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diff --git a/old/sense11.txt b/old/sense11.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..618a4bc --- /dev/null +++ b/old/sense11.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15055 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Sense and Sensibility, by Austen + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + + + +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 + |