I never saw a young woman so desperately in love in my
+life!  MY girls were nothing to her, and yet they used to be foolish
+enough; but as for Miss Marianne, she is quite an altered creature.  I
+hope, from the bottom of my heart, he won't keep her waiting much
+longer, for it is quite grievous to see her look so ill and forlorn.
+Pray, when are they to be married?"
+
+Elinor, though never less disposed to speak than at that moment,
+obliged herself to answer such an attack as this, and, therefore,
+trying to smile, replied, "And have you really, Ma'am, talked yourself
+into a persuasion of my sister's being engaged to Mr. Willoughby?  I
+thought it had been only a joke, but so serious a question seems to
+imply more; and I must beg, therefore, that you will not deceive
+yourself any longer.  I do assure you that nothing would surprise me
+more than to hear of their being going to be married."
+
+"For shame, for shame, Miss Dashwood! how can you talk so?  Don't we
+all know that it must be a match, that they were over head and ears in
+love with each other from the first moment they met?  Did not I see
+them together in Devonshire every day, and all day long; and did not I
+know that your sister came to town with me on purpose to buy wedding
+clothes?  Come, come, this won't do.  Because you are so sly about it
+yourself, you think nobody else has any senses; but it is no such
+thing, I can tell you, for it has been known all over town this ever so
+long.  I tell every body of it and so does Charlotte."
+
+"Indeed, Ma'am," said Elinor, very seriously, "you are mistaken.
+Indeed, you are doing a very unkind thing in spreading the report, and
+you will find that you have though you will not believe me now."
+
+Mrs. Jennings laughed again, but Elinor had not spirits to say more,
+and eager at all events to know what Willoughby had written, hurried
+away to their room, where, on opening the door, she saw Marianne
+stretched on the bed, almost choked by grief, one letter in her hand,
+and two or three others laying by her.  Elinor drew near, but without
+saying a word; and seating herself on the bed, took her hand, kissed
+her affectionately several times, and then gave way to a burst of
+tears, which at first was scarcely less violent than Marianne's. The
+latter, though unable to speak, seemed to feel all the tenderness of
+this behaviour, and after some time thus spent in joint affliction, she
+put all the letters into Elinor's hands; and then covering her face
+with her handkerchief, almost screamed with agony.  Elinor, who knew
+that such grief, shocking as it was to witness it, must have its
+course, watched by her till this excess of suffering had somewhat spent
+itself, and then turning eagerly to Willoughby's letter, read as
+follows:
+
+                              "Bond Street, January.
+     "MY DEAR MADAM,
+
+     "I have just had the honour of receiving your
+     letter, for which I beg to return my sincere
+     acknowledgments.  I am much concerned to find there
+     was anything in my behaviour last night that did
+     not meet your approbation; and though I am quite at
+     a loss to discover in what point I could be so
+     unfortunate as to offend you, I entreat your
+     forgiveness of what I can assure you to have been
+     perfectly unintentional.  I shall never reflect on
+     my former acquaintance with your family in Devonshire
+     without the most grateful pleasure, and flatter
+     myself it will not be broken by any mistake or
+     misapprehension of my actions.  My esteem for your
+     whole family is very sincere; but if I have been so
+     unfortunate as to give rise to a belief of more than
+     I felt, or meant to express, I shall reproach myself
+     for not having been more guarded in my professions
+     of that esteem.  That I should ever have meant more
+     you will allow to be impossible, when you understand
+     that my affections have been long engaged elsewhere,
+     and it will not be many weeks, I believe, before
+     this engagement is fulfilled.  It is with great
+     regret that I obey your commands in returning the
+     letters with which I have been honoured from you,
+     and the lock of hair, which you so obligingly bestowed
+     on me.
+
+     "I am, dear Madam,
+               "Your most obedient
+                    "humble servant,
+                                        "JOHN WILLOUGHBY."
+
+
+With what indignation such a letter as this must be read by Miss
+Dashwood, may be imagined.  Though aware, before she began it, that it
+must bring a confession of his inconstancy, and confirm their
+separation for ever, she was not aware that such language could be
+suffered to announce it; nor could she have supposed Willoughby capable
+of departing so far from the appearance of every honourable and
+delicate feeling--so far from the common decorum of a gentleman, as to
+send a letter so impudently cruel: a letter which, instead of bringing
+with his desire of a release any professions of regret, acknowledged no
+breach of faith, denied all peculiar affection whatever--a letter of
+which every line was an insult, and which proclaimed its writer to be
+deep in hardened villainy.
+
+She paused over it for some time with indignant astonishment; then read
+it again and again; but every perusal only served to increase her
+abhorrence of the man, and so bitter were her feelings against him,
+that she dared not trust herself to speak, lest she might wound
+Marianne still deeper by treating their disengagement, not as a loss to
+her of any possible good but as an escape from the worst and most
+irremediable of all evils, a connection, for life, with an unprincipled
+man, as a deliverance the most real, a blessing the most important.
+
+In her earnest meditations on the contents of the letter, on the
+depravity of that mind which could dictate it, and probably, on the
+very different mind of a very different person, who had no other
+connection whatever with the affair than what her heart gave him with
+every thing that passed, Elinor forgot the immediate distress of her
+sister, forgot that she had three letters on her lap yet unread, and so
+entirely forgot how long she had been in the room, that when on hearing
+a carriage drive up to the door, she went to the window to see who
+could be coming so unreasonably early, she was all astonishment to
+perceive Mrs. Jennings's chariot, which she knew had not been ordered
+till one.  Determined not to quit Marianne, though hopeless of
+contributing, at present, to her ease, she hurried away to excuse
+herself from attending Mrs. Jennings, on account of her sister being
+indisposed.  Mrs. Jennings, with a thoroughly good-humoured concern for
+its cause, admitted the excuse most readily, and Elinor, after seeing
+her safe off, returned to Marianne, whom she found attempting to rise
+from the bed, and whom she reached just in time to prevent her from
+falling on the floor, faint and giddy from a long want of proper rest
+and food; for it was many days since she had any appetite, and many
+nights since she had really slept; and now, when her mind was no longer
+supported by the fever of suspense, the consequence of all this was
+felt in an aching head, a weakened stomach, and a general nervous
+faintness.  A glass of wine, which Elinor procured for her directly,
+made her more comfortable, and she was at last able to express some
+sense of her kindness, by saying,
+
+"Poor Elinor! how unhappy I make you!"
+
+"I only wish," replied her sister, "there were any thing I COULD do,
+which might be of comfort to you."
+
+This, as every thing else would have been, was too much for Marianne,
+who could only exclaim, in the anguish of her heart, "Oh! Elinor, I am
+miserable, indeed," before her voice was entirely lost in sobs.
+
+Elinor could no longer witness this torrent of unresisted grief in
+silence.
+
+"Exert yourself, dear Marianne," she cried, "if you would not kill
+yourself and all who love you.  Think of your mother; think of her
+misery while YOU suffer: for her sake you must exert yourself."
+
+"I cannot, I cannot," cried Marianne; "leave me, leave me, if I
+distress you; leave me, hate me, forget me!  but do not torture me so.
+Oh! how easy for those, who have no sorrow of their own to talk of
+exertion!  Happy, happy Elinor, YOU cannot have an idea of what I
+suffer."
+
+"Do you call ME happy, Marianne?  Ah! if you knew!--And can you believe
+me to be so, while I see you so wretched!"
+
+"Forgive me, forgive me," throwing her arms round her sister's neck; "I
+know you feel for me; I know what a heart you have; but yet you
+are--you must be happy; Edward loves you--what, oh what, can do away
+such happiness as that?"
+
+"Many, many circumstances," said Elinor, solemnly.
+
+"No, no, no," cried Marianne wildly, "he loves you, and only you.  You
+CAN have no grief."
+
+"I can have no pleasure while I see you in this state."
+
+"And you will never see me otherwise.  Mine is a misery which nothing
+can do away."
+
+"You must not talk so, Marianne.  Have you no comforts? no friends?  Is
+your loss such as leaves no opening for consolation?  Much as you
+suffer now, think of what you would have suffered if the discovery of
+his character had been delayed to a later period--if your engagement
+had been carried on for months and months, as it might have been,
+before he chose to put an end to it.  Every additional day of unhappy
+confidence, on your side, would have made the blow more dreadful."
+
+"Engagement!" cried Marianne, "there has been no engagement."
+
+"No engagement!"
+
+"No, he is not so unworthy as you believe him.  He has broken no faith
+with me."
+
+"But he told you that he loved you."
+
+"Yes--no--never absolutely.  It was every day implied, but never
+professedly declared.  Sometimes I thought it had been--but it never
+was."
+
+"Yet you wrote to him?"--
+
+"Yes--could that be wrong after all that had passed?-- But I cannot
+talk."
+
+Elinor said no more, and turning again to the three letters which now
+raised a much stronger curiosity than before, directly ran over the
+contents of all.  The first, which was what her sister had sent him on
+their arrival in town, was to this effect.
+
+                         Berkeley Street, January.
+
+     "How surprised you will be, Willoughby, on
+     receiving this; and I think you will feel something
+     more than surprise, when you know that I am in town.
+     An opportunity of coming hither, though with Mrs.
+     Jennings, was a temptation we could not resist.
+     I wish you may receive this in time to come here
+     to-night, but I will not depend on it.  At any rate
+     I shall expect you to-morrow. For the present, adieu.
+
+                                             "M.D."
+
+Her second note, which had been written on the morning after the dance
+at the Middletons', was in these words:--
+
+     "I cannot express my disappointment in having
+     missed you the day before yesterday, nor my astonishment
+     at not having received any answer to a note which
+     I sent you above a week ago.  I have been expecting
+     to hear from you, and still more to see you, every
+     hour of the day.  Pray call again as soon as possible,
+     and explain the reason of my having expected this
+     in vain.  You had better come earlier another time,
+     because we are generally out by one.  We were last
+     night at Lady Middleton's, where there was a dance.
+     I have been told that you were asked to be of the
+     party.  But could it be so?  You must be very much
+     altered indeed since we parted, if that could be
+     the case, and you not there.  But I will not suppose
+     this possible, and I hope very soon to receive your
+     personal assurance of its being otherwise.
+
+                                            "M.D."
+
+The contents of her last note to him were these:--
+
+     "What am I to imagine, Willoughby, by your
+     behaviour last night?  Again I demand an explanation
+     of it.  I was prepared to meet you with the pleasure
+     which our separation naturally produced, with the
+     familiarity which our intimacy at Barton appeared
+     to me to justify.  I was repulsed indeed! I have
+     passed a wretched night in endeavouring to excuse
+     a conduct which can scarcely be called less than
+     insulting; but though I have not yet been able to
+     form any reasonable apology for your behaviour,
+     I am perfectly ready to hear your justification of
+     it.  You have perhaps been misinformed, or purposely
+     deceived, in something concerning me, which may have
+     lowered me in your opinion.  Tell me what it is,
+     explain the grounds on which you acted, and I shall
+     be satisfied, in being able to satisfy you.  It
+     would grieve me indeed to be obliged to think ill
+     of you; but if I am to do it, if I am to learn that
+     you are not what we have hitherto believed you, that
+     your regard for us all was insincere, that your
+     behaviour to me was intended only to deceive, let
+     it be told as soon as possible.  My feelings are at
+     present in a state of dreadful indecision; I wish
+     to acquit you, but certainty on either side will be
+     ease to what I now suffer.  If your sentiments are
+     no longer what they were, you will return my notes,
+     and the lock of my hair which is in your possession.
+
+                                             "M.D."
+
+That such letters, so full of affection and confidence, could have been
+so answered, Elinor, for Willoughby's sake, would have been unwilling
+to believe.  But her condemnation of him did not blind her to the
+impropriety of their having been written at all; and she was silently
+grieving over the imprudence which had hazarded such unsolicited proofs
+of tenderness, not warranted by anything preceding, and most severely
+condemned by the event, when Marianne, perceiving that she had finished
+the letters, observed to her that they contained nothing but what any
+one would have written in the same situation.
+
+"I felt myself," she added, "to be as solemnly engaged to him, as if
+the strictest legal covenant had bound us to each other."
+
+"I can believe it," said Elinor; "but unfortunately he did not feel the
+same."
+
+"He DID feel the same, Elinor--for weeks and weeks he felt it.  I know
+he did.  Whatever may have changed him now, (and nothing but the
+blackest art employed against me can have done it), I was once as dear
+to him as my own soul could wish.  This lock of hair, which now he can
+so readily give up, was begged of me with the most earnest
+supplication.  Had you seen his look, his manner, had you heard his
+voice at that moment!  Have you forgot the last evening of our being
+together at Barton?  The morning that we parted too!  When he told me
+that it might be many weeks before we met again--his distress--can I
+ever forget his distress?"
+
+For a moment or two she could say no more; but when this emotion had
+passed away, she added, in a firmer tone,
+
+"Elinor, I have been cruelly used; but not by Willoughby."
+
+"Dearest Marianne, who but himself?  By whom can he have been
+instigated?"
+
+"By all the world, rather than by his own heart.  I could rather
+believe every creature of my acquaintance leagued together to ruin me
+in his opinion, than believe his nature capable of such cruelty.  This
+woman of whom he writes--whoever she be--or any one, in short, but your
+own dear self, mama, and Edward, may have been so barbarous to bely me.
+Beyond you three, is there a creature in the world whom I would not
+rather suspect of evil than Willoughby, whose heart I know so well?"
+
+Elinor would not contend, and only replied, "Whoever may have been so
+detestably your enemy, let them be cheated of their malignant triumph,
+my dear sister, by seeing how nobly the consciousness of your own
+innocence and good intentions supports your spirits.  It is a
+reasonable and laudable pride which resists such malevolence."
+
+"No, no," cried Marianne, "misery such as mine has no pride.  I care
+not who knows that I am wretched.  The triumph of seeing me so may be
+open to all the world.  Elinor, Elinor, they who suffer little may be
+proud and independent as they like--may resist insult, or return
+mortification--but I cannot.  I must feel--I must be wretched--and they
+are welcome to enjoy the consciousness of it that can."
+
+"But for my mother's sake and mine--"
+
+"I would do more than for my own.  But to appear happy when I am so
+miserable--Oh! who can require it?"
+
+Again they were both silent.  Elinor was employed in walking
+thoughtfully from the fire to the window, from the window to the fire,
+without knowing that she received warmth from one, or discerning
+objects through the other; and Marianne, seated at the foot of the bed,
+with her head leaning against one of its posts, again took up
+Willoughby's letter, and, after shuddering over every sentence,
+exclaimed--
+
+"It is too much! Oh, Willoughby, Willoughby, could this be yours!
+Cruel, cruel--nothing can acquit you.  Elinor, nothing can.  Whatever
+he might have heard against me--ought he not to have suspended his
+belief? ought he not to have told me of it, to have given me the power
+of clearing myself? 'The lock of hair, (repeating it from the letter,)
+which you so obligingly bestowed on me'--That is unpardonable.
+Willoughby, where was your heart when you wrote those words?  Oh,
+barbarously insolent!--Elinor, can he be justified?"
+
+"No, Marianne, in no possible way."
+
+"And yet this woman--who knows what her art may have been?--how long it
+may have been premeditated, and how deeply contrived by her!--Who is
+she?--Who can she be?--Whom did I ever hear him talk of as young and
+attractive among his female acquaintance?--Oh! no one, no one--he
+talked to me only of myself."
+
+Another pause ensued; Marianne was greatly agitated, and it ended thus.
+
+"Elinor, I must go home.  I must go and comfort mama.  Can not we be
+gone to-morrow?"
+
+"To-morrow, Marianne!"
+
+"Yes, why should I stay here? I came only for Willoughby's sake--and
+now who cares for me? Who regards me?"
+
+"It would be impossible to go to-morrow. We owe Mrs. Jennings much more
+than civility; and civility of the commonest kind must prevent such a
+hasty removal as that."
+
+"Well then, another day or two, perhaps; but I cannot stay here long, I
+cannot stay to endure the questions and remarks of all these people.
+The Middletons and Palmers--how am I to bear their pity?  The pity of
+such a woman as Lady Middleton!  Oh, what would HE say to that!"
+
+Elinor advised her to lie down again, and for a moment she did so; but
+no attitude could give her ease; and in restless pain of mind and body
+she moved from one posture to another, till growing more and more
+hysterical, her sister could with difficulty keep her on the bed at
+all, and for some time was fearful of being constrained to call for
+assistance.  Some lavender drops, however, which she was at length
+persuaded to take, were of use; and from that time till Mrs. Jennings
+returned, she continued on the bed quiet and motionless.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 30
+
+
+Mrs. Jennings came immediately to their room on her return, and without
+waiting to have her request of admittance answered, opened the door and
+walked in with a look of real concern.
+
+"How do you do my dear?"--said she in a voice of great compassion to
+Marianne, who turned away her face without attempting to answer.
+
+"How is she, Miss Dashwood?--Poor thing! she looks very bad.-- No
+wonder.  Ay, it is but too true.  He is to be married very soon--a
+good-for-nothing fellow!  I have no patience with him.  Mrs. Taylor
+told me of it half an hour ago, and she was told it by a particular
+friend of Miss Grey herself, else I am sure I should not have believed
+it; and I was almost ready to sink as it was.  Well, said I, all I can
+say is, that if this be true, he has used a young lady of my
+acquaintance abominably ill, and I wish with all my soul his wife may
+plague his heart out.  And so I shall always say, my dear, you may
+depend on it.  I have no notion of men's going on in this way; and if
+ever I meet him again, I will give him such a dressing as he has not
+had this many a day.  But there is one comfort, my dear Miss Marianne;
+he is not the only young man in the world worth having; and with your
+pretty face you will never want admirers.  Well, poor thing!  I won't
+disturb her any longer, for she had better have her cry out at once and
+have done with.  The Parrys and Sandersons luckily are coming tonight
+you know, and that will amuse her."
+
+She then went away, walking on tiptoe out of the room, as if she
+supposed her young friend's affliction could be increased by noise.
+
+Marianne, to the surprise of her sister, determined on dining with
+them.  Elinor even advised her against it.  But "no, she would go down;
+she could bear it very well, and the bustle about her would be less."
+Elinor, pleased to have her governed for a moment by such a motive,
+though believing it hardly possible that she could sit out the dinner,
+said no more; and adjusting her dress for her as well as she could,
+while Marianne still remained on the bed, was ready to assist her into
+the dining room as soon as they were summoned to it.
+
+When there, though looking most wretchedly, she ate more and was calmer
+than her sister had expected.  Had she tried to speak, or had she been
+conscious of half Mrs. Jennings's well-meant but ill-judged attentions
+to her, this calmness could not have been maintained; but not a
+syllable escaped her lips; and the abstraction of her thoughts
+preserved her in ignorance of every thing that was passing before her.
+
+Elinor, who did justice to Mrs. Jennings's kindness, though its
+effusions were often distressing, and sometimes almost ridiculous, made
+her those acknowledgments, and returned her those civilities, which her
+sister could not make or return for herself.  Their good friend saw
+that Marianne was unhappy, and felt that every thing was due to her
+which might make her at all less so.  She treated her therefore, with
+all the indulgent fondness of a parent towards a favourite child on the
+last day of its holidays.  Marianne was to have the best place by the
+fire, was to be tempted to eat by every delicacy in the house, and to
+be amused by the relation of all the news of the day.  Had not Elinor,
+in the sad countenance of her sister, seen a check to all mirth, she
+could have been entertained by Mrs. Jennings's endeavours to cure a
+disappointment in love, by a variety of sweetmeats and olives, and a
+good fire.  As soon, however, as the consciousness of all this was
+forced by continual repetition on Marianne, she could stay no longer.
+With a hasty exclamation of Misery, and a sign to her sister not to
+follow her, she directly got up and hurried out of the room.
+
+"Poor soul!" cried Mrs. Jennings, as soon as she was gone, "how it
+grieves me to see her!  And I declare if she is not gone away without
+finishing her wine!  And the dried cherries too!  Lord! nothing seems
+to do her any good.  I am sure if I knew of any thing she would like, I
+would send all over the town for it.  Well, it is the oddest thing to
+me, that a man should use such a pretty girl so ill!  But when there is
+plenty of money on one side, and next to none on the other, Lord bless
+you! they care no more about such things!--"
+
+"The lady then--Miss Grey I think you called her--is very rich?"
+
+"Fifty thousand pounds, my dear.  Did you ever see her? a smart,
+stylish girl they say, but not handsome.  I remember her aunt very
+well, Biddy Henshawe; she married a very wealthy man.  But the family
+are all rich together.  Fifty thousand pounds! and by all accounts, it
+won't come before it's wanted; for they say he is all to pieces.  No
+wonder! dashing about with his curricle and hunters!  Well, it don't
+signify talking; but when a young man, be who he will, comes and makes
+love to a pretty girl, and promises marriage, he has no business to fly
+off from his word only because he grows poor, and a richer girl is
+ready to have him.  Why don't he, in such a case, sell his horses, let
+his house, turn off his servants, and make a thorough reform at once? I
+warrant you, Miss Marianne would have been ready to wait till matters
+came round.  But that won't do now-a-days; nothing in the way of
+pleasure can ever be given up by the young men of this age."
+
+"Do you know what kind of a girl Miss Grey is?  Is she said to be
+amiable?"
+
+"I never heard any harm of her; indeed I hardly ever heard her
+mentioned; except that Mrs. Taylor did say this morning, that one day
+Miss Walker hinted to her, that she believed Mr. and Mrs. Ellison would
+not be sorry to have Miss Grey married, for she and Mrs. Ellison could
+never agree."--
+
+"And who are the Ellisons?"
+
+"Her guardians, my dear.  But now she is of age and may choose for
+herself; and a pretty choice she has made!--What now," after pausing a
+moment--"your poor sister is gone to her own room, I suppose, to moan
+by herself.  Is there nothing one can get to comfort her?  Poor dear,
+it seems quite cruel to let her be alone.  Well, by-and-by we shall
+have a few friends, and that will amuse her a little.  What shall we
+play at?  She hates whist I know; but is there no round game she cares
+for?"
+
+"Dear ma'am, this kindness is quite unnecessary.  Marianne, I dare say,
+will not leave her room again this evening.  I shall persuade her if I
+can to go early to bed, for I am sure she wants rest."
+
+"Aye, I believe that will be best for her.  Let her name her own
+supper, and go to bed.  Lord! no wonder she has been looking so bad and
+so cast down this last week or two, for this matter I suppose has been
+hanging over her head as long as that.  And so the letter that came
+today finished it!  Poor soul!  I am sure if I had had a notion of it,
+I would not have joked her about it for all my money.  But then you
+know, how should I guess such a thing?  I made sure of its being
+nothing but a common love letter, and you know young people like to be
+laughed at about them.  Lord!  how concerned Sir John and my daughters
+will be when they hear it!  If I had my senses about me I might have
+called in Conduit Street in my way home, and told them of it.  But I
+shall see them tomorrow."
+
+"It would be unnecessary I am sure, for you to caution Mrs. Palmer and
+Sir John against ever naming Mr. Willoughby, or making the slightest
+allusion to what has passed, before my sister.  Their own good-nature
+must point out to them the real cruelty of appearing to know any thing
+about it when she is present; and the less that may ever be said to
+myself on the subject, the more my feelings will be spared, as you my
+dear madam will easily believe."
+
+"Oh! Lord! yes, that I do indeed.  It must be terrible for you to hear
+it talked of; and as for your sister, I am sure I would not mention a
+word about it to her for the world.  You saw I did not all dinner time.
+No more would Sir John, nor my daughters, for they are all very
+thoughtful and considerate; especially if I give them a hint, as I
+certainly will.  For my part, I think the less that is said about such
+things, the better, the sooner 'tis blown over and forgot.  And what
+does talking ever do you know?"
+
+"In this affair it can only do harm; more so perhaps than in many cases
+of a similar kind, for it has been attended by circumstances which, for
+the sake of every one concerned in it, make it unfit to become the
+public conversation.  I must do THIS justice to Mr. Willoughby--he has
+broken no positive engagement with my sister."
+
+"Law, my dear!  Don't pretend to defend him.  No positive engagement
+indeed! after taking her all over Allenham House, and fixing on the
+very rooms they were to live in hereafter!"
+
+Elinor, for her sister's sake, could not press the subject farther, and
+she hoped it was not required of her for Willoughby's; since, though
+Marianne might lose much, he could gain very little by the enforcement
+of the real truth.  After a short silence on both sides, Mrs. Jennings,
+with all her natural hilarity, burst forth again.
+
+"Well, my dear, 'tis a true saying about an ill-wind, for it will be
+all the better for Colonel Brandon.  He will have her at last; aye,
+that he will.  Mind me, now, if they an't married by Mid-summer.  Lord!
+how he'll chuckle over this news!  I hope he will come tonight.  It
+will be all to one a better match for your sister.  Two thousand a year
+without debt or drawback--except the little love-child, indeed; aye, I
+had forgot her; but she may be 'prenticed out at a small cost, and then
+what does it signify?  Delaford is a nice place, I can tell you;
+exactly what I call a nice old fashioned place, full of comforts and
+conveniences; quite shut in with great garden walls that are covered
+with the best fruit-trees in the country; and such a mulberry tree in
+one corner!  Lord! how Charlotte and I did stuff the only time we were
+there!  Then, there is a dove-cote, some delightful stew-ponds, and a
+very pretty canal; and every thing, in short, that one could wish for;
+and, moreover, it is close to the church, and only a quarter of a mile
+from the turnpike-road, so 'tis never dull, for if you only go and sit
+up in an old yew arbour behind the house, you may see all the carriages
+that pass along.  Oh! 'tis a nice place!  A butcher hard by in the
+village, and the parsonage-house within a stone's throw.  To my fancy,
+a thousand times prettier than Barton Park, where they are forced to
+send three miles for their meat, and have not a neighbour nearer than
+your mother.  Well, I shall spirit up the Colonel as soon as I can.
+One shoulder of mutton, you know, drives another down.  If we CAN but
+put Willoughby out of her head!"
+
+"Ay, if we can do THAT, Ma'am," said Elinor, "we shall do very well
+with or without Colonel Brandon." And then rising, she went away to
+join Marianne, whom she found, as she expected, in her own room,
+leaning, in silent misery, over the small remains of a fire, which,
+till Elinor's entrance, had been her only light.
+
+"You had better leave me," was all the notice that her sister received
+from her.
+
+"I will leave you," said Elinor, "if you will go to bed." But this,
+from the momentary perverseness of impatient suffering, she at first
+refused to do.  Her sister's earnest, though gentle persuasion,
+however, soon softened her to compliance, and Elinor saw her lay her
+aching head on the pillow, and as she hoped, in a way to get some quiet
+rest before she left her.
+
+In the drawing-room, whither she then repaired, she was soon joined by
+Mrs. Jennings, with a wine-glass, full of something, in her hand.
+
+"My dear," said she, entering, "I have just recollected that I have
+some of the finest old Constantia wine in the house that ever was
+tasted, so I have brought a glass of it for your sister.  My poor
+husband! how fond he was of it!  Whenever he had a touch of his old
+colicky gout, he said it did him more good than any thing else in the
+world.  Do take it to your sister."
+
+"Dear Ma'am," replied Elinor, smiling at the difference of the
+complaints for which it was recommended, "how good you are!  But I have
+just left Marianne in bed, and, I hope, almost asleep; and as I think
+nothing will be of so much service to her as rest, if you will give me
+leave, I will drink the wine myself."
+
+Mrs. Jennings, though regretting that she had not been five minutes
+earlier, was satisfied with the compromise; and Elinor, as she
+swallowed the chief of it, reflected, that though its effects on a
+colicky gout were, at present, of little importance to her, its healing
+powers, on a disappointed heart might be as reasonably tried on herself
+as on her sister.
+
+Colonel Brandon came in while the party were at tea, and by his manner
+of looking round the room for Marianne, Elinor immediately fancied that
+he neither expected nor wished to see her there, and, in short, that he
+was already aware of what occasioned her absence.  Mrs. Jennings was
+not struck by the same thought; for soon after his entrance, she walked
+across the room to the tea-table where Elinor presided, and whispered--
+"The Colonel looks as grave as ever you see.  He knows nothing of it;
+do tell him, my dear."
+
+He shortly afterwards drew a chair close to hers, and, with a look
+which perfectly assured her of his good information, inquired after her
+sister.
+
+"Marianne is not well," said she.  "She has been indisposed all day,
+and we have persuaded her to go to bed."
+
+"Perhaps, then," he hesitatingly replied, "what I heard this morning
+may be--there may be more truth in it than I could believe possible at
+first."
+
+"What did you hear?"
+
+"That a gentleman, whom I had reason to think--in short, that a man,
+whom I KNEW to be engaged--but how shall I tell you?  If you know it
+already, as surely you must, I may be spared."
+
+"You mean," answered Elinor, with forced calmness, "Mr. Willoughby's
+marriage with Miss Grey.  Yes, we DO know it all.  This seems to have
+been a day of general elucidation, for this very morning first unfolded
+it to us.  Mr. Willoughby is unfathomable!  Where did you hear it?"
+
+"In a stationer's shop in Pall Mall, where I had business.  Two ladies
+were waiting for their carriage, and one of them was giving the other
+an account of the intended match, in a voice so little attempting
+concealment, that it was impossible for me not to hear all.  The name
+of Willoughby, John Willoughby, frequently repeated, first caught my
+attention; and what followed was a positive assertion that every thing
+was now finally settled respecting his marriage with Miss Grey--it was
+no longer to be a secret--it would take place even within a few weeks,
+with many particulars of preparations and other matters.  One thing,
+especially, I remember, because it served to identify the man still
+more:--as soon as the ceremony was over, they were to go to Combe
+Magna, his seat in Somersetshire.  My astonishment!--but it would be
+impossible to describe what I felt.  The communicative lady I learnt,
+on inquiry, for I stayed in the shop till they were gone, was a Mrs.
+Ellison, and that, as I have been since informed, is the name of Miss
+Grey's guardian."
+
+"It is.  But have you likewise heard that Miss Grey has fifty thousand
+pounds?  In that, if in any thing, we may find an explanation."
+
+"It may be so; but Willoughby is capable--at least I think"--he stopped
+a moment; then added in a voice which seemed to distrust itself, "And
+your sister--how did she--"
+
+"Her sufferings have been very severe.  I have only to hope that they
+may be proportionately short.  It has been, it is a most cruel
+affliction.  Till yesterday, I believe, she never doubted his regard;
+and even now, perhaps--but I am almost convinced that he never was
+really attached to her.  He has been very deceitful! and, in some
+points, there seems a hardness of heart about him."
+
+"Ah!" said Colonel Brandon, "there is, indeed!  But your sister does
+not--I think you said so--she does not consider quite as you do?"
+
+"You know her disposition, and may believe how eagerly she would still
+justify him if she could."
+
+He made no answer; and soon afterwards, by the removal of the
+tea-things, and the arrangement of the card parties, the subject was
+necessarily dropped.  Mrs. Jennings, who had watched them with pleasure
+while they were talking, and who expected to see the effect of Miss
+Dashwood's communication, in such an instantaneous gaiety on Colonel
+Brandon's side, as might have become a man in the bloom of youth, of
+hope and happiness, saw him, with amazement, remain the whole evening
+more serious and thoughtful than usual.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 31
+
+
+From a night of more sleep than she had expected, Marianne awoke the
+next morning to the same consciousness of misery in which she had
+closed her eyes.
+
+Elinor encouraged her as much as possible to talk of what she felt; and
+before breakfast was ready, they had gone through the subject again and
+again; and with the same steady conviction and affectionate counsel on
+Elinor's side, the same impetuous feelings and varying opinions on
+Marianne's, as before.  Sometimes she could believe Willoughby to be as
+unfortunate and as innocent as herself, and at others, lost every
+consolation in the impossibility of acquitting him.  At one moment she
+was absolutely indifferent to the observation of all the world, at
+another she would seclude herself from it for ever, and at a third
+could resist it with energy.  In one thing, however, she was uniform,
+when it came to the point, in avoiding, where it was possible, the
+presence of Mrs. Jennings, and in a determined silence when obliged to
+endure it.  Her heart was hardened against the belief of Mrs.
+Jennings's entering into her sorrows with any compassion.
+
+"No, no, no, it cannot be," she cried; "she cannot feel.  Her kindness
+is not sympathy; her good-nature is not tenderness.  All that she wants
+is gossip, and she only likes me now because I supply it."
+
+Elinor had not needed this to be assured of the injustice to which her
+sister was often led in her opinion of others, by the irritable
+refinement of her own mind, and the too great importance placed by her
+on the delicacies of a strong sensibility, and the graces of a polished
+manner.  Like half the rest of the world, if more than half there be
+that are clever and good, Marianne, with excellent abilities and an
+excellent disposition, was neither reasonable nor candid.  She expected
+from other people the same opinions and feelings as her own, and she
+judged of their motives by the immediate effect of their actions on
+herself.  Thus a circumstance occurred, while the sisters were together
+in their own room after breakfast, which sunk the heart of Mrs.
+Jennings still lower in her estimation; because, through her own
+weakness, it chanced to prove a source of fresh pain to herself, though
+Mrs. Jennings was governed in it by an impulse of the utmost goodwill.
+
+With a letter in her outstretched hand, and countenance gaily smiling,
+from the persuasion of bringing comfort, she entered their room, saying,
+
+"Now, my dear, I bring you something that I am sure will do you good."
+
+Marianne heard enough.  In one moment her imagination placed before her
+a letter from Willoughby, full of tenderness and contrition,
+explanatory of all that had passed, satisfactory, convincing; and
+instantly followed by Willoughby himself, rushing eagerly into the room
+to inforce, at her feet, by the eloquence of his eyes, the assurances
+of his letter.  The work of one moment was destroyed by the next.  The
+hand writing of her mother, never till then unwelcome, was before her;
+and, in the acuteness of the disappointment which followed such an
+ecstasy of more than hope, she felt as if, till that instant, she had
+never suffered.
+
+The cruelty of Mrs. Jennings no language, within her reach in her
+moments of happiest eloquence, could have expressed; and now she could
+reproach her only by the tears which streamed from her eyes with
+passionate violence--a reproach, however, so entirely lost on its
+object, that after many expressions of pity, she withdrew, still
+referring her to the letter of comfort.  But the letter, when she was
+calm enough to read it, brought little comfort.  Willoughby filled
+every page.  Her mother, still confident of their engagement, and
+relying as warmly as ever on his constancy, had only been roused by
+Elinor's application, to intreat from Marianne greater openness towards
+them both; and this, with such tenderness towards her, such affection
+for Willoughby, and such a conviction of their future happiness in each
+other, that she wept with agony through the whole of it.
+
+All her impatience to be at home again now returned; her mother was
+dearer to her than ever; dearer through the very excess of her mistaken
+confidence in Willoughby, and she was wildly urgent to be gone.
+Elinor, unable herself to determine whether it were better for Marianne
+to be in London or at Barton, offered no counsel of her own except of
+patience till their mother's wishes could be known; and at length she
+obtained her sister's consent to wait for that knowledge.
+
+Mrs. Jennings left them earlier than usual; for she could not be easy
+till the Middletons and Palmers were able to grieve as much as herself;
+and positively refusing Elinor's offered attendance, went out alone for
+the rest of the morning.  Elinor, with a very heavy heart, aware of the
+pain she was going to communicate, and perceiving, by Marianne's
+letter, how ill she had succeeded in laying any foundation for it, then
+sat down to write her mother an account of what had passed, and entreat
+her directions for the future; while Marianne, who came into the
+drawing-room on Mrs. Jennings's going away, remained fixed at the table
+where Elinor wrote, watching the advancement of her pen, grieving over
+her for the hardship of such a task, and grieving still more fondly
+over its effect on her mother.
+
+In this manner they had continued about a quarter of an hour, when
+Marianne, whose nerves could not then bear any sudden noise, was
+startled by a rap at the door.
+
+"Who can this be?" cried Elinor.  "So early too! I thought we HAD been
+safe."
+
+Marianne moved to the window--
+
+"It is Colonel Brandon!" said she, with vexation.  "We are never safe
+from HIM."
+
+"He will not come in, as Mrs. Jennings is from home."
+
+"I will not trust to THAT," retreating to her own room.  "A man who has
+nothing to do with his own time has no conscience in his intrusion on
+that of others."
+
+The event proved her conjecture right, though it was founded on
+injustice and error; for Colonel Brandon DID come in; and Elinor, who
+was convinced that solicitude for Marianne brought him thither, and who
+saw THAT solicitude in his disturbed and melancholy look, and in his
+anxious though brief inquiry after her, could not forgive her sister
+for esteeming him so lightly.
+
+"I met Mrs. Jennings in Bond Street," said he, after the first
+salutation, "and she encouraged me to come on; and I was the more
+easily encouraged, because I thought it probable that I might find you
+alone, which I was very desirous of doing.  My object--my wish--my sole
+wish in desiring it--I hope, I believe it is--is to be a means of
+giving comfort;--no, I must not say comfort--not present comfort--but
+conviction, lasting conviction to your sister's mind.  My regard for
+her, for yourself, for your mother--will you allow me to prove it, by
+relating some circumstances which nothing but a VERY sincere
+regard--nothing but an earnest desire of being useful--I think I am
+justified--though where so many hours have been spent in convincing
+myself that I am right, is there not some reason to fear I may be
+wrong?" He stopped.
+
+"I understand you," said Elinor.  "You have something to tell me of Mr.
+Willoughby, that will open his character farther.  Your telling it will
+be the greatest act of friendship that can be shewn Marianne.  MY
+gratitude will be insured immediately by any information tending to
+that end, and HERS must be gained by it in time.  Pray, pray let me
+hear it."
+
+"You shall; and, to be brief, when I quitted Barton last October,--but
+this will give you no idea--I must go farther back.  You will find me a
+very awkward narrator, Miss Dashwood; I hardly know where to begin.  A
+short account of myself, I believe, will be necessary, and it SHALL be
+a short one.  On such a subject," sighing heavily, "can I have little
+temptation to be diffuse."
+
+He stopt a moment for recollection, and then, with another sigh, went
+on.
+
+"You have probably entirely forgotten a conversation--(it is not to be
+supposed that it could make any impression on you)--a conversation
+between us one evening at Barton Park--it was the evening of a
+dance--in which I alluded to a lady I had once known, as resembling, in
+some measure, your sister Marianne."
+
+"Indeed," answered Elinor, "I have NOT forgotten it." He looked pleased
+by this remembrance, and added,
+
+"If I am not deceived by the uncertainty, the partiality of tender
+recollection, there is a very strong resemblance between them, as well
+in mind as person.  The same warmth of heart, the same eagerness of
+fancy and spirits.  This lady was one of my nearest relations, an
+orphan from her infancy, and under the guardianship of my father.  Our
+ages were nearly the same, and from our earliest years we were
+playfellows and friends.  I cannot remember the time when I did not
+love Eliza; and my affection for her, as we grew up, was such, as
+perhaps, judging from my present forlorn and cheerless gravity, you
+might think me incapable of having ever felt.  Hers, for me, was, I
+believe, fervent as the attachment of your sister to Mr. Willoughby and
+it was, though from a different cause, no less unfortunate.  At
+seventeen she was lost to me for ever.  She was married--married
+against her inclination to my brother.  Her fortune was large, and our
+family estate much encumbered.  And this, I fear, is all that can be
+said for the conduct of one, who was at once her uncle and guardian.
+My brother did not deserve her; he did not even love her.  I had hoped
+that her regard for me would support her under any difficulty, and for
+some time it did; but at last the misery of her situation, for she
+experienced great unkindness, overcame all her resolution, and though
+she had promised me that nothing--but how blindly I relate!  I have
+never told you how this was brought on.  We were within a few hours of
+eloping together for Scotland.  The treachery, or the folly, of my
+cousin's maid betrayed us.  I was banished to the house of a relation
+far distant, and she was allowed no liberty, no society, no amusement,
+till my father's point was gained.  I had depended on her fortitude too
+far, and the blow was a severe one--but had her marriage been happy, so
+young as I then was, a few months must have reconciled me to it, or at
+least I should not have now to lament it.  This however was not the
+case.  My brother had no regard for her; his pleasures were not what
+they ought to have been, and from the first he treated her unkindly.
+The consequence of this, upon a mind so young, so lively, so
+inexperienced as Mrs. Brandon's, was but too natural.  She resigned
+herself at first to all the misery of her situation; and happy had it
+been if she had not lived to overcome those regrets which the
+remembrance of me occasioned.  But can we wonder that, with such a
+husband to provoke inconstancy, and without a friend to advise or
+restrain her (for my father lived only a few months after their
+marriage, and I was with my regiment in the East Indies) she should
+fall?  Had I remained in England, perhaps--but I meant to promote the
+happiness of both by removing from her for years, and for that purpose
+had procured my exchange.  The shock which her marriage had given me,"
+he continued, in a voice of great agitation, "was of trifling
+weight--was nothing to what I felt when I heard, about two years
+afterwards, of her divorce.  It was THAT which threw this gloom,--even
+now the recollection of what I suffered--"
+
+He could say no more, and rising hastily walked for a few minutes about
+the room.  Elinor, affected by his relation, and still more by his
+distress, could not speak.  He saw her concern, and coming to her, took
+her hand, pressed it, and kissed it with grateful respect.  A few
+minutes more of silent exertion enabled him to proceed with composure.
+
+"It was nearly three years after this unhappy period before I returned
+to England.  My first care, when I DID arrive, was of course to seek
+for her; but the search was as fruitless as it was melancholy.  I could
+not trace her beyond her first seducer, and there was every reason to
+fear that she had removed from him only to sink deeper in a life of
+sin.  Her legal allowance was not adequate to her fortune, nor
+sufficient for her comfortable maintenance, and I learnt from my
+brother that the power of receiving it had been made over some months
+before to another person.  He imagined, and calmly could he imagine it,
+that her extravagance, and consequent distress, had obliged her to
+dispose of it for some immediate relief.  At last, however, and after I
+had been six months in England, I DID find her.  Regard for a former
+servant of my own, who had since fallen into misfortune, carried me to
+visit him in a spunging-house, where he was confined for debt; and
+there, in the same house, under a similar confinement, was my unfortunate
+sister.  So altered--so faded--worn down by acute suffering of every
+kind! hardly could I believe the melancholy and sickly figure before
+me, to be the remains of the lovely, blooming, healthful girl, on whom
+I had once doted.  What I endured in so beholding her--but I have no
+right to wound your feelings by attempting to describe it--I have
+pained you too much already.  That she was, to all appearance, in the
+last stage of a consumption, was--yes, in such a situation it was my
+greatest comfort.  Life could do nothing for her, beyond giving time
+for a better preparation for death; and that was given.  I saw her
+placed in comfortable lodgings, and under proper attendants; I visited
+her every day during the rest of her short life: I was with her in her
+last moments."
+
+Again he stopped to recover himself; and Elinor spoke her feelings in
+an exclamation of tender concern, at the fate of his unfortunate friend.
+
+"Your sister, I hope, cannot be offended," said he, "by the resemblance
+I have fancied between her and my poor disgraced relation.  Their
+fates, their fortunes, cannot be the same; and had the natural sweet
+disposition of the one been guarded by a firmer mind, or a happier
+marriage, she might have been all that you will live to see the other
+be.  But to what does all this lead?  I seem to have been distressing
+you for nothing.  Ah! Miss Dashwood--a subject such as this--untouched
+for fourteen years--it is dangerous to handle it at all!  I WILL be
+more collected--more concise.  She left to my care her only child, a
+little girl, the offspring of her first guilty connection, who was then
+about three years old.  She loved the child, and had always kept it
+with her.  It was a valued, a precious trust to me; and gladly would I
+have discharged it in the strictest sense, by watching over her
+education myself, had the nature of our situations allowed it; but I
+had no family, no home; and my little Eliza was therefore placed at
+school.  I saw her there whenever I could, and after the death of my
+brother, (which happened about five years ago, and which left to me the
+possession of the family property,) she visited me at Delaford.  I
+called her a distant relation; but I am well aware that I have in
+general been suspected of a much nearer connection with her.  It is now
+three years ago (she had just reached her fourteenth year,) that I
+removed her from school, to place her under the care of a very
+respectable woman, residing in Dorsetshire, who had the charge of four
+or five other girls of about the same time of life; and for two years I
+had every reason to be pleased with her situation.  But last February,
+almost a twelvemonth back, she suddenly disappeared.  I had allowed
+her, (imprudently, as it has since turned out,) at her earnest desire,
+to go to Bath with one of her young friends, who was attending her
+father there for his health.  I knew him to be a very good sort of man,
+and I thought well of his daughter--better than she deserved, for, with
+a most obstinate and ill-judged secrecy, she would tell nothing, would
+give no clue, though she certainly knew all.  He, her father, a
+well-meaning, but not a quick-sighted man, could really, I believe,
+give no information; for he had been generally confined to the house,
+while the girls were ranging over the town and making what acquaintance
+they chose; and he tried to convince me, as thoroughly as he was
+convinced himself, of his daughter's being entirely unconcerned in the
+business.  In short, I could learn nothing but that she was gone; all
+the rest, for eight long months, was left to conjecture.  What I
+thought, what I feared, may be imagined; and what I suffered too."
+
+"Good heavens!" cried Elinor, "could it be--could Willoughby!"--
+
+"The first news that reached me of her," he continued, "came in a
+letter from herself, last October.  It was forwarded to me from
+Delaford, and I received it on the very morning of our intended party
+to Whitwell; and this was the reason of my leaving Barton so suddenly,
+which I am sure must at the time have appeared strange to every body,
+and which I believe gave offence to some.  Little did Mr. Willoughby
+imagine, I suppose, when his looks censured me for incivility in
+breaking up the party, that I was called away to the relief of one whom
+he had made poor and miserable; but HAD he known it, what would it have
+availed?  Would he have been less gay or less happy in the smiles of
+your sister?  No, he had already done that, which no man who CAN feel
+for another would do.  He had left the girl whose youth and innocence
+he had seduced, in a situation of the utmost distress, with no
+creditable home, no help, no friends, ignorant of his address!  He had
+left her, promising to return; he neither returned, nor wrote, nor
+relieved her."
+
+"This is beyond every thing!" exclaimed Elinor.
+
+"His character is now before you; expensive, dissipated, and worse than
+both.  Knowing all this, as I have now known it many weeks, guess what
+I must have felt on seeing your sister as fond of him as ever, and on
+being assured that she was to marry him: guess what I must have felt
+for all your sakes.  When I came to you last week and found you alone,
+I came determined to know the truth; though irresolute what to do when
+it WAS known.  My behaviour must have seemed strange to you then; but
+now you will comprehend it.  To suffer you all to be so deceived; to
+see your sister--but what could I do?  I had no hope of interfering
+with success; and sometimes I thought your sister's influence might yet
+reclaim him.  But now, after such dishonorable usage, who can tell what
+were his designs on her.  Whatever they may have been, however, she may
+now, and hereafter doubtless WILL turn with gratitude towards her own
+condition, when she compares it with that of my poor Eliza, when she
+considers the wretched and hopeless situation of this poor girl, and
+pictures her to herself, with an affection for him so strong, still as
+strong as her own, and with a mind tormented by self-reproach, which
+must attend her through life.  Surely this comparison must have its use
+with her.  She will feel her own sufferings to be nothing.  They
+proceed from no misconduct, and can bring no disgrace.  On the
+contrary, every friend must be made still more her friend by them.
+Concern for her unhappiness, and respect for her fortitude under it,
+must strengthen every attachment.  Use your own discretion, however, in
+communicating to her what I have told you.  You must know best what
+will be its effect; but had I not seriously, and from my heart believed
+it might be of service, might lessen her regrets, I would not have
+suffered myself to trouble you with this account of my family
+afflictions, with a recital which may seem to have been intended to
+raise myself at the expense of others."
+
+Elinor's thanks followed this speech with grateful earnestness;
+attended too with the assurance of her expecting material advantage to
+Marianne, from the communication of what had passed.
+
+"I have been more pained," said she, "by her endeavors to acquit him
+than by all the rest; for it irritates her mind more than the most
+perfect conviction of his unworthiness can do.  Now, though at first
+she will suffer much, I am sure she will soon become easier.  Have
+you," she continued, after a short silence, "ever seen Mr. Willoughby
+since you left him at Barton?"
+
+"Yes," he replied gravely, "once I have.  One meeting was unavoidable."
+
+Elinor, startled by his manner, looked at him anxiously, saying,
+
+"What? have you met him to--"
+
+"I could meet him no other way.  Eliza had confessed to me, though most
+reluctantly, the name of her lover; and when he returned to town, which
+was within a fortnight after myself, we met by appointment, he to
+defend, I to punish his conduct.  We returned unwounded, and the
+meeting, therefore, never got abroad."
+
+Elinor sighed over the fancied necessity of this; but to a man and a
+soldier she presumed not to censure it.
+
+"Such," said Colonel Brandon, after a pause, "has been the unhappy
+resemblance between the fate of mother and daughter! and so imperfectly
+have I discharged my trust!"
+
+"Is she still in town?"
+
+"No; as soon as she recovered from her lying-in, for I found her near
+her delivery, I removed her and her child into the country, and there
+she remains."
+
+Recollecting, soon afterwards, that he was probably dividing Elinor
+from her sister, he put an end to his visit, receiving from her again
+the same grateful acknowledgments, and leaving her full of compassion
+and esteem for him.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 32
+
+
+When the particulars of this conversation were repeated by Miss
+Dashwood to her sister, as they very soon were, the effect on her was
+not entirely such as the former had hoped to see.  Not that Marianne
+appeared to distrust the truth of any part of it, for she listened to
+it all with the most steady and submissive attention, made neither
+objection nor remark, attempted no vindication of Willoughby, and
+seemed to shew by her tears that she felt it to be impossible.  But
+though this behaviour assured Elinor that the conviction of this guilt
+WAS carried home to her mind, though she saw with satisfaction the
+effect of it, in her no longer avoiding Colonel Brandon when he called,
+in her speaking to him, even voluntarily speaking, with a kind of
+compassionate respect, and though she saw her spirits less violently
+irritated than before, she did not see her less wretched.  Her mind did
+become settled, but it was settled in a gloomy dejection.  She felt the
+loss of Willoughby's character yet more heavily than she had felt the
+loss of his heart; his seduction and desertion of Miss Williams, the
+misery of that poor girl, and the doubt of what his designs might ONCE
+have been on herself, preyed altogether so much on her spirits, that
+she could not bring herself to speak of what she felt even to Elinor;
+and, brooding over her sorrows in silence, gave more pain to her sister
+than could have been communicated by the most open and most frequent
+confession of them.
+
+To give the feelings or the language of Mrs. Dashwood on receiving and
+answering Elinor's letter would be only to give a repetition of what
+her daughters had already felt and said; of a disappointment hardly
+less painful than Marianne's, and an indignation even greater than
+Elinor's.  Long letters from her, quickly succeeding each other,
+arrived to tell all that she suffered and thought; to express her
+anxious solicitude for Marianne, and entreat she would bear up with
+fortitude under this misfortune.  Bad indeed must the nature of
+Marianne's affliction be, when her mother could talk of fortitude!
+mortifying and humiliating must be the origin of those regrets, which
+SHE could wish her not to indulge!
+
+Against the interest of her own individual comfort, Mrs. Dashwood had
+determined that it would be better for Marianne to be any where, at
+that time, than at Barton, where every thing within her view would be
+bringing back the past in the strongest and most afflicting manner, by
+constantly placing Willoughby before her, such as she had always seen
+him there.  She recommended it to her daughters, therefore, by all
+means not to shorten their visit to Mrs. Jennings; the length of which,
+though never exactly fixed, had been expected by all to comprise at
+least five or six weeks.  A variety of occupations, of objects, and of
+company, which could not be procured at Barton, would be inevitable
+there, and might yet, she hoped, cheat Marianne, at times, into some
+interest beyond herself, and even into some amusement, much as the
+ideas of both might now be spurned by her.
+
+From all danger of seeing Willoughby again, her mother considered her
+to be at least equally safe in town as in the country, since his
+acquaintance must now be dropped by all who called themselves her
+friends.  Design could never bring them in each other's way: negligence
+could never leave them exposed to a surprise; and chance had less in
+its favour in the crowd of London than even in the retirement of
+Barton, where it might force him before her while paying that visit at
+Allenham on his marriage, which Mrs. Dashwood, from foreseeing at first
+as a probable event, had brought herself to expect as a certain one.
+
+She had yet another reason for wishing her children to remain where
+they were; a letter from her son-in-law had told her that he and his
+wife were to be in town before the middle of February, and she judged
+it right that they should sometimes see their brother.
+
+Marianne had promised to be guided by her mother's opinion, and she
+submitted to it therefore without opposition, though it proved
+perfectly different from what she wished and expected, though she felt
+it to be entirely wrong, formed on mistaken grounds, and that by
+requiring her longer continuance in London it deprived her of the only
+possible alleviation of her wretchedness, the personal sympathy of her
+mother, and doomed her to such society and such scenes as must prevent
+her ever knowing a moment's rest.
+
+But it was a matter of great consolation to her, that what brought evil
+to herself would bring good to her sister; and Elinor, on the other
+hand, suspecting that it would not be in her power to avoid Edward
+entirely, comforted herself by thinking, that though their longer stay
+would therefore militate against her own happiness, it would be better
+for Marianne than an immediate return into Devonshire.
+
+Her carefulness in guarding her sister from ever hearing Willoughby's
+name mentioned, was not thrown away.  Marianne, though without knowing
+it herself, reaped all its advantage; for neither Mrs. Jennings, nor
+Sir John, nor even Mrs. Palmer herself, ever spoke of him before her.
+Elinor wished that the same forbearance could have extended towards
+herself, but that was impossible, and she was obliged to listen day
+after day to the indignation of them all.
+
+Sir John, could not have thought it possible.  "A man of whom he had
+always had such reason to think well!  Such a good-natured fellow!  He
+did not believe there was a bolder rider in England!  It was an
+unaccountable business.  He wished him at the devil with all his heart.
+He would not speak another word to him, meet him where he might, for
+all the world!  No, not if it were to be by the side of Barton covert,
+and they were kept watching for two hours together.  Such a scoundrel
+of a fellow! such a deceitful dog!  It was only the last time they met
+that he had offered him one of Folly's puppies! and this was the end of
+it!"
+
+Mrs. Palmer, in her way, was equally angry.  "She was determined to
+drop his acquaintance immediately, and she was very thankful that she
+had never been acquainted with him at all.  She wished with all her
+heart Combe Magna was not so near Cleveland; but it did not signify,
+for it was a great deal too far off to visit; she hated him so much
+that she was resolved never to mention his name again, and she should
+tell everybody she saw, how good-for-nothing he was."
+
+The rest of Mrs. Palmer's sympathy was shewn in procuring all the
+particulars in her power of the approaching marriage, and communicating
+them to Elinor.  She could soon tell at what coachmaker's the new
+carriage was building, by what painter Mr. Willoughby's portrait was
+drawn, and at what warehouse Miss Grey's clothes might be seen.
+
+The calm and polite unconcern of Lady Middleton on the occasion was a
+happy relief to Elinor's spirits, oppressed as they often were by the
+clamorous kindness of the others.  It was a great comfort to her to be
+sure of exciting no interest in ONE person at least among their circle
+of friends: a great comfort to know that there was ONE who would meet
+her without feeling any curiosity after particulars, or any anxiety for
+her sister's health.
+
+Every qualification is raised at times, by the circumstances of the
+moment, to more than its real value; and she was sometimes worried down
+by officious condolence to rate good-breeding as more indispensable to
+comfort than good-nature.
+
+Lady Middleton expressed her sense of the affair about once every day,
+or twice, if the subject occurred very often, by saying, "It is very
+shocking, indeed!" and by the means of this continual though gentle
+vent, was able not only to see the Miss Dashwoods from the first
+without the smallest emotion, but very soon to see them without
+recollecting a word of the matter; and having thus supported the
+dignity of her own sex, and spoken her decided censure of what was
+wrong in the other, she thought herself at liberty to attend to the
+interest of her own assemblies, and therefore determined (though rather
+against the opinion of Sir John) that as Mrs. Willoughby would at once
+be a woman of elegance and fortune, to leave her card with her as soon
+as she married.
+
+Colonel Brandon's delicate, unobtrusive enquiries were never unwelcome
+to Miss Dashwood.  He had abundantly earned the privilege of intimate
+discussion of her sister's disappointment, by the friendly zeal with
+which he had endeavoured to soften it, and they always conversed with
+confidence.  His chief reward for the painful exertion of disclosing
+past sorrows and present humiliations, was given in the pitying eye
+with which Marianne sometimes observed him, and the gentleness of her
+voice whenever (though it did not often happen) she was obliged, or
+could oblige herself to speak to him.  THESE assured him that his
+exertion had produced an increase of good-will towards himself, and
+THESE gave Elinor hopes of its being farther augmented hereafter; but
+Mrs. Jennings, who knew nothing of all this, who knew only that the
+Colonel continued as grave as ever, and that she could neither prevail
+on him to make the offer himself, nor commission her to make it for
+him, began, at the end of two days, to think that, instead of
+Midsummer, they would not be married till Michaelmas, and by the end of
+a week that it would not be a match at all.  The good understanding
+between the Colonel and Miss Dashwood seemed rather to declare that the
+honours of the mulberry-tree, the canal, and the yew arbour, would all
+be made over to HER; and Mrs. Jennings had, for some time ceased to
+think at all of Mrs. Ferrars.
+
+Early in February, within a fortnight from the receipt of Willoughby's
+letter, Elinor had the painful office of informing her sister that he
+was married.  She had taken care to have the intelligence conveyed to
+herself, as soon as it was known that the ceremony was over, as she was
+desirous that Marianne should not receive the first notice of it from
+the public papers, which she saw her eagerly examining every morning.
+
+She received the news with resolute composure; made no observation on
+it, and at first shed no tears; but after a short time they would burst
+out, and for the rest of the day, she was in a state hardly less
+pitiable than when she first learnt to expect the event.
+
+The Willoughbys left town as soon as they were married; and Elinor now
+hoped, as there could be no danger of her seeing either of them, to
+prevail on her sister, who had never yet left the house since the blow
+first fell, to go out again by degrees as she had done before.
+
+About this time the two Miss Steeles, lately arrived at their cousin's
+house in Bartlett's Buildings, Holburn, presented themselves again
+before their more grand relations in Conduit and Berkeley Streets; and
+were welcomed by them all with great cordiality.
+
+Elinor only was sorry to see them.  Their presence always gave her
+pain, and she hardly knew how to make a very gracious return to the
+overpowering delight of Lucy in finding her STILL in town.
+
+"I should have been quite disappointed if I had not found you here
+STILL," said she repeatedly, with a strong emphasis on the word.  "But
+I always thought I SHOULD.  I was almost sure you would not leave
+London yet awhile; though you TOLD me, you know, at Barton, that you
+should not stay above a MONTH.  But I thought, at the time, that you
+would most likely change your mind when it came to the point.  It would
+have been such a great pity to have went away before your brother and
+sister came.  And now to be sure you will be in no hurry to be gone.  I
+am amazingly glad you did not keep to YOUR WORD."
+
+Elinor perfectly understood her, and was forced to use all her
+self-command to make it appear that she did NOT.
+
+"Well, my dear," said Mrs. Jennings, "and how did you travel?"
+
+"Not in the stage, I assure you," replied Miss Steele, with quick
+exultation; "we came post all the way, and had a very smart beau to
+attend us.  Dr. Davies was coming to town, and so we thought we'd join
+him in a post-chaise; and he behaved very genteelly, and paid ten or
+twelve shillings more than we did."
+
+"Oh, oh!" cried Mrs. Jennings; "very pretty, indeed! and the Doctor is
+a single man, I warrant you."
+
+"There now," said Miss Steele, affectedly simpering, "everybody laughs
+at me so about the Doctor, and I cannot think why.  My cousins say they
+are sure I have made a conquest; but for my part I declare I never
+think about him from one hour's end to another.  'Lord! here comes your
+beau, Nancy,' my cousin said t'other day, when she saw him crossing the
+street to the house.  My beau, indeed! said I--I cannot think who you
+mean.  The Doctor is no beau of mine."
+
+"Aye, aye, that is very pretty talking--but it won't do--the Doctor is
+the man, I see."
+
+"No, indeed!" replied her cousin, with affected earnestness, "and I beg
+you will contradict it, if you ever hear it talked of."
+
+Mrs. Jennings directly gave her the gratifying assurance that she
+certainly would NOT, and Miss Steele was made completely happy.
+
+"I suppose you will go and stay with your brother and sister, Miss
+Dashwood, when they come to town," said Lucy, returning, after a
+cessation of hostile hints, to the charge.
+
+"No, I do not think we shall."
+
+"Oh, yes, I dare say you will."
+
+Elinor would not humour her by farther opposition.
+
+"What a charming thing it is that Mrs. Dashwood can spare you both for
+so long a time together!"
+
+"Long a time, indeed!" interposed Mrs. Jennings.  "Why, their visit is
+but just begun!"
+
+Lucy was silenced.
+
+"I am sorry we cannot see your sister, Miss Dashwood," said Miss
+Steele.  "I am sorry she is not well--" for Marianne had left the room
+on their arrival.
+
+"You are very good.  My sister will be equally sorry to miss the
+pleasure of seeing you; but she has been very much plagued lately with
+nervous head-aches, which make her unfit for company or conversation."
+
+"Oh, dear, that is a great pity! but such old friends as Lucy and
+me!--I think she might see US; and I am sure we would not speak a word."
+
+Elinor, with great civility, declined the proposal.  Her sister was
+perhaps laid down upon the bed, or in her dressing gown, and therefore
+not able to come to them.
+
+"Oh, if that's all," cried Miss Steele, "we can just as well go and see
+HER."
+
+Elinor began to find this impertinence too much for her temper; but she
+was saved the trouble of checking it, by Lucy's sharp reprimand, which
+now, as on many occasions, though it did not give much sweetness to the
+manners of one sister, was of advantage in governing those of the other.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 33
+
+
+After some opposition, Marianne yielded to her sister's entreaties, and
+consented to go out with her and Mrs. Jennings one morning for half an
+hour. She expressly conditioned, however, for paying no visits, and
+would do no more than accompany them to Gray's in Sackville Street,
+where Elinor was carrying on a negotiation for the exchange of a few
+old-fashioned jewels of her mother.
+
+When they stopped at the door, Mrs. Jennings recollected that there was
+a lady at the other end of the street on whom she ought to call; and as
+she had no business at Gray's, it was resolved, that while her young
+friends transacted their's, she should pay her visit and return for
+them.
+
+On ascending the stairs, the Miss Dashwoods found so many people before
+them in the room, that there was not a person at liberty to tend to
+their orders; and they were obliged to wait.  All that could be done
+was, to sit down at that end of the counter which seemed to promise the
+quickest succession; one gentleman only was standing there, and it is
+probable that Elinor was not without hope of exciting his politeness to
+a quicker despatch.  But the correctness of his eye, and the delicacy
+of his taste, proved to be beyond his politeness.  He was giving orders
+for a toothpick-case for himself, and till its size, shape, and
+ornaments were determined, all of which, after examining and debating
+for a quarter of an hour over every toothpick-case in the shop, were
+finally arranged by his own inventive fancy, he had no leisure to
+bestow any other attention on the two ladies, than what was comprised
+in three or four very broad stares; a kind of notice which served to
+imprint on Elinor the remembrance of a person and face, of strong,
+natural, sterling insignificance, though adorned in the first style of
+fashion.
+
+Marianne was spared from the troublesome feelings of contempt and
+resentment, on this impertinent examination of their features, and on
+the puppyism of his manner in deciding on all the different horrors of
+the different toothpick-cases presented to his inspection, by remaining
+unconscious of it all; for she was as well able to collect her thoughts
+within herself, and be as ignorant of what was passing around her, in
+Mr. Gray's shop, as in her own bedroom.
+
+At last the affair was decided.  The ivory, the gold, and the pearls,
+all received their appointment, and the gentleman having named the last
+day on which his existence could be continued without the possession of
+the toothpick-case, drew on his gloves with leisurely care, and
+bestowing another glance on the Miss Dashwoods, but such a one as
+seemed rather to demand than express admiration, walked off with a
+happy air of real conceit and affected indifference.
+
+Elinor lost no time in bringing her business forward, was on the point
+of concluding it, when another gentleman presented himself at her side.
+She turned her eyes towards his face, and found him with some surprise
+to be her brother.
+
+Their affection and pleasure in meeting was just enough to make a very
+creditable appearance in Mr. Gray's shop.  John Dashwood was really far
+from being sorry to see his sisters again; it rather gave them
+satisfaction; and his inquiries after their mother were respectful and
+attentive.
+
+Elinor found that he and Fanny had been in town two days.
+
+"I wished very much to call upon you yesterday," said he, "but it was
+impossible, for we were obliged to take Harry to see the wild beasts at
+Exeter Exchange; and we spent the rest of the day with Mrs. Ferrars.
+Harry was vastly pleased.  THIS morning I had fully intended to call on
+you, if I could possibly find a spare half hour, but one has always so
+much to do on first coming to town.  I am come here to bespeak Fanny a
+seal.  But tomorrow I think I shall certainly be able to call in
+Berkeley Street, and be introduced to your friend Mrs. Jennings.  I
+understand she is a woman of very good fortune.  And the Middletons
+too, you must introduce me to THEM.  As my mother-in-law's relations, I
+shall be happy to show them every respect.  They are excellent
+neighbours to you in the country, I understand."
+
+"Excellent indeed.  Their attention to our comfort, their friendliness
+in every particular, is more than I can express."
+
+"I am extremely glad to hear it, upon my word; extremely glad indeed.
+But so it ought to be; they are people of large fortune, they are
+related to you, and every civility and accommodation that can serve to
+make your situation pleasant might be reasonably expected.  And so you
+are most comfortably settled in your little cottage and want for
+nothing!  Edward brought us a most charming account of the place: the
+most complete thing of its kind, he said, that ever was, and you all
+seemed to enjoy it beyond any thing.  It was a great satisfaction to us
+to hear it, I assure you."
+
+Elinor did feel a little ashamed of her brother; and was not sorry to
+be spared the necessity of answering him, by the arrival of Mrs.
+Jennings's servant, who came to tell her that his mistress waited for
+them at the door.
+
+Mr. Dashwood attended them down stairs, was introduced to Mrs. Jennings
+at the door of her carriage, and repeating his hope of being able to
+call on them the next day, took leave.
+
+His visit was duly paid.  He came with a pretence at an apology from
+their sister-in-law, for not coming too; "but she was so much engaged
+with her mother, that really she had no leisure for going any where."
+Mrs. Jennings, however, assured him directly, that she should not stand
+upon ceremony, for they were all cousins, or something like it, and she
+should certainly wait on Mrs. John Dashwood very soon, and bring her
+sisters to see her.  His manners to THEM, though calm, were perfectly
+kind; to Mrs. Jennings, most attentively civil; and on Colonel
+Brandon's coming in soon after himself, he eyed him with a curiosity
+which seemed to say, that he only wanted to know him to be rich, to be
+equally civil to HIM.
+
+After staying with them half an hour, he asked Elinor to walk with him
+to Conduit Street, and introduce him to Sir John and Lady Middleton.
+The weather was remarkably fine, and she readily consented.  As soon as
+they were out of the house, his enquiries began.
+
+"Who is Colonel Brandon?  Is he a man of fortune?"
+
+"Yes; he has very good property in Dorsetshire."
+
+"I am glad of it.  He seems a most gentlemanlike man; and I think,
+Elinor, I may congratulate you on the prospect of a very respectable
+establishment in life."
+
+"Me, brother! what do you mean?"
+
+"He likes you.  I observed him narrowly, and am convinced of it.  What
+is the amount of his fortune?"
+
+"I believe about two thousand a year."
+
+"Two thousand a-year;" and then working himself up to a pitch of
+enthusiastic generosity, he added, "Elinor, I wish with all my heart it
+were TWICE as much, for your sake."
+
+"Indeed I believe you," replied Elinor; "but I am very sure that
+Colonel Brandon has not the smallest wish of marrying ME."
+
+"You are mistaken, Elinor; you are very much mistaken.  A very little
+trouble on your side secures him.  Perhaps just at present he may be
+undecided; the smallness of your fortune may make him hang back; his
+friends may all advise him against it.  But some of those little
+attentions and encouragements which ladies can so easily give will fix
+him, in spite of himself.  And there can be no reason why you should
+not try for him.  It is not to be supposed that any prior attachment on
+your side--in short, you know as to an attachment of that kind, it is
+quite out of the question, the objections are insurmountable--you have
+too much sense not to see all that.  Colonel Brandon must be the man;
+and no civility shall be wanting on my part to make him pleased with
+you and your family.  It is a match that must give universal
+satisfaction.  In short, it is a kind of thing that"--lowering his
+voice to an important whisper--"will be exceedingly welcome to ALL
+PARTIES." Recollecting himself, however, he added, "That is, I mean to
+say--your friends are all truly anxious to see you well settled; Fanny
+particularly, for she has your interest very much at heart, I assure
+you.  And her mother too, Mrs. Ferrars, a very good-natured woman, I am
+sure it would give her great pleasure; she said as much the other day."
+
+Elinor would not vouchsafe any answer.
+
+"It would be something remarkable, now," he continued, "something
+droll, if Fanny should have a brother and I a sister settling at the
+same time.  And yet it is not very unlikely."
+
+"Is Mr. Edward Ferrars," said Elinor, with resolution, "going to be
+married?"
+
+"It is not actually settled, but there is such a thing in agitation.
+He has a most excellent mother.  Mrs. Ferrars, with the utmost
+liberality, will come forward, and settle on him a thousand a year, if
+the match takes place.  The lady is the Hon. Miss Morton, only daughter
+of the late Lord Morton, with thirty thousand pounds.  A very desirable
+connection on both sides, and I have not a doubt of its taking place in
+time.  A thousand a-year is a great deal for a mother to give away, to
+make over for ever; but Mrs. Ferrars has a noble spirit.  To give you
+another instance of her liberality:--The other day, as soon as we came
+to town, aware that money could not be very plenty with us just now,
+she put bank-notes into Fanny's hands to the amount of two hundred
+pounds.  And extremely acceptable it is, for we must live at a great
+expense while we are here."
+
+He paused for her assent and compassion; and she forced herself to say,
+
+"Your expenses both in town and country must certainly be considerable;
+but your income is a large one."
+
+"Not so large, I dare say, as many people suppose.  I do not mean to
+complain, however; it is undoubtedly a comfortable one, and I hope will
+in time be better.  The enclosure of Norland Common, now carrying on,
+is a most serious drain.  And then I have made a little purchase within
+this half year; East Kingham Farm, you must remember the place, where
+old Gibson used to live.  The land was so very desirable for me in
+every respect, so immediately adjoining my own property, that I felt it
+my duty to buy it.  I could not have answered it to my conscience to
+let it fall into any other hands.  A man must pay for his convenience;
+and it HAS cost me a vast deal of money."
+
+"More than you think it really and intrinsically worth."
+
+"Why, I hope not that.  I might have sold it again, the next day, for
+more than I gave: but, with regard to the purchase-money, I might have
+been very unfortunate indeed; for the stocks were at that time so low,
+that if I had not happened to have the necessary sum in my banker's
+hands, I must have sold out to very great loss."
+
+Elinor could only smile.
+
+"Other great and inevitable expenses too we have had on first coming to
+Norland.  Our respected father, as you well know, bequeathed all the
+Stanhill effects that remained at Norland (and very valuable they were)
+to your mother.  Far be it from me to repine at his doing so; he had an
+undoubted right to dispose of his own property as he chose, but, in
+consequence of it, we have been obliged to make large purchases of
+linen, china, &c. to supply the place of what was taken away.  You may
+guess, after all these expenses, how very far we must be from being
+rich, and how acceptable Mrs. Ferrars's kindness is."
+
+"Certainly," said Elinor; "and assisted by her liberality, I hope you
+may yet live to be in easy circumstances."
+
+"Another year or two may do much towards it," he gravely replied; "but
+however there is still a great deal to be done.  There is not a stone
+laid of Fanny's green-house, and nothing but the plan of the
+flower-garden marked out."
+
+"Where is the green-house to be?"
+
+"Upon the knoll behind the house.  The old walnut trees are all come
+down to make room for it.  It will be a very fine object from many
+parts of the park, and the flower-garden will slope down just before
+it, and be exceedingly pretty.  We have cleared away all the old thorns
+that grew in patches over the brow."
+
+Elinor kept her concern and her censure to herself; and was very
+thankful that Marianne was not present, to share the provocation.
+
+Having now said enough to make his poverty clear, and to do away the
+necessity of buying a pair of ear-rings for each of his sisters, in his
+next visit at Gray's his thoughts took a cheerfuller turn, and he began
+to congratulate Elinor on having such a friend as Mrs. Jennings.
+
+"She seems a most valuable woman indeed--Her house, her style of
+living, all bespeak an exceeding good income; and it is an acquaintance
+that has not only been of great use to you hitherto, but in the end may
+prove materially advantageous.--Her inviting you to town is certainly a
+vast thing in your favour; and indeed, it speaks altogether so great a
+regard for you, that in all probability when she dies you will not be
+forgotten.-- She must have a great deal to leave."
+
+"Nothing at all, I should rather suppose; for she has only her
+jointure, which will descend to her children."
+
+"But it is not to be imagined that she lives up to her income.  Few
+people of common prudence will do THAT; and whatever she saves, she
+will be able to dispose of."
+
+"And do you not think it more likely that she should leave it to her
+daughters, than to us?"
+
+"Her daughters are both exceedingly well married, and therefore I
+cannot perceive the necessity of her remembering them farther.
+Whereas, in my opinion, by her taking so much notice of you, and
+treating you in this kind of way, she has given you a sort of claim on
+her future consideration, which a conscientious woman would not
+disregard.  Nothing can be kinder than her behaviour; and she can
+hardly do all this, without being aware of the expectation it raises."
+
+"But she raises none in those most concerned.  Indeed, brother, your
+anxiety for our welfare and prosperity carries you too far."
+
+"Why, to be sure," said he, seeming to recollect himself, "people have
+little, have very little in their power.  But, my dear Elinor, what is
+the matter with Marianne?-- she looks very unwell, has lost her colour,
+and is grown quite thin.  Is she ill?"
+
+"She is not well, she has had a nervous complaint on her for several
+weeks."
+
+"I am sorry for that.  At her time of life, any thing of an illness
+destroys the bloom for ever!  Hers has been a very short one!  She was
+as handsome a girl last September, as I ever saw; and as likely to
+attract the man.  There was something in her style of beauty, to please
+them particularly.  I remember Fanny used to say that she would marry
+sooner and better than you did; not but what she is exceedingly fond of
+YOU, but so it happened to strike her.  She will be mistaken, however.
+I question whether Marianne NOW, will marry a man worth more than five
+or six hundred a-year, at the utmost, and I am very much deceived if
+YOU do not do better.  Dorsetshire!  I know very little of Dorsetshire;
+but, my dear Elinor, I shall be exceedingly glad to know more of it;
+and I think I can answer for your having Fanny and myself among the
+earliest and best pleased of your visitors."
+
+Elinor tried very seriously to convince him that there was no
+likelihood of her marrying Colonel Brandon; but it was an expectation
+of too much pleasure to himself to be relinquished, and he was really
+resolved on seeking an intimacy with that gentleman, and promoting the
+marriage by every possible attention.  He had just compunction enough
+for having done nothing for his sisters himself, to be exceedingly
+anxious that everybody else should do a great deal; and an offer from
+Colonel Brandon, or a legacy from Mrs. Jennings, was the easiest means
+of atoning for his own neglect.
+
+They were lucky enough to find Lady Middleton at home, and Sir John
+came in before their visit ended.  Abundance of civilities passed on
+all sides.  Sir John was ready to like anybody, and though Mr. Dashwood
+did not seem to know much about horses, he soon set him down as a very
+good-natured fellow: while Lady Middleton saw enough of fashion in his
+appearance to think his acquaintance worth having; and Mr. Dashwood
+went away delighted with both.
+
+"I shall have a charming account to carry to Fanny," said he, as he
+walked back with his sister.  "Lady Middleton is really a most elegant
+woman!  Such a woman as I am sure Fanny will be glad to know.  And Mrs.
+Jennings too, an exceedingly well-behaved woman, though not so elegant
+as her daughter.  Your sister need not have any scruple even of
+visiting HER, which, to say the truth, has been a little the case, and
+very naturally; for we only knew that Mrs. Jennings was the widow of a
+man who had got all his money in a low way; and Fanny and Mrs. Ferrars
+were both strongly prepossessed, that neither she nor her daughters
+were such kind of women as Fanny would like to associate with.  But now
+I can carry her a most satisfactory account of both."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 34
+
+
+Mrs. John Dashwood had so much confidence in her husband's judgment,
+that she waited the very next day both on Mrs. Jennings and her
+daughter; and her confidence was rewarded by finding even the former,
+even the woman with whom her sisters were staying, by no means unworthy
+her notice; and as for Lady Middleton, she found her one of the most
+charming women in the world!
+
+Lady Middleton was equally pleased with Mrs. Dashwood.  There was a
+kind of cold hearted selfishness on both sides, which mutually
+attracted them; and they sympathised with each other in an insipid
+propriety of demeanor, and a general want of understanding.
+
+The same manners, however, which recommended Mrs. John Dashwood to the
+good opinion of Lady Middleton did not suit the fancy of Mrs. Jennings,
+and to HER she appeared nothing more than a little proud-looking woman
+of uncordial address, who met her husband's sisters without any
+affection, and almost without having anything to say to them; for of
+the quarter of an hour bestowed on Berkeley Street, she sat at least
+seven minutes and a half in silence.
+
+Elinor wanted very much to know, though she did not chuse to ask,
+whether Edward was then in town; but nothing would have induced Fanny
+voluntarily to mention his name before her, till able to tell her that
+his marriage with Miss Morton was resolved on, or till her husband's
+expectations on Colonel Brandon were answered; because she believed
+them still so very much attached to each other, that they could not be
+too sedulously divided in word and deed on every occasion.  The
+intelligence however, which SHE would not give, soon flowed from
+another quarter.  Lucy came very shortly to claim Elinor's compassion
+on being unable to see Edward, though he had arrived in town with Mr.
+and Mrs. Dashwood.  He dared not come to Bartlett's Buildings for fear
+of detection, and though their mutual impatience to meet, was not to be
+told, they could do nothing at present but write.
+
+Edward assured them himself of his being in town, within a very short
+time, by twice calling in Berkeley Street.  Twice was his card found on
+the table, when they returned from their morning's engagements.  Elinor
+was pleased that he had called; and still more pleased that she had
+missed him.
+
+The Dashwoods were so prodigiously delighted with the Middletons, that,
+though not much in the habit of giving anything, they determined to
+give them--a dinner; and soon after their acquaintance began, invited
+them to dine in Harley Street, where they had taken a very good house
+for three months.  Their sisters and Mrs. Jennings were invited
+likewise, and John Dashwood was careful to secure Colonel Brandon, who,
+always glad to be where the Miss Dashwoods were, received his eager
+civilities with some surprise, but much more pleasure.  They were to
+meet Mrs. Ferrars; but Elinor could not learn whether her sons were to
+be of the party.  The expectation of seeing HER, however, was enough to
+make her interested in the engagement; for though she could now meet
+Edward's mother without that strong anxiety which had once promised to
+attend such an introduction, though she could now see her with perfect
+indifference as to her opinion of herself, her desire of being in
+company with Mrs. Ferrars, her curiosity to know what she was like, was
+as lively as ever.
+
+The interest with which she thus anticipated the party, was soon
+afterwards increased, more powerfully than pleasantly, by her hearing
+that the Miss Steeles were also to be at it.
+
+So well had they recommended themselves to Lady Middleton, so agreeable
+had their assiduities made them to her, that though Lucy was certainly
+not so elegant, and her sister not even genteel, she was as ready as
+Sir John to ask them to spend a week or two in Conduit Street; and it
+happened to be particularly convenient to the Miss Steeles, as soon as
+the Dashwoods' invitation was known, that their visit should begin a
+few days before the party took place.
+
+Their claims to the notice of Mrs. John Dashwood, as the nieces of the
+gentleman who for many years had had the care of her brother, might not
+have done much, however, towards procuring them seats at her table; but
+as Lady Middleton's guests they must be welcome; and Lucy, who had long
+wanted to be personally known to the family, to have a nearer view of
+their characters and her own difficulties, and to have an opportunity
+of endeavouring to please them, had seldom been happier in her life,
+than she was on receiving Mrs. John Dashwood's card.
+
+On Elinor its effect was very different.  She began immediately to
+determine, that Edward who lived with his mother, must be asked as his
+mother was, to a party given by his sister; and to see him for the
+first time, after all that passed, in the company of Lucy!--she hardly
+knew how she could bear it!
+
+These apprehensions, perhaps, were not founded entirely on reason, and
+certainly not at all on truth.  They were relieved however, not by her
+own recollection, but by the good will of Lucy, who believed herself to
+be inflicting a severe disappointment when she told her that Edward
+certainly would not be in Harley Street on Tuesday, and even hoped to
+be carrying the pain still farther by persuading her that he was kept
+away by the extreme affection for herself, which he could not conceal
+when they were together.
+
+The important Tuesday came that was to introduce the two young ladies
+to this formidable mother-in-law.
+
+"Pity me, dear Miss Dashwood!" said Lucy, as they walked up the stairs
+together--for the Middletons arrived so directly after Mrs. Jennings,
+that they all followed the servant at the same time--"There is nobody
+here but you, that can feel for me.--I declare I can hardly stand.
+Good gracious!--In a moment I shall see the person that all my
+happiness depends on--that is to be my mother!"--
+
+Elinor could have given her immediate relief by suggesting the
+possibility of its being Miss Morton's mother, rather than her own,
+whom they were about to behold; but instead of doing that, she assured
+her, and with great sincerity, that she did pity her--to the utter
+amazement of Lucy, who, though really uncomfortable herself, hoped at
+least to be an object of irrepressible envy to Elinor.
+
+Mrs. Ferrars was a little, thin woman, upright, even to formality, in
+her figure, and serious, even to sourness, in her aspect.  Her
+complexion was sallow; and her features small, without beauty, and
+naturally without expression; but a lucky contraction of the brow had
+rescued her countenance from the disgrace of insipidity, by giving it
+the strong characters of pride and ill nature.  She was not a woman of
+many words; for, unlike people in general, she proportioned them to the
+number of her ideas; and of the few syllables that did escape her, not
+one fell to the share of Miss Dashwood, whom she eyed with the spirited
+determination of disliking her at all events.
+
+Elinor could not NOW be made unhappy by this behaviour.-- A few months
+ago it would have hurt her exceedingly; but it was not in Mrs. Ferrars'
+power to distress her by it now;--and the difference of her manners to
+the Miss Steeles, a difference which seemed purposely made to humble
+her more, only amused her.  She could not but smile to see the
+graciousness of both mother and daughter towards the very person-- for
+Lucy was particularly distinguished--whom of all others, had they known
+as much as she did, they would have been most anxious to mortify; while
+she herself, who had comparatively no power to wound them, sat
+pointedly slighted by both.  But while she smiled at a graciousness so
+misapplied, she could not reflect on the mean-spirited folly from which
+it sprung, nor observe the studied attentions with which the Miss
+Steeles courted its continuance, without thoroughly despising them all
+four.
+
+Lucy was all exultation on being so honorably distinguished; and Miss
+Steele wanted only to be teazed about Dr. Davies to be perfectly happy.
+
+The dinner was a grand one, the servants were numerous, and every thing
+bespoke the Mistress's inclination for show, and the Master's ability
+to support it.  In spite of the improvements and additions which were
+making to the Norland estate, and in spite of its owner having once
+been within some thousand pounds of being obliged to sell out at a
+loss, nothing gave any symptom of that indigence which he had tried to
+infer from it;--no poverty of any kind, except of conversation,
+appeared--but there, the deficiency was considerable.  John Dashwood
+had not much to say for himself that was worth hearing, and his wife
+had still less.  But there was no peculiar disgrace in this; for it was
+very much the case with the chief of their visitors, who almost all
+laboured under one or other of these disqualifications for being
+agreeable--Want of sense, either natural or improved--want of
+elegance--want of spirits--or want of temper.
+
+When the ladies withdrew to the drawing-room after dinner, this poverty
+was particularly evident, for the gentlemen HAD supplied the discourse
+with some variety--the variety of politics, inclosing land, and
+breaking horses--but then it was all over; and one subject only engaged
+the ladies till coffee came in, which was the comparative heights of
+Harry Dashwood, and Lady Middleton's second son William, who were
+nearly of the same age.
+
+Had both the children been there, the affair might have been determined
+too easily by measuring them at once; but as Harry only was present, it
+was all conjectural assertion on both sides; and every body had a right
+to be equally positive in their opinion, and to repeat it over and over
+again as often as they liked.
+
+The parties stood thus:
+
+The two mothers, though each really convinced that her own son was the
+tallest, politely decided in favour of the other.
+
+The two grandmothers, with not less partiality, but more sincerity,
+were equally earnest in support of their own descendant.
+
+Lucy, who was hardly less anxious to please one parent than the other,
+thought the boys were both remarkably tall for their age, and could not
+conceive that there could be the smallest difference in the world
+between them; and Miss Steele, with yet greater address gave it, as
+fast as she could, in favour of each.
+
+Elinor, having once delivered her opinion on William's side, by which
+she offended Mrs. Ferrars and Fanny still more, did not see the
+necessity of enforcing it by any farther assertion; and Marianne, when
+called on for hers, offended them all, by declaring that she had no
+opinion to give, as she had never thought about it.
+
+Before her removing from Norland, Elinor had painted a very pretty pair
+of screens for her sister-in-law, which being now just mounted and
+brought home, ornamented her present drawing room; and these screens,
+catching the eye of John Dashwood on his following the other gentlemen
+into the room, were officiously handed by him to Colonel Brandon for
+his admiration.
+
+"These are done by my eldest sister," said he; "and you, as a man of
+taste, will, I dare say, be pleased with them.  I do not know whether
+you have ever happened to see any of her performances before, but she
+is in general reckoned to draw extremely well."
+
+The Colonel, though disclaiming all pretensions to connoisseurship,
+warmly admired the screens, as he would have done any thing painted by
+Miss Dashwood; and on the curiosity of the others being of course
+excited, they were handed round for general inspection.  Mrs. Ferrars,
+not aware of their being Elinor's work, particularly requested to look
+at them; and after they had received gratifying testimony of Lady
+Middletons's approbation, Fanny presented them to her mother,
+considerately informing her, at the same time, that they were done by
+Miss Dashwood.
+
+"Hum"--said Mrs. Ferrars--"very pretty,"--and without regarding them at
+all, returned them to her daughter.
+
+Perhaps Fanny thought for a moment that her mother had been quite rude
+enough,--for, colouring a little, she immediately said,
+
+"They are very pretty, ma'am--an't they?" But then again, the dread of
+having been too civil, too encouraging herself, probably came over her,
+for she presently added,
+
+"Do you not think they are something in Miss Morton's style of
+painting, Ma'am?--She DOES paint most delightfully!--How beautifully
+her last landscape is done!"
+
+"Beautifully indeed!  But SHE does every thing well."
+
+Marianne could not bear this.--She was already greatly displeased with
+Mrs. Ferrars; and such ill-timed praise of another, at Elinor's
+expense, though she had not any notion of what was principally meant by
+it, provoked her immediately to say with warmth,
+
+"This is admiration of a very particular kind!--what is Miss Morton to
+us?--who knows, or who cares, for her?--it is Elinor of whom WE think
+and speak."
+
+And so saying, she took the screens out of her sister-in-law's hands,
+to admire them herself as they ought to be admired.
+
+Mrs. Ferrars looked exceedingly angry, and drawing herself up more
+stiffly than ever, pronounced in retort this bitter philippic, "Miss
+Morton is Lord Morton's daughter."
+
+Fanny looked very angry too, and her husband was all in a fright at his
+sister's audacity.  Elinor was much more hurt by Marianne's warmth than
+she had been by what produced it; but Colonel Brandon's eyes, as they
+were fixed on Marianne, declared that he noticed only what was amiable
+in it, the affectionate heart which could not bear to see a sister
+slighted in the smallest point.
+
+Marianne's feelings did not stop here.  The cold insolence of Mrs.
+Ferrars's general behaviour to her sister, seemed, to her, to foretell
+such difficulties and distresses to Elinor, as her own wounded heart
+taught her to think of with horror; and urged by a strong impulse of
+affectionate sensibility, she moved after a moment, to her sister's
+chair, and putting one arm round her neck, and one cheek close to hers,
+said in a low, but eager, voice,
+
+"Dear, dear Elinor, don't mind them.  Don't let them make YOU unhappy."
+
+She could say no more; her spirits were quite overcome, and hiding her
+face on Elinor's shoulder, she burst into tears.  Every body's
+attention was called, and almost every body was concerned.--Colonel
+Brandon rose up and went to them without knowing what he did.--Mrs.
+Jennings, with a very intelligent "Ah! poor dear," immediately gave her
+her salts; and Sir John felt so desperately enraged against the author
+of this nervous distress, that he instantly changed his seat to one
+close by Lucy Steele, and gave her, in a whisper, a brief account of
+the whole shocking affair.
+
+In a few minutes, however, Marianne was recovered enough to put an end
+to the bustle, and sit down among the rest; though her spirits retained
+the impression of what had passed, the whole evening.
+
+"Poor Marianne!" said her brother to Colonel Brandon, in a low voice,
+as soon as he could secure his attention,-- "She has not such good
+health as her sister,--she is very nervous,--she has not Elinor's
+constitution;--and one must allow that there is something very trying
+to a young woman who HAS BEEN a beauty in the loss of her personal
+attractions.  You would not think it perhaps, but Marianne WAS
+remarkably handsome a few months ago; quite as handsome as Elinor.--
+Now you see it is all gone."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 35
+
+
+Elinor's curiosity to see Mrs. Ferrars was satisfied.-- She had found
+in her every thing that could tend to make a farther connection between
+the families undesirable.-- She had seen enough of her pride, her
+meanness, and her determined prejudice against herself, to comprehend
+all the difficulties that must have perplexed the engagement, and
+retarded the marriage, of Edward and herself, had he been otherwise
+free;--and she had seen almost enough to be thankful for her OWN sake,
+that one greater obstacle preserved her from suffering under any other
+of Mrs. Ferrars's creation, preserved her from all dependence upon her
+caprice, or any solicitude for her good opinion.  Or at least, if she
+did not bring herself quite to rejoice in Edward's being fettered to
+Lucy, she determined, that had Lucy been more amiable, she OUGHT to
+have rejoiced.
+
+She wondered that Lucy's spirits could be so very much elevated by the
+civility of Mrs. Ferrars;--that her interest and her vanity should so
+very much blind her as to make the attention which seemed only paid her
+because she was NOT ELINOR, appear a compliment to herself--or to allow
+her to derive encouragement from a preference only given her, because
+her real situation was unknown.  But that it was so, had not only been
+declared by Lucy's eyes at the time, but was declared over again the
+next morning more openly, for at her particular desire, Lady Middleton
+set her down in Berkeley Street on the chance of seeing Elinor alone,
+to tell her how happy she was.
+
+The chance proved a lucky one, for a message from Mrs. Palmer soon
+after she arrived, carried Mrs. Jennings away.
+
+"My dear friend," cried Lucy, as soon as they were by themselves, "I
+come to talk to you of my happiness.  Could anything be so flattering
+as Mrs. Ferrars's way of treating me yesterday?  So exceeding affable
+as she was!--You know how I dreaded the thoughts of seeing her;--but
+the very moment I was introduced, there was such an affability in her
+behaviour as really should seem to say, she had quite took a fancy to
+me.  Now was not it so?-- You saw it all; and was not you quite struck
+with it?"
+
+"She was certainly very civil to you."
+
+"Civil!--Did you see nothing but only civility?-- I saw a vast deal
+more.  Such kindness as fell to the share of nobody but me!--No pride,
+no hauteur, and your sister just the same--all sweetness and
+affability!"
+
+Elinor wished to talk of something else, but Lucy still pressed her to
+own that she had reason for her happiness; and Elinor was obliged to go
+on.--
+
+"Undoubtedly, if they had known your engagement," said she, "nothing
+could be more flattering than their treatment of you;--but as that was
+not the case"--
+
+"I guessed you would say so,"--replied Lucy quickly--"but there was no
+reason in the world why Mrs. Ferrars should seem to like me, if she did
+not, and her liking me is every thing.  You shan't talk me out of my
+satisfaction.  I am sure it will all end well, and there will be no
+difficulties at all, to what I used to think.  Mrs. Ferrars is a
+charming woman, and so is your sister.  They are both delightful women,
+indeed!--I wonder I should never hear you say how agreeable Mrs.
+Dashwood was!"
+
+To this Elinor had no answer to make, and did not attempt any.
+
+"Are you ill, Miss Dashwood?--you seem low--you don't speak;--sure you
+an't well."
+
+"I never was in better health."
+
+"I am glad of it with all my heart; but really you did not look it.  I
+should be sorry to have YOU ill; you, that have been the greatest
+comfort to me in the world!--Heaven knows what I should have done
+without your friendship."--
+
+Elinor tried to make a civil answer, though doubting her own success.
+But it seemed to satisfy Lucy, for she directly replied,
+
+"Indeed I am perfectly convinced of your regard for me, and next to
+Edward's love, it is the greatest comfort I have.--Poor Edward!--But
+now there is one good thing, we shall be able to meet, and meet pretty
+often, for Lady Middleton's delighted with Mrs. Dashwood, so we shall
+be a good deal in Harley Street, I dare say, and Edward spends half his
+time with his sister--besides, Lady Middleton and Mrs. Ferrars will
+visit now;--and Mrs. Ferrars and your sister were both so good to say
+more than once, they should always be glad to see me.-- They are such
+charming women!--I am sure if ever you tell your sister what I think of
+her, you cannot speak too high."
+
+But Elinor would not give her any encouragement to hope that she SHOULD
+tell her sister.  Lucy continued.
+
+"I am sure I should have seen it in a moment, if Mrs. Ferrars had took
+a dislike to me.  If she had only made me a formal courtesy, for
+instance, without saying a word, and never after had took any notice of
+me, and never looked at me in a pleasant way--you know what I mean--if
+I had been treated in that forbidding sort of way, I should have gave
+it all up in despair.  I could not have stood it.  For where she DOES
+dislike, I know it is most violent."
+
+Elinor was prevented from making any reply to this civil triumph, by
+the door's being thrown open, the servant's announcing Mr. Ferrars, and
+Edward's immediately walking in.
+
+It was a very awkward moment; and the countenance of each shewed that
+it was so.  They all looked exceedingly foolish; and Edward seemed to
+have as great an inclination to walk out of the room again, as to
+advance farther into it.  The very circumstance, in its unpleasantest
+form, which they would each have been most anxious to avoid, had fallen
+on them.--They were not only all three together, but were together
+without the relief of any other person.  The ladies recovered
+themselves first.  It was not Lucy's business to put herself forward,
+and the appearance of secrecy must still be kept up.  She could
+therefore only LOOK her tenderness, and after slightly addressing him,
+said no more.
+
+But Elinor had more to do; and so anxious was she, for his sake and her
+own, to do it well, that she forced herself, after a moment's
+recollection, to welcome him, with a look and manner that were almost
+easy, and almost open; and another struggle, another effort still
+improved them.  She would not allow the presence of Lucy, nor the
+consciousness of some injustice towards herself, to deter her from
+saying that she was happy to see him, and that she had very much
+regretted being from home, when he called before in Berkeley Street.
+She would not be frightened from paying him those attentions which, as
+a friend and almost a relation, were his due, by the observant eyes of
+Lucy, though she soon perceived them to be narrowly watching her.
+
+Her manners gave some re-assurance to Edward, and he had courage enough
+to sit down; but his embarrassment still exceeded that of the ladies in
+a proportion, which the case rendered reasonable, though his sex might
+make it rare; for his heart had not the indifference of Lucy's, nor
+could his conscience have quite the ease of Elinor's.
+
+Lucy, with a demure and settled air, seemed determined to make no
+contribution to the comfort of the others, and would not say a word;
+and almost every thing that WAS said, proceeded from Elinor, who was
+obliged to volunteer all the information about her mother's health,
+their coming to town, &c. which Edward ought to have inquired about,
+but never did.
+
+Her exertions did not stop here; for she soon afterwards felt herself
+so heroically disposed as to determine, under pretence of fetching
+Marianne, to leave the others by themselves; and she really did it, and
+THAT in the handsomest manner, for she loitered away several minutes on
+the landing-place, with the most high-minded fortitude, before she went
+to her sister.  When that was once done, however, it was time for the
+raptures of Edward to cease; for Marianne's joy hurried her into the
+drawing-room immediately.  Her pleasure in seeing him was like every
+other of her feelings, strong in itself, and strongly spoken.  She met
+him with a hand that would be taken, and a voice that expressed the
+affection of a sister.
+
+"Dear Edward!" she cried, "this is a moment of great happiness!--This
+would almost make amends for every thing?"
+
+Edward tried to return her kindness as it deserved, but before such
+witnesses he dared not say half what he really felt.  Again they all
+sat down, and for a moment or two all were silent; while Marianne was
+looking with the most speaking tenderness, sometimes at Edward and
+sometimes at Elinor, regretting only that their delight in each other
+should be checked by Lucy's unwelcome presence.  Edward was the first
+to speak, and it was to notice Marianne's altered looks, and express
+his fear of her not finding London agree with her.
+
+"Oh, don't think of me!" she replied with spirited earnestness, though
+her eyes were filled with tears as she spoke, "don't think of MY
+health.  Elinor is well, you see.  That must be enough for us both."
+
+This remark was not calculated to make Edward or Elinor more easy, nor
+to conciliate the good will of Lucy, who looked up at Marianne with no
+very benignant expression.
+
+"Do you like London?" said Edward, willing to say any thing that might
+introduce another subject.
+
+"Not at all.  I expected much pleasure in it, but I have found none.
+The sight of you, Edward, is the only comfort it has afforded; and
+thank Heaven! you are what you always were!"
+
+She paused--no one spoke.
+
+"I think, Elinor," she presently added, "we must employ Edward to take
+care of us in our return to Barton.  In a week or two, I suppose, we
+shall be going; and, I trust, Edward will not be very unwilling to
+accept the charge."
+
+Poor Edward muttered something, but what it was, nobody knew, not even
+himself.  But Marianne, who saw his agitation, and could easily trace
+it to whatever cause best pleased herself, was perfectly satisfied, and
+soon talked of something else.
+
+"We spent such a day, Edward, in Harley Street yesterday!  So dull, so
+wretchedly dull!--But I have much to say to you on that head, which
+cannot be said now."
+
+And with this admirable discretion did she defer the assurance of her
+finding their mutual relatives more disagreeable than ever, and of her
+being particularly disgusted with his mother, till they were more in
+private.
+
+"But why were you not there, Edward?--Why did you not come?"
+
+"I was engaged elsewhere."
+
+"Engaged!  But what was that, when such friends were to be met?"
+
+"Perhaps, Miss Marianne," cried Lucy, eager to take some revenge on
+her, "you think young men never stand upon engagements, if they have no
+mind to keep them, little as well as great."
+
+Elinor was very angry, but Marianne seemed entirely insensible of the
+sting; for she calmly replied,
+
+"Not so, indeed; for, seriously speaking, I am very sure that
+conscience only kept Edward from Harley Street.  And I really believe
+he HAS the most delicate conscience in the world; the most scrupulous
+in performing every engagement, however minute, and however it may make
+against his interest or pleasure.  He is the most fearful of giving
+pain, of wounding expectation, and the most incapable of being selfish,
+of any body I ever saw.  Edward, it is so, and I will say it.  What!
+are you never to hear yourself praised!--Then you must be no friend of
+mine; for those who will accept of my love and esteem, must submit to
+my open commendation."
+
+The nature of her commendation, in the present case, however, happened
+to be particularly ill-suited to the feelings of two thirds of her
+auditors, and was so very unexhilarating to Edward, that he very soon
+got up to go away.
+
+"Going so soon!" said Marianne; "my dear Edward, this must not be."
+
+And drawing him a little aside, she whispered her persuasion that Lucy
+could not stay much longer.  But even this encouragement failed, for he
+would go; and Lucy, who would have outstaid him, had his visit lasted
+two hours, soon afterwards went away.
+
+"What can bring her here so often?" said Marianne, on her leaving them.
+"Could not she see that we wanted her gone!--how teazing to Edward!"
+
+"Why so?--we were all his friends, and Lucy has been the longest known
+to him of any.  It is but natural that he should like to see her as
+well as ourselves."
+
+Marianne looked at her steadily, and said, "You know, Elinor, that this
+is a kind of talking which I cannot bear.  If you only hope to have
+your assertion contradicted, as I must suppose to be the case, you
+ought to recollect that I am the last person in the world to do it.  I
+cannot descend to be tricked out of assurances, that are not really
+wanted."
+
+She then left the room; and Elinor dared not follow her to say more,
+for bound as she was by her promise of secrecy to Lucy, she could give
+no information that would convince Marianne; and painful as the
+consequences of her still continuing in an error might be, she was
+obliged to submit to it.  All that she could hope, was that Edward
+would not often expose her or himself to the distress of hearing
+Marianne's mistaken warmth, nor to the repetition of any other part of
+the pain that had attended their recent meeting--and this she had every
+reason to expect.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 36
+
+
+Within a few days after this meeting, the newspapers announced to the
+world, that the lady of Thomas Palmer, Esq. was safely delivered of a
+son and heir; a very interesting and satisfactory paragraph, at least
+to all those intimate connections who knew it before.
+
+This event, highly important to Mrs. Jennings's happiness, produced a
+temporary alteration in the disposal of her time, and influenced, in a
+like degree, the engagements of her young friends; for as she wished to
+be as much as possible with Charlotte, she went thither every morning as
+soon as she was dressed, and did not return till late in the evening;
+and the Miss Dashwoods, at the particular request of the Middletons,
+spent the whole of every day in Conduit Street. For their own comfort
+they would much rather have remained, at least all the morning, in Mrs.
+Jennings's house; but it was not a thing to be urged against the wishes
+of everybody. Their hours were therefore made over to Lady Middleton and
+the two Miss Steeles, by whom their company, in fact was as little
+valued, as it was professedly sought.
+
+They had too much sense to be desirable companions to the former; and
+by the latter they were considered with a jealous eye, as intruding on
+THEIR ground, and sharing the kindness which they wanted to monopolize.
+Though nothing could be more polite than Lady Middleton's behaviour to
+Elinor and Marianne, she did not really like them at all.  Because they
+neither flattered herself nor her children, she could not believe them
+good-natured; and because they were fond of reading, she fancied them
+satirical: perhaps without exactly knowing what it was to be satirical;
+but THAT did not signify.  It was censure in common use, and easily
+given.
+
+Their presence was a restraint both on her and on Lucy.  It checked the
+idleness of one, and the business of the other.  Lady Middleton was
+ashamed of doing nothing before them, and the flattery which Lucy was
+proud to think of and administer at other times, she feared they would
+despise her for offering.  Miss Steele was the least discomposed of the
+three, by their presence; and it was in their power to reconcile her to
+it entirely.  Would either of them only have given her a full and
+minute account of the whole affair between Marianne and Mr. Willoughby,
+she would have thought herself amply rewarded for the sacrifice of the
+best place by the fire after dinner, which their arrival occasioned.
+But this conciliation was not granted; for though she often threw out
+expressions of pity for her sister to Elinor, and more than once dropt
+a reflection on the inconstancy of beaux before Marianne, no effect was
+produced, but a look of indifference from the former, or of disgust in
+the latter.  An effort even yet lighter might have made her their
+friend.  Would they only have laughed at her about the Doctor!  But so
+little were they, anymore than the others, inclined to oblige her, that
+if Sir John dined from home, she might spend a whole day without
+hearing any other raillery on the subject, than what she was kind
+enough to bestow on herself.
+
+All these jealousies and discontents, however, were so totally
+unsuspected by Mrs. Jennings, that she thought it a delightful thing
+for the girls to be together; and generally congratulated her young
+friends every night, on having escaped the company of a stupid old
+woman so long.  She joined them sometimes at Sir John's, sometimes at
+her own house; but wherever it was, she always came in excellent
+spirits, full of delight and importance, attributing Charlotte's well
+doing to her own care, and ready to give so exact, so minute a detail
+of her situation, as only Miss Steele had curiosity enough to desire.
+One thing DID disturb her; and of that she made her daily complaint.
+Mr. Palmer maintained the common, but unfatherly opinion among his sex,
+of all infants being alike; and though she could plainly perceive, at
+different times, the most striking resemblance between this baby and
+every one of his relations on both sides, there was no convincing his
+father of it; no persuading him to believe that it was not exactly like
+every other baby of the same age; nor could he even be brought to
+acknowledge the simple proposition of its being the finest child in the
+world.
+
+I come now to the relation of a misfortune, which about this time
+befell Mrs. John Dashwood.  It so happened that while her two sisters
+with Mrs. Jennings were first calling on her in Harley Street, another
+of her acquaintance had dropt in--a circumstance in itself not
+apparently likely to produce evil to her.  But while the imaginations
+of other people will carry them away to form wrong judgments of our
+conduct, and to decide on it by slight appearances, one's happiness
+must in some measure be always at the mercy of chance.  In the present
+instance, this last-arrived lady allowed her fancy to so far outrun
+truth and probability, that on merely hearing the name of the Miss
+Dashwoods, and understanding them to be Mr. Dashwood's sisters, she
+immediately concluded them to be staying in Harley Street; and this
+misconstruction produced within a day or two afterwards, cards of
+invitation for them as well as for their brother and sister, to a small
+musical party at her house.  The consequence of which was, that Mrs.
+John Dashwood was obliged to submit not only to the exceedingly great
+inconvenience of sending her carriage for the Miss Dashwoods, but, what
+was still worse, must be subject to all the unpleasantness of appearing
+to treat them with attention: and who could tell that they might not
+expect to go out with her a second time?  The power of disappointing
+them, it was true, must always be hers.  But that was not enough; for
+when people are determined on a mode of conduct which they know to be
+wrong, they feel injured by the expectation of any thing better from
+them.
+
+Marianne had now been brought by degrees, so much into the habit of
+going out every day, that it was become a matter of indifference to
+her, whether she went or not: and she prepared quietly and mechanically
+for every evening's engagement, though without expecting the smallest
+amusement from any, and very often without knowing, till the last
+moment, where it was to take her.
+
+To her dress and appearance she was grown so perfectly indifferent, as
+not to bestow half the consideration on it, during the whole of her
+toilet, which it received from Miss Steele in the first five minutes of
+their being together, when it was finished.  Nothing escaped HER minute
+observation and general curiosity; she saw every thing, and asked every
+thing; was never easy till she knew the price of every part of
+Marianne's dress; could have guessed the number of her gowns altogether
+with better judgment than Marianne herself, and was not without hopes
+of finding out before they parted, how much her washing cost per week,
+and how much she had every year to spend upon herself.  The
+impertinence of these kind of scrutinies, moreover, was generally
+concluded with a compliment, which though meant as its douceur, was
+considered by Marianne as the greatest impertinence of all; for after
+undergoing an examination into the value and make of her gown, the
+colour of her shoes, and the arrangement of her hair, she was almost
+sure of being told that upon "her word she looked vastly smart, and she
+dared to say she would make a great many conquests."
+
+With such encouragement as this, was she dismissed on the present
+occasion, to her brother's carriage; which they were ready to enter
+five minutes after it stopped at the door, a punctuality not very
+agreeable to their sister-in-law, who had preceded them to the house of
+her acquaintance, and was there hoping for some delay on their part
+that might inconvenience either herself or her coachman.
+
+The events of this evening were not very remarkable.  The party, like
+other musical parties, comprehended a great many people who had real
+taste for the performance, and a great many more who had none at all;
+and the performers themselves were, as usual, in their own estimation,
+and that of their immediate friends, the first private performers in
+England.
+
+As Elinor was neither musical, nor affecting to be so, she made no
+scruple of turning her eyes from the grand pianoforte, whenever it
+suited her, and unrestrained even by the presence of a harp, and
+violoncello, would fix them at pleasure on any other object in the
+room.  In one of these excursive glances she perceived among a group of
+young men, the very he, who had given them a lecture on toothpick-cases
+at Gray's.  She perceived him soon afterwards looking at herself, and
+speaking familiarly to her brother; and had just determined to find out
+his name from the latter, when they both came towards her, and Mr.
+Dashwood introduced him to her as Mr. Robert Ferrars.
+
+He addressed her with easy civility, and twisted his head into a bow
+which assured her as plainly as words could have done, that he was
+exactly the coxcomb she had heard him described to be by Lucy.  Happy
+had it been for her, if her regard for Edward had depended less on his
+own merit, than on the merit of his nearest relations!  For then his
+brother's bow must have given the finishing stroke to what the
+ill-humour of his mother and sister would have begun.  But while she
+wondered at the difference of the two young men, she did not find that
+the emptiness of conceit of the one, put her out of all charity with
+the modesty and worth of the other.  Why they WERE different, Robert
+exclaimed to her himself in the course of a quarter of an hour's
+conversation; for, talking of his brother, and lamenting the extreme
+GAUCHERIE which he really believed kept him from mixing in proper
+society, he candidly and generously attributed it much less to any
+natural deficiency, than to the misfortune of a private education;
+while he himself, though probably without any particular, any material
+superiority by nature, merely from the advantage of a public school,
+was as well fitted to mix in the world as any other man.
+
+"Upon my soul," he added, "I believe it is nothing more; and so I often
+tell my mother, when she is grieving about it.  'My dear Madam,' I
+always say to her, 'you must make yourself easy.  The evil is now
+irremediable, and it has been entirely your own doing.  Why would you
+be persuaded by my uncle, Sir Robert, against your own judgment, to
+place Edward under private tuition, at the most critical time of his
+life?  If you had only sent him to Westminster as well as myself,
+instead of sending him to Mr. Pratt's, all this would have been
+prevented.' This is the way in which I always consider the matter, and
+my mother is perfectly convinced of her error."
+
+Elinor would not oppose his opinion, because, whatever might be her
+general estimation of the advantage of a public school, she could not
+think of Edward's abode in Mr. Pratt's family, with any satisfaction.
+
+"You reside in Devonshire, I think,"--was his next observation, "in a
+cottage near Dawlish."
+
+Elinor set him right as to its situation; and it seemed rather
+surprising to him that anybody could live in Devonshire, without living
+near Dawlish.  He bestowed his hearty approbation however on their
+species of house.
+
+"For my own part," said he, "I am excessively fond of a cottage; there
+is always so much comfort, so much elegance about them.  And I protest,
+if I had any money to spare, I should buy a little land and build one
+myself, within a short distance of London, where I might drive myself
+down at any time, and collect a few friends about me, and be happy.  I
+advise every body who is going to build, to build a cottage.  My friend
+Lord Courtland came to me the other day on purpose to ask my advice,
+and laid before me three different plans of Bonomi's.  I was to decide
+on the best of them.  'My dear Courtland,' said I, immediately throwing
+them all into the fire, 'do not adopt either of them, but by all means
+build a cottage.' And that I fancy, will be the end of it.
+
+"Some people imagine that there can be no accommodations, no space in a
+cottage; but this is all a mistake.  I was last month at my friend
+Elliott's, near Dartford.  Lady Elliott wished to give a dance.  'But
+how can it be done?' said she; 'my dear Ferrars, do tell me how it is
+to be managed.  There is not a room in this cottage that will hold ten
+couple, and where can the supper be?' I immediately saw that there
+could be no difficulty in it, so I said, 'My dear Lady Elliott, do not
+be uneasy.  The dining parlour will admit eighteen couple with ease;
+card-tables may be placed in the drawing-room; the library may be open
+for tea and other refreshments; and let the supper be set out in the
+saloon.'  Lady Elliott was delighted with the thought.  We measured the
+dining-room, and found it would hold exactly eighteen couple, and the
+affair was arranged precisely after my plan.  So that, in fact, you
+see, if people do but know how to set about it, every comfort may be as
+well enjoyed in a cottage as in the most spacious dwelling."
+
+Elinor agreed to it all, for she did not think he deserved the
+compliment of rational opposition.
+
+As John Dashwood had no more pleasure in music than his eldest sister,
+his mind was equally at liberty to fix on any thing else; and a thought
+struck him during the evening, which he communicated to his wife, for
+her approbation, when they got home.  The consideration of Mrs.
+Dennison's mistake, in supposing his sisters their guests, had
+suggested the propriety of their being really invited to become such,
+while Mrs. Jennings's engagements kept her from home.  The expense would
+be nothing, the inconvenience not more; and it was altogether an
+attention which the delicacy of his conscience pointed out to be
+requisite to its complete enfranchisement from his promise to his
+father.  Fanny was startled at the proposal.
+
+"I do not see how it can be done," said she, "without affronting Lady
+Middleton, for they spend every day with her; otherwise I should be
+exceedingly glad to do it.  You know I am always ready to pay them any
+attention in my power, as my taking them out this evening shews.  But
+they are Lady Middleton's visitors.  How can I ask them away from her?"
+
+Her husband, but with great humility, did not see the force of her
+objection.  "They had already spent a week in this manner in Conduit
+Street, and Lady Middleton could not be displeased at their giving the
+same number of days to such near relations."
+
+Fanny paused a moment, and then, with fresh vigor, said,
+
+"My love I would ask them with all my heart, if it was in my power.
+But I had just settled within myself to ask the Miss Steeles to spend a
+few days with us.  They are very well behaved, good kind of girls; and
+I think the attention is due to them, as their uncle did so very well
+by Edward.  We can ask your sisters some other year, you know; but the
+Miss Steeles may not be in town any more.  I am sure you will like
+them; indeed, you DO like them, you know, very much already, and so
+does my mother; and they are such favourites with Harry!"
+
+Mr. Dashwood was convinced.  He saw the necessity of inviting the Miss
+Steeles immediately, and his conscience was pacified by the resolution
+of inviting his sisters another year; at the same time, however, slyly
+suspecting that another year would make the invitation needless, by
+bringing Elinor to town as Colonel Brandon's wife, and Marianne as
+THEIR visitor.
+
+Fanny, rejoicing in her escape, and proud of the ready wit that had
+procured it, wrote the next morning to Lucy, to request her company and
+her sister's, for some days, in Harley Street, as soon as Lady
+Middleton could spare them.  This was enough to make Lucy really and
+reasonably happy.  Mrs. Dashwood seemed actually working for her,
+herself; cherishing all her hopes, and promoting all her views!  Such
+an opportunity of being with Edward and his family was, above all
+things, the most material to her interest, and such an invitation the
+most gratifying to her feelings!  It was an advantage that could not be
+too gratefully acknowledged, nor too speedily made use of; and the
+visit to Lady Middleton, which had not before had any precise limits,
+was instantly discovered to have been always meant to end in two days'
+time.
+
+When the note was shown to Elinor, as it was within ten minutes after
+its arrival, it gave her, for the first time, some share in the
+expectations of Lucy; for such a mark of uncommon kindness, vouchsafed
+on so short an acquaintance, seemed to declare that the good-will
+towards her arose from something more than merely malice against
+herself; and might be brought, by time and address, to do every thing
+that Lucy wished.  Her flattery had already subdued the pride of Lady
+Middleton, and made an entry into the close heart of Mrs. John
+Dashwood; and these were effects that laid open the probability of
+greater.
+
+The Miss Steeles removed to Harley Street, and all that reached Elinor
+of their influence there, strengthened her expectation of the event.
+Sir John, who called on them more than once, brought home such accounts
+of the favour they were in, as must be universally striking.  Mrs.
+Dashwood had never been so much pleased with any young women in her
+life, as she was with them; had given each of them a needle book made
+by some emigrant; called Lucy by her Christian name; and did not know
+whether she should ever be able to part with them.
+
+
+
+
+
+[At this point in the first and second editions, Volume II ended.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 37
+
+
+Mrs. Palmer was so well at the end of a fortnight, that her mother felt
+it no longer necessary to give up the whole of her time to her; and,
+contenting herself with visiting her once or twice a day, returned from
+that period to her own home, and her own habits, in which she found the
+Miss Dashwoods very ready to resume their former share.
+
+About the third or fourth morning after their being thus resettled in
+Berkeley Street, Mrs. Jennings, on returning from her ordinary visit to
+Mrs. Palmer, entered the drawing-room, where Elinor was sitting by
+herself, with an air of such hurrying importance as prepared her to
+hear something wonderful; and giving her time only to form that idea,
+began directly to justify it, by saying,
+
+"Lord! my dear Miss Dashwood! have you heard the news?"
+
+"No, ma'am.  What is it?"
+
+"Something so strange!  But you shall hear it all.-- When I got to Mr.
+Palmer's, I found Charlotte quite in a fuss about the child.  She was
+sure it was very ill--it cried, and fretted, and was all over pimples.
+So I looked at it directly, and, 'Lord! my dear,' says I, 'it is
+nothing in the world, but the red gum--' and nurse said just the same.
+But Charlotte, she would not be satisfied, so Mr. Donavan was sent for;
+and luckily he happened to just come in from Harley Street, so he
+stepped over directly, and as soon as ever Mama, he said
+just as we did, that it was nothing in the world but the red gum, and
+then Charlotte was easy.  And so, just as he was going away again, it
+came into my head, I am sure I do not know how I happened to think of
+it, but it came into my head to ask him if there was any news.  So upon
+that, he smirked, and simpered, and looked grave, and seemed to know
+something or other, and at last he said in a whisper, 'For fear any
+unpleasant report should reach the young ladies under your care as to
+their sister's indisposition, I think it advisable to say, that I
+believe there is no great reason for alarm; I hope Mrs. Dashwood will
+do very well.'"
+
+"What! is Fanny ill?"
+
+"That is exactly what I said, my dear.  'Lord!' says I, 'is Mrs.
+Dashwood ill?' So then it all came out; and the long and the short of
+the matter, by all I can learn, seems to be this.  Mr. Edward Ferrars,
+the very young man I used to joke with you about (but however, as it
+turns out, I am monstrous glad there was never any thing in it), Mr.
+Edward Ferrars, it seems, has been engaged above this twelvemonth to my
+cousin Lucy!--There's for you, my dear!--And not a creature knowing a
+syllable of the matter, except Nancy!--Could you have believed such a
+thing possible?-- There is no great wonder in their liking one another;
+but that matters should be brought so forward between them, and nobody
+suspect it!--THAT is strange!--I never happened to see them together,
+or I am sure I should have found it out directly.  Well, and so this
+was kept a great secret, for fear of Mrs. Ferrars, and neither she nor
+your brother or sister suspected a word of the matter;--till this very
+morning, poor Nancy, who, you know, is a well-meaning creature, but no
+conjurer, popt it all out.  'Lord!' thinks she to herself, 'they are
+all so fond of Lucy, to be sure they will make no difficulty about it;'
+and so, away she went to your sister, who was sitting all alone at her
+carpet-work, little suspecting what was to come--for she had just been
+saying to your brother, only five minutes before, that she thought to
+make a match between Edward and some Lord's daughter or other, I forget
+who.  So you may think what a blow it was to all her vanity and pride.
+She fell into violent hysterics immediately, with such screams as
+reached your brother's ears, as he was sitting in his own dressing-room
+down stairs, thinking about writing a letter to his steward in the
+country.  So up he flew directly, and a terrible scene took place, for
+Lucy was come to them by that time, little dreaming what was going on.
+Poor soul!  I pity HER.  And I must say, I think she was used very
+hardly; for your sister scolded like any fury, and soon drove her into
+a fainting fit.  Nancy, she fell upon her knees, and cried bitterly;
+and your brother, he walked about the room, and said he did not know
+what to do.  Mrs. Dashwood declared they should not stay a minute
+longer in the house, and your brother was forced to go down upon HIS
+knees too, to persuade her to let them stay till they had packed up
+their clothes.  THEN she fell into hysterics again, and he was so
+frightened that he would send for Mr. Donavan, and Mr. Donavan found
+the house in all this uproar.  The carriage was at the door ready to
+take my poor cousins away, and they were just stepping in as he came
+off; poor Lucy in such a condition, he says, she could hardly walk; and
+Nancy, she was almost as bad.  I declare, I have no patience with your
+sister; and I hope, with all my heart, it will be a match in spite of
+her.  Lord! what a taking poor Mr. Edward will be in when he hears of
+it!  To have his love used so scornfully! for they say he is monstrous
+fond of her, as well he may.  I should not wonder, if he was to be in
+the greatest passion!--and Mr. Donavan thinks just the same.  He and I
+had a great deal of talk about it; and the best of all is, that he is
+gone back again to Harley Street, that he may be within call when Mrs.
+Ferrars is told of it, for she was sent for as soon as ever my cousins
+left the house, for your sister was sure SHE would be in hysterics too;
+and so she may, for what I care.  I have no pity for either of them.  I
+have no notion of people's making such a to-do about money and
+greatness.  There is no reason on earth why Mr. Edward and Lucy should
+not marry; for I am sure Mrs. Ferrars may afford to do very well by her
+son, and though Lucy has next to nothing herself, she knows better than
+any body how to make the most of every thing; I dare say, if Mrs.
+Ferrars would only allow him five hundred a-year, she would make as
+good an appearance with it as any body else would with eight.  Lord!
+how snug they might live in such another cottage as yours--or a little
+bigger--with two maids, and two men; and I believe I could help them to
+a housemaid, for my Betty has a sister out of place, that would fit
+them exactly."
+
+Here Mrs. Jennings ceased, and as Elinor had had time enough to collect
+her thoughts, she was able to give such an answer, and make such
+observations, as the subject might naturally be supposed to produce.
+Happy to find that she was not suspected of any extraordinary interest
+in it; that Mrs. Jennings (as she had of late often hoped might be the
+case) had ceased to imagine her at all attached to Edward; and happy
+above all the rest, in the absence of Marianne, she felt very well able
+to speak of the affair without embarrassment, and to give her judgment,
+as she believed, with impartiality on the conduct of every one
+concerned in it.
+
+She could hardly determine what her own expectation of its event really
+was; though she earnestly tried to drive away the notion of its being
+possible to end otherwise at last, than in the marriage of Edward and
+Lucy.  What Mrs. Ferrars would say and do, though there could not be a
+doubt of its nature, she was anxious to hear; and still more anxious to
+know how Edward would conduct himself.  For HIM she felt much
+compassion;--for Lucy very little--and it cost her some pains to
+procure that little;--for the rest of the party none at all.
+
+As Mrs. Jennings could talk on no other subject, Elinor soon saw the
+necessity of preparing Marianne for its discussion.  No time was to be
+lost in undeceiving her, in making her acquainted with the real truth,
+and in endeavouring to bring her to hear it talked of by others,
+without betraying that she felt any uneasiness for her sister, or any
+resentment against Edward.
+
+Elinor's office was a painful one.--She was going to remove what she
+really believed to be her sister's chief consolation,--to give such
+particulars of Edward as she feared would ruin him for ever in her good
+opinion,-and to make Marianne, by a resemblance in their situations,
+which to HER fancy would seem strong, feel all her own disappointment
+over again.  But unwelcome as such a task must be, it was necessary to
+be done, and Elinor therefore hastened to perform it.
+
+She was very far from wishing to dwell on her own feelings, or to
+represent herself as suffering much, any otherwise than as the
+self-command she had practised since her first knowledge of Edward's
+engagement, might suggest a hint of what was practicable to Marianne.
+Her narration was clear and simple; and though it could not be given
+without emotion, it was not accompanied by violent agitation, nor
+impetuous grief.--THAT belonged rather to the hearer, for Marianne
+listened with horror, and cried excessively.  Elinor was to be the
+comforter of others in her own distresses, no less than in theirs; and
+all the comfort that could be given by assurances of her own composure
+of mind, and a very earnest vindication of Edward from every charge but
+of imprudence, was readily offered.
+
+But Marianne for some time would give credit to neither.  Edward seemed
+a second Willoughby; and acknowledging as Elinor did, that she HAD
+loved him most sincerely, could she feel less than herself!  As for
+Lucy Steele, she considered her so totally unamiable, so absolutely
+incapable of attaching a sensible man, that she could not be persuaded
+at first to believe, and afterwards to pardon, any former affection of
+Edward for her.  She would not even admit it to have been natural; and
+Elinor left her to be convinced that it was so, by that which only
+could convince her, a better knowledge of mankind.
+
+Her first communication had reached no farther than to state the fact
+of the engagement, and the length of time it had existed.--Marianne's
+feelings had then broken in, and put an end to all regularity of
+detail; and for some time all that could be done was to soothe her
+distress, lessen her alarms, and combat her resentment.  The first
+question on her side, which led to farther particulars, was,--
+
+"How long has this been known to you, Elinor? has he written to you?"
+
+"I have known it these four months.  When Lucy first came to Barton
+Park last November, she told me in confidence of her engagement."
+
+At these words, Marianne's eyes expressed the astonishment which her
+lips could not utter.  After a pause of wonder, she exclaimed--
+
+"Four months!--Have you known of this four months?"
+
+Elinor confirmed it.
+
+"What!--while attending me in all my misery, has this been on your
+heart?--And I have reproached you for being happy!"--
+
+"It was not fit that you should then know how much I was the reverse!"
+
+"Four months!"--cried Marianne again.--"So calm!--so cheerful!--how
+have you been supported?"--
+
+"By feeling that I was doing my duty.--My promise to Lucy, obliged me
+to be secret.  I owed it to her, therefore, to avoid giving any hint of
+the truth; and I owed it to my family and friends, not to create in
+them a solicitude about me, which it could not be in my power to
+satisfy."
+
+Marianne seemed much struck.
+
+"I have very often wished to undeceive yourself and my mother," added
+Elinor; "and once or twice I have attempted it;--but without betraying
+my trust, I never could have convinced you."
+
+"Four months!--and yet you loved him!"--
+
+"Yes. But I did not love only him;--and while the comfort of others was
+dear to me, I was glad to spare them from knowing how much I felt.
+Now, I can think and speak of it with little emotion.  I would not have
+you suffer on my account; for I assure you I no longer suffer
+materially myself.  I have many things to support me.  I am not
+conscious of having provoked the disappointment by any imprudence of my
+own, I have borne it as much as possible without spreading it farther.
+I acquit Edward of essential misconduct.  I wish him very happy; and I
+am so sure of his always doing his duty, that though now he may harbour
+some regret, in the end he must become so.  Lucy does not want sense,
+and that is the foundation on which every thing good may be built.--And
+after all, Marianne, after all that is bewitching in the idea of a
+single and constant attachment, and all that can be said of one's
+happiness depending entirely on any particular person, it is not
+meant--it is not fit--it is not possible that it should be so.-- Edward
+will marry Lucy; he will marry a woman superior in person and
+understanding to half her sex; and time and habit will teach him to
+forget that he ever thought another superior to HER."--
+
+"If such is your way of thinking," said Marianne, "if the loss of what
+is most valued is so easily to be made up by something else, your
+resolution, your self-command, are, perhaps, a little less to be
+wondered at.--They are brought more within my comprehension."
+
+"I understand you.--You do not suppose that I have ever felt much.--For
+four months, Marianne, I have had all this hanging on my mind, without
+being at liberty to speak of it to a single creature; knowing that it
+would make you and my mother most unhappy whenever it were explained to
+you, yet unable to prepare you for it in the least.-- It was told
+me,--it was in a manner forced on me by the very person herself, whose
+prior engagement ruined all my prospects; and told me, as I thought,
+with triumph.-- This person's suspicions, therefore, I have had to
+oppose, by endeavouring to appear indifferent where I have been most
+deeply interested;--and it has not been only once;--I have had her
+hopes and exultation to listen to again and again.-- I have known
+myself to be divided from Edward for ever, without hearing one
+circumstance that could make me less desire the connection.--Nothing
+has proved him unworthy; nor has anything declared him indifferent to
+me.-- I have had to contend against the unkindness of his sister, and
+the insolence of his mother; and have suffered the punishment of an
+attachment, without enjoying its advantages.-- And all this has been
+going on at a time, when, as you know too well, it has not been my only
+unhappiness.-- If you can think me capable of ever feeling--surely you
+may suppose that I have suffered NOW.  The composure of mind with which
+I have brought myself at present to consider the matter, the
+consolation that I have been willing to admit, have been the effect of
+constant and painful exertion;--they did not spring up of
+themselves;--they did not occur to relieve my spirits at first.-- No,
+Marianne.--THEN, if I had not been bound to silence, perhaps nothing
+could have kept me entirely--not even what I owed to my dearest
+friends--from openly shewing that I was VERY unhappy."--
+
+Marianne was quite subdued.--
+
+"Oh! Elinor," she cried, "you have made me hate myself for ever.--How
+barbarous have I been to you!--you, who have been my only comfort, who
+have borne with me in all my misery, who have seemed to be only
+suffering for me!--Is this my gratitude?--Is this the only return I can
+make you?--Because your merit cries out upon myself, I have been trying
+to do it away."
+
+The tenderest caresses followed this confession.  In such a frame of
+mind as she was now in, Elinor had no difficulty in obtaining from her
+whatever promise she required; and at her request, Marianne engaged
+never to speak of the affair to any one with the least appearance of
+bitterness;--to meet Lucy without betraying the smallest increase of
+dislike to her;--and even to see Edward himself, if chance should bring
+them together, without any diminution of her usual cordiality.-- These
+were great concessions;--but where Marianne felt that she had injured,
+no reparation could be too much for her to make.
+
+She performed her promise of being discreet, to admiration.--She
+attended to all that Mrs. Jennings had to say upon the subject, with an
+unchanging complexion, dissented from her in nothing, and was heard
+three times to say, "Yes, ma'am."--She listened to her praise of Lucy
+with only moving from one chair to another, and when Mrs. Jennings
+talked of Edward's affection, it cost her only a spasm in her
+throat.--Such advances towards heroism in her sister, made Elinor feel
+equal to any thing herself.
+
+The next morning brought a farther trial of it, in a visit from their
+brother, who came with a most serious aspect to talk over the dreadful
+affair, and bring them news of his wife.
+
+"You have heard, I suppose," said he with great solemnity, as soon as
+he was seated, "of the very shocking discovery that took place under
+our roof yesterday."
+
+They all looked their assent; it seemed too awful a moment for speech.
+
+"Your sister," he continued, "has suffered dreadfully.  Mrs. Ferrars
+too--in short it has been a scene of such complicated distress--but I
+will hope that the storm may be weathered without our being any of us
+quite overcome.  Poor Fanny! she was in hysterics all yesterday.  But I
+would not alarm you too much.  Donavan says there is nothing materially
+to be apprehended; her constitution is a good one, and her resolution
+equal to any thing.  She has borne it all, with the fortitude of an
+angel!  She says she never shall think well of anybody again; and one
+cannot wonder at it, after being so deceived!--meeting with such
+ingratitude, where so much kindness had been shewn, so much confidence
+had been placed!  It was quite out of the benevolence of her heart,
+that she had asked these young women to her house; merely because she
+thought they deserved some attention, were harmless, well-behaved
+girls, and would be pleasant companions; for otherwise we both wished
+very much to have invited you and Marianne to be with us, while your
+kind friend there, was attending her daughter.  And now to be so
+rewarded!  'I wish, with all my heart,' says poor Fanny in her
+affectionate way, 'that we had asked your sisters instead of them.'"
+
+Here he stopped to be thanked; which being done, he went on.
+
+"What poor Mrs. Ferrars suffered, when first Fanny broke it to her, is
+not to be described.  While she with the truest affection had been
+planning a most eligible connection for him, was it to be supposed that
+he could be all the time secretly engaged to another person!--such a
+suspicion could never have entered her head!  If she suspected ANY
+prepossession elsewhere, it could not be in THAT quarter.  'THERE, to
+be sure,' said she, 'I might have thought myself safe.' She was quite
+in an agony.  We consulted together, however, as to what should be
+done, and at last she determined to send for Edward.  He came.  But I
+am sorry to relate what ensued.  All that Mrs. Ferrars could say to
+make him put an end to the engagement, assisted too as you may well
+suppose by my arguments, and Fanny's entreaties, was of no avail.
+Duty, affection, every thing was disregarded.  I never thought Edward
+so stubborn, so unfeeling before.  His mother explained to him her
+liberal designs, in case of his marrying Miss Morton; told him she
+would settle on him the Norfolk estate, which, clear of land-tax,
+brings in a good thousand a-year; offered even, when matters grew
+desperate, to make it twelve hundred; and in opposition to this, if he
+still persisted in this low connection, represented to him the certain
+penury that must attend the match.  His own two thousand pounds she
+protested should be his all; she would never see him again; and so far
+would she be from affording him the smallest assistance, that if he
+were to enter into any profession with a view of better support, she
+would do all in her power to prevent him advancing in it."
+
+Here Marianne, in an ecstasy of indignation, clapped her hands
+together, and cried, "Gracious God!  can this be possible!"
+
+"Well may you wonder, Marianne," replied her brother, "at the obstinacy
+which could resist such arguments as these.  Your exclamation is very
+natural."
+
+Marianne was going to retort, but she remembered her promises, and
+forbore.
+
+"All this, however," he continued, "was urged in vain.  Edward said
+very little; but what he did say, was in the most determined manner.
+Nothing should prevail on him to give up his engagement.  He would
+stand to it, cost him what it might."
+
+"Then," cried Mrs. Jennings with blunt sincerity, no longer able to be
+silent, "he has acted like an honest man! I beg your pardon, Mr.
+Dashwood, but if he had done otherwise, I should have thought him a
+rascal.  I have some little concern in the business, as well as
+yourself, for Lucy Steele is my cousin, and I believe there is not a
+better kind of girl in the world, nor one who more deserves a good
+husband."
+
+John Dashwood was greatly astonished; but his nature was calm, not open
+to provocation, and he never wished to offend anybody, especially
+anybody of good fortune.  He therefore replied, without any resentment,
+
+"I would by no means speak disrespectfully of any relation of yours,
+madam.  Miss Lucy Steele is, I dare say, a very deserving young woman,
+but in the present case you know, the connection must be impossible.
+And to have entered into a secret engagement with a young man under her
+uncle's care, the son of a woman especially of such very large fortune
+as Mrs. Ferrars, is perhaps, altogether a little extraordinary. In
+short, I do not mean to reflect upon the behaviour of any person whom
+you have a regard for, Mrs. Jennings.  We all wish her extremely happy;
+and Mrs. Ferrars's conduct throughout the whole, has been such as every
+conscientious, good mother, in like circumstances, would adopt.  It has
+been dignified and liberal.  Edward has drawn his own lot, and I fear
+it will be a bad one."
+
+Marianne sighed out her similar apprehension; and Elinor's heart wrung
+for the feelings of Edward, while braving his mother's threats, for a
+woman who could not reward him.
+
+"Well, sir," said Mrs. Jennings, "and how did it end?"
+
+"I am sorry to say, ma'am, in a most unhappy rupture:-- Edward is
+dismissed for ever from his mother's notice.  He left her house
+yesterday, but where he is gone, or whether he is still in town, I do
+not know; for WE of course can make no inquiry."
+
+"Poor young man!--and what is to become of him?"
+
+"What, indeed, ma'am!  It is a melancholy consideration.  Born to the
+prospect of such affluence!  I cannot conceive a situation more
+deplorable.  The interest of two thousand pounds--how can a man live on
+it?--and when to that is added the recollection, that he might, but for
+his own folly, within three months have been in the receipt of two
+thousand, five hundred a-year (for Miss Morton has thirty thousand
+pounds,) I cannot picture to myself a more wretched condition.  We must
+all feel for him; and the more so, because it is totally out of our
+power to assist him."
+
+"Poor young man!" cried Mrs. Jennings, "I am sure he should be very
+welcome to bed and board at my house; and so I would tell him if I
+could see him.  It is not fit that he should be living about at his own
+charge now, at lodgings and taverns."
+
+Elinor's heart thanked her for such kindness towards Edward, though she
+could not forbear smiling at the form of it.
+
+"If he would only have done as well by himself," said John Dashwood,
+"as all his friends were disposed to do by him, he might now have been
+in his proper situation, and would have wanted for nothing.  But as it
+is, it must be out of anybody's power to assist him.  And there is one
+thing more preparing against him, which must be worse than all--his
+mother has determined, with a very natural kind of spirit, to settle
+THAT estate upon Robert immediately, which might have been Edward's, on
+proper conditions.  I left her this morning with her lawyer, talking
+over the business."
+
+"Well!" said Mrs. Jennings, "that is HER revenge.  Everybody has a way
+of their own.  But I don't think mine would be, to make one son
+independent, because another had plagued me."
+
+Marianne got up and walked about the room.
+
+"Can anything be more galling to the spirit of a man," continued John,
+"than to see his younger brother in possession of an estate which might
+have been his own?  Poor Edward!  I feel for him sincerely."
+
+A few minutes more spent in the same kind of effusion, concluded his
+visit; and with repeated assurances to his sisters that he really
+believed there was no material danger in Fanny's indisposition, and
+that they need not therefore be very uneasy about it, he went away;
+leaving the three ladies unanimous in their sentiments on the present
+occasion, as far at least as it regarded Mrs. Ferrars's conduct, the
+Dashwoods', and Edward's.
+
+Marianne's indignation burst forth as soon as he quitted the room; and
+as her vehemence made reserve impossible in Elinor, and unnecessary in
+Mrs. Jennings, they all joined in a very spirited critique upon the
+party.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 38
+
+
+Mrs. Jennings was very warm in her praise of Edward's conduct, but only
+Elinor and Marianne understood its true merit.  THEY only knew how
+little he had had to tempt him to be disobedient, and how small was the
+consolation, beyond the consciousness of doing right, that could remain
+to him in the loss of friends and fortune.  Elinor gloried in his
+integrity; and Marianne forgave all his offences in compassion for his
+punishment.  But though confidence between them was, by this public
+discovery, restored to its proper state, it was not a subject on which
+either of them were fond of dwelling when alone.  Elinor avoided it
+upon principle, as tending to fix still more upon her thoughts, by the
+too warm, too positive assurances of Marianne, that belief of Edward's
+continued affection for herself which she rather wished to do away; and
+Marianne's courage soon failed her, in trying to converse upon a topic
+which always left her more dissatisfied with herself than ever, by the
+comparison it necessarily produced between Elinor's conduct and her own.
+
+She felt all the force of that comparison; but not as her sister had
+hoped, to urge her to exertion now; she felt it with all the pain of
+continual self-reproach, regretted most bitterly that she had never
+exerted herself before; but it brought only the torture of penitence,
+without the hope of amendment.  Her mind was so much weakened that she
+still fancied present exertion impossible, and therefore it only
+dispirited her more.
+
+Nothing new was heard by them, for a day or two afterwards, of affairs
+in Harley Street, or Bartlett's Buildings.  But though so much of the
+matter was known to them already, that Mrs. Jennings might have had
+enough to do in spreading that knowledge farther, without seeking after
+more, she had resolved from the first to pay a visit of comfort and
+inquiry to her cousins as soon as she could; and nothing but the
+hindrance of more visitors than usual, had prevented her going to them
+within that time.
+
+The third day succeeding their knowledge of the particulars, was so
+fine, so beautiful a Sunday as to draw many to Kensington Gardens,
+though it was only the second week in March.  Mrs. Jennings and Elinor
+were of the number; but Marianne, who knew that the Willoughbys were
+again in town, and had a constant dread of meeting them, chose rather
+to stay at home, than venture into so public a place.
+
+An intimate acquaintance of Mrs. Jennings joined them soon after they
+entered the Gardens, and Elinor was not sorry that by her continuing
+with them, and engaging all Mrs. Jennings's conversation, she was
+herself left to quiet reflection.  She saw nothing of the Willoughbys,
+nothing of Edward, and for some time nothing of anybody who could by
+any chance whether grave or gay, be interesting to her.  But at last
+she found herself with some surprise, accosted by Miss Steele, who,
+though looking rather shy, expressed great satisfaction in meeting
+them, and on receiving encouragement from the particular kindness of
+Mrs. Jennings, left her own party for a short time, to join their's.
+Mrs. Jennings immediately whispered to Elinor,
+
+"Get it all out of her, my dear.  She will tell you any thing if you
+ask.  You see I cannot leave Mrs. Clarke."
+
+It was lucky, however, for Mrs. Jennings's curiosity and Elinor's too,
+that she would tell any thing WITHOUT being asked; for nothing would
+otherwise have been learnt.
+
+"I am so glad to meet you;" said Miss Steele, taking her familiarly by
+the arm--"for I wanted to see you of all things in the world."  And
+then lowering her voice, "I suppose Mrs. Jennings has heard all about
+it.  Is she angry?"
+
+"Not at all, I believe, with you."
+
+"That is a good thing.  And Lady Middleton, is SHE angry?"
+
+"I cannot suppose it possible that she should."
+
+"I am monstrous glad of it.  Good gracious!  I have had such a time of
+it!  I never saw Lucy in such a rage in my life.  She vowed at first
+she would never trim me up a new bonnet, nor do any thing else for me
+again, so long as she lived; but now she is quite come to, and we are
+as good friends as ever.  Look, she made me this bow to my hat, and put
+in the feather last night.  There now, YOU are going to laugh at me
+too.  But why should not I wear pink ribbons?  I do not care if it IS
+the Doctor's favourite colour.  I am sure, for my part, I should never
+have known he DID like it better than any other colour, if he had not
+happened to say so.  My cousins have been so plaguing me!  I declare
+sometimes I do not know which way to look before them."
+
+She had wandered away to a subject on which Elinor had nothing to say,
+and therefore soon judged it expedient to find her way back again to
+the first.
+
+"Well, but Miss Dashwood," speaking triumphantly, "people may say what
+they chuse about Mr. Ferrars's declaring he would not have Lucy, for it
+is no such thing I can tell you; and it is quite a shame for such
+ill-natured reports to be spread abroad.  Whatever Lucy might think
+about it herself, you know, it was no business of other people to set
+it down for certain."
+
+"I never heard any thing of the kind hinted at before, I assure you,"
+said Elinor.
+
+"Oh, did not you?  But it WAS said, I know, very well, and by more than
+one; for Miss Godby told Miss Sparks, that nobody in their senses could
+expect Mr. Ferrars to give up a woman like Miss Morton, with thirty
+thousand pounds to her fortune, for Lucy Steele that had nothing at
+all; and I had it from Miss Sparks myself.  And besides that, my cousin
+Richard said himself, that when it came to the point he was afraid Mr.
+Ferrars would be off; and when Edward did not come near us for three
+days, I could not tell what to think myself; and I believe in my heart
+Lucy gave it up all for lost; for we came away from your brother's
+Wednesday, and we saw nothing of him not all Thursday, Friday, and
+Saturday, and did not know what was become of him.  Once Lucy thought
+to write to him, but then her spirits rose against that.  However this
+morning he came just as we came home from church; and then it all came
+out, how he had been sent for Wednesday to Harley Street, and been
+talked to by his mother and all of them, and how he had declared before
+them all that he loved nobody but Lucy, and nobody but Lucy would he
+have.  And how he had been so worried by what passed, that as soon as
+he had went away from his mother's house, he had got upon his horse,
+and rid into the country, some where or other; and how he had stayed
+about at an inn all Thursday and Friday, on purpose to get the better
+of it.  And after thinking it all over and over again, he said, it
+seemed to him as if, now he had no fortune, and no nothing at all, it
+would be quite unkind to keep her on to the engagement, because it must
+be for her loss, for he had nothing but two thousand pounds, and no
+hope of any thing else; and if he was to go into orders, as he had some
+thoughts, he could get nothing but a curacy, and how was they to live
+upon that?--He could not bear to think of her doing no better, and so
+he begged, if she had the least mind for it, to put an end to the
+matter directly, and leave him shift for himself.  I heard him say all
+this as plain as could possibly be.  And it was entirely for HER sake,
+and upon HER account, that he said a word about being off, and not upon
+his own.  I will take my oath he never dropt a syllable of being tired
+of her, or of wishing to marry Miss Morton, or any thing like it.  But,
+to be sure, Lucy would not give ear to such kind of talking; so she
+told him directly (with a great deal about sweet and love, you know,
+and all that--Oh, la! one can't repeat such kind of things you
+know)--she told him directly, she had not the least mind in the world
+to be off, for she could live with him upon a trifle, and how little so
+ever he might have, she should be very glad to have it all, you know,
+or something of the kind.  So then he was monstrous happy, and talked
+on some time about what they should do, and they agreed he should take
+orders directly, and they must wait to be married till he got a living.
+And just then I could not hear any more, for my cousin called from
+below to tell me Mrs. Richardson was come in her coach, and would take
+one of us to Kensington Gardens; so I was forced to go into the room
+and interrupt them, to ask Lucy if she would like to go, but she did
+not care to leave Edward; so I just run up stairs and put on a pair of
+silk stockings and came off with the Richardsons."
+
+"I do not understand what you mean by interrupting them," said Elinor;
+"you were all in the same room together, were not you?"
+
+"No, indeed, not us.  La! Miss Dashwood, do you think people make love
+when any body else is by?  Oh, for shame!--To be sure you must know
+better than that.  (Laughing affectedly.)--No, no; they were shut up in
+the drawing-room together, and all I heard was only by listening at the
+door."
+
+"How!" cried Elinor; "have you been repeating to me what you only
+learnt yourself by listening at the door?  I am sorry I did not know it
+before; for I certainly would not have suffered you to give me
+particulars of a conversation which you ought not to have known
+yourself.  How could you behave so unfairly by your sister?"
+
+"Oh, la! there is nothing in THAT.  I only stood at the door, and heard
+what I could.  And I am sure Lucy would have done just the same by me;
+for a year or two back, when Martha Sharpe and I had so many secrets
+together, she never made any bones of hiding in a closet, or behind a
+chimney-board, on purpose to hear what we said."
+
+Elinor tried to talk of something else; but Miss Steele could not be
+kept beyond a couple of minutes, from what was uppermost in her mind.
+
+"Edward talks of going to Oxford soon," said she; "but now he is
+lodging at No. --, Pall Mall.  What an ill-natured woman his mother is,
+an't she? And your brother and sister were not very kind! However, I
+shan't say anything against them to YOU; and to be sure they did send
+us home in their own chariot, which was more than I looked for.  And
+for my part, I was all in a fright for fear your sister should ask us
+for the huswifes she had gave us a day or two before; but, however,
+nothing was said about them, and I took care to keep mine out of sight.
+Edward have got some business at Oxford, he says; so he must go there
+for a time; and after THAT, as soon as he can light upon a Bishop, he
+will be ordained.  I wonder what curacy he will get!--Good gracious!
+(giggling as she spoke) I'd lay my life I know what my cousins will
+say, when they hear of it.  They will tell me I should write to the
+Doctor, to get Edward the curacy of his new living.  I know they will;
+but I am sure I would not do such a thing for all the world.-- 'La!' I
+shall say directly, 'I wonder how you could think of such a thing?  I
+write to the Doctor, indeed!'"
+
+"Well," said Elinor, "it is a comfort to be prepared against the worst.
+You have got your answer ready."
+
+Miss Steele was going to reply on the same subject, but the approach of
+her own party made another more necessary.
+
+"Oh, la! here come the Richardsons.  I had a vast deal more to say to
+you, but I must not stay away from them not any longer.  I assure you
+they are very genteel people.  He makes a monstrous deal of money, and
+they keep their own coach.  I have not time to speak to Mrs. Jennings
+about it myself, but pray tell her I am quite happy to hear she is not
+in anger against us, and Lady Middleton the same; and if anything
+should happen to take you and your sister away, and Mrs. Jennings
+should want company, I am sure we should be very glad to come and stay
+with her for as long a time as she likes.  I suppose Lady Middleton
+won't ask us any more this bout.  Good-by; I am sorry Miss Marianne was
+not here.  Remember me kindly to her.  La! if you have not got your
+spotted muslin on!--I wonder you was not afraid of its being torn."
+
+Such was her parting concern; for after this, she had time only to pay
+her farewell compliments to Mrs. Jennings, before her company was
+claimed by Mrs. Richardson; and Elinor was left in possession of
+knowledge which might feed her powers of reflection some time, though
+she had learnt very little more than what had been already foreseen and
+foreplanned in her own mind.  Edward's marriage with Lucy was as firmly
+determined on, and the time of its taking place remained as absolutely
+uncertain, as she had concluded it would be;--every thing depended,
+exactly after her expectation, on his getting that preferment, of
+which, at present, there seemed not the smallest chance.
+
+As soon as they returned to the carriage, Mrs. Jennings was eager for
+information; but as Elinor wished to spread as little as possible
+intelligence that had in the first place been so unfairly obtained, she
+confined herself to the brief repetition of such simple particulars, as
+she felt assured that Lucy, for the sake of her own consequence, would
+choose to have known.  The continuance of their engagement, and the
+means that were able to be taken for promoting its end, was all her
+communication; and this produced from Mrs. Jennings the following
+natural remark.
+
+"Wait for his having a living!--ay, we all know how THAT will
+end:--they will wait a twelvemonth, and finding no good comes of it,
+will set down upon a curacy of fifty pounds a-year, with the interest
+of his two thousand pounds, and what little matter Mr. Steele and Mr.
+Pratt can give her.--Then they will have a child every year! and Lord
+help 'em! how poor they will be!--I must see what I can give them
+towards furnishing their house.  Two maids and two men, indeed!--as I
+talked of t'other day.--No, no, they must get a stout girl of all
+works.-- Betty's sister would never do for them NOW."
+
+The next morning brought Elinor a letter by the two-penny post from
+Lucy herself.  It was as follows:
+
+                    "Bartlett's Building, March.
+
+     "I hope my dear Miss Dashwood will excuse the
+     liberty I take of writing to her; but I know your
+     friendship for me will make you pleased to hear such
+     a good account of myself and my dear Edward, after
+     all the troubles we have went through lately,
+     therefore will make no more apologies, but proceed
+     to say that, thank God! though we have suffered
+     dreadfully, we are both quite well now, and as happy
+     as we must always be in one another's love.  We have
+     had great trials, and great persecutions, but
+     however, at the same time, gratefully acknowledge
+     many friends, yourself not the least among them,
+     whose great kindness I shall always thankfully
+     remember, as will Edward too, who I have told of
+     it.  I am sure you will be glad to hear, as likewise
+     dear Mrs. Jennings, I spent two happy hours with
+     him yesterday afternoon, he would not hear of our
+     parting, though earnestly did I, as I thought my
+     duty required, urge him to it for prudence sake,
+     and would have parted for ever on the spot, would
+     he consent to it; but he said it should never be,
+     he did not regard his mother's anger, while he could
+     have my affections; our prospects are not very
+     bright, to be sure, but we must wait, and hope for
+     the best; he will be ordained shortly; and should
+     it ever be in your power to recommend him to any
+     body that has a living to bestow, am very sure you
+     will not forget us, and dear Mrs. Jennings too,
+     trust she will speak a good word for us to Sir John,
+     or Mr. Palmer, or any friend that may be able to
+     assist us.--Poor Anne was much to blame for what
+     she did, but she did it for the best, so I say
+     nothing; hope Mrs. Jennings won't think it too much
+     trouble to give us a call, should she come this way
+     any morning, 'twould be a great kindness, and my
+     cousins would be proud to know her.--My paper reminds
+     me to conclude; and begging to be most gratefully
+     and respectfully remembered to her, and to Sir John,
+     and Lady Middleton, and the dear children, when you
+     chance to see them, and love to Miss Marianne,
+
+                                      "I am, &c."
+
+As soon as Elinor had finished it, she performed what she concluded to
+be its writer's real design, by placing it in the hands of Mrs.
+Jennings, who read it aloud with many comments of satisfaction and
+praise.
+
+"Very well indeed!--how prettily she writes!--aye, that was quite
+proper to let him be off if he would.  That was just like Lucy.--Poor
+soul! I wish I COULD get him a living, with all my heart.--She calls me
+dear Mrs. Jennings, you see.  She is a good-hearted girl as ever
+lived.--Very well upon my word.  That sentence is very prettily turned.
+Yes, yes, I will go and see her, sure enough.  How attentive she is, to
+think of every body!--Thank you, my dear, for shewing it me.  It is as
+pretty a letter as ever I saw, and does Lucy's head and heart great
+credit."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 39
+
+
+The Miss Dashwoods had now been rather more than two months in town,
+and Marianne's impatience to be gone increased every day.  She sighed
+for the air, the liberty, the quiet of the country; and fancied that if
+any place could give her ease, Barton must do it.  Elinor was hardly
+less anxious than herself for their removal, and only so much less bent
+on its being effected immediately, as that she was conscious of the
+difficulties of so long a journey, which Marianne could not be brought
+to acknowledge.  She began, however, seriously to turn her thoughts
+towards its accomplishment, and had already mentioned their wishes to
+their kind hostess, who resisted them with all the eloquence of her
+good-will, when a plan was suggested, which, though detaining them from
+home yet a few weeks longer, appeared to Elinor altogether much more
+eligible than any other. The Palmers were to remove to Cleveland about
+the end of March, for the Easter holidays; and Mrs. Jennings, with both
+her friends, received a very warm invitation from Charlotte to go with
+them.  This would not, in itself, have been sufficient for the delicacy
+of Miss Dashwood;--but it was inforced with so much real politeness by
+Mr. Palmer himself, as, joined to the very great amendment of his
+manners towards them since her sister had been known to be unhappy,
+induced her to accept it with pleasure.
+
+When she told Marianne what she had done, however, her first reply was
+not very auspicious.
+
+"Cleveland!"--she cried, with great agitation.  "No, I cannot go to
+Cleveland."--
+
+"You forget," said Elinor gently, "that its situation is not...that it
+is not in the neighbourhood of..."
+
+"But it is in Somersetshire.--I cannot go into Somersetshire.--There,
+where I looked forward to going...No, Elinor, you cannot expect me to
+go there."
+
+Elinor would not argue upon the propriety of overcoming such
+feelings;--she only endeavoured to counteract them by working on
+others;--represented it, therefore, as a measure which would fix the
+time of her returning to that dear mother, whom she so much wished to
+see, in a more eligible, more comfortable manner, than any other plan
+could do, and perhaps without any greater delay.  From Cleveland, which
+was within a few miles of Bristol, the distance to Barton was not
+beyond one day, though a long day's journey; and their mother's servant
+might easily come there to attend them down; and as there could be no
+occasion of their staying above a week at Cleveland, they might now be
+at home in little more than three weeks' time.  As Marianne's affection
+for her mother was sincere, it must triumph with little difficulty,
+over the imaginary evils she had started.
+
+Mrs. Jennings was so far from being weary of her guests, that she
+pressed them very earnestly to return with her again from Cleveland.
+Elinor was grateful for the attention, but it could not alter her
+design; and their mother's concurrence being readily gained, every
+thing relative to their return was arranged as far as it could be;--and
+Marianne found some relief in drawing up a statement of the hours that
+were yet to divide her from Barton.
+
+"Ah! Colonel, I do not know what you and I shall do without the Miss
+Dashwoods;"--was Mrs. Jennings's address to him when he first called on
+her, after their leaving her was settled--"for they are quite resolved
+upon going home from the Palmers;--and how forlorn we shall be, when I
+come back!--Lord! we shall sit and gape at one another as dull as two
+cats."
+
+Perhaps Mrs. Jennings was in hopes, by this vigorous sketch of their
+future ennui, to provoke him to make that offer, which might give
+himself an escape from it;--and if so, she had soon afterwards good
+reason to think her object gained; for, on Elinor's moving to the
+window to take more expeditiously the dimensions of a print, which she
+was going to copy for her friend, he followed her to it with a look of
+particular meaning, and conversed with her there for several minutes.
+The effect of his discourse on the lady too, could not escape her
+observation, for though she was too honorable to listen, and had even
+changed her seat, on purpose that she might NOT hear, to one close by
+the piano forte on which Marianne was playing, she could not keep
+herself from seeing that Elinor changed colour, attended with
+agitation, and was too intent on what he said to pursue her
+employment.-- Still farther in confirmation of her hopes, in the
+interval of Marianne's turning from one lesson to another, some words
+of the Colonel's inevitably reached her ear, in which he seemed to be
+apologising for the badness of his house.  This set the matter beyond a
+doubt.  She wondered, indeed, at his thinking it necessary to do so;
+but supposed it to be the proper etiquette.  What Elinor said in reply
+she could not distinguish, but judged from the motion of her lips, that
+she did not think THAT any material objection;--and Mrs. Jennings
+commended her in her heart for being so honest.  They then talked on
+for a few minutes longer without her catching a syllable, when another
+lucky stop in Marianne's performance brought her these words in the
+Colonel's calm voice,--
+
+"I am afraid it cannot take place very soon."
+
+Astonished and shocked at so unlover-like a speech, she was almost
+ready to cry out, "Lord! what should hinder it?"--but checking her
+desire, confined herself to this silent ejaculation.
+
+"This is very strange!--sure he need not wait to be older."
+
+This delay on the Colonel's side, however, did not seem to offend or
+mortify his fair companion in the least, for on their breaking up the
+conference soon afterwards, and moving different ways, Mrs. Jennings
+very plainly heard Elinor say, and with a voice which shewed her to
+feel what she said,
+
+"I shall always think myself very much obliged to you."
+
+Mrs. Jennings was delighted with her gratitude, and only wondered that
+after hearing such a sentence, the Colonel should be able to take leave
+of them, as he immediately did, with the utmost sang-froid, and go away
+without making her any reply!--She had not thought her old friend could
+have made so indifferent a suitor.
+
+What had really passed between them was to this effect.
+
+"I have heard," said he, with great compassion, "of the injustice your
+friend Mr. Ferrars has suffered from his family; for if I understand
+the matter right, he has been entirely cast off by them for persevering
+in his engagement with a very deserving young woman.-- Have I been
+rightly informed?--Is it so?--"
+
+Elinor told him that it was.
+
+"The cruelty, the impolitic cruelty,"--he replied, with great
+feeling,--"of dividing, or attempting to divide, two young people long
+attached to each other, is terrible.-- Mrs. Ferrars does not know what
+she may be doing--what she may drive her son to.  I have seen Mr.
+Ferrars two or three times in Harley Street, and am much pleased with
+him.  He is not a young man with whom one can be intimately acquainted
+in a short time, but I have seen enough of him to wish him well for his
+own sake, and as a friend of yours, I wish it still more.  I understand
+that he intends to take orders.  Will you be so good as to tell him
+that the living of Delaford, now just vacant, as I am informed by this
+day's post, is his, if he think it worth his acceptance--but THAT,
+perhaps, so unfortunately circumstanced as he is now, it may be
+nonsense to appear to doubt; I only wish it were more  valuable.-- It
+is a rectory, but a small one; the late incumbent, I believe, did not
+make more than 200 L per annum, and though it is certainly capable of
+improvement, I fear, not to such an amount as to afford him a very
+comfortable income.  Such as it is, however, my pleasure in presenting
+him to it, will be very great.  Pray assure him of it."
+
+Elinor's astonishment at this commission could hardly have been
+greater, had the Colonel been really making her an offer of his hand.
+The preferment, which only two days before she had considered as
+hopeless for Edward, was already provided to enable him to marry;--and
+SHE, of all people in the world, was fixed on to bestow it!--Her
+emotion was such as Mrs. Jennings had attributed to a very different
+cause;--but whatever minor feelings less pure, less pleasing, might
+have a share in that emotion, her esteem for the general benevolence,
+and her gratitude for the particular friendship, which together
+prompted Colonel Brandon to this act, were strongly felt, and warmly
+expressed.  She thanked him for it with all her heart, spoke of
+Edward's principles and disposition with that praise which she knew
+them to deserve; and promised to undertake the commission with
+pleasure, if it were really his wish to put off so agreeable an office
+to another.  But at the same time, she could not help thinking that no
+one could so well perform it as himself.  It was an office in short,
+from which, unwilling to give Edward the pain of receiving an
+obligation from HER, she would have been very glad to be spared
+herself;-- but Colonel Brandon, on motives of equal delicacy, declining
+it likewise, still seemed so desirous of its being given through her
+means, that she would not on any account make farther opposition.
+Edward, she believed, was still in town, and fortunately she had heard
+his address from Miss Steele.  She could undertake therefore to inform
+him of it, in the course of the day.  After this had been settled,
+Colonel Brandon began to talk of his own advantage in securing so
+respectable and agreeable a neighbour, and THEN it was that he
+mentioned with regret, that the house was small and indifferent;--an
+evil which Elinor, as Mrs. Jennings had supposed her to do, made very
+light of, at least as far as regarded its size.
+
+"The smallness of the house," said she, "I cannot imagine any
+inconvenience to them, for it will be in proportion to their family and
+income."
+
+By which the Colonel was surprised to find that SHE was considering Mr.
+Ferrars's marriage as the certain consequence of the presentation; for
+he did not suppose it possible that Delaford living could supply such
+an income, as anybody in his style of life would venture to settle
+on--and he said so.
+
+"This little rectory CAN do no more than make Mr. Ferrars comfortable
+as a bachelor; it cannot enable him to marry.  I am sorry to say that
+my patronage ends with this; and my interest is hardly more extensive.
+If, however, by an unforeseen chance it should be in my power to serve
+him farther, I must think very differently of him from what I now do,
+if I am not as ready to be useful to him then as I sincerely wish I
+could be at present.  What I am now doing indeed, seems nothing at all,
+since it can advance him so little towards what must be his principal,
+his only object of happiness.  His marriage must still be a distant
+good;--at least, I am afraid it cannot take place very soon.--"
+
+Such was the sentence which, when misunderstood, so justly offended the
+delicate feelings of Mrs. Jennings; but after this narration of what
+really passed between Colonel Brandon and Elinor, while they stood at
+the window, the gratitude expressed by the latter on their parting, may
+perhaps appear in general, not less reasonably excited, nor less
+properly worded than if it had arisen from an offer of marriage.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 40
+
+
+"Well, Miss Dashwood," said Mrs. Jennings, sagaciously smiling, as soon
+as the gentleman had withdrawn, "I do not ask you what the Colonel has
+been saying to you; for though, upon my honour, I TRIED to keep out of
+hearing, I could not help catching enough to understand his business.
+And I assure you I never was better pleased in my life, and I wish you
+joy of it with all my heart."
+
+"Thank you, ma'am," said Elinor.  "It is a matter of great joy to me;
+and I feel the goodness of Colonel Brandon most sensibly.  There are
+not many men who would act as he has done.  Few people who have so
+compassionate a heart!  I never was more astonished in my life."
+
+"Lord! my dear, you are very modest.  I an't the least astonished at it
+in the world, for I have often thought of late, there was nothing more
+likely to happen."
+
+"You judged from your knowledge of the Colonel's general benevolence;
+but at least you could not foresee that the opportunity would so very
+soon occur."
+
+"Opportunity!" repeated Mrs. Jennings--"Oh! as to that, when a man has
+once made up his mind to such a thing, somehow or other he will soon
+find an opportunity.  Well, my dear, I wish you joy of it again and
+again; and if ever there was a happy couple in the world, I think I
+shall soon know where to look for them."
+
+"You mean to go to Delaford after them I suppose," said Elinor, with a
+faint smile.
+
+"Aye, my dear, that I do, indeed.  And as to the house being a bad one,
+I do not know what the Colonel would be at, for it is as good a one as
+ever I saw."
+
+"He spoke of its being out of repair."
+
+"Well, and whose fault is that? why don't he repair it?--who should do
+it but himself?"
+
+They were interrupted by the servant's coming in to announce the
+carriage being at the door; and Mrs. Jennings immediately preparing to
+go, said,--
+
+"Well, my dear, I must be gone before I have had half my talk out.
+But, however, we may have it all over in the evening; for we shall be
+quite alone.  I do not ask you to go with me, for I dare say your mind
+is too full of the matter to care for company; and besides, you must
+long to tell your sister all about it."
+
+Marianne had left the room before the conversation began.
+
+"Certainly, ma'am, I shall tell Marianne of it; but I shall not mention
+it at present to any body else."
+
+"Oh! very well," said Mrs. Jennings rather disappointed.  "Then you
+would not have me tell it to Lucy, for I think of going as far as
+Holborn to-day."
+
+"No, ma'am, not even Lucy if you please.  One day's delay will not be
+very material; and till I have written to Mr. Ferrars, I think it ought
+not to be mentioned to any body else.  I shall do THAT directly.  It is
+of importance that no time should be lost with him, for he will of
+course have much to do relative to his ordination."
+
+This speech at first puzzled Mrs. Jennings exceedingly.  Why Mr.
+Ferrars was to have been written to about it in such a hurry, she could
+not immediately comprehend.  A few moments' reflection, however,
+produced a very happy idea, and she exclaimed;--
+
+"Oh, ho!--I understand you.  Mr. Ferrars is to be the man.  Well, so
+much the better for him.  Ay, to be sure, he must be ordained in
+readiness; and I am very glad to find things are so forward between
+you.  But, my dear, is not this rather out of character?  Should not
+the Colonel write himself?--sure, he is the proper person."
+
+Elinor did not quite understand the beginning of Mrs. Jennings's
+speech, neither did she think it worth inquiring into; and therefore
+only replied to its conclusion.
+
+"Colonel Brandon is so delicate a man, that he rather wished any one to
+announce his intentions to Mr. Ferrars than himself."
+
+"And so YOU are forced to do it.  Well THAT is an odd kind of delicacy!
+However, I will not disturb you (seeing her preparing to write.)  You
+know your own concerns best.  So goodby, my dear.  I have not heard of
+any thing to please me so well since Charlotte was brought to bed."
+
+And away she went; but returning again in a moment,
+
+"I have just been thinking of Betty's sister, my dear.  I should be
+very glad to get her so good a mistress.  But whether she would do for
+a lady's maid, I am sure I can't tell.  She is an excellent housemaid,
+and works very well at her needle.  However, you will think of all that
+at your leisure."
+
+"Certainly, ma'am," replied Elinor, not hearing much of what she said,
+and more anxious to be alone, than to be mistress of the subject.
+
+How she should begin--how she should express herself in her note to
+Edward, was now all her concern.  The particular circumstances between
+them made a difficulty of that which to any other person would have
+been the easiest thing in the world; but she equally feared to say too
+much or too little, and sat deliberating over her paper, with the pen
+in her hand, till broken in on by the entrance of Edward himself.
+
+He had met Mrs. Jennings at the door in her way to the carriage, as he
+came to leave his farewell card; and she, after apologising for not
+returning herself, had obliged him to enter, by saying that Miss
+Dashwood was above, and wanted to speak with him on very particular
+business.
+
+Elinor had just been congratulating herself, in the midst of her
+perplexity, that however difficult it might be to express herself
+properly by letter, it was at least preferable to giving the
+information by word of mouth, when her visitor entered, to force her
+upon this greatest exertion of all.  Her astonishment and confusion
+were very great on his so sudden appearance.  She had not seen him
+before since his engagement became public, and therefore not since his
+knowing her to be acquainted with it; which, with the consciousness of
+what she had been thinking of, and what she had to tell him, made her
+feel particularly uncomfortable for some minutes.  He too was much
+distressed; and they sat down together in a most promising state of
+embarrassment.--Whether he had asked her pardon for his intrusion on
+first coming into the room, he could not recollect; but determining to
+be on the safe side, he made his apology in form as soon as he could
+say any thing, after taking a chair.
+
+"Mrs. Jennings told me," said he, "that you wished to speak with me, at
+least I understood her so--or I certainly should not have intruded on
+you in such a manner; though at the same time, I should have been
+extremely sorry to leave London without seeing you and your sister;
+especially as it will most likely be some time--it is not probable that
+I should soon have the pleasure of meeting you again.  I go to Oxford
+tomorrow."
+
+"You would not have gone, however," said Elinor, recovering herself,
+and determined to get over what she so much dreaded as soon as
+possible, "without receiving our good wishes, even if we had not been
+able to give them in person.  Mrs. Jennings was quite right in what she
+said.  I have something of consequence to inform you of, which I was on
+the point of communicating by paper.  I am charged with a most
+agreeable office (breathing rather faster than usual as she spoke.)
+Colonel Brandon, who was here only ten minutes ago, has desired me to
+say, that understanding you mean to take orders, he has great pleasure
+in offering you the living of Delaford now just vacant, and only wishes
+it were more valuable.  Allow me to congratulate you on having so
+respectable and well-judging a friend, and to join in his wish that the
+living--it is about two hundred a-year--were much more considerable,
+and such as might better enable you to--as might be more than a
+temporary accommodation to yourself--such, in short, as might establish
+all your views of happiness."
+
+What Edward felt, as he could not say it himself, it cannot be expected
+that any one else should say for him.  He LOOKED all the astonishment
+which such unexpected, such unthought-of information could not fail of
+exciting; but he said only these two words,
+
+"Colonel Brandon!"
+
+"Yes," continued Elinor, gathering more resolution, as some of the
+worst was over, "Colonel Brandon means it as a testimony of his concern
+for what has lately passed--for the cruel situation in which the
+unjustifiable conduct of your family has placed you--a concern which I
+am sure Marianne, myself, and all your friends, must share; and
+likewise as a proof of his high esteem for your general character, and
+his particular approbation of your behaviour on the present occasion."
+
+"Colonel Brandon give ME a living!--Can it be possible?"
+
+"The unkindness of your own relations has made you astonished to find
+friendship any where."
+
+"No," replied he, with sudden consciousness, "not to find it in YOU;
+for I cannot be ignorant that to you, to your goodness, I owe it
+all.--I feel it--I would express it if I could--but, as you well know,
+I am no orator."
+
+"You are very much mistaken.  I do assure you that you owe it entirely,
+at least almost entirely, to your own merit, and Colonel Brandon's
+discernment of it.  I have had no hand in it.  I did not even know,
+till I understood his design, that the living was vacant; nor had it
+ever occurred to me that he might have had such a living in his gift.
+As a friend of mine, of my family, he may, perhaps--indeed I know he
+HAS, still greater pleasure in bestowing it; but, upon my word, you owe
+nothing to my solicitation."
+
+Truth obliged her to acknowledge some small share in the action, but
+she was at the same time so unwilling to appear as the benefactress of
+Edward, that she acknowledged it with hesitation; which probably
+contributed to fix that suspicion in his mind which had recently
+entered it.  For a short time he sat deep in thought, after Elinor had
+ceased to speak;--at last, and as if it were rather an effort, he said,
+
+"Colonel Brandon seems a man of great worth and respectability.  I have
+always heard him spoken of as such, and your brother I know esteems him
+highly.  He is undoubtedly a sensible man, and in his manners perfectly
+the gentleman."
+
+"Indeed," replied Elinor, "I believe that you will find him, on farther
+acquaintance, all that you have heard him to be, and as you will be
+such very near neighbours (for I understand the parsonage is almost
+close to the mansion-house,) it is particularly important that he
+SHOULD be all this."
+
+Edward made no answer; but when she had turned away her head, gave her
+a look so serious, so earnest, so uncheerful, as seemed to say, that he
+might hereafter wish the distance between the parsonage and the
+mansion-house much greater.
+
+"Colonel Brandon, I think, lodges in St. James Street," said he, soon
+afterwards, rising from his chair.
+
+Elinor told him the number of the house.
+
+"I must hurry away then, to give him those thanks which you will not
+allow me to give YOU; to assure him that he has made me a very--an
+exceedingly happy man."
+
+Elinor did not offer to detain him; and they parted, with a very
+earnest assurance on HER side of her unceasing good wishes for his
+happiness in every change of situation that might befall him; on HIS,
+with rather an attempt to return the same good will, than the power of
+expressing it.
+
+"When I see him again," said Elinor to herself, as the door shut him
+out, "I shall see him the husband of Lucy."
+
+And with this pleasing anticipation, she sat down to reconsider the
+past, recall the words and endeavour to comprehend all the feelings of
+Edward; and, of course, to reflect on her own with discontent.
+
+When Mrs. Jennings came home, though she returned from seeing people
+whom she had never seen before, and of whom therefore she must have a
+great deal to say, her mind was so much more occupied by the important
+secret in her possession, than by anything else, that she reverted to
+it again as soon as Elinor appeared.
+
+"Well, my dear," she cried, "I sent you up the young man.  Did not I
+do right?--And I suppose you had no great difficulty--You did not find
+him very unwilling to accept your proposal?"
+
+"No, ma'am; THAT was not very likely."
+
+"Well, and how soon will he be ready?--For it seems all to depend upon
+that."
+
+"Really," said Elinor, "I know so little of these kind of forms, that I
+can hardly even conjecture as to the time, or the preparation
+necessary; but I suppose two or three months will complete his
+ordination."
+
+"Two or three months!" cried Mrs. Jennings; "Lord! my dear, how calmly
+you talk of it; and can the Colonel wait two or three months! Lord
+bless me!--I am sure it would put ME quite out of patience!--And though
+one would be very glad to do a kindness by poor Mr. Ferrars, I do think
+it is not worth while to wait two or three months for him.  Sure
+somebody else might be found that would do as well; somebody that is in
+orders already."
+
+"My dear ma'am," said Elinor, "what can you be thinking of?-- Why,
+Colonel Brandon's only object is to be of use to Mr. Ferrars."
+
+"Lord bless you, my dear!--Sure you do not mean to persuade me that the
+Colonel only marries you for the sake of giving ten guineas to Mr.
+Ferrars!"
+
+The deception could not continue after this; and an explanation
+immediately took place, by which both gained considerable amusement for
+the moment, without any material loss of happiness to either, for Mrs.
+Jennings only exchanged one form of delight for another, and still
+without forfeiting her expectation of the first.
+
+"Aye, aye, the parsonage is but a small one," said she, after the first
+ebullition of surprise and satisfaction was over, "and very likely MAY
+be out of repair; but to hear a man apologising, as I thought, for a
+house that to my knowledge has five sitting rooms on the ground-floor,
+and I think the housekeeper told me could make up fifteen beds!--and to
+you too, that had been used to live in Barton cottage!-- It seems quite
+ridiculous.  But, my dear, we must touch up the Colonel to do some
+thing to the parsonage, and make it comfortable for them, before Lucy
+goes to it."
+
+"But Colonel Brandon does not seem to have any idea of the living's
+being enough to allow them to marry."
+
+"The Colonel is a ninny, my dear; because he has two thousand a-year
+himself, he thinks that nobody else can marry on less.  Take my word
+for it, that, if I am alive, I shall be paying a visit at Delaford
+Parsonage before Michaelmas; and I am sure I shan't go if Lucy an't
+there."
+
+Elinor was quite of her opinion, as to the probability of their not
+waiting for any thing more.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 41
+
+
+Edward, having carried his thanks to Colonel Brandon, proceeded with
+his happiness to Lucy; and such was the excess of it by the time he
+reached Bartlett's Buildings, that she was able to assure Mrs.
+Jennings, who called on her again the next day with her
+congratulations, that she had never seen him in such spirits before in
+her life.
+
+Her own happiness, and her own spirits, were at least very certain; and
+she joined Mrs. Jennings most heartily in her expectation of their
+being all comfortably together in Delaford Parsonage before Michaelmas.
+So far was she, at the same time, from any backwardness to give Elinor
+that credit which Edward WOULD give her, that she spoke of her
+friendship for them both with the most grateful warmth, was ready to
+own all their obligation to her, and openly declared that no exertion
+for their good on Miss Dashwood's part, either present or future, would
+ever surprise her, for she believed her capable of doing any thing in
+the world for those she really valued.  As for Colonel Brandon, she was
+not only ready to worship him as a saint, but was moreover truly
+anxious that he should be treated as one in all worldly concerns;
+anxious that his tithes should be raised to the utmost; and scarcely
+resolved to avail herself, at Delaford, as far as she possibly could,
+of his servants, his carriage, his cows, and his poultry.
+
+It was now above a week since John Dashwood had called in Berkeley
+Street, and as since that time no notice had been taken by them of his
+wife's indisposition, beyond one verbal enquiry, Elinor began to feel
+it necessary to pay her a visit.--This was an obligation, however,
+which not only opposed her own inclination, but which had not the
+assistance of any encouragement from her companions.  Marianne, not
+contented with absolutely refusing to go herself, was very urgent to
+prevent her sister's going at all; and Mrs. Jennings, though her
+carriage was always at Elinor's service, so very much disliked Mrs.
+John Dashwood, that not even her curiosity to see how she looked after
+the late discovery, nor her strong desire to affront her by taking
+Edward's part, could overcome her unwillingness to be in her company
+again.  The consequence was, that Elinor set out by herself to pay a
+visit, for which no one could really have less inclination, and to run
+the risk of a tete-a-tete with a woman, whom neither of the others had
+so much reason to dislike.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood was denied; but before the carriage could turn from the
+house, her husband accidentally came out.  He expressed great pleasure
+in meeting Elinor, told her that he had been just going to call in
+Berkeley Street, and, assuring her that Fanny would be very glad to see
+her, invited her to come in.
+
+They walked up stairs in to the drawing-room.--Nobody was there.
+
+"Fanny is in her own room, I suppose," said he:--"I will go to her
+presently, for I am sure she will not have the least objection in the
+world to seeing YOU.-- Very far from it, indeed.  NOW especially there
+cannot be--but however, you and Marianne were always great
+favourites.--Why would not Marianne come?"--
+
+Elinor made what excuse she could for her.
+
+"I am not sorry to see you alone," he replied, "for I have a good deal
+to say to you.  This living of Colonel Brandon's--can it be true?--has
+he really given it to Edward?--I heard it yesterday by chance, and was
+coming to you on purpose to enquire farther about it."
+
+"It is perfectly true.--Colonel Brandon has given the living of
+Delaford to Edward."
+
+"Really!--Well, this is very astonishing!--no relationship!--no
+connection between them!--and now that livings fetch such a
+price!--what was the value of this?"
+
+"About two hundred a year."
+
+"Very well--and for the next presentation to a living of that
+value--supposing the late incumbent to have been old and sickly, and
+likely to vacate it soon--he might have got I dare say--fourteen
+hundred pounds.  And how came he not to have settled that matter before
+this person's death?--NOW indeed it would be too late to sell it, but a
+man of Colonel Brandon's sense!--I wonder he should be so improvident
+in a point of such common, such natural, concern!--Well, I am convinced
+that there is a vast deal of inconsistency in almost every human
+character.  I suppose, however--on recollection--that the case may
+probably be THIS.  Edward is only to hold the living till the person to
+whom the Colonel has really sold the presentation, is old enough to
+take it.--Aye, aye, that is the fact, depend upon it."
+
+Elinor contradicted it, however, very positively; and by relating that
+she had herself been employed in conveying the offer from Colonel
+Brandon to Edward, and, therefore, must understand the terms on which
+it was given, obliged him to submit to her authority.
+
+"It is truly astonishing!"--he cried, after hearing what she
+said--"what could be the Colonel's motive?"
+
+"A very simple one--to be of use to Mr. Ferrars."
+
+"Well, well; whatever Colonel Brandon may be, Edward is a very lucky
+man.--You will not mention the matter to Fanny, however, for though I
+have broke it to her, and she bears it vastly well,--she will not like
+to hear it much talked of."
+
+Elinor had some difficulty here to refrain from observing, that she
+thought Fanny might have borne with composure, an acquisition of wealth
+to her brother, by which neither she nor her child could be possibly
+impoverished.
+
+"Mrs. Ferrars," added he, lowering his voice to the tone becoming so
+important a subject, "knows nothing about it at present, and I believe
+it will be best to keep it entirely concealed from her as long as may
+be.-- When the marriage takes place, I fear she must hear of it all."
+
+"But why should such precaution be used?--Though it is not to be
+supposed that Mrs. Ferrars can have the smallest satisfaction in
+knowing that her son has money enough to live upon,--for THAT must be
+quite out of the question; yet why, upon her late behaviour, is she
+supposed to feel at all?--She has done with her son, she cast him off
+for ever, and has made all those over whom she had any influence, cast
+him off likewise.  Surely, after doing so, she cannot be imagined
+liable to any impression of sorrow or of joy on his account--she cannot
+be interested in any thing that befalls him.-- She would not be so weak
+as to throw away the comfort of a child, and yet retain the anxiety of
+a parent!"
+
+"Ah! Elinor," said John, "your reasoning is very good, but it is
+founded on ignorance of human nature.  When Edward's unhappy match
+takes place, depend upon it his mother will feel as much as if she had
+never discarded him; and, therefore every circumstance that may
+accelerate that dreadful event, must be concealed from her as much as
+possible.  Mrs. Ferrars can never forget that Edward is her son."
+
+"You surprise me; I should think it must nearly have escaped her memory
+by THIS time."
+
+"You wrong her exceedingly.  Mrs. Ferrars is one of the most
+affectionate mothers in the world."
+
+Elinor was silent.
+
+"We think NOW,"--said Mr. Dashwood, after a short pause, "of ROBERT'S
+marrying Miss Morton."
+
+Elinor, smiling at the grave and decisive importance of her brother's
+tone, calmly replied,
+
+"The lady, I suppose, has no choice in the affair."
+
+"Choice!--how do you mean?"
+
+"I only mean that I suppose, from your manner of speaking, it must be
+the same to Miss Morton whether she marry Edward or Robert."
+
+"Certainly, there can be no difference; for Robert will now to all
+intents and purposes be considered as the eldest son;--and as to any
+thing else, they are both very agreeable young men: I do not know that
+one is superior to the other."
+
+Elinor said no more, and John was also for a short time silent.--His
+reflections ended thus.
+
+"Of ONE thing, my dear sister," kindly taking her hand, and speaking in
+an awful whisper,--"I may assure you;--and I WILL do it, because I know
+it must gratify you.  I have good reason to think--indeed I have it
+from the best authority, or I should not repeat it, for otherwise it
+would be very wrong to say any thing about it--but I have it from the
+very best authority--not that I ever precisely heard Mrs. Ferrars say
+it herself--but her daughter DID, and I have it from her--That in
+short, whatever objections there might be against a certain--a certain
+connection--you understand me--it would have been far preferable to
+her, it would not have given her half the vexation that THIS does.  I
+was exceedingly pleased to hear that Mrs. Ferrars considered it in that
+light--a very gratifying circumstance you know to us all.  'It would
+have been beyond comparison,' she said, 'the least evil of the two, and
+she would be glad to compound NOW for nothing worse.' But however, all
+that is quite out of the question--not to be thought of or
+mentioned--as to any attachment you know--it never could be--all that
+is gone by.  But I thought I would just tell you of this, because I
+knew how much it must please you.  Not that you have any reason to
+regret, my dear Elinor.  There is no doubt of your doing exceedingly
+well--quite as well, or better, perhaps, all things considered.  Has
+Colonel Brandon been with you lately?"
+
+Elinor had heard enough, if not to gratify her vanity, and raise her
+self-importance, to agitate her nerves and fill her mind;--and she was
+therefore glad to be spared from the necessity of saying much in reply
+herself, and from the danger of hearing any thing more from her
+brother, by the entrance of Mr. Robert Ferrars.  After a few moments'
+chat, John Dashwood, recollecting that Fanny was yet uninformed of her
+sister's being there, quitted the room in quest of her; and Elinor was
+left to improve her acquaintance with Robert, who, by the gay
+unconcern, the happy self-complacency of his manner while enjoying so
+unfair a division of his mother's love and liberality, to the prejudice
+of his banished brother, earned only by his own dissipated course of
+life, and that brother's integrity, was confirming her most
+unfavourable opinion of his head and heart.
+
+They had scarcely been two minutes by themselves, before he began to
+speak of Edward; for he, too, had heard of the living, and was very
+inquisitive on the subject.  Elinor repeated the particulars of it, as
+she had given them to John; and their effect on Robert, though very
+different, was not less striking than it had been on HIM.  He laughed
+most immoderately.  The idea of Edward's being a clergyman, and living
+in a small parsonage-house, diverted him beyond measure;--and when to
+that was added the fanciful imagery of Edward reading prayers in a
+white surplice, and publishing the banns of marriage between John Smith
+and Mary Brown, he could conceive nothing more ridiculous.
+
+Elinor, while she waited in silence and immovable gravity, the
+conclusion of such folly, could not restrain her eyes from being fixed
+on him with a look that spoke all the contempt it excited.  It was a
+look, however, very well bestowed, for it relieved her own feelings,
+and gave no intelligence to him.  He was recalled from wit to wisdom,
+not by any reproof of hers, but by his own sensibility.
+
+"We may treat it as a joke," said he, at last, recovering from the
+affected laugh which had considerably lengthened out the genuine gaiety
+of the moment--"but, upon my soul, it is a most serious business.  Poor
+Edward!  he is ruined for ever.  I am extremely sorry for it--for I
+know him to be a very good-hearted creature; as well-meaning a fellow
+perhaps, as any in the world.  You must not judge of him, Miss
+Dashwood, from YOUR slight acquaintance.--Poor Edward!--His manners are
+certainly not the happiest in nature.--But we are not all born, you
+know, with the same powers,--the same address.-- Poor fellow!--to see
+him in a circle of strangers!--to be sure it was pitiable enough!--but
+upon my soul, I believe he has as good a heart as any in the kingdom;
+and I declare and protest to you I never was so shocked in my life, as
+when it all burst forth.  I could not believe it.-- My mother was the
+first person who told me of it; and I, feeling myself called on to act
+with resolution, immediately said to her, 'My dear madam, I do not know
+what you may intend to do on the occasion, but as for myself, I must
+say, that if Edward does marry this young woman, I never will see him
+again.' That was what I said immediately.-- I was most uncommonly
+shocked, indeed!--Poor Edward!--he has done for himself
+completely--shut himself out for ever from all decent society!--but, as
+I directly said to my mother, I am not in the least surprised at it;
+from his style of education, it was always to be expected.  My poor
+mother was half frantic."
+
+"Have you ever seen the lady?"
+
+"Yes; once, while she was staying in this house, I happened to drop in
+for ten minutes; and I saw quite enough of her.  The merest awkward
+country girl, without style, or elegance, and almost without beauty.--
+I remember her perfectly.  Just the kind of girl I should suppose
+likely to captivate poor Edward.  I offered immediately, as soon as my
+mother related the affair to me, to talk to him myself, and dissuade
+him from the match; but it was too late THEN, I found, to do any thing,
+for unluckily, I was not in the way at first, and knew nothing of it
+till after the breach had taken place, when it was not for me, you
+know, to interfere.  But had I been informed of it a few hours
+earlier--I think it is most probable--that something might have been
+hit on.  I certainly should have represented it to Edward in a very
+strong light.  'My dear fellow,' I should have said, 'consider what you
+are doing.  You are making a most disgraceful connection, and such a
+one as your family are unanimous in disapproving.' I cannot help
+thinking, in short, that means might have been found.  But now it is
+all too late.  He must be starved, you know;--that is certain;
+absolutely starved."
+
+He had just settled this point with great composure, when the entrance
+of Mrs. John Dashwood put an end to the subject.  But though SHE never
+spoke of it out of her own family, Elinor could see its influence on
+her mind, in the something like confusion of countenance with which she
+entered, and an attempt at cordiality in her behaviour to herself.  She
+even proceeded so far as to be concerned to find that Elinor and her
+sister were so soon to leave town, as she had hoped to see more of
+them;--an exertion in which her husband, who attended her into the
+room, and hung enamoured over her accents, seemed to distinguish every
+thing that was most affectionate and graceful.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 42
+
+
+One other short call in Harley Street, in which Elinor received her
+brother's congratulations on their travelling so far towards Barton
+without any expense, and on Colonel Brandon's being to follow them to
+Cleveland in a day or two, completed the intercourse of the brother and
+sisters in town;--and a faint invitation from Fanny, to come to Norland
+whenever it should happen to be in their way, which of all things was
+the most unlikely to occur, with a more warm, though less public,
+assurance, from John to Elinor, of the promptitude with which he should
+come to see her at Delaford, was all that foretold any meeting in the
+country.
+
+It amused her to observe that all her friends seemed determined to send
+her to Delaford;--a place, in which, of all others, she would now least
+chuse to visit, or wish to reside; for not only was it considered as
+her future home by her brother and Mrs. Jennings, but even Lucy, when
+they parted, gave her a pressing invitation to visit her there.
+
+Very early in April, and tolerably early in the day, the two parties
+from Hanover Square and Berkeley Street set out from their respective
+homes, to meet, by appointment, on the road.  For the convenience of
+Charlotte and her child, they were to be more than two days on their
+journey, and Mr. Palmer, travelling more expeditiously with Colonel
+Brandon, was to join them at Cleveland soon after their arrival.
+
+Marianne, few as had been her hours of comfort in London, and eager as
+she had long been to quit it, could not, when it came to the point, bid
+adieu to the house in which she had for the last time enjoyed those
+hopes, and that confidence, in Willoughby, which were now extinguished
+for ever, without great pain.  Nor could she leave the place in which
+Willoughby remained, busy in new engagements, and new schemes, in which
+SHE could have no share, without shedding many tears.
+
+Elinor's satisfaction, at the moment of removal, was more positive.
+She had no such object for her lingering thoughts to fix on, she left
+no creature behind, from whom it would give her a moment's regret to be
+divided for ever, she was pleased to be free herself from the
+persecution of Lucy's friendship, she was grateful for bringing her
+sister away unseen by Willoughby since his marriage, and she looked
+forward with hope to what a few months of tranquility at Barton might
+do towards restoring Marianne's peace of mind, and confirming her own.
+
+Their journey was safely performed.  The second day brought them into
+the cherished, or the prohibited, county of Somerset, for as such was
+it dwelt on by turns in Marianne's imagination; and in the forenoon of
+the third they drove up to Cleveland.
+
+Cleveland was a spacious, modern-built house, situated on a sloping
+lawn.  It had no park, but the pleasure-grounds were tolerably
+extensive; and like every other place of the same degree of importance,
+it had its open shrubbery, and closer wood walk, a road of smooth
+gravel winding round a plantation, led to the front, the lawn was
+dotted over with timber, the house itself was under the guardianship of
+the fir, the mountain-ash, and the acacia, and a thick screen of them
+altogether, interspersed with tall Lombardy poplars, shut out the
+offices.
+
+Marianne entered the house with a heart swelling with emotion from the
+consciousness of being only eighty miles from Barton, and not thirty
+from Combe Magna; and before she had been five minutes within its
+walls, while the others were busily helping Charlotte to show her child
+to the housekeeper, she quitted it again, stealing away through the
+winding shrubberies, now just beginning to be in beauty, to gain a
+distant eminence; where, from its Grecian temple, her eye, wandering
+over a wide tract of country to the south-east, could fondly rest on
+the farthest ridge of hills in the horizon, and fancy that from their
+summits Combe Magna might be seen.
+
+In such moments of precious, invaluable misery, she rejoiced in tears
+of agony to be at Cleveland; and as she returned by a different circuit
+to the house, feeling all the happy privilege of country liberty, of
+wandering from place to place in free and luxurious solitude, she
+resolved to spend almost every hour of every day while she remained
+with the Palmers, in the indulgence of such solitary rambles.
+
+She returned just in time to join the others as they quitted the house,
+on an excursion through its more immediate premises; and the rest of
+the morning was easily whiled away, in lounging round the kitchen
+garden, examining the bloom upon its walls, and listening to the
+gardener's lamentations upon blights, in dawdling through the
+green-house, where the loss of her favourite plants, unwarily exposed,
+and nipped by the lingering frost, raised the laughter of
+Charlotte,--and in visiting her poultry-yard, where, in the
+disappointed hopes of her dairy-maid, by hens forsaking their nests, or
+being stolen by a fox, or in the rapid decrease of a promising young
+brood, she found fresh sources of merriment.
+
+The morning was fine and dry, and Marianne, in her plan of employment
+abroad, had not calculated for any change of weather during their stay
+at Cleveland.  With great surprise therefore, did she find herself
+prevented by a settled rain from going out again after dinner.  She had
+depended on a twilight walk to the Grecian temple, and perhaps all over
+the grounds, and an evening merely cold or damp would not have deterred
+her from it; but a heavy and settled rain even SHE could not fancy dry
+or pleasant weather for walking.
+
+Their party was small, and the hours passed quietly away.  Mrs. Palmer
+had her child, and Mrs. Jennings her carpet-work; they talked of the
+friends they had left behind, arranged Lady Middleton's engagements,
+and wondered whether Mr. Palmer and Colonel Brandon would get farther
+than Reading that night.  Elinor, however little concerned in it,
+joined in their discourse; and Marianne, who had the knack of finding
+her way in every house to the library, however it might be avoided by
+the family in general, soon procured herself a book.
+
+Nothing was wanting on Mrs. Palmer's side that constant and friendly
+good humour could do, to make them feel themselves welcome.  The
+openness and heartiness of her manner more than atoned for that want of
+recollection and elegance which made her often deficient in the forms
+of politeness; her kindness, recommended by so pretty a face, was
+engaging; her folly, though evident was not disgusting, because it was
+not conceited; and Elinor could have forgiven every thing but her laugh.
+
+The two gentlemen arrived the next day to a very late dinner, affording
+a pleasant enlargement of the party, and a very welcome variety to
+their conversation, which a long morning of the same continued rain had
+reduced very low.
+
+Elinor had seen so little of Mr. Palmer, and in that little had seen so
+much variety in his address to her sister and herself, that she knew
+not what to expect to find him in his own family.  She found him,
+however, perfectly the gentleman in his behaviour to all his visitors,
+and only occasionally rude to his wife and her mother; she found him
+very capable of being a pleasant companion, and only prevented from
+being so always, by too great an aptitude to fancy himself as much
+superior to people in general, as he must feel himself to be to Mrs.
+Jennings and Charlotte.  For the rest of his character and habits, they
+were marked, as far as Elinor could perceive, with no traits at all
+unusual in his sex and time of life.  He was nice in his eating,
+uncertain in his hours; fond of his child, though affecting to slight
+it; and idled away the mornings at billiards, which ought to have been
+devoted to business.  She liked him, however, upon the whole, much
+better than she had expected, and in her heart was not sorry that she
+could like him no more;--not sorry to be driven by the observation of
+his Epicurism, his selfishness, and his conceit, to rest with
+complacency on the remembrance of Edward's generous temper, simple
+taste, and diffident feelings.
+
+Of Edward, or at least of some of his concerns, she now received
+intelligence from Colonel Brandon, who had been into Dorsetshire
+lately; and who, treating her at once as the disinterested friend of
+Mr. Ferrars, and the kind of confidant of himself, talked to her a
+great deal of the parsonage at Delaford, described its deficiencies,
+and told her what he meant to do himself towards removing them.--His
+behaviour to her in this, as well as in every other particular, his
+open pleasure in meeting her after an absence of only ten days, his
+readiness to converse with her, and his deference for her opinion,
+might very well justify Mrs. Jennings's persuasion of his attachment,
+and would have been enough, perhaps, had not Elinor still, as from the
+first, believed Marianne his real favourite, to make her suspect it
+herself.  But as it was, such a notion had scarcely ever entered her
+head, except by Mrs. Jennings's suggestion; and she could not help
+believing herself the nicest observer of the two;--she watched his
+eyes, while Mrs. Jennings thought only of his behaviour;--and while his
+looks of anxious solicitude on Marianne's feeling, in her head and
+throat, the beginning of a heavy cold, because unexpressed by words,
+entirely escaped the latter lady's observation;--SHE could discover in
+them the quick feelings, and needless alarm of a lover.
+
+Two delightful twilight walks on the third and fourth evenings of her
+being there, not merely on the dry gravel of the shrubbery, but all
+over the grounds, and especially in the most distant parts of them,
+where there was something more of wildness than in the rest, where the
+trees were the oldest, and the grass was the longest and wettest,
+had--assisted by the still greater imprudence of sitting in her wet
+shoes and stockings--given Marianne a cold so violent as, though for a
+day or two trifled with or denied, would force itself by increasing
+ailments on the concern of every body, and the notice of herself.
+Prescriptions poured in from all quarters, and as usual, were all
+declined.  Though heavy and feverish, with a pain in her limbs, and a
+cough, and a sore throat, a good night's rest was to cure her entirely;
+and it was with difficulty that Elinor prevailed on her, when she went
+to bed, to try one or two of the simplest of the remedies.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 43
+
+
+Marianne got up the next morning at her usual time; to every inquiry
+replied that she was better, and tried to prove herself so, by engaging
+in her accustomary employments.  But a day spent in sitting shivering
+over the fire with a book in her hand, which she was unable to read, or
+in lying, weary and languid, on a sofa, did not speak much in favour of
+her amendment; and when, at last, she went early to bed, more and more
+indisposed, Colonel Brandon was only astonished at her sister's
+composure, who, though attending and nursing her the whole day, against
+Marianne's inclination, and forcing proper medicines on her at night,
+trusted, like Marianne, to the certainty and efficacy of sleep, and
+felt no real alarm.
+
+A very restless and feverish night, however, disappointed the
+expectation of both; and when Marianne, after persisting in rising,
+confessed herself unable to sit up, and returned voluntarily to her
+bed, Elinor was very ready to adopt Mrs. Jennings's advice, of sending
+for the Palmers' apothecary.
+
+He came, examined his patient, and though encouraging Miss Dashwood to
+expect that a very few days would restore her sister to health, yet, by
+pronouncing her disorder to have a putrid tendency, and allowing the
+word "infection" to pass his lips, gave instant alarm to Mrs. Palmer,
+on her baby's account.  Mrs. Jennings, who had been inclined from the
+first to think Marianne's complaint more serious than Elinor, now
+looked very grave on Mr. Harris's report, and confirming Charlotte's
+fears and caution, urged the necessity of her immediate removal with
+her infant; and Mr. Palmer, though treating their apprehensions as
+idle, found the anxiety and importunity of his wife too great to be
+withstood.  Her departure, therefore, was fixed on; and within an hour
+after Mr. Harris's arrival, she set off, with her little boy and his
+nurse, for the house of a near relation of Mr. Palmer's, who lived a
+few miles on the other side of Bath; whither her husband promised, at
+her earnest entreaty, to join her in a day or two; and whither she was
+almost equally urgent with her mother to accompany her.  Mrs. Jennings,
+however, with a kindness of heart which made Elinor really love her,
+declared her resolution of not stirring from Cleveland as long as
+Marianne remained ill, and of endeavouring, by her own attentive care,
+to supply to her the place of the mother she had taken her from; and
+Elinor found her on every occasion a most willing and active helpmate,
+desirous to share in all her fatigues, and often by her better
+experience in nursing, of material use.
+
+Poor Marianne, languid and low from the nature of her malady, and
+feeling herself universally ill, could no longer hope that tomorrow
+would find her recovered; and the idea of what tomorrow would have
+produced, but for this unlucky illness, made every ailment severe; for
+on that day they were to have begun their journey home; and, attended
+the whole way by a servant of Mrs. Jennings, were to have taken their
+mother by surprise on the following forenoon.  The little she said was
+all in lamentation of this inevitable delay; though Elinor tried to
+raise her spirits, and make her believe, as she THEN really believed
+herself, that it would be a very short one.
+
+The next day produced little or no alteration in the state of the
+patient; she certainly was not better, and, except that there was no
+amendment, did not appear worse.  Their party was now farther reduced;
+for Mr. Palmer, though very unwilling to go as well from real humanity
+and good-nature, as from a dislike of appearing to be frightened away
+by his wife, was persuaded at last by Colonel Brandon to perform his
+promise of following her; and while he was preparing to go, Colonel
+Brandon himself, with a much greater exertion, began to talk of going
+likewise.--Here, however, the kindness of Mrs. Jennings interposed most
+acceptably; for to send the Colonel away while his love was in so much
+uneasiness on her sister's account, would be to deprive them both, she
+thought, of every comfort; and therefore telling him at once that his
+stay at Cleveland was necessary to herself, that she should want him to
+play at piquet of an evening, while Miss Dashwood was above with her
+sister, &c. she urged him so strongly to remain, that he, who was
+gratifying the first wish of his own heart by a compliance, could not
+long even affect to demur; especially as Mrs. Jennings's entreaty was
+warmly seconded by Mr. Palmer, who seemed to feel a relief to himself,
+in leaving behind him a person so well able to assist or advise Miss
+Dashwood in any emergence.
+
+Marianne was, of course, kept in ignorance of all these arrangements.
+She knew not that she had been the means of sending the owners of
+Cleveland away, in about seven days from the time of their arrival.  It
+gave her no surprise that she saw nothing of Mrs. Palmer; and as it
+gave her likewise no concern, she never mentioned her name.
+
+Two days passed away from the time of Mr. Palmer's departure, and her
+situation continued, with little variation, the same.  Mr. Harris, who
+attended her every day, still talked boldly of a speedy recovery, and
+Miss Dashwood was equally sanguine; but the expectation of the others
+was by no means so cheerful.  Mrs. Jennings had determined very early
+in the seizure that Marianne would never get over it, and Colonel
+Brandon, who was chiefly of use in listening to Mrs. Jennings's
+forebodings, was not in a state of mind to resist their influence.  He
+tried to reason himself out of fears, which the different judgment of
+the apothecary seemed to render absurd; but the many hours of each day
+in which he was left entirely alone, were but too favourable for the
+admission of every melancholy idea, and he could not expel from his
+mind the persuasion that he should see Marianne no more.
+
+On the morning of the third day however, the gloomy anticipations of
+both were almost done away; for when Mr. Harris arrived, he declared
+his patient materially better.  Her pulse was much stronger, and every
+symptom more favourable than on the preceding visit.  Elinor, confirmed
+in every pleasant hope, was all cheerfulness; rejoicing that in her
+letters to her mother, she had pursued her own judgment rather than her
+friend's, in making very light of the indisposition which delayed them
+at Cleveland; and almost fixing on the time when Marianne would be able
+to travel.
+
+But the day did not close so auspiciously as it began.-- Towards the
+evening Marianne became ill again, growing more heavy, restless, and
+uncomfortable than before.  Her sister, however, still sanguine, was
+willing to attribute the change to nothing more than the fatigue of
+having sat up to have her bed made; and carefully administering the
+cordials prescribed, saw her, with satisfaction, sink at last into a
+slumber, from which she expected the most beneficial effects.  Her
+sleep, though not so quiet as Elinor wished to see it, lasted a
+considerable time; and anxious to observe the result of it herself, she
+resolved to sit with her during the whole of it.  Mrs. Jennings,
+knowing nothing of any change in the patient, went unusually early to
+bed; her maid, who was one of the principal nurses, was recreating
+herself in the housekeeper's room, and Elinor remained alone with
+Marianne.
+
+The repose of the latter became more and more disturbed; and her
+sister, who watched, with unremitting attention her continual change of
+posture, and heard the frequent but inarticulate sounds of complaint
+which passed her lips, was almost wishing to rouse her from so painful
+a slumber, when Marianne, suddenly awakened by some accidental noise in
+the house, started hastily up, and, with feverish wildness, cried out,--
+
+"Is mama coming?--"
+
+"Not yet," cried the other, concealing her terror, and assisting
+Marianne to lie down again, "but she will be here, I hope, before it is
+long.  It is a great way, you know, from hence to Barton."
+
+"But she must not go round by London," cried Marianne, in the same
+hurried manner.  "I shall never see her, if she goes by London."
+
+Elinor perceived with alarm that she was not quite herself, and, while
+attempting to soothe her, eagerly felt her pulse.  It was lower and
+quicker than ever!  and Marianne, still talking wildly of mama, her
+alarm increased so rapidly, as to determine her on sending instantly
+for Mr. Harris, and despatching a messenger to Barton for her mother.
+To consult with Colonel Brandon on the best means of effecting the
+latter, was a thought which immediately followed the resolution of its
+performance; and as soon she had rung up the maid to take her place by
+her sister, she hastened down to the drawing-room, where she knew he
+was generally to be found at a much later hour than the present.
+
+It was no time for hesitation.  Her fears and her difficulties were
+immediately before him.  Her fears, he had no courage, no confidence to
+attempt the removal of:--he listened to them in silent despondence;--but
+her difficulties were instantly obviated, for with a readiness that
+seemed to speak the occasion, and the service pre-arranged in his mind,
+he offered himself as the messenger who should fetch Mrs. Dashwood.
+Elinor made no resistance that was not easily overcome. She thanked him
+with brief, though fervent gratitude, and while he went to hurry off his
+servant with a message to Mr. Harris, and an order for post-horses
+directly, she wrote a few lines to her mother.
+
+The comfort of such a friend at that moment as Colonel Brandon--or such
+a companion for her mother,--how gratefully was it felt!--a companion
+whose judgment would guide, whose attendance must relieve, and whose
+friendship might soothe her!--as far as the shock of such a summons
+COULD be lessened to her, his presence, his manners, his assistance,
+would lessen it.
+
+HE, meanwhile, whatever he might feel, acted with all the firmness of a
+collected mind, made every necessary arrangement with the utmost
+despatch, and calculated with exactness the time in which she might
+look for his return.  Not a moment was lost in delay of any kind.  The
+horses arrived, even before they were expected, and Colonel Brandon
+only pressing her hand with a look of solemnity, and a few words spoken
+too low to reach her ear, hurried into the carriage.  It was then about
+twelve o'clock, and she returned to her sister's apartment to wait for
+the arrival of the apothecary, and to watch by her the rest of the
+night.  It was a night of almost equal suffering to both.  Hour after
+hour passed away in sleepless pain and delirium on Marianne's side, and
+in the most cruel anxiety on Elinor's, before Mr. Harris appeared.  Her
+apprehensions once raised, paid by their excess for all her former
+security; and the servant who sat up with her, for she would not allow
+Mrs. Jennings to be called, only tortured her more, by hints of what
+her mistress had always thought.
+
+Marianne's ideas were still, at intervals, fixed incoherently on her
+mother, and whenever she mentioned her name, it gave a pang to the
+heart of poor Elinor, who, reproaching herself for having trifled with
+so many days of illness, and wretched for some immediate relief,
+fancied that all relief might soon be in vain, that every thing had
+been delayed too long, and pictured to herself her suffering mother
+arriving too late to see this darling child, or to see her rational.
+
+She was on the point of sending again for Mr. Harris, or if HE could
+not come, for some other advice, when the former--but not till after
+five o'clock--arrived.  His opinion, however, made some little amends
+for his delay, for though acknowledging a very unexpected and
+unpleasant alteration in his patient, he would not allow the danger to
+be material, and talked of the relief which a fresh mode of treatment
+must procure, with a confidence which, in a lesser degree, was
+communicated to Elinor.  He promised to call again in the course of
+three or four hours, and left both the patient and her anxious
+attendant more composed than he had found them.
+
+With strong concern, and with many reproaches for not being called to
+their aid, did Mrs. Jennings hear in the morning of what had passed.
+Her former apprehensions, now with greater reason restored, left her no
+doubt of the event; and though trying to speak comfort to Elinor, her
+conviction of her sister's danger would not allow her to offer the
+comfort of hope.  Her heart was really grieved.  The rapid decay, the
+early death of a girl so young, so lovely as Marianne, must have struck
+a less interested person with concern.  On Mrs. Jennings's compassion
+she had other claims.  She had been for three months her companion, was
+still under her care, and she was known to have been greatly injured,
+and long unhappy.  The distress of her sister too, particularly a
+favourite, was before her;--and as for their mother, when Mrs. Jennings
+considered that Marianne might probably be to HER what Charlotte was to
+herself, her sympathy in HER sufferings was very sincere.
+
+Mr. Harris was punctual in his second visit;--but he came to be
+disappointed in his hopes of what the last would produce.  His
+medicines had failed;--the fever was unabated; and Marianne only more
+quiet--not more herself--remained in a heavy stupor.  Elinor, catching
+all, and more than all, his fears in a moment, proposed to call in
+further advice.  But he judged it unnecessary: he had still something
+more to try, some more fresh application, of whose success he was as
+confident as the last, and his visit concluded with encouraging
+assurances which reached the ear, but could not enter the heart of Miss
+Dashwood.  She was calm, except when she thought of her mother; but she
+was almost hopeless; and in this state she continued till noon,
+scarcely stirring from her sister's bed, her thoughts wandering from
+one image of grief, one suffering friend to another, and her spirits
+oppressed to the utmost by the conversation of Mrs. Jennings, who
+scrupled not to attribute the severity and danger of this attack to the
+many weeks of previous indisposition which Marianne's disappointment
+had brought on.  Elinor felt all the reasonableness of the idea, and it
+gave fresh misery to her reflections.
+
+About noon, however, she began--but with a caution--a dread of
+disappointment which for some time kept her silent, even to her
+friend--to fancy, to hope she could perceive a slight amendment in her
+sister's pulse;--she waited, watched, and examined it again and
+again;--and at last, with an agitation more difficult to bury under
+exterior calmness, than all her foregoing distress, ventured to
+communicate her hopes.  Mrs. Jennings, though forced, on examination,
+to acknowledge a temporary revival, tried to keep her young friend from
+indulging a thought of its continuance;--and Elinor, conning over every
+injunction of distrust, told herself likewise not to hope.  But it was
+too late.  Hope had already entered; and feeling all its anxious
+flutter, she bent over her sister to watch--she hardly knew for what.
+Half an hour passed away, and the favourable symptom yet blessed her.
+Others even arose to confirm it.  Her breath, her skin, her lips, all
+flattered Elinor with signs of amendment; and Marianne fixed her eyes
+on her with a rational, though languid, gaze.  Anxiety and hope now
+oppressed her in equal degrees, and left her no moment of tranquillity
+till the arrival of Mr. Harris at four o'clock;--when his assurances,
+his felicitations on a recovery in her sister even surpassing his
+expectation, gave her confidence, comfort, and tears of joy.
+
+Marianne was in every respect materially better, and he declared her
+entirely out of danger.  Mrs. Jennings, perhaps satisfied with the
+partial justification of her forebodings which had been found in their
+late alarm, allowed herself to trust in his judgment, and admitted,
+with unfeigned joy, and soon with unequivocal cheerfulness, the
+probability of an entire recovery.
+
+Elinor could not be cheerful.  Her joy was of a different kind, and led
+to any thing rather than to gaiety.  Marianne restored to life, health,
+friends, and to her doting mother, was an idea to fill her heart with
+sensations of exquisite comfort, and expand it in fervent
+gratitude;--but it led to no outward demonstrations of joy, no words,
+no smiles.  All within Elinor's breast was satisfaction, silent and
+strong.
+
+She continued by the side of her sister, with little intermission the
+whole afternoon, calming every fear, satisfying every inquiry of her
+enfeebled spirits, supplying every succour, and watching almost every
+look and every breath.  The possibility of a relapse would of course,
+in some moments, occur to remind her of what anxiety was--but when she
+saw, on her frequent and minute examination, that every symptom of
+recovery continued, and saw Marianne at six o'clock sink into a quiet,
+steady, and to all appearance comfortable, sleep, she silenced every
+doubt.
+
+The time was now drawing on, when Colonel Brandon might be expected
+back.  At ten o'clock, she trusted, or at least not much later her
+mother would be relieved from the dreadful suspense in which she must
+now be travelling towards them.  The Colonel, too!--perhaps scarcely
+less an object of pity!--Oh!--how slow was the progress of time which
+yet kept them in ignorance!
+
+At seven o'clock, leaving Marianne still sweetly asleep, she joined
+Mrs. Jennings in the drawing-room to tea.  Of breakfast she had been
+kept by her fears, and of dinner by their sudden reverse, from eating
+much;--and the present refreshment, therefore, with such feelings of
+content as she brought to it, was particularly welcome.  Mrs. Jennings
+would have persuaded her, at its conclusion, to take some rest before
+her mother's arrival, and allow HER to take her place by Marianne; but
+Elinor had no sense of fatigue, no capability of sleep at that moment
+about her, and she was not to be kept away from her sister an
+unnecessary instant.  Mrs. Jennings therefore attending her up stairs
+into the sick chamber, to satisfy herself that all continued right,
+left her there again to her charge and her thoughts, and retired to her
+own room to write letters and sleep.
+
+The night was cold and stormy.  The wind roared round the house, and
+the rain beat against the windows; but Elinor, all happiness within,
+regarded it not.  Marianne slept through every blast; and the
+travellers--they had a rich reward in store, for every present
+inconvenience.
+
+The clock struck eight.  Had it been ten, Elinor would have been
+convinced that at that moment she heard a carriage driving up to the
+house; and so strong was the persuasion that she DID, in spite of the
+ALMOST impossibility of their being already come, that she moved into
+the adjoining dressing-closet and opened a window shutter, to be
+satisfied of the truth.  She instantly saw that her ears had not
+deceived her.  The flaring lamps of a carriage were immediately in
+view.  By their uncertain light she thought she could discern it to be
+drawn by four horses; and this, while it told the excess of her poor
+mother's alarm, gave some explanation to such unexpected rapidity.
+
+Never in her life had Elinor found it so difficult to be calm, as at
+that moment.  The knowledge of what her mother must be feeling as the
+carriage stopt at the door--of her doubt--her dread--perhaps her
+despair!--and of what SHE had to tell!--with such knowledge it was
+impossible to be calm.  All that remained to be done was to be speedy;
+and, therefore staying only till she could leave Mrs. Jennings's maid
+with her sister, she hurried down stairs.
+
+The bustle in the vestibule, as she passed along an inner lobby,
+assured her that they were already in the house.  She rushed to the
+drawing-room,--she entered it,--and saw only Willoughby.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 44
+
+
+Elinor, starting back with a look of horror at the sight of him, obeyed
+the first impulse of her heart in turning instantly to quit the room,
+and her hand was already on the lock, when its action was suspended by
+his hastily advancing, and saying, in a voice rather of command than
+supplication,
+
+"Miss Dashwood, for half an hour--for ten minutes--I entreat you to
+stay."
+
+"No, sir," she replied with firmness, "I shall NOT stay.  Your business
+cannot be with ME.  The servants, I suppose, forgot to tell you that
+Mr. Palmer was not in the house."
+
+"Had they told me," he cried with vehemence, "that Mr. Palmer and all
+his relations were at the devil, it would not have turned me from the
+door.  My business is with you, and only you."
+
+"With me!"--in the utmost amazement--"well, sir,--be quick--and if you
+can--less violent."
+
+"Sit down, and I will be both."
+
+She hesitated; she knew not what to do.  The possibility of Colonel
+Brandon's arriving and finding her there, came across her.  But she had
+promised to hear him, and her curiosity no less than her honor was
+engaged.  After a moment's recollection, therefore, concluding that
+prudence required dispatch, and that her acquiescence would best
+promote it, she walked silently towards the table, and sat down.  He
+took the opposite chair, and for half a minute not a word was said by
+either.
+
+"Pray be quick, sir,"--said Elinor, impatiently;--"I have no time to
+spare."
+
+He was sitting in an attitude of deep meditation, and seemed not to
+hear her.
+
+"Your sister," said he, with abruptness, a moment afterwards--"is out
+of danger.  I heard it from the servant.  God be praised!--But is it
+true? is it really true?"
+
+Elinor would not speak.  He repeated the inquiry with yet greater
+eagerness.
+
+"For God's sake tell me, is she out of danger, or is she not?"
+
+"We hope she is."
+
+He rose up, and walked across the room.
+
+"Had I known as much half an hour ago--But since I AM here,"--speaking
+with a forced vivacity as he returned to his seat--"what does it
+signify?--For once, Miss Dashwood--it will be the last time,
+perhaps--let us be cheerful together.--I am in a fine mood for
+gaiety.-- Tell me honestly"--a deeper glow overspreading his
+cheeks--"do you think me most a knave or a fool?"
+
+Elinor looked at him with greater astonishment than ever.  She began to
+think that he must be in liquor;--the strangeness of such a visit, and
+of such manners, seemed no otherwise intelligible; and with this
+impression she immediately rose, saying,
+
+"Mr. Willoughby, I advise you at present to return to Combe--I am not
+at leisure to remain with you longer.-- Whatever your business may be
+with me, will it be better recollected and explained to-morrow."
+
+"I understand you," he replied, with an expressive smile, and a voice
+perfectly calm; "yes, I am very drunk.-- A pint of porter with my cold
+beef at Marlborough was enough to over-set me."
+
+"At Marlborough!"--cried Elinor, more and more at a loss to understand
+what he would be at.
+
+"Yes,--I left London this morning at eight o'clock, and the only ten
+minutes I have spent out of my chaise since that time procured me a
+nuncheon at Marlborough."
+
+The steadiness of his manner, and the intelligence of his eye as he
+spoke, convincing Elinor, that whatever other unpardonable folly might
+bring him to Cleveland, he was not brought there by intoxication, she
+said, after a moment's recollection,
+
+"Mr. Willoughby, you OUGHT to feel, and I certainly DO--that after what
+has passed--your coming here in this manner, and forcing yourself upon
+my notice, requires a very particular excuse.--What is it, that you
+mean by it?"--
+
+"I mean,"--said he, with serious energy--"if I can, to make you hate me
+one degree less than you do NOW.  I mean to offer some kind of
+explanation, some kind of apology, for the past; to open my whole heart
+to you, and by convincing you, that though I have been always a
+blockhead, I have not been always a rascal, to obtain something like
+forgiveness from Ma--from your sister."
+
+"Is this the real reason of your coming?"
+
+"Upon my soul it is,"--was his answer, with a warmth which brought all
+the former Willoughby to her remembrance, and in spite of herself made
+her think him sincere.
+
+"If that is all, you may be satisfied already,--for Marianne DOES--she
+has LONG forgiven you."
+
+"Has she?"--he cried, in the same eager tone.-- "Then she has forgiven
+me before she ought to have done it.  But she shall forgive me again,
+and on more reasonable grounds.--NOW will you listen to me?"
+
+Elinor bowed her assent.
+
+"I do not know," said he, after a pause of expectation on her side, and
+thoughtfulness on his own,--"how YOU may have accounted for my
+behaviour to your sister, or what diabolical motive you may have
+imputed to me.-- Perhaps you will hardly think the better of me,--it is
+worth the trial however, and you shall hear every thing.  When I first
+became intimate in your family, I had no other intention, no other view
+in the acquaintance than to pass my time pleasantly while I was obliged
+to remain in Devonshire, more pleasantly than I had ever done before.
+Your sister's lovely person and interesting manners could not but
+please me; and her behaviour to me almost from the first, was of a
+kind--It is astonishing, when I reflect on what it was, and what SHE
+was, that my heart should have been so insensible!  But at first I must
+confess, my vanity only was elevated by it.  Careless of her happiness,
+thinking only of my own amusement, giving way to feelings which I had
+always been too much in the habit of indulging, I endeavoured, by every
+means in my power, to make myself pleasing to her, without any design
+of returning her affection."
+
+Miss Dashwood, at this point, turning her eyes on him with the most
+angry contempt, stopped him, by saying,
+
+"It is hardly worth while, Mr. Willoughby, for you to relate, or for me
+to listen any longer.  Such a beginning as this cannot be followed by
+any thing.-- Do not let me be pained by hearing any thing more on the
+subject."
+
+"I insist on you hearing the whole of it," he replied, "My fortune was
+never large, and I had always been expensive, always in the habit of
+associating with people of better income than myself.  Every year since
+my coming of age, or even before, I believe, had added to my debts; and
+though the death of my old cousin, Mrs. Smith, was to set me free; yet
+that event being uncertain, and possibly far distant, it had been for
+some time my intention to re-establish my circumstances by marrying a
+woman of fortune.  To attach myself to your sister, therefore, was not
+a thing to be thought of;--and with a meanness, selfishness,
+cruelty--which no indignant, no contemptuous look, even of yours, Miss
+Dashwood, can ever reprobate too much--I was acting in this manner,
+trying to engage her regard, without a thought of returning it.--But
+one thing may be said for me: even in that horrid state of selfish
+vanity, I did not know the extent of the injury I meditated, because I
+did not THEN know what it was to love.  But have I ever known it?--Well
+may it be doubted; for, had I really loved, could I have sacrificed my
+feelings to vanity, to avarice?--or, what is more, could I have
+sacrificed hers?-- But I have done it.  To avoid a comparative poverty,
+which her affection and her society would have deprived of all its
+horrors, I have, by raising myself to affluence, lost every thing that
+could make it a blessing."
+
+"You did then," said Elinor, a little softened, "believe yourself at
+one time attached to her?"
+
+"To have resisted such attractions, to have withstood such
+tenderness!--Is there a man on earth who could have done it?--Yes, I
+found myself, by insensible degrees, sincerely fond of her; and the
+happiest hours of my life were what I spent with her when I felt my
+intentions were strictly honourable, and my feelings blameless.  Even
+THEN, however, when fully determined on paying my addresses to her, I
+allowed myself most improperly to put off, from day to day, the moment
+of doing it, from an unwillingness to enter into an engagement while my
+circumstances were so greatly embarrassed.  I will not reason here--nor
+will I stop for YOU to expatiate on the absurdity, and the worse than
+absurdity, of scrupling to engage my faith where my honour was already
+bound.  The event has proved, that I was a cunning fool, providing with
+great circumspection for a possible opportunity of making myself
+contemptible and wretched for ever.  At last, however, my resolution
+was taken, and I had determined, as soon as I could engage her alone,
+to justify the attentions I had so invariably paid her, and openly
+assure her of an affection which I had already taken such pains to
+display.  But in the interim--in the interim of the very few hours that
+were to pass, before I could have an opportunity of speaking with her
+in private--a circumstance occurred--an unlucky circumstance, to ruin
+all my resolution, and with it all my comfort.  A discovery took
+place,"--here he hesitated and looked down.--"Mrs. Smith had somehow or
+other been informed, I imagine by some distant relation, whose interest
+it was to deprive me of her favour, of an affair, a connection--but I
+need not explain myself farther," he added, looking at her with an
+heightened colour and an enquiring eye--"your particular intimacy--you
+have probably heard the whole story long ago."
+
+"I have," returned Elinor, colouring likewise, and hardening her heart
+anew against any compassion for him, "I have heard it all.  And how you
+will explain away any part of your guilt in that dreadful business, I
+confess is beyond my comprehension."
+
+"Remember," cried Willoughby, "from whom you received the account.
+Could it be an impartial one?  I acknowledge that her situation and her
+character ought to have been respected by me.  I do not mean to justify
+myself, but at the same time cannot leave you to suppose that I have
+nothing to urge--that because she was injured she was irreproachable,
+and because I was a libertine, SHE must be a saint.  If the violence of
+her passions, the weakness of her understanding--I do not mean,
+however, to defend myself.  Her affection for me deserved better
+treatment, and I often, with great self-reproach, recall the tenderness
+which, for a very short time, had the power of creating any return.  I
+wish--I heartily wish it had never been.  But I have injured more than
+herself; and I have injured one, whose affection for me--(may I say
+it?) was scarcely less warm than hers; and whose mind--Oh! how
+infinitely superior!"--
+
+"Your indifference, however, towards that unfortunate girl--I must say
+it, unpleasant to me as the discussion of such a subject may well
+be--your indifference is no apology for your cruel neglect of her.  Do
+not think yourself excused by any weakness, any natural defect of
+understanding on her side, in the wanton cruelty so evident on yours.
+You must have known, that while you were enjoying yourself in
+Devonshire pursuing fresh schemes, always gay, always happy, she was
+reduced to the extremest indigence."
+
+"But, upon my soul, I did NOT know it," he warmly replied; "I did not
+recollect that I had omitted to give her my direction; and common sense
+might have told her how to find it out."
+
+"Well, sir, and what said Mrs. Smith?"
+
+"She taxed me with the offence at once, and my confusion may be
+guessed.  The purity of her life, the formality of her notions, her
+ignorance of the world--every thing was against me.  The matter itself
+I could not deny, and vain was every endeavour to soften it.  She was
+previously disposed, I believe, to doubt the morality of my conduct in
+general, and was moreover discontented with the very little attention,
+the very little portion of my time that I had bestowed on her, in my
+present visit.  In short, it ended in a total breach.  By one measure I
+might have saved myself.  In the height of her morality, good woman!
+she offered to forgive the past, if I would marry Eliza.  That could
+not be--and I was formally dismissed from her favour and her house.
+The night following this affair--I was to go the next morning--was
+spent by me in deliberating on what my future conduct should be.  The
+struggle was great--but it ended too soon.  My affection for Marianne,
+my thorough conviction of her attachment to me--it was all insufficient
+to outweigh that dread of poverty, or get the better of those false
+ideas of the necessity of riches, which I was naturally inclined to
+feel, and expensive society had increased.  I had reason to believe
+myself secure of my present wife, if I chose to address her, and I
+persuaded myself to think that nothing else in common prudence remained
+for me to do.  A heavy scene however awaited me, before I could leave
+Devonshire;--I was engaged to dine with you on that very day; some
+apology was therefore necessary for my breaking this engagement.  But
+whether I should write this apology, or deliver it in person, was a
+point of long debate.  To see Marianne, I felt, would be dreadful, and
+I even doubted whether I could see her again, and keep to my
+resolution.  In that point, however, I undervalued my own magnanimity,
+as the event declared; for I went, I saw her, and saw her miserable,
+and left her miserable--and left her hoping never to see her again."
+
+"Why did you call, Mr. Willoughby?" said Elinor, reproachfully; "a note
+would have answered every purpose.-- Why was it necessary to call?"
+
+"It was necessary to my own pride.  I could not bear to leave the
+country in a manner that might lead you, or the rest of the
+neighbourhood, to suspect any part of what had really passed between
+Mrs. Smith and myself--and I resolved therefore on calling at the
+cottage, in my way to Honiton.  The sight of your dear sister, however,
+was really dreadful; and, to heighten the matter, I found her alone.
+You were all gone I do not know where.  I had left her only the evening
+before, so fully, so firmly resolved within my self on doing right!  A
+few hours were to have engaged her to me for ever; and I remember how
+happy, how gay were my spirits, as I walked from the cottage to
+Allenham, satisfied with myself, delighted with every body!  But in
+this, our last interview of friendship, I approached her with a sense
+of guilt that almost took from me the power of dissembling.  Her
+sorrow, her disappointment, her deep regret, when I told her that I was
+obliged to leave Devonshire so immediately--I never shall forget
+it--united too with such reliance, such confidence in me!--Oh,
+God!--what a hard-hearted rascal I was!"
+
+They were both silent for a few moments.  Elinor first spoke.
+
+"Did you tell her that you should soon return?"
+
+"I do not know what I told her," he replied, impatiently; "less than
+was due to the past, beyond a doubt, and in all likelihood much more
+than was justified by the future.  I cannot think of it.--It won't
+do.--Then came your dear mother to torture me farther, with all her
+kindness and confidence.  Thank Heaven! it DID torture me.  I was
+miserable.  Miss Dashwood, you cannot have an idea of the comfort it
+gives me to look back on my own misery.  I owe such a grudge to myself
+for the stupid, rascally folly of my own heart, that all my past
+sufferings under it are only triumph and exultation to me now.  Well, I
+went, left all that I loved, and went to those to whom, at best, I was
+only indifferent.  My journey to town--travelling with my own horses,
+and therefore so tediously--no creature to speak to--my own reflections
+so cheerful--when I looked forward every thing so inviting!--when I
+looked back at Barton, the picture so soothing!--oh, it was a blessed
+journey!"
+
+He stopped.
+
+"Well, sir," said Elinor, who, though pitying him, grew impatient for
+his departure, "and this is all?"
+
+"Ah!--no,--have you forgot what passed in town?-- That infamous
+letter--Did she shew it you?"
+
+"Yes, I saw every note that passed."
+
+"When the first of hers reached me (as it immediately did, for I was in
+town the whole time,) what I felt is--in the common phrase, not to be
+expressed; in a more simple one--perhaps too simple to raise any
+emotion--my feelings were very, very painful.--Every line, every word
+was--in the hackneyed metaphor which their dear writer, were she here,
+would forbid--a dagger to my heart.  To know that Marianne was in town
+was--in the same language--a thunderbolt.--Thunderbolts and
+daggers!--what a reproof would she have given me!--her taste, her
+opinions--I believe they are better known to me than my own,--and I am
+sure they are dearer."
+
+Elinor's heart, which had undergone many changes in the course of this
+extraordinary conversation, was now softened again;--yet she felt it
+her duty to check such ideas in her companion as the last.
+
+"This is not right, Mr. Willoughby.--Remember that you are married.
+Relate only what in your conscience you think necessary for me to hear."
+
+"Marianne's note, by assuring me that I was still as dear to her as in
+former days, that in spite of the many, many weeks we had been
+separated, she was as constant in her own feelings, and as full of
+faith in the constancy of mine as ever, awakened all my remorse.  I say
+awakened, because time and London, business and dissipation, had in
+some measure quieted it, and I had been growing a fine hardened
+villain, fancying myself indifferent to her, and chusing to fancy that
+she too must have become indifferent to me; talking to myself of our
+past attachment as a mere idle, trifling business, shrugging up my
+shoulders in proof of its being so, and silencing every reproach,
+overcoming every scruple, by secretly saying now and then, 'I shall be
+heartily glad to hear she is well married.'-- But this note made me
+know myself better.  I felt that she was infinitely dearer to me than
+any other woman in the world, and that I was using her infamously.  But
+every thing was then just settled between Miss Grey and me.  To retreat
+was impossible.  All that I had to do, was to avoid you both.  I sent
+no answer to Marianne, intending by that to preserve myself from her
+farther notice; and for some time I was even determined not to call in
+Berkeley Street;--but at last, judging it wiser to affect the air of a
+cool, common acquaintance than anything else, I watched you all safely
+out of the house one morning, and left my name."
+
+"Watched us out of the house!"
+
+"Even so.  You would be surprised to hear how often I watched you, how
+often I was on the point of falling in with you.  I have entered many a
+shop to avoid your sight, as the carriage drove by.  Lodging as I did
+in Bond Street, there was hardly a day in which I did not catch a
+glimpse of one or other of you; and nothing but the most constant
+watchfulness on my side, a most invariably prevailing desire to keep
+out of your sight, could have separated us so long.  I avoided the
+Middletons as much as possible, as well as everybody else who was
+likely to prove an acquaintance in common.  Not aware of their being in
+town, however, I blundered on Sir John, I believe, the first day of his
+coming, and the day after I had called at Mrs. Jennings's.  He asked me
+to a party, a dance at his house in the evening.--Had he NOT told me as
+an inducement that you and your sister were to be there, I should have
+felt it too certain a thing, to trust myself near him.  The next
+morning brought another short note from Marianne--still affectionate,
+open, artless, confiding--everything that could make MY conduct most
+hateful.  I could not answer it.  I tried--but could not frame a
+sentence.  But I thought of her, I believe, every moment of the day.
+If you CAN pity me, Miss Dashwood, pity my situation as it was THEN.
+With my head and heart full of your sister, I was forced to play the
+happy lover to another woman!--Those three or four weeks were worse
+than all.  Well, at last, as I need not tell you, you were forced on
+me; and what a sweet figure I cut!--what an evening of agony it was!--
+Marianne, beautiful as an angel on one side, calling me Willoughby in
+such a tone!--Oh, God!--holding out her hand to me, asking me for an
+explanation, with those bewitching eyes fixed in such speaking
+solicitude on my face!--and Sophia, jealous as the devil on the other
+hand, looking all that was--Well, it does not signify; it is over
+now.-- Such an evening!--I ran away from you all as soon as I could;
+but not before I had seen Marianne's sweet face as white as
+death.--THAT was the last, last look I ever had of her;--the last
+manner in which she appeared to me.  It was a horrid sight!--yet when I
+thought of her to-day as really dying, it was a kind of comfort to me
+to imagine that I knew exactly how she would appear to those, who saw
+her last in this world.  She was before me, constantly before me, as I
+travelled, in the same look and hue."
+
+A short pause of mutual thoughtfulness succeeded.  Willoughby first
+rousing himself, broke it thus:
+
+"Well, let me make haste and be gone.  Your sister is certainly better,
+certainly out of danger?"
+
+"We are assured of it."
+
+"Your poor mother, too!--doting on Marianne."
+
+"But the letter, Mr. Willoughby, your own letter; have you any thing to
+say about that?"
+
+"Yes, yes, THAT in particular.  Your sister wrote to me again, you
+know, the very next morning.  You saw what she said.  I was
+breakfasting at the Ellisons,--and her letter, with some others, was
+brought to me there from my lodgings.  It happened to catch Sophia's
+eye before it caught mine--and its size, the elegance of the paper, the
+hand-writing altogether, immediately gave her a suspicion.  Some vague
+report had reached her before of my attachment to some young lady in
+Devonshire, and what had passed within her observation the preceding
+evening had marked who the young lady was, and made her more jealous
+than ever.  Affecting that air of playfulness, therefore, which is
+delightful in a woman one loves, she opened the letter directly,
+and read its contents.  She was well paid for her impudence.
+She read what made her wretched.  Her wretchedness I could have
+borne, but her passion--her malice--At all events it must be appeased.
+And, in short--what do you think of my wife's style of
+letter-writing?--delicate--tender--truly feminine--was it not?"
+
+"Your wife!--The letter was in your own hand-writing."
+
+"Yes, but I had only the credit of servilely copying such sentences as
+I was ashamed to put my name to.  The original was all her own--her own
+happy thoughts and gentle diction.  But what could I do!--we were
+engaged, every thing in preparation, the day almost fixed--But I am
+talking like a fool.  Preparation!--day!--In honest words, her money
+was necessary to me, and in a situation like mine, any thing was to be
+done to prevent a rupture.  And after all, what did it signify to my
+character in the opinion of Marianne and her friends, in what language
+my answer was couched?--It must have been only to one end.  My business
+was to declare myself a scoundrel, and whether I did it with a bow or a
+bluster was of little importance.-- 'I am ruined for ever in their
+opinion--' said I to myself--'I am shut out for ever from their
+society, they already think me an unprincipled fellow, this letter will
+only make them think me a blackguard one.' Such were my reasonings, as,
+in a sort of desperate carelessness, I copied my wife's words, and
+parted with the last relics of Marianne.  Her three notes--unluckily
+they were all in my pocketbook, or I should have denied their
+existence, and hoarded them for ever--I was forced to put them up, and
+could not even kiss them.  And the lock of hair--that too I had always
+carried about me in the same pocket-book, which was now searched by
+Madam with the most ingratiating virulence,--the dear lock--all, every
+memento was torn from me."
+
+"You are very wrong, Mr. Willoughby, very blamable," said Elinor, while
+her voice, in spite of herself, betrayed her compassionate emotion;
+"you ought not to speak in this way, either of Mrs. Willoughby or my
+sister.  You had made your own choice.  It was not forced on you.  Your
+wife has a claim to your politeness, to your respect, at least.  She
+must be attached to you, or she would not have married you.  To treat
+her with unkindness, to speak of her slightingly is no atonement to
+Marianne--nor can I suppose it a relief to your own conscience."
+
+"Do not talk to me of my wife," said he with a heavy sigh.-- "She does
+not deserve your compassion.--She knew I had no regard for her when we
+married.--Well, married we were, and came down to Combe Magna to be
+happy, and afterwards returned to town to be gay.--And now do you pity
+me, Miss Dashwood?--or have I said all this to no purpose?-- Am I--be
+it only one degree--am I less guilty in your opinion than I was
+before?--My intentions were not always wrong.  Have I explained away
+any part of my guilt?"
+
+"Yes, you have certainly removed something--a little.-- You have proved
+yourself, on the whole, less faulty than I had believed you.  You have
+proved your heart less wicked, much less wicked.  But I hardly
+know--the misery that you have inflicted--I hardly know what could have
+made it worse."
+
+"Will you repeat to your sister when she is recovered, what I have been
+telling you?--Let me be a little lightened too in her opinion as well
+as in yours.  You tell me that she has forgiven me already.  Let me be
+able to fancy that a better knowledge of my heart, and of my present
+feelings, will draw from her a more spontaneous, more natural, more
+gentle, less dignified, forgiveness.  Tell her of my misery and my
+penitence--tell her that my heart was never inconstant to her, and if
+you will, that at this moment she is dearer to me than ever."
+
+"I will tell her all that is necessary to what may comparatively be
+called, your justification.  But you have not explained to me the
+particular reason of your coming now, nor how you heard of her illness."
+
+"Last night, in Drury Lane lobby, I ran against Sir John Middleton, and
+when he saw who I was--for the first time these two months--he spoke to
+me.--That he had cut me ever since my marriage, I had seen without
+surprise or resentment.  Now, however, his good-natured, honest, stupid
+soul, full of indignation against me, and concern for your sister,
+could not resist the temptation of telling me what he knew ought
+to--though probably he did not think it WOULD--vex me horridly.  As
+bluntly as he could speak it, therefore, he told me that Marianne
+Dashwood was dying of a putrid fever at Cleveland--a letter that
+morning received from Mrs. Jennings declared her danger most
+imminent--the Palmers are all gone off in a fright, &c.--I was too much
+shocked to be able to pass myself off as insensible even to the
+undiscerning Sir John.  His heart was softened in seeing mine suffer;
+and so much of his ill-will was done away, that when we parted, he
+almost shook me by the hand while he reminded me of an old promise
+about a pointer puppy.  What I felt on hearing that your sister was
+dying--and dying too, believing me the greatest villain upon earth,
+scorning, hating me in her latest moments--for how could I tell what
+horrid projects might not have been imputed?  ONE person I was sure
+would represent me as capable of any thing-- What I felt was
+dreadful!--My resolution was soon made, and at eight o'clock this
+morning I was in my carriage.  Now you know all."
+
+Elinor made no answer.  Her thoughts were silently fixed on the
+irreparable injury which too early an independence and its consequent
+habits of idleness, dissipation, and luxury, had made in the mind, the
+character, the happiness, of a man who, to every advantage of person
+and talents, united a disposition naturally open and honest, and a
+feeling, affectionate temper.  The world had made him extravagant and
+vain--Extravagance and vanity had made him cold-hearted and selfish.
+Vanity, while seeking its own guilty triumph at the expense of another,
+had involved him in a real attachment, which extravagance, or at least
+its offspring, necessity, had required to be sacrificed.  Each faulty
+propensity in leading him to evil, had led him likewise to punishment.
+The attachment, from which against honour, against feeling, against
+every better interest he had outwardly torn himself, now, when no
+longer allowable, governed every thought; and the connection, for the
+sake of which he had, with little scruple, left her sister to misery,
+was likely to prove a source of unhappiness to himself of a far more
+incurable nature.  From a reverie of this kind she was recalled at the
+end of some minutes by Willoughby, who, rousing himself from a reverie
+at least equally painful, started up in preparation for going, and
+said--
+
+"There is no use in staying here; I must be off."
+
+"Are you going back to town?"
+
+"No--to Combe Magna.  I have business there; from thence to town in a
+day or two.  Good bye."
+
+He held out his hand.  She could not refuse to give him hers;--he
+pressed it with affection.
+
+"And you DO think something better of me than you did?"--said he,
+letting it fall, and leaning against the mantel-piece as if forgetting
+he was to go.
+
+Elinor assured him that she did;--that she forgave, pitied, wished him
+well--was even interested in his happiness--and added some gentle
+counsel as to the behaviour most likely to promote it.  His answer was
+not very encouraging.
+
+"As to that," said he, "I must rub through the world as well as I can.
+Domestic happiness is out of the question.  If, however, I am allowed
+to think that you and yours feel an interest in my fate and actions, it
+may be the means--it may put me on my guard--at least, it may be
+something to live for.  Marianne to be sure is lost to me for ever.
+Were I even by any blessed chance at liberty again--"
+
+Elinor stopped him with a reproof.
+
+"Well,"--he replied--"once more good bye. I shall now go away and live
+in dread of one event."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Your sister's marriage."
+
+"You are very wrong.  She can never be more lost to you than she is
+now."
+
+"But she will be gained by some one else.  And if that some one should
+be the very he whom, of all others, I could least bear--but I will not
+stay to rob myself of all your compassionate goodwill, by shewing that
+where I have most injured I can least forgive.  Good bye,--God bless
+you!"
+
+And with these words, he almost ran out of the room.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 45
+
+
+Elinor, for some time after he left her, for some time even after the
+sound of his carriage had died away, remained too much oppressed by a
+crowd of ideas, widely differing in themselves, but of which sadness
+was the general result, to think even of her sister.
+
+Willoughby, he, whom only half an hour ago she had abhorred as the most
+worthless of men, Willoughby, in spite of all his faults, excited a
+degree of commiseration for the sufferings produced by them, which made
+her think of him as now separated for ever from her family, with a
+tenderness, a regret, rather in proportion, as she soon acknowledged
+within herself--to his wishes than to his merits.  She felt that his
+influence over her mind was heightened by circumstances which ought not
+in reason to have weight; by that person of uncommon attraction, that
+open, affectionate, and lively manner which it was no merit to possess;
+and by that still ardent love for Marianne, which it was not even
+innocent to indulge.  But she felt that it was so, long, long before
+she could feel his influence less.
+
+When at last she returned to the unconscious Marianne, she found her
+just awaking, refreshed by so long and sweet a sleep to the extent of
+her hopes.  Elinor's heart was full.  The past, the present, the
+future, Willoughby's visit, Marianne's safety, and her mother's
+expected arrival, threw her altogether into an agitation of spirits
+which kept off every indication of fatigue, and made her only fearful
+of betraying herself to her sister.  Short was the time, however, in
+which that fear could affect her, for within half an hour after
+Willoughby's leaving the house, she was again called down stairs by the
+sound of another carriage.--Eager to save her mother from every
+unnecessary moment's horrible suspense, she ran immediately into the
+hall, and reached the outward door just in time to receive and support
+her as she entered it.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood, whose terror as they drew near the house had produced
+almost the conviction of Marianne's being no more, had no voice to
+inquire after her, no voice even for Elinor; but SHE, waiting neither
+for salutation nor inquiry, instantly gave the joyful relief;--and her
+mother, catching it with all her usual warmth, was in a moment as much
+overcome by her happiness, as she had been before by her fears.  She
+was supported into the drawing-room between her daughter and her
+friend;--and there, shedding tears of joy, though still unable to
+speak, embraced Elinor again and again, turning from her at intervals
+to press Colonel Brandon's hand, with a look which spoke at once her
+gratitude, and her conviction of his sharing with herself in the bliss
+of the moment.  He shared it, however, in a silence even greater than
+her own.
+
+As soon as Mrs. Dashwood had recovered herself, to see Marianne was her
+first desire; and in two minutes she was with her beloved child,
+rendered dearer to her than ever by absence, unhappiness, and danger.
+Elinor's delight, as she saw what each felt in the meeting, was only
+checked by an apprehension of its robbing Marianne of farther
+sleep;--but Mrs. Dashwood could be calm, could be even prudent, when
+the life of a child was at stake, and Marianne, satisfied in knowing
+her mother was near her, and conscious of being too weak for
+conversation, submitted readily to the silence and quiet prescribed by
+every nurse around her.  Mrs. Dashwood WOULD sit up with her all night;
+and Elinor, in compliance with her mother's entreaty, went to bed.  But
+the rest, which one night entirely sleepless, and many hours of the
+most wearing anxiety seemed to make requisite, was kept off by
+irritation of spirits.  Willoughby, "poor Willoughby," as she now
+allowed herself to call him, was constantly in her thoughts; she would
+not but have heard his vindication for the world, and now blamed, now
+acquitted herself for having judged him so harshly before.  But her
+promise of relating it to her sister was invariably painful.  She
+dreaded the performance of it, dreaded what its effect on Marianne
+might be; doubted whether after such an explanation she could ever be
+happy with another; and for a moment wished Willoughby a widower.
+Then, remembering Colonel Brandon, reproved herself, felt that to HIS
+sufferings and his constancy far more than to his rival's, the reward
+of her sister was due, and wished any thing rather than Mrs.
+Willoughby's death.
+
+The shock of Colonel Brandon's errand at Barton had been much softened
+to Mrs. Dashwood by her own previous alarm; for so great was her
+uneasiness about Marianne, that she had already determined to set out
+for Cleveland on that very day, without waiting for any further
+intelligence, and had so far settled her journey before his arrival,
+that the Careys were then expected every moment to fetch Margaret away,
+as her mother was unwilling to take her where there might be infection.
+
+Marianne continued to mend every day, and the brilliant cheerfulness of
+Mrs. Dashwood's looks and spirits proved her to be, as she repeatedly
+declared herself, one of the happiest women in the world.  Elinor could
+not hear the declaration, nor witness its proofs without sometimes
+wondering whether her mother ever recollected Edward.  But Mrs.
+Dashwood, trusting to the temperate account of her own disappointment
+which Elinor had sent her, was led away by the exuberance of her joy to
+think only of what would increase it.  Marianne was restored to her
+from a danger in which, as she now began to feel, her own mistaken
+judgment in encouraging the unfortunate attachment to Willoughby, had
+contributed to place her;--and in her recovery she had yet another
+source of joy unthought of by Elinor.  It was thus imparted to her, as
+soon as any opportunity of private conference between them occurred.
+
+"At last we are alone.  My Elinor, you do not yet know all my
+happiness.  Colonel Brandon loves Marianne.  He has told me so himself."
+
+Her daughter, feeling by turns both pleased and pained, surprised and
+not surprised, was all silent attention.
+
+"You are never like me, dear Elinor, or I should wonder at your
+composure now.  Had I sat down to wish for any possible good to my
+family, I should have fixed on Colonel Brandon's marrying one of you as
+the object most desirable.  And I believe Marianne will be the most
+happy with him of the two."
+
+Elinor was half inclined to ask her reason for thinking so, because
+satisfied that none founded on an impartial consideration of their age,
+characters, or feelings, could be given;--but her mother must always be
+carried away by her imagination on any interesting subject, and
+therefore instead of an inquiry, she passed it off with a smile.
+
+"He opened his whole heart to me yesterday as we travelled.  It came
+out quite unawares, quite undesignedly.  I, you may well believe, could
+talk of nothing but my child;--he could not conceal his distress; I saw
+that it equalled my own, and he perhaps, thinking that mere friendship,
+as the world now goes, would not justify so warm a sympathy--or rather,
+not thinking at all, I suppose--giving way to irresistible feelings,
+made me acquainted with his earnest, tender, constant, affection for
+Marianne.  He has loved her, my Elinor, ever since the first moment of
+seeing her."
+
+Here, however, Elinor perceived,--not the language, not the professions
+of Colonel Brandon, but the natural embellishments of her mother's
+active fancy, which fashioned every thing delightful to her as it chose.
+
+"His regard for her, infinitely surpassing anything that Willoughby
+ever felt or feigned, as much more warm, as more sincere or
+constant--which ever we are to call it--has subsisted through all the
+knowledge of dear Marianne's unhappy prepossession for that worthless
+young man!--and without selfishness--without encouraging a hope!--could
+he have seen her happy with another--Such a noble mind!--such openness,
+such sincerity!--no one can be deceived in HIM."
+
+"Colonel Brandon's character," said Elinor, "as an excellent man, is
+well established."
+
+"I know it is,"--replied her mother seriously, "or after such a warning,
+I should be the last to encourage such affection, or even to be pleased
+by it.  But his coming for me as he did, with such active, such ready
+friendship, is enough to prove him one of the worthiest of men."
+
+"His character, however," answered Elinor, "does not rest on ONE act of
+kindness, to which his affection for Marianne, were humanity out of the
+case, would have prompted him.  To Mrs. Jennings, to the Middletons, he
+has been long and intimately known; they equally love and respect him;
+and even my own knowledge of him, though lately acquired, is very
+considerable; and so highly do I value and esteem him, that if Marianne
+can be happy with him, I shall be as ready as yourself to think our
+connection the greatest blessing to us in the world.  What answer did
+you give him?--Did you allow him to hope?"
+
+"Oh! my love, I could not then talk of hope to him or to myself.
+Marianne might at that moment be dying.  But he did not ask for hope or
+encouragement.  His was an involuntary confidence, an irrepressible
+effusion to a soothing friend--not an application to a parent.  Yet
+after a time I DID say, for at first I was quite overcome--that if she
+lived, as I trusted she might, my greatest happiness would lie in
+promoting their marriage; and since our arrival, since our delightful
+security, I have repeated it to him more fully, have given him every
+encouragement in my power.  Time, a very little time, I tell him, will
+do everything;--Marianne's heart is not to be wasted for ever on such a
+man as Willoughby.-- His own merits must soon secure it."
+
+"To judge from the Colonel's spirits, however, you have not yet made
+him equally sanguine."
+
+"No.--He thinks Marianne's affection too deeply rooted for any change
+in it under a great length of time, and even supposing her heart again
+free, is too diffident of himself to believe, that with such a
+difference of age and disposition he could ever attach her.  There,
+however, he is quite mistaken.  His age is only so much beyond hers as
+to be an advantage, as to make his character and principles fixed;--and
+his disposition, I am well convinced, is exactly the very one to make
+your sister happy.  And his person, his manners too, are all in his
+favour.  My partiality does not blind me; he certainly is not so
+handsome as Willoughby--but at the same time, there is something much
+more pleasing in his countenance.-- There was always a something,--if
+you remember,--in Willoughby's eyes at times, which I did not like."
+
+Elinor could NOT remember it;--but her mother, without waiting for her
+assent, continued,
+
+"And his manners, the Colonel's manners are not only more pleasing to
+me than Willoughby's ever were, but they are of a kind I well know to
+be more solidly attaching to Marianne.  Their gentleness, their genuine
+attention to other people, and their manly unstudied simplicity is much
+more accordant with her real disposition, than the liveliness--often
+artificial, and often ill-timed of the other.  I am very sure myself,
+that had Willoughby turned out as really amiable, as he has proved
+himself the contrary, Marianne would yet never have been so happy with
+HIM, as she will be with Colonel Brandon."
+
+She paused.--Her daughter could not quite agree with her, but her
+dissent was not heard, and therefore gave no offence.
+
+"At Delaford, she will be within an easy distance of me," added Mrs.
+Dashwood, "even if I remain at Barton; and in all probability,--for I
+hear it is a large village,--indeed there certainly MUST be some small
+house or cottage close by, that would suit us quite as well as our
+present situation."
+
+Poor Elinor!--here was a new scheme for getting her to Delaford!--but
+her spirit was stubborn.
+
+"His fortune too!--for at my time of life you know, everybody cares
+about THAT;--and though I neither know nor desire to know, what it
+really is, I am sure it must be a good one."
+
+Here they were interrupted by the entrance of a third person, and
+Elinor withdrew to think it all over in private, to wish success to her
+friend, and yet in wishing it, to feel a pang for Willoughby.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 46
+
+
+Marianne's illness, though weakening in its kind, had not been long
+enough to make her recovery slow; and with youth, natural strength, and
+her mother's presence in aid, it proceeded so smoothly as to enable her
+to remove, within four days after the arrival of the latter, into Mrs.
+Palmer's dressing-room.  When there, at her own particular request, for
+she was impatient to pour forth her thanks to him for fetching her
+mother, Colonel Brandon was invited to visit her.
+
+His emotion on entering the room, in seeing her altered looks, and in
+receiving the pale hand which she immediately held out to him, was
+such, as, in Elinor's conjecture, must arise from something more than
+his affection for Marianne, or the consciousness of its being known to
+others; and she soon discovered in his melancholy eye and varying
+complexion as he looked at her sister, the probable recurrence of many
+past scenes of misery to his mind, brought back by that resemblance
+between Marianne and Eliza already acknowledged, and now strengthened
+by the hollow eye, the sickly skin, the posture of reclining weakness,
+and the warm acknowledgment of peculiar obligation.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood, not less watchful of what passed than her daughter, but
+with a mind very differently influenced, and therefore watching to very
+different effect, saw nothing in the Colonel's behaviour but what arose
+from the most simple and self-evident sensations, while in the actions
+and words of Marianne she persuaded herself to think that something
+more than gratitude already dawned.
+
+At the end of another day or two, Marianne growing visibly stronger
+every twelve hours, Mrs. Dashwood, urged equally by her own and her
+daughter's wishes, began to talk of removing to Barton.  On HER
+measures depended those of her two friends; Mrs. Jennings could not
+quit Cleveland during the Dashwoods' stay; and Colonel Brandon was soon
+brought, by their united request, to consider his own abode there as
+equally determinate, if not equally indispensable.  At his and Mrs.
+Jennings's united request in return, Mrs. Dashwood was prevailed on to
+accept the use of his carriage on her journey back, for the better
+accommodation of her sick child; and the Colonel, at the joint
+invitation of Mrs. Dashwood and Mrs. Jennings, whose active good-nature
+made her friendly and hospitable for other people as well as herself,
+engaged with pleasure to redeem it by a visit at the cottage, in the
+course of a few weeks.
+
+The day of separation and departure arrived; and Marianne, after taking
+so particular and lengthened a leave of Mrs. Jennings, one so earnestly
+grateful, so full of respect and kind wishes as seemed due to her own
+heart from a secret acknowledgment of past inattention, and bidding
+Colonel Brandon farewell with a cordiality of a friend, was carefully
+assisted by him into the carriage, of which he seemed anxious that she
+should engross at least half.  Mrs. Dashwood and Elinor then followed,
+and the others were left by themselves, to talk of the travellers, and
+feel their own dullness, till Mrs. Jennings was summoned to her chaise
+to take comfort in the gossip of her maid for the loss of her two young
+companions; and Colonel Brandon immediately afterwards took his
+solitary way to Delaford.
+
+The Dashwoods were two days on the road, and Marianne bore her journey
+on both, without essential fatigue.  Every thing that the most zealous
+affection, the most solicitous care could do to render her comfortable,
+was the office of each watchful companion, and each found their reward
+in her bodily ease, and her calmness of spirits.  To Elinor, the
+observation of the latter was particularly grateful.  She, who had seen
+her week after week so constantly suffering, oppressed by anguish of
+heart which she had neither courage to speak of, nor fortitude to
+conceal, now saw with a joy, which no other could equally share, an
+apparent composure of mind, which, in being the result as she trusted
+of serious reflection, must eventually lead her to contentment and
+cheerfulness.
+
+As they approached Barton, indeed, and entered on scenes of which every
+field and every tree brought some peculiar, some painful recollection,
+she grew silent and thoughtful, and turning away her face from their
+notice, sat earnestly gazing through the window.  But here, Elinor
+could neither wonder nor blame; and when she saw, as she assisted
+Marianne from the carriage, that she had been crying, she saw only an
+emotion too natural in itself to raise any thing less tender than pity,
+and in its unobtrusiveness entitled to praise.  In the whole of her
+subsequent manner, she traced the direction of a mind awakened to
+reasonable exertion; for no sooner had they entered their common
+sitting-room, than Marianne turned her eyes around it with a look of
+resolute firmness, as if determined at once to accustom herself to the
+sight of every object with which the remembrance of Willoughby could be
+connected.--She said little, but every sentence aimed at cheerfulness,
+and though a sigh sometimes escaped her, it never passed away without
+the atonement of a smile.  After dinner she would try her piano-forte.
+She went to it; but the music on which her eye first rested was an
+opera, procured for her by Willoughby, containing some of their
+favourite duets, and bearing on its outward leaf her own name in his
+hand-writing.--That would not do.--She shook her head, put the music
+aside, and after running over the keys for a minute, complained of
+feebleness in her fingers, and closed the instrument again; declaring
+however with firmness as she did so, that she should in future practice
+much.
+
+The next morning produced no abatement in these happy symptoms.  On the
+contrary, with a mind and body alike strengthened by rest, she looked
+and spoke with more genuine spirit, anticipating the pleasure of
+Margaret's return, and talking of the dear family party which would
+then be restored, of their mutual pursuits and cheerful society, as the
+only happiness worth a wish.
+
+"When the weather is settled, and I have recovered my strength," said
+she, "we will take long walks together every day.  We will walk to the
+farm at the edge of the down, and see how the children go on; we will
+walk to Sir John's new plantations at Barton Cross, and the Abbeyland;
+and we will often go the old ruins of the Priory, and try to trace its
+foundations as far as we are told they once reached.  I know we shall
+be happy.  I know the summer will pass happily away.  I mean never to
+be later in rising than six, and from that time till dinner I shall
+divide every moment between music and reading.  I have formed my plan,
+and am determined to enter on a course of serious study.  Our own
+library is too well known to me, to be resorted to for any thing beyond
+mere amusement.  But there are many works well worth reading at the
+Park; and there are others of more modern production which I know I can
+borrow of Colonel Brandon.  By reading only six hours a-day, I shall
+gain in the course of a twelve-month a great deal of instruction which
+I now feel myself to want."
+
+Elinor honoured her for a plan which originated so nobly as this;
+though smiling to see the same eager fancy which had been leading her
+to the extreme of languid indolence and selfish repining, now at work
+in introducing excess into a scheme of such rational employment and
+virtuous self-control. Her smile however changed to a sigh when she
+remembered that promise to Willoughby was yet unfulfilled, and feared
+she had that to communicate which might again unsettle the mind of
+Marianne, and ruin at least for a time this fair prospect of busy
+tranquillity.  Willing therefore to delay the evil hour, she resolved
+to wait till her sister's health were more secure, before she appointed
+it.  But the resolution was made only to be broken.
+
+Marianne had been two or three days at home, before the weather was
+fine enough for an invalid like herself to venture out.  But at last a
+soft, genial morning appeared; such as might tempt the daughter's
+wishes and the mother's confidence; and Marianne, leaning on Elinor's
+arm, was authorised to walk as long as she could without fatigue, in
+the lane before the house.
+
+The sisters set out at a pace, slow as the feebleness of Marianne in an
+exercise hitherto untried since her illness required;--and they had
+advanced only so far beyond the house as to admit a full view of the
+hill, the important hill behind, when pausing with her eyes turned
+towards it, Marianne calmly said,
+
+"There, exactly there,"--pointing with one hand, "on that projecting
+mound,--there I fell; and there I first saw Willoughby."
+
+Her voice sunk with the word, but presently reviving she added,
+
+"I am thankful to find that I can look with so little pain on the
+spot!--shall we ever talk on that subject, Elinor?"--hesitatingly it
+was said.--"Or will it be wrong?--I can talk of it now, I hope, as I
+ought to do."--
+
+Elinor tenderly invited her to be open.
+
+"As for regret," said Marianne, "I have done with that, as far as HE is
+concerned.  I do not mean to talk to you of what my feelings have been
+for him, but what they are NOW.--At present, if I could be satisfied on
+one point, if I could be allowed to think that he was not ALWAYS acting
+a part, not ALWAYS deceiving me;--but above all, if I could be assured
+that he never was so VERY wicked as my fears have sometimes fancied
+him, since the story of that unfortunate girl"--
+
+She stopt.  Elinor joyfully treasured her words as she answered,
+
+"If you could be assured of that, you think you should be easy."
+
+"Yes. My peace of mind is doubly involved in it;--for not only is it
+horrible to suspect a person, who has been what HE has been to ME, of
+such designs,--but what must it make me appear to myself?--What in a
+situation like mine, but a most shamefully unguarded affection could
+expose me to"--
+
+"How then," asked her sister, "would you account for his behaviour?"
+
+"I would suppose him,--Oh, how gladly would I suppose him, only fickle,
+very, very fickle."
+
+Elinor said no more.  She was debating within herself on the
+eligibility of beginning her story directly, or postponing it till
+Marianne were in stronger health;--and they crept on for a few minutes
+in silence.
+
+"I am not wishing him too much good," said Marianne at last with a
+sigh, "when I wish his secret reflections may be no more unpleasant
+than my own.  He will suffer enough in them."
+
+"Do you compare your conduct with his?"
+
+"No. I compare it with what it ought to have been; I compare it with
+yours."
+
+"Our situations have borne little resemblance."
+
+"They have borne more than our conduct.--Do not, my dearest Elinor, let
+your kindness defend what I know your judgment must censure.  My
+illness has made me think-- It has given me leisure and calmness for
+serious recollection.  Long before I was enough recovered to talk, I
+was perfectly able to reflect.  I considered the past: I saw in my own
+behaviour, since the beginning of our acquaintance with him last
+autumn, nothing but a series of imprudence towards myself, and want of
+kindness to others.  I saw that my own feelings had prepared my
+sufferings, and that my want of fortitude under them had almost led me
+to the grave.  My illness, I well knew, had been entirely brought on by
+myself by such negligence of my own health, as I had felt even at the
+time to be wrong.  Had I died,--it would have been self-destruction. I
+did not know my danger till the danger was removed; but with such
+feelings as these reflections gave me, I wonder at my recovery,--wonder
+that the very eagerness of my desire to live, to have time for
+atonement to my God, and to you all, did not kill me at once.  Had I
+died,--in what peculiar misery should I have left you, my nurse, my
+friend, my sister!--You, who had seen all the fretful selfishness of my
+latter days; who had known all the murmurings of my heart!--How should
+I have lived in YOUR remembrance!--My mother too! How could you have
+consoled her!--I cannot express my own abhorrence of myself.  Whenever
+I looked towards the past, I saw some duty neglected, or some failing
+indulged.  Every body seemed injured by me.  The kindness, the
+unceasing kindness of Mrs. Jennings, I had repaid with ungrateful
+contempt.  To the Middletons, to the Palmers, the Steeles, to every
+common acquaintance even, I had been insolent and unjust; with a heart
+hardened against their merits, and a temper irritated by their very
+attention.--To John, to Fanny,--yes, even to them, little as they
+deserve, I had given less than their due.  But you,--you above all,
+above my mother, had been wronged by me.  I, and only I, knew your
+heart and its sorrows; yet to what did it influence me?--not to any
+compassion that could benefit you or myself.--Your example was before
+me; but to what avail?--Was I more considerate of you and your comfort?
+Did I imitate your forbearance, or lessen your restraints, by taking
+any part in those offices of general complaisance or particular
+gratitude which you had hitherto been left to discharge
+alone?--No;--not less when I knew you to be unhappy, than when I had
+believed you at ease, did I turn away from every exertion of duty or
+friendship; scarcely allowing sorrow to exist but with me, regretting
+only THAT heart which had deserted and wronged me, and leaving you, for
+whom I professed an unbounded affection, to be miserable for my sake."
+
+Here ceased the rapid flow of her self-reproving spirit; and Elinor,
+impatient to soothe, though too honest to flatter, gave her instantly
+that praise and support which her frankness and her contrition so well
+deserved.  Marianne pressed her hand and replied,
+
+"You are very good.--The future must be my proof.  I have laid down my
+plan, and if I am capable of adhering to it--my feelings shall be
+governed and my temper improved.  They shall no longer worry others,
+nor torture myself.  I shall now live solely for my family.  You, my
+mother, and Margaret, must henceforth be all the world to me; you will
+share my affections entirely between you.  From you, from my home, I
+shall never again have the smallest incitement to move; and if I do mix
+in other society, it will be only to shew that my spirit is humbled, my
+heart amended, and that I can practise the civilities, the lesser
+duties of life, with gentleness and forbearance.  As for Willoughby--to
+say that I shall soon or that I shall ever forget him, would be idle.
+His remembrance can be overcome by no change of circumstances or
+opinions.  But it shall be regulated, it shall be checked by religion,
+by reason, by constant employment."
+
+She paused--and added in a low voice, "If I could but know HIS heart,
+everything would become easy."
+
+Elinor, who had now been for some time reflecting on the propriety or
+impropriety of speedily hazarding her narration, without feeling at all
+nearer decision than at first, heard this; and perceiving that as
+reflection did nothing, resolution must do all, soon found herself
+leading to the fact.
+
+She managed the recital, as she hoped, with address; prepared her
+anxious listener with caution; related simply and honestly the chief
+points on which Willoughby grounded his apology; did justice to his
+repentance, and softened only his protestations of present regard.
+Marianne said not a word.--She trembled, her eyes were fixed on the
+ground, and her lips became whiter than even sickness had left them.  A
+thousand inquiries sprung up from her heart, but she dared not urge
+one.  She caught every syllable with panting eagerness; her hand,
+unknowingly to herself, closely pressed her sister's, and tears covered
+her cheeks.
+
+Elinor, dreading her being tired, led her towards home; and till they
+reached the door of the cottage, easily conjecturing what her curiosity
+must be though no question was suffered to speak it, talked of nothing
+but Willoughby, and their conversation together; and was carefully
+minute in every particular of speech and look, where minuteness could
+be safely indulged.  As soon as they entered the house, Marianne with a
+kiss of gratitude and these two words just articulate through her
+tears, "Tell mama," withdrew from her sister and walked slowly up
+stairs.  Elinor would not attempt to disturb a solitude so reasonable
+as what she now sought; and with a mind anxiously pre-arranging its
+result, and a resolution of reviving the subject again, should Marianne
+fail to do it, she turned into the parlour to fulfill her parting
+injunction.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 47
+
+
+Mrs. Dashwood did not hear unmoved the vindication of her former
+favourite.  She rejoiced in his being cleared from some part of his
+imputed guilt;--she was sorry for him;--she wished him happy.  But the
+feelings of the past could not be recalled.--Nothing could restore him
+with a faith unbroken--a character unblemished, to Marianne.  Nothing
+could do away the knowledge of what the latter had suffered through his
+means, nor remove the guilt of his conduct towards Eliza.  Nothing
+could replace him, therefore, in her former esteem, nor injure the
+interests of Colonel Brandon.
+
+Had Mrs. Dashwood, like her daughter, heard Willoughby's story from
+himself--had she witnessed his distress, and been under the influence
+of his countenance and his manner, it is probable that her compassion
+would have been greater.  But it was neither in Elinor's power, nor in
+her wish, to rouse such feelings in another, by her retailed
+explanation, as had at first been called forth in herself.  Reflection
+had given calmness to her judgment, and sobered her own opinion of
+Willoughby's deserts;--she wished, therefore, to declare only the
+simple truth, and lay open such facts as were really due to his
+character, without any embellishment of tenderness to lead the fancy
+astray.
+
+In the evening, when they were all three together, Marianne began
+voluntarily to speak of him again;--but that it was not without an
+effort, the restless, unquiet thoughtfulness in which she had been for
+some time previously sitting--her rising colour, as she spoke,--and her
+unsteady voice, plainly shewed.
+
+"I wish to assure you both," said she, "that I see every thing--as you
+can desire me to do."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood would have interrupted her instantly with soothing
+tenderness, had not Elinor, who really wished to hear her sister's
+unbiased opinion, by an eager sign, engaged her silence.  Marianne
+slowly continued--
+
+"It is a great relief to me--what Elinor told me this morning--I have
+now heard exactly what I wished to hear."--For some moments her voice
+was lost; but recovering herself, she added, and with greater calmness
+than before--"I am now perfectly satisfied, I wish for no change.  I
+never could have been happy with him, after knowing, as sooner or later
+I must have known, all this.--I should have had no confidence, no
+esteem.  Nothing could have done it away to my feelings."
+
+"I know it--I know it," cried her mother.  "Happy with a man of
+libertine practices!--With one who so injured the peace of the dearest
+of our friends, and the best of men!--No--my Marianne has not a heart
+to be made happy with such a man!--Her conscience, her sensitive
+conscience, would have felt all that the conscience of her husband
+ought to have felt."
+
+Marianne sighed, and repeated, "I wish for no change."
+
+"You consider the matter," said Elinor, "exactly as a good mind and a
+sound understanding must consider it; and I dare say you perceive, as
+well as myself, not only in this, but in many other circumstances,
+reason enough to be convinced that your marriage must have involved you
+in many certain troubles and disappointments, in which you would have
+been poorly supported by an affection, on his side, much less certain.
+Had you married, you must have been always poor.  His expensiveness is
+acknowledged even by himself, and his whole conduct declares that
+self-denial is a word hardly understood by him.  His demands and your
+inexperience together, on a small, very small income, must have brought
+on distresses which would not be the LESS grievous to you, from having
+been entirely unknown and unthought of before.  YOUR sense of honour
+and honesty would have led you, I know, when aware of your situation,
+to attempt all the economy that would appear to you possible: and,
+perhaps, as long as your frugality retrenched only on your own comfort,
+you might have been suffered to practice it, but beyond that--and how
+little could the utmost of your single management do to stop the ruin
+which had begun before your marriage?-- Beyond THAT, had you
+endeavoured, however reasonably, to abridge HIS enjoyments, is it not
+to be feared, that instead of prevailing on feelings so selfish to
+consent to it, you would have lessened your own influence on his heart,
+and made him regret the connection which had involved him in such
+difficulties?"
+
+Marianne's lips quivered, and she repeated the word "Selfish?" in a
+tone that implied--"do you really think him selfish?"
+
+"The whole of his behaviour," replied Elinor, "from the beginning to
+the end of the affair, has been grounded on selfishness.  It was
+selfishness which first made him sport with your affections; which
+afterwards, when his own were engaged, made him delay the confession of
+it, and which finally carried him from Barton.  His own enjoyment, or
+his own ease, was, in every particular, his ruling principle."
+
+"It is very true.  MY happiness never was his object."
+
+"At present," continued Elinor, "he regrets what he has done.  And why
+does he regret it?--Because he finds it has not answered towards
+himself.  It has not made him happy.  His circumstances are now
+unembarrassed--he suffers from no evil of that kind; and he thinks only
+that he has married a woman of a less amiable temper than yourself.
+But does it follow that had he married you, he would have been
+happy?--The inconveniences would have been different.  He would then
+have suffered under the pecuniary distresses which, because they are
+removed, he now reckons as nothing.  He would have had a wife of whose
+temper he could make no complaint, but he would have been always
+necessitous--always poor; and probably would soon have learned to rank
+the innumerable comforts of a clear estate and good income as of far
+more importance, even to domestic happiness, than the mere temper of a
+wife."
+
+"I have not a doubt of it," said Marianne; "and I have nothing to
+regret--nothing but my own folly."
+
+"Rather say your mother's imprudence, my child," said Mrs. Dashwood;
+"SHE must be answerable."
+
+Marianne would not let her proceed;--and Elinor, satisfied that each
+felt their own error, wished to avoid any survey of the past that might
+weaken her sister's spirits; she, therefore, pursuing the first
+subject, immediately continued,
+
+"One observation may, I think, be fairly drawn from the whole of the
+story--that all Willoughby's difficulties have arisen from the first
+offence against virtue, in his behaviour to Eliza Williams.  That crime
+has been the origin of every lesser one, and of all his present
+discontents."
+
+Marianne assented most feelingly to the remark; and her mother was led
+by it to an enumeration of Colonel Brandon's injuries and merits, warm
+as friendship and design could unitedly dictate.  Her daughter did not
+look, however, as if much of it were heard by her.
+
+Elinor, according to her expectation, saw on the two or three following
+days, that Marianne did not continue to gain strength as she had done;
+but while her resolution was unsubdued, and she still tried to appear
+cheerful and easy, her sister could safely trust to the effect of time
+upon her health.
+
+Margaret returned, and the family were again all restored to each
+other, again quietly settled at the cottage; and if not pursuing their
+usual studies with quite so much vigour as when they first came to
+Barton, at least planning a vigorous prosecution of them in future.
+
+Elinor grew impatient for some tidings of Edward.  She had heard
+nothing of him since her leaving London, nothing new of his plans,
+nothing certain even of his present abode.  Some letters had passed
+between her and her brother, in consequence of Marianne's illness; and
+in the first of John's, there had been this sentence:-- "We know
+nothing of our unfortunate Edward, and can make no enquiries on so
+prohibited a subject, but conclude him to be still at Oxford;" which
+was all the intelligence of Edward afforded her by the correspondence,
+for his name was not even mentioned in any of the succeeding letters.
+She was not doomed, however, to be long in ignorance of his measures.
+
+Their man-servant had been sent one morning to Exeter on business; and
+when, as he waited at table, he had satisfied the inquiries of his
+mistress as to the event of his errand, this was his voluntary
+communication--
+
+"I suppose you know, ma'am, that Mr. Ferrars is married."
+
+Marianne gave a violent start, fixed her eyes upon Elinor, saw her
+turning pale, and fell back in her chair in hysterics.  Mrs. Dashwood,
+whose eyes, as she answered the servant's inquiry, had intuitively
+taken the same direction, was shocked to perceive by Elinor's
+countenance how much she really suffered, and a moment afterwards,
+alike distressed by Marianne's situation, knew not on which child to
+bestow her principal attention.
+
+The servant, who saw only that Miss Marianne was taken ill, had sense
+enough to call one of the maids, who, with Mrs. Dashwood's assistance,
+supported her into the other room.  By that time, Marianne was rather
+better, and her mother leaving her to the care of Margaret and the
+maid, returned to Elinor, who, though still much disordered, had so far
+recovered the use of her reason and voice as to be just beginning an
+inquiry of Thomas, as to the source of his intelligence.  Mrs. Dashwood
+immediately took all that trouble on herself; and Elinor had the
+benefit of the information without the exertion of seeking it.
+
+"Who told you that Mr. Ferrars was married, Thomas?"
+
+"I see Mr. Ferrars myself, ma'am, this morning in Exeter, and his lady
+too, Miss Steele as was.  They was stopping in a chaise at the door of
+the New London Inn, as I went there with a message from Sally at the
+Park to her brother, who is one of the post-boys. I happened to look up
+as I went by the chaise, and so I see directly it was the youngest Miss
+Steele; so I took off my hat, and she knew me and called to me, and
+inquired after you, ma'am, and the young ladies, especially Miss
+Marianne, and bid me I should give her compliments and Mr. Ferrars's,
+their best compliments and service, and how sorry they was they had not
+time to come on and see you, but they was in a great hurry to go
+forwards, for they was going further down for a little while, but
+howsever, when they come back, they'd make sure to come and see you."
+
+"But did she tell you she was married, Thomas?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am. She smiled, and said how she had changed her name since
+she was in these parts.  She was always a very affable and free-spoken
+young lady, and very civil behaved.  So, I made free to wish her joy."
+
+"Was Mr. Ferrars in the carriage with her?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am, I just see him leaning back in it, but he did not look
+up;--he never was a gentleman much for talking."
+
+Elinor's heart could easily account for his not putting himself
+forward; and Mrs. Dashwood probably found the same explanation.
+
+"Was there no one else in the carriage?"
+
+"No, ma'am, only they two."
+
+"Do you know where they came from?"
+
+"They come straight from town, as Miss Lucy--Mrs. Ferrars told me."
+
+"And are they going farther westward?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am--but not to bide long.  They will soon be back again, and
+then they'd be sure and call here."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood now looked at her daughter; but Elinor knew better than
+to expect them.  She recognised the whole of Lucy in the message, and
+was very confident that Edward would never come near them.  She
+observed in a low voice, to her mother, that they were probably going
+down to Mr. Pratt's, near Plymouth.
+
+Thomas's intelligence seemed over.  Elinor looked as if she wished to
+hear more.
+
+"Did you see them off, before you came away?"
+
+"No, ma'am--the horses were just coming out, but I could not bide any
+longer; I was afraid of being late."
+
+"Did Mrs. Ferrars look well?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am, she said how she was very well; and to my mind she was
+always a very handsome young lady--and she seemed vastly contented."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood could think of no other question, and Thomas and the
+tablecloth, now alike needless, were soon afterwards dismissed.
+Marianne had already sent to say, that she should eat nothing more.
+Mrs. Dashwood's and Elinor's appetites were equally lost, and Margaret
+might think herself very well off, that with so much uneasiness as both
+her sisters had lately experienced, so much reason as they had often
+had to be careless of their meals, she had never been obliged to go
+without her dinner before.
+
+When the dessert and the wine were arranged, and Mrs. Dashwood and
+Elinor were left by themselves, they remained long together in a
+similarity of thoughtfulness and silence.  Mrs. Dashwood feared to
+hazard any remark, and ventured not to offer consolation.  She now
+found that she had erred in relying on Elinor's representation of
+herself; and justly concluded that every thing had been expressly
+softened at the time, to spare her from an increase of unhappiness,
+suffering as she then had suffered for Marianne.  She found that she
+had been misled by the careful, the considerate attention of her
+daughter, to think the attachment, which once she had so well
+understood, much slighter in reality, than she had been wont to
+believe, or than it was now proved to be.  She feared that under this
+persuasion she had been unjust, inattentive, nay, almost unkind, to her
+Elinor;--that Marianne's affliction, because more acknowledged, more
+immediately before her, had too much engrossed her tenderness, and led
+her away to forget that in Elinor she might have a daughter suffering
+almost as much, certainly with less self-provocation, and greater
+fortitude.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 48
+
+
+Elinor now found the difference between the expectation of an
+unpleasant event, however certain the mind may be told to consider it,
+and certainty itself.  She now found, that in spite of herself, she had
+always admitted a hope, while Edward remained single, that something
+would occur to prevent his marrying Lucy; that some resolution of his
+own, some mediation of friends, or some more eligible opportunity of
+establishment for the lady, would arise to assist the happiness of all.
+But he was now married; and she condemned her heart for the lurking
+flattery, which so much heightened the pain of the intelligence.
+
+That he should be married soon, before (as she imagined) he could be in
+orders, and consequently before he could be in possession of the
+living, surprised her a little at first.  But she soon saw how likely
+it was that Lucy, in her self-provident care, in her haste to secure
+him, should overlook every thing but the risk of delay.  They were
+married, married in town, and now hastening down to her uncle's.  What
+had Edward felt on being within four miles from Barton, on seeing her
+mother's servant, on hearing Lucy's message!
+
+They would soon, she supposed, be settled at Delaford.--Delaford,--that
+place in which so much conspired to give her an interest; which she
+wished to be acquainted with, and yet desired to avoid.  She saw them
+in an instant in their parsonage-house; saw in Lucy, the active,
+contriving manager, uniting at once a desire of smart appearance with
+the utmost frugality, and ashamed to be suspected of half her
+economical practices;--pursuing her own interest in every thought,
+courting the favour of Colonel Brandon, of Mrs. Jennings, and of every
+wealthy friend.  In Edward--she knew not what she saw, nor what she
+wished to see;--happy or unhappy,--nothing pleased her; she turned away
+her head from every sketch of him.
+
+Elinor flattered herself that some one of their connections in London
+would write to them to announce the event, and give farther
+particulars,--but day after day passed off, and brought no letter, no
+tidings.  Though uncertain that any one were to blame, she found fault
+with every absent friend.  They were all thoughtless or indolent.
+
+"When do you write to Colonel Brandon, ma'am?" was an inquiry which
+sprung from the impatience of her mind to have something going on.
+
+"I wrote to him, my love, last week, and rather expect to see, than to
+hear from him again.  I earnestly pressed his coming to us, and should
+not be surprised to see him walk in today or tomorrow, or any day."
+
+This was gaining something, something to look forward to.  Colonel
+Brandon must have some information to give.
+
+Scarcely had she so determined it, when the figure of a man on
+horseback drew her eyes to the window.  He stopt at their gate.  It was
+a gentleman, it was Colonel Brandon himself.  Now she could hear more;
+and she trembled in expectation of it.  But--it was NOT Colonel
+Brandon--neither his air--nor his height.  Were it possible, she must
+say it must be Edward.  She looked again.  He had just dismounted;--she
+could not be mistaken,--it WAS Edward.  She moved away and sat down.
+"He comes from Mr. Pratt's purposely to see us.  I WILL be calm; I WILL
+be mistress of myself."
+
+In a moment she perceived that the others were likewise aware of the
+mistake.  She saw her mother and Marianne change colour; saw them look
+at herself, and whisper a few sentences to each other.  She would have
+given the world to be able to speak--and to make them understand that
+she hoped no coolness, no slight, would appear in their behaviour to
+him;--but she had no utterance, and was obliged to leave all to their
+own discretion.
+
+Not a syllable passed aloud.  They all waited in silence for the
+appearance of their visitor.  His footsteps were heard along the gravel
+path; in a moment he was in the passage, and in another he was before
+them.
+
+His countenance, as he entered the room, was not too happy, even for
+Elinor.  His complexion was white with agitation, and he looked as if
+fearful of his reception, and conscious that he merited no kind one.
+Mrs. Dashwood, however, conforming, as she trusted, to the wishes of
+that daughter, by whom she then meant in the warmth of her heart to be
+guided in every thing, met with a look of forced complacency, gave him
+her hand, and wished him joy.
+
+He coloured, and stammered out an unintelligible reply.  Elinor's lips
+had moved with her mother's, and, when the moment of action was over,
+she wished that she had shaken hands with him too.  But it was then too
+late, and with a countenance meaning to be open, she sat down again and
+talked of the weather.
+
+Marianne had retreated as much as possible out of sight, to conceal her
+distress; and Margaret, understanding some part, but not the whole of
+the case, thought it incumbent on her to be dignified, and therefore
+took a seat as far from him as she could, and maintained a strict
+silence.
+
+When Elinor had ceased to rejoice in the dryness of the season, a very
+awful pause took place.  It was put an end to by Mrs. Dashwood, who
+felt obliged to hope that he had left Mrs. Ferrars very well.  In a
+hurried manner, he replied in the affirmative.
+
+Another pause.
+
+Elinor resolving to exert herself, though fearing the sound of her own
+voice, now said,
+
+"Is Mrs. Ferrars at Longstaple?"
+
+"At Longstaple!" he replied, with an air of surprise.-- "No, my mother
+is in town."
+
+"I meant," said Elinor, taking up some work from the table, "to inquire
+for Mrs. EDWARD Ferrars."
+
+She dared not look up;--but her mother and Marianne both turned their
+eyes on him.  He coloured, seemed perplexed, looked doubtingly, and,
+after some hesitation, said,--
+
+"Perhaps you mean--my brother--you mean Mrs.--Mrs. ROBERT Ferrars."
+
+"Mrs. Robert Ferrars!"--was repeated by Marianne and her mother in an
+accent of the utmost amazement;--and though Elinor could not speak,
+even HER eyes were fixed on him with the same impatient wonder.  He
+rose from his seat, and walked to the window, apparently from not
+knowing what to do; took up a pair of scissors that lay there, and
+while spoiling both them and their sheath by cutting the latter to
+pieces as he spoke, said, in a hurried voice,
+
+"Perhaps you do not know--you may not have heard that my brother is
+lately married to--to the youngest--to Miss Lucy Steele."
+
+His words were echoed with unspeakable astonishment by all but Elinor,
+who sat with her head leaning over her work, in a state of such
+agitation as made her hardly know where she was.
+
+"Yes," said he, "they were married last week, and are now at Dawlish."
+
+Elinor could sit it no longer.  She almost ran out of the room, and as
+soon as the door was closed, burst into tears of joy, which at first
+she thought would never cease.  Edward, who had till then looked any
+where, rather than at her, saw her hurry away, and perhaps saw--or even
+heard, her emotion; for immediately afterwards he fell into a reverie,
+which no remarks, no inquiries, no affectionate address of Mrs.
+Dashwood could penetrate, and at last, without saying a word, quitted
+the room, and walked out towards the village--leaving the others in the
+greatest astonishment and perplexity on a change in his situation, so
+wonderful and so sudden;--a perplexity which they had no means of
+lessening but by their own conjectures.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 49
+
+
+Unaccountable, however, as the circumstances of his release might
+appear to the whole family, it was certain that Edward was free; and to
+what purpose that freedom would be employed was easily pre-determined
+by all;--for after experiencing the blessings of ONE imprudent
+engagement, contracted without his mother's consent, as he had already
+done for more than four years, nothing less could be expected of him in
+the failure of THAT, than the immediate contraction of another.
+
+His errand at Barton, in fact, was a simple one.  It was only to ask
+Elinor to marry him;--and considering that he was not altogether
+inexperienced in such a question, it might be strange that he should
+feel so uncomfortable in the present case as he really did, so much in
+need of encouragement and fresh air.
+
+How soon he had walked himself into the proper resolution, however, how
+soon an opportunity of exercising it occurred, in what manner he
+expressed himself, and how he was received, need not be particularly
+told.  This only need be said;--that when they all sat down to table at
+four o'clock, about three hours after his arrival, he had secured his
+lady, engaged her mother's consent, and was not only in the rapturous
+profession of the lover, but, in the reality of reason and truth, one
+of the happiest of men.  His situation indeed was more than commonly
+joyful.  He had more than the ordinary triumph of accepted love to
+swell his heart, and raise his spirits.  He was released without any
+reproach to himself, from an entanglement which had long formed his
+misery, from a woman whom he had long ceased to love;--and elevated at
+once to that security with another, which he must have thought of
+almost with despair, as soon as he had learnt to consider it with
+desire.  He was brought, not from doubt or suspense, but from misery to
+happiness;--and the change was openly spoken in such a genuine,
+flowing, grateful cheerfulness, as his friends had never witnessed in
+him before.
+
+His heart was now open to Elinor, all its weaknesses, all its errors
+confessed, and his first boyish attachment to Lucy treated with all the
+philosophic dignity of twenty-four.
+
+"It was a foolish, idle inclination on my side," said he, "the
+consequence of ignorance of the world--and want of employment.  Had my
+brother given me some active profession when I was removed at eighteen
+from the care of Mr. Pratt, I think--nay, I am sure, it would never
+have happened; for though I left Longstaple with what I thought, at the
+time, a most unconquerable preference for his niece, yet had I then had
+any pursuit, any object to engage my time and keep me at a distance
+from her for a few months, I should very soon have outgrown the fancied
+attachment, especially by mixing more with the world, as in such case I
+must have done.  But instead of having any thing to do, instead of
+having any profession chosen for me, or being allowed to chuse any
+myself, I returned home to be completely idle; and for the first
+twelvemonth afterwards I had not even the nominal employment, which
+belonging to the university would have given me; for I was not entered
+at Oxford till I was nineteen.  I had therefore nothing in the world to
+do, but to fancy myself in love; and as my mother did not make my home
+in every respect comfortable, as I had no friend, no companion in my
+brother, and disliked new acquaintance, it was not unnatural for me to
+be very often at Longstaple, where I always felt myself at home, and
+was always sure of a welcome; and accordingly I spent the greatest part
+of my time there from eighteen to nineteen: Lucy appeared everything
+that was amiable and obliging.  She was pretty too--at least I thought
+so THEN; and I had seen so little of other women, that I could make no
+comparisons, and see no defects.  Considering everything, therefore, I
+hope, foolish as our engagement was, foolish as it has since in every
+way been proved, it was not at the time an unnatural or an inexcusable
+piece of folly."
+
+The change which a few hours had wrought in the minds and the happiness
+of the Dashwoods, was such--so great--as promised them all, the
+satisfaction of a sleepless night.  Mrs. Dashwood, too happy to be
+comfortable, knew not how to love Edward, nor praise Elinor enough, how
+to be enough thankful for his release without wounding his delicacy,
+nor how at once to give them leisure for unrestrained conversation
+together, and yet enjoy, as she wished, the sight and society of both.
+
+Marianne could speak HER happiness only by tears.  Comparisons would
+occur--regrets would arise;--and her joy, though sincere as her love
+for her sister, was of a kind to give her neither spirits nor language.
+
+But Elinor--how are HER feelings to be described?--From the moment of
+learning that Lucy was married to another, that Edward was free, to the
+moment of his justifying the hopes which had so instantly followed, she
+was every thing by turns but tranquil.  But when the second moment had
+passed, when she found every doubt, every solicitude removed, compared
+her situation with what so lately it had been,--saw him honourably
+released from his former engagement, saw him instantly profiting by the
+release, to address herself and declare an affection as tender, as
+constant as she had ever supposed it to be,--she was oppressed, she was
+overcome by her own felicity;--and happily disposed as is the human
+mind to be easily familiarized with any change for the better, it
+required several hours to give sedateness to her spirits, or any degree
+of tranquillity to her heart.
+
+Edward was now fixed at the cottage at least for a week;--for whatever
+other claims might be made on him, it was impossible that less than a
+week should be given up to the enjoyment of Elinor's company, or
+suffice to say half that was to be said of the past, the present, and
+the future;--for though a very few hours spent in the hard labor of
+incessant talking will despatch more subjects than can really be in
+common between any two rational creatures, yet with lovers it is
+different.  Between THEM no subject is finished, no communication is
+even made, till it has been made at least twenty times over.
+
+Lucy's marriage, the unceasing and reasonable wonder among them all,
+formed of course one of the earliest discussions of the lovers;--and
+Elinor's particular knowledge of each party made it appear to her in
+every view, as one of the most extraordinary and unaccountable
+circumstances she had ever heard.  How they could be thrown together,
+and by what attraction Robert could be drawn on to marry a girl, of
+whose beauty she had herself heard him speak without any admiration,--a
+girl too already engaged to his brother, and on whose account that
+brother had been thrown off by his family--it was beyond her
+comprehension to make out.  To her own heart it was a delightful
+affair, to her imagination it was even a ridiculous one, but to her
+reason, her judgment, it was completely a puzzle.
+
+Edward could only attempt an explanation by supposing, that, perhaps,
+at first accidentally meeting, the vanity of the one had been so worked
+on by the flattery of the other, as to lead by degrees to all the rest.
+Elinor remembered what Robert had told her in Harley Street, of his
+opinion of what his own mediation in his brother's affairs might have
+done, if applied to in time.  She repeated it to Edward.
+
+"THAT was exactly like Robert,"--was his immediate observation.--"And
+THAT," he presently added, "might perhaps be in HIS head when the
+acquaintance between them first began.  And Lucy perhaps at first might
+think only of procuring his good offices in my favour.  Other designs
+might afterward arise."
+
+How long it had been carrying on between them, however, he was equally
+at a loss with herself to make out; for at Oxford, where he had
+remained for choice ever since his quitting London, he had had no means
+of hearing of her but from herself, and her letters to the very last
+were neither less frequent, nor less affectionate than usual.  Not the
+smallest suspicion, therefore, had ever occurred to prepare him for
+what followed;--and when at last it burst on him in a letter from Lucy
+herself, he had been for some time, he believed, half stupified between
+the wonder, the horror, and the joy of such a deliverance.  He put the
+letter into Elinor's hands.
+
+     "DEAR SIR,
+
+     "Being very sure I have long lost your affections,
+     I have thought myself at liberty to bestow my own
+     on another, and have no doubt of being as happy with
+     him as I once used to think I might be with you;
+     but I scorn to accept a hand while the heart was
+     another's.  Sincerely wish you happy in your choice,
+     and it shall not be my fault if we are not always
+     good friends, as our near relationship now makes
+     proper.  I can safely say I owe you no ill-will,
+     and am sure you will be too generous to do us any
+     ill offices.  Your brother has gained my affections
+     entirely, and as we could not live without one
+     another, we are just returned from the altar, and
+     are now on our way to Dawlish for a few weeks, which
+     place your dear brother has great curiosity to see,
+     but thought I would first trouble you with these
+     few lines, and shall always remain,
+
+     "Your sincere well-wisher, friend, and sister,
+                                        "LUCY FERRARS.
+
+     "I have burnt all your letters, and will return
+     your picture the first opportunity.  Please to destroy
+     my scrawls--but the ring with my hair you are very
+     welcome to keep."
+
+Elinor read and returned it without any comment.
+
+"I will not ask your opinion of it as a composition," said
+Edward.--"For worlds would not I have had a letter of hers seen by YOU
+in former days.--In a sister it is bad enough, but in a wife!--how I
+have blushed over the pages of her writing!--and I believe I may say
+that since the first half year of our foolish--business--this is the
+only letter I ever received from her, of which the substance made me
+any amends for the defect of the style."
+
+"However it may have come about," said Elinor, after a pause,--"they
+are certainly married.  And your mother has brought on herself a most
+appropriate punishment.  The independence she settled on Robert,
+through resentment against you, has put it in his power to make his own
+choice; and she has actually been bribing one son with a thousand
+a-year, to do the very deed which she disinherited the other for
+intending to do.  She will hardly be less hurt, I suppose, by Robert's
+marrying Lucy, than she would have been by your marrying her."
+
+"She will be more hurt by it, for Robert always was her favourite.--She
+will be more hurt by it, and on the same principle will forgive him
+much sooner."
+
+In what state the affair stood at present between them, Edward knew
+not, for no communication with any of his family had yet been attempted
+by him.  He had quitted Oxford within four and twenty hours after
+Lucy's letter arrived, and with only one object before him, the nearest
+road to Barton, had had no leisure to form any scheme of conduct, with
+which that road did not hold the most intimate connection.  He could do
+nothing till he were assured of his fate with Miss Dashwood; and by his
+rapidity in seeking THAT fate, it is to be supposed, in spite of the
+jealousy with which he had once thought of Colonel Brandon, in spite of
+the modesty with which he rated his own deserts, and the politeness
+with which he talked of his doubts, he did not, upon the whole, expect
+a very cruel reception.  It was his business, however, to say that he
+DID, and he said it very prettily.  What he might say on the subject a
+twelvemonth after, must be referred to the imagination of husbands and
+wives.
+
+That Lucy had certainly meant to deceive, to go off with a flourish of
+malice against him in her message by Thomas, was perfectly clear to
+Elinor; and Edward himself, now thoroughly enlightened on her
+character, had no scruple in believing her capable of the utmost
+meanness of wanton ill-nature. Though his eyes had been long opened,
+even before his acquaintance with Elinor began, to her ignorance and a
+want of liberality in some of her opinions--they had been equally
+imputed, by him, to her want of education; and till her last letter
+reached him, he had always believed her to be a well-disposed,
+good-hearted girl, and thoroughly attached to himself.  Nothing but
+such a persuasion could have prevented his putting an end to an
+engagement, which, long before the discovery of it laid him open to his
+mother's anger, had been a continual source of disquiet and regret to
+him.
+
+"I thought it my duty," said he, "independent of my feelings, to give
+her the option of continuing the engagement or not, when I was
+renounced by my mother, and stood to all appearance without a friend in
+the world to assist me.  In such a situation as that, where there
+seemed nothing to tempt the avarice or the vanity of any living
+creature, how could I suppose, when she so earnestly, so warmly
+insisted on sharing my fate, whatever it might be, that any thing but
+the most disinterested affection was her inducement?  And even now, I
+cannot comprehend on what motive she acted, or what fancied advantage
+it could be to her, to be fettered to a man for whom she had not the
+smallest regard, and who had only two thousand pounds in the world.
+She could not foresee that Colonel Brandon would give me a living."
+
+"No; but she might suppose that something would occur in your favour;
+that your own family might in time relent.  And at any rate, she lost
+nothing by continuing the engagement, for she has proved that it
+fettered neither her inclination nor her actions.  The connection was
+certainly a respectable one, and probably gained her consideration
+among her friends; and, if nothing more advantageous occurred, it would
+be better for her to marry YOU than be single."
+
+Edward was, of course, immediately convinced that nothing could have
+been more natural than Lucy's conduct, nor more self-evident than the
+motive of it.
+
+Elinor scolded him, harshly as ladies always scold the imprudence which
+compliments themselves, for having spent so much time with them at
+Norland, when he must have felt his own inconstancy.
+
+"Your behaviour was certainly very wrong," said she; "because--to say
+nothing of my own conviction, our relations were all led away by it to
+fancy and expect WHAT, as you were THEN situated, could never be."
+
+He could only plead an ignorance of his own heart, and a mistaken
+confidence in the force of his engagement.
+
+"I was simple enough to think, that because my FAITH was plighted to
+another, there could be no danger in my being with you; and that the
+consciousness of my engagement was to keep my heart as safe and sacred
+as my honour.  I felt that I admired you, but I told myself it was only
+friendship; and till I began to make comparisons between yourself and
+Lucy, I did not know how far I was got.  After that, I suppose, I WAS
+wrong in remaining so much in Sussex, and the arguments with which I
+reconciled myself to the expediency of it, were no better than
+these:--The danger is my own; I am doing no injury to anybody but
+myself."
+
+Elinor smiled, and shook her head.
+
+Edward heard with pleasure of Colonel Brandon's being expected at the
+Cottage, as he really wished not only to be better acquainted with him,
+but to have an opportunity of convincing him that he no longer resented
+his giving him the living of Delaford--"Which, at present," said he,
+"after thanks so ungraciously delivered as mine were on the occasion,
+he must think I have never forgiven him for offering."
+
+NOW he felt astonished himself that he had never yet been to the place.
+But so little interest had he taken in the matter, that he owed all his
+knowledge of the house, garden, and glebe, extent of the parish,
+condition of the land, and rate of the tithes, to Elinor herself, who
+had heard so much of it from Colonel Brandon, and heard it with so much
+attention, as to be entirely mistress of the subject.
+
+One question after this only remained undecided, between them, one
+difficulty only was to be overcome.  They were brought together by
+mutual affection, with the warmest approbation of their real friends;
+their intimate knowledge of each other seemed to make their happiness
+certain--and they only wanted something to live upon.  Edward had two
+thousand pounds, and Elinor one, which, with Delaford living, was all
+that they could call their own; for it was impossible that Mrs.
+Dashwood should advance anything; and they were neither of them quite
+enough in love to think that three hundred and fifty pounds a-year
+would supply them with the comforts of life.
+
+Edward was not entirely without hopes of some favourable change in his
+mother towards him; and on THAT he rested for the residue of their
+income.  But Elinor had no such dependence; for since Edward would
+still be unable to marry Miss Morton, and his chusing herself had been
+spoken of in Mrs. Ferrars's flattering language as only a lesser evil
+than his chusing Lucy Steele, she feared that Robert's offence would
+serve no other purpose than to enrich Fanny.
+
+About four days after Edward's arrival Colonel Brandon appeared, to
+complete Mrs. Dashwood's satisfaction, and to give her the dignity of
+having, for the first time since her living at Barton, more company
+with her than her house would hold.  Edward was allowed to retain the
+privilege of first comer, and Colonel Brandon therefore walked every
+night to his old quarters at the Park; from whence he usually returned
+in the morning, early enough to interrupt the lovers' first tete-a-tete
+before breakfast.
+
+A three weeks' residence at Delaford, where, in his evening hours at
+least, he had little to do but to calculate the disproportion between
+thirty-six and seventeen, brought him to Barton in a temper of mind
+which needed all the improvement in Marianne's looks, all the kindness
+of her welcome, and all the encouragement of her mother's language, to
+make it cheerful.  Among such friends, however, and such flattery, he
+did revive.  No rumour of Lucy's marriage had yet reached him:--he knew
+nothing of what had passed; and the first hours of his visit were
+consequently spent in hearing and in wondering.  Every thing was
+explained to him by Mrs. Dashwood, and he found fresh reason to rejoice
+in what he had done for Mr. Ferrars, since eventually it promoted the
+interest of Elinor.
+
+It would be needless to say, that the gentlemen advanced in the good
+opinion of each other, as they advanced in each other's acquaintance,
+for it could not be otherwise.  Their resemblance in good principles
+and good sense, in disposition and manner of thinking, would probably
+have been sufficient to unite them in friendship, without any other
+attraction; but their being in love with two sisters, and two sisters
+fond of each other, made that mutual regard inevitable and immediate,
+which might otherwise have waited the effect of time and judgment.
+
+The letters from town, which a few days before would have made every
+nerve in Elinor's body thrill with transport, now arrived to be read
+with less emotion than mirth.  Mrs. Jennings wrote to tell the
+wonderful tale, to vent her honest indignation against the jilting
+girl, and pour forth her compassion towards poor Mr. Edward, who, she
+was sure, had quite doted upon the worthless hussy, and was now, by all
+accounts, almost broken-hearted, at Oxford.-- "I do think," she
+continued, "nothing was ever carried on so sly; for it was but two days
+before Lucy called and sat a couple of hours with me.  Not a soul
+suspected anything of the matter, not even Nancy, who, poor soul!  came
+crying to me the day after, in a great fright for fear of Mrs. Ferrars,
+as well as not knowing how to get to Plymouth; for Lucy it seems
+borrowed all her money before she went off to be married, on purpose we
+suppose to make a show with, and poor Nancy had not seven shillings in
+the world;--so I was very glad to give her five guineas to take her
+down to Exeter, where she thinks of staying three or four weeks with
+Mrs. Burgess, in hopes, as I tell her, to fall in with the Doctor
+again.  And I must say that Lucy's crossness not to take them along
+with them in the chaise is worse than all.  Poor Mr. Edward! I cannot
+get him out of my head, but you must send for him to Barton, and Miss
+Marianne must try to comfort him."
+
+Mr. Dashwood's strains were more solemn.  Mrs. Ferrars was the most
+unfortunate of women--poor Fanny had suffered agonies of
+sensibility--and he considered the existence of each, under such a
+blow, with grateful wonder.  Robert's offence was unpardonable, but
+Lucy's was infinitely worse.  Neither of them were ever again to be
+mentioned to Mrs. Ferrars; and even, if she might hereafter be induced
+to forgive her son, his wife should never be acknowledged as her
+daughter, nor be permitted to appear in her presence.  The secrecy with
+which everything had been carried on between them, was rationally
+treated as enormously heightening the crime, because, had any suspicion
+of it occurred to the others, proper measures would have been taken to
+prevent the marriage; and he called on Elinor to join with him in
+regretting that Lucy's engagement with Edward had not rather been
+fulfilled, than that she should thus be the means of spreading misery
+farther in the family.-- He thus continued:
+
+"Mrs. Ferrars has never yet mentioned Edward's name, which does not
+surprise us; but, to our great astonishment, not a line has been
+received from him on the occasion.  Perhaps, however, he is kept silent
+by his fear of offending, and I shall, therefore, give him a hint, by a
+line to Oxford, that his sister and I both think a letter of proper
+submission from him, addressed perhaps to Fanny, and by her shewn to
+her mother, might not be taken amiss; for we all know the tenderness of
+Mrs. Ferrars's heart, and that she wishes for nothing so much as to be
+on good terms with her children."
+
+This paragraph was of some importance to the prospects and conduct of
+Edward.  It determined him to attempt a reconciliation, though not
+exactly in the manner pointed out by their brother and sister.
+
+"A letter of proper submission!" repeated he; "would they have me beg
+my mother's pardon for Robert's ingratitude to HER, and breach of
+honour to ME?--I can make no submission--I am grown neither humble nor
+penitent by what has passed.--I am grown very happy; but that would not
+interest.--I know of no submission that IS proper for me to make."
+
+"You may certainly ask to be forgiven," said Elinor, "because you have
+offended;--and I should think you might NOW venture so far as to
+profess some concern for having ever formed the engagement which drew
+on you your mother's anger."
+
+He agreed that he might.
+
+"And when she has forgiven you, perhaps a little humility may be
+convenient while acknowledging a second engagement, almost as imprudent
+in HER eyes as the first."
+
+He had nothing to urge against it, but still resisted the idea of a
+letter of proper submission; and therefore, to make it easier to him,
+as he declared a much greater willingness to make mean concessions by
+word of mouth than on paper, it was resolved that, instead of writing
+to Fanny, he should go to London, and personally intreat her good
+offices in his favour.-- "And if they really DO interest themselves,"
+said Marianne, in her new character of candour, "in bringing about a
+reconciliation, I shall think that even John and Fanny are not entirely
+without merit."
+
+After a visit on Colonel Brandon's side of only three or four days, the
+two gentlemen quitted Barton together.-- They were to go immediately to
+Delaford, that Edward might have some personal knowledge of his future
+home, and assist his patron and friend in deciding on what improvements
+were needed to it; and from thence, after staying there a couple of
+nights, he was to proceed on his journey to town.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 50
+
+
+After a proper resistance on the part of Mrs. Ferrars, just so violent
+and so steady as to preserve her from that reproach which she always
+seemed fearful of incurring, the reproach of being too amiable, Edward
+was admitted to her presence, and pronounced to be again her son.
+
+Her family had of late been exceedingly fluctuating.  For many years of
+her life she had had two sons; but the crime and annihilation of Edward
+a few weeks ago, had robbed her of one; the similar annihilation of
+Robert had left her for a fortnight without any; and now, by the
+resuscitation of Edward, she had one again.
+
+In spite of his being allowed once more to live, however, he did not
+feel the continuance of his existence secure, till he had revealed his
+present engagement; for the publication of that circumstance, he
+feared, might give a sudden turn to his constitution, and carry him off
+as rapidly as before.  With apprehensive caution therefore it was
+revealed, and he was listened to with unexpected calmness.  Mrs.
+Ferrars at first reasonably endeavoured to dissuade him from marrying
+Miss Dashwood, by every argument in her power;--told him, that in Miss
+Morton he would have a woman of higher rank and larger fortune;--and
+enforced the assertion, by observing that Miss Morton was the daughter
+of a nobleman with thirty thousand pounds, while Miss Dashwood was only
+the daughter of a private gentleman with no more than THREE; but when
+she found that, though perfectly admitting the truth of her
+representation, he was by no means inclined to be guided by it, she
+judged it wisest, from the experience of the past, to submit--and
+therefore, after such an ungracious delay as she owed to her own
+dignity, and as served to prevent every suspicion of good-will, she
+issued her decree of consent to the marriage of Edward and Elinor.
+
+What she would engage to do towards augmenting their income was next to
+be considered; and here it plainly appeared, that though Edward was now
+her only son, he was by no means her eldest; for while Robert was
+inevitably endowed with a thousand pounds a-year, not the smallest
+objection was made against Edward's taking orders for the sake of two
+hundred and fifty at the utmost; nor was anything promised either for
+the present or in future, beyond the ten thousand pounds, which had
+been given with Fanny.
+
+It was as much, however, as was desired, and more than was expected, by
+Edward and Elinor; and Mrs. Ferrars herself, by her shuffling excuses,
+seemed the only person surprised at her not giving more.
+
+With an income quite sufficient to their wants thus secured to them,
+they had nothing to wait for after Edward was in possession of the
+living, but the readiness of the house, to which Colonel Brandon, with
+an eager desire for the accommodation of Elinor, was making
+considerable improvements; and after waiting some time for their
+completion, after experiencing, as usual, a thousand disappointments
+and delays from the unaccountable dilatoriness of the workmen, Elinor,
+as usual, broke through the first positive resolution of not marrying
+till every thing was ready, and the ceremony took place in Barton
+church early in the autumn.
+
+The first month after their marriage was spent with their friend at the
+Mansion-house; from whence they could superintend the progress of the
+Parsonage, and direct every thing as they liked on the spot;--could
+chuse papers, project shrubberies, and invent a sweep.  Mrs. Jennings's
+prophecies, though rather jumbled together, were chiefly fulfilled; for
+she was able to visit Edward and his wife in their Parsonage by
+Michaelmas, and she found in Elinor and her husband, as she really
+believed, one of the happiest couples in the world.  They had in fact
+nothing to wish for, but the marriage of Colonel Brandon and Marianne,
+and rather better pasturage for their cows.
+
+They were visited on their first settling by almost all their relations
+and friends.  Mrs. Ferrars came to inspect the happiness which she was
+almost ashamed of having authorised; and even the Dashwoods were at the
+expense of a journey from Sussex to do them honour.
+
+"I will not say that I am disappointed, my dear sister," said John, as
+they were walking together one morning before the gates of Delaford
+House, "THAT would be saying too much, for certainly you have been one
+of the most fortunate young women in the world, as it is.  But, I
+confess, it would give me great pleasure to call Colonel Brandon
+brother.  His property here, his place, his house, every thing is in
+such respectable and excellent condition!--and his woods!--I have not
+seen such timber any where in Dorsetshire, as there is now standing in
+Delaford Hanger!--And though, perhaps, Marianne may not seem exactly
+the person to attract him--yet I think it would altogether be advisable
+for you to have them now frequently staying with you, for as Colonel
+Brandon seems a great deal at home, nobody can tell what may
+happen--for, when people are much thrown together, and see little of
+anybody else--and it will always be in your power to set her off to
+advantage, and so forth;--in short, you may as well give her a
+chance--You understand me."--
+
+But though Mrs. Ferrars DID come to see them, and always treated them
+with the make-believe of decent affection, they were never insulted by
+her real favour and preference.  THAT was due to the folly of Robert,
+and the cunning of his wife; and it was earned by them before many
+months had passed away.  The selfish sagacity of the latter, which had
+at first drawn Robert into the scrape, was the principal instrument of
+his deliverance from it; for her respectful humility, assiduous
+attentions, and endless flatteries, as soon as the smallest opening was
+given for their exercise, reconciled Mrs. Ferrars to his choice, and
+re-established him completely in her favour.
+
+The whole of Lucy's behaviour in the affair, and the prosperity which
+crowned it, therefore, may be held forth as a most encouraging instance
+of what an earnest, an unceasing attention to self-interest, however
+its progress may be apparently obstructed, will do in securing every
+advantage of fortune, with no other sacrifice than that of time and
+conscience.  When Robert first sought her acquaintance, and privately
+visited her in Bartlett's Buildings, it was only with the view imputed
+to him by his brother.  He merely meant to persuade her to give up the
+engagement; and as there could be nothing to overcome but the affection
+of both, he naturally expected that one or two interviews would settle
+the matter.  In that point, however, and that only, he erred;--for
+though Lucy soon gave him hopes that his eloquence would convince her
+in TIME, another visit, another conversation, was always wanted to
+produce this conviction.  Some doubts always lingered in her mind when
+they parted, which could only be removed by another half hour's
+discourse with himself.  His attendance was by this means secured, and
+the rest followed in course.  Instead of talking of Edward, they came
+gradually to talk only of Robert,--a subject on which he had always
+more to say than on any other, and in which she soon betrayed an
+interest even equal to his own; and in short, it became speedily
+evident to both, that he had entirely supplanted his brother.  He was
+proud of his conquest, proud of tricking Edward, and very proud of
+marrying privately without his mother's consent.  What immediately
+followed is known.  They passed some months in great happiness at
+Dawlish; for she had many relations and old acquaintances to cut--and
+he drew several plans for magnificent cottages;--and from thence
+returning to town, procured the forgiveness of Mrs. Ferrars, by the
+simple expedient of asking it, which, at Lucy's instigation, was
+adopted.  The forgiveness, at first, indeed, as was reasonable,
+comprehended only Robert; and Lucy, who had owed his mother no duty and
+therefore could have transgressed none, still remained some weeks
+longer unpardoned.  But perseverance in humility of conduct and
+messages, in self-condemnation for Robert's offence, and gratitude for
+the unkindness she was treated with, procured her in time the haughty
+notice which overcame her by its graciousness, and led soon afterwards,
+by rapid degrees, to the highest state of affection and influence.
+Lucy became as necessary to Mrs. Ferrars, as either Robert or Fanny;
+and while Edward was never cordially forgiven for having once intended
+to marry her, and Elinor, though superior to her in fortune and birth,
+was spoken of as an intruder, SHE was in every thing considered, and
+always openly acknowledged, to be a favourite child.  They settled in
+town, received very liberal assistance from Mrs. Ferrars, were on the
+best terms imaginable with the Dashwoods; and setting aside the
+jealousies and ill-will continually subsisting between Fanny and Lucy,
+in which their husbands of course took a part, as well as the frequent
+domestic disagreements between Robert and Lucy themselves, nothing
+could exceed the harmony in which they all lived together.
+
+What Edward had done to forfeit the right of eldest son, might have
+puzzled many people to find out; and what Robert had done to succeed to
+it, might have puzzled them still more.  It was an arrangement,
+however, justified in its effects, if not in its cause; for nothing
+ever appeared in Robert's style of living or of talking to give a
+suspicion of his regretting the extent of his income, as either leaving
+his brother too little, or bringing himself too much;--and if Edward
+might be judged from the ready discharge of his duties in every
+particular, from an increasing attachment to his wife and his home, and
+from the regular cheerfulness of his spirits, he might be supposed no
+less contented with his lot, no less free from every wish of an
+exchange.
+
+Elinor's marriage divided her as little from her family as could well
+be contrived, without rendering the cottage at Barton entirely useless,
+for her mother and sisters spent much more than half their time with
+her.  Mrs. Dashwood was acting on motives of policy as well as pleasure
+in the frequency of her visits at Delaford; for her wish of bringing
+Marianne and Colonel Brandon together was hardly less earnest, though
+rather more liberal than what John had expressed.  It was now her
+darling object.  Precious as was the company of her daughter to her,
+she desired nothing so much as to give up its constant enjoyment to her
+valued friend; and to see Marianne settled at the mansion-house was
+equally the wish of Edward and Elinor.  They each felt his sorrows, and
+their own obligations, and Marianne, by general consent, was to be the
+reward of all.
+
+With such a confederacy against her--with a knowledge so intimate of
+his goodness--with a conviction of his fond attachment to herself,
+which at last, though long after it was observable to everybody
+else--burst on her--what could she do?
+
+Marianne Dashwood was born to an extraordinary fate.  She was born to
+discover the falsehood of her own opinions, and to counteract, by her
+conduct, her most favourite maxims.  She was born to overcome an
+affection formed so late in life as at seventeen, and with no sentiment
+superior to strong esteem and lively friendship, voluntarily to give
+her hand to another!--and THAT other, a man who had suffered no less
+than herself under the event of a former attachment, whom, two years
+before, she had considered too old to be married,--and who still sought
+the constitutional safeguard of a flannel waistcoat!
+
+But so it was.  Instead of falling a sacrifice to an irresistible
+passion, as once she had fondly flattered herself with expecting,--instead
+of remaining even for ever with her mother, and finding her only
+pleasures in retirement and study, as afterwards in her more calm and
+sober judgment she had determined on,--she found herself at nineteen,
+submitting to new attachments, entering on new duties, placed in a new
+home, a wife, the mistress of a family, and the patroness of a village.
+
+Colonel Brandon was now as happy, as all those who best loved him,
+believed he deserved to be;--in Marianne he was consoled for every past
+affliction;--her regard and her society restored his mind to animation,
+and his spirits to cheerfulness; and that Marianne found her own
+happiness in forming his, was equally the persuasion and delight of
+each observing friend.  Marianne could never love by halves; and her
+whole heart became, in time, as much devoted to her husband, as it had
+once been to Willoughby.
+
+Willoughby could not hear of her marriage without a pang; and his
+punishment was soon afterwards complete in the voluntary forgiveness of
+Mrs. Smith, who, by stating his marriage with a woman of character, as
+the source of her clemency, gave him reason for believing that had he
+behaved with honour towards Marianne, he might at once have been happy
+and rich.  That his repentance of misconduct, which thus brought its
+own punishment, was sincere, need not be doubted;--nor that he long
+thought of Colonel Brandon with envy, and of Marianne with regret.  But
+that he was for ever inconsolable, that he fled from society, or
+contracted an habitual gloom of temper, or died of a broken heart, must
+not be depended on--for he did neither.  He lived to exert, and
+frequently to enjoy himself.  His wife was not always out of humour,
+nor his home always uncomfortable; and in his breed of horses and dogs,
+and in sporting of every kind, he found no inconsiderable degree of
+domestic felicity.
+
+For Marianne, however--in spite of his incivility in surviving her
+loss--he always retained that decided regard which interested him in
+every thing that befell her, and made her his secret standard of
+perfection in woman;--and many a rising beauty would be slighted by him
+in after-days as bearing no comparison with Mrs. Brandon.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood was prudent enough to remain at the cottage, without
+attempting a removal to Delaford; and fortunately for Sir John and Mrs.
+Jennings, when Marianne was taken from them, Margaret had reached an
+age highly suitable for dancing, and not very ineligible for being
+supposed to have a lover.
+
+Between Barton and Delaford, there was that constant communication
+which strong family affection would naturally dictate;--and among the
+merits and the happiness of Elinor and Marianne, let it not be ranked
+as the least considerable, that though sisters, and living almost
+within sight of each other, they could live without disagreement
+between themselves, or producing coolness between their husbands.
+
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
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+<TITLE>
+Sense and Sensibility
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+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
+
+
+Title: Sense and Sensibility
+
+Author: Jane Austen
+
+Release Date: May 25, 2008 [EBook #161]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SENSE AND SENSIBILITY ***
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<BR><BR>
+
+<H1 ALIGN="center">
+SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
+</H1>
+
+<H2 ALIGN="center">
+by Jane Austen
+</H2>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+(1811)
+</H3>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<H2 ALIGN="center">
+CONTENTS
+</H2>
+
+<P>
+<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="100%">
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="20%">
+<A HREF="#chap01">CHAPTER I</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="20%">
+<A HREF="#chap02">CHAPTER II</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="20%">
+<A HREF="#chap03">CHAPTER III</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="20%">
+<A HREF="#chap04">CHAPTER IV</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="20%">
+<A HREF="#chap05">CHAPTER V</A>
+</TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap06">CHAPTER VI</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap07">CHAPTER VII</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap08">CHAPTER VIII</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap09">CHAPTER IX</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap10">CHAPTER X</A>
+</TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap11">CHAPTER XI</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap12">CHAPTER XII</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap13">CHAPTER XIII</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap14">CHAPTER XIV</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap15">CHAPTER XV</A>
+</TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap16">CHAPTER XVI</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap17">CHAPTER XVII</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap18">CHAPTER XVIII</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap19">CHAPTER XIX</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap20">CHAPTER XX</A>
+</TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap21">CHAPTER XXI</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap22">CHAPTER XXII</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap23">CHAPTER XXIII</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap24">CHAPTER XXIV</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap25">CHAPTER XXV</A>
+</TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap26">CHAPTER XXVI</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap27">CHAPTER XXVII</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap28">CHAPTER XXVIII</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap29">CHAPTER XXIX</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap30">CHAPTER XXX</A>
+</TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap31">CHAPTER XXXI</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap32">CHAPTER XXXII</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap33">CHAPTER XXXIII</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap34">CHAPTER XXXIV</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap35">CHAPTER XXXV</A>
+</TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap36">CHAPTER XXXVI</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap37">CHAPTER XXXVII</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap38">CHAPTER XXXVIII</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap39">CHAPTER XXXIX</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap40">CHAPTER XL</A>
+</TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap41">CHAPTER XLI</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap42">CHAPTER XLII</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap43">CHAPTER XLIII</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap44">CHAPTER XLIV</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap45">CHAPTER XLV</A>
+</TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap46">CHAPTER XLVI</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap47">CHAPTER XLVII</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap48">CHAPTER XLVIII</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap49">CHAPTER XLIX</A>
+</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap50">CHAPTER L</A>
+</TD>
+</TR>
+
+</TABLE>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap01"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 1
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+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.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+By a former marriage, Mr. Henry Dashwood had one son: by his present
+lady, three daughters.  The son, a steady respectable young man, was
+amply provided for by the fortune of his mother, which had been large,
+and half of which devolved on him on his coming of age.  By his own
+marriage, likewise, which happened soon afterwards, he added to his
+wealth.  To him therefore the succession to the Norland estate was not
+so really important as to his sisters; for their fortune, independent
+of what might arise to them from their father's inheriting that
+property, could be but small.  Their mother had nothing, and their
+father only seven thousand pounds in his own disposal; for the
+remaining moiety of his first wife's fortune was also secured to her
+child, and he had only a life-interest in it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The old gentleman died: his will was read, and like almost every other
+will, gave as much disappointment as pleasure.  He was neither so
+unjust, nor so ungrateful, as to leave his estate from his nephew;&mdash;but
+he left it to him on such terms as destroyed half the value of the
+bequest.  Mr. Dashwood had wished for it more for the sake of his wife
+and daughters than for himself or his son;&mdash;but to his son, and his
+son's son, a child of four years old, it was secured, in such a way, as
+to leave to himself no power of providing for those who were most dear
+to him, and who most needed a provision by any charge on the estate, or
+by any sale of its valuable woods.  The whole was tied up for the
+benefit of this child, who, in occasional visits with his father and
+mother at Norland, had so far gained on the affections of his uncle, by
+such attractions as are by no means unusual in children of two or three
+years old; an imperfect articulation, an earnest desire of having his
+own way, many cunning tricks, and a great deal of noise, as to outweigh
+all the value of all the attention which, for years, he had received
+from his niece and her daughters.  He meant not to be unkind, however,
+and, as a mark of his affection for the three girls, he left them a
+thousand pounds a-piece.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mr. Dashwood's disappointment was, at first, severe; but his temper was
+cheerful and sanguine; and he might reasonably hope to live many years,
+and by living economically, lay by a considerable sum from the produce
+of an estate already large, and capable of almost immediate
+improvement.  But the fortune, which had been so tardy in coming, was
+his only one twelvemonth.  He survived his uncle no longer; and ten
+thousand pounds, including the late legacies, was all that remained for
+his widow and daughters.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+His son was sent for as soon as his danger was known, and to him Mr.
+Dashwood recommended, with all the strength and urgency which illness
+could command, the interest of his mother-in-law and sisters.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mr. John Dashwood had not the strong feelings of the rest of the
+family; but he was affected by a recommendation of such a nature at
+such a time, and he promised to do every thing in his power to make
+them comfortable.  His father was rendered easy by such an assurance,
+and Mr. John Dashwood had then leisure to consider how much there might
+prudently be in his power to do for them.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He was not an ill-disposed young man, unless to be rather cold hearted
+and rather selfish is to be ill-disposed: but he was, in general, well
+respected; for he conducted himself with propriety in the discharge of
+his ordinary duties.  Had he married a more amiable woman, he might
+have been made still more respectable than he was:&mdash;he might even have
+been made amiable himself; for he was very young when he married, and
+very fond of his wife.  But Mrs. John Dashwood was a strong caricature
+of himself;&mdash;more narrow-minded and selfish.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When he gave his promise to his father, he meditated within himself to
+increase the fortunes of his sisters by the present of a thousand
+pounds a-piece.  He then really thought himself equal to it.  The
+prospect of four thousand a-year, in addition to his present income,
+besides the remaining half of his own mother's fortune, warmed his
+heart, and made him feel capable of generosity.&mdash; "Yes, he would give
+them three thousand pounds: it would be liberal and handsome! It would
+be enough to make them completely easy.  Three thousand pounds! he
+could spare so considerable a sum with little inconvenience."&mdash; He
+thought of it all day long, and for many days successively, and he did
+not repent.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+No sooner was his father's funeral over, than Mrs. John Dashwood,
+without sending any notice of her intention to her mother-in-law,
+arrived with her child and their attendants.  No one could dispute her
+right to come; the house was her husband's from the moment of his
+father's decease; but the indelicacy of her conduct was so much the
+greater, and to a woman in Mrs. Dashwood's situation, with only common
+feelings, must have been highly unpleasing;&mdash;but in HER mind there was
+a sense of honor so keen, a generosity so romantic, that any offence of
+the kind, by whomsoever given or received, was to her a source of
+immoveable disgust.  Mrs. John Dashwood had never been a favourite with
+any of her husband's family; but she had had no opportunity, till the
+present, of shewing them with how little attention to the comfort of
+other people she could act when occasion required it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+So acutely did Mrs. Dashwood feel this ungracious behaviour, and so
+earnestly did she despise her daughter-in-law for it, that, on the
+arrival of the latter, she would have quitted the house for ever, had
+not the entreaty of her eldest girl induced her first to reflect on the
+propriety of going, and her own tender love for all her three children
+determined her afterwards to stay, and for their sakes avoid a breach
+with their brother.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor, this eldest daughter, whose advice was so effectual, possessed
+a strength of understanding, and coolness of judgment, which qualified
+her, though only nineteen, to be the counsellor of her mother, and
+enabled her frequently to counteract, to the advantage of them all,
+that eagerness of mind in Mrs. Dashwood which must generally have led
+to imprudence.  She had an excellent heart;&mdash;her disposition was
+affectionate, and her feelings were strong; but she knew how to govern
+them: it was a knowledge which her mother had yet to learn; and which
+one of her sisters had resolved never to be taught.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne's abilities were, in many respects, quite equal to Elinor's.
+She was sensible and clever; but eager in everything: her sorrows, her
+joys, could have no moderation.  She was generous, amiable,
+interesting: she was everything but prudent.  The resemblance between
+her and her mother was strikingly great.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor saw, with concern, the excess of her sister's sensibility; but
+by Mrs. Dashwood it was valued and cherished.  They encouraged each
+other now in the violence of their affliction.  The agony of grief
+which overpowered them at first, was voluntarily renewed, was sought
+for, was created again and again.  They gave themselves up wholly to
+their sorrow, seeking increase of wretchedness in every reflection that
+could afford it, and resolved against ever admitting consolation in
+future.  Elinor, too, was deeply afflicted; but still she could
+struggle, she could exert herself.  She could consult with her brother,
+could receive her sister-in-law on her arrival, and treat her with
+proper attention; and could strive to rouse her mother to similar
+exertion, and encourage her to similar forbearance.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Margaret, the other sister, was a good-humored, well-disposed girl; but
+as she had already imbibed a good deal of Marianne's romance, without
+having much of her sense, she did not, at thirteen, bid fair to equal
+her sisters at a more advanced period of life.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap02"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 2
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. John Dashwood now installed herself mistress of Norland; and her
+mother and sisters-in-law were degraded to the condition of visitors.
+As such, however, they were treated by her with quiet civility; and by
+her husband with as much kindness as he could feel towards anybody
+beyond himself, his wife, and their child.  He really pressed them,
+with some earnestness, to consider Norland as their home; and, as no
+plan appeared so eligible to Mrs. Dashwood as remaining there till she
+could accommodate herself with a house in the neighbourhood, his
+invitation was accepted.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A continuance in a place where everything reminded her of former
+delight, was exactly what suited her mind.  In seasons of cheerfulness,
+no temper could be more cheerful than hers, or possess, in a greater
+degree, that sanguine expectation of happiness which is happiness
+itself.  But in sorrow she must be equally carried away by her fancy,
+and as far beyond consolation as in pleasure she was beyond alloy.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. John Dashwood did not at all approve of what her husband intended
+to do for his sisters.  To take three thousand pounds from the fortune
+of their dear little boy would be impoverishing him to the most
+dreadful degree.  She begged him to think again on the subject.  How
+could he answer it to himself to rob his child, and his only child too,
+of so large a sum?  And what possible claim could the Miss Dashwoods,
+who were related to him only by half blood, which she considered as no
+relationship at all, have on his generosity to so large an amount.  It
+was very well known that no affection was ever supposed to exist
+between the children of any man by different marriages; and why was he
+to ruin himself, and their poor little Harry, by giving away all his
+money to his half sisters?
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It was my father's last request to me," replied her husband, "that I
+should assist his widow and daughters."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He did not know what he was talking of, I dare say; ten to one but he
+was light-headed at the time.  Had he been in his right senses, he
+could not have thought of such a thing as begging you to give away half
+your fortune from your own child."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He did not stipulate for any particular sum, my dear Fanny; he only
+requested me, in general terms, to assist them, and make their
+situation more comfortable than it was in his power to do.  Perhaps it
+would have been as well if he had left it wholly to myself.  He could
+hardly suppose I should neglect them.  But as he required the promise,
+I could not do less than give it; at least I thought so at the time.
+The promise, therefore, was given, and must be performed.  Something
+must be done for them whenever they leave Norland and settle in a new
+home."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, then, LET something be done for them; but THAT something need
+not be three thousand pounds.  Consider," she added, "that when the
+money is once parted with, it never can return.  Your sisters will
+marry, and it will be gone for ever.  If, indeed, it could be restored
+to our poor little boy&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why, to be sure," said her husband, very gravely, "that would make
+great difference.  The time may come when Harry will regret that so
+large a sum was parted with.  If he should have a numerous family, for
+instance, it would be a very convenient addition."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"To be sure it would."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Perhaps, then, it would be better for all parties, if the sum were
+diminished one half.&mdash;Five hundred pounds would be a prodigious
+increase to their fortunes!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh! beyond anything great!  What brother on earth would do half so
+much for his sisters, even if REALLY his sisters!  And as it is&mdash;only
+half blood!&mdash;But you have such a generous spirit!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I would not wish to do any thing mean," he replied.  "One had rather,
+on such occasions, do too much than too little.  No one, at least, can
+think I have not done enough for them: even themselves, they can hardly
+expect more."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"There is no knowing what THEY may expect," said the lady, "but we are
+not to think of their expectations: the question is, what you can
+afford to do."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly&mdash;and I think I may afford to give them five hundred pounds
+a-piece.  As it is, without any addition of mine, they will each have
+about three thousand pounds on their mother's death&mdash;a very comfortable
+fortune for any young woman."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"To be sure it is; and, indeed, it strikes me that they can want no
+addition at all.  They will have ten thousand pounds divided amongst
+them.  If they marry, they will be sure of doing well, and if they do
+not, they may all live very comfortably together on the interest of ten
+thousand pounds."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That is very true, and, therefore, I do not know whether, upon the
+whole, it would not be more advisable to do something for their mother
+while she lives, rather than for them&mdash;something of the annuity kind I
+mean.&mdash;My sisters would feel the good effects of it as well as herself.
+A hundred a year would make them all perfectly comfortable."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+His wife hesitated a little, however, in giving her consent to this
+plan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"To be sure," said she, "it is better than parting with fifteen hundred
+pounds at once.  But, then, if Mrs. Dashwood should live fifteen years
+we shall be completely taken in."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Fifteen years! my dear Fanny; her life cannot be worth half that
+purchase."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly not; but if you observe, people always live for ever when
+there is an annuity to be paid them; and she is very stout and healthy,
+and hardly forty.  An annuity is a very serious business; it comes over
+and over every year, and there is no getting rid of it.  You are not
+aware of what you are doing.  I have known a great deal of the trouble
+of annuities; for my mother was clogged with the payment of three to
+old superannuated servants by my father's will, and it is amazing how
+disagreeable she found it.  Twice every year these annuities were to be
+paid; and then there was the trouble of getting it to them; and then
+one of them was said to have died, and afterwards it turned out to be
+no such thing.  My mother was quite sick of it.  Her income was not her
+own, she said, with such perpetual claims on it; and it was the more
+unkind in my father, because, otherwise, the money would have been
+entirely at my mother's disposal, without any restriction whatever.  It
+has given me such an abhorrence of annuities, that I am sure I would
+not pin myself down to the payment of one for all the world."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is certainly an unpleasant thing," replied Mr. Dashwood, "to have
+those kind of yearly drains on one's income.  One's fortune, as your
+mother justly says, is NOT one's own.  To be tied down to the regular
+payment of such a sum, on every rent day, is by no means desirable: it
+takes away one's independence."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Undoubtedly; and after all you have no thanks for it.  They think
+themselves secure, you do no more than what is expected, and it raises
+no gratitude at all.  If I were you, whatever I did should be done at
+my own discretion entirely.  I would not bind myself to allow them any
+thing yearly.  It may be very inconvenient some years to spare a
+hundred, or even fifty pounds from our own expenses."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I believe you are right, my love; it will be better that there should
+by no annuity in the case; whatever I may give them occasionally will
+be of far greater assistance than a yearly allowance, because they
+would only enlarge their style of living if they felt sure of a larger
+income, and would not be sixpence the richer for it at the end of the
+year.  It will certainly be much the best way.  A present of fifty
+pounds, now and then, will prevent their ever being distressed for
+money, and will, I think, be amply discharging my promise to my father."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"To be sure it will.  Indeed, to say the truth, I am convinced within
+myself that your father had no idea of your giving them any money at
+all.  The assistance he thought of, I dare say, was only such as might
+be reasonably expected of you; for instance, such as looking out for a
+comfortable small house for them, helping them to move their things,
+and sending them presents of fish and game, and so forth, whenever they
+are in season.  I'll lay my life that he meant nothing farther; indeed,
+it would be very strange and unreasonable if he did.  Do but consider,
+my dear Mr. Dashwood, how excessively comfortable your mother-in-law
+and her daughters may live on the interest of seven thousand pounds,
+besides the thousand pounds belonging to each of the girls, which
+brings them in fifty pounds a year a-piece, and, of course, they will
+pay their mother for their board out of it.  Altogether, they will have
+five hundred a-year amongst them, and what on earth can four women want
+for more than that?&mdash;They will live so cheap! Their housekeeping will
+be nothing at all.  They will have no carriage, no horses, and hardly
+any servants; they will keep no company, and can have no expenses of
+any kind!  Only conceive how comfortable they will be!  Five hundred a
+year! I am sure I cannot imagine how they will spend half of it; and as
+to your giving them more, it is quite absurd to think of it.  They will
+be much more able to give YOU something."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Upon my word," said Mr. Dashwood, "I believe you are perfectly right.
+My father certainly could mean nothing more by his request to me than
+what you say.  I clearly understand it now, and I will strictly fulfil
+my engagement by such acts of assistance and kindness to them as you
+have described.  When my mother removes into another house my services
+shall be readily given to accommodate her as far as I can.  Some little
+present of furniture too may be acceptable then."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly," returned Mrs. John Dashwood.  "But, however, ONE thing
+must be considered.  When your father and mother moved to Norland,
+though the furniture of Stanhill was sold, all the china, plate, and
+linen was saved, and is now left to your mother.  Her house will
+therefore be almost completely fitted up as soon as she takes it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That is a material consideration undoubtedly.  A valuable legacy
+indeed! And yet some of the plate would have been a very pleasant
+addition to our own stock here."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes; and the set of breakfast china is twice as handsome as what
+belongs to this house.  A great deal too handsome, in my opinion, for
+any place THEY can ever afford to live in.  But, however, so it is.
+Your father thought only of THEM.  And I must say this: that you owe no
+particular gratitude to him, nor attention to his wishes; for we very
+well know that if he could, he would have left almost everything in the
+world to THEM."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This argument was irresistible.  It gave to his intentions whatever of
+decision was wanting before; and he finally resolved, that it would be
+absolutely unnecessary, if not highly indecorous, to do more for the
+widow and children of his father, than such kind of neighbourly acts as
+his own wife pointed out.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap03"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 3
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood remained at Norland several months; not from any
+disinclination to move when the sight of every well known spot ceased
+to raise the violent emotion which it produced for a while; for when
+her spirits began to revive, and her mind became capable of some other
+exertion than that of heightening its affliction by melancholy
+remembrances, she was impatient to be gone, and indefatigable in her
+inquiries for a suitable dwelling in the neighbourhood of Norland; for
+to remove far from that beloved spot was impossible.  But she could
+hear of no situation that at once answered her notions of comfort and
+ease, and suited the prudence of her eldest daughter, whose steadier
+judgment rejected several houses as too large for their income, which
+her mother would have approved.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood had been informed by her husband of the solemn promise on
+the part of his son in their favour, which gave comfort to his last
+earthly reflections.  She doubted the sincerity of this assurance no
+more than he had doubted it himself, and she thought of it for her
+daughters' sake with satisfaction, though as for herself she was
+persuaded that a much smaller provision than 7000L would support her in
+affluence.  For their brother's sake, too, for the sake of his own
+heart, she rejoiced; and she reproached herself for being unjust to his
+merit before, in believing him incapable of generosity.  His attentive
+behaviour to herself and his sisters convinced her that their welfare
+was dear to him, and, for a long time, she firmly relied on the
+liberality of his intentions.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The contempt which she had, very early in their acquaintance, felt for
+her daughter-in-law, was very much increased by the farther knowledge
+of her character, which half a year's residence in her family afforded;
+and perhaps in spite of every consideration of politeness or maternal
+affection on the side of the former, the two ladies might have found it
+impossible to have lived together so long, had not a particular
+circumstance occurred to give still greater eligibility, according to
+the opinions of Mrs. Dashwood, to her daughters' continuance at Norland.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This circumstance was a growing attachment between her eldest girl and
+the brother of Mrs. John Dashwood, a gentleman-like and pleasing young
+man, who was introduced to their acquaintance soon after his sister's
+establishment at Norland, and who had since spent the greatest part of
+his time there.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Some mothers might have encouraged the intimacy from motives of
+interest, for Edward Ferrars was the eldest son of a man who had died
+very rich; and some might have repressed it from motives of prudence,
+for, except a trifling sum, the whole of his fortune depended on the
+will of his mother.  But Mrs. Dashwood was alike uninfluenced by either
+consideration.  It was enough for her that he appeared to be amiable,
+that he loved her daughter, and that Elinor returned the partiality.
+It was contrary to every doctrine of her's that difference of fortune
+should keep any couple asunder who were attracted by resemblance of
+disposition; and that Elinor's merit should not be acknowledged by
+every one who knew her, was to her comprehension impossible.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Edward Ferrars was not recommended to their good opinion by any
+peculiar graces of person or address.  He was not handsome, and his
+manners required intimacy to make them pleasing.  He was too diffident
+to do justice to himself; but when his natural shyness was overcome,
+his behaviour gave every indication of an open, affectionate heart.
+His understanding was good, and his education had given it solid
+improvement.  But he was neither fitted by abilities nor disposition to
+answer the wishes of his mother and sister, who longed to see him
+distinguished&mdash;as&mdash;they hardly knew what.  They wanted him to make a
+fine figure in the world in some manner or other.  His mother wished to
+interest him in political concerns, to get him into parliament, or to
+see him connected with some of the great men of the day.  Mrs. John
+Dashwood wished it likewise; but in the mean while, till one of these
+superior blessings could be attained, it would have quieted her
+ambition to see him driving a barouche.  But Edward had no turn for
+great men or barouches.  All his wishes centered in domestic comfort
+and the quiet of private life.  Fortunately he had a younger brother
+who was more promising.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Edward had been staying several weeks in the house before he engaged
+much of Mrs. Dashwood's attention; for she was, at that time, in such
+affliction as rendered her careless of surrounding objects.  She saw
+only that he was quiet and unobtrusive, and she liked him for it.  He
+did not disturb the wretchedness of her mind by ill-timed conversation.
+She was first called to observe and approve him farther, by a
+reflection which Elinor chanced one day to make on the difference
+between him and his sister.  It was a contrast which recommended him
+most forcibly to her mother.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is enough," said she; "to say that he is unlike Fanny is enough.
+It implies everything amiable.  I love him already."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I think you will like him," said Elinor, "when you know more of him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Like him!" replied her mother with a smile.  "I feel no sentiment of
+approbation inferior to love."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You may esteem him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have never yet known what it was to separate esteem and love."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood now took pains to get acquainted with him.  Her manners
+were attaching, and soon banished his reserve.  She speedily
+comprehended all his merits; the persuasion of his regard for Elinor
+perhaps assisted her penetration; but she really felt assured of his
+worth: and even that quietness of manner, which militated against all
+her established ideas of what a young man's address ought to be, was no
+longer uninteresting when she knew his heart to be warm and his temper
+affectionate.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+No sooner did she perceive any symptom of love in his behaviour to
+Elinor, than she considered their serious attachment as certain, and
+looked forward to their marriage as rapidly approaching.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"In a few months, my dear Marianne." said she, "Elinor will, in all
+probability be settled for life.  We shall miss her; but SHE will be
+happy."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh! Mamma, how shall we do without her?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My love, it will be scarcely a separation.  We shall live within a few
+miles of each other, and shall meet every day of our lives.  You will
+gain a brother, a real, affectionate brother.  I have the highest
+opinion in the world of Edward's heart.  But you look grave, Marianne;
+do you disapprove your sister's choice?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Perhaps," said Marianne, "I may consider it with some surprise.
+Edward is very amiable, and I love him tenderly.  But yet&mdash;he is not
+the kind of young man&mdash;there is something wanting&mdash;his figure is not
+striking; it has none of that grace which I should expect in the man
+who could seriously attach my sister.  His eyes want all that spirit,
+that fire, which at once announce virtue and intelligence.  And besides
+all this, I am afraid, Mamma, he has no real taste.  Music seems
+scarcely to attract him, and though he admires Elinor's drawings very
+much, it is not the admiration of a person who can understand their
+worth.  It is evident, in spite of his frequent attention to her while
+she draws, that in fact he knows nothing of the matter.  He admires as
+a lover, not as a connoisseur.  To satisfy me, those characters must be
+united.  I could not be happy with a man whose taste did not in every
+point coincide with my own.  He must enter into all my feelings; the
+same books, the same music must charm us both.  Oh! mama, how
+spiritless, how tame was Edward's manner in reading to us last night!
+I felt for my sister most severely.  Yet she bore it with so much
+composure, she seemed scarcely to notice it.  I could hardly keep my
+seat.  To hear those beautiful lines which have frequently almost
+driven me wild, pronounced with such impenetrable calmness, such
+dreadful indifference!"&mdash; "He would certainly have done more justice to
+simple and elegant prose.  I thought so at the time; but you WOULD give
+him Cowper."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nay, Mamma, if he is not to be animated by Cowper!&mdash;but we must allow
+for difference of taste.  Elinor has not my feelings, and therefore she
+may overlook it, and be happy with him.  But it would have broke MY
+heart, had I loved him, to hear him read with so little sensibility.
+Mama, the more I know of the world, the more am I convinced that I
+shall never see a man whom I can really love.  I require so much!  He
+must have all Edward's virtues, and his person and manners must
+ornament his goodness with every possible charm."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Remember, my love, that you are not seventeen.  It is yet too early in
+life to despair of such a happiness.  Why should you be less fortunate
+than your mother?  In one circumstance only, my Marianne, may your
+destiny be different from her's!"
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap04"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 4
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+"What a pity it is, Elinor," said Marianne, "that Edward should have no
+taste for drawing."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No taste for drawing!" replied Elinor, "why should you think so? He
+does not draw himself, indeed, but he has great pleasure in seeing the
+performances of other people, and I assure you he is by no means
+deficient in natural taste, though he has not had opportunities of
+improving it.  Had he ever been in the way of learning, I think he
+would have drawn very well.  He distrusts his own judgment in such
+matters so much, that he is always unwilling to give his opinion on any
+picture; but he has an innate propriety and simplicity of taste, which
+in general direct him perfectly right."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne was afraid of offending, and said no more on the subject; but
+the kind of approbation which Elinor described as excited in him by the
+drawings of other people, was very far from that rapturous delight,
+which, in her opinion, could alone be called taste.  Yet, though
+smiling within herself at the mistake, she honoured her sister for that
+blind partiality to Edward which produced it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I hope, Marianne," continued Elinor, "you do not consider him as
+deficient in general taste.  Indeed, I think I may say that you cannot,
+for your behaviour to him is perfectly cordial, and if THAT were your
+opinion, I am sure you could never be civil to him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne hardly knew what to say.  She would not wound the feelings of
+her sister on any account, and yet to say what she did not believe was
+impossible.  At length she replied:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Do not be offended, Elinor, if my praise of him is not in every thing
+equal to your sense of his merits.  I have not had so many
+opportunities of estimating the minuter propensities of his mind, his
+inclinations and tastes, as you have; but I have the highest opinion in
+the world of his goodness and sense.  I think him every thing that is
+worthy and amiable."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am sure," replied Elinor, with a smile, "that his dearest friends
+could not be dissatisfied with such commendation as that.  I do not
+perceive how you could express yourself more warmly."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne was rejoiced to find her sister so easily pleased.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Of his sense and his goodness," continued Elinor, "no one can, I
+think, be in doubt, who has seen him often enough to engage him in
+unreserved conversation.  The excellence of his understanding and his
+principles can be concealed only by that shyness which too often keeps
+him silent.  You know enough of him to do justice to his solid worth.
+But of his minuter propensities, as you call them you have from
+peculiar circumstances been kept more ignorant than myself.  He and I
+have been at times thrown a good deal together, while you have been
+wholly engrossed on the most affectionate principle by my mother.  I
+have seen a great deal of him, have studied his sentiments and heard
+his opinion on subjects of literature and taste; and, upon the whole, I
+venture to pronounce that his mind is well-informed, enjoyment of books
+exceedingly great, his imagination lively, his observation just and
+correct, and his taste delicate and pure.  His abilities in every
+respect improve as much upon acquaintance as his manners and person.
+At first sight, his address is certainly not striking; and his person
+can hardly be called handsome, till the expression of his eyes, which
+are uncommonly good, and the general sweetness of his countenance, is
+perceived.  At present, I know him so well, that I think him really
+handsome; or at least, almost so.  What say you, Marianne?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I shall very soon think him handsome, Elinor, if I do not now.  When
+you tell me to love him as a brother, I shall no more see imperfection
+in his face, than I now do in his heart."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor started at this declaration, and was sorry for the warmth she
+had been betrayed into, in speaking of him.  She felt that Edward stood
+very high in her opinion.  She believed the regard to be mutual; but
+she required greater certainty of it to make Marianne's conviction of
+their attachment agreeable to her.  She knew that what Marianne and her
+mother conjectured one moment, they believed the next&mdash;that with them,
+to wish was to hope, and to hope was to expect.  She tried to explain
+the real state of the case to her sister.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I do not attempt to deny," said she, "that I think very highly of
+him&mdash;that I greatly esteem, that I like him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne here burst forth with indignation&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Esteem him! Like him! Cold-hearted Elinor! Oh!  worse than
+cold-hearted! Ashamed of being otherwise.  Use those words again, and I
+will leave the room this moment."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor could not help laughing.  "Excuse me," said she; "and be assured
+that I meant no offence to you, by speaking, in so quiet a way, of my
+own feelings.  Believe them to be stronger than I have declared;
+believe them, in short, to be such as his merit, and the suspicion&mdash;the
+hope of his affection for me may warrant, without imprudence or folly.
+But farther than this you must not believe.  I am by no means assured
+of his regard for me.  There are moments when the extent of it seems
+doubtful; and till his sentiments are fully known, you cannot wonder at
+my wishing to avoid any encouragement of my own partiality, by
+believing or calling it more than it is.  In my heart I feel
+little&mdash;scarcely any doubt of his preference.  But there are other
+points to be considered besides his inclination.  He is very far from
+being independent.  What his mother really is we cannot know; but, from
+Fanny's occasional mention of her conduct and opinions, we have never
+been disposed to think her amiable; and I am very much mistaken if
+Edward is not himself aware that there would be many difficulties in
+his way, if he were to wish to marry a woman who had not either a great
+fortune or high rank."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne was astonished to find how much the imagination of her mother
+and herself had outstripped the truth.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And you really are not engaged to him!" said she.  "Yet it certainly
+soon will happen.  But two advantages will proceed from this delay.  I
+shall not lose you so soon, and Edward will have greater opportunity of
+improving that natural taste for your favourite pursuit which must be
+so indispensably necessary to your future felicity.  Oh! if he should
+be so far stimulated by your genius as to learn to draw himself, how
+delightful it would be!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor had given her real opinion to her sister.  She could not
+consider her partiality for Edward in so prosperous a state as Marianne
+had believed it.  There was, at times, a want of spirits about him
+which, if it did not denote indifference, spoke of something almost as
+unpromising.  A doubt of her regard, supposing him to feel it, need not
+give him more than inquietude.  It would not be likely to produce that
+dejection of mind which frequently attended him.  A more reasonable
+cause might be found in the dependent situation which forbade the
+indulgence of his affection.  She knew that his mother neither behaved
+to him so as to make his home comfortable at present, nor to give him
+any assurance that he might form a home for himself, without strictly
+attending to her views for his aggrandizement.  With such a knowledge
+as this, it was impossible for Elinor to feel easy on the subject.  She
+was far from depending on that result of his preference of her, which
+her mother and sister still considered as certain.  Nay, the longer
+they were together the more doubtful seemed the nature of his regard;
+and sometimes, for a few painful minutes, she believed it to be no more
+than friendship.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But, whatever might really be its limits, it was enough, when perceived
+by his sister, to make her uneasy, and at the same time, (which was
+still more common,) to make her uncivil.  She took the first
+opportunity of affronting her mother-in-law on the occasion, talking to
+her so expressively of her brother's great expectations, of Mrs.
+Ferrars's resolution that both her sons should marry well, and of the
+danger attending any young woman who attempted to DRAW HIM IN; that
+Mrs. Dashwood could neither pretend to be unconscious, nor endeavor to
+be calm.  She gave her an answer which marked her contempt, and
+instantly left the room, resolving that, whatever might be the
+inconvenience or expense of so sudden a removal, her beloved Elinor
+should not be exposed another week to such insinuations.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In this state of her spirits, a letter was delivered to her from the
+post, which contained a proposal particularly well timed.  It was the
+offer of a small house, on very easy terms, belonging to a relation of
+her own, a gentleman of consequence and property in Devonshire.  The
+letter was from this gentleman himself, and written in the true spirit
+of friendly accommodation.  He understood that she was in need of a
+dwelling; and though the house he now offered her was merely a cottage,
+he assured her that everything should be done to it which she might
+think necessary, if the situation pleased her.  He earnestly pressed
+her, after giving the particulars of the house and garden, to come with
+her daughters to Barton Park, the place of his own residence, from
+whence she might judge, herself, whether Barton Cottage, for the houses
+were in the same parish, could, by any alteration, be made comfortable
+to her.  He seemed really anxious to accommodate them and the whole of
+his letter was written in so friendly a style as could not fail of
+giving pleasure to his cousin; more especially at a moment when she was
+suffering under the cold and unfeeling behaviour of her nearer
+connections.  She needed no time for deliberation or inquiry.  Her
+resolution was formed as she read.  The situation of Barton, in a
+county so far distant from Sussex as Devonshire, which, but a few hours
+before, would have been a sufficient objection to outweigh every
+possible advantage belonging to the place, was now its first
+recommendation.  To quit the neighbourhood of Norland was no longer an
+evil; it was an object of desire; it was a blessing, in comparison of
+the misery of continuing her daughter-in-law's guest; and to remove for
+ever from that beloved place would be less painful than to inhabit or
+visit it while such a woman was its mistress.  She instantly wrote Sir
+John Middleton her acknowledgment of his kindness, and her acceptance
+of his proposal; and then hastened to shew both letters to her
+daughters, that she might be secure of their approbation before her
+answer were sent.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor had always thought it would be more prudent for them to settle
+at some distance from Norland, than immediately amongst their present
+acquaintance.  On THAT head, therefore, it was not for her to oppose
+her mother's intention of removing into Devonshire.  The house, too, as
+described by Sir John, was on so simple a scale, and the rent so
+uncommonly moderate, as to leave her no right of objection on either
+point; and, therefore, though it was not a plan which brought any charm
+to her fancy, though it was a removal from the vicinity of Norland
+beyond her wishes, she made no attempt to dissuade her mother from
+sending a letter of acquiescence.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap05"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 5
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+No sooner was her answer dispatched, than Mrs. Dashwood indulged
+herself in the pleasure of announcing to her son-in-law and his wife
+that she was provided with a house, and should incommode them no longer
+than till every thing were ready for her inhabiting it.  They heard her
+with surprise.  Mrs. John Dashwood said nothing; but her husband
+civilly hoped that she would not be settled far from Norland.  She had
+great satisfaction in replying that she was going into
+Devonshire.&mdash;Edward turned hastily towards her, on hearing this, and,
+in a voice of surprise and concern, which required no explanation to
+her, repeated, "Devonshire! Are you, indeed, going there?  So far from
+hence!  And to what part of it?"  She explained the situation.  It was
+within four miles northward of Exeter.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is but a cottage," she continued, "but I hope to see many of my
+friends in it.  A room or two can easily be added; and if my friends
+find no difficulty in travelling so far to see me, I am sure I will
+find none in accommodating them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She concluded with a very kind invitation to Mr. and Mrs. John Dashwood
+to visit her at Barton; and to Edward she gave one with still greater
+affection.  Though her late conversation with her daughter-in-law had
+made her resolve on remaining at Norland no longer than was
+unavoidable, it had not produced the smallest effect on her in that
+point to which it principally tended.  To separate Edward and Elinor
+was as far from being her object as ever; and she wished to show Mrs.
+John Dashwood, by this pointed invitation to her brother, how totally
+she disregarded her disapprobation of the match.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mr. John Dashwood told his mother again and again how exceedingly sorry
+he was that she had taken a house at such a distance from Norland as to
+prevent his being of any service to her in removing her furniture.  He
+really felt conscientiously vexed on the occasion; for the very
+exertion to which he had limited the performance of his promise to his
+father was by this arrangement rendered impracticable.&mdash; The furniture
+was all sent around by water.  It chiefly consisted of household linen,
+plate, china, and books, with a handsome pianoforte of Marianne's.
+Mrs. John Dashwood saw the packages depart with a sigh: she could not
+help feeling it hard that as Mrs. Dashwood's income would be so
+trifling in comparison with their own, she should have any handsome
+article of furniture.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood took the house for a twelvemonth; it was ready furnished,
+and she might have immediate possession.  No difficulty arose on either
+side in the agreement; and she waited only for the disposal of her
+effects at Norland, and to determine her future household, before she
+set off for the west; and this, as she was exceedingly rapid in the
+performance of everything that interested her, was soon done.&mdash;The
+horses which were left her by her husband had been sold soon after his
+death, and an opportunity now offering of disposing of her carriage,
+she agreed to sell that likewise at the earnest advice of her eldest
+daughter.  For the comfort of her children, had she consulted only her
+own wishes, she would have kept it; but the discretion of Elinor
+prevailed.  HER 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.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The man and one of the maids were sent off immediately into Devonshire,
+to prepare the house for their mistress's arrival; for as Lady
+Middleton was entirely unknown to Mrs. Dashwood, she preferred going
+directly to the cottage to being a visitor at Barton Park; and she
+relied so undoubtingly on Sir John's description of the house, as to
+feel no curiosity to examine it herself till she entered it as her own.
+Her eagerness to be gone from Norland was preserved from diminution by
+the evident satisfaction of her daughter-in-law in the prospect of her
+removal; a satisfaction which was but feebly attempted to be concealed
+under a cold invitation to her to defer her departure.  Now was the
+time when her son-in-law's promise to his father might with particular
+propriety be fulfilled.  Since he had neglected to do it on first
+coming to the estate, their quitting his house might be looked on as
+the most suitable period for its accomplishment.  But Mrs. Dashwood
+began shortly to give over every hope of the kind, and to be convinced,
+from the general drift of his discourse, that his assistance extended
+no farther than their maintenance for six months at Norland.  He so
+frequently talked of the increasing expenses of housekeeping, and of
+the perpetual demands upon his purse, which a man of any consequence in
+the world was beyond calculation exposed to, that he seemed rather to
+stand in need of more money himself than to have any design of giving
+money away.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In a very few weeks from the day which brought Sir John Middleton's
+first letter to Norland, every thing was so far settled in their future
+abode as to enable Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters to begin their
+journey.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Many were the tears shed by them in their last adieus to a place so
+much beloved.  "Dear, dear Norland!" said Marianne, as she wandered
+alone before the house, on the last evening of their being there; "when
+shall I cease to regret you!&mdash;when learn to feel a home elsewhere!&mdash;Oh!
+happy house, could you know what I suffer in now viewing you from this
+spot, from whence perhaps I may view you no more!&mdash;And you, ye
+well-known trees!&mdash;but you will continue the same.&mdash;No leaf will decay
+because we are removed, nor any branch become motionless although we
+can observe you no longer!&mdash;No; you will continue the same; unconscious
+of the pleasure or the regret you occasion, and insensible of any
+change in those who walk under your shade!&mdash;But who will remain to
+enjoy you?"
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap06"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 6
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+The first part of their journey was performed in too melancholy a
+disposition to be otherwise than tedious and unpleasant.  But as they
+drew towards the end of it, their interest in the appearance of a
+country which they were to inhabit overcame their dejection, and a view
+of Barton Valley as they entered it gave them cheerfulness.  It was a
+pleasant fertile spot, well wooded, and rich in pasture.  After winding
+along it for more than a mile, they reached their own house.  A small
+green court was the whole of its demesne in front; and a neat wicket
+gate admitted them into it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As a house, Barton Cottage, though small, was comfortable and compact;
+but as a cottage it was defective, for the building was regular, the
+roof was tiled, the window shutters were not painted green, nor were
+the walls covered with honeysuckles.  A narrow passage led directly
+through the house into the garden behind.  On each side of the entrance
+was a sitting room, about sixteen feet square; and beyond them were the
+offices and the stairs.  Four bed-rooms and two garrets formed the rest
+of the house.  It had not been built many years and was in good repair.
+In comparison of Norland, it was poor and small indeed!&mdash;but the tears
+which recollection called forth as they entered the house were soon
+dried away.  They were cheered by the joy of the servants on their
+arrival, and each for the sake of the others resolved to appear happy.
+It was very early in September; the season was fine, and from first
+seeing the place under the advantage of good weather, they received an
+impression in its favour which was of material service in recommending
+it to their lasting approbation.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The situation of the house was good.  High hills rose immediately
+behind, and at no great distance on each side; some of which were open
+downs, the others cultivated and woody.  The village of Barton was
+chiefly on one of these hills, and formed a pleasant view from the
+cottage windows.  The prospect in front was more extensive; it
+commanded the whole of the valley, and reached into the country beyond.
+The hills which surrounded the cottage terminated the valley in that
+direction; under another name, and in another course, it branched out
+again between two of the steepest of them.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+With the size and furniture of the house Mrs. Dashwood was upon the
+whole well satisfied; for though her former style of life rendered many
+additions to the latter indispensable, yet to add and improve was a
+delight to her; and she had at this time ready money enough to supply
+all that was wanted of greater elegance to the apartments.  "As for the
+house itself, to be sure," said she, "it is too small for our family,
+but we will make ourselves tolerably comfortable for the present, as it
+is too late in the year for improvements.  Perhaps in the spring, if I
+have plenty of money, as I dare say I shall, we may think about
+building.  These parlors are both too small for such parties of our
+friends as I hope to see often collected here; and I have some thoughts
+of throwing the passage into one of them with perhaps a part of the
+other, and so leave the remainder of that other for an entrance; this,
+with a new drawing room which may be easily added, and a bed-chamber
+and garret above, will make it a very snug little cottage.  I could
+wish the stairs were handsome.  But one must not expect every thing;
+though I suppose it would be no difficult matter to widen them.  I
+shall see how much I am before-hand with the world in the spring, and
+we will plan our improvements accordingly."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In the mean time, till all these alterations could be made from the
+savings of an income of five hundred a-year by a woman who never saved
+in her life, they were wise enough to be contented with the house as it
+was; and each of them was busy in arranging their particular concerns,
+and endeavoring, by placing around them books and other possessions, to
+form themselves a home.  Marianne's pianoforte was unpacked and
+properly disposed of; and Elinor's drawings were affixed to the walls
+of their sitting room.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In such employments as these they were interrupted soon after breakfast
+the next day by the entrance of their landlord, who called to welcome
+them to Barton, and to offer them every accommodation from his own
+house and garden in which theirs might at present be deficient.  Sir
+John Middleton was a good looking man about forty.  He had formerly
+visited at Stanhill, but it was too long for his young cousins to
+remember him.  His countenance was thoroughly good-humoured; and his
+manners were as friendly as the style of his letter.  Their arrival
+seemed to afford him real satisfaction, and their comfort to be an
+object of real solicitude to him.  He said much of his earnest desire
+of their living in the most sociable terms with his family, and pressed
+them so cordially to dine at Barton Park every day till they were
+better settled at home, that, though his entreaties were carried to a
+point of perseverance beyond civility, they could not give offence.
+His kindness was not confined to words; for within an hour after he
+left them, a large basket full of garden stuff and fruit arrived from
+the park, which was followed before the end of the day by a present of
+game.  He insisted, moreover, on conveying all their letters to and
+from the post for them, and would not be denied the satisfaction of
+sending them his newspaper every day.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Lady Middleton had sent a very civil message by him, denoting her
+intention of waiting on Mrs. Dashwood as soon as she could be assured
+that her visit would be no inconvenience; and as this message was
+answered by an invitation equally polite, her ladyship was introduced
+to them the next day.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They were, of course, very anxious to see a person on whom so much of
+their comfort at Barton must depend; and the elegance of her appearance
+was favourable to their wishes.  Lady Middleton was not more than six
+or seven and twenty; her face was handsome, her figure tall and
+striking, and her address graceful.  Her manners had all the elegance
+which her husband's wanted.  But they would have been improved by some
+share of his frankness and warmth; and her visit was long enough to
+detract something from their first admiration, by shewing that, though
+perfectly well-bred, she was reserved, cold, and had nothing to say for
+herself beyond the most common-place inquiry or remark.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Conversation however was not wanted, for Sir John was very chatty, and
+Lady Middleton had taken the wise precaution of bringing with her their
+eldest child, a fine little boy about six years old, by which means
+there was one subject always to be recurred to by the ladies in case of
+extremity, for they had to enquire his name and age, admire his beauty,
+and ask him questions which his mother answered for him, while he hung
+about her and held down his head, to the great surprise of her
+ladyship, who wondered at his being so shy before company, as he could
+make noise enough at home.  On every formal visit a child ought to be
+of the party, by way of provision for discourse.  In the present case
+it took up ten minutes to determine whether the boy were most like his
+father or mother, and in what particular he resembled either, for of
+course every body differed, and every body was astonished at the
+opinion of the others.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+An opportunity was soon to be given to the Dashwoods of debating on the
+rest of the children, as Sir John would not leave the house without
+securing their promise of dining at the park the next day.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap07"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 7
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Barton Park was about half a mile from the cottage.  The ladies had
+passed near it in their way along the valley, but it was screened from
+their view at home by the projection of a hill.  The house was large
+and handsome; and the Middletons lived in a style of equal hospitality
+and elegance.  The former was for Sir John's gratification, the latter
+for that of his lady.  They were scarcely ever without some friends
+staying with them in the house, and they kept more company of every
+kind than any other family in the neighbourhood.  It was necessary to
+the happiness of both; for however dissimilar in temper and outward
+behaviour, they strongly resembled each other in that total want of
+talent and taste which confined their employments, unconnected with
+such as society produced, within a very narrow compass.  Sir John was a
+sportsman, Lady Middleton a mother.  He hunted and shot, and she
+humoured her children; and these were their only resources.  Lady
+Middleton had the advantage of being able to spoil her children all the
+year round, while Sir John's independent employments were in existence
+only half the time.  Continual engagements at home and abroad, however,
+supplied all the deficiencies of nature and education; supported the
+good spirits of Sir John, and gave exercise to the good breeding of his
+wife.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Lady Middleton piqued herself upon the elegance of her table, and of
+all her domestic arrangements; and from this kind of vanity was her
+greatest enjoyment in any of their parties.  But Sir John's
+satisfaction in society was much more real; he delighted in collecting
+about him more young people than his house would hold, and the noisier
+they were the better was he pleased.  He was a blessing to all the
+juvenile part of the neighbourhood, for in summer he was for ever
+forming parties to eat cold ham and chicken out of doors, and in winter
+his private balls were numerous enough for any young lady who was not
+suffering under the unsatiable appetite of fifteen.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The arrival of a new family in the country was always a matter of joy
+to him, and in every point of view he was charmed with the inhabitants
+he had now procured for his cottage at Barton.  The Miss Dashwoods were
+young, pretty, and unaffected.  It was enough to secure his good
+opinion; for to be unaffected was all that a pretty girl could want to
+make her mind as captivating as her person.  The friendliness of his
+disposition made him happy in accommodating those, whose situation
+might be considered, in comparison with the past, as unfortunate.  In
+showing kindness to his cousins therefore he had the real satisfaction
+of a good heart; and in settling a family of females only in his
+cottage, he had all the satisfaction of a sportsman; for a sportsman,
+though he esteems only those of his sex who are sportsmen likewise, is
+not often desirous of encouraging their taste by admitting them to a
+residence within his own manor.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters were met at the door of the house by
+Sir John, who welcomed them to Barton Park with unaffected sincerity;
+and as he attended them to the drawing room repeated to the young
+ladies the concern which the same subject had drawn from him the day
+before, at being unable to get any smart young men to meet them.  They
+would see, he said, only one gentleman there besides himself; a
+particular friend who was staying at the park, but who was neither very
+young nor very gay.  He hoped they would all excuse the smallness of
+the party, and could assure them it should never happen so again.  He
+had been to several families that morning in hopes of procuring some
+addition to their number, but it was moonlight and every body was full
+of engagements.  Luckily Lady Middleton's mother had arrived at Barton
+within the last hour, and as she was a very cheerful agreeable woman,
+he hoped the young ladies would not find it so very dull as they might
+imagine.  The young ladies, as well as their mother, were perfectly
+satisfied with having two entire strangers of the party, and wished for
+no more.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Jennings, Lady Middleton's mother, was a good-humoured, merry,
+fat, elderly woman, who talked a great deal, seemed very happy, and
+rather vulgar.  She was full of jokes and laughter, and before dinner
+was over had said many witty things on the subject of lovers and
+husbands; hoped they had not left their hearts behind them in Sussex,
+and pretended to see them blush whether they did or not.  Marianne was
+vexed at it for her sister's sake, and turned her eyes towards Elinor
+to see how she bore these attacks, with an earnestness which gave
+Elinor far more pain than could arise from such common-place raillery
+as Mrs. Jennings's.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Colonel Brandon, the friend of Sir John, seemed no more adapted by
+resemblance of manner to be his friend, than Lady Middleton was to be
+his wife, or Mrs. Jennings to be Lady Middleton's mother.  He was
+silent and grave.  His appearance however was not unpleasing, in spite
+of his being in the opinion of Marianne and Margaret an absolute old
+bachelor, for he was on the wrong side of five and thirty; but though
+his face was not handsome, his countenance was sensible, and his
+address was particularly gentlemanlike.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+There was nothing in any of the party which could recommend them as
+companions to the Dashwoods; but the cold insipidity of Lady Middleton
+was so particularly repulsive, that in comparison of it the gravity of
+Colonel Brandon, and even the boisterous mirth of Sir John and his
+mother-in-law was interesting.  Lady Middleton seemed to be roused to
+enjoyment only by the entrance of her four noisy children after dinner,
+who pulled her about, tore her clothes, and put an end to every kind of
+discourse except what related to themselves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In the evening, as Marianne was discovered to be musical, she was
+invited to play.  The instrument was unlocked, every body prepared to
+be charmed, and Marianne, who sang very well, at their request went
+through the chief of the songs which Lady Middleton had brought into
+the family on her marriage, and which perhaps had lain ever since in
+the same position on the pianoforte, for her ladyship had celebrated
+that event by giving up music, although by her mother's account, she
+had played extremely well, and by her own was very fond of it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne's performance was highly applauded.  Sir John was loud in his
+admiration at the end of every song, and as loud in his conversation
+with the others while every song lasted.  Lady Middleton frequently
+called him to order, wondered how any one's attention could be diverted
+from music for a moment, and asked Marianne to sing a particular song
+which Marianne had just finished.  Colonel Brandon alone, of all the
+party, heard her without being in raptures.  He paid her only the
+compliment of attention; and she felt a respect for him on the
+occasion, which the others had reasonably forfeited by their shameless
+want of taste.  His pleasure in music, though it amounted not to that
+ecstatic delight which alone could sympathize with her own, was
+estimable when contrasted against the horrible insensibility of the
+others; and she was reasonable enough to allow that a man of five and
+thirty might well have outlived all acuteness of feeling and every
+exquisite power of enjoyment.  She was perfectly disposed to make every
+allowance for the colonel's advanced state of life which humanity
+required.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap08"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 8
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Jennings was a widow with an ample jointure.  She had only two
+daughters, both of whom she had lived to see respectably married, and
+she had now therefore nothing to do but to marry all the rest of the
+world.  In the promotion of this object she was zealously active, as
+far as her ability reached; and missed no opportunity of projecting
+weddings among all the young people of her acquaintance.  She was
+remarkably quick in the discovery of attachments, and had enjoyed the
+advantage of raising the blushes and the vanity of many a young lady by
+insinuations of her power over such a young man; and this kind of
+discernment enabled her soon after her arrival at Barton decisively to
+pronounce that Colonel Brandon was very much in love with Marianne
+Dashwood.  She rather suspected it to be so, on the very first evening
+of their being together, from his listening so attentively while she
+sang to them; and when the visit was returned by the Middletons' dining
+at the cottage, the fact was ascertained by his listening to her again.
+It must be so.  She was perfectly convinced of it.  It would be an
+excellent match, for HE was rich, and SHE was handsome.  Mrs. Jennings
+had been anxious to see Colonel Brandon well married, ever since her
+connection with Sir John first brought him to her knowledge; and she
+was always anxious to get a good husband for every pretty girl.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The immediate advantage to herself was by no means inconsiderable, for
+it supplied her with endless jokes against them both.  At the park she
+laughed at the colonel, and in the cottage at Marianne.  To the former
+her raillery was probably, as far as it regarded only himself,
+perfectly indifferent; but to the latter it was at first
+incomprehensible; and when its object was understood, she hardly knew
+whether most to laugh at its absurdity, or censure its impertinence,
+for she considered it as an unfeeling reflection on the colonel's
+advanced years, and on his forlorn condition as an old bachelor.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood, who could not think a man five years younger than
+herself, so exceedingly ancient as he appeared to the youthful fancy of
+her daughter, ventured to clear Mrs. Jennings from the probability of
+wishing to throw ridicule on his age.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But at least, Mamma, you cannot deny the absurdity of the accusation,
+though you may not think it intentionally ill-natured.  Colonel Brandon
+is certainly younger than Mrs. Jennings, but he is old enough to be MY
+father; and if he were ever animated enough to be in love, must have
+long outlived every sensation of the kind.  It is too ridiculous!  When
+is a man to be safe from such wit, if age and infirmity will not
+protect him?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Infirmity!" said Elinor, "do you call Colonel Brandon infirm?  I can
+easily suppose that his age may appear much greater to you than to my
+mother; but you can hardly deceive yourself as to his having the use of
+his limbs!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Did not you hear him complain of the rheumatism?  and is not that the
+commonest infirmity of declining life?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My dearest child," said her mother, laughing, "at this rate you must
+be in continual terror of MY decay; and it must seem to you a miracle
+that my life has been extended to the advanced age of forty."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mamma, you are not doing me justice.  I know very well that Colonel
+Brandon is not old enough to make his friends yet apprehensive of
+losing him in the course of nature.  He may live twenty years longer.
+But thirty-five has nothing to do with matrimony."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Perhaps," said Elinor, "thirty-five and seventeen had better not have
+any thing to do with matrimony together.  But if there should by any
+chance happen to be a woman who is single at seven and twenty, I should
+not think Colonel Brandon's being thirty-five any objection to his
+marrying HER."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"A woman of seven and twenty," said Marianne, after pausing a moment,
+"can never hope to feel or inspire affection again, and if her home be
+uncomfortable, or her fortune small, I can suppose that she might bring
+herself to submit to the offices of a nurse, for the sake of the
+provision and security of a wife.  In his marrying such a woman
+therefore there would be nothing unsuitable.  It would be a compact of
+convenience, and the world would be satisfied.  In my eyes it would be
+no marriage at all, but that would be nothing.  To me it would seem
+only a commercial exchange, in which each wished to be benefited at the
+expense of the other."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It would be impossible, I know," replied Elinor, "to convince you that
+a woman of seven and twenty could feel for a man of thirty-five
+anything near enough to love, to make him a desirable companion to her.
+But I must object to your dooming Colonel Brandon and his wife to the
+constant confinement of a sick chamber, merely because he chanced to
+complain yesterday (a very cold damp day) of a slight rheumatic feel in
+one of his shoulders."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But he talked of flannel waistcoats," said Marianne; "and with me a
+flannel waistcoat is invariably connected with aches, cramps,
+rheumatisms, and every species of ailment that can afflict the old and
+the feeble."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Had he been only in a violent fever, you would not have despised him
+half so much.  Confess, Marianne, is not there something interesting to
+you in the flushed cheek, hollow eye, and quick pulse of a fever?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Soon after this, upon Elinor's leaving the room, "Mamma," said
+Marianne, "I have an alarm on the subject of illness which I cannot
+conceal from you.  I am sure Edward Ferrars is not well.  We have now
+been here almost a fortnight, and yet he does not come.  Nothing but
+real indisposition could occasion this extraordinary delay.  What else
+can detain him at Norland?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Had you any idea of his coming so soon?" said Mrs. Dashwood.  "I had
+none.  On the contrary, if I have felt any anxiety at all on the
+subject, it has been in recollecting that he sometimes showed a want of
+pleasure and readiness in accepting my invitation, when I talked of his
+coming to Barton.  Does Elinor expect him already?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have never mentioned it to her, but of course she must."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I rather think you are mistaken, for when I was talking to her
+yesterday of getting a new grate for the spare bedchamber, she observed
+that there was no immediate hurry for it, as it was not likely that the
+room would be wanted for some time."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How strange this is! what can be the meaning of it!  But the whole of
+their behaviour to each other has been unaccountable! How cold, how
+composed were their last adieus! How languid their conversation the
+last evening of their being together! In Edward's farewell there was no
+distinction between Elinor and me: it was the good wishes of an
+affectionate brother to both.  Twice did I leave them purposely
+together in the course of the last morning, and each time did he most
+unaccountably follow me out of the room.  And Elinor, in quitting
+Norland and Edward, cried not as I did.  Even now her self-command is
+invariable.  When is she dejected or melancholy? When does she try to
+avoid society, or appear restless and dissatisfied in it?"
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap09"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 9
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+The Dashwoods were now settled at Barton with tolerable comfort to
+themselves.  The house and the garden, with all the objects surrounding
+them, were now become familiar, and the ordinary pursuits which had
+given to Norland half its charms were engaged in again with far greater
+enjoyment than Norland had been able to afford, since the loss of their
+father.  Sir John Middleton, who called on them every day for the first
+fortnight, and who was not in the habit of seeing much occupation at
+home, could not conceal his amazement on finding them always employed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Their visitors, except those from Barton Park, were not many; for, in
+spite of Sir John's urgent entreaties that they would mix more in the
+neighbourhood, and repeated assurances of his carriage being always at
+their service, the independence of Mrs. Dashwood's spirit overcame the
+wish of society for her children; and she was resolute in declining to
+visit any family beyond the distance of a walk.  There were but few who
+could be so classed; and it was not all of them that were attainable.
+About a mile and a half from the cottage, along the narrow winding
+valley of Allenham, which issued from that of Barton, as formerly
+described, the girls had, in one of their earliest walks, discovered an
+ancient respectable looking mansion which, by reminding them a little
+of Norland, interested their imagination and made them wish to be
+better acquainted with it.  But they learnt, on enquiry, that its
+possessor, an elderly lady of very good character, was unfortunately
+too infirm to mix with the world, and never stirred from home.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The whole country about them abounded in beautiful walks.  The high
+downs which invited them from almost every window of the cottage to
+seek the exquisite enjoyment of air on their summits, were a happy
+alternative when the dirt of the valleys beneath shut up their superior
+beauties; and towards one of these hills did Marianne and Margaret one
+memorable morning direct their steps, attracted by the partial sunshine
+of a showery sky, and unable longer to bear the confinement which the
+settled rain of the two preceding days had occasioned.  The weather was
+not tempting enough to draw the two others from their pencil and their
+book, in spite of Marianne's declaration that the day would be
+lastingly fair, and that every threatening cloud would be drawn off
+from their hills; and the two girls set off together.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They gaily ascended the downs, rejoicing in their own penetration at
+every glimpse of blue sky; and when they caught in their faces the
+animating gales of a high south-westerly wind, they pitied the fears
+which had prevented their mother and Elinor from sharing such
+delightful sensations.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is there a felicity in the world," said Marianne, "superior to
+this?&mdash;Margaret, we will walk here at least two hours."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Margaret agreed, and they pursued their way against the wind, resisting
+it with laughing delight for about twenty minutes longer, when suddenly
+the clouds united over their heads, and a driving rain set full in
+their face.&mdash; Chagrined and surprised, they were obliged, though
+unwillingly, to turn back, for no shelter was nearer than their own
+house.  One consolation however remained for them, to which the
+exigence of the moment gave more than usual propriety; it was that of
+running with all possible speed down the steep side of the hill which
+led immediately to their garden gate.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They set off.  Marianne had at first the advantage, but a false step
+brought her suddenly to the ground; and Margaret, unable to stop
+herself to assist her, was involuntarily hurried along, and reached the
+bottom in safety.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A gentleman carrying a gun, with two pointers playing round him, was
+passing up the hill and within a few yards of Marianne, when her
+accident happened.  He put down his gun and ran to her assistance.  She
+had raised herself from the ground, but her foot had been twisted in
+her fall, and she was scarcely able to stand.  The gentleman offered
+his services; and perceiving that her modesty declined what her
+situation rendered necessary, took her up in his arms without farther
+delay, and carried her down the hill.  Then passing through the garden,
+the gate of which had been left open by Margaret, he bore her directly
+into the house, whither Margaret was just arrived, and quitted not his
+hold till he had seated her in a chair in the parlour.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor and her mother rose up in amazement at their entrance, and while
+the eyes of both were fixed on him with an evident wonder and a secret
+admiration which equally sprung from his appearance, he apologized for
+his intrusion by relating its cause, in a manner so frank and so
+graceful that his person, which was uncommonly handsome, received
+additional charms from his voice and expression.  Had he been even old,
+ugly, and vulgar, the gratitude and kindness of Mrs. Dashwood would
+have been secured by any act of attention to her child; but the
+influence of youth, beauty, and elegance, gave an interest to the
+action which came home to her feelings.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She thanked him again and again; and, with a sweetness of address which
+always attended her, invited him to be seated.  But this he declined,
+as he was dirty and wet.  Mrs. Dashwood then begged to know to whom she
+was obliged.  His name, he replied, was Willoughby, and his present
+home was at Allenham, from whence he hoped she would allow him the
+honour of calling tomorrow to enquire after Miss Dashwood.  The honour
+was readily granted, and he then departed, to make himself still more
+interesting, in the midst of a heavy rain.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+His manly beauty and more than common gracefulness were instantly the
+theme of general admiration, and the laugh which his gallantry raised
+against Marianne received particular spirit from his exterior
+attractions.&mdash; Marianne herself had seen less of his person that the
+rest, for the confusion which crimsoned over her face, on his lifting
+her up, had robbed her of the power of regarding him after their
+entering the house.  But she had seen enough of him to join in all the
+admiration of the others, and with an energy which always adorned her
+praise.  His person and air were equal to what her fancy had ever drawn
+for the hero of a favourite story; and in his carrying her into the
+house with so little previous formality, there was a rapidity of
+thought which particularly recommended the action to her.  Every
+circumstance belonging to him was interesting.  His name was good, his
+residence was in their favourite village, and she soon found out that
+of all manly dresses a shooting-jacket was the most becoming.  Her
+imagination was busy, her reflections were pleasant, and the pain of a
+sprained ankle was disregarded.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Sir John called on them as soon as the next interval of fair weather
+that morning allowed him to get out of doors; and Marianne's accident
+being related to him, he was eagerly asked whether he knew any
+gentleman of the name of Willoughby at Allenham.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Willoughby!" cried Sir John; "what, is HE in the country? That is good
+news however; I will ride over tomorrow, and ask him to dinner on
+Thursday."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You know him then," said Mrs. Dashwood.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Know him! to be sure I do.  Why, he is down here every year."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And what sort of a young man is he?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"As good a kind of fellow as ever lived, I assure you.  A very decent
+shot, and there is not a bolder rider in England."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And is that all you can say for him?" cried Marianne, indignantly.
+"But what are his manners on more intimate acquaintance? What his
+pursuits, his talents, and genius?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Sir John was rather puzzled.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Upon my soul," said he, "I do not know much about him as to all THAT.
+But he is a pleasant, good humoured fellow, and has got the nicest
+little black bitch of a pointer I ever saw.  Was she out with him
+today?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But Marianne could no more satisfy him as to the colour of Mr.
+Willoughby's pointer, than he could describe to her the shades of his
+mind.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But who is he?" said Elinor.  "Where does he come from?  Has he a
+house at Allenham?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+On this point Sir John could give more certain intelligence; and he
+told them that Mr. Willoughby had no property of his own in the
+country; that he resided there only while he was visiting the old lady
+at Allenham Court, to whom he was related, and whose possessions he was
+to inherit; adding, "Yes, yes, he is very well worth catching I can
+tell you, Miss Dashwood; he has a pretty little estate of his own in
+Somersetshire besides; and if I were you, I would not give him up to my
+younger sister, in spite of all this tumbling down hills.  Miss
+Marianne must not expect to have all the men to herself.  Brandon will
+be jealous, if she does not take care."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I do not believe," said Mrs. Dashwood, with a good humoured smile,
+"that Mr. Willoughby will be incommoded by the attempts of either of MY
+daughters towards what you call CATCHING him.  It is not an employment
+to which they have been brought up.  Men are very safe with us, let
+them be ever so rich.  I am glad to find, however, from what you say,
+that he is a respectable young man, and one whose acquaintance will not
+be ineligible."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He is as good a sort of fellow, I believe, as ever lived," repeated
+Sir John.  "I remember last Christmas at a little hop at the park, he
+danced from eight o'clock till four, without once sitting down."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Did he indeed?" cried Marianne with sparkling eyes, "and with
+elegance, with spirit?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes; and he was up again at eight to ride to covert."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That is what I like; that is what a young man ought to be.  Whatever
+be his pursuits, his eagerness in them should know no moderation, and
+leave him no sense of fatigue."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Aye, aye, I see how it will be," said Sir John, "I see how it will be.
+You will be setting your cap at him now, and never think of poor
+Brandon."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That is an expression, Sir John," said Marianne, warmly, "which I
+particularly dislike.  I abhor every common-place phrase by which wit
+is intended; and 'setting one's cap at a man,' or 'making a conquest,'
+are the most odious of all.  Their tendency is gross and illiberal; and
+if their construction could ever be deemed clever, time has long ago
+destroyed all its ingenuity."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Sir John did not much understand this reproof; but he laughed as
+heartily as if he did, and then replied,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ay, you will make conquests enough, I dare say, one way or other.
+Poor Brandon! he is quite smitten already, and he is very well worth
+setting your cap at, I can tell you, in spite of all this tumbling
+about and spraining of ankles."
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap10"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 10
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Marianne's preserver, as Margaret, with more elegance than precision,
+styled Willoughby, called at the cottage early the next morning to make
+his personal enquiries.  He was received by Mrs. Dashwood with more
+than politeness; with a kindness which Sir John's account of him and
+her own gratitude prompted; and every thing that passed during the
+visit tended to assure him of the sense, elegance, mutual affection,
+and domestic comfort of the family to whom accident had now introduced
+him.  Of their personal charms he had not required a second interview
+to be convinced.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Miss Dashwood had a delicate complexion, regular features, and a
+remarkably pretty figure.  Marianne was still handsomer.  Her form,
+though not so correct as her sister's, in having the advantage of
+height, was more striking; and her face was so lovely, that when in the
+common cant of praise, she was called a beautiful girl, truth was less
+violently outraged than usually happens.  Her skin was very brown, but,
+from its transparency, her complexion was uncommonly brilliant; her
+features were all good; her smile was sweet and attractive; and in her
+eyes, which were very dark, there was a life, a spirit, an eagerness,
+which could hardily be seen without delight.  From Willoughby their
+expression was at first held back, by the embarrassment which the
+remembrance of his assistance created.  But when this passed away, when
+her spirits became collected, when she saw that to the perfect
+good-breeding of the gentleman, he united frankness and vivacity, and
+above all, when she heard him declare, that of music and dancing he was
+passionately fond, she gave him such a look of approbation as secured
+the largest share of his discourse to herself for the rest of his stay.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was only necessary to mention any favourite amusement to engage her
+to talk.  She could not be silent when such points were introduced, and
+she had neither shyness nor reserve in their discussion.  They speedily
+discovered that their enjoyment of dancing and music was mutual, and
+that it arose from a general conformity of judgment in all that related
+to either.  Encouraged by this to a further examination of his
+opinions, she proceeded to question him on the subject of books; her
+favourite authors were brought forward and dwelt upon with so rapturous
+a delight, that any young man of five and twenty must have been
+insensible indeed, not to become an immediate convert to the excellence
+of such works, however disregarded before.  Their taste was strikingly
+alike.  The same books, the same passages were idolized by each&mdash;or if
+any difference appeared, any objection arose, it lasted no longer than
+till the force of her arguments and the brightness of her eyes could be
+displayed.  He acquiesced in all her decisions, caught all her
+enthusiasm; and long before his visit concluded, they conversed with
+the familiarity of a long-established acquaintance.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, Marianne," said Elinor, as soon as he had left them, "for ONE
+morning I think you have done pretty well.  You have already
+ascertained Mr. Willoughby's opinion in almost every matter of
+importance.  You know what he thinks of Cowper and Scott; you are
+certain of his estimating their beauties as he ought, and you have
+received every assurance of his admiring Pope no more than is proper.
+But how is your acquaintance to be long supported, under such
+extraordinary despatch of every subject for discourse?  You will soon
+have exhausted each favourite topic.  Another meeting will suffice to
+explain his sentiments on picturesque beauty, and second marriages, and
+then you can have nothing farther to ask."&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Elinor," cried Marianne, "is this fair? is this just? are my ideas so
+scanty?  But I see what you mean.  I have been too much at my ease, too
+happy, too frank.  I have erred against every common-place notion of
+decorum; I have been open and sincere where I ought to have been
+reserved, spiritless, dull, and deceitful&mdash;had I talked only of the
+weather and the roads, and had I spoken only once in ten minutes, this
+reproach would have been spared."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My love," said her mother, "you must not be offended with Elinor&mdash;she
+was only in jest.  I should scold her myself, if she were capable of
+wishing to check the delight of your conversation with our new
+friend."&mdash; Marianne was softened in a moment.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Willoughby, on his side, gave every proof of his pleasure in their
+acquaintance, which an evident wish of improving it could offer.  He
+came to them every day.  To enquire after Marianne was at first his
+excuse; but the encouragement of his reception, to which every day gave
+greater kindness, made such an excuse unnecessary before it had ceased
+to be possible, by Marianne's perfect recovery.  She was confined for
+some days to the house; but never had any confinement been less
+irksome.  Willoughby was a young man of good abilities, quick
+imagination, lively spirits, and open, affectionate manners.  He was
+exactly formed to engage Marianne's heart, for with all this, he joined
+not only a captivating person, but a natural ardour of mind which was
+now roused and increased by the example of her own, and which
+recommended him to her affection beyond every thing else.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+His society became gradually her most exquisite enjoyment.  They read,
+they talked, they sang together; his musical talents were considerable;
+and he read with all the sensibility and spirit which Edward had
+unfortunately wanted.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In Mrs. Dashwood's estimation he was as faultless as in Marianne's; and
+Elinor saw nothing to censure in him but a propensity, in which he
+strongly resembled and peculiarly delighted her sister, of saying too
+much what he thought on every occasion, without attention to persons or
+circumstances.  In hastily forming and giving his opinion of other
+people, in sacrificing general politeness to the enjoyment of undivided
+attention where his heart was engaged, and in slighting too easily the
+forms of worldly propriety, he displayed a want of caution which Elinor
+could not approve, in spite of all that he and Marianne could say in
+its support.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne began now to perceive that the desperation which had seized
+her at sixteen and a half, of ever seeing a man who could satisfy her
+ideas of perfection, had been rash and unjustifiable.  Willoughby was
+all that her fancy had delineated in that unhappy hour and in every
+brighter period, as capable of attaching her; and his behaviour
+declared his wishes to be in that respect as earnest, as his abilities
+were strong.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Her mother too, in whose mind not one speculative thought of their
+marriage had been raised, by his prospect of riches, was led before the
+end of a week to hope and expect it; and secretly to congratulate
+herself on having gained two such sons-in-law as Edward and Willoughby.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Colonel Brandon's partiality for Marianne, which had so early been
+discovered by his friends, now first became perceptible to Elinor, when
+it ceased to be noticed by them.  Their attention and wit were drawn
+off to his more fortunate rival; and the raillery which the other had
+incurred before any partiality arose, was removed when his feelings
+began really to call for the ridicule so justly annexed to sensibility.
+Elinor was obliged, though unwillingly, to believe that the sentiments
+which Mrs. Jennings had assigned him for her own satisfaction, were now
+actually excited by her sister; and that however a general resemblance
+of disposition between the parties might forward the affection of Mr.
+Willoughby, an equally striking opposition of character was no
+hindrance to the regard of Colonel Brandon.  She saw it with concern;
+for what could a silent man of five and thirty hope, when opposed to a
+very lively one of five and twenty? and as she could not even wish him
+successful, she heartily wished him indifferent.  She liked him&mdash;in
+spite of his gravity and reserve, she beheld in him an object of
+interest.  His manners, though serious, were mild; and his reserve
+appeared rather the result of some oppression of spirits than of any
+natural gloominess of temper.  Sir John had dropped hints of past
+injuries and disappointments, which justified her belief of his being
+an unfortunate man, and she regarded him with respect and compassion.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Perhaps she pitied and esteemed him the more because he was slighted by
+Willoughby and Marianne, who, prejudiced against him for being neither
+lively nor young, seemed resolved to undervalue his merits.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Brandon is just the kind of man," said Willoughby one day, when they
+were talking of him together, "whom every body speaks well of, and
+nobody cares about; whom all are delighted to see, and nobody remembers
+to talk to."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That is exactly what I think of him," cried Marianne.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Do not boast of it, however," said Elinor, "for it is injustice in
+both of you.  He is highly esteemed by all the family at the park, and
+I never see him myself without taking pains to converse with him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That he is patronised by YOU," replied Willoughby, "is certainly in
+his favour; but as for the esteem of the others, it is a reproach in
+itself.  Who would submit to the indignity of being approved by such a
+woman as Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings, that could command the
+indifference of any body else?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But perhaps the abuse of such people as yourself and Marianne will
+make amends for the regard of Lady Middleton and her mother.  If their
+praise is censure, your censure may be praise, for they are not more
+undiscerning, than you are prejudiced and unjust."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"In defence of your protege you can even be saucy."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My protege, as you call him, is a sensible man; and sense will always
+have attractions for me.  Yes, Marianne, even in a man between thirty
+and forty.  He has seen a great deal of the world; has been abroad, has
+read, and has a thinking mind.  I have found him capable of giving me
+much information on various subjects; and he has always answered my
+inquiries with readiness of good-breeding and good nature."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That is to say," cried Marianne contemptuously, "he has told you, that
+in the East Indies the climate is hot, and the mosquitoes are
+troublesome."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He WOULD have told me so, I doubt not, had I made any such inquiries,
+but they happened to be points on which I had been previously informed."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Perhaps," said Willoughby, "his observations may have extended to the
+existence of nabobs, gold mohrs, and palanquins."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I may venture to say that HIS observations have stretched much further
+than your candour.  But why should you dislike him?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I do not dislike him.  I consider him, on the contrary, as a very
+respectable man, who has every body's good word, and nobody's notice;
+who, has more money than he can spend, more time than he knows how to
+employ, and two new coats every year."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Add to which," cried Marianne, "that he has neither genius, taste, nor
+spirit.  That his understanding has no brilliancy, his feelings no
+ardour, and his voice no expression."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You decide on his imperfections so much in the mass," replied Elinor,
+"and so much on the strength of your own imagination, that the
+commendation I am able to give of him is comparatively cold and
+insipid.  I can only pronounce him to be a sensible man, well-bred,
+well-informed, of gentle address, and, I believe, possessing an amiable
+heart."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Miss Dashwood," cried Willoughby, "you are now using me unkindly.  You
+are endeavouring to disarm me by reason, and to convince me against my
+will.  But it will not do.  You shall find me as stubborn as you can be
+artful.  I have three unanswerable reasons for disliking Colonel
+Brandon; he threatened me with rain when I wanted it to be fine; he has
+found fault with the hanging of my curricle, and I cannot persuade him
+to buy my brown mare.  If it will be any satisfaction to you, however,
+to be told, that I believe his character to be in other respects
+irreproachable, I am ready to confess it.  And in return for an
+acknowledgment, which must give me some pain, you cannot deny me the
+privilege of disliking him as much as ever."
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap11"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 11
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Little had Mrs. Dashwood or her daughters imagined when they first came
+into Devonshire, that so many engagements would arise to occupy their
+time as shortly presented themselves, or that they should have such
+frequent invitations and such constant visitors as to leave them little
+leisure for serious employment.  Yet such was the case.  When Marianne
+was recovered, the schemes of amusement at home and abroad, which Sir
+John had been previously forming, were put into execution.  The private
+balls at the park then began; and parties on the water were made and
+accomplished as often as a showery October would allow.  In every
+meeting of the kind Willoughby was included; and the ease and
+familiarity which naturally attended these parties were exactly
+calculated to give increasing intimacy to his acquaintance with the
+Dashwoods, to afford him opportunity of witnessing the excellencies of
+Marianne, of marking his animated admiration of her, and of receiving,
+in her behaviour to himself, the most pointed assurance of her
+affection.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor could not be surprised at their attachment.  She only wished
+that it were less openly shewn; and once or twice did venture to
+suggest the propriety of some self-command to Marianne.  But Marianne
+abhorred all concealment where no real disgrace could attend unreserve;
+and to aim at the restraint of sentiments which were not in themselves
+illaudable, appeared to her not merely an unnecessary effort, but a
+disgraceful subjection of reason to common-place and mistaken notions.
+Willoughby thought the same; and their behaviour at all times, was an
+illustration of their opinions.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When he was present she had no eyes for any one else.  Every thing he
+did, was right.  Every thing he said, was clever.  If their evenings at
+the park were concluded with cards, he cheated himself and all the rest
+of the party to get her a good hand.  If dancing formed the amusement
+of the night, they were partners for half the time; and when obliged to
+separate for a couple of dances, were careful to stand together and
+scarcely spoke a word to any body else.  Such conduct made them of
+course most exceedingly laughed at; but ridicule could not shame, and
+seemed hardly to provoke them.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood entered into all their feelings with a warmth which left
+her no inclination for checking this excessive display of them.  To her
+it was but the natural consequence of a strong affection in a young and
+ardent mind.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This was the season of happiness to Marianne.  Her heart was devoted to
+Willoughby, and the fond attachment to Norland, which she brought with
+her from Sussex, was more likely to be softened than she had thought it
+possible before, by the charms which his society bestowed on her
+present home.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor's happiness was not so great.  Her heart was not so much at
+ease, nor her satisfaction in their amusements so pure.  They afforded
+her no companion that could make amends for what she had left behind,
+nor that could teach her to think of Norland with less regret than
+ever.  Neither Lady Middleton nor Mrs. Jennings could supply to her the
+conversation she missed; although the latter was an everlasting talker,
+and from the first had regarded her with a kindness which ensured her a
+large share of her discourse.  She had already repeated her own history
+to Elinor three or four times; and had Elinor's memory been equal to
+her means of improvement, she might have known very early in their
+acquaintance all the particulars of Mr. Jenning's last illness, and
+what he said to his wife a few minutes before he died.  Lady Middleton
+was more agreeable than her mother only in being more silent.  Elinor
+needed little observation to perceive that her reserve was a mere
+calmness of manner with which sense had nothing to do.  Towards her
+husband and mother she was the same as to them; and intimacy was
+therefore neither to be looked for nor desired.  She had nothing to say
+one day that she had not said the day before.  Her insipidity was
+invariable, for even her spirits were always the same; and though she
+did not oppose the parties arranged by her husband, provided every
+thing were conducted in style and her two eldest children attended her,
+she never appeared to receive more enjoyment from them than she might
+have experienced in sitting at home;&mdash;and so little did her presence
+add to the pleasure of the others, by any share in their conversation,
+that they were sometimes only reminded of her being amongst them by her
+solicitude about her troublesome boys.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In Colonel Brandon alone, of all her new acquaintance, did Elinor find
+a person who could in any degree claim the respect of abilities, excite
+the interest of friendship, or give pleasure as a companion.
+Willoughby was out of the question.  Her admiration and regard, even
+her sisterly regard, was all his own; but he was a lover; his
+attentions were wholly Marianne's, and a far less agreeable man might
+have been more generally pleasing.  Colonel Brandon, unfortunately for
+himself, had no such encouragement to think only of Marianne, and in
+conversing with Elinor he found the greatest consolation for the
+indifference of her sister.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor's compassion for him increased, as she had reason to suspect
+that the misery of disappointed love had already been known to him.
+This suspicion was given by some words which accidently dropped from
+him one evening at the park, when they were sitting down together by
+mutual consent, while the others were dancing.  His eyes were fixed on
+Marianne, and, after a silence of some minutes, he said, with a faint
+smile, "Your sister, I understand, does not approve of second
+attachments."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No," replied Elinor, "her opinions are all romantic."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Or rather, as I believe, she considers them impossible to exist."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I believe she does.  But how she contrives it without reflecting on
+the character of her own father, who had himself two wives, I know not.
+A few years however will settle her opinions on the reasonable basis of
+common sense and observation; and then they may be more easy to define
+and to justify than they now are, by any body but herself."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"This will probably be the case," he replied; "and yet there is
+something so amiable in the prejudices of a young mind, that one is
+sorry to see them give way to the reception of more general opinions."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I cannot agree with you there," said Elinor.  "There are
+inconveniences attending such feelings as Marianne's, which all the
+charms of enthusiasm and ignorance of the world cannot atone for.  Her
+systems have all the unfortunate tendency of setting propriety at
+nought; and a better acquaintance with the world is what I look forward
+to as her greatest possible advantage."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+After a short pause he resumed the conversation by saying,&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Does your sister make no distinction in her objections against a
+second attachment? or is it equally criminal in every body?  Are those
+who have been disappointed in their first choice, whether from the
+inconstancy of its object, or the perverseness of circumstances, to be
+equally indifferent during the rest of their lives?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Upon my word, I am not acquainted with the minutiae of her principles.
+I only know that I never yet heard her admit any instance of a second
+attachment's being pardonable."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"This," said he, "cannot hold; but a change, a total change of
+sentiments&mdash;No, no, do not desire it; for when the romantic refinements
+of a young mind are obliged to give way, how frequently are they
+succeeded by such opinions as are but too common, and too dangerous!  I
+speak from experience.  I once knew a lady who in temper and mind
+greatly resembled your sister, who thought and judged like her, but who
+from an inforced change&mdash;from a series of unfortunate circumstances"&mdash;
+Here he stopt suddenly; appeared to think that he had said too much,
+and by his countenance gave rise to conjectures, which might not
+otherwise have entered Elinor's head.  The lady would probably have
+passed without suspicion, had he not convinced Miss Dashwood that what
+concerned her ought not to escape his lips.  As it was, it required but
+a slight effort of fancy to connect his emotion with the tender
+recollection of past regard.  Elinor attempted no more.  But Marianne,
+in her place, would not have done so little.  The whole story would
+have been speedily formed under her active imagination; and every thing
+established in the most melancholy order of disastrous love.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap12"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 12
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+As Elinor and Marianne were walking together the next morning the
+latter communicated a piece of news to her sister, which in spite of
+all that she knew before of Marianne's imprudence and want of thought,
+surprised her by its extravagant testimony of both.  Marianne told her,
+with the greatest delight, that Willoughby had given her a horse, one
+that he had bred himself on his estate in Somersetshire, and which was
+exactly calculated to carry a woman.  Without considering that it was
+not in her mother's plan to keep any horse, that if she were to alter
+her resolution in favour of this gift, she must buy another for the
+servant, and keep a servant to ride it, and after all, build a stable
+to receive them, she had accepted the present without hesitation, and
+told her sister of it in raptures.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He intends to send his groom into Somersetshire immediately for it,"
+she added, "and when it arrives we will ride every day.  You shall
+share its use with me.  Imagine to yourself, my dear Elinor, the
+delight of a gallop on some of these downs."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Most unwilling was she to awaken from such a dream of felicity to
+comprehend all the unhappy truths which attended the affair; and for
+some time she refused to submit to them.  As to an additional servant,
+the expense would be a trifle; Mamma she was sure would never object to
+it; and any horse would do for HIM; he might always get one at the
+park; as to a stable, the merest shed would be sufficient.  Elinor then
+ventured to doubt the propriety of her receiving such a present from a
+man so little, or at least so lately known to her.  This was too much.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You are mistaken, Elinor," said she warmly, "in supposing I know very
+little of Willoughby.  I have not known him long indeed, but I am much
+better acquainted with him, than I am with any other creature in the
+world, except yourself and mama.  It is not time or opportunity that is
+to determine intimacy;&mdash;it is disposition alone.  Seven years would be
+insufficient to make some people acquainted with each other, and seven
+days are more than enough for others.  I should hold myself guilty of
+greater impropriety in accepting a horse from my brother, than from
+Willoughby.  Of John I know very little, though we have lived together
+for years; but of Willoughby my judgment has long been formed."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor thought it wisest to touch that point no more.  She knew her
+sister's temper.  Opposition on so tender a subject would only attach
+her the more to her own opinion.  But by an appeal to her affection for
+her mother, by representing the inconveniences which that indulgent
+mother must draw on herself, if (as would probably be the case) she
+consented to this increase of establishment, Marianne was shortly
+subdued; and she promised not to tempt her mother to such imprudent
+kindness by mentioning the offer, and to tell Willoughby when she saw
+him next, that it must be declined.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She was faithful to her word; and when Willoughby called at the
+cottage, the same day, Elinor heard her express her disappointment to
+him in a low voice, on being obliged to forego the acceptance of his
+present.  The reasons for this alteration were at the same time
+related, and they were such as to make further entreaty on his side
+impossible.  His concern however was very apparent; and after
+expressing it with earnestness, he added, in the same low voice,&mdash;"But,
+Marianne, the horse is still yours, though you cannot use it now.  I
+shall keep it only till you can claim it.  When you leave Barton to
+form your own establishment in a more lasting home, Queen Mab shall
+receive you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This was all overheard by Miss Dashwood; and in the whole of the
+sentence, in his manner of pronouncing it, and in his addressing her
+sister by her Christian name alone, she instantly saw an intimacy so
+decided, a meaning so direct, as marked a perfect agreement between
+them.  From that moment she doubted not of their being engaged to each
+other; and the belief of it created no other surprise than that she, or
+any of their friends, should be left by tempers so frank, to discover
+it by accident.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Margaret related something to her the next day, which placed this
+matter in a still clearer light.  Willoughby had spent the preceding
+evening with them, and Margaret, by being left some time in the parlour
+with only him and Marianne, had had opportunity for observations,
+which, with a most important face, she communicated to her eldest
+sister, when they were next by themselves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, Elinor!" she cried, "I have such a secret to tell you about
+Marianne.  I am sure she will be married to Mr. Willoughby very soon."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You have said so," replied Elinor, "almost every day since they first
+met on High-church Down; and they had not known each other a week, I
+believe, before you were certain that Marianne wore his picture round
+her neck; but it turned out to be only the miniature of our great
+uncle."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But indeed this is quite another thing.  I am sure they will be
+married very soon, for he has got a lock of her hair."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Take care, Margaret.  It may be only the hair of some great uncle of
+HIS."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But, indeed, Elinor, it is Marianne's. I am almost sure it is, for I
+saw him cut it off.  Last night after tea, when you and mama went out
+of the room, they were whispering and talking together as fast as could
+be, and he seemed to be begging something of her, and presently he took
+up her scissors and cut off a long lock of her hair, for it was all
+tumbled down her back; and he kissed it, and folded it up in a piece of
+white paper; and put it into his pocket-book."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+For such particulars, stated on such authority, Elinor could not
+withhold her credit; nor was she disposed to it, for the circumstance
+was in perfect unison with what she had heard and seen herself.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Margaret's sagacity was not always displayed in a way so satisfactory
+to her sister.  When Mrs. Jennings attacked her one evening at the
+park, to give the name of the young man who was Elinor's particular
+favourite, which had been long a matter of great curiosity to her,
+Margaret answered by looking at her sister, and saying, "I must not
+tell, may I, Elinor?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This of course made every body laugh; and Elinor tried to laugh too.
+But the effort was painful.  She was convinced that Margaret had fixed
+on a person whose name she could not bear with composure to become a
+standing joke with Mrs. Jennings.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne felt for her most sincerely; but she did more harm than good
+to the cause, by turning very red and saying in an angry manner to
+Margaret,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Remember that whatever your conjectures may be, you have no right to
+repeat them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I never had any conjectures about it," replied Margaret; "it was you
+who told me of it yourself."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This increased the mirth of the company, and Margaret was eagerly
+pressed to say something more.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh! pray, Miss Margaret, let us know all about it," said Mrs.
+Jennings.  "What is the gentleman's name?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I must not tell, ma'am. But I know very well what it is; and I know
+where he is too."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, yes, we can guess where he is; at his own house at Norland to be
+sure.  He is the curate of the parish I dare say."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, THAT he is not.  He is of no profession at all."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Margaret," said Marianne with great warmth, "you know that all this is
+an invention of your own, and that there is no such person in
+existence."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, then, he is lately dead, Marianne, for I am sure there was such
+a man once, and his name begins with an F."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Most grateful did Elinor feel to Lady Middleton for observing, at this
+moment, "that it rained very hard," though she believed the
+interruption to proceed less from any attention to her, than from her
+ladyship's great dislike of all such inelegant subjects of raillery as
+delighted her husband and mother.  The idea however started by her, was
+immediately pursued by Colonel Brandon, who was on every occasion
+mindful of the feelings of others; and much was said on the subject of
+rain by both of them.  Willoughby opened the piano-forte, and asked
+Marianne to sit down to it; and thus amidst the various endeavours of
+different people to quit the topic, it fell to the ground.  But not so
+easily did Elinor recover from the alarm into which it had thrown her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A party was formed this evening for going on the following day to see a
+very fine place about twelve miles from Barton, belonging to a
+brother-in-law of Colonel Brandon, without whose interest it could not
+be seen, as the proprietor, who was then abroad, had left strict orders
+on that head.  The grounds were declared to be highly beautiful, and
+Sir John, who was particularly warm in their praise, might be allowed
+to be a tolerable judge, for he had formed parties to visit them, at
+least, twice every summer for the last ten years.  They contained a
+noble piece of water; a sail on which was to a form a great part of the
+morning's amusement; cold provisions were to be taken, open carriages
+only to be employed, and every thing conducted in the usual style of a
+complete party of pleasure.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+To some few of the company it appeared rather a bold undertaking,
+considering the time of year, and that it had rained every day for the
+last fortnight;&mdash;and Mrs. Dashwood, who had already a cold, was
+persuaded by Elinor to stay at home.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap13"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 13
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Their intended excursion to Whitwell turned out very different from
+what Elinor had expected.  She was prepared to be wet through,
+fatigued, and frightened; but the event was still more unfortunate, for
+they did not go at all.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+By ten o'clock the whole party was assembled at the park, where they
+were to breakfast.  The morning was rather favourable, though it had
+rained all night, as the clouds were then dispersing across the sky,
+and the sun frequently appeared.  They were all in high spirits and
+good humour, eager to be happy, and determined to submit to the
+greatest inconveniences and hardships rather than be otherwise.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+While they were at breakfast the letters were brought in.  Among the
+rest there was one for Colonel Brandon;&mdash;he took it, looked at the
+direction, changed colour, and immediately left the room.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What is the matter with Brandon?" said Sir John.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Nobody could tell.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I hope he has had no bad news," said Lady Middleton.  "It must be
+something extraordinary that could make Colonel Brandon leave my
+breakfast table so suddenly."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In about five minutes he returned.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No bad news, Colonel, I hope;" said Mrs. Jennings, as soon as he
+entered the room.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"None at all, ma'am, I thank you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Was it from Avignon?  I hope it is not to say that your sister is
+worse."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, ma'am. It came from town, and is merely a letter of business."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But how came the hand to discompose you so much, if it was only a
+letter of business?  Come, come, this won't do, Colonel; so let us hear
+the truth of it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My dear madam," said Lady Middleton, "recollect what you are saying."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Perhaps it is to tell you that your cousin Fanny is married?" said
+Mrs. Jennings, without attending to her daughter's reproof.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, indeed, it is not."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, then, I know who it is from, Colonel.  And I hope she is well."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Whom do you mean, ma'am?" said he, colouring a little.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh! you know who I mean."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am particularly sorry, ma'am," said he, addressing Lady Middleton,
+"that I should receive this letter today, for it is on business which
+requires my immediate attendance in town."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"In town!" cried Mrs. Jennings.  "What can you have to do in town at
+this time of year?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My own loss is great," he continued, "in being obliged to leave so
+agreeable a party; but I am the more concerned, as I fear my presence
+is necessary to gain your admittance at Whitwell."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+What a blow upon them all was this!
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But if you write a note to the housekeeper, Mr. Brandon," said
+Marianne, eagerly, "will it not be sufficient?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He shook his head.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We must go," said Sir John.&mdash;"It shall not be put off when we are so
+near it.  You cannot go to town till tomorrow, Brandon, that is all."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I wish it could be so easily settled.  But it is not in my power to
+delay my journey for one day!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If you would but let us know what your business is," said Mrs.
+Jennings, "we might see whether it could be put off or not."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You would not be six hours later," said Willoughby, "if you were to
+defer your journey till our return."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I cannot afford to lose ONE hour."&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor then heard Willoughby say, in a low voice to Marianne, "There
+are some people who cannot bear a party of pleasure.  Brandon is one of
+them.  He was afraid of catching cold I dare say, and invented this
+trick for getting out of it.  I would lay fifty guineas the letter was
+of his own writing."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have no doubt of it," replied Marianne.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"There is no persuading you to change your mind, Brandon, I know of
+old," said Sir John, "when once you are determined on anything.  But,
+however, I hope you will think better of it.  Consider, here are the
+two Miss Careys come over from Newton, the three Miss Dashwoods walked
+up from the cottage, and Mr. Willoughby got up two hours before his
+usual time, on purpose to go to Whitwell."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Colonel Brandon again repeated his sorrow at being the cause of
+disappointing the party; but at the same time declared it to be
+unavoidable.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, then, when will you come back again?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I hope we shall see you at Barton," added her ladyship, "as soon as
+you can conveniently leave town; and we must put off the party to
+Whitwell till you return."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You are very obliging.  But it is so uncertain, when I may have it in
+my power to return, that I dare not engage for it at all."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh! he must and shall come back," cried Sir John.  "If he is not here
+by the end of the week, I shall go after him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ay, so do, Sir John," cried Mrs. Jennings, "and then perhaps you may
+find out what his business is."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I do not want to pry into other men's concerns.  I suppose it is
+something he is ashamed of."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Colonel Brandon's horses were announced.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You do not go to town on horseback, do you?" added Sir John.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No. Only to Honiton.  I shall then go post."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, as you are resolved to go, I wish you a good journey.  But you
+had better change your mind."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I assure you it is not in my power."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He then took leave of the whole party.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is there no chance of my seeing you and your sisters in town this
+winter, Miss Dashwood?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am afraid, none at all."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then I must bid you farewell for a longer time than I should wish to
+do."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+To Marianne, he merely bowed and said nothing.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Come Colonel," said Mrs. Jennings, "before you go, do let us know what
+you are going about."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He wished her a good morning, and, attended by Sir John, left the room.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The complaints and lamentations which politeness had hitherto
+restrained, now burst forth universally; and they all agreed again and
+again how provoking it was to be so disappointed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I can guess what his business is, however," said Mrs. Jennings
+exultingly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Can you, ma'am?" said almost every body.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes; it is about Miss Williams, I am sure."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And who is Miss Williams?" asked Marianne.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What! do not you know who Miss Williams is? I am sure you must have
+heard of her before.  She is a relation of the Colonel's, my dear; a
+very near relation.  We will not say how near, for fear of shocking the
+young ladies." Then, lowering her voice a little, she said to Elinor,
+"She is his natural daughter."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Indeed!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, yes; and as like him as she can stare.  I dare say the Colonel
+will leave her all his fortune."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When Sir John returned, he joined most heartily in the general regret
+on so unfortunate an event; concluding however by observing, that as
+they were all got together, they must do something by way of being
+happy; and after some consultation it was agreed, that although
+happiness could only be enjoyed at Whitwell, they might procure a
+tolerable composure of mind by driving about the country.  The
+carriages were then ordered; Willoughby's was first, and Marianne never
+looked happier than when she got into it.  He drove through the park
+very fast, and they were soon out of sight; and nothing more of them
+was seen till their return, which did not happen till after the return
+of all the rest.  They both seemed delighted with their drive; but said
+only in general terms that they had kept in the lanes, while the others
+went on the downs.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was settled that there should be a dance in the evening, and that
+every body should be extremely merry all day long.  Some more of the
+Careys came to dinner, and they had the pleasure of sitting down nearly
+twenty to table, which Sir John observed with great contentment.
+Willoughby took his usual place between the two elder Miss Dashwoods.
+Mrs. Jennings sat on Elinor's right hand; and they had not been long
+seated, before she leant behind her and Willoughby, and said to
+Marianne, loud enough for them both to hear, "I have found you out in
+spite of all your tricks.  I know where you spent the morning."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne coloured, and replied very hastily, "Where, pray?"&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Did not you know," said Willoughby, "that we had been out in my
+curricle?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, yes, Mr. Impudence, I know that very well, and I was determined
+to find out WHERE you had been to.&mdash; I hope you like your house, Miss
+Marianne.  It is a very large one, I know; and when I come to see you,
+I hope you will have new-furnished it, for it wanted it very much when
+I was there six years ago."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne turned away in great confusion.  Mrs. Jennings laughed
+heartily; and Elinor found that in her resolution to know where they
+had been, she had actually made her own woman enquire of Mr.
+Willoughby's groom; and that she had by that method been informed that
+they had gone to Allenham, and spent a considerable time there in
+walking about the garden and going all over the house.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor could hardly believe this to be true, as it seemed very unlikely
+that Willoughby should propose, or Marianne consent, to enter the house
+while Mrs. Smith was in it, with whom Marianne had not the smallest
+acquaintance.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As soon as they left the dining-room, Elinor enquired of her about it;
+and great was her surprise when she found that every circumstance
+related by Mrs. Jennings was perfectly true.  Marianne was quite angry
+with her for doubting it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why should you imagine, Elinor, that we did not go there, or that we
+did not see the house?  Is not it what you have often wished to do
+yourself?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, Marianne, but I would not go while Mrs. Smith was there, and with
+no other companion than Mr. Willoughby."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mr. Willoughby however is the only person who can have a right to shew
+that house; and as he went in an open carriage, it was impossible to
+have any other companion.  I never spent a pleasanter morning in my
+life."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am afraid," replied Elinor, "that the pleasantness of an employment
+does not always evince its propriety."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"On the contrary, nothing can be a stronger proof of it, Elinor; for if
+there had been any real impropriety in what I did, I should have been
+sensible of it at the time, for we always know when we are acting
+wrong, and with such a conviction I could have had no pleasure."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But, my dear Marianne, as it has already exposed you to some very
+impertinent remarks, do you not now begin to doubt the discretion of
+your own conduct?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If the impertinent remarks of Mrs. Jennings are to be the proof of
+impropriety in conduct, we are all offending every moment of our lives.
+I value not her censure any more than I should do her commendation.  I
+am not sensible of having done anything wrong in walking over Mrs.
+Smith's grounds, or in seeing her house.  They will one day be Mr.
+Willoughby's, and&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If they were one day to be your own, Marianne, you would not be
+justified in what you have done."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She blushed at this hint; but it was even visibly gratifying to her;
+and after a ten minutes' interval of earnest thought, she came to her
+sister again, and said with great good humour, "Perhaps, Elinor, it WAS
+rather ill-judged in me to go to Allenham; but Mr. Willoughby wanted
+particularly to shew me the place; and it is a charming house, I assure
+you.&mdash;There is one remarkably pretty sitting room up stairs; of a nice
+comfortable size for constant use, and with modern furniture it would
+be delightful.  It is a corner room, and has windows on two sides.  On
+one side you look across the bowling-green, behind the house, to a
+beautiful hanging wood, and on the other you have a view of the church
+and village, and, beyond them, of those fine bold hills that we have so
+often admired.  I did not see it to advantage, for nothing could be
+more forlorn than the furniture,&mdash;but if it were newly fitted up&mdash;a
+couple of hundred pounds, Willoughby says, would make it one of the
+pleasantest summer-rooms in England."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Could Elinor have listened to her without interruption from the others,
+she would have described every room in the house with equal delight.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap14"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 14
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+The sudden termination of Colonel Brandon's visit at the park, with his
+steadiness in concealing its cause, filled the mind, and raised the
+wonder of Mrs. Jennings for two or three days; she was a great
+wonderer, as every one must be who takes a very lively interest in all
+the comings and goings of all their acquaintance.  She wondered, with
+little intermission what could be the reason of it; was sure there must
+be some bad news, and thought over every kind of distress that could
+have befallen him, with a fixed determination that he should not escape
+them all.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Something very melancholy must be the matter, I am sure," said she.
+"I could see it in his face.  Poor man!  I am afraid his circumstances
+may be bad.  The estate at Delaford was never reckoned more than two
+thousand a year, and his brother left everything sadly involved.  I do
+think he must have been sent for about money matters, for what else can
+it be?  I wonder whether it is so.  I would give anything to know the
+truth of it.  Perhaps it is about Miss Williams and, by the bye, I dare
+say it is, because he looked so conscious when I mentioned her.  May be
+she is ill in town; nothing in the world more likely, for I have a
+notion she is always rather sickly.  I would lay any wager it is about
+Miss Williams.  It is not so very likely he should be distressed in his
+circumstances NOW, for he is a very prudent man, and to be sure must
+have cleared the estate by this time.  I wonder what it can be!  May be
+his sister is worse at Avignon, and has sent for him over.  His setting
+off in such a hurry seems very like it.  Well, I wish him out of all
+his trouble with all my heart, and a good wife into the bargain."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+So wondered, so talked Mrs. Jennings.  Her opinion varying with every
+fresh conjecture, and all seeming equally probable as they arose.
+Elinor, though she felt really interested in the welfare of Colonel
+Brandon, could not bestow all the wonder on his going so suddenly away,
+which Mrs. Jennings was desirous of her feeling; for besides that the
+circumstance did not in her opinion justify such lasting amazement or
+variety of speculation, her wonder was otherwise disposed of.  It was
+engrossed by the extraordinary silence of her sister and Willoughby on
+the subject, which they must know to be peculiarly interesting to them
+all.  As this silence continued, every day made it appear more strange
+and more incompatible with the disposition of both.  Why they should
+not openly acknowledge to her mother and herself, what their constant
+behaviour to each other declared to have taken place, Elinor could not
+imagine.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She could easily conceive that marriage might not be immediately in
+their power; for though Willoughby was independent, there was no reason
+to believe him rich.  His estate had been rated by Sir John at about
+six or seven hundred a year; but he lived at an expense to which that
+income could hardly be equal, and he had himself often complained of
+his poverty.  But for this strange kind of secrecy maintained by them
+relative to their engagement, which in fact concealed nothing at all,
+she could not account; and it was so wholly contradictory to their
+general opinions and practice, that a doubt sometimes entered her mind
+of their being really engaged, and this doubt was enough to prevent her
+making any inquiry of Marianne.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Nothing could be more expressive of attachment to them all, than
+Willoughby's behaviour.  To Marianne it had all the distinguishing
+tenderness which a lover's heart could give, and to the rest of the
+family it was the affectionate attention of a son and a brother.  The
+cottage seemed to be considered and loved by him as his home; many more
+of his hours were spent there than at Allenham; and if no general
+engagement collected them at the park, the exercise which called him
+out in the morning was almost certain of ending there, where the rest
+of the day was spent by himself at the side of Marianne, and by his
+favourite pointer at her feet.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+One evening in particular, about a week after Colonel Brandon left the
+country, his heart seemed more than usually open to every feeling of
+attachment to the objects around him; and on Mrs. Dashwood's happening
+to mention her design of improving the cottage in the spring, he warmly
+opposed every alteration of a place which affection had established as
+perfect with him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What!" he exclaimed&mdash;"Improve this dear cottage!  No. THAT I will
+never consent to.  Not a stone must be added to its walls, not an inch
+to its size, if my feelings are regarded."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Do not be alarmed," said Miss Dashwood, "nothing of the kind will be
+done; for my mother will never have money enough to attempt it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am heartily glad of it," he cried.  "May she always be poor, if she
+can employ her riches no better."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Thank you, Willoughby.  But you may be assured that I would not
+sacrifice one sentiment of local attachment of yours, or of any one
+whom I loved, for all the improvements in the world.  Depend upon it
+that whatever unemployed sum may remain, when I make up my accounts in
+the spring, I would even rather lay it uselessly by than dispose of it
+in a manner so painful to you.  But are you really so attached to this
+place as to see no defect in it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am," said he.  "To me it is faultless.  Nay, more, I consider it as
+the only form of building in which happiness is attainable, and were I
+rich enough I would instantly pull Combe down, and build it up again in
+the exact plan of this cottage."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"With dark narrow stairs and a kitchen that smokes, I suppose," said
+Elinor.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes," cried he in the same eager tone, "with all and every thing
+belonging to it;&mdash;in no one convenience or INconvenience about it,
+should the least variation be perceptible.  Then, and then only, under
+such a roof, I might perhaps be as happy at Combe as I have been at
+Barton."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I flatter myself," replied Elinor, "that even under the disadvantage
+of better rooms and a broader staircase, you will hereafter find your
+own house as faultless as you now do this."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"There certainly are circumstances," said Willoughby, "which might
+greatly endear it to me; but this place will always have one claim of
+my affection, which no other can possibly share."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood looked with pleasure at Marianne, whose fine eyes were
+fixed so expressively on Willoughby, as plainly denoted how well she
+understood him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How often did I wish," added he, "when I was at Allenham this time
+twelvemonth, that Barton cottage were inhabited!  I never passed within
+view of it without admiring its situation, and grieving that no one
+should live in it.  How little did I then think that the very first
+news I should hear from Mrs. Smith, when I next came into the country,
+would be that Barton cottage was taken: and I felt an immediate
+satisfaction and interest in the event, which nothing but a kind of
+prescience of what happiness I should experience from it, can account
+for.  Must it not have been so, Marianne?" speaking to her in a lowered
+voice.  Then continuing his former tone, he said, "And yet this house
+you would spoil, Mrs. Dashwood?  You would rob it of its simplicity by
+imaginary improvement! and this dear parlour in which our acquaintance
+first began, and in which so many happy hours have been since spent by
+us together, you would degrade to the condition of a common entrance,
+and every body would be eager to pass through the room which has
+hitherto contained within itself more real accommodation and comfort
+than any other apartment of the handsomest dimensions in the world
+could possibly afford."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood again assured him that no alteration of the kind should
+be attempted.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You are a good woman," he warmly replied.  "Your promise makes me
+easy.  Extend it a little farther, and it will make me happy.  Tell me
+that not only your house will remain the same, but that I shall ever
+find you and yours as unchanged as your dwelling; and that you will
+always consider me with the kindness which has made everything
+belonging to you so dear to me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The promise was readily given, and Willoughby's behaviour during the
+whole of the evening declared at once his affection and happiness.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Shall we see you tomorrow to dinner?" said Mrs. Dashwood, when he was
+leaving them.  "I do not ask you to come in the morning, for we must
+walk to the park, to call on Lady Middleton."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He engaged to be with them by four o'clock.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap15"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 15
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood's visit to Lady Middleton took place the next day, and
+two of her daughters went with her; but Marianne excused herself from
+being of the party, under some trifling pretext of employment; and her
+mother, who concluded that a promise had been made by Willoughby the
+night before of calling on her while they were absent, was perfectly
+satisfied with her remaining at home.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+On their return from the park they found Willoughby's curricle and
+servant in waiting at the cottage, and Mrs. Dashwood was convinced that
+her conjecture had been just.  So far it was all as she had foreseen;
+but on entering the house she beheld what no foresight had taught her
+to expect.  They were no sooner in the passage than Marianne came
+hastily out of the parlour apparently in violent affliction, with her
+handkerchief at her eyes; and without noticing them ran up stairs.
+Surprised and alarmed they proceeded directly into the room she had
+just quitted, where they found only Willoughby, who was leaning against
+the mantel-piece with his back towards them.  He turned round on their
+coming in, and his countenance shewed that he strongly partook of the
+emotion which over-powered Marianne.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is anything the matter with her?" cried Mrs. Dashwood as she
+entered&mdash;"is she ill?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I hope not," he replied, trying to look cheerful; and with a forced
+smile presently added, "It is I who may rather expect to be ill&mdash;for I
+am now suffering under a very heavy disappointment!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Disappointment?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, for I am unable to keep my engagement with you.  Mrs. Smith has
+this morning exercised the privilege of riches upon a poor dependent
+cousin, by sending me on business to London.  I have just received my
+dispatches, and taken my farewell of Allenham; and by way of
+exhilaration I am now come to take my farewell of you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"To London!&mdash;and are you going this morning?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Almost this moment."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"This is very unfortunate.  But Mrs. Smith must be obliged;&mdash;and her
+business will not detain you from us long I hope."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He coloured as he replied, "You are very kind, but I have no idea of
+returning into Devonshire immediately.  My visits to Mrs. Smith are
+never repeated within the twelvemonth."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And is Mrs. Smith your only friend?  Is Allenham the only house in the
+neighbourhood to which you will be welcome?  For shame, Willoughby, can
+you wait for an invitation here?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+His colour increased; and with his eyes fixed on the ground he only
+replied, "You are too good."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood looked at Elinor with surprise.  Elinor felt equal
+amazement.  For a few moments every one was silent.  Mrs. Dashwood
+first spoke.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have only to add, my dear Willoughby, that at Barton cottage you
+will always be welcome; for I will not press you to return here
+immediately, because you only can judge how far THAT might be pleasing
+to Mrs. Smith; and on this head I shall be no more disposed to question
+your judgment than to doubt your inclination."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My engagements at present," replied Willoughby, confusedly, "are of
+such a nature&mdash;that&mdash;I dare not flatter myself"&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He stopt.  Mrs. Dashwood was too much astonished to speak, and another
+pause succeeded.  This was broken by Willoughby, who said with a faint
+smile, "It is folly to linger in this manner.  I will not torment
+myself any longer by remaining among friends whose society it is
+impossible for me now to enjoy."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He then hastily took leave of them all and left the room.  They saw him
+step into his carriage, and in a minute it was out of sight.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood felt too much for speech, and instantly quitted the
+parlour to give way in solitude to the concern and alarm which this
+sudden departure occasioned.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor's uneasiness was at least equal to her mother's.  She thought of
+what had just passed with anxiety and distrust.  Willoughby's behaviour
+in taking leave of them, his embarrassment, and affectation of
+cheerfulness, and, above all, his unwillingness to accept her mother's
+invitation, a backwardness so unlike a lover, so unlike himself,
+greatly disturbed her.  One moment she feared that no serious design
+had ever been formed on his side; and the next that some unfortunate
+quarrel had taken place between him and her sister;&mdash;the distress in
+which Marianne had quitted the room was such as a serious quarrel could
+most reasonably account for, though when she considered what Marianne's
+love for him was, a quarrel seemed almost impossible.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But whatever might be the particulars of their separation, her sister's
+affliction was indubitable; and she thought with the tenderest
+compassion of that violent sorrow which Marianne was in all probability
+not merely giving way to as a relief, but feeding and encouraging as a
+duty.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In about half an hour her mother returned, and though her eyes were
+red, her countenance was not uncheerful.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Our dear Willoughby is now some miles from Barton, Elinor," said she,
+as she sat down to work, "and with how heavy a heart does he travel?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is all very strange.  So suddenly to be gone! It seems but the work
+of a moment.  And last night he was with us so happy, so cheerful, so
+affectionate?  And now, after only ten minutes notice&mdash;Gone too without
+intending to return!&mdash;Something more than what he owned to us must have
+happened.  He did not speak, he did not behave like himself.  YOU must
+have seen the difference as well as I.  What can it be?  Can they have
+quarrelled?  Why else should he have shewn such unwillingness to accept
+your invitation here?"&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It was not inclination that he wanted, Elinor; I could plainly see
+THAT.  He had not the power of accepting it.  I have thought it all
+over I assure you, and I can perfectly account for every thing that at
+first seemed strange to me as well as to you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Can you, indeed!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes. I have explained it to myself in the most satisfactory way;&mdash;but
+you, Elinor, who love to doubt where you can&mdash;it will not satisfy YOU,
+I know; but you shall not talk ME out of my trust in it.  I am
+persuaded that Mrs. Smith suspects his regard for Marianne, disapproves
+of it, (perhaps because she has other views for him,) and on that
+account is eager to get him away;&mdash;and that the business which she
+sends him off to transact is invented as an excuse to dismiss him.
+This is what I believe to have happened.  He is, moreover, aware that
+she DOES disapprove the connection, he dares not therefore at present
+confess to her his engagement with Marianne, and he feels himself
+obliged, from his dependent situation, to give into her schemes, and
+absent himself from Devonshire for a while.  You will tell me, I know,
+that this may or may NOT have happened; but I will listen to no cavil,
+unless you can point out any other method of understanding the affair
+as satisfactory at this.  And now, Elinor, what have you to say?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nothing, for you have anticipated my answer."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then you would have told me, that it might or might not have happened.
+Oh, Elinor, how incomprehensible are your feelings!  You had rather
+take evil upon credit than good.  You had rather look out for misery
+for Marianne, and guilt for poor Willoughby, than an apology for the
+latter.  You are resolved to think him blameable, because he took leave
+of us with less affection than his usual behaviour has shewn.  And is
+no allowance to be made for inadvertence, or for spirits depressed by
+recent disappointment?  Are no probabilities to be accepted, merely
+because they are not certainties?  Is nothing due to the man whom we
+have all such reason to love, and no reason in the world to think ill
+of?  To the possibility of motives unanswerable in themselves, though
+unavoidably secret for a while?  And, after all, what is it you suspect
+him of?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I can hardly tell myself.  But suspicion of something unpleasant is
+the inevitable consequence of such an alteration as we just witnessed
+in him.  There is great truth, however, in what you have now urged of
+the allowances which ought to be made for him, and it is my wish to be
+candid in my judgment of every body.  Willoughby may undoubtedly have
+very sufficient reasons for his conduct, and I will hope that he has.
+But it would have been more like Willoughby to acknowledge them at
+once.  Secrecy may be advisable; but still I cannot help wondering at
+its being practiced by him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Do not blame him, however, for departing from his character, where the
+deviation is necessary.  But you really do admit the justice of what I
+have said in his defence?&mdash;I am happy&mdash;and he is acquitted."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not entirely.  It may be proper to conceal their engagement (if they
+ARE engaged) from Mrs. Smith&mdash;and if that is the case, it must be
+highly expedient for Willoughby to be but little in Devonshire at
+present.  But this is no excuse for their concealing it from us."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Concealing it from us! my dear child, do you accuse Willoughby and
+Marianne of concealment? This is strange indeed, when your eyes have
+been reproaching them every day for incautiousness."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I want no proof of their affection," said Elinor; "but of their
+engagement I do."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am perfectly satisfied of both."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yet not a syllable has been said to you on the subject, by either of
+them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have not wanted syllables where actions have spoken so plainly.  Has
+not his behaviour to Marianne and to all of us, for at least the last
+fortnight, declared that he loved and considered her as his future
+wife, and that he felt for us the attachment of the nearest relation?
+Have we not perfectly understood each other?  Has not my consent been
+daily asked by his looks, his manner, his attentive and affectionate
+respect?  My Elinor, is it possible to doubt their engagement?  How
+could such a thought occur to you?  How is it to be supposed that
+Willoughby, persuaded as he must be of your sister's love, should leave
+her, and leave her perhaps for months, without telling her of his
+affection;&mdash;that they should part without a mutual exchange of
+confidence?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I confess," replied Elinor, "that every circumstance except ONE is in
+favour of their engagement; but that ONE is the total silence of both
+on the subject, and with me it almost outweighs every other."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How strange this is!  You must think wretchedly indeed of Willoughby,
+if, after all that has openly passed between them, you can doubt the
+nature of the terms on which they are together.  Has he been acting a
+part in his behaviour to your sister all this time?  Do you suppose him
+really indifferent to her?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, I cannot think that.  He must and does love her I am sure."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But with a strange kind of tenderness, if he can leave her with such
+indifference, such carelessness of the future, as you attribute to him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You must remember, my dear mother, that I have never considered this
+matter as certain.  I have had my doubts, I confess; but they are
+fainter than they were, and they may soon be entirely done away.  If we
+find they correspond, every fear of mine will be removed."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"A mighty concession indeed!  If you were to see them at the altar, you
+would suppose they were going to be married.  Ungracious girl!  But I
+require no such proof.  Nothing in my opinion has ever passed to
+justify doubt; no secrecy has been attempted; all has been uniformly
+open and unreserved.  You cannot doubt your sister's wishes.  It must
+be Willoughby therefore whom you suspect.  But why?  Is he not a man of
+honour and feeling? Has there been any inconsistency on his side to
+create alarm? can he be deceitful?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I hope not, I believe not," cried Elinor.  "I love Willoughby,
+sincerely love him; and suspicion of his integrity cannot be more
+painful to yourself than to me.  It has been involuntary, and I will
+not encourage it.  I was startled, I confess, by the alteration in his
+manners this morning;&mdash;he did not speak like himself, and did not
+return your kindness with any cordiality.  But all this may be
+explained by such a situation of his affairs as you have supposed.  He
+had just parted from my sister, had seen her leave him in the greatest
+affliction; and if he felt obliged, from a fear of offending Mrs.
+Smith, to resist the temptation of returning here soon, and yet aware
+that by declining your invitation, by saying that he was going away for
+some time, he should seem to act an ungenerous, a suspicious part by
+our family, he might well be embarrassed and disturbed.  In such a
+case, a plain and open avowal of his difficulties would have been more
+to his honour I think, as well as more consistent with his general
+character;&mdash;but I will not raise objections against any one's conduct
+on so illiberal a foundation, as a difference in judgment from myself,
+or a deviation from what I may think right and consistent."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You speak very properly.  Willoughby certainly does not deserve to be
+suspected.  Though WE have not known him long, he is no stranger in
+this part of the world; and who has ever spoken to his disadvantage?
+Had he been in a situation to act independently and marry immediately,
+it might have been odd that he should leave us without acknowledging
+everything to me at once: but this is not the case.  It is an
+engagement in some respects not prosperously begun, for their marriage
+must be at a very uncertain distance; and even secrecy, as far as it
+can be observed, may now be very advisable."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They were interrupted by the entrance of Margaret; and Elinor was then
+at liberty to think over the representations of her mother, to
+acknowledge the probability of many, and hope for the justice of all.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They saw nothing of Marianne till dinner time, when she entered the
+room and took her place at the table without saying a word.  Her eyes
+were red and swollen; and it seemed as if her tears were even then
+restrained with difficulty.  She avoided the looks of them all, could
+neither eat nor speak, and after some time, on her mother's silently
+pressing her hand with tender compassion, her small degree of fortitude
+was quite overcome, she burst into tears and left the room.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This violent oppression of spirits continued the whole evening.  She
+was without any power, because she was without any desire of command
+over herself.  The slightest mention of anything relative to Willoughby
+overpowered her in an instant; and though her family were most
+anxiously attentive to her comfort, it was impossible for them, if they
+spoke at all, to keep clear of every subject which her feelings
+connected with him.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap16"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 16
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Marianne would have thought herself very inexcusable had she been able
+to sleep at all the first night after parting from Willoughby.  She
+would have been ashamed to look her family in the face the next
+morning, had she not risen from her bed in more need of repose than
+when she lay down in it.  But the feelings which made such composure a
+disgrace, left her in no danger of incurring it.  She was awake the
+whole night, and she wept the greatest part of it.  She got up with a
+headache, was unable to talk, and unwilling to take any nourishment;
+giving pain every moment to her mother and sisters, and forbidding all
+attempt at consolation from either.  Her sensibility was potent enough!
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When breakfast was over she walked out by herself, and wandered about
+the village of Allenham, indulging the recollection of past enjoyment
+and crying over the present reverse for the chief of the morning.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The evening passed off in the equal indulgence of feeling.  She played
+over every favourite song that she had been used to play to Willoughby,
+every air in which their voices had been oftenest joined, and sat at
+the instrument gazing on every line of music that he had written out
+for her, till her heart was so heavy that no farther sadness could be
+gained; and this nourishment of grief was every day applied.  She spent
+whole hours at the pianoforte alternately singing and crying; her voice
+often totally suspended by her tears.  In books too, as well as in
+music, she courted the misery which a contrast between the past and
+present was certain of giving.  She read nothing but what they had been
+used to read together.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Such violence of affliction indeed could not be supported for ever; it
+sunk within a few days into a calmer melancholy; but these employments,
+to which she daily recurred, her solitary walks and silent meditations,
+still produced occasional effusions of sorrow as lively as ever.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+No letter from Willoughby came; and none seemed expected by Marianne.
+Her mother was surprised, and Elinor again became uneasy.  But Mrs.
+Dashwood could find explanations whenever she wanted them, which at
+least satisfied herself.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Remember, Elinor," said she, "how very often Sir John fetches our
+letters himself from the post, and carries them to it.  We have already
+agreed that secrecy may be necessary, and we must acknowledge that it
+could not be maintained if their correspondence were to pass through
+Sir John's hands."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor could not deny the truth of this, and she tried to find in it a
+motive sufficient for their silence.  But there was one method so
+direct, so simple, and in her opinion so eligible of knowing the real
+state of the affair, and of instantly removing all mystery, that she
+could not help suggesting it to her mother.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why do you not ask Marianne at once," said she, "whether she is or she
+is not engaged to Willoughby?  From you, her mother, and so kind, so
+indulgent a mother, the question could not give offence.  It would be
+the natural result of your affection for her.  She used to be all
+unreserve, and to you more especially."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I would not ask such a question for the world.  Supposing it possible
+that they are not engaged, what distress would not such an enquiry
+inflict!  At any rate it would be most ungenerous.  I should never
+deserve her confidence again, after forcing from her a confession of
+what is meant at present to be unacknowledged to any one.  I know
+Marianne's heart: I know that she dearly loves me, and that I shall not
+be the last to whom the affair is made known, when circumstances make
+the revealment of it eligible.  I would not attempt to force the
+confidence of any one; of a child much less; because a sense of duty
+would prevent the denial which her wishes might direct."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor thought this generosity overstrained, considering her sister's
+youth, and urged the matter farther, but in vain; common sense, common
+care, common prudence, were all sunk in Mrs. Dashwood's romantic
+delicacy.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was several days before Willoughby's name was mentioned before
+Marianne by any of her family; Sir John and Mrs. Jennings, indeed, were
+not so nice; their witticisms added pain to many a painful hour;&mdash;but
+one evening, Mrs. Dashwood, accidentally taking up a volume of
+Shakespeare, exclaimed,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We have never finished Hamlet, Marianne; our dear Willoughby went away
+before we could get through it.  We will put it by, that when he comes
+again...But it may be months, perhaps, before THAT happens."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Months!" cried Marianne, with strong surprise.  "No&mdash;nor many weeks."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood was sorry for what she had said; but it gave Elinor
+pleasure, as it produced a reply from Marianne so expressive of
+confidence in Willoughby and knowledge of his intentions.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+One morning, about a week after his leaving the country, Marianne was
+prevailed on to join her sisters in their usual walk, instead of
+wandering away by herself.  Hitherto she had carefully avoided every
+companion in her rambles.  If her sisters intended to walk on the
+downs, she directly stole away towards the lanes; if they talked of the
+valley, she was as speedy in climbing the hills, and could never be
+found when the others set off.  But at length she was secured by the
+exertions of Elinor, who greatly disapproved such continual seclusion.
+They walked along the road through the valley, and chiefly in silence,
+for Marianne's MIND could not be controlled, and Elinor, satisfied with
+gaining one point, would not then attempt more.  Beyond the entrance of
+the valley, where the country, though still rich, was less wild and
+more open, a long stretch of the road which they had travelled on first
+coming to Barton, lay before them; and on reaching that point, they
+stopped to look around them, and examine a prospect which formed the
+distance of their view from the cottage, from a spot which they had
+never happened to reach in any of their walks before.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Amongst the objects in the scene, they soon discovered an animated one;
+it was a man on horseback riding towards them.  In a few minutes they
+could distinguish him to be a gentleman; and in a moment afterwards
+Marianne rapturously exclaimed,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is he; it is indeed;&mdash;I know it is!"&mdash;and was hastening to meet
+him, when Elinor cried out,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Indeed, Marianne, I think you are mistaken.  It is not Willoughby.
+The person is not tall enough for him, and has not his air."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He has, he has," cried Marianne, "I am sure he has.  His air, his
+coat, his horse.  I knew how soon he would come."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She walked eagerly on as she spoke; and Elinor, to screen Marianne from
+particularity, as she felt almost certain of its not being Willoughby,
+quickened her pace and kept up with her.  They were soon within thirty
+yards of the gentleman.  Marianne looked again; her heart sunk within
+her; and abruptly turning round, she was hurrying back, when the voices
+of both her sisters were raised to detain her; a third, almost as well
+known as Willoughby's, joined them in begging her to stop, and she
+turned round with surprise to see and welcome Edward Ferrars.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He was the only person in the world who could at that moment be
+forgiven for not being Willoughby; the only one who could have gained a
+smile from her; but she dispersed her tears to smile on HIM, and in her
+sister's happiness forgot for a time her own disappointment.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He dismounted, and giving his horse to his servant, walked back with
+them to Barton, whither he was purposely coming to visit them.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He was welcomed by them all with great cordiality, but especially by
+Marianne, who showed more warmth of regard in her reception of him than
+even Elinor herself.  To Marianne, indeed, the meeting between Edward
+and her sister was but a continuation of that unaccountable coldness
+which she had often observed at Norland in their mutual behaviour.  On
+Edward's side, more particularly, there was a deficiency of all that a
+lover ought to look and say on such an occasion.  He was confused,
+seemed scarcely sensible of pleasure in seeing them, looked neither
+rapturous nor gay, said little but what was forced from him by
+questions, and distinguished Elinor by no mark of affection.  Marianne
+saw and listened with increasing surprise.  She began almost to feel a
+dislike of Edward; and it ended, as every feeling must end with her, by
+carrying back her thoughts to Willoughby, whose manners formed a
+contrast sufficiently striking to those of his brother elect.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+After a short silence which succeeded the first surprise and enquiries
+of meeting, Marianne asked Edward if he came directly from London.  No,
+he had been in Devonshire a fortnight.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"A fortnight!" she repeated, surprised at his being so long in the same
+county with Elinor without seeing her before.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He looked rather distressed as he added, that he had been staying with
+some friends near Plymouth.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Have you been lately in Sussex?" said Elinor.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I was at Norland about a month ago."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And how does dear, dear Norland look?" cried Marianne.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Dear, dear Norland," said Elinor, "probably looks much as it always
+does at this time of the year.  The woods and walks thickly covered
+with dead leaves."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh," cried Marianne, "with what transporting sensation have I formerly
+seen them fall!  How have I delighted, as I walked, to see them driven
+in showers about me by the wind!  What feelings have they, the season,
+the air altogether inspired!  Now there is no one to regard them.  They
+are seen only as a nuisance, swept hastily off, and driven as much as
+possible from the sight."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is not every one," said Elinor, "who has your passion for dead
+leaves."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No; my feelings are not often shared, not often understood.  But
+SOMETIMES they are."&mdash;As she said this, she sunk into a reverie for a
+few moments;&mdash;but rousing herself again, "Now, Edward," said she,
+calling his attention to the prospect, "here is Barton valley.  Look up
+to it, and be tranquil if you can.  Look at those hills!  Did you ever
+see their equals?  To the left is Barton park, amongst those woods and
+plantations.  You may see the end of the house.  And there, beneath
+that farthest hill, which rises with such grandeur, is our cottage."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is a beautiful country," he replied; "but these bottoms must be
+dirty in winter."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How can you think of dirt, with such objects before you?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Because," replied he, smiling, "among the rest of the objects before
+me, I see a very dirty lane."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How strange!" said Marianne to herself as she walked on.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Have you an agreeable neighbourhood here?  Are the Middletons pleasant
+people?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, not all," answered Marianne; "we could not be more unfortunately
+situated."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Marianne," cried her sister, "how can you say so? How can you be so
+unjust?  They are a very respectable family, Mr. Ferrars; and towards
+us have behaved in the friendliest manner.  Have you forgot, Marianne,
+how many pleasant days we have owed to them?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No," said Marianne, in a low voice, "nor how many painful moments."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor took no notice of this; and directing her attention to their
+visitor, endeavoured to support something like discourse with him, by
+talking of their present residence, its conveniences, &amp;c. extorting
+from him occasional questions and remarks.  His coldness and reserve
+mortified her severely; she was vexed and half angry; but resolving to
+regulate her behaviour to him by the past rather than the present, she
+avoided every appearance of resentment or displeasure, and treated him
+as she thought he ought to be treated from the family connection.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap17"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 17
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood was surprised only for a moment at seeing him; for his
+coming to Barton was, in her opinion, of all things the most natural.
+Her joy and expression of regard long outlived her wonder.  He received
+the kindest welcome from her; and shyness, coldness, reserve could not
+stand against such a reception.  They had begun to fail him before he
+entered the house, and they were quite overcome by the captivating
+manners of Mrs. Dashwood.  Indeed a man could not very well be in love
+with either of her daughters, without extending the passion to her; and
+Elinor had the satisfaction of seeing him soon become more like
+himself.  His affections seemed to reanimate towards them all, and his
+interest in their welfare again became perceptible.  He was not in
+spirits, however; he praised their house, admired its prospect, was
+attentive, and kind; but still he was not in spirits.  The whole family
+perceived it, and Mrs. Dashwood, attributing it to some want of
+liberality in his mother, sat down to table indignant against all
+selfish parents.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What are Mrs. Ferrars's views for you at present, Edward?" said she,
+when dinner was over and they had drawn round the fire; "are you still
+to be a great orator in spite of yourself?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No. I hope my mother is now convinced that I have no more talents than
+inclination for a public life!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But how is your fame to be established? for famous you must be to
+satisfy all your family; and with no inclination for expense, no
+affection for strangers, no profession, and no assurance, you may find
+it a difficult matter."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I shall not attempt it.  I have no wish to be distinguished; and have
+every reason to hope I never shall.  Thank Heaven! I cannot be forced
+into genius and eloquence."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You have no ambition, I well know.  Your wishes are all moderate."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"As moderate as those of the rest of the world, I believe.  I wish as
+well as every body else to be perfectly happy; but, like every body
+else it must be in my own way.  Greatness will not make me so."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Strange that it would!" cried Marianne.  "What have wealth or grandeur
+to do with happiness?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Grandeur has but little," said Elinor, "but wealth has much to do with
+it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Elinor, for shame!" said Marianne, "money can only give happiness
+where there is nothing else to give it.  Beyond a competence, it can
+afford no real satisfaction, as far as mere self is concerned."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Perhaps," said Elinor, smiling, "we may come to the same point.  YOUR
+competence and MY wealth are very much alike, I dare say; and without
+them, as the world goes now, we shall both agree that every kind of
+external comfort must be wanting.  Your ideas are only more noble than
+mine.  Come, what is your competence?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"About eighteen hundred or two thousand a year; not more than THAT."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor laughed.  "TWO thousand a year! ONE is my wealth! I guessed how
+it would end."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And yet two thousand a-year is a very moderate income," said Marianne.
+"A family cannot well be maintained on a smaller.  I am sure I am not
+extravagant in my demands.  A proper establishment of servants, a
+carriage, perhaps two, and hunters, cannot be supported on less."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor smiled again, to hear her sister describing so accurately their
+future expenses at Combe Magna.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Hunters!" repeated Edward&mdash;"but why must you have hunters?  Every body
+does not hunt."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne coloured as she replied, "But most people do."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I wish," said Margaret, striking out a novel thought, "that somebody
+would give us all a large fortune apiece!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh that they would!" cried Marianne, her eyes sparkling with
+animation, and her cheeks glowing with the delight of such imaginary
+happiness.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We are all unanimous in that wish, I suppose," said Elinor, "in spite
+of the insufficiency of wealth."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh dear!" cried Margaret, "how happy I should be!  I wonder what I
+should do with it!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne looked as if she had no doubt on that point.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I should be puzzled to spend so large a fortune myself," said Mrs.
+Dashwood, "if my children were all to be rich my help."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You must begin your improvements on this house," observed Elinor, "and
+your difficulties will soon vanish."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What magnificent orders would travel from this family to London," said
+Edward, "in such an event!  What a happy day for booksellers,
+music-sellers, and print-shops!  You, Miss Dashwood, would give a
+general commission for every new print of merit to be sent you&mdash;and as
+for Marianne, I know her greatness of soul, there would not be music
+enough in London to content her.  And books!&mdash;Thomson, Cowper,
+Scott&mdash;she would buy them all over and over again: she would buy up
+every copy, I believe, to prevent their falling into unworthy hands;
+and she would have every book that tells her how to admire an old
+twisted tree.  Should not you, Marianne?  Forgive me, if I am very
+saucy.  But I was willing to shew you that I had not forgot our old
+disputes."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I love to be reminded of the past, Edward&mdash;whether it be melancholy or
+gay, I love to recall it&mdash;and you will never offend me by talking of
+former times.  You are very right in supposing how my money would be
+spent&mdash;some of it, at least&mdash;my loose cash would certainly be employed
+in improving my collection of music and books."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And the bulk of your fortune would be laid out in annuities on the
+authors or their heirs."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, Edward, I should have something else to do with it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Perhaps, then, you would bestow it as a reward on that person who
+wrote the ablest defence of your favourite maxim, that no one can ever
+be in love more than once in their life&mdash;your opinion on that point is
+unchanged, I presume?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Undoubtedly. At my time of life opinions are tolerably fixed.  It is
+not likely that I should now see or hear any thing to change them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Marianne is as steadfast as ever, you see," said Elinor, "she is not
+at all altered."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"She is only grown a little more grave than she was."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nay, Edward," said Marianne, "you need not reproach me.  You are not
+very gay yourself."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why should you think so!" replied he, with a sigh.  "But gaiety never
+was a part of MY character."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nor do I think it a part of Marianne's," said Elinor; "I should hardly
+call her a lively girl&mdash;she is very earnest, very eager in all she
+does&mdash;sometimes talks a great deal and always with animation&mdash;but she
+is not often really merry."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I believe you are right," he replied, "and yet I have always set her
+down as a lively girl."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have frequently detected myself in such kind of mistakes," said
+Elinor, "in a total misapprehension of character in some point or
+other: fancying people so much more gay or grave, or ingenious or
+stupid than they really are, and I can hardly tell why or in what the
+deception originated.  Sometimes one is guided by what they say of
+themselves, and very frequently by what other people say of them,
+without giving oneself time to deliberate and judge."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But I thought it was right, Elinor," said Marianne, "to be guided
+wholly by the opinion of other people.  I thought our judgments were
+given us merely to be subservient to those of neighbours.  This has
+always been your doctrine, I am sure."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, Marianne, never.  My doctrine has never aimed at the subjection of
+the understanding.  All I have ever attempted to influence has been the
+behaviour.  You must not confound my meaning.  I am guilty, I confess,
+of having often wished you to treat our acquaintance in general with
+greater attention; but when have I advised you to adopt their
+sentiments or to conform to their judgment in serious matters?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You have not been able to bring your sister over to your plan of
+general civility," said Edward to Elinor, "Do you gain no ground?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Quite the contrary," replied Elinor, looking expressively at Marianne.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My judgment," he returned, "is all on your side of the question; but I
+am afraid my practice is much more on your sister's.  I never wish to
+offend, but I am so foolishly shy, that I often seem negligent, when I
+am only kept back by my natural awkwardness.  I have frequently thought
+that I must have been intended by nature to be fond of low company, I
+am so little at my ease among strangers of gentility!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Marianne has not shyness to excuse any inattention of hers," said
+Elinor.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"She knows her own worth too well for false shame," replied Edward.
+"Shyness is only the effect of a sense of inferiority in some way or
+other.  If I could persuade myself that my manners were perfectly easy
+and graceful, I should not be shy."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But you would still be reserved," said Marianne, "and that is worse."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Edward started&mdash;"Reserved! Am I reserved, Marianne?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, very."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I do not understand you," replied he, colouring.  "Reserved!&mdash;how, in
+what manner?  What am I to tell you?  What can you suppose?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor looked surprised at his emotion; but trying to laugh off the
+subject, she said to him, "Do not you know my sister well enough to
+understand what she means?  Do not you know she calls every one
+reserved who does not talk as fast, and admire what she admires as
+rapturously as herself?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Edward made no answer.  His gravity and thoughtfulness returned on him
+in their fullest extent&mdash;and he sat for some time silent and dull.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap18"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 18
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Elinor saw, with great uneasiness the low spirits of her friend.  His
+visit afforded her but a very partial satisfaction, while his own
+enjoyment in it appeared so imperfect.  It was evident that he was
+unhappy; she wished it were equally evident that he still distinguished
+her by the same affection which once she had felt no doubt of
+inspiring; but hitherto the continuance of his preference seemed very
+uncertain; and the reservedness of his manner towards her contradicted
+one moment what a more animated look had intimated the preceding one.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He joined her and Marianne in the breakfast-room the next morning
+before the others were down; and Marianne, who was always eager to
+promote their happiness as far as she could, soon left them to
+themselves.  But before she was half way upstairs she heard the parlour
+door open, and, turning round, was astonished to see Edward himself
+come out.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am going into the village to see my horses," said he, "as you are
+not yet ready for breakfast; I shall be back again presently."
+</P>
+
+<HR ALIGN="center" WIDTH="60%">
+
+<P>
+Edward returned to them with fresh admiration of the surrounding
+country; in his walk to the village, he had seen many parts of the
+valley to advantage; and the village itself, in a much higher situation
+than the cottage, afforded a general view of the whole, which had
+exceedingly pleased him.  This was a subject which ensured Marianne's
+attention, and she was beginning to describe her own admiration of
+these scenes, and to question him more minutely on the objects that had
+particularly struck him, when Edward interrupted her by saying, "You
+must not enquire too far, Marianne&mdash;remember I have no knowledge in the
+picturesque, and I shall offend you by my ignorance and want of taste
+if we come to particulars.  I shall call hills steep, which ought to be
+bold; surfaces strange and uncouth, which ought to be irregular and
+rugged; and distant objects out of sight, which ought only to be
+indistinct through the soft medium of a hazy atmosphere.  You must be
+satisfied with such admiration as I can honestly give.  I call it a
+very fine country&mdash;the hills are steep, the woods seem full of fine
+timber, and the valley looks comfortable and snug&mdash;with rich meadows
+and several neat farm houses scattered here and there.  It exactly
+answers my idea of a fine country, because it unites beauty with
+utility&mdash;and I dare say it is a picturesque one too, because you admire
+it; I can easily believe it to be full of rocks and promontories, grey
+moss and brush wood, but these are all lost on me.  I know nothing of
+the picturesque."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am afraid it is but too true," said Marianne; "but why should you
+boast of it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I suspect," said Elinor, "that to avoid one kind of affectation,
+Edward here falls into another.  Because he believes many people
+pretend to more admiration of the beauties of nature than they really
+feel, and is disgusted with such pretensions, he affects greater
+indifference and less discrimination in viewing them himself than he
+possesses.  He is fastidious and will have an affectation of his own."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is very true," said Marianne, "that admiration of landscape scenery
+is become a mere jargon.  Every body pretends to feel and tries to
+describe with the taste and elegance of him who first defined what
+picturesque beauty was.  I detest jargon of every kind, and sometimes I
+have kept my feelings to myself, because I could find no language to
+describe them in but what was worn and hackneyed out of all sense and
+meaning."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am convinced," said Edward, "that you really feel all the delight in
+a fine prospect which you profess to feel.  But, in return, your sister
+must allow me to feel no more than I profess.  I like a fine prospect,
+but not on picturesque principles.  I do not like crooked, twisted,
+blasted trees.  I admire them much more if they are tall, straight, and
+flourishing.  I do not like ruined, tattered cottages.  I am not fond
+of nettles or thistles, or heath blossoms.  I have more pleasure in a
+snug farm-house than a watch-tower&mdash;and a troop of tidy, happy villages
+please me better than the finest banditti in the world."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne looked with amazement at Edward, with compassion at her
+sister.  Elinor only laughed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The subject was continued no farther; and Marianne remained
+thoughtfully silent, till a new object suddenly engaged her attention.
+She was sitting by Edward, and in taking his tea from Mrs. Dashwood,
+his hand passed so directly before her, as to make a ring, with a plait
+of hair in the centre, very conspicuous on one of his fingers.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I never saw you wear a ring before, Edward," she cried.  "Is that
+Fanny's hair? I remember her promising to give you some.  But I should
+have thought her hair had been darker."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne spoke inconsiderately what she really felt&mdash;but when she saw
+how much she had pained Edward, her own vexation at her want of thought
+could not be surpassed by his.  He coloured very deeply, and giving a
+momentary glance at Elinor, replied, "Yes; it is my sister's hair.  The
+setting always casts a different shade on it, you know."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor had met his eye, and looked conscious likewise.  That the hair
+was her own, she instantaneously felt as well satisfied as Marianne;
+the only difference in their conclusions was, that what Marianne
+considered as a free gift from her sister, Elinor was conscious must
+have been procured by some theft or contrivance unknown to herself.
+She was not in a humour, however, to regard it as an affront, and
+affecting to take no notice of what passed, by instantly talking of
+something else, she internally resolved henceforward to catch every
+opportunity of eyeing the hair and of satisfying herself, beyond all
+doubt, that it was exactly the shade of her own.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Edward's embarrassment lasted some time, and it ended in an absence of
+mind still more settled.  He was particularly grave the whole morning.
+Marianne severely censured herself for what she had said; but her own
+forgiveness might have been more speedy, had she known how little
+offence it had given her sister.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Before the middle of the day, they were visited by Sir John and Mrs.
+Jennings, who, having heard of the arrival of a gentleman at the
+cottage, came to take a survey of the guest.  With the assistance of
+his mother-in-law, Sir John was not long in discovering that the name
+of Ferrars began with an F. and this prepared a future mine of raillery
+against the devoted Elinor, which nothing but the newness of their
+acquaintance with Edward could have prevented from being immediately
+sprung.  But, as it was, she only learned, from some very significant
+looks, how far their penetration, founded on Margaret's instructions,
+extended.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Sir John never came to the Dashwoods without either inviting them to
+dine at the park the next day, or to drink tea with them that evening.
+On the present occasion, for the better entertainment of their visitor,
+towards whose amusement he felt himself bound to contribute, he wished
+to engage them for both.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You MUST drink tea with us to night," said he, "for we shall be quite
+alone&mdash;and tomorrow you must absolutely dine with us, for we shall be a
+large party."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Jennings enforced the necessity.  "And who knows but you may raise
+a dance," said she.  "And that will tempt YOU, Miss Marianne."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"A dance!" cried Marianne.  "Impossible! Who is to dance?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Who! why yourselves, and the Careys, and Whitakers to be sure.&mdash;What!
+you thought nobody could dance because a certain person that shall be
+nameless is gone!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I wish with all my soul," cried Sir John, "that Willoughby were among
+us again."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This, and Marianne's blushing, gave new suspicions to Edward.  "And who
+is Willoughby?" said he, in a low voice, to Miss Dashwood, by whom he
+was sitting.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She gave him a brief reply.  Marianne's countenance was more
+communicative.  Edward saw enough to comprehend, not only the meaning
+of others, but such of Marianne's expressions as had puzzled him
+before; and when their visitors left them, he went immediately round
+her, and said, in a whisper, "I have been guessing.  Shall I tell you
+my guess?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What do you mean?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Shall I tell you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well then; I guess that Mr. Willoughby hunts."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne was surprised and confused, yet she could not help smiling at
+the quiet archness of his manner, and after a moment's silence, said,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, Edward! How can you?&mdash;But the time will come I hope...I am sure
+you will like him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I do not doubt it," replied he, rather astonished at her earnestness
+and warmth; for had he not imagined it to be a joke for the good of her
+acquaintance in general, founded only on a something or a nothing
+between Mr. Willoughby and herself, he would not have ventured to
+mention it.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap19"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 19
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Edward remained a week at the cottage; he was earnestly pressed by Mrs.
+Dashwood to stay longer; but, as if he were bent only on
+self-mortification, he seemed resolved to be gone when his enjoyment
+among his friends was at the height.  His spirits, during the last two
+or three days, though still very unequal, were greatly improved&mdash;he
+grew more and more partial to the house and environs&mdash;never spoke of
+going away without a sigh&mdash;declared his time to be wholly
+disengaged&mdash;even doubted to what place he should go when he left
+them&mdash;but still, go he must.  Never had any week passed so quickly&mdash;he
+could hardly believe it to be gone.  He said so repeatedly; other
+things he said too, which marked the turn of his feelings and gave the
+lie to his actions.  He had no pleasure at Norland; he detested being
+in town; but either to Norland or London, he must go.  He valued their
+kindness beyond any thing, and his greatest happiness was in being with
+them.  Yet, he must leave them at the end of a week, in spite of their
+wishes and his own, and without any restraint on his time.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor placed all that was astonishing in this way of acting to his
+mother's account; and it was happy for her that he had a mother whose
+character was so imperfectly known to her, as to be the general excuse
+for every thing strange on the part of her son.  Disappointed, however,
+and vexed as she was, and sometimes displeased with his uncertain
+behaviour to herself, she was very well disposed on the whole to regard
+his actions with all the candid allowances and generous qualifications,
+which had been rather more painfully extorted from her, for
+Willoughby's service, by her mother.  His want of spirits, of openness,
+and of consistency, were most usually attributed to his want of
+independence, and his better knowledge of Mrs. Ferrars's disposition
+and designs.  The shortness of his visit, the steadiness of his purpose
+in leaving them, originated in the same fettered inclination, the same
+inevitable necessity of temporizing with his mother.  The old
+well-established grievance of duty against will, parent against child,
+was the cause of all.  She would have been glad to know when these
+difficulties were to cease, this opposition was to yield,&mdash;when Mrs.
+Ferrars would be reformed, and her son be at liberty to be happy.  But
+from such vain wishes she was forced to turn for comfort to the renewal
+of her confidence in Edward's affection, to the remembrance of every
+mark of regard in look or word which fell from him while at Barton, and
+above all to that flattering proof of it which he constantly wore round
+his finger.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I think, Edward," said Mrs. Dashwood, as they were at breakfast the
+last morning, "you would be a happier man if you had any profession to
+engage your time and give an interest to your plans and actions.  Some
+inconvenience to your friends, indeed, might result from it&mdash;you would
+not be able to give them so much of your time.  But (with a smile) you
+would be materially benefited in one particular at least&mdash;you would
+know where to go when you left them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I do assure you," he replied, "that I have long thought on this point,
+as you think now.  It has been, and is, and probably will always be a
+heavy misfortune to me, that I have had no necessary business to engage
+me, no profession to give me employment, or afford me any thing like
+independence.  But unfortunately my own nicety, and the nicety of my
+friends, have made me what I am, an idle, helpless being.  We never
+could agree in our choice of a profession.  I always preferred the
+church, as I still do.  But that was not smart enough for my family.
+They recommended the army.  That was a great deal too smart for me.
+The law was allowed to be genteel enough; many young men, who had
+chambers in the Temple, made a very good appearance in the first
+circles, and drove about town in very knowing gigs.  But I had no
+inclination for the law, even in this less abstruse study of it, which
+my family approved.  As for the navy, it had fashion on its side, but I
+was too old when the subject was first started to enter it&mdash;and, at
+length, as there was no necessity for my having any profession at all,
+as I might be as dashing and expensive without a red coat on my back as
+with one, idleness was pronounced on the whole to be most advantageous
+and honourable, and a young man of eighteen is not in general so
+earnestly bent on being busy as to resist the solicitations of his
+friends to do nothing.  I was therefore entered at Oxford and have been
+properly idle ever since."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The consequence of which, I suppose, will be," said Mrs. Dashwood,
+"since leisure has not promoted your own happiness, that your sons will
+be brought up to as many pursuits, employments, professions, and trades
+as Columella's."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They will be brought up," said he, in a serious accent, "to be as
+unlike myself as is possible.  In feeling, in action, in condition, in
+every thing."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Come, come; this is all an effusion of immediate want of spirits,
+Edward.  You are in a melancholy humour, and fancy that any one unlike
+yourself must be happy.  But remember that the pain of parting from
+friends will be felt by every body at times, whatever be their
+education or state.  Know your own happiness.  You want nothing but
+patience&mdash;or give it a more fascinating name, call it hope.  Your
+mother will secure to you, in time, that independence you are so
+anxious for; it is her duty, and it will, it must ere long become her
+happiness to prevent your whole youth from being wasted in discontent.
+How much may not a few months do?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I think," replied Edward, "that I may defy many months to produce any
+good to me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This desponding turn of mind, though it could not be communicated to
+Mrs. Dashwood, gave additional pain to them all in the parting, which
+shortly took place, and left an uncomfortable impression on Elinor's
+feelings especially, which required some trouble and time to subdue.
+But as it was her determination to subdue it, and to prevent herself
+from appearing to suffer more than what all her family suffered on his
+going away, she did not adopt the method so judiciously employed by
+Marianne, on a similar occasion, to augment and fix her sorrow, by
+seeking silence, solitude and idleness.  Their means were as different
+as their objects, and equally suited to the advancement of each.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor sat down to her drawing-table as soon as he was out of the
+house, busily employed herself the whole day, neither sought nor
+avoided the mention of his name, appeared to interest herself almost as
+much as ever in the general concerns of the family, and if, by this
+conduct, she did not lessen her own grief, it was at least prevented
+from unnecessary increase, and her mother and sisters were spared much
+solicitude on her account.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Such behaviour as this, so exactly the reverse of her own, appeared no
+more meritorious to Marianne, than her own had seemed faulty to her.
+The business of self-command she settled very easily;&mdash;with strong
+affections it was impossible, with calm ones it could have no merit.
+That her sister's affections WERE calm, she dared not deny, though she
+blushed to acknowledge it; and of the strength of her own, she gave a
+very striking proof, by still loving and respecting that sister, in
+spite of this mortifying conviction.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Without shutting herself up from her family, or leaving the house in
+determined solitude to avoid them, or lying awake the whole night to
+indulge meditation, Elinor found every day afforded her leisure enough
+to think of Edward, and of Edward's behaviour, in every possible
+variety which the different state of her spirits at different times
+could produce,&mdash;with tenderness, pity, approbation, censure, and doubt.
+There were moments in abundance, when, if not by the absence of her
+mother and sisters, at least by the nature of their employments,
+conversation was forbidden among them, and every effect of solitude was
+produced.  Her mind was inevitably at liberty; her thoughts could not
+be chained elsewhere; and the past and the future, on a subject so
+interesting, must be before her, must force her attention, and engross
+her memory, her reflection, and her fancy.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+From a reverie of this kind, as she sat at her drawing-table, she was
+roused one morning, soon after Edward's leaving them, by the arrival of
+company.  She happened to be quite alone.  The closing of the little
+gate, at the entrance of the green court in front of the house, drew
+her eyes to the window, and she saw a large party walking up to the
+door.  Amongst them were Sir John and Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings,
+but there were two others, a gentleman and lady, who were quite unknown
+to her.  She was sitting near the window, and as soon as Sir John
+perceived her, he left the rest of the party to the ceremony of
+knocking at the door, and stepping across the turf, obliged her to open
+the casement to speak to him, though the space was so short between the
+door and the window, as to make it hardly possible to speak at one
+without being heard at the other.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well," said he, "we have brought you some strangers.  How do you like
+them?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Hush! they will hear you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Never mind if they do.  It is only the Palmers.  Charlotte is very
+pretty, I can tell you.  You may see her if you look this way."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As Elinor was certain of seeing her in a couple of minutes, without
+taking that liberty, she begged to be excused.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Where is Marianne? Has she run away because we are come? I see her
+instrument is open."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"She is walking, I believe."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They were now joined by Mrs. Jennings, who had not patience enough to
+wait till the door was opened before she told HER story.  She came
+hallooing to the window, "How do you do, my dear?  How does Mrs.
+Dashwood do?  And where are your sisters?  What! all alone! you will be
+glad of a little company to sit with you.  I have brought my other son
+and daughter to see you.  Only think of their coming so suddenly!  I
+thought I heard a carriage last night, while we were drinking our tea,
+but it never entered my head that it could be them.  I thought of
+nothing but whether it might not be Colonel Brandon come back again; so
+I said to Sir John, I do think I hear a carriage; perhaps it is Colonel
+Brandon come back again"&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor was obliged to turn from her, in the middle of her story, to
+receive the rest of the party; Lady Middleton introduced the two
+strangers; Mrs. Dashwood and Margaret came down stairs at the same
+time, and they all sat down to look at one another, while Mrs. Jennings
+continued her story as she walked through the passage into the parlour,
+attended by Sir John.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Palmer was several years younger than Lady Middleton, and totally
+unlike her in every respect.  She was short and plump, had a very
+pretty face, and the finest expression of good humour in it that could
+possibly be.  Her manners were by no means so elegant as her sister's,
+but they were much more prepossessing.  She came in with a smile,
+smiled all the time of her visit, except when she laughed, and smiled
+when she went away.  Her husband was a grave looking young man of five
+or six and twenty, with an air of more fashion and sense than his wife,
+but of less willingness to please or be pleased.  He entered the room
+with a look of self-consequence, slightly bowed to the ladies, without
+speaking a word, and, after briefly surveying them and their
+apartments, took up a newspaper from the table, and continued to read
+it as long as he staid.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Palmer, on the contrary, who was strongly endowed by nature with a
+turn for being uniformly civil and happy, was hardly seated before her
+admiration of the parlour and every thing in it burst forth.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well! what a delightful room this is! I never saw anything so
+charming!  Only think, Mamma, how it is improved since I was here last!
+I always thought it such a sweet place, ma'am! (turning to Mrs.
+Dashwood) but you have made it so charming!  Only look, sister, how
+delightful every thing is! How I should like such a house for myself!
+Should not you, Mr. Palmer?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mr. Palmer made her no answer, and did not even raise his eyes from the
+newspaper.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mr. Palmer does not hear me," said she, laughing; "he never does
+sometimes.  It is so ridiculous!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This was quite a new idea to Mrs. Dashwood; she had never been used to
+find wit in the inattention of any one, and could not help looking with
+surprise at them both.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Jennings, in the meantime, talked on as loud as she could, and
+continued her account of their surprise, the evening before, on seeing
+their friends, without ceasing till every thing was told.  Mrs. Palmer
+laughed heartily at the recollection of their astonishment, and every
+body agreed, two or three times over, that it had been quite an
+agreeable surprise.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You may believe how glad we all were to see them," added Mrs.
+Jennings, leaning forward towards Elinor, and speaking in a low voice
+as if she meant to be heard by no one else, though they were seated on
+different sides of the room; "but, however, I can't help wishing they
+had not travelled quite so fast, nor made such a long journey of it,
+for they came all round by London upon account of some business, for
+you know (nodding significantly and pointing to her daughter) it was
+wrong in her situation.  I wanted her to stay at home and rest this
+morning, but she would come with us; she longed so much to see you all!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Palmer laughed, and said it would not do her any harm.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"She expects to be confined in February," continued Mrs. Jennings.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Lady Middleton could no longer endure such a conversation, and
+therefore exerted herself to ask Mr. Palmer if there was any news in
+the paper.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, none at all," he replied, and read on.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Here comes Marianne," cried Sir John.  "Now, Palmer, you shall see a
+monstrous pretty girl."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He immediately went into the passage, opened the front door, and
+ushered her in himself.  Mrs. Jennings asked her, as soon as she
+appeared, if she had not been to Allenham; and Mrs. Palmer laughed so
+heartily at the question, as to show she understood it.  Mr. Palmer
+looked up on her entering the room, stared at her some minutes, and
+then returned to his newspaper.  Mrs. Palmer's eye was now caught by
+the drawings which hung round the room.  She got up to examine them.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh! dear, how beautiful these are!  Well! how delightful!  Do but
+look, mama, how sweet! I declare they are quite charming; I could look
+at them for ever." And then sitting down again, she very soon forgot
+that there were any such things in the room.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When Lady Middleton rose to go away, Mr. Palmer rose also, laid down
+the newspaper, stretched himself and looked at them all around.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My love, have you been asleep?" said his wife, laughing.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He made her no answer; and only observed, after again examining the
+room, that it was very low pitched, and that the ceiling was crooked.
+He then made his bow, and departed with the rest.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Sir John had been very urgent with them all to spend the next day at
+the park.  Mrs. Dashwood, who did not chuse to dine with them oftener
+than they dined at the cottage, absolutely refused on her own account;
+her daughters might do as they pleased.  But they had no curiosity to
+see how Mr. and Mrs. Palmer ate their dinner, and no expectation of
+pleasure from them in any other way.  They attempted, therefore,
+likewise, to excuse themselves; the weather was uncertain, and not
+likely to be good.  But Sir John would not be satisfied&mdash;the carriage
+should be sent for them and they must come.  Lady Middleton too, though
+she did not press their mother, pressed them.  Mrs. Jennings and Mrs.
+Palmer joined their entreaties, all seemed equally anxious to avoid a
+family party; and the young ladies were obliged to yield.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why should they ask us?" said Marianne, as soon as they were gone.
+"The rent of this cottage is said to be low; but we have it on very
+hard terms, if we are to dine at the park whenever any one is staying
+either with them, or with us."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They mean no less to be civil and kind to us now," said Elinor, "by
+these frequent invitations, than by those which we received from them a
+few weeks ago.  The alteration is not in them, if their parties are
+grown tedious and dull.  We must look for the change elsewhere."
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap20"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 20
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+As the Miss Dashwoods entered the drawing-room of the park the next
+day, at one door, Mrs. Palmer came running in at the other, looking as
+good humoured and merry as before.  She took them all most
+affectionately by the hand, and expressed great delight in seeing them
+again.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am so glad to see you!" said she, seating herself between Elinor and
+Marianne, "for it is so bad a day I was afraid you might not come,
+which would be a shocking thing, as we go away again tomorrow. We must
+go, for the Westons come to us next week you know.  It was quite a
+sudden thing our coming at all, and I knew nothing of it till the
+carriage was coming to the door, and then Mr. Palmer asked me if I
+would go with him to Barton.  He is so droll! He never tells me any
+thing! I am so sorry we cannot stay longer; however we shall meet again
+in town very soon, I hope."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They were obliged to put an end to such an expectation.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not go to town!" cried Mrs. Palmer, with a laugh, "I shall be quite
+disappointed if you do not.  I could get the nicest house in world for
+you, next door to ours, in Hanover-square.  You must come, indeed.  I
+am sure I shall be very happy to chaperon you at any time till I am
+confined, if Mrs. Dashwood should not like to go into public."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They thanked her; but were obliged to resist all her entreaties.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, my love," cried Mrs. Palmer to her husband, who just then entered
+the room&mdash;"you must help me to persuade the Miss Dashwoods to go to
+town this winter."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Her love made no answer; and after slightly bowing to the ladies, began
+complaining of the weather.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How horrid all this is!" said he.  "Such weather makes every thing and
+every body disgusting.  Dullness is as much produced within doors as
+without, by rain.  It makes one detest all one's acquaintance.  What
+the devil does Sir John mean by not having a billiard room in his
+house?  How few people know what comfort is!  Sir John is as stupid as
+the weather."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The rest of the company soon dropt in.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am afraid, Miss Marianne," said Sir John, "you have not been able to
+take your usual walk to Allenham today."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne looked very grave and said nothing.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, don't be so sly before us," said Mrs. Palmer; "for we know all
+about it, I assure you; and I admire your taste very much, for I think
+he is extremely handsome.  We do not live a great way from him in the
+country, you know.  Not above ten miles, I dare say."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Much nearer thirty," said her husband.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ah, well! there is not much difference.  I never was at his house; but
+they say it is a sweet pretty place."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"As vile a spot as I ever saw in my life," said Mr. Palmer.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne remained perfectly silent, though her countenance betrayed her
+interest in what was said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is it very ugly?" continued Mrs. Palmer&mdash;"then it must be some other
+place that is so pretty I suppose."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When they were seated in the dining room, Sir John observed with regret
+that they were only eight all together.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My dear," said he to his lady, "it is very provoking that we should be
+so few.  Why did not you ask the Gilberts to come to us today?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Did not I tell you, Sir John, when you spoke to me about it before,
+that it could not be done?  They dined with us last."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You and I, Sir John," said Mrs. Jennings, "should not stand upon such
+ceremony."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then you would be very ill-bred," cried Mr. Palmer.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My love you contradict every body," said his wife with her usual
+laugh.  "Do you know that you are quite rude?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I did not know I contradicted any body in calling your mother
+ill-bred."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ay, you may abuse me as you please," said the good-natured old lady,
+"you have taken Charlotte off my hands, and cannot give her back again.
+So there I have the whip hand of you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charlotte laughed heartily to think that her husband could not get rid
+of her; and exultingly said, she did not care how cross he was to her,
+as they must live together.  It was impossible for any one to be more
+thoroughly good-natured, or more determined to be happy than Mrs.
+Palmer.  The studied indifference, insolence, and discontent of her
+husband gave her no pain; and when he scolded or abused her, she was
+highly diverted.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mr. Palmer is so droll!" said she, in a whisper, to Elinor.  "He is
+always out of humour."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor was not inclined, after a little observation, to give him credit
+for being so genuinely and unaffectedly ill-natured or ill-bred as he
+wished to appear.  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,&mdash;but she knew that this kind of blunder was too common for any
+sensible man to be lastingly hurt by it.&mdash; 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.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"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,&mdash;and come
+while the Westons are with us.  You cannot think how happy I shall be!
+It will be quite delightful!&mdash;My love," applying to her husband, "don't
+you long to have the Miss Dashwoods come to Cleveland?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly," he replied, with a sneer&mdash;"I came into Devonshire with no
+other view."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"There now,"&mdash;said his lady, "you see Mr. Palmer expects you; so you
+cannot refuse to come."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They both eagerly and resolutely declined her invitation.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But indeed you must and shall come.  I am sure you will like it of all
+things.  The Westons will be with us, and it will be quite delightful.
+You cannot think what a sweet place Cleveland is; and we are so gay
+now, for Mr. Palmer is always going about the country canvassing
+against the election; and so many people came to dine with us that I
+never saw before, it is quite charming!  But, poor fellow! it is very
+fatiguing to him! for he is forced to make every body like him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor could hardly keep her countenance as she assented to the
+hardship of such an obligation.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How charming it will be," said Charlotte, "when he is in
+Parliament!&mdash;won't it? How I shall laugh!  It will be so ridiculous to
+see all his letters directed to him with an M.P.&mdash;But do you know, he
+says, he will never frank for me?  He declares he won't.  Don't you,
+Mr. Palmer?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mr. Palmer took no notice of her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He cannot bear writing, you know," she continued&mdash;"he says it is quite
+shocking."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No," said he, "I never said any thing so irrational.  Don't palm all
+your abuses of languages upon me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"There now; you see how droll he is.  This is always the way with him!
+Sometimes he won't speak to me for half a day together, and then he
+comes out with something so droll&mdash;all about any thing in the world."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She surprised Elinor very much as they returned into the drawing-room,
+by asking her whether she did not like Mr. Palmer excessively.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly," said Elinor; "he seems very agreeable."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well&mdash;I am so glad you do.  I thought you would, he is so pleasant;
+and Mr. Palmer is excessively pleased with you and your sisters I can
+tell you, and you can't think how disappointed he will be if you don't
+come to Cleveland.&mdash;I can't imagine why you should object to it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor was again obliged to decline her invitation; and by changing the
+subject, put a stop to her entreaties.  She thought it probable that as
+they lived in the same county, Mrs. Palmer might be able to give some
+more particular account of Willoughby's general character, than could
+be gathered from the Middletons' partial acquaintance with him; and she
+was eager to gain from any one, such a confirmation of his merits as
+might remove the possibility of fear from Marianne.  She began by
+inquiring if they saw much of Mr. Willoughby at Cleveland, and whether
+they were intimately acquainted with him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh dear, yes; I know him extremely well," replied Mrs. Palmer;&mdash;"Not
+that I ever spoke to him, indeed; but I have seen him for ever in town.
+Somehow or other I never happened to be staying at Barton while he was
+at Allenham.  Mama saw him here once before;&mdash;but I was with my uncle
+at Weymouth.  However, I dare say we should have seen a great deal of
+him in Somersetshire, if it had not happened very unluckily that we
+should never have been in the country together.  He is very little at
+Combe, I believe; but if he were ever so much there, I do not think Mr.
+Palmer would visit him, for he is in the opposition, you know, and
+besides it is such a way off.  I know why you inquire about him, very
+well; your sister is to marry him.  I am monstrous glad of it, for then
+I shall have her for a neighbour you know."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Upon my word," replied Elinor, "you know much more of the matter than
+I do, if you have any reason to expect such a match."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Don't pretend to deny it, because you know it is what every body talks
+of.  I assure you I heard of it in my way through town."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My dear Mrs. Palmer!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Upon my honour I did.&mdash;I met Colonel Brandon Monday morning in
+Bond-street, just before we left town, and he told me of it directly."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You surprise me very much.  Colonel Brandon tell you of it!  Surely
+you must be mistaken.  To give such intelligence to a person who could
+not be interested in it, even if it were true, is not what I should
+expect Colonel Brandon to do."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But I do assure you it was so, for all that, and I will tell you how
+it happened.  When we met him, he turned back and walked with us; and
+so we began talking of my brother and sister, and one thing and
+another, and I said to him, 'So, Colonel, there is a new family come to
+Barton cottage, I hear, and mama sends me word they are very pretty,
+and that one of them is going to be married to Mr. Willoughby of Combe
+Magna.  Is it true, pray? for of course you must know, as you have been
+in Devonshire so lately.'"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And what did the Colonel say?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh&mdash;he did not say much; but he looked as if he knew it to be true, so
+from that moment I set it down as certain.  It will be quite
+delightful, I declare!  When is it to take place?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mr. Brandon was very well I hope?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh! yes, quite well; and so full of your praises, he did nothing but
+say fine things of you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am flattered by his commendation.  He seems an excellent man; and I
+think him uncommonly pleasing."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"So do I.&mdash;He is such a charming man, that it is quite a pity he should
+be so grave and so dull.  Mamma says HE was in love with your sister
+too.&mdash; I assure you it was a great compliment if he was, for he hardly
+ever falls in love with any body."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is Mr. Willoughby much known in your part of Somersetshire?" said
+Elinor.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh! yes, extremely well; that is, I do not believe many people are
+acquainted with him, because Combe Magna is so far off; but they all
+think him extremely agreeable I assure you.  Nobody is more liked than
+Mr. Willoughby wherever he goes, and so you may tell your sister.  She
+is a monstrous lucky girl to get him, upon my honour; not but that he
+is much more lucky in getting her, because she is so very handsome and
+agreeable, that nothing can be good enough for her.  However, I don't
+think her hardly at all handsomer than you, I assure you; for I think
+you both excessively pretty, and so does Mr. Palmer too I am sure,
+though we could not get him to own it last night."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Palmer's information respecting Willoughby was not very material;
+but any testimony in his favour, however small, was pleasing to her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am so glad we are got acquainted at last," continued
+Charlotte.&mdash;"And now I hope we shall always be great friends.  You
+can't think how much I longed to see you!  It is so delightful that you
+should live at the cottage!  Nothing can be like it, to be sure!  And I
+am so glad your sister is going to be well married!  I hope you will be
+a great deal at Combe Magna.  It is a sweet place, by all accounts."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You have been long acquainted with Colonel Brandon, have not you?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, a great while; ever since my sister married.&mdash; He was a
+particular friend of Sir John's. I believe," she added in a low voice,
+"he would have been very glad to have had me, if he could.  Sir John
+and Lady Middleton wished it very much.  But mama did not think the
+match good enough for me, otherwise Sir John would have mentioned it to
+the Colonel, and we should have been married immediately."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Did not Colonel Brandon know of Sir John's proposal to your mother
+before it was made?  Had he never owned his affection to yourself?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, no; but if mama had not objected to it, I dare say he would have
+liked it of all things.  He had not seen me then above twice, for it
+was before I left school.  However, I am much happier as I am.  Mr.
+Palmer is the kind of man I like."
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap21"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 21
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+The Palmers returned to Cleveland the next day, and the two families at
+Barton were again left to entertain each other.  But this did not last
+long; Elinor had hardly got their last visitors out of her head, had
+hardly done wondering at Charlotte's being so happy without a cause, at
+Mr. Palmer's acting so simply, with good abilities, and at the strange
+unsuitableness which often existed between husband and wife, before Sir
+John's and Mrs. Jennings's active zeal in the cause of society,
+procured her some other new acquaintance to see and observe.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In a morning's excursion to Exeter, they had met with two young ladies,
+whom Mrs. Jennings had the satisfaction of discovering to be her
+relations, and this was enough for Sir John to invite them directly to
+the park, as soon as their present engagements at Exeter were over.
+Their engagements at Exeter instantly gave way before such an
+invitation, and Lady Middleton was thrown into no little alarm on the
+return of Sir John, by hearing that she was very soon to receive a
+visit from two girls whom she had never seen in her life, and of whose
+elegance,&mdash;whose tolerable gentility even, she could have no proof; for
+the assurances of her husband and mother on that subject went for
+nothing at all.  Their being her relations too made it so much the
+worse; and Mrs. Jennings's attempts at consolation were therefore
+unfortunately founded, when she advised her daughter not to care about
+their being so fashionable; because they were all cousins and must put
+up with one another.  As it was impossible, however, now to prevent
+their coming, Lady Middleton resigned herself to the idea of it, with
+all the philosophy of a well-bred woman, contenting herself with merely
+giving her husband a gentle reprimand on the subject five or six times
+every day.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The young ladies arrived: their appearance was by no means ungenteel or
+unfashionable.  Their dress was very smart, their manners very civil,
+they were delighted with the house, and in raptures with the furniture,
+and they happened to be so doatingly fond of children that Lady
+Middleton's good opinion was engaged in their favour before they had
+been an hour at the Park.  She declared them to be very agreeable girls
+indeed, which for her ladyship was enthusiastic admiration.  Sir John's
+confidence in his own judgment rose with this animated praise, and he
+set off directly for the cottage to tell the Miss Dashwoods of the Miss
+Steeles' arrival, and to assure them of their being the sweetest girls
+in the world.  From such commendation as this, however, there was not
+much to be learned; Elinor well knew that the sweetest girls in the
+world were to be met with in every part of England, under every
+possible variation of form, face, temper and understanding.  Sir John
+wanted the whole family to walk to the Park directly and look at his
+guests.  Benevolent, philanthropic man!  It was painful to him even to
+keep a third cousin to himself.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Do come now," said he&mdash;"pray come&mdash;you must come&mdash;I declare you shall
+come&mdash;You can't think how you will like them.  Lucy is monstrous
+pretty, and so good humoured and agreeable!  The children are all
+hanging about her already, as if she was an old acquaintance.  And they
+both long to see you of all things, for they have heard at Exeter that
+you are the most beautiful creatures in the world; and I have told them
+it is all very true, and a great deal more.  You will be delighted with
+them I am sure.  They have brought the whole coach full of playthings
+for the children.  How can you be so cross as not to come?  Why they
+are your cousins, you know, after a fashion.  YOU are my cousins, and
+they are my wife's, so you must be related."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But Sir John could not prevail.  He could only obtain a promise of
+their calling at the Park within a day or two, and then left them in
+amazement at their indifference, to walk home and boast anew of their
+attractions to the Miss Steeles, as he had been already boasting of the
+Miss Steeles to them.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When their promised visit to the Park and consequent introduction to
+these young ladies took place, they found in the appearance of the
+eldest, who was nearly thirty, with a very plain and not a sensible
+face, nothing to admire; but in the other, who was not more than two or
+three and twenty, they acknowledged considerable beauty; her features
+were pretty, and she had a sharp quick eye, and a smartness of air,
+which though it did not give actual elegance or grace, gave distinction
+to her person.&mdash; Their manners were particularly civil, and Elinor soon
+allowed them credit for some kind of sense, when she saw with what
+constant and judicious attention they were making themselves agreeable
+to Lady Middleton.  With her children they were in continual raptures,
+extolling their beauty, courting their notice, and humouring their
+whims; and such of their time as could be spared from the importunate
+demands which this politeness made on it, was spent in admiration of
+whatever her ladyship was doing, if she happened to be doing any thing,
+or in taking patterns of some elegant new dress, in which her
+appearance the day before had thrown them into unceasing delight.
+Fortunately for those who pay their court through such foibles, a fond
+mother, though, in pursuit of praise for her children, the most
+rapacious of human beings, is likewise the most credulous; her demands
+are exorbitant; but she will swallow any thing; and the excessive
+affection and endurance of the Miss Steeles towards her offspring were
+viewed therefore by Lady Middleton without the smallest surprise or
+distrust.  She saw with maternal complacency all the impertinent
+encroachments and mischievous tricks to which her cousins submitted.
+She saw their sashes untied, their hair pulled about their ears, their
+work-bags searched, and their knives and scissors stolen away, and felt
+no doubt of its being a reciprocal enjoyment.  It suggested no other
+surprise than that Elinor and Marianne should sit so composedly by,
+without claiming a share in what was passing.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"John is in such spirits today!" said she, on his taking Miss Steeles's
+pocket handkerchief, and throwing it out of window&mdash;"He is full of
+monkey tricks."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+And soon afterwards, on the second boy's violently pinching one of the
+same lady's fingers, she fondly observed, "How playful William is!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And here is my sweet little Annamaria," she added, tenderly caressing
+a little girl of three years old, who had not made a noise for the last
+two minutes; "And she is always so gentle and quiet&mdash;Never was there
+such a quiet little thing!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But unfortunately in bestowing these embraces, a pin in her ladyship's
+head dress slightly scratching the child's neck, produced from this
+pattern of gentleness such violent screams, as could hardly be outdone
+by any creature professedly noisy.  The mother's consternation was
+excessive; but it could not surpass the alarm of the Miss Steeles, and
+every thing was done by all three, in so critical an emergency, which
+affection could suggest as likely to assuage the agonies of the little
+sufferer.  She was seated in her mother's lap, covered with kisses, her
+wound bathed with lavender-water, by one of the Miss Steeles, who was
+on her knees to attend her, and her mouth stuffed with sugar plums by
+the other.  With such a reward for her tears, the child was too wise to
+cease crying.  She still screamed and sobbed lustily, kicked her two
+brothers for offering to touch her, and all their united soothings were
+ineffectual till Lady Middleton luckily remembering that in a scene of
+similar distress last week, some apricot marmalade had been
+successfully applied for a bruised temple, the same remedy was eagerly
+proposed for this unfortunate scratch, and a slight intermission of
+screams in the young lady on hearing it, gave them reason to hope that
+it would not be rejected.&mdash; She was carried out of the room therefore
+in her mother's arms, in quest of this medicine, and as the two boys
+chose to follow, though earnestly entreated by their mother to stay
+behind, the four young ladies were left in a quietness which the room
+had not known for many hours.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Poor little creatures!" said Miss Steele, as soon as they were gone.
+"It might have been a very sad accident."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yet I hardly know how," cried Marianne, "unless it had been under
+totally different circumstances.  But this is the usual way of
+heightening alarm, where there is nothing to be alarmed at in reality."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What a sweet woman Lady Middleton is!" said Lucy Steele.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne was silent; it was impossible for her to say what she did not
+feel, however trivial the occasion; and upon Elinor therefore the whole
+task of telling lies when politeness required it, always fell.  She did
+her best when thus called on, by speaking of Lady Middleton with more
+warmth than she felt, though with far less than Miss Lucy.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And Sir John too," cried the elder sister, "what a charming man he is!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Here too, Miss Dashwood's commendation, being only simple and just,
+came in without any eclat.  She merely observed that he was perfectly
+good humoured and friendly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And what a charming little family they have!  I never saw such fine
+children in my life.&mdash;I declare I quite doat upon them already, and
+indeed I am always distractedly fond of children."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I should guess so," said Elinor, with a smile, "from what I have
+witnessed this morning."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have a notion," said Lucy, "you think the little Middletons rather
+too much indulged; perhaps they may be the outside of enough; but it is
+so natural in Lady Middleton; and for my part, I love to see children
+full of life and spirits; I cannot bear them if they are tame and
+quiet."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I confess," replied Elinor, "that while I am at Barton Park, I never
+think of tame and quiet children with any abhorrence."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A short pause succeeded this speech, which was first broken by Miss
+Steele, who seemed very much disposed for conversation, and who now
+said rather abruptly, "And how do you like Devonshire, Miss Dashwood?
+I suppose you were very sorry to leave Sussex."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In some surprise at the familiarity of this question, or at least of
+the manner in which it was spoken, Elinor replied that she was.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Norland is a prodigious beautiful place, is not it?" added Miss Steele.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We have heard Sir John admire it excessively," said Lucy, who seemed
+to think some apology necessary for the freedom of her sister.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I think every one MUST admire it," replied Elinor, "who ever saw the
+place; though it is not to be supposed that any one can estimate its
+beauties as we do."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And had you a great many smart beaux there?  I suppose you have not so
+many in this part of the world; for my part, I think they are a vast
+addition always."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But why should you think," said Lucy, looking ashamed of her sister,
+"that there are not as many genteel young men in Devonshire as Sussex?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nay, my dear, I'm sure I don't pretend to say that there an't.  I'm
+sure there's a vast many smart beaux in Exeter; but you know, how could
+I tell what smart beaux there might be about Norland; and I was only
+afraid the Miss Dashwoods might find it dull at Barton, if they had not
+so many as they used to have.  But perhaps you young ladies may not
+care about the beaux, and had as lief be without them as with them.
+For my part, I think they are vastly agreeable, provided they dress
+smart and behave civil.  But I can't bear to see them dirty and nasty.
+Now there's Mr. Rose at Exeter, a prodigious smart young man, quite a
+beau, clerk to Mr. Simpson, you know, and yet if you do but meet him of
+a morning, he is not fit to be seen.&mdash; I suppose your brother was quite
+a beau, Miss Dashwood, before he married, as he was so rich?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Upon my word," replied Elinor, "I cannot tell you, for I do not
+perfectly comprehend the meaning of the word.  But this I can say, that
+if he ever was a beau before he married, he is one still for there is
+not the smallest alteration in him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh! dear! one never thinks of married men's being beaux&mdash;they have
+something else to do."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Lord! Anne," cried her sister, "you can talk of nothing but
+beaux;&mdash;you will make Miss Dashwood believe you think of nothing else."
+And then to turn the discourse, she began admiring the house and the
+furniture.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This specimen of the Miss Steeles was enough.  The vulgar freedom and
+folly of the eldest left her no recommendation, and as Elinor was not
+blinded by the beauty, or the shrewd look of the youngest, to her want
+of real elegance and artlessness, she left the house without any wish
+of knowing them better.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Not so the Miss Steeles.&mdash;They came from Exeter, well provided with
+admiration for the use of Sir John Middleton, his family, and all his
+relations, and no niggardly proportion was now dealt out to his fair
+cousins, whom they declared to be the most beautiful, elegant,
+accomplished, and agreeable girls they had ever beheld, and with whom
+they were particularly anxious to be better acquainted.&mdash; And to be
+better acquainted therefore, Elinor soon found was their inevitable
+lot, for as Sir John was entirely on the side of the Miss Steeles,
+their party would be too strong for opposition, and that kind of
+intimacy must be submitted to, which consists of sitting an hour or two
+together in the same room almost every day.  Sir John could do no more;
+but he did not know that any more was required: to be together was, in
+his opinion, to be intimate, and while his continual schemes for their
+meeting were effectual, he had not a doubt of their being established
+friends.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+To do him justice, he did every thing in his power to promote their
+unreserve, by making the Miss Steeles acquainted with whatever he knew
+or supposed of his cousins' situations in the most delicate
+particulars,&mdash;and Elinor had not seen them more than twice, before the
+eldest of them wished her joy on her sister's having been so lucky as
+to make a conquest of a very smart beau since she came to Barton.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"'Twill be a fine thing to have her married so young to be sure," said
+she, "and I hear he is quite a beau, and prodigious handsome.  And I
+hope you may have as good luck yourself soon,&mdash;but perhaps you may have
+a friend in the corner already."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor could not suppose that Sir John would be more nice in
+proclaiming his suspicions of her regard for Edward, than he had been
+with respect to Marianne; indeed it was rather his favourite joke of
+the two, as being somewhat newer and more conjectural; and since
+Edward's visit, they had never dined together without his drinking to
+her best affections with so much significancy and so many nods and
+winks, as to excite general attention.  The letter F&mdash;had been likewise
+invariably brought forward, and found productive of such countless
+jokes, that its character as the wittiest letter in the alphabet had
+been long established with Elinor.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The Miss Steeles, as she expected, had now all the benefit of these
+jokes, and in the eldest of them they raised a curiosity to know the
+name of the gentleman alluded to, which, though often impertinently
+expressed, was perfectly of a piece with her general inquisitiveness
+into the concerns of their family.  But Sir John did not sport long
+with the curiosity which he delighted to raise, for he had at least as
+much pleasure in telling the name, as Miss Steele had in hearing it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"His name is Ferrars," said he, in a very audible whisper; "but pray do
+not tell it, for it's a great secret."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ferrars!" repeated Miss Steele; "Mr. Ferrars is the happy man, is he?
+What! your sister-in-law's brother, Miss Dashwood? a very agreeable
+young man to be sure; I know him very well."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How can you say so, Anne?" cried Lucy, who generally made an amendment
+to all her sister's assertions.  "Though we have seen him once or twice
+at my uncle's, it is rather too much to pretend to know him very well."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor heard all this with attention and surprise.  "And who was this
+uncle?  Where did he live?  How came they acquainted?"  She wished very
+much to have the subject continued, though she did not chuse to join in
+it herself; but nothing more of it was said, and for the first time in
+her life, she thought Mrs. Jennings deficient either in curiosity after
+petty information, or in a disposition to communicate it.  The manner
+in which Miss Steele had spoken of Edward, increased her curiosity; for
+it struck her as being rather ill-natured, and suggested the suspicion
+of that lady's knowing, or fancying herself to know something to his
+disadvantage.&mdash;But her curiosity was unavailing, for no farther notice
+was taken of Mr. Ferrars's name by Miss Steele when alluded to, or even
+openly mentioned by Sir John.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap22"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 22
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Marianne, who had never much toleration for any thing like
+impertinence, vulgarity, inferiority of parts, or even difference of
+taste from herself, was at this time particularly ill-disposed, from
+the state of her spirits, to be pleased with the Miss Steeles, or to
+encourage their advances; and to the invariable coldness of her
+behaviour towards them, which checked every endeavour at intimacy on
+their side, Elinor principally attributed that preference of herself
+which soon became evident in the manners of both, but especially of
+Lucy, who missed no opportunity of engaging her in conversation, or of
+striving to improve their acquaintance by an easy and frank
+communication of her sentiments.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Lucy was naturally clever; her remarks were often just and amusing; and
+as a companion for half an hour Elinor frequently found her agreeable;
+but her powers had received no aid from education: she was ignorant and
+illiterate; and her deficiency of all mental improvement, her want of
+information in the most common particulars, could not be concealed from
+Miss Dashwood, in spite of her constant endeavour to appear to
+advantage.  Elinor saw, and pitied her for, the neglect of abilities
+which education might have rendered so respectable; but she saw, with
+less tenderness of feeling, the thorough want of delicacy, of
+rectitude, and integrity of mind, which her attentions, her
+assiduities, her flatteries at the Park betrayed; and she could have no
+lasting satisfaction in the company of a person who joined insincerity
+with ignorance; whose want of instruction prevented their meeting in
+conversation on terms of equality, and whose conduct toward others made
+every shew of attention and deference towards herself perfectly
+valueless.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You will think my question an odd one, I dare say," said Lucy to her
+one day, as they were walking together from the park to the
+cottage&mdash;"but pray, are you personally acquainted with your
+sister-in-law's mother, Mrs. Ferrars?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor DID think the question a very odd one, and her countenance
+expressed it, as she answered that she had never seen Mrs. Ferrars.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Indeed!" replied Lucy; "I wonder at that, for I thought you must have
+seen her at Norland sometimes.  Then, perhaps, you cannot tell me what
+sort of a woman she is?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No," returned Elinor, cautious of giving her real opinion of Edward's
+mother, and not very desirous of satisfying what seemed impertinent
+curiosity&mdash; "I know nothing of her."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am sure you think me very strange, for enquiring about her in such a
+way," said Lucy, eyeing Elinor attentively as she spoke; "but perhaps
+there may be reasons&mdash;I wish I might venture; but however I hope you
+will do me the justice of believing that I do not mean to be
+impertinent."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor made her a civil reply, and they walked on for a few minutes in
+silence.  It was broken by Lucy, who renewed the subject again by
+saying, with some hesitation,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I cannot bear to have you think me impertinently curious.  I am sure I
+would rather do any thing in the world than be thought so by a person
+whose good opinion is so well worth having as yours.  And I am sure I
+should not have the smallest fear of trusting YOU; indeed, I should be
+very glad of your advice how to manage in such and uncomfortable
+situation as I am; but, however, there is no occasion to trouble YOU.
+I am sorry you do not happen to know Mrs. Ferrars."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am sorry I do NOT," said Elinor, in great astonishment, "if it could
+be of any use to YOU to know my opinion of her.  But really I never
+understood that you were at all connected with that family, and
+therefore I am a little surprised, I confess, at so serious an inquiry
+into her character."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I dare say you are, and I am sure I do not at all wonder at it.  But
+if I dared tell you all, you would not be so much surprised.  Mrs.
+Ferrars is certainly nothing to me at present&mdash;but the time MAY
+come&mdash;how soon it will come must depend upon herself&mdash;when we may be
+very intimately connected."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She looked down as she said this, amiably bashful, with only one side
+glance at her companion to observe its effect on her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Good heavens!" cried Elinor, "what do you mean?  Are you acquainted
+with Mr. Robert Ferrars?  Can you be?" And she did not feel much
+delighted with the idea of such a sister-in-law.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No," replied Lucy, "not to Mr. ROBERT Ferrars&mdash;I never saw him in my
+life; but," fixing her eyes upon Elinor, "to his eldest brother."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+What felt Elinor at that moment? Astonishment, that would have been as
+painful as it was strong, had not an immediate disbelief of the
+assertion attended it.  She turned towards Lucy in silent amazement,
+unable to divine the reason or object of such a declaration; and though
+her complexion varied, she stood firm in incredulity, and felt in no
+danger of an hysterical fit, or a swoon.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You may well be surprised," continued Lucy; "for to be sure you could
+have had no idea of it before; for I dare say he never dropped the
+smallest hint of it to you or any of your family; because it was always
+meant to be a great secret, and I am sure has been faithfully kept so
+by me to this hour.  Not a soul of all my relations know of it but
+Anne, and I never should have mentioned it to you, if I had not felt
+the greatest dependence in the world upon your secrecy; and I really
+thought my behaviour in asking so many questions about Mrs. Ferrars
+must seem so odd, that it ought to be explained.  And I do not think
+Mr. Ferrars can be displeased, when he knows I have trusted you,
+because I know he has the highest opinion in the world of all your
+family, and looks upon yourself and the other Miss Dashwoods quite as
+his own sisters."&mdash;She paused.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor for a few moments remained silent.  Her astonishment at what she
+heard was at first too great for words; but at length forcing herself
+to speak, and to speak cautiously, she said, with calmness of manner,
+which tolerably well concealed her surprise and solicitude&mdash; "May I ask
+if your engagement is of long standing?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We have been engaged these four years."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Four years!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor, though greatly shocked, still felt unable to believe it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I did not know," said she, "that you were even acquainted till the
+other day."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Our acquaintance, however, is of many years date.  He was under my
+uncle's care, you know, a considerable while."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Your uncle!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes; Mr. Pratt.  Did you never hear him talk of Mr. Pratt?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I think I have," replied Elinor, with an exertion of spirits, which
+increased with her increase of emotion.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He was four years with my uncle, who lives at Longstaple, near
+Plymouth.  It was there our acquaintance begun, for my sister and me
+was often staying with my uncle, and it was there our engagement was
+formed, though not till a year after he had quitted as a pupil; but he
+was almost always with us afterwards.  I was very unwilling to enter
+into it, as you may imagine, without the knowledge and approbation of
+his mother; but I was too young, and loved him too well, to be so
+prudent as I ought to have been.&mdash; Though you do not know him so well
+as me, Miss Dashwood, you must have seen enough of him to be sensible
+he is very capable of making a woman sincerely attached to him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly," answered Elinor, without knowing what she said; but after
+a moment's reflection, she added, with revived security of Edward's
+honour and love, and her companion's falsehood&mdash;"Engaged to Mr. Edward
+Ferrars!&mdash;I confess myself so totally surprised at what you tell me,
+that really&mdash;I beg your pardon; but surely there must be some mistake
+of person or name.  We cannot mean the same Mr. Ferrars."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We can mean no other," cried Lucy, smiling.  "Mr. Edward Ferrars, the
+eldest son of Mrs. Ferrars, of Park Street, and brother of your
+sister-in-law, Mrs. John Dashwood, is the person I mean; you must allow
+that I am not likely to be deceived as to the name of the man on who
+all my happiness depends."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is strange," replied Elinor, in a most painful perplexity, "that I
+should never have heard him even mention your name."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No; considering our situation, it was not strange.  Our first care has
+been to keep the matter secret.&mdash; You knew nothing of me, or my family,
+and, therefore, there could be no OCCASION for ever mentioning my name
+to you; and, as he was always particularly afraid of his sister's
+suspecting any thing, THAT was reason enough for his not mentioning it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She was silent.&mdash;Elinor's security sunk; but her self-command did not
+sink with it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Four years you have been engaged," said she with a firm voice.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes; and heaven knows how much longer we may have to wait.  Poor
+Edward!  It puts him quite out of heart." Then taking a small miniature
+from her pocket, she added, "To prevent the possibility of mistake, be
+so good as to look at this face.  It does not do him justice, to be
+sure, but yet I think you cannot be deceived as to the person it was
+drew for.&mdash;I have had it above these three years."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She put it into her hands as she spoke; and when Elinor saw the
+painting, whatever other doubts her fear of a too hasty decision, or
+her wish of detecting falsehood might suffer to linger in her mind, she
+could have none of its being Edward's face.  She returned it almost
+instantly, acknowledging the likeness.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have never been able," continued Lucy, "to give him my picture in
+return, which I am very much vexed at, for he has been always so
+anxious to get it!  But I am determined to set for it the very first
+opportunity."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You are quite in the right," replied Elinor calmly.  They then
+proceeded a few paces in silence.  Lucy spoke first.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am sure," said she, "I have no doubt in the world of your faithfully
+keeping this secret, because you must know of what importance it is to
+us, not to have it reach his mother; for she would never approve of it,
+I dare say.  I shall have no fortune, and I fancy she is an exceeding
+proud woman."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I certainly did not seek your confidence," said Elinor; "but you do me
+no more than justice in imagining that I may be depended on.  Your
+secret is safe with me; but pardon me if I express some surprise at so
+unnecessary a communication.  You must at least have felt that my being
+acquainted with it could not add to its safety."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As she said this, she looked earnestly at Lucy, hoping to discover
+something in her countenance; perhaps the falsehood of the greatest
+part of what she had been saying; but Lucy's countenance suffered no
+change.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I was afraid you would think I was taking a great liberty with you,"
+said she, "in telling you all this.  I have not known you long to be
+sure, personally at least, but I have known you and all your family by
+description a great while; and as soon as I saw you, I felt almost as
+if you was an old acquaintance.  Besides in the present case, I really
+thought some explanation was due to you after my making such particular
+inquiries about Edward's mother; and I am so unfortunate, that I have
+not a creature whose advice I can ask.  Anne is the only person that
+knows of it, and she has no judgment at all; indeed, she does me a
+great deal more harm than good, for I am in constant fear of her
+betraying me.  She does not know how to hold her tongue, as you must
+perceive, and I am sure I was in the greatest fright in the world
+t'other day, when Edward's name was mentioned by Sir John, lest she
+should out with it all.  You can't think how much I go through in my
+mind from it altogether.  I only wonder that I am alive after what I
+have suffered for Edward's sake these last four years.  Every thing in
+such suspense and uncertainty; and seeing him so seldom&mdash;we can hardly
+meet above twice a-year.  I am sure I wonder my heart is not quite
+broke."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Here she took out her handkerchief; but Elinor did not feel very
+compassionate.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Sometimes." continued Lucy, after wiping her eyes, "I think whether it
+would not be better for us both to break off the matter entirely."  As
+she said this, she looked directly at her companion.  "But then at
+other times I have not resolution enough for it.&mdash; I cannot bear the
+thoughts of making him so miserable, as I know the very mention of such
+a thing would do.  And on my own account too&mdash;so dear as he is to me&mdash;I
+don't think I could be equal to it.  What would you advise me to do in
+such a case, Miss Dashwood?  What would you do yourself?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Pardon me," replied Elinor, startled by the question; "but I can give
+you no advice under such circumstances.  Your own judgment must direct
+you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"To be sure," continued Lucy, after a few minutes silence on both
+sides, "his mother must provide for him sometime or other; but poor
+Edward is so cast down by it!  Did you not think him dreadful
+low-spirited when he was at Barton?  He was so miserable when he left
+us at Longstaple, to go to you, that I was afraid you would think him
+quite ill."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Did he come from your uncle's, then, when he visited us?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, yes; he had been staying a fortnight with us.  Did you think he
+came directly from town?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No," replied Elinor, most feelingly sensible of every fresh
+circumstance in favour of Lucy's veracity; "I remember he told us, that
+he had been staying a fortnight with some friends near Plymouth." She
+remembered too, her own surprise at the time, at his mentioning nothing
+farther of those friends, at his total silence with respect even to
+their names.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Did not you think him sadly out of spirits?" repeated Lucy.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We did, indeed, particularly so when he first arrived."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I begged him to exert himself for fear you should suspect what was the
+matter; but it made him so melancholy, not being able to stay more than
+a fortnight with us, and seeing me so much affected.&mdash; Poor fellow!&mdash;I
+am afraid it is just the same with him now; for he writes in wretched
+spirits.  I heard from him just before I left Exeter;" taking a letter
+from her pocket and carelessly showing the direction to Elinor.  "You
+know his hand, I dare say, a charming one it is; but that is not
+written so well as usual.&mdash;He was tired, I dare say, for he had just
+filled the sheet to me as full as possible."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor saw that it WAS his hand, and she could doubt no longer.  This
+picture, she had allowed herself to believe, might have been
+accidentally obtained; it might not have been Edward's gift; but a
+correspondence between them by letter, could subsist only under a
+positive engagement, could be authorised by nothing else; for a few
+moments, she was almost overcome&mdash;her heart sunk within her, and she
+could hardly stand; but exertion was indispensably necessary; and she
+struggled so resolutely against the oppression of her feelings, that
+her success was speedy, and for the time complete.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Writing to each other," said Lucy, returning the letter into her
+pocket, "is the only comfort we have in such long separations.  Yes, I
+have one other comfort in his picture, but poor Edward has not even
+THAT.  If he had but my picture, he says he should be easy.  I gave him
+a lock of my hair set in a ring when he was at Longstaple last, and
+that was some comfort to him, he said, but not equal to a picture.
+Perhaps you might notice the ring when you saw him?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I did," said Elinor, with a composure of voice, under which was
+concealed an emotion and distress beyond any thing she had ever felt
+before.  She was mortified, shocked, confounded.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Fortunately for her, they had now reached the cottage, and the
+conversation could be continued no farther.  After sitting with them a
+few minutes, the Miss Steeles returned to the Park, and Elinor was then
+at liberty to think and be wretched.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<P CLASS="noindent">
+[At this point in the first and second editions, Volume 1 ends.]
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap23"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 23
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+However small Elinor's general dependence on Lucy's veracity might be,
+it was impossible for her on serious reflection to suspect it in the
+present case, where no temptation could be answerable to the folly of
+inventing a falsehood of such a description.  What Lucy had asserted to
+be true, therefore, Elinor could not, dared not longer doubt; supported
+as it was too on every side by such probabilities and proofs, and
+contradicted by nothing but her own wishes.  Their opportunity of
+acquaintance in the house of Mr. Pratt was a foundation for the rest,
+at once indisputable and alarming; and Edward's visit near Plymouth,
+his melancholy state of mind, his dissatisfaction at his own prospects,
+his uncertain behaviour towards herself, the intimate knowledge of the
+Miss Steeles as to Norland and their family connections, which had
+often surprised her, the picture, the letter, the ring, formed
+altogether such a body of evidence, as overcame every fear of
+condemning him unfairly, and established as a fact, which no partiality
+could set aside, his ill-treatment of herself.&mdash;Her resentment of such
+behaviour, her indignation at having been its dupe, for a short time
+made her feel only for herself; but other ideas, other considerations,
+soon arose.  Had Edward been intentionally deceiving her?  Had he
+feigned a regard for her which he did not feel?  Was his engagement to
+Lucy an engagement of the heart?  No; whatever it might once have been,
+she could not believe it such at present.  His affection was all her
+own.  She could not be deceived in that.  Her mother, sisters, Fanny,
+all had been conscious of his regard for her at Norland; it was not an
+illusion of her own vanity.  He certainly loved her.  What a softener
+of the heart was this persuasion!  How much could it not tempt her to
+forgive!  He had been blamable, highly blamable, in remaining at
+Norland after he first felt her influence over him to be more than it
+ought to be.  In that, he could not be defended; but if he had injured
+her, how much more had he injured himself; if her case were pitiable,
+his was hopeless.  His imprudence had made her miserable for a while;
+but it seemed to have deprived himself of all chance of ever being
+otherwise.  She might in time regain tranquillity; but HE, what had he
+to look forward to?  Could he ever be tolerably happy with Lucy Steele;
+could he, were his affection for herself out of the question, with his
+integrity, his delicacy, and well-informed mind, be satisfied with a
+wife like her&mdash;illiterate, artful, and selfish?
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The youthful infatuation of nineteen would naturally blind him to every
+thing but her beauty and good nature; but the four succeeding
+years&mdash;years, which if rationally spent, give such improvement to the
+understanding, must have opened his eyes to her defects of education,
+while the same period of time, spent on her side in inferior society
+and more frivolous pursuits, had perhaps robbed her of that simplicity
+which might once have given an interesting character to her beauty.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+If in the supposition of his seeking to marry herself, his difficulties
+from his mother had seemed great, how much greater were they now likely
+to be, when the object of his engagement was undoubtedly inferior in
+connections, and probably inferior in fortune to herself.  These
+difficulties, indeed, with a heart so alienated from Lucy, might not
+press very hard upon his patience; but melancholy was the state of the
+person by whom the expectation of family opposition and unkindness,
+could be felt as a relief!
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As these considerations occurred to her in painful succession, she wept
+for him, more than for herself.  Supported by the conviction of having
+done nothing to merit her present unhappiness, and consoled by the
+belief that Edward had done nothing to forfeit her esteem, she thought
+she could even now, under the first smart of the heavy blow, command
+herself enough to guard every suspicion of the truth from her mother
+and sisters.  And so well was she able to answer her own expectations,
+that when she joined them at dinner only two hours after she had first
+suffered the extinction of all her dearest hopes, no one would have
+supposed from the appearance of the sisters, that Elinor was mourning
+in secret over obstacles which must divide her for ever from the object
+of her love, and that Marianne was internally dwelling on the
+perfections of a man, of whose whole heart she felt thoroughly
+possessed, and whom she expected to see in every carriage which drove
+near their house.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The necessity of concealing from her mother and Marianne, what had been
+entrusted in confidence to herself, though it obliged her to unceasing
+exertion, was no aggravation of Elinor's distress.  On the contrary it
+was a relief to her, to be spared the communication of what would give
+such affliction to them, and to be saved likewise from hearing that
+condemnation of Edward, which would probably flow from the excess of
+their partial affection for herself, and which was more than she felt
+equal to support.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+From their counsel, or their conversation, she knew she could receive
+no assistance, their tenderness and sorrow must add to her distress,
+while her self-command would neither receive encouragement from their
+example nor from their praise.  She was stronger alone, and her own
+good sense so well supported her, that her firmness was as unshaken,
+her appearance of cheerfulness as invariable, as with regrets so
+poignant and so fresh, it was possible for them to be.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Much as she had suffered from her first conversation with Lucy on the
+subject, she soon felt an earnest wish of renewing it; and this for
+more reasons than one.  She wanted to hear many particulars of their
+engagement repeated again, she wanted more clearly to understand what
+Lucy really felt for Edward, whether there were any sincerity in her
+declaration of tender regard for him, and she particularly wanted to
+convince Lucy, by her readiness to enter on the matter again, and her
+calmness in conversing on it, that she was no otherwise interested in
+it than as a friend, which she very much feared her involuntary
+agitation, in their morning discourse, must have left at least
+doubtful.  That Lucy was disposed to be jealous of her appeared very
+probable: it was plain that Edward had always spoken highly in her
+praise, not merely from Lucy's assertion, but from her venturing to
+trust her on so short a personal acquaintance, with a secret so
+confessedly and evidently important.  And even Sir John's joking
+intelligence must have had some weight.  But indeed, while Elinor
+remained so well assured within herself of being really beloved by
+Edward, it required no other consideration of probabilities to make it
+natural that Lucy should be jealous; and that she was so, her very
+confidence was a proof.  What other reason for the disclosure of the
+affair could there be, but that Elinor might be informed by it of
+Lucy's superior claims on Edward, and be taught to avoid him in future?
+She had little difficulty in understanding thus much of her rival's
+intentions, and while she was firmly resolved to act by her as every
+principle of honour and honesty directed, to combat her own affection
+for Edward and to see him as little as possible; she could not deny
+herself the comfort of endeavouring to convince Lucy that her heart was
+unwounded.  And as she could now have nothing more painful to hear on
+the subject than had already been told, she did not mistrust her own
+ability of going through a repetition of particulars with composure.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But it was not immediately that an opportunity of doing so could be
+commanded, though Lucy was as well disposed as herself to take
+advantage of any that occurred; for the weather was not often fine
+enough to allow of their joining in a walk, where they might most
+easily separate themselves from the others; and though they met at
+least every other evening either at the park or cottage, and chiefly at
+the former, they could not be supposed to meet for the sake of
+conversation.  Such a thought would never enter either Sir John or Lady
+Middleton's head; and therefore very little leisure was ever given for
+a general chat, and none at all for particular discourse.  They met for
+the sake of eating, drinking, and laughing together, playing at cards,
+or consequences, or any other game that was sufficiently noisy.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+One or two meetings of this kind had taken place, without affording
+Elinor any chance of engaging Lucy in private, when Sir John called at
+the cottage one morning, to beg, in the name of charity, that they
+would all dine with Lady Middleton that day, as he was obliged to
+attend the club at Exeter, and she would otherwise be quite alone,
+except her mother and the two Miss Steeles.  Elinor, who foresaw a
+fairer opening for the point she had in view, in such a party as this
+was likely to be, more at liberty among themselves under the tranquil
+and well-bred direction of Lady Middleton than when her husband united
+them together in one noisy purpose, immediately accepted the
+invitation; Margaret, with her mother's permission, was equally
+compliant, and Marianne, though always unwilling to join any of their
+parties, was persuaded by her mother, who could not bear to have her
+seclude herself from any chance of amusement, to go likewise.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The young ladies went, and Lady Middleton was happily preserved from
+the frightful solitude which had threatened her.  The insipidity of the
+meeting was exactly such as Elinor had expected; it produced not one
+novelty of thought or expression, and nothing could be less interesting
+than the whole of their discourse both in the dining parlour and
+drawing room: to the latter, the children accompanied them, and while
+they remained there, she was too well convinced of the impossibility of
+engaging Lucy's attention to attempt it.  They quitted it only with the
+removal of the tea-things.  The card-table was then placed, and Elinor
+began to wonder at herself for having ever entertained a hope of
+finding time for conversation at the park.  They all rose up in
+preparation for a round game.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am glad," said Lady Middleton to Lucy, "you are not going to finish
+poor little Annamaria's basket this evening; for I am sure it must hurt
+your eyes to work filigree by candlelight.  And we will make the dear
+little love some amends for her disappointment to-morrow, and then I
+hope she will not much mind it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This hint was enough, Lucy recollected herself instantly and replied,
+"Indeed you are very much mistaken, Lady Middleton; I am only waiting
+to know whether you can make your party without me, or I should have
+been at my filigree already.  I would not disappoint the little angel
+for all the world: and if you want me at the card-table now, I am
+resolved to finish the basket after supper."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You are very good, I hope it won't hurt your eyes&mdash;will you ring the
+bell for some working candles?  My poor little girl would be sadly
+disappointed, I know, if the basket was not finished tomorrow, for
+though I told her it certainly would not, I am sure she depends upon
+having it done."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Lucy directly drew her work table near her and reseated herself with an
+alacrity and cheerfulness which seemed to infer that she could taste no
+greater delight than in making a filigree basket for a spoilt child.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Lady Middleton proposed a rubber of Casino to the others.  No one made
+any objection but Marianne, who with her usual inattention to the forms
+of general civility, exclaimed, "Your Ladyship will have the goodness
+to excuse ME&mdash;you know I detest cards.  I shall go to the piano-forte;
+I have not touched it since it was tuned."  And without farther
+ceremony, she turned away and walked to the instrument.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Lady Middleton looked as if she thanked heaven that SHE had never made
+so rude a speech.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Marianne can never keep long from that instrument you know, ma'am,"
+said Elinor, endeavouring to smooth away the offence; "and I do not
+much wonder at it; for it is the very best toned piano-forte I ever
+heard."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The remaining five were now to draw their cards.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Perhaps," continued Elinor, "if I should happen to cut out, I may be
+of some use to Miss Lucy Steele, in rolling her papers for her; and
+there is so much still to be done to the basket, that it must be
+impossible I think for her labour singly, to finish it this evening.  I
+should like the work exceedingly, if she would allow me a share in it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Indeed I shall be very much obliged to you for your help," cried Lucy,
+"for I find there is more to be done to it than I thought there was;
+and it would be a shocking thing to disappoint dear Annamaria after
+all."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh! that would be terrible, indeed," said Miss Steele&mdash; "Dear little
+soul, how I do love her!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You are very kind," said Lady Middleton to Elinor; "and as you really
+like the work, perhaps you will be as well pleased not to cut in till
+another rubber, or will you take your chance now?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor joyfully profited by the first of these proposals, and thus by a
+little of that address which Marianne could never condescend to
+practise, gained her own end, and pleased Lady Middleton at the same
+time.  Lucy made room for her with ready attention, and the two fair
+rivals were thus seated side by side at the same table, and, with the
+utmost harmony, engaged in forwarding the same work.  The pianoforte at
+which Marianne, wrapped up in her own music and her own thoughts, had
+by this time forgotten that any body was in the room besides herself,
+was luckily so near them that Miss Dashwood now judged she might
+safely, under the shelter of its noise, introduce the interesting
+subject, without any risk of being heard at the card-table.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap24"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 24
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+In a firm, though cautious tone, Elinor thus began.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I should be undeserving of the confidence you have honoured me with,
+if I felt no desire for its continuance, or no farther curiosity on its
+subject.  I will not apologize therefore for bringing it forward again."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Thank you," cried Lucy warmly, "for breaking the ice; you have set my
+heart at ease by it; for I was somehow or other afraid I had offended
+you by what I told you that Monday."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Offended me! How could you suppose so? Believe me," and Elinor spoke
+it with the truest sincerity, "nothing could be farther from my
+intention than to give you such an idea.  Could you have a motive for
+the trust, that was not honourable and flattering to me?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And yet I do assure you," replied Lucy, her little sharp eyes full of
+meaning, "there seemed to me to be a coldness and displeasure in your
+manner that made me quite uncomfortable.  I felt sure that you was
+angry with me; and have been quarrelling with myself ever since, for
+having took such a liberty as to trouble you with my affairs.  But I am
+very glad to find it was only my own fancy, and that you really do not
+blame me.  If you knew what a consolation it was to me to relieve my
+heart speaking to you of what I am always thinking of every moment of
+my life, your compassion would make you overlook every thing else I am
+sure."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Indeed, I can easily believe that it was a very great relief to you,
+to acknowledge your situation to me, and be assured that you shall
+never have reason to repent it.  Your case is a very unfortunate one;
+you seem to me to be surrounded with difficulties, and you will have
+need of all your mutual affection to support you under them.  Mr.
+Ferrars, I believe, is entirely dependent on his mother."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He has only two thousand pounds of his own; it would be madness to
+marry upon that, though for my own part, I could give up every prospect
+of more without a sigh.  I have been always used to a very small
+income, and could struggle with any poverty for him; but I love him too
+well to be the selfish means of robbing him, perhaps, of all that his
+mother might give him if he married to please her.  We must wait, it
+may be for many years.  With almost every other man in the world, it
+would be an alarming prospect; but Edward's affection and constancy
+nothing can deprive me of I know."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That conviction must be every thing to you; and he is undoubtedly
+supported by the same trust in your's.  If the strength of your
+reciprocal attachment had failed, as between many people, and under
+many circumstances it naturally would during a four years' engagement,
+your situation would have been pitiable, indeed."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Lucy here looked up; but Elinor was careful in guarding her countenance
+from every expression that could give her words a suspicious tendency.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Edward's love for me," said Lucy, "has been pretty well put to the
+test, by our long, very long absence since we were first engaged, and
+it has stood the trial so well, that I should be unpardonable to doubt
+it now.  I can safely say that he has never gave me one moment's alarm
+on that account from the first."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor hardly knew whether to smile or sigh at this assertion.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Lucy went on.  "I am rather of a jealous temper too by nature, and from
+our different situations in life, from his being so much more in the
+world than me, and our continual separation, I was enough inclined for
+suspicion, to have found out the truth in an instant, if there had been
+the slightest alteration in his behaviour to me when we met, or any
+lowness of spirits that I could not account for, or if he had talked
+more of one lady than another, or seemed in any respect less happy at
+Longstaple than he used to be.  I do not mean to say that I am
+particularly observant or quick-sighted in general, but in such a case
+I am sure I could not be deceived."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"All this," thought Elinor, "is very pretty; but it can impose upon
+neither of us."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But what," said she after a short silence, "are your views? or have
+you none but that of waiting for Mrs. Ferrars's death, which is a
+melancholy and shocking extremity?&mdash;Is her son determined to submit to
+this, and to all the tediousness of the many years of suspense in which
+it may involve you, rather than run the risk of her displeasure for a
+while by owning the truth?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If we could be certain that it would be only for a while!  But Mrs.
+Ferrars is a very headstrong proud woman, and in her first fit of anger
+upon hearing it, would very likely secure every thing to Robert, and
+the idea of that, for Edward's sake, frightens away all my inclination
+for hasty measures."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And for your own sake too, or you are carrying your disinterestedness
+beyond reason."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Lucy looked at Elinor again, and was silent.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Do you know Mr. Robert Ferrars?" asked Elinor.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not at all&mdash;I never saw him; but I fancy he is very unlike his
+brother&mdash;silly and a great coxcomb."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"A great coxcomb!" repeated Miss Steele, whose ear had caught those
+words by a sudden pause in Marianne's music.&mdash; "Oh, they are talking of
+their favourite beaux, I dare say."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No sister," cried Lucy, "you are mistaken there, our favourite beaux
+are NOT great coxcombs."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I can answer for it that Miss Dashwood's is not," said Mrs. Jennings,
+laughing heartily; "for he is one of the modestest, prettiest behaved
+young men I ever saw; but as for Lucy, she is such a sly little
+creature, there is no finding out who SHE likes."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh," cried Miss Steele, looking significantly round at them, "I dare
+say Lucy's beau is quite as modest and pretty behaved as Miss
+Dashwood's."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor blushed in spite of herself.  Lucy bit her lip, and looked
+angrily at her sister.  A mutual silence took place for some time.
+Lucy first put an end to it by saying in a lower tone, though Marianne
+was then giving them the powerful protection of a very magnificent
+concerto&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I will honestly tell you of one scheme which has lately come into my
+head, for bringing matters to bear; indeed I am bound to let you into
+the secret, for you are a party concerned.  I dare say you have seen
+enough of Edward to know that he would prefer the church to every other
+profession; now my plan is that he should take orders as soon as he
+can, and then through your interest, which I am sure you would be kind
+enough to use out of friendship for him, and I hope out of some regard
+to me, your brother might be persuaded to give him Norland living;
+which I understand is a very good one, and the present incumbent not
+likely to live a great while.  That would be enough for us to marry
+upon, and we might trust to time and chance for the rest."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I should always be happy," replied Elinor, "to show any mark of my
+esteem and friendship for Mr. Ferrars; but do you not perceive that my
+interest on such an occasion would be perfectly unnecessary?  He is
+brother to Mrs. John Dashwood&mdash;THAT must be recommendation enough to
+her husband."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But Mrs. John Dashwood would not much approve of Edward's going into
+orders."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then I rather suspect that my interest would do very little."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They were again silent for many minutes.  At length Lucy exclaimed with
+a deep sigh,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I believe it would be the wisest way to put an end to the business at
+once by dissolving the engagement.  We seem so beset with difficulties
+on every side, that though it would make us miserable for a time, we
+should be happier perhaps in the end.  But you will not give me your
+advice, Miss Dashwood?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No," answered Elinor, with a smile, which concealed very agitated
+feelings, "on such a subject I certainly will not.  You know very well
+that my opinion would have no weight with you, unless it were on the
+side of your wishes."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Indeed you wrong me," replied Lucy, with great solemnity; "I know
+nobody of whose judgment I think so highly as I do of yours; and I do
+really believe, that if you was to say to me, 'I advise you by all
+means to put an end to your engagement with Edward Ferrars, it will be
+more for the happiness of both of you,' I should resolve upon doing it
+immediately."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor blushed for the insincerity of Edward's future wife, and
+replied, "This compliment would effectually frighten me from giving any
+opinion on the subject had I formed one.  It raises my influence much
+too high; the power of dividing two people so tenderly attached is too
+much for an indifferent person."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"'Tis because you are an indifferent person," said Lucy, with some
+pique, and laying a particular stress on those words, "that your
+judgment might justly have such weight with me.  If you could be
+supposed to be biased in any respect by your own feelings, your opinion
+would not be worth having."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor thought it wisest to make no answer to this, lest they might
+provoke each other to an unsuitable increase of ease and unreserve; and
+was even partly determined never to mention the subject again.  Another
+pause therefore of many minutes' duration, succeeded this speech, and
+Lucy was still the first to end it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Shall you be in town this winter, Miss Dashwood?" said she with all
+her accustomary complacency.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly not."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am sorry for that," returned the other, while her eyes brightened at
+the information, "it would have gave me such pleasure to meet you
+there!  But I dare say you will go for all that.  To be sure, your
+brother and sister will ask you to come to them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It will not be in my power to accept their invitation if they do."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How unlucky that is! I had quite depended upon meeting you there.
+Anne and me are to go the latter end of January to some relations who
+have been wanting us to visit them these several years!  But I only go
+for the sake of seeing Edward.  He will be there in February, otherwise
+London would have no charms for me; I have not spirits for it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor was soon called to the card-table by the conclusion of the first
+rubber, and the confidential discourse of the two ladies was therefore
+at an end, to which both of them submitted without any reluctance, for
+nothing had been said on either side to make them dislike each other
+less than they had done before; and Elinor sat down to the card table
+with the melancholy persuasion that Edward was not only without
+affection for the person who was to be his wife; but that he had not
+even the chance of being tolerably happy in marriage, which sincere
+affection on HER side would have given, for self-interest alone could
+induce a woman to keep a man to an engagement, of which she seemed so
+thoroughly aware that he was weary.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+From this time the subject was never revived by Elinor, and when
+entered on by Lucy, who seldom missed an opportunity of introducing it,
+and was particularly careful to inform her confidante, of her happiness
+whenever she received a letter from Edward, it was treated by the
+former with calmness and caution, and dismissed as soon as civility
+would allow; for she felt such conversations to be an indulgence which
+Lucy did not deserve, and which were dangerous to herself.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The visit of the Miss Steeles at Barton Park was lengthened far beyond
+what the first invitation implied.  Their favour increased; they could
+not be spared; Sir John would not hear of their going; and in spite of
+their numerous and long arranged engagements in Exeter, in spite of the
+absolute necessity of returning to fulfill them immediately, which was
+in full force at the end of every week, they were prevailed on to stay
+nearly two months at the park, and to assist in the due celebration of
+that festival which requires a more than ordinary share of private
+balls and large dinners to proclaim its importance.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap25"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 25
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Though Mrs. Jennings was in the habit of spending a large portion of
+the year at the houses of her children and friends, she was not without
+a settled habitation of her own.  Since the death of her husband, who
+had traded with success in a less elegant part of the town, she had
+resided every winter in a house in one of the streets near Portman
+Square.  Towards this home, she began on the approach of January to
+turn her thoughts, and thither she one day abruptly, and very
+unexpectedly by them, asked the elder Misses Dashwood to accompany her.
+Elinor, without observing the varying complexion of her sister, and the
+animated look which spoke no indifference to the plan, immediately gave
+a grateful but absolute denial for both, in which she believed herself
+to be speaking their united inclinations.  The reason alleged was their
+determined resolution of not leaving their mother at that time of the
+year.  Mrs. Jennings received the refusal with some surprise, and
+repeated her invitation immediately.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, Lord! I am sure your mother can spare you very well, and I DO beg
+you will favour me with your company, for I've quite set my heart upon
+it.  Don't fancy that you will be any inconvenience to me, for I shan't
+put myself at all out of my way for you.  It will only be sending Betty
+by the coach, and I hope I can afford THAT.  We three shall be able to
+go very well in my chaise; and when we are in town, if you do not like
+to go wherever I do, well and good, you may always go with one of my
+daughters.  I am sure your mother will not object to it; for I have had
+such good luck in getting my own children off my hands that she will
+think me a very fit person to have the charge of you; and if I don't
+get one of you at least well married before I have done with you, it
+shall not be my fault.  I shall speak a good word for you to all the
+young men, you may depend upon it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have a notion," said Sir John, "that Miss Marianne would not object
+to such a scheme, if her elder sister would come into it.  It is very
+hard indeed that she should not have a little pleasure, because Miss
+Dashwood does not wish it.  So I would advise you two, to set off for
+town, when you are tired of Barton, without saying a word to Miss
+Dashwood about it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nay," cried Mrs. Jennings, "I am sure I shall be monstrous glad of
+Miss Marianne's company, whether Miss Dashwood will go or not, only the
+more the merrier say I, and I thought it would be more comfortable for
+them to be together; because, if they got tired of me, they might talk
+to one another, and laugh at my old ways behind my back.  But one or
+the other, if not both of them, I must have.  Lord bless me! how do you
+think I can live poking by myself, I who have been always used till
+this winter to have Charlotte with me.  Come, Miss Marianne, let us
+strike hands upon the bargain, and if Miss Dashwood will change her
+mind by and bye, why so much the better."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I thank you, ma'am, sincerely thank you," said Marianne, with warmth:
+"your invitation has insured my gratitude for ever, and it would give
+me such happiness, yes, almost the greatest happiness I am capable of,
+to be able to accept it.  But my mother, my dearest, kindest mother,&mdash;I
+feel the justice of what Elinor has urged, and if she were to be made
+less happy, less comfortable by our absence&mdash;Oh! no, nothing should
+tempt me to leave her.  It should not, must not be a struggle."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Jennings repeated her assurance that Mrs. Dashwood could spare
+them perfectly well; and Elinor, who now understood her sister, and saw
+to what indifference to almost every thing else she was carried by her
+eagerness to be with Willoughby again, made no farther direct
+opposition to the plan, and merely referred it to her mother's
+decision, from whom however she scarcely expected to receive any
+support in her endeavour to prevent a visit, which she could not
+approve of for Marianne, and which on her own account she had
+particular reasons to avoid.  Whatever Marianne was desirous of, her
+mother would be eager to promote&mdash;she could not expect to influence the
+latter to cautiousness of conduct in an affair respecting which she had
+never been able to inspire her with distrust; and she dared not explain
+the motive of her own disinclination for going to London.  That
+Marianne, fastidious as she was, thoroughly acquainted with Mrs.
+Jennings' manners, and invariably disgusted by them, should overlook
+every inconvenience of that kind, should disregard whatever must be
+most wounding to her irritable feelings, in her pursuit of one object,
+was such a proof, so strong, so full, of the importance of that object
+to her, as Elinor, in spite of all that had passed, was not prepared to
+witness.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+On being informed of the invitation, Mrs. Dashwood, persuaded that such
+an excursion would be productive of much amusement to both her
+daughters, and perceiving through all her affectionate attention to
+herself, how much the heart of Marianne was in it, would not hear of
+their declining the offer upon HER account; insisted on their both
+accepting it directly; and then began to foresee, with her usual
+cheerfulness, a variety of advantages that would accrue to them all,
+from this separation.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am delighted with the plan," she cried, "it is exactly what I could
+wish.  Margaret and I shall be as much benefited by it as yourselves.
+When you and the Middletons are gone, we shall go on so quietly and
+happily together with our books and our music! You will find Margaret
+so improved when you come back again!  I have a little plan of
+alteration for your bedrooms too, which may now be performed without
+any inconvenience to any one.  It is very right that you SHOULD go to
+town; I would have every young woman of your condition in life
+acquainted with the manners and amusements of London.  You will be
+under the care of a motherly good sort of woman, of whose kindness to
+you I can have no doubt.  And in all probability you will see your
+brother, and whatever may be his faults, or the faults of his wife,
+when I consider whose son he is, I cannot bear to have you so wholly
+estranged from each other."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Though with your usual anxiety for our happiness," said Elinor, "you
+have been obviating every impediment to the present scheme which
+occurred to you, there is still one objection which, in my opinion,
+cannot be so easily removed."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne's countenance sunk.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And what," said Mrs. Dashwood, "is my dear prudent Elinor going to
+suggest?  What formidable obstacle is she now to bring forward?  Do let
+me hear a word about the expense of it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My objection is this; though I think very well of Mrs. Jennings's
+heart, she is not a woman whose society can afford us pleasure, or
+whose protection will give us consequence."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That is very true," replied her mother, "but of her society,
+separately from that of other people, you will scarcely have any thing
+at all, and you will almost always appear in public with Lady
+Middleton."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If Elinor is frightened away by her dislike of Mrs. Jennings," said
+Marianne, "at least it need not prevent MY accepting her invitation.  I
+have no such scruples, and I am sure I could put up with every
+unpleasantness of that kind with very little effort."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor could not help smiling at this display of indifference towards
+the manners of a person, to whom she had often had difficulty in
+persuading Marianne to behave with tolerable politeness; and resolved
+within herself, that if her sister persisted in going, she would go
+likewise, as she did not think it proper that Marianne should be left
+to the sole guidance of her own judgment, or that Mrs. Jennings should
+be abandoned to the mercy of Marianne for all the comfort of her
+domestic hours.  To this determination she was the more easily
+reconciled, by recollecting that Edward Ferrars, by Lucy's account, was
+not to be in town before February; and that their visit, without any
+unreasonable abridgement, might be previously finished.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I will have you BOTH go," said Mrs. Dashwood; "these objections are
+nonsensical.  You will have much pleasure in being in London, and
+especially in being together; and if Elinor would ever condescend to
+anticipate enjoyment, she would foresee it there from a variety of
+sources; she would, perhaps, expect some from improving her
+acquaintance with her sister-in-law's family."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor had often wished for an opportunity of attempting to weaken her
+mother's dependence on the attachment of Edward and herself, that the
+shock might be less when the whole truth were revealed, and now on this
+attack, though almost hopeless of success, she forced herself to begin
+her design by saying, as calmly as she could, "I like Edward Ferrars
+very much, and shall always be glad to see him; but as to the rest of
+the family, it is a matter of perfect indifference to me, whether I am
+ever known to them or not."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood smiled, and said nothing.  Marianne lifted up her eyes in
+astonishment, and Elinor conjectured that she might as well have held
+her tongue.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+After very little farther discourse, it was finally settled that the
+invitation should be fully accepted.  Mrs. Jennings received the
+information with a great deal of joy, and many assurances of kindness
+and care; nor was it a matter of pleasure merely to her.  Sir John was
+delighted; for to a man, whose prevailing anxiety was the dread of
+being alone, the acquisition of two, to the number of inhabitants in
+London, was something.  Even Lady Middleton took the trouble of being
+delighted, which was putting herself rather out of her way; and as for
+the Miss Steeles, especially Lucy, they had never been so happy in
+their lives as this intelligence made them.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor submitted to the arrangement which counteracted her wishes with
+less reluctance than she had expected to feel.  With regard to herself,
+it was now a matter of unconcern whether she went to town or not, and
+when she saw her mother so thoroughly pleased with the plan, and her
+sister exhilarated by it in look, voice, and manner, restored to all
+her usual animation, and elevated to more than her usual gaiety, she
+could not be dissatisfied with the cause, and would hardly allow
+herself to distrust the consequence.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne's joy was almost a degree beyond happiness, so great was the
+perturbation of her spirits and her impatience to be gone.  Her
+unwillingness to quit her mother was her only restorative to calmness;
+and at the moment of parting her grief on that score was excessive.
+Her mother's affliction was hardly less, and Elinor was the only one of
+the three, who seemed to consider the separation as any thing short of
+eternal.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Their departure took place in the first week in January.  The
+Middletons were to follow in about a week.  The Miss Steeles kept their
+station at the park, and were to quit it only with the rest of the
+family.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap26"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 26
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Elinor could not find herself in the carriage with Mrs. Jennings, and
+beginning a journey to London under her protection, and as her guest,
+without wondering at her own situation, so short had their acquaintance
+with that lady been, so wholly unsuited were they in age and
+disposition, and so many had been her objections against such a measure
+only a few days before! But these objections had all, with that happy
+ardour of youth which Marianne and her mother equally shared, been
+overcome or overlooked; and Elinor, in spite of every occasional doubt
+of Willoughby's constancy, could not witness the rapture of delightful
+expectation which filled the whole soul and beamed in the eyes of
+Marianne, without feeling how blank was her own prospect, how cheerless
+her own state of mind in the comparison, and how gladly she would
+engage in the solicitude of Marianne's situation to have the same
+animating object in view, the same possibility of hope.  A short, a
+very short time however must now decide what Willoughby's intentions
+were; in all probability he was already in town.  Marianne's eagerness
+to be gone declared her dependence on finding him there; and Elinor was
+resolved not only upon gaining every new light as to his character
+which her own observation or the intelligence of others could give her,
+but likewise upon watching his behaviour to her sister with such
+zealous attention, as to ascertain what he was and what he meant,
+before many meetings had taken place.  Should the result of her
+observations be unfavourable, she was determined at all events to open
+the eyes of her sister; should it be otherwise, her exertions would be
+of a different nature&mdash;she must then learn to avoid every selfish
+comparison, and banish every regret which might lessen her satisfaction
+in the happiness of Marianne.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They were three days on their journey, and Marianne's behaviour as they
+travelled was a happy specimen of what future complaisance and
+companionableness to Mrs. Jennings might be expected to be.  She sat in
+silence almost all the way, wrapt in her own meditations, and scarcely
+ever voluntarily speaking, except when any object of picturesque beauty
+within their view drew from her an exclamation of delight exclusively
+addressed to her sister.  To atone for this conduct therefore, Elinor
+took immediate possession of the post of civility which she had
+assigned herself, behaved with the greatest attention to Mrs. Jennings,
+talked with her, laughed with her, and listened to her whenever she
+could; and Mrs. Jennings on her side treated them both with all
+possible kindness, was solicitous on every occasion for their ease and
+enjoyment, and only disturbed that she could not make them choose their
+own dinners at the inn, nor extort a confession of their preferring
+salmon to cod, or boiled fowls to veal cutlets.  They reached town by
+three o'clock the third day, glad to be released, after such a journey,
+from the confinement of a carriage, and ready to enjoy all the luxury
+of a good fire.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The house was handsome, and handsomely fitted up, and the young ladies
+were immediately put in possession of a very comfortable apartment.  It
+had formerly been Charlotte's, and over the mantelpiece still hung a
+landscape in coloured silks of her performance, in proof of her having
+spent seven years at a great school in town to some effect.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As dinner was not to be ready in less than two hours from their
+arrival, Elinor determined to employ the interval in writing to her
+mother, and sat down for that purpose.  In a few moments Marianne did
+the same.  "I am writing home, Marianne," said Elinor; "had not you
+better defer your letter for a day or two?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am NOT going to write to my mother," replied Marianne, hastily, and
+as if wishing to avoid any farther inquiry.  Elinor said no more; it
+immediately struck her that she must then be writing to Willoughby; and
+the conclusion which as instantly followed was, that, however
+mysteriously they might wish to conduct the affair, they must be
+engaged.  This conviction, though not entirely satisfactory, gave her
+pleasure, and she continued her letter with greater alacrity.
+Marianne's was finished in a very few minutes; in length it could be no
+more than a note; it was then folded up, sealed, and directed with
+eager rapidity.  Elinor thought she could distinguish a large W in the
+direction; and no sooner was it complete than Marianne, ringing the
+bell, requested the footman who answered it to get that letter conveyed
+for her to the two-penny post.  This decided the matter at once.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Her spirits still continued very high; but there was a flutter in them
+which prevented their giving much pleasure to her sister, and this
+agitation increased as the evening drew on.  She could scarcely eat any
+dinner, and when they afterwards returned to the drawing room, seemed
+anxiously listening to the sound of every carriage.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was a great satisfaction to Elinor that Mrs. Jennings, by being much
+engaged in her own room, could see little of what was passing.  The tea
+things were brought in, and already had Marianne been disappointed more
+than once by a rap at a neighbouring door, when a loud one was suddenly
+heard which could not be mistaken for one at any other house, Elinor
+felt secure of its announcing Willoughby's approach, and Marianne,
+starting up, moved towards the door.  Every thing was silent; this
+could not be borne many seconds; she opened the door, advanced a few
+steps towards the stairs, and after listening half a minute, returned
+into the room in all the agitation which a conviction of having heard
+him would naturally produce; in the ecstasy of her feelings at that
+instant she could not help exclaiming, "Oh, Elinor, it is Willoughby,
+indeed it is!" and seemed almost ready to throw herself into his arms,
+when Colonel Brandon appeared.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was too great a shock to be borne with calmness, and she immediately
+left the room.  Elinor was disappointed too; but at the same time her
+regard for Colonel Brandon ensured his welcome with her; and she felt
+particularly hurt that a man so partial to her sister should perceive
+that she experienced nothing but grief and disappointment in seeing
+him.  She instantly saw that it was not unnoticed by him, that he even
+observed Marianne as she quitted the room, with such astonishment and
+concern, as hardly left him the recollection of what civility demanded
+towards herself.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is your sister ill?" said he.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor answered in some distress that she was, and then talked of
+head-aches, low spirits, and over fatigues; and of every thing to which
+she could decently attribute her sister's behaviour.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He heard her with the most earnest attention, but seeming to recollect
+himself, said no more on the subject, and began directly to speak of
+his pleasure at seeing them in London, making the usual inquiries about
+their journey, and the friends they had left behind.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In this calm kind of way, with very little interest on either side,
+they continued to talk, both of them out of spirits, and the thoughts
+of both engaged elsewhere.  Elinor wished very much to ask whether
+Willoughby were then in town, but she was afraid of giving him pain by
+any enquiry after his rival; and at length, by way of saying something,
+she asked if he had been in London ever since she had seen him last.
+"Yes," he replied, with some embarrassment, "almost ever since; I have
+been once or twice at Delaford for a few days, but it has never been in
+my power to return to Barton."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This, and the manner in which it was said, immediately brought back to
+her remembrance all the circumstances of his quitting that place, with
+the uneasiness and suspicions they had caused to Mrs. Jennings, and she
+was fearful that her question had implied much more curiosity on the
+subject than she had ever felt.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Jennings soon came in.  "Oh! Colonel," said she, with her usual
+noisy cheerfulness, "I am monstrous glad to see you&mdash;sorry I could not
+come before&mdash;beg your pardon, but I have been forced to look about me a
+little, and settle my matters; for it is a long while since I have been
+at home, and you know one has always a world of little odd things to do
+after one has been away for any time; and then I have had Cartwright to
+settle with&mdash; Lord, I have been as busy as a bee ever since dinner!
+But pray, Colonel, how came you to conjure out that I should be in town
+today?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I had the pleasure of hearing it at Mr. Palmer's, where I have been
+dining."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, you did; well, and how do they all do at their house?  How does
+Charlotte do?  I warrant you she is a fine size by this time."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mrs. Palmer appeared quite well, and I am commissioned to tell you,
+that you will certainly see her to-morrow."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ay, to be sure, I thought as much.  Well, Colonel, I have brought two
+young ladies with me, you see&mdash;that is, you see but one of them now,
+but there is another somewhere.  Your friend, Miss Marianne, too&mdash;which
+you will not be sorry to hear.  I do not know what you and Mr.
+Willoughby will do between you about her.  Ay, it is a fine thing to be
+young and handsome.  Well! I was young once, but I never was very
+handsome&mdash;worse luck for me.  However, I got a very good husband, and I
+don't know what the greatest beauty can do more.  Ah! poor man! he has
+been dead these eight years and better.  But Colonel, where have you
+been to since we parted?  And how does your business go on?  Come,
+come, let's have no secrets among friends."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He replied with his accustomary mildness to all her inquiries, but
+without satisfying her in any.  Elinor now began to make the tea, and
+Marianne was obliged to appear again.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+After her entrance, Colonel Brandon became more thoughtful and silent
+than he had been before, and Mrs. Jennings could not prevail on him to
+stay long.  No other visitor appeared that evening, and the ladies were
+unanimous in agreeing to go early to bed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne rose the next morning with recovered spirits and happy looks.
+The disappointment of the evening before seemed forgotten in the
+expectation of what was to happen that day.  They had not long finished
+their breakfast before Mrs. Palmer's barouche stopped at the door, and
+in a few minutes she came laughing into the room: so delighted to see
+them all, that it was hard to say whether she received most pleasure
+from meeting her mother or the Miss Dashwoods again.  So surprised at
+their coming to town, though it was what she had rather expected all
+along; so angry at their accepting her mother's invitation after having
+declined her own, though at the same time she would never have forgiven
+them if they had not come!
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mr. Palmer will be so happy to see you," said she; "What do you think
+he said when he heard of your coming with Mamma?  I forget what it was
+now, but it was something so droll!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+After an hour or two spent in what her mother called comfortable chat,
+or in other words, in every variety of inquiry concerning all their
+acquaintance on Mrs. Jennings's side, and in laughter without cause on
+Mrs. Palmer's, it was proposed by the latter that they should all
+accompany her to some shops where she had business that morning, to
+which Mrs. Jennings and Elinor readily consented, as having likewise
+some purchases to make themselves; and Marianne, though declining it at
+first was induced to go likewise.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Wherever they went, she was evidently always on the watch.  In Bond
+Street especially, where much of their business lay, her eyes were in
+constant inquiry; and in whatever shop the party were engaged, her mind
+was equally abstracted from every thing actually before them, from all
+that interested and occupied the others.  Restless and dissatisfied
+every where, her sister could never obtain her opinion of any article
+of purchase, however it might equally concern them both: she received
+no pleasure from anything; was only impatient to be at home again, and
+could with difficulty govern her vexation at the tediousness of Mrs.
+Palmer, whose eye was caught by every thing pretty, expensive, or new;
+who was wild to buy all, could determine on none, and dawdled away her
+time in rapture and indecision.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was late in the morning before they returned home; and no sooner had
+they entered the house than Marianne flew eagerly up stairs, and when
+Elinor followed, she found her turning from the table with a sorrowful
+countenance, which declared that no Willoughby had been there.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Has no letter been left here for me since we went out?" said she to
+the footman who then entered with the parcels.  She was answered in the
+negative.  "Are you quite sure of it?" she replied.  "Are you certain
+that no servant, no porter has left any letter or note?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The man replied that none had.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How very odd!" said she, in a low and disappointed voice, as she
+turned away to the window.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How odd, indeed!" repeated Elinor within herself, regarding her sister
+with uneasiness.  "If she had not known him to be in town she would not
+have written to him, as she did; she would have written to Combe Magna;
+and if he is in town, how odd that he should neither come nor write!
+Oh! my dear mother, you must be wrong in permitting an engagement
+between a daughter so young, a man so little known, to be carried on in
+so doubtful, so mysterious a manner!  I long to inquire; and how will
+MY interference be borne."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She determined, after some consideration, that if appearances continued
+many days longer as unpleasant as they now were, she would represent in
+the strongest manner to her mother the necessity of some serious
+enquiry into the affair.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Palmer and two elderly ladies of Mrs. Jennings's intimate
+acquaintance, whom she had met and invited in the morning, dined with
+them.  The former left them soon after tea to fulfill her evening
+engagements; and Elinor was obliged to assist in making a whist table
+for the others.  Marianne was of no use on these occasions, as she
+would never learn the game; but though her time was therefore at her
+own disposal, the evening was by no means more productive of pleasure
+to her than to Elinor, for it was spent in all the anxiety of
+expectation and the pain of disappointment.  She sometimes endeavoured
+for a few minutes to read; but the book was soon thrown aside, and she
+returned to the more interesting employment of walking backwards and
+forwards across the room, pausing for a moment whenever she came to the
+window, in hopes of distinguishing the long-expected rap.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap27"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 27
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+"If this open weather holds much longer," said Mrs. Jennings, when they
+met at breakfast the following morning, "Sir John will not like leaving
+Barton next week; 'tis a sad thing for sportsmen to lose a day's
+pleasure.  Poor souls!  I always pity them when they do; they seem to
+take it so much to heart."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That is true," cried Marianne, in a cheerful voice, and walking to the
+window as she spoke, to examine the day.  "I had not thought of that.
+This weather will keep many sportsmen in the country."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was a lucky recollection, all her good spirits were restored by it.
+"It is charming weather for THEM indeed," she continued, as she sat
+down to the breakfast table with a happy countenance.  "How much they
+must enjoy it! But" (with a little return of anxiety) "it cannot be
+expected to last long.  At this time of the year, and after such a
+series of rain, we shall certainly have very little more of it.  Frosts
+will soon set in, and in all probability with severity.  In another day
+or two perhaps; this extreme mildness can hardly last longer&mdash;nay,
+perhaps it may freeze tonight!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"At any rate," said Elinor, wishing to prevent Mrs. Jennings from
+seeing her sister's thoughts as clearly as she did, "I dare say we
+shall have Sir John and Lady Middleton in town by the end of next week."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ay, my dear, I'll warrant you we do.  Mary always has her own way."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And now," silently conjectured Elinor, "she will write to Combe by
+this day's post."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But if she DID, the letter was written and sent away with a privacy
+which eluded all her watchfulness to ascertain the fact.  Whatever the
+truth of it might be, and far as Elinor was from feeling thorough
+contentment about it, yet while she saw Marianne in spirits, she could
+not be very uncomfortable herself.  And Marianne was in spirits; happy
+in the mildness of the weather, and still happier in her expectation of
+a frost.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The morning was chiefly spent in leaving cards at the houses of Mrs.
+Jennings's acquaintance to inform them of her being in town; and
+Marianne was all the time busy in observing the direction of the wind,
+watching the variations of the sky and imagining an alteration in the
+air.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Don't you find it colder than it was in the morning, Elinor? There
+seems to me a very decided difference.  I can hardly keep my hands warm
+even in my muff.  It was not so yesterday, I think.  The clouds seem
+parting too, the sun will be out in a moment, and we shall have a clear
+afternoon."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor was alternately diverted and pained; but Marianne persevered,
+and saw every night in the brightness of the fire, and every morning in
+the appearance of the atmosphere, the certain symptoms of approaching
+frost.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The Miss Dashwoods had no greater reason to be dissatisfied with Mrs.
+Jennings's style of living, and set of acquaintance, than with her
+behaviour to themselves, which was invariably kind.  Every thing in her
+household arrangements was conducted on the most liberal plan, and
+excepting a few old city friends, whom, to Lady Middleton's regret, she
+had never dropped, she visited no one to whom an introduction could at
+all discompose the feelings of her young companions.  Pleased to find
+herself more comfortably situated in that particular than she had
+expected, Elinor was very willing to compound for the want of much real
+enjoyment from any of their evening parties, which, whether at home or
+abroad, formed only for cards, could have little to amuse her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Colonel Brandon, who had a general invitation to the house, was with
+them almost every day; he came to look at Marianne and talk to Elinor,
+who often derived more satisfaction from conversing with him than from
+any other daily occurrence, but who saw at the same time with much
+concern his continued regard for her sister.  She feared it was a
+strengthening regard.  It grieved her to see the earnestness with which
+he often watched Marianne, and his spirits were certainly worse than
+when at Barton.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+About a week after their arrival, it became certain that Willoughby was
+also arrived.  His card was on the table when they came in from the
+morning's drive.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Good God!" cried Marianne, "he has been here while we were out."
+Elinor, rejoiced to be assured of his being in London, now ventured to
+say, "Depend upon it, he will call again tomorrow."  But Marianne
+seemed hardly to hear her, and on Mrs. Jenning's entrance, escaped with
+the precious card.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This event, while it raised the spirits of Elinor, restored to those of
+her sister all, and more than all, their former agitation.  From this
+moment her mind was never quiet; the expectation of seeing him every
+hour of the day, made her unfit for any thing.  She insisted on being
+left behind, the next morning, when the others went out.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor's thoughts were full of what might be passing in Berkeley Street
+during their absence; but a moment's glance at her sister when they
+returned was enough to inform her, that Willoughby had paid no second
+visit there.  A note was just then brought in, and laid on the table,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"For me!" cried Marianne, stepping hastily forward.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, ma'am, for my mistress."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But Marianne, not convinced, took it instantly up.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is indeed for Mrs. Jennings; how provoking!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You are expecting a letter, then?" said Elinor, unable to be longer
+silent.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, a little&mdash;not much."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+After a short pause.  "You have no confidence in me, Marianne."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nay, Elinor, this reproach from YOU&mdash;you who have confidence in no
+one!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Me!" returned Elinor in some confusion; "indeed, Marianne, I have
+nothing to tell."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nor I," answered Marianne with energy, "our situations then are alike.
+We have neither of us any thing to tell; you, because you do not
+communicate, and I, because I conceal nothing."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor, distressed by this charge of reserve in herself, which she was
+not at liberty to do away, knew not how, under such circumstances, to
+press for greater openness in Marianne.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Jennings soon appeared, and the note being given her, she read it
+aloud.  It was from Lady Middleton, announcing their arrival in Conduit
+Street the night before, and requesting the company of her mother and
+cousins the following evening.  Business on Sir John's part, and a
+violent cold on her own, prevented their calling in Berkeley Street.
+The invitation was accepted; but when the hour of appointment drew
+near, necessary as it was in common civility to Mrs. Jennings, that
+they should both attend her on such a visit, Elinor had some difficulty
+in persuading her sister to go, for still she had seen nothing of
+Willoughby; and therefore was not more indisposed for amusement abroad,
+than unwilling to run the risk of his calling again in her absence.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor found, when the evening was over, that disposition is not
+materially altered by a change of abode, for although scarcely settled
+in town, Sir John had contrived to collect around him, nearly twenty
+young people, and to amuse them with a ball.  This was an affair,
+however, of which Lady Middleton did not approve.  In the country, an
+unpremeditated dance was very allowable; but in London, where the
+reputation of elegance was more important and less easily attained, it
+was risking too much for the gratification of a few girls, to have it
+known that Lady Middleton had given a small dance of eight or nine
+couple, with two violins, and a mere side-board collation.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mr. and Mrs. Palmer were of the party; from the former, whom they had
+not seen before since their arrival in town, as he was careful to avoid
+the appearance of any attention to his mother-in-law, and therefore
+never came near her, they received no mark of recognition on their
+entrance.  He looked at them slightly, without seeming to know who they
+were, and merely nodded to Mrs. Jennings from the other side of the
+room.  Marianne gave one glance round the apartment as she entered: it
+was enough&mdash;HE was not there&mdash;and she sat down, equally ill-disposed to
+receive or communicate pleasure.  After they had been assembled about
+an hour, Mr. Palmer sauntered towards the Miss Dashwoods to express his
+surprise on seeing them in town, though Colonel Brandon had been first
+informed of their arrival at his house, and he had himself said
+something very droll on hearing that they were to come.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I thought you were both in Devonshire," said he.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Did you?" replied Elinor.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"When do you go back again?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I do not know." And thus ended their discourse.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Never had Marianne been so unwilling to dance in her life, as she was
+that evening, and never so much fatigued by the exercise.  She
+complained of it as they returned to Berkeley Street.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Aye, aye," said Mrs. Jennings, "we know the reason of all that very
+well; if a certain person who shall be nameless, had been there, you
+would not have been a bit tired: and to say the truth it was not very
+pretty of him not to give you the meeting when he was invited."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Invited!" cried Marianne.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"So my daughter Middleton told me, for it seems Sir John met him
+somewhere in the street this morning." Marianne said no more, but
+looked exceedingly hurt.  Impatient in this situation to be doing
+something that might lead to her sister's relief, Elinor resolved to
+write the next morning to her mother, and hoped by awakening her fears
+for the health of Marianne, to procure those inquiries which had been
+so long delayed; and she was still more eagerly bent on this measure by
+perceiving after breakfast on the morrow, that Marianne was again
+writing to Willoughby, for she could not suppose it to be to any other
+person.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+About the middle of the day, Mrs. Jennings went out by herself on
+business, and Elinor began her letter directly, while Marianne, too
+restless for employment, too anxious for conversation, walked from one
+window to the other, or sat down by the fire in melancholy meditation.
+Elinor was very earnest in her application to her mother, relating all
+that had passed, her suspicions of Willoughby's inconstancy, urging her
+by every plea of duty and affection to demand from Marianne an account
+of her real situation with respect to him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Her letter was scarcely finished, when a rap foretold a visitor, and
+Colonel Brandon was announced.  Marianne, who had seen him from the
+window, and who hated company of any kind, left the room before he
+entered it.  He looked more than usually grave, and though expressing
+satisfaction at finding Miss Dashwood alone, as if he had somewhat in
+particular to tell her, sat for some time without saying a word.
+Elinor, persuaded that he had some communication to make in which her
+sister was concerned, impatiently expected its opening.  It was not the
+first time of her feeling the same kind of conviction; for, more than
+once before, beginning with the observation of "your sister looks
+unwell to-day," or "your sister seems out of spirits," he had appeared
+on the point, either of disclosing, or of inquiring, something
+particular about her.  After a pause of several minutes, their silence
+was broken, by his asking her in a voice of some agitation, when he was
+to congratulate her on the acquisition of a brother?  Elinor was not
+prepared for such a question, and having no answer ready, was obliged
+to adopt the simple and common expedient, of asking what he meant?  He
+tried to smile as he replied, "your sister's engagement to Mr.
+Willoughby is very generally known."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It cannot be generally known," returned Elinor, "for her own family do
+not know it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He looked surprised and said, "I beg your pardon, I am afraid my
+inquiry has been impertinent; but I had not supposed any secrecy
+intended, as they openly correspond, and their marriage is universally
+talked of."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How can that be? By whom can you have heard it mentioned?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"By many&mdash;by some of whom you know nothing, by others with whom you are
+most intimate, Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. Palmer, and the Middletons.  But
+still I might not have believed it, for where the mind is perhaps
+rather unwilling to be convinced, it will always find something to
+support its doubts, if I had not, when the servant let me in today,
+accidentally seen a letter in his hand, directed to Mr. Willoughby in
+your sister's writing.  I came to inquire, but I was convinced before I
+could ask the question.  Is every thing finally settled?  Is it
+impossible to-?  But I have no right, and I could have no chance of
+succeeding.  Excuse me, Miss Dashwood.  I believe I have been wrong in
+saying so much, but I hardly know what to do, and on your prudence I
+have the strongest dependence.  Tell me that it is all absolutely
+resolved on, that any attempt, that in short concealment, if
+concealment be possible, is all that remains."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+These words, which conveyed to Elinor a direct avowal of his love for
+her sister, affected her very much.  She was not immediately able to
+say anything, and even when her spirits were recovered, she debated for
+a short time, on the answer it would be most proper to give.  The real
+state of things between Willoughby and her sister was so little known
+to herself, that in endeavouring to explain it, she might be as liable
+to say too much as too little.  Yet as she was convinced that
+Marianne's affection for Willoughby, could leave no hope of Colonel
+Brandon's success, whatever the event of that affection might be, and
+at the same time wished to shield her conduct from censure, she thought
+it most prudent and kind, after some consideration, to say more than
+she really knew or believed.  She acknowledged, therefore, that though
+she had never been informed by themselves of the terms on which they
+stood with each other, of their mutual affection she had no doubt, and
+of their correspondence she was not astonished to hear.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He listened to her with silent attention, and on her ceasing to speak,
+rose directly from his seat, and after saying in a voice of emotion,
+"to your sister I wish all imaginable happiness; to Willoughby that he
+may endeavour to deserve her,"&mdash;took leave, and went away.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor derived no comfortable feelings from this conversation, to
+lessen the uneasiness of her mind on other points; she was left, on the
+contrary, with a melancholy impression of Colonel Brandon's
+unhappiness, and was prevented even from wishing it removed, by her
+anxiety for the very event that must confirm it.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap28"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 28
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Nothing occurred during the next three or four days, to make Elinor
+regret what she had done, in applying to her mother; for Willoughby
+neither came nor wrote.  They were engaged about the end of that time
+to attend Lady Middleton to a party, from which Mrs. Jennings was kept
+away by the indisposition of her youngest daughter; and for this party,
+Marianne, wholly dispirited, careless of her appearance, and seeming
+equally indifferent whether she went or staid, prepared, without one
+look of hope or one expression of pleasure.  She sat by the
+drawing-room fire after tea, till the moment of Lady Middleton's
+arrival, without once stirring from her seat, or altering her attitude,
+lost in her own thoughts, and insensible of her sister's presence; and
+when at last they were told that Lady Middleton waited for them at the
+door, she started as if she had forgotten that any one was expected.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They arrived in due time at the place of destination, and as soon as
+the string of carriages before them would allow, alighted, ascended the
+stairs, heard their names announced from one landing-place to another
+in an audible voice, and entered a room splendidly lit up, quite full
+of company, and insufferably hot.  When they had paid their tribute of
+politeness by curtsying to the lady of the house, they were permitted
+to mingle in the crowd, and take their share of the heat and
+inconvenience, to which their arrival must necessarily add.  After some
+time spent in saying little or doing less, Lady Middleton sat down to
+Cassino, and as Marianne was not in spirits for moving about, she and
+Elinor luckily succeeding to chairs, placed themselves at no great
+distance from the table.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They had not remained in this manner long, before Elinor perceived
+Willoughby, standing within a few yards of them, in earnest
+conversation with a very fashionable looking young woman.  She soon
+caught his eye, and he immediately bowed, but without attempting to
+speak to her, or to approach Marianne, though he could not but see her;
+and then continued his discourse with the same lady.  Elinor turned
+involuntarily to Marianne, to see whether it could be unobserved by
+her.  At that moment she first perceived him, and her whole countenance
+glowing with sudden delight, she would have moved towards him
+instantly, had not her sister caught hold of her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Good heavens!" she exclaimed, "he is there&mdash;he is there&mdash;Oh! why does
+he not look at me? why cannot I speak to him?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Pray, pray be composed," cried Elinor, "and do not betray what you
+feel to every body present.  Perhaps he has not observed you yet."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This however was more than she could believe herself; and to be
+composed at such a moment was not only beyond the reach of Marianne, it
+was beyond her wish.  She sat in an agony of impatience which affected
+every feature.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At last he turned round again, and regarded them both; she started up,
+and pronouncing his name in a tone of affection, held out her hand to
+him.  He approached, and addressing himself rather to Elinor than
+Marianne, as if wishing to avoid her eye, and determined not to observe
+her attitude, inquired in a hurried manner after Mrs. Dashwood, and
+asked how long they had been in town.  Elinor was robbed of all
+presence of mind by such an address, and was unable to say a word.  But
+the feelings of her sister were instantly expressed.  Her face was
+crimsoned over, and she exclaimed, in a voice of the greatest emotion,
+"Good God! Willoughby, what is the meaning of this?  Have you not
+received my letters?  Will you not shake hands with me?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He could not then avoid it, but her touch seemed painful to him, and he
+held her hand only for a moment.  During all this time he was evidently
+struggling for composure.  Elinor watched his countenance and saw its
+expression becoming more tranquil.  After a moment's pause, he spoke
+with calmness.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I did myself the honour of calling in Berkeley Street last Tuesday,
+and very much regretted that I was not fortunate enough to find
+yourselves and Mrs. Jennings at home.  My card was not lost, I hope."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But have you not received my notes?" cried Marianne in the wildest
+anxiety.  "Here is some mistake I am sure&mdash;some dreadful mistake.  What
+can be the meaning of it?  Tell me, Willoughby; for heaven's sake tell
+me, what is the matter?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He made no reply; his complexion changed and all his embarrassment
+returned; but as if, on catching the eye of the young lady with whom he
+had been previously talking, he felt the necessity of instant exertion,
+he recovered himself again, and after saying, "Yes, I had the pleasure
+of receiving the information of your arrival in town, which you were so
+good as to send me," turned hastily away with a slight bow and joined
+his friend.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne, now looking dreadfully white, and unable to stand, sunk into
+her chair, and Elinor, expecting every moment to see her faint, tried
+to screen her from the observation of others, while reviving her with
+lavender water.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Go to him, Elinor," she cried, as soon as she could speak, "and force
+him to come to me.  Tell him I must see him again&mdash;must speak to him
+instantly.&mdash; I cannot rest&mdash;I shall not have a moment's peace till this
+is explained&mdash;some dreadful misapprehension or other.&mdash; Oh go to him
+this moment."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How can that be done? No, my dearest Marianne, you must wait.  This is
+not the place for explanations.  Wait only till tomorrow."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+With difficulty however could she prevent her from following him
+herself; and to persuade her to check her agitation, to wait, at least,
+with the appearance of composure, till she might speak to him with more
+privacy and more effect, was impossible; for Marianne continued
+incessantly to give way in a low voice to the misery of her feelings,
+by exclamations of wretchedness.  In a short time Elinor saw Willoughby
+quit the room by the door towards the staircase, and telling Marianne
+that he was gone, urged the impossibility of speaking to him again that
+evening, as a fresh argument for her to be calm.  She instantly begged
+her sister would entreat Lady Middleton to take them home, as she was
+too miserable to stay a minute longer.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Lady Middleton, though in the middle of a rubber, on being informed
+that Marianne was unwell, was too polite to object for a moment to her
+wish of going away, and making over her cards to a friend, they
+departed as soon the carriage could be found.  Scarcely a word was
+spoken during their return to Berkeley Street.  Marianne was in a
+silent agony, too much oppressed even for tears; but as Mrs. Jennings
+was luckily not come home, they could go directly to their own room,
+where hartshorn restored her a little to herself.  She was soon
+undressed and in bed, and as she seemed desirous of being alone, her
+sister then left her, and while she waited the return of Mrs. Jennings,
+had leisure enough for thinking over the past.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+That some kind of engagement had subsisted between Willoughby and
+Marianne she could not doubt, and that Willoughby was weary of it,
+seemed equally clear; for however Marianne might still feed her own
+wishes, SHE could not attribute such behaviour to mistake or
+misapprehension of any kind.  Nothing but a thorough change of
+sentiment could account for it.  Her indignation would have been still
+stronger than it was, had she not witnessed that embarrassment which
+seemed to speak a consciousness of his own misconduct, and prevented
+her from believing him so unprincipled as to have been sporting with
+the affections of her sister from the first, without any design that
+would bear investigation.  Absence might have weakened his regard, and
+convenience might have determined him to overcome it, but that such a
+regard had formerly existed she could not bring herself to doubt.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As for Marianne, on the pangs which so unhappy a meeting must already
+have given her, and on those still more severe which might await her in
+its probable consequence, she could not reflect without the deepest
+concern.  Her own situation gained in the comparison; for while she
+could ESTEEM Edward as much as ever, however they might be divided in
+future, her mind might be always supported.  But every circumstance
+that could embitter such an evil seemed uniting to heighten the misery
+of Marianne in a final separation from Willoughby&mdash;in an immediate and
+irreconcilable rupture with him.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap29"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 29
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Before the house-maid had lit their fire the next day, or the sun
+gained any power over a cold, gloomy morning in January, Marianne, only
+half dressed, was kneeling against one of the window-seats for the sake
+of all the little light she could command from it, and writing as fast
+as a continual flow of tears would permit her.  In this situation,
+Elinor, roused from sleep by her agitation and sobs, first perceived
+her; and after observing her for a few moments with silent anxiety,
+said, in a tone of the most considerate gentleness,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Marianne, may I ask-?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, Elinor," she replied, "ask nothing; you will soon know all."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The sort of desperate calmness with which this was said, lasted no
+longer than while she spoke, and was immediately followed by a return
+of the same excessive affliction.  It was some minutes before she could
+go on with her letter, and the frequent bursts of grief which still
+obliged her, at intervals, to withhold her pen, were proofs enough of
+her feeling how more than probable it was that she was writing for the
+last time to Willoughby.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor paid her every quiet and unobtrusive attention in her power; and
+she would have tried to sooth and tranquilize her still more, had not
+Marianne entreated her, with all the eagerness of the most nervous
+irritability, not to speak to her for the world.  In such
+circumstances, it was better for both that they should not be long
+together; and the restless state of Marianne's mind not only prevented
+her from remaining in the room a moment after she was dressed, but
+requiring at once solitude and continual change of place, made her
+wander about the house till breakfast time, avoiding the sight of every
+body.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At breakfast she neither ate, nor attempted to eat any thing; and
+Elinor's attention was then all employed, not in urging her, not in
+pitying her, nor in appearing to regard her, but in endeavouring to
+engage Mrs. Jenning's notice entirely to herself.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As this was a favourite meal with Mrs. Jennings, it lasted a
+considerable time, and they were just setting themselves, after it,
+round the common working table, when a letter was delivered to
+Marianne, which she eagerly caught from the servant, and, turning of a
+death-like paleness, instantly ran out of the room.  Elinor, who saw as
+plainly by this, as if she had seen the direction, that it must come
+from Willoughby, felt immediately such a sickness at heart as made her
+hardly able to hold up her head, and sat in such a general tremour as
+made her fear it impossible to escape Mrs. Jenning's notice.  That good
+lady, however, saw only that Marianne had received a letter from
+Willoughby, which appeared to her a very good joke, and which she
+treated accordingly, by hoping, with a laugh, that she would find it to
+her liking.  Of Elinor's distress, she was too busily employed in
+measuring lengths of worsted for her rug, to see any thing at all; and
+calmly continuing her talk, as soon as Marianne disappeared, she said,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Upon my word, I never saw a young woman so desperately in love in my
+life!  MY girls were nothing to her, and yet they used to be foolish
+enough; but as for Miss Marianne, she is quite an altered creature.  I
+hope, from the bottom of my heart, he won't keep her waiting much
+longer, for it is quite grievous to see her look so ill and forlorn.
+Pray, when are they to be married?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor, though never less disposed to speak than at that moment,
+obliged herself to answer such an attack as this, and, therefore,
+trying to smile, replied, "And have you really, Ma'am, talked yourself
+into a persuasion of my sister's being engaged to Mr. Willoughby?  I
+thought it had been only a joke, but so serious a question seems to
+imply more; and I must beg, therefore, that you will not deceive
+yourself any longer.  I do assure you that nothing would surprise me
+more than to hear of their being going to be married."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"For shame, for shame, Miss Dashwood! how can you talk so?  Don't we
+all know that it must be a match, that they were over head and ears in
+love with each other from the first moment they met?  Did not I see
+them together in Devonshire every day, and all day long; and did not I
+know that your sister came to town with me on purpose to buy wedding
+clothes?  Come, come, this won't do.  Because you are so sly about it
+yourself, you think nobody else has any senses; but it is no such
+thing, I can tell you, for it has been known all over town this ever so
+long.  I tell every body of it and so does Charlotte."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Indeed, Ma'am," said Elinor, very seriously, "you are mistaken.
+Indeed, you are doing a very unkind thing in spreading the report, and
+you will find that you have though you will not believe me now."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Jennings laughed again, but Elinor had not spirits to say more,
+and eager at all events to know what Willoughby had written, hurried
+away to their room, where, on opening the door, she saw Marianne
+stretched on the bed, almost choked by grief, one letter in her hand,
+and two or three others laying by her.  Elinor drew near, but without
+saying a word; and seating herself on the bed, took her hand, kissed
+her affectionately several times, and then gave way to a burst of
+tears, which at first was scarcely less violent than Marianne's. The
+latter, though unable to speak, seemed to feel all the tenderness of
+this behaviour, and after some time thus spent in joint affliction, she
+put all the letters into Elinor's hands; and then covering her face
+with her handkerchief, almost screamed with agony.  Elinor, who knew
+that such grief, shocking as it was to witness it, must have its
+course, watched by her till this excess of suffering had somewhat spent
+itself, and then turning eagerly to Willoughby's letter, read as
+follows:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="salutation">
+"Bond Street, January.<BR>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"MY DEAR MADAM,<BR>
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"I have just had the honour of receiving your
+letter, for which I beg to return my sincere
+acknowledgments.  I am much concerned to find there
+was anything in my behaviour last night that did
+not meet your approbation; and though I am quite at
+a loss to discover in what point I could be so
+unfortunate as to offend you, I entreat your
+forgiveness of what I can assure you to have been
+perfectly unintentional.  I shall never reflect on
+my former acquaintance with your family in Devonshire
+without the most grateful pleasure, and flatter
+myself it will not be broken by any mistake or
+misapprehension of my actions.  My esteem for your
+whole family is very sincere; but if I have been so
+unfortunate as to give rise to a belief of more than
+I felt, or meant to express, I shall reproach myself
+for not having been more guarded in my professions
+of that esteem.  That I should ever have meant more
+you will allow to be impossible, when you understand
+that my affections have been long engaged elsewhere,
+and it will not be many weeks, I believe, before
+this engagement is fulfilled.  It is with great
+regret that I obey your commands in returning the
+letters with which I have been honoured from you,
+and the lock of hair, which you so obligingly bestowed
+on me.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="closing">
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I am, dear Madam,<BR>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Your most obedient<BR>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"humble servant,<BR>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"JOHN WILLOUGHBY."<BR>
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+With what indignation such a letter as this must be read by Miss
+Dashwood, may be imagined.  Though aware, before she began it, that it
+must bring a confession of his inconstancy, and confirm their
+separation for ever, she was not aware that such language could be
+suffered to announce it; nor could she have supposed Willoughby capable
+of departing so far from the appearance of every honourable and
+delicate feeling&mdash;so far from the common decorum of a gentleman, as to
+send a letter so impudently cruel: a letter which, instead of bringing
+with his desire of a release any professions of regret, acknowledged no
+breach of faith, denied all peculiar affection whatever&mdash;a letter of
+which every line was an insult, and which proclaimed its writer to be
+deep in hardened villainy.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She paused over it for some time with indignant astonishment; then read
+it again and again; but every perusal only served to increase her
+abhorrence of the man, and so bitter were her feelings against him,
+that she dared not trust herself to speak, lest she might wound
+Marianne still deeper by treating their disengagement, not as a loss to
+her of any possible good but as an escape from the worst and most
+irremediable of all evils, a connection, for life, with an unprincipled
+man, as a deliverance the most real, a blessing the most important.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In her earnest meditations on the contents of the letter, on the
+depravity of that mind which could dictate it, and probably, on the
+very different mind of a very different person, who had no other
+connection whatever with the affair than what her heart gave him with
+every thing that passed, Elinor forgot the immediate distress of her
+sister, forgot that she had three letters on her lap yet unread, and so
+entirely forgot how long she had been in the room, that when on hearing
+a carriage drive up to the door, she went to the window to see who
+could be coming so unreasonably early, she was all astonishment to
+perceive Mrs. Jennings's chariot, which she knew had not been ordered
+till one.  Determined not to quit Marianne, though hopeless of
+contributing, at present, to her ease, she hurried away to excuse
+herself from attending Mrs. Jennings, on account of her sister being
+indisposed.  Mrs. Jennings, with a thoroughly good-humoured concern for
+its cause, admitted the excuse most readily, and Elinor, after seeing
+her safe off, returned to Marianne, whom she found attempting to rise
+from the bed, and whom she reached just in time to prevent her from
+falling on the floor, faint and giddy from a long want of proper rest
+and food; for it was many days since she had any appetite, and many
+nights since she had really slept; and now, when her mind was no longer
+supported by the fever of suspense, the consequence of all this was
+felt in an aching head, a weakened stomach, and a general nervous
+faintness.  A glass of wine, which Elinor procured for her directly,
+made her more comfortable, and she was at last able to express some
+sense of her kindness, by saying,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Poor Elinor! how unhappy I make you!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I only wish," replied her sister, "there were any thing I COULD do,
+which might be of comfort to you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This, as every thing else would have been, was too much for Marianne,
+who could only exclaim, in the anguish of her heart, "Oh! Elinor, I am
+miserable, indeed," before her voice was entirely lost in sobs.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor could no longer witness this torrent of unresisted grief in
+silence.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Exert yourself, dear Marianne," she cried, "if you would not kill
+yourself and all who love you.  Think of your mother; think of her
+misery while YOU suffer: for her sake you must exert yourself."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I cannot, I cannot," cried Marianne; "leave me, leave me, if I
+distress you; leave me, hate me, forget me!  but do not torture me so.
+Oh! how easy for those, who have no sorrow of their own to talk of
+exertion!  Happy, happy Elinor, YOU cannot have an idea of what I
+suffer."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Do you call ME happy, Marianne?  Ah! if you knew!&mdash;And can you believe
+me to be so, while I see you so wretched!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Forgive me, forgive me," throwing her arms round her sister's neck; "I
+know you feel for me; I know what a heart you have; but yet you
+are&mdash;you must be happy; Edward loves you&mdash;what, oh what, can do away
+such happiness as that?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Many, many circumstances," said Elinor, solemnly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, no, no," cried Marianne wildly, "he loves you, and only you.  You
+CAN have no grief."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I can have no pleasure while I see you in this state."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And you will never see me otherwise.  Mine is a misery which nothing
+can do away."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You must not talk so, Marianne.  Have you no comforts? no friends?  Is
+your loss such as leaves no opening for consolation?  Much as you
+suffer now, think of what you would have suffered if the discovery of
+his character had been delayed to a later period&mdash;if your engagement
+had been carried on for months and months, as it might have been,
+before he chose to put an end to it.  Every additional day of unhappy
+confidence, on your side, would have made the blow more dreadful."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Engagement!" cried Marianne, "there has been no engagement."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No engagement!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, he is not so unworthy as you believe him.  He has broken no faith
+with me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But he told you that he loved you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes&mdash;no&mdash;never absolutely.  It was every day implied, but never
+professedly declared.  Sometimes I thought it had been&mdash;but it never
+was."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yet you wrote to him?"&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes&mdash;could that be wrong after all that had passed?&mdash; But I cannot
+talk."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor said no more, and turning again to the three letters which now
+raised a much stronger curiosity than before, directly ran over the
+contents of all.  The first, which was what her sister had sent him on
+their arrival in town, was to this effect.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="salutation">
+Berkeley Street, January.<BR>
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"How surprised you will be, Willoughby, on
+receiving this; and I think you will feel something
+more than surprise, when you know that I am in town.
+An opportunity of coming hither, though with Mrs.
+Jennings, was a temptation we could not resist.
+I wish you may receive this in time to come here
+to-night, but I will not depend on it.  At any rate
+I shall expect you to-morrow. For the present, adieu.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="closing">
+"M.D."<BR>
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Her second note, which had been written on the morning after the dance
+at the Middletons', was in these words:&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"I cannot express my disappointment in having
+missed you the day before yesterday, nor my astonishment
+at not having received any answer to a note which
+I sent you above a week ago.  I have been expecting
+to hear from you, and still more to see you, every
+hour of the day.  Pray call again as soon as possible,
+and explain the reason of my having expected this
+in vain.  You had better come earlier another time,
+because we are generally out by one.  We were last
+night at Lady Middleton's, where there was a dance.
+I have been told that you were asked to be of the
+party.  But could it be so?  You must be very much
+altered indeed since we parted, if that could be
+the case, and you not there.  But I will not suppose
+this possible, and I hope very soon to receive your
+personal assurance of its being otherwise.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="closing">
+"M.D."<BR>
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The contents of her last note to him were these:&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"What am I to imagine, Willoughby, by your
+behaviour last night?  Again I demand an explanation
+of it.  I was prepared to meet you with the pleasure
+which our separation naturally produced, with the
+familiarity which our intimacy at Barton appeared
+to me to justify.  I was repulsed indeed! I have
+passed a wretched night in endeavouring to excuse
+a conduct which can scarcely be called less than
+insulting; but though I have not yet been able to
+form any reasonable apology for your behaviour,
+I am perfectly ready to hear your justification of
+it.  You have perhaps been misinformed, or purposely
+deceived, in something concerning me, which may have
+lowered me in your opinion.  Tell me what it is,
+explain the grounds on which you acted, and I shall
+be satisfied, in being able to satisfy you.  It
+would grieve me indeed to be obliged to think ill
+of you; but if I am to do it, if I am to learn that
+you are not what we have hitherto believed you, that
+your regard for us all was insincere, that your
+behaviour to me was intended only to deceive, let
+it be told as soon as possible.  My feelings are at
+present in a state of dreadful indecision; I wish
+to acquit you, but certainty on either side will be
+ease to what I now suffer.  If your sentiments are
+no longer what they were, you will return my notes,
+and the lock of my hair which is in your possession.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="closing">
+"M.D."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+That such letters, so full of affection and confidence, could have been
+so answered, Elinor, for Willoughby's sake, would have been unwilling
+to believe.  But her condemnation of him did not blind her to the
+impropriety of their having been written at all; and she was silently
+grieving over the imprudence which had hazarded such unsolicited proofs
+of tenderness, not warranted by anything preceding, and most severely
+condemned by the event, when Marianne, perceiving that she had finished
+the letters, observed to her that they contained nothing but what any
+one would have written in the same situation.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I felt myself," she added, "to be as solemnly engaged to him, as if
+the strictest legal covenant had bound us to each other."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I can believe it," said Elinor; "but unfortunately he did not feel the
+same."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He DID feel the same, Elinor&mdash;for weeks and weeks he felt it.  I know
+he did.  Whatever may have changed him now, (and nothing but the
+blackest art employed against me can have done it), I was once as dear
+to him as my own soul could wish.  This lock of hair, which now he can
+so readily give up, was begged of me with the most earnest
+supplication.  Had you seen his look, his manner, had you heard his
+voice at that moment!  Have you forgot the last evening of our being
+together at Barton?  The morning that we parted too!  When he told me
+that it might be many weeks before we met again&mdash;his distress&mdash;can I
+ever forget his distress?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+For a moment or two she could say no more; but when this emotion had
+passed away, she added, in a firmer tone,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Elinor, I have been cruelly used; but not by Willoughby."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Dearest Marianne, who but himself?  By whom can he have been
+instigated?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"By all the world, rather than by his own heart.  I could rather
+believe every creature of my acquaintance leagued together to ruin me
+in his opinion, than believe his nature capable of such cruelty.  This
+woman of whom he writes&mdash;whoever she be&mdash;or any one, in short, but your
+own dear self, mama, and Edward, may have been so barbarous to bely me.
+Beyond you three, is there a creature in the world whom I would not
+rather suspect of evil than Willoughby, whose heart I know so well?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor would not contend, and only replied, "Whoever may have been so
+detestably your enemy, let them be cheated of their malignant triumph,
+my dear sister, by seeing how nobly the consciousness of your own
+innocence and good intentions supports your spirits.  It is a
+reasonable and laudable pride which resists such malevolence."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, no," cried Marianne, "misery such as mine has no pride.  I care
+not who knows that I am wretched.  The triumph of seeing me so may be
+open to all the world.  Elinor, Elinor, they who suffer little may be
+proud and independent as they like&mdash;may resist insult, or return
+mortification&mdash;but I cannot.  I must feel&mdash;I must be wretched&mdash;and they
+are welcome to enjoy the consciousness of it that can."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But for my mother's sake and mine&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I would do more than for my own.  But to appear happy when I am so
+miserable&mdash;Oh! who can require it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Again they were both silent.  Elinor was employed in walking
+thoughtfully from the fire to the window, from the window to the fire,
+without knowing that she received warmth from one, or discerning
+objects through the other; and Marianne, seated at the foot of the bed,
+with her head leaning against one of its posts, again took up
+Willoughby's letter, and, after shuddering over every sentence,
+exclaimed&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is too much! Oh, Willoughby, Willoughby, could this be yours!
+Cruel, cruel&mdash;nothing can acquit you.  Elinor, nothing can.  Whatever
+he might have heard against me&mdash;ought he not to have suspended his
+belief? ought he not to have told me of it, to have given me the power
+of clearing myself? 'The lock of hair, (repeating it from the letter,)
+which you so obligingly bestowed on me'&mdash;That is unpardonable.
+Willoughby, where was your heart when you wrote those words?  Oh,
+barbarously insolent!&mdash;Elinor, can he be justified?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, Marianne, in no possible way."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And yet this woman&mdash;who knows what her art may have been?&mdash;how long it
+may have been premeditated, and how deeply contrived by her!&mdash;Who is
+she?&mdash;Who can she be?&mdash;Whom did I ever hear him talk of as young and
+attractive among his female acquaintance?&mdash;Oh! no one, no one&mdash;he
+talked to me only of myself."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Another pause ensued; Marianne was greatly agitated, and it ended thus.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Elinor, I must go home.  I must go and comfort mama.  Can not we be
+gone to-morrow?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"To-morrow, Marianne!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, why should I stay here? I came only for Willoughby's sake&mdash;and
+now who cares for me? Who regards me?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It would be impossible to go to-morrow. We owe Mrs. Jennings much more
+than civility; and civility of the commonest kind must prevent such a
+hasty removal as that."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well then, another day or two, perhaps; but I cannot stay here long, I
+cannot stay to endure the questions and remarks of all these people.
+The Middletons and Palmers&mdash;how am I to bear their pity?  The pity of
+such a woman as Lady Middleton!  Oh, what would HE say to that!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor advised her to lie down again, and for a moment she did so; but
+no attitude could give her ease; and in restless pain of mind and body
+she moved from one posture to another, till growing more and more
+hysterical, her sister could with difficulty keep her on the bed at
+all, and for some time was fearful of being constrained to call for
+assistance.  Some lavender drops, however, which she was at length
+persuaded to take, were of use; and from that time till Mrs. Jennings
+returned, she continued on the bed quiet and motionless.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap30"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 30
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Jennings came immediately to their room on her return, and without
+waiting to have her request of admittance answered, opened the door and
+walked in with a look of real concern.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How do you do my dear?"&mdash;said she in a voice of great compassion to
+Marianne, who turned away her face without attempting to answer.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How is she, Miss Dashwood?&mdash;Poor thing! she looks very bad.&mdash; No
+wonder.  Ay, it is but too true.  He is to be married very soon&mdash;a
+good-for-nothing fellow!  I have no patience with him.  Mrs. Taylor
+told me of it half an hour ago, and she was told it by a particular
+friend of Miss Grey herself, else I am sure I should not have believed
+it; and I was almost ready to sink as it was.  Well, said I, all I can
+say is, that if this be true, he has used a young lady of my
+acquaintance abominably ill, and I wish with all my soul his wife may
+plague his heart out.  And so I shall always say, my dear, you may
+depend on it.  I have no notion of men's going on in this way; and if
+ever I meet him again, I will give him such a dressing as he has not
+had this many a day.  But there is one comfort, my dear Miss Marianne;
+he is not the only young man in the world worth having; and with your
+pretty face you will never want admirers.  Well, poor thing!  I won't
+disturb her any longer, for she had better have her cry out at once and
+have done with.  The Parrys and Sandersons luckily are coming tonight
+you know, and that will amuse her."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She then went away, walking on tiptoe out of the room, as if she
+supposed her young friend's affliction could be increased by noise.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne, to the surprise of her sister, determined on dining with
+them.  Elinor even advised her against it.  But "no, she would go down;
+she could bear it very well, and the bustle about her would be less."
+Elinor, pleased to have her governed for a moment by such a motive,
+though believing it hardly possible that she could sit out the dinner,
+said no more; and adjusting her dress for her as well as she could,
+while Marianne still remained on the bed, was ready to assist her into
+the dining room as soon as they were summoned to it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When there, though looking most wretchedly, she ate more and was calmer
+than her sister had expected.  Had she tried to speak, or had she been
+conscious of half Mrs. Jennings's well-meant but ill-judged attentions
+to her, this calmness could not have been maintained; but not a
+syllable escaped her lips; and the abstraction of her thoughts
+preserved her in ignorance of every thing that was passing before her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor, who did justice to Mrs. Jennings's kindness, though its
+effusions were often distressing, and sometimes almost ridiculous, made
+her those acknowledgments, and returned her those civilities, which her
+sister could not make or return for herself.  Their good friend saw
+that Marianne was unhappy, and felt that every thing was due to her
+which might make her at all less so.  She treated her therefore, with
+all the indulgent fondness of a parent towards a favourite child on the
+last day of its holidays.  Marianne was to have the best place by the
+fire, was to be tempted to eat by every delicacy in the house, and to
+be amused by the relation of all the news of the day.  Had not Elinor,
+in the sad countenance of her sister, seen a check to all mirth, she
+could have been entertained by Mrs. Jennings's endeavours to cure a
+disappointment in love, by a variety of sweetmeats and olives, and a
+good fire.  As soon, however, as the consciousness of all this was
+forced by continual repetition on Marianne, she could stay no longer.
+With a hasty exclamation of Misery, and a sign to her sister not to
+follow her, she directly got up and hurried out of the room.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Poor soul!" cried Mrs. Jennings, as soon as she was gone, "how it
+grieves me to see her!  And I declare if she is not gone away without
+finishing her wine!  And the dried cherries too!  Lord! nothing seems
+to do her any good.  I am sure if I knew of any thing she would like, I
+would send all over the town for it.  Well, it is the oddest thing to
+me, that a man should use such a pretty girl so ill!  But when there is
+plenty of money on one side, and next to none on the other, Lord bless
+you! they care no more about such things!&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The lady then&mdash;Miss Grey I think you called her&mdash;is very rich?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Fifty thousand pounds, my dear.  Did you ever see her? a smart,
+stylish girl they say, but not handsome.  I remember her aunt very
+well, Biddy Henshawe; she married a very wealthy man.  But the family
+are all rich together.  Fifty thousand pounds! and by all accounts, it
+won't come before it's wanted; for they say he is all to pieces.  No
+wonder! dashing about with his curricle and hunters!  Well, it don't
+signify talking; but when a young man, be who he will, comes and makes
+love to a pretty girl, and promises marriage, he has no business to fly
+off from his word only because he grows poor, and a richer girl is
+ready to have him.  Why don't he, in such a case, sell his horses, let
+his house, turn off his servants, and make a thorough reform at once? I
+warrant you, Miss Marianne would have been ready to wait till matters
+came round.  But that won't do now-a-days; nothing in the way of
+pleasure can ever be given up by the young men of this age."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Do you know what kind of a girl Miss Grey is?  Is she said to be
+amiable?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I never heard any harm of her; indeed I hardly ever heard her
+mentioned; except that Mrs. Taylor did say this morning, that one day
+Miss Walker hinted to her, that she believed Mr. and Mrs. Ellison would
+not be sorry to have Miss Grey married, for she and Mrs. Ellison could
+never agree."&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And who are the Ellisons?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Her guardians, my dear.  But now she is of age and may choose for
+herself; and a pretty choice she has made!&mdash;What now," after pausing a
+moment&mdash;"your poor sister is gone to her own room, I suppose, to moan
+by herself.  Is there nothing one can get to comfort her?  Poor dear,
+it seems quite cruel to let her be alone.  Well, by-and-by we shall
+have a few friends, and that will amuse her a little.  What shall we
+play at?  She hates whist I know; but is there no round game she cares
+for?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Dear ma'am, this kindness is quite unnecessary.  Marianne, I dare say,
+will not leave her room again this evening.  I shall persuade her if I
+can to go early to bed, for I am sure she wants rest."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Aye, I believe that will be best for her.  Let her name her own
+supper, and go to bed.  Lord! no wonder she has been looking so bad and
+so cast down this last week or two, for this matter I suppose has been
+hanging over her head as long as that.  And so the letter that came
+today finished it!  Poor soul!  I am sure if I had had a notion of it,
+I would not have joked her about it for all my money.  But then you
+know, how should I guess such a thing?  I made sure of its being
+nothing but a common love letter, and you know young people like to be
+laughed at about them.  Lord!  how concerned Sir John and my daughters
+will be when they hear it!  If I had my senses about me I might have
+called in Conduit Street in my way home, and told them of it.  But I
+shall see them tomorrow."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It would be unnecessary I am sure, for you to caution Mrs. Palmer and
+Sir John against ever naming Mr. Willoughby, or making the slightest
+allusion to what has passed, before my sister.  Their own good-nature
+must point out to them the real cruelty of appearing to know any thing
+about it when she is present; and the less that may ever be said to
+myself on the subject, the more my feelings will be spared, as you my
+dear madam will easily believe."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh! Lord! yes, that I do indeed.  It must be terrible for you to hear
+it talked of; and as for your sister, I am sure I would not mention a
+word about it to her for the world.  You saw I did not all dinner time.
+No more would Sir John, nor my daughters, for they are all very
+thoughtful and considerate; especially if I give them a hint, as I
+certainly will.  For my part, I think the less that is said about such
+things, the better, the sooner 'tis blown over and forgot.  And what
+does talking ever do you know?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"In this affair it can only do harm; more so perhaps than in many cases
+of a similar kind, for it has been attended by circumstances which, for
+the sake of every one concerned in it, make it unfit to become the
+public conversation.  I must do THIS justice to Mr. Willoughby&mdash;he has
+broken no positive engagement with my sister."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Law, my dear!  Don't pretend to defend him.  No positive engagement
+indeed! after taking her all over Allenham House, and fixing on the
+very rooms they were to live in hereafter!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor, for her sister's sake, could not press the subject farther, and
+she hoped it was not required of her for Willoughby's; since, though
+Marianne might lose much, he could gain very little by the enforcement
+of the real truth.  After a short silence on both sides, Mrs. Jennings,
+with all her natural hilarity, burst forth again.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, my dear, 'tis a true saying about an ill-wind, for it will be
+all the better for Colonel Brandon.  He will have her at last; aye,
+that he will.  Mind me, now, if they an't married by Mid-summer.  Lord!
+how he'll chuckle over this news!  I hope he will come tonight.  It
+will be all to one a better match for your sister.  Two thousand a year
+without debt or drawback&mdash;except the little love-child, indeed; aye, I
+had forgot her; but she may be 'prenticed out at a small cost, and then
+what does it signify?  Delaford is a nice place, I can tell you;
+exactly what I call a nice old fashioned place, full of comforts and
+conveniences; quite shut in with great garden walls that are covered
+with the best fruit-trees in the country; and such a mulberry tree in
+one corner!  Lord! how Charlotte and I did stuff the only time we were
+there!  Then, there is a dove-cote, some delightful stew-ponds, and a
+very pretty canal; and every thing, in short, that one could wish for;
+and, moreover, it is close to the church, and only a quarter of a mile
+from the turnpike-road, so 'tis never dull, for if you only go and sit
+up in an old yew arbour behind the house, you may see all the carriages
+that pass along.  Oh! 'tis a nice place!  A butcher hard by in the
+village, and the parsonage-house within a stone's throw.  To my fancy,
+a thousand times prettier than Barton Park, where they are forced to
+send three miles for their meat, and have not a neighbour nearer than
+your mother.  Well, I shall spirit up the Colonel as soon as I can.
+One shoulder of mutton, you know, drives another down.  If we CAN but
+put Willoughby out of her head!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ay, if we can do THAT, Ma'am," said Elinor, "we shall do very well
+with or without Colonel Brandon." And then rising, she went away to
+join Marianne, whom she found, as she expected, in her own room,
+leaning, in silent misery, over the small remains of a fire, which,
+till Elinor's entrance, had been her only light.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You had better leave me," was all the notice that her sister received
+from her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I will leave you," said Elinor, "if you will go to bed." But this,
+from the momentary perverseness of impatient suffering, she at first
+refused to do.  Her sister's earnest, though gentle persuasion,
+however, soon softened her to compliance, and Elinor saw her lay her
+aching head on the pillow, and as she hoped, in a way to get some quiet
+rest before she left her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In the drawing-room, whither she then repaired, she was soon joined by
+Mrs. Jennings, with a wine-glass, full of something, in her hand.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My dear," said she, entering, "I have just recollected that I have
+some of the finest old Constantia wine in the house that ever was
+tasted, so I have brought a glass of it for your sister.  My poor
+husband! how fond he was of it!  Whenever he had a touch of his old
+colicky gout, he said it did him more good than any thing else in the
+world.  Do take it to your sister."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Dear Ma'am," replied Elinor, smiling at the difference of the
+complaints for which it was recommended, "how good you are!  But I have
+just left Marianne in bed, and, I hope, almost asleep; and as I think
+nothing will be of so much service to her as rest, if you will give me
+leave, I will drink the wine myself."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Jennings, though regretting that she had not been five minutes
+earlier, was satisfied with the compromise; and Elinor, as she
+swallowed the chief of it, reflected, that though its effects on a
+colicky gout were, at present, of little importance to her, its healing
+powers, on a disappointed heart might be as reasonably tried on herself
+as on her sister.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Colonel Brandon came in while the party were at tea, and by his manner
+of looking round the room for Marianne, Elinor immediately fancied that
+he neither expected nor wished to see her there, and, in short, that he
+was already aware of what occasioned her absence.  Mrs. Jennings was
+not struck by the same thought; for soon after his entrance, she walked
+across the room to the tea-table where Elinor presided, and whispered&mdash;
+"The Colonel looks as grave as ever you see.  He knows nothing of it;
+do tell him, my dear."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He shortly afterwards drew a chair close to her's, and, with a look
+which perfectly assured her of his good information, inquired after her
+sister.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Marianne is not well," said she.  "She has been indisposed all day,
+and we have persuaded her to go to bed."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Perhaps, then," he hesitatingly replied, "what I heard this morning
+may be&mdash;there may be more truth in it than I could believe possible at
+first."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What did you hear?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That a gentleman, whom I had reason to think&mdash;in short, that a man,
+whom I KNEW to be engaged&mdash;but how shall I tell you?  If you know it
+already, as surely you must, I may be spared."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You mean," answered Elinor, with forced calmness, "Mr. Willoughby's
+marriage with Miss Grey.  Yes, we DO know it all.  This seems to have
+been a day of general elucidation, for this very morning first unfolded
+it to us.  Mr. Willoughby is unfathomable!  Where did you hear it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"In a stationer's shop in Pall Mall, where I had business.  Two ladies
+were waiting for their carriage, and one of them was giving the other
+an account of the intended match, in a voice so little attempting
+concealment, that it was impossible for me not to hear all.  The name
+of Willoughby, John Willoughby, frequently repeated, first caught my
+attention; and what followed was a positive assertion that every thing
+was now finally settled respecting his marriage with Miss Grey&mdash;it was
+no longer to be a secret&mdash;it would take place even within a few weeks,
+with many particulars of preparations and other matters.  One thing,
+especially, I remember, because it served to identify the man still
+more:&mdash;as soon as the ceremony was over, they were to go to Combe
+Magna, his seat in Somersetshire.  My astonishment!&mdash;but it would be
+impossible to describe what I felt.  The communicative lady I learnt,
+on inquiry, for I stayed in the shop till they were gone, was a Mrs.
+Ellison, and that, as I have been since informed, is the name of Miss
+Grey's guardian."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is.  But have you likewise heard that Miss Grey has fifty thousand
+pounds?  In that, if in any thing, we may find an explanation."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It may be so; but Willoughby is capable&mdash;at least I think"&mdash;he stopped
+a moment; then added in a voice which seemed to distrust itself, "And
+your sister&mdash;how did she&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Her sufferings have been very severe.  I have only to hope that they
+may be proportionately short.  It has been, it is a most cruel
+affliction.  Till yesterday, I believe, she never doubted his regard;
+and even now, perhaps&mdash;but I am almost convinced that he never was
+really attached to her.  He has been very deceitful! and, in some
+points, there seems a hardness of heart about him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ah!" said Colonel Brandon, "there is, indeed!  But your sister does
+not&mdash;I think you said so&mdash;she does not consider quite as you do?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You know her disposition, and may believe how eagerly she would still
+justify him if she could."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He made no answer; and soon afterwards, by the removal of the
+tea-things, and the arrangement of the card parties, the subject was
+necessarily dropped.  Mrs. Jennings, who had watched them with pleasure
+while they were talking, and who expected to see the effect of Miss
+Dashwood's communication, in such an instantaneous gaiety on Colonel
+Brandon's side, as might have become a man in the bloom of youth, of
+hope and happiness, saw him, with amazement, remain the whole evening
+more serious and thoughtful than usual.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap31"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 31
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+From a night of more sleep than she had expected, Marianne awoke the
+next morning to the same consciousness of misery in which she had
+closed her eyes.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor encouraged her as much as possible to talk of what she felt; and
+before breakfast was ready, they had gone through the subject again and
+again; and with the same steady conviction and affectionate counsel on
+Elinor's side, the same impetuous feelings and varying opinions on
+Marianne's, as before.  Sometimes she could believe Willoughby to be as
+unfortunate and as innocent as herself, and at others, lost every
+consolation in the impossibility of acquitting him.  At one moment she
+was absolutely indifferent to the observation of all the world, at
+another she would seclude herself from it for ever, and at a third
+could resist it with energy.  In one thing, however, she was uniform,
+when it came to the point, in avoiding, where it was possible, the
+presence of Mrs. Jennings, and in a determined silence when obliged to
+endure it.  Her heart was hardened against the belief of Mrs.
+Jennings's entering into her sorrows with any compassion.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, no, no, it cannot be," she cried; "she cannot feel.  Her kindness
+is not sympathy; her good-nature is not tenderness.  All that she wants
+is gossip, and she only likes me now because I supply it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor had not needed this to be assured of the injustice to which her
+sister was often led in her opinion of others, by the irritable
+refinement of her own mind, and the too great importance placed by her
+on the delicacies of a strong sensibility, and the graces of a polished
+manner.  Like half the rest of the world, if more than half there be
+that are clever and good, Marianne, with excellent abilities and an
+excellent disposition, was neither reasonable nor candid.  She expected
+from other people the same opinions and feelings as her own, and she
+judged of their motives by the immediate effect of their actions on
+herself.  Thus a circumstance occurred, while the sisters were together
+in their own room after breakfast, which sunk the heart of Mrs.
+Jennings still lower in her estimation; because, through her own
+weakness, it chanced to prove a source of fresh pain to herself, though
+Mrs. Jennings was governed in it by an impulse of the utmost goodwill.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+With a letter in her outstretched hand, and countenance gaily smiling,
+from the persuasion of bringing comfort, she entered their room, saying,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Now, my dear, I bring you something that I am sure will do you good."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne heard enough.  In one moment her imagination placed before her
+a letter from Willoughby, full of tenderness and contrition,
+explanatory of all that had passed, satisfactory, convincing; and
+instantly followed by Willoughby himself, rushing eagerly into the room
+to inforce, at her feet, by the eloquence of his eyes, the assurances
+of his letter.  The work of one moment was destroyed by the next.  The
+hand writing of her mother, never till then unwelcome, was before her;
+and, in the acuteness of the disappointment which followed such an
+ecstasy of more than hope, she felt as if, till that instant, she had
+never suffered.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The cruelty of Mrs. Jennings no language, within her reach in her
+moments of happiest eloquence, could have expressed; and now she could
+reproach her only by the tears which streamed from her eyes with
+passionate violence&mdash;a reproach, however, so entirely lost on its
+object, that after many expressions of pity, she withdrew, still
+referring her to the letter of comfort.  But the letter, when she was
+calm enough to read it, brought little comfort.  Willoughby filled
+every page.  Her mother, still confident of their engagement, and
+relying as warmly as ever on his constancy, had only been roused by
+Elinor's application, to intreat from Marianne greater openness towards
+them both; and this, with such tenderness towards her, such affection
+for Willoughby, and such a conviction of their future happiness in each
+other, that she wept with agony through the whole of it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+All her impatience to be at home again now returned; her mother was
+dearer to her than ever; dearer through the very excess of her mistaken
+confidence in Willoughby, and she was wildly urgent to be gone.
+Elinor, unable herself to determine whether it were better for Marianne
+to be in London or at Barton, offered no counsel of her own except of
+patience till their mother's wishes could be known; and at length she
+obtained her sister's consent to wait for that knowledge.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Jennings left them earlier than usual; for she could not be easy
+till the Middletons and Palmers were able to grieve as much as herself;
+and positively refusing Elinor's offered attendance, went out alone for
+the rest of the morning.  Elinor, with a very heavy heart, aware of the
+pain she was going to communicate, and perceiving, by Marianne's
+letter, how ill she had succeeded in laying any foundation for it, then
+sat down to write her mother an account of what had passed, and entreat
+her directions for the future; while Marianne, who came into the
+drawing-room on Mrs. Jennings's going away, remained fixed at the table
+where Elinor wrote, watching the advancement of her pen, grieving over
+her for the hardship of such a task, and grieving still more fondly
+over its effect on her mother.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In this manner they had continued about a quarter of an hour, when
+Marianne, whose nerves could not then bear any sudden noise, was
+startled by a rap at the door.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Who can this be?" cried Elinor.  "So early too! I thought we HAD been
+safe."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne moved to the window&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is Colonel Brandon!" said she, with vexation.  "We are never safe
+from HIM."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He will not come in, as Mrs. Jennings is from home."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I will not trust to THAT," retreating to her own room.  "A man who has
+nothing to do with his own time has no conscience in his intrusion on
+that of others."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The event proved her conjecture right, though it was founded on
+injustice and error; for Colonel Brandon DID come in; and Elinor, who
+was convinced that solicitude for Marianne brought him thither, and who
+saw THAT solicitude in his disturbed and melancholy look, and in his
+anxious though brief inquiry after her, could not forgive her sister
+for esteeming him so lightly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I met Mrs. Jennings in Bond Street," said he, after the first
+salutation, "and she encouraged me to come on; and I was the more
+easily encouraged, because I thought it probable that I might find you
+alone, which I was very desirous of doing.  My object&mdash;my wish&mdash;my sole
+wish in desiring it&mdash;I hope, I believe it is&mdash;is to be a means of
+giving comfort;&mdash;no, I must not say comfort&mdash;not present comfort&mdash;but
+conviction, lasting conviction to your sister's mind.  My regard for
+her, for yourself, for your mother&mdash;will you allow me to prove it, by
+relating some circumstances which nothing but a VERY sincere
+regard&mdash;nothing but an earnest desire of being useful&mdash;I think I am
+justified&mdash;though where so many hours have been spent in convincing
+myself that I am right, is there not some reason to fear I may be
+wrong?" He stopped.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I understand you," said Elinor.  "You have something to tell me of Mr.
+Willoughby, that will open his character farther.  Your telling it will
+be the greatest act of friendship that can be shewn Marianne.  MY
+gratitude will be insured immediately by any information tending to
+that end, and HERS must be gained by it in time.  Pray, pray let me
+hear it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You shall; and, to be brief, when I quitted Barton last October,&mdash;but
+this will give you no idea&mdash;I must go farther back.  You will find me a
+very awkward narrator, Miss Dashwood; I hardly know where to begin.  A
+short account of myself, I believe, will be necessary, and it SHALL be
+a short one.  On such a subject," sighing heavily, "can I have little
+temptation to be diffuse."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He stopt a moment for recollection, and then, with another sigh, went
+on.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You have probably entirely forgotten a conversation&mdash;(it is not to be
+supposed that it could make any impression on you)&mdash;a conversation
+between us one evening at Barton Park&mdash;it was the evening of a
+dance&mdash;in which I alluded to a lady I had once known, as resembling, in
+some measure, your sister Marianne."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Indeed," answered Elinor, "I have NOT forgotten it." He looked pleased
+by this remembrance, and added,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If I am not deceived by the uncertainty, the partiality of tender
+recollection, there is a very strong resemblance between them, as well
+in mind as person.  The same warmth of heart, the same eagerness of
+fancy and spirits.  This lady was one of my nearest relations, an
+orphan from her infancy, and under the guardianship of my father.  Our
+ages were nearly the same, and from our earliest years we were
+playfellows and friends.  I cannot remember the time when I did not
+love Eliza; and my affection for her, as we grew up, was such, as
+perhaps, judging from my present forlorn and cheerless gravity, you
+might think me incapable of having ever felt.  Her's, for me, was, I
+believe, fervent as the attachment of your sister to Mr. Willoughby and
+it was, though from a different cause, no less unfortunate.  At
+seventeen she was lost to me for ever.  She was married&mdash;married
+against her inclination to my brother.  Her fortune was large, and our
+family estate much encumbered.  And this, I fear, is all that can be
+said for the conduct of one, who was at once her uncle and guardian.
+My brother did not deserve her; he did not even love her.  I had hoped
+that her regard for me would support her under any difficulty, and for
+some time it did; but at last the misery of her situation, for she
+experienced great unkindness, overcame all her resolution, and though
+she had promised me that nothing&mdash;but how blindly I relate!  I have
+never told you how this was brought on.  We were within a few hours of
+eloping together for Scotland.  The treachery, or the folly, of my
+cousin's maid betrayed us.  I was banished to the house of a relation
+far distant, and she was allowed no liberty, no society, no amusement,
+till my father's point was gained.  I had depended on her fortitude too
+far, and the blow was a severe one&mdash;but had her marriage been happy, so
+young as I then was, a few months must have reconciled me to it, or at
+least I should not have now to lament it.  This however was not the
+case.  My brother had no regard for her; his pleasures were not what
+they ought to have been, and from the first he treated her unkindly.
+The consequence of this, upon a mind so young, so lively, so
+inexperienced as Mrs. Brandon's, was but too natural.  She resigned
+herself at first to all the misery of her situation; and happy had it
+been if she had not lived to overcome those regrets which the
+remembrance of me occasioned.  But can we wonder that, with such a
+husband to provoke inconstancy, and without a friend to advise or
+restrain her (for my father lived only a few months after their
+marriage, and I was with my regiment in the East Indies) she should
+fall?  Had I remained in England, perhaps&mdash;but I meant to promote the
+happiness of both by removing from her for years, and for that purpose
+had procured my exchange.  The shock which her marriage had given me,"
+he continued, in a voice of great agitation, "was of trifling
+weight&mdash;was nothing to what I felt when I heard, about two years
+afterwards, of her divorce.  It was THAT which threw this gloom,&mdash;even
+now the recollection of what I suffered&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He could say no more, and rising hastily walked for a few minutes about
+the room.  Elinor, affected by his relation, and still more by his
+distress, could not speak.  He saw her concern, and coming to her, took
+her hand, pressed it, and kissed it with grateful respect.  A few
+minutes more of silent exertion enabled him to proceed with composure.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It was nearly three years after this unhappy period before I returned
+to England.  My first care, when I DID arrive, was of course to seek
+for her; but the search was as fruitless as it was melancholy.  I could
+not trace her beyond her first seducer, and there was every reason to
+fear that she had removed from him only to sink deeper in a life of
+sin.  Her legal allowance was not adequate to her fortune, nor
+sufficient for her comfortable maintenance, and I learnt from my
+brother that the power of receiving it had been made over some months
+before to another person.  He imagined, and calmly could he imagine it,
+that her extravagance, and consequent distress, had obliged her to
+dispose of it for some immediate relief.  At last, however, and after I
+had been six months in England, I DID find her.  Regard for a former
+servant of my own, who had since fallen into misfortune, carried me to
+visit him in a spunging-house, where he was confined for debt; and
+there, the same house, under a similar confinement, was my unfortunate
+sister.  So altered&mdash;so faded&mdash;worn down by acute suffering of every
+kind! hardly could I believe the melancholy and sickly figure before
+me, to be the remains of the lovely, blooming, healthful girl, on whom
+I had once doted.  What I endured in so beholding her&mdash;but I have no
+right to wound your feelings by attempting to describe it&mdash;I have
+pained you too much already.  That she was, to all appearance, in the
+last stage of a consumption, was&mdash;yes, in such a situation it was my
+greatest comfort.  Life could do nothing for her, beyond giving time
+for a better preparation for death; and that was given.  I saw her
+placed in comfortable lodgings, and under proper attendants; I visited
+her every day during the rest of her short life: I was with her in her
+last moments."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Again he stopped to recover himself; and Elinor spoke her feelings in
+an exclamation of tender concern, at the fate of his unfortunate friend.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Your sister, I hope, cannot be offended," said he, "by the resemblance
+I have fancied between her and my poor disgraced relation.  Their
+fates, their fortunes, cannot be the same; and had the natural sweet
+disposition of the one been guarded by a firmer mind, or a happier
+marriage, she might have been all that you will live to see the other
+be.  But to what does all this lead?  I seem to have been distressing
+you for nothing.  Ah! Miss Dashwood&mdash;a subject such as this&mdash;untouched
+for fourteen years&mdash;it is dangerous to handle it at all!  I WILL be
+more collected&mdash;more concise.  She left to my care her only child, a
+little girl, the offspring of her first guilty connection, who was then
+about three years old.  She loved the child, and had always kept it
+with her.  It was a valued, a precious trust to me; and gladly would I
+have discharged it in the strictest sense, by watching over her
+education myself, had the nature of our situations allowed it; but I
+had no family, no home; and my little Eliza was therefore placed at
+school.  I saw her there whenever I could, and after the death of my
+brother, (which happened about five years ago, and which left to me the
+possession of the family property,) she visited me at Delaford.  I
+called her a distant relation; but I am well aware that I have in
+general been suspected of a much nearer connection with her.  It is now
+three years ago (she had just reached her fourteenth year,) that I
+removed her from school, to place her under the care of a very
+respectable woman, residing in Dorsetshire, who had the charge of four
+or five other girls of about the same time of life; and for two years I
+had every reason to be pleased with her situation.  But last February,
+almost a twelvemonth back, she suddenly disappeared.  I had allowed
+her, (imprudently, as it has since turned out,) at her earnest desire,
+to go to Bath with one of her young friends, who was attending her
+father there for his health.  I knew him to be a very good sort of man,
+and I thought well of his daughter&mdash;better than she deserved, for, with
+a most obstinate and ill-judged secrecy, she would tell nothing, would
+give no clue, though she certainly knew all.  He, her father, a
+well-meaning, but not a quick-sighted man, could really, I believe,
+give no information; for he had been generally confined to the house,
+while the girls were ranging over the town and making what acquaintance
+they chose; and he tried to convince me, as thoroughly as he was
+convinced himself, of his daughter's being entirely unconcerned in the
+business.  In short, I could learn nothing but that she was gone; all
+the rest, for eight long months, was left to conjecture.  What I
+thought, what I feared, may be imagined; and what I suffered too."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Good heavens!" cried Elinor, "could it be&mdash;could Willoughby!"&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The first news that reached me of her," he continued, "came in a
+letter from herself, last October.  It was forwarded to me from
+Delaford, and I received it on the very morning of our intended party
+to Whitwell; and this was the reason of my leaving Barton so suddenly,
+which I am sure must at the time have appeared strange to every body,
+and which I believe gave offence to some.  Little did Mr. Willoughby
+imagine, I suppose, when his looks censured me for incivility in
+breaking up the party, that I was called away to the relief of one whom
+he had made poor and miserable; but HAD he known it, what would it have
+availed?  Would he have been less gay or less happy in the smiles of
+your sister?  No, he had already done that, which no man who CAN feel
+for another would do.  He had left the girl whose youth and innocence
+he had seduced, in a situation of the utmost distress, with no
+creditable home, no help, no friends, ignorant of his address!  He had
+left her, promising to return; he neither returned, nor wrote, nor
+relieved her."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"This is beyond every thing!" exclaimed Elinor.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"His character is now before you; expensive, dissipated, and worse than
+both.  Knowing all this, as I have now known it many weeks, guess what
+I must have felt on seeing your sister as fond of him as ever, and on
+being assured that she was to marry him: guess what I must have felt
+for all your sakes.  When I came to you last week and found you alone,
+I came determined to know the truth; though irresolute what to do when
+it WAS known.  My behaviour must have seemed strange to you then; but
+now you will comprehend it.  To suffer you all to be so deceived; to
+see your sister&mdash;but what could I do?  I had no hope of interfering
+with success; and sometimes I thought your sister's influence might yet
+reclaim him.  But now, after such dishonorable usage, who can tell what
+were his designs on her.  Whatever they may have been, however, she may
+now, and hereafter doubtless WILL turn with gratitude towards her own
+condition, when she compares it with that of my poor Eliza, when she
+considers the wretched and hopeless situation of this poor girl, and
+pictures her to herself, with an affection for him so strong, still as
+strong as her own, and with a mind tormented by self-reproach, which
+must attend her through life.  Surely this comparison must have its use
+with her.  She will feel her own sufferings to be nothing.  They
+proceed from no misconduct, and can bring no disgrace.  On the
+contrary, every friend must be made still more her friend by them.
+Concern for her unhappiness, and respect for her fortitude under it,
+must strengthen every attachment.  Use your own discretion, however, in
+communicating to her what I have told you.  You must know best what
+will be its effect; but had I not seriously, and from my heart believed
+it might be of service, might lessen her regrets, I would not have
+suffered myself to trouble you with this account of my family
+afflictions, with a recital which may seem to have been intended to
+raise myself at the expense of others."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor's thanks followed this speech with grateful earnestness;
+attended too with the assurance of her expecting material advantage to
+Marianne, from the communication of what had passed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have been more pained," said she, "by her endeavors to acquit him
+than by all the rest; for it irritates her mind more than the most
+perfect conviction of his unworthiness can do.  Now, though at first
+she will suffer much, I am sure she will soon become easier.  Have
+you," she continued, after a short silence, "ever seen Mr. Willoughby
+since you left him at Barton?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes," he replied gravely, "once I have.  One meeting was unavoidable."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor, startled by his manner, looked at him anxiously, saying,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What? have you met him to&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I could meet him no other way.  Eliza had confessed to me, though most
+reluctantly, the name of her lover; and when he returned to town, which
+was within a fortnight after myself, we met by appointment, he to
+defend, I to punish his conduct.  We returned unwounded, and the
+meeting, therefore, never got abroad."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor sighed over the fancied necessity of this; but to a man and a
+soldier she presumed not to censure it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Such," said Colonel Brandon, after a pause, "has been the unhappy
+resemblance between the fate of mother and daughter! and so imperfectly
+have I discharged my trust!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is she still in town?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No; as soon as she recovered from her lying-in, for I found her near
+her delivery, I removed her and her child into the country, and there
+she remains."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Recollecting, soon afterwards, that he was probably dividing Elinor
+from her sister, he put an end to his visit, receiving from her again
+the same grateful acknowledgments, and leaving her full of compassion
+and esteem for him.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap32"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 32
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+When the particulars of this conversation were repeated by Miss
+Dashwood to her sister, as they very soon were, the effect on her was
+not entirely such as the former had hoped to see.  Not that Marianne
+appeared to distrust the truth of any part of it, for she listened to
+it all with the most steady and submissive attention, made neither
+objection nor remark, attempted no vindication of Willoughby, and
+seemed to shew by her tears that she felt it to be impossible.  But
+though this behaviour assured Elinor that the conviction of this guilt
+WAS carried home to her mind, though she saw with satisfaction the
+effect of it, in her no longer avoiding Colonel Brandon when he called,
+in her speaking to him, even voluntarily speaking, with a kind of
+compassionate respect, and though she saw her spirits less violently
+irritated than before, she did not see her less wretched.  Her mind did
+become settled, but it was settled in a gloomy dejection.  She felt the
+loss of Willoughby's character yet more heavily than she had felt the
+loss of his heart; his seduction and desertion of Miss Williams, the
+misery of that poor girl, and the doubt of what his designs might ONCE
+have been on herself, preyed altogether so much on her spirits, that
+she could not bring herself to speak of what she felt even to Elinor;
+and, brooding over her sorrows in silence, gave more pain to her sister
+than could have been communicated by the most open and most frequent
+confession of them.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+To give the feelings or the language of Mrs. Dashwood on receiving and
+answering Elinor's letter would be only to give a repetition of what
+her daughters had already felt and said; of a disappointment hardly
+less painful than Marianne's, and an indignation even greater than
+Elinor's.  Long letters from her, quickly succeeding each other,
+arrived to tell all that she suffered and thought; to express her
+anxious solicitude for Marianne, and entreat she would bear up with
+fortitude under this misfortune.  Bad indeed must the nature of
+Marianne's affliction be, when her mother could talk of fortitude!
+mortifying and humiliating must be the origin of those regrets, which
+SHE could wish her not to indulge!
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Against the interest of her own individual comfort, Mrs. Dashwood had
+determined that it would be better for Marianne to be any where, at
+that time, than at Barton, where every thing within her view would be
+bringing back the past in the strongest and most afflicting manner, by
+constantly placing Willoughby before her, such as she had always seen
+him there.  She recommended it to her daughters, therefore, by all
+means not to shorten their visit to Mrs. Jennings; the length of which,
+though never exactly fixed, had been expected by all to comprise at
+least five or six weeks.  A variety of occupations, of objects, and of
+company, which could not be procured at Barton, would be inevitable
+there, and might yet, she hoped, cheat Marianne, at times, into some
+interest beyond herself, and even into some amusement, much as the
+ideas of both might now be spurned by her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+From all danger of seeing Willoughby again, her mother considered her
+to be at least equally safe in town as in the country, since his
+acquaintance must now be dropped by all who called themselves her
+friends.  Design could never bring them in each other's way: negligence
+could never leave them exposed to a surprise; and chance had less in
+its favour in the crowd of London than even in the retirement of
+Barton, where it might force him before her while paying that visit at
+Allenham on his marriage, which Mrs. Dashwood, from foreseeing at first
+as a probable event, had brought herself to expect as a certain one.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She had yet another reason for wishing her children to remain where
+they were; a letter from her son-in-law had told her that he and his
+wife were to be in town before the middle of February, and she judged
+it right that they should sometimes see their brother.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne had promised to be guided by her mother's opinion, and she
+submitted to it therefore without opposition, though it proved
+perfectly different from what she wished and expected, though she felt
+it to be entirely wrong, formed on mistaken grounds, and that by
+requiring her longer continuance in London it deprived her of the only
+possible alleviation of her wretchedness, the personal sympathy of her
+mother, and doomed her to such society and such scenes as must prevent
+her ever knowing a moment's rest.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But it was a matter of great consolation to her, that what brought evil
+to herself would bring good to her sister; and Elinor, on the other
+hand, suspecting that it would not be in her power to avoid Edward
+entirely, comforted herself by thinking, that though their longer stay
+would therefore militate against her own happiness, it would be better
+for Marianne than an immediate return into Devonshire.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Her carefulness in guarding her sister from ever hearing Willoughby's
+name mentioned, was not thrown away.  Marianne, though without knowing
+it herself, reaped all its advantage; for neither Mrs. Jennings, nor
+Sir John, nor even Mrs. Palmer herself, ever spoke of him before her.
+Elinor wished that the same forbearance could have extended towards
+herself, but that was impossible, and she was obliged to listen day
+after day to the indignation of them all.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Sir John, could not have thought it possible.  "A man of whom he had
+always had such reason to think well!  Such a good-natured fellow!  He
+did not believe there was a bolder rider in England!  It was an
+unaccountable business.  He wished him at the devil with all his heart.
+He would not speak another word to him, meet him where he might, for
+all the world!  No, not if it were to be by the side of Barton covert,
+and they were kept watching for two hours together.  Such a scoundrel
+of a fellow! such a deceitful dog!  It was only the last time they met
+that he had offered him one of Folly's puppies! and this was the end of
+it!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Palmer, in her way, was equally angry.  "She was determined to
+drop his acquaintance immediately, and she was very thankful that she
+had never been acquainted with him at all.  She wished with all her
+heart Combe Magna was not so near Cleveland; but it did not signify,
+for it was a great deal too far off to visit; she hated him so much
+that she was resolved never to mention his name again, and she should
+tell everybody she saw, how good-for-nothing he was."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The rest of Mrs. Palmer's sympathy was shewn in procuring all the
+particulars in her power of the approaching marriage, and communicating
+them to Elinor.  She could soon tell at what coachmaker's the new
+carriage was building, by what painter Mr. Willoughby's portrait was
+drawn, and at what warehouse Miss Grey's clothes might be seen.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The calm and polite unconcern of Lady Middleton on the occasion was a
+happy relief to Elinor's spirits, oppressed as they often were by the
+clamorous kindness of the others.  It was a great comfort to her to be
+sure of exciting no interest in ONE person at least among their circle
+of friends: a great comfort to know that there was ONE who would meet
+her without feeling any curiosity after particulars, or any anxiety for
+her sister's health.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Every qualification is raised at times, by the circumstances of the
+moment, to more than its real value; and she was sometimes worried down
+by officious condolence to rate good-breeding as more indispensable to
+comfort than good-nature.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Lady Middleton expressed her sense of the affair about once every day,
+or twice, if the subject occurred very often, by saying, "It is very
+shocking, indeed!" and by the means of this continual though gentle
+vent, was able not only to see the Miss Dashwoods from the first
+without the smallest emotion, but very soon to see them without
+recollecting a word of the matter; and having thus supported the
+dignity of her own sex, and spoken her decided censure of what was
+wrong in the other, she thought herself at liberty to attend to the
+interest of her own assemblies, and therefore determined (though rather
+against the opinion of Sir John) that as Mrs. Willoughby would at once
+be a woman of elegance and fortune, to leave her card with her as soon
+as she married.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Colonel Brandon's delicate, unobtrusive enquiries were never unwelcome
+to Miss Dashwood.  He had abundantly earned the privilege of intimate
+discussion of her sister's disappointment, by the friendly zeal with
+which he had endeavoured to soften it, and they always conversed with
+confidence.  His chief reward for the painful exertion of disclosing
+past sorrows and present humiliations, was given in the pitying eye
+with which Marianne sometimes observed him, and the gentleness of her
+voice whenever (though it did not often happen) she was obliged, or
+could oblige herself to speak to him.  THESE assured him that his
+exertion had produced an increase of good-will towards himself, and
+THESE gave Elinor hopes of its being farther augmented hereafter; but
+Mrs. Jennings, who knew nothing of all this, who knew only that the
+Colonel continued as grave as ever, and that she could neither prevail
+on him to make the offer himself, nor commission her to make it for
+him, began, at the end of two days, to think that, instead of
+Midsummer, they would not be married till Michaelmas, and by the end of
+a week that it would not be a match at all.  The good understanding
+between the Colonel and Miss Dashwood seemed rather to declare that the
+honours of the mulberry-tree, the canal, and the yew arbour, would all
+be made over to HER; and Mrs. Jennings had, for some time ceased to
+think at all of Mrs. Ferrars.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Early in February, within a fortnight from the receipt of Willoughby's
+letter, Elinor had the painful office of informing her sister that he
+was married.  She had taken care to have the intelligence conveyed to
+herself, as soon as it was known that the ceremony was over, as she was
+desirous that Marianne should not receive the first notice of it from
+the public papers, which she saw her eagerly examining every morning.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She received the news with resolute composure; made no observation on
+it, and at first shed no tears; but after a short time they would burst
+out, and for the rest of the day, she was in a state hardly less
+pitiable than when she first learnt to expect the event.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The Willoughbys left town as soon as they were married; and Elinor now
+hoped, as there could be no danger of her seeing either of them, to
+prevail on her sister, who had never yet left the house since the blow
+first fell, to go out again by degrees as she had done before.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+About this time the two Miss Steeles, lately arrived at their cousin's
+house in Bartlett's Buildings, Holburn, presented themselves again
+before their more grand relations in Conduit and Berkeley Streets; and
+were welcomed by them all with great cordiality.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor only was sorry to see them.  Their presence always gave her
+pain, and she hardly knew how to make a very gracious return to the
+overpowering delight of Lucy in finding her STILL in town.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I should have been quite disappointed if I had not found you here
+STILL," said she repeatedly, with a strong emphasis on the word.  "But
+I always thought I SHOULD.  I was almost sure you would not leave
+London yet awhile; though you TOLD me, you know, at Barton, that you
+should not stay above a MONTH.  But I thought, at the time, that you
+would most likely change your mind when it came to the point.  It would
+have been such a great pity to have went away before your brother and
+sister came.  And now to be sure you will be in no hurry to be gone.  I
+am amazingly glad you did not keep to YOUR WORD."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor perfectly understood her, and was forced to use all her
+self-command to make it appear that she did NOT.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, my dear," said Mrs. Jennings, "and how did you travel?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not in the stage, I assure you," replied Miss Steele, with quick
+exultation; "we came post all the way, and had a very smart beau to
+attend us.  Dr. Davies was coming to town, and so we thought we'd join
+him in a post-chaise; and he behaved very genteelly, and paid ten or
+twelve shillings more than we did."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, oh!" cried Mrs. Jennings; "very pretty, indeed! and the Doctor is
+a single man, I warrant you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"There now," said Miss Steele, affectedly simpering, "everybody laughs
+at me so about the Doctor, and I cannot think why.  My cousins say they
+are sure I have made a conquest; but for my part I declare I never
+think about him from one hour's end to another.  'Lord! here comes your
+beau, Nancy,' my cousin said t'other day, when she saw him crossing the
+street to the house.  My beau, indeed! said I&mdash;I cannot think who you
+mean.  The Doctor is no beau of mine."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Aye, aye, that is very pretty talking&mdash;but it won't do&mdash;the Doctor is
+the man, I see."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, indeed!" replied her cousin, with affected earnestness, "and I beg
+you will contradict it, if you ever hear it talked of."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Jennings directly gave her the gratifying assurance that she
+certainly would NOT, and Miss Steele was made completely happy.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I suppose you will go and stay with your brother and sister, Miss
+Dashwood, when they come to town," said Lucy, returning, after a
+cessation of hostile hints, to the charge.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, I do not think we shall."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, yes, I dare say you will."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor would not humour her by farther opposition.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What a charming thing it is that Mrs. Dashwood can spare you both for
+so long a time together!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Long a time, indeed!" interposed Mrs. Jennings.  "Why, their visit is
+but just begun!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Lucy was silenced.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am sorry we cannot see your sister, Miss Dashwood," said Miss
+Steele.  "I am sorry she is not well&mdash;" for Marianne had left the room
+on their arrival.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You are very good.  My sister will be equally sorry to miss the
+pleasure of seeing you; but she has been very much plagued lately with
+nervous head-aches, which make her unfit for company or conversation."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, dear, that is a great pity! but such old friends as Lucy and
+me!&mdash;I think she might see US; and I am sure we would not speak a word."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor, with great civility, declined the proposal.  Her sister was
+perhaps laid down upon the bed, or in her dressing gown, and therefore
+not able to come to them.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, if that's all," cried Miss Steele, "we can just as well go and see
+HER."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor began to find this impertinence too much for her temper; but she
+was saved the trouble of checking it, by Lucy's sharp reprimand, which
+now, as on many occasions, though it did not give much sweetness to the
+manners of one sister, was of advantage in governing those of the other.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap33"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 33
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+After some opposition, Marianne yielded to her sister's entreaties, and
+consented to go out with her and Mrs. Jennings one morning for half an
+hour. She expressly conditioned, however, for paying no visits, and
+would do no more than accompany them to Gray's in Sackville Street,
+where Elinor was carrying on a negotiation for the exchange of a few
+old-fashioned jewels of her mother.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When they stopped at the door, Mrs. Jennings recollected that there was
+a lady at the other end of the street on whom she ought to call; and as
+she had no business at Gray's, it was resolved, that while her young
+friends transacted their's, she should pay her visit and return for
+them.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+On ascending the stairs, the Miss Dashwoods found so many people before
+them in the room, that there was not a person at liberty to tend to
+their orders; and they were obliged to wait.  All that could be done
+was, to sit down at that end of the counter which seemed to promise the
+quickest succession; one gentleman only was standing there, and it is
+probable that Elinor was not without hope of exciting his politeness to
+a quicker despatch.  But the correctness of his eye, and the delicacy
+of his taste, proved to be beyond his politeness.  He was giving orders
+for a toothpick-case for himself, and till its size, shape, and
+ornaments were determined, all of which, after examining and debating
+for a quarter of an hour over every toothpick-case in the shop, were
+finally arranged by his own inventive fancy, he had no leisure to
+bestow any other attention on the two ladies, than what was comprised
+in three or four very broad stares; a kind of notice which served to
+imprint on Elinor the remembrance of a person and face, of strong,
+natural, sterling insignificance, though adorned in the first style of
+fashion.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne was spared from the troublesome feelings of contempt and
+resentment, on this impertinent examination of their features, and on
+the puppyism of his manner in deciding on all the different horrors of
+the different toothpick-cases presented to his inspection, by remaining
+unconscious of it all; for she was as well able to collect her thoughts
+within herself, and be as ignorant of what was passing around her, in
+Mr. Gray's shop, as in her own bedroom.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At last the affair was decided.  The ivory, the gold, and the pearls,
+all received their appointment, and the gentleman having named the last
+day on which his existence could be continued without the possession of
+the toothpick-case, drew on his gloves with leisurely care, and
+bestowing another glance on the Miss Dashwoods, but such a one as
+seemed rather to demand than express admiration, walked off with a
+happy air of real conceit and affected indifference.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor lost no time in bringing her business forward, was on the point
+of concluding it, when another gentleman presented himself at her side.
+She turned her eyes towards his face, and found him with some surprise
+to be her brother.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Their affection and pleasure in meeting was just enough to make a very
+creditable appearance in Mr. Gray's shop.  John Dashwood was really far
+from being sorry to see his sisters again; it rather gave them
+satisfaction; and his inquiries after their mother were respectful and
+attentive.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor found that he and Fanny had been in town two days.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I wished very much to call upon you yesterday," said he, "but it was
+impossible, for we were obliged to take Harry to see the wild beasts at
+Exeter Exchange; and we spent the rest of the day with Mrs. Ferrars.
+Harry was vastly pleased.  THIS morning I had fully intended to call on
+you, if I could possibly find a spare half hour, but one has always so
+much to do on first coming to town.  I am come here to bespeak Fanny a
+seal.  But tomorrow I think I shall certainly be able to call in
+Berkeley Street, and be introduced to your friend Mrs. Jennings.  I
+understand she is a woman of very good fortune.  And the Middletons
+too, you must introduce me to THEM.  As my mother-in-law's relations, I
+shall be happy to show them every respect.  They are excellent
+neighbours to you in the country, I understand."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Excellent indeed.  Their attention to our comfort, their friendliness
+in every particular, is more than I can express."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am extremely glad to hear it, upon my word; extremely glad indeed.
+But so it ought to be; they are people of large fortune, they are
+related to you, and every civility and accommodation that can serve to
+make your situation pleasant might be reasonably expected.  And so you
+are most comfortably settled in your little cottage and want for
+nothing!  Edward brought us a most charming account of the place: the
+most complete thing of its kind, he said, that ever was, and you all
+seemed to enjoy it beyond any thing.  It was a great satisfaction to us
+to hear it, I assure you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor did feel a little ashamed of her brother; and was not sorry to
+be spared the necessity of answering him, by the arrival of Mrs.
+Jennings's servant, who came to tell her that his mistress waited for
+them at the door.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mr. Dashwood attended them down stairs, was introduced to Mrs. Jennings
+at the door of her carriage, and repeating his hope of being able to
+call on them the next day, took leave.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+His visit was duly paid.  He came with a pretence at an apology from
+their sister-in-law, for not coming too; "but she was so much engaged
+with her mother, that really she had no leisure for going any where."
+Mrs. Jennings, however, assured him directly, that she should not stand
+upon ceremony, for they were all cousins, or something like it, and she
+should certainly wait on Mrs. John Dashwood very soon, and bring her
+sisters to see her.  His manners to THEM, though calm, were perfectly
+kind; to Mrs. Jennings, most attentively civil; and on Colonel
+Brandon's coming in soon after himself, he eyed him with a curiosity
+which seemed to say, that he only wanted to know him to be rich, to be
+equally civil to HIM.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+After staying with them half an hour, he asked Elinor to walk with him
+to Conduit Street, and introduce him to Sir John and Lady Middleton.
+The weather was remarkably fine, and she readily consented.  As soon as
+they were out of the house, his enquiries began.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Who is Colonel Brandon?  Is he a man of fortune?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes; he has very good property in Dorsetshire."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am glad of it.  He seems a most gentlemanlike man; and I think,
+Elinor, I may congratulate you on the prospect of a very respectable
+establishment in life."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Me, brother! what do you mean?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He likes you.  I observed him narrowly, and am convinced of it.  What
+is the amount of his fortune?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I believe about two thousand a year."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Two thousand a-year;" and then working himself up to a pitch of
+enthusiastic generosity, he added, "Elinor, I wish with all my heart it
+were TWICE as much, for your sake."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Indeed I believe you," replied Elinor; "but I am very sure that
+Colonel Brandon has not the smallest wish of marrying ME."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You are mistaken, Elinor; you are very much mistaken.  A very little
+trouble on your side secures him.  Perhaps just at present he may be
+undecided; the smallness of your fortune may make him hang back; his
+friends may all advise him against it.  But some of those little
+attentions and encouragements which ladies can so easily give will fix
+him, in spite of himself.  And there can be no reason why you should
+not try for him.  It is not to be supposed that any prior attachment on
+your side&mdash;in short, you know as to an attachment of that kind, it is
+quite out of the question, the objections are insurmountable&mdash;you have
+too much sense not to see all that.  Colonel Brandon must be the man;
+and no civility shall be wanting on my part to make him pleased with
+you and your family.  It is a match that must give universal
+satisfaction.  In short, it is a kind of thing that"&mdash;lowering his
+voice to an important whisper&mdash;"will be exceedingly welcome to ALL
+PARTIES." Recollecting himself, however, he added, "That is, I mean to
+say&mdash;your friends are all truly anxious to see you well settled; Fanny
+particularly, for she has your interest very much at heart, I assure
+you.  And her mother too, Mrs. Ferrars, a very good-natured woman, I am
+sure it would give her great pleasure; she said as much the other day."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor would not vouchsafe any answer.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It would be something remarkable, now," he continued, "something
+droll, if Fanny should have a brother and I a sister settling at the
+same time.  And yet it is not very unlikely."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is Mr. Edward Ferrars," said Elinor, with resolution, "going to be
+married?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is not actually settled, but there is such a thing in agitation.
+He has a most excellent mother.  Mrs. Ferrars, with the utmost
+liberality, will come forward, and settle on him a thousand a year, if
+the match takes place.  The lady is the Hon. Miss Morton, only daughter
+of the late Lord Morton, with thirty thousand pounds.  A very desirable
+connection on both sides, and I have not a doubt of its taking place in
+time.  A thousand a-year is a great deal for a mother to give away, to
+make over for ever; but Mrs. Ferrars has a noble spirit.  To give you
+another instance of her liberality:&mdash;The other day, as soon as we came
+to town, aware that money could not be very plenty with us just now,
+she put bank-notes into Fanny's hands to the amount of two hundred
+pounds.  And extremely acceptable it is, for we must live at a great
+expense while we are here."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He paused for her assent and compassion; and she forced herself to say,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Your expenses both in town and country must certainly be considerable;
+but your income is a large one."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not so large, I dare say, as many people suppose.  I do not mean to
+complain, however; it is undoubtedly a comfortable one, and I hope will
+in time be better.  The enclosure of Norland Common, now carrying on,
+is a most serious drain.  And then I have made a little purchase within
+this half year; East Kingham Farm, you must remember the place, where
+old Gibson used to live.  The land was so very desirable for me in
+every respect, so immediately adjoining my own property, that I felt it
+my duty to buy it.  I could not have answered it to my conscience to
+let it fall into any other hands.  A man must pay for his convenience;
+and it HAS cost me a vast deal of money."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"More than you think it really and intrinsically worth."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why, I hope not that.  I might have sold it again, the next day, for
+more than I gave: but, with regard to the purchase-money, I might have
+been very unfortunate indeed; for the stocks were at that time so low,
+that if I had not happened to have the necessary sum in my banker's
+hands, I must have sold out to very great loss."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor could only smile.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Other great and inevitable expenses too we have had on first coming to
+Norland.  Our respected father, as you well know, bequeathed all the
+Stanhill effects that remained at Norland (and very valuable they were)
+to your mother.  Far be it from me to repine at his doing so; he had an
+undoubted right to dispose of his own property as he chose, but, in
+consequence of it, we have been obliged to make large purchases of
+linen, china, &amp;c. to supply the place of what was taken away.  You may
+guess, after all these expenses, how very far we must be from being
+rich, and how acceptable Mrs. Ferrars's kindness is."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly," said Elinor; "and assisted by her liberality, I hope you
+may yet live to be in easy circumstances."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Another year or two may do much towards it," he gravely replied; "but
+however there is still a great deal to be done.  There is not a stone
+laid of Fanny's green-house, and nothing but the plan of the
+flower-garden marked out."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Where is the green-house to be?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Upon the knoll behind the house.  The old walnut trees are all come
+down to make room for it.  It will be a very fine object from many
+parts of the park, and the flower-garden will slope down just before
+it, and be exceedingly pretty.  We have cleared away all the old thorns
+that grew in patches over the brow."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor kept her concern and her censure to herself; and was very
+thankful that Marianne was not present, to share the provocation.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Having now said enough to make his poverty clear, and to do away the
+necessity of buying a pair of ear-rings for each of his sisters, in his
+next visit at Gray's his thoughts took a cheerfuller turn, and he began
+to congratulate Elinor on having such a friend as Mrs. Jennings.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"She seems a most valuable woman indeed&mdash;Her house, her style of
+living, all bespeak an exceeding good income; and it is an acquaintance
+that has not only been of great use to you hitherto, but in the end may
+prove materially advantageous.&mdash;Her inviting you to town is certainly a
+vast thing in your favour; and indeed, it speaks altogether so great a
+regard for you, that in all probability when she dies you will not be
+forgotten.&mdash; She must have a great deal to leave."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nothing at all, I should rather suppose; for she has only her
+jointure, which will descend to her children."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But it is not to be imagined that she lives up to her income.  Few
+people of common prudence will do THAT; and whatever she saves, she
+will be able to dispose of."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And do you not think it more likely that she should leave it to her
+daughters, than to us?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Her daughters are both exceedingly well married, and therefore I
+cannot perceive the necessity of her remembering them farther.
+Whereas, in my opinion, by her taking so much notice of you, and
+treating you in this kind of way, she has given you a sort of claim on
+her future consideration, which a conscientious woman would not
+disregard.  Nothing can be kinder than her behaviour; and she can
+hardly do all this, without being aware of the expectation it raises."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But she raises none in those most concerned.  Indeed, brother, your
+anxiety for our welfare and prosperity carries you too far."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why, to be sure," said he, seeming to recollect himself, "people have
+little, have very little in their power.  But, my dear Elinor, what is
+the matter with Marianne?&mdash; she looks very unwell, has lost her colour,
+and is grown quite thin.  Is she ill?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"She is not well, she has had a nervous complaint on her for several
+weeks."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am sorry for that.  At her time of life, any thing of an illness
+destroys the bloom for ever!  Her's has been a very short one!  She was
+as handsome a girl last September, as I ever saw; and as likely to
+attract the man.  There was something in her style of beauty, to please
+them particularly.  I remember Fanny used to say that she would marry
+sooner and better than you did; not but what she is exceedingly fond of
+YOU, but so it happened to strike her.  She will be mistaken, however.
+I question whether Marianne NOW, will marry a man worth more than five
+or six hundred a-year, at the utmost, and I am very much deceived if
+YOU do not do better.  Dorsetshire!  I know very little of Dorsetshire;
+but, my dear Elinor, I shall be exceedingly glad to know more of it;
+and I think I can answer for your having Fanny and myself among the
+earliest and best pleased of your visitors."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor tried very seriously to convince him that there was no
+likelihood of her marrying Colonel Brandon; but it was an expectation
+of too much pleasure to himself to be relinquished, and he was really
+resolved on seeking an intimacy with that gentleman, and promoting the
+marriage by every possible attention.  He had just compunction enough
+for having done nothing for his sisters himself, to be exceedingly
+anxious that everybody else should do a great deal; and an offer from
+Colonel Brandon, or a legacy from Mrs. Jennings, was the easiest means
+of atoning for his own neglect.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They were lucky enough to find Lady Middleton at home, and Sir John
+came in before their visit ended.  Abundance of civilities passed on
+all sides.  Sir John was ready to like anybody, and though Mr. Dashwood
+did not seem to know much about horses, he soon set him down as a very
+good-natured fellow: while Lady Middleton saw enough of fashion in his
+appearance to think his acquaintance worth having; and Mr. Dashwood
+went away delighted with both.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I shall have a charming account to carry to Fanny," said he, as he
+walked back with his sister.  "Lady Middleton is really a most elegant
+woman!  Such a woman as I am sure Fanny will be glad to know.  And Mrs.
+Jennings too, an exceedingly well-behaved woman, though not so elegant
+as her daughter.  Your sister need not have any scruple even of
+visiting HER, which, to say the truth, has been a little the case, and
+very naturally; for we only knew that Mrs. Jennings was the widow of a
+man who had got all his money in a low way; and Fanny and Mrs. Ferrars
+were both strongly prepossessed, that neither she nor her daughters
+were such kind of women as Fanny would like to associate with.  But now
+I can carry her a most satisfactory account of both."
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap34"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 34
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. John Dashwood had so much confidence in her husband's judgment,
+that she waited the very next day both on Mrs. Jennings and her
+daughter; and her confidence was rewarded by finding even the former,
+even the woman with whom her sisters were staying, by no means unworthy
+her notice; and as for Lady Middleton, she found her one of the most
+charming women in the world!
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Lady Middleton was equally pleased with Mrs. Dashwood.  There was a
+kind of cold hearted selfishness on both sides, which mutually
+attracted them; and they sympathised with each other in an insipid
+propriety of demeanor, and a general want of understanding.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The same manners, however, which recommended Mrs. John Dashwood to the
+good opinion of Lady Middleton did not suit the fancy of Mrs. Jennings,
+and to HER she appeared nothing more than a little proud-looking woman
+of uncordial address, who met her husband's sisters without any
+affection, and almost without having anything to say to them; for of
+the quarter of an hour bestowed on Berkeley Street, she sat at least
+seven minutes and a half in silence.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor wanted very much to know, though she did not chuse to ask,
+whether Edward was then in town; but nothing would have induced Fanny
+voluntarily to mention his name before her, till able to tell her that
+his marriage with Miss Morton was resolved on, or till her husband's
+expectations on Colonel Brandon were answered; because she believed
+them still so very much attached to each other, that they could not be
+too sedulously divided in word and deed on every occasion.  The
+intelligence however, which SHE would not give, soon flowed from
+another quarter.  Lucy came very shortly to claim Elinor's compassion
+on being unable to see Edward, though he had arrived in town with Mr.
+and Mrs. Dashwood.  He dared not come to Bartlett's Buildings for fear
+of detection, and though their mutual impatience to meet, was not to be
+told, they could do nothing at present but write.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Edward assured them himself of his being in town, within a very short
+time, by twice calling in Berkeley Street.  Twice was his card found on
+the table, when they returned from their morning's engagements.  Elinor
+was pleased that he had called; and still more pleased that she had
+missed him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The Dashwoods were so prodigiously delighted with the Middletons, that,
+though not much in the habit of giving anything, they determined to
+give them&mdash;a dinner; and soon after their acquaintance began, invited
+them to dine in Harley Street, where they had taken a very good house
+for three months.  Their sisters and Mrs. Jennings were invited
+likewise, and John Dashwood was careful to secure Colonel Brandon, who,
+always glad to be where the Miss Dashwoods were, received his eager
+civilities with some surprise, but much more pleasure.  They were to
+meet Mrs. Ferrars; but Elinor could not learn whether her sons were to
+be of the party.  The expectation of seeing HER, however, was enough to
+make her interested in the engagement; for though she could now meet
+Edward's mother without that strong anxiety which had once promised to
+attend such an introduction, though she could now see her with perfect
+indifference as to her opinion of herself, her desire of being in
+company with Mrs. Ferrars, her curiosity to know what she was like, was
+as lively as ever.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The interest with which she thus anticipated the party, was soon
+afterwards increased, more powerfully than pleasantly, by her hearing
+that the Miss Steeles were also to be at it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+So well had they recommended themselves to Lady Middleton, so agreeable
+had their assiduities made them to her, that though Lucy was certainly
+not so elegant, and her sister not even genteel, she was as ready as
+Sir John to ask them to spend a week or two in Conduit Street; and it
+happened to be particularly convenient to the Miss Steeles, as soon as
+the Dashwoods' invitation was known, that their visit should begin a
+few days before the party took place.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Their claims to the notice of Mrs. John Dashwood, as the nieces of the
+gentleman who for many years had had the care of her brother, might not
+have done much, however, towards procuring them seats at her table; but
+as Lady Middleton's guests they must be welcome; and Lucy, who had long
+wanted to be personally known to the family, to have a nearer view of
+their characters and her own difficulties, and to have an opportunity
+of endeavouring to please them, had seldom been happier in her life,
+than she was on receiving Mrs. John Dashwood's card.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+On Elinor its effect was very different.  She began immediately to
+determine, that Edward who lived with his mother, must be asked as his
+mother was, to a party given by his sister; and to see him for the
+first time, after all that passed, in the company of Lucy!&mdash;she hardly
+knew how she could bear it!
+</P>
+
+<P>
+These apprehensions, perhaps, were not founded entirely on reason, and
+certainly not at all on truth.  They were relieved however, not by her
+own recollection, but by the good will of Lucy, who believed herself to
+be inflicting a severe disappointment when she told her that Edward
+certainly would not be in Harley Street on Tuesday, and even hoped to
+be carrying the pain still farther by persuading her that he was kept
+away by the extreme affection for herself, which he could not conceal
+when they were together.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The important Tuesday came that was to introduce the two young ladies
+to this formidable mother-in-law.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Pity me, dear Miss Dashwood!" said Lucy, as they walked up the stairs
+together&mdash;for the Middletons arrived so directly after Mrs. Jennings,
+that they all followed the servant at the same time&mdash;"There is nobody
+here but you, that can feel for me.&mdash;I declare I can hardly stand.
+Good gracious!&mdash;In a moment I shall see the person that all my
+happiness depends on&mdash;that is to be my mother!"&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor could have given her immediate relief by suggesting the
+possibility of its being Miss Morton's mother, rather than her own,
+whom they were about to behold; but instead of doing that, she assured
+her, and with great sincerity, that she did pity her&mdash;to the utter
+amazement of Lucy, who, though really uncomfortable herself, hoped at
+least to be an object of irrepressible envy to Elinor.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Ferrars was a little, thin woman, upright, even to formality, in
+her figure, and serious, even to sourness, in her aspect.  Her
+complexion was sallow; and her features small, without beauty, and
+naturally without expression; but a lucky contraction of the brow had
+rescued her countenance from the disgrace of insipidity, by giving it
+the strong characters of pride and ill nature.  She was not a woman of
+many words; for, unlike people in general, she proportioned them to the
+number of her ideas; and of the few syllables that did escape her, not
+one fell to the share of Miss Dashwood, whom she eyed with the spirited
+determination of disliking her at all events.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor could not NOW be made unhappy by this behaviour.&mdash; A few months
+ago it would have hurt her exceedingly; but it was not in Mrs. Ferrars'
+power to distress her by it now;&mdash;and the difference of her manners to
+the Miss Steeles, a difference which seemed purposely made to humble
+her more, only amused her.  She could not but smile to see the
+graciousness of both mother and daughter towards the very person&mdash; for
+Lucy was particularly distinguished&mdash;whom of all others, had they known
+as much as she did, they would have been most anxious to mortify; while
+she herself, who had comparatively no power to wound them, sat
+pointedly slighted by both.  But while she smiled at a graciousness so
+misapplied, she could not reflect on the mean-spirited folly from which
+it sprung, nor observe the studied attentions with which the Miss
+Steeles courted its continuance, without thoroughly despising them all
+four.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Lucy was all exultation on being so honorably distinguished; and Miss
+Steele wanted only to be teazed about Dr. Davies to be perfectly happy.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The dinner was a grand one, the servants were numerous, and every thing
+bespoke the Mistress's inclination for show, and the Master's ability
+to support it.  In spite of the improvements and additions which were
+making to the Norland estate, and in spite of its owner having once
+been within some thousand pounds of being obliged to sell out at a
+loss, nothing gave any symptom of that indigence which he had tried to
+infer from it;&mdash;no poverty of any kind, except of conversation,
+appeared&mdash;but there, the deficiency was considerable.  John Dashwood
+had not much to say for himself that was worth hearing, and his wife
+had still less.  But there was no peculiar disgrace in this; for it was
+very much the case with the chief of their visitors, who almost all
+laboured under one or other of these disqualifications for being
+agreeable&mdash;Want of sense, either natural or improved&mdash;want of
+elegance&mdash;want of spirits&mdash;or want of temper.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When the ladies withdrew to the drawing-room after dinner, this poverty
+was particularly evident, for the gentlemen HAD supplied the discourse
+with some variety&mdash;the variety of politics, inclosing land, and
+breaking horses&mdash;but then it was all over; and one subject only engaged
+the ladies till coffee came in, which was the comparative heights of
+Harry Dashwood, and Lady Middleton's second son William, who were
+nearly of the same age.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Had both the children been there, the affair might have been determined
+too easily by measuring them at once; but as Harry only was present, it
+was all conjectural assertion on both sides; and every body had a right
+to be equally positive in their opinion, and to repeat it over and over
+again as often as they liked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The parties stood thus:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The two mothers, though each really convinced that her own son was the
+tallest, politely decided in favour of the other.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The two grandmothers, with not less partiality, but more sincerity,
+were equally earnest in support of their own descendant.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Lucy, who was hardly less anxious to please one parent than the other,
+thought the boys were both remarkably tall for their age, and could not
+conceive that there could be the smallest difference in the world
+between them; and Miss Steele, with yet greater address gave it, as
+fast as she could, in favour of each.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor, having once delivered her opinion on William's side, by which
+she offended Mrs. Ferrars and Fanny still more, did not see the
+necessity of enforcing it by any farther assertion; and Marianne, when
+called on for her's, offended them all, by declaring that she had no
+opinion to give, as she had never thought about it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Before her removing from Norland, Elinor had painted a very pretty pair
+of screens for her sister-in-law, which being now just mounted and
+brought home, ornamented her present drawing room; and these screens,
+catching the eye of John Dashwood on his following the other gentlemen
+into the room, were officiously handed by him to Colonel Brandon for
+his admiration.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"These are done by my eldest sister," said he; "and you, as a man of
+taste, will, I dare say, be pleased with them.  I do not know whether
+you have ever happened to see any of her performances before, but she
+is in general reckoned to draw extremely well."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The Colonel, though disclaiming all pretensions to connoisseurship,
+warmly admired the screens, as he would have done any thing painted by
+Miss Dashwood; and on the curiosity of the others being of course
+excited, they were handed round for general inspection.  Mrs. Ferrars,
+not aware of their being Elinor's work, particularly requested to look
+at them; and after they had received gratifying testimony of Lady
+Middletons's approbation, Fanny presented them to her mother,
+considerately informing her, at the same time, that they were done by
+Miss Dashwood.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Hum"&mdash;said Mrs. Ferrars&mdash;"very pretty,"&mdash;and without regarding them at
+all, returned them to her daughter.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Perhaps Fanny thought for a moment that her mother had been quite rude
+enough,&mdash;for, colouring a little, she immediately said,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They are very pretty, ma'am&mdash;an't they?" But then again, the dread of
+having been too civil, too encouraging herself, probably came over her,
+for she presently added,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Do you not think they are something in Miss Morton's style of
+painting, Ma'am?&mdash;She DOES paint most delightfully!&mdash;How beautifully
+her last landscape is done!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Beautifully indeed!  But SHE does every thing well."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne could not bear this.&mdash;She was already greatly displeased with
+Mrs. Ferrars; and such ill-timed praise of another, at Elinor's
+expense, though she had not any notion of what was principally meant by
+it, provoked her immediately to say with warmth,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"This is admiration of a very particular kind!&mdash;what is Miss Morton to
+us?&mdash;who knows, or who cares, for her?&mdash;it is Elinor of whom WE think
+and speak."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+And so saying, she took the screens out of her sister-in-law's hands,
+to admire them herself as they ought to be admired.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Ferrars looked exceedingly angry, and drawing herself up more
+stiffly than ever, pronounced in retort this bitter philippic, "Miss
+Morton is Lord Morton's daughter."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Fanny looked very angry too, and her husband was all in a fright at his
+sister's audacity.  Elinor was much more hurt by Marianne's warmth than
+she had been by what produced it; but Colonel Brandon's eyes, as they
+were fixed on Marianne, declared that he noticed only what was amiable
+in it, the affectionate heart which could not bear to see a sister
+slighted in the smallest point.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne's feelings did not stop here.  The cold insolence of Mrs.
+Ferrars's general behaviour to her sister, seemed, to her, to foretell
+such difficulties and distresses to Elinor, as her own wounded heart
+taught her to think of with horror; and urged by a strong impulse of
+affectionate sensibility, she moved after a moment, to her sister's
+chair, and putting one arm round her neck, and one cheek close to hers,
+said in a low, but eager, voice,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Dear, dear Elinor, don't mind them.  Don't let them make YOU unhappy."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She could say no more; her spirits were quite overcome, and hiding her
+face on Elinor's shoulder, she burst into tears.  Every body's
+attention was called, and almost every body was concerned.&mdash;Colonel
+Brandon rose up and went to them without knowing what he did.&mdash;Mrs.
+Jennings, with a very intelligent "Ah! poor dear," immediately gave her
+her salts; and Sir John felt so desperately enraged against the author
+of this nervous distress, that he instantly changed his seat to one
+close by Lucy Steele, and gave her, in a whisper, a brief account of
+the whole shocking affair.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In a few minutes, however, Marianne was recovered enough to put an end
+to the bustle, and sit down among the rest; though her spirits retained
+the impression of what had passed, the whole evening.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Poor Marianne!" said her brother to Colonel Brandon, in a low voice,
+as soon as he could secure his attention,&mdash; "She has not such good
+health as her sister,&mdash;she is very nervous,&mdash;she has not Elinor's
+constitution;&mdash;and one must allow that there is something very trying
+to a young woman who HAS BEEN a beauty in the loss of her personal
+attractions.  You would not think it perhaps, but Marianne WAS
+remarkably handsome a few months ago; quite as handsome as Elinor.&mdash;
+Now you see it is all gone."
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap35"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 35
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Elinor's curiosity to see Mrs. Ferrars was satisfied.&mdash; She had found
+in her every thing that could tend to make a farther connection between
+the families undesirable.&mdash; She had seen enough of her pride, her
+meanness, and her determined prejudice against herself, to comprehend
+all the difficulties that must have perplexed the engagement, and
+retarded the marriage, of Edward and herself, had he been otherwise
+free;&mdash;and she had seen almost enough to be thankful for her OWN sake,
+that one greater obstacle preserved her from suffering under any other
+of Mrs. Ferrars's creation, preserved her from all dependence upon her
+caprice, or any solicitude for her good opinion.  Or at least, if she
+did not bring herself quite to rejoice in Edward's being fettered to
+Lucy, she determined, that had Lucy been more amiable, she OUGHT to
+have rejoiced.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She wondered that Lucy's spirits could be so very much elevated by the
+civility of Mrs. Ferrars;&mdash;that her interest and her vanity should so
+very much blind her as to make the attention which seemed only paid her
+because she was NOT ELINOR, appear a compliment to herself&mdash;or to allow
+her to derive encouragement from a preference only given her, because
+her real situation was unknown.  But that it was so, had not only been
+declared by Lucy's eyes at the time, but was declared over again the
+next morning more openly, for at her particular desire, Lady Middleton
+set her down in Berkeley Street on the chance of seeing Elinor alone,
+to tell her how happy she was.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The chance proved a lucky one, for a message from Mrs. Palmer soon
+after she arrived, carried Mrs. Jennings away.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My dear friend," cried Lucy, as soon as they were by themselves, "I
+come to talk to you of my happiness.  Could anything be so flattering
+as Mrs. Ferrars's way of treating me yesterday?  So exceeding affable
+as she was!&mdash;You know how I dreaded the thoughts of seeing her;&mdash;but
+the very moment I was introduced, there was such an affability in her
+behaviour as really should seem to say, she had quite took a fancy to
+me.  Now was not it so?&mdash; You saw it all; and was not you quite struck
+with it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"She was certainly very civil to you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Civil!&mdash;Did you see nothing but only civility?&mdash; I saw a vast deal
+more.  Such kindness as fell to the share of nobody but me!&mdash;No pride,
+no hauteur, and your sister just the same&mdash;all sweetness and
+affability!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor wished to talk of something else, but Lucy still pressed her to
+own that she had reason for her happiness; and Elinor was obliged to go
+on.&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Undoubtedly, if they had known your engagement," said she, "nothing
+could be more flattering than their treatment of you;&mdash;but as that was
+not the case"&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I guessed you would say so"&mdash;replied Lucy quickly&mdash;"but there was no
+reason in the world why Mrs. Ferrars should seem to like me, if she did
+not, and her liking me is every thing.  You shan't talk me out of my
+satisfaction.  I am sure it will all end well, and there will be no
+difficulties at all, to what I used to think.  Mrs. Ferrars is a
+charming woman, and so is your sister.  They are both delightful women,
+indeed!&mdash;I wonder I should never hear you say how agreeable Mrs.
+Dashwood was!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+To this Elinor had no answer to make, and did not attempt any.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Are you ill, Miss Dashwood?&mdash;you seem low&mdash;you don't speak;&mdash;sure you
+an't well."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I never was in better health."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am glad of it with all my heart; but really you did not look it.  I
+should be sorry to have YOU ill; you, that have been the greatest
+comfort to me in the world!&mdash;Heaven knows what I should have done
+without your friendship."&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor tried to make a civil answer, though doubting her own success.
+But it seemed to satisfy Lucy, for she directly replied,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Indeed I am perfectly convinced of your regard for me, and next to
+Edward's love, it is the greatest comfort I have.&mdash;Poor Edward!&mdash;But
+now there is one good thing, we shall be able to meet, and meet pretty
+often, for Lady Middleton's delighted with Mrs. Dashwood, so we shall
+be a good deal in Harley Street, I dare say, and Edward spends half his
+time with his sister&mdash;besides, Lady Middleton and Mrs. Ferrars will
+visit now;&mdash;and Mrs. Ferrars and your sister were both so good to say
+more than once, they should always be glad to see me.&mdash; They are such
+charming women!&mdash;I am sure if ever you tell your sister what I think of
+her, you cannot speak too high."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But Elinor would not give her any encouragement to hope that she SHOULD
+tell her sister.  Lucy continued.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am sure I should have seen it in a moment, if Mrs. Ferrars had took
+a dislike to me.  If she had only made me a formal courtesy, for
+instance, without saying a word, and never after had took any notice of
+me, and never looked at me in a pleasant way&mdash;you know what I mean&mdash;if
+I had been treated in that forbidding sort of way, I should have gave
+it all up in despair.  I could not have stood it.  For where she DOES
+dislike, I know it is most violent."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor was prevented from making any reply to this civil triumph, by
+the door's being thrown open, the servant's announcing Mr. Ferrars, and
+Edward's immediately walking in.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was a very awkward moment; and the countenance of each shewed that
+it was so.  They all looked exceedingly foolish; and Edward seemed to
+have as great an inclination to walk out of the room again, as to
+advance farther into it.  The very circumstance, in its unpleasantest
+form, which they would each have been most anxious to avoid, had fallen
+on them.&mdash;They were not only all three together, but were together
+without the relief of any other person.  The ladies recovered
+themselves first.  It was not Lucy's business to put herself forward,
+and the appearance of secrecy must still be kept up.  She could
+therefore only LOOK her tenderness, and after slightly addressing him,
+said no more.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But Elinor had more to do; and so anxious was she, for his sake and her
+own, to do it well, that she forced herself, after a moment's
+recollection, to welcome him, with a look and manner that were almost
+easy, and almost open; and another struggle, another effort still
+improved them.  She would not allow the presence of Lucy, nor the
+consciousness of some injustice towards herself, to deter her from
+saying that she was happy to see him, and that she had very much
+regretted being from home, when he called before in Berkeley Street.
+She would not be frightened from paying him those attentions which, as
+a friend and almost a relation, were his due, by the observant eyes of
+Lucy, though she soon perceived them to be narrowly watching her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Her manners gave some re-assurance to Edward, and he had courage enough
+to sit down; but his embarrassment still exceeded that of the ladies in
+a proportion, which the case rendered reasonable, though his sex might
+make it rare; for his heart had not the indifference of Lucy's, nor
+could his conscience have quite the ease of Elinor's.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Lucy, with a demure and settled air, seemed determined to make no
+contribution to the comfort of the others, and would not say a word;
+and almost every thing that WAS said, proceeded from Elinor, who was
+obliged to volunteer all the information about her mother's health,
+their coming to town, &amp;c. which Edward ought to have inquired about,
+but never did.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Her exertions did not stop here; for she soon afterwards felt herself
+so heroically disposed as to determine, under pretence of fetching
+Marianne, to leave the others by themselves; and she really did it, and
+THAT in the handsomest manner, for she loitered away several minutes on
+the landing-place, with the most high-minded fortitude, before she went
+to her sister.  When that was once done, however, it was time for the
+raptures of Edward to cease; for Marianne's joy hurried her into the
+drawing-room immediately.  Her pleasure in seeing him was like every
+other of her feelings, strong in itself, and strongly spoken.  She met
+him with a hand that would be taken, and a voice that expressed the
+affection of a sister.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Dear Edward!" she cried, "this is a moment of great happiness!&mdash;This
+would almost make amends for every thing?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Edward tried to return her kindness as it deserved, but before such
+witnesses he dared not say half what he really felt.  Again they all
+sat down, and for a moment or two all were silent; while Marianne was
+looking with the most speaking tenderness, sometimes at Edward and
+sometimes at Elinor, regretting only that their delight in each other
+should be checked by Lucy's unwelcome presence.  Edward was the first
+to speak, and it was to notice Marianne's altered looks, and express
+his fear of her not finding London agree with her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, don't think of me!" she replied with spirited earnestness, though
+her eyes were filled with tears as she spoke, "don't think of MY
+health.  Elinor is well, you see.  That must be enough for us both."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This remark was not calculated to make Edward or Elinor more easy, nor
+to conciliate the good will of Lucy, who looked up at Marianne with no
+very benignant expression.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Do you like London?" said Edward, willing to say any thing that might
+introduce another subject.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not at all.  I expected much pleasure in it, but I have found none.
+The sight of you, Edward, is the only comfort it has afforded; and
+thank Heaven! you are what you always were!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She paused&mdash;no one spoke.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I think, Elinor," she presently added, "we must employ Edward to take
+care of us in our return to Barton.  In a week or two, I suppose, we
+shall be going; and, I trust, Edward will not be very unwilling to
+accept the charge."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Poor Edward muttered something, but what it was, nobody knew, not even
+himself.  But Marianne, who saw his agitation, and could easily trace
+it to whatever cause best pleased herself, was perfectly satisfied, and
+soon talked of something else.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We spent such a day, Edward, in Harley Street yesterday!  So dull, so
+wretchedly dull!&mdash;But I have much to say to you on that head, which
+cannot be said now."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+And with this admirable discretion did she defer the assurance of her
+finding their mutual relatives more disagreeable than ever, and of her
+being particularly disgusted with his mother, till they were more in
+private.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But why were you not there, Edward?&mdash;Why did you not come?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I was engaged elsewhere."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Engaged!  But what was that, when such friends were to be met?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Perhaps, Miss Marianne," cried Lucy, eager to take some revenge on
+her, "you think young men never stand upon engagements, if they have no
+mind to keep them, little as well as great."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor was very angry, but Marianne seemed entirely insensible of the
+sting; for she calmly replied,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not so, indeed; for, seriously speaking, I am very sure that
+conscience only kept Edward from Harley Street.  And I really believe
+he HAS the most delicate conscience in the world; the most scrupulous
+in performing every engagement, however minute, and however it may make
+against his interest or pleasure.  He is the most fearful of giving
+pain, of wounding expectation, and the most incapable of being selfish,
+of any body I ever saw.  Edward, it is so, and I will say it.  What!
+are you never to hear yourself praised!&mdash;Then you must be no friend of
+mine; for those who will accept of my love and esteem, must submit to
+my open commendation."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The nature of her commendation, in the present case, however, happened
+to be particularly ill-suited to the feelings of two thirds of her
+auditors, and was so very unexhilarating to Edward, that he very soon
+got up to go away.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Going so soon!" said Marianne; "my dear Edward, this must not be."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+And drawing him a little aside, she whispered her persuasion that Lucy
+could not stay much longer.  But even this encouragement failed, for he
+would go; and Lucy, who would have outstaid him, had his visit lasted
+two hours, soon afterwards went away.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What can bring her here so often?" said Marianne, on her leaving them.
+"Could not she see that we wanted her gone!&mdash;how teazing to Edward!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why so?&mdash;we were all his friends, and Lucy has been the longest known
+to him of any.  It is but natural that he should like to see her as
+well as ourselves."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne looked at her steadily, and said, "You know, Elinor, that this
+is a kind of talking which I cannot bear.  If you only hope to have
+your assertion contradicted, as I must suppose to be the case, you
+ought to recollect that I am the last person in the world to do it.  I
+cannot descend to be tricked out of assurances, that are not really
+wanted."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She then left the room; and Elinor dared not follow her to say more,
+for bound as she was by her promise of secrecy to Lucy, she could give
+no information that would convince Marianne; and painful as the
+consequences of her still continuing in an error might be, she was
+obliged to submit to it.  All that she could hope, was that Edward
+would not often expose her or himself to the distress of hearing
+Marianne's mistaken warmth, nor to the repetition of any other part of
+the pain that had attended their recent meeting&mdash;and this she had every
+reason to expect.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap36"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 36
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Within a few days after this meeting, the newspapers announced to the
+world, that the lady of Thomas Palmer, Esq. was safely delivered of a
+son and heir; a very interesting and satisfactory paragraph, at least
+to all those intimate connections who knew it before.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This event, highly important to Mrs. Jennings's happiness, produced a
+temporary alteration in the disposal of her time, and influenced, in a
+like degree, the engagements of her young friends; for as she wished to
+be as much as possible with Charlotte, she went thither every morning
+as soon as she was dressed, and did not return till late in the
+evening; and the Miss Dashwoods, at the particular request of the
+Middletons, spent the whole of every day, in every day in Conduit
+Street.  For their own comfort they would much rather have remained, at
+least all the morning, in Mrs. Jennings's house; but it was not a thing
+to be urged against the wishes of everybody.  Their hours were
+therefore made over to Lady Middleton and the two Miss Steeles, by whom
+their company, in fact was as little valued, as it was professedly
+sought.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They had too much sense to be desirable companions to the former; and
+by the latter they were considered with a jealous eye, as intruding on
+THEIR ground, and sharing the kindness which they wanted to monopolize.
+Though nothing could be more polite than Lady Middleton's behaviour to
+Elinor and Marianne, she did not really like them at all.  Because they
+neither flattered herself nor her children, she could not believe them
+good-natured; and because they were fond of reading, she fancied them
+satirical: perhaps without exactly knowing what it was to be satirical;
+but THAT did not signify.  It was censure in common use, and easily
+given.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Their presence was a restraint both on her and on Lucy.  It checked the
+idleness of one, and the business of the other.  Lady Middleton was
+ashamed of doing nothing before them, and the flattery which Lucy was
+proud to think of and administer at other times, she feared they would
+despise her for offering.  Miss Steele was the least discomposed of the
+three, by their presence; and it was in their power to reconcile her to
+it entirely.  Would either of them only have given her a full and
+minute account of the whole affair between Marianne and Mr. Willoughby,
+she would have thought herself amply rewarded for the sacrifice of the
+best place by the fire after dinner, which their arrival occasioned.
+But this conciliation was not granted; for though she often threw out
+expressions of pity for her sister to Elinor, and more than once dropt
+a reflection on the inconstancy of beaux before Marianne, no effect was
+produced, but a look of indifference from the former, or of disgust in
+the latter.  An effort even yet lighter might have made her their
+friend.  Would they only have laughed at her about the Doctor!  But so
+little were they, anymore than the others, inclined to oblige her, that
+if Sir John dined from home, she might spend a whole day without
+hearing any other raillery on the subject, than what she was kind
+enough to bestow on herself.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+All these jealousies and discontents, however, were so totally
+unsuspected by Mrs. Jennings, that she thought it a delightful thing
+for the girls to be together; and generally congratulated her young
+friends every night, on having escaped the company of a stupid old
+woman so long.  She joined them sometimes at Sir John's, sometimes at
+her own house; but wherever it was, she always came in excellent
+spirits, full of delight and importance, attributing Charlotte's well
+doing to her own care, and ready to give so exact, so minute a detail
+of her situation, as only Miss Steele had curiosity enough to desire.
+One thing DID disturb her; and of that she made her daily complaint.
+Mr. Palmer maintained the common, but unfatherly opinion among his sex,
+of all infants being alike; and though she could plainly perceive, at
+different times, the most striking resemblance between this baby and
+every one of his relations on both sides, there was no convincing his
+father of it; no persuading him to believe that it was not exactly like
+every other baby of the same age; nor could he even be brought to
+acknowledge the simple proposition of its being the finest child in the
+world.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+I come now to the relation of a misfortune, which about this time
+befell Mrs. John Dashwood.  It so happened that while her two sisters
+with Mrs. Jennings were first calling on her in Harley Street, another
+of her acquaintance had dropt in&mdash;a circumstance in itself not
+apparently likely to produce evil to her.  But while the imaginations
+of other people will carry them away to form wrong judgments of our
+conduct, and to decide on it by slight appearances, one's happiness
+must in some measure be always at the mercy of chance.  In the present
+instance, this last-arrived lady allowed her fancy to so far outrun
+truth and probability, that on merely hearing the name of the Miss
+Dashwoods, and understanding them to be Mr. Dashwood's sisters, she
+immediately concluded them to be staying in Harley Street; and this
+misconstruction produced within a day or two afterwards, cards of
+invitation for them as well as for their brother and sister, to a small
+musical party at her house.  The consequence of which was, that Mrs.
+John Dashwood was obliged to submit not only to the exceedingly great
+inconvenience of sending her carriage for the Miss Dashwoods, but, what
+was still worse, must be subject to all the unpleasantness of appearing
+to treat them with attention: and who could tell that they might not
+expect to go out with her a second time?  The power of disappointing
+them, it was true, must always be her's.  But that was not enough; for
+when people are determined on a mode of conduct which they know to be
+wrong, they feel injured by the expectation of any thing better from
+them.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne had now been brought by degrees, so much into the habit of
+going out every day, that it was become a matter of indifference to
+her, whether she went or not: and she prepared quietly and mechanically
+for every evening's engagement, though without expecting the smallest
+amusement from any, and very often without knowing, till the last
+moment, where it was to take her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+To her dress and appearance she was grown so perfectly indifferent, as
+not to bestow half the consideration on it, during the whole of her
+toilet, which it received from Miss Steele in the first five minutes of
+their being together, when it was finished.  Nothing escaped HER minute
+observation and general curiosity; she saw every thing, and asked every
+thing; was never easy till she knew the price of every part of
+Marianne's dress; could have guessed the number of her gowns altogether
+with better judgment than Marianne herself, and was not without hopes
+of finding out before they parted, how much her washing cost per week,
+and how much she had every year to spend upon herself.  The
+impertinence of these kind of scrutinies, moreover, was generally
+concluded with a compliment, which though meant as its douceur, was
+considered by Marianne as the greatest impertinence of all; for after
+undergoing an examination into the value and make of her gown, the
+colour of her shoes, and the arrangement of her hair, she was almost
+sure of being told that upon "her word she looked vastly smart, and she
+dared to say she would make a great many conquests."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+With such encouragement as this, was she dismissed on the present
+occasion, to her brother's carriage; which they were ready to enter
+five minutes after it stopped at the door, a punctuality not very
+agreeable to their sister-in-law, who had preceded them to the house of
+her acquaintance, and was there hoping for some delay on their part
+that might inconvenience either herself or her coachman.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The events of this evening were not very remarkable.  The party, like
+other musical parties, comprehended a great many people who had real
+taste for the performance, and a great many more who had none at all;
+and the performers themselves were, as usual, in their own estimation,
+and that of their immediate friends, the first private performers in
+England.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As Elinor was neither musical, nor affecting to be so, she made no
+scruple of turning her eyes from the grand pianoforte, whenever it
+suited her, and unrestrained even by the presence of a harp, and
+violoncello, would fix them at pleasure on any other object in the
+room.  In one of these excursive glances she perceived among a group of
+young men, the very he, who had given them a lecture on toothpick-cases
+at Gray's.  She perceived him soon afterwards looking at herself, and
+speaking familiarly to her brother; and had just determined to find out
+his name from the latter, when they both came towards her, and Mr.
+Dashwood introduced him to her as Mr. Robert Ferrars.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He addressed her with easy civility, and twisted his head into a bow
+which assured her as plainly as words could have done, that he was
+exactly the coxcomb she had heard him described to be by Lucy.  Happy
+had it been for her, if her regard for Edward had depended less on his
+own merit, than on the merit of his nearest relations!  For then his
+brother's bow must have given the finishing stroke to what the
+ill-humour of his mother and sister would have begun.  But while she
+wondered at the difference of the two young men, she did not find that
+the emptiness of conceit of the one, put her out of all charity with
+the modesty and worth of the other.  Why they WERE different, Robert
+exclaimed to her himself in the course of a quarter of an hour's
+conversation; for, talking of his brother, and lamenting the extreme
+GAUCHERIE which he really believed kept him from mixing in proper
+society, he candidly and generously attributed it much less to any
+natural deficiency, than to the misfortune of a private education;
+while he himself, though probably without any particular, any material
+superiority by nature, merely from the advantage of a public school,
+was as well fitted to mix in the world as any other man.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Upon my soul," he added, "I believe it is nothing more; and so I often
+tell my mother, when she is grieving about it.  'My dear Madam,' I
+always say to her, 'you must make yourself easy.  The evil is now
+irremediable, and it has been entirely your own doing.  Why would you
+be persuaded by my uncle, Sir Robert, against your own judgment, to
+place Edward under private tuition, at the most critical time of his
+life?  If you had only sent him to Westminster as well as myself,
+instead of sending him to Mr. Pratt's, all this would have been
+prevented.' This is the way in which I always consider the matter, and
+my mother is perfectly convinced of her error."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor would not oppose his opinion, because, whatever might be her
+general estimation of the advantage of a public school, she could not
+think of Edward's abode in Mr. Pratt's family, with any satisfaction.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You reside in Devonshire, I think,"&mdash;was his next observation, "in a
+cottage near Dawlish."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor set him right as to its situation; and it seemed rather
+surprising to him that anybody could live in Devonshire, without living
+near Dawlish.  He bestowed his hearty approbation however on their
+species of house.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"For my own part," said he, "I am excessively fond of a cottage; there
+is always so much comfort, so much elegance about them.  And I protest,
+if I had any money to spare, I should buy a little land and build one
+myself, within a short distance of London, where I might drive myself
+down at any time, and collect a few friends about me, and be happy.  I
+advise every body who is going to build, to build a cottage.  My friend
+Lord Courtland came to me the other day on purpose to ask my advice,
+and laid before me three different plans of Bonomi's.  I was to decide
+on the best of them.  'My dear Courtland,' said I, immediately throwing
+them all into the fire, 'do not adopt either of them, but by all means
+build a cottage.' And that I fancy, will be the end of it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Some people imagine that there can be no accommodations, no space in a
+cottage; but this is all a mistake.  I was last month at my friend
+Elliott's, near Dartford.  Lady Elliott wished to give a dance.  'But
+how can it be done?' said she; 'my dear Ferrars, do tell me how it is
+to be managed.  There is not a room in this cottage that will hold ten
+couple, and where can the supper be?' I immediately saw that there
+could be no difficulty in it, so I said, 'My dear Lady Elliott, do not
+be uneasy.  The dining parlour will admit eighteen couple with ease;
+card-tables may be placed in the drawing-room; the library may be open
+for tea and other refreshments; and let the supper be set out in the
+saloon.'  Lady Elliott was delighted with the thought.  We measured the
+dining-room, and found it would hold exactly eighteen couple, and the
+affair was arranged precisely after my plan.  So that, in fact, you
+see, if people do but know how to set about it, every comfort may be as
+well enjoyed in a cottage as in the most spacious dwelling."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor agreed to it all, for she did not think he deserved the
+compliment of rational opposition.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As John Dashwood had no more pleasure in music than his eldest sister,
+his mind was equally at liberty to fix on any thing else; and a thought
+struck him during the evening, which he communicated to his wife, for
+her approbation, when they got home.  The consideration of Mrs.
+Dennison's mistake, in supposing his sisters their guests, had
+suggested the propriety of their being really invited to become such,
+while Mrs. Jenning's engagements kept her from home.  The expense would
+be nothing, the inconvenience not more; and it was altogether an
+attention which the delicacy of his conscience pointed out to be
+requisite to its complete enfranchisement from his promise to his
+father.  Fanny was startled at the proposal.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I do not see how it can be done," said she, "without affronting Lady
+Middleton, for they spend every day with her; otherwise I should be
+exceedingly glad to do it.  You know I am always ready to pay them any
+attention in my power, as my taking them out this evening shews.  But
+they are Lady Middleton's visitors.  How can I ask them away from her?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Her husband, but with great humility, did not see the force of her
+objection.  "They had already spent a week in this manner in Conduit
+Street, and Lady Middleton could not be displeased at their giving the
+same number of days to such near relations."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Fanny paused a moment, and then, with fresh vigor, said,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My love I would ask them with all my heart, if it was in my power.
+But I had just settled within myself to ask the Miss Steeles to spend a
+few days with us.  They are very well behaved, good kind of girls; and
+I think the attention is due to them, as their uncle did so very well
+by Edward.  We can ask your sisters some other year, you know; but the
+Miss Steeles may not be in town any more.  I am sure you will like
+them; indeed, you DO like them, you know, very much already, and so
+does my mother; and they are such favourites with Harry!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mr. Dashwood was convinced.  He saw the necessity of inviting the Miss
+Steeles immediately, and his conscience was pacified by the resolution
+of inviting his sisters another year; at the same time, however, slyly
+suspecting that another year would make the invitation needless, by
+bringing Elinor to town as Colonel Brandon's wife, and Marianne as
+THEIR visitor.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Fanny, rejoicing in her escape, and proud of the ready wit that had
+procured it, wrote the next morning to Lucy, to request her company and
+her sister's, for some days, in Harley Street, as soon as Lady
+Middleton could spare them.  This was enough to make Lucy really and
+reasonably happy.  Mrs. Dashwood seemed actually working for her,
+herself; cherishing all her hopes, and promoting all her views!  Such
+an opportunity of being with Edward and his family was, above all
+things, the most material to her interest, and such an invitation the
+most gratifying to her feelings!  It was an advantage that could not be
+too gratefully acknowledged, nor too speedily made use of; and the
+visit to Lady Middleton, which had not before had any precise limits,
+was instantly discovered to have been always meant to end in two days'
+time.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When the note was shown to Elinor, as it was within ten minutes after
+its arrival, it gave her, for the first time, some share in the
+expectations of Lucy; for such a mark of uncommon kindness, vouchsafed
+on so short an acquaintance, seemed to declare that the good-will
+towards her arose from something more than merely malice against
+herself; and might be brought, by time and address, to do every thing
+that Lucy wished.  Her flattery had already subdued the pride of Lady
+Middleton, and made an entry into the close heart of Mrs. John
+Dashwood; and these were effects that laid open the probability of
+greater.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The Miss Steeles removed to Harley Street, and all that reached Elinor
+of their influence there, strengthened her expectation of the event.
+Sir John, who called on them more than once, brought home such accounts
+of the favour they were in, as must be universally striking.  Mrs.
+Dashwood had never been so much pleased with any young women in her
+life, as she was with them; had given each of them a needle book made
+by some emigrant; called Lucy by her Christian name; and did not know
+whether she should ever be able to part with them.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<P CLASS="noindent">
+[At this point in the first and second editions, Volume II ended.]
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap37"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 37
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Palmer was so well at the end of a fortnight, that her mother felt
+it no longer necessary to give up the whole of her time to her; and,
+contenting herself with visiting her once or twice a day, returned from
+that period to her own home, and her own habits, in which she found the
+Miss Dashwoods very ready to resume their former share.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+About the third or fourth morning after their being thus resettled in
+Berkeley Street, Mrs. Jennings, on returning from her ordinary visit to
+Mrs. Palmer, entered the drawing-room, where Elinor was sitting by
+herself, with an air of such hurrying importance as prepared her to
+hear something wonderful; and giving her time only to form that idea,
+began directly to justify it, by saying,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Lord! my dear Miss Dashwood! have you heard the news?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, ma'am.  What is it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Something so strange!  But you shall hear it all.&mdash; When I got to Mr.
+Palmer's, I found Charlotte quite in a fuss about the child.  She was
+sure it was very ill&mdash;it cried, and fretted, and was all over pimples.
+So I looked at it directly, and, 'Lord! my dear,' says I, 'it is
+nothing in the world, but the red gum&mdash;' and nurse said just the same.
+But Charlotte, she would not be satisfied, so Mr. Donavan was sent for;
+and luckily he happened to just come in from Harley Street, so he
+stepped over directly, and as soon as ever he saw the child, be said
+just as we did, that it was nothing in the world but the red gum, and
+then Charlotte was easy.  And so, just as he was going away again, it
+came into my head, I am sure I do not know how I happened to think of
+it, but it came into my head to ask him if there was any news.  So upon
+that, he smirked, and simpered, and looked grave, and seemed to know
+something or other, and at last he said in a whisper, 'For fear any
+unpleasant report should reach the young ladies under your care as to
+their sister's indisposition, I think it advisable to say, that I
+believe there is no great reason for alarm; I hope Mrs. Dashwood will
+do very well.'"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What! is Fanny ill?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That is exactly what I said, my dear.  'Lord!' says I, 'is Mrs.
+Dashwood ill?' So then it all came out; and the long and the short of
+the matter, by all I can learn, seems to be this.  Mr. Edward Ferrars,
+the very young man I used to joke with you about (but however, as it
+turns out, I am monstrous glad there was never any thing in it), Mr.
+Edward Ferrars, it seems, has been engaged above this twelvemonth to my
+cousin Lucy!&mdash;There's for you, my dear!&mdash;And not a creature knowing a
+syllable of the matter, except Nancy!&mdash;Could you have believed such a
+thing possible?&mdash; There is no great wonder in their liking one another;
+but that matters should be brought so forward between them, and nobody
+suspect it!&mdash;THAT is strange!&mdash;I never happened to see them together,
+or I am sure I should have found it out directly.  Well, and so this
+was kept a great secret, for fear of Mrs. Ferrars, and neither she nor
+your brother or sister suspected a word of the matter;&mdash;till this very
+morning, poor Nancy, who, you know, is a well-meaning creature, but no
+conjurer, popt it all out.  'Lord!' thinks she to herself, 'they are
+all so fond of Lucy, to be sure they will make no difficulty about it;'
+and so, away she went to your sister, who was sitting all alone at her
+carpet-work, little suspecting what was to come&mdash;for she had just been
+saying to your brother, only five minutes before, that she thought to
+make a match between Edward and some Lord's daughter or other, I forget
+who.  So you may think what a blow it was to all her vanity and pride.
+She fell into violent hysterics immediately, with such screams as
+reached your brother's ears, as he was sitting in his own dressing-room
+down stairs, thinking about writing a letter to his steward in the
+country.  So up he flew directly, and a terrible scene took place, for
+Lucy was come to them by that time, little dreaming what was going on.
+Poor soul!  I pity HER.  And I must say, I think she was used very
+hardly; for your sister scolded like any fury, and soon drove her into
+a fainting fit.  Nancy, she fell upon her knees, and cried bitterly;
+and your brother, he walked about the room, and said he did not know
+what to do.  Mrs. Dashwood declared they should not stay a minute
+longer in the house, and your brother was forced to go down upon HIS
+knees too, to persuade her to let them stay till they had packed up
+their clothes.  THEN she fell into hysterics again, and he was so
+frightened that he would send for Mr. Donavan, and Mr. Donavan found
+the house in all this uproar.  The carriage was at the door ready to
+take my poor cousins away, and they were just stepping in as he came
+off; poor Lucy in such a condition, he says, she could hardly walk; and
+Nancy, she was almost as bad.  I declare, I have no patience with your
+sister; and I hope, with all my heart, it will be a match in spite of
+her.  Lord! what a taking poor Mr. Edward will be in when he hears of
+it!  To have his love used so scornfully! for they say he is monstrous
+fond of her, as well he may.  I should not wonder, if he was to be in
+the greatest passion!&mdash;and Mr. Donavan thinks just the same.  He and I
+had a great deal of talk about it; and the best of all is, that he is
+gone back again to Harley Street, that he may be within call when Mrs.
+Ferrars is told of it, for she was sent for as soon as ever my cousins
+left the house, for your sister was sure SHE would be in hysterics too;
+and so she may, for what I care.  I have no pity for either of them.  I
+have no notion of people's making such a to-do about money and
+greatness.  There is no reason on earth why Mr. Edward and Lucy should
+not marry; for I am sure Mrs. Ferrars may afford to do very well by her
+son, and though Lucy has next to nothing herself, she knows better than
+any body how to make the most of every thing; I dare say, if Mrs.
+Ferrars would only allow him five hundred a-year, she would make as
+good an appearance with it as any body else would with eight.  Lord!
+how snug they might live in such another cottage as yours&mdash;or a little
+bigger&mdash;with two maids, and two men; and I believe I could help them to
+a housemaid, for my Betty has a sister out of place, that would fit
+them exactly."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Here Mrs. Jennings ceased, and as Elinor had had time enough to collect
+her thoughts, she was able to give such an answer, and make such
+observations, as the subject might naturally be supposed to produce.
+Happy to find that she was not suspected of any extraordinary interest
+in it; that Mrs. Jennings (as she had of late often hoped might be the
+case) had ceased to imagine her at all attached to Edward; and happy
+above all the rest, in the absence of Marianne, she felt very well able
+to speak of the affair without embarrassment, and to give her judgment,
+as she believed, with impartiality on the conduct of every one
+concerned in it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She could hardly determine what her own expectation of its event really
+was; though she earnestly tried to drive away the notion of its being
+possible to end otherwise at last, than in the marriage of Edward and
+Lucy.  What Mrs. Ferrars would say and do, though there could not be a
+doubt of its nature, she was anxious to hear; and still more anxious to
+know how Edward would conduct himself.  For HIM she felt much
+compassion;&mdash;for Lucy very little&mdash;and it cost her some pains to
+procure that little;&mdash;for the rest of the party none at all.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As Mrs. Jennings could talk on no other subject, Elinor soon saw the
+necessity of preparing Marianne for its discussion.  No time was to be
+lost in undeceiving her, in making her acquainted with the real truth,
+and in endeavouring to bring her to hear it talked of by others,
+without betraying that she felt any uneasiness for her sister, or any
+resentment against Edward.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor's office was a painful one.&mdash;She was going to remove what she
+really believed to be her sister's chief consolation,&mdash;to give such
+particulars of Edward as she feared would ruin him for ever in her good
+opinion,-and to make Marianne, by a resemblance in their situations,
+which to HER fancy would seem strong, feel all her own disappointment
+over again.  But unwelcome as such a task must be, it was necessary to
+be done, and Elinor therefore hastened to perform it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She was very far from wishing to dwell on her own feelings, or to
+represent herself as suffering much, any otherwise than as the
+self-command she had practised since her first knowledge of Edward's
+engagement, might suggest a hint of what was practicable to Marianne.
+Her narration was clear and simple; and though it could not be given
+without emotion, it was not accompanied by violent agitation, nor
+impetuous grief.&mdash;THAT belonged rather to the hearer, for Marianne
+listened with horror, and cried excessively.  Elinor was to be the
+comforter of others in her own distresses, no less than in theirs; and
+all the comfort that could be given by assurances of her own composure
+of mind, and a very earnest vindication of Edward from every charge but
+of imprudence, was readily offered.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But Marianne for some time would give credit to neither.  Edward seemed
+a second Willoughby; and acknowledging as Elinor did, that she HAD
+loved him most sincerely, could she feel less than herself!  As for
+Lucy Steele, she considered her so totally unamiable, so absolutely
+incapable of attaching a sensible man, that she could not be persuaded
+at first to believe, and afterwards to pardon, any former affection of
+Edward for her.  She would not even admit it to have been natural; and
+Elinor left her to be convinced that it was so, by that which only
+could convince her, a better knowledge of mankind.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Her first communication had reached no farther than to state the fact
+of the engagement, and the length of time it had existed.&mdash;Marianne's
+feelings had then broken in, and put an end to all regularity of
+detail; and for some time all that could be done was to soothe her
+distress, lessen her alarms, and combat her resentment.  The first
+question on her side, which led to farther particulars, was,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How long has this been known to you, Elinor? has he written to you?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have known it these four months.  When Lucy first came to Barton
+Park last November, she told me in confidence of her engagement."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At these words, Marianne's eyes expressed the astonishment which her
+lips could not utter.  After a pause of wonder, she exclaimed&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Four months!&mdash;Have you known of this four months?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor confirmed it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What!&mdash;while attending me in all my misery, has this been on your
+heart?&mdash;And I have reproached you for being happy!"&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It was not fit that you should then know how much I was the reverse!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Four months!"&mdash;cried Marianne again.&mdash;"So calm!&mdash;so cheerful!&mdash;how
+have you been supported?"&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"By feeling that I was doing my duty.&mdash;My promise to Lucy, obliged me
+to be secret.  I owed it to her, therefore, to avoid giving any hint of
+the truth; and I owed it to my family and friends, not to create in
+them a solicitude about me, which it could not be in my power to
+satisfy."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne seemed much struck.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have very often wished to undeceive yourself and my mother," added
+Elinor; "and once or twice I have attempted it;&mdash;but without betraying
+my trust, I never could have convinced you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Four months!&mdash;and yet you loved him!"&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes. But I did not love only him;&mdash;and while the comfort of others was
+dear to me, I was glad to spare them from knowing how much I felt.
+Now, I can think and speak of it with little emotion.  I would not have
+you suffer on my account; for I assure you I no longer suffer
+materially myself.  I have many things to support me.  I am not
+conscious of having provoked the disappointment by any imprudence of my
+own, I have borne it as much as possible without spreading it farther.
+I acquit Edward of essential misconduct.  I wish him very happy; and I
+am so sure of his always doing his duty, that though now he may harbour
+some regret, in the end he must become so.  Lucy does not want sense,
+and that is the foundation on which every thing good may be built.&mdash;And
+after all, Marianne, after all that is bewitching in the idea of a
+single and constant attachment, and all that can be said of one's
+happiness depending entirely on any particular person, it is not
+meant&mdash;it is not fit&mdash;it is not possible that it should be so.&mdash; Edward
+will marry Lucy; he will marry a woman superior in person and
+understanding to half her sex; and time and habit will teach him to
+forget that he ever thought another superior to HER."&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If such is your way of thinking," said Marianne, "if the loss of what
+is most valued is so easily to be made up by something else, your
+resolution, your self-command, are, perhaps, a little less to be
+wondered at.&mdash;They are brought more within my comprehension."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I understand you.&mdash;You do not suppose that I have ever felt much.&mdash;For
+four months, Marianne, I have had all this hanging on my mind, without
+being at liberty to speak of it to a single creature; knowing that it
+would make you and my mother most unhappy whenever it were explained to
+you, yet unable to prepare you for it in the least.&mdash; It was told
+me,&mdash;it was in a manner forced on me by the very person herself, whose
+prior engagement ruined all my prospects; and told me, as I thought,
+with triumph.&mdash; This person's suspicions, therefore, I have had to
+oppose, by endeavouring to appear indifferent where I have been most
+deeply interested;&mdash;and it has not been only once;&mdash;I have had her
+hopes and exultation to listen to again and again.&mdash; I have known
+myself to be divided from Edward for ever, without hearing one
+circumstance that could make me less desire the connection.&mdash;Nothing
+has proved him unworthy; nor has anything declared him indifferent to
+me.&mdash; I have had to contend against the unkindness of his sister, and
+the insolence of his mother; and have suffered the punishment of an
+attachment, without enjoying its advantages.&mdash; And all this has been
+going on at a time, when, as you know too well, it has not been my only
+unhappiness.&mdash; If you can think me capable of ever feeling&mdash;surely you
+may suppose that I have suffered NOW.  The composure of mind with which
+I have brought myself at present to consider the matter, the
+consolation that I have been willing to admit, have been the effect of
+constant and painful exertion;&mdash;they did not spring up of
+themselves;&mdash;they did not occur to relieve my spirits at first.&mdash; No,
+Marianne.&mdash;THEN, if I had not been bound to silence, perhaps nothing
+could have kept me entirely&mdash;not even what I owed to my dearest
+friends&mdash;from openly shewing that I was VERY unhappy."&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne was quite subdued.&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh! Elinor," she cried, "you have made me hate myself for ever.&mdash;How
+barbarous have I been to you!&mdash;you, who have been my only comfort, who
+have borne with me in all my misery, who have seemed to be only
+suffering for me!&mdash;Is this my gratitude?&mdash;Is this the only return I can
+make you?&mdash;Because your merit cries out upon myself, I have been trying
+to do it away."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The tenderest caresses followed this confession.  In such a frame of
+mind as she was now in, Elinor had no difficulty in obtaining from her
+whatever promise she required; and at her request, Marianne engaged
+never to speak of the affair to any one with the least appearance of
+bitterness;&mdash;to meet Lucy without betraying the smallest increase of
+dislike to her;&mdash;and even to see Edward himself, if chance should bring
+them together, without any diminution of her usual cordiality.&mdash; These
+were great concessions;&mdash;but where Marianne felt that she had injured,
+no reparation could be too much for her to make.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She performed her promise of being discreet, to admiration.&mdash;She
+attended to all that Mrs. Jennings had to say upon the subject, with an
+unchanging complexion, dissented from her in nothing, and was heard
+three times to say, "Yes, ma'am."&mdash;She listened to her praise of Lucy
+with only moving from one chair to another, and when Mrs. Jennings
+talked of Edward's affection, it cost her only a spasm in her
+throat.&mdash;Such advances towards heroism in her sister, made Elinor feel
+equal to any thing herself.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The next morning brought a farther trial of it, in a visit from their
+brother, who came with a most serious aspect to talk over the dreadful
+affair, and bring them news of his wife.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You have heard, I suppose," said he with great solemnity, as soon as
+he was seated, "of the very shocking discovery that took place under
+our roof yesterday."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They all looked their assent; it seemed too awful a moment for speech.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Your sister," he continued, "has suffered dreadfully.  Mrs. Ferrars
+too&mdash;in short it has been a scene of such complicated distress&mdash;but I
+will hope that the storm may be weathered without our being any of us
+quite overcome.  Poor Fanny! she was in hysterics all yesterday.  But I
+would not alarm you too much.  Donavan says there is nothing materially
+to be apprehended; her constitution is a good one, and her resolution
+equal to any thing.  She has borne it all, with the fortitude of an
+angel!  She says she never shall think well of anybody again; and one
+cannot wonder at it, after being so deceived!&mdash;meeting with such
+ingratitude, where so much kindness had been shewn, so much confidence
+had been placed!  It was quite out of the benevolence of her heart,
+that she had asked these young women to her house; merely because she
+thought they deserved some attention, were harmless, well-behaved
+girls, and would be pleasant companions; for otherwise we both wished
+very much to have invited you and Marianne to be with us, while your
+kind friend there, was attending her daughter.  And now to be so
+rewarded!  'I wish, with all my heart,' says poor Fanny in her
+affectionate way, 'that we had asked your sisters instead of them.'"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Here he stopped to be thanked; which being done, he went on.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What poor Mrs. Ferrars suffered, when first Fanny broke it to her, is
+not to be described.  While she with the truest affection had been
+planning a most eligible connection for him, was it to be supposed that
+he could be all the time secretly engaged to another person!&mdash;such a
+suspicion could never have entered her head!  If she suspected ANY
+prepossession elsewhere, it could not be in THAT quarter.  'THERE, to
+be sure,' said she, 'I might have thought myself safe.' She was quite
+in an agony.  We consulted together, however, as to what should be
+done, and at last she determined to send for Edward.  He came.  But I
+am sorry to relate what ensued.  All that Mrs. Ferrars could say to
+make him put an end to the engagement, assisted too as you may well
+suppose by my arguments, and Fanny's entreaties, was of no avail.
+Duty, affection, every thing was disregarded.  I never thought Edward
+so stubborn, so unfeeling before.  His mother explained to him her
+liberal designs, in case of his marrying Miss Morton; told him she
+would settle on him the Norfolk estate, which, clear of land-tax,
+brings in a good thousand a-year; offered even, when matters grew
+desperate, to make it twelve hundred; and in opposition to this, if he
+still persisted in this low connection, represented to him the certain
+penury that must attend the match.  His own two thousand pounds she
+protested should be his all; she would never see him again; and so far
+would she be from affording him the smallest assistance, that if he
+were to enter into any profession with a view of better support, she
+would do all in her power to prevent him advancing in it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Here Marianne, in an ecstasy of indignation, clapped her hands
+together, and cried, "Gracious God!  can this be possible!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well may you wonder, Marianne," replied her brother, "at the obstinacy
+which could resist such arguments as these.  Your exclamation is very
+natural."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne was going to retort, but she remembered her promises, and
+forbore.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"All this, however," he continued, "was urged in vain.  Edward said
+very little; but what he did say, was in the most determined manner.
+Nothing should prevail on him to give up his engagement.  He would
+stand to it, cost him what it might."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then," cried Mrs. Jennings with blunt sincerity, no longer able to be
+silent, "he has acted like an honest man! I beg your pardon, Mr.
+Dashwood, but if he had done otherwise, I should have thought him a
+rascal.  I have some little concern in the business, as well as
+yourself, for Lucy Steele is my cousin, and I believe there is not a
+better kind of girl in the world, nor one who more deserves a good
+husband."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+John Dashwood was greatly astonished; but his nature was calm, not open
+to provocation, and he never wished to offend anybody, especially
+anybody of good fortune.  He therefore replied, without any resentment,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I would by no means speak disrespectfully of any relation of yours,
+madam.  Miss Lucy Steele is, I dare say, a very deserving young woman,
+but in the present case you know, the connection must be impossible.
+And to have entered into a secret engagement with a young man under her
+uncle's care, the son of a woman especially of such very large fortune
+as Mrs. Ferrars, is perhaps, altogether a little extraordinary. In
+short, I do not mean to reflect upon the behaviour of any person whom
+you have a regard for, Mrs. Jennings.  We all wish her extremely happy;
+and Mrs. Ferrars's conduct throughout the whole, has been such as every
+conscientious, good mother, in like circumstances, would adopt.  It has
+been dignified and liberal.  Edward has drawn his own lot, and I fear
+it will be a bad one."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne sighed out her similar apprehension; and Elinor's heart wrung
+for the feelings of Edward, while braving his mother's threats, for a
+woman who could not reward him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, sir," said Mrs. Jennings, "and how did it end?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am sorry to say, ma'am, in a most unhappy rupture:&mdash; Edward is
+dismissed for ever from his mother's notice.  He left her house
+yesterday, but where he is gone, or whether he is still in town, I do
+not know; for WE of course can make no inquiry."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Poor young man!&mdash;and what is to become of him?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What, indeed, ma'am!  It is a melancholy consideration.  Born to the
+prospect of such affluence!  I cannot conceive a situation more
+deplorable.  The interest of two thousand pounds&mdash;how can a man live on
+it?&mdash;and when to that is added the recollection, that he might, but for
+his own folly, within three months have been in the receipt of two
+thousand, five hundred a-year (for Miss Morton has thirty thousand
+pounds,) I cannot picture to myself a more wretched condition.  We must
+all feel for him; and the more so, because it is totally out of our
+power to assist him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Poor young man!" cried Mrs. Jennings, "I am sure he should be very
+welcome to bed and board at my house; and so I would tell him if I
+could see him.  It is not fit that he should be living about at his own
+charge now, at lodgings and taverns."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor's heart thanked her for such kindness towards Edward, though she
+could not forbear smiling at the form of it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If he would only have done as well by himself," said John Dashwood,
+"as all his friends were disposed to do by him, he might now have been
+in his proper situation, and would have wanted for nothing.  But as it
+is, it must be out of anybody's power to assist him.  And there is one
+thing more preparing against him, which must be worse than all&mdash;his
+mother has determined, with a very natural kind of spirit, to settle
+THAT estate upon Robert immediately, which might have been Edward's, on
+proper conditions.  I left her this morning with her lawyer, talking
+over the business."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well!" said Mrs. Jennings, "that is HER revenge.  Everybody has a way
+of their own.  But I don't think mine would be, to make one son
+independent, because another had plagued me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne got up and walked about the room.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Can anything be more galling to the spirit of a man," continued John,
+"than to see his younger brother in possession of an estate which might
+have been his own?  Poor Edward!  I feel for him sincerely."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A few minutes more spent in the same kind of effusion, concluded his
+visit; and with repeated assurances to his sisters that he really
+believed there was no material danger in Fanny's indisposition, and
+that they need not therefore be very uneasy about it, he went away;
+leaving the three ladies unanimous in their sentiments on the present
+occasion, as far at least as it regarded Mrs. Ferrars's conduct, the
+Dashwoods', and Edward's.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne's indignation burst forth as soon as he quitted the room; and
+as her vehemence made reserve impossible in Elinor, and unnecessary in
+Mrs. Jennings, they all joined in a very spirited critique upon the
+party.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap38"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 38
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Jennings was very warm in her praise of Edward's conduct, but only
+Elinor and Marianne understood its true merit.  THEY only knew how
+little he had had to tempt him to be disobedient, and how small was the
+consolation, beyond the consciousness of doing right, that could remain
+to him in the loss of friends and fortune.  Elinor gloried in his
+integrity; and Marianne forgave all his offences in compassion for his
+punishment.  But though confidence between them was, by this public
+discovery, restored to its proper state, it was not a subject on which
+either of them were fond of dwelling when alone.  Elinor avoided it
+upon principle, as tending to fix still more upon her thoughts, by the
+too warm, too positive assurances of Marianne, that belief of Edward's
+continued affection for herself which she rather wished to do away; and
+Marianne's courage soon failed her, in trying to converse upon a topic
+which always left her more dissatisfied with herself than ever, by the
+comparison it necessarily produced between Elinor's conduct and her own.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She felt all the force of that comparison; but not as her sister had
+hoped, to urge her to exertion now; she felt it with all the pain of
+continual self-reproach, regretted most bitterly that she had never
+exerted herself before; but it brought only the torture of penitence,
+without the hope of amendment.  Her mind was so much weakened that she
+still fancied present exertion impossible, and therefore it only
+dispirited her more.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Nothing new was heard by them, for a day or two afterwards, of affairs
+in Harley Street, or Bartlett's Buildings.  But though so much of the
+matter was known to them already, that Mrs. Jennings might have had
+enough to do in spreading that knowledge farther, without seeking after
+more, she had resolved from the first to pay a visit of comfort and
+inquiry to her cousins as soon as she could; and nothing but the
+hindrance of more visitors than usual, had prevented her going to them
+within that time.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The third day succeeding their knowledge of the particulars, was so
+fine, so beautiful a Sunday as to draw many to Kensington Gardens,
+though it was only the second week in March.  Mrs. Jennings and Elinor
+were of the number; but Marianne, who knew that the Willoughbys were
+again in town, and had a constant dread of meeting them, chose rather
+to stay at home, than venture into so public a place.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+An intimate acquaintance of Mrs. Jennings joined them soon after they
+entered the Gardens, and Elinor was not sorry that by her continuing
+with them, and engaging all Mrs. Jennings's conversation, she was
+herself left to quiet reflection.  She saw nothing of the Willoughbys,
+nothing of Edward, and for some time nothing of anybody who could by
+any chance whether grave or gay, be interesting to her.  But at last
+she found herself with some surprise, accosted by Miss Steele, who,
+though looking rather shy, expressed great satisfaction in meeting
+them, and on receiving encouragement from the particular kindness of
+Mrs. Jennings, left her own party for a short time, to join their's.
+Mrs. Jennings immediately whispered to Elinor,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Get it all out of her, my dear.  She will tell you any thing if you
+ask.  You see I cannot leave Mrs. Clarke."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was lucky, however, for Mrs. Jennings's curiosity and Elinor's too,
+that she would tell any thing WITHOUT being asked; for nothing would
+otherwise have been learnt.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am so glad to meet you;" said Miss Steele, taking her familiarly by
+the arm&mdash;"for I wanted to see you of all things in the world."  And
+then lowering her voice, "I suppose Mrs. Jennings has heard all about
+it.  Is she angry?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not at all, I believe, with you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That is a good thing.  And Lady Middleton, is SHE angry?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I cannot suppose it possible that she should."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am monstrous glad of it.  Good gracious!  I have had such a time of
+it!  I never saw Lucy in such a rage in my life.  She vowed at first
+she would never trim me up a new bonnet, nor do any thing else for me
+again, so long as she lived; but now she is quite come to, and we are
+as good friends as ever.  Look, she made me this bow to my hat, and put
+in the feather last night.  There now, YOU are going to laugh at me
+too.  But why should not I wear pink ribbons?  I do not care if it IS
+the Doctor's favourite colour.  I am sure, for my part, I should never
+have known he DID like it better than any other colour, if he had not
+happened to say so.  My cousins have been so plaguing me!  I declare
+sometimes I do not know which way to look before them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She had wandered away to a subject on which Elinor had nothing to say,
+and therefore soon judged it expedient to find her way back again to
+the first.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, but Miss Dashwood," speaking triumphantly, "people may say what
+they chuse about Mr. Ferrars's declaring he would not have Lucy, for it
+is no such thing I can tell you; and it is quite a shame for such
+ill-natured reports to be spread abroad.  Whatever Lucy might think
+about it herself, you know, it was no business of other people to set
+it down for certain."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I never heard any thing of the kind hinted at before, I assure you,"
+said Elinor.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, did not you?  But it WAS said, I know, very well, and by more than
+one; for Miss Godby told Miss Sparks, that nobody in their senses could
+expect Mr. Ferrars to give up a woman like Miss Morton, with thirty
+thousand pounds to her fortune, for Lucy Steele that had nothing at
+all; and I had it from Miss Sparks myself.  And besides that, my cousin
+Richard said himself, that when it came to the point he was afraid Mr.
+Ferrars would be off; and when Edward did not come near us for three
+days, I could not tell what to think myself; and I believe in my heart
+Lucy gave it up all for lost; for we came away from your brother's
+Wednesday, and we saw nothing of him not all Thursday, Friday, and
+Saturday, and did not know what was become of him.  Once Lucy thought
+to write to him, but then her spirits rose against that.  However this
+morning he came just as we came home from church; and then it all came
+out, how he had been sent for Wednesday to Harley Street, and been
+talked to by his mother and all of them, and how he had declared before
+them all that he loved nobody but Lucy, and nobody but Lucy would he
+have.  And how he had been so worried by what passed, that as soon as
+he had went away from his mother's house, he had got upon his horse,
+and rid into the country, some where or other; and how he had stayed
+about at an inn all Thursday and Friday, on purpose to get the better
+of it.  And after thinking it all over and over again, he said, it
+seemed to him as if, now he had no fortune, and no nothing at all, it
+would be quite unkind to keep her on to the engagement, because it must
+be for her loss, for he had nothing but two thousand pounds, and no
+hope of any thing else; and if he was to go into orders, as he had some
+thoughts, he could get nothing but a curacy, and how was they to live
+upon that?&mdash;He could not bear to think of her doing no better, and so
+he begged, if she had the least mind for it, to put an end to the
+matter directly, and leave him shift for himself.  I heard him say all
+this as plain as could possibly be.  And it was entirely for HER sake,
+and upon HER account, that he said a word about being off, and not upon
+his own.  I will take my oath he never dropt a syllable of being tired
+of her, or of wishing to marry Miss Morton, or any thing like it.  But,
+to be sure, Lucy would not give ear to such kind of talking; so she
+told him directly (with a great deal about sweet and love, you know,
+and all that&mdash;Oh, la! one can't repeat such kind of things you
+know)&mdash;she told him directly, she had not the least mind in the world
+to be off, for she could live with him upon a trifle, and how little so
+ever he might have, she should be very glad to have it all, you know,
+or something of the kind.  So then he was monstrous happy, and talked
+on some time about what they should do, and they agreed he should take
+orders directly, and they must wait to be married till he got a living.
+And just then I could not hear any more, for my cousin called from
+below to tell me Mrs. Richardson was come in her coach, and would take
+one of us to Kensington Gardens; so I was forced to go into the room
+and interrupt them, to ask Lucy if she would like to go, but she did
+not care to leave Edward; so I just run up stairs and put on a pair of
+silk stockings and came off with the Richardsons."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I do not understand what you mean by interrupting them," said Elinor;
+"you were all in the same room together, were not you?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, indeed, not us.  La! Miss Dashwood, do you think people make love
+when any body else is by?  Oh, for shame!&mdash;To be sure you must know
+better than that.  (Laughing affectedly.)&mdash;No, no; they were shut up in
+the drawing-room together, and all I heard was only by listening at the
+door."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How!" cried Elinor; "have you been repeating to me what you only
+learnt yourself by listening at the door?  I am sorry I did not know it
+before; for I certainly would not have suffered you to give me
+particulars of a conversation which you ought not to have known
+yourself.  How could you behave so unfairly by your sister?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, la! there is nothing in THAT.  I only stood at the door, and heard
+what I could.  And I am sure Lucy would have done just the same by me;
+for a year or two back, when Martha Sharpe and I had so many secrets
+together, she never made any bones of hiding in a closet, or behind a
+chimney-board, on purpose to hear what we said."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor tried to talk of something else; but Miss Steele could not be
+kept beyond a couple of minutes, from what was uppermost in her mind.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Edward talks of going to Oxford soon," said she; "but now he is
+lodging at No. &mdash;, Pall Mall.  What an ill-natured woman his mother is,
+an't she? And your brother and sister were not very kind! However, I
+shan't say anything against them to YOU; and to be sure they did send
+us home in their own chariot, which was more than I looked for.  And
+for my part, I was all in a fright for fear your sister should ask us
+for the huswifes she had gave us a day or two before; but, however,
+nothing was said about them, and I took care to keep mine out of sight.
+Edward have got some business at Oxford, he says; so he must go there
+for a time; and after THAT, as soon as he can light upon a Bishop, he
+will be ordained.  I wonder what curacy he will get!&mdash;Good gracious!
+(giggling as she spoke) I'd lay my life I know what my cousins will
+say, when they hear of it.  They will tell me I should write to the
+Doctor, to get Edward the curacy of his new living.  I know they will;
+but I am sure I would not do such a thing for all the world.&mdash; 'La!' I
+shall say directly, 'I wonder how you could think of such a thing?  I
+write to the Doctor, indeed!'"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well," said Elinor, "it is a comfort to be prepared against the worst.
+You have got your answer ready."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Miss Steele was going to reply on the same subject, but the approach of
+her own party made another more necessary.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, la! here come the Richardsons.  I had a vast deal more to say to
+you, but I must not stay away from them not any longer.  I assure you
+they are very genteel people.  He makes a monstrous deal of money, and
+they keep their own coach.  I have not time to speak to Mrs. Jennings
+about it myself, but pray tell her I am quite happy to hear she is not
+in anger against us, and Lady Middleton the same; and if anything
+should happen to take you and your sister away, and Mrs. Jennings
+should want company, I am sure we should be very glad to come and stay
+with her for as long a time as she likes.  I suppose Lady Middleton
+won't ask us any more this bout.  Good-by; I am sorry Miss Marianne was
+not here.  Remember me kindly to her.  La! if you have not got your
+spotted muslin on!&mdash;I wonder you was not afraid of its being torn."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Such was her parting concern; for after this, she had time only to pay
+her farewell compliments to Mrs. Jennings, before her company was
+claimed by Mrs. Richardson; and Elinor was left in possession of
+knowledge which might feed her powers of reflection some time, though
+she had learnt very little more than what had been already foreseen and
+foreplanned in her own mind.  Edward's marriage with Lucy was as firmly
+determined on, and the time of its taking place remained as absolutely
+uncertain, as she had concluded it would be;&mdash;every thing depended,
+exactly after her expectation, on his getting that preferment, of
+which, at present, there seemed not the smallest chance.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As soon as they returned to the carriage, Mrs. Jennings was eager for
+information; but as Elinor wished to spread as little as possible
+intelligence that had in the first place been so unfairly obtained, she
+confined herself to the brief repetition of such simple particulars, as
+she felt assured that Lucy, for the sake of her own consequence, would
+choose to have known.  The continuance of their engagement, and the
+means that were able to be taken for promoting its end, was all her
+communication; and this produced from Mrs. Jennings the following
+natural remark.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Wait for his having a living!&mdash;ay, we all know how THAT will
+end:&mdash;they will wait a twelvemonth, and finding no good comes of it,
+will set down upon a curacy of fifty pounds a-year, with the interest
+of his two thousand pounds, and what little matter Mr. Steele and Mr.
+Pratt can give her.&mdash;Then they will have a child every year! and Lord
+help 'em! how poor they will be!&mdash;I must see what I can give them
+towards furnishing their house.  Two maids and two men, indeed!&mdash;as I
+talked of t'other day.&mdash;No, no, they must get a stout girl of all
+works.&mdash; Betty's sister would never do for them NOW."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The next morning brought Elinor a letter by the two-penny post from
+Lucy herself.  It was as follows:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="salutation">
+"Bartlett's Building, March.<BR>
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"I hope my dear Miss Dashwood will excuse the
+liberty I take of writing to her; but I know your
+friendship for me will make you pleased to hear such
+a good account of myself and my dear Edward, after
+all the troubles we have went through lately,
+therefore will make no more apologies, but proceed
+to say that, thank God! though we have suffered
+dreadfully, we are both quite well now, and as happy
+as we must always be in one another's love.  We have
+had great trials, and great persecutions, but
+however, at the same time, gratefully acknowledge
+many friends, yourself not the least among them,
+whose great kindness I shall always thankfully
+remember, as will Edward too, who I have told of
+it.  I am sure you will be glad to hear, as likewise
+dear Mrs. Jennings, I spent two happy hours with
+him yesterday afternoon, he would not hear of our
+parting, though earnestly did I, as I thought my
+duty required, urge him to it for prudence sake,
+and would have parted for ever on the spot, would
+he consent to it; but he said it should never be,
+he did not regard his mother's anger, while he could
+have my affections; our prospects are not very
+bright, to be sure, but we must wait, and hope for
+the best; he will be ordained shortly; and should
+it ever be in your power to recommend him to any
+body that has a living to bestow, am very sure you
+will not forget us, and dear Mrs. Jennings too,
+trust she will speak a good word for us to Sir John,
+or Mr. Palmer, or any friend that may be able to
+assist us.&mdash;Poor Anne was much to blame for what
+she did, but she did it for the best, so I say
+nothing; hope Mrs. Jennings won't think it too much
+trouble to give us a call, should she come this way
+any morning, 'twould be a great kindness, and my
+cousins would be proud to know her.&mdash;My paper reminds
+me to conclude; and begging to be most gratefully
+and respectfully remembered to her, and to Sir John,
+and Lady Middleton, and the dear children, when you
+chance to see them, and love to Miss Marianne,
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="closing">
+"I am, &amp;c."<BR>
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As soon as Elinor had finished it, she performed what she concluded to
+be its writer's real design, by placing it in the hands of Mrs.
+Jennings, who read it aloud with many comments of satisfaction and
+praise.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Very well indeed!&mdash;how prettily she writes!&mdash;aye, that was quite
+proper to let him be off if he would.  That was just like Lucy.&mdash;Poor
+soul! I wish I COULD get him a living, with all my heart.&mdash;She calls me
+dear Mrs. Jennings, you see.  She is a good-hearted girl as ever
+lived.&mdash;Very well upon my word.  That sentence is very prettily turned.
+Yes, yes, I will go and see her, sure enough.  How attentive she is, to
+think of every body!&mdash;Thank you, my dear, for shewing it me.  It is as
+pretty a letter as ever I saw, and does Lucy's head and heart great
+credit."
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap39"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 39
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+The Miss Dashwoods had now been rather more than two months in town,
+and Marianne's impatience to be gone increased every day.  She sighed
+for the air, the liberty, the quiet of the country; and fancied that if
+any place could give her ease, Barton must do it.  Elinor was hardly
+less anxious than herself for their removal, and only so much less bent
+on its being effected immediately, as that she was conscious of the
+difficulties of so long a journey, which Marianne could not be brought
+to acknowledge.  She began, however, seriously to turn her thoughts
+towards its accomplishment, and had already mentioned their wishes to
+their kind hostess, who resisted them with all the eloquence of her
+good-will, when a plan was suggested, which, though detaining them from
+home yet a few weeks longer, appeared to Elinor altogether much more
+eligible than any other. The Palmers were to remove to Cleveland about
+the end of March, for the Easter holidays; and Mrs. Jennings, with both
+her friends, received a very warm invitation from Charlotte to go with
+them.  This would not, in itself, have been sufficient for the delicacy
+of Miss Dashwood;&mdash;but it was inforced with so much real politeness by
+Mr. Palmer himself, as, joined to the very great amendment of his
+manners towards them since her sister had been known to be unhappy,
+induced her to accept it with pleasure.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When she told Marianne what she had done, however, her first reply was
+not very auspicious.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Cleveland!"&mdash;she cried, with great agitation.  "No, I cannot go to
+Cleveland."&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You forget," said Elinor gently, "that its situation is not...that it
+is not in the neighbourhood of..."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But it is in Somersetshire.&mdash;I cannot go into Somersetshire.&mdash;There,
+where I looked forward to going...No, Elinor, you cannot expect me to
+go there."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor would not argue upon the propriety of overcoming such
+feelings;&mdash;she only endeavoured to counteract them by working on
+others;&mdash;represented it, therefore, as a measure which would fix the
+time of her returning to that dear mother, whom she so much wished to
+see, in a more eligible, more comfortable manner, than any other plan
+could do, and perhaps without any greater delay.  From Cleveland, which
+was within a few miles of Bristol, the distance to Barton was not
+beyond one day, though a long day's journey; and their mother's servant
+might easily come there to attend them down; and as there could be no
+occasion of their staying above a week at Cleveland, they might now be
+at home in little more than three weeks' time.  As Marianne's affection
+for her mother was sincere, it must triumph with little difficulty,
+over the imaginary evils she had started.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Jennings was so far from being weary of her guest, that she
+pressed them very earnestly to return with her again from Cleveland.
+Elinor was grateful for the attention, but it could not alter her
+design; and their mother's concurrence being readily gained, every
+thing relative to their return was arranged as far as it could be;&mdash;and
+Marianne found some relief in drawing up a statement of the hours that
+were yet to divide her from Barton.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ah! Colonel, I do not know what you and I shall do without the Miss
+Dashwoods;"&mdash;was Mrs. Jennings's address to him when he first called on
+her, after their leaving her was settled&mdash;"for they are quite resolved
+upon going home from the Palmers;&mdash;and how forlorn we shall be, when I
+come back!&mdash;Lord! we shall sit and gape at one another as dull as two
+cats."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Perhaps Mrs. Jennings was in hopes, by this vigorous sketch of their
+future ennui, to provoke him to make that offer, which might give
+himself an escape from it;&mdash;and if so, she had soon afterwards good
+reason to think her object gained; for, on Elinor's moving to the
+window to take more expeditiously the dimensions of a print, which she
+was going to copy for her friend, he followed her to it with a look of
+particular meaning, and conversed with her there for several minutes.
+The effect of his discourse on the lady too, could not escape her
+observation, for though she was too honorable to listen, and had even
+changed her seat, on purpose that she might NOT hear, to one close by
+the piano forte on which Marianne was playing, she could not keep
+herself from seeing that Elinor changed colour, attended with
+agitation, and was too intent on what he said to pursue her
+employment.&mdash; Still farther in confirmation of her hopes, in the
+interval of Marianne's turning from one lesson to another, some words
+of the Colonel's inevitably reached her ear, in which he seemed to be
+apologising for the badness of his house.  This set the matter beyond a
+doubt.  She wondered, indeed, at his thinking it necessary to do so;
+but supposed it to be the proper etiquette.  What Elinor said in reply
+she could not distinguish, but judged from the motion of her lips, that
+she did not think THAT any material objection;&mdash;and Mrs. Jennings
+commended her in her heart for being so honest.  They then talked on
+for a few minutes longer without her catching a syllable, when another
+lucky stop in Marianne's performance brought her these words in the
+Colonel's calm voice,&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am afraid it cannot take place very soon."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Astonished and shocked at so unlover-like a speech, she was almost
+ready to cry out, "Lord! what should hinder it?"&mdash;but checking her
+desire, confined herself to this silent ejaculation.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"This is very strange!&mdash;sure he need not wait to be older."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This delay on the Colonel's side, however, did not seem to offend or
+mortify his fair companion in the least, for on their breaking up the
+conference soon afterwards, and moving different ways, Mrs. Jennings
+very plainly heard Elinor say, and with a voice which shewed her to
+feel what she said,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I shall always think myself very much obliged to you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Jennings was delighted with her gratitude, and only wondered that
+after hearing such a sentence, the Colonel should be able to take leave
+of them, as he immediately did, with the utmost sang-froid, and go away
+without making her any reply!&mdash;She had not thought her old friend could
+have made so indifferent a suitor.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+What had really passed between them was to this effect.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have heard," said he, with great compassion, "of the injustice your
+friend Mr. Ferrars has suffered from his family; for if I understand
+the matter right, he has been entirely cast off by them for persevering
+in his engagement with a very deserving young woman.&mdash; Have I been
+rightly informed?&mdash;Is it so?&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor told him that it was.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The cruelty, the impolitic cruelty,"&mdash;he replied, with great
+feeling,&mdash;"of dividing, or attempting to divide, two young people long
+attached to each other, is terrible.&mdash; Mrs. Ferrars does not know what
+she may be doing&mdash;what she may drive her son to.  I have seen Mr.
+Ferrars two or three times in Harley Street, and am much pleased with
+him.  He is not a young man with whom one can be intimately acquainted
+in a short time, but I have seen enough of him to wish him well for his
+own sake, and as a friend of yours, I wish it still more.  I understand
+that he intends to take orders.  Will you be so good as to tell him
+that the living of Delaford, now just vacant, as I am informed by this
+day's post, is his, if he think it worth his acceptance&mdash;but THAT,
+perhaps, so unfortunately circumstanced as he is now, it may be
+nonsense to appear to doubt; I only wish it were more  valuable.&mdash; It
+is a rectory, but a small one; the late incumbent, I believe, did not
+make more than 200 L per annum, and though it is certainly capable of
+improvement, I fear, not to such an amount as to afford him a very
+comfortable income.  Such as it is, however, my pleasure in presenting
+him to it, will be very great.  Pray assure him of it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor's astonishment at this commission could hardly have been
+greater, had the Colonel been really making her an offer of his hand.
+The preferment, which only two days before she had considered as
+hopeless for Edward, was already provided to enable him to marry;&mdash;and
+SHE, of all people in the world, was fixed on to bestow it!&mdash;Her
+emotion was such as Mrs. Jennings had attributed to a very different
+cause;&mdash;but whatever minor feelings less pure, less pleasing, might
+have a share in that emotion, her esteem for the general benevolence,
+and her gratitude for the particular friendship, which together
+prompted Colonel Brandon to this act, were strongly felt, and warmly
+expressed.  She thanked him for it with all her heart, spoke of
+Edward's principles and disposition with that praise which she knew
+them to deserve; and promised to undertake the commission with
+pleasure, if it were really his wish to put off so agreeable an office
+to another.  But at the same time, she could not help thinking that no
+one could so well perform it as himself.  It was an office in short,
+from which, unwilling to give Edward the pain of receiving an
+obligation from HER, she would have been very glad to be spared
+herself;&mdash; but Colonel Brandon, on motives of equal delicacy, declining
+it likewise, still seemed so desirous of its being given through her
+means, that she would not on any account make farther opposition.
+Edward, she believed, was still in town, and fortunately she had heard
+his address from Miss Steele.  She could undertake therefore to inform
+him of it, in the course of the day.  After this had been settled,
+Colonel Brandon began to talk of his own advantage in securing so
+respectable and agreeable a neighbour, and THEN it was that he
+mentioned with regret, that the house was small and indifferent;&mdash;an
+evil which Elinor, as Mrs. Jennings had supposed her to do, made very
+light of, at least as far as regarded its size.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The smallness of the house," said she, "I cannot imagine any
+inconvenience to them, for it will be in proportion to their family and
+income."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+By which the Colonel was surprised to find that SHE was considering Mr.
+Ferrars's marriage as the certain consequence of the presentation; for
+he did not suppose it possible that Delaford living could supply such
+an income, as anybody in his style of life would venture to settle
+on&mdash;and he said so.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"This little rectory CAN do no more than make Mr. Ferrars comfortable
+as a bachelor; it cannot enable him to marry.  I am sorry to say that
+my patronage ends with this; and my interest is hardly more extensive.
+If, however, by an unforeseen chance it should be in my power to serve
+him farther, I must think very differently of him from what I now do,
+if I am not as ready to be useful to him then as I sincerely wish I
+could be at present.  What I am now doing indeed, seems nothing at all,
+since it can advance him so little towards what must be his principal,
+his only object of happiness.  His marriage must still be a distant
+good;&mdash;at least, I am afraid it cannot take place very soon.&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Such was the sentence which, when misunderstood, so justly offended the
+delicate feelings of Mrs. Jennings; but after this narration of what
+really passed between Colonel Brandon and Elinor, while they stood at
+the window, the gratitude expressed by the latter on their parting, may
+perhaps appear in general, not less reasonably excited, nor less
+properly worded than if it had arisen from an offer of marriage.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap40"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 40
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+"Well, Miss Dashwood," said Mrs. Jennings, sagaciously smiling, as soon
+as the gentleman had withdrawn, "I do not ask you what the Colonel has
+been saying to you; for though, upon my honour, I TRIED to keep out of
+hearing, I could not help catching enough to understand his business.
+And I assure you I never was better pleased in my life, and I wish you
+joy of it with all my heart."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Thank you, ma'am," said Elinor.  "It is a matter of great joy to me;
+and I feel the goodness of Colonel Brandon most sensibly.  There are
+not many men who would act as he has done.  Few people who have so
+compassionate a heart!  I never was more astonished in my life."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Lord! my dear, you are very modest.  I an't the least astonished at it
+in the world, for I have often thought of late, there was nothing more
+likely to happen."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You judged from your knowledge of the Colonel's general benevolence;
+but at least you could not foresee that the opportunity would so very
+soon occur."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Opportunity!" repeated Mrs. Jennings&mdash;"Oh! as to that, when a man has
+once made up his mind to such a thing, somehow or other he will soon
+find an opportunity.  Well, my dear, I wish you joy of it again and
+again; and if ever there was a happy couple in the world, I think I
+shall soon know where to look for them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You mean to go to Delaford after them I suppose," said Elinor, with a
+faint smile.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Aye, my dear, that I do, indeed.  And as to the house being a bad one,
+I do not know what the Colonel would be at, for it is as good a one as
+ever I saw."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He spoke of its being out of repair."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, and whose fault is that? why don't he repair it?&mdash;who should do
+it but himself?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They were interrupted by the servant's coming in to announce the
+carriage being at the door; and Mrs. Jennings immediately preparing to
+go, said,&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, my dear, I must be gone before I have had half my talk out.
+But, however, we may have it all over in the evening; for we shall be
+quite alone.  I do not ask you to go with me, for I dare say your mind
+is too full of the matter to care for company; and besides, you must
+long to tell your sister all about it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne had left the room before the conversation began.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly, ma'am, I shall tell Marianne of it; but I shall not mention
+it at present to any body else."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh! very well," said Mrs. Jennings rather disappointed.  "Then you
+would not have me tell it to Lucy, for I think of going as far as
+Holborn to-day."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, ma'am, not even Lucy if you please.  One day's delay will not be
+very material; and till I have written to Mr. Ferrars, I think it ought
+not to be mentioned to any body else.  I shall do THAT directly.  It is
+of importance that no time should be lost with him, for he will of
+course have much to do relative to his ordination."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This speech at first puzzled Mrs. Jennings exceedingly.  Why Mr.
+Ferrars was to have been written to about it in such a hurry, she could
+not immediately comprehend.  A few moments' reflection, however,
+produced a very happy idea, and she exclaimed;&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, ho!&mdash;I understand you.  Mr. Ferrars is to be the man.  Well, so
+much the better for him.  Ay, to be sure, he must be ordained in
+readiness; and I am very glad to find things are so forward between
+you.  But, my dear, is not this rather out of character?  Should not
+the Colonel write himself?&mdash;sure, he is the proper person."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor did not quite understand the beginning of Mrs. Jennings's
+speech, neither did she think it worth inquiring into; and therefore
+only replied to its conclusion.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Colonel Brandon is so delicate a man, that he rather wished any one to
+announce his intentions to Mr. Ferrars than himself."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And so YOU are forced to do it.  Well THAT is an odd kind of delicacy!
+However, I will not disturb you (seeing her preparing to write.)  You
+know your own concerns best.  So goodby, my dear.  I have not heard of
+any thing to please me so well since Charlotte was brought to bed."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+And away she went; but returning again in a moment,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have just been thinking of Betty's sister, my dear.  I should be
+very glad to get her so good a mistress.  But whether she would do for
+a lady's maid, I am sure I can't tell.  She is an excellent housemaid,
+and works very well at her needle.  However, you will think of all that
+at your leisure."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly, ma'am," replied Elinor, not hearing much of what she said,
+and more anxious to be alone, than to be mistress of the subject.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+How she should begin&mdash;how she should express herself in her note to
+Edward, was now all her concern.  The particular circumstances between
+them made a difficulty of that which to any other person would have
+been the easiest thing in the world; but she equally feared to say too
+much or too little, and sat deliberating over her paper, with the pen
+in her hand, till broken in on by the entrance of Edward himself.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He had met Mrs. Jennings at the door in her way to the carriage, as he
+came to leave his farewell card; and she, after apologising for not
+returning herself, had obliged him to enter, by saying that Miss
+Dashwood was above, and wanted to speak with him on very particular
+business.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor had just been congratulating herself, in the midst of her
+perplexity, that however difficult it might be to express herself
+properly by letter, it was at least preferable to giving the
+information by word of mouth, when her visitor entered, to force her
+upon this greatest exertion of all.  Her astonishment and confusion
+were very great on his so sudden appearance.  She had not seen him
+before since his engagement became public, and therefore not since his
+knowing her to be acquainted with it; which, with the consciousness of
+what she had been thinking of, and what she had to tell him, made her
+feel particularly uncomfortable for some minutes.  He too was much
+distressed; and they sat down together in a most promising state of
+embarrassment.&mdash;Whether he had asked her pardon for his intrusion on
+first coming into the room, he could not recollect; but determining to
+be on the safe side, he made his apology in form as soon as he could
+say any thing, after taking a chair.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mrs. Jennings told me," said he, "that you wished to speak with me, at
+least I understood her so&mdash;or I certainly should not have intruded on
+you in such a manner; though at the same time, I should have been
+extremely sorry to leave London without seeing you and your sister;
+especially as it will most likely be some time&mdash;it is not probable that
+I should soon have the pleasure of meeting you again.  I go to Oxford
+tomorrow."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You would not have gone, however," said Elinor, recovering herself,
+and determined to get over what she so much dreaded as soon as
+possible, "without receiving our good wishes, even if we had not been
+able to give them in person.  Mrs. Jennings was quite right in what she
+said.  I have something of consequence to inform you of, which I was on
+the point of communicating by paper.  I am charged with a most
+agreeable office (breathing rather faster than usual as she spoke.)
+Colonel Brandon, who was here only ten minutes ago, has desired me to
+say, that understanding you mean to take orders, he has great pleasure
+in offering you the living of Delaford now just vacant, and only wishes
+it were more valuable.  Allow me to congratulate you on having so
+respectable and well-judging a friend, and to join in his wish that the
+living&mdash;it is about two hundred a-year&mdash;were much more considerable,
+and such as might better enable you to&mdash;as might be more than a
+temporary accommodation to yourself&mdash;such, in short, as might establish
+all your views of happiness."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+What Edward felt, as he could not say it himself, it cannot be expected
+that any one else should say for him.  He LOOKED all the astonishment
+which such unexpected, such unthought-of information could not fail of
+exciting; but he said only these two words,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Colonel Brandon!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes," continued Elinor, gathering more resolution, as some of the
+worst was over, "Colonel Brandon means it as a testimony of his concern
+for what has lately passed&mdash;for the cruel situation in which the
+unjustifiable conduct of your family has placed you&mdash;a concern which I
+am sure Marianne, myself, and all your friends, must share; and
+likewise as a proof of his high esteem for your general character, and
+his particular approbation of your behaviour on the present occasion."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Colonel Brandon give ME a living!&mdash;Can it be possible?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The unkindness of your own relations has made you astonished to find
+friendship any where."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No," replied be, with sudden consciousness, "not to find it in YOU;
+for I cannot be ignorant that to you, to your goodness, I owe it
+all.&mdash;I feel it&mdash;I would express it if I could&mdash;but, as you well know,
+I am no orator."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You are very much mistaken.  I do assure you that you owe it entirely,
+at least almost entirely, to your own merit, and Colonel Brandon's
+discernment of it.  I have had no hand in it.  I did not even know,
+till I understood his design, that the living was vacant; nor had it
+ever occurred to me that he might have had such a living in his gift.
+As a friend of mine, of my family, he may, perhaps&mdash;indeed I know he
+HAS, still greater pleasure in bestowing it; but, upon my word, you owe
+nothing to my solicitation."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Truth obliged her to acknowledge some small share in the action, but
+she was at the same time so unwilling to appear as the benefactress of
+Edward, that she acknowledged it with hesitation; which probably
+contributed to fix that suspicion in his mind which had recently
+entered it.  For a short time he sat deep in thought, after Elinor had
+ceased to speak;&mdash;at last, and as if it were rather an effort, he said,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Colonel Brandon seems a man of great worth and respectability.  I have
+always heard him spoken of as such, and your brother I know esteems him
+highly.  He is undoubtedly a sensible man, and in his manners perfectly
+the gentleman."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Indeed," replied Elinor, "I believe that you will find him, on farther
+acquaintance, all that you have heard him to be, and as you will be
+such very near neighbours (for I understand the parsonage is almost
+close to the mansion-house,) it is particularly important that he
+SHOULD be all this."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Edward made no answer; but when she had turned away her head, gave her
+a look so serious, so earnest, so uncheerful, as seemed to say, that he
+might hereafter wish the distance between the parsonage and the
+mansion-house much greater.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Colonel Brandon, I think, lodges in St. James Street," said he, soon
+afterwards, rising from his chair.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor told him the number of the house.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I must hurry away then, to give him those thanks which you will not
+allow me to give YOU; to assure him that he has made me a very&mdash;an
+exceedingly happy man."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor did not offer to detain him; and they parted, with a very
+earnest assurance on HER side of her unceasing good wishes for his
+happiness in every change of situation that might befall him; on HIS,
+with rather an attempt to return the same good will, than the power of
+expressing it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"When I see him again," said Elinor to herself, as the door shut him
+out, "I shall see him the husband of Lucy."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+And with this pleasing anticipation, she sat down to reconsider the
+past, recall the words and endeavour to comprehend all the feelings of
+Edward; and, of course, to reflect on her own with discontent.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When Mrs. Jennings came home, though she returned from seeing people
+whom she had never seen before, and of whom therefore she must have a
+great deal to say, her mind was so much more occupied by the important
+secret in her possession, than by anything else, that she reverted to
+it again as soon as Elinor appeared.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, my dear," she cried, "I sent you up to the young man.  Did not I
+do right?&mdash;And I suppose you had no great difficulty&mdash;You did not find
+him very unwilling to accept your proposal?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, ma'am; THAT was not very likely."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, and how soon will he be ready?&mdash;For it seems all to depend upon
+that."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Really," said Elinor, "I know so little of these kind of forms, that I
+can hardly even conjecture as to the time, or the preparation
+necessary; but I suppose two or three months will complete his
+ordination."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Two or three months!" cried Mrs. Jennings; "Lord! my dear, how calmly
+you talk of it; and can the Colonel wait two or three months! Lord
+bless me!&mdash;I am sure it would put ME quite out of patience!&mdash;And though
+one would be very glad to do a kindness by poor Mr. Ferrars, I do think
+it is not worth while to wait two or three months for him.  Sure
+somebody else might be found that would do as well; somebody that is in
+orders already."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My dear ma'am," said Elinor, "what can you be thinking of?&mdash; Why,
+Colonel Brandon's only object is to be of use to Mr. Ferrars."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Lord bless you, my dear!&mdash;Sure you do not mean to persuade me that the
+Colonel only marries you for the sake of giving ten guineas to Mr.
+Ferrars!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The deception could not continue after this; and an explanation
+immediately took place, by which both gained considerable amusement for
+the moment, without any material loss of happiness to either, for Mrs.
+Jennings only exchanged one form of delight for another, and still
+without forfeiting her expectation of the first.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Aye, aye, the parsonage is but a small one," said she, after the first
+ebullition of surprise and satisfaction was over, "and very likely MAY
+be out of repair; but to hear a man apologising, as I thought, for a
+house that to my knowledge has five sitting rooms on the ground-floor,
+and I think the housekeeper told me could make up fifteen beds!&mdash;and to
+you too, that had been used to live in Barton cottage!&mdash; It seems quite
+ridiculous.  But, my dear, we must touch up the Colonel to do some
+thing to the parsonage, and make it comfortable for them, before Lucy
+goes to it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But Colonel Brandon does not seem to have any idea of the living's
+being enough to allow them to marry."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The Colonel is a ninny, my dear; because he has two thousand a-year
+himself, he thinks that nobody else can marry on less.  Take my word
+for it, that, if I am alive, I shall be paying a visit at Delaford
+Parsonage before Michaelmas; and I am sure I shan't go if Lucy an't
+there."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor was quite of her opinion, as to the probability of their not
+waiting for any thing more.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap41"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 41
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Edward, having carried his thanks to Colonel Brandon, proceeded with
+his happiness to Lucy; and such was the excess of it by the time he
+reached Bartlett's Buildings, that she was able to assure Mrs.
+Jennings, who called on her again the next day with her
+congratulations, that she had never seen him in such spirits before in
+her life.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Her own happiness, and her own spirits, were at least very certain; and
+she joined Mrs. Jennings most heartily in her expectation of their
+being all comfortably together in Delaford Parsonage before Michaelmas.
+So far was she, at the same time, from any backwardness to give Elinor
+that credit which Edward WOULD give her, that she spoke of her
+friendship for them both with the most grateful warmth, was ready to
+own all their obligation to her, and openly declared that no exertion
+for their good on Miss Dashwood's part, either present or future, would
+ever surprise her, for she believed her capable of doing any thing in
+the world for those she really valued.  As for Colonel Brandon, she was
+not only ready to worship him as a saint, but was moreover truly
+anxious that he should be treated as one in all worldly concerns;
+anxious that his tithes should be raised to the utmost; and scarcely
+resolved to avail herself, at Delaford, as far as she possibly could,
+of his servants, his carriage, his cows, and his poultry.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was now above a week since John Dashwood had called in Berkeley
+Street, and as since that time no notice had been taken by them of his
+wife's indisposition, beyond one verbal enquiry, Elinor began to feel
+it necessary to pay her a visit.&mdash;This was an obligation, however,
+which not only opposed her own inclination, but which had not the
+assistance of any encouragement from her companions.  Marianne, not
+contented with absolutely refusing to go herself, was very urgent to
+prevent her sister's going at all; and Mrs. Jennings, though her
+carriage was always at Elinor's service, so very much disliked Mrs.
+John Dashwood, that not even her curiosity to see how she looked after
+the late discovery, nor her strong desire to affront her by taking
+Edward's part, could overcome her unwillingness to be in her company
+again.  The consequence was, that Elinor set out by herself to pay a
+visit, for which no one could really have less inclination, and to run
+the risk of a tete-a-tete with a woman, whom neither of the others had
+so much reason to dislike.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood was denied; but before the carriage could turn from the
+house, her husband accidentally came out.  He expressed great pleasure
+in meeting Elinor, told her that he had been just going to call in
+Berkeley Street, and, assuring her that Fanny would be very glad to see
+her, invited her to come in.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They walked up stairs in to the drawing-room.&mdash;Nobody was there.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Fanny is in her own room, I suppose," said he:&mdash;"I will go to her
+presently, for I am sure she will not have the least objection in the
+world to seeing YOU.&mdash; Very far from it, indeed.  NOW especially there
+cannot be&mdash;but however, you and Marianne were always great
+favourites.&mdash;Why would not Marianne come?"&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor made what excuse she could for her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am not sorry to see you alone," he replied, "for I have a good deal
+to say to you.  This living of Colonel Brandon's&mdash;can it be true?&mdash;has
+he really given it to Edward?&mdash;I heard it yesterday by chance, and was
+coming to you on purpose to enquire farther about it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is perfectly true.&mdash;Colonel Brandon has given the living of
+Delaford to Edward."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Really!&mdash;Well, this is very astonishing!&mdash;no relationship!&mdash;no
+connection between them!&mdash;and now that livings fetch such a
+price!&mdash;what was the value of this?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"About two hundred a year."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Very well&mdash;and for the next presentation to a living of that
+value&mdash;supposing the late incumbent to have been old and sickly, and
+likely to vacate it soon&mdash;he might have got I dare say&mdash;fourteen
+hundred pounds.  And how came he not to have settled that matter before
+this person's death?&mdash;NOW indeed it would be too late to sell it, but a
+man of Colonel Brandon's sense!&mdash;I wonder he should be so improvident
+in a point of such common, such natural, concern!&mdash;Well, I am convinced
+that there is a vast deal of inconsistency in almost every human
+character.  I suppose, however&mdash;on recollection&mdash;that the case may
+probably be THIS.  Edward is only to hold the living till the person to
+whom the Colonel has really sold the presentation, is old enough to
+take it.&mdash;Aye, aye, that is the fact, depend upon it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor contradicted it, however, very positively; and by relating that
+she had herself been employed in conveying the offer from Colonel
+Brandon to Edward, and, therefore, must understand the terms on which
+it was given, obliged him to submit to her authority.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is truly astonishing!"&mdash;he cried, after hearing what she
+said&mdash;"what could be the Colonel's motive?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"A very simple one&mdash;to be of use to Mr. Ferrars."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, well; whatever Colonel Brandon may be, Edward is a very lucky
+man.&mdash;You will not mention the matter to Fanny, however, for though I
+have broke it to her, and she bears it vastly well,&mdash;she will not like
+to hear it much talked of."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor had some difficulty here to refrain from observing, that she
+thought Fanny might have borne with composure, an acquisition of wealth
+to her brother, by which neither she nor her child could be possibly
+impoverished.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mrs. Ferrars," added he, lowering his voice to the tone becoming so
+important a subject, "knows nothing about it at present, and I believe
+it will be best to keep it entirely concealed from her as long as may
+be.&mdash; When the marriage takes place, I fear she must hear of it all."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But why should such precaution be used?&mdash;Though it is not to be
+supposed that Mrs. Ferrars can have the smallest satisfaction in
+knowing that her son has money enough to live upon,&mdash;for THAT must be
+quite out of the question; yet why, upon her late behaviour, is she
+supposed to feel at all?&mdash;She has done with her son, she cast him off
+for ever, and has made all those over whom she had any influence, cast
+him off likewise.  Surely, after doing so, she cannot be imagined
+liable to any impression of sorrow or of joy on his account&mdash;she cannot
+be interested in any thing that befalls him.&mdash; She would not be so weak
+as to throw away the comfort of a child, and yet retain the anxiety of
+a parent!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ah! Elinor," said John, "your reasoning is very good, but it is
+founded on ignorance of human nature.  When Edward's unhappy match
+takes place, depend upon it his mother will feel as much as if she had
+never discarded him; and, therefore every circumstance that may
+accelerate that dreadful event, must be concealed from her as much as
+possible.  Mrs. Ferrars can never forget that Edward is her son."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You surprise me; I should think it must nearly have escaped her memory
+by THIS time."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You wrong her exceedingly.  Mrs. Ferrars is one of the most
+affectionate mothers in the world."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor was silent.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We think NOW,"&mdash;said Mr. Dashwood, after a short pause, "of ROBERT'S
+marrying Miss Morton."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor, smiling at the grave and decisive importance of her brother's
+tone, calmly replied,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The lady, I suppose, has no choice in the affair."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Choice!&mdash;how do you mean?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I only mean that I suppose, from your manner of speaking, it must be
+the same to Miss Morton whether she marry Edward or Robert."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly, there can be no difference; for Robert will now to all
+intents and purposes be considered as the eldest son;&mdash;and as to any
+thing else, they are both very agreeable young men: I do not know that
+one is superior to the other."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor said no more, and John was also for a short time silent.&mdash;His
+reflections ended thus.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Of ONE thing, my dear sister," kindly taking her hand, and speaking in
+an awful whisper,&mdash;"I may assure you;&mdash;and I WILL do it, because I know
+it must gratify you.  I have good reason to think&mdash;indeed I have it
+from the best authority, or I should not repeat it, for otherwise it
+would be very wrong to say any thing about it&mdash;but I have it from the
+very best authority&mdash;not that I ever precisely heard Mrs. Ferrars say
+it herself&mdash;but her daughter DID, and I have it from her&mdash;That in
+short, whatever objections there might be against a certain&mdash;a certain
+connection&mdash;you understand me&mdash;it would have been far preferable to
+her, it would not have given her half the vexation that THIS does.  I
+was exceedingly pleased to hear that Mrs. Ferrars considered it in that
+light&mdash;a very gratifying circumstance you know to us all.  'It would
+have been beyond comparison,' she said, 'the least evil of the two, and
+she would be glad to compound NOW for nothing worse.' But however, all
+that is quite out of the question&mdash;not to be thought of or
+mentioned&mdash;as to any attachment you know&mdash;it never could be&mdash;all that
+is gone by.  But I thought I would just tell you of this, because I
+knew how much it must please you.  Not that you have any reason to
+regret, my dear Elinor.  There is no doubt of your doing exceedingly
+well&mdash;quite as well, or better, perhaps, all things considered.  Has
+Colonel Brandon been with you lately?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor had heard enough, if not to gratify her vanity, and raise her
+self-importance, to agitate her nerves and fill her mind;&mdash;and she was
+therefore glad to be spared from the necessity of saying much in reply
+herself, and from the danger of hearing any thing more from her
+brother, by the entrance of Mr. Robert Ferrars.  After a few moments'
+chat, John Dashwood, recollecting that Fanny was yet uninformed of her
+sister's being there, quitted the room in quest of her; and Elinor was
+left to improve her acquaintance with Robert, who, by the gay
+unconcern, the happy self-complacency of his manner while enjoying so
+unfair a division of his mother's love and liberality, to the prejudice
+of his banished brother, earned only by his own dissipated course of
+life, and that brother's integrity, was confirming her most
+unfavourable opinion of his head and heart.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They had scarcely been two minutes by themselves, before he began to
+speak of Edward; for he, too, had heard of the living, and was very
+inquisitive on the subject.  Elinor repeated the particulars of it, as
+she had given them to John; and their effect on Robert, though very
+different, was not less striking than it had been on HIM.  He laughed
+most immoderately.  The idea of Edward's being a clergyman, and living
+in a small parsonage-house, diverted him beyond measure;&mdash;and when to
+that was added the fanciful imagery of Edward reading prayers in a
+white surplice, and publishing the banns of marriage between John Smith
+and Mary Brown, he could conceive nothing more ridiculous.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor, while she waited in silence and immovable gravity, the
+conclusion of such folly, could not restrain her eyes from being fixed
+on him with a look that spoke all the contempt it excited.  It was a
+look, however, very well bestowed, for it relieved her own feelings,
+and gave no intelligence to him.  He was recalled from wit to wisdom,
+not by any reproof of her's, but by his own sensibility.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We may treat it as a joke," said he, at last, recovering from the
+affected laugh which had considerably lengthened out the genuine gaiety
+of the moment&mdash;"but, upon my soul, it is a most serious business.  Poor
+Edward!  he is ruined for ever.  I am extremely sorry for it&mdash;for I
+know him to be a very good-hearted creature; as well-meaning a fellow
+perhaps, as any in the world.  You must not judge of him, Miss
+Dashwood, from YOUR slight acquaintance.&mdash;Poor Edward!&mdash;His manners are
+certainly not the happiest in nature.&mdash;But we are not all born, you
+know, with the same powers,&mdash;the same address.&mdash; Poor fellow!&mdash;to see
+him in a circle of strangers!&mdash;to be sure it was pitiable enough!&mdash;but
+upon my soul, I believe he has as good a heart as any in the kingdom;
+and I declare and protest to you I never was so shocked in my life, as
+when it all burst forth.  I could not believe it.&mdash; My mother was the
+first person who told me of it; and I, feeling myself called on to act
+with resolution, immediately said to her, 'My dear madam, I do not know
+what you may intend to do on the occasion, but as for myself, I must
+say, that if Edward does marry this young woman, I never will see him
+again.' That was what I said immediately.&mdash; I was most uncommonly
+shocked, indeed!&mdash;Poor Edward!&mdash;he has done for himself
+completely&mdash;shut himself out for ever from all decent society!&mdash;but, as
+I directly said to my mother, I am not in the least surprised at it;
+from his style of education, it was always to be expected.  My poor
+mother was half frantic."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Have you ever seen the lady?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes; once, while she was staying in this house, I happened to drop in
+for ten minutes; and I saw quite enough of her.  The merest awkward
+country girl, without style, or elegance, and almost without beauty.&mdash;
+I remember her perfectly.  Just the kind of girl I should suppose
+likely to captivate poor Edward.  I offered immediately, as soon as my
+mother related the affair to me, to talk to him myself, and dissuade
+him from the match; but it was too late THEN, I found, to do any thing,
+for unluckily, I was not in the way at first, and knew nothing of it
+till after the breach had taken place, when it was not for me, you
+know, to interfere.  But had I been informed of it a few hours
+earlier&mdash;I think it is most probable&mdash;that something might have been
+hit on.  I certainly should have represented it to Edward in a very
+strong light.  'My dear fellow,' I should have said, 'consider what you
+are doing.  You are making a most disgraceful connection, and such a
+one as your family are unanimous in disapproving.' I cannot help
+thinking, in short, that means might have been found.  But now it is
+all too late.  He must be starved, you know;&mdash;that is certain;
+absolutely starved."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He had just settled this point with great composure, when the entrance
+of Mrs. John Dashwood put an end to the subject.  But though SHE never
+spoke of it out of her own family, Elinor could see its influence on
+her mind, in the something like confusion of countenance with which she
+entered, and an attempt at cordiality in her behaviour to herself.  She
+even proceeded so far as to be concerned to find that Elinor and her
+sister were so soon to leave town, as she had hoped to see more of
+them;&mdash;an exertion in which her husband, who attended her into the
+room, and hung enamoured over her accents, seemed to distinguish every
+thing that was most affectionate and graceful.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap42"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 42
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+One other short call in Harley Street, in which Elinor received her
+brother's congratulations on their travelling so far towards Barton
+without any expense, and on Colonel Brandon's being to follow them to
+Cleveland in a day or two, completed the intercourse of the brother and
+sisters in town;&mdash;and a faint invitation from Fanny, to come to Norland
+whenever it should happen to be in their way, which of all things was
+the most unlikely to occur, with a more warm, though less public,
+assurance, from John to Elinor, of the promptitude with which he should
+come to see her at Delaford, was all that foretold any meeting in the
+country.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It amused her to observe that all her friends seemed determined to send
+her to Delaford;&mdash;a place, in which, of all others, she would now least
+chuse to visit, or wish to reside; for not only was it considered as
+her future home by her brother and Mrs. Jennings, but even Lucy, when
+they parted, gave her a pressing invitation to visit her there.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Very early in April, and tolerably early in the day, the two parties
+from Hanover Square and Berkeley Street set out from their respective
+homes, to meet, by appointment, on the road.  For the convenience of
+Charlotte and her child, they were to be more than two days on their
+journey, and Mr. Palmer, travelling more expeditiously with Colonel
+Brandon, was to join them at Cleveland soon after their arrival.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne, few as had been her hours of comfort in London, and eager as
+she had long been to quit it, could not, when it came to the point, bid
+adieu to the house in which she had for the last time enjoyed those
+hopes, and that confidence, in Willoughby, which were now extinguished
+for ever, without great pain.  Nor could she leave the place in which
+Willoughby remained, busy in new engagements, and new schemes, in which
+SHE could have no share, without shedding many tears.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor's satisfaction, at the moment of removal, was more positive.
+She had no such object for her lingering thoughts to fix on, she left
+no creature behind, from whom it would give her a moment's regret to be
+divided for ever, she was pleased to be free herself from the
+persecution of Lucy's friendship, she was grateful for bringing her
+sister away unseen by Willoughby since his marriage, and she looked
+forward with hope to what a few months of tranquility at Barton might
+do towards restoring Marianne's peace of mind, and confirming her own.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Their journey was safely performed.  The second day brought them into
+the cherished, or the prohibited, county of Somerset, for as such was
+it dwelt on by turns in Marianne's imagination; and in the forenoon of
+the third they drove up to Cleveland.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Cleveland was a spacious, modern-built house, situated on a sloping
+lawn.  It had no park, but the pleasure-grounds were tolerably
+extensive; and like every other place of the same degree of importance,
+it had its open shrubbery, and closer wood walk, a road of smooth
+gravel winding round a plantation, led to the front, the lawn was
+dotted over with timber, the house itself was under the guardianship of
+the fir, the mountain-ash, and the acacia, and a thick screen of them
+altogether, interspersed with tall Lombardy poplars, shut out the
+offices.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne entered the house with a heart swelling with emotion from the
+consciousness of being only eighty miles from Barton, and not thirty
+from Combe Magna; and before she had been five minutes within its
+walls, while the others were busily helping Charlotte to show her child
+to the housekeeper, she quitted it again, stealing away through the
+winding shrubberies, now just beginning to be in beauty, to gain a
+distant eminence; where, from its Grecian temple, her eye, wandering
+over a wide tract of country to the south-east, could fondly rest on
+the farthest ridge of hills in the horizon, and fancy that from their
+summits Combe Magna might be seen.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In such moments of precious, invaluable misery, she rejoiced in tears
+of agony to be at Cleveland; and as she returned by a different circuit
+to the house, feeling all the happy privilege of country liberty, of
+wandering from place to place in free and luxurious solitude, she
+resolved to spend almost every hour of every day while she remained
+with the Palmers, in the indulgence of such solitary rambles.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She returned just in time to join the others as they quitted the house,
+on an excursion through its more immediate premises; and the rest of
+the morning was easily whiled away, in lounging round the kitchen
+garden, examining the bloom upon its walls, and listening to the
+gardener's lamentations upon blights, in dawdling through the
+green-house, where the loss of her favourite plants, unwarily exposed,
+and nipped by the lingering frost, raised the laughter of
+Charlotte,&mdash;and in visiting her poultry-yard, where, in the
+disappointed hopes of her dairy-maid, by hens forsaking their nests, or
+being stolen by a fox, or in the rapid decrease of a promising young
+brood, she found fresh sources of merriment.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The morning was fine and dry, and Marianne, in her plan of employment
+abroad, had not calculated for any change of weather during their stay
+at Cleveland.  With great surprise therefore, did she find herself
+prevented by a settled rain from going out again after dinner.  She had
+depended on a twilight walk to the Grecian temple, and perhaps all over
+the grounds, and an evening merely cold or damp would not have deterred
+her from it; but a heavy and settled rain even SHE could not fancy dry
+or pleasant weather for walking.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Their party was small, and the hours passed quietly away.  Mrs. Palmer
+had her child, and Mrs. Jennings her carpet-work; they talked of the
+friends they had left behind, arranged Lady Middleton's engagements,
+and wondered whether Mr. Palmer and Colonel Brandon would get farther
+than Reading that night.  Elinor, however little concerned in it,
+joined in their discourse; and Marianne, who had the knack of finding
+her way in every house to the library, however it might be avoided by
+the family in general, soon procured herself a book.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Nothing was wanting on Mrs. Palmer's side that constant and friendly
+good humour could do, to make them feel themselves welcome.  The
+openness and heartiness of her manner more than atoned for that want of
+recollection and elegance which made her often deficient in the forms
+of politeness; her kindness, recommended by so pretty a face, was
+engaging; her folly, though evident was not disgusting, because it was
+not conceited; and Elinor could have forgiven every thing but her laugh.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The two gentlemen arrived the next day to a very late dinner, affording
+a pleasant enlargement of the party, and a very welcome variety to
+their conversation, which a long morning of the same continued rain had
+reduced very low.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor had seen so little of Mr. Palmer, and in that little had seen so
+much variety in his address to her sister and herself, that she knew
+not what to expect to find him in his own family.  She found him,
+however, perfectly the gentleman in his behaviour to all his visitors,
+and only occasionally rude to his wife and her mother; she found him
+very capable of being a pleasant companion, and only prevented from
+being so always, by too great an aptitude to fancy himself as much
+superior to people in general, as he must feel himself to be to Mrs.
+Jennings and Charlotte.  For the rest of his character and habits, they
+were marked, as far as Elinor could perceive, with no traits at all
+unusual in his sex and time of life.  He was nice in his eating,
+uncertain in his hours; fond of his child, though affecting to slight
+it; and idled away the mornings at billiards, which ought to have been
+devoted to business.  She liked him, however, upon the whole, much
+better than she had expected, and in her heart was not sorry that she
+could like him no more;&mdash;not sorry to be driven by the observation of
+his Epicurism, his selfishness, and his conceit, to rest with
+complacency on the remembrance of Edward's generous temper, simple
+taste, and diffident feelings.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Of Edward, or at least of some of his concerns, she now received
+intelligence from Colonel Brandon, who had been into Dorsetshire
+lately; and who, treating her at once as the disinterested friend of
+Mr. Ferrars, and the kind of confidant of himself, talked to her a
+great deal of the parsonage at Delaford, described its deficiencies,
+and told her what he meant to do himself towards removing them.&mdash;His
+behaviour to her in this, as well as in every other particular, his
+open pleasure in meeting her after an absence of only ten days, his
+readiness to converse with her, and his deference for her opinion,
+might very well justify Mrs. Jennings's persuasion of his attachment,
+and would have been enough, perhaps, had not Elinor still, as from the
+first, believed Marianne his real favourite, to make her suspect it
+herself.  But as it was, such a notion had scarcely ever entered her
+head, except by Mrs. Jennings's suggestion; and she could not help
+believing herself the nicest observer of the two;&mdash;she watched his
+eyes, while Mrs. Jennings thought only of his behaviour;&mdash;and while his
+looks of anxious solicitude on Marianne's feeling, in her head and
+throat, the beginning of a heavy cold, because unexpressed by words,
+entirely escaped the latter lady's observation;&mdash;SHE could discover in
+them the quick feelings, and needless alarm of a lover.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Two delightful twilight walks on the third and fourth evenings of her
+being there, not merely on the dry gravel of the shrubbery, but all
+over the grounds, and especially in the most distant parts of them,
+where there was something more of wildness than in the rest, where the
+trees were the oldest, and the grass was the longest and wettest,
+had&mdash;assisted by the still greater imprudence of sitting in her wet
+shoes and stockings&mdash;given Marianne a cold so violent as, though for a
+day or two trifled with or denied, would force itself by increasing
+ailments on the concern of every body, and the notice of herself.
+Prescriptions poured in from all quarters, and as usual, were all
+declined.  Though heavy and feverish, with a pain in her limbs, and a
+cough, and a sore throat, a good night's rest was to cure her entirely;
+and it was with difficulty that Elinor prevailed on her, when she went
+to bed, to try one or two of the simplest of the remedies.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap43"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 43
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Marianne got up the next morning at her usual time; to every inquiry
+replied that she was better, and tried to prove herself so, by engaging
+in her accustomary employments.  But a day spent in sitting shivering
+over the fire with a book in her hand, which she was unable to read, or
+in lying, weary and languid, on a sofa, did not speak much in favour of
+her amendment; and when, at last, she went early to bed, more and more
+indisposed, Colonel Brandon was only astonished at her sister's
+composure, who, though attending and nursing her the whole day, against
+Marianne's inclination, and forcing proper medicines on her at night,
+trusted, like Marianne, to the certainty and efficacy of sleep, and
+felt no real alarm.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A very restless and feverish night, however, disappointed the
+expectation of both; and when Marianne, after persisting in rising,
+confessed herself unable to sit up, and returned voluntarily to her
+bed, Elinor was very ready to adopt Mrs. Jennings's advice, of sending
+for the Palmers' apothecary.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He came, examined his patient, and though encouraging Miss Dashwood to
+expect that a very few days would restore her sister to health, yet, by
+pronouncing her disorder to have a putrid tendency, and allowing the
+word "infection" to pass his lips, gave instant alarm to Mrs. Palmer,
+on her baby's account.  Mrs. Jennings, who had been inclined from the
+first to think Marianne's complaint more serious than Elinor, now
+looked very grave on Mr. Harris's report, and confirming Charlotte's
+fears and caution, urged the necessity of her immediate removal with
+her infant; and Mr. Palmer, though treating their apprehensions as
+idle, found the anxiety and importunity of his wife too great to be
+withstood.  Her departure, therefore, was fixed on; and within an hour
+after Mr. Harris's arrival, she set off, with her little boy and his
+nurse, for the house of a near relation of Mr. Palmer's, who lived a
+few miles on the other side of Bath; whither her husband promised, at
+her earnest entreaty, to join her in a day or two; and whither she was
+almost equally urgent with her mother to accompany her.  Mrs. Jennings,
+however, with a kindness of heart which made Elinor really love her,
+declared her resolution of not stirring from Cleveland as long as
+Marianne remained ill, and of endeavouring, by her own attentive care,
+to supply to her the place of the mother she had taken her from; and
+Elinor found her on every occasion a most willing and active helpmate,
+desirous to share in all her fatigues, and often by her better
+experience in nursing, of material use.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Poor Marianne, languid and low from the nature of her malady, and
+feeling herself universally ill, could no longer hope that tomorrow
+would find her recovered; and the idea of what tomorrow would have
+produced, but for this unlucky illness, made every ailment severe; for
+on that day they were to have begun their journey home; and, attended
+the whole way by a servant of Mrs. Jennings, were to have taken their
+mother by surprise on the following forenoon.  The little she said was
+all in lamentation of this inevitable delay; though Elinor tried to
+raise her spirits, and make her believe, as she THEN really believed
+herself, that it would be a very short one.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The next day produced little or no alteration in the state of the
+patient; she certainly was not better, and, except that there was no
+amendment, did not appear worse.  Their party was now farther reduced;
+for Mr. Palmer, though very unwilling to go as well from real humanity
+and good-nature, as from a dislike of appearing to be frightened away
+by his wife, was persuaded at last by Colonel Brandon to perform his
+promise of following her; and while he was preparing to go, Colonel
+Brandon himself, with a much greater exertion, began to talk of going
+likewise.&mdash;Here, however, the kindness of Mrs. Jennings interposed most
+acceptably; for to send the Colonel away while his love was in so much
+uneasiness on her sister's account, would be to deprive them both, she
+thought, of every comfort; and therefore telling him at once that his
+stay at Cleveland was necessary to herself, that she should want him to
+play at piquet of an evening, while Miss Dashwood was above with her
+sister, &amp;c. she urged him so strongly to remain, that he, who was
+gratifying the first wish of his own heart by a compliance, could not
+long even affect to demur; especially as Mrs. Jennings's entreaty was
+warmly seconded by Mr. Palmer, who seemed to feel a relief to himself,
+in leaving behind him a person so well able to assist or advise Miss
+Dashwood in any emergence.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne was, of course, kept in ignorance of all these arrangements.
+She knew not that she had been the means of sending the owners of
+Cleveland away, in about seven days from the time of their arrival.  It
+gave her no surprise that she saw nothing of Mrs. Palmer; and as it
+gave her likewise no concern, she never mentioned her name.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Two days passed away from the time of Mr. Palmer's departure, and her
+situation continued, with little variation, the same.  Mr. Harris, who
+attended her every day, still talked boldly of a speedy recovery, and
+Miss Dashwood was equally sanguine; but the expectation of the others
+was by no means so cheerful.  Mrs. Jennings had determined very early
+in the seizure that Marianne would never get over it, and Colonel
+Brandon, who was chiefly of use in listening to Mrs. Jennings's
+forebodings, was not in a state of mind to resist their influence.  He
+tried to reason himself out of fears, which the different judgment of
+the apothecary seemed to render absurd; but the many hours of each day
+in which he was left entirely alone, were but too favourable for the
+admission of every melancholy idea, and he could not expel from his
+mind the persuasion that he should see Marianne no more.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+On the morning of the third day however, the gloomy anticipations of
+both were almost done away; for when Mr. Harris arrived, he declared
+his patient materially better.  Her pulse was much stronger, and every
+symptom more favourable than on the preceding visit.  Elinor, confirmed
+in every pleasant hope, was all cheerfulness; rejoicing that in her
+letters to her mother, she had pursued her own judgment rather than her
+friend's, in making very light of the indisposition which delayed them
+at Cleveland; and almost fixing on the time when Marianne would be able
+to travel.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But the day did not close so auspiciously as it began.&mdash; Towards the
+evening Marianne became ill again, growing more heavy, restless, and
+uncomfortable than before.  Her sister, however, still sanguine, was
+willing to attribute the change to nothing more than the fatigue of
+having sat up to have her bed made; and carefully administering the
+cordials prescribed, saw her, with satisfaction, sink at last into a
+slumber, from which she expected the most beneficial effects.  Her
+sleep, though not so quiet as Elinor wished to see it, lasted a
+considerable time; and anxious to observe the result of it herself, she
+resolved to sit with her during the whole of it.  Mrs. Jennings,
+knowing nothing of any change in the patient, went unusually early to
+bed; her maid, who was one of the principal nurses, was recreating
+herself in the housekeeper's room, and Elinor remained alone with
+Marianne.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The repose of the latter became more and more disturbed; and her
+sister, who watched, with unremitting attention her continual change of
+posture, and heard the frequent but inarticulate sounds of complaint
+which passed her lips, was almost wishing to rouse her from so painful
+a slumber, when Marianne, suddenly awakened by some accidental noise in
+the house, started hastily up, and, with feverish wildness, cried out,&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is mama coming?&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not yet," cried the other, concealing her terror, and assisting
+Marianne to lie down again, "but she will be here, I hope, before it is
+long.  It is a great way, you know, from hence to Barton."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But she must not go round by London," cried Marianne, in the same
+hurried manner.  "I shall never see her, if she goes by London."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor perceived with alarm that she was not quite herself, and, while
+attempting to soothe her, eagerly felt her pulse.  It was lower and
+quicker than ever!  and Marianne, still talking wildly of mama, her
+alarm increased so rapidly, as to determine her on sending instantly
+for Mr. Harris, and despatching a messenger to Barton for her mother.
+To consult with Colonel Brandon on the best means of effecting the
+latter, was a thought which immediately followed the resolution of its
+performance; and as soon she had rung up the maid to take her place by
+her sister, she hastened down to the drawing-room, where she knew he
+was generally to be found at a much later hour than the present.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was no time for hesitation.  Her fears and her difficulties were
+immediately before him.  Her fears, he had no courage, no confidence to
+attempt the removal of:&mdash;he listened to them in silent
+despondence;&mdash;but her difficulties were instantly obviated, for with a
+readiness that seemed to speak the occasion, and the service
+pre-arranged in his mind, he offered himself as the messenger who
+should fetch Mrs. Dashwood.  Elinor made no resistance that was not
+easily overcome.  She thanked him with brief, though fervent gratitude,
+and while he went to hurry off his servant with a message to Mr.
+Harris, and an order for post-horses directly, she wrote a few lines to
+her mother.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The comfort of such a friend at that moment as Colonel Brandon&mdash;or such
+a companion for her mother,&mdash;how gratefully was it felt!&mdash;a companion
+whose judgment would guide, whose attendance must relieve, and whose
+friendship might soothe her!&mdash;as far as the shock of such a summons
+COULD be lessened to her, his presence, his manners, his assistance,
+would lessen it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+HE, meanwhile, whatever he might feel, acted with all the firmness of a
+collected mind, made every necessary arrangement with the utmost
+despatch, and calculated with exactness the time in which she might
+look for his return.  Not a moment was lost in delay of any kind.  The
+horses arrived, even before they were expected, and Colonel Brandon
+only pressing her hand with a look of solemnity, and a few words spoken
+too low to reach her ear, hurried into the carriage.  It was then about
+twelve o'clock, and she returned to her sister's apartment to wait for
+the arrival of the apothecary, and to watch by her the rest of the
+night.  It was a night of almost equal suffering to both.  Hour after
+hour passed away in sleepless pain and delirium on Marianne's side, and
+in the most cruel anxiety on Elinor's, before Mr. Harris appeared.  Her
+apprehensions once raised, paid by their excess for all her former
+security; and the servant who sat up with her, for she would not allow
+Mrs. Jennings to be called, only tortured her more, by hints of what
+her mistress had always thought.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne's ideas were still, at intervals, fixed incoherently on her
+mother, and whenever she mentioned her name, it gave a pang to the
+heart of poor Elinor, who, reproaching herself for having trifled with
+so many days of illness, and wretched for some immediate relief,
+fancied that all relief might soon be in vain, that every thing had
+been delayed too long, and pictured to herself her suffering mother
+arriving too late to see this darling child, or to see her rational.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She was on the point of sending again for Mr. Harris, or if HE could
+not come, for some other advice, when the former&mdash;but not till after
+five o'clock&mdash;arrived.  His opinion, however, made some little amends
+for his delay, for though acknowledging a very unexpected and
+unpleasant alteration in his patient, he would not allow the danger to
+be material, and talked of the relief which a fresh mode of treatment
+must procure, with a confidence which, in a lesser degree, was
+communicated to Elinor.  He promised to call again in the course of
+three or four hours, and left both the patient and her anxious
+attendant more composed than he had found them.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+With strong concern, and with many reproaches for not being called to
+their aid, did Mrs. Jennings hear in the morning of what had passed.
+Her former apprehensions, now with greater reason restored, left her no
+doubt of the event; and though trying to speak comfort to Elinor, her
+conviction of her sister's danger would not allow her to offer the
+comfort of hope.  Her heart was really grieved.  The rapid decay, the
+early death of a girl so young, so lovely as Marianne, must have struck
+a less interested person with concern.  On Mrs. Jennings's compassion
+she had other claims.  She had been for three months her companion, was
+still under her care, and she was known to have been greatly injured,
+and long unhappy.  The distress of her sister too, particularly a
+favourite, was before her;&mdash;and as for their mother, when Mrs. Jennings
+considered that Marianne might probably be to HER what Charlotte was to
+herself, her sympathy in HER sufferings was very sincere.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mr. Harris was punctual in his second visit;&mdash;but he came to be
+disappointed in his hopes of what the last would produce.  His
+medicines had failed;&mdash;the fever was unabated; and Marianne only more
+quiet&mdash;not more herself&mdash;remained in a heavy stupor.  Elinor, catching
+all, and more than all, his fears in a moment, proposed to call in
+further advice.  But he judged it unnecessary: he had still something
+more to try, some more fresh application, of whose success he was as
+confident as the last, and his visit concluded with encouraging
+assurances which reached the ear, but could not enter the heart of Miss
+Dashwood.  She was calm, except when she thought of her mother; but she
+was almost hopeless; and in this state she continued till noon,
+scarcely stirring from her sister's bed, her thoughts wandering from
+one image of grief, one suffering friend to another, and her spirits
+oppressed to the utmost by the conversation of Mrs. Jennings, who
+scrupled not to attribute the severity and danger of this attack to the
+many weeks of previous indisposition which Marianne's disappointment
+had brought on.  Elinor felt all the reasonableness of the idea, and it
+gave fresh misery to her reflections.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+About noon, however, she began&mdash;but with a caution&mdash;a dread of
+disappointment which for some time kept her silent, even to her
+friend&mdash;to fancy, to hope she could perceive a slight amendment in her
+sister's pulse;&mdash;she waited, watched, and examined it again and
+again;&mdash;and at last, with an agitation more difficult to bury under
+exterior calmness, than all her foregoing distress, ventured to
+communicate her hopes.  Mrs. Jennings, though forced, on examination,
+to acknowledge a temporary revival, tried to keep her young friend from
+indulging a thought of its continuance;&mdash;and Elinor, conning over every
+injunction of distrust, told herself likewise not to hope.  But it was
+too late.  Hope had already entered; and feeling all its anxious
+flutter, she bent over her sister to watch&mdash;she hardly knew for what.
+Half an hour passed away, and the favourable symptom yet blessed her.
+Others even arose to confirm it.  Her breath, her skin, her lips, all
+flattered Elinor with signs of amendment; and Marianne fixed her eyes
+on her with a rational, though languid, gaze.  Anxiety and hope now
+oppressed her in equal degrees, and left her no moment of tranquillity
+till the arrival of Mr. Harris at four o'clock;&mdash;when his assurances,
+his felicitations on a recovery in her sister even surpassing his
+expectation, gave her confidence, comfort, and tears of joy.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne was in every respect materially better, and he declared her
+entirely out of danger.  Mrs. Jennings, perhaps satisfied with the
+partial justification of her forebodings which had been found in their
+late alarm, allowed herself to trust in his judgment, and admitted,
+with unfeigned joy, and soon with unequivocal cheerfulness, the
+probability of an entire recovery.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor could not be cheerful.  Her joy was of a different kind, and led
+to any thing rather than to gaiety.  Marianne restored to life, health,
+friends, and to her doting mother, was an idea to fill her heart with
+sensations of exquisite comfort, and expand it in fervent
+gratitude;&mdash;but it lead to no outward demonstrations of joy, no words,
+no smiles.  All within Elinor's breast was satisfaction, silent and
+strong.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She continued by the side of her sister, with little intermission the
+whole afternoon, calming every fear, satisfying every inquiry of her
+enfeebled spirits, supplying every succour, and watching almost every
+look and every breath.  The possibility of a relapse would of course,
+in some moments, occur to remind her of what anxiety was&mdash;but when she
+saw, on her frequent and minute examination, that every symptom of
+recovery continued, and saw Marianne at six o'clock sink into a quiet,
+steady, and to all appearance comfortable, sleep, she silenced every
+doubt.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The time was now drawing on, when Colonel Brandon might be expected
+back.  At ten o'clock, she trusted, or at least not much later her
+mother would be relieved from the dreadful suspense in which she must
+now be travelling towards them.  The Colonel, too!&mdash;perhaps scarcely
+less an object of pity!&mdash;Oh!&mdash;how slow was the progress of time which
+yet kept them in ignorance!
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At seven o'clock, leaving Marianne still sweetly asleep, she joined
+Mrs. Jennings in the drawing-room to tea.  Of breakfast she had been
+kept by her fears, and of dinner by their sudden reverse, from eating
+much;&mdash;and the present refreshment, therefore, with such feelings of
+content as she brought to it, was particularly welcome.  Mrs. Jennings
+would have persuaded her, at its conclusion, to take some rest before
+her mother's arrival, and allow HER to take her place by Marianne; but
+Elinor had no sense of fatigue, no capability of sleep at that moment
+about her, and she was not to be kept away from her sister an
+unnecessary instant.  Mrs. Jennings therefore attending her up stairs
+into the sick chamber, to satisfy herself that all continued right,
+left her there again to her charge and her thoughts, and retired to her
+own room to write letters and sleep.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The night was cold and stormy.  The wind roared round the house, and
+the rain beat against the windows; but Elinor, all happiness within,
+regarded it not.  Marianne slept through every blast; and the
+travellers&mdash;they had a rich reward in store, for every present
+inconvenience.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The clock struck eight.  Had it been ten, Elinor would have been
+convinced that at that moment she heard a carriage driving up to the
+house; and so strong was the persuasion that she DID, in spite of the
+ALMOST impossibility of their being already come, that she moved into
+the adjoining dressing-closet and opened a window shutter, to be
+satisfied of the truth.  She instantly saw that her ears had not
+deceived her.  The flaring lamps of a carriage were immediately in
+view.  By their uncertain light she thought she could discern it to be
+drawn by four horses; and this, while it told the excess of her poor
+mother's alarm, gave some explanation to such unexpected rapidity.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Never in her life had Elinor found it so difficult to be calm, as at
+that moment.  The knowledge of what her mother must be feeling as the
+carriage stopt at the door&mdash;of her doubt&mdash;her dread&mdash;perhaps her
+despair!&mdash;and of what SHE had to tell!&mdash;with such knowledge it was
+impossible to be calm.  All that remained to be done was to be speedy;
+and, therefore staying only till she could leave Mrs. Jennings's maid
+with her sister, she hurried down stairs.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The bustle in the vestibule, as she passed along an inner lobby,
+assured her that they were already in the house.  She rushed to the
+drawing-room,&mdash;she entered it,&mdash;and saw only Willoughby.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap44"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 44
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Elinor, starting back with a look of horror at the sight of him, obeyed
+the first impulse of her heart in turning instantly to quit the room,
+and her hand was already on the lock, when its action was suspended by
+his hastily advancing, and saying, in a voice rather of command than
+supplication,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Miss Dashwood, for half an hour&mdash;for ten minutes&mdash;I entreat you to
+stay."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, sir," she replied with firmness, "I shall NOT stay.  Your business
+cannot be with ME.  The servants, I suppose, forgot to tell you that
+Mr. Palmer was not in the house."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Had they told me," he cried with vehemence, "that Mr. Palmer and all
+his relations were at the devil, it would not have turned me from the
+door.  My business is with you, and only you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"With me!"&mdash;in the utmost amazement&mdash;"well, sir,&mdash;be quick&mdash;and if you
+can&mdash;less violent."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Sit down, and I will be both."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She hesitated; she knew not what to do.  The possibility of Colonel
+Brandon's arriving and finding her there, came across her.  But she had
+promised to hear him, and her curiosity no less than her honor was
+engaged.  After a moment's recollection, therefore, concluding that
+prudence required dispatch, and that her acquiescence would best
+promote it, she walked silently towards the table, and sat down.  He
+took the opposite chair, and for half a minute not a word was said by
+either.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Pray be quick, sir,"&mdash;said Elinor, impatiently;&mdash;"I have no time to
+spare."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He was sitting in an attitude of deep meditation, and seemed not to
+hear her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Your sister," said he, with abruptness, a moment afterwards&mdash;"is out
+of danger.  I heard it from the servant.  God be praised!&mdash;But is it
+true? is it really true?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor would not speak.  He repeated the inquiry with yet greater
+eagerness.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"For God's sake tell me, is she out of danger, or is she not?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We hope she is."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He rose up, and walked across the room.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Had I known as much half an hour ago&mdash;But since I AM here,"&mdash;speaking
+with a forced vivacity as he returned to his seat&mdash;"what does it
+signify?&mdash;For once, Miss Dashwood&mdash;it will be the last time,
+perhaps&mdash;let us be cheerful together.&mdash;I am in a fine mood for
+gaiety.&mdash; Tell me honestly"&mdash;a deeper glow overspreading his
+cheeks&mdash;"do you think me most a knave or a fool?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor looked at him with greater astonishment than ever.  She began to
+think that he must be in liquor;&mdash;the strangeness of such a visit, and
+of such manners, seemed no otherwise intelligible; and with this
+impression she immediately rose, saying,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mr. Willoughby, I advise you at present to return to Combe&mdash;I am not
+at leisure to remain with you longer.&mdash; Whatever your business may be
+with me, will it be better recollected and explained to-morrow."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I understand you," he replied, with an expressive smile, and a voice
+perfectly calm; "yes, I am very drunk.&mdash; A pint of porter with my cold
+beef at Marlborough was enough to over-set me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"At Marlborough!"&mdash;cried Elinor, more and more at a loss to understand
+what he would be at.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes,&mdash;I left London this morning at eight o'clock, and the only ten
+minutes I have spent out of my chaise since that time procured me a
+nuncheon at Marlborough."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The steadiness of his manner, and the intelligence of his eye as he
+spoke, convincing Elinor, that whatever other unpardonable folly might
+bring him to Cleveland, he was not brought there by intoxication, she
+said, after a moment's recollection,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mr. Willoughby, you OUGHT to feel, and I certainly DO&mdash;that after what
+has passed&mdash;your coming here in this manner, and forcing yourself upon
+my notice, requires a very particular excuse.&mdash;What is it, that you
+mean by it?"&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I mean,"&mdash;said he, with serious energy&mdash;"if I can, to make you hate me
+one degree less than you do NOW.  I mean to offer some kind of
+explanation, some kind of apology, for the past; to open my whole heart
+to you, and by convincing you, that though I have been always a
+blockhead, I have not been always a rascal, to obtain something like
+forgiveness from Ma&mdash;from your sister."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is this the real reason of your coming?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Upon my soul it is,"&mdash;was his answer, with a warmth which brought all
+the former Willoughby to her remembrance, and in spite of herself made
+her think him sincere.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If that is all, you may be satisfied already,&mdash; for Marianne DOES&mdash;she
+has LONG forgiven you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Has she?"&mdash;he cried, in the same eager tone.&mdash; "Then she has forgiven
+me before she ought to have done it.  But she shall forgive me again,
+and on more reasonable grounds.&mdash;NOW will you listen to me?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor bowed her assent.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I do not know," said he, after a pause of expectation on her side, and
+thoughtfulness on his own,&mdash;"how YOU may have accounted for my
+behaviour to your sister, or what diabolical motive you may have
+imputed to me.&mdash; Perhaps you will hardly think the better of me,&mdash;it is
+worth the trial however, and you shall hear every thing.  When I first
+became intimate in your family, I had no other intention, no other view
+in the acquaintance than to pass my time pleasantly while I was obliged
+to remain in Devonshire, more pleasantly than I had ever done before.
+Your sister's lovely person and interesting manners could not but
+please me; and her behaviour to me almost from the first, was of a
+kind&mdash;It is astonishing, when I reflect on what it was, and what SHE
+was, that my heart should have been so insensible!  But at first I must
+confess, my vanity only was elevated by it.  Careless of her happiness,
+thinking only of my own amusement, giving way to feelings which I had
+always been too much in the habit of indulging, I endeavoured, by every
+means in my power, to make myself pleasing to her, without any design
+of returning her affection."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Miss Dashwood, at this point, turning her eyes on him with the most
+angry contempt, stopped him, by saying,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is hardly worth while, Mr. Willoughby, for you to relate, or for me
+to listen any longer.  Such a beginning as this cannot be followed by
+any thing.&mdash; Do not let me be pained by hearing any thing more on the
+subject."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I insist on you hearing the whole of it," he replied, "My fortune was
+never large, and I had always been expensive, always in the habit of
+associating with people of better income than myself.  Every year since
+my coming of age, or even before, I believe, had added to my debts; and
+though the death of my old cousin, Mrs. Smith, was to set me free; yet
+that event being uncertain, and possibly far distant, it had been for
+some time my intention to re-establish my circumstances by marrying a
+woman of fortune.  To attach myself to your sister, therefore, was not
+a thing to be thought of;&mdash;and with a meanness, selfishness,
+cruelty&mdash;which no indignant, no contemptuous look, even of yours, Miss
+Dashwood, can ever reprobate too much&mdash;I was acting in this manner,
+trying to engage her regard, without a thought of returning it.&mdash;But
+one thing may be said for me: even in that horrid state of selfish
+vanity, I did not know the extent of the injury I meditated, because I
+did not THEN know what it was to love.  But have I ever known it?&mdash;Well
+may it be doubted; for, had I really loved, could I have sacrificed my
+feelings to vanity, to avarice?&mdash;or, what is more, could I have
+sacrificed hers?&mdash; But I have done it.  To avoid a comparative poverty,
+which her affection and her society would have deprived of all its
+horrors, I have, by raising myself to affluence, lost every thing that
+could make it a blessing."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You did then," said Elinor, a little softened, "believe yourself at
+one time attached to her?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"To have resisted such attractions, to have withstood such
+tenderness!&mdash;Is there a man on earth who could have done it?&mdash;Yes, I
+found myself, by insensible degrees, sincerely fond of her; and the
+happiest hours of my life were what I spent with her when I felt my
+intentions were strictly honourable, and my feelings blameless.  Even
+THEN, however, when fully determined on paying my addresses to her, I
+allowed myself most improperly to put off, from day to day, the moment
+of doing it, from an unwillingness to enter into an engagement while my
+circumstances were so greatly embarrassed.  I will not reason here&mdash;nor
+will I stop for YOU to expatiate on the absurdity, and the worse than
+absurdity, of scrupling to engage my faith where my honour was already
+bound.  The event has proved, that I was a cunning fool, providing with
+great circumspection for a possible opportunity of making myself
+contemptible and wretched for ever.  At last, however, my resolution
+was taken, and I had determined, as soon as I could engage her alone,
+to justify the attentions I had so invariably paid her, and openly
+assure her of an affection which I had already taken such pains to
+display.  But in the interim&mdash;in the interim of the very few hours that
+were to pass, before I could have an opportunity of speaking with her
+in private&mdash;a circumstance occurred&mdash;an unlucky circumstance, to ruin
+all my resolution, and with it all my comfort.  A discovery took
+place,"&mdash;here he hesitated and looked down.&mdash;"Mrs. Smith had somehow or
+other been informed, I imagine by some distant relation, whose interest
+it was to deprive me of her favour, of an affair, a connection&mdash;but I
+need not explain myself farther," he added, looking at her with an
+heightened colour and an enquiring eye&mdash;"your particular intimacy&mdash;you
+have probably heard the whole story long ago."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have," returned Elinor, colouring likewise, and hardening her heart
+anew against any compassion for him, "I have heard it all.  And how you
+will explain away any part of your guilt in that dreadful business, I
+confess is beyond my comprehension."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Remember," cried Willoughby, "from whom you received the account.
+Could it be an impartial one?  I acknowledge that her situation and her
+character ought to have been respected by me.  I do not mean to justify
+myself, but at the same time cannot leave you to suppose that I have
+nothing to urge&mdash;that because she was injured she was irreproachable,
+and because I was a libertine, SHE must be a saint.  If the violence of
+her passions, the weakness of her understanding&mdash;I do not mean,
+however, to defend myself.  Her affection for me deserved better
+treatment, and I often, with great self-reproach, recall the tenderness
+which, for a very short time, had the power of creating any return.  I
+wish&mdash;I heartily wish it had never been.  But I have injured more than
+herself; and I have injured one, whose affection for me&mdash;(may I say
+it?) was scarcely less warm than hers; and whose mind&mdash;Oh! how
+infinitely superior!"&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Your indifference, however, towards that unfortunate girl&mdash;I must say
+it, unpleasant to me as the discussion of such a subject may well
+be&mdash;your indifference is no apology for your cruel neglect of her.  Do
+not think yourself excused by any weakness, any natural defect of
+understanding on her side, in the wanton cruelty so evident on yours.
+You must have known, that while you were enjoying yourself in
+Devonshire pursuing fresh schemes, always gay, always happy, she was
+reduced to the extremest indigence."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But, upon my soul, I did NOT know it," he warmly replied; "I did not
+recollect that I had omitted to give her my direction; and common sense
+might have told her how to find it out."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, sir, and what said Mrs. Smith?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"She taxed me with the offence at once, and my confusion may be
+guessed.  The purity of her life, the formality of her notions, her
+ignorance of the world&mdash;every thing was against me.  The matter itself
+I could not deny, and vain was every endeavour to soften it.  She was
+previously disposed, I believe, to doubt the morality of my conduct in
+general, and was moreover discontented with the very little attention,
+the very little portion of my time that I had bestowed on her, in my
+present visit.  In short, it ended in a total breach.  By one measure I
+might have saved myself.  In the height of her morality, good woman!
+she offered to forgive the past, if I would marry Eliza.  That could
+not be&mdash;and I was formally dismissed from her favour and her house.
+The night following this affair&mdash;I was to go the next morning&mdash;was
+spent by me in deliberating on what my future conduct should be.  The
+struggle was great&mdash;but it ended too soon.  My affection for Marianne,
+my thorough conviction of her attachment to me&mdash;it was all insufficient
+to outweigh that dread of poverty, or get the better of those false
+ideas of the necessity of riches, which I was naturally inclined to
+feel, and expensive society had increased.  I had reason to believe
+myself secure of my present wife, if I chose to address her, and I
+persuaded myself to think that nothing else in common prudence remained
+for me to do.  A heavy scene however awaited me, before I could leave
+Devonshire;&mdash;I was engaged to dine with you on that very day; some
+apology was therefore necessary for my breaking this engagement.  But
+whether I should write this apology, or deliver it in person, was a
+point of long debate.  To see Marianne, I felt, would be dreadful, and
+I even doubted whether I could see her again, and keep to my
+resolution.  In that point, however, I undervalued my own magnanimity,
+as the event declared; for I went, I saw her, and saw her miserable,
+and left her miserable&mdash;and left her hoping never to see her again."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why did you call, Mr. Willoughby?" said Elinor, reproachfully; "a note
+would have answered every purpose.&mdash; Why was it necessary to call?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It was necessary to my own pride.  I could not bear to leave the
+country in a manner that might lead you, or the rest of the
+neighbourhood, to suspect any part of what had really passed between
+Mrs. Smith and myself&mdash;and I resolved therefore on calling at the
+cottage, in my way to Honiton.  The sight of your dear sister, however,
+was really dreadful; and, to heighten the matter, I found her alone.
+You were all gone I do not know where.  I had left her only the evening
+before, so fully, so firmly resolved within my self on doing right!  A
+few hours were to have engaged her to me for ever; and I remember how
+happy, how gay were my spirits, as I walked from the cottage to
+Allenham, satisfied with myself, delighted with every body!  But in
+this, our last interview of friendship, I approached her with a sense
+of guilt that almost took from me the power of dissembling.  Her
+sorrow, her disappointment, her deep regret, when I told her that I was
+obliged to leave Devonshire so immediately&mdash;I never shall forget
+it&mdash;united too with such reliance, such confidence in me!&mdash;Oh,
+God!&mdash;what a hard-hearted rascal I was!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They were both silent for a few moments.  Elinor first spoke.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Did you tell her that you should soon return?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I do not know what I told her," he replied, impatiently; "less than
+was due to the past, beyond a doubt, and in all likelihood much more
+than was justified by the future.  I cannot think of it.&mdash;It won't
+do.&mdash;Then came your dear mother to torture me farther, with all her
+kindness and confidence.  Thank Heaven! it DID torture me.  I was
+miserable.  Miss Dashwood, you cannot have an idea of the comfort it
+gives me to look back on my own misery.  I owe such a grudge to myself
+for the stupid, rascally folly of my own heart, that all my past
+sufferings under it are only triumph and exultation to me now.  Well, I
+went, left all that I loved, and went to those to whom, at best, I was
+only indifferent.  My journey to town&mdash;travelling with my own horses,
+and therefore so tediously&mdash;no creature to speak to&mdash;my own reflections
+so cheerful&mdash;when I looked forward every thing so inviting!&mdash;when I
+looked back at Barton, the picture so soothing!&mdash;oh, it was a blessed
+journey!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He stopped.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, sir," said Elinor, who, though pitying him, grew impatient for
+his departure, "and this is all?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ah!&mdash;no,&mdash;have you forgot what passed in town?&mdash; That infamous
+letter&mdash;Did she shew it you?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, I saw every note that passed."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"When the first of hers reached me (as it immediately did, for I was in
+town the whole time,) what I felt is&mdash;in the common phrase, not to be
+expressed; in a more simple one&mdash;perhaps too simple to raise any
+emotion&mdash;my feelings were very, very painful.&mdash;Every line, every word
+was&mdash;in the hackneyed metaphor which their dear writer, were she here,
+would forbid&mdash;a dagger to my heart.  To know that Marianne was in town
+was&mdash;in the same language&mdash;a thunderbolt.&mdash;Thunderbolts and
+daggers!&mdash;what a reproof would she have given me!&mdash;her taste, her
+opinions&mdash;I believe they are better known to me than my own,&mdash;and I am
+sure they are dearer."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor's heart, which had undergone many changes in the course of this
+extraordinary conversation, was now softened again;&mdash;yet she felt it
+her duty to check such ideas in her companion as the last.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"This is not right, Mr. Willoughby.&mdash;Remember that you are married.
+Relate only what in your conscience you think necessary for me to hear."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Marianne's note, by assuring me that I was still as dear to her as in
+former days, that in spite of the many, many weeks we had been
+separated, she was as constant in her own feelings, and as full of
+faith in the constancy of mine as ever, awakened all my remorse.  I say
+awakened, because time and London, business and dissipation, had in
+some measure quieted it, and I had been growing a fine hardened
+villain, fancying myself indifferent to her, and chusing to fancy that
+she too must have become indifferent to me; talking to myself of our
+past attachment as a mere idle, trifling business, shrugging up my
+shoulders in proof of its being so, and silencing every reproach,
+overcoming every scruple, by secretly saying now and then, 'I shall be
+heartily glad to hear she is well married.'&mdash; But this note made me
+know myself better.  I felt that she was infinitely dearer to me than
+any other woman in the world, and that I was using her infamously.  But
+every thing was then just settled between Miss Grey and me.  To retreat
+was impossible.  All that I had to do, was to avoid you both.  I sent
+no answer to Marianne, intending by that to preserve myself from her
+farther notice; and for some time I was even determined not to call in
+Berkeley Street;&mdash;but at last, judging it wiser to affect the air of a
+cool, common acquaintance than anything else, I watched you all safely
+out of the house one morning, and left my name."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Watched us out of the house!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Even so.  You would be surprised to hear how often I watched you, how
+often I was on the point of falling in with you.  I have entered many a
+shop to avoid your sight, as the carriage drove by.  Lodging as I did
+in Bond Street, there was hardly a day in which I did not catch a
+glimpse of one or other of you; and nothing but the most constant
+watchfulness on my side, a most invariably prevailing desire to keep
+out of your sight, could have separated us so long.  I avoided the
+Middletons as much as possible, as well as everybody else who was
+likely to prove an acquaintance in common.  Not aware of their being in
+town, however, I blundered on Sir John, I believe, the first day of his
+coming, and the day after I had called at Mrs. Jennings's.  He asked me
+to a party, a dance at his house in the evening.&mdash;Had he NOT told me as
+an inducement that you and your sister were to be there, I should have
+felt it too certain a thing, to trust myself near him.  The next
+morning brought another short note from Marianne&mdash;still affectionate,
+open, artless, confiding&mdash;everything that could make MY conduct most
+hateful.  I could not answer it.  I tried&mdash;but could not frame a
+sentence.  But I thought of her, I believe, every moment of the day.
+If you CAN pity me, Miss Dashwood, pity my situation as it was THEN.
+With my head and heart full of your sister, I was forced to play the
+happy lover to another woman!&mdash;Those three or four weeks were worse
+than all.  Well, at last, as I need not tell you, you were forced on
+me; and what a sweet figure I cut!&mdash;what an evening of agony it was!&mdash;
+Marianne, beautiful as an angel on one side, calling me Willoughby in
+such a tone!&mdash;Oh, God!&mdash;holding out her hand to me, asking me for an
+explanation, with those bewitching eyes fixed in such speaking
+solicitude on my face!&mdash;and Sophia, jealous as the devil on the other
+hand, looking all that was&mdash;Well, it does not signify; it is over
+now.&mdash; Such an evening!&mdash;I ran away from you all as soon as I could;
+but not before I had seen Marianne's sweet face as white as
+death.&mdash;THAT was the last, last look I ever had of her;&mdash;the last
+manner in which she appeared to me.  It was a horrid sight!&mdash;yet when I
+thought of her to-day as really dying, it was a kind of comfort to me
+to imagine that I knew exactly how she would appear to those, who saw
+her last in this world.  She was before me, constantly before me, as I
+travelled, in the same look and hue."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A short pause of mutual thoughtfulness succeeded.  Willoughby first
+rousing himself, broke it thus:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, let me make haste and be gone.  Your sister is certainly better,
+certainly out of danger?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We are assured of it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Your poor mother, too!&mdash;doting on Marianne."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But the letter, Mr. Willoughby, your own letter; have you any thing to
+say about that?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, yes, THAT in particular.  Your sister wrote to me again, you
+know, the very next morning.  You saw what she said.  I was
+breakfasting at the Ellisons,&mdash;and her letter, with some others, was
+brought to me there from my lodgings.  It happened to catch Sophia's
+eye before it caught mine&mdash;and its size, the elegance of the paper, the
+hand-writing altogether, immediately gave her a suspicion.  Some vague
+report had reached her before of my attachment to some young lady in
+Devonshire, and what had passed within her observation the preceding
+evening had marked who the young lady was, and made her more jealous
+than ever.  Affecting that air of playfulness, therefore, which is
+delightful in a woman one loves, she opened the letter directly, and
+read its contents.  She was well paid for her impudence.  She read what
+made her wretched.  Her wretchedness I could have borne, but her
+passion&mdash;her malice&mdash;At all events it must be appeased.  And, in
+short&mdash;what do you think of my wife's style of
+letter-writing?&mdash;delicate&mdash;tender&mdash;truly feminine&mdash;was it not?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Your wife!&mdash;The letter was in your own hand-writing."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, but I had only the credit of servilely copying such sentences as
+I was ashamed to put my name to.  The original was all her own&mdash;her own
+happy thoughts and gentle diction.  But what could I do!&mdash;we were
+engaged, every thing in preparation, the day almost fixed&mdash;But I am
+talking like a fool.  Preparation!&mdash;day!&mdash;In honest words, her money
+was necessary to me, and in a situation like mine, any thing was to be
+done to prevent a rupture.  And after all, what did it signify to my
+character in the opinion of Marianne and her friends, in what language
+my answer was couched?&mdash;It must have been only to one end.  My business
+was to declare myself a scoundrel, and whether I did it with a bow or a
+bluster was of little importance.&mdash; 'I am ruined for ever in their
+opinion&mdash;' said I to myself&mdash;'I am shut out for ever from their
+society, they already think me an unprincipled fellow, this letter will
+only make them think me a blackguard one.' Such were my reasonings, as,
+in a sort of desperate carelessness, I copied my wife's words, and
+parted with the last relics of Marianne.  Her three notes&mdash;unluckily
+they were all in my pocketbook, or I should have denied their
+existence, and hoarded them for ever&mdash;I was forced to put them up, and
+could not even kiss them.  And the lock of hair&mdash;that too I had always
+carried about me in the same pocket-book, which was now searched by
+Madam with the most ingratiating virulence,&mdash;the dear lock&mdash;all, every
+memento was torn from me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You are very wrong, Mr. Willoughby, very blamable," said Elinor, while
+her voice, in spite of herself, betrayed her compassionate emotion;
+"you ought not to speak in this way, either of Mrs. Willoughby or my
+sister.  You had made your own choice.  It was not forced on you.  Your
+wife has a claim to your politeness, to your respect, at least.  She
+must be attached to you, or she would not have married you.  To treat
+her with unkindness, to speak of her slightingly is no atonement to
+Marianne&mdash;nor can I suppose it a relief to your own conscience."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Do not talk to me of my wife," said he with a heavy sigh.&mdash; "She does
+not deserve your compassion.&mdash;She knew I had no regard for her when we
+married.&mdash;Well, married we were, and came down to Combe Magna to be
+happy, and afterwards returned to town to be gay.&mdash;And now do you pity
+me, Miss Dashwood?&mdash;or have I said all this to no purpose?&mdash; Am I&mdash;be
+it only one degree&mdash;am I less guilty in your opinion than I was
+before?&mdash;My intentions were not always wrong.  Have I explained away
+any part of my guilt?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, you have certainly removed something&mdash;a little.&mdash; You have proved
+yourself, on the whole, less faulty than I had believed you.  You have
+proved your heart less wicked, much less wicked.  But I hardly
+know&mdash;the misery that you have inflicted&mdash;I hardly know what could have
+made it worse."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Will you repeat to your sister when she is recovered, what I have been
+telling you?&mdash;Let me be a little lightened too in her opinion as well
+as in yours.  You tell me that she has forgiven me already.  Let me be
+able to fancy that a better knowledge of my heart, and of my present
+feelings, will draw from her a more spontaneous, more natural, more
+gentle, less dignified, forgiveness.  Tell her of my misery and my
+penitence&mdash;tell her that my heart was never inconstant to her, and if
+you will, that at this moment she is dearer to me than ever."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I will tell her all that is necessary to what may comparatively be
+called, your justification.  But you have not explained to me the
+particular reason of your coming now, nor how you heard of her illness."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Last night, in Drury Lane lobby, I ran against Sir John Middleton, and
+when he saw who I was&mdash;for the first time these two months&mdash;he spoke to
+me.&mdash;That he had cut me ever since my marriage, I had seen without
+surprise or resentment.  Now, however, his good-natured, honest, stupid
+soul, full of indignation against me, and concern for your sister,
+could not resist the temptation of telling me what he knew ought
+to&mdash;though probably he did not think it WOULD&mdash;vex me horridly.  As
+bluntly as he could speak it, therefore, he told me that Marianne
+Dashwood was dying of a putrid fever at Cleveland&mdash;a letter that
+morning received from Mrs. Jennings declared her danger most
+imminent&mdash;the Palmers are all gone off in a fright, &amp;c.&mdash;I was too much
+shocked to be able to pass myself off as insensible even to the
+undiscerning Sir John.  His heart was softened in seeing mine suffer;
+and so much of his ill-will was done away, that when we parted, he
+almost shook me by the hand while he reminded me of an old promise
+about a pointer puppy.  What I felt on hearing that your sister was
+dying&mdash;and dying too, believing me the greatest villain upon earth,
+scorning, hating me in her latest moments&mdash;for how could I tell what
+horrid projects might not have been imputed?  ONE person I was sure
+would represent me as capable of any thing&mdash; What I felt was
+dreadful!&mdash;My resolution was soon made, and at eight o'clock this
+morning I was in my carriage.  Now you know all."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor made no answer.  Her thoughts were silently fixed on the
+irreparable injury which too early an independence and its consequent
+habits of idleness, dissipation, and luxury, had made in the mind, the
+character, the happiness, of a man who, to every advantage of person
+and talents, united a disposition naturally open and honest, and a
+feeling, affectionate temper.  The world had made him extravagant and
+vain&mdash;Extravagance and vanity had made him cold-hearted and selfish.
+Vanity, while seeking its own guilty triumph at the expense of another,
+had involved him in a real attachment, which extravagance, or at least
+its offspring, necessity, had required to be sacrificed.  Each faulty
+propensity in leading him to evil, had led him likewise to punishment.
+The attachment, from which against honour, against feeling, against
+every better interest he had outwardly torn himself, now, when no
+longer allowable, governed every thought; and the connection, for the
+sake of which he had, with little scruple, left her sister to misery,
+was likely to prove a source of unhappiness to himself of a far more
+incurable nature.  From a reverie of this kind she was recalled at the
+end of some minutes by Willoughby, who, rousing himself from a reverie
+at least equally painful, started up in preparation for going, and
+said&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"There is no use in staying here; I must be off."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Are you going back to town?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No&mdash;to Combe Magna.  I have business there; from thence to town in a
+day or two.  Good bye."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He held out his hand.  She could not refuse to give him hers's;&mdash;he
+pressed it with affection.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And you DO think something better of me than you did?"&mdash;said he,
+letting it fall, and leaning against the mantel-piece as if forgetting
+he was to go.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor assured him that she did;&mdash;that she forgave, pitied, wished him
+well&mdash;was even interested in his happiness&mdash;and added some gentle
+counsel as to the behaviour most likely to promote it.  His answer was
+not very encouraging.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"As to that," said he, "I must rub through the world as well as I can.
+Domestic happiness is out of the question.  If, however, I am allowed
+to think that you and yours feel an interest in my fate and actions, it
+may be the means&mdash;it may put me on my guard&mdash;at least, it may be
+something to live for.  Marianne to be sure is lost to me for ever.
+Were I even by any blessed chance at liberty again&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor stopped him with a reproof.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well,"&mdash;he replied&mdash;"once more good bye. I shall now go away and live
+in dread of one event."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What do you mean?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Your sister's marriage."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You are very wrong.  She can never be more lost to you than she is
+now."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But she will be gained by some one else.  And if that some one should
+be the very he whom, of all others, I could least bear&mdash;but I will not
+stay to rob myself of all your compassionate goodwill, by shewing that
+where I have most injured I can least forgive.  Good bye,&mdash;God bless
+you!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+And with these words, he almost ran out of the room.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap45"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 45
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Elinor, for some time after he left her, for some time even after the
+sound of his carriage had died away, remained too much oppressed by a
+crowd of ideas, widely differing in themselves, but of which sadness
+was the general result, to think even of her sister.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Willoughby, he, whom only half an hour ago she had abhorred as the most
+worthless of men, Willoughby, in spite of all his faults, excited a
+degree of commiseration for the sufferings produced by them, which made
+her think of him as now separated for ever from her family, with a
+tenderness, a regret, rather in proportion, as she soon acknowledged
+within herself&mdash;to his wishes than to his merits.  She felt that his
+influence over her mind was heightened by circumstances which ought not
+in reason to have weight; by that person of uncommon attraction, that
+open, affectionate, and lively manner which it was no merit to possess;
+and by that still ardent love for Marianne, which it was not even
+innocent to indulge.  But she felt that it was so, long, long before
+she could feel his influence less.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When at last she returned to the unconscious Marianne, she found her
+just awaking, refreshed by so long and sweet a sleep to the extent of
+her hopes.  Elinor's heart was full.  The past, the present, the
+future, Willoughby's visit, Marianne's safety, and her mother's
+expected arrival, threw her altogether into an agitation of spirits
+which kept off every indication of fatigue, and made her only fearful
+of betraying herself to her sister.  Short was the time, however, in
+which that fear could affect her, for within half an hour after
+Willoughby's leaving the house, she was again called down stairs by the
+sound of another carriage.&mdash;Eager to save her mother from every
+unnecessary moment's horrible suspense, she ran immediately into the
+hall, and reached the outward door just in time to receive and support
+her as she entered it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood, whose terror as they drew near the house had produced
+almost the conviction of Marianne's being no more, had no voice to
+inquire after her, no voice even for Elinor; but SHE, waiting neither
+for salutation nor inquiry, instantly gave the joyful relief;&mdash;and her
+mother, catching it with all her usual warmth, was in a moment as much
+overcome by her happiness, as she had been before by her fears.  She
+was supported into the drawing-room between her daughter and her
+friend;&mdash;and there, shedding tears of joy, though still unable to
+speak, embraced Elinor again and again, turning from her at intervals
+to press Colonel Brandon's hand, with a look which spoke at once her
+gratitude, and her conviction of his sharing with herself in the bliss
+of the moment.  He shared it, however, in a silence even greater than
+her own.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As soon as Mrs. Dashwood had recovered herself, to see Marianne was her
+first desire; and in two minutes she was with her beloved child,
+rendered dearer to her than ever by absence, unhappiness, and danger.
+Elinor's delight, as she saw what each felt in the meeting, was only
+checked by an apprehension of its robbing Marianne of farther
+sleep;&mdash;but Mrs. Dashwood could be calm, could be even prudent, when
+the life of a child was at stake, and Marianne, satisfied in knowing
+her mother was near her, and conscious of being too weak for
+conversation, submitted readily to the silence and quiet prescribed by
+every nurse around her.  Mrs. Dashwood WOULD sit up with her all night;
+and Elinor, in compliance with her mother's entreaty, went to bed.  But
+the rest, which one night entirely sleepless, and many hours of the
+most wearing anxiety seemed to make requisite, was kept off by
+irritation of spirits.  Willoughby, "poor Willoughby," as she now
+allowed herself to call him, was constantly in her thoughts; she would
+not but have heard his vindication for the world, and now blamed, now
+acquitted herself for having judged him so harshly before.  But her
+promise of relating it to her sister was invariably painful.  She
+dreaded the performance of it, dreaded what its effect on Marianne
+might be; doubted whether after such an explanation she could ever be
+happy with another; and for a moment wished Willoughby a widower.
+Then, remembering Colonel Brandon, reproved herself, felt that to HIS
+sufferings and his constancy far more than to his rival's, the reward
+of her sister was due, and wished any thing rather than Mrs.
+Willoughby's death.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The shock of Colonel Brandon's errand at Barton had been much softened
+to Mrs. Dashwood by her own previous alarm; for so great was her
+uneasiness about Marianne, that she had already determined to set out
+for Cleveland on that very day, without waiting for any further
+intelligence, and had so far settled her journey before his arrival,
+that the Careys were then expected every moment to fetch Margaret away,
+as her mother was unwilling to take her where there might be infection.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne continued to mend every day, and the brilliant cheerfulness of
+Mrs. Dashwood's looks and spirits proved her to be, as she repeatedly
+declared herself, one of the happiest women in the world.  Elinor could
+not hear the declaration, nor witness its proofs without sometimes
+wondering whether her mother ever recollected Edward.  But Mrs.
+Dashwood, trusting to the temperate account of her own disappointment
+which Elinor had sent her, was led away by the exuberance of her joy to
+think only of what would increase it.  Marianne was restored to her
+from a danger in which, as she now began to feel, her own mistaken
+judgment in encouraging the unfortunate attachment to Willoughby, had
+contributed to place her;&mdash;and in her recovery she had yet another
+source of joy unthought of by Elinor.  It was thus imparted to her, as
+soon as any opportunity of private conference between them occurred.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"At last we are alone.  My Elinor, you do not yet know all my
+happiness.  Colonel Brandon loves Marianne.  He has told me so himself."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Her daughter, feeling by turns both pleased and pained, surprised and
+not surprised, was all silent attention.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You are never like me, dear Elinor, or I should wonder at your
+composure now.  Had I sat down to wish for any possible good to my
+family, I should have fixed on Colonel Brandon's marrying one of you as
+the object most desirable.  And I believe Marianne will be the most
+happy with him of the two."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor was half inclined to ask her reason for thinking so, because
+satisfied that none founded on an impartial consideration of their age,
+characters, or feelings, could be given;&mdash;but her mother must always be
+carried away by her imagination on any interesting subject, and
+therefore instead of an inquiry, she passed it off with a smile.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He opened his whole heart to me yesterday as we travelled.  It came
+out quite unawares, quite undesignedly.  I, you may well believe, could
+talk of nothing but my child;&mdash;he could not conceal his distress; I saw
+that it equalled my own, and he perhaps, thinking that mere friendship,
+as the world now goes, would not justify so warm a sympathy&mdash;or rather,
+not thinking at all, I suppose&mdash;giving way to irresistible feelings,
+made me acquainted with his earnest, tender, constant, affection for
+Marianne.  He has loved her, my Elinor, ever since the first moment of
+seeing her."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Here, however, Elinor perceived,&mdash;not the language, not the professions
+of Colonel Brandon, but the natural embellishments of her mother's
+active fancy, which fashioned every thing delightful to her as it chose.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"His regard for her, infinitely surpassing anything that Willoughby
+ever felt or feigned, as much more warm, as more sincere or
+constant&mdash;which ever we are to call it&mdash;has subsisted through all the
+knowledge of dear Marianne's unhappy prepossession for that worthless
+young man!&mdash;and without selfishness&mdash;without encouraging a hope!&mdash;could
+he have seen her happy with another&mdash;Such a noble mind!&mdash;such openness,
+such sincerity!&mdash;no one can be deceived in HIM."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Colonel Brandon's character," said Elinor, "as an excellent man, is
+well established."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I know it is"&mdash;replied her mother seriously, "or after such a warning,
+I should be the last to encourage such affection, or even to be pleased
+by it.  But his coming for me as he did, with such active, such ready
+friendship, is enough to prove him one of the worthiest of men."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"His character, however," answered Elinor, "does not rest on ONE act of
+kindness, to which his affection for Marianne, were humanity out of the
+case, would have prompted him.  To Mrs. Jennings, to the Middletons, he
+has been long and intimately known; they equally love and respect him;
+and even my own knowledge of him, though lately acquired, is very
+considerable; and so highly do I value and esteem him, that if Marianne
+can be happy with him, I shall be as ready as yourself to think our
+connection the greatest blessing to us in the world.  What answer did
+you give him?&mdash;Did you allow him to hope?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh! my love, I could not then talk of hope to him or to myself.
+Marianne might at that moment be dying.  But he did not ask for hope or
+encouragement.  His was an involuntary confidence, an irrepressible
+effusion to a soothing friend&mdash;not an application to a parent.  Yet
+after a time I DID say, for at first I was quite overcome&mdash;that if she
+lived, as I trusted she might, my greatest happiness would lie in
+promoting their marriage; and since our arrival, since our delightful
+security, I have repeated it to him more fully, have given him every
+encouragement in my power.  Time, a very little time, I tell him, will
+do everything;&mdash;Marianne's heart is not to be wasted for ever on such a
+man as Willoughby.&mdash; His own merits must soon secure it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"To judge from the Colonel's spirits, however, you have not yet made
+him equally sanguine."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No.&mdash;He thinks Marianne's affection too deeply rooted for any change
+in it under a great length of time, and even supposing her heart again
+free, is too diffident of himself to believe, that with such a
+difference of age and disposition he could ever attach her.  There,
+however, he is quite mistaken.  His age is only so much beyond hers as
+to be an advantage, as to make his character and principles fixed;&mdash;and
+his disposition, I am well convinced, is exactly the very one to make
+your sister happy.  And his person, his manners too, are all in his
+favour.  My partiality does not blind me; he certainly is not so
+handsome as Willoughby&mdash;but at the same time, there is something much
+more pleasing in his countenance.&mdash; There was always a something,&mdash;if
+you remember,&mdash;in Willoughby's eyes at times, which I did not like."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor could NOT remember it;&mdash;but her mother, without waiting for her
+assent, continued,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And his manners, the Colonel's manners are not only more pleasing to
+me than Willoughby's ever were, but they are of a kind I well know to
+be more solidly attaching to Marianne.  Their gentleness, their genuine
+attention to other people, and their manly unstudied simplicity is much
+more accordant with her real disposition, than the liveliness&mdash;often
+artificial, and often ill-timed of the other.  I am very sure myself,
+that had Willoughby turned out as really amiable, as he has proved
+himself the contrary, Marianne would yet never have been so happy with
+HIM, as she will be with Colonel Brandon."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She paused.&mdash;Her daughter could not quite agree with her, but her
+dissent was not heard, and therefore gave no offence.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"At Delaford, she will be within an easy distance of me," added Mrs.
+Dashwood, "even if I remain at Barton; and in all probability,&mdash;for I
+hear it is a large village,&mdash;indeed there certainly MUST be some small
+house or cottage close by, that would suit us quite as well as our
+present situation."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Poor Elinor!&mdash;here was a new scheme for getting her to Delaford!&mdash;but
+her spirit was stubborn.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"His fortune too!&mdash;for at my time of life you know, everybody cares
+about THAT;&mdash;and though I neither know nor desire to know, what it
+really is, I am sure it must be a good one."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Here they were interrupted by the entrance of a third person, and
+Elinor withdrew to think it all over in private, to wish success to her
+friend, and yet in wishing it, to feel a pang for Willoughby.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap46"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 46
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Marianne's illness, though weakening in its kind, had not been long
+enough to make her recovery slow; and with youth, natural strength, and
+her mother's presence in aid, it proceeded so smoothly as to enable her
+to remove, within four days after the arrival of the latter, into Mrs.
+Palmer's dressing-room.  When there, at her own particular request, for
+she was impatient to pour forth her thanks to him for fetching her
+mother, Colonel Brandon was invited to visit her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+His emotion on entering the room, in seeing her altered looks, and in
+receiving the pale hand which she immediately held out to him, was
+such, as, in Elinor's conjecture, must arise from something more than
+his affection for Marianne, or the consciousness of its being known to
+others; and she soon discovered in his melancholy eye and varying
+complexion as he looked at her sister, the probable recurrence of many
+past scenes of misery to his mind, brought back by that resemblance
+between Marianne and Eliza already acknowledged, and now strengthened
+by the hollow eye, the sickly skin, the posture of reclining weakness,
+and the warm acknowledgment of peculiar obligation.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood, not less watchful of what passed than her daughter, but
+with a mind very differently influenced, and therefore watching to very
+different effect, saw nothing in the Colonel's behaviour but what arose
+from the most simple and self-evident sensations, while in the actions
+and words of Marianne she persuaded herself to think that something
+more than gratitude already dawned.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At the end of another day or two, Marianne growing visibly stronger
+every twelve hours, Mrs. Dashwood, urged equally by her own and her
+daughter's wishes, began to talk of removing to Barton.  On HER
+measures depended those of her two friends; Mrs. Jennings could not
+quit Cleveland during the Dashwoods' stay; and Colonel Brandon was soon
+brought, by their united request, to consider his own abode there as
+equally determinate, if not equally indispensable.  At his and Mrs.
+Jennings's united request in return, Mrs. Dashwood was prevailed on to
+accept the use of his carriage on her journey back, for the better
+accommodation of her sick child; and the Colonel, at the joint
+invitation of Mrs. Dashwood and Mrs. Jennings, whose active good-nature
+made her friendly and hospitable for other people as well as herself,
+engaged with pleasure to redeem it by a visit at the cottage, in the
+course of a few weeks.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The day of separation and departure arrived; and Marianne, after taking
+so particular and lengthened a leave of Mrs. Jennings, one so earnestly
+grateful, so full of respect and kind wishes as seemed due to her own
+heart from a secret acknowledgment of past inattention, and bidding
+Colonel Brandon farewell with a cordiality of a friend, was carefully
+assisted by him into the carriage, of which he seemed anxious that she
+should engross at least half.  Mrs. Dashwood and Elinor then followed,
+and the others were left by themselves, to talk of the travellers, and
+feel their own dullness, till Mrs. Jennings was summoned to her chaise
+to take comfort in the gossip of her maid for the loss of her two young
+companions; and Colonel Brandon immediately afterwards took his
+solitary way to Delaford.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The Dashwoods were two days on the road, and Marianne bore her journey
+on both, without essential fatigue.  Every thing that the most zealous
+affection, the most solicitous care could do to render her comfortable,
+was the office of each watchful companion, and each found their reward
+in her bodily ease, and her calmness of spirits.  To Elinor, the
+observation of the latter was particularly grateful.  She, who had seen
+her week after week so constantly suffering, oppressed by anguish of
+heart which she had neither courage to speak of, nor fortitude to
+conceal, now saw with a joy, which no other could equally share, an
+apparent composure of mind, which, in being the result as she trusted
+of serious reflection, must eventually lead her to contentment and
+cheerfulness.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As they approached Barton, indeed, and entered on scenes of which every
+field and every tree brought some peculiar, some painful recollection,
+she grew silent and thoughtful, and turning away her face from their
+notice, sat earnestly gazing through the window.  But here, Elinor
+could neither wonder nor blame; and when she saw, as she assisted
+Marianne from the carriage, that she had been crying, she saw only an
+emotion too natural in itself to raise any thing less tender than pity,
+and in its unobtrusiveness entitled to praise.  In the whole of her
+subsequent manner, she traced the direction of a mind awakened to
+reasonable exertion; for no sooner had they entered their common
+sitting-room, than Marianne turned her eyes around it with a look of
+resolute firmness, as if determined at once to accustom herself to the
+sight of every object with which the remembrance of Willoughby could be
+connected.&mdash;She said little, but every sentence aimed at cheerfulness,
+and though a sigh sometimes escaped her, it never passed away without
+the atonement of a smile.  After dinner she would try her piano-forte.
+She went to it; but the music on which her eye first rested was an
+opera, procured for her by Willoughby, containing some of their
+favourite duets, and bearing on its outward leaf her own name in his
+hand-writing.&mdash;That would not do.&mdash;She shook her head, put the music
+aside, and after running over the keys for a minute, complained of
+feebleness in her fingers, and closed the instrument again; declaring
+however with firmness as she did so, that she should in future practice
+much.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The next morning produced no abatement in these happy symptoms.  On the
+contrary, with a mind and body alike strengthened by rest, she looked
+and spoke with more genuine spirit, anticipating the pleasure of
+Margaret's return, and talking of the dear family party which would
+then be restored, of their mutual pursuits and cheerful society, as the
+only happiness worth a wish.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"When the weather is settled, and I have recovered my strength," said
+she, "we will take long walks together every day.  We will walk to the
+farm at the edge of the down, and see how the children go on; we will
+walk to Sir John's new plantations at Barton Cross, and the Abbeyland;
+and we will often go the old ruins of the Priory, and try to trace its
+foundations as far as we are told they once reached.  I know we shall
+be happy.  I know the summer will pass happily away.  I mean never to
+be later in rising than six, and from that time till dinner I shall
+divide every moment between music and reading.  I have formed my plan,
+and am determined to enter on a course of serious study.  Our own
+library is too well known to me, to be resorted to for any thing beyond
+mere amusement.  But there are many works well worth reading at the
+Park; and there are others of more modern production which I know I can
+borrow of Colonel Brandon.  By reading only six hours a-day, I shall
+gain in the course of a twelve-month a great deal of instruction which
+I now feel myself to want."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor honoured her for a plan which originated so nobly as this;
+though smiling to see the same eager fancy which had been leading her
+to the extreme of languid indolence and selfish repining, now at work
+in introducing excess into a scheme of such rational employment and
+virtuous self-control. Her smile however changed to a sigh when she
+remembered that promise to Willoughby was yet unfulfilled, and feared
+she had that to communicate which might again unsettle the mind of
+Marianne, and ruin at least for a time this fair prospect of busy
+tranquillity.  Willing therefore to delay the evil hour, she resolved
+to wait till her sister's health were more secure, before she appointed
+it.  But the resolution was made only to be broken.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne had been two or three days at home, before the weather was
+fine enough for an invalid like herself to venture out.  But at last a
+soft, genial morning appeared; such as might tempt the daughter's
+wishes and the mother's confidence; and Marianne, leaning on Elinor's
+arm, was authorised to walk as long as she could without fatigue, in
+the lane before the house.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The sisters set out at a pace, slow as the feebleness of Marianne in an
+exercise hitherto untried since her illness required;&mdash;and they had
+advanced only so far beyond the house as to admit a full view of the
+hill, the important hill behind, when pausing with her eyes turned
+towards it, Marianne calmly said,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"There, exactly there,"&mdash;pointing with one hand, "on that projecting
+mound,&mdash;there I fell; and there I first saw Willoughby."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Her voice sunk with the word, but presently reviving she added,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am thankful to find that I can look with so little pain on the
+spot!&mdash;shall we ever talk on that subject, Elinor?"&mdash;hesitatingly it
+was said.&mdash;"Or will it be wrong?&mdash;I can talk of it now, I hope, as I
+ought to do."&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor tenderly invited her to be open.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"As for regret," said Marianne, "I have done with that, as far as HE is
+concerned.  I do not mean to talk to you of what my feelings have been
+for him, but what they are NOW.&mdash;At present, if I could be satisfied on
+one point, if I could be allowed to think that he was not ALWAYS acting
+a part, not ALWAYS deceiving me;&mdash;but above all, if I could be assured
+that he never was so VERY wicked as my fears have sometimes fancied
+him, since the story of that unfortunate girl"&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She stopt.  Elinor joyfully treasured her words as she answered,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If you could be assured of that, you think you should be easy."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes. My peace of mind is doubly involved in it;&mdash;for not only is it
+horrible to suspect a person, who has been what HE has been to ME, of
+such designs,&mdash;but what must it make me appear to myself?&mdash;What in a
+situation like mine, but a most shamefully unguarded affection could
+expose me to"&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How then," asked her sister, "would you account for his behaviour?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I would suppose him,&mdash;Oh, how gladly would I suppose him, only fickle,
+very, very fickle."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor said no more.  She was debating within herself on the
+eligibility of beginning her story directly, or postponing it till
+Marianne were in stronger health;&mdash;and they crept on for a few minutes
+in silence.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am not wishing him too much good," said Marianne at last with a
+sigh, "when I wish his secret reflections may be no more unpleasant
+than my own.  He will suffer enough in them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Do you compare your conduct with his?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No. I compare it with what it ought to have been; I compare it with
+yours."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Our situations have borne little resemblance."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They have borne more than our conduct.&mdash;Do not, my dearest Elinor, let
+your kindness defend what I know your judgment must censure.  My
+illness has made me think&mdash; It has given me leisure and calmness for
+serious recollection.  Long before I was enough recovered to talk, I
+was perfectly able to reflect.  I considered the past: I saw in my own
+behaviour, since the beginning of our acquaintance with him last
+autumn, nothing but a series of imprudence towards myself, and want of
+kindness to others.  I saw that my own feelings had prepared my
+sufferings, and that my want of fortitude under them had almost led me
+to the grave.  My illness, I well knew, had been entirely brought on by
+myself by such negligence of my own health, as I had felt even at the
+time to be wrong.  Had I died,&mdash;it would have been self-destruction. I
+did not know my danger till the danger was removed; but with such
+feelings as these reflections gave me, I wonder at my recovery,&mdash;wonder
+that the very eagerness of my desire to live, to have time for
+atonement to my God, and to you all, did not kill me at once.  Had I
+died,&mdash; in what peculiar misery should I have left you, my nurse, my
+friend, my sister!&mdash;You, who had seen all the fretful selfishness of my
+latter days; who had known all the murmurings of my heart!&mdash;How should
+I have lived in YOUR remembrance!&mdash;My mother too! How could you have
+consoled her!&mdash;I cannot express my own abhorrence of myself.  Whenever
+I looked towards the past, I saw some duty neglected, or some failing
+indulged.  Every body seemed injured by me.  The kindness, the
+unceasing kindness of Mrs. Jennings, I had repaid with ungrateful
+contempt.  To the Middletons, to the Palmers, the Steeles, to every
+common acquaintance even, I had been insolent and unjust; with a heart
+hardened against their merits, and a temper irritated by their very
+attention.&mdash;To John, to Fanny,&mdash;yes, even to them, little as they
+deserve, I had given less than their due.  But you,&mdash;you above all,
+above my mother, had been wronged by me.  I, and only I, knew your
+heart and its sorrows; yet to what did it influence me?&mdash;not to any
+compassion that could benefit you or myself.&mdash;Your example was before
+me; but to what avail?&mdash;Was I more considerate of you and your comfort?
+Did I imitate your forbearance, or lessen your restraints, by taking
+any part in those offices of general complaisance or particular
+gratitude which you had hitherto been left to discharge
+alone?&mdash;No;&mdash;not less when I knew you to be unhappy, than when I had
+believed you at ease, did I turn away from every exertion of duty or
+friendship; scarcely allowing sorrow to exist but with me, regretting
+only THAT heart which had deserted and wronged me, and leaving you, for
+or I professed an unbounded affection, to be miserable for my sake."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Here ceased the rapid flow of her self-reproving spirit; and Elinor,
+impatient to soothe, though too honest to flatter, gave her instantly
+that praise and support which her frankness and her contrition so well
+deserved.  Marianne pressed her hand and replied,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You are very good.&mdash;The future must be my proof.  I have laid down my
+plan, and if I am capable of adhering to it&mdash;my feelings shall be
+governed and my temper improved.  They shall no longer worry others,
+nor torture myself.  I shall now live solely for my family.  You, my
+mother, and Margaret, must henceforth be all the world to me; you will
+share my affections entirely between you.  From you, from my home, I
+shall never again have the smallest incitement to move; and if I do mix
+in other society, it will be only to shew that my spirit is humbled, my
+heart amended, and that I can practise the civilities, the lesser
+duties of life, with gentleness and forbearance.  As for Willoughby&mdash;to
+say that I shall soon or that I shall ever forget him, would be idle.
+His remembrance can be overcome by no change of circumstances or
+opinions.  But it shall be regulated, it shall be checked by religion,
+by reason, by constant employment."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She paused&mdash;and added in a low voice, "If I could but know HIS heart,
+everything would become easy."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor, who had now been for some time reflecting on the propriety or
+impropriety of speedily hazarding her narration, without feeling at all
+nearer decision than at first, heard this; and perceiving that as
+reflection did nothing, resolution must do all, soon found herself
+leading to the fact.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She managed the recital, as she hoped, with address; prepared her
+anxious listener with caution; related simply and honestly the chief
+points on which Willoughby grounded his apology; did justice to his
+repentance, and softened only his protestations of present regard.
+Marianne said not a word.&mdash;She trembled, her eyes were fixed on the
+ground, and her lips became whiter than even sickness had left them.  A
+thousand inquiries sprung up from her heart, but she dared not urge
+one.  She caught every syllable with panting eagerness; her hand,
+unknowingly to herself, closely pressed her sister's, and tears covered
+her cheeks.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor, dreading her being tired, led her towards home; and till they
+reached the door of the cottage, easily conjecturing what her curiosity
+must be though no question was suffered to speak it, talked of nothing
+but Willoughby, and their conversation together; and was carefully
+minute in every particular of speech and look, where minuteness could
+be safely indulged.  As soon as they entered the house, Marianne with a
+kiss of gratitude and these two words just articulate through her
+tears, "Tell mama," withdrew from her sister and walked slowly up
+stairs.  Elinor would not attempt to disturb a solitude so reasonable
+as what she now sought; and with a mind anxiously pre-arranging its
+result, and a resolution of reviving the subject again, should Marianne
+fail to do it, she turned into the parlour to fulfill her parting
+injunction.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap47"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 47
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood did not hear unmoved the vindication of her former
+favourite.  She rejoiced in his being cleared from some part of his
+imputed guilt;&mdash;she was sorry for him;&mdash;she wished him happy.  But the
+feelings of the past could not be recalled.&mdash;Nothing could restore him
+with a faith unbroken&mdash;a character unblemished, to Marianne.  Nothing
+could do away the knowledge of what the latter had suffered through his
+means, nor remove the guilt of his conduct towards Eliza.  Nothing
+could replace him, therefore, in her former esteem, nor injure the
+interests of Colonel Brandon.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Had Mrs. Dashwood, like her daughter, heard Willoughby's story from
+himself&mdash;had she witnessed his distress, and been under the influence
+of his countenance and his manner, it is probable that her compassion
+would have been greater.  But it was neither in Elinor's power, nor in
+her wish, to rouse such feelings in another, by her retailed
+explanation, as had at first been called forth in herself.  Reflection
+had given calmness to her judgment, and sobered her own opinion of
+Willoughby's deserts;&mdash;she wished, therefore, to declare only the
+simple truth, and lay open such facts as were really due to his
+character, without any embellishment of tenderness to lead the fancy
+astray.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In the evening, when they were all three together, Marianne began
+voluntarily to speak of him again;&mdash;but that it was not without an
+effort, the restless, unquiet thoughtfulness in which she had been for
+some time previously sitting&mdash;her rising colour, as she spoke,&mdash;and her
+unsteady voice, plainly shewed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I wish to assure you both," said she, "that I see every thing&mdash;as you
+can desire me to do."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood would have interrupted her instantly with soothing
+tenderness, had not Elinor, who really wished to hear her sister's
+unbiased opinion, by an eager sign, engaged her silence.  Marianne
+slowly continued&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is a great relief to me&mdash;what Elinor told me this morning&mdash;I have
+now heard exactly what I wished to hear."&mdash;For some moments her voice
+was lost; but recovering herself, she added, and with greater calmness
+than before&mdash;"I am now perfectly satisfied, I wish for no change.  I
+never could have been happy with him, after knowing, as sooner or later
+I must have known, all this.&mdash;I should have had no confidence, no
+esteem.  Nothing could have done it away to my feelings."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I know it&mdash;I know it," cried her mother.  "Happy with a man of
+libertine practices!&mdash;With one who so injured the peace of the dearest
+of our friends, and the best of men!&mdash;No&mdash;my Marianne has not a heart
+to be made happy with such a man!&mdash;Her conscience, her sensitive
+conscience, would have felt all that the conscience of her husband
+ought to have felt."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne sighed, and repeated, "I wish for no change."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You consider the matter," said Elinor, "exactly as a good mind and a
+sound understanding must consider it; and I dare say you perceive, as
+well as myself, not only in this, but in many other circumstances,
+reason enough to be convinced that your marriage must have involved you
+in many certain troubles and disappointments, in which you would have
+been poorly supported by an affection, on his side, much less certain.
+Had you married, you must have been always poor.  His expensiveness is
+acknowledged even by himself, and his whole conduct declares that
+self-denial is a word hardly understood by him.  His demands and your
+inexperience together, on a small, very small income, must have brought
+on distresses which would not be the LESS grievous to you, from having
+been entirely unknown and unthought of before.  YOUR sense of honour
+and honesty would have led you, I know, when aware of your situation,
+to attempt all the economy that would appear to you possible: and,
+perhaps, as long as your frugality retrenched only on your own comfort,
+you might have been suffered to practice it, but beyond that&mdash;and how
+little could the utmost of your single management do to stop the ruin
+which had begun before your marriage?&mdash; Beyond THAT, had you
+endeavoured, however reasonably, to abridge HIS enjoyments, is it not
+to be feared, that instead of prevailing on feelings so selfish to
+consent to it, you would have lessened your own influence on his heart,
+and made him regret the connection which had involved him in such
+difficulties?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne's lips quivered, and she repeated the word "Selfish?" in a
+tone that implied&mdash;"do you really think him selfish?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The whole of his behaviour," replied Elinor, "from the beginning to
+the end of the affair, has been grounded on selfishness.  It was
+selfishness which first made him sport with your affections; which
+afterwards, when his own were engaged, made him delay the confession of
+it, and which finally carried him from Barton.  His own enjoyment, or
+his own ease, was, in every particular, his ruling principle."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is very true.  MY happiness never was his object."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"At present," continued Elinor, "he regrets what he has done.  And why
+does he regret it?&mdash;Because he finds it has not answered towards
+himself.  It has not made him happy.  His circumstances are now
+unembarrassed&mdash;he suffers from no evil of that kind; and he thinks only
+that he has married a woman of a less amiable temper than yourself.
+But does it follow that had he married you, he would have been
+happy?&mdash;The inconveniences would have been different.  He would then
+have suffered under the pecuniary distresses which, because they are
+removed, he now reckons as nothing.  He would have had a wife of whose
+temper he could make no complaint, but he would have been always
+necessitous&mdash;always poor; and probably would soon have learned to rank
+the innumerable comforts of a clear estate and good income as of far
+more importance, even to domestic happiness, than the mere temper of a
+wife."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have not a doubt of it," said Marianne; "and I have nothing to
+regret&mdash;nothing but my own folly."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Rather say your mother's imprudence, my child," said Mrs. Dashwood;
+"SHE must be answerable."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne would not let her proceed;&mdash;and Elinor, satisfied that each
+felt their own error, wished to avoid any survey of the past that might
+weaken her sister's spirits; she, therefore, pursuing the first
+subject, immediately continued,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"One observation may, I think, be fairly drawn from the whole of the
+story&mdash;that all Willoughby's difficulties have arisen from the first
+offence against virtue, in his behaviour to Eliza Williams.  That crime
+has been the origin of every lesser one, and of all his present
+discontents."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne assented most feelingly to the remark; and her mother was led
+by it to an enumeration of Colonel Brandon's injuries and merits, warm
+as friendship and design could unitedly dictate.  Her daughter did not
+look, however, as if much of it were heard by her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor, according to her expectation, saw on the two or three following
+days, that Marianne did not continue to gain strength as she had done;
+but while her resolution was unsubdued, and she still tried to appear
+cheerful and easy, her sister could safely trust to the effect of time
+upon her health.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Margaret returned, and the family were again all restored to each
+other, again quietly settled at the cottage; and if not pursuing their
+usual studies with quite so much vigour as when they first came to
+Barton, at least planning a vigorous prosecution of them in future.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor grew impatient for some tidings of Edward.  She had heard
+nothing of him since her leaving London, nothing new of his plans,
+nothing certain even of his present abode.  Some letters had passed
+between her and her brother, in consequence of Marianne's illness; and
+in the first of John's, there had been this sentence:&mdash; "We know
+nothing of our unfortunate Edward, and can make no enquiries on so
+prohibited a subject, but conclude him to be still at Oxford;" which
+was all the intelligence of Edward afforded her by the correspondence,
+for his name was not even mentioned in any of the succeeding letters.
+She was not doomed, however, to be long in ignorance of his measures.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Their man-servant had been sent one morning to Exeter on business; and
+when, as he waited at table, he had satisfied the inquiries of his
+mistress as to the event of his errand, this was his voluntary
+communication&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I suppose you know, ma'am, that Mr. Ferrars is married."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne gave a violent start, fixed her eyes upon Elinor, saw her
+turning pale, and fell back in her chair in hysterics.  Mrs. Dashwood,
+whose eyes, as she answered the servant's inquiry, had intuitively
+taken the same direction, was shocked to perceive by Elinor's
+countenance how much she really suffered, and a moment afterwards,
+alike distressed by Marianne's situation, knew not on which child to
+bestow her principal attention.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The servant, who saw only that Miss Marianne was taken ill, had sense
+enough to call one of the maids, who, with Mrs. Dashwood's assistance,
+supported her into the other room.  By that time, Marianne was rather
+better, and her mother leaving her to the care of Margaret and the
+maid, returned to Elinor, who, though still much disordered, had so far
+recovered the use of her reason and voice as to be just beginning an
+inquiry of Thomas, as to the source of his intelligence.  Mrs. Dashwood
+immediately took all that trouble on herself; and Elinor had the
+benefit of the information without the exertion of seeking it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Who told you that Mr. Ferrars was married, Thomas?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I see Mr. Ferrars myself, ma'am, this morning in Exeter, and his lady
+too, Miss Steele as was.  They was stopping in a chaise at the door of
+the New London Inn, as I went there with a message from Sally at the
+Park to her brother, who is one of the post-boys. I happened to look up
+as I went by the chaise, and so I see directly it was the youngest Miss
+Steele; so I took off my hat, and she knew me and called to me, and
+inquired after you, ma'am, and the young ladies, especially Miss
+Marianne, and bid me I should give her compliments and Mr. Ferrars's,
+their best compliments and service, and how sorry they was they had not
+time to come on and see you, but they was in a great hurry to go
+forwards, for they was going further down for a little while, but
+howsever, when they come back, they'd make sure to come and see you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But did she tell you she was married, Thomas?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, ma'am. She smiled, and said how she had changed her name since
+she was in these parts.  She was always a very affable and free-spoken
+young lady, and very civil behaved.  So, I made free to wish her joy."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Was Mr. Ferrars in the carriage with her?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, ma'am, I just see him leaning back in it, but he did not look
+up;&mdash;he never was a gentleman much for talking."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor's heart could easily account for his not putting himself
+forward; and Mrs. Dashwood probably found the same explanation.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Was there no one else in the carriage?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, ma'am, only they two."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Do you know where they came from?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They come straight from town, as Miss Lucy&mdash; Mrs. Ferrars told me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And are they going farther westward?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, ma'am&mdash;but not to bide long.  They will soon be back again, and
+then they'd be sure and call here."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood now looked at her daughter; but Elinor knew better than
+to expect them.  She recognised the whole of Lucy in the message, and
+was very confident that Edward would never come near them.  She
+observed in a low voice, to her mother, that they were probably going
+down to Mr. Pratt's, near Plymouth.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Thomas's intelligence seemed over.  Elinor looked as if she wished to
+hear more.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Did you see them off, before you came away?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, ma'am&mdash;the horses were just coming out, but I could not bide any
+longer; I was afraid of being late."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Did Mrs. Ferrars look well?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, ma'am, she said how she was very well; and to my mind she was
+always a very handsome young lady&mdash;and she seemed vastly contented."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood could think of no other question, and Thomas and the
+tablecloth, now alike needless, were soon afterwards dismissed.
+Marianne had already sent to say, that she should eat nothing more.
+Mrs. Dashwood's and Elinor's appetites were equally lost, and Margaret
+might think herself very well off, that with so much uneasiness as both
+her sisters had lately experienced, so much reason as they had often
+had to be careless of their meals, she had never been obliged to go
+without her dinner before.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When the dessert and the wine were arranged, and Mrs. Dashwood and
+Elinor were left by themselves, they remained long together in a
+similarity of thoughtfulness and silence.  Mrs. Dashwood feared to
+hazard any remark, and ventured not to offer consolation.  She now
+found that she had erred in relying on Elinor's representation of
+herself; and justly concluded that every thing had been expressly
+softened at the time, to spare her from an increase of unhappiness,
+suffering as she then had suffered for Marianne.  She found that she
+had been misled by the careful, the considerate attention of her
+daughter, to think the attachment, which once she had so well
+understood, much slighter in reality, than she had been wont to
+believe, or than it was now proved to be.  She feared that under this
+persuasion she had been unjust, inattentive, nay, almost unkind, to her
+Elinor;&mdash;that Marianne's affliction, because more acknowledged, more
+immediately before her, had too much engrossed her tenderness, and led
+her away to forget that in Elinor she might have a daughter suffering
+almost as much, certainly with less self-provocation, and greater
+fortitude.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap48"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 48
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Elinor now found the difference between the expectation of an
+unpleasant event, however certain the mind may be told to consider it,
+and certainty itself.  She now found, that in spite of herself, she had
+always admitted a hope, while Edward remained single, that something
+would occur to prevent his marrying Lucy; that some resolution of his
+own, some mediation of friends, or some more eligible opportunity of
+establishment for the lady, would arise to assist the happiness of all.
+But he was now married; and she condemned her heart for the lurking
+flattery, which so much heightened the pain of the intelligence.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+That he should be married soon, before (as she imagined) he could be in
+orders, and consequently before he could be in possession of the
+living, surprised her a little at first.  But she soon saw how likely
+it was that Lucy, in her self-provident care, in her haste to secure
+him, should overlook every thing but the risk of delay.  They were
+married, married in town, and now hastening down to her uncle's.  What
+had Edward felt on being within four miles from Barton, on seeing her
+mother's servant, on hearing Lucy's message!
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They would soon, she supposed, be settled at Delaford.&mdash;Delaford,&mdash;that
+place in which so much conspired to give her an interest; which she
+wished to be acquainted with, and yet desired to avoid.  She saw them
+in an instant in their parsonage-house; saw in Lucy, the active,
+contriving manager, uniting at once a desire of smart appearance with
+the utmost frugality, and ashamed to be suspected of half her
+economical practices;&mdash;pursuing her own interest in every thought,
+courting the favour of Colonel Brandon, of Mrs. Jennings, and of every
+wealthy friend.  In Edward&mdash;she knew not what she saw, nor what she
+wished to see;&mdash;happy or unhappy,&mdash;nothing pleased her; she turned away
+her head from every sketch of him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor flattered herself that some one of their connections in London
+would write to them to announce the event, and give farther
+particulars,&mdash;but day after day passed off, and brought no letter, no
+tidings.  Though uncertain that any one were to blame, she found fault
+with every absent friend.  They were all thoughtless or indolent.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"When do you write to Colonel Brandon, ma'am?" was an inquiry which
+sprung from the impatience of her mind to have something going on.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I wrote to him, my love, last week, and rather expect to see, than to
+hear from him again.  I earnestly pressed his coming to us, and should
+not be surprised to see him walk in today or tomorrow, or any day."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This was gaining something, something to look forward to.  Colonel
+Brandon must have some information to give.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Scarcely had she so determined it, when the figure of a man on
+horseback drew her eyes to the window.  He stopt at their gate.  It was
+a gentleman, it was Colonel Brandon himself.  Now she could hear more;
+and she trembled in expectation of it.  But&mdash;it was NOT Colonel
+Brandon&mdash;neither his air&mdash;nor his height.  Were it possible, she must
+say it must be Edward.  She looked again.  He had just dismounted;&mdash;she
+could not be mistaken,&mdash;it WAS Edward.  She moved away and sat down.
+"He comes from Mr. Pratt's purposely to see us.  I WILL be calm; I WILL
+be mistress of myself."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In a moment she perceived that the others were likewise aware of the
+mistake.  She saw her mother and Marianne change colour; saw them look
+at herself, and whisper a few sentences to each other.  She would have
+given the world to be able to speak&mdash;and to make them understand that
+she hoped no coolness, no slight, would appear in their behaviour to
+him;&mdash;but she had no utterance, and was obliged to leave all to their
+own discretion.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Not a syllable passed aloud.  They all waited in silence for the
+appearance of their visitor.  His footsteps were heard along the gravel
+path; in a moment he was in the passage, and in another he was before
+them.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+His countenance, as he entered the room, was not too happy, even for
+Elinor.  His complexion was white with agitation, and he looked as if
+fearful of his reception, and conscious that he merited no kind one.
+Mrs. Dashwood, however, conforming, as she trusted, to the wishes of
+that daughter, by whom she then meant in the warmth of her heart to be
+guided in every thing, met with a look of forced complacency, gave him
+her hand, and wished him joy.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He coloured, and stammered out an unintelligible reply.  Elinor's lips
+had moved with her mother's, and, when the moment of action was over,
+she wished that she had shaken hands with him too.  But it was then too
+late, and with a countenance meaning to be open, she sat down again and
+talked of the weather.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne had retreated as much as possible out of sight, to conceal her
+distress; and Margaret, understanding some part, but not the whole of
+the case, thought it incumbent on her to be dignified, and therefore
+took a seat as far from him as she could, and maintained a strict
+silence.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When Elinor had ceased to rejoice in the dryness of the season, a very
+awful pause took place.  It was put an end to by Mrs. Dashwood, who
+felt obliged to hope that he had left Mrs. Ferrars very well.  In a
+hurried manner, he replied in the affirmative.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Another pause.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor resolving to exert herself, though fearing the sound of her own
+voice, now said,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is Mrs. Ferrars at Longstaple?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"At Longstaple!" he replied, with an air of surprise.&mdash; "No, my mother
+is in town."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I meant," said Elinor, taking up some work from the table, "to inquire
+for Mrs. EDWARD Ferrars."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She dared not look up;&mdash;but her mother and Marianne both turned their
+eyes on him.  He coloured, seemed perplexed, looked doubtingly, and,
+after some hesitation, said,&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Perhaps you mean&mdash;my brother&mdash;you mean Mrs.&mdash;Mrs. ROBERT Ferrars."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mrs. Robert Ferrars!"&mdash;was repeated by Marianne and her mother in an
+accent of the utmost amazement;&mdash;and though Elinor could not speak,
+even HER eyes were fixed on him with the same impatient wonder.  He
+rose from his seat, and walked to the window, apparently from not
+knowing what to do; took up a pair of scissors that lay there, and
+while spoiling both them and their sheath by cutting the latter to
+pieces as he spoke, said, in a hurried voice,
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Perhaps you do not know&mdash;you may not have heard that my brother is
+lately married to&mdash;to the youngest&mdash;to Miss Lucy Steele."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+His words were echoed with unspeakable astonishment by all but Elinor,
+who sat with her head leaning over her work, in a state of such
+agitation as made her hardly know where she was.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes," said he, "they were married last week, and are now at Dawlish."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor could sit it no longer.  She almost ran out of the room, and as
+soon as the door was closed, burst into tears of joy, which at first
+she thought would never cease.  Edward, who had till then looked any
+where, rather than at her, saw her hurry away, and perhaps saw&mdash;or even
+heard, her emotion; for immediately afterwards he fell into a reverie,
+which no remarks, no inquiries, no affectionate address of Mrs.
+Dashwood could penetrate, and at last, without saying a word, quitted
+the room, and walked out towards the village&mdash;leaving the others in the
+greatest astonishment and perplexity on a change in his situation, so
+wonderful and so sudden;&mdash;a perplexity which they had no means of
+lessening but by their own conjectures.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap49"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 49
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Unaccountable, however, as the circumstances of his release might
+appear to the whole family, it was certain that Edward was free; and to
+what purpose that freedom would be employed was easily pre-determined
+by all;&mdash;for after experiencing the blessings of ONE imprudent
+engagement, contracted without his mother's consent, as he had already
+done for more than four years, nothing less could be expected of him in
+the failure of THAT, than the immediate contraction of another.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+His errand at Barton, in fact, was a simple one.  It was only to ask
+Elinor to marry him;&mdash;and considering that he was not altogether
+inexperienced in such a question, it might be strange that he should
+feel so uncomfortable in the present case as he really did, so much in
+need of encouragement and fresh air.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+How soon he had walked himself into the proper resolution, however, how
+soon an opportunity of exercising it occurred, in what manner he
+expressed himself, and how he was received, need not be particularly
+told.  This only need be said;&mdash;that when they all sat down to table at
+four o'clock, about three hours after his arrival, he had secured his
+lady, engaged her mother's consent, and was not only in the rapturous
+profession of the lover, but, in the reality of reason and truth, one
+of the happiest of men.  His situation indeed was more than commonly
+joyful.  He had more than the ordinary triumph of accepted love to
+swell his heart, and raise his spirits.  He was released without any
+reproach to himself, from an entanglement which had long formed his
+misery, from a woman whom he had long ceased to love;&mdash;and elevated at
+once to that security with another, which he must have thought of
+almost with despair, as soon as he had learnt to consider it with
+desire.  He was brought, not from doubt or suspense, but from misery to
+happiness;&mdash;and the change was openly spoken in such a genuine,
+flowing, grateful cheerfulness, as his friends had never witnessed in
+him before.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+His heart was now open to Elinor, all its weaknesses, all its errors
+confessed, and his first boyish attachment to Lucy treated with all the
+philosophic dignity of twenty-four.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It was a foolish, idle inclination on my side," said he, "the
+consequence of ignorance of the world&mdash;and want of employment.  Had my
+brother given me some active profession when I was removed at eighteen
+from the care of Mr. Pratt, I think&mdash;nay, I am sure, it would never
+have happened; for though I left Longstaple with what I thought, at the
+time, a most unconquerable preference for his niece, yet had I then had
+any pursuit, any object to engage my time and keep me at a distance
+from her for a few months, I should very soon have outgrown the fancied
+attachment, especially by mixing more with the world, as in such case I
+must have done.  But instead of having any thing to do, instead of
+having any profession chosen for me, or being allowed to chuse any
+myself, I returned home to be completely idle; and for the first
+twelvemonth afterwards I had not even the nominal employment, which
+belonging to the university would have given me; for I was not entered
+at Oxford till I was nineteen.  I had therefore nothing in the world to
+do, but to fancy myself in love; and as my mother did not make my home
+in every respect comfortable, as I had no friend, no companion in my
+brother, and disliked new acquaintance, it was not unnatural for me to
+be very often at Longstaple, where I always felt myself at home, and
+was always sure of a welcome; and accordingly I spent the greatest part
+of my time there from eighteen to nineteen: Lucy appeared everything
+that was amiable and obliging.  She was pretty too&mdash;at least I thought
+so THEN; and I had seen so little of other women, that I could make no
+comparisons, and see no defects.  Considering everything, therefore, I
+hope, foolish as our engagement was, foolish as it has since in every
+way been proved, it was not at the time an unnatural or an inexcusable
+piece of folly."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The change which a few hours had wrought in the minds and the happiness
+of the Dashwoods, was such&mdash;so great&mdash;as promised them all, the
+satisfaction of a sleepless night.  Mrs. Dashwood, too happy to be
+comfortable, knew not how to love Edward, nor praise Elinor enough, how
+to be enough thankful for his release without wounding his delicacy,
+nor how at once to give them leisure for unrestrained conversation
+together, and yet enjoy, as she wished, the sight and society of both.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne could speak HER happiness only by tears.  Comparisons would
+occur&mdash;regrets would arise;&mdash;and her joy, though sincere as her love
+for her sister, was of a kind to give her neither spirits nor language.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But Elinor&mdash;how are HER feelings to be described?&mdash;From the moment of
+learning that Lucy was married to another, that Edward was free, to the
+moment of his justifying the hopes which had so instantly followed, she
+was every thing by turns but tranquil.  But when the second moment had
+passed, when she found every doubt, every solicitude removed, compared
+her situation with what so lately it had been,&mdash;saw him honourably
+released from his former engagement, saw him instantly profiting by the
+release, to address herself and declare an affection as tender, as
+constant as she had ever supposed it to be,&mdash;she was oppressed, she was
+overcome by her own felicity;&mdash;and happily disposed as is the human
+mind to be easily familiarized with any change for the better, it
+required several hours to give sedateness to her spirits, or any degree
+of tranquillity to her heart.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Edward was now fixed at the cottage at least for a week;&mdash;for whatever
+other claims might be made on him, it was impossible that less than a
+week should be given up to the enjoyment of Elinor's company, or
+suffice to say half that was to be said of the past, the present, and
+the future;&mdash;for though a very few hours spent in the hard labor of
+incessant talking will despatch more subjects than can really be in
+common between any two rational creatures, yet with lovers it is
+different.  Between THEM no subject is finished, no communication is
+even made, till it has been made at least twenty times over.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Lucy's marriage, the unceasing and reasonable wonder among them all,
+formed of course one of the earliest discussions of the lovers;&mdash;and
+Elinor's particular knowledge of each party made it appear to her in
+every view, as one of the most extraordinary and unaccountable
+circumstances she had ever heard.  How they could be thrown together,
+and by what attraction Robert could be drawn on to marry a girl, of
+whose beauty she had herself heard him speak without any admiration,&mdash;a
+girl too already engaged to his brother, and on whose account that
+brother had been thrown off by his family&mdash;it was beyond her
+comprehension to make out.  To her own heart it was a delightful
+affair, to her imagination it was even a ridiculous one, but to her
+reason, her judgment, it was completely a puzzle.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Edward could only attempt an explanation by supposing, that, perhaps,
+at first accidentally meeting, the vanity of the one had been so worked
+on by the flattery of the other, as to lead by degrees to all the rest.
+Elinor remembered what Robert had told her in Harley Street, of his
+opinion of what his own mediation in his brother's affairs might have
+done, if applied to in time.  She repeated it to Edward.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"THAT was exactly like Robert,"&mdash;was his immediate observation.&mdash;"And
+THAT," he presently added, "might perhaps be in HIS head when the
+acquaintance between them first began.  And Lucy perhaps at first might
+think only of procuring his good offices in my favour.  Other designs
+might afterward arise."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+How long it had been carrying on between them, however, he was equally
+at a loss with herself to make out; for at Oxford, where he had
+remained for choice ever since his quitting London, he had had no means
+of hearing of her but from herself, and her letters to the very last
+were neither less frequent, nor less affectionate than usual.  Not the
+smallest suspicion, therefore, had ever occurred to prepare him for
+what followed;&mdash;and when at last it burst on him in a letter from Lucy
+herself, he had been for some time, he believed, half stupified between
+the wonder, the horror, and the joy of such a deliverance.  He put the
+letter into Elinor's hands.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="salutation">
+"DEAR SIR,
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"Being very sure I have long lost your affections,
+I have thought myself at liberty to bestow my own
+on another, and have no doubt of being as happy with
+him as I once used to think I might be with you;
+but I scorn to accept a hand while the heart was
+another's.  Sincerely wish you happy in your choice,
+and it shall not be my fault if we are not always
+good friends, as our near relationship now makes
+proper.  I can safely say I owe you no ill-will,
+and am sure you will be too generous to do us any
+ill offices.  Your brother has gained my affections
+entirely, and as we could not live without one
+another, we are just returned from the altar, and
+are now on our way to Dawlish for a few weeks, which
+place your dear brother has great curiosity to see,
+but thought I would first trouble you with these
+few lines, and shall always remain,
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="salutation">
+"Your sincere well-wisher, friend, and sister,<BR>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"LUCY FERRARS.<BR>
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"I have burnt all your letters, and will return
+your picture the first opportunity.  Please to destroy
+my scrawls&mdash;but the ring with my hair you are very
+welcome to keep."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor read and returned it without any comment.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I will not ask your opinion of it as a composition," said
+Edward.&mdash;"For worlds would not I have had a letter of hers seen by YOU
+in former days.&mdash;In a sister it is bad enough, but in a wife!&mdash;how I
+have blushed over the pages of her writing!&mdash;and I believe I may say
+that since the first half year of our foolish&mdash;business&mdash;this is the
+only letter I ever received from her, of which the substance made me
+any amends for the defect of the style."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"However it may have come about," said Elinor, after a pause,&mdash;"they
+are certainly married.  And your mother has brought on herself a most
+appropriate punishment.  The independence she settled on Robert,
+through resentment against you, has put it in his power to make his own
+choice; and she has actually been bribing one son with a thousand
+a-year, to do the very deed which she disinherited the other for
+intending to do.  She will hardly be less hurt, I suppose, by Robert's
+marrying Lucy, than she would have been by your marrying her."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"She will be more hurt by it, for Robert always was her favourite.&mdash;She
+will be more hurt by it, and on the same principle will forgive him
+much sooner."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In what state the affair stood at present between them, Edward knew
+not, for no communication with any of his family had yet been attempted
+by him.  He had quitted Oxford within four and twenty hours after
+Lucy's letter arrived, and with only one object before him, the nearest
+road to Barton, had had no leisure to form any scheme of conduct, with
+which that road did not hold the most intimate connection.  He could do
+nothing till he were assured of his fate with Miss Dashwood; and by his
+rapidity in seeking THAT fate, it is to be supposed, in spite of the
+jealousy with which he had once thought of Colonel Brandon, in spite of
+the modesty with which he rated his own deserts, and the politeness
+with which he talked of his doubts, he did not, upon the whole, expect
+a very cruel reception.  It was his business, however, to say that he
+DID, and he said it very prettily.  What he might say on the subject a
+twelvemonth after, must be referred to the imagination of husbands and
+wives.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+That Lucy had certainly meant to deceive, to go off with a flourish of
+malice against him in her message by Thomas, was perfectly clear to
+Elinor; and Edward himself, now thoroughly enlightened on her
+character, had no scruple in believing her capable of the utmost
+meanness of wanton ill-nature. Though his eyes had been long opened,
+even before his acquaintance with Elinor began, to her ignorance and a
+want of liberality in some of her opinions&mdash;they had been equally
+imputed, by him, to her want of education; and till her last letter
+reached him, he had always believed her to be a well-disposed,
+good-hearted girl, and thoroughly attached to himself.  Nothing but
+such a persuasion could have prevented his putting an end to an
+engagement, which, long before the discovery of it laid him open to his
+mother's anger, had been a continual source of disquiet and regret to
+him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I thought it my duty," said he, "independent of my feelings, to give
+her the option of continuing the engagement or not, when I was
+renounced by my mother, and stood to all appearance without a friend in
+the world to assist me.  In such a situation as that, where there
+seemed nothing to tempt the avarice or the vanity of any living
+creature, how could I suppose, when she so earnestly, so warmly
+insisted on sharing my fate, whatever it might be, that any thing but
+the most disinterested affection was her inducement?  And even now, I
+cannot comprehend on what motive she acted, or what fancied advantage
+it could be to her, to be fettered to a man for whom she had not the
+smallest regard, and who had only two thousand pounds in the world.
+She could not foresee that Colonel Brandon would give me a living."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No; but she might suppose that something would occur in your favour;
+that your own family might in time relent.  And at any rate, she lost
+nothing by continuing the engagement, for she has proved that it
+fettered neither her inclination nor her actions.  The connection was
+certainly a respectable one, and probably gained her consideration
+among her friends; and, if nothing more advantageous occurred, it would
+be better for her to marry YOU than be single."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Edward was, of course, immediately convinced that nothing could have
+been more natural than Lucy's conduct, nor more self-evident than the
+motive of it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor scolded him, harshly as ladies always scold the imprudence which
+compliments themselves, for having spent so much time with them at
+Norland, when he must have felt his own inconstancy.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Your behaviour was certainly very wrong," said she; "because&mdash;to say
+nothing of my own conviction, our relations were all led away by it to
+fancy and expect WHAT, as you were THEN situated, could never be."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He could only plead an ignorance of his own heart, and a mistaken
+confidence in the force of his engagement.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I was simple enough to think, that because my FAITH was plighted to
+another, there could be no danger in my being with you; and that the
+consciousness of my engagement was to keep my heart as safe and sacred
+as my honour.  I felt that I admired you, but I told myself it was only
+friendship; and till I began to make comparisons between yourself and
+Lucy, I did not know how far I was got.  After that, I suppose, I WAS
+wrong in remaining so much in Sussex, and the arguments with which I
+reconciled myself to the expediency of it, were no better than
+these:&mdash;The danger is my own; I am doing no injury to anybody but
+myself."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor smiled, and shook her head.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Edward heard with pleasure of Colonel Brandon's being expected at the
+Cottage, as he really wished not only to be better acquainted with him,
+but to have an opportunity of convincing him that he no longer resented
+his giving him the living of Delaford&mdash;"Which, at present," said he,
+"after thanks so ungraciously delivered as mine were on the occasion,
+he must think I have never forgiven him for offering."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+NOW he felt astonished himself that he had never yet been to the place.
+But so little interest had be taken in the matter, that he owed all his
+knowledge of the house, garden, and glebe, extent of the parish,
+condition of the land, and rate of the tithes, to Elinor herself, who
+had heard so much of it from Colonel Brandon, and heard it with so much
+attention, as to be entirely mistress of the subject.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+One question after this only remained undecided, between them, one
+difficulty only was to be overcome.  They were brought together by
+mutual affection, with the warmest approbation of their real friends;
+their intimate knowledge of each other seemed to make their happiness
+certain&mdash;and they only wanted something to live upon.  Edward had two
+thousand pounds, and Elinor one, which, with Delaford living, was all
+that they could call their own; for it was impossible that Mrs.
+Dashwood should advance anything; and they were neither of them quite
+enough in love to think that three hundred and fifty pounds a-year
+would supply them with the comforts of life.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Edward was not entirely without hopes of some favourable change in his
+mother towards him; and on THAT he rested for the residue of their
+income.  But Elinor had no such dependence; for since Edward would
+still be unable to marry Miss Morton, and his chusing herself had been
+spoken of in Mrs. Ferrars's flattering language as only a lesser evil
+than his chusing Lucy Steele, she feared that Robert's offence would
+serve no other purpose than to enrich Fanny.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+About four days after Edward's arrival Colonel Brandon appeared, to
+complete Mrs. Dashwood's satisfaction, and to give her the dignity of
+having, for the first time since her living at Barton, more company
+with her than her house would hold.  Edward was allowed to retain the
+privilege of first comer, and Colonel Brandon therefore walked every
+night to his old quarters at the Park; from whence he usually returned
+in the morning, early enough to interrupt the lovers' first tete-a-tete
+before breakfast.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A three weeks' residence at Delaford, where, in his evening hours at
+least, he had little to do but to calculate the disproportion between
+thirty-six and seventeen, brought him to Barton in a temper of mind
+which needed all the improvement in Marianne's looks, all the kindness
+of her welcome, and all the encouragement of her mother's language, to
+make it cheerful.  Among such friends, however, and such flattery, he
+did revive.  No rumour of Lucy's marriage had yet reached him:&mdash;he knew
+nothing of what had passed; and the first hours of his visit were
+consequently spent in hearing and in wondering.  Every thing was
+explained to him by Mrs. Dashwood, and he found fresh reason to rejoice
+in what he had done for Mr. Ferrars, since eventually it promoted the
+interest of Elinor.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It would be needless to say, that the gentlemen advanced in the good
+opinion of each other, as they advanced in each other's acquaintance,
+for it could not be otherwise.  Their resemblance in good principles
+and good sense, in disposition and manner of thinking, would probably
+have been sufficient to unite them in friendship, without any other
+attraction; but their being in love with two sisters, and two sisters
+fond of each other, made that mutual regard inevitable and immediate,
+which might otherwise have waited the effect of time and judgment.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The letters from town, which a few days before would have made every
+nerve in Elinor's body thrill with transport, now arrived to be read
+with less emotion that mirth.  Mrs. Jennings wrote to tell the
+wonderful tale, to vent her honest indignation against the jilting
+girl, and pour forth her compassion towards poor Mr. Edward, who, she
+was sure, had quite doted upon the worthless hussy, and was now, by all
+accounts, almost broken-hearted, at Oxford.&mdash; "I do think," she
+continued, "nothing was ever carried on so sly; for it was but two days
+before Lucy called and sat a couple of hours with me.  Not a soul
+suspected anything of the matter, not even Nancy, who, poor soul!  came
+crying to me the day after, in a great fright for fear of Mrs. Ferrars,
+as well as not knowing how to get to Plymouth; for Lucy it seems
+borrowed all her money before she went off to be married, on purpose we
+suppose to make a show with, and poor Nancy had not seven shillings in
+the world;&mdash;so I was very glad to give her five guineas to take her
+down to Exeter, where she thinks of staying three or four weeks with
+Mrs. Burgess, in hopes, as I tell her, to fall in with the Doctor
+again.  And I must say that Lucy's crossness not to take them along
+with them in the chaise is worse than all.  Poor Mr. Edward! I cannot
+get him out of my head, but you must send for him to Barton, and Miss
+Marianne must try to comfort him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mr. Dashwood's strains were more solemn.  Mrs. Ferrars was the most
+unfortunate of women&mdash;poor Fanny had suffered agonies of
+sensibility&mdash;and he considered the existence of each, under such a
+blow, with grateful wonder.  Robert's offence was unpardonable, but
+Lucy's was infinitely worse.  Neither of them were ever again to be
+mentioned to Mrs. Ferrars; and even, if she might hereafter be induced
+to forgive her son, his wife should never be acknowledged as her
+daughter, nor be permitted to appear in her presence.  The secrecy with
+which everything had been carried on between them, was rationally
+treated as enormously heightening the crime, because, had any suspicion
+of it occurred to the others, proper measures would have been taken to
+prevent the marriage; and he called on Elinor to join with him in
+regretting that Lucy's engagement with Edward had not rather been
+fulfilled, than that she should thus be the means of spreading misery
+farther in the family.&mdash; He thus continued:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mrs. Ferrars has never yet mentioned Edward's name, which does not
+surprise us; but, to our great astonishment, not a line has been
+received from him on the occasion.  Perhaps, however, he is kept silent
+by his fear of offending, and I shall, therefore, give him a hint, by a
+line to Oxford, that his sister and I both think a letter of proper
+submission from him, addressed perhaps to Fanny, and by her shewn to
+her mother, might not be taken amiss; for we all know the tenderness of
+Mrs. Ferrars's heart, and that she wishes for nothing so much as to be
+on good terms with her children."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This paragraph was of some importance to the prospects and conduct of
+Edward.  It determined him to attempt a reconciliation, though not
+exactly in the manner pointed out by their brother and sister.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"A letter of proper submission!" repeated he; "would they have me beg
+my mother's pardon for Robert's ingratitude to HER, and breach of
+honour to ME?&mdash;I can make no submission&mdash;I am grown neither humble nor
+penitent by what has passed.&mdash;I am grown very happy; but that would not
+interest.&mdash;I know of no submission that IS proper for me to make."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You may certainly ask to be forgiven," said Elinor, "because you have
+offended;&mdash;and I should think you might NOW venture so far as to
+profess some concern for having ever formed the engagement which drew
+on you your mother's anger."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He agreed that he might.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And when she has forgiven you, perhaps a little humility may be
+convenient while acknowledging a second engagement, almost as imprudent
+in HER eyes as the first."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He had nothing to urge against it, but still resisted the idea of a
+letter of proper submission; and therefore, to make it easier to him,
+as he declared a much greater willingness to make mean concessions by
+word of mouth than on paper, it was resolved that, instead of writing
+to Fanny, he should go to London, and personally intreat her good
+offices in his favour.&mdash; "And if they really DO interest themselves,"
+said Marianne, in her new character of candour, "in bringing about a
+reconciliation, I shall think that even John and Fanny are not entirely
+without merit."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+After a visit on Colonel Brandon's side of only three or four days, the
+two gentlemen quitted Barton together.&mdash; They were to go immediately to
+Delaford, that Edward might have some personal knowledge of his future
+home, and assist his patron and friend in deciding on what improvements
+were needed to it; and from thence, after staying there a couple of
+nights, he was to proceed on his journey to town.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap50"></A>
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER 50
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+After a proper resistance on the part of Mrs. Ferrars, just so violent
+and so steady as to preserve her from that reproach which she always
+seemed fearful of incurring, the reproach of being too amiable, Edward
+was admitted to her presence, and pronounced to be again her son.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Her family had of late been exceedingly fluctuating.  For many years of
+her life she had had two sons; but the crime and annihilation of Edward
+a few weeks ago, had robbed her of one; the similar annihilation of
+Robert had left her for a fortnight without any; and now, by the
+resuscitation of Edward, she had one again.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In spite of his being allowed once more to live, however, he did not
+feel the continuance of his existence secure, till he had revealed his
+present engagement; for the publication of that circumstance, he
+feared, might give a sudden turn to his constitution, and carry him off
+as rapidly as before.  With apprehensive caution therefore it was
+revealed, and he was listened to with unexpected calmness.  Mrs.
+Ferrars at first reasonably endeavoured to dissuade him from marrying
+Miss Dashwood, by every argument in her power;&mdash;told him, that in Miss
+Morton he would have a woman of higher rank and larger fortune;&mdash;and
+enforced the assertion, by observing that Miss Morton was the daughter
+of a nobleman with thirty thousand pounds, while Miss Dashwood was only
+the daughter of a private gentleman with no more than THREE; but when
+she found that, though perfectly admitting the truth of her
+representation, he was by no means inclined to be guided by it, she
+judged it wisest, from the experience of the past, to submit&mdash;and
+therefore, after such an ungracious delay as she owed to her own
+dignity, and as served to prevent every suspicion of good-will, she
+issued her decree of consent to the marriage of Edward and Elinor.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+What she would engage to do towards augmenting their income was next to
+be considered; and here it plainly appeared, that though Edward was now
+her only son, he was by no means her eldest; for while Robert was
+inevitably endowed with a thousand pounds a-year, not the smallest
+objection was made against Edward's taking orders for the sake of two
+hundred and fifty at the utmost; nor was anything promised either for
+the present or in future, beyond the ten thousand pounds, which had
+been given with Fanny.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was as much, however, as was desired, and more than was expected, by
+Edward and Elinor; and Mrs. Ferrars herself, by her shuffling excuses,
+seemed the only person surprised at her not giving more.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+With an income quite sufficient to their wants thus secured to them,
+they had nothing to wait for after Edward was in possession of the
+living, but the readiness of the house, to which Colonel Brandon, with
+an eager desire for the accommodation of Elinor, was making
+considerable improvements; and after waiting some time for their
+completion, after experiencing, as usual, a thousand disappointments
+and delays from the unaccountable dilatoriness of the workmen, Elinor,
+as usual, broke through the first positive resolution of not marrying
+till every thing was ready, and the ceremony took place in Barton
+church early in the autumn.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The first month after their marriage was spent with their friend at the
+Mansion-house; from whence they could superintend the progress of the
+Parsonage, and direct every thing as they liked on the spot;&mdash;could
+chuse papers, project shrubberies, and invent a sweep.  Mrs. Jennings's
+prophecies, though rather jumbled together, were chiefly fulfilled; for
+she was able to visit Edward and his wife in their Parsonage by
+Michaelmas, and she found in Elinor and her husband, as she really
+believed, one of the happiest couples in the world.  They had in fact
+nothing to wish for, but the marriage of Colonel Brandon and Marianne,
+and rather better pasturage for their cows.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They were visited on their first settling by almost all their relations
+and friends.  Mrs. Ferrars came to inspect the happiness which she was
+almost ashamed of having authorised; and even the Dashwoods were at the
+expense of a journey from Sussex to do them honour.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I will not say that I am disappointed, my dear sister," said John, as
+they were walking together one morning before the gates of Delaford
+House, "THAT would be saying too much, for certainly you have been one
+of the most fortunate young women in the world, as it is.  But, I
+confess, it would give me great pleasure to call Colonel Brandon
+brother.  His property here, his place, his house, every thing is in
+such respectable and excellent condition!&mdash;and his woods!&mdash;I have not
+seen such timber any where in Dorsetshire, as there is now standing in
+Delaford Hanger!&mdash;And though, perhaps, Marianne may not seem exactly
+the person to attract him&mdash;yet I think it would altogether be advisable
+for you to have them now frequently staying with you, for as Colonel
+Brandon seems a great deal at home, nobody can tell what may
+happen&mdash;for, when people are much thrown together, and see little of
+anybody else&mdash;and it will always be in your power to set her off to
+advantage, and so forth;&mdash;in short, you may as well give her a
+chance&mdash;You understand me."&mdash;
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But though Mrs. Ferrars DID come to see them, and always treated them
+with the make-believe of decent affection, they were never insulted by
+her real favour and preference.  THAT was due to the folly of Robert,
+and the cunning of his wife; and it was earned by them before many
+months had passed away.  The selfish sagacity of the latter, which had
+at first drawn Robert into the scrape, was the principal instrument of
+his deliverance from it; for her respectful humility, assiduous
+attentions, and endless flatteries, as soon as the smallest opening was
+given for their exercise, reconciled Mrs. Ferrars to his choice, and
+re-established him completely in her favour.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The whole of Lucy's behaviour in the affair, and the prosperity which
+crowned it, therefore, may be held forth as a most encouraging instance
+of what an earnest, an unceasing attention to self-interest, however
+its progress may be apparently obstructed, will do in securing every
+advantage of fortune, with no other sacrifice than that of time and
+conscience.  When Robert first sought her acquaintance, and privately
+visited her in Bartlett's Buildings, it was only with the view imputed
+to him by his brother.  He merely meant to persuade her to give up the
+engagement; and as there could be nothing to overcome but the affection
+of both, he naturally expected that one or two interviews would settle
+the matter.  In that point, however, and that only, he erred;&mdash;for
+though Lucy soon gave him hopes that his eloquence would convince her
+in TIME, another visit, another conversation, was always wanted to
+produce this conviction.  Some doubts always lingered in her mind when
+they parted, which could only be removed by another half hour's
+discourse with himself.  His attendance was by this means secured, and
+the rest followed in course.  Instead of talking of Edward, they came
+gradually to talk only of Robert,&mdash;a subject on which he had always
+more to say than on any other, and in which she soon betrayed an
+interest even equal to his own; and in short, it became speedily
+evident to both, that he had entirely supplanted his brother.  He was
+proud of his conquest, proud of tricking Edward, and very proud of
+marrying privately without his mother's consent.  What immediately
+followed is known.  They passed some months in great happiness at
+Dawlish; for she had many relations and old acquaintances to cut&mdash;and
+he drew several plans for magnificent cottages;&mdash;and from thence
+returning to town, procured the forgiveness of Mrs. Ferrars, by the
+simple expedient of asking it, which, at Lucy's instigation, was
+adopted.  The forgiveness, at first, indeed, as was reasonable,
+comprehended only Robert; and Lucy, who had owed his mother no duty and
+therefore could have transgressed none, still remained some weeks
+longer unpardoned.  But perseverance in humility of conduct and
+messages, in self-condemnation for Robert's offence, and gratitude for
+the unkindness she was treated with, procured her in time the haughty
+notice which overcame her by its graciousness, and led soon afterwards,
+by rapid degrees, to the highest state of affection and influence.
+Lucy became as necessary to Mrs. Ferrars, as either Robert or Fanny;
+and while Edward was never cordially forgiven for having once intended
+to marry her, and Elinor, though superior to her in fortune and birth,
+was spoken of as an intruder, SHE was in every thing considered, and
+always openly acknowledged, to be a favourite child.  They settled in
+town, received very liberal assistance from Mrs. Ferrars, were on the
+best terms imaginable with the Dashwoods; and setting aside the
+jealousies and ill-will continually subsisting between Fanny and Lucy,
+in which their husbands of course took a part, as well as the frequent
+domestic disagreements between Robert and Lucy themselves, nothing
+could exceed the harmony in which they all lived together.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+What Edward had done to forfeit the right of eldest son, might have
+puzzled many people to find out; and what Robert had done to succeed to
+it, might have puzzled them still more.  It was an arrangement,
+however, justified in its effects, if not in its cause; for nothing
+ever appeared in Robert's style of living or of talking to give a
+suspicion of his regretting the extent of his income, as either leaving
+his brother too little, or bringing himself too much;&mdash;and if Edward
+might be judged from the ready discharge of his duties in every
+particular, from an increasing attachment to his wife and his home, and
+from the regular cheerfulness of his spirits, he might be supposed no
+less contented with his lot, no less free from every wish of an
+exchange.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Elinor's marriage divided her as little from her family as could well
+be contrived, without rendering the cottage at Barton entirely useless,
+for her mother and sisters spent much more than half their time with
+her.  Mrs. Dashwood was acting on motives of policy as well as pleasure
+in the frequency of her visits at Delaford; for her wish of bringing
+Marianne and Colonel Brandon together was hardly less earnest, though
+rather more liberal than what John had expressed.  It was now her
+darling object.  Precious as was the company of her daughter to her,
+she desired nothing so much as to give up its constant enjoyment to her
+valued friend; and to see Marianne settled at the mansion-house was
+equally the wish of Edward and Elinor.  They each felt his sorrows, and
+their own obligations, and Marianne, by general consent, was to be the
+reward of all.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+With such a confederacy against her&mdash;with a knowledge so intimate of
+his goodness&mdash;with a conviction of his fond attachment to herself,
+which at last, though long after it was observable to everybody
+else&mdash;burst on her&mdash;what could she do?
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Marianne Dashwood was born to an extraordinary fate.  She was born to
+discover the falsehood of her own opinions, and to counteract, by her
+conduct, her most favourite maxims.  She was born to overcome an
+affection formed so late in life as at seventeen, and with no sentiment
+superior to strong esteem and lively friendship, voluntarily to give
+her hand to another!&mdash;and THAT other, a man who had suffered no less
+than herself under the event of a former attachment, whom, two years
+before, she had considered too old to be married,&mdash;and who still sought
+the constitutional safeguard of a flannel waistcoat!
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But so it was.  Instead of falling a sacrifice to an irresistible
+passion, as once she had fondly flattered herself with
+expecting,&mdash;instead of remaining even for ever with her mother, and
+finding her only pleasures in retirement and study, as afterwards in
+her more calm and sober judgment she had determined on,&mdash;she found
+herself at nineteen, submitting to new attachments, entering on new
+duties, placed in a new home, a wife, the mistress of a family, and the
+patroness of a village.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Colonel Brandon was now as happy, as all those who best loved him,
+believed he deserved to be;&mdash;in Marianne he was consoled for every past
+affliction;&mdash;her regard and her society restored his mind to animation,
+and his spirits to cheerfulness; and that Marianne found her own
+happiness in forming his, was equally the persuasion and delight of
+each observing friend.  Marianne could never love by halves; and her
+whole heart became, in time, as much devoted to her husband, as it had
+once been to Willoughby.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Willoughby could not hear of her marriage without a pang; and his
+punishment was soon afterwards complete in the voluntary forgiveness of
+Mrs. Smith, who, by stating his marriage with a woman of character, as
+the source of her clemency, gave him reason for believing that had he
+behaved with honour towards Marianne, he might at once have been happy
+and rich.  That his repentance of misconduct, which thus brought its
+own punishment, was sincere, need not be doubted;&mdash;nor that he long
+thought of Colonel Brandon with envy, and of Marianne with regret.  But
+that he was for ever inconsolable, that he fled from society, or
+contracted an habitual gloom of temper, or died of a broken heart, must
+not be depended on&mdash;for he did neither.  He lived to exert, and
+frequently to enjoy himself.  His wife was not always out of humour,
+nor his home always uncomfortable; and in his breed of horses and dogs,
+and in sporting of every kind, he found no inconsiderable degree of
+domestic felicity.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+For Marianne, however&mdash;in spite of his incivility in surviving her
+loss&mdash;he always retained that decided regard which interested him in
+every thing that befell her, and made her his secret standard of
+perfection in woman;&mdash;and many a rising beauty would be slighted by him
+in after-days as bearing no comparison with Mrs. Brandon.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Dashwood was prudent enough to remain at the cottage, without
+attempting a removal to Delaford; and fortunately for Sir John and Mrs.
+Jennings, when Marianne was taken from them, Margaret had reached an
+age highly suitable for dancing, and not very ineligible for being
+supposed to have a lover.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Between Barton and Delaford, there was that constant communication
+which strong family affection would naturally dictate;&mdash;and among the
+merits and the happiness of Elinor and Marianne, let it not be ranked
+as the least considerable, that though sisters, and living almost
+within sight of each other, they could live without disagreement
+between themselves, or producing coolness between their husbands.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<P CLASS="finis">
+THE END
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR><BR>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
+
+
+Title: Sense and Sensibility
+
+Author: Jane Austen
+
+Release Date: May 25, 2008 [EBook #161]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SENSE AND SENSIBILITY ***
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
+
+by Jane Austen
+
+(1811)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 1
+
+
+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.
+
+By a former marriage, Mr. Henry Dashwood had one son: by his present
+lady, three daughters.  The son, a steady respectable young man, was
+amply provided for by the fortune of his mother, which had been large,
+and half of which devolved on him on his coming of age.  By his own
+marriage, likewise, which happened soon afterwards, he added to his
+wealth.  To him therefore the succession to the Norland estate was not
+so really important as to his sisters; for their fortune, independent
+of what might arise to them from their father's inheriting that
+property, could be but small.  Their mother had nothing, and their
+father only seven thousand pounds in his own disposal; for the
+remaining moiety of his first wife's fortune was also secured to her
+child, and he had only a life-interest in it.
+
+The old gentleman died: his will was read, and like almost every other
+will, gave as much disappointment as pleasure.  He was neither so
+unjust, nor so ungrateful, as to leave his estate from his nephew;--but
+he left it to him on such terms as destroyed half the value of the
+bequest.  Mr. Dashwood had wished for it more for the sake of his wife
+and daughters than for himself or his son;--but to his son, and his
+son's son, a child of four years old, it was secured, in such a way, as
+to leave to himself no power of providing for those who were most dear
+to him, and who most needed a provision by any charge on the estate, or
+by any sale of its valuable woods.  The whole was tied up for the
+benefit of this child, who, in occasional visits with his father and
+mother at Norland, had so far gained on the affections of his uncle, by
+such attractions as are by no means unusual in children of two or three
+years old; an imperfect articulation, an earnest desire of having his
+own way, many cunning tricks, and a great deal of noise, as to outweigh
+all the value of all the attention which, for years, he had received
+from his niece and her daughters.  He meant not to be unkind, however,
+and, as a mark of his affection for the three girls, he left them a
+thousand pounds a-piece.
+
+Mr. Dashwood's disappointment was, at first, severe; but his temper was
+cheerful and sanguine; and he might reasonably hope to live many years,
+and by living economically, lay by a considerable sum from the produce
+of an estate already large, and capable of almost immediate
+improvement.  But the fortune, which had been so tardy in coming, was
+his only one twelvemonth.  He survived his uncle no longer; and ten
+thousand pounds, including the late legacies, was all that remained for
+his widow and daughters.
+
+His son was sent for as soon as his danger was known, and to him Mr.
+Dashwood recommended, with all the strength and urgency which illness
+could command, the interest of his mother-in-law and sisters.
+
+Mr. John Dashwood had not the strong feelings of the rest of the
+family; but he was affected by a recommendation of such a nature at
+such a time, and he promised to do every thing in his power to make
+them comfortable.  His father was rendered easy by such an assurance,
+and Mr. John Dashwood had then leisure to consider how much there might
+prudently be in his power to do for them.
+
+He was not an ill-disposed young man, unless to be rather cold hearted
+and rather selfish is to be ill-disposed: but he was, in general, well
+respected; for he conducted himself with propriety in the discharge of
+his ordinary duties.  Had he married a more amiable woman, he might
+have been made still more respectable than he was:--he might even have
+been made amiable himself; for he was very young when he married, and
+very fond of his wife.  But Mrs. John Dashwood was a strong caricature
+of himself;--more narrow-minded and selfish.
+
+When he gave his promise to his father, he meditated within himself to
+increase the fortunes of his sisters by the present of a thousand
+pounds a-piece.  He then really thought himself equal to it.  The
+prospect of four thousand a-year, in addition to his present income,
+besides the remaining half of his own mother's fortune, warmed his
+heart, and made him feel capable of generosity.-- "Yes, he would give
+them three thousand pounds: it would be liberal and handsome! It would
+be enough to make them completely easy.  Three thousand pounds! he
+could spare so considerable a sum with little inconvenience."-- He
+thought of it all day long, and for many days successively, and he did
+not repent.
+
+No sooner was his father's funeral over, than Mrs. John Dashwood,
+without sending any notice of her intention to her mother-in-law,
+arrived with her child and their attendants.  No one could dispute her
+right to come; the house was her husband's from the moment of his
+father's decease; but the indelicacy of her conduct was so much the
+greater, and to a woman in Mrs. Dashwood's situation, with only common
+feelings, must have been highly unpleasing;--but in HER mind there was
+a sense of honor so keen, a generosity so romantic, that any offence of
+the kind, by whomsoever given or received, was to her a source of
+immoveable disgust.  Mrs. John Dashwood had never been a favourite with
+any of her husband's family; but she had had no opportunity, till the
+present, of shewing them with how little attention to the comfort of
+other people she could act when occasion required it.
+
+So acutely did Mrs. Dashwood feel this ungracious behaviour, and so
+earnestly did she despise her daughter-in-law for it, that, on the
+arrival of the latter, she would have quitted the house for ever, had
+not the entreaty of her eldest girl induced her first to reflect on the
+propriety of going, and her own tender love for all her three children
+determined her afterwards to stay, and for their sakes avoid a breach
+with their brother.
+
+Elinor, this eldest daughter, whose advice was so effectual, possessed
+a strength of understanding, and coolness of judgment, which qualified
+her, though only nineteen, to be the counsellor of her mother, and
+enabled her frequently to counteract, to the advantage of them all,
+that eagerness of mind in Mrs. Dashwood which must generally have led
+to imprudence.  She had an excellent heart;--her disposition was
+affectionate, and her feelings were strong; but she knew how to govern
+them: it was a knowledge which her mother had yet to learn; and which
+one of her sisters had resolved never to be taught.
+
+Marianne's abilities were, in many respects, quite equal to Elinor's.
+She was sensible and clever; but eager in everything: her sorrows, her
+joys, could have no moderation.  She was generous, amiable,
+interesting: she was everything but prudent.  The resemblance between
+her and her mother was strikingly great.
+
+Elinor saw, with concern, the excess of her sister's sensibility; but
+by Mrs. Dashwood it was valued and cherished.  They encouraged each
+other now in the violence of their affliction.  The agony of grief
+which overpowered them at first, was voluntarily renewed, was sought
+for, was created again and again.  They gave themselves up wholly to
+their sorrow, seeking increase of wretchedness in every reflection that
+could afford it, and resolved against ever admitting consolation in
+future.  Elinor, too, was deeply afflicted; but still she could
+struggle, she could exert herself.  She could consult with her brother,
+could receive her sister-in-law on her arrival, and treat her with
+proper attention; and could strive to rouse her mother to similar
+exertion, and encourage her to similar forbearance.
+
+Margaret, the other sister, was a good-humored, well-disposed girl; but
+as she had already imbibed a good deal of Marianne's romance, without
+having much of her sense, she did not, at thirteen, bid fair to equal
+her sisters at a more advanced period of life.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 2
+
+
+Mrs. John Dashwood now installed herself mistress of Norland; and her
+mother and sisters-in-law were degraded to the condition of visitors.
+As such, however, they were treated by her with quiet civility; and by
+her husband with as much kindness as he could feel towards anybody
+beyond himself, his wife, and their child.  He really pressed them,
+with some earnestness, to consider Norland as their home; and, as no
+plan appeared so eligible to Mrs. Dashwood as remaining there till she
+could accommodate herself with a house in the neighbourhood, his
+invitation was accepted.
+
+A continuance in a place where everything reminded her of former
+delight, was exactly what suited her mind.  In seasons of cheerfulness,
+no temper could be more cheerful than hers, or possess, in a greater
+degree, that sanguine expectation of happiness which is happiness
+itself.  But in sorrow she must be equally carried away by her fancy,
+and as far beyond consolation as in pleasure she was beyond alloy.
+
+Mrs. John Dashwood did not at all approve of what her husband intended
+to do for his sisters.  To take three thousand pounds from the fortune
+of their dear little boy would be impoverishing him to the most
+dreadful degree.  She begged him to think again on the subject.  How
+could he answer it to himself to rob his child, and his only child too,
+of so large a sum?  And what possible claim could the Miss Dashwoods,
+who were related to him only by half blood, which she considered as no
+relationship at all, have on his generosity to so large an amount.  It
+was very well known that no affection was ever supposed to exist
+between the children of any man by different marriages; and why was he
+to ruin himself, and their poor little Harry, by giving away all his
+money to his half sisters?
+
+"It was my father's last request to me," replied her husband, "that I
+should assist his widow and daughters."
+
+"He did not know what he was talking of, I dare say; ten to one but he
+was light-headed at the time.  Had he been in his right senses, he
+could not have thought of such a thing as begging you to give away half
+your fortune from your own child."
+
+"He did not stipulate for any particular sum, my dear Fanny; he only
+requested me, in general terms, to assist them, and make their
+situation more comfortable than it was in his power to do.  Perhaps it
+would have been as well if he had left it wholly to myself.  He could
+hardly suppose I should neglect them.  But as he required the promise,
+I could not do less than give it; at least I thought so at the time.
+The promise, therefore, was given, and must be performed.  Something
+must be done for them whenever they leave Norland and settle in a new
+home."
+
+"Well, then, LET something be done for them; but THAT something need
+not be three thousand pounds.  Consider," she added, "that when the
+money is once parted with, it never can return.  Your sisters will
+marry, and it will be gone for ever.  If, indeed, it could be restored
+to our poor little boy--"
+
+"Why, to be sure," said her husband, very gravely, "that would make
+great difference.  The time may come when Harry will regret that so
+large a sum was parted with.  If he should have a numerous family, for
+instance, it would be a very convenient addition."
+
+"To be sure it would."
+
+"Perhaps, then, it would be better for all parties, if the sum were
+diminished one half.--Five hundred pounds would be a prodigious
+increase to their fortunes!"
+
+"Oh! beyond anything great!  What brother on earth would do half so
+much for his sisters, even if REALLY his sisters!  And as it is--only
+half blood!--But you have such a generous spirit!"
+
+"I would not wish to do any thing mean," he replied.  "One had rather,
+on such occasions, do too much than too little.  No one, at least, can
+think I have not done enough for them: even themselves, they can hardly
+expect more."
+
+"There is no knowing what THEY may expect," said the lady, "but we are
+not to think of their expectations: the question is, what you can
+afford to do."
+
+"Certainly--and I think I may afford to give them five hundred pounds
+a-piece.  As it is, without any addition of mine, they will each have
+about three thousand pounds on their mother's death--a very comfortable
+fortune for any young woman."
+
+"To be sure it is; and, indeed, it strikes me that they can want no
+addition at all.  They will have ten thousand pounds divided amongst
+them.  If they marry, they will be sure of doing well, and if they do
+not, they may all live very comfortably together on the interest of ten
+thousand pounds."
+
+"That is very true, and, therefore, I do not know whether, upon the
+whole, it would not be more advisable to do something for their mother
+while she lives, rather than for them--something of the annuity kind I
+mean.--My sisters would feel the good effects of it as well as herself.
+A hundred a year would make them all perfectly comfortable."
+
+His wife hesitated a little, however, in giving her consent to this
+plan.
+
+"To be sure," said she, "it is better than parting with fifteen hundred
+pounds at once.  But, then, if Mrs. Dashwood should live fifteen years
+we shall be completely taken in."
+
+"Fifteen years! my dear Fanny; her life cannot be worth half that
+purchase."
+
+"Certainly not; but if you observe, people always live for ever when
+there is an annuity to be paid them; and she is very stout and healthy,
+and hardly forty.  An annuity is a very serious business; it comes over
+and over every year, and there is no getting rid of it.  You are not
+aware of what you are doing.  I have known a great deal of the trouble
+of annuities; for my mother was clogged with the payment of three to
+old superannuated servants by my father's will, and it is amazing how
+disagreeable she found it.  Twice every year these annuities were to be
+paid; and then there was the trouble of getting it to them; and then
+one of them was said to have died, and afterwards it turned out to be
+no such thing.  My mother was quite sick of it.  Her income was not her
+own, she said, with such perpetual claims on it; and it was the more
+unkind in my father, because, otherwise, the money would have been
+entirely at my mother's disposal, without any restriction whatever.  It
+has given me such an abhorrence of annuities, that I am sure I would
+not pin myself down to the payment of one for all the world."
+
+"It is certainly an unpleasant thing," replied Mr. Dashwood, "to have
+those kind of yearly drains on one's income.  One's fortune, as your
+mother justly says, is NOT one's own.  To be tied down to the regular
+payment of such a sum, on every rent day, is by no means desirable: it
+takes away one's independence."
+
+"Undoubtedly; and after all you have no thanks for it.  They think
+themselves secure, you do no more than what is expected, and it raises
+no gratitude at all.  If I were you, whatever I did should be done at
+my own discretion entirely.  I would not bind myself to allow them any
+thing yearly.  It may be very inconvenient some years to spare a
+hundred, or even fifty pounds from our own expenses."
+
+"I believe you are right, my love; it will be better that there should
+by no annuity in the case; whatever I may give them occasionally will
+be of far greater assistance than a yearly allowance, because they
+would only enlarge their style of living if they felt sure of a larger
+income, and would not be sixpence the richer for it at the end of the
+year.  It will certainly be much the best way.  A present of fifty
+pounds, now and then, will prevent their ever being distressed for
+money, and will, I think, be amply discharging my promise to my father."
+
+"To be sure it will.  Indeed, to say the truth, I am convinced within
+myself that your father had no idea of your giving them any money at
+all.  The assistance he thought of, I dare say, was only such as might
+be reasonably expected of you; for instance, such as looking out for a
+comfortable small house for them, helping them to move their things,
+and sending them presents of fish and game, and so forth, whenever they
+are in season.  I'll lay my life that he meant nothing farther; indeed,
+it would be very strange and unreasonable if he did.  Do but consider,
+my dear Mr. Dashwood, how excessively comfortable your mother-in-law
+and her daughters may live on the interest of seven thousand pounds,
+besides the thousand pounds belonging to each of the girls, which
+brings them in fifty pounds a year a-piece, and, of course, they will
+pay their mother for their board out of it.  Altogether, they will have
+five hundred a-year amongst them, and what on earth can four women want
+for more than that?--They will live so cheap! Their housekeeping will
+be nothing at all.  They will have no carriage, no horses, and hardly
+any servants; they will keep no company, and can have no expenses of
+any kind!  Only conceive how comfortable they will be!  Five hundred a
+year! I am sure I cannot imagine how they will spend half of it; and as
+to your giving them more, it is quite absurd to think of it.  They will
+be much more able to give YOU something."
+
+"Upon my word," said Mr. Dashwood, "I believe you are perfectly right.
+My father certainly could mean nothing more by his request to me than
+what you say.  I clearly understand it now, and I will strictly fulfil
+my engagement by such acts of assistance and kindness to them as you
+have described.  When my mother removes into another house my services
+shall be readily given to accommodate her as far as I can.  Some little
+present of furniture too may be acceptable then."
+
+"Certainly," returned Mrs. John Dashwood.  "But, however, ONE thing
+must be considered.  When your father and mother moved to Norland,
+though the furniture of Stanhill was sold, all the china, plate, and
+linen was saved, and is now left to your mother.  Her house will
+therefore be almost completely fitted up as soon as she takes it."
+
+"That is a material consideration undoubtedly.  A valuable legacy
+indeed! And yet some of the plate would have been a very pleasant
+addition to our own stock here."
+
+"Yes; and the set of breakfast china is twice as handsome as what
+belongs to this house.  A great deal too handsome, in my opinion, for
+any place THEY can ever afford to live in.  But, however, so it is.
+Your father thought only of THEM.  And I must say this: that you owe no
+particular gratitude to him, nor attention to his wishes; for we very
+well know that if he could, he would have left almost everything in the
+world to THEM."
+
+This argument was irresistible.  It gave to his intentions whatever of
+decision was wanting before; and he finally resolved, that it would be
+absolutely unnecessary, if not highly indecorous, to do more for the
+widow and children of his father, than such kind of neighbourly acts as
+his own wife pointed out.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 3
+
+
+Mrs. Dashwood remained at Norland several months; not from any
+disinclination to move when the sight of every well known spot ceased
+to raise the violent emotion which it produced for a while; for when
+her spirits began to revive, and her mind became capable of some other
+exertion than that of heightening its affliction by melancholy
+remembrances, she was impatient to be gone, and indefatigable in her
+inquiries for a suitable dwelling in the neighbourhood of Norland; for
+to remove far from that beloved spot was impossible.  But she could
+hear of no situation that at once answered her notions of comfort and
+ease, and suited the prudence of her eldest daughter, whose steadier
+judgment rejected several houses as too large for their income, which
+her mother would have approved.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood had been informed by her husband of the solemn promise on
+the part of his son in their favour, which gave comfort to his last
+earthly reflections.  She doubted the sincerity of this assurance no
+more than he had doubted it himself, and she thought of it for her
+daughters' sake with satisfaction, though as for herself she was
+persuaded that a much smaller provision than 7000L would support her in
+affluence.  For their brother's sake, too, for the sake of his own
+heart, she rejoiced; and she reproached herself for being unjust to his
+merit before, in believing him incapable of generosity.  His attentive
+behaviour to herself and his sisters convinced her that their welfare
+was dear to him, and, for a long time, she firmly relied on the
+liberality of his intentions.
+
+The contempt which she had, very early in their acquaintance, felt for
+her daughter-in-law, was very much increased by the farther knowledge
+of her character, which half a year's residence in her family afforded;
+and perhaps in spite of every consideration of politeness or maternal
+affection on the side of the former, the two ladies might have found it
+impossible to have lived together so long, had not a particular
+circumstance occurred to give still greater eligibility, according to
+the opinions of Mrs. Dashwood, to her daughters' continuance at Norland.
+
+This circumstance was a growing attachment between her eldest girl and
+the brother of Mrs. John Dashwood, a gentleman-like and pleasing young
+man, who was introduced to their acquaintance soon after his sister's
+establishment at Norland, and who had since spent the greatest part of
+his time there.
+
+Some mothers might have encouraged the intimacy from motives of
+interest, for Edward Ferrars was the eldest son of a man who had died
+very rich; and some might have repressed it from motives of prudence,
+for, except a trifling sum, the whole of his fortune depended on the
+will of his mother.  But Mrs. Dashwood was alike uninfluenced by either
+consideration.  It was enough for her that he appeared to be amiable,
+that he loved her daughter, and that Elinor returned the partiality.
+It was contrary to every doctrine of her's that difference of fortune
+should keep any couple asunder who were attracted by resemblance of
+disposition; and that Elinor's merit should not be acknowledged by
+every one who knew her, was to her comprehension impossible.
+
+Edward Ferrars was not recommended to their good opinion by any
+peculiar graces of person or address.  He was not handsome, and his
+manners required intimacy to make them pleasing.  He was too diffident
+to do justice to himself; but when his natural shyness was overcome,
+his behaviour gave every indication of an open, affectionate heart.
+His understanding was good, and his education had given it solid
+improvement.  But he was neither fitted by abilities nor disposition to
+answer the wishes of his mother and sister, who longed to see him
+distinguished--as--they hardly knew what.  They wanted him to make a
+fine figure in the world in some manner or other.  His mother wished to
+interest him in political concerns, to get him into parliament, or to
+see him connected with some of the great men of the day.  Mrs. John
+Dashwood wished it likewise; but in the mean while, till one of these
+superior blessings could be attained, it would have quieted her
+ambition to see him driving a barouche.  But Edward had no turn for
+great men or barouches.  All his wishes centered in domestic comfort
+and the quiet of private life.  Fortunately he had a younger brother
+who was more promising.
+
+Edward had been staying several weeks in the house before he engaged
+much of Mrs. Dashwood's attention; for she was, at that time, in such
+affliction as rendered her careless of surrounding objects.  She saw
+only that he was quiet and unobtrusive, and she liked him for it.  He
+did not disturb the wretchedness of her mind by ill-timed conversation.
+She was first called to observe and approve him farther, by a
+reflection which Elinor chanced one day to make on the difference
+between him and his sister.  It was a contrast which recommended him
+most forcibly to her mother.
+
+"It is enough," said she; "to say that he is unlike Fanny is enough.
+It implies everything amiable.  I love him already."
+
+"I think you will like him," said Elinor, "when you know more of him."
+
+"Like him!" replied her mother with a smile.  "I feel no sentiment of
+approbation inferior to love."
+
+"You may esteem him."
+
+"I have never yet known what it was to separate esteem and love."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood now took pains to get acquainted with him.  Her manners
+were attaching, and soon banished his reserve.  She speedily
+comprehended all his merits; the persuasion of his regard for Elinor
+perhaps assisted her penetration; but she really felt assured of his
+worth: and even that quietness of manner, which militated against all
+her established ideas of what a young man's address ought to be, was no
+longer uninteresting when she knew his heart to be warm and his temper
+affectionate.
+
+No sooner did she perceive any symptom of love in his behaviour to
+Elinor, than she considered their serious attachment as certain, and
+looked forward to their marriage as rapidly approaching.
+
+"In a few months, my dear Marianne." said she, "Elinor will, in all
+probability be settled for life.  We shall miss her; but SHE will be
+happy."
+
+"Oh! Mamma, how shall we do without her?"
+
+"My love, it will be scarcely a separation.  We shall live within a few
+miles of each other, and shall meet every day of our lives.  You will
+gain a brother, a real, affectionate brother.  I have the highest
+opinion in the world of Edward's heart.  But you look grave, Marianne;
+do you disapprove your sister's choice?"
+
+"Perhaps," said Marianne, "I may consider it with some surprise.
+Edward is very amiable, and I love him tenderly.  But yet--he is not
+the kind of young man--there is something wanting--his figure is not
+striking; it has none of that grace which I should expect in the man
+who could seriously attach my sister.  His eyes want all that spirit,
+that fire, which at once announce virtue and intelligence.  And besides
+all this, I am afraid, Mamma, he has no real taste.  Music seems
+scarcely to attract him, and though he admires Elinor's drawings very
+much, it is not the admiration of a person who can understand their
+worth.  It is evident, in spite of his frequent attention to her while
+she draws, that in fact he knows nothing of the matter.  He admires as
+a lover, not as a connoisseur.  To satisfy me, those characters must be
+united.  I could not be happy with a man whose taste did not in every
+point coincide with my own.  He must enter into all my feelings; the
+same books, the same music must charm us both.  Oh! mama, how
+spiritless, how tame was Edward's manner in reading to us last night!
+I felt for my sister most severely.  Yet she bore it with so much
+composure, she seemed scarcely to notice it.  I could hardly keep my
+seat.  To hear those beautiful lines which have frequently almost
+driven me wild, pronounced with such impenetrable calmness, such
+dreadful indifference!"-- "He would certainly have done more justice to
+simple and elegant prose.  I thought so at the time; but you WOULD give
+him Cowper."
+
+"Nay, Mamma, if he is not to be animated by Cowper!--but we must allow
+for difference of taste.  Elinor has not my feelings, and therefore she
+may overlook it, and be happy with him.  But it would have broke MY
+heart, had I loved him, to hear him read with so little sensibility.
+Mama, the more I know of the world, the more am I convinced that I
+shall never see a man whom I can really love.  I require so much!  He
+must have all Edward's virtues, and his person and manners must
+ornament his goodness with every possible charm."
+
+"Remember, my love, that you are not seventeen.  It is yet too early in
+life to despair of such a happiness.  Why should you be less fortunate
+than your mother?  In one circumstance only, my Marianne, may your
+destiny be different from her's!"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 4
+
+
+"What a pity it is, Elinor," said Marianne, "that Edward should have no
+taste for drawing."
+
+"No taste for drawing!" replied Elinor, "why should you think so? He
+does not draw himself, indeed, but he has great pleasure in seeing the
+performances of other people, and I assure you he is by no means
+deficient in natural taste, though he has not had opportunities of
+improving it.  Had he ever been in the way of learning, I think he
+would have drawn very well.  He distrusts his own judgment in such
+matters so much, that he is always unwilling to give his opinion on any
+picture; but he has an innate propriety and simplicity of taste, which
+in general direct him perfectly right."
+
+Marianne was afraid of offending, and said no more on the subject; but
+the kind of approbation which Elinor described as excited in him by the
+drawings of other people, was very far from that rapturous delight,
+which, in her opinion, could alone be called taste.  Yet, though
+smiling within herself at the mistake, she honoured her sister for that
+blind partiality to Edward which produced it.
+
+"I hope, Marianne," continued Elinor, "you do not consider him as
+deficient in general taste.  Indeed, I think I may say that you cannot,
+for your behaviour to him is perfectly cordial, and if THAT were your
+opinion, I am sure you could never be civil to him."
+
+Marianne hardly knew what to say.  She would not wound the feelings of
+her sister on any account, and yet to say what she did not believe was
+impossible.  At length she replied:
+
+"Do not be offended, Elinor, if my praise of him is not in every thing
+equal to your sense of his merits.  I have not had so many
+opportunities of estimating the minuter propensities of his mind, his
+inclinations and tastes, as you have; but I have the highest opinion in
+the world of his goodness and sense.  I think him every thing that is
+worthy and amiable."
+
+"I am sure," replied Elinor, with a smile, "that his dearest friends
+could not be dissatisfied with such commendation as that.  I do not
+perceive how you could express yourself more warmly."
+
+Marianne was rejoiced to find her sister so easily pleased.
+
+"Of his sense and his goodness," continued Elinor, "no one can, I
+think, be in doubt, who has seen him often enough to engage him in
+unreserved conversation.  The excellence of his understanding and his
+principles can be concealed only by that shyness which too often keeps
+him silent.  You know enough of him to do justice to his solid worth.
+But of his minuter propensities, as you call them you have from
+peculiar circumstances been kept more ignorant than myself.  He and I
+have been at times thrown a good deal together, while you have been
+wholly engrossed on the most affectionate principle by my mother.  I
+have seen a great deal of him, have studied his sentiments and heard
+his opinion on subjects of literature and taste; and, upon the whole, I
+venture to pronounce that his mind is well-informed, enjoyment of books
+exceedingly great, his imagination lively, his observation just and
+correct, and his taste delicate and pure.  His abilities in every
+respect improve as much upon acquaintance as his manners and person.
+At first sight, his address is certainly not striking; and his person
+can hardly be called handsome, till the expression of his eyes, which
+are uncommonly good, and the general sweetness of his countenance, is
+perceived.  At present, I know him so well, that I think him really
+handsome; or at least, almost so.  What say you, Marianne?"
+
+"I shall very soon think him handsome, Elinor, if I do not now.  When
+you tell me to love him as a brother, I shall no more see imperfection
+in his face, than I now do in his heart."
+
+Elinor started at this declaration, and was sorry for the warmth she
+had been betrayed into, in speaking of him.  She felt that Edward stood
+very high in her opinion.  She believed the regard to be mutual; but
+she required greater certainty of it to make Marianne's conviction of
+their attachment agreeable to her.  She knew that what Marianne and her
+mother conjectured one moment, they believed the next--that with them,
+to wish was to hope, and to hope was to expect.  She tried to explain
+the real state of the case to her sister.
+
+"I do not attempt to deny," said she, "that I think very highly of
+him--that I greatly esteem, that I like him."
+
+Marianne here burst forth with indignation--
+
+"Esteem him! Like him! Cold-hearted Elinor! Oh!  worse than
+cold-hearted! Ashamed of being otherwise.  Use those words again, and I
+will leave the room this moment."
+
+Elinor could not help laughing.  "Excuse me," said she; "and be assured
+that I meant no offence to you, by speaking, in so quiet a way, of my
+own feelings.  Believe them to be stronger than I have declared;
+believe them, in short, to be such as his merit, and the suspicion--the
+hope of his affection for me may warrant, without imprudence or folly.
+But farther than this you must not believe.  I am by no means assured
+of his regard for me.  There are moments when the extent of it seems
+doubtful; and till his sentiments are fully known, you cannot wonder at
+my wishing to avoid any encouragement of my own partiality, by
+believing or calling it more than it is.  In my heart I feel
+little--scarcely any doubt of his preference.  But there are other
+points to be considered besides his inclination.  He is very far from
+being independent.  What his mother really is we cannot know; but, from
+Fanny's occasional mention of her conduct and opinions, we have never
+been disposed to think her amiable; and I am very much mistaken if
+Edward is not himself aware that there would be many difficulties in
+his way, if he were to wish to marry a woman who had not either a great
+fortune or high rank."
+
+Marianne was astonished to find how much the imagination of her mother
+and herself had outstripped the truth.
+
+"And you really are not engaged to him!" said she.  "Yet it certainly
+soon will happen.  But two advantages will proceed from this delay.  I
+shall not lose you so soon, and Edward will have greater opportunity of
+improving that natural taste for your favourite pursuit which must be
+so indispensably necessary to your future felicity.  Oh! if he should
+be so far stimulated by your genius as to learn to draw himself, how
+delightful it would be!"
+
+Elinor had given her real opinion to her sister.  She could not
+consider her partiality for Edward in so prosperous a state as Marianne
+had believed it.  There was, at times, a want of spirits about him
+which, if it did not denote indifference, spoke of something almost as
+unpromising.  A doubt of her regard, supposing him to feel it, need not
+give him more than inquietude.  It would not be likely to produce that
+dejection of mind which frequently attended him.  A more reasonable
+cause might be found in the dependent situation which forbade the
+indulgence of his affection.  She knew that his mother neither behaved
+to him so as to make his home comfortable at present, nor to give him
+any assurance that he might form a home for himself, without strictly
+attending to her views for his aggrandizement.  With such a knowledge
+as this, it was impossible for Elinor to feel easy on the subject.  She
+was far from depending on that result of his preference of her, which
+her mother and sister still considered as certain.  Nay, the longer
+they were together the more doubtful seemed the nature of his regard;
+and sometimes, for a few painful minutes, she believed it to be no more
+than friendship.
+
+But, whatever might really be its limits, it was enough, when perceived
+by his sister, to make her uneasy, and at the same time, (which was
+still more common,) to make her uncivil.  She took the first
+opportunity of affronting her mother-in-law on the occasion, talking to
+her so expressively of her brother's great expectations, of Mrs.
+Ferrars's resolution that both her sons should marry well, and of the
+danger attending any young woman who attempted to DRAW HIM IN; that
+Mrs. Dashwood could neither pretend to be unconscious, nor endeavor to
+be calm.  She gave her an answer which marked her contempt, and
+instantly left the room, resolving that, whatever might be the
+inconvenience or expense of so sudden a removal, her beloved Elinor
+should not be exposed another week to such insinuations.
+
+In this state of her spirits, a letter was delivered to her from the
+post, which contained a proposal particularly well timed.  It was the
+offer of a small house, on very easy terms, belonging to a relation of
+her own, a gentleman of consequence and property in Devonshire.  The
+letter was from this gentleman himself, and written in the true spirit
+of friendly accommodation.  He understood that she was in need of a
+dwelling; and though the house he now offered her was merely a cottage,
+he assured her that everything should be done to it which she might
+think necessary, if the situation pleased her.  He earnestly pressed
+her, after giving the particulars of the house and garden, to come with
+her daughters to Barton Park, the place of his own residence, from
+whence she might judge, herself, whether Barton Cottage, for the houses
+were in the same parish, could, by any alteration, be made comfortable
+to her.  He seemed really anxious to accommodate them and the whole of
+his letter was written in so friendly a style as could not fail of
+giving pleasure to his cousin; more especially at a moment when she was
+suffering under the cold and unfeeling behaviour of her nearer
+connections.  She needed no time for deliberation or inquiry.  Her
+resolution was formed as she read.  The situation of Barton, in a
+county so far distant from Sussex as Devonshire, which, but a few hours
+before, would have been a sufficient objection to outweigh every
+possible advantage belonging to the place, was now its first
+recommendation.  To quit the neighbourhood of Norland was no longer an
+evil; it was an object of desire; it was a blessing, in comparison of
+the misery of continuing her daughter-in-law's guest; and to remove for
+ever from that beloved place would be less painful than to inhabit or
+visit it while such a woman was its mistress.  She instantly wrote Sir
+John Middleton her acknowledgment of his kindness, and her acceptance
+of his proposal; and then hastened to shew both letters to her
+daughters, that she might be secure of their approbation before her
+answer were sent.
+
+Elinor had always thought it would be more prudent for them to settle
+at some distance from Norland, than immediately amongst their present
+acquaintance.  On THAT head, therefore, it was not for her to oppose
+her mother's intention of removing into Devonshire.  The house, too, as
+described by Sir John, was on so simple a scale, and the rent so
+uncommonly moderate, as to leave her no right of objection on either
+point; and, therefore, though it was not a plan which brought any charm
+to her fancy, though it was a removal from the vicinity of Norland
+beyond her wishes, she made no attempt to dissuade her mother from
+sending a letter of acquiescence.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 5
+
+
+No sooner was her answer dispatched, than Mrs. Dashwood indulged
+herself in the pleasure of announcing to her son-in-law and his wife
+that she was provided with a house, and should incommode them no longer
+than till every thing were ready for her inhabiting it.  They heard her
+with surprise.  Mrs. John Dashwood said nothing; but her husband
+civilly hoped that she would not be settled far from Norland.  She had
+great satisfaction in replying that she was going into
+Devonshire.--Edward turned hastily towards her, on hearing this, and,
+in a voice of surprise and concern, which required no explanation to
+her, repeated, "Devonshire! Are you, indeed, going there?  So far from
+hence!  And to what part of it?"  She explained the situation.  It was
+within four miles northward of Exeter.
+
+"It is but a cottage," she continued, "but I hope to see many of my
+friends in it.  A room or two can easily be added; and if my friends
+find no difficulty in travelling so far to see me, I am sure I will
+find none in accommodating them."
+
+She concluded with a very kind invitation to Mr. and Mrs. John Dashwood
+to visit her at Barton; and to Edward she gave one with still greater
+affection.  Though her late conversation with her daughter-in-law had
+made her resolve on remaining at Norland no longer than was
+unavoidable, it had not produced the smallest effect on her in that
+point to which it principally tended.  To separate Edward and Elinor
+was as far from being her object as ever; and she wished to show Mrs.
+John Dashwood, by this pointed invitation to her brother, how totally
+she disregarded her disapprobation of the match.
+
+Mr. John Dashwood told his mother again and again how exceedingly sorry
+he was that she had taken a house at such a distance from Norland as to
+prevent his being of any service to her in removing her furniture.  He
+really felt conscientiously vexed on the occasion; for the very
+exertion to which he had limited the performance of his promise to his
+father was by this arrangement rendered impracticable.-- The furniture
+was all sent around by water.  It chiefly consisted of household linen,
+plate, china, and books, with a handsome pianoforte of Marianne's.
+Mrs. John Dashwood saw the packages depart with a sigh: she could not
+help feeling it hard that as Mrs. Dashwood's income would be so
+trifling in comparison with their own, she should have any handsome
+article of furniture.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood took the house for a twelvemonth; it was ready furnished,
+and she might have immediate possession.  No difficulty arose on either
+side in the agreement; and she waited only for the disposal of her
+effects at Norland, and to determine her future household, before she
+set off for the west; and this, as she was exceedingly rapid in the
+performance of everything that interested her, was soon done.--The
+horses which were left her by her husband had been sold soon after his
+death, and an opportunity now offering of disposing of her carriage,
+she agreed to sell that likewise at the earnest advice of her eldest
+daughter.  For the comfort of her children, had she consulted only her
+own wishes, she would have kept it; but the discretion of Elinor
+prevailed.  HER 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.
+
+The man and one of the maids were sent off immediately into Devonshire,
+to prepare the house for their mistress's arrival; for as Lady
+Middleton was entirely unknown to Mrs. Dashwood, she preferred going
+directly to the cottage to being a visitor at Barton Park; and she
+relied so undoubtingly on Sir John's description of the house, as to
+feel no curiosity to examine it herself till she entered it as her own.
+Her eagerness to be gone from Norland was preserved from diminution by
+the evident satisfaction of her daughter-in-law in the prospect of her
+removal; a satisfaction which was but feebly attempted to be concealed
+under a cold invitation to her to defer her departure.  Now was the
+time when her son-in-law's promise to his father might with particular
+propriety be fulfilled.  Since he had neglected to do it on first
+coming to the estate, their quitting his house might be looked on as
+the most suitable period for its accomplishment.  But Mrs. Dashwood
+began shortly to give over every hope of the kind, and to be convinced,
+from the general drift of his discourse, that his assistance extended
+no farther than their maintenance for six months at Norland.  He so
+frequently talked of the increasing expenses of housekeeping, and of
+the perpetual demands upon his purse, which a man of any consequence in
+the world was beyond calculation exposed to, that he seemed rather to
+stand in need of more money himself than to have any design of giving
+money away.
+
+In a very few weeks from the day which brought Sir John Middleton's
+first letter to Norland, every thing was so far settled in their future
+abode as to enable Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters to begin their
+journey.
+
+Many were the tears shed by them in their last adieus to a place so
+much beloved.  "Dear, dear Norland!" said Marianne, as she wandered
+alone before the house, on the last evening of their being there; "when
+shall I cease to regret you!--when learn to feel a home elsewhere!--Oh!
+happy house, could you know what I suffer in now viewing you from this
+spot, from whence perhaps I may view you no more!--And you, ye
+well-known trees!--but you will continue the same.--No leaf will decay
+because we are removed, nor any branch become motionless although we
+can observe you no longer!--No; you will continue the same; unconscious
+of the pleasure or the regret you occasion, and insensible of any
+change in those who walk under your shade!--But who will remain to
+enjoy you?"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 6
+
+
+The first part of their journey was performed in too melancholy a
+disposition to be otherwise than tedious and unpleasant.  But as they
+drew towards the end of it, their interest in the appearance of a
+country which they were to inhabit overcame their dejection, and a view
+of Barton Valley as they entered it gave them cheerfulness.  It was a
+pleasant fertile spot, well wooded, and rich in pasture.  After winding
+along it for more than a mile, they reached their own house.  A small
+green court was the whole of its demesne in front; and a neat wicket
+gate admitted them into it.
+
+As a house, Barton Cottage, though small, was comfortable and compact;
+but as a cottage it was defective, for the building was regular, the
+roof was tiled, the window shutters were not painted green, nor were
+the walls covered with honeysuckles.  A narrow passage led directly
+through the house into the garden behind.  On each side of the entrance
+was a sitting room, about sixteen feet square; and beyond them were the
+offices and the stairs.  Four bed-rooms and two garrets formed the rest
+of the house.  It had not been built many years and was in good repair.
+In comparison of Norland, it was poor and small indeed!--but the tears
+which recollection called forth as they entered the house were soon
+dried away.  They were cheered by the joy of the servants on their
+arrival, and each for the sake of the others resolved to appear happy.
+It was very early in September; the season was fine, and from first
+seeing the place under the advantage of good weather, they received an
+impression in its favour which was of material service in recommending
+it to their lasting approbation.
+
+The situation of the house was good.  High hills rose immediately
+behind, and at no great distance on each side; some of which were open
+downs, the others cultivated and woody.  The village of Barton was
+chiefly on one of these hills, and formed a pleasant view from the
+cottage windows.  The prospect in front was more extensive; it
+commanded the whole of the valley, and reached into the country beyond.
+The hills which surrounded the cottage terminated the valley in that
+direction; under another name, and in another course, it branched out
+again between two of the steepest of them.
+
+With the size and furniture of the house Mrs. Dashwood was upon the
+whole well satisfied; for though her former style of life rendered many
+additions to the latter indispensable, yet to add and improve was a
+delight to her; and she had at this time ready money enough to supply
+all that was wanted of greater elegance to the apartments.  "As for the
+house itself, to be sure," said she, "it is too small for our family,
+but we will make ourselves tolerably comfortable for the present, as it
+is too late in the year for improvements.  Perhaps in the spring, if I
+have plenty of money, as I dare say I shall, we may think about
+building.  These parlors are both too small for such parties of our
+friends as I hope to see often collected here; and I have some thoughts
+of throwing the passage into one of them with perhaps a part of the
+other, and so leave the remainder of that other for an entrance; this,
+with a new drawing room which may be easily added, and a bed-chamber
+and garret above, will make it a very snug little cottage.  I could
+wish the stairs were handsome.  But one must not expect every thing;
+though I suppose it would be no difficult matter to widen them.  I
+shall see how much I am before-hand with the world in the spring, and
+we will plan our improvements accordingly."
+
+In the mean time, till all these alterations could be made from the
+savings of an income of five hundred a-year by a woman who never saved
+in her life, they were wise enough to be contented with the house as it
+was; and each of them was busy in arranging their particular concerns,
+and endeavoring, by placing around them books and other possessions, to
+form themselves a home.  Marianne's pianoforte was unpacked and
+properly disposed of; and Elinor's drawings were affixed to the walls
+of their sitting room.
+
+In such employments as these they were interrupted soon after breakfast
+the next day by the entrance of their landlord, who called to welcome
+them to Barton, and to offer them every accommodation from his own
+house and garden in which theirs might at present be deficient.  Sir
+John Middleton was a good looking man about forty.  He had formerly
+visited at Stanhill, but it was too long for his young cousins to
+remember him.  His countenance was thoroughly good-humoured; and his
+manners were as friendly as the style of his letter.  Their arrival
+seemed to afford him real satisfaction, and their comfort to be an
+object of real solicitude to him.  He said much of his earnest desire
+of their living in the most sociable terms with his family, and pressed
+them so cordially to dine at Barton Park every day till they were
+better settled at home, that, though his entreaties were carried to a
+point of perseverance beyond civility, they could not give offence.
+His kindness was not confined to words; for within an hour after he
+left them, a large basket full of garden stuff and fruit arrived from
+the park, which was followed before the end of the day by a present of
+game.  He insisted, moreover, on conveying all their letters to and
+from the post for them, and would not be denied the satisfaction of
+sending them his newspaper every day.
+
+Lady Middleton had sent a very civil message by him, denoting her
+intention of waiting on Mrs. Dashwood as soon as she could be assured
+that her visit would be no inconvenience; and as this message was
+answered by an invitation equally polite, her ladyship was introduced
+to them the next day.
+
+They were, of course, very anxious to see a person on whom so much of
+their comfort at Barton must depend; and the elegance of her appearance
+was favourable to their wishes.  Lady Middleton was not more than six
+or seven and twenty; her face was handsome, her figure tall and
+striking, and her address graceful.  Her manners had all the elegance
+which her husband's wanted.  But they would have been improved by some
+share of his frankness and warmth; and her visit was long enough to
+detract something from their first admiration, by shewing that, though
+perfectly well-bred, she was reserved, cold, and had nothing to say for
+herself beyond the most common-place inquiry or remark.
+
+Conversation however was not wanted, for Sir John was very chatty, and
+Lady Middleton had taken the wise precaution of bringing with her their
+eldest child, a fine little boy about six years old, by which means
+there was one subject always to be recurred to by the ladies in case of
+extremity, for they had to enquire his name and age, admire his beauty,
+and ask him questions which his mother answered for him, while he hung
+about her and held down his head, to the great surprise of her
+ladyship, who wondered at his being so shy before company, as he could
+make noise enough at home.  On every formal visit a child ought to be
+of the party, by way of provision for discourse.  In the present case
+it took up ten minutes to determine whether the boy were most like his
+father or mother, and in what particular he resembled either, for of
+course every body differed, and every body was astonished at the
+opinion of the others.
+
+An opportunity was soon to be given to the Dashwoods of debating on the
+rest of the children, as Sir John would not leave the house without
+securing their promise of dining at the park the next day.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 7
+
+
+Barton Park was about half a mile from the cottage.  The ladies had
+passed near it in their way along the valley, but it was screened from
+their view at home by the projection of a hill.  The house was large
+and handsome; and the Middletons lived in a style of equal hospitality
+and elegance.  The former was for Sir John's gratification, the latter
+for that of his lady.  They were scarcely ever without some friends
+staying with them in the house, and they kept more company of every
+kind than any other family in the neighbourhood.  It was necessary to
+the happiness of both; for however dissimilar in temper and outward
+behaviour, they strongly resembled each other in that total want of
+talent and taste which confined their employments, unconnected with
+such as society produced, within a very narrow compass.  Sir John was a
+sportsman, Lady Middleton a mother.  He hunted and shot, and she
+humoured her children; and these were their only resources.  Lady
+Middleton had the advantage of being able to spoil her children all the
+year round, while Sir John's independent employments were in existence
+only half the time.  Continual engagements at home and abroad, however,
+supplied all the deficiencies of nature and education; supported the
+good spirits of Sir John, and gave exercise to the good breeding of his
+wife.
+
+Lady Middleton piqued herself upon the elegance of her table, and of
+all her domestic arrangements; and from this kind of vanity was her
+greatest enjoyment in any of their parties.  But Sir John's
+satisfaction in society was much more real; he delighted in collecting
+about him more young people than his house would hold, and the noisier
+they were the better was he pleased.  He was a blessing to all the
+juvenile part of the neighbourhood, for in summer he was for ever
+forming parties to eat cold ham and chicken out of doors, and in winter
+his private balls were numerous enough for any young lady who was not
+suffering under the unsatiable appetite of fifteen.
+
+The arrival of a new family in the country was always a matter of joy
+to him, and in every point of view he was charmed with the inhabitants
+he had now procured for his cottage at Barton.  The Miss Dashwoods were
+young, pretty, and unaffected.  It was enough to secure his good
+opinion; for to be unaffected was all that a pretty girl could want to
+make her mind as captivating as her person.  The friendliness of his
+disposition made him happy in accommodating those, whose situation
+might be considered, in comparison with the past, as unfortunate.  In
+showing kindness to his cousins therefore he had the real satisfaction
+of a good heart; and in settling a family of females only in his
+cottage, he had all the satisfaction of a sportsman; for a sportsman,
+though he esteems only those of his sex who are sportsmen likewise, is
+not often desirous of encouraging their taste by admitting them to a
+residence within his own manor.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters were met at the door of the house by
+Sir John, who welcomed them to Barton Park with unaffected sincerity;
+and as he attended them to the drawing room repeated to the young
+ladies the concern which the same subject had drawn from him the day
+before, at being unable to get any smart young men to meet them.  They
+would see, he said, only one gentleman there besides himself; a
+particular friend who was staying at the park, but who was neither very
+young nor very gay.  He hoped they would all excuse the smallness of
+the party, and could assure them it should never happen so again.  He
+had been to several families that morning in hopes of procuring some
+addition to their number, but it was moonlight and every body was full
+of engagements.  Luckily Lady Middleton's mother had arrived at Barton
+within the last hour, and as she was a very cheerful agreeable woman,
+he hoped the young ladies would not find it so very dull as they might
+imagine.  The young ladies, as well as their mother, were perfectly
+satisfied with having two entire strangers of the party, and wished for
+no more.
+
+Mrs. Jennings, Lady Middleton's mother, was a good-humoured, merry,
+fat, elderly woman, who talked a great deal, seemed very happy, and
+rather vulgar.  She was full of jokes and laughter, and before dinner
+was over had said many witty things on the subject of lovers and
+husbands; hoped they had not left their hearts behind them in Sussex,
+and pretended to see them blush whether they did or not.  Marianne was
+vexed at it for her sister's sake, and turned her eyes towards Elinor
+to see how she bore these attacks, with an earnestness which gave
+Elinor far more pain than could arise from such common-place raillery
+as Mrs. Jennings's.
+
+Colonel Brandon, the friend of Sir John, seemed no more adapted by
+resemblance of manner to be his friend, than Lady Middleton was to be
+his wife, or Mrs. Jennings to be Lady Middleton's mother.  He was
+silent and grave.  His appearance however was not unpleasing, in spite
+of his being in the opinion of Marianne and Margaret an absolute old
+bachelor, for he was on the wrong side of five and thirty; but though
+his face was not handsome, his countenance was sensible, and his
+address was particularly gentlemanlike.
+
+There was nothing in any of the party which could recommend them as
+companions to the Dashwoods; but the cold insipidity of Lady Middleton
+was so particularly repulsive, that in comparison of it the gravity of
+Colonel Brandon, and even the boisterous mirth of Sir John and his
+mother-in-law was interesting.  Lady Middleton seemed to be roused to
+enjoyment only by the entrance of her four noisy children after dinner,
+who pulled her about, tore her clothes, and put an end to every kind of
+discourse except what related to themselves.
+
+In the evening, as Marianne was discovered to be musical, she was
+invited to play.  The instrument was unlocked, every body prepared to
+be charmed, and Marianne, who sang very well, at their request went
+through the chief of the songs which Lady Middleton had brought into
+the family on her marriage, and which perhaps had lain ever since in
+the same position on the pianoforte, for her ladyship had celebrated
+that event by giving up music, although by her mother's account, she
+had played extremely well, and by her own was very fond of it.
+
+Marianne's performance was highly applauded.  Sir John was loud in his
+admiration at the end of every song, and as loud in his conversation
+with the others while every song lasted.  Lady Middleton frequently
+called him to order, wondered how any one's attention could be diverted
+from music for a moment, and asked Marianne to sing a particular song
+which Marianne had just finished.  Colonel Brandon alone, of all the
+party, heard her without being in raptures.  He paid her only the
+compliment of attention; and she felt a respect for him on the
+occasion, which the others had reasonably forfeited by their shameless
+want of taste.  His pleasure in music, though it amounted not to that
+ecstatic delight which alone could sympathize with her own, was
+estimable when contrasted against the horrible insensibility of the
+others; and she was reasonable enough to allow that a man of five and
+thirty might well have outlived all acuteness of feeling and every
+exquisite power of enjoyment.  She was perfectly disposed to make every
+allowance for the colonel's advanced state of life which humanity
+required.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 8
+
+
+Mrs. Jennings was a widow with an ample jointure.  She had only two
+daughters, both of whom she had lived to see respectably married, and
+she had now therefore nothing to do but to marry all the rest of the
+world.  In the promotion of this object she was zealously active, as
+far as her ability reached; and missed no opportunity of projecting
+weddings among all the young people of her acquaintance.  She was
+remarkably quick in the discovery of attachments, and had enjoyed the
+advantage of raising the blushes and the vanity of many a young lady by
+insinuations of her power over such a young man; and this kind of
+discernment enabled her soon after her arrival at Barton decisively to
+pronounce that Colonel Brandon was very much in love with Marianne
+Dashwood.  She rather suspected it to be so, on the very first evening
+of their being together, from his listening so attentively while she
+sang to them; and when the visit was returned by the Middletons' dining
+at the cottage, the fact was ascertained by his listening to her again.
+It must be so.  She was perfectly convinced of it.  It would be an
+excellent match, for HE was rich, and SHE was handsome.  Mrs. Jennings
+had been anxious to see Colonel Brandon well married, ever since her
+connection with Sir John first brought him to her knowledge; and she
+was always anxious to get a good husband for every pretty girl.
+
+The immediate advantage to herself was by no means inconsiderable, for
+it supplied her with endless jokes against them both.  At the park she
+laughed at the colonel, and in the cottage at Marianne.  To the former
+her raillery was probably, as far as it regarded only himself,
+perfectly indifferent; but to the latter it was at first
+incomprehensible; and when its object was understood, she hardly knew
+whether most to laugh at its absurdity, or censure its impertinence,
+for she considered it as an unfeeling reflection on the colonel's
+advanced years, and on his forlorn condition as an old bachelor.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood, who could not think a man five years younger than
+herself, so exceedingly ancient as he appeared to the youthful fancy of
+her daughter, ventured to clear Mrs. Jennings from the probability of
+wishing to throw ridicule on his age.
+
+"But at least, Mamma, you cannot deny the absurdity of the accusation,
+though you may not think it intentionally ill-natured.  Colonel Brandon
+is certainly younger than Mrs. Jennings, but he is old enough to be MY
+father; and if he were ever animated enough to be in love, must have
+long outlived every sensation of the kind.  It is too ridiculous!  When
+is a man to be safe from such wit, if age and infirmity will not
+protect him?"
+
+"Infirmity!" said Elinor, "do you call Colonel Brandon infirm?  I can
+easily suppose that his age may appear much greater to you than to my
+mother; but you can hardly deceive yourself as to his having the use of
+his limbs!"
+
+"Did not you hear him complain of the rheumatism?  and is not that the
+commonest infirmity of declining life?"
+
+"My dearest child," said her mother, laughing, "at this rate you must
+be in continual terror of MY decay; and it must seem to you a miracle
+that my life has been extended to the advanced age of forty."
+
+"Mamma, you are not doing me justice.  I know very well that Colonel
+Brandon is not old enough to make his friends yet apprehensive of
+losing him in the course of nature.  He may live twenty years longer.
+But thirty-five has nothing to do with matrimony."
+
+"Perhaps," said Elinor, "thirty-five and seventeen had better not have
+any thing to do with matrimony together.  But if there should by any
+chance happen to be a woman who is single at seven and twenty, I should
+not think Colonel Brandon's being thirty-five any objection to his
+marrying HER."
+
+"A woman of seven and twenty," said Marianne, after pausing a moment,
+"can never hope to feel or inspire affection again, and if her home be
+uncomfortable, or her fortune small, I can suppose that she might bring
+herself to submit to the offices of a nurse, for the sake of the
+provision and security of a wife.  In his marrying such a woman
+therefore there would be nothing unsuitable.  It would be a compact of
+convenience, and the world would be satisfied.  In my eyes it would be
+no marriage at all, but that would be nothing.  To me it would seem
+only a commercial exchange, in which each wished to be benefited at the
+expense of the other."
+
+"It would be impossible, I know," replied Elinor, "to convince you that
+a woman of seven and twenty could feel for a man of thirty-five
+anything near enough to love, to make him a desirable companion to her.
+But I must object to your dooming Colonel Brandon and his wife to the
+constant confinement of a sick chamber, merely because he chanced to
+complain yesterday (a very cold damp day) of a slight rheumatic feel in
+one of his shoulders."
+
+"But he talked of flannel waistcoats," said Marianne; "and with me a
+flannel waistcoat is invariably connected with aches, cramps,
+rheumatisms, and every species of ailment that can afflict the old and
+the feeble."
+
+"Had he been only in a violent fever, you would not have despised him
+half so much.  Confess, Marianne, is not there something interesting to
+you in the flushed cheek, hollow eye, and quick pulse of a fever?"
+
+Soon after this, upon Elinor's leaving the room, "Mamma," said
+Marianne, "I have an alarm on the subject of illness which I cannot
+conceal from you.  I am sure Edward Ferrars is not well.  We have now
+been here almost a fortnight, and yet he does not come.  Nothing but
+real indisposition could occasion this extraordinary delay.  What else
+can detain him at Norland?"
+
+"Had you any idea of his coming so soon?" said Mrs. Dashwood.  "I had
+none.  On the contrary, if I have felt any anxiety at all on the
+subject, it has been in recollecting that he sometimes showed a want of
+pleasure and readiness in accepting my invitation, when I talked of his
+coming to Barton.  Does Elinor expect him already?"
+
+"I have never mentioned it to her, but of course she must."
+
+"I rather think you are mistaken, for when I was talking to her
+yesterday of getting a new grate for the spare bedchamber, she observed
+that there was no immediate hurry for it, as it was not likely that the
+room would be wanted for some time."
+
+"How strange this is! what can be the meaning of it!  But the whole of
+their behaviour to each other has been unaccountable! How cold, how
+composed were their last adieus! How languid their conversation the
+last evening of their being together! In Edward's farewell there was no
+distinction between Elinor and me: it was the good wishes of an
+affectionate brother to both.  Twice did I leave them purposely
+together in the course of the last morning, and each time did he most
+unaccountably follow me out of the room.  And Elinor, in quitting
+Norland and Edward, cried not as I did.  Even now her self-command is
+invariable.  When is she dejected or melancholy? When does she try to
+avoid society, or appear restless and dissatisfied in it?"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 9
+
+
+The Dashwoods were now settled at Barton with tolerable comfort to
+themselves.  The house and the garden, with all the objects surrounding
+them, were now become familiar, and the ordinary pursuits which had
+given to Norland half its charms were engaged in again with far greater
+enjoyment than Norland had been able to afford, since the loss of their
+father.  Sir John Middleton, who called on them every day for the first
+fortnight, and who was not in the habit of seeing much occupation at
+home, could not conceal his amazement on finding them always employed.
+
+Their visitors, except those from Barton Park, were not many; for, in
+spite of Sir John's urgent entreaties that they would mix more in the
+neighbourhood, and repeated assurances of his carriage being always at
+their service, the independence of Mrs. Dashwood's spirit overcame the
+wish of society for her children; and she was resolute in declining to
+visit any family beyond the distance of a walk.  There were but few who
+could be so classed; and it was not all of them that were attainable.
+About a mile and a half from the cottage, along the narrow winding
+valley of Allenham, which issued from that of Barton, as formerly
+described, the girls had, in one of their earliest walks, discovered an
+ancient respectable looking mansion which, by reminding them a little
+of Norland, interested their imagination and made them wish to be
+better acquainted with it.  But they learnt, on enquiry, that its
+possessor, an elderly lady of very good character, was unfortunately
+too infirm to mix with the world, and never stirred from home.
+
+The whole country about them abounded in beautiful walks.  The high
+downs which invited them from almost every window of the cottage to
+seek the exquisite enjoyment of air on their summits, were a happy
+alternative when the dirt of the valleys beneath shut up their superior
+beauties; and towards one of these hills did Marianne and Margaret one
+memorable morning direct their steps, attracted by the partial sunshine
+of a showery sky, and unable longer to bear the confinement which the
+settled rain of the two preceding days had occasioned.  The weather was
+not tempting enough to draw the two others from their pencil and their
+book, in spite of Marianne's declaration that the day would be
+lastingly fair, and that every threatening cloud would be drawn off
+from their hills; and the two girls set off together.
+
+They gaily ascended the downs, rejoicing in their own penetration at
+every glimpse of blue sky; and when they caught in their faces the
+animating gales of a high south-westerly wind, they pitied the fears
+which had prevented their mother and Elinor from sharing such
+delightful sensations.
+
+"Is there a felicity in the world," said Marianne, "superior to
+this?--Margaret, we will walk here at least two hours."
+
+Margaret agreed, and they pursued their way against the wind, resisting
+it with laughing delight for about twenty minutes longer, when suddenly
+the clouds united over their heads, and a driving rain set full in
+their face.-- Chagrined and surprised, they were obliged, though
+unwillingly, to turn back, for no shelter was nearer than their own
+house.  One consolation however remained for them, to which the
+exigence of the moment gave more than usual propriety; it was that of
+running with all possible speed down the steep side of the hill which
+led immediately to their garden gate.
+
+They set off.  Marianne had at first the advantage, but a false step
+brought her suddenly to the ground; and Margaret, unable to stop
+herself to assist her, was involuntarily hurried along, and reached the
+bottom in safety.
+
+A gentleman carrying a gun, with two pointers playing round him, was
+passing up the hill and within a few yards of Marianne, when her
+accident happened.  He put down his gun and ran to her assistance.  She
+had raised herself from the ground, but her foot had been twisted in
+her fall, and she was scarcely able to stand.  The gentleman offered
+his services; and perceiving that her modesty declined what her
+situation rendered necessary, took her up in his arms without farther
+delay, and carried her down the hill.  Then passing through the garden,
+the gate of which had been left open by Margaret, he bore her directly
+into the house, whither Margaret was just arrived, and quitted not his
+hold till he had seated her in a chair in the parlour.
+
+Elinor and her mother rose up in amazement at their entrance, and while
+the eyes of both were fixed on him with an evident wonder and a secret
+admiration which equally sprung from his appearance, he apologized for
+his intrusion by relating its cause, in a manner so frank and so
+graceful that his person, which was uncommonly handsome, received
+additional charms from his voice and expression.  Had he been even old,
+ugly, and vulgar, the gratitude and kindness of Mrs. Dashwood would
+have been secured by any act of attention to her child; but the
+influence of youth, beauty, and elegance, gave an interest to the
+action which came home to her feelings.
+
+She thanked him again and again; and, with a sweetness of address which
+always attended her, invited him to be seated.  But this he declined,
+as he was dirty and wet.  Mrs. Dashwood then begged to know to whom she
+was obliged.  His name, he replied, was Willoughby, and his present
+home was at Allenham, from whence he hoped she would allow him the
+honour of calling tomorrow to enquire after Miss Dashwood.  The honour
+was readily granted, and he then departed, to make himself still more
+interesting, in the midst of a heavy rain.
+
+His manly beauty and more than common gracefulness were instantly the
+theme of general admiration, and the laugh which his gallantry raised
+against Marianne received particular spirit from his exterior
+attractions.-- Marianne herself had seen less of his person that the
+rest, for the confusion which crimsoned over her face, on his lifting
+her up, had robbed her of the power of regarding him after their
+entering the house.  But she had seen enough of him to join in all the
+admiration of the others, and with an energy which always adorned her
+praise.  His person and air were equal to what her fancy had ever drawn
+for the hero of a favourite story; and in his carrying her into the
+house with so little previous formality, there was a rapidity of
+thought which particularly recommended the action to her.  Every
+circumstance belonging to him was interesting.  His name was good, his
+residence was in their favourite village, and she soon found out that
+of all manly dresses a shooting-jacket was the most becoming.  Her
+imagination was busy, her reflections were pleasant, and the pain of a
+sprained ankle was disregarded.
+
+Sir John called on them as soon as the next interval of fair weather
+that morning allowed him to get out of doors; and Marianne's accident
+being related to him, he was eagerly asked whether he knew any
+gentleman of the name of Willoughby at Allenham.
+
+"Willoughby!" cried Sir John; "what, is HE in the country? That is good
+news however; I will ride over tomorrow, and ask him to dinner on
+Thursday."
+
+"You know him then," said Mrs. Dashwood.
+
+"Know him! to be sure I do.  Why, he is down here every year."
+
+"And what sort of a young man is he?"
+
+"As good a kind of fellow as ever lived, I assure you.  A very decent
+shot, and there is not a bolder rider in England."
+
+"And is that all you can say for him?" cried Marianne, indignantly.
+"But what are his manners on more intimate acquaintance? What his
+pursuits, his talents, and genius?"
+
+Sir John was rather puzzled.
+
+"Upon my soul," said he, "I do not know much about him as to all THAT.
+But he is a pleasant, good humoured fellow, and has got the nicest
+little black bitch of a pointer I ever saw.  Was she out with him
+today?"
+
+But Marianne could no more satisfy him as to the colour of Mr.
+Willoughby's pointer, than he could describe to her the shades of his
+mind.
+
+"But who is he?" said Elinor.  "Where does he come from?  Has he a
+house at Allenham?"
+
+On this point Sir John could give more certain intelligence; and he
+told them that Mr. Willoughby had no property of his own in the
+country; that he resided there only while he was visiting the old lady
+at Allenham Court, to whom he was related, and whose possessions he was
+to inherit; adding, "Yes, yes, he is very well worth catching I can
+tell you, Miss Dashwood; he has a pretty little estate of his own in
+Somersetshire besides; and if I were you, I would not give him up to my
+younger sister, in spite of all this tumbling down hills.  Miss
+Marianne must not expect to have all the men to herself.  Brandon will
+be jealous, if she does not take care."
+
+"I do not believe," said Mrs. Dashwood, with a good humoured smile,
+"that Mr. Willoughby will be incommoded by the attempts of either of MY
+daughters towards what you call CATCHING him.  It is not an employment
+to which they have been brought up.  Men are very safe with us, let
+them be ever so rich.  I am glad to find, however, from what you say,
+that he is a respectable young man, and one whose acquaintance will not
+be ineligible."
+
+"He is as good a sort of fellow, I believe, as ever lived," repeated
+Sir John.  "I remember last Christmas at a little hop at the park, he
+danced from eight o'clock till four, without once sitting down."
+
+"Did he indeed?" cried Marianne with sparkling eyes, "and with
+elegance, with spirit?"
+
+"Yes; and he was up again at eight to ride to covert."
+
+"That is what I like; that is what a young man ought to be.  Whatever
+be his pursuits, his eagerness in them should know no moderation, and
+leave him no sense of fatigue."
+
+"Aye, aye, I see how it will be," said Sir John, "I see how it will be.
+You will be setting your cap at him now, and never think of poor
+Brandon."
+
+"That is an expression, Sir John," said Marianne, warmly, "which I
+particularly dislike.  I abhor every common-place phrase by which wit
+is intended; and 'setting one's cap at a man,' or 'making a conquest,'
+are the most odious of all.  Their tendency is gross and illiberal; and
+if their construction could ever be deemed clever, time has long ago
+destroyed all its ingenuity."
+
+Sir John did not much understand this reproof; but he laughed as
+heartily as if he did, and then replied,
+
+"Ay, you will make conquests enough, I dare say, one way or other.
+Poor Brandon! he is quite smitten already, and he is very well worth
+setting your cap at, I can tell you, in spite of all this tumbling
+about and spraining of ankles."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 10
+
+
+Marianne's preserver, as Margaret, with more elegance than precision,
+styled Willoughby, called at the cottage early the next morning to make
+his personal enquiries.  He was received by Mrs. Dashwood with more
+than politeness; with a kindness which Sir John's account of him and
+her own gratitude prompted; and every thing that passed during the
+visit tended to assure him of the sense, elegance, mutual affection,
+and domestic comfort of the family to whom accident had now introduced
+him.  Of their personal charms he had not required a second interview
+to be convinced.
+
+Miss Dashwood had a delicate complexion, regular features, and a
+remarkably pretty figure.  Marianne was still handsomer.  Her form,
+though not so correct as her sister's, in having the advantage of
+height, was more striking; and her face was so lovely, that when in the
+common cant of praise, she was called a beautiful girl, truth was less
+violently outraged than usually happens.  Her skin was very brown, but,
+from its transparency, her complexion was uncommonly brilliant; her
+features were all good; her smile was sweet and attractive; and in her
+eyes, which were very dark, there was a life, a spirit, an eagerness,
+which could hardily be seen without delight.  From Willoughby their
+expression was at first held back, by the embarrassment which the
+remembrance of his assistance created.  But when this passed away, when
+her spirits became collected, when she saw that to the perfect
+good-breeding of the gentleman, he united frankness and vivacity, and
+above all, when she heard him declare, that of music and dancing he was
+passionately fond, she gave him such a look of approbation as secured
+the largest share of his discourse to herself for the rest of his stay.
+
+It was only necessary to mention any favourite amusement to engage her
+to talk.  She could not be silent when such points were introduced, and
+she had neither shyness nor reserve in their discussion.  They speedily
+discovered that their enjoyment of dancing and music was mutual, and
+that it arose from a general conformity of judgment in all that related
+to either.  Encouraged by this to a further examination of his
+opinions, she proceeded to question him on the subject of books; her
+favourite authors were brought forward and dwelt upon with so rapturous
+a delight, that any young man of five and twenty must have been
+insensible indeed, not to become an immediate convert to the excellence
+of such works, however disregarded before.  Their taste was strikingly
+alike.  The same books, the same passages were idolized by each--or if
+any difference appeared, any objection arose, it lasted no longer than
+till the force of her arguments and the brightness of her eyes could be
+displayed.  He acquiesced in all her decisions, caught all her
+enthusiasm; and long before his visit concluded, they conversed with
+the familiarity of a long-established acquaintance.
+
+"Well, Marianne," said Elinor, as soon as he had left them, "for ONE
+morning I think you have done pretty well.  You have already
+ascertained Mr. Willoughby's opinion in almost every matter of
+importance.  You know what he thinks of Cowper and Scott; you are
+certain of his estimating their beauties as he ought, and you have
+received every assurance of his admiring Pope no more than is proper.
+But how is your acquaintance to be long supported, under such
+extraordinary despatch of every subject for discourse?  You will soon
+have exhausted each favourite topic.  Another meeting will suffice to
+explain his sentiments on picturesque beauty, and second marriages, and
+then you can have nothing farther to ask."--
+
+"Elinor," cried Marianne, "is this fair? is this just? are my ideas so
+scanty?  But I see what you mean.  I have been too much at my ease, too
+happy, too frank.  I have erred against every common-place notion of
+decorum; I have been open and sincere where I ought to have been
+reserved, spiritless, dull, and deceitful--had I talked only of the
+weather and the roads, and had I spoken only once in ten minutes, this
+reproach would have been spared."
+
+"My love," said her mother, "you must not be offended with Elinor--she
+was only in jest.  I should scold her myself, if she were capable of
+wishing to check the delight of your conversation with our new
+friend."-- Marianne was softened in a moment.
+
+Willoughby, on his side, gave every proof of his pleasure in their
+acquaintance, which an evident wish of improving it could offer.  He
+came to them every day.  To enquire after Marianne was at first his
+excuse; but the encouragement of his reception, to which every day gave
+greater kindness, made such an excuse unnecessary before it had ceased
+to be possible, by Marianne's perfect recovery.  She was confined for
+some days to the house; but never had any confinement been less
+irksome.  Willoughby was a young man of good abilities, quick
+imagination, lively spirits, and open, affectionate manners.  He was
+exactly formed to engage Marianne's heart, for with all this, he joined
+not only a captivating person, but a natural ardour of mind which was
+now roused and increased by the example of her own, and which
+recommended him to her affection beyond every thing else.
+
+His society became gradually her most exquisite enjoyment.  They read,
+they talked, they sang together; his musical talents were considerable;
+and he read with all the sensibility and spirit which Edward had
+unfortunately wanted.
+
+In Mrs. Dashwood's estimation he was as faultless as in Marianne's; and
+Elinor saw nothing to censure in him but a propensity, in which he
+strongly resembled and peculiarly delighted her sister, of saying too
+much what he thought on every occasion, without attention to persons or
+circumstances.  In hastily forming and giving his opinion of other
+people, in sacrificing general politeness to the enjoyment of undivided
+attention where his heart was engaged, and in slighting too easily the
+forms of worldly propriety, he displayed a want of caution which Elinor
+could not approve, in spite of all that he and Marianne could say in
+its support.
+
+Marianne began now to perceive that the desperation which had seized
+her at sixteen and a half, of ever seeing a man who could satisfy her
+ideas of perfection, had been rash and unjustifiable.  Willoughby was
+all that her fancy had delineated in that unhappy hour and in every
+brighter period, as capable of attaching her; and his behaviour
+declared his wishes to be in that respect as earnest, as his abilities
+were strong.
+
+Her mother too, in whose mind not one speculative thought of their
+marriage had been raised, by his prospect of riches, was led before the
+end of a week to hope and expect it; and secretly to congratulate
+herself on having gained two such sons-in-law as Edward and Willoughby.
+
+Colonel Brandon's partiality for Marianne, which had so early been
+discovered by his friends, now first became perceptible to Elinor, when
+it ceased to be noticed by them.  Their attention and wit were drawn
+off to his more fortunate rival; and the raillery which the other had
+incurred before any partiality arose, was removed when his feelings
+began really to call for the ridicule so justly annexed to sensibility.
+Elinor was obliged, though unwillingly, to believe that the sentiments
+which Mrs. Jennings had assigned him for her own satisfaction, were now
+actually excited by her sister; and that however a general resemblance
+of disposition between the parties might forward the affection of Mr.
+Willoughby, an equally striking opposition of character was no
+hindrance to the regard of Colonel Brandon.  She saw it with concern;
+for what could a silent man of five and thirty hope, when opposed to a
+very lively one of five and twenty? and as she could not even wish him
+successful, she heartily wished him indifferent.  She liked him--in
+spite of his gravity and reserve, she beheld in him an object of
+interest.  His manners, though serious, were mild; and his reserve
+appeared rather the result of some oppression of spirits than of any
+natural gloominess of temper.  Sir John had dropped hints of past
+injuries and disappointments, which justified her belief of his being
+an unfortunate man, and she regarded him with respect and compassion.
+
+Perhaps she pitied and esteemed him the more because he was slighted by
+Willoughby and Marianne, who, prejudiced against him for being neither
+lively nor young, seemed resolved to undervalue his merits.
+
+"Brandon is just the kind of man," said Willoughby one day, when they
+were talking of him together, "whom every body speaks well of, and
+nobody cares about; whom all are delighted to see, and nobody remembers
+to talk to."
+
+"That is exactly what I think of him," cried Marianne.
+
+"Do not boast of it, however," said Elinor, "for it is injustice in
+both of you.  He is highly esteemed by all the family at the park, and
+I never see him myself without taking pains to converse with him."
+
+"That he is patronised by YOU," replied Willoughby, "is certainly in
+his favour; but as for the esteem of the others, it is a reproach in
+itself.  Who would submit to the indignity of being approved by such a
+woman as Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings, that could command the
+indifference of any body else?"
+
+"But perhaps the abuse of such people as yourself and Marianne will
+make amends for the regard of Lady Middleton and her mother.  If their
+praise is censure, your censure may be praise, for they are not more
+undiscerning, than you are prejudiced and unjust."
+
+"In defence of your protege you can even be saucy."
+
+"My protege, as you call him, is a sensible man; and sense will always
+have attractions for me.  Yes, Marianne, even in a man between thirty
+and forty.  He has seen a great deal of the world; has been abroad, has
+read, and has a thinking mind.  I have found him capable of giving me
+much information on various subjects; and he has always answered my
+inquiries with readiness of good-breeding and good nature."
+
+"That is to say," cried Marianne contemptuously, "he has told you, that
+in the East Indies the climate is hot, and the mosquitoes are
+troublesome."
+
+"He WOULD have told me so, I doubt not, had I made any such inquiries,
+but they happened to be points on which I had been previously informed."
+
+"Perhaps," said Willoughby, "his observations may have extended to the
+existence of nabobs, gold mohrs, and palanquins."
+
+"I may venture to say that HIS observations have stretched much further
+than your candour.  But why should you dislike him?"
+
+"I do not dislike him.  I consider him, on the contrary, as a very
+respectable man, who has every body's good word, and nobody's notice;
+who, has more money than he can spend, more time than he knows how to
+employ, and two new coats every year."
+
+"Add to which," cried Marianne, "that he has neither genius, taste, nor
+spirit.  That his understanding has no brilliancy, his feelings no
+ardour, and his voice no expression."
+
+"You decide on his imperfections so much in the mass," replied Elinor,
+"and so much on the strength of your own imagination, that the
+commendation I am able to give of him is comparatively cold and
+insipid.  I can only pronounce him to be a sensible man, well-bred,
+well-informed, of gentle address, and, I believe, possessing an amiable
+heart."
+
+"Miss Dashwood," cried Willoughby, "you are now using me unkindly.  You
+are endeavouring to disarm me by reason, and to convince me against my
+will.  But it will not do.  You shall find me as stubborn as you can be
+artful.  I have three unanswerable reasons for disliking Colonel
+Brandon; he threatened me with rain when I wanted it to be fine; he has
+found fault with the hanging of my curricle, and I cannot persuade him
+to buy my brown mare.  If it will be any satisfaction to you, however,
+to be told, that I believe his character to be in other respects
+irreproachable, I am ready to confess it.  And in return for an
+acknowledgment, which must give me some pain, you cannot deny me the
+privilege of disliking him as much as ever."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 11
+
+
+Little had Mrs. Dashwood or her daughters imagined when they first came
+into Devonshire, that so many engagements would arise to occupy their
+time as shortly presented themselves, or that they should have such
+frequent invitations and such constant visitors as to leave them little
+leisure for serious employment.  Yet such was the case.  When Marianne
+was recovered, the schemes of amusement at home and abroad, which Sir
+John had been previously forming, were put into execution.  The private
+balls at the park then began; and parties on the water were made and
+accomplished as often as a showery October would allow.  In every
+meeting of the kind Willoughby was included; and the ease and
+familiarity which naturally attended these parties were exactly
+calculated to give increasing intimacy to his acquaintance with the
+Dashwoods, to afford him opportunity of witnessing the excellencies of
+Marianne, of marking his animated admiration of her, and of receiving,
+in her behaviour to himself, the most pointed assurance of her
+affection.
+
+Elinor could not be surprised at their attachment.  She only wished
+that it were less openly shewn; and once or twice did venture to
+suggest the propriety of some self-command to Marianne.  But Marianne
+abhorred all concealment where no real disgrace could attend unreserve;
+and to aim at the restraint of sentiments which were not in themselves
+illaudable, appeared to her not merely an unnecessary effort, but a
+disgraceful subjection of reason to common-place and mistaken notions.
+Willoughby thought the same; and their behaviour at all times, was an
+illustration of their opinions.
+
+When he was present she had no eyes for any one else.  Every thing he
+did, was right.  Every thing he said, was clever.  If their evenings at
+the park were concluded with cards, he cheated himself and all the rest
+of the party to get her a good hand.  If dancing formed the amusement
+of the night, they were partners for half the time; and when obliged to
+separate for a couple of dances, were careful to stand together and
+scarcely spoke a word to any body else.  Such conduct made them of
+course most exceedingly laughed at; but ridicule could not shame, and
+seemed hardly to provoke them.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood entered into all their feelings with a warmth which left
+her no inclination for checking this excessive display of them.  To her
+it was but the natural consequence of a strong affection in a young and
+ardent mind.
+
+This was the season of happiness to Marianne.  Her heart was devoted to
+Willoughby, and the fond attachment to Norland, which she brought with
+her from Sussex, was more likely to be softened than she had thought it
+possible before, by the charms which his society bestowed on her
+present home.
+
+Elinor's happiness was not so great.  Her heart was not so much at
+ease, nor her satisfaction in their amusements so pure.  They afforded
+her no companion that could make amends for what she had left behind,
+nor that could teach her to think of Norland with less regret than
+ever.  Neither Lady Middleton nor Mrs. Jennings could supply to her the
+conversation she missed; although the latter was an everlasting talker,
+and from the first had regarded her with a kindness which ensured her a
+large share of her discourse.  She had already repeated her own history
+to Elinor three or four times; and had Elinor's memory been equal to
+her means of improvement, she might have known very early in their
+acquaintance all the particulars of Mr. Jenning's last illness, and
+what he said to his wife a few minutes before he died.  Lady Middleton
+was more agreeable than her mother only in being more silent.  Elinor
+needed little observation to perceive that her reserve was a mere
+calmness of manner with which sense had nothing to do.  Towards her
+husband and mother she was the same as to them; and intimacy was
+therefore neither to be looked for nor desired.  She had nothing to say
+one day that she had not said the day before.  Her insipidity was
+invariable, for even her spirits were always the same; and though she
+did not oppose the parties arranged by her husband, provided every
+thing were conducted in style and her two eldest children attended her,
+she never appeared to receive more enjoyment from them than she might
+have experienced in sitting at home;--and so little did her presence
+add to the pleasure of the others, by any share in their conversation,
+that they were sometimes only reminded of her being amongst them by her
+solicitude about her troublesome boys.
+
+In Colonel Brandon alone, of all her new acquaintance, did Elinor find
+a person who could in any degree claim the respect of abilities, excite
+the interest of friendship, or give pleasure as a companion.
+Willoughby was out of the question.  Her admiration and regard, even
+her sisterly regard, was all his own; but he was a lover; his
+attentions were wholly Marianne's, and a far less agreeable man might
+have been more generally pleasing.  Colonel Brandon, unfortunately for
+himself, had no such encouragement to think only of Marianne, and in
+conversing with Elinor he found the greatest consolation for the
+indifference of her sister.
+
+Elinor's compassion for him increased, as she had reason to suspect
+that the misery of disappointed love had already been known to him.
+This suspicion was given by some words which accidently dropped from
+him one evening at the park, when they were sitting down together by
+mutual consent, while the others were dancing.  His eyes were fixed on
+Marianne, and, after a silence of some minutes, he said, with a faint
+smile, "Your sister, I understand, does not approve of second
+attachments."
+
+"No," replied Elinor, "her opinions are all romantic."
+
+"Or rather, as I believe, she considers them impossible to exist."
+
+"I believe she does.  But how she contrives it without reflecting on
+the character of her own father, who had himself two wives, I know not.
+A few years however will settle her opinions on the reasonable basis of
+common sense and observation; and then they may be more easy to define
+and to justify than they now are, by any body but herself."
+
+"This will probably be the case," he replied; "and yet there is
+something so amiable in the prejudices of a young mind, that one is
+sorry to see them give way to the reception of more general opinions."
+
+"I cannot agree with you there," said Elinor.  "There are
+inconveniences attending such feelings as Marianne's, which all the
+charms of enthusiasm and ignorance of the world cannot atone for.  Her
+systems have all the unfortunate tendency of setting propriety at
+nought; and a better acquaintance with the world is what I look forward
+to as her greatest possible advantage."
+
+After a short pause he resumed the conversation by saying,--
+
+"Does your sister make no distinction in her objections against a
+second attachment? or is it equally criminal in every body?  Are those
+who have been disappointed in their first choice, whether from the
+inconstancy of its object, or the perverseness of circumstances, to be
+equally indifferent during the rest of their lives?"
+
+"Upon my word, I am not acquainted with the minutiae of her principles.
+I only know that I never yet heard her admit any instance of a second
+attachment's being pardonable."
+
+"This," said he, "cannot hold; but a change, a total change of
+sentiments--No, no, do not desire it; for when the romantic refinements
+of a young mind are obliged to give way, how frequently are they
+succeeded by such opinions as are but too common, and too dangerous!  I
+speak from experience.  I once knew a lady who in temper and mind
+greatly resembled your sister, who thought and judged like her, but who
+from an inforced change--from a series of unfortunate circumstances"--
+Here he stopt suddenly; appeared to think that he had said too much,
+and by his countenance gave rise to conjectures, which might not
+otherwise have entered Elinor's head.  The lady would probably have
+passed without suspicion, had he not convinced Miss Dashwood that what
+concerned her ought not to escape his lips.  As it was, it required but
+a slight effort of fancy to connect his emotion with the tender
+recollection of past regard.  Elinor attempted no more.  But Marianne,
+in her place, would not have done so little.  The whole story would
+have been speedily formed under her active imagination; and every thing
+established in the most melancholy order of disastrous love.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 12
+
+
+As Elinor and Marianne were walking together the next morning the
+latter communicated a piece of news to her sister, which in spite of
+all that she knew before of Marianne's imprudence and want of thought,
+surprised her by its extravagant testimony of both.  Marianne told her,
+with the greatest delight, that Willoughby had given her a horse, one
+that he had bred himself on his estate in Somersetshire, and which was
+exactly calculated to carry a woman.  Without considering that it was
+not in her mother's plan to keep any horse, that if she were to alter
+her resolution in favour of this gift, she must buy another for the
+servant, and keep a servant to ride it, and after all, build a stable
+to receive them, she had accepted the present without hesitation, and
+told her sister of it in raptures.
+
+"He intends to send his groom into Somersetshire immediately for it,"
+she added, "and when it arrives we will ride every day.  You shall
+share its use with me.  Imagine to yourself, my dear Elinor, the
+delight of a gallop on some of these downs."
+
+Most unwilling was she to awaken from such a dream of felicity to
+comprehend all the unhappy truths which attended the affair; and for
+some time she refused to submit to them.  As to an additional servant,
+the expense would be a trifle; Mamma she was sure would never object to
+it; and any horse would do for HIM; he might always get one at the
+park; as to a stable, the merest shed would be sufficient.  Elinor then
+ventured to doubt the propriety of her receiving such a present from a
+man so little, or at least so lately known to her.  This was too much.
+
+"You are mistaken, Elinor," said she warmly, "in supposing I know very
+little of Willoughby.  I have not known him long indeed, but I am much
+better acquainted with him, than I am with any other creature in the
+world, except yourself and mama.  It is not time or opportunity that is
+to determine intimacy;--it is disposition alone.  Seven years would be
+insufficient to make some people acquainted with each other, and seven
+days are more than enough for others.  I should hold myself guilty of
+greater impropriety in accepting a horse from my brother, than from
+Willoughby.  Of John I know very little, though we have lived together
+for years; but of Willoughby my judgment has long been formed."
+
+Elinor thought it wisest to touch that point no more.  She knew her
+sister's temper.  Opposition on so tender a subject would only attach
+her the more to her own opinion.  But by an appeal to her affection for
+her mother, by representing the inconveniences which that indulgent
+mother must draw on herself, if (as would probably be the case) she
+consented to this increase of establishment, Marianne was shortly
+subdued; and she promised not to tempt her mother to such imprudent
+kindness by mentioning the offer, and to tell Willoughby when she saw
+him next, that it must be declined.
+
+She was faithful to her word; and when Willoughby called at the
+cottage, the same day, Elinor heard her express her disappointment to
+him in a low voice, on being obliged to forego the acceptance of his
+present.  The reasons for this alteration were at the same time
+related, and they were such as to make further entreaty on his side
+impossible.  His concern however was very apparent; and after
+expressing it with earnestness, he added, in the same low voice,--"But,
+Marianne, the horse is still yours, though you cannot use it now.  I
+shall keep it only till you can claim it.  When you leave Barton to
+form your own establishment in a more lasting home, Queen Mab shall
+receive you."
+
+This was all overheard by Miss Dashwood; and in the whole of the
+sentence, in his manner of pronouncing it, and in his addressing her
+sister by her Christian name alone, she instantly saw an intimacy so
+decided, a meaning so direct, as marked a perfect agreement between
+them.  From that moment she doubted not of their being engaged to each
+other; and the belief of it created no other surprise than that she, or
+any of their friends, should be left by tempers so frank, to discover
+it by accident.
+
+Margaret related something to her the next day, which placed this
+matter in a still clearer light.  Willoughby had spent the preceding
+evening with them, and Margaret, by being left some time in the parlour
+with only him and Marianne, had had opportunity for observations,
+which, with a most important face, she communicated to her eldest
+sister, when they were next by themselves.
+
+"Oh, Elinor!" she cried, "I have such a secret to tell you about
+Marianne.  I am sure she will be married to Mr. Willoughby very soon."
+
+"You have said so," replied Elinor, "almost every day since they first
+met on High-church Down; and they had not known each other a week, I
+believe, before you were certain that Marianne wore his picture round
+her neck; but it turned out to be only the miniature of our great
+uncle."
+
+"But indeed this is quite another thing.  I am sure they will be
+married very soon, for he has got a lock of her hair."
+
+"Take care, Margaret.  It may be only the hair of some great uncle of
+HIS."
+
+"But, indeed, Elinor, it is Marianne's. I am almost sure it is, for I
+saw him cut it off.  Last night after tea, when you and mama went out
+of the room, they were whispering and talking together as fast as could
+be, and he seemed to be begging something of her, and presently he took
+up her scissors and cut off a long lock of her hair, for it was all
+tumbled down her back; and he kissed it, and folded it up in a piece of
+white paper; and put it into his pocket-book."
+
+For such particulars, stated on such authority, Elinor could not
+withhold her credit; nor was she disposed to it, for the circumstance
+was in perfect unison with what she had heard and seen herself.
+
+Margaret's sagacity was not always displayed in a way so satisfactory
+to her sister.  When Mrs. Jennings attacked her one evening at the
+park, to give the name of the young man who was Elinor's particular
+favourite, which had been long a matter of great curiosity to her,
+Margaret answered by looking at her sister, and saying, "I must not
+tell, may I, Elinor?"
+
+This of course made every body laugh; and Elinor tried to laugh too.
+But the effort was painful.  She was convinced that Margaret had fixed
+on a person whose name she could not bear with composure to become a
+standing joke with Mrs. Jennings.
+
+Marianne felt for her most sincerely; but she did more harm than good
+to the cause, by turning very red and saying in an angry manner to
+Margaret,
+
+"Remember that whatever your conjectures may be, you have no right to
+repeat them."
+
+"I never had any conjectures about it," replied Margaret; "it was you
+who told me of it yourself."
+
+This increased the mirth of the company, and Margaret was eagerly
+pressed to say something more.
+
+"Oh! pray, Miss Margaret, let us know all about it," said Mrs.
+Jennings.  "What is the gentleman's name?"
+
+"I must not tell, ma'am. But I know very well what it is; and I know
+where he is too."
+
+"Yes, yes, we can guess where he is; at his own house at Norland to be
+sure.  He is the curate of the parish I dare say."
+
+"No, THAT he is not.  He is of no profession at all."
+
+"Margaret," said Marianne with great warmth, "you know that all this is
+an invention of your own, and that there is no such person in
+existence."
+
+"Well, then, he is lately dead, Marianne, for I am sure there was such
+a man once, and his name begins with an F."
+
+Most grateful did Elinor feel to Lady Middleton for observing, at this
+moment, "that it rained very hard," though she believed the
+interruption to proceed less from any attention to her, than from her
+ladyship's great dislike of all such inelegant subjects of raillery as
+delighted her husband and mother.  The idea however started by her, was
+immediately pursued by Colonel Brandon, who was on every occasion
+mindful of the feelings of others; and much was said on the subject of
+rain by both of them.  Willoughby opened the piano-forte, and asked
+Marianne to sit down to it; and thus amidst the various endeavours of
+different people to quit the topic, it fell to the ground.  But not so
+easily did Elinor recover from the alarm into which it had thrown her.
+
+A party was formed this evening for going on the following day to see a
+very fine place about twelve miles from Barton, belonging to a
+brother-in-law of Colonel Brandon, without whose interest it could not
+be seen, as the proprietor, who was then abroad, had left strict orders
+on that head.  The grounds were declared to be highly beautiful, and
+Sir John, who was particularly warm in their praise, might be allowed
+to be a tolerable judge, for he had formed parties to visit them, at
+least, twice every summer for the last ten years.  They contained a
+noble piece of water; a sail on which was to a form a great part of the
+morning's amusement; cold provisions were to be taken, open carriages
+only to be employed, and every thing conducted in the usual style of a
+complete party of pleasure.
+
+To some few of the company it appeared rather a bold undertaking,
+considering the time of year, and that it had rained every day for the
+last fortnight;--and Mrs. Dashwood, who had already a cold, was
+persuaded by Elinor to stay at home.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 13
+
+
+Their intended excursion to Whitwell turned out very different from
+what Elinor had expected.  She was prepared to be wet through,
+fatigued, and frightened; but the event was still more unfortunate, for
+they did not go at all.
+
+By ten o'clock the whole party was assembled at the park, where they
+were to breakfast.  The morning was rather favourable, though it had
+rained all night, as the clouds were then dispersing across the sky,
+and the sun frequently appeared.  They were all in high spirits and
+good humour, eager to be happy, and determined to submit to the
+greatest inconveniences and hardships rather than be otherwise.
+
+While they were at breakfast the letters were brought in.  Among the
+rest there was one for Colonel Brandon;--he took it, looked at the
+direction, changed colour, and immediately left the room.
+
+"What is the matter with Brandon?" said Sir John.
+
+Nobody could tell.
+
+"I hope he has had no bad news," said Lady Middleton.  "It must be
+something extraordinary that could make Colonel Brandon leave my
+breakfast table so suddenly."
+
+In about five minutes he returned.
+
+"No bad news, Colonel, I hope;" said Mrs. Jennings, as soon as he
+entered the room.
+
+"None at all, ma'am, I thank you."
+
+"Was it from Avignon?  I hope it is not to say that your sister is
+worse."
+
+"No, ma'am. It came from town, and is merely a letter of business."
+
+"But how came the hand to discompose you so much, if it was only a
+letter of business?  Come, come, this won't do, Colonel; so let us hear
+the truth of it."
+
+"My dear madam," said Lady Middleton, "recollect what you are saying."
+
+"Perhaps it is to tell you that your cousin Fanny is married?" said
+Mrs. Jennings, without attending to her daughter's reproof.
+
+"No, indeed, it is not."
+
+"Well, then, I know who it is from, Colonel.  And I hope she is well."
+
+"Whom do you mean, ma'am?" said he, colouring a little.
+
+"Oh! you know who I mean."
+
+"I am particularly sorry, ma'am," said he, addressing Lady Middleton,
+"that I should receive this letter today, for it is on business which
+requires my immediate attendance in town."
+
+"In town!" cried Mrs. Jennings.  "What can you have to do in town at
+this time of year?"
+
+"My own loss is great," he continued, "in being obliged to leave so
+agreeable a party; but I am the more concerned, as I fear my presence
+is necessary to gain your admittance at Whitwell."
+
+What a blow upon them all was this!
+
+"But if you write a note to the housekeeper, Mr. Brandon," said
+Marianne, eagerly, "will it not be sufficient?"
+
+He shook his head.
+
+"We must go," said Sir John.--"It shall not be put off when we are so
+near it.  You cannot go to town till tomorrow, Brandon, that is all."
+
+"I wish it could be so easily settled.  But it is not in my power to
+delay my journey for one day!"
+
+"If you would but let us know what your business is," said Mrs.
+Jennings, "we might see whether it could be put off or not."
+
+"You would not be six hours later," said Willoughby, "if you were to
+defer your journey till our return."
+
+"I cannot afford to lose ONE hour."--
+
+Elinor then heard Willoughby say, in a low voice to Marianne, "There
+are some people who cannot bear a party of pleasure.  Brandon is one of
+them.  He was afraid of catching cold I dare say, and invented this
+trick for getting out of it.  I would lay fifty guineas the letter was
+of his own writing."
+
+"I have no doubt of it," replied Marianne.
+
+"There is no persuading you to change your mind, Brandon, I know of
+old," said Sir John, "when once you are determined on anything.  But,
+however, I hope you will think better of it.  Consider, here are the
+two Miss Careys come over from Newton, the three Miss Dashwoods walked
+up from the cottage, and Mr. Willoughby got up two hours before his
+usual time, on purpose to go to Whitwell."
+
+Colonel Brandon again repeated his sorrow at being the cause of
+disappointing the party; but at the same time declared it to be
+unavoidable.
+
+"Well, then, when will you come back again?"
+
+"I hope we shall see you at Barton," added her ladyship, "as soon as
+you can conveniently leave town; and we must put off the party to
+Whitwell till you return."
+
+"You are very obliging.  But it is so uncertain, when I may have it in
+my power to return, that I dare not engage for it at all."
+
+"Oh! he must and shall come back," cried Sir John.  "If he is not here
+by the end of the week, I shall go after him."
+
+"Ay, so do, Sir John," cried Mrs. Jennings, "and then perhaps you may
+find out what his business is."
+
+"I do not want to pry into other men's concerns.  I suppose it is
+something he is ashamed of."
+
+Colonel Brandon's horses were announced.
+
+"You do not go to town on horseback, do you?" added Sir John.
+
+"No. Only to Honiton.  I shall then go post."
+
+"Well, as you are resolved to go, I wish you a good journey.  But you
+had better change your mind."
+
+"I assure you it is not in my power."
+
+He then took leave of the whole party.
+
+"Is there no chance of my seeing you and your sisters in town this
+winter, Miss Dashwood?"
+
+"I am afraid, none at all."
+
+"Then I must bid you farewell for a longer time than I should wish to
+do."
+
+To Marianne, he merely bowed and said nothing.
+
+"Come Colonel," said Mrs. Jennings, "before you go, do let us know what
+you are going about."
+
+He wished her a good morning, and, attended by Sir John, left the room.
+
+The complaints and lamentations which politeness had hitherto
+restrained, now burst forth universally; and they all agreed again and
+again how provoking it was to be so disappointed.
+
+"I can guess what his business is, however," said Mrs. Jennings
+exultingly.
+
+"Can you, ma'am?" said almost every body.
+
+"Yes; it is about Miss Williams, I am sure."
+
+"And who is Miss Williams?" asked Marianne.
+
+"What! do not you know who Miss Williams is? I am sure you must have
+heard of her before.  She is a relation of the Colonel's, my dear; a
+very near relation.  We will not say how near, for fear of shocking the
+young ladies." Then, lowering her voice a little, she said to Elinor,
+"She is his natural daughter."
+
+"Indeed!"
+
+"Oh, yes; and as like him as she can stare.  I dare say the Colonel
+will leave her all his fortune."
+
+When Sir John returned, he joined most heartily in the general regret
+on so unfortunate an event; concluding however by observing, that as
+they were all got together, they must do something by way of being
+happy; and after some consultation it was agreed, that although
+happiness could only be enjoyed at Whitwell, they might procure a
+tolerable composure of mind by driving about the country.  The
+carriages were then ordered; Willoughby's was first, and Marianne never
+looked happier than when she got into it.  He drove through the park
+very fast, and they were soon out of sight; and nothing more of them
+was seen till their return, which did not happen till after the return
+of all the rest.  They both seemed delighted with their drive; but said
+only in general terms that they had kept in the lanes, while the others
+went on the downs.
+
+It was settled that there should be a dance in the evening, and that
+every body should be extremely merry all day long.  Some more of the
+Careys came to dinner, and they had the pleasure of sitting down nearly
+twenty to table, which Sir John observed with great contentment.
+Willoughby took his usual place between the two elder Miss Dashwoods.
+Mrs. Jennings sat on Elinor's right hand; and they had not been long
+seated, before she leant behind her and Willoughby, and said to
+Marianne, loud enough for them both to hear, "I have found you out in
+spite of all your tricks.  I know where you spent the morning."
+
+Marianne coloured, and replied very hastily, "Where, pray?"--
+
+"Did not you know," said Willoughby, "that we had been out in my
+curricle?"
+
+"Yes, yes, Mr. Impudence, I know that very well, and I was determined
+to find out WHERE you had been to.-- I hope you like your house, Miss
+Marianne.  It is a very large one, I know; and when I come to see you,
+I hope you will have new-furnished it, for it wanted it very much when
+I was there six years ago."
+
+Marianne turned away in great confusion.  Mrs. Jennings laughed
+heartily; and Elinor found that in her resolution to know where they
+had been, she had actually made her own woman enquire of Mr.
+Willoughby's groom; and that she had by that method been informed that
+they had gone to Allenham, and spent a considerable time there in
+walking about the garden and going all over the house.
+
+Elinor could hardly believe this to be true, as it seemed very unlikely
+that Willoughby should propose, or Marianne consent, to enter the house
+while Mrs. Smith was in it, with whom Marianne had not the smallest
+acquaintance.
+
+As soon as they left the dining-room, Elinor enquired of her about it;
+and great was her surprise when she found that every circumstance
+related by Mrs. Jennings was perfectly true.  Marianne was quite angry
+with her for doubting it.
+
+"Why should you imagine, Elinor, that we did not go there, or that we
+did not see the house?  Is not it what you have often wished to do
+yourself?"
+
+"Yes, Marianne, but I would not go while Mrs. Smith was there, and with
+no other companion than Mr. Willoughby."
+
+"Mr. Willoughby however is the only person who can have a right to shew
+that house; and as he went in an open carriage, it was impossible to
+have any other companion.  I never spent a pleasanter morning in my
+life."
+
+"I am afraid," replied Elinor, "that the pleasantness of an employment
+does not always evince its propriety."
+
+"On the contrary, nothing can be a stronger proof of it, Elinor; for if
+there had been any real impropriety in what I did, I should have been
+sensible of it at the time, for we always know when we are acting
+wrong, and with such a conviction I could have had no pleasure."
+
+"But, my dear Marianne, as it has already exposed you to some very
+impertinent remarks, do you not now begin to doubt the discretion of
+your own conduct?"
+
+"If the impertinent remarks of Mrs. Jennings are to be the proof of
+impropriety in conduct, we are all offending every moment of our lives.
+I value not her censure any more than I should do her commendation.  I
+am not sensible of having done anything wrong in walking over Mrs.
+Smith's grounds, or in seeing her house.  They will one day be Mr.
+Willoughby's, and--"
+
+"If they were one day to be your own, Marianne, you would not be
+justified in what you have done."
+
+She blushed at this hint; but it was even visibly gratifying to her;
+and after a ten minutes' interval of earnest thought, she came to her
+sister again, and said with great good humour, "Perhaps, Elinor, it WAS
+rather ill-judged in me to go to Allenham; but Mr. Willoughby wanted
+particularly to shew me the place; and it is a charming house, I assure
+you.--There is one remarkably pretty sitting room up stairs; of a nice
+comfortable size for constant use, and with modern furniture it would
+be delightful.  It is a corner room, and has windows on two sides.  On
+one side you look across the bowling-green, behind the house, to a
+beautiful hanging wood, and on the other you have a view of the church
+and village, and, beyond them, of those fine bold hills that we have so
+often admired.  I did not see it to advantage, for nothing could be
+more forlorn than the furniture,--but if it were newly fitted up--a
+couple of hundred pounds, Willoughby says, would make it one of the
+pleasantest summer-rooms in England."
+
+Could Elinor have listened to her without interruption from the others,
+she would have described every room in the house with equal delight.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 14
+
+
+The sudden termination of Colonel Brandon's visit at the park, with his
+steadiness in concealing its cause, filled the mind, and raised the
+wonder of Mrs. Jennings for two or three days; she was a great
+wonderer, as every one must be who takes a very lively interest in all
+the comings and goings of all their acquaintance.  She wondered, with
+little intermission what could be the reason of it; was sure there must
+be some bad news, and thought over every kind of distress that could
+have befallen him, with a fixed determination that he should not escape
+them all.
+
+"Something very melancholy must be the matter, I am sure," said she.
+"I could see it in his face.  Poor man!  I am afraid his circumstances
+may be bad.  The estate at Delaford was never reckoned more than two
+thousand a year, and his brother left everything sadly involved.  I do
+think he must have been sent for about money matters, for what else can
+it be?  I wonder whether it is so.  I would give anything to know the
+truth of it.  Perhaps it is about Miss Williams and, by the bye, I dare
+say it is, because he looked so conscious when I mentioned her.  May be
+she is ill in town; nothing in the world more likely, for I have a
+notion she is always rather sickly.  I would lay any wager it is about
+Miss Williams.  It is not so very likely he should be distressed in his
+circumstances NOW, for he is a very prudent man, and to be sure must
+have cleared the estate by this time.  I wonder what it can be!  May be
+his sister is worse at Avignon, and has sent for him over.  His setting
+off in such a hurry seems very like it.  Well, I wish him out of all
+his trouble with all my heart, and a good wife into the bargain."
+
+So wondered, so talked Mrs. Jennings.  Her opinion varying with every
+fresh conjecture, and all seeming equally probable as they arose.
+Elinor, though she felt really interested in the welfare of Colonel
+Brandon, could not bestow all the wonder on his going so suddenly away,
+which Mrs. Jennings was desirous of her feeling; for besides that the
+circumstance did not in her opinion justify such lasting amazement or
+variety of speculation, her wonder was otherwise disposed of.  It was
+engrossed by the extraordinary silence of her sister and Willoughby on
+the subject, which they must know to be peculiarly interesting to them
+all.  As this silence continued, every day made it appear more strange
+and more incompatible with the disposition of both.  Why they should
+not openly acknowledge to her mother and herself, what their constant
+behaviour to each other declared to have taken place, Elinor could not
+imagine.
+
+She could easily conceive that marriage might not be immediately in
+their power; for though Willoughby was independent, there was no reason
+to believe him rich.  His estate had been rated by Sir John at about
+six or seven hundred a year; but he lived at an expense to which that
+income could hardly be equal, and he had himself often complained of
+his poverty.  But for this strange kind of secrecy maintained by them
+relative to their engagement, which in fact concealed nothing at all,
+she could not account; and it was so wholly contradictory to their
+general opinions and practice, that a doubt sometimes entered her mind
+of their being really engaged, and this doubt was enough to prevent her
+making any inquiry of Marianne.
+
+Nothing could be more expressive of attachment to them all, than
+Willoughby's behaviour.  To Marianne it had all the distinguishing
+tenderness which a lover's heart could give, and to the rest of the
+family it was the affectionate attention of a son and a brother.  The
+cottage seemed to be considered and loved by him as his home; many more
+of his hours were spent there than at Allenham; and if no general
+engagement collected them at the park, the exercise which called him
+out in the morning was almost certain of ending there, where the rest
+of the day was spent by himself at the side of Marianne, and by his
+favourite pointer at her feet.
+
+One evening in particular, about a week after Colonel Brandon left the
+country, his heart seemed more than usually open to every feeling of
+attachment to the objects around him; and on Mrs. Dashwood's happening
+to mention her design of improving the cottage in the spring, he warmly
+opposed every alteration of a place which affection had established as
+perfect with him.
+
+"What!" he exclaimed--"Improve this dear cottage!  No. THAT I will
+never consent to.  Not a stone must be added to its walls, not an inch
+to its size, if my feelings are regarded."
+
+"Do not be alarmed," said Miss Dashwood, "nothing of the kind will be
+done; for my mother will never have money enough to attempt it."
+
+"I am heartily glad of it," he cried.  "May she always be poor, if she
+can employ her riches no better."
+
+"Thank you, Willoughby.  But you may be assured that I would not
+sacrifice one sentiment of local attachment of yours, or of any one
+whom I loved, for all the improvements in the world.  Depend upon it
+that whatever unemployed sum may remain, when I make up my accounts in
+the spring, I would even rather lay it uselessly by than dispose of it
+in a manner so painful to you.  But are you really so attached to this
+place as to see no defect in it?"
+
+"I am," said he.  "To me it is faultless.  Nay, more, I consider it as
+the only form of building in which happiness is attainable, and were I
+rich enough I would instantly pull Combe down, and build it up again in
+the exact plan of this cottage."
+
+"With dark narrow stairs and a kitchen that smokes, I suppose," said
+Elinor.
+
+"Yes," cried he in the same eager tone, "with all and every thing
+belonging to it;--in no one convenience or INconvenience about it,
+should the least variation be perceptible.  Then, and then only, under
+such a roof, I might perhaps be as happy at Combe as I have been at
+Barton."
+
+"I flatter myself," replied Elinor, "that even under the disadvantage
+of better rooms and a broader staircase, you will hereafter find your
+own house as faultless as you now do this."
+
+"There certainly are circumstances," said Willoughby, "which might
+greatly endear it to me; but this place will always have one claim of
+my affection, which no other can possibly share."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood looked with pleasure at Marianne, whose fine eyes were
+fixed so expressively on Willoughby, as plainly denoted how well she
+understood him.
+
+"How often did I wish," added he, "when I was at Allenham this time
+twelvemonth, that Barton cottage were inhabited!  I never passed within
+view of it without admiring its situation, and grieving that no one
+should live in it.  How little did I then think that the very first
+news I should hear from Mrs. Smith, when I next came into the country,
+would be that Barton cottage was taken: and I felt an immediate
+satisfaction and interest in the event, which nothing but a kind of
+prescience of what happiness I should experience from it, can account
+for.  Must it not have been so, Marianne?" speaking to her in a lowered
+voice.  Then continuing his former tone, he said, "And yet this house
+you would spoil, Mrs. Dashwood?  You would rob it of its simplicity by
+imaginary improvement! and this dear parlour in which our acquaintance
+first began, and in which so many happy hours have been since spent by
+us together, you would degrade to the condition of a common entrance,
+and every body would be eager to pass through the room which has
+hitherto contained within itself more real accommodation and comfort
+than any other apartment of the handsomest dimensions in the world
+could possibly afford."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood again assured him that no alteration of the kind should
+be attempted.
+
+"You are a good woman," he warmly replied.  "Your promise makes me
+easy.  Extend it a little farther, and it will make me happy.  Tell me
+that not only your house will remain the same, but that I shall ever
+find you and yours as unchanged as your dwelling; and that you will
+always consider me with the kindness which has made everything
+belonging to you so dear to me."
+
+The promise was readily given, and Willoughby's behaviour during the
+whole of the evening declared at once his affection and happiness.
+
+"Shall we see you tomorrow to dinner?" said Mrs. Dashwood, when he was
+leaving them.  "I do not ask you to come in the morning, for we must
+walk to the park, to call on Lady Middleton."
+
+He engaged to be with them by four o'clock.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 15
+
+
+Mrs. Dashwood's visit to Lady Middleton took place the next day, and
+two of her daughters went with her; but Marianne excused herself from
+being of the party, under some trifling pretext of employment; and her
+mother, who concluded that a promise had been made by Willoughby the
+night before of calling on her while they were absent, was perfectly
+satisfied with her remaining at home.
+
+On their return from the park they found Willoughby's curricle and
+servant in waiting at the cottage, and Mrs. Dashwood was convinced that
+her conjecture had been just.  So far it was all as she had foreseen;
+but on entering the house she beheld what no foresight had taught her
+to expect.  They were no sooner in the passage than Marianne came
+hastily out of the parlour apparently in violent affliction, with her
+handkerchief at her eyes; and without noticing them ran up stairs.
+Surprised and alarmed they proceeded directly into the room she had
+just quitted, where they found only Willoughby, who was leaning against
+the mantel-piece with his back towards them.  He turned round on their
+coming in, and his countenance shewed that he strongly partook of the
+emotion which over-powered Marianne.
+
+"Is anything the matter with her?" cried Mrs. Dashwood as she
+entered--"is she ill?"
+
+"I hope not," he replied, trying to look cheerful; and with a forced
+smile presently added, "It is I who may rather expect to be ill--for I
+am now suffering under a very heavy disappointment!"
+
+"Disappointment?"
+
+"Yes, for I am unable to keep my engagement with you.  Mrs. Smith has
+this morning exercised the privilege of riches upon a poor dependent
+cousin, by sending me on business to London.  I have just received my
+dispatches, and taken my farewell of Allenham; and by way of
+exhilaration I am now come to take my farewell of you."
+
+"To London!--and are you going this morning?"
+
+"Almost this moment."
+
+"This is very unfortunate.  But Mrs. Smith must be obliged;--and her
+business will not detain you from us long I hope."
+
+He coloured as he replied, "You are very kind, but I have no idea of
+returning into Devonshire immediately.  My visits to Mrs. Smith are
+never repeated within the twelvemonth."
+
+"And is Mrs. Smith your only friend?  Is Allenham the only house in the
+neighbourhood to which you will be welcome?  For shame, Willoughby, can
+you wait for an invitation here?"
+
+His colour increased; and with his eyes fixed on the ground he only
+replied, "You are too good."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood looked at Elinor with surprise.  Elinor felt equal
+amazement.  For a few moments every one was silent.  Mrs. Dashwood
+first spoke.
+
+"I have only to add, my dear Willoughby, that at Barton cottage you
+will always be welcome; for I will not press you to return here
+immediately, because you only can judge how far THAT might be pleasing
+to Mrs. Smith; and on this head I shall be no more disposed to question
+your judgment than to doubt your inclination."
+
+"My engagements at present," replied Willoughby, confusedly, "are of
+such a nature--that--I dare not flatter myself"--
+
+He stopt.  Mrs. Dashwood was too much astonished to speak, and another
+pause succeeded.  This was broken by Willoughby, who said with a faint
+smile, "It is folly to linger in this manner.  I will not torment
+myself any longer by remaining among friends whose society it is
+impossible for me now to enjoy."
+
+He then hastily took leave of them all and left the room.  They saw him
+step into his carriage, and in a minute it was out of sight.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood felt too much for speech, and instantly quitted the
+parlour to give way in solitude to the concern and alarm which this
+sudden departure occasioned.
+
+Elinor's uneasiness was at least equal to her mother's.  She thought of
+what had just passed with anxiety and distrust.  Willoughby's behaviour
+in taking leave of them, his embarrassment, and affectation of
+cheerfulness, and, above all, his unwillingness to accept her mother's
+invitation, a backwardness so unlike a lover, so unlike himself,
+greatly disturbed her.  One moment she feared that no serious design
+had ever been formed on his side; and the next that some unfortunate
+quarrel had taken place between him and her sister;--the distress in
+which Marianne had quitted the room was such as a serious quarrel could
+most reasonably account for, though when she considered what Marianne's
+love for him was, a quarrel seemed almost impossible.
+
+But whatever might be the particulars of their separation, her sister's
+affliction was indubitable; and she thought with the tenderest
+compassion of that violent sorrow which Marianne was in all probability
+not merely giving way to as a relief, but feeding and encouraging as a
+duty.
+
+In about half an hour her mother returned, and though her eyes were
+red, her countenance was not uncheerful.
+
+"Our dear Willoughby is now some miles from Barton, Elinor," said she,
+as she sat down to work, "and with how heavy a heart does he travel?"
+
+"It is all very strange.  So suddenly to be gone! It seems but the work
+of a moment.  And last night he was with us so happy, so cheerful, so
+affectionate?  And now, after only ten minutes notice--Gone too without
+intending to return!--Something more than what he owned to us must have
+happened.  He did not speak, he did not behave like himself.  YOU must
+have seen the difference as well as I.  What can it be?  Can they have
+quarrelled?  Why else should he have shewn such unwillingness to accept
+your invitation here?"--
+
+"It was not inclination that he wanted, Elinor; I could plainly see
+THAT.  He had not the power of accepting it.  I have thought it all
+over I assure you, and I can perfectly account for every thing that at
+first seemed strange to me as well as to you."
+
+"Can you, indeed!"
+
+"Yes. I have explained it to myself in the most satisfactory way;--but
+you, Elinor, who love to doubt where you can--it will not satisfy YOU,
+I know; but you shall not talk ME out of my trust in it.  I am
+persuaded that Mrs. Smith suspects his regard for Marianne, disapproves
+of it, (perhaps because she has other views for him,) and on that
+account is eager to get him away;--and that the business which she
+sends him off to transact is invented as an excuse to dismiss him.
+This is what I believe to have happened.  He is, moreover, aware that
+she DOES disapprove the connection, he dares not therefore at present
+confess to her his engagement with Marianne, and he feels himself
+obliged, from his dependent situation, to give into her schemes, and
+absent himself from Devonshire for a while.  You will tell me, I know,
+that this may or may NOT have happened; but I will listen to no cavil,
+unless you can point out any other method of understanding the affair
+as satisfactory at this.  And now, Elinor, what have you to say?"
+
+"Nothing, for you have anticipated my answer."
+
+"Then you would have told me, that it might or might not have happened.
+Oh, Elinor, how incomprehensible are your feelings!  You had rather
+take evil upon credit than good.  You had rather look out for misery
+for Marianne, and guilt for poor Willoughby, than an apology for the
+latter.  You are resolved to think him blameable, because he took leave
+of us with less affection than his usual behaviour has shewn.  And is
+no allowance to be made for inadvertence, or for spirits depressed by
+recent disappointment?  Are no probabilities to be accepted, merely
+because they are not certainties?  Is nothing due to the man whom we
+have all such reason to love, and no reason in the world to think ill
+of?  To the possibility of motives unanswerable in themselves, though
+unavoidably secret for a while?  And, after all, what is it you suspect
+him of?"
+
+"I can hardly tell myself.  But suspicion of something unpleasant is
+the inevitable consequence of such an alteration as we just witnessed
+in him.  There is great truth, however, in what you have now urged of
+the allowances which ought to be made for him, and it is my wish to be
+candid in my judgment of every body.  Willoughby may undoubtedly have
+very sufficient reasons for his conduct, and I will hope that he has.
+But it would have been more like Willoughby to acknowledge them at
+once.  Secrecy may be advisable; but still I cannot help wondering at
+its being practiced by him."
+
+"Do not blame him, however, for departing from his character, where the
+deviation is necessary.  But you really do admit the justice of what I
+have said in his defence?--I am happy--and he is acquitted."
+
+"Not entirely.  It may be proper to conceal their engagement (if they
+ARE engaged) from Mrs. Smith--and if that is the case, it must be
+highly expedient for Willoughby to be but little in Devonshire at
+present.  But this is no excuse for their concealing it from us."
+
+"Concealing it from us! my dear child, do you accuse Willoughby and
+Marianne of concealment? This is strange indeed, when your eyes have
+been reproaching them every day for incautiousness."
+
+"I want no proof of their affection," said Elinor; "but of their
+engagement I do."
+
+"I am perfectly satisfied of both."
+
+"Yet not a syllable has been said to you on the subject, by either of
+them."
+
+"I have not wanted syllables where actions have spoken so plainly.  Has
+not his behaviour to Marianne and to all of us, for at least the last
+fortnight, declared that he loved and considered her as his future
+wife, and that he felt for us the attachment of the nearest relation?
+Have we not perfectly understood each other?  Has not my consent been
+daily asked by his looks, his manner, his attentive and affectionate
+respect?  My Elinor, is it possible to doubt their engagement?  How
+could such a thought occur to you?  How is it to be supposed that
+Willoughby, persuaded as he must be of your sister's love, should leave
+her, and leave her perhaps for months, without telling her of his
+affection;--that they should part without a mutual exchange of
+confidence?"
+
+"I confess," replied Elinor, "that every circumstance except ONE is in
+favour of their engagement; but that ONE is the total silence of both
+on the subject, and with me it almost outweighs every other."
+
+"How strange this is!  You must think wretchedly indeed of Willoughby,
+if, after all that has openly passed between them, you can doubt the
+nature of the terms on which they are together.  Has he been acting a
+part in his behaviour to your sister all this time?  Do you suppose him
+really indifferent to her?"
+
+"No, I cannot think that.  He must and does love her I am sure."
+
+"But with a strange kind of tenderness, if he can leave her with such
+indifference, such carelessness of the future, as you attribute to him."
+
+"You must remember, my dear mother, that I have never considered this
+matter as certain.  I have had my doubts, I confess; but they are
+fainter than they were, and they may soon be entirely done away.  If we
+find they correspond, every fear of mine will be removed."
+
+"A mighty concession indeed!  If you were to see them at the altar, you
+would suppose they were going to be married.  Ungracious girl!  But I
+require no such proof.  Nothing in my opinion has ever passed to
+justify doubt; no secrecy has been attempted; all has been uniformly
+open and unreserved.  You cannot doubt your sister's wishes.  It must
+be Willoughby therefore whom you suspect.  But why?  Is he not a man of
+honour and feeling? Has there been any inconsistency on his side to
+create alarm? can he be deceitful?"
+
+"I hope not, I believe not," cried Elinor.  "I love Willoughby,
+sincerely love him; and suspicion of his integrity cannot be more
+painful to yourself than to me.  It has been involuntary, and I will
+not encourage it.  I was startled, I confess, by the alteration in his
+manners this morning;--he did not speak like himself, and did not
+return your kindness with any cordiality.  But all this may be
+explained by such a situation of his affairs as you have supposed.  He
+had just parted from my sister, had seen her leave him in the greatest
+affliction; and if he felt obliged, from a fear of offending Mrs.
+Smith, to resist the temptation of returning here soon, and yet aware
+that by declining your invitation, by saying that he was going away for
+some time, he should seem to act an ungenerous, a suspicious part by
+our family, he might well be embarrassed and disturbed.  In such a
+case, a plain and open avowal of his difficulties would have been more
+to his honour I think, as well as more consistent with his general
+character;--but I will not raise objections against any one's conduct
+on so illiberal a foundation, as a difference in judgment from myself,
+or a deviation from what I may think right and consistent."
+
+"You speak very properly.  Willoughby certainly does not deserve to be
+suspected.  Though WE have not known him long, he is no stranger in
+this part of the world; and who has ever spoken to his disadvantage?
+Had he been in a situation to act independently and marry immediately,
+it might have been odd that he should leave us without acknowledging
+everything to me at once: but this is not the case.  It is an
+engagement in some respects not prosperously begun, for their marriage
+must be at a very uncertain distance; and even secrecy, as far as it
+can be observed, may now be very advisable."
+
+They were interrupted by the entrance of Margaret; and Elinor was then
+at liberty to think over the representations of her mother, to
+acknowledge the probability of many, and hope for the justice of all.
+
+They saw nothing of Marianne till dinner time, when she entered the
+room and took her place at the table without saying a word.  Her eyes
+were red and swollen; and it seemed as if her tears were even then
+restrained with difficulty.  She avoided the looks of them all, could
+neither eat nor speak, and after some time, on her mother's silently
+pressing her hand with tender compassion, her small degree of fortitude
+was quite overcome, she burst into tears and left the room.
+
+This violent oppression of spirits continued the whole evening.  She
+was without any power, because she was without any desire of command
+over herself.  The slightest mention of anything relative to Willoughby
+overpowered her in an instant; and though her family were most
+anxiously attentive to her comfort, it was impossible for them, if they
+spoke at all, to keep clear of every subject which her feelings
+connected with him.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 16
+
+
+Marianne would have thought herself very inexcusable had she been able
+to sleep at all the first night after parting from Willoughby.  She
+would have been ashamed to look her family in the face the next
+morning, had she not risen from her bed in more need of repose than
+when she lay down in it.  But the feelings which made such composure a
+disgrace, left her in no danger of incurring it.  She was awake the
+whole night, and she wept the greatest part of it.  She got up with a
+headache, was unable to talk, and unwilling to take any nourishment;
+giving pain every moment to her mother and sisters, and forbidding all
+attempt at consolation from either.  Her sensibility was potent enough!
+
+When breakfast was over she walked out by herself, and wandered about
+the village of Allenham, indulging the recollection of past enjoyment
+and crying over the present reverse for the chief of the morning.
+
+The evening passed off in the equal indulgence of feeling.  She played
+over every favourite song that she had been used to play to Willoughby,
+every air in which their voices had been oftenest joined, and sat at
+the instrument gazing on every line of music that he had written out
+for her, till her heart was so heavy that no farther sadness could be
+gained; and this nourishment of grief was every day applied.  She spent
+whole hours at the pianoforte alternately singing and crying; her voice
+often totally suspended by her tears.  In books too, as well as in
+music, she courted the misery which a contrast between the past and
+present was certain of giving.  She read nothing but what they had been
+used to read together.
+
+Such violence of affliction indeed could not be supported for ever; it
+sunk within a few days into a calmer melancholy; but these employments,
+to which she daily recurred, her solitary walks and silent meditations,
+still produced occasional effusions of sorrow as lively as ever.
+
+No letter from Willoughby came; and none seemed expected by Marianne.
+Her mother was surprised, and Elinor again became uneasy.  But Mrs.
+Dashwood could find explanations whenever she wanted them, which at
+least satisfied herself.
+
+"Remember, Elinor," said she, "how very often Sir John fetches our
+letters himself from the post, and carries them to it.  We have already
+agreed that secrecy may be necessary, and we must acknowledge that it
+could not be maintained if their correspondence were to pass through
+Sir John's hands."
+
+Elinor could not deny the truth of this, and she tried to find in it a
+motive sufficient for their silence.  But there was one method so
+direct, so simple, and in her opinion so eligible of knowing the real
+state of the affair, and of instantly removing all mystery, that she
+could not help suggesting it to her mother.
+
+"Why do you not ask Marianne at once," said she, "whether she is or she
+is not engaged to Willoughby?  From you, her mother, and so kind, so
+indulgent a mother, the question could not give offence.  It would be
+the natural result of your affection for her.  She used to be all
+unreserve, and to you more especially."
+
+"I would not ask such a question for the world.  Supposing it possible
+that they are not engaged, what distress would not such an enquiry
+inflict!  At any rate it would be most ungenerous.  I should never
+deserve her confidence again, after forcing from her a confession of
+what is meant at present to be unacknowledged to any one.  I know
+Marianne's heart: I know that she dearly loves me, and that I shall not
+be the last to whom the affair is made known, when circumstances make
+the revealment of it eligible.  I would not attempt to force the
+confidence of any one; of a child much less; because a sense of duty
+would prevent the denial which her wishes might direct."
+
+Elinor thought this generosity overstrained, considering her sister's
+youth, and urged the matter farther, but in vain; common sense, common
+care, common prudence, were all sunk in Mrs. Dashwood's romantic
+delicacy.
+
+It was several days before Willoughby's name was mentioned before
+Marianne by any of her family; Sir John and Mrs. Jennings, indeed, were
+not so nice; their witticisms added pain to many a painful hour;--but
+one evening, Mrs. Dashwood, accidentally taking up a volume of
+Shakespeare, exclaimed,
+
+"We have never finished Hamlet, Marianne; our dear Willoughby went away
+before we could get through it.  We will put it by, that when he comes
+again...But it may be months, perhaps, before THAT happens."
+
+"Months!" cried Marianne, with strong surprise.  "No--nor many weeks."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood was sorry for what she had said; but it gave Elinor
+pleasure, as it produced a reply from Marianne so expressive of
+confidence in Willoughby and knowledge of his intentions.
+
+One morning, about a week after his leaving the country, Marianne was
+prevailed on to join her sisters in their usual walk, instead of
+wandering away by herself.  Hitherto she had carefully avoided every
+companion in her rambles.  If her sisters intended to walk on the
+downs, she directly stole away towards the lanes; if they talked of the
+valley, she was as speedy in climbing the hills, and could never be
+found when the others set off.  But at length she was secured by the
+exertions of Elinor, who greatly disapproved such continual seclusion.
+They walked along the road through the valley, and chiefly in silence,
+for Marianne's MIND could not be controlled, and Elinor, satisfied with
+gaining one point, would not then attempt more.  Beyond the entrance of
+the valley, where the country, though still rich, was less wild and
+more open, a long stretch of the road which they had travelled on first
+coming to Barton, lay before them; and on reaching that point, they
+stopped to look around them, and examine a prospect which formed the
+distance of their view from the cottage, from a spot which they had
+never happened to reach in any of their walks before.
+
+Amongst the objects in the scene, they soon discovered an animated one;
+it was a man on horseback riding towards them.  In a few minutes they
+could distinguish him to be a gentleman; and in a moment afterwards
+Marianne rapturously exclaimed,
+
+"It is he; it is indeed;--I know it is!"--and was hastening to meet
+him, when Elinor cried out,
+
+"Indeed, Marianne, I think you are mistaken.  It is not Willoughby.
+The person is not tall enough for him, and has not his air."
+
+"He has, he has," cried Marianne, "I am sure he has.  His air, his
+coat, his horse.  I knew how soon he would come."
+
+She walked eagerly on as she spoke; and Elinor, to screen Marianne from
+particularity, as she felt almost certain of its not being Willoughby,
+quickened her pace and kept up with her.  They were soon within thirty
+yards of the gentleman.  Marianne looked again; her heart sunk within
+her; and abruptly turning round, she was hurrying back, when the voices
+of both her sisters were raised to detain her; a third, almost as well
+known as Willoughby's, joined them in begging her to stop, and she
+turned round with surprise to see and welcome Edward Ferrars.
+
+He was the only person in the world who could at that moment be
+forgiven for not being Willoughby; the only one who could have gained a
+smile from her; but she dispersed her tears to smile on HIM, and in her
+sister's happiness forgot for a time her own disappointment.
+
+He dismounted, and giving his horse to his servant, walked back with
+them to Barton, whither he was purposely coming to visit them.
+
+He was welcomed by them all with great cordiality, but especially by
+Marianne, who showed more warmth of regard in her reception of him than
+even Elinor herself.  To Marianne, indeed, the meeting between Edward
+and her sister was but a continuation of that unaccountable coldness
+which she had often observed at Norland in their mutual behaviour.  On
+Edward's side, more particularly, there was a deficiency of all that a
+lover ought to look and say on such an occasion.  He was confused,
+seemed scarcely sensible of pleasure in seeing them, looked neither
+rapturous nor gay, said little but what was forced from him by
+questions, and distinguished Elinor by no mark of affection.  Marianne
+saw and listened with increasing surprise.  She began almost to feel a
+dislike of Edward; and it ended, as every feeling must end with her, by
+carrying back her thoughts to Willoughby, whose manners formed a
+contrast sufficiently striking to those of his brother elect.
+
+After a short silence which succeeded the first surprise and enquiries
+of meeting, Marianne asked Edward if he came directly from London.  No,
+he had been in Devonshire a fortnight.
+
+"A fortnight!" she repeated, surprised at his being so long in the same
+county with Elinor without seeing her before.
+
+He looked rather distressed as he added, that he had been staying with
+some friends near Plymouth.
+
+"Have you been lately in Sussex?" said Elinor.
+
+"I was at Norland about a month ago."
+
+"And how does dear, dear Norland look?" cried Marianne.
+
+"Dear, dear Norland," said Elinor, "probably looks much as it always
+does at this time of the year.  The woods and walks thickly covered
+with dead leaves."
+
+"Oh," cried Marianne, "with what transporting sensation have I formerly
+seen them fall!  How have I delighted, as I walked, to see them driven
+in showers about me by the wind!  What feelings have they, the season,
+the air altogether inspired!  Now there is no one to regard them.  They
+are seen only as a nuisance, swept hastily off, and driven as much as
+possible from the sight."
+
+"It is not every one," said Elinor, "who has your passion for dead
+leaves."
+
+"No; my feelings are not often shared, not often understood.  But
+SOMETIMES they are."--As she said this, she sunk into a reverie for a
+few moments;--but rousing herself again, "Now, Edward," said she,
+calling his attention to the prospect, "here is Barton valley.  Look up
+to it, and be tranquil if you can.  Look at those hills!  Did you ever
+see their equals?  To the left is Barton park, amongst those woods and
+plantations.  You may see the end of the house.  And there, beneath
+that farthest hill, which rises with such grandeur, is our cottage."
+
+"It is a beautiful country," he replied; "but these bottoms must be
+dirty in winter."
+
+"How can you think of dirt, with such objects before you?"
+
+"Because," replied he, smiling, "among the rest of the objects before
+me, I see a very dirty lane."
+
+"How strange!" said Marianne to herself as she walked on.
+
+"Have you an agreeable neighbourhood here?  Are the Middletons pleasant
+people?"
+
+"No, not all," answered Marianne; "we could not be more unfortunately
+situated."
+
+"Marianne," cried her sister, "how can you say so? How can you be so
+unjust?  They are a very respectable family, Mr. Ferrars; and towards
+us have behaved in the friendliest manner.  Have you forgot, Marianne,
+how many pleasant days we have owed to them?"
+
+"No," said Marianne, in a low voice, "nor how many painful moments."
+
+Elinor took no notice of this; and directing her attention to their
+visitor, endeavoured to support something like discourse with him, by
+talking of their present residence, its conveniences, &c. extorting
+from him occasional questions and remarks.  His coldness and reserve
+mortified her severely; she was vexed and half angry; but resolving to
+regulate her behaviour to him by the past rather than the present, she
+avoided every appearance of resentment or displeasure, and treated him
+as she thought he ought to be treated from the family connection.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 17
+
+
+Mrs. Dashwood was surprised only for a moment at seeing him; for his
+coming to Barton was, in her opinion, of all things the most natural.
+Her joy and expression of regard long outlived her wonder.  He received
+the kindest welcome from her; and shyness, coldness, reserve could not
+stand against such a reception.  They had begun to fail him before he
+entered the house, and they were quite overcome by the captivating
+manners of Mrs. Dashwood.  Indeed a man could not very well be in love
+with either of her daughters, without extending the passion to her; and
+Elinor had the satisfaction of seeing him soon become more like
+himself.  His affections seemed to reanimate towards them all, and his
+interest in their welfare again became perceptible.  He was not in
+spirits, however; he praised their house, admired its prospect, was
+attentive, and kind; but still he was not in spirits.  The whole family
+perceived it, and Mrs. Dashwood, attributing it to some want of
+liberality in his mother, sat down to table indignant against all
+selfish parents.
+
+"What are Mrs. Ferrars's views for you at present, Edward?" said she,
+when dinner was over and they had drawn round the fire; "are you still
+to be a great orator in spite of yourself?"
+
+"No. I hope my mother is now convinced that I have no more talents than
+inclination for a public life!"
+
+"But how is your fame to be established? for famous you must be to
+satisfy all your family; and with no inclination for expense, no
+affection for strangers, no profession, and no assurance, you may find
+it a difficult matter."
+
+"I shall not attempt it.  I have no wish to be distinguished; and have
+every reason to hope I never shall.  Thank Heaven! I cannot be forced
+into genius and eloquence."
+
+"You have no ambition, I well know.  Your wishes are all moderate."
+
+"As moderate as those of the rest of the world, I believe.  I wish as
+well as every body else to be perfectly happy; but, like every body
+else it must be in my own way.  Greatness will not make me so."
+
+"Strange that it would!" cried Marianne.  "What have wealth or grandeur
+to do with happiness?"
+
+"Grandeur has but little," said Elinor, "but wealth has much to do with
+it."
+
+"Elinor, for shame!" said Marianne, "money can only give happiness
+where there is nothing else to give it.  Beyond a competence, it can
+afford no real satisfaction, as far as mere self is concerned."
+
+"Perhaps," said Elinor, smiling, "we may come to the same point.  YOUR
+competence and MY wealth are very much alike, I dare say; and without
+them, as the world goes now, we shall both agree that every kind of
+external comfort must be wanting.  Your ideas are only more noble than
+mine.  Come, what is your competence?"
+
+"About eighteen hundred or two thousand a year; not more than THAT."
+
+Elinor laughed.  "TWO thousand a year! ONE is my wealth! I guessed how
+it would end."
+
+"And yet two thousand a-year is a very moderate income," said Marianne.
+"A family cannot well be maintained on a smaller.  I am sure I am not
+extravagant in my demands.  A proper establishment of servants, a
+carriage, perhaps two, and hunters, cannot be supported on less."
+
+Elinor smiled again, to hear her sister describing so accurately their
+future expenses at Combe Magna.
+
+"Hunters!" repeated Edward--"but why must you have hunters?  Every body
+does not hunt."
+
+Marianne coloured as she replied, "But most people do."
+
+"I wish," said Margaret, striking out a novel thought, "that somebody
+would give us all a large fortune apiece!"
+
+"Oh that they would!" cried Marianne, her eyes sparkling with
+animation, and her cheeks glowing with the delight of such imaginary
+happiness.
+
+"We are all unanimous in that wish, I suppose," said Elinor, "in spite
+of the insufficiency of wealth."
+
+"Oh dear!" cried Margaret, "how happy I should be!  I wonder what I
+should do with it!"
+
+Marianne looked as if she had no doubt on that point.
+
+"I should be puzzled to spend so large a fortune myself," said Mrs.
+Dashwood, "if my children were all to be rich my help."
+
+"You must begin your improvements on this house," observed Elinor, "and
+your difficulties will soon vanish."
+
+"What magnificent orders would travel from this family to London," said
+Edward, "in such an event!  What a happy day for booksellers,
+music-sellers, and print-shops!  You, Miss Dashwood, would give a
+general commission for every new print of merit to be sent you--and as
+for Marianne, I know her greatness of soul, there would not be music
+enough in London to content her.  And books!--Thomson, Cowper,
+Scott--she would buy them all over and over again: she would buy up
+every copy, I believe, to prevent their falling into unworthy hands;
+and she would have every book that tells her how to admire an old
+twisted tree.  Should not you, Marianne?  Forgive me, if I am very
+saucy.  But I was willing to shew you that I had not forgot our old
+disputes."
+
+"I love to be reminded of the past, Edward--whether it be melancholy or
+gay, I love to recall it--and you will never offend me by talking of
+former times.  You are very right in supposing how my money would be
+spent--some of it, at least--my loose cash would certainly be employed
+in improving my collection of music and books."
+
+"And the bulk of your fortune would be laid out in annuities on the
+authors or their heirs."
+
+"No, Edward, I should have something else to do with it."
+
+"Perhaps, then, you would bestow it as a reward on that person who
+wrote the ablest defence of your favourite maxim, that no one can ever
+be in love more than once in their life--your opinion on that point is
+unchanged, I presume?"
+
+"Undoubtedly. At my time of life opinions are tolerably fixed.  It is
+not likely that I should now see or hear any thing to change them."
+
+"Marianne is as steadfast as ever, you see," said Elinor, "she is not
+at all altered."
+
+"She is only grown a little more grave than she was."
+
+"Nay, Edward," said Marianne, "you need not reproach me.  You are not
+very gay yourself."
+
+"Why should you think so!" replied he, with a sigh.  "But gaiety never
+was a part of MY character."
+
+"Nor do I think it a part of Marianne's," said Elinor; "I should hardly
+call her a lively girl--she is very earnest, very eager in all she
+does--sometimes talks a great deal and always with animation--but she
+is not often really merry."
+
+"I believe you are right," he replied, "and yet I have always set her
+down as a lively girl."
+
+"I have frequently detected myself in such kind of mistakes," said
+Elinor, "in a total misapprehension of character in some point or
+other: fancying people so much more gay or grave, or ingenious or
+stupid than they really are, and I can hardly tell why or in what the
+deception originated.  Sometimes one is guided by what they say of
+themselves, and very frequently by what other people say of them,
+without giving oneself time to deliberate and judge."
+
+"But I thought it was right, Elinor," said Marianne, "to be guided
+wholly by the opinion of other people.  I thought our judgments were
+given us merely to be subservient to those of neighbours.  This has
+always been your doctrine, I am sure."
+
+"No, Marianne, never.  My doctrine has never aimed at the subjection of
+the understanding.  All I have ever attempted to influence has been the
+behaviour.  You must not confound my meaning.  I am guilty, I confess,
+of having often wished you to treat our acquaintance in general with
+greater attention; but when have I advised you to adopt their
+sentiments or to conform to their judgment in serious matters?"
+
+"You have not been able to bring your sister over to your plan of
+general civility," said Edward to Elinor, "Do you gain no ground?"
+
+"Quite the contrary," replied Elinor, looking expressively at Marianne.
+
+"My judgment," he returned, "is all on your side of the question; but I
+am afraid my practice is much more on your sister's.  I never wish to
+offend, but I am so foolishly shy, that I often seem negligent, when I
+am only kept back by my natural awkwardness.  I have frequently thought
+that I must have been intended by nature to be fond of low company, I
+am so little at my ease among strangers of gentility!"
+
+"Marianne has not shyness to excuse any inattention of hers," said
+Elinor.
+
+"She knows her own worth too well for false shame," replied Edward.
+"Shyness is only the effect of a sense of inferiority in some way or
+other.  If I could persuade myself that my manners were perfectly easy
+and graceful, I should not be shy."
+
+"But you would still be reserved," said Marianne, "and that is worse."
+
+Edward started--"Reserved! Am I reserved, Marianne?"
+
+"Yes, very."
+
+"I do not understand you," replied he, colouring.  "Reserved!--how, in
+what manner?  What am I to tell you?  What can you suppose?"
+
+Elinor looked surprised at his emotion; but trying to laugh off the
+subject, she said to him, "Do not you know my sister well enough to
+understand what she means?  Do not you know she calls every one
+reserved who does not talk as fast, and admire what she admires as
+rapturously as herself?"
+
+Edward made no answer.  His gravity and thoughtfulness returned on him
+in their fullest extent--and he sat for some time silent and dull.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 18
+
+
+Elinor saw, with great uneasiness the low spirits of her friend.  His
+visit afforded her but a very partial satisfaction, while his own
+enjoyment in it appeared so imperfect.  It was evident that he was
+unhappy; she wished it were equally evident that he still distinguished
+her by the same affection which once she had felt no doubt of
+inspiring; but hitherto the continuance of his preference seemed very
+uncertain; and the reservedness of his manner towards her contradicted
+one moment what a more animated look had intimated the preceding one.
+
+He joined her and Marianne in the breakfast-room the next morning
+before the others were down; and Marianne, who was always eager to
+promote their happiness as far as she could, soon left them to
+themselves.  But before she was half way upstairs she heard the parlour
+door open, and, turning round, was astonished to see Edward himself
+come out.
+
+"I am going into the village to see my horses," said he, "as you are
+not yet ready for breakfast; I shall be back again presently."
+
+                    ***
+
+Edward returned to them with fresh admiration of the surrounding
+country; in his walk to the village, he had seen many parts of the
+valley to advantage; and the village itself, in a much higher situation
+than the cottage, afforded a general view of the whole, which had
+exceedingly pleased him.  This was a subject which ensured Marianne's
+attention, and she was beginning to describe her own admiration of
+these scenes, and to question him more minutely on the objects that had
+particularly struck him, when Edward interrupted her by saying, "You
+must not enquire too far, Marianne--remember I have no knowledge in the
+picturesque, and I shall offend you by my ignorance and want of taste
+if we come to particulars.  I shall call hills steep, which ought to be
+bold; surfaces strange and uncouth, which ought to be irregular and
+rugged; and distant objects out of sight, which ought only to be
+indistinct through the soft medium of a hazy atmosphere.  You must be
+satisfied with such admiration as I can honestly give.  I call it a
+very fine country--the hills are steep, the woods seem full of fine
+timber, and the valley looks comfortable and snug--with rich meadows
+and several neat farm houses scattered here and there.  It exactly
+answers my idea of a fine country, because it unites beauty with
+utility--and I dare say it is a picturesque one too, because you admire
+it; I can easily believe it to be full of rocks and promontories, grey
+moss and brush wood, but these are all lost on me.  I know nothing of
+the picturesque."
+
+"I am afraid it is but too true," said Marianne; "but why should you
+boast of it?"
+
+"I suspect," said Elinor, "that to avoid one kind of affectation,
+Edward here falls into another.  Because he believes many people
+pretend to more admiration of the beauties of nature than they really
+feel, and is disgusted with such pretensions, he affects greater
+indifference and less discrimination in viewing them himself than he
+possesses.  He is fastidious and will have an affectation of his own."
+
+"It is very true," said Marianne, "that admiration of landscape scenery
+is become a mere jargon.  Every body pretends to feel and tries to
+describe with the taste and elegance of him who first defined what
+picturesque beauty was.  I detest jargon of every kind, and sometimes I
+have kept my feelings to myself, because I could find no language to
+describe them in but what was worn and hackneyed out of all sense and
+meaning."
+
+"I am convinced," said Edward, "that you really feel all the delight in
+a fine prospect which you profess to feel.  But, in return, your sister
+must allow me to feel no more than I profess.  I like a fine prospect,
+but not on picturesque principles.  I do not like crooked, twisted,
+blasted trees.  I admire them much more if they are tall, straight, and
+flourishing.  I do not like ruined, tattered cottages.  I am not fond
+of nettles or thistles, or heath blossoms.  I have more pleasure in a
+snug farm-house than a watch-tower--and a troop of tidy, happy villages
+please me better than the finest banditti in the world."
+
+Marianne looked with amazement at Edward, with compassion at her
+sister.  Elinor only laughed.
+
+The subject was continued no farther; and Marianne remained
+thoughtfully silent, till a new object suddenly engaged her attention.
+She was sitting by Edward, and in taking his tea from Mrs. Dashwood,
+his hand passed so directly before her, as to make a ring, with a plait
+of hair in the centre, very conspicuous on one of his fingers.
+
+"I never saw you wear a ring before, Edward," she cried.  "Is that
+Fanny's hair? I remember her promising to give you some.  But I should
+have thought her hair had been darker."
+
+Marianne spoke inconsiderately what she really felt--but when she saw
+how much she had pained Edward, her own vexation at her want of thought
+could not be surpassed by his.  He coloured very deeply, and giving a
+momentary glance at Elinor, replied, "Yes; it is my sister's hair.  The
+setting always casts a different shade on it, you know."
+
+Elinor had met his eye, and looked conscious likewise.  That the hair
+was her own, she instantaneously felt as well satisfied as Marianne;
+the only difference in their conclusions was, that what Marianne
+considered as a free gift from her sister, Elinor was conscious must
+have been procured by some theft or contrivance unknown to herself.
+She was not in a humour, however, to regard it as an affront, and
+affecting to take no notice of what passed, by instantly talking of
+something else, she internally resolved henceforward to catch every
+opportunity of eyeing the hair and of satisfying herself, beyond all
+doubt, that it was exactly the shade of her own.
+
+Edward's embarrassment lasted some time, and it ended in an absence of
+mind still more settled.  He was particularly grave the whole morning.
+Marianne severely censured herself for what she had said; but her own
+forgiveness might have been more speedy, had she known how little
+offence it had given her sister.
+
+Before the middle of the day, they were visited by Sir John and Mrs.
+Jennings, who, having heard of the arrival of a gentleman at the
+cottage, came to take a survey of the guest.  With the assistance of
+his mother-in-law, Sir John was not long in discovering that the name
+of Ferrars began with an F. and this prepared a future mine of raillery
+against the devoted Elinor, which nothing but the newness of their
+acquaintance with Edward could have prevented from being immediately
+sprung.  But, as it was, she only learned, from some very significant
+looks, how far their penetration, founded on Margaret's instructions,
+extended.
+
+Sir John never came to the Dashwoods without either inviting them to
+dine at the park the next day, or to drink tea with them that evening.
+On the present occasion, for the better entertainment of their visitor,
+towards whose amusement he felt himself bound to contribute, he wished
+to engage them for both.
+
+"You MUST drink tea with us to night," said he, "for we shall be quite
+alone--and tomorrow you must absolutely dine with us, for we shall be a
+large party."
+
+Mrs. Jennings enforced the necessity.  "And who knows but you may raise
+a dance," said she.  "And that will tempt YOU, Miss Marianne."
+
+"A dance!" cried Marianne.  "Impossible! Who is to dance?"
+
+"Who! why yourselves, and the Careys, and Whitakers to be sure.--What!
+you thought nobody could dance because a certain person that shall be
+nameless is gone!"
+
+"I wish with all my soul," cried Sir John, "that Willoughby were among
+us again."
+
+This, and Marianne's blushing, gave new suspicions to Edward.  "And who
+is Willoughby?" said he, in a low voice, to Miss Dashwood, by whom he
+was sitting.
+
+She gave him a brief reply.  Marianne's countenance was more
+communicative.  Edward saw enough to comprehend, not only the meaning
+of others, but such of Marianne's expressions as had puzzled him
+before; and when their visitors left them, he went immediately round
+her, and said, in a whisper, "I have been guessing.  Shall I tell you
+my guess?"
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Shall I tell you."
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"Well then; I guess that Mr. Willoughby hunts."
+
+Marianne was surprised and confused, yet she could not help smiling at
+the quiet archness of his manner, and after a moment's silence, said,
+
+"Oh, Edward! How can you?--But the time will come I hope...I am sure
+you will like him."
+
+"I do not doubt it," replied he, rather astonished at her earnestness
+and warmth; for had he not imagined it to be a joke for the good of her
+acquaintance in general, founded only on a something or a nothing
+between Mr. Willoughby and herself, he would not have ventured to
+mention it.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 19
+
+
+Edward remained a week at the cottage; he was earnestly pressed by Mrs.
+Dashwood to stay longer; but, as if he were bent only on
+self-mortification, he seemed resolved to be gone when his enjoyment
+among his friends was at the height.  His spirits, during the last two
+or three days, though still very unequal, were greatly improved--he
+grew more and more partial to the house and environs--never spoke of
+going away without a sigh--declared his time to be wholly
+disengaged--even doubted to what place he should go when he left
+them--but still, go he must.  Never had any week passed so quickly--he
+could hardly believe it to be gone.  He said so repeatedly; other
+things he said too, which marked the turn of his feelings and gave the
+lie to his actions.  He had no pleasure at Norland; he detested being
+in town; but either to Norland or London, he must go.  He valued their
+kindness beyond any thing, and his greatest happiness was in being with
+them.  Yet, he must leave them at the end of a week, in spite of their
+wishes and his own, and without any restraint on his time.
+
+Elinor placed all that was astonishing in this way of acting to his
+mother's account; and it was happy for her that he had a mother whose
+character was so imperfectly known to her, as to be the general excuse
+for every thing strange on the part of her son.  Disappointed, however,
+and vexed as she was, and sometimes displeased with his uncertain
+behaviour to herself, she was very well disposed on the whole to regard
+his actions with all the candid allowances and generous qualifications,
+which had been rather more painfully extorted from her, for
+Willoughby's service, by her mother.  His want of spirits, of openness,
+and of consistency, were most usually attributed to his want of
+independence, and his better knowledge of Mrs. Ferrars's disposition
+and designs.  The shortness of his visit, the steadiness of his purpose
+in leaving them, originated in the same fettered inclination, the same
+inevitable necessity of temporizing with his mother.  The old
+well-established grievance of duty against will, parent against child,
+was the cause of all.  She would have been glad to know when these
+difficulties were to cease, this opposition was to yield,--when Mrs.
+Ferrars would be reformed, and her son be at liberty to be happy.  But
+from such vain wishes she was forced to turn for comfort to the renewal
+of her confidence in Edward's affection, to the remembrance of every
+mark of regard in look or word which fell from him while at Barton, and
+above all to that flattering proof of it which he constantly wore round
+his finger.
+
+"I think, Edward," said Mrs. Dashwood, as they were at breakfast the
+last morning, "you would be a happier man if you had any profession to
+engage your time and give an interest to your plans and actions.  Some
+inconvenience to your friends, indeed, might result from it--you would
+not be able to give them so much of your time.  But (with a smile) you
+would be materially benefited in one particular at least--you would
+know where to go when you left them."
+
+"I do assure you," he replied, "that I have long thought on this point,
+as you think now.  It has been, and is, and probably will always be a
+heavy misfortune to me, that I have had no necessary business to engage
+me, no profession to give me employment, or afford me any thing like
+independence.  But unfortunately my own nicety, and the nicety of my
+friends, have made me what I am, an idle, helpless being.  We never
+could agree in our choice of a profession.  I always preferred the
+church, as I still do.  But that was not smart enough for my family.
+They recommended the army.  That was a great deal too smart for me.
+The law was allowed to be genteel enough; many young men, who had
+chambers in the Temple, made a very good appearance in the first
+circles, and drove about town in very knowing gigs.  But I had no
+inclination for the law, even in this less abstruse study of it, which
+my family approved.  As for the navy, it had fashion on its side, but I
+was too old when the subject was first started to enter it--and, at
+length, as there was no necessity for my having any profession at all,
+as I might be as dashing and expensive without a red coat on my back as
+with one, idleness was pronounced on the whole to be most advantageous
+and honourable, and a young man of eighteen is not in general so
+earnestly bent on being busy as to resist the solicitations of his
+friends to do nothing.  I was therefore entered at Oxford and have been
+properly idle ever since."
+
+"The consequence of which, I suppose, will be," said Mrs. Dashwood,
+"since leisure has not promoted your own happiness, that your sons will
+be brought up to as many pursuits, employments, professions, and trades
+as Columella's."
+
+"They will be brought up," said he, in a serious accent, "to be as
+unlike myself as is possible.  In feeling, in action, in condition, in
+every thing."
+
+"Come, come; this is all an effusion of immediate want of spirits,
+Edward.  You are in a melancholy humour, and fancy that any one unlike
+yourself must be happy.  But remember that the pain of parting from
+friends will be felt by every body at times, whatever be their
+education or state.  Know your own happiness.  You want nothing but
+patience--or give it a more fascinating name, call it hope.  Your
+mother will secure to you, in time, that independence you are so
+anxious for; it is her duty, and it will, it must ere long become her
+happiness to prevent your whole youth from being wasted in discontent.
+How much may not a few months do?"
+
+"I think," replied Edward, "that I may defy many months to produce any
+good to me."
+
+This desponding turn of mind, though it could not be communicated to
+Mrs. Dashwood, gave additional pain to them all in the parting, which
+shortly took place, and left an uncomfortable impression on Elinor's
+feelings especially, which required some trouble and time to subdue.
+But as it was her determination to subdue it, and to prevent herself
+from appearing to suffer more than what all her family suffered on his
+going away, she did not adopt the method so judiciously employed by
+Marianne, on a similar occasion, to augment and fix her sorrow, by
+seeking silence, solitude and idleness.  Their means were as different
+as their objects, and equally suited to the advancement of each.
+
+Elinor sat down to her drawing-table as soon as he was out of the
+house, busily employed herself the whole day, neither sought nor
+avoided the mention of his name, appeared to interest herself almost as
+much as ever in the general concerns of the family, and if, by this
+conduct, she did not lessen her own grief, it was at least prevented
+from unnecessary increase, and her mother and sisters were spared much
+solicitude on her account.
+
+Such behaviour as this, so exactly the reverse of her own, appeared no
+more meritorious to Marianne, than her own had seemed faulty to her.
+The business of self-command she settled very easily;--with strong
+affections it was impossible, with calm ones it could have no merit.
+That her sister's affections WERE calm, she dared not deny, though she
+blushed to acknowledge it; and of the strength of her own, she gave a
+very striking proof, by still loving and respecting that sister, in
+spite of this mortifying conviction.
+
+Without shutting herself up from her family, or leaving the house in
+determined solitude to avoid them, or lying awake the whole night to
+indulge meditation, Elinor found every day afforded her leisure enough
+to think of Edward, and of Edward's behaviour, in every possible
+variety which the different state of her spirits at different times
+could produce,--with tenderness, pity, approbation, censure, and doubt.
+There were moments in abundance, when, if not by the absence of her
+mother and sisters, at least by the nature of their employments,
+conversation was forbidden among them, and every effect of solitude was
+produced.  Her mind was inevitably at liberty; her thoughts could not
+be chained elsewhere; and the past and the future, on a subject so
+interesting, must be before her, must force her attention, and engross
+her memory, her reflection, and her fancy.
+
+From a reverie of this kind, as she sat at her drawing-table, she was
+roused one morning, soon after Edward's leaving them, by the arrival of
+company.  She happened to be quite alone.  The closing of the little
+gate, at the entrance of the green court in front of the house, drew
+her eyes to the window, and she saw a large party walking up to the
+door.  Amongst them were Sir John and Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings,
+but there were two others, a gentleman and lady, who were quite unknown
+to her.  She was sitting near the window, and as soon as Sir John
+perceived her, he left the rest of the party to the ceremony of
+knocking at the door, and stepping across the turf, obliged her to open
+the casement to speak to him, though the space was so short between the
+door and the window, as to make it hardly possible to speak at one
+without being heard at the other.
+
+"Well," said he, "we have brought you some strangers.  How do you like
+them?"
+
+"Hush! they will hear you."
+
+"Never mind if they do.  It is only the Palmers.  Charlotte is very
+pretty, I can tell you.  You may see her if you look this way."
+
+As Elinor was certain of seeing her in a couple of minutes, without
+taking that liberty, she begged to be excused.
+
+"Where is Marianne? Has she run away because we are come? I see her
+instrument is open."
+
+"She is walking, I believe."
+
+They were now joined by Mrs. Jennings, who had not patience enough to
+wait till the door was opened before she told HER story.  She came
+hallooing to the window, "How do you do, my dear?  How does Mrs.
+Dashwood do?  And where are your sisters?  What! all alone! you will be
+glad of a little company to sit with you.  I have brought my other son
+and daughter to see you.  Only think of their coming so suddenly!  I
+thought I heard a carriage last night, while we were drinking our tea,
+but it never entered my head that it could be them.  I thought of
+nothing but whether it might not be Colonel Brandon come back again; so
+I said to Sir John, I do think I hear a carriage; perhaps it is Colonel
+Brandon come back again"--
+
+Elinor was obliged to turn from her, in the middle of her story, to
+receive the rest of the party; Lady Middleton introduced the two
+strangers; Mrs. Dashwood and Margaret came down stairs at the same
+time, and they all sat down to look at one another, while Mrs. Jennings
+continued her story as she walked through the passage into the parlour,
+attended by Sir John.
+
+Mrs. Palmer was several years younger than Lady Middleton, and totally
+unlike her in every respect.  She was short and plump, had a very
+pretty face, and the finest expression of good humour in it that could
+possibly be.  Her manners were by no means so elegant as her sister's,
+but they were much more prepossessing.  She came in with a smile,
+smiled all the time of her visit, except when she laughed, and smiled
+when she went away.  Her husband was a grave looking young man of five
+or six and twenty, with an air of more fashion and sense than his wife,
+but of less willingness to please or be pleased.  He entered the room
+with a look of self-consequence, slightly bowed to the ladies, without
+speaking a word, and, after briefly surveying them and their
+apartments, took up a newspaper from the table, and continued to read
+it as long as he staid.
+
+Mrs. Palmer, on the contrary, who was strongly endowed by nature with a
+turn for being uniformly civil and happy, was hardly seated before her
+admiration of the parlour and every thing in it burst forth.
+
+"Well! what a delightful room this is! I never saw anything so
+charming!  Only think, Mamma, how it is improved since I was here last!
+I always thought it such a sweet place, ma'am! (turning to Mrs.
+Dashwood) but you have made it so charming!  Only look, sister, how
+delightful every thing is! How I should like such a house for myself!
+Should not you, Mr. Palmer?"
+
+Mr. Palmer made her no answer, and did not even raise his eyes from the
+newspaper.
+
+"Mr. Palmer does not hear me," said she, laughing; "he never does
+sometimes.  It is so ridiculous!"
+
+This was quite a new idea to Mrs. Dashwood; she had never been used to
+find wit in the inattention of any one, and could not help looking with
+surprise at them both.
+
+Mrs. Jennings, in the meantime, talked on as loud as she could, and
+continued her account of their surprise, the evening before, on seeing
+their friends, without ceasing till every thing was told.  Mrs. Palmer
+laughed heartily at the recollection of their astonishment, and every
+body agreed, two or three times over, that it had been quite an
+agreeable surprise.
+
+"You may believe how glad we all were to see them," added Mrs.
+Jennings, leaning forward towards Elinor, and speaking in a low voice
+as if she meant to be heard by no one else, though they were seated on
+different sides of the room; "but, however, I can't help wishing they
+had not travelled quite so fast, nor made such a long journey of it,
+for they came all round by London upon account of some business, for
+you know (nodding significantly and pointing to her daughter) it was
+wrong in her situation.  I wanted her to stay at home and rest this
+morning, but she would come with us; she longed so much to see you all!"
+
+Mrs. Palmer laughed, and said it would not do her any harm.
+
+"She expects to be confined in February," continued Mrs. Jennings.
+
+Lady Middleton could no longer endure such a conversation, and
+therefore exerted herself to ask Mr. Palmer if there was any news in
+the paper.
+
+"No, none at all," he replied, and read on.
+
+"Here comes Marianne," cried Sir John.  "Now, Palmer, you shall see a
+monstrous pretty girl."
+
+He immediately went into the passage, opened the front door, and
+ushered her in himself.  Mrs. Jennings asked her, as soon as she
+appeared, if she had not been to Allenham; and Mrs. Palmer laughed so
+heartily at the question, as to show she understood it.  Mr. Palmer
+looked up on her entering the room, stared at her some minutes, and
+then returned to his newspaper.  Mrs. Palmer's eye was now caught by
+the drawings which hung round the room.  She got up to examine them.
+
+"Oh! dear, how beautiful these are!  Well! how delightful!  Do but
+look, mama, how sweet! I declare they are quite charming; I could look
+at them for ever." And then sitting down again, she very soon forgot
+that there were any such things in the room.
+
+When Lady Middleton rose to go away, Mr. Palmer rose also, laid down
+the newspaper, stretched himself and looked at them all around.
+
+"My love, have you been asleep?" said his wife, laughing.
+
+He made her no answer; and only observed, after again examining the
+room, that it was very low pitched, and that the ceiling was crooked.
+He then made his bow, and departed with the rest.
+
+Sir John had been very urgent with them all to spend the next day at
+the park.  Mrs. Dashwood, who did not chuse to dine with them oftener
+than they dined at the cottage, absolutely refused on her own account;
+her daughters might do as they pleased.  But they had no curiosity to
+see how Mr. and Mrs. Palmer ate their dinner, and no expectation of
+pleasure from them in any other way.  They attempted, therefore,
+likewise, to excuse themselves; the weather was uncertain, and not
+likely to be good.  But Sir John would not be satisfied--the carriage
+should be sent for them and they must come.  Lady Middleton too, though
+she did not press their mother, pressed them.  Mrs. Jennings and Mrs.
+Palmer joined their entreaties, all seemed equally anxious to avoid a
+family party; and the young ladies were obliged to yield.
+
+"Why should they ask us?" said Marianne, as soon as they were gone.
+"The rent of this cottage is said to be low; but we have it on very
+hard terms, if we are to dine at the park whenever any one is staying
+either with them, or with us."
+
+"They mean no less to be civil and kind to us now," said Elinor, "by
+these frequent invitations, than by those which we received from them a
+few weeks ago.  The alteration is not in them, if their parties are
+grown tedious and dull.  We must look for the change elsewhere."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 20
+
+
+As the Miss Dashwoods entered the drawing-room of the park the next
+day, at one door, Mrs. Palmer came running in at the other, looking as
+good humoured and merry as before.  She took them all most
+affectionately by the hand, and expressed great delight in seeing them
+again.
+
+"I am so glad to see you!" said she, seating herself between Elinor and
+Marianne, "for it is so bad a day I was afraid you might not come,
+which would be a shocking thing, as we go away again tomorrow. We must
+go, for the Westons come to us next week you know.  It was quite a
+sudden thing our coming at all, and I knew nothing of it till the
+carriage was coming to the door, and then Mr. Palmer asked me if I
+would go with him to Barton.  He is so droll! He never tells me any
+thing! I am so sorry we cannot stay longer; however we shall meet again
+in town very soon, I hope."
+
+They were obliged to put an end to such an expectation.
+
+"Not go to town!" cried Mrs. Palmer, with a laugh, "I shall be quite
+disappointed if you do not.  I could get the nicest house in world for
+you, next door to ours, in Hanover-square.  You must come, indeed.  I
+am sure I shall be very happy to chaperon you at any time till I am
+confined, if Mrs. Dashwood should not like to go into public."
+
+They thanked her; but were obliged to resist all her entreaties.
+
+"Oh, my love," cried Mrs. Palmer to her husband, who just then entered
+the room--"you must help me to persuade the Miss Dashwoods to go to
+town this winter."
+
+Her love made no answer; and after slightly bowing to the ladies, began
+complaining of the weather.
+
+"How horrid all this is!" said he.  "Such weather makes every thing and
+every body disgusting.  Dullness is as much produced within doors as
+without, by rain.  It makes one detest all one's acquaintance.  What
+the devil does Sir John mean by not having a billiard room in his
+house?  How few people know what comfort is!  Sir John is as stupid as
+the weather."
+
+The rest of the company soon dropt in.
+
+"I am afraid, Miss Marianne," said Sir John, "you have not been able to
+take your usual walk to Allenham today."
+
+Marianne looked very grave and said nothing.
+
+"Oh, don't be so sly before us," said Mrs. Palmer; "for we know all
+about it, I assure you; and I admire your taste very much, for I think
+he is extremely handsome.  We do not live a great way from him in the
+country, you know.  Not above ten miles, I dare say."
+
+"Much nearer thirty," said her husband.
+
+"Ah, well! there is not much difference.  I never was at his house; but
+they say it is a sweet pretty place."
+
+"As vile a spot as I ever saw in my life," said Mr. Palmer.
+
+Marianne remained perfectly silent, though her countenance betrayed her
+interest in what was said.
+
+"Is it very ugly?" continued Mrs. Palmer--"then it must be some other
+place that is so pretty I suppose."
+
+When they were seated in the dining room, Sir John observed with regret
+that they were only eight all together.
+
+"My dear," said he to his lady, "it is very provoking that we should be
+so few.  Why did not you ask the Gilberts to come to us today?"
+
+"Did not I tell you, Sir John, when you spoke to me about it before,
+that it could not be done?  They dined with us last."
+
+"You and I, Sir John," said Mrs. Jennings, "should not stand upon such
+ceremony."
+
+"Then you would be very ill-bred," cried Mr. Palmer.
+
+"My love you contradict every body," said his wife with her usual
+laugh.  "Do you know that you are quite rude?"
+
+"I did not know I contradicted any body in calling your mother
+ill-bred."
+
+"Ay, you may abuse me as you please," said the good-natured old lady,
+"you have taken Charlotte off my hands, and cannot give her back again.
+So there I have the whip hand of you."
+
+Charlotte laughed heartily to think that her husband could not get rid
+of her; and exultingly said, she did not care how cross he was to her,
+as they must live together.  It was impossible for any one to be more
+thoroughly good-natured, or more determined to be happy than Mrs.
+Palmer.  The studied indifference, insolence, and discontent of her
+husband gave her no pain; and when he scolded or abused her, she was
+highly diverted.
+
+"Mr. Palmer is so droll!" said she, in a whisper, to Elinor.  "He is
+always out of humour."
+
+Elinor was not inclined, after a little observation, to give him credit
+for being so genuinely and unaffectedly ill-natured or ill-bred as he
+wished to appear.  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.  I am sure you will like it of all
+things.  The Westons will be with us, and it will be quite delightful.
+You cannot think what a sweet place Cleveland is; and we are so gay
+now, for Mr. Palmer is always going about the country canvassing
+against the election; and so many people came to dine with us that I
+never saw before, it is quite charming!  But, poor fellow! it is very
+fatiguing to him! for he is forced to make every body like him."
+
+Elinor could hardly keep her countenance as she assented to the
+hardship of such an obligation.
+
+"How charming it will be," said Charlotte, "when he is in
+Parliament!--won't it? How I shall laugh!  It will be so ridiculous to
+see all his letters directed to him with an M.P.--But do you know, he
+says, he will never frank for me?  He declares he won't.  Don't you,
+Mr. Palmer?"
+
+Mr. Palmer took no notice of her.
+
+"He cannot bear writing, you know," she continued--"he says it is quite
+shocking."
+
+"No," said he, "I never said any thing so irrational.  Don't palm all
+your abuses of languages upon me."
+
+"There now; you see how droll he is.  This is always the way with him!
+Sometimes he won't speak to me for half a day together, and then he
+comes out with something so droll--all about any thing in the world."
+
+She surprised Elinor very much as they returned into the drawing-room,
+by asking her whether she did not like Mr. Palmer excessively.
+
+"Certainly," said Elinor; "he seems very agreeable."
+
+"Well--I am so glad you do.  I thought you would, he is so pleasant;
+and Mr. Palmer is excessively pleased with you and your sisters I can
+tell you, and you can't think how disappointed he will be if you don't
+come to Cleveland.--I can't imagine why you should object to it."
+
+Elinor was again obliged to decline her invitation; and by changing the
+subject, put a stop to her entreaties.  She thought it probable that as
+they lived in the same county, Mrs. Palmer might be able to give some
+more particular account of Willoughby's general character, than could
+be gathered from the Middletons' partial acquaintance with him; and she
+was eager to gain from any one, such a confirmation of his merits as
+might remove the possibility of fear from Marianne.  She began by
+inquiring if they saw much of Mr. Willoughby at Cleveland, and whether
+they were intimately acquainted with him.
+
+"Oh dear, yes; I know him extremely well," replied Mrs. Palmer;--"Not
+that I ever spoke to him, indeed; but I have seen him for ever in town.
+Somehow or other I never happened to be staying at Barton while he was
+at Allenham.  Mama saw him here once before;--but I was with my uncle
+at Weymouth.  However, I dare say we should have seen a great deal of
+him in Somersetshire, if it had not happened very unluckily that we
+should never have been in the country together.  He is very little at
+Combe, I believe; but if he were ever so much there, I do not think Mr.
+Palmer would visit him, for he is in the opposition, you know, and
+besides it is such a way off.  I know why you inquire about him, very
+well; your sister is to marry him.  I am monstrous glad of it, for then
+I shall have her for a neighbour you know."
+
+"Upon my word," replied Elinor, "you know much more of the matter than
+I do, if you have any reason to expect such a match."
+
+"Don't pretend to deny it, because you know it is what every body talks
+of.  I assure you I heard of it in my way through town."
+
+"My dear Mrs. Palmer!"
+
+"Upon my honour I did.--I met Colonel Brandon Monday morning in
+Bond-street, just before we left town, and he told me of it directly."
+
+"You surprise me very much.  Colonel Brandon tell you of it!  Surely
+you must be mistaken.  To give such intelligence to a person who could
+not be interested in it, even if it were true, is not what I should
+expect Colonel Brandon to do."
+
+"But I do assure you it was so, for all that, and I will tell you how
+it happened.  When we met him, he turned back and walked with us; and
+so we began talking of my brother and sister, and one thing and
+another, and I said to him, 'So, Colonel, there is a new family come to
+Barton cottage, I hear, and mama sends me word they are very pretty,
+and that one of them is going to be married to Mr. Willoughby of Combe
+Magna.  Is it true, pray? for of course you must know, as you have been
+in Devonshire so lately.'"
+
+"And what did the Colonel say?"
+
+"Oh--he did not say much; but he looked as if he knew it to be true, so
+from that moment I set it down as certain.  It will be quite
+delightful, I declare!  When is it to take place?"
+
+"Mr. Brandon was very well I hope?"
+
+"Oh! yes, quite well; and so full of your praises, he did nothing but
+say fine things of you."
+
+"I am flattered by his commendation.  He seems an excellent man; and I
+think him uncommonly pleasing."
+
+"So do I.--He is such a charming man, that it is quite a pity he should
+be so grave and so dull.  Mamma says HE was in love with your sister
+too.-- I assure you it was a great compliment if he was, for he hardly
+ever falls in love with any body."
+
+"Is Mr. Willoughby much known in your part of Somersetshire?" said
+Elinor.
+
+"Oh! yes, extremely well; that is, I do not believe many people are
+acquainted with him, because Combe Magna is so far off; but they all
+think him extremely agreeable I assure you.  Nobody is more liked than
+Mr. Willoughby wherever he goes, and so you may tell your sister.  She
+is a monstrous lucky girl to get him, upon my honour; not but that he
+is much more lucky in getting her, because she is so very handsome and
+agreeable, that nothing can be good enough for her.  However, I don't
+think her hardly at all handsomer than you, I assure you; for I think
+you both excessively pretty, and so does Mr. Palmer too I am sure,
+though we could not get him to own it last night."
+
+Mrs. Palmer's information respecting Willoughby was not very material;
+but any testimony in his favour, however small, was pleasing to her.
+
+"I am so glad we are got acquainted at last," continued
+Charlotte.--"And now I hope we shall always be great friends.  You
+can't think how much I longed to see you!  It is so delightful that you
+should live at the cottage!  Nothing can be like it, to be sure!  And I
+am so glad your sister is going to be well married!  I hope you will be
+a great deal at Combe Magna.  It is a sweet place, by all accounts."
+
+"You have been long acquainted with Colonel Brandon, have not you?"
+
+"Yes, a great while; ever since my sister married.-- He was a
+particular friend of Sir John's. I believe," she added in a low voice,
+"he would have been very glad to have had me, if he could.  Sir John
+and Lady Middleton wished it very much.  But mama did not think the
+match good enough for me, otherwise Sir John would have mentioned it to
+the Colonel, and we should have been married immediately."
+
+"Did not Colonel Brandon know of Sir John's proposal to your mother
+before it was made?  Had he never owned his affection to yourself?"
+
+"Oh, no; but if mama had not objected to it, I dare say he would have
+liked it of all things.  He had not seen me then above twice, for it
+was before I left school.  However, I am much happier as I am.  Mr.
+Palmer is the kind of man I like."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 21
+
+
+The Palmers returned to Cleveland the next day, and the two families at
+Barton were again left to entertain each other.  But this did not last
+long; Elinor had hardly got their last visitors out of her head, had
+hardly done wondering at Charlotte's being so happy without a cause, at
+Mr. Palmer's acting so simply, with good abilities, and at the strange
+unsuitableness which often existed between husband and wife, before Sir
+John's and Mrs. Jennings's active zeal in the cause of society,
+procured her some other new acquaintance to see and observe.
+
+In a morning's excursion to Exeter, they had met with two young ladies,
+whom Mrs. Jennings had the satisfaction of discovering to be her
+relations, and this was enough for Sir John to invite them directly to
+the park, as soon as their present engagements at Exeter were over.
+Their engagements at Exeter instantly gave way before such an
+invitation, and Lady Middleton was thrown into no little alarm on the
+return of Sir John, by hearing that she was very soon to receive a
+visit from two girls whom she had never seen in her life, and of whose
+elegance,--whose tolerable gentility even, she could have no proof; for
+the assurances of her husband and mother on that subject went for
+nothing at all.  Their being her relations too made it so much the
+worse; and Mrs. Jennings's attempts at consolation were therefore
+unfortunately founded, when she advised her daughter not to care about
+their being so fashionable; because they were all cousins and must put
+up with one another.  As it was impossible, however, now to prevent
+their coming, Lady Middleton resigned herself to the idea of it, with
+all the philosophy of a well-bred woman, contenting herself with merely
+giving her husband a gentle reprimand on the subject five or six times
+every day.
+
+The young ladies arrived: their appearance was by no means ungenteel or
+unfashionable.  Their dress was very smart, their manners very civil,
+they were delighted with the house, and in raptures with the furniture,
+and they happened to be so doatingly fond of children that Lady
+Middleton's good opinion was engaged in their favour before they had
+been an hour at the Park.  She declared them to be very agreeable girls
+indeed, which for her ladyship was enthusiastic admiration.  Sir John's
+confidence in his own judgment rose with this animated praise, and he
+set off directly for the cottage to tell the Miss Dashwoods of the Miss
+Steeles' arrival, and to assure them of their being the sweetest girls
+in the world.  From such commendation as this, however, there was not
+much to be learned; Elinor well knew that the sweetest girls in the
+world were to be met with in every part of England, under every
+possible variation of form, face, temper and understanding.  Sir John
+wanted the whole family to walk to the Park directly and look at his
+guests.  Benevolent, philanthropic man!  It was painful to him even to
+keep a third cousin to himself.
+
+"Do come now," said he--"pray come--you must come--I declare you shall
+come--You can't think how you will like them.  Lucy is monstrous
+pretty, and so good humoured and agreeable!  The children are all
+hanging about her already, as if she was an old acquaintance.  And they
+both long to see you of all things, for they have heard at Exeter that
+you are the most beautiful creatures in the world; and I have told them
+it is all very true, and a great deal more.  You will be delighted with
+them I am sure.  They have brought the whole coach full of playthings
+for the children.  How can you be so cross as not to come?  Why they
+are your cousins, you know, after a fashion.  YOU are my cousins, and
+they are my wife's, so you must be related."
+
+But Sir John could not prevail.  He could only obtain a promise of
+their calling at the Park within a day or two, and then left them in
+amazement at their indifference, to walk home and boast anew of their
+attractions to the Miss Steeles, as he had been already boasting of the
+Miss Steeles to them.
+
+When their promised visit to the Park and consequent introduction to
+these young ladies took place, they found in the appearance of the
+eldest, who was nearly thirty, with a very plain and not a sensible
+face, nothing to admire; but in the other, who was not more than two or
+three and twenty, they acknowledged considerable beauty; her features
+were pretty, and she had a sharp quick eye, and a smartness of air,
+which though it did not give actual elegance or grace, gave distinction
+to her person.-- Their manners were particularly civil, and Elinor soon
+allowed them credit for some kind of sense, when she saw with what
+constant and judicious attention they were making themselves agreeable
+to Lady Middleton.  With her children they were in continual raptures,
+extolling their beauty, courting their notice, and humouring their
+whims; and such of their time as could be spared from the importunate
+demands which this politeness made on it, was spent in admiration of
+whatever her ladyship was doing, if she happened to be doing any thing,
+or in taking patterns of some elegant new dress, in which her
+appearance the day before had thrown them into unceasing delight.
+Fortunately for those who pay their court through such foibles, a fond
+mother, though, in pursuit of praise for her children, the most
+rapacious of human beings, is likewise the most credulous; her demands
+are exorbitant; but she will swallow any thing; and the excessive
+affection and endurance of the Miss Steeles towards her offspring were
+viewed therefore by Lady Middleton without the smallest surprise or
+distrust.  She saw with maternal complacency all the impertinent
+encroachments and mischievous tricks to which her cousins submitted.
+She saw their sashes untied, their hair pulled about their ears, their
+work-bags searched, and their knives and scissors stolen away, and felt
+no doubt of its being a reciprocal enjoyment.  It suggested no other
+surprise than that Elinor and Marianne should sit so composedly by,
+without claiming a share in what was passing.
+
+"John is in such spirits today!" said she, on his taking Miss Steeles's
+pocket handkerchief, and throwing it out of window--"He is full of
+monkey tricks."
+
+And soon afterwards, on the second boy's violently pinching one of the
+same lady's fingers, she fondly observed, "How playful William is!"
+
+"And here is my sweet little Annamaria," she added, tenderly caressing
+a little girl of three years old, who had not made a noise for the last
+two minutes; "And she is always so gentle and quiet--Never was there
+such a quiet little thing!"
+
+But unfortunately in bestowing these embraces, a pin in her ladyship's
+head dress slightly scratching the child's neck, produced from this
+pattern of gentleness such violent screams, as could hardly be outdone
+by any creature professedly noisy.  The mother's consternation was
+excessive; but it could not surpass the alarm of the Miss Steeles, and
+every thing was done by all three, in so critical an emergency, which
+affection could suggest as likely to assuage the agonies of the little
+sufferer.  She was seated in her mother's lap, covered with kisses, her
+wound bathed with lavender-water, by one of the Miss Steeles, who was
+on her knees to attend her, and her mouth stuffed with sugar plums by
+the other.  With such a reward for her tears, the child was too wise to
+cease crying.  She still screamed and sobbed lustily, kicked her two
+brothers for offering to touch her, and all their united soothings were
+ineffectual till Lady Middleton luckily remembering that in a scene of
+similar distress last week, some apricot marmalade had been
+successfully applied for a bruised temple, the same remedy was eagerly
+proposed for this unfortunate scratch, and a slight intermission of
+screams in the young lady on hearing it, gave them reason to hope that
+it would not be rejected.-- She was carried out of the room therefore
+in her mother's arms, in quest of this medicine, and as the two boys
+chose to follow, though earnestly entreated by their mother to stay
+behind, the four young ladies were left in a quietness which the room
+had not known for many hours.
+
+"Poor little creatures!" said Miss Steele, as soon as they were gone.
+"It might have been a very sad accident."
+
+"Yet I hardly know how," cried Marianne, "unless it had been under
+totally different circumstances.  But this is the usual way of
+heightening alarm, where there is nothing to be alarmed at in reality."
+
+"What a sweet woman Lady Middleton is!" said Lucy Steele.
+
+Marianne was silent; it was impossible for her to say what she did not
+feel, however trivial the occasion; and upon Elinor therefore the whole
+task of telling lies when politeness required it, always fell.  She did
+her best when thus called on, by speaking of Lady Middleton with more
+warmth than she felt, though with far less than Miss Lucy.
+
+"And Sir John too," cried the elder sister, "what a charming man he is!"
+
+Here too, Miss Dashwood's commendation, being only simple and just,
+came in without any eclat.  She merely observed that he was perfectly
+good humoured and friendly.
+
+"And what a charming little family they have!  I never saw such fine
+children in my life.--I declare I quite doat upon them already, and
+indeed I am always distractedly fond of children."
+
+"I should guess so," said Elinor, with a smile, "from what I have
+witnessed this morning."
+
+"I have a notion," said Lucy, "you think the little Middletons rather
+too much indulged; perhaps they may be the outside of enough; but it is
+so natural in Lady Middleton; and for my part, I love to see children
+full of life and spirits; I cannot bear them if they are tame and
+quiet."
+
+"I confess," replied Elinor, "that while I am at Barton Park, I never
+think of tame and quiet children with any abhorrence."
+
+A short pause succeeded this speech, which was first broken by Miss
+Steele, who seemed very much disposed for conversation, and who now
+said rather abruptly, "And how do you like Devonshire, Miss Dashwood?
+I suppose you were very sorry to leave Sussex."
+
+In some surprise at the familiarity of this question, or at least of
+the manner in which it was spoken, Elinor replied that she was.
+
+"Norland is a prodigious beautiful place, is not it?" added Miss Steele.
+
+"We have heard Sir John admire it excessively," said Lucy, who seemed
+to think some apology necessary for the freedom of her sister.
+
+"I think every one MUST admire it," replied Elinor, "who ever saw the
+place; though it is not to be supposed that any one can estimate its
+beauties as we do."
+
+"And had you a great many smart beaux there?  I suppose you have not so
+many in this part of the world; for my part, I think they are a vast
+addition always."
+
+"But why should you think," said Lucy, looking ashamed of her sister,
+"that there are not as many genteel young men in Devonshire as Sussex?"
+
+"Nay, my dear, I'm sure I don't pretend to say that there an't.  I'm
+sure there's a vast many smart beaux in Exeter; but you know, how could
+I tell what smart beaux there might be about Norland; and I was only
+afraid the Miss Dashwoods might find it dull at Barton, if they had not
+so many as they used to have.  But perhaps you young ladies may not
+care about the beaux, and had as lief be without them as with them.
+For my part, I think they are vastly agreeable, provided they dress
+smart and behave civil.  But I can't bear to see them dirty and nasty.
+Now there's Mr. Rose at Exeter, a prodigious smart young man, quite a
+beau, clerk to Mr. Simpson, you know, and yet if you do but meet him of
+a morning, he is not fit to be seen.-- I suppose your brother was quite
+a beau, Miss Dashwood, before he married, as he was so rich?"
+
+"Upon my word," replied Elinor, "I cannot tell you, for I do not
+perfectly comprehend the meaning of the word.  But this I can say, that
+if he ever was a beau before he married, he is one still for there is
+not the smallest alteration in him."
+
+"Oh! dear! one never thinks of married men's being beaux--they have
+something else to do."
+
+"Lord! Anne," cried her sister, "you can talk of nothing but
+beaux;--you will make Miss Dashwood believe you think of nothing else."
+And then to turn the discourse, she began admiring the house and the
+furniture.
+
+This specimen of the Miss Steeles was enough.  The vulgar freedom and
+folly of the eldest left her no recommendation, and as Elinor was not
+blinded by the beauty, or the shrewd look of the youngest, to her want
+of real elegance and artlessness, she left the house without any wish
+of knowing them better.
+
+Not so the Miss Steeles.--They came from Exeter, well provided with
+admiration for the use of Sir John Middleton, his family, and all his
+relations, and no niggardly proportion was now dealt out to his fair
+cousins, whom they declared to be the most beautiful, elegant,
+accomplished, and agreeable girls they had ever beheld, and with whom
+they were particularly anxious to be better acquainted.-- And to be
+better acquainted therefore, Elinor soon found was their inevitable
+lot, for as Sir John was entirely on the side of the Miss Steeles,
+their party would be too strong for opposition, and that kind of
+intimacy must be submitted to, which consists of sitting an hour or two
+together in the same room almost every day.  Sir John could do no more;
+but he did not know that any more was required: to be together was, in
+his opinion, to be intimate, and while his continual schemes for their
+meeting were effectual, he had not a doubt of their being established
+friends.
+
+To do him justice, he did every thing in his power to promote their
+unreserve, by making the Miss Steeles acquainted with whatever he knew
+or supposed of his cousins' situations in the most delicate
+particulars,--and Elinor had not seen them more than twice, before the
+eldest of them wished her joy on her sister's having been so lucky as
+to make a conquest of a very smart beau since she came to Barton.
+
+"'Twill be a fine thing to have her married so young to be sure," said
+she, "and I hear he is quite a beau, and prodigious handsome.  And I
+hope you may have as good luck yourself soon,--but perhaps you may have
+a friend in the corner already."
+
+Elinor could not suppose that Sir John would be more nice in
+proclaiming his suspicions of her regard for Edward, than he had been
+with respect to Marianne; indeed it was rather his favourite joke of
+the two, as being somewhat newer and more conjectural; and since
+Edward's visit, they had never dined together without his drinking to
+her best affections with so much significancy and so many nods and
+winks, as to excite general attention.  The letter F--had been likewise
+invariably brought forward, and found productive of such countless
+jokes, that its character as the wittiest letter in the alphabet had
+been long established with Elinor.
+
+The Miss Steeles, as she expected, had now all the benefit of these
+jokes, and in the eldest of them they raised a curiosity to know the
+name of the gentleman alluded to, which, though often impertinently
+expressed, was perfectly of a piece with her general inquisitiveness
+into the concerns of their family.  But Sir John did not sport long
+with the curiosity which he delighted to raise, for he had at least as
+much pleasure in telling the name, as Miss Steele had in hearing it.
+
+"His name is Ferrars," said he, in a very audible whisper; "but pray do
+not tell it, for it's a great secret."
+
+"Ferrars!" repeated Miss Steele; "Mr. Ferrars is the happy man, is he?
+What! your sister-in-law's brother, Miss Dashwood? a very agreeable
+young man to be sure; I know him very well."
+
+"How can you say so, Anne?" cried Lucy, who generally made an amendment
+to all her sister's assertions.  "Though we have seen him once or twice
+at my uncle's, it is rather too much to pretend to know him very well."
+
+Elinor heard all this with attention and surprise.  "And who was this
+uncle?  Where did he live?  How came they acquainted?"  She wished very
+much to have the subject continued, though she did not chuse to join in
+it herself; but nothing more of it was said, and for the first time in
+her life, she thought Mrs. Jennings deficient either in curiosity after
+petty information, or in a disposition to communicate it.  The manner
+in which Miss Steele had spoken of Edward, increased her curiosity; for
+it struck her as being rather ill-natured, and suggested the suspicion
+of that lady's knowing, or fancying herself to know something to his
+disadvantage.--But her curiosity was unavailing, for no farther notice
+was taken of Mr. Ferrars's name by Miss Steele when alluded to, or even
+openly mentioned by Sir John.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 22
+
+
+Marianne, who had never much toleration for any thing like
+impertinence, vulgarity, inferiority of parts, or even difference of
+taste from herself, was at this time particularly ill-disposed, from
+the state of her spirits, to be pleased with the Miss Steeles, or to
+encourage their advances; and to the invariable coldness of her
+behaviour towards them, which checked every endeavour at intimacy on
+their side, Elinor principally attributed that preference of herself
+which soon became evident in the manners of both, but especially of
+Lucy, who missed no opportunity of engaging her in conversation, or of
+striving to improve their acquaintance by an easy and frank
+communication of her sentiments.
+
+Lucy was naturally clever; her remarks were often just and amusing; and
+as a companion for half an hour Elinor frequently found her agreeable;
+but her powers had received no aid from education: she was ignorant and
+illiterate; and her deficiency of all mental improvement, her want of
+information in the most common particulars, could not be concealed from
+Miss Dashwood, in spite of her constant endeavour to appear to
+advantage.  Elinor saw, and pitied her for, the neglect of abilities
+which education might have rendered so respectable; but she saw, with
+less tenderness of feeling, the thorough want of delicacy, of
+rectitude, and integrity of mind, which her attentions, her
+assiduities, her flatteries at the Park betrayed; and she could have no
+lasting satisfaction in the company of a person who joined insincerity
+with ignorance; whose want of instruction prevented their meeting in
+conversation on terms of equality, and whose conduct toward others made
+every shew of attention and deference towards herself perfectly
+valueless.
+
+"You will think my question an odd one, I dare say," said Lucy to her
+one day, as they were walking together from the park to the
+cottage--"but pray, are you personally acquainted with your
+sister-in-law's mother, Mrs. Ferrars?"
+
+Elinor DID think the question a very odd one, and her countenance
+expressed it, as she answered that she had never seen Mrs. Ferrars.
+
+"Indeed!" replied Lucy; "I wonder at that, for I thought you must have
+seen her at Norland sometimes.  Then, perhaps, you cannot tell me what
+sort of a woman she is?"
+
+"No," returned Elinor, cautious of giving her real opinion of Edward's
+mother, and not very desirous of satisfying what seemed impertinent
+curiosity-- "I know nothing of her."
+
+"I am sure you think me very strange, for enquiring about her in such a
+way," said Lucy, eyeing Elinor attentively as she spoke; "but perhaps
+there may be reasons--I wish I might venture; but however I hope you
+will do me the justice of believing that I do not mean to be
+impertinent."
+
+Elinor made her a civil reply, and they walked on for a few minutes in
+silence.  It was broken by Lucy, who renewed the subject again by
+saying, with some hesitation,
+
+"I cannot bear to have you think me impertinently curious.  I am sure I
+would rather do any thing in the world than be thought so by a person
+whose good opinion is so well worth having as yours.  And I am sure I
+should not have the smallest fear of trusting YOU; indeed, I should be
+very glad of your advice how to manage in such and uncomfortable
+situation as I am; but, however, there is no occasion to trouble YOU.
+I am sorry you do not happen to know Mrs. Ferrars."
+
+"I am sorry I do NOT," said Elinor, in great astonishment, "if it could
+be of any use to YOU to know my opinion of her.  But really I never
+understood that you were at all connected with that family, and
+therefore I am a little surprised, I confess, at so serious an inquiry
+into her character."
+
+"I dare say you are, and I am sure I do not at all wonder at it.  But
+if I dared tell you all, you would not be so much surprised.  Mrs.
+Ferrars is certainly nothing to me at present--but the time MAY
+come--how soon it will come must depend upon herself--when we may be
+very intimately connected."
+
+She looked down as she said this, amiably bashful, with only one side
+glance at her companion to observe its effect on her.
+
+"Good heavens!" cried Elinor, "what do you mean?  Are you acquainted
+with Mr. Robert Ferrars?  Can you be?" And she did not feel much
+delighted with the idea of such a sister-in-law.
+
+"No," replied Lucy, "not to Mr. ROBERT Ferrars--I never saw him in my
+life; but," fixing her eyes upon Elinor, "to his eldest brother."
+
+What felt Elinor at that moment? Astonishment, that would have been as
+painful as it was strong, had not an immediate disbelief of the
+assertion attended it.  She turned towards Lucy in silent amazement,
+unable to divine the reason or object of such a declaration; and though
+her complexion varied, she stood firm in incredulity, and felt in no
+danger of an hysterical fit, or a swoon.
+
+"You may well be surprised," continued Lucy; "for to be sure you could
+have had no idea of it before; for I dare say he never dropped the
+smallest hint of it to you or any of your family; because it was always
+meant to be a great secret, and I am sure has been faithfully kept so
+by me to this hour.  Not a soul of all my relations know of it but
+Anne, and I never should have mentioned it to you, if I had not felt
+the greatest dependence in the world upon your secrecy; and I really
+thought my behaviour in asking so many questions about Mrs. Ferrars
+must seem so odd, that it ought to be explained.  And I do not think
+Mr. Ferrars can be displeased, when he knows I have trusted you,
+because I know he has the highest opinion in the world of all your
+family, and looks upon yourself and the other Miss Dashwoods quite as
+his own sisters."--She paused.
+
+Elinor for a few moments remained silent.  Her astonishment at what she
+heard was at first too great for words; but at length forcing herself
+to speak, and to speak cautiously, she said, with calmness of manner,
+which tolerably well concealed her surprise and solicitude-- "May I ask
+if your engagement is of long standing?"
+
+"We have been engaged these four years."
+
+"Four years!"
+
+"Yes."
+
+Elinor, though greatly shocked, still felt unable to believe it.
+
+"I did not know," said she, "that you were even acquainted till the
+other day."
+
+"Our acquaintance, however, is of many years date.  He was under my
+uncle's care, you know, a considerable while."
+
+"Your uncle!"
+
+"Yes; Mr. Pratt.  Did you never hear him talk of Mr. Pratt?"
+
+"I think I have," replied Elinor, with an exertion of spirits, which
+increased with her increase of emotion.
+
+"He was four years with my uncle, who lives at Longstaple, near
+Plymouth.  It was there our acquaintance begun, for my sister and me
+was often staying with my uncle, and it was there our engagement was
+formed, though not till a year after he had quitted as a pupil; but he
+was almost always with us afterwards.  I was very unwilling to enter
+into it, as you may imagine, without the knowledge and approbation of
+his mother; but I was too young, and loved him too well, to be so
+prudent as I ought to have been.-- Though you do not know him so well
+as me, Miss Dashwood, you must have seen enough of him to be sensible
+he is very capable of making a woman sincerely attached to him."
+
+"Certainly," answered Elinor, without knowing what she said; but after
+a moment's reflection, she added, with revived security of Edward's
+honour and love, and her companion's falsehood--"Engaged to Mr. Edward
+Ferrars!--I confess myself so totally surprised at what you tell me,
+that really--I beg your pardon; but surely there must be some mistake
+of person or name.  We cannot mean the same Mr. Ferrars."
+
+"We can mean no other," cried Lucy, smiling.  "Mr. Edward Ferrars, the
+eldest son of Mrs. Ferrars, of Park Street, and brother of your
+sister-in-law, Mrs. John Dashwood, is the person I mean; you must allow
+that I am not likely to be deceived as to the name of the man on who
+all my happiness depends."
+
+"It is strange," replied Elinor, in a most painful perplexity, "that I
+should never have heard him even mention your name."
+
+"No; considering our situation, it was not strange.  Our first care has
+been to keep the matter secret.-- You knew nothing of me, or my family,
+and, therefore, there could be no OCCASION for ever mentioning my name
+to you; and, as he was always particularly afraid of his sister's
+suspecting any thing, THAT was reason enough for his not mentioning it."
+
+She was silent.--Elinor's security sunk; but her self-command did not
+sink with it.
+
+"Four years you have been engaged," said she with a firm voice.
+
+"Yes; and heaven knows how much longer we may have to wait.  Poor
+Edward!  It puts him quite out of heart." Then taking a small miniature
+from her pocket, she added, "To prevent the possibility of mistake, be
+so good as to look at this face.  It does not do him justice, to be
+sure, but yet I think you cannot be deceived as to the person it was
+drew for.--I have had it above these three years."
+
+She put it into her hands as she spoke; and when Elinor saw the
+painting, whatever other doubts her fear of a too hasty decision, or
+her wish of detecting falsehood might suffer to linger in her mind, she
+could have none of its being Edward's face.  She returned it almost
+instantly, acknowledging the likeness.
+
+"I have never been able," continued Lucy, "to give him my picture in
+return, which I am very much vexed at, for he has been always so
+anxious to get it!  But I am determined to set for it the very first
+opportunity."
+
+"You are quite in the right," replied Elinor calmly.  They then
+proceeded a few paces in silence.  Lucy spoke first.
+
+"I am sure," said she, "I have no doubt in the world of your faithfully
+keeping this secret, because you must know of what importance it is to
+us, not to have it reach his mother; for she would never approve of it,
+I dare say.  I shall have no fortune, and I fancy she is an exceeding
+proud woman."
+
+"I certainly did not seek your confidence," said Elinor; "but you do me
+no more than justice in imagining that I may be depended on.  Your
+secret is safe with me; but pardon me if I express some surprise at so
+unnecessary a communication.  You must at least have felt that my being
+acquainted with it could not add to its safety."
+
+As she said this, she looked earnestly at Lucy, hoping to discover
+something in her countenance; perhaps the falsehood of the greatest
+part of what she had been saying; but Lucy's countenance suffered no
+change.
+
+"I was afraid you would think I was taking a great liberty with you,"
+said she, "in telling you all this.  I have not known you long to be
+sure, personally at least, but I have known you and all your family by
+description a great while; and as soon as I saw you, I felt almost as
+if you was an old acquaintance.  Besides in the present case, I really
+thought some explanation was due to you after my making such particular
+inquiries about Edward's mother; and I am so unfortunate, that I have
+not a creature whose advice I can ask.  Anne is the only person that
+knows of it, and she has no judgment at all; indeed, she does me a
+great deal more harm than good, for I am in constant fear of her
+betraying me.  She does not know how to hold her tongue, as you must
+perceive, and I am sure I was in the greatest fright in the world
+t'other day, when Edward's name was mentioned by Sir John, lest she
+should out with it all.  You can't think how much I go through in my
+mind from it altogether.  I only wonder that I am alive after what I
+have suffered for Edward's sake these last four years.  Every thing in
+such suspense and uncertainty; and seeing him so seldom--we can hardly
+meet above twice a-year.  I am sure I wonder my heart is not quite
+broke."
+
+Here she took out her handkerchief; but Elinor did not feel very
+compassionate.
+
+"Sometimes." continued Lucy, after wiping her eyes, "I think whether it
+would not be better for us both to break off the matter entirely."  As
+she said this, she looked directly at her companion.  "But then at
+other times I have not resolution enough for it.-- I cannot bear the
+thoughts of making him so miserable, as I know the very mention of such
+a thing would do.  And on my own account too--so dear as he is to me--I
+don't think I could be equal to it.  What would you advise me to do in
+such a case, Miss Dashwood?  What would you do yourself?"
+
+"Pardon me," replied Elinor, startled by the question; "but I can give
+you no advice under such circumstances.  Your own judgment must direct
+you."
+
+"To be sure," continued Lucy, after a few minutes silence on both
+sides, "his mother must provide for him sometime or other; but poor
+Edward is so cast down by it!  Did you not think him dreadful
+low-spirited when he was at Barton?  He was so miserable when he left
+us at Longstaple, to go to you, that I was afraid you would think him
+quite ill."
+
+"Did he come from your uncle's, then, when he visited us?"
+
+"Oh, yes; he had been staying a fortnight with us.  Did you think he
+came directly from town?"
+
+"No," replied Elinor, most feelingly sensible of every fresh
+circumstance in favour of Lucy's veracity; "I remember he told us, that
+he had been staying a fortnight with some friends near Plymouth." She
+remembered too, her own surprise at the time, at his mentioning nothing
+farther of those friends, at his total silence with respect even to
+their names.
+
+"Did not you think him sadly out of spirits?" repeated Lucy.
+
+"We did, indeed, particularly so when he first arrived."
+
+"I begged him to exert himself for fear you should suspect what was the
+matter; but it made him so melancholy, not being able to stay more than
+a fortnight with us, and seeing me so much affected.-- Poor fellow!--I
+am afraid it is just the same with him now; for he writes in wretched
+spirits.  I heard from him just before I left Exeter;" taking a letter
+from her pocket and carelessly showing the direction to Elinor.  "You
+know his hand, I dare say, a charming one it is; but that is not
+written so well as usual.--He was tired, I dare say, for he had just
+filled the sheet to me as full as possible."
+
+Elinor saw that it WAS his hand, and she could doubt no longer.  This
+picture, she had allowed herself to believe, might have been
+accidentally obtained; it might not have been Edward's gift; but a
+correspondence between them by letter, could subsist only under a
+positive engagement, could be authorised by nothing else; for a few
+moments, she was almost overcome--her heart sunk within her, and she
+could hardly stand; but exertion was indispensably necessary; and she
+struggled so resolutely against the oppression of her feelings, that
+her success was speedy, and for the time complete.
+
+"Writing to each other," said Lucy, returning the letter into her
+pocket, "is the only comfort we have in such long separations.  Yes, I
+have one other comfort in his picture, but poor Edward has not even
+THAT.  If he had but my picture, he says he should be easy.  I gave him
+a lock of my hair set in a ring when he was at Longstaple last, and
+that was some comfort to him, he said, but not equal to a picture.
+Perhaps you might notice the ring when you saw him?"
+
+"I did," said Elinor, with a composure of voice, under which was
+concealed an emotion and distress beyond any thing she had ever felt
+before.  She was mortified, shocked, confounded.
+
+Fortunately for her, they had now reached the cottage, and the
+conversation could be continued no farther.  After sitting with them a
+few minutes, the Miss Steeles returned to the Park, and Elinor was then
+at liberty to think and be wretched.
+
+
+
+
+
+[At this point in the first and second editions, Volume 1 ends.]
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 23
+
+
+However small Elinor's general dependence on Lucy's veracity might be,
+it was impossible for her on serious reflection to suspect it in the
+present case, where no temptation could be answerable to the folly of
+inventing a falsehood of such a description.  What Lucy had asserted to
+be true, therefore, Elinor could not, dared not longer doubt; supported
+as it was too on every side by such probabilities and proofs, and
+contradicted by nothing but her own wishes.  Their opportunity of
+acquaintance in the house of Mr. Pratt was a foundation for the rest,
+at once indisputable and alarming; and Edward's visit near Plymouth,
+his melancholy state of mind, his dissatisfaction at his own prospects,
+his uncertain behaviour towards herself, the intimate knowledge of the
+Miss Steeles as to Norland and their family connections, which had
+often surprised her, the picture, the letter, the ring, formed
+altogether such a body of evidence, as overcame every fear of
+condemning him unfairly, and established as a fact, which no partiality
+could set aside, his ill-treatment of herself.--Her resentment of such
+behaviour, her indignation at having been its dupe, for a short time
+made her feel only for herself; but other ideas, other considerations,
+soon arose.  Had Edward been intentionally deceiving her?  Had he
+feigned a regard for her which he did not feel?  Was his engagement to
+Lucy an engagement of the heart?  No; whatever it might once have been,
+she could not believe it such at present.  His affection was all her
+own.  She could not be deceived in that.  Her mother, sisters, Fanny,
+all had been conscious of his regard for her at Norland; it was not an
+illusion of her own vanity.  He certainly loved her.  What a softener
+of the heart was this persuasion!  How much could it not tempt her to
+forgive!  He had been blamable, highly blamable, in remaining at
+Norland after he first felt her influence over him to be more than it
+ought to be.  In that, he could not be defended; but if he had injured
+her, how much more had he injured himself; if her case were pitiable,
+his was hopeless.  His imprudence had made her miserable for a while;
+but it seemed to have deprived himself of all chance of ever being
+otherwise.  She might in time regain tranquillity; but HE, what had he
+to look forward to?  Could he ever be tolerably happy with Lucy Steele;
+could he, were his affection for herself out of the question, with his
+integrity, his delicacy, and well-informed mind, be satisfied with a
+wife like her--illiterate, artful, and selfish?
+
+The youthful infatuation of nineteen would naturally blind him to every
+thing but her beauty and good nature; but the four succeeding
+years--years, which if rationally spent, give such improvement to the
+understanding, must have opened his eyes to her defects of education,
+while the same period of time, spent on her side in inferior society
+and more frivolous pursuits, had perhaps robbed her of that simplicity
+which might once have given an interesting character to her beauty.
+
+If in the supposition of his seeking to marry herself, his difficulties
+from his mother had seemed great, how much greater were they now likely
+to be, when the object of his engagement was undoubtedly inferior in
+connections, and probably inferior in fortune to herself.  These
+difficulties, indeed, with a heart so alienated from Lucy, might not
+press very hard upon his patience; but melancholy was the state of the
+person by whom the expectation of family opposition and unkindness,
+could be felt as a relief!
+
+As these considerations occurred to her in painful succession, she wept
+for him, more than for herself.  Supported by the conviction of having
+done nothing to merit her present unhappiness, and consoled by the
+belief that Edward had done nothing to forfeit her esteem, she thought
+she could even now, under the first smart of the heavy blow, command
+herself enough to guard every suspicion of the truth from her mother
+and sisters.  And so well was she able to answer her own expectations,
+that when she joined them at dinner only two hours after she had first
+suffered the extinction of all her dearest hopes, no one would have
+supposed from the appearance of the sisters, that Elinor was mourning
+in secret over obstacles which must divide her for ever from the object
+of her love, and that Marianne was internally dwelling on the
+perfections of a man, of whose whole heart she felt thoroughly
+possessed, and whom she expected to see in every carriage which drove
+near their house.
+
+The necessity of concealing from her mother and Marianne, what had been
+entrusted in confidence to herself, though it obliged her to unceasing
+exertion, was no aggravation of Elinor's distress.  On the contrary it
+was a relief to her, to be spared the communication of what would give
+such affliction to them, and to be saved likewise from hearing that
+condemnation of Edward, which would probably flow from the excess of
+their partial affection for herself, and which was more than she felt
+equal to support.
+
+From their counsel, or their conversation, she knew she could receive
+no assistance, their tenderness and sorrow must add to her distress,
+while her self-command would neither receive encouragement from their
+example nor from their praise.  She was stronger alone, and her own
+good sense so well supported her, that her firmness was as unshaken,
+her appearance of cheerfulness as invariable, as with regrets so
+poignant and so fresh, it was possible for them to be.
+
+Much as she had suffered from her first conversation with Lucy on the
+subject, she soon felt an earnest wish of renewing it; and this for
+more reasons than one.  She wanted to hear many particulars of their
+engagement repeated again, she wanted more clearly to understand what
+Lucy really felt for Edward, whether there were any sincerity in her
+declaration of tender regard for him, and she particularly wanted to
+convince Lucy, by her readiness to enter on the matter again, and her
+calmness in conversing on it, that she was no otherwise interested in
+it than as a friend, which she very much feared her involuntary
+agitation, in their morning discourse, must have left at least
+doubtful.  That Lucy was disposed to be jealous of her appeared very
+probable: it was plain that Edward had always spoken highly in her
+praise, not merely from Lucy's assertion, but from her venturing to
+trust her on so short a personal acquaintance, with a secret so
+confessedly and evidently important.  And even Sir John's joking
+intelligence must have had some weight.  But indeed, while Elinor
+remained so well assured within herself of being really beloved by
+Edward, it required no other consideration of probabilities to make it
+natural that Lucy should be jealous; and that she was so, her very
+confidence was a proof.  What other reason for the disclosure of the
+affair could there be, but that Elinor might be informed by it of
+Lucy's superior claims on Edward, and be taught to avoid him in future?
+She had little difficulty in understanding thus much of her rival's
+intentions, and while she was firmly resolved to act by her as every
+principle of honour and honesty directed, to combat her own affection
+for Edward and to see him as little as possible; she could not deny
+herself the comfort of endeavouring to convince Lucy that her heart was
+unwounded.  And as she could now have nothing more painful to hear on
+the subject than had already been told, she did not mistrust her own
+ability of going through a repetition of particulars with composure.
+
+But it was not immediately that an opportunity of doing so could be
+commanded, though Lucy was as well disposed as herself to take
+advantage of any that occurred; for the weather was not often fine
+enough to allow of their joining in a walk, where they might most
+easily separate themselves from the others; and though they met at
+least every other evening either at the park or cottage, and chiefly at
+the former, they could not be supposed to meet for the sake of
+conversation.  Such a thought would never enter either Sir John or Lady
+Middleton's head; and therefore very little leisure was ever given for
+a general chat, and none at all for particular discourse.  They met for
+the sake of eating, drinking, and laughing together, playing at cards,
+or consequences, or any other game that was sufficiently noisy.
+
+One or two meetings of this kind had taken place, without affording
+Elinor any chance of engaging Lucy in private, when Sir John called at
+the cottage one morning, to beg, in the name of charity, that they
+would all dine with Lady Middleton that day, as he was obliged to
+attend the club at Exeter, and she would otherwise be quite alone,
+except her mother and the two Miss Steeles.  Elinor, who foresaw a
+fairer opening for the point she had in view, in such a party as this
+was likely to be, more at liberty among themselves under the tranquil
+and well-bred direction of Lady Middleton than when her husband united
+them together in one noisy purpose, immediately accepted the
+invitation; Margaret, with her mother's permission, was equally
+compliant, and Marianne, though always unwilling to join any of their
+parties, was persuaded by her mother, who could not bear to have her
+seclude herself from any chance of amusement, to go likewise.
+
+The young ladies went, and Lady Middleton was happily preserved from
+the frightful solitude which had threatened her.  The insipidity of the
+meeting was exactly such as Elinor had expected; it produced not one
+novelty of thought or expression, and nothing could be less interesting
+than the whole of their discourse both in the dining parlour and
+drawing room: to the latter, the children accompanied them, and while
+they remained there, she was too well convinced of the impossibility of
+engaging Lucy's attention to attempt it.  They quitted it only with the
+removal of the tea-things.  The card-table was then placed, and Elinor
+began to wonder at herself for having ever entertained a hope of
+finding time for conversation at the park.  They all rose up in
+preparation for a round game.
+
+"I am glad," said Lady Middleton to Lucy, "you are not going to finish
+poor little Annamaria's basket this evening; for I am sure it must hurt
+your eyes to work filigree by candlelight.  And we will make the dear
+little love some amends for her disappointment to-morrow, and then I
+hope she will not much mind it."
+
+This hint was enough, Lucy recollected herself instantly and replied,
+"Indeed you are very much mistaken, Lady Middleton; I am only waiting
+to know whether you can make your party without me, or I should have
+been at my filigree already.  I would not disappoint the little angel
+for all the world: and if you want me at the card-table now, I am
+resolved to finish the basket after supper."
+
+"You are very good, I hope it won't hurt your eyes--will you ring the
+bell for some working candles?  My poor little girl would be sadly
+disappointed, I know, if the basket was not finished tomorrow, for
+though I told her it certainly would not, I am sure she depends upon
+having it done."
+
+Lucy directly drew her work table near her and reseated herself with an
+alacrity and cheerfulness which seemed to infer that she could taste no
+greater delight than in making a filigree basket for a spoilt child.
+
+Lady Middleton proposed a rubber of Casino to the others.  No one made
+any objection but Marianne, who with her usual inattention to the forms
+of general civility, exclaimed, "Your Ladyship will have the goodness
+to excuse ME--you know I detest cards.  I shall go to the piano-forte;
+I have not touched it since it was tuned."  And without farther
+ceremony, she turned away and walked to the instrument.
+
+Lady Middleton looked as if she thanked heaven that SHE had never made
+so rude a speech.
+
+"Marianne can never keep long from that instrument you know, ma'am,"
+said Elinor, endeavouring to smooth away the offence; "and I do not
+much wonder at it; for it is the very best toned piano-forte I ever
+heard."
+
+The remaining five were now to draw their cards.
+
+"Perhaps," continued Elinor, "if I should happen to cut out, I may be
+of some use to Miss Lucy Steele, in rolling her papers for her; and
+there is so much still to be done to the basket, that it must be
+impossible I think for her labour singly, to finish it this evening.  I
+should like the work exceedingly, if she would allow me a share in it."
+
+"Indeed I shall be very much obliged to you for your help," cried Lucy,
+"for I find there is more to be done to it than I thought there was;
+and it would be a shocking thing to disappoint dear Annamaria after
+all."
+
+"Oh! that would be terrible, indeed," said Miss Steele-- "Dear little
+soul, how I do love her!"
+
+"You are very kind," said Lady Middleton to Elinor; "and as you really
+like the work, perhaps you will be as well pleased not to cut in till
+another rubber, or will you take your chance now?"
+
+Elinor joyfully profited by the first of these proposals, and thus by a
+little of that address which Marianne could never condescend to
+practise, gained her own end, and pleased Lady Middleton at the same
+time.  Lucy made room for her with ready attention, and the two fair
+rivals were thus seated side by side at the same table, and, with the
+utmost harmony, engaged in forwarding the same work.  The pianoforte at
+which Marianne, wrapped up in her own music and her own thoughts, had
+by this time forgotten that any body was in the room besides herself,
+was luckily so near them that Miss Dashwood now judged she might
+safely, under the shelter of its noise, introduce the interesting
+subject, without any risk of being heard at the card-table.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 24
+
+
+In a firm, though cautious tone, Elinor thus began.
+
+"I should be undeserving of the confidence you have honoured me with,
+if I felt no desire for its continuance, or no farther curiosity on its
+subject.  I will not apologize therefore for bringing it forward again."
+
+"Thank you," cried Lucy warmly, "for breaking the ice; you have set my
+heart at ease by it; for I was somehow or other afraid I had offended
+you by what I told you that Monday."
+
+"Offended me! How could you suppose so? Believe me," and Elinor spoke
+it with the truest sincerity, "nothing could be farther from my
+intention than to give you such an idea.  Could you have a motive for
+the trust, that was not honourable and flattering to me?"
+
+"And yet I do assure you," replied Lucy, her little sharp eyes full of
+meaning, "there seemed to me to be a coldness and displeasure in your
+manner that made me quite uncomfortable.  I felt sure that you was
+angry with me; and have been quarrelling with myself ever since, for
+having took such a liberty as to trouble you with my affairs.  But I am
+very glad to find it was only my own fancy, and that you really do not
+blame me.  If you knew what a consolation it was to me to relieve my
+heart speaking to you of what I am always thinking of every moment of
+my life, your compassion would make you overlook every thing else I am
+sure."
+
+"Indeed, I can easily believe that it was a very great relief to you,
+to acknowledge your situation to me, and be assured that you shall
+never have reason to repent it.  Your case is a very unfortunate one;
+you seem to me to be surrounded with difficulties, and you will have
+need of all your mutual affection to support you under them.  Mr.
+Ferrars, I believe, is entirely dependent on his mother."
+
+"He has only two thousand pounds of his own; it would be madness to
+marry upon that, though for my own part, I could give up every prospect
+of more without a sigh.  I have been always used to a very small
+income, and could struggle with any poverty for him; but I love him too
+well to be the selfish means of robbing him, perhaps, of all that his
+mother might give him if he married to please her.  We must wait, it
+may be for many years.  With almost every other man in the world, it
+would be an alarming prospect; but Edward's affection and constancy
+nothing can deprive me of I know."
+
+"That conviction must be every thing to you; and he is undoubtedly
+supported by the same trust in your's.  If the strength of your
+reciprocal attachment had failed, as between many people, and under
+many circumstances it naturally would during a four years' engagement,
+your situation would have been pitiable, indeed."
+
+Lucy here looked up; but Elinor was careful in guarding her countenance
+from every expression that could give her words a suspicious tendency.
+
+"Edward's love for me," said Lucy, "has been pretty well put to the
+test, by our long, very long absence since we were first engaged, and
+it has stood the trial so well, that I should be unpardonable to doubt
+it now.  I can safely say that he has never gave me one moment's alarm
+on that account from the first."
+
+Elinor hardly knew whether to smile or sigh at this assertion.
+
+Lucy went on.  "I am rather of a jealous temper too by nature, and from
+our different situations in life, from his being so much more in the
+world than me, and our continual separation, I was enough inclined for
+suspicion, to have found out the truth in an instant, if there had been
+the slightest alteration in his behaviour to me when we met, or any
+lowness of spirits that I could not account for, or if he had talked
+more of one lady than another, or seemed in any respect less happy at
+Longstaple than he used to be.  I do not mean to say that I am
+particularly observant or quick-sighted in general, but in such a case
+I am sure I could not be deceived."
+
+"All this," thought Elinor, "is very pretty; but it can impose upon
+neither of us."
+
+"But what," said she after a short silence, "are your views? or have
+you none but that of waiting for Mrs. Ferrars's death, which is a
+melancholy and shocking extremity?--Is her son determined to submit to
+this, and to all the tediousness of the many years of suspense in which
+it may involve you, rather than run the risk of her displeasure for a
+while by owning the truth?"
+
+"If we could be certain that it would be only for a while!  But Mrs.
+Ferrars is a very headstrong proud woman, and in her first fit of anger
+upon hearing it, would very likely secure every thing to Robert, and
+the idea of that, for Edward's sake, frightens away all my inclination
+for hasty measures."
+
+"And for your own sake too, or you are carrying your disinterestedness
+beyond reason."
+
+Lucy looked at Elinor again, and was silent.
+
+"Do you know Mr. Robert Ferrars?" asked Elinor.
+
+"Not at all--I never saw him; but I fancy he is very unlike his
+brother--silly and a great coxcomb."
+
+"A great coxcomb!" repeated Miss Steele, whose ear had caught those
+words by a sudden pause in Marianne's music.-- "Oh, they are talking of
+their favourite beaux, I dare say."
+
+"No sister," cried Lucy, "you are mistaken there, our favourite beaux
+are NOT great coxcombs."
+
+"I can answer for it that Miss Dashwood's is not," said Mrs. Jennings,
+laughing heartily; "for he is one of the modestest, prettiest behaved
+young men I ever saw; but as for Lucy, she is such a sly little
+creature, there is no finding out who SHE likes."
+
+"Oh," cried Miss Steele, looking significantly round at them, "I dare
+say Lucy's beau is quite as modest and pretty behaved as Miss
+Dashwood's."
+
+Elinor blushed in spite of herself.  Lucy bit her lip, and looked
+angrily at her sister.  A mutual silence took place for some time.
+Lucy first put an end to it by saying in a lower tone, though Marianne
+was then giving them the powerful protection of a very magnificent
+concerto--
+
+"I will honestly tell you of one scheme which has lately come into my
+head, for bringing matters to bear; indeed I am bound to let you into
+the secret, for you are a party concerned.  I dare say you have seen
+enough of Edward to know that he would prefer the church to every other
+profession; now my plan is that he should take orders as soon as he
+can, and then through your interest, which I am sure you would be kind
+enough to use out of friendship for him, and I hope out of some regard
+to me, your brother might be persuaded to give him Norland living;
+which I understand is a very good one, and the present incumbent not
+likely to live a great while.  That would be enough for us to marry
+upon, and we might trust to time and chance for the rest."
+
+"I should always be happy," replied Elinor, "to show any mark of my
+esteem and friendship for Mr. Ferrars; but do you not perceive that my
+interest on such an occasion would be perfectly unnecessary?  He is
+brother to Mrs. John Dashwood--THAT must be recommendation enough to
+her husband."
+
+"But Mrs. John Dashwood would not much approve of Edward's going into
+orders."
+
+"Then I rather suspect that my interest would do very little."
+
+They were again silent for many minutes.  At length Lucy exclaimed with
+a deep sigh,
+
+"I believe it would be the wisest way to put an end to the business at
+once by dissolving the engagement.  We seem so beset with difficulties
+on every side, that though it would make us miserable for a time, we
+should be happier perhaps in the end.  But you will not give me your
+advice, Miss Dashwood?"
+
+"No," answered Elinor, with a smile, which concealed very agitated
+feelings, "on such a subject I certainly will not.  You know very well
+that my opinion would have no weight with you, unless it were on the
+side of your wishes."
+
+"Indeed you wrong me," replied Lucy, with great solemnity; "I know
+nobody of whose judgment I think so highly as I do of yours; and I do
+really believe, that if you was to say to me, 'I advise you by all
+means to put an end to your engagement with Edward Ferrars, it will be
+more for the happiness of both of you,' I should resolve upon doing it
+immediately."
+
+Elinor blushed for the insincerity of Edward's future wife, and
+replied, "This compliment would effectually frighten me from giving any
+opinion on the subject had I formed one.  It raises my influence much
+too high; the power of dividing two people so tenderly attached is too
+much for an indifferent person."
+
+"'Tis because you are an indifferent person," said Lucy, with some
+pique, and laying a particular stress on those words, "that your
+judgment might justly have such weight with me.  If you could be
+supposed to be biased in any respect by your own feelings, your opinion
+would not be worth having."
+
+Elinor thought it wisest to make no answer to this, lest they might
+provoke each other to an unsuitable increase of ease and unreserve; and
+was even partly determined never to mention the subject again.  Another
+pause therefore of many minutes' duration, succeeded this speech, and
+Lucy was still the first to end it.
+
+"Shall you be in town this winter, Miss Dashwood?" said she with all
+her accustomary complacency.
+
+"Certainly not."
+
+"I am sorry for that," returned the other, while her eyes brightened at
+the information, "it would have gave me such pleasure to meet you
+there!  But I dare say you will go for all that.  To be sure, your
+brother and sister will ask you to come to them."
+
+"It will not be in my power to accept their invitation if they do."
+
+"How unlucky that is! I had quite depended upon meeting you there.
+Anne and me are to go the latter end of January to some relations who
+have been wanting us to visit them these several years!  But I only go
+for the sake of seeing Edward.  He will be there in February, otherwise
+London would have no charms for me; I have not spirits for it."
+
+Elinor was soon called to the card-table by the conclusion of the first
+rubber, and the confidential discourse of the two ladies was therefore
+at an end, to which both of them submitted without any reluctance, for
+nothing had been said on either side to make them dislike each other
+less than they had done before; and Elinor sat down to the card table
+with the melancholy persuasion that Edward was not only without
+affection for the person who was to be his wife; but that he had not
+even the chance of being tolerably happy in marriage, which sincere
+affection on HER side would have given, for self-interest alone could
+induce a woman to keep a man to an engagement, of which she seemed so
+thoroughly aware that he was weary.
+
+From this time the subject was never revived by Elinor, and when
+entered on by Lucy, who seldom missed an opportunity of introducing it,
+and was particularly careful to inform her confidante, of her happiness
+whenever she received a letter from Edward, it was treated by the
+former with calmness and caution, and dismissed as soon as civility
+would allow; for she felt such conversations to be an indulgence which
+Lucy did not deserve, and which were dangerous to herself.
+
+The visit of the Miss Steeles at Barton Park was lengthened far beyond
+what the first invitation implied.  Their favour increased; they could
+not be spared; Sir John would not hear of their going; and in spite of
+their numerous and long arranged engagements in Exeter, in spite of the
+absolute necessity of returning to fulfill them immediately, which was
+in full force at the end of every week, they were prevailed on to stay
+nearly two months at the park, and to assist in the due celebration of
+that festival which requires a more than ordinary share of private
+balls and large dinners to proclaim its importance.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 25
+
+
+Though Mrs. Jennings was in the habit of spending a large portion of
+the year at the houses of her children and friends, she was not without
+a settled habitation of her own.  Since the death of her husband, who
+had traded with success in a less elegant part of the town, she had
+resided every winter in a house in one of the streets near Portman
+Square.  Towards this home, she began on the approach of January to
+turn her thoughts, and thither she one day abruptly, and very
+unexpectedly by them, asked the elder Misses Dashwood to accompany her.
+Elinor, without observing the varying complexion of her sister, and the
+animated look which spoke no indifference to the plan, immediately gave
+a grateful but absolute denial for both, in which she believed herself
+to be speaking their united inclinations.  The reason alleged was their
+determined resolution of not leaving their mother at that time of the
+year.  Mrs. Jennings received the refusal with some surprise, and
+repeated her invitation immediately.
+
+"Oh, Lord! I am sure your mother can spare you very well, and I DO beg
+you will favour me with your company, for I've quite set my heart upon
+it.  Don't fancy that you will be any inconvenience to me, for I shan't
+put myself at all out of my way for you.  It will only be sending Betty
+by the coach, and I hope I can afford THAT.  We three shall be able to
+go very well in my chaise; and when we are in town, if you do not like
+to go wherever I do, well and good, you may always go with one of my
+daughters.  I am sure your mother will not object to it; for I have had
+such good luck in getting my own children off my hands that she will
+think me a very fit person to have the charge of you; and if I don't
+get one of you at least well married before I have done with you, it
+shall not be my fault.  I shall speak a good word for you to all the
+young men, you may depend upon it."
+
+"I have a notion," said Sir John, "that Miss Marianne would not object
+to such a scheme, if her elder sister would come into it.  It is very
+hard indeed that she should not have a little pleasure, because Miss
+Dashwood does not wish it.  So I would advise you two, to set off for
+town, when you are tired of Barton, without saying a word to Miss
+Dashwood about it."
+
+"Nay," cried Mrs. Jennings, "I am sure I shall be monstrous glad of
+Miss Marianne's company, whether Miss Dashwood will go or not, only the
+more the merrier say I, and I thought it would be more comfortable for
+them to be together; because, if they got tired of me, they might talk
+to one another, and laugh at my old ways behind my back.  But one or
+the other, if not both of them, I must have.  Lord bless me! how do you
+think I can live poking by myself, I who have been always used till
+this winter to have Charlotte with me.  Come, Miss Marianne, let us
+strike hands upon the bargain, and if Miss Dashwood will change her
+mind by and bye, why so much the better."
+
+"I thank you, ma'am, sincerely thank you," said Marianne, with warmth:
+"your invitation has insured my gratitude for ever, and it would give
+me such happiness, yes, almost the greatest happiness I am capable of,
+to be able to accept it.  But my mother, my dearest, kindest mother,--I
+feel the justice of what Elinor has urged, and if she were to be made
+less happy, less comfortable by our absence--Oh! no, nothing should
+tempt me to leave her.  It should not, must not be a struggle."
+
+Mrs. Jennings repeated her assurance that Mrs. Dashwood could spare
+them perfectly well; and Elinor, who now understood her sister, and saw
+to what indifference to almost every thing else she was carried by her
+eagerness to be with Willoughby again, made no farther direct
+opposition to the plan, and merely referred it to her mother's
+decision, from whom however she scarcely expected to receive any
+support in her endeavour to prevent a visit, which she could not
+approve of for Marianne, and which on her own account she had
+particular reasons to avoid.  Whatever Marianne was desirous of, her
+mother would be eager to promote--she could not expect to influence the
+latter to cautiousness of conduct in an affair respecting which she had
+never been able to inspire her with distrust; and she dared not explain
+the motive of her own disinclination for going to London.  That
+Marianne, fastidious as she was, thoroughly acquainted with Mrs.
+Jennings' manners, and invariably disgusted by them, should overlook
+every inconvenience of that kind, should disregard whatever must be
+most wounding to her irritable feelings, in her pursuit of one object,
+was such a proof, so strong, so full, of the importance of that object
+to her, as Elinor, in spite of all that had passed, was not prepared to
+witness.
+
+On being informed of the invitation, Mrs. Dashwood, persuaded that such
+an excursion would be productive of much amusement to both her
+daughters, and perceiving through all her affectionate attention to
+herself, how much the heart of Marianne was in it, would not hear of
+their declining the offer upon HER account; insisted on their both
+accepting it directly; and then began to foresee, with her usual
+cheerfulness, a variety of advantages that would accrue to them all,
+from this separation.
+
+"I am delighted with the plan," she cried, "it is exactly what I could
+wish.  Margaret and I shall be as much benefited by it as yourselves.
+When you and the Middletons are gone, we shall go on so quietly and
+happily together with our books and our music! You will find Margaret
+so improved when you come back again!  I have a little plan of
+alteration for your bedrooms too, which may now be performed without
+any inconvenience to any one.  It is very right that you SHOULD go to
+town; I would have every young woman of your condition in life
+acquainted with the manners and amusements of London.  You will be
+under the care of a motherly good sort of woman, of whose kindness to
+you I can have no doubt.  And in all probability you will see your
+brother, and whatever may be his faults, or the faults of his wife,
+when I consider whose son he is, I cannot bear to have you so wholly
+estranged from each other."
+
+"Though with your usual anxiety for our happiness," said Elinor, "you
+have been obviating every impediment to the present scheme which
+occurred to you, there is still one objection which, in my opinion,
+cannot be so easily removed."
+
+Marianne's countenance sunk.
+
+"And what," said Mrs. Dashwood, "is my dear prudent Elinor going to
+suggest?  What formidable obstacle is she now to bring forward?  Do let
+me hear a word about the expense of it."
+
+"My objection is this; though I think very well of Mrs. Jennings's
+heart, she is not a woman whose society can afford us pleasure, or
+whose protection will give us consequence."
+
+"That is very true," replied her mother, "but of her society,
+separately from that of other people, you will scarcely have any thing
+at all, and you will almost always appear in public with Lady
+Middleton."
+
+"If Elinor is frightened away by her dislike of Mrs. Jennings," said
+Marianne, "at least it need not prevent MY accepting her invitation.  I
+have no such scruples, and I am sure I could put up with every
+unpleasantness of that kind with very little effort."
+
+Elinor could not help smiling at this display of indifference towards
+the manners of a person, to whom she had often had difficulty in
+persuading Marianne to behave with tolerable politeness; and resolved
+within herself, that if her sister persisted in going, she would go
+likewise, as she did not think it proper that Marianne should be left
+to the sole guidance of her own judgment, or that Mrs. Jennings should
+be abandoned to the mercy of Marianne for all the comfort of her
+domestic hours.  To this determination she was the more easily
+reconciled, by recollecting that Edward Ferrars, by Lucy's account, was
+not to be in town before February; and that their visit, without any
+unreasonable abridgement, might be previously finished.
+
+"I will have you BOTH go," said Mrs. Dashwood; "these objections are
+nonsensical.  You will have much pleasure in being in London, and
+especially in being together; and if Elinor would ever condescend to
+anticipate enjoyment, she would foresee it there from a variety of
+sources; she would, perhaps, expect some from improving her
+acquaintance with her sister-in-law's family."
+
+Elinor had often wished for an opportunity of attempting to weaken her
+mother's dependence on the attachment of Edward and herself, that the
+shock might be less when the whole truth were revealed, and now on this
+attack, though almost hopeless of success, she forced herself to begin
+her design by saying, as calmly as she could, "I like Edward Ferrars
+very much, and shall always be glad to see him; but as to the rest of
+the family, it is a matter of perfect indifference to me, whether I am
+ever known to them or not."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood smiled, and said nothing.  Marianne lifted up her eyes in
+astonishment, and Elinor conjectured that she might as well have held
+her tongue.
+
+After very little farther discourse, it was finally settled that the
+invitation should be fully accepted.  Mrs. Jennings received the
+information with a great deal of joy, and many assurances of kindness
+and care; nor was it a matter of pleasure merely to her.  Sir John was
+delighted; for to a man, whose prevailing anxiety was the dread of
+being alone, the acquisition of two, to the number of inhabitants in
+London, was something.  Even Lady Middleton took the trouble of being
+delighted, which was putting herself rather out of her way; and as for
+the Miss Steeles, especially Lucy, they had never been so happy in
+their lives as this intelligence made them.
+
+Elinor submitted to the arrangement which counteracted her wishes with
+less reluctance than she had expected to feel.  With regard to herself,
+it was now a matter of unconcern whether she went to town or not, and
+when she saw her mother so thoroughly pleased with the plan, and her
+sister exhilarated by it in look, voice, and manner, restored to all
+her usual animation, and elevated to more than her usual gaiety, she
+could not be dissatisfied with the cause, and would hardly allow
+herself to distrust the consequence.
+
+Marianne's joy was almost a degree beyond happiness, so great was the
+perturbation of her spirits and her impatience to be gone.  Her
+unwillingness to quit her mother was her only restorative to calmness;
+and at the moment of parting her grief on that score was excessive.
+Her mother's affliction was hardly less, and Elinor was the only one of
+the three, who seemed to consider the separation as any thing short of
+eternal.
+
+Their departure took place in the first week in January.  The
+Middletons were to follow in about a week.  The Miss Steeles kept their
+station at the park, and were to quit it only with the rest of the
+family.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 26
+
+
+Elinor could not find herself in the carriage with Mrs. Jennings, and
+beginning a journey to London under her protection, and as her guest,
+without wondering at her own situation, so short had their acquaintance
+with that lady been, so wholly unsuited were they in age and
+disposition, and so many had been her objections against such a measure
+only a few days before! But these objections had all, with that happy
+ardour of youth which Marianne and her mother equally shared, been
+overcome or overlooked; and Elinor, in spite of every occasional doubt
+of Willoughby's constancy, could not witness the rapture of delightful
+expectation which filled the whole soul and beamed in the eyes of
+Marianne, without feeling how blank was her own prospect, how cheerless
+her own state of mind in the comparison, and how gladly she would
+engage in the solicitude of Marianne's situation to have the same
+animating object in view, the same possibility of hope.  A short, a
+very short time however must now decide what Willoughby's intentions
+were; in all probability he was already in town.  Marianne's eagerness
+to be gone declared her dependence on finding him there; and Elinor was
+resolved not only upon gaining every new light as to his character
+which her own observation or the intelligence of others could give her,
+but likewise upon watching his behaviour to her sister with such
+zealous attention, as to ascertain what he was and what he meant,
+before many meetings had taken place.  Should the result of her
+observations be unfavourable, she was determined at all events to open
+the eyes of her sister; should it be otherwise, her exertions would be
+of a different nature--she must then learn to avoid every selfish
+comparison, and banish every regret which might lessen her satisfaction
+in the happiness of Marianne.
+
+They were three days on their journey, and Marianne's behaviour as they
+travelled was a happy specimen of what future complaisance and
+companionableness to Mrs. Jennings might be expected to be.  She sat in
+silence almost all the way, wrapt in her own meditations, and scarcely
+ever voluntarily speaking, except when any object of picturesque beauty
+within their view drew from her an exclamation of delight exclusively
+addressed to her sister.  To atone for this conduct therefore, Elinor
+took immediate possession of the post of civility which she had
+assigned herself, behaved with the greatest attention to Mrs. Jennings,
+talked with her, laughed with her, and listened to her whenever she
+could; and Mrs. Jennings on her side treated them both with all
+possible kindness, was solicitous on every occasion for their ease and
+enjoyment, and only disturbed that she could not make them choose their
+own dinners at the inn, nor extort a confession of their preferring
+salmon to cod, or boiled fowls to veal cutlets.  They reached town by
+three o'clock the third day, glad to be released, after such a journey,
+from the confinement of a carriage, and ready to enjoy all the luxury
+of a good fire.
+
+The house was handsome, and handsomely fitted up, and the young ladies
+were immediately put in possession of a very comfortable apartment.  It
+had formerly been Charlotte's, and over the mantelpiece still hung a
+landscape in coloured silks of her performance, in proof of her having
+spent seven years at a great school in town to some effect.
+
+As dinner was not to be ready in less than two hours from their
+arrival, Elinor determined to employ the interval in writing to her
+mother, and sat down for that purpose.  In a few moments Marianne did
+the same.  "I am writing home, Marianne," said Elinor; "had not you
+better defer your letter for a day or two?"
+
+"I am NOT going to write to my mother," replied Marianne, hastily, and
+as if wishing to avoid any farther inquiry.  Elinor said no more; it
+immediately struck her that she must then be writing to Willoughby; and
+the conclusion which as instantly followed was, that, however
+mysteriously they might wish to conduct the affair, they must be
+engaged.  This conviction, though not entirely satisfactory, gave her
+pleasure, and she continued her letter with greater alacrity.
+Marianne's was finished in a very few minutes; in length it could be no
+more than a note; it was then folded up, sealed, and directed with
+eager rapidity.  Elinor thought she could distinguish a large W in the
+direction; and no sooner was it complete than Marianne, ringing the
+bell, requested the footman who answered it to get that letter conveyed
+for her to the two-penny post.  This decided the matter at once.
+
+Her spirits still continued very high; but there was a flutter in them
+which prevented their giving much pleasure to her sister, and this
+agitation increased as the evening drew on.  She could scarcely eat any
+dinner, and when they afterwards returned to the drawing room, seemed
+anxiously listening to the sound of every carriage.
+
+It was a great satisfaction to Elinor that Mrs. Jennings, by being much
+engaged in her own room, could see little of what was passing.  The tea
+things were brought in, and already had Marianne been disappointed more
+than once by a rap at a neighbouring door, when a loud one was suddenly
+heard which could not be mistaken for one at any other house, Elinor
+felt secure of its announcing Willoughby's approach, and Marianne,
+starting up, moved towards the door.  Every thing was silent; this
+could not be borne many seconds; she opened the door, advanced a few
+steps towards the stairs, and after listening half a minute, returned
+into the room in all the agitation which a conviction of having heard
+him would naturally produce; in the ecstasy of her feelings at that
+instant she could not help exclaiming, "Oh, Elinor, it is Willoughby,
+indeed it is!" and seemed almost ready to throw herself into his arms,
+when Colonel Brandon appeared.
+
+It was too great a shock to be borne with calmness, and she immediately
+left the room.  Elinor was disappointed too; but at the same time her
+regard for Colonel Brandon ensured his welcome with her; and she felt
+particularly hurt that a man so partial to her sister should perceive
+that she experienced nothing but grief and disappointment in seeing
+him.  She instantly saw that it was not unnoticed by him, that he even
+observed Marianne as she quitted the room, with such astonishment and
+concern, as hardly left him the recollection of what civility demanded
+towards herself.
+
+"Is your sister ill?" said he.
+
+Elinor answered in some distress that she was, and then talked of
+head-aches, low spirits, and over fatigues; and of every thing to which
+she could decently attribute her sister's behaviour.
+
+He heard her with the most earnest attention, but seeming to recollect
+himself, said no more on the subject, and began directly to speak of
+his pleasure at seeing them in London, making the usual inquiries about
+their journey, and the friends they had left behind.
+
+In this calm kind of way, with very little interest on either side,
+they continued to talk, both of them out of spirits, and the thoughts
+of both engaged elsewhere.  Elinor wished very much to ask whether
+Willoughby were then in town, but she was afraid of giving him pain by
+any enquiry after his rival; and at length, by way of saying something,
+she asked if he had been in London ever since she had seen him last.
+"Yes," he replied, with some embarrassment, "almost ever since; I have
+been once or twice at Delaford for a few days, but it has never been in
+my power to return to Barton."
+
+This, and the manner in which it was said, immediately brought back to
+her remembrance all the circumstances of his quitting that place, with
+the uneasiness and suspicions they had caused to Mrs. Jennings, and she
+was fearful that her question had implied much more curiosity on the
+subject than she had ever felt.
+
+Mrs. Jennings soon came in.  "Oh! Colonel," said she, with her usual
+noisy cheerfulness, "I am monstrous glad to see you--sorry I could not
+come before--beg your pardon, but I have been forced to look about me a
+little, and settle my matters; for it is a long while since I have been
+at home, and you know one has always a world of little odd things to do
+after one has been away for any time; and then I have had Cartwright to
+settle with-- Lord, I have been as busy as a bee ever since dinner!
+But pray, Colonel, how came you to conjure out that I should be in town
+today?"
+
+"I had the pleasure of hearing it at Mr. Palmer's, where I have been
+dining."
+
+"Oh, you did; well, and how do they all do at their house?  How does
+Charlotte do?  I warrant you she is a fine size by this time."
+
+"Mrs. Palmer appeared quite well, and I am commissioned to tell you,
+that you will certainly see her to-morrow."
+
+"Ay, to be sure, I thought as much.  Well, Colonel, I have brought two
+young ladies with me, you see--that is, you see but one of them now,
+but there is another somewhere.  Your friend, Miss Marianne, too--which
+you will not be sorry to hear.  I do not know what you and Mr.
+Willoughby will do between you about her.  Ay, it is a fine thing to be
+young and handsome.  Well! I was young once, but I never was very
+handsome--worse luck for me.  However, I got a very good husband, and I
+don't know what the greatest beauty can do more.  Ah! poor man! he has
+been dead these eight years and better.  But Colonel, where have you
+been to since we parted?  And how does your business go on?  Come,
+come, let's have no secrets among friends."
+
+He replied with his accustomary mildness to all her inquiries, but
+without satisfying her in any.  Elinor now began to make the tea, and
+Marianne was obliged to appear again.
+
+After her entrance, Colonel Brandon became more thoughtful and silent
+than he had been before, and Mrs. Jennings could not prevail on him to
+stay long.  No other visitor appeared that evening, and the ladies were
+unanimous in agreeing to go early to bed.
+
+Marianne rose the next morning with recovered spirits and happy looks.
+The disappointment of the evening before seemed forgotten in the
+expectation of what was to happen that day.  They had not long finished
+their breakfast before Mrs. Palmer's barouche stopped at the door, and
+in a few minutes she came laughing into the room: so delighted to see
+them all, that it was hard to say whether she received most pleasure
+from meeting her mother or the Miss Dashwoods again.  So surprised at
+their coming to town, though it was what she had rather expected all
+along; so angry at their accepting her mother's invitation after having
+declined her own, though at the same time she would never have forgiven
+them if they had not come!
+
+"Mr. Palmer will be so happy to see you," said she; "What do you think
+he said when he heard of your coming with Mamma?  I forget what it was
+now, but it was something so droll!"
+
+After an hour or two spent in what her mother called comfortable chat,
+or in other words, in every variety of inquiry concerning all their
+acquaintance on Mrs. Jennings's side, and in laughter without cause on
+Mrs. Palmer's, it was proposed by the latter that they should all
+accompany her to some shops where she had business that morning, to
+which Mrs. Jennings and Elinor readily consented, as having likewise
+some purchases to make themselves; and Marianne, though declining it at
+first was induced to go likewise.
+
+Wherever they went, she was evidently always on the watch.  In Bond
+Street especially, where much of their business lay, her eyes were in
+constant inquiry; and in whatever shop the party were engaged, her mind
+was equally abstracted from every thing actually before them, from all
+that interested and occupied the others.  Restless and dissatisfied
+every where, her sister could never obtain her opinion of any article
+of purchase, however it might equally concern them both: she received
+no pleasure from anything; was only impatient to be at home again, and
+could with difficulty govern her vexation at the tediousness of Mrs.
+Palmer, whose eye was caught by every thing pretty, expensive, or new;
+who was wild to buy all, could determine on none, and dawdled away her
+time in rapture and indecision.
+
+It was late in the morning before they returned home; and no sooner had
+they entered the house than Marianne flew eagerly up stairs, and when
+Elinor followed, she found her turning from the table with a sorrowful
+countenance, which declared that no Willoughby had been there.
+
+"Has no letter been left here for me since we went out?" said she to
+the footman who then entered with the parcels.  She was answered in the
+negative.  "Are you quite sure of it?" she replied.  "Are you certain
+that no servant, no porter has left any letter or note?"
+
+The man replied that none had.
+
+"How very odd!" said she, in a low and disappointed voice, as she
+turned away to the window.
+
+"How odd, indeed!" repeated Elinor within herself, regarding her sister
+with uneasiness.  "If she had not known him to be in town she would not
+have written to him, as she did; she would have written to Combe Magna;
+and if he is in town, how odd that he should neither come nor write!
+Oh! my dear mother, you must be wrong in permitting an engagement
+between a daughter so young, a man so little known, to be carried on in
+so doubtful, so mysterious a manner!  I long to inquire; and how will
+MY interference be borne."
+
+She determined, after some consideration, that if appearances continued
+many days longer as unpleasant as they now were, she would represent in
+the strongest manner to her mother the necessity of some serious
+enquiry into the affair.
+
+Mrs. Palmer and two elderly ladies of Mrs. Jennings's intimate
+acquaintance, whom she had met and invited in the morning, dined with
+them.  The former left them soon after tea to fulfill her evening
+engagements; and Elinor was obliged to assist in making a whist table
+for the others.  Marianne was of no use on these occasions, as she
+would never learn the game; but though her time was therefore at her
+own disposal, the evening was by no means more productive of pleasure
+to her than to Elinor, for it was spent in all the anxiety of
+expectation and the pain of disappointment.  She sometimes endeavoured
+for a few minutes to read; but the book was soon thrown aside, and she
+returned to the more interesting employment of walking backwards and
+forwards across the room, pausing for a moment whenever she came to the
+window, in hopes of distinguishing the long-expected rap.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 27
+
+
+"If this open weather holds much longer," said Mrs. Jennings, when they
+met at breakfast the following morning, "Sir John will not like leaving
+Barton next week; 'tis a sad thing for sportsmen to lose a day's
+pleasure.  Poor souls!  I always pity them when they do; they seem to
+take it so much to heart."
+
+"That is true," cried Marianne, in a cheerful voice, and walking to the
+window as she spoke, to examine the day.  "I had not thought of that.
+This weather will keep many sportsmen in the country."
+
+It was a lucky recollection, all her good spirits were restored by it.
+"It is charming weather for THEM indeed," she continued, as she sat
+down to the breakfast table with a happy countenance.  "How much they
+must enjoy it! But" (with a little return of anxiety) "it cannot be
+expected to last long.  At this time of the year, and after such a
+series of rain, we shall certainly have very little more of it.  Frosts
+will soon set in, and in all probability with severity.  In another day
+or two perhaps; this extreme mildness can hardly last longer--nay,
+perhaps it may freeze tonight!"
+
+"At any rate," said Elinor, wishing to prevent Mrs. Jennings from
+seeing her sister's thoughts as clearly as she did, "I dare say we
+shall have Sir John and Lady Middleton in town by the end of next week."
+
+"Ay, my dear, I'll warrant you we do.  Mary always has her own way."
+
+"And now," silently conjectured Elinor, "she will write to Combe by
+this day's post."
+
+But if she DID, the letter was written and sent away with a privacy
+which eluded all her watchfulness to ascertain the fact.  Whatever the
+truth of it might be, and far as Elinor was from feeling thorough
+contentment about it, yet while she saw Marianne in spirits, she could
+not be very uncomfortable herself.  And Marianne was in spirits; happy
+in the mildness of the weather, and still happier in her expectation of
+a frost.
+
+The morning was chiefly spent in leaving cards at the houses of Mrs.
+Jennings's acquaintance to inform them of her being in town; and
+Marianne was all the time busy in observing the direction of the wind,
+watching the variations of the sky and imagining an alteration in the
+air.
+
+"Don't you find it colder than it was in the morning, Elinor? There
+seems to me a very decided difference.  I can hardly keep my hands warm
+even in my muff.  It was not so yesterday, I think.  The clouds seem
+parting too, the sun will be out in a moment, and we shall have a clear
+afternoon."
+
+Elinor was alternately diverted and pained; but Marianne persevered,
+and saw every night in the brightness of the fire, and every morning in
+the appearance of the atmosphere, the certain symptoms of approaching
+frost.
+
+The Miss Dashwoods had no greater reason to be dissatisfied with Mrs.
+Jennings's style of living, and set of acquaintance, than with her
+behaviour to themselves, which was invariably kind.  Every thing in her
+household arrangements was conducted on the most liberal plan, and
+excepting a few old city friends, whom, to Lady Middleton's regret, she
+had never dropped, she visited no one to whom an introduction could at
+all discompose the feelings of her young companions.  Pleased to find
+herself more comfortably situated in that particular than she had
+expected, Elinor was very willing to compound for the want of much real
+enjoyment from any of their evening parties, which, whether at home or
+abroad, formed only for cards, could have little to amuse her.
+
+Colonel Brandon, who had a general invitation to the house, was with
+them almost every day; he came to look at Marianne and talk to Elinor,
+who often derived more satisfaction from conversing with him than from
+any other daily occurrence, but who saw at the same time with much
+concern his continued regard for her sister.  She feared it was a
+strengthening regard.  It grieved her to see the earnestness with which
+he often watched Marianne, and his spirits were certainly worse than
+when at Barton.
+
+About a week after their arrival, it became certain that Willoughby was
+also arrived.  His card was on the table when they came in from the
+morning's drive.
+
+"Good God!" cried Marianne, "he has been here while we were out."
+Elinor, rejoiced to be assured of his being in London, now ventured to
+say, "Depend upon it, he will call again tomorrow."  But Marianne
+seemed hardly to hear her, and on Mrs. Jenning's entrance, escaped with
+the precious card.
+
+This event, while it raised the spirits of Elinor, restored to those of
+her sister all, and more than all, their former agitation.  From this
+moment her mind was never quiet; the expectation of seeing him every
+hour of the day, made her unfit for any thing.  She insisted on being
+left behind, the next morning, when the others went out.
+
+Elinor's thoughts were full of what might be passing in Berkeley Street
+during their absence; but a moment's glance at her sister when they
+returned was enough to inform her, that Willoughby had paid no second
+visit there.  A note was just then brought in, and laid on the table,
+
+"For me!" cried Marianne, stepping hastily forward.
+
+"No, ma'am, for my mistress."
+
+But Marianne, not convinced, took it instantly up.
+
+"It is indeed for Mrs. Jennings; how provoking!"
+
+"You are expecting a letter, then?" said Elinor, unable to be longer
+silent.
+
+"Yes, a little--not much."
+
+After a short pause.  "You have no confidence in me, Marianne."
+
+"Nay, Elinor, this reproach from YOU--you who have confidence in no
+one!"
+
+"Me!" returned Elinor in some confusion; "indeed, Marianne, I have
+nothing to tell."
+
+"Nor I," answered Marianne with energy, "our situations then are alike.
+We have neither of us any thing to tell; you, because you do not
+communicate, and I, because I conceal nothing."
+
+Elinor, distressed by this charge of reserve in herself, which she was
+not at liberty to do away, knew not how, under such circumstances, to
+press for greater openness in Marianne.
+
+Mrs. Jennings soon appeared, and the note being given her, she read it
+aloud.  It was from Lady Middleton, announcing their arrival in Conduit
+Street the night before, and requesting the company of her mother and
+cousins the following evening.  Business on Sir John's part, and a
+violent cold on her own, prevented their calling in Berkeley Street.
+The invitation was accepted; but when the hour of appointment drew
+near, necessary as it was in common civility to Mrs. Jennings, that
+they should both attend her on such a visit, Elinor had some difficulty
+in persuading her sister to go, for still she had seen nothing of
+Willoughby; and therefore was not more indisposed for amusement abroad,
+than unwilling to run the risk of his calling again in her absence.
+
+Elinor found, when the evening was over, that disposition is not
+materially altered by a change of abode, for although scarcely settled
+in town, Sir John had contrived to collect around him, nearly twenty
+young people, and to amuse them with a ball.  This was an affair,
+however, of which Lady Middleton did not approve.  In the country, an
+unpremeditated dance was very allowable; but in London, where the
+reputation of elegance was more important and less easily attained, it
+was risking too much for the gratification of a few girls, to have it
+known that Lady Middleton had given a small dance of eight or nine
+couple, with two violins, and a mere side-board collation.
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Palmer were of the party; from the former, whom they had
+not seen before since their arrival in town, as he was careful to avoid
+the appearance of any attention to his mother-in-law, and therefore
+never came near her, they received no mark of recognition on their
+entrance.  He looked at them slightly, without seeming to know who they
+were, and merely nodded to Mrs. Jennings from the other side of the
+room.  Marianne gave one glance round the apartment as she entered: it
+was enough--HE was not there--and she sat down, equally ill-disposed to
+receive or communicate pleasure.  After they had been assembled about
+an hour, Mr. Palmer sauntered towards the Miss Dashwoods to express his
+surprise on seeing them in town, though Colonel Brandon had been first
+informed of their arrival at his house, and he had himself said
+something very droll on hearing that they were to come.
+
+"I thought you were both in Devonshire," said he.
+
+"Did you?" replied Elinor.
+
+"When do you go back again?"
+
+"I do not know." And thus ended their discourse.
+
+Never had Marianne been so unwilling to dance in her life, as she was
+that evening, and never so much fatigued by the exercise.  She
+complained of it as they returned to Berkeley Street.
+
+"Aye, aye," said Mrs. Jennings, "we know the reason of all that very
+well; if a certain person who shall be nameless, had been there, you
+would not have been a bit tired: and to say the truth it was not very
+pretty of him not to give you the meeting when he was invited."
+
+"Invited!" cried Marianne.
+
+"So my daughter Middleton told me, for it seems Sir John met him
+somewhere in the street this morning." Marianne said no more, but
+looked exceedingly hurt.  Impatient in this situation to be doing
+something that might lead to her sister's relief, Elinor resolved to
+write the next morning to her mother, and hoped by awakening her fears
+for the health of Marianne, to procure those inquiries which had been
+so long delayed; and she was still more eagerly bent on this measure by
+perceiving after breakfast on the morrow, that Marianne was again
+writing to Willoughby, for she could not suppose it to be to any other
+person.
+
+About the middle of the day, Mrs. Jennings went out by herself on
+business, and Elinor began her letter directly, while Marianne, too
+restless for employment, too anxious for conversation, walked from one
+window to the other, or sat down by the fire in melancholy meditation.
+Elinor was very earnest in her application to her mother, relating all
+that had passed, her suspicions of Willoughby's inconstancy, urging her
+by every plea of duty and affection to demand from Marianne an account
+of her real situation with respect to him.
+
+Her letter was scarcely finished, when a rap foretold a visitor, and
+Colonel Brandon was announced.  Marianne, who had seen him from the
+window, and who hated company of any kind, left the room before he
+entered it.  He looked more than usually grave, and though expressing
+satisfaction at finding Miss Dashwood alone, as if he had somewhat in
+particular to tell her, sat for some time without saying a word.
+Elinor, persuaded that he had some communication to make in which her
+sister was concerned, impatiently expected its opening.  It was not the
+first time of her feeling the same kind of conviction; for, more than
+once before, beginning with the observation of "your sister looks
+unwell to-day," or "your sister seems out of spirits," he had appeared
+on the point, either of disclosing, or of inquiring, something
+particular about her.  After a pause of several minutes, their silence
+was broken, by his asking her in a voice of some agitation, when he was
+to congratulate her on the acquisition of a brother?  Elinor was not
+prepared for such a question, and having no answer ready, was obliged
+to adopt the simple and common expedient, of asking what he meant?  He
+tried to smile as he replied, "your sister's engagement to Mr.
+Willoughby is very generally known."
+
+"It cannot be generally known," returned Elinor, "for her own family do
+not know it."
+
+He looked surprised and said, "I beg your pardon, I am afraid my
+inquiry has been impertinent; but I had not supposed any secrecy
+intended, as they openly correspond, and their marriage is universally
+talked of."
+
+"How can that be? By whom can you have heard it mentioned?"
+
+"By many--by some of whom you know nothing, by others with whom you are
+most intimate, Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. Palmer, and the Middletons.  But
+still I might not have believed it, for where the mind is perhaps
+rather unwilling to be convinced, it will always find something to
+support its doubts, if I had not, when the servant let me in today,
+accidentally seen a letter in his hand, directed to Mr. Willoughby in
+your sister's writing.  I came to inquire, but I was convinced before I
+could ask the question.  Is every thing finally settled?  Is it
+impossible to-?  But I have no right, and I could have no chance of
+succeeding.  Excuse me, Miss Dashwood.  I believe I have been wrong in
+saying so much, but I hardly know what to do, and on your prudence I
+have the strongest dependence.  Tell me that it is all absolutely
+resolved on, that any attempt, that in short concealment, if
+concealment be possible, is all that remains."
+
+These words, which conveyed to Elinor a direct avowal of his love for
+her sister, affected her very much.  She was not immediately able to
+say anything, and even when her spirits were recovered, she debated for
+a short time, on the answer it would be most proper to give.  The real
+state of things between Willoughby and her sister was so little known
+to herself, that in endeavouring to explain it, she might be as liable
+to say too much as too little.  Yet as she was convinced that
+Marianne's affection for Willoughby, could leave no hope of Colonel
+Brandon's success, whatever the event of that affection might be, and
+at the same time wished to shield her conduct from censure, she thought
+it most prudent and kind, after some consideration, to say more than
+she really knew or believed.  She acknowledged, therefore, that though
+she had never been informed by themselves of the terms on which they
+stood with each other, of their mutual affection she had no doubt, and
+of their correspondence she was not astonished to hear.
+
+He listened to her with silent attention, and on her ceasing to speak,
+rose directly from his seat, and after saying in a voice of emotion,
+"to your sister I wish all imaginable happiness; to Willoughby that he
+may endeavour to deserve her,"--took leave, and went away.
+
+Elinor derived no comfortable feelings from this conversation, to
+lessen the uneasiness of her mind on other points; she was left, on the
+contrary, with a melancholy impression of Colonel Brandon's
+unhappiness, and was prevented even from wishing it removed, by her
+anxiety for the very event that must confirm it.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 28
+
+
+Nothing occurred during the next three or four days, to make Elinor
+regret what she had done, in applying to her mother; for Willoughby
+neither came nor wrote.  They were engaged about the end of that time
+to attend Lady Middleton to a party, from which Mrs. Jennings was kept
+away by the indisposition of her youngest daughter; and for this party,
+Marianne, wholly dispirited, careless of her appearance, and seeming
+equally indifferent whether she went or staid, prepared, without one
+look of hope or one expression of pleasure.  She sat by the
+drawing-room fire after tea, till the moment of Lady Middleton's
+arrival, without once stirring from her seat, or altering her attitude,
+lost in her own thoughts, and insensible of her sister's presence; and
+when at last they were told that Lady Middleton waited for them at the
+door, she started as if she had forgotten that any one was expected.
+
+They arrived in due time at the place of destination, and as soon as
+the string of carriages before them would allow, alighted, ascended the
+stairs, heard their names announced from one landing-place to another
+in an audible voice, and entered a room splendidly lit up, quite full
+of company, and insufferably hot.  When they had paid their tribute of
+politeness by curtsying to the lady of the house, they were permitted
+to mingle in the crowd, and take their share of the heat and
+inconvenience, to which their arrival must necessarily add.  After some
+time spent in saying little or doing less, Lady Middleton sat down to
+Cassino, and as Marianne was not in spirits for moving about, she and
+Elinor luckily succeeding to chairs, placed themselves at no great
+distance from the table.
+
+They had not remained in this manner long, before Elinor perceived
+Willoughby, standing within a few yards of them, in earnest
+conversation with a very fashionable looking young woman.  She soon
+caught his eye, and he immediately bowed, but without attempting to
+speak to her, or to approach Marianne, though he could not but see her;
+and then continued his discourse with the same lady.  Elinor turned
+involuntarily to Marianne, to see whether it could be unobserved by
+her.  At that moment she first perceived him, and her whole countenance
+glowing with sudden delight, she would have moved towards him
+instantly, had not her sister caught hold of her.
+
+"Good heavens!" she exclaimed, "he is there--he is there--Oh! why does
+he not look at me? why cannot I speak to him?"
+
+"Pray, pray be composed," cried Elinor, "and do not betray what you
+feel to every body present.  Perhaps he has not observed you yet."
+
+This however was more than she could believe herself; and to be
+composed at such a moment was not only beyond the reach of Marianne, it
+was beyond her wish.  She sat in an agony of impatience which affected
+every feature.
+
+At last he turned round again, and regarded them both; she started up,
+and pronouncing his name in a tone of affection, held out her hand to
+him.  He approached, and addressing himself rather to Elinor than
+Marianne, as if wishing to avoid her eye, and determined not to observe
+her attitude, inquired in a hurried manner after Mrs. Dashwood, and
+asked how long they had been in town.  Elinor was robbed of all
+presence of mind by such an address, and was unable to say a word.  But
+the feelings of her sister were instantly expressed.  Her face was
+crimsoned over, and she exclaimed, in a voice of the greatest emotion,
+"Good God! Willoughby, what is the meaning of this?  Have you not
+received my letters?  Will you not shake hands with me?"
+
+He could not then avoid it, but her touch seemed painful to him, and he
+held her hand only for a moment.  During all this time he was evidently
+struggling for composure.  Elinor watched his countenance and saw its
+expression becoming more tranquil.  After a moment's pause, he spoke
+with calmness.
+
+"I did myself the honour of calling in Berkeley Street last Tuesday,
+and very much regretted that I was not fortunate enough to find
+yourselves and Mrs. Jennings at home.  My card was not lost, I hope."
+
+"But have you not received my notes?" cried Marianne in the wildest
+anxiety.  "Here is some mistake I am sure--some dreadful mistake.  What
+can be the meaning of it?  Tell me, Willoughby; for heaven's sake tell
+me, what is the matter?"
+
+He made no reply; his complexion changed and all his embarrassment
+returned; but as if, on catching the eye of the young lady with whom he
+had been previously talking, he felt the necessity of instant exertion,
+he recovered himself again, and after saying, "Yes, I had the pleasure
+of receiving the information of your arrival in town, which you were so
+good as to send me," turned hastily away with a slight bow and joined
+his friend.
+
+Marianne, now looking dreadfully white, and unable to stand, sunk into
+her chair, and Elinor, expecting every moment to see her faint, tried
+to screen her from the observation of others, while reviving her with
+lavender water.
+
+"Go to him, Elinor," she cried, as soon as she could speak, "and force
+him to come to me.  Tell him I must see him again--must speak to him
+instantly.-- I cannot rest--I shall not have a moment's peace till this
+is explained--some dreadful misapprehension or other.-- Oh go to him
+this moment."
+
+"How can that be done? No, my dearest Marianne, you must wait.  This is
+not the place for explanations.  Wait only till tomorrow."
+
+With difficulty however could she prevent her from following him
+herself; and to persuade her to check her agitation, to wait, at least,
+with the appearance of composure, till she might speak to him with more
+privacy and more effect, was impossible; for Marianne continued
+incessantly to give way in a low voice to the misery of her feelings,
+by exclamations of wretchedness.  In a short time Elinor saw Willoughby
+quit the room by the door towards the staircase, and telling Marianne
+that he was gone, urged the impossibility of speaking to him again that
+evening, as a fresh argument for her to be calm.  She instantly begged
+her sister would entreat Lady Middleton to take them home, as she was
+too miserable to stay a minute longer.
+
+Lady Middleton, though in the middle of a rubber, on being informed
+that Marianne was unwell, was too polite to object for a moment to her
+wish of going away, and making over her cards to a friend, they
+departed as soon the carriage could be found.  Scarcely a word was
+spoken during their return to Berkeley Street.  Marianne was in a
+silent agony, too much oppressed even for tears; but as Mrs. Jennings
+was luckily not come home, they could go directly to their own room,
+where hartshorn restored her a little to herself.  She was soon
+undressed and in bed, and as she seemed desirous of being alone, her
+sister then left her, and while she waited the return of Mrs. Jennings,
+had leisure enough for thinking over the past.
+
+That some kind of engagement had subsisted between Willoughby and
+Marianne she could not doubt, and that Willoughby was weary of it,
+seemed equally clear; for however Marianne might still feed her own
+wishes, SHE could not attribute such behaviour to mistake or
+misapprehension of any kind.  Nothing but a thorough change of
+sentiment could account for it.  Her indignation would have been still
+stronger than it was, had she not witnessed that embarrassment which
+seemed to speak a consciousness of his own misconduct, and prevented
+her from believing him so unprincipled as to have been sporting with
+the affections of her sister from the first, without any design that
+would bear investigation.  Absence might have weakened his regard, and
+convenience might have determined him to overcome it, but that such a
+regard had formerly existed she could not bring herself to doubt.
+
+As for Marianne, on the pangs which so unhappy a meeting must already
+have given her, and on those still more severe which might await her in
+its probable consequence, she could not reflect without the deepest
+concern.  Her own situation gained in the comparison; for while she
+could ESTEEM Edward as much as ever, however they might be divided in
+future, her mind might be always supported.  But every circumstance
+that could embitter such an evil seemed uniting to heighten the misery
+of Marianne in a final separation from Willoughby--in an immediate and
+irreconcilable rupture with him.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 29
+
+
+Before the house-maid had lit their fire the next day, or the sun
+gained any power over a cold, gloomy morning in January, Marianne, only
+half dressed, was kneeling against one of the window-seats for the sake
+of all the little light she could command from it, and writing as fast
+as a continual flow of tears would permit her.  In this situation,
+Elinor, roused from sleep by her agitation and sobs, first perceived
+her; and after observing her for a few moments with silent anxiety,
+said, in a tone of the most considerate gentleness,
+
+"Marianne, may I ask-?"
+
+"No, Elinor," she replied, "ask nothing; you will soon know all."
+
+The sort of desperate calmness with which this was said, lasted no
+longer than while she spoke, and was immediately followed by a return
+of the same excessive affliction.  It was some minutes before she could
+go on with her letter, and the frequent bursts of grief which still
+obliged her, at intervals, to withhold her pen, were proofs enough of
+her feeling how more than probable it was that she was writing for the
+last time to Willoughby.
+
+Elinor paid her every quiet and unobtrusive attention in her power; and
+she would have tried to sooth and tranquilize her still more, had not
+Marianne entreated her, with all the eagerness of the most nervous
+irritability, not to speak to her for the world.  In such
+circumstances, it was better for both that they should not be long
+together; and the restless state of Marianne's mind not only prevented
+her from remaining in the room a moment after she was dressed, but
+requiring at once solitude and continual change of place, made her
+wander about the house till breakfast time, avoiding the sight of every
+body.
+
+At breakfast she neither ate, nor attempted to eat any thing; and
+Elinor's attention was then all employed, not in urging her, not in
+pitying her, nor in appearing to regard her, but in endeavouring to
+engage Mrs. Jenning's notice entirely to herself.
+
+As this was a favourite meal with Mrs. Jennings, it lasted a
+considerable time, and they were just setting themselves, after it,
+round the common working table, when a letter was delivered to
+Marianne, which she eagerly caught from the servant, and, turning of a
+death-like paleness, instantly ran out of the room.  Elinor, who saw as
+plainly by this, as if she had seen the direction, that it must come
+from Willoughby, felt immediately such a sickness at heart as made her
+hardly able to hold up her head, and sat in such a general tremour as
+made her fear it impossible to escape Mrs. Jenning's notice.  That good
+lady, however, saw only that Marianne had received a letter from
+Willoughby, which appeared to her a very good joke, and which she
+treated accordingly, by hoping, with a laugh, that she would find it to
+her liking.  Of Elinor's distress, she was too busily employed in
+measuring lengths of worsted for her rug, to see any thing at all; and
+calmly continuing her talk, as soon as Marianne disappeared, she said,
+
+"Upon my word, I never saw a young woman so desperately in love in my
+life!  MY girls were nothing to her, and yet they used to be foolish
+enough; but as for Miss Marianne, she is quite an altered creature.  I
+hope, from the bottom of my heart, he won't keep her waiting much
+longer, for it is quite grievous to see her look so ill and forlorn.
+Pray, when are they to be married?"
+
+Elinor, though never less disposed to speak than at that moment,
+obliged herself to answer such an attack as this, and, therefore,
+trying to smile, replied, "And have you really, Ma'am, talked yourself
+into a persuasion of my sister's being engaged to Mr. Willoughby?  I
+thought it had been only a joke, but so serious a question seems to
+imply more; and I must beg, therefore, that you will not deceive
+yourself any longer.  I do assure you that nothing would surprise me
+more than to hear of their being going to be married."
+
+"For shame, for shame, Miss Dashwood! how can you talk so?  Don't we
+all know that it must be a match, that they were over head and ears in
+love with each other from the first moment they met?  Did not I see
+them together in Devonshire every day, and all day long; and did not I
+know that your sister came to town with me on purpose to buy wedding
+clothes?  Come, come, this won't do.  Because you are so sly about it
+yourself, you think nobody else has any senses; but it is no such
+thing, I can tell you, for it has been known all over town this ever so
+long.  I tell every body of it and so does Charlotte."
+
+"Indeed, Ma'am," said Elinor, very seriously, "you are mistaken.
+Indeed, you are doing a very unkind thing in spreading the report, and
+you will find that you have though you will not believe me now."
+
+Mrs. Jennings laughed again, but Elinor had not spirits to say more,
+and eager at all events to know what Willoughby had written, hurried
+away to their room, where, on opening the door, she saw Marianne
+stretched on the bed, almost choked by grief, one letter in her hand,
+and two or three others laying by her.  Elinor drew near, but without
+saying a word; and seating herself on the bed, took her hand, kissed
+her affectionately several times, and then gave way to a burst of
+tears, which at first was scarcely less violent than Marianne's. The
+latter, though unable to speak, seemed to feel all the tenderness of
+this behaviour, and after some time thus spent in joint affliction, she
+put all the letters into Elinor's hands; and then covering her face
+with her handkerchief, almost screamed with agony.  Elinor, who knew
+that such grief, shocking as it was to witness it, must have its
+course, watched by her till this excess of suffering had somewhat spent
+itself, and then turning eagerly to Willoughby's letter, read as
+follows:
+
+                              "Bond Street, January.
+     "MY DEAR MADAM,
+
+     "I have just had the honour of receiving your
+     letter, for which I beg to return my sincere
+     acknowledgments.  I am much concerned to find there
+     was anything in my behaviour last night that did
+     not meet your approbation; and though I am quite at
+     a loss to discover in what point I could be so
+     unfortunate as to offend you, I entreat your
+     forgiveness of what I can assure you to have been
+     perfectly unintentional.  I shall never reflect on
+     my former acquaintance with your family in Devonshire
+     without the most grateful pleasure, and flatter
+     myself it will not be broken by any mistake or
+     misapprehension of my actions.  My esteem for your
+     whole family is very sincere; but if I have been so
+     unfortunate as to give rise to a belief of more than
+     I felt, or meant to express, I shall reproach myself
+     for not having been more guarded in my professions
+     of that esteem.  That I should ever have meant more
+     you will allow to be impossible, when you understand
+     that my affections have been long engaged elsewhere,
+     and it will not be many weeks, I believe, before
+     this engagement is fulfilled.  It is with great
+     regret that I obey your commands in returning the
+     letters with which I have been honoured from you,
+     and the lock of hair, which you so obligingly bestowed
+     on me.
+
+     "I am, dear Madam,
+               "Your most obedient
+                    "humble servant,
+                                        "JOHN WILLOUGHBY."
+
+
+With what indignation such a letter as this must be read by Miss
+Dashwood, may be imagined.  Though aware, before she began it, that it
+must bring a confession of his inconstancy, and confirm their
+separation for ever, she was not aware that such language could be
+suffered to announce it; nor could she have supposed Willoughby capable
+of departing so far from the appearance of every honourable and
+delicate feeling--so far from the common decorum of a gentleman, as to
+send a letter so impudently cruel: a letter which, instead of bringing
+with his desire of a release any professions of regret, acknowledged no
+breach of faith, denied all peculiar affection whatever--a letter of
+which every line was an insult, and which proclaimed its writer to be
+deep in hardened villainy.
+
+She paused over it for some time with indignant astonishment; then read
+it again and again; but every perusal only served to increase her
+abhorrence of the man, and so bitter were her feelings against him,
+that she dared not trust herself to speak, lest she might wound
+Marianne still deeper by treating their disengagement, not as a loss to
+her of any possible good but as an escape from the worst and most
+irremediable of all evils, a connection, for life, with an unprincipled
+man, as a deliverance the most real, a blessing the most important.
+
+In her earnest meditations on the contents of the letter, on the
+depravity of that mind which could dictate it, and probably, on the
+very different mind of a very different person, who had no other
+connection whatever with the affair than what her heart gave him with
+every thing that passed, Elinor forgot the immediate distress of her
+sister, forgot that she had three letters on her lap yet unread, and so
+entirely forgot how long she had been in the room, that when on hearing
+a carriage drive up to the door, she went to the window to see who
+could be coming so unreasonably early, she was all astonishment to
+perceive Mrs. Jennings's chariot, which she knew had not been ordered
+till one.  Determined not to quit Marianne, though hopeless of
+contributing, at present, to her ease, she hurried away to excuse
+herself from attending Mrs. Jennings, on account of her sister being
+indisposed.  Mrs. Jennings, with a thoroughly good-humoured concern for
+its cause, admitted the excuse most readily, and Elinor, after seeing
+her safe off, returned to Marianne, whom she found attempting to rise
+from the bed, and whom she reached just in time to prevent her from
+falling on the floor, faint and giddy from a long want of proper rest
+and food; for it was many days since she had any appetite, and many
+nights since she had really slept; and now, when her mind was no longer
+supported by the fever of suspense, the consequence of all this was
+felt in an aching head, a weakened stomach, and a general nervous
+faintness.  A glass of wine, which Elinor procured for her directly,
+made her more comfortable, and she was at last able to express some
+sense of her kindness, by saying,
+
+"Poor Elinor! how unhappy I make you!"
+
+"I only wish," replied her sister, "there were any thing I COULD do,
+which might be of comfort to you."
+
+This, as every thing else would have been, was too much for Marianne,
+who could only exclaim, in the anguish of her heart, "Oh! Elinor, I am
+miserable, indeed," before her voice was entirely lost in sobs.
+
+Elinor could no longer witness this torrent of unresisted grief in
+silence.
+
+"Exert yourself, dear Marianne," she cried, "if you would not kill
+yourself and all who love you.  Think of your mother; think of her
+misery while YOU suffer: for her sake you must exert yourself."
+
+"I cannot, I cannot," cried Marianne; "leave me, leave me, if I
+distress you; leave me, hate me, forget me!  but do not torture me so.
+Oh! how easy for those, who have no sorrow of their own to talk of
+exertion!  Happy, happy Elinor, YOU cannot have an idea of what I
+suffer."
+
+"Do you call ME happy, Marianne?  Ah! if you knew!--And can you believe
+me to be so, while I see you so wretched!"
+
+"Forgive me, forgive me," throwing her arms round her sister's neck; "I
+know you feel for me; I know what a heart you have; but yet you
+are--you must be happy; Edward loves you--what, oh what, can do away
+such happiness as that?"
+
+"Many, many circumstances," said Elinor, solemnly.
+
+"No, no, no," cried Marianne wildly, "he loves you, and only you.  You
+CAN have no grief."
+
+"I can have no pleasure while I see you in this state."
+
+"And you will never see me otherwise.  Mine is a misery which nothing
+can do away."
+
+"You must not talk so, Marianne.  Have you no comforts? no friends?  Is
+your loss such as leaves no opening for consolation?  Much as you
+suffer now, think of what you would have suffered if the discovery of
+his character had been delayed to a later period--if your engagement
+had been carried on for months and months, as it might have been,
+before he chose to put an end to it.  Every additional day of unhappy
+confidence, on your side, would have made the blow more dreadful."
+
+"Engagement!" cried Marianne, "there has been no engagement."
+
+"No engagement!"
+
+"No, he is not so unworthy as you believe him.  He has broken no faith
+with me."
+
+"But he told you that he loved you."
+
+"Yes--no--never absolutely.  It was every day implied, but never
+professedly declared.  Sometimes I thought it had been--but it never
+was."
+
+"Yet you wrote to him?"--
+
+"Yes--could that be wrong after all that had passed?-- But I cannot
+talk."
+
+Elinor said no more, and turning again to the three letters which now
+raised a much stronger curiosity than before, directly ran over the
+contents of all.  The first, which was what her sister had sent him on
+their arrival in town, was to this effect.
+
+                         Berkeley Street, January.
+
+     "How surprised you will be, Willoughby, on
+     receiving this; and I think you will feel something
+     more than surprise, when you know that I am in town.
+     An opportunity of coming hither, though with Mrs.
+     Jennings, was a temptation we could not resist.
+     I wish you may receive this in time to come here
+     to-night, but I will not depend on it.  At any rate
+     I shall expect you to-morrow. For the present, adieu.
+
+                                             "M.D."
+
+Her second note, which had been written on the morning after the dance
+at the Middletons', was in these words:--
+
+     "I cannot express my disappointment in having
+     missed you the day before yesterday, nor my astonishment
+     at not having received any answer to a note which
+     I sent you above a week ago.  I have been expecting
+     to hear from you, and still more to see you, every
+     hour of the day.  Pray call again as soon as possible,
+     and explain the reason of my having expected this
+     in vain.  You had better come earlier another time,
+     because we are generally out by one.  We were last
+     night at Lady Middleton's, where there was a dance.
+     I have been told that you were asked to be of the
+     party.  But could it be so?  You must be very much
+     altered indeed since we parted, if that could be
+     the case, and you not there.  But I will not suppose
+     this possible, and I hope very soon to receive your
+     personal assurance of its being otherwise.
+
+                                            "M.D."
+
+The contents of her last note to him were these:--
+
+     "What am I to imagine, Willoughby, by your
+     behaviour last night?  Again I demand an explanation
+     of it.  I was prepared to meet you with the pleasure
+     which our separation naturally produced, with the
+     familiarity which our intimacy at Barton appeared
+     to me to justify.  I was repulsed indeed! I have
+     passed a wretched night in endeavouring to excuse
+     a conduct which can scarcely be called less than
+     insulting; but though I have not yet been able to
+     form any reasonable apology for your behaviour,
+     I am perfectly ready to hear your justification of
+     it.  You have perhaps been misinformed, or purposely
+     deceived, in something concerning me, which may have
+     lowered me in your opinion.  Tell me what it is,
+     explain the grounds on which you acted, and I shall
+     be satisfied, in being able to satisfy you.  It
+     would grieve me indeed to be obliged to think ill
+     of you; but if I am to do it, if I am to learn that
+     you are not what we have hitherto believed you, that
+     your regard for us all was insincere, that your
+     behaviour to me was intended only to deceive, let
+     it be told as soon as possible.  My feelings are at
+     present in a state of dreadful indecision; I wish
+     to acquit you, but certainty on either side will be
+     ease to what I now suffer.  If your sentiments are
+     no longer what they were, you will return my notes,
+     and the lock of my hair which is in your possession.
+
+                                             "M.D."
+
+That such letters, so full of affection and confidence, could have been
+so answered, Elinor, for Willoughby's sake, would have been unwilling
+to believe.  But her condemnation of him did not blind her to the
+impropriety of their having been written at all; and she was silently
+grieving over the imprudence which had hazarded such unsolicited proofs
+of tenderness, not warranted by anything preceding, and most severely
+condemned by the event, when Marianne, perceiving that she had finished
+the letters, observed to her that they contained nothing but what any
+one would have written in the same situation.
+
+"I felt myself," she added, "to be as solemnly engaged to him, as if
+the strictest legal covenant had bound us to each other."
+
+"I can believe it," said Elinor; "but unfortunately he did not feel the
+same."
+
+"He DID feel the same, Elinor--for weeks and weeks he felt it.  I know
+he did.  Whatever may have changed him now, (and nothing but the
+blackest art employed against me can have done it), I was once as dear
+to him as my own soul could wish.  This lock of hair, which now he can
+so readily give up, was begged of me with the most earnest
+supplication.  Had you seen his look, his manner, had you heard his
+voice at that moment!  Have you forgot the last evening of our being
+together at Barton?  The morning that we parted too!  When he told me
+that it might be many weeks before we met again--his distress--can I
+ever forget his distress?"
+
+For a moment or two she could say no more; but when this emotion had
+passed away, she added, in a firmer tone,
+
+"Elinor, I have been cruelly used; but not by Willoughby."
+
+"Dearest Marianne, who but himself?  By whom can he have been
+instigated?"
+
+"By all the world, rather than by his own heart.  I could rather
+believe every creature of my acquaintance leagued together to ruin me
+in his opinion, than believe his nature capable of such cruelty.  This
+woman of whom he writes--whoever she be--or any one, in short, but your
+own dear self, mama, and Edward, may have been so barbarous to bely me.
+Beyond you three, is there a creature in the world whom I would not
+rather suspect of evil than Willoughby, whose heart I know so well?"
+
+Elinor would not contend, and only replied, "Whoever may have been so
+detestably your enemy, let them be cheated of their malignant triumph,
+my dear sister, by seeing how nobly the consciousness of your own
+innocence and good intentions supports your spirits.  It is a
+reasonable and laudable pride which resists such malevolence."
+
+"No, no," cried Marianne, "misery such as mine has no pride.  I care
+not who knows that I am wretched.  The triumph of seeing me so may be
+open to all the world.  Elinor, Elinor, they who suffer little may be
+proud and independent as they like--may resist insult, or return
+mortification--but I cannot.  I must feel--I must be wretched--and they
+are welcome to enjoy the consciousness of it that can."
+
+"But for my mother's sake and mine--"
+
+"I would do more than for my own.  But to appear happy when I am so
+miserable--Oh! who can require it?"
+
+Again they were both silent.  Elinor was employed in walking
+thoughtfully from the fire to the window, from the window to the fire,
+without knowing that she received warmth from one, or discerning
+objects through the other; and Marianne, seated at the foot of the bed,
+with her head leaning against one of its posts, again took up
+Willoughby's letter, and, after shuddering over every sentence,
+exclaimed--
+
+"It is too much! Oh, Willoughby, Willoughby, could this be yours!
+Cruel, cruel--nothing can acquit you.  Elinor, nothing can.  Whatever
+he might have heard against me--ought he not to have suspended his
+belief? ought he not to have told me of it, to have given me the power
+of clearing myself? 'The lock of hair, (repeating it from the letter,)
+which you so obligingly bestowed on me'--That is unpardonable.
+Willoughby, where was your heart when you wrote those words?  Oh,
+barbarously insolent!--Elinor, can he be justified?"
+
+"No, Marianne, in no possible way."
+
+"And yet this woman--who knows what her art may have been?--how long it
+may have been premeditated, and how deeply contrived by her!--Who is
+she?--Who can she be?--Whom did I ever hear him talk of as young and
+attractive among his female acquaintance?--Oh! no one, no one--he
+talked to me only of myself."
+
+Another pause ensued; Marianne was greatly agitated, and it ended thus.
+
+"Elinor, I must go home.  I must go and comfort mama.  Can not we be
+gone to-morrow?"
+
+"To-morrow, Marianne!"
+
+"Yes, why should I stay here? I came only for Willoughby's sake--and
+now who cares for me? Who regards me?"
+
+"It would be impossible to go to-morrow. We owe Mrs. Jennings much more
+than civility; and civility of the commonest kind must prevent such a
+hasty removal as that."
+
+"Well then, another day or two, perhaps; but I cannot stay here long, I
+cannot stay to endure the questions and remarks of all these people.
+The Middletons and Palmers--how am I to bear their pity?  The pity of
+such a woman as Lady Middleton!  Oh, what would HE say to that!"
+
+Elinor advised her to lie down again, and for a moment she did so; but
+no attitude could give her ease; and in restless pain of mind and body
+she moved from one posture to another, till growing more and more
+hysterical, her sister could with difficulty keep her on the bed at
+all, and for some time was fearful of being constrained to call for
+assistance.  Some lavender drops, however, which she was at length
+persuaded to take, were of use; and from that time till Mrs. Jennings
+returned, she continued on the bed quiet and motionless.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 30
+
+
+Mrs. Jennings came immediately to their room on her return, and without
+waiting to have her request of admittance answered, opened the door and
+walked in with a look of real concern.
+
+"How do you do my dear?"--said she in a voice of great compassion to
+Marianne, who turned away her face without attempting to answer.
+
+"How is she, Miss Dashwood?--Poor thing! she looks very bad.-- No
+wonder.  Ay, it is but too true.  He is to be married very soon--a
+good-for-nothing fellow!  I have no patience with him.  Mrs. Taylor
+told me of it half an hour ago, and she was told it by a particular
+friend of Miss Grey herself, else I am sure I should not have believed
+it; and I was almost ready to sink as it was.  Well, said I, all I can
+say is, that if this be true, he has used a young lady of my
+acquaintance abominably ill, and I wish with all my soul his wife may
+plague his heart out.  And so I shall always say, my dear, you may
+depend on it.  I have no notion of men's going on in this way; and if
+ever I meet him again, I will give him such a dressing as he has not
+had this many a day.  But there is one comfort, my dear Miss Marianne;
+he is not the only young man in the world worth having; and with your
+pretty face you will never want admirers.  Well, poor thing!  I won't
+disturb her any longer, for she had better have her cry out at once and
+have done with.  The Parrys and Sandersons luckily are coming tonight
+you know, and that will amuse her."
+
+She then went away, walking on tiptoe out of the room, as if she
+supposed her young friend's affliction could be increased by noise.
+
+Marianne, to the surprise of her sister, determined on dining with
+them.  Elinor even advised her against it.  But "no, she would go down;
+she could bear it very well, and the bustle about her would be less."
+Elinor, pleased to have her governed for a moment by such a motive,
+though believing it hardly possible that she could sit out the dinner,
+said no more; and adjusting her dress for her as well as she could,
+while Marianne still remained on the bed, was ready to assist her into
+the dining room as soon as they were summoned to it.
+
+When there, though looking most wretchedly, she ate more and was calmer
+than her sister had expected.  Had she tried to speak, or had she been
+conscious of half Mrs. Jennings's well-meant but ill-judged attentions
+to her, this calmness could not have been maintained; but not a
+syllable escaped her lips; and the abstraction of her thoughts
+preserved her in ignorance of every thing that was passing before her.
+
+Elinor, who did justice to Mrs. Jennings's kindness, though its
+effusions were often distressing, and sometimes almost ridiculous, made
+her those acknowledgments, and returned her those civilities, which her
+sister could not make or return for herself.  Their good friend saw
+that Marianne was unhappy, and felt that every thing was due to her
+which might make her at all less so.  She treated her therefore, with
+all the indulgent fondness of a parent towards a favourite child on the
+last day of its holidays.  Marianne was to have the best place by the
+fire, was to be tempted to eat by every delicacy in the house, and to
+be amused by the relation of all the news of the day.  Had not Elinor,
+in the sad countenance of her sister, seen a check to all mirth, she
+could have been entertained by Mrs. Jennings's endeavours to cure a
+disappointment in love, by a variety of sweetmeats and olives, and a
+good fire.  As soon, however, as the consciousness of all this was
+forced by continual repetition on Marianne, she could stay no longer.
+With a hasty exclamation of Misery, and a sign to her sister not to
+follow her, she directly got up and hurried out of the room.
+
+"Poor soul!" cried Mrs. Jennings, as soon as she was gone, "how it
+grieves me to see her!  And I declare if she is not gone away without
+finishing her wine!  And the dried cherries too!  Lord! nothing seems
+to do her any good.  I am sure if I knew of any thing she would like, I
+would send all over the town for it.  Well, it is the oddest thing to
+me, that a man should use such a pretty girl so ill!  But when there is
+plenty of money on one side, and next to none on the other, Lord bless
+you! they care no more about such things!--"
+
+"The lady then--Miss Grey I think you called her--is very rich?"
+
+"Fifty thousand pounds, my dear.  Did you ever see her? a smart,
+stylish girl they say, but not handsome.  I remember her aunt very
+well, Biddy Henshawe; she married a very wealthy man.  But the family
+are all rich together.  Fifty thousand pounds! and by all accounts, it
+won't come before it's wanted; for they say he is all to pieces.  No
+wonder! dashing about with his curricle and hunters!  Well, it don't
+signify talking; but when a young man, be who he will, comes and makes
+love to a pretty girl, and promises marriage, he has no business to fly
+off from his word only because he grows poor, and a richer girl is
+ready to have him.  Why don't he, in such a case, sell his horses, let
+his house, turn off his servants, and make a thorough reform at once? I
+warrant you, Miss Marianne would have been ready to wait till matters
+came round.  But that won't do now-a-days; nothing in the way of
+pleasure can ever be given up by the young men of this age."
+
+"Do you know what kind of a girl Miss Grey is?  Is she said to be
+amiable?"
+
+"I never heard any harm of her; indeed I hardly ever heard her
+mentioned; except that Mrs. Taylor did say this morning, that one day
+Miss Walker hinted to her, that she believed Mr. and Mrs. Ellison would
+not be sorry to have Miss Grey married, for she and Mrs. Ellison could
+never agree."--
+
+"And who are the Ellisons?"
+
+"Her guardians, my dear.  But now she is of age and may choose for
+herself; and a pretty choice she has made!--What now," after pausing a
+moment--"your poor sister is gone to her own room, I suppose, to moan
+by herself.  Is there nothing one can get to comfort her?  Poor dear,
+it seems quite cruel to let her be alone.  Well, by-and-by we shall
+have a few friends, and that will amuse her a little.  What shall we
+play at?  She hates whist I know; but is there no round game she cares
+for?"
+
+"Dear ma'am, this kindness is quite unnecessary.  Marianne, I dare say,
+will not leave her room again this evening.  I shall persuade her if I
+can to go early to bed, for I am sure she wants rest."
+
+"Aye, I believe that will be best for her.  Let her name her own
+supper, and go to bed.  Lord! no wonder she has been looking so bad and
+so cast down this last week or two, for this matter I suppose has been
+hanging over her head as long as that.  And so the letter that came
+today finished it!  Poor soul!  I am sure if I had had a notion of it,
+I would not have joked her about it for all my money.  But then you
+know, how should I guess such a thing?  I made sure of its being
+nothing but a common love letter, and you know young people like to be
+laughed at about them.  Lord!  how concerned Sir John and my daughters
+will be when they hear it!  If I had my senses about me I might have
+called in Conduit Street in my way home, and told them of it.  But I
+shall see them tomorrow."
+
+"It would be unnecessary I am sure, for you to caution Mrs. Palmer and
+Sir John against ever naming Mr. Willoughby, or making the slightest
+allusion to what has passed, before my sister.  Their own good-nature
+must point out to them the real cruelty of appearing to know any thing
+about it when she is present; and the less that may ever be said to
+myself on the subject, the more my feelings will be spared, as you my
+dear madam will easily believe."
+
+"Oh! Lord! yes, that I do indeed.  It must be terrible for you to hear
+it talked of; and as for your sister, I am sure I would not mention a
+word about it to her for the world.  You saw I did not all dinner time.
+No more would Sir John, nor my daughters, for they are all very
+thoughtful and considerate; especially if I give them a hint, as I
+certainly will.  For my part, I think the less that is said about such
+things, the better, the sooner 'tis blown over and forgot.  And what
+does talking ever do you know?"
+
+"In this affair it can only do harm; more so perhaps than in many cases
+of a similar kind, for it has been attended by circumstances which, for
+the sake of every one concerned in it, make it unfit to become the
+public conversation.  I must do THIS justice to Mr. Willoughby--he has
+broken no positive engagement with my sister."
+
+"Law, my dear!  Don't pretend to defend him.  No positive engagement
+indeed! after taking her all over Allenham House, and fixing on the
+very rooms they were to live in hereafter!"
+
+Elinor, for her sister's sake, could not press the subject farther, and
+she hoped it was not required of her for Willoughby's; since, though
+Marianne might lose much, he could gain very little by the enforcement
+of the real truth.  After a short silence on both sides, Mrs. Jennings,
+with all her natural hilarity, burst forth again.
+
+"Well, my dear, 'tis a true saying about an ill-wind, for it will be
+all the better for Colonel Brandon.  He will have her at last; aye,
+that he will.  Mind me, now, if they an't married by Mid-summer.  Lord!
+how he'll chuckle over this news!  I hope he will come tonight.  It
+will be all to one a better match for your sister.  Two thousand a year
+without debt or drawback--except the little love-child, indeed; aye, I
+had forgot her; but she may be 'prenticed out at a small cost, and then
+what does it signify?  Delaford is a nice place, I can tell you;
+exactly what I call a nice old fashioned place, full of comforts and
+conveniences; quite shut in with great garden walls that are covered
+with the best fruit-trees in the country; and such a mulberry tree in
+one corner!  Lord! how Charlotte and I did stuff the only time we were
+there!  Then, there is a dove-cote, some delightful stew-ponds, and a
+very pretty canal; and every thing, in short, that one could wish for;
+and, moreover, it is close to the church, and only a quarter of a mile
+from the turnpike-road, so 'tis never dull, for if you only go and sit
+up in an old yew arbour behind the house, you may see all the carriages
+that pass along.  Oh! 'tis a nice place!  A butcher hard by in the
+village, and the parsonage-house within a stone's throw.  To my fancy,
+a thousand times prettier than Barton Park, where they are forced to
+send three miles for their meat, and have not a neighbour nearer than
+your mother.  Well, I shall spirit up the Colonel as soon as I can.
+One shoulder of mutton, you know, drives another down.  If we CAN but
+put Willoughby out of her head!"
+
+"Ay, if we can do THAT, Ma'am," said Elinor, "we shall do very well
+with or without Colonel Brandon." And then rising, she went away to
+join Marianne, whom she found, as she expected, in her own room,
+leaning, in silent misery, over the small remains of a fire, which,
+till Elinor's entrance, had been her only light.
+
+"You had better leave me," was all the notice that her sister received
+from her.
+
+"I will leave you," said Elinor, "if you will go to bed." But this,
+from the momentary perverseness of impatient suffering, she at first
+refused to do.  Her sister's earnest, though gentle persuasion,
+however, soon softened her to compliance, and Elinor saw her lay her
+aching head on the pillow, and as she hoped, in a way to get some quiet
+rest before she left her.
+
+In the drawing-room, whither she then repaired, she was soon joined by
+Mrs. Jennings, with a wine-glass, full of something, in her hand.
+
+"My dear," said she, entering, "I have just recollected that I have
+some of the finest old Constantia wine in the house that ever was
+tasted, so I have brought a glass of it for your sister.  My poor
+husband! how fond he was of it!  Whenever he had a touch of his old
+colicky gout, he said it did him more good than any thing else in the
+world.  Do take it to your sister."
+
+"Dear Ma'am," replied Elinor, smiling at the difference of the
+complaints for which it was recommended, "how good you are!  But I have
+just left Marianne in bed, and, I hope, almost asleep; and as I think
+nothing will be of so much service to her as rest, if you will give me
+leave, I will drink the wine myself."
+
+Mrs. Jennings, though regretting that she had not been five minutes
+earlier, was satisfied with the compromise; and Elinor, as she
+swallowed the chief of it, reflected, that though its effects on a
+colicky gout were, at present, of little importance to her, its healing
+powers, on a disappointed heart might be as reasonably tried on herself
+as on her sister.
+
+Colonel Brandon came in while the party were at tea, and by his manner
+of looking round the room for Marianne, Elinor immediately fancied that
+he neither expected nor wished to see her there, and, in short, that he
+was already aware of what occasioned her absence.  Mrs. Jennings was
+not struck by the same thought; for soon after his entrance, she walked
+across the room to the tea-table where Elinor presided, and whispered--
+"The Colonel looks as grave as ever you see.  He knows nothing of it;
+do tell him, my dear."
+
+He shortly afterwards drew a chair close to her's, and, with a look
+which perfectly assured her of his good information, inquired after her
+sister.
+
+"Marianne is not well," said she.  "She has been indisposed all day,
+and we have persuaded her to go to bed."
+
+"Perhaps, then," he hesitatingly replied, "what I heard this morning
+may be--there may be more truth in it than I could believe possible at
+first."
+
+"What did you hear?"
+
+"That a gentleman, whom I had reason to think--in short, that a man,
+whom I KNEW to be engaged--but how shall I tell you?  If you know it
+already, as surely you must, I may be spared."
+
+"You mean," answered Elinor, with forced calmness, "Mr. Willoughby's
+marriage with Miss Grey.  Yes, we DO know it all.  This seems to have
+been a day of general elucidation, for this very morning first unfolded
+it to us.  Mr. Willoughby is unfathomable!  Where did you hear it?"
+
+"In a stationer's shop in Pall Mall, where I had business.  Two ladies
+were waiting for their carriage, and one of them was giving the other
+an account of the intended match, in a voice so little attempting
+concealment, that it was impossible for me not to hear all.  The name
+of Willoughby, John Willoughby, frequently repeated, first caught my
+attention; and what followed was a positive assertion that every thing
+was now finally settled respecting his marriage with Miss Grey--it was
+no longer to be a secret--it would take place even within a few weeks,
+with many particulars of preparations and other matters.  One thing,
+especially, I remember, because it served to identify the man still
+more:--as soon as the ceremony was over, they were to go to Combe
+Magna, his seat in Somersetshire.  My astonishment!--but it would be
+impossible to describe what I felt.  The communicative lady I learnt,
+on inquiry, for I stayed in the shop till they were gone, was a Mrs.
+Ellison, and that, as I have been since informed, is the name of Miss
+Grey's guardian."
+
+"It is.  But have you likewise heard that Miss Grey has fifty thousand
+pounds?  In that, if in any thing, we may find an explanation."
+
+"It may be so; but Willoughby is capable--at least I think"--he stopped
+a moment; then added in a voice which seemed to distrust itself, "And
+your sister--how did she--"
+
+"Her sufferings have been very severe.  I have only to hope that they
+may be proportionately short.  It has been, it is a most cruel
+affliction.  Till yesterday, I believe, she never doubted his regard;
+and even now, perhaps--but I am almost convinced that he never was
+really attached to her.  He has been very deceitful! and, in some
+points, there seems a hardness of heart about him."
+
+"Ah!" said Colonel Brandon, "there is, indeed!  But your sister does
+not--I think you said so--she does not consider quite as you do?"
+
+"You know her disposition, and may believe how eagerly she would still
+justify him if she could."
+
+He made no answer; and soon afterwards, by the removal of the
+tea-things, and the arrangement of the card parties, the subject was
+necessarily dropped.  Mrs. Jennings, who had watched them with pleasure
+while they were talking, and who expected to see the effect of Miss
+Dashwood's communication, in such an instantaneous gaiety on Colonel
+Brandon's side, as might have become a man in the bloom of youth, of
+hope and happiness, saw him, with amazement, remain the whole evening
+more serious and thoughtful than usual.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 31
+
+
+From a night of more sleep than she had expected, Marianne awoke the
+next morning to the same consciousness of misery in which she had
+closed her eyes.
+
+Elinor encouraged her as much as possible to talk of what she felt; and
+before breakfast was ready, they had gone through the subject again and
+again; and with the same steady conviction and affectionate counsel on
+Elinor's side, the same impetuous feelings and varying opinions on
+Marianne's, as before.  Sometimes she could believe Willoughby to be as
+unfortunate and as innocent as herself, and at others, lost every
+consolation in the impossibility of acquitting him.  At one moment she
+was absolutely indifferent to the observation of all the world, at
+another she would seclude herself from it for ever, and at a third
+could resist it with energy.  In one thing, however, she was uniform,
+when it came to the point, in avoiding, where it was possible, the
+presence of Mrs. Jennings, and in a determined silence when obliged to
+endure it.  Her heart was hardened against the belief of Mrs.
+Jennings's entering into her sorrows with any compassion.
+
+"No, no, no, it cannot be," she cried; "she cannot feel.  Her kindness
+is not sympathy; her good-nature is not tenderness.  All that she wants
+is gossip, and she only likes me now because I supply it."
+
+Elinor had not needed this to be assured of the injustice to which her
+sister was often led in her opinion of others, by the irritable
+refinement of her own mind, and the too great importance placed by her
+on the delicacies of a strong sensibility, and the graces of a polished
+manner.  Like half the rest of the world, if more than half there be
+that are clever and good, Marianne, with excellent abilities and an
+excellent disposition, was neither reasonable nor candid.  She expected
+from other people the same opinions and feelings as her own, and she
+judged of their motives by the immediate effect of their actions on
+herself.  Thus a circumstance occurred, while the sisters were together
+in their own room after breakfast, which sunk the heart of Mrs.
+Jennings still lower in her estimation; because, through her own
+weakness, it chanced to prove a source of fresh pain to herself, though
+Mrs. Jennings was governed in it by an impulse of the utmost goodwill.
+
+With a letter in her outstretched hand, and countenance gaily smiling,
+from the persuasion of bringing comfort, she entered their room, saying,
+
+"Now, my dear, I bring you something that I am sure will do you good."
+
+Marianne heard enough.  In one moment her imagination placed before her
+a letter from Willoughby, full of tenderness and contrition,
+explanatory of all that had passed, satisfactory, convincing; and
+instantly followed by Willoughby himself, rushing eagerly into the room
+to inforce, at her feet, by the eloquence of his eyes, the assurances
+of his letter.  The work of one moment was destroyed by the next.  The
+hand writing of her mother, never till then unwelcome, was before her;
+and, in the acuteness of the disappointment which followed such an
+ecstasy of more than hope, she felt as if, till that instant, she had
+never suffered.
+
+The cruelty of Mrs. Jennings no language, within her reach in her
+moments of happiest eloquence, could have expressed; and now she could
+reproach her only by the tears which streamed from her eyes with
+passionate violence--a reproach, however, so entirely lost on its
+object, that after many expressions of pity, she withdrew, still
+referring her to the letter of comfort.  But the letter, when she was
+calm enough to read it, brought little comfort.  Willoughby filled
+every page.  Her mother, still confident of their engagement, and
+relying as warmly as ever on his constancy, had only been roused by
+Elinor's application, to intreat from Marianne greater openness towards
+them both; and this, with such tenderness towards her, such affection
+for Willoughby, and such a conviction of their future happiness in each
+other, that she wept with agony through the whole of it.
+
+All her impatience to be at home again now returned; her mother was
+dearer to her than ever; dearer through the very excess of her mistaken
+confidence in Willoughby, and she was wildly urgent to be gone.
+Elinor, unable herself to determine whether it were better for Marianne
+to be in London or at Barton, offered no counsel of her own except of
+patience till their mother's wishes could be known; and at length she
+obtained her sister's consent to wait for that knowledge.
+
+Mrs. Jennings left them earlier than usual; for she could not be easy
+till the Middletons and Palmers were able to grieve as much as herself;
+and positively refusing Elinor's offered attendance, went out alone for
+the rest of the morning.  Elinor, with a very heavy heart, aware of the
+pain she was going to communicate, and perceiving, by Marianne's
+letter, how ill she had succeeded in laying any foundation for it, then
+sat down to write her mother an account of what had passed, and entreat
+her directions for the future; while Marianne, who came into the
+drawing-room on Mrs. Jennings's going away, remained fixed at the table
+where Elinor wrote, watching the advancement of her pen, grieving over
+her for the hardship of such a task, and grieving still more fondly
+over its effect on her mother.
+
+In this manner they had continued about a quarter of an hour, when
+Marianne, whose nerves could not then bear any sudden noise, was
+startled by a rap at the door.
+
+"Who can this be?" cried Elinor.  "So early too! I thought we HAD been
+safe."
+
+Marianne moved to the window--
+
+"It is Colonel Brandon!" said she, with vexation.  "We are never safe
+from HIM."
+
+"He will not come in, as Mrs. Jennings is from home."
+
+"I will not trust to THAT," retreating to her own room.  "A man who has
+nothing to do with his own time has no conscience in his intrusion on
+that of others."
+
+The event proved her conjecture right, though it was founded on
+injustice and error; for Colonel Brandon DID come in; and Elinor, who
+was convinced that solicitude for Marianne brought him thither, and who
+saw THAT solicitude in his disturbed and melancholy look, and in his
+anxious though brief inquiry after her, could not forgive her sister
+for esteeming him so lightly.
+
+"I met Mrs. Jennings in Bond Street," said he, after the first
+salutation, "and she encouraged me to come on; and I was the more
+easily encouraged, because I thought it probable that I might find you
+alone, which I was very desirous of doing.  My object--my wish--my sole
+wish in desiring it--I hope, I believe it is--is to be a means of
+giving comfort;--no, I must not say comfort--not present comfort--but
+conviction, lasting conviction to your sister's mind.  My regard for
+her, for yourself, for your mother--will you allow me to prove it, by
+relating some circumstances which nothing but a VERY sincere
+regard--nothing but an earnest desire of being useful--I think I am
+justified--though where so many hours have been spent in convincing
+myself that I am right, is there not some reason to fear I may be
+wrong?" He stopped.
+
+"I understand you," said Elinor.  "You have something to tell me of Mr.
+Willoughby, that will open his character farther.  Your telling it will
+be the greatest act of friendship that can be shewn Marianne.  MY
+gratitude will be insured immediately by any information tending to
+that end, and HERS must be gained by it in time.  Pray, pray let me
+hear it."
+
+"You shall; and, to be brief, when I quitted Barton last October,--but
+this will give you no idea--I must go farther back.  You will find me a
+very awkward narrator, Miss Dashwood; I hardly know where to begin.  A
+short account of myself, I believe, will be necessary, and it SHALL be
+a short one.  On such a subject," sighing heavily, "can I have little
+temptation to be diffuse."
+
+He stopt a moment for recollection, and then, with another sigh, went
+on.
+
+"You have probably entirely forgotten a conversation--(it is not to be
+supposed that it could make any impression on you)--a conversation
+between us one evening at Barton Park--it was the evening of a
+dance--in which I alluded to a lady I had once known, as resembling, in
+some measure, your sister Marianne."
+
+"Indeed," answered Elinor, "I have NOT forgotten it." He looked pleased
+by this remembrance, and added,
+
+"If I am not deceived by the uncertainty, the partiality of tender
+recollection, there is a very strong resemblance between them, as well
+in mind as person.  The same warmth of heart, the same eagerness of
+fancy and spirits.  This lady was one of my nearest relations, an
+orphan from her infancy, and under the guardianship of my father.  Our
+ages were nearly the same, and from our earliest years we were
+playfellows and friends.  I cannot remember the time when I did not
+love Eliza; and my affection for her, as we grew up, was such, as
+perhaps, judging from my present forlorn and cheerless gravity, you
+might think me incapable of having ever felt.  Her's, for me, was, I
+believe, fervent as the attachment of your sister to Mr. Willoughby and
+it was, though from a different cause, no less unfortunate.  At
+seventeen she was lost to me for ever.  She was married--married
+against her inclination to my brother.  Her fortune was large, and our
+family estate much encumbered.  And this, I fear, is all that can be
+said for the conduct of one, who was at once her uncle and guardian.
+My brother did not deserve her; he did not even love her.  I had hoped
+that her regard for me would support her under any difficulty, and for
+some time it did; but at last the misery of her situation, for she
+experienced great unkindness, overcame all her resolution, and though
+she had promised me that nothing--but how blindly I relate!  I have
+never told you how this was brought on.  We were within a few hours of
+eloping together for Scotland.  The treachery, or the folly, of my
+cousin's maid betrayed us.  I was banished to the house of a relation
+far distant, and she was allowed no liberty, no society, no amusement,
+till my father's point was gained.  I had depended on her fortitude too
+far, and the blow was a severe one--but had her marriage been happy, so
+young as I then was, a few months must have reconciled me to it, or at
+least I should not have now to lament it.  This however was not the
+case.  My brother had no regard for her; his pleasures were not what
+they ought to have been, and from the first he treated her unkindly.
+The consequence of this, upon a mind so young, so lively, so
+inexperienced as Mrs. Brandon's, was but too natural.  She resigned
+herself at first to all the misery of her situation; and happy had it
+been if she had not lived to overcome those regrets which the
+remembrance of me occasioned.  But can we wonder that, with such a
+husband to provoke inconstancy, and without a friend to advise or
+restrain her (for my father lived only a few months after their
+marriage, and I was with my regiment in the East Indies) she should
+fall?  Had I remained in England, perhaps--but I meant to promote the
+happiness of both by removing from her for years, and for that purpose
+had procured my exchange.  The shock which her marriage had given me,"
+he continued, in a voice of great agitation, "was of trifling
+weight--was nothing to what I felt when I heard, about two years
+afterwards, of her divorce.  It was THAT which threw this gloom,--even
+now the recollection of what I suffered--"
+
+He could say no more, and rising hastily walked for a few minutes about
+the room.  Elinor, affected by his relation, and still more by his
+distress, could not speak.  He saw her concern, and coming to her, took
+her hand, pressed it, and kissed it with grateful respect.  A few
+minutes more of silent exertion enabled him to proceed with composure.
+
+"It was nearly three years after this unhappy period before I returned
+to England.  My first care, when I DID arrive, was of course to seek
+for her; but the search was as fruitless as it was melancholy.  I could
+not trace her beyond her first seducer, and there was every reason to
+fear that she had removed from him only to sink deeper in a life of
+sin.  Her legal allowance was not adequate to her fortune, nor
+sufficient for her comfortable maintenance, and I learnt from my
+brother that the power of receiving it had been made over some months
+before to another person.  He imagined, and calmly could he imagine it,
+that her extravagance, and consequent distress, had obliged her to
+dispose of it for some immediate relief.  At last, however, and after I
+had been six months in England, I DID find her.  Regard for a former
+servant of my own, who had since fallen into misfortune, carried me to
+visit him in a spunging-house, where he was confined for debt; and
+there, the same house, under a similar confinement, was my unfortunate
+sister.  So altered--so faded--worn down by acute suffering of every
+kind! hardly could I believe the melancholy and sickly figure before
+me, to be the remains of the lovely, blooming, healthful girl, on whom
+I had once doted.  What I endured in so beholding her--but I have no
+right to wound your feelings by attempting to describe it--I have
+pained you too much already.  That she was, to all appearance, in the
+last stage of a consumption, was--yes, in such a situation it was my
+greatest comfort.  Life could do nothing for her, beyond giving time
+for a better preparation for death; and that was given.  I saw her
+placed in comfortable lodgings, and under proper attendants; I visited
+her every day during the rest of her short life: I was with her in her
+last moments."
+
+Again he stopped to recover himself; and Elinor spoke her feelings in
+an exclamation of tender concern, at the fate of his unfortunate friend.
+
+"Your sister, I hope, cannot be offended," said he, "by the resemblance
+I have fancied between her and my poor disgraced relation.  Their
+fates, their fortunes, cannot be the same; and had the natural sweet
+disposition of the one been guarded by a firmer mind, or a happier
+marriage, she might have been all that you will live to see the other
+be.  But to what does all this lead?  I seem to have been distressing
+you for nothing.  Ah! Miss Dashwood--a subject such as this--untouched
+for fourteen years--it is dangerous to handle it at all!  I WILL be
+more collected--more concise.  She left to my care her only child, a
+little girl, the offspring of her first guilty connection, who was then
+about three years old.  She loved the child, and had always kept it
+with her.  It was a valued, a precious trust to me; and gladly would I
+have discharged it in the strictest sense, by watching over her
+education myself, had the nature of our situations allowed it; but I
+had no family, no home; and my little Eliza was therefore placed at
+school.  I saw her there whenever I could, and after the death of my
+brother, (which happened about five years ago, and which left to me the
+possession of the family property,) she visited me at Delaford.  I
+called her a distant relation; but I am well aware that I have in
+general been suspected of a much nearer connection with her.  It is now
+three years ago (she had just reached her fourteenth year,) that I
+removed her from school, to place her under the care of a very
+respectable woman, residing in Dorsetshire, who had the charge of four
+or five other girls of about the same time of life; and for two years I
+had every reason to be pleased with her situation.  But last February,
+almost a twelvemonth back, she suddenly disappeared.  I had allowed
+her, (imprudently, as it has since turned out,) at her earnest desire,
+to go to Bath with one of her young friends, who was attending her
+father there for his health.  I knew him to be a very good sort of man,
+and I thought well of his daughter--better than she deserved, for, with
+a most obstinate and ill-judged secrecy, she would tell nothing, would
+give no clue, though she certainly knew all.  He, her father, a
+well-meaning, but not a quick-sighted man, could really, I believe,
+give no information; for he had been generally confined to the house,
+while the girls were ranging over the town and making what acquaintance
+they chose; and he tried to convince me, as thoroughly as he was
+convinced himself, of his daughter's being entirely unconcerned in the
+business.  In short, I could learn nothing but that she was gone; all
+the rest, for eight long months, was left to conjecture.  What I
+thought, what I feared, may be imagined; and what I suffered too."
+
+"Good heavens!" cried Elinor, "could it be--could Willoughby!"--
+
+"The first news that reached me of her," he continued, "came in a
+letter from herself, last October.  It was forwarded to me from
+Delaford, and I received it on the very morning of our intended party
+to Whitwell; and this was the reason of my leaving Barton so suddenly,
+which I am sure must at the time have appeared strange to every body,
+and which I believe gave offence to some.  Little did Mr. Willoughby
+imagine, I suppose, when his looks censured me for incivility in
+breaking up the party, that I was called away to the relief of one whom
+he had made poor and miserable; but HAD he known it, what would it have
+availed?  Would he have been less gay or less happy in the smiles of
+your sister?  No, he had already done that, which no man who CAN feel
+for another would do.  He had left the girl whose youth and innocence
+he had seduced, in a situation of the utmost distress, with no
+creditable home, no help, no friends, ignorant of his address!  He had
+left her, promising to return; he neither returned, nor wrote, nor
+relieved her."
+
+"This is beyond every thing!" exclaimed Elinor.
+
+"His character is now before you; expensive, dissipated, and worse than
+both.  Knowing all this, as I have now known it many weeks, guess what
+I must have felt on seeing your sister as fond of him as ever, and on
+being assured that she was to marry him: guess what I must have felt
+for all your sakes.  When I came to you last week and found you alone,
+I came determined to know the truth; though irresolute what to do when
+it WAS known.  My behaviour must have seemed strange to you then; but
+now you will comprehend it.  To suffer you all to be so deceived; to
+see your sister--but what could I do?  I had no hope of interfering
+with success; and sometimes I thought your sister's influence might yet
+reclaim him.  But now, after such dishonorable usage, who can tell what
+were his designs on her.  Whatever they may have been, however, she may
+now, and hereafter doubtless WILL turn with gratitude towards her own
+condition, when she compares it with that of my poor Eliza, when she
+considers the wretched and hopeless situation of this poor girl, and
+pictures her to herself, with an affection for him so strong, still as
+strong as her own, and with a mind tormented by self-reproach, which
+must attend her through life.  Surely this comparison must have its use
+with her.  She will feel her own sufferings to be nothing.  They
+proceed from no misconduct, and can bring no disgrace.  On the
+contrary, every friend must be made still more her friend by them.
+Concern for her unhappiness, and respect for her fortitude under it,
+must strengthen every attachment.  Use your own discretion, however, in
+communicating to her what I have told you.  You must know best what
+will be its effect; but had I not seriously, and from my heart believed
+it might be of service, might lessen her regrets, I would not have
+suffered myself to trouble you with this account of my family
+afflictions, with a recital which may seem to have been intended to
+raise myself at the expense of others."
+
+Elinor's thanks followed this speech with grateful earnestness;
+attended too with the assurance of her expecting material advantage to
+Marianne, from the communication of what had passed.
+
+"I have been more pained," said she, "by her endeavors to acquit him
+than by all the rest; for it irritates her mind more than the most
+perfect conviction of his unworthiness can do.  Now, though at first
+she will suffer much, I am sure she will soon become easier.  Have
+you," she continued, after a short silence, "ever seen Mr. Willoughby
+since you left him at Barton?"
+
+"Yes," he replied gravely, "once I have.  One meeting was unavoidable."
+
+Elinor, startled by his manner, looked at him anxiously, saying,
+
+"What? have you met him to--"
+
+"I could meet him no other way.  Eliza had confessed to me, though most
+reluctantly, the name of her lover; and when he returned to town, which
+was within a fortnight after myself, we met by appointment, he to
+defend, I to punish his conduct.  We returned unwounded, and the
+meeting, therefore, never got abroad."
+
+Elinor sighed over the fancied necessity of this; but to a man and a
+soldier she presumed not to censure it.
+
+"Such," said Colonel Brandon, after a pause, "has been the unhappy
+resemblance between the fate of mother and daughter! and so imperfectly
+have I discharged my trust!"
+
+"Is she still in town?"
+
+"No; as soon as she recovered from her lying-in, for I found her near
+her delivery, I removed her and her child into the country, and there
+she remains."
+
+Recollecting, soon afterwards, that he was probably dividing Elinor
+from her sister, he put an end to his visit, receiving from her again
+the same grateful acknowledgments, and leaving her full of compassion
+and esteem for him.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 32
+
+
+When the particulars of this conversation were repeated by Miss
+Dashwood to her sister, as they very soon were, the effect on her was
+not entirely such as the former had hoped to see.  Not that Marianne
+appeared to distrust the truth of any part of it, for she listened to
+it all with the most steady and submissive attention, made neither
+objection nor remark, attempted no vindication of Willoughby, and
+seemed to shew by her tears that she felt it to be impossible.  But
+though this behaviour assured Elinor that the conviction of this guilt
+WAS carried home to her mind, though she saw with satisfaction the
+effect of it, in her no longer avoiding Colonel Brandon when he called,
+in her speaking to him, even voluntarily speaking, with a kind of
+compassionate respect, and though she saw her spirits less violently
+irritated than before, she did not see her less wretched.  Her mind did
+become settled, but it was settled in a gloomy dejection.  She felt the
+loss of Willoughby's character yet more heavily than she had felt the
+loss of his heart; his seduction and desertion of Miss Williams, the
+misery of that poor girl, and the doubt of what his designs might ONCE
+have been on herself, preyed altogether so much on her spirits, that
+she could not bring herself to speak of what she felt even to Elinor;
+and, brooding over her sorrows in silence, gave more pain to her sister
+than could have been communicated by the most open and most frequent
+confession of them.
+
+To give the feelings or the language of Mrs. Dashwood on receiving and
+answering Elinor's letter would be only to give a repetition of what
+her daughters had already felt and said; of a disappointment hardly
+less painful than Marianne's, and an indignation even greater than
+Elinor's.  Long letters from her, quickly succeeding each other,
+arrived to tell all that she suffered and thought; to express her
+anxious solicitude for Marianne, and entreat she would bear up with
+fortitude under this misfortune.  Bad indeed must the nature of
+Marianne's affliction be, when her mother could talk of fortitude!
+mortifying and humiliating must be the origin of those regrets, which
+SHE could wish her not to indulge!
+
+Against the interest of her own individual comfort, Mrs. Dashwood had
+determined that it would be better for Marianne to be any where, at
+that time, than at Barton, where every thing within her view would be
+bringing back the past in the strongest and most afflicting manner, by
+constantly placing Willoughby before her, such as she had always seen
+him there.  She recommended it to her daughters, therefore, by all
+means not to shorten their visit to Mrs. Jennings; the length of which,
+though never exactly fixed, had been expected by all to comprise at
+least five or six weeks.  A variety of occupations, of objects, and of
+company, which could not be procured at Barton, would be inevitable
+there, and might yet, she hoped, cheat Marianne, at times, into some
+interest beyond herself, and even into some amusement, much as the
+ideas of both might now be spurned by her.
+
+From all danger of seeing Willoughby again, her mother considered her
+to be at least equally safe in town as in the country, since his
+acquaintance must now be dropped by all who called themselves her
+friends.  Design could never bring them in each other's way: negligence
+could never leave them exposed to a surprise; and chance had less in
+its favour in the crowd of London than even in the retirement of
+Barton, where it might force him before her while paying that visit at
+Allenham on his marriage, which Mrs. Dashwood, from foreseeing at first
+as a probable event, had brought herself to expect as a certain one.
+
+She had yet another reason for wishing her children to remain where
+they were; a letter from her son-in-law had told her that he and his
+wife were to be in town before the middle of February, and she judged
+it right that they should sometimes see their brother.
+
+Marianne had promised to be guided by her mother's opinion, and she
+submitted to it therefore without opposition, though it proved
+perfectly different from what she wished and expected, though she felt
+it to be entirely wrong, formed on mistaken grounds, and that by
+requiring her longer continuance in London it deprived her of the only
+possible alleviation of her wretchedness, the personal sympathy of her
+mother, and doomed her to such society and such scenes as must prevent
+her ever knowing a moment's rest.
+
+But it was a matter of great consolation to her, that what brought evil
+to herself would bring good to her sister; and Elinor, on the other
+hand, suspecting that it would not be in her power to avoid Edward
+entirely, comforted herself by thinking, that though their longer stay
+would therefore militate against her own happiness, it would be better
+for Marianne than an immediate return into Devonshire.
+
+Her carefulness in guarding her sister from ever hearing Willoughby's
+name mentioned, was not thrown away.  Marianne, though without knowing
+it herself, reaped all its advantage; for neither Mrs. Jennings, nor
+Sir John, nor even Mrs. Palmer herself, ever spoke of him before her.
+Elinor wished that the same forbearance could have extended towards
+herself, but that was impossible, and she was obliged to listen day
+after day to the indignation of them all.
+
+Sir John, could not have thought it possible.  "A man of whom he had
+always had such reason to think well!  Such a good-natured fellow!  He
+did not believe there was a bolder rider in England!  It was an
+unaccountable business.  He wished him at the devil with all his heart.
+He would not speak another word to him, meet him where he might, for
+all the world!  No, not if it were to be by the side of Barton covert,
+and they were kept watching for two hours together.  Such a scoundrel
+of a fellow! such a deceitful dog!  It was only the last time they met
+that he had offered him one of Folly's puppies! and this was the end of
+it!"
+
+Mrs. Palmer, in her way, was equally angry.  "She was determined to
+drop his acquaintance immediately, and she was very thankful that she
+had never been acquainted with him at all.  She wished with all her
+heart Combe Magna was not so near Cleveland; but it did not signify,
+for it was a great deal too far off to visit; she hated him so much
+that she was resolved never to mention his name again, and she should
+tell everybody she saw, how good-for-nothing he was."
+
+The rest of Mrs. Palmer's sympathy was shewn in procuring all the
+particulars in her power of the approaching marriage, and communicating
+them to Elinor.  She could soon tell at what coachmaker's the new
+carriage was building, by what painter Mr. Willoughby's portrait was
+drawn, and at what warehouse Miss Grey's clothes might be seen.
+
+The calm and polite unconcern of Lady Middleton on the occasion was a
+happy relief to Elinor's spirits, oppressed as they often were by the
+clamorous kindness of the others.  It was a great comfort to her to be
+sure of exciting no interest in ONE person at least among their circle
+of friends: a great comfort to know that there was ONE who would meet
+her without feeling any curiosity after particulars, or any anxiety for
+her sister's health.
+
+Every qualification is raised at times, by the circumstances of the
+moment, to more than its real value; and she was sometimes worried down
+by officious condolence to rate good-breeding as more indispensable to
+comfort than good-nature.
+
+Lady Middleton expressed her sense of the affair about once every day,
+or twice, if the subject occurred very often, by saying, "It is very
+shocking, indeed!" and by the means of this continual though gentle
+vent, was able not only to see the Miss Dashwoods from the first
+without the smallest emotion, but very soon to see them without
+recollecting a word of the matter; and having thus supported the
+dignity of her own sex, and spoken her decided censure of what was
+wrong in the other, she thought herself at liberty to attend to the
+interest of her own assemblies, and therefore determined (though rather
+against the opinion of Sir John) that as Mrs. Willoughby would at once
+be a woman of elegance and fortune, to leave her card with her as soon
+as she married.
+
+Colonel Brandon's delicate, unobtrusive enquiries were never unwelcome
+to Miss Dashwood.  He had abundantly earned the privilege of intimate
+discussion of her sister's disappointment, by the friendly zeal with
+which he had endeavoured to soften it, and they always conversed with
+confidence.  His chief reward for the painful exertion of disclosing
+past sorrows and present humiliations, was given in the pitying eye
+with which Marianne sometimes observed him, and the gentleness of her
+voice whenever (though it did not often happen) she was obliged, or
+could oblige herself to speak to him.  THESE assured him that his
+exertion had produced an increase of good-will towards himself, and
+THESE gave Elinor hopes of its being farther augmented hereafter; but
+Mrs. Jennings, who knew nothing of all this, who knew only that the
+Colonel continued as grave as ever, and that she could neither prevail
+on him to make the offer himself, nor commission her to make it for
+him, began, at the end of two days, to think that, instead of
+Midsummer, they would not be married till Michaelmas, and by the end of
+a week that it would not be a match at all.  The good understanding
+between the Colonel and Miss Dashwood seemed rather to declare that the
+honours of the mulberry-tree, the canal, and the yew arbour, would all
+be made over to HER; and Mrs. Jennings had, for some time ceased to
+think at all of Mrs. Ferrars.
+
+Early in February, within a fortnight from the receipt of Willoughby's
+letter, Elinor had the painful office of informing her sister that he
+was married.  She had taken care to have the intelligence conveyed to
+herself, as soon as it was known that the ceremony was over, as she was
+desirous that Marianne should not receive the first notice of it from
+the public papers, which she saw her eagerly examining every morning.
+
+She received the news with resolute composure; made no observation on
+it, and at first shed no tears; but after a short time they would burst
+out, and for the rest of the day, she was in a state hardly less
+pitiable than when she first learnt to expect the event.
+
+The Willoughbys left town as soon as they were married; and Elinor now
+hoped, as there could be no danger of her seeing either of them, to
+prevail on her sister, who had never yet left the house since the blow
+first fell, to go out again by degrees as she had done before.
+
+About this time the two Miss Steeles, lately arrived at their cousin's
+house in Bartlett's Buildings, Holburn, presented themselves again
+before their more grand relations in Conduit and Berkeley Streets; and
+were welcomed by them all with great cordiality.
+
+Elinor only was sorry to see them.  Their presence always gave her
+pain, and she hardly knew how to make a very gracious return to the
+overpowering delight of Lucy in finding her STILL in town.
+
+"I should have been quite disappointed if I had not found you here
+STILL," said she repeatedly, with a strong emphasis on the word.  "But
+I always thought I SHOULD.  I was almost sure you would not leave
+London yet awhile; though you TOLD me, you know, at Barton, that you
+should not stay above a MONTH.  But I thought, at the time, that you
+would most likely change your mind when it came to the point.  It would
+have been such a great pity to have went away before your brother and
+sister came.  And now to be sure you will be in no hurry to be gone.  I
+am amazingly glad you did not keep to YOUR WORD."
+
+Elinor perfectly understood her, and was forced to use all her
+self-command to make it appear that she did NOT.
+
+"Well, my dear," said Mrs. Jennings, "and how did you travel?"
+
+"Not in the stage, I assure you," replied Miss Steele, with quick
+exultation; "we came post all the way, and had a very smart beau to
+attend us.  Dr. Davies was coming to town, and so we thought we'd join
+him in a post-chaise; and he behaved very genteelly, and paid ten or
+twelve shillings more than we did."
+
+"Oh, oh!" cried Mrs. Jennings; "very pretty, indeed! and the Doctor is
+a single man, I warrant you."
+
+"There now," said Miss Steele, affectedly simpering, "everybody laughs
+at me so about the Doctor, and I cannot think why.  My cousins say they
+are sure I have made a conquest; but for my part I declare I never
+think about him from one hour's end to another.  'Lord! here comes your
+beau, Nancy,' my cousin said t'other day, when she saw him crossing the
+street to the house.  My beau, indeed! said I--I cannot think who you
+mean.  The Doctor is no beau of mine."
+
+"Aye, aye, that is very pretty talking--but it won't do--the Doctor is
+the man, I see."
+
+"No, indeed!" replied her cousin, with affected earnestness, "and I beg
+you will contradict it, if you ever hear it talked of."
+
+Mrs. Jennings directly gave her the gratifying assurance that she
+certainly would NOT, and Miss Steele was made completely happy.
+
+"I suppose you will go and stay with your brother and sister, Miss
+Dashwood, when they come to town," said Lucy, returning, after a
+cessation of hostile hints, to the charge.
+
+"No, I do not think we shall."
+
+"Oh, yes, I dare say you will."
+
+Elinor would not humour her by farther opposition.
+
+"What a charming thing it is that Mrs. Dashwood can spare you both for
+so long a time together!"
+
+"Long a time, indeed!" interposed Mrs. Jennings.  "Why, their visit is
+but just begun!"
+
+Lucy was silenced.
+
+"I am sorry we cannot see your sister, Miss Dashwood," said Miss
+Steele.  "I am sorry she is not well--" for Marianne had left the room
+on their arrival.
+
+"You are very good.  My sister will be equally sorry to miss the
+pleasure of seeing you; but she has been very much plagued lately with
+nervous head-aches, which make her unfit for company or conversation."
+
+"Oh, dear, that is a great pity! but such old friends as Lucy and
+me!--I think she might see US; and I am sure we would not speak a word."
+
+Elinor, with great civility, declined the proposal.  Her sister was
+perhaps laid down upon the bed, or in her dressing gown, and therefore
+not able to come to them.
+
+"Oh, if that's all," cried Miss Steele, "we can just as well go and see
+HER."
+
+Elinor began to find this impertinence too much for her temper; but she
+was saved the trouble of checking it, by Lucy's sharp reprimand, which
+now, as on many occasions, though it did not give much sweetness to the
+manners of one sister, was of advantage in governing those of the other.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 33
+
+
+After some opposition, Marianne yielded to her sister's entreaties, and
+consented to go out with her and Mrs. Jennings one morning for half an
+hour. She expressly conditioned, however, for paying no visits, and
+would do no more than accompany them to Gray's in Sackville Street,
+where Elinor was carrying on a negotiation for the exchange of a few
+old-fashioned jewels of her mother.
+
+When they stopped at the door, Mrs. Jennings recollected that there was
+a lady at the other end of the street on whom she ought to call; and as
+she had no business at Gray's, it was resolved, that while her young
+friends transacted their's, she should pay her visit and return for
+them.
+
+On ascending the stairs, the Miss Dashwoods found so many people before
+them in the room, that there was not a person at liberty to tend to
+their orders; and they were obliged to wait.  All that could be done
+was, to sit down at that end of the counter which seemed to promise the
+quickest succession; one gentleman only was standing there, and it is
+probable that Elinor was not without hope of exciting his politeness to
+a quicker despatch.  But the correctness of his eye, and the delicacy
+of his taste, proved to be beyond his politeness.  He was giving orders
+for a toothpick-case for himself, and till its size, shape, and
+ornaments were determined, all of which, after examining and debating
+for a quarter of an hour over every toothpick-case in the shop, were
+finally arranged by his own inventive fancy, he had no leisure to
+bestow any other attention on the two ladies, than what was comprised
+in three or four very broad stares; a kind of notice which served to
+imprint on Elinor the remembrance of a person and face, of strong,
+natural, sterling insignificance, though adorned in the first style of
+fashion.
+
+Marianne was spared from the troublesome feelings of contempt and
+resentment, on this impertinent examination of their features, and on
+the puppyism of his manner in deciding on all the different horrors of
+the different toothpick-cases presented to his inspection, by remaining
+unconscious of it all; for she was as well able to collect her thoughts
+within herself, and be as ignorant of what was passing around her, in
+Mr. Gray's shop, as in her own bedroom.
+
+At last the affair was decided.  The ivory, the gold, and the pearls,
+all received their appointment, and the gentleman having named the last
+day on which his existence could be continued without the possession of
+the toothpick-case, drew on his gloves with leisurely care, and
+bestowing another glance on the Miss Dashwoods, but such a one as
+seemed rather to demand than express admiration, walked off with a
+happy air of real conceit and affected indifference.
+
+Elinor lost no time in bringing her business forward, was on the point
+of concluding it, when another gentleman presented himself at her side.
+She turned her eyes towards his face, and found him with some surprise
+to be her brother.
+
+Their affection and pleasure in meeting was just enough to make a very
+creditable appearance in Mr. Gray's shop.  John Dashwood was really far
+from being sorry to see his sisters again; it rather gave them
+satisfaction; and his inquiries after their mother were respectful and
+attentive.
+
+Elinor found that he and Fanny had been in town two days.
+
+"I wished very much to call upon you yesterday," said he, "but it was
+impossible, for we were obliged to take Harry to see the wild beasts at
+Exeter Exchange; and we spent the rest of the day with Mrs. Ferrars.
+Harry was vastly pleased.  THIS morning I had fully intended to call on
+you, if I could possibly find a spare half hour, but one has always so
+much to do on first coming to town.  I am come here to bespeak Fanny a
+seal.  But tomorrow I think I shall certainly be able to call in
+Berkeley Street, and be introduced to your friend Mrs. Jennings.  I
+understand she is a woman of very good fortune.  And the Middletons
+too, you must introduce me to THEM.  As my mother-in-law's relations, I
+shall be happy to show them every respect.  They are excellent
+neighbours to you in the country, I understand."
+
+"Excellent indeed.  Their attention to our comfort, their friendliness
+in every particular, is more than I can express."
+
+"I am extremely glad to hear it, upon my word; extremely glad indeed.
+But so it ought to be; they are people of large fortune, they are
+related to you, and every civility and accommodation that can serve to
+make your situation pleasant might be reasonably expected.  And so you
+are most comfortably settled in your little cottage and want for
+nothing!  Edward brought us a most charming account of the place: the
+most complete thing of its kind, he said, that ever was, and you all
+seemed to enjoy it beyond any thing.  It was a great satisfaction to us
+to hear it, I assure you."
+
+Elinor did feel a little ashamed of her brother; and was not sorry to
+be spared the necessity of answering him, by the arrival of Mrs.
+Jennings's servant, who came to tell her that his mistress waited for
+them at the door.
+
+Mr. Dashwood attended them down stairs, was introduced to Mrs. Jennings
+at the door of her carriage, and repeating his hope of being able to
+call on them the next day, took leave.
+
+His visit was duly paid.  He came with a pretence at an apology from
+their sister-in-law, for not coming too; "but she was so much engaged
+with her mother, that really she had no leisure for going any where."
+Mrs. Jennings, however, assured him directly, that she should not stand
+upon ceremony, for they were all cousins, or something like it, and she
+should certainly wait on Mrs. John Dashwood very soon, and bring her
+sisters to see her.  His manners to THEM, though calm, were perfectly
+kind; to Mrs. Jennings, most attentively civil; and on Colonel
+Brandon's coming in soon after himself, he eyed him with a curiosity
+which seemed to say, that he only wanted to know him to be rich, to be
+equally civil to HIM.
+
+After staying with them half an hour, he asked Elinor to walk with him
+to Conduit Street, and introduce him to Sir John and Lady Middleton.
+The weather was remarkably fine, and she readily consented.  As soon as
+they were out of the house, his enquiries began.
+
+"Who is Colonel Brandon?  Is he a man of fortune?"
+
+"Yes; he has very good property in Dorsetshire."
+
+"I am glad of it.  He seems a most gentlemanlike man; and I think,
+Elinor, I may congratulate you on the prospect of a very respectable
+establishment in life."
+
+"Me, brother! what do you mean?"
+
+"He likes you.  I observed him narrowly, and am convinced of it.  What
+is the amount of his fortune?"
+
+"I believe about two thousand a year."
+
+"Two thousand a-year;" and then working himself up to a pitch of
+enthusiastic generosity, he added, "Elinor, I wish with all my heart it
+were TWICE as much, for your sake."
+
+"Indeed I believe you," replied Elinor; "but I am very sure that
+Colonel Brandon has not the smallest wish of marrying ME."
+
+"You are mistaken, Elinor; you are very much mistaken.  A very little
+trouble on your side secures him.  Perhaps just at present he may be
+undecided; the smallness of your fortune may make him hang back; his
+friends may all advise him against it.  But some of those little
+attentions and encouragements which ladies can so easily give will fix
+him, in spite of himself.  And there can be no reason why you should
+not try for him.  It is not to be supposed that any prior attachment on
+your side--in short, you know as to an attachment of that kind, it is
+quite out of the question, the objections are insurmountable--you have
+too much sense not to see all that.  Colonel Brandon must be the man;
+and no civility shall be wanting on my part to make him pleased with
+you and your family.  It is a match that must give universal
+satisfaction.  In short, it is a kind of thing that"--lowering his
+voice to an important whisper--"will be exceedingly welcome to ALL
+PARTIES." Recollecting himself, however, he added, "That is, I mean to
+say--your friends are all truly anxious to see you well settled; Fanny
+particularly, for she has your interest very much at heart, I assure
+you.  And her mother too, Mrs. Ferrars, a very good-natured woman, I am
+sure it would give her great pleasure; she said as much the other day."
+
+Elinor would not vouchsafe any answer.
+
+"It would be something remarkable, now," he continued, "something
+droll, if Fanny should have a brother and I a sister settling at the
+same time.  And yet it is not very unlikely."
+
+"Is Mr. Edward Ferrars," said Elinor, with resolution, "going to be
+married?"
+
+"It is not actually settled, but there is such a thing in agitation.
+He has a most excellent mother.  Mrs. Ferrars, with the utmost
+liberality, will come forward, and settle on him a thousand a year, if
+the match takes place.  The lady is the Hon. Miss Morton, only daughter
+of the late Lord Morton, with thirty thousand pounds.  A very desirable
+connection on both sides, and I have not a doubt of its taking place in
+time.  A thousand a-year is a great deal for a mother to give away, to
+make over for ever; but Mrs. Ferrars has a noble spirit.  To give you
+another instance of her liberality:--The other day, as soon as we came
+to town, aware that money could not be very plenty with us just now,
+she put bank-notes into Fanny's hands to the amount of two hundred
+pounds.  And extremely acceptable it is, for we must live at a great
+expense while we are here."
+
+He paused for her assent and compassion; and she forced herself to say,
+
+"Your expenses both in town and country must certainly be considerable;
+but your income is a large one."
+
+"Not so large, I dare say, as many people suppose.  I do not mean to
+complain, however; it is undoubtedly a comfortable one, and I hope will
+in time be better.  The enclosure of Norland Common, now carrying on,
+is a most serious drain.  And then I have made a little purchase within
+this half year; East Kingham Farm, you must remember the place, where
+old Gibson used to live.  The land was so very desirable for me in
+every respect, so immediately adjoining my own property, that I felt it
+my duty to buy it.  I could not have answered it to my conscience to
+let it fall into any other hands.  A man must pay for his convenience;
+and it HAS cost me a vast deal of money."
+
+"More than you think it really and intrinsically worth."
+
+"Why, I hope not that.  I might have sold it again, the next day, for
+more than I gave: but, with regard to the purchase-money, I might have
+been very unfortunate indeed; for the stocks were at that time so low,
+that if I had not happened to have the necessary sum in my banker's
+hands, I must have sold out to very great loss."
+
+Elinor could only smile.
+
+"Other great and inevitable expenses too we have had on first coming to
+Norland.  Our respected father, as you well know, bequeathed all the
+Stanhill effects that remained at Norland (and very valuable they were)
+to your mother.  Far be it from me to repine at his doing so; he had an
+undoubted right to dispose of his own property as he chose, but, in
+consequence of it, we have been obliged to make large purchases of
+linen, china, &c. to supply the place of what was taken away.  You may
+guess, after all these expenses, how very far we must be from being
+rich, and how acceptable Mrs. Ferrars's kindness is."
+
+"Certainly," said Elinor; "and assisted by her liberality, I hope you
+may yet live to be in easy circumstances."
+
+"Another year or two may do much towards it," he gravely replied; "but
+however there is still a great deal to be done.  There is not a stone
+laid of Fanny's green-house, and nothing but the plan of the
+flower-garden marked out."
+
+"Where is the green-house to be?"
+
+"Upon the knoll behind the house.  The old walnut trees are all come
+down to make room for it.  It will be a very fine object from many
+parts of the park, and the flower-garden will slope down just before
+it, and be exceedingly pretty.  We have cleared away all the old thorns
+that grew in patches over the brow."
+
+Elinor kept her concern and her censure to herself; and was very
+thankful that Marianne was not present, to share the provocation.
+
+Having now said enough to make his poverty clear, and to do away the
+necessity of buying a pair of ear-rings for each of his sisters, in his
+next visit at Gray's his thoughts took a cheerfuller turn, and he began
+to congratulate Elinor on having such a friend as Mrs. Jennings.
+
+"She seems a most valuable woman indeed--Her house, her style of
+living, all bespeak an exceeding good income; and it is an acquaintance
+that has not only been of great use to you hitherto, but in the end may
+prove materially advantageous.--Her inviting you to town is certainly a
+vast thing in your favour; and indeed, it speaks altogether so great a
+regard for you, that in all probability when she dies you will not be
+forgotten.-- She must have a great deal to leave."
+
+"Nothing at all, I should rather suppose; for she has only her
+jointure, which will descend to her children."
+
+"But it is not to be imagined that she lives up to her income.  Few
+people of common prudence will do THAT; and whatever she saves, she
+will be able to dispose of."
+
+"And do you not think it more likely that she should leave it to her
+daughters, than to us?"
+
+"Her daughters are both exceedingly well married, and therefore I
+cannot perceive the necessity of her remembering them farther.
+Whereas, in my opinion, by her taking so much notice of you, and
+treating you in this kind of way, she has given you a sort of claim on
+her future consideration, which a conscientious woman would not
+disregard.  Nothing can be kinder than her behaviour; and she can
+hardly do all this, without being aware of the expectation it raises."
+
+"But she raises none in those most concerned.  Indeed, brother, your
+anxiety for our welfare and prosperity carries you too far."
+
+"Why, to be sure," said he, seeming to recollect himself, "people have
+little, have very little in their power.  But, my dear Elinor, what is
+the matter with Marianne?-- she looks very unwell, has lost her colour,
+and is grown quite thin.  Is she ill?"
+
+"She is not well, she has had a nervous complaint on her for several
+weeks."
+
+"I am sorry for that.  At her time of life, any thing of an illness
+destroys the bloom for ever!  Her's has been a very short one!  She was
+as handsome a girl last September, as I ever saw; and as likely to
+attract the man.  There was something in her style of beauty, to please
+them particularly.  I remember Fanny used to say that she would marry
+sooner and better than you did; not but what she is exceedingly fond of
+YOU, but so it happened to strike her.  She will be mistaken, however.
+I question whether Marianne NOW, will marry a man worth more than five
+or six hundred a-year, at the utmost, and I am very much deceived if
+YOU do not do better.  Dorsetshire!  I know very little of Dorsetshire;
+but, my dear Elinor, I shall be exceedingly glad to know more of it;
+and I think I can answer for your having Fanny and myself among the
+earliest and best pleased of your visitors."
+
+Elinor tried very seriously to convince him that there was no
+likelihood of her marrying Colonel Brandon; but it was an expectation
+of too much pleasure to himself to be relinquished, and he was really
+resolved on seeking an intimacy with that gentleman, and promoting the
+marriage by every possible attention.  He had just compunction enough
+for having done nothing for his sisters himself, to be exceedingly
+anxious that everybody else should do a great deal; and an offer from
+Colonel Brandon, or a legacy from Mrs. Jennings, was the easiest means
+of atoning for his own neglect.
+
+They were lucky enough to find Lady Middleton at home, and Sir John
+came in before their visit ended.  Abundance of civilities passed on
+all sides.  Sir John was ready to like anybody, and though Mr. Dashwood
+did not seem to know much about horses, he soon set him down as a very
+good-natured fellow: while Lady Middleton saw enough of fashion in his
+appearance to think his acquaintance worth having; and Mr. Dashwood
+went away delighted with both.
+
+"I shall have a charming account to carry to Fanny," said he, as he
+walked back with his sister.  "Lady Middleton is really a most elegant
+woman!  Such a woman as I am sure Fanny will be glad to know.  And Mrs.
+Jennings too, an exceedingly well-behaved woman, though not so elegant
+as her daughter.  Your sister need not have any scruple even of
+visiting HER, which, to say the truth, has been a little the case, and
+very naturally; for we only knew that Mrs. Jennings was the widow of a
+man who had got all his money in a low way; and Fanny and Mrs. Ferrars
+were both strongly prepossessed, that neither she nor her daughters
+were such kind of women as Fanny would like to associate with.  But now
+I can carry her a most satisfactory account of both."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 34
+
+
+Mrs. John Dashwood had so much confidence in her husband's judgment,
+that she waited the very next day both on Mrs. Jennings and her
+daughter; and her confidence was rewarded by finding even the former,
+even the woman with whom her sisters were staying, by no means unworthy
+her notice; and as for Lady Middleton, she found her one of the most
+charming women in the world!
+
+Lady Middleton was equally pleased with Mrs. Dashwood.  There was a
+kind of cold hearted selfishness on both sides, which mutually
+attracted them; and they sympathised with each other in an insipid
+propriety of demeanor, and a general want of understanding.
+
+The same manners, however, which recommended Mrs. John Dashwood to the
+good opinion of Lady Middleton did not suit the fancy of Mrs. Jennings,
+and to HER she appeared nothing more than a little proud-looking woman
+of uncordial address, who met her husband's sisters without any
+affection, and almost without having anything to say to them; for of
+the quarter of an hour bestowed on Berkeley Street, she sat at least
+seven minutes and a half in silence.
+
+Elinor wanted very much to know, though she did not chuse to ask,
+whether Edward was then in town; but nothing would have induced Fanny
+voluntarily to mention his name before her, till able to tell her that
+his marriage with Miss Morton was resolved on, or till her husband's
+expectations on Colonel Brandon were answered; because she believed
+them still so very much attached to each other, that they could not be
+too sedulously divided in word and deed on every occasion.  The
+intelligence however, which SHE would not give, soon flowed from
+another quarter.  Lucy came very shortly to claim Elinor's compassion
+on being unable to see Edward, though he had arrived in town with Mr.
+and Mrs. Dashwood.  He dared not come to Bartlett's Buildings for fear
+of detection, and though their mutual impatience to meet, was not to be
+told, they could do nothing at present but write.
+
+Edward assured them himself of his being in town, within a very short
+time, by twice calling in Berkeley Street.  Twice was his card found on
+the table, when they returned from their morning's engagements.  Elinor
+was pleased that he had called; and still more pleased that she had
+missed him.
+
+The Dashwoods were so prodigiously delighted with the Middletons, that,
+though not much in the habit of giving anything, they determined to
+give them--a dinner; and soon after their acquaintance began, invited
+them to dine in Harley Street, where they had taken a very good house
+for three months.  Their sisters and Mrs. Jennings were invited
+likewise, and John Dashwood was careful to secure Colonel Brandon, who,
+always glad to be where the Miss Dashwoods were, received his eager
+civilities with some surprise, but much more pleasure.  They were to
+meet Mrs. Ferrars; but Elinor could not learn whether her sons were to
+be of the party.  The expectation of seeing HER, however, was enough to
+make her interested in the engagement; for though she could now meet
+Edward's mother without that strong anxiety which had once promised to
+attend such an introduction, though she could now see her with perfect
+indifference as to her opinion of herself, her desire of being in
+company with Mrs. Ferrars, her curiosity to know what she was like, was
+as lively as ever.
+
+The interest with which she thus anticipated the party, was soon
+afterwards increased, more powerfully than pleasantly, by her hearing
+that the Miss Steeles were also to be at it.
+
+So well had they recommended themselves to Lady Middleton, so agreeable
+had their assiduities made them to her, that though Lucy was certainly
+not so elegant, and her sister not even genteel, she was as ready as
+Sir John to ask them to spend a week or two in Conduit Street; and it
+happened to be particularly convenient to the Miss Steeles, as soon as
+the Dashwoods' invitation was known, that their visit should begin a
+few days before the party took place.
+
+Their claims to the notice of Mrs. John Dashwood, as the nieces of the
+gentleman who for many years had had the care of her brother, might not
+have done much, however, towards procuring them seats at her table; but
+as Lady Middleton's guests they must be welcome; and Lucy, who had long
+wanted to be personally known to the family, to have a nearer view of
+their characters and her own difficulties, and to have an opportunity
+of endeavouring to please them, had seldom been happier in her life,
+than she was on receiving Mrs. John Dashwood's card.
+
+On Elinor its effect was very different.  She began immediately to
+determine, that Edward who lived with his mother, must be asked as his
+mother was, to a party given by his sister; and to see him for the
+first time, after all that passed, in the company of Lucy!--she hardly
+knew how she could bear it!
+
+These apprehensions, perhaps, were not founded entirely on reason, and
+certainly not at all on truth.  They were relieved however, not by her
+own recollection, but by the good will of Lucy, who believed herself to
+be inflicting a severe disappointment when she told her that Edward
+certainly would not be in Harley Street on Tuesday, and even hoped to
+be carrying the pain still farther by persuading her that he was kept
+away by the extreme affection for herself, which he could not conceal
+when they were together.
+
+The important Tuesday came that was to introduce the two young ladies
+to this formidable mother-in-law.
+
+"Pity me, dear Miss Dashwood!" said Lucy, as they walked up the stairs
+together--for the Middletons arrived so directly after Mrs. Jennings,
+that they all followed the servant at the same time--"There is nobody
+here but you, that can feel for me.--I declare I can hardly stand.
+Good gracious!--In a moment I shall see the person that all my
+happiness depends on--that is to be my mother!"--
+
+Elinor could have given her immediate relief by suggesting the
+possibility of its being Miss Morton's mother, rather than her own,
+whom they were about to behold; but instead of doing that, she assured
+her, and with great sincerity, that she did pity her--to the utter
+amazement of Lucy, who, though really uncomfortable herself, hoped at
+least to be an object of irrepressible envy to Elinor.
+
+Mrs. Ferrars was a little, thin woman, upright, even to formality, in
+her figure, and serious, even to sourness, in her aspect.  Her
+complexion was sallow; and her features small, without beauty, and
+naturally without expression; but a lucky contraction of the brow had
+rescued her countenance from the disgrace of insipidity, by giving it
+the strong characters of pride and ill nature.  She was not a woman of
+many words; for, unlike people in general, she proportioned them to the
+number of her ideas; and of the few syllables that did escape her, not
+one fell to the share of Miss Dashwood, whom she eyed with the spirited
+determination of disliking her at all events.
+
+Elinor could not NOW be made unhappy by this behaviour.-- A few months
+ago it would have hurt her exceedingly; but it was not in Mrs. Ferrars'
+power to distress her by it now;--and the difference of her manners to
+the Miss Steeles, a difference which seemed purposely made to humble
+her more, only amused her.  She could not but smile to see the
+graciousness of both mother and daughter towards the very person-- for
+Lucy was particularly distinguished--whom of all others, had they known
+as much as she did, they would have been most anxious to mortify; while
+she herself, who had comparatively no power to wound them, sat
+pointedly slighted by both.  But while she smiled at a graciousness so
+misapplied, she could not reflect on the mean-spirited folly from which
+it sprung, nor observe the studied attentions with which the Miss
+Steeles courted its continuance, without thoroughly despising them all
+four.
+
+Lucy was all exultation on being so honorably distinguished; and Miss
+Steele wanted only to be teazed about Dr. Davies to be perfectly happy.
+
+The dinner was a grand one, the servants were numerous, and every thing
+bespoke the Mistress's inclination for show, and the Master's ability
+to support it.  In spite of the improvements and additions which were
+making to the Norland estate, and in spite of its owner having once
+been within some thousand pounds of being obliged to sell out at a
+loss, nothing gave any symptom of that indigence which he had tried to
+infer from it;--no poverty of any kind, except of conversation,
+appeared--but there, the deficiency was considerable.  John Dashwood
+had not much to say for himself that was worth hearing, and his wife
+had still less.  But there was no peculiar disgrace in this; for it was
+very much the case with the chief of their visitors, who almost all
+laboured under one or other of these disqualifications for being
+agreeable--Want of sense, either natural or improved--want of
+elegance--want of spirits--or want of temper.
+
+When the ladies withdrew to the drawing-room after dinner, this poverty
+was particularly evident, for the gentlemen HAD supplied the discourse
+with some variety--the variety of politics, inclosing land, and
+breaking horses--but then it was all over; and one subject only engaged
+the ladies till coffee came in, which was the comparative heights of
+Harry Dashwood, and Lady Middleton's second son William, who were
+nearly of the same age.
+
+Had both the children been there, the affair might have been determined
+too easily by measuring them at once; but as Harry only was present, it
+was all conjectural assertion on both sides; and every body had a right
+to be equally positive in their opinion, and to repeat it over and over
+again as often as they liked.
+
+The parties stood thus:
+
+The two mothers, though each really convinced that her own son was the
+tallest, politely decided in favour of the other.
+
+The two grandmothers, with not less partiality, but more sincerity,
+were equally earnest in support of their own descendant.
+
+Lucy, who was hardly less anxious to please one parent than the other,
+thought the boys were both remarkably tall for their age, and could not
+conceive that there could be the smallest difference in the world
+between them; and Miss Steele, with yet greater address gave it, as
+fast as she could, in favour of each.
+
+Elinor, having once delivered her opinion on William's side, by which
+she offended Mrs. Ferrars and Fanny still more, did not see the
+necessity of enforcing it by any farther assertion; and Marianne, when
+called on for her's, offended them all, by declaring that she had no
+opinion to give, as she had never thought about it.
+
+Before her removing from Norland, Elinor had painted a very pretty pair
+of screens for her sister-in-law, which being now just mounted and
+brought home, ornamented her present drawing room; and these screens,
+catching the eye of John Dashwood on his following the other gentlemen
+into the room, were officiously handed by him to Colonel Brandon for
+his admiration.
+
+"These are done by my eldest sister," said he; "and you, as a man of
+taste, will, I dare say, be pleased with them.  I do not know whether
+you have ever happened to see any of her performances before, but she
+is in general reckoned to draw extremely well."
+
+The Colonel, though disclaiming all pretensions to connoisseurship,
+warmly admired the screens, as he would have done any thing painted by
+Miss Dashwood; and on the curiosity of the others being of course
+excited, they were handed round for general inspection.  Mrs. Ferrars,
+not aware of their being Elinor's work, particularly requested to look
+at them; and after they had received gratifying testimony of Lady
+Middletons's approbation, Fanny presented them to her mother,
+considerately informing her, at the same time, that they were done by
+Miss Dashwood.
+
+"Hum"--said Mrs. Ferrars--"very pretty,"--and without regarding them at
+all, returned them to her daughter.
+
+Perhaps Fanny thought for a moment that her mother had been quite rude
+enough,--for, colouring a little, she immediately said,
+
+"They are very pretty, ma'am--an't they?" But then again, the dread of
+having been too civil, too encouraging herself, probably came over her,
+for she presently added,
+
+"Do you not think they are something in Miss Morton's style of
+painting, Ma'am?--She DOES paint most delightfully!--How beautifully
+her last landscape is done!"
+
+"Beautifully indeed!  But SHE does every thing well."
+
+Marianne could not bear this.--She was already greatly displeased with
+Mrs. Ferrars; and such ill-timed praise of another, at Elinor's
+expense, though she had not any notion of what was principally meant by
+it, provoked her immediately to say with warmth,
+
+"This is admiration of a very particular kind!--what is Miss Morton to
+us?--who knows, or who cares, for her?--it is Elinor of whom WE think
+and speak."
+
+And so saying, she took the screens out of her sister-in-law's hands,
+to admire them herself as they ought to be admired.
+
+Mrs. Ferrars looked exceedingly angry, and drawing herself up more
+stiffly than ever, pronounced in retort this bitter philippic, "Miss
+Morton is Lord Morton's daughter."
+
+Fanny looked very angry too, and her husband was all in a fright at his
+sister's audacity.  Elinor was much more hurt by Marianne's warmth than
+she had been by what produced it; but Colonel Brandon's eyes, as they
+were fixed on Marianne, declared that he noticed only what was amiable
+in it, the affectionate heart which could not bear to see a sister
+slighted in the smallest point.
+
+Marianne's feelings did not stop here.  The cold insolence of Mrs.
+Ferrars's general behaviour to her sister, seemed, to her, to foretell
+such difficulties and distresses to Elinor, as her own wounded heart
+taught her to think of with horror; and urged by a strong impulse of
+affectionate sensibility, she moved after a moment, to her sister's
+chair, and putting one arm round her neck, and one cheek close to hers,
+said in a low, but eager, voice,
+
+"Dear, dear Elinor, don't mind them.  Don't let them make YOU unhappy."
+
+She could say no more; her spirits were quite overcome, and hiding her
+face on Elinor's shoulder, she burst into tears.  Every body's
+attention was called, and almost every body was concerned.--Colonel
+Brandon rose up and went to them without knowing what he did.--Mrs.
+Jennings, with a very intelligent "Ah! poor dear," immediately gave her
+her salts; and Sir John felt so desperately enraged against the author
+of this nervous distress, that he instantly changed his seat to one
+close by Lucy Steele, and gave her, in a whisper, a brief account of
+the whole shocking affair.
+
+In a few minutes, however, Marianne was recovered enough to put an end
+to the bustle, and sit down among the rest; though her spirits retained
+the impression of what had passed, the whole evening.
+
+"Poor Marianne!" said her brother to Colonel Brandon, in a low voice,
+as soon as he could secure his attention,-- "She has not such good
+health as her sister,--she is very nervous,--she has not Elinor's
+constitution;--and one must allow that there is something very trying
+to a young woman who HAS BEEN a beauty in the loss of her personal
+attractions.  You would not think it perhaps, but Marianne WAS
+remarkably handsome a few months ago; quite as handsome as Elinor.--
+Now you see it is all gone."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 35
+
+
+Elinor's curiosity to see Mrs. Ferrars was satisfied.-- She had found
+in her every thing that could tend to make a farther connection between
+the families undesirable.-- She had seen enough of her pride, her
+meanness, and her determined prejudice against herself, to comprehend
+all the difficulties that must have perplexed the engagement, and
+retarded the marriage, of Edward and herself, had he been otherwise
+free;--and she had seen almost enough to be thankful for her OWN sake,
+that one greater obstacle preserved her from suffering under any other
+of Mrs. Ferrars's creation, preserved her from all dependence upon her
+caprice, or any solicitude for her good opinion.  Or at least, if she
+did not bring herself quite to rejoice in Edward's being fettered to
+Lucy, she determined, that had Lucy been more amiable, she OUGHT to
+have rejoiced.
+
+She wondered that Lucy's spirits could be so very much elevated by the
+civility of Mrs. Ferrars;--that her interest and her vanity should so
+very much blind her as to make the attention which seemed only paid her
+because she was NOT ELINOR, appear a compliment to herself--or to allow
+her to derive encouragement from a preference only given her, because
+her real situation was unknown.  But that it was so, had not only been
+declared by Lucy's eyes at the time, but was declared over again the
+next morning more openly, for at her particular desire, Lady Middleton
+set her down in Berkeley Street on the chance of seeing Elinor alone,
+to tell her how happy she was.
+
+The chance proved a lucky one, for a message from Mrs. Palmer soon
+after she arrived, carried Mrs. Jennings away.
+
+"My dear friend," cried Lucy, as soon as they were by themselves, "I
+come to talk to you of my happiness.  Could anything be so flattering
+as Mrs. Ferrars's way of treating me yesterday?  So exceeding affable
+as she was!--You know how I dreaded the thoughts of seeing her;--but
+the very moment I was introduced, there was such an affability in her
+behaviour as really should seem to say, she had quite took a fancy to
+me.  Now was not it so?-- You saw it all; and was not you quite struck
+with it?"
+
+"She was certainly very civil to you."
+
+"Civil!--Did you see nothing but only civility?-- I saw a vast deal
+more.  Such kindness as fell to the share of nobody but me!--No pride,
+no hauteur, and your sister just the same--all sweetness and
+affability!"
+
+Elinor wished to talk of something else, but Lucy still pressed her to
+own that she had reason for her happiness; and Elinor was obliged to go
+on.--
+
+"Undoubtedly, if they had known your engagement," said she, "nothing
+could be more flattering than their treatment of you;--but as that was
+not the case"--
+
+"I guessed you would say so"--replied Lucy quickly--"but there was no
+reason in the world why Mrs. Ferrars should seem to like me, if she did
+not, and her liking me is every thing.  You shan't talk me out of my
+satisfaction.  I am sure it will all end well, and there will be no
+difficulties at all, to what I used to think.  Mrs. Ferrars is a
+charming woman, and so is your sister.  They are both delightful women,
+indeed!--I wonder I should never hear you say how agreeable Mrs.
+Dashwood was!"
+
+To this Elinor had no answer to make, and did not attempt any.
+
+"Are you ill, Miss Dashwood?--you seem low--you don't speak;--sure you
+an't well."
+
+"I never was in better health."
+
+"I am glad of it with all my heart; but really you did not look it.  I
+should be sorry to have YOU ill; you, that have been the greatest
+comfort to me in the world!--Heaven knows what I should have done
+without your friendship."--
+
+Elinor tried to make a civil answer, though doubting her own success.
+But it seemed to satisfy Lucy, for she directly replied,
+
+"Indeed I am perfectly convinced of your regard for me, and next to
+Edward's love, it is the greatest comfort I have.--Poor Edward!--But
+now there is one good thing, we shall be able to meet, and meet pretty
+often, for Lady Middleton's delighted with Mrs. Dashwood, so we shall
+be a good deal in Harley Street, I dare say, and Edward spends half his
+time with his sister--besides, Lady Middleton and Mrs. Ferrars will
+visit now;--and Mrs. Ferrars and your sister were both so good to say
+more than once, they should always be glad to see me.-- They are such
+charming women!--I am sure if ever you tell your sister what I think of
+her, you cannot speak too high."
+
+But Elinor would not give her any encouragement to hope that she SHOULD
+tell her sister.  Lucy continued.
+
+"I am sure I should have seen it in a moment, if Mrs. Ferrars had took
+a dislike to me.  If she had only made me a formal courtesy, for
+instance, without saying a word, and never after had took any notice of
+me, and never looked at me in a pleasant way--you know what I mean--if
+I had been treated in that forbidding sort of way, I should have gave
+it all up in despair.  I could not have stood it.  For where she DOES
+dislike, I know it is most violent."
+
+Elinor was prevented from making any reply to this civil triumph, by
+the door's being thrown open, the servant's announcing Mr. Ferrars, and
+Edward's immediately walking in.
+
+It was a very awkward moment; and the countenance of each shewed that
+it was so.  They all looked exceedingly foolish; and Edward seemed to
+have as great an inclination to walk out of the room again, as to
+advance farther into it.  The very circumstance, in its unpleasantest
+form, which they would each have been most anxious to avoid, had fallen
+on them.--They were not only all three together, but were together
+without the relief of any other person.  The ladies recovered
+themselves first.  It was not Lucy's business to put herself forward,
+and the appearance of secrecy must still be kept up.  She could
+therefore only LOOK her tenderness, and after slightly addressing him,
+said no more.
+
+But Elinor had more to do; and so anxious was she, for his sake and her
+own, to do it well, that she forced herself, after a moment's
+recollection, to welcome him, with a look and manner that were almost
+easy, and almost open; and another struggle, another effort still
+improved them.  She would not allow the presence of Lucy, nor the
+consciousness of some injustice towards herself, to deter her from
+saying that she was happy to see him, and that she had very much
+regretted being from home, when he called before in Berkeley Street.
+She would not be frightened from paying him those attentions which, as
+a friend and almost a relation, were his due, by the observant eyes of
+Lucy, though she soon perceived them to be narrowly watching her.
+
+Her manners gave some re-assurance to Edward, and he had courage enough
+to sit down; but his embarrassment still exceeded that of the ladies in
+a proportion, which the case rendered reasonable, though his sex might
+make it rare; for his heart had not the indifference of Lucy's, nor
+could his conscience have quite the ease of Elinor's.
+
+Lucy, with a demure and settled air, seemed determined to make no
+contribution to the comfort of the others, and would not say a word;
+and almost every thing that WAS said, proceeded from Elinor, who was
+obliged to volunteer all the information about her mother's health,
+their coming to town, &c. which Edward ought to have inquired about,
+but never did.
+
+Her exertions did not stop here; for she soon afterwards felt herself
+so heroically disposed as to determine, under pretence of fetching
+Marianne, to leave the others by themselves; and she really did it, and
+THAT in the handsomest manner, for she loitered away several minutes on
+the landing-place, with the most high-minded fortitude, before she went
+to her sister.  When that was once done, however, it was time for the
+raptures of Edward to cease; for Marianne's joy hurried her into the
+drawing-room immediately.  Her pleasure in seeing him was like every
+other of her feelings, strong in itself, and strongly spoken.  She met
+him with a hand that would be taken, and a voice that expressed the
+affection of a sister.
+
+"Dear Edward!" she cried, "this is a moment of great happiness!--This
+would almost make amends for every thing?"
+
+Edward tried to return her kindness as it deserved, but before such
+witnesses he dared not say half what he really felt.  Again they all
+sat down, and for a moment or two all were silent; while Marianne was
+looking with the most speaking tenderness, sometimes at Edward and
+sometimes at Elinor, regretting only that their delight in each other
+should be checked by Lucy's unwelcome presence.  Edward was the first
+to speak, and it was to notice Marianne's altered looks, and express
+his fear of her not finding London agree with her.
+
+"Oh, don't think of me!" she replied with spirited earnestness, though
+her eyes were filled with tears as she spoke, "don't think of MY
+health.  Elinor is well, you see.  That must be enough for us both."
+
+This remark was not calculated to make Edward or Elinor more easy, nor
+to conciliate the good will of Lucy, who looked up at Marianne with no
+very benignant expression.
+
+"Do you like London?" said Edward, willing to say any thing that might
+introduce another subject.
+
+"Not at all.  I expected much pleasure in it, but I have found none.
+The sight of you, Edward, is the only comfort it has afforded; and
+thank Heaven! you are what you always were!"
+
+She paused--no one spoke.
+
+"I think, Elinor," she presently added, "we must employ Edward to take
+care of us in our return to Barton.  In a week or two, I suppose, we
+shall be going; and, I trust, Edward will not be very unwilling to
+accept the charge."
+
+Poor Edward muttered something, but what it was, nobody knew, not even
+himself.  But Marianne, who saw his agitation, and could easily trace
+it to whatever cause best pleased herself, was perfectly satisfied, and
+soon talked of something else.
+
+"We spent such a day, Edward, in Harley Street yesterday!  So dull, so
+wretchedly dull!--But I have much to say to you on that head, which
+cannot be said now."
+
+And with this admirable discretion did she defer the assurance of her
+finding their mutual relatives more disagreeable than ever, and of her
+being particularly disgusted with his mother, till they were more in
+private.
+
+"But why were you not there, Edward?--Why did you not come?"
+
+"I was engaged elsewhere."
+
+"Engaged!  But what was that, when such friends were to be met?"
+
+"Perhaps, Miss Marianne," cried Lucy, eager to take some revenge on
+her, "you think young men never stand upon engagements, if they have no
+mind to keep them, little as well as great."
+
+Elinor was very angry, but Marianne seemed entirely insensible of the
+sting; for she calmly replied,
+
+"Not so, indeed; for, seriously speaking, I am very sure that
+conscience only kept Edward from Harley Street.  And I really believe
+he HAS the most delicate conscience in the world; the most scrupulous
+in performing every engagement, however minute, and however it may make
+against his interest or pleasure.  He is the most fearful of giving
+pain, of wounding expectation, and the most incapable of being selfish,
+of any body I ever saw.  Edward, it is so, and I will say it.  What!
+are you never to hear yourself praised!--Then you must be no friend of
+mine; for those who will accept of my love and esteem, must submit to
+my open commendation."
+
+The nature of her commendation, in the present case, however, happened
+to be particularly ill-suited to the feelings of two thirds of her
+auditors, and was so very unexhilarating to Edward, that he very soon
+got up to go away.
+
+"Going so soon!" said Marianne; "my dear Edward, this must not be."
+
+And drawing him a little aside, she whispered her persuasion that Lucy
+could not stay much longer.  But even this encouragement failed, for he
+would go; and Lucy, who would have outstaid him, had his visit lasted
+two hours, soon afterwards went away.
+
+"What can bring her here so often?" said Marianne, on her leaving them.
+"Could not she see that we wanted her gone!--how teazing to Edward!"
+
+"Why so?--we were all his friends, and Lucy has been the longest known
+to him of any.  It is but natural that he should like to see her as
+well as ourselves."
+
+Marianne looked at her steadily, and said, "You know, Elinor, that this
+is a kind of talking which I cannot bear.  If you only hope to have
+your assertion contradicted, as I must suppose to be the case, you
+ought to recollect that I am the last person in the world to do it.  I
+cannot descend to be tricked out of assurances, that are not really
+wanted."
+
+She then left the room; and Elinor dared not follow her to say more,
+for bound as she was by her promise of secrecy to Lucy, she could give
+no information that would convince Marianne; and painful as the
+consequences of her still continuing in an error might be, she was
+obliged to submit to it.  All that she could hope, was that Edward
+would not often expose her or himself to the distress of hearing
+Marianne's mistaken warmth, nor to the repetition of any other part of
+the pain that had attended their recent meeting--and this she had every
+reason to expect.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 36
+
+
+Within a few days after this meeting, the newspapers announced to the
+world, that the lady of Thomas Palmer, Esq. was safely delivered of a
+son and heir; a very interesting and satisfactory paragraph, at least
+to all those intimate connections who knew it before.
+
+This event, highly important to Mrs. Jennings's happiness, produced a
+temporary alteration in the disposal of her time, and influenced, in a
+like degree, the engagements of her young friends; for as she wished to
+be as much as possible with Charlotte, she went thither every morning
+as soon as she was dressed, and did not return till late in the
+evening; and the Miss Dashwoods, at the particular request of the
+Middletons, spent the whole of every day, in every day in Conduit
+Street.  For their own comfort they would much rather have remained, at
+least all the morning, in Mrs. Jennings's house; but it was not a thing
+to be urged against the wishes of everybody.  Their hours were
+therefore made over to Lady Middleton and the two Miss Steeles, by whom
+their company, in fact was as little valued, as it was professedly
+sought.
+
+They had too much sense to be desirable companions to the former; and
+by the latter they were considered with a jealous eye, as intruding on
+THEIR ground, and sharing the kindness which they wanted to monopolize.
+Though nothing could be more polite than Lady Middleton's behaviour to
+Elinor and Marianne, she did not really like them at all.  Because they
+neither flattered herself nor her children, she could not believe them
+good-natured; and because they were fond of reading, she fancied them
+satirical: perhaps without exactly knowing what it was to be satirical;
+but THAT did not signify.  It was censure in common use, and easily
+given.
+
+Their presence was a restraint both on her and on Lucy.  It checked the
+idleness of one, and the business of the other.  Lady Middleton was
+ashamed of doing nothing before them, and the flattery which Lucy was
+proud to think of and administer at other times, she feared they would
+despise her for offering.  Miss Steele was the least discomposed of the
+three, by their presence; and it was in their power to reconcile her to
+it entirely.  Would either of them only have given her a full and
+minute account of the whole affair between Marianne and Mr. Willoughby,
+she would have thought herself amply rewarded for the sacrifice of the
+best place by the fire after dinner, which their arrival occasioned.
+But this conciliation was not granted; for though she often threw out
+expressions of pity for her sister to Elinor, and more than once dropt
+a reflection on the inconstancy of beaux before Marianne, no effect was
+produced, but a look of indifference from the former, or of disgust in
+the latter.  An effort even yet lighter might have made her their
+friend.  Would they only have laughed at her about the Doctor!  But so
+little were they, anymore than the others, inclined to oblige her, that
+if Sir John dined from home, she might spend a whole day without
+hearing any other raillery on the subject, than what she was kind
+enough to bestow on herself.
+
+All these jealousies and discontents, however, were so totally
+unsuspected by Mrs. Jennings, that she thought it a delightful thing
+for the girls to be together; and generally congratulated her young
+friends every night, on having escaped the company of a stupid old
+woman so long.  She joined them sometimes at Sir John's, sometimes at
+her own house; but wherever it was, she always came in excellent
+spirits, full of delight and importance, attributing Charlotte's well
+doing to her own care, and ready to give so exact, so minute a detail
+of her situation, as only Miss Steele had curiosity enough to desire.
+One thing DID disturb her; and of that she made her daily complaint.
+Mr. Palmer maintained the common, but unfatherly opinion among his sex,
+of all infants being alike; and though she could plainly perceive, at
+different times, the most striking resemblance between this baby and
+every one of his relations on both sides, there was no convincing his
+father of it; no persuading him to believe that it was not exactly like
+every other baby of the same age; nor could he even be brought to
+acknowledge the simple proposition of its being the finest child in the
+world.
+
+I come now to the relation of a misfortune, which about this time
+befell Mrs. John Dashwood.  It so happened that while her two sisters
+with Mrs. Jennings were first calling on her in Harley Street, another
+of her acquaintance had dropt in--a circumstance in itself not
+apparently likely to produce evil to her.  But while the imaginations
+of other people will carry them away to form wrong judgments of our
+conduct, and to decide on it by slight appearances, one's happiness
+must in some measure be always at the mercy of chance.  In the present
+instance, this last-arrived lady allowed her fancy to so far outrun
+truth and probability, that on merely hearing the name of the Miss
+Dashwoods, and understanding them to be Mr. Dashwood's sisters, she
+immediately concluded them to be staying in Harley Street; and this
+misconstruction produced within a day or two afterwards, cards of
+invitation for them as well as for their brother and sister, to a small
+musical party at her house.  The consequence of which was, that Mrs.
+John Dashwood was obliged to submit not only to the exceedingly great
+inconvenience of sending her carriage for the Miss Dashwoods, but, what
+was still worse, must be subject to all the unpleasantness of appearing
+to treat them with attention: and who could tell that they might not
+expect to go out with her a second time?  The power of disappointing
+them, it was true, must always be her's.  But that was not enough; for
+when people are determined on a mode of conduct which they know to be
+wrong, they feel injured by the expectation of any thing better from
+them.
+
+Marianne had now been brought by degrees, so much into the habit of
+going out every day, that it was become a matter of indifference to
+her, whether she went or not: and she prepared quietly and mechanically
+for every evening's engagement, though without expecting the smallest
+amusement from any, and very often without knowing, till the last
+moment, where it was to take her.
+
+To her dress and appearance she was grown so perfectly indifferent, as
+not to bestow half the consideration on it, during the whole of her
+toilet, which it received from Miss Steele in the first five minutes of
+their being together, when it was finished.  Nothing escaped HER minute
+observation and general curiosity; she saw every thing, and asked every
+thing; was never easy till she knew the price of every part of
+Marianne's dress; could have guessed the number of her gowns altogether
+with better judgment than Marianne herself, and was not without hopes
+of finding out before they parted, how much her washing cost per week,
+and how much she had every year to spend upon herself.  The
+impertinence of these kind of scrutinies, moreover, was generally
+concluded with a compliment, which though meant as its douceur, was
+considered by Marianne as the greatest impertinence of all; for after
+undergoing an examination into the value and make of her gown, the
+colour of her shoes, and the arrangement of her hair, she was almost
+sure of being told that upon "her word she looked vastly smart, and she
+dared to say she would make a great many conquests."
+
+With such encouragement as this, was she dismissed on the present
+occasion, to her brother's carriage; which they were ready to enter
+five minutes after it stopped at the door, a punctuality not very
+agreeable to their sister-in-law, who had preceded them to the house of
+her acquaintance, and was there hoping for some delay on their part
+that might inconvenience either herself or her coachman.
+
+The events of this evening were not very remarkable.  The party, like
+other musical parties, comprehended a great many people who had real
+taste for the performance, and a great many more who had none at all;
+and the performers themselves were, as usual, in their own estimation,
+and that of their immediate friends, the first private performers in
+England.
+
+As Elinor was neither musical, nor affecting to be so, she made no
+scruple of turning her eyes from the grand pianoforte, whenever it
+suited her, and unrestrained even by the presence of a harp, and
+violoncello, would fix them at pleasure on any other object in the
+room.  In one of these excursive glances she perceived among a group of
+young men, the very he, who had given them a lecture on toothpick-cases
+at Gray's.  She perceived him soon afterwards looking at herself, and
+speaking familiarly to her brother; and had just determined to find out
+his name from the latter, when they both came towards her, and Mr.
+Dashwood introduced him to her as Mr. Robert Ferrars.
+
+He addressed her with easy civility, and twisted his head into a bow
+which assured her as plainly as words could have done, that he was
+exactly the coxcomb she had heard him described to be by Lucy.  Happy
+had it been for her, if her regard for Edward had depended less on his
+own merit, than on the merit of his nearest relations!  For then his
+brother's bow must have given the finishing stroke to what the
+ill-humour of his mother and sister would have begun.  But while she
+wondered at the difference of the two young men, she did not find that
+the emptiness of conceit of the one, put her out of all charity with
+the modesty and worth of the other.  Why they WERE different, Robert
+exclaimed to her himself in the course of a quarter of an hour's
+conversation; for, talking of his brother, and lamenting the extreme
+GAUCHERIE which he really believed kept him from mixing in proper
+society, he candidly and generously attributed it much less to any
+natural deficiency, than to the misfortune of a private education;
+while he himself, though probably without any particular, any material
+superiority by nature, merely from the advantage of a public school,
+was as well fitted to mix in the world as any other man.
+
+"Upon my soul," he added, "I believe it is nothing more; and so I often
+tell my mother, when she is grieving about it.  'My dear Madam,' I
+always say to her, 'you must make yourself easy.  The evil is now
+irremediable, and it has been entirely your own doing.  Why would you
+be persuaded by my uncle, Sir Robert, against your own judgment, to
+place Edward under private tuition, at the most critical time of his
+life?  If you had only sent him to Westminster as well as myself,
+instead of sending him to Mr. Pratt's, all this would have been
+prevented.' This is the way in which I always consider the matter, and
+my mother is perfectly convinced of her error."
+
+Elinor would not oppose his opinion, because, whatever might be her
+general estimation of the advantage of a public school, she could not
+think of Edward's abode in Mr. Pratt's family, with any satisfaction.
+
+"You reside in Devonshire, I think,"--was his next observation, "in a
+cottage near Dawlish."
+
+Elinor set him right as to its situation; and it seemed rather
+surprising to him that anybody could live in Devonshire, without living
+near Dawlish.  He bestowed his hearty approbation however on their
+species of house.
+
+"For my own part," said he, "I am excessively fond of a cottage; there
+is always so much comfort, so much elegance about them.  And I protest,
+if I had any money to spare, I should buy a little land and build one
+myself, within a short distance of London, where I might drive myself
+down at any time, and collect a few friends about me, and be happy.  I
+advise every body who is going to build, to build a cottage.  My friend
+Lord Courtland came to me the other day on purpose to ask my advice,
+and laid before me three different plans of Bonomi's.  I was to decide
+on the best of them.  'My dear Courtland,' said I, immediately throwing
+them all into the fire, 'do not adopt either of them, but by all means
+build a cottage.' And that I fancy, will be the end of it.
+
+"Some people imagine that there can be no accommodations, no space in a
+cottage; but this is all a mistake.  I was last month at my friend
+Elliott's, near Dartford.  Lady Elliott wished to give a dance.  'But
+how can it be done?' said she; 'my dear Ferrars, do tell me how it is
+to be managed.  There is not a room in this cottage that will hold ten
+couple, and where can the supper be?' I immediately saw that there
+could be no difficulty in it, so I said, 'My dear Lady Elliott, do not
+be uneasy.  The dining parlour will admit eighteen couple with ease;
+card-tables may be placed in the drawing-room; the library may be open
+for tea and other refreshments; and let the supper be set out in the
+saloon.'  Lady Elliott was delighted with the thought.  We measured the
+dining-room, and found it would hold exactly eighteen couple, and the
+affair was arranged precisely after my plan.  So that, in fact, you
+see, if people do but know how to set about it, every comfort may be as
+well enjoyed in a cottage as in the most spacious dwelling."
+
+Elinor agreed to it all, for she did not think he deserved the
+compliment of rational opposition.
+
+As John Dashwood had no more pleasure in music than his eldest sister,
+his mind was equally at liberty to fix on any thing else; and a thought
+struck him during the evening, which he communicated to his wife, for
+her approbation, when they got home.  The consideration of Mrs.
+Dennison's mistake, in supposing his sisters their guests, had
+suggested the propriety of their being really invited to become such,
+while Mrs. Jenning's engagements kept her from home.  The expense would
+be nothing, the inconvenience not more; and it was altogether an
+attention which the delicacy of his conscience pointed out to be
+requisite to its complete enfranchisement from his promise to his
+father.  Fanny was startled at the proposal.
+
+"I do not see how it can be done," said she, "without affronting Lady
+Middleton, for they spend every day with her; otherwise I should be
+exceedingly glad to do it.  You know I am always ready to pay them any
+attention in my power, as my taking them out this evening shews.  But
+they are Lady Middleton's visitors.  How can I ask them away from her?"
+
+Her husband, but with great humility, did not see the force of her
+objection.  "They had already spent a week in this manner in Conduit
+Street, and Lady Middleton could not be displeased at their giving the
+same number of days to such near relations."
+
+Fanny paused a moment, and then, with fresh vigor, said,
+
+"My love I would ask them with all my heart, if it was in my power.
+But I had just settled within myself to ask the Miss Steeles to spend a
+few days with us.  They are very well behaved, good kind of girls; and
+I think the attention is due to them, as their uncle did so very well
+by Edward.  We can ask your sisters some other year, you know; but the
+Miss Steeles may not be in town any more.  I am sure you will like
+them; indeed, you DO like them, you know, very much already, and so
+does my mother; and they are such favourites with Harry!"
+
+Mr. Dashwood was convinced.  He saw the necessity of inviting the Miss
+Steeles immediately, and his conscience was pacified by the resolution
+of inviting his sisters another year; at the same time, however, slyly
+suspecting that another year would make the invitation needless, by
+bringing Elinor to town as Colonel Brandon's wife, and Marianne as
+THEIR visitor.
+
+Fanny, rejoicing in her escape, and proud of the ready wit that had
+procured it, wrote the next morning to Lucy, to request her company and
+her sister's, for some days, in Harley Street, as soon as Lady
+Middleton could spare them.  This was enough to make Lucy really and
+reasonably happy.  Mrs. Dashwood seemed actually working for her,
+herself; cherishing all her hopes, and promoting all her views!  Such
+an opportunity of being with Edward and his family was, above all
+things, the most material to her interest, and such an invitation the
+most gratifying to her feelings!  It was an advantage that could not be
+too gratefully acknowledged, nor too speedily made use of; and the
+visit to Lady Middleton, which had not before had any precise limits,
+was instantly discovered to have been always meant to end in two days'
+time.
+
+When the note was shown to Elinor, as it was within ten minutes after
+its arrival, it gave her, for the first time, some share in the
+expectations of Lucy; for such a mark of uncommon kindness, vouchsafed
+on so short an acquaintance, seemed to declare that the good-will
+towards her arose from something more than merely malice against
+herself; and might be brought, by time and address, to do every thing
+that Lucy wished.  Her flattery had already subdued the pride of Lady
+Middleton, and made an entry into the close heart of Mrs. John
+Dashwood; and these were effects that laid open the probability of
+greater.
+
+The Miss Steeles removed to Harley Street, and all that reached Elinor
+of their influence there, strengthened her expectation of the event.
+Sir John, who called on them more than once, brought home such accounts
+of the favour they were in, as must be universally striking.  Mrs.
+Dashwood had never been so much pleased with any young women in her
+life, as she was with them; had given each of them a needle book made
+by some emigrant; called Lucy by her Christian name; and did not know
+whether she should ever be able to part with them.
+
+
+
+
+
+[At this point in the first and second editions, Volume II ended.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 37
+
+
+Mrs. Palmer was so well at the end of a fortnight, that her mother felt
+it no longer necessary to give up the whole of her time to her; and,
+contenting herself with visiting her once or twice a day, returned from
+that period to her own home, and her own habits, in which she found the
+Miss Dashwoods very ready to resume their former share.
+
+About the third or fourth morning after their being thus resettled in
+Berkeley Street, Mrs. Jennings, on returning from her ordinary visit to
+Mrs. Palmer, entered the drawing-room, where Elinor was sitting by
+herself, with an air of such hurrying importance as prepared her to
+hear something wonderful; and giving her time only to form that idea,
+began directly to justify it, by saying,
+
+"Lord! my dear Miss Dashwood! have you heard the news?"
+
+"No, ma'am.  What is it?"
+
+"Something so strange!  But you shall hear it all.-- When I got to Mr.
+Palmer's, I found Charlotte quite in a fuss about the child.  She was
+sure it was very ill--it cried, and fretted, and was all over pimples.
+So I looked at it directly, and, 'Lord! my dear,' says I, 'it is
+nothing in the world, but the red gum--' and nurse said just the same.
+But Charlotte, she would not be satisfied, so Mr. Donavan was sent for;
+and luckily he happened to just come in from Harley Street, so he
+stepped over directly, and as soon as ever he saw the child, be said
+just as we did, that it was nothing in the world but the red gum, and
+then Charlotte was easy.  And so, just as he was going away again, it
+came into my head, I am sure I do not know how I happened to think of
+it, but it came into my head to ask him if there was any news.  So upon
+that, he smirked, and simpered, and looked grave, and seemed to know
+something or other, and at last he said in a whisper, 'For fear any
+unpleasant report should reach the young ladies under your care as to
+their sister's indisposition, I think it advisable to say, that I
+believe there is no great reason for alarm; I hope Mrs. Dashwood will
+do very well.'"
+
+"What! is Fanny ill?"
+
+"That is exactly what I said, my dear.  'Lord!' says I, 'is Mrs.
+Dashwood ill?' So then it all came out; and the long and the short of
+the matter, by all I can learn, seems to be this.  Mr. Edward Ferrars,
+the very young man I used to joke with you about (but however, as it
+turns out, I am monstrous glad there was never any thing in it), Mr.
+Edward Ferrars, it seems, has been engaged above this twelvemonth to my
+cousin Lucy!--There's for you, my dear!--And not a creature knowing a
+syllable of the matter, except Nancy!--Could you have believed such a
+thing possible?-- There is no great wonder in their liking one another;
+but that matters should be brought so forward between them, and nobody
+suspect it!--THAT is strange!--I never happened to see them together,
+or I am sure I should have found it out directly.  Well, and so this
+was kept a great secret, for fear of Mrs. Ferrars, and neither she nor
+your brother or sister suspected a word of the matter;--till this very
+morning, poor Nancy, who, you know, is a well-meaning creature, but no
+conjurer, popt it all out.  'Lord!' thinks she to herself, 'they are
+all so fond of Lucy, to be sure they will make no difficulty about it;'
+and so, away she went to your sister, who was sitting all alone at her
+carpet-work, little suspecting what was to come--for she had just been
+saying to your brother, only five minutes before, that she thought to
+make a match between Edward and some Lord's daughter or other, I forget
+who.  So you may think what a blow it was to all her vanity and pride.
+She fell into violent hysterics immediately, with such screams as
+reached your brother's ears, as he was sitting in his own dressing-room
+down stairs, thinking about writing a letter to his steward in the
+country.  So up he flew directly, and a terrible scene took place, for
+Lucy was come to them by that time, little dreaming what was going on.
+Poor soul!  I pity HER.  And I must say, I think she was used very
+hardly; for your sister scolded like any fury, and soon drove her into
+a fainting fit.  Nancy, she fell upon her knees, and cried bitterly;
+and your brother, he walked about the room, and said he did not know
+what to do.  Mrs. Dashwood declared they should not stay a minute
+longer in the house, and your brother was forced to go down upon HIS
+knees too, to persuade her to let them stay till they had packed up
+their clothes.  THEN she fell into hysterics again, and he was so
+frightened that he would send for Mr. Donavan, and Mr. Donavan found
+the house in all this uproar.  The carriage was at the door ready to
+take my poor cousins away, and they were just stepping in as he came
+off; poor Lucy in such a condition, he says, she could hardly walk; and
+Nancy, she was almost as bad.  I declare, I have no patience with your
+sister; and I hope, with all my heart, it will be a match in spite of
+her.  Lord! what a taking poor Mr. Edward will be in when he hears of
+it!  To have his love used so scornfully! for they say he is monstrous
+fond of her, as well he may.  I should not wonder, if he was to be in
+the greatest passion!--and Mr. Donavan thinks just the same.  He and I
+had a great deal of talk about it; and the best of all is, that he is
+gone back again to Harley Street, that he may be within call when Mrs.
+Ferrars is told of it, for she was sent for as soon as ever my cousins
+left the house, for your sister was sure SHE would be in hysterics too;
+and so she may, for what I care.  I have no pity for either of them.  I
+have no notion of people's making such a to-do about money and
+greatness.  There is no reason on earth why Mr. Edward and Lucy should
+not marry; for I am sure Mrs. Ferrars may afford to do very well by her
+son, and though Lucy has next to nothing herself, she knows better than
+any body how to make the most of every thing; I dare say, if Mrs.
+Ferrars would only allow him five hundred a-year, she would make as
+good an appearance with it as any body else would with eight.  Lord!
+how snug they might live in such another cottage as yours--or a little
+bigger--with two maids, and two men; and I believe I could help them to
+a housemaid, for my Betty has a sister out of place, that would fit
+them exactly."
+
+Here Mrs. Jennings ceased, and as Elinor had had time enough to collect
+her thoughts, she was able to give such an answer, and make such
+observations, as the subject might naturally be supposed to produce.
+Happy to find that she was not suspected of any extraordinary interest
+in it; that Mrs. Jennings (as she had of late often hoped might be the
+case) had ceased to imagine her at all attached to Edward; and happy
+above all the rest, in the absence of Marianne, she felt very well able
+to speak of the affair without embarrassment, and to give her judgment,
+as she believed, with impartiality on the conduct of every one
+concerned in it.
+
+She could hardly determine what her own expectation of its event really
+was; though she earnestly tried to drive away the notion of its being
+possible to end otherwise at last, than in the marriage of Edward and
+Lucy.  What Mrs. Ferrars would say and do, though there could not be a
+doubt of its nature, she was anxious to hear; and still more anxious to
+know how Edward would conduct himself.  For HIM she felt much
+compassion;--for Lucy very little--and it cost her some pains to
+procure that little;--for the rest of the party none at all.
+
+As Mrs. Jennings could talk on no other subject, Elinor soon saw the
+necessity of preparing Marianne for its discussion.  No time was to be
+lost in undeceiving her, in making her acquainted with the real truth,
+and in endeavouring to bring her to hear it talked of by others,
+without betraying that she felt any uneasiness for her sister, or any
+resentment against Edward.
+
+Elinor's office was a painful one.--She was going to remove what she
+really believed to be her sister's chief consolation,--to give such
+particulars of Edward as she feared would ruin him for ever in her good
+opinion,-and to make Marianne, by a resemblance in their situations,
+which to HER fancy would seem strong, feel all her own disappointment
+over again.  But unwelcome as such a task must be, it was necessary to
+be done, and Elinor therefore hastened to perform it.
+
+She was very far from wishing to dwell on her own feelings, or to
+represent herself as suffering much, any otherwise than as the
+self-command she had practised since her first knowledge of Edward's
+engagement, might suggest a hint of what was practicable to Marianne.
+Her narration was clear and simple; and though it could not be given
+without emotion, it was not accompanied by violent agitation, nor
+impetuous grief.--THAT belonged rather to the hearer, for Marianne
+listened with horror, and cried excessively.  Elinor was to be the
+comforter of others in her own distresses, no less than in theirs; and
+all the comfort that could be given by assurances of her own composure
+of mind, and a very earnest vindication of Edward from every charge but
+of imprudence, was readily offered.
+
+But Marianne for some time would give credit to neither.  Edward seemed
+a second Willoughby; and acknowledging as Elinor did, that she HAD
+loved him most sincerely, could she feel less than herself!  As for
+Lucy Steele, she considered her so totally unamiable, so absolutely
+incapable of attaching a sensible man, that she could not be persuaded
+at first to believe, and afterwards to pardon, any former affection of
+Edward for her.  She would not even admit it to have been natural; and
+Elinor left her to be convinced that it was so, by that which only
+could convince her, a better knowledge of mankind.
+
+Her first communication had reached no farther than to state the fact
+of the engagement, and the length of time it had existed.--Marianne's
+feelings had then broken in, and put an end to all regularity of
+detail; and for some time all that could be done was to soothe her
+distress, lessen her alarms, and combat her resentment.  The first
+question on her side, which led to farther particulars, was,
+
+"How long has this been known to you, Elinor? has he written to you?"
+
+"I have known it these four months.  When Lucy first came to Barton
+Park last November, she told me in confidence of her engagement."
+
+At these words, Marianne's eyes expressed the astonishment which her
+lips could not utter.  After a pause of wonder, she exclaimed--
+
+"Four months!--Have you known of this four months?"
+
+Elinor confirmed it.
+
+"What!--while attending me in all my misery, has this been on your
+heart?--And I have reproached you for being happy!"--
+
+"It was not fit that you should then know how much I was the reverse!"
+
+"Four months!"--cried Marianne again.--"So calm!--so cheerful!--how
+have you been supported?"--
+
+"By feeling that I was doing my duty.--My promise to Lucy, obliged me
+to be secret.  I owed it to her, therefore, to avoid giving any hint of
+the truth; and I owed it to my family and friends, not to create in
+them a solicitude about me, which it could not be in my power to
+satisfy."
+
+Marianne seemed much struck.
+
+"I have very often wished to undeceive yourself and my mother," added
+Elinor; "and once or twice I have attempted it;--but without betraying
+my trust, I never could have convinced you."
+
+"Four months!--and yet you loved him!"--
+
+"Yes. But I did not love only him;--and while the comfort of others was
+dear to me, I was glad to spare them from knowing how much I felt.
+Now, I can think and speak of it with little emotion.  I would not have
+you suffer on my account; for I assure you I no longer suffer
+materially myself.  I have many things to support me.  I am not
+conscious of having provoked the disappointment by any imprudence of my
+own, I have borne it as much as possible without spreading it farther.
+I acquit Edward of essential misconduct.  I wish him very happy; and I
+am so sure of his always doing his duty, that though now he may harbour
+some regret, in the end he must become so.  Lucy does not want sense,
+and that is the foundation on which every thing good may be built.--And
+after all, Marianne, after all that is bewitching in the idea of a
+single and constant attachment, and all that can be said of one's
+happiness depending entirely on any particular person, it is not
+meant--it is not fit--it is not possible that it should be so.-- Edward
+will marry Lucy; he will marry a woman superior in person and
+understanding to half her sex; and time and habit will teach him to
+forget that he ever thought another superior to HER."--
+
+"If such is your way of thinking," said Marianne, "if the loss of what
+is most valued is so easily to be made up by something else, your
+resolution, your self-command, are, perhaps, a little less to be
+wondered at.--They are brought more within my comprehension."
+
+"I understand you.--You do not suppose that I have ever felt much.--For
+four months, Marianne, I have had all this hanging on my mind, without
+being at liberty to speak of it to a single creature; knowing that it
+would make you and my mother most unhappy whenever it were explained to
+you, yet unable to prepare you for it in the least.-- It was told
+me,--it was in a manner forced on me by the very person herself, whose
+prior engagement ruined all my prospects; and told me, as I thought,
+with triumph.-- This person's suspicions, therefore, I have had to
+oppose, by endeavouring to appear indifferent where I have been most
+deeply interested;--and it has not been only once;--I have had her
+hopes and exultation to listen to again and again.-- I have known
+myself to be divided from Edward for ever, without hearing one
+circumstance that could make me less desire the connection.--Nothing
+has proved him unworthy; nor has anything declared him indifferent to
+me.-- I have had to contend against the unkindness of his sister, and
+the insolence of his mother; and have suffered the punishment of an
+attachment, without enjoying its advantages.-- And all this has been
+going on at a time, when, as you know too well, it has not been my only
+unhappiness.-- If you can think me capable of ever feeling--surely you
+may suppose that I have suffered NOW.  The composure of mind with which
+I have brought myself at present to consider the matter, the
+consolation that I have been willing to admit, have been the effect of
+constant and painful exertion;--they did not spring up of
+themselves;--they did not occur to relieve my spirits at first.-- No,
+Marianne.--THEN, if I had not been bound to silence, perhaps nothing
+could have kept me entirely--not even what I owed to my dearest
+friends--from openly shewing that I was VERY unhappy."--
+
+Marianne was quite subdued.--
+
+"Oh! Elinor," she cried, "you have made me hate myself for ever.--How
+barbarous have I been to you!--you, who have been my only comfort, who
+have borne with me in all my misery, who have seemed to be only
+suffering for me!--Is this my gratitude?--Is this the only return I can
+make you?--Because your merit cries out upon myself, I have been trying
+to do it away."
+
+The tenderest caresses followed this confession.  In such a frame of
+mind as she was now in, Elinor had no difficulty in obtaining from her
+whatever promise she required; and at her request, Marianne engaged
+never to speak of the affair to any one with the least appearance of
+bitterness;--to meet Lucy without betraying the smallest increase of
+dislike to her;--and even to see Edward himself, if chance should bring
+them together, without any diminution of her usual cordiality.-- These
+were great concessions;--but where Marianne felt that she had injured,
+no reparation could be too much for her to make.
+
+She performed her promise of being discreet, to admiration.--She
+attended to all that Mrs. Jennings had to say upon the subject, with an
+unchanging complexion, dissented from her in nothing, and was heard
+three times to say, "Yes, ma'am."--She listened to her praise of Lucy
+with only moving from one chair to another, and when Mrs. Jennings
+talked of Edward's affection, it cost her only a spasm in her
+throat.--Such advances towards heroism in her sister, made Elinor feel
+equal to any thing herself.
+
+The next morning brought a farther trial of it, in a visit from their
+brother, who came with a most serious aspect to talk over the dreadful
+affair, and bring them news of his wife.
+
+"You have heard, I suppose," said he with great solemnity, as soon as
+he was seated, "of the very shocking discovery that took place under
+our roof yesterday."
+
+They all looked their assent; it seemed too awful a moment for speech.
+
+"Your sister," he continued, "has suffered dreadfully.  Mrs. Ferrars
+too--in short it has been a scene of such complicated distress--but I
+will hope that the storm may be weathered without our being any of us
+quite overcome.  Poor Fanny! she was in hysterics all yesterday.  But I
+would not alarm you too much.  Donavan says there is nothing materially
+to be apprehended; her constitution is a good one, and her resolution
+equal to any thing.  She has borne it all, with the fortitude of an
+angel!  She says she never shall think well of anybody again; and one
+cannot wonder at it, after being so deceived!--meeting with such
+ingratitude, where so much kindness had been shewn, so much confidence
+had been placed!  It was quite out of the benevolence of her heart,
+that she had asked these young women to her house; merely because she
+thought they deserved some attention, were harmless, well-behaved
+girls, and would be pleasant companions; for otherwise we both wished
+very much to have invited you and Marianne to be with us, while your
+kind friend there, was attending her daughter.  And now to be so
+rewarded!  'I wish, with all my heart,' says poor Fanny in her
+affectionate way, 'that we had asked your sisters instead of them.'"
+
+Here he stopped to be thanked; which being done, he went on.
+
+"What poor Mrs. Ferrars suffered, when first Fanny broke it to her, is
+not to be described.  While she with the truest affection had been
+planning a most eligible connection for him, was it to be supposed that
+he could be all the time secretly engaged to another person!--such a
+suspicion could never have entered her head!  If she suspected ANY
+prepossession elsewhere, it could not be in THAT quarter.  'THERE, to
+be sure,' said she, 'I might have thought myself safe.' She was quite
+in an agony.  We consulted together, however, as to what should be
+done, and at last she determined to send for Edward.  He came.  But I
+am sorry to relate what ensued.  All that Mrs. Ferrars could say to
+make him put an end to the engagement, assisted too as you may well
+suppose by my arguments, and Fanny's entreaties, was of no avail.
+Duty, affection, every thing was disregarded.  I never thought Edward
+so stubborn, so unfeeling before.  His mother explained to him her
+liberal designs, in case of his marrying Miss Morton; told him she
+would settle on him the Norfolk estate, which, clear of land-tax,
+brings in a good thousand a-year; offered even, when matters grew
+desperate, to make it twelve hundred; and in opposition to this, if he
+still persisted in this low connection, represented to him the certain
+penury that must attend the match.  His own two thousand pounds she
+protested should be his all; she would never see him again; and so far
+would she be from affording him the smallest assistance, that if he
+were to enter into any profession with a view of better support, she
+would do all in her power to prevent him advancing in it."
+
+Here Marianne, in an ecstasy of indignation, clapped her hands
+together, and cried, "Gracious God!  can this be possible!"
+
+"Well may you wonder, Marianne," replied her brother, "at the obstinacy
+which could resist such arguments as these.  Your exclamation is very
+natural."
+
+Marianne was going to retort, but she remembered her promises, and
+forbore.
+
+"All this, however," he continued, "was urged in vain.  Edward said
+very little; but what he did say, was in the most determined manner.
+Nothing should prevail on him to give up his engagement.  He would
+stand to it, cost him what it might."
+
+"Then," cried Mrs. Jennings with blunt sincerity, no longer able to be
+silent, "he has acted like an honest man! I beg your pardon, Mr.
+Dashwood, but if he had done otherwise, I should have thought him a
+rascal.  I have some little concern in the business, as well as
+yourself, for Lucy Steele is my cousin, and I believe there is not a
+better kind of girl in the world, nor one who more deserves a good
+husband."
+
+John Dashwood was greatly astonished; but his nature was calm, not open
+to provocation, and he never wished to offend anybody, especially
+anybody of good fortune.  He therefore replied, without any resentment,
+
+"I would by no means speak disrespectfully of any relation of yours,
+madam.  Miss Lucy Steele is, I dare say, a very deserving young woman,
+but in the present case you know, the connection must be impossible.
+And to have entered into a secret engagement with a young man under her
+uncle's care, the son of a woman especially of such very large fortune
+as Mrs. Ferrars, is perhaps, altogether a little extraordinary. In
+short, I do not mean to reflect upon the behaviour of any person whom
+you have a regard for, Mrs. Jennings.  We all wish her extremely happy;
+and Mrs. Ferrars's conduct throughout the whole, has been such as every
+conscientious, good mother, in like circumstances, would adopt.  It has
+been dignified and liberal.  Edward has drawn his own lot, and I fear
+it will be a bad one."
+
+Marianne sighed out her similar apprehension; and Elinor's heart wrung
+for the feelings of Edward, while braving his mother's threats, for a
+woman who could not reward him.
+
+"Well, sir," said Mrs. Jennings, "and how did it end?"
+
+"I am sorry to say, ma'am, in a most unhappy rupture:-- Edward is
+dismissed for ever from his mother's notice.  He left her house
+yesterday, but where he is gone, or whether he is still in town, I do
+not know; for WE of course can make no inquiry."
+
+"Poor young man!--and what is to become of him?"
+
+"What, indeed, ma'am!  It is a melancholy consideration.  Born to the
+prospect of such affluence!  I cannot conceive a situation more
+deplorable.  The interest of two thousand pounds--how can a man live on
+it?--and when to that is added the recollection, that he might, but for
+his own folly, within three months have been in the receipt of two
+thousand, five hundred a-year (for Miss Morton has thirty thousand
+pounds,) I cannot picture to myself a more wretched condition.  We must
+all feel for him; and the more so, because it is totally out of our
+power to assist him."
+
+"Poor young man!" cried Mrs. Jennings, "I am sure he should be very
+welcome to bed and board at my house; and so I would tell him if I
+could see him.  It is not fit that he should be living about at his own
+charge now, at lodgings and taverns."
+
+Elinor's heart thanked her for such kindness towards Edward, though she
+could not forbear smiling at the form of it.
+
+"If he would only have done as well by himself," said John Dashwood,
+"as all his friends were disposed to do by him, he might now have been
+in his proper situation, and would have wanted for nothing.  But as it
+is, it must be out of anybody's power to assist him.  And there is one
+thing more preparing against him, which must be worse than all--his
+mother has determined, with a very natural kind of spirit, to settle
+THAT estate upon Robert immediately, which might have been Edward's, on
+proper conditions.  I left her this morning with her lawyer, talking
+over the business."
+
+"Well!" said Mrs. Jennings, "that is HER revenge.  Everybody has a way
+of their own.  But I don't think mine would be, to make one son
+independent, because another had plagued me."
+
+Marianne got up and walked about the room.
+
+"Can anything be more galling to the spirit of a man," continued John,
+"than to see his younger brother in possession of an estate which might
+have been his own?  Poor Edward!  I feel for him sincerely."
+
+A few minutes more spent in the same kind of effusion, concluded his
+visit; and with repeated assurances to his sisters that he really
+believed there was no material danger in Fanny's indisposition, and
+that they need not therefore be very uneasy about it, he went away;
+leaving the three ladies unanimous in their sentiments on the present
+occasion, as far at least as it regarded Mrs. Ferrars's conduct, the
+Dashwoods', and Edward's.
+
+Marianne's indignation burst forth as soon as he quitted the room; and
+as her vehemence made reserve impossible in Elinor, and unnecessary in
+Mrs. Jennings, they all joined in a very spirited critique upon the
+party.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 38
+
+
+Mrs. Jennings was very warm in her praise of Edward's conduct, but only
+Elinor and Marianne understood its true merit.  THEY only knew how
+little he had had to tempt him to be disobedient, and how small was the
+consolation, beyond the consciousness of doing right, that could remain
+to him in the loss of friends and fortune.  Elinor gloried in his
+integrity; and Marianne forgave all his offences in compassion for his
+punishment.  But though confidence between them was, by this public
+discovery, restored to its proper state, it was not a subject on which
+either of them were fond of dwelling when alone.  Elinor avoided it
+upon principle, as tending to fix still more upon her thoughts, by the
+too warm, too positive assurances of Marianne, that belief of Edward's
+continued affection for herself which she rather wished to do away; and
+Marianne's courage soon failed her, in trying to converse upon a topic
+which always left her more dissatisfied with herself than ever, by the
+comparison it necessarily produced between Elinor's conduct and her own.
+
+She felt all the force of that comparison; but not as her sister had
+hoped, to urge her to exertion now; she felt it with all the pain of
+continual self-reproach, regretted most bitterly that she had never
+exerted herself before; but it brought only the torture of penitence,
+without the hope of amendment.  Her mind was so much weakened that she
+still fancied present exertion impossible, and therefore it only
+dispirited her more.
+
+Nothing new was heard by them, for a day or two afterwards, of affairs
+in Harley Street, or Bartlett's Buildings.  But though so much of the
+matter was known to them already, that Mrs. Jennings might have had
+enough to do in spreading that knowledge farther, without seeking after
+more, she had resolved from the first to pay a visit of comfort and
+inquiry to her cousins as soon as she could; and nothing but the
+hindrance of more visitors than usual, had prevented her going to them
+within that time.
+
+The third day succeeding their knowledge of the particulars, was so
+fine, so beautiful a Sunday as to draw many to Kensington Gardens,
+though it was only the second week in March.  Mrs. Jennings and Elinor
+were of the number; but Marianne, who knew that the Willoughbys were
+again in town, and had a constant dread of meeting them, chose rather
+to stay at home, than venture into so public a place.
+
+An intimate acquaintance of Mrs. Jennings joined them soon after they
+entered the Gardens, and Elinor was not sorry that by her continuing
+with them, and engaging all Mrs. Jennings's conversation, she was
+herself left to quiet reflection.  She saw nothing of the Willoughbys,
+nothing of Edward, and for some time nothing of anybody who could by
+any chance whether grave or gay, be interesting to her.  But at last
+she found herself with some surprise, accosted by Miss Steele, who,
+though looking rather shy, expressed great satisfaction in meeting
+them, and on receiving encouragement from the particular kindness of
+Mrs. Jennings, left her own party for a short time, to join their's.
+Mrs. Jennings immediately whispered to Elinor,
+
+"Get it all out of her, my dear.  She will tell you any thing if you
+ask.  You see I cannot leave Mrs. Clarke."
+
+It was lucky, however, for Mrs. Jennings's curiosity and Elinor's too,
+that she would tell any thing WITHOUT being asked; for nothing would
+otherwise have been learnt.
+
+"I am so glad to meet you;" said Miss Steele, taking her familiarly by
+the arm--"for I wanted to see you of all things in the world."  And
+then lowering her voice, "I suppose Mrs. Jennings has heard all about
+it.  Is she angry?"
+
+"Not at all, I believe, with you."
+
+"That is a good thing.  And Lady Middleton, is SHE angry?"
+
+"I cannot suppose it possible that she should."
+
+"I am monstrous glad of it.  Good gracious!  I have had such a time of
+it!  I never saw Lucy in such a rage in my life.  She vowed at first
+she would never trim me up a new bonnet, nor do any thing else for me
+again, so long as she lived; but now she is quite come to, and we are
+as good friends as ever.  Look, she made me this bow to my hat, and put
+in the feather last night.  There now, YOU are going to laugh at me
+too.  But why should not I wear pink ribbons?  I do not care if it IS
+the Doctor's favourite colour.  I am sure, for my part, I should never
+have known he DID like it better than any other colour, if he had not
+happened to say so.  My cousins have been so plaguing me!  I declare
+sometimes I do not know which way to look before them."
+
+She had wandered away to a subject on which Elinor had nothing to say,
+and therefore soon judged it expedient to find her way back again to
+the first.
+
+"Well, but Miss Dashwood," speaking triumphantly, "people may say what
+they chuse about Mr. Ferrars's declaring he would not have Lucy, for it
+is no such thing I can tell you; and it is quite a shame for such
+ill-natured reports to be spread abroad.  Whatever Lucy might think
+about it herself, you know, it was no business of other people to set
+it down for certain."
+
+"I never heard any thing of the kind hinted at before, I assure you,"
+said Elinor.
+
+"Oh, did not you?  But it WAS said, I know, very well, and by more than
+one; for Miss Godby told Miss Sparks, that nobody in their senses could
+expect Mr. Ferrars to give up a woman like Miss Morton, with thirty
+thousand pounds to her fortune, for Lucy Steele that had nothing at
+all; and I had it from Miss Sparks myself.  And besides that, my cousin
+Richard said himself, that when it came to the point he was afraid Mr.
+Ferrars would be off; and when Edward did not come near us for three
+days, I could not tell what to think myself; and I believe in my heart
+Lucy gave it up all for lost; for we came away from your brother's
+Wednesday, and we saw nothing of him not all Thursday, Friday, and
+Saturday, and did not know what was become of him.  Once Lucy thought
+to write to him, but then her spirits rose against that.  However this
+morning he came just as we came home from church; and then it all came
+out, how he had been sent for Wednesday to Harley Street, and been
+talked to by his mother and all of them, and how he had declared before
+them all that he loved nobody but Lucy, and nobody but Lucy would he
+have.  And how he had been so worried by what passed, that as soon as
+he had went away from his mother's house, he had got upon his horse,
+and rid into the country, some where or other; and how he had stayed
+about at an inn all Thursday and Friday, on purpose to get the better
+of it.  And after thinking it all over and over again, he said, it
+seemed to him as if, now he had no fortune, and no nothing at all, it
+would be quite unkind to keep her on to the engagement, because it must
+be for her loss, for he had nothing but two thousand pounds, and no
+hope of any thing else; and if he was to go into orders, as he had some
+thoughts, he could get nothing but a curacy, and how was they to live
+upon that?--He could not bear to think of her doing no better, and so
+he begged, if she had the least mind for it, to put an end to the
+matter directly, and leave him shift for himself.  I heard him say all
+this as plain as could possibly be.  And it was entirely for HER sake,
+and upon HER account, that he said a word about being off, and not upon
+his own.  I will take my oath he never dropt a syllable of being tired
+of her, or of wishing to marry Miss Morton, or any thing like it.  But,
+to be sure, Lucy would not give ear to such kind of talking; so she
+told him directly (with a great deal about sweet and love, you know,
+and all that--Oh, la! one can't repeat such kind of things you
+know)--she told him directly, she had not the least mind in the world
+to be off, for she could live with him upon a trifle, and how little so
+ever he might have, she should be very glad to have it all, you know,
+or something of the kind.  So then he was monstrous happy, and talked
+on some time about what they should do, and they agreed he should take
+orders directly, and they must wait to be married till he got a living.
+And just then I could not hear any more, for my cousin called from
+below to tell me Mrs. Richardson was come in her coach, and would take
+one of us to Kensington Gardens; so I was forced to go into the room
+and interrupt them, to ask Lucy if she would like to go, but she did
+not care to leave Edward; so I just run up stairs and put on a pair of
+silk stockings and came off with the Richardsons."
+
+"I do not understand what you mean by interrupting them," said Elinor;
+"you were all in the same room together, were not you?"
+
+"No, indeed, not us.  La! Miss Dashwood, do you think people make love
+when any body else is by?  Oh, for shame!--To be sure you must know
+better than that.  (Laughing affectedly.)--No, no; they were shut up in
+the drawing-room together, and all I heard was only by listening at the
+door."
+
+"How!" cried Elinor; "have you been repeating to me what you only
+learnt yourself by listening at the door?  I am sorry I did not know it
+before; for I certainly would not have suffered you to give me
+particulars of a conversation which you ought not to have known
+yourself.  How could you behave so unfairly by your sister?"
+
+"Oh, la! there is nothing in THAT.  I only stood at the door, and heard
+what I could.  And I am sure Lucy would have done just the same by me;
+for a year or two back, when Martha Sharpe and I had so many secrets
+together, she never made any bones of hiding in a closet, or behind a
+chimney-board, on purpose to hear what we said."
+
+Elinor tried to talk of something else; but Miss Steele could not be
+kept beyond a couple of minutes, from what was uppermost in her mind.
+
+"Edward talks of going to Oxford soon," said she; "but now he is
+lodging at No. --, Pall Mall.  What an ill-natured woman his mother is,
+an't she? And your brother and sister were not very kind! However, I
+shan't say anything against them to YOU; and to be sure they did send
+us home in their own chariot, which was more than I looked for.  And
+for my part, I was all in a fright for fear your sister should ask us
+for the huswifes she had gave us a day or two before; but, however,
+nothing was said about them, and I took care to keep mine out of sight.
+Edward have got some business at Oxford, he says; so he must go there
+for a time; and after THAT, as soon as he can light upon a Bishop, he
+will be ordained.  I wonder what curacy he will get!--Good gracious!
+(giggling as she spoke) I'd lay my life I know what my cousins will
+say, when they hear of it.  They will tell me I should write to the
+Doctor, to get Edward the curacy of his new living.  I know they will;
+but I am sure I would not do such a thing for all the world.-- 'La!' I
+shall say directly, 'I wonder how you could think of such a thing?  I
+write to the Doctor, indeed!'"
+
+"Well," said Elinor, "it is a comfort to be prepared against the worst.
+You have got your answer ready."
+
+Miss Steele was going to reply on the same subject, but the approach of
+her own party made another more necessary.
+
+"Oh, la! here come the Richardsons.  I had a vast deal more to say to
+you, but I must not stay away from them not any longer.  I assure you
+they are very genteel people.  He makes a monstrous deal of money, and
+they keep their own coach.  I have not time to speak to Mrs. Jennings
+about it myself, but pray tell her I am quite happy to hear she is not
+in anger against us, and Lady Middleton the same; and if anything
+should happen to take you and your sister away, and Mrs. Jennings
+should want company, I am sure we should be very glad to come and stay
+with her for as long a time as she likes.  I suppose Lady Middleton
+won't ask us any more this bout.  Good-by; I am sorry Miss Marianne was
+not here.  Remember me kindly to her.  La! if you have not got your
+spotted muslin on!--I wonder you was not afraid of its being torn."
+
+Such was her parting concern; for after this, she had time only to pay
+her farewell compliments to Mrs. Jennings, before her company was
+claimed by Mrs. Richardson; and Elinor was left in possession of
+knowledge which might feed her powers of reflection some time, though
+she had learnt very little more than what had been already foreseen and
+foreplanned in her own mind.  Edward's marriage with Lucy was as firmly
+determined on, and the time of its taking place remained as absolutely
+uncertain, as she had concluded it would be;--every thing depended,
+exactly after her expectation, on his getting that preferment, of
+which, at present, there seemed not the smallest chance.
+
+As soon as they returned to the carriage, Mrs. Jennings was eager for
+information; but as Elinor wished to spread as little as possible
+intelligence that had in the first place been so unfairly obtained, she
+confined herself to the brief repetition of such simple particulars, as
+she felt assured that Lucy, for the sake of her own consequence, would
+choose to have known.  The continuance of their engagement, and the
+means that were able to be taken for promoting its end, was all her
+communication; and this produced from Mrs. Jennings the following
+natural remark.
+
+"Wait for his having a living!--ay, we all know how THAT will
+end:--they will wait a twelvemonth, and finding no good comes of it,
+will set down upon a curacy of fifty pounds a-year, with the interest
+of his two thousand pounds, and what little matter Mr. Steele and Mr.
+Pratt can give her.--Then they will have a child every year! and Lord
+help 'em! how poor they will be!--I must see what I can give them
+towards furnishing their house.  Two maids and two men, indeed!--as I
+talked of t'other day.--No, no, they must get a stout girl of all
+works.-- Betty's sister would never do for them NOW."
+
+The next morning brought Elinor a letter by the two-penny post from
+Lucy herself.  It was as follows:
+
+                    "Bartlett's Building, March.
+
+     "I hope my dear Miss Dashwood will excuse the
+     liberty I take of writing to her; but I know your
+     friendship for me will make you pleased to hear such
+     a good account of myself and my dear Edward, after
+     all the troubles we have went through lately,
+     therefore will make no more apologies, but proceed
+     to say that, thank God! though we have suffered
+     dreadfully, we are both quite well now, and as happy
+     as we must always be in one another's love.  We have
+     had great trials, and great persecutions, but
+     however, at the same time, gratefully acknowledge
+     many friends, yourself not the least among them,
+     whose great kindness I shall always thankfully
+     remember, as will Edward too, who I have told of
+     it.  I am sure you will be glad to hear, as likewise
+     dear Mrs. Jennings, I spent two happy hours with
+     him yesterday afternoon, he would not hear of our
+     parting, though earnestly did I, as I thought my
+     duty required, urge him to it for prudence sake,
+     and would have parted for ever on the spot, would
+     he consent to it; but he said it should never be,
+     he did not regard his mother's anger, while he could
+     have my affections; our prospects are not very
+     bright, to be sure, but we must wait, and hope for
+     the best; he will be ordained shortly; and should
+     it ever be in your power to recommend him to any
+     body that has a living to bestow, am very sure you
+     will not forget us, and dear Mrs. Jennings too,
+     trust she will speak a good word for us to Sir John,
+     or Mr. Palmer, or any friend that may be able to
+     assist us.--Poor Anne was much to blame for what
+     she did, but she did it for the best, so I say
+     nothing; hope Mrs. Jennings won't think it too much
+     trouble to give us a call, should she come this way
+     any morning, 'twould be a great kindness, and my
+     cousins would be proud to know her.--My paper reminds
+     me to conclude; and begging to be most gratefully
+     and respectfully remembered to her, and to Sir John,
+     and Lady Middleton, and the dear children, when you
+     chance to see them, and love to Miss Marianne,
+
+                                      "I am, &c."
+
+As soon as Elinor had finished it, she performed what she concluded to
+be its writer's real design, by placing it in the hands of Mrs.
+Jennings, who read it aloud with many comments of satisfaction and
+praise.
+
+"Very well indeed!--how prettily she writes!--aye, that was quite
+proper to let him be off if he would.  That was just like Lucy.--Poor
+soul! I wish I COULD get him a living, with all my heart.--She calls me
+dear Mrs. Jennings, you see.  She is a good-hearted girl as ever
+lived.--Very well upon my word.  That sentence is very prettily turned.
+Yes, yes, I will go and see her, sure enough.  How attentive she is, to
+think of every body!--Thank you, my dear, for shewing it me.  It is as
+pretty a letter as ever I saw, and does Lucy's head and heart great
+credit."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 39
+
+
+The Miss Dashwoods had now been rather more than two months in town,
+and Marianne's impatience to be gone increased every day.  She sighed
+for the air, the liberty, the quiet of the country; and fancied that if
+any place could give her ease, Barton must do it.  Elinor was hardly
+less anxious than herself for their removal, and only so much less bent
+on its being effected immediately, as that she was conscious of the
+difficulties of so long a journey, which Marianne could not be brought
+to acknowledge.  She began, however, seriously to turn her thoughts
+towards its accomplishment, and had already mentioned their wishes to
+their kind hostess, who resisted them with all the eloquence of her
+good-will, when a plan was suggested, which, though detaining them from
+home yet a few weeks longer, appeared to Elinor altogether much more
+eligible than any other. The Palmers were to remove to Cleveland about
+the end of March, for the Easter holidays; and Mrs. Jennings, with both
+her friends, received a very warm invitation from Charlotte to go with
+them.  This would not, in itself, have been sufficient for the delicacy
+of Miss Dashwood;--but it was inforced with so much real politeness by
+Mr. Palmer himself, as, joined to the very great amendment of his
+manners towards them since her sister had been known to be unhappy,
+induced her to accept it with pleasure.
+
+When she told Marianne what she had done, however, her first reply was
+not very auspicious.
+
+"Cleveland!"--she cried, with great agitation.  "No, I cannot go to
+Cleveland."--
+
+"You forget," said Elinor gently, "that its situation is not...that it
+is not in the neighbourhood of..."
+
+"But it is in Somersetshire.--I cannot go into Somersetshire.--There,
+where I looked forward to going...No, Elinor, you cannot expect me to
+go there."
+
+Elinor would not argue upon the propriety of overcoming such
+feelings;--she only endeavoured to counteract them by working on
+others;--represented it, therefore, as a measure which would fix the
+time of her returning to that dear mother, whom she so much wished to
+see, in a more eligible, more comfortable manner, than any other plan
+could do, and perhaps without any greater delay.  From Cleveland, which
+was within a few miles of Bristol, the distance to Barton was not
+beyond one day, though a long day's journey; and their mother's servant
+might easily come there to attend them down; and as there could be no
+occasion of their staying above a week at Cleveland, they might now be
+at home in little more than three weeks' time.  As Marianne's affection
+for her mother was sincere, it must triumph with little difficulty,
+over the imaginary evils she had started.
+
+Mrs. Jennings was so far from being weary of her guest, that she
+pressed them very earnestly to return with her again from Cleveland.
+Elinor was grateful for the attention, but it could not alter her
+design; and their mother's concurrence being readily gained, every
+thing relative to their return was arranged as far as it could be;--and
+Marianne found some relief in drawing up a statement of the hours that
+were yet to divide her from Barton.
+
+"Ah! Colonel, I do not know what you and I shall do without the Miss
+Dashwoods;"--was Mrs. Jennings's address to him when he first called on
+her, after their leaving her was settled--"for they are quite resolved
+upon going home from the Palmers;--and how forlorn we shall be, when I
+come back!--Lord! we shall sit and gape at one another as dull as two
+cats."
+
+Perhaps Mrs. Jennings was in hopes, by this vigorous sketch of their
+future ennui, to provoke him to make that offer, which might give
+himself an escape from it;--and if so, she had soon afterwards good
+reason to think her object gained; for, on Elinor's moving to the
+window to take more expeditiously the dimensions of a print, which she
+was going to copy for her friend, he followed her to it with a look of
+particular meaning, and conversed with her there for several minutes.
+The effect of his discourse on the lady too, could not escape her
+observation, for though she was too honorable to listen, and had even
+changed her seat, on purpose that she might NOT hear, to one close by
+the piano forte on which Marianne was playing, she could not keep
+herself from seeing that Elinor changed colour, attended with
+agitation, and was too intent on what he said to pursue her
+employment.-- Still farther in confirmation of her hopes, in the
+interval of Marianne's turning from one lesson to another, some words
+of the Colonel's inevitably reached her ear, in which he seemed to be
+apologising for the badness of his house.  This set the matter beyond a
+doubt.  She wondered, indeed, at his thinking it necessary to do so;
+but supposed it to be the proper etiquette.  What Elinor said in reply
+she could not distinguish, but judged from the motion of her lips, that
+she did not think THAT any material objection;--and Mrs. Jennings
+commended her in her heart for being so honest.  They then talked on
+for a few minutes longer without her catching a syllable, when another
+lucky stop in Marianne's performance brought her these words in the
+Colonel's calm voice,--
+
+"I am afraid it cannot take place very soon."
+
+Astonished and shocked at so unlover-like a speech, she was almost
+ready to cry out, "Lord! what should hinder it?"--but checking her
+desire, confined herself to this silent ejaculation.
+
+"This is very strange!--sure he need not wait to be older."
+
+This delay on the Colonel's side, however, did not seem to offend or
+mortify his fair companion in the least, for on their breaking up the
+conference soon afterwards, and moving different ways, Mrs. Jennings
+very plainly heard Elinor say, and with a voice which shewed her to
+feel what she said,
+
+"I shall always think myself very much obliged to you."
+
+Mrs. Jennings was delighted with her gratitude, and only wondered that
+after hearing such a sentence, the Colonel should be able to take leave
+of them, as he immediately did, with the utmost sang-froid, and go away
+without making her any reply!--She had not thought her old friend could
+have made so indifferent a suitor.
+
+What had really passed between them was to this effect.
+
+"I have heard," said he, with great compassion, "of the injustice your
+friend Mr. Ferrars has suffered from his family; for if I understand
+the matter right, he has been entirely cast off by them for persevering
+in his engagement with a very deserving young woman.-- Have I been
+rightly informed?--Is it so?--"
+
+Elinor told him that it was.
+
+"The cruelty, the impolitic cruelty,"--he replied, with great
+feeling,--"of dividing, or attempting to divide, two young people long
+attached to each other, is terrible.-- Mrs. Ferrars does not know what
+she may be doing--what she may drive her son to.  I have seen Mr.
+Ferrars two or three times in Harley Street, and am much pleased with
+him.  He is not a young man with whom one can be intimately acquainted
+in a short time, but I have seen enough of him to wish him well for his
+own sake, and as a friend of yours, I wish it still more.  I understand
+that he intends to take orders.  Will you be so good as to tell him
+that the living of Delaford, now just vacant, as I am informed by this
+day's post, is his, if he think it worth his acceptance--but THAT,
+perhaps, so unfortunately circumstanced as he is now, it may be
+nonsense to appear to doubt; I only wish it were more  valuable.-- It
+is a rectory, but a small one; the late incumbent, I believe, did not
+make more than 200 L per annum, and though it is certainly capable of
+improvement, I fear, not to such an amount as to afford him a very
+comfortable income.  Such as it is, however, my pleasure in presenting
+him to it, will be very great.  Pray assure him of it."
+
+Elinor's astonishment at this commission could hardly have been
+greater, had the Colonel been really making her an offer of his hand.
+The preferment, which only two days before she had considered as
+hopeless for Edward, was already provided to enable him to marry;--and
+SHE, of all people in the world, was fixed on to bestow it!--Her
+emotion was such as Mrs. Jennings had attributed to a very different
+cause;--but whatever minor feelings less pure, less pleasing, might
+have a share in that emotion, her esteem for the general benevolence,
+and her gratitude for the particular friendship, which together
+prompted Colonel Brandon to this act, were strongly felt, and warmly
+expressed.  She thanked him for it with all her heart, spoke of
+Edward's principles and disposition with that praise which she knew
+them to deserve; and promised to undertake the commission with
+pleasure, if it were really his wish to put off so agreeable an office
+to another.  But at the same time, she could not help thinking that no
+one could so well perform it as himself.  It was an office in short,
+from which, unwilling to give Edward the pain of receiving an
+obligation from HER, she would have been very glad to be spared
+herself;-- but Colonel Brandon, on motives of equal delicacy, declining
+it likewise, still seemed so desirous of its being given through her
+means, that she would not on any account make farther opposition.
+Edward, she believed, was still in town, and fortunately she had heard
+his address from Miss Steele.  She could undertake therefore to inform
+him of it, in the course of the day.  After this had been settled,
+Colonel Brandon began to talk of his own advantage in securing so
+respectable and agreeable a neighbour, and THEN it was that he
+mentioned with regret, that the house was small and indifferent;--an
+evil which Elinor, as Mrs. Jennings had supposed her to do, made very
+light of, at least as far as regarded its size.
+
+"The smallness of the house," said she, "I cannot imagine any
+inconvenience to them, for it will be in proportion to their family and
+income."
+
+By which the Colonel was surprised to find that SHE was considering Mr.
+Ferrars's marriage as the certain consequence of the presentation; for
+he did not suppose it possible that Delaford living could supply such
+an income, as anybody in his style of life would venture to settle
+on--and he said so.
+
+"This little rectory CAN do no more than make Mr. Ferrars comfortable
+as a bachelor; it cannot enable him to marry.  I am sorry to say that
+my patronage ends with this; and my interest is hardly more extensive.
+If, however, by an unforeseen chance it should be in my power to serve
+him farther, I must think very differently of him from what I now do,
+if I am not as ready to be useful to him then as I sincerely wish I
+could be at present.  What I am now doing indeed, seems nothing at all,
+since it can advance him so little towards what must be his principal,
+his only object of happiness.  His marriage must still be a distant
+good;--at least, I am afraid it cannot take place very soon.--"
+
+Such was the sentence which, when misunderstood, so justly offended the
+delicate feelings of Mrs. Jennings; but after this narration of what
+really passed between Colonel Brandon and Elinor, while they stood at
+the window, the gratitude expressed by the latter on their parting, may
+perhaps appear in general, not less reasonably excited, nor less
+properly worded than if it had arisen from an offer of marriage.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 40
+
+
+"Well, Miss Dashwood," said Mrs. Jennings, sagaciously smiling, as soon
+as the gentleman had withdrawn, "I do not ask you what the Colonel has
+been saying to you; for though, upon my honour, I TRIED to keep out of
+hearing, I could not help catching enough to understand his business.
+And I assure you I never was better pleased in my life, and I wish you
+joy of it with all my heart."
+
+"Thank you, ma'am," said Elinor.  "It is a matter of great joy to me;
+and I feel the goodness of Colonel Brandon most sensibly.  There are
+not many men who would act as he has done.  Few people who have so
+compassionate a heart!  I never was more astonished in my life."
+
+"Lord! my dear, you are very modest.  I an't the least astonished at it
+in the world, for I have often thought of late, there was nothing more
+likely to happen."
+
+"You judged from your knowledge of the Colonel's general benevolence;
+but at least you could not foresee that the opportunity would so very
+soon occur."
+
+"Opportunity!" repeated Mrs. Jennings--"Oh! as to that, when a man has
+once made up his mind to such a thing, somehow or other he will soon
+find an opportunity.  Well, my dear, I wish you joy of it again and
+again; and if ever there was a happy couple in the world, I think I
+shall soon know where to look for them."
+
+"You mean to go to Delaford after them I suppose," said Elinor, with a
+faint smile.
+
+"Aye, my dear, that I do, indeed.  And as to the house being a bad one,
+I do not know what the Colonel would be at, for it is as good a one as
+ever I saw."
+
+"He spoke of its being out of repair."
+
+"Well, and whose fault is that? why don't he repair it?--who should do
+it but himself?"
+
+They were interrupted by the servant's coming in to announce the
+carriage being at the door; and Mrs. Jennings immediately preparing to
+go, said,--
+
+"Well, my dear, I must be gone before I have had half my talk out.
+But, however, we may have it all over in the evening; for we shall be
+quite alone.  I do not ask you to go with me, for I dare say your mind
+is too full of the matter to care for company; and besides, you must
+long to tell your sister all about it."
+
+Marianne had left the room before the conversation began.
+
+"Certainly, ma'am, I shall tell Marianne of it; but I shall not mention
+it at present to any body else."
+
+"Oh! very well," said Mrs. Jennings rather disappointed.  "Then you
+would not have me tell it to Lucy, for I think of going as far as
+Holborn to-day."
+
+"No, ma'am, not even Lucy if you please.  One day's delay will not be
+very material; and till I have written to Mr. Ferrars, I think it ought
+not to be mentioned to any body else.  I shall do THAT directly.  It is
+of importance that no time should be lost with him, for he will of
+course have much to do relative to his ordination."
+
+This speech at first puzzled Mrs. Jennings exceedingly.  Why Mr.
+Ferrars was to have been written to about it in such a hurry, she could
+not immediately comprehend.  A few moments' reflection, however,
+produced a very happy idea, and she exclaimed;--
+
+"Oh, ho!--I understand you.  Mr. Ferrars is to be the man.  Well, so
+much the better for him.  Ay, to be sure, he must be ordained in
+readiness; and I am very glad to find things are so forward between
+you.  But, my dear, is not this rather out of character?  Should not
+the Colonel write himself?--sure, he is the proper person."
+
+Elinor did not quite understand the beginning of Mrs. Jennings's
+speech, neither did she think it worth inquiring into; and therefore
+only replied to its conclusion.
+
+"Colonel Brandon is so delicate a man, that he rather wished any one to
+announce his intentions to Mr. Ferrars than himself."
+
+"And so YOU are forced to do it.  Well THAT is an odd kind of delicacy!
+However, I will not disturb you (seeing her preparing to write.)  You
+know your own concerns best.  So goodby, my dear.  I have not heard of
+any thing to please me so well since Charlotte was brought to bed."
+
+And away she went; but returning again in a moment,
+
+"I have just been thinking of Betty's sister, my dear.  I should be
+very glad to get her so good a mistress.  But whether she would do for
+a lady's maid, I am sure I can't tell.  She is an excellent housemaid,
+and works very well at her needle.  However, you will think of all that
+at your leisure."
+
+"Certainly, ma'am," replied Elinor, not hearing much of what she said,
+and more anxious to be alone, than to be mistress of the subject.
+
+How she should begin--how she should express herself in her note to
+Edward, was now all her concern.  The particular circumstances between
+them made a difficulty of that which to any other person would have
+been the easiest thing in the world; but she equally feared to say too
+much or too little, and sat deliberating over her paper, with the pen
+in her hand, till broken in on by the entrance of Edward himself.
+
+He had met Mrs. Jennings at the door in her way to the carriage, as he
+came to leave his farewell card; and she, after apologising for not
+returning herself, had obliged him to enter, by saying that Miss
+Dashwood was above, and wanted to speak with him on very particular
+business.
+
+Elinor had just been congratulating herself, in the midst of her
+perplexity, that however difficult it might be to express herself
+properly by letter, it was at least preferable to giving the
+information by word of mouth, when her visitor entered, to force her
+upon this greatest exertion of all.  Her astonishment and confusion
+were very great on his so sudden appearance.  She had not seen him
+before since his engagement became public, and therefore not since his
+knowing her to be acquainted with it; which, with the consciousness of
+what she had been thinking of, and what she had to tell him, made her
+feel particularly uncomfortable for some minutes.  He too was much
+distressed; and they sat down together in a most promising state of
+embarrassment.--Whether he had asked her pardon for his intrusion on
+first coming into the room, he could not recollect; but determining to
+be on the safe side, he made his apology in form as soon as he could
+say any thing, after taking a chair.
+
+"Mrs. Jennings told me," said he, "that you wished to speak with me, at
+least I understood her so--or I certainly should not have intruded on
+you in such a manner; though at the same time, I should have been
+extremely sorry to leave London without seeing you and your sister;
+especially as it will most likely be some time--it is not probable that
+I should soon have the pleasure of meeting you again.  I go to Oxford
+tomorrow."
+
+"You would not have gone, however," said Elinor, recovering herself,
+and determined to get over what she so much dreaded as soon as
+possible, "without receiving our good wishes, even if we had not been
+able to give them in person.  Mrs. Jennings was quite right in what she
+said.  I have something of consequence to inform you of, which I was on
+the point of communicating by paper.  I am charged with a most
+agreeable office (breathing rather faster than usual as she spoke.)
+Colonel Brandon, who was here only ten minutes ago, has desired me to
+say, that understanding you mean to take orders, he has great pleasure
+in offering you the living of Delaford now just vacant, and only wishes
+it were more valuable.  Allow me to congratulate you on having so
+respectable and well-judging a friend, and to join in his wish that the
+living--it is about two hundred a-year--were much more considerable,
+and such as might better enable you to--as might be more than a
+temporary accommodation to yourself--such, in short, as might establish
+all your views of happiness."
+
+What Edward felt, as he could not say it himself, it cannot be expected
+that any one else should say for him.  He LOOKED all the astonishment
+which such unexpected, such unthought-of information could not fail of
+exciting; but he said only these two words,
+
+"Colonel Brandon!"
+
+"Yes," continued Elinor, gathering more resolution, as some of the
+worst was over, "Colonel Brandon means it as a testimony of his concern
+for what has lately passed--for the cruel situation in which the
+unjustifiable conduct of your family has placed you--a concern which I
+am sure Marianne, myself, and all your friends, must share; and
+likewise as a proof of his high esteem for your general character, and
+his particular approbation of your behaviour on the present occasion."
+
+"Colonel Brandon give ME a living!--Can it be possible?"
+
+"The unkindness of your own relations has made you astonished to find
+friendship any where."
+
+"No," replied be, with sudden consciousness, "not to find it in YOU;
+for I cannot be ignorant that to you, to your goodness, I owe it
+all.--I feel it--I would express it if I could--but, as you well know,
+I am no orator."
+
+"You are very much mistaken.  I do assure you that you owe it entirely,
+at least almost entirely, to your own merit, and Colonel Brandon's
+discernment of it.  I have had no hand in it.  I did not even know,
+till I understood his design, that the living was vacant; nor had it
+ever occurred to me that he might have had such a living in his gift.
+As a friend of mine, of my family, he may, perhaps--indeed I know he
+HAS, still greater pleasure in bestowing it; but, upon my word, you owe
+nothing to my solicitation."
+
+Truth obliged her to acknowledge some small share in the action, but
+she was at the same time so unwilling to appear as the benefactress of
+Edward, that she acknowledged it with hesitation; which probably
+contributed to fix that suspicion in his mind which had recently
+entered it.  For a short time he sat deep in thought, after Elinor had
+ceased to speak;--at last, and as if it were rather an effort, he said,
+
+"Colonel Brandon seems a man of great worth and respectability.  I have
+always heard him spoken of as such, and your brother I know esteems him
+highly.  He is undoubtedly a sensible man, and in his manners perfectly
+the gentleman."
+
+"Indeed," replied Elinor, "I believe that you will find him, on farther
+acquaintance, all that you have heard him to be, and as you will be
+such very near neighbours (for I understand the parsonage is almost
+close to the mansion-house,) it is particularly important that he
+SHOULD be all this."
+
+Edward made no answer; but when she had turned away her head, gave her
+a look so serious, so earnest, so uncheerful, as seemed to say, that he
+might hereafter wish the distance between the parsonage and the
+mansion-house much greater.
+
+"Colonel Brandon, I think, lodges in St. James Street," said he, soon
+afterwards, rising from his chair.
+
+Elinor told him the number of the house.
+
+"I must hurry away then, to give him those thanks which you will not
+allow me to give YOU; to assure him that he has made me a very--an
+exceedingly happy man."
+
+Elinor did not offer to detain him; and they parted, with a very
+earnest assurance on HER side of her unceasing good wishes for his
+happiness in every change of situation that might befall him; on HIS,
+with rather an attempt to return the same good will, than the power of
+expressing it.
+
+"When I see him again," said Elinor to herself, as the door shut him
+out, "I shall see him the husband of Lucy."
+
+And with this pleasing anticipation, she sat down to reconsider the
+past, recall the words and endeavour to comprehend all the feelings of
+Edward; and, of course, to reflect on her own with discontent.
+
+When Mrs. Jennings came home, though she returned from seeing people
+whom she had never seen before, and of whom therefore she must have a
+great deal to say, her mind was so much more occupied by the important
+secret in her possession, than by anything else, that she reverted to
+it again as soon as Elinor appeared.
+
+"Well, my dear," she cried, "I sent you up to the young man.  Did not I
+do right?--And I suppose you had no great difficulty--You did not find
+him very unwilling to accept your proposal?"
+
+"No, ma'am; THAT was not very likely."
+
+"Well, and how soon will he be ready?--For it seems all to depend upon
+that."
+
+"Really," said Elinor, "I know so little of these kind of forms, that I
+can hardly even conjecture as to the time, or the preparation
+necessary; but I suppose two or three months will complete his
+ordination."
+
+"Two or three months!" cried Mrs. Jennings; "Lord! my dear, how calmly
+you talk of it; and can the Colonel wait two or three months! Lord
+bless me!--I am sure it would put ME quite out of patience!--And though
+one would be very glad to do a kindness by poor Mr. Ferrars, I do think
+it is not worth while to wait two or three months for him.  Sure
+somebody else might be found that would do as well; somebody that is in
+orders already."
+
+"My dear ma'am," said Elinor, "what can you be thinking of?-- Why,
+Colonel Brandon's only object is to be of use to Mr. Ferrars."
+
+"Lord bless you, my dear!--Sure you do not mean to persuade me that the
+Colonel only marries you for the sake of giving ten guineas to Mr.
+Ferrars!"
+
+The deception could not continue after this; and an explanation
+immediately took place, by which both gained considerable amusement for
+the moment, without any material loss of happiness to either, for Mrs.
+Jennings only exchanged one form of delight for another, and still
+without forfeiting her expectation of the first.
+
+"Aye, aye, the parsonage is but a small one," said she, after the first
+ebullition of surprise and satisfaction was over, "and very likely MAY
+be out of repair; but to hear a man apologising, as I thought, for a
+house that to my knowledge has five sitting rooms on the ground-floor,
+and I think the housekeeper told me could make up fifteen beds!--and to
+you too, that had been used to live in Barton cottage!-- It seems quite
+ridiculous.  But, my dear, we must touch up the Colonel to do some
+thing to the parsonage, and make it comfortable for them, before Lucy
+goes to it."
+
+"But Colonel Brandon does not seem to have any idea of the living's
+being enough to allow them to marry."
+
+"The Colonel is a ninny, my dear; because he has two thousand a-year
+himself, he thinks that nobody else can marry on less.  Take my word
+for it, that, if I am alive, I shall be paying a visit at Delaford
+Parsonage before Michaelmas; and I am sure I shan't go if Lucy an't
+there."
+
+Elinor was quite of her opinion, as to the probability of their not
+waiting for any thing more.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 41
+
+
+Edward, having carried his thanks to Colonel Brandon, proceeded with
+his happiness to Lucy; and such was the excess of it by the time he
+reached Bartlett's Buildings, that she was able to assure Mrs.
+Jennings, who called on her again the next day with her
+congratulations, that she had never seen him in such spirits before in
+her life.
+
+Her own happiness, and her own spirits, were at least very certain; and
+she joined Mrs. Jennings most heartily in her expectation of their
+being all comfortably together in Delaford Parsonage before Michaelmas.
+So far was she, at the same time, from any backwardness to give Elinor
+that credit which Edward WOULD give her, that she spoke of her
+friendship for them both with the most grateful warmth, was ready to
+own all their obligation to her, and openly declared that no exertion
+for their good on Miss Dashwood's part, either present or future, would
+ever surprise her, for she believed her capable of doing any thing in
+the world for those she really valued.  As for Colonel Brandon, she was
+not only ready to worship him as a saint, but was moreover truly
+anxious that he should be treated as one in all worldly concerns;
+anxious that his tithes should be raised to the utmost; and scarcely
+resolved to avail herself, at Delaford, as far as she possibly could,
+of his servants, his carriage, his cows, and his poultry.
+
+It was now above a week since John Dashwood had called in Berkeley
+Street, and as since that time no notice had been taken by them of his
+wife's indisposition, beyond one verbal enquiry, Elinor began to feel
+it necessary to pay her a visit.--This was an obligation, however,
+which not only opposed her own inclination, but which had not the
+assistance of any encouragement from her companions.  Marianne, not
+contented with absolutely refusing to go herself, was very urgent to
+prevent her sister's going at all; and Mrs. Jennings, though her
+carriage was always at Elinor's service, so very much disliked Mrs.
+John Dashwood, that not even her curiosity to see how she looked after
+the late discovery, nor her strong desire to affront her by taking
+Edward's part, could overcome her unwillingness to be in her company
+again.  The consequence was, that Elinor set out by herself to pay a
+visit, for which no one could really have less inclination, and to run
+the risk of a tete-a-tete with a woman, whom neither of the others had
+so much reason to dislike.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood was denied; but before the carriage could turn from the
+house, her husband accidentally came out.  He expressed great pleasure
+in meeting Elinor, told her that he had been just going to call in
+Berkeley Street, and, assuring her that Fanny would be very glad to see
+her, invited her to come in.
+
+They walked up stairs in to the drawing-room.--Nobody was there.
+
+"Fanny is in her own room, I suppose," said he:--"I will go to her
+presently, for I am sure she will not have the least objection in the
+world to seeing YOU.-- Very far from it, indeed.  NOW especially there
+cannot be--but however, you and Marianne were always great
+favourites.--Why would not Marianne come?"--
+
+Elinor made what excuse she could for her.
+
+"I am not sorry to see you alone," he replied, "for I have a good deal
+to say to you.  This living of Colonel Brandon's--can it be true?--has
+he really given it to Edward?--I heard it yesterday by chance, and was
+coming to you on purpose to enquire farther about it."
+
+"It is perfectly true.--Colonel Brandon has given the living of
+Delaford to Edward."
+
+"Really!--Well, this is very astonishing!--no relationship!--no
+connection between them!--and now that livings fetch such a
+price!--what was the value of this?"
+
+"About two hundred a year."
+
+"Very well--and for the next presentation to a living of that
+value--supposing the late incumbent to have been old and sickly, and
+likely to vacate it soon--he might have got I dare say--fourteen
+hundred pounds.  And how came he not to have settled that matter before
+this person's death?--NOW indeed it would be too late to sell it, but a
+man of Colonel Brandon's sense!--I wonder he should be so improvident
+in a point of such common, such natural, concern!--Well, I am convinced
+that there is a vast deal of inconsistency in almost every human
+character.  I suppose, however--on recollection--that the case may
+probably be THIS.  Edward is only to hold the living till the person to
+whom the Colonel has really sold the presentation, is old enough to
+take it.--Aye, aye, that is the fact, depend upon it."
+
+Elinor contradicted it, however, very positively; and by relating that
+she had herself been employed in conveying the offer from Colonel
+Brandon to Edward, and, therefore, must understand the terms on which
+it was given, obliged him to submit to her authority.
+
+"It is truly astonishing!"--he cried, after hearing what she
+said--"what could be the Colonel's motive?"
+
+"A very simple one--to be of use to Mr. Ferrars."
+
+"Well, well; whatever Colonel Brandon may be, Edward is a very lucky
+man.--You will not mention the matter to Fanny, however, for though I
+have broke it to her, and she bears it vastly well,--she will not like
+to hear it much talked of."
+
+Elinor had some difficulty here to refrain from observing, that she
+thought Fanny might have borne with composure, an acquisition of wealth
+to her brother, by which neither she nor her child could be possibly
+impoverished.
+
+"Mrs. Ferrars," added he, lowering his voice to the tone becoming so
+important a subject, "knows nothing about it at present, and I believe
+it will be best to keep it entirely concealed from her as long as may
+be.-- When the marriage takes place, I fear she must hear of it all."
+
+"But why should such precaution be used?--Though it is not to be
+supposed that Mrs. Ferrars can have the smallest satisfaction in
+knowing that her son has money enough to live upon,--for THAT must be
+quite out of the question; yet why, upon her late behaviour, is she
+supposed to feel at all?--She has done with her son, she cast him off
+for ever, and has made all those over whom she had any influence, cast
+him off likewise.  Surely, after doing so, she cannot be imagined
+liable to any impression of sorrow or of joy on his account--she cannot
+be interested in any thing that befalls him.-- She would not be so weak
+as to throw away the comfort of a child, and yet retain the anxiety of
+a parent!"
+
+"Ah! Elinor," said John, "your reasoning is very good, but it is
+founded on ignorance of human nature.  When Edward's unhappy match
+takes place, depend upon it his mother will feel as much as if she had
+never discarded him; and, therefore every circumstance that may
+accelerate that dreadful event, must be concealed from her as much as
+possible.  Mrs. Ferrars can never forget that Edward is her son."
+
+"You surprise me; I should think it must nearly have escaped her memory
+by THIS time."
+
+"You wrong her exceedingly.  Mrs. Ferrars is one of the most
+affectionate mothers in the world."
+
+Elinor was silent.
+
+"We think NOW,"--said Mr. Dashwood, after a short pause, "of ROBERT'S
+marrying Miss Morton."
+
+Elinor, smiling at the grave and decisive importance of her brother's
+tone, calmly replied,
+
+"The lady, I suppose, has no choice in the affair."
+
+"Choice!--how do you mean?"
+
+"I only mean that I suppose, from your manner of speaking, it must be
+the same to Miss Morton whether she marry Edward or Robert."
+
+"Certainly, there can be no difference; for Robert will now to all
+intents and purposes be considered as the eldest son;--and as to any
+thing else, they are both very agreeable young men: I do not know that
+one is superior to the other."
+
+Elinor said no more, and John was also for a short time silent.--His
+reflections ended thus.
+
+"Of ONE thing, my dear sister," kindly taking her hand, and speaking in
+an awful whisper,--"I may assure you;--and I WILL do it, because I know
+it must gratify you.  I have good reason to think--indeed I have it
+from the best authority, or I should not repeat it, for otherwise it
+would be very wrong to say any thing about it--but I have it from the
+very best authority--not that I ever precisely heard Mrs. Ferrars say
+it herself--but her daughter DID, and I have it from her--That in
+short, whatever objections there might be against a certain--a certain
+connection--you understand me--it would have been far preferable to
+her, it would not have given her half the vexation that THIS does.  I
+was exceedingly pleased to hear that Mrs. Ferrars considered it in that
+light--a very gratifying circumstance you know to us all.  'It would
+have been beyond comparison,' she said, 'the least evil of the two, and
+she would be glad to compound NOW for nothing worse.' But however, all
+that is quite out of the question--not to be thought of or
+mentioned--as to any attachment you know--it never could be--all that
+is gone by.  But I thought I would just tell you of this, because I
+knew how much it must please you.  Not that you have any reason to
+regret, my dear Elinor.  There is no doubt of your doing exceedingly
+well--quite as well, or better, perhaps, all things considered.  Has
+Colonel Brandon been with you lately?"
+
+Elinor had heard enough, if not to gratify her vanity, and raise her
+self-importance, to agitate her nerves and fill her mind;--and she was
+therefore glad to be spared from the necessity of saying much in reply
+herself, and from the danger of hearing any thing more from her
+brother, by the entrance of Mr. Robert Ferrars.  After a few moments'
+chat, John Dashwood, recollecting that Fanny was yet uninformed of her
+sister's being there, quitted the room in quest of her; and Elinor was
+left to improve her acquaintance with Robert, who, by the gay
+unconcern, the happy self-complacency of his manner while enjoying so
+unfair a division of his mother's love and liberality, to the prejudice
+of his banished brother, earned only by his own dissipated course of
+life, and that brother's integrity, was confirming her most
+unfavourable opinion of his head and heart.
+
+They had scarcely been two minutes by themselves, before he began to
+speak of Edward; for he, too, had heard of the living, and was very
+inquisitive on the subject.  Elinor repeated the particulars of it, as
+she had given them to John; and their effect on Robert, though very
+different, was not less striking than it had been on HIM.  He laughed
+most immoderately.  The idea of Edward's being a clergyman, and living
+in a small parsonage-house, diverted him beyond measure;--and when to
+that was added the fanciful imagery of Edward reading prayers in a
+white surplice, and publishing the banns of marriage between John Smith
+and Mary Brown, he could conceive nothing more ridiculous.
+
+Elinor, while she waited in silence and immovable gravity, the
+conclusion of such folly, could not restrain her eyes from being fixed
+on him with a look that spoke all the contempt it excited.  It was a
+look, however, very well bestowed, for it relieved her own feelings,
+and gave no intelligence to him.  He was recalled from wit to wisdom,
+not by any reproof of her's, but by his own sensibility.
+
+"We may treat it as a joke," said he, at last, recovering from the
+affected laugh which had considerably lengthened out the genuine gaiety
+of the moment--"but, upon my soul, it is a most serious business.  Poor
+Edward!  he is ruined for ever.  I am extremely sorry for it--for I
+know him to be a very good-hearted creature; as well-meaning a fellow
+perhaps, as any in the world.  You must not judge of him, Miss
+Dashwood, from YOUR slight acquaintance.--Poor Edward!--His manners are
+certainly not the happiest in nature.--But we are not all born, you
+know, with the same powers,--the same address.-- Poor fellow!--to see
+him in a circle of strangers!--to be sure it was pitiable enough!--but
+upon my soul, I believe he has as good a heart as any in the kingdom;
+and I declare and protest to you I never was so shocked in my life, as
+when it all burst forth.  I could not believe it.-- My mother was the
+first person who told me of it; and I, feeling myself called on to act
+with resolution, immediately said to her, 'My dear madam, I do not know
+what you may intend to do on the occasion, but as for myself, I must
+say, that if Edward does marry this young woman, I never will see him
+again.' That was what I said immediately.-- I was most uncommonly
+shocked, indeed!--Poor Edward!--he has done for himself
+completely--shut himself out for ever from all decent society!--but, as
+I directly said to my mother, I am not in the least surprised at it;
+from his style of education, it was always to be expected.  My poor
+mother was half frantic."
+
+"Have you ever seen the lady?"
+
+"Yes; once, while she was staying in this house, I happened to drop in
+for ten minutes; and I saw quite enough of her.  The merest awkward
+country girl, without style, or elegance, and almost without beauty.--
+I remember her perfectly.  Just the kind of girl I should suppose
+likely to captivate poor Edward.  I offered immediately, as soon as my
+mother related the affair to me, to talk to him myself, and dissuade
+him from the match; but it was too late THEN, I found, to do any thing,
+for unluckily, I was not in the way at first, and knew nothing of it
+till after the breach had taken place, when it was not for me, you
+know, to interfere.  But had I been informed of it a few hours
+earlier--I think it is most probable--that something might have been
+hit on.  I certainly should have represented it to Edward in a very
+strong light.  'My dear fellow,' I should have said, 'consider what you
+are doing.  You are making a most disgraceful connection, and such a
+one as your family are unanimous in disapproving.' I cannot help
+thinking, in short, that means might have been found.  But now it is
+all too late.  He must be starved, you know;--that is certain;
+absolutely starved."
+
+He had just settled this point with great composure, when the entrance
+of Mrs. John Dashwood put an end to the subject.  But though SHE never
+spoke of it out of her own family, Elinor could see its influence on
+her mind, in the something like confusion of countenance with which she
+entered, and an attempt at cordiality in her behaviour to herself.  She
+even proceeded so far as to be concerned to find that Elinor and her
+sister were so soon to leave town, as she had hoped to see more of
+them;--an exertion in which her husband, who attended her into the
+room, and hung enamoured over her accents, seemed to distinguish every
+thing that was most affectionate and graceful.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 42
+
+
+One other short call in Harley Street, in which Elinor received her
+brother's congratulations on their travelling so far towards Barton
+without any expense, and on Colonel Brandon's being to follow them to
+Cleveland in a day or two, completed the intercourse of the brother and
+sisters in town;--and a faint invitation from Fanny, to come to Norland
+whenever it should happen to be in their way, which of all things was
+the most unlikely to occur, with a more warm, though less public,
+assurance, from John to Elinor, of the promptitude with which he should
+come to see her at Delaford, was all that foretold any meeting in the
+country.
+
+It amused her to observe that all her friends seemed determined to send
+her to Delaford;--a place, in which, of all others, she would now least
+chuse to visit, or wish to reside; for not only was it considered as
+her future home by her brother and Mrs. Jennings, but even Lucy, when
+they parted, gave her a pressing invitation to visit her there.
+
+Very early in April, and tolerably early in the day, the two parties
+from Hanover Square and Berkeley Street set out from their respective
+homes, to meet, by appointment, on the road.  For the convenience of
+Charlotte and her child, they were to be more than two days on their
+journey, and Mr. Palmer, travelling more expeditiously with Colonel
+Brandon, was to join them at Cleveland soon after their arrival.
+
+Marianne, few as had been her hours of comfort in London, and eager as
+she had long been to quit it, could not, when it came to the point, bid
+adieu to the house in which she had for the last time enjoyed those
+hopes, and that confidence, in Willoughby, which were now extinguished
+for ever, without great pain.  Nor could she leave the place in which
+Willoughby remained, busy in new engagements, and new schemes, in which
+SHE could have no share, without shedding many tears.
+
+Elinor's satisfaction, at the moment of removal, was more positive.
+She had no such object for her lingering thoughts to fix on, she left
+no creature behind, from whom it would give her a moment's regret to be
+divided for ever, she was pleased to be free herself from the
+persecution of Lucy's friendship, she was grateful for bringing her
+sister away unseen by Willoughby since his marriage, and she looked
+forward with hope to what a few months of tranquility at Barton might
+do towards restoring Marianne's peace of mind, and confirming her own.
+
+Their journey was safely performed.  The second day brought them into
+the cherished, or the prohibited, county of Somerset, for as such was
+it dwelt on by turns in Marianne's imagination; and in the forenoon of
+the third they drove up to Cleveland.
+
+Cleveland was a spacious, modern-built house, situated on a sloping
+lawn.  It had no park, but the pleasure-grounds were tolerably
+extensive; and like every other place of the same degree of importance,
+it had its open shrubbery, and closer wood walk, a road of smooth
+gravel winding round a plantation, led to the front, the lawn was
+dotted over with timber, the house itself was under the guardianship of
+the fir, the mountain-ash, and the acacia, and a thick screen of them
+altogether, interspersed with tall Lombardy poplars, shut out the
+offices.
+
+Marianne entered the house with a heart swelling with emotion from the
+consciousness of being only eighty miles from Barton, and not thirty
+from Combe Magna; and before she had been five minutes within its
+walls, while the others were busily helping Charlotte to show her child
+to the housekeeper, she quitted it again, stealing away through the
+winding shrubberies, now just beginning to be in beauty, to gain a
+distant eminence; where, from its Grecian temple, her eye, wandering
+over a wide tract of country to the south-east, could fondly rest on
+the farthest ridge of hills in the horizon, and fancy that from their
+summits Combe Magna might be seen.
+
+In such moments of precious, invaluable misery, she rejoiced in tears
+of agony to be at Cleveland; and as she returned by a different circuit
+to the house, feeling all the happy privilege of country liberty, of
+wandering from place to place in free and luxurious solitude, she
+resolved to spend almost every hour of every day while she remained
+with the Palmers, in the indulgence of such solitary rambles.
+
+She returned just in time to join the others as they quitted the house,
+on an excursion through its more immediate premises; and the rest of
+the morning was easily whiled away, in lounging round the kitchen
+garden, examining the bloom upon its walls, and listening to the
+gardener's lamentations upon blights, in dawdling through the
+green-house, where the loss of her favourite plants, unwarily exposed,
+and nipped by the lingering frost, raised the laughter of
+Charlotte,--and in visiting her poultry-yard, where, in the
+disappointed hopes of her dairy-maid, by hens forsaking their nests, or
+being stolen by a fox, or in the rapid decrease of a promising young
+brood, she found fresh sources of merriment.
+
+The morning was fine and dry, and Marianne, in her plan of employment
+abroad, had not calculated for any change of weather during their stay
+at Cleveland.  With great surprise therefore, did she find herself
+prevented by a settled rain from going out again after dinner.  She had
+depended on a twilight walk to the Grecian temple, and perhaps all over
+the grounds, and an evening merely cold or damp would not have deterred
+her from it; but a heavy and settled rain even SHE could not fancy dry
+or pleasant weather for walking.
+
+Their party was small, and the hours passed quietly away.  Mrs. Palmer
+had her child, and Mrs. Jennings her carpet-work; they talked of the
+friends they had left behind, arranged Lady Middleton's engagements,
+and wondered whether Mr. Palmer and Colonel Brandon would get farther
+than Reading that night.  Elinor, however little concerned in it,
+joined in their discourse; and Marianne, who had the knack of finding
+her way in every house to the library, however it might be avoided by
+the family in general, soon procured herself a book.
+
+Nothing was wanting on Mrs. Palmer's side that constant and friendly
+good humour could do, to make them feel themselves welcome.  The
+openness and heartiness of her manner more than atoned for that want of
+recollection and elegance which made her often deficient in the forms
+of politeness; her kindness, recommended by so pretty a face, was
+engaging; her folly, though evident was not disgusting, because it was
+not conceited; and Elinor could have forgiven every thing but her laugh.
+
+The two gentlemen arrived the next day to a very late dinner, affording
+a pleasant enlargement of the party, and a very welcome variety to
+their conversation, which a long morning of the same continued rain had
+reduced very low.
+
+Elinor had seen so little of Mr. Palmer, and in that little had seen so
+much variety in his address to her sister and herself, that she knew
+not what to expect to find him in his own family.  She found him,
+however, perfectly the gentleman in his behaviour to all his visitors,
+and only occasionally rude to his wife and her mother; she found him
+very capable of being a pleasant companion, and only prevented from
+being so always, by too great an aptitude to fancy himself as much
+superior to people in general, as he must feel himself to be to Mrs.
+Jennings and Charlotte.  For the rest of his character and habits, they
+were marked, as far as Elinor could perceive, with no traits at all
+unusual in his sex and time of life.  He was nice in his eating,
+uncertain in his hours; fond of his child, though affecting to slight
+it; and idled away the mornings at billiards, which ought to have been
+devoted to business.  She liked him, however, upon the whole, much
+better than she had expected, and in her heart was not sorry that she
+could like him no more;--not sorry to be driven by the observation of
+his Epicurism, his selfishness, and his conceit, to rest with
+complacency on the remembrance of Edward's generous temper, simple
+taste, and diffident feelings.
+
+Of Edward, or at least of some of his concerns, she now received
+intelligence from Colonel Brandon, who had been into Dorsetshire
+lately; and who, treating her at once as the disinterested friend of
+Mr. Ferrars, and the kind of confidant of himself, talked to her a
+great deal of the parsonage at Delaford, described its deficiencies,
+and told her what he meant to do himself towards removing them.--His
+behaviour to her in this, as well as in every other particular, his
+open pleasure in meeting her after an absence of only ten days, his
+readiness to converse with her, and his deference for her opinion,
+might very well justify Mrs. Jennings's persuasion of his attachment,
+and would have been enough, perhaps, had not Elinor still, as from the
+first, believed Marianne his real favourite, to make her suspect it
+herself.  But as it was, such a notion had scarcely ever entered her
+head, except by Mrs. Jennings's suggestion; and she could not help
+believing herself the nicest observer of the two;--she watched his
+eyes, while Mrs. Jennings thought only of his behaviour;--and while his
+looks of anxious solicitude on Marianne's feeling, in her head and
+throat, the beginning of a heavy cold, because unexpressed by words,
+entirely escaped the latter lady's observation;--SHE could discover in
+them the quick feelings, and needless alarm of a lover.
+
+Two delightful twilight walks on the third and fourth evenings of her
+being there, not merely on the dry gravel of the shrubbery, but all
+over the grounds, and especially in the most distant parts of them,
+where there was something more of wildness than in the rest, where the
+trees were the oldest, and the grass was the longest and wettest,
+had--assisted by the still greater imprudence of sitting in her wet
+shoes and stockings--given Marianne a cold so violent as, though for a
+day or two trifled with or denied, would force itself by increasing
+ailments on the concern of every body, and the notice of herself.
+Prescriptions poured in from all quarters, and as usual, were all
+declined.  Though heavy and feverish, with a pain in her limbs, and a
+cough, and a sore throat, a good night's rest was to cure her entirely;
+and it was with difficulty that Elinor prevailed on her, when she went
+to bed, to try one or two of the simplest of the remedies.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 43
+
+
+Marianne got up the next morning at her usual time; to every inquiry
+replied that she was better, and tried to prove herself so, by engaging
+in her accustomary employments.  But a day spent in sitting shivering
+over the fire with a book in her hand, which she was unable to read, or
+in lying, weary and languid, on a sofa, did not speak much in favour of
+her amendment; and when, at last, she went early to bed, more and more
+indisposed, Colonel Brandon was only astonished at her sister's
+composure, who, though attending and nursing her the whole day, against
+Marianne's inclination, and forcing proper medicines on her at night,
+trusted, like Marianne, to the certainty and efficacy of sleep, and
+felt no real alarm.
+
+A very restless and feverish night, however, disappointed the
+expectation of both; and when Marianne, after persisting in rising,
+confessed herself unable to sit up, and returned voluntarily to her
+bed, Elinor was very ready to adopt Mrs. Jennings's advice, of sending
+for the Palmers' apothecary.
+
+He came, examined his patient, and though encouraging Miss Dashwood to
+expect that a very few days would restore her sister to health, yet, by
+pronouncing her disorder to have a putrid tendency, and allowing the
+word "infection" to pass his lips, gave instant alarm to Mrs. Palmer,
+on her baby's account.  Mrs. Jennings, who had been inclined from the
+first to think Marianne's complaint more serious than Elinor, now
+looked very grave on Mr. Harris's report, and confirming Charlotte's
+fears and caution, urged the necessity of her immediate removal with
+her infant; and Mr. Palmer, though treating their apprehensions as
+idle, found the anxiety and importunity of his wife too great to be
+withstood.  Her departure, therefore, was fixed on; and within an hour
+after Mr. Harris's arrival, she set off, with her little boy and his
+nurse, for the house of a near relation of Mr. Palmer's, who lived a
+few miles on the other side of Bath; whither her husband promised, at
+her earnest entreaty, to join her in a day or two; and whither she was
+almost equally urgent with her mother to accompany her.  Mrs. Jennings,
+however, with a kindness of heart which made Elinor really love her,
+declared her resolution of not stirring from Cleveland as long as
+Marianne remained ill, and of endeavouring, by her own attentive care,
+to supply to her the place of the mother she had taken her from; and
+Elinor found her on every occasion a most willing and active helpmate,
+desirous to share in all her fatigues, and often by her better
+experience in nursing, of material use.
+
+Poor Marianne, languid and low from the nature of her malady, and
+feeling herself universally ill, could no longer hope that tomorrow
+would find her recovered; and the idea of what tomorrow would have
+produced, but for this unlucky illness, made every ailment severe; for
+on that day they were to have begun their journey home; and, attended
+the whole way by a servant of Mrs. Jennings, were to have taken their
+mother by surprise on the following forenoon.  The little she said was
+all in lamentation of this inevitable delay; though Elinor tried to
+raise her spirits, and make her believe, as she THEN really believed
+herself, that it would be a very short one.
+
+The next day produced little or no alteration in the state of the
+patient; she certainly was not better, and, except that there was no
+amendment, did not appear worse.  Their party was now farther reduced;
+for Mr. Palmer, though very unwilling to go as well from real humanity
+and good-nature, as from a dislike of appearing to be frightened away
+by his wife, was persuaded at last by Colonel Brandon to perform his
+promise of following her; and while he was preparing to go, Colonel
+Brandon himself, with a much greater exertion, began to talk of going
+likewise.--Here, however, the kindness of Mrs. Jennings interposed most
+acceptably; for to send the Colonel away while his love was in so much
+uneasiness on her sister's account, would be to deprive them both, she
+thought, of every comfort; and therefore telling him at once that his
+stay at Cleveland was necessary to herself, that she should want him to
+play at piquet of an evening, while Miss Dashwood was above with her
+sister, &c. she urged him so strongly to remain, that he, who was
+gratifying the first wish of his own heart by a compliance, could not
+long even affect to demur; especially as Mrs. Jennings's entreaty was
+warmly seconded by Mr. Palmer, who seemed to feel a relief to himself,
+in leaving behind him a person so well able to assist or advise Miss
+Dashwood in any emergence.
+
+Marianne was, of course, kept in ignorance of all these arrangements.
+She knew not that she had been the means of sending the owners of
+Cleveland away, in about seven days from the time of their arrival.  It
+gave her no surprise that she saw nothing of Mrs. Palmer; and as it
+gave her likewise no concern, she never mentioned her name.
+
+Two days passed away from the time of Mr. Palmer's departure, and her
+situation continued, with little variation, the same.  Mr. Harris, who
+attended her every day, still talked boldly of a speedy recovery, and
+Miss Dashwood was equally sanguine; but the expectation of the others
+was by no means so cheerful.  Mrs. Jennings had determined very early
+in the seizure that Marianne would never get over it, and Colonel
+Brandon, who was chiefly of use in listening to Mrs. Jennings's
+forebodings, was not in a state of mind to resist their influence.  He
+tried to reason himself out of fears, which the different judgment of
+the apothecary seemed to render absurd; but the many hours of each day
+in which he was left entirely alone, were but too favourable for the
+admission of every melancholy idea, and he could not expel from his
+mind the persuasion that he should see Marianne no more.
+
+On the morning of the third day however, the gloomy anticipations of
+both were almost done away; for when Mr. Harris arrived, he declared
+his patient materially better.  Her pulse was much stronger, and every
+symptom more favourable than on the preceding visit.  Elinor, confirmed
+in every pleasant hope, was all cheerfulness; rejoicing that in her
+letters to her mother, she had pursued her own judgment rather than her
+friend's, in making very light of the indisposition which delayed them
+at Cleveland; and almost fixing on the time when Marianne would be able
+to travel.
+
+But the day did not close so auspiciously as it began.-- Towards the
+evening Marianne became ill again, growing more heavy, restless, and
+uncomfortable than before.  Her sister, however, still sanguine, was
+willing to attribute the change to nothing more than the fatigue of
+having sat up to have her bed made; and carefully administering the
+cordials prescribed, saw her, with satisfaction, sink at last into a
+slumber, from which she expected the most beneficial effects.  Her
+sleep, though not so quiet as Elinor wished to see it, lasted a
+considerable time; and anxious to observe the result of it herself, she
+resolved to sit with her during the whole of it.  Mrs. Jennings,
+knowing nothing of any change in the patient, went unusually early to
+bed; her maid, who was one of the principal nurses, was recreating
+herself in the housekeeper's room, and Elinor remained alone with
+Marianne.
+
+The repose of the latter became more and more disturbed; and her
+sister, who watched, with unremitting attention her continual change of
+posture, and heard the frequent but inarticulate sounds of complaint
+which passed her lips, was almost wishing to rouse her from so painful
+a slumber, when Marianne, suddenly awakened by some accidental noise in
+the house, started hastily up, and, with feverish wildness, cried out,--
+
+"Is mama coming?--"
+
+"Not yet," cried the other, concealing her terror, and assisting
+Marianne to lie down again, "but she will be here, I hope, before it is
+long.  It is a great way, you know, from hence to Barton."
+
+"But she must not go round by London," cried Marianne, in the same
+hurried manner.  "I shall never see her, if she goes by London."
+
+Elinor perceived with alarm that she was not quite herself, and, while
+attempting to soothe her, eagerly felt her pulse.  It was lower and
+quicker than ever!  and Marianne, still talking wildly of mama, her
+alarm increased so rapidly, as to determine her on sending instantly
+for Mr. Harris, and despatching a messenger to Barton for her mother.
+To consult with Colonel Brandon on the best means of effecting the
+latter, was a thought which immediately followed the resolution of its
+performance; and as soon she had rung up the maid to take her place by
+her sister, she hastened down to the drawing-room, where she knew he
+was generally to be found at a much later hour than the present.
+
+It was no time for hesitation.  Her fears and her difficulties were
+immediately before him.  Her fears, he had no courage, no confidence to
+attempt the removal of:--he listened to them in silent
+despondence;--but her difficulties were instantly obviated, for with a
+readiness that seemed to speak the occasion, and the service
+pre-arranged in his mind, he offered himself as the messenger who
+should fetch Mrs. Dashwood.  Elinor made no resistance that was not
+easily overcome.  She thanked him with brief, though fervent gratitude,
+and while he went to hurry off his servant with a message to Mr.
+Harris, and an order for post-horses directly, she wrote a few lines to
+her mother.
+
+The comfort of such a friend at that moment as Colonel Brandon--or such
+a companion for her mother,--how gratefully was it felt!--a companion
+whose judgment would guide, whose attendance must relieve, and whose
+friendship might soothe her!--as far as the shock of such a summons
+COULD be lessened to her, his presence, his manners, his assistance,
+would lessen it.
+
+HE, meanwhile, whatever he might feel, acted with all the firmness of a
+collected mind, made every necessary arrangement with the utmost
+despatch, and calculated with exactness the time in which she might
+look for his return.  Not a moment was lost in delay of any kind.  The
+horses arrived, even before they were expected, and Colonel Brandon
+only pressing her hand with a look of solemnity, and a few words spoken
+too low to reach her ear, hurried into the carriage.  It was then about
+twelve o'clock, and she returned to her sister's apartment to wait for
+the arrival of the apothecary, and to watch by her the rest of the
+night.  It was a night of almost equal suffering to both.  Hour after
+hour passed away in sleepless pain and delirium on Marianne's side, and
+in the most cruel anxiety on Elinor's, before Mr. Harris appeared.  Her
+apprehensions once raised, paid by their excess for all her former
+security; and the servant who sat up with her, for she would not allow
+Mrs. Jennings to be called, only tortured her more, by hints of what
+her mistress had always thought.
+
+Marianne's ideas were still, at intervals, fixed incoherently on her
+mother, and whenever she mentioned her name, it gave a pang to the
+heart of poor Elinor, who, reproaching herself for having trifled with
+so many days of illness, and wretched for some immediate relief,
+fancied that all relief might soon be in vain, that every thing had
+been delayed too long, and pictured to herself her suffering mother
+arriving too late to see this darling child, or to see her rational.
+
+She was on the point of sending again for Mr. Harris, or if HE could
+not come, for some other advice, when the former--but not till after
+five o'clock--arrived.  His opinion, however, made some little amends
+for his delay, for though acknowledging a very unexpected and
+unpleasant alteration in his patient, he would not allow the danger to
+be material, and talked of the relief which a fresh mode of treatment
+must procure, with a confidence which, in a lesser degree, was
+communicated to Elinor.  He promised to call again in the course of
+three or four hours, and left both the patient and her anxious
+attendant more composed than he had found them.
+
+With strong concern, and with many reproaches for not being called to
+their aid, did Mrs. Jennings hear in the morning of what had passed.
+Her former apprehensions, now with greater reason restored, left her no
+doubt of the event; and though trying to speak comfort to Elinor, her
+conviction of her sister's danger would not allow her to offer the
+comfort of hope.  Her heart was really grieved.  The rapid decay, the
+early death of a girl so young, so lovely as Marianne, must have struck
+a less interested person with concern.  On Mrs. Jennings's compassion
+she had other claims.  She had been for three months her companion, was
+still under her care, and she was known to have been greatly injured,
+and long unhappy.  The distress of her sister too, particularly a
+favourite, was before her;--and as for their mother, when Mrs. Jennings
+considered that Marianne might probably be to HER what Charlotte was to
+herself, her sympathy in HER sufferings was very sincere.
+
+Mr. Harris was punctual in his second visit;--but he came to be
+disappointed in his hopes of what the last would produce.  His
+medicines had failed;--the fever was unabated; and Marianne only more
+quiet--not more herself--remained in a heavy stupor.  Elinor, catching
+all, and more than all, his fears in a moment, proposed to call in
+further advice.  But he judged it unnecessary: he had still something
+more to try, some more fresh application, of whose success he was as
+confident as the last, and his visit concluded with encouraging
+assurances which reached the ear, but could not enter the heart of Miss
+Dashwood.  She was calm, except when she thought of her mother; but she
+was almost hopeless; and in this state she continued till noon,
+scarcely stirring from her sister's bed, her thoughts wandering from
+one image of grief, one suffering friend to another, and her spirits
+oppressed to the utmost by the conversation of Mrs. Jennings, who
+scrupled not to attribute the severity and danger of this attack to the
+many weeks of previous indisposition which Marianne's disappointment
+had brought on.  Elinor felt all the reasonableness of the idea, and it
+gave fresh misery to her reflections.
+
+About noon, however, she began--but with a caution--a dread of
+disappointment which for some time kept her silent, even to her
+friend--to fancy, to hope she could perceive a slight amendment in her
+sister's pulse;--she waited, watched, and examined it again and
+again;--and at last, with an agitation more difficult to bury under
+exterior calmness, than all her foregoing distress, ventured to
+communicate her hopes.  Mrs. Jennings, though forced, on examination,
+to acknowledge a temporary revival, tried to keep her young friend from
+indulging a thought of its continuance;--and Elinor, conning over every
+injunction of distrust, told herself likewise not to hope.  But it was
+too late.  Hope had already entered; and feeling all its anxious
+flutter, she bent over her sister to watch--she hardly knew for what.
+Half an hour passed away, and the favourable symptom yet blessed her.
+Others even arose to confirm it.  Her breath, her skin, her lips, all
+flattered Elinor with signs of amendment; and Marianne fixed her eyes
+on her with a rational, though languid, gaze.  Anxiety and hope now
+oppressed her in equal degrees, and left her no moment of tranquillity
+till the arrival of Mr. Harris at four o'clock;--when his assurances,
+his felicitations on a recovery in her sister even surpassing his
+expectation, gave her confidence, comfort, and tears of joy.
+
+Marianne was in every respect materially better, and he declared her
+entirely out of danger.  Mrs. Jennings, perhaps satisfied with the
+partial justification of her forebodings which had been found in their
+late alarm, allowed herself to trust in his judgment, and admitted,
+with unfeigned joy, and soon with unequivocal cheerfulness, the
+probability of an entire recovery.
+
+Elinor could not be cheerful.  Her joy was of a different kind, and led
+to any thing rather than to gaiety.  Marianne restored to life, health,
+friends, and to her doting mother, was an idea to fill her heart with
+sensations of exquisite comfort, and expand it in fervent
+gratitude;--but it lead to no outward demonstrations of joy, no words,
+no smiles.  All within Elinor's breast was satisfaction, silent and
+strong.
+
+She continued by the side of her sister, with little intermission the
+whole afternoon, calming every fear, satisfying every inquiry of her
+enfeebled spirits, supplying every succour, and watching almost every
+look and every breath.  The possibility of a relapse would of course,
+in some moments, occur to remind her of what anxiety was--but when she
+saw, on her frequent and minute examination, that every symptom of
+recovery continued, and saw Marianne at six o'clock sink into a quiet,
+steady, and to all appearance comfortable, sleep, she silenced every
+doubt.
+
+The time was now drawing on, when Colonel Brandon might be expected
+back.  At ten o'clock, she trusted, or at least not much later her
+mother would be relieved from the dreadful suspense in which she must
+now be travelling towards them.  The Colonel, too!--perhaps scarcely
+less an object of pity!--Oh!--how slow was the progress of time which
+yet kept them in ignorance!
+
+At seven o'clock, leaving Marianne still sweetly asleep, she joined
+Mrs. Jennings in the drawing-room to tea.  Of breakfast she had been
+kept by her fears, and of dinner by their sudden reverse, from eating
+much;--and the present refreshment, therefore, with such feelings of
+content as she brought to it, was particularly welcome.  Mrs. Jennings
+would have persuaded her, at its conclusion, to take some rest before
+her mother's arrival, and allow HER to take her place by Marianne; but
+Elinor had no sense of fatigue, no capability of sleep at that moment
+about her, and she was not to be kept away from her sister an
+unnecessary instant.  Mrs. Jennings therefore attending her up stairs
+into the sick chamber, to satisfy herself that all continued right,
+left her there again to her charge and her thoughts, and retired to her
+own room to write letters and sleep.
+
+The night was cold and stormy.  The wind roared round the house, and
+the rain beat against the windows; but Elinor, all happiness within,
+regarded it not.  Marianne slept through every blast; and the
+travellers--they had a rich reward in store, for every present
+inconvenience.
+
+The clock struck eight.  Had it been ten, Elinor would have been
+convinced that at that moment she heard a carriage driving up to the
+house; and so strong was the persuasion that she DID, in spite of the
+ALMOST impossibility of their being already come, that she moved into
+the adjoining dressing-closet and opened a window shutter, to be
+satisfied of the truth.  She instantly saw that her ears had not
+deceived her.  The flaring lamps of a carriage were immediately in
+view.  By their uncertain light she thought she could discern it to be
+drawn by four horses; and this, while it told the excess of her poor
+mother's alarm, gave some explanation to such unexpected rapidity.
+
+Never in her life had Elinor found it so difficult to be calm, as at
+that moment.  The knowledge of what her mother must be feeling as the
+carriage stopt at the door--of her doubt--her dread--perhaps her
+despair!--and of what SHE had to tell!--with such knowledge it was
+impossible to be calm.  All that remained to be done was to be speedy;
+and, therefore staying only till she could leave Mrs. Jennings's maid
+with her sister, she hurried down stairs.
+
+The bustle in the vestibule, as she passed along an inner lobby,
+assured her that they were already in the house.  She rushed to the
+drawing-room,--she entered it,--and saw only Willoughby.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 44
+
+
+Elinor, starting back with a look of horror at the sight of him, obeyed
+the first impulse of her heart in turning instantly to quit the room,
+and her hand was already on the lock, when its action was suspended by
+his hastily advancing, and saying, in a voice rather of command than
+supplication,
+
+"Miss Dashwood, for half an hour--for ten minutes--I entreat you to
+stay."
+
+"No, sir," she replied with firmness, "I shall NOT stay.  Your business
+cannot be with ME.  The servants, I suppose, forgot to tell you that
+Mr. Palmer was not in the house."
+
+"Had they told me," he cried with vehemence, "that Mr. Palmer and all
+his relations were at the devil, it would not have turned me from the
+door.  My business is with you, and only you."
+
+"With me!"--in the utmost amazement--"well, sir,--be quick--and if you
+can--less violent."
+
+"Sit down, and I will be both."
+
+She hesitated; she knew not what to do.  The possibility of Colonel
+Brandon's arriving and finding her there, came across her.  But she had
+promised to hear him, and her curiosity no less than her honor was
+engaged.  After a moment's recollection, therefore, concluding that
+prudence required dispatch, and that her acquiescence would best
+promote it, she walked silently towards the table, and sat down.  He
+took the opposite chair, and for half a minute not a word was said by
+either.
+
+"Pray be quick, sir,"--said Elinor, impatiently;--"I have no time to
+spare."
+
+He was sitting in an attitude of deep meditation, and seemed not to
+hear her.
+
+"Your sister," said he, with abruptness, a moment afterwards--"is out
+of danger.  I heard it from the servant.  God be praised!--But is it
+true? is it really true?"
+
+Elinor would not speak.  He repeated the inquiry with yet greater
+eagerness.
+
+"For God's sake tell me, is she out of danger, or is she not?"
+
+"We hope she is."
+
+He rose up, and walked across the room.
+
+"Had I known as much half an hour ago--But since I AM here,"--speaking
+with a forced vivacity as he returned to his seat--"what does it
+signify?--For once, Miss Dashwood--it will be the last time,
+perhaps--let us be cheerful together.--I am in a fine mood for
+gaiety.-- Tell me honestly"--a deeper glow overspreading his
+cheeks--"do you think me most a knave or a fool?"
+
+Elinor looked at him with greater astonishment than ever.  She began to
+think that he must be in liquor;--the strangeness of such a visit, and
+of such manners, seemed no otherwise intelligible; and with this
+impression she immediately rose, saying,
+
+"Mr. Willoughby, I advise you at present to return to Combe--I am not
+at leisure to remain with you longer.-- Whatever your business may be
+with me, will it be better recollected and explained to-morrow."
+
+"I understand you," he replied, with an expressive smile, and a voice
+perfectly calm; "yes, I am very drunk.-- A pint of porter with my cold
+beef at Marlborough was enough to over-set me."
+
+"At Marlborough!"--cried Elinor, more and more at a loss to understand
+what he would be at.
+
+"Yes,--I left London this morning at eight o'clock, and the only ten
+minutes I have spent out of my chaise since that time procured me a
+nuncheon at Marlborough."
+
+The steadiness of his manner, and the intelligence of his eye as he
+spoke, convincing Elinor, that whatever other unpardonable folly might
+bring him to Cleveland, he was not brought there by intoxication, she
+said, after a moment's recollection,
+
+"Mr. Willoughby, you OUGHT to feel, and I certainly DO--that after what
+has passed--your coming here in this manner, and forcing yourself upon
+my notice, requires a very particular excuse.--What is it, that you
+mean by it?"--
+
+"I mean,"--said he, with serious energy--"if I can, to make you hate me
+one degree less than you do NOW.  I mean to offer some kind of
+explanation, some kind of apology, for the past; to open my whole heart
+to you, and by convincing you, that though I have been always a
+blockhead, I have not been always a rascal, to obtain something like
+forgiveness from Ma--from your sister."
+
+"Is this the real reason of your coming?"
+
+"Upon my soul it is,"--was his answer, with a warmth which brought all
+the former Willoughby to her remembrance, and in spite of herself made
+her think him sincere.
+
+"If that is all, you may be satisfied already,-- for Marianne DOES--she
+has LONG forgiven you."
+
+"Has she?"--he cried, in the same eager tone.-- "Then she has forgiven
+me before she ought to have done it.  But she shall forgive me again,
+and on more reasonable grounds.--NOW will you listen to me?"
+
+Elinor bowed her assent.
+
+"I do not know," said he, after a pause of expectation on her side, and
+thoughtfulness on his own,--"how YOU may have accounted for my
+behaviour to your sister, or what diabolical motive you may have
+imputed to me.-- Perhaps you will hardly think the better of me,--it is
+worth the trial however, and you shall hear every thing.  When I first
+became intimate in your family, I had no other intention, no other view
+in the acquaintance than to pass my time pleasantly while I was obliged
+to remain in Devonshire, more pleasantly than I had ever done before.
+Your sister's lovely person and interesting manners could not but
+please me; and her behaviour to me almost from the first, was of a
+kind--It is astonishing, when I reflect on what it was, and what SHE
+was, that my heart should have been so insensible!  But at first I must
+confess, my vanity only was elevated by it.  Careless of her happiness,
+thinking only of my own amusement, giving way to feelings which I had
+always been too much in the habit of indulging, I endeavoured, by every
+means in my power, to make myself pleasing to her, without any design
+of returning her affection."
+
+Miss Dashwood, at this point, turning her eyes on him with the most
+angry contempt, stopped him, by saying,
+
+"It is hardly worth while, Mr. Willoughby, for you to relate, or for me
+to listen any longer.  Such a beginning as this cannot be followed by
+any thing.-- Do not let me be pained by hearing any thing more on the
+subject."
+
+"I insist on you hearing the whole of it," he replied, "My fortune was
+never large, and I had always been expensive, always in the habit of
+associating with people of better income than myself.  Every year since
+my coming of age, or even before, I believe, had added to my debts; and
+though the death of my old cousin, Mrs. Smith, was to set me free; yet
+that event being uncertain, and possibly far distant, it had been for
+some time my intention to re-establish my circumstances by marrying a
+woman of fortune.  To attach myself to your sister, therefore, was not
+a thing to be thought of;--and with a meanness, selfishness,
+cruelty--which no indignant, no contemptuous look, even of yours, Miss
+Dashwood, can ever reprobate too much--I was acting in this manner,
+trying to engage her regard, without a thought of returning it.--But
+one thing may be said for me: even in that horrid state of selfish
+vanity, I did not know the extent of the injury I meditated, because I
+did not THEN know what it was to love.  But have I ever known it?--Well
+may it be doubted; for, had I really loved, could I have sacrificed my
+feelings to vanity, to avarice?--or, what is more, could I have
+sacrificed hers?-- But I have done it.  To avoid a comparative poverty,
+which her affection and her society would have deprived of all its
+horrors, I have, by raising myself to affluence, lost every thing that
+could make it a blessing."
+
+"You did then," said Elinor, a little softened, "believe yourself at
+one time attached to her?"
+
+"To have resisted such attractions, to have withstood such
+tenderness!--Is there a man on earth who could have done it?--Yes, I
+found myself, by insensible degrees, sincerely fond of her; and the
+happiest hours of my life were what I spent with her when I felt my
+intentions were strictly honourable, and my feelings blameless.  Even
+THEN, however, when fully determined on paying my addresses to her, I
+allowed myself most improperly to put off, from day to day, the moment
+of doing it, from an unwillingness to enter into an engagement while my
+circumstances were so greatly embarrassed.  I will not reason here--nor
+will I stop for YOU to expatiate on the absurdity, and the worse than
+absurdity, of scrupling to engage my faith where my honour was already
+bound.  The event has proved, that I was a cunning fool, providing with
+great circumspection for a possible opportunity of making myself
+contemptible and wretched for ever.  At last, however, my resolution
+was taken, and I had determined, as soon as I could engage her alone,
+to justify the attentions I had so invariably paid her, and openly
+assure her of an affection which I had already taken such pains to
+display.  But in the interim--in the interim of the very few hours that
+were to pass, before I could have an opportunity of speaking with her
+in private--a circumstance occurred--an unlucky circumstance, to ruin
+all my resolution, and with it all my comfort.  A discovery took
+place,"--here he hesitated and looked down.--"Mrs. Smith had somehow or
+other been informed, I imagine by some distant relation, whose interest
+it was to deprive me of her favour, of an affair, a connection--but I
+need not explain myself farther," he added, looking at her with an
+heightened colour and an enquiring eye--"your particular intimacy--you
+have probably heard the whole story long ago."
+
+"I have," returned Elinor, colouring likewise, and hardening her heart
+anew against any compassion for him, "I have heard it all.  And how you
+will explain away any part of your guilt in that dreadful business, I
+confess is beyond my comprehension."
+
+"Remember," cried Willoughby, "from whom you received the account.
+Could it be an impartial one?  I acknowledge that her situation and her
+character ought to have been respected by me.  I do not mean to justify
+myself, but at the same time cannot leave you to suppose that I have
+nothing to urge--that because she was injured she was irreproachable,
+and because I was a libertine, SHE must be a saint.  If the violence of
+her passions, the weakness of her understanding--I do not mean,
+however, to defend myself.  Her affection for me deserved better
+treatment, and I often, with great self-reproach, recall the tenderness
+which, for a very short time, had the power of creating any return.  I
+wish--I heartily wish it had never been.  But I have injured more than
+herself; and I have injured one, whose affection for me--(may I say
+it?) was scarcely less warm than hers; and whose mind--Oh! how
+infinitely superior!"--
+
+"Your indifference, however, towards that unfortunate girl--I must say
+it, unpleasant to me as the discussion of such a subject may well
+be--your indifference is no apology for your cruel neglect of her.  Do
+not think yourself excused by any weakness, any natural defect of
+understanding on her side, in the wanton cruelty so evident on yours.
+You must have known, that while you were enjoying yourself in
+Devonshire pursuing fresh schemes, always gay, always happy, she was
+reduced to the extremest indigence."
+
+"But, upon my soul, I did NOT know it," he warmly replied; "I did not
+recollect that I had omitted to give her my direction; and common sense
+might have told her how to find it out."
+
+"Well, sir, and what said Mrs. Smith?"
+
+"She taxed me with the offence at once, and my confusion may be
+guessed.  The purity of her life, the formality of her notions, her
+ignorance of the world--every thing was against me.  The matter itself
+I could not deny, and vain was every endeavour to soften it.  She was
+previously disposed, I believe, to doubt the morality of my conduct in
+general, and was moreover discontented with the very little attention,
+the very little portion of my time that I had bestowed on her, in my
+present visit.  In short, it ended in a total breach.  By one measure I
+might have saved myself.  In the height of her morality, good woman!
+she offered to forgive the past, if I would marry Eliza.  That could
+not be--and I was formally dismissed from her favour and her house.
+The night following this affair--I was to go the next morning--was
+spent by me in deliberating on what my future conduct should be.  The
+struggle was great--but it ended too soon.  My affection for Marianne,
+my thorough conviction of her attachment to me--it was all insufficient
+to outweigh that dread of poverty, or get the better of those false
+ideas of the necessity of riches, which I was naturally inclined to
+feel, and expensive society had increased.  I had reason to believe
+myself secure of my present wife, if I chose to address her, and I
+persuaded myself to think that nothing else in common prudence remained
+for me to do.  A heavy scene however awaited me, before I could leave
+Devonshire;--I was engaged to dine with you on that very day; some
+apology was therefore necessary for my breaking this engagement.  But
+whether I should write this apology, or deliver it in person, was a
+point of long debate.  To see Marianne, I felt, would be dreadful, and
+I even doubted whether I could see her again, and keep to my
+resolution.  In that point, however, I undervalued my own magnanimity,
+as the event declared; for I went, I saw her, and saw her miserable,
+and left her miserable--and left her hoping never to see her again."
+
+"Why did you call, Mr. Willoughby?" said Elinor, reproachfully; "a note
+would have answered every purpose.-- Why was it necessary to call?"
+
+"It was necessary to my own pride.  I could not bear to leave the
+country in a manner that might lead you, or the rest of the
+neighbourhood, to suspect any part of what had really passed between
+Mrs. Smith and myself--and I resolved therefore on calling at the
+cottage, in my way to Honiton.  The sight of your dear sister, however,
+was really dreadful; and, to heighten the matter, I found her alone.
+You were all gone I do not know where.  I had left her only the evening
+before, so fully, so firmly resolved within my self on doing right!  A
+few hours were to have engaged her to me for ever; and I remember how
+happy, how gay were my spirits, as I walked from the cottage to
+Allenham, satisfied with myself, delighted with every body!  But in
+this, our last interview of friendship, I approached her with a sense
+of guilt that almost took from me the power of dissembling.  Her
+sorrow, her disappointment, her deep regret, when I told her that I was
+obliged to leave Devonshire so immediately--I never shall forget
+it--united too with such reliance, such confidence in me!--Oh,
+God!--what a hard-hearted rascal I was!"
+
+They were both silent for a few moments.  Elinor first spoke.
+
+"Did you tell her that you should soon return?"
+
+"I do not know what I told her," he replied, impatiently; "less than
+was due to the past, beyond a doubt, and in all likelihood much more
+than was justified by the future.  I cannot think of it.--It won't
+do.--Then came your dear mother to torture me farther, with all her
+kindness and confidence.  Thank Heaven! it DID torture me.  I was
+miserable.  Miss Dashwood, you cannot have an idea of the comfort it
+gives me to look back on my own misery.  I owe such a grudge to myself
+for the stupid, rascally folly of my own heart, that all my past
+sufferings under it are only triumph and exultation to me now.  Well, I
+went, left all that I loved, and went to those to whom, at best, I was
+only indifferent.  My journey to town--travelling with my own horses,
+and therefore so tediously--no creature to speak to--my own reflections
+so cheerful--when I looked forward every thing so inviting!--when I
+looked back at Barton, the picture so soothing!--oh, it was a blessed
+journey!"
+
+He stopped.
+
+"Well, sir," said Elinor, who, though pitying him, grew impatient for
+his departure, "and this is all?"
+
+"Ah!--no,--have you forgot what passed in town?-- That infamous
+letter--Did she shew it you?"
+
+"Yes, I saw every note that passed."
+
+"When the first of hers reached me (as it immediately did, for I was in
+town the whole time,) what I felt is--in the common phrase, not to be
+expressed; in a more simple one--perhaps too simple to raise any
+emotion--my feelings were very, very painful.--Every line, every word
+was--in the hackneyed metaphor which their dear writer, were she here,
+would forbid--a dagger to my heart.  To know that Marianne was in town
+was--in the same language--a thunderbolt.--Thunderbolts and
+daggers!--what a reproof would she have given me!--her taste, her
+opinions--I believe they are better known to me than my own,--and I am
+sure they are dearer."
+
+Elinor's heart, which had undergone many changes in the course of this
+extraordinary conversation, was now softened again;--yet she felt it
+her duty to check such ideas in her companion as the last.
+
+"This is not right, Mr. Willoughby.--Remember that you are married.
+Relate only what in your conscience you think necessary for me to hear."
+
+"Marianne's note, by assuring me that I was still as dear to her as in
+former days, that in spite of the many, many weeks we had been
+separated, she was as constant in her own feelings, and as full of
+faith in the constancy of mine as ever, awakened all my remorse.  I say
+awakened, because time and London, business and dissipation, had in
+some measure quieted it, and I had been growing a fine hardened
+villain, fancying myself indifferent to her, and chusing to fancy that
+she too must have become indifferent to me; talking to myself of our
+past attachment as a mere idle, trifling business, shrugging up my
+shoulders in proof of its being so, and silencing every reproach,
+overcoming every scruple, by secretly saying now and then, 'I shall be
+heartily glad to hear she is well married.'-- But this note made me
+know myself better.  I felt that she was infinitely dearer to me than
+any other woman in the world, and that I was using her infamously.  But
+every thing was then just settled between Miss Grey and me.  To retreat
+was impossible.  All that I had to do, was to avoid you both.  I sent
+no answer to Marianne, intending by that to preserve myself from her
+farther notice; and for some time I was even determined not to call in
+Berkeley Street;--but at last, judging it wiser to affect the air of a
+cool, common acquaintance than anything else, I watched you all safely
+out of the house one morning, and left my name."
+
+"Watched us out of the house!"
+
+"Even so.  You would be surprised to hear how often I watched you, how
+often I was on the point of falling in with you.  I have entered many a
+shop to avoid your sight, as the carriage drove by.  Lodging as I did
+in Bond Street, there was hardly a day in which I did not catch a
+glimpse of one or other of you; and nothing but the most constant
+watchfulness on my side, a most invariably prevailing desire to keep
+out of your sight, could have separated us so long.  I avoided the
+Middletons as much as possible, as well as everybody else who was
+likely to prove an acquaintance in common.  Not aware of their being in
+town, however, I blundered on Sir John, I believe, the first day of his
+coming, and the day after I had called at Mrs. Jennings's.  He asked me
+to a party, a dance at his house in the evening.--Had he NOT told me as
+an inducement that you and your sister were to be there, I should have
+felt it too certain a thing, to trust myself near him.  The next
+morning brought another short note from Marianne--still affectionate,
+open, artless, confiding--everything that could make MY conduct most
+hateful.  I could not answer it.  I tried--but could not frame a
+sentence.  But I thought of her, I believe, every moment of the day.
+If you CAN pity me, Miss Dashwood, pity my situation as it was THEN.
+With my head and heart full of your sister, I was forced to play the
+happy lover to another woman!--Those three or four weeks were worse
+than all.  Well, at last, as I need not tell you, you were forced on
+me; and what a sweet figure I cut!--what an evening of agony it was!--
+Marianne, beautiful as an angel on one side, calling me Willoughby in
+such a tone!--Oh, God!--holding out her hand to me, asking me for an
+explanation, with those bewitching eyes fixed in such speaking
+solicitude on my face!--and Sophia, jealous as the devil on the other
+hand, looking all that was--Well, it does not signify; it is over
+now.-- Such an evening!--I ran away from you all as soon as I could;
+but not before I had seen Marianne's sweet face as white as
+death.--THAT was the last, last look I ever had of her;--the last
+manner in which she appeared to me.  It was a horrid sight!--yet when I
+thought of her to-day as really dying, it was a kind of comfort to me
+to imagine that I knew exactly how she would appear to those, who saw
+her last in this world.  She was before me, constantly before me, as I
+travelled, in the same look and hue."
+
+A short pause of mutual thoughtfulness succeeded.  Willoughby first
+rousing himself, broke it thus:
+
+"Well, let me make haste and be gone.  Your sister is certainly better,
+certainly out of danger?"
+
+"We are assured of it."
+
+"Your poor mother, too!--doting on Marianne."
+
+"But the letter, Mr. Willoughby, your own letter; have you any thing to
+say about that?"
+
+"Yes, yes, THAT in particular.  Your sister wrote to me again, you
+know, the very next morning.  You saw what she said.  I was
+breakfasting at the Ellisons,--and her letter, with some others, was
+brought to me there from my lodgings.  It happened to catch Sophia's
+eye before it caught mine--and its size, the elegance of the paper, the
+hand-writing altogether, immediately gave her a suspicion.  Some vague
+report had reached her before of my attachment to some young lady in
+Devonshire, and what had passed within her observation the preceding
+evening had marked who the young lady was, and made her more jealous
+than ever.  Affecting that air of playfulness, therefore, which is
+delightful in a woman one loves, she opened the letter directly, and
+read its contents.  She was well paid for her impudence.  She read what
+made her wretched.  Her wretchedness I could have borne, but her
+passion--her malice--At all events it must be appeased.  And, in
+short--what do you think of my wife's style of
+letter-writing?--delicate--tender--truly feminine--was it not?"
+
+"Your wife!--The letter was in your own hand-writing."
+
+"Yes, but I had only the credit of servilely copying such sentences as
+I was ashamed to put my name to.  The original was all her own--her own
+happy thoughts and gentle diction.  But what could I do!--we were
+engaged, every thing in preparation, the day almost fixed--But I am
+talking like a fool.  Preparation!--day!--In honest words, her money
+was necessary to me, and in a situation like mine, any thing was to be
+done to prevent a rupture.  And after all, what did it signify to my
+character in the opinion of Marianne and her friends, in what language
+my answer was couched?--It must have been only to one end.  My business
+was to declare myself a scoundrel, and whether I did it with a bow or a
+bluster was of little importance.-- 'I am ruined for ever in their
+opinion--' said I to myself--'I am shut out for ever from their
+society, they already think me an unprincipled fellow, this letter will
+only make them think me a blackguard one.' Such were my reasonings, as,
+in a sort of desperate carelessness, I copied my wife's words, and
+parted with the last relics of Marianne.  Her three notes--unluckily
+they were all in my pocketbook, or I should have denied their
+existence, and hoarded them for ever--I was forced to put them up, and
+could not even kiss them.  And the lock of hair--that too I had always
+carried about me in the same pocket-book, which was now searched by
+Madam with the most ingratiating virulence,--the dear lock--all, every
+memento was torn from me."
+
+"You are very wrong, Mr. Willoughby, very blamable," said Elinor, while
+her voice, in spite of herself, betrayed her compassionate emotion;
+"you ought not to speak in this way, either of Mrs. Willoughby or my
+sister.  You had made your own choice.  It was not forced on you.  Your
+wife has a claim to your politeness, to your respect, at least.  She
+must be attached to you, or she would not have married you.  To treat
+her with unkindness, to speak of her slightingly is no atonement to
+Marianne--nor can I suppose it a relief to your own conscience."
+
+"Do not talk to me of my wife," said he with a heavy sigh.-- "She does
+not deserve your compassion.--She knew I had no regard for her when we
+married.--Well, married we were, and came down to Combe Magna to be
+happy, and afterwards returned to town to be gay.--And now do you pity
+me, Miss Dashwood?--or have I said all this to no purpose?-- Am I--be
+it only one degree--am I less guilty in your opinion than I was
+before?--My intentions were not always wrong.  Have I explained away
+any part of my guilt?"
+
+"Yes, you have certainly removed something--a little.-- You have proved
+yourself, on the whole, less faulty than I had believed you.  You have
+proved your heart less wicked, much less wicked.  But I hardly
+know--the misery that you have inflicted--I hardly know what could have
+made it worse."
+
+"Will you repeat to your sister when she is recovered, what I have been
+telling you?--Let me be a little lightened too in her opinion as well
+as in yours.  You tell me that she has forgiven me already.  Let me be
+able to fancy that a better knowledge of my heart, and of my present
+feelings, will draw from her a more spontaneous, more natural, more
+gentle, less dignified, forgiveness.  Tell her of my misery and my
+penitence--tell her that my heart was never inconstant to her, and if
+you will, that at this moment she is dearer to me than ever."
+
+"I will tell her all that is necessary to what may comparatively be
+called, your justification.  But you have not explained to me the
+particular reason of your coming now, nor how you heard of her illness."
+
+"Last night, in Drury Lane lobby, I ran against Sir John Middleton, and
+when he saw who I was--for the first time these two months--he spoke to
+me.--That he had cut me ever since my marriage, I had seen without
+surprise or resentment.  Now, however, his good-natured, honest, stupid
+soul, full of indignation against me, and concern for your sister,
+could not resist the temptation of telling me what he knew ought
+to--though probably he did not think it WOULD--vex me horridly.  As
+bluntly as he could speak it, therefore, he told me that Marianne
+Dashwood was dying of a putrid fever at Cleveland--a letter that
+morning received from Mrs. Jennings declared her danger most
+imminent--the Palmers are all gone off in a fright, &c.--I was too much
+shocked to be able to pass myself off as insensible even to the
+undiscerning Sir John.  His heart was softened in seeing mine suffer;
+and so much of his ill-will was done away, that when we parted, he
+almost shook me by the hand while he reminded me of an old promise
+about a pointer puppy.  What I felt on hearing that your sister was
+dying--and dying too, believing me the greatest villain upon earth,
+scorning, hating me in her latest moments--for how could I tell what
+horrid projects might not have been imputed?  ONE person I was sure
+would represent me as capable of any thing-- What I felt was
+dreadful!--My resolution was soon made, and at eight o'clock this
+morning I was in my carriage.  Now you know all."
+
+Elinor made no answer.  Her thoughts were silently fixed on the
+irreparable injury which too early an independence and its consequent
+habits of idleness, dissipation, and luxury, had made in the mind, the
+character, the happiness, of a man who, to every advantage of person
+and talents, united a disposition naturally open and honest, and a
+feeling, affectionate temper.  The world had made him extravagant and
+vain--Extravagance and vanity had made him cold-hearted and selfish.
+Vanity, while seeking its own guilty triumph at the expense of another,
+had involved him in a real attachment, which extravagance, or at least
+its offspring, necessity, had required to be sacrificed.  Each faulty
+propensity in leading him to evil, had led him likewise to punishment.
+The attachment, from which against honour, against feeling, against
+every better interest he had outwardly torn himself, now, when no
+longer allowable, governed every thought; and the connection, for the
+sake of which he had, with little scruple, left her sister to misery,
+was likely to prove a source of unhappiness to himself of a far more
+incurable nature.  From a reverie of this kind she was recalled at the
+end of some minutes by Willoughby, who, rousing himself from a reverie
+at least equally painful, started up in preparation for going, and
+said--
+
+"There is no use in staying here; I must be off."
+
+"Are you going back to town?"
+
+"No--to Combe Magna.  I have business there; from thence to town in a
+day or two.  Good bye."
+
+He held out his hand.  She could not refuse to give him hers's;--he
+pressed it with affection.
+
+"And you DO think something better of me than you did?"--said he,
+letting it fall, and leaning against the mantel-piece as if forgetting
+he was to go.
+
+Elinor assured him that she did;--that she forgave, pitied, wished him
+well--was even interested in his happiness--and added some gentle
+counsel as to the behaviour most likely to promote it.  His answer was
+not very encouraging.
+
+"As to that," said he, "I must rub through the world as well as I can.
+Domestic happiness is out of the question.  If, however, I am allowed
+to think that you and yours feel an interest in my fate and actions, it
+may be the means--it may put me on my guard--at least, it may be
+something to live for.  Marianne to be sure is lost to me for ever.
+Were I even by any blessed chance at liberty again--"
+
+Elinor stopped him with a reproof.
+
+"Well,"--he replied--"once more good bye. I shall now go away and live
+in dread of one event."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Your sister's marriage."
+
+"You are very wrong.  She can never be more lost to you than she is
+now."
+
+"But she will be gained by some one else.  And if that some one should
+be the very he whom, of all others, I could least bear--but I will not
+stay to rob myself of all your compassionate goodwill, by shewing that
+where I have most injured I can least forgive.  Good bye,--God bless
+you!"
+
+And with these words, he almost ran out of the room.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 45
+
+
+Elinor, for some time after he left her, for some time even after the
+sound of his carriage had died away, remained too much oppressed by a
+crowd of ideas, widely differing in themselves, but of which sadness
+was the general result, to think even of her sister.
+
+Willoughby, he, whom only half an hour ago she had abhorred as the most
+worthless of men, Willoughby, in spite of all his faults, excited a
+degree of commiseration for the sufferings produced by them, which made
+her think of him as now separated for ever from her family, with a
+tenderness, a regret, rather in proportion, as she soon acknowledged
+within herself--to his wishes than to his merits.  She felt that his
+influence over her mind was heightened by circumstances which ought not
+in reason to have weight; by that person of uncommon attraction, that
+open, affectionate, and lively manner which it was no merit to possess;
+and by that still ardent love for Marianne, which it was not even
+innocent to indulge.  But she felt that it was so, long, long before
+she could feel his influence less.
+
+When at last she returned to the unconscious Marianne, she found her
+just awaking, refreshed by so long and sweet a sleep to the extent of
+her hopes.  Elinor's heart was full.  The past, the present, the
+future, Willoughby's visit, Marianne's safety, and her mother's
+expected arrival, threw her altogether into an agitation of spirits
+which kept off every indication of fatigue, and made her only fearful
+of betraying herself to her sister.  Short was the time, however, in
+which that fear could affect her, for within half an hour after
+Willoughby's leaving the house, she was again called down stairs by the
+sound of another carriage.--Eager to save her mother from every
+unnecessary moment's horrible suspense, she ran immediately into the
+hall, and reached the outward door just in time to receive and support
+her as she entered it.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood, whose terror as they drew near the house had produced
+almost the conviction of Marianne's being no more, had no voice to
+inquire after her, no voice even for Elinor; but SHE, waiting neither
+for salutation nor inquiry, instantly gave the joyful relief;--and her
+mother, catching it with all her usual warmth, was in a moment as much
+overcome by her happiness, as she had been before by her fears.  She
+was supported into the drawing-room between her daughter and her
+friend;--and there, shedding tears of joy, though still unable to
+speak, embraced Elinor again and again, turning from her at intervals
+to press Colonel Brandon's hand, with a look which spoke at once her
+gratitude, and her conviction of his sharing with herself in the bliss
+of the moment.  He shared it, however, in a silence even greater than
+her own.
+
+As soon as Mrs. Dashwood had recovered herself, to see Marianne was her
+first desire; and in two minutes she was with her beloved child,
+rendered dearer to her than ever by absence, unhappiness, and danger.
+Elinor's delight, as she saw what each felt in the meeting, was only
+checked by an apprehension of its robbing Marianne of farther
+sleep;--but Mrs. Dashwood could be calm, could be even prudent, when
+the life of a child was at stake, and Marianne, satisfied in knowing
+her mother was near her, and conscious of being too weak for
+conversation, submitted readily to the silence and quiet prescribed by
+every nurse around her.  Mrs. Dashwood WOULD sit up with her all night;
+and Elinor, in compliance with her mother's entreaty, went to bed.  But
+the rest, which one night entirely sleepless, and many hours of the
+most wearing anxiety seemed to make requisite, was kept off by
+irritation of spirits.  Willoughby, "poor Willoughby," as she now
+allowed herself to call him, was constantly in her thoughts; she would
+not but have heard his vindication for the world, and now blamed, now
+acquitted herself for having judged him so harshly before.  But her
+promise of relating it to her sister was invariably painful.  She
+dreaded the performance of it, dreaded what its effect on Marianne
+might be; doubted whether after such an explanation she could ever be
+happy with another; and for a moment wished Willoughby a widower.
+Then, remembering Colonel Brandon, reproved herself, felt that to HIS
+sufferings and his constancy far more than to his rival's, the reward
+of her sister was due, and wished any thing rather than Mrs.
+Willoughby's death.
+
+The shock of Colonel Brandon's errand at Barton had been much softened
+to Mrs. Dashwood by her own previous alarm; for so great was her
+uneasiness about Marianne, that she had already determined to set out
+for Cleveland on that very day, without waiting for any further
+intelligence, and had so far settled her journey before his arrival,
+that the Careys were then expected every moment to fetch Margaret away,
+as her mother was unwilling to take her where there might be infection.
+
+Marianne continued to mend every day, and the brilliant cheerfulness of
+Mrs. Dashwood's looks and spirits proved her to be, as she repeatedly
+declared herself, one of the happiest women in the world.  Elinor could
+not hear the declaration, nor witness its proofs without sometimes
+wondering whether her mother ever recollected Edward.  But Mrs.
+Dashwood, trusting to the temperate account of her own disappointment
+which Elinor had sent her, was led away by the exuberance of her joy to
+think only of what would increase it.  Marianne was restored to her
+from a danger in which, as she now began to feel, her own mistaken
+judgment in encouraging the unfortunate attachment to Willoughby, had
+contributed to place her;--and in her recovery she had yet another
+source of joy unthought of by Elinor.  It was thus imparted to her, as
+soon as any opportunity of private conference between them occurred.
+
+"At last we are alone.  My Elinor, you do not yet know all my
+happiness.  Colonel Brandon loves Marianne.  He has told me so himself."
+
+Her daughter, feeling by turns both pleased and pained, surprised and
+not surprised, was all silent attention.
+
+"You are never like me, dear Elinor, or I should wonder at your
+composure now.  Had I sat down to wish for any possible good to my
+family, I should have fixed on Colonel Brandon's marrying one of you as
+the object most desirable.  And I believe Marianne will be the most
+happy with him of the two."
+
+Elinor was half inclined to ask her reason for thinking so, because
+satisfied that none founded on an impartial consideration of their age,
+characters, or feelings, could be given;--but her mother must always be
+carried away by her imagination on any interesting subject, and
+therefore instead of an inquiry, she passed it off with a smile.
+
+"He opened his whole heart to me yesterday as we travelled.  It came
+out quite unawares, quite undesignedly.  I, you may well believe, could
+talk of nothing but my child;--he could not conceal his distress; I saw
+that it equalled my own, and he perhaps, thinking that mere friendship,
+as the world now goes, would not justify so warm a sympathy--or rather,
+not thinking at all, I suppose--giving way to irresistible feelings,
+made me acquainted with his earnest, tender, constant, affection for
+Marianne.  He has loved her, my Elinor, ever since the first moment of
+seeing her."
+
+Here, however, Elinor perceived,--not the language, not the professions
+of Colonel Brandon, but the natural embellishments of her mother's
+active fancy, which fashioned every thing delightful to her as it chose.
+
+"His regard for her, infinitely surpassing anything that Willoughby
+ever felt or feigned, as much more warm, as more sincere or
+constant--which ever we are to call it--has subsisted through all the
+knowledge of dear Marianne's unhappy prepossession for that worthless
+young man!--and without selfishness--without encouraging a hope!--could
+he have seen her happy with another--Such a noble mind!--such openness,
+such sincerity!--no one can be deceived in HIM."
+
+"Colonel Brandon's character," said Elinor, "as an excellent man, is
+well established."
+
+"I know it is"--replied her mother seriously, "or after such a warning,
+I should be the last to encourage such affection, or even to be pleased
+by it.  But his coming for me as he did, with such active, such ready
+friendship, is enough to prove him one of the worthiest of men."
+
+"His character, however," answered Elinor, "does not rest on ONE act of
+kindness, to which his affection for Marianne, were humanity out of the
+case, would have prompted him.  To Mrs. Jennings, to the Middletons, he
+has been long and intimately known; they equally love and respect him;
+and even my own knowledge of him, though lately acquired, is very
+considerable; and so highly do I value and esteem him, that if Marianne
+can be happy with him, I shall be as ready as yourself to think our
+connection the greatest blessing to us in the world.  What answer did
+you give him?--Did you allow him to hope?"
+
+"Oh! my love, I could not then talk of hope to him or to myself.
+Marianne might at that moment be dying.  But he did not ask for hope or
+encouragement.  His was an involuntary confidence, an irrepressible
+effusion to a soothing friend--not an application to a parent.  Yet
+after a time I DID say, for at first I was quite overcome--that if she
+lived, as I trusted she might, my greatest happiness would lie in
+promoting their marriage; and since our arrival, since our delightful
+security, I have repeated it to him more fully, have given him every
+encouragement in my power.  Time, a very little time, I tell him, will
+do everything;--Marianne's heart is not to be wasted for ever on such a
+man as Willoughby.-- His own merits must soon secure it."
+
+"To judge from the Colonel's spirits, however, you have not yet made
+him equally sanguine."
+
+"No.--He thinks Marianne's affection too deeply rooted for any change
+in it under a great length of time, and even supposing her heart again
+free, is too diffident of himself to believe, that with such a
+difference of age and disposition he could ever attach her.  There,
+however, he is quite mistaken.  His age is only so much beyond hers as
+to be an advantage, as to make his character and principles fixed;--and
+his disposition, I am well convinced, is exactly the very one to make
+your sister happy.  And his person, his manners too, are all in his
+favour.  My partiality does not blind me; he certainly is not so
+handsome as Willoughby--but at the same time, there is something much
+more pleasing in his countenance.-- There was always a something,--if
+you remember,--in Willoughby's eyes at times, which I did not like."
+
+Elinor could NOT remember it;--but her mother, without waiting for her
+assent, continued,
+
+"And his manners, the Colonel's manners are not only more pleasing to
+me than Willoughby's ever were, but they are of a kind I well know to
+be more solidly attaching to Marianne.  Their gentleness, their genuine
+attention to other people, and their manly unstudied simplicity is much
+more accordant with her real disposition, than the liveliness--often
+artificial, and often ill-timed of the other.  I am very sure myself,
+that had Willoughby turned out as really amiable, as he has proved
+himself the contrary, Marianne would yet never have been so happy with
+HIM, as she will be with Colonel Brandon."
+
+She paused.--Her daughter could not quite agree with her, but her
+dissent was not heard, and therefore gave no offence.
+
+"At Delaford, she will be within an easy distance of me," added Mrs.
+Dashwood, "even if I remain at Barton; and in all probability,--for I
+hear it is a large village,--indeed there certainly MUST be some small
+house or cottage close by, that would suit us quite as well as our
+present situation."
+
+Poor Elinor!--here was a new scheme for getting her to Delaford!--but
+her spirit was stubborn.
+
+"His fortune too!--for at my time of life you know, everybody cares
+about THAT;--and though I neither know nor desire to know, what it
+really is, I am sure it must be a good one."
+
+Here they were interrupted by the entrance of a third person, and
+Elinor withdrew to think it all over in private, to wish success to her
+friend, and yet in wishing it, to feel a pang for Willoughby.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 46
+
+
+Marianne's illness, though weakening in its kind, had not been long
+enough to make her recovery slow; and with youth, natural strength, and
+her mother's presence in aid, it proceeded so smoothly as to enable her
+to remove, within four days after the arrival of the latter, into Mrs.
+Palmer's dressing-room.  When there, at her own particular request, for
+she was impatient to pour forth her thanks to him for fetching her
+mother, Colonel Brandon was invited to visit her.
+
+His emotion on entering the room, in seeing her altered looks, and in
+receiving the pale hand which she immediately held out to him, was
+such, as, in Elinor's conjecture, must arise from something more than
+his affection for Marianne, or the consciousness of its being known to
+others; and she soon discovered in his melancholy eye and varying
+complexion as he looked at her sister, the probable recurrence of many
+past scenes of misery to his mind, brought back by that resemblance
+between Marianne and Eliza already acknowledged, and now strengthened
+by the hollow eye, the sickly skin, the posture of reclining weakness,
+and the warm acknowledgment of peculiar obligation.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood, not less watchful of what passed than her daughter, but
+with a mind very differently influenced, and therefore watching to very
+different effect, saw nothing in the Colonel's behaviour but what arose
+from the most simple and self-evident sensations, while in the actions
+and words of Marianne she persuaded herself to think that something
+more than gratitude already dawned.
+
+At the end of another day or two, Marianne growing visibly stronger
+every twelve hours, Mrs. Dashwood, urged equally by her own and her
+daughter's wishes, began to talk of removing to Barton.  On HER
+measures depended those of her two friends; Mrs. Jennings could not
+quit Cleveland during the Dashwoods' stay; and Colonel Brandon was soon
+brought, by their united request, to consider his own abode there as
+equally determinate, if not equally indispensable.  At his and Mrs.
+Jennings's united request in return, Mrs. Dashwood was prevailed on to
+accept the use of his carriage on her journey back, for the better
+accommodation of her sick child; and the Colonel, at the joint
+invitation of Mrs. Dashwood and Mrs. Jennings, whose active good-nature
+made her friendly and hospitable for other people as well as herself,
+engaged with pleasure to redeem it by a visit at the cottage, in the
+course of a few weeks.
+
+The day of separation and departure arrived; and Marianne, after taking
+so particular and lengthened a leave of Mrs. Jennings, one so earnestly
+grateful, so full of respect and kind wishes as seemed due to her own
+heart from a secret acknowledgment of past inattention, and bidding
+Colonel Brandon farewell with a cordiality of a friend, was carefully
+assisted by him into the carriage, of which he seemed anxious that she
+should engross at least half.  Mrs. Dashwood and Elinor then followed,
+and the others were left by themselves, to talk of the travellers, and
+feel their own dullness, till Mrs. Jennings was summoned to her chaise
+to take comfort in the gossip of her maid for the loss of her two young
+companions; and Colonel Brandon immediately afterwards took his
+solitary way to Delaford.
+
+The Dashwoods were two days on the road, and Marianne bore her journey
+on both, without essential fatigue.  Every thing that the most zealous
+affection, the most solicitous care could do to render her comfortable,
+was the office of each watchful companion, and each found their reward
+in her bodily ease, and her calmness of spirits.  To Elinor, the
+observation of the latter was particularly grateful.  She, who had seen
+her week after week so constantly suffering, oppressed by anguish of
+heart which she had neither courage to speak of, nor fortitude to
+conceal, now saw with a joy, which no other could equally share, an
+apparent composure of mind, which, in being the result as she trusted
+of serious reflection, must eventually lead her to contentment and
+cheerfulness.
+
+As they approached Barton, indeed, and entered on scenes of which every
+field and every tree brought some peculiar, some painful recollection,
+she grew silent and thoughtful, and turning away her face from their
+notice, sat earnestly gazing through the window.  But here, Elinor
+could neither wonder nor blame; and when she saw, as she assisted
+Marianne from the carriage, that she had been crying, she saw only an
+emotion too natural in itself to raise any thing less tender than pity,
+and in its unobtrusiveness entitled to praise.  In the whole of her
+subsequent manner, she traced the direction of a mind awakened to
+reasonable exertion; for no sooner had they entered their common
+sitting-room, than Marianne turned her eyes around it with a look of
+resolute firmness, as if determined at once to accustom herself to the
+sight of every object with which the remembrance of Willoughby could be
+connected.--She said little, but every sentence aimed at cheerfulness,
+and though a sigh sometimes escaped her, it never passed away without
+the atonement of a smile.  After dinner she would try her piano-forte.
+She went to it; but the music on which her eye first rested was an
+opera, procured for her by Willoughby, containing some of their
+favourite duets, and bearing on its outward leaf her own name in his
+hand-writing.--That would not do.--She shook her head, put the music
+aside, and after running over the keys for a minute, complained of
+feebleness in her fingers, and closed the instrument again; declaring
+however with firmness as she did so, that she should in future practice
+much.
+
+The next morning produced no abatement in these happy symptoms.  On the
+contrary, with a mind and body alike strengthened by rest, she looked
+and spoke with more genuine spirit, anticipating the pleasure of
+Margaret's return, and talking of the dear family party which would
+then be restored, of their mutual pursuits and cheerful society, as the
+only happiness worth a wish.
+
+"When the weather is settled, and I have recovered my strength," said
+she, "we will take long walks together every day.  We will walk to the
+farm at the edge of the down, and see how the children go on; we will
+walk to Sir John's new plantations at Barton Cross, and the Abbeyland;
+and we will often go the old ruins of the Priory, and try to trace its
+foundations as far as we are told they once reached.  I know we shall
+be happy.  I know the summer will pass happily away.  I mean never to
+be later in rising than six, and from that time till dinner I shall
+divide every moment between music and reading.  I have formed my plan,
+and am determined to enter on a course of serious study.  Our own
+library is too well known to me, to be resorted to for any thing beyond
+mere amusement.  But there are many works well worth reading at the
+Park; and there are others of more modern production which I know I can
+borrow of Colonel Brandon.  By reading only six hours a-day, I shall
+gain in the course of a twelve-month a great deal of instruction which
+I now feel myself to want."
+
+Elinor honoured her for a plan which originated so nobly as this;
+though smiling to see the same eager fancy which had been leading her
+to the extreme of languid indolence and selfish repining, now at work
+in introducing excess into a scheme of such rational employment and
+virtuous self-control. Her smile however changed to a sigh when she
+remembered that promise to Willoughby was yet unfulfilled, and feared
+she had that to communicate which might again unsettle the mind of
+Marianne, and ruin at least for a time this fair prospect of busy
+tranquillity.  Willing therefore to delay the evil hour, she resolved
+to wait till her sister's health were more secure, before she appointed
+it.  But the resolution was made only to be broken.
+
+Marianne had been two or three days at home, before the weather was
+fine enough for an invalid like herself to venture out.  But at last a
+soft, genial morning appeared; such as might tempt the daughter's
+wishes and the mother's confidence; and Marianne, leaning on Elinor's
+arm, was authorised to walk as long as she could without fatigue, in
+the lane before the house.
+
+The sisters set out at a pace, slow as the feebleness of Marianne in an
+exercise hitherto untried since her illness required;--and they had
+advanced only so far beyond the house as to admit a full view of the
+hill, the important hill behind, when pausing with her eyes turned
+towards it, Marianne calmly said,
+
+"There, exactly there,"--pointing with one hand, "on that projecting
+mound,--there I fell; and there I first saw Willoughby."
+
+Her voice sunk with the word, but presently reviving she added,
+
+"I am thankful to find that I can look with so little pain on the
+spot!--shall we ever talk on that subject, Elinor?"--hesitatingly it
+was said.--"Or will it be wrong?--I can talk of it now, I hope, as I
+ought to do."--
+
+Elinor tenderly invited her to be open.
+
+"As for regret," said Marianne, "I have done with that, as far as HE is
+concerned.  I do not mean to talk to you of what my feelings have been
+for him, but what they are NOW.--At present, if I could be satisfied on
+one point, if I could be allowed to think that he was not ALWAYS acting
+a part, not ALWAYS deceiving me;--but above all, if I could be assured
+that he never was so VERY wicked as my fears have sometimes fancied
+him, since the story of that unfortunate girl"--
+
+She stopt.  Elinor joyfully treasured her words as she answered,
+
+"If you could be assured of that, you think you should be easy."
+
+"Yes. My peace of mind is doubly involved in it;--for not only is it
+horrible to suspect a person, who has been what HE has been to ME, of
+such designs,--but what must it make me appear to myself?--What in a
+situation like mine, but a most shamefully unguarded affection could
+expose me to"--
+
+"How then," asked her sister, "would you account for his behaviour?"
+
+"I would suppose him,--Oh, how gladly would I suppose him, only fickle,
+very, very fickle."
+
+Elinor said no more.  She was debating within herself on the
+eligibility of beginning her story directly, or postponing it till
+Marianne were in stronger health;--and they crept on for a few minutes
+in silence.
+
+"I am not wishing him too much good," said Marianne at last with a
+sigh, "when I wish his secret reflections may be no more unpleasant
+than my own.  He will suffer enough in them."
+
+"Do you compare your conduct with his?"
+
+"No. I compare it with what it ought to have been; I compare it with
+yours."
+
+"Our situations have borne little resemblance."
+
+"They have borne more than our conduct.--Do not, my dearest Elinor, let
+your kindness defend what I know your judgment must censure.  My
+illness has made me think-- It has given me leisure and calmness for
+serious recollection.  Long before I was enough recovered to talk, I
+was perfectly able to reflect.  I considered the past: I saw in my own
+behaviour, since the beginning of our acquaintance with him last
+autumn, nothing but a series of imprudence towards myself, and want of
+kindness to others.  I saw that my own feelings had prepared my
+sufferings, and that my want of fortitude under them had almost led me
+to the grave.  My illness, I well knew, had been entirely brought on by
+myself by such negligence of my own health, as I had felt even at the
+time to be wrong.  Had I died,--it would have been self-destruction. I
+did not know my danger till the danger was removed; but with such
+feelings as these reflections gave me, I wonder at my recovery,--wonder
+that the very eagerness of my desire to live, to have time for
+atonement to my God, and to you all, did not kill me at once.  Had I
+died,-- in what peculiar misery should I have left you, my nurse, my
+friend, my sister!--You, who had seen all the fretful selfishness of my
+latter days; who had known all the murmurings of my heart!--How should
+I have lived in YOUR remembrance!--My mother too! How could you have
+consoled her!--I cannot express my own abhorrence of myself.  Whenever
+I looked towards the past, I saw some duty neglected, or some failing
+indulged.  Every body seemed injured by me.  The kindness, the
+unceasing kindness of Mrs. Jennings, I had repaid with ungrateful
+contempt.  To the Middletons, to the Palmers, the Steeles, to every
+common acquaintance even, I had been insolent and unjust; with a heart
+hardened against their merits, and a temper irritated by their very
+attention.--To John, to Fanny,--yes, even to them, little as they
+deserve, I had given less than their due.  But you,--you above all,
+above my mother, had been wronged by me.  I, and only I, knew your
+heart and its sorrows; yet to what did it influence me?--not to any
+compassion that could benefit you or myself.--Your example was before
+me; but to what avail?--Was I more considerate of you and your comfort?
+Did I imitate your forbearance, or lessen your restraints, by taking
+any part in those offices of general complaisance or particular
+gratitude which you had hitherto been left to discharge
+alone?--No;--not less when I knew you to be unhappy, than when I had
+believed you at ease, did I turn away from every exertion of duty or
+friendship; scarcely allowing sorrow to exist but with me, regretting
+only THAT heart which had deserted and wronged me, and leaving you, for
+or I professed an unbounded affection, to be miserable for my sake."
+
+Here ceased the rapid flow of her self-reproving spirit; and Elinor,
+impatient to soothe, though too honest to flatter, gave her instantly
+that praise and support which her frankness and her contrition so well
+deserved.  Marianne pressed her hand and replied,
+
+"You are very good.--The future must be my proof.  I have laid down my
+plan, and if I am capable of adhering to it--my feelings shall be
+governed and my temper improved.  They shall no longer worry others,
+nor torture myself.  I shall now live solely for my family.  You, my
+mother, and Margaret, must henceforth be all the world to me; you will
+share my affections entirely between you.  From you, from my home, I
+shall never again have the smallest incitement to move; and if I do mix
+in other society, it will be only to shew that my spirit is humbled, my
+heart amended, and that I can practise the civilities, the lesser
+duties of life, with gentleness and forbearance.  As for Willoughby--to
+say that I shall soon or that I shall ever forget him, would be idle.
+His remembrance can be overcome by no change of circumstances or
+opinions.  But it shall be regulated, it shall be checked by religion,
+by reason, by constant employment."
+
+She paused--and added in a low voice, "If I could but know HIS heart,
+everything would become easy."
+
+Elinor, who had now been for some time reflecting on the propriety or
+impropriety of speedily hazarding her narration, without feeling at all
+nearer decision than at first, heard this; and perceiving that as
+reflection did nothing, resolution must do all, soon found herself
+leading to the fact.
+
+She managed the recital, as she hoped, with address; prepared her
+anxious listener with caution; related simply and honestly the chief
+points on which Willoughby grounded his apology; did justice to his
+repentance, and softened only his protestations of present regard.
+Marianne said not a word.--She trembled, her eyes were fixed on the
+ground, and her lips became whiter than even sickness had left them.  A
+thousand inquiries sprung up from her heart, but she dared not urge
+one.  She caught every syllable with panting eagerness; her hand,
+unknowingly to herself, closely pressed her sister's, and tears covered
+her cheeks.
+
+Elinor, dreading her being tired, led her towards home; and till they
+reached the door of the cottage, easily conjecturing what her curiosity
+must be though no question was suffered to speak it, talked of nothing
+but Willoughby, and their conversation together; and was carefully
+minute in every particular of speech and look, where minuteness could
+be safely indulged.  As soon as they entered the house, Marianne with a
+kiss of gratitude and these two words just articulate through her
+tears, "Tell mama," withdrew from her sister and walked slowly up
+stairs.  Elinor would not attempt to disturb a solitude so reasonable
+as what she now sought; and with a mind anxiously pre-arranging its
+result, and a resolution of reviving the subject again, should Marianne
+fail to do it, she turned into the parlour to fulfill her parting
+injunction.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 47
+
+
+Mrs. Dashwood did not hear unmoved the vindication of her former
+favourite.  She rejoiced in his being cleared from some part of his
+imputed guilt;--she was sorry for him;--she wished him happy.  But the
+feelings of the past could not be recalled.--Nothing could restore him
+with a faith unbroken--a character unblemished, to Marianne.  Nothing
+could do away the knowledge of what the latter had suffered through his
+means, nor remove the guilt of his conduct towards Eliza.  Nothing
+could replace him, therefore, in her former esteem, nor injure the
+interests of Colonel Brandon.
+
+Had Mrs. Dashwood, like her daughter, heard Willoughby's story from
+himself--had she witnessed his distress, and been under the influence
+of his countenance and his manner, it is probable that her compassion
+would have been greater.  But it was neither in Elinor's power, nor in
+her wish, to rouse such feelings in another, by her retailed
+explanation, as had at first been called forth in herself.  Reflection
+had given calmness to her judgment, and sobered her own opinion of
+Willoughby's deserts;--she wished, therefore, to declare only the
+simple truth, and lay open such facts as were really due to his
+character, without any embellishment of tenderness to lead the fancy
+astray.
+
+In the evening, when they were all three together, Marianne began
+voluntarily to speak of him again;--but that it was not without an
+effort, the restless, unquiet thoughtfulness in which she had been for
+some time previously sitting--her rising colour, as she spoke,--and her
+unsteady voice, plainly shewed.
+
+"I wish to assure you both," said she, "that I see every thing--as you
+can desire me to do."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood would have interrupted her instantly with soothing
+tenderness, had not Elinor, who really wished to hear her sister's
+unbiased opinion, by an eager sign, engaged her silence.  Marianne
+slowly continued--
+
+"It is a great relief to me--what Elinor told me this morning--I have
+now heard exactly what I wished to hear."--For some moments her voice
+was lost; but recovering herself, she added, and with greater calmness
+than before--"I am now perfectly satisfied, I wish for no change.  I
+never could have been happy with him, after knowing, as sooner or later
+I must have known, all this.--I should have had no confidence, no
+esteem.  Nothing could have done it away to my feelings."
+
+"I know it--I know it," cried her mother.  "Happy with a man of
+libertine practices!--With one who so injured the peace of the dearest
+of our friends, and the best of men!--No--my Marianne has not a heart
+to be made happy with such a man!--Her conscience, her sensitive
+conscience, would have felt all that the conscience of her husband
+ought to have felt."
+
+Marianne sighed, and repeated, "I wish for no change."
+
+"You consider the matter," said Elinor, "exactly as a good mind and a
+sound understanding must consider it; and I dare say you perceive, as
+well as myself, not only in this, but in many other circumstances,
+reason enough to be convinced that your marriage must have involved you
+in many certain troubles and disappointments, in which you would have
+been poorly supported by an affection, on his side, much less certain.
+Had you married, you must have been always poor.  His expensiveness is
+acknowledged even by himself, and his whole conduct declares that
+self-denial is a word hardly understood by him.  His demands and your
+inexperience together, on a small, very small income, must have brought
+on distresses which would not be the LESS grievous to you, from having
+been entirely unknown and unthought of before.  YOUR sense of honour
+and honesty would have led you, I know, when aware of your situation,
+to attempt all the economy that would appear to you possible: and,
+perhaps, as long as your frugality retrenched only on your own comfort,
+you might have been suffered to practice it, but beyond that--and how
+little could the utmost of your single management do to stop the ruin
+which had begun before your marriage?-- Beyond THAT, had you
+endeavoured, however reasonably, to abridge HIS enjoyments, is it not
+to be feared, that instead of prevailing on feelings so selfish to
+consent to it, you would have lessened your own influence on his heart,
+and made him regret the connection which had involved him in such
+difficulties?"
+
+Marianne's lips quivered, and she repeated the word "Selfish?" in a
+tone that implied--"do you really think him selfish?"
+
+"The whole of his behaviour," replied Elinor, "from the beginning to
+the end of the affair, has been grounded on selfishness.  It was
+selfishness which first made him sport with your affections; which
+afterwards, when his own were engaged, made him delay the confession of
+it, and which finally carried him from Barton.  His own enjoyment, or
+his own ease, was, in every particular, his ruling principle."
+
+"It is very true.  MY happiness never was his object."
+
+"At present," continued Elinor, "he regrets what he has done.  And why
+does he regret it?--Because he finds it has not answered towards
+himself.  It has not made him happy.  His circumstances are now
+unembarrassed--he suffers from no evil of that kind; and he thinks only
+that he has married a woman of a less amiable temper than yourself.
+But does it follow that had he married you, he would have been
+happy?--The inconveniences would have been different.  He would then
+have suffered under the pecuniary distresses which, because they are
+removed, he now reckons as nothing.  He would have had a wife of whose
+temper he could make no complaint, but he would have been always
+necessitous--always poor; and probably would soon have learned to rank
+the innumerable comforts of a clear estate and good income as of far
+more importance, even to domestic happiness, than the mere temper of a
+wife."
+
+"I have not a doubt of it," said Marianne; "and I have nothing to
+regret--nothing but my own folly."
+
+"Rather say your mother's imprudence, my child," said Mrs. Dashwood;
+"SHE must be answerable."
+
+Marianne would not let her proceed;--and Elinor, satisfied that each
+felt their own error, wished to avoid any survey of the past that might
+weaken her sister's spirits; she, therefore, pursuing the first
+subject, immediately continued,
+
+"One observation may, I think, be fairly drawn from the whole of the
+story--that all Willoughby's difficulties have arisen from the first
+offence against virtue, in his behaviour to Eliza Williams.  That crime
+has been the origin of every lesser one, and of all his present
+discontents."
+
+Marianne assented most feelingly to the remark; and her mother was led
+by it to an enumeration of Colonel Brandon's injuries and merits, warm
+as friendship and design could unitedly dictate.  Her daughter did not
+look, however, as if much of it were heard by her.
+
+Elinor, according to her expectation, saw on the two or three following
+days, that Marianne did not continue to gain strength as she had done;
+but while her resolution was unsubdued, and she still tried to appear
+cheerful and easy, her sister could safely trust to the effect of time
+upon her health.
+
+Margaret returned, and the family were again all restored to each
+other, again quietly settled at the cottage; and if not pursuing their
+usual studies with quite so much vigour as when they first came to
+Barton, at least planning a vigorous prosecution of them in future.
+
+Elinor grew impatient for some tidings of Edward.  She had heard
+nothing of him since her leaving London, nothing new of his plans,
+nothing certain even of his present abode.  Some letters had passed
+between her and her brother, in consequence of Marianne's illness; and
+in the first of John's, there had been this sentence:-- "We know
+nothing of our unfortunate Edward, and can make no enquiries on so
+prohibited a subject, but conclude him to be still at Oxford;" which
+was all the intelligence of Edward afforded her by the correspondence,
+for his name was not even mentioned in any of the succeeding letters.
+She was not doomed, however, to be long in ignorance of his measures.
+
+Their man-servant had been sent one morning to Exeter on business; and
+when, as he waited at table, he had satisfied the inquiries of his
+mistress as to the event of his errand, this was his voluntary
+communication--
+
+"I suppose you know, ma'am, that Mr. Ferrars is married."
+
+Marianne gave a violent start, fixed her eyes upon Elinor, saw her
+turning pale, and fell back in her chair in hysterics.  Mrs. Dashwood,
+whose eyes, as she answered the servant's inquiry, had intuitively
+taken the same direction, was shocked to perceive by Elinor's
+countenance how much she really suffered, and a moment afterwards,
+alike distressed by Marianne's situation, knew not on which child to
+bestow her principal attention.
+
+The servant, who saw only that Miss Marianne was taken ill, had sense
+enough to call one of the maids, who, with Mrs. Dashwood's assistance,
+supported her into the other room.  By that time, Marianne was rather
+better, and her mother leaving her to the care of Margaret and the
+maid, returned to Elinor, who, though still much disordered, had so far
+recovered the use of her reason and voice as to be just beginning an
+inquiry of Thomas, as to the source of his intelligence.  Mrs. Dashwood
+immediately took all that trouble on herself; and Elinor had the
+benefit of the information without the exertion of seeking it.
+
+"Who told you that Mr. Ferrars was married, Thomas?"
+
+"I see Mr. Ferrars myself, ma'am, this morning in Exeter, and his lady
+too, Miss Steele as was.  They was stopping in a chaise at the door of
+the New London Inn, as I went there with a message from Sally at the
+Park to her brother, who is one of the post-boys. I happened to look up
+as I went by the chaise, and so I see directly it was the youngest Miss
+Steele; so I took off my hat, and she knew me and called to me, and
+inquired after you, ma'am, and the young ladies, especially Miss
+Marianne, and bid me I should give her compliments and Mr. Ferrars's,
+their best compliments and service, and how sorry they was they had not
+time to come on and see you, but they was in a great hurry to go
+forwards, for they was going further down for a little while, but
+howsever, when they come back, they'd make sure to come and see you."
+
+"But did she tell you she was married, Thomas?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am. She smiled, and said how she had changed her name since
+she was in these parts.  She was always a very affable and free-spoken
+young lady, and very civil behaved.  So, I made free to wish her joy."
+
+"Was Mr. Ferrars in the carriage with her?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am, I just see him leaning back in it, but he did not look
+up;--he never was a gentleman much for talking."
+
+Elinor's heart could easily account for his not putting himself
+forward; and Mrs. Dashwood probably found the same explanation.
+
+"Was there no one else in the carriage?"
+
+"No, ma'am, only they two."
+
+"Do you know where they came from?"
+
+"They come straight from town, as Miss Lucy-- Mrs. Ferrars told me."
+
+"And are they going farther westward?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am--but not to bide long.  They will soon be back again, and
+then they'd be sure and call here."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood now looked at her daughter; but Elinor knew better than
+to expect them.  She recognised the whole of Lucy in the message, and
+was very confident that Edward would never come near them.  She
+observed in a low voice, to her mother, that they were probably going
+down to Mr. Pratt's, near Plymouth.
+
+Thomas's intelligence seemed over.  Elinor looked as if she wished to
+hear more.
+
+"Did you see them off, before you came away?"
+
+"No, ma'am--the horses were just coming out, but I could not bide any
+longer; I was afraid of being late."
+
+"Did Mrs. Ferrars look well?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am, she said how she was very well; and to my mind she was
+always a very handsome young lady--and she seemed vastly contented."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood could think of no other question, and Thomas and the
+tablecloth, now alike needless, were soon afterwards dismissed.
+Marianne had already sent to say, that she should eat nothing more.
+Mrs. Dashwood's and Elinor's appetites were equally lost, and Margaret
+might think herself very well off, that with so much uneasiness as both
+her sisters had lately experienced, so much reason as they had often
+had to be careless of their meals, she had never been obliged to go
+without her dinner before.
+
+When the dessert and the wine were arranged, and Mrs. Dashwood and
+Elinor were left by themselves, they remained long together in a
+similarity of thoughtfulness and silence.  Mrs. Dashwood feared to
+hazard any remark, and ventured not to offer consolation.  She now
+found that she had erred in relying on Elinor's representation of
+herself; and justly concluded that every thing had been expressly
+softened at the time, to spare her from an increase of unhappiness,
+suffering as she then had suffered for Marianne.  She found that she
+had been misled by the careful, the considerate attention of her
+daughter, to think the attachment, which once she had so well
+understood, much slighter in reality, than she had been wont to
+believe, or than it was now proved to be.  She feared that under this
+persuasion she had been unjust, inattentive, nay, almost unkind, to her
+Elinor;--that Marianne's affliction, because more acknowledged, more
+immediately before her, had too much engrossed her tenderness, and led
+her away to forget that in Elinor she might have a daughter suffering
+almost as much, certainly with less self-provocation, and greater
+fortitude.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 48
+
+
+Elinor now found the difference between the expectation of an
+unpleasant event, however certain the mind may be told to consider it,
+and certainty itself.  She now found, that in spite of herself, she had
+always admitted a hope, while Edward remained single, that something
+would occur to prevent his marrying Lucy; that some resolution of his
+own, some mediation of friends, or some more eligible opportunity of
+establishment for the lady, would arise to assist the happiness of all.
+But he was now married; and she condemned her heart for the lurking
+flattery, which so much heightened the pain of the intelligence.
+
+That he should be married soon, before (as she imagined) he could be in
+orders, and consequently before he could be in possession of the
+living, surprised her a little at first.  But she soon saw how likely
+it was that Lucy, in her self-provident care, in her haste to secure
+him, should overlook every thing but the risk of delay.  They were
+married, married in town, and now hastening down to her uncle's.  What
+had Edward felt on being within four miles from Barton, on seeing her
+mother's servant, on hearing Lucy's message!
+
+They would soon, she supposed, be settled at Delaford.--Delaford,--that
+place in which so much conspired to give her an interest; which she
+wished to be acquainted with, and yet desired to avoid.  She saw them
+in an instant in their parsonage-house; saw in Lucy, the active,
+contriving manager, uniting at once a desire of smart appearance with
+the utmost frugality, and ashamed to be suspected of half her
+economical practices;--pursuing her own interest in every thought,
+courting the favour of Colonel Brandon, of Mrs. Jennings, and of every
+wealthy friend.  In Edward--she knew not what she saw, nor what she
+wished to see;--happy or unhappy,--nothing pleased her; she turned away
+her head from every sketch of him.
+
+Elinor flattered herself that some one of their connections in London
+would write to them to announce the event, and give farther
+particulars,--but day after day passed off, and brought no letter, no
+tidings.  Though uncertain that any one were to blame, she found fault
+with every absent friend.  They were all thoughtless or indolent.
+
+"When do you write to Colonel Brandon, ma'am?" was an inquiry which
+sprung from the impatience of her mind to have something going on.
+
+"I wrote to him, my love, last week, and rather expect to see, than to
+hear from him again.  I earnestly pressed his coming to us, and should
+not be surprised to see him walk in today or tomorrow, or any day."
+
+This was gaining something, something to look forward to.  Colonel
+Brandon must have some information to give.
+
+Scarcely had she so determined it, when the figure of a man on
+horseback drew her eyes to the window.  He stopt at their gate.  It was
+a gentleman, it was Colonel Brandon himself.  Now she could hear more;
+and she trembled in expectation of it.  But--it was NOT Colonel
+Brandon--neither his air--nor his height.  Were it possible, she must
+say it must be Edward.  She looked again.  He had just dismounted;--she
+could not be mistaken,--it WAS Edward.  She moved away and sat down.
+"He comes from Mr. Pratt's purposely to see us.  I WILL be calm; I WILL
+be mistress of myself."
+
+In a moment she perceived that the others were likewise aware of the
+mistake.  She saw her mother and Marianne change colour; saw them look
+at herself, and whisper a few sentences to each other.  She would have
+given the world to be able to speak--and to make them understand that
+she hoped no coolness, no slight, would appear in their behaviour to
+him;--but she had no utterance, and was obliged to leave all to their
+own discretion.
+
+Not a syllable passed aloud.  They all waited in silence for the
+appearance of their visitor.  His footsteps were heard along the gravel
+path; in a moment he was in the passage, and in another he was before
+them.
+
+His countenance, as he entered the room, was not too happy, even for
+Elinor.  His complexion was white with agitation, and he looked as if
+fearful of his reception, and conscious that he merited no kind one.
+Mrs. Dashwood, however, conforming, as she trusted, to the wishes of
+that daughter, by whom she then meant in the warmth of her heart to be
+guided in every thing, met with a look of forced complacency, gave him
+her hand, and wished him joy.
+
+He coloured, and stammered out an unintelligible reply.  Elinor's lips
+had moved with her mother's, and, when the moment of action was over,
+she wished that she had shaken hands with him too.  But it was then too
+late, and with a countenance meaning to be open, she sat down again and
+talked of the weather.
+
+Marianne had retreated as much as possible out of sight, to conceal her
+distress; and Margaret, understanding some part, but not the whole of
+the case, thought it incumbent on her to be dignified, and therefore
+took a seat as far from him as she could, and maintained a strict
+silence.
+
+When Elinor had ceased to rejoice in the dryness of the season, a very
+awful pause took place.  It was put an end to by Mrs. Dashwood, who
+felt obliged to hope that he had left Mrs. Ferrars very well.  In a
+hurried manner, he replied in the affirmative.
+
+Another pause.
+
+Elinor resolving to exert herself, though fearing the sound of her own
+voice, now said,
+
+"Is Mrs. Ferrars at Longstaple?"
+
+"At Longstaple!" he replied, with an air of surprise.-- "No, my mother
+is in town."
+
+"I meant," said Elinor, taking up some work from the table, "to inquire
+for Mrs. EDWARD Ferrars."
+
+She dared not look up;--but her mother and Marianne both turned their
+eyes on him.  He coloured, seemed perplexed, looked doubtingly, and,
+after some hesitation, said,--
+
+"Perhaps you mean--my brother--you mean Mrs.--Mrs. ROBERT Ferrars."
+
+"Mrs. Robert Ferrars!"--was repeated by Marianne and her mother in an
+accent of the utmost amazement;--and though Elinor could not speak,
+even HER eyes were fixed on him with the same impatient wonder.  He
+rose from his seat, and walked to the window, apparently from not
+knowing what to do; took up a pair of scissors that lay there, and
+while spoiling both them and their sheath by cutting the latter to
+pieces as he spoke, said, in a hurried voice,
+
+"Perhaps you do not know--you may not have heard that my brother is
+lately married to--to the youngest--to Miss Lucy Steele."
+
+His words were echoed with unspeakable astonishment by all but Elinor,
+who sat with her head leaning over her work, in a state of such
+agitation as made her hardly know where she was.
+
+"Yes," said he, "they were married last week, and are now at Dawlish."
+
+Elinor could sit it no longer.  She almost ran out of the room, and as
+soon as the door was closed, burst into tears of joy, which at first
+she thought would never cease.  Edward, who had till then looked any
+where, rather than at her, saw her hurry away, and perhaps saw--or even
+heard, her emotion; for immediately afterwards he fell into a reverie,
+which no remarks, no inquiries, no affectionate address of Mrs.
+Dashwood could penetrate, and at last, without saying a word, quitted
+the room, and walked out towards the village--leaving the others in the
+greatest astonishment and perplexity on a change in his situation, so
+wonderful and so sudden;--a perplexity which they had no means of
+lessening but by their own conjectures.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 49
+
+
+Unaccountable, however, as the circumstances of his release might
+appear to the whole family, it was certain that Edward was free; and to
+what purpose that freedom would be employed was easily pre-determined
+by all;--for after experiencing the blessings of ONE imprudent
+engagement, contracted without his mother's consent, as he had already
+done for more than four years, nothing less could be expected of him in
+the failure of THAT, than the immediate contraction of another.
+
+His errand at Barton, in fact, was a simple one.  It was only to ask
+Elinor to marry him;--and considering that he was not altogether
+inexperienced in such a question, it might be strange that he should
+feel so uncomfortable in the present case as he really did, so much in
+need of encouragement and fresh air.
+
+How soon he had walked himself into the proper resolution, however, how
+soon an opportunity of exercising it occurred, in what manner he
+expressed himself, and how he was received, need not be particularly
+told.  This only need be said;--that when they all sat down to table at
+four o'clock, about three hours after his arrival, he had secured his
+lady, engaged her mother's consent, and was not only in the rapturous
+profession of the lover, but, in the reality of reason and truth, one
+of the happiest of men.  His situation indeed was more than commonly
+joyful.  He had more than the ordinary triumph of accepted love to
+swell his heart, and raise his spirits.  He was released without any
+reproach to himself, from an entanglement which had long formed his
+misery, from a woman whom he had long ceased to love;--and elevated at
+once to that security with another, which he must have thought of
+almost with despair, as soon as he had learnt to consider it with
+desire.  He was brought, not from doubt or suspense, but from misery to
+happiness;--and the change was openly spoken in such a genuine,
+flowing, grateful cheerfulness, as his friends had never witnessed in
+him before.
+
+His heart was now open to Elinor, all its weaknesses, all its errors
+confessed, and his first boyish attachment to Lucy treated with all the
+philosophic dignity of twenty-four.
+
+"It was a foolish, idle inclination on my side," said he, "the
+consequence of ignorance of the world--and want of employment.  Had my
+brother given me some active profession when I was removed at eighteen
+from the care of Mr. Pratt, I think--nay, I am sure, it would never
+have happened; for though I left Longstaple with what I thought, at the
+time, a most unconquerable preference for his niece, yet had I then had
+any pursuit, any object to engage my time and keep me at a distance
+from her for a few months, I should very soon have outgrown the fancied
+attachment, especially by mixing more with the world, as in such case I
+must have done.  But instead of having any thing to do, instead of
+having any profession chosen for me, or being allowed to chuse any
+myself, I returned home to be completely idle; and for the first
+twelvemonth afterwards I had not even the nominal employment, which
+belonging to the university would have given me; for I was not entered
+at Oxford till I was nineteen.  I had therefore nothing in the world to
+do, but to fancy myself in love; and as my mother did not make my home
+in every respect comfortable, as I had no friend, no companion in my
+brother, and disliked new acquaintance, it was not unnatural for me to
+be very often at Longstaple, where I always felt myself at home, and
+was always sure of a welcome; and accordingly I spent the greatest part
+of my time there from eighteen to nineteen: Lucy appeared everything
+that was amiable and obliging.  She was pretty too--at least I thought
+so THEN; and I had seen so little of other women, that I could make no
+comparisons, and see no defects.  Considering everything, therefore, I
+hope, foolish as our engagement was, foolish as it has since in every
+way been proved, it was not at the time an unnatural or an inexcusable
+piece of folly."
+
+The change which a few hours had wrought in the minds and the happiness
+of the Dashwoods, was such--so great--as promised them all, the
+satisfaction of a sleepless night.  Mrs. Dashwood, too happy to be
+comfortable, knew not how to love Edward, nor praise Elinor enough, how
+to be enough thankful for his release without wounding his delicacy,
+nor how at once to give them leisure for unrestrained conversation
+together, and yet enjoy, as she wished, the sight and society of both.
+
+Marianne could speak HER happiness only by tears.  Comparisons would
+occur--regrets would arise;--and her joy, though sincere as her love
+for her sister, was of a kind to give her neither spirits nor language.
+
+But Elinor--how are HER feelings to be described?--From the moment of
+learning that Lucy was married to another, that Edward was free, to the
+moment of his justifying the hopes which had so instantly followed, she
+was every thing by turns but tranquil.  But when the second moment had
+passed, when she found every doubt, every solicitude removed, compared
+her situation with what so lately it had been,--saw him honourably
+released from his former engagement, saw him instantly profiting by the
+release, to address herself and declare an affection as tender, as
+constant as she had ever supposed it to be,--she was oppressed, she was
+overcome by her own felicity;--and happily disposed as is the human
+mind to be easily familiarized with any change for the better, it
+required several hours to give sedateness to her spirits, or any degree
+of tranquillity to her heart.
+
+Edward was now fixed at the cottage at least for a week;--for whatever
+other claims might be made on him, it was impossible that less than a
+week should be given up to the enjoyment of Elinor's company, or
+suffice to say half that was to be said of the past, the present, and
+the future;--for though a very few hours spent in the hard labor of
+incessant talking will despatch more subjects than can really be in
+common between any two rational creatures, yet with lovers it is
+different.  Between THEM no subject is finished, no communication is
+even made, till it has been made at least twenty times over.
+
+Lucy's marriage, the unceasing and reasonable wonder among them all,
+formed of course one of the earliest discussions of the lovers;--and
+Elinor's particular knowledge of each party made it appear to her in
+every view, as one of the most extraordinary and unaccountable
+circumstances she had ever heard.  How they could be thrown together,
+and by what attraction Robert could be drawn on to marry a girl, of
+whose beauty she had herself heard him speak without any admiration,--a
+girl too already engaged to his brother, and on whose account that
+brother had been thrown off by his family--it was beyond her
+comprehension to make out.  To her own heart it was a delightful
+affair, to her imagination it was even a ridiculous one, but to her
+reason, her judgment, it was completely a puzzle.
+
+Edward could only attempt an explanation by supposing, that, perhaps,
+at first accidentally meeting, the vanity of the one had been so worked
+on by the flattery of the other, as to lead by degrees to all the rest.
+Elinor remembered what Robert had told her in Harley Street, of his
+opinion of what his own mediation in his brother's affairs might have
+done, if applied to in time.  She repeated it to Edward.
+
+"THAT was exactly like Robert,"--was his immediate observation.--"And
+THAT," he presently added, "might perhaps be in HIS head when the
+acquaintance between them first began.  And Lucy perhaps at first might
+think only of procuring his good offices in my favour.  Other designs
+might afterward arise."
+
+How long it had been carrying on between them, however, he was equally
+at a loss with herself to make out; for at Oxford, where he had
+remained for choice ever since his quitting London, he had had no means
+of hearing of her but from herself, and her letters to the very last
+were neither less frequent, nor less affectionate than usual.  Not the
+smallest suspicion, therefore, had ever occurred to prepare him for
+what followed;--and when at last it burst on him in a letter from Lucy
+herself, he had been for some time, he believed, half stupified between
+the wonder, the horror, and the joy of such a deliverance.  He put the
+letter into Elinor's hands.
+
+     "DEAR SIR,
+
+     "Being very sure I have long lost your affections,
+     I have thought myself at liberty to bestow my own
+     on another, and have no doubt of being as happy with
+     him as I once used to think I might be with you;
+     but I scorn to accept a hand while the heart was
+     another's.  Sincerely wish you happy in your choice,
+     and it shall not be my fault if we are not always
+     good friends, as our near relationship now makes
+     proper.  I can safely say I owe you no ill-will,
+     and am sure you will be too generous to do us any
+     ill offices.  Your brother has gained my affections
+     entirely, and as we could not live without one
+     another, we are just returned from the altar, and
+     are now on our way to Dawlish for a few weeks, which
+     place your dear brother has great curiosity to see,
+     but thought I would first trouble you with these
+     few lines, and shall always remain,
+
+     "Your sincere well-wisher, friend, and sister,
+                                        "LUCY FERRARS.
+
+     "I have burnt all your letters, and will return
+     your picture the first opportunity.  Please to destroy
+     my scrawls--but the ring with my hair you are very
+     welcome to keep."
+
+Elinor read and returned it without any comment.
+
+"I will not ask your opinion of it as a composition," said
+Edward.--"For worlds would not I have had a letter of hers seen by YOU
+in former days.--In a sister it is bad enough, but in a wife!--how I
+have blushed over the pages of her writing!--and I believe I may say
+that since the first half year of our foolish--business--this is the
+only letter I ever received from her, of which the substance made me
+any amends for the defect of the style."
+
+"However it may have come about," said Elinor, after a pause,--"they
+are certainly married.  And your mother has brought on herself a most
+appropriate punishment.  The independence she settled on Robert,
+through resentment against you, has put it in his power to make his own
+choice; and she has actually been bribing one son with a thousand
+a-year, to do the very deed which she disinherited the other for
+intending to do.  She will hardly be less hurt, I suppose, by Robert's
+marrying Lucy, than she would have been by your marrying her."
+
+"She will be more hurt by it, for Robert always was her favourite.--She
+will be more hurt by it, and on the same principle will forgive him
+much sooner."
+
+In what state the affair stood at present between them, Edward knew
+not, for no communication with any of his family had yet been attempted
+by him.  He had quitted Oxford within four and twenty hours after
+Lucy's letter arrived, and with only one object before him, the nearest
+road to Barton, had had no leisure to form any scheme of conduct, with
+which that road did not hold the most intimate connection.  He could do
+nothing till he were assured of his fate with Miss Dashwood; and by his
+rapidity in seeking THAT fate, it is to be supposed, in spite of the
+jealousy with which he had once thought of Colonel Brandon, in spite of
+the modesty with which he rated his own deserts, and the politeness
+with which he talked of his doubts, he did not, upon the whole, expect
+a very cruel reception.  It was his business, however, to say that he
+DID, and he said it very prettily.  What he might say on the subject a
+twelvemonth after, must be referred to the imagination of husbands and
+wives.
+
+That Lucy had certainly meant to deceive, to go off with a flourish of
+malice against him in her message by Thomas, was perfectly clear to
+Elinor; and Edward himself, now thoroughly enlightened on her
+character, had no scruple in believing her capable of the utmost
+meanness of wanton ill-nature. Though his eyes had been long opened,
+even before his acquaintance with Elinor began, to her ignorance and a
+want of liberality in some of her opinions--they had been equally
+imputed, by him, to her want of education; and till her last letter
+reached him, he had always believed her to be a well-disposed,
+good-hearted girl, and thoroughly attached to himself.  Nothing but
+such a persuasion could have prevented his putting an end to an
+engagement, which, long before the discovery of it laid him open to his
+mother's anger, had been a continual source of disquiet and regret to
+him.
+
+"I thought it my duty," said he, "independent of my feelings, to give
+her the option of continuing the engagement or not, when I was
+renounced by my mother, and stood to all appearance without a friend in
+the world to assist me.  In such a situation as that, where there
+seemed nothing to tempt the avarice or the vanity of any living
+creature, how could I suppose, when she so earnestly, so warmly
+insisted on sharing my fate, whatever it might be, that any thing but
+the most disinterested affection was her inducement?  And even now, I
+cannot comprehend on what motive she acted, or what fancied advantage
+it could be to her, to be fettered to a man for whom she had not the
+smallest regard, and who had only two thousand pounds in the world.
+She could not foresee that Colonel Brandon would give me a living."
+
+"No; but she might suppose that something would occur in your favour;
+that your own family might in time relent.  And at any rate, she lost
+nothing by continuing the engagement, for she has proved that it
+fettered neither her inclination nor her actions.  The connection was
+certainly a respectable one, and probably gained her consideration
+among her friends; and, if nothing more advantageous occurred, it would
+be better for her to marry YOU than be single."
+
+Edward was, of course, immediately convinced that nothing could have
+been more natural than Lucy's conduct, nor more self-evident than the
+motive of it.
+
+Elinor scolded him, harshly as ladies always scold the imprudence which
+compliments themselves, for having spent so much time with them at
+Norland, when he must have felt his own inconstancy.
+
+"Your behaviour was certainly very wrong," said she; "because--to say
+nothing of my own conviction, our relations were all led away by it to
+fancy and expect WHAT, as you were THEN situated, could never be."
+
+He could only plead an ignorance of his own heart, and a mistaken
+confidence in the force of his engagement.
+
+"I was simple enough to think, that because my FAITH was plighted to
+another, there could be no danger in my being with you; and that the
+consciousness of my engagement was to keep my heart as safe and sacred
+as my honour.  I felt that I admired you, but I told myself it was only
+friendship; and till I began to make comparisons between yourself and
+Lucy, I did not know how far I was got.  After that, I suppose, I WAS
+wrong in remaining so much in Sussex, and the arguments with which I
+reconciled myself to the expediency of it, were no better than
+these:--The danger is my own; I am doing no injury to anybody but
+myself."
+
+Elinor smiled, and shook her head.
+
+Edward heard with pleasure of Colonel Brandon's being expected at the
+Cottage, as he really wished not only to be better acquainted with him,
+but to have an opportunity of convincing him that he no longer resented
+his giving him the living of Delaford--"Which, at present," said he,
+"after thanks so ungraciously delivered as mine were on the occasion,
+he must think I have never forgiven him for offering."
+
+NOW he felt astonished himself that he had never yet been to the place.
+But so little interest had be taken in the matter, that he owed all his
+knowledge of the house, garden, and glebe, extent of the parish,
+condition of the land, and rate of the tithes, to Elinor herself, who
+had heard so much of it from Colonel Brandon, and heard it with so much
+attention, as to be entirely mistress of the subject.
+
+One question after this only remained undecided, between them, one
+difficulty only was to be overcome.  They were brought together by
+mutual affection, with the warmest approbation of their real friends;
+their intimate knowledge of each other seemed to make their happiness
+certain--and they only wanted something to live upon.  Edward had two
+thousand pounds, and Elinor one, which, with Delaford living, was all
+that they could call their own; for it was impossible that Mrs.
+Dashwood should advance anything; and they were neither of them quite
+enough in love to think that three hundred and fifty pounds a-year
+would supply them with the comforts of life.
+
+Edward was not entirely without hopes of some favourable change in his
+mother towards him; and on THAT he rested for the residue of their
+income.  But Elinor had no such dependence; for since Edward would
+still be unable to marry Miss Morton, and his chusing herself had been
+spoken of in Mrs. Ferrars's flattering language as only a lesser evil
+than his chusing Lucy Steele, she feared that Robert's offence would
+serve no other purpose than to enrich Fanny.
+
+About four days after Edward's arrival Colonel Brandon appeared, to
+complete Mrs. Dashwood's satisfaction, and to give her the dignity of
+having, for the first time since her living at Barton, more company
+with her than her house would hold.  Edward was allowed to retain the
+privilege of first comer, and Colonel Brandon therefore walked every
+night to his old quarters at the Park; from whence he usually returned
+in the morning, early enough to interrupt the lovers' first tete-a-tete
+before breakfast.
+
+A three weeks' residence at Delaford, where, in his evening hours at
+least, he had little to do but to calculate the disproportion between
+thirty-six and seventeen, brought him to Barton in a temper of mind
+which needed all the improvement in Marianne's looks, all the kindness
+of her welcome, and all the encouragement of her mother's language, to
+make it cheerful.  Among such friends, however, and such flattery, he
+did revive.  No rumour of Lucy's marriage had yet reached him:--he knew
+nothing of what had passed; and the first hours of his visit were
+consequently spent in hearing and in wondering.  Every thing was
+explained to him by Mrs. Dashwood, and he found fresh reason to rejoice
+in what he had done for Mr. Ferrars, since eventually it promoted the
+interest of Elinor.
+
+It would be needless to say, that the gentlemen advanced in the good
+opinion of each other, as they advanced in each other's acquaintance,
+for it could not be otherwise.  Their resemblance in good principles
+and good sense, in disposition and manner of thinking, would probably
+have been sufficient to unite them in friendship, without any other
+attraction; but their being in love with two sisters, and two sisters
+fond of each other, made that mutual regard inevitable and immediate,
+which might otherwise have waited the effect of time and judgment.
+
+The letters from town, which a few days before would have made every
+nerve in Elinor's body thrill with transport, now arrived to be read
+with less emotion that mirth.  Mrs. Jennings wrote to tell the
+wonderful tale, to vent her honest indignation against the jilting
+girl, and pour forth her compassion towards poor Mr. Edward, who, she
+was sure, had quite doted upon the worthless hussy, and was now, by all
+accounts, almost broken-hearted, at Oxford.-- "I do think," she
+continued, "nothing was ever carried on so sly; for it was but two days
+before Lucy called and sat a couple of hours with me.  Not a soul
+suspected anything of the matter, not even Nancy, who, poor soul!  came
+crying to me the day after, in a great fright for fear of Mrs. Ferrars,
+as well as not knowing how to get to Plymouth; for Lucy it seems
+borrowed all her money before she went off to be married, on purpose we
+suppose to make a show with, and poor Nancy had not seven shillings in
+the world;--so I was very glad to give her five guineas to take her
+down to Exeter, where she thinks of staying three or four weeks with
+Mrs. Burgess, in hopes, as I tell her, to fall in with the Doctor
+again.  And I must say that Lucy's crossness not to take them along
+with them in the chaise is worse than all.  Poor Mr. Edward! I cannot
+get him out of my head, but you must send for him to Barton, and Miss
+Marianne must try to comfort him."
+
+Mr. Dashwood's strains were more solemn.  Mrs. Ferrars was the most
+unfortunate of women--poor Fanny had suffered agonies of
+sensibility--and he considered the existence of each, under such a
+blow, with grateful wonder.  Robert's offence was unpardonable, but
+Lucy's was infinitely worse.  Neither of them were ever again to be
+mentioned to Mrs. Ferrars; and even, if she might hereafter be induced
+to forgive her son, his wife should never be acknowledged as her
+daughter, nor be permitted to appear in her presence.  The secrecy with
+which everything had been carried on between them, was rationally
+treated as enormously heightening the crime, because, had any suspicion
+of it occurred to the others, proper measures would have been taken to
+prevent the marriage; and he called on Elinor to join with him in
+regretting that Lucy's engagement with Edward had not rather been
+fulfilled, than that she should thus be the means of spreading misery
+farther in the family.-- He thus continued:
+
+"Mrs. Ferrars has never yet mentioned Edward's name, which does not
+surprise us; but, to our great astonishment, not a line has been
+received from him on the occasion.  Perhaps, however, he is kept silent
+by his fear of offending, and I shall, therefore, give him a hint, by a
+line to Oxford, that his sister and I both think a letter of proper
+submission from him, addressed perhaps to Fanny, and by her shewn to
+her mother, might not be taken amiss; for we all know the tenderness of
+Mrs. Ferrars's heart, and that she wishes for nothing so much as to be
+on good terms with her children."
+
+This paragraph was of some importance to the prospects and conduct of
+Edward.  It determined him to attempt a reconciliation, though not
+exactly in the manner pointed out by their brother and sister.
+
+"A letter of proper submission!" repeated he; "would they have me beg
+my mother's pardon for Robert's ingratitude to HER, and breach of
+honour to ME?--I can make no submission--I am grown neither humble nor
+penitent by what has passed.--I am grown very happy; but that would not
+interest.--I know of no submission that IS proper for me to make."
+
+"You may certainly ask to be forgiven," said Elinor, "because you have
+offended;--and I should think you might NOW venture so far as to
+profess some concern for having ever formed the engagement which drew
+on you your mother's anger."
+
+He agreed that he might.
+
+"And when she has forgiven you, perhaps a little humility may be
+convenient while acknowledging a second engagement, almost as imprudent
+in HER eyes as the first."
+
+He had nothing to urge against it, but still resisted the idea of a
+letter of proper submission; and therefore, to make it easier to him,
+as he declared a much greater willingness to make mean concessions by
+word of mouth than on paper, it was resolved that, instead of writing
+to Fanny, he should go to London, and personally intreat her good
+offices in his favour.-- "And if they really DO interest themselves,"
+said Marianne, in her new character of candour, "in bringing about a
+reconciliation, I shall think that even John and Fanny are not entirely
+without merit."
+
+After a visit on Colonel Brandon's side of only three or four days, the
+two gentlemen quitted Barton together.-- They were to go immediately to
+Delaford, that Edward might have some personal knowledge of his future
+home, and assist his patron and friend in deciding on what improvements
+were needed to it; and from thence, after staying there a couple of
+nights, he was to proceed on his journey to town.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 50
+
+
+After a proper resistance on the part of Mrs. Ferrars, just so violent
+and so steady as to preserve her from that reproach which she always
+seemed fearful of incurring, the reproach of being too amiable, Edward
+was admitted to her presence, and pronounced to be again her son.
+
+Her family had of late been exceedingly fluctuating.  For many years of
+her life she had had two sons; but the crime and annihilation of Edward
+a few weeks ago, had robbed her of one; the similar annihilation of
+Robert had left her for a fortnight without any; and now, by the
+resuscitation of Edward, she had one again.
+
+In spite of his being allowed once more to live, however, he did not
+feel the continuance of his existence secure, till he had revealed his
+present engagement; for the publication of that circumstance, he
+feared, might give a sudden turn to his constitution, and carry him off
+as rapidly as before.  With apprehensive caution therefore it was
+revealed, and he was listened to with unexpected calmness.  Mrs.
+Ferrars at first reasonably endeavoured to dissuade him from marrying
+Miss Dashwood, by every argument in her power;--told him, that in Miss
+Morton he would have a woman of higher rank and larger fortune;--and
+enforced the assertion, by observing that Miss Morton was the daughter
+of a nobleman with thirty thousand pounds, while Miss Dashwood was only
+the daughter of a private gentleman with no more than THREE; but when
+she found that, though perfectly admitting the truth of her
+representation, he was by no means inclined to be guided by it, she
+judged it wisest, from the experience of the past, to submit--and
+therefore, after such an ungracious delay as she owed to her own
+dignity, and as served to prevent every suspicion of good-will, she
+issued her decree of consent to the marriage of Edward and Elinor.
+
+What she would engage to do towards augmenting their income was next to
+be considered; and here it plainly appeared, that though Edward was now
+her only son, he was by no means her eldest; for while Robert was
+inevitably endowed with a thousand pounds a-year, not the smallest
+objection was made against Edward's taking orders for the sake of two
+hundred and fifty at the utmost; nor was anything promised either for
+the present or in future, beyond the ten thousand pounds, which had
+been given with Fanny.
+
+It was as much, however, as was desired, and more than was expected, by
+Edward and Elinor; and Mrs. Ferrars herself, by her shuffling excuses,
+seemed the only person surprised at her not giving more.
+
+With an income quite sufficient to their wants thus secured to them,
+they had nothing to wait for after Edward was in possession of the
+living, but the readiness of the house, to which Colonel Brandon, with
+an eager desire for the accommodation of Elinor, was making
+considerable improvements; and after waiting some time for their
+completion, after experiencing, as usual, a thousand disappointments
+and delays from the unaccountable dilatoriness of the workmen, Elinor,
+as usual, broke through the first positive resolution of not marrying
+till every thing was ready, and the ceremony took place in Barton
+church early in the autumn.
+
+The first month after their marriage was spent with their friend at the
+Mansion-house; from whence they could superintend the progress of the
+Parsonage, and direct every thing as they liked on the spot;--could
+chuse papers, project shrubberies, and invent a sweep.  Mrs. Jennings's
+prophecies, though rather jumbled together, were chiefly fulfilled; for
+she was able to visit Edward and his wife in their Parsonage by
+Michaelmas, and she found in Elinor and her husband, as she really
+believed, one of the happiest couples in the world.  They had in fact
+nothing to wish for, but the marriage of Colonel Brandon and Marianne,
+and rather better pasturage for their cows.
+
+They were visited on their first settling by almost all their relations
+and friends.  Mrs. Ferrars came to inspect the happiness which she was
+almost ashamed of having authorised; and even the Dashwoods were at the
+expense of a journey from Sussex to do them honour.
+
+"I will not say that I am disappointed, my dear sister," said John, as
+they were walking together one morning before the gates of Delaford
+House, "THAT would be saying too much, for certainly you have been one
+of the most fortunate young women in the world, as it is.  But, I
+confess, it would give me great pleasure to call Colonel Brandon
+brother.  His property here, his place, his house, every thing is in
+such respectable and excellent condition!--and his woods!--I have not
+seen such timber any where in Dorsetshire, as there is now standing in
+Delaford Hanger!--And though, perhaps, Marianne may not seem exactly
+the person to attract him--yet I think it would altogether be advisable
+for you to have them now frequently staying with you, for as Colonel
+Brandon seems a great deal at home, nobody can tell what may
+happen--for, when people are much thrown together, and see little of
+anybody else--and it will always be in your power to set her off to
+advantage, and so forth;--in short, you may as well give her a
+chance--You understand me."--
+
+But though Mrs. Ferrars DID come to see them, and always treated them
+with the make-believe of decent affection, they were never insulted by
+her real favour and preference.  THAT was due to the folly of Robert,
+and the cunning of his wife; and it was earned by them before many
+months had passed away.  The selfish sagacity of the latter, which had
+at first drawn Robert into the scrape, was the principal instrument of
+his deliverance from it; for her respectful humility, assiduous
+attentions, and endless flatteries, as soon as the smallest opening was
+given for their exercise, reconciled Mrs. Ferrars to his choice, and
+re-established him completely in her favour.
+
+The whole of Lucy's behaviour in the affair, and the prosperity which
+crowned it, therefore, may be held forth as a most encouraging instance
+of what an earnest, an unceasing attention to self-interest, however
+its progress may be apparently obstructed, will do in securing every
+advantage of fortune, with no other sacrifice than that of time and
+conscience.  When Robert first sought her acquaintance, and privately
+visited her in Bartlett's Buildings, it was only with the view imputed
+to him by his brother.  He merely meant to persuade her to give up the
+engagement; and as there could be nothing to overcome but the affection
+of both, he naturally expected that one or two interviews would settle
+the matter.  In that point, however, and that only, he erred;--for
+though Lucy soon gave him hopes that his eloquence would convince her
+in TIME, another visit, another conversation, was always wanted to
+produce this conviction.  Some doubts always lingered in her mind when
+they parted, which could only be removed by another half hour's
+discourse with himself.  His attendance was by this means secured, and
+the rest followed in course.  Instead of talking of Edward, they came
+gradually to talk only of Robert,--a subject on which he had always
+more to say than on any other, and in which she soon betrayed an
+interest even equal to his own; and in short, it became speedily
+evident to both, that he had entirely supplanted his brother.  He was
+proud of his conquest, proud of tricking Edward, and very proud of
+marrying privately without his mother's consent.  What immediately
+followed is known.  They passed some months in great happiness at
+Dawlish; for she had many relations and old acquaintances to cut--and
+he drew several plans for magnificent cottages;--and from thence
+returning to town, procured the forgiveness of Mrs. Ferrars, by the
+simple expedient of asking it, which, at Lucy's instigation, was
+adopted.  The forgiveness, at first, indeed, as was reasonable,
+comprehended only Robert; and Lucy, who had owed his mother no duty and
+therefore could have transgressed none, still remained some weeks
+longer unpardoned.  But perseverance in humility of conduct and
+messages, in self-condemnation for Robert's offence, and gratitude for
+the unkindness she was treated with, procured her in time the haughty
+notice which overcame her by its graciousness, and led soon afterwards,
+by rapid degrees, to the highest state of affection and influence.
+Lucy became as necessary to Mrs. Ferrars, as either Robert or Fanny;
+and while Edward was never cordially forgiven for having once intended
+to marry her, and Elinor, though superior to her in fortune and birth,
+was spoken of as an intruder, SHE was in every thing considered, and
+always openly acknowledged, to be a favourite child.  They settled in
+town, received very liberal assistance from Mrs. Ferrars, were on the
+best terms imaginable with the Dashwoods; and setting aside the
+jealousies and ill-will continually subsisting between Fanny and Lucy,
+in which their husbands of course took a part, as well as the frequent
+domestic disagreements between Robert and Lucy themselves, nothing
+could exceed the harmony in which they all lived together.
+
+What Edward had done to forfeit the right of eldest son, might have
+puzzled many people to find out; and what Robert had done to succeed to
+it, might have puzzled them still more.  It was an arrangement,
+however, justified in its effects, if not in its cause; for nothing
+ever appeared in Robert's style of living or of talking to give a
+suspicion of his regretting the extent of his income, as either leaving
+his brother too little, or bringing himself too much;--and if Edward
+might be judged from the ready discharge of his duties in every
+particular, from an increasing attachment to his wife and his home, and
+from the regular cheerfulness of his spirits, he might be supposed no
+less contented with his lot, no less free from every wish of an
+exchange.
+
+Elinor's marriage divided her as little from her family as could well
+be contrived, without rendering the cottage at Barton entirely useless,
+for her mother and sisters spent much more than half their time with
+her.  Mrs. Dashwood was acting on motives of policy as well as pleasure
+in the frequency of her visits at Delaford; for her wish of bringing
+Marianne and Colonel Brandon together was hardly less earnest, though
+rather more liberal than what John had expressed.  It was now her
+darling object.  Precious as was the company of her daughter to her,
+she desired nothing so much as to give up its constant enjoyment to her
+valued friend; and to see Marianne settled at the mansion-house was
+equally the wish of Edward and Elinor.  They each felt his sorrows, and
+their own obligations, and Marianne, by general consent, was to be the
+reward of all.
+
+With such a confederacy against her--with a knowledge so intimate of
+his goodness--with a conviction of his fond attachment to herself,
+which at last, though long after it was observable to everybody
+else--burst on her--what could she do?
+
+Marianne Dashwood was born to an extraordinary fate.  She was born to
+discover the falsehood of her own opinions, and to counteract, by her
+conduct, her most favourite maxims.  She was born to overcome an
+affection formed so late in life as at seventeen, and with no sentiment
+superior to strong esteem and lively friendship, voluntarily to give
+her hand to another!--and THAT other, a man who had suffered no less
+than herself under the event of a former attachment, whom, two years
+before, she had considered too old to be married,--and who still sought
+the constitutional safeguard of a flannel waistcoat!
+
+But so it was.  Instead of falling a sacrifice to an irresistible
+passion, as once she had fondly flattered herself with
+expecting,--instead of remaining even for ever with her mother, and
+finding her only pleasures in retirement and study, as afterwards in
+her more calm and sober judgment she had determined on,--she found
+herself at nineteen, submitting to new attachments, entering on new
+duties, placed in a new home, a wife, the mistress of a family, and the
+patroness of a village.
+
+Colonel Brandon was now as happy, as all those who best loved him,
+believed he deserved to be;--in Marianne he was consoled for every past
+affliction;--her regard and her society restored his mind to animation,
+and his spirits to cheerfulness; and that Marianne found her own
+happiness in forming his, was equally the persuasion and delight of
+each observing friend.  Marianne could never love by halves; and her
+whole heart became, in time, as much devoted to her husband, as it had
+once been to Willoughby.
+
+Willoughby could not hear of her marriage without a pang; and his
+punishment was soon afterwards complete in the voluntary forgiveness of
+Mrs. Smith, who, by stating his marriage with a woman of character, as
+the source of her clemency, gave him reason for believing that had he
+behaved with honour towards Marianne, he might at once have been happy
+and rich.  That his repentance of misconduct, which thus brought its
+own punishment, was sincere, need not be doubted;--nor that he long
+thought of Colonel Brandon with envy, and of Marianne with regret.  But
+that he was for ever inconsolable, that he fled from society, or
+contracted an habitual gloom of temper, or died of a broken heart, must
+not be depended on--for he did neither.  He lived to exert, and
+frequently to enjoy himself.  His wife was not always out of humour,
+nor his home always uncomfortable; and in his breed of horses and dogs,
+and in sporting of every kind, he found no inconsiderable degree of
+domestic felicity.
+
+For Marianne, however--in spite of his incivility in surviving her
+loss--he always retained that decided regard which interested him in
+every thing that befell her, and made her his secret standard of
+perfection in woman;--and many a rising beauty would be slighted by him
+in after-days as bearing no comparison with Mrs. Brandon.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood was prudent enough to remain at the cottage, without
+attempting a removal to Delaford; and fortunately for Sir John and Mrs.
+Jennings, when Marianne was taken from them, Margaret had reached an
+age highly suitable for dancing, and not very ineligible for being
+supposed to have a lover.
+
+Between Barton and Delaford, there was that constant communication
+which strong family affection would naturally dictate;--and among the
+merits and the happiness of Elinor and Marianne, let it not be ranked
+as the least considerable, that though sisters, and living almost
+within sight of each other, they could live without disagreement
+between themselves, or producing coolness between their husbands.
+
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
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+The Project Gutenberg Etext of Sense and Sensibility, by Austen
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+
+SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
+
+by Jane Austen
+(1811)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 1
+
+
+     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.
+
+     By a former marriage, Mr. Henry Dashwood had one
+son: by his present lady, three daughters.  The son,
+a steady respectable young man, was amply provided
+for by the fortune of his mother, which had been large,
+and half of which devolved on him on his coming of age.
+By his own marriage, likewise, which happened soon afterwards,
+he added to his wealth.  To him therefore the succession
+to the Norland estate was not so really important as to
+his sisters; for their fortune, independent of what might
+arise to them from their father's inheriting that property,
+could be but small.  Their mother had nothing, and their
+father only seven thousand pounds in his own disposal;
+for the remaining moiety of his first wife's fortune was
+also secured to her child, and he had only a life-interest
+in it.
+
+     The old gentleman died: his will was read, and
+like almost every other will, gave as much disappointment
+as pleasure.  He was neither so unjust, nor so ungrateful,
+as to leave his estate from his nephew;--but he left it to him
+on such terms as destroyed half the value of the bequest.
+Mr. Dashwood had wished for it more for the sake of his
+wife and daughters than for himself or his son;--but to
+his son, and his son's son, a child of four years old,
+it was secured, in such a way, as to leave to himself
+no power of providing for those who were most dear
+to him, and who most needed a provision by any charge
+on the estate, or by any sale of its valuable woods.
+The whole was tied up for the benefit of this child, who,
+in occasional visits with his father and mother at Norland,
+had so far gained on the affections of his uncle,
+by such attractions as are by no means unusual in children
+of two or three years old; an imperfect articulation,
+an earnest desire of having his own way, many cunning tricks,
+and a great deal of noise, as to outweigh all the value
+of all the attention which, for years, he had received
+from his niece and her daughters.  He meant not to
+be unkind, however, and, as a mark of his affection
+for the three girls, he left them a thousand pounds a-piece.
+
+     Mr. Dashwood's disappointment was, at first, severe;
+but his temper was cheerful and sanguine; and he might
+reasonably hope to live many years, and by living economically,
+lay by a considerable sum from the produce of an estate
+already large, and capable of almost immediate improvement.
+But the fortune, which had been so tardy in coming, was his
+only one twelvemonth.  He survived his uncle no longer;
+and ten thousand pounds, including the late legacies,
+was all that remained for his widow and daughters.
+
+     His son was sent for as soon as his danger was known,
+and to him Mr. Dashwood recommended, with all the strength
+and urgency which illness could command, the interest
+of his mother-in-law and sisters.
+
+     Mr. John Dashwood had not the strong feelings of the
+rest of the family; but he was affected by a recommendation
+of such a nature at such a time, and he promised to do
+every thing in his power to make them comfortable.
+His father was rendered easy by such an assurance,
+and Mr. John Dashwood had then leisure to consider how
+much there might prudently be in his power to do for them.
+
+     He was not an ill-disposed young man, unless to
+be rather cold hearted and rather selfish is to be
+ill-disposed: but he was, in general, well respected;
+for he conducted himself with propriety in the discharge
+of his ordinary duties.  Had he married a more amiable woman,
+he might have been made still more respectable than he
+was:--he might even have been made amiable himself; for he
+was very young when he married, and very fond of his wife.
+But Mrs. John Dashwood was a strong caricature of himself;--
+more narrow-minded and selfish.
+
+     When he gave his promise to his father, he meditated
+within himself to increase the fortunes of his sisters
+by the present of a thousand pounds a-piece.  He then
+really thought himself equal to it.  The prospect of four
+thousand a-year, in addition to his present income,
+besides the remaining half of his own mother's fortune,
+warmed his heart, and made him feel capable of generosity.--
+"Yes, he would give them three thousand pounds: it would
+be liberal and handsome! It would be enough to make
+them completely easy.  Three thousand pounds! he could
+spare so considerable a sum with little inconvenience."-- 
+He thought of it all day long, and for many days successively,
+and he did not repent.
+
+     No sooner was his father's funeral over, than Mrs. John
+Dashwood, without sending any notice of her intention to her
+mother-in-law, arrived with her child and their attendants.
+No one could dispute her right to come; the house was
+her husband's from the moment of his father's decease;
+but the indelicacy of her conduct was so much the greater,
+and to a woman in Mrs. Dashwood's situation, with only
+common feelings, must have been highly unpleasing;--
+but in HER mind there was a sense of honor so keen,
+a generosity so romantic, that any offence of the kind,
+by whomsoever given or received, was to her a source
+of immoveable disgust.  Mrs. John Dashwood had never
+been a favourite with any of her husband's family;
+but she had had no opportunity, till the present,
+of shewing them with how little attention to the comfort
+of other people she could act when occasion required it.
+
+     So acutely did Mrs. Dashwood feel this ungracious
+behaviour, and so earnestly did she despise her
+daughter-in-law for it, that, on the arrival of the latter,
+she would have quitted the house for ever, had not the
+entreaty of her eldest girl induced her first to reflect
+on the propriety of going, and her own tender love for all
+her three children determined her afterwards to stay,
+and for their sakes avoid a breach with their brother.
+
+     Elinor, this eldest daughter, whose advice was
+so effectual, possessed a strength of understanding,
+and coolness of judgment, which qualified her,
+though only nineteen, to be the counsellor of her mother,
+and enabled her frequently to counteract, to the advantage
+of them all, that eagerness of mind in Mrs. Dashwood
+which must generally have led to imprudence.  She had
+an excellent heart;--her disposition was affectionate,
+and her feelings were strong; but she knew how to govern
+them: it was a knowledge which her mother had yet to learn;
+and which one of her sisters had resolved never to be taught.
+
+     Marianne's abilities were, in many respects,
+quite equal to Elinor's. She was sensible and clever;
+but eager in everything: her sorrows, her joys, could have
+no moderation.  She was generous, amiable, interesting: she
+was everything but prudent.  The resemblance between
+her and her mother was strikingly great.
+
+     Elinor saw, with concern, the excess of her
+sister's sensibility; but by Mrs. Dashwood it was valued
+and cherished.  They encouraged each other now in the
+violence of their affliction.  The agony of grief
+which overpowered them at first, was voluntarily renewed,
+was sought for, was created again and again.  They gave
+themselves up wholly to their sorrow, seeking increase
+of wretchedness in every reflection that could afford it,
+and resolved against ever admitting consolation
+in future.  Elinor, too, was deeply afflicted; but still
+she could struggle, she could exert herself.  She could
+consult with her brother, could receive her sister-in-law
+on her arrival, and treat her with proper attention;
+and could strive to rouse her mother to similar exertion,
+and encourage her to similar forbearance.
+
+     Margaret, the other sister, was a good-humored,
+well-disposed girl; but as she had already imbibed
+a good deal of Marianne's romance, without having
+much of her sense, she did not, at thirteen, bid fair
+to equal her sisters at a more advanced period of life.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 2
+
+
+     Mrs. John Dashwood now installed herself mistress
+of Norland; and her mother and sisters-in-law were degraded
+to the condition of visitors.  As such, however, they were
+treated by her with quiet civility; and by her husband
+with as much kindness as he could feel towards anybody
+beyond himself, his wife, and their child.  He really
+pressed them, with some earnestness, to consider Norland
+as their home; and, as no plan appeared so eligible
+to Mrs. Dashwood as remaining there till she could
+accommodate herself with a house in the neighbourhood,
+his invitation was accepted.
+
+     A continuance in a place where everything reminded
+her of former delight, was exactly what suited her mind.
+In seasons of cheerfulness, no temper could be more cheerful
+than hers, or possess, in a greater degree, that sanguine
+expectation of happiness which is happiness itself.
+But in sorrow she must be equally carried away by her fancy,
+and as far beyond consolation as in pleasure she was
+beyond alloy.
+
+     Mrs. John Dashwood did not at all approve of what her
+husband intended to do for his sisters.  To take three
+thousand pounds from the fortune of their dear little boy
+would be impoverishing him to the most dreadful degree.
+She begged him to think again on the subject.  How could
+he answer it to himself to rob his child, and his only
+child too, of so large a sum?  And what possible claim
+could the Miss Dashwoods, who were related to him only by
+half blood, which she considered as no relationship at all,
+have on his generosity to so large an amount.  It was very
+well known that no affection was ever supposed to exist
+between the children of any man by different marriages;
+and why was he to ruin himself, and their poor little Harry,
+by giving away all his money to his half sisters?
+
+     "It was my father's last request to me," replied
+her husband, "that I should assist his widow and daughters."
+
+     "He did not know what he was talking of, I dare say;
+ten to one but he was light-headed at the time.
+Had he been in his right senses, he could not have thought
+of such a thing as begging you to give away half your
+fortune from your own child."
+
+     "He did not stipulate for any particular sum,
+my dear Fanny; he only requested me, in general terms,
+to assist them, and make their situation more comfortable
+than it was in his power to do.  Perhaps it would
+have been as well if he had left it wholly to myself.
+He could hardly suppose I should neglect them.
+But as he required the promise, I could not do less
+than give it; at least I thought so at the time.
+The promise, therefore, was given, and must be performed.
+Something must be done for them whenever they leave Norland
+and settle in a new home."
+
+     "Well, then, LET something be done for them;
+but THAT something need not be three thousand pounds.
+Consider," she added, "that when the money is once
+parted with, it never can return.  Your sisters will marry,
+and it will be gone for ever.  If, indeed, it could
+be restored to our poor little boy--"
+
+     "Why, to be sure," said her husband, very gravely,
+"that would make great difference.  The time may come when
+Harry will regret that so large a sum was parted with.
+If he should have a numerous family, for instance, it would
+be a very convenient addition."
+
+     "To be sure it would."
+
+     "Perhaps, then, it would be better for all parties,
+if the sum were diminished one half.--Five hundred pounds
+would be a prodigious increase to their fortunes!"
+
+     "Oh! beyond anything great!  What brother on earth
+would do half so much for his sisters, even if REALLY
+his sisters!  And as it is--only half blood!--But you
+have such a generous spirit!"
+
+     "I would not wish to do any thing mean," he replied.
+"One had rather, on such occasions, do too much than
+too little.  No one, at least, can think I have not
+done enough for them: even themselves, they can hardly
+expect more."
+
+     "There is no knowing what THEY may expect,"
+said the lady, "but we are not to think of their
+expectations: the question is, what you can afford to do."
+
+     "Certainly--and I think I may afford to give them five
+hundred pounds a-piece.  As it is, without any addition
+of mine, they will each have about three thousand pounds
+on their mother's death--a very comfortable fortune
+for any young woman."
+
+     "To be sure it is; and, indeed, it strikes me that
+they can want no addition at all.  They will have ten
+thousand pounds divided amongst them.  If they marry,
+they will be sure of doing well, and if they do not,
+they may all live very comfortably together on the interest
+of ten thousand pounds."
+
+     "That is very true, and, therefore, I do not know whether,
+upon the whole, it would not be more advisable to do
+something for their mother while she lives, rather than
+for them--something of the annuity kind I mean.--My sisters
+would feel the good effects of it as well as herself.
+A hundred a year would make them all perfectly comfortable."
+
+     His wife hesitated a little, however, in giving
+her consent to this plan.
+
+     "To be sure," said she, "it is better than parting with
+fifteen hundred pounds at once.  But, then, if Mrs. Dashwood
+should live fifteen years we shall be completely taken in."
+
+     "Fifteen years! my dear Fanny; her life cannot
+be worth half that purchase."
+
+     "Certainly not; but if you observe, people always
+live for ever when there is an annuity to be paid them;
+and she is very stout and healthy, and hardly forty.
+An annuity is a very serious business; it comes over
+and over every year, and there is no getting rid
+of it.  You are not aware of what you are doing.
+I have known a great deal of the trouble of annuities;
+for my mother was clogged with the payment of three
+to old superannuated servants by my father's will,
+and it is amazing how disagreeable she found it.
+Twice every year these annuities were to be paid; and then
+there was the trouble of getting it to them; and then one
+of them was said to have died, and afterwards it turned
+out to be no such thing.  My mother was quite sick of it.
+Her income was not her own, she said, with such perpetual
+claims on it; and it was the more unkind in my father,
+because, otherwise, the money would have been entirely at
+my mother's disposal, without any restriction whatever.
+It has given me such an abhorrence of annuities, that I am
+sure I would not pin myself down to the payment of one for
+all the world."
+
+     "It is certainly an unpleasant thing," replied Mr. Dashwood,
+"to have those kind of yearly drains on one's income.
+One's fortune, as your mother justly says, is NOT one's own.
+To be tied down to the regular payment of such a sum,
+on every rent day, is by no means desirable: it takes away
+one's independence."
+
+     "Undoubtedly; and after all you have no thanks for it.
+They think themselves secure, you do no more than what
+is expected, and it raises no gratitude at all.  If I were you,
+whatever I did should be done at my own discretion entirely.
+I would not bind myself to allow them any thing yearly.
+It may be very inconvenient some years to spare a hundred,
+or even fifty pounds from our own expenses."
+
+     "I believe you are right, my love; it will be better
+that there should by no annuity in the case; whatever I
+may give them occasionally will be of far greater assistance
+than a yearly allowance, because they would only enlarge
+their style of living if they felt sure of a larger income,
+and would not be sixpence the richer for it at the end
+of the year.  It will certainly be much the best way.
+A present of fifty pounds, now and then, will prevent
+their ever being distressed for money, and will, I think,
+be amply discharging my promise to my father."
+
+     "To be sure it will.  Indeed, to say the truth,
+I am convinced within myself that your father had no idea
+of your giving them any money at all.  The assistance
+he thought of, I dare say, was only such as might be
+reasonably expected of you; for instance, such as looking
+out for a comfortable small house for them, helping them
+to move their things, and sending them presents of fish
+and game, and so forth, whenever they are in season.
+I'll lay my life that he meant nothing farther; indeed,
+it would be very strange and unreasonable if he did.
+Do but consider, my dear Mr. Dashwood, how excessively
+comfortable your mother-in-law and her daughters may live
+on the interest of seven thousand pounds, besides the
+thousand pounds belonging to each of the girls, which brings
+them in fifty pounds a year a-piece, and, of course,
+they will pay their mother for their board out of it.
+Altogether, they will have five hundred a-year amongst them,
+and what on earth can four women want for more than
+that?--They will live so cheap! Their housekeeping will
+be nothing at all.  They will have no carriage, no horses,
+and hardly any servants; they will keep no company,
+and can have no expenses of any kind!  Only conceive
+how comfortable they will be!  Five hundred a year! I am
+sure I cannot imagine how they will spend half of it;
+and as to your giving them more, it is quite absurd to think
+of it.  They will be much more able to give YOU something."
+
+     "Upon my word," said Mr. Dashwood, "I believe you
+are perfectly right.  My father certainly could mean
+nothing more by his request to me than what you say.
+I clearly understand it now, and I will strictly fulfil
+my engagement by such acts of assistance and kindness
+to them as you have described.  When my mother removes
+into another house my services shall be readily given
+to accommodate her as far as I can.  Some little present
+of furniture too may be acceptable then."
+
+     "Certainly," returned Mrs. John Dashwood.  "But, however,
+ONE thing must be considered.  When your father and mother
+moved to Norland, though the furniture of Stanhill
+was sold, all the china, plate, and linen was saved,
+and is now left to your mother.  Her house will therefore
+be almost completely fitted up as soon as she takes it."
+
+     "That is a material consideration undoubtedly.
+A valuable legacy indeed! And yet some of the plate would
+have been a very pleasant addition to our own stock here."
+
+     "Yes; and the set of breakfast china is twice
+as handsome as what belongs to this house.  A great
+deal too handsome, in my opinion, for any place THEY
+can ever afford to live in.  But, however, so it is.
+Your father thought only of THEM.  And I must say this:
+that you owe no particular gratitude to him, nor attention
+to his wishes; for we very well know that if he could,
+he would have left almost everything in the world to THEM."
+
+     This argument was irresistible.  It gave to his
+intentions whatever of decision was wanting before; and he
+finally resolved, that it would be absolutely unnecessary,
+if not highly indecorous, to do more for the widow
+and children of his father, than such kind of neighbourly
+acts as his own wife pointed out.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 3
+
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood remained at Norland several months;
+not from any disinclination to move when the sight of every
+well known spot ceased to raise the violent emotion which it
+produced for a while; for when her spirits began to revive,
+and her mind became capable of some other exertion than that
+of heightening its affliction by melancholy remembrances,
+she was impatient to be gone, and indefatigable in her inquiries
+for a suitable dwelling in the neighbourhood of Norland;
+for to remove far from that beloved spot was impossible.
+But she could hear of no situation that at once answered
+her notions of comfort and ease, and suited the prudence
+of her eldest daughter, whose steadier judgment rejected
+several houses as too large for their income, which her
+mother would have approved.
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood had been informed by her husband of the
+solemn promise on the part of his son in their favour,
+which gave comfort to his last earthly reflections.
+She doubted the sincerity of this assurance no more than he
+had doubted it himself, and she thought of it for her daughters'
+sake with satisfaction, though as for herself she was
+persuaded that a much smaller provision than 7000L would
+support her in affluence.  For their brother's sake, too,
+for the sake of his own heart, she rejoiced; and she
+reproached herself for being unjust to his merit before,
+in believing him incapable of generosity.  His attentive
+behaviour to herself and his sisters convinced her that
+their welfare was dear to him, and, for a long time,
+she firmly relied on the liberality of his intentions.
+
+     The contempt which she had, very early in their acquaintance,
+felt for her daughter-in-law, was very much increased
+by the farther knowledge of her character, which half
+a year's residence in her family afforded; and perhaps
+in spite of every consideration of politeness or maternal
+affection on the side of the former, the two ladies might
+have found it impossible to have lived together so long,
+had not a particular circumstance occurred to give
+still greater eligibility, according to the opinions
+of Mrs. Dashwood, to her daughters' continuance at Norland.
+
+     This circumstance was a growing attachment between
+her eldest girl and the brother of Mrs. John Dashwood,
+a gentleman-like and pleasing young man, who was introduced
+to their acquaintance soon after his sister's establishment
+at Norland, and who had since spent the greatest part
+of his time there.
+
+     Some mothers might have encouraged the intimacy from
+motives of interest, for Edward Ferrars was the eldest son
+of a man who had died very rich; and some might have repressed
+it from motives of prudence, for, except a trifling sum,
+the whole of his fortune depended on the will of his mother.
+But Mrs. Dashwood was alike uninfluenced by either consideration.
+It was enough for her that he appeared to be amiable,
+that he loved her daughter, and that Elinor returned
+the partiality.  It was contrary to every doctrine of
+her's that difference of fortune should keep any couple
+asunder who were attracted by resemblance of disposition;
+and that Elinor's merit should not be acknowledged
+by every one who knew her, was to her comprehension impossible.
+
+     Edward Ferrars was not recommended to their good
+opinion by any peculiar graces of person or address.
+He was not handsome, and his manners required intimacy
+to make them pleasing.  He was too diffident to do justice
+to himself; but when his natural shyness was overcome,
+his behaviour gave every indication of an open,
+affectionate heart.  His understanding was good,
+and his education had given it solid improvement.
+But he was neither fitted by abilities nor disposition
+to answer the wishes of his mother and sister, who longed
+to see him distinguished--as--they hardly knew what.
+They wanted him to make a fine figure in the world in some
+manner or other.  His mother wished to interest him in
+political concerns, to get him into parliament, or to see
+him connected with some of the great men of the day.
+Mrs. John Dashwood wished it likewise; but in the mean while,
+till one of these superior blessings could be attained, it would
+have quieted her ambition to see him driving a barouche.
+But Edward had no turn for great men or barouches.
+All his wishes centered in domestic comfort and the quiet
+of private life.  Fortunately he had a younger brother
+who was more promising.
+
+     Edward had been staying several weeks in the house
+before he engaged much of Mrs. Dashwood's attention;
+for she was, at that time, in such affliction as rendered
+her careless of surrounding objects.  She saw only that he
+was quiet and unobtrusive, and she liked him for it.
+He did not disturb the wretchedness of her mind by
+ill-timed conversation.  She was first called to observe
+and approve him farther, by a reflection which Elinor
+chanced one day to make on the difference between him
+and his sister.  It was a contrast which recommended him
+most forcibly to her mother.
+
+     "It is enough," said she; "to say that he is unlike
+Fanny is enough.  It implies everything amiable.
+I love him already."
+
+     "I think you will like him," said Elinor, "when you
+know more of him."
+
+     "Like him!" replied her mother with a smile.
+"I feel no sentiment of approbation inferior to love."
+
+     "You may esteem him."
+
+     "I have never yet known what it was to separate
+esteem and love."
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood now took pains to get acquainted with him.
+Her manners were attaching, and soon banished his reserve.
+She speedily comprehended all his merits; the persuasion
+of his regard for Elinor perhaps assisted her penetration;
+but she really felt assured of his worth: and even that
+quietness of manner, which militated against all her
+established ideas of what a young man's address ought to be,
+was no longer uninteresting when she knew his heart to be
+warm and his temper affectionate.
+
+     No sooner did she perceive any symptom of love
+in his behaviour to Elinor, than she considered their
+serious attachment as certain, and looked forward
+to their marriage as rapidly approaching.
+
+     "In a few months, my dear Marianne." said she,
+"Elinor will, in all probability be settled for life.
+We shall miss her; but SHE will be happy."
+
+     "Oh! Mamma, how shall we do without her?"
+
+     "My love, it will be scarcely a separation.
+We shall live within a few miles of each other, and shall
+meet every day of our lives.  You will gain a brother,
+a real, affectionate brother.  I have the highest opinion
+in the world of Edward's heart.  But you look grave,
+Marianne; do you disapprove your sister's choice?"
+
+     "Perhaps," said Marianne, "I may consider it
+with some surprise.  Edward is very amiable, and I love
+him tenderly.  But yet--he is not the kind of young
+man--there is something wanting--his figure is not striking;
+it has none of that grace which I should expect
+in the man who could seriously attach my sister.
+His eyes want all that spirit, that fire, which at once
+announce virtue and intelligence.  And besides all this,
+I am afraid, Mamma, he has no real taste.  Music seems
+scarcely to attract him, and though he admires Elinor's
+drawings very much, it is not the admiration of a person
+who can understand their worth.  It is evident, in spite of
+his frequent attention to her while she draws, that in fact
+he knows nothing of the matter.  He admires as a lover,
+not as a connoisseur.  To satisfy me, those characters
+must be united.  I could not be happy with a man whose
+taste did not in every point coincide with my own.
+He must enter into all my feelings; the same books,
+the same music must charm us both.  Oh! mama, how spiritless,
+how tame was Edward's manner in reading to us last night!
+I felt for my sister most severely.  Yet she bore it
+with so much composure, she seemed scarcely to notice it.
+I could hardly keep my seat.  To hear those beautiful lines
+which have frequently almost driven me wild, pronounced
+with such impenetrable calmness, such dreadful indifference!"--
+
+     "He would certainly have done more justice to
+simple and elegant prose.  I thought so at the time;
+but you WOULD give him Cowper."
+
+     "Nay, Mamma, if he is not to be animated by Cowper!--
+but we must allow for difference of taste.  Elinor has
+not my feelings, and therefore she may overlook it, and 
+be happy with him.  But it would have broke MY heart,
+had I loved him, to hear him read with so little sensibility.
+Mama, the more I know of the world, the more am I convinced
+that I shall never see a man whom I can really love.
+I require so much!  He must have all Edward's virtues,
+and his person and manners must ornament his goodness
+with every possible charm."
+
+     "Remember, my love, that you are not seventeen.
+It is yet too early in life to despair of such a happiness.
+Why should you be less fortunate than your mother?  In
+one circumstance only, my Marianne, may your destiny be
+different from her's!"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 4
+
+
+     "What a pity it is, Elinor," said Marianne,
+"that Edward should have no taste for drawing."
+
+     "No taste for drawing!" replied Elinor, "why should
+you think so? He does not draw himself, indeed, but he has
+great pleasure in seeing the performances of other people,
+and I assure you he is by no means deficient in natural taste,
+though he has not had opportunities of improving it.
+Had he ever been in the way of learning, I think he would
+have drawn very well.  He distrusts his own judgment
+in such matters so much, that he is always unwilling
+to give his opinion on any picture; but he has an innate
+propriety and simplicity of taste, which in general
+direct him perfectly right."
+
+     Marianne was afraid of offending, and said no more
+on the subject; but the kind of approbation which Elinor
+described as excited in him by the drawings of other
+people, was very far from that rapturous delight, which,
+in her opinion, could alone be called taste.  Yet, though
+smiling within herself at the mistake, she honoured
+her sister for that blind partiality to Edward which produced it.
+
+     "I hope, Marianne," continued Elinor, "you do not
+consider him as deficient in general taste.  Indeed, I think
+I may say that you cannot, for your behaviour to him
+is perfectly cordial, and if THAT were your opinion,
+I am sure you could never be civil to him."
+
+     Marianne hardly knew what to say.  She would
+not wound the feelings of her sister on any account,
+and yet to say what she did not believe was impossible.
+At length she replied:
+
+     "Do not be offended, Elinor, if my praise of him
+is not in every thing equal to your sense of his merits.
+I have not had so many opportunities of estimating the minuter
+propensities of his mind, his inclinations and tastes,
+as you have; but I have the highest opinion in the world
+of his goodness and sense.  I think him every thing that is
+worthy and amiable."
+
+     "I am sure," replied Elinor, with a smile,
+"that his dearest friends could not be dissatisfied
+with such commendation as that.  I do not perceive
+how you could express yourself more warmly."
+
+     Marianne was rejoiced to find her sister so easily pleased.
+
+     "Of his sense and his goodness," continued Elinor,
+"no one can, I think, be in doubt, who has seen him
+often enough to engage him in unreserved conversation.
+The excellence of his understanding and his principles
+can be concealed only by that shyness which too often
+keeps him silent.  You know enough of him to do justice
+to his solid worth.  But of his minuter propensities,
+as you call them you have from peculiar circumstances
+been kept more ignorant than myself.  He and I have
+been at times thrown a good deal together, while you
+have been wholly engrossed on the most affectionate
+principle by my mother.  I have seen a great deal of him,
+have studied his sentiments and heard his opinion on
+subjects of literature and taste; and, upon the whole,
+I venture to pronounce that his mind is well-informed,
+enjoyment of books exceedingly great, his imagination lively,
+his observation just and correct, and his taste delicate
+and pure.  His abilities in every respect improve
+as much upon acquaintance as his manners and person.
+At first sight, his address is certainly not striking;
+and his person can hardly be called handsome, till the
+expression of his eyes, which are uncommonly good,
+and the general sweetness of his countenance, is perceived.
+At present, I know him so well, that I think him
+really handsome; or at least, almost so.  What say you,
+Marianne?"
+
+     "I shall very soon think him handsome, Elinor, if I
+do not now.  When you tell me to love him as a brother,
+I shall no more see imperfection in his face, than I now do
+in his heart."
+
+     Elinor started at this declaration, and was sorry for
+the warmth she had been betrayed into, in speaking of him.
+She felt that Edward stood very high in her opinion.
+She believed the regard to be mutual; but she required
+greater certainty of it to make Marianne's conviction
+of their attachment agreeable to her.  She knew that
+what Marianne and her mother conjectured one moment,
+they believed the next--that with them, to wish was to hope,
+and to hope was to expect.  She tried to explain the real
+state of the case to her sister.
+
+     "I do not attempt to deny," said she, "that I think
+very highly of him--that I greatly esteem, that I like him."
+
+     Marianne here burst forth with indignation--
+
+     "Esteem him! Like him! Cold-hearted Elinor! Oh!
+worse than cold-hearted! Ashamed of being otherwise.
+Use those words again, and I will leave the room this moment."
+
+     Elinor could not help laughing.  "Excuse me,"
+said she; "and be assured that I meant no offence to you,
+by speaking, in so quiet a way, of my own feelings.
+Believe them to be stronger than I have declared;
+believe them, in short, to be such as his merit, and the
+suspicion--the hope of his affection for me may warrant,
+without imprudence or folly.  But farther than this you must
+not believe.  I am by no means assured of his regard for me.
+There are moments when the extent of it seems doubtful;
+and till his sentiments are fully known, you cannot wonder
+at my wishing to avoid any encouragement of my own partiality,
+by believing or calling it more than it is.  In my heart
+I feel little--scarcely any doubt of his preference.
+But there are other points to be considered besides
+his inclination.  He is very far from being independent.
+What his mother really is we cannot know; but, from Fanny's
+occasional mention of her conduct and opinions, we have
+never been disposed to think her amiable; and I am very
+much mistaken if Edward is not himself aware that there
+would be many difficulties in his way, if he were to wish
+to marry a woman who had not either a great fortune or
+high rank."
+
+     Marianne was astonished to find how much the imagination
+of her mother and herself had outstripped the truth.
+
+     "And you really are not engaged to him!" said she.
+"Yet it certainly soon will happen.  But two advantages
+will proceed from this delay.  I shall not lose you so soon,
+and Edward will have greater opportunity of improving
+that natural taste for your favourite pursuit which must
+be so indispensably necessary to your future felicity.
+Oh! if he should be so far stimulated by your genius as to
+learn to draw himself, how delightful it would be!"
+
+     Elinor had given her real opinion to her sister.
+She could not consider her partiality for Edward
+in so prosperous a state as Marianne had believed it.
+There was, at times, a want of spirits about him which,
+if it did not denote indifference, spoke a something almost
+as unpromising.  A doubt of her regard, supposing him
+to feel it, need not give him more than inquietude.
+It would not be likely to produce that dejection of mind
+which frequently attended him.  A more reasonable cause
+might be found in the dependent situation which forbad
+the indulgence of his affection.  She knew that his mother
+neither behaved to him so as to make his home comfortable
+at present, nor to give him any assurance that he might form
+a home for himself, without strictly attending to her views
+for his aggrandizement.  With such a knowledge as this,
+it was impossible for Elinor to feel easy on the subject.
+She was far from depending on that result of his preference
+of her, which her mother and sister still considered
+as certain.  Nay, the longer they were together the more
+doubtful seemed the nature of his regard; and sometimes,
+for a few painful minutes, she believed it to be no more
+than friendship.
+
+     But, whatever might really be its limits, it was enough,
+when perceived by his sister, to make her uneasy,
+and at the same time, (which was still more common,)
+to make her uncivil.  She took the first opportunity of
+affronting her mother-in-law on the occasion, talking to
+her so expressively of her brother's great expectations,
+of Mrs. Ferrars's resolution that both her sons should
+marry well, and of the danger attending any young woman
+who attempted to DRAW HIM IN; that Mrs. Dashwood could
+neither pretend to be unconscious, nor endeavor to be calm.
+She gave her an answer which marked her contempt,
+and instantly left the room, resolving that, whatever might
+be the inconvenience or expense of so sudden a removal,
+her beloved Elinor should not be exposed another week
+to such insinuations.
+
+     In this state of her spirits, a letter was delivered
+to her from the post, which contained a proposal
+particularly well timed.  It was the offer of a small house,
+on very easy terms, belonging to a relation of her own,
+a gentleman of consequence and property in Devonshire.
+The letter was from this gentleman himself, and written
+in the true spirit of friendly accommodation.
+He understood that she was in need of a dwelling;
+and though the house he now offered her was merely a cottage,
+he assured her that everything should be done to it which
+she might think necessary, if the situation pleased her.
+He earnestly pressed her, after giving the particulars
+of the house and garden, to come with her daughters to
+Barton Park, the place of his own residence, from whence
+she might judge, herself, whether Barton Cottage, for the
+houses were in the same parish, could, by any alteration,
+be made comfortable to her.  He seemed really anxious to
+accommodate them and the whole of his letter was written
+in so friendly a style as could not fail of giving pleasure
+to his cousin; more especially at a moment when she was
+suffering under the cold and unfeeling behaviour of her
+nearer connections.  She needed no time for deliberation
+or inquiry.  Her resolution was formed as she read.
+The situation of Barton, in a county so far distant from
+Sussex as Devonshire, which, but a few hours before,
+would have been a sufficient objection to outweigh every
+possible advantage belonging to the place, was now its
+first recommendation.  To quit the neighbourhood of Norland
+was no longer an evil; it was an object of desire;
+it was a blessing, in comparison of the misery of continuing
+her daughter-in-law's guest; and to remove for ever
+from that beloved place would be less painful than to
+inhabit or visit it while such a woman was its mistress.
+She instantly wrote Sir John Middleton her acknowledgment
+of his kindness, and her acceptance of his proposal;
+and then hastened to shew both letters to her daughters,
+that she might be secure of their approbation before her
+answer were sent.
+
+     Elinor had always thought it would be more prudent
+for them to settle at some distance from Norland,
+than immediately amongst their present acquaintance.
+On THAT head, therefore, it was not for her to oppose
+her mother's intention of removing into Devonshire.
+The house, too, as described by Sir John, was on so
+simple a scale, and the rent so uncommonly moderate,
+as to leave her no right of objection on either point;
+and, therefore, though it was not a plan which brought
+any charm to her fancy, though it was a removal from
+the vicinity of Norland beyond her wishes, she made
+no attempt to dissuade her mother from sending a letter
+of acquiescence.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 5
+
+
+     No sooner was her answer dispatched, than Mrs. Dashwood
+indulged herself in the pleasure of announcing to her
+son-in-law and his wife that she was provided with a house,
+and should incommode them no longer than till every thing were
+ready for her inhabiting it.  They heard her with surprise.
+Mrs. John Dashwood said nothing; but her husband civilly
+hoped that she would not be settled far from Norland.
+She had great satisfaction in replying that she was going
+into Devonshire.--Edward turned hastily towards her,
+on hearing this, and, in a voice of surprise and concern,
+which required no explanation to her, repeated,
+"Devonshire! Are you, indeed, going there?  So far from hence!
+And to what part of it?"  She explained the situation.
+It was within four miles northward of Exeter.
+
+     "It is but a cottage," she continued, "but I hope
+to see many of my friends in it.  A room or two can
+easily be added; and if my friends find no difficulty
+in travelling so far to see me, I am sure I will find
+none in accommodating them."
+
+     She concluded with a very kind invitation to
+Mr. and Mrs. John Dashwood to visit her at Barton;
+and to Edward she gave one with still greater affection.
+Though her late conversation with her daughter-in-law had
+made her resolve on remaining at Norland no longer than
+was unavoidable, it had not produced the smallest effect
+on her in that point to which it principally tended.
+To separate Edward and Elinor was as far from being her
+object as ever; and she wished to show Mrs. John Dashwood,
+by this pointed invitation to her brother, how totally she
+disregarded her disapprobation of the match.
+
+     Mr. John Dashwood told his mother again and again
+how exceedingly sorry he was that she had taken a house at
+such a distance from Norland as to prevent his being of any
+service to her in removing her furniture.  He really felt
+conscientiously vexed on the occasion; for the very exertion
+to which he had limited the performance of his promise to
+his father was by this arrangement rendered impracticable.--
+The furniture was all sent around by water.  It chiefly
+consisted of household linen, plate, china, and books,
+with a handsome pianoforte of Marianne's.  Mrs. John
+Dashwood saw the packages depart with a sigh: she could
+not help feeling it hard that as Mrs. Dashwood's income
+would be so trifling in comparison with their own,
+she should have any handsome article of furniture.
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood took the house for a twelvemonth; it was
+ready furnished, and she might have immediate possession.
+No difficulty arose on either side in the agreement; and she
+waited only for the disposal of her effects at Norland,
+and to determine her future household, before she set
+off for the west; and this, as she was exceedingly rapid
+in the performance of everything that interested her,
+was soon done.--The horses which were left her by her husband
+had been sold soon after his death, and an opportunity
+now offering of disposing of her carriage, she agreed
+to sell that likewise at the earnest advice of her
+eldest daughter.  For the comfort of her children, had she
+consulted only her own wishes, she would have kept it;
+but the discretion of Elinor prevailed.  HER 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.
+
+     The man and one of the maids were sent off immediately
+into Devonshire, to prepare the house for their mistress's
+arrival; for as Lady Middleton was entirely unknown
+to Mrs. Dashwood, she preferred going directly to the
+cottage to being a visitor at Barton Park; and she relied
+so undoubtingly on Sir John's description of the house,
+as to feel no curiosity to examine it herself till she
+entered it as her own.  Her eagerness to be gone from Norland
+was preserved from diminution by the evident satisfaction
+of her daughter-in-law in the prospect of her removal;
+a satisfaction which was but feebly attempted to be concealed
+under a cold invitation to her to defer her departure.
+Now was the time when her son-in-law's promise to his
+father might with particular propriety be fulfilled.
+Since he had neglected to do it on first coming to
+the estate, their quitting his house might be looked
+on as the most suitable period for its accomplishment.
+But Mrs. Dashwood began shortly to give over every
+hope of the kind, and to be convinced, from the general
+drift of his discourse, that his assistance extended no
+farther than their maintenance for six months at Norland.
+He so frequently talked of the increasing expenses
+of housekeeping, and of the perpetual demands upon his purse,
+which a man of any consequence in the world was beyond
+calculation exposed to, that he seemed rather to stand
+in need of more money himself than to have any design of
+giving money away.
+
+     In a very few weeks from the day which brought Sir
+John Middleton's first letter to Norland, every thing was
+so far settled in their future abode as to enable
+Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters to begin their journey.
+
+     Many were the tears shed by them in their last
+adieus to a place so much beloved.  "Dear, dear Norland!"
+said Marianne, as she wandered alone before the house,
+on the last evening of their being there; "when shall I cease
+to regret you!--when learn to feel a home elsewhere!--Oh!
+happy house, could you know what I suffer in now viewing
+you from this spot, from whence perhaps I may view
+you no more!--And you, ye well-known trees!--but you
+will continue the same.--No leaf will decay because we
+are removed, nor any branch become motionless although we
+can observe you no longer!--No; you will continue the same;
+unconscious of the pleasure or the regret you occasion,
+and insensible of any change in those who walk under your
+shade!--But who will remain to enjoy you?"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 6
+
+
+     The first part of their journey was performed in too
+melancholy a disposition to be otherwise than tedious
+and unpleasant.  But as they drew towards the end of it,
+their interest in the appearance of a country which they
+were to inhabit overcame their dejection, and a view of
+Barton Valley as they entered it gave them cheerfulness.
+It was a pleasant fertile spot, well wooded, and rich
+in pasture.  After winding along it for more than a mile,
+they reached their own house.  A small green court was
+the whole of its demesne in front; and a neat wicket gate
+admitted them into it.
+
+     As a house, Barton Cottage, though small, was comfortable
+and compact; but as a cottage it was defective, for the
+building was regular, the roof was tiled, the window
+shutters were not painted green, nor were the walls covered
+with honeysuckles.  A narrow passage led directly through
+the house into the garden behind.  On each side of the
+entrance was a sitting room, about sixteen feet square;
+and beyond them were the offices and the stairs.
+Four bed-rooms and two garrets formed the rest of the house.
+It had not been built many years and was in good repair.
+In comparison of Norland, it was poor and small indeed!--but
+the tears which recollection called forth as they entered
+the house were soon dried away.  They were cheered
+by the joy of the servants on their arrival, and each
+for the sake of the others resolved to appear happy.
+It was very early in September; the season was fine,
+and from first seeing the place under the advantage
+of good weather, they received an impression in its
+favour which was of material service in recommending
+it to their lasting approbation.
+
+     The situation of the house was good.  High hills rose
+immediately behind, and at no great distance on each side;
+some of which were open downs, the others cultivated and woody.
+The village of Barton was chiefly on one of these hills,
+and formed a pleasant view from the cottage windows.
+The prospect in front was more extensive; it commanded the
+whole of the valley, and reached into the country beyond.
+The hills which surrounded the cottage terminated
+the valley in that direction; under another name,
+and in another course, it branched out again between two
+of the steepest of them.
+
+     With the size and furniture of the house Mrs. Dashwood
+was upon the whole well satisfied; for though her former
+style of life rendered many additions to the latter
+indispensable, yet to add and improve was a delight to her;
+and she had at this time ready money enough to supply all
+that was wanted of greater elegance to the apartments.
+"As for the house itself, to be sure," said she, "it is
+too small for our family, but we will make ourselves
+tolerably comfortable for the present, as it is too late
+in the year for improvements.  Perhaps in the spring,
+if I have plenty of money, as I dare say I shall, we may
+think about building.  These parlors are both too small
+for such parties of our friends as I hope to see often
+collected here; and I have some thoughts of throwing the
+passage into one of them with perhaps a part of the other,
+and so leave the remainder of that other for an entrance;
+this, with a new drawing room which may be easily added,
+and a bed-chamber and garret above, will make it a very snug
+little cottage.  I could wish the stairs were handsome.
+But one must not expect every thing; though I suppose it
+would be no difficult matter to widen them.  I shall see
+how much I am before-hand with the world in the spring,
+and we will plan our improvements accordingly."
+
+     In the mean time, till all these alterations could
+be made from the savings of an income of five hundred
+a-year by a woman who never saved in her life, they were
+wise enough to be contented with the house as it was;
+and each of them was busy in arranging their particular
+concerns, and endeavoring, by placing around them books
+and other possessions, to form themselves a home.
+Marianne's pianoforte was unpacked and properly disposed of;
+and Elinor's drawings were affixed to the walls of their
+sitting room.
+
+     In such employments as these they were interrupted
+soon after breakfast the next day by the entrance of
+their landlord, who called to welcome them to Barton,
+and to offer them every accommodation from his own house
+and garden in which theirs might at present be deficient.
+Sir John Middleton was a good looking man about forty.
+He had formerly visited at Stanhill, but it was too long
+for his young cousins to remember him.  His countenance
+was thoroughly good-humoured; and his manners were
+as friendly as the style of his letter.  Their arrival
+seemed to afford him real satisfaction, and their comfort
+to be an object of real solicitude to him.  He said much
+of his earnest desire of their living in the most sociable
+terms with his family, and pressed them so cordially
+to dine at Barton Park every day till they were better
+settled at home, that, though his entreaties were carried
+to a point of perseverance beyond civility, they could
+not give offence.  His kindness was not confined to words;
+for within an hour after he left them, a large basket
+full of garden stuff and fruit arrived from the park,
+which was followed before the end of the day by a present
+of game.  He insisted, moreover, on conveying all their
+letters to and from the post for them, and would not be
+denied the satisfaction of sending them his newspaper
+every day.
+
+     Lady Middleton had sent a very civil message by him,
+denoting her intention of waiting on Mrs. Dashwood as soon as
+she could be assured that her visit would be no inconvenience;
+and as this message was answered by an invitation
+equally polite, her ladyship was introduced to them the next day.
+
+     They were, of course, very anxious to see a person on
+whom so much of their comfort at Barton must depend; and the
+elegance of her appearance was favourable to their wishes.
+Lady Middleton was not more than six or seven and twenty;
+her face was handsome, her figure tall and striking,
+and her address graceful.  Her manners had all the elegance
+which her husband's wanted.  But they would have been
+improved by some share of his frankness and warmth;
+and her visit was long enough to detract something from
+their first admiration, by shewing that, though perfectly
+well-bred, she was reserved, cold, and had nothing to say
+for herself beyond the most common-place inquiry or remark.
+
+     Conversation however was not wanted, for Sir John
+was very chatty, and Lady Middleton had taken the wise
+precaution of bringing with her their eldest child, a fine
+little boy about six years old, by which means there was
+one subject always to be recurred to by the ladies in case
+of extremity, for they had to enquire his name and age,
+admire his beauty, and ask him questions which his mother
+answered for him, while he hung about her and held
+down his head, to the great surprise of her ladyship,
+who wondered at his being so shy before company, as he
+could make noise enough at home.  On every formal visit
+a child ought to be of the party, by way of provision
+for discourse.  In the present case it took up ten minutes
+to determine whether the boy were most like his father
+or mother, and in what particular he resembled either,
+for of course every body differed, and every body was
+astonished at the opinion of the others.
+
+     An opportunity was soon to be given to the Dashwoods
+of debating on the rest of the children, as Sir John
+would not leave the house without securing their promise
+of dining at the park the next day.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 7
+
+
+     Barton Park was about half a mile from the cottage.
+The ladies had passed near it in their way along the valley,
+but it was screened from their view at home by the
+projection of a hill.  The house was large and handsome;
+and the Middletons lived in a style of equal hospitality
+and elegance.  The former was for Sir John's gratification,
+the latter for that of his lady.  They were scarcely
+ever without some friends staying with them in the house,
+and they kept more company of every kind than any other
+family in the neighbourhood.  It was necessary to the
+happiness of both; for however dissimilar in temper
+and outward behaviour, they strongly resembled each other
+in that total want of talent and taste which confined
+their employments, unconnected with such as society produced,
+within a very narrow compass.  Sir John was a sportsman,
+Lady Middleton a mother.  He hunted and shot, and she
+humoured her children; and these were their only resources.
+Lady Middleton had the advantage of being able to spoil her
+children all the year round, while Sir John's independent
+employments were in existence only half the time.
+Continual engagements at home and abroad, however,
+supplied all the deficiencies of nature and education;
+supported the good spirits of Sir John, and gave exercise
+to the good breeding of his wife.
+
+     Lady Middleton piqued herself upon the elegance
+of her table, and of all her domestic arrangements;
+and from this kind of vanity was her greatest enjoyment
+in any of their parties.  But Sir John's satisfaction
+in society was much more real; he delighted in collecting
+about him more young people than his house would hold,
+and the noisier they were the better was he pleased.
+He was a blessing to all the juvenile part of the neighbourhood,
+for in summer he was for ever forming parties to eat cold
+ham and chicken out of doors, and in winter his private
+balls were numerous enough for any young lady who was not
+suffering under the unsatiable appetite of fifteen.
+
+     The arrival of a new family in the country was always
+a matter of joy to him, and in every point of view he was
+charmed with the inhabitants he had now procured for his
+cottage at Barton.  The Miss Dashwoods were young, pretty,
+and unaffected.  It was enough to secure his good opinion;
+for to be unaffected was all that a pretty girl could
+want to make her mind as captivating as her person.
+The friendliness of his disposition made him happy in
+accommodating those, whose situation might be considered,
+in comparison with the past, as unfortunate.  In showing
+kindness to his cousins therefore he had the real satisfaction
+of a good heart; and in settling a family of females only
+in his cottage, he had all the satisfaction of a sportsman;
+for a sportsman, though he esteems only those of his sex who
+are sportsmen likewise, is not often desirous of encouraging
+their taste by admitting them to a residence within his own manor.
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters were met at the door
+of the house by Sir John, who welcomed them to Barton
+Park with unaffected sincerity; and as he attended them
+to the drawing room repeated to the young ladies the concern
+which the same subject had drawn from him the day before,
+at being unable to get any smart young men to meet them.
+They would see, he said, only one gentleman there
+besides himself; a particular friend who was staying at
+the park, but who was neither very young nor very gay.
+He hoped they would all excuse the smallness of the party,
+and could assure them it should never happen so again.
+He had been to several families that morning in hopes
+of procuring some addition to their number, but it
+was moonlight and every body was full of engagements.
+Luckily Lady Middleton's mother had arrived at Barton
+within the last hour, and as she was a very cheerful
+agreeable woman, he hoped the young ladies would not find
+it so very dull as they might imagine.  The young ladies,
+as well as their mother, were perfectly satisfied with
+having two entire strangers of the party, and wished for
+no more.
+
+     Mrs. Jennings, Lady Middleton's mother, was a
+good-humoured, merry, fat, elderly woman, who talked a
+great deal, seemed very happy, and rather vulgar.  She was full
+of jokes and laughter, and before dinner was over had said
+many witty things on the subject of lovers and husbands;
+hoped they had not left their hearts behind them in Sussex,
+and pretended to see them blush whether they did or not.
+Marianne was vexed at it for her sister's sake, and turned
+her eyes towards Elinor to see how she bore these attacks,
+with an earnestness which gave Elinor far more pain than
+could arise from such common-place raillery as Mrs. Jennings's.
+
+     Colonel Brandon, the friend of Sir John, seemed no
+more adapted by resemblance of manner to be his friend,
+than Lady Middleton was to be his wife, or Mrs. Jennings
+to be Lady Middleton's mother.  He was silent and grave.
+His appearance however was not unpleasing, in spite
+of his being in the opinion of Marianne and Margaret
+an absolute old bachelor, for he was on the wrong side
+of five and thirty; but though his face was not handsome,
+his countenance was sensible, and his address was
+particularly gentlemanlike.
+
+     There was nothing in any of the party which could
+recommend them as companions to the Dashwoods; but the cold
+insipidity of Lady Middleton was so particularly repulsive,
+that in comparison of it the gravity of Colonel Brandon,
+and even the boisterous mirth of Sir John and his
+mother-in-law was interesting.  Lady Middleton seemed
+to be roused to enjoyment only by the entrance of her
+four noisy children after dinner, who pulled her about,
+tore her clothes, and put an end to every kind of discourse
+except what related to themselves.
+
+     In the evening, as Marianne was discovered to be musical,
+she was invited to play.  The instrument was unlocked,
+every body prepared to be charmed, and Marianne,
+who sang very well, at their request went through the
+chief of the songs which Lady Middleton had brought into
+the family on her marriage, and which perhaps had lain
+ever since in the same position on the pianoforte,
+for her ladyship had celebrated that event by giving
+up music, although by her mother's account, she had
+played extremely well, and by her own was very fond of it.
+
+     Marianne's performance was highly applauded.
+Sir John was loud in his admiration at the end of every song,
+and as loud in his conversation with the others while every
+song lasted.  Lady Middleton frequently called him to order,
+wondered how any one's attention could be diverted from music
+for a moment, and asked Marianne to sing a particular song
+which Marianne had just finished.  Colonel Brandon alone,
+of all the party, heard her without being in raptures.
+He paid her only the compliment of attention; and she felt
+a respect for him on the occasion, which the others had
+reasonably forfeited by their shameless want of taste.
+His pleasure in music, though it amounted not to that
+ecstatic delight which alone could sympathize with her own,
+was estimable when contrasted against the horrible
+insensibility of the others; and she was reasonable enough
+to allow that a man of five and thirty might well have
+outlived all acuteness of feeling and every exquisite
+power of enjoyment.  She was perfectly disposed to make
+every allowance for the colonel's advanced state of life
+which humanity required.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 8
+
+
+     Mrs. Jennings was a widow with an ample jointure.
+She had only two daughters, both of whom she had lived
+to see respectably married, and she had now therefore
+nothing to do but to marry all the rest of the world.
+In the promotion of this object she was zealously active,
+as far as her ability reached; and missed no opportunity
+of projecting weddings among all the young people
+of her acquaintance.  She was remarkably quick in the
+discovery of attachments, and had enjoyed the advantage
+of raising the blushes and the vanity of many a young
+lady by insinuations of her power over such a young man;
+and this kind of discernment enabled her soon after her
+arrival at Barton decisively to pronounce that Colonel
+Brandon was very much in love with Marianne Dashwood.
+She rather suspected it to be so, on the very first
+evening of their being together, from his listening
+so attentively while she sang to them; and when the visit
+was returned by the Middletons' dining at the cottage,
+the fact was ascertained by his listening to her again.
+It must be so.  She was perfectly convinced of it.
+It would be an excellent match, for HE was rich, and SHE
+was handsome.  Mrs. Jennings had been anxious to see
+Colonel Brandon well married, ever since her connection
+with Sir John first brought him to her knowledge;
+and she was always anxious to get a good husband for every
+pretty girl.
+
+     The immediate advantage to herself was by no means
+inconsiderable, for it supplied her with endless jokes
+against them both.  At the park she laughed at the colonel,
+and in the cottage at Marianne.  To the former her
+raillery was probably, as far as it regarded only himself,
+perfectly indifferent; but to the latter it was at
+first incomprehensible; and when its object was understood,
+she hardly knew whether most to laugh at its absurdity,
+or censure its impertinence, for she considered it as an
+unfeeling reflection on the colonel's advanced years,
+and on his forlorn condition as an old bachelor.
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood, who could not think a man five years
+younger than herself, so exceedingly ancient as he appeared
+to the youthful fancy of her daughter, ventured to clear
+Mrs. Jennings from the probability of wishing to throw
+ridicule on his age.
+
+     "But at least, Mamma, you cannot deny the absurdity
+of the accusation, though you may not think it intentionally
+ill-natured.  Colonel Brandon is certainly younger than
+Mrs. Jennings, but he is old enough to be MY father;
+and if he were ever animated enough to be in love,
+must have long outlived every sensation of the kind.
+It is too ridiculous!  When is a man to be safe from such wit,
+if age and infirmity will not protect him?"
+
+     "Infirmity!" said Elinor, "do you call Colonel Brandon
+infirm?  I can easily suppose that his age may appear much
+greater to you than to my mother; but you can hardly
+deceive yourself as to his having the use of his limbs!"
+
+     "Did not you hear him complain of the rheumatism?
+and is not that the commonest infirmity of declining life?"
+
+     "My dearest child," said her mother, laughing,
+"at this rate you must be in continual terror of MY decay;
+and it must seem to you a miracle that my life has been
+extended to the advanced age of forty."
+
+     "Mamma, you are not doing me justice.  I know very well
+that Colonel Brandon is not old enough to make his friends
+yet apprehensive of losing him in the course of nature.
+He may live twenty years longer.  But thirty-five has
+nothing to do with matrimony."
+
+     "Perhaps," said Elinor, "thirty-five and seventeen had
+better not have any thing to do with matrimony together.
+But if there should by any chance happen to be a woman
+who is single at seven and twenty, I should not think
+Colonel Brandon's being thirty-five any objection to his
+marrying HER."
+
+     "A woman of seven and twenty," said Marianne,
+after pausing a moment, "can never hope to feel or inspire
+affection again, and if her home be uncomfortable,
+or her fortune small, I can suppose that she might
+bring herself to submit to the offices of a nurse,
+for the sake of the provision and security of a wife.
+In his marrying such a woman therefore there would be
+nothing unsuitable.  It would be a compact of convenience,
+and the world would be satisfied.  In my eyes it would
+be no marriage at all, but that would be nothing.
+To me it would seem only a commercial exchange, in which
+each wished to be benefited at the expense of the other."
+
+     "It would be impossible, I know," replied Elinor,
+"to convince you that a woman of seven and twenty could
+feel for a man of thirty-five anything near enough
+to love, to make him a desirable companion to her.
+But I must object to your dooming Colonel Brandon and
+his wife to the constant confinement of a sick chamber,
+merely because he chanced to complain yesterday (a
+very cold damp day) of a slight rheumatic feel in one
+of his shoulders."
+
+     "But he talked of flannel waistcoats," said Marianne;
+"and with me a flannel waistcoat is invariably connected
+with aches, cramps, rheumatisms, and every species of
+ailment that can afflict the old and the feeble."
+
+     "Had he been only in a violent fever, you would not
+have despised him half so much.  Confess, Marianne, is not
+there something interesting to you in the flushed cheek,
+hollow eye, and quick pulse of a fever?"
+
+     Soon after this, upon Elinor's leaving the room,
+"Mamma," said Marianne, "I have an alarm on the subject
+of illness which I cannot conceal from you.  I am sure
+Edward Ferrars is not well.  We have now been here almost
+a fortnight, and yet he does not come.  Nothing but real
+indisposition could occasion this extraordinary delay.
+What else can detain him at Norland?"
+
+     "Had you any idea of his coming so soon?"
+said Mrs. Dashwood.  "I had none.  On the contrary,
+if I have felt any anxiety at all on the subject, it has
+been in recollecting that he sometimes showed a want
+of pleasure and readiness in accepting my invitation,
+when I talked of his coming to Barton.  Does Elinor
+expect him already?"
+
+     "I have never mentioned it to her, but of course
+she must."
+
+     "I rather think you are mistaken, for when I
+was talking to her yesterday of getting a new grate
+for the spare bedchamber, she observed that there
+was no immediate hurry for it, as it was not likely
+that the room would be wanted for some time."
+
+     "How strange this is! what can be the meaning of it!
+But the whole of their behaviour to each other has been
+unaccountable! How cold, how composed were their last
+adieus! How languid their conversation the last evening
+of their being together! In Edward's farewell there was no
+distinction between Elinor and me: it was the good wishes
+of an affectionate brother to both.  Twice did I leave
+them purposely together in the course of the last morning,
+and each time did he most unaccountably follow me out
+of the room.  And Elinor, in quitting Norland and Edward,
+cried not as I did.  Even now her self-command is invariable.
+When is she dejected or melancholy? When does she try
+to avoid society, or appear restless and dissatisfied
+in it?"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 9
+
+
+     The Dashwoods were now settled at Barton with tolerable
+comfort to themselves.  The house and the garden, with all
+the objects surrounding them, were now become familiar,
+and the ordinary pursuits which had given to Norland
+half its charms were engaged in again with far greater
+enjoyment than Norland had been able to afford, since the
+loss of their father.  Sir John Middleton, who called
+on them every day for the first fortnight, and who was
+not in the habit of seeing much occupation at home,
+could not conceal his amazement on finding them always employed.
+
+     Their visitors, except those from Barton Park,
+were not many; for, in spite of Sir John's urgent entreaties
+that they would mix more in the neighbourhood, and repeated
+assurances of his carriage being always at their service,
+the independence of Mrs. Dashwood's spirit overcame the
+wish of society for her children; and she was resolute
+in declining to visit any family beyond the distance
+of a walk.  There were but few who could be so classed;
+and it was not all of them that were attainable.
+About a mile and a half from the cottage, along the narrow
+winding valley of Allenham, which issued from that of Barton,
+as formerly described, the girls had, in one of their
+earliest walks, discovered an ancient respectable looking
+mansion which, by reminding them a little of Norland,
+interested their imagination and made them wish to be
+better acquainted with it.  But they learnt, on enquiry,
+that its possessor, an elderly lady of very good character,
+was unfortunately too infirm to mix with the world,
+and never stirred from home.
+
+     The whole country about them abounded in beautiful walks.
+The high downs which invited them from almost every window
+of the cottage to seek the exquisite enjoyment of air
+on their summits, were a happy alternative when the dirt
+of the valleys beneath shut up their superior beauties;
+and towards one of these hills did Marianne and Margaret
+one memorable morning direct their steps, attracted by the
+partial sunshine of a showery sky, and unable longer to bear
+the confinement which the settled rain of the two preceding
+days had occasioned.  The weather was not tempting enough
+to draw the two others from their pencil and their book,
+in spite of Marianne's declaration that the day would
+be lastingly fair, and that every threatening cloud would
+be drawn off from their hills; and the two girls set off together.
+
+     They gaily ascended the downs, rejoicing in their own
+penetration at every glimpse of blue sky; and when they
+caught in their faces the animating gales of a high
+south-westerly wind, they pitied the fears which had prevented
+their mother and Elinor from sharing such delightful sensations.
+
+     "Is there a felicity in the world," said Marianne,
+"superior to this?--Margaret, we will walk here at least
+two hours."
+
+     Margaret agreed, and they pursued their way against
+the wind, resisting it with laughing delight for about
+twenty minutes longer, when suddenly the clouds united over
+their heads, and a driving rain set full in their face.--
+Chagrined and surprised, they were obliged, though unwillingly,
+to turn back, for no shelter was nearer than their own house.
+One consolation however remained for them, to which the
+exigence of the moment gave more than usual propriety;
+it was that of running with all possible speed down the steep
+side of the hill which led immediately to their garden gate.
+
+     They set off.  Marianne had at first the advantage,
+but a false step brought her suddenly to the ground;
+and Margaret, unable to stop herself to assist her,
+was involuntarily hurried along, and reached the bottom
+in safety.
+
+     A gentleman carrying a gun, with two pointers
+playing round him, was passing up the hill and within
+a few yards of Marianne, when her accident happened.
+He put down his gun and ran to her assistance.  She had
+raised herself from the ground, but her foot had been
+twisted in her fall, and she was scarcely able to stand.
+The gentleman offered his services; and perceiving that her
+modesty declined what her situation rendered necessary,
+took her up in his arms without farther delay, and carried
+her down the hill.  Then passing through the garden,
+the gate of which had been left open by Margaret, he bore her
+directly into the house, whither Margaret was just arrived,
+and quitted not his hold till he had seated her in a chair
+in the parlour.
+
+     Elinor and her mother rose up in amazement at
+their entrance, and while the eyes of both were fixed
+on him with an evident wonder and a secret admiration
+which equally sprung from his appearance, he apologized
+for his intrusion by relating its cause, in a manner
+so frank and so graceful that his person, which was
+uncommonly handsome, received additional charms from his voice
+and expression.  Had he been even old, ugly, and vulgar,
+the gratitude and kindness of Mrs. Dashwood would
+have been secured by any act of attention to her child;
+but the influence of youth, beauty, and elegance,
+gave an interest to the action which came home to her feelings.
+
+     She thanked him again and again; and, with a sweetness
+of address which always attended her, invited him to
+be seated.  But this he declined, as he was dirty and wet.
+Mrs. Dashwood then begged to know to whom she was obliged.
+His name, he replied, was Willoughby, and his present
+home was at Allenham, from whence he hoped she would
+allow him the honour of calling tomorrow to enquire
+after Miss Dashwood.  The honour was readily granted,
+and he then departed, to make himself still more interesting,
+in the midst of an heavy rain.
+
+     His manly beauty and more than common gracefulness
+were instantly the theme of general admiration,
+and the laugh which his gallantry raised against Marianne
+received particular spirit from his exterior attractions.--
+Marianne herself had seen less of his person that the rest,
+for the confusion which crimsoned over her face, on his
+lifting her up, had robbed her of the power of regarding
+him after their entering the house.  But she had seen
+enough of him to join in all the admiration of the others,
+and with an energy which always adorned her praise.
+His person and air were equal to what her fancy had ever
+drawn for the hero of a favourite story; and in his carrying
+her into the house with so little previous formality, there
+was a rapidity of thought which particularly recommended
+the action to her.  Every circumstance belonging to him
+was interesting.  His name was good, his residence was in
+their favourite village, and she soon found out that of all
+manly dresses a shooting-jacket was the most becoming.
+Her imagination was busy, her reflections were pleasant,
+and the pain of a sprained ankle was disregarded.
+
+     Sir John called on them as soon as the next interval
+of fair weather that morning allowed him to get out
+of doors; and Marianne's accident being related to him,
+he was eagerly asked whether he knew any gentleman
+of the name of Willoughby at Allenham.
+
+     "Willoughby!" cried Sir John; "what, is HE
+in the country? That is good news however; I will
+ride over tomorrow, and ask him to dinner on Thursday."
+
+     "You know him then," said Mrs. Dashwood.
+
+     "Know him! to be sure I do.  Why, he is down here
+every year."
+
+     "And what sort of a young man is he?"
+
+     "As good a kind of fellow as ever lived, I assure you.
+A very decent shot, and there is not a bolder rider
+in England."
+
+     "And is that all you can say for him?" cried Marianne,
+indignantly.  "But what are his manners on more intimate
+acquaintance? What his pursuits, his talents, and genius?"
+
+     Sir John was rather puzzled.
+
+     "Upon my soul," said he, "I do not know much about him
+as to all THAT.  But he is a pleasant, good humoured fellow,
+and has got the nicest little black bitch of a pointer
+I ever saw.  Was she out with him today?"
+
+     But Marianne could no more satisfy him as to the
+colour of Mr. Willoughby's pointer, than he could
+describe to her the shades of his mind.
+
+     "But who is he?" said Elinor.  "Where does he come
+from?  Has he a house at Allenham?"
+
+     On this point Sir John could give more certain intelligence;
+and he told them that Mr. Willoughby had no property
+of his own in the country; that he resided there only
+while he was visiting the old lady at Allenham Court,
+to whom he was related, and whose possessions he was
+to inherit; adding, "Yes, yes, he is very well worth
+catching I can tell you, Miss Dashwood; he has a pretty
+little estate of his own in Somersetshire besides;
+and if I were you, I would not give him up to my
+younger sister, in spite of all this tumbling down hills.
+Miss Marianne must not expect to have all the men to herself.
+Brandon will be jealous, if she does not take care."
+
+     "I do not believe," said Mrs. Dashwood, with a
+good humoured smile, "that Mr. Willoughby will be incommoded
+by the attempts of either of MY daughters towards what
+you call CATCHING him.  It is not an employment to which
+they have been brought up.  Men are very safe with us,
+let them be ever so rich.  I am glad to find, however,
+from what you say, that he is a respectable young man,
+and one whose acquaintance will not be ineligible."
+
+     "He is as good a sort of fellow, I believe,
+as ever lived," repeated Sir John.  "I remember
+last Christmas at a little hop at the park, he danced
+from eight o'clock till four, without once sitting down."
+
+     "Did he indeed?" cried Marianne with sparkling eyes,
+"and with elegance, with spirit?"
+
+     "Yes; and he was up again at eight to ride to covert."
+
+     "That is what I like; that is what a young man ought
+to be.  Whatever be his pursuits, his eagerness in them
+should know no moderation, and leave him no sense of fatigue."
+
+     "Aye, aye, I see how it will be," said Sir John, "I see
+how it will be.  You will be setting your cap at him now,
+and never think of poor Brandon."
+
+     "That is an expression, Sir John," said Marianne,
+warmly, "which I particularly dislike.  I abhor every
+common-place phrase by which wit is intended; and 'setting
+one's cap at a man,' or 'making a conquest,' are the most
+odious of all.  Their tendency is gross and illiberal;
+and if their construction could ever be deemed clever,
+time has long ago destroyed all its ingenuity."
+
+     Sir John did not much understand this reproof;
+but he laughed as heartily as if he did, and then replied,
+
+     "Ay, you will make conquests enough, I dare say,
+one way or other.  Poor Brandon! he is quite smitten already,
+and he is very well worth setting your cap at, I can
+tell you, in spite of all this tumbling about and spraining
+of ankles."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 10
+
+
+     Marianne's preserver, as Margaret, with more elegance
+than precision, styled Willoughby, called at the cottage
+early the next morning to make his personal enquiries.
+He was received by Mrs. Dashwood with more than politeness;
+with a kindness which Sir John's account of him and her own
+gratitude prompted; and every thing that passed during
+the visit tended to assure him of the sense, elegance,
+mutual affection, and domestic comfort of the family
+to whom accident had now introduced him.  Of their
+personal charms he had not required a second interview
+to be convinced.
+
+     Miss Dashwood had a delicate complexion,
+regular features, and a remarkably pretty figure.
+Marianne was still handsomer.  Her form, though not so
+correct as her sister's, in having the advantage of height,
+was more striking; and her face was so lovely, that when 
+in the common cant of praise, she was called a beautiful girl,
+truth was less violently outraged than usually happens.
+Her skin was very brown, but, from its transparency,
+her complexion was uncommonly brilliant; her features
+were all good; her smile was sweet and attractive;
+and in her eyes, which were very dark, there was a life,
+a spirit, an eagerness, which could hardily be seen
+without delight.  From Willoughby their expression was at
+first held back, by the embarrassment which the remembrance
+of his assistance created.  But when this passed away,
+when her spirits became collected, when she saw that to the
+perfect good-breeding of the gentleman, he united frankness
+and vivacity, and above all, when she heard him declare,
+that of music and dancing he was passionately fond,
+she gave him such a look of approbation as secured the
+largest share of his discourse to herself for the rest
+of his stay.
+
+     It was only necessary to mention any favourite
+amusement to engage her to talk.  She could not be
+silent when such points were introduced, and she
+had neither shyness nor reserve in their discussion.
+They speedily discovered that their enjoyment of dancing
+and music was mutual, and that it arose from a general
+conformity of judgment in all that related to either.
+Encouraged by this to a further examination of his opinions,
+she proceeded to question him on the subject of books;
+her favourite authors were brought forward and dwelt
+upon with so rapturous a delight, that any young man of
+five and twenty must have been insensible indeed, not to
+become an immediate convert to the excellence of such works,
+however disregarded before.  Their taste was strikingly alike.
+The same books, the same passages were idolized by each--
+or if any difference appeared, any objection arose,
+it lasted no longer than till the force of her arguments
+and the brightness of her eyes could be displayed.
+He acquiesced in all her decisions, caught all her enthusiasm;
+and long before his visit concluded, they conversed
+with the familiarity of a long-established acquaintance.
+
+     "Well, Marianne," said Elinor, as soon as he had left them,
+"for ONE morning I think you have done pretty well.
+You have already ascertained Mr. Willoughby's opinion in
+almost every matter of importance.  You know what he thinks
+of Cowper and Scott; you are certain of his estimating
+their beauties as he ought, and you have received every
+assurance of his admiring Pope no more than is proper.
+But how is your acquaintance to be long supported, under such
+extraordinary despatch of every subject for discourse?
+You will soon have exhausted each favourite topic.
+Another meeting will suffice to explain his sentiments
+on picturesque beauty, and second marriages, and then
+you can have nothing farther to ask."--
+
+     "Elinor," cried Marianne, "is this fair? is this
+just? are my ideas so scanty?  But I see what you mean.
+I have been too much at my ease, too happy, too frank.
+I have erred against every common-place notion of decorum;
+I have been open and sincere where I ought to have
+been reserved, spiritless, dull, and deceitful--had
+I talked only of the weather and the roads, and had I
+spoken only once in ten minutes, this reproach would have
+been spared."
+
+     "My love," said her mother, "you must not be offended
+with Elinor--she was only in jest.  I should scold
+her myself, if she were capable of wishing to check
+the delight of your conversation with our new friend."--
+Marianne was softened in a moment.
+
+     Willoughby, on his side, gave every proof of his
+pleasure in their acquaintance, which an evident wish
+of improving it could offer.  He came to them every day.
+To enquire after Marianne was at first his excuse; but the
+encouragement of his reception, to which every day gave
+greater kindness, made such an excuse unnecessary before it
+had ceased to be possible, by Marianne's perfect recovery.
+She was confined for some days to the house; but never had
+any confinement been less irksome.  Willoughby was a young
+man of good abilities, quick imagination, lively spirits,
+and open, affectionate manners.  He was exactly formed
+to engage Marianne's heart, for with all this, he joined
+not only a captivating person, but a natural ardour
+of mind which was now roused and increased by the example
+of her own, and which recommended him to her affection
+beyond every thing else.
+
+     His society became gradually her most exquisite enjoyment.
+They read, they talked, they sang together; his musical
+talents were considerable; and he read with all the
+sensibility and spirit which Edward had unfortunately wanted.
+
+     In Mrs. Dashwood's estimation he was as faultless
+as in Marianne's; and Elinor saw nothing to censure in him
+but a propensity, in which he strongly resembled and peculiarly
+delighted her sister, of saying too much what he thought on
+every occasion, without attention to persons or circumstances.
+In hastily forming and giving his opinion of other people,
+in sacrificing general politeness to the enjoyment
+of undivided attention where his heart was engaged,
+and in slighting too easily the forms of worldly propriety,
+he displayed a want of caution which Elinor could not approve,
+in spite of all that he and Marianne could say in its support.
+
+     Marianne began now to perceive that the desperation
+which had seized her at sixteen and a half, of ever
+seeing a man who could satisfy her ideas of perfection,
+had been rash and unjustifiable.  Willoughby was all
+that her fancy had delineated in that unhappy hour
+and in every brighter period, as capable of attaching her;
+and his behaviour declared his wishes to be in that respect
+as earnest, as his abilities were strong.
+
+     Her mother too, in whose mind not one speculative
+thought of their marriage had been raised, by his prospect
+of riches, was led before the end of a week to hope and
+expect it; and secretly to congratulate herself on having
+gained two such sons-in-law as Edward and Willoughby.
+
+     Colonel Brandon's partiality for Marianne, which had
+so early been discovered by his friends, now first became
+perceptible to Elinor, when it ceased to be noticed
+by them.  Their attention and wit were drawn off to his
+more fortunate rival; and the raillery which the other
+had incurred before any partiality arose, was removed
+when his feelings began really to call for the ridicule
+so justly annexed to sensibility.  Elinor was obliged,
+though unwillingly, to believe that the sentiments which
+Mrs. Jennings had assigned him for her own satisfaction,
+were now actually excited by her sister; and that however
+a general resemblance of disposition between the parties
+might forward the affection of Mr. Willoughby, an equally
+striking opposition of character was no hindrance to the
+regard of Colonel Brandon.  She saw it with concern;
+for what could a silent man of five and thirty hope,
+when opposed to a very lively one of five and twenty? and as
+she could not even wish him successful, she heartily wished
+him indifferent.  She liked him--in spite of his gravity
+and reserve, she beheld in him an object of interest.
+His manners, though serious, were mild; and his reserve
+appeared rather the result of some oppression of spirits
+than of any natural gloominess of temper.  Sir John
+had dropped hints of past injuries and disappointments,
+which justified her belief of his being an unfortunate man,
+and she regarded him with respect and compassion.
+
+     Perhaps she pitied and esteemed him the more
+because he was slighted by Willoughby and Marianne,
+who, prejudiced against him for being neither lively
+nor young, seemed resolved to undervalue his merits.
+
+     "Brandon is just the kind of man," said Willoughby
+one day, when they were talking of him together,
+"whom every body speaks well of, and nobody cares about;
+whom all are delighted to see, and nobody remembers
+to talk to."
+
+     "That is exactly what I think of him," cried Marianne.
+
+     "Do not boast of it, however," said Elinor, "for it
+is injustice in both of you.  He is highly esteemed
+by all the family at the park, and I never see him myself
+without taking pains to converse with him."
+
+     "That he is patronised by YOU," replied Willoughby,
+"is certainly in his favour; but as for the esteem
+of the others, it is a reproach in itself.  Who would
+submit to the indignity of being approved by such a woman
+as Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings, that could command
+the indifference of any body else?"
+
+     "But perhaps the abuse of such people as yourself
+and Marianne will make amends for the regard of Lady
+Middleton and her mother.  If their praise is censure,
+your censure may be praise, for they are not more undiscerning,
+than you are prejudiced and unjust."
+
+     "In defence of your protege you can even be saucy."
+
+     "My protege, as you call him, is a sensible man;
+and sense will always have attractions for me.
+Yes, Marianne, even in a man between thirty and forty.
+He has seen a great deal of the world; has been abroad,
+has read, and has a thinking mind.  I have found him
+capable of giving me much information on various subjects;
+and he has always answered my inquiries with readiness of
+good-breeding and good nature."
+
+     "That is to say," cried Marianne contemptuously,
+"he has told you, that in the East Indies the climate is hot,
+and the mosquitoes are troublesome."
+
+     "He WOULD have told me so, I doubt not, had I made
+any such inquiries, but they happened to be points
+on which I had been previously informed."
+
+     "Perhaps," said Willoughby, "his observations may
+have extended to the existence of nabobs, gold mohrs,
+and palanquins."
+
+     "I may venture to say that HIS observations
+have stretched much further than your candour.
+But why should you dislike him?"
+
+     "I do not dislike him.  I consider him, on the contrary,
+as a very respectable man, who has every body's good word,
+and nobody's notice; who, has more money than he can spend,
+more time than he knows how to employ, and two new coats
+every year."
+
+     "Add to which," cried Marianne, "that he has
+neither genius, taste, nor spirit.  That his understanding
+has no brilliancy, his feelings no ardour, and his voice
+no expression."
+
+     "You decide on his imperfections so much in the mass,"
+replied Elinor, "and so much on the strength of your
+own imagination, that the commendation I am able to give
+of him is comparatively cold and insipid.  I can only
+pronounce him to be a sensible man, well-bred, well-informed,
+of gentle address, and, I believe, possessing an amiable heart."
+
+     "Miss Dashwood," cried Willoughby, "you are now using
+me unkindly.  You are endeavouring to disarm me by reason,
+and to convince me against my will.  But it will not do.
+You shall find me as stubborn as you can be artful.  I have
+three unanswerable reasons for disliking Colonel Brandon;
+he threatened me with rain when I wanted it to be fine;
+he has found fault with the hanging of my curricle,
+and I cannot persuade him to buy my brown mare.  If it
+will be any satisfaction to you, however, to be told,
+that I believe his character to be in other respects
+irreproachable, I am ready to confess it.  And in return
+for an acknowledgment, which must give me some pain,
+you cannot deny me the privilege of disliking him as much
+as ever."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 11
+
+
+     Little had Mrs. Dashwood or her daughters imagined
+when they first came into Devonshire, that so many
+engagements would arise to occupy their time as shortly
+presented themselves, or that they should have such frequent
+invitations and such constant visitors as to leave them little
+leisure for serious employment.  Yet such was the case.
+When Marianne was recovered, the schemes of amusement at home
+and abroad, which Sir John had been previously forming,
+were put into execution.  The private balls at the park
+then began; and parties on the water were made and
+accomplished as often as a showery October would allow.
+In every meeting of the kind Willoughby was included;
+and the ease and familiarity which naturally attended
+these parties were exactly calculated to give increasing
+intimacy to his acquaintance with the Dashwoods, to afford
+him opportunity of witnessing the excellencies of Marianne,
+of marking his animated admiration of her, and of receiving,
+in her behaviour to himself, the most pointed assurance
+of her affection.
+
+     Elinor could not be surprised at their attachment.
+She only wished that it were less openly shewn; and once
+or twice did venture to suggest the propriety of some
+self-command to Marianne.  But Marianne abhorred all
+concealment where no real disgrace could attend unreserve;
+and to aim at the restraint of sentiments which were not
+in themselves illaudable, appeared to her not merely
+an unnecessary effort, but a disgraceful subjection
+of reason to common-place and mistaken notions.
+Willoughby thought the same; and their behaviour at
+all times, was an illustration of their opinions.
+
+     When he was present she had no eyes for any one else.
+Every thing he did, was right.  Every thing he said, was clever.
+If their evenings at the park were concluded with cards,
+he cheated himself and all the rest of the party to get
+her a good hand.  If dancing formed the amusement
+of the night, they were partners for half the time;
+and when obliged to separate for a couple of dances,
+were careful to stand together and scarcely spoke a word
+to any body else.  Such conduct made them of course
+most exceedingly laughed at; but ridicule could not shame,
+and seemed hardly to provoke them.
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood entered into all their feelings with
+a warmth which left her no inclination for checking this
+excessive display of them.  To her it was but the natural
+consequence of a strong affection in a young and ardent mind.
+
+     This was the season of happiness to Marianne.
+Her heart was devoted to Willoughby, and the fond attachment
+to Norland, which she brought with her from Sussex,
+was more likely to be softened than she had thought it
+possible before, by the charms which his society bestowed
+on her present home.
+
+     Elinor's happiness was not so great.  Her heart was not
+so much at ease, nor her satisfaction in their amusements
+so pure.  They afforded her no companion that could make
+amends for what she had left behind, nor that could teach
+her to think of Norland with less regret than ever.
+Neither Lady Middleton nor Mrs. Jennings could supply
+to her the conversation she missed; although the latter
+was an everlasting talker, and from the first had regarded
+her with a kindness which ensured her a large share of
+her discourse.  She had already repeated her own history
+to Elinor three or four times; and had Elinor's memory been
+equal to her means of improvement, she might have known
+very early in their acquaintance all the particulars of
+Mr. Jenning's last illness, and what he said to his wife
+a few minutes before he died.  Lady Middleton was more
+agreeable than her mother only in being more silent.
+Elinor needed little observation to perceive that her
+reserve was a mere calmness of manner with which sense
+had nothing to do.  Towards her husband and mother she
+was the same as to them; and intimacy was therefore
+neither to be looked for nor desired.  She had nothing
+to say one day that she had not said the day before.
+Her insipidity was invariable, for even her spirits were
+always the same; and though she did not oppose the parties
+arranged by her husband, provided every thing were conducted
+in style and her two eldest children attended her,
+she never appeared to receive more enjoyment from them
+than she might have experienced in sitting at home;--
+and so little did her presence add to the pleasure
+of the others, by any share in their conversation,
+that they were sometimes only reminded of her being
+amongst them by her solicitude about her troublesome boys.
+
+     In Colonel Brandon alone, of all her new acquaintance,
+did Elinor find a person who could in any degree claim the
+respect of abilities, excite the interest of friendship,
+or give pleasure as a companion.  Willoughby was out
+of the question.  Her admiration and regard, even her
+sisterly regard, was all his own; but he was a lover;
+his attentions were wholly Marianne's, and a far less
+agreeable man might have been more generally pleasing.
+Colonel Brandon, unfortunately for himself, had no such
+encouragement to think only of Marianne, and in conversing
+with Elinor he found the greatest consolation for the
+indifference of her sister.
+
+     Elinor's compassion for him increased, as she had reason
+to suspect that the misery of disappointed love had already
+been known to him.  This suspicion was given by some words
+which accidently dropped from him one evening at the park,
+when they were sitting down together by mutual consent,
+while the others were dancing.  His eyes were fixed
+on Marianne, and, after a silence of some minutes,
+he said, with a faint smile, "Your sister, I understand,
+does not approve of second attachments."
+
+     "No," replied Elinor, "her opinions are all romantic."
+
+     "Or rather, as I believe, she considers them
+impossible to exist."
+
+     "I believe she does.  But how she contrives it
+without reflecting on the character of her own father,
+who had himself two wives, I know not.  A few years
+however will settle her opinions on the reasonable basis
+of common sense and observation; and then they may be
+more easy to define and to justify than they now are,
+by any body but herself."
+
+     "This will probably be the case," he replied;
+"and yet there is something so amiable in the prejudices
+of a young mind, that one is sorry to see them give way
+to the reception of more general opinions."
+
+     "I cannot agree with you there," said Elinor.
+"There are inconveniences attending such feelings
+as Marianne's, which all the charms of enthusiasm and
+ignorance of the world cannot atone for.  Her systems have
+all the unfortunate tendency of setting propriety at nought;
+and a better acquaintance with the world is what I look
+forward to as her greatest possible advantage."
+
+     After a short pause he resumed the conversation
+by saying,--
+
+     "Does your sister make no distinction in her objections
+against a second attachment? or is it equally criminal
+in every body?  Are those who have been disappointed
+in their first choice, whether from the inconstancy
+of its object, or the perverseness of circumstances,
+to be equally indifferent during the rest of their lives?"
+
+     "Upon my word, I am not acquainted with the minutiae
+of her principles.  I only know that I never yet heard her
+admit any instance of a second attachment's being pardonable."
+
+     "This," said he, "cannot hold; but a change,
+a total change of sentiments--No, no, do not desire it;
+for when the romantic refinements of a young mind
+are obliged to give way, how frequently are they
+succeeded by such opinions as are but too common, and too
+dangerous!  I speak from experience.  I once knew a lady
+who in temper and mind greatly resembled your sister,
+who thought and judged like her, but who from an inforced
+change--from a series of unfortunate circumstances"--
+Here he stopt suddenly; appeared to think that he had said
+too much, and by his countenance gave rise to conjectures,
+which might not otherwise have entered Elinor's head.
+The lady would probably have passed without suspicion,
+had he not convinced Miss Dashwood that what concerned
+her ought not to escape his lips.  As it was,
+it required but a slight effort of fancy to connect his
+emotion with the tender recollection of past regard.
+Elinor attempted no more.  But Marianne, in her place,
+would not have done so little.  The whole story would
+have been speedily formed under her active imagination;
+and every thing established in the most melancholy order
+of disastrous love.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 12
+
+
+     As Elinor and Marianne were walking together the
+next morning the latter communicated a piece of news
+to her sister, which in spite of all that she knew
+before of Marianne's imprudence and want of thought,
+surprised her by its extravagant testimony of both.
+Marianne told her, with the greatest delight, that 
+Willoughby had given her a horse, one that he had bred 
+himself on his estate in Somersetshire, and which was 
+exactly calculated to carry a woman.  Without considering 
+that it was not in her mother's plan to keep any horse, 
+that if she were to alter her resolution in favour of 
+this gift, she must buy another for the servant, and 
+keep a servant to ride it, and after all, build a stable 
+to receive them, she had accepted the present without 
+hesitation, and told her sister of it in raptures.
+
+     "He intends to send his groom into Somersetshire
+immediately for it," she added, "and when it arrives we
+will ride every day.  You shall share its use with me.
+Imagine to yourself, my dear Elinor, the delight of a gallop
+on some of these downs."
+
+     Most unwilling was she to awaken from such a dream of
+felicity to comprehend all the unhappy truths which attended
+the affair; and for some time she refused to submit to them.
+As to an additional servant, the expense would be a trifle;
+Mamma she was sure would never object to it; and any horse
+would do for HIM; he might always get one at the park;
+as to a stable, the merest shed would be sufficient.
+Elinor then ventured to doubt the propriety of her receiving
+such a present from a man so little, or at least so lately
+known to her.  This was too much.
+
+     "You are mistaken, Elinor," said she warmly,
+"in supposing I know very little of Willoughby.
+I have not known him long indeed, but I am much better
+acquainted with him, than I am with any other creature
+in the world, except yourself and mama.  It is not
+time or opportunity that is to determine intimacy;--
+it is disposition alone.  Seven years would be insufficient
+to make some people acquainted with each other, and seven
+days are more than enough for others.  I should hold
+myself guilty of greater impropriety in accepting a horse
+from my brother, than from Willoughby.  Of John I know
+very little, though we have lived together for years;
+but of Willoughby my judgment has long been formed."
+
+     Elinor thought it wisest to touch that point no more.
+She knew her sister's temper.  Opposition on so tender a
+subject would only attach her the more to her own opinion.
+But by an appeal to her affection for her mother,
+by representing the inconveniences which that indulgent
+mother must draw on herself, if (as would probably be
+the case) she consented to this increase of establishment,
+Marianne was shortly subdued; and she promised not to
+tempt her mother to such imprudent kindness by mentioning
+the offer, and to tell Willoughby when she saw him next,
+that it must be declined.
+
+     She was faithful to her word; and when Willoughby
+called at the cottage, the same day, Elinor heard her
+express her disappointment to him in a low voice, on
+being obliged to forego the acceptance of his present.
+The reasons for this alteration were at the same time related,
+and they were such as to make further entreaty on his
+side impossible.  His concern however was very apparent;
+and after expressing it with earnestness, he added,
+in the same low voice,--"But, Marianne, the horse is
+still yours, though you cannot use it now.  I shall keep
+it only till you can claim it.  When you leave Barton
+to form your own establishment in a more lasting home,
+Queen Mab shall receive you."
+
+     This was all overheard by Miss Dashwood; and in the
+whole of the sentence, in his manner of pronouncing it,
+and in his addressing her sister by her christian name alone,
+she instantly saw an intimacy so decided, a meaning
+so direct, as marked a perfect agreement between them.
+>From that moment she doubted not of their being engaged
+to each other; and the belief of it created no other surprise
+than that she, or any of their friends, should be left
+by tempers so frank, to discover it by accident.
+
+     Margaret related something to her the next day,
+which placed this matter in a still clearer light.
+Willoughby had spent the preceding evening with them,
+and Margaret, by being left some time in the parlour
+with only him and Marianne, had had opportunity
+for observations, which, with a most important face,
+she communicated to her eldest sister, when they were
+next by themselves.
+
+     "Oh, Elinor!" she cried, "I have such a secret to
+tell you about Marianne.  I am sure she will be married
+to Mr. Willoughby very soon."
+
+     "You have said so," replied Elinor, "almost every
+day since they first met on High-church Down; and they
+had not known each other a week, I believe, before you
+were certain that Marianne wore his picture round her neck;
+but it turned out to be only the miniature of our great uncle."
+
+     "But indeed this is quite another thing.  I am sure
+they will be married very soon, for he has got a lock
+of her hair."
+
+     "Take care, Margaret.  It may be only the hair
+of some great uncle of HIS."
+
+     "But, indeed, Elinor, it is Marianne's. I am almost
+sure it is, for I saw him cut it off.  Last night
+after tea, when you and mama went out of the room,
+they were whispering and talking together as fast as
+could be, and he seemed to be begging something of her,
+and presently he took up her scissors and cut off a long
+lock of her hair, for it was all tumbled down her back;
+and he kissed it, and folded it up in a piece of white paper;
+and put it into his pocket-book."
+
+     For such particulars, stated on such authority,
+Elinor could not withhold her credit; nor was she disposed
+to it, for the circumstance was in perfect unison with
+what she had heard and seen herself.
+
+     Margaret's sagacity was not always displayed in a
+way so satisfactory to her sister.  When Mrs. Jennings
+attacked her one evening at the park, to give the name
+of the young man who was Elinor's particular favourite,
+which had been long a matter of great curiosity to her,
+Margaret answered by looking at her sister, and saying,
+"I must not tell, may I, Elinor?"
+
+     This of course made every body laugh; and Elinor
+tried to laugh too.  But the effort was painful.
+She was convinced that Margaret had fixed on a person
+whose name she could not bear with composure to become
+a standing joke with Mrs. Jennings.
+
+     Marianne felt for her most sincerely; but she did
+more harm than good to the cause, by turning very red
+and saying in an angry manner to Margaret,
+
+     "Remember that whatever your conjectures may be,
+you have no right to repeat them."
+
+     "I never had any conjectures about it," replied Margaret;
+"it was you who told me of it yourself."
+
+     This increased the mirth of the company, and Margaret
+was eagerly pressed to say something more.
+
+     "Oh! pray, Miss Margaret, let us know all about it,"
+said Mrs. Jennings.  "What is the gentleman's name?"
+
+     "I must not tell, ma'am. But I know very well what it is;
+and I know where he is too."
+
+     "Yes, yes, we can guess where he is; at his own house
+at Norland to be sure.  He is the curate of the parish
+I dare say."
+
+     "No, THAT he is not.  He is of no profession at all."
+
+     "Margaret," said Marianne with great warmth,
+"you know that all this is an invention of your own,
+and that there is no such person in existence."
+
+     "Well, then, he is lately dead, Marianne, for I
+am sure there was such a man once, and his name begins
+with an F."
+
+     Most grateful did Elinor feel to Lady Middleton
+for observing, at this moment, "that it rained very hard,"
+though she believed the interruption to proceed less from
+any attention to her, than from her ladyship's great dislike
+of all such inelegant subjects of raillery as delighted
+her husband and mother.  The idea however started by her,
+was immediately pursued by Colonel Brandon, who was
+on every occasion mindful of the feelings of others;
+and much was said on the subject of rain by both of them.
+Willoughby opened the piano-forte, and asked Marianne
+to sit down to it; and thus amidst the various endeavours
+of different people to quit the topic, it fell to the ground.
+But not so easily did Elinor recover from the alarm into
+which it had thrown her.
+
+     A party was formed this evening for going on the
+following day to see a very fine place about twelve miles
+from Barton, belonging to a brother-in-law of Colonel Brandon,
+without whose interest it could not be seen, as the proprietor,
+who was then abroad, had left strict orders on that head.
+The grounds were declared to be highly beautiful,
+and Sir John, who was particularly warm in their praise,
+might be allowed to be a tolerable judge, for he had
+formed parties to visit them, at least, twice every summer
+for the last ten years.  They contained a noble piece
+of water; a sail on which was to a form a great part of
+the morning's amusement; cold provisions were to be taken,
+open carriages only to be employed, and every thing
+conducted in the usual style of a complete party of pleasure.
+
+     To some few of the company it appeared rather
+a bold undertaking, considering the time of year,
+and that it had rained every day for the last fortnight;--
+and Mrs. Dashwood, who had already a cold, was persuaded
+by Elinor to stay at home.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 13
+
+
+     Their intended excursion to Whitwell turned out
+very different from what Elinor had expected.  She was
+prepared to be wet through, fatigued, and frightened;
+but the event was still more unfortunate, for they did
+not go at all.
+
+     By ten o'clock the whole party was assembled at
+the park, where they were to breakfast.  The morning
+was rather favourable, though it had rained all night,
+as the clouds were then dispersing across the sky,
+and the sun frequently appeared.  They were all in high
+spirits and good humour, eager to be happy, and determined
+to submit to the greatest inconveniences and hardships
+rather than be otherwise.
+
+     While they were at breakfast the letters were brought in.
+Among the rest there was one for Colonel Brandon;--he
+took it, looked at the direction, changed colour,
+and immediately left the room.
+
+     "What is the matter with Brandon?" said Sir John.
+
+     Nobody could tell.
+
+     "I hope he has had no bad news," said Lady Middleton.
+"It must be something extraordinary that could make Colonel
+Brandon leave my breakfast table so suddenly."
+
+     In about five minutes he returned.
+
+     "No bad news, Colonel, I hope;" said Mrs. Jennings,
+as soon as he entered the room.
+
+     "None at all, ma'am, I thank you."
+
+     "Was it from Avignon?  I hope it is not to say
+that your sister is worse."
+
+     "No, ma'am. It came from town, and is merely
+a letter of business."
+
+     "But how came the hand to discompose you so much,
+if it was only a letter of business?  Come, come,
+this won't do, Colonel; so let us hear the truth of it."
+
+     "My dear madam," said Lady Middleton, "recollect what
+you are saying."
+
+     "Perhaps it is to tell you that your cousin Fanny
+is married?" said Mrs. Jennings, without attending
+to her daughter's reproof.
+
+     "No, indeed, it is not."
+
+     "Well, then, I know who it is from, Colonel.  And I
+hope she is well."
+
+     "Whom do you mean, ma'am?" said he, colouring a little.
+
+     "Oh! you know who I mean."
+
+     "I am particularly sorry, ma'am," said he,
+addressing Lady Middleton, "that I should receive this
+letter today, for it is on business which requires
+my immediate attendance in town."
+
+     "In town!" cried Mrs. Jennings.  "What can you
+have to do in town at this time of year?"
+
+     "My own loss is great," be continued, "in being obliged
+to leave so agreeable a party; but I am the more concerned,
+as I fear my presence is necessary to gain your admittance
+at Whitwell."
+
+     What a blow upon them all was this!
+
+     "But if you write a note to the housekeeper, Mr. Brandon,"
+said Marianne, eagerly, "will it not be sufficient?"
+
+     He shook his head.
+
+     "We must go," said Sir John.--"It shall not be put
+off when we are so near it.  You cannot go to town till
+tomorrow, Brandon, that is all."
+
+     "I wish it could be so easily settled.  But it
+is not in my power to delay my journey for one day!"
+
+     "If you would but let us know what your business is,"
+said Mrs. Jennings, "we might see whether it could be put
+off or not."
+
+     "You would not be six hours later," said Willoughby,
+"if you were to defer your journey till our return."
+
+     "I cannot afford to lose ONE hour."--
+
+     Elinor then heard Willoughby say, in a low voice to Marianne,
+"There are some people who cannot bear a party of pleasure.
+Brandon is one of them.  He was afraid of catching cold
+I dare say, and invented this trick for getting out of it.
+I would lay fifty guineas the letter was of his own writing."
+
+     "I have no doubt of it," replied Marianne.
+
+     "There is no persuading you to change your mind,
+Brandon, I know of old," said Sir John, "when once you
+are determined on anything.  But, however, I hope you
+will think better of it.  Consider, here are the two Miss
+Careys come over from Newton, the three Miss Dashwoods
+walked up from the cottage, and Mr. Willoughby got up
+two hours before his usual time, on purpose to go to Whitwell."
+
+     Colonel Brandon again repeated his sorrow at being
+the cause of disappointing the party; but at the same
+time declared it to be unavoidable.
+
+     "Well, then, when will you come back again?"
+
+     "I hope we shall see you at Barton," added her ladyship,
+"as soon as you can conveniently leave town; and we must
+put off the party to Whitwell till you return."
+
+     "You are very obliging.  But it is so uncertain,
+when I may have it in my power to return, that I dare
+not engage for it at all."
+
+     "Oh! he must and shall come back," cried Sir John.
+"If he is not here by the end of the week, I shall go
+after him."
+
+     "Ay, so do, Sir John," cried Mrs. Jennings, "and then
+perhaps you may find out what his business is."
+
+     "I do not want to pry into other men's concerns.
+I suppose it is something he is ashamed of."
+
+     Colonel Brandon's horses were announced.
+
+     "You do not go to town on horseback, do you?"
+added Sir John.
+
+     "No. Only to Honiton.  I shall then go post."
+
+     "Well, as you are resolved to go, I wish you
+a good journey.  But you had better change your mind."
+
+     "I assure you it is not in my power."
+
+     He then took leave of the whole party.
+
+     "Is there no chance of my seeing you and your sisters
+in town this winter, Miss Dashwood?"
+
+     "I am afraid, none at all."
+
+     "Then I must bid you farewell for a longer time
+than I should wish to do."
+
+     To Marianne, he merely bowed and said nothing.
+
+     "Come Colonel," said Mrs. Jennings, "before you go,
+do let us know what you are going about."
+
+     He wished her a good morning, and, attended by Sir John,
+left the room.
+
+     The complaints and lamentations which politeness
+had hitherto restrained, now burst forth universally;
+and they all agreed again and again how provoking it was
+to be so disappointed.
+
+     "I can guess what his business is, however,"
+said Mrs. Jennings exultingly.
+
+     "Can you, ma'am?" said almost every body.
+
+     "Yes; it is about Miss Williams, I am sure."
+
+     "And who is Miss Williams?" asked Marianne.
+
+     "What! do not you know who Miss Williams is? I am
+sure you must have heard of her before.  She is a relation
+of the Colonel's, my dear; a very near relation.  We will
+not say how near, for fear of shocking the young ladies."
+Then, lowering her voice a little, she said to Elinor,
+"She is his natural daughter."
+
+     "Indeed!"
+
+     "Oh, yes; and as like him as she can stare.
+I dare say the Colonel will leave her all his fortune."
+
+     When Sir John returned, he joined most heartily
+in the general regret on so unfortunate an event;
+concluding however by observing, that as they were
+all got together, they must do something by way of
+being happy; and after some consultation it was agreed,
+that although happiness could only be enjoyed at Whitwell,
+they might procure a tolerable composure of mind by driving
+about the country.  The carriages were then ordered;
+Willoughby's was first, and Marianne never looked
+happier than when she got into it.  He drove through
+the park very fast, and they were soon out of sight;
+and nothing more of them was seen till their return,
+which did not happen till after the return of all the rest.
+They both seemed delighted with their drive; but said
+only in general terms that they had kept in the lanes,
+while the others went on the downs.
+
+     It was settled that there should be a dance in the evening,
+and that every body should be extremely merry all day long.
+Some more of the Careys came to dinner, and they had the
+pleasure of sitting down nearly twenty to table, which Sir
+John observed with great contentment.  Willoughby took
+his usual place between the two elder Miss Dashwoods.
+Mrs. Jennings sat on Elinor's right hand; and they had not
+been long seated, before she leant behind her and Willoughby,
+and said to Marianne, loud enough for them both to hear,
+"I have found you out in spite of all your tricks.
+I know where you spent the morning."
+
+     Marianne coloured, and replied very hastily,
+"Where, pray?"--
+
+     "Did not you know," said Willoughby, "that we had
+been out in my curricle?"
+
+     "Yes, yes, Mr. Impudence, I know that very well,
+and I was determined to find out WHERE you had been to.--
+I hope you like your house, Miss Marianne.  It is a very
+large one, I know; and when I come to see you, I hope you
+will have new-furnished it, for it wanted it very much
+when I was there six years ago."
+
+     Marianne turned away in great confusion.
+Mrs. Jennings laughed heartily; and Elinor found that in her
+resolution to know where they had been, she had actually
+made her own woman enquire of Mr. Willoughby's groom;
+and that she had by that method been informed that they
+had gone to Allenham, and spent a considerable time there
+in walking about the garden and going all over the house.
+
+     Elinor could hardly believe this to be true,
+as it seemed very unlikely that Willoughby should propose,
+or Marianne consent, to enter the house while Mrs. Smith was
+in it, with whom Marianne had not the smallest acquaintance.
+
+     As soon as they left the dining-room, Elinor enquired
+of her about it; and great was her surprise when she
+found that every circumstance related by Mrs. Jennings
+was perfectly true.  Marianne was quite angry with her
+for doubting it.
+
+     "Why should you imagine, Elinor, that we did not
+go there, or that we did not see the house?  Is not it
+what you have often wished to do yourself?"
+
+     "Yes, Marianne, but I would not go while Mrs. Smith
+was there, and with no other companion than Mr. Willoughby."
+
+     "Mr. Willoughby however is the only person who can
+have a right to shew that house; and as he went in an open
+carriage, it was impossible to have any other companion.
+I never spent a pleasanter morning in my life."
+
+     "I am afraid," replied Elinor, "that the pleasantness
+of an employment does not always evince its propriety."
+
+     "On the contrary, nothing can be a stronger proof
+of it, Elinor; for if there had been any real impropriety
+in what I did, I should have been sensible of it at
+the time, for we always know when we are acting wrong,
+and with such a conviction I could have had no pleasure."
+
+     "But, my dear Marianne, as it has already exposed you
+to some very impertinent remarks, do you not now begin
+to doubt the discretion of your own conduct?"
+
+     "If the impertinent remarks of Mrs. Jennings are
+to be the proof of impropriety in conduct, we are all
+offending every moment of our lives.  I value not her
+censure any more than I should do her commendation.
+I am not sensible of having done anything wrong in walking
+over Mrs. Smith's grounds, or in seeing her house.
+They will one day be Mr. Willoughby's, and--"
+
+     "If they were one day to be your own, Marianne,
+you would not be justified in what you have done."
+
+     She blushed at this hint; but it was even visibly
+gratifying to her; and after a ten minutes' interval of
+earnest thought, she came to her sister again, and said
+with great good humour, "Perhaps, Elinor, it WAS rather
+ill-judged in me to go to Allenham; but Mr. Willoughby wanted
+particularly to shew me the place; and it is a charming house,
+I assure you.--There is one remarkably pretty sitting room
+up stairs; of a nice comfortable size for constant use,
+and with modern furniture it would be delightful.
+It is a corner room, and has windows on two sides.
+On one side you look across the bowling-green, behind
+the house, to a beautiful hanging wood, and on the other you
+have a view of the church and village, and, beyond them,
+of those fine bold hills that we have so often admired.
+I did not see it to advantage, for nothing could be
+more forlorn than the furniture,--but if it were newly
+fitted up--a couple of hundred pounds, Willoughby says,
+would make it one of the pleasantest summer-rooms
+in England."
+
+     Could Elinor have listened to her without interruption
+from the others, she would have described every room
+in the house with equal delight.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 14
+
+
+     The sudden termination of Colonel Brandon's visit
+at the park, with his steadiness in concealing its cause,
+filled the mind, and raised the wonder of Mrs. Jennings
+for two or three days; she was a great wonderer, as every
+one must be who takes a very lively interest in all the
+comings and goings of all their acquaintance.  She wondered,
+with little intermission what could be the reason of it;
+was sure there must be some bad news, and thought over
+every kind of distress that could have befallen him,
+with a fixed determination that he should not escape
+them all.
+
+     "Something very melancholy must be the matter,
+I am sure," said she.  "I could see it in his face.
+Poor man!  I am afraid his circumstances may be bad.
+The estate at Delaford was never reckoned more than two thousand
+a year, and his brother left everything sadly involved.
+I do think he must have been sent for about money matters,
+for what else can it be?  I wonder whether it is so.
+I would give anything to know the truth of it.  Perhaps it
+is about Miss Williams and, by the bye, I dare say it is,
+because he looked so conscious when I mentioned her.
+May be she is ill in town; nothing in the world more likely,
+for I have a notion she is always rather sickly.
+I would lay any wager it is about Miss Williams.
+It is not so very likely he should be distressed in
+his circumstances NOW, for he is a very prudent man,
+and to be sure must have cleared the estate by this time.
+I wonder what it can be!  May be his sister is worse
+at Avignon, and has sent for him over.  His setting off
+in such a hurry seems very like it.  Well, I wish him out
+of all his trouble with all my heart, and a good wife into
+the bargain."
+
+     So wondered, so talked Mrs. Jennings.  Her opinion
+varying with every fresh conjecture, and all seeming
+equally probable as they arose.  Elinor, though she felt
+really interested in the welfare of Colonel Brandon,
+could not bestow all the wonder on his going so suddenly
+away, which Mrs. Jennings was desirous of her feeling;
+for besides that the circumstance did not in her opinion
+justify such lasting amazement or variety of speculation,
+her wonder was otherwise disposed of.  It was engossed
+by the extraordinary silence of her sister and Willoughby
+on the subject, which they must know to be peculiarly
+interesting to them all.  As this silence continued,
+every day made it appear more strange and more incompatible
+with the disposition of both.  Why they should not openly
+acknowledge to her mother and herself, what their constant
+behaviour to each other declared to have taken place,
+Elinor could not imagine.
+
+     She could easily conceive that marriage might not
+be immediately in their power; for though Willoughby
+was independent, there was no reason to believe him rich.
+His estate had been rated by Sir John at about six or seven
+hundred a year; but he lived at an expense to which that income
+could hardly be equal, and he had himself often complained
+of his poverty.  But for this strange kind of secrecy
+maintained by them relative to their engagement, which
+in fact concealed nothing at all, she could not account;
+and it was so wholly contradictory to their general
+opinions and practice, that a doubt sometimes entered
+her mind of their being really engaged, and this doubt
+was enough to prevent her making any inquiry of Marianne.
+
+     Nothing could be more expressive of attachment
+to them all, than Willoughby's behaviour.  To Marianne 
+it had all the distinguishing tenderness which a lover's
+heart could give, and to the rest of the family it was the
+affectionate attention of a son and a brother.  The cottage
+seemed to be considered and loved by him as his home;
+many more of his hours were spent there than at Allenham;
+and if no general engagement collected them at the park,
+the exercise which called him out in the morning was
+almost certain of ending there, where the rest of the day
+was spent by himself at the side of Marianne, and by his
+favourite pointer at her feet.
+
+     One evening in particular, about a week after
+Colonel Brandon left the country, his heart seemed
+more than usually open to every feeling of attachment
+to the objects around him; and on Mrs. Dashwood's
+happening to mention her design of improving the cottage
+in the spring, he warmly opposed every alteration
+of a place which affection had established as perfect with him.
+
+     "What!" he exclaimed--"Improve this dear cottage!
+No. THAT I will never consent to.  Not a stone must
+be added to its walls, not an inch to its size,
+if my feelings are regarded."
+
+     "Do not be alarmed," said Miss Dashwood,
+"nothing of the kind will be done; for my mother
+will never have money enough to attempt it."
+
+     "I am heartily glad of it", he cried.  "May she
+always be poor, if she can employ her riches no better."
+
+     "Thank you, Willoughby.  But you may be assured that I
+would not sacrifice one sentiment of local attachment
+of yours, or of any one whom I loved, for all the improvements
+in the world.  Depend upon it that whatever unemployed
+sum may remain, when I make up my accounts in the spring,
+I would even rather lay it uselessly by than dispose
+of it in a manner so painful to you.  But are you really
+so attached to this place as to see no defect in it?"
+
+     "I am," said he.  "To me it is faultless.  Nay, more,
+I consider it as the only form of building in which happiness
+is attainable, and were I rich enough I would instantly pull
+Combe down, and build it up again in the exact plan of this cottage."
+
+     "With dark narrow stairs and a kitchen that smokes,
+I suppose," said Elinor.
+
+     "Yes," cried he in the same eager tone, "with all
+and every thing belonging to it;--in no one convenience
+or INconvenience about it, should the least variation
+be perceptible.  Then, and then only, under such a roof, I
+might perhaps be as happy at Combe as I have been at Barton."
+
+     "I flatter myself," replied Elinor, "that even under
+the disadvantage of better rooms and a broader staircase,
+you will hereafter find your own house as faultless as you
+now do this."
+
+     "There certainly are circumstances," said Willoughby,
+"which might greatly endear it to me; but this place will
+always have one claim of my affection, which no other can
+possibly share."
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood looked with pleasure at Marianne,
+whose fine eyes were fixed so expressively on Willoughby,
+as plainly denoted how well she understood him.
+
+     "How often did I wish," added he, "when I was at
+Allenham this time twelvemonth, that Barton cottage were
+inhabited!  I never passed within view of it without admiring
+its situation, and grieving that no one should live in it.
+How little did I then think that the very first news
+I should hear from Mrs. Smith, when I next came into
+the country, would be that Barton cottage was taken: and I
+felt an immediate satisfaction and interest in the event,
+which nothing but a kind of prescience of what happiness I
+should experience from it, can account for.  Must it not have
+been so, Marianne?" speaking to her in a lowered voice.
+Then continuing his former tone, he said, "And yet this
+house you would spoil, Mrs. Dashwood?  You would rob it
+of its simplicity by imaginary improvement! and this dear
+parlour in which our acquaintance first began, and in which
+so many happy hours have been since spent by us together,
+you would degrade to the condition of a common entrance,
+and every body would be eager to pass through the room
+which has hitherto contained within itself more real
+accommodation and comfort than any other apartment of
+the handsomest dimensions in the world could possibly afford."
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood again assured him that no alteration
+of the kind should be attempted.
+
+     "You are a good woman," he warmly replied.
+"Your promise makes me easy.  Extend it a little farther,
+and it will make me happy.  Tell me that not only your
+house will remain the same, but that I shall ever find
+you and yours as unchanged as your dwelling; and that you
+will always consider me with the kindness which has made
+everything belonging to you so dear to me."
+
+     The promise was readily given, and Willoughby's
+behaviour during the whole of the evening declared
+at once his affection and happiness.
+
+     "Shall we see you tomorrow to dinner?" said Mrs. Dashwood,
+when he was leaving them.  "I do not ask you to come in
+the morning, for we must walk to the park, to call on Lady Middleton."
+
+     He engaged to be with them by four o'clock.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 15
+
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood's visit to Lady Middleton took place
+the next day, and two of her daughters went with her;
+but Marianne excused herself from being of the party,
+under some trifling pretext of employment; and her mother,
+who concluded that a promise had been made by Willoughby
+the night before of calling on her while they were absent,
+was perfectly satisfied with her remaining at home.
+
+     On their return from the park they found Willoughby's
+curricle and servant in waiting at the cottage,
+and Mrs. Dashwood was convinced that her conjecture
+had been just.  So far it was all as she had foreseen;
+but on entering the house she beheld what no foresight
+had taught her to expect.  They were no sooner in the
+passage than Marianne came hastily out of the parlour
+apparently in violent affliction, with her handkerchief
+at her eyes; and without noticing them ran up stairs.
+Surprised and alarmed they proceeded directly into the room
+she had just quitted, where they found only Willoughby,
+who was leaning against the mantel-piece with his back
+towards them.  He turned round on their coming in,
+and his countenance shewed that he strongly partook
+of the emotion which over-powered Marianne.
+
+     "Is anything the matter with her?" cried Mrs. Dashwood
+as she entered--"is she ill?"
+
+     "I hope not," he replied, trying to look cheerful;
+and with a forced smile presently added, "It is I who may
+rather expect to be ill--for I am now suffering under a
+very heavy disappointment!"
+
+"Disappointment?"
+
+     "Yes, for I am unable to keep my engagement with you.
+Mrs. Smith has this morning exercised the privilege
+of riches upon a poor dependent cousin, by sending me on
+business to London.  I have just received my dispatches,
+and taken my farewell of Allenham; and by way of exhilaration
+I am now come to take my farewell of you."
+
+     "To London!--and are you going this morning?"
+
+     "Almost this moment."
+
+     "This is very unfortunate.  But Mrs. Smith must
+be obliged;--and her business will not detain you from
+us long I hope."
+
+     He coloured as he replied, "You are very kind, but I
+have no idea of returning into Devonshire immediately.
+My visits to Mrs. Smith are never repeated within
+the twelvemonth."
+
+     "And is Mrs. Smith your only friend?  Is Allenham the only
+house in the neighbourhood to which you will be welcome?
+For shame, Willoughby, can you wait for an invitation here?"
+
+     His colour increased; and with his eyes fixed
+on the ground he only replied, "You are too good."
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood looked at Elinor with surprise.
+Elinor felt equal amazement.  For a few moments every one
+was silent.  Mrs. Dashwood first spoke.
+
+     "I have only to add, my dear Willoughby, that at
+Barton cottage you will always be welcome; for I will not
+press you to return here immediately, because you only
+can judge how far THAT might be pleasing to Mrs. Smith;
+and on this head I shall be no more disposed to question
+your judgment than to doubt your inclination."
+
+     "My engagements at present," replied Willoughby,
+confusedly, "are of such a nature--that--I dare not flatter myself"--
+
+     He stopt.  Mrs. Dashwood was too much astonished
+to speak, and another pause succeeded.  This was broken
+by Willoughby, who said with a faint smile, "It is folly
+to linger in this manner.  I will not torment myself
+any longer by remaining among friends whose society
+it is impossible for me now to enjoy."
+
+     He then hastily took leave of them all and left
+the room.  They saw him step into his carriage,
+and in a minute it was out of sight.
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood felt too much for speech, and instantly
+quitted the parlour to give way in solitude to the concern
+and alarm which this sudden departure occasioned.
+
+     Elinor's uneasiness was at least equal to her mother's. 
+She thought of what had just passed with anxiety and distrust.  
+Willoughby's behaviour in taking leave of them, his embarrassment, 
+and affectation of cheerfulness, and, above all, his unwillingness 
+to accept her mother's invitation, a backwardness so unlike a lover, 
+so unlike himself, greatly disturbed her.  One moment she feared 
+that no serious design had ever been formed on his side; and the 
+next that some unfortunate quarrel had taken place between him and 
+her sister;--the distress in which Marianne had quitted the room 
+was such as a serious quarrel could most reasonably account for, 
+though when she considered what Marianne's love for him was, 
+a quarrel seemed almost impossible.
+
+     But whatever might be the particulars of their separation,
+her sister's affliction was indubitable; and she thought
+with the tenderest compassion of that violent sorrow
+which Marianne was in all probability not merely giving
+way to as a relief, but feeding and encouraging as a duty.
+
+     In about half an hour her mother returned, and though
+her eyes were red, her countenance was not uncheerful.
+
+     "Our dear Willoughby is now some miles from Barton, Elinor," 
+said she, as she sat down to work, "and with how heavy a heart 
+does he travel?"
+
+     "It is all very strange.  So suddenly to be gone! It
+seems but the work of a moment.  And last night he was
+with us so happy, so cheerful, so affectionate?  And now,
+after only ten minutes notice--Gone too without intending
+to return!--Something more than what be owned to us must
+have happened.  He did not speak, he did not behave
+like himself.  YOU must have seen the difference as well as I. 
+What can it be?  Can they have quarrelled?  Why else should he 
+have shewn such unwillingness to accept your invitation here?"--
+
+     "It was not inclination that he wanted, Elinor; I could
+plainly see THAT.  He had not the power of accepting it.
+I have thought it all over I assure you, and I can
+perfectly account for every thing that at first seemed
+strange to me as well as to you."
+
+     "Can you, indeed!"
+
+     "Yes. I have explained it to myself in the most
+satisfactory way;--but you, Elinor, who love to doubt
+where you can--it will not satisfy YOU, I know; but you
+shall not talk ME out of my trust in it.  I am persuaded
+that Mrs. Smith suspects his regard for Marianne,
+disapproves of it, (perhaps because she has other views
+for him,) and on that account is eager to get him away;--
+and that the business which she sends him off to transact
+is invented as an excuse to dismiss him.  This is what I
+believe to have happened.  He is, moreover, aware that she
+DOES disapprove the connection, he dares not therefore
+at present confess to her his engagement with Marianne,
+and he feels himself obliged, from his dependent situation,
+to give into her schemes, and absent himself from
+Devonshire for a while.  You will tell me, I know,
+that this may or may NOT have happened; but I will listen
+to no cavil, unless you can point out any other method
+of understanding the affair as satisfactory at this.
+And now, Elinor, what have you to say?"
+
+     "Nothing, for you have anticipated my answer."
+
+     "Then you would have told me, that it might or might not
+have happened.  Oh, Elinor, how incomprehensible are your
+feelings!  You had rather take evil upon credit than good.
+You had rather look out for misery for Marianne, and guilt
+for poor Willoughby, than an apology for the latter.
+You are resolved to think him blameable, because he took
+leave of us with less affection than his usual behaviour
+has shewn.  And is no allowance to be made for inadvertence,
+or for spirits depressed by recent disappointment?  Are
+no probabilities to be accepted, merely because they
+are not certainties?  Is nothing due to the man whom we
+have all such reason to love, and no reason in the world
+to think ill of?  To the possibility of motives unanswerable
+in themselves, though unavoidably secret for a while?  And,
+after all, what is it you suspect him of?"
+
+     "I can hardly tell myself.  But suspicion of
+something unpleasant is the inevitable consequence
+of such an alteration as we just witnessed in him.
+There is great truth, however, in what you have now urged
+of the allowances which ought to be made for him, and it
+is my wish to be candid in my judgment of every body.
+Willoughby may undoubtedly have very sufficient
+reasons for his conduct, and I will hope that he has.
+But it would have been more like Willoughby to acknowledge
+them at once.  Secrecy may be advisable; but still I
+cannot help wondering at its being practiced by him."
+
+     "Do not blame him, however, for departing from
+his character, where the deviation is necessary.
+But you really do admit the justice of what I have said
+in his defence?--I am happy--and he is acquitted."
+
+     "Not entirely.  It may be proper to conceal their
+engagement (if they ARE engaged) from Mrs. Smith--
+and if that is the case, it must be highly expedient
+for Willoughby to be but little in Devonshire at present.
+But this is no excuse for their concealing it from us."
+
+     "Concealing it from us! my dear child, do you accuse 
+Willoughby and Marianne of concealment? This is strange 
+indeed, when your eyes have been reproaching them every day 
+for incautiousness."
+
+     "I want no proof of their affection," said Elinor;
+"but of their engagement I do."
+
+     "I am perfectly satisfied of both."
+
+     "Yet not a syllable has been said to you on the
+subject, by either of them."
+
+     "I have not wanted syllables where actions have
+spoken so plainly.  Has not his behaviour to Marianne
+and to all of us, for at least the last fortnight,
+declared that he loved and considered her as his future wife,
+and that he felt for us the attachment of the nearest
+relation?  Have we not perfectly understood each other? 
+Has not my consent been daily asked by his looks, his manner,
+his attentive and affectionate respect?  My Elinor,
+is it possible to doubt their engagement?  How could
+such a thought occur to you?  How is it to be supposed
+that Willoughby, persuaded as he must be of your
+sister's love, should leave her, and leave her perhaps
+for months, without telling her of his affection;--that
+they should part without a mutual exchange of confidence?"
+
+     "I confess," replied Elinor, "that every circumstance
+except ONE is in favour of their engagement;
+but that ONE is the total silence of both on the subject,
+and with me it almost outweighs every other."
+
+     "How strange this is!  You must think wretchedly indeed
+of Willoughby, if, after all that has openly passed between them,
+you can doubt the nature of the terms on which they are together.
+Has he been acting a part in his behaviour to your sister
+all this time?  Do you suppose him really indifferent to her?"
+
+     "No, I cannot think that.  He must and does love her
+I am sure."
+
+     "But with a strange kind of tenderness, if he can
+leave her with such indifference, such carelessness
+of the future, as you attribute to him."
+
+     "You must remember, my dear mother, that I have never
+considered this matter as certain.  I have had my doubts,
+I confess; but they are fainter than they were, and they
+may soon be entirely done away.  If we find they correspond,
+every fear of mine will be removed."
+
+     "A mighty concession indeed!  If you were to see
+them at the altar, you would suppose they were going to
+be married.  Ungracious girl!  But I require no such proof.
+Nothing in my opinion has ever passed to justify doubt;
+no secrecy has been attempted; all has been uniformly open
+and unreserved.  You cannot doubt your sister's wishes.
+It must be Willoughby therefore whom you suspect.  But why? 
+Is he not a man of honour and feeling? Has there been any 
+inconsistency on his side to create alarm? can he be deceitful?"
+
+     "I hope not, I believe not," cried Elinor.
+"I love Willoughby, sincerely love him; and suspicion of his
+integrity cannot be more painful to yourself than to me.
+It has been involuntary, and I will not encourage it.
+I was startled, I confess, by the alteration in his
+manners this morning;--he did not speak like himself,
+and did not return your kindness with any cordiality.
+But all this may be explained by such a situation of his
+affairs as you have supposed.  He had just parted from
+my sister, had seen her leave him in the greatest affliction;
+and if he felt obliged, from a fear of offending Mrs. Smith,
+to resist the temptation of returning here soon, and yet
+aware that by declining your invitation, by saying
+that he was going away for some time, he should seem
+to act an ungenerous, a suspicious part by our family,
+be might well be embarrassed and disturbed.  In such a case,
+a plain and open avowal of his difficulties would have been
+more to his honour I think, as well as more consistent
+with his general character;--but I will not raise objections
+against any one's conduct on so illiberal a foundation,
+as a difference in judgment from myself, or a deviation from
+what I may think right and consistent."
+
+     "You speak very properly.  Willoughby certainly does
+not deserve to be suspected.  Though WE have not known
+him long, he is no stranger in this part of the world;
+and who has ever spoken to his disadvantage?  Had he been
+in a situation to act independently and marry immediately,
+it might have been odd that he should leave us without
+acknowledging everything to me at once: but this is not the case.
+It is an engagement in some respects not prosperously begun,
+for their marriage must be at a very uncertain distance;
+and even secrecy, as far as it can be observed, may now
+be very advisable."
+
+     They were interrupted by the entrance of Margaret;
+and Elinor was then at liberty to think over the representations
+of her mother, to acknowledge the probability of many,
+and hope for the justice of all.
+
+     They saw nothing of Marianne till dinner time,
+when she entered the room and took her place at the table
+without saying a word.  Her eyes were red and swollen;
+and it seemed as if her tears were even then restrained
+with difficulty.  She avoided the looks of them all,
+could neither eat nor speak, and after some time, on her
+mother's silently pressing her hand with tender compassion,
+her small degree of fortitude was quite overcome, she burst
+into tears and left the room.
+
+     This violent oppression of spirits continued the
+whole evening.  She was without any power, because she
+was without any desire of command over herself.
+The slightest mention of anything relative to Willoughby
+overpowered her in an instant; and though her family
+were most anxiously attentive to her comfort, it was
+impossible for them, if they spoke at all, to keep clear
+of every subject which her feelings connected with him.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 16
+
+
+     Marianne would have thought herself very inexcusable
+had she been able to sleep at all the first night
+after parting from Willoughby.  She would have been
+ashamed to look her family in the face the next morning,
+had she not risen from her bed in more need of repose
+than when she lay down in it.  But the feelings which
+made such composure a disgrace, left her in no danger
+of incurring it.  She was awake the whole night, and she
+wept the greatest part of it.  She got up with a headache,
+was unable to talk, and unwilling to take any nourishment;
+giving pain every moment to her mother and sisters,
+and forbidding all attempt at consolation from either.
+Her sensibility was potent enough!
+
+     When breakfast was over she walked out by herself,
+and wandered about the village of Allenham, indulging the
+recollection of past enjoyment and crying over the present
+reverse for the chief of the morning.
+
+     The evening passed off in the equal indulgence of feeling.
+She played over every favourite song that she had been used
+to play to Willoughby, every air in which their voices
+had been oftenest joined, and sat at the instrument gazing
+on every line of music that he had written out for her,
+till her heart was so heavy that no farther sadness
+could be gained; and this nourishment of grief was every
+day applied.  She spent whole hours at the pianoforte
+alternately singing and crying; her voice often totally
+suspended by her tears.  In books too, as well as in music,
+she courted the misery which a contrast between the past
+and present was certain of giving.  She read nothing
+but what they had been used to read together.
+
+     Such violence of affliction indeed could not be supported
+for ever; it sunk within a few days into a calmer melancholy;
+but these employments, to which she daily recurred,
+her solitary walks and silent meditations, still produced
+occasional effusions of sorrow as lively as ever.
+
+     No letter from Willoughby came; and none seemed expected
+by Marianne.  Her mother was surprised, and Elinor again
+became uneasy.  But Mrs. Dashwood could find explanations
+whenever she wanted them, which at least satisfied herself.
+
+     "Remember, Elinor," said she, "how very often Sir John
+fetches our letters himself from the post, and carries them 
+to it.  We have already agreed that secrecy may be necessary,
+and we must acknowledge that it could not be maintained if 
+their correspondence were to pass through Sir John's hands."
+
+     Elinor could not deny the truth of this, and she tried
+to find in it a motive sufficient for their silence.
+But there was one method so direct, so simple, and in
+her opinion so eligible of knowing the real state
+of the affair, and of instantly removing all mystery,
+that she could not help suggesting it to her mother.
+
+     "Why do you not ask Marianne at once," said she,
+"whether she is or she is not engaged to Willoughby?  From you,
+her mother, and so kind, so indulgent a mother, the question
+could not give offence.  It would be the natural result
+of your affection for her.  She used to be all unreserve,
+and to you more especially."
+
+     "I would not ask such a question for the world.
+Supposing it possible that they are not engaged,
+what distress would not such an enquiry inflict!  At any
+rate it would be most ungenerous.  I should never deserve
+her confidence again, after forcing from her a confession
+of what is meant at present to be unacknowledged to any one.
+I know Marianne's heart: I know that she dearly loves me,
+and that I shall not be the last to whom the affair is made known,
+when circumstances make the revealment of it eligible.
+I would not attempt to force the confidence of any one;
+of a child much less; because a sense of duty would prevent
+the denial which her wishes might direct."
+
+     Elinor thought this generosity overstrained,
+considering her sister's youth, and urged the matter farther,
+but in vain; common sense, common care, common prudence,
+were all sunk in Mrs. Dashwood's romantic delicacy.
+
+     It was several days before Willoughby's name
+was mentioned before Marianne by any of her family;
+Sir John and Mrs. Jennings, indeed, were not so nice;
+their witticisms added pain to many a painful hour;--
+but one evening, Mrs. Dashwood, accidentally taking up a
+volume of Shakespeare, exclaimed,
+
+     "We have never finished Hamlet, Marianne; our dear
+Willoughby went away before we could get through it.
+We will put it by, that when he comes again...But it may
+be months, perhaps, before THAT happens."
+
+     "Months!" cried Marianne, with strong surprise.
+"No--nor many weeks."
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood was sorry for what she had said;
+but it gave Elinor pleasure, as it produced a reply
+from Marianne so expressive of confidence in Willoughby
+and knowledge of his intentions.
+
+     One morning, about a week after his leaving the country,
+Marianne was prevailed on to join her sisters in their
+usual walk, instead of wandering away by herself.
+Hitherto she had carefully avoided every companion in
+her rambles.  If her sisters intended to walk on the downs,
+she directly stole away towards the lanes; if they talked
+of the valley, she was as speedy in climbing the hills,
+and could never be found when the others set off.
+But at length she was secured by the exertions of Elinor,
+who greatly disapproved such continual seclusion.  They walked
+along the road through the valley, and chiefly in silence,
+for Marianne's MIND could not be controlled, and Elinor,
+satisfied with gaining one point, would not then attempt more.
+Beyond the entrance of the valley, where the country,
+though still rich, was less wild and more open, a long
+stretch of the road which they had travelled on first coming
+to Barton, lay before them; and on reaching that point,
+they stopped to look around them, and examine a prospect
+which formed the distance of their view from the cottage,
+from a spot which they had never happened to reach in any
+of their walks before.
+
+     Amongst the objects in the scene, they soon discovered
+an animated one; it was a man on horseback riding towards them.
+In a few minutes they could distinguish him to be a gentleman;
+and in a moment afterwards Marianne rapturously exclaimed,
+
+     "It is he; it is indeed;--I know it is!"--and was
+hastening to meet him, when Elinor cried out,
+
+     "Indeed, Marianne, I think you are mistaken.  It is
+not Willoughby.  The person is not tall enough for him,
+and has not his air."
+
+     "He has, he has," cried Marianne, "I am sure he has.
+His air, his coat, his horse.  I knew how soon he would come."
+
+     She walked eagerly on as she spoke; and Elinor,
+to screen Marianne from particularity, as she felt almost
+certain of its not being Willoughby, quickened her
+pace and kept up with her.  They were soon within
+thirty yards of the gentleman.  Marianne looked again;
+her heart sunk within her; and abruptly turning round,
+she was hurrying back, when the voices of both her sisters
+were raised to detain her; a third, almost as well known
+as Willoughby's, joined them in begging her to stop,
+and she turned round with surprise to see and welcome
+Edward Ferrars.
+
+     He was the only person in the world who could
+at that moment be forgiven for not being Willoughby;
+the only one who could have gained a smile from her;
+but she dispersed her tears to smile on HIM, and in her
+sister's happiness forgot for a time her own disappointment.
+
+     He dismounted, and giving his horse to his servant,
+walked back with them to Barton, whither he was purposely
+coming to visit them.
+
+     He was welcomed by them all with great cordiality,
+but especially by Marianne, who showed more warmth of
+regard in her reception of him than even Elinor herself.
+To Marianne, indeed, the meeting between Edward and her sister
+was but a continuation of that unaccountable coldness which she
+had often observed at Norland in their mutual behaviour.
+On Edward's side, more particularly, there was a deficiency
+of all that a lover ought to look and say on such an occasion.
+He was confused, seemed scarcely sensible of pleasure
+in seeing them, looked neither rapturous nor gay,
+said little but what was forced from him by questions,
+and distinguished Elinor by no mark of affection.
+Marianne saw and listened with increasing surprise.
+She began almost to feel a dislike of Edward; and it ended,
+as every feeling must end with her, by carrying back her
+thoughts to Willoughby, whose manners formed a contrast
+sufficiently striking to those of his brother elect.
+
+     After a short silence which succeeded the first
+surprise and enquiries of meeting, Marianne asked
+Edward if he came directly from London.  No, he had
+been in Devonshire a fortnight.
+
+     "A fortnight!" she repeated, surprised at his being
+so long in the same county with Elinor without seeing
+her before.
+
+     He looked rather distressed as he added, that he
+had been staying with some friends near Plymouth.
+
+     "Have you been lately in Sussex?" said Elinor.
+
+     "I was at Norland about a month ago."
+
+     "And how does dear, dear Norland look?" cried Marianne.
+
+     "Dear, dear Norland," said Elinor, "probably looks
+much as it always does at this time of the year.
+The woods and walks thickly covered with dead leaves."
+
+     "Oh," cried Marianne, "with what transporting sensation
+have I formerly seen them fall!  How have I delighted,
+as I walked, to see them driven in showers about me
+by the wind!  What feelings have they, the season, the air
+altogether inspired!  Now there is no one to regard them.
+They are seen only as a nuisance, swept hastily off,
+and driven as much as possible from the sight."
+
+     "It is not every one," said Elinor, "who has your
+passion for dead leaves."
+
+     "No; my feelings are not often shared, not often
+understood.  But SOMETIMES they are."--As she said this,
+she sunk into a reverie for a few moments;--but rousing
+herself again, "Now, Edward," said she, calling his attention
+to the prospect, "here is Barton valley.  Look up to it,
+and be tranquil if you can.  Look at those hills!
+Did you ever see their equals?  To the left is Barton park,
+amongst those woods and plantations.  You may see the end
+of the house.  And there, beneath that farthest hill,
+which rises with such grandeur, is our cottage."
+
+     "It is a beautiful country," he replied; "but these
+bottoms must be dirty in winter."
+
+     "How can you think of dirt, with such objects before you?"
+
+     "Because," replied he, smiling, "among the rest of the 
+objects before me, I see a very dirty lane."
+
+     "How strange!" said Marianne to herself as she walked on.
+
+     "Have you an agreeable neighbourhood here?  Are the 
+Middletons pleasant people?"
+
+     "No, not all," answered Marianne; "we could not
+be more unfortunately situated."
+
+     "Marianne," cried her sister, "how can you say so? How can
+you be so unjust?  They are a very respectable family, Mr. Ferrars;
+and towards us have behaved in the friendliest manner.  Have you 
+forgot, Marianne, how many pleasant days we have owed to them?"
+
+     "No," said Marianne, in a low voice, "nor how many
+painful moments."
+
+     Elinor took no notice of this; and directing
+her attention to their visitor, endeavoured to support
+something like discourse with him, by talking of their
+present residence, its conveniences, &c. extorting from him
+occasional questions and remarks.  His coldness and reserve
+mortified her severely; she was vexed and half angry;
+but resolving to regulate her behaviour to him by the past
+rather than the present, she avoided every appearance
+of resentment or displeasure, and treated him as she
+thought he ought to be treated from the family connection.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 17
+
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood was surprised only for a moment at
+seeing him; for his coming to Barton was, in her opinion,
+of all things the most natural.  Her joy and expression
+of regard long outlived her wonder.  He received the kindest
+welcome from her; and shyness, coldness, reserve could not
+stand against such a reception.  They had begun to fail him
+before he entered the house, and they were quite overcome
+by the captivating manners of Mrs. Dashwood.  Indeed a man
+could not very well be in love with either of her daughters,
+without extending the passion to her; and Elinor had the
+satisfaction of seeing him soon become more like himself.
+His affections seemed to reanimate towards them all,
+and his interest in their welfare again became perceptible.
+He was not in spirits, however; he praised their house,
+admired its prospect, was attentive, and kind; but still
+he was not in spirits.  The whole family perceived it,
+and Mrs. Dashwood, attributing it to some want of liberality
+in his mother, sat down to table indignant against all
+selfish parents.
+
+     "What are Mrs. Ferrars's views for you at present, Edward?"
+said she, when dinner was over and they had drawn round
+the fire; "are you still to be a great orator in spite of yourself?"
+
+     "No. I hope my mother is now convinced that I have
+no more talents than inclination for a public life!"
+
+     "But how is your fame to be established? for famous you
+must be to satisfy all your family; and with no inclination
+for expense, no affection for strangers, no profession,
+and no assurance, you may find it a difficult matter."
+
+     "I shall not attempt it.  I have no wish to be
+distinguished; and have every reason to hope I never shall.
+Thank Heaven! I cannot be forced into genius and eloquence."
+
+     "You have no ambition, I well know.  Your wishes
+are all moderate."
+
+     "As moderate as those of the rest of the world,
+I believe.  I wish as well as every body else to be
+perfectly happy; but, like every body else it must be
+in my own way.  Greatness will not make me so."
+
+     "Strange that it would!" cried Marianne.  "What have
+wealth or grandeur to do with happiness?"
+
+     "Grandeur has but little," said Elinor, "but wealth
+has much to do with it."
+
+     "Elinor, for shame!" said Marianne, "money can only
+give happiness where there is nothing else to give it.
+Beyond a competence, it can afford no real satisfaction,
+as far as mere self is concerned."
+
+     "Perhaps," said Elinor, smiling, "we may come
+to the same point.  YOUR competence and MY wealth
+are very much alike, I dare say; and without them,
+as the world goes now, we shall both agree that every
+kind of external comfort must be wanting.  Your ideas
+are only more noble than mine.  Come, what is your competence?"
+
+     "About eighteen hundred or two thousand a year;
+not more than THAT."
+
+     Elinor laughed.  "TWO thousand a year! ONE is my
+wealth! I guessed how it would end."
+
+     "And yet two thousand a-year is a very moderate income,"
+said Marianne.  "A family cannot well be maintained on
+a smaller.  I am sure I am not extravagant in my demands.
+A proper establishment of servants, a carriage, perhaps two,
+and hunters, cannot be supported on less."
+
+     Elinor smiled again, to hear her sister describing
+so accurately their future expenses at Combe Magna.
+
+     "Hunters!" repeated Edward--"but why must you have
+hunters?  Every body does not hunt."
+
+     Marianne coloured as she replied, "But most people do."
+
+     "I wish," said Margaret, striking out a novel thought,
+"that somebody would give us all a large fortune apiece!"
+
+     "Oh that they would!" cried Marianne, her eyes
+sparkling with animation, and her cheeks glowing
+with the delight of such imaginary happiness.
+
+     "We are all unanimous in that wish, I suppose,"
+said Elinor, "in spite of the insufficiency of wealth."
+
+     "Oh dear!" cried Margaret, "how happy I should be!
+I wonder what I should do with it!"
+
+     Marianne looked as if she had no doubt on that point.
+
+     "I should be puzzled to spend so large a fortune myself,"
+said Mrs. Dashwood, "if my children were all to be rich
+my help."
+
+     "You must begin your improvements on this house,"
+observed Elinor, "and your difficulties will soon vanish."
+
+     "What magnificent orders would travel from this family
+to London," said Edward, "in such an event!  What a happy
+day for booksellers, music-sellers, and print-shops!  You,
+Miss Dashwood, would give a general commission for every
+new print of merit to be sent you--and as for Marianne,
+I know her greatness of soul, there would not be music enough
+in London to content her.  And books!--Thomson, Cowper,
+Scott--she would buy them all over and over again: she
+would buy up every copy, I believe, to prevent their
+falling into unworthy hands; and she would have every
+book that tells her how to admire an old twisted tree.
+Should not you, Marianne?  Forgive me, if I am very saucy.
+But I was willing to shew you that I had not forgot our
+old disputes."
+
+     "I love to be reminded of the past, Edward--whether it
+be melancholy or gay, I love to recall it--and you
+will never offend me by talking of former times.
+You are very right in supposing how my money would be
+spent--some of it, at least--my loose cash would certainly
+be employed in improving my collection of music and books."
+
+     "And the bulk of your fortune would be laid out
+in annuities on the authors or their heirs."
+
+     "No, Edward, I should have something else to do
+with it."
+
+     "Perhaps, then, you would bestow it as a reward on that
+person who wrote the ablest defence of your favourite maxim,
+that no one can ever be in love more than once in their
+life--your opinion on that point is unchanged, I presume?"
+
+     "Undoubtedly. At my time of life opinions are tolerably fixed.
+It is not likely that I should now see or hear any thing to change them."
+
+     "Marianne is as steadfast as ever, you see," said Elinor, 
+"she is not at all altered."
+
+     "She is only grown a little more grave than she was."
+
+     "Nay, Edward," said Marianne, "you need not reproach me.
+You are not very gay yourself."
+
+     "Why should you think so!" replied he, with a sigh.
+"But gaiety never was a part of MY character."
+
+     "Nor do I think it a part of Marianne's," said Elinor;
+"I should hardly call her a lively girl--she is very earnest,
+very eager in all she does--sometimes talks a great deal
+and always with animation--but she is not often really merry."
+
+     "I believe you are right," he replied, "and yet I
+have always set her down as a lively girl."
+
+     "I have frequently detected myself in such kind of mistakes,"
+said Elinor, "in a total misapprehension of character in some
+point or other: fancying people so much more gay or grave,
+or ingenious or stupid than they really are, and I can
+hardly tell why or in what the deception originated.
+Sometimes one is guided by what they say of themselves,
+and very frequently by what other people say of them,
+without giving oneself time to deliberate and judge."
+
+     "But I thought it was right, Elinor," said Marianne,
+"to be guided wholly by the opinion of other people.
+I thought our judgments were given us merely to be subservient
+to those of neighbours.  This has always been your doctrine,
+I am sure."
+
+     "No, Marianne, never.  My doctrine has never aimed
+at the subjection of the understanding.  All I have
+ever attempted to influence has been the behaviour.
+You must not confound my meaning.  I am guilty, I confess,
+of having often wished you to treat our acquaintance
+in general with greater attention; but when have I advised
+you to adopt their sentiments or to conform to their
+judgment in serious matters?"
+
+     "You have not been able to bring your sister over to your 
+plan of general civility," said Edward to Elinor, "Do you gain 
+no ground?"
+
+     "Quite the contrary," replied Elinor, 
+looking expressively at Marianne.
+
+     "My judgment," he returned, "is all on your side
+of the question; but I am afraid my practice is much
+more on your sister's.  I never wish to offend, but I
+am so foolishly shy, that I often seem negligent,
+when I am only kept back by my natural awkwardness.
+I have frequently thought that I must have been intended
+by nature to be fond of low company, I am so little at
+my ease among strangers of gentility!"
+
+     "Marianne has not shyness to excuse any inattention
+of hers," said Elinor.
+
+     "She knows her own worth too well for false shame,"
+replied Edward.  "Shyness is only the effect of a sense
+of inferiority in some way or other.  If I could persuade
+myself that my manners were perfectly easy and graceful,
+I should not be shy."
+
+     "But you would still be reserved," said Marianne,
+"and that is worse."
+
+     Edward started--"Reserved! Am I reserved, Marianne?"
+
+     "Yes, very."
+
+     "I do not understand you," replied he, colouring.
+"Reserved!--how, in what manner?  What am I to tell you?
+What can you suppose?"
+
+     Elinor looked surprised at his emotion; but trying
+to laugh off the subject, she said to him, "Do not you
+know my sister well enough to understand what she means?
+Do not you know she calls every one reserved who does not
+talk as fast, and admire what she admires as rapturously
+as herself?"
+
+     Edward made no answer.  His gravity and thoughtfulness
+returned on him in their fullest extent--and he sat
+for some time silent and dull.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 18
+
+
+     Elinor saw, with great uneasiness the low spirits
+of her friend.  His visit afforded her but a very
+partial satisfaction, while his own enjoyment in it
+appeared so imperfect.  It was evident that he was unhappy;
+she wished it were equally evident that he still
+distinguished her by the same affection which once
+she had felt no doubt of inspiring; but hitherto the
+continuance of his preference seemed very uncertain;
+and the reservedness of his manner towards her contradicted
+one moment what a more animated look had intimated the preceding one.
+
+     He joined her and Marianne in the breakfast-room
+the next morning before the others were down; and Marianne,
+who was always eager to promote their happiness as far
+as she could, soon left them to themselves.  But before she
+was half way upstairs she heard the parlour door open, and,
+turning round, was astonished to see Edward himself come out.
+
+     "I am going into the village to see my horses,"
+said be, "as you are not yet ready for breakfast; I shall
+be back again presently."
+
+                         ***
+
+     Edward returned to them with fresh admiration
+of the surrounding country; in his walk to the village,
+he had seen many parts of the valley to advantage;
+and the village itself, in a much higher situation than
+the cottage, afforded a general view of the whole, which had
+exceedingly pleased him.  This was a subject which ensured
+Marianne's attention, and she was beginning to describe
+her own admiration of these scenes, and to question him more
+minutely on the objects that had particularly struck him,
+when Edward interrupted her by saying, "You must not
+enquire too far, Marianne--remember I have no knowledge
+in the picturesque, and I shall offend you by my ignorance
+and want of taste if we come to particulars.  I shall call
+hills steep, which ought to be bold; surfaces strange
+and uncouth, which ought to be irregular and rugged;
+and distant objects out of sight, which ought only to be
+indistinct through the soft medium of a hazy atmosphere.
+You must be satisfied with such admiration as I can
+honestly give.  I call it a very fine country--the
+hills are steep, the woods seem full of fine timber,
+and the valley looks comfortable and snug--with rich
+meadows and several neat farm houses scattered here
+and there.  It exactly answers my idea of a fine country,
+because it unites beauty with utility--and I dare say it
+is a picturesque one too, because you admire it; I can
+easily believe it to be full of rocks and promontories,
+grey moss and brush wood, but these are all lost on me.
+I know nothing of the picturesque."
+
+     "I am afraid it is but too true," said Marianne;
+"but why should you boast of it?"
+
+     "I suspect," said Elinor, "that to avoid one kind
+of affectation, Edward here falls into another.  Because he
+believes many people pretend to more admiration of the beauties
+of nature than they really feel, and is disgusted with
+such pretensions, he affects greater indifference and less
+discrimination in viewing them himself than he possesses.
+He is fastidious and will have an affectation of his own."
+
+     "It is very true," said Marianne, "that admiration
+of landscape scenery is become a mere jargon.
+Every body pretends to feel and tries to describe with
+the taste and elegance of him who first defined what
+picturesque beauty was.  I detest jargon of every kind,
+and sometimes I have kept my feelings to myself,
+because I could find no language to describe them
+in but what was worn and hackneyed out of all sense and meaning."
+
+     "I am convinced," said Edward, "that you really feel
+all the delight in a fine prospect which you profess
+to feel.  But, in return, your sister must allow me
+to feel no more than I profess.  I like a fine prospect,
+but not on picturesque principles.  I do not like crooked,
+twisted, blasted trees.  I admire them much more if they
+are tall, straight, and flourishing.  I do not like ruined,
+tattered cottages.  I am not fond of nettles or thistles,
+or heath blossoms.  I have more pleasure in a snug
+farm-house than a watch-tower--and a troop of tidy,
+happy villages please me better than the finest banditti
+in the world."
+
+     Marianne looked with amazement at Edward,
+with compassion at her sister.  Elinor only laughed.
+
+     The subject was continued no farther; and Marianne
+remained thoughtfully silent, till a new object suddenly
+engaged her attention.  She was sitting by Edward, and
+in taking his tea from Mrs. Dashwood, his hand passed
+so directly before her, as to make a ring, with a plait
+of hair in the centre, very conspicuous on one of his fingers.
+
+     "I never saw you wear a ring before, Edward," she cried.
+"Is that Fanny's hair? I remember her promising to give
+you some.  But I should have thought her hair had been darker."
+
+     Marianne spoke inconsiderately what she really felt--
+but when she saw how much she had pained Edward, her own
+vexation at her want of thought could not be surpassed
+by his.  He coloured very deeply, and giving a momentary
+glance at Elinor, replied, "Yes; it is my sister's hair.
+The setting always casts a different shade on it,
+you know."
+
+     Elinor had met his eye, and looked conscious likewise.
+That the hair was her own, she instantaneously felt as
+well satisfied as Marianne; the only difference in their
+conclusions was, that what Marianne considered as a free
+gift from her sister, Elinor was conscious must have been
+procured by some theft or contrivance unknown to herself.
+She was not in a humour, however, to regard it as an affront,
+and affecting to take no notice of what passed,
+by instantly talking of something else, she internally
+resolved henceforward to catch every opportunity of eyeing
+the hair and of satisfying herself, beyond all doubt,
+that it was exactly the shade of her own.
+
+     Edward's embarrassment lasted some time, and it
+ended in an absence of mind still more settled.
+He was particularly grave the whole morning.
+Marianne severely censured herself for what she had said;
+but her own forgiveness might have been more speedy,
+had she known how little offence it had given her sister.
+
+     Before the middle of the day, they were visited by Sir
+John and Mrs. Jennings, who, having heard of the arrival
+of a gentleman at the cottage, came to take a survey
+of the guest.  With the assistance of his mother-in-law,
+Sir John was not long in discovering that the name of
+Ferrars began with an F. and this prepared a future mine
+of raillery against the devoted Elinor, which nothing but
+the newness of their acquaintance with Edward could have
+prevented from being immediately sprung.  But, as it was,
+she only learned, from some very significant looks, how far
+their penetration, founded on Margaret's instructions, extended.
+
+     Sir John never came to the Dashwoods without either
+inviting them to dine at the park the next day, or to drink
+tea with them that evening.  On the present occasion,
+for the better entertainment of their visitor, towards
+whose amusement he felt himself bound to contribute,
+he wished to engage them for both.
+
+     "You MUST drink tea with us to night," said he,
+"for we shall be quite alone--and tomorrow you must
+absolutely dine with us, for we shall be a large party."
+
+     Mrs. Jennings enforced the necessity.  "And who knows
+but you may raise a dance," said she.  "And that will
+tempt YOU, Miss Marianne."
+
+     "A dance!" cried Marianne.  "Impossible! Who is to dance?"
+
+     "Who! why yourselves, and the Careys, and Whitakers
+to be sure.--What! you thought nobody could dance
+because a certain person that shall be nameless is gone!"
+
+     "I wish with all my soul," cried Sir John,
+"that Willoughby were among us again."
+
+     This, and Marianne's blushing, gave new suspicions
+to Edward.  "And who is Willoughby?" said he, in a low voice,
+to Miss Dashwood, by whom he was sitting.
+
+     She gave him a brief reply.  Marianne's countenance
+was more communicative.  Edward saw enough to comprehend,
+not only the meaning of others, but such of Marianne's
+expressions as had puzzled him before; and when their
+visitors left them, he went immediately round her, and said,
+in a whisper, "I have been guessing.  Shall I tell you
+my guess?"
+
+     "What do you mean?"
+
+     "Shall I tell you."
+
+     "Certainly."
+
+     "Well then; I guess that Mr. Willoughby hunts."
+
+     Marianne was surprised and confused, yet she could
+not help smiling at the quiet archness of his manner,
+and after a moment's silence, said,
+
+     "Oh, Edward! How can you?--But the time will come
+I hope...I am sure you will like him."
+
+     "I do not doubt it," replied he, rather astonished
+at her earnestness and warmth; for had he not imagined it
+to be a joke for the good of her acquaintance in general,
+founded only on a something or a nothing between Mr. Willoughby
+and herself, he would not have ventured to mention it.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 19
+
+
+     Edward remained a week at the cottage; he was earnestly
+pressed by Mrs. Dashwood to stay longer; but, as if he
+were bent only on self-mortification, he seemed resolved
+to be gone when his enjoyment among his friends was at
+the height.  His spirits, during the last two or three days,
+though still very unequal, were greatly improved--he grew
+more and more partial to the house and environs--never
+spoke of going away without a sigh--declared his time
+to be wholly disengaged--even doubted to what place he
+should go when he left them--but still, go he must.
+Never had any week passed so quickly--he could hardly
+believe it to be gone.  He said so repeatedly; other things
+he said too, which marked the turn of his feelings and gave
+the lie to his actions.  He had no pleasure at Norland;
+he detested being in town; but either to Norland or London,
+he must go.  He valued their kindness beyond any thing,
+and his greatest happiness was in being with them.
+Yet, he must leave them at the end of a week, in spite
+of their wishes and his own, and without any restraint 
+on his time.
+
+     Elinor placed all that was astonishing in this
+way of acting to his mother's account; and it was
+happy for her that he had a mother whose character
+was so imperfectly known to her, as to be the general
+excuse for every thing strange on the part of her son.
+Disappointed, however, and vexed as she was, and sometimes
+displeased with his uncertain behaviour to herself,
+she was very well disposed on the whole to regard his actions
+with all the candid allowances and generous qualifications,
+which had been rather more painfully extorted from her,
+for Willoughby's service, by her mother.  His want of spirits,
+of openness, and of consistency, were most usually
+attributed to his want of independence, and his better
+knowledge of Mrs. Ferrars's disposition and designs.
+The shortness of his visit, the steadiness of his purpose
+in leaving them, originated in the same fettered inclination,
+the same inevitable necessity of temporizing with his mother.
+The old well-established grievance of duty against will,
+parent against child, was the cause of all.  She would have
+been glad to know when these difficulties were to cease,
+this opposition was to yield,--when Mrs. Ferrars would
+be reformed, and her son be at liberty to be happy.
+But from such vain wishes she was forced to turn for comfort
+to the renewal of her confidence in Edward's affection,
+to the remembrance of every mark of regard in look or word
+which fell from him while at Barton, and above all
+to that flattering proof of it which he constantly wore
+round his finger.
+
+     "I think, Edward," said Mrs. Dashwood, as they were
+at breakfast the last morning, "you would be a happier man
+if you had any profession to engage your time and give
+an interest to your plans and actions.  Some inconvenience
+to your friends, indeed, might result from it--you
+would not be able to give them so much of your time.
+But (with a smile) you would be materially benefited
+in one particular at least--you would know where to go
+when you left them."
+
+     "I do assure you," he replied, "that I have long
+thought on this point, as you think now.  It has been,
+and is, and probably will always be a heavy misfortune
+to me, that I have had no necessary business to engage me,
+no profession to give me employment, or afford me any
+thing like independence.  But unfortunately my own nicety,
+and the nicety of my friends, have made me what I am,
+an idle, helpless being.  We never could agree in our
+choice of a profession.  I always preferred the church,
+as I still do.  But that was not smart enough for my family.
+They recommended the army.  That was a great deal
+too smart for me.  The law was allowed to be genteel
+enough; many young men, who had chambers in the Temple,
+made a very good appearance in the first circles,
+and drove about town in very knowing gigs.  But I had
+no inclination for the law, even in this less abstruse
+study of it, which my family approved.  As for the navy,
+it had fashion on its side, but I was too old when the
+subject was first started to enter it--and, at length,
+as there was no necessity for my having any profession
+at all, as I might be as dashing and expensive without
+a red coat on my back as with one, idleness was pronounced
+on the whole to be most advantageous and honourable,
+and a young man of eighteen is not in general so earnestly
+bent on being busy as to resist the solicitations of his
+friends to do nothing.  I was therefore entered at Oxford
+and have been properly idle ever since."
+
+     "The consequence of which, I suppose, will be,"
+said Mrs. Dashwood, "since leisure has not promoted
+your own happiness, that your sons will be brought up
+to as many pursuits, employments, professions, and trades
+as Columella's."
+
+     "They will be brought up," said he, in a serious accent,
+"to be as unlike myself as is possible.  In feeling,
+in action, in condition, in every thing."
+
+     "Come, come; this is all an effusion of immediate
+want of spirits, Edward.  You are in a melancholy humour,
+and fancy that any one unlike yourself must be happy.
+But remember that the pain of parting from friends
+will be felt by every body at times, whatever be their
+education or state.  Know your own happiness.  You want
+nothing but patience--or give it a more fascinating name,
+call it hope.  Your mother will secure to you, in time,
+that independence you are so anxious for; it is her duty,
+and it will, it must ere long become her happiness to
+prevent your whole youth from being wasted in discontent.
+How much may not a few months do?"
+
+     "I think," replied Edward, "that I may defy many
+months to produce any good to me."
+
+     This desponding turn of mind, though it could not
+be communicated to Mrs. Dashwood, gave additional pain
+to them all in the parting, which shortly took place,
+and left an uncomfortable impression on Elinor's
+feelings especially, which required some trouble and time
+to subdue.  But as it was her determination to subdue it,
+and to prevent herself from appearing to suffer more than
+what all her family suffered on his going away, she did
+not adopt the method so judiciously employed by Marianne,
+on a similar occasion, to augment and fix her sorrow,
+by seeking silence, solitude and idleness.  Their means
+were as different as their objects, and equally suited
+to the advancement of each.
+
+     Elinor sat down to her drawing-table as soon as he
+was out of the house, busily employed herself the whole day,
+neither sought nor avoided the mention of his name,
+appeared to interest herself almost as much as ever in the
+general concerns of the family, and if, by this conduct,
+she did not lessen her own grief, it was at least prevented
+from unnecessary increase, and her mother and sisters
+were spared much solicitude on her account.
+
+     Such behaviour as this, so exactly the reverse
+of her own, appeared no more meritorious to Marianne,
+than her own had seemed faulty to her.  The business
+of self-command she settled very easily;--with strong
+affections it was impossible, with calm ones it could
+have no merit.  That her sister's affections WERE calm,
+she dared not deny, though she blushed to acknowledge it;
+and of the strength of her own, she gave a very striking proof,
+by still loving and respecting that sister, in spite
+of this mortifying conviction.
+
+     Without shutting herself up from her family,
+or leaving the house in determined solitude to avoid them,
+or lying awake the whole night to indulge meditation,
+Elinor found every day afforded her leisure enough
+to think of Edward, and of Edward's behaviour, in every
+possible variety which the different state of her spirits
+at different times could produce,--with tenderness,
+pity, approbation, censure, and doubt.  There were moments
+in abundance, when, if not by the absence of her mother
+and sisters, at least by the nature of their employments,
+conversation was forbidden among them, and every effect
+of solitude was produced.  Her mind was inevitably
+at liberty; her thoughts could not be chained elsewhere;
+and the past and the future, on a subject so interesting,
+must be before her, must force her attention, and engross
+her memory, her reflection, and her fancy.
+
+     From a reverie of this kind, as she sat at her
+drawing-table, she was roused one morning, soon after
+Edward's leaving them, by the arrival of company.
+She happened to be quite alone.  The closing of the
+little gate, at the entrance of the green court in front
+of the house, drew her eyes to the window, and she saw
+a large party walking up to the door.  Amongst them
+were Sir John and Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings,
+but there were two others, a gentleman and lady, who were
+quite unknown to her.  She was sitting near the window,
+and as soon as Sir John perceived her, he left the rest
+of the party to the ceremony of knocking at the door,
+and stepping across the turf, obliged her to open the
+casement to speak to him, though the space was so short
+between the door and the window, as to make it hardly
+possible to speak at one without being heard at the other.
+
+     "Well," said he, "we have brought you some strangers.
+How do you like them?"
+
+     "Hush! they will hear you."
+
+     "Never mind if they do.  It is only the Palmers.
+Charlotte is very pretty, I can tell you.  You may see her
+if you look this way."
+
+     As Elinor was certain of seeing her in a couple
+of minutes, without taking that liberty, she begged
+to be excused.
+
+     "Where is Marianne? Has she run away because we
+are come? I see her instrument is open."
+
+     "She is walking, I believe."
+
+     They were now joined by Mrs. Jennings, who had not
+patience enough to wait till the door was opened before
+she told HER story.  She came hallooing to the window,
+"How do you do, my dear?  How does Mrs. Dashwood do?
+And where are your sisters?  What! all alone! you
+will be glad of a little company to sit with you.
+I have brought my other son and daughter to see you.
+Only think of their coming so suddenly!  I thought I heard
+a carriage last night, while we were drinking our tea,
+but it never entered my head that it could be them.
+I thought of nothing but whether it might not be Colonel
+Brandon come back again; so I said to Sir John, I do think
+I hear a carriage; perhaps it is Colonel Brandon come
+back again"--
+
+     Elinor was obliged to turn from her, in the middle
+of her story, to receive the rest of the party; Lady
+Middleton introduced the two strangers; Mrs. Dashwood
+and Margaret came down stairs at the same time, and they
+all sat down to look at one another, while Mrs. Jennings
+continued her story as she walked through the passage
+into the parlour, attended by Sir John.
+
+     Mrs. Palmer was several years younger than Lady
+Middleton, and totally unlike her in every respect.
+She was short and plump, had a very pretty face,
+and the finest expression of good humour in it that could
+possibly be.  Her manners were by no means so elegant
+as her sister's, but they were much more prepossessing.
+She came in with a smile, smiled all the time of her visit,
+except when she laughed, and smiled when she went away.
+Her husband was a grave looking young man of five or six
+and twenty, with an air of more fashion and sense than
+his wife, but of less willingness to please or be pleased.
+He entered the room with a look of self-consequence,
+slightly bowed to the ladies, without speaking a word,
+and, after briefly surveying them and their apartments,
+took up a newspaper from the table, and continued to read it
+as long as he staid.
+
+     Mrs. Palmer, on the contrary, who was strongly endowed
+by nature with a turn for being uniformly civil and happy,
+was hardly seated before her admiration of the parlour
+and every thing in it burst forth.
+
+     "Well! what a delightful room this is! I never
+saw anything so charming!  Only think, Mamma, how it
+is improved since I was here last! I always thought it
+such a sweet place, ma'am! (turning to Mrs. Dashwood)
+but you have made it so charming!  Only look, sister,
+how delightful every thing is! How I should like such
+a house for myself!  Should not you, Mr. Palmer?"
+
+     Mr. Palmer made her no answer, and did not even raise
+his eyes from the newspaper.
+
+     "Mr. Palmer does not hear me," said she, laughing;
+"he never does sometimes.  It is so ridiculous!"
+
+     This was quite a new idea to Mrs. Dashwood; she had
+never been used to find wit in the inattention of any one,
+and could not help looking with surprise at them both.
+
+     Mrs. Jennings, in the meantime, talked on as loud
+as she could, and continued her account of their surprise,
+the evening before, on seeing their friends, without
+ceasing till every thing was told.  Mrs. Palmer laughed
+heartily at the recollection of their astonishment,
+and every body agreed, two or three times over, that it
+had been quite an agreeable surprise.
+
+     "You may believe how glad we all were to see them,"
+added Mrs. Jennings, leaning forward towards Elinor,
+and speaking in a low voice as if she meant to be heard
+by no one else, though they were seated on different sides
+of the room; "but, however, I can't help wishing they had
+not travelled quite so fast, nor made such a long journey
+of it, for they came all round by London upon account
+of some business, for you know (nodding significantly and
+pointing to her daughter) it was wrong in her situation.
+I wanted her to stay at home and rest this morning,
+but she would come with us; she longed so much to see
+you all!"
+
+     Mrs. Palmer laughed, and said it would not do her
+any harm.
+
+     "She expects to be confined in February,"
+continued Mrs. Jennings.
+
+     Lady Middleton could no longer endure such a conversation,
+and therefore exerted herself to ask Mr. Palmer if there
+was any news in the paper.
+
+     "No, none at all," he replied, and read on.
+
+     "Here comes Marianne," cried Sir John.  "Now, Palmer,
+you shall see a monstrous pretty girl."
+
+     He immediately went into the passage, opened the front door,
+and ushered her in himself.  Mrs. Jennings asked her,
+as soon as she appeared, if she had not been to Allenham;
+and Mrs. Palmer laughed so heartily at the question,
+as to show she understood it.  Mr. Palmer looked up
+on her entering the room, stared at her some minutes,
+and then returned to his newspaper.  Mrs. Palmer's eye
+was now caught by the drawings which hung round the room.
+She got up to examine them.
+
+     "Oh! dear, how beautiful these are!  Well! how delightful! 
+Do but look, mama, how sweet! I declare they are quite charming;
+I could look at them for ever." And then sitting down again,
+she very soon forgot that there were any such things in the room.
+
+     When Lady Middleton rose to go away, Mr. Palmer
+rose also, laid down the newspaper, stretched himself
+and looked at them all around.
+
+     "My love, have you been asleep?" said his wife, laughing.
+
+     He made her no answer; and only observed, after again
+examining the room, that it was very low pitched,
+and that the ceiling was crooked.  He then made his bow,
+and departed with the rest.
+
+     Sir John had been very urgent with them all to
+spend the next day at the park.  Mrs. Dashwood, who did
+not chuse to dine with them oftener than they dined
+at the cottage, absolutely refused on her own account;
+her daughters might do as they pleased.  But they had no
+curiosity to see how Mr. and Mrs. Palmer ate their dinner,
+and no expectation of pleasure from them in any other way.
+They attempted, therefore, likewise, to excuse themselves;
+the weather was uncertain, and not likely to be good.
+But Sir John would not be satisfied--the carriage should
+be sent for them and they must come.  Lady Middleton too, 
+though she did not press their mother, pressed them.
+Mrs. Jennings and Mrs. Palmer joined their entreaties, all
+seemed equally anxious to avoid a family party; and the young
+ladies were obliged to yield.
+
+     "Why should they ask us?" said Marianne, as soon as they
+were gone.  "The rent of this cottage is said to be low;
+but we have it on very hard terms, if we are to dine
+at the park whenever any one is staying either with them,
+or with us."
+
+     "They mean no less to be civil and kind to us now,"
+said Elinor, "by these frequent invitations, than by
+those which we received from them a few weeks ago.
+The alteration is not in them, if their parties are grown
+tedious and dull.  We must look for the change elsewhere."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 20
+
+
+     As the Miss Dashwoods entered the drawing-room of the park
+the next day, at one door, Mrs. Palmer came running in at
+the other, looking as good humoured and merry as before.
+She took them all most affectionately by the hand,
+and expressed great delight in seeing them again.
+
+     "I am so glad to see you!" said she, seating herself
+between Elinor and Marianne, "for it is so bad a day I was
+afraid you might not come, which would be a shocking thing,
+as we go away again tomorrow. We must go, for the Westons
+come to us next week you know.  It was quite a sudden thing
+our coming at all, and I knew nothing of it till the carriage
+was coming to the door, and then Mr. Palmer asked me if I
+would go with him to Barton.  He is so droll! He never
+tells me any thing! I am so sorry we cannot stay longer;
+however we shall meet again in town very soon, I hope."
+
+     They were obliged to put an end to such an expectation.
+
+     "Not go to town!" cried Mrs. Palmer, with a laugh,
+"I shall be quite disappointed if you do not.  I could
+get the nicest house in world for you, next door to ours,
+in Hanover-square.  You must come, indeed.  I am sure
+I shall be very happy to chaperon you at any time till
+I am confined, if Mrs. Dashwood should not like to go
+into public."
+
+     They thanked her; but were obliged to resist all
+her entreaties.
+
+     "Oh, my love," cried Mrs. Palmer to her husband,
+who just then entered the room--"you must help me to
+persuade the Miss Dashwoods to go to town this winter."
+
+     Her love made no answer; and after slightly bowing
+to the ladies, began complaining of the weather.
+
+     "How horrid all this is!" said he.  "Such weather
+makes every thing and every body disgusting.  Dullness 
+is as much produced within doors as without, by rain.
+It makes one detest all one's acquaintance.  What the
+devil does Sir John mean by not having a billiard room
+in his house?  How few people know what comfort is!  Sir
+John is as stupid as the weather."
+
+     The rest of the company soon dropt in.
+
+     "I am afraid, Miss Marianne," said Sir John, "you have
+not been able to take your usual walk to Allenham today."
+
+     Marianne looked very grave and said nothing.
+
+     "Oh, don't be so sly before us," said Mrs. Palmer;
+"for we know all about it, I assure you; and I admire your
+taste very much, for I think he is extremely handsome.
+We do not live a great way from him in the country, you know.
+Not above ten miles, I dare say."
+
+     "Much nearer thirty," said her husband.
+
+     "Ah, well! there is not much difference.
+I never was at his house; but they say it is a sweet
+pretty place."
+
+     "As vile a spot as I ever saw in my life,"
+said Mr. Palmer.
+
+     Marianne remained perfectly silent, though her
+countenance betrayed her interest in what was said.
+
+     "Is it very ugly?" continued Mrs. Palmer--"then it
+must be some other place that is so pretty I suppose."
+
+     When they were seated in the dining room, Sir John
+observed with regret that they were only eight all together.
+
+     "My dear," said he to his lady, "it is very provoking
+that we should be so few.  Why did not you ask the Gilberts
+to come to us today?"
+
+     "Did not I tell you, Sir John, when you spoke to me
+about it before, that it could not be done?  They dined
+with us last."
+
+     "You and I, Sir John," said Mrs. Jennings,
+"should not stand upon such ceremony."
+
+     "Then you would be very ill-bred," cried Mr. Palmer.
+
+     "My love you contradict every body," said his wife
+with her usual laugh.  "Do you know that you are quite rude?"
+
+     "I did not know I contradicted any body in calling
+your mother ill-bred."
+
+     "Ay, you may abuse me as you please," said the good-natured
+old lady, "you have taken Charlotte off my hands, and cannot
+give her back again.  So there I have the whip hand of you."
+
+     Charlotte laughed heartily to think that her
+husband could not get rid of her; and exultingly said,
+she did not care how cross he was to her, as they must
+live together.  It was impossible for any one to be more
+thoroughly good-natured, or more determined to be happy
+than Mrs. Palmer.  The studied indifference, insolence,
+and discontent of her husband gave her no pain;
+and when he scolded or abused her, she was highly diverted.
+
+     "Mr. Palmer is so droll!" said she, in a whisper,
+to Elinor.  "He is always out of humour."
+
+     Elinor was not inclined, after a little observation,
+to give him credit for being so genuinely and unaffectedly
+ill-natured or ill-bred as he wished to appear.
+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.  I am sure you
+will like it of all things.  The Westons will be with us,
+and it will be quite delightful.  You cannot think
+what a sweet place Cleveland is; and we are so gay now,
+for Mr. Palmer is always going about the country canvassing
+against the election; and so many people came to dine
+with us that I never saw before, it is quite charming!  But,
+poor fellow! it is very fatiguing to him! for he is forced
+to make every body like him."
+
+     Elinor could hardly keep her countenance as she
+assented to the hardship of such an obligation.
+
+     "How charming it will be," said Charlotte, "when he
+is in Parliament!--won't it? How I shall laugh!  It will
+be so ridiculous to see all his letters directed to him
+with an M.P.--But do you know, he says, he will never frank
+for me?  He declares he won't.  Don't you, Mr. Palmer?"
+
+     Mr. Palmer took no notice of her.
+
+     "He cannot bear writing, you know," she continued--
+"he says it is quite shocking."
+
+     "No," said he, "I never said any thing so irrational.
+Don't palm all your abuses of languages upon me."
+
+     "There now; you see how droll he is.  This is always
+the way with him!  Sometimes he won't speak to me for half
+a day together, and then he comes out with something
+so droll--all about any thing in the world."
+
+     She surprised Elinor very much as they returned
+into the drawing-room, by asking her whether she did
+not like Mr. Palmer excessively.
+
+     "Certainly," said Elinor; "he seems very agreeable."
+
+     "Well--I am so glad you do.  I thought you would,
+he is so pleasant; and Mr. Palmer is excessively pleased
+with you and your sisters I can tell you, and you can't
+think how disappointed he will be if you don't come
+to Cleveland.--I can't imagine why you should object
+to it."
+
+     Elinor was again obliged to decline her invitation;
+and by changing the subject, put a stop to her entreaties.
+She thought it probable that as they lived in the
+same county, Mrs. Palmer might be able to give some
+more particular account of Willoughby's general
+character, than could be gathered from the Middletons'
+partial acquaintance with him; and she was eager to gain
+from any one, such a confirmation of his merits as might
+remove the possibility of fear from Marianne.  She began
+by inquiring if they saw much of Mr. Willoughby at Cleveland,
+and whether they were intimately acquainted with him.
+
+     "Oh dear, yes; I know him extremely well,"
+replied Mrs. Palmer;--"Not that I ever spoke
+to him, indeed; but I have seen him for ever in town.
+Somehow or other I never happened to be staying at Barton
+while he was at Allenham.  Mama saw him here once before;--
+but I was with my uncle at Weymouth.  However, I dare say
+we should have seen a great deal of him in Somersetshire,
+if it had not happened very unluckily that we should never
+have been in the country together.  He is very little
+at Combe, I believe; but if he were ever so much there,
+I do not think Mr. Palmer would visit him, for he is
+in the opposition, you know, and besides it is such a
+way off.  I know why you inquire about him, very well;
+your sister is to marry him.  I am monstrous glad of it,
+for then I shall have her for a neighbour you know."
+
+     "Upon my word," replied Elinor, "you know much
+more of the matter than I do, if you have any reason
+to expect such a match."
+
+     "Don't pretend to deny it, because you know it is
+what every body talks of.  I assure you I heard of it
+in my way through town."
+
+     "My dear Mrs. Palmer!"
+
+     "Upon my honour I did.--I met Colonel Brandon
+Monday morning in Bond-street, just before we left town,
+and he told me of it directly."
+
+     "You surprise me very much.  Colonel Brandon tell
+you of it!  Surely you must be mistaken.  To give such
+intelligence to a person who could not be interested in it,
+even if it were true, is not what I should expect Colonel
+Brandon to do."
+
+     "But I do assure you it was so, for all that,
+and I will tell you how it happened.  When we met him,
+he turned back and walked with us; and so we began talking
+of my brother and sister, and one thing and another,
+and I said to him, 'So, Colonel, there is a new family
+come to Barton cottage, I hear, and mama sends me word
+they are very pretty, and that one of them is going to be
+married to Mr. Willoughby of Combe Magna.  Is it true,
+pray? for of course you must know, as you have been in
+Devonshire so lately.'"
+
+     "And what did the Colonel say?"
+
+     "Oh--he did not say much; but he looked as if he
+knew it to be true, so from that moment I set it down
+as certain.  It will be quite delightful, I declare!
+When is it to take place?"
+
+     "Mr. Brandon was very well I hope?"
+
+     "Oh! yes, quite well; and so full of your praises,
+he did nothing but say fine things of you."
+
+     "I am flattered by his commendation.  He seems
+an excellent man; and I think him uncommonly pleasing."
+
+     "So do I.--He is such a charming man, that it
+is quite a pity he should be so grave and so dull.
+Mamma says HE was in love with your sister too.--
+I assure you it was a great compliment if he was, for he
+hardly ever falls in love with any body."
+
+     "Is Mr. Willoughby much known in your part
+of Somersetshire?" said Elinor.
+
+     "Oh! yes, extremely well; that is, I do not believe
+many people are acquainted with him, because Combe Magna
+is so far off; but they all think him extremely agreeable
+I assure you.  Nobody is more liked than Mr. Willoughby
+wherever he goes, and so you may tell your sister.
+She is a monstrous lucky girl to get him, upon my honour;
+not but that he is much more lucky in getting her,
+because she is so very handsome and agreeable, that nothing
+can be good enough for her.  However, I don't think
+her hardly at all handsomer than you, I assure you;
+for I think you both excessively pretty, and so does
+Mr. Palmer too I am sure, though we could not get him
+to own it last night."
+
+     Mrs. Palmer's information respecting Willoughby
+was not very material; but any testimony in his favour,
+however small, was pleasing to her.
+
+     "I am so glad we are got acquainted at last,"
+continued Charlotte.--"And now I hope we shall always be
+great friends.  You can't think how much I longed to see you!
+It is so delightful that you should live at the cottage!
+Nothing can be like it, to be sure!  And I am so glad
+your sister is going to be well married!  I hope you will
+be a great deal at Combe Magna.  It is a sweet place,
+by all accounts."
+
+     "You have been long acquainted with Colonel Brandon,
+have not you?"
+
+     "Yes, a great while; ever since my sister married.--
+He was a particular friend of Sir John's. I believe,"
+she added in a low voice, "he would have been very
+glad to have had me, if he could.  Sir John and Lady
+Middleton wished it very much.  But mama did not think
+the match good enough for me, otherwise Sir John would
+have mentioned it to the Colonel, and we should have been
+married immediately."
+
+     "Did not Colonel Brandon know of Sir John's proposal
+to your mother before it was made?  Had he never owned
+his affection to yourself?"
+
+     "Oh, no; but if mama had not objected to it,
+I dare say he would have liked it of all things.
+He had not seen me then above twice, for it was before
+I left school.  However, I am much happier as I am.
+Mr. Palmer is the kind of man I like."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 21
+
+
+     The Palmers returned to Cleveland the next day,
+and the two families at Barton were again left to entertain
+each other.  But this did not last long; Elinor had hardly
+got their last visitors out of her head, had hardly done
+wondering at Charlotte's being so happy without a cause,
+at Mr. Palmer's acting so simply, with good abilities,
+and at the strange unsuitableness which often existed between
+husband and wife, before Sir John's and Mrs. Jennings's
+active zeal in the cause of society, procured her some
+other new acquaintance to see and observe.
+
+     In a morning's excursion to Exeter, they had met with
+two young ladies, whom Mrs. Jennings had the satisfaction
+of discovering to be her relations, and this was enough
+for Sir John to invite them directly to the park,
+as soon as their present engagements at Exeter were over.
+Their engagements at Exeter instantly gave way before
+such an invitation, and Lady Middleton was thrown into
+no little alarm on the return of Sir John, by hearing
+that she was very soon to receive a visit from two girls
+whom she had never seen in her life, and of whose elegance,--
+whose tolerable gentility even, she could have no proof;
+for the assurances of her husband and mother on that subject
+went for nothing at all.  Their being her relations too
+made it so much the worse; and Mrs. Jennings's attempts
+at consolation were therefore unfortunately founded,
+when she advised her daughter not to care about their being
+so fashionable; because they were all cousins and must put
+up with one another.  As it was impossible, however, now to
+prevent their coming, Lady Middleton resigned herself to the
+idea of it, with all the philosophy of a well-bred woman,
+contenting herself with merely giving her husband a gentle
+reprimand on the subject five or six times every day.
+
+     The young ladies arrived: their appearance was by
+no means ungenteel or unfashionable.  Their dress was
+very smart, their manners very civil, they were delighted
+with the house, and in raptures with the furniture,
+and they happened to be so doatingly fond of children
+that Lady Middleton's good opinion was engaged in their
+favour before they had been an hour at the Park.
+She declared them to be very agreeable girls indeed,
+which for her ladyship was enthusiastic admiration.
+Sir John's confidence in his own judgment rose with this
+animated praise, and he set off directly for the cottage
+to tell the Miss Dashwoods of the Miss Steeles' arrival,
+and to assure them of their being the sweetest girls
+in the world.  From such commendation as this, however,
+there was not much to be learned; Elinor well knew
+that the sweetest girls in the world were to be met
+with in every part of England, under every possible
+variation of form, face, temper and understanding.
+Sir John wanted the whole family to walk to the Park directly
+and look at his guests.  Benevolent, philanthropic man!  It
+was painful to him even to keep a third cousin to himself.
+
+     "Do come now," said he--"pray come--you must come--I
+declare you shall come--You can't think how you will
+like them.  Lucy is monstrous pretty, and so good humoured
+and agreeable!  The children are all hanging about her already,
+as if she was an old acquaintance.  And they both long
+to see you of all things, for they have heard at Exeter
+that you are the most beautiful creatures in the world;
+and I have told them it is all very true, and a great
+deal more.  You will be delighted with them I am sure.
+They have brought the whole coach full of playthings
+for the children.  How can you be so cross as not to come?
+Why they are your cousins, you know, after a fashion.
+YOU are my cousins, and they are my wife's, so you must
+be related."
+
+     But Sir John could not prevail.  He could only obtain
+a promise of their calling at the Park within a day or two,
+and then left them in amazement at their indifference,
+to walk home and boast anew of their attractions to the
+Miss Steeles, as he had been already boasting of the Miss
+Steeles to them.
+
+     When their promised visit to the Park and consequent
+introduction to these young ladies took place, they found
+in the appearance of the eldest, who was nearly thirty,
+with a very plain and not a sensible face, nothing to admire;
+but in the other, who was not more than two or three
+and twenty, they acknowledged considerable beauty; her
+features were pretty, and she had a sharp quick eye,
+and a smartness of air, which though it did not give
+actual elegance or grace, gave distinction to her person.--
+Their manners were particularly civil, and Elinor soon
+allowed them credit for some kind of sense, when she
+saw with what constant and judicious attention they
+were making themselves agreeable to Lady Middleton.
+With her children they were in continual raptures,
+extolling their beauty, courting their notice, and humouring
+their whims; and such of their time as could be spared from
+the importunate demands which this politeness made on it,
+was spent in admiration of whatever her ladyship was doing,
+if she happened to be doing any thing, or in taking patterns
+of some elegant new dress, in which her appearance
+the day before had thrown them into unceasing delight.
+Fortunately for those who pay their court through
+such foibles, a fond mother, though, in pursuit of praise
+for her children, the most rapacious of human beings,
+is likewise the most credulous; her demands are exorbitant;
+but she will swallow any thing; and the excessive
+affection and endurance of the Miss Steeles towards
+her offspring were viewed therefore by Lady Middleton
+without the smallest surprise or distrust.  She saw with
+maternal complacency all the impertinent encroachments
+and mischievous tricks to which her cousins submitted.
+She saw their sashes untied, their hair pulled about
+their ears, their work-bags searched, and their knives
+and scissors stolen away, and felt no doubt of its being
+a reciprocal enjoyment.  It suggested no other surprise
+than that Elinor and Marianne should sit so composedly by,
+without claiming a share in what was passing.
+
+     "John is in such spirits today!" said she, on his
+taking Miss Steeles's pocket handkerchief, and throwing
+it out of window--"He is full of monkey tricks."
+
+     And soon afterwards, on the second boy's violently
+pinching one of the same lady's fingers, she fondly observed,
+"How playful William is!"
+
+     "And here is my sweet little Annamaria," she added,
+tenderly caressing a little girl of three years old,
+who had not made a noise for the last two minutes;
+"And she is always so gentle and quiet--Never was there
+such a quiet little thing!"
+
+     But unfortunately in bestowing these embraces,
+a pin in her ladyship's head dress slightly scratching
+the child's neck, produced from this pattern of gentleness
+such violent screams, as could hardly be outdone by any
+creature professedly noisy.  The mother's consternation
+was excessive; but it could not surpass the alarm of the
+Miss Steeles, and every thing was done by all three,
+in so critical an emergency, which affection could suggest
+as likely to assuage the agonies of the little sufferer.
+She was seated in her mother's lap, covered with kisses,
+her wound bathed with lavender-water, by one of the
+Miss Steeles, who was on her knees to attend her,
+and her mouth stuffed with sugar plums by the other.
+With such a reward for her tears, the child was too wise
+to cease crying.  She still screamed and sobbed lustily,
+kicked her two brothers for offering to touch her, and all
+their united soothings were ineffectual till Lady Middleton
+luckily remembering that in a scene of similar distress
+last week, some apricot marmalade had been successfully
+applied for a bruised temple, the same remedy was eagerly
+proposed for this unfortunate scratch, and a slight
+intermission of screams in the young lady on hearing it,
+gave them reason to hope that it would not be rejected.--
+She was carried out of the room therefore in her
+mother's arms, in quest of this medicine, and as the
+two boys chose to follow, though earnestly entreated
+by their mother to stay behind, the four young ladies
+were left in a quietness which the room had not known for
+many hours.
+
+     "Poor little creatures!" said Miss Steele, as soon
+as they were gone.  "It might have been a very sad accident."
+
+     "Yet I hardly know how," cried Marianne, "unless it
+had been under totally different circumstances.
+But this is the usual way of heightening alarm, where there
+is nothing to be alarmed at in reality."
+
+     "What a sweet woman Lady Middleton is!" said Lucy Steele.
+
+     Marianne was silent; it was impossible for her to say
+what she did not feel, however trivial the occasion;
+and upon Elinor therefore the whole task of telling lies
+when politeness required it, always fell.  She did her
+best when thus called on, by speaking of Lady Middleton
+with more warmth than she felt, though with far less than
+Miss Lucy.
+
+     "And Sir John too," cried the elder sister, 
+"what a charming man he is!"
+
+     Here too, Miss Dashwood's commendation, being only
+simple and just, came in without any eclat.  She merely
+observed that he was perfectly good humoured and friendly.
+
+     "And what a charming little family they have!  I
+never saw such fine children in my life.--I declare I
+quite doat upon them already, and indeed I am always
+distractedly fond of children."
+
+     "I should guess so," said Elinor, with a smile,
+"from what I have witnessed this morning."
+
+     "I have a notion," said Lucy, "you think the little
+Middletons rather too much indulged; perhaps they may be the
+outside of enough; but it is so natural in Lady Middleton;
+and for my part, I love to see children full of life
+and spirits; I cannot bear them if they are tame and quiet."
+
+     "I confess," replied Elinor, "that while I am at
+Barton Park, I never think of tame and quiet children
+with any abhorrence."
+
+     A short pause succeeded this speech, which was first
+broken by Miss Steele, who seemed very much disposed
+for conversation, and who now said rather abruptly,
+"And how do you like Devonshire, Miss Dashwood?  I suppose
+you were very sorry to leave Sussex."
+
+     In some surprise at the familiarity of this question,
+or at least of the manner in which it was spoken,
+Elinor replied that she was.
+
+     "Norland is a prodigious beautiful place, is not it?"
+added Miss Steele.
+
+     "We have heard Sir John admire it excessively,"
+said Lucy, who seemed to think some apology necessary
+for the freedom of her sister.
+
+     "I think every one MUST admire it," replied Elinor,
+"who ever saw the place; though it is not to be supposed
+that any one can estimate its beauties as we do."
+
+     "And had you a great many smart beaux there?  I
+suppose you have not so many in this part of the world;
+for my part, I think they are a vast addition always."
+
+     "But why should you think," said Lucy, looking ashamed
+of her sister, "that there are not as many genteel young
+men in Devonshire as Sussex?"
+
+     "Nay, my dear, I'm sure I don't pretend to say that there
+an't.  I'm sure there's a vast many smart beaux in Exeter;
+but you know, how could I tell what smart beaux there
+might be about Norland; and I was only afraid the Miss
+Dashwoods might find it dull at Barton, if they had not
+so many as they used to have.  But perhaps you young ladies
+may not care about the beaux, and had as lief be without
+them as with them.  For my part, I think they are vastly
+agreeable, provided they dress smart and behave civil.
+But I can't bear to see them dirty and nasty.  Now there's
+Mr. Rose at Exeter, a prodigious smart young man,
+quite a beau, clerk to Mr. Simpson, you know, and yet if you
+do but meet him of a morning, he is not fit to be seen.--
+I suppose your brother was quite a beau, Miss Dashwood,
+before he married, as he was so rich?"
+
+     "Upon my word," replied Elinor, "I cannot tell you,
+for I do not perfectly comprehend the meaning of the word.
+But this I can say, that if he ever was a beau before
+he married, he is one still for there is not the smallest
+alteration in him."
+
+     "Oh! dear! one never thinks of married men's being
+beaux--they have something else to do."
+
+     "Lord! Anne," cried her sister, "you can talk of
+nothing but beaux;--you will make Miss Dashwood believe you
+think of nothing else." And then to turn the discourse,
+she began admiring the house and the furniture.
+
+     This specimen of the Miss Steeles was enough.
+The vulgar freedom and folly of the eldest left
+her no recommendation, and as Elinor was not blinded
+by the beauty, or the shrewd look of the youngest,
+to her want of real elegance and artlessness, she left
+the house without any wish of knowing them better.
+
+     Not so the Miss Steeles.--They came from Exeter, well
+provided with admiration for the use of Sir John Middleton,
+his family, and all his relations, and no niggardly
+proportion was now dealt out to his fair cousins, whom they
+declared to be the most beautiful, elegant, accomplished,
+and agreeable girls they had ever beheld, and with whom
+they were particularly anxious to be better acquainted.--
+And to be better acquainted therefore, Elinor soon found
+was their inevitable lot, for as Sir John was entirely
+on the side of the Miss Steeles, their party would be
+too strong for opposition, and that kind of intimacy
+must be submitted to, which consists of sitting an hour
+or two together in the same room almost every day.
+Sir John could do no more; but he did not know that any
+more was required: to be together was, in his opinion,
+to be intimate, and while his continual schemes for their
+meeting were effectual, he had not a doubt of their being
+established friends.
+
+     To do him justice, he did every thing in his power
+to promote their unreserve, by making the Miss Steeles
+acquainted with whatever he knew or supposed of his cousins'
+situations in the most delicate particulars,--and Elinor
+had not seen them more than twice, before the eldest of
+them wished her joy on her sister's having been so lucky
+as to make a conquest of a very smart beau since she
+came to Barton.
+
+     "'Twill be a fine thing to have her married so young
+to be sure," said she, "and I hear he is quite a beau,
+and prodigious handsome.  And I hope you may have as good
+luck yourself soon,--but perhaps you may have a friend
+in the corner already."
+
+     Elinor could not suppose that Sir John would be more
+nice in proclaiming his suspicions of her regard for Edward,
+than he had been with respect to Marianne; indeed it was
+rather his favourite joke of the two, as being somewhat
+newer and more conjectural; and since Edward's visit,
+they had never dined together without his drinking to her
+best affections with so much significancy and so many nods
+and winks, as to excite general attention.  The letter F--
+had been likewise invariably brought forward, and found
+productive of such countless jokes, that its character
+as the wittiest letter in the alphabet had been long
+established with Elinor.
+
+     The Miss Steeles, as she expected, had now all the
+benefit of these jokes, and in the eldest of them they
+raised a curiosity to know the name of the gentleman
+alluded to, which, though often impertinently expressed,
+was perfectly of a piece with her general inquisitiveness
+into the concerns of their family.  But Sir John did not
+sport long with the curiosity which he delighted to raise,
+for he had at least as much pleasure in telling the name,
+as Miss Steele had in hearing it.
+
+     "His name is Ferrars," said he, in a very audible whisper;
+"but pray do not tell it, for it's a great secret."
+
+     "Ferrars!" repeated Miss Steele; "Mr. Ferrars is
+the happy man, is he? What! your sister-in-law's brother,
+Miss Dashwood? a very agreeable young man to be sure;
+I know him very well."
+
+     "How can you say so, Anne?" cried Lucy, who generally
+made an amendment to all her sister's assertions.
+"Though we have seen him once or twice at my uncle's, it
+is rather too much to pretend to know him very well."
+
+     Elinor heard all this with attention and surprise.
+"And who was this uncle?  Where did he live?  How came
+they acquainted?"  She wished very much to have the subject
+continued, though she did not chuse to join in it herself;
+but nothing more of it was said, and for the first time
+in her life, she thought Mrs. Jennings deficient either
+in curiosity after petty information, or in a disposition
+to communicate it.  The manner in which Miss Steele had
+spoken of Edward, increased her curiosity; for it struck
+her as being rather ill-natured, and suggested the suspicion
+of that lady's knowing, or fancying herself to know something 
+to his disadvantage.--But her curiosity was unavailing,
+for no farther notice was taken of Mr. Ferrars's name by 
+Miss Steele when alluded to, or even openly mentioned by Sir John.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 22
+
+
+     Marianne, who had never much toleration for any
+thing like impertinence, vulgarity, inferiority of parts,
+or even difference of taste from herself, was at
+this time particularly ill-disposed, from the state
+of her spirits, to be pleased with the Miss Steeles,
+or to encourage their advances; and to the invariable
+coldness of her behaviour towards them, which checked every
+endeavour at intimacy on their side, Elinor principally
+attributed that preference of herself which soon became
+evident in the manners of both, but especially of Lucy,
+who missed no opportunity of engaging her in conversation,
+or of striving to improve their acquaintance by an easy
+and frank communication of her sentiments.
+
+     Lucy was naturally clever; her remarks were often
+just and amusing; and as a companion for half an hour
+Elinor frequently found her agreeable; but her powers
+had received no aid from education: she was ignorant
+and illiterate; and her deficiency of all mental improvement,
+her want of information in the most common particulars,
+could not be concealed from Miss Dashwood, in spite of her
+constant endeavour to appear to advantage.  Elinor saw,
+and pitied her for, the neglect of abilities which education
+might have rendered so respectable; but she saw, with less
+tenderness of feeling, the thorough want of delicacy,
+of rectitude, and integrity of mind, which her attentions,
+her assiduities, her flatteries at the Park betrayed;
+and she could have no lasting satisfaction in the company
+of a person who joined insincerity with ignorance;
+whose want of instruction prevented their meeting
+in conversation on terms of equality, and whose conduct
+toward others made every shew of attention and deference
+towards herself perfectly valueless.
+
+     "You will think my question an odd one, I dare say,"
+said Lucy to her one day, as they were walking together
+from the park to the cottage--"but pray, are you
+personally acquainted with your sister-in-law's mother,
+Mrs. Ferrars?"
+
+     Elinor DID think the question a very odd one,
+and her countenance expressed it, as she answered that she
+had never seen Mrs. Ferrars.
+
+     "Indeed!" replied Lucy; "I wonder at that, for I
+thought you must have seen her at Norland sometimes.
+Then, perhaps, you cannot tell me what sort of a woman
+she is?"
+
+     "No," returned Elinor, cautious of giving her real
+opinion of Edward's mother, and not very desirous
+of satisfying what seemed impertinent curiosity--
+"I know nothing of her."
+
+     "I am sure you think me very strange, for enquiring
+about her in such a way," said Lucy, eyeing Elinor attentively
+as she spoke; "but perhaps there may be reasons--I wish
+I might venture; but however I hope you will do me the justice 
+of believing that I do not mean to be impertinent."
+
+     Elinor made her a civil reply, and they walked on
+for a few minutes in silence.  It was broken by Lucy,
+who renewed the subject again by saying, with some
+hesitation,
+
+     "I cannot bear to have you think me impertinently curious.
+I am sure I would rather do any thing in the world than be
+thought so by a person whose good opinion is so well worth
+having as yours.  And I am sure I should not have the smallest
+fear of trusting YOU; indeed, I should be very glad of your
+advice how to manage in such and uncomfortable situation
+as I am; but, however, there is no occasion to trouble YOU.
+I am sorry you do not happen to know Mrs. Ferrars."
+
+     "I am sorry I do NOT," said Elinor, in great astonishment,
+"if it could be of any use to YOU to know my opinion of her.
+But really I never understood that you were at all connected
+with that family, and therefore I am a little surprised,
+I confess, at so serious an inquiry into her character."
+
+     "I dare say you are, and I am sure I do not at all
+wonder at it.  But if I dared tell you all, you would not be
+so much surprised.  Mrs. Ferrars is certainly nothing to me
+at present--but the time MAY come--how soon it will come
+must depend upon herself--when we may be very intimately connected."
+
+     She looked down as she said this, amiably bashful,
+with only one side glance at her companion to observe its
+effect on her.
+
+     "Good heavens!" cried Elinor, "what do you mean?
+Are you acquainted with Mr. Robert Ferrars?  Can you be?"
+And she did not feel much delighted with the idea of such
+a sister-in-law.
+
+     "No," replied Lucy, "not to Mr. ROBERT Ferrars--I
+never saw him in my life; but," fixing her eyes upon Elinor,
+"to his eldest brother."
+
+     What felt Elinor at that moment? Astonishment,
+that would have been as painful as it was strong, had not
+an immediate disbelief of the assertion attended it.
+She turned towards Lucy in silent amazement, unable to divine
+the reason or object of such a declaration; and though
+her complexion varied, she stood firm in incredulity,
+and felt in no danger of an hysterical fit, or a swoon.
+
+     "You may well be surprised," continued Lucy;
+"for to be sure you could have had no idea of it before;
+for I dare say he never dropped the smallest hint of it
+to you or any of your family; because it was always meant
+to be a great secret, and I am sure has been faithfully
+kept so by me to this hour.  Not a soul of all my relations
+know of it but Anne, and I never should have mentioned
+it to you, if I had not felt the greatest dependence
+in the world upon your secrecy; and I really thought my
+behaviour in asking so many questions about Mrs. Ferrars
+must seem so odd, that it ought to be explained.
+And I do not think Mr. Ferrars can be displeased,
+when he knows I have trusted you, because I know he has
+the highest opinion in the world of all your family,
+and looks upon yourself and the other Miss Dashwoods quite
+as his own sisters."--She paused.
+
+     Elinor for a few moments remained silent.
+Her astonishment at what she heard was at first too
+great for words; but at length forcing herself to speak,
+and to speak cautiously, she said, with calmness of manner,
+which tolerably well concealed her surprise and solicitude--
+"May I ask if your engagement is of long standing?"
+
+     "We have been engaged these four years."
+
+     "Four years!"
+
+     "Yes."
+
+     Elinor, though greatly shocked, still felt unable
+to believe it.
+
+     "I did not know," said she, "that you were even
+acquainted till the other day."
+
+     "Our acquaintance, however, is of many years date.
+He was under my uncle's care, you know, a considerable while."
+
+     "Your uncle!"
+
+     "Yes; Mr. Pratt.  Did you never hear him talk
+of Mr. Pratt?"
+
+     "I think I have," replied Elinor, with an exertion
+of spirits, which increased with her increase of emotion.
+
+     "He was four years with my uncle, who lives at Longstaple,
+near Plymouth.  It was there our acquaintance begun,
+for my sister and me was often staying with my uncle,
+and it was there our engagement was formed, though not till
+a year after he had quitted as a pupil; but he was almost
+always with us afterwards.  I was very unwilling to enter
+into it, as you may imagine, without the knowledge and
+approbation of his mother; but I was too young, and loved
+him too well, to be so prudent as I ought to have been.--
+Though you do not know him so well as me, Miss Dashwood,
+you must have seen enough of him to be sensible he is
+very capable of making a woman sincerely attached to him."
+
+     "Certainly," answered Elinor, without knowing what
+she said; but after a moment's reflection, she added,
+with revived security of Edward's honour and love,
+and her companion's falsehood--"Engaged to Mr. Edward
+Ferrars!--I confess myself so totally surprised at
+what you tell me, that really--I beg your pardon;
+but surely there must be some mistake of person or name.
+We cannot mean the same Mr. Ferrars."
+
+     "We can mean no other," cried Lucy, smiling.  "Mr. Edward
+Ferrars, the eldest son of Mrs. Ferrars, of Park Street,
+and brother of your sister-in-law, Mrs. John Dashwood,
+is the person I mean; you must allow that I am not likely
+to be deceived as to the name of the man on who all my happiness depends."
+
+     "It is strange," replied Elinor, in a most painful perplexity,
+"that I should never have heard him even mention your name."
+
+     "No; considering our situation, it was not strange.
+Our first care has been to keep the matter secret.--
+You knew nothing of me, or my family, and, therefore,
+there could be no OCCASION for ever mentioning my name
+to you; and, as he was always particularly afraid of his
+sister's suspecting any thing, THAT was reason enough
+for his not mentioning it."
+
+     She was silent.--Elinor's security sunk; but her
+self-command did not sink with it.
+
+     "Four years you have been engaged," said she
+with a firm voice.
+
+     "Yes; and heaven knows how much longer we may have
+to wait.  Poor Edward!  It puts him quite out of heart."
+Then taking a small miniature from her pocket, she added,
+"To prevent the possibility of mistake, be so good as to look
+at this face.  It does not do him justice, to be sure,
+but yet I think you cannot be deceived as to the person
+it was drew for.--I have had it above these three years."
+
+     She put it into her hands as she spoke; and when Elinor
+saw the painting, whatever other doubts her fear of a
+too hasty decision, or her wish of detecting falsehood
+might suffer to linger in her mind, she could have none of
+its being Edward's face.  She returned it almost instantly,
+acknowledging the likeness.
+
+     "I have never been able," continued Lucy, "to give
+him my picture in return, which I am very much vexed at,
+for he has been always so anxious to get it!  But I am
+determined to set for it the very first opportunity."
+
+     "You are quite in the right," replied Elinor calmly.
+They then proceeded a few paces in silence.  Lucy spoke first.
+
+     "I am sure," said she, "I have no doubt in the world
+of your faithfully keeping this secret, because you must
+know of what importance it is to us, not to have it reach
+his mother; for she would never approve of it, I dare say.
+I shall have no fortune, and I fancy she is an exceeding
+proud woman."
+
+     "I certainly did not seek your confidence," said Elinor;
+"but you do me no more than justice in imagining that I
+may be depended on.  Your secret is safe with me;
+but pardon me if I express some surprise at so unnecessary
+a communication.  You must at least have felt that my
+being acquainted with it could not add to its safety."
+
+     As she said this, she looked earnestly at Lucy,
+hoping to discover something in her countenance; perhaps the
+falsehood of the greatest part of what she had been saying;
+but Lucy's countenance suffered no change.
+
+     "I was afraid you would think I was taking a great
+liberty with you," said she, "in telling you all this.
+I have not known you long to be sure, personally at least,
+but I have known you and all your family by description
+a great while; and as soon as I saw you, I felt almost as if
+you was an old acquaintance.  Besides in the present case,
+I really thought some explanation was due to you after my
+making such particular inquiries about Edward's mother;
+and I am so unfortunate, that I have not a creature whose
+advice I can ask.  Anne is the only person that knows of it,
+and she has no judgment at all; indeed, she does me a great
+deal more harm than good, for I am in constant fear of her
+betraying me.  She does not know how to hold her tongue,
+as you must perceive, and I am sure I was in the greatest
+fright in the world t'other day, when Edward's name was
+mentioned by Sir John, lest she should out with it all.
+You can't think how much I go through in my mind from
+it altogether.  I only wonder that I am alive after what 
+I have suffered for Edward's sake these last four years.
+Every thing in such suspense and uncertainty; and seeing
+him so seldom--we can hardly meet above twice a-year.
+I am sure I wonder my heart is not quite broke."
+
+     Here she took out her handkerchief; but Elinor did
+not feel very compassionate.
+
+     "Sometimes." continued Lucy, after wiping her eyes,
+"I think whether it would not be better for us both
+to break off the matter entirely."  As she said this,
+she looked directly at her companion.  "But then
+at other times I have not resolution enough for it.--
+I cannot bear the thoughts of making him so miserable,
+as I know the very mention of such a thing would do.
+And on my own account too--so dear as he is to me--I don't
+think I could be equal to it.  What would you advise
+me to do in such a case, Miss Dashwood?  What would you
+do yourself?"
+
+     "Pardon me," replied Elinor, startled by the question;
+"but I can give you no advice under such circumstances.
+Your own judgment must direct you."
+
+     "To be sure," continued Lucy, after a few minutes
+silence on both sides, "his mother must provide for him
+sometime or other; but poor Edward is so cast down by it!
+Did you not think him dreadful low-spirited when he was at
+Barton?  He was so miserable when he left us at Longstaple,
+to go to you, that I was afraid you would think him quite ill."
+
+     "Did he come from your uncle's, then, when he visited us?"
+
+     "Oh, yes; he had been staying a fortnight with us.
+Did you think he came directly from town?"
+
+     "No," replied Elinor, most feelingly sensible of
+every fresh circumstance in favour of Lucy's veracity;
+"I remember he told us, that he had been staying
+a fortnight with some friends near Plymouth."
+She remembered too, her own surprise at the time,
+at his mentioning nothing farther of those friends,
+at his total silence with respect even to their names.
+
+     "Did not you think him sadly out of spirits?"
+repeated Lucy.
+
+     "We did, indeed, particularly so when he first arrived."
+
+     "I begged him to exert himself for fear you
+should suspect what was the matter; but it made him
+so melancholy, not being able to stay more than a
+fortnight with us, and seeing me so much affected.--
+Poor fellow!--I am afraid it is just the same with him now;
+for he writes in wretched spirits.  I heard from him just
+before I left Exeter;" taking a letter from her pocket
+and carelessly showing the direction to Elinor.
+"You know his hand, I dare say, a charming one it is;
+but that is not written so well as usual.--He was tired,
+I dare say, for he had just filled the sheet to me as full
+as possible."
+
+     Elinor saw that it WAS his hand, and she could doubt
+no longer.  This picture, she had allowed herself to believe,
+might have been accidentally obtained; it might not have
+been Edward's gift; but a correspondence between them
+by letter, could subsist only under a positive engagement,
+could be authorised by nothing else; for a few moments, she
+was almost overcome--her heart sunk within her, and she could
+hardly stand; but exertion was indispensably necessary;
+and she struggled so resolutely against the oppression
+of her feelings, that her success was speedy, and for
+the time complete.
+
+     "Writing to each other," said Lucy, returning the
+letter into her pocket, "is the only comfort we have
+in such long separations.  Yes, I have one other comfort
+in his picture, but poor Edward has not even THAT.
+If he had but my picture, he says he should be easy.
+I gave him a lock of my hair set in a ring when he was at
+Longstaple last, and that was some comfort to him, he said,
+but not equal to a picture.  Perhaps you might notice
+the ring when you saw him?"
+
+     "I did," said Elinor, with a composure of voice,
+under which was concealed an emotion and distress beyond
+any thing she had ever felt before.  She was mortified,
+shocked, confounded.
+
+     Fortunately for her, they had now reached the cottage,
+and the conversation could be continued no farther.
+After sitting with them a few minutes, the Miss Steeles
+returned to the Park, and Elinor was then at liberty
+to think and be wretched.
+
+
+
+
+
+[At this point in the first and second editions, Volume 1 ends.]
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 23
+
+
+     However small Elinor's general dependence on
+Lucy's veracity might be, it was impossible for her
+on serious reflection to suspect it in the present case,
+where no temptation could be answerable to the folly
+of inventing a falsehood of such a description.  What Lucy
+had asserted to be true, therefore, Elinor could not,
+dared not longer doubt; supported as it was too on every
+side by such probabilities and proofs, and contradicted
+by nothing but her own wishes.  Their opportunity of
+acquaintance in the house of Mr. Pratt was a foundation
+for the rest, at once indisputable and alarming; and Edward's
+visit near Plymouth, his melancholy state of mind,
+his dissatisfaction at his own prospects, his uncertain
+behaviour towards herself, the intimate knowledge of the
+Miss Steeles as to Norland and their family connections,
+which had often surprised her, the picture, the letter,
+the ring, formed altogether such a body of evidence,
+as overcame every fear of condemning him unfairly,
+and established as a fact, which no partiality could
+set aside, his ill-treatment of herself.--Her resentment
+of such behaviour, her indignation at having been its dupe,
+for a short time made her feel only for herself;
+but other ideas, other considerations, soon arose.
+Had Edward been intentionally deceiving her?  Had he feigned
+a regard for her which he did not feel?  Was his engagement
+to Lucy an engagement of the heart?  No; whatever it might
+once have been, she could not believe it such at present.
+His affection was all her own.  She could not be deceived
+in that.  Her mother, sisters, Fanny, all had been
+conscious of his regard for her at Norland; it was not
+an illusion of her own vanity.  He certainly loved her.
+What a softener of the heart was this persuasion!  How much
+could it not tempt her to forgive!  He had been blamable,
+highly blamable, in remaining at Norland after he first
+felt her influence over him to be more than it ought
+to be.  In that, he could not be defended; but if he
+had injured her, how much more had he injured himself;
+if her case were pitiable, his was hopeless.
+His imprudence had made her miserable for a while; but it
+seemed to have deprived himself of all chance of ever
+being otherwise.  She might in time regain tranquillity;
+but HE, what had he to look forward to?  Could he
+ever be tolerably happy with Lucy Steele; could he,
+were his affection for herself out of the question,
+with his integrity, his delicacy, and well-informed mind,
+be satisfied with a wife like her--illiterate, artful,
+and selfish?
+
+     The youthful infatuation of nineteen would naturally
+blind him to every thing but her beauty and good nature;
+but the four succeeding years--years, which if rationally
+spent, give such improvement to the understanding, must
+have opened his eyes to her defects of education,
+while the same period of time, spent on her side
+in inferior society and more frivolous pursuits,
+had perhaps robbed her of that simplicity which might
+once have given an interesting character to her beauty.
+
+     If in the supposition of his seeking to marry herself,
+his difficulties from his mother had seemed great,
+how much greater were they now likely to be, when 
+the object of his engagement was undoubtedly inferior 
+in connections, and probably inferior in fortune to herself.
+These difficulties, indeed, with a heart so alienated
+from Lucy, might not press very hard upon his patience;
+but melancholy was the state of the person by whom the
+expectation of family opposition and unkindness, could
+be felt as a relief!
+
+     As these considerations occurred to her in painful
+succession, she wept for him, more than for herself.
+Supported by the conviction of having done nothing to
+merit her present unhappiness, and consoled by the belief
+that Edward had done nothing to forfeit her esteem,
+she thought she could even now, under the first smart
+of the heavy blow, command herself enough to guard every
+suspicion of the truth from her mother and sisters.
+And so well was she able to answer her own expectations,
+that when she joined them at dinner only two hours
+after she had first suffered the extinction of all her
+dearest hopes, no one would have supposed from the
+appearance of the sisters, that Elinor was mourning
+in secret over obstacles which must divide her for ever
+from the object of her love, and that Marianne was
+internally dwelling on the perfections of a man, of whose
+whole heart she felt thoroughly possessed, and whom she
+expected to see in every carriage which drove near their house.
+
+     The necessity of concealing from her mother and
+Marianne, what had been entrusted in confidence to herself,
+though it obliged her to unceasing exertion, was no
+aggravation of Elinor's distress.  On the contrary
+it was a relief to her, to be spared the communication
+of what would give such affliction to them, and to be
+saved likewise from hearing that condemnation of Edward,
+which would probably flow from the excess of their partial
+affection for herself, and which was more than she felt
+equal to support.
+
+     From their counsel, or their conversation, she knew
+she could receive no assistance, their tenderness and
+sorrow must add to her distress, while her self-command
+would neither receive encouragement from their example
+nor from their praise.  She was stronger alone,
+and her own good sense so well supported her, that her
+firmness was as unshaken, her appearance of cheerfulness
+as invariable, as with regrets so poignant and so fresh,
+it was possible for them to be.
+
+     Much as she had suffered from her first conversation
+with Lucy on the subject, she soon felt an earnest wish
+of renewing it; and this for more reasons than one.
+She wanted to hear many particulars of their engagement
+repeated again, she wanted more clearly to understand
+what Lucy really felt for Edward, whether there were any
+sincerity in her declaration of tender regard for him,
+and she particularly wanted to convince Lucy, by her
+readiness to enter on the matter again, and her calmness
+in conversing on it, that she was no otherwise interested
+in it than as a friend, which she very much feared
+her involuntary agitation, in their morning discourse,
+must have left at least doubtful.  That Lucy was disposed
+to be jealous of her appeared very probable: it was plain
+that Edward had always spoken highly in her praise,
+not merely from Lucy's assertion, but from her venturing
+to trust her on so short a personal acquaintance,
+with a secret so confessedly and evidently important.
+And even Sir John's joking intelligence must have had
+some weight.  But indeed, while Elinor remained so well
+assured within herself of being really beloved by Edward,
+it required no other consideration of probabilities
+to make it natural that Lucy should be jealous;
+and that she was so, her very confidence was a proof.
+What other reason for the disclosure of the affair could
+there be, but that Elinor might be informed by it of Lucy's
+superior claims on Edward, and be taught to avoid him
+in future?  She had little difficulty in understanding thus
+much of her rival's intentions, and while she was firmly
+resolved to act by her as every principle of honour and
+honesty directed, to combat her own affection for Edward
+and to see him as little as possible; she could not deny
+herself the comfort of endeavouring to convince Lucy
+that her heart was unwounded.  And as she could now have
+nothing more painful to hear on the subject than had already
+been told, she did not mistrust her own ability of going
+through a repetition of particulars with composure.
+
+     But it was not immediately that an opportunity
+of doing so could be commanded, though Lucy was as well
+disposed as herself to take advantage of any that occurred;
+for the weather was not often fine enough to allow
+of their joining in a walk, where they might most easily
+separate themselves from the others; and though they
+met at least every other evening either at the park
+or cottage, and chiefly at the former, they could
+not be supposed to meet for the sake of conversation.
+Such a thought would never enter either Sir John or Lady
+Middleton's head; and therefore very little leisure
+was ever given for a general chat, and none at all for
+particular discourse.  They met for the sake of eating,
+drinking, and laughing together, playing at cards,
+or consequences, or any other game that was sufficiently noisy.
+
+     One or two meetings of this kind had taken place,
+without affording Elinor any chance of engaging Lucy
+in private, when Sir John called at the cottage one morning,
+to beg, in the name of charity, that they would all
+dine with Lady Middleton that day, as he was obliged
+to attend the club at Exeter, and she would otherwise be
+quite alone, except her mother and the two Miss Steeles.
+Elinor, who foresaw a fairer opening for the point she
+had in view, in such a party as this was likely to be,
+more at liberty among themselves under the tranquil
+and well-bred direction of Lady Middleton than when
+her husband united them together in one noisy purpose,
+immediately accepted the invitation; Margaret, with her
+mother's permission, was equally compliant, and Marianne,
+though always unwilling to join any of their parties,
+was persuaded by her mother, who could not bear to have her
+seclude herself from any chance of amusement, to go likewise.
+
+     The young ladies went, and Lady Middleton was happily
+preserved from the frightful solitude which had threatened her.
+The insipidity of the meeting was exactly such as Elinor
+had expected; it produced not one novelty of thought
+or expression, and nothing could be less interesting
+than the whole of their discourse both in the dining
+parlour and drawing room: to the latter, the children
+accompanied them, and while they remained there, she was
+too well convinced of the impossibility of engaging Lucy's
+attention to attempt it.  They quitted it only with the
+removal of the tea-things.  The card-table was then placed,
+and Elinor began to wonder at herself for having ever
+entertained a hope of finding time for conversation
+at the park.  They all rose up in preparation for a round game.
+
+     "I am glad," said Lady Middleton to Lucy,
+"you are not going to finish poor little Annamaria's
+basket this evening; for I am sure it must hurt your
+eyes to work filigree by candlelight.  And we will make
+the dear little love some amends for her disappointment
+to-morrow, and then I hope she will not much mind it."
+
+     This hint was enough, Lucy recollected herself instantly
+and replied, "Indeed you are very much mistaken,
+Lady Middleton; I am only waiting to know whether you can
+make your party without me, or I should have been at my
+filigree already.  I would not disappoint the little angel
+for all the world: and if you want me at the card-table now,
+I am resolved to finish the basket after supper."
+
+     "You are very good, I hope it won't hurt your eyes--
+will you ring the bell for some working candles?
+My poor little girl would be sadly disappointed, I know,
+if the basket was not finished tomorrow, for though I
+told her it certainly would not, I am sure she depends
+upon having it done."
+
+     Lucy directly drew her work table near her
+and reseated herself with an alacrity and cheerfulness
+which seemed to infer that she could taste no greater
+delight than in making a filigree basket for a spoilt child.
+
+     Lady Middleton proposed a rubber of Casino to the others.
+No one made any objection but Marianne, who with her usual
+inattention to the forms of general civility, exclaimed,
+"Your Ladyship will have the goodness to excuse ME--you
+know I detest cards.  I shall go to the piano-forte;
+I have not touched it since it was tuned."  And without
+farther ceremony, she turned away and walked to the instrument.
+
+     Lady Middleton looked as if she thanked heaven
+that SHE had never made so rude a speech.
+
+     "Marianne can never keep long from that instrument
+you know, ma'am," said Elinor, endeavouring to smooth
+away the offence; "and I do not much wonder at it; for it
+is the very best toned piano-forte I ever heard."
+
+     The remaining five were now to draw their cards.
+
+     "Perhaps," continued Elinor, "if I should happen
+to cut out, I may be of some use to Miss Lucy Steele,
+in rolling her papers for her; and there is so much still
+to be done to the basket, that it must be impossible
+I think for her labour singly, to finish it this evening.
+I should like the work exceedingly, if she would allow
+me a share in it."
+
+     "Indeed I shall be very much obliged to you
+for your help," cried Lucy, "for I find there is more
+to be done to it than I thought there was; and it would
+be a shocking thing to disappoint dear Annamaria after all."
+
+     "Oh! that would be terrible, indeed," said Miss Steele--
+"Dear little soul, how I do love her!"
+
+     "You are very kind," said Lady Middleton to Elinor;
+"and as you really like the work, perhaps you will be
+as well pleased not to cut in till another rubber,
+or will you take your chance now?"
+
+     Elinor joyfully profited by the first of these proposals,
+and thus by a little of that address which Marianne
+could never condescend to practise, gained her own end,
+and pleased Lady Middleton at the same time.  Lucy made room
+for her with ready attention, and the two fair rivals were
+thus seated side by side at the same table, and, with the
+utmost harmony, engaged in forwarding the same work.
+The pianoforte at which Marianne, wrapped up in her own
+music and her own thoughts, had by this time forgotten
+that any body was in the room besides herself, was luckily
+so near them that Miss Dashwood now judged she might safely,
+under the shelter of its noise, introduce the interesting
+subject, without any risk of being heard at the card-table.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 24
+
+
+     In a firm, though cautious tone, Elinor thus began.
+
+     "I should be undeserving of the confidence you have
+honoured me with, if I felt no desire for its continuance,
+or no farther curiosity on its subject.  I will
+not apologize therefore for bringing it forward again."
+
+     "Thank you," cried Lucy warmly, "for breaking
+the ice; you have set my heart at ease by it; for I was
+somehow or other afraid I had offended you by what I
+told you that Monday."
+
+     "Offended me! How could you suppose so? Believe me,"
+and Elinor spoke it with the truest sincerity,
+"nothing could be farther from my intention than to give
+you such an idea.  Could you have a motive for the trust,
+that was not honourable and flattering to me?"
+
+     "And yet I do assure you," replied Lucy, her little
+sharp eyes full of meaning, "there seemed to me to be
+a coldness and displeasure in your manner that made me
+quite uncomfortable.  I felt sure that you was angry with me;
+and have been quarrelling with myself ever since, for having
+took such a liberty as to trouble you with my affairs.
+But I am very glad to find it was only my own fancy,
+and that you really do not blame me.  If you knew what a
+consolation it was to me to relieve my heart speaking to you
+of what I am always thinking of every moment of my life,
+your compassion would make you overlook every thing else
+I am sure."
+
+     "Indeed, I can easily believe that it was a very great
+relief to you, to acknowledge your situation to me, and be
+assured that you shall never have reason to repent it.
+Your case is a very unfortunate one; you seem to me to
+be surrounded with difficulties, and you will have need
+of all your mutual affection to support you under them.
+Mr. Ferrars, I believe, is entirely dependent on his mother."
+
+     "He has only two thousand pounds of his own; it would
+be madness to marry upon that, though for my own part,
+I could give up every prospect of more without a sigh.
+I have been always used to a very small income, and could
+struggle with any poverty for him; but I love him too well
+to be the selfish means of robbing him, perhaps, of all that
+his mother might give him if he married to please her.
+We must wait, it may be for many years.  With almost every
+other man in the world, it would be an alarming prospect;
+but Edward's affection and constancy nothing can deprive me of
+I know."
+
+     "That conviction must be every thing to you;
+and he is undoubtedly supported by the same trust in your's.
+If the strength of your reciprocal attachment had failed,
+as between many people, and under many circumstances
+it naturally would during a four years' engagement,
+your situation would have been pitiable, indeed."
+
+     Lucy here looked up; but Elinor was careful
+in guarding her countenance from every expression
+that could give her words a suspicious tendency.
+
+     "Edward's love for me," said Lucy, "has been pretty
+well put to the test, by our long, very long absence
+since we were first engaged, and it has stood the trial
+so well, that I should be unpardonable to doubt it now.
+I can safely say that he has never gave me one moment's
+alarm on that account from the first."
+
+     Elinor hardly knew whether to smile or sigh
+at this assertion.
+
+     Lucy went on.  "I am rather of a jealous temper too
+by nature, and from our different situations in life,
+from his being so much more in the world than me, and our
+continual separation, I was enough inclined for suspicion,
+to have found out the truth in an instant, if there had been
+the slightest alteration in his behaviour to me when we met,
+or any lowness of spirits that I could not account for,
+or if he had talked more of one lady than another,
+or seemed in any respect less happy at Longstaple than he
+used to be.  I do not mean to say that I am particularly
+observant or quick-sighted in general, but in such a case
+I am sure I could not be deceived."
+
+     "All this," thought Elinor, "is very pretty;
+but it can impose upon neither of us."
+
+     "But what," said she after a short silence,
+"are your views? or have you none but that of waiting for
+Mrs. Ferrars's death, which is a melancholy and shocking
+extremity?--Is her son determined to submit to this,
+and to all the tediousness of the many years of suspense
+in which it may involve you, rather than run the risk
+of her displeasure for a while by owning the truth?"
+
+     "If we could be certain that it would be only
+for a while!  But Mrs. Ferrars is a very headstrong
+proud woman, and in her first fit of anger upon hearing
+it, would very likely secure every thing to Robert,
+and the idea of that, for Edward's sake, frightens away
+all my inclination for hasty measures."
+
+     "And for your own sake too, or you are carrying
+your disinterestedness beyond reason."
+
+     Lucy looked at Elinor again, and was silent.
+
+     "Do you know Mr. Robert Ferrars?" asked Elinor.
+
+     "Not at all--I never saw him; but I fancy he
+is very unlike his brother--silly and a great coxcomb."
+
+     "A great coxcomb!" repeated Miss Steele, whose ear had
+caught those words by a sudden pause in Marianne's music.--
+"Oh, they are talking of their favourite beaux, I dare say."
+
+     "No sister," cried Lucy, "you are mistaken there, our
+favourite beaux are NOT great coxcombs."
+
+     "I can answer for it that Miss Dashwood's is not,"
+said Mrs. Jennings, laughing heartily; "for he is one
+of the modestest, prettiest behaved young men I ever saw;
+but as for Lucy, she is such a sly little creature,
+there is no finding out who SHE likes."
+
+     "Oh," cried Miss Steele, looking significantly round
+at them, "I dare say Lucy's beau is quite as modest
+and pretty behaved as Miss Dashwood's."
+
+     Elinor blushed in spite of herself.  Lucy bit her lip,
+and looked angrily at her sister.  A mutual silence took
+place for some time.  Lucy first put an end to it by saying
+in a lower tone, though Marianne was then giving them
+the powerful protection of a very magnificent concerto--
+
+     "I will honestly tell you of one scheme which has
+lately come into my head, for bringing matters to bear;
+indeed I am bound to let you into the secret, for you
+are a party concerned.  I dare say you have seen enough
+of Edward to know that he would prefer the church to every
+other profession; now my plan is that he should take
+orders as soon as he can, and then through your interest,
+which I am sure you would be kind enough to use out of
+friendship for him, and I hope out of some regard to me,
+your brother might be persuaded to give him Norland living;
+which I understand is a very good one, and the present
+incumbent not likely to live a great while.  That would
+be enough for us to marry upon, and we might trust to time
+and chance for the rest."
+
+     "I should always be happy," replied Elinor, "to show
+any mark of my esteem and friendship for Mr. Ferrars;
+but do you not perceive that my interest on such an
+occasion would be perfectly unnecessary?  He is brother
+to Mrs. John Dashwood--THAT must be recommendation enough
+to her husband."
+
+     "But Mrs. John Dashwood would not much approve
+of Edward's going into orders."
+
+     "Then I rather suspect that my interest would
+do very little."
+
+     They were again silent for many minutes.  At length
+Lucy exclaimed with a deep sigh,
+
+     "I believe it would be the wisest way to put an end
+to the business at once by dissolving the engagement.
+We seem so beset with difficulties on every side,
+that though it would make us miserable for a time,
+we should be happier perhaps in the end.  But you will
+not give me your advice, Miss Dashwood?"
+
+     "No," answered Elinor, with a smile, which concealed
+very agitated feelings, "on such a subject I certainly
+will not.  You know very well that my opinion would have
+no weight with you, unless it were on the side of your wishes."
+
+     "Indeed you wrong me," replied Lucy, with great
+solemnity; "I know nobody of whose judgment I think
+so highly as I do of yours; and I do really believe,
+that if you was to say to me, 'I advise you by all means
+to put an end to your engagement with Edward Ferrars,
+it will be more for the happiness of both of you,'
+I should resolve upon doing it immediately."
+
+     Elinor blushed for the insincerity of Edward's
+future wife, and replied, "This compliment would effectually
+frighten me from giving any opinion on the subject
+had I formed one.  It raises my influence much too high;
+the power of dividing two people so tenderly attached
+is too much for an indifferent person."
+
+     "'Tis because you are an indifferent person," said Lucy,
+with some pique, and laying a particular stress on those words,
+"that your judgment might justly have such weight with me.
+If you could be supposed to be biased in any respect
+by your own feelings, your opinion would not be worth having."
+
+     Elinor thought it wisest to make no answer to this,
+lest they might provoke each other to an unsuitable increase
+of ease and unreserve; and was even partly determined
+never to mention the subject again.  Another pause
+therefore of many minutes' duration, succeeded this speech,
+and Lucy was still the first to end it.
+
+     "Shall you be in town this winter, Miss Dashwood?"
+said she with all her accustomary complacency.
+
+     "Certainly not."
+
+     "I am sorry for that," returned the other,
+while her eyes brightened at the information,
+"it would have gave me such pleasure to meet you there!
+But I dare say you will go for all that.  To be sure,
+your brother and sister will ask you to come to them."
+
+     "It will not be in my power to accept their invitation
+if they do."
+
+     "How unlucky that is! I had quite depended upon
+meeting you there.  Anne and me are to go the latter end
+of January to some relations who have been wanting us to
+visit them these several years!  But I only go for the sake
+of seeing Edward.  He will be there in February, otherwise
+London would have no charms for me; I have not spirits for it."
+
+     Elinor was soon called to the card-table by the
+conclusion of the first rubber, and the confidential
+discourse of the two ladies was therefore at an end,
+to which both of them submitted without any reluctance,
+for nothing had been said on either side to make them
+dislike each other less than they had done before;
+and Elinor sat down to the card table with the melancholy
+persuasion that Edward was not only without affection
+for the person who was to be his wife; but that he had
+not even the chance of being tolerably happy in marriage,
+which sincere affection on HER side would have given,
+for self-interest alone could induce a woman to keep a man
+to an engagement, of which she seemed so thoroughly aware
+that he was weary.
+
+     From this time the subject was never revived by Elinor,
+and when entered on by Lucy, who seldom missed an opportunity
+of introducing it, and was particularly careful to inform
+her confidante, of her happiness whenever she received a letter
+from Edward, it was treated by the former with calmness
+and caution, and dismissed as soon as civility would allow;
+for she felt such conversations to be an indulgence which
+Lucy did not deserve, and which were dangerous to herself.
+
+     The visit of the Miss Steeles at Barton Park was
+lengthened far beyond what the first invitation implied.
+Their favour increased; they could not be spared;
+Sir John would not hear of their going; and in spite
+of their numerous and long arranged engagements in Exeter,
+in spite of the absolute necessity of returning to fulfill
+them immediately, which was in full force at the end
+of every week, they were prevailed on to stay nearly two
+months at the park, and to assist in the due celebration
+of that festival which requires a more than ordinary
+share of private balls and large dinners to proclaim
+its importance.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 25
+
+
+     Though Mrs. Jennings was in the habit of spending a large
+portion of the year at the houses of her children and friends,
+she was not without a settled habitation of her own.
+Since the death of her husband, who had traded with success
+in a less elegant part of the town, she had resided every
+winter in a house in one of the streets near Portman Square.
+Towards this home, she began on the approach of January
+to turn her thoughts, and thither she one day abruptly,
+and very unexpectedly by them, asked the elder Misses
+Dashwood to accompany her.  Elinor, without observing
+the varying complexion of her sister, and the animated look
+which spoke no indifference to the plan, immediately gave
+a grateful but absolute denial for both, in which she
+believed herself to be speaking their united inclinations.
+The reason alleged was their determined resolution
+of not leaving their mother at that time of the year.
+Mrs. Jennings received the refusal with some surprise,
+and repeated her invitation immediately.
+
+     "Oh, Lord! I am sure your mother can spare you
+very well, and I DO beg you will favour me with
+your company, for I've quite set my heart upon it.
+Don't fancy that you will be any inconvenience to me,
+for I shan't put myself at all out of my way for you.
+It will only be sending Betty by the coach, and I
+hope I can afford THAT.  We three shall be able to go
+very well in my chaise; and when we are in town,
+if you do not like to go wherever I do, well and good,
+you may always go with one of my daughters.  I am sure
+your mother will not object to it; for I have had such
+good luck in getting my own children off my hands that she
+will think me a very fit person to have the charge of you;
+and if I don't get one of you at least well married
+before I have done with you, it shall not be my fault.
+I shall speak a good word for you to all the young men,
+you may depend upon it."
+
+     "I have a notion," said Sir John, "that Miss Marianne
+would not object to such a scheme, if her elder sister
+would come into it.  It is very hard indeed that she
+should not have a little pleasure, because Miss Dashwood
+does not wish it.  So I would advise you two, to set off
+for town, when you are tired of Barton, without saying
+a word to Miss Dashwood about it."
+
+     "Nay," cried Mrs. Jennings, "I am sure I shall be
+monstrous glad of Miss Marianne's company, whether Miss
+Dashwood will go or not, only the more the merrier say I,
+and I thought it would be more comfortable for them to
+be together; because, if they got tired of me, they might talk
+to one another, and laugh at my old ways behind my back.
+But one or the other, if not both of them, I must have.
+Lord bless me! how do you think I can live poking by myself,
+I who have been always used till this winter to have
+Charlotte with me.  Come, Miss Marianne, let us strike
+hands upon the bargain, and if Miss Dashwood will change
+her mind by and bye, why so much the better."
+
+     "I thank you, ma'am, sincerely thank you," said Marianne,
+with warmth: "your invitation has insured my gratitude for ever,
+and it would give me such happiness, yes, almost the greatest
+happiness I am capable of, to be able to accept it.
+But my mother, my dearest, kindest mother,--I feel the
+justice of what Elinor has urged, and if she were to be
+made less happy, less comfortable by our absence--Oh! no,
+nothing should tempt me to leave her.  It should not,
+must not be a struggle."
+
+     Mrs. Jennings repeated her assurance that Mrs. Dashwood
+could spare them perfectly well; and Elinor, who now
+understood her sister, and saw to what indifference to
+almost every thing else she was carried by her eagerness
+to be with Willoughby again, made no farther direct
+opposition to the plan, and merely referred it to her
+mother's decision, from whom however she scarcely expected
+to receive any support in her endeavour to prevent a visit,
+which she could not approve of for Marianne, and which
+on her own account she had particular reasons to avoid.
+Whatever Marianne was desirous of, her mother would be eager
+to promote--she could not expect to influence the latter
+to cautiousness of conduct in an affair respecting which she
+had never been able to inspire her with distrust; and she
+dared not explain the motive of her own disinclination
+for going to London.  That Marianne, fastidious as she was,
+thoroughly acquainted with Mrs. Jennings' manners,
+and invariably disgusted by them, should overlook every
+inconvenience of that kind, should disregard whatever
+must be most wounding to her irritable feelings, in her
+pursuit of one object, was such a proof, so strong,
+so full, of the importance of that object to her, as Elinor,
+in spite of all that had passed, was not prepared to witness.
+
+     On being informed of the invitation, Mrs. Dashwood,
+persuaded that such an excursion would be productive
+of much amusement to both her daughters, and perceiving
+through all her affectionate attention to herself,
+how much the heart of Marianne was in it, would not hear
+of their declining the offer upon HER account; insisted on
+their both accepting it directly; and then began to foresee,
+with her usual cheerfulness, a variety of advantages that
+would accrue to them all, from this separation.
+
+     "I am delighted with the plan," she cried,
+"it is exactly what I could wish.  Margaret and I shall
+be as much benefited by it as yourselves.  When you
+and the Middletons are gone, we shall go on so quietly
+and happily together with our books and our music! You
+will find Margaret so improved when you come back again!
+I have a little plan of alteration for your bedrooms too,
+which may now be performed without any inconvenience
+to any one.  It is very right that you SHOULD go to town;
+I would have every young woman of your condition in life
+acquainted with the manners and amusements of London.
+You will be under the care of a motherly good sort
+of woman, of whose kindness to you I can have no doubt.
+And in all probability you will see your brother,
+and whatever may be his faults, or the faults of his wife,
+when I consider whose son he is, I cannot bear to have you so
+wholly estranged from each other."
+
+     "Though with your usual anxiety for our happiness,"
+said Elinor, "you have been obviating every impediment
+to the present scheme which occurred to you, there is
+still one objection which, in my opinion, cannot be so
+easily removed."
+
+     Marianne's countenance sunk.
+
+     "And what," said Mrs. Dashwood, "is my dear prudent
+Elinor going to suggest?  What formidable obstacle is she
+now to bring forward?  Do let me hear a word about the 
+expense of it."
+
+     "My objection is this; though I think very well of
+Mrs. Jennings's heart, she is not a woman whose society
+can afford us pleasure, or whose protection will give
+us consequence."
+
+     "That is very true," replied her mother, "but of
+her society, separately from that of other people,
+you will scarcely have any thing at all, and you will
+almost always appear in public with Lady Middleton."
+
+     "If Elinor is frightened away by her dislike of
+Mrs. Jennings," said Marianne, "at least it need not prevent
+MY accepting her invitation.  I have no such scruples,
+and I am sure I could put up with every unpleasantness
+of that kind with very little effort."
+
+     Elinor could not help smiling at this display of
+indifference towards the manners of a person, to whom she
+had often had difficulty in persuading Marianne to behave
+with tolerable politeness; and resolved within herself,
+that if her sister persisted in going, she would
+go likewise, as she did not think it proper that Marianne
+should be left to the sole guidance of her own judgment,
+or that Mrs. Jennings should be abandoned to the mercy
+of Marianne for all the comfort of her domestic hours.
+To this determination she was the more easily reconciled,
+by recollecting that Edward Ferrars, by Lucy's account,
+was not to be in town before February; and that
+their visit, without any unreasonable abridgement,
+might be previously finished.
+
+     "I will have you BOTH go," said Mrs. Dashwood;
+"these objections are nonsensical.  You will have much
+pleasure in being in London, and especially in being together;
+and if Elinor would ever condescend to anticipate enjoyment,
+she would foresee it there from a variety of sources;
+she would, perhaps, expect some from improving her
+acquaintance with her sister-in-law's family."
+
+     Elinor had often wished for an opportunity of
+attempting to weaken her mother's dependence on the
+attachment of Edward and herself, that the shock might
+be less when the whole truth were revealed, and now
+on this attack, though almost hopeless of success,
+she forced herself to begin her design by saying,
+as calmly as she could, "I like Edward Ferrars very much,
+and shall always be glad to see him; but as to the rest
+of the family, it is a matter of perfect indifference
+to me, whether I am ever known to them or not."
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood smiled, and said nothing.
+Marianne lifted up her eyes in astonishment, and Elinor
+conjectured that she might as well have held her tongue.
+
+     After very little farther discourse, it was finally
+settled that the invitation should be fully accepted.
+Mrs. Jennings received the information with a great
+deal of joy, and many assurances of kindness and care;
+nor was it a matter of pleasure merely to her.  Sir John
+was delighted; for to a man, whose prevailing anxiety
+was the dread of being alone, the acquisition of two,
+to the number of inhabitants in London, was something.
+Even Lady Middleton took the trouble of being delighted,
+which was putting herself rather out of her way;
+and as for the Miss Steeles, especially Lucy, they had
+never been so happy in their lives as this intelligence
+made them.
+
+     Elinor submitted to the arrangement which counteracted
+her wishes with less reluctance than she had expected
+to feel.  With regard to herself, it was now a matter
+of unconcern whether she went to town or not, and when
+she saw her mother so thoroughly pleased with the plan,
+and her sister exhilarated by it in look, voice, and manner,
+restored to all her usual animation, and elevated to more
+than her usual gaiety, she could not be dissatisfied
+with the cause, and would hardly allow herself to distrust
+the consequence.
+
+     Marianne's joy was almost a degree beyond happiness,
+so great was the perturbation of her spirits and her
+impatience to be gone.  Her unwillingness to quit her
+mother was her only restorative to calmness; and at the
+moment of parting her grief on that score was excessive.
+Her mother's affliction was hardly less, and Elinor
+was the only one of the three, who seemed to consider
+the separation as any thing short of eternal.
+
+     Their departure took place in the first week in January.
+The Middletons were to follow in about a week.  The Miss
+Steeles kept their station at the park, and were to quit
+it only with the rest of the family.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 26
+
+
+     Elinor could not find herself in the carriage with Mrs. Jennings,
+and beginning a journey to London under her protection,
+and as her guest, without wondering at her own situation,
+so short had their acquaintance with that lady been,
+so wholly unsuited were they in age and disposition,
+and so many had been her objections against such a measure
+only a few days before! But these objections had all,
+with that happy ardour of youth which Marianne and her mother
+equally shared, been overcome or overlooked; and Elinor,
+in spite of every occasional doubt of Willoughby's constancy,
+could not witness the rapture of delightful expectation
+which filled the whole soul and beamed in the eyes
+of Marianne, without feeling how blank was her own prospect,
+how cheerless her own state of mind in the comparison,
+and how gladly she would engage in the solicitude of
+Marianne's situation to have the same animating object
+in view, the same possibility of hope.  A short, a very
+short time however must now decide what Willoughby's
+intentions were; in all probability he was already in town.
+Marianne's eagerness to be gone declared her dependence
+on finding him there; and Elinor was resolved not only upon
+gaining every new light as to his character which her
+own observation or the intelligence of others could give her,
+but likewise upon watching his behaviour to her sister
+with such zealous attention, as to ascertain what he was
+and what he meant, before many meetings had taken place.
+Should the result of her observations be unfavourable,
+she was determined at all events to open the eyes
+of her sister; should it be otherwise, her exertions
+would be of a different nature--she must then learn
+to avoid every selfish comparison, and banish every regret
+which might lessen her satisfaction in the happiness of Marianne.
+
+     They were three days on their journey, and Marianne's
+behaviour as they travelled was a happy specimen of what
+future complaisance and companionableness to Mrs. Jennings
+might be expected to be.  She sat in silence almost all
+the way, wrapt in her own meditations, and scarcely ever
+voluntarily speaking, except when any object of picturesque
+beauty within their view drew from her an exclamation
+of delight exclusively addressed to her sister.  To atone
+for this conduct therefore, Elinor took immediate possession
+of the post of civility which she had assigned herself,
+behaved with the greatest attention to Mrs. Jennings,
+talked with her, laughed with her, and listened to her
+whenever she could; and Mrs. Jennings on her side
+treated them both with all possible kindness, was solicitous
+on every occasion for their ease and enjoyment, and only
+disturbed that she could not make them choose their own
+dinners at the inn, nor extort a confession of their
+preferring salmon to cod, or boiled fowls to veal cutlets.
+They reached town by three o'clock the third day, glad to
+be released, after such a journey, from the confinement
+of a carriage, and ready to enjoy all the luxury of a good fire.
+
+     The house was handsome, and handsomely fitted up,
+and the young ladies were immediately put in possession
+of a very comfortable apartment.  It had formerly
+been Charlotte's, and over the mantelpiece still hung
+a landscape in coloured silks of her performance,
+in proof of her having spent seven years at a great school
+in town to some effect.
+
+     As dinner was not to be ready in less than two
+hours from their arrival, Elinor determined to employ
+the interval in writing to her mother, and sat down for
+that purpose.  In a few moments Marianne did the same.
+"I am writing home, Marianne," said Elinor; "had not you
+better defer your letter for a day or two?"
+
+     "I am NOT going to write to my mother,"
+replied Marianne, hastily, and as if wishing to avoid
+any farther inquiry.  Elinor said no more; it immediately
+struck her that she must then be writing to Willoughby;
+and the conclusion which as instantly followed was,
+that, however mysteriously they might wish to conduct
+the affair, they must be engaged.  This conviction,
+though not entirely satisfactory, gave her pleasure,
+and she continued her letter with greater alacrity.
+Marianne's was finished in a very few minutes;
+in length it could be no more than a note; it was then
+folded up, sealed, and directed with eager rapidity.
+Elinor thought she could distinguish a large W in
+the direction; and no sooner was it complete than Marianne,
+ringing the bell, requested the footman who answered it
+to get that letter conveyed for her to the two-penny post.
+This decided the matter at once.
+
+     Her spirits still continued very high; but there
+was a flutter in them which prevented their giving much
+pleasure to her sister, and this agitation increased as
+the evening drew on.  She could scarcely eat any dinner,
+and when they afterwards returned to the drawing room,
+seemed anxiously listening to the sound of every carriage.
+
+     It was a great satisfaction to Elinor that Mrs. Jennings,
+by being much engaged in her own room, could see little
+of what was passing.  The tea things were brought in,
+and already had Marianne been disappointed more than once
+by a rap at a neighbouring door, when a loud one was suddenly
+heard which could not be mistaken for one at any other house,
+Elinor felt secure of its announcing Willoughby's approach,
+and Marianne, starting up, moved towards the door.
+Every thing was silent; this could not be borne many seconds;
+she opened the door, advanced a few steps towards the stairs,
+and after listening half a minute, returned into the room
+in all the agitation which a conviction of having heard
+him would naturally produce; in the ecstasy of her
+feelings at that instant she could not help exclaiming,
+"Oh, Elinor, it is Willoughby, indeed it is!" and seemed
+almost ready to throw herself into his arms, when Colonel
+Brandon appeared.
+
+     It was too great a shock to be borne with calmness,
+and she immediately left the room.  Elinor was disappointed too;
+but at the same time her regard for Colonel Brandon ensured
+his welcome with her; and she felt particularly hurt that
+a man so partial to her sister should perceive that she
+experienced nothing but grief and disappointment in seeing him.
+She instantly saw that it was not unnoticed by him,
+that he even observed Marianne as she quitted the room,
+with such astonishment and concern, as hardly left him
+the recollection of what civility demanded towards herself.
+
+     "Is your sister ill?" said he.
+
+     Elinor answered in some distress that she was,
+and then talked of head-aches, low spirits, and over fatigues;
+and of every thing to which she could decently attribute
+her sister's behaviour.
+
+     He heard her with the most earnest attention,
+but seeming to recollect himself, said no more on the subject,
+and began directly to speak of his pleasure at seeing them
+in London, making the usual inquiries about their journey,
+and the friends they had left behind.
+
+     In this calm kind of way, with very little interest
+on either side, they continued to talk, both of them out
+of spirits, and the thoughts of both engaged elsewhere.
+Elinor wished very much to ask whether Willoughby were
+then in town, but she was afraid of giving him pain
+by any enquiry after his rival; and at length, by way
+of saying something, she asked if he had been in London
+ever since she had seen him last.  "Yes," he replied,
+with some embarrassment, "almost ever since; I have been
+once or twice at Delaford for a few days, but it has never
+been in my power to return to Barton."
+
+     This, and the manner in which it was said,
+immediately brought back to her remembrance all the
+circumstances of his quitting that place, with the
+uneasiness and suspicions they had caused to Mrs. Jennings,
+and she was fearful that her question had implied
+much more curiosity on the subject than she had ever felt.
+
+     Mrs. Jennings soon came in.  "Oh! Colonel," said she,
+with her usual noisy cheerfulness, "I am monstrous glad
+to see you--sorry I could not come before--beg your
+pardon, but I have been forced to look about me a little,
+and settle my matters; for it is a long while since I
+have been at home, and you know one has always a world
+of little odd things to do after one has been away for
+any time; and then I have had Cartwright to settle with--
+Lord, I have been as busy as a bee ever since dinner!
+But pray, Colonel, how came you to conjure out that I should
+be in town today?"
+
+     "I had the pleasure of hearing it at Mr. Palmer's,
+where I have been dining."
+
+     "Oh, you did; well, and how do they all do at their
+house?  How does Charlotte do?  I warrant you she is a fine
+size by this time."
+
+     "Mrs. Palmer appeared quite well, and I am commissioned
+to tell you, that you will certainly see her to-morrow."
+
+     "Ay, to be sure, I thought as much.  Well, Colonel,
+I have brought two young ladies with me, you see--that is,
+you see but one of them now, but there is another somewhere.
+Your friend, Miss Marianne, too--which you will not be
+sorry to hear.  I do not know what you and Mr. Willoughby
+will do between you about her.  Ay, it is a fine thing
+to be young and handsome.  Well! I was young once, but I
+never was very handsome--worse luck for me.  However, I got
+a very good husband, and I don't know what the greatest
+beauty can do more.  Ah! poor man! he has been dead
+these eight years and better.  But Colonel, where have
+you been to since we parted?  And how does your business
+go on?  Come, come, let's have no secrets among friends."
+
+     He replied with his accustomary mildness to all
+her inquiries, but without satisfying her in any.
+Elinor now began to make the tea, and Marianne was 
+obliged to appear again.
+
+     After her entrance, Colonel Brandon became
+more thoughtful and silent than he had been before,
+and Mrs. Jennings could not prevail on him to stay long.
+No other visitor appeared that evening, and the ladies
+were unanimous in agreeing to go early to bed.
+
+     Marianne rose the next morning with recovered spirits
+and happy looks.  The disappointment of the evening before
+seemed forgotten in the expectation of what was to happen
+that day.  They had not long finished their breakfast before
+Mrs. Palmer's barouche stopped at the door, and in a few
+minutes she came laughing into the room: so delighted
+to see them all, that it was hard to say whether she
+received most pleasure from meeting her mother or the Miss
+Dashwoods again.  So surprised at their coming to town,
+though it was what she had rather expected all along;
+so angry at their accepting her mother's invitation
+after having declined her own, though at the same time
+she would never have forgiven them if they had not come!
+
+     "Mr. Palmer will be so happy to see you,"
+said she; "What do you think he said when he heard
+of your coming with Mamma?  I forget what it was now,
+but it was something so droll!"
+
+     After an hour or two spent in what her mother called
+comfortable chat, or in other words, in every variety of inquiry
+concerning all their acquaintance on Mrs. Jennings's side,
+and in laughter without cause on Mrs. Palmer's, it was
+proposed by the latter that they should all accompany
+her to some shops where she had business that morning,
+to which Mrs. Jennings and Elinor readily consented,
+as having likewise some purchases to make themselves;
+and Marianne, though declining it at first was induced
+to go likewise.
+
+     Wherever they went, she was evidently always on
+the watch.  In Bond Street especially, where much of
+their business lay, her eyes were in constant inquiry;
+and in whatever shop the party were engaged, her mind was
+equally abstracted from every thing actually before them,
+from all that interested and occupied the others.
+Restless and dissatisfied every where, her sister could
+never obtain her opinion of any article of purchase,
+however it might equally concern them both: she received
+no pleasure from anything; was only impatient to be at
+home again, and could with difficulty govern her vexation
+at the tediousness of Mrs. Palmer, whose eye was caught
+by every thing pretty, expensive, or new; who was wild
+to buy all, could determine on none, and dawdled away her
+time in rapture and indecision.
+
+     It was late in the morning before they returned home;
+and no sooner had they entered the house than Marianne flew
+eagerly up stairs, and when Elinor followed, she found
+her turning from the table with a sorrowful countenance,
+which declared that no Willoughby had been there.
+
+     "Has no letter been left here for me since we went out?"
+said she to the footman who then entered with the parcels.
+She was answered in the negative.  "Are you quite sure
+of it?" she replied.  "Are you certain that no servant,
+no porter has left any letter or note?"
+
+     The man replied that none had.
+
+     "How very odd!" said she, in a low and disappointed
+voice, as she turned away to the window.
+
+     "How odd, indeed!" repeated Elinor within herself,
+regarding her sister with uneasiness.  "If she had not
+known him to be in town she would not have written to him,
+as she did; she would have written to Combe Magna;
+and if he is in town, how odd that he should neither
+come nor write!  Oh! my dear mother, you must be wrong
+in permitting an engagement between a daughter so young,
+a man so little known, to be carried on in so doubtful,
+so mysterious a manner!  I long to inquire; and how will MY
+interference be borne."
+
+     She determined, after some consideration, that if
+appearances continued many days longer as unpleasant as they
+now were, she would represent in the strongest manner
+to her mother the necessity of some serious enquiry into the affair.
+
+     Mrs. Palmer and two elderly ladies of Mrs. Jennings's
+intimate acquaintance, whom she had met and invited
+in the morning, dined with them.  The former left them
+soon after tea to fulfill her evening engagements;
+and Elinor was obliged to assist in making a whist table
+for the others.  Marianne was of no use on these occasions,
+as she would never learn the game; but though her time
+was therefore at her own disposal, the evening was by no
+means more productive of pleasure to her than to Elinor,
+for it was spent in all the anxiety of expectation and the
+pain of disappointment.  She sometimes endeavoured for a
+few minutes to read; but the book was soon thrown aside,
+and she returned to the more interesting employment
+of walking backwards and forwards across the room,
+pausing for a moment whenever she came to the window,
+in hopes of distinguishing the long-expected rap.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 27
+
+
+     "If this open weather holds much longer," said Mrs. Jennings,
+when they met at breakfast the following morning,
+"Sir John will not like leaving Barton next week;
+'tis a sad thing for sportsmen to lose a day's pleasure.
+Poor souls!  I always pity them when they do; they seem
+to take it so much to heart."
+
+     "That is true," cried Marianne, in a cheerful voice,
+and walking to the window as she spoke, to examine the day.
+"I had not thought of that.  This weather will keep many
+sportsmen in the country."
+
+     It was a lucky recollection, all her good spirits were
+restored by it.  "It is charming weather for THEM indeed,"
+she continued, as she sat down to the breakfast table
+with a happy countenance.  "How much they must enjoy
+it! But" (with a little return of anxiety) "it cannot
+be expected to last long.  At this time of the year,
+and after such a series of rain, we shall certainly
+have very little more of it.  Frosts will soon set in,
+and in all probability with severity.  In another day
+or two perhaps; this extreme mildness can hardly last
+longer--nay, perhaps it may freeze tonight!"
+
+     "At any rate," said Elinor, wishing to prevent
+Mrs. Jennings from seeing her sister's thoughts as clearly
+as she did, "I dare say we shall have Sir John and Lady
+Middleton in town by the end of next week."
+
+     "Ay, my dear, I'll warrant you we do.  Mary always
+has her own way."
+
+     "And now," silently conjectured Elinor, "she will
+write to Combe by this day's post."
+
+     But if she DID, the letter was written and sent away
+with a privacy which eluded all her watchfulness to ascertain
+the fact.  Whatever the truth of it might be, and far
+as Elinor was from feeling thorough contentment about it,
+yet while she saw Marianne in spirits, she could not be
+very uncomfortable herself.  And Marianne was in spirits;
+happy in the mildness of the weather, and still happier
+in her expectation of a frost.
+
+     The morning was chiefly spent in leaving cards at
+the houses of Mrs. Jennings's acquaintance to inform
+them of her being in town; and Marianne was all the time
+busy in observing the direction of the wind, watching the
+variations of the sky and imagining an alteration in the air.
+
+     "Don't you find it colder than it was in the morning,
+Elinor? There seems to me a very decided difference.
+I can hardly keep my hands warm even in my muff.  It was
+not so yesterday, I think.  The clouds seem parting too,
+the sun will be out in a moment, and we shall have a
+clear afternoon."
+
+     Elinor was alternately diverted and pained;
+but Marianne persevered, and saw every night in the
+brightness of the fire, and every morning in the appearance
+of the atmosphere, the certain symptoms of approaching frost.
+
+     The Miss Dashwoods had no greater reason to be
+dissatisfied with Mrs. Jennings's style of living, and set
+of acquaintance, than with her behaviour to themselves,
+which was invariably kind.  Every thing in her household
+arrangements was conducted on the most liberal plan,
+and excepting a few old city friends, whom, to Lady
+Middleton's regret, she had never dropped, she visited
+no one to whom an introduction could at all discompose
+the feelings of her young companions.  Pleased to find
+herself more comfortably situated in that particular than
+she had expected, Elinor was very willing to compound
+for the want of much real enjoyment from any of their
+evening parties, which, whether at home or abroad,
+formed only for cards, could have little to amuse her.
+
+     Colonel Brandon, who had a general invitation
+to the house, was with them almost every day; he came
+to look at Marianne and talk to Elinor, who often derived
+more satisfaction from conversing with him than from any
+other daily occurrence, but who saw at the same time
+with much concern his continued regard for her sister.
+She feared it was a strengthening regard.  It grieved her
+to see the earnestness with which he often watched Marianne,
+and his spirits were certainly worse than when at Barton.
+
+     About a week after their arrival, it became
+certain that Willoughby was also arrived.  His card
+was on the table when they came in from the morning's drive.
+
+     "Good God!" cried Marianne, "he has been here while
+we were out."  Elinor, rejoiced to be assured of his
+being in London, now ventured to say, "Depend upon it,
+he will call again tomorrow."  But Marianne seemed
+hardly to hear her, and on Mrs. Jenning's entrance,
+escaped with the precious card.
+
+     This event, while it raised the spirits of Elinor,
+restored to those of her sister all, and more than all,
+their former agitation.  From this moment her mind was
+never quiet; the expectation of seeing him every hour
+of the day, made her unfit for any thing.  She insisted
+on being left behind, the next morning, when the others
+went out.
+
+     Elinor's thoughts were full of what might be passing
+in Berkeley Street during their absence; but a moment's
+glance at her sister when they returned was enough to
+inform her, that Willoughby had paid no second visit there.
+A note was just then brought in, and laid on the table,
+
+     "For me!" cried Marianne, stepping hastily forward.
+
+     "No, ma'am, for my mistress."
+
+     But Marianne, not convinced, took it instantly up.
+
+     "It is indeed for Mrs. Jennings; how provoking!"
+
+     "You are expecting a letter, then?" said Elinor,
+unable to be longer silent.
+
+     "Yes, a little--not much."
+
+     After a short pause.  "You have no confidence
+in me, Marianne."
+
+     "Nay, Elinor, this reproach from YOU--you who have
+confidence in no one!"
+
+     "Me!" returned Elinor in some confusion; "indeed, 
+Marianne, I have nothing to tell."
+
+     "Nor I," answered Marianne with energy, "our situations
+then are alike.  We have neither of us any thing to tell;
+you, because you do not communicate, and I, because 
+I conceal nothing."
+
+     Elinor, distressed by this charge of reserve in herself,
+which she was not at liberty to do away, knew not how,
+under such circumstances, to press for greater openness
+in Marianne.
+
+     Mrs. Jennings soon appeared, and the note being
+given her, she read it aloud.  It was from Lady Middleton,
+announcing their arrival in Conduit Street the night before,
+and requesting the company of her mother and cousins
+the following evening.  Business on Sir John's part,
+and a violent cold on her own, prevented their calling
+in Berkeley Street.  The invitation was accepted;
+but when the hour of appointment drew near, necessary as
+it was in common civility to Mrs. Jennings, that they
+should both attend her on such a visit, Elinor had some
+difficulty in persuading her sister to go, for still
+she had seen nothing of Willoughby; and therefore was
+not more indisposed for amusement abroad, than unwilling
+to run the risk of his calling again in her absence.
+
+     Elinor found, when the evening was over,
+that disposition is not materially altered by a change
+of abode, for although scarcely settled in town,
+Sir John had contrived to collect around him, nearly twenty
+young people, and to amuse them with a ball.  This was
+an affair, however, of which Lady Middleton did not approve.
+In the country, an unpremeditated dance was very allowable;
+but in London, where the reputation of elegance was more 
+important and less easily attained, it was risking too much 
+for the gratification of a few girls, to have it known that 
+Lady Middleton had given a small dance of eight or nine couple, 
+with two violins, and a mere side-board collation.
+
+     Mr. and Mrs. Palmer were of the party; from the former,
+whom they had not seen before since their arrival in town,
+as he was careful to avoid the appearance of any attention
+to his mother-in-law, and therefore never came near her,
+they received no mark of recognition on their entrance.
+He looked at them slightly, without seeming to know
+who they were, and merely nodded to Mrs. Jennings from
+the other side of the room.  Marianne gave one glance
+round the apartment as she entered: it was enough--HE
+was not there--and she sat down, equally ill-disposed
+to receive or communicate pleasure.  After they had been
+assembled about an hour, Mr. Palmer sauntered towards
+the Miss Dashwoods to express his surprise on seeing them
+in town, though Colonel Brandon had been first informed
+of their arrival at his house, and he had himself said
+something very droll on hearing that they were to come.
+
+     "I thought you were both in Devonshire," said he.
+
+     "Did you?" replied Elinor.
+
+     "When do you go back again?"
+
+     "I do not know." And thus ended their discourse.
+
+     Never had Marianne been so unwilling to dance
+in her life, as she was that evening, and never so much
+fatigued by the exercise.  She complained of it
+as they returned to Berkeley Street.
+
+     "Aye, aye," said Mrs. Jennings, "we know the reason
+of all that very well; if a certain person who shall
+be nameless, had been there, you would not have been a
+bit tired: and to say the truth it was not very pretty
+of him not to give you the meeting when he was invited."
+
+     "Invited!" cried Marianne.
+
+     "So my daughter Middleton told me, for it seems Sir
+John met him somewhere in the street this morning."  
+Marianne said no more, but looked exceedingly hurt.
+Impatient in this situation to be doing something
+that might lead to her sister's relief, Elinor resolved
+to write the next morning to her mother, and hoped
+by awakening her fears for the health of Marianne,
+to procure those inquiries which had been so long delayed;
+and she was still more eagerly bent on this measure
+by perceiving after breakfast on the morrow, that Marianne
+was again writing to Willoughby, for she could not suppose
+it to be to any other person.
+
+     About the middle of the day, Mrs. Jennings went out by
+herself on business, and Elinor began her letter directly,
+while Marianne, too restless for employment, too anxious
+for conversation, walked from one window to the other,
+or sat down by the fire in melancholy meditation.
+Elinor was very earnest in her application to her mother,
+relating all that had passed, her suspicions of
+Willoughby's inconstancy, urging her by every plea
+of duty and affection to demand from Marianne an account
+of her real situation with respect to him.
+
+     Her letter was scarcely finished, when a rap
+foretold a visitor, and Colonel Brandon was announced.
+Marianne, who had seen him from the window, and who hated
+company of any kind, left the room before he entered it.
+He looked more than usually grave, and though expressing
+satisfaction at finding Miss Dashwood alone, as if he
+had somewhat in particular to tell her, sat for some
+time without saying a word.  Elinor, persuaded that he
+had some communication to make in which her sister
+was concerned, impatiently expected its opening.
+It was not the first time of her feeling the same kind
+of conviction; for, more than once before, beginning with
+the observation of "your sister looks unwell to-day,"
+or "your sister seems out of spirits," he had appeared
+on the point, either of disclosing, or of inquiring,
+something particular about her.  After a pause of several
+minutes, their silence was broken, by his asking her
+in a voice of some agitation, when he was to congratulate
+her on the acquisition of a brother?  Elinor was not
+prepared for such a question, and having no answer ready,
+was obliged to adopt the simple and common expedient,
+of asking what he meant?  He tried to smile as he replied,
+"your sister's engagement to Mr. Willoughby is very generally known."
+
+     "It cannot be generally known," returned Elinor,
+"for her own family do not know it."
+
+     He looked surprised and said, "I beg your pardon,
+I am afraid my inquiry has been impertinent; but I had not
+supposed any secrecy intended, as they openly correspond,
+and their marriage is universally talked of."
+
+     "How can that be? By whom can you have heard
+it mentioned?"
+
+     "By many--by some of whom you know nothing, by others
+with whom you are most intimate, Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. Palmer,
+and the Middletons.  But still I might not have believed it,
+for where the mind is perhaps rather unwilling to
+be convinced, it will always find something to support
+its doubts, if I had not, when the servant let me in today,
+accidentally seen a letter in his hand, directed to
+Mr. Willoughby in your sister's writing.  I came to inquire,
+but I was convinced before I could ask the question.
+Is every thing finally settled?  Is it impossible to-? 
+But I have no right, and I could have no chance of succeeding.
+Excuse me, Miss Dashwood.  I believe I have been wrong
+in saying so much, but I hardly know what to do, and on
+your prudence I have the strongest dependence.  Tell me
+that it is all absolutely resolved on, that any attempt,
+that in short concealment, if concealment be possible,
+is all that remains."
+
+     These words, which conveyed to Elinor a direct avowal
+of his love for her sister, affected her very much.
+She was not immediately able to say anything, and even
+when her spirits were recovered, she debated for a short
+time, on the answer it would be most proper to give.
+The real state of things between Willoughby and her sister
+was so little known to herself, that in endeavouring
+to explain it, she might be as liable to say too much
+as too little.  Yet as she was convinced that Marianne's
+affection for Willoughby, could leave no hope of Colonel
+Brandon's success, whatever the event of that affection
+might be, and at the same time wished to shield her conduct
+from censure, she thought it most prudent and kind,
+after some consideration, to say more than she really knew
+or believed.  She acknowledged, therefore, that though
+she had never been informed by themselves of the terms
+on which they stood with each other, of their mutual
+affection she had no doubt, and of their correspondence
+she was not astonished to hear.
+
+     He listened to her with silent attention, and on
+her ceasing to speak, rose directly from his seat,
+and after saying in a voice of emotion, "to your sister
+I wish all imaginable happiness; to Willoughby that he
+may endeavour to deserve her,"--took leave, and went away.
+
+     Elinor derived no comfortable feelings from this
+conversation, to lessen the uneasiness of her mind on
+other points; she was left, on the contrary, with a
+melancholy impression of Colonel Brandon's unhappiness,
+and was prevented even from wishing it removed,
+by her anxiety for the very event that must confirm it.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 28
+
+
+     Nothing occurred during the next three or four days,
+to make Elinor regret what she had done, in applying
+to her mother; for Willoughby neither came nor wrote.
+They were engaged about the end of that time to attend
+Lady Middleton to a party, from which Mrs. Jennings was
+kept away by the indisposition of her youngest daughter;
+and for this party, Marianne, wholly dispirited,
+careless of her appearance, and seeming equally indifferent
+whether she went or staid, prepared, without one look
+of hope or one expression of pleasure.  She sat by the
+drawing-room fire after tea, till the moment of Lady
+Middleton's arrival, without once stirring from her seat,
+or altering her attitude, lost in her own thoughts,
+and insensible of her sister's presence; and when at
+last they were told that Lady Middleton waited for them
+at the door, she started as if she had forgotten that
+any one was expected.
+
+     They arrived in due time at the place of destination,
+and as soon as the string of carriages before them
+would allow, alighted, ascended the stairs, heard their
+names announced from one landing-place to another in an
+audible voice, and entered a room splendidly lit up,
+quite full of company, and insufferably hot.  When they had
+paid their tribute of politeness by curtsying to the lady
+of the house, they were permitted to mingle in the crowd,
+and take their share of the heat and inconvenience, to
+which their arrival must necessarily add.  After some time
+spent in saying little or doing less, Lady Middleton sat
+down to Cassino, and as Marianne was not in spirits for
+moving about, she and Elinor luckily succeeding to chairs,
+placed themselves at no great distance from the table.
+
+     They had not remained in this manner long, before Elinor
+perceived Willoughby, standing within a few yards
+of them, in earnest conversation with a very fashionable
+looking young woman.  She soon caught his eye, and he
+immediately bowed, but without attempting to speak to her,
+or to approach Marianne, though he could not but see her;
+and then continued his discourse with the same lady.
+Elinor turned involuntarily to Marianne, to see whether
+it could be unobserved by her.  At that moment she first
+perceived him, and her whole countenance glowing with
+sudden delight, she would have moved towards him instantly,
+had not her sister caught hold of her.
+
+     "Good heavens!" she exclaimed, "he is there--he
+is there--Oh! why does he not look at me? why cannot
+I speak to him?"
+
+     "Pray, pray be composed," cried Elinor, "and do
+not betray what you feel to every body present.
+Perhaps he has not observed you yet."
+
+     This however was more than she could believe herself;
+and to be composed at such a moment was not only beyond
+the reach of Marianne, it was beyond her wish.  She sat
+in an agony of impatience which affected every feature.
+
+     At last he turned round again, and regarded them both;
+she started up, and pronouncing his name in a tone
+of affection, held out her hand to him.  He approached,
+and addressing himself rather to Elinor than Marianne,
+as if wishing to avoid her eye, and determined not to
+observe her attitude, inquired in a hurried manner after 
+Mrs. Dashwood, and asked how long they had been in town.
+Elinor was robbed of all presence of mind by such an address,
+and was unable to say a word.  But the feelings of her sister
+were instantly expressed.  Her face was crimsoned over,
+and she exclaimed, in a voice of the greatest emotion,
+"Good God! Willoughby, what is the meaning of this?  
+Have you not received my letters?  Will you not shake 
+hands with me?"
+
+     He could not then avoid it, but her touch seemed
+painful to him, and he held her hand only for a moment.
+During all this time he was evidently struggling for composure.
+Elinor watched his countenance and saw its expression
+becoming more tranquil.  After a moment's pause, he spoke
+with calmness.
+
+     "I did myself the honour of calling in Berkeley
+Street last Tuesday, and very much regretted that I was
+not fortunate enough to find yourselves and Mrs. Jennings
+at home.  My card was not lost, I hope."
+
+     "But have you not received my notes?" cried Marianne
+in the wildest anxiety.  "Here is some mistake I am
+sure--some dreadful mistake.  What can be the meaning
+of it?  Tell me, Willoughby; for heaven's sake tell me,
+what is the matter?"
+
+     He made no reply; his complexion changed and all his
+embarrassment returned; but as if, on catching the eye
+of the young lady with whom he had been previously talking,
+he felt the necessity of instant exertion, he recovered
+himself again, and after saying, "Yes, I had the pleasure
+of receiving the information of your arrival in town,
+which you were so good as to send me," turned hastily away
+with a slight bow and joined his friend.
+
+     Marianne, now looking dreadfully white, and unable
+to stand, sunk into her chair, and Elinor, expecting every
+moment to see her faint, tried to screen her from the
+observation of others, while reviving her with lavender water.
+
+     "Go to him, Elinor," she cried, as soon as she
+could speak, "and force him to come to me.  Tell him
+I must see him again--must speak to him instantly.--
+I cannot rest--I shall not have a moment's peace till this
+is explained--some dreadful misapprehension or other.--
+Oh go to him this moment."
+
+     "How can that be done? No, my dearest Marianne,
+you must wait.  This is not the place for explanations.
+Wait only till tomorrow."
+
+     With difficulty however could she prevent her
+from following him herself; and to persuade her to check
+her agitation, to wait, at least, with the appearance
+of composure, till she might speak to him with more privacy
+and more effect, was impossible; for Marianne continued
+incessantly to give way in a low voice to the misery
+of her feelings, by exclamations of wretchedness.
+In a short time Elinor saw Willoughby quit the room by the
+door towards the staircase, and telling Marianne that he
+was gone, urged the impossibility of speaking to him again
+that evening, as a fresh argument for her to be calm.
+She instantly begged her sister would entreat Lady
+Middleton to take them home, as she was too miserable
+to stay a minute longer.
+
+     Lady Middleton, though in the middle of a rubber,
+on being informed that Marianne was unwell, was too
+polite to object for a moment to her wish of going away,
+and making over her cards to a friend, they departed
+as soon the carriage could be found.  Scarcely a word
+was spoken during their return to Berkeley Street.
+Marianne was in a silent agony, too much oppressed even
+for tears; but as Mrs. Jennings was luckily not come home,
+they could go directly to their own room, where hartshorn
+restored her a little to herself.  She was soon undressed
+and in bed, and as she seemed desirous of being alone,
+her sister then left her, and while she waited the return
+of Mrs. Jennings, had leisure enough for thinking over
+the past.
+
+     That some kind of engagement had subsisted
+between Willoughby and Marianne she could not doubt,
+and that Willoughby was weary of it, seemed equally clear;
+for however Marianne might still feed her own wishes,
+SHE could not attribute such behaviour to mistake
+or misapprehension of any kind.  Nothing but a thorough
+change of sentiment could account for it.  Her indignation
+would have been still stronger than it was, had she
+not witnessed that embarrassment which seemed to speak
+a consciousness of his own misconduct, and prevented
+her from believing him so unprincipled as to have been
+sporting with the affections of her sister from the first,
+without any design that would bear investigation.
+Absence might have weakened his regard, and convenience
+might have determined him to overcome it, but that such
+a regard had formerly existed she could not bring herself
+to doubt.
+
+     As for Marianne, on the pangs which so unhappy a meeting
+must already have given her, and on those still more
+severe which might await her in its probable consequence,
+she could not reflect without the deepest concern.
+Her own situation gained in the comparison; for while she
+could ESTEEM Edward as much as ever, however they might be
+divided in future, her mind might be always supported.
+But every circumstance that could embitter such an evil
+seemed uniting to heighten the misery of Marianne
+in a final separation from Willoughby--in an immediate
+and irreconcilable rupture with him.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 29
+
+
+     Before the house-maid had lit their fire the next day,
+or the sun gained any power over a cold, gloomy morning
+in January, Marianne, only half dressed, was kneeling
+against one of the window-seats for the sake of all
+the little light she could command from it, and writing
+as fast as a continual flow of tears would permit her.
+In this situation, Elinor, roused from sleep by her agitation
+and sobs, first perceived her; and after observing her
+for a few moments with silent anxiety, said, in a tone
+of the most considerate gentleness,
+
+     "Marianne, may I ask-?"
+
+     "No, Elinor," she replied, "ask nothing; you will
+soon know all."
+
+     The sort of desperate calmness with which this was said,
+lasted no longer than while she spoke, and was immediately
+followed by a return of the same excessive affliction.
+It was some minutes before she could go on with her letter,
+and the frequent bursts of grief which still obliged her,
+at intervals, to withhold her pen, were proofs enough of her
+feeling how more than probable it was that she was writing
+for the last time to Willoughby.
+
+     Elinor paid her every quiet and unobtrusive attention
+in her power; and she would have tried to sooth and
+tranquilize her still more, had not Marianne entreated her,
+with all the eagerness of the most nervous irritability,
+not to speak to her for the world.  In such circumstances, 
+it was better for both that they should not be long together;
+and the restless state of Marianne's mind not only prevented
+her from remaining in the room a moment after she was dressed,
+but requiring at once solitude and continual change of place,
+made her wander about the house till breakfast time, avoiding
+the sight of every body.  
+
+     At breakfast she neither ate, nor attempted to eat 
+any thing; and Elinor's attention was then all employed, 
+not in urging her, not in pitying her, nor in appearing 
+to regard her, but in endeavouring to engage Mrs. Jenning's 
+notice entirely to herself.
+
+     As this was a favourite meal with Mrs. Jennings, 
+it lasted a considerable time, and they were just setting
+themselves, after it, round the common working table, when a
+letter was delivered to Marianne, which she eagerly caught
+from the servant, and, turning of a death-like paleness,
+instantly ran out of the room.  Elinor, who saw as plainly
+by this, as if she had seen the direction, that it must
+come from Willoughby, felt immediately such a sickness
+at heart as made her hardly able to hold up her head,
+and sat in such a general tremour as made her fear it
+impossible to escape Mrs. Jenning's notice.  That good lady,
+however, saw only that Marianne had received a letter
+from Willoughby, which appeared to her a very good joke,
+and which she treated accordingly, by hoping, with a laugh,
+that she would find it to her liking.  Of Elinor's distress,
+she was too busily employed in measuring lengths of worsted
+for her rug, to see any thing at all; and calmly continuing
+her talk, as soon as Marianne disappeared, she said,
+
+     "Upon my word, I never saw a young woman so
+desperately in love in my life!  MY girls were nothing
+to her, and yet they used to be foolish enough; but as
+for Miss Marianne, she is quite an altered creature.
+I hope, from the bottom of my heart, he won't keep her
+waiting much longer, for it is quite grievous to see her 
+look so ill and forlorn.  Pray, when are they to be married?"
+
+     Elinor, though never less disposed to speak than at
+that moment, obliged herself to answer such an attack
+as this, and, therefore, trying to smile, replied, "And have
+you really, Ma'am, talked yourself into a persuasion
+of my sister's being engaged to Mr. Willoughby?  I thought
+it had been only a joke, but so serious a question seems
+to imply more; and I must beg, therefore, that you will not
+deceive yourself any longer.  I do assure you that nothing
+would surprise me more than to hear of their being going 
+to be married."
+
+     "For shame, for shame, Miss Dashwood! how can you
+talk so?  Don't we all know that it must be a match, that
+they were over head and ears in love with each other from
+the first moment they met?  Did not I see them together
+in Devonshire every day, and all day long; and did not I
+know that your sister came to town with me on purpose
+to buy wedding clothes?  Come, come, this won't do.
+Because you are so sly about it yourself, you think nobody
+else has any senses; but it is no such thing, I can tell you,
+for it has been known all over town this ever so long.
+I tell every body of it and so does Charlotte."
+
+     "Indeed, Ma'am," said Elinor, very seriously,
+"you are mistaken.  Indeed, you are doing a very unkind thing
+in spreading the report, and you will find that you have
+though you will not believe me now."
+
+     Mrs. Jennings laughed again, but Elinor had not
+spirits to say more, and eager at all events to know
+what Willoughby had written, hurried away to their room,
+where, on opening the door, she saw Marianne stretched on
+the bed, almost choked by grief, one letter in her hand,
+and two or three others laying by her.  Elinor drew near,
+but without saying a word; and seating herself on the bed,
+took her hand, kissed her affectionately several times,
+and then gave way to a burst of tears, which at first
+was scarcely less violent than Marianne's. The latter,
+though unable to speak, seemed to feel all the tenderness
+of this behaviour, and after some time thus spent in
+joint affliction, she put all the letters into Elinor's hands;
+and then covering her face with her handkerchief,
+almost screamed with agony.  Elinor, who knew that such grief,
+shocking as it was to witness it, must have its course,
+watched by her till this excess of suffering had somewhat
+spent itself, and then turning eagerly to Willoughby's letter,
+read as follows:
+
+                                   "Bond Street, January.
+     "MY DEAR MADAM,
+
+          "I have just had the honour of receiving your
+     letter, for which I beg to return my sincere
+     acknowledgments.  I am much concerned to find there
+     was anything in my behaviour last night that did
+     not meet your approbation; and though I am quite at
+     a loss to discover in what point I could be so
+     unfortunate as to offend you, I entreat your
+     forgiveness of what I can assure you to have been
+     perfectly unintentional.  I shall never reflect on
+     my former acquaintance with your family in Devonshire
+     without the most grateful pleasure, and flatter
+     myself it will not be broken by any mistake or
+     misapprehension of my actions.  My esteem for your
+     whole family is very sincere; but if I have been so
+     unfortunate as to give rise to a belief of more than
+     I felt, or meant to express, I shall reproach myself
+     for not having been more guarded in my professions
+     of that esteem.  That I should ever have meant more
+     you will allow to be impossible, when you understand
+     that my affections have been long engaged elsewhere,
+     and it will not be many weeks, I believe, before
+     this engagement is fulfilled.  It is with great
+     regret that I obey your commands in returning the
+     letters with which I have been honoured from you,
+     and the lock of hair, which you so obligingly bestowed
+     on me.
+
+          "I am, dear Madam,
+               "Your most obedient
+                    "humble servant,
+                                        "JOHN WILLOUGHBY."
+
+
+     With what indignation such a letter as this must
+be read by Miss Dashwood, may be imagined.  Though aware,
+before she began it, that it must bring a confession
+of his inconstancy, and confirm their separation for ever,
+she was not aware that such language could be suffered
+to announce it; nor could she have supposed Willoughby
+capable of departing so far from the appearance of every
+honourable and delicate feeling--so far from the common
+decorum of a gentleman, as to send a letter so impudently
+cruel: a letter which, instead of bringing with his desire
+of a release any professions of regret, acknowledged no
+breach of faith, denied all peculiar affection whatever--
+a letter of which every line was an insult, and which
+proclaimed its writer to be deep in hardened villainy.
+
+     She paused over it for some time with indignant
+astonishment; then read it again and again; but every
+perusal only served to increase her abhorrence of the man,
+and so bitter were her feelings against him, that she
+dared not trust herself to speak, lest she might wound
+Marianne still deeper by treating their disengagement,
+not as a loss to her of any possible good but as an
+escape from the worst and most irremediable of all
+evils, a connection, for life, with an unprincipled man,
+as a deliverance the most real, a blessing the most important.
+
+     In her earnest meditations on the contents of the letter,
+on the depravity of that mind which could dictate it,
+and probably, on the very different mind of a very different
+person, who had no other connection whatever with the affair
+than what her heart gave him with every thing that passed,
+Elinor forgot the immediate distress of her sister,
+forgot that she had three letters on her lap yet unread,
+and so entirely forgot how long she had been in the room,
+that when on hearing a carriage drive up to the door,
+she went to the window to see who could be coming so
+unreasonably early, she was all astonishment to perceive
+Mrs. Jennings's chariot, which she knew had not been
+ordered till one.  Determined not to quit Marianne,
+though hopeless of contributing, at present, to her ease,
+she hurried away to excuse herself from attending
+Mrs. Jennings, on account of her sister being indisposed.
+Mrs. Jennings, with a thoroughly good-humoured concern
+for its cause, admitted the excuse most readily, and Elinor,
+after seeing her safe off, returned to Marianne, whom she
+found attempting to rise from the bed, and whom she reached
+just in time to prevent her from falling on the floor,
+faint and giddy from a long want of proper rest and food;
+for it was many days since she had any appetite, and many
+nights since she had really slept; and now, when her
+mind was no longer supported by the fever of suspense,
+the consequence of all this was felt in an aching head,
+a weakened stomach, and a general nervous faintness.
+A glass of wine, which Elinor procured for her directly,
+made her more comfortable, and she was at last able to express
+some sense of her kindness, by saying, 
+
+     "Poor Elinor! how unhappy I make you!"
+
+     "I only wish," replied her sister, "there were
+any thing I COULD do, which might be of comfort to you."
+
+     This, as every thing else would have been,
+was too much for Marianne, who could only exclaim,
+in the anguish of her heart, "Oh! Elinor, I am miserable,
+indeed," before her voice was entirely lost in sobs.
+
+     Elinor could no longer witness this torrent
+of unresisted grief in silence.
+
+     "Exert yourself, dear Marianne," she cried,
+"if you would not kill yourself and all who love you.
+Think of your mother; think of her misery while YOU suffer:
+for her sake you must exert yourself."
+
+     "I cannot, I cannot," cried Marianne; "leave me,
+leave me, if I distress you; leave me, hate me, forget me!
+but do not torture me so.  Oh! how easy for those,
+who have no sorrow of their own to talk of exertion!  Happy,
+happy Elinor, YOU cannot have an idea of what I suffer."
+
+     "Do you call ME happy, Marianne?  Ah! if you knew!--And
+can you believe me to be so, while I see you so wretched!"
+
+     "Forgive me, forgive me," throwing her arms round
+her sister's neck; "I know you feel for me; I know what
+a heart you have; but yet you are--you must be happy;
+Edward loves you--what, oh what, can do away such happiness
+as that?"
+
+     "Many, many circumstances," said Elinor, solemnly.
+
+     "No, no, no," cried Marianne wildly, "he loves you,
+and only you.  You CAN have no grief."
+
+     "I can have no pleasure while I see you in this state."
+
+     "And you will never see me otherwise.  Mine is
+a misery which nothing can do away."
+
+     "You must not talk so, Marianne.  Have you no
+comforts? no friends?  Is your loss such as leaves
+no opening for consolation?  Much as you suffer now,
+think of what you would have suffered if the discovery
+of his character had been delayed to a later period--
+if your engagement had been carried on for months and months,
+as it might have been, before he chose to put an end to it.
+Every additional day of unhappy confidence, on your side,
+would have made the blow more dreadful."
+
+     "Engagement!" cried Marianne, "there has been
+no engagement."
+
+     "No engagement!"
+
+     "No, he is not so unworthy as you believe him.
+He has broken no faith with me."
+
+     "But he told you that he loved you."
+
+     "Yes--no--never absolutely.  It was every day implied,
+but never professedly declared.  Sometimes I thought it
+had been--but it never was."
+
+     "Yet you wrote to him?"--
+
+     "Yes--could that be wrong after all that had passed?--
+But I cannot talk."
+
+     Elinor said no more, and turning again to the three
+letters which now raised a much stronger curiosity
+than before, directly ran over the contents of all.
+The first, which was what her sister had sent him
+on their arrival in town, was to this effect.
+
+                              Berkeley Street, January.
+
+          "How surprised you will be, Willoughby, on
+     receiving this; and I think you will feel something
+     more than surprise, when you know that I am in town.
+     An opportunity of coming hither, though with Mrs.
+     Jennings, was a temptation we could not resist.
+     I wish you may receive this in time to come here
+     to-night, but I will not depend on it.  At any rate
+     I shall expect you to-morrow. For the present, adieu.
+
+                                                  "M.D."
+
+     Her second note, which had been written on the morning
+after the dance at the Middletons', was in these words:--
+
+          "I cannot express my disappointment in having
+     missed you the day before yesterday, nor my astonishment
+     at not having received any answer to a note which
+     I sent you above a week ago.  I have been expecting
+     to hear from you, and still more to see you, every
+     hour of the day.  Pray call again as soon as possible,
+     and explain the reason of my having expected this
+     in vain.  You had better come earlier another time,
+     because we are generally out by one.  We were last
+     night at Lady Middleton's, where there was a dance.
+     I have been told that you were asked to be of the
+     party.  But could it be so?  You must be very much
+     altered indeed since we parted, if that could be
+     the case, and you not there.  But I will not suppose
+     this possible, and I hope very soon to receive your
+     personal assurance of its being otherwise.
+
+                                                 "M.D."
+
+     The contents of her last note to him were these:--
+
+          "What am I to imagine, Willoughby, by your
+     behaviour last night?  Again I demand an explanation
+     of it.  I was prepared to meet you with the pleasure
+     which our separation naturally produced, with the
+     familiarity which our intimacy at Barton appeared
+     to me to justify.  I was repulsed indeed! I have
+     passed a wretched night in endeavouring to excuse
+     a conduct which can scarcely be called less than
+     insulting; but though I have not yet been able to
+     form any reasonable apology for your behaviour,
+     I am perfectly ready to hear your justification of
+     it.  You have perhaps been misinformed, or purposely
+     deceived, in something concerning me, which may have
+     lowered me in your opinion.  Tell me what it is,
+     explain the grounds on which you acted, and I shall
+     be satisfied, in being able to satisfy you.  It
+     would grieve me indeed to be obliged to think ill
+     of you; but if I am to do it, if I am to learn that
+     you are not what we have hitherto believed you, that
+     your regard for us all was insincere, that your
+     behaviour to me was intended only to deceive, let
+     it be told as soon as possible.  My feelings are at
+     present in a state of dreadful indecision; I wish
+     to acquit you, but certainty on either side will be
+     ease to what I now suffer.  If your sentiments are
+     no longer what they were, you will return my notes,
+     and the lock of my hair which is in your possession.
+
+                                                  "M.D."
+
+     That such letters, so full of affection and confidence,
+could have been so answered, Elinor, for Willoughby's sake,
+would have been unwilling to believe.  But her condemnation
+of him did not blind her to the impropriety of their
+having been written at all; and she was silently grieving
+over the imprudence which had hazarded such unsolicited
+proofs of tenderness, not warranted by anything preceding,
+and most severely condemned by the event, when Marianne,
+perceiving that she had finished the letters, observed to
+her that they contained nothing but what any one would
+have written in the same situation.
+
+     "I felt myself," she added, "to be as solemnly
+engaged to him, as if the strictest legal covenant
+had bound us to each other."
+
+     "I can believe it," said Elinor; "but unfortunately
+he did not feel the same."
+
+     "He DID feel the same, Elinor--for weeks and weeks he
+felt it.  I know he did.  Whatever may have changed him now, (and
+nothing but the blackest art employed against me can have done
+it), I was once as dear to him as my own soul could wish.
+This lock of hair, which now he can so readily give up,
+was begged of me with the most earnest supplication.
+Had you seen his look, his manner, had you heard his voice
+at that moment!  Have you forgot the last evening of our
+being together at Barton?  The morning that we parted
+too!  When he told me that it might be many weeks before
+we met again--his distress--can I ever forget his distress?"
+
+     For a moment or two she could say no more;
+but when this emotion had passed away, she added,
+in a firmer tone, 
+
+     "Elinor, I have been cruelly used; but not by Willoughby."
+
+     "Dearest Marianne, who but himself?  By whom can he
+have been instigated?"
+
+     "By all the world, rather than by his own heart.
+I could rather believe every creature of my acquaintance
+leagued together to ruin me in his opinion, than believe
+his nature capable of such cruelty.  This woman of whom he
+writes--whoever she be--or any one, in short, but your own
+dear self, mama, and Edward, may have been so barbarous
+to bely me.  Beyond you three, is there a creature 
+in the world whom I would not rather suspect of evil
+than Willoughby, whose heart I know so well?"
+
+     Elinor would not contend, and only replied,
+"Whoever may have been so detestably your enemy, let them
+be cheated of their malignant triumph, my dear sister,
+by seeing how nobly the consciousness of your own
+innocence and good intentions supports your spirits.
+It is a reasonable and laudable pride which resists
+such malevolence."
+
+     "No, no," cried Marianne, "misery such as mine has
+no pride.  I care not who knows that I am wretched.
+The triumph of seeing me so may be open to all the world.  
+Elinor, Elinor, they who suffer little may be proud and 
+independent as they like--may resist insult, or return 
+mortification--but I cannot.  I must feel--I must be 
+wretched--and they are welcome to enjoy the consciousness 
+of it that can."
+
+     "But for my mother's sake and mine--"
+
+     "I would do more than for my own.  But to appear
+happy when I am so miserable--Oh! who can require it?"
+
+     Again they were both silent.  Elinor was employed
+in walking thoughtfully from the fire to the window,
+from the window to the fire, without knowing that she
+received warmth from one, or discerning objects through
+the other; and Marianne, seated at the foot of the bed,
+with her head leaning against one of its posts,
+again took up Willoughby's letter, and, after shuddering
+over every sentence, exclaimed--
+
+     "It is too much! Oh, Willoughby, Willoughby, could this
+be yours!  Cruel, cruel--nothing can acquit you.  Elinor,
+nothing can.  Whatever he might have heard against me--
+ought he not to have suspended his belief? ought he not to
+have told me of it, to have given me the power of clearing
+myself? 'The lock of hair, (repeating it from the letter,)
+which you so obligingly bestowed on me'--That is unpardonable.
+Willoughby, where was your heart when you wrote those words? 
+Oh, barbarously insolent!--Elinor, can he be justified?"
+
+     "No, Marianne, in no possible way."
+
+     "And yet this woman--who knows what her art may
+have been?--how long it may have been premeditated,
+and how deeply contrived by her!--Who is she?--Who can
+she be?--Whom did I ever hear him talk of as young and
+attractive among his female acquaintance?--Oh! no one,
+no one--he talked to me only of myself."
+
+     Another pause ensued; Marianne was greatly agitated,
+and it ended thus.
+
+     "Elinor, I must go home.  I must go and comfort mama.
+Can not we be gone to-morrow?"
+
+     "To-morrow, Marianne!"
+
+     "Yes, why should I stay here? I came only for
+Willoughby's sake--and now who cares for me? Who regards me?"
+
+     "It would be impossible to go to-morrow. We owe
+Mrs. Jennings much more than civility; and civility of
+the commonest kind must prevent such a hasty removal as that."
+
+     "Well then, another day or two, perhaps; but I cannot
+stay here long, I cannot stay to endure the questions
+and remarks of all these people.  The Middletons and
+Palmers--how am I to bear their pity?  The pity of such
+a woman as Lady Middleton!  Oh, what would HE say to that!"
+
+     Elinor advised her to lie down again, and for a
+moment she did so; but no attitude could give her ease;
+and in restless pain of mind and body she moved from one
+posture to another, till growing more and more hysterical,
+her sister could with difficulty keep her on the bed at all,
+and for some time was fearful of being constrained to call
+for assistance.  Some lavender drops, however, which she
+was at length persuaded to take, were of use; and from
+that time till Mrs. Jennings returned, she continued
+on the bed quiet and motionless.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 30
+
+
+     Mrs. Jennings came immediately to their room on her return,
+and without waiting to have her request of admittance answered,
+opened the door and walked in with a look of real concern.
+
+     "How do you do my dear?"--said she in a voice of great 
+compassion to Marianne, who turned away her face without 
+attempting to answer.
+
+     "How is she, Miss Dashwood?--Poor thing! she looks very bad.--
+No wonder.  Ay, it is but too true.  He is to be married
+very soon--a good-for-nothing fellow!  I have no patience
+with him.  Mrs. Taylor told me of it half an hour ago,
+and she was told it by a particular friend of Miss
+Grey herself, else I am sure I should not have believed it;
+and I was almost ready to sink as it was.  Well, said I,
+all I can say is, that if this be true, he has used
+a young lady of my acquaintance abominably ill, and I
+wish with all my soul his wife may plague his heart out.
+And so I shall always say, my dear, you may depend on it.
+I have no notion of men's going on in this way; and if ever
+I meet him again, I will give him such a dressing as he
+has not had this many a day.  But there is one comfort,
+my dear Miss Marianne; he is not the only young man
+in the world worth having; and with your pretty face
+you will never want admirers.  Well, poor thing!  I won't
+disturb her any longer, for she had better have her cry
+out at once and have done with.  The Parrys and Sandersons
+luckily are coming tonight you know, and that will amuse her."
+
+     She then went away, walking on tiptoe out of the room,
+as if she supposed her young friend's affliction could
+be increased by noise.
+
+     Marianne, to the surprise of her sister,
+determined on dining with them.  Elinor even advised
+her against it.  But "no, she would go down; she could
+bear it very well, and the bustle about her would
+be less."  Elinor, pleased to have her governed for a
+moment by such a motive, though believing it hardly
+possible that she could sit out the dinner, said no more;
+and adjusting her dress for her as well as she could,
+while Marianne still remained on the bed, was ready
+to assist her into the dining room as soon as they were
+summoned to it.
+
+     When there, though looking most wretchedly,
+she ate more and was calmer than her sister had expected.
+Had she tried to speak, or had she been conscious of half
+Mrs. Jennings's well-meant but ill-judged attentions
+to her, this calmness could not have been maintained;
+but not a syllable escaped her lips; and the abstraction
+of her thoughts preserved her in ignorance of every thing
+that was passing before her.
+
+     Elinor, who did justice to Mrs. Jennings's kindness,
+though its effusions were often distressing, and sometimes
+almost ridiculous, made her those acknowledgments,
+and returned her those civilities, which her sister could
+not make or return for herself.  Their good friend saw
+that Marianne was unhappy, and felt that every thing
+was due to her which might make her at all less so.
+She treated her therefore, with all the indulgent fondness
+of a parent towards a favourite child on the last day of
+its holidays.  Marianne was to have the best place by the fire,
+was to be tempted to eat by every delicacy in the house,
+and to be amused by the relation of all the news of the day.
+Had not Elinor, in the sad countenance of her sister,
+seen a check to all mirth, she could have been entertained
+by Mrs. Jennings's endeavours to cure a disappointment in love,
+by a variety of sweetmeats and olives, and a good fire.
+As soon, however, as the consciousness of all this was
+forced by continual repetition on Marianne, she could
+stay no longer.  With a hasty exclamation of Misery,
+and a sign to her sister not to follow her, she directly got
+up and hurried out of the room.
+
+     "Poor soul!" cried Mrs. Jennings, as soon as she was gone,
+"how it grieves me to see her!  And I declare if she is
+not gone away without finishing her wine!  And the dried
+cherries too!  Lord! nothing seems to do her any good.
+I am sure if I knew of any thing she would like, I would
+send all over the town for it.  Well, it is the oddest
+thing to me, that a man should use such a pretty girl
+so ill!  But when there is plenty of money on one side,
+and next to none on the other, Lord bless you! they care
+no more about such things!--"
+
+     "The lady then--Miss Grey I think you called her--
+is very rich?"
+
+     "Fifty thousand pounds, my dear.  Did you ever see
+her? a smart, stylish girl they say, but not handsome.
+I remember her aunt very well, Biddy Henshawe; she married
+a very wealthy man.  But the family are all rich together.
+Fifty thousand pounds! and by all accounts, it won't come
+before it's wanted; for they say he is all to pieces.
+No wonder! dashing about with his curricle and hunters!
+Well, it don't signify talking; but when a young man,
+be who he will, comes and makes love to a pretty girl,
+and promises marriage, he has no business to fly off
+from his word only because he grows poor, and a richer
+girl is ready to have him.  Why don't he, in such a case,
+sell his horses, let his house, turn off his servants,
+and make a thorough reform at once? I warrant you,
+Miss Marianne would have been ready to wait till matters
+came round.  But that won't do now-a-days; nothing in the
+way of pleasure can ever be given up by the young men of
+this age."
+
+     "Do you know what kind of a girl Miss Grey is? 
+Is she said to be amiable?"
+
+     "I never heard any harm of her; indeed I hardly ever
+heard her mentioned; except that Mrs. Taylor did say
+this morning, that one day Miss Walker hinted to her,
+that she believed Mr. and Mrs. Ellison would not be sorry
+to have Miss Grey married, for she and Mrs. Ellison could
+never agree."--
+
+     "And who are the Ellisons?"
+
+     "Her guardians, my dear.  But now she is of age
+and may choose for herself; and a pretty choice she has
+made!--What now," after pausing a moment--"your poor sister
+is gone to her own room, I suppose, to moan by herself.
+Is there nothing one can get to comfort her?  Poor dear,
+it seems quite cruel to let her be alone.  Well, by-and-by we
+shall have a few friends, and that will amuse her a little.
+What shall we play at?  She hates whist I know; but is there
+no round game she cares for?"
+
+     "Dear ma'am, this kindness is quite unnecessary.
+Marianne, I dare say, will not leave her room again
+this evening.  I shall persuade her if I can to go
+early to bed, for I am sure she wants rest."
+
+     "Aye, I believe that will be best for her.  Let her name
+her own supper, and go to bed.  Lord! no wonder she has
+been looking so bad and so cast down this last week or two,
+for this matter I suppose has been hanging over her head as 
+long as that.  And so the letter that came today finished it! 
+Poor soul!  I am sure if I had had a notion of it,
+I would not have joked her about it for all my money.
+But then you know, how should I guess such a thing?  I made 
+sure of its being nothing but a common love letter, and 
+you know young people like to be laughed at about them.  Lord! 
+how concerned Sir John and my daughters will be when they
+hear it!  If I had my senses about me I might have called
+in Conduit Street in my way home, and told them of it.
+But I shall see them tomorrow."
+
+     "It would be unnecessary I am sure, for you to caution
+Mrs. Palmer and Sir John against ever naming Mr. Willoughby,
+or making the slightest allusion to what has passed,
+before my sister.  Their own good-nature must point out
+to them the real cruelty of appearing to know any thing
+about it when she is present; and the less that may ever
+be said to myself on the subject, the more my feelings
+will be spared, as you my dear madam will easily believe."
+
+     "Oh! Lord! yes, that I do indeed.  It must be terrible
+for you to hear it talked of; and as for your sister,
+I am sure I would not mention a word about it to her
+for the world.  You saw I did not all dinner time.
+No more would Sir John, nor my daughters, for they are
+all very thoughtful and considerate; especially if I
+give them a hint, as I certainly will.  For my part,
+I think the less that is said about such things, the better,
+the sooner 'tis blown over and forgot.  And what does
+talking ever do you know?"
+
+     "In this affair it can only do harm; more so
+perhaps than in many cases of a similar kind, for it
+has been attended by circumstances which, for the sake
+of every one concerned in it, make it unfit to become
+the public conversation.  I must do THIS justice to
+Mr. Willoughby--he has broken no positive engagement
+with my sister."
+
+     "Law, my dear!  Don't pretend to defend him.
+No positive engagement indeed! after taking her all
+over Allenham House, and fixing on the very rooms they
+were to live in hereafter!"
+
+     Elinor, for her sister's sake, could not press the
+subject farther, and she hoped it was not required of her
+for Willoughby's; since, though Marianne might lose much,
+he could gain very little by the enforcement of the real truth.
+After a short silence on both sides, Mrs. Jennings,
+with all her natural hilarity, burst forth again.
+
+     "Well, my dear, 'tis a true saying about an ill-wind,
+for it will be all the better for Colonel Brandon.
+He will have her at last; aye, that he will.  Mind me,
+now, if they an't married by Mid-summer.  Lord! how he'll
+chuckle over this news!  I hope he will come tonight.
+It will be all to one a better match for your sister.
+Two thousand a year without debt or drawback--except
+the little love-child, indeed; aye, I had forgot her;
+but she may be 'prenticed out at a small cost, and then
+what does it signify?  Delaford is a nice place, I can
+tell you; exactly what I call a nice old fashioned place,
+full of comforts and conveniences; quite shut in with great
+garden walls that are covered with the best fruit-trees
+in the country; and such a mulberry tree in one corner!
+Lord! how Charlotte and I did stuff the only time we
+were there!  Then, there is a dove-cote, some delightful
+stew-ponds, and a very pretty canal; and every thing,
+in short, that one could wish for; and, moreover, it is
+close to the church, and only a quarter of a mile from
+the turnpike-road, so 'tis never dull, for if you only
+go and sit up in an old yew arbour behind the house,
+you may see all the carriages that pass along.
+Oh! 'tis a nice place!  A butcher hard by in the village,
+and the parsonage-house within a stone's throw.
+To my fancy, a thousand times prettier than Barton Park,
+where they are forced to send three miles for their meat,
+and have not a neighbour nearer than your mother.
+Well, I shall spirit up the Colonel as soon as I can.
+One shoulder of mutton, you know, drives another down.
+If we CAN but put Willoughby out of her head!"
+
+     "Ay, if we can do THAT, Ma'am," said Elinor,
+"we shall do very well with or without Colonel Brandon."
+And then rising, she went away to join Marianne,
+whom she found, as she expected, in her own room, leaning,
+in silent misery, over the small remains of a fire,
+which, till Elinor's entrance, had been her only light.
+
+     "You had better leave me," was all the notice
+that her sister received from her.
+
+     "I will leave you," said Elinor, "if you will go
+to bed." But this, from the momentary perverseness
+of impatient suffering, she at first refused to do.
+Her sister's earnest, though gentle persuasion, however,
+soon softened her to compliance, and Elinor saw her
+lay her aching head on the pillow, and as she hoped,
+in a way to get some quiet rest before she left her.
+
+     In the drawing-room, whither she then repaired,
+she was soon joined by Mrs. Jennings, with a wine-glass,
+full of something, in her hand.
+
+     "My dear," said she, entering, "I have just recollected
+that I have some of the finest old Constantia wine in the
+house that ever was tasted, so I have brought a glass of it
+for your sister.  My poor husband! how fond he was of it!
+Whenever he had a touch of his old colicky gout, he said
+it did him more good than any thing else in the world.
+Do take it to your sister."
+
+     "Dear Ma'am," replied Elinor, smiling at the difference
+of the complaints for which it was recommended, "how good
+you are!  But I have just left Marianne in bed, and, I hope,
+almost asleep; and as I think nothing will be of so much
+service to her as rest, if you will give me leave,
+I will drink the wine myself."
+
+     Mrs. Jennings, though regretting that she had not been
+five minutes earlier, was satisfied with the compromise;
+and Elinor, as she swallowed the chief of it, reflected,
+that though its effects on a colicky gout were, at present,
+of little importance to her, its healing powers,
+on a disappointed heart might be as reasonably tried
+on herself as on her sister.
+
+     Colonel Brandon came in while the party were at tea,
+and by his manner of looking round the room for Marianne,
+Elinor immediately fancied that he neither expected
+nor wished to see her there, and, in short, that he
+was already aware of what occasioned her absence.
+Mrs. Jennings was not struck by the same thought;
+for soon after his entrance, she walked across the room
+to the tea-table where Elinor presided, and whispered--
+"The Colonel looks as grave as ever you see.  He knows
+nothing of it; do tell him, my dear."
+
+     He shortly afterwards drew a chair close to her's,
+and, with a look which perfectly assured her of his
+good information, inquired after her sister.
+
+     "Marianne is not well," said she.  "She has been
+indisposed all day, and we have persuaded her to go to bed."
+
+     "Perhaps, then," he hesitatingly replied, "what I
+heard this morning may be--there may be more truth in it
+than I could believe possible at first."
+
+     "What did you hear?"
+
+     "That a gentleman, whom I had reason to think--in short,
+that a man, whom I KNEW to be engaged--but how shall I
+tell you?  If you know it already, as surely you must,
+I may be spared."
+
+     "You mean," answered Elinor, with forced calmness,
+"Mr. Willoughby's marriage with Miss Grey.  Yes, we DO
+know it all.  This seems to have been a day of general
+elucidation, for this very morning first unfolded it to us.
+Mr. Willoughby is unfathomable!  Where did you hear it?"
+
+     "In a stationer's shop in Pall Mall, where I
+had business.  Two ladies were waiting for their carriage,
+and one of them was giving the other an account of the
+intended match, in a voice so little attempting concealment,
+that it was impossible for me not to hear all.  The name
+of Willoughby, John Willoughby, frequently repeated,
+first caught my attention; and what followed was a positive
+assertion that every thing was now finally settled
+respecting his marriage with Miss Grey--it was no longer
+to be a secret--it would take place even within a few weeks,
+with many particulars of preparations and other matters.
+One thing, especially, I remember, because it served
+to identify the man still more:--as soon as the ceremony
+was over, they were to go to Combe Magna, his seat
+in Somersetshire.  My astonishment!--but it would be
+impossible to describe what I felt.  The communicative
+lady I learnt, on inquiry, for I stayed in the shop
+till they were gone, was a Mrs. Ellison, and that, as I
+have been since informed, is the name of Miss Grey's guardian."
+
+     "It is.  But have you likewise heard that Miss Grey
+has fifty thousand pounds?  In that, if in any thing,
+we may find an explanation."
+
+     "It may be so; but Willoughby is capable--at least
+I think"--he stopped a moment; then added in a voice
+which seemed to distrust itself, "And your sister--
+how did she--"
+
+     "Her sufferings have been very severe.  I have
+only to hope that they may be proportionately short.
+It has been, it is a most cruel affliction.  Till yesterday,
+I believe, she never doubted his regard; and even now,
+perhaps--but I am almost convinced that he never was
+really attached to her.  He has been very deceitful! and,
+in some points, there seems a hardness of heart about him."
+
+     "Ah!" said Colonel Brandon, "there is, indeed!  But
+your sister does not--I think you said so--she does
+not consider quite as you do?"
+
+     "You know her disposition, and may believe how eagerly
+she would still justify him if she could."
+
+     He made no answer; and soon afterwards, by the removal
+of the tea-things, and the arrangement of the card parties,
+the subject was necessarily dropped.  Mrs. Jennings, who had
+watched them with pleasure while they were talking, and who
+expected to see the effect of Miss Dashwood's communication,
+in such an instantaneous gaiety on Colonel Brandon's side,
+as might have become a man in the bloom of youth, of hope
+and happiness, saw him, with amazement, remain the whole
+evening more serious and thoughtful than usual.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI
+
+
+     From a night of more sleep than she had expected,
+Marianne awoke the next morning to the same consciousness
+of misery in which she had closed her eyes.
+
+     Elinor encouraged her as much as possible to talk
+of what she felt; and before breakfast was ready, they had
+gone through the subject again and again; and with the same
+steady conviction and affectionate counsel on Elinor's side,
+the same impetuous feelings and varying opinions on
+Marianne's, as before.  Sometimes she could believe
+Willoughby to be as unfortunate and as innocent as herself,
+and at others, lost every consolation in the impossibility
+of acquitting him.  At one moment she was absolutely
+indifferent to the observation of all the world, at another
+she would seclude herself from it for ever, and at a third
+could resist it with energy.  In one thing, however,
+she was uniform, when it came to the point, in avoiding,
+where it was possible, the presence of Mrs. Jennings,
+and in a determined silence when obliged to endure it.
+Her heart was hardened against the belief of Mrs. Jennings's
+entering into her sorrows with any compassion.
+
+     "No, no, no, it cannot be," she cried;
+"she cannot feel.  Her kindness is not sympathy;
+her good-nature is not tenderness.  All that she wants
+is gossip, and she only likes me now because I supply it."
+
+     Elinor had not needed this to be assured of the injustice
+to which her sister was often led in her opinion of others,
+by the irritable refinement of her own mind, and the too
+great importance placed by her on the delicacies of a
+strong sensibility, and the graces of a polished manner.
+Like half the rest of the world, if more than half there
+be that are clever and good, Marianne, with excellent
+abilities and an excellent disposition, was neither
+reasonable nor candid.  She expected from other people
+the same opinions and feelings as her own, and she judged
+of their motives by the immediate effect of their actions
+on herself.  Thus a circumstance occurred, while the
+sisters were together in their own room after breakfast,
+which sunk the heart of Mrs. Jennings still lower
+in her estimation; because, through her own weakness,
+it chanced to prove a source of fresh pain to herself,
+though Mrs. Jennings was governed in it by an impulse
+of the utmost goodwill.
+
+     With a letter in her outstretched hand, and countenance
+gaily smiling, from the persuasion of bringing comfort,
+she entered their room, saying,
+
+     "Now, my dear, I bring you something that I am sure
+will do you good."
+
+     Marianne heard enough.  In one moment her imagination
+placed before her a letter from Willoughby, full of tenderness
+and contrition, explanatory of all that had passed, satisfactory,
+convincing; and instantly followed by Willoughby himself,
+rushing eagerly into the room to inforce, at her feet,
+by the eloquence of his eyes, the assurances of his letter.
+The work of one moment was destroyed by the next.
+The hand writing of her mother, never till then unwelcome,
+was before her; and, in the acuteness of the disappointment
+which followed such an ecstasy of more than hope,
+she felt as if, till that instant, she had never suffered.
+
+     The cruelty of Mrs. Jennings no language, within
+her reach in her moments of happiest eloquence,
+could have expressed; and now she could reproach her
+only by the tears which streamed from her eyes with
+passionate violence--a reproach, however, so entirely
+lost on its object, that after many expressions of pity,
+she withdrew, still referring her to the letter of comfort.
+But the letter, when she was calm enough to read it,
+brought little comfort.  Willoughby filled every page.
+Her mother, still confident of their engagement, and relying
+as warmly as ever on his constancy, had only been roused
+by Elinor's application, to intreat from Marianne greater
+openness towards them both; and this, with such tenderness
+towards her, such affection for Willoughby, and such
+a conviction of their future happiness in each other,
+that she wept with agony through the whole of it.
+
+     All her impatience to be at home again now returned;
+her mother was dearer to her than ever; dearer through
+the very excess of her mistaken confidence in Willoughby,
+and she was wildly urgent to be gone.  Elinor, unable herself
+to determine whether it were better for Marianne to be
+in London or at Barton, offered no counsel of her own
+except of patience till their mother's wishes could be known;
+and at length she obtained her sister's consent to wait
+for that knowledge.
+
+     Mrs. Jennings left them earlier than usual; for she
+could not be easy till the Middletons and Palmers were able
+to grieve as much as herself; and positively refusing
+Elinor's offered attendance, went out alone for the rest
+of the morning.  Elinor, with a very heavy heart, aware of
+the pain she was going to communicate, and perceiving,
+by Marianne's letter, how ill she had succeeded in laying
+any foundation for it, then sat down to write her mother
+an account of what had passed, and entreat her directions
+for the future; while Marianne, who came into the drawing-room
+on Mrs. Jennings's going away, remained fixed at the table
+where Elinor wrote, watching the advancement of her pen,
+grieving over her for the hardship of such a task,
+and grieving still more fondly over its effect on her mother.
+
+     In this manner they had continued about a quarter
+of an hour, when Marianne, whose nerves could not then
+bear any sudden noise, was startled by a rap at the door.
+
+     "Who can this be?" cried Elinor.  "So early too! I
+thought we HAD been safe."
+
+     Marianne moved to the window--
+
+     "It is Colonel Brandon!" said she, with vexation.
+"We are never safe from HIM."
+
+     "He will not come in, as Mrs. Jennings is from home."
+
+     "I will not trust to THAT," retreating to her own room.
+"A man who has nothing to do with his own time has no
+conscience in his intrusion on that of others."
+
+     The event proved her conjecture right, though it
+was founded on injustice and error; for Colonel Brandon
+DID come in; and Elinor, who was convinced that
+solicitude for Marianne brought him thither, and who saw
+THAT solicitude in his disturbed and melancholy look,
+and in his anxious though brief inquiry after her,
+could not forgive her sister for esteeming him so lightly.
+
+     "I met Mrs. Jennings in Bond Street," said he,
+after the first salutation, "and she encouraged me
+to come on; and I was the more easily encouraged,
+because I thought it probable that I might find you alone,
+which I was very desirous of doing.  My object--my
+wish--my sole wish in desiring it--I hope, I believe
+it is--is to be a means of giving comfort;--no, I must
+not say comfort--not present comfort--but conviction,
+lasting conviction to your sister's mind.  My regard for her,
+for yourself, for your mother--will you allow me to prove it,
+by relating some circumstances which nothing but a VERY
+sincere regard--nothing but an earnest desire of being
+useful--I think I am justified--though where so many hours
+have been spent in convincing myself that I am right,
+is there not some reason to fear I may be wrong?"
+He stopped.
+
+     "I understand you," said Elinor.  "You have something
+to tell me of Mr. Willoughby, that will open his character
+farther.  Your telling it will be the greatest act of friendship
+that can be shewn Marianne.  MY gratitude will be insured
+immediately by any information tending to that end, and HERS
+must be gained by it in time.  Pray, pray let me hear it."
+
+     "You shall; and, to be brief, when I quitted Barton
+last October,--but this will give you no idea--I must go
+farther back.  You will find me a very awkward narrator,
+Miss Dashwood; I hardly know where to begin.  A short
+account of myself, I believe, will be necessary, and it
+SHALL be a short one.  On such a subject," sighing heavily,
+"can I have little temptation to be diffuse."
+
+     He stopt a moment for recollection, and then,
+with another sigh, went on.
+
+     "You have probably entirely forgotten a conversation--
+(it is not to be supposed that it could make any impression
+on you)--a conversation between us one evening at Barton
+Park--it was the evening of a dance--in which I alluded
+to a lady I had once known, as resembling, in some measure,
+your sister Marianne."
+
+     "Indeed," answered Elinor, "I have NOT forgotten it."
+He looked pleased by this remembrance, and added,
+
+     "If I am not deceived by the uncertainty, the partiality
+of tender recollection, there is a very strong resemblance
+between them, as well in mind as person.  The same warmth
+of heart, the same eagerness of fancy and spirits.
+This lady was one of my nearest relations, an orphan from
+her infancy, and under the guardianship of my father.
+Our ages were nearly the same, and from our earliest years
+we were playfellows and friends.  I cannot remember the
+time when I did not love Eliza; and my affection for her,
+as we grew up, was such, as perhaps, judging from my
+present forlorn and cheerless gravity, you might think me
+incapable of having ever felt.  Her's, for me, was, I believe,
+fervent as the attachment of your sister to Mr. Willoughby
+and it was, though from a different cause, no less unfortunate.
+At seventeen she was lost to me for ever.  She was
+married--married against her inclination to my brother.
+Her fortune was large, and our family estate much encumbered.
+And this, I fear, is all that can be said for the
+conduct of one, who was at once her uncle and guardian.
+My brother did not deserve her; he did not even love her.
+I had hoped that her regard for me would support her
+under any difficulty, and for some time it did; but at
+last the misery of her situation, for she experienced
+great unkindness, overcame all her resolution, and though
+she had promised me that nothing--but how blindly I
+relate!  I have never told you how this was brought on.
+We were within a few hours of eloping together for Scotland.
+The treachery, or the folly, of my cousin's maid betrayed us.
+I was banished to the house of a relation far distant,
+and she was allowed no liberty, no society, no amusement,
+till my father's point was gained.  I had depended on her
+fortitude too far, and the blow was a severe one--
+but had her marriage been happy, so young as I then was,
+a few months must have reconciled me to it, or at least
+I should not have now to lament it.  This however
+was not the case.  My brother had no regard for her;
+his pleasures were not what they ought to have been,
+and from the first he treated her unkindly.  The consequence
+of this, upon a mind so young, so lively, so inexperienced
+as Mrs. Brandon's, was but too natural.  She resigned
+herself at first to all the misery of her situation;
+and happy had it been if she had not lived to overcome those
+regrets which the remembrance of me occasioned.  But can we
+wonder that, with such a husband to provoke inconstancy,
+and without a friend to advise or restrain her (for
+my father lived only a few months after their marriage,
+and I was with my regiment in the East Indies) she
+should fall?  Had I remained in England, perhaps--but I
+meant to promote the happiness of both by removing
+from her for years, and for that purpose had procured
+my exchange.  The shock which her marriage had given me,"
+he continued, in a voice of great agitation, "was of
+trifling weight--was nothing to what I felt when I heard,
+about two years afterwards, of her divorce.  It was
+THAT which threw this gloom,--even now the recollection
+of what I suffered--"
+
+     He could say no more, and rising hastily walked for a few
+minutes about the room.  Elinor, affected by his relation,
+and still more by his distress, could not speak.  He saw
+her concern, and coming to her, took her hand, pressed it,
+and kissed it with grateful respect.  A few minutes more
+of silent exertion enabled him to proceed with composure.
+
+     "It was nearly three years after this unhappy
+period before I returned to England.  My first care,
+when I DID arrive, was of course to seek for her;
+but the search was as fruitless as it was melancholy.
+I could not trace her beyond her first seducer, and there
+was every reason to fear that she had removed from him
+only to sink deeper in a life of sin.  Her legal allowance
+was not adequate to her fortune, nor sufficient for her
+comfortable maintenance, and I learnt from my brother that
+the power of receiving it had been made over some months
+before to another person.  He imagined, and calmly could he
+imagine it, that her extravagance, and consequent distress,
+had obliged her to dispose of it for some immediate relief.
+At last, however, and after I had been six months in England,
+I DID find her.  Regard for a former servant of my own,
+who had since fallen into misfortune, carried me to visit
+him in a spunging-house, where he was confined for debt;
+and there, the same house, under a similar confinement,
+was my unfortunate sister.  So altered--so faded--worn
+down by acute suffering of every kind! hardly could I
+believe the melancholy and sickly figure before me,
+to be the remains of the lovely, blooming, healthful girl,
+on whom I had once doted.  What I endured in so beholding
+her--but I have no right to wound your feelings by attempting
+to describe it--I have pained you too much already.
+That she was, to all appearance, in the last stage
+of a consumption, was--yes, in such a situation it was
+my greatest comfort.  Life could do nothing for her,
+beyond giving time for a better preparation for death;
+and that was given.  I saw her placed in comfortable lodgings,
+and under proper attendants; I visited her every day
+during the rest of her short life: I was with her in her
+last moments."
+
+     Again he stopped to recover himself; and Elinor
+spoke her feelings in an exclamation of tender concern,
+at the fate of his unfortunate friend.
+
+     "Your sister, I hope, cannot be offended," said he,
+"by the resemblance I have fancied between her and my
+poor disgraced relation.  Their fates, their fortunes,
+cannot be the same; and had the natural sweet
+disposition of the one been guarded by a firmer mind,
+or a happier marriage, she might have been all that you
+will live to see the other be.  But to what does all this
+lead?  I seem to have been distressing you for nothing.
+Ah! Miss Dashwood--a subject such as this--untouched
+for fourteen years--it is dangerous to handle it at all!
+I WILL be more collected--more concise.  She left to my care
+her only child, a little girl, the offspring of her first
+guilty connection, who was then about three years old.
+She loved the child, and had always kept it with her.
+It was a valued, a precious trust to me; and gladly
+would I have discharged it in the strictest sense,
+by watching over her education myself, had the nature
+of our situations allowed it; but I had no family, no home;
+and my little Eliza was therefore placed at school.
+I saw her there whenever I could, and after the death of my
+brother, (which happened about five years ago, and which
+left to me the possession of the family property,) she
+visited me at Delaford.  I called her a distant relation;
+but I am well aware that I have in general been suspected
+of a much nearer connection with her.  It is now three
+years ago (she had just reached her fourteenth year,)
+that I removed her from school, to place her under the care
+of a very respectable woman, residing in Dorsetshire,
+who had the charge of four or five other girls of about
+the same time of life; and for two years I had every reason
+to be pleased with her situation.  But last February,
+almost a twelvemonth back, she suddenly disappeared.
+I had allowed her, (imprudently, as it has since turned
+out,) at her earnest desire, to go to Bath with one of
+her young friends, who was attending her father there
+for his health.  I knew him to be a very good sort of man,
+and I thought well of his daughter--better than she deserved,
+for, with a most obstinate and ill-judged secrecy,
+she would tell nothing, would give no clue, though she
+certainly knew all.  He, her father, a well-meaning,
+but not a quick-sighted man, could really, I believe,
+give no information; for he had been generally confined
+to the house, while the girls were ranging over the town
+and making what acquaintance they chose; and he tried
+to convince me, as thoroughly as he was convinced himself,
+of his daughter's being entirely unconcerned in the business.
+In short, I could learn nothing but that she was gone;
+all the rest, for eight long months, was left to conjecture.
+What I thought, what I feared, may be imagined; and what I
+suffered too."
+
+     "Good heavens!" cried Elinor, "could it be--could
+Willoughby!"--
+
+     "The first news that reached me of her," he continued,
+"came in a letter from herself, last October.
+It was forwarded to me from Delaford, and I received it
+on the very morning of our intended party to Whitwell;
+and this was the reason of my leaving Barton so suddenly,
+which I am sure must at the time have appeared strange
+to every body, and which I believe gave offence to some.
+Little did Mr. Willoughby imagine, I suppose, when his
+looks censured me for incivility in breaking up the party,
+that I was called away to the relief of one whom he
+had made poor and miserable; but HAD he known it,
+what would it have availed?  Would he have been less
+gay or less happy in the smiles of your sister?  No,
+he had already done that, which no man who CAN feel
+for another would do.  He had left the girl whose
+youth and innocence he had seduced, in a situation of
+the utmost distress, with no creditable home, no help,
+no friends, ignorant of his address!  He had left her,
+promising to return; he neither returned, nor wrote,
+nor relieved her."
+
+     "This is beyond every thing!" exclaimed Elinor.
+
+     "His character is now before you; expensive, dissipated,
+and worse than both.  Knowing all this, as I have now
+known it many weeks, guess what I must have felt on seeing
+your sister as fond of him as ever, and on being assured
+that she was to marry him: guess what I must have felt
+for all your sakes.  When I came to you last week and
+found you alone, I came determined to know the truth;
+though irresolute what to do when it WAS known.
+My behaviour must have seemed strange to you then;
+but now you will comprehend it.  To suffer you all to be
+so deceived; to see your sister--but what could I do?
+I had no hope of interfering with success; and sometimes
+I thought your sister's influence might yet reclaim him.
+But now, after such dishonorable usage, who can tell what
+were his designs on her.  Whatever they may have been,
+however, she may now, and hereafter doubtless WILL
+turn with gratitude towards her own condition, when she
+compares it with that of my poor Eliza, when she considers
+the wretched and hopeless situation of this poor girl,
+and pictures her to herself, with an affection for him so strong,
+still as strong as her own, and with a mind tormented
+by self-reproach, which must attend her through life.
+Surely this comparison must have its use with her.
+She will feel her own sufferings to be nothing.  They
+proceed from no misconduct, and can bring no disgrace.
+On the contrary, every friend must be made still more
+her friend by them.  Concern for her unhappiness,
+and respect for her fortitude under it, must strengthen
+every attachment.  Use your own discretion, however,
+in communicating to her what I have told you.  You must
+know best what will be its effect; but had I not seriously,
+and from my heart believed it might be of service,
+might lessen her regrets, I would not have suffered
+myself to trouble you with this account of my family
+afflictions, with a recital which may seem to have been
+intended to raise myself at the expense of others."
+
+     Elinor's thanks followed this speech with grateful
+earnestness; attended too with the assurance of her
+expecting material advantage to Marianne, from the 
+communication of what had passed.
+
+     "I have been more pained," said she, "by her
+endeavors to acquit him than by all the rest; for it
+irritates her mind more than the most perfect conviction
+of his unworthiness can do.  Now, though at first she
+will suffer much, I am sure she will soon become easier.
+Have you," she continued, after a short silence,
+"ever seen Mr. Willoughby since you left him at Barton?"
+
+     "Yes," he replied gravely, "once I have.  One meeting
+was unavoidable."
+
+     Elinor, startled by his manner, looked at him anxiously,
+saying,
+
+     "What? have you met him to--"
+
+     "I could meet him no other way.  Eliza had confessed
+to me, though most reluctantly, the name of her lover;
+and when he returned to town, which was within a fortnight
+after myself, we met by appointment, he to defend,
+I to punish his conduct.  We returned unwounded,
+and the meeting, therefore, never got abroad."
+
+     Elinor sighed over the fancied necessity of this;
+but to a man and a soldier she presumed not to censure it.
+
+     "Such," said Colonel Brandon, after a pause,
+"has been the unhappy resemblance between the fate of mother
+and daughter! and so imperfectly have I discharged my trust!"
+
+     "Is she still in town?"
+
+     "No; as soon as she recovered from her lying-in,
+for I found her near her delivery, I removed her and her
+child into the country, and there she remains."
+
+     Recollecting, soon afterwards, that he was probably
+dividing Elinor from her sister, he put an end to his visit,
+receiving from her again the same grateful acknowledgments,
+and leaving her full of compassion and esteem for him.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 32
+
+
+     When the particulars of this conversation were repeated
+by Miss Dashwood to her sister, as they very soon were,
+the effect on her was not entirely such as the former
+had hoped to see.  Not that Marianne appeared to distrust
+the truth of any part of it, for she listened to it all
+with the most steady and submissive attention, made neither
+objection nor remark, attempted no vindication of Willoughby,
+and seemed to shew by her tears that she felt it to
+be impossible.  But though this behaviour assured Elinor
+that the conviction of this guilt WAS carried home to
+her mind, though she saw with satisfaction the effect of it,
+in her no longer avoiding Colonel Brandon when he called,
+in her speaking to him, even voluntarily speaking,
+with a kind of compassionate respect, and though she
+saw her spirits less violently irritated than before,
+she did not see her less wretched.  Her mind did become 
+settled, but it was settled in a gloomy dejection.
+She felt the loss of Willoughby's character yet more heavily
+than she had felt the loss of his heart; his seduction and
+desertion of Miss Williams, the misery of that poor girl,
+and the doubt of what his designs might ONCE have been
+on herself, preyed altogether so much on her spirits,
+that she could not bring herself to speak of what she felt
+even to Elinor; and, brooding over her sorrows in silence,
+gave more pain to her sister than could have been communicated
+by the most open and most frequent confession of them.
+
+     To give the feelings or the language of Mrs. Dashwood
+on receiving and answering Elinor's letter would be only
+to give a repetition of what her daughters had already felt
+and said; of a disappointment hardly less painful than
+Marianne's, and an indignation even greater than Elinor's.
+Long letters from her, quickly succeeding each other,
+arrived to tell all that she suffered and thought;
+to express her anxious solicitude for Marianne, and entreat
+she would bear up with fortitude under this misfortune.
+Bad indeed must the nature of Marianne's affliction be,
+when her mother could talk of fortitude! mortifying
+and humiliating must be the origin of those regrets,
+which SHE could wish her not to indulge!
+
+     Against the interest of her own individual comfort,
+Mrs. Dashwood had determined that it would be better for
+Marianne to be any where, at that time, than at Barton,
+where every thing within her view would be bringing back
+the past in the strongest and most afflicting manner,
+by constantly placing Willoughby before her, such as
+she had always seen him there.  She recommended it to
+her daughters, therefore, by all means not to shorten their
+visit to Mrs. Jennings; the length of which, though never
+exactly fixed, had been expected by all to comprise at least
+five or six weeks.  A variety of occupations, of objects,
+and of company, which could not be procured at Barton,
+would be inevitable there, and might yet, she hoped,
+cheat Marianne, at times, into some interest beyond herself,
+and even into some amusement, much as the ideas of both
+might now be spurned by her.
+
+     From all danger of seeing Willoughby again,
+her mother considered her to be at least equally safe
+in town as in the country, since his acquaintance must
+now be dropped by all who called themselves her friends.
+Design could never bring them in each other's way:
+negligence could never leave them exposed to a surprise;
+and chance had less in its favour in the crowd of London
+than even in the retirement of Barton, where it might
+force him before her while paying that visit at Allenham
+on his marriage, which Mrs. Dashwood, from foreseeing at
+first as a probable event, had brought herself to expect
+as a certain one.
+
+     She had yet another reason for wishing her children
+to remain where they were; a letter from her son-in-law
+had told her that he and his wife were to be in town
+before the middle of February, and she judged it right
+that they should sometimes see their brother.
+
+     Marianne had promised to be guided by her mother's opinion,
+and she submitted to it therefore without opposition,
+though it proved perfectly different from what she wished
+and expected, though she felt it to be entirely wrong,
+formed on mistaken grounds, and that by requiring her
+longer continuance in London it deprived her of the only
+possible alleviation of her wretchedness, the personal
+sympathy of her mother, and doomed her to such society and 
+such scenes as must prevent her ever knowing a moment's rest.
+
+     But it was a matter of great consolation to her,
+that what brought evil to herself would bring good to
+her sister; and Elinor, on the other hand, suspecting that
+it would not be in her power to avoid Edward entirely,
+comforted herself by thinking, that though their longer
+stay would therefore militate against her own happiness,
+it would be better for Marianne than an immediate return
+into Devonshire.
+
+     Her carefulness in guarding her sister from ever
+hearing Willoughby's name mentioned, was not thrown away.
+Marianne, though without knowing it herself, reaped all
+its advantage; for neither Mrs. Jennings, nor Sir John,
+nor even Mrs. Palmer herself, ever spoke of him before her.
+Elinor wished that the same forbearance could have extended
+towards herself, but that was impossible, and she was
+obliged to listen day after day to the indignation of them all.
+
+     Sir John, could not have thought it possible.
+"A man of whom he had always had such reason to think well!
+Such a good-natured fellow!  He did not believe there was a
+bolder rider in England!  It was an unaccountable business.
+He wished him at the devil with all his heart.  He would
+not speak another word to him, meet him where he might,
+for all the world!  No, not if it were to be by the side
+of Barton covert, and they were kept watching for two
+hours together.  Such a scoundrel of a fellow! such
+a deceitful dog!  It was only the last time they met
+that he had offered him one of Folly's puppies! and this
+was the end of it!"
+
+     Mrs. Palmer, in her way, was equally angry.
+"She was determined to drop his acquaintance immediately,
+and she was very thankful that she had never been acquainted
+with him at all.  She wished with all her heart Combe
+Magna was not so near Cleveland; but it did not signify,
+for it was a great deal too far off to visit; she hated
+him so much that she was resolved never to mention
+his name again, and she should tell everybody she saw,
+how good-for-nothing he was."
+
+     The rest of Mrs. Palmer's sympathy was shewn in procuring
+all the particulars in her power of the approaching marriage,
+and communicating them to Elinor.  She could soon tell
+at what coachmaker's the new carriage was building,
+by what painter Mr. Willoughby's portrait was drawn,
+and at what warehouse Miss Grey's clothes might be seen.
+
+     The calm and polite unconcern of Lady Middleton
+on the occasion was a happy relief to Elinor's spirits,
+oppressed as they often were by the clamorous kindness
+of the others.  It was a great comfort to her to be sure
+of exciting no interest in ONE person at least among their
+circle of friends: a great comfort to know that there
+was ONE who would meet her without feeling any curiosity
+after particulars, or any anxiety for her sister's health.
+
+     Every qualification is raised at times, by the
+circumstances of the moment, to more than its real value;
+and she was sometimes worried down by officious condolence
+to rate good-breeding as more indispensable to comfort
+than good-nature.
+
+     Lady Middleton expressed her sense of the affair
+about once every day, or twice, if the subject occurred
+very often, by saying, "It is very shocking, indeed!"
+and by the means of this continual though gentle vent, 
+was able not only to see the Miss Dashwoods from the 
+first without the smallest emotion, but very soon
+to see them without recollecting a word of the matter;
+and having thus supported the dignity of her own sex,
+and spoken her decided censure of what was wrong
+in the other, she thought herself at liberty to attend
+to the interest of her own assemblies, and therefore
+determined (though rather against the opinion of Sir John)
+that as Mrs. Willoughby would at once be a woman of elegance
+and fortune, to leave her card with her as soon as she married.
+
+     Colonel Brandon's delicate, unobtrusive enquiries
+were never unwelcome to Miss Dashwood.  He had abundantly
+earned the privilege of intimate discussion of her
+sister's disappointment, by the friendly zeal with
+which he had endeavoured to soften it, and they always
+conversed with confidence.  His chief reward for the
+painful exertion of disclosing past sorrows and present
+humiliations, was given in the pitying eye with which
+Marianne sometimes observed him, and the gentleness
+of her voice whenever (though it did not often happen)
+she was obliged, or could oblige herself to speak to him.
+THESE assured him that his exertion had produced an
+increase of good-will towards himself, and THESE gave
+Elinor hopes of its being farther augmented hereafter;
+but Mrs. Jennings, who knew nothing of all this, who knew
+only that the Colonel continued as grave as ever, and that
+she could neither prevail on him to make the offer himself,
+nor commission her to make it for him, began, at the
+end of two days, to think that, instead of Midsummer,
+they would not be married till Michaelmas, and by the
+end of a week that it would not be a match at all.
+The good understanding between the Colonel and Miss
+Dashwood seemed rather to declare that the honours
+of the mulberry-tree, the canal, and the yew arbour,
+would all be made over to HER; and Mrs. Jennings had,
+for some time ceased to think at all of Mrs. Ferrars.
+
+     Early in February, within a fortnight from the
+receipt of Willoughby's letter, Elinor had the painful
+office of informing her sister that he was married.
+She had taken care to have the intelligence conveyed
+to herself, as soon as it was known that the ceremony
+was over, as she was desirous that Marianne should not
+receive the first notice of it from the public papers,
+which she saw her eagerly examining every morning.
+
+     She received the news with resolute composure;
+made no observation on it, and at first shed no tears;
+but after a short time they would burst out, and for the
+rest of the day, she was in a state hardly less pitiable
+than when she first learnt to expect the event.
+
+     The Willoughbys left town as soon as they were married;
+and Elinor now hoped, as there could be no danger
+of her seeing either of them, to prevail on her sister,
+who had never yet left the house since the blow first fell,
+to go out again by degrees as she had done before.
+
+     About this time the two Miss Steeles, lately arrived
+at their cousin's house in Bartlett's Buildings,
+Holburn, presented themselves again before their more
+grand relations in Conduit and Berkeley Streets;
+and were welcomed by them all with great cordiality.
+
+     Elinor only was sorry to see them.  Their presence
+always gave her pain, and she hardly knew how to make
+a very gracious return to the overpowering delight of Lucy
+in finding her STILL in town.
+
+     "I should have been quite disappointed if I had not
+found you here STILL," said she repeatedly, with a strong
+emphasis on the word.  "But I always thought I SHOULD.
+I was almost sure you would not leave London yet awhile;
+though you TOLD me, you know, at Barton, that you should
+not stay above a MONTH.  But I thought, at the time,
+that you would most likely change your mind when it came
+to the point.  It would have been such a great pity
+to have went away before your brother and sister came.
+And now to be sure you will be in no hurry to be gone.
+I am amazingly glad you did not keep to YOUR WORD."
+
+     Elinor perfectly understood her, and was forced
+to use all her self-command to make it appear that she
+did NOT.
+
+     "Well, my dear," said Mrs. Jennings, "and how did
+you travel?"
+
+     "Not in the stage, I assure you," replied Miss Steele,
+with quick exultation; "we came post all the way, and had
+a very smart beau to attend us.  Dr. Davies was coming
+to town, and so we thought we'd join him in a post-chaise;
+and he behaved very genteelly, and paid ten or twelve
+shillings more than we did."
+
+     "Oh, oh!" cried Mrs. Jennings; "very pretty,
+indeed! and the Doctor is a single man, I warrant you."
+
+     "There now," said Miss Steele, affectedly simpering,
+"everybody laughs at me so about the Doctor, and I
+cannot think why.  My cousins say they are sure I have
+made a conquest; but for my part I declare I never think
+about him from one hour's end to another.  'Lord! here
+comes your beau, Nancy,' my cousin said t'other day,
+when she saw him crossing the street to the house.
+My beau, indeed! said I--I cannot think who you mean.
+The Doctor is no beau of mine."
+
+     "Aye, aye, that is very pretty talking--but it won't do--
+the Doctor is the man, I see."
+
+     "No, indeed!" replied her cousin, with affected earnestness,
+"and I beg you will contradict it, if you ever hear it talked of."
+
+     Mrs. Jennings directly gave her the gratifying
+assurance that she certainly would NOT, and Miss Steele
+was made completely happy.
+
+     "I suppose you will go and stay with your brother
+and sister, Miss Dashwood, when they come to town,"
+said Lucy, returning, after a cessation of hostile hints,
+to the charge.
+
+     "No, I do not think we shall."
+
+     "Oh, yes, I dare say you will."
+
+     Elinor would not humour her by farther opposition.
+
+     "What a charming thing it is that Mrs. Dashwood can
+spare you both for so long a time together!"
+
+     "Long a time, indeed!" interposed Mrs. Jennings.
+"Why, their visit is but just begun!"
+
+     Lucy was silenced.
+
+     "I am sorry we cannot see your sister, Miss Dashwood,"
+said Miss Steele.  "I am sorry she is not well--"
+for Marianne had left the room on their arrival.
+
+     "You are very good.  My sister will be equally
+sorry to miss the pleasure of seeing you; but she has
+been very much plagued lately with nervous head-aches,
+which make her unfit for company or conversation."
+
+     "Oh, dear, that is a great pity! but such old
+friends as Lucy and me!--I think she might see US;
+and I am sure we would not speak a word."
+
+     Elinor, with great civility, declined the proposal.
+Her sister was perhaps laid down upon the bed, or in her 
+dressing gown, and therefore not able to come to them.
+
+     "Oh, if that's all," cried Miss Steele, "we can
+just as well go and see HER."
+
+     Elinor began to find this impertinence too much for
+her temper; but she was saved the trouble of checking it,
+by Lucy's sharp reprimand, which now, as on many occasions,
+though it did not give much sweetness to the manners
+of one sister, was of advantage in governing those of
+the other.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 33
+
+
+     After some opposition, Marianne yielded to her
+sister's entreaties, and consented to go out with her
+and Mrs. Jennings one morning for half an hour. She
+expressly conditioned, however, for paying no visits,
+and would do no more than accompany them to Gray's in
+Sackville Street, where Elinor was carrying on a negotiation
+for the exchange of a few old-fashioned jewels of her mother.
+
+     When they stopped at the door, Mrs. Jennings recollected
+that there was a lady at the other end of the street
+on whom she ought to call; and as she had no business
+at Gray's, it was resolved, that while her young friends
+transacted their's, she should pay her visit and 
+return for them.
+
+     On ascending the stairs, the Miss Dashwoods found
+so many people before them in the room, that there was
+not a person at liberty to tend to their orders; and they
+were obliged to wait.  All that could be done was, to sit
+down at that end of the counter which seemed to promise the
+quickest succession; one gentleman only was standing there,
+and it is probable that Elinor was not without hope
+of exciting his politeness to a quicker despatch.
+But the correctness of his eye, and the delicacy
+of his taste, proved to be beyond his politeness.
+He was giving orders for a toothpick-case for himself,
+and till its size, shape, and ornaments were determined,
+all of which, after examining and debating for a quarter
+of an hour over every toothpick-case in the shop,
+were finally arranged by his own inventive fancy, he had
+no leisure to bestow any other attention on the two ladies,
+than what was comprised in three or four very broad stares;
+a kind of notice which served to imprint on Elinor
+the remembrance of a person and face, of strong,
+natural, sterling insignificance, though adorned in
+the first style of fashion.
+
+     Marianne was spared from the troublesome feelings
+of contempt and resentment, on this impertinent examination
+of their features, and on the puppyism of his manner
+in deciding on all the different horrors of the different
+toothpick-cases presented to his inspection, by remaining
+unconscious of it all; for she was as well able to collect
+her thoughts within herself, and be as ignorant of what was
+passing around her, in Mr. Gray's shop, as in her own bedroom.
+
+     At last the affair was decided.  The ivory,
+the gold, and the pearls, all received their appointment,
+and the gentleman having named the last day on which his
+existence could be continued without the possession of the
+toothpick-case, drew on his gloves with leisurely care,
+and bestowing another glance on the Miss Dashwoods, but such
+a one as seemed rather to demand than express admiration,
+walked off with a happy air of real conceit and affected indifference.
+
+     Elinor lost no time in bringing her business forward,
+was on the point of concluding it, when another gentleman
+presented himself at her side.  She turned her eyes towards 
+his face, and found him with some surprise to be her brother.
+
+     Their affection and pleasure in meeting was just enough
+to make a very creditable appearance in Mr. Gray's shop.
+John Dashwood was really far from being sorry to see
+his sisters again; it rather gave them satisfaction;
+and his inquiries after their mother were respectful
+and attentive.
+
+     Elinor found that he and Fanny had been in town
+two days.
+
+     "I wished very much to call upon you yesterday,"
+said he, "but it was impossible, for we were obliged
+to take Harry to see the wild beasts at Exeter Exchange;
+and we spent the rest of the day with Mrs. Ferrars.
+Harry was vastly pleased.  THIS morning I had fully intended
+to call on you, if I could possibly find a spare half hour,
+but one has always so much to do on first coming to town.
+I am come here to bespeak Fanny a seal.  But tomorrow I
+think I shall certainly be able to call in Berkeley Street,
+and be introduced to your friend Mrs. Jennings.
+I understand she is a woman of very good fortune.
+And the Middletons too, you must introduce me to THEM.
+As my mother-in-law's relations, I shall be happy to show
+them every respect.  They are excellent neighbours to you in
+the country, I understand."
+
+     "Excellent indeed.  Their attention to our comfort,
+their friendliness in every particular, is more than I
+can express."
+
+     "I am extremely glad to hear it, upon my word;
+extremely glad indeed.  But so it ought to be; they are 
+people of large fortune, they are related to you, and 
+every civility and accommodation that can serve to make
+your situation pleasant might be reasonably expected.
+And so you are most comfortably settled in your little cottage
+and want for nothing!  Edward brought us a most charming
+account of the place: the most complete thing of its kind,
+he said, that ever was, and you all seemed to enjoy it beyond
+any thing.  It was a great satisfaction to us to hear it,
+I assure you."
+
+     Elinor did feel a little ashamed of her brother;
+and was not sorry to be spared the necessity of answering him,
+by the arrival of Mrs. Jennings's servant, who came to tell
+her that his mistress waited for them at the door.
+
+     Mr. Dashwood attended them down stairs, was introduced
+to Mrs. Jennings at the door of her carriage, and repeating
+his hope of being able to call on them the next day,
+took leave.
+
+     His visit was duly paid.  He came with a pretence at
+an apology from their sister-in-law, for not coming too;
+"but she was so much engaged with her mother, that really
+she had no leisure for going any where."  Mrs. Jennings,
+however, assured him directly, that she should not stand
+upon ceremony, for they were all cousins, or something
+like it, and she should certainly wait on Mrs. John
+Dashwood very soon, and bring her sisters to see her.
+His manners to THEM, though calm, were perfectly kind;
+to Mrs. Jennings, most attentively civil; and on Colonel
+Brandon's coming in soon after himself, he eyed him with a
+curiosity which seemed to say, that he only wanted to know
+him to be rich, to be equally civil to HIM.
+
+     After staying with them half an hour, he asked
+Elinor to walk with him to Conduit Street, and introduce
+him to Sir John and Lady Middleton.  The weather was
+remarkably fine, and she readily consented.  As soon
+as they were out of the house, his enquiries began.
+
+     "Who is Colonel Brandon?  Is he a man of fortune?"
+
+     "Yes; he has very good property in Dorsetshire."
+
+     "I am glad of it.  He seems a most gentlemanlike man;
+and I think, Elinor, I may congratulate you on the prospect
+of a very respectable establishment in life."
+
+     "Me, brother! what do you mean?"
+
+     "He likes you.  I observed him narrowly, and am
+convinced of it.  What is the amount of his fortune?"
+
+     "I believe about two thousand a year."
+
+     "Two thousand a-year;" and then working himself
+up to a pitch of enthusiastic generosity, he added,
+"Elinor, I wish with all my heart it were TWICE as much,
+for your sake."
+
+     "Indeed I believe you," replied Elinor; "but I am
+very sure that Colonel Brandon has not the smallest wish
+of marrying ME."
+
+     "You are mistaken, Elinor; you are very much mistaken.
+A very little trouble on your side secures him.
+Perhaps just at present he may be undecided; the smallness
+of your fortune may make him hang back; his friends
+may all advise him against it.  But some of those little
+attentions and encouragements which ladies can so easily
+give will fix him, in spite of himself.  And there can be
+no reason why you should not try for him.  It is not to be
+supposed that any prior attachment on your side--in short,
+you know as to an attachment of that kind, it is quite
+out of the question, the objections are insurmountable--
+you have too much sense not to see all that.  Colonel Brandon
+must be the man; and no civility shall be wanting on
+my part to make him pleased with you and your family.
+It is a match that must give universal satisfaction.
+In short, it is a kind of thing that"--lowering his voice
+to an important whisper--"will be exceedingly welcome
+to ALL PARTIES." Recollecting himself, however, he added,
+"That is, I mean to say--your friends are all truly
+anxious to see you well settled; Fanny particularly,
+for she has your interest very much at heart, I assure you.
+And her mother too, Mrs. Ferrars, a very good-natured woman,
+I am sure it would give her great pleasure; she said as much
+the other day."
+
+     Elinor would not vouchsafe any answer.
+
+     "It would be something remarkable, now," he continued,
+"something droll, if Fanny should have a brother and I
+a sister settling at the same time.  And yet it is not
+very unlikely."
+
+     "Is Mr. Edward Ferrars," said Elinor, with resolution,
+"going to be married?"
+
+     "It is not actually settled, but there is such
+a thing in agitation.  He has a most excellent mother.
+Mrs. Ferrars, with the utmost liberality, will come forward,
+and settle on him a thousand a year, if the match
+takes place.  The lady is the Hon. Miss Morton, only daughter
+of the late Lord Morton, with thirty thousand pounds.
+A very desirable connection on both sides, and I have not
+a doubt of its taking place in time.  A thousand a-year
+is a great deal for a mother to give away, to make over
+for ever; but Mrs. Ferrars has a noble spirit.  To give
+you another instance of her liberality:--The other day,
+as soon as we came to town, aware that money could
+not be very plenty with us just now, she put bank-notes
+into Fanny's hands to the amount of two hundred pounds.
+And extremely acceptable it is, for we must live at a great
+expense while we are here."
+
+     He paused for her assent and compassion; and she
+forced herself to say,
+
+     "Your expenses both in town and country must certainly
+be considerable; but your income is a large one."
+
+     "Not so large, I dare say, as many people suppose.
+I do not mean to complain, however; it is undoubtedly
+a comfortable one, and I hope will in time be better.
+The enclosure of Norland Common, now carrying on,
+is a most serious drain.  And then I have made a little
+purchase within this half year; East Kingham Farm,
+you must remember the place, where old Gibson used to live.
+The land was so very desirable for me in every respect,
+so immediately adjoining my own property, that I felt it
+my duty to buy it.  I could not have answered it to my
+conscience to let it fall into any other hands.  A man must
+pay for his convenience; and it HAS cost me a vast deal
+of money."
+
+     "More than you think it really and intrinsically worth."
+
+     "Why, I hope not that.  I might have sold it again,
+the next day, for more than I gave: but, with regard to the
+purchase-money, I might have been very unfortunate indeed;
+for the stocks were at that time so low, that if I had not
+happened to have the necessary sum in my banker's hands,
+I must have sold out to very great loss."
+
+     Elinor could only smile.
+
+     "Other great and inevitable expenses too we have
+had on first coming to Norland.  Our respected father,
+as you well know, bequeathed all the Stanhill effects
+that remained at Norland (and very valuable they were)
+to your mother.  Far be it from me to repine at his
+doing so; he had an undoubted right to dispose of his
+own property as he chose, but, in consequence of it,
+we have been obliged to make large purchases of linen,
+china, &c. to supply the place of what was taken away.
+You may guess, after all these expenses, how very far we
+must be from being rich, and how acceptable Mrs. Ferrars's
+kindness is."
+
+     "Certainly," said Elinor; "and assisted by her liberality,
+I hope you may yet live to be in easy circumstances."
+
+     "Another year or two may do much towards it,"
+he gravely replied; "but however there is still a great
+deal to be done.  There is not a stone laid of Fanny's
+green-house, and nothing but the plan of the flower-garden
+marked out."
+
+     "Where is the green-house to be?"
+
+     "Upon the knoll behind the house.  The old
+walnut trees are all come down to make room for it.
+It will be a very fine object from many parts of the park,
+and the flower-garden will slope down just before it,
+and be exceedingly pretty.  We have cleared away all the old
+thorns that grew in patches over the brow."
+
+     Elinor kept her concern and her censure to herself;
+and was very thankful that Marianne was not present,
+to share the provocation.
+
+     Having now said enough to make his poverty clear,
+and to do away the necessity of buying a pair of ear-rings
+for each of his sisters, in his next visit at Gray's
+his thoughts took a cheerfuller turn, and he began to
+congratulate Elinor on having such a friend as Mrs. Jennings.
+
+     "She seems a most valuable woman indeed--Her house,
+her style of living, all bespeak an exceeding good income;
+and it is an acquaintance that has not only been
+of great use to you hitherto, but in the end may prove
+materially advantageous.--Her inviting you to town is
+certainly a vast thing in your favour; and indeed, it
+speaks altogether so great a regard for you, that in all
+probability when she dies you will not be forgotten.--
+She must have a great deal to leave."
+
+     "Nothing at all, I should rather suppose; for she has
+only her jointure, which will descend to her children."
+
+     "But it is not to be imagined that she lives up to
+her income.  Few people of common prudence will do THAT;
+and whatever she saves, she will be able to dispose of."
+
+     "And do you not think it more likely that she
+should leave it to her daughters, than to us?"
+
+     "Her daughters are both exceedingly well married,
+and therefore I cannot perceive the necessity of her
+remembering them farther.  Whereas, in my opinion, by her
+taking so much notice of you, and treating you in this
+kind of way, she has given you a sort of claim on her
+future consideration, which a conscientious woman would
+not disregard.  Nothing can be kinder than her behaviour;
+and she can hardly do all this, without being aware
+of the expectation it raises."
+
+     "But she raises none in those most concerned.
+Indeed, brother, your anxiety for our welfare and prosperity
+carries you too far."
+
+     "Why, to be sure," said he, seeming to recollect himself,
+"people have little, have very little in their power.
+But, my dear Elinor, what is the matter with Marianne?--
+she looks very unwell, has lost her colour, and is grown
+quite thin.  Is she ill?"
+
+     "She is not well, she has had a nervous complaint
+on her for several weeks."
+
+     "I am sorry for that.  At her time of life,
+any thing of an illness destroys the bloom for ever! 
+Her's has been a very short one!  She was as handsome a girl
+last September, as I ever saw; and as likely to attract
+the man.  There was something in her style of beauty, 
+to please them particularly.  I remember Fanny used to say
+that she would marry sooner and better than you did;
+not but what she is exceedingly fond of YOU, but so it
+happened to strike her.  She will be mistaken, however.
+I question whether Marianne NOW, will marry a man worth
+more than five or six hundred a-year, at the utmost,
+and I am very much deceived if YOU do not do better.
+Dorsetshire!  I know very little of Dorsetshire; but, my dear
+Elinor, I shall be exceedingly glad to know more of it;
+and I think I can answer for your having Fanny and myself
+among the earliest and best pleased of your visitors."
+
+     Elinor tried very seriously to convince him that
+there was no likelihood of her marrying Colonel Brandon;
+but it was an expectation of too much pleasure to himself
+to be relinquished, and he was really resolved on seeking
+an intimacy with that gentleman, and promoting the marriage
+by every possible attention.  He had just compunction
+enough for having done nothing for his sisters himself,
+to be exceedingly anxious that everybody else should
+do a great deal; and an offer from Colonel Brandon,
+or a legacy from Mrs. Jennings, was the easiest means
+of atoning for his own neglect.
+
+     They were lucky enough to find Lady Middleton
+at home, and Sir John came in before their visit ended.
+Abundance of civilities passed on all sides.  Sir John
+was ready to like anybody, and though Mr. Dashwood did
+not seem to know much about horses, he soon set him
+down as a very good-natured fellow: while Lady Middleton
+saw enough of fashion in his appearance to think his
+acquaintance worth having; and Mr. Dashwood went away
+delighted with both.
+
+     "I shall have a charming account to carry
+to Fanny," said he, as he walked back with his sister.
+"Lady Middleton is really a most elegant woman!  Such
+a woman as I am sure Fanny will be glad to know.
+And Mrs. Jennings too, an exceedingly well-behaved woman,
+though not so elegant as her daughter.  Your sister need
+not have any scruple even of visiting HER, which, to say
+the truth, has been a little the case, and very naturally;
+for we only knew that Mrs. Jennings was the widow of a man
+who had got all his money in a low way; and Fanny and
+Mrs. Ferrars were both strongly prepossessed, that neither
+she nor her daughters were such kind of women as Fanny
+would like to associate with.  But now I can carry her
+a most satisfactory account of both."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 34
+
+
+     Mrs. John Dashwood had so much confidence in her
+husband's judgment, that she waited the very next day
+both on Mrs. Jennings and her daughter; and her
+confidence was rewarded by finding even the former,
+even the woman with whom her sisters were staying,
+by no means unworthy her notice; and as for Lady Middleton,
+she found her one of the most charming women in the world!
+
+     Lady Middleton was equally pleased with Mrs. Dashwood.
+There was a kind of cold hearted selfishness on both sides,
+which mutually attracted them; and they sympathised
+with each other in an insipid propriety of demeanor,
+and a general want of understanding.
+
+     The same manners, however, which recommended Mrs. John
+Dashwood to the good opinion of Lady Middleton did not suit
+the fancy of Mrs. Jennings, and to HER she appeared nothing
+more than a little proud-looking woman of uncordial address,
+who met her husband's sisters without any affection,
+and almost without having anything to say to them;
+for of the quarter of an hour bestowed on Berkeley Street,
+she sat at least seven minutes and a half in silence.
+
+     Elinor wanted very much to know, though she did
+not chuse to ask, whether Edward was then in town;
+but nothing would have induced Fanny voluntarily
+to mention his name before her, till able to tell her
+that his marriage with Miss Morton was resolved on,
+or till her husband's expectations on Colonel Brandon
+were answered; because she believed them still so very
+much attached to each other, that they could not be too
+sedulously divided in word and deed on every occasion.
+The intelligence however, which SHE would not give,
+soon flowed from another quarter.  Lucy came very shortly
+to claim Elinor's compassion on being unable to see Edward,
+though he had arrived in town with Mr. and Mrs. Dashwood.
+He dared not come to Bartlett's Buildings for fear
+of detection, and though their mutual impatience to meet,
+was not to be told, they could do nothing at present
+but write.
+
+     Edward assured them himself of his being in town,
+within a very short time, by twice calling in Berkeley Street.
+Twice was his card found on the table, when they returned
+from their morning's engagements.  Elinor was pleased
+that he had called; and still more pleased that she had
+missed him.
+
+     The Dashwoods were so prodigiously delighted
+with the Middletons, that, though not much in the habit
+of giving anything, they determined to give them--
+a dinner; and soon after their acquaintance began,
+invited them to dine in Harley Street, where they had
+taken a very good house for three months.  Their sisters
+and Mrs. Jennings were invited likewise, and John Dashwood
+was careful to secure Colonel Brandon, who, always glad
+to be where the Miss Dashwoods were, received his eager
+civilities with some surprise, but much more pleasure.
+They were to meet Mrs. Ferrars; but Elinor could not learn
+whether her sons were to be of the party.  The expectation
+of seeing HER, however, was enough to make her interested
+in the engagement; for though she could now meet Edward's
+mother without that strong anxiety which had once promised
+to attend such an introduction, though she could now see
+her with perfect indifference as to her opinion of herself,
+her desire of being in company with Mrs. Ferrars,
+her curiosity to know what she was like, was as lively as ever.
+
+     The interest with which she thus anticipated the
+party, was soon afterwards increased, more powerfully
+than pleasantly, by her hearing that the Miss Steeles
+were also to be at it.
+
+     So well had they recommended themselves to Lady Middleton,
+so agreeable had their assiduities made them to her,
+that though Lucy was certainly not so elegant, and her
+sister not even genteel, she was as ready as Sir John
+to ask them to spend a week or two in Conduit Street;
+and it happened to be particularly convenient to the Miss
+Steeles, as soon as the Dashwoods' invitation was known,
+that their visit should begin a few days before the party
+took place.
+
+     Their claims to the notice of Mrs. John Dashwood,
+as the nieces of the gentleman who for many years had
+had the care of her brother, might not have done much,
+however, towards procuring them seats at her table;
+but as Lady Middleton's guests they must be welcome; and Lucy,
+who had long wanted to be personally known to the family,
+to have a nearer view of their characters and her own
+difficulties, and to have an opportunity of endeavouring
+to please them, had seldom been happier in her life,
+than she was on receiving Mrs. John Dashwood's card.
+
+     On Elinor its effect was very different.  She began
+immediately to determine, that Edward who lived with
+his mother, must be asked as his mother was, to a party
+given by his sister; and to see him for the first time,
+after all that passed, in the company of Lucy!--she hardly
+knew how she could bear it!
+
+     These apprehensions, perhaps, were not founded
+entirely on reason, and certainly not at all on truth.
+They were relieved however, not by her own recollection,
+but by the good will of Lucy, who believed herself to be
+inflicting a severe disappointment when she told her
+that Edward certainly would not be in Harley Street on Tuesday,
+and even hoped to be carrying the pain still farther
+by persuading her that he was kept away by the extreme
+affection for herself, which he could not conceal when they
+were together.
+
+     The important Tuesday came that was to introduce
+the two young ladies to this formidable mother-in-law.
+
+     "Pity me, dear Miss Dashwood!" said Lucy, as they
+walked up the stairs together--for the Middletons arrived
+so directly after Mrs. Jennings, that they all followed
+the servant at the same time--"There is nobody here but
+you, that can feel for me.--I declare I can hardly stand.
+Good gracious!--In a moment I shall see the person that all
+my happiness depends on--that is to be my mother!"--
+
+     Elinor could have given her immediate relief
+by suggesting the possibility of its being Miss Morton's mother,
+rather than her own, whom they were about to behold;
+but instead of doing that, she assured her, and with
+great sincerity, that she did pity her--to the utter
+amazement of Lucy, who, though really uncomfortable herself,
+hoped at least to be an object of irrepressible envy to Elinor.
+
+     Mrs. Ferrars was a little, thin woman, upright,
+even to formality, in her figure, and serious,
+even to sourness, in her aspect.  Her complexion was sallow;
+and her features small, without beauty, and naturally
+without expression; but a lucky contraction of the brow
+had rescued her countenance from the disgrace of insipidity,
+by giving it the strong characters of pride and ill nature.
+She was not a woman of many words; for, unlike people
+in general, she proportioned them to the number of
+her ideas; and of the few syllables that did escape her,
+not one fell to the share of Miss Dashwood, whom she eyed
+with the spirited determination of disliking her at all events.
+
+     Elinor could not NOW be made unhappy by this behaviour.--
+A few months ago it would have hurt her exceedingly; but it
+was not in Mrs. Ferrars' power to distress her by it now;--
+and the difference of her manners to the Miss Steeles,
+a difference which seemed purposely made to humble her more,
+only amused her.  She could not but smile to see the graciousness
+of both mother and daughter towards the very person--
+for Lucy was particularly distinguished--whom of all others,
+had they known as much as she did, they would have been most
+anxious to mortify; while she herself, who had comparatively
+no power to wound them, sat pointedly slighted by both.
+But while she smiled at a graciousness so misapplied,
+she could not reflect on the mean-spirited folly from
+which it sprung, nor observe the studied attentions
+with which the Miss Steeles courted its continuance,
+without thoroughly despising them all four.
+
+     Lucy was all exultation on being so honorably
+distinguished; and Miss Steele wanted only to be teazed
+about Dr. Davis to be perfectly happy.
+
+     The dinner was a grand one, the servants were numerous,
+and every thing bespoke the Mistress's inclination
+for show, and the Master's ability to support it.
+In spite of the improvements and additions which were
+making to the Norland estate, and in spite of its owner
+having once been within some thousand pounds of being
+obliged to sell out at a loss, nothing gave any symptom
+of that indigence which he had tried to infer from it;--
+no poverty of any kind, except of conversation, appeared--
+but there, the deficiency was considerable.  John Dashwood
+had not much to say for himself that was worth hearing,
+and his wife had still less.  But there was no peculiar
+disgrace in this; for it was very much the case with
+the chief of their visitors, who almost all laboured
+under one or other of these disqualifications for being
+agreeable--Want of sense, either natural or improved--want
+of elegance--want of spirits--or want of temper.
+
+     When the ladies withdrew to the drawing-room
+after dinner, this poverty was particularly evident,
+for the gentlemen HAD supplied the discourse with some
+variety--the variety of politics, inclosing land,
+and breaking horses--but then it was all over; and one
+subject only engaged the ladies till coffee came in,
+which was the comparative heights of Harry Dashwood,
+and Lady Middleton's second son William, who were nearly
+of the same age.
+
+     Had both the children been there, the affair might
+have been determined too easily by measuring them at once;
+but as Harry only was present, it was all conjectural
+assertion on both sides; and every body had a right to
+be equally positive in their opinion, and to repeat it
+over and over again as often as they liked.
+
+     The parties stood thus: 
+
+     The two mothers, though each really convinced that
+her own son was the tallest, politely decided in favour
+of the other.
+
+     The two grandmothers, with not less partiality,
+but more sincerity, were equally earnest in support
+of their own descendant.
+
+     Lucy, who was hardly less anxious to please one parent
+than the other, thought the boys were both remarkably tall
+for their age, and could not conceive that there could
+be the smallest difference in the world between them;
+and Miss Steele, with yet greater address gave it,
+as fast as she could, in favour of each.
+
+     Elinor, having once delivered her opinion on
+William's side, by which she offended Mrs. Ferrars and
+Fanny still more, did not see the necessity of enforcing
+it by any farther assertion; and Marianne, when called
+on for her's, offended them all, by declaring that she
+had no opinion to give, as she had never thought about it.
+
+     Before her removing from Norland, Elinor had painted
+a very pretty pair of screens for her sister-in-law,
+which being now just mounted and brought home,
+ornamented her present drawing room; and these screens,
+catching the eye of John Dashwood on his following
+the other gentlemen into the room, were officiously
+handed by him to Colonel Brandon for his admiration.
+
+     "These are done by my eldest sister," said he; "and you,
+as a man of taste, will, I dare say, be pleased with them.
+I do not know whether you have ever happened to see any
+of her performances before, but she is in general reckoned
+to draw extremely well."
+
+     The Colonel, though disclaiming all pretensions
+to connoisseurship, warmly admired the screens, as he
+would have done any thing painted by Miss Dashwood;
+and on the curiosity of the others being of course excited,
+they were handed round for general inspection.
+Mrs. Ferrars, not aware of their being Elinor's work,
+particularly requested to look at them; and after they had
+received gratifying testimony of Lady Middletons's approbation,
+Fanny presented them to her mother, considerately informing
+her, at the same time, that they were done by Miss Dashwood.
+
+     "Hum"--said Mrs. Ferrars--"very pretty,"--and without
+regarding them at all, returned them to her daughter.
+
+     Perhaps Fanny thought for a moment that her mother
+had been quite rude enough,--for, colouring a little,
+she immediately said,
+
+     "They are very pretty, ma'am--an't they?" But then again,
+the dread of having been too civil, too encouraging herself,
+probably came over her, for she presently added,
+
+     "Do you not think they are something in Miss
+Morton's style of painting, Ma'am?--She DOES paint most
+delightfully!--How beautifully her last landscape is done!"
+
+     "Beautifully indeed!  But SHE does every thing well."
+
+     Marianne could not bear this.--She was already
+greatly displeased with Mrs. Ferrars; and such ill-timed
+praise of another, at Elinor's expense, though she
+had not any notion of what was principally meant by it,
+provoked her immediately to say with warmth,
+
+     "This is admiration of a very particular kind!--
+what is Miss Morton to us?--who knows, or who cares,
+for her?--it is Elinor of whom WE think and speak."
+
+     And so saying, she took the screens out of her
+sister-in-law's hands, to admire them herself as they
+ought to be admired.
+
+     Mrs. Ferrars looked exceedingly angry, and drawing
+herself up more stiffly than ever, pronounced in retort
+this bitter philippic, "Miss Morton is Lord Morton's daughter."
+
+     Fanny looked very angry too, and her husband was
+all in a fright at his sister's audacity.  Elinor was
+much more hurt by Marianne's warmth than she had been
+by what produced it; but Colonel Brandon's eyes, as they
+were fixed on Marianne, declared that he noticed only
+what was amiable in it, the affectionate heart which could
+not bear to see a sister slighted in the smallest point.
+
+     Marianne's feelings did not stop here.  The cold
+insolence of Mrs. Ferrars's general behaviour to her sister,
+seemed, to her, to foretell such difficulties and distresses
+to Elinor, as her own wounded heart taught her to think
+of with horror; and urged by a strong impulse of
+affectionate sensibility, she moved after a moment,
+to her sister's chair, and putting one arm round her neck,
+and one cheek close to hers, said in a low, but eager,
+voice,
+
+     "Dear, dear Elinor, don't mind them.  Don't let them
+make YOU unhappy."
+
+     She could say no more; her spirits were quite overcome,
+and hiding her face on Elinor's shoulder, she burst
+into tears.  Every body's attention was called, and almost
+every body was concerned.--Colonel Brandon rose up and went
+to them without knowing what he did.--Mrs. Jennings,
+with a very intelligent "Ah! poor dear," immediately gave
+her her salts; and Sir John felt so desperately enraged
+against the author of this nervous distress, that he
+instantly changed his seat to one close by Lucy Steele,
+and gave her, in a whisper, a brief account of the whole
+shocking affair.
+
+     In a few minutes, however, Marianne was recovered
+enough to put an end to the bustle, and sit down among
+the rest; though her spirits retained the impression
+of what had passed, the whole evening.
+
+     "Poor Marianne!" said her brother to Colonel Brandon,
+in a low voice, as soon as he could secure his attention,--
+"She has not such good health as her sister,--she is very
+nervous,--she has not Elinor's constitution;--and one must
+allow that there is something very trying to a young woman
+who HAS BEEN a beauty in the loss of her personal attractions.
+You would not think it perhaps, but Marianne WAS remarkably
+handsome a few months ago; quite as handsome as Elinor.--
+Now you see it is all gone."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 35
+
+
+     Elinor's curiosity to see Mrs. Ferrars was satisfied.--
+She had found in her every thing that could tend to make
+a farther connection between the families undesirable.--
+She had seen enough of her pride, her meanness, and her
+determined prejudice against herself, to comprehend all
+the difficulties that must have perplexed the engagement,
+and retarded the marriage, of Edward and herself, had he been
+otherwise free;--and she had seen almost enough to be thankful
+for her OWN sake, that one greater obstacle preserved her
+from suffering under any other of Mrs. Ferrars's creation,
+preserved her from all dependence upon her caprice, or any
+solicitude for her good opinion.  Or at least, if she did not
+bring herself quite to rejoice in Edward's being fettered
+to Lucy, she determined, that had Lucy been more amiable,
+she OUGHT to have rejoiced.
+
+     She wondered that Lucy's spirits could be so very much
+elevated by the civility of Mrs. Ferrars;--that her interest
+and her vanity should so very much blind her as to make
+the attention which seemed only paid her because she was
+NOT ELINOR, appear a compliment to herself--or to allow
+her to derive encouragement from a preference only given her,
+because her real situation was unknown.  But that it was so,
+had not only been declared by Lucy's eyes at the time,
+but was declared over again the next morning more openly,
+for at her particular desire, Lady Middleton set her down
+in Berkeley Street on the chance of seeing Elinor alone,
+to tell her how happy she was.
+
+     The chance proved a lucky one, for a message from
+Mrs. Palmer soon after she arrived, carried Mrs. Jennings away.
+
+     "My dear friend," cried Lucy, as soon as they were
+by themselves, "I come to talk to you of my happiness.
+Could anything be so flattering as Mrs. Ferrars's way
+of treating me yesterday?  So exceeding affable as she
+was!--You know how I dreaded the thoughts of seeing her;--
+but the very moment I was introduced, there was such an
+affability in her behaviour as really should seem to say,
+she had quite took a fancy to me.  Now was not it so?--
+You saw it all; and was not you quite struck with it?"
+
+     "She was certainly very civil to you."
+
+     "Civil!--Did you see nothing but only civility?--
+I saw a vast deal more.  Such kindness as fell to the share
+of nobody but me!--No pride, no hauteur, and your sister
+just the same--all sweetness and affability!"
+
+     Elinor wished to talk of something else, but Lucy still
+pressed her to own that she had reason for her happiness;
+and Elinor was obliged to go on.--
+
+     "Undoubtedly, if they had known your engagement,"
+said she, "nothing could be more flattering than their
+treatment of you;--but as that was not the case"--
+
+     "I guessed you would say so"--replied Lucy 
+quickly--"but there was no reason in the world why
+Mrs. Ferrars should seem to like me, if she did not,
+and her liking me is every thing.  You shan't talk me
+out of my satisfaction.  I am sure it will all end well,
+and there will be no difficulties at all, to what I
+used to think.  Mrs. Ferrars is a charming woman,
+and so is your sister.  They are both delightful women,
+indeed!--I wonder I should never hear you say how agreeable
+Mrs. Dashwood was!"
+
+     To this Elinor had no answer to make, and did not
+attempt any.
+
+     "Are you ill, Miss Dashwood?--you seem low--you
+don't speak;--sure you an't well."
+
+     "I never was in better health."
+
+     "I am glad of it with all my heart; but really you did
+not look it.  I should be sorry to have YOU ill; you, that have
+been the greatest comfort to me in the world!--Heaven
+knows what I should have done without your friendship."--
+
+     Elinor tried to make a civil answer, though doubting
+her own success.  But it seemed to satisfy Lucy, for she
+directly replied,
+
+     "Indeed I am perfectly convinced of your regard
+for me, and next to Edward's love, it is the greatest
+comfort I have.--Poor Edward!--But now there is one
+good thing, we shall be able to meet, and meet pretty often,
+for Lady Middleton's delighted with Mrs. Dashwood,
+so we shall be a good deal in Harley Street, I dare say,
+and Edward spends half his time with his sister--besides,
+Lady Middleton and Mrs. Ferrars will visit now;--
+and Mrs. Ferrars and your sister were both so good to say
+more than once, they should always be glad to see me.--
+They are such charming women!--I am sure if ever you
+tell your sister what I think of her, you cannot speak
+too high."
+
+     But Elinor would not give her any encouragement
+to hope that she SHOULD tell her sister.  Lucy continued.
+
+     "I am sure I should have seen it in a moment,
+if Mrs. Ferrars had took a dislike to me.  If she had only
+made me a formal courtesy, for instance, without saying
+a word, and never after had took any notice of me,
+and never looked at me in a pleasant way--you know
+what I mean--if I had been treated in that forbidding
+sort of way, I should have gave it all up in despair.
+I could not have stood it.  For where she DOES dislike,
+I know it is most violent."
+
+     Elinor was prevented from making any reply to this
+civil triumph, by the door's being thrown open, the servant's
+announcing Mr. Ferrars, and Edward's immediately walking in.
+
+     It was a very awkward moment; and the countenance of each
+shewed that it was so.  They all looked exceedingly foolish;
+and Edward seemed to have as great an inclination to walk
+out of the room again, as to advance farther into it.
+The very circumstance, in its unpleasantest form,
+which they would each have been most anxious to avoid,
+had fallen on them.--They were not only all three together,
+but were together without the relief of any other person.
+The ladies recovered themselves first.  It was not Lucy's
+business to put herself forward, and the appearance of
+secrecy must still be kept up.  She could therefore only
+LOOK her tenderness, and after slightly addressing him,
+said no more.
+
+     But Elinor had more to do; and so anxious was she,
+for his sake and her own, to do it well, that she
+forced herself, after a moment's recollection,
+to welcome him, with a look and manner that were almost easy,
+and almost open; and another struggle, another effort still
+improved them.  She would not allow the presence of Lucy,
+nor the consciousness of some injustice towards herself,
+to deter her from saying that she was happy to see him,
+and that she had very much regretted being from home,
+when he called before in Berkeley Street.  She would
+not be frightened from paying him those attentions which,
+as a friend and almost a relation, were his due, by the
+observant eyes of Lucy, though she soon perceived them
+to be narrowly watching her.
+
+     Her manners gave some re-assurance to Edward, and he
+had courage enough to sit down; but his embarrassment still
+exceeded that of the ladies in a proportion, which the case
+rendered reasonable, though his sex might make it rare;
+for his heart had not the indifference of Lucy's, nor
+could his conscience have quite the ease of Elinor's.
+
+     Lucy, with a demure and settled air, seemed determined
+to make no contribution to the comfort of the others,
+and would not say a word; and almost every thing that WAS
+said, proceeded from Elinor, who was obliged to volunteer
+all the information about her mother's health, their coming
+to town, &c. which Edward ought to have inquired about,
+but never did.
+
+     Her exertions did not stop here; for she soon
+afterwards felt herself so heroically disposed as
+to determine, under pretence of fetching Marianne,
+to leave the others by themselves; and she really did it,
+and THAT in the handsomest manner, for she loitered away
+several minutes on the landing-place, with the most
+high-minded fortitude, before she went to her sister.
+When that was once done, however, it was time for the raptures
+of Edward to cease; for Marianne's joy hurried her into
+the drawing-room immediately.  Her pleasure in seeing him
+was like every other of her feelings, strong in itself,
+and strongly spoken.  She met him with a hand that would
+be taken, and a voice that expressed the affection of a sister.
+
+     "Dear Edward!" she cried, "this is a moment of great
+happiness!--This would almost make amends for every thing?"
+
+     Edward tried to return her kindness as it deserved,
+but before such witnesses he dared not say half what he
+really felt.  Again they all sat down, and for a moment
+or two all were silent; while Marianne was looking with the
+most speaking tenderness, sometimes at Edward and sometimes
+at Elinor, regretting only that their delight in each
+other should be checked by Lucy's unwelcome presence.
+Edward was the first to speak, and it was to notice
+Marianne's altered looks, and express his fear of her
+not finding London agree with her.
+
+     "Oh, don't think of me!" she replied with spirited
+earnestness, though her eyes were filled with tears
+as she spoke, "don't think of MY health.  Elinor is well,
+you see.  That must be enough for us both."
+
+     This remark was not calculated to make Edward or
+Elinor more easy, nor to conciliate the good will of Lucy,
+who looked up at Marianne with no very benignant expression.
+
+     "Do you like London?" said Edward, willing to say
+any thing that might introduce another subject.
+
+     "Not at all.  I expected much pleasure in it,
+but I have found none.  The sight of you, Edward, is the
+only comfort it has afforded; and thank Heaven! you
+are what you always were!"
+
+     She paused--no one spoke.
+
+     "I think, Elinor," she presently added, "we must
+employ Edward to take care of us in our return to Barton.
+In a week or two, I suppose, we shall be going; and, I trust,
+Edward will not be very unwilling to accept the charge."
+
+     Poor Edward muttered something, but what it was,
+nobody knew, not even himself.  But Marianne, who saw
+his agitation, and could easily trace it to whatever
+cause best pleased herself, was perfectly satisfied,
+and soon talked of something else.
+
+     "We spent such a day, Edward, in Harley Street
+yesterday!  So dull, so wretchedly dull!--But I have much
+to say to you on that head, which cannot be said now."
+
+     And with this admirable discretion did she defer
+the assurance of her finding their mutual relatives more
+disagreeable than ever, and of her being particularly
+disgusted with his mother, till they were more in private.
+
+     "But why were you not there, Edward?--Why did you
+not come?"
+
+     "I was engaged elsewhere."
+
+     "Engaged!  But what was that, when such friends
+were to be met?"
+
+     "Perhaps, Miss Marianne," cried Lucy, eager to take
+some revenge on her, "you think young men never stand
+upon engagements, if they have no mind to keep them,
+little as well as great."
+
+     Elinor was very angry, but Marianne seemed entirely
+insensible of the sting; for she calmly replied,
+
+     "Not so, indeed; for, seriously speaking, I am very
+sure that conscience only kept Edward from Harley Street.
+And I really believe he HAS the most delicate conscience
+in the world; the most scrupulous in performing
+every engagement, however minute, and however it
+may make against his interest or pleasure.  He is the
+most fearful of giving pain, of wounding expectation,
+and the most incapable of being selfish, of any body
+I ever saw.  Edward, it is so, and I will say it.
+What! are you never to hear yourself praised!--Then you
+must be no friend of mine; for those who will accept
+of my love and esteem, must submit to my open commendation."
+
+     The nature of her commendation, in the present case,
+however, happened to be particularly ill-suited to the
+feelings of two thirds of her auditors, and was so very
+unexhilarating to Edward, that he very soon got up to go away.
+
+     "Going so soon!" said Marianne; "my dear Edward,
+this must not be."
+
+     And drawing him a little aside, she whispered
+her persuasion that Lucy could not stay much longer.
+But even this encouragement failed, for he would go;
+and Lucy, who would have outstaid him, had his visit lasted
+two hours, soon afterwards went away.
+
+     "What can bring her here so often?" said Marianne,
+on her leaving them.  "Could not she see that we wanted
+her gone!--how teazing to Edward!"
+
+     "Why so?--we were all his friends, and Lucy has been
+the longest known to him of any.  It is but natural
+that he should like to see her as well as ourselves."
+
+     Marianne looked at her steadily, and said, "You know,
+Elinor, that this is a kind of talking which I cannot bear.
+If you only hope to have your assertion contradicted,
+as I must suppose to be the case, you ought to recollect
+that I am the last person in the world to do it.
+I cannot descend to be tricked out of assurances, that are
+not really wanted."
+
+     She then left the room; and Elinor dared not follow
+her to say more, for bound as she was by her promise
+of secrecy to Lucy, she could give no information that
+would convince Marianne; and painful as the consequences
+of her still continuing in an error might be, she was
+obliged to submit to it.  All that she could hope, was
+that Edward would not often expose her or himself to the
+distress of hearing Marianne's mistaken warmth, nor to the
+repetition of any other part of the pain that had attended
+their recent meeting--and this she had every reason to expect.
+
+
+CHAPTER 36
+
+
+     Within a few days after this meeting, the newspapers
+announced to the world, that the lady of Thomas Palmer,
+Esq. was safely delivered of a son and heir; a very
+interesting and satisfactory paragraph, at least to all
+those intimate connections who knew it before.
+
+     This event, highly important to Mrs. Jennings's happiness,
+produced a temporary alteration in the disposal of her time,
+and influenced, in a like degree, the engagements
+of her young friends; for as she wished to be as much
+as possible with Charlotte, she went thither every morning
+as soon as she was dressed, and did not return till late
+in the evening; and the Miss Dashwoods, at the particular
+request of the Middletons, spent the whole of every day,
+in every day in Conduit Street.  For their own comfort
+they would much rather have remained, at least all
+the morning, in Mrs. Jennings's house; but it was not
+a thing to be urged against the wishes of everybody.
+Their hours were therefore made over to Lady Middleton
+and the two Miss Steeles, by whom their company, in fact
+was as little valued, as it was professedly sought.
+
+     They had too much sense to be desirable companions
+to the former; and by the latter they were considered with
+a jealous eye, as intruding on THEIR ground, and sharing
+the kindness which they wanted to monopolize.  Though nothing
+could be more polite than Lady Middleton's behaviour to
+Elinor and Marianne, she did not really like them at all.
+Because they neither flattered herself nor her children,
+she could not believe them good-natured; and because they
+were fond of reading, she fancied them satirical: perhaps
+without exactly knowing what it was to be satirical;
+but THAT did not signify.  It was censure in common use,
+and easily given.
+
+     Their presence was a restraint both on her and on Lucy.
+It checked the idleness of one, and the business of the other.
+Lady Middleton was ashamed of doing nothing before them,
+and the flattery which Lucy was proud to think of
+and administer at other times, she feared they would despise
+her for offering.  Miss Steele was the least discomposed
+of the three, by their presence; and it was in their power
+to reconcile her to it entirely.  Would either of them
+only have given her a full and minute account of the whole
+affair between Marianne and Mr. Willoughby, she would
+have thought herself amply rewarded for the sacrifice
+of the best place by the fire after dinner, which their
+arrival occasioned.  But this conciliation was not granted;
+for though she often threw out expressions of pity for her
+sister to Elinor, and more than once dropt a reflection
+on the inconstancy of beaux before Marianne, no effect
+was produced, but a look of indifference from the former,
+or of disgust in the latter.  An effort even yet lighter
+might have made her their friend.  Would they only have
+laughed at her about the Doctor!  But so little were they,
+anymore than the others, inclined to oblige her,
+that if Sir John dined from home, she might spend a whole
+day without hearing any other raillery on the subject,
+than what she was kind enough to bestow on herself.
+
+     All these jealousies and discontents, however, were so
+totally unsuspected by Mrs. Jennings, that she thought
+it a delightful thing for the girls to be together;
+and generally congratulated her young friends every night,
+on having escaped the company of a stupid old woman so long.
+She joined them sometimes at Sir John's, sometimes
+at her own house; but wherever it was, she always came
+in excellent spirits, full of delight and importance,
+attributing Charlotte's well doing to her own care, and ready
+to give so exact, so minute a detail of her situation,
+as only Miss Steele had curiosity enough to desire.
+One thing DID disturb her; and of that she made her
+daily complaint.  Mr. Palmer maintained the common,
+but unfatherly opinion among his sex, of all infants being alike;
+and though she could plainly perceive, at different times,
+the most striking resemblance between this baby and every
+one of his relations on both sides, there was no convincing
+his father of it; no persuading him to believe that it
+was not exactly like every other baby of the same age;
+nor could he even be brought to acknowledge the simple
+proposition of its being the finest child in the world.
+
+     I come now to the relation of a misfortune,
+which about this time befell Mrs. John Dashwood.
+It so happened that while her two sisters with
+Mrs. Jennings were first calling on her in Harley Street,
+another of her acquaintance had dropt in--a circumstance
+in itself not apparently likely to produce evil to her.
+But while the imaginations of other people will carry
+them away to form wrong judgments of our conduct,
+and to decide on it by slight appearances, one's happiness
+must in some measure be always at the mercy of chance.
+In the present instance, this last-arrived lady allowed
+her fancy to so far outrun truth and probability,
+that on merely hearing the name of the Miss Dashwoods,
+and understanding them to be Mr. Dashwood's sisters,
+she immediately concluded them to be staying in Harley Street;
+and this misconstruction produced within a day
+or two afterwards, cards of invitation for them
+as well as for their brother and sister, to a small
+musical party at her house.  The consequence of which was,
+that Mrs. John Dashwood was obliged to submit not only
+to the exceedingly great inconvenience of sending her
+carriage for the Miss Dashwoods, but, what was still worse,
+must be subject to all the unpleasantness of appearing
+to treat them with attention: and who could tell that they
+might not expect to go out with her a second time?  The power
+of disappointing them, it was true, must always be her's.
+But that was not enough; for when people are determined
+on a mode of conduct which they know to be wrong, they feel
+injured by the expectation of any thing better from them.
+
+     Marianne had now been brought by degrees, so much
+into the habit of going out every day, that it was become
+a matter of indifference to her, whether she went or not:
+and she prepared quietly and mechanically for every
+evening's engagement, though without expecting the smallest
+amusement from any, and very often without knowing,
+till the last moment, where it was to take her.
+
+     To her dress and appearance she was grown so perfectly
+indifferent, as not to bestow half the consideration on it,
+during the whole of her toilet, which it received from
+Miss Steele in the first five minutes of their being
+together, when it was finished.  Nothing escaped HER minute
+observation and general curiosity; she saw every thing,
+and asked every thing; was never easy till she knew the price
+of every part of Marianne's dress; could have guessed the
+number of her gowns altogether with better judgment than
+Marianne herself, and was not without hopes of finding out
+before they parted, how much her washing cost per week,
+and how much she had every year to spend upon herself.
+The impertinence of these kind of scrutinies, moreover,
+was generally concluded with a compliment, which
+though meant as its douceur, was considered by Marianne
+as the greatest impertinence of all; for after undergoing
+an examination into the value and make of her gown,
+the colour of her shoes, and the arrangement of her hair,
+she was almost sure of being told that upon "her word
+she looked vastly smart, and she dared to say she would
+make a great many conquests."
+
+     With such encouragement as this, was she dismissed
+on the present occasion, to her brother's carriage;
+which they were ready to enter five minutes after it
+stopped at the door, a punctuality not very agreeable
+to their sister-in-law, who had preceded them to the house
+of her acquaintance, and was there hoping for some delay
+on their part that might inconvenience either herself
+or her coachman.
+
+     The events of this evening were not very remarkable.
+The party, like other musical parties, comprehended a
+great many people who had real taste for the performance,
+and a great many more who had none at all; and the performers
+themselves were, as usual, in their own estimation,
+and that of their immediate friends, the first private
+performers in England.
+
+     As Elinor was neither musical, nor affecting to be so,
+she made no scruple of turning her eyes from the grand
+pianoforte, whenever it suited her, and unrestrained even
+by the presence of a harp, and violoncello, would fix
+them at pleasure on any other object in the room.  In one
+of these excursive glances she perceived among a group
+of young men, the very he, who had given them a lecture
+on toothpick-cases at Gray's.  She perceived him soon
+afterwards looking at herself, and speaking familiarly
+to her brother; and had just determined to find out his
+name from the latter, when they both came towards her,
+and Mr. Dashwood introduced him to her as Mr. Robert Ferrars.
+
+     He addressed her with easy civility, and twisted
+his head into a bow which assured her as plainly as
+words could have done, that he was exactly the coxcomb
+she had heard him described to be by Lucy.  Happy had
+it been for her, if her regard for Edward had depended
+less on his own merit, than on the merit of his nearest
+relations!  For then his brother's bow must have given
+the finishing stroke to what the ill-humour of his mother
+and sister would have begun.  But while she wondered
+at the difference of the two young men, she did not find
+that the emptiness of conceit of the one, put her out
+of all charity with the modesty and worth of the other.
+Why they WERE different, Robert exclaimed to her himself
+in the course of a quarter of an hour's conversation;
+for, talking of his brother, and lamenting the extreme
+GAUCHERIE which he really believed kept him from mixing
+in proper society, he candidly and generously attributed it
+much less to any natural deficiency, than to the misfortune
+of a private education; while he himself, though probably
+without any particular, any material superiority
+by nature, merely from the advantage of a public school,
+was as well fitted to mix in the world as any other man.
+
+     "Upon my soul," he added, "I believe it is nothing more;
+and so I often tell my mother, when she is grieving
+about it.  'My dear Madam,' I always say to her, 'you must
+make yourself easy.  The evil is now irremediable,
+and it has been entirely your own doing.  Why would
+you be persuaded by my uncle, Sir Robert, against your
+own judgment, to place Edward under private tuition,
+at the most critical time of his life?  If you had only sent
+him to Westminster as well as myself, instead of sending
+him to Mr. Pratt's, all this would have been prevented.'
+This is the way in which I always consider the matter,
+and my mother is perfectly convinced of her error."
+
+     Elinor would not oppose his opinion, because,
+whatever might be her general estimation of the advantage
+of a public school, she could not think of Edward's
+abode in Mr. Pratt's family, with any satisfaction.
+
+     "You reside in Devonshire, I think,"--was his
+next observation, "in a cottage near Dawlish."
+
+     Elinor set him right as to its situation;
+and it seemed rather surprising to him that anybody
+could live in Devonshire, without living near Dawlish.
+He bestowed his hearty approbation however on their
+species of house.
+
+     "For my own part," said he, "I am excessively fond
+of a cottage; there is always so much comfort, so much
+elegance about them.  And I protest, if I had any money
+to spare, I should buy a little land and build one myself,
+within a short distance of London, where I might drive
+myself down at any time, and collect a few friends
+about me, and be happy.  I advise every body who is going
+to build, to build a cottage.  My friend Lord Courtland
+came to me the other day on purpose to ask my advice,
+and laid before me three different plans of Bonomi's. 
+I was to decide on the best of them.  'My dear Courtland,'
+said I, immediately throwing them all into the fire, 'do not
+adopt either of them, but by all means build a cottage.'
+And that I fancy, will be the end of it.
+
+     "Some people imagine that there can be no accommodations,
+no space in a cottage; but this is all a mistake.
+I was last month at my friend Elliott's, near Dartford.
+Lady Elliott wished to give a dance.  'But how can it
+be done?' said she; 'my dear Ferrars, do tell me how it
+is to be managed.  There is not a room in this cottage
+that will hold ten couple, and where can the supper be?'
+I immediately saw that there could be no difficulty in it,
+so I said, 'My dear Lady Elliott, do not be uneasy.
+The dining parlour will admit eighteen couple with ease;
+card-tables may be placed in the drawing-room; the library
+may be open for tea and other refreshments; and let the
+supper be set out in the saloon.'  Lady Elliott was delighted
+with the thought.  We measured the dining-room, and found
+it would hold exactly eighteen couple, and the affair
+was arranged precisely after my plan.  So that, in fact,
+you see, if people do but know how to set about it,
+every comfort may be as well enjoyed in a cottage 
+as in the most spacious dwelling."
+
+     Elinor agreed to it all, for she did not think 
+he deserved the compliment of rational opposition.
+
+     As John Dashwood had no more pleasure in music than his
+eldest sister, his mind was equally at liberty to fix on
+any thing else; and a thought struck him during the evening,
+which he communicated to his wife, for her approbation,
+when they got home.  The consideration of Mrs. Dennison's mistake,
+in supposing his sisters their guests, had suggested the
+propriety of their being really invited to become such,
+while Mrs. Jenning's engagements kept her from home.
+The expense would be nothing, the inconvenience not more;
+and it was altogether an attention which the delicacy
+of his conscience pointed out to be requisite to its
+complete enfranchisement from his promise to his father.
+Fanny was startled at the proposal.
+
+     "I do not see how it can be done," said she,
+"without affronting Lady Middleton, for they spend every day
+with her; otherwise I should be exceedingly glad to do it.
+You know I am always ready to pay them any attention
+in my power, as my taking them out this evening shews.
+But they are Lady Middleton's visitors.  How can I ask them
+away from her?"
+
+     Her husband, but with great humility, did not see
+the force of her objection.  "They had already spent a week
+in this manner in Conduit Street, and Lady Middleton
+could not be displeased at their giving the same number
+of days to such near relations."
+
+     Fanny paused a moment, and then, with fresh vigor, said,
+
+     "My love I would ask them with all my heart, if it
+was in my power.  But I had just settled within myself
+to ask the Miss Steeles to spend a few days with us.
+They are very well behaved, good kind of girls; and I think
+the attention is due to them, as their uncle did so very
+well by Edward.  We can ask your sisters some other year,
+you know; but the Miss Steeles may not be in town any more.
+I am sure you will like them; indeed, you DO like them,
+you know, very much already, and so does my mother; and they
+are such favourites with Harry!"
+
+     Mr. Dashwood was convinced.  He saw the necessity
+of inviting the Miss Steeles immediately, and his conscience
+was pacified by the resolution of inviting his sisters
+another year; at the same time, however, slyly suspecting
+that another year would make the invitation needless,
+by bringing Elinor to town as Colonel Brandon's wife,
+and Marianne as THEIR visitor.
+
+     Fanny, rejoicing in her escape, and proud of the ready
+wit that had procured it, wrote the next morning to Lucy,
+to request her company and her sister's, for some days,
+in Harley Street, as soon as Lady Middleton could spare them.
+This was enough to make Lucy really and reasonably happy.
+Mrs. Dashwood seemed actually working for her, herself;
+cherishing all her hopes, and promoting all her views! 
+Such an opportunity of being with Edward and his family was,
+above all things, the most material to her interest,
+and such an invitation the most gratifying to her
+feelings!  It was an advantage that could not be too
+gratefully acknowledged, nor too speedily made use of;
+and the visit to Lady Middleton, which had not before had
+any precise limits, was instantly discovered to have been
+always meant to end in two days' time.
+
+     When the note was shown to Elinor, as it was within ten
+minutes after its arrival, it gave her, for the first time,
+some share in the expectations of Lucy; for such a mark
+of uncommon kindness, vouchsafed on so short an acquaintance,
+seemed to declare that the good-will towards her arose
+from something more than merely malice against herself;
+and might be brought, by time and address, to do
+every thing that Lucy wished.  Her flattery had already
+subdued the pride of Lady Middleton, and made an entry
+into the close heart of Mrs. John Dashwood; and these
+were effects that laid open the probability of greater.
+
+     The Miss Steeles removed to Harley Street, and all
+that reached Elinor of their influence there, strengthened
+her expectation of the event.  Sir John, who called on
+them more than once, brought home such accounts of the
+favour they were in, as must be universally striking.
+Mrs. Dashwood had never been so much pleased with any
+young women in her life, as she was with them; had given
+each of them a needle book made by some emigrant;
+called Lucy by her Christian name; and did not know
+whether she should ever be able to part with them.
+
+
+
+
+
+[At this point in the first and second edtions, Volume II ended.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 37
+
+
+     Mrs. Palmer was so well at the end of a fortnight,
+that her mother felt it no longer necessary to give up
+the whole of her time to her; and, contenting herself with
+visiting her once or twice a day, returned from that period
+to her own home, and her own habits, in which she found
+the Miss Dashwoods very ready to ressume their former share.
+
+     About the third or fourth morning after their
+being thus resettled in Berkeley Street, Mrs. Jennings,
+on returning from her ordinary visit to Mrs. Palmer,
+entered the drawing-room, where Elinor was sitting
+by herself, with an air of such hurrying importance
+as prepared her to hear something wonderful; and giving her
+time only to form that idea, began directly to justify it,
+by saying,
+
+     "Lord! my dear Miss Dashwood! have you heard the news?"
+
+     "No, ma'am.  What is it?"
+
+     "Something so strange!  But you shall hear it all.--
+When I got to Mr. Palmer's, I found Charlotte quite
+in a fuss about the child.  She was sure it was very
+ill--it cried, and fretted, and was all over pimples.
+So I looked at it directly, and, 'Lord! my dear,'
+says I, 'it is nothing in the world, but the red gum--'
+and nurse said just the same.  But Charlotte, she would
+not be satisfied, so Mr. Donavan was sent for; and luckily
+he happened to just come in from Harley Street, so he
+stepped over directly, and as soon as ever he saw the child,
+be said just as we did, that it was nothing in the world
+but the red gum, and then Charlotte was easy.  And so,
+just as he was going away again, it came into my head,
+I am sure I do not know how I happened to think of it,
+but it came into my head to ask him if there was any news.
+So upon that, he smirked, and simpered, and looked grave,
+and seemed to know something or other, and at last he
+said in a whisper, 'For fear any unpleasant report
+should reach the young ladies under your care as to their
+sister's indisposition, I think it advisable to say,
+that I believe there is no great reason for alarm; I hope
+Mrs. Dashwood will do very well.'"
+
+     "What! is Fanny ill?"
+
+     "That is exactly what I said, my dear.  'Lord!' says I,
+'is Mrs. Dashwood ill?' So then it all came out; and the
+long and the short of the matter, by all I can learn,
+seems to be this.  Mr. Edward Ferrars, the very young
+man I used to joke with you about (but however, as it
+turns out, I am monstrous glad there was never any thing
+in it), Mr. Edward Ferrars, it seems, has been engaged
+above this twelvemonth to my cousin Lucy!--There's for you,
+my dear!--And not a creature knowing a syllable of the matter,
+except Nancy!--Could you have believed such a thing possible?--
+There is no great wonder in their liking one another;
+but that matters should be brought so forward between them,
+and nobody suspect it!--THAT is strange!--I never happened
+to see them together, or I am sure I should have found it
+out directly.  Well, and so this was kept a great secret,
+for fear of Mrs. Ferrars, and neither she nor your
+brother or sister suspected a word of the matter;--
+till this very morning, poor Nancy, who, you know, is a
+well-meaning creature, but no conjurer, popt it all out.
+'Lord!' thinks she to herself, 'they are all so fond
+of Lucy, to be sure they will make no difficulty about it;'
+and so, away she went to your sister, who was sitting all
+alone at her carpet-work, little suspecting what was to
+come--for she had just been saying to your brother, only five
+minutes before, that she thought to make a match between
+Edward and some Lord's daughter or other, I forget who.
+So you may think what a blow it was to all her vanity
+and pride.  She fell into violent hysterics immediately,
+with such screams as reached your brother's ears,
+as he was sitting in his own dressing-room down stairs,
+thinking about writing a letter to his steward in the country.
+So up he flew directly, and a terrible scene took place,
+for Lucy was come to them by that time, little dreaming
+what was going on.  Poor soul!  I pity HER.  And I must say,
+I think she was used very hardly; for your sister scolded
+like any fury, and soon drove her into a fainting fit.
+Nancy, she fell upon her knees, and cried bitterly;
+and your brother, he walked about the room, and said
+he did not know what to do.  Mrs. Dashwood declared
+they should not stay a minute longer in the house,
+and your brother was forced to go down upon HIS knees too,
+to persuade her to let them stay till they had packed
+up their clothes.  THEN she fell into hysterics again,
+and he was so frightened that he would send for Mr. Donavan,
+and Mr. Donavan found the house in all this uproar.
+The carriage was at the door ready to take my poor
+cousins away, and they were just stepping in as he
+came off; poor Lucy in such a condition, he says,
+she could hardly walk; and Nancy, she was almost as bad.
+I declare, I have no patience with your sister; and I hope,
+with all my heart, it will be a match in spite of her.
+Lord! what a taking poor Mr. Edward will be in when he
+hears of it!  To have his love used so scornfully! for
+they say he is monstrous fond of her, as well he may.
+I should not wonder, if he was to be in the greatest
+passion!--and Mr. Donavan thinks just the same.  He and I
+had a great deal of talk about it; and the best of all is,
+that he is gone back again to Harley Street, that he may
+be within call when Mrs. Ferrars is told of it, for she
+was sent for as soon as ever my cousins left the house,
+for your sister was sure SHE would be in hysterics too;
+and so she may, for what I care.  I have no pity for
+either of them.  I have no notion of people's making
+such a to-do about money and greatness.  There is no
+reason on earth why Mr. Edward and Lucy should not marry;
+for I am sure Mrs. Ferrars may afford to do very well
+by her son, and though Lucy has next to nothing herself,
+she knows better than any body how to make the most
+of every thing; I dare say, if Mrs. Ferrars would only
+allow him five hundred a-year, she would make as good
+an appearance with it as any body else would with eight.
+Lord! how snug they might live in such another cottage
+as yours--or a little bigger--with two maids, and two men;
+and I believe I could help them to a housemaid, for my
+Betty has a sister out of place, that would fit them
+exactly."
+
+     Here Mrs. Jennings ceased, and as Elinor had had
+time enough to collect her thoughts, she was able
+to give such an answer, and make such observations,
+as the subject might naturally be supposed to produce.
+Happy to find that she was not suspected of any extraordinary
+interest in it; that Mrs. Jennings (as she had of late
+often hoped might be the case) had ceased to imagine her
+at all attached to Edward; and happy above all the rest,
+in the absence of Marianne, she felt very well able
+to speak of the affair without embarrassment, and to
+give her judgment, as she believed, with impartiality
+on the conduct of every one concerned in it.
+
+     She could hardly determine what her own expectation
+of its event really was; though she earnestly tried
+to drive away the notion of its being possible to end
+otherwise at last, than in the marriage of Edward and Lucy.
+What Mrs. Ferrars would say and do, though there could
+not be a doubt of its nature, she was anxious to hear;
+and still more anxious to know how Edward would
+conduct himself.  For HIM she felt much compassion;--
+for Lucy very little--and it cost her some pains to procure
+that little;--for the rest of the party none at all.
+
+     As Mrs. Jennings could talk on no other subject,
+Elinor soon saw the necessity of preparing Marianne for
+its discussion.  No time was to be lost in undeceiving her,
+in making her acquainted with the real truth, and in
+endeavouring to bring her to hear it talked of by others,
+without betraying that she felt any uneasiness for her sister,
+or any resentment against Edward.
+
+     Elinor's office was a painful one.--She was going
+to remove what she really believed to be her sister's
+chief consolation,--to give such particulars of Edward as she
+feared would ruin him for ever in her good opinion,-and
+to make Marianne, by a resemblance in their situations,
+which to HER fancy would seem strong, feel all her own
+disappointment over again.  But unwelcome as such a task
+must be, it was necessary to be done, and Elinor therefore
+hastened to perform it.
+
+     She was very far from wishing to dwell on her own
+feelings, or to represent herself as suffering much,
+any otherwise than as the self-command she had practised
+since her first knowledge of Edward's engagement, might
+suggest a hint of what was practicable to Marianne.
+Her narration was clear and simple; and though it could
+not be given without emotion, it was not accompanied
+by violent agitation, nor impetuous grief.--THAT belonged
+rather to the hearer, for Marianne listened with horror,
+and cried excessively.  Elinor was to be the comforter
+of others in her own distresses, no less than in theirs;
+and all the comfort that could be given by assurances
+of her own composure of mind, and a very earnest
+vindication of Edward from every charge but of imprudence,
+was readily offered.
+
+     But Marianne for some time would give credit to neither.
+Edward seemed a second Willoughby; and acknowledging
+as Elinor did, that she HAD loved him most sincerely,
+could she feel less than herself!  As for Lucy Steele,
+she considered her so totally unamiable, so absolutely
+incapable of attaching a sensible man, that she could
+not be persuaded at first to believe, and afterwards
+to pardon, any former affection of Edward for her.
+She would not even admit it to have been natural;
+and Elinor left her to be convinced that it was so,
+by that which only could convince her, a better knowledge
+of mankind.
+
+     Her first communication had reached no farther than
+to state the fact of the engagement, and the length of time
+it had existed.--Marianne's feelings had then broken in,
+and put an end to all regularity of detail; and for some
+time all that could be done was to soothe her distress,
+lessen her alarms, and combat her resentment.  The first
+question on her side, which led to farther particulars,
+was,
+
+     "How long has this been known to you, Elinor? has
+he written to you?"
+
+     "I have known it these four months.  When Lucy
+first came to Barton Park last November, she told me
+in confidence of her engagement."
+
+     At these words, Marianne's eyes expressed the astonishment 
+which her lips could not utter.  After a pause of wonder, 
+she exclaimed--
+
+     "Four months!--Have you known of this four months?"
+
+     Elinor confirmed it.
+
+     "What!--while attending me in all my misery, has this 
+been on your heart?--And I have reproached you for being happy!"--
+
+     "It was not fit that you should then know how much
+I was the reverse!"
+
+     "Four months!"--cried Marianne again.--"So calm!--
+so cheerful!--how have you been supported?"--
+
+     "By feeling that I was doing my duty.--My promise to
+Lucy, obliged me to be secret.  I owed it to her, therefore,
+to avoid giving any hint of the truth; and I owed it to my
+family and friends, not to create in them a solicitude about me, 
+which it could not be in my power to satisfy."
+
+     Marianne seemed much struck.
+
+     "I have very often wished to undeceive yourself and my 
+mother," added Elinor; "and once or twice I have attempted it;--
+but without betraying my trust, I never could have convinced you."
+
+     "Four months!--and yet you loved him!"--
+
+     "Yes. But I did not love only him;--and while the comfort
+of others was dear to me, I was glad to spare them from knowing
+how much I felt.  Now, I can think and speak of it with
+little emotion.  I would not have you suffer on my account;
+for I assure you I no longer suffer materially myself.
+I have many things to support me.  I am not conscious of having
+provoked the disappointment by any imprudence of my own,
+I have borne it as much as possible without spreading
+it farther.  I acquit Edward of essential misconduct.
+I wish him very happy; and I am so sure of his always
+doing his duty, that though now he may harbour some regret,
+in the end he must become so.  Lucy does not want sense,
+and that is the foundation on which every thing good may
+be built.--And after all, Marianne, after all that is
+bewitching in the idea of a single and constant attachment,
+and all that can be said of one's happiness depending
+entirely on any particular person, it is not meant--it
+is not fit--it is not possible that it should be so.--
+Edward will marry Lucy; he will marry a woman superior
+in person and understanding to half her sex; and time
+and habit will teach him to forget that he ever thought
+another superior to HER."--
+
+     "If such is your way of thinking," said Marianne,
+"if the loss of what is most valued is so easily
+to be made up by something else, your resolution,
+your self-command, are, perhaps, a little less to be
+wondered at.--They are brought more within my comprehension."
+
+     "I understand you.--You do not suppose that I have ever
+felt much.--For four months, Marianne, I have had all this
+hanging on my mind, without being at liberty to speak
+of it to a single creature; knowing that it would make
+you and my mother most unhappy whenever it were explained
+to you, yet unable to prepare you for it in the least.--
+It was told me,--it was in a manner forced on me by the
+very person herself, whose prior engagement ruined all
+my prospects; and told me, as I thought, with triumph.--
+This person's suspicions, therefore, I have had to oppose,
+by endeavouring to appear indifferent where I have been most
+deeply interested;--and it has not been only once;--I have
+had her hopes and exultation to listen to again and again.--
+I have known myself to be divided from Edward for ever,
+without hearing one circumstance that could make me less
+desire the connection.--Nothing has proved him unworthy;
+nor has anything declared him indifferent to me.--
+I have had to contend against the unkindness of his sister,
+and the insolence of his mother; and have suffered the
+punishment of an attachment, without enjoying its advantages.--
+And all this has been going on at a time, when, as you
+know too well, it has not been my only unhappiness.--
+If you can think me capable of ever feeling--surely you
+may suppose that I have suffered NOW.  The composure
+of mind with which I have brought myself at present
+to consider the matter, the consolation that I have been
+willing to admit, have been the effect of constant and
+painful exertion;--they did not spring up of themselves;--
+they did not occur to relieve my spirits at first.--
+No, Marianne.--THEN, if I had not been bound to silence,
+perhaps nothing could have kept me entirely--not even what I
+owed to my dearest friends--from openly shewing that I was
+VERY unhappy."--
+
+     Marianne was quite subdued.--
+
+     "Oh! Elinor," she cried, "you have made me hate
+myself for ever.--How barbarous have I been to you!--
+you, who have been my only comfort, who have borne with me
+in all my misery, who have seemed to be only suffering
+for me!--Is this my gratitude?--Is this the only return I
+can make you?--Because your merit cries out upon myself,
+I have been trying to do it away."
+
+     The tenderest caresses followed this confession.
+In such a frame of mind as she was now in, Elinor had
+no difficulty in obtaining from her whatever promise
+she required; and at her request, Marianne engaged
+never to speak of the affair to any one with the least
+appearance of bitterness;--to meet Lucy without betraying
+the smallest increase of dislike to her;--and even to see
+Edward himself, if chance should bring them together,
+without any diminution of her usual cordiality.--
+These were great concessions;--but where Marianne felt
+that she had injured, no reparation could be too much
+for her to make.
+
+     She performed her promise of being discreet,
+to admiration.--She attended to all that Mrs. Jennings
+had to say upon the subject, with an unchanging complexion,
+dissented from her in nothing, and was heard three
+times to say, "Yes, ma'am."--She listened to her praise
+of Lucy with only moving from one chair to another,
+and when Mrs. Jennings talked of Edward's affection,
+it cost her only a spasm in her throat.--Such advances
+towards heroism in her sister, made Elinor feel equal
+to any thing herself.
+
+     The next morning brought a farther trial of it,
+in a visit from their brother, who came with a most serious
+aspect to talk over the dreadful affair, and bring them
+news of his wife.
+
+     "You have heard, I suppose," said he with great solemnity, 
+as soon as he was seated, "of the very shocking discovery 
+that took place under our roof yesterday."
+
+     They all looked their assent; it seemed too awful
+a moment for speech.
+
+     "Your sister," he continued, "has suffered dreadfully.
+Mrs. Ferrars too--in short it has been a scene of such
+complicated distress--but I will hope that the storm may
+be weathered without our being any of us quite overcome.
+Poor Fanny! she was in hysterics all yesterday.
+But I would not alarm you too much.  Donavan says there
+is nothing materially to be apprehended; her constitution
+is a good one, and her resolution equal to any thing.
+She has borne it all, with the fortitude of an angel!
+She says she never shall think well of anybody again;
+and one cannot wonder at it, after being so deceived!--
+meeting with such ingratitude, where so much kindness
+had been shewn, so much confidence had been placed!  It
+was quite out of the benevolence of her heart, that she
+had asked these young women to her house; merely because
+she thought they deserved some attention, were harmless,
+well-behaved girls, and would be pleasant companions;
+for otherwise we both wished very much to have invited you
+and Marianne to be with us, while your kind friend there,
+was attending her daughter.  And now to be so rewarded!
+'I wish, with all my heart,' says poor Fanny in her
+affectionate way, 'that we had asked your sisters instead
+of them.'"
+
+     Here he stopped to be thanked; which being done,
+he went on.
+
+     "What poor Mrs. Ferrars suffered, when first Fanny
+broke it to her, is not to be described.  While she with
+the truest affection had been planning a most eligible
+connection for him, was it to be supposed that he could
+be all the time secretly engaged to another person!--such
+a suspicion could never have entered her head!  If she
+suspected ANY prepossession elsewhere, it could not be
+in THAT quarter.  'THERE, to be sure,' said she, 'I might
+have thought myself safe.' She was quite in an agony.
+We consulted together, however, as to what should be done,
+and at last she determined to send for Edward.
+He came.  But I am sorry to relate what ensued.
+All that Mrs. Ferrars could say to make him put an end
+to the engagement, assisted too as you may well suppose
+by my arguments, and Fanny's entreaties, was of
+no avail.  Duty, affection, every thing was disregarded.
+I never thought Edward so stubborn, so unfeeling before.
+His mother explained to him her liberal designs, in case
+of his marrying Miss Morton; told him she would settle on
+him the Norfolk estate, which, clear of land-tax, brings
+in a good thousand a-year; offered even, when matters
+grew desperate, to make it twelve hundred; and in opposition
+to this, if he still persisted in this low connection,
+represented to him the certain penury that must attend
+the match.  His own two thousand pounds she protested
+should be his all; she would never see him again; and so far
+would she be from affording him the smallest assistance,
+that if he were to enter into any profession with a view
+of better support, she would do all in her power to prevent
+him advancing in it."
+
+     Here Marianne, in an ecstasy of indignation,
+clapped her hands together, and cried, "Gracious God!
+can this be possible!"
+
+     "Well may you wonder, Marianne," replied her brother,
+"at the obstinacy which could resist such arguments as these.
+Your exclamation is very natural."
+
+     Marianne was going to retort, but she remembered
+her promises, and forbore.
+
+     "All this, however," he continued, "was urged in vain.
+Edward said very little; but what he did say, was in
+the most determined manner.  Nothing should prevail on
+him to give up his engagement.  He would stand to it,
+cost him what it might."
+
+     "Then," cried Mrs. Jennings with blunt sincerity,
+no longer able to be silent, "he has acted like an honest
+man! I beg your pardon, Mr. Dashwood, but if he had
+done otherwise, I should have thought him a rascal.
+I have some little concern in the business, as well
+as yourself, for Lucy Steele is my cousin, and I believe
+there is not a better kind of girl in the world, nor one
+who more deserves a good husband."
+
+     John Dashwood was greatly astonished; but his nature
+was calm, not open to provocation, and he never wished
+to offend anybody, especially anybody of good fortune.
+He therefore replied, without any resentment,
+
+     "I would by no means speak disrespectfully of any
+relation of yours, madam.  Miss Lucy Steele is, I dare say,
+a very deserving young woman, but in the present case
+you know, the connection must be impossible.
+And to have entered into a secret engagement with a
+young man under her uncle's care, the son of a woman
+especially of such very large fortune as Mrs. Ferrars,
+is perhaps, altogether a little extraordinary. In short, 
+I do not mean to reflect upon the behaviour of any person 
+whom you have a regard for, Mrs. Jennings.  We all wish 
+her extremely happy; and Mrs. Ferrars's conduct throughout 
+the whole, has been such as every conscientious, good mother, 
+in like circumstances, would adopt.  It has been dignified 
+and liberal.  Edward has drawn his own lot, and I fear 
+it will be a bad one."
+
+     Marianne sighed out her similar apprehension;
+and Elinor's heart wrung for the feelings of Edward,
+while braving his mother's threats, for a woman who could
+not reward him.
+
+     "Well, sir," said Mrs. Jennings, "and how did it end?"
+
+     "I am sorry to say, ma'am, in a most unhappy rupture:--
+Edward is dismissed for ever from his mother's notice.
+He left her house yesterday, but where he is gone, or whether
+he is still in town, I do not know; for WE of course can
+make no inquiry."
+
+     "Poor young man!--and what is to become of him?"
+
+     "What, indeed, ma'am!  It is a melancholy consideration.
+Born to the prospect of such affluence!  I cannot conceive
+a situation more deplorable.  The interest of two thousand
+pounds--how can a man live on it?--and when to that is added
+the recollection, that he might, but for his own folly,
+within three months have been in the receipt of two
+thousand, five hundred a-year (for Miss Morton has
+thirty thousand pounds,) I cannot picture to myself
+a more wretched condition.  We must all feel for him;
+and the more so, because it is totally out of our power
+to assist him."
+
+     "Poor young man!" cried Mrs. Jennings, "I am sure
+he should be very welcome to bed and board at my house;
+and so I would tell him if I could see him.  It is not fit
+that he should be living about at his own charge now,
+at lodgings and taverns."
+
+     Elinor's heart thanked her for such kindness towards Edward,
+though she could not forbear smiling at the form of it.
+
+     "If he would only have done as well by himself,"
+said John Dashwood, "as all his friends were disposed to do
+by him, he might now have been in his proper situation,
+and would have wanted for nothing.  But as it is, it must
+be out of anybody's power to assist him.  And there is one
+thing more preparing against him, which must be worse than
+all--his mother has determined, with a very natural kind
+of spirit, to settle THAT estate upon Robert immediately,
+which might have been Edward's, on proper conditions.
+I left her this morning with her lawyer, talking over
+the business."
+
+     "Well!" said Mrs. Jennings, "that is HER revenge.
+Everybody has a way of their own.  But I don't think mine
+would be, to make one son independent, because another had
+plagued me."
+
+     Marianne got up and walked about the room.
+
+     "Can anything be more galling to the spirit of a man,"
+continued John, "than to see his younger brother in
+possession of an estate which might have been his own?
+Poor Edward!  I feel for him sincerely."
+
+     A few minutes more spent in the same kind of effusion,
+concluded his visit; and with repeated assurances to his
+sisters that he really believed there was no material
+danger in Fanny's indisposition, and that they need
+not therefore be very uneasy about it, he went away;
+leaving the three ladies unanimous in their sentiments
+on the present occasion, as far at least as it regarded
+Mrs. Ferrars's conduct, the Dashwoods', and Edward's.
+
+     Marianne's indignation burst forth as soon as he
+quitted the room; and as her vehemence made reserve
+impossible in Elinor, and unnecessary in Mrs. Jennings,
+they all joined in a very spirited critique upon the party.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 38
+
+
+     Mrs. Jennings was very warm in her praise of Edward's
+conduct, but only Elinor and Marianne understood its
+true merit.  THEY only knew how little he had had to tempt
+him to be disobedient, and how small was the consolation,
+beyond the consciousness of doing right, that could
+remain to him in the loss of friends and fortune.
+Elinor gloried in his integrity; and Marianne forgave all
+his offences in compassion for his punishment.  But though
+confidence between them was, by this public discovery,
+restored to its proper state, it was not a subject on
+which either of them were fond of dwelling when alone.
+Elinor avoided it upon principle, as tending to fix still
+more upon her thoughts, by the too warm, too positive
+assurances of Marianne, that belief of Edward's continued
+affection for herself which she rather wished to do away;
+and Marianne's courage soon failed her, in trying
+to converse upon a topic which always left her more
+dissatisfied with herself than ever, by the comparison
+it necessarily produced between Elinor's conduct and her own.
+
+     She felt all the force of that comparison; but not
+as her sister had hoped, to urge her to exertion now;
+she felt it with all the pain of continual self-reproach,
+regretted most bitterly that she had never exerted
+herself before; but it brought only the torture of penitence,
+without the hope of amendment.  Her mind was so much weakened
+that she still fancied present exertion impossible,
+and therefore it only dispirited her more.
+
+     Nothing new was heard by them, for a day or two afterwards,
+of affairs in Harley Street, or Bartlett's Buildings.
+But though so much of the matter was known to them already,
+that Mrs. Jennings might have had enough to do in spreading
+that knowledge farther, without seeking after more,
+she had resolved from the first to pay a visit of comfort
+and inquiry to her cousins as soon as she could;
+and nothing but the hindrance of more visitors than usual,
+had prevented her going to them within that time.
+
+     The third day succeeding their knowledge of the
+particulars, was so fine, so beautiful a Sunday as to draw
+many to Kensington Gardens, though it was only the second
+week in March.  Mrs. Jennings and Elinor were of the number;
+but Marianne, who knew that the Willoughbys were again
+in town, and had a constant dread of meeting them,
+chose rather to stay at home, than venture into so public
+a place.
+
+     An intimate acquaintance of Mrs. Jennings joined
+them soon after they entered the Gardens, and Elinor was
+not sorry that by her continuing with them, and engaging
+all Mrs. Jennings's conversation, she was herself left
+to quiet reflection.  She saw nothing of the Willoughbys,
+nothing of Edward, and for some time nothing of anybody
+who could by any chance whether grave or gay, be interesting
+to her.  But at last she found herself with some surprise,
+accosted by Miss Steele, who, though looking rather shy,
+expressed great satisfaction in meeting them, and on receiving
+encouragement from the particular kindness of Mrs. Jennings,
+left her own party for a short time, to join their's.
+Mrs. Jennings immediately whispered to Elinor,
+
+     "Get it all out of her, my dear.  She will tell you
+any thing if you ask.  You see I cannot leave Mrs. Clarke."
+
+     It was lucky, however, for Mrs. Jennings's curiosity
+and Elinor's too, that she would tell any thing WITHOUT
+being asked; for nothing would otherwise have been learnt.
+
+     "I am so glad to meet you;" said Miss Steele,
+taking her familiarly by the arm--"for I wanted to see you
+of all things in the world."  And then lowering her voice,
+"I suppose Mrs. Jennings has heard all about it.
+Is she angry?"
+
+     "Not at all, I believe, with you."
+
+     "That is a good thing.  And Lady Middleton, is SHE angry?"
+
+     "I cannot suppose it possible that she should."
+
+     "I am monstrous glad of it.  Good gracious!  I have
+had such a time of it!  I never saw Lucy in such a rage
+in my life.  She vowed at first she would never trim me
+up a new bonnet, nor do any thing else for me again,
+so long as she lived; but now she is quite come to,
+and we are as good friends as ever.  Look, she made me
+this bow to my hat, and put in the feather last night.
+There now, YOU are going to laugh at me too.  But why
+should not I wear pink ribbons?  I do not care if it IS
+the Doctor's favourite colour.  I am sure, for my part,
+I should never have known he DID like it better than
+any other colour, if he had not happened to say so.
+My cousins have been so plaguing me!  I declare sometimes 
+I do not know which way to look before them."
+
+     She had wandered away to a subject on which Elinor
+had nothing to say, and therefore soon judged it expedient
+to find her way back again to the first.
+
+     "Well, but Miss Dashwood," speaking triumphantly,
+"people may say what they chuse about Mr. Ferrars's
+declaring he would not have Lucy, for it is no such thing
+I can tell you; and it is quite a shame for such ill-natured
+reports to be spread abroad.  Whatever Lucy might think
+about it herself, you know, it was no business of other
+people to set it down for certain."
+
+     "I never heard any thing of the kind hinted at before,
+I assure you," said Elinor.
+
+     "Oh, did not you?  But it WAS said, I know, very well,
+and by more than one; for Miss Godby told Miss Sparks,
+that nobody in their senses could expect Mr. Ferrars
+to give up a woman like Miss Morton, with thirty thousand
+pounds to her fortune, for Lucy Steele that had
+nothing at all; and I had it from Miss Sparks myself.
+And besides that, my cousin Richard said himself,
+that when it came to the point he was afraid Mr. Ferrars
+would be off; and when Edward did not come near us
+for three days, I could not tell what to think myself;
+and I believe in my heart Lucy gave it up all for lost;
+for we came away from your brother's Wednesday,
+and we saw nothing of him not all Thursday, Friday,
+and Saturday, and did not know what was become of him.
+Once Lucy thought to write to him, but then her spirits
+rose against that.  However this morning he came just
+as we came home from church; and then it all came out,
+how he had been sent for Wednesday to Harley Street,
+and been talked to by his mother and all of them,
+and how he had declared before them all that he loved
+nobody but Lucy, and nobody but Lucy would he have.
+And how he had been so worried by what passed,
+that as soon as he had went away from his mother's house,
+he had got upon his horse, and rid into the country,
+some where or other; and how he had stayed about at an inn
+all Thursday and Friday, on purpose to get the better
+of it.  And after thinking it all over and over again,
+he said, it seemed to him as if, now he had no fortune,
+and no nothing at all, it would be quite unkind to keep
+her on to the engagement, because it must be for her loss,
+for he had nothing but two thousand pounds, and no hope
+of any thing else; and if he was to go into orders,
+as he had some thoughts, he could get nothing but a curacy,
+and how was they to live upon that?--He could not bear
+to think of her doing no better, and so he begged,
+if she had the least mind for it, to put an end to the
+matter directly, and leave him shift for himself.
+I heard him say all this as plain as could possibly be.
+And it was entirely for HER sake, and upon HER account,
+that he said a word about being off, and not upon his own.
+I will take my oath he never dropt a syllable of being
+tired of her, or of wishing to marry Miss Morton, or any
+thing like it.  But, to be sure, Lucy would not give
+ear to such kind of talking; so she told him directly
+(with a great deal about sweet and love, you know,
+and all that--Oh, la! one can't repeat such kind of things
+you know)--she told him directly, she had not the least
+mind in the world to be off, for she could live with him
+upon a trifle, and how little so ever he might have,
+she should be very glad to have it all, you know,
+or something of the kind.  So then he was monstrous happy,
+and talked on some time about what they should do,
+and they agreed he should take orders directly,
+and they must wait to be married till he got a living.
+And just then I could not hear any more, for my cousin
+called from below to tell me Mrs. Richardson was come in
+her coach, and would take one of us to Kensington Gardens;
+so I was forced to go into the room and interrupt them,
+to ask Lucy if she would like to go, but she did not
+care to leave Edward; so I just run up stairs and put
+on a pair of silk stockings and came off with the
+Richardsons."
+
+     "I do not understand what you mean by interrupting them,"
+said Elinor; "you were all in the same room together,
+were not you?"
+
+     "No, indeed, not us.  La! Miss Dashwood, do you
+think people make love when any body else is by?  Oh,
+for shame!--To be sure you must know better than that.
+(Laughing affectedly.)--No, no; they were shut up in the
+drawing-room together, and all I heard was only by listening
+at the door."
+
+     "How!" cried Elinor; "have you been repeating to me
+what you only learnt yourself by listening at the door?
+I am sorry I did not know it before; for I certainly
+would not have suffered you to give me particulars of a
+conversation which you ought not to have known yourself.
+How could you behave so unfairly by your sister?"
+
+     "Oh, la! there is nothing in THAT.  I only stood at
+the door, and heard what I could.  And I am sure Lucy would
+have done just the same by me; for a year or two back,
+when Martha Sharpe and I had so many secrets together,
+she never made any bones of hiding in a closet, or behind
+a chimney-board, on purpose to hear what we said."
+
+     Elinor tried to talk of something else; but Miss
+Steele could not be kept beyond a couple of minutes,
+from what was uppermost in her mind.
+
+     "Edward talks of going to Oxford soon," said she;
+"but now he is lodging at No. --, Pall Mall.  What an 
+ill-natured woman his monther is, an't she? And your 
+brother and sister were not very kind! However, 
+I shan't say anything against them to YOU; and to be sure 
+they did send us home in their own chariot, which 
+was more than I looked for.  And for my part, I was all 
+in a fright for fear your sister should ask us for the 
+huswifes she had gave us a day or two before; but, however, 
+nothing was said about them, and I took care to keep mine 
+out of sight.  Edward have got some business at Oxford, 
+he says; so he must go there for a time; and after THAT, 
+as soon as he can light upon a Bishop, he will be ordained. 
+I wonder what curacy he will get!--Good gracious! 
+(giggling as she spoke) I'd lay my life I know what 
+my cousins will say, when they hear of it.  They will 
+tell me I should write to the Doctor, to get Edward 
+the curacy of his new living.  I know they will; but I am 
+sure I would not do such a thing for all the world.--
+'La!' I shall say directly, 'I wonder how you could think
+of such a thing?  I write to the Doctor, indeed!'"
+
+     "Well," said Elinor, "it is a comfort to be prepared
+against the worst.  You have got your answer ready."
+
+     Miss Steele was going to reply on the same subject,
+but the approach of her own party made another more necessary.
+
+     "Oh, la! here come the Richardsons.  I had a vast deal
+more to say to you, but I must not stay away from them not
+any longer.  I assure you they are very genteel people.
+He makes a monstrous deal of money, and they keep their
+own coach.  I have not time to speak to Mrs. Jennings about
+it myself, but pray tell her I am quite happy to hear she
+is not in anger against us, and Lady Middleton the same;
+and if anything should happen to take you and your
+sister away, and Mrs. Jennings should want company,
+I am sure we should be very glad to come and stay with her
+for as long a time as she likes.  I suppose Lady Middleton
+won't ask us any more this bout.  Good-by; I am sorry
+Miss Marianne was not here.  Remember me kindly to her.
+La! if you have not got your spotted muslin on!--I wonder
+you was not afraid of its being torn."
+
+     Such was her parting concern; for after this, she had
+time only to pay her farewell compliments to Mrs. Jennings,
+before her company was claimed by Mrs. Richardson;
+and Elinor was left in possession of knowledge which
+might feed her powers of reflection some time, though she
+had learnt very little more than what had been already
+foreseen and foreplanned in her own mind.  Edward's marriage
+with Lucy was as firmly determined on, and the time
+of its taking place remained as absolutely uncertain,
+as she had concluded it would be;--every thing depended,
+exactly after her expectation, on his getting that preferment,
+of which, at present, there seemed not the smallest chance.
+
+     As soon as they returned to the carriage,
+Mrs. Jennings was eager for information; but as Elinor
+wished to spread as little as possible intelligence
+that had in the first place been so unfairly obtained,
+she confined herself to the brief repetition of such
+simple particulars, as she felt assured that Lucy,
+for the sake of her own consequence, would choose
+to have known.  The continuance of their engagement,
+and the means that were able to be taken for promoting
+its end, was all her communication; and this produced
+from Mrs. Jennings the following natural remark.
+
+     "Wait for his having a living!--ay, we all know how
+THAT will end:--they will wait a twelvemonth, and finding
+no good comes of it, will set down upon a curacy of fifty
+pounds a-year, with the interest of his two thousand pounds,
+and what little matter Mr. Steele and Mr. Pratt can
+give her.--Then they will have a child every year! and
+Lord help 'em! how poor they will be!--I must see
+what I can give them towards furnishing their house.
+Two maids and two men, indeed!--as I talked of t'other 
+day.--No, no, they must get a stout girl of all works.--
+Betty's sister would never do for them NOW."
+
+     The next morning brought Elinor a letter by the
+two-penny post from Lucy herself.  It was as follows:
+
+                         "Bartlett's Building, March.
+
+          "I hope my dear Miss Dashwood will excuse the
+     liberty I take of writing to her; but I know your
+     friendship for me will make you pleased to hear such
+     a good account of myself and my dear Edward, after
+     all the troubles we have went through lately,
+     therefore will make no more apologies, but proceed
+     to say that, thank God! though we have suffered
+     dreadfully, we are both quite well now, and as happy
+     as we must always be in one another's love.  We have
+     had great trials, and great persecutions, but
+     however, at the same time, gratefully acknowledge
+     many friends, yourself not the least among them,
+     whose great kindness I shall always thankfully
+     remember, as will Edward too, who I have told of
+     it.  I am sure you will be glad to hear, as likewise
+     dear Mrs. Jennings, I spent two happy hours with
+     him yesterday afternoon, he would not hear of our
+     parting, though earnestly did I, as I thought my
+     duty required, urge him to it for prudence sake,
+     and would have parted for ever on the spot, would
+     he consent to it; but he said it should never be,
+     he did not regard his mother's anger, while he could
+     have my affections; our prospects are not very
+     bright, to be sure, but we must wait, and hope for
+     the best; he will be ordained shortly; and should
+     it ever be in your power to recommend him to any
+     body that has a living to bestow, am very sure you
+     will not forget us, and dear Mrs. Jennings too,
+     trust she will speak a good word for us to Sir John,
+     or Mr. Palmer, or any friend that may be able to
+     assist us.--Poor Anne was much to blame for what
+     she did, but she did it for the best, so I say
+     nothing; hope Mrs. Jennings won't think it too much
+     trouble to give us a call, should she come this way
+     any morning, 'twould be a great kindness, and my
+     cousins would be proud to know her.--My paper reminds
+     me to conclude; and begging to be most gratefully
+     and respectfully remembered to her, and to Sir John,
+     and Lady Middleton, and the dear children, when you
+     chance to see them, and love to Miss Marianne,
+
+                                           "I am, &c."
+
+     As soon as Elinor had finished it, she performed
+what she concluded to be its writer's real design,
+by placing it in the hands of Mrs. Jennings, who read it
+aloud with many comments of satisfaction and praise.
+
+     "Very well indeed!--how prettily she writes!--aye,
+that was quite proper to let him be off if he would.
+That was just like Lucy.--Poor soul! I wish I COULD get
+him a living, with all my heart.--She calls me dear
+Mrs. Jennings, you see.  She is a good-hearted girl
+as ever lived.--Very well upon my word.  That sentence
+is very prettily turned.  Yes, yes, I will go and see her,
+sure enough.  How attentive she is, to think of every
+body!--Thank you, my dear, for shewing it me.  It is
+as pretty a letter as ever I saw, and does Lucy's head
+and heart great credit."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 39
+
+
+     The Miss Dashwoods had now been rather more than
+two months in town, and Marianne's impatience to be gone
+increased every day.  She sighed for the air, the liberty,
+the quiet of the country; and fancied that if any place
+could give her ease, Barton must do it.  Elinor was hardly
+less anxious than herself for their removal, and only so much
+less bent on its being effected immediately, as that she
+was conscious of the difficulties of so long a journey,
+which Marianne could not be brought to acknowledge.
+She began, however, seriously to turn her thoughts towards
+its accomplishment, and had already mentioned their wishes
+to their kind hostess, who resisted them with all the
+eloquence of her good-will, when a plan was suggested,
+which, though detaining them from home yet a few weeks 
+longer, appeared to Elinor altogether much more eligible 
+than any other. The Palmers were to remove to Cleveland 
+about the end of March, for the Easter holidays; 
+and Mrs. Jennings, with both her friends, received a very 
+warm invitation from Charlotte to go with them.  This would 
+not, in itself, have been sufficient for the delicacy of 
+Miss Dashwood;--but it was inforced with so much real 
+politeness by Mr. Palmer himself, as, joined to the very 
+great amendment of his manners towards them since her 
+sister had been known to be unhappy, induced her to accept 
+it with pleasure.
+
+     When she told Marianne what she had done, however,
+her first reply was not very auspicious.
+
+     "Cleveland!"--she cried, with great agitation.
+"No, I cannot go to Cleveland."--
+
+     "You forget," said Elinor gently, "that its situation
+is not...that it is not in the neighbourhood of..."
+
+     "But it is in Somersetshire.--I cannot go
+into Somersetshire.--There, where I looked forward
+to going...No, Elinor, you cannot expect me to go there."
+
+     Elinor would not argue upon the propriety of overcoming
+such feelings;--she only endeavoured to counteract them by
+working on others;--represented it, therefore, as a measure
+which would fix the time of her returning to that dear mother,
+whom she so much wished to see, in a more eligible,
+more comfortable manner, than any other plan could do,
+and perhaps without any greater delay.  From Cleveland,
+which was within a few miles of Bristol, the distance to
+Barton was not beyond one day, though a long day's journey;
+and their mother's servant might easily come there to attend
+them down; and as there could be no occasion of their
+staying above a week at Cleveland, they might now be at
+home in little more than three weeks' time.  As Marianne's
+affection for her mother was sincere, it must triumph
+with little difficulty, over the imaginary evils she had started.
+
+     Mrs. Jennings was so far from being weary of her guest,
+that she pressed them very earnestly to return with her again
+from Cleveland.  Elinor was grateful for the attention,
+but it could not alter her design; and their mother's
+concurrence being readily gained, every thing relative
+to their return was arranged as far as it could be;--
+and Marianne found some relief in drawing up a statement
+of the hours that were yet to divide her from Barton.
+
+     "Ah! Colonel, I do not know what you and I shall
+do without the Miss Dashwoods;"--was Mrs. Jennings's
+address to him when he first called on her, after their
+leaving her was settled--"for they are quite resolved
+upon going home from the Palmers;--and how forlorn we
+shall be, when I come back!--Lord! we shall sit and gape
+at one another as dull as two cats."
+
+     Perhaps Mrs. Jennings was in hopes, by this vigorous
+sketch of their future ennui, to provoke him to make
+that offer, which might give himself an escape from it;--
+and if so, she had soon afterwards good reason to think
+her object gained; for, on Elinor's moving to the window
+to take more expeditiously the dimensions of a print,
+which she was going to copy for her friend, he followed
+her to it with a look of particular meaning, and conversed
+with her there for several minutes.  The effect of his
+discourse on the lady too, could not escape her observation,
+for though she was too honorable to listen, and had even
+changed her seat, on purpose that she might NOT hear,
+to one close by the piano forte on which Marianne
+was playing, she could not keep herself from seeing
+that Elinor changed colour, attended with agitation,
+and was too intent on what he said to pursue her employment.--
+Still farther in confirmation of her hopes, in the interval
+of Marianne's turning from one lesson to another,
+some words of the Colonel's inevitably reached her ear,
+in which he seemed to be apologising for the badness
+of his house.  This set the matter beyond a doubt.
+She wondered, indeed, at his thinking it necessary
+to do so; but supposed it to be the proper etiquette.
+What Elinor said in reply she could not distinguish,
+but judged from the motion of her lips, that she did
+not think THAT any material objection;--and Mrs. Jennings
+commended her in her heart for being so honest.
+They then talked on for a few minutes longer without her
+catching a syllable, when another lucky stop in Marianne's
+performance brought her these words in the Colonel's calm
+voice,--
+
+     "I am afraid it cannot take place very soon."
+
+     Astonished and shocked at so unlover-like a speech,
+she was almost ready to cry out, "Lord! what should 
+hinder it?"--but checking her desire, confined herself 
+to this silent ejaculation.
+
+     "This is very strange!--sure he need not wait
+to be older."
+
+     This delay on the Colonel's side, however, did not
+seem to offend or mortify his fair companion in the least,
+for on their breaking up the conference soon afterwards,
+and moving different ways, Mrs. Jennings very plainly heard
+Elinor say, and with a voice which shewed her to feel what she said,
+
+     "I shall always think myself very much obliged to you."
+
+     Mrs. Jennings was delighted with her gratitude,
+and only wondered that after hearing such a sentence,
+the Colonel should be able to take leave of them, as he
+immediately did, with the utmost sang-froid, and go away
+without making her any reply!--She had not thought her old
+friend could have made so indifferent a suitor.
+
+     What had really passed between them was to this effect.
+
+     "I have heard," said he, with great compassion,
+"of the injustice your friend Mr. Ferrars has suffered
+from his family; for if I understand the matter right,
+he has been entirely cast off by them for persevering
+in his engagement with a very deserving young woman.--
+Have I been rightly informed?--Is it so?--"
+
+     Elinor told him that it was.
+
+     "The cruelty, the impolitic cruelty,"--he replied,
+with great feeling,--"of dividing, or attempting to divide,
+two young people long attached to each other, is terrible.--
+Mrs. Ferrars does not know what she may be doing--what
+she may drive her son to.  I have seen Mr. Ferrars two
+or three times in Harley Street, and am much pleased
+with him.  He is not a young man with whom one can
+be intimately acquainted in a short time, but I have
+seen enough of him to wish him well for his own sake,
+and as a friend of yours, I wish it still more.
+I understand that he intends to take orders.  Will you
+be so good as to tell him that the living of Delaford,
+now just vacant, as I am informed by this day's post, 
+is his, if he think it worth his acceptance--but THAT, 
+perhaps, so unfortunately circumstanced as he is now, 
+it may be  nonsense to appear to doubt; I only wish it 
+were more  valuable.-- It is a rectory, but a small one; 
+the late incumbent, I believe, did not make more than 
+200 L per annum, and though it is certainly capable 
+of improvement, I fear, not to such an amount as 
+to afford him a very comfortable income.  Such as it is, 
+however, my pleasure in presenting him to it, 
+will be very great.  Pray assure him of it."
+
+     Elinor's astonishment at this commission could
+hardly have been greater, had the Colonel been really
+making her an offer of his hand.  The preferment,
+which only two days before she had considered as hopeless
+for Edward, was already provided to enable him to marry;--
+and SHE, of all people in the world, was fixed on to
+bestow it!--Her emotion was such as Mrs. Jennings had
+attributed to a very different cause;--but whatever minor
+feelings less pure, less pleasing, might have a share
+in that emotion, her esteem for the general benevolence,
+and her gratitude for the particular friendship,
+which together prompted Colonel Brandon to this act,
+were strongly felt, and warmly expressed.  She thanked him
+for it with all her heart, spoke of Edward's principles and
+disposition with that praise which she knew them to deserve;
+and promised to undertake the commission with pleasure,
+if it were really his wish to put off so agreeable an office
+to another.  But at the same time, she could not help
+thinking that no one could so well perform it as himself.
+It was an office in short, from which, unwilling to give
+Edward the pain of receiving an obligation from HER,
+she would have been very glad to be spared herself;--
+but Colonel Brandon, on motives of equal delicacy,
+declining it likewise, still seemed so desirous of its being
+given through her means, that she would not on any account
+make farther opposition.  Edward, she believed, was still in town,
+and fortunately she had heard his address from Miss Steele.
+She could undertake therefore to inform him of it,
+in the course of the day.  After this had been settled,
+Colonel Brandon began to talk of his own advantage
+in securing so respectable and agreeable a neighbour,
+and THEN it was that he mentioned with regret, that the
+house was small and indifferent;--an evil which Elinor,
+as Mrs. Jennings had supposed her to do, made very light of,
+at least as far as regarded its size.
+
+     "The smallness of the house," said she,
+"I cannot imagine any inconvenience to them,
+for it will be in proportion to their family and income."
+
+     By which the Colonel was surprised to find that SHE
+was considering Mr. Ferrars's marriage as the certain
+consequence of the presentation; for he did not suppose it
+possible that Delaford living could supply such an income,
+as anybody in his style of life would venture to settle on--
+and he said so.
+
+     "This little rectory CAN do no more than make Mr. Ferrars
+comfortable as a bachelor; it cannot enable him to marry.
+I am sorry to say that my patronage ends with this;
+and my interest is hardly more extensive.  If, however,
+by an unforeseen chance it should be in my power to serve
+him farther, I must think very differently of him
+from what I now do, if I am not as ready to be useful
+to him then as I sincerely wish I could be at present.
+What I am now doing indeed, seems nothing at all,
+since it can advance him so little towards what must
+be his principal, his only object of happiness.
+His marriage must still be a distant good;--at least,
+I am afraid it cannot take place very soon.--"
+
+     Such was the sentence which, when misunderstood,
+so justly offended the delicate feelings of Mrs. Jennings;
+but after this narration of what really passed between
+Colonel Brandon and Elinor, while they stood at the window,
+the gratitude expressed by the latter on their parting, may
+perhaps appear in general, not less reasonably excited,
+nor less properly worded than if it had arisen from
+an offer of marriage.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 40
+
+
+     "Well, Miss Dashwood," said Mrs. Jennings,
+sagaciously smiling, as soon as the gentleman had withdrawn,
+"I do not ask you what the Colonel has been saying to you;
+for though, upon my honour, I TRIED to keep out of hearing,
+I could not help catching enough to understand his business.
+And I assure you I never was better pleased in my life,
+and I wish you joy of it with all my heart."
+
+     "Thank you, ma'am," said Elinor.  "It is a matter
+of great joy to me; and I feel the goodness of Colonel
+Brandon most sensibly.  There are not many men who would
+act as he has done.  Few people who have so compassionate
+a heart!  I never was more astonished in my life."
+
+     "Lord! my dear, you are very modest.  I an't the least
+astonished at it in the world, for I have often thought
+of late, there was nothing more likely to happen."
+
+     "You judged from your knowledge of the Colonel's
+general benevolence; but at least you could not foresee
+that the opportunity would so very soon occur."
+
+     "Opportunity!" repeated Mrs. Jennings--"Oh! as to that,
+when a man has once made up his mind to such a thing,
+somehow or other he will soon find an opportunity.
+Well, my dear, I wish you joy of it again and again;
+and if ever there was a happy couple in the world, I think
+I shall soon know where to look for them."
+
+     "You mean to go to Delaford after them I suppose,"
+said Elinor, with a faint smile.
+
+     "Aye, my dear, that I do, indeed.  And as to the house
+being a bad one, I do not know what the Colonel would be at,
+for it is as good a one as ever I saw."
+
+     "He spoke of its being out of repair."
+
+     "Well, and whose fault is that? why don't he repair it?--
+who should do it but himself?"
+
+     They were interrupted by the servant's coming in to
+announce the carriage being at the door; and Mrs. Jennings
+immediately preparing to go, said,--
+
+     "Well, my dear, I must be gone before I have had half
+my talk out.  But, however, we may have it all over in
+the evening; for we shall be quite alone.  I do not ask
+you to go with me, for I dare say your mind is too full
+of the matter to care for company; and besides, you must
+long to tell your sister all about it."
+
+     Marianne had left the room before the conversation began.
+
+     "Certainly, ma'am, I shall tell Marianne of it;
+but I shall not mention it at present to any body else."
+
+     "Oh! very well," said Mrs. Jennings rather disappointed.
+"Then you would not have me tell it to Lucy, for I think
+of going as far as Holborn to-day."
+
+     "No, ma'am, not even Lucy if you please.
+One day's delay will not be very material; and till I
+have written to Mr. Ferrars, I think it ought not to be
+mentioned to any body else.  I shall do THAT directly.
+It is of importance that no time should be lost with him,
+for he will of course have much to do relative to
+his ordination."
+
+     This speech at first puzzled Mrs. Jennings exceedingly.
+Why Mr. Ferrars was to have been written to about it
+in such a hurry, she could not immediately comprehend.
+A few moments' reflection, however, produced a very happy idea,
+and she exclaimed;--
+
+     "Oh, ho!--I understand you.  Mr. Ferrars is to be
+the man.  Well, so much the better for him.  Ay, to be sure,
+he must be ordained in readiness; and I am very glad
+to find things are so forward between you.  But, my dear,
+is not this rather out of character?  Should not the Colonel
+write himself?--sure, he is the proper person."
+
+     Elinor did not quite understand the beginning of
+Mrs. Jennings's speech, neither did she think it worth
+inquiring into; and therefore only replied to its conclusion.
+
+     "Colonel Brandon is so delicate a man, that he rather
+wished any one to announce his intentions to Mr. Ferrars
+than himself."
+
+     "And so YOU are forced to do it.  Well THAT is an odd
+kind of delicacy!  However, I will not disturb you (seeing
+her preparing to write.)  You know your own concerns best.
+So goodby, my dear.  I have not heard of any thing to
+please me so well since Charlotte was brought to bed."
+
+     And away she went; but returning again in a moment,
+
+     "I have just been thinking of Betty's sister, my dear.
+I should be very glad to get her so good a mistress.
+But whether she would do for a lady's maid, I am sure I
+can't tell.  She is an excellent housemaid, and works
+very well at her needle.  However, you will think of all
+that at your leisure."
+
+     "Certainly, ma'am," replied Elinor, not hearing
+much of what she said, and more anxious to be alone,
+than to be mistress of the subject.
+
+     How she should begin--how she should express
+herself in her note to Edward, was now all her concern.
+The particular circumstances between them made
+a difficulty of that which to any other person would
+have been the easiest thing in the world; but she
+equally feared to say too much or too little, and sat
+deliberating over her paper, with the pen in her band,
+till broken in on by the entrance of Edward himself.
+
+     He had met Mrs. Jennings at the door in her way to
+the carriage, as he came to leave his farewell card; and she,
+after apologising for not returning herself, had obliged
+him to enter, by saying that Miss Dashwood was above,
+and wanted to speak with him on very particular business.
+
+     Elinor had just been congratulating herself,
+in the midst of her perplexity, that however difficult it
+might be to express herself properly by letter, it was
+at least preferable to giving the information by word
+of mouth, when her visitor entered, to force her upon this
+greatest exertion of all.  Her astonishment and confusion
+were very great on his so sudden appearance.  She had
+not seen him before since his engagement became public,
+and therefore not since his knowing her to be acquainted
+with it; which, with the consciousness of what she
+had been thinking of, and what she had to tell him,
+made her feel particularly uncomfortable for some minutes.
+He too was much distressed; and they sat down together
+in a most promising state of embarrassment.--Whether he
+had asked her pardon for his intrusion on first coming
+into the room, he could not recollect; but determining
+to be on the safe side, he made his apology in form
+as soon as he could say any thing, after taking a chair.
+
+     "Mrs. Jennings told me," said he, "that you wished
+to speak with me, at least I understood her so--or I
+certainly should not have intruded on you in such a manner;
+though at the same time, I should have been extremely
+sorry to leave London without seeing you and your sister;
+especially as it will most likely be some time--it
+is not probable that I should soon have the pleasure
+of meeting you again.  I go to Oxford tomorrow."
+
+     "You would not have gone, however," said Elinor,
+recovering herself, and determined to get over what she
+so much dreaded as soon as possible, "without receiving
+our good wishes, even if we had not been able to give them
+in person.  Mrs. Jennings was quite right in what she said.
+I have something of consequence to inform you of,
+which I was on the point of communicating by paper.
+I am charged with a most agreeable office (breathing
+rather faster than usual as she spoke.)  Colonel Brandon,
+who was here only ten minutes ago, has desired me to say,
+that understanding you mean to take orders, he has
+great pleasure in offering you the living of Delaford
+now just vacant, and only wishes it were more valuable.
+Allow me to congratulate you on having so respectable
+and well-judging a friend, and to join in his wish that
+the living--it is about two hundred a-year--were much
+more considerable, and such as might better enable you
+to--as might be more than a temporary accommodation to
+yourself--such, in short, as might establish all your views
+of happiness."
+
+     What Edward felt, as he could not say it himself,
+it cannot be expected that any one else should say for him.
+He LOOKED all the astonishment which such unexpected,
+such unthought-of information could not fail of exciting;
+but he said only these two words,
+
+     "Colonel Brandon!"
+
+     "Yes," continued Elinor, gathering more resolution,
+as some of the worst was over, "Colonel Brandon means
+it as a testimony of his concern for what has lately
+passed--for the cruel situation in which the unjustifiable
+conduct of your family has placed you--a concern
+which I am sure Marianne, myself, and all your friends,
+must share; and likewise as a proof of his high esteem
+for your general character, and his particular approbation
+of your behaviour on the present occasion."
+
+     "Colonel Brandon give ME a living!--Can it be possible?"
+
+     "The unkindness of your own relations has made you
+astonished to find friendship any where."
+
+     "No," replied be, with sudden consciousness, "not to
+find it in YOU; for I cannot be ignorant that to you,
+to your goodness, I owe it all.--I feel it--I would express
+it if I could--but, as you well know, I am no orator."
+
+     "You are very much mistaken.  I do assure you
+that you owe it entirely, at least almost entirely,
+to your own merit, and Colonel Brandon's discernment
+of it.  I have had no hand in it.  I did not even know,
+till I understood his design, that the living was vacant;
+nor had it ever occurred to me that he might have
+had such a living in his gift.  As a friend of mine,
+of my family, he may, perhaps--indeed I know he HAS,
+still greater pleasure in bestowing it; but, upon my word,
+you owe nothing to my solicitation."
+
+     Truth obliged her to acknowledge some small share
+in the action, but she was at the same time so unwilling
+to appear as the benefactress of Edward, that she acknowledged
+it with hesitation; which probably contributed to fix
+that suspicion in his mind which had recently entered it.
+For a short time he sat deep in thought, after Elinor had ceased
+to speak;--at last, and as if it were rather an effort, he said,
+
+     "Colonel Brandon seems a man of great worth
+and respectability.  I have always heard him spoken
+of as such, and your brother I know esteems him highly.
+He is undoubtedly a sensible man, and in his manners
+perfectly the gentleman."
+
+     "Indeed," replied Elinor, "I believe that you will find him,
+on farther acquaintance, all that you have heard him to be,
+and as you will be such very near neighbours (for I understand
+the parsonage is almost close to the mansion-house,)
+it is particularly important that he SHOULD be all this."
+
+     Edward made no answer; but when she had turned
+away her head, gave her a look so serious, so earnest,
+so uncheerful, as seemed to say, that he might hereafter wish
+the distance between the parsonage and the mansion-house
+much greater.
+
+     "Colonel Brandon, I think, lodges in St. James Street,"
+said he, soon afterwards, rising from his chair.
+
+     Elinor told him the number of the house.
+
+     "I must hurry away then, to give him those thanks
+which you will not allow me to give YOU; to assure him
+that he has made me a very--an exceedingly happy man."
+
+     Elinor did not offer to detain him; and they parted,
+with a very earnest assurance on HER side of her unceasing
+good wishes for his happiness in every change of situation
+that might befall him; on HIS, with rather an attempt to
+return the same good will, than the power of expressing it.
+
+     "When I see him again," said Elinor to herself,
+as the door shut him out, "I shall see him the husband
+of Lucy."
+
+     And with this pleasing anticipation, she sat down
+to reconsider the past, recall the words and endeavour
+to comprehend all the feelings of Edward; and, of course,
+to reflect on her own with discontent.
+
+     When Mrs. Jennings came home, though she returned
+from seeing people whom she had never seen before,
+and of whom therefore she must have a great deal to say,
+her mind was so much more occupied by the important secret
+in her possession, than by anything else, that she
+reverted to it again as soon as Elinor appeared.
+
+     "Well, my dear," she cried, "I sent you up to the
+young man.  Did not I do right?--And I suppose you had
+no great difficulty--You did not find him very unwilling
+to accept your proposal?"
+
+     "No, ma'am; THAT was not very likely."
+
+     "Well, and how soon will he be ready?--For it seems
+all to depend upon that."
+
+     "Really," said Elinor, "I know so little of these kind
+of forms, that I can hardly even conjecture as to the time,
+or the preparation necessary; but I suppose two or three
+months will complete his ordination."
+
+     "Two or three months!" cried Mrs. Jennings; "Lord! my dear,
+how calmly you talk of it; and can the Colonel wait two
+or three months! Lord bless me!--I am sure it would put ME
+quite out of patience!--And though one would be very glad
+to do a kindness by poor Mr. Ferrars, I do think it is
+not worth while to wait two or three months for him.
+Sure somebody else might be found that would do as well;
+somebody that is in orders already."
+
+     "My dear ma'am," said Elinor, "what can you be thinking of?-- 
+Why, Colonel Brandon's only object is to be of use to Mr. Ferrars."
+
+     "Lord bless you, my dear!--Sure you do not mean to persuade 
+me that the Colonel only marries you for the sake of giving 
+ten guineas to Mr. Ferrars!"
+
+     The deception could not continue after this;
+and an explanation immediately took place, by which both
+gained considerable amusement for the moment, without any
+material loss of happiness to either, for Mrs. Jennings
+only exchanged one form of delight for another, and still
+without forfeiting her expectation of the first.
+
+     "Aye, aye, the parsonage is but a small one," said she,
+after the first ebullition of surprise and satisfaction
+was over, "and very likely MAY be out of repair; but to hear
+a man apologising, as I thought, for a house that to my
+knowledge has five sitting rooms on the ground-floor, and I
+think the housekeeper told me could make up fifteen beds!--
+and to you too, that had been used to live in Barton 
+cottage!--It seems quite ridiculous.  But, my dear, we must
+touch up the Colonel to do some thing to the parsonage,
+and make it comfortable for them, before Lucy goes to it."
+
+     "But Colonel Brandon does not seem to have any idea
+of the living's being enough to allow them to marry."
+
+     "The Colonel is a ninny, my dear; because he has two
+thousand a-year himself, he thinks that nobody else can marry
+on less.  Take my word for it, that, if I am alive, I shall
+be paying a visit at Delaford Parsonage before Michaelmas;
+and I am sure I sha'nt go if Lucy an't there."
+
+     Elinor was quite of her opinion, as to the probability
+of their not waiting for any thing more.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 41
+
+
+     Edward, having carried his thanks to Colonel Brandon,
+proceeded with his happiness to Lucy; and such was the
+excess of it by the time he reached Bartlett's Buildings,
+that she was able to assure Mrs. Jennings, who called
+on her again the next day with her congratulations,
+that she had never seen him in such spirits before in
+her life.
+
+     Her own happiness, and her own spirits, were at
+least very certain; and she joined Mrs. Jennings most
+heartily in her expectation of their being all comfortably
+together in Delaford Parsonage before Michaelmas.
+So far was she, at the same time, from any backwardness
+to give Elinor that credit which Edward WOULD give her,
+that she spoke of her friendship for them both with the most
+grateful warmth, was ready to own all their obligation
+to her, and openly declared that no exertion for their
+good on Miss Dashwood's part, either present or future,
+would ever surprise her, for she believed her capable of
+doing any thing in the world for those she really valued.
+As for Colonel Brandon, she was not only ready to worship
+him as a saint, but was moreover truly anxious that
+he should be treated as one in all worldly concerns;
+anxious that his tithes should be raised to the utmost;
+and scarcely resolved to avail herself, at Delaford,
+as far as she possibly could, of his servants, his carriage,
+his cows, and his poultry.
+
+     It was now above a week since John Dashwood had
+called in Berkeley Street, and as since that time no notice
+had been taken by them of his wife's indisposition,
+beyond one verbal enquiry, Elinor began to feel it
+necessary to pay her a visit.--This was an obligation,
+however, which not only opposed her own inclination,
+but which had not the assistance of any encouragement
+from her companions.  Marianne, not contented with
+absolutely refusing to go herself, was very urgent
+to prevent her sister's going at all; and Mrs. Jennings,
+though her carriage was always at Elinor's service,
+so very much disliked Mrs. John Dashwood, that not even her
+curiosity to see how she looked after the late discovery,
+nor her strong desire to affront her by taking Edward's part,
+could overcome her unwillingness to be in her company again.
+The consequence was, that Elinor set out by herself
+to pay a visit, for which no one could really have
+less inclination, and to run the risk of a tete-a-tete
+with a woman, whom neither of the others had so much 
+reason to dislike.
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood was denied; but before the carriage could
+turn from the house, her husband accidentally came out.
+He expressed great pleasure in meeting Elinor, told her
+that he had been just going to call in Berkeley Street, and,
+assuring her that Fanny would be very glad to see her,
+invited her to come in.
+
+     They walked up stairs in to the drawing-room.--Nobody
+was there.
+
+     "Fanny is in her own room, I suppose," said he:--"I
+will go to her presently, for I am sure she will not
+have the least objection in the world to seeing YOU.--
+Very far from it, indeed.  NOW especially there
+cannot be--but however, you and Marianne were always
+great favourites.--Why would not Marianne come?"--
+
+     Elinor made what excuse she could for her.
+
+     "I am not sorry to see you alone," he replied,
+"for I have a good deal to say to you.  This living
+of Colonel Brandon's--can it be true?--has he really given
+it to Edward?--I heard it yesterday by chance, and was
+coming to you on purpose to enquire farther about it."
+
+     "It is perfectly true.--Colonel Brandon has given
+the living of Delaford to Edward."
+
+     "Really!--Well, this is very astonishing!--no
+relationship!--no connection between them!--and now
+that livings fetch such a price!--what was the value of this?"
+
+     "About two hundred a year."
+
+     "Very well--and for the next presentation to a living
+of that value--supposing the late incumbent to have
+been old and sickly, and likely to vacate it soon--he
+might have got I dare say--fourteen hundred pounds.
+And how came he not to have settled that matter before this
+person's death?--NOW indeed it would be too late to sell it,
+but a man of Colonel Brandon's sense!--I wonder he should
+be so improvident in a point of such common, such natural,
+concern!--Well, I am convinced that there is a vast deal
+of inconsistency in almost every human character.  I suppose,
+however--on recollection--that the case may probably be THIS.
+Edward is only to hold the living till the person to whom
+the Colonel has really sold the presentation, is old enough
+to take it.--Aye, aye, that is the fact, depend upon it."
+
+     Elinor contradicted it, however, very positively;
+and by relating that she had herself been employed
+in conveying the offer from Colonel Brandon to Edward,
+and, therefore, must understand the terms on which it
+was given, obliged him to submit to her authority.
+
+     "It is truly astonishing!"--he cried, after hearing
+what she said--"what could be the Colonel's motive?"
+
+     "A very simple one--to be of use to Mr. Ferrars."
+
+     "Well, well; whatever Colonel Brandon may be,
+Edward is a very lucky man.--You will not mention the matter
+to Fanny, however, for though I have broke it to her,
+and she bears it vastly well,--she will not like to hear
+it much talked of."
+
+     Elinor had some difficulty here to refrain from observing,
+that she thought Fanny might have borne with composure,
+an acquisition of wealth to her brother, by which neither
+she nor her child could be possibly impoverished.
+
+     "Mrs. Ferrars," added he, lowering his voice to the
+tone becoming so important a subject, "knows nothing
+about it at present, and I believe it will be best to
+keep it entirely concealed from her as long as may be.--
+When the marriage takes place, I fear she must hear
+of it all."
+
+     "But why should such precaution be used?--Though
+it is not to be supposed that Mrs. Ferrars can have
+the smallest satisfaction in knowing that her son has
+money enough to live upon,--for THAT must be quite
+out of the question; yet why, upon her late behaviour,
+is she supposed to feel at all?--She has done with her
+son, she cast him off for ever, and has made all those
+over whom she had any influence, cast him off likewise.
+Surely, after doing so, she cannot be imagined liable
+to any impression of sorrow or of joy on his account--
+she cannot be interested in any thing that befalls him.--
+She would not be so weak as to throw away the comfort
+of a child, and yet retain the anxiety of a parent!"
+
+     "Ah! Elinor," said John, "your reasoning is very good,
+but it is founded on ignorance of human nature.
+When Edward's unhappy match takes place, depend upon it
+his mother will feel as much as if she had never discarded him;
+and, therefore every circumstance that may accelerate that
+dreadful event, must be concealed from her as much as possible.
+Mrs. Ferrars can never forget that Edward is her son."
+
+     "You surprise me; I should think it must nearly
+have escaped her memory by THIS time."
+
+     "You wrong her exceedingly.  Mrs. Ferrars is one
+of the most affectionate mothers in the world."
+
+     Elinor was silent.
+
+     "We think NOW,"--said Mr. Dashwood, after a short pause,
+"of ROBERT'S marrying Miss Morton."
+
+     Elinor, smiling at the grave and decisive importance
+of her brother's tone, calmly replied,
+
+     "The lady, I suppose, has no choice in the affair."
+
+     "Choice!--how do you mean?"
+
+     "I only mean that I suppose, from your manner
+of speaking, it must be the same to Miss Morton whether
+she marry Edward or Robert."
+
+     "Certainly, there can be no difference; for Robert
+will now to all intents and purposes be considered
+as the eldest son;--and as to any thing else, they are
+both very agreeable young men: I do not know that one
+is superior to the other."
+
+     Elinor said no more, and John was also for a short
+time silent.--His reflections ended thus.
+
+     "Of ONE thing, my dear sister," kindly taking her hand,
+and speaking in an awful whisper,--"I may assure you;--
+and I WILL do it, because I know it must gratify you.
+I have good reason to think--indeed I have it from the
+best authority, or I should not repeat it, for otherwise
+it would be very wrong to say any thing about it--but
+I have it from the very best authority--not that I ever
+precisely heard Mrs. Ferrars say it herself--but her
+daughter DID, and I have it from her--That in short,
+whatever objections there might be against a certain--a
+certain connection--you understand me--it would have been
+far preferable to her, it would not have given her half
+the vexation that THIS does.  I was exceedingly pleased
+to hear that Mrs. Ferrars considered it in that light--
+a very gratifying circumstance you know to us all.
+'It would have been beyond comparison,' she said, 'the least
+evil of the two, and she would be glad to compound NOW
+for nothing worse.' But however, all that is quite out
+of the question--not to be thought of or mentioned--
+as to any attachment you know--it never could be--all
+that is gone by.  But I thought I would just tell you
+of this, because I knew how much it must please you.
+Not that you have any reason to regret, my dear Elinor.  There
+is no doubt of your doing exceedingly well--quite as well,
+or better, perhaps, all things considered.  Has Colonel
+Brandon been with you lately?"
+
+     Elinor had heard enough, if not to gratify her vanity,
+and raise her self-importance, to agitate her nerves
+and fill her mind;--and she was therefore glad to be
+spared from the necessity of saying much in reply herself,
+and from the danger of hearing any thing more from
+her brother, by the entrance of Mr. Robert Ferrars.
+After a few moments' chat, John Dashwood, recollecting that
+Fanny was yet uninformed of her sister's being there,
+quitted the room in quest of her; and Elinor was left
+to improve her acquaintance with Robert, who, by the
+gay unconcern, the happy self-complacency of his manner
+while enjoying so unfair a division of his mother's love
+and liberality, to the prejudice of his banished brother,
+earned only by his own dissipated course of life, and that
+brother's integrity, was confirming her most unfavourable
+opinion of his head and heart.
+
+     They had scarcely been two minutes by themselves,
+before he began to speak of Edward; for he, too, had heard
+of the living, and was very inquisitive on the subject.
+Elinor repeated the particulars of it, as she had given them
+to John; and their effect on Robert, though very different,
+was not less striking than it had been on HIM.  He laughed
+most immoderately.  The idea of Edward's being a clergyman,
+and living in a small parsonage-house, diverted him
+beyond measure;--and when to that was added the fanciful
+imagery of Edward reading prayers in a white surplice,
+and publishing the banns of marriage between John Smith and
+Mary Brown, he could conceive nothing more ridiculous.
+
+     Elinor, while she waited in silence and immovable
+gravity, the conclusion of such folly, could not restrain
+her eyes from being fixed on him with a look that spoke
+all the contempt it excited.  It was a look, however,
+very well bestowed, for it relieved her own feelings, and gave
+no intelligence to him.  He was recalled from wit to wisdom,
+not by any reproof of her's, but by his own sensibility.
+
+     "We may treat it as a joke," said he, at last,
+recovering from the affected laugh which had considerably
+lengthened out the genuine gaiety of the moment--"but, upon
+my soul, it is a most serious business.  Poor Edward!
+he is ruined for ever.  I am extremely sorry for it--
+for I know him to be a very good-hearted creature; as
+well-meaning a fellow perhaps, as any in the world.
+You must not judge of him, Miss Dashwood, from YOUR
+slight acquaintance.--Poor Edward!--His manners are certainly
+not the happiest in nature.--But we are not all born,
+you know, with the same powers,--the same address.--
+Poor fellow!--to see him in a circle of strangers!--
+to be sure it was pitiable enough!--but upon my soul,
+I believe he has as good a heart as any in the kingdom;
+and I declare and protest to you I never was so shocked in my
+life, as when it all burst forth.  I could not believe it.--
+My mother was the first person who told me of it;
+and I, feeling myself called on to act with resolution,
+immediately said to her, 'My dear madam, I do not know
+what you may intend to do on the occasion, but as for myself,
+I must say, that if Edward does marry this young woman,
+I never will see him again.' That was what I said immediately.--
+I was most uncommonly shocked, indeed!--Poor Edward!--he has
+done for himself completely--shut himself out for ever from
+all decent society!--but, as I directly said to my mother,
+I am not in the least surprised at it; from his style
+of education, it was always to be expected.  My poor mother
+was half frantic."
+
+     "Have you ever seen the lady?"
+
+     "Yes; once, while she was staying in this house,
+I happened to drop in for ten minutes; and I saw
+quite enough of her.  The merest awkward country girl,
+without style, or elegance, and almost without beauty.--
+I remember her perfectly.  Just the kind of girl I
+should suppose likely to captivate poor Edward.
+I offered immediately, as soon as my mother related
+the affair to me, to talk to him myself, and dissuade
+him from the match; but it was too late THEN, I found,
+to do any thing, for unluckily, I was not in the way
+at first, and knew nothing of it till after the breach
+had taken place, when it was not for me, you know,
+to interfere.  But had I been informed of it a few
+hours earlier--I think it is most probable--that something
+might have been hit on.  I certainly should have represented
+it to Edward in a very strong light.  'My dear fellow,'
+I should have said, 'consider what you are doing.
+You are making a most disgraceful connection, and such a one
+as your family are unanimous in disapproving.' I cannot
+help thinking, in short, that means might have been found.
+But now it is all too late.  He must be starved, you know;--
+that is certain; absolutely starved."
+
+     He had just settled this point with great composure,
+when the entrance of Mrs. John Dashwood put an end to the subject.
+But though SHE never spoke of it out of her own family,
+Elinor could see its influence on her mind, in the something
+like confusion of countenance with which she entered,
+and an attempt at cordiality in her behaviour to herself.
+She even proceeded so far as to be concerned to find
+that Elinor and her sister were so soon to leave town,
+as she had hoped to see more of them;--an exertion
+in which her husband, who attended her into the room,
+and hung enamoured over her accents, seemed to distinguish
+every thing that was most affectionate and graceful.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 42
+
+
+     One other short call in Harley Street, in which Elinor
+received her brother's congratulations on their travelling
+so far towards Barton without any expense, and on Colonel
+Brandon's being to follow them to Cleveland in a day or two,
+completed the intercourse of the brother and sisters
+in town;--and a faint invitation from Fanny, to come
+to Norland whenever it should happen to be in their way,
+which of all things was the most unlikely to occur,
+with a more warm, though less public, assurance, from John
+to Elinor, of the promptitude with which he should come
+to see her at Delaford, was all that foretold any meeting
+in the country.
+
+     It amused her to observe that all her friends seemed
+determined to send her to Delaford;--a place, in which,
+of all others, she would now least chuse to visit, or wish
+to reside; for not only was it considered as her future
+home by her brother and Mrs. Jennings, but even Lucy,
+when they parted, gave her a pressing invitation to visit
+her there.
+
+     Very early in April, and tolerably early in the day,
+the two parties from Hanover Square and Berkeley Street set
+out from their respective homes, to meet, by appointment,
+on the road.  For the convenience of Charlotte and her child,
+they were to be more than two days on their journey,
+and Mr. Palmer, travelling more expeditiously with
+Colonel Brandon, was to join them at Cleveland soon after
+their arrival.
+
+     Marianne, few as had been her hours of comfort
+in London, and eager as she had long been to quit it,
+could not, when it came to the point, bid adieu to
+the house in which she had for the last time enjoyed
+those hopes, and that confidence, in Willoughby,
+which were now extinguished for ever, without great pain.
+Nor could she leave the place in which Willoughby remained,
+busy in new engagements, and new schemes, in which SHE
+could have no share, without shedding many tears.
+
+     Elinor's satisfaction, at the moment of removal,
+was more positive.  She had no such object for her lingering
+thoughts to fix on, she left no creature behind, from whom
+it would give her a moment's regret to be divided for ever,
+she was pleased to be free herself from the persecution
+of Lucy's friendship, she was grateful for bringing
+her sister away unseen by Willoughby since his marriage,
+and she looked forward with hope to what a few months
+of tranquility at Barton might do towards restoring
+Marianne's peace of mind, and confirming her own.
+
+     Their journey was safely performed.  The second
+day brought them into the cherished, or the prohibited,
+county of Somerset, for as such was it dwelt on by turns
+in Marianne's imagination; and in the forenoon of the third
+they drove up to Cleveland.
+
+     Cleveland was a spacious, modern-built house,
+situated on a sloping lawn.  It had no park, but the
+pleasure-grounds were tolerably extensive; and like
+every other place of the same degree of importance,
+it had its open shrubbery, and closer wood walk,
+a road of smooth gravel winding round a plantation,
+led to the front, the lawn was dotted over with timber,
+the house itself was under the guardianship of the fir,
+the mountain-ash, and the acacia, and a thick screen of
+them altogether, interspersed with tall Lombardy poplars,
+shut out the offices.
+
+     Marianne entered the house with a heart swelling
+with emotion from the consciousness of being only eighty
+miles from Barton, and not thirty from Combe Magna;
+and before she had been five minutes within its walls,
+while the others were busily helping Charlotte to show
+her child to the housekeeper, she quitted it again,
+stealing away through the winding shrubberies, now just
+beginning to be in beauty, to gain a distant eminence;
+where, from its Grecian temple, her eye, wandering over
+a wide tract of country to the south-east, could fondly
+rest on the farthest ridge of hills in the horizon,
+and fancy that from their summits Combe Magna might
+be seen.
+
+     In such moments of precious, invaluable misery,
+she rejoiced in tears of agony to be at Cleveland;
+and as she returned by a different circuit to the house,
+feeling all the happy privilege of country liberty,
+of wandering from place to place in free and luxurious solitude,
+she resolved to spend almost every hour of every day
+while she remained with the Palmers, in the indulgence of
+such solitary rambles.
+
+     She returned just in time to join the others
+as they quitted the house, on an excursion through its
+more immediate premises; and the rest of the morning was
+easily whiled away, in lounging round the kitchen garden,
+examining the bloom upon its walls, and listening to the
+gardener's lamentations upon blights, in dawdling through
+the green-house, where the loss of her favourite plants,
+unwarily exposed, and nipped by the lingering frost,
+raised the laughter of Charlotte,--and in visiting her
+poultry-yard, where, in the disappointed hopes of her
+dairy-maid, by hens forsaking their nests, or being
+stolen by a fox, or in the rapid decrease of a promising
+young brood, she found fresh sources of merriment.
+
+     The morning was fine and dry, and Marianne,
+in her plan of employment abroad, had not calculated
+for any change of weather during their stay at Cleveland.
+With great surprise therefore, did she find herself prevented
+by a settled rain from going out again after dinner.
+She had depended on a twilight walk to the Grecian temple,
+and perhaps all over the grounds, and an evening merely
+cold or damp would not have deterred her from it;
+but a heavy and settled rain even SHE could not fancy dry
+or pleasant weather for walking.
+
+     Their party was small, and the hours passed quietly away.
+Mrs. Palmer had her child, and Mrs. Jennings her carpet-work;
+they talked of the friends they had left behind,
+arranged Lady Middleton's engagements, and wondered
+whether Mr. Palmer and Colonel Brandon would get farther
+than Reading that night.  Elinor, however little concerned
+in it, joined in their discourse; and Marianne, who had
+the knack of finding her way in every house to the library,
+however it might be avoided by the family in general,
+soon procured herself a book.
+
+     Nothing was wanting on Mrs. Palmer's side that constant
+and friendly good humour could do, to make them feel
+themselves welcome.  The openness and heartiness of her
+manner more than atoned for that want of recollection
+and elegance which made her often deficient in the forms
+of politeness; her kindness, recommended by so pretty
+a face, was engaging; her folly, though evident
+was not disgusting, because it was not conceited;
+and Elinor could have forgiven every thing but her laugh.
+
+     The two gentlemen arrived the next day to a very
+late dinner, affording a pleasant enlargement of the party,
+and a very welcome variety to their conversation, which a
+long morning of the same continued rain had reduced very low.
+
+     Elinor had seen so little of Mr. Palmer, and in that
+little had seen so much variety in his address to her
+sister and herself, that she knew not what to expect
+to find him in his own family.  She found him, however,
+perfectly the gentleman in his behaviour to all his visitors,
+and only occasionally rude to his wife and her mother;
+she found him very capable of being a pleasant companion,
+and only prevented from being so always, by too great
+an aptitude to fancy himself as much superior to people
+in general, as he must feel himself to be to Mrs. Jennings
+and Charlotte.  For the rest of his character and habits,
+they were marked, as far as Elinor could perceive,
+with no traits at all unusual in his sex and time of life.
+He was nice in his eating, uncertain in his hours;
+fond of his child, though affecting to slight it;
+and idled away the mornings at billiards, which ought
+to have been devoted to business.  She liked him, however,
+upon the whole, much better than she had expected, and in
+her heart was not sorry that she could like him no more;--
+not sorry to be driven by the observation of his Epicurism,
+his selfishness, and his conceit, to rest with complacency
+on the remembrance of Edward's generous temper, simple taste,
+and diffident feelings.
+
+     Of Edward, or at least of some of his concerns,
+she now received intelligence from Colonel Brandon,
+who had been into Dorsetshire lately; and who,
+treating her at once as the disinterested friend
+of Mr. Ferrars, and the kind of confidant of himself,
+talked to her a great deal of the parsonage at Delaford,
+described its deficiencies, and told her what he meant
+to do himself towards removing them.--His behaviour
+to her in this, as well as in every other particular,
+his open pleasure in meeting her after an absence
+of only ten days, his readiness to converse with her,
+and his deference for her opinion, might very well
+justify Mrs. Jennings's persuasion of his attachment,
+and would have been enough, perhaps, had not Elinor still,
+as from the first, believed Marianne his real favourite,
+to make her suspect it herself.  But as it was,
+such a notion had scarcely ever entered her head,
+except by Mrs. Jennings's suggestion; and she could
+not help believing herself the nicest observer of the
+two;--she watched his eyes, while Mrs. Jennings thought
+only of his behaviour;--and while his looks of anxious
+solicitude on Marianne's feeling, in her head and throat,
+the beginning of a heavy cold, because unexpressed by words,
+entirely escaped the latter lady's observation;--SHE could 
+discover in them the quick feelings, and needless alarm 
+of a lover.
+
+     Two delighful twilight walks on the third and fourth
+evenings of her being there, not merely on the dry gravel
+of the shrubbery, but all over the grounds, and especially
+in the most distant parts of them, where there was something
+more of wildness than in the rest, where the trees were
+the oldest, and the grass was the longest and wettest,
+had--assisted by the still greater imprudence of sitting
+in her wet shoes and stockings--given Marianne a cold
+so violent as, though for a day or two trifled with
+or denied, would force itself by increasing ailments on
+the concern of every body, and the notice of herself.
+Prescriptions poured in from all quarters, and as usual,
+were all declined.  Though heavy and feverish, with a pain
+in her limbs, and a cough, and a sore throat, a good night's
+rest was to cure her entirely; and it was with difficulty
+that Elinor prevailed on her, when she went to bed,
+to try one or two of the simplest of the remedies.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 43
+
+
+     Marianne got up the next morning at her usual time;
+to every inquiry replied that she was better, and tried to
+prove herself so, by engaging in her accustomary employments.
+But a day spent in sitting shivering over the fire
+with a book in her hand, which she was unable to read,
+or in lying, weary and languid, on a sofa, did not speak
+much in favour of her amendment; and when, at last,
+she went early to bed, more and more indisposed, Colonel
+Brandon was only astonished at her sister's composure,
+who, though attending and nursing her the whole day,
+against Marianne inclination, and forcing proper medicines
+on her at night, trusted, like Marianne, to the certainty
+and efficacy of sleep, and felt no real alarm.
+
+     A very restless and feverish night, however,
+disappointed the expectation of both; and when Marianne,
+after persisting in rising, confessed herself unable
+to sit up, and returned voluntarily to her bed,
+Elinor was very ready to adopt Mrs. Jennings's advice,
+of sending for the Palmers' apothecary.
+
+     He came, examined his patient, and though encouraging
+Miss Dashwood to expect that a very few days would restore
+her sister to health, yet, by pronouncing her disorder
+to have a putrid tendency, and allowing the word "infection"
+to pass his lips, gave instant alarm to Mrs. Palmer,
+on her baby's account.  Mrs. Jennings, who had been inclined
+from the first to think Marianne's complaint more serious
+than Elinor, now looked very grave on Mr. Harris's report,
+and confirming Charlotte's fears and caution, urged the
+necessity of her immediate removal with her infant;
+and Mr. Palmer, though treating their apprehensions as idle,
+found the anxiety and importunity of his wife too great
+to be withstood.  Her departure, therefore, was fixed on;
+and within an hour after Mr. Harris's arrival, she set off,
+with her little boy and his nurse, for the house of a
+near relation of Mr. Palmer's, who lived a few miles
+on the other side of Bath; whither her husband promised,
+at her earnest entreaty, to join her in a day or two;
+and whither she was almost equally urgent with her
+mother to accompany her.  Mrs. Jennings, however, with a
+kindness of heart which made Elinor really love her,
+declared her resolution of not stirring from Cleveland
+as long as Marianne remained ill, and of endeavouring,
+by her own attentive care, to supply to her the place
+of the mother she had taken her from; and Elinor found her
+on every occasion a most willing and active helpmate,
+desirous to share in all her fatigues, and often by her
+better experience in nursing, of material use.
+
+     Poor Marianne, languid and low from the nature
+of her malady, and feeling herself universally ill,
+could no longer hope that tomorrow would find her recovered;
+and the idea of what tomorrow would have produced,
+but for this unlucky illness, made every ailment severe;
+for on that day they were to have begun their journey home;
+and, attended the whole way by a servant of Mrs. Jennings,
+were to have taken their mother by surprise on the
+following forenoon.  The little she said was all in
+lamentation of this inevitable delay; though Elinor tried
+to raise her spirits, and make her believe, as she THEN
+really believed herself, that it would be a very short one.
+
+     The next day produced little or no alteration in the
+state of the patient; she certainly was not better, and,
+except that there was no amendment, did not appear worse.
+Their party was now farther reduced; for Mr. Palmer,
+though very unwilling to go as well from real humanity
+and good-nature, as from a dislike of appearing to be
+frightened away by his wife, was persuaded at last
+by Colonel Brandon to perform his promise of following her;
+and while he was preparing to go, Colonel Brandon himself,
+with a much greater exertion, began to talk of going
+likewise.--Here, however, the kindness of Mrs. Jennings
+interposed most acceptably; for to send the Colonel away
+while his love was in so much uneasiness on her sister's
+account, would be to deprive them both, she thought,
+of every comfort; and therefore telling him at once
+that his stay at Cleveland was necessary to herself,
+that she should want him to play at piquet of an evening,
+while Miss Dashwood was above with her sister, &c. she
+urged him so strongly to remain, that he, who was gratifying
+the first wish of his own heart by a compliance, could not
+long even affect to demur; especially as Mrs. Jennings's
+entreaty was warmly seconded by Mr. Palmer, who seemed
+to feel a relief to himself, in leaving behind him a person
+so well able to assist or advise Miss Dashwood in any emergence.
+
+     Marianne was, of course, kept in ignorance of all
+these arrangements.  She knew not that she had been
+the means of sending the owners of Cleveland away,
+in about seven days from the time of their arrival.
+It gave her no surprise that she saw nothing of Mrs. Palmer;
+and as it gave her likewise no concern, she never mentioned
+her name.
+
+     Two days passed away from the time of Mr. Palmer's departure,
+and her situation continued, with little variation,
+the same.  Mr. Harris, who attended her every day,
+still talked boldly of a speedy recovery, and Miss Dashwood
+was equally sanguine; but the expectation of the others
+was by no means so cheerful.  Mrs. Jennings had determined
+very early in the seizure that Marianne would never
+get over it, and Colonel Brandon, who was chiefly
+of use in listening to Mrs. Jennings's forebodings,
+was not in a state of mind to resist their influence.
+He tried to reason himself out of fears, which the different
+judgment of the apothecary seemed to render absurd;
+but the many hours of each day in which he was left
+entirely alone, were but too favourable for the admission
+of every melancholy idea, and he could not expel from
+his mind the persuasion that he should see Marianne no more.
+
+     On the morning of the third day however, the gloomy
+anticipations of both were almost done away; for when
+Mr. Harris arrived, he declared his patient materially better.
+Her pulse was much stronger, and every symptom more favourable
+than on the preceding visit.  Elinor, confirmed in every
+pleasant hope, was all cheerfulness; rejoicing that
+in her letters to her mother, she had pursued her own
+judgment rather than her friend's, in making very light
+of the indisposition which delayed them at Cleveland;
+and almost fixing on the time when Marianne would be able 
+to travel.
+
+     But the day did not close so auspiciously as it began.--
+Towards the evening Marianne became ill again, growing 
+more heavy, restless, and uncomfortable than before.  
+Her sister, however, still sanguine, was willing to 
+attribute the change to nothing more than the fatigue 
+of having sat up to have her bed made; and carefully 
+administering the cordials prescribed, saw her, with 
+satisfaction, sink at last into a slumber, from which 
+she expected the most beneficial effects.  Her sleep, 
+though not so quiet as Elinor wished to see it,
+lasted a considerable time; and anxious to observe
+the result of it herself, she resolved to sit with her
+during the whole of it.  Mrs. Jennings, knowing nothing
+of any change in the patient, went unusually early to bed;
+her maid, who was one of the principal nurses, was recreating
+herself in the housekeeper's room, and Elinor remained
+alone with Marianne.
+
+     The repose of the latter became more and more disturbed;
+and her sister, who watched, with unremitting attention
+her continual change of posture, and heard the frequent
+but inarticulate sounds of complaint which passed her lips,
+was almost wishing to rouse her from so painful a slumber,
+when Marianne, suddenly awakened by some accidental noise
+in the house, started hastily up, and, with feverish wildness,
+cried out,--
+
+     "Is mama coming?--"
+
+     "Not yet," cried the other, concealing her terror,
+and assisting Marianne to lie down again, "but she will
+be here, I hope, before it is long.  It is a great way,
+you know, from hence to Barton."
+
+     "But she must not go round by London," cried Marianne,
+in the same hurried manner.  "I shall never see her,
+if she goes by London."
+
+     Elinor perceived with alarm that she was not
+quite herself, and, while attempting to soothe her,
+eagerly felt her pulse.  It was lower and quicker than ever!
+and Marianne, still talking wildly of mama, her alarm
+increased so rapidly, as to determine her on sending
+instantly for Mr. Harris, and despatching a messenger
+to Barton for her mother.  To consult with Colonel Brandon
+on the best means of effecting the latter, was a thought
+which immediately followed the resolution of its performance;
+and as soon she had rung up the maid to take her place
+by her sister, she hastened down to the drawing-room,
+where she knew he was generally to be found at a much
+later hour than the present.
+
+     It was no time for hesitation.  Her fears and her
+difficulties were immediately before him.  Her fears,
+he had no courage, no confidence to attempt the removal of:--
+he listened to them in silent despondence;--but her 
+difficulties were instantly obviated, for with a readiness 
+that seemed to speak the occasion, and the service 
+pre-arranged in his mind, he offered himself as the 
+messenger who should fetch Mrs. Dashwood.  Elinor made no 
+resistance that was not easily overcome.  She thanked him 
+with brief, though fervent gratitude, and while he went 
+to hurry off his servant with a message to Mr. Harris, and 
+an order for post-horses directly, she wrote a few lines 
+to her mother.
+
+     The comfort of such a friend at that moment as Colonel
+Brandon--or such a companion for her mother,--how gratefully
+was it felt!--a companion whose judgment would guide,
+whose attendance must relieve, and whose friendship might 
+soothe her!--as far as the shock of such a summons COULD 
+be lessened to her, his presence, his manners, his assistance, 
+would lessen it.
+
+     HE, meanwhile, whatever he might feel, acted with all
+the firmness of a collected mind, made every necessary
+arrangement with the utmost despatch, and calculated
+with exactness the time in which she might look for
+his return.  Not a moment was lost in delay of any kind.
+The horses arrived, even before they were expected,
+and Colonel Brandon only pressing her hand with a look
+of solemnity, and a few words spoken too low to reach her ear,
+hurried into the carriage.  It was then about twelve
+o'clock, and she returned to her sister's apartment to wait
+for the arrival of the apothecary, and to watch by her
+the rest of the night.  It was a night of almost equal
+suffering to both.  Hour after hour passed away in sleepless
+pain and delirium on Marianne's side, and in the most
+cruel anxiety on Elinor's, before Mr. Harris appeared.
+Her apprehensions once raised, paid by their excess for all
+her former security; and the servant who sat up with her,
+for she would not allow Mrs. Jennings to be called,
+only tortured her more, by hints of what her mistress
+had always thought.
+
+     Marianne's ideas were still, at intervals,
+fixed incoherently on her mother, and whenever she
+mentioned her name, it gave a pang to the heart of
+poor Elinor, who, reproaching herself for having trifled
+with so many days of illness, and wretched for some
+immediate relief, fancied that all relief might soon
+be in vain, that every thing had been delayed too long,
+and pictured to herself her suffering mother arriving
+too late to see this darling child, or to see her rational.
+
+     She was on the point of sending again for Mr. Harris,
+or if HE could not come, for some other advice, 
+when the former--but not till after five o'clock--arrived.
+His opinion, however, made some little amends for his delay,
+for though acknowledging a very unexpected and unpleasant
+alteration in his patient, he would not allow the danger
+to be material, and talked of the relief which a fresh
+mode of treatment must procure, with a confidence which,
+in a lesser degree, was communicated to Elinor.  He promised
+to call again in the course of three or four hours,
+and left both the patient and her anxious attendant more
+composed than he had found them.
+
+     With strong concern, and with many reproaches for not
+being called to their aid, did Mrs. Jennings hear in the
+morning of what had passed.  Her former apprehensions,
+now with greater reason restored, left her no doubt of
+the event; and though trying to speak comfort to Elinor,
+her conviction of her sister's danger would not allow her
+to offer the comfort of hope.  Her heart was really grieved.
+The rapid decay, the early death of a girl so young,
+so lovely as Marianne, must have struck a less interested
+person with concern.  On Mrs. Jennings's compassion
+she had other claims.  She had been for three months
+her companion, was still under her care, and she was
+known to have been greatly injured, and long unhappy.
+The distress of her sister too, particularly a favourite,
+was before her;--and as for their mother, when Mrs. Jennings
+considered that Marianne might probably be to HER what
+Charlotte was to herself, her sympathy in HER sufferings
+was very sincere.
+
+     Mr. Harris was punctual in his second visit;--
+but he came to be disappointed in his hopes of what the
+last would produce.  His medicines had failed;--the fever
+was unabated; and Marianne only more quiet--not more
+herself--remained in a heavy stupor.  Elinor, catching all,
+and more than all, his fears in a moment, proposed to call
+in further advice.  But he judged it unnecessary: he had
+still something more to try, some more fresh application,
+of whose success he was as confident as the last, and his
+visit concluded with encouraging assurances which reached
+the ear, but could not enter the heart of Miss Dashwood.
+She was calm, except when she thought of her mother;
+but she was almost hopeless; and in this state she continued
+till noon, scarcely stirring from her sister's bed,
+her thoughts wandering from one image of grief,
+one suffering friend to another, and her spirits oppressed
+to the utmost by the conversation of Mrs. Jennings,
+who scrupled not to attribute the severity and danger
+of this attack to the many weeks of previous indisposition
+which Marianne's disappointment had brought on.
+Elinor felt all the reasonableness of the idea, and it
+gave fresh misery to her reflections.
+
+     About noon, however, she began--but with a caution--a
+dread of disappointment which for some time kept her silent,
+even to her friend--to fancy, to hope she could perceive
+a slight amendment in her sister's pulse;--she waited,
+watched, and examined it again and again;--and at last,
+with an agitation more difficult to bury under exterior calmness,
+than all her foregoing distress, ventured to communicate
+her hopes.  Mrs. Jennings, though forced, on examination,
+to acknowledge a temporary revival, tried to keep her
+young friend from indulging a thought of its continuance;--
+and Elinor, conning over every injunction of distrust,
+told herself likewise not to hope.  But it was too late.
+Hope had already entered; and feeling all its anxious flutter,
+she bent over her sister to watch--she hardly knew for what.
+Half an hour passed away, and the favourable symptom
+yet blessed her.  Others even arose to confirm it.
+Her breath, her skin, her lips, all flattered Elinor
+with signs of amendment; and Marianne fixed her eyes on
+her with a rational, though languid, gaze.  Anxiety and
+hope now oppressed her in equal degrees, and left her no
+moment of tranquillity till the arrival of Mr. Harris at
+four o'clock;--when his assurances, his felicitations on
+a recovery in her sister even surpassing his expectation,
+gave her confidence, comfort, and tears of joy.
+
+     Marianne was in every respect materially better,
+and he declared her entirely out of danger.  Mrs. Jennings,
+perhaps satisfied with the partial justification of her
+forebodings which had been found in their late alarm,
+allowed herself to trust in his judgment, and admitted,
+with unfeigned joy, and soon with unequivocal cheerfulness,
+the probability of an entire recovery.
+
+     Elinor could not be cheerful.  Her joy was of a
+different kind, and led to any thing rather than to gaiety.
+Marianne restored to life, health, friends, and to her
+doting mother, was an idea to fill her heart with sensations
+of exquisite comfort, and expand it in fervent gratitude;--
+but it lead to no outward demonstrations of joy, no words,
+no smiles.  All within Elinor's breast was satisfaction,
+silent and strong.
+
+     She continued by the side of her sister, with little
+intermission the whole afternoon, calming every fear,
+satisfying every inquiry of her enfeebled spirits,
+supplying every succour, and watching almost every look and
+every breath.  The possibility of a relapse would of course,
+in some moments, occur to remind her of what anxiety was--
+but when she saw, on her frequent and minute examination,
+that every symptom of recovery continued, and saw Marianne
+at six o'clock sink into a quiet, steady, and to all
+appearance comfortable, sleep, she silenced every doubt.
+
+     The time was now drawing on, when Colonel Brandon
+might be expected back.  At ten o'clock, she trusted,
+or at least not much later her mother would be relieved
+from the dreadful suspense in which she must now be
+travelling towards them.  The Colonel, too!--perhaps scarcely
+less an object of pity!--Oh!--how slow was the progress
+of time which yet kept them in ignorance!
+
+     At seven o'clock, leaving Marianne still sweetly asleep,
+she joined Mrs. Jennings in the drawing-room to tea.
+Of breakfast she had been kept by her fears, and of
+dinner by their sudden reverse, from eating much;--
+and the present refreshment, therefore, with such feelings
+of content as she brought to it, was particularly welcome.
+Mrs. Jennings would have persuaded her, at its conclusion,
+to take some rest before her mother's arrival, and allow HER to
+take her place by Marianne; but Elinor had no sense of fatigue,
+no capability of sleep at that moment about her, and she was
+not to be kept away from her sister an unnecessary instant.
+Mrs. Jennings therefore attending her up stairs into the
+sick chamber, to satisfy herself that all continued right,
+left her there again to her charge and her thoughts,
+and retired to her own room to write letters and sleep.
+
+     The night was cold and stormy.  The wind roared
+round the house, and the rain beat against the windows;
+but Elinor, all happiness within, regarded it not.
+Marianne slept through every blast; and the travellers--
+they had a rich reward in store, for every present inconvenience.
+
+     The clock struck eight.  Had it been ten,
+Elinor would have been convinced that at that moment
+she heard a carriage driving up to the house;
+and so strong was the persuasion that she DID, in spite
+of the ALMOST impossibility of their being already come,
+that she moved into the adjoining dressing-closet and
+opened a window shutter, to be satisfied of the truth.
+She instantly saw that her ears had not deceived her.
+The flaring lamps of a carriage were immediately in view.
+By their uncertain light she thought she could discern it
+to be drawn by four horses; and this, while it told the
+excess of her poor mother's alarm, gave some explanation
+to such unexpected rapidity.
+
+     Never in her life had Elinor found it so difficult
+to be calm, as at that moment.  The knowledge of what her
+mother must be feeling as the carriage stopt at the door--
+of her doubt--her dread--perhaps her despair!--and
+of what SHE had to tell!--with such knowledge it was
+impossible to be calm.  All that remained to be done
+was to be speedy; and, therefore staying only till
+she could leave Mrs. Jennings's maid with her sister,
+she hurried down stairs.
+
+     The bustle in the vestibule, as she passed along
+an inner lobby, assured her that they were already
+in the house.  She rushed to the drawing-room,--she
+entered it,--and saw only Willoughby.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 44
+
+
+     Elinor, starting back with a look of horror at
+the sight of him, obeyed the first impulse of her heart
+in turning instantly to quit the room, and her hand
+was already on the lock, when its action was suspended
+by his hastily advancing, and saying, in a voice rather
+of command than supplication,
+
+     "Miss Dashwood, for half an hour--for ten minutes--
+I entreat you to stay."
+
+     "No, sir," she replied with firmness, "I shall NOT stay.
+Your business cannot be with ME.  The servants, I suppose,
+forgot to tell you that Mr. Palmer was not in the house."
+
+     "Had they told me," he cried with vehemence,
+"that Mr. Palmer and all his relations were at the devil,
+it would not have turned me from the door.  My business
+is with you, and only you."
+
+     "With me!"--in the utmost amazement--"well, sir,--
+be quick--and if you can--less violent."
+
+     "Sit down, and I will be both."
+
+     She hesitated; she knew not what to do.  The possibility
+of Colonel Brandon's arriving and finding her there,
+came across her.  But she had promised to hear him,
+and her curiosity no less than her honor was engaged.
+After a moment's recollection, therefore, concluding that
+prudence required dispatch, and that her acquiescence would
+best promote it, she walked silently towards the table,
+and sat down.  He took the opposite chair, and for half
+a minute not a word was said by either.
+
+     "Pray be quick, sir,"--said Elinor, impatiently;--
+"I have no time to spare."
+
+     He was sitting in an attitude of deep meditation,
+and seemed not to hear her.
+
+     "Your sister," said he, with abruptness, a moment
+afterwards--"is out of danger.  I heard it from the servant.
+God be praised!--But is it true? is it really true?"
+
+     Elinor would not speak.  He repeated the inquiry
+with yet greater eagerness.
+
+     "For God's sake tell me, is she out of danger,
+or is she not?"
+
+     "We hope she is."
+
+     He rose up, and walked across the room.
+
+     "Had I known as much half an hour ago--But
+since I AM here,"--speaking with a forced vivacity as he
+returned to his seat--"what does it signify?--For once,
+Miss Dashwood--it will be the last time, perhaps--let us
+be cheerful together.--I am in a fine mood for gaiety.--
+Tell me honestly"--a deeper glow overspreading his cheeks--
+"do you think me most a knave or a fool?"
+
+     Elinor looked at him with greater astonishment than ever.
+She began to think that be must be in liquor;--the
+strangeness of such a visit, and of such manners,
+seemed no otherwise intelligible; and with this impression
+she immediately rose, saying,
+
+     "Mr. Willoughby, I advise you at present to return
+to Combe--I am not at leisure to remain with you longer.--
+Whatever your business may be with me, will it be better
+recollected and explained to-morrow."
+
+     "I understand you," he replied, with an expressive smile,
+and a voice perfectly calm; "yes, I am very drunk.--
+A pint of porter with my cold beef at Marlborough was
+enough to over-set me."
+
+     "At Marlborough!"--cried Elinor, more and more at
+a loss to understand what he would be at.
+
+     "Yes,--I left London this morning at eight o'clock,
+and the only ten minutes I have spent out of my chaise
+since that time procured me a nuncheon at Marlborough."
+
+     The steadiness of his manner, and the intelligence
+of his eye as he spoke, convincing Elinor, that whatever
+other unpardonable folly might bring him to Cleveland,
+he was not brought there by intoxication, she said,
+after a moment's recollection,
+
+     "Mr. Willoughby, you OUGHT to feel, and I certainly
+DO--that after what has passed--your coming here in
+this manner, and forcing yourself upon my notice,
+requires a very particular excuse.--What is it, 
+that you mean by it?"--
+
+     "I mean,"--said he, with serious energy--"if I can,
+to make you hate me one degree less than you do NOW.
+I mean to offer some kind of explanation, some kind
+of apology, for the past; to open my whole heart to you,
+and by convincing you, that though I have been always
+a blockhead, I have not been always a rascal, to obtain
+something like forgiveness from Ma--from your sister."
+
+     "Is this the real reason of your coming?"
+
+     "Upon my soul it is,"--was his answer, with a warmth
+which brought all the former Willoughby to her remembrance,
+and in spite of herself made her think him sincere.
+
+     "If that is all, you may be satisfied already,--
+for Marianne DOES--she has LONG forgiven you."
+
+     "Has she?"--he cried, in the same eager tone.--
+"Then she has forgiven me before she ought to have done it.
+But she shall forgive me again, and on more reasonable 
+grounds.--NOW will you listen to me?"
+
+     Elinor bowed her assent.
+
+     "I do not know," said he, after a pause of expectation
+on her side, and thoughtfulness on his own,--"how YOU
+may have accounted for my behaviour to your sister,
+or what diabolical motive you may have imputed to me.--
+Perhaps you will hardly think the better of me,--it is
+worth the trial however, and you shall hear every thing.
+When I first became intimate in your family, I had no
+other intention, no other view in the acquaintance
+than to pass my time pleasantly while I was obliged to remain
+in Devonshire, more pleasantly than I had ever done before.
+Your sister's lovely person and interesting manners
+could not but please me; and her behaviour to me almost
+from the first, was of a kind--It is astonishing,
+when I reflect on what it was, and what SHE was, that my
+heart should have been so insensible!  But at first
+I must confess, my vanity only was elevated by it.
+Careless of her happiness, thinking only of my own amusement,
+giving way to feelings which I had always been too much
+in the habit of indulging, I endeavoured, by every means
+in my power, to make myself pleasing to her, without any
+design of returning her affection."
+
+     Miss Dashwood, at this point, turning her eyes on him
+with the most angry contempt, stopped him, by saying,
+
+     "It is hardly worth while, Mr. Willoughby,
+for you to relate, or for me to listen any longer.
+Such a beginning as this cannot be followed by any thing.--
+Do not let me be pained by hearing any thing more on
+the subject."
+
+     "I insist on you hearing the whole of it," he replied,
+"My fortune was never large, and I had always been expensive,
+always in the habit of associating with people of better
+income than myself.  Every year since my coming of age,
+or even before, I believe, had added to my debts; and though
+the death of my old cousin, Mrs. Smith, was to set me free;
+yet that event being uncertain, and possibly far distant,
+it had been for some time my intention to re-establish my
+circumstances by marrying a woman of fortune.  To attach
+myself to your sister, therefore, was not a thing to be
+thought of;--and with a meanness, selfishness, cruelty--
+which no indignant, no contemptuous look, even of yours,
+Miss Dashwood, can ever reprobate too much--I was acting
+in this manner, trying to engage her regard, without a
+thought of returning it.--But one thing may be said
+for me: even in that horrid state of selfish vanity,
+I did not know the extent of the injury I meditated,
+because I did not THEN know what it was to love.
+But have I ever known it?--Well may it be doubted; for, had I
+really loved, could I have sacrificed my feelings to vanity,
+to avarice?--or, what is more, could I have sacrificed hers?--
+But I have done it.  To avoid a comparative poverty,
+which her affection and her society would have deprived
+of all its horrors, I have, by raising myself to affluence,
+lost every thing that could make it a blessing."
+
+     "You did then," said Elinor, a little softened,
+"believe yourself at one time attached to her?"
+
+     "To have resisted such attractions, to have withstood
+such tenderness!--Is there a man on earth who could have
+done it?--Yes, I found myself, by insensible degrees,
+sincerely fond of her; and the happiest hours of my life
+were what I spent with her when I felt my intentions
+were strictly honourable, and my feelings blameless.
+Even THEN, however, when fully determined on paying
+my addresses to her, I allowed myself most improperly
+to put off, from day to day, the moment of doing it,
+from an unwillingness to enter into an engagement
+while my circumstances were so greatly embarrassed.
+I will not reason here--nor will I stop for YOU to expatiate
+on the absurdity, and the worse than absurdity, of scrupling
+to engage my faith where my honour was already bound.
+The event has proved, that I was a cunning fool,
+providing with great circumspection for a possible
+opportunity of making myself contemptible and wretched
+for ever.  At last, however, my resolution was taken,
+and I had determined, as soon as I could engage her alone,
+to justify the attentions I had so invariably paid her,
+and openly assure her of an affection which I had already
+taken such pains to display.  But in the interim--in the
+interim of the very few hours that were to pass, before I
+could have an opportunity of speaking with her in private--
+a circumstance occurred--an unlucky circumstance, to ruin 
+all my resolution, and with it all my comfort.  A discovery 
+took place,"--here he hesitated and looked down.--"Mrs. Smith 
+had somehow or other been informed, I imagine by some 
+distant relation, whose interest it was to deprive me of 
+her favour, of an affair, a connection--but I need not 
+explain myself farther," he added, looking at her with an 
+heightened colour and an enquiring eye--"your particular 
+intimacy--you have probably heard the whole story long ago."
+
+     "I have," returned Elinor, colouring likewise,
+and hardening her heart anew against any compassion for him,
+"I have heard it all.  And how you will explain away any
+part of your guilt in that dreadful business, I confess
+is beyond my comprehension."
+
+     "Remember," cried Willoughby, "from whom you received
+the account.  Could it be an impartial one?  I acknowledge
+that her situation and her character ought to have been
+respected by me.  I do not mean to justify myself, but at
+the same time cannot leave you to suppose that I have nothing
+to urge--that because she was injured she was irreproachable,
+and because I was a libertine, SHE must be a saint.
+If the violence of her passions, the weakness of her
+understanding--I do not mean, however, to defend myself.
+Her affection for me deserved better treatment, and I often,
+with great self-reproach, recall the tenderness which,
+for a very short time, had the power of creating any return.
+I wish--I heartily wish it had never been.  But I have injured
+more than herself; and I have injured one, whose affection
+for me--(may I say it?) was scarcely less warm than hers;
+and whose mind--Oh! how infinitely superior!"--
+
+     "Your indifference, however, towards that unfortunate
+girl--I must say it, unpleasant to me as the discussion
+of such a subject may well be--your indifference is no
+apology for your cruel neglect of her.  Do not think yourself
+excused by any weakness, any natural defect of understanding
+on her side, in the wanton cruelty so evident on yours.
+You must have known, that while you were enjoying yourself
+in Devonshire pursuing fresh schemes, always gay,
+always happy, she was reduced to the extremest indigence."
+
+     "But, upon my soul, I did NOT know it," he warmly
+replied; "I did not recollect that I had omitted to give
+her my direction; and common sense might have told her
+how to find it out."
+
+     "Well, sir, and what said Mrs. Smith?"
+
+     "She taxed me with the offence at once, and my confusion
+may be guessed.  The purity of her life, the formality
+of her notions, her ignorance of the world--every thing
+was against me.  The matter itself I could not deny,
+and vain was every endeavour to soften it.  She was
+previously disposed, I believe, to doubt the morality of my
+conduct in general, and was moreover discontented with
+the very little attention, the very little portion of my
+time that I had bestowed on her, in my present visit.
+In short, it ended in a total breach.  By one measure I
+might have saved myself.  In the height of her morality,
+good woman! she offered to forgive the past, if I would
+marry Eliza.  That could not be--and I was formally
+dismissed from her favour and her house.  The night
+following this affair--I was to go the next morning--
+was spent by me in deliberating on what my future conduct
+should be.  The struggle was great--but it ended too soon.
+My affection for Marianne, my thorough conviction of her
+attachment to me--it was all insufficient to outweigh
+that dread of poverty, or get the better of those false
+ideas of the necessity of riches, which I was naturally
+inclined to feel, and expensive society had increased.
+I had reason to believe myself secure of my present wife,
+if I chose to address her, and I persuaded myself to think
+that nothing else in common prudence remained for me to do.
+A heavy scene however awaited me, before I could leave
+Devonshire;--I was engaged to dine with you on that very day;
+some apology was therefore necessary for my breaking
+this engagement.  But whether I should write this apology,
+or deliver it in person, was a point of long debate.
+To see Marianne, I felt, would be dreadful, and I even doubted
+whether I could see her again, and keep to my resolution.
+In that point, however, I undervalued my own magnanimity,
+as the event declared; for I went, I saw her, and saw
+her miserable, and left her miserable--and left her hoping
+never to see her again."
+
+     "Why did you call, Mr. Willoughby?" said Elinor,
+reproachfully; "a note would have answered every purpose.--
+Why was it necessary to call?"
+
+     "It was necessary to my own pride.  I could not bear
+to leave the country in a manner that might lead you,
+or the rest of the neighbourhood, to suspect any part
+of what had really passed between Mrs. Smith and myself--
+and I resolved therefore on calling at the cottage,
+in my way to Honiton.  The sight of your dear sister,
+however, was really dreadful; and, to heighten the matter,
+I found her alone.  You were all gone I do not know where.
+I had left her only the evening before, so fully,
+so firmly resolved within my self on doing right! 
+A few hours were to have engaged her to me for ever;
+and I remember how happy, how gay were my spirits, as I
+walked from the cottage to Allenham, satisfied with myself,
+delighted with every body!  But in this, our last interview
+of friendship, I approached her with a sense of guilt
+that almost took from me the power of dissembling.
+Her sorrow, her disappointment, her deep regret, when I told
+her that I was obliged to leave Devonshire so immediately--I
+never shall forget it--united too with such reliance,
+such confidence in me!--Oh, God!--what a hard-hearted rascal
+I was!"
+
+     They were both silent for a few moments.
+Elinor first spoke.
+
+     "Did you tell her that you should soon return?"
+
+     "I do not know what I told her," he replied, impatiently;
+"less than was due to the past, beyond a doubt, and in all
+likelihood much more than was justified by the future.
+I cannot think of it.--It won't do.--Then came your dear mother
+to torture me farther, with all her kindness and confidence.
+Thank Heaven! it DID torture me.  I was miserable.
+Miss Dashwood, you cannot have an idea of the comfort it
+gives me to look back on my own misery.  I owe such a grudge
+to myself for the stupid, rascally folly of my own heart,
+that all my past sufferings under it are only triumph and
+exultation to me now.  Well, I went, left all that I loved,
+and went to those to whom, at best, I was only indifferent.
+My journey to town--travelling with my own horses,
+and therefore so tediously--no creature to speak to--my
+own reflections so cheerful--when I looked forward
+every thing so inviting!--when I looked back at Barton,
+the picture so soothing!--oh, it was a blessed journey!"
+
+     He stopped.
+
+     "Well, sir," said Elinor, who, though pitying him,
+grew impatient for his departure, "and this is all?"
+
+     "Ah!--no,--have you forgot what passed in town?--
+That infamous letter--Did she shew it you?"
+
+     "Yes, I saw every note that passed."
+
+     "When the first of hers reached me (as it immediately did,
+for I was in town the whole time,) what I felt is--
+in the common phrase, not to be expressed; in a more
+simple one--perhaps too simple to raise any emotion--
+my feelings were very, very painful.--Every line, every word
+was--in the hackneyed metaphor which their dear writer,
+were she here, would forbid--a dagger to my heart.
+To know that Marianne was in town was--in the same language--
+a thunderbolt.--Thunderbolts and daggers!--what a reproof
+would she have given me!--her taste, her opinions--I believe
+they are better known to me than my own,--and I am sure
+they are dearer."
+
+     Elinor's heart, which had undergone many changes
+in the course of this extraordinary conversation,
+was now softened again;--yet she felt it her duty to check
+such ideas in her companion as the last.
+
+     "This is not right, Mr. Willoughby.--Remember that
+you are married.  Relate only what in your conscience
+you think necessary for me to hear."
+
+     "Marianne's note, by assuring me that I was still
+as dear to her as in former days, that in spite of the many,
+many weeks we had been separated, she was as constant
+in her own feelings, and as full of faith in the constancy
+of mine as ever, awakened all my remorse.  I say awakened,
+because time and London, business and dissipation,
+had in some measure quieted it, and I had been growing
+a fine hardened villain, fancying myself indifferent to her,
+and chusing to fancy that she too must have become
+indifferent to me; talking to myself of our past attachment
+as a mere idle, trifling business, shrugging up my shoulders
+in proof of its being so, and silencing every reproach,
+overcoming every scruple, by secretly saying now and then,
+'I shall be heartily glad to hear she is well married.'--
+But this note made me know myself better.  I felt that
+she was infinitely dearer to me than any other woman
+in the world, and that I was using her infamously.
+But every thing was then just settled between Miss Grey
+and me.  To retreat was impossible.  All that I had to do,
+was to avoid you both.  I sent no answer to Marianne,
+intending by that to preserve myself from her farther notice;
+and for some time I was even determined not to call in
+Berkeley Street;--but at last, judging it wiser to affect
+the air of a cool, common acquaintance than anything else,
+I watched you all safely out of the house one morning,
+and left my name."
+
+     "Watched us out of the house!"
+
+     "Even so.  You would be surprised to hear how often
+I watched you, how often I was on the point of falling
+in with you.  I have entered many a shop to avoid your sight,
+as the carriage drove by.  Lodging as I did in Bond Street,
+there was hardly a day in which I did not catch a glimpse
+of one or other of you; and nothing but the most constant
+watchfulness on my side, a most invariably prevailing
+desire to keep out of your sight, could have separated us
+so long.  I avoided the Middletons as much as possible,
+as well as everybody else who was likely to prove
+an acquaintance in common.  Not aware of their being
+in town, however, I blundered on Sir John, I believe,
+the first day of his coming, and the day after I had called
+at Mrs. Jennings's.  He asked me to a party, a dance at his
+house in the evening.--Had he NOT told me as an inducement
+that you and your sister were to be there, I should have
+felt it too certain a thing, to trust myself near him.
+The next morning brought another short note from Marianne--
+still affectionate, open, artless, confiding--everything
+that could make MY conduct most hateful.  I could not
+answer it.  I tried--but could not frame a sentence.
+But I thought of her, I believe, every moment of the day.
+If you CAN pity me, Miss Dashwood, pity my situation as it
+was THEN.  With my head and heart full of your sister,
+I was forced to play the happy lover to another woman!--Those
+three or four weeks were worse than all.  Well, at last,
+as I need not tell you, you were forced on me; and what a
+sweet figure I cut!--what an evening of agony it was!-- 
+Marianne, beautiful as an angel on one side, calling me
+Willoughby in such a tone!--Oh, God!--holding out her hand 
+to me, asking me for an explanation, with those bewitching 
+eyes fixed in such speaking solicitude on my face!--and 
+Sophia, jealous as the devil on the other hand, looking 
+all that was--Well, it does not signify; it is over now.--
+Such an evening!--I ran away from you all as soon as I could;
+but not before I had seen Marianne's sweet face as white
+as death.--THAT was the last, last look I ever had of her;--
+the last manner in which she appeared to me.  It was a horrid
+sight!--yet when I thought of her to-day as really dying,
+it was a kind of comfort to me to imagine that I knew
+exactly how she would appear to those, who saw her last
+in this world.  She was before me, constantly before me,
+as I travelled, in the same look and hue."
+
+     A short pause of mutual thoughtfulness succeeded.
+Willoughby first rousing himself, broke it thus:
+
+     "Well, let me make haste and be gone.  Your sister
+is certainly better, certainly out of danger?"
+
+     "We are assured of it."
+
+     "Your poor mother, too!--doting on Marianne."
+
+     "But the letter, Mr. Willoughby, your own letter;
+have you any thing to say about that?"
+
+     "Yes, yes, THAT in particular.  Your sister
+wrote to me again, you know, the very next morning.
+You saw what she said.  I was breakfasting at the
+Ellisons,--and her letter, with some others, was brought
+to me there from my lodgings.  It happened to catch
+Sophia's eye before it caught mine--and its size,
+the elegance of the paper, the hand-writing altogether,
+immediately gave her a suspicion.  Some vague report had
+reached her before of my attachment to some young lady
+in Devonshire, and what had passed within her observation
+the preceding evening had marked who the young lady was,
+and made her more jealous than ever.  Affecting that air
+of playfulness, therefore, which is delightful in a woman
+one loves, she opened the letter directly, and read
+its contents.  She was well paid for her impudence.
+She read what made her wretched.  Her wretchedness I could
+have borne, but her passion--her malice--At all events it
+must be appeased.  And, in short--what do you think of my 
+wife's style of letter-writing?--delicate--tender--
+truly feminine--was it not?"
+
+     "Your wife!--The letter was in your own hand-writing."
+
+     "Yes, but I had only the credit of servilely copying
+such sentences as I was ashamed to put my name to.
+The original was all her own--her own happy thoughts
+and gentle diction.  But what could I do!--we were engaged,
+every thing in preparation, the day almost fixed--But I am
+talking like a fool.  Preparation!--day!--In honest words,
+her money was necessary to me, and in a situation like
+mine, any thing was to be done to prevent a rupture.
+And after all, what did it signify to my character
+in the opinion of Marianne and her friends, in what language
+my answer was couched?--It must have been only to one end.
+My business was to declare myself a scoundrel, and whether
+I did it with a bow or a bluster was of little importance.--
+'I am ruined for ever in their opinion--' said I to
+myself--'I am shut out for ever from their society,
+they already think me an unprincipled fellow, this letter
+will only make them think me a blackguard one.' Such were
+my reasonings, as, in a sort of desperate carelessness,
+I copied my wife's words, and parted with the last relics
+of Marianne.  Her three notes--unluckily they were all
+in my pocketbook, or I should have denied their existence,
+and hoarded them for ever--I was forced to put them up,
+and could not even kiss them.  And the lock of hair--that too
+I had always carried about me in the same pocket-book,
+which was now searched by Madam with the most ingratiating
+virulence,--the dear lock--all, every memento was torn
+from me."
+
+     "You are very wrong, Mr. Willoughby, very blamable,"
+said Elinor, while her voice, in spite of herself,
+betrayed her compassionate emotion; "you ought not to speak
+in this way, either of Mrs. Willoughby or my sister.
+You had made your own choice.  It was not forced on you.
+Your wife has a claim to your politeness, to your respect,
+at least.  She must be attached to you, or she would not
+have married you.  To treat her with unkindness, to speak
+of her slightingly is no atonement to Marianne--nor can I
+suppose it a relief to your own conscience."
+
+     "Do not talk to me of my wife," said he with a heavy sigh.--
+"She does not deserve your compassion.--She knew I had no
+regard for her when we married.--Well, married we were,
+and came down to Combe Magna to be happy, and afterwards
+returned to town to be gay.--And now do you pity me,
+Miss Dashwood?--or have I said all this to no purpose?-- 
+Am I--be it only one degree--am I less guilty in your opinion
+than I was before?--My intentions were not always wrong.
+Have I explained away any part of my guilt?"
+
+     "Yes, you have certainly removed something--a little.--
+You have proved yourself, on the whole, less faulty than I
+had believed you.  You have proved your heart less wicked,
+much less wicked.  But I hardly know--the misery that
+you have inflicted--I hardly know what could have made
+it worse."
+
+     "Will you repeat to your sister when she is recovered,
+what I have been telling you?--Let me be a little lightened
+too in her opinion as well as in yours.  You tell me that 
+she has forgiven me already.  Let me be able to fancy that 
+a better knowledge of my heart, and of my present feelings, 
+will draw from her a more spontaneous, more natural, more 
+gentle, less dignified, forgiveness.  Tell her of my misery 
+and my penitence--tell her that my heart was never inconstant 
+to her, and if you will, that at this moment she is dearer 
+to me than ever."
+
+     "I will tell her all that is necessary to what may 
+comparatively be called, your justification.  But you have 
+not explained to me the particular reason of your coming now, 
+nor how you heard of her illness."
+
+     "Last night, in Drury Lane lobby, I ran against Sir
+John Middleton, and when he saw who I was--for the first
+time these two months--he spoke to me.--That he had cut
+me ever since my marriage, I had seen without surprise
+or resentment.  Now, however, his good-natured, honest,
+stupid soul, full of indignation against me, and concern
+for your sister, could not resist the temptation of telling
+me what he knew ought to--though probably he did not
+think it WOULD--vex me horridly.  As bluntly as he could
+speak it, therefore, he told me that Marianne Dashwood
+was dying of a putrid fever at Cleveland--a letter that
+morning received from Mrs. Jennings declared her danger
+most imminent--the Palmers are all gone off in a fright,
+&c.--I was too much shocked to be able to pass myself
+off as insensible even to the undiscerning Sir John.
+His heart was softened in seeing mine suffer; and so much
+of his ill-will was done away, that when we parted,
+he almost shook me by the hand while he reminded me of an
+old promise about a pointer puppy.  What I felt on hearing
+that your sister was dying--and dying too, believing me
+the greatest villain upon earth, scorning, hating me
+in her latest moments--for how could I tell what horrid
+projects might not have been imputed?  ONE person I
+was sure would represent me as capable of any thing--
+What I felt was dreadful!--My resolution was soon made,
+and at eight o'clock this morning I was in my carriage.
+Now you know all."
+
+     Elinor made no answer.  Her thoughts were silently fixed
+on the irreparable injury which too early an independence
+and its consequent habits of idleness, dissipation, and luxury,
+had made in the mind, the character, the happiness,
+of a man who, to every advantage of person and talents,
+united a disposition naturally open and honest, and a 
+feeling, affectionate temper.  The world had made him
+extravagant and vain--Extravagance and vanity had made him
+cold-hearted and selfish.  Vanity, while seeking its own
+guilty triumph at the expense of another, had involved
+him in a real attachment, which extravagance, or at least
+its offspring, necessity, had required to be sacrificed.
+Each faulty propensity in leading him to evil, had led
+him likewise to punishment.  The attachment, from which
+against honour, against feeling, against every better interest
+he had outwardly torn himself, now, when no longer allowable,
+governed every thought; and the connection, for the sake
+of which he had, with little scruple, left her sister
+to misery, was likely to prove a source of unhappiness
+to himself of a far more incurable nature.  From a reverie
+of this kind she was recalled at the end of some minutes
+by Willoughby, who, rousing himself from a reverie at least
+equally painful, started up in preparation for going, and said--
+
+     "There is no use in staying here; I must be off."
+
+     "Are you going back to town?"
+
+     "No--to Combe Magna.  I have business there;
+from thence to town in a day or two.  Good bye."
+
+     He held out his hand.  She could not refuse to give
+him hers's;--he pressed it with affection.
+
+     "And you DO think something better of me than
+you did?"--said he, letting it fall, and leaning against
+the mantel-piece as if forgetting he was to go.
+
+     Elinor assured him that she did;--that she forgave,
+pitied, wished him well--was even interested in his
+happiness--and added some gentle counsel as to the behaviour
+most likely to promote it.  His answer was not very encouraging.
+
+     "As to that," said he, "I must rub through the world
+as well as I can.  Domestic happiness is out of the question.
+If, however, I am allowed to think that you and yours feel
+an interest in my fate and actions, it may be the means--it
+may put me on my guard--at least, it may be something to
+live for.  Marianne to be sure is lost to me for ever.
+Were I even by any blessed chance at liberty again--"
+
+     Elinor stopped him with a reproof.
+
+     "Well,"--he replied--"once more good bye. I shall
+now go away and live in dread of one event."
+
+     "What do you mean?"
+
+     "Your sister's marriage."
+
+     "You are very wrong.  She can never be more lost
+to you than she is now."
+
+     "But she will be gained by some one else.  And if
+that some one should be the very he whom, of all others,
+I could least bear--but I will not stay to rob myself
+of all your compassionate goodwill, by shewing
+that where I have most injured I can least forgive.
+Good bye,--God bless you!"
+
+     And with these words, he almost ran out of the room.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 45
+
+
+     Elinor, for some time after he left her, for some time 
+even after the sound of his carriage had died away, remained 
+too much oppressed by a crowd of ideas, widely differing in 
+themselves, but of which sadness was the general result, 
+to think even of her sister.
+
+     Willoughby, he, whom only half an hour ago she had
+abhorred as the most worthless of men, Willoughby, in spite
+of all his faults, excited a degree of commiseration
+for the sufferings produced by them, which made her
+think of him as now separated for ever from her family,
+with a tenderness, a regret, rather in proportion, as she
+soon acknowledged within herself--to his wishes than to
+his merits.  She felt that his influence over her mind
+was heightened by circumstances which ought not in reason
+to have weight; by that person of uncommon attraction,
+that open, affectionate, and lively manner which it
+was no merit to possess; and by that still ardent love
+for Marianne, which it was not even innocent to indulge.
+But she felt that it was so, long, long before she could
+feel his influence less.
+
+     When at last she returned to the unconscious Marianne,
+she found her just awaking, refreshed by so long and sweet
+a sleep to the extent of her hopes.  Elinor's heart was full.
+The past, the present, the future, Willoughby's visit,
+Marianne's safety, and her mother's expected arrival,
+threw her altogether into an agitation of spirits
+which kept off every indication of fatigue, and made
+her only fearful of betraying herself to her sister.
+Short was the time, however, in which that fear could
+affect her, for within half an hour after Willoughby's
+leaving the house, she was again called down stairs
+by the sound of another carriage.--Eager to save her
+mother from every unnecessary moment's horrible suspense,
+she ran immediately into the hall, and reached the outward
+door just in time to receive and support her as she
+entered it.
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood, whose terror as they drew near the
+house had produced almost the conviction of Marianne's
+being no more, had no voice to inquire after her,
+no voice even for Elinor; but SHE, waiting neither for
+salutation nor inquiry, instantly gave the joyful relief;--
+and her mother, catching it with all her usual warmth,
+was in a moment as much overcome by her happiness, as she
+had been before by her fears.  She was supported into
+the drawing-room between her daughter and her friend;--
+and there, shedding tears of joy, though still unable
+to speak, embraced Elinor again and again, turning from her
+at intervals to press Colonel Brandon's hand, with a look
+which spoke at once her gratitude, and her conviction
+of his sharing with herself in the bliss of the moment.
+He shared it, however, in a silence even greater than
+her own.
+
+     As soon as Mrs. Dashwood had recovered herself,
+to see Marianne was her first desire; and in two minutes she
+was with her beloved child, rendered dearer to her than ever
+by absence, unhappiness, and danger.  Elinor's delight,
+as she saw what each felt in the meeting, was only checked
+by an apprehension of its robbing Marianne of farther sleep;--
+but Mrs. Dashwood could be calm, could be even prudent,
+when the life of a child was at stake, and Marianne,
+satisfied in knowing her mother was near her, and conscious
+of being too weak for conversation, submitted readily to the
+silence and quiet prescribed by every nurse around her.
+Mrs. Dashwood WOULD sit up with her all night; and Elinor,
+in compliance with her mother's entreaty, went to bed.
+But the rest, which one night entirely sleepless,
+and many hours of the most wearing anxiety seemed to
+make requisite, was kept off by irritation of spirits.
+Willoughby, "poor Willoughby," as she now allowed
+herself to call him, was constantly in her thoughts; she
+would not but have heard his vindication for the world,
+and now blamed, now acquitted herself for having judged him
+so harshly before.  But her promise of relating it to her
+sister was invariably painful.  She dreaded the performance
+of it, dreaded what its effect on Marianne might be;
+doubted whether after such an explanation she could ever
+be happy with another; and for a moment wished Willoughby
+a widower.  Then, remembering Colonel Brandon, reproved herself,
+felt that to HIS sufferings and his constancy far more
+than to his rival's, the reward of her sister was due,
+and wished any thing rather than Mrs. Willoughby's death.
+
+     The shock of Colonel Brandon's errand at Barton had been
+much softened to Mrs. Dashwood by her own previous alarm;
+for so great was her uneasiness about Marianne, that she
+had already determined to set out for Cleveland on that
+very day, without waiting for any further intelligence,
+and had so far settled her journey before his arrival,
+that the Careys were then expected every moment to fetch
+Margaret away, as her mother was unwilling to take her
+where there might be infection.
+
+     Marianne continued to mend every day, and the brilliant
+cheerfulness of Mrs. Dashwood's looks and spirits proved
+her to be, as she repeatedly declared herself, one of
+the happiest women in the world.  Elinor could not hear
+the declaration, nor witness its proofs without sometimes
+wondering whether her mother ever recollected Edward.
+But Mrs. Dashwood, trusting to the temperate account
+of her own disappointment which Elinor had sent her,
+was led away by the exuberance of her joy to think only
+of what would increase it.  Marianne was restored to her
+from a danger in which, as she now began to feel,
+her own mistaken judgment in encouraging the unfortunate
+attachment to Willoughby, had contributed to place her;--
+and in her recovery she had yet another source of joy
+unthought of by Elinor.  It was thus imparted to her,
+as soon as any opportunity of private conference between
+them occurred.
+
+     "At last we are alone.  My Elinor, you do not yet
+know all my happiness.  Colonel Brandon loves Marianne.
+He has told me so himself."
+
+     Her daughter, feeling by turns both pleased and pained,
+surprised and not surprised, was all silent attention.
+
+     "You are never like me, dear Elinor, or I should
+wonder at your composure now.  Had I sat down to wish
+for any possible good to my family, I should have fixed
+on Colonel Brandon's marrying one of you as the object
+most desirable.  And I believe Marianne will be the most
+happy with him of the two."
+
+     Elinor was half inclined to ask her reason for thinking so,
+because satisfied that none founded on an impartial
+consideration of their age, characters, or feelings,
+could be given;--but her mother must always be carried
+away by her imagination on any interesting subject,
+and therefore instead of an inquiry, she passed it off with a smile.
+
+     "He opened his whole heart to me yesterday as we travelled.
+It came out quite unawares, quite undesignedly.  I, you may
+well believe, could talk of nothing but my child;--he could 
+not conceal his distress; I saw that it equalled my own, 
+and he perhaps, thinking that mere friendship, as the world 
+now goes, would not justify so warm a sympathy--or rather, 
+not thinking at all, I suppose--giving way to irresistible 
+feelings, made me acquainted with his earnest, tender, constant, 
+affection for Marianne.  He has loved her, my Elinor, ever since 
+the first moment of seeing her."
+
+     Here, however, Elinor perceived,--not the language,
+not the professions of Colonel Brandon, but the natural
+embellishments of her mother's active fancy, which fashioned
+every thing delightful to her as it chose.
+
+     "His regard for her, infinitely surpassing anything
+that Willoughby ever felt or feigned, as much more warm,
+as more sincere or constant--which ever we are to call it--
+has subsisted through all the knowledge of dear Marianne's
+unhappy prepossession for that worthless young man!--and
+without selfishness--without encouraging a hope!--could
+he have seen her happy with another--Such a noble mind!--
+such openness, such sincerity!--no one can be deceived
+in HIM."
+
+     "Colonel Brandon's character," said Elinor,
+"as an excellent man, is well established."
+
+     "I know it is"--replied her mother seriously, "or
+after such a warning, I should be the last to encourage
+such affection, or even to be pleased by it.  But his coming
+for me as he did, with such active, such ready friendship,
+is enough to prove him one of the worthiest of men."
+
+     "His character, however," answered Elinor, "does not rest
+on ONE act of kindness, to which his affection for Marianne,
+were humanity out of the case, would have prompted him.
+To Mrs. Jennings, to the Middletons, he has been long
+and intimately known; they equally love and respect him;
+and even my own knowledge of him, though lately acquired,
+is very considerable; and so highly do I value and esteem him,
+that if Marianne can be happy with him, I shall be as ready
+as yourself to think our connection the greatest blessing
+to us in the world.  What answer did you give him?--Did you
+allow him to hope?"
+
+     "Oh! my love, I could not then talk of hope to him
+or to myself.  Marianne might at that moment be dying.
+But he did not ask for hope or encouragement.  His was
+an involuntary confidence, an irrepressible effusion
+to a soothing friend--not an application to a parent.
+Yet after a time I DID say, for at first I was quite 
+overcome--that if she lived, as I trusted she might,
+my greatest happiness would lie in promoting their marriage;
+and since our arrival, since our delightful security,
+I have repeated it to him more fully, have given him every
+encouragement in my power.  Time, a very little time,
+I tell him, will do everything;--Marianne's heart is
+not to be wasted for ever on such a man as Willoughby.--
+His own merits must soon secure it."
+
+     "To judge from the Colonel's spirits, however,
+you have not yet made him equally sanguine."
+
+     "No.--He thinks Marianne's affection too deeply
+rooted for any change in it under a great length of time,
+and even supposing her heart again free, is too diffident
+of himself to believe, that with such a difference of age
+and disposition he could ever attach her.  There, however,
+he is quite mistaken.  His age is only so much beyond
+hers as to be an advantage, as to make his character and
+principles fixed;--and his disposition, I am well convinced,
+is exactly the very one to make your sister happy.
+And his person, his manners too, are all in his favour.
+My partiality does not blind me; he certainly is not
+so handsome as Willoughby--but at the same time,
+there is something much more pleasing in his countenance.--
+There was always a something,--if you remember,--in Willoughby's
+eyes at times, which I did not like."
+
+     Elinor could NOT remember it;--but her mother,
+without waiting for her assent, continued,
+
+     "And his manners, the Colonel's manners are not only
+more pleasing to me than Willoughby's ever were, but they
+are of a kind I well know to be more solidly attaching
+to Marianne.  Their gentleness, their genuine attention
+to other people, and their manly unstudied simplicity
+is much more accordant with her real disposition, than
+the liveliness--often artificial, and often ill-timed
+of the other.  I am very sure myself, that had Willoughby
+turned out as really amiable, as he has proved himself
+the contrary, Marianne would yet never have been so happy
+with HIM, as she will be with Colonel Brandon."
+
+     She paused.--Her daughter could not quite agree 
+with her, but her dissent was not heard, and therefore
+gave no offence.
+
+     "At Delaford, she will be within an easy distance of me,"
+added Mrs. Dashwood, "even if I remain at Barton; and in all
+probability,--for I hear it is a large village,--indeed there
+certainly MUST be some small house or cottage close by,
+that would suit us quite as well as our present situation."
+
+     Poor Elinor!--here was a new scheme for getting
+her to Delaford!--but her spirit was stubborn.
+
+     "His fortune too!--for at my time of life you know,
+everybody cares about THAT;--and though I neither know
+nor desire to know, what it really is, I am sure it must be
+a good one."
+
+     Here they were interrupted by the entrance of a
+third person, and Elinor withdrew to think it all over
+in private, to wish success to her friend, and yet
+in wishing it, to feel a pang for Willoughby.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 46
+
+
+     Marianne's illness, though weakening in its kind,
+had not been long enough to make her recovery slow;
+and with youth, natural strength, and her mother's presence
+in aid, it proceeded so smoothly as to enable her to remove,
+within four days after the arrival of the latter,
+into Mrs. Palmer's dressing-room.  When there, at her own
+particular request, for she was impatient to pour forth
+her thanks to him for fetching her mother, Colonel Brandon
+was invited to visit her.
+
+     His emotion on entering the room, in seeing her altered
+looks, and in receiving the pale hand which she immediately
+held out to him, was such, as, in Elinor's conjecture,
+must arise from something more than his affection for Marianne,
+or the consciousness of its being known to others;
+and she soon discovered in his melancholy eye and varying
+complexion as he looked at her sister, the probable
+recurrence of many past scenes of misery to his mind,
+brought back by that resemblance between Marianne and Eliza
+already acknowledged, and now strengthened by the hollow eye,
+the sickly skin, the posture of reclining weakness,
+and the warm acknowledgment of peculiar obligation.
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood, not less watchful of what passed than
+her daughter, but with a mind very differently influenced,
+and therefore watching to very different effect,
+saw nothing in the Colonel's behaviour but what arose
+from the most simple and self-evident sensations, while in
+the actions and words of Marianne she persuaded herself
+to think that something more than gratitude already dawned.
+
+     At the end of another day or two, Marianne growing
+visibly stronger every twelve hours, Mrs. Dashwood,
+urged equally by her own and her daughter's wishes,
+began to talk of removing to Barton.  On HER measures
+depended those of her two friends; Mrs. Jennings could
+not quit Cleveland during the Dashwoods' stay; and Colonel
+Brandon was soon brought, by their united request,
+to consider his own abode there as equally determinate,
+if not equally indispensable.  At his and Mrs. Jennings's
+united request in return, Mrs. Dashwood was prevailed
+on to accept the use of his carriage on her journey back,
+for the better accommodation of her sick child; and the Colonel,
+at the joint invitation of Mrs. Dashwood and Mrs. Jennings,
+whose active good-nature made her friendly and hospitable
+for other people as well as herself, engaged with pleasure
+to redeem it by a visit at the cottage, in the course
+of a few weeks.
+
+     The day of separation and departure arrived;
+and Marianne, after taking so particular and lengthened
+a leave of Mrs. Jennings, one so earnestly grateful, so full
+of respect and kind wishes as seemed due to her own heart
+from a secret acknowledgment of past inattention, and bidding
+Colonel Brandon farewell with a cordiality of a friend,
+was carefully assisted by him into the carriage, of which he
+seemed anxious that she should engross at least half.
+Mrs. Dashwood and Elinor then followed, and the others
+were left by themselves, to talk of the travellers,
+and feel their own dullness, till Mrs. Jennings was summoned
+to her chaise to take comfort in the gossip of her maid
+for the loss of her two young companions; and Colonel Brandon
+immediately afterwards took his solitary way to Delaford.
+
+     The Dashwoods were two days on the road, and Marianne
+bore her journey on both, without essential fatigue.
+Every thing that the most zealous affection, the most
+solicitous care could do to render her comfortable,
+was the office of each watchful companion, and each
+found their reward in her bodily ease, and her calmness
+of spirits.  To Elinor, the observation of the latter
+was particularly grateful.  She, who had seen her week
+after week so constantly suffering, oppressed by anguish
+of heart which she had neither courage to speak of,
+nor fortitude to conceal, now saw with a joy, which no other
+could equally share, an apparent composure of mind, which,
+in being the result as she trusted of serious reflection,
+must eventually lead her to contentment and cheerfulness.
+
+     As they approached Barton, indeed, and entered
+on scenes of which every field and every tree brought
+some peculiar, some painful recollection, she grew silent
+and thoughtful, and turning away her face from their notice,
+sat earnestly gazing through the window.  But here,
+Elinor could neither wonder nor blame; and when she saw,
+as she assisted Marianne from the carriage, that she
+had been crying, she saw only an emotion too natural
+in itself to raise any thing less tender than pity,
+and in its unobtrusiveness entitled to praise.  In the
+whole of her subsequent manner, she traced the direction
+of a mind awakened to reasonable exertion; for no sooner
+had they entered their common sitting-room, than Marianne
+turned her eyes around it with a look of resolute firmness,
+as if determined at once to accustom herself to the sight
+of every object with which the remembrance of Willoughby could
+be connected.--She said little, but every sentence aimed
+at cheerfulness, and though a sigh sometimes escaped her,
+it never passed away without the atonement of a smile.
+After dinner she would try her piano-forte. She went to it;
+but the music on which her eye first rested was an opera,
+procured for her by Willoughby, containing some of their
+favourite duets, and bearing on its outward leaf her own name
+in his hand-writing.--That would not do.--She shook her head,
+put the music aside, and after running over the keys
+for a minute, complained of feebleness in her fingers,
+and closed the instrument again; declaring however
+with firmness as she did so, that she should in future
+practice much.
+
+     The next morning produced no abatement in these
+happy symptoms.  On the contrary, with a mind and body
+alike strengthened by rest, she looked and spoke with
+more genuine spirit, anticipating the pleasure of
+Margaret's return, and talking of the dear family party
+which would then be restored, of their mutual pursuits
+and cheerful society, as the only happiness worth a wish.
+
+     "When the weather is settled, and I have recovered
+my strength," said she, "we will take long walks together
+every day.  We will walk to the farm at the edge of the down,
+and see how the children go on; we will walk to Sir John's
+new plantations at Barton Cross, and the Abbeyland;
+and we will often go the old ruins of the Priory,
+and try to trace its foundations as far as we are told
+they once reached.  I know we shall be happy.  I know
+the summer will pass happily away.  I mean never to be
+later in rising than six, and from that time till dinner
+I shall divide every moment between music and reading.
+I have formed my plan, and am determined to enter on a course
+of serious study.  Our own library is too well known to me,
+to be resorted to for any thing beyond mere amusement.
+But there are many works well worth reading at the Park;
+and there are others of more modern production which I
+know I can borrow of Colonel Brandon.  By reading only six
+hours a-day, I shall gain in the course of a twelve-month
+a great deal of instruction which I now feel myself
+to want."
+
+     Elinor honoured her for a plan which originated
+so nobly as this; though smiling to see the same eager
+fancy which had been leading her to the extreme of languid
+indolence and selfish repining, now at work in introducing
+excess into a scheme of such rational employment and virtuous
+self-control. Her smile however changed to a sigh when she
+remembered that promise to Willoughby was yet unfulfilled,
+and feared she had that to communicate which might again
+unsettle the mind of Marianne, and ruin at least for a time
+this fair prospect of busy tranquillity.  Willing therefore
+to delay the evil hour, she resolved to wait till her
+sister's health were more secure, before she appointed it.
+But the resolution was made only to be broken.
+
+     Marianne had been two or three days at home, before
+the weather was fine enough for an invalid like herself
+to venture out.  But at last a soft, genial morning appeared;
+such as might tempt the daughter's wishes and the
+mother's confidence; and Marianne, leaning on Elinor's arm,
+was authorised to walk as long as she could without fatigue,
+in the lane before the house.
+
+     The sisters set out at a pace, slow as the feebleness
+of Marianne in an exercise hitherto untried since her
+illness required;--and they had advanced only so far
+beyond the house as to admit a full view of the hill,
+the important hill behind, when pausing with her eyes 
+turned towards it, Marianne calmly said,
+
+     "There, exactly there,"--pointing with one hand,
+"on that projecting mound,--there I fell; and there I
+first saw Willoughby."
+
+     Her voice sunk with the word, but presently reviving
+she added,
+
+     "I am thankful to find that I can look with so little pain 
+on the spot!--shall we ever talk on that subject, Elinor?"--
+hesitatingly it was said.--"Or will it be wrong?--I can talk 
+of it now, I hope, as I ought to do."--
+
+     Elinor tenderly invited her to be open.
+
+     "As for regret," said Marianne, "I have done with that,
+as far as HE is concerned.  I do not mean to talk to you
+of what my feelings have been for him, but what they
+are NOW.--At present, if I could be satisfied on one point,
+if I could be allowed to think that he was not ALWAYS
+acting a part, not ALWAYS deceiving me;--but above all,
+if I could be assured that he never was so VERY wicked
+as my fears have sometimes fancied him, since the story
+of that unfortunate girl"--
+
+     She stopt.  Elinor joyfully treasured her words 
+as she answered,
+
+     "If you could be assured of that, you think you
+should be easy."
+
+     "Yes. My peace of mind is doubly involved in it;--
+for not only is it horrible to suspect a person, who has
+been what HE has been to ME, of such designs,--but what must 
+it make me appear to myself?--What in a situation like mine,
+but a most shamefully unguarded affection could expose
+me to"--
+
+     "How then," asked her sister, "would you account
+for his behaviour?"
+
+     "I would suppose him,--Oh, how gladly would I suppose
+him, only fickle, very, very fickle."
+
+     Elinor said no more.  She was debating within herself
+on the eligibility of beginning her story directly,
+or postponing it till Marianne were in stronger health;--
+and they crept on for a few minutes in silence.
+
+     "I am not wishing him too much good," said Marianne
+at last with a sigh, "when I wish his secret reflections
+may be no more unpleasant than my own.  He will suffer
+enough in them."
+
+     "Do you compare your conduct with his?"
+
+     "No. I compare it with what it ought to have been;
+I compare it with yours."
+
+     "Our situations have borne little resemblance."
+
+     "They have borne more than our conduct.--Do not,
+my dearest Elinor, let your kindness defend what I know
+your judgment must censure.  My illness has made me think--
+It has given me leisure and calmness for serious recollection.
+Long before I was enough recovered to talk, I was perfectly
+able to reflect.  I considered the past: I saw in my
+own behaviour, since the beginning of our acquaintance
+with him last autumn, nothing but a series of imprudence
+towards myself, and want of kindness to others.
+I saw that my own feelings had prepared my sufferings,
+and that my want of fortitude under them had almost led
+me to the grave.  My illness, I well knew, had been
+entirely brought on by myself by such negligence of my
+own health, as I had felt even at the time to be wrong.
+Had I died,--it would have been self-destruction. I
+did not know my danger till the danger was removed;
+but with such feelings as these reflections gave me,
+I wonder at my recovery,--wonder that the very eagerness
+of my desire to live, to have time for atonement to my God,
+and to you all, did not kill me at once.  Had I died,--
+in what peculiar misery should I have left you, my nurse,
+my friend, my sister!--You, who had seen all the fretful
+selfishness of my latter days; who had known all the
+murmurings of my heart!--How should I have lived in YOUR
+remembrance!--My mother too! How could you have consoled
+her!--I cannot express my own abhorrence of myself.
+Whenever I looked towards the past, I saw some duty neglected,
+or some failing indulged.  Every body seemed injured by me.
+The kindness, the unceasing kindness of Mrs. Jennings,
+I had repaid with ungrateful contempt.  To the Middletons,
+to the Palmers, the Steeles, to every common acquaintance even,
+I had been insolent and unjust; with a heart hardened
+against their merits, and a temper irritated by their
+very attention.--To John, to Fanny,--yes, even to them,
+little as they deserve, I had given less than their due.
+But you,--you above all, above my mother, had been wronged
+by me.  I, and only I, knew your heart and its sorrows;
+yet to what did it influence me?--not to any compassion
+that could benefit you or myself.--Your example was
+before me; but to what avail?--Was I more considerate
+of you and your comfort?  Did I imitate your forbearance,
+or lessen your restraints, by taking any part in those
+offices of general complaisance or particular gratitude
+which you had hitherto been left to discharge alone?--No;--
+not less when I knew you to be unhappy, than when I
+had believed you at ease, did I turn away from every
+exertion of duty or friendship; scarcely allowing sorrow
+to exist but with me, regretting only THAT heart which
+had deserted and wronged me, and leaving you, for or I
+professed an unbounded affection, to be miserable for my
+sake."
+
+     Here ceased the rapid flow of her self-reproving spirit;
+and Elinor, impatient to soothe, though too honest
+to flatter, gave her instantly that praise and support
+which her frankness and her contrition so well deserved.
+Marianne pressed her hand and replied,
+
+     "You are very good.--The future must be my proof.
+I have laid down my plan, and if I am capable of adhering
+to it--my feelings shall be governed and my temper improved.
+They shall no longer worry others, nor torture myself.
+I shall now live solely for my family.  You, my mother,
+and Margaret, must henceforth be all the world to me;
+you will share my affections entirely between you.
+>From you, from my home, I shall never again have the smallest
+incitement to move; and if I do mix in other society,
+it will be only to shew that my spirit is humbled,
+my heart amended, and that I can practise the civilities,
+the lesser duties of life, with gentleness and forbearance.
+As for Willoughby--to say that I shall soon or that I shall
+ever forget him, would be idle.  His remembrance can be overcome
+by no change of circumstances or opinions.  But it shall
+be regulated, it shall be checked by religion, by reason,
+by constant employment."
+
+     She paused--and added in a low voice, "If I could
+but know HIS heart, everything would become easy."
+
+     Elinor, who had now been for some time reflecting
+on the propriety or impropriety of speedily hazarding
+her narration, without feeling at all nearer decision than
+at first, heard this; and perceiving that as reflection
+did nothing, resolution must do all, soon found herself
+leading to the fact.
+
+     She managed the recital, as she hoped, with address;
+prepared her anxious listener with caution; related simply
+and honestly the chief points on which Willoughby
+grounded his apology; did justice to his repentance,
+and softened only his protestations of present regard.
+Marianne said not a word.--She trembled, her eyes
+were fixed on the ground, and her lips became whiter
+than even sickness had left them.  A thousand inquiries
+sprung up from her heart, but she dared not urge one.
+She caught every syllable with panting eagerness; her hand,
+unknowingly to herself, closely pressed her sister's, and
+tears covered her cheeks.
+
+     Elinor, dreading her being tired, led her towards home;
+and till they reached the door of the cottage,
+easily conjecturing what her curiosity must be
+though no question was suffered to speak it, talked of
+nothing but Willoughby, and their conversation together;
+and was carefully minute in every particular of speech
+and look, where minuteness could be safely indulged.
+As soon as they entered the house, Marianne with a kiss
+of gratitude and these two words just articulate through
+her tears, "Tell mama," withdrew from her sister and 
+walked slowly up stairs.  Elinor would not attempt 
+to disturb a solitude so reasonable as what she now sought;
+and with a mind anxiously pre-arranging its result,
+and a resolution of reviving the subject again,
+should Marianne fail to do it, she turned into the parlour
+to fulfill her parting injunction.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 47
+
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood did not hear unmoved the vindication
+of her former favourite.  She rejoiced in his being
+cleared from some part of his imputed guilt;--she was
+sorry for him;--she wished him happy.  But the feelings
+of the past could not be recalled.--Nothing could restore
+him with a faith unbroken--a character unblemished,
+to Marianne.  Nothing could do away the knowledge
+of what the latter had suffered through his means,
+nor remove the guilt of his conduct towards Eliza.
+Nothing could replace him, therefore, in her former esteem,
+nor injure the interests of Colonel Brandon.
+
+     Had Mrs. Dashwood, like her daughter, heard Willoughby's
+story from himself--had she witnessed his distress,
+and been under the influence of his countenance and his
+manner, it is probable that her compassion would have
+been greater.  But it was neither in Elinor's power,
+nor in her wish, to rouse such feelings in another, by her
+retailed explanation, as had at first been called forth
+in herself.  Reflection had given calmness to her judgment,
+and sobered her own opinion of Willoughby's deserts;--
+she wished, therefore, to declare only the simple truth,
+and lay open such facts as were really due to his character,
+without any embellishment of tenderness to lead the
+fancy astray.
+
+     In the evening, when they were all three together,
+Marianne began voluntarily to speak of him again;--
+but that it was not without an effort, the restless,
+unquiet thoughtfulness in which she had been for some time
+previously sitting--her rising colour, as she spoke,--
+and her unsteady voice, plainly shewed.
+
+     "I wish to assure you both," said she, "that I see
+every thing--as you can desire me to do."
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood would have interrupted her instantly
+with soothing tenderness, had not Elinor, who really wished
+to hear her sister's unbiased opinion, by an eager sign,
+engaged her silence.  Marianne slowly continued--
+
+     "It is a great relief to me--what Elinor told
+me this morning--I have now heard exactly what I
+wished to hear."--For some moments her voice was lost;
+but recovering herself, she added, and with greater
+calmness than before--"I am now perfectly satisfied,
+I wish for no change.  I never could have been happy 
+with him, after knowing, as sooner or later I must 
+have known, all this.--I should have had no confidence, 
+no esteem.  Nothing could have done it away to my feelings."
+
+     "I know it--I know it," cried her mother.
+"Happy with a man of libertine practices!--With one
+who so injured the peace of the dearest of our friends,
+and the best of men!--No--my Marianne has not a heart
+to be made happy with such a man!--Her conscience, her 
+sensitive counscience, would have felt all that the 
+conscience of her husband ought to have felt."
+
+     Marianne sighed, and repeated, "I wish for no change."
+
+     "You consider the matter," said Elinor, "exactly as
+a good mind and a sound understanding must consider it;
+and I dare say you perceive, as well as myself, not only
+in this, but in many other circumstances, reason enough
+to be convinced that your marriage must have involved you
+in many certain troubles and disappointments, in which
+you would have been poorly supported by an affection,
+on his side, much less certain.  Had you married,
+you must have been always poor.  His expensiveness is
+acknowledged even by himself, and his whole conduct declares
+that self-denial is a word hardly understood by him.
+His demands and your inexperience together, on a small,
+very small income, must have brought on distresses which
+would not be the LESS grievous to you, from having been
+entirely unknown and unthought of before.  YOUR sense
+of honour and honesty would have led you, I know,
+when aware of your situation, to attempt all the economy
+that would appear to you possible: and, perhaps, as long
+as your frugality retrenched only on your own comfort,
+you might have been suffered to practice it, but beyond that--
+and how little could the utmost of your single management
+do to stop the ruin which had begun before your marriage?--
+Beyond THAT, had you endeavoured, however reasonably,
+to abridge HIS enjoyments, is it not to be feared, that instead
+of prevailing on feelings so selfish to consent to it,
+you would have lessened your own influence on his heart,
+and made him regret the connection which had involved him
+in such difficulties?"
+
+     Marianne's lips quivered, and she repeated the word
+"Selfish?" in a tone that implied--"do you really think
+him selfish?"
+
+     "The whole of his behaviour," replied Elinor,
+"from the beginning to the end of the affair, has been
+grounded on selfishness.  It was selfishness which first
+made him sport with your affections; which afterwards,
+when his own were engaged, made him delay the confession
+of it, and which finally carried him from Barton.
+His own enjoyment, or his own ease, was, in every particular,
+his ruling principle."
+
+     "It is very true.  MY happiness never was his object."
+
+     "At present," continued Elinor, "he regrets what he
+has done.  And why does he regret it?--Because he finds
+it has not answered towards himself.  It has not made
+him happy.  His circumstances are now unembarrassed--he
+suffers from no evil of that kind; and he thinks only
+that he has married a woman of a less amiable temper
+than yourself.  But does it follow that had he married you,
+he would have been happy?--The inconveniences would have
+been different.  He would then have suffered under the
+pecuniary distresses which, because they are removed,
+he now reckons as nothing.  He would have had a wife
+of whose temper he could make no complaint, but he would
+have been always necessitous--always poor; and probably
+would soon have learned to rank the innumerable comforts
+of a clear estate and good income as of far more importance,
+even to domestic happiness, than the mere temper of a wife."
+
+     "I have not a doubt of it," said Marianne; "and I
+have nothing to regret--nothing but my own folly."
+
+     "Rather say your mother's imprudence, my child,"
+said Mrs. Dashwood; "SHE must be answerable."
+
+     Marianne would not let her proceed;--and Elinor,
+satisfied that each felt their own error, wished to avoid
+any survey of the past that might weaken her sister's
+spirits; she, therefore, pursuing the first subject,
+immediately continued,
+
+     "One observation may, I think, be fairly drawn from
+the whole of the story--that all Willoughby's difficulties
+have arisen from the first offence against virtue, in his
+behaviour to Eliza Williams.  That crime has been the origin
+of every lesser one, and of all his present discontents."
+
+     Marianne assented most feelingly to the remark;
+and her mother was led by it to an enumeration of Colonel
+Brandon's injuries and merits, warm as friendship
+and design could unitedly dictate.  Her daughter did
+not look, however, as if much of it were heard by her.
+
+     Elinor, according to her expectation, saw on the two
+or three following days, that Marianne did not continue
+to gain strength as she had done; but while her resolution
+was unsubdued, and she still tried to appear cheerful
+and easy, her sister could safely trust to the effect
+of time upon her health.
+
+     Margaret returned, and the family were again all
+restored to each other, again quietly settled at the cottage;
+and if not pursuing their usual studies with quite
+so much vigour as when they first came to Barton,
+at least planning a vigorous prosecution of them in future.
+
+     Elinor grew impatient for some tidings of Edward.
+She had heard nothing of him since her leaving London,
+nothing new of his plans, nothing certain even of his
+present abode.  Some letters had passed between her
+and her brother, in consequence of Marianne's illness;
+and in the first of John's, there had been this sentence:--
+"We know nothing of our unfortunate Edward, and can make no
+enquiries on so prohibited a subject, but conclude him
+to be still at Oxford;" which was all the intelligence
+of Edward afforded her by the correspondence, for his name
+was not even mentioned in any of the succeeding letters.
+She was not doomed, however, to be long in ignorance of
+his measures.
+
+     Their man-servant had been sent one morning to Exeter
+on business; and when, as he waited at table, he had
+satisfied the inquiries of his mistress as to the event
+of his errand, this was his voluntary communication--
+
+     "I suppose you know, ma'am, that Mr. Ferrars is married."
+
+     Marianne gave a violent start, fixed her eyes
+upon Elinor, saw her turning pale, and fell back in her
+chair in hysterics.  Mrs. Dashwood, whose eyes, as she
+answered the servant's inquiry, had intuitively taken
+the same direction, was shocked to perceive by Elinor's
+countenance how much she really suffered, and a moment 
+afterwards, alike distressed by Marianne's situation,
+knew not on which child to bestow her principal attention.
+
+     The servant, who saw only that Miss Marianne was
+taken ill, had sense enough to call one of the maids,
+who, with Mrs. Dashwood's assistance, supported her into
+the other room.  By that time, Marianne was rather better,
+and her mother leaving her to the care of Margaret
+and the maid, returned to Elinor, who, though still
+much disordered, had so far recovered the use of her reason
+and voice as to be just beginning an inquiry of Thomas,
+as to the source of his intelligence.  Mrs. Dashwood
+immediately took all that trouble on herself; and Elinor
+had the benefit of the information without the exertion of seeking it.
+
+     "Who told you that Mr. Ferrars was married, Thomas?"
+
+     "I see Mr. Ferrars myself, ma'am, this morning
+in Exeter, and his lady too, Miss Steele as was.  They was
+stopping in a chaise at the door of the New London Inn,
+as I went there with a message from Sally at the Park
+to her brother, who is one of the post-boys. I happened
+to look up as I went by the chaise, and so I see directly
+it was the youngest Miss Steele; so I took off my hat,
+and she knew me and called to me, and inquired after you,
+ma'am, and the young ladies, especially Miss Marianne,
+and bid me I should give her compliments and Mr. Ferrars's,
+their best compliments and service, and how sorry they
+was they had not time to come on and see you, but they was
+in a great hurry to go forwards, for they was going further
+down for a little while, but howsever, when they come back,
+they'd make sure to come and see you."
+
+     "But did she tell you she was married, Thomas?"
+
+     "Yes, ma'am. She smiled, and said how she
+had changed her name since she was in these parts.
+She was always a very affable and free-spoken young lady,
+and very civil behaved.  So, I made free to wish her joy."
+
+     "Was Mr. Ferrars in the carriage with her?"
+
+     "Yes, ma'am, I just see him leaning back in it,
+but he did not look up;--he never was a gentleman much
+for talking."
+
+     Elinor's heart could easily account for his not
+putting himself forward; and Mrs. Dashwood probably
+found the same explanation.
+
+     "Was there no one else in the carriage?"
+
+     "No, ma'am, only they two."
+
+     "Do you know where they came from?"
+
+     "They come straight from town, as Miss Lucy--
+Mrs. Ferrars told me."
+
+     "And are they going farther westward?"
+
+     "Yes, ma'am--but not to bide long.  They will soon
+be back again, and then they'd be sure and call here."
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood now looked at her daughter;
+but Elinor knew better than to expect them.
+She recognised the whole of Lucy in the message, and was
+very confident that Edward would never come near them.
+She observed in a low voice, to her mother, that they
+were probably going down to Mr. Pratt's, near Plymouth.
+
+     Thomas's intelligence seemed over.  Elinor looked
+as if she wished to hear more.
+
+     "Did you see them off, before you came away?"
+
+     "No, ma'am--the horses were just coming out, but I
+could not bide any longer; I was afraid of being late."
+
+     "Did Mrs. Ferrars look well?"
+
+     "Yes, ma'am, she said how she was very well;
+and to my mind she was always a very handsome young
+lady--and she seemed vastly contented."
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood could think of no other question,
+and Thomas and the tablecloth, now alike needless,
+were soon afterwards dismissed.  Marianne had already sent
+to say, that she should eat nothing more.  Mrs. Dashwood's
+and Elinor's appetites were equally lost, and Margaret
+might think herself very well off, that with so much
+uneasiness as both her sisters had lately experienced,
+so much reason as they had often had to be careless
+of their meals, she had never been obliged to go without
+her dinner before.
+
+     When the dessert and the wine were arranged,
+and Mrs. Dashwood and Elinor were left by themselves,
+they remained long together in a similarity of thoughtfulness
+and silence.  Mrs. Dashwood feared to hazard any remark,
+and ventured not to offer consolation.  She now found
+that she had erred in relying on Elinor's representation
+of herself; and justly concluded that every thing
+had been expressly softened at the time, to spare her
+from an increase of unhappiness, suffering as she then
+had suffered for Marianne.  She found that she had been
+misled by the careful, the considerate attention of
+her daughter, to think the attachment, which once she
+had so well understood, much slighter in reality, than
+she had been wont to believe, or than it was now proved
+to be.  She feared that under this persuasion she had
+been unjust, inattentive, nay, almost unkind, to her Elinor;--
+that Marianne's affliction, because more acknowledged,
+more immediately before her, had too much engrossed
+her tenderness, and led her away to forget that in Elinor
+she might have a daughter suffering almost as much,
+certainly with less self-provocation, and greater fortitude.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 48
+
+
+     Elinor now found the difference between the expectation
+of an unpleasant event, however certain the mind may be told
+to consider it, and certainty itself.  She now found, that
+in spite of herself, she had always admitted a hope,
+while Edward remained single, that something would occur
+to prevent his marrying Lucy; that some resolution of
+his own, some mediation of friends, or some more eligible
+opportunity of establishment for the lady, would arise
+to assist the happiness of all.  But he was now married;
+and she condemned her heart for the lurking flattery,
+which so much heightened the pain of the intelligence.
+
+     That he should be married soon, before (as she imagined)
+he could be in orders, and consequently before he could
+be in possession of the living, surprised her a little
+at first.  But she soon saw how likely it was that Lucy,
+in her self-provident care, in her haste to secure him,
+should overlook every thing but the risk of delay.
+They were married, married in town, and now hastening
+down to her uncle's.  What had Edward felt on being within
+four miles from Barton, on seeing her mother's servant,
+on hearing Lucy's message!
+
+     They would soon, she supposed, be settled at
+Delaford.--Delaford,--that place in which so much
+conspired to give her an interest; which she wished
+to be acquainted with, and yet desired to avoid.
+She saw them in an instant in their parsonage-house; saw
+in Lucy, the active, contriving manager, uniting at once
+a desire of smart appearance with the utmost frugality,
+and ashamed to be suspected of half her economical practices;--
+pursuing her own interest in every thought, courting the
+favour of Colonel Brandon, of Mrs. Jennings, and of every
+wealthy friend.  In Edward--she knew not what she saw,
+nor what she wished to see;--happy or unhappy,--nothing
+pleased her; she turned away her head from every sketch of him.
+
+     Elinor flattered herself that some one of their
+connections in London would write to them to announce
+the event, and give farther particulars,--but day after
+day passed off, and brought no letter, no tidings.
+Though uncertain that any one were to blame, she found
+fault with every absent friend.  They were all thoughtless
+or indolent.
+
+     "When do you write to Colonel Brandon, ma'am?"
+was an inquiry which sprung from the impatience
+of her mind to have something going on.
+
+     "I wrote to him, my love, last week, and rather
+expect to see, than to hear from him again.  I earnestly
+pressed his coming to us, and should not be surprised
+to see him walk in today or tomorrow, or any day."
+
+     This was gaining something, something to look forward to.
+Colonel Brandon must have some information to give.
+
+     Scarcely had she so determined it, when the figure
+of a man on horseback drew her eyes to the window.
+He stopt at their gate.  It was a gentleman, it
+was Colonel Brandon himself.  Now she could hear more;
+and she trembled in expectation of it.  But--it was
+NOT Colonel Brandon--neither his air--nor his height.
+Were it possible, she must say it must be Edward.
+She looked again.  He had just dismounted;--she could not be
+mistaken,--it WAS Edward.  She moved away and sat down.
+"He comes from Mr. Pratt's purposely to see us.  I WILL be
+calm; I WILL be mistress of myself."
+
+     In a moment she perceived that the others were likewise
+aware of the mistake.  She saw her mother and Marianne
+change colour; saw them look at herself, and whisper
+a few sentences to each other.  She would have given
+the world to be able to speak--and to make them understand
+that she hoped no coolness, no slight, would appear
+in their behaviour to him;--but she had no utterance,
+and was obliged to leave all to their own discretion.
+
+     Not a syllable passed aloud.  They all waited
+in silence for the appearance of their visitor.
+His footsteps were heard along the gravel path; in a moment
+he was in the passage, and in another he was before them.
+
+     His countenance, as he entered the room, was not
+too happy, even for Elinor.  His complexion was white
+with agitation, and he looked as if fearful of his
+reception, and conscious that he merited no kind one.
+Mrs. Dashwood, however, conforming, as she trusted,
+to the wishes of that daughter, by whom she then meant
+in the warmth of her heart to be guided in every thing,
+met with a look of forced complacency, gave him her hand,
+and wished him joy.
+
+     He coloured, and stammered out an unintelligible reply.
+Elinor's lips had moved with her mother's, and, when the
+moment of action was over, she wished that she had shaken
+hands with him too.  But it was then too late, and with a
+countenance meaning to be open, she sat down again
+and talked of the weather.
+
+     Marianne had retreated as much as possible
+out of sight, to conceal her distress; and Margaret,
+understanding some part, but not the whole of the case,
+thought it incumbent on her to be dignified, and therefore
+took a seat as far from him as she could, and maintained
+a strict silence.
+
+     When Elinor had ceased to rejoice in the dryness
+of the season, a very awful pause took place.  It was put
+an end to by Mrs. Dashwood, who felt obliged to hope that he
+had left Mrs. Ferrars very well.  In a hurried manner,
+he replied in the affirmative.
+
+     Another pause.
+
+     Elinor resolving to exert herself, though fearing
+the sound of her own voice, now said,
+
+     "Is Mrs. Ferrars at Longstaple?"
+
+     "At Longstaple!" he replied, with an air of surprise.--
+"No, my mother is in town."
+
+     "I meant," said Elinor, taking up some work from
+the table, "to inquire for Mrs. EDWARD Ferrars."
+
+     She dared not look up;--but her mother and Marianne both
+turned their eyes on him.  He coloured, seemed perplexed,
+looked doubtingly, and, after some hesitation, said,--
+
+     "Perhaps you mean--my brother--you mean Mrs.--Mrs.
+ROBERT Ferrars."
+
+     "Mrs. Robert Ferrars!"--was repeated by Marianne and her
+mother in an accent of the utmost amazement;--and though
+Elinor could not speak, even HER eyes were fixed on him
+with the same impatient wonder.  He rose from his seat,
+and walked to the window, apparently from not knowing
+what to do; took up a pair of scissors that lay there,
+and while spoiling both them and their sheath by cutting
+the latter to pieces as he spoke, said, in a hurried voice,
+
+     "Perhaps you do not know--you may not have heard
+that my brother is lately married to--to the youngest--to
+Miss Lucy Steele."
+
+     His words were echoed with unspeakable astonishment
+by all but Elinor, who sat with her head leaning over
+her work, in a state of such agitation as made her hardly
+know where she was.
+
+     "Yes," said he, "they were married last week,
+and are now at Dawlish."
+
+     Elinor could sit it no longer.  She almost ran
+out of the room, and as soon as the door was closed,
+burst into tears of joy, which at first she thought would
+never cease.  Edward, who had till then looked any where,
+rather than at her, saw her hurry away, and perhaps saw--
+or even heard, her emotion; for immediately afterwards
+he fell into a reverie, which no remarks, no inquiries,
+no affectionate address of Mrs. Dashwood could penetrate,
+and at last, without saying a word, quitted the room,
+and walked out towards the village--leaving the others
+in the greatest astonishment and perplexity on a change
+in his situation, so wonderful and so sudden;--a perplexity
+which they had no means of lessening but by their
+own conjectures.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 49
+
+
+     Unaccountable, however, as the circumstances of his
+release might appear to the whole family, it was certain
+that Edward was free; and to what purpose that freedom would
+be employed was easily pre-determined by all;--for after
+experiencing the blessings of ONE imprudent engagement,
+contracted without his mother's consent, as he had already
+done for more than four years, nothing less could be expected
+of him in the failure of THAT, than the immediate contraction 
+of another.
+
+     His errand at Barton, in fact, was a simple one.
+It was only to ask Elinor to marry him;--and considering
+that he was not altogether inexperienced in such a question,
+it might be strange that he should feel so uncomfortable
+in the present case as he really did, so much in need of
+encouragement and fresh air.
+
+     How soon he had walked himself into the proper
+resolution, however, how soon an opportunity of exercising
+it occurred, in what manner he expressed himself,
+and how he was received, need not be particularly told.
+This only need be said;--that when they all sat down to
+table at four o'clock, about three hours after his arrival,
+he had secured his lady, engaged her mother's consent,
+and was not only in the rapturous profession of
+the lover, but, in the reality of reason and truth,
+one of the happiest of men.  His situation indeed was
+more than commonly joyful.  He had more than the ordinary
+triumph of accepted love to swell his heart, and raise
+his spirits.  He was released without any reproach
+to himself, from an entanglement which had long formed
+his misery, from a woman whom he had long ceased to love;--
+and elevated at once to that security with another,
+which he must have thought of almost with despair,
+as soon as he had learnt to consider it with desire.
+He was brought, not from doubt or suspense, but from
+misery to happiness;--and the change was openly spoken
+in such a genuine, flowing, grateful cheerfulness,
+as his friends had never witnessed in him before.
+
+     His heart was now open to Elinor, all its weaknesses,
+all its errors confessed, and his first boyish attachment
+to Lucy treated with all the philosophic dignity of twenty-four.
+
+     "It was a foolish, idle inclination on my side,"
+said he, "the consequence of ignorance of the world--
+and want of employment.  Had my brother given me
+some active profession when I was removed at eighteen
+from the care of Mr. Pratt, I think--nay, I am sure,
+it would never have happened; for though I left Longstaple
+with what I thought, at the time, a most unconquerable
+preference for his niece, yet had I then had any pursuit,
+any object to engage my time and keep me at a distance
+from her for a few months, I should very soon have
+outgrown the fancied attachment, especially by mixing
+more with the world, as in such case I must have done.
+But instead of having any thing to do, instead of having any
+profession chosen for me, or being allowed to chuse any myself,
+I returned home to be completely idle; and for the first
+twelvemonth afterwards I had not even the nominal employment,
+which belonging to the university would have given me;
+for I was not entered at Oxford till I was nineteen.
+I had therefore nothing in the world to do, but to fancy
+myself in love; and as my mother did not make my home
+in every respect comfortable, as I had no friend,
+no companion in my brother, and disliked new acquaintance,
+it was not unnatural for me to be very often at Longstaple,
+where I always felt myself at home, and was always sure
+of a welcome; and accordingly I spent the greatest part
+of my time there from eighteen to nineteen: Lucy appeared
+everything that was amiable and obliging.  She was pretty
+too--at least I thought so THEN; and I had seen so little
+of other women, that I could make no comparisons, and see
+no defects.  Considering everything, therefore, I hope,
+foolish as our engagement was, foolish as it has since
+in every way been proved, it was not at the time an unnatural
+or an inexcusable piece of folly."
+
+     The change which a few hours had wrought in the minds
+and the happiness of the Dashwoods, was such--so great--as
+promised them all, the satisfaction of a sleepless night.
+Mrs. Dashwood, too happy to be comfortable, knew not how
+to love Edward, nor praise Elinor enough, how to be enough
+thankful for his release without wounding his delicacy,
+nor how at once to give them leisure for unrestrained
+conversation together, and yet enjoy, as she wished,
+the sight and society of both.
+
+     Marianne could speak HER happiness only by tears.
+Comparisons would occur--regrets would arise;--and her joy,
+though sincere as her love for her sister, was of a kind to
+give her neither spirits nor language.
+
+     But Elinor--how are HER feelings to be described?--From
+the moment of learning that Lucy was married to another,
+that Edward was free, to the moment of his justifying
+the hopes which had so instantly followed, she was every
+thing by turns but tranquil.  But when the second moment
+had passed, when she found every doubt, every solicitude
+removed, compared her situation with what so lately it
+had been,--saw him honourably released from his former
+engagement, saw him instantly profiting by the release,
+to address herself and declare an affection as tender,
+as constant as she had ever supposed it to be,--she
+was oppressed, she was overcome by her own felicity;--
+and happily disposed as is the human mind to be easily
+familiarized with any change for the better, it required
+several hours to give sedateness to her spirits, or any
+degree of tranquillity to her heart.
+
+     Edward was now fixed at the cottage at least for
+a week;--for whatever other claims might be made on him,
+it was impossible that less than a week should be given
+up to the enjoyment of Elinor's company, or suffice
+to say half that was to be said of the past, the present,
+and the future;--for though a very few hours spent in
+the hard labor of incessant talking will despatch more
+subjects than can really be in common between any two
+rational creatures, yet with lovers it is different.
+Between THEM no subject is finished, no communication
+is even made, till it has been made at least twenty
+times over.
+
+     Lucy's marriage, the unceasing and reasonable wonder
+among them all, formed of course one of the earliest
+discussions of the lovers;--and Elinor's particular knowledge
+of each party made it appear to her in every view, as one
+of the most extraordinary and unaccountable circumstances
+she had ever heard.  How they could be thrown together,
+and by what attraction Robert could be drawn on to marry
+a girl, of whose beauty she had herself heard him speak
+without any admiration,--a girl too already engaged
+to his brother, and on whose account that brother had been
+thrown off by his family--it was beyond her comprehension
+to make out.  To her own heart it was a delightful affair,
+to her imagination it was even a ridiculous one, but 
+to her reason, her judgment, it was completely a puzzle.
+
+     Edward could only attempt an explanation by supposing,
+that, perhaps, at first accidentally meeting, the vanity
+of the one had been so worked on by the flattery
+of the other, as to lead by degrees to all the rest.
+Elinor remembered what Robert had told her in Harley Street,
+of his opinion of what his own mediation in his brother's
+affairs might have done, if applied to in time.
+She repeated it to Edward.
+
+     "THAT was exactly like Robert,"--was his immediate 
+observation.--"And THAT," he presently added, "might 
+perhaps be in HIS head when the acquaintance between 
+them first began.  And Lucy perhaps at first might 
+think only of procuring his good offices in my favour.  
+Other designs might afterward arise."
+
+     How long it had been carrying on between them,
+however, he was equally at a loss with herself to make out;
+for at Oxford, where he had remained for choice ever since
+his quitting London, he had had no means of hearing of her
+but from herself, and her letters to the very last were
+neither less frequent, nor less affectionate than usual.
+Not the smallest suspicion, therefore, had ever occurred
+to prepare him for what followed;--and when at last it
+burst on him in a letter from Lucy herself, he had been
+for some time, he believed, half stupified between
+the wonder, the horror, and the joy of such a deliverance.
+He put the letter into Elinor's hands.
+
+          "DEAR SIR,
+
+          "Being very sure I have long lost your affections,
+     I have thought myself at liberty to bestow my own
+     on another, and have no doubt of being as happy with
+     him as I once used to think I might be with you;
+     but I scorn to accept a hand while the heart was
+     another's.  Sincerely wish you happy in your choice,
+     and it shall not be my fault if we are not always
+     good friends, as our near relationship now makes
+     proper.  I can safely say I owe you no ill-will,
+     and am sure you will be too generous to do us any
+     ill offices.  Your brother has gained my affections
+     entirely, and as we could not live without one
+     another, we are just returned from the altar, and
+     are now on our way to Dawlish for a few weeks, which
+     place your dear brother has great curiosity to see,
+     but thought I would first trouble you with these
+     few lines, and shall always remain,
+
+          "Your sincere well-wisher, friend, and sister,
+                                        "LUCY FERRARS.
+
+          "I have burnt all your letters, and will return
+     your picture the first opportunity.  Please to destroy
+     my scrawls--but the ring with my hair you are very
+     welcome to keep."
+
+     Elinor read and returned it without any comment.
+
+     "I will not ask your opinion of it as a composition,"
+said Edward.--"For worlds would not I have had a letter
+of hers seen by YOU in former days.--In a sister it
+is bad enough, but in a wife!--how I have blushed over
+the pages of her writing!--and I believe I may say that
+since the first half year of our foolish--business--this
+is the only letter I ever received from her, of which
+the substance made me any amends for the defect of the style."
+
+     "However it may have come about," said Elinor,
+after a pause,--"they are certainly married.  And your mother
+has brought on herself a most appropriate punishment.
+The independence she settled on Robert, through resentment
+against you, has put it in his power to make his own choice;
+and she has actually been bribing one son with a thousand
+a-year, to do the very deed which she disinherited the
+other for intending to do.  She will hardly be less hurt,
+I suppose, by Robert's marrying Lucy, than she would have
+been by your marrying her."
+
+     "She will be more hurt by it, for Robert always
+was her favourite.--She will be more hurt by it,
+and on the same principle will forgive him much sooner."
+
+     In what state the affair stood at present between them,
+Edward knew not, for no communication with any of his family
+had yet been attempted by him.  He had quitted Oxford
+within four and twenty hours after Lucy's letter arrived,
+and with only one object before him, the nearest road
+to Barton, had had no leisure to form any scheme of conduct,
+with which that road did not hold the most intimate connection.
+He could do nothing till he were assured of his fate with
+Miss Dashwood; and by his rapidity in seeking THAT fate,
+it is to be supposed, in spite of the jealousy with
+which he had once thought of Colonel Brandon, in spite
+of the modesty with which he rated his own deserts,
+and the politeness with which he talked of his doubts,
+he did not, upon the whole, expect a very cruel reception.
+It was his business, however, to say that he DID, and he
+said it very prettily.  What he might say on the subject
+a twelvemonth after, must be referred to the imagination
+of husbands and wives.
+
+     That Lucy had certainly meant to deceive, to go off
+with a flourish of malice against him in her message
+by Thomas, was perfectly clear to Elinor; and Edward himself,
+now thoroughly enlightened on her character, had no
+scruple in believing her capable of the utmost meanness
+of wanton ill-nature. Though his eyes had been long opened,
+even before his acquaintance with Elinor began, to her
+ignorance and a want of liberality in some of her opinions--
+they had been equally imputed, by him, to her want
+of education; and till her last letter reached him,
+he had always believed her to be a well-disposed,
+good-hearted girl, and thoroughly attached to himself.
+Nothing but such a persuasion could have prevented
+his putting an end to an engagement, which, long before
+the discovery of it laid him open to his mother's anger,
+had been a continual source of disquiet and regret to him.
+
+     "I thought it my duty," said he, "independent of my feelings,
+to give her the option of continuing the engagement or not,
+when I was renounced by my mother, and stood to all
+appearance without a friend in the world to assist me.
+In such a situation as that, where there seemed nothing
+to tempt the avarice or the vanity of any living creature,
+how could I suppose, when she so earnestly, so warmly insisted
+on sharing my fate, whatever it might be, that any thing
+but the most disinterested affection was her inducement?
+And even now, I cannot comprehend on what motive she acted,
+or what fancied advantage it could be to her, to be
+fettered to a man for whom she had not the smallest regard,
+and who had only two thousand pounds in the world.
+She could not foresee that Colonel Brandon would give me a living."
+
+     "No; but she might suppose that something would occur
+in your favour; that your own family might in time relent.
+And at any rate, she lost nothing by continuing the engagement,
+for she has proved that it fettered neither her inclination
+nor her actions.  The connection was certainly a
+respectable one, and probably gained her consideration among
+her friends; and, if nothing more advantageous occurred,
+it would be better for her to marry YOU than be single."
+
+     Edward was, of course, immediately convinced that
+nothing could have been more natural than Lucy's conduct,
+nor more self-evident than the motive of it.
+
+     Elinor scolded him, harshly as ladies always scold
+the imprudence which compliments themselves, for having
+spent so much time with them at Norland, when he must
+have felt his own inconstancy.
+
+     "Your behaviour was certainly very wrong," said she;
+"because--to say nothing of my own conviction, our relations
+were all led away by it to fancy and expect WHAT, as you
+were THEN situated, could never be."
+
+     He could only plead an ignorance of his own heart,
+and a mistaken confidence in the force of his engagement.
+
+     "I was simple enough to think, that because my FAITH
+was plighted to another, there could be no danger in my being
+with you; and that the consciousness of my engagement was
+to keep my heart as safe and sacred as my honour.  I felt
+that I admired you, but I told myself it was only friendship;
+and till I began to make comparisons between yourself
+and Lucy, I did not know how far I was got.  After that,
+I suppose, I WAS wrong in remaining so much in Sussex,
+and the arguments with which I reconciled myself to the
+expediency of it, were no better than these:--The danger
+is my own; I am doing no injury to anybody but myself."
+
+     Elinor smiled, and shook her head.
+
+     Edward heard with pleasure of Colonel Brandon's
+being expected at the Cottage, as he really wished
+not only to be better acquainted with him, but to have an
+opportunity of convincing him that he no longer resented
+his giving him the living of Delaford--"Which, at present,"
+said he, "after thanks so ungraciously delivered as mine
+were on the occasion, he must think I have never forgiven
+him for offering."
+
+     NOW he felt astonished himself that he had never yet
+been to the place.  But so little interest had be taken
+in the matter, that he owed all his knowledge of the house,
+garden, and glebe, extent of the parish, condition of
+the land, and rate of the tithes, to Elinor herself,
+who had heard so much of it from Colonel Brandon, and heard
+it with so much attention, as to be entirely mistress of the subject.
+
+     One question after this only remained undecided,
+between them, one difficulty only was to be overcome.
+They were brought together by mutual affection,
+with the warmest approbation of their real friends;
+their intimate knowledge of each other seemed to make
+their happiness certain--and they only wanted something
+to live upon.  Edward had two thousand pounds, and Elinor
+one, which, with Delaford living, was all that they could
+call their own; for it was impossible that Mrs. Dashwood
+should advance anything; and they were neither of them
+quite enough in love to think that three hundred and fifty
+pounds a-year would supply them with the comforts of life.
+
+     Edward was not entirely without hopes of some
+favourable change in his mother towards him; and on THAT
+he rested for the residue of their income.  But Elinor
+had no such dependence; for since Edward would still
+be unable to marry Miss Morton, and his chusing herself
+had been spoken of in Mrs. Ferrars's flattering language
+as only a lesser evil than his chusing Lucy Steele,
+she feared that Robert's offence would serve no other
+purpose than to enrich Fanny.
+
+     About four days after Edward's arrival Colonel
+Brandon appeared, to complete Mrs. Dashwood's satisfaction,
+and to give her the dignity of having, for the first time
+since her living at Barton, more company with her than
+her house would hold.  Edward was allowed to retain the
+privilege of first comer, and Colonel Brandon therefore
+walked every night to his old quarters at the Park;
+from whence he usually returned in the morning, early enough
+to interrupt the lovers' first tete-a-tete before breakfast.
+
+     A three weeks' residence at Delaford, where,
+in his evening hours at least, he had little to do
+but to calculate the disproportion between thirty-six
+and seventeen, brought him to Barton in a temper of mind
+which needed all the improvement in Marianne's looks,
+all the kindness of her welcome, and all the encouragement
+of her mother's language, to make it cheerful.
+Among such friends, however, and such flattery, he did revive.
+No rumour of Lucy's marriage had yet reached him:--he knew
+nothing of what had passed; and the first hours of his
+visit were consequently spent in hearing and in wondering.
+Every thing was explained to him by Mrs. Dashwood,
+and he found fresh reason to rejoice in what he had done
+for Mr. Ferrars, since eventually it promoted the interest of Elinor.
+
+     It would be needless to say, that the gentlemen advanced
+in the good opinion of each other, as they advanced in each
+other's acquaintance, for it could not be otherwise.
+Their resemblance in good principles and good sense,
+in disposition and manner of thinking, would probably
+have been sufficient to unite them in friendship,
+without any other attraction; but their being in love
+with two sisters, and two sisters fond of each other,
+made that mutual regard inevitable and immediate,
+which might otherwise have waited the effect of time
+and judgment.
+
+     The letters from town, which a few days before would
+have made every nerve in Elinor's body thrill with transport,
+now arrived to be read with less emotion that mirth.
+Mrs. Jennings wrote to tell the wonderful tale, to vent her
+honest indignation against the jilting girl, and pour forth
+her compassion towards poor Mr. Edward, who, she was sure,
+had quite doted upon the worthless hussy, and was now,
+by all accounts, almost broken-hearted, at Oxford.--
+"I do think," she continued, "nothing was ever carried
+on so sly; for it was but two days before Lucy called
+and sat a couple of hours with me.  Not a soul suspected
+anything of the matter, not even Nancy, who, poor soul!
+came crying to me the day after, in a great fright
+for fear of Mrs. Ferrars, as well as not knowing how to
+get to Plymouth; for Lucy it seems borrowed all her
+money before she went off to be married, on purpose
+we suppose to make a show with, and poor Nancy had not
+seven shillings in the world;--so I was very glad to give
+her five guineas to take her down to Exeter, where she
+thinks of staying three or four weeks with Mrs. Burgess,
+in hopes, as I tell her, to fall in with the Doctor again.
+And I must say that Lucy's crossness not to take them
+along with them in the chaise is worse than all.
+Poor Mr. Edward! I cannot get him out of my head, but you
+must send for him to Barton, and Miss Marianne must try to
+comfort him."
+
+     Mr. Dashwood's strains were more solemn.
+Mrs. Ferrars was the most unfortunate of women--poor
+Fanny had suffered agonies of sensibility--and he
+considered the existence of each, under such a blow,
+with grateful wonder.  Robert's offence was unpardonable,
+but Lucy's was infinitely worse.  Neither of them were
+ever again to be mentioned to Mrs. Ferrars; and even,
+if she might hereafter be induced to forgive her son,
+his wife should never be acknowledged as her daughter,
+nor be permitted to appear in her presence.  The secrecy
+with which everything had been carried on between them,
+was rationally treated as enormously heightening
+the crime, because, had any suspicion of it occurred
+to the others, proper measures would have been taken
+to prevent the marriage; and he called on Elinor to join
+with him in regretting that Lucy's engagement with Edward
+had not rather been fulfilled, than that she should thus
+be the means of spreading misery farther in the family.--
+He thus continued:
+
+     "Mrs. Ferrars has never yet mentioned Edward's name,
+which does not surprise us; but, to our great astonishment,
+not a line has been received from him on the occasion.
+Perhaps, however, he is kept silent by his fear of offending,
+and I shall, therefore, give him a hint, by a line
+to Oxford, that his sister and I both think a letter
+of proper submission from him, addressed perhaps to Fanny,
+and by her shewn to her mother, might not be taken amiss;
+for we all know the tenderness of Mrs. Ferrars's heart,
+and that she wishes for nothing so much as to be on good terms
+with her children."
+
+     This paragraph was of some importance to the
+prospects and conduct of Edward.  It determined him
+to attempt a reconciliation, though not exactly
+in the manner pointed out by their brother and sister.
+
+     "A letter of proper submission!" repeated he;
+"would they have me beg my mother's pardon for Robert's
+ingratitude to HER, and breach of honour to ME?--I can
+make no submission--I am grown neither humble nor
+penitent by what has passed.--I am grown very happy;
+but that would not interest.--I know of no submission
+that IS proper for me to make."
+
+     "You may certainly ask to be forgiven," said Elinor,
+"because you have offended;--and I should think you
+might NOW venture so far as to profess some concern
+for having ever formed the engagement which drew on you
+your mother's anger."
+
+     He agreed that he might.
+
+     "And when she has forgiven you, perhaps a little humility
+may be convenient while acknowledging a second engagement,
+almost as imprudent in HER eyes as the first."
+
+     He had nothing to urge against it, but still
+resisted the idea of a letter of proper submission;
+and therefore, to make it easier to him, as he declared
+a much greater willingness to make mean concessions
+by word of mouth than on paper, it was resolved that,
+instead of writing to Fanny, he should go to London,
+and personally intreat her good offices in his favour.--
+"And if they really DO interest themselves," said Marianne,
+in her new character of candour, "in bringing about
+a reconciliation, I shall think that even John and Fanny
+are not entirely without merit."
+
+     After a visit on Colonel Brandon's side of only three
+or four days, the two gentlemen quitted Barton together.--
+They were to go immediately to Delaford, that Edward
+might have some personal knowledge of his future home,
+and assist his patron and friend in deciding on what
+improvements were needed to it; and from thence,
+after staying there a couple of nights, he was to proceed
+on his journey to town.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 50
+
+
+     After a proper resistance on the part of Mrs. Ferrars,
+just so violent and so steady as to preserve her from that
+reproach which she always seemed fearful of incurring,
+the reproach of being too amiable, Edward was admitted
+to her presence, and pronounced to be again her son.
+
+     Her family had of late been exceedingly fluctuating.
+For many years of her life she had had two sons;
+but the crime and annihilation of Edward a few weeks ago,
+had robbed her of one; the similar annihilation of Robert
+had left her for a fortnight without any; and now,
+by the resuscitation of Edward, she had one again.
+
+     In spite of his being allowed once more to live,
+however, he did not feel the continuance of his existence
+secure, till he had revealed his present engagement;
+for the publication of that circumstance, he feared,
+might give a sudden turn to his constitution, and carry
+him off as rapidly as before.  With apprehensive caution
+therefore it was revealed, and he was listened to with
+unexpected calmness.  Mrs. Ferrars at first reasonably
+endeavoured to dissuade him from marrying Miss Dashwood,
+by every argument in her power;--told him, that in Miss Morton
+he would have a woman of higher rank and larger fortune;--
+and enforced the assertion, by observing that Miss Morton
+was the daughter of a nobleman with thirty thousand pounds,
+while Miss Dashwood was only the daughter of a private
+gentleman with no more than THREE; but when she found that,
+though perfectly admitting the truth of her representation,
+he was by no means inclined to be guided by it,
+she judged it wisest, from the experience of the past,
+to submit--and therefore, after such an ungracious delay
+as she owed to her own dignity, and as served to prevent
+every suspicion of good-will, she issued her decree
+of consent to the marriage of Edward and Elinor.
+
+     What she would engage to do towards augmenting
+their income was next to be considered; and here it
+plainly appeared, that though Edward was now her only son,
+he was by no means her eldest; for while Robert was
+inevitably endowed with a thousand pounds a-year,
+not the smallest objection was made against Edward's taking
+orders for the sake of two hundred and fifty at the utmost;
+nor was anything promised either for the present or in future,
+beyond the ten thousand pounds, which had been given with Fanny.
+
+     It was as much, however, as was desired,
+and more than was expected, by Edward and Elinor;
+and Mrs. Ferrars herself, by her shuffling excuses,
+seemed the only person surprised at her not giving more.
+
+     With an income quite sufficient to their wants
+thus secured to them, they had nothing to wait for
+after Edward was in possession of the living, but the
+readiness of the house, to which Colonel Brandon,
+with an eager desire for the accommodation of Elinor,
+was making considerable improvements; and after waiting
+some time for their completion, after experiencing,
+as usual, a thousand disappointments and delays
+from the unaccountable dilatoriness of the workmen, Elinor,
+as usual, broke through the first positive resolution
+of not marrying till every thing was ready, and the
+ceremony took place in Barton church early in the autumn.
+
+     The first month after their marriage was spent
+with their friend at the Mansion-house; from whence
+they could superintend the progress of the Parsonage,
+and direct every thing as they liked on the spot;--
+could chuse papers, project shrubberies, and invent a sweep.
+Mrs. Jennings's prophecies, though rather jumbled together,
+were chiefly fulfilled; for she was able to visit Edward
+and his wife in their Parsonage by Michaelmas, and she
+found in Elinor and her husband, as she really believed,
+one of the happiest couples in the world.  They had
+in fact nothing to wish for, but the marriage of Colonel
+Brandon and Marianne, and rather better pasturage for
+their cows.
+
+     They were visited on their first settling by almost
+all their relations and friends.  Mrs. Ferrars came
+to inspect the happiness which she was almost ashamed
+of having authorised; and even the Dashwoods were at
+the expense of a journey from Sussex to do them honour.
+
+     "I will not say that I am disappointed, my dear sister,"
+said John, as they were walking together one morning before
+the gates of Delaford House, "THAT would be saying too much,
+for certainly you have been one of the most fortunate young
+women in the world, as it is.  But, I confess, it would
+give me great pleasure to call Colonel Brandon brother.
+His property here, his place, his house, every thing is in
+such respectable and excellent condition!--and his woods!--I
+have not seen such timber any where in Dorsetshire, as there
+is now standing in Delaford Hanger!--And though, perhaps,
+Marianne may not seem exactly the person to attract him--
+yet I think it would altogether be advisable for you to
+have them now frequently staying with you, for as Colonel
+Brandon seems a great deal at home, nobody can tell what
+may happen--for, when people are much thrown together,
+and see little of anybody else--and it will always be
+in your power to set her off to advantage, and so forth;--
+in short, you may as well give her a chance--You understand me."--
+
+     But though Mrs. Ferrars DID come to see them, and always
+treated them with the make-believe of decent affection,
+they were never insulted by her real favour and preference.
+THAT was due to the folly of Robert, and the cunning
+of his wife; and it was earned by them before many months
+had passed away.  The selfish sagacity of the latter,
+which had at first drawn Robert into the scrape,
+was the principal instrument of his deliverance from it;
+for her respectful humility, assiduous attentions,
+and endless flatteries, as soon as the smallest opening
+was given for their exercise, reconciled Mrs. Ferrars
+to his choice, and re-established him completely in
+her favour.
+
+     The whole of Lucy's behaviour in the affair,
+and the prosperity which crowned it, therefore, may be held
+forth as a most encouraging instance of what an earnest,
+an unceasing attention to self-interest, however its progress
+may be apparently obstructed, will do in securing every
+advantage of fortune, with no other sacrifice than that of time
+and conscience.  When Robert first sought her acquaintance,
+and privately visited her in Bartlett's Buildings,
+it was only with the view imputed to him by his brother.
+He merely meant to persuade her to give up the engagement;
+and as there could be nothing to overcome but the affection
+of both, he naturally expected that one or two interviews
+would settle the matter.  In that point, however,
+and that only, he erred;--for though Lucy soon gave him
+hopes that his eloquence would convince her in TIME,
+another visit, another conversation, was always wanted
+to produce this conviction.  Some doubts always lingered
+in her mind when they parted, which could only be
+removed by another half hour's discourse with himself.
+His attendance was by this means secured, and the rest
+followed in course.  Instead of talking of Edward,
+they came gradually to talk only of Robert,--a subject
+on which he had always more to say than on any other,
+and in which she soon betrayed an interest even equal
+to his own; and in short, it became speedily evident
+to both, that he had entirely supplanted his brother.
+He was proud of his conquest, proud of tricking Edward,
+and very proud of marrying privately without his
+mother's consent.  What immediately followed is known.
+They passed some months in great happiness at Dawlish;
+for she had many relations and old acquaintances to
+cut--and he drew several plans for magnificent cottages;--
+and from thence returning to town, procured the forgiveness
+of Mrs. Ferrars, by the simple expedient of asking it,
+which, at Lucy's instigation, was adopted.  The forgiveness,
+at first, indeed, as was reasonable, comprehended only Robert;
+and Lucy, who had owed his mother no duty and therefore
+could have transgressed none, still remained some weeks
+longer unpardoned.  But perseverance in humility of conduct
+and messages, in self-condemnation for Robert's offence,
+and gratitude for the unkindness she was treated with,
+procured her in time the haughty notice which overcame
+her by its graciousness, and led soon afterwards, by rapid
+degrees, to the highest state of affection and influence.
+Lucy became as necessary to Mrs. Ferrars, as either Robert
+or Fanny; and while Edward was never cordially forgiven
+for having once intended to marry her, and Elinor,
+though superior to her in fortune and birth, was spoken
+of as an intruder, SHE was in every thing considered,
+and always openly acknowledged, to be a favourite child.
+They settled in town, received very liberal assistance
+from Mrs. Ferrars, were on the best terms imaginable
+with the Dashwoods; and setting aside the jealousies
+and ill-will continually subsisting between Fanny and Lucy,
+in which their husbands of course took a part, as well
+as the frequent domestic disagreements between Robert and
+Lucy themselves, nothing could exceed the harmony in which
+they all lived together.
+
+     What Edward had done to forfeit the right of eldest
+son, might have puzzled many people to find out; and what
+Robert had done to succeed to it, might have puzzled them
+still more.  It was an arrangement, however, justified in
+its effects, if not in its cause; for nothing ever
+appeared in Robert's style of living or of talking to give
+a suspicion of his regretting the extent of his income,
+as either leaving his brother too little, or bringing
+himself too much;--and if Edward might be judged from
+the ready discharge of his duties in every particular,
+from an increasing attachment to his wife and his home,
+and from the regular cheerfulness of his spirits,
+he might be supposed no less contented with his lot,
+no less free from every wish of an exchange.
+
+     Elinor's marriage divided her as little from her
+family as could well be contrived, without rendering
+the cottage at Barton entirely useless, for her mother
+and sisters spent much more than half their time with her.
+Mrs. Dashwood was acting on motives of policy as well
+as pleasure in the frequency of her visits at Delaford;
+for her wish of bringing Marianne and Colonel Brandon together
+was hardly less earnest, though rather more liberal than
+what John had expressed.  It was now her darling object.
+Precious as was the company of her daughter to her,
+she desired nothing so much as to give up its constant
+enjoyment to her valued friend; and to see Marianne settled at
+the mansion-house was equally the wish of Edward and Elinor.
+They each felt his sorrows, and their own obligations,
+and Marianne, by general consent, was to be the reward
+of all.
+
+     With such a confederacy against her--with a knowledge
+so intimate of his goodness--with a conviction of his fond
+attachment to herself, which at last, though long after it
+was observable to everybody else--burst on her--what could she do?
+
+     Marianne Dashwood was born to an extraordinary fate.
+She was born to discover the falsehood of her own opinions,
+and to counteract, by her conduct, her most favourite maxims.
+She was born to overcome an affection formed so late
+in life as at seventeen, and with no sentiment
+superior to strong esteem and lively friendship,
+voluntarily to give her hand to another!--and THAT other,
+a man who had suffered no less than herself under the
+event of a former attachment, whom, two years before,
+she had considered too old to be married,--and who still
+sought the constitutional safeguard of a flannel waistcoat!
+
+     But so it was.  Instead of falling a sacrifice
+to an irresistible passion, as once she had fondly
+flattered herself with expecting,--instead of remaining
+even for ever with her mother, and finding her only
+pleasures in retirement and study, as afterwards in her
+more calm and sober judgment she had determined on,--
+she found herself at nineteen, submitting to new attachments,
+entering on new duties, placed in a new home, a wife,
+the mistress of a family, and the patroness of a village.
+
+     Colonel Brandon was now as happy, as all those who best
+loved him, believed he deserved to be;--in Marianne he
+was consoled for every past affliction;--her regard and her
+society restored his mind to animation, and his spirits
+to cheerfulness; and that Marianne found her own happiness
+in forming his, was equally the persuasion and delight
+of each observing friend.  Marianne could never love
+by halves; and her whole heart became, in time, as much
+devoted to her husband, as it had once been to Willoughby.
+
+     Willoughby could not hear of her marriage without
+a pang; and his punishment was soon afterwards complete
+in the voluntary forgiveness of Mrs. Smith, who, by stating
+his marriage with a woman of character, as the source
+of her clemency, gave him reason for believing that had he
+behaved with honour towards Marianne, he might at once have
+been happy and rich.  That his repentance of misconduct,
+which thus brought its own punishment, was sincere,
+need not be doubted;--nor that he long thought of Colonel
+Brandon with envy, and of Marianne with regret.  But that
+he was for ever inconsolable, that he fled from society,
+or contracted an habitual gloom of temper, or died of a
+broken heart, must not be depended on--for he did neither.
+He lived to exert, and frequently to enjoy himself.
+His wife was not always out of humour, nor his home
+always uncomfortable; and in his breed of horses and dogs,
+and in sporting of every kind, he found no inconsiderable
+degree of domestic felicity.
+
+     For Marianne, however--in spite of his incivility
+in surviving her loss--he always retained that decided
+regard which interested him in every thing that befell her,
+and made her his secret standard of perfection in woman;--
+and many a rising beauty would be slighted by him in
+after-days as bearing no comparison with Mrs. Brandon.
+
+     Mrs. Dashwood was prudent enough to remain at the cottage,
+without attempting a removal to Delaford; and fortunately for
+Sir John and Mrs. Jennings, when Marianne was taken from them,
+Margaret had reached an age highly suitable for dancing,
+and not very ineligible for being supposed to have a lover.
+
+     Between Barton and Delaford, there was that constant
+communication which strong family affection would
+naturally dictate;--and among the merits and the happiness
+of Elinor and Marianne, let it not be ranked as the least
+considerable, that though sisters, and living almost within
+sight of each other, they could live without disagreement
+between themselves, or producing coolness between their husbands.
+
+THE END
+
+
+End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Sense and Sensibility
+
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+The Project Gutenberg Etext of Sense and Sensibility, by Austen
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+
+SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
+
+by Jane Austen
+(1811)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 1
+
+
+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.
+
+By a former marriage, Mr. Henry Dashwood had one
+son: by his present lady, three daughters.  The son,
+a steady respectable young man, was amply provided
+for by the fortune of his mother, which had been large,
+and half of which devolved on him on his coming of age.
+By his own marriage, likewise, which happened soon afterwards,
+he added to his wealth.  To him therefore the succession
+to the Norland estate was not so really important as to
+his sisters; for their fortune, independent of what might
+arise to them from their father's inheriting that property,
+could be but small.  Their mother had nothing, and their
+father only seven thousand pounds in his own disposal;
+for the remaining moiety of his first wife's fortune was
+also secured to her child, and he had only a life-interest
+in it.
+
+The old gentleman died: his will was read, and
+like almost every other will, gave as much disappointment
+as pleasure.  He was neither so unjust, nor so ungrateful,
+as to leave his estate from his nephew;--but he left it to him
+on such terms as destroyed half the value of the bequest.
+Mr. Dashwood had wished for it more for the sake of his
+wife and daughters than for himself or his son;--but to
+his son, and his son's son, a child of four years old,
+it was secured, in such a way, as to leave to himself
+no power of providing for those who were most dear
+to him, and who most needed a provision by any charge
+on the estate, or by any sale of its valuable woods.
+The whole was tied up for the benefit of this child, who,
+in occasional visits with his father and mother at Norland,
+had so far gained on the affections of his uncle,
+by such attractions as are by no means unusual in children
+of two or three years old; an imperfect articulation,
+an earnest desire of having his own way, many cunning tricks,
+and a great deal of noise, as to outweigh all the value
+of all the attention which, for years, he had received
+from his niece and her daughters.  He meant not to
+be unkind, however, and, as a mark of his affection
+for the three girls, he left them a thousand pounds a-piece.
+
+Mr. Dashwood's disappointment was, at first, severe;
+but his temper was cheerful and sanguine; and he might
+reasonably hope to live many years, and by living economically,
+lay by a considerable sum from the produce of an estate
+already large, and capable of almost immediate improvement.
+But the fortune, which had been so tardy in coming, was his
+only one twelvemonth.  He survived his uncle no longer;
+and ten thousand pounds, including the late legacies,
+was all that remained for his widow and daughters.
+
+His son was sent for as soon as his danger was known,
+and to him Mr. Dashwood recommended, with all the strength
+and urgency which illness could command, the interest
+of his mother-in-law and sisters.
+
+Mr. John Dashwood had not the strong feelings of the
+rest of the family; but he was affected by a recommendation
+of such a nature at such a time, and he promised to do
+every thing in his power to make them comfortable.
+His father was rendered easy by such an assurance,
+and Mr. John Dashwood had then leisure to consider how
+much there might prudently be in his power to do for them.
+
+He was not an ill-disposed young man, unless to
+be rather cold hearted and rather selfish is to be
+ill-disposed: but he was, in general, well respected;
+for he conducted himself with propriety in the discharge
+of his ordinary duties.  Had he married a more amiable woman,
+he might have been made still more respectable than he
+was:--he might even have been made amiable himself; for he
+was very young when he married, and very fond of his wife.
+But Mrs. John Dashwood was a strong caricature of himself;--
+more narrow-minded and selfish.
+
+When he gave his promise to his father, he meditated
+within himself to increase the fortunes of his sisters
+by the present of a thousand pounds a-piece.  He then
+really thought himself equal to it.  The prospect of four
+thousand a-year, in addition to his present income,
+besides the remaining half of his own mother's fortune,
+warmed his heart, and made him feel capable of generosity.--
+"Yes, he would give them three thousand pounds: it would
+be liberal and handsome! It would be enough to make
+them completely easy.  Three thousand pounds! he could
+spare so considerable a sum with little inconvenience."--
+He thought of it all day long, and for many days successively,
+and he did not repent.
+
+No sooner was his father's funeral over, than Mrs. John
+Dashwood, without sending any notice of her intention to her
+mother-in-law, arrived with her child and their attendants.
+No one could dispute her right to come; the house was
+her husband's from the moment of his father's decease;
+but the indelicacy of her conduct was so much the greater,
+and to a woman in Mrs. Dashwood's situation, with only
+common feelings, must have been highly unpleasing;--
+but in HER mind there was a sense of honor so keen,
+a generosity so romantic, that any offence of the kind,
+by whomsoever given or received, was to her a source
+of immoveable disgust.  Mrs. John Dashwood had never
+been a favourite with any of her husband's family;
+but she had had no opportunity, till the present,
+of shewing them with how little attention to the comfort
+of other people she could act when occasion required it.
+
+So acutely did Mrs. Dashwood feel this ungracious
+behaviour, and so earnestly did she despise her
+daughter-in-law for it, that, on the arrival of the latter,
+she would have quitted the house for ever, had not the
+entreaty of her eldest girl induced her first to reflect
+on the propriety of going, and her own tender love for all
+her three children determined her afterwards to stay,
+and for their sakes avoid a breach with their brother.
+
+Elinor, this eldest daughter, whose advice was
+so effectual, possessed a strength of understanding,
+and coolness of judgment, which qualified her,
+though only nineteen, to be the counsellor of her mother,
+and enabled her frequently to counteract, to the advantage
+of them all, that eagerness of mind in Mrs. Dashwood
+which must generally have led to imprudence.  She had
+an excellent heart;--her disposition was affectionate,
+and her feelings were strong; but she knew how to govern
+them: it was a knowledge which her mother had yet to learn;
+and which one of her sisters had resolved never to be taught.
+
+Marianne's abilities were, in many respects,
+quite equal to Elinor's. She was sensible and clever;
+but eager in everything: her sorrows, her joys, could have
+no moderation.  She was generous, amiable, interesting: she
+was everything but prudent.  The resemblance between
+her and her mother was strikingly great.
+
+Elinor saw, with concern, the excess of her
+sister's sensibility; but by Mrs. Dashwood it was valued
+and cherished.  They encouraged each other now in the
+violence of their affliction.  The agony of grief
+which overpowered them at first, was voluntarily renewed,
+was sought for, was created again and again.  They gave
+themselves up wholly to their sorrow, seeking increase
+of wretchedness in every reflection that could afford it,
+and resolved against ever admitting consolation
+in future.  Elinor, too, was deeply afflicted; but still
+she could struggle, she could exert herself.  She could
+consult with her brother, could receive her sister-in-law
+on her arrival, and treat her with proper attention;
+and could strive to rouse her mother to similar exertion,
+and encourage her to similar forbearance.
+
+Margaret, the other sister, was a good-humored,
+well-disposed girl; but as she had already imbibed
+a good deal of Marianne's romance, without having
+much of her sense, she did not, at thirteen, bid fair
+to equal her sisters at a more advanced period of life.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 2
+
+
+Mrs. John Dashwood now installed herself mistress
+of Norland; and her mother and sisters-in-law were degraded
+to the condition of visitors.  As such, however, they were
+treated by her with quiet civility; and by her husband
+with as much kindness as he could feel towards anybody
+beyond himself, his wife, and their child.  He really
+pressed them, with some earnestness, to consider Norland
+as their home; and, as no plan appeared so eligible
+to Mrs. Dashwood as remaining there till she could
+accommodate herself with a house in the neighbourhood,
+his invitation was accepted.
+
+A continuance in a place where everything reminded
+her of former delight, was exactly what suited her mind.
+In seasons of cheerfulness, no temper could be more cheerful
+than hers, or possess, in a greater degree, that sanguine
+expectation of happiness which is happiness itself.
+But in sorrow she must be equally carried away by her fancy,
+and as far beyond consolation as in pleasure she was
+beyond alloy.
+
+Mrs. John Dashwood did not at all approve of what her
+husband intended to do for his sisters.  To take three
+thousand pounds from the fortune of their dear little boy
+would be impoverishing him to the most dreadful degree.
+She begged him to think again on the subject.  How could
+he answer it to himself to rob his child, and his only
+child too, of so large a sum?  And what possible claim
+could the Miss Dashwoods, who were related to him only by
+half blood, which she considered as no relationship at all,
+have on his generosity to so large an amount.  It was very
+well known that no affection was ever supposed to exist
+between the children of any man by different marriages;
+and why was he to ruin himself, and their poor little Harry,
+by giving away all his money to his half sisters?
+
+"It was my father's last request to me," replied
+her husband, "that I should assist his widow and daughters."
+
+"He did not know what he was talking of, I dare say;
+ten to one but he was light-headed at the time.
+Had he been in his right senses, he could not have thought
+of such a thing as begging you to give away half your
+fortune from your own child."
+
+"He did not stipulate for any particular sum,
+my dear Fanny; he only requested me, in general terms,
+to assist them, and make their situation more comfortable
+than it was in his power to do.  Perhaps it would
+have been as well if he had left it wholly to myself.
+He could hardly suppose I should neglect them.
+But as he required the promise, I could not do less
+than give it; at least I thought so at the time.
+The promise, therefore, was given, and must be performed.
+Something must be done for them whenever they leave Norland
+and settle in a new home."
+
+"Well, then, LET something be done for them;
+but THAT something need not be three thousand pounds.
+Consider," she added, "that when the money is once
+parted with, it never can return.  Your sisters will marry,
+and it will be gone for ever.  If, indeed, it could
+be restored to our poor little boy--"
+
+"Why, to be sure," said her husband, very gravely,
+"that would make great difference.  The time may come when
+Harry will regret that so large a sum was parted with.
+If he should have a numerous family, for instance, it would
+be a very convenient addition."
+
+"To be sure it would."
+
+"Perhaps, then, it would be better for all parties,
+if the sum were diminished one half.--Five hundred pounds
+would be a prodigious increase to their fortunes!"
+
+"Oh! beyond anything great!  What brother on earth
+would do half so much for his sisters, even if REALLY
+his sisters!  And as it is--only half blood!--But you
+have such a generous spirit!"
+
+"I would not wish to do any thing mean," he replied.
+"One had rather, on such occasions, do too much than
+too little.  No one, at least, can think I have not
+done enough for them: even themselves, they can hardly
+expect more."
+
+"There is no knowing what THEY may expect,"
+said the lady, "but we are not to think of their
+expectations: the question is, what you can afford to do."
+
+"Certainly--and I think I may afford to give them five
+hundred pounds a-piece.  As it is, without any addition
+of mine, they will each have about three thousand pounds
+on their mother's death--a very comfortable fortune
+for any young woman."
+
+"To be sure it is; and, indeed, it strikes me that
+they can want no addition at all.  They will have ten
+thousand pounds divided amongst them.  If they marry,
+they will be sure of doing well, and if they do not,
+they may all live very comfortably together on the interest
+of ten thousand pounds."
+
+"That is very true, and, therefore, I do not know whether,
+upon the whole, it would not be more advisable to do
+something for their mother while she lives, rather than
+for them--something of the annuity kind I mean.--My sisters
+would feel the good effects of it as well as herself.
+A hundred a year would make them all perfectly comfortable."
+
+His wife hesitated a little, however, in giving
+her consent to this plan.
+
+"To be sure," said she, "it is better than parting with
+fifteen hundred pounds at once.  But, then, if Mrs. Dashwood
+should live fifteen years we shall be completely taken in."
+
+"Fifteen years! my dear Fanny; her life cannot
+be worth half that purchase."
+
+"Certainly not; but if you observe, people always
+live for ever when there is an annuity to be paid them;
+and she is very stout and healthy, and hardly forty.
+An annuity is a very serious business; it comes over
+and over every year, and there is no getting rid
+of it.  You are not aware of what you are doing.
+I have known a great deal of the trouble of annuities;
+for my mother was clogged with the payment of three
+to old superannuated servants by my father's will,
+and it is amazing how disagreeable she found it.
+Twice every year these annuities were to be paid; and then
+there was the trouble of getting it to them; and then one
+of them was said to have died, and afterwards it turned
+out to be no such thing.  My mother was quite sick of it.
+Her income was not her own, she said, with such perpetual
+claims on it; and it was the more unkind in my father,
+because, otherwise, the money would have been entirely at
+my mother's disposal, without any restriction whatever.
+It has given me such an abhorrence of annuities, that I am
+sure I would not pin myself down to the payment of one for
+all the world."
+
+"It is certainly an unpleasant thing," replied Mr. Dashwood,
+"to have those kind of yearly drains on one's income.
+One's fortune, as your mother justly says, is NOT one's own.
+To be tied down to the regular payment of such a sum,
+on every rent day, is by no means desirable: it takes away
+one's independence."
+
+"Undoubtedly; and after all you have no thanks for it.
+They think themselves secure, you do no more than what
+is expected, and it raises no gratitude at all.  If I were you,
+whatever I did should be done at my own discretion entirely.
+I would not bind myself to allow them any thing yearly.
+It may be very inconvenient some years to spare a hundred,
+or even fifty pounds from our own expenses."
+
+"I believe you are right, my love; it will be better
+that there should by no annuity in the case; whatever I
+may give them occasionally will be of far greater assistance
+than a yearly allowance, because they would only enlarge
+their style of living if they felt sure of a larger income,
+and would not be sixpence the richer for it at the end
+of the year.  It will certainly be much the best way.
+A present of fifty pounds, now and then, will prevent
+their ever being distressed for money, and will, I think,
+be amply discharging my promise to my father."
+
+"To be sure it will.  Indeed, to say the truth,
+I am convinced within myself that your father had no idea
+of your giving them any money at all.  The assistance
+he thought of, I dare say, was only such as might be
+reasonably expected of you; for instance, such as looking
+out for a comfortable small house for them, helping them
+to move their things, and sending them presents of fish
+and game, and so forth, whenever they are in season.
+I'll lay my life that he meant nothing farther; indeed,
+it would be very strange and unreasonable if he did.
+Do but consider, my dear Mr. Dashwood, how excessively
+comfortable your mother-in-law and her daughters may live
+on the interest of seven thousand pounds, besides the
+thousand pounds belonging to each of the girls, which brings
+them in fifty pounds a year a-piece, and, of course,
+they will pay their mother for their board out of it.
+Altogether, they will have five hundred a-year amongst them,
+and what on earth can four women want for more than
+that?--They will live so cheap! Their housekeeping will
+be nothing at all.  They will have no carriage, no horses,
+and hardly any servants; they will keep no company,
+and can have no expenses of any kind!  Only conceive
+how comfortable they will be!  Five hundred a year! I am
+sure I cannot imagine how they will spend half of it;
+and as to your giving them more, it is quite absurd to think
+of it.  They will be much more able to give YOU something."
+
+"Upon my word," said Mr. Dashwood, "I believe you
+are perfectly right.  My father certainly could mean
+nothing more by his request to me than what you say.
+I clearly understand it now, and I will strictly fulfil
+my engagement by such acts of assistance and kindness
+to them as you have described.  When my mother removes
+into another house my services shall be readily given
+to accommodate her as far as I can.  Some little present
+of furniture too may be acceptable then."
+
+"Certainly," returned Mrs. John Dashwood.  "But, however,
+ONE thing must be considered.  When your father and mother
+moved to Norland, though the furniture of Stanhill
+was sold, all the china, plate, and linen was saved,
+and is now left to your mother.  Her house will therefore
+be almost completely fitted up as soon as she takes it."
+
+"That is a material consideration undoubtedly.
+A valuable legacy indeed! And yet some of the plate would
+have been a very pleasant addition to our own stock here."
+
+"Yes; and the set of breakfast china is twice
+as handsome as what belongs to this house.  A great
+deal too handsome, in my opinion, for any place THEY
+can ever afford to live in.  But, however, so it is.
+Your father thought only of THEM.  And I must say this:
+that you owe no particular gratitude to him, nor attention
+to his wishes; for we very well know that if he could,
+he would have left almost everything in the world to THEM."
+
+This argument was irresistible.  It gave to his
+intentions whatever of decision was wanting before; and he
+finally resolved, that it would be absolutely unnecessary,
+if not highly indecorous, to do more for the widow
+and children of his father, than such kind of neighbourly
+acts as his own wife pointed out.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 3
+
+
+Mrs. Dashwood remained at Norland several months;
+not from any disinclination to move when the sight of every
+well known spot ceased to raise the violent emotion which it
+produced for a while; for when her spirits began to revive,
+and her mind became capable of some other exertion than that
+of heightening its affliction by melancholy remembrances,
+she was impatient to be gone, and indefatigable in her inquiries
+for a suitable dwelling in the neighbourhood of Norland;
+for to remove far from that beloved spot was impossible.
+But she could hear of no situation that at once answered
+her notions of comfort and ease, and suited the prudence
+of her eldest daughter, whose steadier judgment rejected
+several houses as too large for their income, which her
+mother would have approved.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood had been informed by her husband of the
+solemn promise on the part of his son in their favour,
+which gave comfort to his last earthly reflections.
+She doubted the sincerity of this assurance no more than he
+had doubted it himself, and she thought of it for her daughters'
+sake with satisfaction, though as for herself she was
+persuaded that a much smaller provision than 7000L would
+support her in affluence.  For their brother's sake, too,
+for the sake of his own heart, she rejoiced; and she
+reproached herself for being unjust to his merit before,
+in believing him incapable of generosity.  His attentive
+behaviour to herself and his sisters convinced her that
+their welfare was dear to him, and, for a long time,
+she firmly relied on the liberality of his intentions.
+
+The contempt which she had, very early in their acquaintance,
+felt for her daughter-in-law, was very much increased
+by the farther knowledge of her character, which half
+a year's residence in her family afforded; and perhaps
+in spite of every consideration of politeness or maternal
+affection on the side of the former, the two ladies might
+have found it impossible to have lived together so long,
+had not a particular circumstance occurred to give
+still greater eligibility, according to the opinions
+of Mrs. Dashwood, to her daughters' continuance at Norland.
+
+This circumstance was a growing attachment between
+her eldest girl and the brother of Mrs. John Dashwood,
+a gentleman-like and pleasing young man, who was introduced
+to their acquaintance soon after his sister's establishment
+at Norland, and who had since spent the greatest part
+of his time there.
+
+Some mothers might have encouraged the intimacy from
+motives of interest, for Edward Ferrars was the eldest son
+of a man who had died very rich; and some might have repressed
+it from motives of prudence, for, except a trifling sum,
+the whole of his fortune depended on the will of his mother.
+But Mrs. Dashwood was alike uninfluenced by either consideration.
+It was enough for her that he appeared to be amiable,
+that he loved her daughter, and that Elinor returned
+the partiality.  It was contrary to every doctrine of
+her's that difference of fortune should keep any couple
+asunder who were attracted by resemblance of disposition;
+and that Elinor's merit should not be acknowledged
+by every one who knew her, was to her comprehension impossible.
+
+Edward Ferrars was not recommended to their good
+opinion by any peculiar graces of person or address.
+He was not handsome, and his manners required intimacy
+to make them pleasing.  He was too diffident to do justice
+to himself; but when his natural shyness was overcome,
+his behaviour gave every indication of an open,
+affectionate heart.  His understanding was good,
+and his education had given it solid improvement.
+But he was neither fitted by abilities nor disposition
+to answer the wishes of his mother and sister, who longed
+to see him distinguished--as--they hardly knew what.
+They wanted him to make a fine figure in the world in some
+manner or other.  His mother wished to interest him in
+political concerns, to get him into parliament, or to see
+him connected with some of the great men of the day.
+Mrs. John Dashwood wished it likewise; but in the mean while,
+till one of these superior blessings could be attained, it would
+have quieted her ambition to see him driving a barouche.
+But Edward had no turn for great men or barouches.
+All his wishes centered in domestic comfort and the quiet
+of private life.  Fortunately he had a younger brother
+who was more promising.
+
+Edward had been staying several weeks in the house
+before he engaged much of Mrs. Dashwood's attention;
+for she was, at that time, in such affliction as rendered
+her careless of surrounding objects.  She saw only that he
+was quiet and unobtrusive, and she liked him for it.
+He did not disturb the wretchedness of her mind by
+ill-timed conversation.  She was first called to observe
+and approve him farther, by a reflection which Elinor
+chanced one day to make on the difference between him
+and his sister.  It was a contrast which recommended him
+most forcibly to her mother.
+
+"It is enough," said she; "to say that he is unlike
+Fanny is enough.  It implies everything amiable.
+I love him already."
+
+"I think you will like him," said Elinor, "when you
+know more of him."
+
+"Like him!" replied her mother with a smile.
+"I feel no sentiment of approbation inferior to love."
+
+"You may esteem him."
+
+"I have never yet known what it was to separate
+esteem and love."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood now took pains to get acquainted with him.
+Her manners were attaching, and soon banished his reserve.
+She speedily comprehended all his merits; the persuasion
+of his regard for Elinor perhaps assisted her penetration;
+but she really felt assured of his worth: and even that
+quietness of manner, which militated against all her
+established ideas of what a young man's address ought to be,
+was no longer uninteresting when she knew his heart to be
+warm and his temper affectionate.
+
+No sooner did she perceive any symptom of love
+in his behaviour to Elinor, than she considered their
+serious attachment as certain, and looked forward
+to their marriage as rapidly approaching.
+
+"In a few months, my dear Marianne." said she,
+"Elinor will, in all probability be settled for life.
+We shall miss her; but SHE will be happy."
+
+"Oh! Mamma, how shall we do without her?"
+
+"My love, it will be scarcely a separation.
+We shall live within a few miles of each other, and shall
+meet every day of our lives.  You will gain a brother,
+a real, affectionate brother.  I have the highest opinion
+in the world of Edward's heart.  But you look grave,
+Marianne; do you disapprove your sister's choice?"
+
+"Perhaps," said Marianne, "I may consider it
+with some surprise.  Edward is very amiable, and I love
+him tenderly.  But yet--he is not the kind of young
+man--there is something wanting--his figure is not striking;
+it has none of that grace which I should expect
+in the man who could seriously attach my sister.
+His eyes want all that spirit, that fire, which at once
+announce virtue and intelligence.  And besides all this,
+I am afraid, Mamma, he has no real taste.  Music seems
+scarcely to attract him, and though he admires Elinor's
+drawings very much, it is not the admiration of a person
+who can understand their worth.  It is evident, in spite of
+his frequent attention to her while she draws, that in fact
+he knows nothing of the matter.  He admires as a lover,
+not as a connoisseur.  To satisfy me, those characters
+must be united.  I could not be happy with a man whose
+taste did not in every point coincide with my own.
+He must enter into all my feelings; the same books,
+the same music must charm us both.  Oh! mama, how spiritless,
+how tame was Edward's manner in reading to us last night!
+I felt for my sister most severely.  Yet she bore it
+with so much composure, she seemed scarcely to notice it.
+I could hardly keep my seat.  To hear those beautiful lines
+which have frequently almost driven me wild, pronounced
+with such impenetrable calmness, such dreadful indifference!"--
+
+"He would certainly have done more justice to
+simple and elegant prose.  I thought so at the time;
+but you WOULD give him Cowper."
+
+"Nay, Mamma, if he is not to be animated by Cowper!--
+but we must allow for difference of taste.  Elinor has
+not my feelings, and therefore she may overlook it, and
+be happy with him.  But it would have broke MY heart,
+had I loved him, to hear him read with so little sensibility.
+Mama, the more I know of the world, the more am I convinced
+that I shall never see a man whom I can really love.
+I require so much!  He must have all Edward's virtues,
+and his person and manners must ornament his goodness
+with every possible charm."
+
+"Remember, my love, that you are not seventeen.
+It is yet too early in life to despair of such a happiness.
+Why should you be less fortunate than your mother?  In
+one circumstance only, my Marianne, may your destiny be
+different from her's!"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 4
+
+
+"What a pity it is, Elinor," said Marianne,
+"that Edward should have no taste for drawing."
+
+"No taste for drawing!" replied Elinor, "why should
+you think so? He does not draw himself, indeed, but he has
+great pleasure in seeing the performances of other people,
+and I assure you he is by no means deficient in natural taste,
+though he has not had opportunities of improving it.
+Had he ever been in the way of learning, I think he would
+have drawn very well.  He distrusts his own judgment
+in such matters so much, that he is always unwilling
+to give his opinion on any picture; but he has an innate
+propriety and simplicity of taste, which in general
+direct him perfectly right."
+
+Marianne was afraid of offending, and said no more
+on the subject; but the kind of approbation which Elinor
+described as excited in him by the drawings of other
+people, was very far from that rapturous delight, which,
+in her opinion, could alone be called taste.  Yet, though
+smiling within herself at the mistake, she honoured
+her sister for that blind partiality to Edward which produced it.
+
+"I hope, Marianne," continued Elinor, "you do not
+consider him as deficient in general taste.  Indeed, I think
+I may say that you cannot, for your behaviour to him
+is perfectly cordial, and if THAT were your opinion,
+I am sure you could never be civil to him."
+
+Marianne hardly knew what to say.  She would
+not wound the feelings of her sister on any account,
+and yet to say what she did not believe was impossible.
+At length she replied:
+
+"Do not be offended, Elinor, if my praise of him
+is not in every thing equal to your sense of his merits.
+I have not had so many opportunities of estimating the minuter
+propensities of his mind, his inclinations and tastes,
+as you have; but I have the highest opinion in the world
+of his goodness and sense.  I think him every thing that is
+worthy and amiable."
+
+"I am sure," replied Elinor, with a smile,
+"that his dearest friends could not be dissatisfied
+with such commendation as that.  I do not perceive
+how you could express yourself more warmly."
+
+Marianne was rejoiced to find her sister so easily pleased.
+
+"Of his sense and his goodness," continued Elinor,
+"no one can, I think, be in doubt, who has seen him
+often enough to engage him in unreserved conversation.
+The excellence of his understanding and his principles
+can be concealed only by that shyness which too often
+keeps him silent.  You know enough of him to do justice
+to his solid worth.  But of his minuter propensities,
+as you call them you have from peculiar circumstances
+been kept more ignorant than myself.  He and I have
+been at times thrown a good deal together, while you
+have been wholly engrossed on the most affectionate
+principle by my mother.  I have seen a great deal of him,
+have studied his sentiments and heard his opinion on
+subjects of literature and taste; and, upon the whole,
+I venture to pronounce that his mind is well-informed,
+enjoyment of books exceedingly great, his imagination lively,
+his observation just and correct, and his taste delicate
+and pure.  His abilities in every respect improve
+as much upon acquaintance as his manners and person.
+At first sight, his address is certainly not striking;
+and his person can hardly be called handsome, till the
+expression of his eyes, which are uncommonly good,
+and the general sweetness of his countenance, is perceived.
+At present, I know him so well, that I think him
+really handsome; or at least, almost so.  What say you,
+Marianne?"
+
+"I shall very soon think him handsome, Elinor, if I
+do not now.  When you tell me to love him as a brother,
+I shall no more see imperfection in his face, than I now do
+in his heart."
+
+Elinor started at this declaration, and was sorry for
+the warmth she had been betrayed into, in speaking of him.
+She felt that Edward stood very high in her opinion.
+She believed the regard to be mutual; but she required
+greater certainty of it to make Marianne's conviction
+of their attachment agreeable to her.  She knew that
+what Marianne and her mother conjectured one moment,
+they believed the next--that with them, to wish was to hope,
+and to hope was to expect.  She tried to explain the real
+state of the case to her sister.
+
+"I do not attempt to deny," said she, "that I think
+very highly of him--that I greatly esteem, that I like him."
+
+Marianne here burst forth with indignation--
+
+"Esteem him! Like him! Cold-hearted Elinor! Oh!
+worse than cold-hearted! Ashamed of being otherwise.
+Use those words again, and I will leave the room this moment."
+
+Elinor could not help laughing.  "Excuse me,"
+said she; "and be assured that I meant no offence to you,
+by speaking, in so quiet a way, of my own feelings.
+Believe them to be stronger than I have declared;
+believe them, in short, to be such as his merit, and the
+suspicion--the hope of his affection for me may warrant,
+without imprudence or folly.  But farther than this you must
+not believe.  I am by no means assured of his regard for me.
+There are moments when the extent of it seems doubtful;
+and till his sentiments are fully known, you cannot wonder
+at my wishing to avoid any encouragement of my own partiality,
+by believing or calling it more than it is.  In my heart
+I feel little--scarcely any doubt of his preference.
+But there are other points to be considered besides
+his inclination.  He is very far from being independent.
+What his mother really is we cannot know; but, from Fanny's
+occasional mention of her conduct and opinions, we have
+never been disposed to think her amiable; and I am very
+much mistaken if Edward is not himself aware that there
+would be many difficulties in his way, if he were to wish
+to marry a woman who had not either a great fortune or
+high rank."
+
+Marianne was astonished to find how much the imagination
+of her mother and herself had outstripped the truth.
+
+"And you really are not engaged to him!" said she.
+"Yet it certainly soon will happen.  But two advantages
+will proceed from this delay.  I shall not lose you so soon,
+and Edward will have greater opportunity of improving
+that natural taste for your favourite pursuit which must
+be so indispensably necessary to your future felicity.
+Oh! if he should be so far stimulated by your genius as to
+learn to draw himself, how delightful it would be!"
+
+Elinor had given her real opinion to her sister.
+She could not consider her partiality for Edward
+in so prosperous a state as Marianne had believed it.
+There was, at times, a want of spirits about him which,
+if it did not denote indifference, spoke of something almost
+as unpromising.  A doubt of her regard, supposing him
+to feel it, need not give him more than inquietude.
+It would not be likely to produce that dejection of mind
+which frequently attended him.  A more reasonable cause
+might be found in the dependent situation which forbade
+the indulgence of his affection.  She knew that his mother
+neither behaved to him so as to make his home comfortable
+at present, nor to give him any assurance that he might form
+a home for himself, without strictly attending to her views
+for his aggrandizement.  With such a knowledge as this,
+it was impossible for Elinor to feel easy on the subject.
+She was far from depending on that result of his preference
+of her, which her mother and sister still considered
+as certain.  Nay, the longer they were together the more
+doubtful seemed the nature of his regard; and sometimes,
+for a few painful minutes, she believed it to be no more
+than friendship.
+
+But, whatever might really be its limits, it was enough,
+when perceived by his sister, to make her uneasy,
+and at the same time, (which was still more common,)
+to make her uncivil.  She took the first opportunity of
+affronting her mother-in-law on the occasion, talking to
+her so expressively of her brother's great expectations,
+of Mrs. Ferrars's resolution that both her sons should
+marry well, and of the danger attending any young woman
+who attempted to DRAW HIM IN; that Mrs. Dashwood could
+neither pretend to be unconscious, nor endeavor to be calm.
+She gave her an answer which marked her contempt,
+and instantly left the room, resolving that, whatever might
+be the inconvenience or expense of so sudden a removal,
+her beloved Elinor should not be exposed another week
+to such insinuations.
+
+In this state of her spirits, a letter was delivered
+to her from the post, which contained a proposal
+particularly well timed.  It was the offer of a small house,
+on very easy terms, belonging to a relation of her own,
+a gentleman of consequence and property in Devonshire.
+The letter was from this gentleman himself, and written
+in the true spirit of friendly accommodation.
+He understood that she was in need of a dwelling;
+and though the house he now offered her was merely a cottage,
+he assured her that everything should be done to it which
+she might think necessary, if the situation pleased her.
+He earnestly pressed her, after giving the particulars
+of the house and garden, to come with her daughters to
+Barton Park, the place of his own residence, from whence
+she might judge, herself, whether Barton Cottage, for the
+houses were in the same parish, could, by any alteration,
+be made comfortable to her.  He seemed really anxious to
+accommodate them and the whole of his letter was written
+in so friendly a style as could not fail of giving pleasure
+to his cousin; more especially at a moment when she was
+suffering under the cold and unfeeling behaviour of her
+nearer connections.  She needed no time for deliberation
+or inquiry.  Her resolution was formed as she read.
+The situation of Barton, in a county so far distant from
+Sussex as Devonshire, which, but a few hours before,
+would have been a sufficient objection to outweigh every
+possible advantage belonging to the place, was now its
+first recommendation.  To quit the neighbourhood of Norland
+was no longer an evil; it was an object of desire;
+it was a blessing, in comparison of the misery of continuing
+her daughter-in-law's guest; and to remove for ever
+from that beloved place would be less painful than to
+inhabit or visit it while such a woman was its mistress.
+She instantly wrote Sir John Middleton her acknowledgment
+of his kindness, and her acceptance of his proposal;
+and then hastened to shew both letters to her daughters,
+that she might be secure of their approbation before her
+answer were sent.
+
+Elinor had always thought it would be more prudent
+for them to settle at some distance from Norland,
+than immediately amongst their present acquaintance.
+On THAT head, therefore, it was not for her to oppose
+her mother's intention of removing into Devonshire.
+The house, too, as described by Sir John, was on so
+simple a scale, and the rent so uncommonly moderate,
+as to leave her no right of objection on either point;
+and, therefore, though it was not a plan which brought
+any charm to her fancy, though it was a removal from
+the vicinity of Norland beyond her wishes, she made
+no attempt to dissuade her mother from sending a letter
+of acquiescence.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 5
+
+
+No sooner was her answer dispatched, than Mrs. Dashwood
+indulged herself in the pleasure of announcing to her
+son-in-law and his wife that she was provided with a house,
+and should incommode them no longer than till every thing were
+ready for her inhabiting it.  They heard her with surprise.
+Mrs. John Dashwood said nothing; but her husband civilly
+hoped that she would not be settled far from Norland.
+She had great satisfaction in replying that she was going
+into Devonshire.--Edward turned hastily towards her,
+on hearing this, and, in a voice of surprise and concern,
+which required no explanation to her, repeated,
+"Devonshire! Are you, indeed, going there?  So far from hence!
+And to what part of it?"  She explained the situation.
+It was within four miles northward of Exeter.
+
+"It is but a cottage," she continued, "but I hope
+to see many of my friends in it.  A room or two can
+easily be added; and if my friends find no difficulty
+in travelling so far to see me, I am sure I will find
+none in accommodating them."
+
+She concluded with a very kind invitation to
+Mr. and Mrs. John Dashwood to visit her at Barton;
+and to Edward she gave one with still greater affection.
+Though her late conversation with her daughter-in-law had
+made her resolve on remaining at Norland no longer than
+was unavoidable, it had not produced the smallest effect
+on her in that point to which it principally tended.
+To separate Edward and Elinor was as far from being her
+object as ever; and she wished to show Mrs. John Dashwood,
+by this pointed invitation to her brother, how totally she
+disregarded her disapprobation of the match.
+
+Mr. John Dashwood told his mother again and again
+how exceedingly sorry he was that she had taken a house at
+such a distance from Norland as to prevent his being of any
+service to her in removing her furniture.  He really felt
+conscientiously vexed on the occasion; for the very exertion
+to which he had limited the performance of his promise to
+his father was by this arrangement rendered impracticable.--
+The furniture was all sent around by water.  It chiefly
+consisted of household linen, plate, china, and books,
+with a handsome pianoforte of Marianne's.  Mrs. John
+Dashwood saw the packages depart with a sigh: she could
+not help feeling it hard that as Mrs. Dashwood's income
+would be so trifling in comparison with their own,
+she should have any handsome article of furniture.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood took the house for a twelvemonth; it was
+ready furnished, and she might have immediate possession.
+No difficulty arose on either side in the agreement; and she
+waited only for the disposal of her effects at Norland,
+and to determine her future household, before she set
+off for the west; and this, as she was exceedingly rapid
+in the performance of everything that interested her,
+was soon done.--The horses which were left her by her husband
+had been sold soon after his death, and an opportunity
+now offering of disposing of her carriage, she agreed
+to sell that likewise at the earnest advice of her
+eldest daughter.  For the comfort of her children, had she
+consulted only her own wishes, she would have kept it;
+but the discretion of Elinor prevailed.  HER 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.
+
+The man and one of the maids were sent off immediately
+into Devonshire, to prepare the house for their mistress's
+arrival; for as Lady Middleton was entirely unknown
+to Mrs. Dashwood, she preferred going directly to the
+cottage to being a visitor at Barton Park; and she relied
+so undoubtingly on Sir John's description of the house,
+as to feel no curiosity to examine it herself till she
+entered it as her own.  Her eagerness to be gone from Norland
+was preserved from diminution by the evident satisfaction
+of her daughter-in-law in the prospect of her removal;
+a satisfaction which was but feebly attempted to be concealed
+under a cold invitation to her to defer her departure.
+Now was the time when her son-in-law's promise to his
+father might with particular propriety be fulfilled.
+Since he had neglected to do it on first coming to
+the estate, their quitting his house might be looked
+on as the most suitable period for its accomplishment.
+But Mrs. Dashwood began shortly to give over every
+hope of the kind, and to be convinced, from the general
+drift of his discourse, that his assistance extended no
+farther than their maintenance for six months at Norland.
+He so frequently talked of the increasing expenses
+of housekeeping, and of the perpetual demands upon his purse,
+which a man of any consequence in the world was beyond
+calculation exposed to, that he seemed rather to stand
+in need of more money himself than to have any design of
+giving money away.
+
+In a very few weeks from the day which brought Sir
+John Middleton's first letter to Norland, every thing was
+so far settled in their future abode as to enable
+Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters to begin their journey.
+
+Many were the tears shed by them in their last
+adieus to a place so much beloved.  "Dear, dear Norland!"
+said Marianne, as she wandered alone before the house,
+on the last evening of their being there; "when shall I cease
+to regret you!--when learn to feel a home elsewhere!--Oh!
+happy house, could you know what I suffer in now viewing
+you from this spot, from whence perhaps I may view
+you no more!--And you, ye well-known trees!--but you
+will continue the same.--No leaf will decay because we
+are removed, nor any branch become motionless although we
+can observe you no longer!--No; you will continue the same;
+unconscious of the pleasure or the regret you occasion,
+and insensible of any change in those who walk under your
+shade!--But who will remain to enjoy you?"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 6
+
+
+The first part of their journey was performed in too
+melancholy a disposition to be otherwise than tedious
+and unpleasant.  But as they drew towards the end of it,
+their interest in the appearance of a country which they
+were to inhabit overcame their dejection, and a view of
+Barton Valley as they entered it gave them cheerfulness.
+It was a pleasant fertile spot, well wooded, and rich
+in pasture.  After winding along it for more than a mile,
+they reached their own house.  A small green court was
+the whole of its demesne in front; and a neat wicket gate
+admitted them into it.
+
+As a house, Barton Cottage, though small, was comfortable
+and compact; but as a cottage it was defective, for the
+building was regular, the roof was tiled, the window
+shutters were not painted green, nor were the walls covered
+with honeysuckles.  A narrow passage led directly through
+the house into the garden behind.  On each side of the
+entrance was a sitting room, about sixteen feet square;
+and beyond them were the offices and the stairs.
+Four bed-rooms and two garrets formed the rest of the house.
+It had not been built many years and was in good repair.
+In comparison of Norland, it was poor and small indeed!--but
+the tears which recollection called forth as they entered
+the house were soon dried away.  They were cheered
+by the joy of the servants on their arrival, and each
+for the sake of the others resolved to appear happy.
+It was very early in September; the season was fine,
+and from first seeing the place under the advantage
+of good weather, they received an impression in its
+favour which was of material service in recommending
+it to their lasting approbation.
+
+The situation of the house was good.  High hills rose
+immediately behind, and at no great distance on each side;
+some of which were open downs, the others cultivated and woody.
+The village of Barton was chiefly on one of these hills,
+and formed a pleasant view from the cottage windows.
+The prospect in front was more extensive; it commanded the
+whole of the valley, and reached into the country beyond.
+The hills which surrounded the cottage terminated
+the valley in that direction; under another name,
+and in another course, it branched out again between two
+of the steepest of them.
+
+With the size and furniture of the house Mrs. Dashwood
+was upon the whole well satisfied; for though her former
+style of life rendered many additions to the latter
+indispensable, yet to add and improve was a delight to her;
+and she had at this time ready money enough to supply all
+that was wanted of greater elegance to the apartments.
+"As for the house itself, to be sure," said she, "it is
+too small for our family, but we will make ourselves
+tolerably comfortable for the present, as it is too late
+in the year for improvements.  Perhaps in the spring,
+if I have plenty of money, as I dare say I shall, we may
+think about building.  These parlors are both too small
+for such parties of our friends as I hope to see often
+collected here; and I have some thoughts of throwing the
+passage into one of them with perhaps a part of the other,
+and so leave the remainder of that other for an entrance;
+this, with a new drawing room which may be easily added,
+and a bed-chamber and garret above, will make it a very snug
+little cottage.  I could wish the stairs were handsome.
+But one must not expect every thing; though I suppose it
+would be no difficult matter to widen them.  I shall see
+how much I am before-hand with the world in the spring,
+and we will plan our improvements accordingly."
+
+In the mean time, till all these alterations could
+be made from the savings of an income of five hundred
+a-year by a woman who never saved in her life, they were
+wise enough to be contented with the house as it was;
+and each of them was busy in arranging their particular
+concerns, and endeavoring, by placing around them books
+and other possessions, to form themselves a home.
+Marianne's pianoforte was unpacked and properly disposed of;
+and Elinor's drawings were affixed to the walls of their
+sitting room.
+
+In such employments as these they were interrupted
+soon after breakfast the next day by the entrance of
+their landlord, who called to welcome them to Barton,
+and to offer them every accommodation from his own house
+and garden in which theirs might at present be deficient.
+Sir John Middleton was a good looking man about forty.
+He had formerly visited at Stanhill, but it was too long
+for his young cousins to remember him.  His countenance
+was thoroughly good-humoured; and his manners were
+as friendly as the style of his letter.  Their arrival
+seemed to afford him real satisfaction, and their comfort
+to be an object of real solicitude to him.  He said much
+of his earnest desire of their living in the most sociable
+terms with his family, and pressed them so cordially
+to dine at Barton Park every day till they were better
+settled at home, that, though his entreaties were carried
+to a point of perseverance beyond civility, they could
+not give offence.  His kindness was not confined to words;
+for within an hour after he left them, a large basket
+full of garden stuff and fruit arrived from the park,
+which was followed before the end of the day by a present
+of game.  He insisted, moreover, on conveying all their
+letters to and from the post for them, and would not be
+denied the satisfaction of sending them his newspaper
+every day.
+
+Lady Middleton had sent a very civil message by him,
+denoting her intention of waiting on Mrs. Dashwood as soon as
+she could be assured that her visit would be no inconvenience;
+and as this message was answered by an invitation
+equally polite, her ladyship was introduced to them the next day.
+
+They were, of course, very anxious to see a person on
+whom so much of their comfort at Barton must depend; and the
+elegance of her appearance was favourable to their wishes.
+Lady Middleton was not more than six or seven and twenty;
+her face was handsome, her figure tall and striking,
+and her address graceful.  Her manners had all the elegance
+which her husband's wanted.  But they would have been
+improved by some share of his frankness and warmth;
+and her visit was long enough to detract something from
+their first admiration, by shewing that, though perfectly
+well-bred, she was reserved, cold, and had nothing to say
+for herself beyond the most common-place inquiry or remark.
+
+Conversation however was not wanted, for Sir John
+was very chatty, and Lady Middleton had taken the wise
+precaution of bringing with her their eldest child, a fine
+little boy about six years old, by which means there was
+one subject always to be recurred to by the ladies in case
+of extremity, for they had to enquire his name and age,
+admire his beauty, and ask him questions which his mother
+answered for him, while he hung about her and held
+down his head, to the great surprise of her ladyship,
+who wondered at his being so shy before company, as he
+could make noise enough at home.  On every formal visit
+a child ought to be of the party, by way of provision
+for discourse.  In the present case it took up ten minutes
+to determine whether the boy were most like his father
+or mother, and in what particular he resembled either,
+for of course every body differed, and every body was
+astonished at the opinion of the others.
+
+An opportunity was soon to be given to the Dashwoods
+of debating on the rest of the children, as Sir John
+would not leave the house without securing their promise
+of dining at the park the next day.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 7
+
+
+Barton Park was about half a mile from the cottage.
+The ladies had passed near it in their way along the valley,
+but it was screened from their view at home by the
+projection of a hill.  The house was large and handsome;
+and the Middletons lived in a style of equal hospitality
+and elegance.  The former was for Sir John's gratification,
+the latter for that of his lady.  They were scarcely
+ever without some friends staying with them in the house,
+and they kept more company of every kind than any other
+family in the neighbourhood.  It was necessary to the
+happiness of both; for however dissimilar in temper
+and outward behaviour, they strongly resembled each other
+in that total want of talent and taste which confined
+their employments, unconnected with such as society produced,
+within a very narrow compass.  Sir John was a sportsman,
+Lady Middleton a mother.  He hunted and shot, and she
+humoured her children; and these were their only resources.
+Lady Middleton had the advantage of being able to spoil her
+children all the year round, while Sir John's independent
+employments were in existence only half the time.
+Continual engagements at home and abroad, however,
+supplied all the deficiencies of nature and education;
+supported the good spirits of Sir John, and gave exercise
+to the good breeding of his wife.
+
+Lady Middleton piqued herself upon the elegance
+of her table, and of all her domestic arrangements;
+and from this kind of vanity was her greatest enjoyment
+in any of their parties.  But Sir John's satisfaction
+in society was much more real; he delighted in collecting
+about him more young people than his house would hold,
+and the noisier they were the better was he pleased.
+He was a blessing to all the juvenile part of the neighbourhood,
+for in summer he was for ever forming parties to eat cold
+ham and chicken out of doors, and in winter his private
+balls were numerous enough for any young lady who was not
+suffering under the unsatiable appetite of fifteen.
+
+The arrival of a new family in the country was always
+a matter of joy to him, and in every point of view he was
+charmed with the inhabitants he had now procured for his
+cottage at Barton.  The Miss Dashwoods were young, pretty,
+and unaffected.  It was enough to secure his good opinion;
+for to be unaffected was all that a pretty girl could
+want to make her mind as captivating as her person.
+The friendliness of his disposition made him happy in
+accommodating those, whose situation might be considered,
+in comparison with the past, as unfortunate.  In showing
+kindness to his cousins therefore he had the real satisfaction
+of a good heart; and in settling a family of females only
+in his cottage, he had all the satisfaction of a sportsman;
+for a sportsman, though he esteems only those of his sex who
+are sportsmen likewise, is not often desirous of encouraging
+their taste by admitting them to a residence within his own
+manor.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters were met at the door
+of the house by Sir John, who welcomed them to Barton
+Park with unaffected sincerity; and as he attended them
+to the drawing room repeated to the young ladies the concern
+which the same subject had drawn from him the day before,
+at being unable to get any smart young men to meet them.
+They would see, he said, only one gentleman there
+besides himself; a particular friend who was staying at
+the park, but who was neither very young nor very gay.
+He hoped they would all excuse the smallness of the party,
+and could assure them it should never happen so again.
+He had been to several families that morning in hopes
+of procuring some addition to their number, but it
+was moonlight and every body was full of engagements.
+Luckily Lady Middleton's mother had arrived at Barton
+within the last hour, and as she was a very cheerful
+agreeable woman, he hoped the young ladies would not find
+it so very dull as they might imagine.  The young ladies,
+as well as their mother, were perfectly satisfied with
+having two entire strangers of the party, and wished for
+no more.
+
+Mrs. Jennings, Lady Middleton's mother, was a
+good-humoured, merry, fat, elderly woman, who talked a
+great deal, seemed very happy, and rather vulgar.  She was full
+of jokes and laughter, and before dinner was over had said
+many witty things on the subject of lovers and husbands;
+hoped they had not left their hearts behind them in Sussex,
+and pretended to see them blush whether they did or not.
+Marianne was vexed at it for her sister's sake, and turned
+her eyes towards Elinor to see how she bore these attacks,
+with an earnestness which gave Elinor far more pain than
+could arise from such common-place raillery as Mrs. Jennings's.
+
+Colonel Brandon, the friend of Sir John, seemed no
+more adapted by resemblance of manner to be his friend,
+than Lady Middleton was to be his wife, or Mrs. Jennings
+to be Lady Middleton's mother.  He was silent and grave.
+His appearance however was not unpleasing, in spite
+of his being in the opinion of Marianne and Margaret
+an absolute old bachelor, for he was on the wrong side
+of five and thirty; but though his face was not handsome,
+his countenance was sensible, and his address was
+particularly gentlemanlike.
+
+There was nothing in any of the party which could
+recommend them as companions to the Dashwoods; but the cold
+insipidity of Lady Middleton was so particularly repulsive,
+that in comparison of it the gravity of Colonel Brandon,
+and even the boisterous mirth of Sir John and his
+mother-in-law was interesting.  Lady Middleton seemed
+to be roused to enjoyment only by the entrance of her
+four noisy children after dinner, who pulled her about,
+tore her clothes, and put an end to every kind of discourse
+except what related to themselves.
+
+In the evening, as Marianne was discovered to be musical,
+she was invited to play.  The instrument was unlocked,
+every body prepared to be charmed, and Marianne,
+who sang very well, at their request went through the
+chief of the songs which Lady Middleton had brought into
+the family on her marriage, and which perhaps had lain
+ever since in the same position on the pianoforte,
+for her ladyship had celebrated that event by giving
+up music, although by her mother's account, she had
+played extremely well, and by her own was very fond of it.
+
+Marianne's performance was highly applauded.
+Sir John was loud in his admiration at the end of every song,
+and as loud in his conversation with the others while every
+song lasted.  Lady Middleton frequently called him to order,
+wondered how any one's attention could be diverted from music
+for a moment, and asked Marianne to sing a particular song
+which Marianne had just finished.  Colonel Brandon alone,
+of all the party, heard her without being in raptures.
+He paid her only the compliment of attention; and she felt
+a respect for him on the occasion, which the others had
+reasonably forfeited by their shameless want of taste.
+His pleasure in music, though it amounted not to that
+ecstatic delight which alone could sympathize with her own,
+was estimable when contrasted against the horrible
+insensibility of the others; and she was reasonable enough
+to allow that a man of five and thirty might well have
+outlived all acuteness of feeling and every exquisite
+power of enjoyment.  She was perfectly disposed to make
+every allowance for the colonel's advanced state of life
+which humanity required.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 8
+
+
+Mrs. Jennings was a widow with an ample jointure.
+She had only two daughters, both of whom she had lived
+to see respectably married, and she had now therefore
+nothing to do but to marry all the rest of the world.
+In the promotion of this object she was zealously active,
+as far as her ability reached; and missed no opportunity
+of projecting weddings among all the young people
+of her acquaintance.  She was remarkably quick in the
+discovery of attachments, and had enjoyed the advantage
+of raising the blushes and the vanity of many a young
+lady by insinuations of her power over such a young man;
+and this kind of discernment enabled her soon after her
+arrival at Barton decisively to pronounce that Colonel
+Brandon was very much in love with Marianne Dashwood.
+She rather suspected it to be so, on the very first
+evening of their being together, from his listening
+so attentively while she sang to them; and when the visit
+was returned by the Middletons' dining at the cottage,
+the fact was ascertained by his listening to her again.
+It must be so.  She was perfectly convinced of it.
+It would be an excellent match, for HE was rich, and SHE
+was handsome.  Mrs. Jennings had been anxious to see
+Colonel Brandon well married, ever since her connection
+with Sir John first brought him to her knowledge;
+and she was always anxious to get a good husband for every
+pretty girl.
+
+The immediate advantage to herself was by no means
+inconsiderable, for it supplied her with endless jokes
+against them both.  At the park she laughed at the colonel,
+and in the cottage at Marianne.  To the former her
+raillery was probably, as far as it regarded only himself,
+perfectly indifferent; but to the latter it was at
+first incomprehensible; and when its object was understood,
+she hardly knew whether most to laugh at its absurdity,
+or censure its impertinence, for she considered it as an
+unfeeling reflection on the colonel's advanced years,
+and on his forlorn condition as an old bachelor.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood, who could not think a man five years
+younger than herself, so exceedingly ancient as he appeared
+to the youthful fancy of her daughter, ventured to clear
+Mrs. Jennings from the probability of wishing to throw
+ridicule on his age.
+
+"But at least, Mamma, you cannot deny the absurdity
+of the accusation, though you may not think it intentionally
+ill-natured.  Colonel Brandon is certainly younger than
+Mrs. Jennings, but he is old enough to be MY father;
+and if he were ever animated enough to be in love,
+must have long outlived every sensation of the kind.
+It is too ridiculous!  When is a man to be safe from such wit,
+if age and infirmity will not protect him?"
+
+"Infirmity!" said Elinor, "do you call Colonel Brandon
+infirm?  I can easily suppose that his age may appear much
+greater to you than to my mother; but you can hardly
+deceive yourself as to his having the use of his limbs!"
+
+"Did not you hear him complain of the rheumatism?
+and is not that the commonest infirmity of declining life?"
+
+"My dearest child," said her mother, laughing,
+"at this rate you must be in continual terror of MY decay;
+and it must seem to you a miracle that my life has been
+extended to the advanced age of forty."
+
+"Mamma, you are not doing me justice.  I know very well
+that Colonel Brandon is not old enough to make his friends
+yet apprehensive of losing him in the course of nature.
+He may live twenty years longer.  But thirty-five has
+nothing to do with matrimony."
+
+"Perhaps," said Elinor, "thirty-five and seventeen had
+better not have any thing to do with matrimony together.
+But if there should by any chance happen to be a woman
+who is single at seven and twenty, I should not think
+Colonel Brandon's being thirty-five any objection to his
+marrying HER."
+
+"A woman of seven and twenty," said Marianne,
+after pausing a moment, "can never hope to feel or inspire
+affection again, and if her home be uncomfortable,
+or her fortune small, I can suppose that she might
+bring herself to submit to the offices of a nurse,
+for the sake of the provision and security of a wife.
+In his marrying such a woman therefore there would be
+nothing unsuitable.  It would be a compact of convenience,
+and the world would be satisfied.  In my eyes it would
+be no marriage at all, but that would be nothing.
+To me it would seem only a commercial exchange, in which
+each wished to be benefited at the expense of the other."
+
+"It would be impossible, I know," replied Elinor,
+"to convince you that a woman of seven and twenty could
+feel for a man of thirty-five anything near enough
+to love, to make him a desirable companion to her.
+But I must object to your dooming Colonel Brandon and
+his wife to the constant confinement of a sick chamber,
+merely because he chanced to complain yesterday (a
+very cold damp day) of a slight rheumatic feel in one
+of his shoulders."
+
+"But he talked of flannel waistcoats," said Marianne;
+"and with me a flannel waistcoat is invariably connected
+with aches, cramps, rheumatisms, and every species of
+ailment that can afflict the old and the feeble."
+
+"Had he been only in a violent fever, you would not
+have despised him half so much.  Confess, Marianne, is not
+there something interesting to you in the flushed cheek,
+hollow eye, and quick pulse of a fever?"
+
+Soon after this, upon Elinor's leaving the room,
+"Mamma," said Marianne, "I have an alarm on the subject
+of illness which I cannot conceal from you.  I am sure
+Edward Ferrars is not well.  We have now been here almost
+a fortnight, and yet he does not come.  Nothing but real
+indisposition could occasion this extraordinary delay.
+What else can detain him at Norland?"
+
+"Had you any idea of his coming so soon?"
+said Mrs. Dashwood.  "I had none.  On the contrary,
+if I have felt any anxiety at all on the subject, it has
+been in recollecting that he sometimes showed a want
+of pleasure and readiness in accepting my invitation,
+when I talked of his coming to Barton.  Does Elinor
+expect him already?"
+
+"I have never mentioned it to her, but of course
+she must."
+
+"I rather think you are mistaken, for when I
+was talking to her yesterday of getting a new grate
+for the spare bedchamber, she observed that there
+was no immediate hurry for it, as it was not likely
+that the room would be wanted for some time."
+
+"How strange this is! what can be the meaning of it!
+But the whole of their behaviour to each other has been
+unaccountable! How cold, how composed were their last
+adieus! How languid their conversation the last evening
+of their being together! In Edward's farewell there was no
+distinction between Elinor and me: it was the good wishes
+of an affectionate brother to both.  Twice did I leave
+them purposely together in the course of the last morning,
+and each time did he most unaccountably follow me out
+of the room.  And Elinor, in quitting Norland and Edward,
+cried not as I did.  Even now her self-command is invariable.
+When is she dejected or melancholy? When does she try
+to avoid society, or appear restless and dissatisfied
+in it?"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 9
+
+
+The Dashwoods were now settled at Barton with tolerable
+comfort to themselves.  The house and the garden, with all
+the objects surrounding them, were now become familiar,
+and the ordinary pursuits which had given to Norland
+half its charms were engaged in again with far greater
+enjoyment than Norland had been able to afford, since the
+loss of their father.  Sir John Middleton, who called
+on them every day for the first fortnight, and who was
+not in the habit of seeing much occupation at home,
+could not conceal his amazement on finding them always employed.
+
+Their visitors, except those from Barton Park,
+were not many; for, in spite of Sir John's urgent entreaties
+that they would mix more in the neighbourhood, and repeated
+assurances of his carriage being always at their service,
+the independence of Mrs. Dashwood's spirit overcame the
+wish of society for her children; and she was resolute
+in declining to visit any family beyond the distance
+of a walk.  There were but few who could be so classed;
+and it was not all of them that were attainable.
+About a mile and a half from the cottage, along the narrow
+winding valley of Allenham, which issued from that of Barton,
+as formerly described, the girls had, in one of their
+earliest walks, discovered an ancient respectable looking
+mansion which, by reminding them a little of Norland,
+interested their imagination and made them wish to be
+better acquainted with it.  But they learnt, on enquiry,
+that its possessor, an elderly lady of very good character,
+was unfortunately too infirm to mix with the world,
+and never stirred from home.
+
+The whole country about them abounded in beautiful walks.
+The high downs which invited them from almost every window
+of the cottage to seek the exquisite enjoyment of air
+on their summits, were a happy alternative when the dirt
+of the valleys beneath shut up their superior beauties;
+and towards one of these hills did Marianne and Margaret
+one memorable morning direct their steps, attracted by the
+partial sunshine of a showery sky, and unable longer to bear
+the confinement which the settled rain of the two preceding
+days had occasioned.  The weather was not tempting enough
+to draw the two others from their pencil and their book,
+in spite of Marianne's declaration that the day would
+be lastingly fair, and that every threatening cloud would
+be drawn off from their hills; and the two girls set off
+together.
+
+They gaily ascended the downs, rejoicing in their own
+penetration at every glimpse of blue sky; and when they
+caught in their faces the animating gales of a high
+south-westerly wind, they pitied the fears which had prevented
+their mother and Elinor from sharing such delightful sensations.
+
+"Is there a felicity in the world," said Marianne,
+"superior to this?--Margaret, we will walk here at least
+two hours."
+
+Margaret agreed, and they pursued their way against
+the wind, resisting it with laughing delight for about
+twenty minutes longer, when suddenly the clouds united over
+their heads, and a driving rain set full in their face.--
+Chagrined and surprised, they were obliged, though unwillingly,
+to turn back, for no shelter was nearer than their own house.
+One consolation however remained for them, to which the
+exigence of the moment gave more than usual propriety;
+it was that of running with all possible speed down the steep
+side of the hill which led immediately to their garden gate.
+
+They set off.  Marianne had at first the advantage,
+but a false step brought her suddenly to the ground;
+and Margaret, unable to stop herself to assist her,
+was involuntarily hurried along, and reached the bottom
+in safety.
+
+A gentleman carrying a gun, with two pointers
+playing round him, was passing up the hill and within
+a few yards of Marianne, when her accident happened.
+He put down his gun and ran to her assistance.  She had
+raised herself from the ground, but her foot had been
+twisted in her fall, and she was scarcely able to stand.
+The gentleman offered his services; and perceiving that her
+modesty declined what her situation rendered necessary,
+took her up in his arms without farther delay, and carried
+her down the hill.  Then passing through the garden,
+the gate of which had been left open by Margaret, he bore her
+directly into the house, whither Margaret was just arrived,
+and quitted not his hold till he had seated her in a chair
+in the parlour.
+
+Elinor and her mother rose up in amazement at
+their entrance, and while the eyes of both were fixed
+on him with an evident wonder and a secret admiration
+which equally sprung from his appearance, he apologized
+for his intrusion by relating its cause, in a manner
+so frank and so graceful that his person, which was
+uncommonly handsome, received additional charms from his voice
+and expression.  Had he been even old, ugly, and vulgar,
+the gratitude and kindness of Mrs. Dashwood would
+have been secured by any act of attention to her child;
+but the influence of youth, beauty, and elegance,
+gave an interest to the action which came home to her feelings.
+
+She thanked him again and again; and, with a sweetness
+of address which always attended her, invited him to
+be seated.  But this he declined, as he was dirty and wet.
+Mrs. Dashwood then begged to know to whom she was obliged.
+His name, he replied, was Willoughby, and his present
+home was at Allenham, from whence he hoped she would
+allow him the honour of calling tomorrow to enquire
+after Miss Dashwood.  The honour was readily granted,
+and he then departed, to make himself still more interesting,
+in the midst of a heavy rain.
+
+His manly beauty and more than common gracefulness
+were instantly the theme of general admiration,
+and the laugh which his gallantry raised against Marianne
+received particular spirit from his exterior attractions.--
+Marianne herself had seen less of his person that the rest,
+for the confusion which crimsoned over her face, on his
+lifting her up, had robbed her of the power of regarding
+him after their entering the house.  But she had seen
+enough of him to join in all the admiration of the others,
+and with an energy which always adorned her praise.
+His person and air were equal to what her fancy had ever
+drawn for the hero of a favourite story; and in his carrying
+her into the house with so little previous formality, there
+was a rapidity of thought which particularly recommended
+the action to her.  Every circumstance belonging to him
+was interesting.  His name was good, his residence was in
+their favourite village, and she soon found out that of all
+manly dresses a shooting-jacket was the most becoming.
+Her imagination was busy, her reflections were pleasant,
+and the pain of a sprained ankle was disregarded.
+
+Sir John called on them as soon as the next interval
+of fair weather that morning allowed him to get out
+of doors; and Marianne's accident being related to him,
+he was eagerly asked whether he knew any gentleman
+of the name of Willoughby at Allenham.
+
+"Willoughby!" cried Sir John; "what, is HE
+in the country? That is good news however; I will
+ride over tomorrow, and ask him to dinner on Thursday."
+
+"You know him then," said Mrs. Dashwood.
+
+"Know him! to be sure I do.  Why, he is down here
+every year."
+
+"And what sort of a young man is he?"
+
+"As good a kind of fellow as ever lived, I assure you.
+A very decent shot, and there is not a bolder rider
+in England."
+
+"And is that all you can say for him?" cried Marianne,
+indignantly.  "But what are his manners on more intimate
+acquaintance? What his pursuits, his talents, and genius?"
+
+Sir John was rather puzzled.
+
+"Upon my soul," said he, "I do not know much about him
+as to all THAT.  But he is a pleasant, good humoured fellow,
+and has got the nicest little black bitch of a pointer
+I ever saw.  Was she out with him today?"
+
+But Marianne could no more satisfy him as to the
+colour of Mr. Willoughby's pointer, than he could
+describe to her the shades of his mind.
+
+"But who is he?" said Elinor.  "Where does he come
+from?  Has he a house at Allenham?"
+
+On this point Sir John could give more certain intelligence;
+and he told them that Mr. Willoughby had no property
+of his own in the country; that he resided there only
+while he was visiting the old lady at Allenham Court,
+to whom he was related, and whose possessions he was
+to inherit; adding, "Yes, yes, he is very well worth
+catching I can tell you, Miss Dashwood; he has a pretty
+little estate of his own in Somersetshire besides;
+and if I were you, I would not give him up to my
+younger sister, in spite of all this tumbling down hills.
+Miss Marianne must not expect to have all the men to herself.
+Brandon will be jealous, if she does not take care."
+
+"I do not believe," said Mrs. Dashwood, with a
+good humoured smile, "that Mr. Willoughby will be incommoded
+by the attempts of either of MY daughters towards what
+you call CATCHING him.  It is not an employment to which
+they have been brought up.  Men are very safe with us,
+let them be ever so rich.  I am glad to find, however,
+from what you say, that he is a respectable young man,
+and one whose acquaintance will not be ineligible."
+
+"He is as good a sort of fellow, I believe,
+as ever lived," repeated Sir John.  "I remember
+last Christmas at a little hop at the park, he danced
+from eight o'clock till four, without once sitting down."
+
+"Did he indeed?" cried Marianne with sparkling eyes,
+"and with elegance, with spirit?"
+
+"Yes; and he was up again at eight to ride to covert."
+
+"That is what I like; that is what a young man ought
+to be.  Whatever be his pursuits, his eagerness in them
+should know no moderation, and leave him no sense of fatigue."
+
+"Aye, aye, I see how it will be," said Sir John, "I see
+how it will be.  You will be setting your cap at him now,
+and never think of poor Brandon."
+
+"That is an expression, Sir John," said Marianne,
+warmly, "which I particularly dislike.  I abhor every
+common-place phrase by which wit is intended; and 'setting
+one's cap at a man,' or 'making a conquest,' are the most
+odious of all.  Their tendency is gross and illiberal;
+and if their construction could ever be deemed clever,
+time has long ago destroyed all its ingenuity."
+
+Sir John did not much understand this reproof;
+but he laughed as heartily as if he did, and then replied,
+
+"Ay, you will make conquests enough, I dare say,
+one way or other.  Poor Brandon! he is quite smitten already,
+and he is very well worth setting your cap at, I can
+tell you, in spite of all this tumbling about and spraining
+of ankles."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 10
+
+
+Marianne's preserver, as Margaret, with more elegance
+than precision, styled Willoughby, called at the cottage
+early the next morning to make his personal enquiries.
+He was received by Mrs. Dashwood with more than politeness;
+with a kindness which Sir John's account of him and her own
+gratitude prompted; and every thing that passed during
+the visit tended to assure him of the sense, elegance,
+mutual affection, and domestic comfort of the family
+to whom accident had now introduced him.  Of their
+personal charms he had not required a second interview
+to be convinced.
+
+Miss Dashwood had a delicate complexion,
+regular features, and a remarkably pretty figure.
+Marianne was still handsomer.  Her form, though not so
+correct as her sister's, in having the advantage of height,
+was more striking; and her face was so lovely, that when
+in the common cant of praise, she was called a beautiful girl,
+truth was less violently outraged than usually happens.
+Her skin was very brown, but, from its transparency,
+her complexion was uncommonly brilliant; her features
+were all good; her smile was sweet and attractive;
+and in her eyes, which were very dark, there was a life,
+a spirit, an eagerness, which could hardily be seen
+without delight.  From Willoughby their expression was at
+first held back, by the embarrassment which the remembrance
+of his assistance created.  But when this passed away,
+when her spirits became collected, when she saw that to the
+perfect good-breeding of the gentleman, he united frankness
+and vivacity, and above all, when she heard him declare,
+that of music and dancing he was passionately fond,
+she gave him such a look of approbation as secured the
+largest share of his discourse to herself for the rest
+of his stay.
+
+It was only necessary to mention any favourite
+amusement to engage her to talk.  She could not be
+silent when such points were introduced, and she
+had neither shyness nor reserve in their discussion.
+They speedily discovered that their enjoyment of dancing
+and music was mutual, and that it arose from a general
+conformity of judgment in all that related to either.
+Encouraged by this to a further examination of his opinions,
+she proceeded to question him on the subject of books;
+her favourite authors were brought forward and dwelt
+upon with so rapturous a delight, that any young man of
+five and twenty must have been insensible indeed, not to
+become an immediate convert to the excellence of such works,
+however disregarded before.  Their taste was strikingly alike.
+The same books, the same passages were idolized by each--
+or if any difference appeared, any objection arose,
+it lasted no longer than till the force of her arguments
+and the brightness of her eyes could be displayed.
+He acquiesced in all her decisions, caught all her enthusiasm;
+and long before his visit concluded, they conversed
+with the familiarity of a long-established acquaintance.
+
+"Well, Marianne," said Elinor, as soon as he had left them,
+"for ONE morning I think you have done pretty well.
+You have already ascertained Mr. Willoughby's opinion in
+almost every matter of importance.  You know what he thinks
+of Cowper and Scott; you are certain of his estimating
+their beauties as he ought, and you have received every
+assurance of his admiring Pope no more than is proper.
+But how is your acquaintance to be long supported, under such
+extraordinary despatch of every subject for discourse?
+You will soon have exhausted each favourite topic.
+Another meeting will suffice to explain his sentiments
+on picturesque beauty, and second marriages, and then
+you can have nothing farther to ask."--
+
+"Elinor," cried Marianne, "is this fair? is this
+just? are my ideas so scanty?  But I see what you mean.
+I have been too much at my ease, too happy, too frank.
+I have erred against every common-place notion of decorum;
+I have been open and sincere where I ought to have
+been reserved, spiritless, dull, and deceitful--had
+I talked only of the weather and the roads, and had I
+spoken only once in ten minutes, this reproach would have
+been spared."
+
+"My love," said her mother, "you must not be offended
+with Elinor--she was only in jest.  I should scold
+her myself, if she were capable of wishing to check
+the delight of your conversation with our new friend."--
+Marianne was softened in a moment.
+
+Willoughby, on his side, gave every proof of his
+pleasure in their acquaintance, which an evident wish
+of improving it could offer.  He came to them every day.
+To enquire after Marianne was at first his excuse; but the
+encouragement of his reception, to which every day gave
+greater kindness, made such an excuse unnecessary before it
+had ceased to be possible, by Marianne's perfect recovery.
+She was confined for some days to the house; but never had
+any confinement been less irksome.  Willoughby was a young
+man of good abilities, quick imagination, lively spirits,
+and open, affectionate manners.  He was exactly formed
+to engage Marianne's heart, for with all this, he joined
+not only a captivating person, but a natural ardour
+of mind which was now roused and increased by the example
+of her own, and which recommended him to her affection
+beyond every thing else.
+
+His society became gradually her most exquisite enjoyment.
+They read, they talked, they sang together; his musical
+talents were considerable; and he read with all the
+sensibility and spirit which Edward had unfortunately wanted.
+
+In Mrs. Dashwood's estimation he was as faultless
+as in Marianne's; and Elinor saw nothing to censure in him
+but a propensity, in which he strongly resembled and peculiarly
+delighted her sister, of saying too much what he thought on
+every occasion, without attention to persons or circumstances.
+In hastily forming and giving his opinion of other people,
+in sacrificing general politeness to the enjoyment
+of undivided attention where his heart was engaged,
+and in slighting too easily the forms of worldly propriety,
+he displayed a want of caution which Elinor could not approve,
+in spite of all that he and Marianne could say in its support.
+
+Marianne began now to perceive that the desperation
+which had seized her at sixteen and a half, of ever
+seeing a man who could satisfy her ideas of perfection,
+had been rash and unjustifiable.  Willoughby was all
+that her fancy had delineated in that unhappy hour
+and in every brighter period, as capable of attaching her;
+and his behaviour declared his wishes to be in that respect
+as earnest, as his abilities were strong.
+
+Her mother too, in whose mind not one speculative
+thought of their marriage had been raised, by his prospect
+of riches, was led before the end of a week to hope and
+expect it; and secretly to congratulate herself on having
+gained two such sons-in-law as Edward and Willoughby.
+
+Colonel Brandon's partiality for Marianne, which had
+so early been discovered by his friends, now first became
+perceptible to Elinor, when it ceased to be noticed
+by them.  Their attention and wit were drawn off to his
+more fortunate rival; and the raillery which the other
+had incurred before any partiality arose, was removed
+when his feelings began really to call for the ridicule
+so justly annexed to sensibility.  Elinor was obliged,
+though unwillingly, to believe that the sentiments which
+Mrs. Jennings had assigned him for her own satisfaction,
+were now actually excited by her sister; and that however
+a general resemblance of disposition between the parties
+might forward the affection of Mr. Willoughby, an equally
+striking opposition of character was no hindrance to the
+regard of Colonel Brandon.  She saw it with concern;
+for what could a silent man of five and thirty hope,
+when opposed to a very lively one of five and twenty? and as
+she could not even wish him successful, she heartily wished
+him indifferent.  She liked him--in spite of his gravity
+and reserve, she beheld in him an object of interest.
+His manners, though serious, were mild; and his reserve
+appeared rather the result of some oppression of spirits
+than of any natural gloominess of temper.  Sir John
+had dropped hints of past injuries and disappointments,
+which justified her belief of his being an unfortunate man,
+and she regarded him with respect and compassion.
+
+Perhaps she pitied and esteemed him the more
+because he was slighted by Willoughby and Marianne,
+who, prejudiced against him for being neither lively
+nor young, seemed resolved to undervalue his merits.
+
+"Brandon is just the kind of man," said Willoughby
+one day, when they were talking of him together,
+"whom every body speaks well of, and nobody cares about;
+whom all are delighted to see, and nobody remembers
+to talk to."
+
+"That is exactly what I think of him," cried Marianne.
+
+"Do not boast of it, however," said Elinor, "for it
+is injustice in both of you.  He is highly esteemed
+by all the family at the park, and I never see him myself
+without taking pains to converse with him."
+
+"That he is patronised by YOU," replied Willoughby,
+"is certainly in his favour; but as for the esteem
+of the others, it is a reproach in itself.  Who would
+submit to the indignity of being approved by such a woman
+as Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings, that could command
+the indifference of any body else?"
+
+"But perhaps the abuse of such people as yourself
+and Marianne will make amends for the regard of Lady
+Middleton and her mother.  If their praise is censure,
+your censure may be praise, for they are not more undiscerning,
+than you are prejudiced and unjust."
+
+"In defence of your protege you can even be saucy."
+
+"My protege, as you call him, is a sensible man;
+and sense will always have attractions for me.
+Yes, Marianne, even in a man between thirty and forty.
+He has seen a great deal of the world; has been abroad,
+has read, and has a thinking mind.  I have found him
+capable of giving me much information on various subjects;
+and he has always answered my inquiries with readiness of
+good-breeding and good nature."
+
+"That is to say," cried Marianne contemptuously,
+"he has told you, that in the East Indies the climate is hot,
+and the mosquitoes are troublesome."
+
+"He WOULD have told me so, I doubt not, had I made
+any such inquiries, but they happened to be points
+on which I had been previously informed."
+
+"Perhaps," said Willoughby, "his observations may
+have extended to the existence of nabobs, gold mohrs,
+and palanquins."
+
+"I may venture to say that HIS observations
+have stretched much further than your candour.
+But why should you dislike him?"
+
+"I do not dislike him.  I consider him, on the contrary,
+as a very respectable man, who has every body's good word,
+and nobody's notice; who, has more money than he can spend,
+more time than he knows how to employ, and two new coats
+every year."
+
+"Add to which," cried Marianne, "that he has
+neither genius, taste, nor spirit.  That his understanding
+has no brilliancy, his feelings no ardour, and his voice
+no expression."
+
+"You decide on his imperfections so much in the mass,"
+replied Elinor, "and so much on the strength of your
+own imagination, that the commendation I am able to give
+of him is comparatively cold and insipid.  I can only
+pronounce him to be a sensible man, well-bred, well-informed,
+of gentle address, and, I believe, possessing an amiable heart."
+
+"Miss Dashwood," cried Willoughby, "you are now using
+me unkindly.  You are endeavouring to disarm me by reason,
+and to convince me against my will.  But it will not do.
+You shall find me as stubborn as you can be artful.  I have
+three unanswerable reasons for disliking Colonel Brandon;
+he threatened me with rain when I wanted it to be fine;
+he has found fault with the hanging of my curricle,
+and I cannot persuade him to buy my brown mare.  If it
+will be any satisfaction to you, however, to be told,
+that I believe his character to be in other respects
+irreproachable, I am ready to confess it.  And in return
+for an acknowledgment, which must give me some pain,
+you cannot deny me the privilege of disliking him as much
+as ever."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 11
+
+
+Little had Mrs. Dashwood or her daughters imagined
+when they first came into Devonshire, that so many
+engagements would arise to occupy their time as shortly
+presented themselves, or that they should have such frequent
+invitations and such constant visitors as to leave them little
+leisure for serious employment.  Yet such was the case.
+When Marianne was recovered, the schemes of amusement at home
+and abroad, which Sir John had been previously forming,
+were put into execution.  The private balls at the park
+then began; and parties on the water were made and
+accomplished as often as a showery October would allow.
+In every meeting of the kind Willoughby was included;
+and the ease and familiarity which naturally attended
+these parties were exactly calculated to give increasing
+intimacy to his acquaintance with the Dashwoods, to afford
+him opportunity of witnessing the excellencies of Marianne,
+of marking his animated admiration of her, and of receiving,
+in her behaviour to himself, the most pointed assurance
+of her affection.
+
+Elinor could not be surprised at their attachment.
+She only wished that it were less openly shewn; and once
+or twice did venture to suggest the propriety of some
+self-command to Marianne.  But Marianne abhorred all
+concealment where no real disgrace could attend unreserve;
+and to aim at the restraint of sentiments which were not
+in themselves illaudable, appeared to her not merely
+an unnecessary effort, but a disgraceful subjection
+of reason to common-place and mistaken notions.
+Willoughby thought the same; and their behaviour at
+all times, was an illustration of their opinions.
+
+When he was present she had no eyes for any one else.
+Every thing he did, was right.  Every thing he said, was clever.
+If their evenings at the park were concluded with cards,
+he cheated himself and all the rest of the party to get
+her a good hand.  If dancing formed the amusement
+of the night, they were partners for half the time;
+and when obliged to separate for a couple of dances,
+were careful to stand together and scarcely spoke a word
+to any body else.  Such conduct made them of course
+most exceedingly laughed at; but ridicule could not shame,
+and seemed hardly to provoke them.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood entered into all their feelings with
+a warmth which left her no inclination for checking this
+excessive display of them.  To her it was but the natural
+consequence of a strong affection in a young and ardent mind.
+
+This was the season of happiness to Marianne.
+Her heart was devoted to Willoughby, and the fond attachment
+to Norland, which she brought with her from Sussex,
+was more likely to be softened than she had thought it
+possible before, by the charms which his society bestowed
+on her present home.
+
+Elinor's happiness was not so great.  Her heart was not
+so much at ease, nor her satisfaction in their amusements
+so pure.  They afforded her no companion that could make
+amends for what she had left behind, nor that could teach
+her to think of Norland with less regret than ever.
+Neither Lady Middleton nor Mrs. Jennings could supply
+to her the conversation she missed; although the latter
+was an everlasting talker, and from the first had regarded
+her with a kindness which ensured her a large share of
+her discourse.  She had already repeated her own history
+to Elinor three or four times; and had Elinor's memory been
+equal to her means of improvement, she might have known
+very early in their acquaintance all the particulars of
+Mr. Jenning's last illness, and what he said to his wife
+a few minutes before he died.  Lady Middleton was more
+agreeable than her mother only in being more silent.
+Elinor needed little observation to perceive that her
+reserve was a mere calmness of manner with which sense
+had nothing to do.  Towards her husband and mother she
+was the same as to them; and intimacy was therefore
+neither to be looked for nor desired.  She had nothing
+to say one day that she had not said the day before.
+Her insipidity was invariable, for even her spirits were
+always the same; and though she did not oppose the parties
+arranged by her husband, provided every thing were conducted
+in style and her two eldest children attended her,
+she never appeared to receive more enjoyment from them
+than she might have experienced in sitting at home;--
+and so little did her presence add to the pleasure
+of the others, by any share in their conversation,
+that they were sometimes only reminded of her being
+amongst them by her solicitude about her troublesome boys.
+
+In Colonel Brandon alone, of all her new acquaintance,
+did Elinor find a person who could in any degree claim the
+respect of abilities, excite the interest of friendship,
+or give pleasure as a companion.  Willoughby was out
+of the question.  Her admiration and regard, even her
+sisterly regard, was all his own; but he was a lover;
+his attentions were wholly Marianne's, and a far less
+agreeable man might have been more generally pleasing.
+Colonel Brandon, unfortunately for himself, had no such
+encouragement to think only of Marianne, and in conversing
+with Elinor he found the greatest consolation for the
+indifference of her sister.
+
+Elinor's compassion for him increased, as she had reason
+to suspect that the misery of disappointed love had already
+been known to him.  This suspicion was given by some words
+which accidently dropped from him one evening at the park,
+when they were sitting down together by mutual consent,
+while the others were dancing.  His eyes were fixed
+on Marianne, and, after a silence of some minutes,
+he said, with a faint smile, "Your sister, I understand,
+does not approve of second attachments."
+
+"No," replied Elinor, "her opinions are all romantic."
+
+"Or rather, as I believe, she considers them
+impossible to exist."
+
+"I believe she does.  But how she contrives it
+without reflecting on the character of her own father,
+who had himself two wives, I know not.  A few years
+however will settle her opinions on the reasonable basis
+of common sense and observation; and then they may be
+more easy to define and to justify than they now are,
+by any body but herself."
+
+"This will probably be the case," he replied;
+"and yet there is something so amiable in the prejudices
+of a young mind, that one is sorry to see them give way
+to the reception of more general opinions."
+
+"I cannot agree with you there," said Elinor.
+"There are inconveniences attending such feelings
+as Marianne's, which all the charms of enthusiasm and
+ignorance of the world cannot atone for.  Her systems have
+all the unfortunate tendency of setting propriety at nought;
+and a better acquaintance with the world is what I look
+forward to as her greatest possible advantage."
+
+After a short pause he resumed the conversation
+by saying,--
+
+"Does your sister make no distinction in her objections
+against a second attachment? or is it equally criminal
+in every body?  Are those who have been disappointed
+in their first choice, whether from the inconstancy
+of its object, or the perverseness of circumstances,
+to be equally indifferent during the rest of their lives?"
+
+"Upon my word, I am not acquainted with the minutiae
+of her principles.  I only know that I never yet heard her
+admit any instance of a second attachment's being pardonable."
+
+"This," said he, "cannot hold; but a change,
+a total change of sentiments--No, no, do not desire it;
+for when the romantic refinements of a young mind
+are obliged to give way, how frequently are they
+succeeded by such opinions as are but too common, and too
+dangerous!  I speak from experience.  I once knew a lady
+who in temper and mind greatly resembled your sister,
+who thought and judged like her, but who from an inforced
+change--from a series of unfortunate circumstances"--
+Here he stopt suddenly; appeared to think that he had said
+too much, and by his countenance gave rise to conjectures,
+which might not otherwise have entered Elinor's head.
+The lady would probably have passed without suspicion,
+had he not convinced Miss Dashwood that what concerned
+her ought not to escape his lips.  As it was,
+it required but a slight effort of fancy to connect his
+emotion with the tender recollection of past regard.
+Elinor attempted no more.  But Marianne, in her place,
+would not have done so little.  The whole story would
+have been speedily formed under her active imagination;
+and every thing established in the most melancholy order
+of disastrous love.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 12
+
+
+As Elinor and Marianne were walking together the
+next morning the latter communicated a piece of news
+to her sister, which in spite of all that she knew
+before of Marianne's imprudence and want of thought,
+surprised her by its extravagant testimony of both.
+Marianne told her, with the greatest delight, that
+Willoughby had given her a horse, one that he had bred
+himself on his estate in Somersetshire, and which was
+exactly calculated to carry a woman.  Without considering
+that it was not in her mother's plan to keep any horse,
+that if she were to alter her resolution in favour of
+this gift, she must buy another for the servant, and
+keep a servant to ride it, and after all, build a stable
+to receive them, she had accepted the present without
+hesitation, and told her sister of it in raptures.
+
+"He intends to send his groom into Somersetshire
+immediately for it," she added, "and when it arrives we
+will ride every day.  You shall share its use with me.
+Imagine to yourself, my dear Elinor, the delight of a gallop
+on some of these downs."
+
+Most unwilling was she to awaken from such a dream of
+felicity to comprehend all the unhappy truths which attended
+the affair; and for some time she refused to submit to them.
+As to an additional servant, the expense would be a trifle;
+Mamma she was sure would never object to it; and any horse
+would do for HIM; he might always get one at the park;
+as to a stable, the merest shed would be sufficient.
+Elinor then ventured to doubt the propriety of her receiving
+such a present from a man so little, or at least so lately
+known to her.  This was too much.
+
+"You are mistaken, Elinor," said she warmly,
+"in supposing I know very little of Willoughby.
+I have not known him long indeed, but I am much better
+acquainted with him, than I am with any other creature
+in the world, except yourself and mama.  It is not
+time or opportunity that is to determine intimacy;--
+it is disposition alone.  Seven years would be insufficient
+to make some people acquainted with each other, and seven
+days are more than enough for others.  I should hold
+myself guilty of greater impropriety in accepting a horse
+from my brother, than from Willoughby.  Of John I know
+very little, though we have lived together for years;
+but of Willoughby my judgment has long been formed."
+
+Elinor thought it wisest to touch that point no more.
+She knew her sister's temper.  Opposition on so tender a
+subject would only attach her the more to her own opinion.
+But by an appeal to her affection for her mother,
+by representing the inconveniences which that indulgent
+mother must draw on herself, if (as would probably be
+the case) she consented to this increase of establishment,
+Marianne was shortly subdued; and she promised not to
+tempt her mother to such imprudent kindness by mentioning
+the offer, and to tell Willoughby when she saw him next,
+that it must be declined.
+
+She was faithful to her word; and when Willoughby
+called at the cottage, the same day, Elinor heard her
+express her disappointment to him in a low voice, on
+being obliged to forego the acceptance of his present.
+The reasons for this alteration were at the same time related,
+and they were such as to make further entreaty on his
+side impossible.  His concern however was very apparent;
+and after expressing it with earnestness, he added,
+in the same low voice,--"But, Marianne, the horse is
+still yours, though you cannot use it now.  I shall keep
+it only till you can claim it.  When you leave Barton
+to form your own establishment in a more lasting home,
+Queen Mab shall receive you."
+
+This was all overheard by Miss Dashwood; and in the
+whole of the sentence, in his manner of pronouncing it,
+and in his addressing her sister by her Christian name alone,
+she instantly saw an intimacy so decided, a meaning
+so direct, as marked a perfect agreement between them.
+From that moment she doubted not of their being engaged
+to each other; and the belief of it created no other surprise
+than that she, or any of their friends, should be left
+by tempers so frank, to discover it by accident.
+
+Margaret related something to her the next day,
+which placed this matter in a still clearer light.
+Willoughby had spent the preceding evening with them,
+and Margaret, by being left some time in the parlour
+with only him and Marianne, had had opportunity
+for observations, which, with a most important face,
+she communicated to her eldest sister, when they were
+next by themselves.
+
+"Oh, Elinor!" she cried, "I have such a secret to
+tell you about Marianne.  I am sure she will be married
+to Mr. Willoughby very soon."
+
+"You have said so," replied Elinor, "almost every
+day since they first met on High-church Down; and they
+had not known each other a week, I believe, before you
+were certain that Marianne wore his picture round her neck;
+but it turned out to be only the miniature of our great uncle."
+
+"But indeed this is quite another thing.  I am sure
+they will be married very soon, for he has got a lock
+of her hair."
+
+"Take care, Margaret.  It may be only the hair
+of some great uncle of HIS."
+
+"But, indeed, Elinor, it is Marianne's. I am almost
+sure it is, for I saw him cut it off.  Last night
+after tea, when you and mama went out of the room,
+they were whispering and talking together as fast as
+could be, and he seemed to be begging something of her,
+and presently he took up her scissors and cut off a long
+lock of her hair, for it was all tumbled down her back;
+and he kissed it, and folded it up in a piece of white paper;
+and put it into his pocket-book."
+
+For such particulars, stated on such authority,
+Elinor could not withhold her credit; nor was she disposed
+to it, for the circumstance was in perfect unison with
+what she had heard and seen herself.
+
+Margaret's sagacity was not always displayed in a
+way so satisfactory to her sister.  When Mrs. Jennings
+attacked her one evening at the park, to give the name
+of the young man who was Elinor's particular favourite,
+which had been long a matter of great curiosity to her,
+Margaret answered by looking at her sister, and saying,
+"I must not tell, may I, Elinor?"
+
+This of course made every body laugh; and Elinor
+tried to laugh too.  But the effort was painful.
+She was convinced that Margaret had fixed on a person
+whose name she could not bear with composure to become
+a standing joke with Mrs. Jennings.
+
+Marianne felt for her most sincerely; but she did
+more harm than good to the cause, by turning very red
+and saying in an angry manner to Margaret,
+
+"Remember that whatever your conjectures may be,
+you have no right to repeat them."
+
+"I never had any conjectures about it," replied Margaret;
+"it was you who told me of it yourself."
+
+This increased the mirth of the company, and Margaret
+was eagerly pressed to say something more.
+
+"Oh! pray, Miss Margaret, let us know all about it,"
+said Mrs. Jennings.  "What is the gentleman's name?"
+
+"I must not tell, ma'am. But I know very well what it is;
+and I know where he is too."
+
+"Yes, yes, we can guess where he is; at his own house
+at Norland to be sure.  He is the curate of the parish
+I dare say."
+
+"No, THAT he is not.  He is of no profession at all."
+
+"Margaret," said Marianne with great warmth,
+"you know that all this is an invention of your own,
+and that there is no such person in existence."
+
+"Well, then, he is lately dead, Marianne, for I
+am sure there was such a man once, and his name begins
+with an F."
+
+Most grateful did Elinor feel to Lady Middleton
+for observing, at this moment, "that it rained very hard,"
+though she believed the interruption to proceed less from
+any attention to her, than from her ladyship's great dislike
+of all such inelegant subjects of raillery as delighted
+her husband and mother.  The idea however started by her,
+was immediately pursued by Colonel Brandon, who was
+on every occasion mindful of the feelings of others;
+and much was said on the subject of rain by both of them.
+Willoughby opened the piano-forte, and asked Marianne
+to sit down to it; and thus amidst the various endeavours
+of different people to quit the topic, it fell to the ground.
+But not so easily did Elinor recover from the alarm into
+which it had thrown her.
+
+A party was formed this evening for going on the
+following day to see a very fine place about twelve miles
+from Barton, belonging to a brother-in-law of Colonel Brandon,
+without whose interest it could not be seen, as the proprietor,
+who was then abroad, had left strict orders on that head.
+The grounds were declared to be highly beautiful,
+and Sir John, who was particularly warm in their praise,
+might be allowed to be a tolerable judge, for he had
+formed parties to visit them, at least, twice every summer
+for the last ten years.  They contained a noble piece
+of water; a sail on which was to a form a great part of
+the morning's amusement; cold provisions were to be taken,
+open carriages only to be employed, and every thing
+conducted in the usual style of a complete party of pleasure.
+
+To some few of the company it appeared rather
+a bold undertaking, considering the time of year,
+and that it had rained every day for the last fortnight;--
+and Mrs. Dashwood, who had already a cold, was persuaded
+by Elinor to stay at home.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 13
+
+
+Their intended excursion to Whitwell turned out
+very different from what Elinor had expected.  She was
+prepared to be wet through, fatigued, and frightened;
+but the event was still more unfortunate, for they did
+not go at all.
+
+By ten o'clock the whole party was assembled at
+the park, where they were to breakfast.  The morning
+was rather favourable, though it had rained all night,
+as the clouds were then dispersing across the sky,
+and the sun frequently appeared.  They were all in high
+spirits and good humour, eager to be happy, and determined
+to submit to the greatest inconveniences and hardships
+rather than be otherwise.
+
+While they were at breakfast the letters were brought in.
+Among the rest there was one for Colonel Brandon;--he
+took it, looked at the direction, changed colour,
+and immediately left the room.
+
+"What is the matter with Brandon?" said Sir John.
+
+Nobody could tell.
+
+"I hope he has had no bad news," said Lady Middleton.
+"It must be something extraordinary that could make Colonel
+Brandon leave my breakfast table so suddenly."
+
+In about five minutes he returned.
+
+"No bad news, Colonel, I hope;" said Mrs. Jennings,
+as soon as he entered the room.
+
+"None at all, ma'am, I thank you."
+
+"Was it from Avignon?  I hope it is not to say
+that your sister is worse."
+
+"No, ma'am. It came from town, and is merely
+a letter of business."
+
+"But how came the hand to discompose you so much,
+if it was only a letter of business?  Come, come,
+this won't do, Colonel; so let us hear the truth of it."
+
+"My dear madam," said Lady Middleton, "recollect what
+you are saying."
+
+"Perhaps it is to tell you that your cousin Fanny
+is married?" said Mrs. Jennings, without attending
+to her daughter's reproof.
+
+"No, indeed, it is not."
+
+"Well, then, I know who it is from, Colonel.  And I
+hope she is well."
+
+"Whom do you mean, ma'am?" said he, colouring a little.
+
+"Oh! you know who I mean."
+
+"I am particularly sorry, ma'am," said he,
+addressing Lady Middleton, "that I should receive this
+letter today, for it is on business which requires
+my immediate attendance in town."
+
+"In town!" cried Mrs. Jennings.  "What can you
+have to do in town at this time of year?"
+
+"My own loss is great," he continued, "in being obliged
+to leave so agreeable a party; but I am the more concerned,
+as I fear my presence is necessary to gain your admittance
+at Whitwell."
+
+What a blow upon them all was this!
+
+"But if you write a note to the housekeeper, Mr. Brandon,"
+said Marianne, eagerly, "will it not be sufficient?"
+
+He shook his head.
+
+"We must go," said Sir John.--"It shall not be put
+off when we are so near it.  You cannot go to town till
+tomorrow, Brandon, that is all."
+
+"I wish it could be so easily settled.  But it
+is not in my power to delay my journey for one day!"
+
+"If you would but let us know what your business is,"
+said Mrs. Jennings, "we might see whether it could be put
+off or not."
+
+"You would not be six hours later," said Willoughby,
+"if you were to defer your journey till our return."
+
+"I cannot afford to lose ONE hour."--
+
+Elinor then heard Willoughby say, in a low voice to Marianne,
+"There are some people who cannot bear a party of pleasure.
+Brandon is one of them.  He was afraid of catching cold
+I dare say, and invented this trick for getting out of it.
+I would lay fifty guineas the letter was of his own writing."
+
+"I have no doubt of it," replied Marianne.
+
+"There is no persuading you to change your mind,
+Brandon, I know of old," said Sir John, "when once you
+are determined on anything.  But, however, I hope you
+will think better of it.  Consider, here are the two Miss
+Careys come over from Newton, the three Miss Dashwoods
+walked up from the cottage, and Mr. Willoughby got up
+two hours before his usual time, on purpose to go to Whitwell."
+
+Colonel Brandon again repeated his sorrow at being
+the cause of disappointing the party; but at the same
+time declared it to be unavoidable.
+
+"Well, then, when will you come back again?"
+
+"I hope we shall see you at Barton," added her ladyship,
+"as soon as you can conveniently leave town; and we must
+put off the party to Whitwell till you return."
+
+"You are very obliging.  But it is so uncertain,
+when I may have it in my power to return, that I dare
+not engage for it at all."
+
+"Oh! he must and shall come back," cried Sir John.
+"If he is not here by the end of the week, I shall go
+after him."
+
+"Ay, so do, Sir John," cried Mrs. Jennings, "and then
+perhaps you may find out what his business is."
+
+"I do not want to pry into other men's concerns.
+I suppose it is something he is ashamed of."
+
+Colonel Brandon's horses were announced.
+
+"You do not go to town on horseback, do you?"
+added Sir John.
+
+"No. Only to Honiton.  I shall then go post."
+
+"Well, as you are resolved to go, I wish you
+a good journey.  But you had better change your mind."
+
+"I assure you it is not in my power."
+
+He then took leave of the whole party.
+
+"Is there no chance of my seeing you and your sisters
+in town this winter, Miss Dashwood?"
+
+"I am afraid, none at all."
+
+"Then I must bid you farewell for a longer time
+than I should wish to do."
+
+To Marianne, he merely bowed and said nothing.
+
+"Come Colonel," said Mrs. Jennings, "before you go,
+do let us know what you are going about."
+
+He wished her a good morning, and, attended by Sir John,
+left the room.
+
+The complaints and lamentations which politeness
+had hitherto restrained, now burst forth universally;
+and they all agreed again and again how provoking it was
+to be so disappointed.
+
+"I can guess what his business is, however,"
+said Mrs. Jennings exultingly.
+
+"Can you, ma'am?" said almost every body.
+
+"Yes; it is about Miss Williams, I am sure."
+
+"And who is Miss Williams?" asked Marianne.
+
+"What! do not you know who Miss Williams is? I am
+sure you must have heard of her before.  She is a relation
+of the Colonel's, my dear; a very near relation.  We will
+not say how near, for fear of shocking the young ladies."
+Then, lowering her voice a little, she said to Elinor,
+"She is his natural daughter."
+
+"Indeed!"
+
+"Oh, yes; and as like him as she can stare.
+I dare say the Colonel will leave her all his fortune."
+
+When Sir John returned, he joined most heartily
+in the general regret on so unfortunate an event;
+concluding however by observing, that as they were
+all got together, they must do something by way of
+being happy; and after some consultation it was agreed,
+that although happiness could only be enjoyed at Whitwell,
+they might procure a tolerable composure of mind by driving
+about the country.  The carriages were then ordered;
+Willoughby's was first, and Marianne never looked
+happier than when she got into it.  He drove through
+the park very fast, and they were soon out of sight;
+and nothing more of them was seen till their return,
+which did not happen till after the return of all the rest.
+They both seemed delighted with their drive; but said
+only in general terms that they had kept in the lanes,
+while the others went on the downs.
+
+It was settled that there should be a dance in the evening,
+and that every body should be extremely merry all day long.
+Some more of the Careys came to dinner, and they had the
+pleasure of sitting down nearly twenty to table, which Sir
+John observed with great contentment.  Willoughby took
+his usual place between the two elder Miss Dashwoods.
+Mrs. Jennings sat on Elinor's right hand; and they had not
+been long seated, before she leant behind her and Willoughby,
+and said to Marianne, loud enough for them both to hear,
+"I have found you out in spite of all your tricks.
+I know where you spent the morning."
+
+Marianne coloured, and replied very hastily,
+"Where, pray?"--
+
+"Did not you know," said Willoughby, "that we had
+been out in my curricle?"
+
+"Yes, yes, Mr. Impudence, I know that very well,
+and I was determined to find out WHERE you had been to.--
+I hope you like your house, Miss Marianne.  It is a very
+large one, I know; and when I come to see you, I hope you
+will have new-furnished it, for it wanted it very much
+when I was there six years ago."
+
+Marianne turned away in great confusion.
+Mrs. Jennings laughed heartily; and Elinor found that in her
+resolution to know where they had been, she had actually
+made her own woman enquire of Mr. Willoughby's groom;
+and that she had by that method been informed that they
+had gone to Allenham, and spent a considerable time there
+in walking about the garden and going all over the house.
+
+Elinor could hardly believe this to be true,
+as it seemed very unlikely that Willoughby should propose,
+or Marianne consent, to enter the house while Mrs. Smith was
+in it, with whom Marianne had not the smallest acquaintance.
+
+As soon as they left the dining-room, Elinor enquired
+of her about it; and great was her surprise when she
+found that every circumstance related by Mrs. Jennings
+was perfectly true.  Marianne was quite angry with her
+for doubting it.
+
+"Why should you imagine, Elinor, that we did not
+go there, or that we did not see the house?  Is not it
+what you have often wished to do yourself?"
+
+"Yes, Marianne, but I would not go while Mrs. Smith
+was there, and with no other companion than Mr. Willoughby."
+
+"Mr. Willoughby however is the only person who can
+have a right to shew that house; and as he went in an open
+carriage, it was impossible to have any other companion.
+I never spent a pleasanter morning in my life."
+
+"I am afraid," replied Elinor, "that the pleasantness
+of an employment does not always evince its propriety."
+
+"On the contrary, nothing can be a stronger proof
+of it, Elinor; for if there had been any real impropriety
+in what I did, I should have been sensible of it at
+the time, for we always know when we are acting wrong,
+and with such a conviction I could have had no pleasure."
+
+"But, my dear Marianne, as it has already exposed you
+to some very impertinent remarks, do you not now begin
+to doubt the discretion of your own conduct?"
+
+"If the impertinent remarks of Mrs. Jennings are
+to be the proof of impropriety in conduct, we are all
+offending every moment of our lives.  I value not her
+censure any more than I should do her commendation.
+I am not sensible of having done anything wrong in walking
+over Mrs. Smith's grounds, or in seeing her house.
+They will one day be Mr. Willoughby's, and--"
+
+"If they were one day to be your own, Marianne,
+you would not be justified in what you have done."
+
+She blushed at this hint; but it was even visibly
+gratifying to her; and after a ten minutes' interval of
+earnest thought, she came to her sister again, and said
+with great good humour, "Perhaps, Elinor, it WAS rather
+ill-judged in me to go to Allenham; but Mr. Willoughby wanted
+particularly to shew me the place; and it is a charming house,
+I assure you.--There is one remarkably pretty sitting room
+up stairs; of a nice comfortable size for constant use,
+and with modern furniture it would be delightful.
+It is a corner room, and has windows on two sides.
+On one side you look across the bowling-green, behind
+the house, to a beautiful hanging wood, and on the other you
+have a view of the church and village, and, beyond them,
+of those fine bold hills that we have so often admired.
+I did not see it to advantage, for nothing could be
+more forlorn than the furniture,--but if it were newly
+fitted up--a couple of hundred pounds, Willoughby says,
+would make it one of the pleasantest summer-rooms
+in England."
+
+Could Elinor have listened to her without interruption
+from the others, she would have described every room
+in the house with equal delight.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 14
+
+
+The sudden termination of Colonel Brandon's visit
+at the park, with his steadiness in concealing its cause,
+filled the mind, and raised the wonder of Mrs. Jennings
+for two or three days; she was a great wonderer, as every
+one must be who takes a very lively interest in all the
+comings and goings of all their acquaintance.  She wondered,
+with little intermission what could be the reason of it;
+was sure there must be some bad news, and thought over
+every kind of distress that could have befallen him,
+with a fixed determination that he should not escape
+them all.
+
+"Something very melancholy must be the matter,
+I am sure," said she.  "I could see it in his face.
+Poor man!  I am afraid his circumstances may be bad.
+The estate at Delaford was never reckoned more than two thousand
+a year, and his brother left everything sadly involved.
+I do think he must have been sent for about money matters,
+for what else can it be?  I wonder whether it is so.
+I would give anything to know the truth of it.  Perhaps it
+is about Miss Williams and, by the bye, I dare say it is,
+because he looked so conscious when I mentioned her.
+May be she is ill in town; nothing in the world more likely,
+for I have a notion she is always rather sickly.
+I would lay any wager it is about Miss Williams.
+It is not so very likely he should be distressed in
+his circumstances NOW, for he is a very prudent man,
+and to be sure must have cleared the estate by this time.
+I wonder what it can be!  May be his sister is worse
+at Avignon, and has sent for him over.  His setting off
+in such a hurry seems very like it.  Well, I wish him out
+of all his trouble with all my heart, and a good wife into
+the bargain."
+
+So wondered, so talked Mrs. Jennings.  Her opinion
+varying with every fresh conjecture, and all seeming
+equally probable as they arose.  Elinor, though she felt
+really interested in the welfare of Colonel Brandon,
+could not bestow all the wonder on his going so suddenly
+away, which Mrs. Jennings was desirous of her feeling;
+for besides that the circumstance did not in her opinion
+justify such lasting amazement or variety of speculation,
+her wonder was otherwise disposed of.  It was engrossed
+by the extraordinary silence of her sister and Willoughby
+on the subject, which they must know to be peculiarly
+interesting to them all.  As this silence continued,
+every day made it appear more strange and more incompatible
+with the disposition of both.  Why they should not openly
+acknowledge to her mother and herself, what their constant
+behaviour to each other declared to have taken place,
+Elinor could not imagine.
+
+She could easily conceive that marriage might not
+be immediately in their power; for though Willoughby
+was independent, there was no reason to believe him rich.
+His estate had been rated by Sir John at about six or seven
+hundred a year; but he lived at an expense to which that income
+could hardly be equal, and he had himself often complained
+of his poverty.  But for this strange kind of secrecy
+maintained by them relative to their engagement, which
+in fact concealed nothing at all, she could not account;
+and it was so wholly contradictory to their general
+opinions and practice, that a doubt sometimes entered
+her mind of their being really engaged, and this doubt
+was enough to prevent her making any inquiry of Marianne.
+
+Nothing could be more expressive of attachment
+to them all, than Willoughby's behaviour.  To Marianne
+it had all the distinguishing tenderness which a lover's
+heart could give, and to the rest of the family it was the
+affectionate attention of a son and a brother.  The cottage
+seemed to be considered and loved by him as his home;
+many more of his hours were spent there than at Allenham;
+and if no general engagement collected them at the park,
+the exercise which called him out in the morning was
+almost certain of ending there, where the rest of the day
+was spent by himself at the side of Marianne, and by his
+favourite pointer at her feet.
+
+One evening in particular, about a week after
+Colonel Brandon left the country, his heart seemed
+more than usually open to every feeling of attachment
+to the objects around him; and on Mrs. Dashwood's
+happening to mention her design of improving the cottage
+in the spring, he warmly opposed every alteration
+of a place which affection had established as perfect with him.
+
+"What!" he exclaimed--"Improve this dear cottage!
+No. THAT I will never consent to.  Not a stone must
+be added to its walls, not an inch to its size,
+if my feelings are regarded."
+
+"Do not be alarmed," said Miss Dashwood,
+"nothing of the kind will be done; for my mother
+will never have money enough to attempt it."
+
+"I am heartily glad of it," he cried.  "May she
+always be poor, if she can employ her riches no better."
+
+"Thank you, Willoughby.  But you may be assured that I
+would not sacrifice one sentiment of local attachment
+of yours, or of any one whom I loved, for all the improvements
+in the world.  Depend upon it that whatever unemployed
+sum may remain, when I make up my accounts in the spring,
+I would even rather lay it uselessly by than dispose
+of it in a manner so painful to you.  But are you really
+so attached to this place as to see no defect in it?"
+
+"I am," said he.  "To me it is faultless.  Nay, more,
+I consider it as the only form of building in which happiness
+is attainable, and were I rich enough I would instantly pull
+Combe down, and build it up again in the exact plan of this
+cottage."
+
+"With dark narrow stairs and a kitchen that smokes,
+I suppose," said Elinor.
+
+"Yes," cried he in the same eager tone, "with all
+and every thing belonging to it;--in no one convenience
+or INconvenience about it, should the least variation
+be perceptible.  Then, and then only, under such a roof, I
+might perhaps be as happy at Combe as I have been at Barton."
+
+"I flatter myself," replied Elinor, "that even under
+the disadvantage of better rooms and a broader staircase,
+you will hereafter find your own house as faultless as you
+now do this."
+
+"There certainly are circumstances," said Willoughby,
+"which might greatly endear it to me; but this place will
+always have one claim of my affection, which no other can
+possibly share."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood looked with pleasure at Marianne,
+whose fine eyes were fixed so expressively on Willoughby,
+as plainly denoted how well she understood him.
+
+"How often did I wish," added he, "when I was at
+Allenham this time twelvemonth, that Barton cottage were
+inhabited!  I never passed within view of it without admiring
+its situation, and grieving that no one should live in it.
+How little did I then think that the very first news
+I should hear from Mrs. Smith, when I next came into
+the country, would be that Barton cottage was taken: and I
+felt an immediate satisfaction and interest in the event,
+which nothing but a kind of prescience of what happiness I
+should experience from it, can account for.  Must it not have
+been so, Marianne?" speaking to her in a lowered voice.
+Then continuing his former tone, he said, "And yet this
+house you would spoil, Mrs. Dashwood?  You would rob it
+of its simplicity by imaginary improvement! and this dear
+parlour in which our acquaintance first began, and in which
+so many happy hours have been since spent by us together,
+you would degrade to the condition of a common entrance,
+and every body would be eager to pass through the room
+which has hitherto contained within itself more real
+accommodation and comfort than any other apartment of
+the handsomest dimensions in the world could possibly afford."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood again assured him that no alteration
+of the kind should be attempted.
+
+"You are a good woman," he warmly replied.
+"Your promise makes me easy.  Extend it a little farther,
+and it will make me happy.  Tell me that not only your
+house will remain the same, but that I shall ever find
+you and yours as unchanged as your dwelling; and that you
+will always consider me with the kindness which has made
+everything belonging to you so dear to me."
+
+The promise was readily given, and Willoughby's
+behaviour during the whole of the evening declared
+at once his affection and happiness.
+
+"Shall we see you tomorrow to dinner?" said Mrs. Dashwood,
+when he was leaving them.  "I do not ask you to come in
+the morning, for we must walk to the park, to call on Lady
+Middleton."
+
+He engaged to be with them by four o'clock.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 15
+
+
+Mrs. Dashwood's visit to Lady Middleton took place
+the next day, and two of her daughters went with her;
+but Marianne excused herself from being of the party,
+under some trifling pretext of employment; and her mother,
+who concluded that a promise had been made by Willoughby
+the night before of calling on her while they were absent,
+was perfectly satisfied with her remaining at home.
+
+On their return from the park they found Willoughby's
+curricle and servant in waiting at the cottage,
+and Mrs. Dashwood was convinced that her conjecture
+had been just.  So far it was all as she had foreseen;
+but on entering the house she beheld what no foresight
+had taught her to expect.  They were no sooner in the
+passage than Marianne came hastily out of the parlour
+apparently in violent affliction, with her handkerchief
+at her eyes; and without noticing them ran up stairs.
+Surprised and alarmed they proceeded directly into the room
+she had just quitted, where they found only Willoughby,
+who was leaning against the mantel-piece with his back
+towards them.  He turned round on their coming in,
+and his countenance shewed that he strongly partook
+of the emotion which over-powered Marianne.
+
+"Is anything the matter with her?" cried Mrs. Dashwood
+as she entered--"is she ill?"
+
+"I hope not," he replied, trying to look cheerful;
+and with a forced smile presently added, "It is I who may
+rather expect to be ill--for I am now suffering under a
+very heavy disappointment!"
+
+"Disappointment?"
+
+"Yes, for I am unable to keep my engagement with you.
+Mrs. Smith has this morning exercised the privilege
+of riches upon a poor dependent cousin, by sending me on
+business to London.  I have just received my dispatches,
+and taken my farewell of Allenham; and by way of exhilaration
+I am now come to take my farewell of you."
+
+"To London!--and are you going this morning?"
+
+"Almost this moment."
+
+"This is very unfortunate.  But Mrs. Smith must
+be obliged;--and her business will not detain you from
+us long I hope."
+
+He coloured as he replied, "You are very kind, but I
+have no idea of returning into Devonshire immediately.
+My visits to Mrs. Smith are never repeated within
+the twelvemonth."
+
+"And is Mrs. Smith your only friend?  Is Allenham the only
+house in the neighbourhood to which you will be welcome?
+For shame, Willoughby, can you wait for an invitation here?"
+
+His colour increased; and with his eyes fixed
+on the ground he only replied, "You are too good."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood looked at Elinor with surprise.
+Elinor felt equal amazement.  For a few moments every one
+was silent.  Mrs. Dashwood first spoke.
+
+"I have only to add, my dear Willoughby, that at
+Barton cottage you will always be welcome; for I will not
+press you to return here immediately, because you only
+can judge how far THAT might be pleasing to Mrs. Smith;
+and on this head I shall be no more disposed to question
+your judgment than to doubt your inclination."
+
+"My engagements at present," replied Willoughby,
+confusedly, "are of such a nature--that--I dare not flatter
+myself"--
+
+He stopt.  Mrs. Dashwood was too much astonished
+to speak, and another pause succeeded.  This was broken
+by Willoughby, who said with a faint smile, "It is folly
+to linger in this manner.  I will not torment myself
+any longer by remaining among friends whose society
+it is impossible for me now to enjoy."
+
+He then hastily took leave of them all and left
+the room.  They saw him step into his carriage,
+and in a minute it was out of sight.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood felt too much for speech, and instantly
+quitted the parlour to give way in solitude to the concern
+and alarm which this sudden departure occasioned.
+
+Elinor's uneasiness was at least equal to her mother's.
+She thought of what had just passed with anxiety and distrust.
+Willoughby's behaviour in taking leave of them, his
+embarrassment,
+and affectation of cheerfulness, and, above all, his
+unwillingness
+to accept her mother's invitation, a backwardness so unlike a
+lover,
+so unlike himself, greatly disturbed her.  One moment she feared
+that no serious design had ever been formed on his side; and the
+next that some unfortunate quarrel had taken place between him
+and
+her sister;--the distress in which Marianne had quitted the room
+was such as a serious quarrel could most reasonably account for,
+though when she considered what Marianne's love for him was,
+a quarrel seemed almost impossible.
+
+But whatever might be the particulars of their separation,
+her sister's affliction was indubitable; and she thought
+with the tenderest compassion of that violent sorrow
+which Marianne was in all probability not merely giving
+way to as a relief, but feeding and encouraging as a duty.
+
+In about half an hour her mother returned, and though
+her eyes were red, her countenance was not uncheerful.
+
+"Our dear Willoughby is now some miles from Barton, Elinor,"
+said she, as she sat down to work, "and with how heavy a heart
+does he travel?"
+
+"It is all very strange.  So suddenly to be gone! It
+seems but the work of a moment.  And last night he was
+with us so happy, so cheerful, so affectionate?  And now,
+after only ten minutes notice--Gone too without intending
+to return!--Something more than what he owned to us must
+have happened.  He did not speak, he did not behave
+like himself.  YOU must have seen the difference as well as I.
+What can it be?  Can they have quarrelled?  Why else should he
+have shewn such unwillingness to accept your invitation here?"--
+
+"It was not inclination that he wanted, Elinor; I could
+plainly see THAT.  He had not the power of accepting it.
+I have thought it all over I assure you, and I can
+perfectly account for every thing that at first seemed
+strange to me as well as to you."
+
+"Can you, indeed!"
+
+"Yes. I have explained it to myself in the most
+satisfactory way;--but you, Elinor, who love to doubt
+where you can--it will not satisfy YOU, I know; but you
+shall not talk ME out of my trust in it.  I am persuaded
+that Mrs. Smith suspects his regard for Marianne,
+disapproves of it, (perhaps because she has other views
+for him,) and on that account is eager to get him away;--
+and that the business which she sends him off to transact
+is invented as an excuse to dismiss him.  This is what I
+believe to have happened.  He is, moreover, aware that she
+DOES disapprove the connection, he dares not therefore
+at present confess to her his engagement with Marianne,
+and he feels himself obliged, from his dependent situation,
+to give into her schemes, and absent himself from
+Devonshire for a while.  You will tell me, I know,
+that this may or may NOT have happened; but I will listen
+to no cavil, unless you can point out any other method
+of understanding the affair as satisfactory at this.
+And now, Elinor, what have you to say?"
+
+"Nothing, for you have anticipated my answer."
+
+"Then you would have told me, that it might or might not
+have happened.  Oh, Elinor, how incomprehensible are your
+feelings!  You had rather take evil upon credit than good.
+You had rather look out for misery for Marianne, and guilt
+for poor Willoughby, than an apology for the latter.
+You are resolved to think him blameable, because he took
+leave of us with less affection than his usual behaviour
+has shewn.  And is no allowance to be made for inadvertence,
+or for spirits depressed by recent disappointment?  Are
+no probabilities to be accepted, merely because they
+are not certainties?  Is nothing due to the man whom we
+have all such reason to love, and no reason in the world
+to think ill of?  To the possibility of motives unanswerable
+in themselves, though unavoidably secret for a while?  And,
+after all, what is it you suspect him of?"
+
+"I can hardly tell myself.  But suspicion of
+something unpleasant is the inevitable consequence
+of such an alteration as we just witnessed in him.
+There is great truth, however, in what you have now urged
+of the allowances which ought to be made for him, and it
+is my wish to be candid in my judgment of every body.
+Willoughby may undoubtedly have very sufficient
+reasons for his conduct, and I will hope that he has.
+But it would have been more like Willoughby to acknowledge
+them at once.  Secrecy may be advisable; but still I
+cannot help wondering at its being practiced by him."
+
+"Do not blame him, however, for departing from
+his character, where the deviation is necessary.
+But you really do admit the justice of what I have said
+in his defence?--I am happy--and he is acquitted."
+
+"Not entirely.  It may be proper to conceal their
+engagement (if they ARE engaged) from Mrs. Smith--
+and if that is the case, it must be highly expedient
+for Willoughby to be but little in Devonshire at present.
+But this is no excuse for their concealing it from us."
+
+"Concealing it from us! my dear child, do you accuse
+Willoughby and Marianne of concealment? This is strange
+indeed, when your eyes have been reproaching them every day
+for incautiousness."
+
+"I want no proof of their affection," said Elinor;
+"but of their engagement I do."
+
+"I am perfectly satisfied of both."
+
+"Yet not a syllable has been said to you on the
+subject, by either of them."
+
+"I have not wanted syllables where actions have
+spoken so plainly.  Has not his behaviour to Marianne
+and to all of us, for at least the last fortnight,
+declared that he loved and considered her as his future wife,
+and that he felt for us the attachment of the nearest
+relation?  Have we not perfectly understood each other?
+Has not my consent been daily asked by his looks, his manner,
+his attentive and affectionate respect?  My Elinor,
+is it possible to doubt their engagement?  How could
+such a thought occur to you?  How is it to be supposed
+that Willoughby, persuaded as he must be of your
+sister's love, should leave her, and leave her perhaps
+for months, without telling her of his affection;--that
+they should part without a mutual exchange of confidence?"
+
+"I confess," replied Elinor, "that every circumstance
+except ONE is in favour of their engagement;
+but that ONE is the total silence of both on the subject,
+and with me it almost outweighs every other."
+
+"How strange this is!  You must think wretchedly indeed
+of Willoughby, if, after all that has openly passed between them,
+you can doubt the nature of the terms on which they are together.
+Has he been acting a part in his behaviour to your sister
+all this time?  Do you suppose him really indifferent to her?"
+
+"No, I cannot think that.  He must and does love her
+I am sure."
+
+"But with a strange kind of tenderness, if he can
+leave her with such indifference, such carelessness
+of the future, as you attribute to him."
+
+"You must remember, my dear mother, that I have never
+considered this matter as certain.  I have had my doubts,
+I confess; but they are fainter than they were, and they
+may soon be entirely done away.  If we find they correspond,
+every fear of mine will be removed."
+
+"A mighty concession indeed!  If you were to see
+them at the altar, you would suppose they were going to
+be married.  Ungracious girl!  But I require no such proof.
+Nothing in my opinion has ever passed to justify doubt;
+no secrecy has been attempted; all has been uniformly open
+and unreserved.  You cannot doubt your sister's wishes.
+It must be Willoughby therefore whom you suspect.  But why?
+Is he not a man of honour and feeling? Has there been any
+inconsistency on his side to create alarm? can he be deceitful?"
+
+"I hope not, I believe not," cried Elinor.
+"I love Willoughby, sincerely love him; and suspicion of his
+integrity cannot be more painful to yourself than to me.
+It has been involuntary, and I will not encourage it.
+I was startled, I confess, by the alteration in his
+manners this morning;--he did not speak like himself,
+and did not return your kindness with any cordiality.
+But all this may be explained by such a situation of his
+affairs as you have supposed.  He had just parted from
+my sister, had seen her leave him in the greatest affliction;
+and if he felt obliged, from a fear of offending Mrs. Smith,
+to resist the temptation of returning here soon, and yet
+aware that by declining your invitation, by saying
+that he was going away for some time, he should seem
+to act an ungenerous, a suspicious part by our family,
+he might well be embarrassed and disturbed.  In such a case,
+a plain and open avowal of his difficulties would have been
+more to his honour I think, as well as more consistent
+with his general character;--but I will not raise objections
+against any one's conduct on so illiberal a foundation,
+as a difference in judgment from myself, or a deviation from
+what I may think right and consistent."
+
+"You speak very properly.  Willoughby certainly does
+not deserve to be suspected.  Though WE have not known
+him long, he is no stranger in this part of the world;
+and who has ever spoken to his disadvantage?  Had he been
+in a situation to act independently and marry immediately,
+it might have been odd that he should leave us without
+acknowledging everything to me at once: but this is not the case.
+It is an engagement in some respects not prosperously begun,
+for their marriage must be at a very uncertain distance;
+and even secrecy, as far as it can be observed, may now
+be very advisable."
+
+They were interrupted by the entrance of Margaret;
+and Elinor was then at liberty to think over the representations
+of her mother, to acknowledge the probability of many,
+and hope for the justice of all.
+
+They saw nothing of Marianne till dinner time,
+when she entered the room and took her place at the table
+without saying a word.  Her eyes were red and swollen;
+and it seemed as if her tears were even then restrained
+with difficulty.  She avoided the looks of them all,
+could neither eat nor speak, and after some time, on her
+mother's silently pressing her hand with tender compassion,
+her small degree of fortitude was quite overcome, she burst
+into tears and left the room.
+
+This violent oppression of spirits continued the
+whole evening.  She was without any power, because she
+was without any desire of command over herself.
+The slightest mention of anything relative to Willoughby
+overpowered her in an instant; and though her family
+were most anxiously attentive to her comfort, it was
+impossible for them, if they spoke at all, to keep clear
+of every subject which her feelings connected with him.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 16
+
+
+Marianne would have thought herself very inexcusable
+had she been able to sleep at all the first night
+after parting from Willoughby.  She would have been
+ashamed to look her family in the face the next morning,
+had she not risen from her bed in more need of repose
+than when she lay down in it.  But the feelings which
+made such composure a disgrace, left her in no danger
+of incurring it.  She was awake the whole night, and she
+wept the greatest part of it.  She got up with a headache,
+was unable to talk, and unwilling to take any nourishment;
+giving pain every moment to her mother and sisters,
+and forbidding all attempt at consolation from either.
+Her sensibility was potent enough!
+
+When breakfast was over she walked out by herself,
+and wandered about the village of Allenham, indulging the
+recollection of past enjoyment and crying over the present
+reverse for the chief of the morning.
+
+The evening passed off in the equal indulgence of feeling.
+She played over every favourite song that she had been used
+to play to Willoughby, every air in which their voices
+had been oftenest joined, and sat at the instrument gazing
+on every line of music that he had written out for her,
+till her heart was so heavy that no farther sadness
+could be gained; and this nourishment of grief was every
+day applied.  She spent whole hours at the pianoforte
+alternately singing and crying; her voice often totally
+suspended by her tears.  In books too, as well as in music,
+she courted the misery which a contrast between the past
+and present was certain of giving.  She read nothing
+but what they had been used to read together.
+
+Such violence of affliction indeed could not be supported
+for ever; it sunk within a few days into a calmer melancholy;
+but these employments, to which she daily recurred,
+her solitary walks and silent meditations, still produced
+occasional effusions of sorrow as lively as ever.
+
+No letter from Willoughby came; and none seemed expected
+by Marianne.  Her mother was surprised, and Elinor again
+became uneasy.  But Mrs. Dashwood could find explanations
+whenever she wanted them, which at least satisfied herself.
+
+"Remember, Elinor," said she, "how very often Sir John
+fetches our letters himself from the post, and carries them
+to it.  We have already agreed that secrecy may be necessary,
+and we must acknowledge that it could not be maintained if
+their correspondence were to pass through Sir John's hands."
+
+Elinor could not deny the truth of this, and she tried
+to find in it a motive sufficient for their silence.
+But there was one method so direct, so simple, and in
+her opinion so eligible of knowing the real state
+of the affair, and of instantly removing all mystery,
+that she could not help suggesting it to her mother.
+
+"Why do you not ask Marianne at once," said she,
+"whether she is or she is not engaged to Willoughby?  From you,
+her mother, and so kind, so indulgent a mother, the question
+could not give offence.  It would be the natural result
+of your affection for her.  She used to be all unreserve,
+and to you more especially."
+
+"I would not ask such a question for the world.
+Supposing it possible that they are not engaged,
+what distress would not such an enquiry inflict!  At any
+rate it would be most ungenerous.  I should never deserve
+her confidence again, after forcing from her a confession
+of what is meant at present to be unacknowledged to any one.
+I know Marianne's heart: I know that she dearly loves me,
+and that I shall not be the last to whom the affair is made
+known,
+when circumstances make the revealment of it eligible.
+I would not attempt to force the confidence of any one;
+of a child much less; because a sense of duty would prevent
+the denial which her wishes might direct."
+
+Elinor thought this generosity overstrained,
+considering her sister's youth, and urged the matter farther,
+but in vain; common sense, common care, common prudence,
+were all sunk in Mrs. Dashwood's romantic delicacy.
+
+It was several days before Willoughby's name
+was mentioned before Marianne by any of her family;
+Sir John and Mrs. Jennings, indeed, were not so nice;
+their witticisms added pain to many a painful hour;--
+but one evening, Mrs. Dashwood, accidentally taking up a
+volume of Shakespeare, exclaimed,
+
+"We have never finished Hamlet, Marianne; our dear
+Willoughby went away before we could get through it.
+We will put it by, that when he comes again...But it may
+be months, perhaps, before THAT happens."
+
+"Months!" cried Marianne, with strong surprise.
+"No--nor many weeks."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood was sorry for what she had said;
+but it gave Elinor pleasure, as it produced a reply
+from Marianne so expressive of confidence in Willoughby
+and knowledge of his intentions.
+
+One morning, about a week after his leaving the country,
+Marianne was prevailed on to join her sisters in their
+usual walk, instead of wandering away by herself.
+Hitherto she had carefully avoided every companion in
+her rambles.  If her sisters intended to walk on the downs,
+she directly stole away towards the lanes; if they talked
+of the valley, she was as speedy in climbing the hills,
+and could never be found when the others set off.
+But at length she was secured by the exertions of Elinor,
+who greatly disapproved such continual seclusion.  They walked
+along the road through the valley, and chiefly in silence,
+for Marianne's MIND could not be controlled, and Elinor,
+satisfied with gaining one point, would not then attempt more.
+Beyond the entrance of the valley, where the country,
+though still rich, was less wild and more open, a long
+stretch of the road which they had travelled on first coming
+to Barton, lay before them; and on reaching that point,
+they stopped to look around them, and examine a prospect
+which formed the distance of their view from the cottage,
+from a spot which they had never happened to reach in any
+of their walks before.
+
+Amongst the objects in the scene, they soon discovered
+an animated one; it was a man on horseback riding towards them.
+In a few minutes they could distinguish him to be a gentleman;
+and in a moment afterwards Marianne rapturously exclaimed,
+
+"It is he; it is indeed;--I know it is!"--and was
+hastening to meet him, when Elinor cried out,
+
+"Indeed, Marianne, I think you are mistaken.  It is
+not Willoughby.  The person is not tall enough for him,
+and has not his air."
+
+"He has, he has," cried Marianne, "I am sure he has.
+His air, his coat, his horse.  I knew how soon he would come."
+
+She walked eagerly on as she spoke; and Elinor,
+to screen Marianne from particularity, as she felt almost
+certain of its not being Willoughby, quickened her
+pace and kept up with her.  They were soon within
+thirty yards of the gentleman.  Marianne looked again;
+her heart sunk within her; and abruptly turning round,
+she was hurrying back, when the voices of both her sisters
+were raised to detain her; a third, almost as well known
+as Willoughby's, joined them in begging her to stop,
+and she turned round with surprise to see and welcome
+Edward Ferrars.
+
+He was the only person in the world who could
+at that moment be forgiven for not being Willoughby;
+the only one who could have gained a smile from her;
+but she dispersed her tears to smile on HIM, and in her
+sister's happiness forgot for a time her own disappointment.
+
+He dismounted, and giving his horse to his servant,
+walked back with them to Barton, whither he was purposely
+coming to visit them.
+
+He was welcomed by them all with great cordiality,
+but especially by Marianne, who showed more warmth of
+regard in her reception of him than even Elinor herself.
+To Marianne, indeed, the meeting between Edward and her sister
+was but a continuation of that unaccountable coldness which she
+had often observed at Norland in their mutual behaviour.
+On Edward's side, more particularly, there was a deficiency
+of all that a lover ought to look and say on such an occasion.
+He was confused, seemed scarcely sensible of pleasure
+in seeing them, looked neither rapturous nor gay,
+said little but what was forced from him by questions,
+and distinguished Elinor by no mark of affection.
+Marianne saw and listened with increasing surprise.
+She began almost to feel a dislike of Edward; and it ended,
+as every feeling must end with her, by carrying back her
+thoughts to Willoughby, whose manners formed a contrast
+sufficiently striking to those of his brother elect.
+
+After a short silence which succeeded the first
+surprise and enquiries of meeting, Marianne asked
+Edward if he came directly from London.  No, he had
+been in Devonshire a fortnight.
+
+"A fortnight!" she repeated, surprised at his being
+so long in the same county with Elinor without seeing
+her before.
+
+He looked rather distressed as he added, that he
+had been staying with some friends near Plymouth.
+
+"Have you been lately in Sussex?" said Elinor.
+
+"I was at Norland about a month ago."
+
+"And how does dear, dear Norland look?" cried Marianne.
+
+"Dear, dear Norland," said Elinor, "probably looks
+much as it always does at this time of the year.
+The woods and walks thickly covered with dead leaves."
+
+"Oh," cried Marianne, "with what transporting sensation
+have I formerly seen them fall!  How have I delighted,
+as I walked, to see them driven in showers about me
+by the wind!  What feelings have they, the season, the air
+altogether inspired!  Now there is no one to regard them.
+They are seen only as a nuisance, swept hastily off,
+and driven as much as possible from the sight."
+
+"It is not every one," said Elinor, "who has your
+passion for dead leaves."
+
+"No; my feelings are not often shared, not often
+understood.  But SOMETIMES they are."--As she said this,
+she sunk into a reverie for a few moments;--but rousing
+herself again, "Now, Edward," said she, calling his attention
+to the prospect, "here is Barton valley.  Look up to it,
+and be tranquil if you can.  Look at those hills!
+Did you ever see their equals?  To the left is Barton park,
+amongst those woods and plantations.  You may see the end
+of the house.  And there, beneath that farthest hill,
+which rises with such grandeur, is our cottage."
+
+"It is a beautiful country," he replied; "but these
+bottoms must be dirty in winter."
+
+"How can you think of dirt, with such objects before you?"
+
+"Because," replied he, smiling, "among the rest of the
+objects before me, I see a very dirty lane."
+
+"How strange!" said Marianne to herself as she walked on.
+
+"Have you an agreeable neighbourhood here?  Are the
+Middletons pleasant people?"
+
+"No, not all," answered Marianne; "we could not
+be more unfortunately situated."
+
+"Marianne," cried her sister, "how can you say so? How can
+you be so unjust?  They are a very respectable family, Mr.
+Ferrars;
+and towards us have behaved in the friendliest manner.  Have you
+forgot, Marianne, how many pleasant days we have owed to them?"
+
+"No," said Marianne, in a low voice, "nor how many
+painful moments."
+
+Elinor took no notice of this; and directing
+her attention to their visitor, endeavoured to support
+something like discourse with him, by talking of their
+present residence, its conveniences, &c. extorting from him
+occasional questions and remarks.  His coldness and reserve
+mortified her severely; she was vexed and half angry;
+but resolving to regulate her behaviour to him by the past
+rather than the present, she avoided every appearance
+of resentment or displeasure, and treated him as she
+thought he ought to be treated from the family connection.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 17
+
+
+Mrs. Dashwood was surprised only for a moment at
+seeing him; for his coming to Barton was, in her opinion,
+of all things the most natural.  Her joy and expression
+of regard long outlived her wonder.  He received the kindest
+welcome from her; and shyness, coldness, reserve could not
+stand against such a reception.  They had begun to fail him
+before he entered the house, and they were quite overcome
+by the captivating manners of Mrs. Dashwood.  Indeed a man
+could not very well be in love with either of her daughters,
+without extending the passion to her; and Elinor had the
+satisfaction of seeing him soon become more like himself.
+His affections seemed to reanimate towards them all,
+and his interest in their welfare again became perceptible.
+He was not in spirits, however; he praised their house,
+admired its prospect, was attentive, and kind; but still
+he was not in spirits.  The whole family perceived it,
+and Mrs. Dashwood, attributing it to some want of liberality
+in his mother, sat down to table indignant against all
+selfish parents.
+
+"What are Mrs. Ferrars's views for you at present, Edward?"
+said she, when dinner was over and they had drawn round
+the fire; "are you still to be a great orator in spite of
+yourself?"
+
+"No. I hope my mother is now convinced that I have
+no more talents than inclination for a public life!"
+
+"But how is your fame to be established? for famous you
+must be to satisfy all your family; and with no inclination
+for expense, no affection for strangers, no profession,
+and no assurance, you may find it a difficult matter."
+
+"I shall not attempt it.  I have no wish to be
+distinguished; and have every reason to hope I never shall.
+Thank Heaven! I cannot be forced into genius and eloquence."
+
+"You have no ambition, I well know.  Your wishes
+are all moderate."
+
+"As moderate as those of the rest of the world,
+I believe.  I wish as well as every body else to be
+perfectly happy; but, like every body else it must be
+in my own way.  Greatness will not make me so."
+
+"Strange that it would!" cried Marianne.  "What have
+wealth or grandeur to do with happiness?"
+
+"Grandeur has but little," said Elinor, "but wealth
+has much to do with it."
+
+"Elinor, for shame!" said Marianne, "money can only
+give happiness where there is nothing else to give it.
+Beyond a competence, it can afford no real satisfaction,
+as far as mere self is concerned."
+
+"Perhaps," said Elinor, smiling, "we may come
+to the same point.  YOUR competence and MY wealth
+are very much alike, I dare say; and without them,
+as the world goes now, we shall both agree that every
+kind of external comfort must be wanting.  Your ideas
+are only more noble than mine.  Come, what is your competence?"
+
+"About eighteen hundred or two thousand a year;
+not more than THAT."
+
+Elinor laughed.  "TWO thousand a year! ONE is my
+wealth! I guessed how it would end."
+
+"And yet two thousand a-year is a very moderate income,"
+said Marianne.  "A family cannot well be maintained on
+a smaller.  I am sure I am not extravagant in my demands.
+A proper establishment of servants, a carriage, perhaps two,
+and hunters, cannot be supported on less."
+
+Elinor smiled again, to hear her sister describing
+so accurately their future expenses at Combe Magna.
+
+"Hunters!" repeated Edward--"but why must you have
+hunters?  Every body does not hunt."
+
+Marianne coloured as she replied, "But most people do."
+
+"I wish," said Margaret, striking out a novel thought,
+"that somebody would give us all a large fortune apiece!"
+
+"Oh that they would!" cried Marianne, her eyes
+sparkling with animation, and her cheeks glowing
+with the delight of such imaginary happiness.
+
+"We are all unanimous in that wish, I suppose,"
+said Elinor, "in spite of the insufficiency of wealth."
+
+"Oh dear!" cried Margaret, "how happy I should be!
+I wonder what I should do with it!"
+
+Marianne looked as if she had no doubt on that point.
+
+"I should be puzzled to spend so large a fortune myself,"
+said Mrs. Dashwood, "if my children were all to be rich
+my help."
+
+"You must begin your improvements on this house,"
+observed Elinor, "and your difficulties will soon vanish."
+
+"What magnificent orders would travel from this family
+to London," said Edward, "in such an event!  What a happy
+day for booksellers, music-sellers, and print-shops!  You,
+Miss Dashwood, would give a general commission for every
+new print of merit to be sent you--and as for Marianne,
+I know her greatness of soul, there would not be music enough
+in London to content her.  And books!--Thomson, Cowper,
+Scott--she would buy them all over and over again: she
+would buy up every copy, I believe, to prevent their
+falling into unworthy hands; and she would have every
+book that tells her how to admire an old twisted tree.
+Should not you, Marianne?  Forgive me, if I am very saucy.
+But I was willing to shew you that I had not forgot our
+old disputes."
+
+"I love to be reminded of the past, Edward--whether it
+be melancholy or gay, I love to recall it--and you
+will never offend me by talking of former times.
+You are very right in supposing how my money would be
+spent--some of it, at least--my loose cash would certainly
+be employed in improving my collection of music and books."
+
+"And the bulk of your fortune would be laid out
+in annuities on the authors or their heirs."
+
+"No, Edward, I should have something else to do
+with it."
+
+"Perhaps, then, you would bestow it as a reward on that
+person who wrote the ablest defence of your favourite maxim,
+that no one can ever be in love more than once in their
+life--your opinion on that point is unchanged, I presume?"
+
+"Undoubtedly. At my time of life opinions are tolerably fixed.
+It is not likely that I should now see or hear any thing to
+change them."
+
+"Marianne is as steadfast as ever, you see," said Elinor,
+"she is not at all altered."
+
+"She is only grown a little more grave than she was."
+
+"Nay, Edward," said Marianne, "you need not reproach me.
+You are not very gay yourself."
+
+"Why should you think so!" replied he, with a sigh.
+"But gaiety never was a part of MY character."
+
+"Nor do I think it a part of Marianne's," said Elinor;
+"I should hardly call her a lively girl--she is very earnest,
+very eager in all she does--sometimes talks a great deal
+and always with animation--but she is not often really merry."
+
+"I believe you are right," he replied, "and yet I
+have always set her down as a lively girl."
+
+"I have frequently detected myself in such kind of mistakes,"
+said Elinor, "in a total misapprehension of character in some
+point or other: fancying people so much more gay or grave,
+or ingenious or stupid than they really are, and I can
+hardly tell why or in what the deception originated.
+Sometimes one is guided by what they say of themselves,
+and very frequently by what other people say of them,
+without giving oneself time to deliberate and judge."
+
+"But I thought it was right, Elinor," said Marianne,
+"to be guided wholly by the opinion of other people.
+I thought our judgments were given us merely to be subservient
+to those of neighbours.  This has always been your doctrine,
+I am sure."
+
+"No, Marianne, never.  My doctrine has never aimed
+at the subjection of the understanding.  All I have
+ever attempted to influence has been the behaviour.
+You must not confound my meaning.  I am guilty, I confess,
+of having often wished you to treat our acquaintance
+in general with greater attention; but when have I advised
+you to adopt their sentiments or to conform to their
+judgment in serious matters?"
+
+"You have not been able to bring your sister over to your
+plan of general civility," said Edward to Elinor, "Do you gain
+no ground?"
+
+"Quite the contrary," replied Elinor,
+looking expressively at Marianne.
+
+"My judgment," he returned, "is all on your side
+of the question; but I am afraid my practice is much
+more on your sister's.  I never wish to offend, but I
+am so foolishly shy, that I often seem negligent,
+when I am only kept back by my natural awkwardness.
+I have frequently thought that I must have been intended
+by nature to be fond of low company, I am so little at
+my ease among strangers of gentility!"
+
+"Marianne has not shyness to excuse any inattention
+of hers," said Elinor.
+
+"She knows her own worth too well for false shame,"
+replied Edward.  "Shyness is only the effect of a sense
+of inferiority in some way or other.  If I could persuade
+myself that my manners were perfectly easy and graceful,
+I should not be shy."
+
+"But you would still be reserved," said Marianne,
+"and that is worse."
+
+Edward started--"Reserved! Am I reserved, Marianne?"
+
+"Yes, very."
+
+"I do not understand you," replied he, colouring.
+"Reserved!--how, in what manner?  What am I to tell you?
+What can you suppose?"
+
+Elinor looked surprised at his emotion; but trying
+to laugh off the subject, she said to him, "Do not you
+know my sister well enough to understand what she means?
+Do not you know she calls every one reserved who does not
+talk as fast, and admire what she admires as rapturously
+as herself?"
+
+Edward made no answer.  His gravity and thoughtfulness
+returned on him in their fullest extent--and he sat
+for some time silent and dull.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 18
+
+
+Elinor saw, with great uneasiness the low spirits
+of her friend.  His visit afforded her but a very
+partial satisfaction, while his own enjoyment in it
+appeared so imperfect.  It was evident that he was unhappy;
+she wished it were equally evident that he still
+distinguished her by the same affection which once
+she had felt no doubt of inspiring; but hitherto the
+continuance of his preference seemed very uncertain;
+and the reservedness of his manner towards her contradicted
+one moment what a more animated look had intimated the preceding
+one.
+
+He joined her and Marianne in the breakfast-room
+the next morning before the others were down; and Marianne,
+who was always eager to promote their happiness as far
+as she could, soon left them to themselves.  But before she
+was half way upstairs she heard the parlour door open, and,
+turning round, was astonished to see Edward himself come out.
+
+"I am going into the village to see my horses,"
+said he, "as you are not yet ready for breakfast; I shall
+be back again presently."
+
+                    ***
+
+Edward returned to them with fresh admiration
+of the surrounding country; in his walk to the village,
+he had seen many parts of the valley to advantage;
+and the village itself, in a much higher situation than
+the cottage, afforded a general view of the whole, which had
+exceedingly pleased him.  This was a subject which ensured
+Marianne's attention, and she was beginning to describe
+her own admiration of these scenes, and to question him more
+minutely on the objects that had particularly struck him,
+when Edward interrupted her by saying, "You must not
+enquire too far, Marianne--remember I have no knowledge
+in the picturesque, and I shall offend you by my ignorance
+and want of taste if we come to particulars.  I shall call
+hills steep, which ought to be bold; surfaces strange
+and uncouth, which ought to be irregular and rugged;
+and distant objects out of sight, which ought only to be
+indistinct through the soft medium of a hazy atmosphere.
+You must be satisfied with such admiration as I can
+honestly give.  I call it a very fine country--the
+hills are steep, the woods seem full of fine timber,
+and the valley looks comfortable and snug--with rich
+meadows and several neat farm houses scattered here
+and there.  It exactly answers my idea of a fine country,
+because it unites beauty with utility--and I dare say it
+is a picturesque one too, because you admire it; I can
+easily believe it to be full of rocks and promontories,
+grey moss and brush wood, but these are all lost on me.
+I know nothing of the picturesque."
+
+"I am afraid it is but too true," said Marianne;
+"but why should you boast of it?"
+
+"I suspect," said Elinor, "that to avoid one kind
+of affectation, Edward here falls into another.  Because he
+believes many people pretend to more admiration of the beauties
+of nature than they really feel, and is disgusted with
+such pretensions, he affects greater indifference and less
+discrimination in viewing them himself than he possesses.
+He is fastidious and will have an affectation of his own."
+
+"It is very true," said Marianne, "that admiration
+of landscape scenery is become a mere jargon.
+Every body pretends to feel and tries to describe with
+the taste and elegance of him who first defined what
+picturesque beauty was.  I detest jargon of every kind,
+and sometimes I have kept my feelings to myself,
+because I could find no language to describe them
+in but what was worn and hackneyed out of all sense and meaning."
+
+"I am convinced," said Edward, "that you really feel
+all the delight in a fine prospect which you profess
+to feel.  But, in return, your sister must allow me
+to feel no more than I profess.  I like a fine prospect,
+but not on picturesque principles.  I do not like crooked,
+twisted, blasted trees.  I admire them much more if they
+are tall, straight, and flourishing.  I do not like ruined,
+tattered cottages.  I am not fond of nettles or thistles,
+or heath blossoms.  I have more pleasure in a snug
+farm-house than a watch-tower--and a troop of tidy,
+happy villages please me better than the finest banditti
+in the world."
+
+Marianne looked with amazement at Edward,
+with compassion at her sister.  Elinor only laughed.
+
+The subject was continued no farther; and Marianne
+remained thoughtfully silent, till a new object suddenly
+engaged her attention.  She was sitting by Edward, and
+in taking his tea from Mrs. Dashwood, his hand passed
+so directly before her, as to make a ring, with a plait
+of hair in the centre, very conspicuous on one of his fingers.
+
+"I never saw you wear a ring before, Edward," she cried.
+"Is that Fanny's hair? I remember her promising to give
+you some.  But I should have thought her hair had been darker."
+
+Marianne spoke inconsiderately what she really felt--
+but when she saw how much she had pained Edward, her own
+vexation at her want of thought could not be surpassed
+by his.  He coloured very deeply, and giving a momentary
+glance at Elinor, replied, "Yes; it is my sister's hair.
+The setting always casts a different shade on it,
+you know."
+
+Elinor had met his eye, and looked conscious likewise.
+That the hair was her own, she instantaneously felt as
+well satisfied as Marianne; the only difference in their
+conclusions was, that what Marianne considered as a free
+gift from her sister, Elinor was conscious must have been
+procured by some theft or contrivance unknown to herself.
+She was not in a humour, however, to regard it as an affront,
+and affecting to take no notice of what passed,
+by instantly talking of something else, she internally
+resolved henceforward to catch every opportunity of eyeing
+the hair and of satisfying herself, beyond all doubt,
+that it was exactly the shade of her own.
+
+Edward's embarrassment lasted some time, and it
+ended in an absence of mind still more settled.
+He was particularly grave the whole morning.
+Marianne severely censured herself for what she had said;
+but her own forgiveness might have been more speedy,
+had she known how little offence it had given her sister.
+
+Before the middle of the day, they were visited by Sir
+John and Mrs. Jennings, who, having heard of the arrival
+of a gentleman at the cottage, came to take a survey
+of the guest.  With the assistance of his mother-in-law,
+Sir John was not long in discovering that the name of
+Ferrars began with an F. and this prepared a future mine
+of raillery against the devoted Elinor, which nothing but
+the newness of their acquaintance with Edward could have
+prevented from being immediately sprung.  But, as it was,
+she only learned, from some very significant looks, how far
+their penetration, founded on Margaret's instructions, extended.
+
+Sir John never came to the Dashwoods without either
+inviting them to dine at the park the next day, or to drink
+tea with them that evening.  On the present occasion,
+for the better entertainment of their visitor, towards
+whose amusement he felt himself bound to contribute,
+he wished to engage them for both.
+
+"You MUST drink tea with us to night," said he,
+"for we shall be quite alone--and tomorrow you must
+absolutely dine with us, for we shall be a large party."
+
+Mrs. Jennings enforced the necessity.  "And who knows
+but you may raise a dance," said she.  "And that will
+tempt YOU, Miss Marianne."
+
+"A dance!" cried Marianne.  "Impossible! Who is to dance?"
+
+"Who! why yourselves, and the Careys, and Whitakers
+to be sure.--What! you thought nobody could dance
+because a certain person that shall be nameless is gone!"
+
+"I wish with all my soul," cried Sir John,
+"that Willoughby were among us again."
+
+This, and Marianne's blushing, gave new suspicions
+to Edward.  "And who is Willoughby?" said he, in a low voice,
+to Miss Dashwood, by whom he was sitting.
+
+She gave him a brief reply.  Marianne's countenance
+was more communicative.  Edward saw enough to comprehend,
+not only the meaning of others, but such of Marianne's
+expressions as had puzzled him before; and when their
+visitors left them, he went immediately round her, and said,
+in a whisper, "I have been guessing.  Shall I tell you
+my guess?"
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Shall I tell you."
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"Well then; I guess that Mr. Willoughby hunts."
+
+Marianne was surprised and confused, yet she could
+not help smiling at the quiet archness of his manner,
+and after a moment's silence, said,
+
+"Oh, Edward! How can you?--But the time will come
+I hope...I am sure you will like him."
+
+"I do not doubt it," replied he, rather astonished
+at her earnestness and warmth; for had he not imagined it
+to be a joke for the good of her acquaintance in general,
+founded only on a something or a nothing between Mr. Willoughby
+and herself, he would not have ventured to mention it.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 19
+
+
+Edward remained a week at the cottage; he was earnestly
+pressed by Mrs. Dashwood to stay longer; but, as if he
+were bent only on self-mortification, he seemed resolved
+to be gone when his enjoyment among his friends was at
+the height.  His spirits, during the last two or three days,
+though still very unequal, were greatly improved--he grew
+more and more partial to the house and environs--never
+spoke of going away without a sigh--declared his time
+to be wholly disengaged--even doubted to what place he
+should go when he left them--but still, go he must.
+Never had any week passed so quickly--he could hardly
+believe it to be gone.  He said so repeatedly; other things
+he said too, which marked the turn of his feelings and gave
+the lie to his actions.  He had no pleasure at Norland;
+he detested being in town; but either to Norland or London,
+he must go.  He valued their kindness beyond any thing,
+and his greatest happiness was in being with them.
+Yet, he must leave them at the end of a week, in spite
+of their wishes and his own, and without any restraint
+on his time.
+
+Elinor placed all that was astonishing in this
+way of acting to his mother's account; and it was
+happy for her that he had a mother whose character
+was so imperfectly known to her, as to be the general
+excuse for every thing strange on the part of her son.
+Disappointed, however, and vexed as she was, and sometimes
+displeased with his uncertain behaviour to herself,
+she was very well disposed on the whole to regard his actions
+with all the candid allowances and generous qualifications,
+which had been rather more painfully extorted from her,
+for Willoughby's service, by her mother.  His want of spirits,
+of openness, and of consistency, were most usually
+attributed to his want of independence, and his better
+knowledge of Mrs. Ferrars's disposition and designs.
+The shortness of his visit, the steadiness of his purpose
+in leaving them, originated in the same fettered inclination,
+the same inevitable necessity of temporizing with his mother.
+The old well-established grievance of duty against will,
+parent against child, was the cause of all.  She would have
+been glad to know when these difficulties were to cease,
+this opposition was to yield,--when Mrs. Ferrars would
+be reformed, and her son be at liberty to be happy.
+But from such vain wishes she was forced to turn for comfort
+to the renewal of her confidence in Edward's affection,
+to the remembrance of every mark of regard in look or word
+which fell from him while at Barton, and above all
+to that flattering proof of it which he constantly wore
+round his finger.
+
+"I think, Edward," said Mrs. Dashwood, as they were
+at breakfast the last morning, "you would be a happier man
+if you had any profession to engage your time and give
+an interest to your plans and actions.  Some inconvenience
+to your friends, indeed, might result from it--you
+would not be able to give them so much of your time.
+But (with a smile) you would be materially benefited
+in one particular at least--you would know where to go
+when you left them."
+
+"I do assure you," he replied, "that I have long
+thought on this point, as you think now.  It has been,
+and is, and probably will always be a heavy misfortune
+to me, that I have had no necessary business to engage me,
+no profession to give me employment, or afford me any
+thing like independence.  But unfortunately my own nicety,
+and the nicety of my friends, have made me what I am,
+an idle, helpless being.  We never could agree in our
+choice of a profession.  I always preferred the church,
+as I still do.  But that was not smart enough for my family.
+They recommended the army.  That was a great deal
+too smart for me.  The law was allowed to be genteel
+enough; many young men, who had chambers in the Temple,
+made a very good appearance in the first circles,
+and drove about town in very knowing gigs.  But I had
+no inclination for the law, even in this less abstruse
+study of it, which my family approved.  As for the navy,
+it had fashion on its side, but I was too old when the
+subject was first started to enter it--and, at length,
+as there was no necessity for my having any profession
+at all, as I might be as dashing and expensive without
+a red coat on my back as with one, idleness was pronounced
+on the whole to be most advantageous and honourable,
+and a young man of eighteen is not in general so earnestly
+bent on being busy as to resist the solicitations of his
+friends to do nothing.  I was therefore entered at Oxford
+and have been properly idle ever since."
+
+"The consequence of which, I suppose, will be,"
+said Mrs. Dashwood, "since leisure has not promoted
+your own happiness, that your sons will be brought up
+to as many pursuits, employments, professions, and trades
+as Columella's."
+
+"They will be brought up," said he, in a serious accent,
+"to be as unlike myself as is possible.  In feeling,
+in action, in condition, in every thing."
+
+"Come, come; this is all an effusion of immediate
+want of spirits, Edward.  You are in a melancholy humour,
+and fancy that any one unlike yourself must be happy.
+But remember that the pain of parting from friends
+will be felt by every body at times, whatever be their
+education or state.  Know your own happiness.  You want
+nothing but patience--or give it a more fascinating name,
+call it hope.  Your mother will secure to you, in time,
+that independence you are so anxious for; it is her duty,
+and it will, it must ere long become her happiness to
+prevent your whole youth from being wasted in discontent.
+How much may not a few months do?"
+
+"I think," replied Edward, "that I may defy many
+months to produce any good to me."
+
+This desponding turn of mind, though it could not
+be communicated to Mrs. Dashwood, gave additional pain
+to them all in the parting, which shortly took place,
+and left an uncomfortable impression on Elinor's
+feelings especially, which required some trouble and time
+to subdue.  But as it was her determination to subdue it,
+and to prevent herself from appearing to suffer more than
+what all her family suffered on his going away, she did
+not adopt the method so judiciously employed by Marianne,
+on a similar occasion, to augment and fix her sorrow,
+by seeking silence, solitude and idleness.  Their means
+were as different as their objects, and equally suited
+to the advancement of each.
+
+Elinor sat down to her drawing-table as soon as he
+was out of the house, busily employed herself the whole day,
+neither sought nor avoided the mention of his name,
+appeared to interest herself almost as much as ever in the
+general concerns of the family, and if, by this conduct,
+she did not lessen her own grief, it was at least prevented
+from unnecessary increase, and her mother and sisters
+were spared much solicitude on her account.
+
+Such behaviour as this, so exactly the reverse
+of her own, appeared no more meritorious to Marianne,
+than her own had seemed faulty to her.  The business
+of self-command she settled very easily;--with strong
+affections it was impossible, with calm ones it could
+have no merit.  That her sister's affections WERE calm,
+she dared not deny, though she blushed to acknowledge it;
+and of the strength of her own, she gave a very striking proof,
+by still loving and respecting that sister, in spite
+of this mortifying conviction.
+
+Without shutting herself up from her family,
+or leaving the house in determined solitude to avoid them,
+or lying awake the whole night to indulge meditation,
+Elinor found every day afforded her leisure enough
+to think of Edward, and of Edward's behaviour, in every
+possible variety which the different state of her spirits
+at different times could produce,--with tenderness,
+pity, approbation, censure, and doubt.  There were moments
+in abundance, when, if not by the absence of her mother
+and sisters, at least by the nature of their employments,
+conversation was forbidden among them, and every effect
+of solitude was produced.  Her mind was inevitably
+at liberty; her thoughts could not be chained elsewhere;
+and the past and the future, on a subject so interesting,
+must be before her, must force her attention, and engross
+her memory, her reflection, and her fancy.
+
+From a reverie of this kind, as she sat at her
+drawing-table, she was roused one morning, soon after
+Edward's leaving them, by the arrival of company.
+She happened to be quite alone.  The closing of the
+little gate, at the entrance of the green court in front
+of the house, drew her eyes to the window, and she saw
+a large party walking up to the door.  Amongst them
+were Sir John and Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings,
+but there were two others, a gentleman and lady, who were
+quite unknown to her.  She was sitting near the window,
+and as soon as Sir John perceived her, he left the rest
+of the party to the ceremony of knocking at the door,
+and stepping across the turf, obliged her to open the
+casement to speak to him, though the space was so short
+between the door and the window, as to make it hardly
+possible to speak at one without being heard at the other.
+
+"Well," said he, "we have brought you some strangers.
+How do you like them?"
+
+"Hush! they will hear you."
+
+"Never mind if they do.  It is only the Palmers.
+Charlotte is very pretty, I can tell you.  You may see her
+if you look this way."
+
+As Elinor was certain of seeing her in a couple
+of minutes, without taking that liberty, she begged
+to be excused.
+
+"Where is Marianne? Has she run away because we
+are come? I see her instrument is open."
+
+"She is walking, I believe."
+
+They were now joined by Mrs. Jennings, who had not
+patience enough to wait till the door was opened before
+she told HER story.  She came hallooing to the window,
+"How do you do, my dear?  How does Mrs. Dashwood do?
+And where are your sisters?  What! all alone! you
+will be glad of a little company to sit with you.
+I have brought my other son and daughter to see you.
+Only think of their coming so suddenly!  I thought I heard
+a carriage last night, while we were drinking our tea,
+but it never entered my head that it could be them.
+I thought of nothing but whether it might not be Colonel
+Brandon come back again; so I said to Sir John, I do think
+I hear a carriage; perhaps it is Colonel Brandon come
+back again"--
+
+Elinor was obliged to turn from her, in the middle
+of her story, to receive the rest of the party; Lady
+Middleton introduced the two strangers; Mrs. Dashwood
+and Margaret came down stairs at the same time, and they
+all sat down to look at one another, while Mrs. Jennings
+continued her story as she walked through the passage
+into the parlour, attended by Sir John.
+
+Mrs. Palmer was several years younger than Lady
+Middleton, and totally unlike her in every respect.
+She was short and plump, had a very pretty face,
+and the finest expression of good humour in it that could
+possibly be.  Her manners were by no means so elegant
+as her sister's, but they were much more prepossessing.
+She came in with a smile, smiled all the time of her visit,
+except when she laughed, and smiled when she went away.
+Her husband was a grave looking young man of five or six
+and twenty, with an air of more fashion and sense than
+his wife, but of less willingness to please or be pleased.
+He entered the room with a look of self-consequence,
+slightly bowed to the ladies, without speaking a word,
+and, after briefly surveying them and their apartments,
+took up a newspaper from the table, and continued to read it
+as long as he staid.
+
+Mrs. Palmer, on the contrary, who was strongly endowed
+by nature with a turn for being uniformly civil and happy,
+was hardly seated before her admiration of the parlour
+and every thing in it burst forth.
+
+"Well! what a delightful room this is! I never
+saw anything so charming!  Only think, Mamma, how it
+is improved since I was here last! I always thought it
+such a sweet place, ma'am! (turning to Mrs. Dashwood)
+but you have made it so charming!  Only look, sister,
+how delightful every thing is! How I should like such
+a house for myself!  Should not you, Mr. Palmer?"
+
+Mr. Palmer made her no answer, and did not even raise
+his eyes from the newspaper.
+
+"Mr. Palmer does not hear me," said she, laughing;
+"he never does sometimes.  It is so ridiculous!"
+
+This was quite a new idea to Mrs. Dashwood; she had
+never been used to find wit in the inattention of any one,
+and could not help looking with surprise at them both.
+
+Mrs. Jennings, in the meantime, talked on as loud
+as she could, and continued her account of their surprise,
+the evening before, on seeing their friends, without
+ceasing till every thing was told.  Mrs. Palmer laughed
+heartily at the recollection of their astonishment,
+and every body agreed, two or three times over, that it
+had been quite an agreeable surprise.
+
+"You may believe how glad we all were to see them,"
+added Mrs. Jennings, leaning forward towards Elinor,
+and speaking in a low voice as if she meant to be heard
+by no one else, though they were seated on different sides
+of the room; "but, however, I can't help wishing they had
+not travelled quite so fast, nor made such a long journey
+of it, for they came all round by London upon account
+of some business, for you know (nodding significantly and
+pointing to her daughter) it was wrong in her situation.
+I wanted her to stay at home and rest this morning,
+but she would come with us; she longed so much to see
+you all!"
+
+Mrs. Palmer laughed, and said it would not do her
+any harm.
+
+"She expects to be confined in February,"
+continued Mrs. Jennings.
+
+Lady Middleton could no longer endure such a conversation,
+and therefore exerted herself to ask Mr. Palmer if there
+was any news in the paper.
+
+"No, none at all," he replied, and read on.
+
+"Here comes Marianne," cried Sir John.  "Now, Palmer,
+you shall see a monstrous pretty girl."
+
+He immediately went into the passage, opened the front door,
+and ushered her in himself.  Mrs. Jennings asked her,
+as soon as she appeared, if she had not been to Allenham;
+and Mrs. Palmer laughed so heartily at the question,
+as to show she understood it.  Mr. Palmer looked up
+on her entering the room, stared at her some minutes,
+and then returned to his newspaper.  Mrs. Palmer's eye
+was now caught by the drawings which hung round the room.
+She got up to examine them.
+
+"Oh! dear, how beautiful these are!  Well! how delightful!
+Do but look, mama, how sweet! I declare they are quite charming;
+I could look at them for ever." And then sitting down again,
+she very soon forgot that there were any such things in the room.
+
+When Lady Middleton rose to go away, Mr. Palmer
+rose also, laid down the newspaper, stretched himself
+and looked at them all around.
+
+"My love, have you been asleep?" said his wife, laughing.
+
+He made her no answer; and only observed, after again
+examining the room, that it was very low pitched,
+and that the ceiling was crooked.  He then made his bow,
+and departed with the rest.
+
+Sir John had been very urgent with them all to
+spend the next day at the park.  Mrs. Dashwood, who did
+not chuse to dine with them oftener than they dined
+at the cottage, absolutely refused on her own account;
+her daughters might do as they pleased.  But they had no
+curiosity to see how Mr. and Mrs. Palmer ate their dinner,
+and no expectation of pleasure from them in any other way.
+They attempted, therefore, likewise, to excuse themselves;
+the weather was uncertain, and not likely to be good.
+But Sir John would not be satisfied--the carriage should
+be sent for them and they must come.  Lady Middleton too,
+though she did not press their mother, pressed them.
+Mrs. Jennings and Mrs. Palmer joined their entreaties, all
+seemed equally anxious to avoid a family party; and the young
+ladies were obliged to yield.
+
+"Why should they ask us?" said Marianne, as soon as they
+were gone.  "The rent of this cottage is said to be low;
+but we have it on very hard terms, if we are to dine
+at the park whenever any one is staying either with them,
+or with us."
+
+"They mean no less to be civil and kind to us now,"
+said Elinor, "by these frequent invitations, than by
+those which we received from them a few weeks ago.
+The alteration is not in them, if their parties are grown
+tedious and dull.  We must look for the change elsewhere."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 20
+
+
+As the Miss Dashwoods entered the drawing-room of the park
+the next day, at one door, Mrs. Palmer came running in at
+the other, looking as good humoured and merry as before.
+She took them all most affectionately by the hand,
+and expressed great delight in seeing them again.
+
+"I am so glad to see you!" said she, seating herself
+between Elinor and Marianne, "for it is so bad a day I was
+afraid you might not come, which would be a shocking thing,
+as we go away again tomorrow. We must go, for the Westons
+come to us next week you know.  It was quite a sudden thing
+our coming at all, and I knew nothing of it till the carriage
+was coming to the door, and then Mr. Palmer asked me if I
+would go with him to Barton.  He is so droll! He never
+tells me any thing! I am so sorry we cannot stay longer;
+however we shall meet again in town very soon, I hope."
+
+They were obliged to put an end to such an expectation.
+
+"Not go to town!" cried Mrs. Palmer, with a laugh,
+"I shall be quite disappointed if you do not.  I could
+get the nicest house in world for you, next door to ours,
+in Hanover-square.  You must come, indeed.  I am sure
+I shall be very happy to chaperon you at any time till
+I am confined, if Mrs. Dashwood should not like to go
+into public."
+
+They thanked her; but were obliged to resist all
+her entreaties.
+
+"Oh, my love," cried Mrs. Palmer to her husband,
+who just then entered the room--"you must help me to
+persuade the Miss Dashwoods to go to town this winter."
+
+Her love made no answer; and after slightly bowing
+to the ladies, began complaining of the weather.
+
+"How horrid all this is!" said he.  "Such weather
+makes every thing and every body disgusting.  Dullness
+is as much produced within doors as without, by rain.
+It makes one detest all one's acquaintance.  What the
+devil does Sir John mean by not having a billiard room
+in his house?  How few people know what comfort is!  Sir
+John is as stupid as the weather."
+
+The rest of the company soon dropt in.
+
+"I am afraid, Miss Marianne," said Sir John, "you have
+not been able to take your usual walk to Allenham today."
+
+Marianne looked very grave and said nothing.
+
+"Oh, don't be so sly before us," said Mrs. Palmer;
+"for we know all about it, I assure you; and I admire your
+taste very much, for I think he is extremely handsome.
+We do not live a great way from him in the country, you know.
+Not above ten miles, I dare say."
+
+"Much nearer thirty," said her husband.
+
+"Ah, well! there is not much difference.
+I never was at his house; but they say it is a sweet
+pretty place."
+
+"As vile a spot as I ever saw in my life,"
+said Mr. Palmer.
+
+Marianne remained perfectly silent, though her
+countenance betrayed her interest in what was said.
+
+"Is it very ugly?" continued Mrs. Palmer--"then it
+must be some other place that is so pretty I suppose."
+
+When they were seated in the dining room, Sir John
+observed with regret that they were only eight all together.
+
+"My dear," said he to his lady, "it is very provoking
+that we should be so few.  Why did not you ask the Gilberts
+to come to us today?"
+
+"Did not I tell you, Sir John, when you spoke to me
+about it before, that it could not be done?  They dined
+with us last."
+
+"You and I, Sir John," said Mrs. Jennings,
+"should not stand upon such ceremony."
+
+"Then you would be very ill-bred," cried Mr. Palmer.
+
+"My love you contradict every body," said his wife
+with her usual laugh.  "Do you know that you are quite rude?"
+
+"I did not know I contradicted any body in calling
+your mother ill-bred."
+
+"Ay, you may abuse me as you please," said the good-natured
+old lady, "you have taken Charlotte off my hands, and cannot
+give her back again.  So there I have the whip hand of you."
+
+Charlotte laughed heartily to think that her
+husband could not get rid of her; and exultingly said,
+she did not care how cross he was to her, as they must
+live together.  It was impossible for any one to be more
+thoroughly good-natured, or more determined to be happy
+than Mrs. Palmer.  The studied indifference, insolence,
+and discontent of her husband gave her no pain;
+and when he scolded or abused her, she was highly diverted.
+
+"Mr. Palmer is so droll!" said she, in a whisper,
+to Elinor.  "He is always out of humour."
+
+Elinor was not inclined, after a little observation,
+to give him credit for being so genuinely and unaffectedly
+ill-natured or ill-bred as he wished to appear.
+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.  I am sure you
+will like it of all things.  The Westons will be with us,
+and it will be quite delightful.  You cannot think
+what a sweet place Cleveland is; and we are so gay now,
+for Mr. Palmer is always going about the country canvassing
+against the election; and so many people came to dine
+with us that I never saw before, it is quite charming!  But,
+poor fellow! it is very fatiguing to him! for he is forced
+to make every body like him."
+
+Elinor could hardly keep her countenance as she
+assented to the hardship of such an obligation.
+
+"How charming it will be," said Charlotte, "when he
+is in Parliament!--won't it? How I shall laugh!  It will
+be so ridiculous to see all his letters directed to him
+with an M.P.--But do you know, he says, he will never frank
+for me?  He declares he won't.  Don't you, Mr. Palmer?"
+
+Mr. Palmer took no notice of her.
+
+"He cannot bear writing, you know," she continued--
+"he says it is quite shocking."
+
+"No," said he, "I never said any thing so irrational.
+Don't palm all your abuses of languages upon me."
+
+"There now; you see how droll he is.  This is always
+the way with him!  Sometimes he won't speak to me for half
+a day together, and then he comes out with something
+so droll--all about any thing in the world."
+
+She surprised Elinor very much as they returned
+into the drawing-room, by asking her whether she did
+not like Mr. Palmer excessively.
+
+"Certainly," said Elinor; "he seems very agreeable."
+
+"Well--I am so glad you do.  I thought you would,
+he is so pleasant; and Mr. Palmer is excessively pleased
+with you and your sisters I can tell you, and you can't
+think how disappointed he will be if you don't come
+to Cleveland.--I can't imagine why you should object
+to it."
+
+Elinor was again obliged to decline her invitation;
+and by changing the subject, put a stop to her entreaties.
+She thought it probable that as they lived in the
+same county, Mrs. Palmer might be able to give some
+more particular account of Willoughby's general
+character, than could be gathered from the Middletons'
+partial acquaintance with him; and she was eager to gain
+from any one, such a confirmation of his merits as might
+remove the possibility of fear from Marianne.  She began
+by inquiring if they saw much of Mr. Willoughby at Cleveland,
+and whether they were intimately acquainted with him.
+
+"Oh dear, yes; I know him extremely well,"
+replied Mrs. Palmer;--"Not that I ever spoke
+to him, indeed; but I have seen him for ever in town.
+Somehow or other I never happened to be staying at Barton
+while he was at Allenham.  Mama saw him here once before;--
+but I was with my uncle at Weymouth.  However, I dare say
+we should have seen a great deal of him in Somersetshire,
+if it had not happened very unluckily that we should never
+have been in the country together.  He is very little
+at Combe, I believe; but if he were ever so much there,
+I do not think Mr. Palmer would visit him, for he is
+in the opposition, you know, and besides it is such a
+way off.  I know why you inquire about him, very well;
+your sister is to marry him.  I am monstrous glad of it,
+for then I shall have her for a neighbour you know."
+
+"Upon my word," replied Elinor, "you know much
+more of the matter than I do, if you have any reason
+to expect such a match."
+
+"Don't pretend to deny it, because you know it is
+what every body talks of.  I assure you I heard of it
+in my way through town."
+
+"My dear Mrs. Palmer!"
+
+"Upon my honour I did.--I met Colonel Brandon
+Monday morning in Bond-street, just before we left town,
+and he told me of it directly."
+
+"You surprise me very much.  Colonel Brandon tell
+you of it!  Surely you must be mistaken.  To give such
+intelligence to a person who could not be interested in it,
+even if it were true, is not what I should expect Colonel
+Brandon to do."
+
+"But I do assure you it was so, for all that,
+and I will tell you how it happened.  When we met him,
+he turned back and walked with us; and so we began talking
+of my brother and sister, and one thing and another,
+and I said to him, 'So, Colonel, there is a new family
+come to Barton cottage, I hear, and mama sends me word
+they are very pretty, and that one of them is going to be
+married to Mr. Willoughby of Combe Magna.  Is it true,
+pray? for of course you must know, as you have been in
+Devonshire so lately.'"
+
+"And what did the Colonel say?"
+
+"Oh--he did not say much; but he looked as if he
+knew it to be true, so from that moment I set it down
+as certain.  It will be quite delightful, I declare!
+When is it to take place?"
+
+"Mr. Brandon was very well I hope?"
+
+"Oh! yes, quite well; and so full of your praises,
+he did nothing but say fine things of you."
+
+"I am flattered by his commendation.  He seems
+an excellent man; and I think him uncommonly pleasing."
+
+"So do I.--He is such a charming man, that it
+is quite a pity he should be so grave and so dull.
+Mamma says HE was in love with your sister too.--
+I assure you it was a great compliment if he was, for he
+hardly ever falls in love with any body."
+
+"Is Mr. Willoughby much known in your part
+of Somersetshire?" said Elinor.
+
+"Oh! yes, extremely well; that is, I do not believe
+many people are acquainted with him, because Combe Magna
+is so far off; but they all think him extremely agreeable
+I assure you.  Nobody is more liked than Mr. Willoughby
+wherever he goes, and so you may tell your sister.
+She is a monstrous lucky girl to get him, upon my honour;
+not but that he is much more lucky in getting her,
+because she is so very handsome and agreeable, that nothing
+can be good enough for her.  However, I don't think
+her hardly at all handsomer than you, I assure you;
+for I think you both excessively pretty, and so does
+Mr. Palmer too I am sure, though we could not get him
+to own it last night."
+
+Mrs. Palmer's information respecting Willoughby
+was not very material; but any testimony in his favour,
+however small, was pleasing to her.
+
+"I am so glad we are got acquainted at last,"
+continued Charlotte.--"And now I hope we shall always be
+great friends.  You can't think how much I longed to see you!
+It is so delightful that you should live at the cottage!
+Nothing can be like it, to be sure!  And I am so glad
+your sister is going to be well married!  I hope you will
+be a great deal at Combe Magna.  It is a sweet place,
+by all accounts."
+
+"You have been long acquainted with Colonel Brandon,
+have not you?"
+
+"Yes, a great while; ever since my sister married.--
+He was a particular friend of Sir John's. I believe,"
+she added in a low voice, "he would have been very
+glad to have had me, if he could.  Sir John and Lady
+Middleton wished it very much.  But mama did not think
+the match good enough for me, otherwise Sir John would
+have mentioned it to the Colonel, and we should have been
+married immediately."
+
+"Did not Colonel Brandon know of Sir John's proposal
+to your mother before it was made?  Had he never owned
+his affection to yourself?"
+
+"Oh, no; but if mama had not objected to it,
+I dare say he would have liked it of all things.
+He had not seen me then above twice, for it was before
+I left school.  However, I am much happier as I am.
+Mr. Palmer is the kind of man I like."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 21
+
+
+The Palmers returned to Cleveland the next day,
+and the two families at Barton were again left to entertain
+each other.  But this did not last long; Elinor had hardly
+got their last visitors out of her head, had hardly done
+wondering at Charlotte's being so happy without a cause,
+at Mr. Palmer's acting so simply, with good abilities,
+and at the strange unsuitableness which often existed between
+husband and wife, before Sir John's and Mrs. Jennings's
+active zeal in the cause of society, procured her some
+other new acquaintance to see and observe.
+
+In a morning's excursion to Exeter, they had met with
+two young ladies, whom Mrs. Jennings had the satisfaction
+of discovering to be her relations, and this was enough
+for Sir John to invite them directly to the park,
+as soon as their present engagements at Exeter were over.
+Their engagements at Exeter instantly gave way before
+such an invitation, and Lady Middleton was thrown into
+no little alarm on the return of Sir John, by hearing
+that she was very soon to receive a visit from two girls
+whom she had never seen in her life, and of whose elegance,--
+whose tolerable gentility even, she could have no proof;
+for the assurances of her husband and mother on that subject
+went for nothing at all.  Their being her relations too
+made it so much the worse; and Mrs. Jennings's attempts
+at consolation were therefore unfortunately founded,
+when she advised her daughter not to care about their being
+so fashionable; because they were all cousins and must put
+up with one another.  As it was impossible, however, now to
+prevent their coming, Lady Middleton resigned herself to the
+idea of it, with all the philosophy of a well-bred woman,
+contenting herself with merely giving her husband a gentle
+reprimand on the subject five or six times every day.
+
+The young ladies arrived: their appearance was by
+no means ungenteel or unfashionable.  Their dress was
+very smart, their manners very civil, they were delighted
+with the house, and in raptures with the furniture,
+and they happened to be so doatingly fond of children
+that Lady Middleton's good opinion was engaged in their
+favour before they had been an hour at the Park.
+She declared them to be very agreeable girls indeed,
+which for her ladyship was enthusiastic admiration.
+Sir John's confidence in his own judgment rose with this
+animated praise, and he set off directly for the cottage
+to tell the Miss Dashwoods of the Miss Steeles' arrival,
+and to assure them of their being the sweetest girls
+in the world.  From such commendation as this, however,
+there was not much to be learned; Elinor well knew
+that the sweetest girls in the world were to be met
+with in every part of England, under every possible
+variation of form, face, temper and understanding.
+Sir John wanted the whole family to walk to the Park directly
+and look at his guests.  Benevolent, philanthropic man!  It
+was painful to him even to keep a third cousin to himself.
+
+"Do come now," said he--"pray come--you must come--I
+declare you shall come--You can't think how you will
+like them.  Lucy is monstrous pretty, and so good humoured
+and agreeable!  The children are all hanging about her already,
+as if she was an old acquaintance.  And they both long
+to see you of all things, for they have heard at Exeter
+that you are the most beautiful creatures in the world;
+and I have told them it is all very true, and a great
+deal more.  You will be delighted with them I am sure.
+They have brought the whole coach full of playthings
+for the children.  How can you be so cross as not to come?
+Why they are your cousins, you know, after a fashion.
+YOU are my cousins, and they are my wife's, so you must
+be related."
+
+But Sir John could not prevail.  He could only obtain
+a promise of their calling at the Park within a day or two,
+and then left them in amazement at their indifference,
+to walk home and boast anew of their attractions to the
+Miss Steeles, as he had been already boasting of the Miss
+Steeles to them.
+
+When their promised visit to the Park and consequent
+introduction to these young ladies took place, they found
+in the appearance of the eldest, who was nearly thirty,
+with a very plain and not a sensible face, nothing to admire;
+but in the other, who was not more than two or three
+and twenty, they acknowledged considerable beauty; her
+features were pretty, and she had a sharp quick eye,
+and a smartness of air, which though it did not give
+actual elegance or grace, gave distinction to her person.--
+Their manners were particularly civil, and Elinor soon
+allowed them credit for some kind of sense, when she
+saw with what constant and judicious attention they
+were making themselves agreeable to Lady Middleton.
+With her children they were in continual raptures,
+extolling their beauty, courting their notice, and humouring
+their whims; and such of their time as could be spared from
+the importunate demands which this politeness made on it,
+was spent in admiration of whatever her ladyship was doing,
+if she happened to be doing any thing, or in taking patterns
+of some elegant new dress, in which her appearance
+the day before had thrown them into unceasing delight.
+Fortunately for those who pay their court through
+such foibles, a fond mother, though, in pursuit of praise
+for her children, the most rapacious of human beings,
+is likewise the most credulous; her demands are exorbitant;
+but she will swallow any thing; and the excessive
+affection and endurance of the Miss Steeles towards
+her offspring were viewed therefore by Lady Middleton
+without the smallest surprise or distrust.  She saw with
+maternal complacency all the impertinent encroachments
+and mischievous tricks to which her cousins submitted.
+She saw their sashes untied, their hair pulled about
+their ears, their work-bags searched, and their knives
+and scissors stolen away, and felt no doubt of its being
+a reciprocal enjoyment.  It suggested no other surprise
+than that Elinor and Marianne should sit so composedly by,
+without claiming a share in what was passing.
+
+"John is in such spirits today!" said she, on his
+taking Miss Steeles's pocket handkerchief, and throwing
+it out of window--"He is full of monkey tricks."
+
+And soon afterwards, on the second boy's violently
+pinching one of the same lady's fingers, she fondly observed,
+"How playful William is!"
+
+"And here is my sweet little Annamaria," she added,
+tenderly caressing a little girl of three years old,
+who had not made a noise for the last two minutes;
+"And she is always so gentle and quiet--Never was there
+such a quiet little thing!"
+
+But unfortunately in bestowing these embraces,
+a pin in her ladyship's head dress slightly scratching
+the child's neck, produced from this pattern of gentleness
+such violent screams, as could hardly be outdone by any
+creature professedly noisy.  The mother's consternation
+was excessive; but it could not surpass the alarm of the
+Miss Steeles, and every thing was done by all three,
+in so critical an emergency, which affection could suggest
+as likely to assuage the agonies of the little sufferer.
+She was seated in her mother's lap, covered with kisses,
+her wound bathed with lavender-water, by one of the
+Miss Steeles, who was on her knees to attend her,
+and her mouth stuffed with sugar plums by the other.
+With such a reward for her tears, the child was too wise
+to cease crying.  She still screamed and sobbed lustily,
+kicked her two brothers for offering to touch her, and all
+their united soothings were ineffectual till Lady Middleton
+luckily remembering that in a scene of similar distress
+last week, some apricot marmalade had been successfully
+applied for a bruised temple, the same remedy was eagerly
+proposed for this unfortunate scratch, and a slight
+intermission of screams in the young lady on hearing it,
+gave them reason to hope that it would not be rejected.--
+She was carried out of the room therefore in her
+mother's arms, in quest of this medicine, and as the
+two boys chose to follow, though earnestly entreated
+by their mother to stay behind, the four young ladies
+were left in a quietness which the room had not known for
+many hours.
+
+"Poor little creatures!" said Miss Steele, as soon
+as they were gone.  "It might have been a very sad accident."
+
+"Yet I hardly know how," cried Marianne, "unless it
+had been under totally different circumstances.
+But this is the usual way of heightening alarm, where there
+is nothing to be alarmed at in reality."
+
+"What a sweet woman Lady Middleton is!" said Lucy Steele.
+
+Marianne was silent; it was impossible for her to say
+what she did not feel, however trivial the occasion;
+and upon Elinor therefore the whole task of telling lies
+when politeness required it, always fell.  She did her
+best when thus called on, by speaking of Lady Middleton
+with more warmth than she felt, though with far less than
+Miss Lucy.
+
+"And Sir John too," cried the elder sister,
+"what a charming man he is!"
+
+Here too, Miss Dashwood's commendation, being only
+simple and just, came in without any eclat.  She merely
+observed that he was perfectly good humoured and friendly.
+
+"And what a charming little family they have!  I
+never saw such fine children in my life.--I declare I
+quite doat upon them already, and indeed I am always
+distractedly fond of children."
+
+"I should guess so," said Elinor, with a smile,
+"from what I have witnessed this morning."
+
+"I have a notion," said Lucy, "you think the little
+Middletons rather too much indulged; perhaps they may be the
+outside of enough; but it is so natural in Lady Middleton;
+and for my part, I love to see children full of life
+and spirits; I cannot bear them if they are tame and quiet."
+
+"I confess," replied Elinor, "that while I am at
+Barton Park, I never think of tame and quiet children
+with any abhorrence."
+
+A short pause succeeded this speech, which was first
+broken by Miss Steele, who seemed very much disposed
+for conversation, and who now said rather abruptly,
+"And how do you like Devonshire, Miss Dashwood?  I suppose
+you were very sorry to leave Sussex."
+
+In some surprise at the familiarity of this question,
+or at least of the manner in which it was spoken,
+Elinor replied that she was.
+
+"Norland is a prodigious beautiful place, is not it?"
+added Miss Steele.
+
+"We have heard Sir John admire it excessively,"
+said Lucy, who seemed to think some apology necessary
+for the freedom of her sister.
+
+"I think every one MUST admire it," replied Elinor,
+"who ever saw the place; though it is not to be supposed
+that any one can estimate its beauties as we do."
+
+"And had you a great many smart beaux there?  I
+suppose you have not so many in this part of the world;
+for my part, I think they are a vast addition always."
+
+"But why should you think," said Lucy, looking ashamed
+of her sister, "that there are not as many genteel young
+men in Devonshire as Sussex?"
+
+"Nay, my dear, I'm sure I don't pretend to say that there
+an't.  I'm sure there's a vast many smart beaux in Exeter;
+but you know, how could I tell what smart beaux there
+might be about Norland; and I was only afraid the Miss
+Dashwoods might find it dull at Barton, if they had not
+so many as they used to have.  But perhaps you young ladies
+may not care about the beaux, and had as lief be without
+them as with them.  For my part, I think they are vastly
+agreeable, provided they dress smart and behave civil.
+But I can't bear to see them dirty and nasty.  Now there's
+Mr. Rose at Exeter, a prodigious smart young man,
+quite a beau, clerk to Mr. Simpson, you know, and yet if you
+do but meet him of a morning, he is not fit to be seen.--
+I suppose your brother was quite a beau, Miss Dashwood,
+before he married, as he was so rich?"
+
+"Upon my word," replied Elinor, "I cannot tell you,
+for I do not perfectly comprehend the meaning of the word.
+But this I can say, that if he ever was a beau before
+he married, he is one still for there is not the smallest
+alteration in him."
+
+"Oh! dear! one never thinks of married men's being
+beaux--they have something else to do."
+
+"Lord! Anne," cried her sister, "you can talk of
+nothing but beaux;--you will make Miss Dashwood believe you
+think of nothing else." And then to turn the discourse,
+she began admiring the house and the furniture.
+
+This specimen of the Miss Steeles was enough.
+The vulgar freedom and folly of the eldest left
+her no recommendation, and as Elinor was not blinded
+by the beauty, or the shrewd look of the youngest,
+to her want of real elegance and artlessness, she left
+the house without any wish of knowing them better.
+
+Not so the Miss Steeles.--They came from Exeter, well
+provided with admiration for the use of Sir John Middleton,
+his family, and all his relations, and no niggardly
+proportion was now dealt out to his fair cousins, whom they
+declared to be the most beautiful, elegant, accomplished,
+and agreeable girls they had ever beheld, and with whom
+they were particularly anxious to be better acquainted.--
+And to be better acquainted therefore, Elinor soon found
+was their inevitable lot, for as Sir John was entirely
+on the side of the Miss Steeles, their party would be
+too strong for opposition, and that kind of intimacy
+must be submitted to, which consists of sitting an hour
+or two together in the same room almost every day.
+Sir John could do no more; but he did not know that any
+more was required: to be together was, in his opinion,
+to be intimate, and while his continual schemes for their
+meeting were effectual, he had not a doubt of their being
+established friends.
+
+To do him justice, he did every thing in his power
+to promote their unreserve, by making the Miss Steeles
+acquainted with whatever he knew or supposed of his cousins'
+situations in the most delicate particulars,--and Elinor
+had not seen them more than twice, before the eldest of
+them wished her joy on her sister's having been so lucky
+as to make a conquest of a very smart beau since she
+came to Barton.
+
+"'Twill be a fine thing to have her married so young
+to be sure," said she, "and I hear he is quite a beau,
+and prodigious handsome.  And I hope you may have as good
+luck yourself soon,--but perhaps you may have a friend
+in the corner already."
+
+Elinor could not suppose that Sir John would be more
+nice in proclaiming his suspicions of her regard for Edward,
+than he had been with respect to Marianne; indeed it was
+rather his favourite joke of the two, as being somewhat
+newer and more conjectural; and since Edward's visit,
+they had never dined together without his drinking to her
+best affections with so much significancy and so many nods
+and winks, as to excite general attention.  The letter F--
+had been likewise invariably brought forward, and found
+productive of such countless jokes, that its character
+as the wittiest letter in the alphabet had been long
+established with Elinor.
+
+The Miss Steeles, as she expected, had now all the
+benefit of these jokes, and in the eldest of them they
+raised a curiosity to know the name of the gentleman
+alluded to, which, though often impertinently expressed,
+was perfectly of a piece with her general inquisitiveness
+into the concerns of their family.  But Sir John did not
+sport long with the curiosity which he delighted to raise,
+for he had at least as much pleasure in telling the name,
+as Miss Steele had in hearing it.
+
+"His name is Ferrars," said he, in a very audible whisper;
+"but pray do not tell it, for it's a great secret."
+
+"Ferrars!" repeated Miss Steele; "Mr. Ferrars is
+the happy man, is he? What! your sister-in-law's brother,
+Miss Dashwood? a very agreeable young man to be sure;
+I know him very well."
+
+"How can you say so, Anne?" cried Lucy, who generally
+made an amendment to all her sister's assertions.
+"Though we have seen him once or twice at my uncle's, it
+is rather too much to pretend to know him very well."
+
+Elinor heard all this with attention and surprise.
+"And who was this uncle?  Where did he live?  How came
+they acquainted?"  She wished very much to have the subject
+continued, though she did not chuse to join in it herself;
+but nothing more of it was said, and for the first time
+in her life, she thought Mrs. Jennings deficient either
+in curiosity after petty information, or in a disposition
+to communicate it.  The manner in which Miss Steele had
+spoken of Edward, increased her curiosity; for it struck
+her as being rather ill-natured, and suggested the suspicion
+of that lady's knowing, or fancying herself to know something
+to his disadvantage.--But her curiosity was unavailing,
+for no farther notice was taken of Mr. Ferrars's name by
+Miss Steele when alluded to, or even openly mentioned by Sir
+John.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 22
+
+
+Marianne, who had never much toleration for any
+thing like impertinence, vulgarity, inferiority of parts,
+or even difference of taste from herself, was at
+this time particularly ill-disposed, from the state
+of her spirits, to be pleased with the Miss Steeles,
+or to encourage their advances; and to the invariable
+coldness of her behaviour towards them, which checked every
+endeavour at intimacy on their side, Elinor principally
+attributed that preference of herself which soon became
+evident in the manners of both, but especially of Lucy,
+who missed no opportunity of engaging her in conversation,
+or of striving to improve their acquaintance by an easy
+and frank communication of her sentiments.
+
+Lucy was naturally clever; her remarks were often
+just and amusing; and as a companion for half an hour
+Elinor frequently found her agreeable; but her powers
+had received no aid from education: she was ignorant
+and illiterate; and her deficiency of all mental improvement,
+her want of information in the most common particulars,
+could not be concealed from Miss Dashwood, in spite of her
+constant endeavour to appear to advantage.  Elinor saw,
+and pitied her for, the neglect of abilities which education
+might have rendered so respectable; but she saw, with less
+tenderness of feeling, the thorough want of delicacy,
+of rectitude, and integrity of mind, which her attentions,
+her assiduities, her flatteries at the Park betrayed;
+and she could have no lasting satisfaction in the company
+of a person who joined insincerity with ignorance;
+whose want of instruction prevented their meeting
+in conversation on terms of equality, and whose conduct
+toward others made every shew of attention and deference
+towards herself perfectly valueless.
+
+"You will think my question an odd one, I dare say,"
+said Lucy to her one day, as they were walking together
+from the park to the cottage--"but pray, are you
+personally acquainted with your sister-in-law's mother,
+Mrs. Ferrars?"
+
+Elinor DID think the question a very odd one,
+and her countenance expressed it, as she answered that she
+had never seen Mrs. Ferrars.
+
+"Indeed!" replied Lucy; "I wonder at that, for I
+thought you must have seen her at Norland sometimes.
+Then, perhaps, you cannot tell me what sort of a woman
+she is?"
+
+"No," returned Elinor, cautious of giving her real
+opinion of Edward's mother, and not very desirous
+of satisfying what seemed impertinent curiosity--
+"I know nothing of her."
+
+"I am sure you think me very strange, for enquiring
+about her in such a way," said Lucy, eyeing Elinor attentively
+as she spoke; "but perhaps there may be reasons--I wish
+I might venture; but however I hope you will do me the justice
+of believing that I do not mean to be impertinent."
+
+Elinor made her a civil reply, and they walked on
+for a few minutes in silence.  It was broken by Lucy,
+who renewed the subject again by saying, with some
+hesitation,
+
+"I cannot bear to have you think me impertinently curious.
+I am sure I would rather do any thing in the world than be
+thought so by a person whose good opinion is so well worth
+having as yours.  And I am sure I should not have the smallest
+fear of trusting YOU; indeed, I should be very glad of your
+advice how to manage in such and uncomfortable situation
+as I am; but, however, there is no occasion to trouble YOU.
+I am sorry you do not happen to know Mrs. Ferrars."
+
+"I am sorry I do NOT," said Elinor, in great astonishment,
+"if it could be of any use to YOU to know my opinion of her.
+But really I never understood that you were at all connected
+with that family, and therefore I am a little surprised,
+I confess, at so serious an inquiry into her character."
+
+"I dare say you are, and I am sure I do not at all
+wonder at it.  But if I dared tell you all, you would not be
+so much surprised.  Mrs. Ferrars is certainly nothing to me
+at present--but the time MAY come--how soon it will come
+must depend upon herself--when we may be very intimately
+connected."
+
+She looked down as she said this, amiably bashful,
+with only one side glance at her companion to observe its
+effect on her.
+
+"Good heavens!" cried Elinor, "what do you mean?
+Are you acquainted with Mr. Robert Ferrars?  Can you be?"
+And she did not feel much delighted with the idea of such
+a sister-in-law.
+
+"No," replied Lucy, "not to Mr. ROBERT Ferrars--I
+never saw him in my life; but," fixing her eyes upon Elinor,
+"to his eldest brother."
+
+What felt Elinor at that moment? Astonishment,
+that would have been as painful as it was strong, had not
+an immediate disbelief of the assertion attended it.
+She turned towards Lucy in silent amazement, unable to divine
+the reason or object of such a declaration; and though
+her complexion varied, she stood firm in incredulity,
+and felt in no danger of an hysterical fit, or a swoon.
+
+"You may well be surprised," continued Lucy;
+"for to be sure you could have had no idea of it before;
+for I dare say he never dropped the smallest hint of it
+to you or any of your family; because it was always meant
+to be a great secret, and I am sure has been faithfully
+kept so by me to this hour.  Not a soul of all my relations
+know of it but Anne, and I never should have mentioned
+it to you, if I had not felt the greatest dependence
+in the world upon your secrecy; and I really thought my
+behaviour in asking so many questions about Mrs. Ferrars
+must seem so odd, that it ought to be explained.
+And I do not think Mr. Ferrars can be displeased,
+when he knows I have trusted you, because I know he has
+the highest opinion in the world of all your family,
+and looks upon yourself and the other Miss Dashwoods quite
+as his own sisters."--She paused.
+
+Elinor for a few moments remained silent.
+Her astonishment at what she heard was at first too
+great for words; but at length forcing herself to speak,
+and to speak cautiously, she said, with calmness of manner,
+which tolerably well concealed her surprise and solicitude--
+"May I ask if your engagement is of long standing?"
+
+"We have been engaged these four years."
+
+"Four years!"
+
+"Yes."
+
+Elinor, though greatly shocked, still felt unable
+to believe it.
+
+"I did not know," said she, "that you were even
+acquainted till the other day."
+
+"Our acquaintance, however, is of many years date.
+He was under my uncle's care, you know, a considerable while."
+
+"Your uncle!"
+
+"Yes; Mr. Pratt.  Did you never hear him talk
+of Mr. Pratt?"
+
+"I think I have," replied Elinor, with an exertion
+of spirits, which increased with her increase of emotion.
+
+"He was four years with my uncle, who lives at Longstaple,
+near Plymouth.  It was there our acquaintance begun,
+for my sister and me was often staying with my uncle,
+and it was there our engagement was formed, though not till
+a year after he had quitted as a pupil; but he was almost
+always with us afterwards.  I was very unwilling to enter
+into it, as you may imagine, without the knowledge and
+approbation of his mother; but I was too young, and loved
+him too well, to be so prudent as I ought to have been.--
+Though you do not know him so well as me, Miss Dashwood,
+you must have seen enough of him to be sensible he is
+very capable of making a woman sincerely attached to him."
+
+"Certainly," answered Elinor, without knowing what
+she said; but after a moment's reflection, she added,
+with revived security of Edward's honour and love,
+and her companion's falsehood--"Engaged to Mr. Edward
+Ferrars!--I confess myself so totally surprised at
+what you tell me, that really--I beg your pardon;
+but surely there must be some mistake of person or name.
+We cannot mean the same Mr. Ferrars."
+
+"We can mean no other," cried Lucy, smiling.  "Mr. Edward
+Ferrars, the eldest son of Mrs. Ferrars, of Park Street,
+and brother of your sister-in-law, Mrs. John Dashwood,
+is the person I mean; you must allow that I am not likely
+to be deceived as to the name of the man on who all my happiness
+depends."
+
+"It is strange," replied Elinor, in a most painful perplexity,
+"that I should never have heard him even mention your name."
+
+"No; considering our situation, it was not strange.
+Our first care has been to keep the matter secret.--
+You knew nothing of me, or my family, and, therefore,
+there could be no OCCASION for ever mentioning my name
+to you; and, as he was always particularly afraid of his
+sister's suspecting any thing, THAT was reason enough
+for his not mentioning it."
+
+She was silent.--Elinor's security sunk; but her
+self-command did not sink with it.
+
+"Four years you have been engaged," said she
+with a firm voice.
+
+"Yes; and heaven knows how much longer we may have
+to wait.  Poor Edward!  It puts him quite out of heart."
+Then taking a small miniature from her pocket, she added,
+"To prevent the possibility of mistake, be so good as to look
+at this face.  It does not do him justice, to be sure,
+but yet I think you cannot be deceived as to the person
+it was drew for.--I have had it above these three years."
+
+She put it into her hands as she spoke; and when Elinor
+saw the painting, whatever other doubts her fear of a
+too hasty decision, or her wish of detecting falsehood
+might suffer to linger in her mind, she could have none of
+its being Edward's face.  She returned it almost instantly,
+acknowledging the likeness.
+
+"I have never been able," continued Lucy, "to give
+him my picture in return, which I am very much vexed at,
+for he has been always so anxious to get it!  But I am
+determined to set for it the very first opportunity."
+
+"You are quite in the right," replied Elinor calmly.
+They then proceeded a few paces in silence.  Lucy spoke first.
+
+"I am sure," said she, "I have no doubt in the world
+of your faithfully keeping this secret, because you must
+know of what importance it is to us, not to have it reach
+his mother; for she would never approve of it, I dare say.
+I shall have no fortune, and I fancy she is an exceeding
+proud woman."
+
+"I certainly did not seek your confidence," said Elinor;
+"but you do me no more than justice in imagining that I
+may be depended on.  Your secret is safe with me;
+but pardon me if I express some surprise at so unnecessary
+a communication.  You must at least have felt that my
+being acquainted with it could not add to its safety."
+
+As she said this, she looked earnestly at Lucy,
+hoping to discover something in her countenance; perhaps the
+falsehood of the greatest part of what she had been saying;
+but Lucy's countenance suffered no change.
+
+"I was afraid you would think I was taking a great
+liberty with you," said she, "in telling you all this.
+I have not known you long to be sure, personally at least,
+but I have known you and all your family by description
+a great while; and as soon as I saw you, I felt almost as if
+you was an old acquaintance.  Besides in the present case,
+I really thought some explanation was due to you after my
+making such particular inquiries about Edward's mother;
+and I am so unfortunate, that I have not a creature whose
+advice I can ask.  Anne is the only person that knows of it,
+and she has no judgment at all; indeed, she does me a great
+deal more harm than good, for I am in constant fear of her
+betraying me.  She does not know how to hold her tongue,
+as you must perceive, and I am sure I was in the greatest
+fright in the world t'other day, when Edward's name was
+mentioned by Sir John, lest she should out with it all.
+You can't think how much I go through in my mind from
+it altogether.  I only wonder that I am alive after what
+I have suffered for Edward's sake these last four years.
+Every thing in such suspense and uncertainty; and seeing
+him so seldom--we can hardly meet above twice a-year.
+I am sure I wonder my heart is not quite broke."
+
+Here she took out her handkerchief; but Elinor did
+not feel very compassionate.
+
+"Sometimes." continued Lucy, after wiping her eyes,
+"I think whether it would not be better for us both
+to break off the matter entirely."  As she said this,
+she looked directly at her companion.  "But then
+at other times I have not resolution enough for it.--
+I cannot bear the thoughts of making him so miserable,
+as I know the very mention of such a thing would do.
+And on my own account too--so dear as he is to me--I don't
+think I could be equal to it.  What would you advise
+me to do in such a case, Miss Dashwood?  What would you
+do yourself?"
+
+"Pardon me," replied Elinor, startled by the question;
+"but I can give you no advice under such circumstances.
+Your own judgment must direct you."
+
+"To be sure," continued Lucy, after a few minutes
+silence on both sides, "his mother must provide for him
+sometime or other; but poor Edward is so cast down by it!
+Did you not think him dreadful low-spirited when he was at
+Barton?  He was so miserable when he left us at Longstaple,
+to go to you, that I was afraid you would think him quite ill."
+
+"Did he come from your uncle's, then, when he visited us?"
+
+"Oh, yes; he had been staying a fortnight with us.
+Did you think he came directly from town?"
+
+"No," replied Elinor, most feelingly sensible of
+every fresh circumstance in favour of Lucy's veracity;
+"I remember he told us, that he had been staying
+a fortnight with some friends near Plymouth."
+She remembered too, her own surprise at the time,
+at his mentioning nothing farther of those friends,
+at his total silence with respect even to their names.
+
+"Did not you think him sadly out of spirits?"
+repeated Lucy.
+
+"We did, indeed, particularly so when he first arrived."
+
+"I begged him to exert himself for fear you
+should suspect what was the matter; but it made him
+so melancholy, not being able to stay more than a
+fortnight with us, and seeing me so much affected.--
+Poor fellow!--I am afraid it is just the same with him now;
+for he writes in wretched spirits.  I heard from him just
+before I left Exeter;" taking a letter from her pocket
+and carelessly showing the direction to Elinor.
+"You know his hand, I dare say, a charming one it is;
+but that is not written so well as usual.--He was tired,
+I dare say, for he had just filled the sheet to me as full
+as possible."
+
+Elinor saw that it WAS his hand, and she could doubt
+no longer.  This picture, she had allowed herself to believe,
+might have been accidentally obtained; it might not have
+been Edward's gift; but a correspondence between them
+by letter, could subsist only under a positive engagement,
+could be authorised by nothing else; for a few moments, she
+was almost overcome--her heart sunk within her, and she could
+hardly stand; but exertion was indispensably necessary;
+and she struggled so resolutely against the oppression
+of her feelings, that her success was speedy, and for
+the time complete.
+
+"Writing to each other," said Lucy, returning the
+letter into her pocket, "is the only comfort we have
+in such long separations.  Yes, I have one other comfort
+in his picture, but poor Edward has not even THAT.
+If he had but my picture, he says he should be easy.
+I gave him a lock of my hair set in a ring when he was at
+Longstaple last, and that was some comfort to him, he said,
+but not equal to a picture.  Perhaps you might notice
+the ring when you saw him?"
+
+"I did," said Elinor, with a composure of voice,
+under which was concealed an emotion and distress beyond
+any thing she had ever felt before.  She was mortified,
+shocked, confounded.
+
+Fortunately for her, they had now reached the cottage,
+and the conversation could be continued no farther.
+After sitting with them a few minutes, the Miss Steeles
+returned to the Park, and Elinor was then at liberty
+to think and be wretched.
+
+
+
+
+
+[At this point in the first and second editions, Volume 1 ends.]
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 23
+
+
+However small Elinor's general dependence on
+Lucy's veracity might be, it was impossible for her
+on serious reflection to suspect it in the present case,
+where no temptation could be answerable to the folly
+of inventing a falsehood of such a description.  What Lucy
+had asserted to be true, therefore, Elinor could not,
+dared not longer doubt; supported as it was too on every
+side by such probabilities and proofs, and contradicted
+by nothing but her own wishes.  Their opportunity of
+acquaintance in the house of Mr. Pratt was a foundation
+for the rest, at once indisputable and alarming; and Edward's
+visit near Plymouth, his melancholy state of mind,
+his dissatisfaction at his own prospects, his uncertain
+behaviour towards herself, the intimate knowledge of the
+Miss Steeles as to Norland and their family connections,
+which had often surprised her, the picture, the letter,
+the ring, formed altogether such a body of evidence,
+as overcame every fear of condemning him unfairly,
+and established as a fact, which no partiality could
+set aside, his ill-treatment of herself.--Her resentment
+of such behaviour, her indignation at having been its dupe,
+for a short time made her feel only for herself;
+but other ideas, other considerations, soon arose.
+Had Edward been intentionally deceiving her?  Had he feigned
+a regard for her which he did not feel?  Was his engagement
+to Lucy an engagement of the heart?  No; whatever it might
+once have been, she could not believe it such at present.
+His affection was all her own.  She could not be deceived
+in that.  Her mother, sisters, Fanny, all had been
+conscious of his regard for her at Norland; it was not
+an illusion of her own vanity.  He certainly loved her.
+What a softener of the heart was this persuasion!  How much
+could it not tempt her to forgive!  He had been blamable,
+highly blamable, in remaining at Norland after he first
+felt her influence over him to be more than it ought
+to be.  In that, he could not be defended; but if he
+had injured her, how much more had he injured himself;
+if her case were pitiable, his was hopeless.
+His imprudence had made her miserable for a while; but it
+seemed to have deprived himself of all chance of ever
+being otherwise.  She might in time regain tranquillity;
+but HE, what had he to look forward to?  Could he
+ever be tolerably happy with Lucy Steele; could he,
+were his affection for herself out of the question,
+with his integrity, his delicacy, and well-informed mind,
+be satisfied with a wife like her--illiterate, artful,
+and selfish?
+
+The youthful infatuation of nineteen would naturally
+blind him to every thing but her beauty and good nature;
+but the four succeeding years--years, which if rationally
+spent, give such improvement to the understanding, must
+have opened his eyes to her defects of education,
+while the same period of time, spent on her side
+in inferior society and more frivolous pursuits,
+had perhaps robbed her of that simplicity which might
+once have given an interesting character to her beauty.
+
+If in the supposition of his seeking to marry herself,
+his difficulties from his mother had seemed great,
+how much greater were they now likely to be, when
+the object of his engagement was undoubtedly inferior
+in connections, and probably inferior in fortune to herself.
+These difficulties, indeed, with a heart so alienated
+from Lucy, might not press very hard upon his patience;
+but melancholy was the state of the person by whom the
+expectation of family opposition and unkindness, could
+be felt as a relief!
+
+As these considerations occurred to her in painful
+succession, she wept for him, more than for herself.
+Supported by the conviction of having done nothing to
+merit her present unhappiness, and consoled by the belief
+that Edward had done nothing to forfeit her esteem,
+she thought she could even now, under the first smart
+of the heavy blow, command herself enough to guard every
+suspicion of the truth from her mother and sisters.
+And so well was she able to answer her own expectations,
+that when she joined them at dinner only two hours
+after she had first suffered the extinction of all her
+dearest hopes, no one would have supposed from the
+appearance of the sisters, that Elinor was mourning
+in secret over obstacles which must divide her for ever
+from the object of her love, and that Marianne was
+internally dwelling on the perfections of a man, of whose
+whole heart she felt thoroughly possessed, and whom she
+expected to see in every carriage which drove near their house.
+
+The necessity of concealing from her mother and
+Marianne, what had been entrusted in confidence to herself,
+though it obliged her to unceasing exertion, was no
+aggravation of Elinor's distress.  On the contrary
+it was a relief to her, to be spared the communication
+of what would give such affliction to them, and to be
+saved likewise from hearing that condemnation of Edward,
+which would probably flow from the excess of their partial
+affection for herself, and which was more than she felt
+equal to support.
+
+From their counsel, or their conversation, she knew
+she could receive no assistance, their tenderness and
+sorrow must add to her distress, while her self-command
+would neither receive encouragement from their example
+nor from their praise.  She was stronger alone,
+and her own good sense so well supported her, that her
+firmness was as unshaken, her appearance of cheerfulness
+as invariable, as with regrets so poignant and so fresh,
+it was possible for them to be.
+
+Much as she had suffered from her first conversation
+with Lucy on the subject, she soon felt an earnest wish
+of renewing it; and this for more reasons than one.
+She wanted to hear many particulars of their engagement
+repeated again, she wanted more clearly to understand
+what Lucy really felt for Edward, whether there were any
+sincerity in her declaration of tender regard for him,
+and she particularly wanted to convince Lucy, by her
+readiness to enter on the matter again, and her calmness
+in conversing on it, that she was no otherwise interested
+in it than as a friend, which she very much feared
+her involuntary agitation, in their morning discourse,
+must have left at least doubtful.  That Lucy was disposed
+to be jealous of her appeared very probable: it was plain
+that Edward had always spoken highly in her praise,
+not merely from Lucy's assertion, but from her venturing
+to trust her on so short a personal acquaintance,
+with a secret so confessedly and evidently important.
+And even Sir John's joking intelligence must have had
+some weight.  But indeed, while Elinor remained so well
+assured within herself of being really beloved by Edward,
+it required no other consideration of probabilities
+to make it natural that Lucy should be jealous;
+and that she was so, her very confidence was a proof.
+What other reason for the disclosure of the affair could
+there be, but that Elinor might be informed by it of Lucy's
+superior claims on Edward, and be taught to avoid him
+in future?  She had little difficulty in understanding thus
+much of her rival's intentions, and while she was firmly
+resolved to act by her as every principle of honour and
+honesty directed, to combat her own affection for Edward
+and to see him as little as possible; she could not deny
+herself the comfort of endeavouring to convince Lucy
+that her heart was unwounded.  And as she could now have
+nothing more painful to hear on the subject than had already
+been told, she did not mistrust her own ability of going
+through a repetition of particulars with composure.
+
+But it was not immediately that an opportunity
+of doing so could be commanded, though Lucy was as well
+disposed as herself to take advantage of any that occurred;
+for the weather was not often fine enough to allow
+of their joining in a walk, where they might most easily
+separate themselves from the others; and though they
+met at least every other evening either at the park
+or cottage, and chiefly at the former, they could
+not be supposed to meet for the sake of conversation.
+Such a thought would never enter either Sir John or Lady
+Middleton's head; and therefore very little leisure
+was ever given for a general chat, and none at all for
+particular discourse.  They met for the sake of eating,
+drinking, and laughing together, playing at cards,
+or consequences, or any other game that was sufficiently noisy.
+
+One or two meetings of this kind had taken place,
+without affording Elinor any chance of engaging Lucy
+in private, when Sir John called at the cottage one morning,
+to beg, in the name of charity, that they would all
+dine with Lady Middleton that day, as he was obliged
+to attend the club at Exeter, and she would otherwise be
+quite alone, except her mother and the two Miss Steeles.
+Elinor, who foresaw a fairer opening for the point she
+had in view, in such a party as this was likely to be,
+more at liberty among themselves under the tranquil
+and well-bred direction of Lady Middleton than when
+her husband united them together in one noisy purpose,
+immediately accepted the invitation; Margaret, with her
+mother's permission, was equally compliant, and Marianne,
+though always unwilling to join any of their parties,
+was persuaded by her mother, who could not bear to have her
+seclude herself from any chance of amusement, to go likewise.
+
+The young ladies went, and Lady Middleton was happily
+preserved from the frightful solitude which had threatened her.
+The insipidity of the meeting was exactly such as Elinor
+had expected; it produced not one novelty of thought
+or expression, and nothing could be less interesting
+than the whole of their discourse both in the dining
+parlour and drawing room: to the latter, the children
+accompanied them, and while they remained there, she was
+too well convinced of the impossibility of engaging Lucy's
+attention to attempt it.  They quitted it only with the
+removal of the tea-things.  The card-table was then placed,
+and Elinor began to wonder at herself for having ever
+entertained a hope of finding time for conversation
+at the park.  They all rose up in preparation for a round game.
+
+"I am glad," said Lady Middleton to Lucy,
+"you are not going to finish poor little Annamaria's
+basket this evening; for I am sure it must hurt your
+eyes to work filigree by candlelight.  And we will make
+the dear little love some amends for her disappointment
+to-morrow, and then I hope she will not much mind it."
+
+This hint was enough, Lucy recollected herself instantly
+and replied, "Indeed you are very much mistaken,
+Lady Middleton; I am only waiting to know whether you can
+make your party without me, or I should have been at my
+filigree already.  I would not disappoint the little angel
+for all the world: and if you want me at the card-table now,
+I am resolved to finish the basket after supper."
+
+"You are very good, I hope it won't hurt your eyes--
+will you ring the bell for some working candles?
+My poor little girl would be sadly disappointed, I know,
+if the basket was not finished tomorrow, for though I
+told her it certainly would not, I am sure she depends
+upon having it done."
+
+Lucy directly drew her work table near her
+and reseated herself with an alacrity and cheerfulness
+which seemed to infer that she could taste no greater
+delight than in making a filigree basket for a spoilt child.
+
+Lady Middleton proposed a rubber of Casino to the others.
+No one made any objection but Marianne, who with her usual
+inattention to the forms of general civility, exclaimed,
+"Your Ladyship will have the goodness to excuse ME--you
+know I detest cards.  I shall go to the piano-forte;
+I have not touched it since it was tuned."  And without
+farther ceremony, she turned away and walked to the instrument.
+
+Lady Middleton looked as if she thanked heaven
+that SHE had never made so rude a speech.
+
+"Marianne can never keep long from that instrument
+you know, ma'am," said Elinor, endeavouring to smooth
+away the offence; "and I do not much wonder at it; for it
+is the very best toned piano-forte I ever heard."
+
+The remaining five were now to draw their cards.
+
+"Perhaps," continued Elinor, "if I should happen
+to cut out, I may be of some use to Miss Lucy Steele,
+in rolling her papers for her; and there is so much still
+to be done to the basket, that it must be impossible
+I think for her labour singly, to finish it this evening.
+I should like the work exceedingly, if she would allow
+me a share in it."
+
+"Indeed I shall be very much obliged to you
+for your help," cried Lucy, "for I find there is more
+to be done to it than I thought there was; and it would
+be a shocking thing to disappoint dear Annamaria after all."
+
+"Oh! that would be terrible, indeed," said Miss Steele--
+"Dear little soul, how I do love her!"
+
+"You are very kind," said Lady Middleton to Elinor;
+"and as you really like the work, perhaps you will be
+as well pleased not to cut in till another rubber,
+or will you take your chance now?"
+
+Elinor joyfully profited by the first of these proposals,
+and thus by a little of that address which Marianne
+could never condescend to practise, gained her own end,
+and pleased Lady Middleton at the same time.  Lucy made room
+for her with ready attention, and the two fair rivals were
+thus seated side by side at the same table, and, with the
+utmost harmony, engaged in forwarding the same work.
+The pianoforte at which Marianne, wrapped up in her own
+music and her own thoughts, had by this time forgotten
+that any body was in the room besides herself, was luckily
+so near them that Miss Dashwood now judged she might safely,
+under the shelter of its noise, introduce the interesting
+subject, without any risk of being heard at the card-table.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 24
+
+
+In a firm, though cautious tone, Elinor thus began.
+
+"I should be undeserving of the confidence you have
+honoured me with, if I felt no desire for its continuance,
+or no farther curiosity on its subject.  I will
+not apologize therefore for bringing it forward again."
+
+"Thank you," cried Lucy warmly, "for breaking
+the ice; you have set my heart at ease by it; for I was
+somehow or other afraid I had offended you by what I
+told you that Monday."
+
+"Offended me! How could you suppose so? Believe me,"
+and Elinor spoke it with the truest sincerity,
+"nothing could be farther from my intention than to give
+you such an idea.  Could you have a motive for the trust,
+that was not honourable and flattering to me?"
+
+"And yet I do assure you," replied Lucy, her little
+sharp eyes full of meaning, "there seemed to me to be
+a coldness and displeasure in your manner that made me
+quite uncomfortable.  I felt sure that you was angry with me;
+and have been quarrelling with myself ever since, for having
+took such a liberty as to trouble you with my affairs.
+But I am very glad to find it was only my own fancy,
+and that you really do not blame me.  If you knew what a
+consolation it was to me to relieve my heart speaking to you
+of what I am always thinking of every moment of my life,
+your compassion would make you overlook every thing else
+I am sure."
+
+"Indeed, I can easily believe that it was a very great
+relief to you, to acknowledge your situation to me, and be
+assured that you shall never have reason to repent it.
+Your case is a very unfortunate one; you seem to me to
+be surrounded with difficulties, and you will have need
+of all your mutual affection to support you under them.
+Mr. Ferrars, I believe, is entirely dependent on his mother."
+
+"He has only two thousand pounds of his own; it would
+be madness to marry upon that, though for my own part,
+I could give up every prospect of more without a sigh.
+I have been always used to a very small income, and could
+struggle with any poverty for him; but I love him too well
+to be the selfish means of robbing him, perhaps, of all that
+his mother might give him if he married to please her.
+We must wait, it may be for many years.  With almost every
+other man in the world, it would be an alarming prospect;
+but Edward's affection and constancy nothing can deprive me of
+I know."
+
+"That conviction must be every thing to you;
+and he is undoubtedly supported by the same trust in your's.
+If the strength of your reciprocal attachment had failed,
+as between many people, and under many circumstances
+it naturally would during a four years' engagement,
+your situation would have been pitiable, indeed."
+
+Lucy here looked up; but Elinor was careful
+in guarding her countenance from every expression
+that could give her words a suspicious tendency.
+
+"Edward's love for me," said Lucy, "has been pretty
+well put to the test, by our long, very long absence
+since we were first engaged, and it has stood the trial
+so well, that I should be unpardonable to doubt it now.
+I can safely say that he has never gave me one moment's
+alarm on that account from the first."
+
+Elinor hardly knew whether to smile or sigh
+at this assertion.
+
+Lucy went on.  "I am rather of a jealous temper too
+by nature, and from our different situations in life,
+from his being so much more in the world than me, and our
+continual separation, I was enough inclined for suspicion,
+to have found out the truth in an instant, if there had been
+the slightest alteration in his behaviour to me when we met,
+or any lowness of spirits that I could not account for,
+or if he had talked more of one lady than another,
+or seemed in any respect less happy at Longstaple than he
+used to be.  I do not mean to say that I am particularly
+observant or quick-sighted in general, but in such a case
+I am sure I could not be deceived."
+
+"All this," thought Elinor, "is very pretty;
+but it can impose upon neither of us."
+
+"But what," said she after a short silence,
+"are your views? or have you none but that of waiting for
+Mrs. Ferrars's death, which is a melancholy and shocking
+extremity?--Is her son determined to submit to this,
+and to all the tediousness of the many years of suspense
+in which it may involve you, rather than run the risk
+of her displeasure for a while by owning the truth?"
+
+"If we could be certain that it would be only
+for a while!  But Mrs. Ferrars is a very headstrong
+proud woman, and in her first fit of anger upon hearing
+it, would very likely secure every thing to Robert,
+and the idea of that, for Edward's sake, frightens away
+all my inclination for hasty measures."
+
+"And for your own sake too, or you are carrying
+your disinterestedness beyond reason."
+
+Lucy looked at Elinor again, and was silent.
+
+"Do you know Mr. Robert Ferrars?" asked Elinor.
+
+"Not at all--I never saw him; but I fancy he
+is very unlike his brother--silly and a great coxcomb."
+
+"A great coxcomb!" repeated Miss Steele, whose ear had
+caught those words by a sudden pause in Marianne's music.--
+"Oh, they are talking of their favourite beaux, I dare say."
+
+"No sister," cried Lucy, "you are mistaken there, our
+favourite beaux are NOT great coxcombs."
+
+"I can answer for it that Miss Dashwood's is not,"
+said Mrs. Jennings, laughing heartily; "for he is one
+of the modestest, prettiest behaved young men I ever saw;
+but as for Lucy, she is such a sly little creature,
+there is no finding out who SHE likes."
+
+"Oh," cried Miss Steele, looking significantly round
+at them, "I dare say Lucy's beau is quite as modest
+and pretty behaved as Miss Dashwood's."
+
+Elinor blushed in spite of herself.  Lucy bit her lip,
+and looked angrily at her sister.  A mutual silence took
+place for some time.  Lucy first put an end to it by saying
+in a lower tone, though Marianne was then giving them
+the powerful protection of a very magnificent concerto--
+
+"I will honestly tell you of one scheme which has
+lately come into my head, for bringing matters to bear;
+indeed I am bound to let you into the secret, for you
+are a party concerned.  I dare say you have seen enough
+of Edward to know that he would prefer the church to every
+other profession; now my plan is that he should take
+orders as soon as he can, and then through your interest,
+which I am sure you would be kind enough to use out of
+friendship for him, and I hope out of some regard to me,
+your brother might be persuaded to give him Norland living;
+which I understand is a very good one, and the present
+incumbent not likely to live a great while.  That would
+be enough for us to marry upon, and we might trust to time
+and chance for the rest."
+
+"I should always be happy," replied Elinor, "to show
+any mark of my esteem and friendship for Mr. Ferrars;
+but do you not perceive that my interest on such an
+occasion would be perfectly unnecessary?  He is brother
+to Mrs. John Dashwood--THAT must be recommendation enough
+to her husband."
+
+"But Mrs. John Dashwood would not much approve
+of Edward's going into orders."
+
+"Then I rather suspect that my interest would
+do very little."
+
+They were again silent for many minutes.  At length
+Lucy exclaimed with a deep sigh,
+
+"I believe it would be the wisest way to put an end
+to the business at once by dissolving the engagement.
+We seem so beset with difficulties on every side,
+that though it would make us miserable for a time,
+we should be happier perhaps in the end.  But you will
+not give me your advice, Miss Dashwood?"
+
+"No," answered Elinor, with a smile, which concealed
+very agitated feelings, "on such a subject I certainly
+will not.  You know very well that my opinion would have
+no weight with you, unless it were on the side of your wishes."
+
+"Indeed you wrong me," replied Lucy, with great
+solemnity; "I know nobody of whose judgment I think
+so highly as I do of yours; and I do really believe,
+that if you was to say to me, 'I advise you by all means
+to put an end to your engagement with Edward Ferrars,
+it will be more for the happiness of both of you,'
+I should resolve upon doing it immediately."
+
+Elinor blushed for the insincerity of Edward's
+future wife, and replied, "This compliment would effectually
+frighten me from giving any opinion on the subject
+had I formed one.  It raises my influence much too high;
+the power of dividing two people so tenderly attached
+is too much for an indifferent person."
+
+"'Tis because you are an indifferent person," said Lucy,
+with some pique, and laying a particular stress on those words,
+"that your judgment might justly have such weight with me.
+If you could be supposed to be biased in any respect
+by your own feelings, your opinion would not be worth having."
+
+Elinor thought it wisest to make no answer to this,
+lest they might provoke each other to an unsuitable increase
+of ease and unreserve; and was even partly determined
+never to mention the subject again.  Another pause
+therefore of many minutes' duration, succeeded this speech,
+and Lucy was still the first to end it.
+
+"Shall you be in town this winter, Miss Dashwood?"
+said she with all her accustomary complacency.
+
+"Certainly not."
+
+"I am sorry for that," returned the other,
+while her eyes brightened at the information,
+"it would have gave me such pleasure to meet you there!
+But I dare say you will go for all that.  To be sure,
+your brother and sister will ask you to come to them."
+
+"It will not be in my power to accept their invitation
+if they do."
+
+"How unlucky that is! I had quite depended upon
+meeting you there.  Anne and me are to go the latter end
+of January to some relations who have been wanting us to
+visit them these several years!  But I only go for the sake
+of seeing Edward.  He will be there in February, otherwise
+London would have no charms for me; I have not spirits for it."
+
+Elinor was soon called to the card-table by the
+conclusion of the first rubber, and the confidential
+discourse of the two ladies was therefore at an end,
+to which both of them submitted without any reluctance,
+for nothing had been said on either side to make them
+dislike each other less than they had done before;
+and Elinor sat down to the card table with the melancholy
+persuasion that Edward was not only without affection
+for the person who was to be his wife; but that he had
+not even the chance of being tolerably happy in marriage,
+which sincere affection on HER side would have given,
+for self-interest alone could induce a woman to keep a man
+to an engagement, of which she seemed so thoroughly aware
+that he was weary.
+
+From this time the subject was never revived by Elinor,
+and when entered on by Lucy, who seldom missed an opportunity
+of introducing it, and was particularly careful to inform
+her confidante, of her happiness whenever she received a letter
+from Edward, it was treated by the former with calmness
+and caution, and dismissed as soon as civility would allow;
+for she felt such conversations to be an indulgence which
+Lucy did not deserve, and which were dangerous to herself.
+
+The visit of the Miss Steeles at Barton Park was
+lengthened far beyond what the first invitation implied.
+Their favour increased; they could not be spared;
+Sir John would not hear of their going; and in spite
+of their numerous and long arranged engagements in Exeter,
+in spite of the absolute necessity of returning to fulfill
+them immediately, which was in full force at the end
+of every week, they were prevailed on to stay nearly two
+months at the park, and to assist in the due celebration
+of that festival which requires a more than ordinary
+share of private balls and large dinners to proclaim
+its importance.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 25
+
+
+Though Mrs. Jennings was in the habit of spending a large
+portion of the year at the houses of her children and friends,
+she was not without a settled habitation of her own.
+Since the death of her husband, who had traded with success
+in a less elegant part of the town, she had resided every
+winter in a house in one of the streets near Portman Square.
+Towards this home, she began on the approach of January
+to turn her thoughts, and thither she one day abruptly,
+and very unexpectedly by them, asked the elder Misses
+Dashwood to accompany her.  Elinor, without observing
+the varying complexion of her sister, and the animated look
+which spoke no indifference to the plan, immediately gave
+a grateful but absolute denial for both, in which she
+believed herself to be speaking their united inclinations.
+The reason alleged was their determined resolution
+of not leaving their mother at that time of the year.
+Mrs. Jennings received the refusal with some surprise,
+and repeated her invitation immediately.
+
+"Oh, Lord! I am sure your mother can spare you
+very well, and I DO beg you will favour me with
+your company, for I've quite set my heart upon it.
+Don't fancy that you will be any inconvenience to me,
+for I shan't put myself at all out of my way for you.
+It will only be sending Betty by the coach, and I
+hope I can afford THAT.  We three shall be able to go
+very well in my chaise; and when we are in town,
+if you do not like to go wherever I do, well and good,
+you may always go with one of my daughters.  I am sure
+your mother will not object to it; for I have had such
+good luck in getting my own children off my hands that she
+will think me a very fit person to have the charge of you;
+and if I don't get one of you at least well married
+before I have done with you, it shall not be my fault.
+I shall speak a good word for you to all the young men,
+you may depend upon it."
+
+"I have a notion," said Sir John, "that Miss Marianne
+would not object to such a scheme, if her elder sister
+would come into it.  It is very hard indeed that she
+should not have a little pleasure, because Miss Dashwood
+does not wish it.  So I would advise you two, to set off
+for town, when you are tired of Barton, without saying
+a word to Miss Dashwood about it."
+
+"Nay," cried Mrs. Jennings, "I am sure I shall be
+monstrous glad of Miss Marianne's company, whether Miss
+Dashwood will go or not, only the more the merrier say I,
+and I thought it would be more comfortable for them to
+be together; because, if they got tired of me, they might talk
+to one another, and laugh at my old ways behind my back.
+But one or the other, if not both of them, I must have.
+Lord bless me! how do you think I can live poking by myself,
+I who have been always used till this winter to have
+Charlotte with me.  Come, Miss Marianne, let us strike
+hands upon the bargain, and if Miss Dashwood will change
+her mind by and bye, why so much the better."
+
+"I thank you, ma'am, sincerely thank you," said Marianne,
+with warmth: "your invitation has insured my gratitude for ever,
+and it would give me such happiness, yes, almost the greatest
+happiness I am capable of, to be able to accept it.
+But my mother, my dearest, kindest mother,--I feel the
+justice of what Elinor has urged, and if she were to be
+made less happy, less comfortable by our absence--Oh! no,
+nothing should tempt me to leave her.  It should not,
+must not be a struggle."
+
+Mrs. Jennings repeated her assurance that Mrs. Dashwood
+could spare them perfectly well; and Elinor, who now
+understood her sister, and saw to what indifference to
+almost every thing else she was carried by her eagerness
+to be with Willoughby again, made no farther direct
+opposition to the plan, and merely referred it to her
+mother's decision, from whom however she scarcely expected
+to receive any support in her endeavour to prevent a visit,
+which she could not approve of for Marianne, and which
+on her own account she had particular reasons to avoid.
+Whatever Marianne was desirous of, her mother would be eager
+to promote--she could not expect to influence the latter
+to cautiousness of conduct in an affair respecting which she
+had never been able to inspire her with distrust; and she
+dared not explain the motive of her own disinclination
+for going to London.  That Marianne, fastidious as she was,
+thoroughly acquainted with Mrs. Jennings' manners,
+and invariably disgusted by them, should overlook every
+inconvenience of that kind, should disregard whatever
+must be most wounding to her irritable feelings, in her
+pursuit of one object, was such a proof, so strong,
+so full, of the importance of that object to her, as Elinor,
+in spite of all that had passed, was not prepared to witness.
+
+On being informed of the invitation, Mrs. Dashwood,
+persuaded that such an excursion would be productive
+of much amusement to both her daughters, and perceiving
+through all her affectionate attention to herself,
+how much the heart of Marianne was in it, would not hear
+of their declining the offer upon HER account; insisted on
+their both accepting it directly; and then began to foresee,
+with her usual cheerfulness, a variety of advantages that
+would accrue to them all, from this separation.
+
+"I am delighted with the plan," she cried,
+"it is exactly what I could wish.  Margaret and I shall
+be as much benefited by it as yourselves.  When you
+and the Middletons are gone, we shall go on so quietly
+and happily together with our books and our music! You
+will find Margaret so improved when you come back again!
+I have a little plan of alteration for your bedrooms too,
+which may now be performed without any inconvenience
+to any one.  It is very right that you SHOULD go to town;
+I would have every young woman of your condition in life
+acquainted with the manners and amusements of London.
+You will be under the care of a motherly good sort
+of woman, of whose kindness to you I can have no doubt.
+And in all probability you will see your brother,
+and whatever may be his faults, or the faults of his wife,
+when I consider whose son he is, I cannot bear to have you so
+wholly estranged from each other."
+
+"Though with your usual anxiety for our happiness,"
+said Elinor, "you have been obviating every impediment
+to the present scheme which occurred to you, there is
+still one objection which, in my opinion, cannot be so
+easily removed."
+
+Marianne's countenance sunk.
+
+"And what," said Mrs. Dashwood, "is my dear prudent
+Elinor going to suggest?  What formidable obstacle is she
+now to bring forward?  Do let me hear a word about the
+expense of it."
+
+"My objection is this; though I think very well of
+Mrs. Jennings's heart, she is not a woman whose society
+can afford us pleasure, or whose protection will give
+us consequence."
+
+"That is very true," replied her mother, "but of
+her society, separately from that of other people,
+you will scarcely have any thing at all, and you will
+almost always appear in public with Lady Middleton."
+
+"If Elinor is frightened away by her dislike of
+Mrs. Jennings," said Marianne, "at least it need not prevent
+MY accepting her invitation.  I have no such scruples,
+and I am sure I could put up with every unpleasantness
+of that kind with very little effort."
+
+Elinor could not help smiling at this display of
+indifference towards the manners of a person, to whom she
+had often had difficulty in persuading Marianne to behave
+with tolerable politeness; and resolved within herself,
+that if her sister persisted in going, she would
+go likewise, as she did not think it proper that Marianne
+should be left to the sole guidance of her own judgment,
+or that Mrs. Jennings should be abandoned to the mercy
+of Marianne for all the comfort of her domestic hours.
+To this determination she was the more easily reconciled,
+by recollecting that Edward Ferrars, by Lucy's account,
+was not to be in town before February; and that
+their visit, without any unreasonable abridgement,
+might be previously finished.
+
+"I will have you BOTH go," said Mrs. Dashwood;
+"these objections are nonsensical.  You will have much
+pleasure in being in London, and especially in being together;
+and if Elinor would ever condescend to anticipate enjoyment,
+she would foresee it there from a variety of sources;
+she would, perhaps, expect some from improving her
+acquaintance with her sister-in-law's family."
+
+Elinor had often wished for an opportunity of
+attempting to weaken her mother's dependence on the
+attachment of Edward and herself, that the shock might
+be less when the whole truth were revealed, and now
+on this attack, though almost hopeless of success,
+she forced herself to begin her design by saying,
+as calmly as she could, "I like Edward Ferrars very much,
+and shall always be glad to see him; but as to the rest
+of the family, it is a matter of perfect indifference
+to me, whether I am ever known to them or not."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood smiled, and said nothing.
+Marianne lifted up her eyes in astonishment, and Elinor
+conjectured that she might as well have held her tongue.
+
+After very little farther discourse, it was finally
+settled that the invitation should be fully accepted.
+Mrs. Jennings received the information with a great
+deal of joy, and many assurances of kindness and care;
+nor was it a matter of pleasure merely to her.  Sir John
+was delighted; for to a man, whose prevailing anxiety
+was the dread of being alone, the acquisition of two,
+to the number of inhabitants in London, was something.
+Even Lady Middleton took the trouble of being delighted,
+which was putting herself rather out of her way;
+and as for the Miss Steeles, especially Lucy, they had
+never been so happy in their lives as this intelligence
+made them.
+
+Elinor submitted to the arrangement which counteracted
+her wishes with less reluctance than she had expected
+to feel.  With regard to herself, it was now a matter
+of unconcern whether she went to town or not, and when
+she saw her mother so thoroughly pleased with the plan,
+and her sister exhilarated by it in look, voice, and manner,
+restored to all her usual animation, and elevated to more
+than her usual gaiety, she could not be dissatisfied
+with the cause, and would hardly allow herself to distrust
+the consequence.
+
+Marianne's joy was almost a degree beyond happiness,
+so great was the perturbation of her spirits and her
+impatience to be gone.  Her unwillingness to quit her
+mother was her only restorative to calmness; and at the
+moment of parting her grief on that score was excessive.
+Her mother's affliction was hardly less, and Elinor
+was the only one of the three, who seemed to consider
+the separation as any thing short of eternal.
+
+Their departure took place in the first week in January.
+The Middletons were to follow in about a week.  The Miss
+Steeles kept their station at the park, and were to quit
+it only with the rest of the family.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 26
+
+
+Elinor could not find herself in the carriage with Mrs. Jennings,
+and beginning a journey to London under her protection,
+and as her guest, without wondering at her own situation,
+so short had their acquaintance with that lady been,
+so wholly unsuited were they in age and disposition,
+and so many had been her objections against such a measure
+only a few days before! But these objections had all,
+with that happy ardour of youth which Marianne and her mother
+equally shared, been overcome or overlooked; and Elinor,
+in spite of every occasional doubt of Willoughby's constancy,
+could not witness the rapture of delightful expectation
+which filled the whole soul and beamed in the eyes
+of Marianne, without feeling how blank was her own prospect,
+how cheerless her own state of mind in the comparison,
+and how gladly she would engage in the solicitude of
+Marianne's situation to have the same animating object
+in view, the same possibility of hope.  A short, a very
+short time however must now decide what Willoughby's
+intentions were; in all probability he was already in town.
+Marianne's eagerness to be gone declared her dependence
+on finding him there; and Elinor was resolved not only upon
+gaining every new light as to his character which her
+own observation or the intelligence of others could give her,
+but likewise upon watching his behaviour to her sister
+with such zealous attention, as to ascertain what he was
+and what he meant, before many meetings had taken place.
+Should the result of her observations be unfavourable,
+she was determined at all events to open the eyes
+of her sister; should it be otherwise, her exertions
+would be of a different nature--she must then learn
+to avoid every selfish comparison, and banish every regret
+which might lessen her satisfaction in the happiness of Marianne.
+
+They were three days on their journey, and Marianne's
+behaviour as they travelled was a happy specimen of what
+future complaisance and companionableness to Mrs. Jennings
+might be expected to be.  She sat in silence almost all
+the way, wrapt in her own meditations, and scarcely ever
+voluntarily speaking, except when any object of picturesque
+beauty within their view drew from her an exclamation
+of delight exclusively addressed to her sister.  To atone
+for this conduct therefore, Elinor took immediate possession
+of the post of civility which she had assigned herself,
+behaved with the greatest attention to Mrs. Jennings,
+talked with her, laughed with her, and listened to her
+whenever she could; and Mrs. Jennings on her side
+treated them both with all possible kindness, was solicitous
+on every occasion for their ease and enjoyment, and only
+disturbed that she could not make them choose their own
+dinners at the inn, nor extort a confession of their
+preferring salmon to cod, or boiled fowls to veal cutlets.
+They reached town by three o'clock the third day, glad to
+be released, after such a journey, from the confinement
+of a carriage, and ready to enjoy all the luxury of a good fire.
+
+The house was handsome, and handsomely fitted up,
+and the young ladies were immediately put in possession
+of a very comfortable apartment.  It had formerly
+been Charlotte's, and over the mantelpiece still hung
+a landscape in coloured silks of her performance,
+in proof of her having spent seven years at a great school
+in town to some effect.
+
+As dinner was not to be ready in less than two
+hours from their arrival, Elinor determined to employ
+the interval in writing to her mother, and sat down for
+that purpose.  In a few moments Marianne did the same.
+"I am writing home, Marianne," said Elinor; "had not you
+better defer your letter for a day or two?"
+
+"I am NOT going to write to my mother,"
+replied Marianne, hastily, and as if wishing to avoid
+any farther inquiry.  Elinor said no more; it immediately
+struck her that she must then be writing to Willoughby;
+and the conclusion which as instantly followed was,
+that, however mysteriously they might wish to conduct
+the affair, they must be engaged.  This conviction,
+though not entirely satisfactory, gave her pleasure,
+and she continued her letter with greater alacrity.
+Marianne's was finished in a very few minutes;
+in length it could be no more than a note; it was then
+folded up, sealed, and directed with eager rapidity.
+Elinor thought she could distinguish a large W in
+the direction; and no sooner was it complete than Marianne,
+ringing the bell, requested the footman who answered it
+to get that letter conveyed for her to the two-penny post.
+This decided the matter at once.
+
+Her spirits still continued very high; but there
+was a flutter in them which prevented their giving much
+pleasure to her sister, and this agitation increased as
+the evening drew on.  She could scarcely eat any dinner,
+and when they afterwards returned to the drawing room,
+seemed anxiously listening to the sound of every carriage.
+
+It was a great satisfaction to Elinor that Mrs. Jennings,
+by being much engaged in her own room, could see little
+of what was passing.  The tea things were brought in,
+and already had Marianne been disappointed more than once
+by a rap at a neighbouring door, when a loud one was suddenly
+heard which could not be mistaken for one at any other house,
+Elinor felt secure of its announcing Willoughby's approach,
+and Marianne, starting up, moved towards the door.
+Every thing was silent; this could not be borne many seconds;
+she opened the door, advanced a few steps towards the stairs,
+and after listening half a minute, returned into the room
+in all the agitation which a conviction of having heard
+him would naturally produce; in the ecstasy of her
+feelings at that instant she could not help exclaiming,
+"Oh, Elinor, it is Willoughby, indeed it is!" and seemed
+almost ready to throw herself into his arms, when Colonel
+Brandon appeared.
+
+It was too great a shock to be borne with calmness,
+and she immediately left the room.  Elinor was disappointed too;
+but at the same time her regard for Colonel Brandon ensured
+his welcome with her; and she felt particularly hurt that
+a man so partial to her sister should perceive that she
+experienced nothing but grief and disappointment in seeing him.
+She instantly saw that it was not unnoticed by him,
+that he even observed Marianne as she quitted the room,
+with such astonishment and concern, as hardly left him
+the recollection of what civility demanded towards herself.
+
+"Is your sister ill?" said he.
+
+Elinor answered in some distress that she was,
+and then talked of head-aches, low spirits, and over fatigues;
+and of every thing to which she could decently attribute
+her sister's behaviour.
+
+He heard her with the most earnest attention,
+but seeming to recollect himself, said no more on the subject,
+and began directly to speak of his pleasure at seeing them
+in London, making the usual inquiries about their journey,
+and the friends they had left behind.
+
+In this calm kind of way, with very little interest
+on either side, they continued to talk, both of them out
+of spirits, and the thoughts of both engaged elsewhere.
+Elinor wished very much to ask whether Willoughby were
+then in town, but she was afraid of giving him pain
+by any enquiry after his rival; and at length, by way
+of saying something, she asked if he had been in London
+ever since she had seen him last.  "Yes," he replied,
+with some embarrassment, "almost ever since; I have been
+once or twice at Delaford for a few days, but it has never
+been in my power to return to Barton."
+
+This, and the manner in which it was said,
+immediately brought back to her remembrance all the
+circumstances of his quitting that place, with the
+uneasiness and suspicions they had caused to Mrs. Jennings,
+and she was fearful that her question had implied
+much more curiosity on the subject than she had ever felt.
+
+Mrs. Jennings soon came in.  "Oh! Colonel," said she,
+with her usual noisy cheerfulness, "I am monstrous glad
+to see you--sorry I could not come before--beg your
+pardon, but I have been forced to look about me a little,
+and settle my matters; for it is a long while since I
+have been at home, and you know one has always a world
+of little odd things to do after one has been away for
+any time; and then I have had Cartwright to settle with--
+Lord, I have been as busy as a bee ever since dinner!
+But pray, Colonel, how came you to conjure out that I should
+be in town today?"
+
+"I had the pleasure of hearing it at Mr. Palmer's,
+where I have been dining."
+
+"Oh, you did; well, and how do they all do at their
+house?  How does Charlotte do?  I warrant you she is a fine
+size by this time."
+
+"Mrs. Palmer appeared quite well, and I am commissioned
+to tell you, that you will certainly see her to-morrow."
+
+"Ay, to be sure, I thought as much.  Well, Colonel,
+I have brought two young ladies with me, you see--that is,
+you see but one of them now, but there is another somewhere.
+Your friend, Miss Marianne, too--which you will not be
+sorry to hear.  I do not know what you and Mr. Willoughby
+will do between you about her.  Ay, it is a fine thing
+to be young and handsome.  Well! I was young once, but I
+never was very handsome--worse luck for me.  However, I got
+a very good husband, and I don't know what the greatest
+beauty can do more.  Ah! poor man! he has been dead
+these eight years and better.  But Colonel, where have
+you been to since we parted?  And how does your business
+go on?  Come, come, let's have no secrets among friends."
+
+He replied with his accustomary mildness to all
+her inquiries, but without satisfying her in any.
+Elinor now began to make the tea, and Marianne was
+obliged to appear again.
+
+After her entrance, Colonel Brandon became
+more thoughtful and silent than he had been before,
+and Mrs. Jennings could not prevail on him to stay long.
+No other visitor appeared that evening, and the ladies
+were unanimous in agreeing to go early to bed.
+
+Marianne rose the next morning with recovered spirits
+and happy looks.  The disappointment of the evening before
+seemed forgotten in the expectation of what was to happen
+that day.  They had not long finished their breakfast before
+Mrs. Palmer's barouche stopped at the door, and in a few
+minutes she came laughing into the room: so delighted
+to see them all, that it was hard to say whether she
+received most pleasure from meeting her mother or the Miss
+Dashwoods again.  So surprised at their coming to town,
+though it was what she had rather expected all along;
+so angry at their accepting her mother's invitation
+after having declined her own, though at the same time
+she would never have forgiven them if they had not come!
+
+"Mr. Palmer will be so happy to see you,"
+said she; "What do you think he said when he heard
+of your coming with Mamma?  I forget what it was now,
+but it was something so droll!"
+
+After an hour or two spent in what her mother called
+comfortable chat, or in other words, in every variety of inquiry
+concerning all their acquaintance on Mrs. Jennings's side,
+and in laughter without cause on Mrs. Palmer's, it was
+proposed by the latter that they should all accompany
+her to some shops where she had business that morning,
+to which Mrs. Jennings and Elinor readily consented,
+as having likewise some purchases to make themselves;
+and Marianne, though declining it at first was induced
+to go likewise.
+
+Wherever they went, she was evidently always on
+the watch.  In Bond Street especially, where much of
+their business lay, her eyes were in constant inquiry;
+and in whatever shop the party were engaged, her mind was
+equally abstracted from every thing actually before them,
+from all that interested and occupied the others.
+Restless and dissatisfied every where, her sister could
+never obtain her opinion of any article of purchase,
+however it might equally concern them both: she received
+no pleasure from anything; was only impatient to be at
+home again, and could with difficulty govern her vexation
+at the tediousness of Mrs. Palmer, whose eye was caught
+by every thing pretty, expensive, or new; who was wild
+to buy all, could determine on none, and dawdled away her
+time in rapture and indecision.
+
+It was late in the morning before they returned home;
+and no sooner had they entered the house than Marianne flew
+eagerly up stairs, and when Elinor followed, she found
+her turning from the table with a sorrowful countenance,
+which declared that no Willoughby had been there.
+
+"Has no letter been left here for me since we went out?"
+said she to the footman who then entered with the parcels.
+She was answered in the negative.  "Are you quite sure
+of it?" she replied.  "Are you certain that no servant,
+no porter has left any letter or note?"
+
+The man replied that none had.
+
+"How very odd!" said she, in a low and disappointed
+voice, as she turned away to the window.
+
+"How odd, indeed!" repeated Elinor within herself,
+regarding her sister with uneasiness.  "If she had not
+known him to be in town she would not have written to him,
+as she did; she would have written to Combe Magna;
+and if he is in town, how odd that he should neither
+come nor write!  Oh! my dear mother, you must be wrong
+in permitting an engagement between a daughter so young,
+a man so little known, to be carried on in so doubtful,
+so mysterious a manner!  I long to inquire; and how will MY
+interference be borne."
+
+She determined, after some consideration, that if
+appearances continued many days longer as unpleasant as they
+now were, she would represent in the strongest manner
+to her mother the necessity of some serious enquiry into the
+affair.
+
+Mrs. Palmer and two elderly ladies of Mrs. Jennings's
+intimate acquaintance, whom she had met and invited
+in the morning, dined with them.  The former left them
+soon after tea to fulfill her evening engagements;
+and Elinor was obliged to assist in making a whist table
+for the others.  Marianne was of no use on these occasions,
+as she would never learn the game; but though her time
+was therefore at her own disposal, the evening was by no
+means more productive of pleasure to her than to Elinor,
+for it was spent in all the anxiety of expectation and the
+pain of disappointment.  She sometimes endeavoured for a
+few minutes to read; but the book was soon thrown aside,
+and she returned to the more interesting employment
+of walking backwards and forwards across the room,
+pausing for a moment whenever she came to the window,
+in hopes of distinguishing the long-expected rap.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 27
+
+
+"If this open weather holds much longer," said Mrs. Jennings,
+when they met at breakfast the following morning,
+"Sir John will not like leaving Barton next week;
+'tis a sad thing for sportsmen to lose a day's pleasure.
+Poor souls!  I always pity them when they do; they seem
+to take it so much to heart."
+
+"That is true," cried Marianne, in a cheerful voice,
+and walking to the window as she spoke, to examine the day.
+"I had not thought of that.  This weather will keep many
+sportsmen in the country."
+
+It was a lucky recollection, all her good spirits were
+restored by it.  "It is charming weather for THEM indeed,"
+she continued, as she sat down to the breakfast table
+with a happy countenance.  "How much they must enjoy
+it! But" (with a little return of anxiety) "it cannot
+be expected to last long.  At this time of the year,
+and after such a series of rain, we shall certainly
+have very little more of it.  Frosts will soon set in,
+and in all probability with severity.  In another day
+or two perhaps; this extreme mildness can hardly last
+longer--nay, perhaps it may freeze tonight!"
+
+"At any rate," said Elinor, wishing to prevent
+Mrs. Jennings from seeing her sister's thoughts as clearly
+as she did, "I dare say we shall have Sir John and Lady
+Middleton in town by the end of next week."
+
+"Ay, my dear, I'll warrant you we do.  Mary always
+has her own way."
+
+"And now," silently conjectured Elinor, "she will
+write to Combe by this day's post."
+
+But if she DID, the letter was written and sent away
+with a privacy which eluded all her watchfulness to ascertain
+the fact.  Whatever the truth of it might be, and far
+as Elinor was from feeling thorough contentment about it,
+yet while she saw Marianne in spirits, she could not be
+very uncomfortable herself.  And Marianne was in spirits;
+happy in the mildness of the weather, and still happier
+in her expectation of a frost.
+
+The morning was chiefly spent in leaving cards at
+the houses of Mrs. Jennings's acquaintance to inform
+them of her being in town; and Marianne was all the time
+busy in observing the direction of the wind, watching the
+variations of the sky and imagining an alteration in the air.
+
+"Don't you find it colder than it was in the morning,
+Elinor? There seems to me a very decided difference.
+I can hardly keep my hands warm even in my muff.  It was
+not so yesterday, I think.  The clouds seem parting too,
+the sun will be out in a moment, and we shall have a
+clear afternoon."
+
+Elinor was alternately diverted and pained;
+but Marianne persevered, and saw every night in the
+brightness of the fire, and every morning in the appearance
+of the atmosphere, the certain symptoms of approaching frost.
+
+The Miss Dashwoods had no greater reason to be
+dissatisfied with Mrs. Jennings's style of living, and set
+of acquaintance, than with her behaviour to themselves,
+which was invariably kind.  Every thing in her household
+arrangements was conducted on the most liberal plan,
+and excepting a few old city friends, whom, to Lady
+Middleton's regret, she had never dropped, she visited
+no one to whom an introduction could at all discompose
+the feelings of her young companions.  Pleased to find
+herself more comfortably situated in that particular than
+she had expected, Elinor was very willing to compound
+for the want of much real enjoyment from any of their
+evening parties, which, whether at home or abroad,
+formed only for cards, could have little to amuse her.
+
+Colonel Brandon, who had a general invitation
+to the house, was with them almost every day; he came
+to look at Marianne and talk to Elinor, who often derived
+more satisfaction from conversing with him than from any
+other daily occurrence, but who saw at the same time
+with much concern his continued regard for her sister.
+She feared it was a strengthening regard.  It grieved her
+to see the earnestness with which he often watched Marianne,
+and his spirits were certainly worse than when at Barton.
+
+About a week after their arrival, it became
+certain that Willoughby was also arrived.  His card
+was on the table when they came in from the morning's drive.
+
+"Good God!" cried Marianne, "he has been here while
+we were out."  Elinor, rejoiced to be assured of his
+being in London, now ventured to say, "Depend upon it,
+he will call again tomorrow."  But Marianne seemed
+hardly to hear her, and on Mrs. Jenning's entrance,
+escaped with the precious card.
+
+This event, while it raised the spirits of Elinor,
+restored to those of her sister all, and more than all,
+their former agitation.  From this moment her mind was
+never quiet; the expectation of seeing him every hour
+of the day, made her unfit for any thing.  She insisted
+on being left behind, the next morning, when the others
+went out.
+
+Elinor's thoughts were full of what might be passing
+in Berkeley Street during their absence; but a moment's
+glance at her sister when they returned was enough to
+inform her, that Willoughby had paid no second visit there.
+A note was just then brought in, and laid on the table,
+
+"For me!" cried Marianne, stepping hastily forward.
+
+"No, ma'am, for my mistress."
+
+But Marianne, not convinced, took it instantly up.
+
+"It is indeed for Mrs. Jennings; how provoking!"
+
+"You are expecting a letter, then?" said Elinor,
+unable to be longer silent.
+
+"Yes, a little--not much."
+
+After a short pause.  "You have no confidence
+in me, Marianne."
+
+"Nay, Elinor, this reproach from YOU--you who have
+confidence in no one!"
+
+"Me!" returned Elinor in some confusion; "indeed,
+Marianne, I have nothing to tell."
+
+"Nor I," answered Marianne with energy, "our situations
+then are alike.  We have neither of us any thing to tell;
+you, because you do not communicate, and I, because
+I conceal nothing."
+
+Elinor, distressed by this charge of reserve in herself,
+which she was not at liberty to do away, knew not how,
+under such circumstances, to press for greater openness
+in Marianne.
+
+Mrs. Jennings soon appeared, and the note being
+given her, she read it aloud.  It was from Lady Middleton,
+announcing their arrival in Conduit Street the night before,
+and requesting the company of her mother and cousins
+the following evening.  Business on Sir John's part,
+and a violent cold on her own, prevented their calling
+in Berkeley Street.  The invitation was accepted;
+but when the hour of appointment drew near, necessary as
+it was in common civility to Mrs. Jennings, that they
+should both attend her on such a visit, Elinor had some
+difficulty in persuading her sister to go, for still
+she had seen nothing of Willoughby; and therefore was
+not more indisposed for amusement abroad, than unwilling
+to run the risk of his calling again in her absence.
+
+Elinor found, when the evening was over,
+that disposition is not materially altered by a change
+of abode, for although scarcely settled in town,
+Sir John had contrived to collect around him, nearly twenty
+young people, and to amuse them with a ball.  This was
+an affair, however, of which Lady Middleton did not approve.
+In the country, an unpremeditated dance was very allowable;
+but in London, where the reputation of elegance was more
+important and less easily attained, it was risking too much
+for the gratification of a few girls, to have it known that
+Lady Middleton had given a small dance of eight or nine couple,
+with two violins, and a mere side-board collation.
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Palmer were of the party; from the former,
+whom they had not seen before since their arrival in town,
+as he was careful to avoid the appearance of any attention
+to his mother-in-law, and therefore never came near her,
+they received no mark of recognition on their entrance.
+He looked at them slightly, without seeming to know
+who they were, and merely nodded to Mrs. Jennings from
+the other side of the room.  Marianne gave one glance
+round the apartment as she entered: it was enough--HE
+was not there--and she sat down, equally ill-disposed
+to receive or communicate pleasure.  After they had been
+assembled about an hour, Mr. Palmer sauntered towards
+the Miss Dashwoods to express his surprise on seeing them
+in town, though Colonel Brandon had been first informed
+of their arrival at his house, and he had himself said
+something very droll on hearing that they were to come.
+
+"I thought you were both in Devonshire," said he.
+
+"Did you?" replied Elinor.
+
+"When do you go back again?"
+
+"I do not know." And thus ended their discourse.
+
+Never had Marianne been so unwilling to dance
+in her life, as she was that evening, and never so much
+fatigued by the exercise.  She complained of it
+as they returned to Berkeley Street.
+
+"Aye, aye," said Mrs. Jennings, "we know the reason
+of all that very well; if a certain person who shall
+be nameless, had been there, you would not have been a
+bit tired: and to say the truth it was not very pretty
+of him not to give you the meeting when he was invited."
+
+"Invited!" cried Marianne.
+
+"So my daughter Middleton told me, for it seems Sir
+John met him somewhere in the street this morning."
+Marianne said no more, but looked exceedingly hurt.
+Impatient in this situation to be doing something
+that might lead to her sister's relief, Elinor resolved
+to write the next morning to her mother, and hoped
+by awakening her fears for the health of Marianne,
+to procure those inquiries which had been so long delayed;
+and she was still more eagerly bent on this measure
+by perceiving after breakfast on the morrow, that Marianne
+was again writing to Willoughby, for she could not suppose
+it to be to any other person.
+
+About the middle of the day, Mrs. Jennings went out by
+herself on business, and Elinor began her letter directly,
+while Marianne, too restless for employment, too anxious
+for conversation, walked from one window to the other,
+or sat down by the fire in melancholy meditation.
+Elinor was very earnest in her application to her mother,
+relating all that had passed, her suspicions of
+Willoughby's inconstancy, urging her by every plea
+of duty and affection to demand from Marianne an account
+of her real situation with respect to him.
+
+Her letter was scarcely finished, when a rap
+foretold a visitor, and Colonel Brandon was announced.
+Marianne, who had seen him from the window, and who hated
+company of any kind, left the room before he entered it.
+He looked more than usually grave, and though expressing
+satisfaction at finding Miss Dashwood alone, as if he
+had somewhat in particular to tell her, sat for some
+time without saying a word.  Elinor, persuaded that he
+had some communication to make in which her sister
+was concerned, impatiently expected its opening.
+It was not the first time of her feeling the same kind
+of conviction; for, more than once before, beginning with
+the observation of "your sister looks unwell to-day,"
+or "your sister seems out of spirits," he had appeared
+on the point, either of disclosing, or of inquiring,
+something particular about her.  After a pause of several
+minutes, their silence was broken, by his asking her
+in a voice of some agitation, when he was to congratulate
+her on the acquisition of a brother?  Elinor was not
+prepared for such a question, and having no answer ready,
+was obliged to adopt the simple and common expedient,
+of asking what he meant?  He tried to smile as he replied,
+"your sister's engagement to Mr. Willoughby is very generally
+known."
+
+"It cannot be generally known," returned Elinor,
+"for her own family do not know it."
+
+He looked surprised and said, "I beg your pardon,
+I am afraid my inquiry has been impertinent; but I had not
+supposed any secrecy intended, as they openly correspond,
+and their marriage is universally talked of."
+
+"How can that be? By whom can you have heard
+it mentioned?"
+
+"By many--by some of whom you know nothing, by others
+with whom you are most intimate, Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. Palmer,
+and the Middletons.  But still I might not have believed it,
+for where the mind is perhaps rather unwilling to
+be convinced, it will always find something to support
+its doubts, if I had not, when the servant let me in today,
+accidentally seen a letter in his hand, directed to
+Mr. Willoughby in your sister's writing.  I came to inquire,
+but I was convinced before I could ask the question.
+Is every thing finally settled?  Is it impossible to-?
+But I have no right, and I could have no chance of succeeding.
+Excuse me, Miss Dashwood.  I believe I have been wrong
+in saying so much, but I hardly know what to do, and on
+your prudence I have the strongest dependence.  Tell me
+that it is all absolutely resolved on, that any attempt,
+that in short concealment, if concealment be possible,
+is all that remains."
+
+These words, which conveyed to Elinor a direct avowal
+of his love for her sister, affected her very much.
+She was not immediately able to say anything, and even
+when her spirits were recovered, she debated for a short
+time, on the answer it would be most proper to give.
+The real state of things between Willoughby and her sister
+was so little known to herself, that in endeavouring
+to explain it, she might be as liable to say too much
+as too little.  Yet as she was convinced that Marianne's
+affection for Willoughby, could leave no hope of Colonel
+Brandon's success, whatever the event of that affection
+might be, and at the same time wished to shield her conduct
+from censure, she thought it most prudent and kind,
+after some consideration, to say more than she really knew
+or believed.  She acknowledged, therefore, that though
+she had never been informed by themselves of the terms
+on which they stood with each other, of their mutual
+affection she had no doubt, and of their correspondence
+she was not astonished to hear.
+
+He listened to her with silent attention, and on
+her ceasing to speak, rose directly from his seat,
+and after saying in a voice of emotion, "to your sister
+I wish all imaginable happiness; to Willoughby that he
+may endeavour to deserve her,"--took leave, and went away.
+
+Elinor derived no comfortable feelings from this
+conversation, to lessen the uneasiness of her mind on
+other points; she was left, on the contrary, with a
+melancholy impression of Colonel Brandon's unhappiness,
+and was prevented even from wishing it removed,
+by her anxiety for the very event that must confirm it.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 28
+
+
+Nothing occurred during the next three or four days,
+to make Elinor regret what she had done, in applying
+to her mother; for Willoughby neither came nor wrote.
+They were engaged about the end of that time to attend
+Lady Middleton to a party, from which Mrs. Jennings was
+kept away by the indisposition of her youngest daughter;
+and for this party, Marianne, wholly dispirited,
+careless of her appearance, and seeming equally indifferent
+whether she went or staid, prepared, without one look
+of hope or one expression of pleasure.  She sat by the
+drawing-room fire after tea, till the moment of Lady
+Middleton's arrival, without once stirring from her seat,
+or altering her attitude, lost in her own thoughts,
+and insensible of her sister's presence; and when at
+last they were told that Lady Middleton waited for them
+at the door, she started as if she had forgotten that
+any one was expected.
+
+They arrived in due time at the place of destination,
+and as soon as the string of carriages before them
+would allow, alighted, ascended the stairs, heard their
+names announced from one landing-place to another in an
+audible voice, and entered a room splendidly lit up,
+quite full of company, and insufferably hot.  When they had
+paid their tribute of politeness by curtsying to the lady
+of the house, they were permitted to mingle in the crowd,
+and take their share of the heat and inconvenience, to
+which their arrival must necessarily add.  After some time
+spent in saying little or doing less, Lady Middleton sat
+down to Cassino, and as Marianne was not in spirits for
+moving about, she and Elinor luckily succeeding to chairs,
+placed themselves at no great distance from the table.
+
+They had not remained in this manner long, before Elinor
+perceived Willoughby, standing within a few yards
+of them, in earnest conversation with a very fashionable
+looking young woman.  She soon caught his eye, and he
+immediately bowed, but without attempting to speak to her,
+or to approach Marianne, though he could not but see her;
+and then continued his discourse with the same lady.
+Elinor turned involuntarily to Marianne, to see whether
+it could be unobserved by her.  At that moment she first
+perceived him, and her whole countenance glowing with
+sudden delight, she would have moved towards him instantly,
+had not her sister caught hold of her.
+
+"Good heavens!" she exclaimed, "he is there--he
+is there--Oh! why does he not look at me? why cannot
+I speak to him?"
+
+"Pray, pray be composed," cried Elinor, "and do
+not betray what you feel to every body present.
+Perhaps he has not observed you yet."
+
+This however was more than she could believe herself;
+and to be composed at such a moment was not only beyond
+the reach of Marianne, it was beyond her wish.  She sat
+in an agony of impatience which affected every feature.
+
+At last he turned round again, and regarded them both;
+she started up, and pronouncing his name in a tone
+of affection, held out her hand to him.  He approached,
+and addressing himself rather to Elinor than Marianne,
+as if wishing to avoid her eye, and determined not to
+observe her attitude, inquired in a hurried manner after
+Mrs. Dashwood, and asked how long they had been in town.
+Elinor was robbed of all presence of mind by such an address,
+and was unable to say a word.  But the feelings of her sister
+were instantly expressed.  Her face was crimsoned over,
+and she exclaimed, in a voice of the greatest emotion,
+"Good God! Willoughby, what is the meaning of this?
+Have you not received my letters?  Will you not shake
+hands with me?"
+
+He could not then avoid it, but her touch seemed
+painful to him, and he held her hand only for a moment.
+During all this time he was evidently struggling for composure.
+Elinor watched his countenance and saw its expression
+becoming more tranquil.  After a moment's pause, he spoke
+with calmness.
+
+"I did myself the honour of calling in Berkeley
+Street last Tuesday, and very much regretted that I was
+not fortunate enough to find yourselves and Mrs. Jennings
+at home.  My card was not lost, I hope."
+
+"But have you not received my notes?" cried Marianne
+in the wildest anxiety.  "Here is some mistake I am
+sure--some dreadful mistake.  What can be the meaning
+of it?  Tell me, Willoughby; for heaven's sake tell me,
+what is the matter?"
+
+He made no reply; his complexion changed and all his
+embarrassment returned; but as if, on catching the eye
+of the young lady with whom he had been previously talking,
+he felt the necessity of instant exertion, he recovered
+himself again, and after saying, "Yes, I had the pleasure
+of receiving the information of your arrival in town,
+which you were so good as to send me," turned hastily away
+with a slight bow and joined his friend.
+
+Marianne, now looking dreadfully white, and unable
+to stand, sunk into her chair, and Elinor, expecting every
+moment to see her faint, tried to screen her from the
+observation of others, while reviving her with lavender water.
+
+"Go to him, Elinor," she cried, as soon as she
+could speak, "and force him to come to me.  Tell him
+I must see him again--must speak to him instantly.--
+I cannot rest--I shall not have a moment's peace till this
+is explained--some dreadful misapprehension or other.--
+Oh go to him this moment."
+
+"How can that be done? No, my dearest Marianne,
+you must wait.  This is not the place for explanations.
+Wait only till tomorrow."
+
+With difficulty however could she prevent her
+from following him herself; and to persuade her to check
+her agitation, to wait, at least, with the appearance
+of composure, till she might speak to him with more privacy
+and more effect, was impossible; for Marianne continued
+incessantly to give way in a low voice to the misery
+of her feelings, by exclamations of wretchedness.
+In a short time Elinor saw Willoughby quit the room by the
+door towards the staircase, and telling Marianne that he
+was gone, urged the impossibility of speaking to him again
+that evening, as a fresh argument for her to be calm.
+She instantly begged her sister would entreat Lady
+Middleton to take them home, as she was too miserable
+to stay a minute longer.
+
+Lady Middleton, though in the middle of a rubber,
+on being informed that Marianne was unwell, was too
+polite to object for a moment to her wish of going away,
+and making over her cards to a friend, they departed
+as soon the carriage could be found.  Scarcely a word
+was spoken during their return to Berkeley Street.
+Marianne was in a silent agony, too much oppressed even
+for tears; but as Mrs. Jennings was luckily not come home,
+they could go directly to their own room, where hartshorn
+restored her a little to herself.  She was soon undressed
+and in bed, and as she seemed desirous of being alone,
+her sister then left her, and while she waited the return
+of Mrs. Jennings, had leisure enough for thinking over
+the past.
+
+That some kind of engagement had subsisted
+between Willoughby and Marianne she could not doubt,
+and that Willoughby was weary of it, seemed equally clear;
+for however Marianne might still feed her own wishes,
+SHE could not attribute such behaviour to mistake
+or misapprehension of any kind.  Nothing but a thorough
+change of sentiment could account for it.  Her indignation
+would have been still stronger than it was, had she
+not witnessed that embarrassment which seemed to speak
+a consciousness of his own misconduct, and prevented
+her from believing him so unprincipled as to have been
+sporting with the affections of her sister from the first,
+without any design that would bear investigation.
+Absence might have weakened his regard, and convenience
+might have determined him to overcome it, but that such
+a regard had formerly existed she could not bring herself
+to doubt.
+
+As for Marianne, on the pangs which so unhappy a meeting
+must already have given her, and on those still more
+severe which might await her in its probable consequence,
+she could not reflect without the deepest concern.
+Her own situation gained in the comparison; for while she
+could ESTEEM Edward as much as ever, however they might be
+divided in future, her mind might be always supported.
+But every circumstance that could embitter such an evil
+seemed uniting to heighten the misery of Marianne
+in a final separation from Willoughby--in an immediate
+and irreconcilable rupture with him.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 29
+
+
+Before the house-maid had lit their fire the next day,
+or the sun gained any power over a cold, gloomy morning
+in January, Marianne, only half dressed, was kneeling
+against one of the window-seats for the sake of all
+the little light she could command from it, and writing
+as fast as a continual flow of tears would permit her.
+In this situation, Elinor, roused from sleep by her agitation
+and sobs, first perceived her; and after observing her
+for a few moments with silent anxiety, said, in a tone
+of the most considerate gentleness,
+
+"Marianne, may I ask-?"
+
+"No, Elinor," she replied, "ask nothing; you will
+soon know all."
+
+The sort of desperate calmness with which this was said,
+lasted no longer than while she spoke, and was immediately
+followed by a return of the same excessive affliction.
+It was some minutes before she could go on with her letter,
+and the frequent bursts of grief which still obliged her,
+at intervals, to withhold her pen, were proofs enough of her
+feeling how more than probable it was that she was writing
+for the last time to Willoughby.
+
+Elinor paid her every quiet and unobtrusive attention
+in her power; and she would have tried to sooth and
+tranquilize her still more, had not Marianne entreated her,
+with all the eagerness of the most nervous irritability,
+not to speak to her for the world.  In such circumstances,
+it was better for both that they should not be long together;
+and the restless state of Marianne's mind not only prevented
+her from remaining in the room a moment after she was dressed,
+but requiring at once solitude and continual change of place,
+made her wander about the house till breakfast time, avoiding
+the sight of every body.
+
+At breakfast she neither ate, nor attempted to eat
+any thing; and Elinor's attention was then all employed,
+not in urging her, not in pitying her, nor in appearing
+to regard her, but in endeavouring to engage Mrs. Jenning's
+notice entirely to herself.
+
+As this was a favourite meal with Mrs. Jennings,
+it lasted a considerable time, and they were just setting
+themselves, after it, round the common working table, when a
+letter was delivered to Marianne, which she eagerly caught
+from the servant, and, turning of a death-like paleness,
+instantly ran out of the room.  Elinor, who saw as plainly
+by this, as if she had seen the direction, that it must
+come from Willoughby, felt immediately such a sickness
+at heart as made her hardly able to hold up her head,
+and sat in such a general tremour as made her fear it
+impossible to escape Mrs. Jenning's notice.  That good lady,
+however, saw only that Marianne had received a letter
+from Willoughby, which appeared to her a very good joke,
+and which she treated accordingly, by hoping, with a laugh,
+that she would find it to her liking.  Of Elinor's distress,
+she was too busily employed in measuring lengths of worsted
+for her rug, to see any thing at all; and calmly continuing
+her talk, as soon as Marianne disappeared, she said,
+
+"Upon my word, I never saw a young woman so
+desperately in love in my life!  MY girls were nothing
+to her, and yet they used to be foolish enough; but as
+for Miss Marianne, she is quite an altered creature.
+I hope, from the bottom of my heart, he won't keep her
+waiting much longer, for it is quite grievous to see her
+look so ill and forlorn.  Pray, when are they to be married?"
+
+Elinor, though never less disposed to speak than at
+that moment, obliged herself to answer such an attack
+as this, and, therefore, trying to smile, replied, "And have
+you really, Ma'am, talked yourself into a persuasion
+of my sister's being engaged to Mr. Willoughby?  I thought
+it had been only a joke, but so serious a question seems
+to imply more; and I must beg, therefore, that you will not
+deceive yourself any longer.  I do assure you that nothing
+would surprise me more than to hear of their being going
+to be married."
+
+"For shame, for shame, Miss Dashwood! how can you
+talk so?  Don't we all know that it must be a match, that
+they were over head and ears in love with each other from
+the first moment they met?  Did not I see them together
+in Devonshire every day, and all day long; and did not I
+know that your sister came to town with me on purpose
+to buy wedding clothes?  Come, come, this won't do.
+Because you are so sly about it yourself, you think nobody
+else has any senses; but it is no such thing, I can tell you,
+for it has been known all over town this ever so long.
+I tell every body of it and so does Charlotte."
+
+"Indeed, Ma'am," said Elinor, very seriously,
+"you are mistaken.  Indeed, you are doing a very unkind thing
+in spreading the report, and you will find that you have
+though you will not believe me now."
+
+Mrs. Jennings laughed again, but Elinor had not
+spirits to say more, and eager at all events to know
+what Willoughby had written, hurried away to their room,
+where, on opening the door, she saw Marianne stretched on
+the bed, almost choked by grief, one letter in her hand,
+and two or three others laying by her.  Elinor drew near,
+but without saying a word; and seating herself on the bed,
+took her hand, kissed her affectionately several times,
+and then gave way to a burst of tears, which at first
+was scarcely less violent than Marianne's. The latter,
+though unable to speak, seemed to feel all the tenderness
+of this behaviour, and after some time thus spent in
+joint affliction, she put all the letters into Elinor's hands;
+and then covering her face with her handkerchief,
+almost screamed with agony.  Elinor, who knew that such grief,
+shocking as it was to witness it, must have its course,
+watched by her till this excess of suffering had somewhat
+spent itself, and then turning eagerly to Willoughby's letter,
+read as follows:
+
+                              "Bond Street, January.
+     "MY DEAR MADAM,
+
+     "I have just had the honour of receiving your
+     letter, for which I beg to return my sincere
+     acknowledgments.  I am much concerned to find there
+     was anything in my behaviour last night that did
+     not meet your approbation; and though I am quite at
+     a loss to discover in what point I could be so
+     unfortunate as to offend you, I entreat your
+     forgiveness of what I can assure you to have been
+     perfectly unintentional.  I shall never reflect on
+     my former acquaintance with your family in Devonshire
+     without the most grateful pleasure, and flatter
+     myself it will not be broken by any mistake or
+     misapprehension of my actions.  My esteem for your
+     whole family is very sincere; but if I have been so
+     unfortunate as to give rise to a belief of more than
+     I felt, or meant to express, I shall reproach myself
+     for not having been more guarded in my professions
+     of that esteem.  That I should ever have meant more
+     you will allow to be impossible, when you understand
+     that my affections have been long engaged elsewhere,
+     and it will not be many weeks, I believe, before
+     this engagement is fulfilled.  It is with great
+     regret that I obey your commands in returning the
+     letters with which I have been honoured from you,
+     and the lock of hair, which you so obligingly bestowed
+     on me.
+
+     "I am, dear Madam,
+               "Your most obedient
+                    "humble servant,
+                                        "JOHN WILLOUGHBY."
+
+
+With what indignation such a letter as this must
+be read by Miss Dashwood, may be imagined.  Though aware,
+before she began it, that it must bring a confession
+of his inconstancy, and confirm their separation for ever,
+she was not aware that such language could be suffered
+to announce it; nor could she have supposed Willoughby
+capable of departing so far from the appearance of every
+honourable and delicate feeling--so far from the common
+decorum of a gentleman, as to send a letter so impudently
+cruel: a letter which, instead of bringing with his desire
+of a release any professions of regret, acknowledged no
+breach of faith, denied all peculiar affection whatever--
+a letter of which every line was an insult, and which
+proclaimed its writer to be deep in hardened villainy.
+
+She paused over it for some time with indignant
+astonishment; then read it again and again; but every
+perusal only served to increase her abhorrence of the man,
+and so bitter were her feelings against him, that she
+dared not trust herself to speak, lest she might wound
+Marianne still deeper by treating their disengagement,
+not as a loss to her of any possible good but as an
+escape from the worst and most irremediable of all
+evils, a connection, for life, with an unprincipled man,
+as a deliverance the most real, a blessing the most important.
+
+In her earnest meditations on the contents of the letter,
+on the depravity of that mind which could dictate it,
+and probably, on the very different mind of a very different
+person, who had no other connection whatever with the affair
+than what her heart gave him with every thing that passed,
+Elinor forgot the immediate distress of her sister,
+forgot that she had three letters on her lap yet unread,
+and so entirely forgot how long she had been in the room,
+that when on hearing a carriage drive up to the door,
+she went to the window to see who could be coming so
+unreasonably early, she was all astonishment to perceive
+Mrs. Jennings's chariot, which she knew had not been
+ordered till one.  Determined not to quit Marianne,
+though hopeless of contributing, at present, to her ease,
+she hurried away to excuse herself from attending
+Mrs. Jennings, on account of her sister being indisposed.
+Mrs. Jennings, with a thoroughly good-humoured concern
+for its cause, admitted the excuse most readily, and Elinor,
+after seeing her safe off, returned to Marianne, whom she
+found attempting to rise from the bed, and whom she reached
+just in time to prevent her from falling on the floor,
+faint and giddy from a long want of proper rest and food;
+for it was many days since she had any appetite, and many
+nights since she had really slept; and now, when her
+mind was no longer supported by the fever of suspense,
+the consequence of all this was felt in an aching head,
+a weakened stomach, and a general nervous faintness.
+A glass of wine, which Elinor procured for her directly,
+made her more comfortable, and she was at last able to express
+some sense of her kindness, by saying,
+
+"Poor Elinor! how unhappy I make you!"
+
+"I only wish," replied her sister, "there were
+any thing I COULD do, which might be of comfort to you."
+
+This, as every thing else would have been,
+was too much for Marianne, who could only exclaim,
+in the anguish of her heart, "Oh! Elinor, I am miserable,
+indeed," before her voice was entirely lost in sobs.
+
+Elinor could no longer witness this torrent
+of unresisted grief in silence.
+
+"Exert yourself, dear Marianne," she cried,
+"if you would not kill yourself and all who love you.
+Think of your mother; think of her misery while YOU suffer:
+for her sake you must exert yourself."
+
+"I cannot, I cannot," cried Marianne; "leave me,
+leave me, if I distress you; leave me, hate me, forget me!
+but do not torture me so.  Oh! how easy for those,
+who have no sorrow of their own to talk of exertion!  Happy,
+happy Elinor, YOU cannot have an idea of what I suffer."
+
+"Do you call ME happy, Marianne?  Ah! if you knew!--And
+can you believe me to be so, while I see you so wretched!"
+
+"Forgive me, forgive me," throwing her arms round
+her sister's neck; "I know you feel for me; I know what
+a heart you have; but yet you are--you must be happy;
+Edward loves you--what, oh what, can do away such happiness
+as that?"
+
+"Many, many circumstances," said Elinor, solemnly.
+
+"No, no, no," cried Marianne wildly, "he loves you,
+and only you.  You CAN have no grief."
+
+"I can have no pleasure while I see you in this state."
+
+"And you will never see me otherwise.  Mine is
+a misery which nothing can do away."
+
+"You must not talk so, Marianne.  Have you no
+comforts? no friends?  Is your loss such as leaves
+no opening for consolation?  Much as you suffer now,
+think of what you would have suffered if the discovery
+of his character had been delayed to a later period--
+if your engagement had been carried on for months and months,
+as it might have been, before he chose to put an end to it.
+Every additional day of unhappy confidence, on your side,
+would have made the blow more dreadful."
+
+"Engagement!" cried Marianne, "there has been
+no engagement."
+
+"No engagement!"
+
+"No, he is not so unworthy as you believe him.
+He has broken no faith with me."
+
+"But he told you that he loved you."
+
+"Yes--no--never absolutely.  It was every day implied,
+but never professedly declared.  Sometimes I thought it
+had been--but it never was."
+
+"Yet you wrote to him?"--
+
+"Yes--could that be wrong after all that had passed?--
+But I cannot talk."
+
+Elinor said no more, and turning again to the three
+letters which now raised a much stronger curiosity
+than before, directly ran over the contents of all.
+The first, which was what her sister had sent him
+on their arrival in town, was to this effect.
+
+                         Berkeley Street, January.
+
+     "How surprised you will be, Willoughby, on
+     receiving this; and I think you will feel something
+     more than surprise, when you know that I am in town.
+     An opportunity of coming hither, though with Mrs.
+     Jennings, was a temptation we could not resist.
+     I wish you may receive this in time to come here
+     to-night, but I will not depend on it.  At any rate
+     I shall expect you to-morrow. For the present, adieu.
+
+                                             "M.D."
+
+Her second note, which had been written on the morning
+after the dance at the Middletons', was in these words:--
+
+     "I cannot express my disappointment in having
+     missed you the day before yesterday, nor my astonishment
+     at not having received any answer to a note which
+     I sent you above a week ago.  I have been expecting
+     to hear from you, and still more to see you, every
+     hour of the day.  Pray call again as soon as possible,
+     and explain the reason of my having expected this
+     in vain.  You had better come earlier another time,
+     because we are generally out by one.  We were last
+     night at Lady Middleton's, where there was a dance.
+     I have been told that you were asked to be of the
+     party.  But could it be so?  You must be very much
+     altered indeed since we parted, if that could be
+     the case, and you not there.  But I will not suppose
+     this possible, and I hope very soon to receive your
+     personal assurance of its being otherwise.
+
+                                            "M.D."
+
+The contents of her last note to him were these:--
+
+     "What am I to imagine, Willoughby, by your
+     behaviour last night?  Again I demand an explanation
+     of it.  I was prepared to meet you with the pleasure
+     which our separation naturally produced, with the
+     familiarity which our intimacy at Barton appeared
+     to me to justify.  I was repulsed indeed! I have
+     passed a wretched night in endeavouring to excuse
+     a conduct which can scarcely be called less than
+     insulting; but though I have not yet been able to
+     form any reasonable apology for your behaviour,
+     I am perfectly ready to hear your justification of
+     it.  You have perhaps been misinformed, or purposely
+     deceived, in something concerning me, which may have
+     lowered me in your opinion.  Tell me what it is,
+     explain the grounds on which you acted, and I shall
+     be satisfied, in being able to satisfy you.  It
+     would grieve me indeed to be obliged to think ill
+     of you; but if I am to do it, if I am to learn that
+     you are not what we have hitherto believed you, that
+     your regard for us all was insincere, that your
+     behaviour to me was intended only to deceive, let
+     it be told as soon as possible.  My feelings are at
+     present in a state of dreadful indecision; I wish
+     to acquit you, but certainty on either side will be
+     ease to what I now suffer.  If your sentiments are
+     no longer what they were, you will return my notes,
+     and the lock of my hair which is in your possession.
+
+                                             "M.D."
+
+That such letters, so full of affection and confidence,
+could have been so answered, Elinor, for Willoughby's sake,
+would have been unwilling to believe.  But her condemnation
+of him did not blind her to the impropriety of their
+having been written at all; and she was silently grieving
+over the imprudence which had hazarded such unsolicited
+proofs of tenderness, not warranted by anything preceding,
+and most severely condemned by the event, when Marianne,
+perceiving that she had finished the letters, observed to
+her that they contained nothing but what any one would
+have written in the same situation.
+
+"I felt myself," she added, "to be as solemnly
+engaged to him, as if the strictest legal covenant
+had bound us to each other."
+
+"I can believe it," said Elinor; "but unfortunately
+he did not feel the same."
+
+"He DID feel the same, Elinor--for weeks and weeks he
+felt it.  I know he did.  Whatever may have changed him now, (and
+nothing but the blackest art employed against me can have done
+it), I was once as dear to him as my own soul could wish.
+This lock of hair, which now he can so readily give up,
+was begged of me with the most earnest supplication.
+Had you seen his look, his manner, had you heard his voice
+at that moment!  Have you forgot the last evening of our
+being together at Barton?  The morning that we parted
+too!  When he told me that it might be many weeks before
+we met again--his distress--can I ever forget his distress?"
+
+For a moment or two she could say no more;
+but when this emotion had passed away, she added,
+in a firmer tone,
+
+"Elinor, I have been cruelly used; but not by Willoughby."
+
+"Dearest Marianne, who but himself?  By whom can he
+have been instigated?"
+
+"By all the world, rather than by his own heart.
+I could rather believe every creature of my acquaintance
+leagued together to ruin me in his opinion, than believe
+his nature capable of such cruelty.  This woman of whom he
+writes--whoever she be--or any one, in short, but your own
+dear self, mama, and Edward, may have been so barbarous
+to bely me.  Beyond you three, is there a creature
+in the world whom I would not rather suspect of evil
+than Willoughby, whose heart I know so well?"
+
+Elinor would not contend, and only replied,
+"Whoever may have been so detestably your enemy, let them
+be cheated of their malignant triumph, my dear sister,
+by seeing how nobly the consciousness of your own
+innocence and good intentions supports your spirits.
+It is a reasonable and laudable pride which resists
+such malevolence."
+
+"No, no," cried Marianne, "misery such as mine has
+no pride.  I care not who knows that I am wretched.
+The triumph of seeing me so may be open to all the world.
+Elinor, Elinor, they who suffer little may be proud and
+independent as they like--may resist insult, or return
+mortification--but I cannot.  I must feel--I must be
+wretched--and they are welcome to enjoy the consciousness
+of it that can."
+
+"But for my mother's sake and mine--"
+
+"I would do more than for my own.  But to appear
+happy when I am so miserable--Oh! who can require it?"
+
+Again they were both silent.  Elinor was employed
+in walking thoughtfully from the fire to the window,
+from the window to the fire, without knowing that she
+received warmth from one, or discerning objects through
+the other; and Marianne, seated at the foot of the bed,
+with her head leaning against one of its posts,
+again took up Willoughby's letter, and, after shuddering
+over every sentence, exclaimed--
+
+"It is too much! Oh, Willoughby, Willoughby, could this
+be yours!  Cruel, cruel--nothing can acquit you.  Elinor,
+nothing can.  Whatever he might have heard against me--
+ought he not to have suspended his belief? ought he not to
+have told me of it, to have given me the power of clearing
+myself? 'The lock of hair, (repeating it from the letter,)
+which you so obligingly bestowed on me'--That is unpardonable.
+Willoughby, where was your heart when you wrote those words?
+Oh, barbarously insolent!--Elinor, can he be justified?"
+
+"No, Marianne, in no possible way."
+
+"And yet this woman--who knows what her art may
+have been?--how long it may have been premeditated,
+and how deeply contrived by her!--Who is she?--Who can
+she be?--Whom did I ever hear him talk of as young and
+attractive among his female acquaintance?--Oh! no one,
+no one--he talked to me only of myself."
+
+Another pause ensued; Marianne was greatly agitated,
+and it ended thus.
+
+"Elinor, I must go home.  I must go and comfort mama.
+Can not we be gone to-morrow?"
+
+"To-morrow, Marianne!"
+
+"Yes, why should I stay here? I came only for
+Willoughby's sake--and now who cares for me? Who regards me?"
+
+"It would be impossible to go to-morrow. We owe
+Mrs. Jennings much more than civility; and civility of
+the commonest kind must prevent such a hasty removal as that."
+
+"Well then, another day or two, perhaps; but I cannot
+stay here long, I cannot stay to endure the questions
+and remarks of all these people.  The Middletons and
+Palmers--how am I to bear their pity?  The pity of such
+a woman as Lady Middleton!  Oh, what would HE say to that!"
+
+Elinor advised her to lie down again, and for a
+moment she did so; but no attitude could give her ease;
+and in restless pain of mind and body she moved from one
+posture to another, till growing more and more hysterical,
+her sister could with difficulty keep her on the bed at all,
+and for some time was fearful of being constrained to call
+for assistance.  Some lavender drops, however, which she
+was at length persuaded to take, were of use; and from
+that time till Mrs. Jennings returned, she continued
+on the bed quiet and motionless.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 30
+
+
+Mrs. Jennings came immediately to their room on her return,
+and without waiting to have her request of admittance answered,
+opened the door and walked in with a look of real concern.
+
+"How do you do my dear?"--said she in a voice of great
+compassion to Marianne, who turned away her face without
+attempting to answer.
+
+"How is she, Miss Dashwood?--Poor thing! she looks very bad.--
+No wonder.  Ay, it is but too true.  He is to be married
+very soon--a good-for-nothing fellow!  I have no patience
+with him.  Mrs. Taylor told me of it half an hour ago,
+and she was told it by a particular friend of Miss
+Grey herself, else I am sure I should not have believed it;
+and I was almost ready to sink as it was.  Well, said I,
+all I can say is, that if this be true, he has used
+a young lady of my acquaintance abominably ill, and I
+wish with all my soul his wife may plague his heart out.
+And so I shall always say, my dear, you may depend on it.
+I have no notion of men's going on in this way; and if ever
+I meet him again, I will give him such a dressing as he
+has not had this many a day.  But there is one comfort,
+my dear Miss Marianne; he is not the only young man
+in the world worth having; and with your pretty face
+you will never want admirers.  Well, poor thing!  I won't
+disturb her any longer, for she had better have her cry
+out at once and have done with.  The Parrys and Sandersons
+luckily are coming tonight you know, and that will amuse her."
+
+She then went away, walking on tiptoe out of the room,
+as if she supposed her young friend's affliction could
+be increased by noise.
+
+Marianne, to the surprise of her sister,
+determined on dining with them.  Elinor even advised
+her against it.  But "no, she would go down; she could
+bear it very well, and the bustle about her would
+be less."  Elinor, pleased to have her governed for a
+moment by such a motive, though believing it hardly
+possible that she could sit out the dinner, said no more;
+and adjusting her dress for her as well as she could,
+while Marianne still remained on the bed, was ready
+to assist her into the dining room as soon as they were
+summoned to it.
+
+When there, though looking most wretchedly,
+she ate more and was calmer than her sister had expected.
+Had she tried to speak, or had she been conscious of half
+Mrs. Jennings's well-meant but ill-judged attentions
+to her, this calmness could not have been maintained;
+but not a syllable escaped her lips; and the abstraction
+of her thoughts preserved her in ignorance of every thing
+that was passing before her.
+
+Elinor, who did justice to Mrs. Jennings's kindness,
+though its effusions were often distressing, and sometimes
+almost ridiculous, made her those acknowledgments,
+and returned her those civilities, which her sister could
+not make or return for herself.  Their good friend saw
+that Marianne was unhappy, and felt that every thing
+was due to her which might make her at all less so.
+She treated her therefore, with all the indulgent fondness
+of a parent towards a favourite child on the last day of
+its holidays.  Marianne was to have the best place by the fire,
+was to be tempted to eat by every delicacy in the house,
+and to be amused by the relation of all the news of the day.
+Had not Elinor, in the sad countenance of her sister,
+seen a check to all mirth, she could have been entertained
+by Mrs. Jennings's endeavours to cure a disappointment in love,
+by a variety of sweetmeats and olives, and a good fire.
+As soon, however, as the consciousness of all this was
+forced by continual repetition on Marianne, she could
+stay no longer.  With a hasty exclamation of Misery,
+and a sign to her sister not to follow her, she directly got
+up and hurried out of the room.
+
+"Poor soul!" cried Mrs. Jennings, as soon as she was gone,
+"how it grieves me to see her!  And I declare if she is
+not gone away without finishing her wine!  And the dried
+cherries too!  Lord! nothing seems to do her any good.
+I am sure if I knew of any thing she would like, I would
+send all over the town for it.  Well, it is the oddest
+thing to me, that a man should use such a pretty girl
+so ill!  But when there is plenty of money on one side,
+and next to none on the other, Lord bless you! they care
+no more about such things!--"
+
+"The lady then--Miss Grey I think you called her--
+is very rich?"
+
+"Fifty thousand pounds, my dear.  Did you ever see
+her? a smart, stylish girl they say, but not handsome.
+I remember her aunt very well, Biddy Henshawe; she married
+a very wealthy man.  But the family are all rich together.
+Fifty thousand pounds! and by all accounts, it won't come
+before it's wanted; for they say he is all to pieces.
+No wonder! dashing about with his curricle and hunters!
+Well, it don't signify talking; but when a young man,
+be who he will, comes and makes love to a pretty girl,
+and promises marriage, he has no business to fly off
+from his word only because he grows poor, and a richer
+girl is ready to have him.  Why don't he, in such a case,
+sell his horses, let his house, turn off his servants,
+and make a thorough reform at once? I warrant you,
+Miss Marianne would have been ready to wait till matters
+came round.  But that won't do now-a-days; nothing in the
+way of pleasure can ever be given up by the young men of
+this age."
+
+"Do you know what kind of a girl Miss Grey is?
+Is she said to be amiable?"
+
+"I never heard any harm of her; indeed I hardly ever
+heard her mentioned; except that Mrs. Taylor did say
+this morning, that one day Miss Walker hinted to her,
+that she believed Mr. and Mrs. Ellison would not be sorry
+to have Miss Grey married, for she and Mrs. Ellison could
+never agree."--
+
+"And who are the Ellisons?"
+
+"Her guardians, my dear.  But now she is of age
+and may choose for herself; and a pretty choice she has
+made!--What now," after pausing a moment--"your poor sister
+is gone to her own room, I suppose, to moan by herself.
+Is there nothing one can get to comfort her?  Poor dear,
+it seems quite cruel to let her be alone.  Well, by-and-by we
+shall have a few friends, and that will amuse her a little.
+What shall we play at?  She hates whist I know; but is there
+no round game she cares for?"
+
+"Dear ma'am, this kindness is quite unnecessary.
+Marianne, I dare say, will not leave her room again
+this evening.  I shall persuade her if I can to go
+early to bed, for I am sure she wants rest."
+
+"Aye, I believe that will be best for her.  Let her name
+her own supper, and go to bed.  Lord! no wonder she has
+been looking so bad and so cast down this last week or two,
+for this matter I suppose has been hanging over her head as
+long as that.  And so the letter that came today finished it!
+Poor soul!  I am sure if I had had a notion of it,
+I would not have joked her about it for all my money.
+But then you know, how should I guess such a thing?  I made
+sure of its being nothing but a common love letter, and
+you know young people like to be laughed at about them.  Lord!
+how concerned Sir John and my daughters will be when they
+hear it!  If I had my senses about me I might have called
+in Conduit Street in my way home, and told them of it.
+But I shall see them tomorrow."
+
+"It would be unnecessary I am sure, for you to caution
+Mrs. Palmer and Sir John against ever naming Mr. Willoughby,
+or making the slightest allusion to what has passed,
+before my sister.  Their own good-nature must point out
+to them the real cruelty of appearing to know any thing
+about it when she is present; and the less that may ever
+be said to myself on the subject, the more my feelings
+will be spared, as you my dear madam will easily believe."
+
+"Oh! Lord! yes, that I do indeed.  It must be terrible
+for you to hear it talked of; and as for your sister,
+I am sure I would not mention a word about it to her
+for the world.  You saw I did not all dinner time.
+No more would Sir John, nor my daughters, for they are
+all very thoughtful and considerate; especially if I
+give them a hint, as I certainly will.  For my part,
+I think the less that is said about such things, the better,
+the sooner 'tis blown over and forgot.  And what does
+talking ever do you know?"
+
+"In this affair it can only do harm; more so
+perhaps than in many cases of a similar kind, for it
+has been attended by circumstances which, for the sake
+of every one concerned in it, make it unfit to become
+the public conversation.  I must do THIS justice to
+Mr. Willoughby--he has broken no positive engagement
+with my sister."
+
+"Law, my dear!  Don't pretend to defend him.
+No positive engagement indeed! after taking her all
+over Allenham House, and fixing on the very rooms they
+were to live in hereafter!"
+
+Elinor, for her sister's sake, could not press the
+subject farther, and she hoped it was not required of her
+for Willoughby's; since, though Marianne might lose much,
+he could gain very little by the enforcement of the real truth.
+After a short silence on both sides, Mrs. Jennings,
+with all her natural hilarity, burst forth again.
+
+"Well, my dear, 'tis a true saying about an ill-wind,
+for it will be all the better for Colonel Brandon.
+He will have her at last; aye, that he will.  Mind me,
+now, if they an't married by Mid-summer.  Lord! how he'll
+chuckle over this news!  I hope he will come tonight.
+It will be all to one a better match for your sister.
+Two thousand a year without debt or drawback--except
+the little love-child, indeed; aye, I had forgot her;
+but she may be 'prenticed out at a small cost, and then
+what does it signify?  Delaford is a nice place, I can
+tell you; exactly what I call a nice old fashioned place,
+full of comforts and conveniences; quite shut in with great
+garden walls that are covered with the best fruit-trees
+in the country; and such a mulberry tree in one corner!
+Lord! how Charlotte and I did stuff the only time we
+were there!  Then, there is a dove-cote, some delightful
+stew-ponds, and a very pretty canal; and every thing,
+in short, that one could wish for; and, moreover, it is
+close to the church, and only a quarter of a mile from
+the turnpike-road, so 'tis never dull, for if you only
+go and sit up in an old yew arbour behind the house,
+you may see all the carriages that pass along.
+Oh! 'tis a nice place!  A butcher hard by in the village,
+and the parsonage-house within a stone's throw.
+To my fancy, a thousand times prettier than Barton Park,
+where they are forced to send three miles for their meat,
+and have not a neighbour nearer than your mother.
+Well, I shall spirit up the Colonel as soon as I can.
+One shoulder of mutton, you know, drives another down.
+If we CAN but put Willoughby out of her head!"
+
+"Ay, if we can do THAT, Ma'am," said Elinor,
+"we shall do very well with or without Colonel Brandon."
+And then rising, she went away to join Marianne,
+whom she found, as she expected, in her own room, leaning,
+in silent misery, over the small remains of a fire,
+which, till Elinor's entrance, had been her only light.
+
+"You had better leave me," was all the notice
+that her sister received from her.
+
+"I will leave you," said Elinor, "if you will go
+to bed." But this, from the momentary perverseness
+of impatient suffering, she at first refused to do.
+Her sister's earnest, though gentle persuasion, however,
+soon softened her to compliance, and Elinor saw her
+lay her aching head on the pillow, and as she hoped,
+in a way to get some quiet rest before she left her.
+
+In the drawing-room, whither she then repaired,
+she was soon joined by Mrs. Jennings, with a wine-glass,
+full of something, in her hand.
+
+"My dear," said she, entering, "I have just recollected
+that I have some of the finest old Constantia wine in the
+house that ever was tasted, so I have brought a glass of it
+for your sister.  My poor husband! how fond he was of it!
+Whenever he had a touch of his old colicky gout, he said
+it did him more good than any thing else in the world.
+Do take it to your sister."
+
+"Dear Ma'am," replied Elinor, smiling at the difference
+of the complaints for which it was recommended, "how good
+you are!  But I have just left Marianne in bed, and, I hope,
+almost asleep; and as I think nothing will be of so much
+service to her as rest, if you will give me leave,
+I will drink the wine myself."
+
+Mrs. Jennings, though regretting that she had not been
+five minutes earlier, was satisfied with the compromise;
+and Elinor, as she swallowed the chief of it, reflected,
+that though its effects on a colicky gout were, at present,
+of little importance to her, its healing powers,
+on a disappointed heart might be as reasonably tried
+on herself as on her sister.
+
+Colonel Brandon came in while the party were at tea,
+and by his manner of looking round the room for Marianne,
+Elinor immediately fancied that he neither expected
+nor wished to see her there, and, in short, that he
+was already aware of what occasioned her absence.
+Mrs. Jennings was not struck by the same thought;
+for soon after his entrance, she walked across the room
+to the tea-table where Elinor presided, and whispered--
+"The Colonel looks as grave as ever you see.  He knows
+nothing of it; do tell him, my dear."
+
+He shortly afterwards drew a chair close to her's,
+and, with a look which perfectly assured her of his
+good information, inquired after her sister.
+
+"Marianne is not well," said she.  "She has been
+indisposed all day, and we have persuaded her to go to bed."
+
+"Perhaps, then," he hesitatingly replied, "what I
+heard this morning may be--there may be more truth in it
+than I could believe possible at first."
+
+"What did you hear?"
+
+"That a gentleman, whom I had reason to think--in short,
+that a man, whom I KNEW to be engaged--but how shall I
+tell you?  If you know it already, as surely you must,
+I may be spared."
+
+"You mean," answered Elinor, with forced calmness,
+"Mr. Willoughby's marriage with Miss Grey.  Yes, we DO
+know it all.  This seems to have been a day of general
+elucidation, for this very morning first unfolded it to us.
+Mr. Willoughby is unfathomable!  Where did you hear it?"
+
+"In a stationer's shop in Pall Mall, where I
+had business.  Two ladies were waiting for their carriage,
+and one of them was giving the other an account of the
+intended match, in a voice so little attempting concealment,
+that it was impossible for me not to hear all.  The name
+of Willoughby, John Willoughby, frequently repeated,
+first caught my attention; and what followed was a positive
+assertion that every thing was now finally settled
+respecting his marriage with Miss Grey--it was no longer
+to be a secret--it would take place even within a few weeks,
+with many particulars of preparations and other matters.
+One thing, especially, I remember, because it served
+to identify the man still more:--as soon as the ceremony
+was over, they were to go to Combe Magna, his seat
+in Somersetshire.  My astonishment!--but it would be
+impossible to describe what I felt.  The communicative
+lady I learnt, on inquiry, for I stayed in the shop
+till they were gone, was a Mrs. Ellison, and that, as I
+have been since informed, is the name of Miss Grey's guardian."
+
+"It is.  But have you likewise heard that Miss Grey
+has fifty thousand pounds?  In that, if in any thing,
+we may find an explanation."
+
+"It may be so; but Willoughby is capable--at least
+I think"--he stopped a moment; then added in a voice
+which seemed to distrust itself, "And your sister--
+how did she--"
+
+"Her sufferings have been very severe.  I have
+only to hope that they may be proportionately short.
+It has been, it is a most cruel affliction.  Till yesterday,
+I believe, she never doubted his regard; and even now,
+perhaps--but I am almost convinced that he never was
+really attached to her.  He has been very deceitful! and,
+in some points, there seems a hardness of heart about him."
+
+"Ah!" said Colonel Brandon, "there is, indeed!  But
+your sister does not--I think you said so--she does
+not consider quite as you do?"
+
+"You know her disposition, and may believe how eagerly
+she would still justify him if she could."
+
+He made no answer; and soon afterwards, by the removal
+of the tea-things, and the arrangement of the card parties,
+the subject was necessarily dropped.  Mrs. Jennings, who had
+watched them with pleasure while they were talking, and who
+expected to see the effect of Miss Dashwood's communication,
+in such an instantaneous gaiety on Colonel Brandon's side,
+as might have become a man in the bloom of youth, of hope
+and happiness, saw him, with amazement, remain the whole
+evening more serious and thoughtful than usual.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 31
+
+
+From a night of more sleep than she had expected,
+Marianne awoke the next morning to the same consciousness
+of misery in which she had closed her eyes.
+
+Elinor encouraged her as much as possible to talk
+of what she felt; and before breakfast was ready, they had
+gone through the subject again and again; and with the same
+steady conviction and affectionate counsel on Elinor's side,
+the same impetuous feelings and varying opinions on
+Marianne's, as before.  Sometimes she could believe
+Willoughby to be as unfortunate and as innocent as herself,
+and at others, lost every consolation in the impossibility
+of acquitting him.  At one moment she was absolutely
+indifferent to the observation of all the world, at another
+she would seclude herself from it for ever, and at a third
+could resist it with energy.  In one thing, however,
+she was uniform, when it came to the point, in avoiding,
+where it was possible, the presence of Mrs. Jennings,
+and in a determined silence when obliged to endure it.
+Her heart was hardened against the belief of Mrs. Jennings's
+entering into her sorrows with any compassion.
+
+"No, no, no, it cannot be," she cried;
+"she cannot feel.  Her kindness is not sympathy;
+her good-nature is not tenderness.  All that she wants
+is gossip, and she only likes me now because I supply it."
+
+Elinor had not needed this to be assured of the injustice
+to which her sister was often led in her opinion of others,
+by the irritable refinement of her own mind, and the too
+great importance placed by her on the delicacies of a
+strong sensibility, and the graces of a polished manner.
+Like half the rest of the world, if more than half there
+be that are clever and good, Marianne, with excellent
+abilities and an excellent disposition, was neither
+reasonable nor candid.  She expected from other people
+the same opinions and feelings as her own, and she judged
+of their motives by the immediate effect of their actions
+on herself.  Thus a circumstance occurred, while the
+sisters were together in their own room after breakfast,
+which sunk the heart of Mrs. Jennings still lower
+in her estimation; because, through her own weakness,
+it chanced to prove a source of fresh pain to herself,
+though Mrs. Jennings was governed in it by an impulse
+of the utmost goodwill.
+
+With a letter in her outstretched hand, and countenance
+gaily smiling, from the persuasion of bringing comfort,
+she entered their room, saying,
+
+"Now, my dear, I bring you something that I am sure
+will do you good."
+
+Marianne heard enough.  In one moment her imagination
+placed before her a letter from Willoughby, full of tenderness
+and contrition, explanatory of all that had passed, satisfactory,
+convincing; and instantly followed by Willoughby himself,
+rushing eagerly into the room to inforce, at her feet,
+by the eloquence of his eyes, the assurances of his letter.
+The work of one moment was destroyed by the next.
+The hand writing of her mother, never till then unwelcome,
+was before her; and, in the acuteness of the disappointment
+which followed such an ecstasy of more than hope,
+she felt as if, till that instant, she had never suffered.
+
+The cruelty of Mrs. Jennings no language, within
+her reach in her moments of happiest eloquence,
+could have expressed; and now she could reproach her
+only by the tears which streamed from her eyes with
+passionate violence--a reproach, however, so entirely
+lost on its object, that after many expressions of pity,
+she withdrew, still referring her to the letter of comfort.
+But the letter, when she was calm enough to read it,
+brought little comfort.  Willoughby filled every page.
+Her mother, still confident of their engagement, and relying
+as warmly as ever on his constancy, had only been roused
+by Elinor's application, to intreat from Marianne greater
+openness towards them both; and this, with such tenderness
+towards her, such affection for Willoughby, and such
+a conviction of their future happiness in each other,
+that she wept with agony through the whole of it.
+
+All her impatience to be at home again now returned;
+her mother was dearer to her than ever; dearer through
+the very excess of her mistaken confidence in Willoughby,
+and she was wildly urgent to be gone.  Elinor, unable herself
+to determine whether it were better for Marianne to be
+in London or at Barton, offered no counsel of her own
+except of patience till their mother's wishes could be known;
+and at length she obtained her sister's consent to wait
+for that knowledge.
+
+Mrs. Jennings left them earlier than usual; for she
+could not be easy till the Middletons and Palmers were able
+to grieve as much as herself; and positively refusing
+Elinor's offered attendance, went out alone for the rest
+of the morning.  Elinor, with a very heavy heart, aware of
+the pain she was going to communicate, and perceiving,
+by Marianne's letter, how ill she had succeeded in laying
+any foundation for it, then sat down to write her mother
+an account of what had passed, and entreat her directions
+for the future; while Marianne, who came into the drawing-room
+on Mrs. Jennings's going away, remained fixed at the table
+where Elinor wrote, watching the advancement of her pen,
+grieving over her for the hardship of such a task,
+and grieving still more fondly over its effect on her mother.
+
+In this manner they had continued about a quarter
+of an hour, when Marianne, whose nerves could not then
+bear any sudden noise, was startled by a rap at the door.
+
+"Who can this be?" cried Elinor.  "So early too! I
+thought we HAD been safe."
+
+Marianne moved to the window--
+
+"It is Colonel Brandon!" said she, with vexation.
+"We are never safe from HIM."
+
+"He will not come in, as Mrs. Jennings is from home."
+
+"I will not trust to THAT," retreating to her own room.
+"A man who has nothing to do with his own time has no
+conscience in his intrusion on that of others."
+
+The event proved her conjecture right, though it
+was founded on injustice and error; for Colonel Brandon
+DID come in; and Elinor, who was convinced that
+solicitude for Marianne brought him thither, and who saw
+THAT solicitude in his disturbed and melancholy look,
+and in his anxious though brief inquiry after her,
+could not forgive her sister for esteeming him so lightly.
+
+"I met Mrs. Jennings in Bond Street," said he,
+after the first salutation, "and she encouraged me
+to come on; and I was the more easily encouraged,
+because I thought it probable that I might find you alone,
+which I was very desirous of doing.  My object--my
+wish--my sole wish in desiring it--I hope, I believe
+it is--is to be a means of giving comfort;--no, I must
+not say comfort--not present comfort--but conviction,
+lasting conviction to your sister's mind.  My regard for her,
+for yourself, for your mother--will you allow me to prove it,
+by relating some circumstances which nothing but a VERY
+sincere regard--nothing but an earnest desire of being
+useful--I think I am justified--though where so many hours
+have been spent in convincing myself that I am right,
+is there not some reason to fear I may be wrong?"
+He stopped.
+
+"I understand you," said Elinor.  "You have something
+to tell me of Mr. Willoughby, that will open his character
+farther.  Your telling it will be the greatest act of friendship
+that can be shewn Marianne.  MY gratitude will be insured
+immediately by any information tending to that end, and HERS
+must be gained by it in time.  Pray, pray let me hear it."
+
+"You shall; and, to be brief, when I quitted Barton
+last October,--but this will give you no idea--I must go
+farther back.  You will find me a very awkward narrator,
+Miss Dashwood; I hardly know where to begin.  A short
+account of myself, I believe, will be necessary, and it
+SHALL be a short one.  On such a subject," sighing heavily,
+"can I have little temptation to be diffuse."
+
+He stopt a moment for recollection, and then,
+with another sigh, went on.
+
+"You have probably entirely forgotten a conversation--
+(it is not to be supposed that it could make any impression
+on you)--a conversation between us one evening at Barton
+Park--it was the evening of a dance--in which I alluded
+to a lady I had once known, as resembling, in some measure,
+your sister Marianne."
+
+"Indeed," answered Elinor, "I have NOT forgotten it."
+He looked pleased by this remembrance, and added,
+
+"If I am not deceived by the uncertainty, the partiality
+of tender recollection, there is a very strong resemblance
+between them, as well in mind as person.  The same warmth
+of heart, the same eagerness of fancy and spirits.
+This lady was one of my nearest relations, an orphan from
+her infancy, and under the guardianship of my father.
+Our ages were nearly the same, and from our earliest years
+we were playfellows and friends.  I cannot remember the
+time when I did not love Eliza; and my affection for her,
+as we grew up, was such, as perhaps, judging from my
+present forlorn and cheerless gravity, you might think me
+incapable of having ever felt.  Her's, for me, was, I believe,
+fervent as the attachment of your sister to Mr. Willoughby
+and it was, though from a different cause, no less unfortunate.
+At seventeen she was lost to me for ever.  She was
+married--married against her inclination to my brother.
+Her fortune was large, and our family estate much encumbered.
+And this, I fear, is all that can be said for the
+conduct of one, who was at once her uncle and guardian.
+My brother did not deserve her; he did not even love her.
+I had hoped that her regard for me would support her
+under any difficulty, and for some time it did; but at
+last the misery of her situation, for she experienced
+great unkindness, overcame all her resolution, and though
+she had promised me that nothing--but how blindly I
+relate!  I have never told you how this was brought on.
+We were within a few hours of eloping together for Scotland.
+The treachery, or the folly, of my cousin's maid betrayed us.
+I was banished to the house of a relation far distant,
+and she was allowed no liberty, no society, no amusement,
+till my father's point was gained.  I had depended on her
+fortitude too far, and the blow was a severe one--
+but had her marriage been happy, so young as I then was,
+a few months must have reconciled me to it, or at least
+I should not have now to lament it.  This however
+was not the case.  My brother had no regard for her;
+his pleasures were not what they ought to have been,
+and from the first he treated her unkindly.  The consequence
+of this, upon a mind so young, so lively, so inexperienced
+as Mrs. Brandon's, was but too natural.  She resigned
+herself at first to all the misery of her situation;
+and happy had it been if she had not lived to overcome those
+regrets which the remembrance of me occasioned.  But can we
+wonder that, with such a husband to provoke inconstancy,
+and without a friend to advise or restrain her (for
+my father lived only a few months after their marriage,
+and I was with my regiment in the East Indies) she
+should fall?  Had I remained in England, perhaps--but I
+meant to promote the happiness of both by removing
+from her for years, and for that purpose had procured
+my exchange.  The shock which her marriage had given me,"
+he continued, in a voice of great agitation, "was of
+trifling weight--was nothing to what I felt when I heard,
+about two years afterwards, of her divorce.  It was
+THAT which threw this gloom,--even now the recollection
+of what I suffered--"
+
+He could say no more, and rising hastily walked for a few
+minutes about the room.  Elinor, affected by his relation,
+and still more by his distress, could not speak.  He saw
+her concern, and coming to her, took her hand, pressed it,
+and kissed it with grateful respect.  A few minutes more
+of silent exertion enabled him to proceed with composure.
+
+"It was nearly three years after this unhappy
+period before I returned to England.  My first care,
+when I DID arrive, was of course to seek for her;
+but the search was as fruitless as it was melancholy.
+I could not trace her beyond her first seducer, and there
+was every reason to fear that she had removed from him
+only to sink deeper in a life of sin.  Her legal allowance
+was not adequate to her fortune, nor sufficient for her
+comfortable maintenance, and I learnt from my brother that
+the power of receiving it had been made over some months
+before to another person.  He imagined, and calmly could he
+imagine it, that her extravagance, and consequent distress,
+had obliged her to dispose of it for some immediate relief.
+At last, however, and after I had been six months in England,
+I DID find her.  Regard for a former servant of my own,
+who had since fallen into misfortune, carried me to visit
+him in a spunging-house, where he was confined for debt;
+and there, the same house, under a similar confinement,
+was my unfortunate sister.  So altered--so faded--worn
+down by acute suffering of every kind! hardly could I
+believe the melancholy and sickly figure before me,
+to be the remains of the lovely, blooming, healthful girl,
+on whom I had once doted.  What I endured in so beholding
+her--but I have no right to wound your feelings by attempting
+to describe it--I have pained you too much already.
+That she was, to all appearance, in the last stage
+of a consumption, was--yes, in such a situation it was
+my greatest comfort.  Life could do nothing for her,
+beyond giving time for a better preparation for death;
+and that was given.  I saw her placed in comfortable lodgings,
+and under proper attendants; I visited her every day
+during the rest of her short life: I was with her in her
+last moments."
+
+Again he stopped to recover himself; and Elinor
+spoke her feelings in an exclamation of tender concern,
+at the fate of his unfortunate friend.
+
+"Your sister, I hope, cannot be offended," said he,
+"by the resemblance I have fancied between her and my
+poor disgraced relation.  Their fates, their fortunes,
+cannot be the same; and had the natural sweet
+disposition of the one been guarded by a firmer mind,
+or a happier marriage, she might have been all that you
+will live to see the other be.  But to what does all this
+lead?  I seem to have been distressing you for nothing.
+Ah! Miss Dashwood--a subject such as this--untouched
+for fourteen years--it is dangerous to handle it at all!
+I WILL be more collected--more concise.  She left to my care
+her only child, a little girl, the offspring of her first
+guilty connection, who was then about three years old.
+She loved the child, and had always kept it with her.
+It was a valued, a precious trust to me; and gladly
+would I have discharged it in the strictest sense,
+by watching over her education myself, had the nature
+of our situations allowed it; but I had no family, no home;
+and my little Eliza was therefore placed at school.
+I saw her there whenever I could, and after the death of my
+brother, (which happened about five years ago, and which
+left to me the possession of the family property,) she
+visited me at Delaford.  I called her a distant relation;
+but I am well aware that I have in general been suspected
+of a much nearer connection with her.  It is now three
+years ago (she had just reached her fourteenth year,)
+that I removed her from school, to place her under the care
+of a very respectable woman, residing in Dorsetshire,
+who had the charge of four or five other girls of about
+the same time of life; and for two years I had every reason
+to be pleased with her situation.  But last February,
+almost a twelvemonth back, she suddenly disappeared.
+I had allowed her, (imprudently, as it has since turned
+out,) at her earnest desire, to go to Bath with one of
+her young friends, who was attending her father there
+for his health.  I knew him to be a very good sort of man,
+and I thought well of his daughter--better than she deserved,
+for, with a most obstinate and ill-judged secrecy,
+she would tell nothing, would give no clue, though she
+certainly knew all.  He, her father, a well-meaning,
+but not a quick-sighted man, could really, I believe,
+give no information; for he had been generally confined
+to the house, while the girls were ranging over the town
+and making what acquaintance they chose; and he tried
+to convince me, as thoroughly as he was convinced himself,
+of his daughter's being entirely unconcerned in the business.
+In short, I could learn nothing but that she was gone;
+all the rest, for eight long months, was left to conjecture.
+What I thought, what I feared, may be imagined; and what I
+suffered too."
+
+"Good heavens!" cried Elinor, "could it be--could
+Willoughby!"--
+
+"The first news that reached me of her," he continued,
+"came in a letter from herself, last October.
+It was forwarded to me from Delaford, and I received it
+on the very morning of our intended party to Whitwell;
+and this was the reason of my leaving Barton so suddenly,
+which I am sure must at the time have appeared strange
+to every body, and which I believe gave offence to some.
+Little did Mr. Willoughby imagine, I suppose, when his
+looks censured me for incivility in breaking up the party,
+that I was called away to the relief of one whom he
+had made poor and miserable; but HAD he known it,
+what would it have availed?  Would he have been less
+gay or less happy in the smiles of your sister?  No,
+he had already done that, which no man who CAN feel
+for another would do.  He had left the girl whose
+youth and innocence he had seduced, in a situation of
+the utmost distress, with no creditable home, no help,
+no friends, ignorant of his address!  He had left her,
+promising to return; he neither returned, nor wrote,
+nor relieved her."
+
+"This is beyond every thing!" exclaimed Elinor.
+
+"His character is now before you; expensive, dissipated,
+and worse than both.  Knowing all this, as I have now
+known it many weeks, guess what I must have felt on seeing
+your sister as fond of him as ever, and on being assured
+that she was to marry him: guess what I must have felt
+for all your sakes.  When I came to you last week and
+found you alone, I came determined to know the truth;
+though irresolute what to do when it WAS known.
+My behaviour must have seemed strange to you then;
+but now you will comprehend it.  To suffer you all to be
+so deceived; to see your sister--but what could I do?
+I had no hope of interfering with success; and sometimes
+I thought your sister's influence might yet reclaim him.
+But now, after such dishonorable usage, who can tell what
+were his designs on her.  Whatever they may have been,
+however, she may now, and hereafter doubtless WILL
+turn with gratitude towards her own condition, when she
+compares it with that of my poor Eliza, when she considers
+the wretched and hopeless situation of this poor girl,
+and pictures her to herself, with an affection for him so strong,
+still as strong as her own, and with a mind tormented
+by self-reproach, which must attend her through life.
+Surely this comparison must have its use with her.
+She will feel her own sufferings to be nothing.  They
+proceed from no misconduct, and can bring no disgrace.
+On the contrary, every friend must be made still more
+her friend by them.  Concern for her unhappiness,
+and respect for her fortitude under it, must strengthen
+every attachment.  Use your own discretion, however,
+in communicating to her what I have told you.  You must
+know best what will be its effect; but had I not seriously,
+and from my heart believed it might be of service,
+might lessen her regrets, I would not have suffered
+myself to trouble you with this account of my family
+afflictions, with a recital which may seem to have been
+intended to raise myself at the expense of others."
+
+Elinor's thanks followed this speech with grateful
+earnestness; attended too with the assurance of her
+expecting material advantage to Marianne, from the
+communication of what had passed.
+
+"I have been more pained," said she, "by her
+endeavors to acquit him than by all the rest; for it
+irritates her mind more than the most perfect conviction
+of his unworthiness can do.  Now, though at first she
+will suffer much, I am sure she will soon become easier.
+Have you," she continued, after a short silence,
+"ever seen Mr. Willoughby since you left him at Barton?"
+
+"Yes," he replied gravely, "once I have.  One meeting
+was unavoidable."
+
+Elinor, startled by his manner, looked at him anxiously,
+saying,
+
+"What? have you met him to--"
+
+"I could meet him no other way.  Eliza had confessed
+to me, though most reluctantly, the name of her lover;
+and when he returned to town, which was within a fortnight
+after myself, we met by appointment, he to defend,
+I to punish his conduct.  We returned unwounded,
+and the meeting, therefore, never got abroad."
+
+Elinor sighed over the fancied necessity of this;
+but to a man and a soldier she presumed not to censure it.
+
+"Such," said Colonel Brandon, after a pause,
+"has been the unhappy resemblance between the fate of mother
+and daughter! and so imperfectly have I discharged my trust!"
+
+"Is she still in town?"
+
+"No; as soon as she recovered from her lying-in,
+for I found her near her delivery, I removed her and her
+child into the country, and there she remains."
+
+Recollecting, soon afterwards, that he was probably
+dividing Elinor from her sister, he put an end to his visit,
+receiving from her again the same grateful acknowledgments,
+and leaving her full of compassion and esteem for him.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 32
+
+
+When the particulars of this conversation were repeated
+by Miss Dashwood to her sister, as they very soon were,
+the effect on her was not entirely such as the former
+had hoped to see.  Not that Marianne appeared to distrust
+the truth of any part of it, for she listened to it all
+with the most steady and submissive attention, made neither
+objection nor remark, attempted no vindication of Willoughby,
+and seemed to shew by her tears that she felt it to
+be impossible.  But though this behaviour assured Elinor
+that the conviction of this guilt WAS carried home to
+her mind, though she saw with satisfaction the effect of it,
+in her no longer avoiding Colonel Brandon when he called,
+in her speaking to him, even voluntarily speaking,
+with a kind of compassionate respect, and though she
+saw her spirits less violently irritated than before,
+she did not see her less wretched.  Her mind did become
+settled, but it was settled in a gloomy dejection.
+She felt the loss of Willoughby's character yet more heavily
+than she had felt the loss of his heart; his seduction and
+desertion of Miss Williams, the misery of that poor girl,
+and the doubt of what his designs might ONCE have been
+on herself, preyed altogether so much on her spirits,
+that she could not bring herself to speak of what she felt
+even to Elinor; and, brooding over her sorrows in silence,
+gave more pain to her sister than could have been communicated
+by the most open and most frequent confession of them.
+
+To give the feelings or the language of Mrs. Dashwood
+on receiving and answering Elinor's letter would be only
+to give a repetition of what her daughters had already felt
+and said; of a disappointment hardly less painful than
+Marianne's, and an indignation even greater than Elinor's.
+Long letters from her, quickly succeeding each other,
+arrived to tell all that she suffered and thought;
+to express her anxious solicitude for Marianne, and entreat
+she would bear up with fortitude under this misfortune.
+Bad indeed must the nature of Marianne's affliction be,
+when her mother could talk of fortitude! mortifying
+and humiliating must be the origin of those regrets,
+which SHE could wish her not to indulge!
+
+Against the interest of her own individual comfort,
+Mrs. Dashwood had determined that it would be better for
+Marianne to be any where, at that time, than at Barton,
+where every thing within her view would be bringing back
+the past in the strongest and most afflicting manner,
+by constantly placing Willoughby before her, such as
+she had always seen him there.  She recommended it to
+her daughters, therefore, by all means not to shorten their
+visit to Mrs. Jennings; the length of which, though never
+exactly fixed, had been expected by all to comprise at least
+five or six weeks.  A variety of occupations, of objects,
+and of company, which could not be procured at Barton,
+would be inevitable there, and might yet, she hoped,
+cheat Marianne, at times, into some interest beyond herself,
+and even into some amusement, much as the ideas of both
+might now be spurned by her.
+
+From all danger of seeing Willoughby again,
+her mother considered her to be at least equally safe
+in town as in the country, since his acquaintance must
+now be dropped by all who called themselves her friends.
+Design could never bring them in each other's way:
+negligence could never leave them exposed to a surprise;
+and chance had less in its favour in the crowd of London
+than even in the retirement of Barton, where it might
+force him before her while paying that visit at Allenham
+on his marriage, which Mrs. Dashwood, from foreseeing at
+first as a probable event, had brought herself to expect
+as a certain one.
+
+She had yet another reason for wishing her children
+to remain where they were; a letter from her son-in-law
+had told her that he and his wife were to be in town
+before the middle of February, and she judged it right
+that they should sometimes see their brother.
+
+Marianne had promised to be guided by her mother's opinion,
+and she submitted to it therefore without opposition,
+though it proved perfectly different from what she wished
+and expected, though she felt it to be entirely wrong,
+formed on mistaken grounds, and that by requiring her
+longer continuance in London it deprived her of the only
+possible alleviation of her wretchedness, the personal
+sympathy of her mother, and doomed her to such society and
+such scenes as must prevent her ever knowing a moment's rest.
+
+But it was a matter of great consolation to her,
+that what brought evil to herself would bring good to
+her sister; and Elinor, on the other hand, suspecting that
+it would not be in her power to avoid Edward entirely,
+comforted herself by thinking, that though their longer
+stay would therefore militate against her own happiness,
+it would be better for Marianne than an immediate return
+into Devonshire.
+
+Her carefulness in guarding her sister from ever
+hearing Willoughby's name mentioned, was not thrown away.
+Marianne, though without knowing it herself, reaped all
+its advantage; for neither Mrs. Jennings, nor Sir John,
+nor even Mrs. Palmer herself, ever spoke of him before her.
+Elinor wished that the same forbearance could have extended
+towards herself, but that was impossible, and she was
+obliged to listen day after day to the indignation of them all.
+
+Sir John, could not have thought it possible.
+"A man of whom he had always had such reason to think well!
+Such a good-natured fellow!  He did not believe there was a
+bolder rider in England!  It was an unaccountable business.
+He wished him at the devil with all his heart.  He would
+not speak another word to him, meet him where he might,
+for all the world!  No, not if it were to be by the side
+of Barton covert, and they were kept watching for two
+hours together.  Such a scoundrel of a fellow! such
+a deceitful dog!  It was only the last time they met
+that he had offered him one of Folly's puppies! and this
+was the end of it!"
+
+Mrs. Palmer, in her way, was equally angry.
+"She was determined to drop his acquaintance immediately,
+and she was very thankful that she had never been acquainted
+with him at all.  She wished with all her heart Combe
+Magna was not so near Cleveland; but it did not signify,
+for it was a great deal too far off to visit; she hated
+him so much that she was resolved never to mention
+his name again, and she should tell everybody she saw,
+how good-for-nothing he was."
+
+The rest of Mrs. Palmer's sympathy was shewn in procuring
+all the particulars in her power of the approaching marriage,
+and communicating them to Elinor.  She could soon tell
+at what coachmaker's the new carriage was building,
+by what painter Mr. Willoughby's portrait was drawn,
+and at what warehouse Miss Grey's clothes might be seen.
+
+The calm and polite unconcern of Lady Middleton
+on the occasion was a happy relief to Elinor's spirits,
+oppressed as they often were by the clamorous kindness
+of the others.  It was a great comfort to her to be sure
+of exciting no interest in ONE person at least among their
+circle of friends: a great comfort to know that there
+was ONE who would meet her without feeling any curiosity
+after particulars, or any anxiety for her sister's health.
+
+Every qualification is raised at times, by the
+circumstances of the moment, to more than its real value;
+and she was sometimes worried down by officious condolence
+to rate good-breeding as more indispensable to comfort
+than good-nature.
+
+Lady Middleton expressed her sense of the affair
+about once every day, or twice, if the subject occurred
+very often, by saying, "It is very shocking, indeed!"
+and by the means of this continual though gentle vent,
+was able not only to see the Miss Dashwoods from the
+first without the smallest emotion, but very soon
+to see them without recollecting a word of the matter;
+and having thus supported the dignity of her own sex,
+and spoken her decided censure of what was wrong
+in the other, she thought herself at liberty to attend
+to the interest of her own assemblies, and therefore
+determined (though rather against the opinion of Sir John)
+that as Mrs. Willoughby would at once be a woman of elegance
+and fortune, to leave her card with her as soon as she married.
+
+Colonel Brandon's delicate, unobtrusive enquiries
+were never unwelcome to Miss Dashwood.  He had abundantly
+earned the privilege of intimate discussion of her
+sister's disappointment, by the friendly zeal with
+which he had endeavoured to soften it, and they always
+conversed with confidence.  His chief reward for the
+painful exertion of disclosing past sorrows and present
+humiliations, was given in the pitying eye with which
+Marianne sometimes observed him, and the gentleness
+of her voice whenever (though it did not often happen)
+she was obliged, or could oblige herself to speak to him.
+THESE assured him that his exertion had produced an
+increase of good-will towards himself, and THESE gave
+Elinor hopes of its being farther augmented hereafter;
+but Mrs. Jennings, who knew nothing of all this, who knew
+only that the Colonel continued as grave as ever, and that
+she could neither prevail on him to make the offer himself,
+nor commission her to make it for him, began, at the
+end of two days, to think that, instead of Midsummer,
+they would not be married till Michaelmas, and by the
+end of a week that it would not be a match at all.
+The good understanding between the Colonel and Miss
+Dashwood seemed rather to declare that the honours
+of the mulberry-tree, the canal, and the yew arbour,
+would all be made over to HER; and Mrs. Jennings had,
+for some time ceased to think at all of Mrs. Ferrars.
+
+Early in February, within a fortnight from the
+receipt of Willoughby's letter, Elinor had the painful
+office of informing her sister that he was married.
+She had taken care to have the intelligence conveyed
+to herself, as soon as it was known that the ceremony
+was over, as she was desirous that Marianne should not
+receive the first notice of it from the public papers,
+which she saw her eagerly examining every morning.
+
+She received the news with resolute composure;
+made no observation on it, and at first shed no tears;
+but after a short time they would burst out, and for the
+rest of the day, she was in a state hardly less pitiable
+than when she first learnt to expect the event.
+
+The Willoughbys left town as soon as they were married;
+and Elinor now hoped, as there could be no danger
+of her seeing either of them, to prevail on her sister,
+who had never yet left the house since the blow first fell,
+to go out again by degrees as she had done before.
+
+About this time the two Miss Steeles, lately arrived
+at their cousin's house in Bartlett's Buildings,
+Holburn, presented themselves again before their more
+grand relations in Conduit and Berkeley Streets;
+and were welcomed by them all with great cordiality.
+
+Elinor only was sorry to see them.  Their presence
+always gave her pain, and she hardly knew how to make
+a very gracious return to the overpowering delight of Lucy
+in finding her STILL in town.
+
+"I should have been quite disappointed if I had not
+found you here STILL," said she repeatedly, with a strong
+emphasis on the word.  "But I always thought I SHOULD.
+I was almost sure you would not leave London yet awhile;
+though you TOLD me, you know, at Barton, that you should
+not stay above a MONTH.  But I thought, at the time,
+that you would most likely change your mind when it came
+to the point.  It would have been such a great pity
+to have went away before your brother and sister came.
+And now to be sure you will be in no hurry to be gone.
+I am amazingly glad you did not keep to YOUR WORD."
+
+Elinor perfectly understood her, and was forced
+to use all her self-command to make it appear that she
+did NOT.
+
+"Well, my dear," said Mrs. Jennings, "and how did
+you travel?"
+
+"Not in the stage, I assure you," replied Miss Steele,
+with quick exultation; "we came post all the way, and had
+a very smart beau to attend us.  Dr. Davies was coming
+to town, and so we thought we'd join him in a post-chaise;
+and he behaved very genteelly, and paid ten or twelve
+shillings more than we did."
+
+"Oh, oh!" cried Mrs. Jennings; "very pretty,
+indeed! and the Doctor is a single man, I warrant you."
+
+"There now," said Miss Steele, affectedly simpering,
+"everybody laughs at me so about the Doctor, and I
+cannot think why.  My cousins say they are sure I have
+made a conquest; but for my part I declare I never think
+about him from one hour's end to another.  'Lord! here
+comes your beau, Nancy,' my cousin said t'other day,
+when she saw him crossing the street to the house.
+My beau, indeed! said I--I cannot think who you mean.
+The Doctor is no beau of mine."
+
+"Aye, aye, that is very pretty talking--but it won't do--
+the Doctor is the man, I see."
+
+"No, indeed!" replied her cousin, with affected earnestness,
+"and I beg you will contradict it, if you ever hear it talked
+of."
+
+Mrs. Jennings directly gave her the gratifying
+assurance that she certainly would NOT, and Miss Steele
+was made completely happy.
+
+"I suppose you will go and stay with your brother
+and sister, Miss Dashwood, when they come to town,"
+said Lucy, returning, after a cessation of hostile hints,
+to the charge.
+
+"No, I do not think we shall."
+
+"Oh, yes, I dare say you will."
+
+Elinor would not humour her by farther opposition.
+
+"What a charming thing it is that Mrs. Dashwood can
+spare you both for so long a time together!"
+
+"Long a time, indeed!" interposed Mrs. Jennings.
+"Why, their visit is but just begun!"
+
+Lucy was silenced.
+
+"I am sorry we cannot see your sister, Miss Dashwood,"
+said Miss Steele.  "I am sorry she is not well--"
+for Marianne had left the room on their arrival.
+
+"You are very good.  My sister will be equally
+sorry to miss the pleasure of seeing you; but she has
+been very much plagued lately with nervous head-aches,
+which make her unfit for company or conversation."
+
+"Oh, dear, that is a great pity! but such old
+friends as Lucy and me!--I think she might see US;
+and I am sure we would not speak a word."
+
+Elinor, with great civility, declined the proposal.
+Her sister was perhaps laid down upon the bed, or in her
+dressing gown, and therefore not able to come to them.
+
+"Oh, if that's all," cried Miss Steele, "we can
+just as well go and see HER."
+
+Elinor began to find this impertinence too much for
+her temper; but she was saved the trouble of checking it,
+by Lucy's sharp reprimand, which now, as on many occasions,
+though it did not give much sweetness to the manners
+of one sister, was of advantage in governing those of
+the other.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 33
+
+
+After some opposition, Marianne yielded to her
+sister's entreaties, and consented to go out with her
+and Mrs. Jennings one morning for half an hour. She
+expressly conditioned, however, for paying no visits,
+and would do no more than accompany them to Gray's in
+Sackville Street, where Elinor was carrying on a negotiation
+for the exchange of a few old-fashioned jewels of her mother.
+
+When they stopped at the door, Mrs. Jennings recollected
+that there was a lady at the other end of the street
+on whom she ought to call; and as she had no business
+at Gray's, it was resolved, that while her young friends
+transacted their's, she should pay her visit and
+return for them.
+
+On ascending the stairs, the Miss Dashwoods found
+so many people before them in the room, that there was
+not a person at liberty to tend to their orders; and they
+were obliged to wait.  All that could be done was, to sit
+down at that end of the counter which seemed to promise the
+quickest succession; one gentleman only was standing there,
+and it is probable that Elinor was not without hope
+of exciting his politeness to a quicker despatch.
+But the correctness of his eye, and the delicacy
+of his taste, proved to be beyond his politeness.
+He was giving orders for a toothpick-case for himself,
+and till its size, shape, and ornaments were determined,
+all of which, after examining and debating for a quarter
+of an hour over every toothpick-case in the shop,
+were finally arranged by his own inventive fancy, he had
+no leisure to bestow any other attention on the two ladies,
+than what was comprised in three or four very broad stares;
+a kind of notice which served to imprint on Elinor
+the remembrance of a person and face, of strong,
+natural, sterling insignificance, though adorned in
+the first style of fashion.
+
+Marianne was spared from the troublesome feelings
+of contempt and resentment, on this impertinent examination
+of their features, and on the puppyism of his manner
+in deciding on all the different horrors of the different
+toothpick-cases presented to his inspection, by remaining
+unconscious of it all; for she was as well able to collect
+her thoughts within herself, and be as ignorant of what was
+passing around her, in Mr. Gray's shop, as in her own bedroom.
+
+At last the affair was decided.  The ivory,
+the gold, and the pearls, all received their appointment,
+and the gentleman having named the last day on which his
+existence could be continued without the possession of the
+toothpick-case, drew on his gloves with leisurely care,
+and bestowing another glance on the Miss Dashwoods, but such
+a one as seemed rather to demand than express admiration,
+walked off with a happy air of real conceit and affected
+indifference.
+
+Elinor lost no time in bringing her business forward,
+was on the point of concluding it, when another gentleman
+presented himself at her side.  She turned her eyes towards
+his face, and found him with some surprise to be her brother.
+
+Their affection and pleasure in meeting was just enough
+to make a very creditable appearance in Mr. Gray's shop.
+John Dashwood was really far from being sorry to see
+his sisters again; it rather gave them satisfaction;
+and his inquiries after their mother were respectful
+and attentive.
+
+Elinor found that he and Fanny had been in town
+two days.
+
+"I wished very much to call upon you yesterday,"
+said he, "but it was impossible, for we were obliged
+to take Harry to see the wild beasts at Exeter Exchange;
+and we spent the rest of the day with Mrs. Ferrars.
+Harry was vastly pleased.  THIS morning I had fully intended
+to call on you, if I could possibly find a spare half hour,
+but one has always so much to do on first coming to town.
+I am come here to bespeak Fanny a seal.  But tomorrow I
+think I shall certainly be able to call in Berkeley Street,
+and be introduced to your friend Mrs. Jennings.
+I understand she is a woman of very good fortune.
+And the Middletons too, you must introduce me to THEM.
+As my mother-in-law's relations, I shall be happy to show
+them every respect.  They are excellent neighbours to you in
+the country, I understand."
+
+"Excellent indeed.  Their attention to our comfort,
+their friendliness in every particular, is more than I
+can express."
+
+"I am extremely glad to hear it, upon my word;
+extremely glad indeed.  But so it ought to be; they are
+people of large fortune, they are related to you, and
+every civility and accommodation that can serve to make
+your situation pleasant might be reasonably expected.
+And so you are most comfortably settled in your little cottage
+and want for nothing!  Edward brought us a most charming
+account of the place: the most complete thing of its kind,
+he said, that ever was, and you all seemed to enjoy it beyond
+any thing.  It was a great satisfaction to us to hear it,
+I assure you."
+
+Elinor did feel a little ashamed of her brother;
+and was not sorry to be spared the necessity of answering him,
+by the arrival of Mrs. Jennings's servant, who came to tell
+her that his mistress waited for them at the door.
+
+Mr. Dashwood attended them down stairs, was introduced
+to Mrs. Jennings at the door of her carriage, and repeating
+his hope of being able to call on them the next day,
+took leave.
+
+His visit was duly paid.  He came with a pretence at
+an apology from their sister-in-law, for not coming too;
+"but she was so much engaged with her mother, that really
+she had no leisure for going any where."  Mrs. Jennings,
+however, assured him directly, that she should not stand
+upon ceremony, for they were all cousins, or something
+like it, and she should certainly wait on Mrs. John
+Dashwood very soon, and bring her sisters to see her.
+His manners to THEM, though calm, were perfectly kind;
+to Mrs. Jennings, most attentively civil; and on Colonel
+Brandon's coming in soon after himself, he eyed him with a
+curiosity which seemed to say, that he only wanted to know
+him to be rich, to be equally civil to HIM.
+
+After staying with them half an hour, he asked
+Elinor to walk with him to Conduit Street, and introduce
+him to Sir John and Lady Middleton.  The weather was
+remarkably fine, and she readily consented.  As soon
+as they were out of the house, his enquiries began.
+
+"Who is Colonel Brandon?  Is he a man of fortune?"
+
+"Yes; he has very good property in Dorsetshire."
+
+"I am glad of it.  He seems a most gentlemanlike man;
+and I think, Elinor, I may congratulate you on the prospect
+of a very respectable establishment in life."
+
+"Me, brother! what do you mean?"
+
+"He likes you.  I observed him narrowly, and am
+convinced of it.  What is the amount of his fortune?"
+
+"I believe about two thousand a year."
+
+"Two thousand a-year;" and then working himself
+up to a pitch of enthusiastic generosity, he added,
+"Elinor, I wish with all my heart it were TWICE as much,
+for your sake."
+
+"Indeed I believe you," replied Elinor; "but I am
+very sure that Colonel Brandon has not the smallest wish
+of marrying ME."
+
+"You are mistaken, Elinor; you are very much mistaken.
+A very little trouble on your side secures him.
+Perhaps just at present he may be undecided; the smallness
+of your fortune may make him hang back; his friends
+may all advise him against it.  But some of those little
+attentions and encouragements which ladies can so easily
+give will fix him, in spite of himself.  And there can be
+no reason why you should not try for him.  It is not to be
+supposed that any prior attachment on your side--in short,
+you know as to an attachment of that kind, it is quite
+out of the question, the objections are insurmountable--
+you have too much sense not to see all that.  Colonel Brandon
+must be the man; and no civility shall be wanting on
+my part to make him pleased with you and your family.
+It is a match that must give universal satisfaction.
+In short, it is a kind of thing that"--lowering his voice
+to an important whisper--"will be exceedingly welcome
+to ALL PARTIES." Recollecting himself, however, he added,
+"That is, I mean to say--your friends are all truly
+anxious to see you well settled; Fanny particularly,
+for she has your interest very much at heart, I assure you.
+And her mother too, Mrs. Ferrars, a very good-natured woman,
+I am sure it would give her great pleasure; she said as much
+the other day."
+
+Elinor would not vouchsafe any answer.
+
+"It would be something remarkable, now," he continued,
+"something droll, if Fanny should have a brother and I
+a sister settling at the same time.  And yet it is not
+very unlikely."
+
+"Is Mr. Edward Ferrars," said Elinor, with resolution,
+"going to be married?"
+
+"It is not actually settled, but there is such
+a thing in agitation.  He has a most excellent mother.
+Mrs. Ferrars, with the utmost liberality, will come forward,
+and settle on him a thousand a year, if the match
+takes place.  The lady is the Hon. Miss Morton, only daughter
+of the late Lord Morton, with thirty thousand pounds.
+A very desirable connection on both sides, and I have not
+a doubt of its taking place in time.  A thousand a-year
+is a great deal for a mother to give away, to make over
+for ever; but Mrs. Ferrars has a noble spirit.  To give
+you another instance of her liberality:--The other day,
+as soon as we came to town, aware that money could
+not be very plenty with us just now, she put bank-notes
+into Fanny's hands to the amount of two hundred pounds.
+And extremely acceptable it is, for we must live at a great
+expense while we are here."
+
+He paused for her assent and compassion; and she
+forced herself to say,
+
+"Your expenses both in town and country must certainly
+be considerable; but your income is a large one."
+
+"Not so large, I dare say, as many people suppose.
+I do not mean to complain, however; it is undoubtedly
+a comfortable one, and I hope will in time be better.
+The enclosure of Norland Common, now carrying on,
+is a most serious drain.  And then I have made a little
+purchase within this half year; East Kingham Farm,
+you must remember the place, where old Gibson used to live.
+The land was so very desirable for me in every respect,
+so immediately adjoining my own property, that I felt it
+my duty to buy it.  I could not have answered it to my
+conscience to let it fall into any other hands.  A man must
+pay for his convenience; and it HAS cost me a vast deal
+of money."
+
+"More than you think it really and intrinsically worth."
+
+"Why, I hope not that.  I might have sold it again,
+the next day, for more than I gave: but, with regard to the
+purchase-money, I might have been very unfortunate indeed;
+for the stocks were at that time so low, that if I had not
+happened to have the necessary sum in my banker's hands,
+I must have sold out to very great loss."
+
+Elinor could only smile.
+
+"Other great and inevitable expenses too we have
+had on first coming to Norland.  Our respected father,
+as you well know, bequeathed all the Stanhill effects
+that remained at Norland (and very valuable they were)
+to your mother.  Far be it from me to repine at his
+doing so; he had an undoubted right to dispose of his
+own property as he chose, but, in consequence of it,
+we have been obliged to make large purchases of linen,
+china, &c. to supply the place of what was taken away.
+You may guess, after all these expenses, how very far we
+must be from being rich, and how acceptable Mrs. Ferrars's
+kindness is."
+
+"Certainly," said Elinor; "and assisted by her liberality,
+I hope you may yet live to be in easy circumstances."
+
+"Another year or two may do much towards it,"
+he gravely replied; "but however there is still a great
+deal to be done.  There is not a stone laid of Fanny's
+green-house, and nothing but the plan of the flower-garden
+marked out."
+
+"Where is the green-house to be?"
+
+"Upon the knoll behind the house.  The old
+walnut trees are all come down to make room for it.
+It will be a very fine object from many parts of the park,
+and the flower-garden will slope down just before it,
+and be exceedingly pretty.  We have cleared away all the old
+thorns that grew in patches over the brow."
+
+Elinor kept her concern and her censure to herself;
+and was very thankful that Marianne was not present,
+to share the provocation.
+
+Having now said enough to make his poverty clear,
+and to do away the necessity of buying a pair of ear-rings
+for each of his sisters, in his next visit at Gray's
+his thoughts took a cheerfuller turn, and he began to
+congratulate Elinor on having such a friend as Mrs. Jennings.
+
+"She seems a most valuable woman indeed--Her house,
+her style of living, all bespeak an exceeding good income;
+and it is an acquaintance that has not only been
+of great use to you hitherto, but in the end may prove
+materially advantageous.--Her inviting you to town is
+certainly a vast thing in your favour; and indeed, it
+speaks altogether so great a regard for you, that in all
+probability when she dies you will not be forgotten.--
+She must have a great deal to leave."
+
+"Nothing at all, I should rather suppose; for she has
+only her jointure, which will descend to her children."
+
+"But it is not to be imagined that she lives up to
+her income.  Few people of common prudence will do THAT;
+and whatever she saves, she will be able to dispose of."
+
+"And do you not think it more likely that she
+should leave it to her daughters, than to us?"
+
+"Her daughters are both exceedingly well married,
+and therefore I cannot perceive the necessity of her
+remembering them farther.  Whereas, in my opinion, by her
+taking so much notice of you, and treating you in this
+kind of way, she has given you a sort of claim on her
+future consideration, which a conscientious woman would
+not disregard.  Nothing can be kinder than her behaviour;
+and she can hardly do all this, without being aware
+of the expectation it raises."
+
+"But she raises none in those most concerned.
+Indeed, brother, your anxiety for our welfare and prosperity
+carries you too far."
+
+"Why, to be sure," said he, seeming to recollect himself,
+"people have little, have very little in their power.
+But, my dear Elinor, what is the matter with Marianne?--
+she looks very unwell, has lost her colour, and is grown
+quite thin.  Is she ill?"
+
+"She is not well, she has had a nervous complaint
+on her for several weeks."
+
+"I am sorry for that.  At her time of life,
+any thing of an illness destroys the bloom for ever!
+Her's has been a very short one!  She was as handsome a girl
+last September, as I ever saw; and as likely to attract
+the man.  There was something in her style of beauty,
+to please them particularly.  I remember Fanny used to say
+that she would marry sooner and better than you did;
+not but what she is exceedingly fond of YOU, but so it
+happened to strike her.  She will be mistaken, however.
+I question whether Marianne NOW, will marry a man worth
+more than five or six hundred a-year, at the utmost,
+and I am very much deceived if YOU do not do better.
+Dorsetshire!  I know very little of Dorsetshire; but, my dear
+Elinor, I shall be exceedingly glad to know more of it;
+and I think I can answer for your having Fanny and myself
+among the earliest and best pleased of your visitors."
+
+Elinor tried very seriously to convince him that
+there was no likelihood of her marrying Colonel Brandon;
+but it was an expectation of too much pleasure to himself
+to be relinquished, and he was really resolved on seeking
+an intimacy with that gentleman, and promoting the marriage
+by every possible attention.  He had just compunction
+enough for having done nothing for his sisters himself,
+to be exceedingly anxious that everybody else should
+do a great deal; and an offer from Colonel Brandon,
+or a legacy from Mrs. Jennings, was the easiest means
+of atoning for his own neglect.
+
+They were lucky enough to find Lady Middleton
+at home, and Sir John came in before their visit ended.
+Abundance of civilities passed on all sides.  Sir John
+was ready to like anybody, and though Mr. Dashwood did
+not seem to know much about horses, he soon set him
+down as a very good-natured fellow: while Lady Middleton
+saw enough of fashion in his appearance to think his
+acquaintance worth having; and Mr. Dashwood went away
+delighted with both.
+
+"I shall have a charming account to carry
+to Fanny," said he, as he walked back with his sister.
+"Lady Middleton is really a most elegant woman!  Such
+a woman as I am sure Fanny will be glad to know.
+And Mrs. Jennings too, an exceedingly well-behaved woman,
+though not so elegant as her daughter.  Your sister need
+not have any scruple even of visiting HER, which, to say
+the truth, has been a little the case, and very naturally;
+for we only knew that Mrs. Jennings was the widow of a man
+who had got all his money in a low way; and Fanny and
+Mrs. Ferrars were both strongly prepossessed, that neither
+she nor her daughters were such kind of women as Fanny
+would like to associate with.  But now I can carry her
+a most satisfactory account of both."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 34
+
+
+Mrs. John Dashwood had so much confidence in her
+husband's judgment, that she waited the very next day
+both on Mrs. Jennings and her daughter; and her
+confidence was rewarded by finding even the former,
+even the woman with whom her sisters were staying,
+by no means unworthy her notice; and as for Lady Middleton,
+she found her one of the most charming women in the world!
+
+Lady Middleton was equally pleased with Mrs. Dashwood.
+There was a kind of cold hearted selfishness on both sides,
+which mutually attracted them; and they sympathised
+with each other in an insipid propriety of demeanor,
+and a general want of understanding.
+
+The same manners, however, which recommended Mrs. John
+Dashwood to the good opinion of Lady Middleton did not suit
+the fancy of Mrs. Jennings, and to HER she appeared nothing
+more than a little proud-looking woman of uncordial address,
+who met her husband's sisters without any affection,
+and almost without having anything to say to them;
+for of the quarter of an hour bestowed on Berkeley Street,
+she sat at least seven minutes and a half in silence.
+
+Elinor wanted very much to know, though she did
+not chuse to ask, whether Edward was then in town;
+but nothing would have induced Fanny voluntarily
+to mention his name before her, till able to tell her
+that his marriage with Miss Morton was resolved on,
+or till her husband's expectations on Colonel Brandon
+were answered; because she believed them still so very
+much attached to each other, that they could not be too
+sedulously divided in word and deed on every occasion.
+The intelligence however, which SHE would not give,
+soon flowed from another quarter.  Lucy came very shortly
+to claim Elinor's compassion on being unable to see Edward,
+though he had arrived in town with Mr. and Mrs. Dashwood.
+He dared not come to Bartlett's Buildings for fear
+of detection, and though their mutual impatience to meet,
+was not to be told, they could do nothing at present
+but write.
+
+Edward assured them himself of his being in town,
+within a very short time, by twice calling in Berkeley Street.
+Twice was his card found on the table, when they returned
+from their morning's engagements.  Elinor was pleased
+that he had called; and still more pleased that she had
+missed him.
+
+The Dashwoods were so prodigiously delighted
+with the Middletons, that, though not much in the habit
+of giving anything, they determined to give them--
+a dinner; and soon after their acquaintance began,
+invited them to dine in Harley Street, where they had
+taken a very good house for three months.  Their sisters
+and Mrs. Jennings were invited likewise, and John Dashwood
+was careful to secure Colonel Brandon, who, always glad
+to be where the Miss Dashwoods were, received his eager
+civilities with some surprise, but much more pleasure.
+They were to meet Mrs. Ferrars; but Elinor could not learn
+whether her sons were to be of the party.  The expectation
+of seeing HER, however, was enough to make her interested
+in the engagement; for though she could now meet Edward's
+mother without that strong anxiety which had once promised
+to attend such an introduction, though she could now see
+her with perfect indifference as to her opinion of herself,
+her desire of being in company with Mrs. Ferrars,
+her curiosity to know what she was like, was as lively as ever.
+
+The interest with which she thus anticipated the
+party, was soon afterwards increased, more powerfully
+than pleasantly, by her hearing that the Miss Steeles
+were also to be at it.
+
+So well had they recommended themselves to Lady Middleton,
+so agreeable had their assiduities made them to her,
+that though Lucy was certainly not so elegant, and her
+sister not even genteel, she was as ready as Sir John
+to ask them to spend a week or two in Conduit Street;
+and it happened to be particularly convenient to the Miss
+Steeles, as soon as the Dashwoods' invitation was known,
+that their visit should begin a few days before the party
+took place.
+
+Their claims to the notice of Mrs. John Dashwood,
+as the nieces of the gentleman who for many years had
+had the care of her brother, might not have done much,
+however, towards procuring them seats at her table;
+but as Lady Middleton's guests they must be welcome; and Lucy,
+who had long wanted to be personally known to the family,
+to have a nearer view of their characters and her own
+difficulties, and to have an opportunity of endeavouring
+to please them, had seldom been happier in her life,
+than she was on receiving Mrs. John Dashwood's card.
+
+On Elinor its effect was very different.  She began
+immediately to determine, that Edward who lived with
+his mother, must be asked as his mother was, to a party
+given by his sister; and to see him for the first time,
+after all that passed, in the company of Lucy!--she hardly
+knew how she could bear it!
+
+These apprehensions, perhaps, were not founded
+entirely on reason, and certainly not at all on truth.
+They were relieved however, not by her own recollection,
+but by the good will of Lucy, who believed herself to be
+inflicting a severe disappointment when she told her
+that Edward certainly would not be in Harley Street on Tuesday,
+and even hoped to be carrying the pain still farther
+by persuading her that he was kept away by the extreme
+affection for herself, which he could not conceal when they
+were together.
+
+The important Tuesday came that was to introduce
+the two young ladies to this formidable mother-in-law.
+
+"Pity me, dear Miss Dashwood!" said Lucy, as they
+walked up the stairs together--for the Middletons arrived
+so directly after Mrs. Jennings, that they all followed
+the servant at the same time--"There is nobody here but
+you, that can feel for me.--I declare I can hardly stand.
+Good gracious!--In a moment I shall see the person that all
+my happiness depends on--that is to be my mother!"--
+
+Elinor could have given her immediate relief
+by suggesting the possibility of its being Miss Morton's mother,
+rather than her own, whom they were about to behold;
+but instead of doing that, she assured her, and with
+great sincerity, that she did pity her--to the utter
+amazement of Lucy, who, though really uncomfortable herself,
+hoped at least to be an object of irrepressible envy to Elinor.
+
+Mrs. Ferrars was a little, thin woman, upright,
+even to formality, in her figure, and serious,
+even to sourness, in her aspect.  Her complexion was sallow;
+and her features small, without beauty, and naturally
+without expression; but a lucky contraction of the brow
+had rescued her countenance from the disgrace of insipidity,
+by giving it the strong characters of pride and ill nature.
+She was not a woman of many words; for, unlike people
+in general, she proportioned them to the number of
+her ideas; and of the few syllables that did escape her,
+not one fell to the share of Miss Dashwood, whom she eyed
+with the spirited determination of disliking her at all events.
+
+Elinor could not NOW be made unhappy by this behaviour.--
+A few months ago it would have hurt her exceedingly; but it
+was not in Mrs. Ferrars' power to distress her by it now;--
+and the difference of her manners to the Miss Steeles,
+a difference which seemed purposely made to humble her more,
+only amused her.  She could not but smile to see the graciousness
+of both mother and daughter towards the very person--
+for Lucy was particularly distinguished--whom of all others,
+had they known as much as she did, they would have been most
+anxious to mortify; while she herself, who had comparatively
+no power to wound them, sat pointedly slighted by both.
+But while she smiled at a graciousness so misapplied,
+she could not reflect on the mean-spirited folly from
+which it sprung, nor observe the studied attentions
+with which the Miss Steeles courted its continuance,
+without thoroughly despising them all four.
+
+Lucy was all exultation on being so honorably
+distinguished; and Miss Steele wanted only to be teazed
+about Dr. Davies to be perfectly happy.
+
+The dinner was a grand one, the servants were numerous,
+and every thing bespoke the Mistress's inclination
+for show, and the Master's ability to support it.
+In spite of the improvements and additions which were
+making to the Norland estate, and in spite of its owner
+having once been within some thousand pounds of being
+obliged to sell out at a loss, nothing gave any symptom
+of that indigence which he had tried to infer from it;--
+no poverty of any kind, except of conversation, appeared--
+but there, the deficiency was considerable.  John Dashwood
+had not much to say for himself that was worth hearing,
+and his wife had still less.  But there was no peculiar
+disgrace in this; for it was very much the case with
+the chief of their visitors, who almost all laboured
+under one or other of these disqualifications for being
+agreeable--Want of sense, either natural or improved--want
+of elegance--want of spirits--or want of temper.
+
+When the ladies withdrew to the drawing-room
+after dinner, this poverty was particularly evident,
+for the gentlemen HAD supplied the discourse with some
+variety--the variety of politics, inclosing land,
+and breaking horses--but then it was all over; and one
+subject only engaged the ladies till coffee came in,
+which was the comparative heights of Harry Dashwood,
+and Lady Middleton's second son William, who were nearly
+of the same age.
+
+Had both the children been there, the affair might
+have been determined too easily by measuring them at once;
+but as Harry only was present, it was all conjectural
+assertion on both sides; and every body had a right to
+be equally positive in their opinion, and to repeat it
+over and over again as often as they liked.
+
+The parties stood thus:
+
+The two mothers, though each really convinced that
+her own son was the tallest, politely decided in favour
+of the other.
+
+The two grandmothers, with not less partiality,
+but more sincerity, were equally earnest in support
+of their own descendant.
+
+Lucy, who was hardly less anxious to please one parent
+than the other, thought the boys were both remarkably tall
+for their age, and could not conceive that there could
+be the smallest difference in the world between them;
+and Miss Steele, with yet greater address gave it,
+as fast as she could, in favour of each.
+
+Elinor, having once delivered her opinion on
+William's side, by which she offended Mrs. Ferrars and
+Fanny still more, did not see the necessity of enforcing
+it by any farther assertion; and Marianne, when called
+on for her's, offended them all, by declaring that she
+had no opinion to give, as she had never thought about it.
+
+Before her removing from Norland, Elinor had painted
+a very pretty pair of screens for her sister-in-law,
+which being now just mounted and brought home,
+ornamented her present drawing room; and these screens,
+catching the eye of John Dashwood on his following
+the other gentlemen into the room, were officiously
+handed by him to Colonel Brandon for his admiration.
+
+"These are done by my eldest sister," said he; "and you,
+as a man of taste, will, I dare say, be pleased with them.
+I do not know whether you have ever happened to see any
+of her performances before, but she is in general reckoned
+to draw extremely well."
+
+The Colonel, though disclaiming all pretensions
+to connoisseurship, warmly admired the screens, as he
+would have done any thing painted by Miss Dashwood;
+and on the curiosity of the others being of course excited,
+they were handed round for general inspection.
+Mrs. Ferrars, not aware of their being Elinor's work,
+particularly requested to look at them; and after they had
+received gratifying testimony of Lady Middletons's approbation,
+Fanny presented them to her mother, considerately informing
+her, at the same time, that they were done by Miss Dashwood.
+
+"Hum"--said Mrs. Ferrars--"very pretty,"--and without
+regarding them at all, returned them to her daughter.
+
+Perhaps Fanny thought for a moment that her mother
+had been quite rude enough,--for, colouring a little,
+she immediately said,
+
+"They are very pretty, ma'am--an't they?" But then again,
+the dread of having been too civil, too encouraging herself,
+probably came over her, for she presently added,
+
+"Do you not think they are something in Miss
+Morton's style of painting, Ma'am?--She DOES paint most
+delightfully!--How beautifully her last landscape is done!"
+
+"Beautifully indeed!  But SHE does every thing well."
+
+Marianne could not bear this.--She was already
+greatly displeased with Mrs. Ferrars; and such ill-timed
+praise of another, at Elinor's expense, though she
+had not any notion of what was principally meant by it,
+provoked her immediately to say with warmth,
+
+"This is admiration of a very particular kind!--
+what is Miss Morton to us?--who knows, or who cares,
+for her?--it is Elinor of whom WE think and speak."
+
+And so saying, she took the screens out of her
+sister-in-law's hands, to admire them herself as they
+ought to be admired.
+
+Mrs. Ferrars looked exceedingly angry, and drawing
+herself up more stiffly than ever, pronounced in retort
+this bitter philippic, "Miss Morton is Lord Morton's daughter."
+
+Fanny looked very angry too, and her husband was
+all in a fright at his sister's audacity.  Elinor was
+much more hurt by Marianne's warmth than she had been
+by what produced it; but Colonel Brandon's eyes, as they
+were fixed on Marianne, declared that he noticed only
+what was amiable in it, the affectionate heart which could
+not bear to see a sister slighted in the smallest point.
+
+Marianne's feelings did not stop here.  The cold
+insolence of Mrs. Ferrars's general behaviour to her sister,
+seemed, to her, to foretell such difficulties and distresses
+to Elinor, as her own wounded heart taught her to think
+of with horror; and urged by a strong impulse of
+affectionate sensibility, she moved after a moment,
+to her sister's chair, and putting one arm round her neck,
+and one cheek close to hers, said in a low, but eager,
+voice,
+
+"Dear, dear Elinor, don't mind them.  Don't let them
+make YOU unhappy."
+
+She could say no more; her spirits were quite overcome,
+and hiding her face on Elinor's shoulder, she burst
+into tears.  Every body's attention was called, and almost
+every body was concerned.--Colonel Brandon rose up and went
+to them without knowing what he did.--Mrs. Jennings,
+with a very intelligent "Ah! poor dear," immediately gave
+her her salts; and Sir John felt so desperately enraged
+against the author of this nervous distress, that he
+instantly changed his seat to one close by Lucy Steele,
+and gave her, in a whisper, a brief account of the whole
+shocking affair.
+
+In a few minutes, however, Marianne was recovered
+enough to put an end to the bustle, and sit down among
+the rest; though her spirits retained the impression
+of what had passed, the whole evening.
+
+"Poor Marianne!" said her brother to Colonel Brandon,
+in a low voice, as soon as he could secure his attention,--
+"She has not such good health as her sister,--she is very
+nervous,--she has not Elinor's constitution;--and one must
+allow that there is something very trying to a young woman
+who HAS BEEN a beauty in the loss of her personal attractions.
+You would not think it perhaps, but Marianne WAS remarkably
+handsome a few months ago; quite as handsome as Elinor.--
+Now you see it is all gone."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 35
+
+
+Elinor's curiosity to see Mrs. Ferrars was satisfied.--
+She had found in her every thing that could tend to make
+a farther connection between the families undesirable.--
+She had seen enough of her pride, her meanness, and her
+determined prejudice against herself, to comprehend all
+the difficulties that must have perplexed the engagement,
+and retarded the marriage, of Edward and herself, had he been
+otherwise free;--and she had seen almost enough to be thankful
+for her OWN sake, that one greater obstacle preserved her
+from suffering under any other of Mrs. Ferrars's creation,
+preserved her from all dependence upon her caprice, or any
+solicitude for her good opinion.  Or at least, if she did not
+bring herself quite to rejoice in Edward's being fettered
+to Lucy, she determined, that had Lucy been more amiable,
+she OUGHT to have rejoiced.
+
+She wondered that Lucy's spirits could be so very much
+elevated by the civility of Mrs. Ferrars;--that her interest
+and her vanity should so very much blind her as to make
+the attention which seemed only paid her because she was
+NOT ELINOR, appear a compliment to herself--or to allow
+her to derive encouragement from a preference only given her,
+because her real situation was unknown.  But that it was so,
+had not only been declared by Lucy's eyes at the time,
+but was declared over again the next morning more openly,
+for at her particular desire, Lady Middleton set her down
+in Berkeley Street on the chance of seeing Elinor alone,
+to tell her how happy she was.
+
+The chance proved a lucky one, for a message from
+Mrs. Palmer soon after she arrived, carried Mrs. Jennings away.
+
+"My dear friend," cried Lucy, as soon as they were
+by themselves, "I come to talk to you of my happiness.
+Could anything be so flattering as Mrs. Ferrars's way
+of treating me yesterday?  So exceeding affable as she
+was!--You know how I dreaded the thoughts of seeing her;--
+but the very moment I was introduced, there was such an
+affability in her behaviour as really should seem to say,
+she had quite took a fancy to me.  Now was not it so?--
+You saw it all; and was not you quite struck with it?"
+
+"She was certainly very civil to you."
+
+"Civil!--Did you see nothing but only civility?--
+I saw a vast deal more.  Such kindness as fell to the share
+of nobody but me!--No pride, no hauteur, and your sister
+just the same--all sweetness and affability!"
+
+Elinor wished to talk of something else, but Lucy still
+pressed her to own that she had reason for her happiness;
+and Elinor was obliged to go on.--
+
+"Undoubtedly, if they had known your engagement,"
+said she, "nothing could be more flattering than their
+treatment of you;--but as that was not the case"--
+
+"I guessed you would say so"--replied Lucy
+quickly--"but there was no reason in the world why
+Mrs. Ferrars should seem to like me, if she did not,
+and her liking me is every thing.  You shan't talk me
+out of my satisfaction.  I am sure it will all end well,
+and there will be no difficulties at all, to what I
+used to think.  Mrs. Ferrars is a charming woman,
+and so is your sister.  They are both delightful women,
+indeed!--I wonder I should never hear you say how agreeable
+Mrs. Dashwood was!"
+
+To this Elinor had no answer to make, and did not
+attempt any.
+
+"Are you ill, Miss Dashwood?--you seem low--you
+don't speak;--sure you an't well."
+
+"I never was in better health."
+
+"I am glad of it with all my heart; but really you did
+not look it.  I should be sorry to have YOU ill; you, that have
+been the greatest comfort to me in the world!--Heaven
+knows what I should have done without your friendship."--
+
+Elinor tried to make a civil answer, though doubting
+her own success.  But it seemed to satisfy Lucy, for she
+directly replied,
+
+"Indeed I am perfectly convinced of your regard
+for me, and next to Edward's love, it is the greatest
+comfort I have.--Poor Edward!--But now there is one
+good thing, we shall be able to meet, and meet pretty often,
+for Lady Middleton's delighted with Mrs. Dashwood,
+so we shall be a good deal in Harley Street, I dare say,
+and Edward spends half his time with his sister--besides,
+Lady Middleton and Mrs. Ferrars will visit now;--
+and Mrs. Ferrars and your sister were both so good to say
+more than once, they should always be glad to see me.--
+They are such charming women!--I am sure if ever you
+tell your sister what I think of her, you cannot speak
+too high."
+
+But Elinor would not give her any encouragement
+to hope that she SHOULD tell her sister.  Lucy continued.
+
+"I am sure I should have seen it in a moment,
+if Mrs. Ferrars had took a dislike to me.  If she had only
+made me a formal courtesy, for instance, without saying
+a word, and never after had took any notice of me,
+and never looked at me in a pleasant way--you know
+what I mean--if I had been treated in that forbidding
+sort of way, I should have gave it all up in despair.
+I could not have stood it.  For where she DOES dislike,
+I know it is most violent."
+
+Elinor was prevented from making any reply to this
+civil triumph, by the door's being thrown open, the servant's
+announcing Mr. Ferrars, and Edward's immediately walking in.
+
+It was a very awkward moment; and the countenance of each
+shewed that it was so.  They all looked exceedingly foolish;
+and Edward seemed to have as great an inclination to walk
+out of the room again, as to advance farther into it.
+The very circumstance, in its unpleasantest form,
+which they would each have been most anxious to avoid,
+had fallen on them.--They were not only all three together,
+but were together without the relief of any other person.
+The ladies recovered themselves first.  It was not Lucy's
+business to put herself forward, and the appearance of
+secrecy must still be kept up.  She could therefore only
+LOOK her tenderness, and after slightly addressing him,
+said no more.
+
+But Elinor had more to do; and so anxious was she,
+for his sake and her own, to do it well, that she
+forced herself, after a moment's recollection,
+to welcome him, with a look and manner that were almost easy,
+and almost open; and another struggle, another effort still
+improved them.  She would not allow the presence of Lucy,
+nor the consciousness of some injustice towards herself,
+to deter her from saying that she was happy to see him,
+and that she had very much regretted being from home,
+when he called before in Berkeley Street.  She would
+not be frightened from paying him those attentions which,
+as a friend and almost a relation, were his due, by the
+observant eyes of Lucy, though she soon perceived them
+to be narrowly watching her.
+
+Her manners gave some re-assurance to Edward, and he
+had courage enough to sit down; but his embarrassment still
+exceeded that of the ladies in a proportion, which the case
+rendered reasonable, though his sex might make it rare;
+for his heart had not the indifference of Lucy's, nor
+could his conscience have quite the ease of Elinor's.
+
+Lucy, with a demure and settled air, seemed determined
+to make no contribution to the comfort of the others,
+and would not say a word; and almost every thing that WAS
+said, proceeded from Elinor, who was obliged to volunteer
+all the information about her mother's health, their coming
+to town, &c. which Edward ought to have inquired about,
+but never did.
+
+Her exertions did not stop here; for she soon
+afterwards felt herself so heroically disposed as
+to determine, under pretence of fetching Marianne,
+to leave the others by themselves; and she really did it,
+and THAT in the handsomest manner, for she loitered away
+several minutes on the landing-place, with the most
+high-minded fortitude, before she went to her sister.
+When that was once done, however, it was time for the raptures
+of Edward to cease; for Marianne's joy hurried her into
+the drawing-room immediately.  Her pleasure in seeing him
+was like every other of her feelings, strong in itself,
+and strongly spoken.  She met him with a hand that would
+be taken, and a voice that expressed the affection of a sister.
+
+"Dear Edward!" she cried, "this is a moment of great
+happiness!--This would almost make amends for every thing?"
+
+Edward tried to return her kindness as it deserved,
+but before such witnesses he dared not say half what he
+really felt.  Again they all sat down, and for a moment
+or two all were silent; while Marianne was looking with the
+most speaking tenderness, sometimes at Edward and sometimes
+at Elinor, regretting only that their delight in each
+other should be checked by Lucy's unwelcome presence.
+Edward was the first to speak, and it was to notice
+Marianne's altered looks, and express his fear of her
+not finding London agree with her.
+
+"Oh, don't think of me!" she replied with spirited
+earnestness, though her eyes were filled with tears
+as she spoke, "don't think of MY health.  Elinor is well,
+you see.  That must be enough for us both."
+
+This remark was not calculated to make Edward or
+Elinor more easy, nor to conciliate the good will of Lucy,
+who looked up at Marianne with no very benignant expression.
+
+"Do you like London?" said Edward, willing to say
+any thing that might introduce another subject.
+
+"Not at all.  I expected much pleasure in it,
+but I have found none.  The sight of you, Edward, is the
+only comfort it has afforded; and thank Heaven! you
+are what you always were!"
+
+She paused--no one spoke.
+
+"I think, Elinor," she presently added, "we must
+employ Edward to take care of us in our return to Barton.
+In a week or two, I suppose, we shall be going; and, I trust,
+Edward will not be very unwilling to accept the charge."
+
+Poor Edward muttered something, but what it was,
+nobody knew, not even himself.  But Marianne, who saw
+his agitation, and could easily trace it to whatever
+cause best pleased herself, was perfectly satisfied,
+and soon talked of something else.
+
+"We spent such a day, Edward, in Harley Street
+yesterday!  So dull, so wretchedly dull!--But I have much
+to say to you on that head, which cannot be said now."
+
+And with this admirable discretion did she defer
+the assurance of her finding their mutual relatives more
+disagreeable than ever, and of her being particularly
+disgusted with his mother, till they were more in private.
+
+"But why were you not there, Edward?--Why did you
+not come?"
+
+"I was engaged elsewhere."
+
+"Engaged!  But what was that, when such friends
+were to be met?"
+
+"Perhaps, Miss Marianne," cried Lucy, eager to take
+some revenge on her, "you think young men never stand
+upon engagements, if they have no mind to keep them,
+little as well as great."
+
+Elinor was very angry, but Marianne seemed entirely
+insensible of the sting; for she calmly replied,
+
+"Not so, indeed; for, seriously speaking, I am very
+sure that conscience only kept Edward from Harley Street.
+And I really believe he HAS the most delicate conscience
+in the world; the most scrupulous in performing
+every engagement, however minute, and however it
+may make against his interest or pleasure.  He is the
+most fearful of giving pain, of wounding expectation,
+and the most incapable of being selfish, of any body
+I ever saw.  Edward, it is so, and I will say it.
+What! are you never to hear yourself praised!--Then you
+must be no friend of mine; for those who will accept
+of my love and esteem, must submit to my open commendation."
+
+The nature of her commendation, in the present case,
+however, happened to be particularly ill-suited to the
+feelings of two thirds of her auditors, and was so very
+unexhilarating to Edward, that he very soon got up to go away.
+
+"Going so soon!" said Marianne; "my dear Edward,
+this must not be."
+
+And drawing him a little aside, she whispered
+her persuasion that Lucy could not stay much longer.
+But even this encouragement failed, for he would go;
+and Lucy, who would have outstaid him, had his visit lasted
+two hours, soon afterwards went away.
+
+"What can bring her here so often?" said Marianne,
+on her leaving them.  "Could not she see that we wanted
+her gone!--how teazing to Edward!"
+
+"Why so?--we were all his friends, and Lucy has been
+the longest known to him of any.  It is but natural
+that he should like to see her as well as ourselves."
+
+Marianne looked at her steadily, and said, "You know,
+Elinor, that this is a kind of talking which I cannot bear.
+If you only hope to have your assertion contradicted,
+as I must suppose to be the case, you ought to recollect
+that I am the last person in the world to do it.
+I cannot descend to be tricked out of assurances, that are
+not really wanted."
+
+She then left the room; and Elinor dared not follow
+her to say more, for bound as she was by her promise
+of secrecy to Lucy, she could give no information that
+would convince Marianne; and painful as the consequences
+of her still continuing in an error might be, she was
+obliged to submit to it.  All that she could hope, was
+that Edward would not often expose her or himself to the
+distress of hearing Marianne's mistaken warmth, nor to the
+repetition of any other part of the pain that had attended
+their recent meeting--and this she had every reason to expect.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 36
+
+
+Within a few days after this meeting, the newspapers
+announced to the world, that the lady of Thomas Palmer,
+Esq. was safely delivered of a son and heir; a very
+interesting and satisfactory paragraph, at least to all
+those intimate connections who knew it before.
+
+This event, highly important to Mrs. Jennings's happiness,
+produced a temporary alteration in the disposal of her time,
+and influenced, in a like degree, the engagements
+of her young friends; for as she wished to be as much
+as possible with Charlotte, she went thither every morning
+as soon as she was dressed, and did not return till late
+in the evening; and the Miss Dashwoods, at the particular
+request of the Middletons, spent the whole of every day,
+in every day in Conduit Street.  For their own comfort
+they would much rather have remained, at least all
+the morning, in Mrs. Jennings's house; but it was not
+a thing to be urged against the wishes of everybody.
+Their hours were therefore made over to Lady Middleton
+and the two Miss Steeles, by whom their company, in fact
+was as little valued, as it was professedly sought.
+
+They had too much sense to be desirable companions
+to the former; and by the latter they were considered with
+a jealous eye, as intruding on THEIR ground, and sharing
+the kindness which they wanted to monopolize.  Though nothing
+could be more polite than Lady Middleton's behaviour to
+Elinor and Marianne, she did not really like them at all.
+Because they neither flattered herself nor her children,
+she could not believe them good-natured; and because they
+were fond of reading, she fancied them satirical: perhaps
+without exactly knowing what it was to be satirical;
+but THAT did not signify.  It was censure in common use,
+and easily given.
+
+Their presence was a restraint both on her and on Lucy.
+It checked the idleness of one, and the business of the other.
+Lady Middleton was ashamed of doing nothing before them,
+and the flattery which Lucy was proud to think of
+and administer at other times, she feared they would despise
+her for offering.  Miss Steele was the least discomposed
+of the three, by their presence; and it was in their power
+to reconcile her to it entirely.  Would either of them
+only have given her a full and minute account of the whole
+affair between Marianne and Mr. Willoughby, she would
+have thought herself amply rewarded for the sacrifice
+of the best place by the fire after dinner, which their
+arrival occasioned.  But this conciliation was not granted;
+for though she often threw out expressions of pity for her
+sister to Elinor, and more than once dropt a reflection
+on the inconstancy of beaux before Marianne, no effect
+was produced, but a look of indifference from the former,
+or of disgust in the latter.  An effort even yet lighter
+might have made her their friend.  Would they only have
+laughed at her about the Doctor!  But so little were they,
+anymore than the others, inclined to oblige her,
+that if Sir John dined from home, she might spend a whole
+day without hearing any other raillery on the subject,
+than what she was kind enough to bestow on herself.
+
+All these jealousies and discontents, however, were so
+totally unsuspected by Mrs. Jennings, that she thought
+it a delightful thing for the girls to be together;
+and generally congratulated her young friends every night,
+on having escaped the company of a stupid old woman so long.
+She joined them sometimes at Sir John's, sometimes
+at her own house; but wherever it was, she always came
+in excellent spirits, full of delight and importance,
+attributing Charlotte's well doing to her own care, and ready
+to give so exact, so minute a detail of her situation,
+as only Miss Steele had curiosity enough to desire.
+One thing DID disturb her; and of that she made her
+daily complaint.  Mr. Palmer maintained the common,
+but unfatherly opinion among his sex, of all infants being alike;
+and though she could plainly perceive, at different times,
+the most striking resemblance between this baby and every
+one of his relations on both sides, there was no convincing
+his father of it; no persuading him to believe that it
+was not exactly like every other baby of the same age;
+nor could he even be brought to acknowledge the simple
+proposition of its being the finest child in the world.
+
+I come now to the relation of a misfortune,
+which about this time befell Mrs. John Dashwood.
+It so happened that while her two sisters with
+Mrs. Jennings were first calling on her in Harley Street,
+another of her acquaintance had dropt in--a circumstance
+in itself not apparently likely to produce evil to her.
+But while the imaginations of other people will carry
+them away to form wrong judgments of our conduct,
+and to decide on it by slight appearances, one's happiness
+must in some measure be always at the mercy of chance.
+In the present instance, this last-arrived lady allowed
+her fancy to so far outrun truth and probability,
+that on merely hearing the name of the Miss Dashwoods,
+and understanding them to be Mr. Dashwood's sisters,
+she immediately concluded them to be staying in Harley Street;
+and this misconstruction produced within a day
+or two afterwards, cards of invitation for them
+as well as for their brother and sister, to a small
+musical party at her house.  The consequence of which was,
+that Mrs. John Dashwood was obliged to submit not only
+to the exceedingly great inconvenience of sending her
+carriage for the Miss Dashwoods, but, what was still worse,
+must be subject to all the unpleasantness of appearing
+to treat them with attention: and who could tell that they
+might not expect to go out with her a second time?  The power
+of disappointing them, it was true, must always be her's.
+But that was not enough; for when people are determined
+on a mode of conduct which they know to be wrong, they feel
+injured by the expectation of any thing better from them.
+
+Marianne had now been brought by degrees, so much
+into the habit of going out every day, that it was become
+a matter of indifference to her, whether she went or not:
+and she prepared quietly and mechanically for every
+evening's engagement, though without expecting the smallest
+amusement from any, and very often without knowing,
+till the last moment, where it was to take her.
+
+To her dress and appearance she was grown so perfectly
+indifferent, as not to bestow half the consideration on it,
+during the whole of her toilet, which it received from
+Miss Steele in the first five minutes of their being
+together, when it was finished.  Nothing escaped HER minute
+observation and general curiosity; she saw every thing,
+and asked every thing; was never easy till she knew the price
+of every part of Marianne's dress; could have guessed the
+number of her gowns altogether with better judgment than
+Marianne herself, and was not without hopes of finding out
+before they parted, how much her washing cost per week,
+and how much she had every year to spend upon herself.
+The impertinence of these kind of scrutinies, moreover,
+was generally concluded with a compliment, which
+though meant as its douceur, was considered by Marianne
+as the greatest impertinence of all; for after undergoing
+an examination into the value and make of her gown,
+the colour of her shoes, and the arrangement of her hair,
+she was almost sure of being told that upon "her word
+she looked vastly smart, and she dared to say she would
+make a great many conquests."
+
+With such encouragement as this, was she dismissed
+on the present occasion, to her brother's carriage;
+which they were ready to enter five minutes after it
+stopped at the door, a punctuality not very agreeable
+to their sister-in-law, who had preceded them to the house
+of her acquaintance, and was there hoping for some delay
+on their part that might inconvenience either herself
+or her coachman.
+
+The events of this evening were not very remarkable.
+The party, like other musical parties, comprehended a
+great many people who had real taste for the performance,
+and a great many more who had none at all; and the performers
+themselves were, as usual, in their own estimation,
+and that of their immediate friends, the first private
+performers in England.
+
+As Elinor was neither musical, nor affecting to be so,
+she made no scruple of turning her eyes from the grand
+pianoforte, whenever it suited her, and unrestrained even
+by the presence of a harp, and violoncello, would fix
+them at pleasure on any other object in the room.  In one
+of these excursive glances she perceived among a group
+of young men, the very he, who had given them a lecture
+on toothpick-cases at Gray's.  She perceived him soon
+afterwards looking at herself, and speaking familiarly
+to her brother; and had just determined to find out his
+name from the latter, when they both came towards her,
+and Mr. Dashwood introduced him to her as Mr. Robert Ferrars.
+
+He addressed her with easy civility, and twisted
+his head into a bow which assured her as plainly as
+words could have done, that he was exactly the coxcomb
+she had heard him described to be by Lucy.  Happy had
+it been for her, if her regard for Edward had depended
+less on his own merit, than on the merit of his nearest
+relations!  For then his brother's bow must have given
+the finishing stroke to what the ill-humour of his mother
+and sister would have begun.  But while she wondered
+at the difference of the two young men, she did not find
+that the emptiness of conceit of the one, put her out
+of all charity with the modesty and worth of the other.
+Why they WERE different, Robert exclaimed to her himself
+in the course of a quarter of an hour's conversation;
+for, talking of his brother, and lamenting the extreme
+GAUCHERIE which he really believed kept him from mixing
+in proper society, he candidly and generously attributed it
+much less to any natural deficiency, than to the misfortune
+of a private education; while he himself, though probably
+without any particular, any material superiority
+by nature, merely from the advantage of a public school,
+was as well fitted to mix in the world as any other man.
+
+"Upon my soul," he added, "I believe it is nothing more;
+and so I often tell my mother, when she is grieving
+about it.  'My dear Madam,' I always say to her, 'you must
+make yourself easy.  The evil is now irremediable,
+and it has been entirely your own doing.  Why would
+you be persuaded by my uncle, Sir Robert, against your
+own judgment, to place Edward under private tuition,
+at the most critical time of his life?  If you had only sent
+him to Westminster as well as myself, instead of sending
+him to Mr. Pratt's, all this would have been prevented.'
+This is the way in which I always consider the matter,
+and my mother is perfectly convinced of her error."
+
+Elinor would not oppose his opinion, because,
+whatever might be her general estimation of the advantage
+of a public school, she could not think of Edward's
+abode in Mr. Pratt's family, with any satisfaction.
+
+"You reside in Devonshire, I think,"--was his
+next observation, "in a cottage near Dawlish."
+
+Elinor set him right as to its situation;
+and it seemed rather surprising to him that anybody
+could live in Devonshire, without living near Dawlish.
+He bestowed his hearty approbation however on their
+species of house.
+
+"For my own part," said he, "I am excessively fond
+of a cottage; there is always so much comfort, so much
+elegance about them.  And I protest, if I had any money
+to spare, I should buy a little land and build one myself,
+within a short distance of London, where I might drive
+myself down at any time, and collect a few friends
+about me, and be happy.  I advise every body who is going
+to build, to build a cottage.  My friend Lord Courtland
+came to me the other day on purpose to ask my advice,
+and laid before me three different plans of Bonomi's.
+I was to decide on the best of them.  'My dear Courtland,'
+said I, immediately throwing them all into the fire, 'do not
+adopt either of them, but by all means build a cottage.'
+And that I fancy, will be the end of it.
+
+"Some people imagine that there can be no accommodations,
+no space in a cottage; but this is all a mistake.
+I was last month at my friend Elliott's, near Dartford.
+Lady Elliott wished to give a dance.  'But how can it
+be done?' said she; 'my dear Ferrars, do tell me how it
+is to be managed.  There is not a room in this cottage
+that will hold ten couple, and where can the supper be?'
+I immediately saw that there could be no difficulty in it,
+so I said, 'My dear Lady Elliott, do not be uneasy.
+The dining parlour will admit eighteen couple with ease;
+card-tables may be placed in the drawing-room; the library
+may be open for tea and other refreshments; and let the
+supper be set out in the saloon.'  Lady Elliott was delighted
+with the thought.  We measured the dining-room, and found
+it would hold exactly eighteen couple, and the affair
+was arranged precisely after my plan.  So that, in fact,
+you see, if people do but know how to set about it,
+every comfort may be as well enjoyed in a cottage
+as in the most spacious dwelling."
+
+Elinor agreed to it all, for she did not think
+he deserved the compliment of rational opposition.
+
+As John Dashwood had no more pleasure in music than his
+eldest sister, his mind was equally at liberty to fix on
+any thing else; and a thought struck him during the evening,
+which he communicated to his wife, for her approbation,
+when they got home.  The consideration of Mrs. Dennison's
+mistake,
+in supposing his sisters their guests, had suggested the
+propriety of their being really invited to become such,
+while Mrs. Jenning's engagements kept her from home.
+The expense would be nothing, the inconvenience not more;
+and it was altogether an attention which the delicacy
+of his conscience pointed out to be requisite to its
+complete enfranchisement from his promise to his father.
+Fanny was startled at the proposal.
+
+"I do not see how it can be done," said she,
+"without affronting Lady Middleton, for they spend every day
+with her; otherwise I should be exceedingly glad to do it.
+You know I am always ready to pay them any attention
+in my power, as my taking them out this evening shews.
+But they are Lady Middleton's visitors.  How can I ask them
+away from her?"
+
+Her husband, but with great humility, did not see
+the force of her objection.  "They had already spent a week
+in this manner in Conduit Street, and Lady Middleton
+could not be displeased at their giving the same number
+of days to such near relations."
+
+Fanny paused a moment, and then, with fresh vigor, said,
+
+"My love I would ask them with all my heart, if it
+was in my power.  But I had just settled within myself
+to ask the Miss Steeles to spend a few days with us.
+They are very well behaved, good kind of girls; and I think
+the attention is due to them, as their uncle did so very
+well by Edward.  We can ask your sisters some other year,
+you know; but the Miss Steeles may not be in town any more.
+I am sure you will like them; indeed, you DO like them,
+you know, very much already, and so does my mother; and they
+are such favourites with Harry!"
+
+Mr. Dashwood was convinced.  He saw the necessity
+of inviting the Miss Steeles immediately, and his conscience
+was pacified by the resolution of inviting his sisters
+another year; at the same time, however, slyly suspecting
+that another year would make the invitation needless,
+by bringing Elinor to town as Colonel Brandon's wife,
+and Marianne as THEIR visitor.
+
+Fanny, rejoicing in her escape, and proud of the ready
+wit that had procured it, wrote the next morning to Lucy,
+to request her company and her sister's, for some days,
+in Harley Street, as soon as Lady Middleton could spare them.
+This was enough to make Lucy really and reasonably happy.
+Mrs. Dashwood seemed actually working for her, herself;
+cherishing all her hopes, and promoting all her views!
+Such an opportunity of being with Edward and his family was,
+above all things, the most material to her interest,
+and such an invitation the most gratifying to her
+feelings!  It was an advantage that could not be too
+gratefully acknowledged, nor too speedily made use of;
+and the visit to Lady Middleton, which had not before had
+any precise limits, was instantly discovered to have been
+always meant to end in two days' time.
+
+When the note was shown to Elinor, as it was within ten
+minutes after its arrival, it gave her, for the first time,
+some share in the expectations of Lucy; for such a mark
+of uncommon kindness, vouchsafed on so short an acquaintance,
+seemed to declare that the good-will towards her arose
+from something more than merely malice against herself;
+and might be brought, by time and address, to do
+every thing that Lucy wished.  Her flattery had already
+subdued the pride of Lady Middleton, and made an entry
+into the close heart of Mrs. John Dashwood; and these
+were effects that laid open the probability of greater.
+
+The Miss Steeles removed to Harley Street, and all
+that reached Elinor of their influence there, strengthened
+her expectation of the event.  Sir John, who called on
+them more than once, brought home such accounts of the
+favour they were in, as must be universally striking.
+Mrs. Dashwood had never been so much pleased with any
+young women in her life, as she was with them; had given
+each of them a needle book made by some emigrant;
+called Lucy by her Christian name; and did not know
+whether she should ever be able to part with them.
+
+
+
+
+
+[At this point in the first and second editions, Volume II ended.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 37
+
+
+Mrs. Palmer was so well at the end of a fortnight,
+that her mother felt it no longer necessary to give up
+the whole of her time to her; and, contenting herself with
+visiting her once or twice a day, returned from that period
+to her own home, and her own habits, in which she found
+the Miss Dashwoods very ready to resume their former share.
+
+About the third or fourth morning after their
+being thus resettled in Berkeley Street, Mrs. Jennings,
+on returning from her ordinary visit to Mrs. Palmer,
+entered the drawing-room, where Elinor was sitting
+by herself, with an air of such hurrying importance
+as prepared her to hear something wonderful; and giving her
+time only to form that idea, began directly to justify it,
+by saying,
+
+"Lord! my dear Miss Dashwood! have you heard the news?"
+
+"No, ma'am.  What is it?"
+
+"Something so strange!  But you shall hear it all.--
+When I got to Mr. Palmer's, I found Charlotte quite
+in a fuss about the child.  She was sure it was very
+ill--it cried, and fretted, and was all over pimples.
+So I looked at it directly, and, 'Lord! my dear,'
+says I, 'it is nothing in the world, but the red gum--'
+and nurse said just the same.  But Charlotte, she would
+not be satisfied, so Mr. Donavan was sent for; and luckily
+he happened to just come in from Harley Street, so he
+stepped over directly, and as soon as ever he saw the child,
+be said just as we did, that it was nothing in the world
+but the red gum, and then Charlotte was easy.  And so,
+just as he was going away again, it came into my head,
+I am sure I do not know how I happened to think of it,
+but it came into my head to ask him if there was any news.
+So upon that, he smirked, and simpered, and looked grave,
+and seemed to know something or other, and at last he
+said in a whisper, 'For fear any unpleasant report
+should reach the young ladies under your care as to their
+sister's indisposition, I think it advisable to say,
+that I believe there is no great reason for alarm; I hope
+Mrs. Dashwood will do very well.'"
+
+"What! is Fanny ill?"
+
+"That is exactly what I said, my dear.  'Lord!' says I,
+'is Mrs. Dashwood ill?' So then it all came out; and the
+long and the short of the matter, by all I can learn,
+seems to be this.  Mr. Edward Ferrars, the very young
+man I used to joke with you about (but however, as it
+turns out, I am monstrous glad there was never any thing
+in it), Mr. Edward Ferrars, it seems, has been engaged
+above this twelvemonth to my cousin Lucy!--There's for you,
+my dear!--And not a creature knowing a syllable of the matter,
+except Nancy!--Could you have believed such a thing possible?--
+There is no great wonder in their liking one another;
+but that matters should be brought so forward between them,
+and nobody suspect it!--THAT is strange!--I never happened
+to see them together, or I am sure I should have found it
+out directly.  Well, and so this was kept a great secret,
+for fear of Mrs. Ferrars, and neither she nor your
+brother or sister suspected a word of the matter;--
+till this very morning, poor Nancy, who, you know, is a
+well-meaning creature, but no conjurer, popt it all out.
+'Lord!' thinks she to herself, 'they are all so fond
+of Lucy, to be sure they will make no difficulty about it;'
+and so, away she went to your sister, who was sitting all
+alone at her carpet-work, little suspecting what was to
+come--for she had just been saying to your brother, only five
+minutes before, that she thought to make a match between
+Edward and some Lord's daughter or other, I forget who.
+So you may think what a blow it was to all her vanity
+and pride.  She fell into violent hysterics immediately,
+with such screams as reached your brother's ears,
+as he was sitting in his own dressing-room down stairs,
+thinking about writing a letter to his steward in the country.
+So up he flew directly, and a terrible scene took place,
+for Lucy was come to them by that time, little dreaming
+what was going on.  Poor soul!  I pity HER.  And I must say,
+I think she was used very hardly; for your sister scolded
+like any fury, and soon drove her into a fainting fit.
+Nancy, she fell upon her knees, and cried bitterly;
+and your brother, he walked about the room, and said
+he did not know what to do.  Mrs. Dashwood declared
+they should not stay a minute longer in the house,
+and your brother was forced to go down upon HIS knees too,
+to persuade her to let them stay till they had packed
+up their clothes.  THEN she fell into hysterics again,
+and he was so frightened that he would send for Mr. Donavan,
+and Mr. Donavan found the house in all this uproar.
+The carriage was at the door ready to take my poor
+cousins away, and they were just stepping in as he
+came off; poor Lucy in such a condition, he says,
+she could hardly walk; and Nancy, she was almost as bad.
+I declare, I have no patience with your sister; and I hope,
+with all my heart, it will be a match in spite of her.
+Lord! what a taking poor Mr. Edward will be in when he
+hears of it!  To have his love used so scornfully! for
+they say he is monstrous fond of her, as well he may.
+I should not wonder, if he was to be in the greatest
+passion!--and Mr. Donavan thinks just the same.  He and I
+had a great deal of talk about it; and the best of all is,
+that he is gone back again to Harley Street, that he may
+be within call when Mrs. Ferrars is told of it, for she
+was sent for as soon as ever my cousins left the house,
+for your sister was sure SHE would be in hysterics too;
+and so she may, for what I care.  I have no pity for
+either of them.  I have no notion of people's making
+such a to-do about money and greatness.  There is no
+reason on earth why Mr. Edward and Lucy should not marry;
+for I am sure Mrs. Ferrars may afford to do very well
+by her son, and though Lucy has next to nothing herself,
+she knows better than any body how to make the most
+of every thing; I dare say, if Mrs. Ferrars would only
+allow him five hundred a-year, she would make as good
+an appearance with it as any body else would with eight.
+Lord! how snug they might live in such another cottage
+as yours--or a little bigger--with two maids, and two men;
+and I believe I could help them to a housemaid, for my
+Betty has a sister out of place, that would fit them
+exactly."
+
+Here Mrs. Jennings ceased, and as Elinor had had
+time enough to collect her thoughts, she was able
+to give such an answer, and make such observations,
+as the subject might naturally be supposed to produce.
+Happy to find that she was not suspected of any extraordinary
+interest in it; that Mrs. Jennings (as she had of late
+often hoped might be the case) had ceased to imagine her
+at all attached to Edward; and happy above all the rest,
+in the absence of Marianne, she felt very well able
+to speak of the affair without embarrassment, and to
+give her judgment, as she believed, with impartiality
+on the conduct of every one concerned in it.
+
+She could hardly determine what her own expectation
+of its event really was; though she earnestly tried
+to drive away the notion of its being possible to end
+otherwise at last, than in the marriage of Edward and Lucy.
+What Mrs. Ferrars would say and do, though there could
+not be a doubt of its nature, she was anxious to hear;
+and still more anxious to know how Edward would
+conduct himself.  For HIM she felt much compassion;--
+for Lucy very little--and it cost her some pains to procure
+that little;--for the rest of the party none at all.
+
+As Mrs. Jennings could talk on no other subject,
+Elinor soon saw the necessity of preparing Marianne for
+its discussion.  No time was to be lost in undeceiving her,
+in making her acquainted with the real truth, and in
+endeavouring to bring her to hear it talked of by others,
+without betraying that she felt any uneasiness for her sister,
+or any resentment against Edward.
+
+Elinor's office was a painful one.--She was going
+to remove what she really believed to be her sister's
+chief consolation,--to give such particulars of Edward as she
+feared would ruin him for ever in her good opinion,-and
+to make Marianne, by a resemblance in their situations,
+which to HER fancy would seem strong, feel all her own
+disappointment over again.  But unwelcome as such a task
+must be, it was necessary to be done, and Elinor therefore
+hastened to perform it.
+
+She was very far from wishing to dwell on her own
+feelings, or to represent herself as suffering much,
+any otherwise than as the self-command she had practised
+since her first knowledge of Edward's engagement, might
+suggest a hint of what was practicable to Marianne.
+Her narration was clear and simple; and though it could
+not be given without emotion, it was not accompanied
+by violent agitation, nor impetuous grief.--THAT belonged
+rather to the hearer, for Marianne listened with horror,
+and cried excessively.  Elinor was to be the comforter
+of others in her own distresses, no less than in theirs;
+and all the comfort that could be given by assurances
+of her own composure of mind, and a very earnest
+vindication of Edward from every charge but of imprudence,
+was readily offered.
+
+But Marianne for some time would give credit to neither.
+Edward seemed a second Willoughby; and acknowledging
+as Elinor did, that she HAD loved him most sincerely,
+could she feel less than herself!  As for Lucy Steele,
+she considered her so totally unamiable, so absolutely
+incapable of attaching a sensible man, that she could
+not be persuaded at first to believe, and afterwards
+to pardon, any former affection of Edward for her.
+She would not even admit it to have been natural;
+and Elinor left her to be convinced that it was so,
+by that which only could convince her, a better knowledge
+of mankind.
+
+Her first communication had reached no farther than
+to state the fact of the engagement, and the length of time
+it had existed.--Marianne's feelings had then broken in,
+and put an end to all regularity of detail; and for some
+time all that could be done was to soothe her distress,
+lessen her alarms, and combat her resentment.  The first
+question on her side, which led to farther particulars,
+was,
+
+"How long has this been known to you, Elinor? has
+he written to you?"
+
+"I have known it these four months.  When Lucy
+first came to Barton Park last November, she told me
+in confidence of her engagement."
+
+At these words, Marianne's eyes expressed the astonishment
+which her lips could not utter.  After a pause of wonder,
+she exclaimed--
+
+"Four months!--Have you known of this four months?"
+
+Elinor confirmed it.
+
+"What!--while attending me in all my misery, has this
+been on your heart?--And I have reproached you for being
+happy!"--
+
+"It was not fit that you should then know how much
+I was the reverse!"
+
+"Four months!"--cried Marianne again.--"So calm!--
+so cheerful!--how have you been supported?"--
+
+"By feeling that I was doing my duty.--My promise to
+Lucy, obliged me to be secret.  I owed it to her, therefore,
+to avoid giving any hint of the truth; and I owed it to my
+family and friends, not to create in them a solicitude about me,
+which it could not be in my power to satisfy."
+
+Marianne seemed much struck.
+
+"I have very often wished to undeceive yourself and my
+mother," added Elinor; "and once or twice I have attempted it;--
+but without betraying my trust, I never could have convinced
+you."
+
+"Four months!--and yet you loved him!"--
+
+"Yes. But I did not love only him;--and while the comfort
+of others was dear to me, I was glad to spare them from knowing
+how much I felt.  Now, I can think and speak of it with
+little emotion.  I would not have you suffer on my account;
+for I assure you I no longer suffer materially myself.
+I have many things to support me.  I am not conscious of having
+provoked the disappointment by any imprudence of my own,
+I have borne it as much as possible without spreading
+it farther.  I acquit Edward of essential misconduct.
+I wish him very happy; and I am so sure of his always
+doing his duty, that though now he may harbour some regret,
+in the end he must become so.  Lucy does not want sense,
+and that is the foundation on which every thing good may
+be built.--And after all, Marianne, after all that is
+bewitching in the idea of a single and constant attachment,
+and all that can be said of one's happiness depending
+entirely on any particular person, it is not meant--it
+is not fit--it is not possible that it should be so.--
+Edward will marry Lucy; he will marry a woman superior
+in person and understanding to half her sex; and time
+and habit will teach him to forget that he ever thought
+another superior to HER."--
+
+"If such is your way of thinking," said Marianne,
+"if the loss of what is most valued is so easily
+to be made up by something else, your resolution,
+your self-command, are, perhaps, a little less to be
+wondered at.--They are brought more within my comprehension."
+
+"I understand you.--You do not suppose that I have ever
+felt much.--For four months, Marianne, I have had all this
+hanging on my mind, without being at liberty to speak
+of it to a single creature; knowing that it would make
+you and my mother most unhappy whenever it were explained
+to you, yet unable to prepare you for it in the least.--
+It was told me,--it was in a manner forced on me by the
+very person herself, whose prior engagement ruined all
+my prospects; and told me, as I thought, with triumph.--
+This person's suspicions, therefore, I have had to oppose,
+by endeavouring to appear indifferent where I have been most
+deeply interested;--and it has not been only once;--I have
+had her hopes and exultation to listen to again and again.--
+I have known myself to be divided from Edward for ever,
+without hearing one circumstance that could make me less
+desire the connection.--Nothing has proved him unworthy;
+nor has anything declared him indifferent to me.--
+I have had to contend against the unkindness of his sister,
+and the insolence of his mother; and have suffered the
+punishment of an attachment, without enjoying its advantages.--
+And all this has been going on at a time, when, as you
+know too well, it has not been my only unhappiness.--
+If you can think me capable of ever feeling--surely you
+may suppose that I have suffered NOW.  The composure
+of mind with which I have brought myself at present
+to consider the matter, the consolation that I have been
+willing to admit, have been the effect of constant and
+painful exertion;--they did not spring up of themselves;--
+they did not occur to relieve my spirits at first.--
+No, Marianne.--THEN, if I had not been bound to silence,
+perhaps nothing could have kept me entirely--not even what I
+owed to my dearest friends--from openly shewing that I was
+VERY unhappy."--
+
+Marianne was quite subdued.--
+
+"Oh! Elinor," she cried, "you have made me hate
+myself for ever.--How barbarous have I been to you!--
+you, who have been my only comfort, who have borne with me
+in all my misery, who have seemed to be only suffering
+for me!--Is this my gratitude?--Is this the only return I
+can make you?--Because your merit cries out upon myself,
+I have been trying to do it away."
+
+The tenderest caresses followed this confession.
+In such a frame of mind as she was now in, Elinor had
+no difficulty in obtaining from her whatever promise
+she required; and at her request, Marianne engaged
+never to speak of the affair to any one with the least
+appearance of bitterness;--to meet Lucy without betraying
+the smallest increase of dislike to her;--and even to see
+Edward himself, if chance should bring them together,
+without any diminution of her usual cordiality.--
+These were great concessions;--but where Marianne felt
+that she had injured, no reparation could be too much
+for her to make.
+
+She performed her promise of being discreet,
+to admiration.--She attended to all that Mrs. Jennings
+had to say upon the subject, with an unchanging complexion,
+dissented from her in nothing, and was heard three
+times to say, "Yes, ma'am."--She listened to her praise
+of Lucy with only moving from one chair to another,
+and when Mrs. Jennings talked of Edward's affection,
+it cost her only a spasm in her throat.--Such advances
+towards heroism in her sister, made Elinor feel equal
+to any thing herself.
+
+The next morning brought a farther trial of it,
+in a visit from their brother, who came with a most serious
+aspect to talk over the dreadful affair, and bring them
+news of his wife.
+
+"You have heard, I suppose," said he with great solemnity,
+as soon as he was seated, "of the very shocking discovery
+that took place under our roof yesterday."
+
+They all looked their assent; it seemed too awful
+a moment for speech.
+
+"Your sister," he continued, "has suffered dreadfully.
+Mrs. Ferrars too--in short it has been a scene of such
+complicated distress--but I will hope that the storm may
+be weathered without our being any of us quite overcome.
+Poor Fanny! she was in hysterics all yesterday.
+But I would not alarm you too much.  Donavan says there
+is nothing materially to be apprehended; her constitution
+is a good one, and her resolution equal to any thing.
+She has borne it all, with the fortitude of an angel!
+She says she never shall think well of anybody again;
+and one cannot wonder at it, after being so deceived!--
+meeting with such ingratitude, where so much kindness
+had been shewn, so much confidence had been placed!  It
+was quite out of the benevolence of her heart, that she
+had asked these young women to her house; merely because
+she thought they deserved some attention, were harmless,
+well-behaved girls, and would be pleasant companions;
+for otherwise we both wished very much to have invited you
+and Marianne to be with us, while your kind friend there,
+was attending her daughter.  And now to be so rewarded!
+'I wish, with all my heart,' says poor Fanny in her
+affectionate way, 'that we had asked your sisters instead
+of them.'"
+
+Here he stopped to be thanked; which being done,
+he went on.
+
+"What poor Mrs. Ferrars suffered, when first Fanny
+broke it to her, is not to be described.  While she with
+the truest affection had been planning a most eligible
+connection for him, was it to be supposed that he could
+be all the time secretly engaged to another person!--such
+a suspicion could never have entered her head!  If she
+suspected ANY prepossession elsewhere, it could not be
+in THAT quarter.  'THERE, to be sure,' said she, 'I might
+have thought myself safe.' She was quite in an agony.
+We consulted together, however, as to what should be done,
+and at last she determined to send for Edward.
+He came.  But I am sorry to relate what ensued.
+All that Mrs. Ferrars could say to make him put an end
+to the engagement, assisted too as you may well suppose
+by my arguments, and Fanny's entreaties, was of
+no avail.  Duty, affection, every thing was disregarded.
+I never thought Edward so stubborn, so unfeeling before.
+His mother explained to him her liberal designs, in case
+of his marrying Miss Morton; told him she would settle on
+him the Norfolk estate, which, clear of land-tax, brings
+in a good thousand a-year; offered even, when matters
+grew desperate, to make it twelve hundred; and in opposition
+to this, if he still persisted in this low connection,
+represented to him the certain penury that must attend
+the match.  His own two thousand pounds she protested
+should be his all; she would never see him again; and so far
+would she be from affording him the smallest assistance,
+that if he were to enter into any profession with a view
+of better support, she would do all in her power to prevent
+him advancing in it."
+
+Here Marianne, in an ecstasy of indignation,
+clapped her hands together, and cried, "Gracious God!
+can this be possible!"
+
+"Well may you wonder, Marianne," replied her brother,
+"at the obstinacy which could resist such arguments as these.
+Your exclamation is very natural."
+
+Marianne was going to retort, but she remembered
+her promises, and forbore.
+
+"All this, however," he continued, "was urged in vain.
+Edward said very little; but what he did say, was in
+the most determined manner.  Nothing should prevail on
+him to give up his engagement.  He would stand to it,
+cost him what it might."
+
+"Then," cried Mrs. Jennings with blunt sincerity,
+no longer able to be silent, "he has acted like an honest
+man! I beg your pardon, Mr. Dashwood, but if he had
+done otherwise, I should have thought him a rascal.
+I have some little concern in the business, as well
+as yourself, for Lucy Steele is my cousin, and I believe
+there is not a better kind of girl in the world, nor one
+who more deserves a good husband."
+
+John Dashwood was greatly astonished; but his nature
+was calm, not open to provocation, and he never wished
+to offend anybody, especially anybody of good fortune.
+He therefore replied, without any resentment,
+
+"I would by no means speak disrespectfully of any
+relation of yours, madam.  Miss Lucy Steele is, I dare say,
+a very deserving young woman, but in the present case
+you know, the connection must be impossible.
+And to have entered into a secret engagement with a
+young man under her uncle's care, the son of a woman
+especially of such very large fortune as Mrs. Ferrars,
+is perhaps, altogether a little extraordinary. In short,
+I do not mean to reflect upon the behaviour of any person
+whom you have a regard for, Mrs. Jennings.  We all wish
+her extremely happy; and Mrs. Ferrars's conduct throughout
+the whole, has been such as every conscientious, good mother,
+in like circumstances, would adopt.  It has been dignified
+and liberal.  Edward has drawn his own lot, and I fear
+it will be a bad one."
+
+Marianne sighed out her similar apprehension;
+and Elinor's heart wrung for the feelings of Edward,
+while braving his mother's threats, for a woman who could
+not reward him.
+
+"Well, sir," said Mrs. Jennings, "and how did it end?"
+
+"I am sorry to say, ma'am, in a most unhappy rupture:--
+Edward is dismissed for ever from his mother's notice.
+He left her house yesterday, but where he is gone, or whether
+he is still in town, I do not know; for WE of course can
+make no inquiry."
+
+"Poor young man!--and what is to become of him?"
+
+"What, indeed, ma'am!  It is a melancholy consideration.
+Born to the prospect of such affluence!  I cannot conceive
+a situation more deplorable.  The interest of two thousand
+pounds--how can a man live on it?--and when to that is added
+the recollection, that he might, but for his own folly,
+within three months have been in the receipt of two
+thousand, five hundred a-year (for Miss Morton has
+thirty thousand pounds,) I cannot picture to myself
+a more wretched condition.  We must all feel for him;
+and the more so, because it is totally out of our power
+to assist him."
+
+"Poor young man!" cried Mrs. Jennings, "I am sure
+he should be very welcome to bed and board at my house;
+and so I would tell him if I could see him.  It is not fit
+that he should be living about at his own charge now,
+at lodgings and taverns."
+
+Elinor's heart thanked her for such kindness towards Edward,
+though she could not forbear smiling at the form of it.
+
+"If he would only have done as well by himself,"
+said John Dashwood, "as all his friends were disposed to do
+by him, he might now have been in his proper situation,
+and would have wanted for nothing.  But as it is, it must
+be out of anybody's power to assist him.  And there is one
+thing more preparing against him, which must be worse than
+all--his mother has determined, with a very natural kind
+of spirit, to settle THAT estate upon Robert immediately,
+which might have been Edward's, on proper conditions.
+I left her this morning with her lawyer, talking over
+the business."
+
+"Well!" said Mrs. Jennings, "that is HER revenge.
+Everybody has a way of their own.  But I don't think mine
+would be, to make one son independent, because another had
+plagued me."
+
+Marianne got up and walked about the room.
+
+"Can anything be more galling to the spirit of a man,"
+continued John, "than to see his younger brother in
+possession of an estate which might have been his own?
+Poor Edward!  I feel for him sincerely."
+
+A few minutes more spent in the same kind of effusion,
+concluded his visit; and with repeated assurances to his
+sisters that he really believed there was no material
+danger in Fanny's indisposition, and that they need
+not therefore be very uneasy about it, he went away;
+leaving the three ladies unanimous in their sentiments
+on the present occasion, as far at least as it regarded
+Mrs. Ferrars's conduct, the Dashwoods', and Edward's.
+
+Marianne's indignation burst forth as soon as he
+quitted the room; and as her vehemence made reserve
+impossible in Elinor, and unnecessary in Mrs. Jennings,
+they all joined in a very spirited critique upon the party.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 38
+
+
+Mrs. Jennings was very warm in her praise of Edward's
+conduct, but only Elinor and Marianne understood its
+true merit.  THEY only knew how little he had had to tempt
+him to be disobedient, and how small was the consolation,
+beyond the consciousness of doing right, that could
+remain to him in the loss of friends and fortune.
+Elinor gloried in his integrity; and Marianne forgave all
+his offences in compassion for his punishment.  But though
+confidence between them was, by this public discovery,
+restored to its proper state, it was not a subject on
+which either of them were fond of dwelling when alone.
+Elinor avoided it upon principle, as tending to fix still
+more upon her thoughts, by the too warm, too positive
+assurances of Marianne, that belief of Edward's continued
+affection for herself which she rather wished to do away;
+and Marianne's courage soon failed her, in trying
+to converse upon a topic which always left her more
+dissatisfied with herself than ever, by the comparison
+it necessarily produced between Elinor's conduct and her own.
+
+She felt all the force of that comparison; but not
+as her sister had hoped, to urge her to exertion now;
+she felt it with all the pain of continual self-reproach,
+regretted most bitterly that she had never exerted
+herself before; but it brought only the torture of penitence,
+without the hope of amendment.  Her mind was so much weakened
+that she still fancied present exertion impossible,
+and therefore it only dispirited her more.
+
+Nothing new was heard by them, for a day or two afterwards,
+of affairs in Harley Street, or Bartlett's Buildings.
+But though so much of the matter was known to them already,
+that Mrs. Jennings might have had enough to do in spreading
+that knowledge farther, without seeking after more,
+she had resolved from the first to pay a visit of comfort
+and inquiry to her cousins as soon as she could;
+and nothing but the hindrance of more visitors than usual,
+had prevented her going to them within that time.
+
+The third day succeeding their knowledge of the
+particulars, was so fine, so beautiful a Sunday as to draw
+many to Kensington Gardens, though it was only the second
+week in March.  Mrs. Jennings and Elinor were of the number;
+but Marianne, who knew that the Willoughbys were again
+in town, and had a constant dread of meeting them,
+chose rather to stay at home, than venture into so public
+a place.
+
+An intimate acquaintance of Mrs. Jennings joined
+them soon after they entered the Gardens, and Elinor was
+not sorry that by her continuing with them, and engaging
+all Mrs. Jennings's conversation, she was herself left
+to quiet reflection.  She saw nothing of the Willoughbys,
+nothing of Edward, and for some time nothing of anybody
+who could by any chance whether grave or gay, be interesting
+to her.  But at last she found herself with some surprise,
+accosted by Miss Steele, who, though looking rather shy,
+expressed great satisfaction in meeting them, and on receiving
+encouragement from the particular kindness of Mrs. Jennings,
+left her own party for a short time, to join their's.
+Mrs. Jennings immediately whispered to Elinor,
+
+"Get it all out of her, my dear.  She will tell you
+any thing if you ask.  You see I cannot leave Mrs. Clarke."
+
+It was lucky, however, for Mrs. Jennings's curiosity
+and Elinor's too, that she would tell any thing WITHOUT
+being asked; for nothing would otherwise have been learnt.
+
+"I am so glad to meet you;" said Miss Steele,
+taking her familiarly by the arm--"for I wanted to see you
+of all things in the world."  And then lowering her voice,
+"I suppose Mrs. Jennings has heard all about it.
+Is she angry?"
+
+"Not at all, I believe, with you."
+
+"That is a good thing.  And Lady Middleton, is SHE angry?"
+
+"I cannot suppose it possible that she should."
+
+"I am monstrous glad of it.  Good gracious!  I have
+had such a time of it!  I never saw Lucy in such a rage
+in my life.  She vowed at first she would never trim me
+up a new bonnet, nor do any thing else for me again,
+so long as she lived; but now she is quite come to,
+and we are as good friends as ever.  Look, she made me
+this bow to my hat, and put in the feather last night.
+There now, YOU are going to laugh at me too.  But why
+should not I wear pink ribbons?  I do not care if it IS
+the Doctor's favourite colour.  I am sure, for my part,
+I should never have known he DID like it better than
+any other colour, if he had not happened to say so.
+My cousins have been so plaguing me!  I declare sometimes
+I do not know which way to look before them."
+
+She had wandered away to a subject on which Elinor
+had nothing to say, and therefore soon judged it expedient
+to find her way back again to the first.
+
+"Well, but Miss Dashwood," speaking triumphantly,
+"people may say what they chuse about Mr. Ferrars's
+declaring he would not have Lucy, for it is no such thing
+I can tell you; and it is quite a shame for such ill-natured
+reports to be spread abroad.  Whatever Lucy might think
+about it herself, you know, it was no business of other
+people to set it down for certain."
+
+"I never heard any thing of the kind hinted at before,
+I assure you," said Elinor.
+
+"Oh, did not you?  But it WAS said, I know, very well,
+and by more than one; for Miss Godby told Miss Sparks,
+that nobody in their senses could expect Mr. Ferrars
+to give up a woman like Miss Morton, with thirty thousand
+pounds to her fortune, for Lucy Steele that had
+nothing at all; and I had it from Miss Sparks myself.
+And besides that, my cousin Richard said himself,
+that when it came to the point he was afraid Mr. Ferrars
+would be off; and when Edward did not come near us
+for three days, I could not tell what to think myself;
+and I believe in my heart Lucy gave it up all for lost;
+for we came away from your brother's Wednesday,
+and we saw nothing of him not all Thursday, Friday,
+and Saturday, and did not know what was become of him.
+Once Lucy thought to write to him, but then her spirits
+rose against that.  However this morning he came just
+as we came home from church; and then it all came out,
+how he had been sent for Wednesday to Harley Street,
+and been talked to by his mother and all of them,
+and how he had declared before them all that he loved
+nobody but Lucy, and nobody but Lucy would he have.
+And how he had been so worried by what passed,
+that as soon as he had went away from his mother's house,
+he had got upon his horse, and rid into the country,
+some where or other; and how he had stayed about at an inn
+all Thursday and Friday, on purpose to get the better
+of it.  And after thinking it all over and over again,
+he said, it seemed to him as if, now he had no fortune,
+and no nothing at all, it would be quite unkind to keep
+her on to the engagement, because it must be for her loss,
+for he had nothing but two thousand pounds, and no hope
+of any thing else; and if he was to go into orders,
+as he had some thoughts, he could get nothing but a curacy,
+and how was they to live upon that?--He could not bear
+to think of her doing no better, and so he begged,
+if she had the least mind for it, to put an end to the
+matter directly, and leave him shift for himself.
+I heard him say all this as plain as could possibly be.
+And it was entirely for HER sake, and upon HER account,
+that he said a word about being off, and not upon his own.
+I will take my oath he never dropt a syllable of being
+tired of her, or of wishing to marry Miss Morton, or any
+thing like it.  But, to be sure, Lucy would not give
+ear to such kind of talking; so she told him directly
+(with a great deal about sweet and love, you know,
+and all that--Oh, la! one can't repeat such kind of things
+you know)--she told him directly, she had not the least
+mind in the world to be off, for she could live with him
+upon a trifle, and how little so ever he might have,
+she should be very glad to have it all, you know,
+or something of the kind.  So then he was monstrous happy,
+and talked on some time about what they should do,
+and they agreed he should take orders directly,
+and they must wait to be married till he got a living.
+And just then I could not hear any more, for my cousin
+called from below to tell me Mrs. Richardson was come in
+her coach, and would take one of us to Kensington Gardens;
+so I was forced to go into the room and interrupt them,
+to ask Lucy if she would like to go, but she did not
+care to leave Edward; so I just run up stairs and put
+on a pair of silk stockings and came off with the Richardsons."
+
+"I do not understand what you mean by interrupting them,"
+said Elinor; "you were all in the same room together,
+were not you?"
+
+"No, indeed, not us.  La! Miss Dashwood, do you
+think people make love when any body else is by?  Oh,
+for shame!--To be sure you must know better than that.
+(Laughing affectedly.)--No, no; they were shut up in the
+drawing-room together, and all I heard was only by listening
+at the door."
+
+"How!" cried Elinor; "have you been repeating to me
+what you only learnt yourself by listening at the door?
+I am sorry I did not know it before; for I certainly
+would not have suffered you to give me particulars of a
+conversation which you ought not to have known yourself.
+How could you behave so unfairly by your sister?"
+
+"Oh, la! there is nothing in THAT.  I only stood at
+the door, and heard what I could.  And I am sure Lucy would
+have done just the same by me; for a year or two back,
+when Martha Sharpe and I had so many secrets together,
+she never made any bones of hiding in a closet, or behind
+a chimney-board, on purpose to hear what we said."
+
+Elinor tried to talk of something else; but Miss
+Steele could not be kept beyond a couple of minutes,
+from what was uppermost in her mind.
+
+"Edward talks of going to Oxford soon," said she;
+"but now he is lodging at No. --, Pall Mall.  What an
+ill-natured woman his mother is, an't she? And your
+brother and sister were not very kind! However,
+I shan't say anything against them to YOU; and to be sure
+they did send us home in their own chariot, which
+was more than I looked for.  And for my part, I was all
+in a fright for fear your sister should ask us for the
+huswifes she had gave us a day or two before; but, however,
+nothing was said about them, and I took care to keep mine
+out of sight.  Edward have got some business at Oxford,
+he says; so he must go there for a time; and after THAT,
+as soon as he can light upon a Bishop, he will be ordained.
+I wonder what curacy he will get!--Good gracious!
+(giggling as she spoke) I'd lay my life I know what
+my cousins will say, when they hear of it.  They will
+tell me I should write to the Doctor, to get Edward
+the curacy of his new living.  I know they will; but I am
+sure I would not do such a thing for all the world.--
+'La!' I shall say directly, 'I wonder how you could think
+of such a thing?  I write to the Doctor, indeed!'"
+
+"Well," said Elinor, "it is a comfort to be prepared
+against the worst.  You have got your answer ready."
+
+Miss Steele was going to reply on the same subject,
+but the approach of her own party made another more necessary.
+
+"Oh, la! here come the Richardsons.  I had a vast deal
+more to say to you, but I must not stay away from them not
+any longer.  I assure you they are very genteel people.
+He makes a monstrous deal of money, and they keep their
+own coach.  I have not time to speak to Mrs. Jennings about
+it myself, but pray tell her I am quite happy to hear she
+is not in anger against us, and Lady Middleton the same;
+and if anything should happen to take you and your
+sister away, and Mrs. Jennings should want company,
+I am sure we should be very glad to come and stay with her
+for as long a time as she likes.  I suppose Lady Middleton
+won't ask us any more this bout.  Good-by; I am sorry
+Miss Marianne was not here.  Remember me kindly to her.
+La! if you have not got your spotted muslin on!--I wonder
+you was not afraid of its being torn."
+
+Such was her parting concern; for after this, she had
+time only to pay her farewell compliments to Mrs. Jennings,
+before her company was claimed by Mrs. Richardson;
+and Elinor was left in possession of knowledge which
+might feed her powers of reflection some time, though she
+had learnt very little more than what had been already
+foreseen and foreplanned in her own mind.  Edward's marriage
+with Lucy was as firmly determined on, and the time
+of its taking place remained as absolutely uncertain,
+as she had concluded it would be;--every thing depended,
+exactly after her expectation, on his getting that preferment,
+of which, at present, there seemed not the smallest chance.
+
+As soon as they returned to the carriage,
+Mrs. Jennings was eager for information; but as Elinor
+wished to spread as little as possible intelligence
+that had in the first place been so unfairly obtained,
+she confined herself to the brief repetition of such
+simple particulars, as she felt assured that Lucy,
+for the sake of her own consequence, would choose
+to have known.  The continuance of their engagement,
+and the means that were able to be taken for promoting
+its end, was all her communication; and this produced
+from Mrs. Jennings the following natural remark.
+
+"Wait for his having a living!--ay, we all know how
+THAT will end:--they will wait a twelvemonth, and finding
+no good comes of it, will set down upon a curacy of fifty
+pounds a-year, with the interest of his two thousand pounds,
+and what little matter Mr. Steele and Mr. Pratt can
+give her.--Then they will have a child every year! and
+Lord help 'em! how poor they will be!--I must see
+what I can give them towards furnishing their house.
+Two maids and two men, indeed!--as I talked of t'other
+day.--No, no, they must get a stout girl of all works.--
+Betty's sister would never do for them NOW."
+
+The next morning brought Elinor a letter by the
+two-penny post from Lucy herself.  It was as follows:
+
+                    "Bartlett's Building, March.
+
+     "I hope my dear Miss Dashwood will excuse the
+     liberty I take of writing to her; but I know your
+     friendship for me will make you pleased to hear such
+     a good account of myself and my dear Edward, after
+     all the troubles we have went through lately,
+     therefore will make no more apologies, but proceed
+     to say that, thank God! though we have suffered
+     dreadfully, we are both quite well now, and as happy
+     as we must always be in one another's love.  We have
+     had great trials, and great persecutions, but
+     however, at the same time, gratefully acknowledge
+     many friends, yourself not the least among them,
+     whose great kindness I shall always thankfully
+     remember, as will Edward too, who I have told of
+     it.  I am sure you will be glad to hear, as likewise
+     dear Mrs. Jennings, I spent two happy hours with
+     him yesterday afternoon, he would not hear of our
+     parting, though earnestly did I, as I thought my
+     duty required, urge him to it for prudence sake,
+     and would have parted for ever on the spot, would
+     he consent to it; but he said it should never be,
+     he did not regard his mother's anger, while he could
+     have my affections; our prospects are not very
+     bright, to be sure, but we must wait, and hope for
+     the best; he will be ordained shortly; and should
+     it ever be in your power to recommend him to any
+     body that has a living to bestow, am very sure you
+     will not forget us, and dear Mrs. Jennings too,
+     trust she will speak a good word for us to Sir John,
+     or Mr. Palmer, or any friend that may be able to
+     assist us.--Poor Anne was much to blame for what
+     she did, but she did it for the best, so I say
+     nothing; hope Mrs. Jennings won't think it too much
+     trouble to give us a call, should she come this way
+     any morning, 'twould be a great kindness, and my
+     cousins would be proud to know her.--My paper reminds
+     me to conclude; and begging to be most gratefully
+     and respectfully remembered to her, and to Sir John,
+     and Lady Middleton, and the dear children, when you
+     chance to see them, and love to Miss Marianne,
+
+                                      "I am, &c."
+
+As soon as Elinor had finished it, she performed
+what she concluded to be its writer's real design,
+by placing it in the hands of Mrs. Jennings, who read it
+aloud with many comments of satisfaction and praise.
+
+"Very well indeed!--how prettily she writes!--aye,
+that was quite proper to let him be off if he would.
+That was just like Lucy.--Poor soul! I wish I COULD get
+him a living, with all my heart.--She calls me dear
+Mrs. Jennings, you see.  She is a good-hearted girl
+as ever lived.--Very well upon my word.  That sentence
+is very prettily turned.  Yes, yes, I will go and see her,
+sure enough.  How attentive she is, to think of every
+body!--Thank you, my dear, for shewing it me.  It is
+as pretty a letter as ever I saw, and does Lucy's head
+and heart great credit."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 39
+
+
+The Miss Dashwoods had now been rather more than
+two months in town, and Marianne's impatience to be gone
+increased every day.  She sighed for the air, the liberty,
+the quiet of the country; and fancied that if any place
+could give her ease, Barton must do it.  Elinor was hardly
+less anxious than herself for their removal, and only so much
+less bent on its being effected immediately, as that she
+was conscious of the difficulties of so long a journey,
+which Marianne could not be brought to acknowledge.
+She began, however, seriously to turn her thoughts towards
+its accomplishment, and had already mentioned their wishes
+to their kind hostess, who resisted them with all the
+eloquence of her good-will, when a plan was suggested,
+which, though detaining them from home yet a few weeks
+longer, appeared to Elinor altogether much more eligible
+than any other. The Palmers were to remove to Cleveland
+about the end of March, for the Easter holidays;
+and Mrs. Jennings, with both her friends, received a very
+warm invitation from Charlotte to go with them.  This would
+not, in itself, have been sufficient for the delicacy of
+Miss Dashwood;--but it was inforced with so much real
+politeness by Mr. Palmer himself, as, joined to the very
+great amendment of his manners towards them since her
+sister had been known to be unhappy, induced her to accept
+it with pleasure.
+
+When she told Marianne what she had done, however,
+her first reply was not very auspicious.
+
+"Cleveland!"--she cried, with great agitation.
+"No, I cannot go to Cleveland."--
+
+"You forget," said Elinor gently, "that its situation
+is not...that it is not in the neighbourhood of..."
+
+"But it is in Somersetshire.--I cannot go
+into Somersetshire.--There, where I looked forward
+to going...No, Elinor, you cannot expect me to go there."
+
+Elinor would not argue upon the propriety of overcoming
+such feelings;--she only endeavoured to counteract them by
+working on others;--represented it, therefore, as a measure
+which would fix the time of her returning to that dear mother,
+whom she so much wished to see, in a more eligible,
+more comfortable manner, than any other plan could do,
+and perhaps without any greater delay.  From Cleveland,
+which was within a few miles of Bristol, the distance to
+Barton was not beyond one day, though a long day's journey;
+and their mother's servant might easily come there to attend
+them down; and as there could be no occasion of their
+staying above a week at Cleveland, they might now be at
+home in little more than three weeks' time.  As Marianne's
+affection for her mother was sincere, it must triumph
+with little difficulty, over the imaginary evils she had started.
+
+Mrs. Jennings was so far from being weary of her guest,
+that she pressed them very earnestly to return with her again
+from Cleveland.  Elinor was grateful for the attention,
+but it could not alter her design; and their mother's
+concurrence being readily gained, every thing relative
+to their return was arranged as far as it could be;--
+and Marianne found some relief in drawing up a statement
+of the hours that were yet to divide her from Barton.
+
+"Ah! Colonel, I do not know what you and I shall
+do without the Miss Dashwoods;"--was Mrs. Jennings's
+address to him when he first called on her, after their
+leaving her was settled--"for they are quite resolved
+upon going home from the Palmers;--and how forlorn we
+shall be, when I come back!--Lord! we shall sit and gape
+at one another as dull as two cats."
+
+Perhaps Mrs. Jennings was in hopes, by this vigorous
+sketch of their future ennui, to provoke him to make
+that offer, which might give himself an escape from it;--
+and if so, she had soon afterwards good reason to think
+her object gained; for, on Elinor's moving to the window
+to take more expeditiously the dimensions of a print,
+which she was going to copy for her friend, he followed
+her to it with a look of particular meaning, and conversed
+with her there for several minutes.  The effect of his
+discourse on the lady too, could not escape her observation,
+for though she was too honorable to listen, and had even
+changed her seat, on purpose that she might NOT hear,
+to one close by the piano forte on which Marianne
+was playing, she could not keep herself from seeing
+that Elinor changed colour, attended with agitation,
+and was too intent on what he said to pursue her employment.--
+Still farther in confirmation of her hopes, in the interval
+of Marianne's turning from one lesson to another,
+some words of the Colonel's inevitably reached her ear,
+in which he seemed to be apologising for the badness
+of his house.  This set the matter beyond a doubt.
+She wondered, indeed, at his thinking it necessary
+to do so; but supposed it to be the proper etiquette.
+What Elinor said in reply she could not distinguish,
+but judged from the motion of her lips, that she did
+not think THAT any material objection;--and Mrs. Jennings
+commended her in her heart for being so honest.
+They then talked on for a few minutes longer without her
+catching a syllable, when another lucky stop in Marianne's
+performance brought her these words in the Colonel's calm voice,--
+
+"I am afraid it cannot take place very soon."
+
+Astonished and shocked at so unlover-like a speech,
+she was almost ready to cry out, "Lord! what should
+hinder it?"--but checking her desire, confined herself
+to this silent ejaculation.
+
+"This is very strange!--sure he need not wait to be older."
+
+This delay on the Colonel's side, however, did not
+seem to offend or mortify his fair companion in the least,
+for on their breaking up the conference soon afterwards,
+and moving different ways, Mrs. Jennings very plainly heard
+Elinor say, and with a voice which shewed her to feel what she said,
+
+"I shall always think myself very much obliged to you."
+
+Mrs. Jennings was delighted with her gratitude,
+and only wondered that after hearing such a sentence,
+the Colonel should be able to take leave of them, as he
+immediately did, with the utmost sang-froid, and go away
+without making her any reply!--She had not thought her old
+friend could have made so indifferent a suitor.
+
+What had really passed between them was to this effect.
+
+"I have heard," said he, with great compassion,
+"of the injustice your friend Mr. Ferrars has suffered
+from his family; for if I understand the matter right,
+he has been entirely cast off by them for persevering
+in his engagement with a very deserving young woman.--
+Have I been rightly informed?--Is it so?--"
+
+Elinor told him that it was.
+
+"The cruelty, the impolitic cruelty,"--he replied,
+with great feeling,--"of dividing, or attempting to divide,
+two young people long attached to each other, is terrible.--
+Mrs. Ferrars does not know what she may be doing--what
+she may drive her son to.  I have seen Mr. Ferrars two
+or three times in Harley Street, and am much pleased
+with him.  He is not a young man with whom one can
+be intimately acquainted in a short time, but I have
+seen enough of him to wish him well for his own sake,
+and as a friend of yours, I wish it still more.
+I understand that he intends to take orders.  Will you
+be so good as to tell him that the living of Delaford,
+now just vacant, as I am informed by this day's post,
+is his, if he think it worth his acceptance--but THAT,
+perhaps, so unfortunately circumstanced as he is now,
+it may be  nonsense to appear to doubt; I only wish it
+were more  valuable.-- It is a rectory, but a small one;
+the late incumbent, I believe, did not make more than
+200 L per annum, and though it is certainly capable
+of improvement, I fear, not to such an amount as
+to afford him a very comfortable income.  Such as it is,
+however, my pleasure in presenting him to it,
+will be very great.  Pray assure him of it."
+
+Elinor's astonishment at this commission could
+hardly have been greater, had the Colonel been really
+making her an offer of his hand.  The preferment,
+which only two days before she had considered as hopeless
+for Edward, was already provided to enable him to marry;--
+and SHE, of all people in the world, was fixed on to
+bestow it!--Her emotion was such as Mrs. Jennings had
+attributed to a very different cause;--but whatever minor
+feelings less pure, less pleasing, might have a share
+in that emotion, her esteem for the general benevolence,
+and her gratitude for the particular friendship,
+which together prompted Colonel Brandon to this act,
+were strongly felt, and warmly expressed.  She thanked him
+for it with all her heart, spoke of Edward's principles and
+disposition with that praise which she knew them to deserve;
+and promised to undertake the commission with pleasure,
+if it were really his wish to put off so agreeable an office
+to another.  But at the same time, she could not help
+thinking that no one could so well perform it as himself.
+It was an office in short, from which, unwilling to give
+Edward the pain of receiving an obligation from HER,
+she would have been very glad to be spared herself;--
+but Colonel Brandon, on motives of equal delicacy,
+declining it likewise, still seemed so desirous of its being
+given through her means, that she would not on any account
+make farther opposition.  Edward, she believed, was still in
+town,
+and fortunately she had heard his address from Miss Steele.
+She could undertake therefore to inform him of it,
+in the course of the day.  After this had been settled,
+Colonel Brandon began to talk of his own advantage
+in securing so respectable and agreeable a neighbour,
+and THEN it was that he mentioned with regret, that the
+house was small and indifferent;--an evil which Elinor,
+as Mrs. Jennings had supposed her to do, made very light of,
+at least as far as regarded its size.
+
+"The smallness of the house," said she,
+"I cannot imagine any inconvenience to them,
+for it will be in proportion to their family and income."
+
+By which the Colonel was surprised to find that SHE
+was considering Mr. Ferrars's marriage as the certain
+consequence of the presentation; for he did not suppose it
+possible that Delaford living could supply such an income,
+as anybody in his style of life would venture to settle on--
+and he said so.
+
+"This little rectory CAN do no more than make Mr. Ferrars
+comfortable as a bachelor; it cannot enable him to marry.
+I am sorry to say that my patronage ends with this;
+and my interest is hardly more extensive.  If, however,
+by an unforeseen chance it should be in my power to serve
+him farther, I must think very differently of him
+from what I now do, if I am not as ready to be useful
+to him then as I sincerely wish I could be at present.
+What I am now doing indeed, seems nothing at all,
+since it can advance him so little towards what must
+be his principal, his only object of happiness.
+His marriage must still be a distant good;--at least,
+I am afraid it cannot take place very soon.--"
+
+Such was the sentence which, when misunderstood,
+so justly offended the delicate feelings of Mrs. Jennings;
+but after this narration of what really passed between
+Colonel Brandon and Elinor, while they stood at the window,
+the gratitude expressed by the latter on their parting, may
+perhaps appear in general, not less reasonably excited,
+nor less properly worded than if it had arisen from
+an offer of marriage.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 40
+
+
+"Well, Miss Dashwood," said Mrs. Jennings,
+sagaciously smiling, as soon as the gentleman had withdrawn,
+"I do not ask you what the Colonel has been saying to you;
+for though, upon my honour, I TRIED to keep out of hearing,
+I could not help catching enough to understand his business.
+And I assure you I never was better pleased in my life,
+and I wish you joy of it with all my heart."
+
+"Thank you, ma'am," said Elinor.  "It is a matter
+of great joy to me; and I feel the goodness of Colonel
+Brandon most sensibly.  There are not many men who would
+act as he has done.  Few people who have so compassionate
+a heart!  I never was more astonished in my life."
+
+"Lord! my dear, you are very modest.  I an't the least
+astonished at it in the world, for I have often thought
+of late, there was nothing more likely to happen."
+
+"You judged from your knowledge of the Colonel's
+general benevolence; but at least you could not foresee
+that the opportunity would so very soon occur."
+
+"Opportunity!" repeated Mrs. Jennings--"Oh! as to that,
+when a man has once made up his mind to such a thing,
+somehow or other he will soon find an opportunity.
+Well, my dear, I wish you joy of it again and again;
+and if ever there was a happy couple in the world, I think
+I shall soon know where to look for them."
+
+"You mean to go to Delaford after them I suppose,"
+said Elinor, with a faint smile.
+
+"Aye, my dear, that I do, indeed.  And as to the house
+being a bad one, I do not know what the Colonel would be at,
+for it is as good a one as ever I saw."
+
+"He spoke of its being out of repair."
+
+"Well, and whose fault is that? why don't he repair it?--
+who should do it but himself?"
+
+They were interrupted by the servant's coming in to
+announce the carriage being at the door; and Mrs. Jennings
+immediately preparing to go, said,--
+
+"Well, my dear, I must be gone before I have had half
+my talk out.  But, however, we may have it all over in
+the evening; for we shall be quite alone.  I do not ask
+you to go with me, for I dare say your mind is too full
+of the matter to care for company; and besides, you must
+long to tell your sister all about it."
+
+Marianne had left the room before the conversation began.
+
+"Certainly, ma'am, I shall tell Marianne of it;
+but I shall not mention it at present to any body else."
+
+"Oh! very well," said Mrs. Jennings rather disappointed.
+"Then you would not have me tell it to Lucy, for I think
+of going as far as Holborn to-day."
+
+"No, ma'am, not even Lucy if you please.
+One day's delay will not be very material; and till I
+have written to Mr. Ferrars, I think it ought not to be
+mentioned to any body else.  I shall do THAT directly.
+It is of importance that no time should be lost with him,
+for he will of course have much to do relative to
+his ordination."
+
+This speech at first puzzled Mrs. Jennings exceedingly.
+Why Mr. Ferrars was to have been written to about it
+in such a hurry, she could not immediately comprehend.
+A few moments' reflection, however, produced a very happy idea,
+and she exclaimed;--
+
+"Oh, ho!--I understand you.  Mr. Ferrars is to be
+the man.  Well, so much the better for him.  Ay, to be sure,
+he must be ordained in readiness; and I am very glad
+to find things are so forward between you.  But, my dear,
+is not this rather out of character?  Should not the Colonel
+write himself?--sure, he is the proper person."
+
+Elinor did not quite understand the beginning of
+Mrs. Jennings's speech, neither did she think it worth
+inquiring into; and therefore only replied to its conclusion.
+
+"Colonel Brandon is so delicate a man, that he rather
+wished any one to announce his intentions to Mr. Ferrars
+than himself."
+
+"And so YOU are forced to do it.  Well THAT is an odd
+kind of delicacy!  However, I will not disturb you (seeing
+her preparing to write.)  You know your own concerns best.
+So goodby, my dear.  I have not heard of any thing to
+please me so well since Charlotte was brought to bed."
+
+And away she went; but returning again in a moment,
+
+"I have just been thinking of Betty's sister, my dear.
+I should be very glad to get her so good a mistress.
+But whether she would do for a lady's maid, I am sure I
+can't tell.  She is an excellent housemaid, and works
+very well at her needle.  However, you will think of all
+that at your leisure."
+
+"Certainly, ma'am," replied Elinor, not hearing
+much of what she said, and more anxious to be alone,
+than to be mistress of the subject.
+
+How she should begin--how she should express
+herself in her note to Edward, was now all her concern.
+The particular circumstances between them made
+a difficulty of that which to any other person would
+have been the easiest thing in the world; but she
+equally feared to say too much or too little, and sat
+deliberating over her paper, with the pen in her hand,
+till broken in on by the entrance of Edward himself.
+
+He had met Mrs. Jennings at the door in her way to
+the carriage, as he came to leave his farewell card; and she,
+after apologising for not returning herself, had obliged
+him to enter, by saying that Miss Dashwood was above,
+and wanted to speak with him on very particular business.
+
+Elinor had just been congratulating herself,
+in the midst of her perplexity, that however difficult it
+might be to express herself properly by letter, it was
+at least preferable to giving the information by word
+of mouth, when her visitor entered, to force her upon this
+greatest exertion of all.  Her astonishment and confusion
+were very great on his so sudden appearance.  She had
+not seen him before since his engagement became public,
+and therefore not since his knowing her to be acquainted
+with it; which, with the consciousness of what she
+had been thinking of, and what she had to tell him,
+made her feel particularly uncomfortable for some minutes.
+He too was much distressed; and they sat down together
+in a most promising state of embarrassment.--Whether he
+had asked her pardon for his intrusion on first coming
+into the room, he could not recollect; but determining
+to be on the safe side, he made his apology in form
+as soon as he could say any thing, after taking a chair.
+
+"Mrs. Jennings told me," said he, "that you wished
+to speak with me, at least I understood her so--or I
+certainly should not have intruded on you in such a manner;
+though at the same time, I should have been extremely
+sorry to leave London without seeing you and your sister;
+especially as it will most likely be some time--it
+is not probable that I should soon have the pleasure
+of meeting you again.  I go to Oxford tomorrow."
+
+"You would not have gone, however," said Elinor,
+recovering herself, and determined to get over what she
+so much dreaded as soon as possible, "without receiving
+our good wishes, even if we had not been able to give them
+in person.  Mrs. Jennings was quite right in what she said.
+I have something of consequence to inform you of,
+which I was on the point of communicating by paper.
+I am charged with a most agreeable office (breathing
+rather faster than usual as she spoke.)  Colonel Brandon,
+who was here only ten minutes ago, has desired me to say,
+that understanding you mean to take orders, he has
+great pleasure in offering you the living of Delaford
+now just vacant, and only wishes it were more valuable.
+Allow me to congratulate you on having so respectable
+and well-judging a friend, and to join in his wish that
+the living--it is about two hundred a-year--were much
+more considerable, and such as might better enable you
+to--as might be more than a temporary accommodation to
+yourself--such, in short, as might establish all your views
+of happiness."
+
+What Edward felt, as he could not say it himself,
+it cannot be expected that any one else should say for him.
+He LOOKED all the astonishment which such unexpected,
+such unthought-of information could not fail of exciting;
+but he said only these two words,
+
+"Colonel Brandon!"
+
+"Yes," continued Elinor, gathering more resolution,
+as some of the worst was over, "Colonel Brandon means
+it as a testimony of his concern for what has lately
+passed--for the cruel situation in which the unjustifiable
+conduct of your family has placed you--a concern
+which I am sure Marianne, myself, and all your friends,
+must share; and likewise as a proof of his high esteem
+for your general character, and his particular approbation
+of your behaviour on the present occasion."
+
+"Colonel Brandon give ME a living!--Can it be possible?"
+
+"The unkindness of your own relations has made you
+astonished to find friendship any where."
+
+"No," replied be, with sudden consciousness, "not to
+find it in YOU; for I cannot be ignorant that to you,
+to your goodness, I owe it all.--I feel it--I would express
+it if I could--but, as you well know, I am no orator."
+
+"You are very much mistaken.  I do assure you
+that you owe it entirely, at least almost entirely,
+to your own merit, and Colonel Brandon's discernment
+of it.  I have had no hand in it.  I did not even know,
+till I understood his design, that the living was vacant;
+nor had it ever occurred to me that he might have
+had such a living in his gift.  As a friend of mine,
+of my family, he may, perhaps--indeed I know he HAS,
+still greater pleasure in bestowing it; but, upon my word,
+you owe nothing to my solicitation."
+
+Truth obliged her to acknowledge some small share
+in the action, but she was at the same time so unwilling
+to appear as the benefactress of Edward, that she acknowledged
+it with hesitation; which probably contributed to fix
+that suspicion in his mind which had recently entered it.
+For a short time he sat deep in thought, after Elinor had ceased
+to speak;--at last, and as if it were rather an effort, he said,
+
+"Colonel Brandon seems a man of great worth and respectability.
+I have always heard him spoken of as such, and your brother
+I know esteems him highly.  He is undoubtedly a sensible man,
+and in his manners perfectly the gentleman."
+
+"Indeed," replied Elinor, "I believe that you will find him,
+on farther acquaintance, all that you have heard him to be,
+and as you will be such very near neighbours (for I understand
+the parsonage is almost close to the mansion-house,)
+it is particularly important that he SHOULD be all this."
+
+Edward made no answer; but when she had turned
+away her head, gave her a look so serious, so earnest,
+so uncheerful, as seemed to say, that he might hereafter wish
+the distance between the parsonage and the mansion-house
+much greater.
+
+"Colonel Brandon, I think, lodges in St. James Street,"
+said he, soon afterwards, rising from his chair.
+
+Elinor told him the number of the house.
+
+"I must hurry away then, to give him those thanks
+which you will not allow me to give YOU; to assure him
+that he has made me a very--an exceedingly happy man."
+
+Elinor did not offer to detain him; and they parted,
+with a very earnest assurance on HER side of her unceasing
+good wishes for his happiness in every change of situation
+that might befall him; on HIS, with rather an attempt to
+return the same good will, than the power of expressing it.
+
+"When I see him again," said Elinor to herself,
+as the door shut him out, "I shall see him the husband
+of Lucy."
+
+And with this pleasing anticipation, she sat down
+to reconsider the past, recall the words and endeavour
+to comprehend all the feelings of Edward; and, of course,
+to reflect on her own with discontent.
+
+When Mrs. Jennings came home, though she returned
+from seeing people whom she had never seen before,
+and of whom therefore she must have a great deal to say,
+her mind was so much more occupied by the important secret
+in her possession, than by anything else, that she
+reverted to it again as soon as Elinor appeared.
+
+"Well, my dear," she cried, "I sent you up to the
+young man.  Did not I do right?--And I suppose you had
+no great difficulty--You did not find him very unwilling
+to accept your proposal?"
+
+"No, ma'am; THAT was not very likely."
+
+"Well, and how soon will he be ready?--For it seems
+all to depend upon that."
+
+"Really," said Elinor, "I know so little of these kind
+of forms, that I can hardly even conjecture as to the time,
+or the preparation necessary; but I suppose two or three
+months will complete his ordination."
+
+"Two or three months!" cried Mrs. Jennings; "Lord! my dear,
+how calmly you talk of it; and can the Colonel wait two
+or three months! Lord bless me!--I am sure it would put ME
+quite out of patience!--And though one would be very glad
+to do a kindness by poor Mr. Ferrars, I do think it is
+not worth while to wait two or three months for him.
+Sure somebody else might be found that would do as well;
+somebody that is in orders already."
+
+"My dear ma'am," said Elinor, "what can you be thinking of?--
+Why, Colonel Brandon's only object is to be of use to Mr. Ferrars."
+
+"Lord bless you, my dear!--Sure you do not mean to persuade
+me that the Colonel only marries you for the sake of giving
+ten guineas to Mr. Ferrars!"
+
+The deception could not continue after this;
+and an explanation immediately took place, by which both
+gained considerable amusement for the moment, without any
+material loss of happiness to either, for Mrs. Jennings
+only exchanged one form of delight for another, and still
+without forfeiting her expectation of the first.
+
+"Aye, aye, the parsonage is but a small one," said she,
+after the first ebullition of surprise and satisfaction
+was over, "and very likely MAY be out of repair; but to hear
+a man apologising, as I thought, for a house that to my
+knowledge has five sitting rooms on the ground-floor, and I
+think the housekeeper told me could make up fifteen beds!--
+and to you too, that had been used to live in Barton cottage!--
+It seems quite ridiculous.  But, my dear, we must
+touch up the Colonel to do some thing to the parsonage,
+and make it comfortable for them, before Lucy goes to it."
+
+"But Colonel Brandon does not seem to have any idea
+of the living's being enough to allow them to marry."
+
+"The Colonel is a ninny, my dear; because he has two
+thousand a-year himself, he thinks that nobody else can marry
+on less.  Take my word for it, that, if I am alive, I shall
+be paying a visit at Delaford Parsonage before Michaelmas;
+and I am sure I shan't go if Lucy an't there."
+
+Elinor was quite of her opinion, as to the probability
+of their not waiting for any thing more.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 41
+
+
+Edward, having carried his thanks to Colonel Brandon,
+proceeded with his happiness to Lucy; and such was the
+excess of it by the time he reached Bartlett's Buildings,
+that she was able to assure Mrs. Jennings, who called
+on her again the next day with her congratulations,
+that she had never seen him in such spirits before
+in her life.
+
+Her own happiness, and her own spirits, were at
+least very certain; and she joined Mrs. Jennings most
+heartily in her expectation of their being all comfortably
+together in Delaford Parsonage before Michaelmas.
+So far was she, at the same time, from any backwardness
+to give Elinor that credit which Edward WOULD give her,
+that she spoke of her friendship for them both with the most
+grateful warmth, was ready to own all their obligation
+to her, and openly declared that no exertion for their
+good on Miss Dashwood's part, either present or future,
+would ever surprise her, for she believed her capable of
+doing any thing in the world for those she really valued.
+As for Colonel Brandon, she was not only ready to worship
+him as a saint, but was moreover truly anxious that
+he should be treated as one in all worldly concerns;
+anxious that his tithes should be raised to the utmost;
+and scarcely resolved to avail herself, at Delaford,
+as far as she possibly could, of his servants, his carriage,
+his cows, and his poultry.
+
+It was now above a week since John Dashwood had
+called in Berkeley Street, and as since that time no notice
+had been taken by them of his wife's indisposition,
+beyond one verbal enquiry, Elinor began to feel it
+necessary to pay her a visit.--This was an obligation,
+however, which not only opposed her own inclination,
+but which had not the assistance of any encouragement
+from her companions.  Marianne, not contented with
+absolutely refusing to go herself, was very urgent
+to prevent her sister's going at all; and Mrs. Jennings,
+though her carriage was always at Elinor's service,
+so very much disliked Mrs. John Dashwood, that not even her
+curiosity to see how she looked after the late discovery,
+nor her strong desire to affront her by taking Edward's part,
+could overcome her unwillingness to be in her company again.
+The consequence was, that Elinor set out by herself
+to pay a visit, for which no one could really have
+less inclination, and to run the risk of a tete-a-tete
+with a woman, whom neither of the others had so much
+reason to dislike.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood was denied; but before the carriage could
+turn from the house, her husband accidentally came out.
+He expressed great pleasure in meeting Elinor, told her
+that he had been just going to call in Berkeley Street,
+and, assuring her that Fanny would be very glad to see her,
+invited her to come in.
+
+They walked up stairs in to the drawing-room.--Nobody was there.
+
+"Fanny is in her own room, I suppose," said he:--"I
+will go to her presently, for I am sure she will not
+have the least objection in the world to seeing YOU.--
+Very far from it, indeed.  NOW especially there
+cannot be--but however, you and Marianne were always
+great favourites.--Why would not Marianne come?"--
+
+Elinor made what excuse she could for her.
+
+"I am not sorry to see you alone," he replied,
+"for I have a good deal to say to you.  This living
+of Colonel Brandon's--can it be true?--has he really given
+it to Edward?--I heard it yesterday by chance, and was
+coming to you on purpose to enquire farther about it."
+
+"It is perfectly true.--Colonel Brandon has given
+the living of Delaford to Edward."
+
+"Really!--Well, this is very astonishing!--no
+relationship!--no connection between them!--and now
+that livings fetch such a price!--what was the value of this?"
+
+"About two hundred a year."
+
+"Very well--and for the next presentation to a living
+of that value--supposing the late incumbent to have
+been old and sickly, and likely to vacate it soon--he
+might have got I dare say--fourteen hundred pounds.
+And how came he not to have settled that matter before this
+person's death?--NOW indeed it would be too late to sell it,
+but a man of Colonel Brandon's sense!--I wonder he should
+be so improvident in a point of such common, such natural,
+concern!--Well, I am convinced that there is a vast deal
+of inconsistency in almost every human character.  I suppose,
+however--on recollection--that the case may probably be THIS.
+Edward is only to hold the living till the person to whom
+the Colonel has really sold the presentation, is old enough
+to take it.--Aye, aye, that is the fact, depend upon it."
+
+Elinor contradicted it, however, very positively;
+and by relating that she had herself been employed
+in conveying the offer from Colonel Brandon to Edward,
+and, therefore, must understand the terms on which it
+was given, obliged him to submit to her authority.
+
+"It is truly astonishing!"--he cried, after hearing
+what she said--"what could be the Colonel's motive?"
+
+"A very simple one--to be of use to Mr. Ferrars."
+
+"Well, well; whatever Colonel Brandon may be,
+Edward is a very lucky man.--You will not mention the matter
+to Fanny, however, for though I have broke it to her,
+and she bears it vastly well,--she will not like to hear
+it much talked of."
+
+Elinor had some difficulty here to refrain from observing,
+that she thought Fanny might have borne with composure,
+an acquisition of wealth to her brother, by which neither
+she nor her child could be possibly impoverished.
+
+"Mrs. Ferrars," added he, lowering his voice to the
+tone becoming so important a subject, "knows nothing
+about it at present, and I believe it will be best to
+keep it entirely concealed from her as long as may be.--
+When the marriage takes place, I fear she must hear
+of it all."
+
+"But why should such precaution be used?--Though
+it is not to be supposed that Mrs. Ferrars can have
+the smallest satisfaction in knowing that her son has
+money enough to live upon,--for THAT must be quite
+out of the question; yet why, upon her late behaviour,
+is she supposed to feel at all?--She has done with her
+son, she cast him off for ever, and has made all those
+over whom she had any influence, cast him off likewise.
+Surely, after doing so, she cannot be imagined liable
+to any impression of sorrow or of joy on his account--
+she cannot be interested in any thing that befalls him.--
+She would not be so weak as to throw away the comfort
+of a child, and yet retain the anxiety of a parent!"
+
+"Ah! Elinor," said John, "your reasoning is very good,
+but it is founded on ignorance of human nature.
+When Edward's unhappy match takes place, depend upon it
+his mother will feel as much as if she had never discarded him;
+and, therefore every circumstance that may accelerate that
+dreadful event, must be concealed from her as much as possible.
+Mrs. Ferrars can never forget that Edward is her son."
+
+"You surprise me; I should think it must nearly
+have escaped her memory by THIS time."
+
+"You wrong her exceedingly.  Mrs. Ferrars is one
+of the most affectionate mothers in the world."
+
+Elinor was silent.
+
+"We think NOW,"--said Mr. Dashwood, after a short pause,
+"of ROBERT'S marrying Miss Morton."
+
+Elinor, smiling at the grave and decisive importance
+of her brother's tone, calmly replied,
+
+"The lady, I suppose, has no choice in the affair."
+
+"Choice!--how do you mean?"
+
+"I only mean that I suppose, from your manner
+of speaking, it must be the same to Miss Morton whether
+she marry Edward or Robert."
+
+"Certainly, there can be no difference; for Robert
+will now to all intents and purposes be considered
+as the eldest son;--and as to any thing else, they are
+both very agreeable young men: I do not know that one
+is superior to the other."
+
+Elinor said no more, and John was also for a short
+time silent.--His reflections ended thus.
+
+"Of ONE thing, my dear sister," kindly taking her hand,
+and speaking in an awful whisper,--"I may assure you;--
+and I WILL do it, because I know it must gratify you.
+I have good reason to think--indeed I have it from the
+best authority, or I should not repeat it, for otherwise
+it would be very wrong to say any thing about it--but
+I have it from the very best authority--not that I ever
+precisely heard Mrs. Ferrars say it herself--but her
+daughter DID, and I have it from her--That in short,
+whatever objections there might be against a certain--a
+certain connection--you understand me--it would have been
+far preferable to her, it would not have given her half
+the vexation that THIS does.  I was exceedingly pleased
+to hear that Mrs. Ferrars considered it in that light--
+a very gratifying circumstance you know to us all.
+'It would have been beyond comparison,' she said, 'the least
+evil of the two, and she would be glad to compound NOW
+for nothing worse.' But however, all that is quite out
+of the question--not to be thought of or mentioned--
+as to any attachment you know--it never could be--all
+that is gone by.  But I thought I would just tell you
+of this, because I knew how much it must please you.
+Not that you have any reason to regret, my dear Elinor.  There
+is no doubt of your doing exceedingly well--quite as well,
+or better, perhaps, all things considered.  Has Colonel
+Brandon been with you lately?"
+
+Elinor had heard enough, if not to gratify her vanity,
+and raise her self-importance, to agitate her nerves
+and fill her mind;--and she was therefore glad to be
+spared from the necessity of saying much in reply herself,
+and from the danger of hearing any thing more from
+her brother, by the entrance of Mr. Robert Ferrars.
+After a few moments' chat, John Dashwood, recollecting that
+Fanny was yet uninformed of her sister's being there,
+quitted the room in quest of her; and Elinor was left
+to improve her acquaintance with Robert, who, by the
+gay unconcern, the happy self-complacency of his manner
+while enjoying so unfair a division of his mother's love
+and liberality, to the prejudice of his banished brother,
+earned only by his own dissipated course of life, and that
+brother's integrity, was confirming her most unfavourable
+opinion of his head and heart.
+
+They had scarcely been two minutes by themselves,
+before he began to speak of Edward; for he, too, had heard
+of the living, and was very inquisitive on the subject.
+Elinor repeated the particulars of it, as she had given them
+to John; and their effect on Robert, though very different,
+was not less striking than it had been on HIM.  He laughed
+most immoderately.  The idea of Edward's being a clergyman,
+and living in a small parsonage-house, diverted him
+beyond measure;--and when to that was added the fanciful
+imagery of Edward reading prayers in a white surplice,
+and publishing the banns of marriage between John Smith and
+Mary Brown, he could conceive nothing more ridiculous.
+
+Elinor, while she waited in silence and immovable
+gravity, the conclusion of such folly, could not restrain
+her eyes from being fixed on him with a look that spoke
+all the contempt it excited.  It was a look, however,
+very well bestowed, for it relieved her own feelings, and gave
+no intelligence to him.  He was recalled from wit to wisdom,
+not by any reproof of her's, but by his own sensibility.
+
+"We may treat it as a joke," said he, at last,
+recovering from the affected laugh which had considerably
+lengthened out the genuine gaiety of the moment--"but, upon
+my soul, it is a most serious business.  Poor Edward!
+he is ruined for ever.  I am extremely sorry for it--
+for I know him to be a very good-hearted creature; as
+well-meaning a fellow perhaps, as any in the world.
+You must not judge of him, Miss Dashwood, from YOUR
+slight acquaintance.--Poor Edward!--His manners are certainly
+not the happiest in nature.--But we are not all born,
+you know, with the same powers,--the same address.--
+Poor fellow!--to see him in a circle of strangers!--
+to be sure it was pitiable enough!--but upon my soul,
+I believe he has as good a heart as any in the kingdom;
+and I declare and protest to you I never was so shocked in my
+life, as when it all burst forth.  I could not believe it.--
+My mother was the first person who told me of it;
+and I, feeling myself called on to act with resolution,
+immediately said to her, 'My dear madam, I do not know
+what you may intend to do on the occasion, but as for myself,
+I must say, that if Edward does marry this young woman,
+I never will see him again.' That was what I said immediately.--
+I was most uncommonly shocked, indeed!--Poor Edward!--he has
+done for himself completely--shut himself out for ever from
+all decent society!--but, as I directly said to my mother,
+I am not in the least surprised at it; from his style
+of education, it was always to be expected.  My poor mother
+was half frantic."
+
+"Have you ever seen the lady?"
+
+"Yes; once, while she was staying in this house,
+I happened to drop in for ten minutes; and I saw
+quite enough of her.  The merest awkward country girl,
+without style, or elegance, and almost without beauty.--
+I remember her perfectly.  Just the kind of girl I
+should suppose likely to captivate poor Edward.
+I offered immediately, as soon as my mother related
+the affair to me, to talk to him myself, and dissuade
+him from the match; but it was too late THEN, I found,
+to do any thing, for unluckily, I was not in the way
+at first, and knew nothing of it till after the breach
+had taken place, when it was not for me, you know,
+to interfere.  But had I been informed of it a few
+hours earlier--I think it is most probable--that something
+might have been hit on.  I certainly should have represented
+it to Edward in a very strong light.  'My dear fellow,'
+I should have said, 'consider what you are doing.
+You are making a most disgraceful connection, and such a one
+as your family are unanimous in disapproving.' I cannot
+help thinking, in short, that means might have been found.
+But now it is all too late.  He must be starved, you know;--
+that is certain; absolutely starved."
+
+He had just settled this point with great composure,
+when the entrance of Mrs. John Dashwood put an end to the
+subject.
+But though SHE never spoke of it out of her own family,
+Elinor could see its influence on her mind, in the something
+like confusion of countenance with which she entered,
+and an attempt at cordiality in her behaviour to herself.
+She even proceeded so far as to be concerned to find
+that Elinor and her sister were so soon to leave town,
+as she had hoped to see more of them;--an exertion
+in which her husband, who attended her into the room,
+and hung enamoured over her accents, seemed to distinguish
+every thing that was most affectionate and graceful.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 42
+
+
+One other short call in Harley Street, in which Elinor
+received her brother's congratulations on their travelling
+so far towards Barton without any expense, and on Colonel
+Brandon's being to follow them to Cleveland in a day or two,
+completed the intercourse of the brother and sisters
+in town;--and a faint invitation from Fanny, to come
+to Norland whenever it should happen to be in their way,
+which of all things was the most unlikely to occur,
+with a more warm, though less public, assurance, from John
+to Elinor, of the promptitude with which he should come
+to see her at Delaford, was all that foretold any meeting
+in the country.
+
+It amused her to observe that all her friends seemed
+determined to send her to Delaford;--a place, in which,
+of all others, she would now least chuse to visit,
+or wish to reside; for not only was it considered as
+her future home by her brother and Mrs. Jennings, but even Lucy,
+when they parted, gave her a pressing invitation to visit her there.
+
+Very early in April, and tolerably early in the day,
+the two parties from Hanover Square and Berkeley Street set
+out from their respective homes, to meet, by appointment,
+on the road.  For the convenience of Charlotte and her child,
+they were to be more than two days on their journey,
+and Mr. Palmer, travelling more expeditiously with Colonel Brandon,
+was to join them at Cleveland soon after their arrival.
+
+Marianne, few as had been her hours of comfort
+in London, and eager as she had long been to quit it,
+could not, when it came to the point, bid adieu to
+the house in which she had for the last time enjoyed
+those hopes, and that confidence, in Willoughby,
+which were now extinguished for ever, without great pain.
+Nor could she leave the place in which Willoughby remained,
+busy in new engagements, and new schemes, in which SHE
+could have no share, without shedding many tears.
+
+Elinor's satisfaction, at the moment of removal,
+was more positive.  She had no such object for her lingering
+thoughts to fix on, she left no creature behind, from whom
+it would give her a moment's regret to be divided for ever,
+she was pleased to be free herself from the persecution
+of Lucy's friendship, she was grateful for bringing
+her sister away unseen by Willoughby since his marriage,
+and she looked forward with hope to what a few months
+of tranquility at Barton might do towards restoring
+Marianne's peace of mind, and confirming her own.
+
+Their journey was safely performed.  The second
+day brought them into the cherished, or the prohibited,
+county of Somerset, for as such was it dwelt on by turns
+in Marianne's imagination; and in the forenoon of the third
+they drove up to Cleveland.
+
+Cleveland was a spacious, modern-built house,
+situated on a sloping lawn.  It had no park, but the
+pleasure-grounds were tolerably extensive; and like
+every other place of the same degree of importance,
+it had its open shrubbery, and closer wood walk,
+a road of smooth gravel winding round a plantation,
+led to the front, the lawn was dotted over with timber,
+the house itself was under the guardianship of the fir,
+the mountain-ash, and the acacia, and a thick screen of
+them altogether, interspersed with tall Lombardy poplars,
+shut out the offices.
+
+Marianne entered the house with a heart swelling
+with emotion from the consciousness of being only eighty
+miles from Barton, and not thirty from Combe Magna;
+and before she had been five minutes within its walls,
+while the others were busily helping Charlotte to show
+her child to the housekeeper, she quitted it again,
+stealing away through the winding shrubberies, now just
+beginning to be in beauty, to gain a distant eminence;
+where, from its Grecian temple, her eye, wandering over
+a wide tract of country to the south-east, could fondly
+rest on the farthest ridge of hills in the horizon,
+and fancy that from their summits Combe Magna might be seen.
+
+In such moments of precious, invaluable misery,
+she rejoiced in tears of agony to be at Cleveland;
+and as she returned by a different circuit to the house,
+feeling all the happy privilege of country liberty,
+of wandering from place to place in free and luxurious solitude,
+she resolved to spend almost every hour of every day
+while she remained with the Palmers, in the indulgence of
+such solitary rambles.
+
+She returned just in time to join the others
+as they quitted the house, on an excursion through its
+more immediate premises; and the rest of the morning was
+easily whiled away, in lounging round the kitchen garden,
+examining the bloom upon its walls, and listening to the
+gardener's lamentations upon blights, in dawdling through
+the green-house, where the loss of her favourite plants,
+unwarily exposed, and nipped by the lingering frost,
+raised the laughter of Charlotte,--and in visiting her
+poultry-yard, where, in the disappointed hopes of her
+dairy-maid, by hens forsaking their nests, or being
+stolen by a fox, or in the rapid decrease of a promising
+young brood, she found fresh sources of merriment.
+
+The morning was fine and dry, and Marianne,
+in her plan of employment abroad, had not calculated
+for any change of weather during their stay at Cleveland.
+With great surprise therefore, did she find herself prevented
+by a settled rain from going out again after dinner.
+She had depended on a twilight walk to the Grecian temple,
+and perhaps all over the grounds, and an evening merely
+cold or damp would not have deterred her from it;
+but a heavy and settled rain even SHE could not fancy dry
+or pleasant weather for walking.
+
+Their party was small, and the hours passed quietly away.
+Mrs. Palmer had her child, and Mrs. Jennings her carpet-work;
+they talked of the friends they had left behind,
+arranged Lady Middleton's engagements, and wondered
+whether Mr. Palmer and Colonel Brandon would get farther
+than Reading that night.  Elinor, however little concerned
+in it, joined in their discourse; and Marianne, who had
+the knack of finding her way in every house to the library,
+however it might be avoided by the family in general,
+soon procured herself a book.
+
+Nothing was wanting on Mrs. Palmer's side that constant
+and friendly good humour could do, to make them feel
+themselves welcome.  The openness and heartiness of her
+manner more than atoned for that want of recollection
+and elegance which made her often deficient in the forms
+of politeness; her kindness, recommended by so pretty
+a face, was engaging; her folly, though evident
+was not disgusting, because it was not conceited;
+and Elinor could have forgiven every thing but her laugh.
+
+The two gentlemen arrived the next day to a very
+late dinner, affording a pleasant enlargement of the party,
+and a very welcome variety to their conversation, which a
+long morning of the same continued rain had reduced very low.
+
+Elinor had seen so little of Mr. Palmer, and in that
+little had seen so much variety in his address to her
+sister and herself, that she knew not what to expect
+to find him in his own family.  She found him, however,
+perfectly the gentleman in his behaviour to all his visitors,
+and only occasionally rude to his wife and her mother;
+she found him very capable of being a pleasant companion,
+and only prevented from being so always, by too great
+an aptitude to fancy himself as much superior to people
+in general, as he must feel himself to be to Mrs. Jennings
+and Charlotte.  For the rest of his character and habits,
+they were marked, as far as Elinor could perceive,
+with no traits at all unusual in his sex and time of life.
+He was nice in his eating, uncertain in his hours;
+fond of his child, though affecting to slight it;
+and idled away the mornings at billiards, which ought
+to have been devoted to business.  She liked him, however,
+upon the whole, much better than she had expected, and in
+her heart was not sorry that she could like him no more;--
+not sorry to be driven by the observation of his Epicurism,
+his selfishness, and his conceit, to rest with complacency
+on the remembrance of Edward's generous temper, simple taste,
+and diffident feelings.
+
+Of Edward, or at least of some of his concerns,
+she now received intelligence from Colonel Brandon,
+who had been into Dorsetshire lately; and who,
+treating her at once as the disinterested friend
+of Mr. Ferrars, and the kind of confidant of himself,
+talked to her a great deal of the parsonage at Delaford,
+described its deficiencies, and told her what he meant
+to do himself towards removing them.--His behaviour
+to her in this, as well as in every other particular,
+his open pleasure in meeting her after an absence
+of only ten days, his readiness to converse with her,
+and his deference for her opinion, might very well
+justify Mrs. Jennings's persuasion of his attachment,
+and would have been enough, perhaps, had not Elinor still,
+as from the first, believed Marianne his real favourite,
+to make her suspect it herself.  But as it was,
+such a notion had scarcely ever entered her head,
+except by Mrs. Jennings's suggestion; and she could
+not help believing herself the nicest observer of the
+two;--she watched his eyes, while Mrs. Jennings thought
+only of his behaviour;--and while his looks of anxious
+solicitude on Marianne's feeling, in her head and throat,
+the beginning of a heavy cold, because unexpressed by words,
+entirely escaped the latter lady's observation;--SHE could
+discover in them the quick feelings, and needless alarm
+of a lover.
+
+Two delightful twilight walks on the third and fourth
+evenings of her being there, not merely on the dry gravel
+of the shrubbery, but all over the grounds, and especially
+in the most distant parts of them, where there was something
+more of wildness than in the rest, where the trees were
+the oldest, and the grass was the longest and wettest,
+had--assisted by the still greater imprudence of sitting
+in her wet shoes and stockings--given Marianne a cold
+so violent as, though for a day or two trifled with
+or denied, would force itself by increasing ailments on
+the concern of every body, and the notice of herself.
+Prescriptions poured in from all quarters, and as usual,
+were all declined.  Though heavy and feverish, with a pain
+in her limbs, and a cough, and a sore throat, a good night's
+rest was to cure her entirely; and it was with difficulty
+that Elinor prevailed on her, when she went to bed,
+to try one or two of the simplest of the remedies.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 43
+
+
+Marianne got up the next morning at her usual time;
+to every inquiry replied that she was better, and tried to
+prove herself so, by engaging in her accustomary employments.
+But a day spent in sitting shivering over the fire
+with a book in her hand, which she was unable to read,
+or in lying, weary and languid, on a sofa, did not speak
+much in favour of her amendment; and when, at last,
+she went early to bed, more and more indisposed, Colonel
+Brandon was only astonished at her sister's composure,
+who, though attending and nursing her the whole day,
+against Marianne's inclination, and forcing proper medicines
+on her at night, trusted, like Marianne, to the certainty
+and efficacy of sleep, and felt no real alarm.
+
+A very restless and feverish night, however,
+disappointed the expectation of both; and when Marianne,
+after persisting in rising, confessed herself unable
+to sit up, and returned voluntarily to her bed,
+Elinor was very ready to adopt Mrs. Jennings's advice,
+of sending for the Palmers' apothecary.
+
+He came, examined his patient, and though encouraging
+Miss Dashwood to expect that a very few days would restore
+her sister to health, yet, by pronouncing her disorder
+to have a putrid tendency, and allowing the word "infection"
+to pass his lips, gave instant alarm to Mrs. Palmer,
+on her baby's account.  Mrs. Jennings, who had been inclined
+from the first to think Marianne's complaint more serious
+than Elinor, now looked very grave on Mr. Harris's report,
+and confirming Charlotte's fears and caution, urged the
+necessity of her immediate removal with her infant;
+and Mr. Palmer, though treating their apprehensions as idle,
+found the anxiety and importunity of his wife too great
+to be withstood.  Her departure, therefore, was fixed on;
+and within an hour after Mr. Harris's arrival, she set off,
+with her little boy and his nurse, for the house of a
+near relation of Mr. Palmer's, who lived a few miles
+on the other side of Bath; whither her husband promised,
+at her earnest entreaty, to join her in a day or two;
+and whither she was almost equally urgent with her
+mother to accompany her.  Mrs. Jennings, however, with a
+kindness of heart which made Elinor really love her,
+declared her resolution of not stirring from Cleveland
+as long as Marianne remained ill, and of endeavouring,
+by her own attentive care, to supply to her the place
+of the mother she had taken her from; and Elinor found her
+on every occasion a most willing and active helpmate,
+desirous to share in all her fatigues, and often by her
+better experience in nursing, of material use.
+
+Poor Marianne, languid and low from the nature
+of her malady, and feeling herself universally ill,
+could no longer hope that tomorrow would find her recovered;
+and the idea of what tomorrow would have produced,
+but for this unlucky illness, made every ailment severe;
+for on that day they were to have begun their journey home;
+and, attended the whole way by a servant of Mrs. Jennings,
+were to have taken their mother by surprise on the
+following forenoon.  The little she said was all in
+lamentation of this inevitable delay; though Elinor tried
+to raise her spirits, and make her believe, as she THEN
+really believed herself, that it would be a very short one.
+
+The next day produced little or no alteration in the
+state of the patient; she certainly was not better, and,
+except that there was no amendment, did not appear worse.
+Their party was now farther reduced; for Mr. Palmer,
+though very unwilling to go as well from real humanity
+and good-nature, as from a dislike of appearing to be
+frightened away by his wife, was persuaded at last
+by Colonel Brandon to perform his promise of following her;
+and while he was preparing to go, Colonel Brandon himself,
+with a much greater exertion, began to talk of going
+likewise.--Here, however, the kindness of Mrs. Jennings
+interposed most acceptably; for to send the Colonel away
+while his love was in so much uneasiness on her sister's
+account, would be to deprive them both, she thought,
+of every comfort; and therefore telling him at once
+that his stay at Cleveland was necessary to herself,
+that she should want him to play at piquet of an evening,
+while Miss Dashwood was above with her sister, &c. she
+urged him so strongly to remain, that he, who was gratifying
+the first wish of his own heart by a compliance, could not
+long even affect to demur; especially as Mrs. Jennings's
+entreaty was warmly seconded by Mr. Palmer, who seemed
+to feel a relief to himself, in leaving behind him a person
+so well able to assist or advise Miss Dashwood in any emergence.
+
+Marianne was, of course, kept in ignorance of all
+these arrangements.  She knew not that she had been
+the means of sending the owners of Cleveland away,
+in about seven days from the time of their arrival.
+It gave her no surprise that she saw nothing
+of Mrs. Palmer; and as it gave her likewise no concern,
+she never mentioned her name.
+
+Two days passed away from the time of Mr. Palmer's departure,
+and her situation continued, with little variation,
+the same.  Mr. Harris, who attended her every day,
+still talked boldly of a speedy recovery, and Miss Dashwood
+was equally sanguine; but the expectation of the others
+was by no means so cheerful.  Mrs. Jennings had determined
+very early in the seizure that Marianne would never
+get over it, and Colonel Brandon, who was chiefly
+of use in listening to Mrs. Jennings's forebodings,
+was not in a state of mind to resist their influence.
+He tried to reason himself out of fears, which the different
+judgment of the apothecary seemed to render absurd;
+but the many hours of each day in which he was left
+entirely alone, were but too favourable for the admission
+of every melancholy idea, and he could not expel from
+his mind the persuasion that he should see Marianne no more.
+
+On the morning of the third day however, the gloomy
+anticipations of both were almost done away; for when
+Mr. Harris arrived, he declared his patient materially better.
+Her pulse was much stronger, and every symptom more favourable
+than on the preceding visit.  Elinor, confirmed in every
+pleasant hope, was all cheerfulness; rejoicing that
+in her letters to her mother, she had pursued her own
+judgment rather than her friend's, in making very light
+of the indisposition which delayed them at Cleveland;
+and almost fixing on the time when Marianne would be
+able to travel.
+
+But the day did not close so auspiciously as it began.--
+Towards the evening Marianne became ill again, growing
+more heavy, restless, and uncomfortable than before.
+Her sister, however, still sanguine, was willing to
+attribute the change to nothing more than the fatigue
+of having sat up to have her bed made; and carefully
+administering the cordials prescribed, saw her, with
+satisfaction, sink at last into a slumber, from which
+she expected the most beneficial effects.  Her sleep,
+though not so quiet as Elinor wished to see it,
+lasted a considerable time; and anxious to observe
+the result of it herself, she resolved to sit with her
+during the whole of it.  Mrs. Jennings, knowing nothing
+of any change in the patient, went unusually early to bed;
+her maid, who was one of the principal nurses, was recreating
+herself in the housekeeper's room, and Elinor remained
+alone with Marianne.
+
+The repose of the latter became more and more disturbed;
+and her sister, who watched, with unremitting attention
+her continual change of posture, and heard the frequent
+but inarticulate sounds of complaint which passed her lips,
+was almost wishing to rouse her from so painful a slumber,
+when Marianne, suddenly awakened by some accidental noise
+in the house, started hastily up, and, with feverish wildness,
+cried out,--
+
+"Is mama coming?--"
+
+"Not yet," cried the other, concealing her terror,
+and assisting Marianne to lie down again, "but she will
+be here, I hope, before it is long.  It is a great way,
+you know, from hence to Barton."
+
+"But she must not go round by London," cried Marianne,
+in the same hurried manner.  "I shall never see her,
+if she goes by London."
+
+Elinor perceived with alarm that she was not
+quite herself, and, while attempting to soothe her,
+eagerly felt her pulse.  It was lower and quicker than ever!
+and Marianne, still talking wildly of mama, her alarm
+increased so rapidly, as to determine her on sending
+instantly for Mr. Harris, and despatching a messenger
+to Barton for her mother.  To consult with Colonel Brandon
+on the best means of effecting the latter, was a thought
+which immediately followed the resolution of its performance;
+and as soon she had rung up the maid to take her place
+by her sister, she hastened down to the drawing-room,
+where she knew he was generally to be found at a much
+later hour than the present.
+
+It was no time for hesitation.  Her fears and her
+difficulties were immediately before him.  Her fears,
+he had no courage, no confidence to attempt the removal of:--
+he listened to them in silent despondence;--but her
+difficulties were instantly obviated, for with a readiness
+that seemed to speak the occasion, and the service
+pre-arranged in his mind, he offered himself as the
+messenger who should fetch Mrs. Dashwood.  Elinor made no
+resistance that was not easily overcome.  She thanked him
+with brief, though fervent gratitude, and while he went
+to hurry off his servant with a message to Mr. Harris, and
+an order for post-horses directly, she wrote a few lines
+to her mother.
+
+The comfort of such a friend at that moment as Colonel
+Brandon--or such a companion for her mother,--how gratefully
+was it felt!--a companion whose judgment would guide,
+whose attendance must relieve, and whose friendship might
+soothe her!--as far as the shock of such a summons COULD
+be lessened to her, his presence, his manners, his assistance,
+would lessen it.
+
+HE, meanwhile, whatever he might feel, acted with all
+the firmness of a collected mind, made every necessary
+arrangement with the utmost despatch, and calculated
+with exactness the time in which she might look for
+his return.  Not a moment was lost in delay of any kind.
+The horses arrived, even before they were expected,
+and Colonel Brandon only pressing her hand with a look
+of solemnity, and a few words spoken too low to reach her ear,
+hurried into the carriage.  It was then about twelve
+o'clock, and she returned to her sister's apartment to wait
+for the arrival of the apothecary, and to watch by her
+the rest of the night.  It was a night of almost equal
+suffering to both.  Hour after hour passed away in sleepless
+pain and delirium on Marianne's side, and in the most
+cruel anxiety on Elinor's, before Mr. Harris appeared.
+Her apprehensions once raised, paid by their excess for all
+her former security; and the servant who sat up with her,
+for she would not allow Mrs. Jennings to be called,
+only tortured her more, by hints of what her mistress
+had always thought.
+
+Marianne's ideas were still, at intervals,
+fixed incoherently on her mother, and whenever she
+mentioned her name, it gave a pang to the heart of
+poor Elinor, who, reproaching herself for having trifled
+with so many days of illness, and wretched for some
+immediate relief, fancied that all relief might soon
+be in vain, that every thing had been delayed too long,
+and pictured to herself her suffering mother arriving
+too late to see this darling child, or to see her rational.
+
+She was on the point of sending again for Mr. Harris,
+or if HE could not come, for some other advice,
+when the former--but not till after five o'clock--arrived.
+His opinion, however, made some little amends for his delay,
+for though acknowledging a very unexpected and unpleasant
+alteration in his patient, he would not allow the danger
+to be material, and talked of the relief which a fresh
+mode of treatment must procure, with a confidence which,
+in a lesser degree, was communicated to Elinor.  He promised
+to call again in the course of three or four hours,
+and left both the patient and her anxious attendant more
+composed than he had found them.
+
+With strong concern, and with many reproaches for not
+being called to their aid, did Mrs. Jennings hear in the
+morning of what had passed.  Her former apprehensions,
+now with greater reason restored, left her no doubt of
+the event; and though trying to speak comfort to Elinor,
+her conviction of her sister's danger would not allow her
+to offer the comfort of hope.  Her heart was really grieved.
+The rapid decay, the early death of a girl so young,
+so lovely as Marianne, must have struck a less interested
+person with concern.  On Mrs. Jennings's compassion
+she had other claims.  She had been for three months
+her companion, was still under her care, and she was
+known to have been greatly injured, and long unhappy.
+The distress of her sister too, particularly a favourite,
+was before her;--and as for their mother, when Mrs. Jennings
+considered that Marianne might probably be to HER what
+Charlotte was to herself, her sympathy in HER sufferings
+was very sincere.
+
+Mr. Harris was punctual in his second visit;--
+but he came to be disappointed in his hopes of what the
+last would produce.  His medicines had failed;--the fever
+was unabated; and Marianne only more quiet--not more
+herself--remained in a heavy stupor.  Elinor, catching all,
+and more than all, his fears in a moment, proposed to call
+in further advice.  But he judged it unnecessary: he had
+still something more to try, some more fresh application,
+of whose success he was as confident as the last, and his
+visit concluded with encouraging assurances which reached
+the ear, but could not enter the heart of Miss Dashwood.
+She was calm, except when she thought of her mother;
+but she was almost hopeless; and in this state she continued
+till noon, scarcely stirring from her sister's bed,
+her thoughts wandering from one image of grief,
+one suffering friend to another, and her spirits oppressed
+to the utmost by the conversation of Mrs. Jennings,
+who scrupled not to attribute the severity and danger
+of this attack to the many weeks of previous indisposition
+which Marianne's disappointment had brought on.
+Elinor felt all the reasonableness of the idea, and it
+gave fresh misery to her reflections.
+
+About noon, however, she began--but with a caution--a
+dread of disappointment which for some time kept her silent,
+even to her friend--to fancy, to hope she could perceive
+a slight amendment in her sister's pulse;--she waited,
+watched, and examined it again and again;--and at last,
+with an agitation more difficult to bury under exterior calmness,
+than all her foregoing distress, ventured to communicate
+her hopes.  Mrs. Jennings, though forced, on examination,
+to acknowledge a temporary revival, tried to keep her
+young friend from indulging a thought of its continuance;--
+and Elinor, conning over every injunction of distrust,
+told herself likewise not to hope.  But it was too late.
+Hope had already entered; and feeling all its anxious flutter,
+she bent over her sister to watch--she hardly knew for what.
+Half an hour passed away, and the favourable symptom
+yet blessed her.  Others even arose to confirm it.
+Her breath, her skin, her lips, all flattered Elinor
+with signs of amendment; and Marianne fixed her eyes on
+her with a rational, though languid, gaze.  Anxiety and
+hope now oppressed her in equal degrees, and left her no
+moment of tranquillity till the arrival of Mr. Harris at
+four o'clock;--when his assurances, his felicitations on
+a recovery in her sister even surpassing his expectation,
+gave her confidence, comfort, and tears of joy.
+
+Marianne was in every respect materially better,
+and he declared her entirely out of danger.  Mrs. Jennings,
+perhaps satisfied with the partial justification of her
+forebodings which had been found in their late alarm,
+allowed herself to trust in his judgment, and admitted,
+with unfeigned joy, and soon with unequivocal cheerfulness,
+the probability of an entire recovery.
+
+Elinor could not be cheerful.  Her joy was of a
+different kind, and led to any thing rather than to gaiety.
+Marianne restored to life, health, friends, and to her
+doting mother, was an idea to fill her heart with sensations
+of exquisite comfort, and expand it in fervent gratitude;--
+but it lead to no outward demonstrations of joy, no words,
+no smiles.  All within Elinor's breast was satisfaction,
+silent and strong.
+
+She continued by the side of her sister, with little
+intermission the whole afternoon, calming every fear,
+satisfying every inquiry of her enfeebled spirits,
+supplying every succour, and watching almost every look and
+every breath.  The possibility of a relapse would of course,
+in some moments, occur to remind her of what anxiety was--
+but when she saw, on her frequent and minute examination,
+that every symptom of recovery continued, and saw Marianne
+at six o'clock sink into a quiet, steady, and to all
+appearance comfortable, sleep, she silenced every doubt.
+
+The time was now drawing on, when Colonel Brandon
+might be expected back.  At ten o'clock, she trusted,
+or at least not much later her mother would be relieved
+from the dreadful suspense in which she must now be
+travelling towards them.  The Colonel, too!--perhaps scarcely
+less an object of pity!--Oh!--how slow was the progress
+of time which yet kept them in ignorance!
+
+At seven o'clock, leaving Marianne still sweetly asleep,
+she joined Mrs. Jennings in the drawing-room to tea.
+Of breakfast she had been kept by her fears, and of
+dinner by their sudden reverse, from eating much;--
+and the present refreshment, therefore, with such feelings
+of content as she brought to it, was particularly welcome.
+Mrs. Jennings would have persuaded her, at its conclusion,
+to take some rest before her mother's arrival, and allow HER to
+take her place by Marianne; but Elinor had no sense of fatigue,
+no capability of sleep at that moment about her, and she was
+not to be kept away from her sister an unnecessary instant.
+Mrs. Jennings therefore attending her up stairs into the
+sick chamber, to satisfy herself that all continued right,
+left her there again to her charge and her thoughts,
+and retired to her own room to write letters and sleep.
+
+The night was cold and stormy.  The wind roared
+round the house, and the rain beat against the windows;
+but Elinor, all happiness within, regarded it not.
+Marianne slept through every blast; and the travellers--
+they had a rich reward in store, for every present inconvenience.
+
+The clock struck eight.  Had it been ten,
+Elinor would have been convinced that at that moment
+she heard a carriage driving up to the house;
+and so strong was the persuasion that she DID, in spite
+of the ALMOST impossibility of their being already come,
+that she moved into the adjoining dressing-closet and
+opened a window shutter, to be satisfied of the truth.
+She instantly saw that her ears had not deceived her.
+The flaring lamps of a carriage were immediately in view.
+By their uncertain light she thought she could discern it
+to be drawn by four horses; and this, while it told the
+excess of her poor mother's alarm, gave some explanation
+to such unexpected rapidity.
+
+Never in her life had Elinor found it so difficult
+to be calm, as at that moment.  The knowledge of what her
+mother must be feeling as the carriage stopt at the door--
+of her doubt--her dread--perhaps her despair!--and
+of what SHE had to tell!--with such knowledge it was
+impossible to be calm.  All that remained to be done
+was to be speedy; and, therefore staying only till
+she could leave Mrs. Jennings's maid with her sister,
+she hurried down stairs.
+
+The bustle in the vestibule, as she passed along
+an inner lobby, assured her that they were already
+in the house.  She rushed to the drawing-room,--she
+entered it,--and saw only Willoughby.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 44
+
+
+Elinor, starting back with a look of horror at
+the sight of him, obeyed the first impulse of her heart
+in turning instantly to quit the room, and her hand
+was already on the lock, when its action was suspended
+by his hastily advancing, and saying, in a voice rather
+of command than supplication,
+
+"Miss Dashwood, for half an hour--for ten minutes--
+I entreat you to stay."
+
+"No, sir," she replied with firmness, "I shall NOT stay.
+Your business cannot be with ME.  The servants, I suppose,
+forgot to tell you that Mr. Palmer was not in the house."
+
+"Had they told me," he cried with vehemence,
+"that Mr. Palmer and all his relations were at the devil,
+it would not have turned me from the door.  My business
+is with you, and only you."
+
+"With me!"--in the utmost amazement--"well, sir,--
+be quick--and if you can--less violent."
+
+"Sit down, and I will be both."
+
+She hesitated; she knew not what to do.  The possibility
+of Colonel Brandon's arriving and finding her there,
+came across her.  But she had promised to hear him,
+and her curiosity no less than her honor was engaged.
+After a moment's recollection, therefore, concluding that
+prudence required dispatch, and that her acquiescence would
+best promote it, she walked silently towards the table,
+and sat down.  He took the opposite chair, and for half
+a minute not a word was said by either.
+
+"Pray be quick, sir,"--said Elinor, impatiently;--
+"I have no time to spare."
+
+He was sitting in an attitude of deep meditation,
+and seemed not to hear her.
+
+"Your sister," said he, with abruptness, a moment
+afterwards--"is out of danger.  I heard it from the servant.
+God be praised!--But is it true? is it really true?"
+
+Elinor would not speak.  He repeated the inquiry with
+yet greater eagerness.
+
+"For God's sake tell me, is she out of danger, or is she not?"
+
+"We hope she is."
+
+He rose up, and walked across the room.
+
+"Had I known as much half an hour ago--But
+since I AM here,"--speaking with a forced vivacity as he
+returned to his seat--"what does it signify?--For once,
+Miss Dashwood--it will be the last time, perhaps--let us
+be cheerful together.--I am in a fine mood for gaiety.--
+Tell me honestly"--a deeper glow overspreading his cheeks--
+"do you think me most a knave or a fool?"
+
+Elinor looked at him with greater astonishment than ever.
+She began to think that he must be in liquor;--the
+strangeness of such a visit, and of such manners,
+seemed no otherwise intelligible; and with this impression
+she immediately rose, saying,
+
+"Mr. Willoughby, I advise you at present to return
+to Combe--I am not at leisure to remain with you longer.--
+Whatever your business may be with me, will it be better
+recollected and explained to-morrow."
+
+"I understand you," he replied, with an expressive smile,
+and a voice perfectly calm; "yes, I am very drunk.--
+A pint of porter with my cold beef at Marlborough was
+enough to over-set me."
+
+"At Marlborough!"--cried Elinor, more and more at
+a loss to understand what he would be at.
+
+"Yes,--I left London this morning at eight o'clock,
+and the only ten minutes I have spent out of my chaise
+since that time procured me a nuncheon at Marlborough."
+
+The steadiness of his manner, and the intelligence
+of his eye as he spoke, convincing Elinor, that whatever
+other unpardonable folly might bring him to Cleveland,
+he was not brought there by intoxication, she said,
+after a moment's recollection,
+
+"Mr. Willoughby, you OUGHT to feel, and I certainly
+DO--that after what has passed--your coming here in
+this manner, and forcing yourself upon my notice,
+requires a very particular excuse.--What is it,
+that you mean by it?"--
+
+"I mean,"--said he, with serious energy--"if I can,
+to make you hate me one degree less than you do NOW.
+I mean to offer some kind of explanation, some kind
+of apology, for the past; to open my whole heart to you,
+and by convincing you, that though I have been always
+a blockhead, I have not been always a rascal, to obtain
+something like forgiveness from Ma--from your sister."
+
+"Is this the real reason of your coming?"
+
+"Upon my soul it is,"--was his answer, with a warmth
+which brought all the former Willoughby to her remembrance,
+and in spite of herself made her think him sincere.
+
+"If that is all, you may be satisfied already,--
+for Marianne DOES--she has LONG forgiven you."
+
+"Has she?"--he cried, in the same eager tone.--
+"Then she has forgiven me before she ought to have done it.
+But she shall forgive me again, and on more reasonable
+grounds.--NOW will you listen to me?"
+
+Elinor bowed her assent.
+
+"I do not know," said he, after a pause of expectation
+on her side, and thoughtfulness on his own,--"how YOU
+may have accounted for my behaviour to your sister,
+or what diabolical motive you may have imputed to me.--
+Perhaps you will hardly think the better of me,--it is
+worth the trial however, and you shall hear every thing.
+When I first became intimate in your family, I had no
+other intention, no other view in the acquaintance
+than to pass my time pleasantly while I was obliged to remain
+in Devonshire, more pleasantly than I had ever done before.
+Your sister's lovely person and interesting manners
+could not but please me; and her behaviour to me almost
+from the first, was of a kind--It is astonishing,
+when I reflect on what it was, and what SHE was, that my
+heart should have been so insensible!  But at first
+I must confess, my vanity only was elevated by it.
+Careless of her happiness, thinking only of my own amusement,
+giving way to feelings which I had always been too much
+in the habit of indulging, I endeavoured, by every means
+in my power, to make myself pleasing to her, without any
+design of returning her affection."
+
+Miss Dashwood, at this point, turning her eyes on him
+with the most angry contempt, stopped him, by saying,
+
+"It is hardly worth while, Mr. Willoughby,
+for you to relate, or for me to listen any longer.
+Such a beginning as this cannot be followed by any thing.--
+Do not let me be pained by hearing any thing more on
+the subject."
+
+"I insist on you hearing the whole of it," he replied,
+"My fortune was never large, and I had always been expensive,
+always in the habit of associating with people of better
+income than myself.  Every year since my coming of age,
+or even before, I believe, had added to my debts; and though
+the death of my old cousin, Mrs. Smith, was to set me free;
+yet that event being uncertain, and possibly far distant,
+it had been for some time my intention to re-establish my
+circumstances by marrying a woman of fortune.  To attach
+myself to your sister, therefore, was not a thing to be
+thought of;--and with a meanness, selfishness, cruelty--
+which no indignant, no contemptuous look, even of yours,
+Miss Dashwood, can ever reprobate too much--I was acting
+in this manner, trying to engage her regard, without a
+thought of returning it.--But one thing may be said
+for me: even in that horrid state of selfish vanity,
+I did not know the extent of the injury I meditated,
+because I did not THEN know what it was to love.
+But have I ever known it?--Well may it be doubted; for, had I
+really loved, could I have sacrificed my feelings to vanity,
+to avarice?--or, what is more, could I have sacrificed hers?--
+But I have done it.  To avoid a comparative poverty,
+which her affection and her society would have deprived
+of all its horrors, I have, by raising myself to affluence,
+lost every thing that could make it a blessing."
+
+"You did then," said Elinor, a little softened,
+"believe yourself at one time attached to her?"
+
+"To have resisted such attractions, to have withstood
+such tenderness!--Is there a man on earth who could have
+done it?--Yes, I found myself, by insensible degrees,
+sincerely fond of her; and the happiest hours of my life
+were what I spent with her when I felt my intentions
+were strictly honourable, and my feelings blameless.
+Even THEN, however, when fully determined on paying
+my addresses to her, I allowed myself most improperly
+to put off, from day to day, the moment of doing it,
+from an unwillingness to enter into an engagement
+while my circumstances were so greatly embarrassed.
+I will not reason here--nor will I stop for YOU to expatiate
+on the absurdity, and the worse than absurdity, of scrupling
+to engage my faith where my honour was already bound.
+The event has proved, that I was a cunning fool,
+providing with great circumspection for a possible
+opportunity of making myself contemptible and wretched
+for ever.  At last, however, my resolution was taken,
+and I had determined, as soon as I could engage her alone,
+to justify the attentions I had so invariably paid her,
+and openly assure her of an affection which I had already
+taken such pains to display.  But in the interim--in the
+interim of the very few hours that were to pass, before I
+could have an opportunity of speaking with her in private--
+a circumstance occurred--an unlucky circumstance, to ruin
+all my resolution, and with it all my comfort.  A discovery
+took place,"--here he hesitated and looked down.--"Mrs. Smith
+had somehow or other been informed, I imagine by some
+distant relation, whose interest it was to deprive me of
+her favour, of an affair, a connection--but I need not
+explain myself farther," he added, looking at her with an
+heightened colour and an enquiring eye--"your particular
+intimacy--you have probably heard the whole story long ago."
+
+"I have," returned Elinor, colouring likewise,
+and hardening her heart anew against any compassion for him,
+"I have heard it all.  And how you will explain away any
+part of your guilt in that dreadful business, I confess
+is beyond my comprehension."
+
+"Remember," cried Willoughby, "from whom you received
+the account.  Could it be an impartial one?  I acknowledge
+that her situation and her character ought to have been
+respected by me.  I do not mean to justify myself, but at
+the same time cannot leave you to suppose that I have nothing
+to urge--that because she was injured she was irreproachable,
+and because I was a libertine, SHE must be a saint.
+If the violence of her passions, the weakness of her
+understanding--I do not mean, however, to defend myself.
+Her affection for me deserved better treatment, and I often,
+with great self-reproach, recall the tenderness which,
+for a very short time, had the power of creating any return.
+I wish--I heartily wish it had never been.  But I have injured
+more than herself; and I have injured one, whose affection
+for me--(may I say it?) was scarcely less warm than hers;
+and whose mind--Oh! how infinitely superior!"--
+
+"Your indifference, however, towards that unfortunate
+girl--I must say it, unpleasant to me as the discussion
+of such a subject may well be--your indifference is no
+apology for your cruel neglect of her.  Do not think yourself
+excused by any weakness, any natural defect of understanding
+on her side, in the wanton cruelty so evident on yours.
+You must have known, that while you were enjoying yourself
+in Devonshire pursuing fresh schemes, always gay,
+always happy, she was reduced to the extremest indigence."
+
+"But, upon my soul, I did NOT know it," he warmly
+replied; "I did not recollect that I had omitted to give
+her my direction; and common sense might have told her
+how to find it out."
+
+"Well, sir, and what said Mrs. Smith?"
+
+"She taxed me with the offence at once, and my confusion
+may be guessed.  The purity of her life, the formality
+of her notions, her ignorance of the world--every thing
+was against me.  The matter itself I could not deny,
+and vain was every endeavour to soften it.  She was
+previously disposed, I believe, to doubt the morality of my
+conduct in general, and was moreover discontented with
+the very little attention, the very little portion of my
+time that I had bestowed on her, in my present visit.
+In short, it ended in a total breach.  By one measure I
+might have saved myself.  In the height of her morality,
+good woman! she offered to forgive the past, if I would
+marry Eliza.  That could not be--and I was formally
+dismissed from her favour and her house.  The night
+following this affair--I was to go the next morning--
+was spent by me in deliberating on what my future conduct
+should be.  The struggle was great--but it ended too soon.
+My affection for Marianne, my thorough conviction of her
+attachment to me--it was all insufficient to outweigh
+that dread of poverty, or get the better of those false
+ideas of the necessity of riches, which I was naturally
+inclined to feel, and expensive society had increased.
+I had reason to believe myself secure of my present wife,
+if I chose to address her, and I persuaded myself to think
+that nothing else in common prudence remained for me to do.
+A heavy scene however awaited me, before I could leave
+Devonshire;--I was engaged to dine with you on that very day;
+some apology was therefore necessary for my breaking
+this engagement.  But whether I should write this apology,
+or deliver it in person, was a point of long debate.
+To see Marianne, I felt, would be dreadful, and I even doubted
+whether I could see her again, and keep to my resolution.
+In that point, however, I undervalued my own magnanimity,
+as the event declared; for I went, I saw her, and saw
+her miserable, and left her miserable--and left her hoping
+never to see her again."
+
+"Why did you call, Mr. Willoughby?" said Elinor,
+reproachfully; "a note would have answered every purpose.--
+Why was it necessary to call?"
+
+"It was necessary to my own pride.  I could not bear
+to leave the country in a manner that might lead you,
+or the rest of the neighbourhood, to suspect any part
+of what had really passed between Mrs. Smith and myself--
+and I resolved therefore on calling at the cottage,
+in my way to Honiton.  The sight of your dear sister,
+however, was really dreadful; and, to heighten the matter,
+I found her alone.  You were all gone I do not know where.
+I had left her only the evening before, so fully,
+so firmly resolved within my self on doing right!
+A few hours were to have engaged her to me for ever;
+and I remember how happy, how gay were my spirits, as I
+walked from the cottage to Allenham, satisfied with myself,
+delighted with every body!  But in this, our last interview
+of friendship, I approached her with a sense of guilt
+that almost took from me the power of dissembling.
+Her sorrow, her disappointment, her deep regret, when I told
+her that I was obliged to leave Devonshire so immediately--I
+never shall forget it--united too with such reliance,
+such confidence in me!--Oh, God!--what a hard-hearted
+rascal I was!"
+
+They were both silent for a few moments.
+Elinor first spoke.
+
+"Did you tell her that you should soon return?"
+
+"I do not know what I told her," he replied, impatiently;
+"less than was due to the past, beyond a doubt, and in all
+likelihood much more than was justified by the future.
+I cannot think of it.--It won't do.--Then came your dear mother
+to torture me farther, with all her kindness and confidence.
+Thank Heaven! it DID torture me.  I was miserable.
+Miss Dashwood, you cannot have an idea of the comfort it
+gives me to look back on my own misery.  I owe such a grudge
+to myself for the stupid, rascally folly of my own heart,
+that all my past sufferings under it are only triumph and
+exultation to me now.  Well, I went, left all that I loved,
+and went to those to whom, at best, I was only indifferent.
+My journey to town--travelling with my own horses,
+and therefore so tediously--no creature to speak to--my
+own reflections so cheerful--when I looked forward
+every thing so inviting!--when I looked back at Barton,
+the picture so soothing!--oh, it was a blessed journey!"
+
+He stopped.
+
+"Well, sir," said Elinor, who, though pitying him,
+grew impatient for his departure, "and this is all?"
+
+"Ah!--no,--have you forgot what passed in town?--
+That infamous letter--Did she shew it you?"
+
+"Yes, I saw every note that passed."
+
+"When the first of hers reached me (as it immediately did,
+for I was in town the whole time,) what I felt is--
+in the common phrase, not to be expressed; in a more
+simple one--perhaps too simple to raise any emotion--
+my feelings were very, very painful.--Every line, every word
+was--in the hackneyed metaphor which their dear writer,
+were she here, would forbid--a dagger to my heart.
+To know that Marianne was in town was--in the same language--
+a thunderbolt.--Thunderbolts and daggers!--what a reproof
+would she have given me!--her taste, her opinions--I believe
+they are better known to me than my own,--and I am sure
+they are dearer."
+
+Elinor's heart, which had undergone many changes
+in the course of this extraordinary conversation,
+was now softened again;--yet she felt it her duty to check
+such ideas in her companion as the last.
+
+"This is not right, Mr. Willoughby.--Remember that
+you are married.  Relate only what in your conscience
+you think necessary for me to hear."
+
+"Marianne's note, by assuring me that I was still
+as dear to her as in former days, that in spite of the many,
+many weeks we had been separated, she was as constant
+in her own feelings, and as full of faith in the constancy
+of mine as ever, awakened all my remorse.  I say awakened,
+because time and London, business and dissipation,
+had in some measure quieted it, and I had been growing
+a fine hardened villain, fancying myself indifferent to her,
+and chusing to fancy that she too must have become
+indifferent to me; talking to myself of our past attachment
+as a mere idle, trifling business, shrugging up my shoulders
+in proof of its being so, and silencing every reproach,
+overcoming every scruple, by secretly saying now and then,
+'I shall be heartily glad to hear she is well married.'--
+But this note made me know myself better.  I felt that
+she was infinitely dearer to me than any other woman
+in the world, and that I was using her infamously.
+But every thing was then just settled between Miss Grey
+and me.  To retreat was impossible.  All that I had to do,
+was to avoid you both.  I sent no answer to Marianne,
+intending by that to preserve myself from her farther notice;
+and for some time I was even determined not to call in
+Berkeley Street;--but at last, judging it wiser to affect
+the air of a cool, common acquaintance than anything else,
+I watched you all safely out of the house one morning,
+and left my name."
+
+"Watched us out of the house!"
+
+"Even so.  You would be surprised to hear how often
+I watched you, how often I was on the point of falling
+in with you.  I have entered many a shop to avoid your sight,
+as the carriage drove by.  Lodging as I did in Bond Street,
+there was hardly a day in which I did not catch a glimpse
+of one or other of you; and nothing but the most constant
+watchfulness on my side, a most invariably prevailing
+desire to keep out of your sight, could have separated us
+so long.  I avoided the Middletons as much as possible,
+as well as everybody else who was likely to prove
+an acquaintance in common.  Not aware of their being
+in town, however, I blundered on Sir John, I believe,
+the first day of his coming, and the day after I had called
+at Mrs. Jennings's.  He asked me to a party, a dance at his
+house in the evening.--Had he NOT told me as an inducement
+that you and your sister were to be there, I should have
+felt it too certain a thing, to trust myself near him.
+The next morning brought another short note from Marianne--
+still affectionate, open, artless, confiding--everything
+that could make MY conduct most hateful.  I could not
+answer it.  I tried--but could not frame a sentence.
+But I thought of her, I believe, every moment of the day.
+If you CAN pity me, Miss Dashwood, pity my situation as it
+was THEN.  With my head and heart full of your sister,
+I was forced to play the happy lover to another woman!--Those
+three or four weeks were worse than all.  Well, at last,
+as I need not tell you, you were forced on me; and what a
+sweet figure I cut!--what an evening of agony it was!--
+Marianne, beautiful as an angel on one side, calling me
+Willoughby in such a tone!--Oh, God!--holding out her hand
+to me, asking me for an explanation, with those bewitching
+eyes fixed in such speaking solicitude on my face!--and
+Sophia, jealous as the devil on the other hand, looking
+all that was--Well, it does not signify; it is over now.--
+Such an evening!--I ran away from you all as soon as I could;
+but not before I had seen Marianne's sweet face as white
+as death.--THAT was the last, last look I ever had of her;--
+the last manner in which she appeared to me.  It was a horrid
+sight!--yet when I thought of her to-day as really dying,
+it was a kind of comfort to me to imagine that I knew
+exactly how she would appear to those, who saw her last
+in this world.  She was before me, constantly before me,
+as I travelled, in the same look and hue."
+
+A short pause of mutual thoughtfulness succeeded.
+Willoughby first rousing himself, broke it thus:
+
+"Well, let me make haste and be gone.  Your sister
+is certainly better, certainly out of danger?"
+
+"We are assured of it."
+
+"Your poor mother, too!--doting on Marianne."
+
+"But the letter, Mr. Willoughby, your own letter;
+have you any thing to say about that?"
+
+"Yes, yes, THAT in particular.  Your sister
+wrote to me again, you know, the very next morning.
+You saw what she said.  I was breakfasting at the
+Ellisons,--and her letter, with some others, was brought
+to me there from my lodgings.  It happened to catch
+Sophia's eye before it caught mine--and its size,
+the elegance of the paper, the hand-writing altogether,
+immediately gave her a suspicion.  Some vague report had
+reached her before of my attachment to some young lady
+in Devonshire, and what had passed within her observation
+the preceding evening had marked who the young lady was,
+and made her more jealous than ever.  Affecting that air
+of playfulness, therefore, which is delightful in a woman
+one loves, she opened the letter directly, and read
+its contents.  She was well paid for her impudence.
+She read what made her wretched.  Her wretchedness I could
+have borne, but her passion--her malice--At all events it
+must be appeased.  And, in short--what do you think of my
+wife's style of letter-writing?--delicate--tender--
+truly feminine--was it not?"
+
+"Your wife!--The letter was in your own hand-writing."
+
+"Yes, but I had only the credit of servilely copying
+such sentences as I was ashamed to put my name to.
+The original was all her own--her own happy thoughts
+and gentle diction.  But what could I do!--we were engaged,
+every thing in preparation, the day almost fixed--But I am
+talking like a fool.  Preparation!--day!--In honest words,
+her money was necessary to me, and in a situation like
+mine, any thing was to be done to prevent a rupture.
+And after all, what did it signify to my character
+in the opinion of Marianne and her friends, in what language
+my answer was couched?--It must have been only to one end.
+My business was to declare myself a scoundrel, and whether
+I did it with a bow or a bluster was of little importance.--
+'I am ruined for ever in their opinion--' said I to
+myself--'I am shut out for ever from their society,
+they already think me an unprincipled fellow, this letter
+will only make them think me a blackguard one.' Such were
+my reasonings, as, in a sort of desperate carelessness,
+I copied my wife's words, and parted with the last relics
+of Marianne.  Her three notes--unluckily they were all
+in my pocketbook, or I should have denied their existence,
+and hoarded them for ever--I was forced to put them up,
+and could not even kiss them.  And the lock of hair--that too
+I had always carried about me in the same pocket-book,
+which was now searched by Madam with the most ingratiating
+virulence,--the dear lock--all, every memento was torn from me."
+
+"You are very wrong, Mr. Willoughby, very blamable,"
+said Elinor, while her voice, in spite of herself,
+betrayed her compassionate emotion; "you ought not to speak
+in this way, either of Mrs. Willoughby or my sister.
+You had made your own choice.  It was not forced on you.
+Your wife has a claim to your politeness, to your respect,
+at least.  She must be attached to you, or she would not
+have married you.  To treat her with unkindness, to speak
+of her slightingly is no atonement to Marianne--nor can I
+suppose it a relief to your own conscience."
+
+"Do not talk to me of my wife," said he with a heavy sigh.--
+"She does not deserve your compassion.--She knew I had no
+regard for her when we married.--Well, married we were,
+and came down to Combe Magna to be happy, and afterwards
+returned to town to be gay.--And now do you pity me,
+Miss Dashwood?--or have I said all this to no purpose?--
+Am I--be it only one degree--am I less guilty in your opinion
+than I was before?--My intentions were not always wrong.
+Have I explained away any part of my guilt?"
+
+"Yes, you have certainly removed something--a little.--
+You have proved yourself, on the whole, less faulty than
+I had believed you.  You have proved your heart less wicked,
+much less wicked.  But I hardly know--the misery that
+you have inflicted--I hardly know what could have made
+it worse."
+
+"Will you repeat to your sister when she is recovered,
+what I have been telling you?--Let me be a little lightened
+too in her opinion as well as in yours.  You tell me that
+she has forgiven me already.  Let me be able to fancy that
+a better knowledge of my heart, and of my present feelings,
+will draw from her a more spontaneous, more natural, more
+gentle, less dignified, forgiveness.  Tell her of my misery
+and my penitence--tell her that my heart was never inconstant
+to her, and if you will, that at this moment she is dearer
+to me than ever."
+
+"I will tell her all that is necessary to what may
+comparatively be called, your justification.  But you have
+not explained to me the particular reason of your coming now,
+nor how you heard of her illness."
+
+"Last night, in Drury Lane lobby, I ran against Sir
+John Middleton, and when he saw who I was--for the first
+time these two months--he spoke to me.--That he had cut
+me ever since my marriage, I had seen without surprise
+or resentment.  Now, however, his good-natured, honest,
+stupid soul, full of indignation against me, and concern
+for your sister, could not resist the temptation of telling
+me what he knew ought to--though probably he did not
+think it WOULD--vex me horridly.  As bluntly as he could
+speak it, therefore, he told me that Marianne Dashwood
+was dying of a putrid fever at Cleveland--a letter that
+morning received from Mrs. Jennings declared her danger
+most imminent--the Palmers are all gone off in a fright,
+&c.--I was too much shocked to be able to pass myself
+off as insensible even to the undiscerning Sir John.
+His heart was softened in seeing mine suffer; and so much
+of his ill-will was done away, that when we parted,
+he almost shook me by the hand while he reminded me of an
+old promise about a pointer puppy.  What I felt on hearing
+that your sister was dying--and dying too, believing me
+the greatest villain upon earth, scorning, hating me
+in her latest moments--for how could I tell what horrid
+projects might not have been imputed?  ONE person I
+was sure would represent me as capable of any thing--
+What I felt was dreadful!--My resolution was soon made,
+and at eight o'clock this morning I was in my carriage.
+Now you know all."
+
+Elinor made no answer.  Her thoughts were silently fixed
+on the irreparable injury which too early an independence
+and its consequent habits of idleness, dissipation, and luxury,
+had made in the mind, the character, the happiness,
+of a man who, to every advantage of person and talents,
+united a disposition naturally open and honest, and a
+feeling, affectionate temper.  The world had made him
+extravagant and vain--Extravagance and vanity had made him
+cold-hearted and selfish.  Vanity, while seeking its own
+guilty triumph at the expense of another, had involved
+him in a real attachment, which extravagance, or at least
+its offspring, necessity, had required to be sacrificed.
+Each faulty propensity in leading him to evil, had led
+him likewise to punishment.  The attachment, from which
+against honour, against feeling, against every better interest
+he had outwardly torn himself, now, when no longer allowable,
+governed every thought; and the connection, for the sake
+of which he had, with little scruple, left her sister
+to misery, was likely to prove a source of unhappiness
+to himself of a far more incurable nature.  From a reverie
+of this kind she was recalled at the end of some minutes
+by Willoughby, who, rousing himself from a reverie at least
+equally painful, started up in preparation for going, and said--
+
+"There is no use in staying here; I must be off."
+
+"Are you going back to town?"
+
+"No--to Combe Magna.  I have business there;
+from thence to town in a day or two.  Good bye."
+
+He held out his hand.  She could not refuse to give
+him hers's;--he pressed it with affection.
+
+"And you DO think something better of me than
+you did?"--said he, letting it fall, and leaning against
+the mantel-piece as if forgetting he was to go.
+
+Elinor assured him that she did;--that she forgave,
+pitied, wished him well--was even interested in his
+happiness--and added some gentle counsel as to the behaviour
+most likely to promote it.  His answer was not very encouraging.
+
+"As to that," said he, "I must rub through the world
+as well as I can.  Domestic happiness is out of the question.
+If, however, I am allowed to think that you and yours feel
+an interest in my fate and actions, it may be the means--it
+may put me on my guard--at least, it may be something to
+live for.  Marianne to be sure is lost to me for ever.
+Were I even by any blessed chance at liberty again--"
+
+Elinor stopped him with a reproof.
+
+"Well,"--he replied--"once more good bye. I shall
+now go away and live in dread of one event."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Your sister's marriage."
+
+"You are very wrong.  She can never be more lost
+to you than she is now."
+
+"But she will be gained by some one else.  And if
+that some one should be the very he whom, of all others,
+I could least bear--but I will not stay to rob myself
+of all your compassionate goodwill, by shewing
+that where I have most injured I can least forgive.
+Good bye,--God bless you!"
+
+And with these words, he almost ran out of the room.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 45
+
+
+Elinor, for some time after he left her, for some time
+even after the sound of his carriage had died away, remained
+too much oppressed by a crowd of ideas, widely differing in
+themselves, but of which sadness was the general result,
+to think even of her sister.
+
+Willoughby, he, whom only half an hour ago she had
+abhorred as the most worthless of men, Willoughby, in spite
+of all his faults, excited a degree of commiseration
+for the sufferings produced by them, which made her
+think of him as now separated for ever from her family,
+with a tenderness, a regret, rather in proportion, as she
+soon acknowledged within herself--to his wishes than to
+his merits.  She felt that his influence over her mind
+was heightened by circumstances which ought not in reason
+to have weight; by that person of uncommon attraction,
+that open, affectionate, and lively manner which it
+was no merit to possess; and by that still ardent love
+for Marianne, which it was not even innocent to indulge.
+But she felt that it was so, long, long before she could
+feel his influence less.
+
+When at last she returned to the unconscious Marianne,
+she found her just awaking, refreshed by so long and sweet
+a sleep to the extent of her hopes.  Elinor's heart was full.
+The past, the present, the future, Willoughby's visit,
+Marianne's safety, and her mother's expected arrival,
+threw her altogether into an agitation of spirits
+which kept off every indication of fatigue, and made
+her only fearful of betraying herself to her sister.
+Short was the time, however, in which that fear could
+affect her, for within half an hour after Willoughby's
+leaving the house, she was again called down stairs
+by the sound of another carriage.--Eager to save her
+mother from every unnecessary moment's horrible suspense,
+she ran immediately into the hall, and reached the outward
+door just in time to receive and support her as she entered it.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood, whose terror as they drew near the
+house had produced almost the conviction of Marianne's
+being no more, had no voice to inquire after her,
+no voice even for Elinor; but SHE, waiting neither for
+salutation nor inquiry, instantly gave the joyful relief;--
+and her mother, catching it with all her usual warmth,
+was in a moment as much overcome by her happiness, as she
+had been before by her fears.  She was supported into
+the drawing-room between her daughter and her friend;--
+and there, shedding tears of joy, though still unable
+to speak, embraced Elinor again and again, turning from her
+at intervals to press Colonel Brandon's hand, with a look
+which spoke at once her gratitude, and her conviction
+of his sharing with herself in the bliss of the moment.
+He shared it, however, in a silence even greater than her own.
+
+As soon as Mrs. Dashwood had recovered herself,
+to see Marianne was her first desire; and in two minutes she
+was with her beloved child, rendered dearer to her than ever
+by absence, unhappiness, and danger.  Elinor's delight,
+as she saw what each felt in the meeting, was only checked
+by an apprehension of its robbing Marianne of farther sleep;--
+but Mrs. Dashwood could be calm, could be even prudent,
+when the life of a child was at stake, and Marianne,
+satisfied in knowing her mother was near her, and conscious
+of being too weak for conversation, submitted readily to the
+silence and quiet prescribed by every nurse around her.
+Mrs. Dashwood WOULD sit up with her all night; and Elinor,
+in compliance with her mother's entreaty, went to bed.
+But the rest, which one night entirely sleepless,
+and many hours of the most wearing anxiety seemed to
+make requisite, was kept off by irritation of spirits.
+Willoughby, "poor Willoughby," as she now allowed
+herself to call him, was constantly in her thoughts; she
+would not but have heard his vindication for the world,
+and now blamed, now acquitted herself for having judged him
+so harshly before.  But her promise of relating it to her
+sister was invariably painful.  She dreaded the performance
+of it, dreaded what its effect on Marianne might be;
+doubted whether after such an explanation she could ever
+be happy with another; and for a moment wished Willoughby
+a widower.  Then, remembering Colonel Brandon, reproved herself,
+felt that to HIS sufferings and his constancy far more
+than to his rival's, the reward of her sister was due,
+and wished any thing rather than Mrs. Willoughby's death.
+
+The shock of Colonel Brandon's errand at Barton had been
+much softened to Mrs. Dashwood by her own previous alarm;
+for so great was her uneasiness about Marianne, that she
+had already determined to set out for Cleveland on that
+very day, without waiting for any further intelligence,
+and had so far settled her journey before his arrival,
+that the Careys were then expected every moment to fetch
+Margaret away, as her mother was unwilling to take her
+where there might be infection.
+
+Marianne continued to mend every day, and the brilliant
+cheerfulness of Mrs. Dashwood's looks and spirits proved
+her to be, as she repeatedly declared herself, one of
+the happiest women in the world.  Elinor could not hear
+the declaration, nor witness its proofs without sometimes
+wondering whether her mother ever recollected Edward.
+But Mrs. Dashwood, trusting to the temperate account
+of her own disappointment which Elinor had sent her,
+was led away by the exuberance of her joy to think only
+of what would increase it.  Marianne was restored to her
+from a danger in which, as she now began to feel,
+her own mistaken judgment in encouraging the unfortunate
+attachment to Willoughby, had contributed to place her;--
+and in her recovery she had yet another source of joy
+unthought of by Elinor.  It was thus imparted to her,
+as soon as any opportunity of private conference
+between them occurred.
+
+"At last we are alone.  My Elinor, you do not yet
+know all my happiness.  Colonel Brandon loves Marianne.
+He has told me so himself."
+
+Her daughter, feeling by turns both pleased and pained,
+surprised and not surprised, was all silent attention.
+
+"You are never like me, dear Elinor, or I should
+wonder at your composure now.  Had I sat down to wish
+for any possible good to my family, I should have fixed
+on Colonel Brandon's marrying one of you as the object
+most desirable.  And I believe Marianne will be the most
+happy with him of the two."
+
+Elinor was half inclined to ask her reason for thinking so,
+because satisfied that none founded on an impartial
+consideration of their age, characters, or feelings,
+could be given;--but her mother must always be carried
+away by her imagination on any interesting subject,
+and therefore instead of an inquiry, she passed it off with a
+smile.
+
+"He opened his whole heart to me yesterday as we travelled.
+It came out quite unawares, quite undesignedly.  I, you may
+well believe, could talk of nothing but my child;--he could
+not conceal his distress; I saw that it equalled my own,
+and he perhaps, thinking that mere friendship, as the world
+now goes, would not justify so warm a sympathy--or rather,
+not thinking at all, I suppose--giving way to irresistible
+feelings, made me acquainted with his earnest, tender, constant,
+affection for Marianne.  He has loved her, my Elinor, ever since
+the first moment of seeing her."
+
+Here, however, Elinor perceived,--not the language,
+not the professions of Colonel Brandon, but the natural
+embellishments of her mother's active fancy, which fashioned
+every thing delightful to her as it chose.
+
+"His regard for her, infinitely surpassing anything
+that Willoughby ever felt or feigned, as much more warm,
+as more sincere or constant--which ever we are to call it--
+has subsisted through all the knowledge of dear Marianne's
+unhappy prepossession for that worthless young man!--and
+without selfishness--without encouraging a hope!--could
+he have seen her happy with another--Such a noble mind!--
+such openness, such sincerity!--no one can be deceived
+in HIM."
+
+"Colonel Brandon's character," said Elinor,
+"as an excellent man, is well established."
+
+"I know it is"--replied her mother seriously, "or
+after such a warning, I should be the last to encourage
+such affection, or even to be pleased by it.  But his coming
+for me as he did, with such active, such ready friendship,
+is enough to prove him one of the worthiest of men."
+
+"His character, however," answered Elinor, "does not rest
+on ONE act of kindness, to which his affection for Marianne,
+were humanity out of the case, would have prompted him.
+To Mrs. Jennings, to the Middletons, he has been long
+and intimately known; they equally love and respect him;
+and even my own knowledge of him, though lately acquired,
+is very considerable; and so highly do I value and esteem him,
+that if Marianne can be happy with him, I shall be as ready
+as yourself to think our connection the greatest blessing
+to us in the world.  What answer did you give him?--Did you
+allow him to hope?"
+
+"Oh! my love, I could not then talk of hope to him
+or to myself.  Marianne might at that moment be dying.
+But he did not ask for hope or encouragement.  His was
+an involuntary confidence, an irrepressible effusion
+to a soothing friend--not an application to a parent.
+Yet after a time I DID say, for at first I was quite
+overcome--that if she lived, as I trusted she might,
+my greatest happiness would lie in promoting their marriage;
+and since our arrival, since our delightful security,
+I have repeated it to him more fully, have given him every
+encouragement in my power.  Time, a very little time,
+I tell him, will do everything;--Marianne's heart is
+not to be wasted for ever on such a man as Willoughby.--
+His own merits must soon secure it."
+
+"To judge from the Colonel's spirits, however,
+you have not yet made him equally sanguine."
+
+"No.--He thinks Marianne's affection too deeply
+rooted for any change in it under a great length of time,
+and even supposing her heart again free, is too diffident
+of himself to believe, that with such a difference of age
+and disposition he could ever attach her.  There, however,
+he is quite mistaken.  His age is only so much beyond
+hers as to be an advantage, as to make his character and
+principles fixed;--and his disposition, I am well convinced,
+is exactly the very one to make your sister happy.
+And his person, his manners too, are all in his favour.
+My partiality does not blind me; he certainly is not
+so handsome as Willoughby--but at the same time,
+there is something much more pleasing in his countenance.--
+There was always a something,--if you remember,--in Willoughby's
+eyes at times, which I did not like."
+
+Elinor could NOT remember it;--but her mother,
+without waiting for her assent, continued,
+
+"And his manners, the Colonel's manners are not only
+more pleasing to me than Willoughby's ever were, but they
+are of a kind I well know to be more solidly attaching
+to Marianne.  Their gentleness, their genuine attention
+to other people, and their manly unstudied simplicity
+is much more accordant with her real disposition, than
+the liveliness--often artificial, and often ill-timed
+of the other.  I am very sure myself, that had Willoughby
+turned out as really amiable, as he has proved himself
+the contrary, Marianne would yet never have been so happy
+with HIM, as she will be with Colonel Brandon."
+
+She paused.--Her daughter could not quite agree
+with her, but her dissent was not heard, and therefore
+gave no offence.
+
+"At Delaford, she will be within an easy distance of me,"
+added Mrs. Dashwood, "even if I remain at Barton; and in all
+probability,--for I hear it is a large village,--indeed there
+certainly MUST be some small house or cottage close by,
+that would suit us quite as well as our present situation."
+
+Poor Elinor!--here was a new scheme for getting
+her to Delaford!--but her spirit was stubborn.
+
+"His fortune too!--for at my time of life you know,
+everybody cares about THAT;--and though I neither know
+nor desire to know, what it really is, I am sure it must be
+a good one."
+
+Here they were interrupted by the entrance of a
+third person, and Elinor withdrew to think it all over
+in private, to wish success to her friend, and yet
+in wishing it, to feel a pang for Willoughby.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 46
+
+
+Marianne's illness, though weakening in its kind,
+had not been long enough to make her recovery slow;
+and with youth, natural strength, and her mother's presence
+in aid, it proceeded so smoothly as to enable her to remove,
+within four days after the arrival of the latter,
+into Mrs. Palmer's dressing-room.  When there, at her own
+particular request, for she was impatient to pour forth
+her thanks to him for fetching her mother, Colonel Brandon
+was invited to visit her.
+
+His emotion on entering the room, in seeing her altered
+looks, and in receiving the pale hand which she immediately
+held out to him, was such, as, in Elinor's conjecture,
+must arise from something more than his affection for Marianne,
+or the consciousness of its being known to others;
+and she soon discovered in his melancholy eye and varying
+complexion as he looked at her sister, the probable
+recurrence of many past scenes of misery to his mind,
+brought back by that resemblance between Marianne and Eliza
+already acknowledged, and now strengthened by the hollow eye,
+the sickly skin, the posture of reclining weakness,
+and the warm acknowledgment of peculiar obligation.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood, not less watchful of what passed than
+her daughter, but with a mind very differently influenced,
+and therefore watching to very different effect,
+saw nothing in the Colonel's behaviour but what arose
+from the most simple and self-evident sensations, while in
+the actions and words of Marianne she persuaded herself
+to think that something more than gratitude already dawned.
+
+At the end of another day or two, Marianne growing
+visibly stronger every twelve hours, Mrs. Dashwood,
+urged equally by her own and her daughter's wishes,
+began to talk of removing to Barton.  On HER measures
+depended those of her two friends; Mrs. Jennings could
+not quit Cleveland during the Dashwoods' stay; and Colonel
+Brandon was soon brought, by their united request,
+to consider his own abode there as equally determinate,
+if not equally indispensable.  At his and Mrs. Jennings's
+united request in return, Mrs. Dashwood was prevailed
+on to accept the use of his carriage on her journey back,
+for the better accommodation of her sick child; and the Colonel,
+at the joint invitation of Mrs. Dashwood and Mrs. Jennings,
+whose active good-nature made her friendly and hospitable
+for other people as well as herself, engaged with pleasure
+to redeem it by a visit at the cottage, in the course
+of a few weeks.
+
+The day of separation and departure arrived;
+and Marianne, after taking so particular and lengthened
+a leave of Mrs. Jennings, one so earnestly grateful, so full
+of respect and kind wishes as seemed due to her own heart
+from a secret acknowledgment of past inattention, and bidding
+Colonel Brandon farewell with a cordiality of a friend,
+was carefully assisted by him into the carriage, of which he
+seemed anxious that she should engross at least half.
+Mrs. Dashwood and Elinor then followed, and the others
+were left by themselves, to talk of the travellers,
+and feel their own dullness, till Mrs. Jennings was summoned
+to her chaise to take comfort in the gossip of her maid
+for the loss of her two young companions; and Colonel Brandon
+immediately afterwards took his solitary way to Delaford.
+
+The Dashwoods were two days on the road, and Marianne
+bore her journey on both, without essential fatigue.
+Every thing that the most zealous affection, the most
+solicitous care could do to render her comfortable,
+was the office of each watchful companion, and each
+found their reward in her bodily ease, and her calmness
+of spirits.  To Elinor, the observation of the latter
+was particularly grateful.  She, who had seen her week
+after week so constantly suffering, oppressed by anguish
+of heart which she had neither courage to speak of,
+nor fortitude to conceal, now saw with a joy, which no other
+could equally share, an apparent composure of mind, which,
+in being the result as she trusted of serious reflection,
+must eventually lead her to contentment and cheerfulness.
+
+As they approached Barton, indeed, and entered
+on scenes of which every field and every tree brought
+some peculiar, some painful recollection, she grew silent
+and thoughtful, and turning away her face from their notice,
+sat earnestly gazing through the window.  But here,
+Elinor could neither wonder nor blame; and when she saw,
+as she assisted Marianne from the carriage, that she
+had been crying, she saw only an emotion too natural
+in itself to raise any thing less tender than pity,
+and in its unobtrusiveness entitled to praise.  In the
+whole of her subsequent manner, she traced the direction
+of a mind awakened to reasonable exertion; for no sooner
+had they entered their common sitting-room, than Marianne
+turned her eyes around it with a look of resolute firmness,
+as if determined at once to accustom herself to the sight
+of every object with which the remembrance of Willoughby could
+be connected.--She said little, but every sentence aimed
+at cheerfulness, and though a sigh sometimes escaped her,
+it never passed away without the atonement of a smile.
+After dinner she would try her piano-forte. She went to it;
+but the music on which her eye first rested was an opera,
+procured for her by Willoughby, containing some of their
+favourite duets, and bearing on its outward leaf her own name
+in his hand-writing.--That would not do.--She shook her head,
+put the music aside, and after running over the keys
+for a minute, complained of feebleness in her fingers,
+and closed the instrument again; declaring however with firmness
+as she did so, that she should in future practice much.
+
+The next morning produced no abatement in these
+happy symptoms.  On the contrary, with a mind and body
+alike strengthened by rest, she looked and spoke with
+more genuine spirit, anticipating the pleasure of
+Margaret's return, and talking of the dear family party
+which would then be restored, of their mutual pursuits
+and cheerful society, as the only happiness worth a wish.
+
+"When the weather is settled, and I have recovered
+my strength," said she, "we will take long walks together
+every day.  We will walk to the farm at the edge of the down,
+and see how the children go on; we will walk to Sir John's
+new plantations at Barton Cross, and the Abbeyland;
+and we will often go the old ruins of the Priory,
+and try to trace its foundations as far as we are told
+they once reached.  I know we shall be happy.  I know
+the summer will pass happily away.  I mean never to be
+later in rising than six, and from that time till dinner
+I shall divide every moment between music and reading.
+I have formed my plan, and am determined to enter on a course
+of serious study.  Our own library is too well known to me,
+to be resorted to for any thing beyond mere amusement.
+But there are many works well worth reading at the Park;
+and there are others of more modern production which I
+know I can borrow of Colonel Brandon.  By reading only six
+hours a-day, I shall gain in the course of a twelve-month
+a great deal of instruction which I now feel myself to want."
+
+Elinor honoured her for a plan which originated
+so nobly as this; though smiling to see the same eager
+fancy which had been leading her to the extreme of languid
+indolence and selfish repining, now at work in introducing
+excess into a scheme of such rational employment and virtuous
+self-control. Her smile however changed to a sigh when she
+remembered that promise to Willoughby was yet unfulfilled,
+and feared she had that to communicate which might again
+unsettle the mind of Marianne, and ruin at least for a time
+this fair prospect of busy tranquillity.  Willing therefore
+to delay the evil hour, she resolved to wait till her
+sister's health were more secure, before she appointed it.
+But the resolution was made only to be broken.
+
+Marianne had been two or three days at home, before
+the weather was fine enough for an invalid like herself
+to venture out.  But at last a soft, genial morning appeared;
+such as might tempt the daughter's wishes and the
+mother's confidence; and Marianne, leaning on Elinor's arm,
+was authorised to walk as long as she could without fatigue,
+in the lane before the house.
+
+The sisters set out at a pace, slow as the feebleness
+of Marianne in an exercise hitherto untried since her
+illness required;--and they had advanced only so far
+beyond the house as to admit a full view of the hill,
+the important hill behind, when pausing with her eyes
+turned towards it, Marianne calmly said,
+
+"There, exactly there,"--pointing with one hand,
+"on that projecting mound,--there I fell; and there
+I first saw Willoughby."
+
+Her voice sunk with the word, but presently reviving she added,
+
+"I am thankful to find that I can look with so little pain
+on the spot!--shall we ever talk on that subject, Elinor?"--
+hesitatingly it was said.--"Or will it be wrong?--I can talk
+of it now, I hope, as I ought to do."--
+
+Elinor tenderly invited her to be open.
+
+"As for regret," said Marianne, "I have done with that,
+as far as HE is concerned.  I do not mean to talk to you
+of what my feelings have been for him, but what they
+are NOW.--At present, if I could be satisfied on one point,
+if I could be allowed to think that he was not ALWAYS
+acting a part, not ALWAYS deceiving me;--but above all,
+if I could be assured that he never was so VERY wicked
+as my fears have sometimes fancied him, since the story
+of that unfortunate girl"--
+
+She stopt.  Elinor joyfully treasured her words
+as she answered,
+
+"If you could be assured of that, you think you
+should be easy."
+
+"Yes. My peace of mind is doubly involved in it;--
+for not only is it horrible to suspect a person, who has
+been what HE has been to ME, of such designs,--but what must
+it make me appear to myself?--What in a situation like mine,
+but a most shamefully unguarded affection could expose
+me to"--
+
+"How then," asked her sister, "would you account
+for his behaviour?"
+
+"I would suppose him,--Oh, how gladly would I suppose him,
+only fickle, very, very fickle."
+
+Elinor said no more.  She was debating within herself
+on the eligibility of beginning her story directly,
+or postponing it till Marianne were in stronger health;--
+and they crept on for a few minutes in silence.
+
+"I am not wishing him too much good," said Marianne
+at last with a sigh, "when I wish his secret reflections
+may be no more unpleasant than my own.  He will suffer
+enough in them."
+
+"Do you compare your conduct with his?"
+
+"No. I compare it with what it ought to have been;
+I compare it with yours."
+
+"Our situations have borne little resemblance."
+
+"They have borne more than our conduct.--Do not,
+my dearest Elinor, let your kindness defend what I know
+your judgment must censure.  My illness has made me think--
+It has given me leisure and calmness for serious recollection.
+Long before I was enough recovered to talk, I was perfectly
+able to reflect.  I considered the past: I saw in my
+own behaviour, since the beginning of our acquaintance
+with him last autumn, nothing but a series of imprudence
+towards myself, and want of kindness to others.
+I saw that my own feelings had prepared my sufferings,
+and that my want of fortitude under them had almost led
+me to the grave.  My illness, I well knew, had been
+entirely brought on by myself by such negligence of my
+own health, as I had felt even at the time to be wrong.
+Had I died,--it would have been self-destruction. I
+did not know my danger till the danger was removed;
+but with such feelings as these reflections gave me,
+I wonder at my recovery,--wonder that the very eagerness
+of my desire to live, to have time for atonement to my God,
+and to you all, did not kill me at once.  Had I died,--
+in what peculiar misery should I have left you, my nurse,
+my friend, my sister!--You, who had seen all the fretful
+selfishness of my latter days; who had known all the
+murmurings of my heart!--How should I have lived in YOUR
+remembrance!--My mother too! How could you have consoled
+her!--I cannot express my own abhorrence of myself.
+Whenever I looked towards the past, I saw some duty neglected,
+or some failing indulged.  Every body seemed injured by me.
+The kindness, the unceasing kindness of Mrs. Jennings,
+I had repaid with ungrateful contempt.  To the Middletons,
+to the Palmers, the Steeles, to every common acquaintance even,
+I had been insolent and unjust; with a heart hardened
+against their merits, and a temper irritated by their
+very attention.--To John, to Fanny,--yes, even to them,
+little as they deserve, I had given less than their due.
+But you,--you above all, above my mother, had been wronged
+by me.  I, and only I, knew your heart and its sorrows;
+yet to what did it influence me?--not to any compassion
+that could benefit you or myself.--Your example was
+before me; but to what avail?--Was I more considerate
+of you and your comfort?  Did I imitate your forbearance,
+or lessen your restraints, by taking any part in those
+offices of general complaisance or particular gratitude
+which you had hitherto been left to discharge alone?--No;--
+not less when I knew you to be unhappy, than when I
+had believed you at ease, did I turn away from every
+exertion of duty or friendship; scarcely allowing sorrow
+to exist but with me, regretting only THAT heart
+which had deserted and wronged me, and leaving you,
+for or I professed an unbounded affection, to be miserable
+for my sake."
+
+Here ceased the rapid flow of her self-reproving spirit;
+and Elinor, impatient to soothe, though too honest
+to flatter, gave her instantly that praise and support
+which her frankness and her contrition so well deserved.
+Marianne pressed her hand and replied,
+
+"You are very good.--The future must be my proof.
+I have laid down my plan, and if I am capable of adhering
+to it--my feelings shall be governed and my temper improved.
+They shall no longer worry others, nor torture myself.
+I shall now live solely for my family.  You, my mother,
+and Margaret, must henceforth be all the world to me;
+you will share my affections entirely between you.
+From you, from my home, I shall never again have the smallest
+incitement to move; and if I do mix in other society,
+it will be only to shew that my spirit is humbled,
+my heart amended, and that I can practise the civilities,
+the lesser duties of life, with gentleness and forbearance.
+As for Willoughby--to say that I shall soon or that I shall
+ever forget him, would be idle.  His remembrance can be overcome
+by no change of circumstances or opinions.  But it shall
+be regulated, it shall be checked by religion, by reason,
+by constant employment."
+
+She paused--and added in a low voice, "If I could
+but know HIS heart, everything would become easy."
+
+Elinor, who had now been for some time reflecting
+on the propriety or impropriety of speedily hazarding
+her narration, without feeling at all nearer decision than
+at first, heard this; and perceiving that as reflection
+did nothing, resolution must do all, soon found herself
+leading to the fact.
+
+She managed the recital, as she hoped, with address;
+prepared her anxious listener with caution; related simply
+and honestly the chief points on which Willoughby
+grounded his apology; did justice to his repentance,
+and softened only his protestations of present regard.
+Marianne said not a word.--She trembled, her eyes
+were fixed on the ground, and her lips became whiter
+than even sickness had left them.  A thousand inquiries
+sprung up from her heart, but she dared not urge one.
+She caught every syllable with panting eagerness; her hand,
+unknowingly to herself, closely pressed her sister's, and
+tears covered her cheeks.
+
+Elinor, dreading her being tired, led her towards home;
+and till they reached the door of the cottage,
+easily conjecturing what her curiosity must be
+though no question was suffered to speak it, talked of
+nothing but Willoughby, and their conversation together;
+and was carefully minute in every particular of speech
+and look, where minuteness could be safely indulged.
+As soon as they entered the house, Marianne with a kiss
+of gratitude and these two words just articulate through
+her tears, "Tell mama," withdrew from her sister and
+walked slowly up stairs.  Elinor would not attempt
+to disturb a solitude so reasonable as what she now sought;
+and with a mind anxiously pre-arranging its result,
+and a resolution of reviving the subject again,
+should Marianne fail to do it, she turned into the parlour
+to fulfill her parting injunction.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 47
+
+
+Mrs. Dashwood did not hear unmoved the vindication
+of her former favourite.  She rejoiced in his being
+cleared from some part of his imputed guilt;--she was
+sorry for him;--she wished him happy.  But the feelings
+of the past could not be recalled.--Nothing could restore
+him with a faith unbroken--a character unblemished,
+to Marianne.  Nothing could do away the knowledge
+of what the latter had suffered through his means,
+nor remove the guilt of his conduct towards Eliza.
+Nothing could replace him, therefore, in her former esteem,
+nor injure the interests of Colonel Brandon.
+
+Had Mrs. Dashwood, like her daughter, heard Willoughby's
+story from himself--had she witnessed his distress,
+and been under the influence of his countenance and his
+manner, it is probable that her compassion would have
+been greater.  But it was neither in Elinor's power,
+nor in her wish, to rouse such feelings in another, by her
+retailed explanation, as had at first been called forth
+in herself.  Reflection had given calmness to her judgment,
+and sobered her own opinion of Willoughby's deserts;--
+she wished, therefore, to declare only the simple truth,
+and lay open such facts as were really due to his character,
+without any embellishment of tenderness to lead the
+fancy astray.
+
+In the evening, when they were all three together,
+Marianne began voluntarily to speak of him again;--
+but that it was not without an effort, the restless,
+unquiet thoughtfulness in which she had been for some time
+previously sitting--her rising colour, as she spoke,--
+and her unsteady voice, plainly shewed.
+
+"I wish to assure you both," said she, "that I see
+every thing--as you can desire me to do."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood would have interrupted her instantly
+with soothing tenderness, had not Elinor, who really wished
+to hear her sister's unbiased opinion, by an eager sign,
+engaged her silence.  Marianne slowly continued--
+
+"It is a great relief to me--what Elinor told
+me this morning--I have now heard exactly what I
+wished to hear."--For some moments her voice was lost;
+but recovering herself, she added, and with greater
+calmness than before--"I am now perfectly satisfied,
+I wish for no change.  I never could have been happy
+with him, after knowing, as sooner or later I must
+have known, all this.--I should have had no confidence,
+no esteem.  Nothing could have done it away to my feelings."
+
+"I know it--I know it," cried her mother.
+"Happy with a man of libertine practices!--With one
+who so injured the peace of the dearest of our friends,
+and the best of men!--No--my Marianne has not a heart
+to be made happy with such a man!--Her conscience, her
+sensitive conscience, would have felt all that the
+conscience of her husband ought to have felt."
+
+Marianne sighed, and repeated, "I wish for no change."
+
+"You consider the matter," said Elinor, "exactly as
+a good mind and a sound understanding must consider it;
+and I dare say you perceive, as well as myself, not only
+in this, but in many other circumstances, reason enough
+to be convinced that your marriage must have involved you
+in many certain troubles and disappointments, in which
+you would have been poorly supported by an affection,
+on his side, much less certain.  Had you married,
+you must have been always poor.  His expensiveness is
+acknowledged even by himself, and his whole conduct declares
+that self-denial is a word hardly understood by him.
+His demands and your inexperience together, on a small,
+very small income, must have brought on distresses which
+would not be the LESS grievous to you, from having been
+entirely unknown and unthought of before.  YOUR sense
+of honour and honesty would have led you, I know,
+when aware of your situation, to attempt all the economy
+that would appear to you possible: and, perhaps, as long
+as your frugality retrenched only on your own comfort,
+you might have been suffered to practice it, but beyond that--
+and how little could the utmost of your single management
+do to stop the ruin which had begun before your marriage?--
+Beyond THAT, had you endeavoured, however reasonably,
+to abridge HIS enjoyments, is it not to be feared, that instead
+of prevailing on feelings so selfish to consent to it,
+you would have lessened your own influence on his heart,
+and made him regret the connection which had involved him
+in such difficulties?"
+
+Marianne's lips quivered, and she repeated the word
+"Selfish?" in a tone that implied--"do you really think
+him selfish?"
+
+"The whole of his behaviour," replied Elinor,
+"from the beginning to the end of the affair, has been
+grounded on selfishness.  It was selfishness which first
+made him sport with your affections; which afterwards,
+when his own were engaged, made him delay the confession
+of it, and which finally carried him from Barton.
+His own enjoyment, or his own ease, was, in every particular,
+his ruling principle."
+
+"It is very true.  MY happiness never was his object."
+
+"At present," continued Elinor, "he regrets what he
+has done.  And why does he regret it?--Because he finds
+it has not answered towards himself.  It has not made
+him happy.  His circumstances are now unembarrassed--he
+suffers from no evil of that kind; and he thinks only
+that he has married a woman of a less amiable temper
+than yourself.  But does it follow that had he married you,
+he would have been happy?--The inconveniences would have
+been different.  He would then have suffered under the
+pecuniary distresses which, because they are removed,
+he now reckons as nothing.  He would have had a wife
+of whose temper he could make no complaint, but he would
+have been always necessitous--always poor; and probably
+would soon have learned to rank the innumerable comforts
+of a clear estate and good income as of far more importance,
+even to domestic happiness, than the mere temper of a wife."
+
+"I have not a doubt of it," said Marianne; "and I
+have nothing to regret--nothing but my own folly."
+
+"Rather say your mother's imprudence, my child,"
+said Mrs. Dashwood; "SHE must be answerable."
+
+Marianne would not let her proceed;--and Elinor,
+satisfied that each felt their own error, wished to avoid
+any survey of the past that might weaken her sister's
+spirits; she, therefore, pursuing the first subject,
+immediately continued,
+
+"One observation may, I think, be fairly drawn from
+the whole of the story--that all Willoughby's difficulties
+have arisen from the first offence against virtue, in his
+behaviour to Eliza Williams.  That crime has been the origin
+of every lesser one, and of all his present discontents."
+
+Marianne assented most feelingly to the remark;
+and her mother was led by it to an enumeration of Colonel
+Brandon's injuries and merits, warm as friendship
+and design could unitedly dictate.  Her daughter did
+not look, however, as if much of it were heard by her.
+
+Elinor, according to her expectation, saw on the two
+or three following days, that Marianne did not continue
+to gain strength as she had done; but while her resolution
+was unsubdued, and she still tried to appear cheerful
+and easy, her sister could safely trust to the effect
+of time upon her health.
+
+Margaret returned, and the family were again all
+restored to each other, again quietly settled at the cottage;
+and if not pursuing their usual studies with quite
+so much vigour as when they first came to Barton,
+at least planning a vigorous prosecution of them in future.
+
+Elinor grew impatient for some tidings of Edward.
+She had heard nothing of him since her leaving London,
+nothing new of his plans, nothing certain even of his
+present abode.  Some letters had passed between her
+and her brother, in consequence of Marianne's illness;
+and in the first of John's, there had been this sentence:--
+"We know nothing of our unfortunate Edward, and can make no
+enquiries on so prohibited a subject, but conclude him
+to be still at Oxford;" which was all the intelligence
+of Edward afforded her by the correspondence, for his name
+was not even mentioned in any of the succeeding letters.
+She was not doomed, however, to be long in ignorance of
+his measures.
+
+Their man-servant had been sent one morning to Exeter
+on business; and when, as he waited at table, he had
+satisfied the inquiries of his mistress as to the event
+of his errand, this was his voluntary communication--
+
+"I suppose you know, ma'am, that Mr. Ferrars is married."
+
+Marianne gave a violent start, fixed her eyes
+upon Elinor, saw her turning pale, and fell back in her
+chair in hysterics.  Mrs. Dashwood, whose eyes, as she
+answered the servant's inquiry, had intuitively taken
+the same direction, was shocked to perceive by Elinor's
+countenance how much she really suffered, and a moment
+afterwards, alike distressed by Marianne's situation,
+knew not on which child to bestow her principal attention.
+
+The servant, who saw only that Miss Marianne was
+taken ill, had sense enough to call one of the maids,
+who, with Mrs. Dashwood's assistance, supported her into
+the other room.  By that time, Marianne was rather better,
+and her mother leaving her to the care of Margaret
+and the maid, returned to Elinor, who, though still
+much disordered, had so far recovered the use of her reason
+and voice as to be just beginning an inquiry of Thomas,
+as to the source of his intelligence.  Mrs. Dashwood
+immediately took all that trouble on herself; and Elinor
+had the benefit of the information without the exertion
+of seeking it.
+
+"Who told you that Mr. Ferrars was married, Thomas?"
+
+"I see Mr. Ferrars myself, ma'am, this morning
+in Exeter, and his lady too, Miss Steele as was.  They was
+stopping in a chaise at the door of the New London Inn,
+as I went there with a message from Sally at the Park
+to her brother, who is one of the post-boys. I happened
+to look up as I went by the chaise, and so I see directly
+it was the youngest Miss Steele; so I took off my hat,
+and she knew me and called to me, and inquired after you,
+ma'am, and the young ladies, especially Miss Marianne,
+and bid me I should give her compliments and Mr. Ferrars's,
+their best compliments and service, and how sorry they
+was they had not time to come on and see you, but they was
+in a great hurry to go forwards, for they was going further
+down for a little while, but howsever, when they come back,
+they'd make sure to come and see you."
+
+"But did she tell you she was married, Thomas?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am. She smiled, and said how she
+had changed her name since she was in these parts.
+She was always a very affable and free-spoken young lady,
+and very civil behaved.  So, I made free to wish her joy."
+
+"Was Mr. Ferrars in the carriage with her?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am, I just see him leaning back in it,
+but he did not look up;--he never was a gentleman much
+for talking."
+
+Elinor's heart could easily account for his not
+putting himself forward; and Mrs. Dashwood probably
+found the same explanation.
+
+"Was there no one else in the carriage?"
+
+"No, ma'am, only they two."
+
+"Do you know where they came from?"
+
+"They come straight from town, as Miss Lucy--
+Mrs. Ferrars told me."
+
+"And are they going farther westward?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am--but not to bide long.  They will soon
+be back again, and then they'd be sure and call here."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood now looked at her daughter;
+but Elinor knew better than to expect them.
+She recognised the whole of Lucy in the message, and was
+very confident that Edward would never come near them.
+She observed in a low voice, to her mother, that they
+were probably going down to Mr. Pratt's, near Plymouth.
+
+Thomas's intelligence seemed over.  Elinor looked
+as if she wished to hear more.
+
+"Did you see them off, before you came away?"
+
+"No, ma'am--the horses were just coming out, but I
+could not bide any longer; I was afraid of being late."
+
+"Did Mrs. Ferrars look well?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am, she said how she was very well;
+and to my mind she was always a very handsome young
+lady--and she seemed vastly contented."
+
+Mrs. Dashwood could think of no other question,
+and Thomas and the tablecloth, now alike needless,
+were soon afterwards dismissed.  Marianne had already sent
+to say, that she should eat nothing more.  Mrs. Dashwood's
+and Elinor's appetites were equally lost, and Margaret
+might think herself very well off, that with so much
+uneasiness as both her sisters had lately experienced,
+so much reason as they had often had to be careless
+of their meals, she had never been obliged to go without
+her dinner before.
+
+When the dessert and the wine were arranged,
+and Mrs. Dashwood and Elinor were left by themselves,
+they remained long together in a similarity of thoughtfulness
+and silence.  Mrs. Dashwood feared to hazard any remark,
+and ventured not to offer consolation.  She now found
+that she had erred in relying on Elinor's representation
+of herself; and justly concluded that every thing
+had been expressly softened at the time, to spare her
+from an increase of unhappiness, suffering as she then
+had suffered for Marianne.  She found that she had been
+misled by the careful, the considerate attention of
+her daughter, to think the attachment, which once she
+had so well understood, much slighter in reality, than
+she had been wont to believe, or than it was now proved
+to be.  She feared that under this persuasion she had
+been unjust, inattentive, nay, almost unkind, to her Elinor;--
+that Marianne's affliction, because more acknowledged,
+more immediately before her, had too much engrossed
+her tenderness, and led her away to forget that in Elinor
+she might have a daughter suffering almost as much,
+certainly with less self-provocation, and greater fortitude.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 48
+
+
+Elinor now found the difference between the expectation
+of an unpleasant event, however certain the mind may be told
+to consider it, and certainty itself.  She now found, that
+in spite of herself, she had always admitted a hope,
+while Edward remained single, that something would occur
+to prevent his marrying Lucy; that some resolution of
+his own, some mediation of friends, or some more eligible
+opportunity of establishment for the lady, would arise
+to assist the happiness of all.  But he was now married;
+and she condemned her heart for the lurking flattery,
+which so much heightened the pain of the intelligence.
+
+That he should be married soon, before (as she imagined)
+he could be in orders, and consequently before he could
+be in possession of the living, surprised her a little
+at first.  But she soon saw how likely it was that Lucy,
+in her self-provident care, in her haste to secure him,
+should overlook every thing but the risk of delay.
+They were married, married in town, and now hastening
+down to her uncle's.  What had Edward felt on being within
+four miles from Barton, on seeing her mother's servant,
+on hearing Lucy's message!
+
+They would soon, she supposed, be settled at
+Delaford.--Delaford,--that place in which so much
+conspired to give her an interest; which she wished
+to be acquainted with, and yet desired to avoid.
+She saw them in an instant in their parsonage-house; saw
+in Lucy, the active, contriving manager, uniting at once
+a desire of smart appearance with the utmost frugality,
+and ashamed to be suspected of half her economical practices;--
+pursuing her own interest in every thought, courting the
+favour of Colonel Brandon, of Mrs. Jennings, and of every
+wealthy friend.  In Edward--she knew not what she saw,
+nor what she wished to see;--happy or unhappy,--nothing
+pleased her; she turned away her head from every sketch of him.
+
+Elinor flattered herself that some one of their
+connections in London would write to them to announce
+the event, and give farther particulars,--but day after
+day passed off, and brought no letter, no tidings.
+Though uncertain that any one were to blame, she found
+fault with every absent friend.  They were all thoughtless
+or indolent.
+
+"When do you write to Colonel Brandon, ma'am?"
+was an inquiry which sprung from the impatience
+of her mind to have something going on.
+
+"I wrote to him, my love, last week, and rather
+expect to see, than to hear from him again.  I earnestly
+pressed his coming to us, and should not be surprised
+to see him walk in today or tomorrow, or any day."
+
+This was gaining something, something to look forward to.
+Colonel Brandon must have some information to give.
+
+Scarcely had she so determined it, when the figure
+of a man on horseback drew her eyes to the window.
+He stopt at their gate.  It was a gentleman, it
+was Colonel Brandon himself.  Now she could hear more;
+and she trembled in expectation of it.  But--it was
+NOT Colonel Brandon--neither his air--nor his height.
+Were it possible, she must say it must be Edward.
+She looked again.  He had just dismounted;--she could not be
+mistaken,--it WAS Edward.  She moved away and sat down.
+"He comes from Mr. Pratt's purposely to see us.  I WILL be
+calm; I WILL be mistress of myself."
+
+In a moment she perceived that the others were likewise
+aware of the mistake.  She saw her mother and Marianne
+change colour; saw them look at herself, and whisper
+a few sentences to each other.  She would have given
+the world to be able to speak--and to make them understand
+that she hoped no coolness, no slight, would appear
+in their behaviour to him;--but she had no utterance,
+and was obliged to leave all to their own discretion.
+
+Not a syllable passed aloud.  They all waited
+in silence for the appearance of their visitor.
+His footsteps were heard along the gravel path; in a moment
+he was in the passage, and in another he was before them.
+
+His countenance, as he entered the room, was not
+too happy, even for Elinor.  His complexion was white
+with agitation, and he looked as if fearful of his
+reception, and conscious that he merited no kind one.
+Mrs. Dashwood, however, conforming, as she trusted,
+to the wishes of that daughter, by whom she then meant
+in the warmth of her heart to be guided in every thing,
+met with a look of forced complacency, gave him her hand,
+and wished him joy.
+
+He coloured, and stammered out an unintelligible reply.
+Elinor's lips had moved with her mother's, and, when the
+moment of action was over, she wished that she had shaken
+hands with him too.  But it was then too late, and with a
+countenance meaning to be open, she sat down again
+and talked of the weather.
+
+Marianne had retreated as much as possible
+out of sight, to conceal her distress; and Margaret,
+understanding some part, but not the whole of the case,
+thought it incumbent on her to be dignified, and therefore
+took a seat as far from him as she could, and maintained
+a strict silence.
+
+When Elinor had ceased to rejoice in the dryness
+of the season, a very awful pause took place.  It was put
+an end to by Mrs. Dashwood, who felt obliged to hope that he
+had left Mrs. Ferrars very well.  In a hurried manner,
+he replied in the affirmative.
+
+Another pause.
+
+Elinor resolving to exert herself, though fearing
+the sound of her own voice, now said,
+
+"Is Mrs. Ferrars at Longstaple?"
+
+"At Longstaple!" he replied, with an air of surprise.--
+"No, my mother is in town."
+
+"I meant," said Elinor, taking up some work from
+the table, "to inquire for Mrs. EDWARD Ferrars."
+
+She dared not look up;--but her mother and Marianne both
+turned their eyes on him.  He coloured, seemed perplexed,
+looked doubtingly, and, after some hesitation, said,--
+
+"Perhaps you mean--my brother--you mean Mrs.--Mrs.
+ROBERT Ferrars."
+
+"Mrs. Robert Ferrars!"--was repeated by Marianne and her
+mother in an accent of the utmost amazement;--and though
+Elinor could not speak, even HER eyes were fixed on him
+with the same impatient wonder.  He rose from his seat,
+and walked to the window, apparently from not knowing
+what to do; took up a pair of scissors that lay there,
+and while spoiling both them and their sheath by cutting
+the latter to pieces as he spoke, said, in a hurried voice,
+
+"Perhaps you do not know--you may not have heard
+that my brother is lately married to--to the youngest--to
+Miss Lucy Steele."
+
+His words were echoed with unspeakable astonishment
+by all but Elinor, who sat with her head leaning over
+her work, in a state of such agitation as made her hardly
+know where she was.
+
+"Yes," said he, "they were married last week,
+and are now at Dawlish."
+
+Elinor could sit it no longer.  She almost ran
+out of the room, and as soon as the door was closed,
+burst into tears of joy, which at first she thought would
+never cease.  Edward, who had till then looked any where,
+rather than at her, saw her hurry away, and perhaps saw--
+or even heard, her emotion; for immediately afterwards
+he fell into a reverie, which no remarks, no inquiries,
+no affectionate address of Mrs. Dashwood could penetrate,
+and at last, without saying a word, quitted the room,
+and walked out towards the village--leaving the others
+in the greatest astonishment and perplexity on a change
+in his situation, so wonderful and so sudden;--a perplexity
+which they had no means of lessening but by their
+own conjectures.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 49
+
+
+Unaccountable, however, as the circumstances of his
+release might appear to the whole family, it was certain
+that Edward was free; and to what purpose that freedom would
+be employed was easily pre-determined by all;--for after
+experiencing the blessings of ONE imprudent engagement,
+contracted without his mother's consent, as he had already
+done for more than four years, nothing less could be expected
+of him in the failure of THAT, than the immediate contraction
+of another.
+
+His errand at Barton, in fact, was a simple one.
+It was only to ask Elinor to marry him;--and considering
+that he was not altogether inexperienced in such a question,
+it might be strange that he should feel so uncomfortable
+in the present case as he really did, so much in need of
+encouragement and fresh air.
+
+How soon he had walked himself into the proper
+resolution, however, how soon an opportunity of exercising
+it occurred, in what manner he expressed himself,
+and how he was received, need not be particularly told.
+This only need be said;--that when they all sat down to
+table at four o'clock, about three hours after his arrival,
+he had secured his lady, engaged her mother's consent,
+and was not only in the rapturous profession of
+the lover, but, in the reality of reason and truth,
+one of the happiest of men.  His situation indeed was
+more than commonly joyful.  He had more than the ordinary
+triumph of accepted love to swell his heart, and raise
+his spirits.  He was released without any reproach
+to himself, from an entanglement which had long formed
+his misery, from a woman whom he had long ceased to love;--
+and elevated at once to that security with another,
+which he must have thought of almost with despair,
+as soon as he had learnt to consider it with desire.
+He was brought, not from doubt or suspense, but from
+misery to happiness;--and the change was openly spoken
+in such a genuine, flowing, grateful cheerfulness,
+as his friends had never witnessed in him before.
+
+His heart was now open to Elinor, all its weaknesses,
+all its errors confessed, and his first boyish attachment
+to Lucy treated with all the philosophic dignity of twenty-four.
+
+"It was a foolish, idle inclination on my side,"
+said he, "the consequence of ignorance of the world--
+and want of employment.  Had my brother given me
+some active profession when I was removed at eighteen
+from the care of Mr. Pratt, I think--nay, I am sure,
+it would never have happened; for though I left Longstaple
+with what I thought, at the time, a most unconquerable
+preference for his niece, yet had I then had any pursuit,
+any object to engage my time and keep me at a distance
+from her for a few months, I should very soon have
+outgrown the fancied attachment, especially by mixing
+more with the world, as in such case I must have done.
+But instead of having any thing to do, instead of having any
+profession chosen for me, or being allowed to chuse any myself,
+I returned home to be completely idle; and for the first
+twelvemonth afterwards I had not even the nominal employment,
+which belonging to the university would have given me;
+for I was not entered at Oxford till I was nineteen.
+I had therefore nothing in the world to do, but to fancy
+myself in love; and as my mother did not make my home
+in every respect comfortable, as I had no friend,
+no companion in my brother, and disliked new acquaintance,
+it was not unnatural for me to be very often at Longstaple,
+where I always felt myself at home, and was always sure
+of a welcome; and accordingly I spent the greatest part
+of my time there from eighteen to nineteen: Lucy appeared
+everything that was amiable and obliging.  She was pretty
+too--at least I thought so THEN; and I had seen so little
+of other women, that I could make no comparisons, and see
+no defects.  Considering everything, therefore, I hope,
+foolish as our engagement was, foolish as it has since
+in every way been proved, it was not at the time an unnatural
+or an inexcusable piece of folly."
+
+The change which a few hours had wrought in the minds
+and the happiness of the Dashwoods, was such--so great--as
+promised them all, the satisfaction of a sleepless night.
+Mrs. Dashwood, too happy to be comfortable, knew not how
+to love Edward, nor praise Elinor enough, how to be enough
+thankful for his release without wounding his delicacy,
+nor how at once to give them leisure for unrestrained
+conversation together, and yet enjoy, as she wished,
+the sight and society of both.
+
+Marianne could speak HER happiness only by tears.
+Comparisons would occur--regrets would arise;--and her joy,
+though sincere as her love for her sister, was of a kind to
+give her neither spirits nor language.
+
+But Elinor--how are HER feelings to be described?--From
+the moment of learning that Lucy was married to another,
+that Edward was free, to the moment of his justifying
+the hopes which had so instantly followed, she was every
+thing by turns but tranquil.  But when the second moment
+had passed, when she found every doubt, every solicitude
+removed, compared her situation with what so lately it
+had been,--saw him honourably released from his former
+engagement, saw him instantly profiting by the release,
+to address herself and declare an affection as tender,
+as constant as she had ever supposed it to be,--she
+was oppressed, she was overcome by her own felicity;--
+and happily disposed as is the human mind to be easily
+familiarized with any change for the better, it required
+several hours to give sedateness to her spirits, or any
+degree of tranquillity to her heart.
+
+Edward was now fixed at the cottage at least for
+a week;--for whatever other claims might be made on him,
+it was impossible that less than a week should be given
+up to the enjoyment of Elinor's company, or suffice
+to say half that was to be said of the past, the present,
+and the future;--for though a very few hours spent in
+the hard labor of incessant talking will despatch more
+subjects than can really be in common between any two
+rational creatures, yet with lovers it is different.
+Between THEM no subject is finished, no communication
+is even made, till it has been made at least twenty
+times over.
+
+Lucy's marriage, the unceasing and reasonable wonder
+among them all, formed of course one of the earliest
+discussions of the lovers;--and Elinor's particular knowledge
+of each party made it appear to her in every view, as one
+of the most extraordinary and unaccountable circumstances
+she had ever heard.  How they could be thrown together,
+and by what attraction Robert could be drawn on to marry
+a girl, of whose beauty she had herself heard him speak
+without any admiration,--a girl too already engaged
+to his brother, and on whose account that brother had been
+thrown off by his family--it was beyond her comprehension
+to make out.  To her own heart it was a delightful affair,
+to her imagination it was even a ridiculous one, but
+to her reason, her judgment, it was completely a puzzle.
+
+Edward could only attempt an explanation by supposing,
+that, perhaps, at first accidentally meeting, the vanity
+of the one had been so worked on by the flattery
+of the other, as to lead by degrees to all the rest.
+Elinor remembered what Robert had told her in Harley Street,
+of his opinion of what his own mediation in his brother's
+affairs might have done, if applied to in time.
+She repeated it to Edward.
+
+"THAT was exactly like Robert,"--was his immediate
+observation.--"And THAT," he presently added, "might
+perhaps be in HIS head when the acquaintance between
+them first began.  And Lucy perhaps at first might
+think only of procuring his good offices in my favour.
+Other designs might afterward arise."
+
+How long it had been carrying on between them,
+however, he was equally at a loss with herself to make out;
+for at Oxford, where he had remained for choice ever since
+his quitting London, he had had no means of hearing of her
+but from herself, and her letters to the very last were
+neither less frequent, nor less affectionate than usual.
+Not the smallest suspicion, therefore, had ever occurred
+to prepare him for what followed;--and when at last it
+burst on him in a letter from Lucy herself, he had been
+for some time, he believed, half stupified between
+the wonder, the horror, and the joy of such a deliverance.
+He put the letter into Elinor's hands.
+
+     "DEAR SIR,
+
+     "Being very sure I have long lost your affections,
+     I have thought myself at liberty to bestow my own
+     on another, and have no doubt of being as happy with
+     him as I once used to think I might be with you;
+     but I scorn to accept a hand while the heart was
+     another's.  Sincerely wish you happy in your choice,
+     and it shall not be my fault if we are not always
+     good friends, as our near relationship now makes
+     proper.  I can safely say I owe you no ill-will,
+     and am sure you will be too generous to do us any
+     ill offices.  Your brother has gained my affections
+     entirely, and as we could not live without one
+     another, we are just returned from the altar, and
+     are now on our way to Dawlish for a few weeks, which
+     place your dear brother has great curiosity to see,
+     but thought I would first trouble you with these
+     few lines, and shall always remain,
+
+     "Your sincere well-wisher, friend, and sister,
+                                        "LUCY FERRARS.
+
+     "I have burnt all your letters, and will return
+     your picture the first opportunity.  Please to destroy
+     my scrawls--but the ring with my hair you are very
+     welcome to keep."
+
+Elinor read and returned it without any comment.
+
+"I will not ask your opinion of it as a composition,"
+said Edward.--"For worlds would not I have had a letter
+of hers seen by YOU in former days.--In a sister it
+is bad enough, but in a wife!--how I have blushed over
+the pages of her writing!--and I believe I may say that
+since the first half year of our foolish--business--this
+is the only letter I ever received from her, of which
+the substance made me any amends for the defect of the style."
+
+"However it may have come about," said Elinor,
+after a pause,--"they are certainly married.  And your mother
+has brought on herself a most appropriate punishment.
+The independence she settled on Robert, through resentment
+against you, has put it in his power to make his own choice;
+and she has actually been bribing one son with a thousand
+a-year, to do the very deed which she disinherited the
+other for intending to do.  She will hardly be less hurt,
+I suppose, by Robert's marrying Lucy, than she would have
+been by your marrying her."
+
+"She will be more hurt by it, for Robert always
+was her favourite.--She will be more hurt by it,
+and on the same principle will forgive him much sooner."
+
+In what state the affair stood at present between them,
+Edward knew not, for no communication with any of his family
+had yet been attempted by him.  He had quitted Oxford
+within four and twenty hours after Lucy's letter arrived,
+and with only one object before him, the nearest road
+to Barton, had had no leisure to form any scheme of conduct,
+with which that road did not hold the most intimate connection.
+He could do nothing till he were assured of his fate with
+Miss Dashwood; and by his rapidity in seeking THAT fate,
+it is to be supposed, in spite of the jealousy with
+which he had once thought of Colonel Brandon, in spite
+of the modesty with which he rated his own deserts,
+and the politeness with which he talked of his doubts,
+he did not, upon the whole, expect a very cruel reception.
+It was his business, however, to say that he DID, and he
+said it very prettily.  What he might say on the subject
+a twelvemonth after, must be referred to the imagination
+of husbands and wives.
+
+That Lucy had certainly meant to deceive, to go off
+with a flourish of malice against him in her message
+by Thomas, was perfectly clear to Elinor; and Edward himself,
+now thoroughly enlightened on her character, had no
+scruple in believing her capable of the utmost meanness
+of wanton ill-nature. Though his eyes had been long opened,
+even before his acquaintance with Elinor began, to her
+ignorance and a want of liberality in some of her opinions--
+they had been equally imputed, by him, to her want
+of education; and till her last letter reached him,
+he had always believed her to be a well-disposed,
+good-hearted girl, and thoroughly attached to himself.
+Nothing but such a persuasion could have prevented
+his putting an end to an engagement, which, long before
+the discovery of it laid him open to his mother's anger,
+had been a continual source of disquiet and regret to him.
+
+"I thought it my duty," said he, "independent of my feelings,
+to give her the option of continuing the engagement or not,
+when I was renounced by my mother, and stood to all
+appearance without a friend in the world to assist me.
+In such a situation as that, where there seemed nothing
+to tempt the avarice or the vanity of any living creature,
+how could I suppose, when she so earnestly, so warmly insisted
+on sharing my fate, whatever it might be, that any thing
+but the most disinterested affection was her inducement?
+And even now, I cannot comprehend on what motive she acted,
+or what fancied advantage it could be to her, to be
+fettered to a man for whom she had not the smallest regard,
+and who had only two thousand pounds in the world.
+She could not foresee that Colonel Brandon would give me a
+living."
+
+"No; but she might suppose that something would occur
+in your favour; that your own family might in time relent.
+And at any rate, she lost nothing by continuing the engagement,
+for she has proved that it fettered neither her inclination
+nor her actions.  The connection was certainly a
+respectable one, and probably gained her consideration among
+her friends; and, if nothing more advantageous occurred,
+it would be better for her to marry YOU than be single."
+
+Edward was, of course, immediately convinced that
+nothing could have been more natural than Lucy's conduct,
+nor more self-evident than the motive of it.
+
+Elinor scolded him, harshly as ladies always scold
+the imprudence which compliments themselves, for having
+spent so much time with them at Norland, when he must
+have felt his own inconstancy.
+
+"Your behaviour was certainly very wrong," said she;
+"because--to say nothing of my own conviction, our relations
+were all led away by it to fancy and expect WHAT, as you
+were THEN situated, could never be."
+
+He could only plead an ignorance of his own heart,
+and a mistaken confidence in the force of his engagement.
+
+"I was simple enough to think, that because my FAITH
+was plighted to another, there could be no danger in my being
+with you; and that the consciousness of my engagement was
+to keep my heart as safe and sacred as my honour.  I felt
+that I admired you, but I told myself it was only friendship;
+and till I began to make comparisons between yourself
+and Lucy, I did not know how far I was got.  After that,
+I suppose, I WAS wrong in remaining so much in Sussex,
+and the arguments with which I reconciled myself to the
+expediency of it, were no better than these:--The danger
+is my own; I am doing no injury to anybody but myself."
+
+Elinor smiled, and shook her head.
+
+Edward heard with pleasure of Colonel Brandon's
+being expected at the Cottage, as he really wished
+not only to be better acquainted with him, but to have an
+opportunity of convincing him that he no longer resented
+his giving him the living of Delaford--"Which, at present,"
+said he, "after thanks so ungraciously delivered as mine
+were on the occasion, he must think I have never forgiven
+him for offering."
+
+NOW he felt astonished himself that he had never yet
+been to the place.  But so little interest had be taken
+in the matter, that he owed all his knowledge of the house,
+garden, and glebe, extent of the parish, condition of
+the land, and rate of the tithes, to Elinor herself,
+who had heard so much of it from Colonel Brandon,
+and heard it with so much attention, as to be entirely
+mistress of the subject.
+
+One question after this only remained undecided,
+between them, one difficulty only was to be overcome.
+They were brought together by mutual affection,
+with the warmest approbation of their real friends;
+their intimate knowledge of each other seemed to make
+their happiness certain--and they only wanted something
+to live upon.  Edward had two thousand pounds, and Elinor
+one, which, with Delaford living, was all that they could
+call their own; for it was impossible that Mrs. Dashwood
+should advance anything; and they were neither of them
+quite enough in love to think that three hundred and fifty
+pounds a-year would supply them with the comforts of life.
+
+Edward was not entirely without hopes of some
+favourable change in his mother towards him; and on THAT
+he rested for the residue of their income.  But Elinor
+had no such dependence; for since Edward would still
+be unable to marry Miss Morton, and his chusing herself
+had been spoken of in Mrs. Ferrars's flattering language
+as only a lesser evil than his chusing Lucy Steele,
+she feared that Robert's offence would serve no other
+purpose than to enrich Fanny.
+
+About four days after Edward's arrival Colonel
+Brandon appeared, to complete Mrs. Dashwood's satisfaction,
+and to give her the dignity of having, for the first time
+since her living at Barton, more company with her than
+her house would hold.  Edward was allowed to retain the
+privilege of first comer, and Colonel Brandon therefore
+walked every night to his old quarters at the Park;
+from whence he usually returned in the morning, early enough
+to interrupt the lovers' first tete-a-tete before breakfast.
+
+A three weeks' residence at Delaford, where,
+in his evening hours at least, he had little to do
+but to calculate the disproportion between thirty-six
+and seventeen, brought him to Barton in a temper of mind
+which needed all the improvement in Marianne's looks,
+all the kindness of her welcome, and all the encouragement
+of her mother's language, to make it cheerful.
+Among such friends, however, and such flattery, he did revive.
+No rumour of Lucy's marriage had yet reached him:--he knew
+nothing of what had passed; and the first hours of his
+visit were consequently spent in hearing and in wondering.
+Every thing was explained to him by Mrs. Dashwood,
+and he found fresh reason to rejoice in what he had done
+for Mr. Ferrars, since eventually it promoted the interest
+of Elinor.
+
+It would be needless to say, that the gentlemen advanced
+in the good opinion of each other, as they advanced in each
+other's acquaintance, for it could not be otherwise.
+Their resemblance in good principles and good sense,
+in disposition and manner of thinking, would probably
+have been sufficient to unite them in friendship,
+without any other attraction; but their being in love
+with two sisters, and two sisters fond of each other,
+made that mutual regard inevitable and immediate,
+which might otherwise have waited the effect of time
+and judgment.
+
+The letters from town, which a few days before would
+have made every nerve in Elinor's body thrill with transport,
+now arrived to be read with less emotion that mirth.
+Mrs. Jennings wrote to tell the wonderful tale, to vent her
+honest indignation against the jilting girl, and pour forth
+her compassion towards poor Mr. Edward, who, she was sure,
+had quite doted upon the worthless hussy, and was now,
+by all accounts, almost broken-hearted, at Oxford.--
+"I do think," she continued, "nothing was ever carried
+on so sly; for it was but two days before Lucy called
+and sat a couple of hours with me.  Not a soul suspected
+anything of the matter, not even Nancy, who, poor soul!
+came crying to me the day after, in a great fright
+for fear of Mrs. Ferrars, as well as not knowing how to
+get to Plymouth; for Lucy it seems borrowed all her
+money before she went off to be married, on purpose
+we suppose to make a show with, and poor Nancy had not
+seven shillings in the world;--so I was very glad to give
+her five guineas to take her down to Exeter, where she
+thinks of staying three or four weeks with Mrs. Burgess,
+in hopes, as I tell her, to fall in with the Doctor again.
+And I must say that Lucy's crossness not to take them
+along with them in the chaise is worse than all.
+Poor Mr. Edward! I cannot get him out of my head, but you
+must send for him to Barton, and Miss Marianne must try to
+comfort him."
+
+Mr. Dashwood's strains were more solemn.
+Mrs. Ferrars was the most unfortunate of women--poor
+Fanny had suffered agonies of sensibility--and he
+considered the existence of each, under such a blow,
+with grateful wonder.  Robert's offence was unpardonable,
+but Lucy's was infinitely worse.  Neither of them were
+ever again to be mentioned to Mrs. Ferrars; and even,
+if she might hereafter be induced to forgive her son,
+his wife should never be acknowledged as her daughter,
+nor be permitted to appear in her presence.  The secrecy
+with which everything had been carried on between them,
+was rationally treated as enormously heightening
+the crime, because, had any suspicion of it occurred
+to the others, proper measures would have been taken
+to prevent the marriage; and he called on Elinor to join
+with him in regretting that Lucy's engagement with Edward
+had not rather been fulfilled, than that she should thus
+be the means of spreading misery farther in the family.--
+He thus continued:
+
+"Mrs. Ferrars has never yet mentioned Edward's name,
+which does not surprise us; but, to our great astonishment,
+not a line has been received from him on the occasion.
+Perhaps, however, he is kept silent by his fear of offending,
+and I shall, therefore, give him a hint, by a line
+to Oxford, that his sister and I both think a letter
+of proper submission from him, addressed perhaps to Fanny,
+and by her shewn to her mother, might not be taken amiss;
+for we all know the tenderness of Mrs. Ferrars's heart,
+and that she wishes for nothing so much as to be on good terms
+with her children."
+
+This paragraph was of some importance to the
+prospects and conduct of Edward.  It determined him
+to attempt a reconciliation, though not exactly
+in the manner pointed out by their brother and sister.
+
+"A letter of proper submission!" repeated he;
+"would they have me beg my mother's pardon for Robert's
+ingratitude to HER, and breach of honour to ME?--I can
+make no submission--I am grown neither humble nor
+penitent by what has passed.--I am grown very happy;
+but that would not interest.--I know of no submission
+that IS proper for me to make."
+
+"You may certainly ask to be forgiven," said Elinor,
+"because you have offended;--and I should think you
+might NOW venture so far as to profess some concern
+for having ever formed the engagement which drew on you
+your mother's anger."
+
+He agreed that he might.
+
+"And when she has forgiven you, perhaps a little humility
+may be convenient while acknowledging a second engagement,
+almost as imprudent in HER eyes as the first."
+
+He had nothing to urge against it, but still
+resisted the idea of a letter of proper submission;
+and therefore, to make it easier to him, as he declared
+a much greater willingness to make mean concessions
+by word of mouth than on paper, it was resolved that,
+instead of writing to Fanny, he should go to London,
+and personally intreat her good offices in his favour.--
+"And if they really DO interest themselves," said Marianne,
+in her new character of candour, "in bringing about
+a reconciliation, I shall think that even John and Fanny
+are not entirely without merit."
+
+After a visit on Colonel Brandon's side of only three
+or four days, the two gentlemen quitted Barton together.--
+They were to go immediately to Delaford, that Edward
+might have some personal knowledge of his future home,
+and assist his patron and friend in deciding on what
+improvements were needed to it; and from thence,
+after staying there a couple of nights, he was to proceed
+on his journey to town.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER 50
+
+
+After a proper resistance on the part of Mrs. Ferrars,
+just so violent and so steady as to preserve her from that
+reproach which she always seemed fearful of incurring,
+the reproach of being too amiable, Edward was admitted
+to her presence, and pronounced to be again her son.
+
+Her family had of late been exceedingly fluctuating.
+For many years of her life she had had two sons;
+but the crime and annihilation of Edward a few weeks ago,
+had robbed her of one; the similar annihilation of Robert
+had left her for a fortnight without any; and now,
+by the resuscitation of Edward, she had one again.
+
+In spite of his being allowed once more to live,
+however, he did not feel the continuance of his existence
+secure, till he had revealed his present engagement;
+for the publication of that circumstance, he feared,
+might give a sudden turn to his constitution, and carry
+him off as rapidly as before.  With apprehensive caution
+therefore it was revealed, and he was listened to with
+unexpected calmness.  Mrs. Ferrars at first reasonably
+endeavoured to dissuade him from marrying Miss Dashwood,
+by every argument in her power;--told him, that in Miss Morton
+he would have a woman of higher rank and larger fortune;--
+and enforced the assertion, by observing that Miss Morton
+was the daughter of a nobleman with thirty thousand pounds,
+while Miss Dashwood was only the daughter of a private
+gentleman with no more than THREE; but when she found that,
+though perfectly admitting the truth of her representation,
+he was by no means inclined to be guided by it,
+she judged it wisest, from the experience of the past,
+to submit--and therefore, after such an ungracious delay
+as she owed to her own dignity, and as served to prevent
+every suspicion of good-will, she issued her decree
+of consent to the marriage of Edward and Elinor.
+
+What she would engage to do towards augmenting
+their income was next to be considered; and here it
+plainly appeared, that though Edward was now her only son,
+he was by no means her eldest; for while Robert was
+inevitably endowed with a thousand pounds a-year,
+not the smallest objection was made against Edward's taking
+orders for the sake of two hundred and fifty at the utmost;
+nor was anything promised either for the present or in future,
+beyond the ten thousand pounds, which had been given with Fanny.
+
+It was as much, however, as was desired,
+and more than was expected, by Edward and Elinor;
+and Mrs. Ferrars herself, by her shuffling excuses,
+seemed the only person surprised at her not giving more.
+
+With an income quite sufficient to their wants
+thus secured to them, they had nothing to wait for
+after Edward was in possession of the living, but the
+readiness of the house, to which Colonel Brandon,
+with an eager desire for the accommodation of Elinor,
+was making considerable improvements; and after waiting
+some time for their completion, after experiencing,
+as usual, a thousand disappointments and delays
+from the unaccountable dilatoriness of the workmen, Elinor,
+as usual, broke through the first positive resolution
+of not marrying till every thing was ready, and the
+ceremony took place in Barton church early in the autumn.
+
+The first month after their marriage was spent
+with their friend at the Mansion-house; from whence
+they could superintend the progress of the Parsonage,
+and direct every thing as they liked on the spot;--
+could chuse papers, project shrubberies, and invent a sweep.
+Mrs. Jennings's prophecies, though rather jumbled together,
+were chiefly fulfilled; for she was able to visit Edward
+and his wife in their Parsonage by Michaelmas, and she
+found in Elinor and her husband, as she really believed,
+one of the happiest couples in the world.  They had
+in fact nothing to wish for, but the marriage of Colonel
+Brandon and Marianne, and rather better pasturage for
+their cows.
+
+They were visited on their first settling by almost
+all their relations and friends.  Mrs. Ferrars came
+to inspect the happiness which she was almost ashamed
+of having authorised; and even the Dashwoods were at
+the expense of a journey from Sussex to do them honour.
+
+"I will not say that I am disappointed, my dear sister,"
+said John, as they were walking together one morning before
+the gates of Delaford House, "THAT would be saying too much,
+for certainly you have been one of the most fortunate young
+women in the world, as it is.  But, I confess, it would
+give me great pleasure to call Colonel Brandon brother.
+His property here, his place, his house, every thing is in
+such respectable and excellent condition!--and his woods!--I
+have not seen such timber any where in Dorsetshire, as there
+is now standing in Delaford Hanger!--And though, perhaps,
+Marianne may not seem exactly the person to attract him--
+yet I think it would altogether be advisable for you to
+have them now frequently staying with you, for as Colonel
+Brandon seems a great deal at home, nobody can tell what
+may happen--for, when people are much thrown together,
+and see little of anybody else--and it will always be
+in your power to set her off to advantage, and so forth;--
+in short, you may as well give her a chance--You understand
+me."--
+
+But though Mrs. Ferrars DID come to see them, and always
+treated them with the make-believe of decent affection,
+they were never insulted by her real favour and preference.
+THAT was due to the folly of Robert, and the cunning
+of his wife; and it was earned by them before many months
+had passed away.  The selfish sagacity of the latter,
+which had at first drawn Robert into the scrape,
+was the principal instrument of his deliverance from it;
+for her respectful humility, assiduous attentions,
+and endless flatteries, as soon as the smallest opening
+was given for their exercise, reconciled Mrs. Ferrars
+to his choice, and re-established him completely in
+her favour.
+
+The whole of Lucy's behaviour in the affair,
+and the prosperity which crowned it, therefore, may be held
+forth as a most encouraging instance of what an earnest,
+an unceasing attention to self-interest, however its progress
+may be apparently obstructed, will do in securing every
+advantage of fortune, with no other sacrifice than that of time
+and conscience.  When Robert first sought her acquaintance,
+and privately visited her in Bartlett's Buildings,
+it was only with the view imputed to him by his brother.
+He merely meant to persuade her to give up the engagement;
+and as there could be nothing to overcome but the affection
+of both, he naturally expected that one or two interviews
+would settle the matter.  In that point, however,
+and that only, he erred;--for though Lucy soon gave him
+hopes that his eloquence would convince her in TIME,
+another visit, another conversation, was always wanted
+to produce this conviction.  Some doubts always lingered
+in her mind when they parted, which could only be
+removed by another half hour's discourse with himself.
+His attendance was by this means secured, and the rest
+followed in course.  Instead of talking of Edward,
+they came gradually to talk only of Robert,--a subject
+on which he had always more to say than on any other,
+and in which she soon betrayed an interest even equal
+to his own; and in short, it became speedily evident
+to both, that he had entirely supplanted his brother.
+He was proud of his conquest, proud of tricking Edward,
+and very proud of marrying privately without his
+mother's consent.  What immediately followed is known.
+They passed some months in great happiness at Dawlish;
+for she had many relations and old acquaintances to
+cut--and he drew several plans for magnificent cottages;--
+and from thence returning to town, procured the forgiveness
+of Mrs. Ferrars, by the simple expedient of asking it,
+which, at Lucy's instigation, was adopted.  The forgiveness,
+at first, indeed, as was reasonable, comprehended only Robert;
+and Lucy, who had owed his mother no duty and therefore
+could have transgressed none, still remained some weeks
+longer unpardoned.  But perseverance in humility of conduct
+and messages, in self-condemnation for Robert's offence,
+and gratitude for the unkindness she was treated with,
+procured her in time the haughty notice which overcame
+her by its graciousness, and led soon afterwards, by rapid
+degrees, to the highest state of affection and influence.
+Lucy became as necessary to Mrs. Ferrars, as either Robert
+or Fanny; and while Edward was never cordially forgiven
+for having once intended to marry her, and Elinor,
+though superior to her in fortune and birth, was spoken
+of as an intruder, SHE was in every thing considered,
+and always openly acknowledged, to be a favourite child.
+They settled in town, received very liberal assistance
+from Mrs. Ferrars, were on the best terms imaginable
+with the Dashwoods; and setting aside the jealousies
+and ill-will continually subsisting between Fanny and Lucy,
+in which their husbands of course took a part, as well
+as the frequent domestic disagreements between Robert and
+Lucy themselves, nothing could exceed the harmony in which
+they all lived together.
+
+What Edward had done to forfeit the right of eldest
+son, might have puzzled many people to find out; and what
+Robert had done to succeed to it, might have puzzled them
+still more.  It was an arrangement, however, justified in
+its effects, if not in its cause; for nothing ever
+appeared in Robert's style of living or of talking to give
+a suspicion of his regretting the extent of his income,
+as either leaving his brother too little, or bringing
+himself too much;--and if Edward might be judged from
+the ready discharge of his duties in every particular,
+from an increasing attachment to his wife and his home,
+and from the regular cheerfulness of his spirits,
+he might be supposed no less contented with his lot,
+no less free from every wish of an exchange.
+
+Elinor's marriage divided her as little from her
+family as could well be contrived, without rendering
+the cottage at Barton entirely useless, for her mother
+and sisters spent much more than half their time with her.
+Mrs. Dashwood was acting on motives of policy as well
+as pleasure in the frequency of her visits at Delaford;
+for her wish of bringing Marianne and Colonel Brandon together
+was hardly less earnest, though rather more liberal than
+what John had expressed.  It was now her darling object.
+Precious as was the company of her daughter to her,
+she desired nothing so much as to give up its constant
+enjoyment to her valued friend; and to see Marianne settled at
+the mansion-house was equally the wish of Edward and Elinor.
+They each felt his sorrows, and their own obligations,
+and Marianne, by general consent, was to be the reward
+of all.
+
+With such a confederacy against her--with a knowledge
+so intimate of his goodness--with a conviction of his fond
+attachment to herself, which at last, though long after it
+was observable to everybody else--burst on her--what could she
+do?
+
+Marianne Dashwood was born to an extraordinary fate.
+She was born to discover the falsehood of her own opinions,
+and to counteract, by her conduct, her most favourite maxims.
+She was born to overcome an affection formed so late
+in life as at seventeen, and with no sentiment
+superior to strong esteem and lively friendship,
+voluntarily to give her hand to another!--and THAT other,
+a man who had suffered no less than herself under the
+event of a former attachment, whom, two years before,
+she had considered too old to be married,--and who still
+sought the constitutional safeguard of a flannel waistcoat!
+
+But so it was.  Instead of falling a sacrifice
+to an irresistible passion, as once she had fondly
+flattered herself with expecting,--instead of remaining
+even for ever with her mother, and finding her only
+pleasures in retirement and study, as afterwards in her
+more calm and sober judgment she had determined on,--
+she found herself at nineteen, submitting to new attachments,
+entering on new duties, placed in a new home, a wife,
+the mistress of a family, and the patroness of a village.
+
+Colonel Brandon was now as happy, as all those who best
+loved him, believed he deserved to be;--in Marianne he
+was consoled for every past affliction;--her regard and her
+society restored his mind to animation, and his spirits
+to cheerfulness; and that Marianne found her own happiness
+in forming his, was equally the persuasion and delight
+of each observing friend.  Marianne could never love
+by halves; and her whole heart became, in time, as much
+devoted to her husband, as it had once been to Willoughby.
+
+Willoughby could not hear of her marriage without
+a pang; and his punishment was soon afterwards complete
+in the voluntary forgiveness of Mrs. Smith, who, by stating
+his marriage with a woman of character, as the source
+of her clemency, gave him reason for believing that had he
+behaved with honour towards Marianne, he might at once have
+been happy and rich.  That his repentance of misconduct,
+which thus brought its own punishment, was sincere,
+need not be doubted;--nor that he long thought of Colonel
+Brandon with envy, and of Marianne with regret.  But that
+he was for ever inconsolable, that he fled from society,
+or contracted an habitual gloom of temper, or died of a
+broken heart, must not be depended on--for he did neither.
+He lived to exert, and frequently to enjoy himself.
+His wife was not always out of humour, nor his home
+always uncomfortable; and in his breed of horses and dogs,
+and in sporting of every kind, he found no inconsiderable
+degree of domestic felicity.
+
+For Marianne, however--in spite of his incivility
+in surviving her loss--he always retained that decided
+regard which interested him in every thing that befell her,
+and made her his secret standard of perfection in woman;--
+and many a rising beauty would be slighted by him in
+after-days as bearing no comparison with Mrs. Brandon.
+
+Mrs. Dashwood was prudent enough to remain at the cottage,
+without attempting a removal to Delaford; and fortunately for
+Sir John and Mrs. Jennings, when Marianne was taken from them,
+Margaret had reached an age highly suitable for dancing,
+and not very ineligible for being supposed to have a lover.
+
+Between Barton and Delaford, there was that constant
+communication which strong family affection would
+naturally dictate;--and among the merits and the happiness
+of Elinor and Marianne, let it not be ranked as the least
+considerable, that though sisters, and living almost within
+sight of each other, they could live without disagreement
+between themselves, or producing coolness between their husbands.
+
+THE END
+
+
+End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Sense and Sensibility
+
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+\gtitle{Sense and Sensibility}
+
+\gauthor{Jane Austen}
+% (1811)
+
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 1}
+
+
+\gintro{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.
+
+By a former marriage, Mr.\ Henry Dashwood had one
+son: by his present lady, three daughters.  The son,
+a steady respectable young man, was amply provided
+for by the fortune of his mother, which had been large,
+and half of which devolved on him on his coming of age.
+By his own marriage, likewise, which happened soon afterwards,
+he added to his wealth.  To him therefore the succession
+to the Norland estate was not so really important as to
+his sisters; for their fortune, independent of what might
+arise to them from their father's inheriting that property,
+could be but small.  Their mother had nothing, and their
+father only seven thousand pounds in his own disposal;
+for the remaining moiety of his first wife's fortune was
+also secured to her child, and he had only a life-interest
+in it.
+
+The old gentleman died: his will was read, and
+like almost every other will, gave as much disappointment
+as pleasure.  He was neither so unjust, nor so ungrateful,
+as to leave his estate from his nephew;---but he left it to him
+on such terms as destroyed half the value of the bequest.
+Mr.\ Dashwood had wished for it more for the sake of his
+wife and daughters than for himself or his son;---but to
+his son, and his son's son, a child of four years old,
+it was secured, in such a way, as to leave to himself
+no power of providing for those who were most dear
+to him, and who most needed a provision by any charge
+on the estate, or by any sale of its valuable woods.
+The whole was tied up for the benefit of this child, who,
+in occasional visits with his father and mother at Norland,
+had so far gained on the affections of his uncle,
+by such attractions as are by no means unusual in children
+of two or three years old; an imperfect articulation,
+an earnest desire of having his own way, many cunning tricks,
+and a great deal of noise, as to outweigh all the value
+of all the attention which, for years, he had received
+from his niece and her daughters.  He meant not to
+be unkind, however, and, as a mark of his affection
+for the three girls, he left them a thousand pounds a-piece.
+
+Mr.\ Dashwood's disappointment was, at first, severe;
+but his temper was cheerful and sanguine; and he might
+reasonably hope to live many years, and by living economically,
+lay by a considerable sum from the produce of an estate
+already large, and capable of almost immediate improvement.
+But the fortune, which had been so tardy in coming, was his
+only one twelvemonth.  He survived his uncle no longer;
+and ten thousand pounds, including the late legacies,
+was all that remained for his widow and daughters.
+
+His son was sent for as soon as his danger was known,
+and to him Mr.\ Dashwood recommended, with all the strength
+and urgency which illness could command, the interest
+of his mother-in-law and sisters.
+
+Mr.\ John Dashwood had not the strong feelings of the
+rest of the family; but he was affected by a recommendation
+of such a nature at such a time, and he promised to do
+every thing in his power to make them comfortable.
+His father was rendered easy by such an assurance,
+and Mr.\ John Dashwood had then leisure to consider how
+much there might prudently be in his power to do for them.
+
+He was not an ill-disposed young man, unless to
+be rather cold hearted and rather selfish is to be
+ill-disposed: but he was, in general, well respected;
+for he conducted himself with propriety in the discharge
+of his ordinary duties.  Had he married a more amiable woman,
+he might have been made still more respectable than he
+was:---he might even have been made amiable himself; for he
+was very young when he married, and very fond of his wife.
+But Mrs.\ John Dashwood was a strong caricature of himself;---%
+more narrow-minded and selfish.
+
+When he gave his promise to his father, he meditated
+within himself to increase the fortunes of his sisters
+by the present of a thousand pounds a-piece.  He then
+really thought himself equal to it.  The prospect of four
+thousand a-year, in addition to his present income,
+besides the remaining half of his own mother's fortune,
+warmed his heart, and made him feel capable of generosity.---%
+``Yes, he would give them three thousand pounds: it would
+be liberal and handsome! It would be enough to make
+them completely easy.  Three thousand pounds! he could
+spare so considerable a sum with little inconvenience.''---%
+He thought of it all day long, and for many days successively,
+and he did not repent.
+
+No sooner was his father's funeral over, than Mrs.\ John
+Dashwood, without sending any notice of her intention to her
+mother-in-law, arrived with her child and their attendants.
+No one could dispute her right to come; the house was
+her husband's from the moment of his father's decease;
+but the indelicacy of her conduct was so much the greater,
+and to a woman in Mrs.\ Dashwood's situation, with only
+common feelings, must have been highly unpleasing;---%
+but in \emph{her} mind there was a sense of honor so keen,
+a generosity so romantic, that any offence of the kind,
+by whomsoever given or received, was to her a source
+of immoveable disgust.  Mrs.\ John Dashwood had never
+been a favourite with any of her husband's family;
+but she had had no opportunity, till the present,
+of shewing them with how little attention to the comfort
+of other people she could act when occasion required it.
+
+So acutely did Mrs.\ Dashwood feel this ungracious
+behaviour, and so earnestly did she despise her
+daughter-in-law for it, that, on the arrival of the latter,
+she would have quitted the house for ever, had not the
+entreaty of her eldest girl induced her first to reflect
+on the propriety of going, and her own tender love for all
+her three children determined her afterwards to stay,
+and for their sakes avoid a breach with their brother.
+
+Elinor, this eldest daughter, whose advice was
+so effectual, possessed a strength of understanding,
+and coolness of judgment, which qualified her,
+though only nineteen, to be the counsellor of her mother,
+and enabled her frequently to counteract, to the advantage
+of them all, that eagerness of mind in Mrs.\ Dashwood
+which must generally have led to imprudence.  She had
+an excellent heart;---her disposition was affectionate,
+and her feelings were strong; but she knew how to govern
+them: it was a knowledge which her mother had yet to learn;
+and which one of her sisters had resolved never to be taught.
+
+Marianne's abilities were, in many respects,
+quite equal to Elinor's. She was sensible and clever;
+but eager in everything: her sorrows, her joys, could have
+no moderation.  She was generous, amiable, interesting: she
+was everything but prudent.  The resemblance between
+her and her mother was strikingly great.
+
+Elinor saw, with concern, the excess of her
+sister's sensibility; but by Mrs.\ Dashwood it was valued
+and cherished.  They encouraged each other now in the
+violence of their affliction.  The agony of grief
+which overpowered them at first, was voluntarily renewed,
+was sought for, was created again and again.  They gave
+themselves up wholly to their sorrow, seeking increase
+of wretchedness in every reflection that could afford it,
+and resolved against ever admitting consolation
+in future.  Elinor, too, was deeply afflicted; but still
+she could struggle, she could exert herself.  She could
+consult with her brother, could receive her sister-in-law
+on her arrival, and treat her with proper attention;
+and could strive to rouse her mother to similar exertion,
+and encourage her to similar forbearance.
+
+Margaret, the other sister, was a good-humored,
+well-disposed girl; but as she had already imbibed
+a good deal of Marianne's romance, without having
+much of her sense, she did not, at thirteen, bid fair
+to equal her sisters at a more advanced period of life.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 2}
+
+
+\gintro{Mrs.\ John Dashwood} now installed herself mistress
+of Norland; and her mother and sisters-in-law were degraded
+to the condition of visitors.  As such, however, they were
+treated by her with quiet civility; and by her husband
+with as much kindness as he could feel towards anybody
+beyond himself, his wife, and their child.  He really
+pressed them, with some earnestness, to consider Norland
+as their home; and, as no plan appeared so eligible
+to Mrs.\ Dashwood as remaining there till she could
+accommodate herself with a house in the neighbourhood,
+his invitation was accepted.
+
+A continuance in a place where everything reminded
+her of former delight, was exactly what suited her mind.
+In seasons of cheerfulness, no temper could be more cheerful
+than hers, or possess, in a greater degree, that sanguine
+expectation of happiness which is happiness itself.
+But in sorrow she must be equally carried away by her fancy,
+and as far beyond consolation as in pleasure she was
+beyond alloy.
+
+Mrs.\ John Dashwood did not at all approve of what her
+husband intended to do for his sisters.  To take three
+thousand pounds from the fortune of their dear little boy
+would be impoverishing him to the most dreadful degree.
+She begged him to think again on the subject.  How could
+he answer it to himself to rob his child, and his only
+child too, of so large a sum?  And what possible claim
+could the Miss Dashwoods, who were related to him only by
+half blood, which she considered as no relationship at all,
+have on his generosity to so large an amount.  It was very
+well known that no affection was ever supposed to exist
+between the children of any man by different marriages;
+and why was he to ruin himself, and their poor little Harry,
+by giving away all his money to his half sisters?
+
+``It was my father's last request to me,'' replied
+her husband, ``that I should assist his widow and daughters.''
+
+``He did not know what he was talking of, I dare say;
+ten to one but he was light-headed at the time.
+Had he been in his right senses, he could not have thought
+of such a thing as begging you to give away half your
+fortune from your own child.''
+
+``He did not stipulate for any particular sum,
+my dear Fanny; he only requested me, in general terms,
+to assist them, and make their situation more comfortable
+than it was in his power to do.  Perhaps it would
+have been as well if he had left it wholly to myself.
+He could hardly suppose I should neglect them.
+But as he required the promise, I could not do less
+than give it; at least I thought so at the time.
+The promise, therefore, was given, and must be performed.
+Something must be done for them whenever they leave Norland
+and settle in a new home.''
+
+``Well, then, \emph{let} something be done for them;
+but \emph{that} something need not be three thousand pounds.
+Consider,'' she added, ``that when the money is once
+parted with, it never can return.  Your sisters will marry,
+and it will be gone for ever.  If, indeed, it could
+be restored to our poor little boy---''
+
+``Why, to be sure,'' said her husband, very gravely,
+``that would make great difference.  The time may come when
+Harry will regret that so large a sum was parted with.
+If he should have a numerous family, for instance, it would
+be a very convenient addition.''
+
+``To be sure it would.''
+
+``Perhaps, then, it would be better for all parties,
+if the sum were diminished one half.---Five hundred pounds
+would be a prodigious increase to their fortunes!''
+
+``Oh! beyond anything great!  What brother on earth
+would do half so much for his sisters, even if \emph{really}
+his sisters!  And as it is---only half blood!---But you
+have such a generous spirit!''
+
+``I would not wish to do any thing mean,'' he replied.
+``One had rather, on such occasions, do too much than
+too little.  No one, at least, can think I have not
+done enough for them: even themselves, they can hardly
+expect more.''
+
+``There is no knowing what \emph{they} may expect,''
+said the lady, ``but we are not to think of their
+expectations: the question is, what you can afford to do.''
+
+``Certainly---and I think I may afford to give them five
+hundred pounds a-piece.  As it is, without any addition
+of mine, they will each have about three thousand pounds
+on their mother's death---a very comfortable fortune
+for any young woman.''
+
+``To be sure it is; and, indeed, it strikes me that
+they can want no addition at all.  They will have ten
+thousand pounds divided amongst them.  If they marry,
+they will be sure of doing well, and if they do not,
+they may all live very comfortably together on the interest
+of ten thousand pounds.''
+
+``That is very true, and, therefore, I do not know whether,
+upon the whole, it would not be more advisable to do
+something for their mother while she lives, rather than
+for them---something of the annuity kind I mean.---My sisters
+would feel the good effects of it as well as herself.
+A hundred a year would make them all perfectly comfortable.''
+
+His wife hesitated a little, however, in giving
+her consent to this plan.
+
+``To be sure,'' said she, ``it is better than parting with
+fifteen hundred pounds at once.  But, then, if Mrs.\ Dashwood
+should live fifteen years we shall be completely taken in.''
+
+``Fifteen years! my dear Fanny; her life cannot
+be worth half that purchase.''
+
+``Certainly not; but if you observe, people always
+live for ever when there is an annuity to be paid them;
+and she is very stout and healthy, and hardly forty.
+An annuity is a very serious business; it comes over
+and over every year, and there is no getting rid
+of it.  You are not aware of what you are doing.
+I have known a great deal of the trouble of annuities;
+for my mother was clogged with the payment of three
+to old superannuated servants by my father's will,
+and it is amazing how disagreeable she found it.
+Twice every year these annuities were to be paid; and then
+there was the trouble of getting it to them; and then one
+of them was said to have died, and afterwards it turned
+out to be no such thing.  My mother was quite sick of it.
+Her income was not her own, she said, with such perpetual
+claims on it; and it was the more unkind in my father,
+because, otherwise, the money would have been entirely at
+my mother's disposal, without any restriction whatever.
+It has given me such an abhorrence of annuities, that I am
+sure I would not pin myself down to the payment of one for
+all the world.''
+
+``It is certainly an unpleasant thing,'' replied Mr.\ Dashwood,
+``to have those kind of yearly drains on one's income.
+One's fortune, as your mother justly says, is \emph{not} one's own.
+To be tied down to the regular payment of such a sum,
+on every rent day, is by no means desirable: it takes away
+one's independence.''
+
+``Undoubtedly; and after all you have no thanks for it.
+They think themselves secure, you do no more than what
+is expected, and it raises no gratitude at all.  If I were you,
+whatever I did should be done at my own discretion entirely.
+I would not bind myself to allow them any thing yearly.
+It may be very inconvenient some years to spare a hundred,
+or even fifty pounds from our own expenses.''
+
+``I believe you are right, my love; it will be better
+that there should by no annuity in the case; whatever I
+may give them occasionally will be of far greater assistance
+than a yearly allowance, because they would only enlarge
+their style of living if they felt sure of a larger income,
+and would not be sixpence the richer for it at the end
+of the year.  It will certainly be much the best way.
+A present of fifty pounds, now and then, will prevent
+their ever being distressed for money, and will, I think,
+be amply discharging my promise to my father.''
+
+``To be sure it will.  Indeed, to say the truth,
+I am convinced within myself that your father had no idea
+of your giving them any money at all.  The assistance
+he thought of, I dare say, was only such as might be
+reasonably expected of you; for instance, such as looking
+out for a comfortable small house for them, helping them
+to move their things, and sending them presents of fish
+and game, and so forth, whenever they are in season.
+I'll lay my life that he meant nothing farther; indeed,
+it would be very strange and unreasonable if he did.
+Do but consider, my dear Mr.\ Dashwood, how excessively
+comfortable your mother-in-law and her daughters may live
+on the interest of seven thousand pounds, besides the
+thousand pounds belonging to each of the girls, which brings
+them in fifty pounds a year a-piece, and, of course,
+they will pay their mother for their board out of it.
+Altogether, they will have five hundred a-year amongst them,
+and what on earth can four women want for more than
+that?---They will live so cheap! Their housekeeping will
+be nothing at all.  They will have no carriage, no horses,
+and hardly any servants; they will keep no company,
+and can have no expenses of any kind!  Only conceive
+how comfortable they will be!  Five hundred a year! I am
+sure I cannot imagine how they will spend half of it;
+and as to your giving them more, it is quite absurd to think
+of it.  They will be much more able to give \emph{you} something.''
+
+``Upon my word,'' said Mr.\ Dashwood, ``I believe you
+are perfectly right.  My father certainly could mean
+nothing more by his request to me than what you say.
+I clearly understand it now, and I will strictly fulfil
+my engagement by such acts of assistance and kindness
+to them as you have described.  When my mother removes
+into another house my services shall be readily given
+to accommodate her as far as I can.  Some little present
+of furniture too may be acceptable then.''
+
+``Certainly,'' returned Mrs.\ John Dashwood.  ``But, however,
+\emph{one} thing must be considered.  When your father and mother
+moved to Norland, though the furniture of Stanhill
+was sold, all the china, plate, and linen was saved,
+and is now left to your mother.  Her house will therefore
+be almost completely fitted up as soon as she takes it.''
+
+``That is a material consideration undoubtedly.
+A valuable legacy indeed! And yet some of the plate would
+have been a very pleasant addition to our own stock here.''
+
+``Yes; and the set of breakfast china is twice
+as handsome as what belongs to this house.  A great
+deal too handsome, in my opinion, for any place \emph{they}
+can ever afford to live in.  But, however, so it is.
+Your father thought only of \emph{them}.  And I must say this:
+that you owe no particular gratitude to him, nor attention
+to his wishes; for we very well know that if he could,
+he would have left almost everything in the world to \emph{them}.''
+
+This argument was irresistible.  It gave to his
+intentions whatever of decision was wanting before; and he
+finally resolved, that it would be absolutely unnecessary,
+if not highly indecorous, to do more for the widow
+and children of his father, than such kind of neighbourly
+acts as his own wife pointed out.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 3}
+
+
+\gintro{Mrs.\ Dashwood} remained at Norland several months;
+not from any disinclination to move when the sight of every
+well known spot ceased to raise the violent emotion which it
+produced for a while; for when her spirits began to revive,
+and her mind became capable of some other exertion than that
+of heightening its affliction by melancholy remembrances,
+she was impatient to be gone, and indefatigable in her inquiries
+for a suitable dwelling in the neighbourhood of Norland;
+for to remove far from that beloved spot was impossible.
+But she could hear of no situation that at once answered
+her notions of comfort and ease, and suited the prudence
+of her eldest daughter, whose steadier judgment rejected
+several houses as too large for their income, which her
+mother would have approved.
+
+Mrs.\ Dashwood had been informed by her husband of the
+solemn promise on the part of his son in their favour,
+which gave comfort to his last earthly reflections.
+She doubted the sincerity of this assurance no more than he
+had doubted it himself, and she thought of it for her daughters'
+sake with satisfaction, though as for herself she was
+persuaded that a much smaller provision than \pounds 7000 would
+support her in affluence.  For their brother's sake, too,
+for the sake of his own heart, she rejoiced; and she
+reproached herself for being unjust to his merit before,
+in believing him incapable of generosity.  His attentive
+behaviour to herself and his sisters convinced her that
+their welfare was dear to him, and, for a long time,
+she firmly relied on the liberality of his intentions.
+
+The contempt which she had, very early in their acquaintance,
+felt for her daughter-in-law, was very much increased
+by the farther knowledge of her character, which half
+a year's residence in her family afforded; and perhaps
+in spite of every consideration of politeness or maternal
+affection on the side of the former, the two ladies might
+have found it impossible to have lived together so long,
+had not a particular circumstance occurred to give
+still greater eligibility, according to the opinions
+of Mrs.\ Dashwood, to her daughters' continuance at Norland.
+
+This circumstance was a growing attachment between
+her eldest girl and the brother of Mrs.\ John Dashwood,
+a gentleman-like and pleasing young man, who was introduced
+to their acquaintance soon after his sister's establishment
+at Norland, and who had since spent the greatest part
+of his time there.
+
+Some mothers might have encouraged the intimacy from
+motives of interest, for Edward Ferrars was the eldest son
+of a man who had died very rich; and some might have repressed
+it from motives of prudence, for, except a trifling sum,
+the whole of his fortune depended on the will of his mother.
+But Mrs.\ Dashwood was alike uninfluenced by either consideration.
+It was enough for her that he appeared to be amiable,
+that he loved her daughter, and that Elinor returned
+the partiality.  It was contrary to every doctrine of
+her's that difference of fortune should keep any couple
+asunder who were attracted by resemblance of disposition;
+and that Elinor's merit should not be acknowledged
+by every one who knew her, was to her comprehension impossible.
+
+Edward Ferrars was not recommended to their good
+opinion by any peculiar graces of person or address.
+He was not handsome, and his manners required intimacy
+to make them pleasing.  He was too diffident to do justice
+to himself; but when his natural shyness was overcome,
+his behaviour gave every indication of an open,
+affectionate heart.  His understanding was good,
+and his education had given it solid improvement.
+But he was neither fitted by abilities nor disposition
+to answer the wishes of his mother and sister, who longed
+to see him distinguished---as---they hardly knew what.
+They wanted him to make a fine figure in the world in some
+manner or other.  His mother wished to interest him in
+political concerns, to get him into parliament, or to see
+him connected with some of the great men of the day.
+Mrs.\ John Dashwood wished it likewise; but in the mean while,
+till one of these superior blessings could be attained, it would
+have quieted her ambition to see him driving a barouche.
+But Edward had no turn for great men or barouches.
+All his wishes centered in domestic comfort and the quiet
+of private life.  Fortunately he had a younger brother
+who was more promising.
+
+Edward had been staying several weeks in the house
+before he engaged much of Mrs.\ Dashwood's attention;
+for she was, at that time, in such affliction as rendered
+her careless of surrounding objects.  She saw only that he
+was quiet and unobtrusive, and she liked him for it.
+He did not disturb the wretchedness of her mind by
+ill-timed conversation.  She was first called to observe
+and approve him farther, by a reflection which Elinor
+chanced one day to make on the difference between him
+and his sister.  It was a contrast which recommended him
+most forcibly to her mother.
+
+``It is enough,'' said she; ``to say that he is unlike
+Fanny is enough.  It implies everything amiable.
+I love him already.''
+
+``I think you will like him,'' said Elinor, ``when you
+know more of him.''
+
+``Like him!'' replied her mother with a smile.
+``I feel no sentiment of approbation inferior to love.''
+
+``You may esteem him.''
+
+``I have never yet known what it was to separate
+esteem and love.''
+
+Mrs.\ Dashwood now took pains to get acquainted with him.
+Her manners were attaching, and soon banished his reserve.
+She speedily comprehended all his merits; the persuasion
+of his regard for Elinor perhaps assisted her penetration;
+but she really felt assured of his worth: and even that
+quietness of manner, which militated against all her
+established ideas of what a young man's address ought to be,
+was no longer uninteresting when she knew his heart to be
+warm and his temper affectionate.
+
+No sooner did she perceive any symptom of love
+in his behaviour to Elinor, than she considered their
+serious attachment as certain, and looked forward
+to their marriage as rapidly approaching.
+
+``In a few months, my dear Marianne.'' said she,
+``Elinor will, in all probability be settled for life.
+We shall miss her; but \emph{she} will be happy.''
+
+``Oh! Mamma, how shall we do without her?''
+
+``My love, it will be scarcely a separation.
+We shall live within a few miles of each other, and shall
+meet every day of our lives.  You will gain a brother,
+a real, affectionate brother.  I have the highest opinion
+in the world of Edward's heart.  But you look grave,
+Marianne; do you disapprove your sister's choice?''
+
+``Perhaps,'' said Marianne, ``I may consider it
+with some surprise.  Edward is very amiable, and I love
+him tenderly.  But yet---he is not the kind of young
+man---there is something wanting---his figure is not striking;
+it has none of that grace which I should expect
+in the man who could seriously attach my sister.
+His eyes want all that spirit, that fire, which at once
+announce virtue and intelligence.  And besides all this,
+I am afraid, Mamma, he has no real taste.  Music seems
+scarcely to attract him, and though he admires Elinor's
+drawings very much, it is not the admiration of a person
+who can understand their worth.  It is evident, in spite of
+his frequent attention to her while she draws, that in fact
+he knows nothing of the matter.  He admires as a lover,
+not as a connoisseur.  To satisfy me, those characters
+must be united.  I could not be happy with a man whose
+taste did not in every point coincide with my own.
+He must enter into all my feelings; the same books,
+the same music must charm us both.  Oh! mama, how spiritless,
+how tame was Edward's manner in reading to us last night!
+I felt for my sister most severely.  Yet she bore it
+with so much composure, she seemed scarcely to notice it.
+I could hardly keep my seat.  To hear those beautiful lines
+which have frequently almost driven me wild, pronounced
+with such impenetrable calmness, such dreadful indifference!''---%
+
+``He would certainly have done more justice to
+simple and elegant prose.  I thought so at the time;
+but you \emph{would} give him Cowper.''
+
+``Nay, Mamma, if he is not to be animated by Cowper!---%
+but we must allow for difference of taste.  Elinor has
+not my feelings, and therefore she may overlook it, and
+be happy with him.  But it would have broke \emph{my} heart,
+had I loved him, to hear him read with so little sensibility.
+Mama, the more I know of the world, the more am I convinced
+that I shall never see a man whom I can really love.
+I require so much!  He must have all Edward's virtues,
+and his person and manners must ornament his goodness
+with every possible charm.''
+
+``Remember, my love, that you are not seventeen.
+It is yet too early in life to despair of such a happiness.
+Why should you be less fortunate than your mother?  In
+one circumstance only, my Marianne, may your destiny be
+different from her's!''
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 4}
+
+
+\gintro{``What a pity it is, Elinor,''} said Marianne,
+``that Edward should have no taste for drawing.''
+
+``No taste for drawing!'' replied Elinor, ``why should
+you think so? He does not draw himself, indeed, but he has
+great pleasure in seeing the performances of other people,
+and I assure you he is by no means deficient in natural taste,
+though he has not had opportunities of improving it.
+Had he ever been in the way of learning, I think he would
+have drawn very well.  He distrusts his own judgment
+in such matters so much, that he is always unwilling
+to give his opinion on any picture; but he has an innate
+propriety and simplicity of taste, which in general
+direct him perfectly right.''
+
+Marianne was afraid of offending, and said no more
+on the subject; but the kind of approbation which Elinor
+described as excited in him by the drawings of other
+people, was very far from that rapturous delight, which,
+in her opinion, could alone be called taste.  Yet, though
+smiling within herself at the mistake, she honoured
+her sister for that blind partiality to Edward which produced it.
+
+``I hope, Marianne,'' continued Elinor, ``you do not
+consider him as deficient in general taste.  Indeed, I think
+I may say that you cannot, for your behaviour to him
+is perfectly cordial, and if \emph{that} were your opinion,
+I am sure you could never be civil to him.''
+
+Marianne hardly knew what to say.  She would
+not wound the feelings of her sister on any account,
+and yet to say what she did not believe was impossible.
+At length she replied:
+
+``Do not be offended, Elinor, if my praise of him
+is not in every thing equal to your sense of his merits.
+I have not had so many opportunities of estimating the minuter
+propensities of his mind, his inclinations and tastes,
+as you have; but I have the highest opinion in the world
+of his goodness and sense.  I think him every thing that is
+worthy and amiable.''
+
+``I am sure,'' replied Elinor, with a smile,
+``that his dearest friends could not be dissatisfied
+with such commendation as that.  I do not perceive
+how you could express yourself more warmly.''
+
+Marianne was rejoiced to find her sister so easily pleased.
+
+``Of his sense and his goodness,'' continued Elinor,
+``no one can, I think, be in doubt, who has seen him
+often enough to engage him in unreserved conversation.
+The excellence of his understanding and his principles
+can be concealed only by that shyness which too often
+keeps him silent.  You know enough of him to do justice
+to his solid worth.  But of his minuter propensities,
+as you call them you have from peculiar circumstances
+been kept more ignorant than myself.  He and I have
+been at times thrown a good deal together, while you
+have been wholly engrossed on the most affectionate
+principle by my mother.  I have seen a great deal of him,
+have studied his sentiments and heard his opinion on
+subjects of literature and taste; and, upon the whole,
+I venture to pronounce that his mind is well-informed,
+enjoyment of books exceedingly great, his imagination lively,
+his observation just and correct, and his taste delicate
+and pure.  His abilities in every respect improve
+as much upon acquaintance as his manners and person.
+At first sight, his address is certainly not striking;
+and his person can hardly be called handsome, till the
+expression of his eyes, which are uncommonly good,
+and the general sweetness of his countenance, is perceived.
+At present, I know him so well, that I think him
+really handsome; or at least, almost so.  What say you,
+Marianne?''
+
+``I shall very soon think him handsome, Elinor, if I
+do not now.  When you tell me to love him as a brother,
+I shall no more see imperfection in his face, than I now do
+in his heart.''
+
+Elinor started at this declaration, and was sorry for
+the warmth she had been betrayed into, in speaking of him.
+She felt that Edward stood very high in her opinion.
+She believed the regard to be mutual; but she required
+greater certainty of it to make Marianne's conviction
+of their attachment agreeable to her.  She knew that
+what Marianne and her mother conjectured one moment,
+they believed the next---that with them, to wish was to hope,
+and to hope was to expect.  She tried to explain the real
+state of the case to her sister.
+
+``I do not attempt to deny,'' said she, ``that I think
+very highly of him---that I greatly esteem, that I like him.''
+
+Marianne here burst forth with indignation---%
+
+``Esteem him! Like him! Cold-hearted Elinor! Oh!
+worse than cold-hearted! Ashamed of being otherwise.
+Use those words again, and I will leave the room this moment.''
+
+Elinor could not help laughing.  ``Excuse me,''
+said she; ``and be assured that I meant no offence to you,
+by speaking, in so quiet a way, of my own feelings.
+Believe them to be stronger than I have declared;
+believe them, in short, to be such as his merit, and the
+suspicion---the hope of his affection for me may warrant,
+without imprudence or folly.  But farther than this you must
+not believe.  I am by no means assured of his regard for me.
+There are moments when the extent of it seems doubtful;
+and till his sentiments are fully known, you cannot wonder
+at my wishing to avoid any encouragement of my own partiality,
+by believing or calling it more than it is.  In my heart
+I feel little---scarcely any doubt of his preference.
+But there are other points to be considered besides
+his inclination.  He is very far from being independent.
+What his mother really is we cannot know; but, from Fanny's
+occasional mention of her conduct and opinions, we have
+never been disposed to think her amiable; and I am very
+much mistaken if Edward is not himself aware that there
+would be many difficulties in his way, if he were to wish
+to marry a woman who had not either a great fortune or
+high rank.''
+
+Marianne was astonished to find how much the imagination
+of her mother and herself had outstripped the truth.
+
+``And you really are not engaged to him!'' said she.
+``Yet it certainly soon will happen.  But two advantages
+will proceed from this delay.  I shall not lose you so soon,
+and Edward will have greater opportunity of improving
+that natural taste for your favourite pursuit which must
+be so indispensably necessary to your future felicity.
+Oh! if he should be so far stimulated by your genius as to
+learn to draw himself, how delightful it would be!''
+
+Elinor had given her real opinion to her sister.
+She could not consider her partiality for Edward
+in so prosperous a state as Marianne had believed it.
+There was, at times, a want of spirits about him which,
+if it did not denote indifference, spoke of something almost
+as unpromising.  A doubt of her regard, supposing him
+to feel it, need not give him more than inquietude.
+It would not be likely to produce that dejection of mind
+which frequently attended him.  A more reasonable cause
+might be found in the dependent situation which forbade
+the indulgence of his affection.  She knew that his mother
+neither behaved to him so as to make his home comfortable
+at present, nor to give him any assurance that he might form
+a home for himself, without strictly attending to her views
+for his aggrandizement.  With such a knowledge as this,
+it was impossible for Elinor to feel easy on the subject.
+She was far from depending on that result of his preference
+of her, which her mother and sister still considered
+as certain.  Nay, the longer they were together the more
+doubtful seemed the nature of his regard; and sometimes,
+for a few painful minutes, she believed it to be no more
+than friendship.
+
+But, whatever might really be its limits, it was enough,
+when perceived by his sister, to make her uneasy,
+and at the same time, (which was still more common,)
+to make her uncivil.  She took the first opportunity of
+affronting her mother-in-law on the occasion, talking to
+her so expressively of her brother's great expectations,
+of Mrs.\ Ferrars's resolution that both her sons should
+marry well, and of the danger attending any young woman
+who attempted to \emph{draw him in}; that Mrs.\ Dashwood could
+neither pretend to be unconscious, nor endeavor to be calm.
+She gave her an answer which marked her contempt,
+and instantly left the room, resolving that, whatever might
+be the inconvenience or expense of so sudden a removal,
+her beloved Elinor should not be exposed another week
+to such insinuations.
+
+In this state of her spirits, a letter was delivered
+to her from the post, which contained a proposal
+particularly well timed.  It was the offer of a small house,
+on very easy terms, belonging to a relation of her own,
+a gentleman of consequence and property in Devonshire.
+The letter was from this gentleman himself, and written
+in the true spirit of friendly accommodation.
+He understood that she was in need of a dwelling;
+and though the house he now offered her was merely a cottage,
+he assured her that everything should be done to it which
+she might think necessary, if the situation pleased her.
+He earnestly pressed her, after giving the particulars
+of the house and garden, to come with her daughters to
+Barton Park, the place of his own residence, from whence
+she might judge, herself, whether Barton Cottage, for the
+houses were in the same parish, could, by any alteration,
+be made comfortable to her.  He seemed really anxious to
+accommodate them and the whole of his letter was written
+in so friendly a style as could not fail of giving pleasure
+to his cousin; more especially at a moment when she was
+suffering under the cold and unfeeling behaviour of her
+nearer connections.  She needed no time for deliberation
+or inquiry.  Her resolution was formed as she read.
+The situation of Barton, in a county so far distant from
+Sussex as Devonshire, which, but a few hours before,
+would have been a sufficient objection to outweigh every
+possible advantage belonging to the place, was now its
+first recommendation.  To quit the neighbourhood of Norland
+was no longer an evil; it was an object of desire;
+it was a blessing, in comparison of the misery of continuing
+her daughter-in-law's guest; and to remove for ever
+from that beloved place would be less painful than to
+inhabit or visit it while such a woman was its mistress.
+She instantly wrote Sir John Middleton her acknowledgment
+of his kindness, and her acceptance of his proposal;
+and then hastened to shew both letters to her daughters,
+that she might be secure of their approbation before her
+answer were sent.
+
+Elinor had always thought it would be more prudent
+for them to settle at some distance from Norland,
+than immediately amongst their present acquaintance.
+On \emph{that} head, therefore, it was not for her to oppose
+her mother's intention of removing into Devonshire.
+The house, too, as described by Sir John, was on so
+simple a scale, and the rent so uncommonly moderate,
+as to leave her no right of objection on either point;
+and, therefore, though it was not a plan which brought
+any charm to her fancy, though it was a removal from
+the vicinity of Norland beyond her wishes, she made
+no attempt to dissuade her mother from sending a letter
+of acquiescence.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 5}
+
+
+\gintro{No sooner} was her answer dispatched, than Mrs.\ Dashwood
+indulged herself in the pleasure of announcing to her
+son-in-law and his wife that she was provided with a house,
+and should incommode them no longer than till every thing were
+ready for her inhabiting it.  They heard her with surprise.
+Mrs.\ John Dashwood said nothing; but her husband civilly
+hoped that she would not be settled far from Norland.
+She had great satisfaction in replying that she was going
+into Devonshire.---Edward turned hastily towards her,
+on hearing this, and, in a voice of surprise and concern,
+which required no explanation to her, repeated,
+``Devonshire! Are you, indeed, going there?  So far from hence!
+And to what part of it?''  She explained the situation.
+It was within four miles northward of Exeter.
+
+``It is but a cottage,'' she continued, ``but I hope
+to see many of my friends in it.  A room or two can
+easily be added; and if my friends find no difficulty
+in travelling so far to see me, I am sure I will find
+none in accommodating them.''
+
+She concluded with a very kind invitation to
+Mr.\ and Mrs.\ John Dashwood to visit her at Barton;
+and to Edward she gave one with still greater affection.
+Though her late conversation with her daughter-in-law had
+made her resolve on remaining at Norland no longer than
+was unavoidable, it had not produced the smallest effect
+on her in that point to which it principally tended.
+To separate Edward and Elinor was as far from being her
+object as ever; and she wished to show Mrs.\ John Dashwood,
+by this pointed invitation to her brother, how totally she
+disregarded her disapprobation of the match.
+
+Mr.\ John Dashwood told his mother again and again
+how exceedingly sorry he was that she had taken a house at
+such a distance from Norland as to prevent his being of any
+service to her in removing her furniture.  He really felt
+conscientiously vexed on the occasion; for the very exertion
+to which he had limited the performance of his promise to
+his father was by this arrangement rendered impracticable.---%
+The furniture was all sent around by water.  It chiefly
+consisted of household linen, plate, china, and books,
+with a handsome pianoforte of Marianne's.  Mrs.\ John
+Dashwood saw the packages depart with a sigh: she could
+not help feeling it hard that as Mrs.\ Dashwood's income
+would be so trifling in comparison with their own,
+she should have any handsome article of furniture.
+
+Mrs.\ Dashwood took the house for a twelvemonth; it was
+ready furnished, and she might have immediate possession.
+No difficulty arose on either side in the agreement; and she
+waited only for the disposal of her effects at Norland,
+and to determine her future household, before she set
+off for the west; and this, as she was exceedingly rapid
+in the performance of everything that interested her,
+was soon done.---The horses which were left her by her husband
+had been sold soon after his death, and an opportunity
+now offering of disposing of her carriage, she agreed
+to sell that likewise at the earnest advice of her
+eldest daughter.  For the comfort of her children, had she
+consulted only her own wishes, she would have kept it;
+but the discretion of Elinor prevailed.  \emph{Her} 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.
+
+The man and one of the maids were sent off immediately
+into Devonshire, to prepare the house for their mistress's
+arrival; for as Lady Middleton was entirely unknown
+to Mrs.\ Dashwood, she preferred going directly to the
+cottage to being a visitor at Barton Park; and she relied
+so undoubtingly on Sir John's description of the house,
+as to feel no curiosity to examine it herself till she
+entered it as her own.  Her eagerness to be gone from Norland
+was preserved from diminution by the evident satisfaction
+of her daughter-in-law in the prospect of her removal;
+a satisfaction which was but feebly attempted to be concealed
+under a cold invitation to her to defer her departure.
+Now was the time when her son-in-law's promise to his
+father might with particular propriety be fulfilled.
+Since he had neglected to do it on first coming to
+the estate, their quitting his house might be looked
+on as the most suitable period for its accomplishment.
+But Mrs.\ Dashwood began shortly to give over every
+hope of the kind, and to be convinced, from the general
+drift of his discourse, that his assistance extended no
+farther than their maintenance for six months at Norland.
+He so frequently talked of the increasing expenses
+of housekeeping, and of the perpetual demands upon his purse,
+which a man of any consequence in the world was beyond
+calculation exposed to, that he seemed rather to stand
+in need of more money himself than to have any design of
+giving money away.
+
+In a very few weeks from the day which brought Sir
+John Middleton's first letter to Norland, every thing was
+so far settled in their future abode as to enable
+Mrs.\ Dashwood and her daughters to begin their journey.
+
+Many were the tears shed by them in their last
+adieus to a place so much beloved.  ``Dear, dear Norland!''
+said Marianne, as she wandered alone before the house,
+on the last evening of their being there; ``when shall I cease
+to regret you!---when learn to feel a home elsewhere!---Oh!
+happy house, could you know what I suffer in now viewing
+you from this spot, from whence perhaps I may view
+you no more!---And you, ye well-known trees!---but you
+will continue the same.---No leaf will decay because we
+are removed, nor any branch become motionless although we
+can observe you no longer!---No; you will continue the same;
+unconscious of the pleasure or the regret you occasion,
+and insensible of any change in those who walk under your
+shade!---But who will remain to enjoy you?''
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 6}
+
+
+\gintro{The first part of their journey} was performed in too
+melancholy a disposition to be otherwise than tedious
+and unpleasant.  But as they drew towards the end of it,
+their interest in the appearance of a country which they
+were to inhabit overcame their dejection, and a view of
+Barton Valley as they entered it gave them cheerfulness.
+It was a pleasant fertile spot, well wooded, and rich
+in pasture.  After winding along it for more than a mile,
+they reached their own house.  A small green court was
+the whole of its demesne in front; and a neat wicket gate
+admitted them into it.
+
+As a house, Barton Cottage, though small, was comfortable
+and compact; but as a cottage it was defective, for the
+building was regular, the roof was tiled, the window
+shutters were not painted green, nor were the walls covered
+with honeysuckles.  A narrow passage led directly through
+the house into the garden behind.  On each side of the
+entrance was a sitting room, about sixteen feet square;
+and beyond them were the offices and the stairs.
+Four bed-rooms and two garrets formed the rest of the house.
+It had not been built many years and was in good repair.
+In comparison of Norland, it was poor and small indeed!---but
+the tears which recollection called forth as they entered
+the house were soon dried away.  They were cheered
+by the joy of the servants on their arrival, and each
+for the sake of the others resolved to appear happy.
+It was very early in September; the season was fine,
+and from first seeing the place under the advantage
+of good weather, they received an impression in its
+favour which was of material service in recommending
+it to their lasting approbation.
+
+The situation of the house was good.  High hills rose
+immediately behind, and at no great distance on each side;
+some of which were open downs, the others cultivated and woody.
+The village of Barton was chiefly on one of these hills,
+and formed a pleasant view from the cottage windows.
+The prospect in front was more extensive; it commanded the
+whole of the valley, and reached into the country beyond.
+The hills which surrounded the cottage terminated
+the valley in that direction; under another name,
+and in another course, it branched out again between two
+of the steepest of them.
+
+With the size and furniture of the house Mrs.\ Dashwood
+was upon the whole well satisfied; for though her former
+style of life rendered many additions to the latter
+indispensable, yet to add and improve was a delight to her;
+and she had at this time ready money enough to supply all
+that was wanted of greater elegance to the apartments.
+``As for the house itself, to be sure,'' said she, ``it is
+too small for our family, but we will make ourselves
+tolerably comfortable for the present, as it is too late
+in the year for improvements.  Perhaps in the spring,
+if I have plenty of money, as I dare say I shall, we may
+think about building.  These parlors are both too small
+for such parties of our friends as I hope to see often
+collected here; and I have some thoughts of throwing the
+passage into one of them with perhaps a part of the other,
+and so leave the remainder of that other for an entrance;
+this, with a new drawing room which may be easily added,
+and a bed-chamber and garret above, will make it a very snug
+little cottage.  I could wish the stairs were handsome.
+But one must not expect every thing; though I suppose it
+would be no difficult matter to widen them.  I shall see
+how much I am before-hand with the world in the spring,
+and we will plan our improvements accordingly.''
+
+In the mean time, till all these alterations could
+be made from the savings of an income of five hundred
+a-year by a woman who never saved in her life, they were
+wise enough to be contented with the house as it was;
+and each of them was busy in arranging their particular
+concerns, and endeavoring, by placing around them books
+and other possessions, to form themselves a home.
+Marianne's pianoforte was unpacked and properly disposed of;
+and Elinor's drawings were affixed to the walls of their
+sitting room.
+
+In such employments as these they were interrupted
+soon after breakfast the next day by the entrance of
+their landlord, who called to welcome them to Barton,
+and to offer them every accommodation from his own house
+and garden in which theirs might at present be deficient.
+Sir John Middleton was a good looking man about forty.
+He had formerly visited at Stanhill, but it was too long
+for his young cousins to remember him.  His countenance
+was thoroughly good-humoured; and his manners were
+as friendly as the style of his letter.  Their arrival
+seemed to afford him real satisfaction, and their comfort
+to be an object of real solicitude to him.  He said much
+of his earnest desire of their living in the most sociable
+terms with his family, and pressed them so cordially
+to dine at Barton Park every day till they were better
+settled at home, that, though his entreaties were carried
+to a point of perseverance beyond civility, they could
+not give offence.  His kindness was not confined to words;
+for within an hour after he left them, a large basket
+full of garden stuff and fruit arrived from the park,
+which was followed before the end of the day by a present
+of game.  He insisted, moreover, on conveying all their
+letters to and from the post for them, and would not be
+denied the satisfaction of sending them his newspaper
+every day.
+
+Lady Middleton had sent a very civil message by him,
+denoting her intention of waiting on Mrs.\ Dashwood as soon as
+she could be assured that her visit would be no inconvenience;
+and as this message was answered by an invitation
+equally polite, her ladyship was introduced to them the next day.
+
+They were, of course, very anxious to see a person on
+whom so much of their comfort at Barton must depend; and the
+elegance of her appearance was favourable to their wishes.
+Lady Middleton was not more than six or seven and twenty;
+her face was handsome, her figure tall and striking,
+and her address graceful.  Her manners had all the elegance
+which her husband's wanted.  But they would have been
+improved by some share of his frankness and warmth;
+and her visit was long enough to detract something from
+their first admiration, by shewing that, though perfectly
+well-bred, she was reserved, cold, and had nothing to say
+for herself beyond the most common-place inquiry or remark.
+
+Conversation however was not wanted, for Sir John
+was very chatty, and Lady Middleton had taken the wise
+precaution of bringing with her their eldest child, a fine
+little boy about six years old, by which means there was
+one subject always to be recurred to by the ladies in case
+of extremity, for they had to enquire his name and age,
+admire his beauty, and ask him questions which his mother
+answered for him, while he hung about her and held
+down his head, to the great surprise of her ladyship,
+who wondered at his being so shy before company, as he
+could make noise enough at home.  On every formal visit
+a child ought to be of the party, by way of provision
+for discourse.  In the present case it took up ten minutes
+to determine whether the boy were most like his father
+or mother, and in what particular he resembled either,
+for of course every body differed, and every body was
+astonished at the opinion of the others.
+
+An opportunity was soon to be given to the Dashwoods
+of debating on the rest of the children, as Sir John
+would not leave the house without securing their promise
+of dining at the park the next day.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 7}
+
+
+\gintro{Barton Park} was about half a mile from the cottage.
+The ladies had passed near it in their way along the valley,
+but it was screened from their view at home by the
+projection of a hill.  The house was large and handsome;
+and the Middletons lived in a style of equal hospitality
+and elegance.  The former was for Sir John's gratification,
+the latter for that of his lady.  They were scarcely
+ever without some friends staying with them in the house,
+and they kept more company of every kind than any other
+family in the neighbourhood.  It was necessary to the
+happiness of both; for however dissimilar in temper
+and outward behaviour, they strongly resembled each other
+in that total want of talent and taste which confined
+their employments, unconnected with such as society produced,
+within a very narrow compass.  Sir John was a sportsman,
+Lady Middleton a mother.  He hunted and shot, and she
+humoured her children; and these were their only resources.
+Lady Middleton had the advantage of being able to spoil her
+children all the year round, while Sir John's independent
+employments were in existence only half the time.
+Continual engagements at home and abroad, however,
+supplied all the deficiencies of nature and education;
+supported the good spirits of Sir John, and gave exercise
+to the good breeding of his wife.
+
+Lady Middleton piqued herself upon the elegance
+of her table, and of all her domestic arrangements;
+and from this kind of vanity was her greatest enjoyment
+in any of their parties.  But Sir John's satisfaction
+in society was much more real; he delighted in collecting
+about him more young people than his house would hold,
+and the noisier they were the better was he pleased.
+He was a blessing to all the juvenile part of the neighbourhood,
+for in summer he was for ever forming parties to eat cold
+ham and chicken out of doors, and in winter his private
+balls were numerous enough for any young lady who was not
+suffering under the unsatiable appetite of fifteen.
+
+The arrival of a new family in the country was always
+a matter of joy to him, and in every point of view he was
+charmed with the inhabitants he had now procured for his
+cottage at Barton.  The Miss Dashwoods were young, pretty,
+and unaffected.  It was enough to secure his good opinion;
+for to be unaffected was all that a pretty girl could
+want to make her mind as captivating as her person.
+The friendliness of his disposition made him happy in
+accommodating those, whose situation might be considered,
+in comparison with the past, as unfortunate.  In showing
+kindness to his cousins therefore he had the real satisfaction
+of a good heart; and in settling a family of females only
+in his cottage, he had all the satisfaction of a sportsman;
+for a sportsman, though he esteems only those of his sex who
+are sportsmen likewise, is not often desirous of encouraging
+their taste by admitting them to a residence within his own
+manor.
+
+Mrs.\ Dashwood and her daughters were met at the door
+of the house by Sir John, who welcomed them to Barton
+Park with unaffected sincerity; and as he attended them
+to the drawing room repeated to the young ladies the concern
+which the same subject had drawn from him the day before,
+at being unable to get any smart young men to meet them.
+They would see, he said, only one gentleman there
+besides himself; a particular friend who was staying at
+the park, but who was neither very young nor very gay.
+He hoped they would all excuse the smallness of the party,
+and could assure them it should never happen so again.
+He had been to several families that morning in hopes
+of procuring some addition to their number, but it
+was moonlight and every body was full of engagements.
+Luckily Lady Middleton's mother had arrived at Barton
+within the last hour, and as she was a very cheerful
+agreeable woman, he hoped the young ladies would not find
+it so very dull as they might imagine.  The young ladies,
+as well as their mother, were perfectly satisfied with
+having two entire strangers of the party, and wished for
+no more.
+
+Mrs.\ Jennings, Lady Middleton's mother, was a
+good-humoured, merry, fat, elderly woman, who talked a
+great deal, seemed very happy, and rather vulgar.  She was full
+of jokes and laughter, and before dinner was over had said
+many witty things on the subject of lovers and husbands;
+hoped they had not left their hearts behind them in Sussex,
+and pretended to see them blush whether they did or not.
+Marianne was vexed at it for her sister's sake, and turned
+her eyes towards Elinor to see how she bore these attacks,
+with an earnestness which gave Elinor far more pain than
+could arise from such common-place raillery as Mrs.\ Jennings's.
+
+Colonel Brandon, the friend of Sir John, seemed no
+more adapted by resemblance of manner to be his friend,
+than Lady Middleton was to be his wife, or Mrs.\ Jennings
+to be Lady Middleton's mother.  He was silent and grave.
+His appearance however was not unpleasing, in spite
+of his being in the opinion of Marianne and Margaret
+an absolute old bachelor, for he was on the wrong side
+of five and thirty; but though his face was not handsome,
+his countenance was sensible, and his address was
+particularly gentlemanlike.
+
+There was nothing in any of the party which could
+recommend them as companions to the Dashwoods; but the cold
+insipidity of Lady Middleton was so particularly repulsive,
+that in comparison of it the gravity of Colonel Brandon,
+and even the boisterous mirth of Sir John and his
+mother-in-law was interesting.  Lady Middleton seemed
+to be roused to enjoyment only by the entrance of her
+four noisy children after dinner, who pulled her about,
+tore her clothes, and put an end to every kind of discourse
+except what related to themselves.
+
+In the evening, as Marianne was discovered to be musical,
+she was invited to play.  The instrument was unlocked,
+every body prepared to be charmed, and Marianne,
+who sang very well, at their request went through the
+chief of the songs which Lady Middleton had brought into
+the family on her marriage, and which perhaps had lain
+ever since in the same position on the pianoforte,
+for her ladyship had celebrated that event by giving
+up music, although by her mother's account, she had
+played extremely well, and by her own was very fond of it.
+
+Marianne's performance was highly applauded.
+Sir John was loud in his admiration at the end of every song,
+and as loud in his conversation with the others while every
+song lasted.  Lady Middleton frequently called him to order,
+wondered how any one's attention could be diverted from music
+for a moment, and asked Marianne to sing a particular song
+which Marianne had just finished.  Colonel Brandon alone,
+of all the party, heard her without being in raptures.
+He paid her only the compliment of attention; and she felt
+a respect for him on the occasion, which the others had
+reasonably forfeited by their shameless want of taste.
+His pleasure in music, though it amounted not to that
+ecstatic delight which alone could sympathize with her own,
+was estimable when contrasted against the horrible
+insensibility of the others; and she was reasonable enough
+to allow that a man of five and thirty might well have
+outlived all acuteness of feeling and every exquisite
+power of enjoyment.  She was perfectly disposed to make
+every allowance for the colonel's advanced state of life
+which humanity required.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 8}
+
+
+\gintro{Mrs.\ Jennings} was a widow with an ample jointure.
+She had only two daughters, both of whom she had lived
+to see respectably married, and she had now therefore
+nothing to do but to marry all the rest of the world.
+In the promotion of this object she was zealously active,
+as far as her ability reached; and missed no opportunity
+of projecting weddings among all the young people
+of her acquaintance.  She was remarkably quick in the
+discovery of attachments, and had enjoyed the advantage
+of raising the blushes and the vanity of many a young
+lady by insinuations of her power over such a young man;
+and this kind of discernment enabled her soon after her
+arrival at Barton decisively to pronounce that Colonel
+Brandon was very much in love with Marianne Dashwood.
+She rather suspected it to be so, on the very first
+evening of their being together, from his listening
+so attentively while she sang to them; and when the visit
+was returned by the Middletons' dining at the cottage,
+the fact was ascertained by his listening to her again.
+It must be so.  She was perfectly convinced of it.
+It would be an excellent match, for \emph{he} was rich, and \emph{she}
+was handsome.  Mrs.\ Jennings had been anxious to see
+Colonel Brandon well married, ever since her connection
+with Sir John first brought him to her knowledge;
+and she was always anxious to get a good husband for every
+pretty girl.
+
+The immediate advantage to herself was by no means
+inconsiderable, for it supplied her with endless jokes
+against them both.  At the park she laughed at the colonel,
+and in the cottage at Marianne.  To the former her
+raillery was probably, as far as it regarded only himself,
+perfectly indifferent; but to the latter it was at
+first incomprehensible; and when its object was understood,
+she hardly knew whether most to laugh at its absurdity,
+or censure its impertinence, for she considered it as an
+unfeeling reflection on the colonel's advanced years,
+and on his forlorn condition as an old bachelor.
+
+Mrs.\ Dashwood, who could not think a man five years
+younger than herself, so exceedingly ancient as he appeared
+to the youthful fancy of her daughter, ventured to clear
+Mrs.\ Jennings from the probability of wishing to throw
+ridicule on his age.
+
+``But at least, Mamma, you cannot deny the absurdity
+of the accusation, though you may not think it intentionally
+ill-natured.  Colonel Brandon is certainly younger than
+Mrs.\ Jennings, but he is old enough to be \emph{my} father;
+and if he were ever animated enough to be in love,
+must have long outlived every sensation of the kind.
+It is too ridiculous!  When is a man to be safe from such wit,
+if age and infirmity will not protect him?''
+
+``Infirmity!'' said Elinor, ``do you call Colonel Brandon
+infirm?  I can easily suppose that his age may appear much
+greater to you than to my mother; but you can hardly
+deceive yourself as to his having the use of his limbs!''
+
+``Did not you hear him complain of the rheumatism?
+and is not that the commonest infirmity of declining life?''
+
+``My dearest child,'' said her mother, laughing,
+``at this rate you must be in continual terror of \emph{my} decay;
+and it must seem to you a miracle that my life has been
+extended to the advanced age of forty.''
+
+``Mamma, you are not doing me justice.  I know very well
+that Colonel Brandon is not old enough to make his friends
+yet apprehensive of losing him in the course of nature.
+He may live twenty years longer.  But thirty-five has
+nothing to do with matrimony.''
+
+``Perhaps,'' said Elinor, ``thirty-five and seventeen had
+better not have any thing to do with matrimony together.
+But if there should by any chance happen to be a woman
+who is single at seven and twenty, I should not think
+Colonel Brandon's being thirty-five any objection to his
+marrying \emph{her}.''
+
+``A woman of seven and twenty,'' said Marianne,
+after pausing a moment, ``can never hope to feel or inspire
+affection again, and if her home be uncomfortable,
+or her fortune small, I can suppose that she might
+bring herself to submit to the offices of a nurse,
+for the sake of the provision and security of a wife.
+In his marrying such a woman therefore there would be
+nothing unsuitable.  It would be a compact of convenience,
+and the world would be satisfied.  In my eyes it would
+be no marriage at all, but that would be nothing.
+To me it would seem only a commercial exchange, in which
+each wished to be benefited at the expense of the other.''
+
+``It would be impossible, I know,'' replied Elinor,
+``to convince you that a woman of seven and twenty could
+feel for a man of thirty-five anything near enough
+to love, to make him a desirable companion to her.
+But I must object to your dooming Colonel Brandon and
+his wife to the constant confinement of a sick chamber,
+merely because he chanced to complain yesterday (a
+very cold damp day) of a slight rheumatic feel in one
+of his shoulders.''
+
+``But he talked of flannel waistcoats,'' said Marianne;
+``and with me a flannel waistcoat is invariably connected
+with aches, cramps, rheumatisms, and every species of
+ailment that can afflict the old and the feeble.''
+
+``Had he been only in a violent fever, you would not
+have despised him half so much.  Confess, Marianne, is not
+there something interesting to you in the flushed cheek,
+hollow eye, and quick pulse of a fever?''
+
+Soon after this, upon Elinor's leaving the room,
+``Mamma,'' said Marianne, ``I have an alarm on the subject
+of illness which I cannot conceal from you.  I am sure
+Edward Ferrars is not well.  We have now been here almost
+a fortnight, and yet he does not come.  Nothing but real
+indisposition could occasion this extraordinary delay.
+What else can detain him at Norland?''
+
+``Had you any idea of his coming so soon?''
+said Mrs.\ Dashwood.  ``I had none.  On the contrary,
+if I have felt any anxiety at all on the subject, it has
+been in recollecting that he sometimes showed a want
+of pleasure and readiness in accepting my invitation,
+when I talked of his coming to Barton.  Does Elinor
+expect him already?''
+
+``I have never mentioned it to her, but of course
+she must.''
+
+``I rather think you are mistaken, for when I
+was talking to her yesterday of getting a new grate
+for the spare bedchamber, she observed that there
+was no immediate hurry for it, as it was not likely
+that the room would be wanted for some time.''
+
+``How strange this is! what can be the meaning of it!
+But the whole of their behaviour to each other has been
+unaccountable! How cold, how composed were their last
+adieus! How languid their conversation the last evening
+of their being together! In Edward's farewell there was no
+distinction between Elinor and me: it was the good wishes
+of an affectionate brother to both.  Twice did I leave
+them purposely together in the course of the last morning,
+and each time did he most unaccountably follow me out
+of the room.  And Elinor, in quitting Norland and Edward,
+cried not as I did.  Even now her self-command is invariable.
+When is she dejected or melancholy? When does she try
+to avoid society, or appear restless and dissatisfied
+in it?''
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 9}
+
+
+\gintro{The Dashwoods} were now settled at Barton with tolerable
+comfort to themselves.  The house and the garden, with all
+the objects surrounding them, were now become familiar,
+and the ordinary pursuits which had given to Norland
+half its charms were engaged in again with far greater
+enjoyment than Norland had been able to afford, since the
+loss of their father.  Sir John Middleton, who called
+on them every day for the first fortnight, and who was
+not in the habit of seeing much occupation at home,
+could not conceal his amazement on finding them always employed.
+
+Their visitors, except those from Barton Park,
+were not many; for, in spite of Sir John's urgent entreaties
+that they would mix more in the neighbourhood, and repeated
+assurances of his carriage being always at their service,
+the independence of Mrs.\ Dashwood's spirit overcame the
+wish of society for her children; and she was resolute
+in declining to visit any family beyond the distance
+of a walk.  There were but few who could be so classed;
+and it was not all of them that were attainable.
+About a mile and a half from the cottage, along the narrow
+winding valley of Allenham, which issued from that of Barton,
+as formerly described, the girls had, in one of their
+earliest walks, discovered an ancient respectable looking
+mansion which, by reminding them a little of Norland,
+interested their imagination and made them wish to be
+better acquainted with it.  But they learnt, on enquiry,
+that its possessor, an elderly lady of very good character,
+was unfortunately too infirm to mix with the world,
+and never stirred from home.
+
+The whole country about them abounded in beautiful walks.
+The high downs which invited them from almost every window
+of the cottage to seek the exquisite enjoyment of air
+on their summits, were a happy alternative when the dirt
+of the valleys beneath shut up their superior beauties;
+and towards one of these hills did Marianne and Margaret
+one memorable morning direct their steps, attracted by the
+partial sunshine of a showery sky, and unable longer to bear
+the confinement which the settled rain of the two preceding
+days had occasioned.  The weather was not tempting enough
+to draw the two others from their pencil and their book,
+in spite of Marianne's declaration that the day would
+be lastingly fair, and that every threatening cloud would
+be drawn off from their hills; and the two girls set off
+together.
+
+They gaily ascended the downs, rejoicing in their own
+penetration at every glimpse of blue sky; and when they
+caught in their faces the animating gales of a high
+south-westerly wind, they pitied the fears which had prevented
+their mother and Elinor from sharing such delightful sensations.
+
+``Is there a felicity in the world,'' said Marianne,
+``superior to this?---Margaret, we will walk here at least
+two hours.''
+
+Margaret agreed, and they pursued their way against
+the wind, resisting it with laughing delight for about
+twenty minutes longer, when suddenly the clouds united over
+their heads, and a driving rain set full in their face.---%
+Chagrined and surprised, they were obliged, though unwillingly,
+to turn back, for no shelter was nearer than their own house.
+One consolation however remained for them, to which the
+exigence of the moment gave more than usual propriety;
+it was that of running with all possible speed down the steep
+side of the hill which led immediately to their garden gate.
+
+They set off.  Marianne had at first the advantage,
+but a false step brought her suddenly to the ground;
+and Margaret, unable to stop herself to assist her,
+was involuntarily hurried along, and reached the bottom
+in safety.
+
+A gentleman carrying a gun, with two pointers
+playing round him, was passing up the hill and within
+a few yards of Marianne, when her accident happened.
+He put down his gun and ran to her assistance.  She had
+raised herself from the ground, but her foot had been
+twisted in her fall, and she was scarcely able to stand.
+The gentleman offered his services; and perceiving that her
+modesty declined what her situation rendered necessary,
+took her up in his arms without farther delay, and carried
+her down the hill.  Then passing through the garden,
+the gate of which had been left open by Margaret, he bore her
+directly into the house, whither Margaret was just arrived,
+and quitted not his hold till he had seated her in a chair
+in the parlour.
+
+Elinor and her mother rose up in amazement at
+their entrance, and while the eyes of both were fixed
+on him with an evident wonder and a secret admiration
+which equally sprung from his appearance, he apologized
+for his intrusion by relating its cause, in a manner
+so frank and so graceful that his person, which was
+uncommonly handsome, received additional charms from his voice
+and expression.  Had he been even old, ugly, and vulgar,
+the gratitude and kindness of Mrs.\ Dashwood would
+have been secured by any act of attention to her child;
+but the influence of youth, beauty, and elegance,
+gave an interest to the action which came home to her feelings.
+
+She thanked him again and again; and, with a sweetness
+of address which always attended her, invited him to
+be seated.  But this he declined, as he was dirty and wet.
+Mrs.\ Dashwood then begged to know to whom she was obliged.
+His name, he replied, was Willoughby, and his present
+home was at Allenham, from whence he hoped she would
+allow him the honour of calling tomorrow to enquire
+after Miss Dashwood.  The honour was readily granted,
+and he then departed, to make himself still more interesting,
+in the midst of a heavy rain.
+
+His manly beauty and more than common gracefulness
+were instantly the theme of general admiration,
+and the laugh which his gallantry raised against Marianne
+received particular spirit from his exterior attractions.---%
+Marianne herself had seen less of his person that the rest,
+for the confusion which crimsoned over her face, on his
+lifting her up, had robbed her of the power of regarding
+him after their entering the house.  But she had seen
+enough of him to join in all the admiration of the others,
+and with an energy which always adorned her praise.
+His person and air were equal to what her fancy had ever
+drawn for the hero of a favourite story; and in his carrying
+her into the house with so little previous formality, there
+was a rapidity of thought which particularly recommended
+the action to her.  Every circumstance belonging to him
+was interesting.  His name was good, his residence was in
+their favourite village, and she soon found out that of all
+manly dresses a shooting-jacket was the most becoming.
+Her imagination was busy, her reflections were pleasant,
+and the pain of a sprained ankle was disregarded.
+
+Sir John called on them as soon as the next interval
+of fair weather that morning allowed him to get out
+of doors; and Marianne's accident being related to him,
+he was eagerly asked whether he knew any gentleman
+of the name of Willoughby at Allenham.
+
+``Willoughby!'' cried Sir John; ``what, is \emph{he}
+in the country? That is good news however; I will
+ride over tomorrow, and ask him to dinner on Thursday.''
+
+``You know him then,'' said Mrs.\ Dashwood.
+
+``Know him! to be sure I do.  Why, he is down here
+every year.''
+
+``And what sort of a young man is he?''
+
+``As good a kind of fellow as ever lived, I assure you.
+A very decent shot, and there is not a bolder rider
+in England.''
+
+``And is that all you can say for him?'' cried Marianne,
+indignantly.  ``But what are his manners on more intimate
+acquaintance? What his pursuits, his talents, and genius?''
+
+Sir John was rather puzzled.
+
+``Upon my soul,'' said he, ``I do not know much about him
+as to all \emph{that}.  But he is a pleasant, good humoured fellow,
+and has got the nicest little black bitch of a pointer
+I ever saw.  Was she out with him today?''
+
+But Marianne could no more satisfy him as to the
+colour of Mr.\ Willoughby's pointer, than he could
+describe to her the shades of his mind.
+
+``But who is he?'' said Elinor.  ``Where does he come
+from?  Has he a house at Allenham?''
+
+On this point Sir John could give more certain intelligence;
+and he told them that Mr.\ Willoughby had no property
+of his own in the country; that he resided there only
+while he was visiting the old lady at Allenham Court,
+to whom he was related, and whose possessions he was
+to inherit; adding, ``Yes, yes, he is very well worth
+catching I can tell you, Miss Dashwood; he has a pretty
+little estate of his own in Somersetshire besides;
+and if I were you, I would not give him up to my
+younger sister, in spite of all this tumbling down hills.
+Miss Marianne must not expect to have all the men to herself.
+Brandon will be jealous, if she does not take care.''
+
+``I do not believe,'' said Mrs.\ Dashwood, with a
+good humoured smile, ``that Mr.\ Willoughby will be incommoded
+by the attempts of either of \emph{my} daughters towards what
+you call \emph{catching} him.  It is not an employment to which
+they have been brought up.  Men are very safe with us,
+let them be ever so rich.  I am glad to find, however,
+from what you say, that he is a respectable young man,
+and one whose acquaintance will not be ineligible.''
+
+``He is as good a sort of fellow, I believe,
+as ever lived,'' repeated Sir John.  ``I remember
+last Christmas at a little hop at the park, he danced
+from eight o'clock till four, without once sitting down.''
+
+``Did he indeed?'' cried Marianne with sparkling eyes,
+``and with elegance, with spirit?''
+
+``Yes; and he was up again at eight to ride to covert.''
+
+``That is what I like; that is what a young man ought
+to be.  Whatever be his pursuits, his eagerness in them
+should know no moderation, and leave him no sense of fatigue.''
+
+``Aye, aye, I see how it will be,'' said Sir John, ``I see
+how it will be.  You will be setting your cap at him now,
+and never think of poor Brandon.''
+
+``That is an expression, Sir John,'' said Marianne,
+warmly, ``which I particularly dislike.  I abhor every
+common-place phrase by which wit is intended; and `setting
+one's cap at a man,' or `making a conquest,' are the most
+odious of all.  Their tendency is gross and illiberal;
+and if their construction could ever be deemed clever,
+time has long ago destroyed all its ingenuity.''
+
+Sir John did not much understand this reproof;
+but he laughed as heartily as if he did, and then replied,
+
+``Ay, you will make conquests enough, I dare say,
+one way or other.  Poor Brandon! he is quite smitten already,
+and he is very well worth setting your cap at, I can
+tell you, in spite of all this tumbling about and spraining
+of ankles.''
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 10}
+
+
+\gintro{Marianne's preserver,} as Margaret, with more elegance
+than precision, styled Willoughby, called at the cottage
+early the next morning to make his personal enquiries.
+He was received by Mrs.\ Dashwood with more than politeness;
+with a kindness which Sir John's account of him and her own
+gratitude prompted; and every thing that passed during
+the visit tended to assure him of the sense, elegance,
+mutual affection, and domestic comfort of the family
+to whom accident had now introduced him.  Of their
+personal charms he had not required a second interview
+to be convinced.
+
+Miss Dashwood had a delicate complexion,
+regular features, and a remarkably pretty figure.
+Marianne was still handsomer.  Her form, though not so
+correct as her sister's, in having the advantage of height,
+was more striking; and her face was so lovely, that when
+in the common cant of praise, she was called a beautiful girl,
+truth was less violently outraged than usually happens.
+Her skin was very brown, but, from its transparency,
+her complexion was uncommonly brilliant; her features
+were all good; her smile was sweet and attractive;
+and in her eyes, which were very dark, there was a life,
+a spirit, an eagerness, which could hardily be seen
+without delight.  From Willoughby their expression was at
+first held back, by the embarrassment which the remembrance
+of his assistance created.  But when this passed away,
+when her spirits became collected, when she saw that to the
+perfect good-breeding of the gentleman, he united frankness
+and vivacity, and above all, when she heard him declare,
+that of music and dancing he was passionately fond,
+she gave him such a look of approbation as secured the
+largest share of his discourse to herself for the rest
+of his stay.
+
+It was only necessary to mention any favourite
+amusement to engage her to talk.  She could not be
+silent when such points were introduced, and she
+had neither shyness nor reserve in their discussion.
+They speedily discovered that their enjoyment of dancing
+and music was mutual, and that it arose from a general
+conformity of judgment in all that related to either.
+Encouraged by this to a further examination of his opinions,
+she proceeded to question him on the subject of books;
+her favourite authors were brought forward and dwelt
+upon with so rapturous a delight, that any young man of
+five and twenty must have been insensible indeed, not to
+become an immediate convert to the excellence of such works,
+however disregarded before.  Their taste was strikingly alike.
+The same books, the same passages were idolized by each---%
+or if any difference appeared, any objection arose,
+it lasted no longer than till the force of her arguments
+and the brightness of her eyes could be displayed.
+He acquiesced in all her decisions, caught all her enthusiasm;
+and long before his visit concluded, they conversed
+with the familiarity of a long-established acquaintance.
+
+``Well, Marianne,'' said Elinor, as soon as he had left them,
+``for \emph{one} morning I think you have done pretty well.
+You have already ascertained Mr.\ Willoughby's opinion in
+almost every matter of importance.  You know what he thinks
+of Cowper and Scott; you are certain of his estimating
+their beauties as he ought, and you have received every
+assurance of his admiring Pope no more than is proper.
+But how is your acquaintance to be long supported, under such
+extraordinary despatch of every subject for discourse?
+You will soon have exhausted each favourite topic.
+Another meeting will suffice to explain his sentiments
+on picturesque beauty, and second marriages, and then
+you can have nothing farther to ask.''---%
+
+``Elinor,'' cried Marianne, ``is this fair? is this
+just? are my ideas so scanty?  But I see what you mean.
+I have been too much at my ease, too happy, too frank.
+I have erred against every common-place notion of decorum;
+I have been open and sincere where I ought to have
+been reserved, spiritless, dull, and deceitful---had
+I talked only of the weather and the roads, and had I
+spoken only once in ten minutes, this reproach would have
+been spared.''
+
+``My love,'' said her mother, ``you must not be offended
+with Elinor---she was only in jest.  I should scold
+her myself, if she were capable of wishing to check
+the delight of your conversation with our new friend.''---%
+Marianne was softened in a moment.
+
+Willoughby, on his side, gave every proof of his
+pleasure in their acquaintance, which an evident wish
+of improving it could offer.  He came to them every day.
+To enquire after Marianne was at first his excuse; but the
+encouragement of his reception, to which every day gave
+greater kindness, made such an excuse unnecessary before it
+had ceased to be possible, by Marianne's perfect recovery.
+She was confined for some days to the house; but never had
+any confinement been less irksome.  Willoughby was a young
+man of good abilities, quick imagination, lively spirits,
+and open, affectionate manners.  He was exactly formed
+to engage Marianne's heart, for with all this, he joined
+not only a captivating person, but a natural ardour
+of mind which was now roused and increased by the example
+of her own, and which recommended him to her affection
+beyond every thing else.
+
+His society became gradually her most exquisite enjoyment.
+They read, they talked, they sang together; his musical
+talents were considerable; and he read with all the
+sensibility and spirit which Edward had unfortunately wanted.
+
+In Mrs.\ Dashwood's estimation he was as faultless
+as in Marianne's; and Elinor saw nothing to censure in him
+but a propensity, in which he strongly resembled and peculiarly
+delighted her sister, of saying too much what he thought on
+every occasion, without attention to persons or circumstances.
+In hastily forming and giving his opinion of other people,
+in sacrificing general politeness to the enjoyment
+of undivided attention where his heart was engaged,
+and in slighting too easily the forms of worldly propriety,
+he displayed a want of caution which Elinor could not approve,
+in spite of all that he and Marianne could say in its support.
+
+Marianne began now to perceive that the desperation
+which had seized her at sixteen and a half, of ever
+seeing a man who could satisfy her ideas of perfection,
+had been rash and unjustifiable.  Willoughby was all
+that her fancy had delineated in that unhappy hour
+and in every brighter period, as capable of attaching her;
+and his behaviour declared his wishes to be in that respect
+as earnest, as his abilities were strong.
+
+Her mother too, in whose mind not one speculative
+thought of their marriage had been raised, by his prospect
+of riches, was led before the end of a week to hope and
+expect it; and secretly to congratulate herself on having
+gained two such sons-in-law as Edward and Willoughby.
+
+Colonel Brandon's partiality for Marianne, which had
+so early been discovered by his friends, now first became
+perceptible to Elinor, when it ceased to be noticed
+by them.  Their attention and wit were drawn off to his
+more fortunate rival; and the raillery which the other
+had incurred before any partiality arose, was removed
+when his feelings began really to call for the ridicule
+so justly annexed to sensibility.  Elinor was obliged,
+though unwillingly, to believe that the sentiments which
+Mrs.\ Jennings had assigned him for her own satisfaction,
+were now actually excited by her sister; and that however
+a general resemblance of disposition between the parties
+might forward the affection of Mr.\ Willoughby, an equally
+striking opposition of character was no hindrance to the
+regard of Colonel Brandon.  She saw it with concern;
+for what could a silent man of five and thirty hope,
+when opposed to a very lively one of five and twenty? and as
+she could not even wish him successful, she heartily wished
+him indifferent.  She liked him---in spite of his gravity
+and reserve, she beheld in him an object of interest.
+His manners, though serious, were mild; and his reserve
+appeared rather the result of some oppression of spirits
+than of any natural gloominess of temper.  Sir John
+had dropped hints of past injuries and disappointments,
+which justified her belief of his being an unfortunate man,
+and she regarded him with respect and compassion.
+
+Perhaps she pitied and esteemed him the more
+because he was slighted by Willoughby and Marianne,
+who, prejudiced against him for being neither lively
+nor young, seemed resolved to undervalue his merits.
+
+``Brandon is just the kind of man,'' said Willoughby
+one day, when they were talking of him together,
+``whom every body speaks well of, and nobody cares about;
+whom all are delighted to see, and nobody remembers
+to talk to.''
+
+``That is exactly what I think of him,'' cried Marianne.
+
+``Do not boast of it, however,'' said Elinor, ``for it
+is injustice in both of you.  He is highly esteemed
+by all the family at the park, and I never see him myself
+without taking pains to converse with him.''
+
+``That he is patronised by \emph{you},'' replied Willoughby,
+``is certainly in his favour; but as for the esteem
+of the others, it is a reproach in itself.  Who would
+submit to the indignity of being approved by such a woman
+as Lady Middleton and Mrs.\ Jennings, that could command
+the indifference of any body else?''
+
+``But perhaps the abuse of such people as yourself
+and Marianne will make amends for the regard of Lady
+Middleton and her mother.  If their praise is censure,
+your censure may be praise, for they are not more undiscerning,
+than you are prejudiced and unjust.''
+
+``In defence of your protege you can even be saucy.''
+
+``My protege, as you call him, is a sensible man;
+and sense will always have attractions for me.
+Yes, Marianne, even in a man between thirty and forty.
+He has seen a great deal of the world; has been abroad,
+has read, and has a thinking mind.  I have found him
+capable of giving me much information on various subjects;
+and he has always answered my inquiries with readiness of
+good-breeding and good nature.''
+
+``That is to say,'' cried Marianne contemptuously,
+``he has told you, that in the East Indies the climate is hot,
+and the mosquitoes are troublesome.''
+
+``He \emph{would} have told me so, I doubt not, had I made
+any such inquiries, but they happened to be points
+on which I had been previously informed.''
+
+``Perhaps,'' said Willoughby, ``his observations may
+have extended to the existence of nabobs, gold mohrs,
+and palanquins.''
+
+``I may venture to say that \emph{his} observations
+have stretched much further than your candour.
+But why should you dislike him?''
+
+``I do not dislike him.  I consider him, on the contrary,
+as a very respectable man, who has every body's good word,
+and nobody's notice; who, has more money than he can spend,
+more time than he knows how to employ, and two new coats
+every year.''
+
+``Add to which,'' cried Marianne, ``that he has
+neither genius, taste, nor spirit.  That his understanding
+has no brilliancy, his feelings no ardour, and his voice
+no expression.''
+
+``You decide on his imperfections so much in the mass,''
+replied Elinor, ``and so much on the strength of your
+own imagination, that the commendation I am able to give
+of him is comparatively cold and insipid.  I can only
+pronounce him to be a sensible man, well-bred, well-informed,
+of gentle address, and, I believe, possessing an amiable heart.''
+
+``Miss Dashwood,'' cried Willoughby, ``you are now using
+me unkindly.  You are endeavouring to disarm me by reason,
+and to convince me against my will.  But it will not do.
+You shall find me as stubborn as you can be artful.  I have
+three unanswerable reasons for disliking Colonel Brandon;
+he threatened me with rain when I wanted it to be fine;
+he has found fault with the hanging of my curricle,
+and I cannot persuade him to buy my brown mare.  If it
+will be any satisfaction to you, however, to be told,
+that I believe his character to be in other respects
+irreproachable, I am ready to confess it.  And in return
+for an acknowledgment, which must give me some pain,
+you cannot deny me the privilege of disliking him as much
+as ever.''
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 11}
+
+
+\gintro{Little had Mrs.\ Dashwood} or her daughters imagined
+when they first came into Devonshire, that so many
+engagements would arise to occupy their time as shortly
+presented themselves, or that they should have such frequent
+invitations and such constant visitors as to leave them little
+leisure for serious employment.  Yet such was the case.
+When Marianne was recovered, the schemes of amusement at home
+and abroad, which Sir John had been previously forming,
+were put into execution.  The private balls at the park
+then began; and parties on the water were made and
+accomplished as often as a showery October would allow.
+In every meeting of the kind Willoughby was included;
+and the ease and familiarity which naturally attended
+these parties were exactly calculated to give increasing
+intimacy to his acquaintance with the Dashwoods, to afford
+him opportunity of witnessing the excellencies of Marianne,
+of marking his animated admiration of her, and of receiving,
+in her behaviour to himself, the most pointed assurance
+of her affection.
+
+Elinor could not be surprised at their attachment.
+She only wished that it were less openly shewn; and once
+or twice did venture to suggest the propriety of some
+self-command to Marianne.  But Marianne abhorred all
+concealment where no real disgrace could attend unreserve;
+and to aim at the restraint of sentiments which were not
+in themselves illaudable, appeared to her not merely
+an unnecessary effort, but a disgraceful subjection
+of reason to common-place and mistaken notions.
+Willoughby thought the same; and their behaviour at
+all times, was an illustration of their opinions.
+
+When he was present she had no eyes for any one else.
+Every thing he did, was right.  Every thing he said, was clever.
+If their evenings at the park were concluded with cards,
+he cheated himself and all the rest of the party to get
+her a good hand.  If dancing formed the amusement
+of the night, they were partners for half the time;
+and when obliged to separate for a couple of dances,
+were careful to stand together and scarcely spoke a word
+to any body else.  Such conduct made them of course
+most exceedingly laughed at; but ridicule could not shame,
+and seemed hardly to provoke them.
+
+Mrs.\ Dashwood entered into all their feelings with
+a warmth which left her no inclination for checking this
+excessive display of them.  To her it was but the natural
+consequence of a strong affection in a young and ardent mind.
+
+This was the season of happiness to Marianne.
+Her heart was devoted to Willoughby, and the fond attachment
+to Norland, which she brought with her from Sussex,
+was more likely to be softened than she had thought it
+possible before, by the charms which his society bestowed
+on her present home.
+
+Elinor's happiness was not so great.  Her heart was not
+so much at ease, nor her satisfaction in their amusements
+so pure.  They afforded her no companion that could make
+amends for what she had left behind, nor that could teach
+her to think of Norland with less regret than ever.
+Neither Lady Middleton nor Mrs.\ Jennings could supply
+to her the conversation she missed; although the latter
+was an everlasting talker, and from the first had regarded
+her with a kindness which ensured her a large share of
+her discourse.  She had already repeated her own history
+to Elinor three or four times; and had Elinor's memory been
+equal to her means of improvement, she might have known
+very early in their acquaintance all the particulars of
+Mr.\ Jenning's last illness, and what he said to his wife
+a few minutes before he died.  Lady Middleton was more
+agreeable than her mother only in being more silent.
+Elinor needed little observation to perceive that her
+reserve was a mere calmness of manner with which sense
+had nothing to do.  Towards her husband and mother she
+was the same as to them; and intimacy was therefore
+neither to be looked for nor desired.  She had nothing
+to say one day that she had not said the day before.
+Her insipidity was invariable, for even her spirits were
+always the same; and though she did not oppose the parties
+arranged by her husband, provided every thing were conducted
+in style and her two eldest children attended her,
+she never appeared to receive more enjoyment from them
+than she might have experienced in sitting at home;---%
+and so little did her presence add to the pleasure
+of the others, by any share in their conversation,
+that they were sometimes only reminded of her being
+amongst them by her solicitude about her troublesome boys.
+
+In Colonel Brandon alone, of all her new acquaintance,
+did Elinor find a person who could in any degree claim the
+respect of abilities, excite the interest of friendship,
+or give pleasure as a companion.  Willoughby was out
+of the question.  Her admiration and regard, even her
+sisterly regard, was all his own; but he was a lover;
+his attentions were wholly Marianne's, and a far less
+agreeable man might have been more generally pleasing.
+Colonel Brandon, unfortunately for himself, had no such
+encouragement to think only of Marianne, and in conversing
+with Elinor he found the greatest consolation for the
+indifference of her sister.
+
+Elinor's compassion for him increased, as she had reason
+to suspect that the misery of disappointed love had already
+been known to him.  This suspicion was given by some words
+which accidently dropped from him one evening at the park,
+when they were sitting down together by mutual consent,
+while the others were dancing.  His eyes were fixed
+on Marianne, and, after a silence of some minutes,
+he said, with a faint smile, ``Your sister, I understand,
+does not approve of second attachments.''
+
+``No,'' replied Elinor, ``her opinions are all romantic.''
+
+``Or rather, as I believe, she considers them
+impossible to exist.''
+
+``I believe she does.  But how she contrives it
+without reflecting on the character of her own father,
+who had himself two wives, I know not.  A few years
+however will settle her opinions on the reasonable basis
+of common sense and observation; and then they may be
+more easy to define and to justify than they now are,
+by any body but herself.''
+
+``This will probably be the case,'' he replied;
+``and yet there is something so amiable in the prejudices
+of a young mind, that one is sorry to see them give way
+to the reception of more general opinions.''
+
+``I cannot agree with you there,'' said Elinor.
+``There are inconveniences attending such feelings
+as Marianne's, which all the charms of enthusiasm and
+ignorance of the world cannot atone for.  Her systems have
+all the unfortunate tendency of setting propriety at nought;
+and a better acquaintance with the world is what I look
+forward to as her greatest possible advantage.''
+
+After a short pause he resumed the conversation
+by saying,---%
+
+``Does your sister make no distinction in her objections
+against a second attachment? or is it equally criminal
+in every body?  Are those who have been disappointed
+in their first choice, whether from the inconstancy
+of its object, or the perverseness of circumstances,
+to be equally indifferent during the rest of their lives?''
+
+``Upon my word, I am not acquainted with the minutiae
+of her principles.  I only know that I never yet heard her
+admit any instance of a second attachment's being pardonable.''
+
+``This,'' said he, ``cannot hold; but a change,
+a total change of sentiments---No, no, do not desire it;
+for when the romantic refinements of a young mind
+are obliged to give way, how frequently are they
+succeeded by such opinions as are but too common, and too
+dangerous!  I speak from experience.  I once knew a lady
+who in temper and mind greatly resembled your sister,
+who thought and judged like her, but who from an inforced
+change---from a series of unfortunate circumstances''---%
+Here he stopt suddenly; appeared to think that he had said
+too much, and by his countenance gave rise to conjectures,
+which might not otherwise have entered Elinor's head.
+The lady would probably have passed without suspicion,
+had he not convinced Miss Dashwood that what concerned
+her ought not to escape his lips.  As it was,
+it required but a slight effort of fancy to connect his
+emotion with the tender recollection of past regard.
+Elinor attempted no more.  But Marianne, in her place,
+would not have done so little.  The whole story would
+have been speedily formed under her active imagination;
+and every thing established in the most melancholy order
+of disastrous love.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 12}
+
+
+\gintro{As Elinor and Marianne} were walking together the
+next morning the latter communicated a piece of news
+to her sister, which in spite of all that she knew
+before of Marianne's imprudence and want of thought,
+surprised her by its extravagant testimony of both.
+Marianne told her, with the greatest delight, that
+Willoughby had given her a horse, one that he had bred
+himself on his estate in Somersetshire, and which was
+exactly calculated to carry a woman.  Without considering
+that it was not in her mother's plan to keep any horse,
+that if she were to alter her resolution in favour of
+this gift, she must buy another for the servant, and
+keep a servant to ride it, and after all, build a stable
+to receive them, she had accepted the present without
+hesitation, and told her sister of it in raptures.
+
+``He intends to send his groom into Somersetshire
+immediately for it,'' she added, ``and when it arrives we
+will ride every day.  You shall share its use with me.
+Imagine to yourself, my dear Elinor, the delight of a gallop
+on some of these downs.''
+
+Most unwilling was she to awaken from such a dream of
+felicity to comprehend all the unhappy truths which attended
+the affair; and for some time she refused to submit to them.
+As to an additional servant, the expense would be a trifle;
+Mamma she was sure would never object to it; and any horse
+would do for \emph{him}; he might always get one at the park;
+as to a stable, the merest shed would be sufficient.
+Elinor then ventured to doubt the propriety of her receiving
+such a present from a man so little, or at least so lately
+known to her.  This was too much.
+
+``You are mistaken, Elinor,'' said she warmly,
+``in supposing I know very little of Willoughby.
+I have not known him long indeed, but I am much better
+acquainted with him, than I am with any other creature
+in the world, except yourself and mama.  It is not
+time or opportunity that is to determine intimacy;---%
+it is disposition alone.  Seven years would be insufficient
+to make some people acquainted with each other, and seven
+days are more than enough for others.  I should hold
+myself guilty of greater impropriety in accepting a horse
+from my brother, than from Willoughby.  Of John I know
+very little, though we have lived together for years;
+but of Willoughby my judgment has long been formed.''
+
+Elinor thought it wisest to touch that point no more.
+She knew her sister's temper.  Opposition on so tender a
+subject would only attach her the more to her own opinion.
+But by an appeal to her affection for her mother,
+by representing the inconveniences which that indulgent
+mother must draw on herself, if (as would probably be
+the case) she consented to this increase of establishment,
+Marianne was shortly subdued; and she promised not to
+tempt her mother to such imprudent kindness by mentioning
+the offer, and to tell Willoughby when she saw him next,
+that it must be declined.
+
+She was faithful to her word; and when Willoughby
+called at the cottage, the same day, Elinor heard her
+express her disappointment to him in a low voice, on
+being obliged to forego the acceptance of his present.
+The reasons for this alteration were at the same time related,
+and they were such as to make further entreaty on his
+side impossible.  His concern however was very apparent;
+and after expressing it with earnestness, he added,
+in the same low voice,---``But, Marianne, the horse is
+still yours, though you cannot use it now.  I shall keep
+it only till you can claim it.  When you leave Barton
+to form your own establishment in a more lasting home,
+Queen Mab shall receive you.''
+
+This was all overheard by Miss Dashwood; and in the
+whole of the sentence, in his manner of pronouncing it,
+and in his addressing her sister by her Christian name alone,
+she instantly saw an intimacy so decided, a meaning
+so direct, as marked a perfect agreement between them.
+From that moment she doubted not of their being engaged
+to each other; and the belief of it created no other surprise
+than that she, or any of their friends, should be left
+by tempers so frank, to discover it by accident.
+
+Margaret related something to her the next day,
+which placed this matter in a still clearer light.
+Willoughby had spent the preceding evening with them,
+and Margaret, by being left some time in the parlour
+with only him and Marianne, had had opportunity
+for observations, which, with a most important face,
+she communicated to her eldest sister, when they were
+next by themselves.
+
+``Oh, Elinor!'' she cried, ``I have such a secret to
+tell you about Marianne.  I am sure she will be married
+to Mr.\ Willoughby very soon.''
+
+``You have said so,'' replied Elinor, ``almost every
+day since they first met on High-church Down; and they
+had not known each other a week, I believe, before you
+were certain that Marianne wore his picture round her neck;
+but it turned out to be only the miniature of our great uncle.''
+
+``But indeed this is quite another thing.  I am sure
+they will be married very soon, for he has got a lock
+of her hair.''
+
+``Take care, Margaret.  It may be only the hair
+of some great uncle of \emph{his}.''
+
+``But, indeed, Elinor, it is Marianne's. I am almost
+sure it is, for I saw him cut it off.  Last night
+after tea, when you and mama went out of the room,
+they were whispering and talking together as fast as
+could be, and he seemed to be begging something of her,
+and presently he took up her scissors and cut off a long
+lock of her hair, for it was all tumbled down her back;
+and he kissed it, and folded it up in a piece of white paper;
+and put it into his pocket-book.''
+
+For such particulars, stated on such authority,
+Elinor could not withhold her credit; nor was she disposed
+to it, for the circumstance was in perfect unison with
+what she had heard and seen herself.
+
+Margaret's sagacity was not always displayed in a
+way so satisfactory to her sister.  When Mrs.\ Jennings
+attacked her one evening at the park, to give the name
+of the young man who was Elinor's particular favourite,
+which had been long a matter of great curiosity to her,
+Margaret answered by looking at her sister, and saying,
+``I must not tell, may I, Elinor?''
+
+This of course made every body laugh; and Elinor
+tried to laugh too.  But the effort was painful.
+She was convinced that Margaret had fixed on a person
+whose name she could not bear with composure to become
+a standing joke with Mrs.\ Jennings.
+
+Marianne felt for her most sincerely; but she did
+more harm than good to the cause, by turning very red
+and saying in an angry manner to Margaret,
+
+``Remember that whatever your conjectures may be,
+you have no right to repeat them.''
+
+``I never had any conjectures about it,'' replied Margaret;
+``it was you who told me of it yourself.''
+
+This increased the mirth of the company, and Margaret
+was eagerly pressed to say something more.
+
+``Oh! pray, Miss Margaret, let us know all about it,''
+said Mrs.\ Jennings.  ``What is the gentleman's name?''
+
+``I must not tell, ma'am. But I know very well what it is;
+and I know where he is too.''
+
+``Yes, yes, we can guess where he is; at his own house
+at Norland to be sure.  He is the curate of the parish
+I dare say.''
+
+``No, \emph{that} he is not.  He is of no profession at all.''
+
+``Margaret,'' said Marianne with great warmth,
+``you know that all this is an invention of your own,
+and that there is no such person in existence.''
+
+``Well, then, he is lately dead, Marianne, for I
+am sure there was such a man once, and his name begins
+with an F.''
+
+Most grateful did Elinor feel to Lady Middleton
+for observing, at this moment, ``that it rained very hard,''
+though she believed the interruption to proceed less from
+any attention to her, than from her ladyship's great dislike
+of all such inelegant subjects of raillery as delighted
+her husband and mother.  The idea however started by her,
+was immediately pursued by Colonel Brandon, who was
+on every occasion mindful of the feelings of others;
+and much was said on the subject of rain by both of them.
+Willoughby opened the piano-forte, and asked Marianne
+to sit down to it; and thus amidst the various endeavours
+of different people to quit the topic, it fell to the ground.
+But not so easily did Elinor recover from the alarm into
+which it had thrown her.
+
+A party was formed this evening for going on the
+following day to see a very fine place about twelve miles
+from Barton, belonging to a brother-in-law of Colonel Brandon,
+without whose interest it could not be seen, as the proprietor,
+who was then abroad, had left strict orders on that head.
+The grounds were declared to be highly beautiful,
+and Sir John, who was particularly warm in their praise,
+might be allowed to be a tolerable judge, for he had
+formed parties to visit them, at least, twice every summer
+for the last ten years.  They contained a noble piece
+of water; a sail on which was to a form a great part of
+the morning's amusement; cold provisions were to be taken,
+open carriages only to be employed, and every thing
+conducted in the usual style of a complete party of pleasure.
+
+To some few of the company it appeared rather
+a bold undertaking, considering the time of year,
+and that it had rained every day for the last fortnight;---%
+and Mrs.\ Dashwood, who had already a cold, was persuaded
+by Elinor to stay at home.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 13}
+
+
+\gintro{Their intended excursion} to Whitwell turned out
+very different from what Elinor had expected.  She was
+prepared to be wet through, fatigued, and frightened;
+but the event was still more unfortunate, for they did
+not go at all.
+
+By ten o'clock the whole party was assembled at
+the park, where they were to breakfast.  The morning
+was rather favourable, though it had rained all night,
+as the clouds were then dispersing across the sky,
+and the sun frequently appeared.  They were all in high
+spirits and good humour, eager to be happy, and determined
+to submit to the greatest inconveniences and hardships
+rather than be otherwise.
+
+While they were at breakfast the letters were brought in.
+Among the rest there was one for Colonel Brandon;---he
+took it, looked at the direction, changed colour,
+and immediately left the room.
+
+``What is the matter with Brandon?'' said Sir John.
+
+Nobody could tell.
+
+``I hope he has had no bad news,'' said Lady Middleton.
+``It must be something extraordinary that could make Colonel
+Brandon leave my breakfast table so suddenly.''
+
+In about five minutes he returned.
+
+``No bad news, Colonel, I hope;'' said Mrs.\ Jennings,
+as soon as he entered the room.
+
+``None at all, ma'am, I thank you.''
+
+``Was it from Avignon?  I hope it is not to say
+that your sister is worse.''
+
+``No, ma'am. It came from town, and is merely
+a letter of business.''
+
+``But how came the hand to discompose you so much,
+if it was only a letter of business?  Come, come,
+this won't do, Colonel; so let us hear the truth of it.''
+
+``My dear madam,'' said Lady Middleton, ``recollect what
+you are saying.''
+
+``Perhaps it is to tell you that your cousin Fanny
+is married?'' said Mrs.\ Jennings, without attending
+to her daughter's reproof.
+
+``No, indeed, it is not.''
+
+``Well, then, I know who it is from, Colonel.  And I
+hope she is well.''
+
+``Whom do you mean, ma'am?'' said he, colouring a little.
+
+``Oh! you know who I mean.''
+
+``I am particularly sorry, ma'am,'' said he,
+addressing Lady Middleton, ``that I should receive this
+letter today, for it is on business which requires
+my immediate attendance in town.''
+
+``In town!'' cried Mrs.\ Jennings.  ``What can you
+have to do in town at this time of year?''
+
+``My own loss is great,'' be continued, ``in being obliged
+to leave so agreeable a party; but I am the more concerned,
+as I fear my presence is necessary to gain your admittance
+at Whitwell.''
+
+What a blow upon them all was this!
+
+``But if you write a note to the housekeeper, Mr.\ Brandon,''
+said Marianne, eagerly, ``will it not be sufficient?''
+
+He shook his head.
+
+``We must go,'' said Sir John.---``It shall not be put
+off when we are so near it.  You cannot go to town till
+tomorrow, Brandon, that is all.''
+
+``I wish it could be so easily settled.  But it
+is not in my power to delay my journey for one day!''
+
+``If you would but let us know what your business is,''
+said Mrs.\ Jennings, ``we might see whether it could be put
+off or not.''
+
+``You would not be six hours later,'' said Willoughby,
+``if you were to defer your journey till our return.''
+
+``I cannot afford to lose \emph{one} hour.''---%
+
+Elinor then heard Willoughby say, in a low voice to Marianne,
+``There are some people who cannot bear a party of pleasure.
+Brandon is one of them.  He was afraid of catching cold
+I dare say, and invented this trick for getting out of it.
+I would lay fifty guineas the letter was of his own writing.''
+
+``I have no doubt of it,'' replied Marianne.
+
+``There is no persuading you to change your mind,
+Brandon, I know of old,'' said Sir John, ``when once you
+are determined on anything.  But, however, I hope you
+will think better of it.  Consider, here are the two Miss
+Careys come over from Newton, the three Miss Dashwoods
+walked up from the cottage, and Mr.\ Willoughby got up
+two hours before his usual time, on purpose to go to Whitwell.''
+
+Colonel Brandon again repeated his sorrow at being
+the cause of disappointing the party; but at the same
+time declared it to be unavoidable.
+
+``Well, then, when will you come back again?''
+
+``I hope we shall see you at Barton,'' added her ladyship,
+``as soon as you can conveniently leave town; and we must
+put off the party to Whitwell till you return.''
+
+``You are very obliging.  But it is so uncertain,
+when I may have it in my power to return, that I dare
+not engage for it at all.''
+
+``Oh! he must and shall come back,'' cried Sir John.
+``If he is not here by the end of the week, I shall go
+after him.''
+
+``Ay, so do, Sir John,'' cried Mrs.\ Jennings, ``and then
+perhaps you may find out what his business is.''
+
+``I do not want to pry into other men's concerns.
+I suppose it is something he is ashamed of.''
+
+Colonel Brandon's horses were announced.
+
+``You do not go to town on horseback, do you?''
+added Sir John.
+
+``No. Only to Honiton.  I shall then go post.''
+
+``Well, as you are resolved to go, I wish you
+a good journey.  But you had better change your mind.''
+
+``I assure you it is not in my power.''
+
+He then took leave of the whole party.
+
+``Is there no chance of my seeing you and your sisters
+in town this winter, Miss Dashwood?''
+
+``I am afraid, none at all.''
+
+``Then I must bid you farewell for a longer time
+than I should wish to do.''
+
+To Marianne, he merely bowed and said nothing.
+
+``Come Colonel,'' said Mrs.\ Jennings, ``before you go,
+do let us know what you are going about.''
+
+He wished her a good morning, and, attended by Sir John,
+left the room.
+
+The complaints and lamentations which politeness
+had hitherto restrained, now burst forth universally;
+and they all agreed again and again how provoking it was
+to be so disappointed.
+
+``I can guess what his business is, however,''
+said Mrs.\ Jennings exultingly.
+
+``Can you, ma'am?'' said almost every body.
+
+``Yes; it is about Miss Williams, I am sure.''
+
+``And who is Miss Williams?'' asked Marianne.
+
+``What! do not you know who Miss Williams is? I am
+sure you must have heard of her before.  She is a relation
+of the Colonel's, my dear; a very near relation.  We will
+not say how near, for fear of shocking the young ladies.''
+Then, lowering her voice a little, she said to Elinor,
+``She is his natural daughter.''
+
+``Indeed!''
+
+``Oh, yes; and as like him as she can stare.
+I dare say the Colonel will leave her all his fortune.''
+
+When Sir John returned, he joined most heartily
+in the general regret on so unfortunate an event;
+concluding however by observing, that as they were
+all got together, they must do something by way of
+being happy; and after some consultation it was agreed,
+that although happiness could only be enjoyed at Whitwell,
+they might procure a tolerable composure of mind by driving
+about the country.  The carriages were then ordered;
+Willoughby's was first, and Marianne never looked
+happier than when she got into it.  He drove through
+the park very fast, and they were soon out of sight;
+and nothing more of them was seen till their return,
+which did not happen till after the return of all the rest.
+They both seemed delighted with their drive; but said
+only in general terms that they had kept in the lanes,
+while the others went on the downs.
+
+It was settled that there should be a dance in the evening,
+and that every body should be extremely merry all day long.
+Some more of the Careys came to dinner, and they had the
+pleasure of sitting down nearly twenty to table, which Sir
+John observed with great contentment.  Willoughby took
+his usual place between the two elder Miss Dashwoods.
+Mrs.\ Jennings sat on Elinor's right hand; and they had not
+been long seated, before she leant behind her and Willoughby,
+and said to Marianne, loud enough for them both to hear,
+``I have found you out in spite of all your tricks.
+I know where you spent the morning.''
+
+Marianne coloured, and replied very hastily,
+``Where, pray?''---%
+
+``Did not you know,'' said Willoughby, ``that we had
+been out in my curricle?''
+
+``Yes, yes, Mr.\ Impudence, I know that very well,
+and I was determined to find out \emph{where} you had been to.---%
+I hope you like your house, Miss Marianne.  It is a very
+large one, I know; and when I come to see you, I hope you
+will have new-furnished it, for it wanted it very much
+when I was there six years ago.''
+
+Marianne turned away in great confusion.
+Mrs.\ Jennings laughed heartily; and Elinor found that in her
+resolution to know where they had been, she had actually
+made her own woman enquire of Mr.\ Willoughby's groom;
+and that she had by that method been informed that they
+had gone to Allenham, and spent a considerable time there
+in walking about the garden and going all over the house.
+
+Elinor could hardly believe this to be true,
+as it seemed very unlikely that Willoughby should propose,
+or Marianne consent, to enter the house while Mrs.\ Smith was
+in it, with whom Marianne had not the smallest acquaintance.
+
+As soon as they left the dining-room, Elinor enquired
+of her about it; and great was her surprise when she
+found that every circumstance related by Mrs.\ Jennings
+was perfectly true.  Marianne was quite angry with her
+for doubting it.
+
+``Why should you imagine, Elinor, that we did not
+go there, or that we did not see the house?  Is not it
+what you have often wished to do yourself?''
+
+``Yes, Marianne, but I would not go while Mrs.\ Smith
+was there, and with no other companion than Mr.\ Willoughby.''
+
+``Mr.\ Willoughby however is the only person who can
+have a right to shew that house; and as he went in an open
+carriage, it was impossible to have any other companion.
+I never spent a pleasanter morning in my life.''
+
+``I am afraid,'' replied Elinor, ``that the pleasantness
+of an employment does not always evince its propriety.''
+
+``On the contrary, nothing can be a stronger proof
+of it, Elinor; for if there had been any real impropriety
+in what I did, I should have been sensible of it at
+the time, for we always know when we are acting wrong,
+and with such a conviction I could have had no pleasure.''
+
+``But, my dear Marianne, as it has already exposed you
+to some very impertinent remarks, do you not now begin
+to doubt the discretion of your own conduct?''
+
+``If the impertinent remarks of Mrs.\ Jennings are
+to be the proof of impropriety in conduct, we are all
+offending every moment of our lives.  I value not her
+censure any more than I should do her commendation.
+I am not sensible of having done anything wrong in walking
+over Mrs.\ Smith's grounds, or in seeing her house.
+They will one day be Mr.\ Willoughby's, and---''
+
+``If they were one day to be your own, Marianne,
+you would not be justified in what you have done.''
+
+She blushed at this hint; but it was even visibly
+gratifying to her; and after a ten minutes' interval of
+earnest thought, she came to her sister again, and said
+with great good humour, ``Perhaps, Elinor, it \emph{was} rather
+ill-judged in me to go to Allenham; but Mr.\ Willoughby wanted
+particularly to shew me the place; and it is a charming house,
+I assure you.---There is one remarkably pretty sitting room
+up stairs; of a nice comfortable size for constant use,
+and with modern furniture it would be delightful.
+It is a corner room, and has windows on two sides.
+On one side you look across the bowling-green, behind
+the house, to a beautiful hanging wood, and on the other you
+have a view of the church and village, and, beyond them,
+of those fine bold hills that we have so often admired.
+I did not see it to advantage, for nothing could be
+more forlorn than the furniture,---but if it were newly
+fitted up---a couple of hundred pounds, Willoughby says,
+would make it one of the pleasantest summer-rooms
+in England.''
+
+Could Elinor have listened to her without interruption
+from the others, she would have described every room
+in the house with equal delight.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 14}
+
+
+\gintro{The sudden termination} of Colonel Brandon's visit
+at the park, with his steadiness in concealing its cause,
+filled the mind, and raised the wonder of Mrs.\ Jennings
+for two or three days; she was a great wonderer, as every
+one must be who takes a very lively interest in all the
+comings and goings of all their acquaintance.  She wondered,
+with little intermission what could be the reason of it;
+was sure there must be some bad news, and thought over
+every kind of distress that could have befallen him,
+with a fixed determination that he should not escape
+them all.
+
+``Something very melancholy must be the matter,
+I am sure,'' said she.  ``I could see it in his face.
+Poor man!  I am afraid his circumstances may be bad.
+The estate at Delaford was never reckoned more than two thousand
+a year, and his brother left everything sadly involved.
+I do think he must have been sent for about money matters,
+for what else can it be?  I wonder whether it is so.
+I would give anything to know the truth of it.  Perhaps it
+is about Miss Williams and, by the bye, I dare say it is,
+because he looked so conscious when I mentioned her.
+May be she is ill in town; nothing in the world more likely,
+for I have a notion she is always rather sickly.
+I would lay any wager it is about Miss Williams.
+It is not so very likely he should be distressed in
+his circumstances \emph{now}, for he is a very prudent man,
+and to be sure must have cleared the estate by this time.
+I wonder what it can be!  May be his sister is worse
+at Avignon, and has sent for him over.  His setting off
+in such a hurry seems very like it.  Well, I wish him out
+of all his trouble with all my heart, and a good wife into
+the bargain.''
+
+So wondered, so talked Mrs.\ Jennings.  Her opinion
+varying with every fresh conjecture, and all seeming
+equally probable as they arose.  Elinor, though she felt
+really interested in the welfare of Colonel Brandon,
+could not bestow all the wonder on his going so suddenly
+away, which Mrs.\ Jennings was desirous of her feeling;
+for besides that the circumstance did not in her opinion
+justify such lasting amazement or variety of speculation,
+her wonder was otherwise disposed of.  It was engrossed
+by the extraordinary silence of her sister and Willoughby
+on the subject, which they must know to be peculiarly
+interesting to them all.  As this silence continued,
+every day made it appear more strange and more incompatible
+with the disposition of both.  Why they should not openly
+acknowledge to her mother and herself, what their constant
+behaviour to each other declared to have taken place,
+Elinor could not imagine.
+
+She could easily conceive that marriage might not
+be immediately in their power; for though Willoughby
+was independent, there was no reason to believe him rich.
+His estate had been rated by Sir John at about six or seven
+hundred a year; but he lived at an expense to which that income
+could hardly be equal, and he had himself often complained
+of his poverty.  But for this strange kind of secrecy
+maintained by them relative to their engagement, which
+in fact concealed nothing at all, she could not account;
+and it was so wholly contradictory to their general
+opinions and practice, that a doubt sometimes entered
+her mind of their being really engaged, and this doubt
+was enough to prevent her making any inquiry of Marianne.
+
+Nothing could be more expressive of attachment
+to them all, than Willoughby's behaviour.  To Marianne
+it had all the distinguishing tenderness which a lover's
+heart could give, and to the rest of the family it was the
+affectionate attention of a son and a brother.  The cottage
+seemed to be considered and loved by him as his home;
+many more of his hours were spent there than at Allenham;
+and if no general engagement collected them at the park,
+the exercise which called him out in the morning was
+almost certain of ending there, where the rest of the day
+was spent by himself at the side of Marianne, and by his
+favourite pointer at her feet.
+
+One evening in particular, about a week after
+Colonel Brandon left the country, his heart seemed
+more than usually open to every feeling of attachment
+to the objects around him; and on Mrs.\ Dashwood's
+happening to mention her design of improving the cottage
+in the spring, he warmly opposed every alteration
+of a place which affection had established as perfect with him.
+
+``What!'' he exclaimed---``Improve this dear cottage!
+No. \emph{that} I will never consent to.  Not a stone must
+be added to its walls, not an inch to its size,
+if my feelings are regarded.''
+
+``Do not be alarmed,'' said Miss Dashwood,
+``nothing of the kind will be done; for my mother
+will never have money enough to attempt it.''
+
+``I am heartily glad of it,'' he cried.  ``May she
+always be poor, if she can employ her riches no better.''
+
+``Thank you, Willoughby.  But you may be assured that I
+would not sacrifice one sentiment of local attachment
+of yours, or of any one whom I loved, for all the improvements
+in the world.  Depend upon it that whatever unemployed
+sum may remain, when I make up my accounts in the spring,
+I would even rather lay it uselessly by than dispose
+of it in a manner so painful to you.  But are you really
+so attached to this place as to see no defect in it?''
+
+``I am,'' said he.  ``To me it is faultless.  Nay, more,
+I consider it as the only form of building in which happiness
+is attainable, and were I rich enough I would instantly pull
+Combe down, and build it up again in the exact plan of this
+cottage.''
+
+``With dark narrow stairs and a kitchen that smokes,
+I suppose,'' said Elinor.
+
+``Yes,'' cried he in the same eager tone, ``with all
+and every thing belonging to it;---in no one convenience
+or \emph{in}convenience about it, should the least variation
+be perceptible.  Then, and then only, under such a roof, I
+might perhaps be as happy at Combe as I have been at Barton.''
+
+``I flatter myself,'' replied Elinor, ``that even under
+the disadvantage of better rooms and a broader staircase,
+you will hereafter find your own house as faultless as you
+now do this.''
+
+``There certainly are circumstances,'' said Willoughby,
+``which might greatly endear it to me; but this place will
+always have one claim of my affection, which no other can
+possibly share.''
+
+Mrs.\ Dashwood looked with pleasure at Marianne,
+whose fine eyes were fixed so expressively on Willoughby,
+as plainly denoted how well she understood him.
+
+``How often did I wish,'' added he, ``when I was at
+Allenham this time twelvemonth, that Barton cottage were
+inhabited!  I never passed within view of it without admiring
+its situation, and grieving that no one should live in it.
+How little did I then think that the very first news
+I should hear from Mrs.\ Smith, when I next came into
+the country, would be that Barton cottage was taken: and I
+felt an immediate satisfaction and interest in the event,
+which nothing but a kind of prescience of what happiness I
+should experience from it, can account for.  Must it not have
+been so, Marianne?'' speaking to her in a lowered voice.
+Then continuing his former tone, he said, ``And yet this
+house you would spoil, Mrs.\ Dashwood?  You would rob it
+of its simplicity by imaginary improvement! and this dear
+parlour in which our acquaintance first began, and in which
+so many happy hours have been since spent by us together,
+you would degrade to the condition of a common entrance,
+and every body would be eager to pass through the room
+which has hitherto contained within itself more real
+accommodation and comfort than any other apartment of
+the handsomest dimensions in the world could possibly afford.''
+
+Mrs.\ Dashwood again assured him that no alteration
+of the kind should be attempted.
+
+``You are a good woman,'' he warmly replied.
+``Your promise makes me easy.  Extend it a little farther,
+and it will make me happy.  Tell me that not only your
+house will remain the same, but that I shall ever find
+you and yours as unchanged as your dwelling; and that you
+will always consider me with the kindness which has made
+everything belonging to you so dear to me.''
+
+The promise was readily given, and Willoughby's
+behaviour during the whole of the evening declared
+at once his affection and happiness.
+
+``Shall we see you tomorrow to dinner?'' said Mrs.\ Dashwood,
+when he was leaving them.  ``I do not ask you to come in
+the morning, for we must walk to the park, to call on Lady
+Middleton.''
+
+He engaged to be with them by four o'clock.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 15}
+
+
+\gintro{Mrs.\ Dashwood's} visit to Lady Middleton took place
+the next day, and two of her daughters went with her;
+but Marianne excused herself from being of the party,
+under some trifling pretext of employment; and her mother,
+who concluded that a promise had been made by Willoughby
+the night before of calling on her while they were absent,
+was perfectly satisfied with her remaining at home.
+
+On their return from the park they found Willoughby's
+curricle and servant in waiting at the cottage,
+and Mrs.\ Dashwood was convinced that her conjecture
+had been just.  So far it was all as she had foreseen;
+but on entering the house she beheld what no foresight
+had taught her to expect.  They were no sooner in the
+passage than Marianne came hastily out of the parlour
+apparently in violent affliction, with her handkerchief
+at her eyes; and without noticing them ran up stairs.
+Surprised and alarmed they proceeded directly into the room
+she had just quitted, where they found only Willoughby,
+who was leaning against the mantel-piece with his back
+towards them.  He turned round on their coming in,
+and his countenance shewed that he strongly partook
+of the emotion which over-powered Marianne.
+
+``Is anything the matter with her?'' cried Mrs.\ Dashwood
+as she entered---``is she ill?''
+
+``I hope not,'' he replied, trying to look cheerful;
+and with a forced smile presently added, ``It is I who may
+rather expect to be ill---for I am now suffering under a
+very heavy disappointment!''
+
+``Disappointment?''
+
+``Yes, for I am unable to keep my engagement with you.
+Mrs.\ Smith has this morning exercised the privilege
+of riches upon a poor dependent cousin, by sending me on
+business to London.  I have just received my dispatches,
+and taken my farewell of Allenham; and by way of exhilaration
+I am now come to take my farewell of you.''
+
+``To London!---and are you going this morning?''
+
+``Almost this moment.''
+
+``This is very unfortunate.  But Mrs.\ Smith must
+be obliged;---and her business will not detain you from
+us long I hope.''
+
+He coloured as he replied, ``You are very kind, but I
+have no idea of returning into Devonshire immediately.
+My visits to Mrs.\ Smith are never repeated within
+the twelvemonth.''
+
+``And is Mrs.\ Smith your only friend?  Is Allenham the only
+house in the neighbourhood to which you will be welcome?
+For shame, Willoughby, can you wait for an invitation here?''
+
+His colour increased; and with his eyes fixed
+on the ground he only replied, ``You are too good.''
+
+Mrs.\ Dashwood looked at Elinor with surprise.
+Elinor felt equal amazement.  For a few moments every one
+was silent.  Mrs.\ Dashwood first spoke.
+
+``I have only to add, my dear Willoughby, that at
+Barton cottage you will always be welcome; for I will not
+press you to return here immediately, because you only
+can judge how far \emph{that} might be pleasing to Mrs.\ Smith;
+and on this head I shall be no more disposed to question
+your judgment than to doubt your inclination.''
+
+``My engagements at present,'' replied Willoughby,
+confusedly, ``are of such a nature---that---I dare not flatter
+myself''---%
+
+He stopt.  Mrs.\ Dashwood was too much astonished
+to speak, and another pause succeeded.  This was broken
+by Willoughby, who said with a faint smile, ``It is folly
+to linger in this manner.  I will not torment myself
+any longer by remaining among friends whose society
+it is impossible for me now to enjoy.''
+
+He then hastily took leave of them all and left
+the room.  They saw him step into his carriage,
+and in a minute it was out of sight.
+
+Mrs.\ Dashwood felt too much for speech, and instantly
+quitted the parlour to give way in solitude to the concern
+and alarm which this sudden departure occasioned.
+
+Elinor's uneasiness was at least equal to her mother's.
+She thought of what had just passed with anxiety and distrust.
+Willoughby's behaviour in taking leave of them, his
+embarrassment,
+and affectation of cheerfulness, and, above all, his
+unwillingness
+to accept her mother's invitation, a backwardness so unlike a
+lover,
+so unlike himself, greatly disturbed her.  One moment she feared
+that no serious design had ever been formed on his side; and the
+next that some unfortunate quarrel had taken place between him
+and
+her sister;---the distress in which Marianne had quitted the room
+was such as a serious quarrel could most reasonably account for,
+though when she considered what Marianne's love for him was,
+a quarrel seemed almost impossible.
+
+But whatever might be the particulars of their separation,
+her sister's affliction was indubitable; and she thought
+with the tenderest compassion of that violent sorrow
+which Marianne was in all probability not merely giving
+way to as a relief, but feeding and encouraging as a duty.
+
+In about half an hour her mother returned, and though
+her eyes were red, her countenance was not uncheerful.
+
+``Our dear Willoughby is now some miles from Barton, Elinor,''
+said she, as she sat down to work, ``and with how heavy a heart
+does he travel?''
+
+``It is all very strange.  So suddenly to be gone! It
+seems but the work of a moment.  And last night he was
+with us so happy, so cheerful, so affectionate?  And now,
+after only ten minutes notice---Gone too without intending
+to return!---Something more than what be owned to us must
+have happened.  He did not speak, he did not behave
+like himself.  \emph{You} must have seen the difference as well as I.
+What can it be?  Can they have quarrelled?  Why else should he
+have shewn such unwillingness to accept your invitation here?''---%
+
+``It was not inclination that he wanted, Elinor; I could
+plainly see \emph{that}.  He had not the power of accepting it.
+I have thought it all over I assure you, and I can
+perfectly account for every thing that at first seemed
+strange to me as well as to you.''
+
+``Can you, indeed!''
+
+``Yes. I have explained it to myself in the most
+satisfactory way;---but you, Elinor, who love to doubt
+where you can---it will not satisfy \emph{you}, I know; but you
+shall not talk \emph{me} out of my trust in it.  I am persuaded
+that Mrs.\ Smith suspects his regard for Marianne,
+disapproves of it, (perhaps because she has other views
+for him,) and on that account is eager to get him away;---%
+and that the business which she sends him off to transact
+is invented as an excuse to dismiss him.  This is what I
+believe to have happened.  He is, moreover, aware that she
+\emph{does} disapprove the connection, he dares not therefore
+at present confess to her his engagement with Marianne,
+and he feels himself obliged, from his dependent situation,
+to give into her schemes, and absent himself from
+Devonshire for a while.  You will tell me, I know,
+that this may or may \emph{not} have happened; but I will listen
+to no cavil, unless you can point out any other method
+of understanding the affair as satisfactory at this.
+And now, Elinor, what have you to say?''
+
+``Nothing, for you have anticipated my answer.''
+
+``Then you would have told me, that it might or might not
+have happened.  Oh, Elinor, how incomprehensible are your
+feelings!  You had rather take evil upon credit than good.
+You had rather look out for misery for Marianne, and guilt
+for poor Willoughby, than an apology for the latter.
+You are resolved to think him blameable, because he took
+leave of us with less affection than his usual behaviour
+has shewn.  And is no allowance to be made for inadvertence,
+or for spirits depressed by recent disappointment?  Are
+no probabilities to be accepted, merely because they
+are not certainties?  Is nothing due to the man whom we
+have all such reason to love, and no reason in the world
+to think ill of?  To the possibility of motives unanswerable
+in themselves, though unavoidably secret for a while?  And,
+after all, what is it you suspect him of?''
+
+``I can hardly tell myself.  But suspicion of
+something unpleasant is the inevitable consequence
+of such an alteration as we just witnessed in him.
+There is great truth, however, in what you have now urged
+of the allowances which ought to be made for him, and it
+is my wish to be candid in my judgment of every body.
+Willoughby may undoubtedly have very sufficient
+reasons for his conduct, and I will hope that he has.
+But it would have been more like Willoughby to acknowledge
+them at once.  Secrecy may be advisable; but still I
+cannot help wondering at its being practiced by him.''
+
+``Do not blame him, however, for departing from
+his character, where the deviation is necessary.
+But you really do admit the justice of what I have said
+in his defence?---I am happy---and he is acquitted.''
+
+``Not entirely.  It may be proper to conceal their
+engagement (if they \emph{are} engaged) from Mrs.\ Smith---%
+and if that is the case, it must be highly expedient
+for Willoughby to be but little in Devonshire at present.
+But this is no excuse for their concealing it from us.''
+
+``Concealing it from us! my dear child, do you accuse
+Willoughby and Marianne of concealment? This is strange
+indeed, when your eyes have been reproaching them every day
+for incautiousness.''
+
+``I want no proof of their affection,'' said Elinor;
+``but of their engagement I do.''
+
+``I am perfectly satisfied of both.''
+
+``Yet not a syllable has been said to you on the
+subject, by either of them.''
+
+``I have not wanted syllables where actions have
+spoken so plainly.  Has not his behaviour to Marianne
+and to all of us, for at least the last fortnight,
+declared that he loved and considered her as his future wife,
+and that he felt for us the attachment of the nearest
+relation?  Have we not perfectly understood each other?
+Has not my consent been daily asked by his looks, his manner,
+his attentive and affectionate respect?  My Elinor,
+is it possible to doubt their engagement?  How could
+such a thought occur to you?  How is it to be supposed
+that Willoughby, persuaded as he must be of your
+sister's love, should leave her, and leave her perhaps
+for months, without telling her of his affection;---that
+they should part without a mutual exchange of confidence?''
+
+``I confess,'' replied Elinor, ``that every circumstance
+except \emph{one} is in favour of their engagement;
+but that \emph{one} is the total silence of both on the subject,
+and with me it almost outweighs every other.''
+
+``How strange this is!  You must think wretchedly indeed
+of Willoughby, if, after all that has openly passed between them,
+you can doubt the nature of the terms on which they are together.
+Has he been acting a part in his behaviour to your sister
+all this time?  Do you suppose him really indifferent to her?''
+
+``No, I cannot think that.  He must and does love her
+I am sure.''
+
+``But with a strange kind of tenderness, if he can
+leave her with such indifference, such carelessness
+of the future, as you attribute to him.''
+
+``You must remember, my dear mother, that I have never
+considered this matter as certain.  I have had my doubts,
+I confess; but they are fainter than they were, and they
+may soon be entirely done away.  If we find they correspond,
+every fear of mine will be removed.''
+
+``A mighty concession indeed!  If you were to see
+them at the altar, you would suppose they were going to
+be married.  Ungracious girl!  But I require no such proof.
+Nothing in my opinion has ever passed to justify doubt;
+no secrecy has been attempted; all has been uniformly open
+and unreserved.  You cannot doubt your sister's wishes.
+It must be Willoughby therefore whom you suspect.  But why?
+Is he not a man of honour and feeling? Has there been any
+inconsistency on his side to create alarm? can he be deceitful?''
+
+``I hope not, I believe not,'' cried Elinor.
+``I love Willoughby, sincerely love him; and suspicion of his
+integrity cannot be more painful to yourself than to me.
+It has been involuntary, and I will not encourage it.
+I was startled, I confess, by the alteration in his
+manners this morning;---he did not speak like himself,
+and did not return your kindness with any cordiality.
+But all this may be explained by such a situation of his
+affairs as you have supposed.  He had just parted from
+my sister, had seen her leave him in the greatest affliction;
+and if he felt obliged, from a fear of offending Mrs.\ Smith,
+to resist the temptation of returning here soon, and yet
+aware that by declining your invitation, by saying
+that he was going away for some time, he should seem
+to act an ungenerous, a suspicious part by our family,
+be might well be embarrassed and disturbed.  In such a case,
+a plain and open avowal of his difficulties would have been
+more to his honour I think, as well as more consistent
+with his general character;---but I will not raise objections
+against any one's conduct on so illiberal a foundation,
+as a difference in judgment from myself, or a deviation from
+what I may think right and consistent.''
+
+``You speak very properly.  Willoughby certainly does
+not deserve to be suspected.  Though \emph{we} have not known
+him long, he is no stranger in this part of the world;
+and who has ever spoken to his disadvantage?  Had he been
+in a situation to act independently and marry immediately,
+it might have been odd that he should leave us without
+acknowledging everything to me at once: but this is not the case.
+It is an engagement in some respects not prosperously begun,
+for their marriage must be at a very uncertain distance;
+and even secrecy, as far as it can be observed, may now
+be very advisable.''
+
+They were interrupted by the entrance of Margaret;
+and Elinor was then at liberty to think over the representations
+of her mother, to acknowledge the probability of many,
+and hope for the justice of all.
+
+They saw nothing of Marianne till dinner time,
+when she entered the room and took her place at the table
+without saying a word.  Her eyes were red and swollen;
+and it seemed as if her tears were even then restrained
+with difficulty.  She avoided the looks of them all,
+could neither eat nor speak, and after some time, on her
+mother's silently pressing her hand with tender compassion,
+her small degree of fortitude was quite overcome, she burst
+into tears and left the room.
+
+This violent oppression of spirits continued the
+whole evening.  She was without any power, because she
+was without any desire of command over herself.
+The slightest mention of anything relative to Willoughby
+overpowered her in an instant; and though her family
+were most anxiously attentive to her comfort, it was
+impossible for them, if they spoke at all, to keep clear
+of every subject which her feelings connected with him.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 16}
+
+
+\gintro{Marianne} would have thought herself very inexcusable
+had she been able to sleep at all the first night
+after parting from Willoughby.  She would have been
+ashamed to look her family in the face the next morning,
+had she not risen from her bed in more need of repose
+than when she lay down in it.  But the feelings which
+made such composure a disgrace, left her in no danger
+of incurring it.  She was awake the whole night, and she
+wept the greatest part of it.  She got up with a headache,
+was unable to talk, and unwilling to take any nourishment;
+giving pain every moment to her mother and sisters,
+and forbidding all attempt at consolation from either.
+Her sensibility was potent enough!
+
+When breakfast was over she walked out by herself,
+and wandered about the village of Allenham, indulging the
+recollection of past enjoyment and crying over the present
+reverse for the chief of the morning.
+
+The evening passed off in the equal indulgence of feeling.
+She played over every favourite song that she had been used
+to play to Willoughby, every air in which their voices
+had been oftenest joined, and sat at the instrument gazing
+on every line of music that he had written out for her,
+till her heart was so heavy that no farther sadness
+could be gained; and this nourishment of grief was every
+day applied.  She spent whole hours at the pianoforte
+alternately singing and crying; her voice often totally
+suspended by her tears.  In books too, as well as in music,
+she courted the misery which a contrast between the past
+and present was certain of giving.  She read nothing
+but what they had been used to read together.
+
+Such violence of affliction indeed could not be supported
+for ever; it sunk within a few days into a calmer melancholy;
+but these employments, to which she daily recurred,
+her solitary walks and silent meditations, still produced
+occasional effusions of sorrow as lively as ever.
+
+No letter from Willoughby came; and none seemed expected
+by Marianne.  Her mother was surprised, and Elinor again
+became uneasy.  But Mrs.\ Dashwood could find explanations
+whenever she wanted them, which at least satisfied herself.
+
+``Remember, Elinor,'' said she, ``how very often Sir John
+fetches our letters himself from the post, and carries them
+to it.  We have already agreed that secrecy may be necessary,
+and we must acknowledge that it could not be maintained if
+their correspondence were to pass through Sir John's hands.''
+
+Elinor could not deny the truth of this, and she tried
+to find in it a motive sufficient for their silence.
+But there was one method so direct, so simple, and in
+her opinion so eligible of knowing the real state
+of the affair, and of instantly removing all mystery,
+that she could not help suggesting it to her mother.
+
+``Why do you not ask Marianne at once,'' said she,
+``whether she is or she is not engaged to Willoughby?  From you,
+her mother, and so kind, so indulgent a mother, the question
+could not give offence.  It would be the natural result
+of your affection for her.  She used to be all unreserve,
+and to you more especially.''
+
+``I would not ask such a question for the world.
+Supposing it possible that they are not engaged,
+what distress would not such an enquiry inflict!  At any
+rate it would be most ungenerous.  I should never deserve
+her confidence again, after forcing from her a confession
+of what is meant at present to be unacknowledged to any one.
+I know Marianne's heart: I know that she dearly loves me,
+and that I shall not be the last to whom the affair is made
+known,
+when circumstances make the revealment of it eligible.
+I would not attempt to force the confidence of any one;
+of a child much less; because a sense of duty would prevent
+the denial which her wishes might direct.''
+
+Elinor thought this generosity overstrained,
+considering her sister's youth, and urged the matter farther,
+but in vain; common sense, common care, common prudence,
+were all sunk in Mrs.\ Dashwood's romantic delicacy.
+
+It was several days before Willoughby's name
+was mentioned before Marianne by any of her family;
+Sir John and Mrs.\ Jennings, indeed, were not so nice;
+their witticisms added pain to many a painful hour;---%
+but one evening, Mrs.\ Dashwood, accidentally taking up a
+volume of Shakespeare, exclaimed,
+
+``We have never finished Hamlet, Marianne; our dear
+Willoughby went away before we could get through it.
+We will put it by, that when he comes again \ldots But it may
+be months, perhaps, before \emph{that} happens.''
+
+``Months!'' cried Marianne, with strong surprise.
+``No---nor many weeks.''
+
+Mrs.\ Dashwood was sorry for what she had said;
+but it gave Elinor pleasure, as it produced a reply
+from Marianne so expressive of confidence in Willoughby
+and knowledge of his intentions.
+
+One morning, about a week after his leaving the country,
+Marianne was prevailed on to join her sisters in their
+usual walk, instead of wandering away by herself.
+Hitherto she had carefully avoided every companion in
+her rambles.  If her sisters intended to walk on the downs,
+she directly stole away towards the lanes; if they talked
+of the valley, she was as speedy in climbing the hills,
+and could never be found when the others set off.
+But at length she was secured by the exertions of Elinor,
+who greatly disapproved such continual seclusion.  They walked
+along the road through the valley, and chiefly in silence,
+for Marianne's \emph{mind} could not be controlled, and Elinor,
+satisfied with gaining one point, would not then attempt more.
+Beyond the entrance of the valley, where the country,
+though still rich, was less wild and more open, a long
+stretch of the road which they had travelled on first coming
+to Barton, lay before them; and on reaching that point,
+they stopped to look around them, and examine a prospect
+which formed the distance of their view from the cottage,
+from a spot which they had never happened to reach in any
+of their walks before.
+
+Amongst the objects in the scene, they soon discovered
+an animated one; it was a man on horseback riding towards them.
+In a few minutes they could distinguish him to be a gentleman;
+and in a moment afterwards Marianne rapturously exclaimed,
+
+``It is he; it is indeed;---I know it is!''---and was
+hastening to meet him, when Elinor cried out,
+
+``Indeed, Marianne, I think you are mistaken.  It is
+not Willoughby.  The person is not tall enough for him,
+and has not his air.''
+
+``He has, he has,'' cried Marianne, ``I am sure he has.
+His air, his coat, his horse.  I knew how soon he would come.''
+
+She walked eagerly on as she spoke; and Elinor,
+to screen Marianne from particularity, as she felt almost
+certain of its not being Willoughby, quickened her
+pace and kept up with her.  They were soon within
+thirty yards of the gentleman.  Marianne looked again;
+her heart sunk within her; and abruptly turning round,
+she was hurrying back, when the voices of both her sisters
+were raised to detain her; a third, almost as well known
+as Willoughby's, joined them in begging her to stop,
+and she turned round with surprise to see and welcome
+Edward Ferrars.
+
+He was the only person in the world who could
+at that moment be forgiven for not being Willoughby;
+the only one who could have gained a smile from her;
+but she dispersed her tears to smile on \emph{him}, and in her
+sister's happiness forgot for a time her own disappointment.
+
+He dismounted, and giving his horse to his servant,
+walked back with them to Barton, whither he was purposely
+coming to visit them.
+
+He was welcomed by them all with great cordiality,
+but especially by Marianne, who showed more warmth of
+regard in her reception of him than even Elinor herself.
+To Marianne, indeed, the meeting between Edward and her sister
+was but a continuation of that unaccountable coldness which she
+had often observed at Norland in their mutual behaviour.
+On Edward's side, more particularly, there was a deficiency
+of all that a lover ought to look and say on such an occasion.
+He was confused, seemed scarcely sensible of pleasure
+in seeing them, looked neither rapturous nor gay,
+said little but what was forced from him by questions,
+and distinguished Elinor by no mark of affection.
+Marianne saw and listened with increasing surprise.
+She began almost to feel a dislike of Edward; and it ended,
+as every feeling must end with her, by carrying back her
+thoughts to Willoughby, whose manners formed a contrast
+sufficiently striking to those of his brother elect.
+
+After a short silence which succeeded the first
+surprise and enquiries of meeting, Marianne asked
+Edward if he came directly from London.  No, he had
+been in Devonshire a fortnight.
+
+``A fortnight!'' she repeated, surprised at his being
+so long in the same county with Elinor without seeing
+her before.
+
+He looked rather distressed as he added, that he
+had been staying with some friends near Plymouth.
+
+``Have you been lately in Sussex?'' said Elinor.
+
+``I was at Norland about a month ago.''
+
+``And how does dear, dear Norland look?'' cried Marianne.
+
+``Dear, dear Norland,'' said Elinor, ``probably looks
+much as it always does at this time of the year.
+The woods and walks thickly covered with dead leaves.''
+
+``Oh,'' cried Marianne, ``with what transporting sensation
+have I formerly seen them fall!  How have I delighted,
+as I walked, to see them driven in showers about me
+by the wind!  What feelings have they, the season, the air
+altogether inspired!  Now there is no one to regard them.
+They are seen only as a nuisance, swept hastily off,
+and driven as much as possible from the sight.''
+
+``It is not every one,'' said Elinor, ``who has your
+passion for dead leaves.''
+
+``No; my feelings are not often shared, not often
+understood.  But \emph{sometimes} they are.''---As she said this,
+she sunk into a reverie for a few moments;---but rousing
+herself again, ``Now, Edward,'' said she, calling his attention
+to the prospect, ``here is Barton valley.  Look up to it,
+and be tranquil if you can.  Look at those hills!
+Did you ever see their equals?  To the left is Barton park,
+amongst those woods and plantations.  You may see the end
+of the house.  And there, beneath that farthest hill,
+which rises with such grandeur, is our cottage.''
+
+``It is a beautiful country,'' he replied; ``but these
+bottoms must be dirty in winter.''
+
+``How can you think of dirt, with such objects before you?''
+
+``Because,'' replied he, smiling, ``among the rest of the
+objects before me, I see a very dirty lane.''
+
+``How strange!'' said Marianne to herself as she walked on.
+
+``Have you an agreeable neighbourhood here?  Are the
+Middletons pleasant people?''
+
+``No, not all,'' answered Marianne; ``we could not
+be more unfortunately situated.''
+
+``Marianne,'' cried her sister, ``how can you say so? How can
+you be so unjust?  They are a very respectable family, Mr.\ %
+Ferrars;
+and towards us have behaved in the friendliest manner.  Have you
+forgot, Marianne, how many pleasant days we have owed to them?''
+
+``No,'' said Marianne, in a low voice, ``nor how many
+painful moments.''
+
+Elinor took no notice of this; and directing
+her attention to their visitor, endeavoured to support
+something like discourse with him, by talking of their
+present residence, its conveniences, \&c. extorting from him
+occasional questions and remarks.  His coldness and reserve
+mortified her severely; she was vexed and half angry;
+but resolving to regulate her behaviour to him by the past
+rather than the present, she avoided every appearance
+of resentment or displeasure, and treated him as she
+thought he ought to be treated from the family connection.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 17}
+
+
+\gintro{Mrs.\ Dashwood} was surprised only for a moment at
+seeing him; for his coming to Barton was, in her opinion,
+of all things the most natural.  Her joy and expression
+of regard long outlived her wonder.  He received the kindest
+welcome from her; and shyness, coldness, reserve could not
+stand against such a reception.  They had begun to fail him
+before he entered the house, and they were quite overcome
+by the captivating manners of Mrs.\ Dashwood.  Indeed a man
+could not very well be in love with either of her daughters,
+without extending the passion to her; and Elinor had the
+satisfaction of seeing him soon become more like himself.
+His affections seemed to reanimate towards them all,
+and his interest in their welfare again became perceptible.
+He was not in spirits, however; he praised their house,
+admired its prospect, was attentive, and kind; but still
+he was not in spirits.  The whole family perceived it,
+and Mrs.\ Dashwood, attributing it to some want of liberality
+in his mother, sat down to table indignant against all
+selfish parents.
+
+``What are Mrs.\ Ferrars's views for you at present, Edward?''
+said she, when dinner was over and they had drawn round
+the fire; ``are you still to be a great orator in spite of
+yourself?''
+
+``No. I hope my mother is now convinced that I have
+no more talents than inclination for a public life!''
+
+``But how is your fame to be established? for famous you
+must be to satisfy all your family; and with no inclination
+for expense, no affection for strangers, no profession,
+and no assurance, you may find it a difficult matter.''
+
+``I shall not attempt it.  I have no wish to be
+distinguished; and have every reason to hope I never shall.
+Thank Heaven! I cannot be forced into genius and eloquence.''
+
+``You have no ambition, I well know.  Your wishes
+are all moderate.''
+
+``As moderate as those of the rest of the world,
+I believe.  I wish as well as every body else to be
+perfectly happy; but, like every body else it must be
+in my own way.  Greatness will not make me so.''
+
+``Strange that it would!'' cried Marianne.  ``What have
+wealth or grandeur to do with happiness?''
+
+``Grandeur has but little,'' said Elinor, ``but wealth
+has much to do with it.''
+
+``Elinor, for shame!'' said Marianne, ``money can only
+give happiness where there is nothing else to give it.
+Beyond a competence, it can afford no real satisfaction,
+as far as mere self is concerned.''
+
+``Perhaps,'' said Elinor, smiling, ``we may come
+to the same point.  \emph{Your} competence and \emph{my} wealth
+are very much alike, I dare say; and without them,
+as the world goes now, we shall both agree that every
+kind of external comfort must be wanting.  Your ideas
+are only more noble than mine.  Come, what is your competence?''
+
+``About eighteen hundred or two thousand a year;
+not more than \emph{that}.''
+
+Elinor laughed.  ``\emph{Two} thousand a year! \emph{One} is my
+wealth! I guessed how it would end.''
+
+``And yet two thousand a-year is a very moderate income,''
+said Marianne.  ``A family cannot well be maintained on
+a smaller.  I am sure I am not extravagant in my demands.
+A proper establishment of servants, a carriage, perhaps two,
+and hunters, cannot be supported on less.''
+
+Elinor smiled again, to hear her sister describing
+so accurately their future expenses at Combe Magna.
+
+``Hunters!'' repeated Edward---``but why must you have
+hunters?  Every body does not hunt.''
+
+Marianne coloured as she replied, ``But most people do.''
+
+``I wish,'' said Margaret, striking out a novel thought,
+``that somebody would give us all a large fortune apiece!''
+
+``Oh that they would!'' cried Marianne, her eyes
+sparkling with animation, and her cheeks glowing
+with the delight of such imaginary happiness.
+
+``We are all unanimous in that wish, I suppose,''
+said Elinor, ``in spite of the insufficiency of wealth.''
+
+``Oh dear!'' cried Margaret, ``how happy I should be!
+I wonder what I should do with it!''
+
+Marianne looked as if she had no doubt on that point.
+
+``I should be puzzled to spend so large a fortune myself,''
+said Mrs.\ Dashwood, ``if my children were all to be rich
+my help.''
+
+``You must begin your improvements on this house,''
+observed Elinor, ``and your difficulties will soon vanish.''
+
+``What magnificent orders would travel from this family
+to London,'' said Edward, ``in such an event!  What a happy
+day for booksellers, music-sellers, and print-shops!  You,
+Miss Dashwood, would give a general commission for every
+new print of merit to be sent you---and as for Marianne,
+I know her greatness of soul, there would not be music enough
+in London to content her.  And books!---Thomson, Cowper,
+Scott---she would buy them all over and over again: she
+would buy up every copy, I believe, to prevent their
+falling into unworthy hands; and she would have every
+book that tells her how to admire an old twisted tree.
+Should not you, Marianne?  Forgive me, if I am very saucy.
+But I was willing to shew you that I had not forgot our
+old disputes.''
+
+``I love to be reminded of the past, Edward---whether it
+be melancholy or gay, I love to recall it---and you
+will never offend me by talking of former times.
+You are very right in supposing how my money would be
+spent---some of it, at least---my loose cash would certainly
+be employed in improving my collection of music and books.''
+
+``And the bulk of your fortune would be laid out
+in annuities on the authors or their heirs.''
+
+``No, Edward, I should have something else to do
+with it.''
+
+``Perhaps, then, you would bestow it as a reward on that
+person who wrote the ablest defence of your favourite maxim,
+that no one can ever be in love more than once in their
+life---your opinion on that point is unchanged, I presume?''
+
+``Undoubtedly. At my time of life opinions are tolerably fixed.
+It is not likely that I should now see or hear any thing to
+change them.''
+
+``Marianne is as steadfast as ever, you see,'' said Elinor,
+``she is not at all altered.''
+
+``She is only grown a little more grave than she was.''
+
+``Nay, Edward,'' said Marianne, ``you need not reproach me.
+You are not very gay yourself.''
+
+``Why should you think so!'' replied he, with a sigh.
+``But gaiety never was a part of \emph{my} character.''
+
+``Nor do I think it a part of Marianne's,'' said Elinor;
+``I should hardly call her a lively girl---she is very earnest,
+very eager in all she does---sometimes talks a great deal
+and always with animation---but she is not often really merry.''
+
+``I believe you are right,'' he replied, ``and yet I
+have always set her down as a lively girl.''
+
+``I have frequently detected myself in such kind of mistakes,''
+said Elinor, ``in a total misapprehension of character in some
+point or other: fancying people so much more gay or grave,
+or ingenious or stupid than they really are, and I can
+hardly tell why or in what the deception originated.
+Sometimes one is guided by what they say of themselves,
+and very frequently by what other people say of them,
+without giving oneself time to deliberate and judge.''
+
+``But I thought it was right, Elinor,'' said Marianne,
+``to be guided wholly by the opinion of other people.
+I thought our judgments were given us merely to be subservient
+to those of neighbours.  This has always been your doctrine,
+I am sure.''
+
+``No, Marianne, never.  My doctrine has never aimed
+at the subjection of the understanding.  All I have
+ever attempted to influence has been the behaviour.
+You must not confound my meaning.  I am guilty, I confess,
+of having often wished you to treat our acquaintance
+in general with greater attention; but when have I advised
+you to adopt their sentiments or to conform to their
+judgment in serious matters?''
+
+``You have not been able to bring your sister over to your
+plan of general civility,'' said Edward to Elinor, ``Do you gain
+no ground?''
+
+``Quite the contrary,'' replied Elinor,
+looking expressively at Marianne.
+
+``My judgment,'' he returned, ``is all on your side
+of the question; but I am afraid my practice is much
+more on your sister's.  I never wish to offend, but I
+am so foolishly shy, that I often seem negligent,
+when I am only kept back by my natural awkwardness.
+I have frequently thought that I must have been intended
+by nature to be fond of low company, I am so little at
+my ease among strangers of gentility!''
+
+``Marianne has not shyness to excuse any inattention
+of hers,'' said Elinor.
+
+``She knows her own worth too well for false shame,''
+replied Edward.  ``Shyness is only the effect of a sense
+of inferiority in some way or other.  If I could persuade
+myself that my manners were perfectly easy and graceful,
+I should not be shy.''
+
+``But you would still be reserved,'' said Marianne,
+``and that is worse.''
+
+Edward started---``Reserved! Am I reserved, Marianne?''
+
+``Yes, very.''
+
+``I do not understand you,'' replied he, colouring.
+``Reserved!---how, in what manner?  What am I to tell you?
+What can you suppose?''
+
+Elinor looked surprised at his emotion; but trying
+to laugh off the subject, she said to him, ``Do not you
+know my sister well enough to understand what she means?
+Do not you know she calls every one reserved who does not
+talk as fast, and admire what she admires as rapturously
+as herself?''
+
+Edward made no answer.  His gravity and thoughtfulness
+returned on him in their fullest extent---and he sat
+for some time silent and dull.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 18}
+
+
+\gintro{Elinor} saw, with great uneasiness the low spirits
+of her friend.  His visit afforded her but a very
+partial satisfaction, while his own enjoyment in it
+appeared so imperfect.  It was evident that he was unhappy;
+she wished it were equally evident that he still
+distinguished her by the same affection which once
+she had felt no doubt of inspiring; but hitherto the
+continuance of his preference seemed very uncertain;
+and the reservedness of his manner towards her contradicted
+one moment what a more animated look had intimated the preceding
+one.
+
+He joined her and Marianne in the breakfast-room
+the next morning before the others were down; and Marianne,
+who was always eager to promote their happiness as far
+as she could, soon left them to themselves.  But before she
+was half way upstairs she heard the parlour door open, and,
+turning round, was astonished to see Edward himself come out.
+
+``I am going into the village to see my horses,''
+said be, ``as you are not yet ready for breakfast; I shall
+be back again presently.''
+
+\begin{center}* * *\end{center}
+
+Edward returned to them with fresh admiration
+of the surrounding country; in his walk to the village,
+he had seen many parts of the valley to advantage;
+and the village itself, in a much higher situation than
+the cottage, afforded a general view of the whole, which had
+exceedingly pleased him.  This was a subject which ensured
+Marianne's attention, and she was beginning to describe
+her own admiration of these scenes, and to question him more
+minutely on the objects that had particularly struck him,
+when Edward interrupted her by saying, ``You must not
+enquire too far, Marianne---remember I have no knowledge
+in the picturesque, and I shall offend you by my ignorance
+and want of taste if we come to particulars.  I shall call
+hills steep, which ought to be bold; surfaces strange
+and uncouth, which ought to be irregular and rugged;
+and distant objects out of sight, which ought only to be
+indistinct through the soft medium of a hazy atmosphere.
+You must be satisfied with such admiration as I can
+honestly give.  I call it a very fine country---the
+hills are steep, the woods seem full of fine timber,
+and the valley looks comfortable and snug---with rich
+meadows and several neat farm houses scattered here
+and there.  It exactly answers my idea of a fine country,
+because it unites beauty with utility---and I dare say it
+is a picturesque one too, because you admire it; I can
+easily believe it to be full of rocks and promontories,
+grey moss and brush wood, but these are all lost on me.
+I know nothing of the picturesque.''
+
+``I am afraid it is but too true,'' said Marianne;
+``but why should you boast of it?''
+
+``I suspect,'' said Elinor, ``that to avoid one kind
+of affectation, Edward here falls into another.  Because he
+believes many people pretend to more admiration of the beauties
+of nature than they really feel, and is disgusted with
+such pretensions, he affects greater indifference and less
+discrimination in viewing them himself than he possesses.
+He is fastidious and will have an affectation of his own.''
+
+``It is very true,'' said Marianne, ``that admiration
+of landscape scenery is become a mere jargon.
+Every body pretends to feel and tries to describe with
+the taste and elegance of him who first defined what
+picturesque beauty was.  I detest jargon of every kind,
+and sometimes I have kept my feelings to myself,
+because I could find no language to describe them
+in but what was worn and hackneyed out of all sense and meaning.''
+
+``I am convinced,'' said Edward, ``that you really feel
+all the delight in a fine prospect which you profess
+to feel.  But, in return, your sister must allow me
+to feel no more than I profess.  I like a fine prospect,
+but not on picturesque principles.  I do not like crooked,
+twisted, blasted trees.  I admire them much more if they
+are tall, straight, and flourishing.  I do not like ruined,
+tattered cottages.  I am not fond of nettles or thistles,
+or heath blossoms.  I have more pleasure in a snug
+farm-house than a watch-tower---and a troop of tidy,
+happy villages please me better than the finest banditti
+in the world.''
+
+Marianne looked with amazement at Edward,
+with compassion at her sister.  Elinor only laughed.
+
+The subject was continued no farther; and Marianne
+remained thoughtfully silent, till a new object suddenly
+engaged her attention.  She was sitting by Edward, and
+in taking his tea from Mrs.\ Dashwood, his hand passed
+so directly before her, as to make a ring, with a plait
+of hair in the centre, very conspicuous on one of his fingers.
+
+``I never saw you wear a ring before, Edward,'' she cried.
+``Is that Fanny's hair? I remember her promising to give
+you some.  But I should have thought her hair had been darker.''
+
+Marianne spoke inconsiderately what she really felt---%
+but when she saw how much she had pained Edward, her own
+vexation at her want of thought could not be surpassed
+by his.  He coloured very deeply, and giving a momentary
+glance at Elinor, replied, ``Yes; it is my sister's hair.
+The setting always casts a different shade on it,
+you know.''
+
+Elinor had met his eye, and looked conscious likewise.
+That the hair was her own, she instantaneously felt as
+well satisfied as Marianne; the only difference in their
+conclusions was, that what Marianne considered as a free
+gift from her sister, Elinor was conscious must have been
+procured by some theft or contrivance unknown to herself.
+She was not in a humour, however, to regard it as an affront,
+and affecting to take no notice of what passed,
+by instantly talking of something else, she internally
+resolved henceforward to catch every opportunity of eyeing
+the hair and of satisfying herself, beyond all doubt,
+that it was exactly the shade of her own.
+
+Edward's embarrassment lasted some time, and it
+ended in an absence of mind still more settled.
+He was particularly grave the whole morning.
+Marianne severely censured herself for what she had said;
+but her own forgiveness might have been more speedy,
+had she known how little offence it had given her sister.
+
+Before the middle of the day, they were visited by Sir
+John and Mrs.\ Jennings, who, having heard of the arrival
+of a gentleman at the cottage, came to take a survey
+of the guest.  With the assistance of his mother-in-law,
+Sir John was not long in discovering that the name of
+Ferrars began with an F. and this prepared a future mine
+of raillery against the devoted Elinor, which nothing but
+the newness of their acquaintance with Edward could have
+prevented from being immediately sprung.  But, as it was,
+she only learned, from some very significant looks, how far
+their penetration, founded on Margaret's instructions, extended.
+
+Sir John never came to the Dashwoods without either
+inviting them to dine at the park the next day, or to drink
+tea with them that evening.  On the present occasion,
+for the better entertainment of their visitor, towards
+whose amusement he felt himself bound to contribute,
+he wished to engage them for both.
+
+``You \emph{must} drink tea with us to night,'' said he,
+``for we shall be quite alone---and tomorrow you must
+absolutely dine with us, for we shall be a large party.''
+
+Mrs.\ Jennings enforced the necessity.  ``And who knows
+but you may raise a dance,'' said she.  ``And that will
+tempt \emph{you}, Miss Marianne.''
+
+``A dance!'' cried Marianne.  ``Impossible! Who is to dance?''
+
+``Who! why yourselves, and the Careys, and Whitakers
+to be sure.---What! you thought nobody could dance
+because a certain person that shall be nameless is gone!''
+
+``I wish with all my soul,'' cried Sir John,
+``that Willoughby were among us again.''
+
+This, and Marianne's blushing, gave new suspicions
+to Edward.  ``And who is Willoughby?'' said he, in a low voice,
+to Miss Dashwood, by whom he was sitting.
+
+She gave him a brief reply.  Marianne's countenance
+was more communicative.  Edward saw enough to comprehend,
+not only the meaning of others, but such of Marianne's
+expressions as had puzzled him before; and when their
+visitors left them, he went immediately round her, and said,
+in a whisper, ``I have been guessing.  Shall I tell you
+my guess?''
+
+``What do you mean?''
+
+``Shall I tell you.''
+
+``Certainly.''
+
+``Well then; I guess that Mr.\ Willoughby hunts.''
+
+Marianne was surprised and confused, yet she could
+not help smiling at the quiet archness of his manner,
+and after a moment's silence, said,
+
+``Oh, Edward! How can you?---But the time will come
+I hope \ldots I am sure you will like him.''
+
+``I do not doubt it,'' replied he, rather astonished
+at her earnestness and warmth; for had he not imagined it
+to be a joke for the good of her acquaintance in general,
+founded only on a something or a nothing between Mr.\ Willoughby
+and herself, he would not have ventured to mention it.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 19}
+
+
+\gintro{Edward} remained a week at the cottage; he was earnestly
+pressed by Mrs.\ Dashwood to stay longer; but, as if he
+were bent only on self-mortification, he seemed resolved
+to be gone when his enjoyment among his friends was at
+the height.  His spirits, during the last two or three days,
+though still very unequal, were greatly improved---he grew
+more and more partial to the house and environs---never
+spoke of going away without a sigh---declared his time
+to be wholly disengaged---even doubted to what place he
+should go when he left them---but still, go he must.
+Never had any week passed so quickly---he could hardly
+believe it to be gone.  He said so repeatedly; other things
+he said too, which marked the turn of his feelings and gave
+the lie to his actions.  He had no pleasure at Norland;
+he detested being in town; but either to Norland or London,
+he must go.  He valued their kindness beyond any thing,
+and his greatest happiness was in being with them.
+Yet, he must leave them at the end of a week, in spite
+of their wishes and his own, and without any restraint
+on his time.
+
+Elinor placed all that was astonishing in this
+way of acting to his mother's account; and it was
+happy for her that he had a mother whose character
+was so imperfectly known to her, as to be the general
+excuse for every thing strange on the part of her son.
+Disappointed, however, and vexed as she was, and sometimes
+displeased with his uncertain behaviour to herself,
+she was very well disposed on the whole to regard his actions
+with all the candid allowances and generous qualifications,
+which had been rather more painfully extorted from her,
+for Willoughby's service, by her mother.  His want of spirits,
+of openness, and of consistency, were most usually
+attributed to his want of independence, and his better
+knowledge of Mrs.\ Ferrars's disposition and designs.
+The shortness of his visit, the steadiness of his purpose
+in leaving them, originated in the same fettered inclination,
+the same inevitable necessity of temporizing with his mother.
+The old well-established grievance of duty against will,
+parent against child, was the cause of all.  She would have
+been glad to know when these difficulties were to cease,
+this opposition was to yield,---when Mrs.\ Ferrars would
+be reformed, and her son be at liberty to be happy.
+But from such vain wishes she was forced to turn for comfort
+to the renewal of her confidence in Edward's affection,
+to the remembrance of every mark of regard in look or word
+which fell from him while at Barton, and above all
+to that flattering proof of it which he constantly wore
+round his finger.
+
+``I think, Edward,'' said Mrs.\ Dashwood, as they were
+at breakfast the last morning, ``you would be a happier man
+if you had any profession to engage your time and give
+an interest to your plans and actions.  Some inconvenience
+to your friends, indeed, might result from it---you
+would not be able to give them so much of your time.
+But (with a smile) you would be materially benefited
+in one particular at least---you would know where to go
+when you left them.''
+
+``I do assure you,'' he replied, ``that I have long
+thought on this point, as you think now.  It has been,
+and is, and probably will always be a heavy misfortune
+to me, that I have had no necessary business to engage me,
+no profession to give me employment, or afford me any
+thing like independence.  But unfortunately my own nicety,
+and the nicety of my friends, have made me what I am,
+an idle, helpless being.  We never could agree in our
+choice of a profession.  I always preferred the church,
+as I still do.  But that was not smart enough for my family.
+They recommended the army.  That was a great deal
+too smart for me.  The law was allowed to be genteel
+enough; many young men, who had chambers in the Temple,
+made a very good appearance in the first circles,
+and drove about town in very knowing gigs.  But I had
+no inclination for the law, even in this less abstruse
+study of it, which my family approved.  As for the navy,
+it had fashion on its side, but I was too old when the
+subject was first started to enter it---and, at length,
+as there was no necessity for my having any profession
+at all, as I might be as dashing and expensive without
+a red coat on my back as with one, idleness was pronounced
+on the whole to be most advantageous and honourable,
+and a young man of eighteen is not in general so earnestly
+bent on being busy as to resist the solicitations of his
+friends to do nothing.  I was therefore entered at Oxford
+and have been properly idle ever since.''
+
+``The consequence of which, I suppose, will be,''
+said Mrs.\ Dashwood, ``since leisure has not promoted
+your own happiness, that your sons will be brought up
+to as many pursuits, employments, professions, and trades
+as Columella's.''
+
+``They will be brought up,'' said he, in a serious accent,
+``to be as unlike myself as is possible.  In feeling,
+in action, in condition, in every thing.''
+
+``Come, come; this is all an effusion of immediate
+want of spirits, Edward.  You are in a melancholy humour,
+and fancy that any one unlike yourself must be happy.
+But remember that the pain of parting from friends
+will be felt by every body at times, whatever be their
+education or state.  Know your own happiness.  You want
+nothing but patience---or give it a more fascinating name,
+call it hope.  Your mother will secure to you, in time,
+that independence you are so anxious for; it is her duty,
+and it will, it must ere long become her happiness to
+prevent your whole youth from being wasted in discontent.
+How much may not a few months do?''
+
+``I think,'' replied Edward, ``that I may defy many
+months to produce any good to me.''
+
+This desponding turn of mind, though it could not
+be communicated to Mrs.\ Dashwood, gave additional pain
+to them all in the parting, which shortly took place,
+and left an uncomfortable impression on Elinor's
+feelings especially, which required some trouble and time
+to subdue.  But as it was her determination to subdue it,
+and to prevent herself from appearing to suffer more than
+what all her family suffered on his going away, she did
+not adopt the method so judiciously employed by Marianne,
+on a similar occasion, to augment and fix her sorrow,
+by seeking silence, solitude and idleness.  Their means
+were as different as their objects, and equally suited
+to the advancement of each.
+
+Elinor sat down to her drawing-table as soon as he
+was out of the house, busily employed herself the whole day,
+neither sought nor avoided the mention of his name,
+appeared to interest herself almost as much as ever in the
+general concerns of the family, and if, by this conduct,
+she did not lessen her own grief, it was at least prevented
+from unnecessary increase, and her mother and sisters
+were spared much solicitude on her account.
+
+Such behaviour as this, so exactly the reverse
+of her own, appeared no more meritorious to Marianne,
+than her own had seemed faulty to her.  The business
+of self-command she settled very easily;---with strong
+affections it was impossible, with calm ones it could
+have no merit.  That her sister's affections \emph{were} calm,
+she dared not deny, though she blushed to acknowledge it;
+and of the strength of her own, she gave a very striking proof,
+by still loving and respecting that sister, in spite
+of this mortifying conviction.
+
+Without shutting herself up from her family,
+or leaving the house in determined solitude to avoid them,
+or lying awake the whole night to indulge meditation,
+Elinor found every day afforded her leisure enough
+to think of Edward, and of Edward's behaviour, in every
+possible variety which the different state of her spirits
+at different times could produce,---with tenderness,
+pity, approbation, censure, and doubt.  There were moments
+in abundance, when, if not by the absence of her mother
+and sisters, at least by the nature of their employments,
+conversation was forbidden among them, and every effect
+of solitude was produced.  Her mind was inevitably
+at liberty; her thoughts could not be chained elsewhere;
+and the past and the future, on a subject so interesting,
+must be before her, must force her attention, and engross
+her memory, her reflection, and her fancy.
+
+From a reverie of this kind, as she sat at her
+drawing-table, she was roused one morning, soon after
+Edward's leaving them, by the arrival of company.
+She happened to be quite alone.  The closing of the
+little gate, at the entrance of the green court in front
+of the house, drew her eyes to the window, and she saw
+a large party walking up to the door.  Amongst them
+were Sir John and Lady Middleton and Mrs.\ Jennings,
+but there were two others, a gentleman and lady, who were
+quite unknown to her.  She was sitting near the window,
+and as soon as Sir John perceived her, he left the rest
+of the party to the ceremony of knocking at the door,
+and stepping across the turf, obliged her to open the
+casement to speak to him, though the space was so short
+between the door and the window, as to make it hardly
+possible to speak at one without being heard at the other.
+
+``Well,'' said he, ``we have brought you some strangers.
+How do you like them?''
+
+``Hush! they will hear you.''
+
+``Never mind if they do.  It is only the Palmers.
+Charlotte is very pretty, I can tell you.  You may see her
+if you look this way.''
+
+As Elinor was certain of seeing her in a couple
+of minutes, without taking that liberty, she begged
+to be excused.
+
+``Where is Marianne? Has she run away because we
+are come? I see her instrument is open.''
+
+``She is walking, I believe.''
+
+They were now joined by Mrs.\ Jennings, who had not
+patience enough to wait till the door was opened before
+she told \emph{her} story.  She came hallooing to the window,
+``How do you do, my dear?  How does Mrs.\ Dashwood do?
+And where are your sisters?  What! all alone! you
+will be glad of a little company to sit with you.
+I have brought my other son and daughter to see you.
+Only think of their coming so suddenly!  I thought I heard
+a carriage last night, while we were drinking our tea,
+but it never entered my head that it could be them.
+I thought of nothing but whether it might not be Colonel
+Brandon come back again; so I said to Sir John, I do think
+I hear a carriage; perhaps it is Colonel Brandon come
+back again''---%
+
+Elinor was obliged to turn from her, in the middle
+of her story, to receive the rest of the party; Lady
+Middleton introduced the two strangers; Mrs.\ Dashwood
+and Margaret came down stairs at the same time, and they
+all sat down to look at one another, while Mrs.\ Jennings
+continued her story as she walked through the passage
+into the parlour, attended by Sir John.
+
+Mrs.\ Palmer was several years younger than Lady
+Middleton, and totally unlike her in every respect.
+She was short and plump, had a very pretty face,
+and the finest expression of good humour in it that could
+possibly be.  Her manners were by no means so elegant
+as her sister's, but they were much more prepossessing.
+She came in with a smile, smiled all the time of her visit,
+except when she laughed, and smiled when she went away.
+Her husband was a grave looking young man of five or six
+and twenty, with an air of more fashion and sense than
+his wife, but of less willingness to please or be pleased.
+He entered the room with a look of self-consequence,
+slightly bowed to the ladies, without speaking a word,
+and, after briefly surveying them and their apartments,
+took up a newspaper from the table, and continued to read it
+as long as he staid.
+
+Mrs.\ Palmer, on the contrary, who was strongly endowed
+by nature with a turn for being uniformly civil and happy,
+was hardly seated before her admiration of the parlour
+and every thing in it burst forth.
+
+``Well! what a delightful room this is! I never
+saw anything so charming!  Only think, Mamma, how it
+is improved since I was here last! I always thought it
+such a sweet place, ma'am! (turning to Mrs.\ Dashwood)
+but you have made it so charming!  Only look, sister,
+how delightful every thing is! How I should like such
+a house for myself!  Should not you, Mr.\ Palmer?''
+
+Mr.\ Palmer made her no answer, and did not even raise
+his eyes from the newspaper.
+
+``Mr.\ Palmer does not hear me,'' said she, laughing;
+``he never does sometimes.  It is so ridiculous!''
+
+This was quite a new idea to Mrs.\ Dashwood; she had
+never been used to find wit in the inattention of any one,
+and could not help looking with surprise at them both.
+
+Mrs.\ Jennings, in the meantime, talked on as loud
+as she could, and continued her account of their surprise,
+the evening before, on seeing their friends, without
+ceasing till every thing was told.  Mrs.\ Palmer laughed
+heartily at the recollection of their astonishment,
+and every body agreed, two or three times over, that it
+had been quite an agreeable surprise.
+
+``You may believe how glad we all were to see them,''
+added Mrs.\ Jennings, leaning forward towards Elinor,
+and speaking in a low voice as if she meant to be heard
+by no one else, though they were seated on different sides
+of the room; ``but, however, I can't help wishing they had
+not travelled quite so fast, nor made such a long journey
+of it, for they came all round by London upon account
+of some business, for you know (nodding significantly and
+pointing to her daughter) it was wrong in her situation.
+I wanted her to stay at home and rest this morning,
+but she would come with us; she longed so much to see
+you all!''
+
+Mrs.\ Palmer laughed, and said it would not do her
+any harm.
+
+``She expects to be confined in February,''
+continued Mrs.\ Jennings.
+
+Lady Middleton could no longer endure such a conversation,
+and therefore exerted herself to ask Mr.\ Palmer if there
+was any news in the paper.
+
+``No, none at all,'' he replied, and read on.
+
+``Here comes Marianne,'' cried Sir John.  ``Now, Palmer,
+you shall see a monstrous pretty girl.''
+
+He immediately went into the passage, opened the front door,
+and ushered her in himself.  Mrs.\ Jennings asked her,
+as soon as she appeared, if she had not been to Allenham;
+and Mrs.\ Palmer laughed so heartily at the question,
+as to show she understood it.  Mr.\ Palmer looked up
+on her entering the room, stared at her some minutes,
+and then returned to his newspaper.  Mrs.\ Palmer's eye
+was now caught by the drawings which hung round the room.
+She got up to examine them.
+
+``Oh! dear, how beautiful these are!  Well! how delightful!
+Do but look, mama, how sweet! I declare they are quite charming;
+I could look at them for ever.'' And then sitting down again,
+she very soon forgot that there were any such things in the room.
+
+When Lady Middleton rose to go away, Mr.\ Palmer
+rose also, laid down the newspaper, stretched himself
+and looked at them all around.
+
+``My love, have you been asleep?'' said his wife, laughing.
+
+He made her no answer; and only observed, after again
+examining the room, that it was very low pitched,
+and that the ceiling was crooked.  He then made his bow,
+and departed with the rest.
+
+Sir John had been very urgent with them all to
+spend the next day at the park.  Mrs.\ Dashwood, who did
+not chuse to dine with them oftener than they dined
+at the cottage, absolutely refused on her own account;
+her daughters might do as they pleased.  But they had no
+curiosity to see how Mr.\ and Mrs.\ Palmer ate their dinner,
+and no expectation of pleasure from them in any other way.
+They attempted, therefore, likewise, to excuse themselves;
+the weather was uncertain, and not likely to be good.
+But Sir John would not be satisfied---the carriage should
+be sent for them and they must come.  Lady Middleton too,
+though she did not press their mother, pressed them.
+Mrs.\ Jennings and Mrs.\ Palmer joined their entreaties, all
+seemed equally anxious to avoid a family party; and the young
+ladies were obliged to yield.
+
+``Why should they ask us?'' said Marianne, as soon as they
+were gone.  ``The rent of this cottage is said to be low;
+but we have it on very hard terms, if we are to dine
+at the park whenever any one is staying either with them,
+or with us.''
+
+``They mean no less to be civil and kind to us now,''
+said Elinor, ``by these frequent invitations, than by
+those which we received from them a few weeks ago.
+The alteration is not in them, if their parties are grown
+tedious and dull.  We must look for the change elsewhere.''
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 20}
+
+
+\gintro{As the Miss Dashwoods} entered the drawing-room of the park
+the next day, at one door, Mrs.\ Palmer came running in at
+the other, looking as good humoured and merry as before.
+She took them all most affectionately by the hand,
+and expressed great delight in seeing them again.
+
+``I am so glad to see you!'' said she, seating herself
+between Elinor and Marianne, ``for it is so bad a day I was
+afraid you might not come, which would be a shocking thing,
+as we go away again tomorrow. We must go, for the Westons
+come to us next week you know.  It was quite a sudden thing
+our coming at all, and I knew nothing of it till the carriage
+was coming to the door, and then Mr.\ Palmer asked me if I
+would go with him to Barton.  He is so droll! He never
+tells me any thing! I am so sorry we cannot stay longer;
+however we shall meet again in town very soon, I hope.''
+
+They were obliged to put an end to such an expectation.
+
+``Not go to town!'' cried Mrs.\ Palmer, with a laugh,
+``I shall be quite disappointed if you do not.  I could
+get the nicest house in world for you, next door to ours,
+in Hanover-square.  You must come, indeed.  I am sure
+I shall be very happy to chaperon you at any time till
+I am confined, if Mrs.\ Dashwood should not like to go
+into public.''
+
+They thanked her; but were obliged to resist all
+her entreaties.
+
+``Oh, my love,'' cried Mrs.\ Palmer to her husband,
+who just then entered the room---``you must help me to
+persuade the Miss Dashwoods to go to town this winter.''
+
+Her love made no answer; and after slightly bowing
+to the ladies, began complaining of the weather.
+
+``How horrid all this is!'' said he.  ``Such weather
+makes every thing and every body disgusting.  Dullness
+is as much produced within doors as without, by rain.
+It makes one detest all one's acquaintance.  What the
+devil does Sir John mean by not having a billiard room
+in his house?  How few people know what comfort is!  Sir
+John is as stupid as the weather.''
+
+The rest of the company soon dropt in.
+
+``I am afraid, Miss Marianne,'' said Sir John, ``you have
+not been able to take your usual walk to Allenham today.''
+
+Marianne looked very grave and said nothing.
+
+``Oh, don't be so sly before us,'' said Mrs.\ Palmer;
+``for we know all about it, I assure you; and I admire your
+taste very much, for I think he is extremely handsome.
+We do not live a great way from him in the country, you know.
+Not above ten miles, I dare say.''
+
+``Much nearer thirty,'' said her husband.
+
+``Ah, well! there is not much difference.
+I never was at his house; but they say it is a sweet
+pretty place.''
+
+``As vile a spot as I ever saw in my life,''
+said Mr.\ Palmer.
+
+Marianne remained perfectly silent, though her
+countenance betrayed her interest in what was said.
+
+``Is it very ugly?'' continued Mrs.\ Palmer---``then it
+must be some other place that is so pretty I suppose.''
+
+When they were seated in the dining room, Sir John
+observed with regret that they were only eight all together.
+
+``My dear,'' said he to his lady, ``it is very provoking
+that we should be so few.  Why did not you ask the Gilberts
+to come to us today?''
+
+``Did not I tell you, Sir John, when you spoke to me
+about it before, that it could not be done?  They dined
+with us last.''
+
+``You and I, Sir John,'' said Mrs.\ Jennings,
+``should not stand upon such ceremony.''
+
+``Then you would be very ill-bred,'' cried Mr.\ Palmer.
+
+``My love you contradict every body,'' said his wife
+with her usual laugh.  ``Do you know that you are quite rude?''
+
+``I did not know I contradicted any body in calling
+your mother ill-bred.''
+
+``Ay, you may abuse me as you please,'' said the good-natured
+old lady, ``you have taken Charlotte off my hands, and cannot
+give her back again.  So there I have the whip hand of you.''
+
+Charlotte laughed heartily to think that her
+husband could not get rid of her; and exultingly said,
+she did not care how cross he was to her, as they must
+live together.  It was impossible for any one to be more
+thoroughly good-natured, or more determined to be happy
+than Mrs.\ Palmer.  The studied indifference, insolence,
+and discontent of her husband gave her no pain;
+and when he scolded or abused her, she was highly diverted.
+
+``Mr.\ Palmer is so droll!'' said she, in a whisper,
+to Elinor.  ``He is always out of humour.''
+
+Elinor was not inclined, after a little observation,
+to give him credit for being so genuinely and unaffectedly
+ill-natured or ill-bred as he wished to appear.
+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.  I am sure you
+will like it of all things.  The Westons will be with us,
+and it will be quite delightful.  You cannot think
+what a sweet place Cleveland is; and we are so gay now,
+for Mr.\ Palmer is always going about the country canvassing
+against the election; and so many people came to dine
+with us that I never saw before, it is quite charming!  But,
+poor fellow! it is very fatiguing to him! for he is forced
+to make every body like him.''
+
+Elinor could hardly keep her countenance as she
+assented to the hardship of such an obligation.
+
+``How charming it will be,'' said Charlotte, ``when he
+is in Parliament!---won't it? How I shall laugh!  It will
+be so ridiculous to see all his letters directed to him
+with an M.P.---But do you know, he says, he will never frank
+for me?  He declares he won't.  Don't you, Mr.\ Palmer?''
+
+Mr.\ Palmer took no notice of her.
+
+``He cannot bear writing, you know,'' she continued---%
+``he says it is quite shocking.''
+
+``No,'' said he, ``I never said any thing so irrational.
+Don't palm all your abuses of languages upon me.''
+
+``There now; you see how droll he is.  This is always
+the way with him!  Sometimes he won't speak to me for half
+a day together, and then he comes out with something
+so droll---all about any thing in the world.''
+
+She surprised Elinor very much as they returned
+into the drawing-room, by asking her whether she did
+not like Mr.\ Palmer excessively.
+
+``Certainly,'' said Elinor; ``he seems very agreeable.''
+
+``Well---I am so glad you do.  I thought you would,
+he is so pleasant; and Mr.\ Palmer is excessively pleased
+with you and your sisters I can tell you, and you can't
+think how disappointed he will be if you don't come
+to Cleveland.---I can't imagine why you should object
+to it.''
+
+Elinor was again obliged to decline her invitation;
+and by changing the subject, put a stop to her entreaties.
+She thought it probable that as they lived in the
+same county, Mrs.\ Palmer might be able to give some
+more particular account of Willoughby's general
+character, than could be gathered from the Middletons'
+partial acquaintance with him; and she was eager to gain
+from any one, such a confirmation of his merits as might
+remove the possibility of fear from Marianne.  She began
+by inquiring if they saw much of Mr.\ Willoughby at Cleveland,
+and whether they were intimately acquainted with him.
+
+``Oh dear, yes; I know him extremely well,''
+replied Mrs.\ Palmer;---``Not that I ever spoke
+to him, indeed; but I have seen him for ever in town.
+Somehow or other I never happened to be staying at Barton
+while he was at Allenham.  Mama saw him here once before;---%
+but I was with my uncle at Weymouth.  However, I dare say
+we should have seen a great deal of him in Somersetshire,
+if it had not happened very unluckily that we should never
+have been in the country together.  He is very little
+at Combe, I believe; but if he were ever so much there,
+I do not think Mr.\ Palmer would visit him, for he is
+in the opposition, you know, and besides it is such a
+way off.  I know why you inquire about him, very well;
+your sister is to marry him.  I am monstrous glad of it,
+for then I shall have her for a neighbour you know.''
+
+``Upon my word,'' replied Elinor, ``you know much
+more of the matter than I do, if you have any reason
+to expect such a match.''
+
+``Don't pretend to deny it, because you know it is
+what every body talks of.  I assure you I heard of it
+in my way through town.''
+
+``My dear Mrs.\ Palmer!''
+
+``Upon my honour I did.---I met Colonel Brandon
+Monday morning in Bond-street, just before we left town,
+and he told me of it directly.''
+
+``You surprise me very much.  Colonel Brandon tell
+you of it!  Surely you must be mistaken.  To give such
+intelligence to a person who could not be interested in it,
+even if it were true, is not what I should expect Colonel
+Brandon to do.''
+
+``But I do assure you it was so, for all that,
+and I will tell you how it happened.  When we met him,
+he turned back and walked with us; and so we began talking
+of my brother and sister, and one thing and another,
+and I said to him, `So, Colonel, there is a new family
+come to Barton cottage, I hear, and mama sends me word
+they are very pretty, and that one of them is going to be
+married to Mr.\ Willoughby of Combe Magna.  Is it true,
+pray? for of course you must know, as you have been in
+Devonshire so lately.'\,''
+
+``And what did the Colonel say?''
+
+``Oh---he did not say much; but he looked as if he
+knew it to be true, so from that moment I set it down
+as certain.  It will be quite delightful, I declare!
+When is it to take place?''
+
+``Mr.\ Brandon was very well I hope?''
+
+``Oh! yes, quite well; and so full of your praises,
+he did nothing but say fine things of you.''
+
+``I am flattered by his commendation.  He seems
+an excellent man; and I think him uncommonly pleasing.''
+
+``So do I.---He is such a charming man, that it
+is quite a pity he should be so grave and so dull.
+Mamma says \emph{he} was in love with your sister too.---%
+I assure you it was a great compliment if he was, for he
+hardly ever falls in love with any body.''
+
+``Is Mr.\ Willoughby much known in your part
+of Somersetshire?'' said Elinor.
+
+``Oh! yes, extremely well; that is, I do not believe
+many people are acquainted with him, because Combe Magna
+is so far off; but they all think him extremely agreeable
+I assure you.  Nobody is more liked than Mr.\ Willoughby
+wherever he goes, and so you may tell your sister.
+She is a monstrous lucky girl to get him, upon my honour;
+not but that he is much more lucky in getting her,
+because she is so very handsome and agreeable, that nothing
+can be good enough for her.  However, I don't think
+her hardly at all handsomer than you, I assure you;
+for I think you both excessively pretty, and so does
+Mr.\ Palmer too I am sure, though we could not get him
+to own it last night.''
+
+Mrs.\ Palmer's information respecting Willoughby
+was not very material; but any testimony in his favour,
+however small, was pleasing to her.
+
+``I am so glad we are got acquainted at last,''
+continued Charlotte.---``And now I hope we shall always be
+great friends.  You can't think how much I longed to see you!
+It is so delightful that you should live at the cottage!
+Nothing can be like it, to be sure!  And I am so glad
+your sister is going to be well married!  I hope you will
+be a great deal at Combe Magna.  It is a sweet place,
+by all accounts.''
+
+``You have been long acquainted with Colonel Brandon,
+have not you?''
+
+``Yes, a great while; ever since my sister married.---%
+He was a particular friend of Sir John's. I believe,''
+she added in a low voice, ``he would have been very
+glad to have had me, if he could.  Sir John and Lady
+Middleton wished it very much.  But mama did not think
+the match good enough for me, otherwise Sir John would
+have mentioned it to the Colonel, and we should have been
+married immediately.''
+
+``Did not Colonel Brandon know of Sir John's proposal
+to your mother before it was made?  Had he never owned
+his affection to yourself?''
+
+``Oh, no; but if mama had not objected to it,
+I dare say he would have liked it of all things.
+He had not seen me then above twice, for it was before
+I left school.  However, I am much happier as I am.
+Mr.\ Palmer is the kind of man I like.''
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 21}
+
+
+\gintro{The Palmers} returned to Cleveland the next day,
+and the two families at Barton were again left to entertain
+each other.  But this did not last long; Elinor had hardly
+got their last visitors out of her head, had hardly done
+wondering at Charlotte's being so happy without a cause,
+at Mr.\ Palmer's acting so simply, with good abilities,
+and at the strange unsuitableness which often existed between
+husband and wife, before Sir John's and Mrs.\ Jennings's
+active zeal in the cause of society, procured her some
+other new acquaintance to see and observe.
+
+In a morning's excursion to Exeter, they had met with
+two young ladies, whom Mrs.\ Jennings had the satisfaction
+of discovering to be her relations, and this was enough
+for Sir John to invite them directly to the park,
+as soon as their present engagements at Exeter were over.
+Their engagements at Exeter instantly gave way before
+such an invitation, and Lady Middleton was thrown into
+no little alarm on the return of Sir John, by hearing
+that she was very soon to receive a visit from two girls
+whom she had never seen in her life, and of whose elegance,---%
+whose tolerable gentility even, she could have no proof;
+for the assurances of her husband and mother on that subject
+went for nothing at all.  Their being her relations too
+made it so much the worse; and Mrs.\ Jennings's attempts
+at consolation were therefore unfortunately founded,
+when she advised her daughter not to care about their being
+so fashionable; because they were all cousins and must put
+up with one another.  As it was impossible, however, now to
+prevent their coming, Lady Middleton resigned herself to the
+idea of it, with all the philosophy of a well-bred woman,
+contenting herself with merely giving her husband a gentle
+reprimand on the subject five or six times every day.
+
+The young ladies arrived: their appearance was by
+no means ungenteel or unfashionable.  Their dress was
+very smart, their manners very civil, they were delighted
+with the house, and in raptures with the furniture,
+and they happened to be so doatingly fond of children
+that Lady Middleton's good opinion was engaged in their
+favour before they had been an hour at the Park.
+She declared them to be very agreeable girls indeed,
+which for her ladyship was enthusiastic admiration.
+Sir John's confidence in his own judgment rose with this
+animated praise, and he set off directly for the cottage
+to tell the Miss Dashwoods of the Miss Steeles' arrival,
+and to assure them of their being the sweetest girls
+in the world.  From such commendation as this, however,
+there was not much to be learned; Elinor well knew
+that the sweetest girls in the world were to be met
+with in every part of England, under every possible
+variation of form, face, temper and understanding.
+Sir John wanted the whole family to walk to the Park directly
+and look at his guests.  Benevolent, philanthropic man!  It
+was painful to him even to keep a third cousin to himself.
+
+``Do come now,'' said he---``pray come---you must come---I
+declare you shall come---You can't think how you will
+like them.  Lucy is monstrous pretty, and so good humoured
+and agreeable!  The children are all hanging about her already,
+as if she was an old acquaintance.  And they both long
+to see you of all things, for they have heard at Exeter
+that you are the most beautiful creatures in the world;
+and I have told them it is all very true, and a great
+deal more.  You will be delighted with them I am sure.
+They have brought the whole coach full of playthings
+for the children.  How can you be so cross as not to come?
+Why they are your cousins, you know, after a fashion.
+\emph{You} are my cousins, and they are my wife's, so you must
+be related.''
+
+But Sir John could not prevail.  He could only obtain
+a promise of their calling at the Park within a day or two,
+and then left them in amazement at their indifference,
+to walk home and boast anew of their attractions to the
+Miss Steeles, as he had been already boasting of the Miss
+Steeles to them.
+
+When their promised visit to the Park and consequent
+introduction to these young ladies took place, they found
+in the appearance of the eldest, who was nearly thirty,
+with a very plain and not a sensible face, nothing to admire;
+but in the other, who was not more than two or three
+and twenty, they acknowledged considerable beauty; her
+features were pretty, and she had a sharp quick eye,
+and a smartness of air, which though it did not give
+actual elegance or grace, gave distinction to her person.---%
+Their manners were particularly civil, and Elinor soon
+allowed them credit for some kind of sense, when she
+saw with what constant and judicious attention they
+were making themselves agreeable to Lady Middleton.
+With her children they were in continual raptures,
+extolling their beauty, courting their notice, and humouring
+their whims; and such of their time as could be spared from
+the importunate demands which this politeness made on it,
+was spent in admiration of whatever her ladyship was doing,
+if she happened to be doing any thing, or in taking patterns
+of some elegant new dress, in which her appearance
+the day before had thrown them into unceasing delight.
+Fortunately for those who pay their court through
+such foibles, a fond mother, though, in pursuit of praise
+for her children, the most rapacious of human beings,
+is likewise the most credulous; her demands are exorbitant;
+but she will swallow any thing; and the excessive
+affection and endurance of the Miss Steeles towards
+her offspring were viewed therefore by Lady Middleton
+without the smallest surprise or distrust.  She saw with
+maternal complacency all the impertinent encroachments
+and mischievous tricks to which her cousins submitted.
+She saw their sashes untied, their hair pulled about
+their ears, their work-bags searched, and their knives
+and scissors stolen away, and felt no doubt of its being
+a reciprocal enjoyment.  It suggested no other surprise
+than that Elinor and Marianne should sit so composedly by,
+without claiming a share in what was passing.
+
+``John is in such spirits today!'' said she, on his
+taking Miss Steeles's pocket handkerchief, and throwing
+it out of window---``He is full of monkey tricks.''
+
+And soon afterwards, on the second boy's violently
+pinching one of the same lady's fingers, she fondly observed,
+``How playful William is!''
+
+``And here is my sweet little Annamaria,'' she added,
+tenderly caressing a little girl of three years old,
+who had not made a noise for the last two minutes;
+``And she is always so gentle and quiet---Never was there
+such a quiet little thing!''
+
+But unfortunately in bestowing these embraces,
+a pin in her ladyship's head dress slightly scratching
+the child's neck, produced from this pattern of gentleness
+such violent screams, as could hardly be outdone by any
+creature professedly noisy.  The mother's consternation
+was excessive; but it could not surpass the alarm of the
+Miss Steeles, and every thing was done by all three,
+in so critical an emergency, which affection could suggest
+as likely to assuage the agonies of the little sufferer.
+She was seated in her mother's lap, covered with kisses,
+her wound bathed with lavender-water, by one of the
+Miss Steeles, who was on her knees to attend her,
+and her mouth stuffed with sugar plums by the other.
+With such a reward for her tears, the child was too wise
+to cease crying.  She still screamed and sobbed lustily,
+kicked her two brothers for offering to touch her, and all
+their united soothings were ineffectual till Lady Middleton
+luckily remembering that in a scene of similar distress
+last week, some apricot marmalade had been successfully
+applied for a bruised temple, the same remedy was eagerly
+proposed for this unfortunate scratch, and a slight
+intermission of screams in the young lady on hearing it,
+gave them reason to hope that it would not be rejected.---%
+She was carried out of the room therefore in her
+mother's arms, in quest of this medicine, and as the
+two boys chose to follow, though earnestly entreated
+by their mother to stay behind, the four young ladies
+were left in a quietness which the room had not known for
+many hours.
+
+``Poor little creatures!'' said Miss Steele, as soon
+as they were gone.  ``It might have been a very sad accident.''
+
+``Yet I hardly know how,'' cried Marianne, ``unless it
+had been under totally different circumstances.
+But this is the usual way of heightening alarm, where there
+is nothing to be alarmed at in reality.''
+
+``What a sweet woman Lady Middleton is!'' said Lucy Steele.
+
+Marianne was silent; it was impossible for her to say
+what she did not feel, however trivial the occasion;
+and upon Elinor therefore the whole task of telling lies
+when politeness required it, always fell.  She did her
+best when thus called on, by speaking of Lady Middleton
+with more warmth than she felt, though with far less than
+Miss Lucy.
+
+``And Sir John too,'' cried the elder sister,
+``what a charming man he is!''
+
+Here too, Miss Dashwood's commendation, being only
+simple and just, came in without any eclat.  She merely
+observed that he was perfectly good humoured and friendly.
+
+``And what a charming little family they have!  I
+never saw such fine children in my life.---I declare I
+quite doat upon them already, and indeed I am always
+distractedly fond of children.''
+
+``I should guess so,'' said Elinor, with a smile,
+``from what I have witnessed this morning.''
+
+``I have a notion,'' said Lucy, ``you think the little
+Middletons rather too much indulged; perhaps they may be the
+outside of enough; but it is so natural in Lady Middleton;
+and for my part, I love to see children full of life
+and spirits; I cannot bear them if they are tame and quiet.''
+
+``I confess,'' replied Elinor, ``that while I am at
+Barton Park, I never think of tame and quiet children
+with any abhorrence.''
+
+A short pause succeeded this speech, which was first
+broken by Miss Steele, who seemed very much disposed
+for conversation, and who now said rather abruptly,
+``And how do you like Devonshire, Miss Dashwood?  I suppose
+you were very sorry to leave Sussex.''
+
+In some surprise at the familiarity of this question,
+or at least of the manner in which it was spoken,
+Elinor replied that she was.
+
+``Norland is a prodigious beautiful place, is not it?''
+added Miss Steele.
+
+``We have heard Sir John admire it excessively,''
+said Lucy, who seemed to think some apology necessary
+for the freedom of her sister.
+
+``I think every one \emph{must} admire it,'' replied Elinor,
+``who ever saw the place; though it is not to be supposed
+that any one can estimate its beauties as we do.''
+
+``And had you a great many smart beaux there?  I
+suppose you have not so many in this part of the world;
+for my part, I think they are a vast addition always.''
+
+``But why should you think,'' said Lucy, looking ashamed
+of her sister, ``that there are not as many genteel young
+men in Devonshire as Sussex?''
+
+``Nay, my dear, I'm sure I don't pretend to say that there
+an't.  I'm sure there's a vast many smart beaux in Exeter;
+but you know, how could I tell what smart beaux there
+might be about Norland; and I was only afraid the Miss
+Dashwoods might find it dull at Barton, if they had not
+so many as they used to have.  But perhaps you young ladies
+may not care about the beaux, and had as lief be without
+them as with them.  For my part, I think they are vastly
+agreeable, provided they dress smart and behave civil.
+But I can't bear to see them dirty and nasty.  Now there's
+Mr.\ Rose at Exeter, a prodigious smart young man,
+quite a beau, clerk to Mr.\ Simpson, you know, and yet if you
+do but meet him of a morning, he is not fit to be seen.---%
+I suppose your brother was quite a beau, Miss Dashwood,
+before he married, as he was so rich?''
+
+``Upon my word,'' replied Elinor, ``I cannot tell you,
+for I do not perfectly comprehend the meaning of the word.
+But this I can say, that if he ever was a beau before
+he married, he is one still for there is not the smallest
+alteration in him.''
+
+``Oh! dear! one never thinks of married men's being
+beaux---they have something else to do.''
+
+``Lord! Anne,'' cried her sister, ``you can talk of
+nothing but beaux;---you will make Miss Dashwood believe you
+think of nothing else.'' And then to turn the discourse,
+she began admiring the house and the furniture.
+
+This specimen of the Miss Steeles was enough.
+The vulgar freedom and folly of the eldest left
+her no recommendation, and as Elinor was not blinded
+by the beauty, or the shrewd look of the youngest,
+to her want of real elegance and artlessness, she left
+the house without any wish of knowing them better.
+
+Not so the Miss Steeles.---They came from Exeter, well
+provided with admiration for the use of Sir John Middleton,
+his family, and all his relations, and no niggardly
+proportion was now dealt out to his fair cousins, whom they
+declared to be the most beautiful, elegant, accomplished,
+and agreeable girls they had ever beheld, and with whom
+they were particularly anxious to be better acquainted.---%
+And to be better acquainted therefore, Elinor soon found
+was their inevitable lot, for as Sir John was entirely
+on the side of the Miss Steeles, their party would be
+too strong for opposition, and that kind of intimacy
+must be submitted to, which consists of sitting an hour
+or two together in the same room almost every day.
+Sir John could do no more; but he did not know that any
+more was required: to be together was, in his opinion,
+to be intimate, and while his continual schemes for their
+meeting were effectual, he had not a doubt of their being
+established friends.
+
+To do him justice, he did every thing in his power
+to promote their unreserve, by making the Miss Steeles
+acquainted with whatever he knew or supposed of his cousins'
+situations in the most delicate particulars,---and Elinor
+had not seen them more than twice, before the eldest of
+them wished her joy on her sister's having been so lucky
+as to make a conquest of a very smart beau since she
+came to Barton.
+
+``\,'Twill be a fine thing to have her married so young
+to be sure,'' said she, ``and I hear he is quite a beau,
+and prodigious handsome.  And I hope you may have as good
+luck yourself soon,---but perhaps you may have a friend
+in the corner already.''
+
+Elinor could not suppose that Sir John would be more
+nice in proclaiming his suspicions of her regard for Edward,
+than he had been with respect to Marianne; indeed it was
+rather his favourite joke of the two, as being somewhat
+newer and more conjectural; and since Edward's visit,
+they had never dined together without his drinking to her
+best affections with so much significancy and so many nods
+and winks, as to excite general attention.  The letter F---
+had been likewise invariably brought forward, and found
+productive of such countless jokes, that its character
+as the wittiest letter in the alphabet had been long
+established with Elinor.
+
+The Miss Steeles, as she expected, had now all the
+benefit of these jokes, and in the eldest of them they
+raised a curiosity to know the name of the gentleman
+alluded to, which, though often impertinently expressed,
+was perfectly of a piece with her general inquisitiveness
+into the concerns of their family.  But Sir John did not
+sport long with the curiosity which he delighted to raise,
+for he had at least as much pleasure in telling the name,
+as Miss Steele had in hearing it.
+
+``His name is Ferrars,'' said he, in a very audible whisper;
+``but pray do not tell it, for it's a great secret.''
+
+``Ferrars!'' repeated Miss Steele; ``Mr.\ Ferrars is
+the happy man, is he? What! your sister-in-law's brother,
+Miss Dashwood? a very agreeable young man to be sure;
+I know him very well.''
+
+``How can you say so, Anne?'' cried Lucy, who generally
+made an amendment to all her sister's assertions.
+``Though we have seen him once or twice at my uncle's, it
+is rather too much to pretend to know him very well.''
+
+Elinor heard all this with attention and surprise.
+``And who was this uncle?  Where did he live?  How came
+they acquainted?''  She wished very much to have the subject
+continued, though she did not chuse to join in it herself;
+but nothing more of it was said, and for the first time
+in her life, she thought Mrs.\ Jennings deficient either
+in curiosity after petty information, or in a disposition
+to communicate it.  The manner in which Miss Steele had
+spoken of Edward, increased her curiosity; for it struck
+her as being rather ill-natured, and suggested the suspicion
+of that lady's knowing, or fancying herself to know something
+to his disadvantage.---But her curiosity was unavailing,
+for no farther notice was taken of Mr.\ Ferrars's name by
+Miss Steele when alluded to, or even openly mentioned by Sir
+John.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 22}
+
+
+\gintro{Marianne,} who had never much toleration for any
+thing like impertinence, vulgarity, inferiority of parts,
+or even difference of taste from herself, was at
+this time particularly ill-disposed, from the state
+of her spirits, to be pleased with the Miss Steeles,
+or to encourage their advances; and to the invariable
+coldness of her behaviour towards them, which checked every
+endeavour at intimacy on their side, Elinor principally
+attributed that preference of herself which soon became
+evident in the manners of both, but especially of Lucy,
+who missed no opportunity of engaging her in conversation,
+or of striving to improve their acquaintance by an easy
+and frank communication of her sentiments.
+
+Lucy was naturally clever; her remarks were often
+just and amusing; and as a companion for half an hour
+Elinor frequently found her agreeable; but her powers
+had received no aid from education: she was ignorant
+and illiterate; and her deficiency of all mental improvement,
+her want of information in the most common particulars,
+could not be concealed from Miss Dashwood, in spite of her
+constant endeavour to appear to advantage.  Elinor saw,
+and pitied her for, the neglect of abilities which education
+might have rendered so respectable; but she saw, with less
+tenderness of feeling, the thorough want of delicacy,
+of rectitude, and integrity of mind, which her attentions,
+her assiduities, her flatteries at the Park betrayed;
+and she could have no lasting satisfaction in the company
+of a person who joined insincerity with ignorance;
+whose want of instruction prevented their meeting
+in conversation on terms of equality, and whose conduct
+toward others made every shew of attention and deference
+towards herself perfectly valueless.
+
+``You will think my question an odd one, I dare say,''
+said Lucy to her one day, as they were walking together
+from the park to the cottage---``but pray, are you
+personally acquainted with your sister-in-law's mother,
+Mrs.\ Ferrars?''
+
+Elinor \emph{did} think the question a very odd one,
+and her countenance expressed it, as she answered that she
+had never seen Mrs.\ Ferrars.
+
+``Indeed!'' replied Lucy; ``I wonder at that, for I
+thought you must have seen her at Norland sometimes.
+Then, perhaps, you cannot tell me what sort of a woman
+she is?''
+
+``No,'' returned Elinor, cautious of giving her real
+opinion of Edward's mother, and not very desirous
+of satisfying what seemed impertinent curiosity---%
+``I know nothing of her.''
+
+``I am sure you think me very strange, for enquiring
+about her in such a way,'' said Lucy, eyeing Elinor attentively
+as she spoke; ``but perhaps there may be reasons---I wish
+I might venture; but however I hope you will do me the justice
+of believing that I do not mean to be impertinent.''
+
+Elinor made her a civil reply, and they walked on
+for a few minutes in silence.  It was broken by Lucy,
+who renewed the subject again by saying, with some
+hesitation,
+
+``I cannot bear to have you think me impertinently curious.
+I am sure I would rather do any thing in the world than be
+thought so by a person whose good opinion is so well worth
+having as yours.  And I am sure I should not have the smallest
+fear of trusting \emph{you}; indeed, I should be very glad of your
+advice how to manage in such and uncomfortable situation
+as I am; but, however, there is no occasion to trouble \emph{you}.
+I am sorry you do not happen to know Mrs.\ Ferrars.''
+
+``I am sorry I do \emph{not},'' said Elinor, in great astonishment,
+``if it could be of any use to \emph{you} to know my opinion of her.
+But really I never understood that you were at all connected
+with that family, and therefore I am a little surprised,
+I confess, at so serious an inquiry into her character.''
+
+``I dare say you are, and I am sure I do not at all
+wonder at it.  But if I dared tell you all, you would not be
+so much surprised.  Mrs.\ Ferrars is certainly nothing to me
+at present---but the time \emph{may} come---how soon it will come
+must depend upon herself---when we may be very intimately
+connected.''
+
+She looked down as she said this, amiably bashful,
+with only one side glance at her companion to observe its
+effect on her.
+
+``Good heavens!'' cried Elinor, ``what do you mean?
+Are you acquainted with Mr.\ Robert Ferrars?  Can you be?''
+And she did not feel much delighted with the idea of such
+a sister-in-law.
+
+``No,'' replied Lucy, ``not to Mr.\ \emph{Robert} Ferrars---I
+never saw him in my life; but,'' fixing her eyes upon Elinor,
+``to his eldest brother.''
+
+What felt Elinor at that moment? Astonishment,
+that would have been as painful as it was strong, had not
+an immediate disbelief of the assertion attended it.
+She turned towards Lucy in silent amazement, unable to divine
+the reason or object of such a declaration; and though
+her complexion varied, she stood firm in incredulity,
+and felt in no danger of an hysterical fit, or a swoon.
+
+``You may well be surprised,'' continued Lucy;
+``for to be sure you could have had no idea of it before;
+for I dare say he never dropped the smallest hint of it
+to you or any of your family; because it was always meant
+to be a great secret, and I am sure has been faithfully
+kept so by me to this hour.  Not a soul of all my relations
+know of it but Anne, and I never should have mentioned
+it to you, if I had not felt the greatest dependence
+in the world upon your secrecy; and I really thought my
+behaviour in asking so many questions about Mrs.\ Ferrars
+must seem so odd, that it ought to be explained.
+And I do not think Mr.\ Ferrars can be displeased,
+when he knows I have trusted you, because I know he has
+the highest opinion in the world of all your family,
+and looks upon yourself and the other Miss Dashwoods quite
+as his own sisters.''---She paused.
+
+Elinor for a few moments remained silent.
+Her astonishment at what she heard was at first too
+great for words; but at length forcing herself to speak,
+and to speak cautiously, she said, with calmness of manner,
+which tolerably well concealed her surprise and solicitude---%
+``May I ask if your engagement is of long standing?''
+
+``We have been engaged these four years.''
+
+``Four years!''
+
+``Yes.''
+
+Elinor, though greatly shocked, still felt unable
+to believe it.
+
+``I did not know,'' said she, ``that you were even
+acquainted till the other day.''
+
+``Our acquaintance, however, is of many years date.
+He was under my uncle's care, you know, a considerable while.''
+
+``Your uncle!''
+
+``Yes; Mr.\ Pratt.  Did you never hear him talk
+of Mr.\ Pratt?''
+
+``I think I have,'' replied Elinor, with an exertion
+of spirits, which increased with her increase of emotion.
+
+``He was four years with my uncle, who lives at Longstaple,
+near Plymouth.  It was there our acquaintance begun,
+for my sister and me was often staying with my uncle,
+and it was there our engagement was formed, though not till
+a year after he had quitted as a pupil; but he was almost
+always with us afterwards.  I was very unwilling to enter
+into it, as you may imagine, without the knowledge and
+approbation of his mother; but I was too young, and loved
+him too well, to be so prudent as I ought to have been.---%
+Though you do not know him so well as me, Miss Dashwood,
+you must have seen enough of him to be sensible he is
+very capable of making a woman sincerely attached to him.''
+
+``Certainly,'' answered Elinor, without knowing what
+she said; but after a moment's reflection, she added,
+with revived security of Edward's honour and love,
+and her companion's falsehood---``Engaged to Mr.\ Edward
+Ferrars!---I confess myself so totally surprised at
+what you tell me, that really---I beg your pardon;
+but surely there must be some mistake of person or name.
+We cannot mean the same Mr.\ Ferrars.''
+
+``We can mean no other,'' cried Lucy, smiling.  ``Mr.\ Edward
+Ferrars, the eldest son of Mrs.\ Ferrars, of Park Street,
+and brother of your sister-in-law, Mrs.\ John Dashwood,
+is the person I mean; you must allow that I am not likely
+to be deceived as to the name of the man on who all my happiness
+depends.''
+
+``It is strange,'' replied Elinor, in a most painful perplexity,
+``that I should never have heard him even mention your name.''
+
+``No; considering our situation, it was not strange.
+Our first care has been to keep the matter secret.---%
+You knew nothing of me, or my family, and, therefore,
+there could be no \emph{occasion} for ever mentioning my name
+to you; and, as he was always particularly afraid of his
+sister's suspecting any thing, \emph{that} was reason enough
+for his not mentioning it.''
+
+She was silent.---Elinor's security sunk; but her
+self-command did not sink with it.
+
+``Four years you have been engaged,'' said she
+with a firm voice.
+
+``Yes; and heaven knows how much longer we may have
+to wait.  Poor Edward!  It puts him quite out of heart.''
+Then taking a small miniature from her pocket, she added,
+``To prevent the possibility of mistake, be so good as to look
+at this face.  It does not do him justice, to be sure,
+but yet I think you cannot be deceived as to the person
+it was drew for.---I have had it above these three years.''
+
+She put it into her hands as she spoke; and when Elinor
+saw the painting, whatever other doubts her fear of a
+too hasty decision, or her wish of detecting falsehood
+might suffer to linger in her mind, she could have none of
+its being Edward's face.  She returned it almost instantly,
+acknowledging the likeness.
+
+``I have never been able,'' continued Lucy, ``to give
+him my picture in return, which I am very much vexed at,
+for he has been always so anxious to get it!  But I am
+determined to set for it the very first opportunity.''
+
+``You are quite in the right,'' replied Elinor calmly.
+They then proceeded a few paces in silence.  Lucy spoke first.
+
+``I am sure,'' said she, ``I have no doubt in the world
+of your faithfully keeping this secret, because you must
+know of what importance it is to us, not to have it reach
+his mother; for she would never approve of it, I dare say.
+I shall have no fortune, and I fancy she is an exceeding
+proud woman.''
+
+``I certainly did not seek your confidence,'' said Elinor;
+``but you do me no more than justice in imagining that I
+may be depended on.  Your secret is safe with me;
+but pardon me if I express some surprise at so unnecessary
+a communication.  You must at least have felt that my
+being acquainted with it could not add to its safety.''
+
+As she said this, she looked earnestly at Lucy,
+hoping to discover something in her countenance; perhaps the
+falsehood of the greatest part of what she had been saying;
+but Lucy's countenance suffered no change.
+
+``I was afraid you would think I was taking a great
+liberty with you,'' said she, ``in telling you all this.
+I have not known you long to be sure, personally at least,
+but I have known you and all your family by description
+a great while; and as soon as I saw you, I felt almost as if
+you was an old acquaintance.  Besides in the present case,
+I really thought some explanation was due to you after my
+making such particular inquiries about Edward's mother;
+and I am so unfortunate, that I have not a creature whose
+advice I can ask.  Anne is the only person that knows of it,
+and she has no judgment at all; indeed, she does me a great
+deal more harm than good, for I am in constant fear of her
+betraying me.  She does not know how to hold her tongue,
+as you must perceive, and I am sure I was in the greatest
+fright in the world t'other day, when Edward's name was
+mentioned by Sir John, lest she should out with it all.
+You can't think how much I go through in my mind from
+it altogether.  I only wonder that I am alive after what
+I have suffered for Edward's sake these last four years.
+Every thing in such suspense and uncertainty; and seeing
+him so seldom---we can hardly meet above twice a-year.
+I am sure I wonder my heart is not quite broke.''
+
+Here she took out her handkerchief; but Elinor did
+not feel very compassionate.
+
+``Sometimes.'' continued Lucy, after wiping her eyes,
+``I think whether it would not be better for us both
+to break off the matter entirely.''  As she said this,
+she looked directly at her companion.  ``But then
+at other times I have not resolution enough for it.---%
+I cannot bear the thoughts of making him so miserable,
+as I know the very mention of such a thing would do.
+And on my own account too---so dear as he is to me---I don't
+think I could be equal to it.  What would you advise
+me to do in such a case, Miss Dashwood?  What would you
+do yourself?''
+
+``Pardon me,'' replied Elinor, startled by the question;
+``but I can give you no advice under such circumstances.
+Your own judgment must direct you.''
+
+``To be sure,'' continued Lucy, after a few minutes
+silence on both sides, ``his mother must provide for him
+sometime or other; but poor Edward is so cast down by it!
+Did you not think him dreadful low-spirited when he was at
+Barton?  He was so miserable when he left us at Longstaple,
+to go to you, that I was afraid you would think him quite ill.''
+
+``Did he come from your uncle's, then, when he visited us?''
+
+``Oh, yes; he had been staying a fortnight with us.
+Did you think he came directly from town?''
+
+``No,'' replied Elinor, most feelingly sensible of
+every fresh circumstance in favour of Lucy's veracity;
+``I remember he told us, that he had been staying
+a fortnight with some friends near Plymouth.''
+She remembered too, her own surprise at the time,
+at his mentioning nothing farther of those friends,
+at his total silence with respect even to their names.
+
+``Did not you think him sadly out of spirits?''
+repeated Lucy.
+
+``We did, indeed, particularly so when he first arrived.''
+
+``I begged him to exert himself for fear you
+should suspect what was the matter; but it made him
+so melancholy, not being able to stay more than a
+fortnight with us, and seeing me so much affected.---%
+Poor fellow!---I am afraid it is just the same with him now;
+for he writes in wretched spirits.  I heard from him just
+before I left Exeter;'' taking a letter from her pocket
+and carelessly showing the direction to Elinor.
+``You know his hand, I dare say, a charming one it is;
+but that is not written so well as usual.---He was tired,
+I dare say, for he had just filled the sheet to me as full
+as possible.''
+
+Elinor saw that it \emph{was} his hand, and she could doubt
+no longer.  This picture, she had allowed herself to believe,
+might have been accidentally obtained; it might not have
+been Edward's gift; but a correspondence between them
+by letter, could subsist only under a positive engagement,
+could be authorised by nothing else; for a few moments, she
+was almost overcome---her heart sunk within her, and she could
+hardly stand; but exertion was indispensably necessary;
+and she struggled so resolutely against the oppression
+of her feelings, that her success was speedy, and for
+the time complete.
+
+``Writing to each other,'' said Lucy, returning the
+letter into her pocket, ``is the only comfort we have
+in such long separations.  Yes, I have one other comfort
+in his picture, but poor Edward has not even \emph{that}.
+If he had but my picture, he says he should be easy.
+I gave him a lock of my hair set in a ring when he was at
+Longstaple last, and that was some comfort to him, he said,
+but not equal to a picture.  Perhaps you might notice
+the ring when you saw him?''
+
+``I did,'' said Elinor, with a composure of voice,
+under which was concealed an emotion and distress beyond
+any thing she had ever felt before.  She was mortified,
+shocked, confounded.
+
+Fortunately for her, they had now reached the cottage,
+and the conversation could be continued no farther.
+After sitting with them a few minutes, the Miss Steeles
+returned to the Park, and Elinor was then at liberty
+to think and be wretched.
+
+
+
+
+
+% [At this point in the first and second editions, Volume 1 ends.]
+
+
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 23}
+
+
+\gintro{However small} Elinor's general dependence on
+Lucy's veracity might be, it was impossible for her
+on serious reflection to suspect it in the present case,
+where no temptation could be answerable to the folly
+of inventing a falsehood of such a description.  What Lucy
+had asserted to be true, therefore, Elinor could not,
+dared not longer doubt; supported as it was too on every
+side by such probabilities and proofs, and contradicted
+by nothing but her own wishes.  Their opportunity of
+acquaintance in the house of Mr.\ Pratt was a foundation
+for the rest, at once indisputable and alarming; and Edward's
+visit near Plymouth, his melancholy state of mind,
+his dissatisfaction at his own prospects, his uncertain
+behaviour towards herself, the intimate knowledge of the
+Miss Steeles as to Norland and their family connections,
+which had often surprised her, the picture, the letter,
+the ring, formed altogether such a body of evidence,
+as overcame every fear of condemning him unfairly,
+and established as a fact, which no partiality could
+set aside, his ill-treatment of herself.---Her resentment
+of such behaviour, her indignation at having been its dupe,
+for a short time made her feel only for herself;
+but other ideas, other considerations, soon arose.
+Had Edward been intentionally deceiving her?  Had he feigned
+a regard for her which he did not feel?  Was his engagement
+to Lucy an engagement of the heart?  No; whatever it might
+once have been, she could not believe it such at present.
+His affection was all her own.  She could not be deceived
+in that.  Her mother, sisters, Fanny, all had been
+conscious of his regard for her at Norland; it was not
+an illusion of her own vanity.  He certainly loved her.
+What a softener of the heart was this persuasion!  How much
+could it not tempt her to forgive!  He had been blamable,
+highly blamable, in remaining at Norland after he first
+felt her influence over him to be more than it ought
+to be.  In that, he could not be defended; but if he
+had injured her, how much more had he injured himself;
+if her case were pitiable, his was hopeless.
+His imprudence had made her miserable for a while; but it
+seemed to have deprived himself of all chance of ever
+being otherwise.  She might in time regain tranquillity;
+but \emph{he}, what had he to look forward to?  Could he
+ever be tolerably happy with Lucy Steele; could he,
+were his affection for herself out of the question,
+with his integrity, his delicacy, and well-informed mind,
+be satisfied with a wife like her---illiterate, artful,
+and selfish?
+
+The youthful infatuation of nineteen would naturally
+blind him to every thing but her beauty and good nature;
+but the four succeeding years---years, which if rationally
+spent, give such improvement to the understanding, must
+have opened his eyes to her defects of education,
+while the same period of time, spent on her side
+in inferior society and more frivolous pursuits,
+had perhaps robbed her of that simplicity which might
+once have given an interesting character to her beauty.
+
+If in the supposition of his seeking to marry herself,
+his difficulties from his mother had seemed great,
+how much greater were they now likely to be, when
+the object of his engagement was undoubtedly inferior
+in connections, and probably inferior in fortune to herself.
+These difficulties, indeed, with a heart so alienated
+from Lucy, might not press very hard upon his patience;
+but melancholy was the state of the person by whom the
+expectation of family opposition and unkindness, could
+be felt as a relief!
+
+As these considerations occurred to her in painful
+succession, she wept for him, more than for herself.
+Supported by the conviction of having done nothing to
+merit her present unhappiness, and consoled by the belief
+that Edward had done nothing to forfeit her esteem,
+she thought she could even now, under the first smart
+of the heavy blow, command herself enough to guard every
+suspicion of the truth from her mother and sisters.
+And so well was she able to answer her own expectations,
+that when she joined them at dinner only two hours
+after she had first suffered the extinction of all her
+dearest hopes, no one would have supposed from the
+appearance of the sisters, that Elinor was mourning
+in secret over obstacles which must divide her for ever
+from the object of her love, and that Marianne was
+internally dwelling on the perfections of a man, of whose
+whole heart she felt thoroughly possessed, and whom she
+expected to see in every carriage which drove near their house.
+
+The necessity of concealing from her mother and
+Marianne, what had been entrusted in confidence to herself,
+though it obliged her to unceasing exertion, was no
+aggravation of Elinor's distress.  On the contrary
+it was a relief to her, to be spared the communication
+of what would give such affliction to them, and to be
+saved likewise from hearing that condemnation of Edward,
+which would probably flow from the excess of their partial
+affection for herself, and which was more than she felt
+equal to support.
+
+From their counsel, or their conversation, she knew
+she could receive no assistance, their tenderness and
+sorrow must add to her distress, while her self-command
+would neither receive encouragement from their example
+nor from their praise.  She was stronger alone,
+and her own good sense so well supported her, that her
+firmness was as unshaken, her appearance of cheerfulness
+as invariable, as with regrets so poignant and so fresh,
+it was possible for them to be.
+
+Much as she had suffered from her first conversation
+with Lucy on the subject, she soon felt an earnest wish
+of renewing it; and this for more reasons than one.
+She wanted to hear many particulars of their engagement
+repeated again, she wanted more clearly to understand
+what Lucy really felt for Edward, whether there were any
+sincerity in her declaration of tender regard for him,
+and she particularly wanted to convince Lucy, by her
+readiness to enter on the matter again, and her calmness
+in conversing on it, that she was no otherwise interested
+in it than as a friend, which she very much feared
+her involuntary agitation, in their morning discourse,
+must have left at least doubtful.  That Lucy was disposed
+to be jealous of her appeared very probable: it was plain
+that Edward had always spoken highly in her praise,
+not merely from Lucy's assertion, but from her venturing
+to trust her on so short a personal acquaintance,
+with a secret so confessedly and evidently important.
+And even Sir John's joking intelligence must have had
+some weight.  But indeed, while Elinor remained so well
+assured within herself of being really beloved by Edward,
+it required no other consideration of probabilities
+to make it natural that Lucy should be jealous;
+and that she was so, her very confidence was a proof.
+What other reason for the disclosure of the affair could
+there be, but that Elinor might be informed by it of Lucy's
+superior claims on Edward, and be taught to avoid him
+in future?  She had little difficulty in understanding thus
+much of her rival's intentions, and while she was firmly
+resolved to act by her as every principle of honour and
+honesty directed, to combat her own affection for Edward
+and to see him as little as possible; she could not deny
+herself the comfort of endeavouring to convince Lucy
+that her heart was unwounded.  And as she could now have
+nothing more painful to hear on the subject than had already
+been told, she did not mistrust her own ability of going
+through a repetition of particulars with composure.
+
+But it was not immediately that an opportunity
+of doing so could be commanded, though Lucy was as well
+disposed as herself to take advantage of any that occurred;
+for the weather was not often fine enough to allow
+of their joining in a walk, where they might most easily
+separate themselves from the others; and though they
+met at least every other evening either at the park
+or cottage, and chiefly at the former, they could
+not be supposed to meet for the sake of conversation.
+Such a thought would never enter either Sir John or Lady
+Middleton's head; and therefore very little leisure
+was ever given for a general chat, and none at all for
+particular discourse.  They met for the sake of eating,
+drinking, and laughing together, playing at cards,
+or consequences, or any other game that was sufficiently noisy.
+
+One or two meetings of this kind had taken place,
+without affording Elinor any chance of engaging Lucy
+in private, when Sir John called at the cottage one morning,
+to beg, in the name of charity, that they would all
+dine with Lady Middleton that day, as he was obliged
+to attend the club at Exeter, and she would otherwise be
+quite alone, except her mother and the two Miss Steeles.
+Elinor, who foresaw a fairer opening for the point she
+had in view, in such a party as this was likely to be,
+more at liberty among themselves under the tranquil
+and well-bred direction of Lady Middleton than when
+her husband united them together in one noisy purpose,
+immediately accepted the invitation; Margaret, with her
+mother's permission, was equally compliant, and Marianne,
+though always unwilling to join any of their parties,
+was persuaded by her mother, who could not bear to have her
+seclude herself from any chance of amusement, to go likewise.
+
+The young ladies went, and Lady Middleton was happily
+preserved from the frightful solitude which had threatened her.
+The insipidity of the meeting was exactly such as Elinor
+had expected; it produced not one novelty of thought
+or expression, and nothing could be less interesting
+than the whole of their discourse both in the dining
+parlour and drawing room: to the latter, the children
+accompanied them, and while they remained there, she was
+too well convinced of the impossibility of engaging Lucy's
+attention to attempt it.  They quitted it only with the
+removal of the tea-things.  The card-table was then placed,
+and Elinor began to wonder at herself for having ever
+entertained a hope of finding time for conversation
+at the park.  They all rose up in preparation for a round game.
+
+``I am glad,'' said Lady Middleton to Lucy,
+``you are not going to finish poor little Annamaria's
+basket this evening; for I am sure it must hurt your
+eyes to work filigree by candlelight.  And we will make
+the dear little love some amends for her disappointment
+to-morrow, and then I hope she will not much mind it.''
+
+This hint was enough, Lucy recollected herself instantly
+and replied, ``Indeed you are very much mistaken,
+Lady Middleton; I am only waiting to know whether you can
+make your party without me, or I should have been at my
+filigree already.  I would not disappoint the little angel
+for all the world: and if you want me at the card-table now,
+I am resolved to finish the basket after supper.''
+
+``You are very good, I hope it won't hurt your eyes---%
+will you ring the bell for some working candles?
+My poor little girl would be sadly disappointed, I know,
+if the basket was not finished tomorrow, for though I
+told her it certainly would not, I am sure she depends
+upon having it done.''
+
+Lucy directly drew her work table near her
+and reseated herself with an alacrity and cheerfulness
+which seemed to infer that she could taste no greater
+delight than in making a filigree basket for a spoilt child.
+
+Lady Middleton proposed a rubber of Casino to the others.
+No one made any objection but Marianne, who with her usual
+inattention to the forms of general civility, exclaimed,
+``Your Ladyship will have the goodness to excuse \emph{me}---you
+know I detest cards.  I shall go to the piano-forte;
+I have not touched it since it was tuned.''  And without
+farther ceremony, she turned away and walked to the instrument.
+
+Lady Middleton looked as if she thanked heaven
+that \emph{she} had never made so rude a speech.
+
+``Marianne can never keep long from that instrument
+you know, ma'am,'' said Elinor, endeavouring to smooth
+away the offence; ``and I do not much wonder at it; for it
+is the very best toned piano-forte I ever heard.''
+
+The remaining five were now to draw their cards.
+
+``Perhaps,'' continued Elinor, ``if I should happen
+to cut out, I may be of some use to Miss Lucy Steele,
+in rolling her papers for her; and there is so much still
+to be done to the basket, that it must be impossible
+I think for her labour singly, to finish it this evening.
+I should like the work exceedingly, if she would allow
+me a share in it.''
+
+``Indeed I shall be very much obliged to you
+for your help,'' cried Lucy, ``for I find there is more
+to be done to it than I thought there was; and it would
+be a shocking thing to disappoint dear Annamaria after all.''
+
+``Oh! that would be terrible, indeed,'' said Miss Steele---%
+``Dear little soul, how I do love her!''
+
+``You are very kind,'' said Lady Middleton to Elinor;
+``and as you really like the work, perhaps you will be
+as well pleased not to cut in till another rubber,
+or will you take your chance now?''
+
+Elinor joyfully profited by the first of these proposals,
+and thus by a little of that address which Marianne
+could never condescend to practise, gained her own end,
+and pleased Lady Middleton at the same time.  Lucy made room
+for her with ready attention, and the two fair rivals were
+thus seated side by side at the same table, and, with the
+utmost harmony, engaged in forwarding the same work.
+The pianoforte at which Marianne, wrapped up in her own
+music and her own thoughts, had by this time forgotten
+that any body was in the room besides herself, was luckily
+so near them that Miss Dashwood now judged she might safely,
+under the shelter of its noise, introduce the interesting
+subject, without any risk of being heard at the card-table.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 24}
+
+
+\gintro{In a firm,} though cautious tone, Elinor thus began.
+
+``I should be undeserving of the confidence you have
+honoured me with, if I felt no desire for its continuance,
+or no farther curiosity on its subject.  I will
+not apologize therefore for bringing it forward again.''
+
+``Thank you,'' cried Lucy warmly, ``for breaking
+the ice; you have set my heart at ease by it; for I was
+somehow or other afraid I had offended you by what I
+told you that Monday.''
+
+``Offended me! How could you suppose so? Believe me,''
+and Elinor spoke it with the truest sincerity,
+``nothing could be farther from my intention than to give
+you such an idea.  Could you have a motive for the trust,
+that was not honourable and flattering to me?''
+
+``And yet I do assure you,'' replied Lucy, her little
+sharp eyes full of meaning, ``there seemed to me to be
+a coldness and displeasure in your manner that made me
+quite uncomfortable.  I felt sure that you was angry with me;
+and have been quarrelling with myself ever since, for having
+took such a liberty as to trouble you with my affairs.
+But I am very glad to find it was only my own fancy,
+and that you really do not blame me.  If you knew what a
+consolation it was to me to relieve my heart speaking to you
+of what I am always thinking of every moment of my life,
+your compassion would make you overlook every thing else
+I am sure.''
+
+``Indeed, I can easily believe that it was a very great
+relief to you, to acknowledge your situation to me, and be
+assured that you shall never have reason to repent it.
+Your case is a very unfortunate one; you seem to me to
+be surrounded with difficulties, and you will have need
+of all your mutual affection to support you under them.
+Mr.\ Ferrars, I believe, is entirely dependent on his mother.''
+
+``He has only two thousand pounds of his own; it would
+be madness to marry upon that, though for my own part,
+I could give up every prospect of more without a sigh.
+I have been always used to a very small income, and could
+struggle with any poverty for him; but I love him too well
+to be the selfish means of robbing him, perhaps, of all that
+his mother might give him if he married to please her.
+We must wait, it may be for many years.  With almost every
+other man in the world, it would be an alarming prospect;
+but Edward's affection and constancy nothing can deprive me of
+I know.''
+
+``That conviction must be every thing to you;
+and he is undoubtedly supported by the same trust in your's.
+If the strength of your reciprocal attachment had failed,
+as between many people, and under many circumstances
+it naturally would during a four years' engagement,
+your situation would have been pitiable, indeed.''
+
+Lucy here looked up; but Elinor was careful
+in guarding her countenance from every expression
+that could give her words a suspicious tendency.
+
+``Edward's love for me,'' said Lucy, ``has been pretty
+well put to the test, by our long, very long absence
+since we were first engaged, and it has stood the trial
+so well, that I should be unpardonable to doubt it now.
+I can safely say that he has never gave me one moment's
+alarm on that account from the first.''
+
+Elinor hardly knew whether to smile or sigh
+at this assertion.
+
+Lucy went on.  ``I am rather of a jealous temper too
+by nature, and from our different situations in life,
+from his being so much more in the world than me, and our
+continual separation, I was enough inclined for suspicion,
+to have found out the truth in an instant, if there had been
+the slightest alteration in his behaviour to me when we met,
+or any lowness of spirits that I could not account for,
+or if he had talked more of one lady than another,
+or seemed in any respect less happy at Longstaple than he
+used to be.  I do not mean to say that I am particularly
+observant or quick-sighted in general, but in such a case
+I am sure I could not be deceived.''
+
+``All this,'' thought Elinor, ``is very pretty;
+but it can impose upon neither of us.''
+
+``But what,'' said she after a short silence,
+``are your views? or have you none but that of waiting for
+Mrs.\ Ferrars's death, which is a melancholy and shocking
+extremity?---Is her son determined to submit to this,
+and to all the tediousness of the many years of suspense
+in which it may involve you, rather than run the risk
+of her displeasure for a while by owning the truth?''
+
+``If we could be certain that it would be only
+for a while!  But Mrs.\ Ferrars is a very headstrong
+proud woman, and in her first fit of anger upon hearing
+it, would very likely secure every thing to Robert,
+and the idea of that, for Edward's sake, frightens away
+all my inclination for hasty measures.''
+
+``And for your own sake too, or you are carrying
+your disinterestedness beyond reason.''
+
+Lucy looked at Elinor again, and was silent.
+
+``Do you know Mr.\ Robert Ferrars?'' asked Elinor.
+
+``Not at all---I never saw him; but I fancy he
+is very unlike his brother---silly and a great coxcomb.''
+
+``A great coxcomb!'' repeated Miss Steele, whose ear had
+caught those words by a sudden pause in Marianne's music.---%
+``Oh, they are talking of their favourite beaux, I dare say.''
+
+``No sister,'' cried Lucy, ``you are mistaken there, our
+favourite beaux are \emph{not} great coxcombs.''
+
+``I can answer for it that Miss Dashwood's is not,''
+said Mrs.\ Jennings, laughing heartily; ``for he is one
+of the modestest, prettiest behaved young men I ever saw;
+but as for Lucy, she is such a sly little creature,
+there is no finding out who \emph{she} likes.''
+
+``Oh,'' cried Miss Steele, looking significantly round
+at them, ``I dare say Lucy's beau is quite as modest
+and pretty behaved as Miss Dashwood's.''
+
+Elinor blushed in spite of herself.  Lucy bit her lip,
+and looked angrily at her sister.  A mutual silence took
+place for some time.  Lucy first put an end to it by saying
+in a lower tone, though Marianne was then giving them
+the powerful protection of a very magnificent concerto---%
+
+``I will honestly tell you of one scheme which has
+lately come into my head, for bringing matters to bear;
+indeed I am bound to let you into the secret, for you
+are a party concerned.  I dare say you have seen enough
+of Edward to know that he would prefer the church to every
+other profession; now my plan is that he should take
+orders as soon as he can, and then through your interest,
+which I am sure you would be kind enough to use out of
+friendship for him, and I hope out of some regard to me,
+your brother might be persuaded to give him Norland living;
+which I understand is a very good one, and the present
+incumbent not likely to live a great while.  That would
+be enough for us to marry upon, and we might trust to time
+and chance for the rest.''
+
+``I should always be happy,'' replied Elinor, ``to show
+any mark of my esteem and friendship for Mr.\ Ferrars;
+but do you not perceive that my interest on such an
+occasion would be perfectly unnecessary?  He is brother
+to Mrs.\ John Dashwood---\emph{that} must be recommendation enough
+to her husband.''
+
+``But Mrs.\ John Dashwood would not much approve
+of Edward's going into orders.''
+
+``Then I rather suspect that my interest would
+do very little.''
+
+They were again silent for many minutes.  At length
+Lucy exclaimed with a deep sigh,
+
+``I believe it would be the wisest way to put an end
+to the business at once by dissolving the engagement.
+We seem so beset with difficulties on every side,
+that though it would make us miserable for a time,
+we should be happier perhaps in the end.  But you will
+not give me your advice, Miss Dashwood?''
+
+``No,'' answered Elinor, with a smile, which concealed
+very agitated feelings, ``on such a subject I certainly
+will not.  You know very well that my opinion would have
+no weight with you, unless it were on the side of your wishes.''
+
+``Indeed you wrong me,'' replied Lucy, with great
+solemnity; ``I know nobody of whose judgment I think
+so highly as I do of yours; and I do really believe,
+that if you was to say to me, `I advise you by all means
+to put an end to your engagement with Edward Ferrars,
+it will be more for the happiness of both of you,'
+I should resolve upon doing it immediately.''
+
+Elinor blushed for the insincerity of Edward's
+future wife, and replied, ``This compliment would effectually
+frighten me from giving any opinion on the subject
+had I formed one.  It raises my influence much too high;
+the power of dividing two people so tenderly attached
+is too much for an indifferent person.''
+
+``\,'Tis because you are an indifferent person,'' said Lucy,
+with some pique, and laying a particular stress on those words,
+``that your judgment might justly have such weight with me.
+If you could be supposed to be biased in any respect
+by your own feelings, your opinion would not be worth having.''
+
+Elinor thought it wisest to make no answer to this,
+lest they might provoke each other to an unsuitable increase
+of ease and unreserve; and was even partly determined
+never to mention the subject again.  Another pause
+therefore of many minutes' duration, succeeded this speech,
+and Lucy was still the first to end it.
+
+``Shall you be in town this winter, Miss Dashwood?''
+said she with all her accustomary complacency.
+
+``Certainly not.''
+
+``I am sorry for that,'' returned the other,
+while her eyes brightened at the information,
+``it would have gave me such pleasure to meet you there!
+But I dare say you will go for all that.  To be sure,
+your brother and sister will ask you to come to them.''
+
+``It will not be in my power to accept their invitation
+if they do.''
+
+``How unlucky that is! I had quite depended upon
+meeting you there.  Anne and me are to go the latter end
+of January to some relations who have been wanting us to
+visit them these several years!  But I only go for the sake
+of seeing Edward.  He will be there in February, otherwise
+London would have no charms for me; I have not spirits for it.''
+
+Elinor was soon called to the card-table by the
+conclusion of the first rubber, and the confidential
+discourse of the two ladies was therefore at an end,
+to which both of them submitted without any reluctance,
+for nothing had been said on either side to make them
+dislike each other less than they had done before;
+and Elinor sat down to the card table with the melancholy
+persuasion that Edward was not only without affection
+for the person who was to be his wife; but that he had
+not even the chance of being tolerably happy in marriage,
+which sincere affection on \emph{her} side would have given,
+for self-interest alone could induce a woman to keep a man
+to an engagement, of which she seemed so thoroughly aware
+that he was weary.
+
+From this time the subject was never revived by Elinor,
+and when entered on by Lucy, who seldom missed an opportunity
+of introducing it, and was particularly careful to inform
+her confidante, of her happiness whenever she received a letter
+from Edward, it was treated by the former with calmness
+and caution, and dismissed as soon as civility would allow;
+for she felt such conversations to be an indulgence which
+Lucy did not deserve, and which were dangerous to herself.
+
+The visit of the Miss Steeles at Barton Park was
+lengthened far beyond what the first invitation implied.
+Their favour increased; they could not be spared;
+Sir John would not hear of their going; and in spite
+of their numerous and long arranged engagements in Exeter,
+in spite of the absolute necessity of returning to fulfill
+them immediately, which was in full force at the end
+of every week, they were prevailed on to stay nearly two
+months at the park, and to assist in the due celebration
+of that festival which requires a more than ordinary
+share of private balls and large dinners to proclaim
+its importance.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 25}
+
+
+\gintro{Though Mrs.\ Jennings} was in the habit of spending a large
+portion of the year at the houses of her children and friends,
+she was not without a settled habitation of her own.
+Since the death of her husband, who had traded with success
+in a less elegant part of the town, she had resided every
+winter in a house in one of the streets near Portman Square.
+Towards this home, she began on the approach of January
+to turn her thoughts, and thither she one day abruptly,
+and very unexpectedly by them, asked the elder Misses
+Dashwood to accompany her.  Elinor, without observing
+the varying complexion of her sister, and the animated look
+which spoke no indifference to the plan, immediately gave
+a grateful but absolute denial for both, in which she
+believed herself to be speaking their united inclinations.
+The reason alleged was their determined resolution
+of not leaving their mother at that time of the year.
+Mrs.\ Jennings received the refusal with some surprise,
+and repeated her invitation immediately.
+
+``Oh, Lord! I am sure your mother can spare you
+very well, and I \emph{do} beg you will favour me with
+your company, for I've quite set my heart upon it.
+Don't fancy that you will be any inconvenience to me,
+for I shan't put myself at all out of my way for you.
+It will only be sending Betty by the coach, and I
+hope I can afford \emph{that}.  We three shall be able to go
+very well in my chaise; and when we are in town,
+if you do not like to go wherever I do, well and good,
+you may always go with one of my daughters.  I am sure
+your mother will not object to it; for I have had such
+good luck in getting my own children off my hands that she
+will think me a very fit person to have the charge of you;
+and if I don't get one of you at least well married
+before I have done with you, it shall not be my fault.
+I shall speak a good word for you to all the young men,
+you may depend upon it.''
+
+``I have a notion,'' said Sir John, ``that Miss Marianne
+would not object to such a scheme, if her elder sister
+would come into it.  It is very hard indeed that she
+should not have a little pleasure, because Miss Dashwood
+does not wish it.  So I would advise you two, to set off
+for town, when you are tired of Barton, without saying
+a word to Miss Dashwood about it.''
+
+``Nay,'' cried Mrs.\ Jennings, ``I am sure I shall be
+monstrous glad of Miss Marianne's company, whether Miss
+Dashwood will go or not, only the more the merrier say I,
+and I thought it would be more comfortable for them to
+be together; because, if they got tired of me, they might talk
+to one another, and laugh at my old ways behind my back.
+But one or the other, if not both of them, I must have.
+Lord bless me! how do you think I can live poking by myself,
+I who have been always used till this winter to have
+Charlotte with me.  Come, Miss Marianne, let us strike
+hands upon the bargain, and if Miss Dashwood will change
+her mind by and bye, why so much the better.''
+
+``I thank you, ma'am, sincerely thank you,'' said Marianne,
+with warmth: ``your invitation has insured my gratitude for ever,
+and it would give me such happiness, yes, almost the greatest
+happiness I am capable of, to be able to accept it.
+But my mother, my dearest, kindest mother,---I feel the
+justice of what Elinor has urged, and if she were to be
+made less happy, less comfortable by our absence---Oh! no,
+nothing should tempt me to leave her.  It should not,
+must not be a struggle.''
+
+Mrs.\ Jennings repeated her assurance that Mrs.\ Dashwood
+could spare them perfectly well; and Elinor, who now
+understood her sister, and saw to what indifference to
+almost every thing else she was carried by her eagerness
+to be with Willoughby again, made no farther direct
+opposition to the plan, and merely referred it to her
+mother's decision, from whom however she scarcely expected
+to receive any support in her endeavour to prevent a visit,
+which she could not approve of for Marianne, and which
+on her own account she had particular reasons to avoid.
+Whatever Marianne was desirous of, her mother would be eager
+to promote---she could not expect to influence the latter
+to cautiousness of conduct in an affair respecting which she
+had never been able to inspire her with distrust; and she
+dared not explain the motive of her own disinclination
+for going to London.  That Marianne, fastidious as she was,
+thoroughly acquainted with Mrs.\ Jennings' manners,
+and invariably disgusted by them, should overlook every
+inconvenience of that kind, should disregard whatever
+must be most wounding to her irritable feelings, in her
+pursuit of one object, was such a proof, so strong,
+so full, of the importance of that object to her, as Elinor,
+in spite of all that had passed, was not prepared to witness.
+
+On being informed of the invitation, Mrs.\ Dashwood,
+persuaded that such an excursion would be productive
+of much amusement to both her daughters, and perceiving
+through all her affectionate attention to herself,
+how much the heart of Marianne was in it, would not hear
+of their declining the offer upon \emph{her} account; insisted on
+their both accepting it directly; and then began to foresee,
+with her usual cheerfulness, a variety of advantages that
+would accrue to them all, from this separation.
+
+``I am delighted with the plan,'' she cried,
+``it is exactly what I could wish.  Margaret and I shall
+be as much benefited by it as yourselves.  When you
+and the Middletons are gone, we shall go on so quietly
+and happily together with our books and our music! You
+will find Margaret so improved when you come back again!
+I have a little plan of alteration for your bedrooms too,
+which may now be performed without any inconvenience
+to any one.  It is very right that you \emph{should} go to town;
+I would have every young woman of your condition in life
+acquainted with the manners and amusements of London.
+You will be under the care of a motherly good sort
+of woman, of whose kindness to you I can have no doubt.
+And in all probability you will see your brother,
+and whatever may be his faults, or the faults of his wife,
+when I consider whose son he is, I cannot bear to have you so
+wholly estranged from each other.''
+
+``Though with your usual anxiety for our happiness,''
+said Elinor, ``you have been obviating every impediment
+to the present scheme which occurred to you, there is
+still one objection which, in my opinion, cannot be so
+easily removed.''
+
+Marianne's countenance sunk.
+
+``And what,'' said Mrs.\ Dashwood, ``is my dear prudent
+Elinor going to suggest?  What formidable obstacle is she
+now to bring forward?  Do let me hear a word about the
+expense of it.''
+
+``My objection is this; though I think very well of
+Mrs.\ Jennings's heart, she is not a woman whose society
+can afford us pleasure, or whose protection will give
+us consequence.''
+
+``That is very true,'' replied her mother, ``but of
+her society, separately from that of other people,
+you will scarcely have any thing at all, and you will
+almost always appear in public with Lady Middleton.''
+
+``If Elinor is frightened away by her dislike of
+Mrs.\ Jennings,'' said Marianne, ``at least it need not prevent
+\emph{my} accepting her invitation.  I have no such scruples,
+and I am sure I could put up with every unpleasantness
+of that kind with very little effort.''
+
+Elinor could not help smiling at this display of
+indifference towards the manners of a person, to whom she
+had often had difficulty in persuading Marianne to behave
+with tolerable politeness; and resolved within herself,
+that if her sister persisted in going, she would
+go likewise, as she did not think it proper that Marianne
+should be left to the sole guidance of her own judgment,
+or that Mrs.\ Jennings should be abandoned to the mercy
+of Marianne for all the comfort of her domestic hours.
+To this determination she was the more easily reconciled,
+by recollecting that Edward Ferrars, by Lucy's account,
+was not to be in town before February; and that
+their visit, without any unreasonable abridgement,
+might be previously finished.
+
+``I will have you \emph{both} go,'' said Mrs.\ Dashwood;
+``these objections are nonsensical.  You will have much
+pleasure in being in London, and especially in being together;
+and if Elinor would ever condescend to anticipate enjoyment,
+she would foresee it there from a variety of sources;
+she would, perhaps, expect some from improving her
+acquaintance with her sister-in-law's family.''
+
+Elinor had often wished for an opportunity of
+attempting to weaken her mother's dependence on the
+attachment of Edward and herself, that the shock might
+be less when the whole truth were revealed, and now
+on this attack, though almost hopeless of success,
+she forced herself to begin her design by saying,
+as calmly as she could, ``I like Edward Ferrars very much,
+and shall always be glad to see him; but as to the rest
+of the family, it is a matter of perfect indifference
+to me, whether I am ever known to them or not.''
+
+Mrs.\ Dashwood smiled, and said nothing.
+Marianne lifted up her eyes in astonishment, and Elinor
+conjectured that she might as well have held her tongue.
+
+After very little farther discourse, it was finally
+settled that the invitation should be fully accepted.
+Mrs.\ Jennings received the information with a great
+deal of joy, and many assurances of kindness and care;
+nor was it a matter of pleasure merely to her.  Sir John
+was delighted; for to a man, whose prevailing anxiety
+was the dread of being alone, the acquisition of two,
+to the number of inhabitants in London, was something.
+Even Lady Middleton took the trouble of being delighted,
+which was putting herself rather out of her way;
+and as for the Miss Steeles, especially Lucy, they had
+never been so happy in their lives as this intelligence
+made them.
+
+Elinor submitted to the arrangement which counteracted
+her wishes with less reluctance than she had expected
+to feel.  With regard to herself, it was now a matter
+of unconcern whether she went to town or not, and when
+she saw her mother so thoroughly pleased with the plan,
+and her sister exhilarated by it in look, voice, and manner,
+restored to all her usual animation, and elevated to more
+than her usual gaiety, she could not be dissatisfied
+with the cause, and would hardly allow herself to distrust
+the consequence.
+
+Marianne's joy was almost a degree beyond happiness,
+so great was the perturbation of her spirits and her
+impatience to be gone.  Her unwillingness to quit her
+mother was her only restorative to calmness; and at the
+moment of parting her grief on that score was excessive.
+Her mother's affliction was hardly less, and Elinor
+was the only one of the three, who seemed to consider
+the separation as any thing short of eternal.
+
+Their departure took place in the first week in January.
+The Middletons were to follow in about a week.  The Miss
+Steeles kept their station at the park, and were to quit
+it only with the rest of the family.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 26}
+
+
+\gintro{Elinor} could not find herself in the carriage with Mrs.\ Jennings,
+and beginning a journey to London under her protection,
+and as her guest, without wondering at her own situation,
+so short had their acquaintance with that lady been,
+so wholly unsuited were they in age and disposition,
+and so many had been her objections against such a measure
+only a few days before! But these objections had all,
+with that happy ardour of youth which Marianne and her mother
+equally shared, been overcome or overlooked; and Elinor,
+in spite of every occasional doubt of Willoughby's constancy,
+could not witness the rapture of delightful expectation
+which filled the whole soul and beamed in the eyes
+of Marianne, without feeling how blank was her own prospect,
+how cheerless her own state of mind in the comparison,
+and how gladly she would engage in the solicitude of
+Marianne's situation to have the same animating object
+in view, the same possibility of hope.  A short, a very
+short time however must now decide what Willoughby's
+intentions were; in all probability he was already in town.
+Marianne's eagerness to be gone declared her dependence
+on finding him there; and Elinor was resolved not only upon
+gaining every new light as to his character which her
+own observation or the intelligence of others could give her,
+but likewise upon watching his behaviour to her sister
+with such zealous attention, as to ascertain what he was
+and what he meant, before many meetings had taken place.
+Should the result of her observations be unfavourable,
+she was determined at all events to open the eyes
+of her sister; should it be otherwise, her exertions
+would be of a different nature---she must then learn
+to avoid every selfish comparison, and banish every regret
+which might lessen her satisfaction in the happiness of Marianne.
+
+They were three days on their journey, and Marianne's
+behaviour as they travelled was a happy specimen of what
+future complaisance and companionableness to Mrs.\ Jennings
+might be expected to be.  She sat in silence almost all
+the way, wrapt in her own meditations, and scarcely ever
+voluntarily speaking, except when any object of picturesque
+beauty within their view drew from her an exclamation
+of delight exclusively addressed to her sister.  To atone
+for this conduct therefore, Elinor took immediate possession
+of the post of civility which she had assigned herself,
+behaved with the greatest attention to Mrs.\ Jennings,
+talked with her, laughed with her, and listened to her
+whenever she could; and Mrs.\ Jennings on her side
+treated them both with all possible kindness, was solicitous
+on every occasion for their ease and enjoyment, and only
+disturbed that she could not make them choose their own
+dinners at the inn, nor extort a confession of their
+preferring salmon to cod, or boiled fowls to veal cutlets.
+They reached town by three o'clock the third day, glad to
+be released, after such a journey, from the confinement
+of a carriage, and ready to enjoy all the luxury of a good fire.
+
+The house was handsome, and handsomely fitted up,
+and the young ladies were immediately put in possession
+of a very comfortable apartment.  It had formerly
+been Charlotte's, and over the mantelpiece still hung
+a landscape in coloured silks of her performance,
+in proof of her having spent seven years at a great school
+in town to some effect.
+
+As dinner was not to be ready in less than two
+hours from their arrival, Elinor determined to employ
+the interval in writing to her mother, and sat down for
+that purpose.  In a few moments Marianne did the same.
+``I am writing home, Marianne,'' said Elinor; ``had not you
+better defer your letter for a day or two?''
+
+``I am \emph{not} going to write to my mother,''
+replied Marianne, hastily, and as if wishing to avoid
+any farther inquiry.  Elinor said no more; it immediately
+struck her that she must then be writing to Willoughby;
+and the conclusion which as instantly followed was,
+that, however mysteriously they might wish to conduct
+the affair, they must be engaged.  This conviction,
+though not entirely satisfactory, gave her pleasure,
+and she continued her letter with greater alacrity.
+Marianne's was finished in a very few minutes;
+in length it could be no more than a note; it was then
+folded up, sealed, and directed with eager rapidity.
+Elinor thought she could distinguish a large W in
+the direction; and no sooner was it complete than Marianne,
+ringing the bell, requested the footman who answered it
+to get that letter conveyed for her to the two-penny post.
+This decided the matter at once.
+
+Her spirits still continued very high; but there
+was a flutter in them which prevented their giving much
+pleasure to her sister, and this agitation increased as
+the evening drew on.  She could scarcely eat any dinner,
+and when they afterwards returned to the drawing room,
+seemed anxiously listening to the sound of every carriage.
+
+It was a great satisfaction to Elinor that Mrs.\ Jennings,
+by being much engaged in her own room, could see little
+of what was passing.  The tea things were brought in,
+and already had Marianne been disappointed more than once
+by a rap at a neighbouring door, when a loud one was suddenly
+heard which could not be mistaken for one at any other house,
+Elinor felt secure of its announcing Willoughby's approach,
+and Marianne, starting up, moved towards the door.
+Every thing was silent; this could not be borne many seconds;
+she opened the door, advanced a few steps towards the stairs,
+and after listening half a minute, returned into the room
+in all the agitation which a conviction of having heard
+him would naturally produce; in the ecstasy of her
+feelings at that instant she could not help exclaiming,
+``Oh, Elinor, it is Willoughby, indeed it is!'' and seemed
+almost ready to throw herself into his arms, when Colonel
+Brandon appeared.
+
+It was too great a shock to be borne with calmness,
+and she immediately left the room.  Elinor was disappointed too;
+but at the same time her regard for Colonel Brandon ensured
+his welcome with her; and she felt particularly hurt that
+a man so partial to her sister should perceive that she
+experienced nothing but grief and disappointment in seeing him.
+She instantly saw that it was not unnoticed by him,
+that he even observed Marianne as she quitted the room,
+with such astonishment and concern, as hardly left him
+the recollection of what civility demanded towards herself.
+
+``Is your sister ill?'' said he.
+
+Elinor answered in some distress that she was,
+and then talked of head-aches, low spirits, and over fatigues;
+and of every thing to which she could decently attribute
+her sister's behaviour.
+
+He heard her with the most earnest attention,
+but seeming to recollect himself, said no more on the subject,
+and began directly to speak of his pleasure at seeing them
+in London, making the usual inquiries about their journey,
+and the friends they had left behind.
+
+In this calm kind of way, with very little interest
+on either side, they continued to talk, both of them out
+of spirits, and the thoughts of both engaged elsewhere.
+Elinor wished very much to ask whether Willoughby were
+then in town, but she was afraid of giving him pain
+by any enquiry after his rival; and at length, by way
+of saying something, she asked if he had been in London
+ever since she had seen him last.  ``Yes,'' he replied,
+with some embarrassment, ``almost ever since; I have been
+once or twice at Delaford for a few days, but it has never
+been in my power to return to Barton.''
+
+This, and the manner in which it was said,
+immediately brought back to her remembrance all the
+circumstances of his quitting that place, with the
+uneasiness and suspicions they had caused to Mrs.\ Jennings,
+and she was fearful that her question had implied
+much more curiosity on the subject than she had ever felt.
+
+Mrs.\ Jennings soon came in.  ``Oh! Colonel,'' said she,
+with her usual noisy cheerfulness, ``I am monstrous glad
+to see you---sorry I could not come before---beg your
+pardon, but I have been forced to look about me a little,
+and settle my matters; for it is a long while since I
+have been at home, and you know one has always a world
+of little odd things to do after one has been away for
+any time; and then I have had Cartwright to settle with---%
+Lord, I have been as busy as a bee ever since dinner!
+But pray, Colonel, how came you to conjure out that I should
+be in town today?''
+
+``I had the pleasure of hearing it at Mr.\ Palmer's,
+where I have been dining.''
+
+``Oh, you did; well, and how do they all do at their
+house?  How does Charlotte do?  I warrant you she is a fine
+size by this time.''
+
+``Mrs.\ Palmer appeared quite well, and I am commissioned
+to tell you, that you will certainly see her to-morrow.''
+
+``Ay, to be sure, I thought as much.  Well, Colonel,
+I have brought two young ladies with me, you see---that is,
+you see but one of them now, but there is another somewhere.
+Your friend, Miss Marianne, too---which you will not be
+sorry to hear.  I do not know what you and Mr.\ Willoughby
+will do between you about her.  Ay, it is a fine thing
+to be young and handsome.  Well! I was young once, but I
+never was very handsome---worse luck for me.  However, I got
+a very good husband, and I don't know what the greatest
+beauty can do more.  Ah! poor man! he has been dead
+these eight years and better.  But Colonel, where have
+you been to since we parted?  And how does your business
+go on?  Come, come, let's have no secrets among friends.''
+
+He replied with his accustomary mildness to all
+her inquiries, but without satisfying her in any.
+Elinor now began to make the tea, and Marianne was
+obliged to appear again.
+
+After her entrance, Colonel Brandon became
+more thoughtful and silent than he had been before,
+and Mrs.\ Jennings could not prevail on him to stay long.
+No other visitor appeared that evening, and the ladies
+were unanimous in agreeing to go early to bed.
+
+Marianne rose the next morning with recovered spirits
+and happy looks.  The disappointment of the evening before
+seemed forgotten in the expectation of what was to happen
+that day.  They had not long finished their breakfast before
+Mrs.\ Palmer's barouche stopped at the door, and in a few
+minutes she came laughing into the room: so delighted
+to see them all, that it was hard to say whether she
+received most pleasure from meeting her mother or the Miss
+Dashwoods again.  So surprised at their coming to town,
+though it was what she had rather expected all along;
+so angry at their accepting her mother's invitation
+after having declined her own, though at the same time
+she would never have forgiven them if they had not come!
+
+``Mr.\ Palmer will be so happy to see you,''
+said she; ``What do you think he said when he heard
+of your coming with Mamma?  I forget what it was now,
+but it was something so droll!''
+
+After an hour or two spent in what her mother called
+comfortable chat, or in other words, in every variety of inquiry
+concerning all their acquaintance on Mrs.\ Jennings's side,
+and in laughter without cause on Mrs.\ Palmer's, it was
+proposed by the latter that they should all accompany
+her to some shops where she had business that morning,
+to which Mrs.\ Jennings and Elinor readily consented,
+as having likewise some purchases to make themselves;
+and Marianne, though declining it at first was induced
+to go likewise.
+
+Wherever they went, she was evidently always on
+the watch.  In Bond Street especially, where much of
+their business lay, her eyes were in constant inquiry;
+and in whatever shop the party were engaged, her mind was
+equally abstracted from every thing actually before them,
+from all that interested and occupied the others.
+Restless and dissatisfied every where, her sister could
+never obtain her opinion of any article of purchase,
+however it might equally concern them both: she received
+no pleasure from anything; was only impatient to be at
+home again, and could with difficulty govern her vexation
+at the tediousness of Mrs.\ Palmer, whose eye was caught
+by every thing pretty, expensive, or new; who was wild
+to buy all, could determine on none, and dawdled away her
+time in rapture and indecision.
+
+It was late in the morning before they returned home;
+and no sooner had they entered the house than Marianne flew
+eagerly up stairs, and when Elinor followed, she found
+her turning from the table with a sorrowful countenance,
+which declared that no Willoughby had been there.
+
+``Has no letter been left here for me since we went out?''
+said she to the footman who then entered with the parcels.
+She was answered in the negative.  ``Are you quite sure
+of it?'' she replied.  ``Are you certain that no servant,
+no porter has left any letter or note?''
+
+The man replied that none had.
+
+``How very odd!'' said she, in a low and disappointed
+voice, as she turned away to the window.
+
+``How odd, indeed!'' repeated Elinor within herself,
+regarding her sister with uneasiness.  ``If she had not
+known him to be in town she would not have written to him,
+as she did; she would have written to Combe Magna;
+and if he is in town, how odd that he should neither
+come nor write!  Oh! my dear mother, you must be wrong
+in permitting an engagement between a daughter so young,
+a man so little known, to be carried on in so doubtful,
+so mysterious a manner!  I long to inquire; and how will \emph{my}
+interference be borne.''
+
+She determined, after some consideration, that if
+appearances continued many days longer as unpleasant as they
+now were, she would represent in the strongest manner
+to her mother the necessity of some serious enquiry into the
+affair.
+
+Mrs.\ Palmer and two elderly ladies of Mrs.\ Jennings's
+intimate acquaintance, whom she had met and invited
+in the morning, dined with them.  The former left them
+soon after tea to fulfill her evening engagements;
+and Elinor was obliged to assist in making a whist table
+for the others.  Marianne was of no use on these occasions,
+as she would never learn the game; but though her time
+was therefore at her own disposal, the evening was by no
+means more productive of pleasure to her than to Elinor,
+for it was spent in all the anxiety of expectation and the
+pain of disappointment.  She sometimes endeavoured for a
+few minutes to read; but the book was soon thrown aside,
+and she returned to the more interesting employment
+of walking backwards and forwards across the room,
+pausing for a moment whenever she came to the window,
+in hopes of distinguishing the long-expected rap.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 27}
+
+
+\gintro{``If this open weather} holds much longer,'' said Mrs.\ Jennings,
+when they met at breakfast the following morning,
+``Sir John will not like leaving Barton next week;
+'tis a sad thing for sportsmen to lose a day's pleasure.
+Poor souls!  I always pity them when they do; they seem
+to take it so much to heart.''
+
+``That is true,'' cried Marianne, in a cheerful voice,
+and walking to the window as she spoke, to examine the day.
+``I had not thought of that.  This weather will keep many
+sportsmen in the country.''
+
+It was a lucky recollection, all her good spirits were
+restored by it.  ``It is charming weather for \emph{them} indeed,''
+she continued, as she sat down to the breakfast table
+with a happy countenance.  ``How much they must enjoy
+it! But'' (with a little return of anxiety) ``it cannot
+be expected to last long.  At this time of the year,
+and after such a series of rain, we shall certainly
+have very little more of it.  Frosts will soon set in,
+and in all probability with severity.  In another day
+or two perhaps; this extreme mildness can hardly last
+longer---nay, perhaps it may freeze tonight!''
+
+``At any rate,'' said Elinor, wishing to prevent
+Mrs.\ Jennings from seeing her sister's thoughts as clearly
+as she did, ``I dare say we shall have Sir John and Lady
+Middleton in town by the end of next week.''
+
+``Ay, my dear, I'll warrant you we do.  Mary always
+has her own way.''
+
+``And now,'' silently conjectured Elinor, ``she will
+write to Combe by this day's post.''
+
+But if she \emph{did}, the letter was written and sent away
+with a privacy which eluded all her watchfulness to ascertain
+the fact.  Whatever the truth of it might be, and far
+as Elinor was from feeling thorough contentment about it,
+yet while she saw Marianne in spirits, she could not be
+very uncomfortable herself.  And Marianne was in spirits;
+happy in the mildness of the weather, and still happier
+in her expectation of a frost.
+
+The morning was chiefly spent in leaving cards at
+the houses of Mrs.\ Jennings's acquaintance to inform
+them of her being in town; and Marianne was all the time
+busy in observing the direction of the wind, watching the
+variations of the sky and imagining an alteration in the air.
+
+``Don't you find it colder than it was in the morning,
+Elinor? There seems to me a very decided difference.
+I can hardly keep my hands warm even in my muff.  It was
+not so yesterday, I think.  The clouds seem parting too,
+the sun will be out in a moment, and we shall have a
+clear afternoon.''
+
+Elinor was alternately diverted and pained;
+but Marianne persevered, and saw every night in the
+brightness of the fire, and every morning in the appearance
+of the atmosphere, the certain symptoms of approaching frost.
+
+The Miss Dashwoods had no greater reason to be
+dissatisfied with Mrs.\ Jennings's style of living, and set
+of acquaintance, than with her behaviour to themselves,
+which was invariably kind.  Every thing in her household
+arrangements was conducted on the most liberal plan,
+and excepting a few old city friends, whom, to Lady
+Middleton's regret, she had never dropped, she visited
+no one to whom an introduction could at all discompose
+the feelings of her young companions.  Pleased to find
+herself more comfortably situated in that particular than
+she had expected, Elinor was very willing to compound
+for the want of much real enjoyment from any of their
+evening parties, which, whether at home or abroad,
+formed only for cards, could have little to amuse her.
+
+Colonel Brandon, who had a general invitation
+to the house, was with them almost every day; he came
+to look at Marianne and talk to Elinor, who often derived
+more satisfaction from conversing with him than from any
+other daily occurrence, but who saw at the same time
+with much concern his continued regard for her sister.
+She feared it was a strengthening regard.  It grieved her
+to see the earnestness with which he often watched Marianne,
+and his spirits were certainly worse than when at Barton.
+
+About a week after their arrival, it became
+certain that Willoughby was also arrived.  His card
+was on the table when they came in from the morning's drive.
+
+``Good God!'' cried Marianne, ``he has been here while
+we were out.''  Elinor, rejoiced to be assured of his
+being in London, now ventured to say, ``Depend upon it,
+he will call again tomorrow.''  But Marianne seemed
+hardly to hear her, and on Mrs.\ Jenning's entrance,
+escaped with the precious card.
+
+This event, while it raised the spirits of Elinor,
+restored to those of her sister all, and more than all,
+their former agitation.  From this moment her mind was
+never quiet; the expectation of seeing him every hour
+of the day, made her unfit for any thing.  She insisted
+on being left behind, the next morning, when the others
+went out.
+
+Elinor's thoughts were full of what might be passing
+in Berkeley Street during their absence; but a moment's
+glance at her sister when they returned was enough to
+inform her, that Willoughby had paid no second visit there.
+A note was just then brought in, and laid on the table,
+
+``For me!'' cried Marianne, stepping hastily forward.
+
+``No, ma'am, for my mistress.''
+
+But Marianne, not convinced, took it instantly up.
+
+``It is indeed for Mrs.\ Jennings; how provoking!''
+
+``You are expecting a letter, then?'' said Elinor,
+unable to be longer silent.
+
+``Yes, a little---not much.''
+
+After a short pause.  ``You have no confidence
+in me, Marianne.''
+
+``Nay, Elinor, this reproach from \emph{you}---you who have
+confidence in no one!''
+
+``Me!'' returned Elinor in some confusion; ``indeed,
+Marianne, I have nothing to tell.''
+
+``Nor I,'' answered Marianne with energy, ``our situations
+then are alike.  We have neither of us any thing to tell;
+you, because you do not communicate, and I, because
+I conceal nothing.''
+
+Elinor, distressed by this charge of reserve in herself,
+which she was not at liberty to do away, knew not how,
+under such circumstances, to press for greater openness
+in Marianne.
+
+Mrs.\ Jennings soon appeared, and the note being
+given her, she read it aloud.  It was from Lady Middleton,
+announcing their arrival in Conduit Street the night before,
+and requesting the company of her mother and cousins
+the following evening.  Business on Sir John's part,
+and a violent cold on her own, prevented their calling
+in Berkeley Street.  The invitation was accepted;
+but when the hour of appointment drew near, necessary as
+it was in common civility to Mrs.\ Jennings, that they
+should both attend her on such a visit, Elinor had some
+difficulty in persuading her sister to go, for still
+she had seen nothing of Willoughby; and therefore was
+not more indisposed for amusement abroad, than unwilling
+to run the risk of his calling again in her absence.
+
+Elinor found, when the evening was over,
+that disposition is not materially altered by a change
+of abode, for although scarcely settled in town,
+Sir John had contrived to collect around him, nearly twenty
+young people, and to amuse them with a ball.  This was
+an affair, however, of which Lady Middleton did not approve.
+In the country, an unpremeditated dance was very allowable;
+but in London, where the reputation of elegance was more
+important and less easily attained, it was risking too much
+for the gratification of a few girls, to have it known that
+Lady Middleton had given a small dance of eight or nine couple,
+with two violins, and a mere side-board collation.
+
+Mr.\ and Mrs.\ Palmer were of the party; from the former,
+whom they had not seen before since their arrival in town,
+as he was careful to avoid the appearance of any attention
+to his mother-in-law, and therefore never came near her,
+they received no mark of recognition on their entrance.
+He looked at them slightly, without seeming to know
+who they were, and merely nodded to Mrs.\ Jennings from
+the other side of the room.  Marianne gave one glance
+round the apartment as she entered: it was enough---\emph{he}
+was not there---and she sat down, equally ill-disposed
+to receive or communicate pleasure.  After they had been
+assembled about an hour, Mr.\ Palmer sauntered towards
+the Miss Dashwoods to express his surprise on seeing them
+in town, though Colonel Brandon had been first informed
+of their arrival at his house, and he had himself said
+something very droll on hearing that they were to come.
+
+``I thought you were both in Devonshire,'' said he.
+
+``Did you?'' replied Elinor.
+
+``When do you go back again?''
+
+``I do not know.'' And thus ended their discourse.
+
+Never had Marianne been so unwilling to dance
+in her life, as she was that evening, and never so much
+fatigued by the exercise.  She complained of it
+as they returned to Berkeley Street.
+
+``Aye, aye,'' said Mrs.\ Jennings, ``we know the reason
+of all that very well; if a certain person who shall
+be nameless, had been there, you would not have been a
+bit tired: and to say the truth it was not very pretty
+of him not to give you the meeting when he was invited.''
+
+``Invited!'' cried Marianne.
+
+``So my daughter Middleton told me, for it seems Sir
+John met him somewhere in the street this morning.''
+Marianne said no more, but looked exceedingly hurt.
+Impatient in this situation to be doing something
+that might lead to her sister's relief, Elinor resolved
+to write the next morning to her mother, and hoped
+by awakening her fears for the health of Marianne,
+to procure those inquiries which had been so long delayed;
+and she was still more eagerly bent on this measure
+by perceiving after breakfast on the morrow, that Marianne
+was again writing to Willoughby, for she could not suppose
+it to be to any other person.
+
+About the middle of the day, Mrs.\ Jennings went out by
+herself on business, and Elinor began her letter directly,
+while Marianne, too restless for employment, too anxious
+for conversation, walked from one window to the other,
+or sat down by the fire in melancholy meditation.
+Elinor was very earnest in her application to her mother,
+relating all that had passed, her suspicions of
+Willoughby's inconstancy, urging her by every plea
+of duty and affection to demand from Marianne an account
+of her real situation with respect to him.
+
+Her letter was scarcely finished, when a rap
+foretold a visitor, and Colonel Brandon was announced.
+Marianne, who had seen him from the window, and who hated
+company of any kind, left the room before he entered it.
+He looked more than usually grave, and though expressing
+satisfaction at finding Miss Dashwood alone, as if he
+had somewhat in particular to tell her, sat for some
+time without saying a word.  Elinor, persuaded that he
+had some communication to make in which her sister
+was concerned, impatiently expected its opening.
+It was not the first time of her feeling the same kind
+of conviction; for, more than once before, beginning with
+the observation of ``your sister looks unwell to-day,''
+or ``your sister seems out of spirits,'' he had appeared
+on the point, either of disclosing, or of inquiring,
+something particular about her.  After a pause of several
+minutes, their silence was broken, by his asking her
+in a voice of some agitation, when he was to congratulate
+her on the acquisition of a brother?  Elinor was not
+prepared for such a question, and having no answer ready,
+was obliged to adopt the simple and common expedient,
+of asking what he meant?  He tried to smile as he replied,
+``your sister's engagement to Mr.\ Willoughby is very generally
+known.''
+
+``It cannot be generally known,'' returned Elinor,
+``for her own family do not know it.''
+
+He looked surprised and said, ``I beg your pardon,
+I am afraid my inquiry has been impertinent; but I had not
+supposed any secrecy intended, as they openly correspond,
+and their marriage is universally talked of.''
+
+``How can that be? By whom can you have heard
+it mentioned?''
+
+``By many---by some of whom you know nothing, by others
+with whom you are most intimate, Mrs.\ Jennings, Mrs.\ Palmer,
+and the Middletons.  But still I might not have believed it,
+for where the mind is perhaps rather unwilling to
+be convinced, it will always find something to support
+its doubts, if I had not, when the servant let me in today,
+accidentally seen a letter in his hand, directed to
+Mr.\ Willoughby in your sister's writing.  I came to inquire,
+but I was convinced before I could ask the question.
+Is every thing finally settled?  Is it impossible to-?
+But I have no right, and I could have no chance of succeeding.
+Excuse me, Miss Dashwood.  I believe I have been wrong
+in saying so much, but I hardly know what to do, and on
+your prudence I have the strongest dependence.  Tell me
+that it is all absolutely resolved on, that any attempt,
+that in short concealment, if concealment be possible,
+is all that remains.''
+
+These words, which conveyed to Elinor a direct avowal
+of his love for her sister, affected her very much.
+She was not immediately able to say anything, and even
+when her spirits were recovered, she debated for a short
+time, on the answer it would be most proper to give.
+The real state of things between Willoughby and her sister
+was so little known to herself, that in endeavouring
+to explain it, she might be as liable to say too much
+as too little.  Yet as she was convinced that Marianne's
+affection for Willoughby, could leave no hope of Colonel
+Brandon's success, whatever the event of that affection
+might be, and at the same time wished to shield her conduct
+from censure, she thought it most prudent and kind,
+after some consideration, to say more than she really knew
+or believed.  She acknowledged, therefore, that though
+she had never been informed by themselves of the terms
+on which they stood with each other, of their mutual
+affection she had no doubt, and of their correspondence
+she was not astonished to hear.
+
+He listened to her with silent attention, and on
+her ceasing to speak, rose directly from his seat,
+and after saying in a voice of emotion, ``to your sister
+I wish all imaginable happiness; to Willoughby that he
+may endeavour to deserve her,''---took leave, and went away.
+
+Elinor derived no comfortable feelings from this
+conversation, to lessen the uneasiness of her mind on
+other points; she was left, on the contrary, with a
+melancholy impression of Colonel Brandon's unhappiness,
+and was prevented even from wishing it removed,
+by her anxiety for the very event that must confirm it.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 28}
+
+
+\gintro{Nothing occurred} during the next three or four days,
+to make Elinor regret what she had done, in applying
+to her mother; for Willoughby neither came nor wrote.
+They were engaged about the end of that time to attend
+Lady Middleton to a party, from which Mrs.\ Jennings was
+kept away by the indisposition of her youngest daughter;
+and for this party, Marianne, wholly dispirited,
+careless of her appearance, and seeming equally indifferent
+whether she went or staid, prepared, without one look
+of hope or one expression of pleasure.  She sat by the
+drawing-room fire after tea, till the moment of Lady
+Middleton's arrival, without once stirring from her seat,
+or altering her attitude, lost in her own thoughts,
+and insensible of her sister's presence; and when at
+last they were told that Lady Middleton waited for them
+at the door, she started as if she had forgotten that
+any one was expected.
+
+They arrived in due time at the place of destination,
+and as soon as the string of carriages before them
+would allow, alighted, ascended the stairs, heard their
+names announced from one landing-place to another in an
+audible voice, and entered a room splendidly lit up,
+quite full of company, and insufferably hot.  When they had
+paid their tribute of politeness by curtsying to the lady
+of the house, they were permitted to mingle in the crowd,
+and take their share of the heat and inconvenience, to
+which their arrival must necessarily add.  After some time
+spent in saying little or doing less, Lady Middleton sat
+down to Cassino, and as Marianne was not in spirits for
+moving about, she and Elinor luckily succeeding to chairs,
+placed themselves at no great distance from the table.
+
+They had not remained in this manner long, before Elinor
+perceived Willoughby, standing within a few yards
+of them, in earnest conversation with a very fashionable
+looking young woman.  She soon caught his eye, and he
+immediately bowed, but without attempting to speak to her,
+or to approach Marianne, though he could not but see her;
+and then continued his discourse with the same lady.
+Elinor turned involuntarily to Marianne, to see whether
+it could be unobserved by her.  At that moment she first
+perceived him, and her whole countenance glowing with
+sudden delight, she would have moved towards him instantly,
+had not her sister caught hold of her.
+
+``Good heavens!'' she exclaimed, ``he is there---he
+is there---Oh! why does he not look at me? why cannot
+I speak to him?''
+
+``Pray, pray be composed,'' cried Elinor, ``and do
+not betray what you feel to every body present.
+Perhaps he has not observed you yet.''
+
+This however was more than she could believe herself;
+and to be composed at such a moment was not only beyond
+the reach of Marianne, it was beyond her wish.  She sat
+in an agony of impatience which affected every feature.
+
+At last he turned round again, and regarded them both;
+she started up, and pronouncing his name in a tone
+of affection, held out her hand to him.  He approached,
+and addressing himself rather to Elinor than Marianne,
+as if wishing to avoid her eye, and determined not to
+observe her attitude, inquired in a hurried manner after
+Mrs.\ Dashwood, and asked how long they had been in town.
+Elinor was robbed of all presence of mind by such an address,
+and was unable to say a word.  But the feelings of her sister
+were instantly expressed.  Her face was crimsoned over,
+and she exclaimed, in a voice of the greatest emotion,
+``Good God! Willoughby, what is the meaning of this?
+Have you not received my letters?  Will you not shake
+hands with me?''
+
+He could not then avoid it, but her touch seemed
+painful to him, and he held her hand only for a moment.
+During all this time he was evidently struggling for composure.
+Elinor watched his countenance and saw its expression
+becoming more tranquil.  After a moment's pause, he spoke
+with calmness.
+
+``I did myself the honour of calling in Berkeley
+Street last Tuesday, and very much regretted that I was
+not fortunate enough to find yourselves and Mrs.\ Jennings
+at home.  My card was not lost, I hope.''
+
+``But have you not received my notes?'' cried Marianne
+in the wildest anxiety.  ``Here is some mistake I am
+sure---some dreadful mistake.  What can be the meaning
+of it?  Tell me, Willoughby; for heaven's sake tell me,
+what is the matter?''
+
+He made no reply; his complexion changed and all his
+embarrassment returned; but as if, on catching the eye
+of the young lady with whom he had been previously talking,
+he felt the necessity of instant exertion, he recovered
+himself again, and after saying, ``Yes, I had the pleasure
+of receiving the information of your arrival in town,
+which you were so good as to send me,'' turned hastily away
+with a slight bow and joined his friend.
+
+Marianne, now looking dreadfully white, and unable
+to stand, sunk into her chair, and Elinor, expecting every
+moment to see her faint, tried to screen her from the
+observation of others, while reviving her with lavender water.
+
+``Go to him, Elinor,'' she cried, as soon as she
+could speak, ``and force him to come to me.  Tell him
+I must see him again---must speak to him instantly.---%
+I cannot rest---I shall not have a moment's peace till this
+is explained---some dreadful misapprehension or other.---%
+Oh go to him this moment.''
+
+``How can that be done? No, my dearest Marianne,
+you must wait.  This is not the place for explanations.
+Wait only till tomorrow.''
+
+With difficulty however could she prevent her
+from following him herself; and to persuade her to check
+her agitation, to wait, at least, with the appearance
+of composure, till she might speak to him with more privacy
+and more effect, was impossible; for Marianne continued
+incessantly to give way in a low voice to the misery
+of her feelings, by exclamations of wretchedness.
+In a short time Elinor saw Willoughby quit the room by the
+door towards the staircase, and telling Marianne that he
+was gone, urged the impossibility of speaking to him again
+that evening, as a fresh argument for her to be calm.
+She instantly begged her sister would entreat Lady
+Middleton to take them home, as she was too miserable
+to stay a minute longer.
+
+Lady Middleton, though in the middle of a rubber,
+on being informed that Marianne was unwell, was too
+polite to object for a moment to her wish of going away,
+and making over her cards to a friend, they departed
+as soon the carriage could be found.  Scarcely a word
+was spoken during their return to Berkeley Street.
+Marianne was in a silent agony, too much oppressed even
+for tears; but as Mrs.\ Jennings was luckily not come home,
+they could go directly to their own room, where hartshorn
+restored her a little to herself.  She was soon undressed
+and in bed, and as she seemed desirous of being alone,
+her sister then left her, and while she waited the return
+of Mrs.\ Jennings, had leisure enough for thinking over
+the past.
+
+That some kind of engagement had subsisted
+between Willoughby and Marianne she could not doubt,
+and that Willoughby was weary of it, seemed equally clear;
+for however Marianne might still feed her own wishes,
+\emph{she} could not attribute such behaviour to mistake
+or misapprehension of any kind.  Nothing but a thorough
+change of sentiment could account for it.  Her indignation
+would have been still stronger than it was, had she
+not witnessed that embarrassment which seemed to speak
+a consciousness of his own misconduct, and prevented
+her from believing him so unprincipled as to have been
+sporting with the affections of her sister from the first,
+without any design that would bear investigation.
+Absence might have weakened his regard, and convenience
+might have determined him to overcome it, but that such
+a regard had formerly existed she could not bring herself
+to doubt.
+
+As for Marianne, on the pangs which so unhappy a meeting
+must already have given her, and on those still more
+severe which might await her in its probable consequence,
+she could not reflect without the deepest concern.
+Her own situation gained in the comparison; for while she
+could \emph{esteem} Edward as much as ever, however they might be
+divided in future, her mind might be always supported.
+But every circumstance that could embitter such an evil
+seemed uniting to heighten the misery of Marianne
+in a final separation from Willoughby---in an immediate
+and irreconcilable rupture with him.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 29}
+
+
+\gintro{Before the house-maid} had lit their fire the next day,
+or the sun gained any power over a cold, gloomy morning
+in January, Marianne, only half dressed, was kneeling
+against one of the window-seats for the sake of all
+the little light she could command from it, and writing
+as fast as a continual flow of tears would permit her.
+In this situation, Elinor, roused from sleep by her agitation
+and sobs, first perceived her; and after observing her
+for a few moments with silent anxiety, said, in a tone
+of the most considerate gentleness,
+
+``Marianne, may I ask-?''
+
+``No, Elinor,'' she replied, ``ask nothing; you will
+soon know all.''
+
+The sort of desperate calmness with which this was said,
+lasted no longer than while she spoke, and was immediately
+followed by a return of the same excessive affliction.
+It was some minutes before she could go on with her letter,
+and the frequent bursts of grief which still obliged her,
+at intervals, to withhold her pen, were proofs enough of her
+feeling how more than probable it was that she was writing
+for the last time to Willoughby.
+
+Elinor paid her every quiet and unobtrusive attention
+in her power; and she would have tried to sooth and
+tranquilize her still more, had not Marianne entreated her,
+with all the eagerness of the most nervous irritability,
+not to speak to her for the world.  In such circumstances,
+it was better for both that they should not be long together;
+and the restless state of Marianne's mind not only prevented
+her from remaining in the room a moment after she was dressed,
+but requiring at once solitude and continual change of place,
+made her wander about the house till breakfast time, avoiding
+the sight of every body.
+
+At breakfast she neither ate, nor attempted to eat
+any thing; and Elinor's attention was then all employed,
+not in urging her, not in pitying her, nor in appearing
+to regard her, but in endeavouring to engage Mrs.\ Jenning's
+notice entirely to herself.
+
+As this was a favourite meal with Mrs.\ Jennings,
+it lasted a considerable time, and they were just setting
+themselves, after it, round the common working table, when a
+letter was delivered to Marianne, which she eagerly caught
+from the servant, and, turning of a death-like paleness,
+instantly ran out of the room.  Elinor, who saw as plainly
+by this, as if she had seen the direction, that it must
+come from Willoughby, felt immediately such a sickness
+at heart as made her hardly able to hold up her head,
+and sat in such a general tremour as made her fear it
+impossible to escape Mrs.\ Jenning's notice.  That good lady,
+however, saw only that Marianne had received a letter
+from Willoughby, which appeared to her a very good joke,
+and which she treated accordingly, by hoping, with a laugh,
+that she would find it to her liking.  Of Elinor's distress,
+she was too busily employed in measuring lengths of worsted
+for her rug, to see any thing at all; and calmly continuing
+her talk, as soon as Marianne disappeared, she said,
+
+``Upon my word, I never saw a young woman so
+desperately in love in my life!  \emph{My} girls were nothing
+to her, and yet they used to be foolish enough; but as
+for Miss Marianne, she is quite an altered creature.
+I hope, from the bottom of my heart, he won't keep her
+waiting much longer, for it is quite grievous to see her
+look so ill and forlorn.  Pray, when are they to be married?''
+
+Elinor, though never less disposed to speak than at
+that moment, obliged herself to answer such an attack
+as this, and, therefore, trying to smile, replied, ``And have
+you really, Ma'am, talked yourself into a persuasion
+of my sister's being engaged to Mr.\ Willoughby?  I thought
+it had been only a joke, but so serious a question seems
+to imply more; and I must beg, therefore, that you will not
+deceive yourself any longer.  I do assure you that nothing
+would surprise me more than to hear of their being going
+to be married.''
+
+``For shame, for shame, Miss Dashwood! how can you
+talk so?  Don't we all know that it must be a match, that
+they were over head and ears in love with each other from
+the first moment they met?  Did not I see them together
+in Devonshire every day, and all day long; and did not I
+know that your sister came to town with me on purpose
+to buy wedding clothes?  Come, come, this won't do.
+Because you are so sly about it yourself, you think nobody
+else has any senses; but it is no such thing, I can tell you,
+for it has been known all over town this ever so long.
+I tell every body of it and so does Charlotte.''
+
+``Indeed, Ma'am,'' said Elinor, very seriously,
+``you are mistaken.  Indeed, you are doing a very unkind thing
+in spreading the report, and you will find that you have
+though you will not believe me now.''
+
+Mrs.\ Jennings laughed again, but Elinor had not
+spirits to say more, and eager at all events to know
+what Willoughby had written, hurried away to their room,
+where, on opening the door, she saw Marianne stretched on
+the bed, almost choked by grief, one letter in her hand,
+and two or three others laying by her.  Elinor drew near,
+but without saying a word; and seating herself on the bed,
+took her hand, kissed her affectionately several times,
+and then gave way to a burst of tears, which at first
+was scarcely less violent than Marianne's. The latter,
+though unable to speak, seemed to feel all the tenderness
+of this behaviour, and after some time thus spent in
+joint affliction, she put all the letters into Elinor's hands;
+and then covering her face with her handkerchief,
+almost screamed with agony.  Elinor, who knew that such grief,
+shocking as it was to witness it, must have its course,
+watched by her till this excess of suffering had somewhat
+spent itself, and then turning eagerly to Willoughby's letter,
+read as follows:
+
+\bigskip
+                              ``Bond Street, January.
+\medskip
+
+     ``\emph{My dear Madam},
+\medskip
+
+     ``I have just had the honour of receiving your
+     letter, for which I beg to return my sincere
+     acknowledgments.  I am much concerned to find there
+     was anything in my behaviour last night that did
+     not meet your approbation; and though I am quite at
+     a loss to discover in what point I could be so
+     unfortunate as to offend you, I entreat your
+     forgiveness of what I can assure you to have been
+     perfectly unintentional.  I shall never reflect on
+     my former acquaintance with your family in Devonshire
+     without the most grateful pleasure, and flatter
+     myself it will not be broken by any mistake or
+     misapprehension of my actions.  My esteem for your
+     whole family is very sincere; but if I have been so
+     unfortunate as to give rise to a belief of more than
+     I felt, or meant to express, I shall reproach myself
+     for not having been more guarded in my professions
+     of that esteem.  That I should ever have meant more
+     you will allow to be impossible, when you understand
+     that my affections have been long engaged elsewhere,
+     and it will not be many weeks, I believe, before
+     this engagement is fulfilled.  It is with great
+     regret that I obey your commands in returning the
+     letters with which I have been honoured from you,
+     and the lock of hair, which you so obligingly bestowed
+     on me.
+
+     ``I am, dear Madam,
+
+               ``Your most obedient
+
+                    ``humble servant,
+
+\medskip
+                                        ``\emph{John Willoughby}.``
+\bigskip
+
+With what indignation such a letter as this must
+be read by Miss Dashwood, may be imagined.  Though aware,
+before she began it, that it must bring a confession
+of his inconstancy, and confirm their separation for ever,
+she was not aware that such language could be suffered
+to announce it; nor could she have supposed Willoughby
+capable of departing so far from the appearance of every
+honourable and delicate feeling---so far from the common
+decorum of a gentleman, as to send a letter so impudently
+cruel: a letter which, instead of bringing with his desire
+of a release any professions of regret, acknowledged no
+breach of faith, denied all peculiar affection whatever---%
+a letter of which every line was an insult, and which
+proclaimed its writer to be deep in hardened villainy.
+
+She paused over it for some time with indignant
+astonishment; then read it again and again; but every
+perusal only served to increase her abhorrence of the man,
+and so bitter were her feelings against him, that she
+dared not trust herself to speak, lest she might wound
+Marianne still deeper by treating their disengagement,
+not as a loss to her of any possible good but as an
+escape from the worst and most irremediable of all
+evils, a connection, for life, with an unprincipled man,
+as a deliverance the most real, a blessing the most important.
+
+In her earnest meditations on the contents of the letter,
+on the depravity of that mind which could dictate it,
+and probably, on the very different mind of a very different
+person, who had no other connection whatever with the affair
+than what her heart gave him with every thing that passed,
+Elinor forgot the immediate distress of her sister,
+forgot that she had three letters on her lap yet unread,
+and so entirely forgot how long she had been in the room,
+that when on hearing a carriage drive up to the door,
+she went to the window to see who could be coming so
+unreasonably early, she was all astonishment to perceive
+Mrs.\ Jennings's chariot, which she knew had not been
+ordered till one.  Determined not to quit Marianne,
+though hopeless of contributing, at present, to her ease,
+she hurried away to excuse herself from attending
+Mrs.\ Jennings, on account of her sister being indisposed.
+Mrs.\ Jennings, with a thoroughly good-humoured concern
+for its cause, admitted the excuse most readily, and Elinor,
+after seeing her safe off, returned to Marianne, whom she
+found attempting to rise from the bed, and whom she reached
+just in time to prevent her from falling on the floor,
+faint and giddy from a long want of proper rest and food;
+for it was many days since she had any appetite, and many
+nights since she had really slept; and now, when her
+mind was no longer supported by the fever of suspense,
+the consequence of all this was felt in an aching head,
+a weakened stomach, and a general nervous faintness.
+A glass of wine, which Elinor procured for her directly,
+made her more comfortable, and she was at last able to express
+some sense of her kindness, by saying,
+
+``Poor Elinor! how unhappy I make you!''
+
+``I only wish,'' replied her sister, ``there were
+any thing I \emph{could} do, which might be of comfort to you.''
+
+This, as every thing else would have been,
+was too much for Marianne, who could only exclaim,
+in the anguish of her heart, ``Oh! Elinor, I am miserable,
+indeed,'' before her voice was entirely lost in sobs.
+
+Elinor could no longer witness this torrent
+of unresisted grief in silence.
+
+``Exert yourself, dear Marianne,'' she cried,
+``if you would not kill yourself and all who love you.
+Think of your mother; think of her misery while \emph{you} suffer:
+for her sake you must exert yourself.''
+
+``I cannot, I cannot,'' cried Marianne; ``leave me,
+leave me, if I distress you; leave me, hate me, forget me!
+but do not torture me so.  Oh! how easy for those,
+who have no sorrow of their own to talk of exertion!  Happy,
+happy Elinor, \emph{you} cannot have an idea of what I suffer.''
+
+``Do you call \emph{me} happy, Marianne?  Ah! if you knew!---And
+can you believe me to be so, while I see you so wretched!''
+
+``Forgive me, forgive me,'' throwing her arms round
+her sister's neck; ``I know you feel for me; I know what
+a heart you have; but yet you are---you must be happy;
+Edward loves you---what, oh what, can do away such happiness
+as that?''
+
+``Many, many circumstances,'' said Elinor, solemnly.
+
+``No, no, no,'' cried Marianne wildly, ``he loves you,
+and only you.  You \emph{can} have no grief.''
+
+``I can have no pleasure while I see you in this state.''
+
+``And you will never see me otherwise.  Mine is
+a misery which nothing can do away.''
+
+``You must not talk so, Marianne.  Have you no
+comforts? no friends?  Is your loss such as leaves
+no opening for consolation?  Much as you suffer now,
+think of what you would have suffered if the discovery
+of his character had been delayed to a later period---%
+if your engagement had been carried on for months and months,
+as it might have been, before he chose to put an end to it.
+Every additional day of unhappy confidence, on your side,
+would have made the blow more dreadful.''
+
+``Engagement!'' cried Marianne, ``there has been
+no engagement.''
+
+``No engagement!''
+
+``No, he is not so unworthy as you believe him.
+He has broken no faith with me.''
+
+``But he told you that he loved you.''
+
+``Yes---no---never absolutely.  It was every day implied,
+but never professedly declared.  Sometimes I thought it
+had been---but it never was.''
+
+``Yet you wrote to him?''---%
+
+``Yes---could that be wrong after all that had passed?---%
+But I cannot talk.''
+
+Elinor said no more, and turning again to the three
+letters which now raised a much stronger curiosity
+than before, directly ran over the contents of all.
+The first, which was what her sister had sent him
+on their arrival in town, was to this effect.
+
+\bigskip
+                         Berkeley Street, January.
+\medskip
+
+     ``How surprised you will be, Willoughby, on
+     receiving this; and I think you will feel something
+     more than surprise, when you know that I am in town.
+     An opportunity of coming hither, though with Mrs.\ %
+     Jennings, was a temptation we could not resist.
+     I wish you may receive this in time to come here
+     to-night, but I will not depend on it.  At any rate
+     I shall expect you to-morrow. For the present, adieu.
+
+\medskip
+                                             ``M.D.''
+\bigskip
+
+Her second note, which had been written on the morning
+after the dance at the Middletons', was in these words:---%
+
+\bigskip
+     ``I cannot express my disappointment in having
+     missed you the day before yesterday, nor my astonishment
+     at not having received any answer to a note which
+     I sent you above a week ago.  I have been expecting
+     to hear from you, and still more to see you, every
+     hour of the day.  Pray call again as soon as possible,
+     and explain the reason of my having expected this
+     in vain.  You had better come earlier another time,
+     because we are generally out by one.  We were last
+     night at Lady Middleton's, where there was a dance.
+     I have been told that you were asked to be of the
+     party.  But could it be so?  You must be very much
+     altered indeed since we parted, if that could be
+     the case, and you not there.  But I will not suppose
+     this possible, and I hope very soon to receive your
+     personal assurance of its being otherwise.
+
+\medskip
+                                            ``M.D.''
+\bigskip
+
+The contents of her last note to him were these:---%
+
+\bigskip
+     ``What am I to imagine, Willoughby, by your
+     behaviour last night?  Again I demand an explanation
+     of it.  I was prepared to meet you with the pleasure
+     which our separation naturally produced, with the
+     familiarity which our intimacy at Barton appeared
+     to me to justify.  I was repulsed indeed! I have
+     passed a wretched night in endeavouring to excuse
+     a conduct which can scarcely be called less than
+     insulting; but though I have not yet been able to
+     form any reasonable apology for your behaviour,
+     I am perfectly ready to hear your justification of
+     it.  You have perhaps been misinformed, or purposely
+     deceived, in something concerning me, which may have
+     lowered me in your opinion.  Tell me what it is,
+     explain the grounds on which you acted, and I shall
+     be satisfied, in being able to satisfy you.  It
+     would grieve me indeed to be obliged to think ill
+     of you; but if I am to do it, if I am to learn that
+     you are not what we have hitherto believed you, that
+     your regard for us all was insincere, that your
+     behaviour to me was intended only to deceive, let
+     it be told as soon as possible.  My feelings are at
+     present in a state of dreadful indecision; I wish
+     to acquit you, but certainty on either side will be
+     ease to what I now suffer.  If your sentiments are
+     no longer what they were, you will return my notes,
+     and the lock of my hair which is in your possession.
+
+\medskip
+                                             ``M.D.''
+\bigskip
+
+That such letters, so full of affection and confidence,
+could have been so answered, Elinor, for Willoughby's sake,
+would have been unwilling to believe.  But her condemnation
+of him did not blind her to the impropriety of their
+having been written at all; and she was silently grieving
+over the imprudence which had hazarded such unsolicited
+proofs of tenderness, not warranted by anything preceding,
+and most severely condemned by the event, when Marianne,
+perceiving that she had finished the letters, observed to
+her that they contained nothing but what any one would
+have written in the same situation.
+
+``I felt myself,'' she added, ``to be as solemnly
+engaged to him, as if the strictest legal covenant
+had bound us to each other.''
+
+``I can believe it,'' said Elinor; ``but unfortunately
+he did not feel the same.''
+
+``He \emph{did} feel the same, Elinor---for weeks and weeks he
+felt it.  I know he did.  Whatever may have changed him now, (and
+nothing but the blackest art employed against me can have done
+it), I was once as dear to him as my own soul could wish.
+This lock of hair, which now he can so readily give up,
+was begged of me with the most earnest supplication.
+Had you seen his look, his manner, had you heard his voice
+at that moment!  Have you forgot the last evening of our
+being together at Barton?  The morning that we parted
+too!  When he told me that it might be many weeks before
+we met again---his distress---can I ever forget his distress?''
+
+For a moment or two she could say no more;
+but when this emotion had passed away, she added,
+in a firmer tone,
+
+``Elinor, I have been cruelly used; but not by Willoughby.''
+
+``Dearest Marianne, who but himself?  By whom can he
+have been instigated?''
+
+``By all the world, rather than by his own heart.
+I could rather believe every creature of my acquaintance
+leagued together to ruin me in his opinion, than believe
+his nature capable of such cruelty.  This woman of whom he
+writes---whoever she be---or any one, in short, but your own
+dear self, mama, and Edward, may have been so barbarous
+to bely me.  Beyond you three, is there a creature
+in the world whom I would not rather suspect of evil
+than Willoughby, whose heart I know so well?''
+
+Elinor would not contend, and only replied,
+``Whoever may have been so detestably your enemy, let them
+be cheated of their malignant triumph, my dear sister,
+by seeing how nobly the consciousness of your own
+innocence and good intentions supports your spirits.
+It is a reasonable and laudable pride which resists
+such malevolence.''
+
+``No, no,'' cried Marianne, ``misery such as mine has
+no pride.  I care not who knows that I am wretched.
+The triumph of seeing me so may be open to all the world.
+Elinor, Elinor, they who suffer little may be proud and
+independent as they like---may resist insult, or return
+mortification---but I cannot.  I must feel---I must be
+wretched---and they are welcome to enjoy the consciousness
+of it that can.''
+
+``But for my mother's sake and mine---''
+
+``I would do more than for my own.  But to appear
+happy when I am so miserable---Oh! who can require it?''
+
+Again they were both silent.  Elinor was employed
+in walking thoughtfully from the fire to the window,
+from the window to the fire, without knowing that she
+received warmth from one, or discerning objects through
+the other; and Marianne, seated at the foot of the bed,
+with her head leaning against one of its posts,
+again took up Willoughby's letter, and, after shuddering
+over every sentence, exclaimed---%
+
+``It is too much! Oh, Willoughby, Willoughby, could this
+be yours!  Cruel, cruel---nothing can acquit you.  Elinor,
+nothing can.  Whatever he might have heard against me---%
+ought he not to have suspended his belief? ought he not to
+have told me of it, to have given me the power of clearing
+myself? `The lock of hair, (repeating it from the letter,)
+which you so obligingly bestowed on me'---That is unpardonable.
+Willoughby, where was your heart when you wrote those words?
+Oh, barbarously insolent!---Elinor, can he be justified?''
+
+``No, Marianne, in no possible way.''
+
+``And yet this woman---who knows what her art may
+have been?---how long it may have been premeditated,
+and how deeply contrived by her!---Who is she?---Who can
+she be?---Whom did I ever hear him talk of as young and
+attractive among his female acquaintance?---Oh! no one,
+no one---he talked to me only of myself.''
+
+Another pause ensued; Marianne was greatly agitated,
+and it ended thus.
+
+``Elinor, I must go home.  I must go and comfort mama.
+Can not we be gone to-morrow?''
+
+``To-morrow, Marianne!''
+
+``Yes, why should I stay here? I came only for
+Willoughby's sake---and now who cares for me? Who regards me?''
+
+``It would be impossible to go to-morrow. We owe
+Mrs.\ Jennings much more than civility; and civility of
+the commonest kind must prevent such a hasty removal as that.''
+
+``Well then, another day or two, perhaps; but I cannot
+stay here long, I cannot stay to endure the questions
+and remarks of all these people.  The Middletons and
+Palmers---how am I to bear their pity?  The pity of such
+a woman as Lady Middleton!  Oh, what would \emph{he} say to that!''
+
+Elinor advised her to lie down again, and for a
+moment she did so; but no attitude could give her ease;
+and in restless pain of mind and body she moved from one
+posture to another, till growing more and more hysterical,
+her sister could with difficulty keep her on the bed at all,
+and for some time was fearful of being constrained to call
+for assistance.  Some lavender drops, however, which she
+was at length persuaded to take, were of use; and from
+that time till Mrs.\ Jennings returned, she continued
+on the bed quiet and motionless.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 30}
+
+
+\gintro{Mrs.\ Jennings} came immediately to their room on her return,
+and without waiting to have her request of admittance answered,
+opened the door and walked in with a look of real concern.
+
+``How do you do my dear?''---said she in a voice of great
+compassion to Marianne, who turned away her face without
+attempting to answer.
+
+``How is she, Miss Dashwood?---Poor thing! she looks very bad.---%
+No wonder.  Ay, it is but too true.  He is to be married
+very soon---a good-for-nothing fellow!  I have no patience
+with him.  Mrs.\ Taylor told me of it half an hour ago,
+and she was told it by a particular friend of Miss
+Grey herself, else I am sure I should not have believed it;
+and I was almost ready to sink as it was.  Well, said I,
+all I can say is, that if this be true, he has used
+a young lady of my acquaintance abominably ill, and I
+wish with all my soul his wife may plague his heart out.
+And so I shall always say, my dear, you may depend on it.
+I have no notion of men's going on in this way; and if ever
+I meet him again, I will give him such a dressing as he
+has not had this many a day.  But there is one comfort,
+my dear Miss Marianne; he is not the only young man
+in the world worth having; and with your pretty face
+you will never want admirers.  Well, poor thing!  I won't
+disturb her any longer, for she had better have her cry
+out at once and have done with.  The Parrys and Sandersons
+luckily are coming tonight you know, and that will amuse her.''
+
+She then went away, walking on tiptoe out of the room,
+as if she supposed her young friend's affliction could
+be increased by noise.
+
+Marianne, to the surprise of her sister,
+determined on dining with them.  Elinor even advised
+her against it.  But ``no, she would go down; she could
+bear it very well, and the bustle about her would
+be less.''  Elinor, pleased to have her governed for a
+moment by such a motive, though believing it hardly
+possible that she could sit out the dinner, said no more;
+and adjusting her dress for her as well as she could,
+while Marianne still remained on the bed, was ready
+to assist her into the dining room as soon as they were
+summoned to it.
+
+When there, though looking most wretchedly,
+she ate more and was calmer than her sister had expected.
+Had she tried to speak, or had she been conscious of half
+Mrs.\ Jennings's well-meant but ill-judged attentions
+to her, this calmness could not have been maintained;
+but not a syllable escaped her lips; and the abstraction
+of her thoughts preserved her in ignorance of every thing
+that was passing before her.
+
+Elinor, who did justice to Mrs.\ Jennings's kindness,
+though its effusions were often distressing, and sometimes
+almost ridiculous, made her those acknowledgments,
+and returned her those civilities, which her sister could
+not make or return for herself.  Their good friend saw
+that Marianne was unhappy, and felt that every thing
+was due to her which might make her at all less so.
+She treated her therefore, with all the indulgent fondness
+of a parent towards a favourite child on the last day of
+its holidays.  Marianne was to have the best place by the fire,
+was to be tempted to eat by every delicacy in the house,
+and to be amused by the relation of all the news of the day.
+Had not Elinor, in the sad countenance of her sister,
+seen a check to all mirth, she could have been entertained
+by Mrs.\ Jennings's endeavours to cure a disappointment in love,
+by a variety of sweetmeats and olives, and a good fire.
+As soon, however, as the consciousness of all this was
+forced by continual repetition on Marianne, she could
+stay no longer.  With a hasty exclamation of Misery,
+and a sign to her sister not to follow her, she directly got
+up and hurried out of the room.
+
+``Poor soul!'' cried Mrs.\ Jennings, as soon as she was gone,
+``how it grieves me to see her!  And I declare if she is
+not gone away without finishing her wine!  And the dried
+cherries too!  Lord! nothing seems to do her any good.
+I am sure if I knew of any thing she would like, I would
+send all over the town for it.  Well, it is the oddest
+thing to me, that a man should use such a pretty girl
+so ill!  But when there is plenty of money on one side,
+and next to none on the other, Lord bless you! they care
+no more about such things!---''
+
+``The lady then---Miss Grey I think you called her---%
+is very rich?''
+
+``Fifty thousand pounds, my dear.  Did you ever see
+her? a smart, stylish girl they say, but not handsome.
+I remember her aunt very well, Biddy Henshawe; she married
+a very wealthy man.  But the family are all rich together.
+Fifty thousand pounds! and by all accounts, it won't come
+before it's wanted; for they say he is all to pieces.
+No wonder! dashing about with his curricle and hunters!
+Well, it don't signify talking; but when a young man,
+be who he will, comes and makes love to a pretty girl,
+and promises marriage, he has no business to fly off
+from his word only because he grows poor, and a richer
+girl is ready to have him.  Why don't he, in such a case,
+sell his horses, let his house, turn off his servants,
+and make a thorough reform at once? I warrant you,
+Miss Marianne would have been ready to wait till matters
+came round.  But that won't do now-a-days; nothing in the
+way of pleasure can ever be given up by the young men of
+this age.''
+
+``Do you know what kind of a girl Miss Grey is?
+Is she said to be amiable?''
+
+``I never heard any harm of her; indeed I hardly ever
+heard her mentioned; except that Mrs.\ Taylor did say
+this morning, that one day Miss Walker hinted to her,
+that she believed Mr.\ and Mrs.\ Ellison would not be sorry
+to have Miss Grey married, for she and Mrs.\ Ellison could
+never agree.''---%
+
+``And who are the Ellisons?''
+
+``Her guardians, my dear.  But now she is of age
+and may choose for herself; and a pretty choice she has
+made!---What now,'' after pausing a moment---``your poor sister
+is gone to her own room, I suppose, to moan by herself.
+Is there nothing one can get to comfort her?  Poor dear,
+it seems quite cruel to let her be alone.  Well, by-and-by we
+shall have a few friends, and that will amuse her a little.
+What shall we play at?  She hates whist I know; but is there
+no round game she cares for?''
+
+``Dear ma'am, this kindness is quite unnecessary.
+Marianne, I dare say, will not leave her room again
+this evening.  I shall persuade her if I can to go
+early to bed, for I am sure she wants rest.''
+
+``Aye, I believe that will be best for her.  Let her name
+her own supper, and go to bed.  Lord! no wonder she has
+been looking so bad and so cast down this last week or two,
+for this matter I suppose has been hanging over her head as
+long as that.  And so the letter that came today finished it!
+Poor soul!  I am sure if I had had a notion of it,
+I would not have joked her about it for all my money.
+But then you know, how should I guess such a thing?  I made
+sure of its being nothing but a common love letter, and
+you know young people like to be laughed at about them.  Lord!
+how concerned Sir John and my daughters will be when they
+hear it!  If I had my senses about me I might have called
+in Conduit Street in my way home, and told them of it.
+But I shall see them tomorrow.''
+
+``It would be unnecessary I am sure, for you to caution
+Mrs.\ Palmer and Sir John against ever naming Mr.\ Willoughby,
+or making the slightest allusion to what has passed,
+before my sister.  Their own good-nature must point out
+to them the real cruelty of appearing to know any thing
+about it when she is present; and the less that may ever
+be said to myself on the subject, the more my feelings
+will be spared, as you my dear madam will easily believe.''
+
+``Oh! Lord! yes, that I do indeed.  It must be terrible
+for you to hear it talked of; and as for your sister,
+I am sure I would not mention a word about it to her
+for the world.  You saw I did not all dinner time.
+No more would Sir John, nor my daughters, for they are
+all very thoughtful and considerate; especially if I
+give them a hint, as I certainly will.  For my part,
+I think the less that is said about such things, the better,
+the sooner 'tis blown over and forgot.  And what does
+talking ever do you know?''
+
+``In this affair it can only do harm; more so
+perhaps than in many cases of a similar kind, for it
+has been attended by circumstances which, for the sake
+of every one concerned in it, make it unfit to become
+the public conversation.  I must do \emph{this} justice to
+Mr.\ Willoughby---he has broken no positive engagement
+with my sister.''
+
+``Law, my dear!  Don't pretend to defend him.
+No positive engagement indeed! after taking her all
+over Allenham House, and fixing on the very rooms they
+were to live in hereafter!''
+
+Elinor, for her sister's sake, could not press the
+subject farther, and she hoped it was not required of her
+for Willoughby's; since, though Marianne might lose much,
+he could gain very little by the enforcement of the real truth.
+After a short silence on both sides, Mrs.\ Jennings,
+with all her natural hilarity, burst forth again.
+
+``Well, my dear, 'tis a true saying about an ill-wind,
+for it will be all the better for Colonel Brandon.
+He will have her at last; aye, that he will.  Mind me,
+now, if they an't married by Mid-summer.  Lord! how he'll
+chuckle over this news!  I hope he will come tonight.
+It will be all to one a better match for your sister.
+Two thousand a year without debt or drawback---except
+the little love-child, indeed; aye, I had forgot her;
+but she may be 'prenticed out at a small cost, and then
+what does it signify?  Delaford is a nice place, I can
+tell you; exactly what I call a nice old fashioned place,
+full of comforts and conveniences; quite shut in with great
+garden walls that are covered with the best fruit-trees
+in the country; and such a mulberry tree in one corner!
+Lord! how Charlotte and I did stuff the only time we
+were there!  Then, there is a dove-cote, some delightful
+stew-ponds, and a very pretty canal; and every thing,
+in short, that one could wish for; and, moreover, it is
+close to the church, and only a quarter of a mile from
+the turnpike-road, so 'tis never dull, for if you only
+go and sit up in an old yew arbour behind the house,
+you may see all the carriages that pass along.
+Oh! 'tis a nice place!  A butcher hard by in the village,
+and the parsonage-house within a stone's throw.
+To my fancy, a thousand times prettier than Barton Park,
+where they are forced to send three miles for their meat,
+and have not a neighbour nearer than your mother.
+Well, I shall spirit up the Colonel as soon as I can.
+One shoulder of mutton, you know, drives another down.
+If we \emph{can} but put Willoughby out of her head!''
+
+``Ay, if we can do \emph{that}, Ma'am,'' said Elinor,
+``we shall do very well with or without Colonel Brandon.''
+And then rising, she went away to join Marianne,
+whom she found, as she expected, in her own room, leaning,
+in silent misery, over the small remains of a fire,
+which, till Elinor's entrance, had been her only light.
+
+``You had better leave me,'' was all the notice
+that her sister received from her.
+
+``I will leave you,'' said Elinor, ``if you will go
+to bed.'' But this, from the momentary perverseness
+of impatient suffering, she at first refused to do.
+Her sister's earnest, though gentle persuasion, however,
+soon softened her to compliance, and Elinor saw her
+lay her aching head on the pillow, and as she hoped,
+in a way to get some quiet rest before she left her.
+
+In the drawing-room, whither she then repaired,
+she was soon joined by Mrs.\ Jennings, with a wine-glass,
+full of something, in her hand.
+
+``My dear,'' said she, entering, ``I have just recollected
+that I have some of the finest old Constantia wine in the
+house that ever was tasted, so I have brought a glass of it
+for your sister.  My poor husband! how fond he was of it!
+Whenever he had a touch of his old colicky gout, he said
+it did him more good than any thing else in the world.
+Do take it to your sister.''
+
+``Dear Ma'am,'' replied Elinor, smiling at the difference
+of the complaints for which it was recommended, ``how good
+you are!  But I have just left Marianne in bed, and, I hope,
+almost asleep; and as I think nothing will be of so much
+service to her as rest, if you will give me leave,
+I will drink the wine myself.''
+
+Mrs.\ Jennings, though regretting that she had not been
+five minutes earlier, was satisfied with the compromise;
+and Elinor, as she swallowed the chief of it, reflected,
+that though its effects on a colicky gout were, at present,
+of little importance to her, its healing powers,
+on a disappointed heart might be as reasonably tried
+on herself as on her sister.
+
+Colonel Brandon came in while the party were at tea,
+and by his manner of looking round the room for Marianne,
+Elinor immediately fancied that he neither expected
+nor wished to see her there, and, in short, that he
+was already aware of what occasioned her absence.
+Mrs.\ Jennings was not struck by the same thought;
+for soon after his entrance, she walked across the room
+to the tea-table where Elinor presided, and whispered---%
+``The Colonel looks as grave as ever you see.  He knows
+nothing of it; do tell him, my dear.''
+
+He shortly afterwards drew a chair close to her's,
+and, with a look which perfectly assured her of his
+good information, inquired after her sister.
+
+``Marianne is not well,'' said she.  ``She has been
+indisposed all day, and we have persuaded her to go to bed.''
+
+``Perhaps, then,'' he hesitatingly replied, ``what I
+heard this morning may be---there may be more truth in it
+than I could believe possible at first.''
+
+``What did you hear?''
+
+``That a gentleman, whom I had reason to think---in short,
+that a man, whom I \emph{knew} to be engaged---but how shall I
+tell you?  If you know it already, as surely you must,
+I may be spared.''
+
+``You mean,'' answered Elinor, with forced calmness,
+``Mr.\ Willoughby's marriage with Miss Grey.  Yes, we \emph{do}
+know it all.  This seems to have been a day of general
+elucidation, for this very morning first unfolded it to us.
+Mr.\ Willoughby is unfathomable!  Where did you hear it?''
+
+``In a stationer's shop in Pall Mall, where I
+had business.  Two ladies were waiting for their carriage,
+and one of them was giving the other an account of the
+intended match, in a voice so little attempting concealment,
+that it was impossible for me not to hear all.  The name
+of Willoughby, John Willoughby, frequently repeated,
+first caught my attention; and what followed was a positive
+assertion that every thing was now finally settled
+respecting his marriage with Miss Grey---it was no longer
+to be a secret---it would take place even within a few weeks,
+with many particulars of preparations and other matters.
+One thing, especially, I remember, because it served
+to identify the man still more:---as soon as the ceremony
+was over, they were to go to Combe Magna, his seat
+in Somersetshire.  My astonishment!---but it would be
+impossible to describe what I felt.  The communicative
+lady I learnt, on inquiry, for I stayed in the shop
+till they were gone, was a Mrs.\ Ellison, and that, as I
+have been since informed, is the name of Miss Grey's guardian.''
+
+``It is.  But have you likewise heard that Miss Grey
+has fifty thousand pounds?  In that, if in any thing,
+we may find an explanation.''
+
+``It may be so; but Willoughby is capable---at least
+I think''---he stopped a moment; then added in a voice
+which seemed to distrust itself, ``And your sister---%
+how did she---''
+
+``Her sufferings have been very severe.  I have
+only to hope that they may be proportionately short.
+It has been, it is a most cruel affliction.  Till yesterday,
+I believe, she never doubted his regard; and even now,
+perhaps---but I am almost convinced that he never was
+really attached to her.  He has been very deceitful! and,
+in some points, there seems a hardness of heart about him.''
+
+``Ah!'' said Colonel Brandon, ``there is, indeed!  But
+your sister does not---I think you said so---she does
+not consider quite as you do?''
+
+``You know her disposition, and may believe how eagerly
+she would still justify him if she could.''
+
+He made no answer; and soon afterwards, by the removal
+of the tea-things, and the arrangement of the card parties,
+the subject was necessarily dropped.  Mrs.\ Jennings, who had
+watched them with pleasure while they were talking, and who
+expected to see the effect of Miss Dashwood's communication,
+in such an instantaneous gaiety on Colonel Brandon's side,
+as might have become a man in the bloom of youth, of hope
+and happiness, saw him, with amazement, remain the whole
+evening more serious and thoughtful than usual.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 31}
+
+
+\gintro{From a night of more sleep} than she had expected,
+Marianne awoke the next morning to the same consciousness
+of misery in which she had closed her eyes.
+
+Elinor encouraged her as much as possible to talk
+of what she felt; and before breakfast was ready, they had
+gone through the subject again and again; and with the same
+steady conviction and affectionate counsel on Elinor's side,
+the same impetuous feelings and varying opinions on
+Marianne's, as before.  Sometimes she could believe
+Willoughby to be as unfortunate and as innocent as herself,
+and at others, lost every consolation in the impossibility
+of acquitting him.  At one moment she was absolutely
+indifferent to the observation of all the world, at another
+she would seclude herself from it for ever, and at a third
+could resist it with energy.  In one thing, however,
+she was uniform, when it came to the point, in avoiding,
+where it was possible, the presence of Mrs.\ Jennings,
+and in a determined silence when obliged to endure it.
+Her heart was hardened against the belief of Mrs.\ Jennings's
+entering into her sorrows with any compassion.
+
+``No, no, no, it cannot be,'' she cried;
+``she cannot feel.  Her kindness is not sympathy;
+her good-nature is not tenderness.  All that she wants
+is gossip, and she only likes me now because I supply it.''
+
+Elinor had not needed this to be assured of the injustice
+to which her sister was often led in her opinion of others,
+by the irritable refinement of her own mind, and the too
+great importance placed by her on the delicacies of a
+strong sensibility, and the graces of a polished manner.
+Like half the rest of the world, if more than half there
+be that are clever and good, Marianne, with excellent
+abilities and an excellent disposition, was neither
+reasonable nor candid.  She expected from other people
+the same opinions and feelings as her own, and she judged
+of their motives by the immediate effect of their actions
+on herself.  Thus a circumstance occurred, while the
+sisters were together in their own room after breakfast,
+which sunk the heart of Mrs.\ Jennings still lower
+in her estimation; because, through her own weakness,
+it chanced to prove a source of fresh pain to herself,
+though Mrs.\ Jennings was governed in it by an impulse
+of the utmost goodwill.
+
+With a letter in her outstretched hand, and countenance
+gaily smiling, from the persuasion of bringing comfort,
+she entered their room, saying,
+
+``Now, my dear, I bring you something that I am sure
+will do you good.''
+
+Marianne heard enough.  In one moment her imagination
+placed before her a letter from Willoughby, full of tenderness
+and contrition, explanatory of all that had passed, satisfactory,
+convincing; and instantly followed by Willoughby himself,
+rushing eagerly into the room to inforce, at her feet,
+by the eloquence of his eyes, the assurances of his letter.
+The work of one moment was destroyed by the next.
+The hand writing of her mother, never till then unwelcome,
+was before her; and, in the acuteness of the disappointment
+which followed such an ecstasy of more than hope,
+she felt as if, till that instant, she had never suffered.
+
+The cruelty of Mrs.\ Jennings no language, within
+her reach in her moments of happiest eloquence,
+could have expressed; and now she could reproach her
+only by the tears which streamed from her eyes with
+passionate violence---a reproach, however, so entirely
+lost on its object, that after many expressions of pity,
+she withdrew, still referring her to the letter of comfort.
+But the letter, when she was calm enough to read it,
+brought little comfort.  Willoughby filled every page.
+Her mother, still confident of their engagement, and relying
+as warmly as ever on his constancy, had only been roused
+by Elinor's application, to intreat from Marianne greater
+openness towards them both; and this, with such tenderness
+towards her, such affection for Willoughby, and such
+a conviction of their future happiness in each other,
+that she wept with agony through the whole of it.
+
+All her impatience to be at home again now returned;
+her mother was dearer to her than ever; dearer through
+the very excess of her mistaken confidence in Willoughby,
+and she was wildly urgent to be gone.  Elinor, unable herself
+to determine whether it were better for Marianne to be
+in London or at Barton, offered no counsel of her own
+except of patience till their mother's wishes could be known;
+and at length she obtained her sister's consent to wait
+for that knowledge.
+
+Mrs.\ Jennings left them earlier than usual; for she
+could not be easy till the Middletons and Palmers were able
+to grieve as much as herself; and positively refusing
+Elinor's offered attendance, went out alone for the rest
+of the morning.  Elinor, with a very heavy heart, aware of
+the pain she was going to communicate, and perceiving,
+by Marianne's letter, how ill she had succeeded in laying
+any foundation for it, then sat down to write her mother
+an account of what had passed, and entreat her directions
+for the future; while Marianne, who came into the drawing-room
+on Mrs.\ Jennings's going away, remained fixed at the table
+where Elinor wrote, watching the advancement of her pen,
+grieving over her for the hardship of such a task,
+and grieving still more fondly over its effect on her mother.
+
+In this manner they had continued about a quarter
+of an hour, when Marianne, whose nerves could not then
+bear any sudden noise, was startled by a rap at the door.
+
+``Who can this be?'' cried Elinor.  ``So early too! I
+thought we \emph{had} been safe.''
+
+Marianne moved to the window---%
+
+``It is Colonel Brandon!'' said she, with vexation.
+``We are never safe from \emph{him}.''
+
+``He will not come in, as Mrs.\ Jennings is from home.''
+
+``I will not trust to \emph{that},'' retreating to her own room.
+``A man who has nothing to do with his own time has no
+conscience in his intrusion on that of others.''
+
+The event proved her conjecture right, though it
+was founded on injustice and error; for Colonel Brandon
+\emph{did} come in; and Elinor, who was convinced that
+solicitude for Marianne brought him thither, and who saw
+\emph{that} solicitude in his disturbed and melancholy look,
+and in his anxious though brief inquiry after her,
+could not forgive her sister for esteeming him so lightly.
+
+``I met Mrs.\ Jennings in Bond Street,'' said he,
+after the first salutation, ``and she encouraged me
+to come on; and I was the more easily encouraged,
+because I thought it probable that I might find you alone,
+which I was very desirous of doing.  My object---my
+wish---my sole wish in desiring it---I hope, I believe
+it is---is to be a means of giving comfort;---no, I must
+not say comfort---not present comfort---but conviction,
+lasting conviction to your sister's mind.  My regard for her,
+for yourself, for your mother---will you allow me to prove it,
+by relating some circumstances which nothing but a \emph{very}
+sincere regard---nothing but an earnest desire of being
+useful---I think I am justified---though where so many hours
+have been spent in convincing myself that I am right,
+is there not some reason to fear I may be wrong?''
+He stopped.
+
+``I understand you,'' said Elinor.  ``You have something
+to tell me of Mr.\ Willoughby, that will open his character
+farther.  Your telling it will be the greatest act of friendship
+that can be shewn Marianne.  \emph{My} gratitude will be insured
+immediately by any information tending to that end, and \emph{hers}
+must be gained by it in time.  Pray, pray let me hear it.''
+
+``You shall; and, to be brief, when I quitted Barton
+last October,---but this will give you no idea---I must go
+farther back.  You will find me a very awkward narrator,
+Miss Dashwood; I hardly know where to begin.  A short
+account of myself, I believe, will be necessary, and it
+\emph{shall} be a short one.  On such a subject,'' sighing heavily,
+``can I have little temptation to be diffuse.''
+
+He stopt a moment for recollection, and then,
+with another sigh, went on.
+
+``You have probably entirely forgotten a conversation---%
+(it is not to be supposed that it could make any impression
+on you)---a conversation between us one evening at Barton
+Park---it was the evening of a dance---in which I alluded
+to a lady I had once known, as resembling, in some measure,
+your sister Marianne.''
+
+``Indeed,'' answered Elinor, ``I have \emph{not} forgotten it.''
+He looked pleased by this remembrance, and added,
+
+``If I am not deceived by the uncertainty, the partiality
+of tender recollection, there is a very strong resemblance
+between them, as well in mind as person.  The same warmth
+of heart, the same eagerness of fancy and spirits.
+This lady was one of my nearest relations, an orphan from
+her infancy, and under the guardianship of my father.
+Our ages were nearly the same, and from our earliest years
+we were playfellows and friends.  I cannot remember the
+time when I did not love Eliza; and my affection for her,
+as we grew up, was such, as perhaps, judging from my
+present forlorn and cheerless gravity, you might think me
+incapable of having ever felt.  Her's, for me, was, I believe,
+fervent as the attachment of your sister to Mr.\ Willoughby
+and it was, though from a different cause, no less unfortunate.
+At seventeen she was lost to me for ever.  She was
+married---married against her inclination to my brother.
+Her fortune was large, and our family estate much encumbered.
+And this, I fear, is all that can be said for the
+conduct of one, who was at once her uncle and guardian.
+My brother did not deserve her; he did not even love her.
+I had hoped that her regard for me would support her
+under any difficulty, and for some time it did; but at
+last the misery of her situation, for she experienced
+great unkindness, overcame all her resolution, and though
+she had promised me that nothing---but how blindly I
+relate!  I have never told you how this was brought on.
+We were within a few hours of eloping together for Scotland.
+The treachery, or the folly, of my cousin's maid betrayed us.
+I was banished to the house of a relation far distant,
+and she was allowed no liberty, no society, no amusement,
+till my father's point was gained.  I had depended on her
+fortitude too far, and the blow was a severe one---%
+but had her marriage been happy, so young as I then was,
+a few months must have reconciled me to it, or at least
+I should not have now to lament it.  This however
+was not the case.  My brother had no regard for her;
+his pleasures were not what they ought to have been,
+and from the first he treated her unkindly.  The consequence
+of this, upon a mind so young, so lively, so inexperienced
+as Mrs.\ Brandon's, was but too natural.  She resigned
+herself at first to all the misery of her situation;
+and happy had it been if she had not lived to overcome those
+regrets which the remembrance of me occasioned.  But can we
+wonder that, with such a husband to provoke inconstancy,
+and without a friend to advise or restrain her (for
+my father lived only a few months after their marriage,
+and I was with my regiment in the East Indies) she
+should fall?  Had I remained in England, perhaps---but I
+meant to promote the happiness of both by removing
+from her for years, and for that purpose had procured
+my exchange.  The shock which her marriage had given me,''
+he continued, in a voice of great agitation, ``was of
+trifling weight---was nothing to what I felt when I heard,
+about two years afterwards, of her divorce.  It was
+\emph{that} which threw this gloom,---even now the recollection
+of what I suffered---''
+
+He could say no more, and rising hastily walked for a few
+minutes about the room.  Elinor, affected by his relation,
+and still more by his distress, could not speak.  He saw
+her concern, and coming to her, took her hand, pressed it,
+and kissed it with grateful respect.  A few minutes more
+of silent exertion enabled him to proceed with composure.
+
+``It was nearly three years after this unhappy
+period before I returned to England.  My first care,
+when I \emph{did} arrive, was of course to seek for her;
+but the search was as fruitless as it was melancholy.
+I could not trace her beyond her first seducer, and there
+was every reason to fear that she had removed from him
+only to sink deeper in a life of sin.  Her legal allowance
+was not adequate to her fortune, nor sufficient for her
+comfortable maintenance, and I learnt from my brother that
+the power of receiving it had been made over some months
+before to another person.  He imagined, and calmly could he
+imagine it, that her extravagance, and consequent distress,
+had obliged her to dispose of it for some immediate relief.
+At last, however, and after I had been six months in England,
+I \emph{did} find her.  Regard for a former servant of my own,
+who had since fallen into misfortune, carried me to visit
+him in a spunging-house, where he was confined for debt;
+and there, the same house, under a similar confinement,
+was my unfortunate sister.  So altered---so faded---worn
+down by acute suffering of every kind! hardly could I
+believe the melancholy and sickly figure before me,
+to be the remains of the lovely, blooming, healthful girl,
+on whom I had once doted.  What I endured in so beholding
+her---but I have no right to wound your feelings by attempting
+to describe it---I have pained you too much already.
+That she was, to all appearance, in the last stage
+of a consumption, was---yes, in such a situation it was
+my greatest comfort.  Life could do nothing for her,
+beyond giving time for a better preparation for death;
+and that was given.  I saw her placed in comfortable lodgings,
+and under proper attendants; I visited her every day
+during the rest of her short life: I was with her in her
+last moments.''
+
+Again he stopped to recover himself; and Elinor
+spoke her feelings in an exclamation of tender concern,
+at the fate of his unfortunate friend.
+
+``Your sister, I hope, cannot be offended,'' said he,
+``by the resemblance I have fancied between her and my
+poor disgraced relation.  Their fates, their fortunes,
+cannot be the same; and had the natural sweet
+disposition of the one been guarded by a firmer mind,
+or a happier marriage, she might have been all that you
+will live to see the other be.  But to what does all this
+lead?  I seem to have been distressing you for nothing.
+Ah! Miss Dashwood---a subject such as this---untouched
+for fourteen years---it is dangerous to handle it at all!
+I \emph{will} be more collected---more concise.  She left to my care
+her only child, a little girl, the offspring of her first
+guilty connection, who was then about three years old.
+She loved the child, and had always kept it with her.
+It was a valued, a precious trust to me; and gladly
+would I have discharged it in the strictest sense,
+by watching over her education myself, had the nature
+of our situations allowed it; but I had no family, no home;
+and my little Eliza was therefore placed at school.
+I saw her there whenever I could, and after the death of my
+brother, (which happened about five years ago, and which
+left to me the possession of the family property,) she
+visited me at Delaford.  I called her a distant relation;
+but I am well aware that I have in general been suspected
+of a much nearer connection with her.  It is now three
+years ago (she had just reached her fourteenth year,)
+that I removed her from school, to place her under the care
+of a very respectable woman, residing in Dorsetshire,
+who had the charge of four or five other girls of about
+the same time of life; and for two years I had every reason
+to be pleased with her situation.  But last February,
+almost a twelvemonth back, she suddenly disappeared.
+I had allowed her, (imprudently, as it has since turned
+out,) at her earnest desire, to go to Bath with one of
+her young friends, who was attending her father there
+for his health.  I knew him to be a very good sort of man,
+and I thought well of his daughter---better than she deserved,
+for, with a most obstinate and ill-judged secrecy,
+she would tell nothing, would give no clue, though she
+certainly knew all.  He, her father, a well-meaning,
+but not a quick-sighted man, could really, I believe,
+give no information; for he had been generally confined
+to the house, while the girls were ranging over the town
+and making what acquaintance they chose; and he tried
+to convince me, as thoroughly as he was convinced himself,
+of his daughter's being entirely unconcerned in the business.
+In short, I could learn nothing but that she was gone;
+all the rest, for eight long months, was left to conjecture.
+What I thought, what I feared, may be imagined; and what I
+suffered too.''
+
+``Good heavens!'' cried Elinor, ``could it be---could
+Willoughby!''---%
+
+``The first news that reached me of her,'' he continued,
+``came in a letter from herself, last October.
+It was forwarded to me from Delaford, and I received it
+on the very morning of our intended party to Whitwell;
+and this was the reason of my leaving Barton so suddenly,
+which I am sure must at the time have appeared strange
+to every body, and which I believe gave offence to some.
+Little did Mr.\ Willoughby imagine, I suppose, when his
+looks censured me for incivility in breaking up the party,
+that I was called away to the relief of one whom he
+had made poor and miserable; but \emph{had} he known it,
+what would it have availed?  Would he have been less
+gay or less happy in the smiles of your sister?  No,
+he had already done that, which no man who \emph{can} feel
+for another would do.  He had left the girl whose
+youth and innocence he had seduced, in a situation of
+the utmost distress, with no creditable home, no help,
+no friends, ignorant of his address!  He had left her,
+promising to return; he neither returned, nor wrote,
+nor relieved her.''
+
+``This is beyond every thing!'' exclaimed Elinor.
+
+``His character is now before you; expensive, dissipated,
+and worse than both.  Knowing all this, as I have now
+known it many weeks, guess what I must have felt on seeing
+your sister as fond of him as ever, and on being assured
+that she was to marry him: guess what I must have felt
+for all your sakes.  When I came to you last week and
+found you alone, I came determined to know the truth;
+though irresolute what to do when it \emph{was} known.
+My behaviour must have seemed strange to you then;
+but now you will comprehend it.  To suffer you all to be
+so deceived; to see your sister---but what could I do?
+I had no hope of interfering with success; and sometimes
+I thought your sister's influence might yet reclaim him.
+But now, after such dishonorable usage, who can tell what
+were his designs on her.  Whatever they may have been,
+however, she may now, and hereafter doubtless \emph{will}
+turn with gratitude towards her own condition, when she
+compares it with that of my poor Eliza, when she considers
+the wretched and hopeless situation of this poor girl,
+and pictures her to herself, with an affection for him so strong,
+still as strong as her own, and with a mind tormented
+by self-reproach, which must attend her through life.
+Surely this comparison must have its use with her.
+She will feel her own sufferings to be nothing.  They
+proceed from no misconduct, and can bring no disgrace.
+On the contrary, every friend must be made still more
+her friend by them.  Concern for her unhappiness,
+and respect for her fortitude under it, must strengthen
+every attachment.  Use your own discretion, however,
+in communicating to her what I have told you.  You must
+know best what will be its effect; but had I not seriously,
+and from my heart believed it might be of service,
+might lessen her regrets, I would not have suffered
+myself to trouble you with this account of my family
+afflictions, with a recital which may seem to have been
+intended to raise myself at the expense of others.''
+
+Elinor's thanks followed this speech with grateful
+earnestness; attended too with the assurance of her
+expecting material advantage to Marianne, from the
+communication of what had passed.
+
+``I have been more pained,'' said she, ``by her
+endeavors to acquit him than by all the rest; for it
+irritates her mind more than the most perfect conviction
+of his unworthiness can do.  Now, though at first she
+will suffer much, I am sure she will soon become easier.
+Have you,'' she continued, after a short silence,
+``ever seen Mr.\ Willoughby since you left him at Barton?''
+
+``Yes,'' he replied gravely, ``once I have.  One meeting
+was unavoidable.''
+
+Elinor, startled by his manner, looked at him anxiously,
+saying,
+
+``What? have you met him to---''
+
+``I could meet him no other way.  Eliza had confessed
+to me, though most reluctantly, the name of her lover;
+and when he returned to town, which was within a fortnight
+after myself, we met by appointment, he to defend,
+I to punish his conduct.  We returned unwounded,
+and the meeting, therefore, never got abroad.''
+
+Elinor sighed over the fancied necessity of this;
+but to a man and a soldier she presumed not to censure it.
+
+``Such,'' said Colonel Brandon, after a pause,
+``has been the unhappy resemblance between the fate of mother
+and daughter! and so imperfectly have I discharged my trust!''
+
+``Is she still in town?''
+
+``No; as soon as she recovered from her lying-in,
+for I found her near her delivery, I removed her and her
+child into the country, and there she remains.''
+
+Recollecting, soon afterwards, that he was probably
+dividing Elinor from her sister, he put an end to his visit,
+receiving from her again the same grateful acknowledgments,
+and leaving her full of compassion and esteem for him.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 32}
+
+
+\gintro{When the particulars} of this conversation were repeated
+by Miss Dashwood to her sister, as they very soon were,
+the effect on her was not entirely such as the former
+had hoped to see.  Not that Marianne appeared to distrust
+the truth of any part of it, for she listened to it all
+with the most steady and submissive attention, made neither
+objection nor remark, attempted no vindication of Willoughby,
+and seemed to shew by her tears that she felt it to
+be impossible.  But though this behaviour assured Elinor
+that the conviction of this guilt \emph{was} carried home to
+her mind, though she saw with satisfaction the effect of it,
+in her no longer avoiding Colonel Brandon when he called,
+in her speaking to him, even voluntarily speaking,
+with a kind of compassionate respect, and though she
+saw her spirits less violently irritated than before,
+she did not see her less wretched.  Her mind did become
+settled, but it was settled in a gloomy dejection.
+She felt the loss of Willoughby's character yet more heavily
+than she had felt the loss of his heart; his seduction and
+desertion of Miss Williams, the misery of that poor girl,
+and the doubt of what his designs might \emph{once} have been
+on herself, preyed altogether so much on her spirits,
+that she could not bring herself to speak of what she felt
+even to Elinor; and, brooding over her sorrows in silence,
+gave more pain to her sister than could have been communicated
+by the most open and most frequent confession of them.
+
+To give the feelings or the language of Mrs.\ Dashwood
+on receiving and answering Elinor's letter would be only
+to give a repetition of what her daughters had already felt
+and said; of a disappointment hardly less painful than
+Marianne's, and an indignation even greater than Elinor's.
+Long letters from her, quickly succeeding each other,
+arrived to tell all that she suffered and thought;
+to express her anxious solicitude for Marianne, and entreat
+she would bear up with fortitude under this misfortune.
+Bad indeed must the nature of Marianne's affliction be,
+when her mother could talk of fortitude! mortifying
+and humiliating must be the origin of those regrets,
+which \emph{she} could wish her not to indulge!
+
+Against the interest of her own individual comfort,
+Mrs.\ Dashwood had determined that it would be better for
+Marianne to be any where, at that time, than at Barton,
+where every thing within her view would be bringing back
+the past in the strongest and most afflicting manner,
+by constantly placing Willoughby before her, such as
+she had always seen him there.  She recommended it to
+her daughters, therefore, by all means not to shorten their
+visit to Mrs.\ Jennings; the length of which, though never
+exactly fixed, had been expected by all to comprise at least
+five or six weeks.  A variety of occupations, of objects,
+and of company, which could not be procured at Barton,
+would be inevitable there, and might yet, she hoped,
+cheat Marianne, at times, into some interest beyond herself,
+and even into some amusement, much as the ideas of both
+might now be spurned by her.
+
+From all danger of seeing Willoughby again,
+her mother considered her to be at least equally safe
+in town as in the country, since his acquaintance must
+now be dropped by all who called themselves her friends.
+Design could never bring them in each other's way:
+negligence could never leave them exposed to a surprise;
+and chance had less in its favour in the crowd of London
+than even in the retirement of Barton, where it might
+force him before her while paying that visit at Allenham
+on his marriage, which Mrs.\ Dashwood, from foreseeing at
+first as a probable event, had brought herself to expect
+as a certain one.
+
+She had yet another reason for wishing her children
+to remain where they were; a letter from her son-in-law
+had told her that he and his wife were to be in town
+before the middle of February, and she judged it right
+that they should sometimes see their brother.
+
+Marianne had promised to be guided by her mother's opinion,
+and she submitted to it therefore without opposition,
+though it proved perfectly different from what she wished
+and expected, though she felt it to be entirely wrong,
+formed on mistaken grounds, and that by requiring her
+longer continuance in London it deprived her of the only
+possible alleviation of her wretchedness, the personal
+sympathy of her mother, and doomed her to such society and
+such scenes as must prevent her ever knowing a moment's rest.
+
+But it was a matter of great consolation to her,
+that what brought evil to herself would bring good to
+her sister; and Elinor, on the other hand, suspecting that
+it would not be in her power to avoid Edward entirely,
+comforted herself by thinking, that though their longer
+stay would therefore militate against her own happiness,
+it would be better for Marianne than an immediate return
+into Devonshire.
+
+Her carefulness in guarding her sister from ever
+hearing Willoughby's name mentioned, was not thrown away.
+Marianne, though without knowing it herself, reaped all
+its advantage; for neither Mrs.\ Jennings, nor Sir John,
+nor even Mrs.\ Palmer herself, ever spoke of him before her.
+Elinor wished that the same forbearance could have extended
+towards herself, but that was impossible, and she was
+obliged to listen day after day to the indignation of them all.
+
+Sir John, could not have thought it possible.
+``A man of whom he had always had such reason to think well!
+Such a good-natured fellow!  He did not believe there was a
+bolder rider in England!  It was an unaccountable business.
+He wished him at the devil with all his heart.  He would
+not speak another word to him, meet him where he might,
+for all the world!  No, not if it were to be by the side
+of Barton covert, and they were kept watching for two
+hours together.  Such a scoundrel of a fellow! such
+a deceitful dog!  It was only the last time they met
+that he had offered him one of Folly's puppies! and this
+was the end of it!''
+
+Mrs.\ Palmer, in her way, was equally angry.
+``She was determined to drop his acquaintance immediately,
+and she was very thankful that she had never been acquainted
+with him at all.  She wished with all her heart Combe
+Magna was not so near Cleveland; but it did not signify,
+for it was a great deal too far off to visit; she hated
+him so much that she was resolved never to mention
+his name again, and she should tell everybody she saw,
+how good-for-nothing he was.''
+
+The rest of Mrs.\ Palmer's sympathy was shewn in procuring
+all the particulars in her power of the approaching marriage,
+and communicating them to Elinor.  She could soon tell
+at what coachmaker's the new carriage was building,
+by what painter Mr.\ Willoughby's portrait was drawn,
+and at what warehouse Miss Grey's clothes might be seen.
+
+The calm and polite unconcern of Lady Middleton
+on the occasion was a happy relief to Elinor's spirits,
+oppressed as they often were by the clamorous kindness
+of the others.  It was a great comfort to her to be sure
+of exciting no interest in \emph{one} person at least among their
+circle of friends: a great comfort to know that there
+was \emph{one} who would meet her without feeling any curiosity
+after particulars, or any anxiety for her sister's health.
+
+Every qualification is raised at times, by the
+circumstances of the moment, to more than its real value;
+and she was sometimes worried down by officious condolence
+to rate good-breeding as more indispensable to comfort
+than good-nature.
+
+Lady Middleton expressed her sense of the affair
+about once every day, or twice, if the subject occurred
+very often, by saying, ``It is very shocking, indeed!''
+and by the means of this continual though gentle vent,
+was able not only to see the Miss Dashwoods from the
+first without the smallest emotion, but very soon
+to see them without recollecting a word of the matter;
+and having thus supported the dignity of her own sex,
+and spoken her decided censure of what was wrong
+in the other, she thought herself at liberty to attend
+to the interest of her own assemblies, and therefore
+determined (though rather against the opinion of Sir John)
+that as Mrs.\ Willoughby would at once be a woman of elegance
+and fortune, to leave her card with her as soon as she married.
+
+Colonel Brandon's delicate, unobtrusive enquiries
+were never unwelcome to Miss Dashwood.  He had abundantly
+earned the privilege of intimate discussion of her
+sister's disappointment, by the friendly zeal with
+which he had endeavoured to soften it, and they always
+conversed with confidence.  His chief reward for the
+painful exertion of disclosing past sorrows and present
+humiliations, was given in the pitying eye with which
+Marianne sometimes observed him, and the gentleness
+of her voice whenever (though it did not often happen)
+she was obliged, or could oblige herself to speak to him.
+\emph{These} assured him that his exertion had produced an
+increase of good-will towards himself, and \emph{these} gave
+Elinor hopes of its being farther augmented hereafter;
+but Mrs.\ Jennings, who knew nothing of all this, who knew
+only that the Colonel continued as grave as ever, and that
+she could neither prevail on him to make the offer himself,
+nor commission her to make it for him, began, at the
+end of two days, to think that, instead of Midsummer,
+they would not be married till Michaelmas, and by the
+end of a week that it would not be a match at all.
+The good understanding between the Colonel and Miss
+Dashwood seemed rather to declare that the honours
+of the mulberry-tree, the canal, and the yew arbour,
+would all be made over to \emph{her}; and Mrs.\ Jennings had,
+for some time ceased to think at all of Mrs.\ Ferrars.
+
+Early in February, within a fortnight from the
+receipt of Willoughby's letter, Elinor had the painful
+office of informing her sister that he was married.
+She had taken care to have the intelligence conveyed
+to herself, as soon as it was known that the ceremony
+was over, as she was desirous that Marianne should not
+receive the first notice of it from the public papers,
+which she saw her eagerly examining every morning.
+
+She received the news with resolute composure;
+made no observation on it, and at first shed no tears;
+but after a short time they would burst out, and for the
+rest of the day, she was in a state hardly less pitiable
+than when she first learnt to expect the event.
+
+The Willoughbys left town as soon as they were married;
+and Elinor now hoped, as there could be no danger
+of her seeing either of them, to prevail on her sister,
+who had never yet left the house since the blow first fell,
+to go out again by degrees as she had done before.
+
+About this time the two Miss Steeles, lately arrived
+at their cousin's house in Bartlett's Buildings,
+Holburn, presented themselves again before their more
+grand relations in Conduit and Berkeley Streets;
+and were welcomed by them all with great cordiality.
+
+Elinor only was sorry to see them.  Their presence
+always gave her pain, and she hardly knew how to make
+a very gracious return to the overpowering delight of Lucy
+in finding her \emph{still} in town.
+
+``I should have been quite disappointed if I had not
+found you here \emph{still},'' said she repeatedly, with a strong
+emphasis on the word.  ``But I always thought I \emph{should}.
+I was almost sure you would not leave London yet awhile;
+though you \emph{told} me, you know, at Barton, that you should
+not stay above a \emph{month}.  But I thought, at the time,
+that you would most likely change your mind when it came
+to the point.  It would have been such a great pity
+to have went away before your brother and sister came.
+And now to be sure you will be in no hurry to be gone.
+I am amazingly glad you did not keep to \emph{your word}.''
+
+Elinor perfectly understood her, and was forced
+to use all her self-command to make it appear that she
+did \emph{not}.
+
+``Well, my dear,'' said Mrs.\ Jennings, ``and how did
+you travel?''
+
+``Not in the stage, I assure you,'' replied Miss Steele,
+with quick exultation; ``we came post all the way, and had
+a very smart beau to attend us.  Dr. Davies was coming
+to town, and so we thought we'd join him in a post-chaise;
+and he behaved very genteelly, and paid ten or twelve
+shillings more than we did.''
+
+``Oh, oh!'' cried Mrs.\ Jennings; ``very pretty,
+indeed! and the Doctor is a single man, I warrant you.''
+
+``There now,'' said Miss Steele, affectedly simpering,
+``everybody laughs at me so about the Doctor, and I
+cannot think why.  My cousins say they are sure I have
+made a conquest; but for my part I declare I never think
+about him from one hour's end to another.  `Lord! here
+comes your beau, Nancy,' my cousin said t'other day,
+when she saw him crossing the street to the house.
+My beau, indeed! said I---I cannot think who you mean.
+The Doctor is no beau of mine.''
+
+``Aye, aye, that is very pretty talking---but it won't do---%
+the Doctor is the man, I see.''
+
+``No, indeed!'' replied her cousin, with affected earnestness,
+``and I beg you will contradict it, if you ever hear it talked
+of.''
+
+Mrs.\ Jennings directly gave her the gratifying
+assurance that she certainly would \emph{not}, and Miss Steele
+was made completely happy.
+
+``I suppose you will go and stay with your brother
+and sister, Miss Dashwood, when they come to town,''
+said Lucy, returning, after a cessation of hostile hints,
+to the charge.
+
+``No, I do not think we shall.''
+
+``Oh, yes, I dare say you will.''
+
+Elinor would not humour her by farther opposition.
+
+``What a charming thing it is that Mrs.\ Dashwood can
+spare you both for so long a time together!''
+
+``Long a time, indeed!'' interposed Mrs.\ Jennings.
+``Why, their visit is but just begun!''
+
+Lucy was silenced.
+
+``I am sorry we cannot see your sister, Miss Dashwood,''
+said Miss Steele.  ``I am sorry she is not well---''
+for Marianne had left the room on their arrival.
+
+``You are very good.  My sister will be equally
+sorry to miss the pleasure of seeing you; but she has
+been very much plagued lately with nervous head-aches,
+which make her unfit for company or conversation.''
+
+``Oh, dear, that is a great pity! but such old
+friends as Lucy and me!---I think she might see \emph{us};
+and I am sure we would not speak a word.''
+
+Elinor, with great civility, declined the proposal.
+Her sister was perhaps laid down upon the bed, or in her
+dressing gown, and therefore not able to come to them.
+
+``Oh, if that's all,'' cried Miss Steele, ``we can
+just as well go and see \emph{her}.''
+
+Elinor began to find this impertinence too much for
+her temper; but she was saved the trouble of checking it,
+by Lucy's sharp reprimand, which now, as on many occasions,
+though it did not give much sweetness to the manners
+of one sister, was of advantage in governing those of
+the other.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 33}
+
+
+\gintro{After some opposition,} Marianne yielded to her
+sister's entreaties, and consented to go out with her
+and Mrs.\ Jennings one morning for half an hour. She
+expressly conditioned, however, for paying no visits,
+and would do no more than accompany them to Gray's in
+Sackville Street, where Elinor was carrying on a negotiation
+for the exchange of a few old-fashioned jewels of her mother.
+
+When they stopped at the door, Mrs.\ Jennings recollected
+that there was a lady at the other end of the street
+on whom she ought to call; and as she had no business
+at Gray's, it was resolved, that while her young friends
+transacted their's, she should pay her visit and
+return for them.
+
+On ascending the stairs, the Miss Dashwoods found
+so many people before them in the room, that there was
+not a person at liberty to tend to their orders; and they
+were obliged to wait.  All that could be done was, to sit
+down at that end of the counter which seemed to promise the
+quickest succession; one gentleman only was standing there,
+and it is probable that Elinor was not without hope
+of exciting his politeness to a quicker despatch.
+But the correctness of his eye, and the delicacy
+of his taste, proved to be beyond his politeness.
+He was giving orders for a toothpick-case for himself,
+and till its size, shape, and ornaments were determined,
+all of which, after examining and debating for a quarter
+of an hour over every toothpick-case in the shop,
+were finally arranged by his own inventive fancy, he had
+no leisure to bestow any other attention on the two ladies,
+than what was comprised in three or four very broad stares;
+a kind of notice which served to imprint on Elinor
+the remembrance of a person and face, of strong,
+natural, sterling insignificance, though adorned in
+the first style of fashion.
+
+Marianne was spared from the troublesome feelings
+of contempt and resentment, on this impertinent examination
+of their features, and on the puppyism of his manner
+in deciding on all the different horrors of the different
+toothpick-cases presented to his inspection, by remaining
+unconscious of it all; for she was as well able to collect
+her thoughts within herself, and be as ignorant of what was
+passing around her, in Mr.\ Gray's shop, as in her own bedroom.
+
+At last the affair was decided.  The ivory,
+the gold, and the pearls, all received their appointment,
+and the gentleman having named the last day on which his
+existence could be continued without the possession of the
+toothpick-case, drew on his gloves with leisurely care,
+and bestowing another glance on the Miss Dashwoods, but such
+a one as seemed rather to demand than express admiration,
+walked off with a happy air of real conceit and affected
+indifference.
+
+Elinor lost no time in bringing her business forward,
+was on the point of concluding it, when another gentleman
+presented himself at her side.  She turned her eyes towards
+his face, and found him with some surprise to be her brother.
+
+Their affection and pleasure in meeting was just enough
+to make a very creditable appearance in Mr.\ Gray's shop.
+John Dashwood was really far from being sorry to see
+his sisters again; it rather gave them satisfaction;
+and his inquiries after their mother were respectful
+and attentive.
+
+Elinor found that he and Fanny had been in town
+two days.
+
+``I wished very much to call upon you yesterday,''
+said he, ``but it was impossible, for we were obliged
+to take Harry to see the wild beasts at Exeter Exchange;
+and we spent the rest of the day with Mrs.\ Ferrars.
+Harry was vastly pleased.  \emph{This} morning I had fully intended
+to call on you, if I could possibly find a spare half hour,
+but one has always so much to do on first coming to town.
+I am come here to bespeak Fanny a seal.  But tomorrow I
+think I shall certainly be able to call in Berkeley Street,
+and be introduced to your friend Mrs.\ Jennings.
+I understand she is a woman of very good fortune.
+And the Middletons too, you must introduce me to \emph{them}.
+As my mother-in-law's relations, I shall be happy to show
+them every respect.  They are excellent neighbours to you in
+the country, I understand.''
+
+``Excellent indeed.  Their attention to our comfort,
+their friendliness in every particular, is more than I
+can express.''
+
+``I am extremely glad to hear it, upon my word;
+extremely glad indeed.  But so it ought to be; they are
+people of large fortune, they are related to you, and
+every civility and accommodation that can serve to make
+your situation pleasant might be reasonably expected.
+And so you are most comfortably settled in your little cottage
+and want for nothing!  Edward brought us a most charming
+account of the place: the most complete thing of its kind,
+he said, that ever was, and you all seemed to enjoy it beyond
+any thing.  It was a great satisfaction to us to hear it,
+I assure you.''
+
+Elinor did feel a little ashamed of her brother;
+and was not sorry to be spared the necessity of answering him,
+by the arrival of Mrs.\ Jennings's servant, who came to tell
+her that his mistress waited for them at the door.
+
+Mr.\ Dashwood attended them down stairs, was introduced
+to Mrs.\ Jennings at the door of her carriage, and repeating
+his hope of being able to call on them the next day,
+took leave.
+
+His visit was duly paid.  He came with a pretence at
+an apology from their sister-in-law, for not coming too;
+``but she was so much engaged with her mother, that really
+she had no leisure for going any where.''  Mrs.\ Jennings,
+however, assured him directly, that she should not stand
+upon ceremony, for they were all cousins, or something
+like it, and she should certainly wait on Mrs.\ John
+Dashwood very soon, and bring her sisters to see her.
+His manners to \emph{them}, though calm, were perfectly kind;
+to Mrs.\ Jennings, most attentively civil; and on Colonel
+Brandon's coming in soon after himself, he eyed him with a
+curiosity which seemed to say, that he only wanted to know
+him to be rich, to be equally civil to \emph{him}.
+
+After staying with them half an hour, he asked
+Elinor to walk with him to Conduit Street, and introduce
+him to Sir John and Lady Middleton.  The weather was
+remarkably fine, and she readily consented.  As soon
+as they were out of the house, his enquiries began.
+
+``Who is Colonel Brandon?  Is he a man of fortune?''
+
+``Yes; he has very good property in Dorsetshire.''
+
+``I am glad of it.  He seems a most gentlemanlike man;
+and I think, Elinor, I may congratulate you on the prospect
+of a very respectable establishment in life.''
+
+``Me, brother! what do you mean?''
+
+``He likes you.  I observed him narrowly, and am
+convinced of it.  What is the amount of his fortune?''
+
+``I believe about two thousand a year.''
+
+``Two thousand a-year;'' and then working himself
+up to a pitch of enthusiastic generosity, he added,
+``Elinor, I wish with all my heart it were \emph{twice} as much,
+for your sake.''
+
+``Indeed I believe you,'' replied Elinor; ``but I am
+very sure that Colonel Brandon has not the smallest wish
+of marrying \emph{me}.''
+
+``You are mistaken, Elinor; you are very much mistaken.
+A very little trouble on your side secures him.
+Perhaps just at present he may be undecided; the smallness
+of your fortune may make him hang back; his friends
+may all advise him against it.  But some of those little
+attentions and encouragements which ladies can so easily
+give will fix him, in spite of himself.  And there can be
+no reason why you should not try for him.  It is not to be
+supposed that any prior attachment on your side---in short,
+you know as to an attachment of that kind, it is quite
+out of the question, the objections are insurmountable---%
+you have too much sense not to see all that.  Colonel Brandon
+must be the man; and no civility shall be wanting on
+my part to make him pleased with you and your family.
+It is a match that must give universal satisfaction.
+In short, it is a kind of thing that''---lowering his voice
+to an important whisper---``will be exceedingly welcome
+to \emph{all parties}.'' Recollecting himself, however, he added,
+``That is, I mean to say---your friends are all truly
+anxious to see you well settled; Fanny particularly,
+for she has your interest very much at heart, I assure you.
+And her mother too, Mrs.\ Ferrars, a very good-natured woman,
+I am sure it would give her great pleasure; she said as much
+the other day.''
+
+Elinor would not vouchsafe any answer.
+
+``It would be something remarkable, now,'' he continued,
+``something droll, if Fanny should have a brother and I
+a sister settling at the same time.  And yet it is not
+very unlikely.''
+
+``Is Mr.\ Edward Ferrars,'' said Elinor, with resolution,
+``going to be married?''
+
+``It is not actually settled, but there is such
+a thing in agitation.  He has a most excellent mother.
+Mrs.\ Ferrars, with the utmost liberality, will come forward,
+and settle on him a thousand a year, if the match
+takes place.  The lady is the Hon. Miss Morton, only daughter
+of the late Lord Morton, with thirty thousand pounds.
+A very desirable connection on both sides, and I have not
+a doubt of its taking place in time.  A thousand a-year
+is a great deal for a mother to give away, to make over
+for ever; but Mrs.\ Ferrars has a noble spirit.  To give
+you another instance of her liberality:---The other day,
+as soon as we came to town, aware that money could
+not be very plenty with us just now, she put bank-notes
+into Fanny's hands to the amount of two hundred pounds.
+And extremely acceptable it is, for we must live at a great
+expense while we are here.''
+
+He paused for her assent and compassion; and she
+forced herself to say,
+
+``Your expenses both in town and country must certainly
+be considerable; but your income is a large one.''
+
+``Not so large, I dare say, as many people suppose.
+I do not mean to complain, however; it is undoubtedly
+a comfortable one, and I hope will in time be better.
+The enclosure of Norland Common, now carrying on,
+is a most serious drain.  And then I have made a little
+purchase within this half year; East Kingham Farm,
+you must remember the place, where old Gibson used to live.
+The land was so very desirable for me in every respect,
+so immediately adjoining my own property, that I felt it
+my duty to buy it.  I could not have answered it to my
+conscience to let it fall into any other hands.  A man must
+pay for his convenience; and it \emph{has} cost me a vast deal
+of money.''
+
+``More than you think it really and intrinsically worth.''
+
+``Why, I hope not that.  I might have sold it again,
+the next day, for more than I gave: but, with regard to the
+purchase-money, I might have been very unfortunate indeed;
+for the stocks were at that time so low, that if I had not
+happened to have the necessary sum in my banker's hands,
+I must have sold out to very great loss.''
+
+Elinor could only smile.
+
+``Other great and inevitable expenses too we have
+had on first coming to Norland.  Our respected father,
+as you well know, bequeathed all the Stanhill effects
+that remained at Norland (and very valuable they were)
+to your mother.  Far be it from me to repine at his
+doing so; he had an undoubted right to dispose of his
+own property as he chose, but, in consequence of it,
+we have been obliged to make large purchases of linen,
+china, \&c. to supply the place of what was taken away.
+You may guess, after all these expenses, how very far we
+must be from being rich, and how acceptable Mrs.\ Ferrars's
+kindness is.''
+
+``Certainly,'' said Elinor; ``and assisted by her liberality,
+I hope you may yet live to be in easy circumstances.''
+
+``Another year or two may do much towards it,''
+he gravely replied; ``but however there is still a great
+deal to be done.  There is not a stone laid of Fanny's
+green-house, and nothing but the plan of the flower-garden
+marked out.''
+
+``Where is the green-house to be?''
+
+``Upon the knoll behind the house.  The old
+walnut trees are all come down to make room for it.
+It will be a very fine object from many parts of the park,
+and the flower-garden will slope down just before it,
+and be exceedingly pretty.  We have cleared away all the old
+thorns that grew in patches over the brow.''
+
+Elinor kept her concern and her censure to herself;
+and was very thankful that Marianne was not present,
+to share the provocation.
+
+Having now said enough to make his poverty clear,
+and to do away the necessity of buying a pair of ear-rings
+for each of his sisters, in his next visit at Gray's
+his thoughts took a cheerfuller turn, and he began to
+congratulate Elinor on having such a friend as Mrs.\ Jennings.
+
+``She seems a most valuable woman indeed---Her house,
+her style of living, all bespeak an exceeding good income;
+and it is an acquaintance that has not only been
+of great use to you hitherto, but in the end may prove
+materially advantageous.---Her inviting you to town is
+certainly a vast thing in your favour; and indeed, it
+speaks altogether so great a regard for you, that in all
+probability when she dies you will not be forgotten.---%
+She must have a great deal to leave.''
+
+``Nothing at all, I should rather suppose; for she has
+only her jointure, which will descend to her children.''
+
+``But it is not to be imagined that she lives up to
+her income.  Few people of common prudence will do \emph{that};
+and whatever she saves, she will be able to dispose of.''
+
+``And do you not think it more likely that she
+should leave it to her daughters, than to us?''
+
+``Her daughters are both exceedingly well married,
+and therefore I cannot perceive the necessity of her
+remembering them farther.  Whereas, in my opinion, by her
+taking so much notice of you, and treating you in this
+kind of way, she has given you a sort of claim on her
+future consideration, which a conscientious woman would
+not disregard.  Nothing can be kinder than her behaviour;
+and she can hardly do all this, without being aware
+of the expectation it raises.''
+
+``But she raises none in those most concerned.
+Indeed, brother, your anxiety for our welfare and prosperity
+carries you too far.''
+
+``Why, to be sure,'' said he, seeming to recollect himself,
+``people have little, have very little in their power.
+But, my dear Elinor, what is the matter with Marianne?---%
+she looks very unwell, has lost her colour, and is grown
+quite thin.  Is she ill?''
+
+``She is not well, she has had a nervous complaint
+on her for several weeks.''
+
+``I am sorry for that.  At her time of life,
+any thing of an illness destroys the bloom for ever!
+Her's has been a very short one!  She was as handsome a girl
+last September, as I ever saw; and as likely to attract
+the man.  There was something in her style of beauty,
+to please them particularly.  I remember Fanny used to say
+that she would marry sooner and better than you did;
+not but what she is exceedingly fond of \emph{you}, but so it
+happened to strike her.  She will be mistaken, however.
+I question whether Marianne \emph{now}, will marry a man worth
+more than five or six hundred a-year, at the utmost,
+and I am very much deceived if \emph{you} do not do better.
+Dorsetshire!  I know very little of Dorsetshire; but, my dear
+Elinor, I shall be exceedingly glad to know more of it;
+and I think I can answer for your having Fanny and myself
+among the earliest and best pleased of your visitors.''
+
+Elinor tried very seriously to convince him that
+there was no likelihood of her marrying Colonel Brandon;
+but it was an expectation of too much pleasure to himself
+to be relinquished, and he was really resolved on seeking
+an intimacy with that gentleman, and promoting the marriage
+by every possible attention.  He had just compunction
+enough for having done nothing for his sisters himself,
+to be exceedingly anxious that everybody else should
+do a great deal; and an offer from Colonel Brandon,
+or a legacy from Mrs.\ Jennings, was the easiest means
+of atoning for his own neglect.
+
+They were lucky enough to find Lady Middleton
+at home, and Sir John came in before their visit ended.
+Abundance of civilities passed on all sides.  Sir John
+was ready to like anybody, and though Mr.\ Dashwood did
+not seem to know much about horses, he soon set him
+down as a very good-natured fellow: while Lady Middleton
+saw enough of fashion in his appearance to think his
+acquaintance worth having; and Mr.\ Dashwood went away
+delighted with both.
+
+``I shall have a charming account to carry
+to Fanny,'' said he, as he walked back with his sister.
+``Lady Middleton is really a most elegant woman!  Such
+a woman as I am sure Fanny will be glad to know.
+And Mrs.\ Jennings too, an exceedingly well-behaved woman,
+though not so elegant as her daughter.  Your sister need
+not have any scruple even of visiting \emph{her}, which, to say
+the truth, has been a little the case, and very naturally;
+for we only knew that Mrs.\ Jennings was the widow of a man
+who had got all his money in a low way; and Fanny and
+Mrs.\ Ferrars were both strongly prepossessed, that neither
+she nor her daughters were such kind of women as Fanny
+would like to associate with.  But now I can carry her
+a most satisfactory account of both.''
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 34}
+
+
+\gintro{Mrs.\ John Dashwood} had so much confidence in her
+husband's judgment, that she waited the very next day
+both on Mrs.\ Jennings and her daughter; and her
+confidence was rewarded by finding even the former,
+even the woman with whom her sisters were staying,
+by no means unworthy her notice; and as for Lady Middleton,
+she found her one of the most charming women in the world!
+
+Lady Middleton was equally pleased with Mrs.\ Dashwood.
+There was a kind of cold hearted selfishness on both sides,
+which mutually attracted them; and they sympathised
+with each other in an insipid propriety of demeanor,
+and a general want of understanding.
+
+The same manners, however, which recommended Mrs.\ John
+Dashwood to the good opinion of Lady Middleton did not suit
+the fancy of Mrs.\ Jennings, and to \emph{her} she appeared nothing
+more than a little proud-looking woman of uncordial address,
+who met her husband's sisters without any affection,
+and almost without having anything to say to them;
+for of the quarter of an hour bestowed on Berkeley Street,
+she sat at least seven minutes and a half in silence.
+
+Elinor wanted very much to know, though she did
+not chuse to ask, whether Edward was then in town;
+but nothing would have induced Fanny voluntarily
+to mention his name before her, till able to tell her
+that his marriage with Miss Morton was resolved on,
+or till her husband's expectations on Colonel Brandon
+were answered; because she believed them still so very
+much attached to each other, that they could not be too
+sedulously divided in word and deed on every occasion.
+The intelligence however, which \emph{she} would not give,
+soon flowed from another quarter.  Lucy came very shortly
+to claim Elinor's compassion on being unable to see Edward,
+though he had arrived in town with Mr.\ and Mrs.\ Dashwood.
+He dared not come to Bartlett's Buildings for fear
+of detection, and though their mutual impatience to meet,
+was not to be told, they could do nothing at present
+but write.
+
+Edward assured them himself of his being in town,
+within a very short time, by twice calling in Berkeley Street.
+Twice was his card found on the table, when they returned
+from their morning's engagements.  Elinor was pleased
+that he had called; and still more pleased that she had
+missed him.
+
+The Dashwoods were so prodigiously delighted
+with the Middletons, that, though not much in the habit
+of giving anything, they determined to give them---%
+a dinner; and soon after their acquaintance began,
+invited them to dine in Harley Street, where they had
+taken a very good house for three months.  Their sisters
+and Mrs.\ Jennings were invited likewise, and John Dashwood
+was careful to secure Colonel Brandon, who, always glad
+to be where the Miss Dashwoods were, received his eager
+civilities with some surprise, but much more pleasure.
+They were to meet Mrs.\ Ferrars; but Elinor could not learn
+whether her sons were to be of the party.  The expectation
+of seeing \emph{her}, however, was enough to make her interested
+in the engagement; for though she could now meet Edward's
+mother without that strong anxiety which had once promised
+to attend such an introduction, though she could now see
+her with perfect indifference as to her opinion of herself,
+her desire of being in company with Mrs.\ Ferrars,
+her curiosity to know what she was like, was as lively as ever.
+
+The interest with which she thus anticipated the
+party, was soon afterwards increased, more powerfully
+than pleasantly, by her hearing that the Miss Steeles
+were also to be at it.
+
+So well had they recommended themselves to Lady Middleton,
+so agreeable had their assiduities made them to her,
+that though Lucy was certainly not so elegant, and her
+sister not even genteel, she was as ready as Sir John
+to ask them to spend a week or two in Conduit Street;
+and it happened to be particularly convenient to the Miss
+Steeles, as soon as the Dashwoods' invitation was known,
+that their visit should begin a few days before the party
+took place.
+
+Their claims to the notice of Mrs.\ John Dashwood,
+as the nieces of the gentleman who for many years had
+had the care of her brother, might not have done much,
+however, towards procuring them seats at her table;
+but as Lady Middleton's guests they must be welcome; and Lucy,
+who had long wanted to be personally known to the family,
+to have a nearer view of their characters and her own
+difficulties, and to have an opportunity of endeavouring
+to please them, had seldom been happier in her life,
+than she was on receiving Mrs.\ John Dashwood's card.
+
+On Elinor its effect was very different.  She began
+immediately to determine, that Edward who lived with
+his mother, must be asked as his mother was, to a party
+given by his sister; and to see him for the first time,
+after all that passed, in the company of Lucy!---she hardly
+knew how she could bear it!
+
+These apprehensions, perhaps, were not founded
+entirely on reason, and certainly not at all on truth.
+They were relieved however, not by her own recollection,
+but by the good will of Lucy, who believed herself to be
+inflicting a severe disappointment when she told her
+that Edward certainly would not be in Harley Street on Tuesday,
+and even hoped to be carrying the pain still farther
+by persuading her that he was kept away by the extreme
+affection for herself, which he could not conceal when they
+were together.
+
+The important Tuesday came that was to introduce
+the two young ladies to this formidable mother-in-law.
+
+``Pity me, dear Miss Dashwood!'' said Lucy, as they
+walked up the stairs together---for the Middletons arrived
+so directly after Mrs.\ Jennings, that they all followed
+the servant at the same time---``There is nobody here but
+you, that can feel for me.---I declare I can hardly stand.
+Good gracious!---In a moment I shall see the person that all
+my happiness depends on---that is to be my mother!''---%
+
+Elinor could have given her immediate relief
+by suggesting the possibility of its being Miss Morton's mother,
+rather than her own, whom they were about to behold;
+but instead of doing that, she assured her, and with
+great sincerity, that she did pity her---to the utter
+amazement of Lucy, who, though really uncomfortable herself,
+hoped at least to be an object of irrepressible envy to Elinor.
+
+Mrs.\ Ferrars was a little, thin woman, upright,
+even to formality, in her figure, and serious,
+even to sourness, in her aspect.  Her complexion was sallow;
+and her features small, without beauty, and naturally
+without expression; but a lucky contraction of the brow
+had rescued her countenance from the disgrace of insipidity,
+by giving it the strong characters of pride and ill nature.
+She was not a woman of many words; for, unlike people
+in general, she proportioned them to the number of
+her ideas; and of the few syllables that did escape her,
+not one fell to the share of Miss Dashwood, whom she eyed
+with the spirited determination of disliking her at all events.
+
+Elinor could not \emph{now} be made unhappy by this behaviour.---%
+A few months ago it would have hurt her exceedingly; but it
+was not in Mrs.\ Ferrars' power to distress her by it now;---%
+and the difference of her manners to the Miss Steeles,
+a difference which seemed purposely made to humble her more,
+only amused her.  She could not but smile to see the graciousness
+of both mother and daughter towards the very person---%
+for Lucy was particularly distinguished---whom of all others,
+had they known as much as she did, they would have been most
+anxious to mortify; while she herself, who had comparatively
+no power to wound them, sat pointedly slighted by both.
+But while she smiled at a graciousness so misapplied,
+she could not reflect on the mean-spirited folly from
+which it sprung, nor observe the studied attentions
+with which the Miss Steeles courted its continuance,
+without thoroughly despising them all four.
+
+Lucy was all exultation on being so honorably
+distinguished; and Miss Steele wanted only to be teazed
+about Dr. Davies to be perfectly happy.
+
+The dinner was a grand one, the servants were numerous,
+and every thing bespoke the Mistress's inclination
+for show, and the Master's ability to support it.
+In spite of the improvements and additions which were
+making to the Norland estate, and in spite of its owner
+having once been within some thousand pounds of being
+obliged to sell out at a loss, nothing gave any symptom
+of that indigence which he had tried to infer from it;---%
+no poverty of any kind, except of conversation, appeared---%
+but there, the deficiency was considerable.  John Dashwood
+had not much to say for himself that was worth hearing,
+and his wife had still less.  But there was no peculiar
+disgrace in this; for it was very much the case with
+the chief of their visitors, who almost all laboured
+under one or other of these disqualifications for being
+agreeable---Want of sense, either natural or improved---want
+of elegance---want of spirits---or want of temper.
+
+When the ladies withdrew to the drawing-room
+after dinner, this poverty was particularly evident,
+for the gentlemen \emph{had} supplied the discourse with some
+variety---the variety of politics, inclosing land,
+and breaking horses---but then it was all over; and one
+subject only engaged the ladies till coffee came in,
+which was the comparative heights of Harry Dashwood,
+and Lady Middleton's second son William, who were nearly
+of the same age.
+
+Had both the children been there, the affair might
+have been determined too easily by measuring them at once;
+but as Harry only was present, it was all conjectural
+assertion on both sides; and every body had a right to
+be equally positive in their opinion, and to repeat it
+over and over again as often as they liked.
+
+The parties stood thus:
+
+The two mothers, though each really convinced that
+her own son was the tallest, politely decided in favour
+of the other.
+
+The two grandmothers, with not less partiality,
+but more sincerity, were equally earnest in support
+of their own descendant.
+
+Lucy, who was hardly less anxious to please one parent
+than the other, thought the boys were both remarkably tall
+for their age, and could not conceive that there could
+be the smallest difference in the world between them;
+and Miss Steele, with yet greater address gave it,
+as fast as she could, in favour of each.
+
+Elinor, having once delivered her opinion on
+William's side, by which she offended Mrs.\ Ferrars and
+Fanny still more, did not see the necessity of enforcing
+it by any farther assertion; and Marianne, when called
+on for her's, offended them all, by declaring that she
+had no opinion to give, as she had never thought about it.
+
+Before her removing from Norland, Elinor had painted
+a very pretty pair of screens for her sister-in-law,
+which being now just mounted and brought home,
+ornamented her present drawing room; and these screens,
+catching the eye of John Dashwood on his following
+the other gentlemen into the room, were officiously
+handed by him to Colonel Brandon for his admiration.
+
+``These are done by my eldest sister,'' said he; ``and you,
+as a man of taste, will, I dare say, be pleased with them.
+I do not know whether you have ever happened to see any
+of her performances before, but she is in general reckoned
+to draw extremely well.''
+
+The Colonel, though disclaiming all pretensions
+to connoisseurship, warmly admired the screens, as he
+would have done any thing painted by Miss Dashwood;
+and on the curiosity of the others being of course excited,
+they were handed round for general inspection.
+Mrs.\ Ferrars, not aware of their being Elinor's work,
+particularly requested to look at them; and after they had
+received gratifying testimony of Lady Middletons's approbation,
+Fanny presented them to her mother, considerately informing
+her, at the same time, that they were done by Miss Dashwood.
+
+``Hum''---said Mrs.\ Ferrars---``very pretty,''---and without
+regarding them at all, returned them to her daughter.
+
+Perhaps Fanny thought for a moment that her mother
+had been quite rude enough,---for, colouring a little,
+she immediately said,
+
+``They are very pretty, ma'am---an't they?'' But then again,
+the dread of having been too civil, too encouraging herself,
+probably came over her, for she presently added,
+
+``Do you not think they are something in Miss
+Morton's style of painting, Ma'am?---She \emph{does} paint most
+delightfully!---How beautifully her last landscape is done!''
+
+``Beautifully indeed!  But \emph{she} does every thing well.''
+
+Marianne could not bear this.---She was already
+greatly displeased with Mrs.\ Ferrars; and such ill-timed
+praise of another, at Elinor's expense, though she
+had not any notion of what was principally meant by it,
+provoked her immediately to say with warmth,
+
+``This is admiration of a very particular kind!---%
+what is Miss Morton to us?---who knows, or who cares,
+for her?---it is Elinor of whom \emph{we} think and speak.''
+
+And so saying, she took the screens out of her
+sister-in-law's hands, to admire them herself as they
+ought to be admired.
+
+Mrs.\ Ferrars looked exceedingly angry, and drawing
+herself up more stiffly than ever, pronounced in retort
+this bitter philippic, ``Miss Morton is Lord Morton's daughter.''
+
+Fanny looked very angry too, and her husband was
+all in a fright at his sister's audacity.  Elinor was
+much more hurt by Marianne's warmth than she had been
+by what produced it; but Colonel Brandon's eyes, as they
+were fixed on Marianne, declared that he noticed only
+what was amiable in it, the affectionate heart which could
+not bear to see a sister slighted in the smallest point.
+
+Marianne's feelings did not stop here.  The cold
+insolence of Mrs.\ Ferrars's general behaviour to her sister,
+seemed, to her, to foretell such difficulties and distresses
+to Elinor, as her own wounded heart taught her to think
+of with horror; and urged by a strong impulse of
+affectionate sensibility, she moved after a moment,
+to her sister's chair, and putting one arm round her neck,
+and one cheek close to hers, said in a low, but eager,
+voice,
+
+``Dear, dear Elinor, don't mind them.  Don't let them
+make \emph{you} unhappy.''
+
+She could say no more; her spirits were quite overcome,
+and hiding her face on Elinor's shoulder, she burst
+into tears.  Every body's attention was called, and almost
+every body was concerned.---Colonel Brandon rose up and went
+to them without knowing what he did.---Mrs.\ Jennings,
+with a very intelligent ``Ah! poor dear,'' immediately gave
+her her salts; and Sir John felt so desperately enraged
+against the author of this nervous distress, that he
+instantly changed his seat to one close by Lucy Steele,
+and gave her, in a whisper, a brief account of the whole
+shocking affair.
+
+In a few minutes, however, Marianne was recovered
+enough to put an end to the bustle, and sit down among
+the rest; though her spirits retained the impression
+of what had passed, the whole evening.
+
+``Poor Marianne!'' said her brother to Colonel Brandon,
+in a low voice, as soon as he could secure his attention,---%
+``She has not such good health as her sister,---she is very
+nervous,---she has not Elinor's constitution;---and one must
+allow that there is something very trying to a young woman
+who \emph{has been} a beauty in the loss of her personal attractions.
+You would not think it perhaps, but Marianne \emph{was} remarkably
+handsome a few months ago; quite as handsome as Elinor.---%
+Now you see it is all gone.''
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 35}
+
+
+\gintro{Elinor's} curiosity to see Mrs.\ Ferrars was satisfied.---%
+She had found in her every thing that could tend to make
+a farther connection between the families undesirable.---%
+She had seen enough of her pride, her meanness, and her
+determined prejudice against herself, to comprehend all
+the difficulties that must have perplexed the engagement,
+and retarded the marriage, of Edward and herself, had he been
+otherwise free;---and she had seen almost enough to be thankful
+for her \emph{own} sake, that one greater obstacle preserved her
+from suffering under any other of Mrs.\ Ferrars's creation,
+preserved her from all dependence upon her caprice, or any
+solicitude for her good opinion.  Or at least, if she did not
+bring herself quite to rejoice in Edward's being fettered
+to Lucy, she determined, that had Lucy been more amiable,
+she \emph{ought} to have rejoiced.
+
+She wondered that Lucy's spirits could be so very much
+elevated by the civility of Mrs.\ Ferrars;---that her interest
+and her vanity should so very much blind her as to make
+the attention which seemed only paid her because she was
+\emph{not Elinor}, appear a compliment to herself---or to allow
+her to derive encouragement from a preference only given her,
+because her real situation was unknown.  But that it was so,
+had not only been declared by Lucy's eyes at the time,
+but was declared over again the next morning more openly,
+for at her particular desire, Lady Middleton set her down
+in Berkeley Street on the chance of seeing Elinor alone,
+to tell her how happy she was.
+
+The chance proved a lucky one, for a message from
+Mrs.\ Palmer soon after she arrived, carried Mrs.\ Jennings away.
+
+``My dear friend,'' cried Lucy, as soon as they were
+by themselves, ``I come to talk to you of my happiness.
+Could anything be so flattering as Mrs.\ Ferrars's way
+of treating me yesterday?  So exceeding affable as she
+was!---You know how I dreaded the thoughts of seeing her;---%
+but the very moment I was introduced, there was such an
+affability in her behaviour as really should seem to say,
+she had quite took a fancy to me.  Now was not it so?---%
+You saw it all; and was not you quite struck with it?''
+
+``She was certainly very civil to you.''
+
+``Civil!---Did you see nothing but only civility?---%
+I saw a vast deal more.  Such kindness as fell to the share
+of nobody but me!---No pride, no hauteur, and your sister
+just the same---all sweetness and affability!''
+
+Elinor wished to talk of something else, but Lucy still
+pressed her to own that she had reason for her happiness;
+and Elinor was obliged to go on.---%
+
+``Undoubtedly, if they had known your engagement,''
+said she, ``nothing could be more flattering than their
+treatment of you;---but as that was not the case''---%
+
+``I guessed you would say so''---replied Lucy
+quickly---``but there was no reason in the world why
+Mrs.\ Ferrars should seem to like me, if she did not,
+and her liking me is every thing.  You shan't talk me
+out of my satisfaction.  I am sure it will all end well,
+and there will be no difficulties at all, to what I
+used to think.  Mrs.\ Ferrars is a charming woman,
+and so is your sister.  They are both delightful women,
+indeed!---I wonder I should never hear you say how agreeable
+Mrs.\ Dashwood was!''
+
+To this Elinor had no answer to make, and did not
+attempt any.
+
+``Are you ill, Miss Dashwood?---you seem low---you
+don't speak;---sure you an't well.''
+
+``I never was in better health.''
+
+``I am glad of it with all my heart; but really you did
+not look it.  I should be sorry to have \emph{you} ill; you, that have
+been the greatest comfort to me in the world!---Heaven
+knows what I should have done without your friendship.''---%
+
+Elinor tried to make a civil answer, though doubting
+her own success.  But it seemed to satisfy Lucy, for she
+directly replied,
+
+``Indeed I am perfectly convinced of your regard
+for me, and next to Edward's love, it is the greatest
+comfort I have.---Poor Edward!---But now there is one
+good thing, we shall be able to meet, and meet pretty often,
+for Lady Middleton's delighted with Mrs.\ Dashwood,
+so we shall be a good deal in Harley Street, I dare say,
+and Edward spends half his time with his sister---besides,
+Lady Middleton and Mrs.\ Ferrars will visit now;---%
+and Mrs.\ Ferrars and your sister were both so good to say
+more than once, they should always be glad to see me.---%
+They are such charming women!---I am sure if ever you
+tell your sister what I think of her, you cannot speak
+too high.''
+
+But Elinor would not give her any encouragement
+to hope that she \emph{should} tell her sister.  Lucy continued.
+
+``I am sure I should have seen it in a moment,
+if Mrs.\ Ferrars had took a dislike to me.  If she had only
+made me a formal courtesy, for instance, without saying
+a word, and never after had took any notice of me,
+and never looked at me in a pleasant way---you know
+what I mean---if I had been treated in that forbidding
+sort of way, I should have gave it all up in despair.
+I could not have stood it.  For where she \emph{does} dislike,
+I know it is most violent.''
+
+Elinor was prevented from making any reply to this
+civil triumph, by the door's being thrown open, the servant's
+announcing Mr.\ Ferrars, and Edward's immediately walking in.
+
+It was a very awkward moment; and the countenance of each
+shewed that it was so.  They all looked exceedingly foolish;
+and Edward seemed to have as great an inclination to walk
+out of the room again, as to advance farther into it.
+The very circumstance, in its unpleasantest form,
+which they would each have been most anxious to avoid,
+had fallen on them.---They were not only all three together,
+but were together without the relief of any other person.
+The ladies recovered themselves first.  It was not Lucy's
+business to put herself forward, and the appearance of
+secrecy must still be kept up.  She could therefore only
+\emph{look} her tenderness, and after slightly addressing him,
+said no more.
+
+But Elinor had more to do; and so anxious was she,
+for his sake and her own, to do it well, that she
+forced herself, after a moment's recollection,
+to welcome him, with a look and manner that were almost easy,
+and almost open; and another struggle, another effort still
+improved them.  She would not allow the presence of Lucy,
+nor the consciousness of some injustice towards herself,
+to deter her from saying that she was happy to see him,
+and that she had very much regretted being from home,
+when he called before in Berkeley Street.  She would
+not be frightened from paying him those attentions which,
+as a friend and almost a relation, were his due, by the
+observant eyes of Lucy, though she soon perceived them
+to be narrowly watching her.
+
+Her manners gave some re-assurance to Edward, and he
+had courage enough to sit down; but his embarrassment still
+exceeded that of the ladies in a proportion, which the case
+rendered reasonable, though his sex might make it rare;
+for his heart had not the indifference of Lucy's, nor
+could his conscience have quite the ease of Elinor's.
+
+Lucy, with a demure and settled air, seemed determined
+to make no contribution to the comfort of the others,
+and would not say a word; and almost every thing that \emph{was}
+said, proceeded from Elinor, who was obliged to volunteer
+all the information about her mother's health, their coming
+to town, \&c. which Edward ought to have inquired about,
+but never did.
+
+Her exertions did not stop here; for she soon
+afterwards felt herself so heroically disposed as
+to determine, under pretence of fetching Marianne,
+to leave the others by themselves; and she really did it,
+and \emph{that} in the handsomest manner, for she loitered away
+several minutes on the landing-place, with the most
+high-minded fortitude, before she went to her sister.
+When that was once done, however, it was time for the raptures
+of Edward to cease; for Marianne's joy hurried her into
+the drawing-room immediately.  Her pleasure in seeing him
+was like every other of her feelings, strong in itself,
+and strongly spoken.  She met him with a hand that would
+be taken, and a voice that expressed the affection of a sister.
+
+``Dear Edward!'' she cried, ``this is a moment of great
+happiness!---This would almost make amends for every thing?''
+
+Edward tried to return her kindness as it deserved,
+but before such witnesses he dared not say half what he
+really felt.  Again they all sat down, and for a moment
+or two all were silent; while Marianne was looking with the
+most speaking tenderness, sometimes at Edward and sometimes
+at Elinor, regretting only that their delight in each
+other should be checked by Lucy's unwelcome presence.
+Edward was the first to speak, and it was to notice
+Marianne's altered looks, and express his fear of her
+not finding London agree with her.
+
+``Oh, don't think of me!'' she replied with spirited
+earnestness, though her eyes were filled with tears
+as she spoke, ``don't think of \emph{my} health.  Elinor is well,
+you see.  That must be enough for us both.''
+
+This remark was not calculated to make Edward or
+Elinor more easy, nor to conciliate the good will of Lucy,
+who looked up at Marianne with no very benignant expression.
+
+``Do you like London?'' said Edward, willing to say
+any thing that might introduce another subject.
+
+``Not at all.  I expected much pleasure in it,
+but I have found none.  The sight of you, Edward, is the
+only comfort it has afforded; and thank Heaven! you
+are what you always were!''
+
+She paused---no one spoke.
+
+``I think, Elinor,'' she presently added, ``we must
+employ Edward to take care of us in our return to Barton.
+In a week or two, I suppose, we shall be going; and, I trust,
+Edward will not be very unwilling to accept the charge.''
+
+Poor Edward muttered something, but what it was,
+nobody knew, not even himself.  But Marianne, who saw
+his agitation, and could easily trace it to whatever
+cause best pleased herself, was perfectly satisfied,
+and soon talked of something else.
+
+``We spent such a day, Edward, in Harley Street
+yesterday!  So dull, so wretchedly dull!---But I have much
+to say to you on that head, which cannot be said now.''
+
+And with this admirable discretion did she defer
+the assurance of her finding their mutual relatives more
+disagreeable than ever, and of her being particularly
+disgusted with his mother, till they were more in private.
+
+``But why were you not there, Edward?---Why did you
+not come?''
+
+``I was engaged elsewhere.''
+
+``Engaged!  But what was that, when such friends
+were to be met?''
+
+``Perhaps, Miss Marianne,'' cried Lucy, eager to take
+some revenge on her, ``you think young men never stand
+upon engagements, if they have no mind to keep them,
+little as well as great.''
+
+Elinor was very angry, but Marianne seemed entirely
+insensible of the sting; for she calmly replied,
+
+``Not so, indeed; for, seriously speaking, I am very
+sure that conscience only kept Edward from Harley Street.
+And I really believe he \emph{has} the most delicate conscience
+in the world; the most scrupulous in performing
+every engagement, however minute, and however it
+may make against his interest or pleasure.  He is the
+most fearful of giving pain, of wounding expectation,
+and the most incapable of being selfish, of any body
+I ever saw.  Edward, it is so, and I will say it.
+What! are you never to hear yourself praised!---Then you
+must be no friend of mine; for those who will accept
+of my love and esteem, must submit to my open commendation.''
+
+The nature of her commendation, in the present case,
+however, happened to be particularly ill-suited to the
+feelings of two thirds of her auditors, and was so very
+unexhilarating to Edward, that he very soon got up to go away.
+
+``Going so soon!'' said Marianne; ``my dear Edward,
+this must not be.''
+
+And drawing him a little aside, she whispered
+her persuasion that Lucy could not stay much longer.
+But even this encouragement failed, for he would go;
+and Lucy, who would have outstaid him, had his visit lasted
+two hours, soon afterwards went away.
+
+``What can bring her here so often?'' said Marianne,
+on her leaving them.  ``Could not she see that we wanted
+her gone!---how teazing to Edward!''
+
+``Why so?---we were all his friends, and Lucy has been
+the longest known to him of any.  It is but natural
+that he should like to see her as well as ourselves.''
+
+Marianne looked at her steadily, and said, ``You know,
+Elinor, that this is a kind of talking which I cannot bear.
+If you only hope to have your assertion contradicted,
+as I must suppose to be the case, you ought to recollect
+that I am the last person in the world to do it.
+I cannot descend to be tricked out of assurances, that are
+not really wanted.''
+
+She then left the room; and Elinor dared not follow
+her to say more, for bound as she was by her promise
+of secrecy to Lucy, she could give no information that
+would convince Marianne; and painful as the consequences
+of her still continuing in an error might be, she was
+obliged to submit to it.  All that she could hope, was
+that Edward would not often expose her or himself to the
+distress of hearing Marianne's mistaken warmth, nor to the
+repetition of any other part of the pain that had attended
+their recent meeting---and this she had every reason to expect.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 36}
+
+
+\gintro{Within a few days} after this meeting, the newspapers
+announced to the world, that the lady of Thomas Palmer,
+Esq. was safely delivered of a son and heir; a very
+interesting and satisfactory paragraph, at least to all
+those intimate connections who knew it before.
+
+This event, highly important to Mrs.\ Jennings's happiness,
+produced a temporary alteration in the disposal of her time,
+and influenced, in a like degree, the engagements
+of her young friends; for as she wished to be as much
+as possible with Charlotte, she went thither every morning
+as soon as she was dressed, and did not return till late
+in the evening; and the Miss Dashwoods, at the particular
+request of the Middletons, spent the whole of every day,
+in every day in Conduit Street.  For their own comfort
+they would much rather have remained, at least all
+the morning, in Mrs.\ Jennings's house; but it was not
+a thing to be urged against the wishes of everybody.
+Their hours were therefore made over to Lady Middleton
+and the two Miss Steeles, by whom their company, in fact
+was as little valued, as it was professedly sought.
+
+They had too much sense to be desirable companions
+to the former; and by the latter they were considered with
+a jealous eye, as intruding on \emph{their} ground, and sharing
+the kindness which they wanted to monopolize.  Though nothing
+could be more polite than Lady Middleton's behaviour to
+Elinor and Marianne, she did not really like them at all.
+Because they neither flattered herself nor her children,
+she could not believe them good-natured; and because they
+were fond of reading, she fancied them satirical: perhaps
+without exactly knowing what it was to be satirical;
+but \emph{that} did not signify.  It was censure in common use,
+and easily given.
+
+Their presence was a restraint both on her and on Lucy.
+It checked the idleness of one, and the business of the other.
+Lady Middleton was ashamed of doing nothing before them,
+and the flattery which Lucy was proud to think of
+and administer at other times, she feared they would despise
+her for offering.  Miss Steele was the least discomposed
+of the three, by their presence; and it was in their power
+to reconcile her to it entirely.  Would either of them
+only have given her a full and minute account of the whole
+affair between Marianne and Mr.\ Willoughby, she would
+have thought herself amply rewarded for the sacrifice
+of the best place by the fire after dinner, which their
+arrival occasioned.  But this conciliation was not granted;
+for though she often threw out expressions of pity for her
+sister to Elinor, and more than once dropt a reflection
+on the inconstancy of beaux before Marianne, no effect
+was produced, but a look of indifference from the former,
+or of disgust in the latter.  An effort even yet lighter
+might have made her their friend.  Would they only have
+laughed at her about the Doctor!  But so little were they,
+anymore than the others, inclined to oblige her,
+that if Sir John dined from home, she might spend a whole
+day without hearing any other raillery on the subject,
+than what she was kind enough to bestow on herself.
+
+All these jealousies and discontents, however, were so
+totally unsuspected by Mrs.\ Jennings, that she thought
+it a delightful thing for the girls to be together;
+and generally congratulated her young friends every night,
+on having escaped the company of a stupid old woman so long.
+She joined them sometimes at Sir John's, sometimes
+at her own house; but wherever it was, she always came
+in excellent spirits, full of delight and importance,
+attributing Charlotte's well doing to her own care, and ready
+to give so exact, so minute a detail of her situation,
+as only Miss Steele had curiosity enough to desire.
+One thing \emph{did} disturb her; and of that she made her
+daily complaint.  Mr.\ Palmer maintained the common,
+but unfatherly opinion among his sex, of all infants being alike;
+and though she could plainly perceive, at different times,
+the most striking resemblance between this baby and every
+one of his relations on both sides, there was no convincing
+his father of it; no persuading him to believe that it
+was not exactly like every other baby of the same age;
+nor could he even be brought to acknowledge the simple
+proposition of its being the finest child in the world.
+
+I come now to the relation of a misfortune,
+which about this time befell Mrs.\ John Dashwood.
+It so happened that while her two sisters with
+Mrs.\ Jennings were first calling on her in Harley Street,
+another of her acquaintance had dropt in---a circumstance
+in itself not apparently likely to produce evil to her.
+But while the imaginations of other people will carry
+them away to form wrong judgments of our conduct,
+and to decide on it by slight appearances, one's happiness
+must in some measure be always at the mercy of chance.
+In the present instance, this last-arrived lady allowed
+her fancy to so far outrun truth and probability,
+that on merely hearing the name of the Miss Dashwoods,
+and understanding them to be Mr.\ Dashwood's sisters,
+she immediately concluded them to be staying in Harley Street;
+and this misconstruction produced within a day
+or two afterwards, cards of invitation for them
+as well as for their brother and sister, to a small
+musical party at her house.  The consequence of which was,
+that Mrs.\ John Dashwood was obliged to submit not only
+to the exceedingly great inconvenience of sending her
+carriage for the Miss Dashwoods, but, what was still worse,
+must be subject to all the unpleasantness of appearing
+to treat them with attention: and who could tell that they
+might not expect to go out with her a second time?  The power
+of disappointing them, it was true, must always be her's.
+But that was not enough; for when people are determined
+on a mode of conduct which they know to be wrong, they feel
+injured by the expectation of any thing better from them.
+
+Marianne had now been brought by degrees, so much
+into the habit of going out every day, that it was become
+a matter of indifference to her, whether she went or not:
+and she prepared quietly and mechanically for every
+evening's engagement, though without expecting the smallest
+amusement from any, and very often without knowing,
+till the last moment, where it was to take her.
+
+To her dress and appearance she was grown so perfectly
+indifferent, as not to bestow half the consideration on it,
+during the whole of her toilet, which it received from
+Miss Steele in the first five minutes of their being
+together, when it was finished.  Nothing escaped \emph{her} minute
+observation and general curiosity; she saw every thing,
+and asked every thing; was never easy till she knew the price
+of every part of Marianne's dress; could have guessed the
+number of her gowns altogether with better judgment than
+Marianne herself, and was not without hopes of finding out
+before they parted, how much her washing cost per week,
+and how much she had every year to spend upon herself.
+The impertinence of these kind of scrutinies, moreover,
+was generally concluded with a compliment, which
+though meant as its douceur, was considered by Marianne
+as the greatest impertinence of all; for after undergoing
+an examination into the value and make of her gown,
+the colour of her shoes, and the arrangement of her hair,
+she was almost sure of being told that upon ``her word
+she looked vastly smart, and she dared to say she would
+make a great many conquests.''
+
+With such encouragement as this, was she dismissed
+on the present occasion, to her brother's carriage;
+which they were ready to enter five minutes after it
+stopped at the door, a punctuality not very agreeable
+to their sister-in-law, who had preceded them to the house
+of her acquaintance, and was there hoping for some delay
+on their part that might inconvenience either herself
+or her coachman.
+
+The events of this evening were not very remarkable.
+The party, like other musical parties, comprehended a
+great many people who had real taste for the performance,
+and a great many more who had none at all; and the performers
+themselves were, as usual, in their own estimation,
+and that of their immediate friends, the first private
+performers in England.
+
+As Elinor was neither musical, nor affecting to be so,
+she made no scruple of turning her eyes from the grand
+pianoforte, whenever it suited her, and unrestrained even
+by the presence of a harp, and violoncello, would fix
+them at pleasure on any other object in the room.  In one
+of these excursive glances she perceived among a group
+of young men, the very he, who had given them a lecture
+on toothpick-cases at Gray's.  She perceived him soon
+afterwards looking at herself, and speaking familiarly
+to her brother; and had just determined to find out his
+name from the latter, when they both came towards her,
+and Mr.\ Dashwood introduced him to her as Mr.\ Robert Ferrars.
+
+He addressed her with easy civility, and twisted
+his head into a bow which assured her as plainly as
+words could have done, that he was exactly the coxcomb
+she had heard him described to be by Lucy.  Happy had
+it been for her, if her regard for Edward had depended
+less on his own merit, than on the merit of his nearest
+relations!  For then his brother's bow must have given
+the finishing stroke to what the ill-humour of his mother
+and sister would have begun.  But while she wondered
+at the difference of the two young men, she did not find
+that the emptiness of conceit of the one, put her out
+of all charity with the modesty and worth of the other.
+Why they \emph{were} different, Robert exclaimed to her himself
+in the course of a quarter of an hour's conversation;
+for, talking of his brother, and lamenting the extreme
+\emph{gaucherie} which he really believed kept him from mixing
+in proper society, he candidly and generously attributed it
+much less to any natural deficiency, than to the misfortune
+of a private education; while he himself, though probably
+without any particular, any material superiority
+by nature, merely from the advantage of a public school,
+was as well fitted to mix in the world as any other man.
+
+``Upon my soul,'' he added, ``I believe it is nothing more;
+and so I often tell my mother, when she is grieving
+about it.  `My dear Madam,' I always say to her, `you must
+make yourself easy.  The evil is now irremediable,
+and it has been entirely your own doing.  Why would
+you be persuaded by my uncle, Sir Robert, against your
+own judgment, to place Edward under private tuition,
+at the most critical time of his life?  If you had only sent
+him to Westminster as well as myself, instead of sending
+him to Mr.\ Pratt's, all this would have been prevented.'
+This is the way in which I always consider the matter,
+and my mother is perfectly convinced of her error.''
+
+Elinor would not oppose his opinion, because,
+whatever might be her general estimation of the advantage
+of a public school, she could not think of Edward's
+abode in Mr.\ Pratt's family, with any satisfaction.
+
+``You reside in Devonshire, I think,''---was his
+next observation, ``in a cottage near Dawlish.''
+
+Elinor set him right as to its situation;
+and it seemed rather surprising to him that anybody
+could live in Devonshire, without living near Dawlish.
+He bestowed his hearty approbation however on their
+species of house.
+
+``For my own part,'' said he, ``I am excessively fond
+of a cottage; there is always so much comfort, so much
+elegance about them.  And I protest, if I had any money
+to spare, I should buy a little land and build one myself,
+within a short distance of London, where I might drive
+myself down at any time, and collect a few friends
+about me, and be happy.  I advise every body who is going
+to build, to build a cottage.  My friend Lord Courtland
+came to me the other day on purpose to ask my advice,
+and laid before me three different plans of Bonomi's.
+I was to decide on the best of them.  `My dear Courtland,'
+said I, immediately throwing them all into the fire, `do not
+adopt either of them, but by all means build a cottage.'
+And that I fancy, will be the end of it.
+
+``Some people imagine that there can be no accommodations,
+no space in a cottage; but this is all a mistake.
+I was last month at my friend Elliott's, near Dartford.
+Lady Elliott wished to give a dance.  `But how can it
+be done?' said she; `my dear Ferrars, do tell me how it
+is to be managed.  There is not a room in this cottage
+that will hold ten couple, and where can the supper be?'
+I immediately saw that there could be no difficulty in it,
+so I said, `My dear Lady Elliott, do not be uneasy.
+The dining parlour will admit eighteen couple with ease;
+card-tables may be placed in the drawing-room; the library
+may be open for tea and other refreshments; and let the
+supper be set out in the saloon.'  Lady Elliott was delighted
+with the thought.  We measured the dining-room, and found
+it would hold exactly eighteen couple, and the affair
+was arranged precisely after my plan.  So that, in fact,
+you see, if people do but know how to set about it,
+every comfort may be as well enjoyed in a cottage
+as in the most spacious dwelling.''
+
+Elinor agreed to it all, for she did not think
+he deserved the compliment of rational opposition.
+
+As John Dashwood had no more pleasure in music than his
+eldest sister, his mind was equally at liberty to fix on
+any thing else; and a thought struck him during the evening,
+which he communicated to his wife, for her approbation,
+when they got home.  The consideration of Mrs.\ Dennison's
+mistake,
+in supposing his sisters their guests, had suggested the
+propriety of their being really invited to become such,
+while Mrs.\ Jenning's engagements kept her from home.
+The expense would be nothing, the inconvenience not more;
+and it was altogether an attention which the delicacy
+of his conscience pointed out to be requisite to its
+complete enfranchisement from his promise to his father.
+Fanny was startled at the proposal.
+
+``I do not see how it can be done,'' said she,
+``without affronting Lady Middleton, for they spend every day
+with her; otherwise I should be exceedingly glad to do it.
+You know I am always ready to pay them any attention
+in my power, as my taking them out this evening shews.
+But they are Lady Middleton's visitors.  How can I ask them
+away from her?''
+
+Her husband, but with great humility, did not see
+the force of her objection.  ``They had already spent a week
+in this manner in Conduit Street, and Lady Middleton
+could not be displeased at their giving the same number
+of days to such near relations.''
+
+Fanny paused a moment, and then, with fresh vigor, said,
+
+``My love I would ask them with all my heart, if it
+was in my power.  But I had just settled within myself
+to ask the Miss Steeles to spend a few days with us.
+They are very well behaved, good kind of girls; and I think
+the attention is due to them, as their uncle did so very
+well by Edward.  We can ask your sisters some other year,
+you know; but the Miss Steeles may not be in town any more.
+I am sure you will like them; indeed, you \emph{do} like them,
+you know, very much already, and so does my mother; and they
+are such favourites with Harry!''
+
+Mr.\ Dashwood was convinced.  He saw the necessity
+of inviting the Miss Steeles immediately, and his conscience
+was pacified by the resolution of inviting his sisters
+another year; at the same time, however, slyly suspecting
+that another year would make the invitation needless,
+by bringing Elinor to town as Colonel Brandon's wife,
+and Marianne as \emph{their} visitor.
+
+Fanny, rejoicing in her escape, and proud of the ready
+wit that had procured it, wrote the next morning to Lucy,
+to request her company and her sister's, for some days,
+in Harley Street, as soon as Lady Middleton could spare them.
+This was enough to make Lucy really and reasonably happy.
+Mrs.\ Dashwood seemed actually working for her, herself;
+cherishing all her hopes, and promoting all her views!
+Such an opportunity of being with Edward and his family was,
+above all things, the most material to her interest,
+and such an invitation the most gratifying to her
+feelings!  It was an advantage that could not be too
+gratefully acknowledged, nor too speedily made use of;
+and the visit to Lady Middleton, which had not before had
+any precise limits, was instantly discovered to have been
+always meant to end in two days' time.
+
+When the note was shown to Elinor, as it was within ten
+minutes after its arrival, it gave her, for the first time,
+some share in the expectations of Lucy; for such a mark
+of uncommon kindness, vouchsafed on so short an acquaintance,
+seemed to declare that the good-will towards her arose
+from something more than merely malice against herself;
+and might be brought, by time and address, to do
+every thing that Lucy wished.  Her flattery had already
+subdued the pride of Lady Middleton, and made an entry
+into the close heart of Mrs.\ John Dashwood; and these
+were effects that laid open the probability of greater.
+
+The Miss Steeles removed to Harley Street, and all
+that reached Elinor of their influence there, strengthened
+her expectation of the event.  Sir John, who called on
+them more than once, brought home such accounts of the
+favour they were in, as must be universally striking.
+Mrs.\ Dashwood had never been so much pleased with any
+young women in her life, as she was with them; had given
+each of them a needle book made by some emigrant;
+called Lucy by her Christian name; and did not know
+whether she should ever be able to part with them.
+
+
+
+
+
+% [At this point in the first and second edtions, Volume II ended.]
+
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 37}
+
+
+\gintro{Mrs.\ Palmer} was so well at the end of a fortnight,
+that her mother felt it no longer necessary to give up
+the whole of her time to her; and, contenting herself with
+visiting her once or twice a day, returned from that period
+to her own home, and her own habits, in which she found
+the Miss Dashwoods very ready to resume their former share.
+
+About the third or fourth morning after their
+being thus resettled in Berkeley Street, Mrs.\ Jennings,
+on returning from her ordinary visit to Mrs.\ Palmer,
+entered the drawing-room, where Elinor was sitting
+by herself, with an air of such hurrying importance
+as prepared her to hear something wonderful; and giving her
+time only to form that idea, began directly to justify it,
+by saying,
+
+``Lord! my dear Miss Dashwood! have you heard the news?''
+
+``No, ma'am.  What is it?''
+
+``Something so strange!  But you shall hear it all.---%
+When I got to Mr.\ Palmer's, I found Charlotte quite
+in a fuss about the child.  She was sure it was very
+ill---it cried, and fretted, and was all over pimples.
+So I looked at it directly, and, `Lord! my dear,'
+says I, `it is nothing in the world, but the red gum---'
+and nurse said just the same.  But Charlotte, she would
+not be satisfied, so Mr.\ Donavan was sent for; and luckily
+he happened to just come in from Harley Street, so he
+stepped over directly, and as soon as ever he saw the child,
+be said just as we did, that it was nothing in the world
+but the red gum, and then Charlotte was easy.  And so,
+just as he was going away again, it came into my head,
+I am sure I do not know how I happened to think of it,
+but it came into my head to ask him if there was any news.
+So upon that, he smirked, and simpered, and looked grave,
+and seemed to know something or other, and at last he
+said in a whisper, `For fear any unpleasant report
+should reach the young ladies under your care as to their
+sister's indisposition, I think it advisable to say,
+that I believe there is no great reason for alarm; I hope
+Mrs.\ Dashwood will do very well.'\,''
+
+``What! is Fanny ill?''
+
+``That is exactly what I said, my dear.  `Lord!' says I,
+`is Mrs.\ Dashwood ill?' So then it all came out; and the
+long and the short of the matter, by all I can learn,
+seems to be this.  Mr.\ Edward Ferrars, the very young
+man I used to joke with you about (but however, as it
+turns out, I am monstrous glad there was never any thing
+in it), Mr.\ Edward Ferrars, it seems, has been engaged
+above this twelvemonth to my cousin Lucy!---There's for you,
+my dear!---And not a creature knowing a syllable of the matter,
+except Nancy!---Could you have believed such a thing possible?---%
+There is no great wonder in their liking one another;
+but that matters should be brought so forward between them,
+and nobody suspect it!---\emph{that} is strange!---I never happened
+to see them together, or I am sure I should have found it
+out directly.  Well, and so this was kept a great secret,
+for fear of Mrs.\ Ferrars, and neither she nor your
+brother or sister suspected a word of the matter;---%
+till this very morning, poor Nancy, who, you know, is a
+well-meaning creature, but no conjurer, popt it all out.
+`Lord!' thinks she to herself, `they are all so fond
+of Lucy, to be sure they will make no difficulty about it;'
+and so, away she went to your sister, who was sitting all
+alone at her carpet-work, little suspecting what was to
+come---for she had just been saying to your brother, only five
+minutes before, that she thought to make a match between
+Edward and some Lord's daughter or other, I forget who.
+So you may think what a blow it was to all her vanity
+and pride.  She fell into violent hysterics immediately,
+with such screams as reached your brother's ears,
+as he was sitting in his own dressing-room down stairs,
+thinking about writing a letter to his steward in the country.
+So up he flew directly, and a terrible scene took place,
+for Lucy was come to them by that time, little dreaming
+what was going on.  Poor soul!  I pity \emph{her}.  And I must say,
+I think she was used very hardly; for your sister scolded
+like any fury, and soon drove her into a fainting fit.
+Nancy, she fell upon her knees, and cried bitterly;
+and your brother, he walked about the room, and said
+he did not know what to do.  Mrs.\ Dashwood declared
+they should not stay a minute longer in the house,
+and your brother was forced to go down upon \emph{his} knees too,
+to persuade her to let them stay till they had packed
+up their clothes.  \emph{Then} she fell into hysterics again,
+and he was so frightened that he would send for Mr.\ Donavan,
+and Mr.\ Donavan found the house in all this uproar.
+The carriage was at the door ready to take my poor
+cousins away, and they were just stepping in as he
+came off; poor Lucy in such a condition, he says,
+she could hardly walk; and Nancy, she was almost as bad.
+I declare, I have no patience with your sister; and I hope,
+with all my heart, it will be a match in spite of her.
+Lord! what a taking poor Mr.\ Edward will be in when he
+hears of it!  To have his love used so scornfully! for
+they say he is monstrous fond of her, as well he may.
+I should not wonder, if he was to be in the greatest
+passion!---and Mr.\ Donavan thinks just the same.  He and I
+had a great deal of talk about it; and the best of all is,
+that he is gone back again to Harley Street, that he may
+be within call when Mrs.\ Ferrars is told of it, for she
+was sent for as soon as ever my cousins left the house,
+for your sister was sure \emph{she} would be in hysterics too;
+and so she may, for what I care.  I have no pity for
+either of them.  I have no notion of people's making
+such a to-do about money and greatness.  There is no
+reason on earth why Mr.\ Edward and Lucy should not marry;
+for I am sure Mrs.\ Ferrars may afford to do very well
+by her son, and though Lucy has next to nothing herself,
+she knows better than any body how to make the most
+of every thing; I dare say, if Mrs.\ Ferrars would only
+allow him five hundred a-year, she would make as good
+an appearance with it as any body else would with eight.
+Lord! how snug they might live in such another cottage
+as yours---or a little bigger---with two maids, and two men;
+and I believe I could help them to a housemaid, for my
+Betty has a sister out of place, that would fit them
+exactly.''
+
+Here Mrs.\ Jennings ceased, and as Elinor had had
+time enough to collect her thoughts, she was able
+to give such an answer, and make such observations,
+as the subject might naturally be supposed to produce.
+Happy to find that she was not suspected of any extraordinary
+interest in it; that Mrs.\ Jennings (as she had of late
+often hoped might be the case) had ceased to imagine her
+at all attached to Edward; and happy above all the rest,
+in the absence of Marianne, she felt very well able
+to speak of the affair without embarrassment, and to
+give her judgment, as she believed, with impartiality
+on the conduct of every one concerned in it.
+
+She could hardly determine what her own expectation
+of its event really was; though she earnestly tried
+to drive away the notion of its being possible to end
+otherwise at last, than in the marriage of Edward and Lucy.
+What Mrs.\ Ferrars would say and do, though there could
+not be a doubt of its nature, she was anxious to hear;
+and still more anxious to know how Edward would
+conduct himself.  For \emph{him} she felt much compassion;---%
+for Lucy very little---and it cost her some pains to procure
+that little;---for the rest of the party none at all.
+
+As Mrs.\ Jennings could talk on no other subject,
+Elinor soon saw the necessity of preparing Marianne for
+its discussion.  No time was to be lost in undeceiving her,
+in making her acquainted with the real truth, and in
+endeavouring to bring her to hear it talked of by others,
+without betraying that she felt any uneasiness for her sister,
+or any resentment against Edward.
+
+Elinor's office was a painful one.---She was going
+to remove what she really believed to be her sister's
+chief consolation,---to give such particulars of Edward as she
+feared would ruin him for ever in her good opinion,-and
+to make Marianne, by a resemblance in their situations,
+which to \emph{her} fancy would seem strong, feel all her own
+disappointment over again.  But unwelcome as such a task
+must be, it was necessary to be done, and Elinor therefore
+hastened to perform it.
+
+She was very far from wishing to dwell on her own
+feelings, or to represent herself as suffering much,
+any otherwise than as the self-command she had practised
+since her first knowledge of Edward's engagement, might
+suggest a hint of what was practicable to Marianne.
+Her narration was clear and simple; and though it could
+not be given without emotion, it was not accompanied
+by violent agitation, nor impetuous grief.---\emph{That} belonged
+rather to the hearer, for Marianne listened with horror,
+and cried excessively.  Elinor was to be the comforter
+of others in her own distresses, no less than in theirs;
+and all the comfort that could be given by assurances
+of her own composure of mind, and a very earnest
+vindication of Edward from every charge but of imprudence,
+was readily offered.
+
+But Marianne for some time would give credit to neither.
+Edward seemed a second Willoughby; and acknowledging
+as Elinor did, that she \emph{had} loved him most sincerely,
+could she feel less than herself!  As for Lucy Steele,
+she considered her so totally unamiable, so absolutely
+incapable of attaching a sensible man, that she could
+not be persuaded at first to believe, and afterwards
+to pardon, any former affection of Edward for her.
+She would not even admit it to have been natural;
+and Elinor left her to be convinced that it was so,
+by that which only could convince her, a better knowledge
+of mankind.
+
+Her first communication had reached no farther than
+to state the fact of the engagement, and the length of time
+it had existed.---Marianne's feelings had then broken in,
+and put an end to all regularity of detail; and for some
+time all that could be done was to soothe her distress,
+lessen her alarms, and combat her resentment.  The first
+question on her side, which led to farther particulars,
+was,
+
+``How long has this been known to you, Elinor? has
+he written to you?''
+
+``I have known it these four months.  When Lucy
+first came to Barton Park last November, she told me
+in confidence of her engagement.''
+
+At these words, Marianne's eyes expressed the astonishment
+which her lips could not utter.  After a pause of wonder,
+she exclaimed---%
+
+``Four months!---Have you known of this four months?''
+
+Elinor confirmed it.
+
+``What!---while attending me in all my misery, has this
+been on your heart?---And I have reproached you for being
+happy!''---%
+
+``It was not fit that you should then know how much
+I was the reverse!''
+
+``Four months!''---cried Marianne again.---``So calm!---%
+so cheerful!---how have you been supported?''---%
+
+``By feeling that I was doing my duty.---My promise to
+Lucy, obliged me to be secret.  I owed it to her, therefore,
+to avoid giving any hint of the truth; and I owed it to my
+family and friends, not to create in them a solicitude about me,
+which it could not be in my power to satisfy.''
+
+Marianne seemed much struck.
+
+``I have very often wished to undeceive yourself and my
+mother,'' added Elinor; ``and once or twice I have attempted it;---%
+but without betraying my trust, I never could have convinced
+you.''
+
+``Four months!---and yet you loved him!''---%
+
+``Yes. But I did not love only him;---and while the comfort
+of others was dear to me, I was glad to spare them from knowing
+how much I felt.  Now, I can think and speak of it with
+little emotion.  I would not have you suffer on my account;
+for I assure you I no longer suffer materially myself.
+I have many things to support me.  I am not conscious of having
+provoked the disappointment by any imprudence of my own,
+I have borne it as much as possible without spreading
+it farther.  I acquit Edward of essential misconduct.
+I wish him very happy; and I am so sure of his always
+doing his duty, that though now he may harbour some regret,
+in the end he must become so.  Lucy does not want sense,
+and that is the foundation on which every thing good may
+be built.---And after all, Marianne, after all that is
+bewitching in the idea of a single and constant attachment,
+and all that can be said of one's happiness depending
+entirely on any particular person, it is not meant---it
+is not fit---it is not possible that it should be so.---%
+Edward will marry Lucy; he will marry a woman superior
+in person and understanding to half her sex; and time
+and habit will teach him to forget that he ever thought
+another superior to \emph{her}.''---%
+
+``If such is your way of thinking,'' said Marianne,
+``if the loss of what is most valued is so easily
+to be made up by something else, your resolution,
+your self-command, are, perhaps, a little less to be
+wondered at.---They are brought more within my comprehension.''
+
+``I understand you.---You do not suppose that I have ever
+felt much.---For four months, Marianne, I have had all this
+hanging on my mind, without being at liberty to speak
+of it to a single creature; knowing that it would make
+you and my mother most unhappy whenever it were explained
+to you, yet unable to prepare you for it in the least.---%
+It was told me,---it was in a manner forced on me by the
+very person herself, whose prior engagement ruined all
+my prospects; and told me, as I thought, with triumph.---%
+This person's suspicions, therefore, I have had to oppose,
+by endeavouring to appear indifferent where I have been most
+deeply interested;---and it has not been only once;---I have
+had her hopes and exultation to listen to again and again.---%
+I have known myself to be divided from Edward for ever,
+without hearing one circumstance that could make me less
+desire the connection.---Nothing has proved him unworthy;
+nor has anything declared him indifferent to me.---%
+I have had to contend against the unkindness of his sister,
+and the insolence of his mother; and have suffered the
+punishment of an attachment, without enjoying its advantages.---%
+And all this has been going on at a time, when, as you
+know too well, it has not been my only unhappiness.---%
+If you can think me capable of ever feeling---surely you
+may suppose that I have suffered \emph{now}.  The composure
+of mind with which I have brought myself at present
+to consider the matter, the consolation that I have been
+willing to admit, have been the effect of constant and
+painful exertion;---they did not spring up of themselves;---%
+they did not occur to relieve my spirits at first.---%
+No, Marianne.---\emph{Then}, if I had not been bound to silence,
+perhaps nothing could have kept me entirely---not even what I
+owed to my dearest friends---from openly shewing that I was
+\emph{very} unhappy.''---%
+
+Marianne was quite subdued.---%
+
+``Oh! Elinor,'' she cried, ``you have made me hate
+myself for ever.---How barbarous have I been to you!---%
+you, who have been my only comfort, who have borne with me
+in all my misery, who have seemed to be only suffering
+for me!---Is this my gratitude?---Is this the only return I
+can make you?---Because your merit cries out upon myself,
+I have been trying to do it away.''
+
+The tenderest caresses followed this confession.
+In such a frame of mind as she was now in, Elinor had
+no difficulty in obtaining from her whatever promise
+she required; and at her request, Marianne engaged
+never to speak of the affair to any one with the least
+appearance of bitterness;---to meet Lucy without betraying
+the smallest increase of dislike to her;---and even to see
+Edward himself, if chance should bring them together,
+without any diminution of her usual cordiality.---%
+These were great concessions;---but where Marianne felt
+that she had injured, no reparation could be too much
+for her to make.
+
+She performed her promise of being discreet,
+to admiration.---She attended to all that Mrs.\ Jennings
+had to say upon the subject, with an unchanging complexion,
+dissented from her in nothing, and was heard three
+times to say, ``Yes, ma'am.''---She listened to her praise
+of Lucy with only moving from one chair to another,
+and when Mrs.\ Jennings talked of Edward's affection,
+it cost her only a spasm in her throat.---Such advances
+towards heroism in her sister, made Elinor feel equal
+to any thing herself.
+
+The next morning brought a farther trial of it,
+in a visit from their brother, who came with a most serious
+aspect to talk over the dreadful affair, and bring them
+news of his wife.
+
+``You have heard, I suppose,'' said he with great solemnity,
+as soon as he was seated, ``of the very shocking discovery
+that took place under our roof yesterday.''
+
+They all looked their assent; it seemed too awful
+a moment for speech.
+
+``Your sister,'' he continued, ``has suffered dreadfully.
+Mrs.\ Ferrars too---in short it has been a scene of such
+complicated distress---but I will hope that the storm may
+be weathered without our being any of us quite overcome.
+Poor Fanny! she was in hysterics all yesterday.
+But I would not alarm you too much.  Donavan says there
+is nothing materially to be apprehended; her constitution
+is a good one, and her resolution equal to any thing.
+She has borne it all, with the fortitude of an angel!
+She says she never shall think well of anybody again;
+and one cannot wonder at it, after being so deceived!---%
+meeting with such ingratitude, where so much kindness
+had been shewn, so much confidence had been placed!  It
+was quite out of the benevolence of her heart, that she
+had asked these young women to her house; merely because
+she thought they deserved some attention, were harmless,
+well-behaved girls, and would be pleasant companions;
+for otherwise we both wished very much to have invited you
+and Marianne to be with us, while your kind friend there,
+was attending her daughter.  And now to be so rewarded!
+`I wish, with all my heart,' says poor Fanny in her
+affectionate way, `that we had asked your sisters instead
+of them.'\,''
+
+Here he stopped to be thanked; which being done,
+he went on.
+
+``What poor Mrs.\ Ferrars suffered, when first Fanny
+broke it to her, is not to be described.  While she with
+the truest affection had been planning a most eligible
+connection for him, was it to be supposed that he could
+be all the time secretly engaged to another person!---such
+a suspicion could never have entered her head!  If she
+suspected \emph{any} prepossession elsewhere, it could not be
+in \emph{that} quarter.  `\emph{There}, to be sure,' said she, `I might
+have thought myself safe.' She was quite in an agony.
+We consulted together, however, as to what should be done,
+and at last she determined to send for Edward.
+He came.  But I am sorry to relate what ensued.
+All that Mrs.\ Ferrars could say to make him put an end
+to the engagement, assisted too as you may well suppose
+by my arguments, and Fanny's entreaties, was of
+no avail.  Duty, affection, every thing was disregarded.
+I never thought Edward so stubborn, so unfeeling before.
+His mother explained to him her liberal designs, in case
+of his marrying Miss Morton; told him she would settle on
+him the Norfolk estate, which, clear of land-tax, brings
+in a good thousand a-year; offered even, when matters
+grew desperate, to make it twelve hundred; and in opposition
+to this, if he still persisted in this low connection,
+represented to him the certain penury that must attend
+the match.  His own two thousand pounds she protested
+should be his all; she would never see him again; and so far
+would she be from affording him the smallest assistance,
+that if he were to enter into any profession with a view
+of better support, she would do all in her power to prevent
+him advancing in it.''
+
+Here Marianne, in an ecstasy of indignation,
+clapped her hands together, and cried, ``Gracious God!
+can this be possible!''
+
+``Well may you wonder, Marianne,'' replied her brother,
+``at the obstinacy which could resist such arguments as these.
+Your exclamation is very natural.''
+
+Marianne was going to retort, but she remembered
+her promises, and forbore.
+
+``All this, however,'' he continued, ``was urged in vain.
+Edward said very little; but what he did say, was in
+the most determined manner.  Nothing should prevail on
+him to give up his engagement.  He would stand to it,
+cost him what it might.''
+
+``Then,'' cried Mrs.\ Jennings with blunt sincerity,
+no longer able to be silent, ``he has acted like an honest
+man! I beg your pardon, Mr.\ Dashwood, but if he had
+done otherwise, I should have thought him a rascal.
+I have some little concern in the business, as well
+as yourself, for Lucy Steele is my cousin, and I believe
+there is not a better kind of girl in the world, nor one
+who more deserves a good husband.''
+
+John Dashwood was greatly astonished; but his nature
+was calm, not open to provocation, and he never wished
+to offend anybody, especially anybody of good fortune.
+He therefore replied, without any resentment,
+
+``I would by no means speak disrespectfully of any
+relation of yours, madam.  Miss Lucy Steele is, I dare say,
+a very deserving young woman, but in the present case
+you know, the connection must be impossible.
+And to have entered into a secret engagement with a
+young man under her uncle's care, the son of a woman
+especially of such very large fortune as Mrs.\ Ferrars,
+is perhaps, altogether a little extraordinary. In short,
+I do not mean to reflect upon the behaviour of any person
+whom you have a regard for, Mrs.\ Jennings.  We all wish
+her extremely happy; and Mrs.\ Ferrars's conduct throughout
+the whole, has been such as every conscientious, good mother,
+in like circumstances, would adopt.  It has been dignified
+and liberal.  Edward has drawn his own lot, and I fear
+it will be a bad one.''
+
+Marianne sighed out her similar apprehension;
+and Elinor's heart wrung for the feelings of Edward,
+while braving his mother's threats, for a woman who could
+not reward him.
+
+``Well, sir,'' said Mrs.\ Jennings, ``and how did it end?''
+
+``I am sorry to say, ma'am, in a most unhappy rupture:---%
+Edward is dismissed for ever from his mother's notice.
+He left her house yesterday, but where he is gone, or whether
+he is still in town, I do not know; for \emph{we} of course can
+make no inquiry.''
+
+``Poor young man!---and what is to become of him?''
+
+``What, indeed, ma'am!  It is a melancholy consideration.
+Born to the prospect of such affluence!  I cannot conceive
+a situation more deplorable.  The interest of two thousand
+pounds---how can a man live on it?---and when to that is added
+the recollection, that he might, but for his own folly,
+within three months have been in the receipt of two
+thousand, five hundred a-year (for Miss Morton has
+thirty thousand pounds,) I cannot picture to myself
+a more wretched condition.  We must all feel for him;
+and the more so, because it is totally out of our power
+to assist him.''
+
+``Poor young man!'' cried Mrs.\ Jennings, ``I am sure
+he should be very welcome to bed and board at my house;
+and so I would tell him if I could see him.  It is not fit
+that he should be living about at his own charge now,
+at lodgings and taverns.''
+
+Elinor's heart thanked her for such kindness towards Edward,
+though she could not forbear smiling at the form of it.
+
+``If he would only have done as well by himself,''
+said John Dashwood, ``as all his friends were disposed to do
+by him, he might now have been in his proper situation,
+and would have wanted for nothing.  But as it is, it must
+be out of anybody's power to assist him.  And there is one
+thing more preparing against him, which must be worse than
+all---his mother has determined, with a very natural kind
+of spirit, to settle \emph{that} estate upon Robert immediately,
+which might have been Edward's, on proper conditions.
+I left her this morning with her lawyer, talking over
+the business.''
+
+``Well!'' said Mrs.\ Jennings, ``that is \emph{her} revenge.
+Everybody has a way of their own.  But I don't think mine
+would be, to make one son independent, because another had
+plagued me.''
+
+Marianne got up and walked about the room.
+
+``Can anything be more galling to the spirit of a man,''
+continued John, ``than to see his younger brother in
+possession of an estate which might have been his own?
+Poor Edward!  I feel for him sincerely.''
+
+A few minutes more spent in the same kind of effusion,
+concluded his visit; and with repeated assurances to his
+sisters that he really believed there was no material
+danger in Fanny's indisposition, and that they need
+not therefore be very uneasy about it, he went away;
+leaving the three ladies unanimous in their sentiments
+on the present occasion, as far at least as it regarded
+Mrs.\ Ferrars's conduct, the Dashwoods', and Edward's.
+
+Marianne's indignation burst forth as soon as he
+quitted the room; and as her vehemence made reserve
+impossible in Elinor, and unnecessary in Mrs.\ Jennings,
+they all joined in a very spirited critique upon the party.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 38}
+
+
+\gintro{Mrs.\ Jennings} was very warm in her praise of Edward's
+conduct, but only Elinor and Marianne understood its
+true merit.  \emph{They} only knew how little he had had to tempt
+him to be disobedient, and how small was the consolation,
+beyond the consciousness of doing right, that could
+remain to him in the loss of friends and fortune.
+Elinor gloried in his integrity; and Marianne forgave all
+his offences in compassion for his punishment.  But though
+confidence between them was, by this public discovery,
+restored to its proper state, it was not a subject on
+which either of them were fond of dwelling when alone.
+Elinor avoided it upon principle, as tending to fix still
+more upon her thoughts, by the too warm, too positive
+assurances of Marianne, that belief of Edward's continued
+affection for herself which she rather wished to do away;
+and Marianne's courage soon failed her, in trying
+to converse upon a topic which always left her more
+dissatisfied with herself than ever, by the comparison
+it necessarily produced between Elinor's conduct and her own.
+
+She felt all the force of that comparison; but not
+as her sister had hoped, to urge her to exertion now;
+she felt it with all the pain of continual self-reproach,
+regretted most bitterly that she had never exerted
+herself before; but it brought only the torture of penitence,
+without the hope of amendment.  Her mind was so much weakened
+that she still fancied present exertion impossible,
+and therefore it only dispirited her more.
+
+Nothing new was heard by them, for a day or two afterwards,
+of affairs in Harley Street, or Bartlett's Buildings.
+But though so much of the matter was known to them already,
+that Mrs.\ Jennings might have had enough to do in spreading
+that knowledge farther, without seeking after more,
+she had resolved from the first to pay a visit of comfort
+and inquiry to her cousins as soon as she could;
+and nothing but the hindrance of more visitors than usual,
+had prevented her going to them within that time.
+
+The third day succeeding their knowledge of the
+particulars, was so fine, so beautiful a Sunday as to draw
+many to Kensington Gardens, though it was only the second
+week in March.  Mrs.\ Jennings and Elinor were of the number;
+but Marianne, who knew that the Willoughbys were again
+in town, and had a constant dread of meeting them,
+chose rather to stay at home, than venture into so public
+a place.
+
+An intimate acquaintance of Mrs.\ Jennings joined
+them soon after they entered the Gardens, and Elinor was
+not sorry that by her continuing with them, and engaging
+all Mrs.\ Jennings's conversation, she was herself left
+to quiet reflection.  She saw nothing of the Willoughbys,
+nothing of Edward, and for some time nothing of anybody
+who could by any chance whether grave or gay, be interesting
+to her.  But at last she found herself with some surprise,
+accosted by Miss Steele, who, though looking rather shy,
+expressed great satisfaction in meeting them, and on receiving
+encouragement from the particular kindness of Mrs.\ Jennings,
+left her own party for a short time, to join their's.
+Mrs.\ Jennings immediately whispered to Elinor,
+
+``Get it all out of her, my dear.  She will tell you
+any thing if you ask.  You see I cannot leave Mrs.\ Clarke.''
+
+It was lucky, however, for Mrs.\ Jennings's curiosity
+and Elinor's too, that she would tell any thing \emph{without}
+being asked; for nothing would otherwise have been learnt.
+
+``I am so glad to meet you;'' said Miss Steele,
+taking her familiarly by the arm---``for I wanted to see you
+of all things in the world.''  And then lowering her voice,
+``I suppose Mrs.\ Jennings has heard all about it.
+Is she angry?''
+
+``Not at all, I believe, with you.''
+
+``That is a good thing.  And Lady Middleton, is \emph{she} angry?''
+
+``I cannot suppose it possible that she should.''
+
+``I am monstrous glad of it.  Good gracious!  I have
+had such a time of it!  I never saw Lucy in such a rage
+in my life.  She vowed at first she would never trim me
+up a new bonnet, nor do any thing else for me again,
+so long as she lived; but now she is quite come to,
+and we are as good friends as ever.  Look, she made me
+this bow to my hat, and put in the feather last night.
+There now, \emph{you} are going to laugh at me too.  But why
+should not I wear pink ribbons?  I do not care if it \emph{is}
+the Doctor's favourite colour.  I am sure, for my part,
+I should never have known he \emph{did} like it better than
+any other colour, if he had not happened to say so.
+My cousins have been so plaguing me!  I declare sometimes
+I do not know which way to look before them.''
+
+She had wandered away to a subject on which Elinor
+had nothing to say, and therefore soon judged it expedient
+to find her way back again to the first.
+
+``Well, but Miss Dashwood,'' speaking triumphantly,
+``people may say what they chuse about Mr.\ Ferrars's
+declaring he would not have Lucy, for it is no such thing
+I can tell you; and it is quite a shame for such ill-natured
+reports to be spread abroad.  Whatever Lucy might think
+about it herself, you know, it was no business of other
+people to set it down for certain.''
+
+``I never heard any thing of the kind hinted at before,
+I assure you,'' said Elinor.
+
+``Oh, did not you?  But it \emph{was} said, I know, very well,
+and by more than one; for Miss Godby told Miss Sparks,
+that nobody in their senses could expect Mr.\ Ferrars
+to give up a woman like Miss Morton, with thirty thousand
+pounds to her fortune, for Lucy Steele that had
+nothing at all; and I had it from Miss Sparks myself.
+And besides that, my cousin Richard said himself,
+that when it came to the point he was afraid Mr.\ Ferrars
+would be off; and when Edward did not come near us
+for three days, I could not tell what to think myself;
+and I believe in my heart Lucy gave it up all for lost;
+for we came away from your brother's Wednesday,
+and we saw nothing of him not all Thursday, Friday,
+and Saturday, and did not know what was become of him.
+Once Lucy thought to write to him, but then her spirits
+rose against that.  However this morning he came just
+as we came home from church; and then it all came out,
+how he had been sent for Wednesday to Harley Street,
+and been talked to by his mother and all of them,
+and how he had declared before them all that he loved
+nobody but Lucy, and nobody but Lucy would he have.
+And how he had been so worried by what passed,
+that as soon as he had went away from his mother's house,
+he had got upon his horse, and rid into the country,
+some where or other; and how he had stayed about at an inn
+all Thursday and Friday, on purpose to get the better
+of it.  And after thinking it all over and over again,
+he said, it seemed to him as if, now he had no fortune,
+and no nothing at all, it would be quite unkind to keep
+her on to the engagement, because it must be for her loss,
+for he had nothing but two thousand pounds, and no hope
+of any thing else; and if he was to go into orders,
+as he had some thoughts, he could get nothing but a curacy,
+and how was they to live upon that?---He could not bear
+to think of her doing no better, and so he begged,
+if she had the least mind for it, to put an end to the
+matter directly, and leave him shift for himself.
+I heard him say all this as plain as could possibly be.
+And it was entirely for \emph{her} sake, and upon \emph{her} account,
+that he said a word about being off, and not upon his own.
+I will take my oath he never dropt a syllable of being
+tired of her, or of wishing to marry Miss Morton, or any
+thing like it.  But, to be sure, Lucy would not give
+ear to such kind of talking; so she told him directly
+(with a great deal about sweet and love, you know,
+and all that---Oh, la! one can't repeat such kind of things
+you know)---she told him directly, she had not the least
+mind in the world to be off, for she could live with him
+upon a trifle, and how little so ever he might have,
+she should be very glad to have it all, you know,
+or something of the kind.  So then he was monstrous happy,
+and talked on some time about what they should do,
+and they agreed he should take orders directly,
+and they must wait to be married till he got a living.
+And just then I could not hear any more, for my cousin
+called from below to tell me Mrs.\ Richardson was come in
+her coach, and would take one of us to Kensington Gardens;
+so I was forced to go into the room and interrupt them,
+to ask Lucy if she would like to go, but she did not
+care to leave Edward; so I just run up stairs and put
+on a pair of silk stockings and came off with the Richardsons.''
+
+``I do not understand what you mean by interrupting them,''
+said Elinor; ``you were all in the same room together,
+were not you?''
+
+``No, indeed, not us.  La! Miss Dashwood, do you
+think people make love when any body else is by?  Oh,
+for shame!---To be sure you must know better than that.
+(Laughing affectedly.)---No, no; they were shut up in the
+drawing-room together, and all I heard was only by listening
+at the door.''
+
+``How!'' cried Elinor; ``have you been repeating to me
+what you only learnt yourself by listening at the door?
+I am sorry I did not know it before; for I certainly
+would not have suffered you to give me particulars of a
+conversation which you ought not to have known yourself.
+How could you behave so unfairly by your sister?''
+
+``Oh, la! there is nothing in \emph{that}.  I only stood at
+the door, and heard what I could.  And I am sure Lucy would
+have done just the same by me; for a year or two back,
+when Martha Sharpe and I had so many secrets together,
+she never made any bones of hiding in a closet, or behind
+a chimney-board, on purpose to hear what we said.''
+
+Elinor tried to talk of something else; but Miss
+Steele could not be kept beyond a couple of minutes,
+from what was uppermost in her mind.
+
+``Edward talks of going to Oxford soon,'' said she;
+``but now he is lodging at No. ---, Pall Mall.  What an
+ill-natured woman his mother is, an't she? And your
+brother and sister were not very kind! However,
+I shan't say anything against them to \emph{you}; and to be sure
+they did send us home in their own chariot, which
+was more than I looked for.  And for my part, I was all
+in a fright for fear your sister should ask us for the
+huswifes she had gave us a day or two before; but, however,
+nothing was said about them, and I took care to keep mine
+out of sight.  Edward have got some business at Oxford,
+he says; so he must go there for a time; and after \emph{that},
+as soon as he can light upon a Bishop, he will be ordained.
+I wonder what curacy he will get!---Good gracious!
+(giggling as she spoke) I'd lay my life I know what
+my cousins will say, when they hear of it.  They will
+tell me I should write to the Doctor, to get Edward
+the curacy of his new living.  I know they will; but I am
+sure I would not do such a thing for all the world.---%
+`La!' I shall say directly, `I wonder how you could think
+of such a thing?  I write to the Doctor, indeed!'\,''
+
+``Well,'' said Elinor, ``it is a comfort to be prepared
+against the worst.  You have got your answer ready.''
+
+Miss Steele was going to reply on the same subject,
+but the approach of her own party made another more necessary.
+
+``Oh, la! here come the Richardsons.  I had a vast deal
+more to say to you, but I must not stay away from them not
+any longer.  I assure you they are very genteel people.
+He makes a monstrous deal of money, and they keep their
+own coach.  I have not time to speak to Mrs.\ Jennings about
+it myself, but pray tell her I am quite happy to hear she
+is not in anger against us, and Lady Middleton the same;
+and if anything should happen to take you and your
+sister away, and Mrs.\ Jennings should want company,
+I am sure we should be very glad to come and stay with her
+for as long a time as she likes.  I suppose Lady Middleton
+won't ask us any more this bout.  Good-by; I am sorry
+Miss Marianne was not here.  Remember me kindly to her.
+La! if you have not got your spotted muslin on!---I wonder
+you was not afraid of its being torn.''
+
+Such was her parting concern; for after this, she had
+time only to pay her farewell compliments to Mrs.\ Jennings,
+before her company was claimed by Mrs.\ Richardson;
+and Elinor was left in possession of knowledge which
+might feed her powers of reflection some time, though she
+had learnt very little more than what had been already
+foreseen and foreplanned in her own mind.  Edward's marriage
+with Lucy was as firmly determined on, and the time
+of its taking place remained as absolutely uncertain,
+as she had concluded it would be;---every thing depended,
+exactly after her expectation, on his getting that preferment,
+of which, at present, there seemed not the smallest chance.
+
+As soon as they returned to the carriage,
+Mrs.\ Jennings was eager for information; but as Elinor
+wished to spread as little as possible intelligence
+that had in the first place been so unfairly obtained,
+she confined herself to the brief repetition of such
+simple particulars, as she felt assured that Lucy,
+for the sake of her own consequence, would choose
+to have known.  The continuance of their engagement,
+and the means that were able to be taken for promoting
+its end, was all her communication; and this produced
+from Mrs.\ Jennings the following natural remark.
+
+``Wait for his having a living!---ay, we all know how
+\emph{that} will end:---they will wait a twelvemonth, and finding
+no good comes of it, will set down upon a curacy of fifty
+pounds a-year, with the interest of his two thousand pounds,
+and what little matter Mr.\ Steele and Mr.\ Pratt can
+give her.---Then they will have a child every year! and
+Lord help 'em! how poor they will be!---I must see
+what I can give them towards furnishing their house.
+Two maids and two men, indeed!---as I talked of t'other
+day.---No, no, they must get a stout girl of all works.---%
+Betty's sister would never do for them \emph{now}.''
+
+The next morning brought Elinor a letter by the
+two-penny post from Lucy herself.  It was as follows:
+
+\bigskip
+                    ``Bartlett's Building, March.
+\medskip
+
+     ``I hope my dear Miss Dashwood will excuse the
+     liberty I take of writing to her; but I know your
+     friendship for me will make you pleased to hear such
+     a good account of myself and my dear Edward, after
+     all the troubles we have went through lately,
+     therefore will make no more apologies, but proceed
+     to say that, thank God! though we have suffered
+     dreadfully, we are both quite well now, and as happy
+     as we must always be in one another's love.  We have
+     had great trials, and great persecutions, but
+     however, at the same time, gratefully acknowledge
+     many friends, yourself not the least among them,
+     whose great kindness I shall always thankfully
+     remember, as will Edward too, who I have told of
+     it.  I am sure you will be glad to hear, as likewise
+     dear Mrs.\ Jennings, I spent two happy hours with
+     him yesterday afternoon, he would not hear of our
+     parting, though earnestly did I, as I thought my
+     duty required, urge him to it for prudence sake,
+     and would have parted for ever on the spot, would
+     he consent to it; but he said it should never be,
+     he did not regard his mother's anger, while he could
+     have my affections; our prospects are not very
+     bright, to be sure, but we must wait, and hope for
+     the best; he will be ordained shortly; and should
+     it ever be in your power to recommend him to any
+     body that has a living to bestow, am very sure you
+     will not forget us, and dear Mrs.\ Jennings too,
+     trust she will speak a good word for us to Sir John,
+     or Mr.\ Palmer, or any friend that may be able to
+     assist us.---Poor Anne was much to blame for what
+     she did, but she did it for the best, so I say
+     nothing; hope Mrs.\ Jennings won't think it too much
+     trouble to give us a call, should she come this way
+     any morning, 'twould be a great kindness, and my
+     cousins would be proud to know her.---My paper reminds
+     me to conclude; and begging to be most gratefully
+     and respectfully remembered to her, and to Sir John,
+     and Lady Middleton, and the dear children, when you
+     chance to see them, and love to Miss Marianne,
+
+\medskip
+                                      ``I am, \&c.''
+\bigskip
+
+As soon as Elinor had finished it, she performed
+what she concluded to be its writer's real design,
+by placing it in the hands of Mrs.\ Jennings, who read it
+aloud with many comments of satisfaction and praise.
+
+``Very well indeed!---how prettily she writes!---aye,
+that was quite proper to let him be off if he would.
+That was just like Lucy.---Poor soul! I wish I \emph{could} get
+him a living, with all my heart.---She calls me dear
+Mrs.\ Jennings, you see.  She is a good-hearted girl
+as ever lived.---Very well upon my word.  That sentence
+is very prettily turned.  Yes, yes, I will go and see her,
+sure enough.  How attentive she is, to think of every
+body!---Thank you, my dear, for shewing it me.  It is
+as pretty a letter as ever I saw, and does Lucy's head
+and heart great credit.''
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 39}
+
+
+\gintro{The Miss Dashwoods} had now been rather more than
+two months in town, and Marianne's impatience to be gone
+increased every day.  She sighed for the air, the liberty,
+the quiet of the country; and fancied that if any place
+could give her ease, Barton must do it.  Elinor was hardly
+less anxious than herself for their removal, and only so much
+less bent on its being effected immediately, as that she
+was conscious of the difficulties of so long a journey,
+which Marianne could not be brought to acknowledge.
+She began, however, seriously to turn her thoughts towards
+its accomplishment, and had already mentioned their wishes
+to their kind hostess, who resisted them with all the
+eloquence of her good-will, when a plan was suggested,
+which, though detaining them from home yet a few weeks
+longer, appeared to Elinor altogether much more eligible
+than any other. The Palmers were to remove to Cleveland
+about the end of March, for the Easter holidays;
+and Mrs.\ Jennings, with both her friends, received a very
+warm invitation from Charlotte to go with them.  This would
+not, in itself, have been sufficient for the delicacy of
+Miss Dashwood;---but it was inforced with so much real
+politeness by Mr.\ Palmer himself, as, joined to the very
+great amendment of his manners towards them since her
+sister had been known to be unhappy, induced her to accept
+it with pleasure.
+
+When she told Marianne what she had done, however,
+her first reply was not very auspicious.
+
+``Cleveland!''---she cried, with great agitation.
+``No, I cannot go to Cleveland.''---%
+
+``You forget,'' said Elinor gently, ``that its situation
+is not \ldots that it is not in the neighbourhood of \ldots''
+
+``But it is in Somersetshire.---I cannot go
+into Somersetshire.---There, where I looked forward
+to going \ldots No, Elinor, you cannot expect me to go there.''
+
+Elinor would not argue upon the propriety of overcoming
+such feelings;---she only endeavoured to counteract them by
+working on others;---represented it, therefore, as a measure
+which would fix the time of her returning to that dear mother,
+whom she so much wished to see, in a more eligible,
+more comfortable manner, than any other plan could do,
+and perhaps without any greater delay.  From Cleveland,
+which was within a few miles of Bristol, the distance to
+Barton was not beyond one day, though a long day's journey;
+and their mother's servant might easily come there to attend
+them down; and as there could be no occasion of their
+staying above a week at Cleveland, they might now be at
+home in little more than three weeks' time.  As Marianne's
+affection for her mother was sincere, it must triumph
+with little difficulty, over the imaginary evils she had started.
+
+Mrs.\ Jennings was so far from being weary of her guest,
+that she pressed them very earnestly to return with her again
+from Cleveland.  Elinor was grateful for the attention,
+but it could not alter her design; and their mother's
+concurrence being readily gained, every thing relative
+to their return was arranged as far as it could be;---%
+and Marianne found some relief in drawing up a statement
+of the hours that were yet to divide her from Barton.
+
+``Ah! Colonel, I do not know what you and I shall
+do without the Miss Dashwoods;''---was Mrs.\ Jennings's
+address to him when he first called on her, after their
+leaving her was settled---``for they are quite resolved
+upon going home from the Palmers;---and how forlorn we
+shall be, when I come back!---Lord! we shall sit and gape
+at one another as dull as two cats.''
+
+Perhaps Mrs.\ Jennings was in hopes, by this vigorous
+sketch of their future ennui, to provoke him to make
+that offer, which might give himself an escape from it;---%
+and if so, she had soon afterwards good reason to think
+her object gained; for, on Elinor's moving to the window
+to take more expeditiously the dimensions of a print,
+which she was going to copy for her friend, he followed
+her to it with a look of particular meaning, and conversed
+with her there for several minutes.  The effect of his
+discourse on the lady too, could not escape her observation,
+for though she was too honorable to listen, and had even
+changed her seat, on purpose that she might \emph{not} hear,
+to one close by the piano forte on which Marianne
+was playing, she could not keep herself from seeing
+that Elinor changed colour, attended with agitation,
+and was too intent on what he said to pursue her employment.---%
+Still farther in confirmation of her hopes, in the interval
+of Marianne's turning from one lesson to another,
+some words of the Colonel's inevitably reached her ear,
+in which he seemed to be apologising for the badness
+of his house.  This set the matter beyond a doubt.
+She wondered, indeed, at his thinking it necessary
+to do so; but supposed it to be the proper etiquette.
+What Elinor said in reply she could not distinguish,
+but judged from the motion of her lips, that she did
+not think \emph{that} any material objection;---and Mrs.\ Jennings
+commended her in her heart for being so honest.
+They then talked on for a few minutes longer without her
+catching a syllable, when another lucky stop in Marianne's
+performance brought her these words in the Colonel's calm voice,---%
+
+``I am afraid it cannot take place very soon.''
+
+Astonished and shocked at so unlover-like a speech,
+she was almost ready to cry out, ``Lord! what should
+hinder it?''---but checking her desire, confined herself
+to this silent ejaculation.
+
+``This is very strange!---sure he need not wait to be older.''
+
+This delay on the Colonel's side, however, did not
+seem to offend or mortify his fair companion in the least,
+for on their breaking up the conference soon afterwards,
+and moving different ways, Mrs.\ Jennings very plainly heard
+Elinor say, and with a voice which shewed her to feel what she said,
+
+``I shall always think myself very much obliged to you.''
+
+Mrs.\ Jennings was delighted with her gratitude,
+and only wondered that after hearing such a sentence,
+the Colonel should be able to take leave of them, as he
+immediately did, with the utmost sang-froid, and go away
+without making her any reply!---She had not thought her old
+friend could have made so indifferent a suitor.
+
+What had really passed between them was to this effect.
+
+``I have heard,'' said he, with great compassion,
+``of the injustice your friend Mr.\ Ferrars has suffered
+from his family; for if I understand the matter right,
+he has been entirely cast off by them for persevering
+in his engagement with a very deserving young woman.---%
+Have I been rightly informed?---Is it so?---''
+
+Elinor told him that it was.
+
+``The cruelty, the impolitic cruelty,''---he replied,
+with great feeling,---``of dividing, or attempting to divide,
+two young people long attached to each other, is terrible.---%
+Mrs.\ Ferrars does not know what she may be doing---what
+she may drive her son to.  I have seen Mr.\ Ferrars two
+or three times in Harley Street, and am much pleased
+with him.  He is not a young man with whom one can
+be intimately acquainted in a short time, but I have
+seen enough of him to wish him well for his own sake,
+and as a friend of yours, I wish it still more.
+I understand that he intends to take orders.  Will you
+be so good as to tell him that the living of Delaford,
+now just vacant, as I am informed by this day's post,
+is his, if he think it worth his acceptance---but \emph{that},
+perhaps, so unfortunately circumstanced as he is now,
+it may be  nonsense to appear to doubt; I only wish it
+were more  valuable.--- It is a rectory, but a small one;
+the late incumbent, I believe, did not make more than
+\pounds 200 per annum, and though it is certainly capable
+of improvement, I fear, not to such an amount as
+to afford him a very comfortable income.  Such as it is,
+however, my pleasure in presenting him to it,
+will be very great.  Pray assure him of it.''
+
+Elinor's astonishment at this commission could
+hardly have been greater, had the Colonel been really
+making her an offer of his hand.  The preferment,
+which only two days before she had considered as hopeless
+for Edward, was already provided to enable him to marry;---%
+and \emph{she}, of all people in the world, was fixed on to
+bestow it!---Her emotion was such as Mrs.\ Jennings had
+attributed to a very different cause;---but whatever minor
+feelings less pure, less pleasing, might have a share
+in that emotion, her esteem for the general benevolence,
+and her gratitude for the particular friendship,
+which together prompted Colonel Brandon to this act,
+were strongly felt, and warmly expressed.  She thanked him
+for it with all her heart, spoke of Edward's principles and
+disposition with that praise which she knew them to deserve;
+and promised to undertake the commission with pleasure,
+if it were really his wish to put off so agreeable an office
+to another.  But at the same time, she could not help
+thinking that no one could so well perform it as himself.
+It was an office in short, from which, unwilling to give
+Edward the pain of receiving an obligation from \emph{her},
+she would have been very glad to be spared herself;---%
+but Colonel Brandon, on motives of equal delicacy,
+declining it likewise, still seemed so desirous of its being
+given through her means, that she would not on any account
+make farther opposition.  Edward, she believed, was still in
+town,
+and fortunately she had heard his address from Miss Steele.
+She could undertake therefore to inform him of it,
+in the course of the day.  After this had been settled,
+Colonel Brandon began to talk of his own advantage
+in securing so respectable and agreeable a neighbour,
+and \emph{then} it was that he mentioned with regret, that the
+house was small and indifferent;---an evil which Elinor,
+as Mrs.\ Jennings had supposed her to do, made very light of,
+at least as far as regarded its size.
+
+``The smallness of the house,'' said she,
+``I cannot imagine any inconvenience to them,
+for it will be in proportion to their family and income.''
+
+By which the Colonel was surprised to find that \emph{she}
+was considering Mr.\ Ferrars's marriage as the certain
+consequence of the presentation; for he did not suppose it
+possible that Delaford living could supply such an income,
+as anybody in his style of life would venture to settle on---%
+and he said so.
+
+``This little rectory \emph{can} do no more than make Mr.\ Ferrars
+comfortable as a bachelor; it cannot enable him to marry.
+I am sorry to say that my patronage ends with this;
+and my interest is hardly more extensive.  If, however,
+by an unforeseen chance it should be in my power to serve
+him farther, I must think very differently of him
+from what I now do, if I am not as ready to be useful
+to him then as I sincerely wish I could be at present.
+What I am now doing indeed, seems nothing at all,
+since it can advance him so little towards what must
+be his principal, his only object of happiness.
+His marriage must still be a distant good;---at least,
+I am afraid it cannot take place very soon.---''
+
+Such was the sentence which, when misunderstood,
+so justly offended the delicate feelings of Mrs.\ Jennings;
+but after this narration of what really passed between
+Colonel Brandon and Elinor, while they stood at the window,
+the gratitude expressed by the latter on their parting, may
+perhaps appear in general, not less reasonably excited,
+nor less properly worded than if it had arisen from
+an offer of marriage.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 40}
+
+
+\gintro{``Well, Miss Dashwood,''} said Mrs.\ Jennings,
+sagaciously smiling, as soon as the gentleman had withdrawn,
+``I do not ask you what the Colonel has been saying to you;
+for though, upon my honour, I \emph{tried} to keep out of hearing,
+I could not help catching enough to understand his business.
+And I assure you I never was better pleased in my life,
+and I wish you joy of it with all my heart.''
+
+``Thank you, ma'am,'' said Elinor.  ``It is a matter
+of great joy to me; and I feel the goodness of Colonel
+Brandon most sensibly.  There are not many men who would
+act as he has done.  Few people who have so compassionate
+a heart!  I never was more astonished in my life.''
+
+``Lord! my dear, you are very modest.  I an't the least
+astonished at it in the world, for I have often thought
+of late, there was nothing more likely to happen.''
+
+``You judged from your knowledge of the Colonel's
+general benevolence; but at least you could not foresee
+that the opportunity would so very soon occur.''
+
+``Opportunity!'' repeated Mrs.\ Jennings---``Oh! as to that,
+when a man has once made up his mind to such a thing,
+somehow or other he will soon find an opportunity.
+Well, my dear, I wish you joy of it again and again;
+and if ever there was a happy couple in the world, I think
+I shall soon know where to look for them.''
+
+``You mean to go to Delaford after them I suppose,''
+said Elinor, with a faint smile.
+
+``Aye, my dear, that I do, indeed.  And as to the house
+being a bad one, I do not know what the Colonel would be at,
+for it is as good a one as ever I saw.''
+
+``He spoke of its being out of repair.''
+
+``Well, and whose fault is that? why don't he repair it?---%
+who should do it but himself?''
+
+They were interrupted by the servant's coming in to
+announce the carriage being at the door; and Mrs.\ Jennings
+immediately preparing to go, said,---%
+
+``Well, my dear, I must be gone before I have had half
+my talk out.  But, however, we may have it all over in
+the evening; for we shall be quite alone.  I do not ask
+you to go with me, for I dare say your mind is too full
+of the matter to care for company; and besides, you must
+long to tell your sister all about it.''
+
+Marianne had left the room before the conversation began.
+
+``Certainly, ma'am, I shall tell Marianne of it;
+but I shall not mention it at present to any body else.''
+
+``Oh! very well,'' said Mrs.\ Jennings rather disappointed.
+``Then you would not have me tell it to Lucy, for I think
+of going as far as Holborn to-day.''
+
+``No, ma'am, not even Lucy if you please.
+One day's delay will not be very material; and till I
+have written to Mr.\ Ferrars, I think it ought not to be
+mentioned to any body else.  I shall do \emph{that} directly.
+It is of importance that no time should be lost with him,
+for he will of course have much to do relative to
+his ordination.''
+
+This speech at first puzzled Mrs.\ Jennings exceedingly.
+Why Mr.\ Ferrars was to have been written to about it
+in such a hurry, she could not immediately comprehend.
+A few moments' reflection, however, produced a very happy idea,
+and she exclaimed;---%
+
+``Oh, ho!---I understand you.  Mr.\ Ferrars is to be
+the man.  Well, so much the better for him.  Ay, to be sure,
+he must be ordained in readiness; and I am very glad
+to find things are so forward between you.  But, my dear,
+is not this rather out of character?  Should not the Colonel
+write himself?---sure, he is the proper person.''
+
+Elinor did not quite understand the beginning of
+Mrs.\ Jennings's speech, neither did she think it worth
+inquiring into; and therefore only replied to its conclusion.
+
+``Colonel Brandon is so delicate a man, that he rather
+wished any one to announce his intentions to Mr.\ Ferrars
+than himself.''
+
+``And so \emph{you} are forced to do it.  Well \emph{that} is an odd
+kind of delicacy!  However, I will not disturb you (seeing
+her preparing to write.)  You know your own concerns best.
+So goodby, my dear.  I have not heard of any thing to
+please me so well since Charlotte was brought to bed.''
+
+And away she went; but returning again in a moment,
+
+``I have just been thinking of Betty's sister, my dear.
+I should be very glad to get her so good a mistress.
+But whether she would do for a lady's maid, I am sure I
+can't tell.  She is an excellent housemaid, and works
+very well at her needle.  However, you will think of all
+that at your leisure.''
+
+``Certainly, ma'am,'' replied Elinor, not hearing
+much of what she said, and more anxious to be alone,
+than to be mistress of the subject.
+
+How she should begin---how she should express
+herself in her note to Edward, was now all her concern.
+The particular circumstances between them made
+a difficulty of that which to any other person would
+have been the easiest thing in the world; but she
+equally feared to say too much or too little, and sat
+deliberating over her paper, with the pen in her band,
+till broken in on by the entrance of Edward himself.
+
+He had met Mrs.\ Jennings at the door in her way to
+the carriage, as he came to leave his farewell card; and she,
+after apologising for not returning herself, had obliged
+him to enter, by saying that Miss Dashwood was above,
+and wanted to speak with him on very particular business.
+
+Elinor had just been congratulating herself,
+in the midst of her perplexity, that however difficult it
+might be to express herself properly by letter, it was
+at least preferable to giving the information by word
+of mouth, when her visitor entered, to force her upon this
+greatest exertion of all.  Her astonishment and confusion
+were very great on his so sudden appearance.  She had
+not seen him before since his engagement became public,
+and therefore not since his knowing her to be acquainted
+with it; which, with the consciousness of what she
+had been thinking of, and what she had to tell him,
+made her feel particularly uncomfortable for some minutes.
+He too was much distressed; and they sat down together
+in a most promising state of embarrassment.---Whether he
+had asked her pardon for his intrusion on first coming
+into the room, he could not recollect; but determining
+to be on the safe side, he made his apology in form
+as soon as he could say any thing, after taking a chair.
+
+``Mrs.\ Jennings told me,'' said he, ``that you wished
+to speak with me, at least I understood her so---or I
+certainly should not have intruded on you in such a manner;
+though at the same time, I should have been extremely
+sorry to leave London without seeing you and your sister;
+especially as it will most likely be some time---it
+is not probable that I should soon have the pleasure
+of meeting you again.  I go to Oxford tomorrow.''
+
+``You would not have gone, however,'' said Elinor,
+recovering herself, and determined to get over what she
+so much dreaded as soon as possible, ``without receiving
+our good wishes, even if we had not been able to give them
+in person.  Mrs.\ Jennings was quite right in what she said.
+I have something of consequence to inform you of,
+which I was on the point of communicating by paper.
+I am charged with a most agreeable office (breathing
+rather faster than usual as she spoke.)  Colonel Brandon,
+who was here only ten minutes ago, has desired me to say,
+that understanding you mean to take orders, he has
+great pleasure in offering you the living of Delaford
+now just vacant, and only wishes it were more valuable.
+Allow me to congratulate you on having so respectable
+and well-judging a friend, and to join in his wish that
+the living---it is about two hundred a-year---were much
+more considerable, and such as might better enable you
+to---as might be more than a temporary accommodation to
+yourself---such, in short, as might establish all your views
+of happiness.''
+
+What Edward felt, as he could not say it himself,
+it cannot be expected that any one else should say for him.
+He \emph{looked} all the astonishment which such unexpected,
+such unthought-of information could not fail of exciting;
+but he said only these two words,
+
+``Colonel Brandon!''
+
+``Yes,'' continued Elinor, gathering more resolution,
+as some of the worst was over, ``Colonel Brandon means
+it as a testimony of his concern for what has lately
+passed---for the cruel situation in which the unjustifiable
+conduct of your family has placed you---a concern
+which I am sure Marianne, myself, and all your friends,
+must share; and likewise as a proof of his high esteem
+for your general character, and his particular approbation
+of your behaviour on the present occasion.''
+
+``Colonel Brandon give \emph{me} a living!---Can it be possible?''
+
+``The unkindness of your own relations has made you
+astonished to find friendship any where.''
+
+``No,'' replied be, with sudden consciousness, ``not to
+find it in \emph{you}; for I cannot be ignorant that to you,
+to your goodness, I owe it all.---I feel it---I would express
+it if I could---but, as you well know, I am no orator.''
+
+``You are very much mistaken.  I do assure you
+that you owe it entirely, at least almost entirely,
+to your own merit, and Colonel Brandon's discernment
+of it.  I have had no hand in it.  I did not even know,
+till I understood his design, that the living was vacant;
+nor had it ever occurred to me that he might have
+had such a living in his gift.  As a friend of mine,
+of my family, he may, perhaps---indeed I know he \emph{has},
+still greater pleasure in bestowing it; but, upon my word,
+you owe nothing to my solicitation.''
+
+Truth obliged her to acknowledge some small share
+in the action, but she was at the same time so unwilling
+to appear as the benefactress of Edward, that she acknowledged
+it with hesitation; which probably contributed to fix
+that suspicion in his mind which had recently entered it.
+For a short time he sat deep in thought, after Elinor had ceased
+to speak;---at last, and as if it were rather an effort, he said,
+
+``Colonel Brandon seems a man of great worth and respectability.
+I have always heard him spoken of as such, and your brother
+I know esteems him highly.  He is undoubtedly a sensible man,
+and in his manners perfectly the gentleman.''
+
+``Indeed,'' replied Elinor, ``I believe that you will find him,
+on farther acquaintance, all that you have heard him to be,
+and as you will be such very near neighbours (for I understand
+the parsonage is almost close to the mansion-house,)
+it is particularly important that he \emph{should} be all this.''
+
+Edward made no answer; but when she had turned
+away her head, gave her a look so serious, so earnest,
+so uncheerful, as seemed to say, that he might hereafter wish
+the distance between the parsonage and the mansion-house
+much greater.
+
+``Colonel Brandon, I think, lodges in St. James Street,''
+said he, soon afterwards, rising from his chair.
+
+Elinor told him the number of the house.
+
+``I must hurry away then, to give him those thanks
+which you will not allow me to give \emph{you}; to assure him
+that he has made me a very---an exceedingly happy man.''
+
+Elinor did not offer to detain him; and they parted,
+with a very earnest assurance on \emph{her} side of her unceasing
+good wishes for his happiness in every change of situation
+that might befall him; on \emph{his}, with rather an attempt to
+return the same good will, than the power of expressing it.
+
+``When I see him again,'' said Elinor to herself,
+as the door shut him out, ``I shall see him the husband
+of Lucy.''
+
+And with this pleasing anticipation, she sat down
+to reconsider the past, recall the words and endeavour
+to comprehend all the feelings of Edward; and, of course,
+to reflect on her own with discontent.
+
+When Mrs.\ Jennings came home, though she returned
+from seeing people whom she had never seen before,
+and of whom therefore she must have a great deal to say,
+her mind was so much more occupied by the important secret
+in her possession, than by anything else, that she
+reverted to it again as soon as Elinor appeared.
+
+``Well, my dear,'' she cried, ``I sent you up to the
+young man.  Did not I do right?---And I suppose you had
+no great difficulty---You did not find him very unwilling
+to accept your proposal?''
+
+``No, ma'am; \emph{that} was not very likely.''
+
+``Well, and how soon will he be ready?---For it seems
+all to depend upon that.''
+
+``Really,'' said Elinor, ``I know so little of these kind
+of forms, that I can hardly even conjecture as to the time,
+or the preparation necessary; but I suppose two or three
+months will complete his ordination.''
+
+``Two or three months!'' cried Mrs.\ Jennings; ``Lord! my dear,
+how calmly you talk of it; and can the Colonel wait two
+or three months! Lord bless me!---I am sure it would put \emph{me}
+quite out of patience!---And though one would be very glad
+to do a kindness by poor Mr.\ Ferrars, I do think it is
+not worth while to wait two or three months for him.
+Sure somebody else might be found that would do as well;
+somebody that is in orders already.''
+
+``My dear ma'am,'' said Elinor, ``what can you be thinking of?---%
+Why, Colonel Brandon's only object is to be of use to Mr.\ Ferrars.''
+
+``Lord bless you, my dear!---Sure you do not mean to persuade
+me that the Colonel only marries you for the sake of giving
+ten guineas to Mr.\ Ferrars!''
+
+The deception could not continue after this;
+and an explanation immediately took place, by which both
+gained considerable amusement for the moment, without any
+material loss of happiness to either, for Mrs.\ Jennings
+only exchanged one form of delight for another, and still
+without forfeiting her expectation of the first.
+
+``Aye, aye, the parsonage is but a small one,'' said she,
+after the first ebullition of surprise and satisfaction
+was over, ``and very likely \emph{may} be out of repair; but to hear
+a man apologising, as I thought, for a house that to my
+knowledge has five sitting rooms on the ground-floor, and I
+think the housekeeper told me could make up fifteen beds!---%
+and to you too, that had been used to live in Barton cottage!---%
+It seems quite ridiculous.  But, my dear, we must
+touch up the Colonel to do some thing to the parsonage,
+and make it comfortable for them, before Lucy goes to it.''
+
+``But Colonel Brandon does not seem to have any idea
+of the living's being enough to allow them to marry.''
+
+``The Colonel is a ninny, my dear; because he has two
+thousand a-year himself, he thinks that nobody else can marry
+on less.  Take my word for it, that, if I am alive, I shall
+be paying a visit at Delaford Parsonage before Michaelmas;
+and I am sure I sha'nt go if Lucy an't there.''
+
+Elinor was quite of her opinion, as to the probability
+of their not waiting for any thing more.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 41}
+
+
+\gintro{Edward,} having carried his thanks to Colonel Brandon,
+proceeded with his happiness to Lucy; and such was the
+excess of it by the time he reached Bartlett's Buildings,
+that she was able to assure Mrs.\ Jennings, who called
+on her again the next day with her congratulations,
+that she had never seen him in such spirits before
+in her life.
+
+Her own happiness, and her own spirits, were at
+least very certain; and she joined Mrs.\ Jennings most
+heartily in her expectation of their being all comfortably
+together in Delaford Parsonage before Michaelmas.
+So far was she, at the same time, from any backwardness
+to give Elinor that credit which Edward \emph{would} give her,
+that she spoke of her friendship for them both with the most
+grateful warmth, was ready to own all their obligation
+to her, and openly declared that no exertion for their
+good on Miss Dashwood's part, either present or future,
+would ever surprise her, for she believed her capable of
+doing any thing in the world for those she really valued.
+As for Colonel Brandon, she was not only ready to worship
+him as a saint, but was moreover truly anxious that
+he should be treated as one in all worldly concerns;
+anxious that his tithes should be raised to the utmost;
+and scarcely resolved to avail herself, at Delaford,
+as far as she possibly could, of his servants, his carriage,
+his cows, and his poultry.
+
+It was now above a week since John Dashwood had
+called in Berkeley Street, and as since that time no notice
+had been taken by them of his wife's indisposition,
+beyond one verbal enquiry, Elinor began to feel it
+necessary to pay her a visit.---This was an obligation,
+however, which not only opposed her own inclination,
+but which had not the assistance of any encouragement
+from her companions.  Marianne, not contented with
+absolutely refusing to go herself, was very urgent
+to prevent her sister's going at all; and Mrs.\ Jennings,
+though her carriage was always at Elinor's service,
+so very much disliked Mrs.\ John Dashwood, that not even her
+curiosity to see how she looked after the late discovery,
+nor her strong desire to affront her by taking Edward's part,
+could overcome her unwillingness to be in her company again.
+The consequence was, that Elinor set out by herself
+to pay a visit, for which no one could really have
+less inclination, and to run the risk of a t\^{e}te-\`{a}-t\^{e}te
+with a woman, whom neither of the others had so much
+reason to dislike.
+
+Mrs.\ Dashwood was denied; but before the carriage could
+turn from the house, her husband accidentally came out.
+He expressed great pleasure in meeting Elinor, told her
+that he had been just going to call in Berkeley Street,
+and, assuring her that Fanny would be very glad to see her,
+invited her to come in.
+
+They walked up stairs in to the drawing-room.---Nobody was there.
+
+``Fanny is in her own room, I suppose,'' said he:---``I
+will go to her presently, for I am sure she will not
+have the least objection in the world to seeing \emph{you}.---%
+Very far from it, indeed.  \emph{Now} especially there
+cannot be---but however, you and Marianne were always
+great favourites.---Why would not Marianne come?''---%
+
+Elinor made what excuse she could for her.
+
+``I am not sorry to see you alone,'' he replied,
+``for I have a good deal to say to you.  This living
+of Colonel Brandon's---can it be true?---has he really given
+it to Edward?---I heard it yesterday by chance, and was
+coming to you on purpose to enquire farther about it.''
+
+``It is perfectly true.---Colonel Brandon has given
+the living of Delaford to Edward.''
+
+``Really!---Well, this is very astonishing!---no
+relationship!---no connection between them!---and now
+that livings fetch such a price!---what was the value of this?''
+
+``About two hundred a year.''
+
+``Very well---and for the next presentation to a living
+of that value---supposing the late incumbent to have
+been old and sickly, and likely to vacate it soon---he
+might have got I dare say---fourteen hundred pounds.
+And how came he not to have settled that matter before this
+person's death?---\emph{Now} indeed it would be too late to sell it,
+but a man of Colonel Brandon's sense!---I wonder he should
+be so improvident in a point of such common, such natural,
+concern!---Well, I am convinced that there is a vast deal
+of inconsistency in almost every human character.  I suppose,
+however---on recollection---that the case may probably be \emph{this}.
+Edward is only to hold the living till the person to whom
+the Colonel has really sold the presentation, is old enough
+to take it.---Aye, aye, that is the fact, depend upon it.''
+
+Elinor contradicted it, however, very positively;
+and by relating that she had herself been employed
+in conveying the offer from Colonel Brandon to Edward,
+and, therefore, must understand the terms on which it
+was given, obliged him to submit to her authority.
+
+``It is truly astonishing!''---he cried, after hearing
+what she said---``what could be the Colonel's motive?''
+
+``A very simple one---to be of use to Mr.\ Ferrars.''
+
+``Well, well; whatever Colonel Brandon may be,
+Edward is a very lucky man.---You will not mention the matter
+to Fanny, however, for though I have broke it to her,
+and she bears it vastly well,---she will not like to hear
+it much talked of.''
+
+Elinor had some difficulty here to refrain from observing,
+that she thought Fanny might have borne with composure,
+an acquisition of wealth to her brother, by which neither
+she nor her child could be possibly impoverished.
+
+``Mrs.\ Ferrars,'' added he, lowering his voice to the
+tone becoming so important a subject, ``knows nothing
+about it at present, and I believe it will be best to
+keep it entirely concealed from her as long as may be.---%
+When the marriage takes place, I fear she must hear
+of it all.''
+
+``But why should such precaution be used?---Though
+it is not to be supposed that Mrs.\ Ferrars can have
+the smallest satisfaction in knowing that her son has
+money enough to live upon,---for \emph{that} must be quite
+out of the question; yet why, upon her late behaviour,
+is she supposed to feel at all?---She has done with her
+son, she cast him off for ever, and has made all those
+over whom she had any influence, cast him off likewise.
+Surely, after doing so, she cannot be imagined liable
+to any impression of sorrow or of joy on his account---%
+she cannot be interested in any thing that befalls him.---%
+She would not be so weak as to throw away the comfort
+of a child, and yet retain the anxiety of a parent!''
+
+``Ah! Elinor,'' said John, ``your reasoning is very good,
+but it is founded on ignorance of human nature.
+When Edward's unhappy match takes place, depend upon it
+his mother will feel as much as if she had never discarded him;
+and, therefore every circumstance that may accelerate that
+dreadful event, must be concealed from her as much as possible.
+Mrs.\ Ferrars can never forget that Edward is her son.''
+
+``You surprise me; I should think it must nearly
+have escaped her memory by \emph{this} time.''
+
+``You wrong her exceedingly.  Mrs.\ Ferrars is one
+of the most affectionate mothers in the world.''
+
+Elinor was silent.
+
+``We think \emph{now},''---said Mr.\ Dashwood, after a short pause,
+``of \emph{Robert's} marrying Miss Morton.''
+
+Elinor, smiling at the grave and decisive importance
+of her brother's tone, calmly replied,
+
+``The lady, I suppose, has no choice in the affair.''
+
+``Choice!---how do you mean?''
+
+``I only mean that I suppose, from your manner
+of speaking, it must be the same to Miss Morton whether
+she marry Edward or Robert.''
+
+``Certainly, there can be no difference; for Robert
+will now to all intents and purposes be considered
+as the eldest son;---and as to any thing else, they are
+both very agreeable young men: I do not know that one
+is superior to the other.''
+
+Elinor said no more, and John was also for a short
+time silent.---His reflections ended thus.
+
+``Of \emph{one} thing, my dear sister,'' kindly taking her hand,
+and speaking in an awful whisper,---``I may assure you;---%
+and I \emph{will} do it, because I know it must gratify you.
+I have good reason to think---indeed I have it from the
+best authority, or I should not repeat it, for otherwise
+it would be very wrong to say any thing about it---but
+I have it from the very best authority---not that I ever
+precisely heard Mrs.\ Ferrars say it herself---but her
+daughter \emph{did}, and I have it from her---That in short,
+whatever objections there might be against a certain---a
+certain connection---you understand me---it would have been
+far preferable to her, it would not have given her half
+the vexation that \emph{this} does.  I was exceedingly pleased
+to hear that Mrs.\ Ferrars considered it in that light---%
+a very gratifying circumstance you know to us all.
+`It would have been beyond comparison,' she said, `the least
+evil of the two, and she would be glad to compound \emph{now}
+for nothing worse.' But however, all that is quite out
+of the question---not to be thought of or mentioned---%
+as to any attachment you know---it never could be---all
+that is gone by.  But I thought I would just tell you
+of this, because I knew how much it must please you.
+Not that you have any reason to regret, my dear Elinor.  There
+is no doubt of your doing exceedingly well---quite as well,
+or better, perhaps, all things considered.  Has Colonel
+Brandon been with you lately?''
+
+Elinor had heard enough, if not to gratify her vanity,
+and raise her self-importance, to agitate her nerves
+and fill her mind;---and she was therefore glad to be
+spared from the necessity of saying much in reply herself,
+and from the danger of hearing any thing more from
+her brother, by the entrance of Mr.\ Robert Ferrars.
+After a few moments' chat, John Dashwood, recollecting that
+Fanny was yet uninformed of her sister's being there,
+quitted the room in quest of her; and Elinor was left
+to improve her acquaintance with Robert, who, by the
+gay unconcern, the happy self-complacency of his manner
+while enjoying so unfair a division of his mother's love
+and liberality, to the prejudice of his banished brother,
+earned only by his own dissipated course of life, and that
+brother's integrity, was confirming her most unfavourable
+opinion of his head and heart.
+
+They had scarcely been two minutes by themselves,
+before he began to speak of Edward; for he, too, had heard
+of the living, and was very inquisitive on the subject.
+Elinor repeated the particulars of it, as she had given them
+to John; and their effect on Robert, though very different,
+was not less striking than it had been on \emph{him}.  He laughed
+most immoderately.  The idea of Edward's being a clergyman,
+and living in a small parsonage-house, diverted him
+beyond measure;---and when to that was added the fanciful
+imagery of Edward reading prayers in a white surplice,
+and publishing the banns of marriage between John Smith and
+Mary Brown, he could conceive nothing more ridiculous.
+
+Elinor, while she waited in silence and immovable
+gravity, the conclusion of such folly, could not restrain
+her eyes from being fixed on him with a look that spoke
+all the contempt it excited.  It was a look, however,
+very well bestowed, for it relieved her own feelings, and gave
+no intelligence to him.  He was recalled from wit to wisdom,
+not by any reproof of her's, but by his own sensibility.
+
+``We may treat it as a joke,'' said he, at last,
+recovering from the affected laugh which had considerably
+lengthened out the genuine gaiety of the moment---``but, upon
+my soul, it is a most serious business.  Poor Edward!
+he is ruined for ever.  I am extremely sorry for it---%
+for I know him to be a very good-hearted creature; as
+well-meaning a fellow perhaps, as any in the world.
+You must not judge of him, Miss Dashwood, from \emph{your}
+slight acquaintance.---Poor Edward!---His manners are certainly
+not the happiest in nature.---But we are not all born,
+you know, with the same powers,---the same address.---%
+Poor fellow!---to see him in a circle of strangers!---%
+to be sure it was pitiable enough!---but upon my soul,
+I believe he has as good a heart as any in the kingdom;
+and I declare and protest to you I never was so shocked in my
+life, as when it all burst forth.  I could not believe it.---%
+My mother was the first person who told me of it;
+and I, feeling myself called on to act with resolution,
+immediately said to her, `My dear madam, I do not know
+what you may intend to do on the occasion, but as for myself,
+I must say, that if Edward does marry this young woman,
+I never will see him again.' That was what I said immediately.---%
+I was most uncommonly shocked, indeed!---Poor Edward!---he has
+done for himself completely---shut himself out for ever from
+all decent society!---but, as I directly said to my mother,
+I am not in the least surprised at it; from his style
+of education, it was always to be expected.  My poor mother
+was half frantic.''
+
+``Have you ever seen the lady?''
+
+``Yes; once, while she was staying in this house,
+I happened to drop in for ten minutes; and I saw
+quite enough of her.  The merest awkward country girl,
+without style, or elegance, and almost without beauty.---%
+I remember her perfectly.  Just the kind of girl I
+should suppose likely to captivate poor Edward.
+I offered immediately, as soon as my mother related
+the affair to me, to talk to him myself, and dissuade
+him from the match; but it was too late \emph{then}, I found,
+to do any thing, for unluckily, I was not in the way
+at first, and knew nothing of it till after the breach
+had taken place, when it was not for me, you know,
+to interfere.  But had I been informed of it a few
+hours earlier---I think it is most probable---that something
+might have been hit on.  I certainly should have represented
+it to Edward in a very strong light.  `My dear fellow,'
+I should have said, `consider what you are doing.
+You are making a most disgraceful connection, and such a one
+as your family are unanimous in disapproving.' I cannot
+help thinking, in short, that means might have been found.
+But now it is all too late.  He must be starved, you know;---%
+that is certain; absolutely starved.''
+
+He had just settled this point with great composure,
+when the entrance of Mrs.\ John Dashwood put an end to the
+subject.
+But though \emph{she} never spoke of it out of her own family,
+Elinor could see its influence on her mind, in the something
+like confusion of countenance with which she entered,
+and an attempt at cordiality in her behaviour to herself.
+She even proceeded so far as to be concerned to find
+that Elinor and her sister were so soon to leave town,
+as she had hoped to see more of them;---an exertion
+in which her husband, who attended her into the room,
+and hung enamoured over her accents, seemed to distinguish
+every thing that was most affectionate and graceful.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 42}
+
+
+\gintro{One other short call} in Harley Street, in which Elinor
+received her brother's congratulations on their travelling
+so far towards Barton without any expense, and on Colonel
+Brandon's being to follow them to Cleveland in a day or two,
+completed the intercourse of the brother and sisters
+in town;---and a faint invitation from Fanny, to come
+to Norland whenever it should happen to be in their way,
+which of all things was the most unlikely to occur,
+with a more warm, though less public, assurance, from John
+to Elinor, of the promptitude with which he should come
+to see her at Delaford, was all that foretold any meeting
+in the country.
+
+It amused her to observe that all her friends seemed
+determined to send her to Delaford;---a place, in which,
+of all others, she would now least chuse to visit,
+or wish to reside; for not only was it considered as
+her future home by her brother and Mrs.\ Jennings, but even Lucy,
+when they parted, gave her a pressing invitation to visit her there.
+
+Very early in April, and tolerably early in the day,
+the two parties from Hanover Square and Berkeley Street set
+out from their respective homes, to meet, by appointment,
+on the road.  For the convenience of Charlotte and her child,
+they were to be more than two days on their journey,
+and Mr.\ Palmer, travelling more expeditiously with Colonel Brandon,
+was to join them at Cleveland soon after their arrival.
+
+Marianne, few as had been her hours of comfort
+in London, and eager as she had long been to quit it,
+could not, when it came to the point, bid adieu to
+the house in which she had for the last time enjoyed
+those hopes, and that confidence, in Willoughby,
+which were now extinguished for ever, without great pain.
+Nor could she leave the place in which Willoughby remained,
+busy in new engagements, and new schemes, in which \emph{she}
+could have no share, without shedding many tears.
+
+Elinor's satisfaction, at the moment of removal,
+was more positive.  She had no such object for her lingering
+thoughts to fix on, she left no creature behind, from whom
+it would give her a moment's regret to be divided for ever,
+she was pleased to be free herself from the persecution
+of Lucy's friendship, she was grateful for bringing
+her sister away unseen by Willoughby since his marriage,
+and she looked forward with hope to what a few months
+of tranquility at Barton might do towards restoring
+Marianne's peace of mind, and confirming her own.
+
+Their journey was safely performed.  The second
+day brought them into the cherished, or the prohibited,
+county of Somerset, for as such was it dwelt on by turns
+in Marianne's imagination; and in the forenoon of the third
+they drove up to Cleveland.
+
+Cleveland was a spacious, modern-built house,
+situated on a sloping lawn.  It had no park, but the
+pleasure-grounds were tolerably extensive; and like
+every other place of the same degree of importance,
+it had its open shrubbery, and closer wood walk,
+a road of smooth gravel winding round a plantation,
+led to the front, the lawn was dotted over with timber,
+the house itself was under the guardianship of the fir,
+the mountain-ash, and the acacia, and a thick screen of
+them altogether, interspersed with tall Lombardy poplars,
+shut out the offices.
+
+Marianne entered the house with a heart swelling
+with emotion from the consciousness of being only eighty
+miles from Barton, and not thirty from Combe Magna;
+and before she had been five minutes within its walls,
+while the others were busily helping Charlotte to show
+her child to the housekeeper, she quitted it again,
+stealing away through the winding shrubberies, now just
+beginning to be in beauty, to gain a distant eminence;
+where, from its Grecian temple, her eye, wandering over
+a wide tract of country to the south-east, could fondly
+rest on the farthest ridge of hills in the horizon,
+and fancy that from their summits Combe Magna might be seen.
+
+In such moments of precious, invaluable misery,
+she rejoiced in tears of agony to be at Cleveland;
+and as she returned by a different circuit to the house,
+feeling all the happy privilege of country liberty,
+of wandering from place to place in free and luxurious solitude,
+she resolved to spend almost every hour of every day
+while she remained with the Palmers, in the indulgence of
+such solitary rambles.
+
+She returned just in time to join the others
+as they quitted the house, on an excursion through its
+more immediate premises; and the rest of the morning was
+easily whiled away, in lounging round the kitchen garden,
+examining the bloom upon its walls, and listening to the
+gardener's lamentations upon blights, in dawdling through
+the green-house, where the loss of her favourite plants,
+unwarily exposed, and nipped by the lingering frost,
+raised the laughter of Charlotte,---and in visiting her
+poultry-yard, where, in the disappointed hopes of her
+dairy-maid, by hens forsaking their nests, or being
+stolen by a fox, or in the rapid decrease of a promising
+young brood, she found fresh sources of merriment.
+
+The morning was fine and dry, and Marianne,
+in her plan of employment abroad, had not calculated
+for any change of weather during their stay at Cleveland.
+With great surprise therefore, did she find herself prevented
+by a settled rain from going out again after dinner.
+She had depended on a twilight walk to the Grecian temple,
+and perhaps all over the grounds, and an evening merely
+cold or damp would not have deterred her from it;
+but a heavy and settled rain even \emph{she} could not fancy dry
+or pleasant weather for walking.
+
+Their party was small, and the hours passed quietly away.
+Mrs.\ Palmer had her child, and Mrs.\ Jennings her carpet-work;
+they talked of the friends they had left behind,
+arranged Lady Middleton's engagements, and wondered
+whether Mr.\ Palmer and Colonel Brandon would get farther
+than Reading that night.  Elinor, however little concerned
+in it, joined in their discourse; and Marianne, who had
+the knack of finding her way in every house to the library,
+however it might be avoided by the family in general,
+soon procured herself a book.
+
+Nothing was wanting on Mrs.\ Palmer's side that constant
+and friendly good humour could do, to make them feel
+themselves welcome.  The openness and heartiness of her
+manner more than atoned for that want of recollection
+and elegance which made her often deficient in the forms
+of politeness; her kindness, recommended by so pretty
+a face, was engaging; her folly, though evident
+was not disgusting, because it was not conceited;
+and Elinor could have forgiven every thing but her laugh.
+
+The two gentlemen arrived the next day to a very
+late dinner, affording a pleasant enlargement of the party,
+and a very welcome variety to their conversation, which a
+long morning of the same continued rain had reduced very low.
+
+Elinor had seen so little of Mr.\ Palmer, and in that
+little had seen so much variety in his address to her
+sister and herself, that she knew not what to expect
+to find him in his own family.  She found him, however,
+perfectly the gentleman in his behaviour to all his visitors,
+and only occasionally rude to his wife and her mother;
+she found him very capable of being a pleasant companion,
+and only prevented from being so always, by too great
+an aptitude to fancy himself as much superior to people
+in general, as he must feel himself to be to Mrs.\ Jennings
+and Charlotte.  For the rest of his character and habits,
+they were marked, as far as Elinor could perceive,
+with no traits at all unusual in his sex and time of life.
+He was nice in his eating, uncertain in his hours;
+fond of his child, though affecting to slight it;
+and idled away the mornings at billiards, which ought
+to have been devoted to business.  She liked him, however,
+upon the whole, much better than she had expected, and in
+her heart was not sorry that she could like him no more;---%
+not sorry to be driven by the observation of his Epicurism,
+his selfishness, and his conceit, to rest with complacency
+on the remembrance of Edward's generous temper, simple taste,
+and diffident feelings.
+
+Of Edward, or at least of some of his concerns,
+she now received intelligence from Colonel Brandon,
+who had been into Dorsetshire lately; and who,
+treating her at once as the disinterested friend
+of Mr.\ Ferrars, and the kind of confidant of himself,
+talked to her a great deal of the parsonage at Delaford,
+described its deficiencies, and told her what he meant
+to do himself towards removing them.---His behaviour
+to her in this, as well as in every other particular,
+his open pleasure in meeting her after an absence
+of only ten days, his readiness to converse with her,
+and his deference for her opinion, might very well
+justify Mrs.\ Jennings's persuasion of his attachment,
+and would have been enough, perhaps, had not Elinor still,
+as from the first, believed Marianne his real favourite,
+to make her suspect it herself.  But as it was,
+such a notion had scarcely ever entered her head,
+except by Mrs.\ Jennings's suggestion; and she could
+not help believing herself the nicest observer of the
+two;---she watched his eyes, while Mrs.\ Jennings thought
+only of his behaviour;---and while his looks of anxious
+solicitude on Marianne's feeling, in her head and throat,
+the beginning of a heavy cold, because unexpressed by words,
+entirely escaped the latter lady's observation;---\emph{she} could
+discover in them the quick feelings, and needless alarm
+of a lover.
+
+Two delighful twilight walks on the third and fourth
+evenings of her being there, not merely on the dry gravel
+of the shrubbery, but all over the grounds, and especially
+in the most distant parts of them, where there was something
+more of wildness than in the rest, where the trees were
+the oldest, and the grass was the longest and wettest,
+had---assisted by the still greater imprudence of sitting
+in her wet shoes and stockings---given Marianne a cold
+so violent as, though for a day or two trifled with
+or denied, would force itself by increasing ailments on
+the concern of every body, and the notice of herself.
+Prescriptions poured in from all quarters, and as usual,
+were all declined.  Though heavy and feverish, with a pain
+in her limbs, and a cough, and a sore throat, a good night's
+rest was to cure her entirely; and it was with difficulty
+that Elinor prevailed on her, when she went to bed,
+to try one or two of the simplest of the remedies.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 43}
+
+
+\gintro{Marianne} got up the next morning at her usual time;
+to every inquiry replied that she was better, and tried to
+prove herself so, by engaging in her accustomary employments.
+But a day spent in sitting shivering over the fire
+with a book in her hand, which she was unable to read,
+or in lying, weary and languid, on a sofa, did not speak
+much in favour of her amendment; and when, at last,
+she went early to bed, more and more indisposed, Colonel
+Brandon was only astonished at her sister's composure,
+who, though attending and nursing her the whole day,
+against Marianne inclination, and forcing proper medicines
+on her at night, trusted, like Marianne, to the certainty
+and efficacy of sleep, and felt no real alarm.
+
+A very restless and feverish night, however,
+disappointed the expectation of both; and when Marianne,
+after persisting in rising, confessed herself unable
+to sit up, and returned voluntarily to her bed,
+Elinor was very ready to adopt Mrs.\ Jennings's advice,
+of sending for the Palmers' apothecary.
+
+He came, examined his patient, and though encouraging
+Miss Dashwood to expect that a very few days would restore
+her sister to health, yet, by pronouncing her disorder
+to have a putrid tendency, and allowing the word ``infection''
+to pass his lips, gave instant alarm to Mrs.\ Palmer,
+on her baby's account.  Mrs.\ Jennings, who had been inclined
+from the first to think Marianne's complaint more serious
+than Elinor, now looked very grave on Mr.\ Harris's report,
+and confirming Charlotte's fears and caution, urged the
+necessity of her immediate removal with her infant;
+and Mr.\ Palmer, though treating their apprehensions as idle,
+found the anxiety and importunity of his wife too great
+to be withstood.  Her departure, therefore, was fixed on;
+and within an hour after Mr.\ Harris's arrival, she set off,
+with her little boy and his nurse, for the house of a
+near relation of Mr.\ Palmer's, who lived a few miles
+on the other side of Bath; whither her husband promised,
+at her earnest entreaty, to join her in a day or two;
+and whither she was almost equally urgent with her
+mother to accompany her.  Mrs.\ Jennings, however, with a
+kindness of heart which made Elinor really love her,
+declared her resolution of not stirring from Cleveland
+as long as Marianne remained ill, and of endeavouring,
+by her own attentive care, to supply to her the place
+of the mother she had taken her from; and Elinor found her
+on every occasion a most willing and active helpmate,
+desirous to share in all her fatigues, and often by her
+better experience in nursing, of material use.
+
+Poor Marianne, languid and low from the nature
+of her malady, and feeling herself universally ill,
+could no longer hope that tomorrow would find her recovered;
+and the idea of what tomorrow would have produced,
+but for this unlucky illness, made every ailment severe;
+for on that day they were to have begun their journey home;
+and, attended the whole way by a servant of Mrs.\ Jennings,
+were to have taken their mother by surprise on the
+following forenoon.  The little she said was all in
+lamentation of this inevitable delay; though Elinor tried
+to raise her spirits, and make her believe, as she \emph{then}
+really believed herself, that it would be a very short one.
+
+The next day produced little or no alteration in the
+state of the patient; she certainly was not better, and,
+except that there was no amendment, did not appear worse.
+Their party was now farther reduced; for Mr.\ Palmer,
+though very unwilling to go as well from real humanity
+and good-nature, as from a dislike of appearing to be
+frightened away by his wife, was persuaded at last
+by Colonel Brandon to perform his promise of following her;
+and while he was preparing to go, Colonel Brandon himself,
+with a much greater exertion, began to talk of going
+likewise.---Here, however, the kindness of Mrs.\ Jennings
+interposed most acceptably; for to send the Colonel away
+while his love was in so much uneasiness on her sister's
+account, would be to deprive them both, she thought,
+of every comfort; and therefore telling him at once
+that his stay at Cleveland was necessary to herself,
+that she should want him to play at piquet of an evening,
+while Miss Dashwood was above with her sister, \&c. she
+urged him so strongly to remain, that he, who was gratifying
+the first wish of his own heart by a compliance, could not
+long even affect to demur; especially as Mrs.\ Jennings's
+entreaty was warmly seconded by Mr.\ Palmer, who seemed
+to feel a relief to himself, in leaving behind him a person
+so well able to assist or advise Miss Dashwood in any emergence.
+
+Marianne was, of course, kept in ignorance of all
+these arrangements.  She knew not that she had been
+the means of sending the owners of Cleveland away,
+in about seven days from the time of their arrival.
+It gave her no surprise that she saw nothing
+of Mrs.\ Palmer; and as it gave her likewise no concern,
+she never mentioned her name.
+
+Two days passed away from the time of Mr.\ Palmer's departure,
+and her situation continued, with little variation,
+the same.  Mr.\ Harris, who attended her every day,
+still talked boldly of a speedy recovery, and Miss Dashwood
+was equally sanguine; but the expectation of the others
+was by no means so cheerful.  Mrs.\ Jennings had determined
+very early in the seizure that Marianne would never
+get over it, and Colonel Brandon, who was chiefly
+of use in listening to Mrs.\ Jennings's forebodings,
+was not in a state of mind to resist their influence.
+He tried to reason himself out of fears, which the different
+judgment of the apothecary seemed to render absurd;
+but the many hours of each day in which he was left
+entirely alone, were but too favourable for the admission
+of every melancholy idea, and he could not expel from
+his mind the persuasion that he should see Marianne no more.
+
+On the morning of the third day however, the gloomy
+anticipations of both were almost done away; for when
+Mr.\ Harris arrived, he declared his patient materially better.
+Her pulse was much stronger, and every symptom more favourable
+than on the preceding visit.  Elinor, confirmed in every
+pleasant hope, was all cheerfulness; rejoicing that
+in her letters to her mother, she had pursued her own
+judgment rather than her friend's, in making very light
+of the indisposition which delayed them at Cleveland;
+and almost fixing on the time when Marianne would be
+able to travel.
+
+But the day did not close so auspiciously as it began.---%
+Towards the evening Marianne became ill again, growing
+more heavy, restless, and uncomfortable than before.
+Her sister, however, still sanguine, was willing to
+attribute the change to nothing more than the fatigue
+of having sat up to have her bed made; and carefully
+administering the cordials prescribed, saw her, with
+satisfaction, sink at last into a slumber, from which
+she expected the most beneficial effects.  Her sleep,
+though not so quiet as Elinor wished to see it,
+lasted a considerable time; and anxious to observe
+the result of it herself, she resolved to sit with her
+during the whole of it.  Mrs.\ Jennings, knowing nothing
+of any change in the patient, went unusually early to bed;
+her maid, who was one of the principal nurses, was recreating
+herself in the housekeeper's room, and Elinor remained
+alone with Marianne.
+
+The repose of the latter became more and more disturbed;
+and her sister, who watched, with unremitting attention
+her continual change of posture, and heard the frequent
+but inarticulate sounds of complaint which passed her lips,
+was almost wishing to rouse her from so painful a slumber,
+when Marianne, suddenly awakened by some accidental noise
+in the house, started hastily up, and, with feverish wildness,
+cried out,---%
+
+``Is mama coming?---''
+
+``Not yet,'' cried the other, concealing her terror,
+and assisting Marianne to lie down again, ``but she will
+be here, I hope, before it is long.  It is a great way,
+you know, from hence to Barton.''
+
+``But she must not go round by London,'' cried Marianne,
+in the same hurried manner.  ``I shall never see her,
+if she goes by London.''
+
+Elinor perceived with alarm that she was not
+quite herself, and, while attempting to soothe her,
+eagerly felt her pulse.  It was lower and quicker than ever!
+and Marianne, still talking wildly of mama, her alarm
+increased so rapidly, as to determine her on sending
+instantly for Mr.\ Harris, and despatching a messenger
+to Barton for her mother.  To consult with Colonel Brandon
+on the best means of effecting the latter, was a thought
+which immediately followed the resolution of its performance;
+and as soon she had rung up the maid to take her place
+by her sister, she hastened down to the drawing-room,
+where she knew he was generally to be found at a much
+later hour than the present.
+
+It was no time for hesitation.  Her fears and her
+difficulties were immediately before him.  Her fears,
+he had no courage, no confidence to attempt the removal of:---%
+he listened to them in silent despondence;---but her
+difficulties were instantly obviated, for with a readiness
+that seemed to speak the occasion, and the service
+pre-arranged in his mind, he offered himself as the
+messenger who should fetch Mrs.\ Dashwood.  Elinor made no
+resistance that was not easily overcome.  She thanked him
+with brief, though fervent gratitude, and while he went
+to hurry off his servant with a message to Mr.\ Harris, and
+an order for post-horses directly, she wrote a few lines
+to her mother.
+
+The comfort of such a friend at that moment as Colonel
+Brandon---or such a companion for her mother,---how gratefully
+was it felt!---a companion whose judgment would guide,
+whose attendance must relieve, and whose friendship might
+soothe her!---as far as the shock of such a summons \emph{could}
+be lessened to her, his presence, his manners, his assistance,
+would lessen it.
+
+\emph{He}, meanwhile, whatever he might feel, acted with all
+the firmness of a collected mind, made every necessary
+arrangement with the utmost despatch, and calculated
+with exactness the time in which she might look for
+his return.  Not a moment was lost in delay of any kind.
+The horses arrived, even before they were expected,
+and Colonel Brandon only pressing her hand with a look
+of solemnity, and a few words spoken too low to reach her ear,
+hurried into the carriage.  It was then about twelve
+o'clock, and she returned to her sister's apartment to wait
+for the arrival of the apothecary, and to watch by her
+the rest of the night.  It was a night of almost equal
+suffering to both.  Hour after hour passed away in sleepless
+pain and delirium on Marianne's side, and in the most
+cruel anxiety on Elinor's, before Mr.\ Harris appeared.
+Her apprehensions once raised, paid by their excess for all
+her former security; and the servant who sat up with her,
+for she would not allow Mrs.\ Jennings to be called,
+only tortured her more, by hints of what her mistress
+had always thought.
+
+Marianne's ideas were still, at intervals,
+fixed incoherently on her mother, and whenever she
+mentioned her name, it gave a pang to the heart of
+poor Elinor, who, reproaching herself for having trifled
+with so many days of illness, and wretched for some
+immediate relief, fancied that all relief might soon
+be in vain, that every thing had been delayed too long,
+and pictured to herself her suffering mother arriving
+too late to see this darling child, or to see her rational.
+
+She was on the point of sending again for Mr.\ Harris,
+or if \emph{he} could not come, for some other advice,
+when the former---but not till after five o'clock---arrived.
+His opinion, however, made some little amends for his delay,
+for though acknowledging a very unexpected and unpleasant
+alteration in his patient, he would not allow the danger
+to be material, and talked of the relief which a fresh
+mode of treatment must procure, with a confidence which,
+in a lesser degree, was communicated to Elinor.  He promised
+to call again in the course of three or four hours,
+and left both the patient and her anxious attendant more
+composed than he had found them.
+
+With strong concern, and with many reproaches for not
+being called to their aid, did Mrs.\ Jennings hear in the
+morning of what had passed.  Her former apprehensions,
+now with greater reason restored, left her no doubt of
+the event; and though trying to speak comfort to Elinor,
+her conviction of her sister's danger would not allow her
+to offer the comfort of hope.  Her heart was really grieved.
+The rapid decay, the early death of a girl so young,
+so lovely as Marianne, must have struck a less interested
+person with concern.  On Mrs.\ Jennings's compassion
+she had other claims.  She had been for three months
+her companion, was still under her care, and she was
+known to have been greatly injured, and long unhappy.
+The distress of her sister too, particularly a favourite,
+was before her;---and as for their mother, when Mrs.\ Jennings
+considered that Marianne might probably be to \emph{her} what
+Charlotte was to herself, her sympathy in \emph{her} sufferings
+was very sincere.
+
+Mr.\ Harris was punctual in his second visit;---%
+but he came to be disappointed in his hopes of what the
+last would produce.  His medicines had failed;---the fever
+was unabated; and Marianne only more quiet---not more
+herself---remained in a heavy stupor.  Elinor, catching all,
+and more than all, his fears in a moment, proposed to call
+in further advice.  But he judged it unnecessary: he had
+still something more to try, some more fresh application,
+of whose success he was as confident as the last, and his
+visit concluded with encouraging assurances which reached
+the ear, but could not enter the heart of Miss Dashwood.
+She was calm, except when she thought of her mother;
+but she was almost hopeless; and in this state she continued
+till noon, scarcely stirring from her sister's bed,
+her thoughts wandering from one image of grief,
+one suffering friend to another, and her spirits oppressed
+to the utmost by the conversation of Mrs.\ Jennings,
+who scrupled not to attribute the severity and danger
+of this attack to the many weeks of previous indisposition
+which Marianne's disappointment had brought on.
+Elinor felt all the reasonableness of the idea, and it
+gave fresh misery to her reflections.
+
+About noon, however, she began---but with a caution---a
+dread of disappointment which for some time kept her silent,
+even to her friend---to fancy, to hope she could perceive
+a slight amendment in her sister's pulse;---she waited,
+watched, and examined it again and again;---and at last,
+with an agitation more difficult to bury under exterior calmness,
+than all her foregoing distress, ventured to communicate
+her hopes.  Mrs.\ Jennings, though forced, on examination,
+to acknowledge a temporary revival, tried to keep her
+young friend from indulging a thought of its continuance;---%
+and Elinor, conning over every injunction of distrust,
+told herself likewise not to hope.  But it was too late.
+Hope had already entered; and feeling all its anxious flutter,
+she bent over her sister to watch---she hardly knew for what.
+Half an hour passed away, and the favourable symptom
+yet blessed her.  Others even arose to confirm it.
+Her breath, her skin, her lips, all flattered Elinor
+with signs of amendment; and Marianne fixed her eyes on
+her with a rational, though languid, gaze.  Anxiety and
+hope now oppressed her in equal degrees, and left her no
+moment of tranquillity till the arrival of Mr.\ Harris at
+four o'clock;---when his assurances, his felicitations on
+a recovery in her sister even surpassing his expectation,
+gave her confidence, comfort, and tears of joy.
+
+Marianne was in every respect materially better,
+and he declared her entirely out of danger.  Mrs.\ Jennings,
+perhaps satisfied with the partial justification of her
+forebodings which had been found in their late alarm,
+allowed herself to trust in his judgment, and admitted,
+with unfeigned joy, and soon with unequivocal cheerfulness,
+the probability of an entire recovery.
+
+Elinor could not be cheerful.  Her joy was of a
+different kind, and led to any thing rather than to gaiety.
+Marianne restored to life, health, friends, and to her
+doting mother, was an idea to fill her heart with sensations
+of exquisite comfort, and expand it in fervent gratitude;---%
+but it lead to no outward demonstrations of joy, no words,
+no smiles.  All within Elinor's breast was satisfaction,
+silent and strong.
+
+She continued by the side of her sister, with little
+intermission the whole afternoon, calming every fear,
+satisfying every inquiry of her enfeebled spirits,
+supplying every succour, and watching almost every look and
+every breath.  The possibility of a relapse would of course,
+in some moments, occur to remind her of what anxiety was---%
+but when she saw, on her frequent and minute examination,
+that every symptom of recovery continued, and saw Marianne
+at six o'clock sink into a quiet, steady, and to all
+appearance comfortable, sleep, she silenced every doubt.
+
+The time was now drawing on, when Colonel Brandon
+might be expected back.  At ten o'clock, she trusted,
+or at least not much later her mother would be relieved
+from the dreadful suspense in which she must now be
+travelling towards them.  The Colonel, too!---perhaps scarcely
+less an object of pity!---Oh!---how slow was the progress
+of time which yet kept them in ignorance!
+
+At seven o'clock, leaving Marianne still sweetly asleep,
+she joined Mrs.\ Jennings in the drawing-room to tea.
+Of breakfast she had been kept by her fears, and of
+dinner by their sudden reverse, from eating much;---%
+and the present refreshment, therefore, with such feelings
+of content as she brought to it, was particularly welcome.
+Mrs.\ Jennings would have persuaded her, at its conclusion,
+to take some rest before her mother's arrival, and allow \emph{her} to
+take her place by Marianne; but Elinor had no sense of fatigue,
+no capability of sleep at that moment about her, and she was
+not to be kept away from her sister an unnecessary instant.
+Mrs.\ Jennings therefore attending her up stairs into the
+sick chamber, to satisfy herself that all continued right,
+left her there again to her charge and her thoughts,
+and retired to her own room to write letters and sleep.
+
+The night was cold and stormy.  The wind roared
+round the house, and the rain beat against the windows;
+but Elinor, all happiness within, regarded it not.
+Marianne slept through every blast; and the travellers---%
+they had a rich reward in store, for every present inconvenience.
+
+The clock struck eight.  Had it been ten,
+Elinor would have been convinced that at that moment
+she heard a carriage driving up to the house;
+and so strong was the persuasion that she \emph{did}, in spite
+of the \emph{almost} impossibility of their being already come,
+that she moved into the adjoining dressing-closet and
+opened a window shutter, to be satisfied of the truth.
+She instantly saw that her ears had not deceived her.
+The flaring lamps of a carriage were immediately in view.
+By their uncertain light she thought she could discern it
+to be drawn by four horses; and this, while it told the
+excess of her poor mother's alarm, gave some explanation
+to such unexpected rapidity.
+
+Never in her life had Elinor found it so difficult
+to be calm, as at that moment.  The knowledge of what her
+mother must be feeling as the carriage stopt at the door---%
+of her doubt---her dread---perhaps her despair!---and
+of what \emph{she} had to tell!---with such knowledge it was
+impossible to be calm.  All that remained to be done
+was to be speedy; and, therefore staying only till
+she could leave Mrs.\ Jennings's maid with her sister,
+she hurried down stairs.
+
+The bustle in the vestibule, as she passed along
+an inner lobby, assured her that they were already
+in the house.  She rushed to the drawing-room,---she
+entered it,---and saw only Willoughby.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 44}
+
+
+\gintro{Elinor,} starting back with a look of horror at
+the sight of him, obeyed the first impulse of her heart
+in turning instantly to quit the room, and her hand
+was already on the lock, when its action was suspended
+by his hastily advancing, and saying, in a voice rather
+of command than supplication,
+
+``Miss Dashwood, for half an hour---for ten minutes---%
+I entreat you to stay.''
+
+``No, sir,'' she replied with firmness, ``I shall \emph{not} stay.
+Your business cannot be with \emph{me}.  The servants, I suppose,
+forgot to tell you that Mr.\ Palmer was not in the house.''
+
+``Had they told me,'' he cried with vehemence,
+``that Mr.\ Palmer and all his relations were at the devil,
+it would not have turned me from the door.  My business
+is with you, and only you.''
+
+``With me!''---in the utmost amazement---``well, sir,---%
+be quick---and if you can---less violent.''
+
+``Sit down, and I will be both.''
+
+She hesitated; she knew not what to do.  The possibility
+of Colonel Brandon's arriving and finding her there,
+came across her.  But she had promised to hear him,
+and her curiosity no less than her honor was engaged.
+After a moment's recollection, therefore, concluding that
+prudence required dispatch, and that her acquiescence would
+best promote it, she walked silently towards the table,
+and sat down.  He took the opposite chair, and for half
+a minute not a word was said by either.
+
+``Pray be quick, sir,''---said Elinor, impatiently;---%
+``I have no time to spare.''
+
+He was sitting in an attitude of deep meditation,
+and seemed not to hear her.
+
+``Your sister,'' said he, with abruptness, a moment
+afterwards---``is out of danger.  I heard it from the servant.
+God be praised!---But is it true? is it really true?''
+
+Elinor would not speak.  He repeated the inquiry with
+yet greater eagerness.
+
+``For God's sake tell me, is she out of danger, or is she not?''
+
+``We hope she is.''
+
+He rose up, and walked across the room.
+
+``Had I known as much half an hour ago---But
+since I \emph{am} here,''---speaking with a forced vivacity as he
+returned to his seat---``what does it signify?---For once,
+Miss Dashwood---it will be the last time, perhaps---let us
+be cheerful together.---I am in a fine mood for gaiety.---%
+Tell me honestly''---a deeper glow overspreading his cheeks---%
+``do you think me most a knave or a fool?''
+
+Elinor looked at him with greater astonishment than ever.
+She began to think that be must be in liquor;---the
+strangeness of such a visit, and of such manners,
+seemed no otherwise intelligible; and with this impression
+she immediately rose, saying,
+
+``Mr.\ Willoughby, I advise you at present to return
+to Combe---I am not at leisure to remain with you longer.---%
+Whatever your business may be with me, will it be better
+recollected and explained to-morrow.''
+
+``I understand you,'' he replied, with an expressive smile,
+and a voice perfectly calm; ``yes, I am very drunk.---%
+A pint of porter with my cold beef at Marlborough was
+enough to over-set me.''
+
+``At Marlborough!''---cried Elinor, more and more at
+a loss to understand what he would be at.
+
+``Yes,---I left London this morning at eight o'clock,
+and the only ten minutes I have spent out of my chaise
+since that time procured me a nuncheon at Marlborough.''
+
+The steadiness of his manner, and the intelligence
+of his eye as he spoke, convincing Elinor, that whatever
+other unpardonable folly might bring him to Cleveland,
+he was not brought there by intoxication, she said,
+after a moment's recollection,
+
+``Mr.\ Willoughby, you \emph{ought} to feel, and I certainly
+\emph{do}---that after what has passed---your coming here in
+this manner, and forcing yourself upon my notice,
+requires a very particular excuse.---What is it,
+that you mean by it?''---%
+
+``I mean,''---said he, with serious energy---``if I can,
+to make you hate me one degree less than you do \emph{now}.
+I mean to offer some kind of explanation, some kind
+of apology, for the past; to open my whole heart to you,
+and by convincing you, that though I have been always
+a blockhead, I have not been always a rascal, to obtain
+something like forgiveness from Ma---from your sister.''
+
+``Is this the real reason of your coming?''
+
+``Upon my soul it is,''---was his answer, with a warmth
+which brought all the former Willoughby to her remembrance,
+and in spite of herself made her think him sincere.
+
+``If that is all, you may be satisfied already,---%
+for Marianne \emph{does}---she has \emph{long} forgiven you.''
+
+``Has she?''---he cried, in the same eager tone.---%
+``Then she has forgiven me before she ought to have done it.
+But she shall forgive me again, and on more reasonable
+grounds.---\emph{Now} will you listen to me?''
+
+Elinor bowed her assent.
+
+``I do not know,'' said he, after a pause of expectation
+on her side, and thoughtfulness on his own,---``how \emph{you}
+may have accounted for my behaviour to your sister,
+or what diabolical motive you may have imputed to me.---%
+Perhaps you will hardly think the better of me,---it is
+worth the trial however, and you shall hear every thing.
+When I first became intimate in your family, I had no
+other intention, no other view in the acquaintance
+than to pass my time pleasantly while I was obliged to remain
+in Devonshire, more pleasantly than I had ever done before.
+Your sister's lovely person and interesting manners
+could not but please me; and her behaviour to me almost
+from the first, was of a kind---It is astonishing,
+when I reflect on what it was, and what \emph{she} was, that my
+heart should have been so insensible!  But at first
+I must confess, my vanity only was elevated by it.
+Careless of her happiness, thinking only of my own amusement,
+giving way to feelings which I had always been too much
+in the habit of indulging, I endeavoured, by every means
+in my power, to make myself pleasing to her, without any
+design of returning her affection.''
+
+Miss Dashwood, at this point, turning her eyes on him
+with the most angry contempt, stopped him, by saying,
+
+``It is hardly worth while, Mr.\ Willoughby,
+for you to relate, or for me to listen any longer.
+Such a beginning as this cannot be followed by any thing.---%
+Do not let me be pained by hearing any thing more on
+the subject.''
+
+``I insist on you hearing the whole of it,'' he replied,
+``My fortune was never large, and I had always been expensive,
+always in the habit of associating with people of better
+income than myself.  Every year since my coming of age,
+or even before, I believe, had added to my debts; and though
+the death of my old cousin, Mrs.\ Smith, was to set me free;
+yet that event being uncertain, and possibly far distant,
+it had been for some time my intention to re-establish my
+circumstances by marrying a woman of fortune.  To attach
+myself to your sister, therefore, was not a thing to be
+thought of;---and with a meanness, selfishness, cruelty---%
+which no indignant, no contemptuous look, even of yours,
+Miss Dashwood, can ever reprobate too much---I was acting
+in this manner, trying to engage her regard, without a
+thought of returning it.---But one thing may be said
+for me: even in that horrid state of selfish vanity,
+I did not know the extent of the injury I meditated,
+because I did not \emph{then} know what it was to love.
+But have I ever known it?---Well may it be doubted; for, had I
+really loved, could I have sacrificed my feelings to vanity,
+to avarice?---or, what is more, could I have sacrificed hers?---%
+But I have done it.  To avoid a comparative poverty,
+which her affection and her society would have deprived
+of all its horrors, I have, by raising myself to affluence,
+lost every thing that could make it a blessing.''
+
+``You did then,'' said Elinor, a little softened,
+``believe yourself at one time attached to her?''
+
+``To have resisted such attractions, to have withstood
+such tenderness!---Is there a man on earth who could have
+done it?---Yes, I found myself, by insensible degrees,
+sincerely fond of her; and the happiest hours of my life
+were what I spent with her when I felt my intentions
+were strictly honourable, and my feelings blameless.
+Even \emph{then}, however, when fully determined on paying
+my addresses to her, I allowed myself most improperly
+to put off, from day to day, the moment of doing it,
+from an unwillingness to enter into an engagement
+while my circumstances were so greatly embarrassed.
+I will not reason here---nor will I stop for \emph{you} to expatiate
+on the absurdity, and the worse than absurdity, of scrupling
+to engage my faith where my honour was already bound.
+The event has proved, that I was a cunning fool,
+providing with great circumspection for a possible
+opportunity of making myself contemptible and wretched
+for ever.  At last, however, my resolution was taken,
+and I had determined, as soon as I could engage her alone,
+to justify the attentions I had so invariably paid her,
+and openly assure her of an affection which I had already
+taken such pains to display.  But in the interim---in the
+interim of the very few hours that were to pass, before I
+could have an opportunity of speaking with her in private---%
+a circumstance occurred---an unlucky circumstance, to ruin
+all my resolution, and with it all my comfort.  A discovery
+took place,''---here he hesitated and looked down.---``Mrs.\ Smith
+had somehow or other been informed, I imagine by some
+distant relation, whose interest it was to deprive me of
+her favour, of an affair, a connection---but I need not
+explain myself farther,'' he added, looking at her with an
+heightened colour and an enquiring eye---``your particular
+intimacy---you have probably heard the whole story long ago.''
+
+``I have,'' returned Elinor, colouring likewise,
+and hardening her heart anew against any compassion for him,
+``I have heard it all.  And how you will explain away any
+part of your guilt in that dreadful business, I confess
+is beyond my comprehension.''
+
+``Remember,'' cried Willoughby, ``from whom you received
+the account.  Could it be an impartial one?  I acknowledge
+that her situation and her character ought to have been
+respected by me.  I do not mean to justify myself, but at
+the same time cannot leave you to suppose that I have nothing
+to urge---that because she was injured she was irreproachable,
+and because I was a libertine, \emph{she} must be a saint.
+If the violence of her passions, the weakness of her
+understanding---I do not mean, however, to defend myself.
+Her affection for me deserved better treatment, and I often,
+with great self-reproach, recall the tenderness which,
+for a very short time, had the power of creating any return.
+I wish---I heartily wish it had never been.  But I have injured
+more than herself; and I have injured one, whose affection
+for me---(may I say it?) was scarcely less warm than hers;
+and whose mind---Oh! how infinitely superior!''---%
+
+``Your indifference, however, towards that unfortunate
+girl---I must say it, unpleasant to me as the discussion
+of such a subject may well be---your indifference is no
+apology for your cruel neglect of her.  Do not think yourself
+excused by any weakness, any natural defect of understanding
+on her side, in the wanton cruelty so evident on yours.
+You must have known, that while you were enjoying yourself
+in Devonshire pursuing fresh schemes, always gay,
+always happy, she was reduced to the extremest indigence.''
+
+``But, upon my soul, I did \emph{not} know it,'' he warmly
+replied; ``I did not recollect that I had omitted to give
+her my direction; and common sense might have told her
+how to find it out.''
+
+``Well, sir, and what said Mrs.\ Smith?''
+
+``She taxed me with the offence at once, and my confusion
+may be guessed.  The purity of her life, the formality
+of her notions, her ignorance of the world---every thing
+was against me.  The matter itself I could not deny,
+and vain was every endeavour to soften it.  She was
+previously disposed, I believe, to doubt the morality of my
+conduct in general, and was moreover discontented with
+the very little attention, the very little portion of my
+time that I had bestowed on her, in my present visit.
+In short, it ended in a total breach.  By one measure I
+might have saved myself.  In the height of her morality,
+good woman! she offered to forgive the past, if I would
+marry Eliza.  That could not be---and I was formally
+dismissed from her favour and her house.  The night
+following this affair---I was to go the next morning---%
+was spent by me in deliberating on what my future conduct
+should be.  The struggle was great---but it ended too soon.
+My affection for Marianne, my thorough conviction of her
+attachment to me---it was all insufficient to outweigh
+that dread of poverty, or get the better of those false
+ideas of the necessity of riches, which I was naturally
+inclined to feel, and expensive society had increased.
+I had reason to believe myself secure of my present wife,
+if I chose to address her, and I persuaded myself to think
+that nothing else in common prudence remained for me to do.
+A heavy scene however awaited me, before I could leave
+Devonshire;---I was engaged to dine with you on that very day;
+some apology was therefore necessary for my breaking
+this engagement.  But whether I should write this apology,
+or deliver it in person, was a point of long debate.
+To see Marianne, I felt, would be dreadful, and I even doubted
+whether I could see her again, and keep to my resolution.
+In that point, however, I undervalued my own magnanimity,
+as the event declared; for I went, I saw her, and saw
+her miserable, and left her miserable---and left her hoping
+never to see her again.''
+
+``Why did you call, Mr.\ Willoughby?'' said Elinor,
+reproachfully; ``a note would have answered every purpose.---%
+Why was it necessary to call?''
+
+``It was necessary to my own pride.  I could not bear
+to leave the country in a manner that might lead you,
+or the rest of the neighbourhood, to suspect any part
+of what had really passed between Mrs.\ Smith and myself---%
+and I resolved therefore on calling at the cottage,
+in my way to Honiton.  The sight of your dear sister,
+however, was really dreadful; and, to heighten the matter,
+I found her alone.  You were all gone I do not know where.
+I had left her only the evening before, so fully,
+so firmly resolved within my self on doing right!
+A few hours were to have engaged her to me for ever;
+and I remember how happy, how gay were my spirits, as I
+walked from the cottage to Allenham, satisfied with myself,
+delighted with every body!  But in this, our last interview
+of friendship, I approached her with a sense of guilt
+that almost took from me the power of dissembling.
+Her sorrow, her disappointment, her deep regret, when I told
+her that I was obliged to leave Devonshire so immediately---I
+never shall forget it---united too with such reliance,
+such confidence in me!---Oh, God!---what a hard-hearted
+rascal I was!''
+
+They were both silent for a few moments.
+Elinor first spoke.
+
+``Did you tell her that you should soon return?''
+
+``I do not know what I told her,'' he replied, impatiently;
+``less than was due to the past, beyond a doubt, and in all
+likelihood much more than was justified by the future.
+I cannot think of it.---It won't do.---Then came your dear mother
+to torture me farther, with all her kindness and confidence.
+Thank Heaven! it \emph{did} torture me.  I was miserable.
+Miss Dashwood, you cannot have an idea of the comfort it
+gives me to look back on my own misery.  I owe such a grudge
+to myself for the stupid, rascally folly of my own heart,
+that all my past sufferings under it are only triumph and
+exultation to me now.  Well, I went, left all that I loved,
+and went to those to whom, at best, I was only indifferent.
+My journey to town---travelling with my own horses,
+and therefore so tediously---no creature to speak to---my
+own reflections so cheerful---when I looked forward
+every thing so inviting!---when I looked back at Barton,
+the picture so soothing!---oh, it was a blessed journey!''
+
+He stopped.
+
+``Well, sir,'' said Elinor, who, though pitying him,
+grew impatient for his departure, ``and this is all?''
+
+``Ah!---no,---have you forgot what passed in town?---%
+That infamous letter---Did she shew it you?''
+
+``Yes, I saw every note that passed.''
+
+``When the first of hers reached me (as it immediately did,
+for I was in town the whole time,) what I felt is---%
+in the common phrase, not to be expressed; in a more
+simple one---perhaps too simple to raise any emotion---%
+my feelings were very, very painful.---Every line, every word
+was---in the hackneyed metaphor which their dear writer,
+were she here, would forbid---a dagger to my heart.
+To know that Marianne was in town was---in the same language---%
+a thunderbolt.---Thunderbolts and daggers!---what a reproof
+would she have given me!---her taste, her opinions---I believe
+they are better known to me than my own,---and I am sure
+they are dearer.''
+
+Elinor's heart, which had undergone many changes
+in the course of this extraordinary conversation,
+was now softened again;---yet she felt it her duty to check
+such ideas in her companion as the last.
+
+``This is not right, Mr.\ Willoughby.---Remember that
+you are married.  Relate only what in your conscience
+you think necessary for me to hear.''
+
+``Marianne's note, by assuring me that I was still
+as dear to her as in former days, that in spite of the many,
+many weeks we had been separated, she was as constant
+in her own feelings, and as full of faith in the constancy
+of mine as ever, awakened all my remorse.  I say awakened,
+because time and London, business and dissipation,
+had in some measure quieted it, and I had been growing
+a fine hardened villain, fancying myself indifferent to her,
+and chusing to fancy that she too must have become
+indifferent to me; talking to myself of our past attachment
+as a mere idle, trifling business, shrugging up my shoulders
+in proof of its being so, and silencing every reproach,
+overcoming every scruple, by secretly saying now and then,
+`I shall be heartily glad to hear she is well married.'---%
+But this note made me know myself better.  I felt that
+she was infinitely dearer to me than any other woman
+in the world, and that I was using her infamously.
+But every thing was then just settled between Miss Grey
+and me.  To retreat was impossible.  All that I had to do,
+was to avoid you both.  I sent no answer to Marianne,
+intending by that to preserve myself from her farther notice;
+and for some time I was even determined not to call in
+Berkeley Street;---but at last, judging it wiser to affect
+the air of a cool, common acquaintance than anything else,
+I watched you all safely out of the house one morning,
+and left my name.''
+
+``Watched us out of the house!''
+
+``Even so.  You would be surprised to hear how often
+I watched you, how often I was on the point of falling
+in with you.  I have entered many a shop to avoid your sight,
+as the carriage drove by.  Lodging as I did in Bond Street,
+there was hardly a day in which I did not catch a glimpse
+of one or other of you; and nothing but the most constant
+watchfulness on my side, a most invariably prevailing
+desire to keep out of your sight, could have separated us
+so long.  I avoided the Middletons as much as possible,
+as well as everybody else who was likely to prove
+an acquaintance in common.  Not aware of their being
+in town, however, I blundered on Sir John, I believe,
+the first day of his coming, and the day after I had called
+at Mrs.\ Jennings's.  He asked me to a party, a dance at his
+house in the evening.---Had he \emph{not} told me as an inducement
+that you and your sister were to be there, I should have
+felt it too certain a thing, to trust myself near him.
+The next morning brought another short note from Marianne---%
+still affectionate, open, artless, confiding---everything
+that could make \emph{my} conduct most hateful.  I could not
+answer it.  I tried---but could not frame a sentence.
+But I thought of her, I believe, every moment of the day.
+If you \emph{can} pity me, Miss Dashwood, pity my situation as it
+was \emph{then}.  With my head and heart full of your sister,
+I was forced to play the happy lover to another woman!---Those
+three or four weeks were worse than all.  Well, at last,
+as I need not tell you, you were forced on me; and what a
+sweet figure I cut!---what an evening of agony it was!---%
+Marianne, beautiful as an angel on one side, calling me
+Willoughby in such a tone!---Oh, God!---holding out her hand
+to me, asking me for an explanation, with those bewitching
+eyes fixed in such speaking solicitude on my face!---and
+Sophia, jealous as the devil on the other hand, looking
+all that was---Well, it does not signify; it is over now.---%
+Such an evening!---I ran away from you all as soon as I could;
+but not before I had seen Marianne's sweet face as white
+as death.---\emph{That} was the last, last look I ever had of her;---%
+the last manner in which she appeared to me.  It was a horrid
+sight!---yet when I thought of her to-day as really dying,
+it was a kind of comfort to me to imagine that I knew
+exactly how she would appear to those, who saw her last
+in this world.  She was before me, constantly before me,
+as I travelled, in the same look and hue.''
+
+A short pause of mutual thoughtfulness succeeded.
+Willoughby first rousing himself, broke it thus:
+
+``Well, let me make haste and be gone.  Your sister
+is certainly better, certainly out of danger?''
+
+``We are assured of it.''
+
+``Your poor mother, too!---doting on Marianne.''
+
+``But the letter, Mr.\ Willoughby, your own letter;
+have you any thing to say about that?''
+
+``Yes, yes, \emph{that} in particular.  Your sister
+wrote to me again, you know, the very next morning.
+You saw what she said.  I was breakfasting at the
+Ellisons,---and her letter, with some others, was brought
+to me there from my lodgings.  It happened to catch
+Sophia's eye before it caught mine---and its size,
+the elegance of the paper, the hand-writing altogether,
+immediately gave her a suspicion.  Some vague report had
+reached her before of my attachment to some young lady
+in Devonshire, and what had passed within her observation
+the preceding evening had marked who the young lady was,
+and made her more jealous than ever.  Affecting that air
+of playfulness, therefore, which is delightful in a woman
+one loves, she opened the letter directly, and read
+its contents.  She was well paid for her impudence.
+She read what made her wretched.  Her wretchedness I could
+have borne, but her passion---her malice---At all events it
+must be appeased.  And, in short---what do you think of my
+wife's style of letter-writing?---delicate---tender---%
+truly feminine---was it not?''
+
+``Your wife!---The letter was in your own hand-writing.''
+
+``Yes, but I had only the credit of servilely copying
+such sentences as I was ashamed to put my name to.
+The original was all her own---her own happy thoughts
+and gentle diction.  But what could I do!---we were engaged,
+every thing in preparation, the day almost fixed---But I am
+talking like a fool.  Preparation!---day!---In honest words,
+her money was necessary to me, and in a situation like
+mine, any thing was to be done to prevent a rupture.
+And after all, what did it signify to my character
+in the opinion of Marianne and her friends, in what language
+my answer was couched?---It must have been only to one end.
+My business was to declare myself a scoundrel, and whether
+I did it with a bow or a bluster was of little importance.---%
+`I am ruined for ever in their opinion---' said I to
+myself---'I am shut out for ever from their society,
+they already think me an unprincipled fellow, this letter
+will only make them think me a blackguard one.' Such were
+my reasonings, as, in a sort of desperate carelessness,
+I copied my wife's words, and parted with the last relics
+of Marianne.  Her three notes---unluckily they were all
+in my pocketbook, or I should have denied their existence,
+and hoarded them for ever---I was forced to put them up,
+and could not even kiss them.  And the lock of hair---that too
+I had always carried about me in the same pocket-book,
+which was now searched by Madam with the most ingratiating
+virulence,---the dear lock---all, every memento was torn from me.''
+
+``You are very wrong, Mr.\ Willoughby, very blamable,''
+said Elinor, while her voice, in spite of herself,
+betrayed her compassionate emotion; ``you ought not to speak
+in this way, either of Mrs.\ Willoughby or my sister.
+You had made your own choice.  It was not forced on you.
+Your wife has a claim to your politeness, to your respect,
+at least.  She must be attached to you, or she would not
+have married you.  To treat her with unkindness, to speak
+of her slightingly is no atonement to Marianne---nor can I
+suppose it a relief to your own conscience.''
+
+``Do not talk to me of my wife,'' said he with a heavy sigh.---%
+``She does not deserve your compassion.---She knew I had no
+regard for her when we married.---Well, married we were,
+and came down to Combe Magna to be happy, and afterwards
+returned to town to be gay.---And now do you pity me,
+Miss Dashwood?---or have I said all this to no purpose?---%
+Am I---be it only one degree---am I less guilty in your opinion
+than I was before?---My intentions were not always wrong.
+Have I explained away any part of my guilt?''
+
+``Yes, you have certainly removed something---a little.---%
+You have proved yourself, on the whole, less faulty than
+I had believed you.  You have proved your heart less wicked,
+much less wicked.  But I hardly know---the misery that
+you have inflicted---I hardly know what could have made
+it worse.''
+
+``Will you repeat to your sister when she is recovered,
+what I have been telling you?---Let me be a little lightened
+too in her opinion as well as in yours.  You tell me that
+she has forgiven me already.  Let me be able to fancy that
+a better knowledge of my heart, and of my present feelings,
+will draw from her a more spontaneous, more natural, more
+gentle, less dignified, forgiveness.  Tell her of my misery
+and my penitence---tell her that my heart was never inconstant
+to her, and if you will, that at this moment she is dearer
+to me than ever.''
+
+``I will tell her all that is necessary to what may
+comparatively be called, your justification.  But you have
+not explained to me the particular reason of your coming now,
+nor how you heard of her illness.''
+
+``Last night, in Drury Lane lobby, I ran against Sir
+John Middleton, and when he saw who I was---for the first
+time these two months---he spoke to me.---That he had cut
+me ever since my marriage, I had seen without surprise
+or resentment.  Now, however, his good-natured, honest,
+stupid soul, full of indignation against me, and concern
+for your sister, could not resist the temptation of telling
+me what he knew ought to---though probably he did not
+think it \emph{would}---vex me horridly.  As bluntly as he could
+speak it, therefore, he told me that Marianne Dashwood
+was dying of a putrid fever at Cleveland---a letter that
+morning received from Mrs.\ Jennings declared her danger
+most imminent---the Palmers are all gone off in a fright,
+\&c.---I was too much shocked to be able to pass myself
+off as insensible even to the undiscerning Sir John.
+His heart was softened in seeing mine suffer; and so much
+of his ill-will was done away, that when we parted,
+he almost shook me by the hand while he reminded me of an
+old promise about a pointer puppy.  What I felt on hearing
+that your sister was dying---and dying too, believing me
+the greatest villain upon earth, scorning, hating me
+in her latest moments---for how could I tell what horrid
+projects might not have been imputed?  \emph{One} person I
+was sure would represent me as capable of any thing---%
+What I felt was dreadful!---My resolution was soon made,
+and at eight o'clock this morning I was in my carriage.
+Now you know all.''
+
+Elinor made no answer.  Her thoughts were silently fixed
+on the irreparable injury which too early an independence
+and its consequent habits of idleness, dissipation, and luxury,
+had made in the mind, the character, the happiness,
+of a man who, to every advantage of person and talents,
+united a disposition naturally open and honest, and a
+feeling, affectionate temper.  The world had made him
+extravagant and vain---Extravagance and vanity had made him
+cold-hearted and selfish.  Vanity, while seeking its own
+guilty triumph at the expense of another, had involved
+him in a real attachment, which extravagance, or at least
+its offspring, necessity, had required to be sacrificed.
+Each faulty propensity in leading him to evil, had led
+him likewise to punishment.  The attachment, from which
+against honour, against feeling, against every better interest
+he had outwardly torn himself, now, when no longer allowable,
+governed every thought; and the connection, for the sake
+of which he had, with little scruple, left her sister
+to misery, was likely to prove a source of unhappiness
+to himself of a far more incurable nature.  From a reverie
+of this kind she was recalled at the end of some minutes
+by Willoughby, who, rousing himself from a reverie at least
+equally painful, started up in preparation for going, and said---%
+
+``There is no use in staying here; I must be off.''
+
+``Are you going back to town?''
+
+``No---to Combe Magna.  I have business there;
+from thence to town in a day or two.  Good bye.''
+
+He held out his hand.  She could not refuse to give
+him hers's;---he pressed it with affection.
+
+``And you \emph{do} think something better of me than
+you did?''---said he, letting it fall, and leaning against
+the mantel-piece as if forgetting he was to go.
+
+Elinor assured him that she did;---that she forgave,
+pitied, wished him well---was even interested in his
+happiness---and added some gentle counsel as to the behaviour
+most likely to promote it.  His answer was not very encouraging.
+
+``As to that,'' said he, ``I must rub through the world
+as well as I can.  Domestic happiness is out of the question.
+If, however, I am allowed to think that you and yours feel
+an interest in my fate and actions, it may be the means---it
+may put me on my guard---at least, it may be something to
+live for.  Marianne to be sure is lost to me for ever.
+Were I even by any blessed chance at liberty again---''
+
+Elinor stopped him with a reproof.
+
+``Well,''---he replied---``once more good bye. I shall
+now go away and live in dread of one event.''
+
+``What do you mean?''
+
+``Your sister's marriage.''
+
+``You are very wrong.  She can never be more lost
+to you than she is now.''
+
+``But she will be gained by some one else.  And if
+that some one should be the very he whom, of all others,
+I could least bear---but I will not stay to rob myself
+of all your compassionate goodwill, by shewing
+that where I have most injured I can least forgive.
+Good bye,---God bless you!''
+
+And with these words, he almost ran out of the room.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 45}
+
+
+\gintro{Elinor,} for some time after he left her, for some time
+even after the sound of his carriage had died away, remained
+too much oppressed by a crowd of ideas, widely differing in
+themselves, but of which sadness was the general result,
+to think even of her sister.
+
+Willoughby, he, whom only half an hour ago she had
+abhorred as the most worthless of men, Willoughby, in spite
+of all his faults, excited a degree of commiseration
+for the sufferings produced by them, which made her
+think of him as now separated for ever from her family,
+with a tenderness, a regret, rather in proportion, as she
+soon acknowledged within herself---to his wishes than to
+his merits.  She felt that his influence over her mind
+was heightened by circumstances which ought not in reason
+to have weight; by that person of uncommon attraction,
+that open, affectionate, and lively manner which it
+was no merit to possess; and by that still ardent love
+for Marianne, which it was not even innocent to indulge.
+But she felt that it was so, long, long before she could
+feel his influence less.
+
+When at last she returned to the unconscious Marianne,
+she found her just awaking, refreshed by so long and sweet
+a sleep to the extent of her hopes.  Elinor's heart was full.
+The past, the present, the future, Willoughby's visit,
+Marianne's safety, and her mother's expected arrival,
+threw her altogether into an agitation of spirits
+which kept off every indication of fatigue, and made
+her only fearful of betraying herself to her sister.
+Short was the time, however, in which that fear could
+affect her, for within half an hour after Willoughby's
+leaving the house, she was again called down stairs
+by the sound of another carriage.---Eager to save her
+mother from every unnecessary moment's horrible suspense,
+she ran immediately into the hall, and reached the outward
+door just in time to receive and support her as she entered it.
+
+Mrs.\ Dashwood, whose terror as they drew near the
+house had produced almost the conviction of Marianne's
+being no more, had no voice to inquire after her,
+no voice even for Elinor; but \emph{she}, waiting neither for
+salutation nor inquiry, instantly gave the joyful relief;---%
+and her mother, catching it with all her usual warmth,
+was in a moment as much overcome by her happiness, as she
+had been before by her fears.  She was supported into
+the drawing-room between her daughter and her friend;---%
+and there, shedding tears of joy, though still unable
+to speak, embraced Elinor again and again, turning from her
+at intervals to press Colonel Brandon's hand, with a look
+which spoke at once her gratitude, and her conviction
+of his sharing with herself in the bliss of the moment.
+He shared it, however, in a silence even greater than her own.
+
+As soon as Mrs.\ Dashwood had recovered herself,
+to see Marianne was her first desire; and in two minutes she
+was with her beloved child, rendered dearer to her than ever
+by absence, unhappiness, and danger.  Elinor's delight,
+as she saw what each felt in the meeting, was only checked
+by an apprehension of its robbing Marianne of farther sleep;---%
+but Mrs.\ Dashwood could be calm, could be even prudent,
+when the life of a child was at stake, and Marianne,
+satisfied in knowing her mother was near her, and conscious
+of being too weak for conversation, submitted readily to the
+silence and quiet prescribed by every nurse around her.
+Mrs.\ Dashwood \emph{would} sit up with her all night; and Elinor,
+in compliance with her mother's entreaty, went to bed.
+But the rest, which one night entirely sleepless,
+and many hours of the most wearing anxiety seemed to
+make requisite, was kept off by irritation of spirits.
+Willoughby, ``poor Willoughby,'' as she now allowed
+herself to call him, was constantly in her thoughts; she
+would not but have heard his vindication for the world,
+and now blamed, now acquitted herself for having judged him
+so harshly before.  But her promise of relating it to her
+sister was invariably painful.  She dreaded the performance
+of it, dreaded what its effect on Marianne might be;
+doubted whether after such an explanation she could ever
+be happy with another; and for a moment wished Willoughby
+a widower.  Then, remembering Colonel Brandon, reproved herself,
+felt that to \emph{his} sufferings and his constancy far more
+than to his rival's, the reward of her sister was due,
+and wished any thing rather than Mrs.\ Willoughby's death.
+
+The shock of Colonel Brandon's errand at Barton had been
+much softened to Mrs.\ Dashwood by her own previous alarm;
+for so great was her uneasiness about Marianne, that she
+had already determined to set out for Cleveland on that
+very day, without waiting for any further intelligence,
+and had so far settled her journey before his arrival,
+that the Careys were then expected every moment to fetch
+Margaret away, as her mother was unwilling to take her
+where there might be infection.
+
+Marianne continued to mend every day, and the brilliant
+cheerfulness of Mrs.\ Dashwood's looks and spirits proved
+her to be, as she repeatedly declared herself, one of
+the happiest women in the world.  Elinor could not hear
+the declaration, nor witness its proofs without sometimes
+wondering whether her mother ever recollected Edward.
+But Mrs.\ Dashwood, trusting to the temperate account
+of her own disappointment which Elinor had sent her,
+was led away by the exuberance of her joy to think only
+of what would increase it.  Marianne was restored to her
+from a danger in which, as she now began to feel,
+her own mistaken judgment in encouraging the unfortunate
+attachment to Willoughby, had contributed to place her;---%
+and in her recovery she had yet another source of joy
+unthought of by Elinor.  It was thus imparted to her,
+as soon as any opportunity of private conference
+between them occurred.
+
+``At last we are alone.  My Elinor, you do not yet
+know all my happiness.  Colonel Brandon loves Marianne.
+He has told me so himself.''
+
+Her daughter, feeling by turns both pleased and pained,
+surprised and not surprised, was all silent attention.
+
+``You are never like me, dear Elinor, or I should
+wonder at your composure now.  Had I sat down to wish
+for any possible good to my family, I should have fixed
+on Colonel Brandon's marrying one of you as the object
+most desirable.  And I believe Marianne will be the most
+happy with him of the two.''
+
+Elinor was half inclined to ask her reason for thinking so,
+because satisfied that none founded on an impartial
+consideration of their age, characters, or feelings,
+could be given;---but her mother must always be carried
+away by her imagination on any interesting subject,
+and therefore instead of an inquiry, she passed it off with a
+smile.
+
+``He opened his whole heart to me yesterday as we travelled.
+It came out quite unawares, quite undesignedly.  I, you may
+well believe, could talk of nothing but my child;---he could
+not conceal his distress; I saw that it equalled my own,
+and he perhaps, thinking that mere friendship, as the world
+now goes, would not justify so warm a sympathy---or rather,
+not thinking at all, I suppose---giving way to irresistible
+feelings, made me acquainted with his earnest, tender, constant,
+affection for Marianne.  He has loved her, my Elinor, ever since
+the first moment of seeing her.''
+
+Here, however, Elinor perceived,---not the language,
+not the professions of Colonel Brandon, but the natural
+embellishments of her mother's active fancy, which fashioned
+every thing delightful to her as it chose.
+
+``His regard for her, infinitely surpassing anything
+that Willoughby ever felt or feigned, as much more warm,
+as more sincere or constant---which ever we are to call it---%
+has subsisted through all the knowledge of dear Marianne's
+unhappy prepossession for that worthless young man!---and
+without selfishness---without encouraging a hope!---could
+he have seen her happy with another---Such a noble mind!---%
+such openness, such sincerity!---no one can be deceived
+in \emph{him}.''
+
+``Colonel Brandon's character,'' said Elinor,
+``as an excellent man, is well established.''
+
+``I know it is''---replied her mother seriously, ``or
+after such a warning, I should be the last to encourage
+such affection, or even to be pleased by it.  But his coming
+for me as he did, with such active, such ready friendship,
+is enough to prove him one of the worthiest of men.''
+
+``His character, however,'' answered Elinor, ``does not rest
+on \emph{one} act of kindness, to which his affection for Marianne,
+were humanity out of the case, would have prompted him.
+To Mrs.\ Jennings, to the Middletons, he has been long
+and intimately known; they equally love and respect him;
+and even my own knowledge of him, though lately acquired,
+is very considerable; and so highly do I value and esteem him,
+that if Marianne can be happy with him, I shall be as ready
+as yourself to think our connection the greatest blessing
+to us in the world.  What answer did you give him?---Did you
+allow him to hope?''
+
+``Oh! my love, I could not then talk of hope to him
+or to myself.  Marianne might at that moment be dying.
+But he did not ask for hope or encouragement.  His was
+an involuntary confidence, an irrepressible effusion
+to a soothing friend---not an application to a parent.
+Yet after a time I \emph{did} say, for at first I was quite
+overcome---that if she lived, as I trusted she might,
+my greatest happiness would lie in promoting their marriage;
+and since our arrival, since our delightful security,
+I have repeated it to him more fully, have given him every
+encouragement in my power.  Time, a very little time,
+I tell him, will do everything;---Marianne's heart is
+not to be wasted for ever on such a man as Willoughby.---%
+His own merits must soon secure it.''
+
+``To judge from the Colonel's spirits, however,
+you have not yet made him equally sanguine.''
+
+``No.---He thinks Marianne's affection too deeply
+rooted for any change in it under a great length of time,
+and even supposing her heart again free, is too diffident
+of himself to believe, that with such a difference of age
+and disposition he could ever attach her.  There, however,
+he is quite mistaken.  His age is only so much beyond
+hers as to be an advantage, as to make his character and
+principles fixed;---and his disposition, I am well convinced,
+is exactly the very one to make your sister happy.
+And his person, his manners too, are all in his favour.
+My partiality does not blind me; he certainly is not
+so handsome as Willoughby---but at the same time,
+there is something much more pleasing in his countenance.---%
+There was always a something,---if you remember,---in Willoughby's
+eyes at times, which I did not like.''
+
+Elinor could \emph{not} remember it;---but her mother,
+without waiting for her assent, continued,
+
+``And his manners, the Colonel's manners are not only
+more pleasing to me than Willoughby's ever were, but they
+are of a kind I well know to be more solidly attaching
+to Marianne.  Their gentleness, their genuine attention
+to other people, and their manly unstudied simplicity
+is much more accordant with her real disposition, than
+the liveliness---often artificial, and often ill-timed
+of the other.  I am very sure myself, that had Willoughby
+turned out as really amiable, as he has proved himself
+the contrary, Marianne would yet never have been so happy
+with \emph{him}, as she will be with Colonel Brandon.''
+
+She paused.---Her daughter could not quite agree
+with her, but her dissent was not heard, and therefore
+gave no offence.
+
+``At Delaford, she will be within an easy distance of me,''
+added Mrs.\ Dashwood, ``even if I remain at Barton; and in all
+probability,---for I hear it is a large village,---indeed there
+certainly \emph{must} be some small house or cottage close by,
+that would suit us quite as well as our present situation.''
+
+Poor Elinor!---here was a new scheme for getting
+her to Delaford!---but her spirit was stubborn.
+
+``His fortune too!---for at my time of life you know,
+everybody cares about \emph{that};---and though I neither know
+nor desire to know, what it really is, I am sure it must be
+a good one.''
+
+Here they were interrupted by the entrance of a
+third person, and Elinor withdrew to think it all over
+in private, to wish success to her friend, and yet
+in wishing it, to feel a pang for Willoughby.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 46}
+
+
+\gintro{Marianne's} illness, though weakening in its kind,
+had not been long enough to make her recovery slow;
+and with youth, natural strength, and her mother's presence
+in aid, it proceeded so smoothly as to enable her to remove,
+within four days after the arrival of the latter,
+into Mrs.\ Palmer's dressing-room.  When there, at her own
+particular request, for she was impatient to pour forth
+her thanks to him for fetching her mother, Colonel Brandon
+was invited to visit her.
+
+His emotion on entering the room, in seeing her altered
+looks, and in receiving the pale hand which she immediately
+held out to him, was such, as, in Elinor's conjecture,
+must arise from something more than his affection for Marianne,
+or the consciousness of its being known to others;
+and she soon discovered in his melancholy eye and varying
+complexion as he looked at her sister, the probable
+recurrence of many past scenes of misery to his mind,
+brought back by that resemblance between Marianne and Eliza
+already acknowledged, and now strengthened by the hollow eye,
+the sickly skin, the posture of reclining weakness,
+and the warm acknowledgment of peculiar obligation.
+
+Mrs.\ Dashwood, not less watchful of what passed than
+her daughter, but with a mind very differently influenced,
+and therefore watching to very different effect,
+saw nothing in the Colonel's behaviour but what arose
+from the most simple and self-evident sensations, while in
+the actions and words of Marianne she persuaded herself
+to think that something more than gratitude already dawned.
+
+At the end of another day or two, Marianne growing
+visibly stronger every twelve hours, Mrs.\ Dashwood,
+urged equally by her own and her daughter's wishes,
+began to talk of removing to Barton.  On \emph{her} measures
+depended those of her two friends; Mrs.\ Jennings could
+not quit Cleveland during the Dashwoods' stay; and Colonel
+Brandon was soon brought, by their united request,
+to consider his own abode there as equally determinate,
+if not equally indispensable.  At his and Mrs.\ Jennings's
+united request in return, Mrs.\ Dashwood was prevailed
+on to accept the use of his carriage on her journey back,
+for the better accommodation of her sick child; and the Colonel,
+at the joint invitation of Mrs.\ Dashwood and Mrs.\ Jennings,
+whose active good-nature made her friendly and hospitable
+for other people as well as herself, engaged with pleasure
+to redeem it by a visit at the cottage, in the course
+of a few weeks.
+
+The day of separation and departure arrived;
+and Marianne, after taking so particular and lengthened
+a leave of Mrs.\ Jennings, one so earnestly grateful, so full
+of respect and kind wishes as seemed due to her own heart
+from a secret acknowledgment of past inattention, and bidding
+Colonel Brandon farewell with a cordiality of a friend,
+was carefully assisted by him into the carriage, of which he
+seemed anxious that she should engross at least half.
+Mrs.\ Dashwood and Elinor then followed, and the others
+were left by themselves, to talk of the travellers,
+and feel their own dullness, till Mrs.\ Jennings was summoned
+to her chaise to take comfort in the gossip of her maid
+for the loss of her two young companions; and Colonel Brandon
+immediately afterwards took his solitary way to Delaford.
+
+The Dashwoods were two days on the road, and Marianne
+bore her journey on both, without essential fatigue.
+Every thing that the most zealous affection, the most
+solicitous care could do to render her comfortable,
+was the office of each watchful companion, and each
+found their reward in her bodily ease, and her calmness
+of spirits.  To Elinor, the observation of the latter
+was particularly grateful.  She, who had seen her week
+after week so constantly suffering, oppressed by anguish
+of heart which she had neither courage to speak of,
+nor fortitude to conceal, now saw with a joy, which no other
+could equally share, an apparent composure of mind, which,
+in being the result as she trusted of serious reflection,
+must eventually lead her to contentment and cheerfulness.
+
+As they approached Barton, indeed, and entered
+on scenes of which every field and every tree brought
+some peculiar, some painful recollection, she grew silent
+and thoughtful, and turning away her face from their notice,
+sat earnestly gazing through the window.  But here,
+Elinor could neither wonder nor blame; and when she saw,
+as she assisted Marianne from the carriage, that she
+had been crying, she saw only an emotion too natural
+in itself to raise any thing less tender than pity,
+and in its unobtrusiveness entitled to praise.  In the
+whole of her subsequent manner, she traced the direction
+of a mind awakened to reasonable exertion; for no sooner
+had they entered their common sitting-room, than Marianne
+turned her eyes around it with a look of resolute firmness,
+as if determined at once to accustom herself to the sight
+of every object with which the remembrance of Willoughby could
+be connected.---She said little, but every sentence aimed
+at cheerfulness, and though a sigh sometimes escaped her,
+it never passed away without the atonement of a smile.
+After dinner she would try her piano-forte. She went to it;
+but the music on which her eye first rested was an opera,
+procured for her by Willoughby, containing some of their
+favourite duets, and bearing on its outward leaf her own name
+in his hand-writing.---That would not do.---She shook her head,
+put the music aside, and after running over the keys
+for a minute, complained of feebleness in her fingers,
+and closed the instrument again; declaring however with firmness
+as she did so, that she should in future practice much.
+
+The next morning produced no abatement in these
+happy symptoms.  On the contrary, with a mind and body
+alike strengthened by rest, she looked and spoke with
+more genuine spirit, anticipating the pleasure of
+Margaret's return, and talking of the dear family party
+which would then be restored, of their mutual pursuits
+and cheerful society, as the only happiness worth a wish.
+
+``When the weather is settled, and I have recovered
+my strength,'' said she, ``we will take long walks together
+every day.  We will walk to the farm at the edge of the down,
+and see how the children go on; we will walk to Sir John's
+new plantations at Barton Cross, and the Abbeyland;
+and we will often go the old ruins of the Priory,
+and try to trace its foundations as far as we are told
+they once reached.  I know we shall be happy.  I know
+the summer will pass happily away.  I mean never to be
+later in rising than six, and from that time till dinner
+I shall divide every moment between music and reading.
+I have formed my plan, and am determined to enter on a course
+of serious study.  Our own library is too well known to me,
+to be resorted to for any thing beyond mere amusement.
+But there are many works well worth reading at the Park;
+and there are others of more modern production which I
+know I can borrow of Colonel Brandon.  By reading only six
+hours a-day, I shall gain in the course of a twelve-month
+a great deal of instruction which I now feel myself to want.''
+
+Elinor honoured her for a plan which originated
+so nobly as this; though smiling to see the same eager
+fancy which had been leading her to the extreme of languid
+indolence and selfish repining, now at work in introducing
+excess into a scheme of such rational employment and virtuous
+self-control. Her smile however changed to a sigh when she
+remembered that promise to Willoughby was yet unfulfilled,
+and feared she had that to communicate which might again
+unsettle the mind of Marianne, and ruin at least for a time
+this fair prospect of busy tranquillity.  Willing therefore
+to delay the evil hour, she resolved to wait till her
+sister's health were more secure, before she appointed it.
+But the resolution was made only to be broken.
+
+Marianne had been two or three days at home, before
+the weather was fine enough for an invalid like herself
+to venture out.  But at last a soft, genial morning appeared;
+such as might tempt the daughter's wishes and the
+mother's confidence; and Marianne, leaning on Elinor's arm,
+was authorised to walk as long as she could without fatigue,
+in the lane before the house.
+
+The sisters set out at a pace, slow as the feebleness
+of Marianne in an exercise hitherto untried since her
+illness required;---and they had advanced only so far
+beyond the house as to admit a full view of the hill,
+the important hill behind, when pausing with her eyes
+turned towards it, Marianne calmly said,
+
+``There, exactly there,''---pointing with one hand,
+``on that projecting mound,---there I fell; and there
+I first saw Willoughby.''
+
+Her voice sunk with the word, but presently reviving she added,
+
+``I am thankful to find that I can look with so little pain
+on the spot!---shall we ever talk on that subject, Elinor?''---%
+hesitatingly it was said.---``Or will it be wrong?---I can talk
+of it now, I hope, as I ought to do.''---%
+
+Elinor tenderly invited her to be open.
+
+``As for regret,'' said Marianne, ``I have done with that,
+as far as \emph{he} is concerned.  I do not mean to talk to you
+of what my feelings have been for him, but what they
+are \emph{now}.---At present, if I could be satisfied on one point,
+if I could be allowed to think that he was not \emph{always}
+acting a part, not \emph{always} deceiving me;---but above all,
+if I could be assured that he never was so \emph{very} wicked
+as my fears have sometimes fancied him, since the story
+of that unfortunate girl''---%
+
+She stopt.  Elinor joyfully treasured her words
+as she answered,
+
+``If you could be assured of that, you think you
+should be easy.''
+
+``Yes. My peace of mind is doubly involved in it;---%
+for not only is it horrible to suspect a person, who has
+been what \emph{he} has been to \emph{me}, of such designs,---but what must
+it make me appear to myself?---What in a situation like mine,
+but a most shamefully unguarded affection could expose
+me to''---%
+
+``How then,'' asked her sister, ``would you account
+for his behaviour?''
+
+``I would suppose him,---Oh, how gladly would I suppose him,
+only fickle, very, very fickle.''
+
+Elinor said no more.  She was debating within herself
+on the eligibility of beginning her story directly,
+or postponing it till Marianne were in stronger health;---%
+and they crept on for a few minutes in silence.
+
+``I am not wishing him too much good,'' said Marianne
+at last with a sigh, ``when I wish his secret reflections
+may be no more unpleasant than my own.  He will suffer
+enough in them.''
+
+``Do you compare your conduct with his?''
+
+``No. I compare it with what it ought to have been;
+I compare it with yours.''
+
+``Our situations have borne little resemblance.''
+
+``They have borne more than our conduct.---Do not,
+my dearest Elinor, let your kindness defend what I know
+your judgment must censure.  My illness has made me think---%
+It has given me leisure and calmness for serious recollection.
+Long before I was enough recovered to talk, I was perfectly
+able to reflect.  I considered the past: I saw in my
+own behaviour, since the beginning of our acquaintance
+with him last autumn, nothing but a series of imprudence
+towards myself, and want of kindness to others.
+I saw that my own feelings had prepared my sufferings,
+and that my want of fortitude under them had almost led
+me to the grave.  My illness, I well knew, had been
+entirely brought on by myself by such negligence of my
+own health, as I had felt even at the time to be wrong.
+Had I died,---it would have been self-destruction. I
+did not know my danger till the danger was removed;
+but with such feelings as these reflections gave me,
+I wonder at my recovery,---wonder that the very eagerness
+of my desire to live, to have time for atonement to my God,
+and to you all, did not kill me at once.  Had I died,---%
+in what peculiar misery should I have left you, my nurse,
+my friend, my sister!---You, who had seen all the fretful
+selfishness of my latter days; who had known all the
+murmurings of my heart!---How should I have lived in \emph{your}
+remembrance!---My mother too! How could you have consoled
+her!---I cannot express my own abhorrence of myself.
+Whenever I looked towards the past, I saw some duty neglected,
+or some failing indulged.  Every body seemed injured by me.
+The kindness, the unceasing kindness of Mrs.\ Jennings,
+I had repaid with ungrateful contempt.  To the Middletons,
+to the Palmers, the Steeles, to every common acquaintance even,
+I had been insolent and unjust; with a heart hardened
+against their merits, and a temper irritated by their
+very attention.---To John, to Fanny,---yes, even to them,
+little as they deserve, I had given less than their due.
+But you,---you above all, above my mother, had been wronged
+by me.  I, and only I, knew your heart and its sorrows;
+yet to what did it influence me?---not to any compassion
+that could benefit you or myself.---Your example was
+before me; but to what avail?---Was I more considerate
+of you and your comfort?  Did I imitate your forbearance,
+or lessen your restraints, by taking any part in those
+offices of general complaisance or particular gratitude
+which you had hitherto been left to discharge alone?---No;---%
+not less when I knew you to be unhappy, than when I
+had believed you at ease, did I turn away from every
+exertion of duty or friendship; scarcely allowing sorrow
+to exist but with me, regretting only \emph{that} heart
+which had deserted and wronged me, and leaving you,
+for or I professed an unbounded affection, to be miserable
+for my sake.''
+
+Here ceased the rapid flow of her self-reproving spirit;
+and Elinor, impatient to soothe, though too honest
+to flatter, gave her instantly that praise and support
+which her frankness and her contrition so well deserved.
+Marianne pressed her hand and replied,
+
+``You are very good.---The future must be my proof.
+I have laid down my plan, and if I am capable of adhering
+to it---my feelings shall be governed and my temper improved.
+They shall no longer worry others, nor torture myself.
+I shall now live solely for my family.  You, my mother,
+and Margaret, must henceforth be all the world to me;
+you will share my affections entirely between you.
+>From you, from my home, I shall never again have the smallest
+incitement to move; and if I do mix in other society,
+it will be only to shew that my spirit is humbled,
+my heart amended, and that I can practise the civilities,
+the lesser duties of life, with gentleness and forbearance.
+As for Willoughby---to say that I shall soon or that I shall
+ever forget him, would be idle.  His remembrance can be overcome
+by no change of circumstances or opinions.  But it shall
+be regulated, it shall be checked by religion, by reason,
+by constant employment.''
+
+She paused---and added in a low voice, ``If I could
+but know \emph{his} heart, everything would become easy.''
+
+Elinor, who had now been for some time reflecting
+on the propriety or impropriety of speedily hazarding
+her narration, without feeling at all nearer decision than
+at first, heard this; and perceiving that as reflection
+did nothing, resolution must do all, soon found herself
+leading to the fact.
+
+She managed the recital, as she hoped, with address;
+prepared her anxious listener with caution; related simply
+and honestly the chief points on which Willoughby
+grounded his apology; did justice to his repentance,
+and softened only his protestations of present regard.
+Marianne said not a word.---She trembled, her eyes
+were fixed on the ground, and her lips became whiter
+than even sickness had left them.  A thousand inquiries
+sprung up from her heart, but she dared not urge one.
+She caught every syllable with panting eagerness; her hand,
+unknowingly to herself, closely pressed her sister's, and
+tears covered her cheeks.
+
+Elinor, dreading her being tired, led her towards home;
+and till they reached the door of the cottage,
+easily conjecturing what her curiosity must be
+though no question was suffered to speak it, talked of
+nothing but Willoughby, and their conversation together;
+and was carefully minute in every particular of speech
+and look, where minuteness could be safely indulged.
+As soon as they entered the house, Marianne with a kiss
+of gratitude and these two words just articulate through
+her tears, ``Tell mama,'' withdrew from her sister and
+walked slowly up stairs.  Elinor would not attempt
+to disturb a solitude so reasonable as what she now sought;
+and with a mind anxiously pre-arranging its result,
+and a resolution of reviving the subject again,
+should Marianne fail to do it, she turned into the parlour
+to fulfill her parting injunction.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 47}
+
+
+\gintro{Mrs.\ Dashwood} did not hear unmoved the vindication
+of her former favourite.  She rejoiced in his being
+cleared from some part of his imputed guilt;---she was
+sorry for him;---she wished him happy.  But the feelings
+of the past could not be recalled.---Nothing could restore
+him with a faith unbroken---a character unblemished,
+to Marianne.  Nothing could do away the knowledge
+of what the latter had suffered through his means,
+nor remove the guilt of his conduct towards Eliza.
+Nothing could replace him, therefore, in her former esteem,
+nor injure the interests of Colonel Brandon.
+
+Had Mrs.\ Dashwood, like her daughter, heard Willoughby's
+story from himself---had she witnessed his distress,
+and been under the influence of his countenance and his
+manner, it is probable that her compassion would have
+been greater.  But it was neither in Elinor's power,
+nor in her wish, to rouse such feelings in another, by her
+retailed explanation, as had at first been called forth
+in herself.  Reflection had given calmness to her judgment,
+and sobered her own opinion of Willoughby's deserts;---%
+she wished, therefore, to declare only the simple truth,
+and lay open such facts as were really due to his character,
+without any embellishment of tenderness to lead the
+fancy astray.
+
+In the evening, when they were all three together,
+Marianne began voluntarily to speak of him again;---%
+but that it was not without an effort, the restless,
+unquiet thoughtfulness in which she had been for some time
+previously sitting---her rising colour, as she spoke,---%
+and her unsteady voice, plainly shewed.
+
+``I wish to assure you both,'' said she, ``that I see
+every thing---as you can desire me to do.''
+
+Mrs.\ Dashwood would have interrupted her instantly
+with soothing tenderness, had not Elinor, who really wished
+to hear her sister's unbiased opinion, by an eager sign,
+engaged her silence.  Marianne slowly continued---%
+
+``It is a great relief to me---what Elinor told
+me this morning---I have now heard exactly what I
+wished to hear.''---For some moments her voice was lost;
+but recovering herself, she added, and with greater
+calmness than before---``I am now perfectly satisfied,
+I wish for no change.  I never could have been happy
+with him, after knowing, as sooner or later I must
+have known, all this.---I should have had no confidence,
+no esteem.  Nothing could have done it away to my feelings.''
+
+``I know it---I know it,'' cried her mother.
+``Happy with a man of libertine practices!---With one
+who so injured the peace of the dearest of our friends,
+and the best of men!---No---my Marianne has not a heart
+to be made happy with such a man!---Her conscience, her
+sensitive conscience, would have felt all that the
+conscience of her husband ought to have felt.''
+
+Marianne sighed, and repeated, ``I wish for no change.''
+
+``You consider the matter,'' said Elinor, ``exactly as
+a good mind and a sound understanding must consider it;
+and I dare say you perceive, as well as myself, not only
+in this, but in many other circumstances, reason enough
+to be convinced that your marriage must have involved you
+in many certain troubles and disappointments, in which
+you would have been poorly supported by an affection,
+on his side, much less certain.  Had you married,
+you must have been always poor.  His expensiveness is
+acknowledged even by himself, and his whole conduct declares
+that self-denial is a word hardly understood by him.
+His demands and your inexperience together, on a small,
+very small income, must have brought on distresses which
+would not be the \emph{less} grievous to you, from having been
+entirely unknown and unthought of before.  \emph{Your} sense
+of honour and honesty would have led you, I know,
+when aware of your situation, to attempt all the economy
+that would appear to you possible: and, perhaps, as long
+as your frugality retrenched only on your own comfort,
+you might have been suffered to practice it, but beyond that---%
+and how little could the utmost of your single management
+do to stop the ruin which had begun before your marriage?---%
+Beyond \emph{that}, had you endeavoured, however reasonably,
+to abridge \emph{his} enjoyments, is it not to be feared, that instead
+of prevailing on feelings so selfish to consent to it,
+you would have lessened your own influence on his heart,
+and made him regret the connection which had involved him
+in such difficulties?''
+
+Marianne's lips quivered, and she repeated the word
+``Selfish?'' in a tone that implied---``do you really think
+him selfish?''
+
+``The whole of his behaviour,'' replied Elinor,
+``from the beginning to the end of the affair, has been
+grounded on selfishness.  It was selfishness which first
+made him sport with your affections; which afterwards,
+when his own were engaged, made him delay the confession
+of it, and which finally carried him from Barton.
+His own enjoyment, or his own ease, was, in every particular,
+his ruling principle.''
+
+``It is very true.  \emph{My} happiness never was his object.''
+
+``At present,'' continued Elinor, ``he regrets what he
+has done.  And why does he regret it?---Because he finds
+it has not answered towards himself.  It has not made
+him happy.  His circumstances are now unembarrassed---he
+suffers from no evil of that kind; and he thinks only
+that he has married a woman of a less amiable temper
+than yourself.  But does it follow that had he married you,
+he would have been happy?---The inconveniences would have
+been different.  He would then have suffered under the
+pecuniary distresses which, because they are removed,
+he now reckons as nothing.  He would have had a wife
+of whose temper he could make no complaint, but he would
+have been always necessitous---always poor; and probably
+would soon have learned to rank the innumerable comforts
+of a clear estate and good income as of far more importance,
+even to domestic happiness, than the mere temper of a wife.''
+
+``I have not a doubt of it,'' said Marianne; ``and I
+have nothing to regret---nothing but my own folly.''
+
+``Rather say your mother's imprudence, my child,''
+said Mrs.\ Dashwood; ``\emph{she} must be answerable.''
+
+Marianne would not let her proceed;---and Elinor,
+satisfied that each felt their own error, wished to avoid
+any survey of the past that might weaken her sister's
+spirits; she, therefore, pursuing the first subject,
+immediately continued,
+
+``One observation may, I think, be fairly drawn from
+the whole of the story---that all Willoughby's difficulties
+have arisen from the first offence against virtue, in his
+behaviour to Eliza Williams.  That crime has been the origin
+of every lesser one, and of all his present discontents.''
+
+Marianne assented most feelingly to the remark;
+and her mother was led by it to an enumeration of Colonel
+Brandon's injuries and merits, warm as friendship
+and design could unitedly dictate.  Her daughter did
+not look, however, as if much of it were heard by her.
+
+Elinor, according to her expectation, saw on the two
+or three following days, that Marianne did not continue
+to gain strength as she had done; but while her resolution
+was unsubdued, and she still tried to appear cheerful
+and easy, her sister could safely trust to the effect
+of time upon her health.
+
+Margaret returned, and the family were again all
+restored to each other, again quietly settled at the cottage;
+and if not pursuing their usual studies with quite
+so much vigour as when they first came to Barton,
+at least planning a vigorous prosecution of them in future.
+
+Elinor grew impatient for some tidings of Edward.
+She had heard nothing of him since her leaving London,
+nothing new of his plans, nothing certain even of his
+present abode.  Some letters had passed between her
+and her brother, in consequence of Marianne's illness;
+and in the first of John's, there had been this sentence:---%
+``We know nothing of our unfortunate Edward, and can make no
+enquiries on so prohibited a subject, but conclude him
+to be still at Oxford;'' which was all the intelligence
+of Edward afforded her by the correspondence, for his name
+was not even mentioned in any of the succeeding letters.
+She was not doomed, however, to be long in ignorance of
+his measures.
+
+Their man-servant had been sent one morning to Exeter
+on business; and when, as he waited at table, he had
+satisfied the inquiries of his mistress as to the event
+of his errand, this was his voluntary communication---%
+
+``I suppose you know, ma'am, that Mr.\ Ferrars is married.''
+
+Marianne gave a violent start, fixed her eyes
+upon Elinor, saw her turning pale, and fell back in her
+chair in hysterics.  Mrs.\ Dashwood, whose eyes, as she
+answered the servant's inquiry, had intuitively taken
+the same direction, was shocked to perceive by Elinor's
+countenance how much she really suffered, and a moment
+afterwards, alike distressed by Marianne's situation,
+knew not on which child to bestow her principal attention.
+
+The servant, who saw only that Miss Marianne was
+taken ill, had sense enough to call one of the maids,
+who, with Mrs.\ Dashwood's assistance, supported her into
+the other room.  By that time, Marianne was rather better,
+and her mother leaving her to the care of Margaret
+and the maid, returned to Elinor, who, though still
+much disordered, had so far recovered the use of her reason
+and voice as to be just beginning an inquiry of Thomas,
+as to the source of his intelligence.  Mrs.\ Dashwood
+immediately took all that trouble on herself; and Elinor
+had the benefit of the information without the exertion
+of seeking it.
+
+``Who told you that Mr.\ Ferrars was married, Thomas?''
+
+``I see Mr.\ Ferrars myself, ma'am, this morning
+in Exeter, and his lady too, Miss Steele as was.  They was
+stopping in a chaise at the door of the New London Inn,
+as I went there with a message from Sally at the Park
+to her brother, who is one of the post-boys. I happened
+to look up as I went by the chaise, and so I see directly
+it was the youngest Miss Steele; so I took off my hat,
+and she knew me and called to me, and inquired after you,
+ma'am, and the young ladies, especially Miss Marianne,
+and bid me I should give her compliments and Mr.\ Ferrars's,
+their best compliments and service, and how sorry they
+was they had not time to come on and see you, but they was
+in a great hurry to go forwards, for they was going further
+down for a little while, but howsever, when they come back,
+they'd make sure to come and see you.''
+
+``But did she tell you she was married, Thomas?''
+
+``Yes, ma'am. She smiled, and said how she
+had changed her name since she was in these parts.
+She was always a very affable and free-spoken young lady,
+and very civil behaved.  So, I made free to wish her joy.''
+
+``Was Mr.\ Ferrars in the carriage with her?''
+
+``Yes, ma'am, I just see him leaning back in it,
+but he did not look up;---he never was a gentleman much
+for talking.''
+
+Elinor's heart could easily account for his not
+putting himself forward; and Mrs.\ Dashwood probably
+found the same explanation.
+
+``Was there no one else in the carriage?''
+
+``No, ma'am, only they two.''
+
+``Do you know where they came from?''
+
+``They come straight from town, as Miss Lucy---%
+Mrs.\ Ferrars told me.''
+
+``And are they going farther westward?''
+
+``Yes, ma'am---but not to bide long.  They will soon
+be back again, and then they'd be sure and call here.''
+
+Mrs.\ Dashwood now looked at her daughter;
+but Elinor knew better than to expect them.
+She recognised the whole of Lucy in the message, and was
+very confident that Edward would never come near them.
+She observed in a low voice, to her mother, that they
+were probably going down to Mr.\ Pratt's, near Plymouth.
+
+Thomas's intelligence seemed over.  Elinor looked
+as if she wished to hear more.
+
+``Did you see them off, before you came away?''
+
+``No, ma'am---the horses were just coming out, but I
+could not bide any longer; I was afraid of being late.''
+
+``Did Mrs.\ Ferrars look well?''
+
+``Yes, ma'am, she said how she was very well;
+and to my mind she was always a very handsome young
+lady---and she seemed vastly contented.''
+
+Mrs.\ Dashwood could think of no other question,
+and Thomas and the tablecloth, now alike needless,
+were soon afterwards dismissed.  Marianne had already sent
+to say, that she should eat nothing more.  Mrs.\ Dashwood's
+and Elinor's appetites were equally lost, and Margaret
+might think herself very well off, that with so much
+uneasiness as both her sisters had lately experienced,
+so much reason as they had often had to be careless
+of their meals, she had never been obliged to go without
+her dinner before.
+
+When the dessert and the wine were arranged,
+and Mrs.\ Dashwood and Elinor were left by themselves,
+they remained long together in a similarity of thoughtfulness
+and silence.  Mrs.\ Dashwood feared to hazard any remark,
+and ventured not to offer consolation.  She now found
+that she had erred in relying on Elinor's representation
+of herself; and justly concluded that every thing
+had been expressly softened at the time, to spare her
+from an increase of unhappiness, suffering as she then
+had suffered for Marianne.  She found that she had been
+misled by the careful, the considerate attention of
+her daughter, to think the attachment, which once she
+had so well understood, much slighter in reality, than
+she had been wont to believe, or than it was now proved
+to be.  She feared that under this persuasion she had
+been unjust, inattentive, nay, almost unkind, to her Elinor;---%
+that Marianne's affliction, because more acknowledged,
+more immediately before her, had too much engrossed
+her tenderness, and led her away to forget that in Elinor
+she might have a daughter suffering almost as much,
+certainly with less self-provocation, and greater fortitude.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 48}
+
+
+\gintro{Elinor} now found the difference between the expectation
+of an unpleasant event, however certain the mind may be told
+to consider it, and certainty itself.  She now found, that
+in spite of herself, she had always admitted a hope,
+while Edward remained single, that something would occur
+to prevent his marrying Lucy; that some resolution of
+his own, some mediation of friends, or some more eligible
+opportunity of establishment for the lady, would arise
+to assist the happiness of all.  But he was now married;
+and she condemned her heart for the lurking flattery,
+which so much heightened the pain of the intelligence.
+
+That he should be married soon, before (as she imagined)
+he could be in orders, and consequently before he could
+be in possession of the living, surprised her a little
+at first.  But she soon saw how likely it was that Lucy,
+in her self-provident care, in her haste to secure him,
+should overlook every thing but the risk of delay.
+They were married, married in town, and now hastening
+down to her uncle's.  What had Edward felt on being within
+four miles from Barton, on seeing her mother's servant,
+on hearing Lucy's message!
+
+They would soon, she supposed, be settled at
+Delaford.---Delaford,---that place in which so much
+conspired to give her an interest; which she wished
+to be acquainted with, and yet desired to avoid.
+She saw them in an instant in their parsonage-house; saw
+in Lucy, the active, contriving manager, uniting at once
+a desire of smart appearance with the utmost frugality,
+and ashamed to be suspected of half her economical practices;---%
+pursuing her own interest in every thought, courting the
+favour of Colonel Brandon, of Mrs.\ Jennings, and of every
+wealthy friend.  In Edward---she knew not what she saw,
+nor what she wished to see;---happy or unhappy,---nothing
+pleased her; she turned away her head from every sketch of him.
+
+Elinor flattered herself that some one of their
+connections in London would write to them to announce
+the event, and give farther particulars,---but day after
+day passed off, and brought no letter, no tidings.
+Though uncertain that any one were to blame, she found
+fault with every absent friend.  They were all thoughtless
+or indolent.
+
+``When do you write to Colonel Brandon, ma'am?''
+was an inquiry which sprung from the impatience
+of her mind to have something going on.
+
+``I wrote to him, my love, last week, and rather
+expect to see, than to hear from him again.  I earnestly
+pressed his coming to us, and should not be surprised
+to see him walk in today or tomorrow, or any day.''
+
+This was gaining something, something to look forward to.
+Colonel Brandon must have some information to give.
+
+Scarcely had she so determined it, when the figure
+of a man on horseback drew her eyes to the window.
+He stopt at their gate.  It was a gentleman, it
+was Colonel Brandon himself.  Now she could hear more;
+and she trembled in expectation of it.  But---it was
+\emph{not} Colonel Brandon---neither his air---nor his height.
+Were it possible, she must say it must be Edward.
+She looked again.  He had just dismounted;---she could not be
+mistaken,---it \emph{was} Edward.  She moved away and sat down.
+``He comes from Mr.\ Pratt's purposely to see us.  I \emph{will} be
+calm; I \emph{will} be mistress of myself.''
+
+In a moment she perceived that the others were likewise
+aware of the mistake.  She saw her mother and Marianne
+change colour; saw them look at herself, and whisper
+a few sentences to each other.  She would have given
+the world to be able to speak---and to make them understand
+that she hoped no coolness, no slight, would appear
+in their behaviour to him;---but she had no utterance,
+and was obliged to leave all to their own discretion.
+
+Not a syllable passed aloud.  They all waited
+in silence for the appearance of their visitor.
+His footsteps were heard along the gravel path; in a moment
+he was in the passage, and in another he was before them.
+
+His countenance, as he entered the room, was not
+too happy, even for Elinor.  His complexion was white
+with agitation, and he looked as if fearful of his
+reception, and conscious that he merited no kind one.
+Mrs.\ Dashwood, however, conforming, as she trusted,
+to the wishes of that daughter, by whom she then meant
+in the warmth of her heart to be guided in every thing,
+met with a look of forced complacency, gave him her hand,
+and wished him joy.
+
+He coloured, and stammered out an unintelligible reply.
+Elinor's lips had moved with her mother's, and, when the
+moment of action was over, she wished that she had shaken
+hands with him too.  But it was then too late, and with a
+countenance meaning to be open, she sat down again
+and talked of the weather.
+
+Marianne had retreated as much as possible
+out of sight, to conceal her distress; and Margaret,
+understanding some part, but not the whole of the case,
+thought it incumbent on her to be dignified, and therefore
+took a seat as far from him as she could, and maintained
+a strict silence.
+
+When Elinor had ceased to rejoice in the dryness
+of the season, a very awful pause took place.  It was put
+an end to by Mrs.\ Dashwood, who felt obliged to hope that he
+had left Mrs.\ Ferrars very well.  In a hurried manner,
+he replied in the affirmative.
+
+Another pause.
+
+Elinor resolving to exert herself, though fearing
+the sound of her own voice, now said,
+
+``Is Mrs.\ Ferrars at Longstaple?''
+
+``At Longstaple!'' he replied, with an air of surprise.---%
+``No, my mother is in town.''
+
+``I meant,'' said Elinor, taking up some work from
+the table, ``to inquire for Mrs.\ \emph{Edward} Ferrars.''
+
+She dared not look up;---but her mother and Marianne both
+turned their eyes on him.  He coloured, seemed perplexed,
+looked doubtingly, and, after some hesitation, said,---%
+
+``Perhaps you mean---my brother---you mean Mrs.---Mrs.\ %
+\emph{Robert} Ferrars.''
+
+``Mrs.\ Robert Ferrars!''---was repeated by Marianne and her
+mother in an accent of the utmost amazement;---and though
+Elinor could not speak, even \emph{her} eyes were fixed on him
+with the same impatient wonder.  He rose from his seat,
+and walked to the window, apparently from not knowing
+what to do; took up a pair of scissors that lay there,
+and while spoiling both them and their sheath by cutting
+the latter to pieces as he spoke, said, in a hurried voice,
+
+``Perhaps you do not know---you may not have heard
+that my brother is lately married to---to the youngest---to
+Miss Lucy Steele.''
+
+His words were echoed with unspeakable astonishment
+by all but Elinor, who sat with her head leaning over
+her work, in a state of such agitation as made her hardly
+know where she was.
+
+``Yes,'' said he, ``they were married last week,
+and are now at Dawlish.''
+
+Elinor could sit it no longer.  She almost ran
+out of the room, and as soon as the door was closed,
+burst into tears of joy, which at first she thought would
+never cease.  Edward, who had till then looked any where,
+rather than at her, saw her hurry away, and perhaps saw---%
+or even heard, her emotion; for immediately afterwards
+he fell into a reverie, which no remarks, no inquiries,
+no affectionate address of Mrs.\ Dashwood could penetrate,
+and at last, without saying a word, quitted the room,
+and walked out towards the village---leaving the others
+in the greatest astonishment and perplexity on a change
+in his situation, so wonderful and so sudden;---a perplexity
+which they had no means of lessening but by their
+own conjectures.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 49}
+
+
+\gintro{Unaccountable,} however, as the circumstances of his
+release might appear to the whole family, it was certain
+that Edward was free; and to what purpose that freedom would
+be employed was easily pre-determined by all;---for after
+experiencing the blessings of \emph{one} imprudent engagement,
+contracted without his mother's consent, as he had already
+done for more than four years, nothing less could be expected
+of him in the failure of \emph{that}, than the immediate contraction
+of another.
+
+His errand at Barton, in fact, was a simple one.
+It was only to ask Elinor to marry him;---and considering
+that he was not altogether inexperienced in such a question,
+it might be strange that he should feel so uncomfortable
+in the present case as he really did, so much in need of
+encouragement and fresh air.
+
+How soon he had walked himself into the proper
+resolution, however, how soon an opportunity of exercising
+it occurred, in what manner he expressed himself,
+and how he was received, need not be particularly told.
+This only need be said;---that when they all sat down to
+table at four o'clock, about three hours after his arrival,
+he had secured his lady, engaged her mother's consent,
+and was not only in the rapturous profession of
+the lover, but, in the reality of reason and truth,
+one of the happiest of men.  His situation indeed was
+more than commonly joyful.  He had more than the ordinary
+triumph of accepted love to swell his heart, and raise
+his spirits.  He was released without any reproach
+to himself, from an entanglement which had long formed
+his misery, from a woman whom he had long ceased to love;---%
+and elevated at once to that security with another,
+which he must have thought of almost with despair,
+as soon as he had learnt to consider it with desire.
+He was brought, not from doubt or suspense, but from
+misery to happiness;---and the change was openly spoken
+in such a genuine, flowing, grateful cheerfulness,
+as his friends had never witnessed in him before.
+
+His heart was now open to Elinor, all its weaknesses,
+all its errors confessed, and his first boyish attachment
+to Lucy treated with all the philosophic dignity of twenty-four.
+
+``It was a foolish, idle inclination on my side,''
+said he, ``the consequence of ignorance of the world---%
+and want of employment.  Had my brother given me
+some active profession when I was removed at eighteen
+from the care of Mr.\ Pratt, I think---nay, I am sure,
+it would never have happened; for though I left Longstaple
+with what I thought, at the time, a most unconquerable
+preference for his niece, yet had I then had any pursuit,
+any object to engage my time and keep me at a distance
+from her for a few months, I should very soon have
+outgrown the fancied attachment, especially by mixing
+more with the world, as in such case I must have done.
+But instead of having any thing to do, instead of having any
+profession chosen for me, or being allowed to chuse any myself,
+I returned home to be completely idle; and for the first
+twelvemonth afterwards I had not even the nominal employment,
+which belonging to the university would have given me;
+for I was not entered at Oxford till I was nineteen.
+I had therefore nothing in the world to do, but to fancy
+myself in love; and as my mother did not make my home
+in every respect comfortable, as I had no friend,
+no companion in my brother, and disliked new acquaintance,
+it was not unnatural for me to be very often at Longstaple,
+where I always felt myself at home, and was always sure
+of a welcome; and accordingly I spent the greatest part
+of my time there from eighteen to nineteen: Lucy appeared
+everything that was amiable and obliging.  She was pretty
+too---at least I thought so \emph{then}; and I had seen so little
+of other women, that I could make no comparisons, and see
+no defects.  Considering everything, therefore, I hope,
+foolish as our engagement was, foolish as it has since
+in every way been proved, it was not at the time an unnatural
+or an inexcusable piece of folly.''
+
+The change which a few hours had wrought in the minds
+and the happiness of the Dashwoods, was such---so great---as
+promised them all, the satisfaction of a sleepless night.
+Mrs.\ Dashwood, too happy to be comfortable, knew not how
+to love Edward, nor praise Elinor enough, how to be enough
+thankful for his release without wounding his delicacy,
+nor how at once to give them leisure for unrestrained
+conversation together, and yet enjoy, as she wished,
+the sight and society of both.
+
+Marianne could speak \emph{her} happiness only by tears.
+Comparisons would occur---regrets would arise;---and her joy,
+though sincere as her love for her sister, was of a kind to
+give her neither spirits nor language.
+
+But Elinor---how are \emph{her} feelings to be described?---From
+the moment of learning that Lucy was married to another,
+that Edward was free, to the moment of his justifying
+the hopes which had so instantly followed, she was every
+thing by turns but tranquil.  But when the second moment
+had passed, when she found every doubt, every solicitude
+removed, compared her situation with what so lately it
+had been,---saw him honourably released from his former
+engagement, saw him instantly profiting by the release,
+to address herself and declare an affection as tender,
+as constant as she had ever supposed it to be,---she
+was oppressed, she was overcome by her own felicity;---%
+and happily disposed as is the human mind to be easily
+familiarized with any change for the better, it required
+several hours to give sedateness to her spirits, or any
+degree of tranquillity to her heart.
+
+Edward was now fixed at the cottage at least for
+a week;---for whatever other claims might be made on him,
+it was impossible that less than a week should be given
+up to the enjoyment of Elinor's company, or suffice
+to say half that was to be said of the past, the present,
+and the future;---for though a very few hours spent in
+the hard labor of incessant talking will despatch more
+subjects than can really be in common between any two
+rational creatures, yet with lovers it is different.
+Between \emph{them} no subject is finished, no communication
+is even made, till it has been made at least twenty
+times over.
+
+Lucy's marriage, the unceasing and reasonable wonder
+among them all, formed of course one of the earliest
+discussions of the lovers;---and Elinor's particular knowledge
+of each party made it appear to her in every view, as one
+of the most extraordinary and unaccountable circumstances
+she had ever heard.  How they could be thrown together,
+and by what attraction Robert could be drawn on to marry
+a girl, of whose beauty she had herself heard him speak
+without any admiration,---a girl too already engaged
+to his brother, and on whose account that brother had been
+thrown off by his family---it was beyond her comprehension
+to make out.  To her own heart it was a delightful affair,
+to her imagination it was even a ridiculous one, but
+to her reason, her judgment, it was completely a puzzle.
+
+Edward could only attempt an explanation by supposing,
+that, perhaps, at first accidentally meeting, the vanity
+of the one had been so worked on by the flattery
+of the other, as to lead by degrees to all the rest.
+Elinor remembered what Robert had told her in Harley Street,
+of his opinion of what his own mediation in his brother's
+affairs might have done, if applied to in time.
+She repeated it to Edward.
+
+``\emph{That} was exactly like Robert,''---was his immediate
+observation.---``And \emph{that},'' he presently added, ``might
+perhaps be in \emph{his} head when the acquaintance between
+them first began.  And Lucy perhaps at first might
+think only of procuring his good offices in my favour.
+Other designs might afterward arise.''
+
+How long it had been carrying on between them,
+however, he was equally at a loss with herself to make out;
+for at Oxford, where he had remained for choice ever since
+his quitting London, he had had no means of hearing of her
+but from herself, and her letters to the very last were
+neither less frequent, nor less affectionate than usual.
+Not the smallest suspicion, therefore, had ever occurred
+to prepare him for what followed;---and when at last it
+burst on him in a letter from Lucy herself, he had been
+for some time, he believed, half stupified between
+the wonder, the horror, and the joy of such a deliverance.
+He put the letter into Elinor's hands.
+
+\bigskip
+     ``\emph{Dear sir},
+\medskip
+
+     ``Being very sure I have long lost your affections,
+     I have thought myself at liberty to bestow my own
+     on another, and have no doubt of being as happy with
+     him as I once used to think I might be with you;
+     but I scorn to accept a hand while the heart was
+     another's.  Sincerely wish you happy in your choice,
+     and it shall not be my fault if we are not always
+     good friends, as our near relationship now makes
+     proper.  I can safely say I owe you no ill-will,
+     and am sure you will be too generous to do us any
+     ill offices.  Your brother has gained my affections
+     entirely, and as we could not live without one
+     another, we are just returned from the altar, and
+     are now on our way to Dawlish for a few weeks, which
+     place your dear brother has great curiosity to see,
+     but thought I would first trouble you with these
+     few lines, and shall always remain,
+
+\medskip
+     ``Your sincere well-wisher, friend, and sister,
+
+\medskip
+                                        ``\emph{Lucy Ferrars}.
+
+\medskip
+     ``I have burnt all your letters, and will return
+     your picture the first opportunity.  Please to destroy
+     my scrawls---but the ring with my hair you are very
+     welcome to keep.''
+\bigskip
+
+Elinor read and returned it without any comment.
+
+``I will not ask your opinion of it as a composition,''
+said Edward.---``For worlds would not I have had a letter
+of hers seen by \emph{you} in former days.---In a sister it
+is bad enough, but in a wife!---how I have blushed over
+the pages of her writing!---and I believe I may say that
+since the first half year of our foolish---business---this
+is the only letter I ever received from her, of which
+the substance made me any amends for the defect of the style.''
+
+``However it may have come about,'' said Elinor,
+after a pause,---``they are certainly married.  And your mother
+has brought on herself a most appropriate punishment.
+The independence she settled on Robert, through resentment
+against you, has put it in his power to make his own choice;
+and she has actually been bribing one son with a thousand
+a-year, to do the very deed which she disinherited the
+other for intending to do.  She will hardly be less hurt,
+I suppose, by Robert's marrying Lucy, than she would have
+been by your marrying her.''
+
+``She will be more hurt by it, for Robert always
+was her favourite.---She will be more hurt by it,
+and on the same principle will forgive him much sooner.''
+
+In what state the affair stood at present between them,
+Edward knew not, for no communication with any of his family
+had yet been attempted by him.  He had quitted Oxford
+within four and twenty hours after Lucy's letter arrived,
+and with only one object before him, the nearest road
+to Barton, had had no leisure to form any scheme of conduct,
+with which that road did not hold the most intimate connection.
+He could do nothing till he were assured of his fate with
+Miss Dashwood; and by his rapidity in seeking \emph{that} fate,
+it is to be supposed, in spite of the jealousy with
+which he had once thought of Colonel Brandon, in spite
+of the modesty with which he rated his own deserts,
+and the politeness with which he talked of his doubts,
+he did not, upon the whole, expect a very cruel reception.
+It was his business, however, to say that he \emph{did}, and he
+said it very prettily.  What he might say on the subject
+a twelvemonth after, must be referred to the imagination
+of husbands and wives.
+
+That Lucy had certainly meant to deceive, to go off
+with a flourish of malice against him in her message
+by Thomas, was perfectly clear to Elinor; and Edward himself,
+now thoroughly enlightened on her character, had no
+scruple in believing her capable of the utmost meanness
+of wanton ill-nature. Though his eyes had been long opened,
+even before his acquaintance with Elinor began, to her
+ignorance and a want of liberality in some of her opinions---%
+they had been equally imputed, by him, to her want
+of education; and till her last letter reached him,
+he had always believed her to be a well-disposed,
+good-hearted girl, and thoroughly attached to himself.
+Nothing but such a persuasion could have prevented
+his putting an end to an engagement, which, long before
+the discovery of it laid him open to his mother's anger,
+had been a continual source of disquiet and regret to him.
+
+``I thought it my duty,'' said he, ``independent of my feelings,
+to give her the option of continuing the engagement or not,
+when I was renounced by my mother, and stood to all
+appearance without a friend in the world to assist me.
+In such a situation as that, where there seemed nothing
+to tempt the avarice or the vanity of any living creature,
+how could I suppose, when she so earnestly, so warmly insisted
+on sharing my fate, whatever it might be, that any thing
+but the most disinterested affection was her inducement?
+And even now, I cannot comprehend on what motive she acted,
+or what fancied advantage it could be to her, to be
+fettered to a man for whom she had not the smallest regard,
+and who had only two thousand pounds in the world.
+She could not foresee that Colonel Brandon would give me a
+living.''
+
+``No; but she might suppose that something would occur
+in your favour; that your own family might in time relent.
+And at any rate, she lost nothing by continuing the engagement,
+for she has proved that it fettered neither her inclination
+nor her actions.  The connection was certainly a
+respectable one, and probably gained her consideration among
+her friends; and, if nothing more advantageous occurred,
+it would be better for her to marry \emph{you} than be single.''
+
+Edward was, of course, immediately convinced that
+nothing could have been more natural than Lucy's conduct,
+nor more self-evident than the motive of it.
+
+Elinor scolded him, harshly as ladies always scold
+the imprudence which compliments themselves, for having
+spent so much time with them at Norland, when he must
+have felt his own inconstancy.
+
+``Your behaviour was certainly very wrong,'' said she;
+``because---to say nothing of my own conviction, our relations
+were all led away by it to fancy and expect \emph{what}, as you
+were \emph{then} situated, could never be.''
+
+He could only plead an ignorance of his own heart,
+and a mistaken confidence in the force of his engagement.
+
+``I was simple enough to think, that because my \emph{faith}
+was plighted to another, there could be no danger in my being
+with you; and that the consciousness of my engagement was
+to keep my heart as safe and sacred as my honour.  I felt
+that I admired you, but I told myself it was only friendship;
+and till I began to make comparisons between yourself
+and Lucy, I did not know how far I was got.  After that,
+I suppose, I \emph{was} wrong in remaining so much in Sussex,
+and the arguments with which I reconciled myself to the
+expediency of it, were no better than these:---The danger
+is my own; I am doing no injury to anybody but myself.''
+
+Elinor smiled, and shook her head.
+
+Edward heard with pleasure of Colonel Brandon's
+being expected at the Cottage, as he really wished
+not only to be better acquainted with him, but to have an
+opportunity of convincing him that he no longer resented
+his giving him the living of Delaford---``Which, at present,''
+said he, ``after thanks so ungraciously delivered as mine
+were on the occasion, he must think I have never forgiven
+him for offering.''
+
+\emph{Now} he felt astonished himself that he had never yet
+been to the place.  But so little interest had be taken
+in the matter, that he owed all his knowledge of the house,
+garden, and glebe, extent of the parish, condition of
+the land, and rate of the tithes, to Elinor herself,
+who had heard so much of it from Colonel Brandon,
+and heard it with so much attention, as to be entirely
+mistress of the subject.
+
+One question after this only remained undecided,
+between them, one difficulty only was to be overcome.
+They were brought together by mutual affection,
+with the warmest approbation of their real friends;
+their intimate knowledge of each other seemed to make
+their happiness certain---and they only wanted something
+to live upon.  Edward had two thousand pounds, and Elinor
+one, which, with Delaford living, was all that they could
+call their own; for it was impossible that Mrs.\ Dashwood
+should advance anything; and they were neither of them
+quite enough in love to think that three hundred and fifty
+pounds a-year would supply them with the comforts of life.
+
+Edward was not entirely without hopes of some
+favourable change in his mother towards him; and on \emph{that}
+he rested for the residue of their income.  But Elinor
+had no such dependence; for since Edward would still
+be unable to marry Miss Morton, and his chusing herself
+had been spoken of in Mrs.\ Ferrars's flattering language
+as only a lesser evil than his chusing Lucy Steele,
+she feared that Robert's offence would serve no other
+purpose than to enrich Fanny.
+
+About four days after Edward's arrival Colonel
+Brandon appeared, to complete Mrs.\ Dashwood's satisfaction,
+and to give her the dignity of having, for the first time
+since her living at Barton, more company with her than
+her house would hold.  Edward was allowed to retain the
+privilege of first comer, and Colonel Brandon therefore
+walked every night to his old quarters at the Park;
+from whence he usually returned in the morning, early enough
+to interrupt the lovers' first t\^{e}te-\`{a}-t\^{e}te before breakfast.
+
+A three weeks' residence at Delaford, where,
+in his evening hours at least, he had little to do
+but to calculate the disproportion between thirty-six
+and seventeen, brought him to Barton in a temper of mind
+which needed all the improvement in Marianne's looks,
+all the kindness of her welcome, and all the encouragement
+of her mother's language, to make it cheerful.
+Among such friends, however, and such flattery, he did revive.
+No rumour of Lucy's marriage had yet reached him:---he knew
+nothing of what had passed; and the first hours of his
+visit were consequently spent in hearing and in wondering.
+Every thing was explained to him by Mrs.\ Dashwood,
+and he found fresh reason to rejoice in what he had done
+for Mr.\ Ferrars, since eventually it promoted the interest
+of Elinor.
+
+It would be needless to say, that the gentlemen advanced
+in the good opinion of each other, as they advanced in each
+other's acquaintance, for it could not be otherwise.
+Their resemblance in good principles and good sense,
+in disposition and manner of thinking, would probably
+have been sufficient to unite them in friendship,
+without any other attraction; but their being in love
+with two sisters, and two sisters fond of each other,
+made that mutual regard inevitable and immediate,
+which might otherwise have waited the effect of time
+and judgment.
+
+The letters from town, which a few days before would
+have made every nerve in Elinor's body thrill with transport,
+now arrived to be read with less emotion that mirth.
+Mrs.\ Jennings wrote to tell the wonderful tale, to vent her
+honest indignation against the jilting girl, and pour forth
+her compassion towards poor Mr.\ Edward, who, she was sure,
+had quite doted upon the worthless hussy, and was now,
+by all accounts, almost broken-hearted, at Oxford.---%
+``I do think,'' she continued, ``nothing was ever carried
+on so sly; for it was but two days before Lucy called
+and sat a couple of hours with me.  Not a soul suspected
+anything of the matter, not even Nancy, who, poor soul!
+came crying to me the day after, in a great fright
+for fear of Mrs.\ Ferrars, as well as not knowing how to
+get to Plymouth; for Lucy it seems borrowed all her
+money before she went off to be married, on purpose
+we suppose to make a show with, and poor Nancy had not
+seven shillings in the world;---so I was very glad to give
+her five guineas to take her down to Exeter, where she
+thinks of staying three or four weeks with Mrs.\ Burgess,
+in hopes, as I tell her, to fall in with the Doctor again.
+And I must say that Lucy's crossness not to take them
+along with them in the chaise is worse than all.
+Poor Mr.\ Edward! I cannot get him out of my head, but you
+must send for him to Barton, and Miss Marianne must try to
+comfort him.''
+
+Mr.\ Dashwood's strains were more solemn.
+Mrs.\ Ferrars was the most unfortunate of women---poor
+Fanny had suffered agonies of sensibility---and he
+considered the existence of each, under such a blow,
+with grateful wonder.  Robert's offence was unpardonable,
+but Lucy's was infinitely worse.  Neither of them were
+ever again to be mentioned to Mrs.\ Ferrars; and even,
+if she might hereafter be induced to forgive her son,
+his wife should never be acknowledged as her daughter,
+nor be permitted to appear in her presence.  The secrecy
+with which everything had been carried on between them,
+was rationally treated as enormously heightening
+the crime, because, had any suspicion of it occurred
+to the others, proper measures would have been taken
+to prevent the marriage; and he called on Elinor to join
+with him in regretting that Lucy's engagement with Edward
+had not rather been fulfilled, than that she should thus
+be the means of spreading misery farther in the family.---%
+He thus continued:
+
+``Mrs.\ Ferrars has never yet mentioned Edward's name,
+which does not surprise us; but, to our great astonishment,
+not a line has been received from him on the occasion.
+Perhaps, however, he is kept silent by his fear of offending,
+and I shall, therefore, give him a hint, by a line
+to Oxford, that his sister and I both think a letter
+of proper submission from him, addressed perhaps to Fanny,
+and by her shewn to her mother, might not be taken amiss;
+for we all know the tenderness of Mrs.\ Ferrars's heart,
+and that she wishes for nothing so much as to be on good terms
+with her children.''
+
+This paragraph was of some importance to the
+prospects and conduct of Edward.  It determined him
+to attempt a reconciliation, though not exactly
+in the manner pointed out by their brother and sister.
+
+``A letter of proper submission!'' repeated he;
+``would they have me beg my mother's pardon for Robert's
+ingratitude to \emph{her}, and breach of honour to \emph{me}?---I can
+make no submission---I am grown neither humble nor
+penitent by what has passed.---I am grown very happy;
+but that would not interest.---I know of no submission
+that \emph{is} proper for me to make.''
+
+``You may certainly ask to be forgiven,'' said Elinor,
+``because you have offended;---and I should think you
+might \emph{now} venture so far as to profess some concern
+for having ever formed the engagement which drew on you
+your mother's anger.''
+
+He agreed that he might.
+
+``And when she has forgiven you, perhaps a little humility
+may be convenient while acknowledging a second engagement,
+almost as imprudent in \emph{her} eyes as the first.''
+
+He had nothing to urge against it, but still
+resisted the idea of a letter of proper submission;
+and therefore, to make it easier to him, as he declared
+a much greater willingness to make mean concessions
+by word of mouth than on paper, it was resolved that,
+instead of writing to Fanny, he should go to London,
+and personally intreat her good offices in his favour.---%
+``And if they really \emph{do} interest themselves,'' said Marianne,
+in her new character of candour, ``in bringing about
+a reconciliation, I shall think that even John and Fanny
+are not entirely without merit.''
+
+After a visit on Colonel Brandon's side of only three
+or four days, the two gentlemen quitted Barton together.---%
+They were to go immediately to Delaford, that Edward
+might have some personal knowledge of his future home,
+and assist his patron and friend in deciding on what
+improvements were needed to it; and from thence,
+after staying there a couple of nights, he was to proceed
+on his journey to town.
+
+
+
+\section*{Chapter 50}
+
+
+\gintro{After a proper resistance} on the part of Mrs.\ Ferrars,
+just so violent and so steady as to preserve her from that
+reproach which she always seemed fearful of incurring,
+the reproach of being too amiable, Edward was admitted
+to her presence, and pronounced to be again her son.
+
+Her family had of late been exceedingly fluctuating.
+For many years of her life she had had two sons;
+but the crime and annihilation of Edward a few weeks ago,
+had robbed her of one; the similar annihilation of Robert
+had left her for a fortnight without any; and now,
+by the resuscitation of Edward, she had one again.
+
+In spite of his being allowed once more to live,
+however, he did not feel the continuance of his existence
+secure, till he had revealed his present engagement;
+for the publication of that circumstance, he feared,
+might give a sudden turn to his constitution, and carry
+him off as rapidly as before.  With apprehensive caution
+therefore it was revealed, and he was listened to with
+unexpected calmness.  Mrs.\ Ferrars at first reasonably
+endeavoured to dissuade him from marrying Miss Dashwood,
+by every argument in her power;---told him, that in Miss Morton
+he would have a woman of higher rank and larger fortune;---%
+and enforced the assertion, by observing that Miss Morton
+was the daughter of a nobleman with thirty thousand pounds,
+while Miss Dashwood was only the daughter of a private
+gentleman with no more than \emph{three}; but when she found that,
+though perfectly admitting the truth of her representation,
+he was by no means inclined to be guided by it,
+she judged it wisest, from the experience of the past,
+to submit---and therefore, after such an ungracious delay
+as she owed to her own dignity, and as served to prevent
+every suspicion of good-will, she issued her decree
+of consent to the marriage of Edward and Elinor.
+
+What she would engage to do towards augmenting
+their income was next to be considered; and here it
+plainly appeared, that though Edward was now her only son,
+he was by no means her eldest; for while Robert was
+inevitably endowed with a thousand pounds a-year,
+not the smallest objection was made against Edward's taking
+orders for the sake of two hundred and fifty at the utmost;
+nor was anything promised either for the present or in future,
+beyond the ten thousand pounds, which had been given with Fanny.
+
+It was as much, however, as was desired,
+and more than was expected, by Edward and Elinor;
+and Mrs.\ Ferrars herself, by her shuffling excuses,
+seemed the only person surprised at her not giving more.
+
+With an income quite sufficient to their wants
+thus secured to them, they had nothing to wait for
+after Edward was in possession of the living, but the
+readiness of the house, to which Colonel Brandon,
+with an eager desire for the accommodation of Elinor,
+was making considerable improvements; and after waiting
+some time for their completion, after experiencing,
+as usual, a thousand disappointments and delays
+from the unaccountable dilatoriness of the workmen, Elinor,
+as usual, broke through the first positive resolution
+of not marrying till every thing was ready, and the
+ceremony took place in Barton church early in the autumn.
+
+The first month after their marriage was spent
+with their friend at the Mansion-house; from whence
+they could superintend the progress of the Parsonage,
+and direct every thing as they liked on the spot;---%
+could chuse papers, project shrubberies, and invent a sweep.
+Mrs.\ Jennings's prophecies, though rather jumbled together,
+were chiefly fulfilled; for she was able to visit Edward
+and his wife in their Parsonage by Michaelmas, and she
+found in Elinor and her husband, as she really believed,
+one of the happiest couples in the world.  They had
+in fact nothing to wish for, but the marriage of Colonel
+Brandon and Marianne, and rather better pasturage for
+their cows.
+
+They were visited on their first settling by almost
+all their relations and friends.  Mrs.\ Ferrars came
+to inspect the happiness which she was almost ashamed
+of having authorised; and even the Dashwoods were at
+the expense of a journey from Sussex to do them honour.
+
+``I will not say that I am disappointed, my dear sister,''
+said John, as they were walking together one morning before
+the gates of Delaford House, ``\emph{that} would be saying too much,
+for certainly you have been one of the most fortunate young
+women in the world, as it is.  But, I confess, it would
+give me great pleasure to call Colonel Brandon brother.
+His property here, his place, his house, every thing is in
+such respectable and excellent condition!---and his woods!---I
+have not seen such timber any where in Dorsetshire, as there
+is now standing in Delaford Hanger!---And though, perhaps,
+Marianne may not seem exactly the person to attract him---%
+yet I think it would altogether be advisable for you to
+have them now frequently staying with you, for as Colonel
+Brandon seems a great deal at home, nobody can tell what
+may happen---for, when people are much thrown together,
+and see little of anybody else---and it will always be
+in your power to set her off to advantage, and so forth;---%
+in short, you may as well give her a chance---You understand
+me.''---%
+
+But though Mrs.\ Ferrars \emph{did} come to see them, and always
+treated them with the make-believe of decent affection,
+they were never insulted by her real favour and preference.
+\emph{That} was due to the folly of Robert, and the cunning
+of his wife; and it was earned by them before many months
+had passed away.  The selfish sagacity of the latter,
+which had at first drawn Robert into the scrape,
+was the principal instrument of his deliverance from it;
+for her respectful humility, assiduous attentions,
+and endless flatteries, as soon as the smallest opening
+was given for their exercise, reconciled Mrs.\ Ferrars
+to his choice, and re-established him completely in
+her favour.
+
+The whole of Lucy's behaviour in the affair,
+and the prosperity which crowned it, therefore, may be held
+forth as a most encouraging instance of what an earnest,
+an unceasing attention to self-interest, however its progress
+may be apparently obstructed, will do in securing every
+advantage of fortune, with no other sacrifice than that of time
+and conscience.  When Robert first sought her acquaintance,
+and privately visited her in Bartlett's Buildings,
+it was only with the view imputed to him by his brother.
+He merely meant to persuade her to give up the engagement;
+and as there could be nothing to overcome but the affection
+of both, he naturally expected that one or two interviews
+would settle the matter.  In that point, however,
+and that only, he erred;---for though Lucy soon gave him
+hopes that his eloquence would convince her in \emph{time},
+another visit, another conversation, was always wanted
+to produce this conviction.  Some doubts always lingered
+in her mind when they parted, which could only be
+removed by another half hour's discourse with himself.
+His attendance was by this means secured, and the rest
+followed in course.  Instead of talking of Edward,
+they came gradually to talk only of Robert,---a subject
+on which he had always more to say than on any other,
+and in which she soon betrayed an interest even equal
+to his own; and in short, it became speedily evident
+to both, that he had entirely supplanted his brother.
+He was proud of his conquest, proud of tricking Edward,
+and very proud of marrying privately without his
+mother's consent.  What immediately followed is known.
+They passed some months in great happiness at Dawlish;
+for she had many relations and old acquaintances to
+cut---and he drew several plans for magnificent cottages;---%
+and from thence returning to town, procured the forgiveness
+of Mrs.\ Ferrars, by the simple expedient of asking it,
+which, at Lucy's instigation, was adopted.  The forgiveness,
+at first, indeed, as was reasonable, comprehended only Robert;
+and Lucy, who had owed his mother no duty and therefore
+could have transgressed none, still remained some weeks
+longer unpardoned.  But perseverance in humility of conduct
+and messages, in self-condemnation for Robert's offence,
+and gratitude for the unkindness she was treated with,
+procured her in time the haughty notice which overcame
+her by its graciousness, and led soon afterwards, by rapid
+degrees, to the highest state of affection and influence.
+Lucy became as necessary to Mrs.\ Ferrars, as either Robert
+or Fanny; and while Edward was never cordially forgiven
+for having once intended to marry her, and Elinor,
+though superior to her in fortune and birth, was spoken
+of as an intruder, \emph{she} was in every thing considered,
+and always openly acknowledged, to be a favourite child.
+They settled in town, received very liberal assistance
+from Mrs.\ Ferrars, were on the best terms imaginable
+with the Dashwoods; and setting aside the jealousies
+and ill-will continually subsisting between Fanny and Lucy,
+in which their husbands of course took a part, as well
+as the frequent domestic disagreements between Robert and
+Lucy themselves, nothing could exceed the harmony in which
+they all lived together.
+
+What Edward had done to forfeit the right of eldest
+son, might have puzzled many people to find out; and what
+Robert had done to succeed to it, might have puzzled them
+still more.  It was an arrangement, however, justified in
+its effects, if not in its cause; for nothing ever
+appeared in Robert's style of living or of talking to give
+a suspicion of his regretting the extent of his income,
+as either leaving his brother too little, or bringing
+himself too much;---and if Edward might be judged from
+the ready discharge of his duties in every particular,
+from an increasing attachment to his wife and his home,
+and from the regular cheerfulness of his spirits,
+he might be supposed no less contented with his lot,
+no less free from every wish of an exchange.
+
+Elinor's marriage divided her as little from her
+family as could well be contrived, without rendering
+the cottage at Barton entirely useless, for her mother
+and sisters spent much more than half their time with her.
+Mrs.\ Dashwood was acting on motives of policy as well
+as pleasure in the frequency of her visits at Delaford;
+for her wish of bringing Marianne and Colonel Brandon together
+was hardly less earnest, though rather more liberal than
+what John had expressed.  It was now her darling object.
+Precious as was the company of her daughter to her,
+she desired nothing so much as to give up its constant
+enjoyment to her valued friend; and to see Marianne settled at
+the mansion-house was equally the wish of Edward and Elinor.
+They each felt his sorrows, and their own obligations,
+and Marianne, by general consent, was to be the reward
+of all.
+
+With such a confederacy against her---with a knowledge
+so intimate of his goodness---with a conviction of his fond
+attachment to herself, which at last, though long after it
+was observable to everybody else---burst on her---what could she
+do?
+
+Marianne Dashwood was born to an extraordinary fate.
+She was born to discover the falsehood of her own opinions,
+and to counteract, by her conduct, her most favourite maxims.
+She was born to overcome an affection formed so late
+in life as at seventeen, and with no sentiment
+superior to strong esteem and lively friendship,
+voluntarily to give her hand to another!---and \emph{that} other,
+a man who had suffered no less than herself under the
+event of a former attachment, whom, two years before,
+she had considered too old to be married,---and who still
+sought the constitutional safeguard of a flannel waistcoat!
+
+But so it was.  Instead of falling a sacrifice
+to an irresistible passion, as once she had fondly
+flattered herself with expecting,---instead of remaining
+even for ever with her mother, and finding her only
+pleasures in retirement and study, as afterwards in her
+more calm and sober judgment she had determined on,---%
+she found herself at nineteen, submitting to new attachments,
+entering on new duties, placed in a new home, a wife,
+the mistress of a family, and the patroness of a village.
+
+Colonel Brandon was now as happy, as all those who best
+loved him, believed he deserved to be;---in Marianne he
+was consoled for every past affliction;---her regard and her
+society restored his mind to animation, and his spirits
+to cheerfulness; and that Marianne found her own happiness
+in forming his, was equally the persuasion and delight
+of each observing friend.  Marianne could never love
+by halves; and her whole heart became, in time, as much
+devoted to her husband, as it had once been to Willoughby.
+
+Willoughby could not hear of her marriage without
+a pang; and his punishment was soon afterwards complete
+in the voluntary forgiveness of Mrs.\ Smith, who, by stating
+his marriage with a woman of character, as the source
+of her clemency, gave him reason for believing that had he
+behaved with honour towards Marianne, he might at once have
+been happy and rich.  That his repentance of misconduct,
+which thus brought its own punishment, was sincere,
+need not be doubted;---nor that he long thought of Colonel
+Brandon with envy, and of Marianne with regret.  But that
+he was for ever inconsolable, that he fled from society,
+or contracted an habitual gloom of temper, or died of a
+broken heart, must not be depended on---for he did neither.
+He lived to exert, and frequently to enjoy himself.
+His wife was not always out of humour, nor his home
+always uncomfortable; and in his breed of horses and dogs,
+and in sporting of every kind, he found no inconsiderable
+degree of domestic felicity.
+
+For Marianne, however---in spite of his incivility
+in surviving her loss---he always retained that decided
+regard which interested him in every thing that befell her,
+and made her his secret standard of perfection in woman;---%
+and many a rising beauty would be slighted by him in
+after-days as bearing no comparison with Mrs.\ Brandon.
+
+Mrs.\ Dashwood was prudent enough to remain at the cottage,
+without attempting a removal to Delaford; and fortunately for
+Sir John and Mrs.\ Jennings, when Marianne was taken from them,
+Margaret had reached an age highly suitable for dancing,
+and not very ineligible for being supposed to have a lover.
+
+Between Barton and Delaford, there was that constant
+communication which strong family affection would
+naturally dictate;---and among the merits and the happiness
+of Elinor and Marianne, let it not be ranked as the least
+considerable, that though sisters, and living almost within
+sight of each other, they could live without disagreement
+between themselves, or producing coolness between their husbands.
+
+\end{document}
+
+% THE END
+% 
+% 
+% End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Sense and Sensibility
+% 
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