	.file	"145314.c"
	.intel_syntax noprefix
	.text
	.globl	sense
	.section	.rodata
	.align 32
	.type	sense, @object
	.size	sense, 743782
sense:
	.ascii	"    The Project Gutenberg Etext of Sense and Sensibility, by"
	.ascii	" Austen\n    \n    Please take a look at the important infor"
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	.ascii	"\n    \n    Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" September, 1994  [Etext #161]\n    [Most recently updated: "
	.ascii	"November 3, 2003]\n    \n    \n    *****The Project Gutenber"
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	.ascii	"MAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END*\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \n    SENSE AND SENSIBILITY\n    \n    by Jane Aus"
	.ascii	"ten\n    (1811)\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 1\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    \n    The family of Dashwood had long been settled in "
	.ascii	"Sussex.\n    Their estate was large, and their residence was"
	.ascii	" at Norland Park,\n    in the centre of their property, wher"
	.ascii	"e, for many generations,\n    they had lived in so respectab"
	.ascii	"le a manner as to engage\n    the general good opinion of th"
	.ascii	"eir surrounding acquaintance.\n    The late owner of this es"
	.ascii	"tate was a single man, who lived\n    to a very advanced age"
	.ascii	", and who for many"
	.ascii	" years of his life,\n    had a constant companion and housek"
	.ascii	"eeper in his sister.\n    But her death, which happened ten "
	.ascii	"years before his own,\n    produced a great alteration in hi"
	.ascii	"s home; for to supply\n    her loss, he invited and received"
	.ascii	" into his house the family\n    of his nephew Mr. Henry Dash"
	.ascii	"wood, the legal inheritor\n    of the Norland estate, and th"
	.ascii	"e person to whom he intended\n    to bequeath it.  In the so"
	.ascii	"ciety of his nephew and niece,\n    and their children, the "
	.ascii	"old Gentleman's days were\n    comfortably spent.  His attac"
	.ascii	"hment to them all increased.\n    The constant attention of "
	.ascii	"Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dashwood\n    to his wishes, which procee"
	.ascii	"ded not merely from interest,\n    but from goodness of hear"
	.ascii	"t, gave him every degree of solid\n    comfort which his age"
	.ascii	" could receive; and the cheerfulness\n    of the children ad"
	.ascii	"ded a relish to his existence.\n    \n    By a former marria"
	.ascii	"ge, Mr. Henry Dashwood had one\n    son: by his present lady"
	.ascii	", three daughters.  The son,\n    a steady respectable young"
	.ascii	" man, was amply provided\n    for by the fortune of his moth"
	.ascii	"er, which had been large,\n    and half of which devolved on"
	.ascii	" him on his coming of age.\n    By his own marriage, likewis"
	.ascii	"e, which happened soon afterwards,\n    he added to his weal"
	.ascii	"th.  To him therefore the succession\n    to the Norland est"
	.ascii	"ate was not so really important as to\n    his sisters; for "
	.ascii	"their fortune, independent of what might\n    arise to them "
	.ascii	"from their father's inheriting that property,\n    could be "
	.ascii	"but small.  Their mother had nothing, and their\n    father "
	.ascii	"only seven thousand pounds in his own disposal;\n    for the"
	.ascii	" remaining moiety of his first wife's fortune was\n    also "
	.ascii	"secured to her child, and he had only a life-interest\n    i"
	.ascii	"n it.\n    \n    The old gentleman died: his will was read, "
	.ascii	"and\n    like almost every other will, gave as much disappoi"
	.ascii	"ntment\n    as pleasure.  He was neither so unjust, nor so u"
	.ascii	"ngrateful,\n    as to leave his estate from his nephew;--but"
	.ascii	" he left it to him\n    on such terms as destroyed half "
	.ascii	"the value of the bequest.\n    Mr. Dashwood had wished for i"
	.ascii	"t more for the sake of his\n    wife and daughters than for "
	.ascii	"himself or his son;--but to\n    his son, and his son's son,"
	.ascii	" a child of four years old,\n    it was secured, in such a w"
	.ascii	"ay, as to leave to himself\n    no power of providing for th"
	.ascii	"ose who were most dear\n    to him, and who most needed a pr"
	.ascii	"ovision by any charge\n    on the estate, or by any sale of "
	.ascii	"its valuable woods.\n    The whole was tied up for the benef"
	.ascii	"it of this child, who,\n    in occasional visits with his fa"
	.ascii	"ther and mother at Norland,\n    had so far gained on the af"
	.ascii	"fections of his uncle,\n    by such attractions as are by no"
	.ascii	" means unusual in children\n    of two or three years old; a"
	.ascii	"n imperfect articulation,\n    an earnest desire of having h"
	.ascii	"is own way, many cunning tricks,\n    and a great deal of no"
	.ascii	"ise, as to outweigh all the value\n    of all the attention "
	.ascii	"which, for years, he had received\n    from his niece and he"
	.ascii	"r daughters.  He meant not to\n    be unkind, however, and, "
	.ascii	"as a mark of his affection\n    for the three girls, he left"
	.ascii	" them a thousand pounds a-piece.\n    \n    Mr. Dashwood's d"
	.ascii	"isappointment was, at first, severe;\n    but his temper was"
	.ascii	" cheerful and sanguine; and he might\n    reasonably hope to"
	.ascii	" live many years, and by living economically,\n    lay by a "
	.ascii	"considerable sum from the produce of an estate\n    already "
	.ascii	"large, and capable of almost immediate improvement.\n    But"
	.ascii	" the fortune, which had been so tardy in coming, was his\n  "
	.ascii	"  only one twelvemonth.  He survived his uncle no longer;\n "
	.ascii	"   and ten thousand pounds, including the late legacies,\n  "
	.ascii	"  was all that remained for his widow and daughters.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    His son was sent for as soon as his danger was known,\n "
	.ascii	"   and to him Mr. Dashwood recommended, with all the strengt"
	.ascii	"h\n    and urgency which illness could command, the interest"
	.ascii	"\n    of his mother-in-law and sisters.\n    \n    Mr. John "
	.ascii	"Dashwood had not the strong feelings of the\n    rest of the"
	.ascii	" family; but he was affected by a recommendation\n    of "
	.ascii	"such a nature at such a time, and he promised to do\n    eve"
	.ascii	"ry thing in his power to make them comfortable.\n    His fat"
	.ascii	"her was rendered easy by such an assurance,\n    and Mr. Joh"
	.ascii	"n Dashwood had then leisure to consider how\n    much there "
	.ascii	"might prudently be in his power to do for them.\n    \n    H"
	.ascii	"e was not an ill-disposed young man, unless to\n    be rathe"
	.ascii	"r cold hearted and rather selfish is to be\n    ill-disposed"
	.ascii	": but he was, in general, well respected;\n    for he conduc"
	.ascii	"ted himself with propriety in the discharge\n    of his ordi"
	.ascii	"nary duties.  Had he married a more amiable woman,\n    he m"
	.ascii	"ight have been made still more respectable than he\n    was:"
	.ascii	"--he might even have been made amiable himself; for he\n    "
	.ascii	"was very young when he married, and very fond of his wife.\n"
	.ascii	"    But Mrs. John Dashwood was a strong caricature of himsel"
	.ascii	"f;--\n    more narrow-minded and selfish.\n    \n    When he"
	.ascii	" gave his promise to his father, he meditated\n    within hi"
	.ascii	"mself to increase the fortunes of his sisters\n    by the pr"
	.ascii	"esent of a thousand pounds a-piece.  He then\n    really tho"
	.ascii	"ught himself equal to it.  The prospect of four\n    thousan"
	.ascii	"d a-year, in addition to his present income,\n    besides th"
	.ascii	"e remaining half of his own mother's fortune,\n    warmed hi"
	.ascii	"s heart, and made him feel capable of generosity.--\n    \"Y"
	.ascii	"es, he would give them three thousand pounds: it would\n    "
	.ascii	"be liberal and handsome! It would be enough to make\n    the"
	.ascii	"m completely easy.  Three thousand pounds! he could\n    spa"
	.ascii	"re so considerable a sum with little inconvenience.\"--\n   "
	.ascii	" He thought of it all day long, and for many days successive"
	.ascii	"ly,\n    and he did not repent.\n    \n    No sooner was his"
	.ascii	" father's funeral over, than Mrs. John\n    Dashwood, withou"
	.ascii	"t sending any notice of her intention to her\n    mother-in-"
	.ascii	"law, arrived with her child and their attendants.\n    No on"
	.ascii	"e could dispute her right to come; the house was\n    her hu"
	.ascii	"sband's from the moment of his father's decease;\n    but th"
	.ascii	"e indelicacy of her conduct was so much the greater,\n    a"
	.ascii	"nd to a woman in Mrs. Dashwood's situation, with only\n    c"
	.ascii	"ommon feelings, must have been highly unpleasing;--\n    but"
	.ascii	" in HER mind there was a sense of honor so keen,\n    a gene"
	.ascii	"rosity so romantic, that any offence of the kind,\n    by wh"
	.ascii	"omsoever given or received, was to her a source\n    of immo"
	.ascii	"veable disgust.  Mrs. John Dashwood had never\n    been a fa"
	.ascii	"vourite with any of her husband's family;\n    but she had h"
	.ascii	"ad no opportunity, till the present,\n    of shewing them wi"
	.ascii	"th how little attention to the comfort\n    of other people "
	.ascii	"she could act when occasion required it.\n    \n    So acute"
	.ascii	"ly did Mrs. Dashwood feel this ungracious\n    behaviour, an"
	.ascii	"d so earnestly did she despise her\n    daughter-in-law for "
	.ascii	"it, that, on the arrival of the latter,\n    she would have "
	.ascii	"quitted the house for ever, had not the\n    entreaty of her"
	.ascii	" eldest girl induced her first to reflect\n    on the propri"
	.ascii	"ety of going, and her own tender love for all\n    her three"
	.ascii	" children determined her afterwards to stay,\n    and for th"
	.ascii	"eir sakes avoid a breach with their brother.\n    \n    Elin"
	.ascii	"or, this eldest daughter, whose advice was\n    so effectual"
	.ascii	", possessed a strength of understanding,\n    and coolness o"
	.ascii	"f judgment, which qualified her,\n    though only nineteen, "
	.ascii	"to be the counsellor of her mother,\n    and enabled her fre"
	.ascii	"quently to counteract, to the advantage\n    of them all, th"
	.ascii	"at eagerness of mind in Mrs. Dashwood\n    which must genera"
	.ascii	"lly have led to imprudence.  She had\n    an excellent heart"
	.ascii	";--her disposition was affectionate,\n    and her feelings w"
	.ascii	"ere strong; but she knew how to govern\n    them: it was a k"
	.ascii	"nowledge which her mother had yet to learn;\n    and which o"
	.ascii	"ne of her sisters had resolved never to be taught.\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  Marianne's abilities were, in many respects,\n    quite eq"
	.ascii	"ual to Elinor's. She was sensible and clever;\n    but eager"
	.ascii	" in everything: her sorrows, her joys, could have\n    no mo"
	.ascii	"deration.  She was generous, amiable, interesting: she\n    "
	.ascii	"was everything but prudent.  The resemblance between\n   "
	.ascii	" her and her mother was strikingly great.\n    \n    Elinor "
	.ascii	"saw, with concern, the excess of her\n    sister's sensibili"
	.ascii	"ty; but by Mrs. Dashwood it was valued\n    and cherished.  "
	.ascii	"They encouraged each other now in the\n    violence of their"
	.ascii	" affliction.  The agony of grief\n    which overpowered them"
	.ascii	" at first, was voluntarily renewed,\n    was sought for, was"
	.ascii	" created again and again.  They gave\n    themselves up whol"
	.ascii	"ly to their sorrow, seeking increase\n    of wretchedness in"
	.ascii	" every reflection that could afford it,\n    and resolved ag"
	.ascii	"ainst ever admitting consolation\n    in future.  Elinor, to"
	.ascii	"o, was deeply afflicted; but still\n    she could struggle, "
	.ascii	"she could exert herself.  She could\n    consult with her br"
	.ascii	"other, could receive her sister-in-law\n    on her arrival, "
	.ascii	"and treat her with proper attention;\n    and could strive t"
	.ascii	"o rouse her mother to similar exertion,\n    and encourage h"
	.ascii	"er to similar forbearance.\n    \n    Margaret, the other si"
	.ascii	"ster, was a good-humored,\n    well-disposed girl; but as sh"
	.ascii	"e had already imbibed\n    a good deal of Marianne's romance"
	.ascii	", without having\n    much of her sense, she did not, at thi"
	.ascii	"rteen, bid fair\n    to equal her sisters at a more advanced"
	.ascii	" period of life.\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 2\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" \n    Mrs. John Dashwood now installed herself mistress\n  "
	.ascii	"  of Norland; and her mother and sisters-in-law were degrade"
	.ascii	"d\n    to the condition of visitors.  As such, however, they"
	.ascii	" were\n    treated by her with quiet civility; and by her hu"
	.ascii	"sband\n    with as much kindness as he could feel towards an"
	.ascii	"ybody\n    beyond himself, his wife, and their child.  He re"
	.ascii	"ally\n    pressed them, with some earnestness, to consider N"
	.ascii	"orland\n    as their home; and, as no plan appeared so eligi"
	.ascii	"ble\n    to Mrs. Dashwood as remaining there till she could\n"
	.ascii	"    accommodate herself with a house in the neighbourhood,\n"
	.ascii	"    his invitation was accepted.\n    \n    A continuance in"
	.ascii	" a place where everything reminded\n    her of former deligh"
	.ascii	"t, was exactly what suited her mind.\n    In seasons of chee"
	.ascii	"rf"
	.ascii	"ulness, no temper could be more cheerful\n    than hers, or "
	.ascii	"possess, in a greater degree, that sanguine\n    expectation"
	.ascii	" of happiness which is happiness itself.\n    But in sorrow "
	.ascii	"she must be equally carried away by her fancy,\n    and as f"
	.ascii	"ar beyond consolation as in pleasure she was\n    beyond all"
	.ascii	"oy.\n    \n    Mrs. John Dashwood did not at all approve of "
	.ascii	"what her\n    husband intended to do for his sisters.  To ta"
	.ascii	"ke three\n    thousand pounds from the fortune of their dear"
	.ascii	" little boy\n    would be impoverishing him to the most drea"
	.ascii	"dful degree.\n    She begged him to think again on the subje"
	.ascii	"ct.  How could\n    he answer it to himself to rob his child"
	.ascii	", and his only\n    child too, of so large a sum?  And what "
	.ascii	"possible claim\n    could the Miss Dashwoods, who were relat"
	.ascii	"ed to him only by\n    half blood, which she considered as n"
	.ascii	"o relationship at all,\n    have on his generosity to so lar"
	.ascii	"ge an amount.  It was very\n    well known that no affection"
	.ascii	" was ever supposed to exist\n    between the children of any"
	.ascii	" man by different marriages;\n    and why was he to ruin him"
	.ascii	"self, and their poor little Harry,\n    by giving away all h"
	.ascii	"is money to his half sisters?\n    \n    \"It was my father'"
	.ascii	"s last request to me,\" replied\n    her husband, \"that I s"
	.ascii	"hould assist his widow and daughters.\"\n    \n    \"He did "
	.ascii	"not know what he was talking of, I dare say;\n    ten to one"
	.ascii	" but he was light-headed at the time.\n    Had he been in hi"
	.ascii	"s right senses, he could not have thought\n    of such a thi"
	.ascii	"ng as begging you to give away half your\n    fortune from y"
	.ascii	"our own child.\"\n    \n    \"He did not stipulate for any p"
	.ascii	"articular sum,\n    my dear Fanny; he only requested me, in "
	.ascii	"general terms,\n    to assist them, and make their situation"
	.ascii	" more comfortable\n    than it was in his power to do.  Perh"
	.ascii	"aps it would\n    have been as well if he had left it wholly"
	.ascii	" to myself.\n    He could hardly suppose I should neglect th"
	.ascii	"em.\n    But as he required the promise, I could not do less"
	.ascii	"\n    than give it; at least I thought so at the time.\n    "
	.ascii	"The pr"
	.ascii	"omise, therefore, was given, and must be performed.\n    Som"
	.ascii	"ething must be done for them whenever they leave Norland\n  "
	.ascii	"  and settle in a new home.\"\n    \n    \"Well, then, LET s"
	.ascii	"omething be done for them;\n    but THAT something need not "
	.ascii	"be three thousand pounds.\n    Consider,\" she added, \"that"
	.ascii	" when the money is once\n    parted with, it never can retur"
	.ascii	"n.  Your sisters will marry,\n    and it will be gone for ev"
	.ascii	"er.  If, indeed, it could\n    be restored to our poor littl"
	.ascii	"e boy--\"\n    \n    \"Why, to be sure,\" said her husband, "
	.ascii	"very gravely,\n    \"that would make great difference.  The "
	.ascii	"time may come when\n    Harry will regret that so large a su"
	.ascii	"m was parted with.\n    If he should have a numerous family,"
	.ascii	" for instance, it would\n    be a very convenient addition.\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"To be sure it would.\"\n    \n    \"Perhaps, t"
	.ascii	"hen, it would be better for all parties,\n    if the sum wer"
	.ascii	"e diminished one half.--Five hundred pounds\n    would be a "
	.ascii	"prodigious increase to their fortunes!\"\n    \n    \"Oh! be"
	.ascii	"yond anything great!  What brother on earth\n    would do ha"
	.ascii	"lf so much for his sisters, even if REALLY\n    his sisters!"
	.ascii	"  And as it is--only half blood!--But you\n    have such a g"
	.ascii	"enerous spirit!\"\n    \n    \"I would not wish to do any th"
	.ascii	"ing mean,\" he replied.\n    \"One had rather, on such occas"
	.ascii	"ions, do too much than\n    too little.  No one, at least, c"
	.ascii	"an think I have not\n    done enough for them: even themselv"
	.ascii	"es, they can hardly\n    expect more.\"\n    \n    \"There i"
	.ascii	"s no knowing what THEY may expect,\"\n    said the lady, \"b"
	.ascii	"ut we are not to think of their\n    expectations: the quest"
	.ascii	"ion is, what you can afford to do.\"\n    \n    \"Certainly-"
	.ascii	"-and I think I may afford to give them five\n    hundred pou"
	.ascii	"nds a-piece.  As it is, without any addition\n    of mine, t"
	.ascii	"hey will each have about three thousand pounds\n    on their"
	.ascii	" mother's death--a very comfortable fortune\n    for any you"
	.ascii	"ng woman.\"\n    \n    \"To be sure it is; and, indeed, it s"
	.ascii	"trikes me that\n    they can want no addition at all.  They "
	.ascii	"will have ten\n    thousand pou"
	.ascii	"nds divided amongst them.  If they marry,\n    they will be "
	.ascii	"sure of doing well, and if they do not,\n    they may all li"
	.ascii	"ve very comfortably together on the interest\n    of ten tho"
	.ascii	"usand pounds.\"\n    \n    \"That is very true, and, therefo"
	.ascii	"re, I do not know whether,\n    upon the whole, it would not"
	.ascii	" be more advisable to do\n    something for their mother whi"
	.ascii	"le she lives, rather than\n    for them--something of the an"
	.ascii	"nuity kind I mean.--My sisters\n    would feel the good effe"
	.ascii	"cts of it as well as herself.\n    A hundred a year would ma"
	.ascii	"ke them all perfectly comfortable.\"\n    \n    His wife hes"
	.ascii	"itated a little, however, in giving\n    her consent to this"
	.ascii	" plan.\n    \n    \"To be sure,\" said she, \"it is better t"
	.ascii	"han parting with\n    fifteen hundred pounds at once.  But, "
	.ascii	"then, if Mrs. Dashwood\n    should live fifteen years we sha"
	.ascii	"ll be completely taken in.\"\n    \n    \"Fifteen years! my "
	.ascii	"dear Fanny; her life cannot\n    be worth half that purchase"
	.ascii	".\"\n    \n    \"Certainly not; but if you observe, people a"
	.ascii	"lways\n    live for ever when there is an annuity to be paid"
	.ascii	" them;\n    and she is very stout and healthy, and hardly fo"
	.ascii	"rty.\n    An annuity is a very serious business; it comes ov"
	.ascii	"er\n    and over every year, and there is no getting rid\n  "
	.ascii	"  of it.  You are not aware of what you are doing.\n    I ha"
	.ascii	"ve known a great deal of the trouble of annuities;\n    for "
	.ascii	"my mother was clogged with the payment of three\n    to old "
	.ascii	"superannuated servants by my father's will,\n    and it is a"
	.ascii	"mazing how disagreeable she found it.\n    Twice every year "
	.ascii	"these annuities were to be paid; and then\n    there was the"
	.ascii	" trouble of getting it to them; and then one\n    of them wa"
	.ascii	"s said to have died, and afterwards it turned\n    out to be"
	.ascii	" no such thing.  My mother was quite sick of it.\n    Her in"
	.ascii	"come was not her own, she said, with such perpetual\n    cla"
	.ascii	"ims on it; and it was the more unkind in my father,\n    bec"
	.ascii	"ause, otherwise, the money would have been entirely at\n    "
	.ascii	"my mother's disposal, without any restriction whatever.\n   "
	.ascii	" It has gi"
	.ascii	"ven me such an abhorrence of annuities, that I am\n    sure "
	.ascii	"I would not pin myself down to the payment of one for\n    a"
	.ascii	"ll the world.\"\n    \n    \"It is certainly an unpleasant t"
	.ascii	"hing,\" replied Mr. Dashwood,\n    \"to have those kind of y"
	.ascii	"early drains on one's income.\n    One's fortune, as your mo"
	.ascii	"ther justly says, is NOT one's own.\n    To be tied down to "
	.ascii	"the regular payment of such a sum,\n    on every rent day, i"
	.ascii	"s by no means desirable: it takes away\n    one's independen"
	.ascii	"ce.\"\n    \n    \"Undoubtedly; and after all you have no th"
	.ascii	"anks for it.\n    They think themselves secure, you do no mo"
	.ascii	"re than what\n    is expected, and it raises no gratitude at"
	.ascii	" all.  If I were you,\n    whatever I did should be done at "
	.ascii	"my own discretion entirely.\n    I would not bind myself to "
	.ascii	"allow them any thing yearly.\n    It may be very inconvenien"
	.ascii	"t some years to spare a hundred,\n    or even fifty pounds f"
	.ascii	"rom our own expenses.\"\n    \n    \"I believe you are right"
	.ascii	", my love; it will be better\n    that there should by no an"
	.ascii	"nuity in the case; whatever I\n    may give them occasionall"
	.ascii	"y will be of far greater assistance\n    than a yearly allow"
	.ascii	"ance, because they would only enlarge\n    their style of li"
	.ascii	"ving if they felt sure of a larger income,\n    and would no"
	.ascii	"t be sixpence the richer for it at the end\n    of the year."
	.ascii	"  It will certainly be much the best way.\n    A present of "
	.ascii	"fifty pounds, now and then, will prevent\n    their ever bei"
	.ascii	"ng distressed for money, and will, I think,\n    be amply di"
	.ascii	"scharging my promise to my father.\"\n    \n    \"To be sure"
	.ascii	" it will.  Indeed, to say the truth,\n    I am convinced wit"
	.ascii	"hin myself that your father had no idea\n    of your giving "
	.ascii	"them any money at all.  The assistance\n    he thought of, I"
	.ascii	" dare say, was only such as might be\n    reasonably expecte"
	.ascii	"d of you; for instance, such as looking\n    out for a comfo"
	.ascii	"rtable small house for them, helping them\n    to move their"
	.ascii	" things, and sending them presents of fish\n    and game, an"
	.ascii	"d so forth, whenever they are in season.\n    I'll lay my li"
	.ascii	"fe that "
	.ascii	"he meant nothing farther; indeed,\n    it would be very stra"
	.ascii	"nge and unreasonable if he did.\n    Do but consider, my dea"
	.ascii	"r Mr. Dashwood, how excessively\n    comfortable your mother"
	.ascii	"-in-law and her daughters may live\n    on the interest of s"
	.ascii	"even thousand pounds, besides the\n    thousand pounds belon"
	.ascii	"ging to each of the girls, which brings\n    them in fifty p"
	.ascii	"ounds a year a-piece, and, of course,\n    they will pay the"
	.ascii	"ir mother for their board out of it.\n    Altogether, they w"
	.ascii	"ill have five hundred a-year amongst them,\n    and what on "
	.ascii	"earth can four women want for more than\n    that?--They wil"
	.ascii	"l live so cheap! Their housekeeping will\n    be nothing at "
	.ascii	"all.  They will have no carriage, no horses,\n    and hardly"
	.ascii	" any servants; they will keep no company,\n    and can have "
	.ascii	"no expenses of any kind!  Only conceive\n    how comfortable"
	.ascii	" they will be!  Five hundred a year! I am\n    sure I cannot"
	.ascii	" imagine how they will spend half of it;\n    and as to your"
	.ascii	" giving them more, it is quite absurd to think\n    of it.  "
	.ascii	"They will be much more able to give YOU something.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"Upon my word,\" said Mr. Dashwood, \"I believe you\n  "
	.ascii	"  are perfectly right.  My father certainly could mean\n    "
	.ascii	"nothing more by his request to me than what you say.\n    I "
	.ascii	"clearly understand it now, and I will strictly fulfil\n    m"
	.ascii	"y engagement by such acts of assistance and kindness\n    to"
	.ascii	" them as you have described.  When my mother removes\n    in"
	.ascii	"to another house my services shall be readily given\n    to "
	.ascii	"accommodate her as far as I can.  Some little present\n    o"
	.ascii	"f furniture too may be acceptable then.\"\n    \n    \"Certa"
	.ascii	"inly,\" returned Mrs. John Dashwood.  \"But, however,\n    O"
	.ascii	"NE thing must be considered.  When your father and mother\n "
	.ascii	"   moved to Norland, though the furniture of Stanhill\n    w"
	.ascii	"as sold, all the china, plate, and linen was saved,\n    and"
	.ascii	" is now left to your mother.  Her house will therefore\n    "
	.ascii	"be almost completely fitted up as soon as she takes it.\"\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    \"That is a material consideration undoubtedly.\n  "
	.ascii	"  A val"
	.ascii	"uable legacy indeed! And yet some of the plate would\n    ha"
	.ascii	"ve been a very pleasant addition to our own stock here.\"\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    \"Yes; and the set of breakfast china is twice\n   "
	.ascii	" as handsome as what belongs to this house.  A great\n    de"
	.ascii	"al too handsome, in my opinion, for any place THEY\n    can "
	.ascii	"ever afford to live in.  But, however, so it is.\n    Your f"
	.ascii	"ather thought only of THEM.  And I must say this:\n    that "
	.ascii	"you owe no particular gratitude to him, nor attention\n    t"
	.ascii	"o his wishes; for we very well know that if he could,\n    h"
	.ascii	"e would have left almost everything in the world to THEM.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    This argument was irresistible.  It gave to his\n "
	.ascii	"   intentions whatever of decision was wanting before; and h"
	.ascii	"e\n    finally resolved, that it would be absolutely unneces"
	.ascii	"sary,\n    if not highly indecorous, to do more for the wido"
	.ascii	"w\n    and children of his father, than such kind of neighbo"
	.ascii	"urly\n    acts as his own wife pointed out.\n    \n    \n   "
	.ascii	" \n    CHAPTER 3\n    \n    \n    Mrs. Dashwood remained at "
	.ascii	"Norland several months;\n    not from any disinclination to "
	.ascii	"move when the sight of every\n    well known spot ceased to "
	.ascii	"raise the violent emotion which it\n    produced for a while"
	.ascii	"; for when her spirits began to revive,\n    and her mind be"
	.ascii	"came capable of some other exertion than that\n    of height"
	.ascii	"ening its affliction by melancholy remembrances,\n    she wa"
	.ascii	"s impatient to be gone, and indefatigable in her inquiries\n"
	.ascii	"    for a suitable dwelling in the neighbourhood of Norland;"
	.ascii	"\n    for to remove far from that beloved spot was impossibl"
	.ascii	"e.\n    But she could hear of no situation that at once answ"
	.ascii	"ered\n    her notions of comfort and ease, and suited the pr"
	.ascii	"udence\n    of her eldest daughter, whose steadier judgment "
	.ascii	"rejected\n    several houses as too large for their income, "
	.ascii	"which her\n    mother would have approved.\n    \n    Mrs. D"
	.ascii	"ashwood had been informed by her husband of the\n    solemn "
	.ascii	"promise on the part of his son in their favour,\n    which g"
	.ascii	"ave comfort to his last earthly reflections.\n    She doubte"
	.ascii	"d th"
	.ascii	"e sincerity of this assurance no more than he\n    had doubt"
	.ascii	"ed it himself, and she thought of it for her daughters'\n   "
	.ascii	" sake with satisfaction, though as for herself she was\n    "
	.ascii	"persuaded that a much smaller provision than 7000L would\n  "
	.ascii	"  support her in affluence.  For their brother's sake, too,\n"
	.ascii	"    for the sake of his own heart, she rejoiced; and she\n  "
	.ascii	"  reproached herself for being unjust to his merit before,\n"
	.ascii	"    in believing him incapable of generosity.  His attentive"
	.ascii	"\n    behaviour to herself and his sisters convinced her tha"
	.ascii	"t\n    their welfare was dear to him, and, for a long time,\n"
	.ascii	"    she firmly relied on the liberality of his intentions.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    The contempt which she had, very early in their ac"
	.ascii	"quaintance,\n    felt for her daughter-in-law, was very much"
	.ascii	" increased\n    by the farther knowledge of her character, w"
	.ascii	"hich half\n    a year's residence in her family afforded; an"
	.ascii	"d perhaps\n    in spite of every consideration of politeness"
	.ascii	" or maternal\n    affection on the side of the former, the t"
	.ascii	"wo ladies might\n    have found it impossible to have lived "
	.ascii	"together so long,\n    had not a particular circumstance occ"
	.ascii	"urred to give\n    still greater eligibility, according to t"
	.ascii	"he opinions\n    of Mrs. Dashwood, to her daughters' continu"
	.ascii	"ance at Norland.\n    \n    This circumstance was a growing "
	.ascii	"attachment between\n    her eldest girl and the brother of M"
	.ascii	"rs. John Dashwood,\n    a gentleman-like and pleasing young "
	.ascii	"man, who was introduced\n    to their acquaintance soon afte"
	.ascii	"r his sister's establishment\n    at Norland, and who had si"
	.ascii	"nce spent the greatest part\n    of his time there.\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   Some mothers might have encouraged the intimacy from\n   "
	.ascii	" motives of interest, for Edward Ferrars was the eldest son\n"
	.ascii	"    of a man who had died very rich; and some might have rep"
	.ascii	"ressed\n    it from motives of prudence, for, except a trifl"
	.ascii	"ing sum,\n    the whole of his fortune depended on the will "
	.ascii	"of his mother.\n    But Mrs. Dashwood was alike uninfluenced"
	.ascii	" by either consideration.\n    It was enough for her "
	.ascii	"that he appeared to be amiable,\n    that he loved her daugh"
	.ascii	"ter, and that Elinor returned\n    the partiality.  It was c"
	.ascii	"ontrary to every doctrine of\n    her's that difference of f"
	.ascii	"ortune should keep any couple\n    asunder who were attracte"
	.ascii	"d by resemblance of disposition;\n    and that Elinor's meri"
	.ascii	"t should not be acknowledged\n    by every one who knew her,"
	.ascii	" was to her comprehension impossible.\n    \n    Edward Ferr"
	.ascii	"ars was not recommended to their good\n    opinion by any pe"
	.ascii	"culiar graces of person or address.\n    He was not handsome"
	.ascii	", and his manners required intimacy\n    to make them pleasi"
	.ascii	"ng.  He was too diffident to do justice\n    to himself; but"
	.ascii	" when his natural shyness was overcome,\n    his behaviour g"
	.ascii	"ave every indication of an open,\n    affectionate heart.  H"
	.ascii	"is understanding was good,\n    and his education had given "
	.ascii	"it solid improvement.\n    But he was neither fitted by abil"
	.ascii	"ities nor disposition\n    to answer the wishes of his mothe"
	.ascii	"r and sister, who longed\n    to see him distinguished--as--"
	.ascii	"they hardly knew what.\n    They wanted him to make a fine f"
	.ascii	"igure in the world in some\n    manner or other.  His mother"
	.ascii	" wished to interest him in\n    political concerns, to get h"
	.ascii	"im into parliament, or to see\n    him connected with some o"
	.ascii	"f the great men of the day.\n    Mrs. John Dashwood wished i"
	.ascii	"t likewise; but in the mean while,\n    till one of these su"
	.ascii	"perior blessings could be attained, it would\n    have quiet"
	.ascii	"ed her ambition to see him driving a barouche.\n    But Edwa"
	.ascii	"rd had no turn for great men or barouches.\n    All his wish"
	.ascii	"es centered in domestic comfort and the quiet\n    of privat"
	.ascii	"e life.  Fortunately he had a younger brother\n    who was m"
	.ascii	"ore promising.\n    \n    Edward had been staying several we"
	.ascii	"eks in the house\n    before he engaged much of Mrs. Dashwoo"
	.ascii	"d's attention;\n    for she was, at that time, in such affli"
	.ascii	"ction as rendered\n    her careless of surrounding objects. "
	.ascii	" She saw only that he\n    was quiet and unobtrusive, and sh"
	.ascii	"e liked him for it.\n    He did not disturb the wretched"
	.ascii	"ness of her mind by\n    ill-timed conversation.  She was fi"
	.ascii	"rst called to observe\n    and approve him farther, by a ref"
	.ascii	"lection which Elinor\n    chanced one day to make on the dif"
	.ascii	"ference between him\n    and his sister.  It was a contrast "
	.ascii	"which recommended him\n    most forcibly to her mother.\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    \"It is enough,\" said she; \"to say that he is unlik"
	.ascii	"e\n    Fanny is enough.  It implies everything amiable.\n   "
	.ascii	" I love him already.\"\n    \n    \"I think you will like hi"
	.ascii	"m,\" said Elinor, \"when you\n    know more of him.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"Like him!\" replied her mother with a smile.\n    \"I "
	.ascii	"feel no sentiment of approbation inferior to love.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"You may esteem him.\"\n    \n    \"I have never yet kn"
	.ascii	"own what it was to separate\n    esteem and love.\"\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   Mrs. Dashwood now took pains to get acquainted with him.\n"
	.ascii	"    Her manners were attaching, and soon banished his reserv"
	.ascii	"e.\n    She speedily comprehended all his merits; the persua"
	.ascii	"sion\n    of his regard for Elinor perhaps assisted her pene"
	.ascii	"tration;\n    but she really felt assured of his worth: and "
	.ascii	"even that\n    quietness of manner, which militated against "
	.ascii	"all her\n    established ideas of what a young man's address"
	.ascii	" ought to be,\n    was no longer uninteresting when she knew"
	.ascii	" his heart to be\n    warm and his temper affectionate.\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    No sooner did she perceive any symptom of love\n    i"
	.ascii	"n his behaviour to Elinor, than she considered their\n    se"
	.ascii	"rious attachment as certain, and looked forward\n    to thei"
	.ascii	"r marriage as rapidly approaching.\n    \n    \"In a few mon"
	.ascii	"ths, my dear Marianne.\" said she,\n    \"Elinor will, in al"
	.ascii	"l probability be settled for life.\n    We shall miss her; b"
	.ascii	"ut SHE will be happy.\"\n    \n    \"Oh! Mamma, how shall we"
	.ascii	" do without her?\"\n    \n    \"My love, it will be scarcely"
	.ascii	" a separation.\n    We shall live within a few miles of each"
	.ascii	" other, and shall\n    meet every day of our lives.  You wil"
	.ascii	"l gain a brother,\n    a real, affectionate brother.  I have"
	.ascii	" the highest opinion\n    in the world of Edward's heart.  B"
	.ascii	"ut you look grave,\n    Maria"
	.ascii	"nne; do you disapprove your sister's choice?\"\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"Perhaps,\" said Marianne, \"I may consider it\n    with some"
	.ascii	" surprise.  Edward is very amiable, and I love\n    him tend"
	.ascii	"erly.  But yet--he is not the kind of young\n    man--there "
	.ascii	"is something wanting--his figure is not striking;\n    it ha"
	.ascii	"s none of that grace which I should expect\n    in the man w"
	.ascii	"ho could seriously attach my sister.\n    His eyes want all "
	.ascii	"that spirit, that fire, which at once\n    announce virtue a"
	.ascii	"nd intelligence.  And besides all this,\n    I am afraid, Ma"
	.ascii	"mma, he has no real taste.  Music seems\n    scarcely to att"
	.ascii	"ract him, and though he admires Elinor's\n    drawings very "
	.ascii	"much, it is not the admiration of a person\n    who can unde"
	.ascii	"rstand their worth.  It is evident, in spite of\n    his fre"
	.ascii	"quent attention to her while she draws, that in fact\n    he"
	.ascii	" knows nothing of the matter.  He admires as a lover,\n    n"
	.ascii	"ot as a connoisseur.  To satisfy me, those characters\n    m"
	.ascii	"ust be united.  I could not be happy with a man whose\n    t"
	.ascii	"aste did not in every point coincide with my own.\n    He mu"
	.ascii	"st enter into all my feelings; the same books,\n    the same"
	.ascii	" music must charm us both.  Oh! mama, how spiritless,\n    h"
	.ascii	"ow tame was Edward's manner in reading to us last night!\n  "
	.ascii	"  I felt for my sister most severely.  Yet she bore it\n    "
	.ascii	"with so much composure, she seemed scarcely to notice it.\n "
	.ascii	"   I could hardly keep my seat.  To hear those beautiful lin"
	.ascii	"es\n    which have frequently almost driven me wild, pronoun"
	.ascii	"ced\n    with such impenetrable calmness, such dreadful indi"
	.ascii	"fference!\"--\n    \n    \"He would certainly have done more"
	.ascii	" justice to\n    simple and elegant prose.  I thought so at "
	.ascii	"the time;\n    but you WOULD give him Cowper.\"\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"Nay, Mamma, if he is not to be animated by Cowper!--\n    bu"
	.ascii	"t we must allow for difference of taste.  Elinor has\n    no"
	.ascii	"t my feelings, and therefore she may overlook it, and\n    b"
	.ascii	"e happy with him.  But it would have broke MY heart,\n    ha"
	.ascii	"d I loved him, to hear him read with so little sensibility.\n"
	.ascii	"   "
	.ascii	" Mama, the more I know of the world, the more am I convinced"
	.ascii	"\n    that I shall never see a man whom I can really love.\n"
	.ascii	"    I require so much!  He must have all Edward's virtues,\n"
	.ascii	"    and his person and manners must ornament his goodness\n "
	.ascii	"   with every possible charm.\"\n    \n    \"Remember, my lo"
	.ascii	"ve, that you are not seventeen.\n    It is yet too early in "
	.ascii	"life to despair of such a happiness.\n    Why should you be "
	.ascii	"less fortunate than your mother?  In\n    one circumstance o"
	.ascii	"nly, my Marianne, may your destiny be\n    different from he"
	.ascii	"r's!\"\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 4\n    \n    \n    \"W"
	.ascii	"hat a pity it is, Elinor,\" said Marianne,\n    \"that Edwar"
	.ascii	"d should have no taste for drawing.\"\n    \n    \"No taste "
	.ascii	"for drawing!\" replied Elinor, \"why should\n    you think s"
	.ascii	"o? He does not draw himself, indeed, but he has\n    great p"
	.ascii	"leasure in seeing the performances of other people,\n    and"
	.ascii	" I assure you he is by no means deficient in natural taste,\n"
	.ascii	"    though he has not had opportunities of improving it.\n  "
	.ascii	"  Had he ever been in the way of learning, I think he would\n"
	.ascii	"    have drawn very well.  He distrusts his own judgment\n  "
	.ascii	"  in such matters so much, that he is always unwilling\n    "
	.ascii	"to give his opinion on any picture; but he has an innate\n  "
	.ascii	"  propriety and simplicity of taste, which in general\n    d"
	.ascii	"irect him perfectly right.\"\n    \n    Marianne was afraid "
	.ascii	"of offending, and said no more\n    on the subject; but the "
	.ascii	"kind of approbation which Elinor\n    described as excited i"
	.ascii	"n him by the drawings of other\n    people, was very far fro"
	.ascii	"m that rapturous delight, which,\n    in her opinion, could "
	.ascii	"alone be called taste.  Yet, though\n    smiling within hers"
	.ascii	"elf at the mistake, she honoured\n    her sister for that bl"
	.ascii	"ind partiality to Edward which produced it.\n    \n    \"I h"
	.ascii	"ope, Marianne,\" continued Elinor, \"you do not\n    conside"
	.ascii	"r him as deficient in general taste.  Indeed, I think\n    I"
	.ascii	" may say that you cannot, for your behaviour to him\n    is "
	.ascii	"perfectly cordial, and if THAT were your opinion,\n    I am "
	.ascii	"sure you could n"
	.ascii	"ever be civil to him.\"\n    \n    Marianne hardly knew what"
	.ascii	" to say.  She would\n    not wound the feelings of her siste"
	.ascii	"r on any account,\n    and yet to say what she did not belie"
	.ascii	"ve was impossible.\n    At length she replied:\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"Do not be offended, Elinor, if my praise of him\n    is not "
	.ascii	"in every thing equal to your sense of his merits.\n    I hav"
	.ascii	"e not had so many opportunities of estimating the minuter\n "
	.ascii	"   propensities of his mind, his inclinations and tastes,\n "
	.ascii	"   as you have; but I have the highest opinion in the world\n"
	.ascii	"    of his goodness and sense.  I think him every thing that"
	.ascii	" is\n    worthy and amiable.\"\n    \n    \"I am sure,\" rep"
	.ascii	"lied Elinor, with a smile,\n    \"that his dearest friends c"
	.ascii	"ould not be dissatisfied\n    with such commendation as that"
	.ascii	".  I do not perceive\n    how you could express yourself mor"
	.ascii	"e warmly.\"\n    \n    Marianne was rejoiced to find her sis"
	.ascii	"ter so easily pleased.\n    \n    \"Of his sense and his goo"
	.ascii	"dness,\" continued Elinor,\n    \"no one can, I think, be in"
	.ascii	" doubt, who has seen him\n    often enough to engage him in "
	.ascii	"unreserved conversation.\n    The excellence of his understa"
	.ascii	"nding and his principles\n    can be concealed only by that "
	.ascii	"shyness which too often\n    keeps him silent.  You know eno"
	.ascii	"ugh of him to do justice\n    to his solid worth.  But of hi"
	.ascii	"s minuter propensities,\n    as you call them you have from "
	.ascii	"peculiar circumstances\n    been kept more ignorant than mys"
	.ascii	"elf.  He and I have\n    been at times thrown a good deal to"
	.ascii	"gether, while you\n    have been wholly engrossed on the mos"
	.ascii	"t affectionate\n    principle by my mother.  I have seen a g"
	.ascii	"reat deal of him,\n    have studied his sentiments and heard"
	.ascii	" his opinion on\n    subjects of literature and taste; and, "
	.ascii	"upon the whole,\n    I venture to pronounce that his mind is"
	.ascii	" well-informed,\n    enjoyment of books exceedingly great, h"
	.ascii	"is imagination lively,\n    his observation just and correct"
	.ascii	", and his taste delicate\n    and pure.  His abilities in ev"
	.ascii	"ery respect improve\n    as much upon acquaintance as his ma"
	.ascii	"nners and"
	.ascii	" person.\n    At first sight, his address is certainly not s"
	.ascii	"triking;\n    and his person can hardly be called handsome, "
	.ascii	"till the\n    expression of his eyes, which are uncommonly g"
	.ascii	"ood,\n    and the general sweetness of his countenance, is p"
	.ascii	"erceived.\n    At present, I know him so well, that I think "
	.ascii	"him\n    really handsome; or at least, almost so.  What say "
	.ascii	"you,\n    Marianne?\"\n    \n    \"I shall very soon think h"
	.ascii	"im handsome, Elinor, if I\n    do not now.  When you tell me"
	.ascii	" to love him as a brother,\n    I shall no more see imperfec"
	.ascii	"tion in his face, than I now do\n    in his heart.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    Elinor started at this declaration, and was sorry for\n "
	.ascii	"   the warmth she had been betrayed into, in speaking of him"
	.ascii	".\n    She felt that Edward stood very high in her opinion.\n"
	.ascii	"    She believed the regard to be mutual; but she required\n"
	.ascii	"    greater certainty of it to make Marianne's conviction\n "
	.ascii	"   of their attachment agreeable to her.  She knew that\n   "
	.ascii	" what Marianne and her mother conjectured one moment,\n    t"
	.ascii	"hey believed the next--that with them, to wish was to hope,\n"
	.ascii	"    and to hope was to expect.  She tried to explain the rea"
	.ascii	"l\n    state of the case to her sister.\n    \n    \"I do no"
	.ascii	"t attempt to deny,\" said she, \"that I think\n    very high"
	.ascii	"ly of him--that I greatly esteem, that I like him.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    Marianne here burst forth with indignation--\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"\"Esteem him! Like him! Cold-hearted Elinor! Oh!\n    worse "
	.ascii	"than cold-hearted! Ashamed of being otherwise.\n    Use thos"
	.ascii	"e words again, and I will leave the room this moment.\"\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    Elinor could not help laughing.  \"Excuse me,\"\n    "
	.ascii	"said she; \"and be assured that I meant no offence to you,\n"
	.ascii	"    by speaking, in so quiet a way, of my own feelings.\n   "
	.ascii	" Believe them to be stronger than I have declared;\n    beli"
	.ascii	"eve them, in short, to be such as his merit, and the\n    su"
	.ascii	"spicion--the hope of his affection for me may warrant,\n    "
	.ascii	"without imprudence or folly.  But farther than this you must"
	.ascii	"\n    not believe.  I am by no means assured of his regard f"
	.ascii	"or me.\n    "
	.ascii	"There are moments when the extent of it seems doubtful;\n   "
	.ascii	" and till his sentiments are fully known, you cannot wonder\n"
	.ascii	"    at my wishing to avoid any encouragement of my own parti"
	.ascii	"ality,\n    by believing or calling it more than it is.  In "
	.ascii	"my heart\n    I feel little--scarcely any doubt of his prefe"
	.ascii	"rence.\n    But there are other points to be considered besi"
	.ascii	"des\n    his inclination.  He is very far from being indepen"
	.ascii	"dent.\n    What his mother really is we cannot know; but, fr"
	.ascii	"om Fanny's\n    occasional mention of her conduct and opinio"
	.ascii	"ns, we have\n    never been disposed to think her amiable; a"
	.ascii	"nd I am very\n    much mistaken if Edward is not himself awa"
	.ascii	"re that there\n    would be many difficulties in his way, if"
	.ascii	" he were to wish\n    to marry a woman who had not either a "
	.ascii	"great fortune or\n    high rank.\"\n    \n    Marianne was a"
	.ascii	"stonished to find how much the imagination\n    of her mothe"
	.ascii	"r and herself had outstripped the truth.\n    \n    \"And yo"
	.ascii	"u really are not engaged to him!\" said she.\n    \"Yet it c"
	.ascii	"ertainly soon will happen.  But two advantages\n    will pro"
	.ascii	"ceed from this delay.  I shall not lose you so soon,\n    an"
	.ascii	"d Edward will have greater opportunity of improving\n    tha"
	.ascii	"t natural taste for your favourite pursuit which must\n    b"
	.ascii	"e so indispensably necessary to your future felicity.\n    O"
	.ascii	"h! if he should be so far stimulated by your genius as to\n "
	.ascii	"   learn to draw himself, how delightful it would be!\"\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    Elinor had given her real opinion to her sister.\n   "
	.ascii	" She could not consider her partiality for Edward\n    in so"
	.ascii	" prosperous a state as Marianne had believed it.\n    There "
	.ascii	"was, at times, a want of spirits about him which,\n    if it"
	.ascii	" did not denote indifference, spoke of something almost\n   "
	.ascii	" as unpromising.  A doubt of her regard, supposing him\n    "
	.ascii	"to feel it, need not give him more than inquietude.\n    It "
	.ascii	"would not be likely to produce that dejection of mind\n    w"
	.ascii	"hich frequently attended him.  A more reasonable cause\n    "
	.ascii	"might be found in the dependent situation which forbade\n   "
	.ascii	" "
	.ascii	"the indulgence of his affection.  She knew that his mother\n"
	.ascii	"    neither behaved to him so as to make his home comfortabl"
	.ascii	"e\n    at present, nor to give him any assurance that he mig"
	.ascii	"ht form\n    a home for himself, without strictly attending "
	.ascii	"to her views\n    for his aggrandizement.  With such a knowl"
	.ascii	"edge as this,\n    it was impossible for Elinor to feel easy"
	.ascii	" on the subject.\n    She was far from depending on that res"
	.ascii	"ult of his preference\n    of her, which her mother and sist"
	.ascii	"er still considered\n    as certain.  Nay, the longer they w"
	.ascii	"ere together the more\n    doubtful seemed the nature of his"
	.ascii	" regard; and sometimes,\n    for a few painful minutes, she "
	.ascii	"believed it to be no more\n    than friendship.\n    \n    B"
	.ascii	"ut, whatever might really be its limits, it was enough,\n   "
	.ascii	" when perceived by his sister, to make her uneasy,\n    and "
	.ascii	"at the same time, (which was still more common,)\n    to mak"
	.ascii	"e her uncivil.  She took the first opportunity of\n    affro"
	.ascii	"nting her mother-in-law on the occasion, talking to\n    her"
	.ascii	" so expressively of her brother's great expectations,\n    o"
	.ascii	"f Mrs. Ferrars's resolution that both her sons should\n    m"
	.ascii	"arry well, and of the danger attending any young woman\n    "
	.ascii	"who attempted to DRAW HIM IN; that Mrs. Dashwood could\n    "
	.ascii	"neither pretend to be unconscious, nor endeavor to be calm.\n"
	.ascii	"    She gave her an answer which marked her contempt,\n    a"
	.ascii	"nd instantly left the room, resolving that, whatever might\n"
	.ascii	"    be the inconvenience or expense of so sudden a removal,\n"
	.ascii	"    her beloved Elinor should not be exposed another week\n "
	.ascii	"   to such insinuations.\n    \n    In this state of her spi"
	.ascii	"rits, a letter was delivered\n    to her from the post, whic"
	.ascii	"h contained a proposal\n    particularly well timed.  It was"
	.ascii	" the offer of a small house,\n    on very easy terms, belong"
	.ascii	"ing to a relation of her own,\n    a gentleman of consequenc"
	.ascii	"e and property in Devonshire.\n    The letter was from this "
	.ascii	"gentleman himself, and written\n    in the true spirit of fr"
	.ascii	"iendly accommodation.\n    He understood that she was "
	.ascii	"in need of a dwelling;\n    and though the house he now offe"
	.ascii	"red her was merely a cottage,\n    he assured her that every"
	.ascii	"thing should be done to it which\n    she might think necess"
	.ascii	"ary, if the situation pleased her.\n    He earnestly pressed"
	.ascii	" her, after giving the particulars\n    of the house and gar"
	.ascii	"den, to come with her daughters to\n    Barton Park, the pla"
	.ascii	"ce of his own residence, from whence\n    she might judge, h"
	.ascii	"erself, whether Barton Cottage, for the\n    houses were in "
	.ascii	"the same parish, could, by any alteration,\n    be made comf"
	.ascii	"ortable to her.  He seemed really anxious to\n    accommodat"
	.ascii	"e them and the whole of his letter was written\n    in so fr"
	.ascii	"iendly a style as could not fail of giving pleasure\n    to "
	.ascii	"his cousin; more especially at a moment when she was\n    su"
	.ascii	"ffering under the cold and unfeeling behaviour of her\n    n"
	.ascii	"earer connections.  She needed no time for deliberation\n   "
	.ascii	" or inquiry.  Her resolution was formed as she read.\n    Th"
	.ascii	"e situation of Barton, in a county so far distant from\n    "
	.ascii	"Sussex as Devonshire, which, but a few hours before,\n    wo"
	.ascii	"uld have been a sufficient objection to outweigh every\n    "
	.ascii	"possible advantage belonging to the place, was now its\n    "
	.ascii	"first recommendation.  To quit the neighbourhood of Norland\n"
	.ascii	"    was no longer an evil; it was an object of desire;\n    "
	.ascii	"it was a blessing, in comparison of the misery of continuing"
	.ascii	"\n    her daughter-in-law's guest; and to remove for ever\n "
	.ascii	"   from that beloved place would be less painful than to\n  "
	.ascii	"  inhabit or visit it while such a woman was its mistress.\n"
	.ascii	"    She instantly wrote Sir John Middleton her acknowledgmen"
	.ascii	"t\n    of his kindness, and her acceptance of his proposal;\n"
	.ascii	"    and then hastened to shew both letters to her daughters,"
	.ascii	"\n    that she might be secure of their approbation before h"
	.ascii	"er\n    answer were sent.\n    \n    Elinor had always thoug"
	.ascii	"ht it would be more prudent\n    for them to settle at some "
	.ascii	"distance from Norland,\n    than immediately amongst their p"
	.ascii	"resent acquaintance.\n    On THAT head, therefore, it"
	.ascii	" was not for her to oppose\n    her mother's intention of re"
	.ascii	"moving into Devonshire.\n    The house, too, as described by"
	.ascii	" Sir John, was on so\n    simple a scale, and the rent so un"
	.ascii	"commonly moderate,\n    as to leave her no right of objectio"
	.ascii	"n on either point;\n    and, therefore, though it was not a "
	.ascii	"plan which brought\n    any charm to her fancy, though it wa"
	.ascii	"s a removal from\n    the vicinity of Norland beyond her wis"
	.ascii	"hes, she made\n    no attempt to dissuade her mother from se"
	.ascii	"nding a letter\n    of acquiescence.\n    \n    \n    \n    "
	.ascii	"CHAPTER 5\n    \n    \n    No sooner was her answer dispatch"
	.ascii	"ed, than Mrs. Dashwood\n    indulged herself in the pleasure"
	.ascii	" of announcing to her\n    son-in-law and his wife that she "
	.ascii	"was provided with a house,\n    and should incommode them no"
	.ascii	" longer than till every thing were\n    ready for her inhabi"
	.ascii	"ting it.  They heard her with surprise.\n    Mrs. John Dashw"
	.ascii	"ood said nothing; but her husband civilly\n    hoped that sh"
	.ascii	"e would not be settled far from Norland.\n    She had great "
	.ascii	"satisfaction in replying that she was going\n    into Devons"
	.ascii	"hire.--Edward turned hastily towards her,\n    on hearing th"
	.ascii	"is, and, in a voice of surprise and concern,\n    which requ"
	.ascii	"ired no explanation to her, repeated,\n    \"Devonshire! Are"
	.ascii	" you, indeed, going there?  So far from hence!\n    And to w"
	.ascii	"hat part of it?\"  She explained the situation.\n    It was "
	.ascii	"within four miles northward of Exeter.\n    \n    \"It is bu"
	.ascii	"t a cottage,\" she continued, \"but I hope\n    to see many "
	.ascii	"of my friends in it.  A room or two can\n    easily be added"
	.ascii	"; and if my friends find no difficulty\n    in travelling so"
	.ascii	" far to see me, I am sure I will find\n    none in accommoda"
	.ascii	"ting them.\"\n    \n    She concluded with a very kind invit"
	.ascii	"ation to\n    Mr. and Mrs. John Dashwood to visit her at Bar"
	.ascii	"ton;\n    and to Edward she gave one with still greater affe"
	.ascii	"ction.\n    Though her late conversation with her daughter-i"
	.ascii	"n-law had\n    made her resolve on remaining at Norland no l"
	.ascii	"onger than\n    was unavoidable, it had not produced the sma"
	.ascii	"llest ef"
	.ascii	"fect\n    on her in that point to which it principally tende"
	.ascii	"d.\n    To separate Edward and Elinor was as far from being "
	.ascii	"her\n    object as ever; and she wished to show Mrs. John Da"
	.ascii	"shwood,\n    by this pointed invitation to her brother, how "
	.ascii	"totally she\n    disregarded her disapprobation of the match"
	.ascii	".\n    \n    Mr. John Dashwood told his mother again and aga"
	.ascii	"in\n    how exceedingly sorry he was that she had taken a ho"
	.ascii	"use at\n    such a distance from Norland as to prevent his b"
	.ascii	"eing of any\n    service to her in removing her furniture.  "
	.ascii	"He really felt\n    conscientiously vexed on the occasion; f"
	.ascii	"or the very exertion\n    to which he had limited the perfor"
	.ascii	"mance of his promise to\n    his father was by this arrangem"
	.ascii	"ent rendered impracticable.--\n    The furniture was all sen"
	.ascii	"t around by water.  It chiefly\n    consisted of household l"
	.ascii	"inen, plate, china, and books,\n    with a handsome pianofor"
	.ascii	"te of Marianne's.  Mrs. John\n    Dashwood saw the packages "
	.ascii	"depart with a sigh: she could\n    not help feeling it hard "
	.ascii	"that as Mrs. Dashwood's income\n    would be so trifling in "
	.ascii	"comparison with their own,\n    she should have any handsome"
	.ascii	" article of furniture.\n    \n    Mrs. Dashwood took the hou"
	.ascii	"se for a twelvemonth; it was\n    ready furnished, and she m"
	.ascii	"ight have immediate possession.\n    No difficulty arose on "
	.ascii	"either side in the agreement; and she\n    waited only for t"
	.ascii	"he disposal of her effects at Norland,\n    and to determine"
	.ascii	" her future household, before she set\n    off for the west;"
	.ascii	" and this, as she was exceedingly rapid\n    in the performa"
	.ascii	"nce of everything that interested her,\n    was soon done.--"
	.ascii	"The horses which were left her by her husband\n    had been "
	.ascii	"sold soon after his death, and an opportunity\n    now offer"
	.ascii	"ing of disposing of her carriage, she agreed\n    to sell th"
	.ascii	"at likewise at the earnest advice of her\n    eldest daughte"
	.ascii	"r.  For the comfort of her children, had she\n    consulted "
	.ascii	"only her own wishes, she would have kept it;\n    but the di"
	.ascii	"scretion of Elinor prevailed.  HER wisdom\n    too limit"
	.ascii	"ed the number of their servants to three;\n    two maids and"
	.ascii	" a man, with whom they were speedily provided\n    from amon"
	.ascii	"gst those who had formed their establishment\n    at Norland"
	.ascii	".\n    \n    The man and one of the maids were sent off imme"
	.ascii	"diately\n    into Devonshire, to prepare the house for their"
	.ascii	" mistress's\n    arrival; for as Lady Middleton was entirely"
	.ascii	" unknown\n    to Mrs. Dashwood, she preferred going directly"
	.ascii	" to the\n    cottage to being a visitor at Barton Park; and "
	.ascii	"she relied\n    so undoubtingly on Sir John's description of"
	.ascii	" the house,\n    as to feel no curiosity to examine it herse"
	.ascii	"lf till she\n    entered it as her own.  Her eagerness to be"
	.ascii	" gone from Norland\n    was preserved from diminution by the"
	.ascii	" evident satisfaction\n    of her daughter-in-law in the pro"
	.ascii	"spect of her removal;\n    a satisfaction which was but feeb"
	.ascii	"ly attempted to be concealed\n    under a cold invitation to"
	.ascii	" her to defer her departure.\n    Now was the time when her "
	.ascii	"son-in-law's promise to his\n    father might with particula"
	.ascii	"r propriety be fulfilled.\n    Since he had neglected to do "
	.ascii	"it on first coming to\n    the estate, their quitting his ho"
	.ascii	"use might be looked\n    on as the most suitable period for "
	.ascii	"its accomplishment.\n    But Mrs. Dashwood began shortly to "
	.ascii	"give over every\n    hope of the kind, and to be convinced, "
	.ascii	"from the general\n    drift of his discourse, that his assis"
	.ascii	"tance extended no\n    farther than their maintenance for si"
	.ascii	"x months at Norland.\n    He so frequently talked of the inc"
	.ascii	"reasing expenses\n    of housekeeping, and of the perpetual "
	.ascii	"demands upon his purse,\n    which a man of any consequence "
	.ascii	"in the world was beyond\n    calculation exposed to, that he"
	.ascii	" seemed rather to stand\n    in need of more money himself t"
	.ascii	"han to have any design of\n    giving money away.\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" In a very few weeks from the day which brought Sir\n    Joh"
	.ascii	"n Middleton's first letter to Norland, every thing was\n    "
	.ascii	"so far settled in their future abode as to enable\n    Mrs. "
	.ascii	"Dashwood and her daughters to begin their journey.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    Many were the tears shed by them in their last\n    adie"
	.ascii	"us to a place so much beloved.  \"Dear, dear Norland!\"\n   "
	.ascii	" said Marianne, as she wandered alone before the house,\n   "
	.ascii	" on the last evening of their being there; \"when shall I ce"
	.ascii	"ase\n    to regret you!--when learn to feel a home elsewhere"
	.ascii	"!--Oh!\n    happy house, could you know what I suffer in now"
	.ascii	" viewing\n    you from this spot, from whence perhaps I may "
	.ascii	"view\n    you no more!--And you, ye well-known trees!--but y"
	.ascii	"ou\n    will continue the same.--No leaf will decay because "
	.ascii	"we\n    are removed, nor any branch become motionless althou"
	.ascii	"gh we\n    can observe you no longer!--No; you will continue"
	.ascii	" the same;\n    unconscious of the pleasure or the regret yo"
	.ascii	"u occasion,\n    and insensible of any change in those who w"
	.ascii	"alk under your\n    shade!--But who will remain to enjoy you"
	.ascii	"?\"\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 6\n    \n    \n    The fi"
	.ascii	"rst part of their journey was performed in too\n    melancho"
	.ascii	"ly a disposition to be otherwise than tedious\n    and unple"
	.ascii	"asant.  But as they drew towards the end of it,\n    their i"
	.ascii	"nterest in the appearance of a country which they\n    were "
	.ascii	"to inhabit overcame their dejection, and a view of\n    Bart"
	.ascii	"on Valley as they entered it gave them cheerfulness.\n    It"
	.ascii	" was a pleasant fertile spot, well wooded, and rich\n    in "
	.ascii	"pasture.  After winding along it for more than a mile,\n    "
	.ascii	"they reached their own house.  A small green court was\n    "
	.ascii	"the whole of its demesne in front; and a neat wicket gate\n "
	.ascii	"   admitted them into it.\n    \n    As a house, Barton Cott"
	.ascii	"age, though small, was comfortable\n    and compact; but as "
	.ascii	"a cottage it was defective, for the\n    building was regula"
	.ascii	"r, the roof was tiled, the window\n    shutters were not pai"
	.ascii	"nted green, nor were the walls covered\n    with honeysuckle"
	.ascii	"s.  A narrow passage led directly through\n    the house int"
	.ascii	"o the garden behind.  On each side of the\n    entrance was "
	.ascii	"a sitting room, about sixteen feet square;\n    and beyond t"
	.ascii	"hem were the offices and the stairs.\n    Four bed-rooms and"
	.ascii	" two"
	.ascii	" garrets formed the rest of the house.\n    It had not been "
	.ascii	"built many years and was in good repair.\n    In comparison "
	.ascii	"of Norland, it was poor and small indeed!--but\n    the tear"
	.ascii	"s which recollection called forth as they entered\n    the h"
	.ascii	"ouse were soon dried away.  They were cheered\n    by the jo"
	.ascii	"y of the servants on their arrival, and each\n    for the sa"
	.ascii	"ke of the others resolved to appear happy.\n    It was very "
	.ascii	"early in September; the season was fine,\n    and from first"
	.ascii	" seeing the place under the advantage\n    of good weather, "
	.ascii	"they received an impression in its\n    favour which was of "
	.ascii	"material service in recommending\n    it to their lasting ap"
	.ascii	"probation.\n    \n    The situation of the house was good.  "
	.ascii	"High hills rose\n    immediately behind, and at no great dis"
	.ascii	"tance on each side;\n    some of which were open downs, the "
	.ascii	"others cultivated and woody.\n    The village of Barton was "
	.ascii	"chiefly on one of these hills,\n    and formed a pleasant vi"
	.ascii	"ew from the cottage windows.\n    The prospect in front was "
	.ascii	"more extensive; it commanded the\n    whole of the valley, a"
	.ascii	"nd reached into the country beyond.\n    The hills which sur"
	.ascii	"rounded the cottage terminated\n    the valley in that direc"
	.ascii	"tion; under another name,\n    and in another course, it bra"
	.ascii	"nched out again between two\n    of the steepest of them.\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    With the size and furniture of the house Mrs. Dashw"
	.ascii	"ood\n    was upon the whole well satisfied; for though her f"
	.ascii	"ormer\n    style of life rendered many additions to the latt"
	.ascii	"er\n    indispensable, yet to add and improve was a delight "
	.ascii	"to her;\n    and she had at this time ready money enough to "
	.ascii	"supply all\n    that was wanted of greater elegance to the a"
	.ascii	"partments.\n    \"As for the house itself, to be sure,\" sai"
	.ascii	"d she, \"it is\n    too small for our family, but we will ma"
	.ascii	"ke ourselves\n    tolerably comfortable for the present, as "
	.ascii	"it is too late\n    in the year for improvements.  Perhaps i"
	.ascii	"n the spring,\n    if I have plenty of money, as I dare say "
	.ascii	"I shall, we may\n    think about building.  These parlors a"
	.ascii	"re both too small\n    for such parties of our friends as I "
	.ascii	"hope to see often\n    collected here; and I have some thoug"
	.ascii	"hts of throwing the\n    passage into one of them with perha"
	.ascii	"ps a part of the other,\n    and so leave the remainder of t"
	.ascii	"hat other for an entrance;\n    this, with a new drawing roo"
	.ascii	"m which may be easily added,\n    and a bed-chamber and garr"
	.ascii	"et above, will make it a very snug\n    little cottage.  I c"
	.ascii	"ould wish the stairs were handsome.\n    But one must not ex"
	.ascii	"pect every thing; though I suppose it\n    would be no diffi"
	.ascii	"cult matter to widen them.  I shall see\n    how much I am b"
	.ascii	"efore-hand with the world in the spring,\n    and we will pl"
	.ascii	"an our improvements accordingly.\"\n    \n    In the mean ti"
	.ascii	"me, till all these alterations could\n    be made from the s"
	.ascii	"avings of an income of five hundred\n    a-year by a woman w"
	.ascii	"ho never saved in her life, they were\n    wise enough to be"
	.ascii	" contented with the house as it was;\n    and each of them w"
	.ascii	"as busy in arranging their particular\n    concerns, and end"
	.ascii	"eavoring, by placing around them books\n    and other posses"
	.ascii	"sions, to form themselves a home.\n    Marianne's pianoforte"
	.ascii	" was unpacked and properly disposed of;\n    and Elinor's dr"
	.ascii	"awings were affixed to the walls of their\n    sitting room."
	.ascii	"\n    \n    In such employments as these they were interrupt"
	.ascii	"ed\n    soon after breakfast the next day by the entrance of"
	.ascii	"\n    their landlord, who called to welcome them to Barton,\n"
	.ascii	"    and to offer them every accommodation from his own house"
	.ascii	"\n    and garden in which theirs might at present be deficie"
	.ascii	"nt.\n    Sir John Middleton was a good looking man about for"
	.ascii	"ty.\n    He had formerly visited at Stanhill, but it was too"
	.ascii	" long\n    for his young cousins to remember him.  His count"
	.ascii	"enance\n    was thoroughly good-humoured; and his manners we"
	.ascii	"re\n    as friendly as the style of his letter.  Their arriv"
	.ascii	"al\n    seemed to afford him real satisfaction, and their co"
	.ascii	"mfort\n    to be an object of real solicitude to him.  He sa"
	.ascii	"id much\n    of his earnest desire of their living in th"
	.ascii	"e most sociable\n    terms with his family, and pressed them"
	.ascii	" so cordially\n    to dine at Barton Park every day till the"
	.ascii	"y were better\n    settled at home, that, though his entreat"
	.ascii	"ies were carried\n    to a point of perseverance beyond civi"
	.ascii	"lity, they could\n    not give offence.  His kindness was no"
	.ascii	"t confined to words;\n    for within an hour after he left t"
	.ascii	"hem, a large basket\n    full of garden stuff and fruit arri"
	.ascii	"ved from the park,\n    which was followed before the end of"
	.ascii	" the day by a present\n    of game.  He insisted, moreover, "
	.ascii	"on conveying all their\n    letters to and from the post for"
	.ascii	" them, and would not be\n    denied the satisfaction of send"
	.ascii	"ing them his newspaper\n    every day.\n    \n    Lady Middl"
	.ascii	"eton had sent a very civil message by him,\n    denoting her"
	.ascii	" intention of waiting on Mrs. Dashwood as soon as\n    she c"
	.ascii	"ould be assured that her visit would be no inconvenience;\n "
	.ascii	"   and as this message was answered by an invitation\n    eq"
	.ascii	"ually polite, her ladyship was introduced to them the next d"
	.ascii	"ay.\n    \n    They were, of course, very anxious to see a p"
	.ascii	"erson on\n    whom so much of their comfort at Barton must d"
	.ascii	"epend; and the\n    elegance of her appearance was favourabl"
	.ascii	"e to their wishes.\n    Lady Middleton was not more than six"
	.ascii	" or seven and twenty;\n    her face was handsome, her figure"
	.ascii	" tall and striking,\n    and her address graceful.  Her mann"
	.ascii	"ers had all the elegance\n    which her husband's wanted.  B"
	.ascii	"ut they would have been\n    improved by some share of his f"
	.ascii	"rankness and warmth;\n    and her visit was long enough to d"
	.ascii	"etract something from\n    their first admiration, by shewin"
	.ascii	"g that, though perfectly\n    well-bred, she was reserved, c"
	.ascii	"old, and had nothing to say\n    for herself beyond the most"
	.ascii	" common-place inquiry or remark.\n    \n    Conversation how"
	.ascii	"ever was not wanted, for Sir John\n    was very chatty, and "
	.ascii	"Lady Middleton had taken the wise\n    precaution of bringin"
	.ascii	"g with her their eldest child, a fine\n    little boy about "
	.ascii	"six years old, by which means there was\n    one subject "
	.ascii	"always to be recurred to by the ladies in case\n    of extre"
	.ascii	"mity, for they had to enquire his name and age,\n    admire "
	.ascii	"his beauty, and ask him questions which his mother\n    answ"
	.ascii	"ered for him, while he hung about her and held\n    down his"
	.ascii	" head, to the great surprise of her ladyship,\n    who wonde"
	.ascii	"red at his being so shy before company, as he\n    could mak"
	.ascii	"e noise enough at home.  On every formal visit\n    a child "
	.ascii	"ought to be of the party, by way of provision\n    for disco"
	.ascii	"urse.  In the present case it took up ten minutes\n    to de"
	.ascii	"termine whether the boy were most like his father\n    or mo"
	.ascii	"ther, and in what particular he resembled either,\n    for o"
	.ascii	"f course every body differed, and every body was\n    astoni"
	.ascii	"shed at the opinion of the others.\n    \n    An opportunity"
	.ascii	" was soon to be given to the Dashwoods\n    of debating on t"
	.ascii	"he rest of the children, as Sir John\n    would not leave th"
	.ascii	"e house without securing their promise\n    of dining at the"
	.ascii	" park the next day.\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 7\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \n    Barton Park was about half a mile from the cottage"
	.ascii	".\n    The ladies had passed near it in their way along the "
	.ascii	"valley,\n    but it was screened from their view at home by "
	.ascii	"the\n    projection of a hill.  The house was large and hand"
	.ascii	"some;\n    and the Middletons lived in a style of equal hosp"
	.ascii	"itality\n    and elegance.  The former was for Sir John's gr"
	.ascii	"atification,\n    the latter for that of his lady.  They wer"
	.ascii	"e scarcely\n    ever without some friends staying with them "
	.ascii	"in the house,\n    and they kept more company of every kind "
	.ascii	"than any other\n    family in the neighbourhood.  It was nec"
	.ascii	"essary to the\n    happiness of both; for however dissimilar"
	.ascii	" in temper\n    and outward behaviour, they strongly resembl"
	.ascii	"ed each other\n    in that total want of talent and taste wh"
	.ascii	"ich confined\n    their employments, unconnected with such a"
	.ascii	"s society produced,\n    within a very narrow compass.  Sir "
	.ascii	"John was a sportsman,\n    Lady Middleton a mother.  He hunt"
	.ascii	"ed and shot, and she\n    humoured her children; and these w"
	.ascii	"ere their only resources.\n    Lady Middleton had the advant"
	.ascii	"age of being able to spoil her\n    children all the year ro"
	.ascii	"und, while Sir John's independent\n    employments were in e"
	.ascii	"xistence only half the time.\n    Continual engagements at h"
	.ascii	"ome and abroad, however,\n    supplied all the deficiencies "
	.ascii	"of nature and education;\n    supported the good spirits of "
	.ascii	"Sir John, and gave exercise\n    to the good breeding of his"
	.ascii	" wife.\n    \n    Lady Middleton piqued herself upon the ele"
	.ascii	"gance\n    of her table, and of all her domestic arrangement"
	.ascii	"s;\n    and from this kind of vanity was her greatest enjoym"
	.ascii	"ent\n    in any of their parties.  But Sir John's satisfacti"
	.ascii	"on\n    in society was much more real; he delighted in colle"
	.ascii	"cting\n    about him more young people than his house would "
	.ascii	"hold,\n    and the noisier they were the better was he pleas"
	.ascii	"ed.\n    He was a blessing to all the juvenile part of the n"
	.ascii	"eighbourhood,\n    for in summer he was for ever forming par"
	.ascii	"ties to eat cold\n    ham and chicken out of doors, and in w"
	.ascii	"inter his private\n    balls were numerous enough for any yo"
	.ascii	"ung lady who was not\n    suffering under the unsatiable app"
	.ascii	"etite of fifteen.\n    \n    The arrival of a new family in "
	.ascii	"the country was always\n    a matter of joy to him, and in e"
	.ascii	"very point of view he was\n    charmed with the inhabitants "
	.ascii	"he had now procured for his\n    cottage at Barton.  The Mis"
	.ascii	"s Dashwoods were young, pretty,\n    and unaffected.  It was"
	.ascii	" enough to secure his good opinion;\n    for to be unaffecte"
	.ascii	"d was all that a pretty girl could\n    want to make her min"
	.ascii	"d as captivating as her person.\n    The friendliness of his"
	.ascii	" disposition made him happy in\n    accommodating those, who"
	.ascii	"se situation might be considered,\n    in comparison with th"
	.ascii	"e past, as unfortunate.  In showing\n    kindness to his cou"
	.ascii	"sins therefore he had the real satisfaction\n    of a good h"
	.ascii	"eart; and in settling a family of females only\n    in his c"
	.ascii	"ottage, he had all the satisfaction of a sportsman;\n    for"
	.ascii	" a sportsman, though he esteems only those of his sex w"
	.ascii	"ho\n    are sportsmen likewise, is not often desirous of enc"
	.ascii	"ouraging\n    their taste by admitting them to a residence w"
	.ascii	"ithin his own\n    manor.\n    \n    Mrs. Dashwood and her d"
	.ascii	"aughters were met at the door\n    of the house by Sir John,"
	.ascii	" who welcomed them to Barton\n    Park with unaffected since"
	.ascii	"rity; and as he attended them\n    to the drawing room repea"
	.ascii	"ted to the young ladies the concern\n    which the same subj"
	.ascii	"ect had drawn from him the day before,\n    at being unable "
	.ascii	"to get any smart young men to meet them.\n    They would see"
	.ascii	", he said, only one gentleman there\n    besides himself; a "
	.ascii	"particular friend who was staying at\n    the park, but who "
	.ascii	"was neither very young nor very gay.\n    He hoped they woul"
	.ascii	"d all excuse the smallness of the party,\n    and could assu"
	.ascii	"re them it should never happen so again.\n    He had been to"
	.ascii	" several families that morning in hopes\n    of procuring so"
	.ascii	"me addition to their number, but it\n    was moonlight and e"
	.ascii	"very body was full of engagements.\n    Luckily Lady Middlet"
	.ascii	"on's mother had arrived at Barton\n    within the last hour,"
	.ascii	" and as she was a very cheerful\n    agreeable woman, he hop"
	.ascii	"ed the young ladies would not find\n    it so very dull as t"
	.ascii	"hey might imagine.  The young ladies,\n    as well as their "
	.ascii	"mother, were perfectly satisfied with\n    having two entire"
	.ascii	" strangers of the party, and wished for\n    no more.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    Mrs. Jennings, Lady Middleton's mother, was a\n    good-"
	.ascii	"humoured, merry, fat, elderly woman, who talked a\n    great"
	.ascii	" deal, seemed very happy, and rather vulgar.  She was full\n"
	.ascii	"    of jokes and laughter, and before dinner was over had sa"
	.ascii	"id\n    many witty things on the subject of lovers and husba"
	.ascii	"nds;\n    hoped they had not left their hearts behind them i"
	.ascii	"n Sussex,\n    and pretended to see them blush whether they "
	.ascii	"did or not.\n    Marianne was vexed at it for her sister's s"
	.ascii	"ake, and turned\n    her eyes towards Elinor to see how she "
	.ascii	"bore these attacks,\n    with an earnestness which gave Elin"
	.ascii	"or far more pain than\n    could arise from such common-"
	.ascii	"place raillery as Mrs. Jennings's.\n    \n    Colonel Brando"
	.ascii	"n, the friend of Sir John, seemed no\n    more adapted by re"
	.ascii	"semblance of manner to be his friend,\n    than Lady Middlet"
	.ascii	"on was to be his wife, or Mrs. Jennings\n    to be Lady Midd"
	.ascii	"leton's mother.  He was silent and grave.\n    His appearanc"
	.ascii	"e however was not unpleasing, in spite\n    of his being in "
	.ascii	"the opinion of Marianne and Margaret\n    an absolute old ba"
	.ascii	"chelor, for he was on the wrong side\n    of five and thirty"
	.ascii	"; but though his face was not handsome,\n    his countenance"
	.ascii	" was sensible, and his address was\n    particularly gentlem"
	.ascii	"anlike.\n    \n    There was nothing in any of the party whi"
	.ascii	"ch could\n    recommend them as companions to the Dashwoods;"
	.ascii	" but the cold\n    insipidity of Lady Middleton was so parti"
	.ascii	"cularly repulsive,\n    that in comparison of it the gravity"
	.ascii	" of Colonel Brandon,\n    and even the boisterous mirth of S"
	.ascii	"ir John and his\n    mother-in-law was interesting.  Lady Mi"
	.ascii	"ddleton seemed\n    to be roused to enjoyment only by the en"
	.ascii	"trance of her\n    four noisy children after dinner, who pul"
	.ascii	"led her about,\n    tore her clothes, and put an end to ever"
	.ascii	"y kind of discourse\n    except what related to themselves.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    In the evening, as Marianne was discovered to be m"
	.ascii	"usical,\n    she was invited to play.  The instrument was un"
	.ascii	"locked,\n    every body prepared to be charmed, and Marianne"
	.ascii	",\n    who sang very well, at their request went through the"
	.ascii	"\n    chief of the songs which Lady Middleton had brought in"
	.ascii	"to\n    the family on her marriage, and which perhaps had la"
	.ascii	"in\n    ever since in the same position on the pianoforte,\n"
	.ascii	"    for her ladyship had celebrated that event by giving\n  "
	.ascii	"  up music, although by her mother's account, she had\n    p"
	.ascii	"layed extremely well, and by her own was very fond of it.\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    Marianne's performance was highly applauded.\n    S"
	.ascii	"ir John was loud in his admiration at the end of every song,"
	.ascii	"\n    and as loud in his conversation with the others while "
	.ascii	"every\n    song lasted.  Lady Middleton frequently called"
	.ascii	" him to order,\n    wondered how any one's attention could b"
	.ascii	"e diverted from music\n    for a moment, and asked Marianne "
	.ascii	"to sing a particular song\n    which Marianne had just finis"
	.ascii	"hed.  Colonel Brandon alone,\n    of all the party, heard he"
	.ascii	"r without being in raptures.\n    He paid her only the compl"
	.ascii	"iment of attention; and she felt\n    a respect for him on t"
	.ascii	"he occasion, which the others had\n    reasonably forfeited "
	.ascii	"by their shameless want of taste.\n    His pleasure in music"
	.ascii	", though it amounted not to that\n    ecstatic delight which"
	.ascii	" alone could sympathize with her own,\n    was estimable whe"
	.ascii	"n contrasted against the horrible\n    insensibility of the "
	.ascii	"others; and she was reasonable enough\n    to allow that a m"
	.ascii	"an of five and thirty might well have\n    outlived all acut"
	.ascii	"eness of feeling and every exquisite\n    power of enjoyment"
	.ascii	".  She was perfectly disposed to make\n    every allowance f"
	.ascii	"or the colonel's advanced state of life\n    which humanity "
	.ascii	"required.\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 8\n    \n    \n    "
	.ascii	"Mrs. Jennings was a widow with an ample jointure.\n    She h"
	.ascii	"ad only two daughters, both of whom she had lived\n    to se"
	.ascii	"e respectably married, and she had now therefore\n    nothin"
	.ascii	"g to do but to marry all the rest of the world.\n    In the "
	.ascii	"promotion of this object she was zealously active,\n    as f"
	.ascii	"ar as her ability reached; and missed no opportunity\n    of"
	.ascii	" projecting weddings among all the young people\n    of her "
	.ascii	"acquaintance.  She was remarkably quick in the\n    discover"
	.ascii	"y of attachments, and had enjoyed the advantage\n    of rais"
	.ascii	"ing the blushes and the vanity of many a young\n    lady by "
	.ascii	"insinuations of her power over such a young man;\n    and th"
	.ascii	"is kind of discernment enabled her soon after her\n    arriv"
	.ascii	"al at Barton decisively to pronounce that Colonel\n    Brand"
	.ascii	"on was very much in love with Marianne Dashwood.\n    She ra"
	.ascii	"ther suspected it to be so, on the very first\n    evening o"
	.ascii	"f their being together, from his listening\n    so attentive"
	.ascii	"ly while she sang to them; and when the visit\n    was retur"
	.ascii	"ned by the Middletons' dining at the cottage,\n    the fact "
	.ascii	"was ascertained by his listening to her again.\n    It must "
	.ascii	"be so.  She was perfectly convinced of it.\n    It would be "
	.ascii	"an excellent match, for HE was rich, and SHE\n    was handso"
	.ascii	"me.  Mrs. Jennings had been anxious to see\n    Colonel Bran"
	.ascii	"don well married, ever since her connection\n    with Sir Jo"
	.ascii	"hn first brought him to her knowledge;\n    and she was alwa"
	.ascii	"ys anxious to get a good husband for every\n    pretty girl."
	.ascii	"\n    \n    The immediate advantage to herself was by no mea"
	.ascii	"ns\n    inconsiderable, for it supplied her with endless jok"
	.ascii	"es\n    against them both.  At the park she laughed at the c"
	.ascii	"olonel,\n    and in the cottage at Marianne.  To the former "
	.ascii	"her\n    raillery was probably, as far as it regarded only h"
	.ascii	"imself,\n    perfectly indifferent; but to the latter it was"
	.ascii	" at\n    first incomprehensible; and when its object was und"
	.ascii	"erstood,\n    she hardly knew whether most to laugh at its a"
	.ascii	"bsurdity,\n    or censure its impertinence, for she consider"
	.ascii	"ed it as an\n    unfeeling reflection on the colonel's advan"
	.ascii	"ced years,\n    and on his forlorn condition as an old bache"
	.ascii	"lor.\n    \n    Mrs. Dashwood, who could not think a man fiv"
	.ascii	"e years\n    younger than herself, so exceedingly ancient as"
	.ascii	" he appeared\n    to the youthful fancy of her daughter, ven"
	.ascii	"tured to clear\n    Mrs. Jennings from the probability of wi"
	.ascii	"shing to throw\n    ridicule on his age.\n    \n    \"But at"
	.ascii	" least, Mamma, you cannot deny the absurdity\n    of the acc"
	.ascii	"usation, though you may not think it intentionally\n    ill-"
	.ascii	"natured.  Colonel Brandon is certainly younger than\n    Mrs"
	.ascii	". Jennings, but he is old enough to be MY father;\n    and i"
	.ascii	"f he were ever animated enough to be in love,\n    must have"
	.ascii	" long outlived every sensation of the kind.\n    It is too r"
	.ascii	"idiculous!  When is a man to be safe from such wit,\n    if "
	.ascii	"age and infirmity will not protect him?\"\n    \n    \"Infir"
	.ascii	"mity!\" said Elinor, \"do you call Colonel Brandon\n    infi"
	.ascii	"rm?  I can easily suppose that his age may appear much\n    "
	.ascii	"grea"
	.ascii	"ter to you than to my mother; but you can hardly\n    deceiv"
	.ascii	"e yourself as to his having the use of his limbs!\"\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   \"Did not you hear him complain of the rheumatism?\n    a"
	.ascii	"nd is not that the commonest infirmity of declining life?\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"My dearest child,\" said her mother, laughing,\n"
	.ascii	"    \"at this rate you must be in continual terror of MY dec"
	.ascii	"ay;\n    and it must seem to you a miracle that my life has "
	.ascii	"been\n    extended to the advanced age of forty.\"\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \"Mamma, you are not doing me justice.  I know very well\n"
	.ascii	"    that Colonel Brandon is not old enough to make his frien"
	.ascii	"ds\n    yet apprehensive of losing him in the course of natu"
	.ascii	"re.\n    He may live twenty years longer.  But thirty-five h"
	.ascii	"as\n    nothing to do with matrimony.\"\n    \n    \"Perhaps"
	.ascii	",\" said Elinor, \"thirty-five and seventeen had\n    better"
	.ascii	" not have any thing to do with matrimony together.\n    But "
	.ascii	"if there should by any chance happen to be a woman\n    who "
	.ascii	"is single at seven and twenty, I should not think\n    Colon"
	.ascii	"el Brandon's being thirty-five any objection to his\n    mar"
	.ascii	"rying HER.\"\n    \n    \"A woman of seven and twenty,\" sai"
	.ascii	"d Marianne,\n    after pausing a moment, \"can never hope to"
	.ascii	" feel or inspire\n    affection again, and if her home be un"
	.ascii	"comfortable,\n    or her fortune small, I can suppose that s"
	.ascii	"he might\n    bring herself to submit to the offices of a nu"
	.ascii	"rse,\n    for the sake of the provision and security of a wi"
	.ascii	"fe.\n    In his marrying such a woman therefore there would "
	.ascii	"be\n    nothing unsuitable.  It would be a compact of conven"
	.ascii	"ience,\n    and the world would be satisfied.  In my eyes it"
	.ascii	" would\n    be no marriage at all, but that would be nothing"
	.ascii	".\n    To me it would seem only a commercial exchange, in wh"
	.ascii	"ich\n    each wished to be benefited at the expense of the o"
	.ascii	"ther.\"\n    \n    \"It would be impossible, I know,\" repli"
	.ascii	"ed Elinor,\n    \"to convince you that a woman of seven and "
	.ascii	"twenty could\n    feel for a man of thirty-five anything nea"
	.ascii	"r enough\n    to love, to make him a desirable companion to "
	.ascii	"her.\n    But I must"
	.ascii	" object to your dooming Colonel Brandon and\n    his wife to"
	.ascii	" the constant confinement of a sick chamber,\n    merely bec"
	.ascii	"ause he chanced to complain yesterday (a\n    very cold damp"
	.ascii	" day) of a slight rheumatic feel in one\n    of his shoulder"
	.ascii	"s.\"\n    \n    \"But he talked of flannel waistcoats,\" sai"
	.ascii	"d Marianne;\n    \"and with me a flannel waistcoat is invari"
	.ascii	"ably connected\n    with aches, cramps, rheumatisms, and eve"
	.ascii	"ry species of\n    ailment that can afflict the old and the "
	.ascii	"feeble.\"\n    \n    \"Had he been only in a violent fever, "
	.ascii	"you would not\n    have despised him half so much.  Confess,"
	.ascii	" Marianne, is not\n    there something interesting to you in"
	.ascii	" the flushed cheek,\n    hollow eye, and quick pulse of a fe"
	.ascii	"ver?\"\n    \n    Soon after this, upon Elinor's leaving the"
	.ascii	" room,\n    \"Mamma,\" said Marianne, \"I have an alarm on t"
	.ascii	"he subject\n    of illness which I cannot conceal from you. "
	.ascii	" I am sure\n    Edward Ferrars is not well.  We have now bee"
	.ascii	"n here almost\n    a fortnight, and yet he does not come.  N"
	.ascii	"othing but real\n    indisposition could occasion this extra"
	.ascii	"ordinary delay.\n    What else can detain him at Norland?\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"Had you any idea of his coming so soon?\"\n    s"
	.ascii	"aid Mrs. Dashwood.  \"I had none.  On the contrary,\n    if "
	.ascii	"I have felt any anxiety at all on the subject, it has\n    b"
	.ascii	"een in recollecting that he sometimes showed a want\n    of "
	.ascii	"pleasure and readiness in accepting my invitation,\n    when"
	.ascii	" I talked of his coming to Barton.  Does Elinor\n    expect "
	.ascii	"him already?\"\n    \n    \"I have never mentioned it to her"
	.ascii	", but of course\n    she must.\"\n    \n    \"I rather think"
	.ascii	" you are mistaken, for when I\n    was talking to her yester"
	.ascii	"day of getting a new grate\n    for the spare bedchamber, sh"
	.ascii	"e observed that there\n    was no immediate hurry for it, as"
	.ascii	" it was not likely\n    that the room would be wanted for so"
	.ascii	"me time.\"\n    \n    \"How strange this is! what can be the"
	.ascii	" meaning of it!\n    But the whole of their behaviour to eac"
	.ascii	"h other has been\n    unaccountable! How cold, how composed "
	.ascii	"were their last\n    ad"
	.ascii	"ieus! How languid their conversation the last evening\n    o"
	.ascii	"f their being together! In Edward's farewell there was no\n "
	.ascii	"   distinction between Elinor and me: it was the good wishes"
	.ascii	"\n    of an affectionate brother to both.  Twice did I leave"
	.ascii	"\n    them purposely together in the course of the last morn"
	.ascii	"ing,\n    and each time did he most unaccountably follow me "
	.ascii	"out\n    of the room.  And Elinor, in quitting Norland and E"
	.ascii	"dward,\n    cried not as I did.  Even now her self-command i"
	.ascii	"s invariable.\n    When is she dejected or melancholy? When "
	.ascii	"does she try\n    to avoid society, or appear restless and d"
	.ascii	"issatisfied\n    in it?\"\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 9\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \n    The Dashwoods were now settled at Barton wit"
	.ascii	"h tolerable\n    comfort to themselves.  The house and the g"
	.ascii	"arden, with all\n    the objects surrounding them, were now "
	.ascii	"become familiar,\n    and the ordinary pursuits which had gi"
	.ascii	"ven to Norland\n    half its charms were engaged in again wi"
	.ascii	"th far greater\n    enjoyment than Norland had been able to "
	.ascii	"afford, since the\n    loss of their father.  Sir John Middl"
	.ascii	"eton, who called\n    on them every day for the first fortni"
	.ascii	"ght, and who was\n    not in the habit of seeing much occupa"
	.ascii	"tion at home,\n    could not conceal his amazement on findin"
	.ascii	"g them always employed.\n    \n    Their visitors, except th"
	.ascii	"ose from Barton Park,\n    were not many; for, in spite of S"
	.ascii	"ir John's urgent entreaties\n    that they would mix more in"
	.ascii	" the neighbourhood, and repeated\n    assurances of his carr"
	.ascii	"iage being always at their service,\n    the independence of"
	.ascii	" Mrs. Dashwood's spirit overcame the\n    wish of society fo"
	.ascii	"r her children; and she was resolute\n    in declining to vi"
	.ascii	"sit any family beyond the distance\n    of a walk.  There we"
	.ascii	"re but few who could be so classed;\n    and it was not all "
	.ascii	"of them that were attainable.\n    About a mile and a half f"
	.ascii	"rom the cottage, along the narrow\n    winding valley of All"
	.ascii	"enham, which issued from that of Barton,\n    as formerly de"
	.ascii	"scribed, the girls had, in one of their\n    earliest walks,"
	.ascii	" "
	.ascii	"discovered an ancient respectable looking\n    mansion which"
	.ascii	", by reminding them a little of Norland,\n    interested the"
	.ascii	"ir imagination and made them wish to be\n    better acquaint"
	.ascii	"ed with it.  But they learnt, on enquiry,\n    that its poss"
	.ascii	"essor, an elderly lady of very good character,\n    was unfo"
	.ascii	"rtunately too infirm to mix with the world,\n    and never s"
	.ascii	"tirred from home.\n    \n    The whole country about them ab"
	.ascii	"ounded in beautiful walks.\n    The high downs which invited"
	.ascii	" them from almost every window\n    of the cottage to seek t"
	.ascii	"he exquisite enjoyment of air\n    on their summits, were a "
	.ascii	"happy alternative when the dirt\n    of the valleys beneath "
	.ascii	"shut up their superior beauties;\n    and towards one of the"
	.ascii	"se hills did Marianne and Margaret\n    one memorable mornin"
	.ascii	"g direct their steps, attracted by the\n    partial sunshine"
	.ascii	" of a showery sky, and unable longer to bear\n    the confin"
	.ascii	"ement which the settled rain of the two preceding\n    days "
	.ascii	"had occasioned.  The weather was not tempting enough\n    to"
	.ascii	" draw the two others from their pencil and their book,\n    "
	.ascii	"in spite of Marianne's declaration that the day would\n    b"
	.ascii	"e lastingly fair, and that every threatening cloud would\n  "
	.ascii	"  be drawn off from their hills; and the two girls set off\n"
	.ascii	"    together.\n    \n    They gaily ascended the downs, rejo"
	.ascii	"icing in their own\n    penetration at every glimpse of blue"
	.ascii	" sky; and when they\n    caught in their faces the animating"
	.ascii	" gales of a high\n    south-westerly wind, they pitied the f"
	.ascii	"ears which had prevented\n    their mother and Elinor from s"
	.ascii	"haring such delightful sensations.\n    \n    \"Is there a f"
	.ascii	"elicity in the world,\" said Marianne,\n    \"superior to th"
	.ascii	"is?--Margaret, we will walk here at least\n    two hours.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    Margaret agreed, and they pursued their way agains"
	.ascii	"t\n    the wind, resisting it with laughing delight for abou"
	.ascii	"t\n    twenty minutes longer, when suddenly the clouds unite"
	.ascii	"d over\n    their heads, and a driving rain set full in thei"
	.ascii	"r face.--\n    Chagrined and surprised, they were obliged, t"
	.ascii	"h"
	.ascii	"ough unwillingly,\n    to turn back, for no shelter was near"
	.ascii	"er than their own house.\n    One consolation however remain"
	.ascii	"ed for them, to which the\n    exigence of the moment gave m"
	.ascii	"ore than usual propriety;\n    it was that of running with a"
	.ascii	"ll possible speed down the steep\n    side of the hill which"
	.ascii	" led immediately to their garden gate.\n    \n    They set o"
	.ascii	"ff.  Marianne had at first the advantage,\n    but a false s"
	.ascii	"tep brought her suddenly to the ground;\n    and Margaret, u"
	.ascii	"nable to stop herself to assist her,\n    was involuntarily "
	.ascii	"hurried along, and reached the bottom\n    in safety.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    A gentleman carrying a gun, with two pointers\n    playi"
	.ascii	"ng round him, was passing up the hill and within\n    a few "
	.ascii	"yards of Marianne, when her accident happened.\n    He put d"
	.ascii	"own his gun and ran to her assistance.  She had\n    raised "
	.ascii	"herself from the ground, but her foot had been\n    twisted "
	.ascii	"in her fall, and she was scarcely able to stand.\n    The ge"
	.ascii	"ntleman offered his services; and perceiving that her\n    m"
	.ascii	"odesty declined what her situation rendered necessary,\n    "
	.ascii	"took her up in his arms without farther delay, and carried\n"
	.ascii	"    her down the hill.  Then passing through the garden,\n  "
	.ascii	"  the gate of which had been left open by Margaret, he bore "
	.ascii	"her\n    directly into the house, whither Margaret was just "
	.ascii	"arrived,\n    and quitted not his hold till he had seated he"
	.ascii	"r in a chair\n    in the parlour.\n    \n    Elinor and her "
	.ascii	"mother rose up in amazement at\n    their entrance, and whil"
	.ascii	"e the eyes of both were fixed\n    on him with an evident wo"
	.ascii	"nder and a secret admiration\n    which equally sprung from "
	.ascii	"his appearance, he apologized\n    for his intrusion by rela"
	.ascii	"ting its cause, in a manner\n    so frank and so graceful th"
	.ascii	"at his person, which was\n    uncommonly handsome, received "
	.ascii	"additional charms from his voice\n    and expression.  Had h"
	.ascii	"e been even old, ugly, and vulgar,\n    the gratitude and ki"
	.ascii	"ndness of Mrs. Dashwood would\n    have been secured by any "
	.ascii	"act of attention to her child;\n    but the influence of "
	.ascii	"youth, beauty, and elegance,\n    gave an interest to the ac"
	.ascii	"tion which came home to her feelings.\n    \n    She thanked"
	.ascii	" him again and again; and, with a sweetness\n    of address "
	.ascii	"which always attended her, invited him to\n    be seated.  B"
	.ascii	"ut this he declined, as he was dirty and wet.\n    Mrs. Dash"
	.ascii	"wood then begged to know to whom she was obliged.\n    His n"
	.ascii	"ame, he replied, was Willoughby, and his present\n    home w"
	.ascii	"as at Allenham, from whence he hoped she would\n    allow hi"
	.ascii	"m the honour of calling tomorrow to enquire\n    after Miss "
	.ascii	"Dashwood.  The honour was readily granted,\n    and he then "
	.ascii	"departed, to make himself still more interesting,\n    in th"
	.ascii	"e midst of a heavy rain.\n    \n    His manly beauty and mor"
	.ascii	"e than common gracefulness\n    were instantly the theme of "
	.ascii	"general admiration,\n    and the laugh which his gallantry r"
	.ascii	"aised against Marianne\n    received particular spirit from "
	.ascii	"his exterior attractions.--\n    Marianne herself had seen l"
	.ascii	"ess of his person that the rest,\n    for the confusion whic"
	.ascii	"h crimsoned over her face, on his\n    lifting her up, had r"
	.ascii	"obbed her of the power of regarding\n    him after their ent"
	.ascii	"ering the house.  But she had seen\n    enough of him to joi"
	.ascii	"n in all the admiration of the others,\n    and with an ener"
	.ascii	"gy which always adorned her praise.\n    His person and air "
	.ascii	"were equal to what her fancy had ever\n    drawn for the her"
	.ascii	"o of a favourite story; and in his carrying\n    her into th"
	.ascii	"e house with so little previous formality, there\n    was a "
	.ascii	"rapidity of thought which particularly recommended\n    the "
	.ascii	"action to her.  Every circumstance belonging to him\n    was"
	.ascii	" interesting.  His name was good, his residence was in\n    "
	.ascii	"their favourite village, and she soon found out that of all\n"
	.ascii	"    manly dresses a shooting-jacket was the most becoming.\n"
	.ascii	"    Her imagination was busy, her reflections were pleasant,"
	.ascii	"\n    and the pain of a sprained ankle was disregarded.\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    Sir John called on them as soon as the next interval\n"
	.ascii	"    of fair weather that morning allowed him to get ou"
	.ascii	"t\n    of doors; and Marianne's accident being related to hi"
	.ascii	"m,\n    he was eagerly asked whether he knew any gentleman\n"
	.ascii	"    of the name of Willoughby at Allenham.\n    \n    \"Will"
	.ascii	"oughby!\" cried Sir John; \"what, is HE\n    in the country?"
	.ascii	" That is good news however; I will\n    ride over tomorrow, "
	.ascii	"and ask him to dinner on Thursday.\"\n    \n    \"You know h"
	.ascii	"im then,\" said Mrs. Dashwood.\n    \n    \"Know him! to be "
	.ascii	"sure I do.  Why, he is down here\n    every year.\"\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   \"And what sort of a young man is he?\"\n    \n    \"As g"
	.ascii	"ood a kind of fellow as ever lived, I assure you.\n    A ver"
	.ascii	"y decent shot, and there is not a bolder rider\n    in Engla"
	.ascii	"nd.\"\n    \n    \"And is that all you can say for him?\" cr"
	.ascii	"ied Marianne,\n    indignantly.  \"But what are his manners "
	.ascii	"on more intimate\n    acquaintance? What his pursuits, his t"
	.ascii	"alents, and genius?\"\n    \n    Sir John was rather puzzled"
	.ascii	".\n    \n    \"Upon my soul,\" said he, \"I do not know much"
	.ascii	" about him\n    as to all THAT.  But he is a pleasant, good "
	.ascii	"humoured fellow,\n    and has got the nicest little black bi"
	.ascii	"tch of a pointer\n    I ever saw.  Was she out with him toda"
	.ascii	"y?\"\n    \n    But Marianne could no more satisfy him as to"
	.ascii	" the\n    colour of Mr. Willoughby's pointer, than he could\n"
	.ascii	"    describe to her the shades of his mind.\n    \n    \"But"
	.ascii	" who is he?\" said Elinor.  \"Where does he come\n    from? "
	.ascii	" Has he a house at Allenham?\"\n    \n    On this point Sir "
	.ascii	"John could give more certain intelligence;\n    and he told "
	.ascii	"them that Mr. Willoughby had no property\n    of his own in "
	.ascii	"the country; that he resided there only\n    while he was vi"
	.ascii	"siting the old lady at Allenham Court,\n    to whom he was r"
	.ascii	"elated, and whose possessions he was\n    to inherit; adding"
	.ascii	", \"Yes, yes, he is very well worth\n    catching I can tell"
	.ascii	" you, Miss Dashwood; he has a pretty\n    little estate of h"
	.ascii	"is own in Somersetshire besides;\n    and if I were you, I w"
	.ascii	"ould not give him up to my\n    younger sister, in spite of "
	.ascii	"all this tumbling down hills.\n    Miss Marianne must not ex"
	.ascii	"pect to have all the men to hers"
	.ascii	"elf.\n    Brandon will be jealous, if she does not take care"
	.ascii	".\"\n    \n    \"I do not believe,\" said Mrs. Dashwood, wit"
	.ascii	"h a\n    good humoured smile, \"that Mr. Willoughby will be "
	.ascii	"incommoded\n    by the attempts of either of MY daughters to"
	.ascii	"wards what\n    you call CATCHING him.  It is not an employm"
	.ascii	"ent to which\n    they have been brought up.  Men are very s"
	.ascii	"afe with us,\n    let them be ever so rich.  I am glad to fi"
	.ascii	"nd, however,\n    from what you say, that he is a respectabl"
	.ascii	"e young man,\n    and one whose acquaintance will not be ine"
	.ascii	"ligible.\"\n    \n    \"He is as good a sort of fellow, I be"
	.ascii	"lieve,\n    as ever lived,\" repeated Sir John.  \"I remembe"
	.ascii	"r\n    last Christmas at a little hop at the park, he danced"
	.ascii	"\n    from eight o'clock till four, without once sitting dow"
	.ascii	"n.\"\n    \n    \"Did he indeed?\" cried Marianne with spark"
	.ascii	"ling eyes,\n    \"and with elegance, with spirit?\"\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   \"Yes; and he was up again at eight to ride to covert.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"That is what I like; that is what a young man ou"
	.ascii	"ght\n    to be.  Whatever be his pursuits, his eagerness in "
	.ascii	"them\n    should know no moderation, and leave him no sense "
	.ascii	"of fatigue.\"\n    \n    \"Aye, aye, I see how it will be,\""
	.ascii	" said Sir John, \"I see\n    how it will be.  You will be se"
	.ascii	"tting your cap at him now,\n    and never think of poor Bran"
	.ascii	"don.\"\n    \n    \"That is an expression, Sir John,\" said "
	.ascii	"Marianne,\n    warmly, \"which I particularly dislike.  I ab"
	.ascii	"hor every\n    common-place phrase by which wit is intended;"
	.ascii	" and 'setting\n    one's cap at a man,' or 'making a conques"
	.ascii	"t,' are the most\n    odious of all.  Their tendency is gros"
	.ascii	"s and illiberal;\n    and if their construction could ever b"
	.ascii	"e deemed clever,\n    time has long ago destroyed all its in"
	.ascii	"genuity.\"\n    \n    Sir John did not much understand this "
	.ascii	"reproof;\n    but he laughed as heartily as if he did, and t"
	.ascii	"hen replied,\n    \n    \"Ay, you will make conquests enough"
	.ascii	", I dare say,\n    one way or other.  Poor Brandon! he is qu"
	.ascii	"ite smitten already,\n    and he is very well worth setting "
	.ascii	"your cap at, I can\n    tell "
	.ascii	"you, in spite of all this tumbling about and spraining\n    "
	.ascii	"of ankles.\"\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 10\n    \n    \n"
	.ascii	"    Marianne's preserver, as Margaret, with more elegance\n "
	.ascii	"   than precision, styled Willoughby, called at the cottage\n"
	.ascii	"    early the next morning to make his personal enquiries.\n"
	.ascii	"    He was received by Mrs. Dashwood with more than politene"
	.ascii	"ss;\n    with a kindness which Sir John's account of him and"
	.ascii	" her own\n    gratitude prompted; and every thing that passe"
	.ascii	"d during\n    the visit tended to assure him of the sense, e"
	.ascii	"legance,\n    mutual affection, and domestic comfort of the "
	.ascii	"family\n    to whom accident had now introduced him.  Of the"
	.ascii	"ir\n    personal charms he had not required a second intervi"
	.ascii	"ew\n    to be convinced.\n    \n    Miss Dashwood had a deli"
	.ascii	"cate complexion,\n    regular features, and a remarkably pre"
	.ascii	"tty figure.\n    Marianne was still handsomer.  Her form, th"
	.ascii	"ough not so\n    correct as her sister's, in having the adva"
	.ascii	"ntage of height,\n    was more striking; and her face was so"
	.ascii	" lovely, that when\n    in the common cant of praise, she wa"
	.ascii	"s called a beautiful girl,\n    truth was less violently out"
	.ascii	"raged than usually happens.\n    Her skin was very brown, bu"
	.ascii	"t, from its transparency,\n    her complexion was uncommonly"
	.ascii	" brilliant; her features\n    were all good; her smile was s"
	.ascii	"weet and attractive;\n    and in her eyes, which were very d"
	.ascii	"ark, there was a life,\n    a spirit, an eagerness, which co"
	.ascii	"uld hardily be seen\n    without delight.  From Willoughby t"
	.ascii	"heir expression was at\n    first held back, by the embarras"
	.ascii	"sment which the remembrance\n    of his assistance created. "
	.ascii	" But when this passed away,\n    when her spirits became col"
	.ascii	"lected, when she saw that to the\n    perfect good-breeding "
	.ascii	"of the gentleman, he united frankness\n    and vivacity, and"
	.ascii	" above all, when she heard him declare,\n    that of music a"
	.ascii	"nd dancing he was passionately fond,\n    she gave him such "
	.ascii	"a look of approbation as secured the\n    largest share of h"
	.ascii	"is discourse to herself for the rest\n    of his stay.\n    "
	.ascii	"\n "
	.ascii	"   It was only necessary to mention any favourite\n    amuse"
	.ascii	"ment to engage her to talk.  She could not be\n    silent wh"
	.ascii	"en such points were introduced, and she\n    had neither shy"
	.ascii	"ness nor reserve in their discussion.\n    They speedily dis"
	.ascii	"covered that their enjoyment of dancing\n    and music was m"
	.ascii	"utual, and that it arose from a general\n    conformity of j"
	.ascii	"udgment in all that related to either.\n    Encouraged by th"
	.ascii	"is to a further examination of his opinions,\n    she procee"
	.ascii	"ded to question him on the subject of books;\n    her favour"
	.ascii	"ite authors were brought forward and dwelt\n    upon with so"
	.ascii	" rapturous a delight, that any young man of\n    five and tw"
	.ascii	"enty must have been insensible indeed, not to\n    become an"
	.ascii	" immediate convert to the excellence of such works,\n    how"
	.ascii	"ever disregarded before.  Their taste was strikingly alike.\n"
	.ascii	"    The same books, the same passages were idolized by each-"
	.ascii	"-\n    or if any difference appeared, any objection arose,\n"
	.ascii	"    it lasted no longer than till the force of her arguments"
	.ascii	"\n    and the brightness of her eyes could be displayed.\n  "
	.ascii	"  He acquiesced in all her decisions, caught all her enthusi"
	.ascii	"asm;\n    and long before his visit concluded, they converse"
	.ascii	"d\n    with the familiarity of a long-established acquaintan"
	.ascii	"ce.\n    \n    \"Well, Marianne,\" said Elinor, as soon as h"
	.ascii	"e had left them,\n    \"for ONE morning I think you have don"
	.ascii	"e pretty well.\n    You have already ascertained Mr. Willoug"
	.ascii	"hby's opinion in\n    almost every matter of importance.  Yo"
	.ascii	"u know what he thinks\n    of Cowper and Scott; you are cert"
	.ascii	"ain of his estimating\n    their beauties as he ought, and y"
	.ascii	"ou have received every\n    assurance of his admiring Pope n"
	.ascii	"o more than is proper.\n    But how is your acquaintance to "
	.ascii	"be long supported, under such\n    extraordinary despatch of"
	.ascii	" every subject for discourse?\n    You will soon have exhaus"
	.ascii	"ted each favourite topic.\n    Another meeting will suffice "
	.ascii	"to explain his sentiments\n    on picturesque beauty, and se"
	.ascii	"cond marriages, and then\n    you can have nothing farth"
	.ascii	"er to ask.\"--\n    \n    \"Elinor,\" cried Marianne, \"is t"
	.ascii	"his fair? is this\n    just? are my ideas so scanty?  But I "
	.ascii	"see what you mean.\n    I have been too much at my ease, too"
	.ascii	" happy, too frank.\n    I have erred against every common-pl"
	.ascii	"ace notion of decorum;\n    I have been open and sincere whe"
	.ascii	"re I ought to have\n    been reserved, spiritless, dull, and"
	.ascii	" deceitful--had\n    I talked only of the weather and the ro"
	.ascii	"ads, and had I\n    spoken only once in ten minutes, this re"
	.ascii	"proach would have\n    been spared.\"\n    \n    \"My love,\""
	.ascii	" said her mother, \"you must not be offended\n    with Elino"
	.ascii	"r--she was only in jest.  I should scold\n    her myself, if"
	.ascii	" she were capable of wishing to check\n    the delight of yo"
	.ascii	"ur conversation with our new friend.\"--\n    Marianne was s"
	.ascii	"oftened in a moment.\n    \n    Willoughby, on his side, gav"
	.ascii	"e every proof of his\n    pleasure in their acquaintance, wh"
	.ascii	"ich an evident wish\n    of improving it could offer.  He ca"
	.ascii	"me to them every day.\n    To enquire after Marianne was at "
	.ascii	"first his excuse; but the\n    encouragement of his receptio"
	.ascii	"n, to which every day gave\n    greater kindness, made such "
	.ascii	"an excuse unnecessary before it\n    had ceased to be possib"
	.ascii	"le, by Marianne's perfect recovery.\n    She was confined fo"
	.ascii	"r some days to the house; but never had\n    any confinement"
	.ascii	" been less irksome.  Willoughby was a young\n    man of good"
	.ascii	" abilities, quick imagination, lively spirits,\n    and open"
	.ascii	", affectionate manners.  He was exactly formed\n    to engag"
	.ascii	"e Marianne's heart, for with all this, he joined\n    not on"
	.ascii	"ly a captivating person, but a natural ardour\n    of mind w"
	.ascii	"hich was now roused and increased by the example\n    of her"
	.ascii	" own, and which recommended him to her affection\n    beyond"
	.ascii	" every thing else.\n    \n    His society became gradually h"
	.ascii	"er most exquisite enjoyment.\n    They read, they talked, th"
	.ascii	"ey sang together; his musical\n    talents were considerable"
	.ascii	"; and he read with all the\n    sensibility and spirit which"
	.ascii	" Edward had unfortunately wanted.\n    \n    In Mrs. Dashwoo"
	.ascii	"d's esti"
	.ascii	"mation he was as faultless\n    as in Marianne's; and Elinor"
	.ascii	" saw nothing to censure in him\n    but a propensity, in whi"
	.ascii	"ch he strongly resembled and peculiarly\n    delighted her s"
	.ascii	"ister, of saying too much what he thought on\n    every occa"
	.ascii	"sion, without attention to persons or circumstances.\n    In"
	.ascii	" hastily forming and giving his opinion of other people,\n  "
	.ascii	"  in sacrificing general politeness to the enjoyment\n    of"
	.ascii	" undivided attention where his heart was engaged,\n    and i"
	.ascii	"n slighting too easily the forms of worldly propriety,\n    "
	.ascii	"he displayed a want of caution which Elinor could not approv"
	.ascii	"e,\n    in spite of all that he and Marianne could say in it"
	.ascii	"s support.\n    \n    Marianne began now to perceive that th"
	.ascii	"e desperation\n    which had seized her at sixteen and a hal"
	.ascii	"f, of ever\n    seeing a man who could satisfy her ideas of "
	.ascii	"perfection,\n    had been rash and unjustifiable.  Willoughb"
	.ascii	"y was all\n    that her fancy had delineated in that unhappy"
	.ascii	" hour\n    and in every brighter period, as capable of attac"
	.ascii	"hing her;\n    and his behaviour declared his wishes to be i"
	.ascii	"n that respect\n    as earnest, as his abilities were strong"
	.ascii	".\n    \n    Her mother too, in whose mind not one speculati"
	.ascii	"ve\n    thought of their marriage had been raised, by his pr"
	.ascii	"ospect\n    of riches, was led before the end of a week to h"
	.ascii	"ope and\n    expect it; and secretly to congratulate herself"
	.ascii	" on having\n    gained two such sons-in-law as Edward and Wi"
	.ascii	"lloughby.\n    \n    Colonel Brandon's partiality for Marian"
	.ascii	"ne, which had\n    so early been discovered by his friends, "
	.ascii	"now first became\n    perceptible to Elinor, when it ceased "
	.ascii	"to be noticed\n    by them.  Their attention and wit were dr"
	.ascii	"awn off to his\n    more fortunate rival; and the raillery w"
	.ascii	"hich the other\n    had incurred before any partiality arose"
	.ascii	", was removed\n    when his feelings began really to call fo"
	.ascii	"r the ridicule\n    so justly annexed to sensibility.  Elino"
	.ascii	"r was obliged,\n    though unwillingly, to believe that the "
	.ascii	"sentiments which\n    Mrs. Jennings had assigned him for"
	.ascii	" her own satisfaction,\n    were now actually excited by her"
	.ascii	" sister; and that however\n    a general resemblance of disp"
	.ascii	"osition between the parties\n    might forward the affection"
	.ascii	" of Mr. Willoughby, an equally\n    striking opposition of c"
	.ascii	"haracter was no hindrance to the\n    regard of Colonel Bran"
	.ascii	"don.  She saw it with concern;\n    for what could a silent "
	.ascii	"man of five and thirty hope,\n    when opposed to a very liv"
	.ascii	"ely one of five and twenty? and as\n    she could not even w"
	.ascii	"ish him successful, she heartily wished\n    him indifferent"
	.ascii	".  She liked him--in spite of his gravity\n    and reserve, "
	.ascii	"she beheld in him an object of interest.\n    His manners, t"
	.ascii	"hough serious, were mild; and his reserve\n    appeared rath"
	.ascii	"er the result of some oppression of spirits\n    than of any"
	.ascii	" natural gloominess of temper.  Sir John\n    had dropped hi"
	.ascii	"nts of past injuries and disappointments,\n    which justifi"
	.ascii	"ed her belief of his being an unfortunate man,\n    and she "
	.ascii	"regarded him with respect and compassion.\n    \n    Perhaps"
	.ascii	" she pitied and esteemed him the more\n    because he was sl"
	.ascii	"ighted by Willoughby and Marianne,\n    who, prejudiced agai"
	.ascii	"nst him for being neither lively\n    nor young, seemed reso"
	.ascii	"lved to undervalue his merits.\n    \n    \"Brandon is just "
	.ascii	"the kind of man,\" said Willoughby\n    one day, when they w"
	.ascii	"ere talking of him together,\n    \"whom every body speaks w"
	.ascii	"ell of, and nobody cares about;\n    whom all are delighted "
	.ascii	"to see, and nobody remembers\n    to talk to.\"\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"That is exactly what I think of him,\" cried Marianne.\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    \"Do not boast of it, however,\" said Elinor, \"for it"
	.ascii	"\n    is injustice in both of you.  He is highly esteemed\n "
	.ascii	"   by all the family at the park, and I never see him myself"
	.ascii	"\n    without taking pains to converse with him.\"\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \"That he is patronised by YOU,\" replied Willoughby,\n   "
	.ascii	" \"is certainly in his favour; but as for the esteem\n    of"
	.ascii	" the others, it is a reproach in itself.  Who would\n    sub"
	.ascii	"mit to the indignity of being approved by such a woman\n    "
	.ascii	"as Lady Midd"
	.ascii	"leton and Mrs. Jennings, that could command\n    the indiffe"
	.ascii	"rence of any body else?\"\n    \n    \"But perhaps the abuse"
	.ascii	" of such people as yourself\n    and Marianne will make amen"
	.ascii	"ds for the regard of Lady\n    Middleton and her mother.  If"
	.ascii	" their praise is censure,\n    your censure may be praise, f"
	.ascii	"or they are not more undiscerning,\n    than you are prejudi"
	.ascii	"ced and unjust.\"\n    \n    \"In defence of your protege yo"
	.ascii	"u can even be saucy.\"\n    \n    \"My protege, as you call "
	.ascii	"him, is a sensible man;\n    and sense will always have attr"
	.ascii	"actions for me.\n    Yes, Marianne, even in a man between th"
	.ascii	"irty and forty.\n    He has seen a great deal of the world; "
	.ascii	"has been abroad,\n    has read, and has a thinking mind.  I "
	.ascii	"have found him\n    capable of giving me much information on"
	.ascii	" various subjects;\n    and he has always answered my inquir"
	.ascii	"ies with readiness of\n    good-breeding and good nature.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"That is to say,\" cried Marianne contemptuously,"
	.ascii	"\n    \"he has told you, that in the East Indies the climate"
	.ascii	" is hot,\n    and the mosquitoes are troublesome.\"\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   \"He WOULD have told me so, I doubt not, had I made\n    "
	.ascii	"any such inquiries, but they happened to be points\n    on w"
	.ascii	"hich I had been previously informed.\"\n    \n    \"Perhaps,"
	.ascii	"\" said Willoughby, \"his observations may\n    have extende"
	.ascii	"d to the existence of nabobs, gold mohrs,\n    and palanquin"
	.ascii	"s.\"\n    \n    \"I may venture to say that HIS observations"
	.ascii	"\n    have stretched much further than your candour.\n    Bu"
	.ascii	"t why should you dislike him?\"\n    \n    \"I do not dislik"
	.ascii	"e him.  I consider him, on the contrary,\n    as a very resp"
	.ascii	"ectable man, who has every body's good word,\n    and nobody"
	.ascii	"'s notice; who, has more money than he can spend,\n    more "
	.ascii	"time than he knows how to employ, and two new coats\n    eve"
	.ascii	"ry year.\"\n    \n    \"Add to which,\" cried Marianne, \"th"
	.ascii	"at he has\n    neither genius, taste, nor spirit.  That his "
	.ascii	"understanding\n    has no brilliancy, his feelings no ardour"
	.ascii	", and his voice\n    no expression.\"\n    \n    \"You decid"
	.ascii	"e on his imperfections so much i"
	.ascii	"n the mass,\"\n    replied Elinor, \"and so much on the stre"
	.ascii	"ngth of your\n    own imagination, that the commendation I a"
	.ascii	"m able to give\n    of him is comparatively cold and insipid"
	.ascii	".  I can only\n    pronounce him to be a sensible man, well-"
	.ascii	"bred, well-informed,\n    of gentle address, and, I believe,"
	.ascii	" possessing an amiable heart.\"\n    \n    \"Miss Dashwood,\""
	.ascii	" cried Willoughby, \"you are now using\n    me unkindly.  Yo"
	.ascii	"u are endeavouring to disarm me by reason,\n    and to convi"
	.ascii	"nce me against my will.  But it will not do.\n    You shall "
	.ascii	"find me as stubborn as you can be artful.  I have\n    three"
	.ascii	" unanswerable reasons for disliking Colonel Brandon;\n    he"
	.ascii	" threatened me with rain when I wanted it to be fine;\n    h"
	.ascii	"e has found fault with the hanging of my curricle,\n    and "
	.ascii	"I cannot persuade him to buy my brown mare.  If it\n    will"
	.ascii	" be any satisfaction to you, however, to be told,\n    that "
	.ascii	"I believe his character to be in other respects\n    irrepro"
	.ascii	"achable, I am ready to confess it.  And in return\n    for a"
	.ascii	"n acknowledgment, which must give me some pain,\n    you can"
	.ascii	"not deny me the privilege of disliking him as much\n    as e"
	.ascii	"ver.\"\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 11\n    \n    \n    Li"
	.ascii	"ttle had Mrs. Dashwood or her daughters imagined\n    when t"
	.ascii	"hey first came into Devonshire, that so many\n    engagement"
	.ascii	"s would arise to occupy their time as shortly\n    presented"
	.ascii	" themselves, or that they should have such frequent\n    inv"
	.ascii	"itations and such constant visitors as to leave them little\n"
	.ascii	"    leisure for serious employment.  Yet such was the case.\n"
	.ascii	"    When Marianne was recovered, the schemes of amusement at"
	.ascii	" home\n    and abroad, which Sir John had been previously fo"
	.ascii	"rming,\n    were put into execution.  The private balls at t"
	.ascii	"he park\n    then began; and parties on the water were made "
	.ascii	"and\n    accomplished as often as a showery October would al"
	.ascii	"low.\n    In every meeting of the kind Willoughby was includ"
	.ascii	"ed;\n    and the ease and familiarity which naturally attend"
	.ascii	"ed\n    these parties were exactly calculated to give increa"
	.ascii	"sing"
	.ascii	"\n    intimacy to his acquaintance with the Dashwoods, to af"
	.ascii	"ford\n    him opportunity of witnessing the excellencies of "
	.ascii	"Marianne,\n    of marking his animated admiration of her, an"
	.ascii	"d of receiving,\n    in her behaviour to himself, the most p"
	.ascii	"ointed assurance\n    of her affection.\n    \n    Elinor co"
	.ascii	"uld not be surprised at their attachment.\n    She only wish"
	.ascii	"ed that it were less openly shewn; and once\n    or twice di"
	.ascii	"d venture to suggest the propriety of some\n    self-command"
	.ascii	" to Marianne.  But Marianne abhorred all\n    concealment wh"
	.ascii	"ere no real disgrace could attend unreserve;\n    and to aim"
	.ascii	" at the restraint of sentiments which were not\n    in thems"
	.ascii	"elves illaudable, appeared to her not merely\n    an unneces"
	.ascii	"sary effort, but a disgraceful subjection\n    of reason to "
	.ascii	"common-place and mistaken notions.\n    Willoughby thought t"
	.ascii	"he same; and their behaviour at\n    all times, was an illus"
	.ascii	"tration of their opinions.\n    \n    When he was present sh"
	.ascii	"e had no eyes for any one else.\n    Every thing he did, was"
	.ascii	" right.  Every thing he said, was clever.\n    If their even"
	.ascii	"ings at the park were concluded with cards,\n    he cheated "
	.ascii	"himself and all the rest of the party to get\n    her a good"
	.ascii	" hand.  If dancing formed the amusement\n    of the night, t"
	.ascii	"hey were partners for half the time;\n    and when obliged t"
	.ascii	"o separate for a couple of dances,\n    were careful to stan"
	.ascii	"d together and scarcely spoke a word\n    to any body else. "
	.ascii	" Such conduct made them of course\n    most exceedingly laug"
	.ascii	"hed at; but ridicule could not shame,\n    and seemed hardly"
	.ascii	" to provoke them.\n    \n    Mrs. Dashwood entered into all "
	.ascii	"their feelings with\n    a warmth which left her no inclinat"
	.ascii	"ion for checking this\n    excessive display of them.  To he"
	.ascii	"r it was but the natural\n    consequence of a strong affect"
	.ascii	"ion in a young and ardent mind.\n    \n    This was the seas"
	.ascii	"on of happiness to Marianne.\n    Her heart was devoted to W"
	.ascii	"illoughby, and the fond attachment\n    to Norland, which sh"
	.ascii	"e brought with her from Sussex,\n    was more likely to be "
	.ascii	"softened than she had thought it\n    possible before, by th"
	.ascii	"e charms which his society bestowed\n    on her present home"
	.ascii	".\n    \n    Elinor's happiness was not so great.  Her heart"
	.ascii	" was not\n    so much at ease, nor her satisfaction in their"
	.ascii	" amusements\n    so pure.  They afforded her no companion th"
	.ascii	"at could make\n    amends for what she had left behind, nor "
	.ascii	"that could teach\n    her to think of Norland with less regr"
	.ascii	"et than ever.\n    Neither Lady Middleton nor Mrs. Jennings "
	.ascii	"could supply\n    to her the conversation she missed; althou"
	.ascii	"gh the latter\n    was an everlasting talker, and from the f"
	.ascii	"irst had regarded\n    her with a kindness which ensured her"
	.ascii	" a large share of\n    her discourse.  She had already repea"
	.ascii	"ted her own history\n    to Elinor three or four times; and "
	.ascii	"had Elinor's memory been\n    equal to her means of improvem"
	.ascii	"ent, she might have known\n    very early in their acquainta"
	.ascii	"nce all the particulars of\n    Mr. Jenning's last illness, "
	.ascii	"and what he said to his wife\n    a few minutes before he di"
	.ascii	"ed.  Lady Middleton was more\n    agreeable than her mother "
	.ascii	"only in being more silent.\n    Elinor needed little observa"
	.ascii	"tion to perceive that her\n    reserve was a mere calmness o"
	.ascii	"f manner with which sense\n    had nothing to do.  Towards h"
	.ascii	"er husband and mother she\n    was the same as to them; and "
	.ascii	"intimacy was therefore\n    neither to be looked for nor des"
	.ascii	"ired.  She had nothing\n    to say one day that she had not "
	.ascii	"said the day before.\n    Her insipidity was invariable, for"
	.ascii	" even her spirits were\n    always the same; and though she "
	.ascii	"did not oppose the parties\n    arranged by her husband, pro"
	.ascii	"vided every thing were conducted\n    in style and her two e"
	.ascii	"ldest children attended her,\n    she never appeared to rece"
	.ascii	"ive more enjoyment from them\n    than she might have experi"
	.ascii	"enced in sitting at home;--\n    and so little did her prese"
	.ascii	"nce add to the pleasure\n    of the others, by any share in "
	.ascii	"their conversation,\n    that they were sometimes only remin"
	.ascii	"ded of her being\n    amongst them by her solicitude ab"
	.ascii	"out her troublesome boys.\n    \n    In Colonel Brandon alon"
	.ascii	"e, of all her new acquaintance,\n    did Elinor find a perso"
	.ascii	"n who could in any degree claim the\n    respect of abilitie"
	.ascii	"s, excite the interest of friendship,\n    or give pleasure "
	.ascii	"as a companion.  Willoughby was out\n    of the question.  H"
	.ascii	"er admiration and regard, even her\n    sisterly regard, was"
	.ascii	" all his own; but he was a lover;\n    his attentions were w"
	.ascii	"holly Marianne's, and a far less\n    agreeable man might ha"
	.ascii	"ve been more generally pleasing.\n    Colonel Brandon, unfor"
	.ascii	"tunately for himself, had no such\n    encouragement to thin"
	.ascii	"k only of Marianne, and in conversing\n    with Elinor he fo"
	.ascii	"und the greatest consolation for the\n    indifference of he"
	.ascii	"r sister.\n    \n    Elinor's compassion for him increased, "
	.ascii	"as she had reason\n    to suspect that the misery of disappo"
	.ascii	"inted love had already\n    been known to him.  This suspici"
	.ascii	"on was given by some words\n    which accidently dropped fro"
	.ascii	"m him one evening at the park,\n    when they were sitting d"
	.ascii	"own together by mutual consent,\n    while the others were d"
	.ascii	"ancing.  His eyes were fixed\n    on Marianne, and, after a "
	.ascii	"silence of some minutes,\n    he said, with a faint smile, \""
	.ascii	"Your sister, I understand,\n    does not approve of second a"
	.ascii	"ttachments.\"\n    \n    \"No,\" replied Elinor, \"her opini"
	.ascii	"ons are all romantic.\"\n    \n    \"Or rather, as I believe"
	.ascii	", she considers them\n    impossible to exist.\"\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"\"I believe she does.  But how she contrives it\n    without"
	.ascii	" reflecting on the character of her own father,\n    who had"
	.ascii	" himself two wives, I know not.  A few years\n    however wi"
	.ascii	"ll settle her opinions on the reasonable basis\n    of commo"
	.ascii	"n sense and observation; and then they may be\n    more easy"
	.ascii	" to define and to justify than they now are,\n    by any bod"
	.ascii	"y but herself.\"\n    \n    \"This will probably be the case"
	.ascii	",\" he replied;\n    \"and yet there is something so amiable"
	.ascii	" in the prejudices\n    of a young mind, that one is sorry t"
	.ascii	"o see them give way\n    to the reception of more general op"
	.ascii	"inions.\"\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    \"I cannot agree with you there,\" said Elinor.\n    \""
	.ascii	"There are inconveniences attending such feelings\n    as Mar"
	.ascii	"ianne's, which all the charms of enthusiasm and\n    ignoran"
	.ascii	"ce of the world cannot atone for.  Her systems have\n    all"
	.ascii	" the unfortunate tendency of setting propriety at nought;\n "
	.ascii	"   and a better acquaintance with the world is what I look\n"
	.ascii	"    forward to as her greatest possible advantage.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    After a short pause he resumed the conversation\n    by "
	.ascii	"saying,--\n    \n    \"Does your sister make no distinction "
	.ascii	"in her objections\n    against a second attachment? or is it"
	.ascii	" equally criminal\n    in every body?  Are those who have be"
	.ascii	"en disappointed\n    in their first choice, whether from the"
	.ascii	" inconstancy\n    of its object, or the perverseness of circ"
	.ascii	"umstances,\n    to be equally indifferent during the rest of"
	.ascii	" their lives?\"\n    \n    \"Upon my word, I am not acquaint"
	.ascii	"ed with the minutiae\n    of her principles.  I only know th"
	.ascii	"at I never yet heard her\n    admit any instance of a second"
	.ascii	" attachment's being pardonable.\"\n    \n    \"This,\" said "
	.ascii	"he, \"cannot hold; but a change,\n    a total change of sent"
	.ascii	"iments--No, no, do not desire it;\n    for when the romantic"
	.ascii	" refinements of a young mind\n    are obliged to give way, h"
	.ascii	"ow frequently are they\n    succeeded by such opinions as ar"
	.ascii	"e but too common, and too\n    dangerous!  I speak from expe"
	.ascii	"rience.  I once knew a lady\n    who in temper and mind grea"
	.ascii	"tly resembled your sister,\n    who thought and judged like "
	.ascii	"her, but who from an inforced\n    change--from a series of "
	.ascii	"unfortunate circumstances\"--\n    Here he stopt suddenly; a"
	.ascii	"ppeared to think that he had said\n    too much, and by his "
	.ascii	"countenance gave rise to conjectures,\n    which might not o"
	.ascii	"therwise have entered Elinor's head.\n    The lady would pro"
	.ascii	"bably have passed without suspicion,\n    had he not convinc"
	.ascii	"ed Miss Dashwood that what concerned\n    her ought not to e"
	.ascii	"scape his lips.  As it was,\n    it required but a slight ef"
	.ascii	"fort of fancy to connect his\n    emotion with the tender re"
	.ascii	"collection"
	.ascii	" of past regard.\n    Elinor attempted no more.  But Mariann"
	.ascii	"e, in her place,\n    would not have done so little.  The wh"
	.ascii	"ole story would\n    have been speedily formed under her act"
	.ascii	"ive imagination;\n    and every thing established in the mos"
	.ascii	"t melancholy order\n    of disastrous love.\n    \n    \n   "
	.ascii	" \n    CHAPTER 12\n    \n    \n    As Elinor and Marianne we"
	.ascii	"re walking together the\n    next morning the latter communi"
	.ascii	"cated a piece of news\n    to her sister, which in spite of "
	.ascii	"all that she knew\n    before of Marianne's imprudence and w"
	.ascii	"ant of thought,\n    surprised her by its extravagant testim"
	.ascii	"ony of both.\n    Marianne told her, with the greatest delig"
	.ascii	"ht, that\n    Willoughby had given her a horse, one that he "
	.ascii	"had bred\n    himself on his estate in Somersetshire, and wh"
	.ascii	"ich was\n    exactly calculated to carry a woman.  Without c"
	.ascii	"onsidering\n    that it was not in her mother's plan to keep"
	.ascii	" any horse,\n    that if she were to alter her resolution in"
	.ascii	" favour of\n    this gift, she must buy another for the serv"
	.ascii	"ant, and\n    keep a servant to ride it, and after all, buil"
	.ascii	"d a stable\n    to receive them, she had accepted the presen"
	.ascii	"t without\n    hesitation, and told her sister of it in rapt"
	.ascii	"ures.\n    \n    \"He intends to send his groom into Somerse"
	.ascii	"tshire\n    immediately for it,\" she added, \"and when it a"
	.ascii	"rrives we\n    will ride every day.  You shall share its use"
	.ascii	" with me.\n    Imagine to yourself, my dear Elinor, the deli"
	.ascii	"ght of a gallop\n    on some of these downs.\"\n    \n    Mo"
	.ascii	"st unwilling was she to awaken from such a dream of\n    fel"
	.ascii	"icity to comprehend all the unhappy truths which attended\n "
	.ascii	"   the affair; and for some time she refused to submit to th"
	.ascii	"em.\n    As to an additional servant, the expense would be a"
	.ascii	" trifle;\n    Mamma she was sure would never object to it; a"
	.ascii	"nd any horse\n    would do for HIM; he might always get one "
	.ascii	"at the park;\n    as to a stable, the merest shed would be s"
	.ascii	"ufficient.\n    Elinor then ventured to doubt the propriety "
	.ascii	"of her receiving\n    such a present from a man so little, o"
	.ascii	"r at l"
	.ascii	"east so lately\n    known to her.  This was too much.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"You are mistaken, Elinor,\" said she warmly,\n    \"in"
	.ascii	" supposing I know very little of Willoughby.\n    I have not"
	.ascii	" known him long indeed, but I am much better\n    acquainted"
	.ascii	" with him, than I am with any other creature\n    in the wor"
	.ascii	"ld, except yourself and mama.  It is not\n    time or opport"
	.ascii	"unity that is to determine intimacy;--\n    it is dispositio"
	.ascii	"n alone.  Seven years would be insufficient\n    to make som"
	.ascii	"e people acquainted with each other, and seven\n    days are"
	.ascii	" more than enough for others.  I should hold\n    myself gui"
	.ascii	"lty of greater impropriety in accepting a horse\n    from my"
	.ascii	" brother, than from Willoughby.  Of John I know\n    very li"
	.ascii	"ttle, though we have lived together for years;\n    but of W"
	.ascii	"illoughby my judgment has long been formed.\"\n    \n    Eli"
	.ascii	"nor thought it wisest to touch that point no more.\n    She "
	.ascii	"knew her sister's temper.  Opposition on so tender a\n    su"
	.ascii	"bject would only attach her the more to her own opinion.\n  "
	.ascii	"  But by an appeal to her affection for her mother,\n    by "
	.ascii	"representing the inconveniences which that indulgent\n    mo"
	.ascii	"ther must draw on herself, if (as would probably be\n    the"
	.ascii	" case) she consented to this increase of establishment,\n   "
	.ascii	" Marianne was shortly subdued; and she promised not to\n    "
	.ascii	"tempt her mother to such imprudent kindness by mentioning\n "
	.ascii	"   the offer, and to tell Willoughby when she saw him next,\n"
	.ascii	"    that it must be declined.\n    \n    She was faithful to"
	.ascii	" her word; and when Willoughby\n    called at the cottage, t"
	.ascii	"he same day, Elinor heard her\n    express her disappointmen"
	.ascii	"t to him in a low voice, on\n    being obliged to forego the"
	.ascii	" acceptance of his present.\n    The reasons for this altera"
	.ascii	"tion were at the same time related,\n    and they were such "
	.ascii	"as to make further entreaty on his\n    side impossible.  Hi"
	.ascii	"s concern however was very apparent;\n    and after expressi"
	.ascii	"ng it with earnestness, he added,\n    in the same low voice"
	.ascii	",--\"But, Marianne, the horse is\n    still yours, though yo"
	.ascii	"u"
	.ascii	" cannot use it now.  I shall keep\n    it only till you can "
	.ascii	"claim it.  When you leave Barton\n    to form your own estab"
	.ascii	"lishment in a more lasting home,\n    Queen Mab shall receiv"
	.ascii	"e you.\"\n    \n    This was all overheard by Miss Dashwood;"
	.ascii	" and in the\n    whole of the sentence, in his manner of pro"
	.ascii	"nouncing it,\n    and in his addressing her sister by her Ch"
	.ascii	"ristian name alone,\n    she instantly saw an intimacy so de"
	.ascii	"cided, a meaning\n    so direct, as marked a perfect agreeme"
	.ascii	"nt between them.\n    From that moment she doubted not of th"
	.ascii	"eir being engaged\n    to each other; and the belief of it c"
	.ascii	"reated no other surprise\n    than that she, or any of their"
	.ascii	" friends, should be left\n    by tempers so frank, to discov"
	.ascii	"er it by accident.\n    \n    Margaret related something to "
	.ascii	"her the next day,\n    which placed this matter in a still c"
	.ascii	"learer light.\n    Willoughby had spent the preceding evenin"
	.ascii	"g with them,\n    and Margaret, by being left some time in t"
	.ascii	"he parlour\n    with only him and Marianne, had had opportun"
	.ascii	"ity\n    for observations, which, with a most important face"
	.ascii	",\n    she communicated to her eldest sister, when they were"
	.ascii	"\n    next by themselves.\n    \n    \"Oh, Elinor!\" she cri"
	.ascii	"ed, \"I have such a secret to\n    tell you about Marianne. "
	.ascii	" I am sure she will be married\n    to Mr. Willoughby very s"
	.ascii	"oon.\"\n    \n    \"You have said so,\" replied Elinor, \"al"
	.ascii	"most every\n    day since they first met on High-church Down"
	.ascii	"; and they\n    had not known each other a week, I believe, "
	.ascii	"before you\n    were certain that Marianne wore his picture "
	.ascii	"round her neck;\n    but it turned out to be only the miniat"
	.ascii	"ure of our great uncle.\"\n    \n    \"But indeed this is qu"
	.ascii	"ite another thing.  I am sure\n    they will be married very"
	.ascii	" soon, for he has got a lock\n    of her hair.\"\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"\"Take care, Margaret.  It may be only the hair\n    of some"
	.ascii	" great uncle of HIS.\"\n    \n    \"But, indeed, Elinor, it "
	.ascii	"is Marianne's. I am almost\n    sure it is, for I saw him cu"
	.ascii	"t it off.  Last night\n    after tea, when you and mama went"
	.ascii	" out of the room,"
	.ascii	"\n    they were whispering and talking together as fast as\n"
	.ascii	"    could be, and he seemed to be begging something of her,\n"
	.ascii	"    and presently he took up her scissors and cut off a long"
	.ascii	"\n    lock of her hair, for it was all tumbled down her back"
	.ascii	";\n    and he kissed it, and folded it up in a piece of whit"
	.ascii	"e paper;\n    and put it into his pocket-book.\"\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"For such particulars, stated on such authority,\n    Elinor "
	.ascii	"could not withhold her credit; nor was she disposed\n    to "
	.ascii	"it, for the circumstance was in perfect unison with\n    wha"
	.ascii	"t she had heard and seen herself.\n    \n    Margaret's saga"
	.ascii	"city was not always displayed in a\n    way so satisfactory "
	.ascii	"to her sister.  When Mrs. Jennings\n    attacked her one eve"
	.ascii	"ning at the park, to give the name\n    of the young man who"
	.ascii	" was Elinor's particular favourite,\n    which had been long"
	.ascii	" a matter of great curiosity to her,\n    Margaret answered "
	.ascii	"by looking at her sister, and saying,\n    \"I must not tell"
	.ascii	", may I, Elinor?\"\n    \n    This of course made every body"
	.ascii	" laugh; and Elinor\n    tried to laugh too.  But the effort "
	.ascii	"was painful.\n    She was convinced that Margaret had fixed "
	.ascii	"on a person\n    whose name she could not bear with composur"
	.ascii	"e to become\n    a standing joke with Mrs. Jennings.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    Marianne felt for her most sincerely; but she did\n    m"
	.ascii	"ore harm than good to the cause, by turning very red\n    an"
	.ascii	"d saying in an angry manner to Margaret,\n    \n    \"Rememb"
	.ascii	"er that whatever your conjectures may be,\n    you have no r"
	.ascii	"ight to repeat them.\"\n    \n    \"I never had any conjectu"
	.ascii	"res about it,\" replied Margaret;\n    \"it was you who told"
	.ascii	" me of it yourself.\"\n    \n    This increased the mirth of"
	.ascii	" the company, and Margaret\n    was eagerly pressed to say s"
	.ascii	"omething more.\n    \n    \"Oh! pray, Miss Margaret, let us "
	.ascii	"know all about it,\"\n    said Mrs. Jennings.  \"What is the"
	.ascii	" gentleman's name?\"\n    \n    \"I must not tell, ma'am. Bu"
	.ascii	"t I know very well what it is;\n    and I know where he is t"
	.ascii	"oo.\"\n    \n    \"Yes, yes, we can guess where he is; at hi"
	.ascii	"s own house\n    at No"
	.ascii	"rland to be sure.  He is the curate of the parish\n    I dar"
	.ascii	"e say.\"\n    \n    \"No, THAT he is not.  He is of no profe"
	.ascii	"ssion at all.\"\n    \n    \"Margaret,\" said Marianne with "
	.ascii	"great warmth,\n    \"you know that all this is an invention "
	.ascii	"of your own,\n    and that there is no such person in existe"
	.ascii	"nce.\"\n    \n    \"Well, then, he is lately dead, Marianne,"
	.ascii	" for I\n    am sure there was such a man once, and his name "
	.ascii	"begins\n    with an F.\"\n    \n    Most grateful did Elinor"
	.ascii	" feel to Lady Middleton\n    for observing, at this moment, "
	.ascii	"\"that it rained very hard,\"\n    though she believed the i"
	.ascii	"nterruption to proceed less from\n    any attention to her, "
	.ascii	"than from her ladyship's great dislike\n    of all such inel"
	.ascii	"egant subjects of raillery as delighted\n    her husband and"
	.ascii	" mother.  The idea however started by her,\n    was immediat"
	.ascii	"ely pursued by Colonel Brandon, who was\n    on every occasi"
	.ascii	"on mindful of the feelings of others;\n    and much was said"
	.ascii	" on the subject of rain by both of them.\n    Willoughby ope"
	.ascii	"ned the piano-forte, and asked Marianne\n    to sit down to "
	.ascii	"it; and thus amidst the various endeavours\n    of different"
	.ascii	" people to quit the topic, it fell to the ground.\n    But n"
	.ascii	"ot so easily did Elinor recover from the alarm into\n    whi"
	.ascii	"ch it had thrown her.\n    \n    A party was formed this eve"
	.ascii	"ning for going on the\n    following day to see a very fine "
	.ascii	"place about twelve miles\n    from Barton, belonging to a br"
	.ascii	"other-in-law of Colonel Brandon,\n    without whose interest"
	.ascii	" it could not be seen, as the proprietor,\n    who was then "
	.ascii	"abroad, had left strict orders on that head.\n    The ground"
	.ascii	"s were declared to be highly beautiful,\n    and Sir John, w"
	.ascii	"ho was particularly warm in their praise,\n    might be allo"
	.ascii	"wed to be a tolerable judge, for he had\n    formed parties "
	.ascii	"to visit them, at least, twice every summer\n    for the las"
	.ascii	"t ten years.  They contained a noble piece\n    of water; a "
	.ascii	"sail on which was to a form a great part of\n    the morning"
	.ascii	"'s amusement; cold provisions were to be taken,\n    open ca"
	.ascii	"rriages onl"
	.ascii	"y to be employed, and every thing\n    conducted in the usua"
	.ascii	"l style of a complete party of pleasure.\n    \n    To some "
	.ascii	"few of the company it appeared rather\n    a bold undertakin"
	.ascii	"g, considering the time of year,\n    and that it had rained"
	.ascii	" every day for the last fortnight;--\n    and Mrs. Dashwood,"
	.ascii	" who had already a cold, was persuaded\n    by Elinor to sta"
	.ascii	"y at home.\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 13\n    \n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  Their intended excursion to Whitwell turned out\n    very "
	.ascii	"different from what Elinor had expected.  She was\n    prepa"
	.ascii	"red to be wet through, fatigued, and frightened;\n    but th"
	.ascii	"e event was still more unfortunate, for they did\n    not go"
	.ascii	" at all.\n    \n    By ten o'clock the whole party was assem"
	.ascii	"bled at\n    the park, where they were to breakfast.  The mo"
	.ascii	"rning\n    was rather favourable, though it had rained all n"
	.ascii	"ight,\n    as the clouds were then dispersing across the sky"
	.ascii	",\n    and the sun frequently appeared.  They were all in hi"
	.ascii	"gh\n    spirits and good humour, eager to be happy, and dete"
	.ascii	"rmined\n    to submit to the greatest inconveniences and har"
	.ascii	"dships\n    rather than be otherwise.\n    \n    While they "
	.ascii	"were at breakfast the letters were brought in.\n    Among th"
	.ascii	"e rest there was one for Colonel Brandon;--he\n    took it, "
	.ascii	"looked at the direction, changed colour,\n    and immediatel"
	.ascii	"y left the room.\n    \n    \"What is the matter with Brando"
	.ascii	"n?\" said Sir John.\n    \n    Nobody could tell.\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" \"I hope he has had no bad news,\" said Lady Middleton.\n  "
	.ascii	"  \"It must be something extraordinary that could make Colon"
	.ascii	"el\n    Brandon leave my breakfast table so suddenly.\"\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    In about five minutes he returned.\n    \n    \"No ba"
	.ascii	"d news, Colonel, I hope;\" said Mrs. Jennings,\n    as soon "
	.ascii	"as he entered the room.\n    \n    \"None at all, ma'am, I t"
	.ascii	"hank you.\"\n    \n    \"Was it from Avignon?  I hope it is "
	.ascii	"not to say\n    that your sister is worse.\"\n    \n    \"No"
	.ascii	", ma'am. It came from town, and is merely\n    a letter of b"
	.ascii	"usiness.\"\n    \n    \"But how came the hand to discompose "
	.ascii	"you so much,\n    if it was onl"
	.ascii	"y a letter of business?  Come, come,\n    this won't do, Col"
	.ascii	"onel; so let us hear the truth of it.\"\n    \n    \"My dear"
	.ascii	" madam,\" said Lady Middleton, \"recollect what\n    you are"
	.ascii	" saying.\"\n    \n    \"Perhaps it is to tell you that your "
	.ascii	"cousin Fanny\n    is married?\" said Mrs. Jennings, without "
	.ascii	"attending\n    to her daughter's reproof.\n    \n    \"No, i"
	.ascii	"ndeed, it is not.\"\n    \n    \"Well, then, I know who it i"
	.ascii	"s from, Colonel.  And I\n    hope she is well.\"\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"\"Whom do you mean, ma'am?\" said he, colouring a little.\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    \"Oh! you know who I mean.\"\n    \n    \"I am part"
	.ascii	"icularly sorry, ma'am,\" said he,\n    addressing Lady Middl"
	.ascii	"eton, \"that I should receive this\n    letter today, for it"
	.ascii	" is on business which requires\n    my immediate attendance "
	.ascii	"in town.\"\n    \n    \"In town!\" cried Mrs. Jennings.  \"W"
	.ascii	"hat can you\n    have to do in town at this time of year?\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"My own loss is great,\" he continued, \"in being"
	.ascii	" obliged\n    to leave so agreeable a party; but I am the mo"
	.ascii	"re concerned,\n    as I fear my presence is necessary to gai"
	.ascii	"n your admittance\n    at Whitwell.\"\n    \n    What a blow"
	.ascii	" upon them all was this!\n    \n    \"But if you write a not"
	.ascii	"e to the housekeeper, Mr. Brandon,\"\n    said Marianne, eag"
	.ascii	"erly, \"will it not be sufficient?\"\n    \n    He shook his"
	.ascii	" head.\n    \n    \"We must go,\" said Sir John.--\"It shall"
	.ascii	" not be put\n    off when we are so near it.  You cannot go "
	.ascii	"to town till\n    tomorrow, Brandon, that is all.\"\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   \"I wish it could be so easily settled.  But it\n    is n"
	.ascii	"ot in my power to delay my journey for one day!\"\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" \"If you would but let us know what your business is,\"\n  "
	.ascii	"  said Mrs. Jennings, \"we might see whether it could be put"
	.ascii	"\n    off or not.\"\n    \n    \"You would not be six hours "
	.ascii	"later,\" said Willoughby,\n    \"if you were to defer your j"
	.ascii	"ourney till our return.\"\n    \n    \"I cannot afford to lo"
	.ascii	"se ONE hour.\"--\n    \n    Elinor then heard Willoughby say"
	.ascii	", in a low voice to Marianne,\n    \"There are some people w"
	.ascii	"ho cannot bear a party of pleasure.\n    Brandon is one of t"
	.ascii	"hem."
	.ascii	"  He was afraid of catching cold\n    I dare say, and invent"
	.ascii	"ed this trick for getting out of it.\n    I would lay fifty "
	.ascii	"guineas the letter was of his own writing.\"\n    \n    \"I "
	.ascii	"have no doubt of it,\" replied Marianne.\n    \n    \"There "
	.ascii	"is no persuading you to change your mind,\n    Brandon, I kn"
	.ascii	"ow of old,\" said Sir John, \"when once you\n    are determi"
	.ascii	"ned on anything.  But, however, I hope you\n    will think b"
	.ascii	"etter of it.  Consider, here are the two Miss\n    Careys co"
	.ascii	"me over from Newton, the three Miss Dashwoods\n    walked up"
	.ascii	" from the cottage, and Mr. Willoughby got up\n    two hours "
	.ascii	"before his usual time, on purpose to go to Whitwell.\"\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    Colonel Brandon again repeated his sorrow at being\n  "
	.ascii	"  the cause of disappointing the party; but at the same\n   "
	.ascii	" time declared it to be unavoidable.\n    \n    \"Well, then"
	.ascii	", when will you come back again?\"\n    \n    \"I hope we sh"
	.ascii	"all see you at Barton,\" added her ladyship,\n    \"as soon "
	.ascii	"as you can conveniently leave town; and we must\n    put off"
	.ascii	" the party to Whitwell till you return.\"\n    \n    \"You a"
	.ascii	"re very obliging.  But it is so uncertain,\n    when I may h"
	.ascii	"ave it in my power to return, that I dare\n    not engage fo"
	.ascii	"r it at all.\"\n    \n    \"Oh! he must and shall come back,"
	.ascii	"\" cried Sir John.\n    \"If he is not here by the end of th"
	.ascii	"e week, I shall go\n    after him.\"\n    \n    \"Ay, so do,"
	.ascii	" Sir John,\" cried Mrs. Jennings, \"and then\n    perhaps yo"
	.ascii	"u may find out what his business is.\"\n    \n    \"I do not"
	.ascii	" want to pry into other men's concerns.\n    I suppose it is"
	.ascii	" something he is ashamed of.\"\n    \n    Colonel Brandon's "
	.ascii	"horses were announced.\n    \n    \"You do not go to town on"
	.ascii	" horseback, do you?\"\n    added Sir John.\n    \n    \"No. "
	.ascii	"Only to Honiton.  I shall then go post.\"\n    \n    \"Well,"
	.ascii	" as you are resolved to go, I wish you\n    a good journey. "
	.ascii	" But you had better change your mind.\"\n    \n    \"I assur"
	.ascii	"e you it is not in my power.\"\n    \n    He then took leave"
	.ascii	" of the whole party.\n    \n    \"Is there no chance of my s"
	.ascii	"eeing you and your sisters\n    in town this wi"
	.ascii	"nter, Miss Dashwood?\"\n    \n    \"I am afraid, none at all"
	.ascii	".\"\n    \n    \"Then I must bid you farewell for a longer t"
	.ascii	"ime\n    than I should wish to do.\"\n    \n    To Marianne,"
	.ascii	" he merely bowed and said nothing.\n    \n    \"Come Colonel"
	.ascii	",\" said Mrs. Jennings, \"before you go,\n    do let us know"
	.ascii	" what you are going about.\"\n    \n    He wished her a good"
	.ascii	" morning, and, attended by Sir John,\n    left the room.\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    The complaints and lamentations which politeness\n  "
	.ascii	"  had hitherto restrained, now burst forth universally;\n   "
	.ascii	" and they all agreed again and again how provoking it was\n "
	.ascii	"   to be so disappointed.\n    \n    \"I can guess what his "
	.ascii	"business is, however,\"\n    said Mrs. Jennings exultingly.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"Can you, ma'am?\" said almost every body.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"Yes; it is about Miss Williams, I am sure.\"\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \"And who is Miss Williams?\" asked Marianne.\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"What! do not you know who Miss Williams is? I am\n    sure y"
	.ascii	"ou must have heard of her before.  She is a relation\n    of"
	.ascii	" the Colonel's, my dear; a very near relation.  We will\n   "
	.ascii	" not say how near, for fear of shocking the young ladies.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    Then, lowering her voice a little, she said to Elinor,\n"
	.ascii	"    \"She is his natural daughter.\"\n    \n    \"Indeed!\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"Oh, yes; and as like him as she can stare.\n    "
	.ascii	"I dare say the Colonel will leave her all his fortune.\"\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    When Sir John returned, he joined most heartily\n   "
	.ascii	" in the general regret on so unfortunate an event;\n    conc"
	.ascii	"luding however by observing, that as they were\n    all got "
	.ascii	"together, they must do something by way of\n    being happy;"
	.ascii	" and after some consultation it was agreed,\n    that althou"
	.ascii	"gh happiness could only be enjoyed at Whitwell,\n    they mi"
	.ascii	"ght procure a tolerable composure of mind by driving\n    ab"
	.ascii	"out the country.  The carriages were then ordered;\n    Will"
	.ascii	"oughby's was first, and Marianne never looked\n    happier t"
	.ascii	"han when she got into it.  He drove through\n    the park ve"
	.ascii	"ry fast, and they were soon out of sight;\n    and nothing m"
	.ascii	"ore of them was seen till their "
	.ascii	"return,\n    which did not happen till after the return of a"
	.ascii	"ll the rest.\n    They both seemed delighted with their driv"
	.ascii	"e; but said\n    only in general terms that they had kept in"
	.ascii	" the lanes,\n    while the others went on the downs.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    It was settled that there should be a dance in the eveni"
	.ascii	"ng,\n    and that every body should be extremely merry all d"
	.ascii	"ay long.\n    Some more of the Careys came to dinner, and th"
	.ascii	"ey had the\n    pleasure of sitting down nearly twenty to ta"
	.ascii	"ble, which Sir\n    John observed with great contentment.  W"
	.ascii	"illoughby took\n    his usual place between the two elder Mi"
	.ascii	"ss Dashwoods.\n    Mrs. Jennings sat on Elinor's right hand;"
	.ascii	" and they had not\n    been long seated, before she leant be"
	.ascii	"hind her and Willoughby,\n    and said to Marianne, loud eno"
	.ascii	"ugh for them both to hear,\n    \"I have found you out in sp"
	.ascii	"ite of all your tricks.\n    I know where you spent the morn"
	.ascii	"ing.\"\n    \n    Marianne coloured, and replied very hastil"
	.ascii	"y,\n    \"Where, pray?\"--\n    \n    \"Did not you know,\" "
	.ascii	"said Willoughby, \"that we had\n    been out in my curricle?"
	.ascii	"\"\n    \n    \"Yes, yes, Mr. Impudence, I know that very we"
	.ascii	"ll,\n    and I was determined to find out WHERE you had been"
	.ascii	" to.--\n    I hope you like your house, Miss Marianne.  It i"
	.ascii	"s a very\n    large one, I know; and when I come to see you,"
	.ascii	" I hope you\n    will have new-furnished it, for it wanted i"
	.ascii	"t very much\n    when I was there six years ago.\"\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  Marianne turned away in great confusion.\n    Mrs. Jenning"
	.ascii	"s laughed heartily; and Elinor found that in her\n    resolu"
	.ascii	"tion to know where they had been, she had actually\n    made"
	.ascii	" her own woman enquire of Mr. Willoughby's groom;\n    and t"
	.ascii	"hat she had by that method been informed that they\n    had "
	.ascii	"gone to Allenham, and spent a considerable time there\n    i"
	.ascii	"n walking about the garden and going all over the house.\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    Elinor could hardly believe this to be true,\n    as"
	.ascii	" it seemed very unlikely that Willoughby should propose,\n  "
	.ascii	"  or Marianne consent, to enter the house while Mrs. Smith w"
	.ascii	"as\n    in i"
	.ascii	"t, with whom Marianne had not the smallest acquaintance.\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    As soon as they left the dining-room, Elinor enquire"
	.ascii	"d\n    of her about it; and great was her surprise when she\n"
	.ascii	"    found that every circumstance related by Mrs. Jennings\n"
	.ascii	"    was perfectly true.  Marianne was quite angry with her\n"
	.ascii	"    for doubting it.\n    \n    \"Why should you imagine, El"
	.ascii	"inor, that we did not\n    go there, or that we did not see "
	.ascii	"the house?  Is not it\n    what you have often wished to do "
	.ascii	"yourself?\"\n    \n    \"Yes, Marianne, but I would not go w"
	.ascii	"hile Mrs. Smith\n    was there, and with no other companion "
	.ascii	"than Mr. Willoughby.\"\n    \n    \"Mr. Willoughby however i"
	.ascii	"s the only person who can\n    have a right to shew that hou"
	.ascii	"se; and as he went in an open\n    carriage, it was impossib"
	.ascii	"le to have any other companion.\n    I never spent a pleasan"
	.ascii	"ter morning in my life.\"\n    \n    \"I am afraid,\" replie"
	.ascii	"d Elinor, \"that the pleasantness\n    of an employment does"
	.ascii	" not always evince its propriety.\"\n    \n    \"On the cont"
	.ascii	"rary, nothing can be a stronger proof\n    of it, Elinor; fo"
	.ascii	"r if there had been any real impropriety\n    in what I did,"
	.ascii	" I should have been sensible of it at\n    the time, for we "
	.ascii	"always know when we are acting wrong,\n    and with such a c"
	.ascii	"onviction I could have had no pleasure.\"\n    \n    \"But, "
	.ascii	"my dear Marianne, as it has already exposed you\n    to some"
	.ascii	" very impertinent remarks, do you not now begin\n    to doub"
	.ascii	"t the discretion of your own conduct?\"\n    \n    \"If the "
	.ascii	"impertinent remarks of Mrs. Jennings are\n    to be the proo"
	.ascii	"f of impropriety in conduct, we are all\n    offending every"
	.ascii	" moment of our lives.  I value not her\n    censure any more"
	.ascii	" than I should do her commendation.\n    I am not sensible o"
	.ascii	"f having done anything wrong in walking\n    over Mrs. Smith"
	.ascii	"'s grounds, or in seeing her house.\n    They will one day b"
	.ascii	"e Mr. Willoughby's, and--\"\n    \n    \"If they were one da"
	.ascii	"y to be your own, Marianne,\n    you would not be justified "
	.ascii	"in what you have done.\"\n    \n    She blushed at this hint"
	.ascii	"; but it was even vis"
	.ascii	"ibly\n    gratifying to her; and after a ten minutes' interv"
	.ascii	"al of\n    earnest thought, she came to her sister again, an"
	.ascii	"d said\n    with great good humour, \"Perhaps, Elinor, it WA"
	.ascii	"S rather\n    ill-judged in me to go to Allenham; but Mr. Wi"
	.ascii	"lloughby wanted\n    particularly to shew me the place; and "
	.ascii	"it is a charming house,\n    I assure you.--There is one rem"
	.ascii	"arkably pretty sitting room\n    up stairs; of a nice comfor"
	.ascii	"table size for constant use,\n    and with modern furniture "
	.ascii	"it would be delightful.\n    It is a corner room, and has wi"
	.ascii	"ndows on two sides.\n    On one side you look across the bow"
	.ascii	"ling-green, behind\n    the house, to a beautiful hanging wo"
	.ascii	"od, and on the other you\n    have a view of the church and "
	.ascii	"village, and, beyond them,\n    of those fine bold hills tha"
	.ascii	"t we have so often admired.\n    I did not see it to advanta"
	.ascii	"ge, for nothing could be\n    more forlorn than the furnitur"
	.ascii	"e,--but if it were newly\n    fitted up--a couple of hundred"
	.ascii	" pounds, Willoughby says,\n    would make it one of the plea"
	.ascii	"santest summer-rooms\n    in England.\"\n    \n    Could Eli"
	.ascii	"nor have listened to her without interruption\n    from the "
	.ascii	"others, she would have described every room\n    in the hous"
	.ascii	"e with equal delight.\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 14\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    \n    The sudden termination of Colonel Brandon's vis"
	.ascii	"it\n    at the park, with his steadiness in concealing its c"
	.ascii	"ause,\n    filled the mind, and raised the wonder of Mrs. Je"
	.ascii	"nnings\n    for two or three days; she was a great wonderer,"
	.ascii	" as every\n    one must be who takes a very lively interest "
	.ascii	"in all the\n    comings and goings of all their acquaintance"
	.ascii	".  She wondered,\n    with little intermission what could be"
	.ascii	" the reason of it;\n    was sure there must be some bad news"
	.ascii	", and thought over\n    every kind of distress that could ha"
	.ascii	"ve befallen him,\n    with a fixed determination that he sho"
	.ascii	"uld not escape\n    them all.\n    \n    \"Something very me"
	.ascii	"lancholy must be the matter,\n    I am sure,\" said she.  \""
	.ascii	"I could see it in his face.\n    Poor man!  I am afraid his "
	.ascii	"circumst"
	.ascii	"ances may be bad.\n    The estate at Delaford was never reck"
	.ascii	"oned more than two thousand\n    a year, and his brother lef"
	.ascii	"t everything sadly involved.\n    I do think he must have be"
	.ascii	"en sent for about money matters,\n    for what else can it b"
	.ascii	"e?  I wonder whether it is so.\n    I would give anything to"
	.ascii	" know the truth of it.  Perhaps it\n    is about Miss Willia"
	.ascii	"ms and, by the bye, I dare say it is,\n    because he looked"
	.ascii	" so conscious when I mentioned her.\n    May be she is ill i"
	.ascii	"n town; nothing in the world more likely,\n    for I have a "
	.ascii	"notion she is always rather sickly.\n    I would lay any wag"
	.ascii	"er it is about Miss Williams.\n    It is not so very likely "
	.ascii	"he should be distressed in\n    his circumstances NOW, for h"
	.ascii	"e is a very prudent man,\n    and to be sure must have clear"
	.ascii	"ed the estate by this time.\n    I wonder what it can be!  M"
	.ascii	"ay be his sister is worse\n    at Avignon, and has sent for "
	.ascii	"him over.  His setting off\n    in such a hurry seems very l"
	.ascii	"ike it.  Well, I wish him out\n    of all his trouble with a"
	.ascii	"ll my heart, and a good wife into\n    the bargain.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    So wondered, so talked Mrs. Jennings.  Her opinion\n    "
	.ascii	"varying with every fresh conjecture, and all seeming\n    eq"
	.ascii	"ually probable as they arose.  Elinor, though she felt\n    "
	.ascii	"really interested in the welfare of Colonel Brandon,\n    co"
	.ascii	"uld not bestow all the wonder on his going so suddenly\n    "
	.ascii	"away, which Mrs. Jennings was desirous of her feeling;\n    "
	.ascii	"for besides that the circumstance did not in her opinion\n  "
	.ascii	"  justify such lasting amazement or variety of speculation,\n"
	.ascii	"    her wonder was otherwise disposed of.  It was engrossed\n"
	.ascii	"    by the extraordinary silence of her sister and Willoughb"
	.ascii	"y\n    on the subject, which they must know to be peculiarly"
	.ascii	"\n    interesting to them all.  As this silence continued,\n"
	.ascii	"    every day made it appear more strange and more incompati"
	.ascii	"ble\n    with the disposition of both.  Why they should not "
	.ascii	"openly\n    acknowledge to her mother and herself, what thei"
	.ascii	"r constant\n    behaviour to each other declared to h"
	.ascii	"ave taken place,\n    Elinor could not imagine.\n    \n    S"
	.ascii	"he could easily conceive that marriage might not\n    be imm"
	.ascii	"ediately in their power; for though Willoughby\n    was inde"
	.ascii	"pendent, there was no reason to believe him rich.\n    His e"
	.ascii	"state had been rated by Sir John at about six or seven\n    "
	.ascii	"hundred a year; but he lived at an expense to which that inc"
	.ascii	"ome\n    could hardly be equal, and he had himself often com"
	.ascii	"plained\n    of his poverty.  But for this strange kind of s"
	.ascii	"ecrecy\n    maintained by them relative to their engagement,"
	.ascii	" which\n    in fact concealed nothing at all, she could not "
	.ascii	"account;\n    and it was so wholly contradictory to their ge"
	.ascii	"neral\n    opinions and practice, that a doubt sometimes ent"
	.ascii	"ered\n    her mind of their being really engaged, and this d"
	.ascii	"oubt\n    was enough to prevent her making any inquiry of Ma"
	.ascii	"rianne.\n    \n    Nothing could be more expressive of attac"
	.ascii	"hment\n    to them all, than Willoughby's behaviour.  To Mar"
	.ascii	"ianne\n    it had all the distinguishing tenderness which a "
	.ascii	"lover's\n    heart could give, and to the rest of the family"
	.ascii	" it was the\n    affectionate attention of a son and a broth"
	.ascii	"er.  The cottage\n    seemed to be considered and loved by h"
	.ascii	"im as his home;\n    many more of his hours were spent there"
	.ascii	" than at Allenham;\n    and if no general engagement collect"
	.ascii	"ed them at the park,\n    the exercise which called him out "
	.ascii	"in the morning was\n    almost certain of ending there, wher"
	.ascii	"e the rest of the day\n    was spent by himself at the side "
	.ascii	"of Marianne, and by his\n    favourite pointer at her feet.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    One evening in particular, about a week after\n   "
	.ascii	" Colonel Brandon left the country, his heart seemed\n    mor"
	.ascii	"e than usually open to every feeling of attachment\n    to t"
	.ascii	"he objects around him; and on Mrs. Dashwood's\n    happening"
	.ascii	" to mention her design of improving the cottage\n    in the "
	.ascii	"spring, he warmly opposed every alteration\n    of a place w"
	.ascii	"hich affection had established as perfect with him.\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   \"What!\" he exclaimed--\"Improve this dear cottage!\n   "
	.ascii	" "
	.ascii	"No. THAT I will never consent to.  Not a stone must\n    be "
	.ascii	"added to its walls, not an inch to its size,\n    if my feel"
	.ascii	"ings are regarded.\"\n    \n    \"Do not be alarmed,\" said "
	.ascii	"Miss Dashwood,\n    \"nothing of the kind will be done; for "
	.ascii	"my mother\n    will never have money enough to attempt it.\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"I am heartily glad of it,\" he cried.  \"May s"
	.ascii	"he\n    always be poor, if she can employ her riches no bett"
	.ascii	"er.\"\n    \n    \"Thank you, Willoughby.  But you may be as"
	.ascii	"sured that I\n    would not sacrifice one sentiment of local"
	.ascii	" attachment\n    of yours, or of any one whom I loved, for a"
	.ascii	"ll the improvements\n    in the world.  Depend upon it that "
	.ascii	"whatever unemployed\n    sum may remain, when I make up my a"
	.ascii	"ccounts in the spring,\n    I would even rather lay it usele"
	.ascii	"ssly by than dispose\n    of it in a manner so painful to yo"
	.ascii	"u.  But are you really\n    so attached to this place as to "
	.ascii	"see no defect in it?\"\n    \n    \"I am,\" said he.  \"To m"
	.ascii	"e it is faultless.  Nay, more,\n    I consider it as the onl"
	.ascii	"y form of building in which happiness\n    is attainable, an"
	.ascii	"d were I rich enough I would instantly pull\n    Combe down,"
	.ascii	" and build it up again in the exact plan of this\n    cottag"
	.ascii	"e.\"\n    \n    \"With dark narrow stairs and a kitchen that"
	.ascii	" smokes,\n    I suppose,\" said Elinor.\n    \n    \"Yes,\" "
	.ascii	"cried he in the same eager tone, \"with all\n    and every t"
	.ascii	"hing belonging to it;--in no one convenience\n    or INconve"
	.ascii	"nience about it, should the least variation\n    be percepti"
	.ascii	"ble.  Then, and then only, under such a roof, I\n    might p"
	.ascii	"erhaps be as happy at Combe as I have been at Barton.\"\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    \"I flatter myself,\" replied Elinor, \"that even und"
	.ascii	"er\n    the disadvantage of better rooms and a broader stair"
	.ascii	"case,\n    you will hereafter find your own house as faultle"
	.ascii	"ss as you\n    now do this.\"\n    \n    \"There certainly a"
	.ascii	"re circumstances,\" said Willoughby,\n    \"which might grea"
	.ascii	"tly endear it to me; but this place will\n    always have on"
	.ascii	"e claim of my affection, which no other can\n    possibly sh"
	.ascii	"are.\"\n    \n    Mrs. Dashwood lo"
	.ascii	"oked with pleasure at Marianne,\n    whose fine eyes were fi"
	.ascii	"xed so expressively on Willoughby,\n    as plainly denoted h"
	.ascii	"ow well she understood him.\n    \n    \"How often did I wis"
	.ascii	"h,\" added he, \"when I was at\n    Allenham this time twelv"
	.ascii	"emonth, that Barton cottage were\n    inhabited!  I never pa"
	.ascii	"ssed within view of it without admiring\n    its situation, "
	.ascii	"and grieving that no one should live in it.\n    How little "
	.ascii	"did I then think that the very first news\n    I should hear"
	.ascii	" from Mrs. Smith, when I next came into\n    the country, wo"
	.ascii	"uld be that Barton cottage was taken: and I\n    felt an imm"
	.ascii	"ediate satisfaction and interest in the event,\n    which no"
	.ascii	"thing but a kind of prescience of what happiness I\n    shou"
	.ascii	"ld experience from it, can account for.  Must it not have\n "
	.ascii	"   been so, Marianne?\" speaking to her in a lowered voice.\n"
	.ascii	"    Then continuing his former tone, he said, \"And yet this"
	.ascii	"\n    house you would spoil, Mrs. Dashwood?  You would rob i"
	.ascii	"t\n    of its simplicity by imaginary improvement! and this "
	.ascii	"dear\n    parlour in which our acquaintance first began, and"
	.ascii	" in which\n    so many happy hours have been since spent by "
	.ascii	"us together,\n    you would degrade to the condition of a co"
	.ascii	"mmon entrance,\n    and every body would be eager to pass th"
	.ascii	"rough the room\n    which has hitherto contained within itse"
	.ascii	"lf more real\n    accommodation and comfort than any other a"
	.ascii	"partment of\n    the handsomest dimensions in the world coul"
	.ascii	"d possibly afford.\"\n    \n    Mrs. Dashwood again assured "
	.ascii	"him that no alteration\n    of the kind should be attempted."
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"You are a good woman,\" he warmly replied.\n  "
	.ascii	"  \"Your promise makes me easy.  Extend it a little farther,"
	.ascii	"\n    and it will make me happy.  Tell me that not only your"
	.ascii	"\n    house will remain the same, but that I shall ever find"
	.ascii	"\n    you and yours as unchanged as your dwelling; and that "
	.ascii	"you\n    will always consider me with the kindness which has"
	.ascii	" made\n    everything belonging to you so dear to me.\"\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    The promise was readily given, and Willoughby's\n    "
	.ascii	"behavio"
	.ascii	"ur during the whole of the evening declared\n    at once his"
	.ascii	" affection and happiness.\n    \n    \"Shall we see you tomo"
	.ascii	"rrow to dinner?\" said Mrs. Dashwood,\n    when he was leavi"
	.ascii	"ng them.  \"I do not ask you to come in\n    the morning, fo"
	.ascii	"r we must walk to the park, to call on Lady\n    Middleton.\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    He engaged to be with them by four o'clock.\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 15\n    \n    \n    Mrs. Dashwood"
	.ascii	"'s visit to Lady Middleton took place\n    the next day, and"
	.ascii	" two of her daughters went with her;\n    but Marianne excus"
	.ascii	"ed herself from being of the party,\n    under some trifling"
	.ascii	" pretext of employment; and her mother,\n    who concluded t"
	.ascii	"hat a promise had been made by Willoughby\n    the night bef"
	.ascii	"ore of calling on her while they were absent,\n    was perfe"
	.ascii	"ctly satisfied with her remaining at home.\n    \n    On the"
	.ascii	"ir return from the park they found Willoughby's\n    curricl"
	.ascii	"e and servant in waiting at the cottage,\n    and Mrs. Dashw"
	.ascii	"ood was convinced that her conjecture\n    had been just.  S"
	.ascii	"o far it was all as she had foreseen;\n    but on entering t"
	.ascii	"he house she beheld what no foresight\n    had taught her to"
	.ascii	" expect.  They were no sooner in the\n    passage than Maria"
	.ascii	"nne came hastily out of the parlour\n    apparently in viole"
	.ascii	"nt affliction, with her handkerchief\n    at her eyes; and w"
	.ascii	"ithout noticing them ran up stairs.\n    Surprised and alarm"
	.ascii	"ed they proceeded directly into the room\n    she had just q"
	.ascii	"uitted, where they found only Willoughby,\n    who was leani"
	.ascii	"ng against the mantel-piece with his back\n    towards them."
	.ascii	"  He turned round on their coming in,\n    and his countenan"
	.ascii	"ce shewed that he strongly partook\n    of the emotion which"
	.ascii	" over-powered Marianne.\n    \n    \"Is anything the matter "
	.ascii	"with her?\" cried Mrs. Dashwood\n    as she entered--\"is sh"
	.ascii	"e ill?\"\n    \n    \"I hope not,\" he replied, trying to lo"
	.ascii	"ok cheerful;\n    and with a forced smile presently added, \""
	.ascii	"It is I who may\n    rather expect to be ill--for I am now s"
	.ascii	"uffering under a\n    very heavy disappointment!\"\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \"Disappointment"
	.ascii	"?\"\n    \n    \"Yes, for I am unable to keep my engagement "
	.ascii	"with you.\n    Mrs. Smith has this morning exercised the pri"
	.ascii	"vilege\n    of riches upon a poor dependent cousin, by sendi"
	.ascii	"ng me on\n    business to London.  I have just received my d"
	.ascii	"ispatches,\n    and taken my farewell of Allenham; and by wa"
	.ascii	"y of exhilaration\n    I am now come to take my farewell of "
	.ascii	"you.\"\n    \n    \"To London!--and are you going this morni"
	.ascii	"ng?\"\n    \n    \"Almost this moment.\"\n    \n    \"This i"
	.ascii	"s very unfortunate.  But Mrs. Smith must\n    be obliged;--a"
	.ascii	"nd her business will not detain you from\n    us long I hope"
	.ascii	".\"\n    \n    He coloured as he replied, \"You are very kin"
	.ascii	"d, but I\n    have no idea of returning into Devonshire imme"
	.ascii	"diately.\n    My visits to Mrs. Smith are never repeated wit"
	.ascii	"hin\n    the twelvemonth.\"\n    \n    \"And is Mrs. Smith y"
	.ascii	"our only friend?  Is Allenham the only\n    house in the nei"
	.ascii	"ghbourhood to which you will be welcome?\n    For shame, Wil"
	.ascii	"loughby, can you wait for an invitation here?\"\n    \n    H"
	.ascii	"is colour increased; and with his eyes fixed\n    on the gro"
	.ascii	"und he only replied, \"You are too good.\"\n    \n    Mrs. D"
	.ascii	"ashwood looked at Elinor with surprise.\n    Elinor felt equ"
	.ascii	"al amazement.  For a few moments every one\n    was silent. "
	.ascii	" Mrs. Dashwood first spoke.\n    \n    \"I have only to add,"
	.ascii	" my dear Willoughby, that at\n    Barton cottage you will al"
	.ascii	"ways be welcome; for I will not\n    press you to return her"
	.ascii	"e immediately, because you only\n    can judge how far THAT "
	.ascii	"might be pleasing to Mrs. Smith;\n    and on this head I sha"
	.ascii	"ll be no more disposed to question\n    your judgment than t"
	.ascii	"o doubt your inclination.\"\n    \n    \"My engagements at p"
	.ascii	"resent,\" replied Willoughby,\n    confusedly, \"are of such"
	.ascii	" a nature--that--I dare not flatter\n    myself\"--\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   He stopt.  Mrs. Dashwood was too much astonished\n    to "
	.ascii	"speak, and another pause succeeded.  This was broken\n    by"
	.ascii	" Willoughby, who said with a faint smile, \"It is folly\n   "
	.ascii	" to linger in this manner.  I will not torment myself\n    a"
	.ascii	"ny longer by remaining among f"
	.ascii	"riends whose society\n    it is impossible for me now to enj"
	.ascii	"oy.\"\n    \n    He then hastily took leave of them all and "
	.ascii	"left\n    the room.  They saw him step into his carriage,\n "
	.ascii	"   and in a minute it was out of sight.\n    \n    Mrs. Dash"
	.ascii	"wood felt too much for speech, and instantly\n    quitted th"
	.ascii	"e parlour to give way in solitude to the concern\n    and al"
	.ascii	"arm which this sudden departure occasioned.\n    \n    Elino"
	.ascii	"r's uneasiness was at least equal to her mother's.\n    She "
	.ascii	"thought of what had just passed with anxiety and distrust.\n"
	.ascii	"    Willoughby's behaviour in taking leave of them, his\n   "
	.ascii	" embarrassment,\n    and affectation of cheerfulness, and, a"
	.ascii	"bove all, his\n    unwillingness\n    to accept her mother's"
	.ascii	" invitation, a backwardness so unlike a\n    lover,\n    so "
	.ascii	"unlike himself, greatly disturbed her.  One moment she feare"
	.ascii	"d\n    that no serious design had ever been formed on his si"
	.ascii	"de; and the\n    next that some unfortunate quarrel had take"
	.ascii	"n place between him\n    and\n    her sister;--the distress "
	.ascii	"in which Marianne had quitted the room\n    was such as a se"
	.ascii	"rious quarrel could most reasonably account for,\n    though"
	.ascii	" when she considered what Marianne's love for him was,\n    "
	.ascii	"a quarrel seemed almost impossible.\n    \n    But whatever "
	.ascii	"might be the particulars of their separation,\n    her siste"
	.ascii	"r's affliction was indubitable; and she thought\n    with th"
	.ascii	"e tenderest compassion of that violent sorrow\n    which Mar"
	.ascii	"ianne was in all probability not merely giving\n    way to a"
	.ascii	"s a relief, but feeding and encouraging as a duty.\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  In about half an hour her mother returned, and though\n   "
	.ascii	" her eyes were red, her countenance was not uncheerful.\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    \"Our dear Willoughby is now some miles from Barton, "
	.ascii	"Elinor,\"\n    said she, as she sat down to work, \"and with"
	.ascii	" how heavy a heart\n    does he travel?\"\n    \n    \"It is"
	.ascii	" all very strange.  So suddenly to be gone! It\n    seems bu"
	.ascii	"t the work of a moment.  And last night he was\n    with us "
	.ascii	"so happy, so cheerful, so affectionate?  And now,\n    after"
	.ascii	" only ten "
	.ascii	"minutes notice--Gone too without intending\n    to return!--"
	.ascii	"Something more than what he owned to us must\n    have happe"
	.ascii	"ned.  He did not speak, he did not behave\n    like himself."
	.ascii	"  YOU must have seen the difference as well as I.\n    What "
	.ascii	"can it be?  Can they have quarrelled?  Why else should he\n "
	.ascii	"   have shewn such unwillingness to accept your invitation h"
	.ascii	"ere?\"--\n    \n    \"It was not inclination that he wanted,"
	.ascii	" Elinor; I could\n    plainly see THAT.  He had not the powe"
	.ascii	"r of accepting it.\n    I have thought it all over I assure "
	.ascii	"you, and I can\n    perfectly account for every thing that a"
	.ascii	"t first seemed\n    strange to me as well as to you.\"\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    \"Can you, indeed!\"\n    \n    \"Yes. I have explaine"
	.ascii	"d it to myself in the most\n    satisfactory way;--but you, "
	.ascii	"Elinor, who love to doubt\n    where you can--it will not sa"
	.ascii	"tisfy YOU, I know; but you\n    shall not talk ME out of my "
	.ascii	"trust in it.  I am persuaded\n    that Mrs. Smith suspects h"
	.ascii	"is regard for Marianne,\n    disapproves of it, (perhaps bec"
	.ascii	"ause she has other views\n    for him,) and on that account "
	.ascii	"is eager to get him away;--\n    and that the business which"
	.ascii	" she sends him off to transact\n    is invented as an excuse"
	.ascii	" to dismiss him.  This is what I\n    believe to have happen"
	.ascii	"ed.  He is, moreover, aware that she\n    DOES disapprove th"
	.ascii	"e connection, he dares not therefore\n    at present confess"
	.ascii	" to her his engagement with Marianne,\n    and he feels hims"
	.ascii	"elf obliged, from his dependent situation,\n    to give into"
	.ascii	" her schemes, and absent himself from\n    Devonshire for a "
	.ascii	"while.  You will tell me, I know,\n    that this may or may "
	.ascii	"NOT have happened; but I will listen\n    to no cavil, unles"
	.ascii	"s you can point out any other method\n    of understanding t"
	.ascii	"he affair as satisfactory at this.\n    And now, Elinor, wha"
	.ascii	"t have you to say?\"\n    \n    \"Nothing, for you have anti"
	.ascii	"cipated my answer.\"\n    \n    \"Then you would have told m"
	.ascii	"e, that it might or might not\n    have happened.  Oh, Elino"
	.ascii	"r, how incomprehensible are your\n    feelings!  You had rat"
	.ascii	"her take "
	.ascii	"evil upon credit than good.\n    You had rather look out for"
	.ascii	" misery for Marianne, and guilt\n    for poor Willoughby, th"
	.ascii	"an an apology for the latter.\n    You are resolved to think"
	.ascii	" him blameable, because he took\n    leave of us with less a"
	.ascii	"ffection than his usual behaviour\n    has shewn.  And is no"
	.ascii	" allowance to be made for inadvertence,\n    or for spirits "
	.ascii	"depressed by recent disappointment?  Are\n    no probabiliti"
	.ascii	"es to be accepted, merely because they\n    are not certaint"
	.ascii	"ies?  Is nothing due to the man whom we\n    have all such r"
	.ascii	"eason to love, and no reason in the world\n    to think ill "
	.ascii	"of?  To the possibility of motives unanswerable\n    in them"
	.ascii	"selves, though unavoidably secret for a while?  And,\n    af"
	.ascii	"ter all, what is it you suspect him of?\"\n    \n    \"I can"
	.ascii	" hardly tell myself.  But suspicion of\n    something unplea"
	.ascii	"sant is the inevitable consequence\n    of such an alteratio"
	.ascii	"n as we just witnessed in him.\n    There is great truth, ho"
	.ascii	"wever, in what you have now urged\n    of the allowances whi"
	.ascii	"ch ought to be made for him, and it\n    is my wish to be ca"
	.ascii	"ndid in my judgment of every body.\n    Willoughby may undou"
	.ascii	"btedly have very sufficient\n    reasons for his conduct, an"
	.ascii	"d I will hope that he has.\n    But it would have been more "
	.ascii	"like Willoughby to acknowledge\n    them at once.  Secrecy m"
	.ascii	"ay be advisable; but still I\n    cannot help wondering at i"
	.ascii	"ts being practiced by him.\"\n    \n    \"Do not blame him, "
	.ascii	"however, for departing from\n    his character, where the de"
	.ascii	"viation is necessary.\n    But you really do admit the justi"
	.ascii	"ce of what I have said\n    in his defence?--I am happy--and"
	.ascii	" he is acquitted.\"\n    \n    \"Not entirely.  It may be pr"
	.ascii	"oper to conceal their\n    engagement (if they ARE engaged) "
	.ascii	"from Mrs. Smith--\n    and if that is the case, it must be h"
	.ascii	"ighly expedient\n    for Willoughby to be but little in Devo"
	.ascii	"nshire at present.\n    But this is no excuse for their conc"
	.ascii	"ealing it from us.\"\n    \n    \"Concealing it from us! my "
	.ascii	"dear child, do you accuse\n    Willoughby and Marianne of co"
	.ascii	"ncealm"
	.ascii	"ent? This is strange\n    indeed, when your eyes have been r"
	.ascii	"eproaching them every day\n    for incautiousness.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"I want no proof of their affection,\" said Elinor;\n  "
	.ascii	"  \"but of their engagement I do.\"\n    \n    \"I am perfec"
	.ascii	"tly satisfied of both.\"\n    \n    \"Yet not a syllable has"
	.ascii	" been said to you on the\n    subject, by either of them.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"I have not wanted syllables where actions have\n"
	.ascii	"    spoken so plainly.  Has not his behaviour to Marianne\n "
	.ascii	"   and to all of us, for at least the last fortnight,\n    d"
	.ascii	"eclared that he loved and considered her as his future wife,"
	.ascii	"\n    and that he felt for us the attachment of the nearest\n"
	.ascii	"    relation?  Have we not perfectly understood each other?\n"
	.ascii	"    Has not my consent been daily asked by his looks, his ma"
	.ascii	"nner,\n    his attentive and affectionate respect?  My Elino"
	.ascii	"r,\n    is it possible to doubt their engagement?  How could"
	.ascii	"\n    such a thought occur to you?  How is it to be supposed"
	.ascii	"\n    that Willoughby, persuaded as he must be of your\n    "
	.ascii	"sister's love, should leave her, and leave her perhaps\n    "
	.ascii	"for months, without telling her of his affection;--that\n   "
	.ascii	" they should part without a mutual exchange of confidence?\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"I confess,\" replied Elinor, \"that every circ"
	.ascii	"umstance\n    except ONE is in favour of their engagement;\n"
	.ascii	"    but that ONE is the total silence of both on the subject"
	.ascii	",\n    and with me it almost outweighs every other.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"How strange this is!  You must think wretchedly indeed"
	.ascii	"\n    of Willoughby, if, after all that has openly passed be"
	.ascii	"tween them,\n    you can doubt the nature of the terms on wh"
	.ascii	"ich they are together.\n    Has he been acting a part in his"
	.ascii	" behaviour to your sister\n    all this time?  Do you suppos"
	.ascii	"e him really indifferent to her?\"\n    \n    \"No, I cannot"
	.ascii	" think that.  He must and does love her\n    I am sure.\"\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    \"But with a strange kind of tenderness, if he can\n"
	.ascii	"    leave her with such indifference, such carelessness\n   "
	.ascii	" of the future, as you attribute to him.\"\n    \n    \"You "
	.ascii	"must remember, my dear"
	.ascii	" mother, that I have never\n    considered this matter as ce"
	.ascii	"rtain.  I have had my doubts,\n    I confess; but they are f"
	.ascii	"ainter than they were, and they\n    may soon be entirely do"
	.ascii	"ne away.  If we find they correspond,\n    every fear of min"
	.ascii	"e will be removed.\"\n    \n    \"A mighty concession indeed"
	.ascii	"!  If you were to see\n    them at the altar, you would supp"
	.ascii	"ose they were going to\n    be married.  Ungracious girl!  B"
	.ascii	"ut I require no such proof.\n    Nothing in my opinion has e"
	.ascii	"ver passed to justify doubt;\n    no secrecy has been attemp"
	.ascii	"ted; all has been uniformly open\n    and unreserved.  You c"
	.ascii	"annot doubt your sister's wishes.\n    It must be Willoughby"
	.ascii	" therefore whom you suspect.  But why?\n    Is he not a man "
	.ascii	"of honour and feeling? Has there been any\n    inconsistency"
	.ascii	" on his side to create alarm? can he be deceitful?\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"I hope not, I believe not,\" cried Elinor.\n    \"I lo"
	.ascii	"ve Willoughby, sincerely love him; and suspicion of his\n   "
	.ascii	" integrity cannot be more painful to yourself than to me.\n "
	.ascii	"   It has been involuntary, and I will not encourage it.\n  "
	.ascii	"  I was startled, I confess, by the alteration in his\n    m"
	.ascii	"anners this morning;--he did not speak like himself,\n    an"
	.ascii	"d did not return your kindness with any cordiality.\n    But"
	.ascii	" all this may be explained by such a situation of his\n    a"
	.ascii	"ffairs as you have supposed.  He had just parted from\n    m"
	.ascii	"y sister, had seen her leave him in the greatest affliction;"
	.ascii	"\n    and if he felt obliged, from a fear of offending Mrs. "
	.ascii	"Smith,\n    to resist the temptation of returning here soon,"
	.ascii	" and yet\n    aware that by declining your invitation, by sa"
	.ascii	"ying\n    that he was going away for some time, he should se"
	.ascii	"em\n    to act an ungenerous, a suspicious part by our famil"
	.ascii	"y,\n    he might well be embarrassed and disturbed.  In such"
	.ascii	" a case,\n    a plain and open avowal of his difficulties wo"
	.ascii	"uld have been\n    more to his honour I think, as well as mo"
	.ascii	"re consistent\n    with his general character;--but I will n"
	.ascii	"ot raise objections\n    against any one's conduct on so ill"
	.ascii	"i"
	.ascii	"beral a foundation,\n    as a difference in judgment from my"
	.ascii	"self, or a deviation from\n    what I may think right and co"
	.ascii	"nsistent.\"\n    \n    \"You speak very properly.  Willoughb"
	.ascii	"y certainly does\n    not deserve to be suspected.  Though W"
	.ascii	"E have not known\n    him long, he is no stranger in this pa"
	.ascii	"rt of the world;\n    and who has ever spoken to his disadva"
	.ascii	"ntage?  Had he been\n    in a situation to act independently"
	.ascii	" and marry immediately,\n    it might have been odd that he "
	.ascii	"should leave us without\n    acknowledging everything to me "
	.ascii	"at once: but this is not the case.\n    It is an engagement "
	.ascii	"in some respects not prosperously begun,\n    for their marr"
	.ascii	"iage must be at a very uncertain distance;\n    and even sec"
	.ascii	"recy, as far as it can be observed, may now\n    be very adv"
	.ascii	"isable.\"\n    \n    They were interrupted by the entrance o"
	.ascii	"f Margaret;\n    and Elinor was then at liberty to think ove"
	.ascii	"r the representations\n    of her mother, to acknowledge the"
	.ascii	" probability of many,\n    and hope for the justice of all.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    They saw nothing of Marianne till dinner time,\n  "
	.ascii	"  when she entered the room and took her place at the table\n"
	.ascii	"    without saying a word.  Her eyes were red and swollen;\n"
	.ascii	"    and it seemed as if her tears were even then restrained\n"
	.ascii	"    with difficulty.  She avoided the looks of them all,\n  "
	.ascii	"  could neither eat nor speak, and after some time, on her\n"
	.ascii	"    mother's silently pressing her hand with tender compassi"
	.ascii	"on,\n    her small degree of fortitude was quite overcome, s"
	.ascii	"he burst\n    into tears and left the room.\n    \n    This "
	.ascii	"violent oppression of spirits continued the\n    whole eveni"
	.ascii	"ng.  She was without any power, because she\n    was without"
	.ascii	" any desire of command over herself.\n    The slightest ment"
	.ascii	"ion of anything relative to Willoughby\n    overpowered her "
	.ascii	"in an instant; and though her family\n    were most anxiousl"
	.ascii	"y attentive to her comfort, it was\n    impossible for them,"
	.ascii	" if they spoke at all, to keep clear\n    of every subject w"
	.ascii	"hich her feelings connected with him.\n    \n    \n    \n   "
	.ascii	" C"
	.ascii	"HAPTER 16\n    \n    \n    Marianne would have thought herse"
	.ascii	"lf very inexcusable\n    had she been able to sleep at all t"
	.ascii	"he first night\n    after parting from Willoughby.  She woul"
	.ascii	"d have been\n    ashamed to look her family in the face the "
	.ascii	"next morning,\n    had she not risen from her bed in more ne"
	.ascii	"ed of repose\n    than when she lay down in it.  But the fee"
	.ascii	"lings which\n    made such composure a disgrace, left her in"
	.ascii	" no danger\n    of incurring it.  She was awake the whole ni"
	.ascii	"ght, and she\n    wept the greatest part of it.  She got up "
	.ascii	"with a headache,\n    was unable to talk, and unwilling to t"
	.ascii	"ake any nourishment;\n    giving pain every moment to her mo"
	.ascii	"ther and sisters,\n    and forbidding all attempt at consola"
	.ascii	"tion from either.\n    Her sensibility was potent enough!\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    When breakfast was over she walked out by herself,\n"
	.ascii	"    and wandered about the village of Allenham, indulging th"
	.ascii	"e\n    recollection of past enjoyment and crying over the pr"
	.ascii	"esent\n    reverse for the chief of the morning.\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"The evening passed off in the equal indulgence of feeling.\n"
	.ascii	"    She played over every favourite song that she had been u"
	.ascii	"sed\n    to play to Willoughby, every air in which their voi"
	.ascii	"ces\n    had been oftenest joined, and sat at the instrument"
	.ascii	" gazing\n    on every line of music that he had written out "
	.ascii	"for her,\n    till her heart was so heavy that no farther sa"
	.ascii	"dness\n    could be gained; and this nourishment of grief wa"
	.ascii	"s every\n    day applied.  She spent whole hours at the pian"
	.ascii	"oforte\n    alternately singing and crying; her voice often "
	.ascii	"totally\n    suspended by her tears.  In books too, as well "
	.ascii	"as in music,\n    she courted the misery which a contrast be"
	.ascii	"tween the past\n    and present was certain of giving.  She "
	.ascii	"read nothing\n    but what they had been used to read togeth"
	.ascii	"er.\n    \n    Such violence of affliction indeed could not "
	.ascii	"be supported\n    for ever; it sunk within a few days into a"
	.ascii	" calmer melancholy;\n    but these employments, to which she"
	.ascii	" daily recurred,\n    her solitary walks and silent medita"
	.ascii	"tions, still produced\n    occasional effusions of sorrow as"
	.ascii	" lively as ever.\n    \n    No letter from Willoughby came; "
	.ascii	"and none seemed expected\n    by Marianne.  Her mother was s"
	.ascii	"urprised, and Elinor again\n    became uneasy.  But Mrs. Das"
	.ascii	"hwood could find explanations\n    whenever she wanted them,"
	.ascii	" which at least satisfied herself.\n    \n    \"Remember, El"
	.ascii	"inor,\" said she, \"how very often Sir John\n    fetches our"
	.ascii	" letters himself from the post, and carries them\n    to it."
	.ascii	"  We have already agreed that secrecy may be necessary,\n   "
	.ascii	" and we must acknowledge that it could not be maintained if\n"
	.ascii	"    their correspondence were to pass through Sir John's han"
	.ascii	"ds.\"\n    \n    Elinor could not deny the truth of this, an"
	.ascii	"d she tried\n    to find in it a motive sufficient for their"
	.ascii	" silence.\n    But there was one method so direct, so simple"
	.ascii	", and in\n    her opinion so eligible of knowing the real st"
	.ascii	"ate\n    of the affair, and of instantly removing all myster"
	.ascii	"y,\n    that she could not help suggesting it to her mother."
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"Why do you not ask Marianne at once,\" said sh"
	.ascii	"e,\n    \"whether she is or she is not engaged to Willoughby"
	.ascii	"?  From you,\n    her mother, and so kind, so indulgent a mo"
	.ascii	"ther, the question\n    could not give offence.  It would be"
	.ascii	" the natural result\n    of your affection for her.  She use"
	.ascii	"d to be all unreserve,\n    and to you more especially.\"\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    \"I would not ask such a question for the world.\n "
	.ascii	"   Supposing it possible that they are not engaged,\n    wha"
	.ascii	"t distress would not such an enquiry inflict!  At any\n    r"
	.ascii	"ate it would be most ungenerous.  I should never deserve\n  "
	.ascii	"  her confidence again, after forcing from her a confession\n"
	.ascii	"    of what is meant at present to be unacknowledged to any "
	.ascii	"one.\n    I know Marianne's heart: I know that she dearly lo"
	.ascii	"ves me,\n    and that I shall not be the last to whom the af"
	.ascii	"fair is made\n    known,\n    when circumstances make the re"
	.ascii	"vealment of it eligible.\n    I would not attempt to force t"
	.ascii	"he confidence of any one;\n    of a child much less; because"
	.ascii	" a sen"
	.ascii	"se of duty would prevent\n    the denial which her wishes mi"
	.ascii	"ght direct.\"\n    \n    Elinor thought this generosity over"
	.ascii	"strained,\n    considering her sister's youth, and urged the"
	.ascii	" matter farther,\n    but in vain; common sense, common care"
	.ascii	", common prudence,\n    were all sunk in Mrs. Dashwood's rom"
	.ascii	"antic delicacy.\n    \n    It was several days before Willou"
	.ascii	"ghby's name\n    was mentioned before Marianne by any of her"
	.ascii	" family;\n    Sir John and Mrs. Jennings, indeed, were not s"
	.ascii	"o nice;\n    their witticisms added pain to many a painful h"
	.ascii	"our;--\n    but one evening, Mrs. Dashwood, accidentally tak"
	.ascii	"ing up a\n    volume of Shakespeare, exclaimed,\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"We have never finished Hamlet, Marianne; our dear\n    Willo"
	.ascii	"ughby went away before we could get through it.\n    We will"
	.ascii	" put it by, that when he comes again...But it may\n    be mo"
	.ascii	"nths, perhaps, before THAT happens.\"\n    \n    \"Months!\""
	.ascii	" cried Marianne, with strong surprise.\n    \"No--nor many w"
	.ascii	"eeks.\"\n    \n    Mrs. Dashwood was sorry for what she had "
	.ascii	"said;\n    but it gave Elinor pleasure, as it produced a rep"
	.ascii	"ly\n    from Marianne so expressive of confidence in Willoug"
	.ascii	"hby\n    and knowledge of his intentions.\n    \n    One mor"
	.ascii	"ning, about a week after his leaving the country,\n    Maria"
	.ascii	"nne was prevailed on to join her sisters in their\n    usual"
	.ascii	" walk, instead of wandering away by herself.\n    Hitherto s"
	.ascii	"he had carefully avoided every companion in\n    her rambles"
	.ascii	".  If her sisters intended to walk on the downs,\n    she di"
	.ascii	"rectly stole away towards the lanes; if they talked\n    of "
	.ascii	"the valley, she was as speedy in climbing the hills,\n    an"
	.ascii	"d could never be found when the others set off.\n    But at "
	.ascii	"length she was secured by the exertions of Elinor,\n    who "
	.ascii	"greatly disapproved such continual seclusion.  They walked\n"
	.ascii	"    along the road through the valley, and chiefly in silenc"
	.ascii	"e,\n    for Marianne's MIND could not be controlled, and Eli"
	.ascii	"nor,\n    satisfied with gaining one point, would not then a"
	.ascii	"ttempt more.\n    Beyond the entrance of the valley, where t"
	.ascii	"he coun"
	.ascii	"try,\n    though still rich, was less wild and more open, a "
	.ascii	"long\n    stretch of the road which they had travelled on fi"
	.ascii	"rst coming\n    to Barton, lay before them; and on reaching "
	.ascii	"that point,\n    they stopped to look around them, and exami"
	.ascii	"ne a prospect\n    which formed the distance of their view f"
	.ascii	"rom the cottage,\n    from a spot which they had never happe"
	.ascii	"ned to reach in any\n    of their walks before.\n    \n    A"
	.ascii	"mongst the objects in the scene, they soon discovered\n    a"
	.ascii	"n animated one; it was a man on horseback riding towards the"
	.ascii	"m.\n    In a few minutes they could distinguish him to be a "
	.ascii	"gentleman;\n    and in a moment afterwards Marianne rapturou"
	.ascii	"sly exclaimed,\n    \n    \"It is he; it is indeed;--I know "
	.ascii	"it is!\"--and was\n    hastening to meet him, when Elinor cr"
	.ascii	"ied out,\n    \n    \"Indeed, Marianne, I think you are mist"
	.ascii	"aken.  It is\n    not Willoughby.  The person is not tall en"
	.ascii	"ough for him,\n    and has not his air.\"\n    \n    \"He ha"
	.ascii	"s, he has,\" cried Marianne, \"I am sure he has.\n    His ai"
	.ascii	"r, his coat, his horse.  I knew how soon he would come.\"\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    She walked eagerly on as she spoke; and Elinor,\n  "
	.ascii	"  to screen Marianne from particularity, as she felt almost\n"
	.ascii	"    certain of its not being Willoughby, quickened her\n    "
	.ascii	"pace and kept up with her.  They were soon within\n    thirt"
	.ascii	"y yards of the gentleman.  Marianne looked again;\n    her h"
	.ascii	"eart sunk within her; and abruptly turning round,\n    she w"
	.ascii	"as hurrying back, when the voices of both her sisters\n    w"
	.ascii	"ere raised to detain her; a third, almost as well known\n   "
	.ascii	" as Willoughby's, joined them in begging her to stop,\n    a"
	.ascii	"nd she turned round with surprise to see and welcome\n    Ed"
	.ascii	"ward Ferrars.\n    \n    He was the only person in the world"
	.ascii	" who could\n    at that moment be forgiven for not being Wil"
	.ascii	"loughby;\n    the only one who could have gained a smile fro"
	.ascii	"m her;\n    but she dispersed her tears to smile on HIM, and"
	.ascii	" in her\n    sister's happiness forgot for a time her own di"
	.ascii	"sappointment.\n    \n    He dismounted, and giving his horse"
	.ascii	" to his s"
	.ascii	"ervant,\n    walked back with them to Barton, whither he was"
	.ascii	" purposely\n    coming to visit them.\n    \n    He was welc"
	.ascii	"omed by them all with great cordiality,\n    but especially "
	.ascii	"by Marianne, who showed more warmth of\n    regard in her re"
	.ascii	"ception of him than even Elinor herself.\n    To Marianne, i"
	.ascii	"ndeed, the meeting between Edward and her sister\n    was bu"
	.ascii	"t a continuation of that unaccountable coldness which she\n "
	.ascii	"   had often observed at Norland in their mutual behaviour.\n"
	.ascii	"    On Edward's side, more particularly, there was a deficie"
	.ascii	"ncy\n    of all that a lover ought to look and say on such a"
	.ascii	"n occasion.\n    He was confused, seemed scarcely sensible o"
	.ascii	"f pleasure\n    in seeing them, looked neither rapturous nor"
	.ascii	" gay,\n    said little but what was forced from him by quest"
	.ascii	"ions,\n    and distinguished Elinor by no mark of affection."
	.ascii	"\n    Marianne saw and listened with increasing surprise.\n "
	.ascii	"   She began almost to feel a dislike of Edward; and it ende"
	.ascii	"d,\n    as every feeling must end with her, by carrying back"
	.ascii	" her\n    thoughts to Willoughby, whose manners formed a con"
	.ascii	"trast\n    sufficiently striking to those of his brother ele"
	.ascii	"ct.\n    \n    After a short silence which succeeded the fir"
	.ascii	"st\n    surprise and enquiries of meeting, Marianne asked\n "
	.ascii	"   Edward if he came directly from London.  No, he had\n    "
	.ascii	"been in Devonshire a fortnight.\n    \n    \"A fortnight!\" "
	.ascii	"she repeated, surprised at his being\n    so long in the sam"
	.ascii	"e county with Elinor without seeing\n    her before.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    He looked rather distressed as he added, that he\n    ha"
	.ascii	"d been staying with some friends near Plymouth.\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"Have you been lately in Sussex?\" said Elinor.\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"I was at Norland about a month ago.\"\n    \n    \"And how d"
	.ascii	"oes dear, dear Norland look?\" cried Marianne.\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"Dear, dear Norland,\" said Elinor, \"probably looks\n    muc"
	.ascii	"h as it always does at this time of the year.\n    The woods"
	.ascii	" and walks thickly covered with dead leaves.\"\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"Oh,\" cried Marianne, \"with what transporting sensation\n  "
	.ascii	"  have I formerly "
	.ascii	"seen them fall!  How have I delighted,\n    as I walked, to "
	.ascii	"see them driven in showers about me\n    by the wind!  What "
	.ascii	"feelings have they, the season, the air\n    altogether insp"
	.ascii	"ired!  Now there is no one to regard them.\n    They are see"
	.ascii	"n only as a nuisance, swept hastily off,\n    and driven as "
	.ascii	"much as possible from the sight.\"\n    \n    \"It is not ev"
	.ascii	"ery one,\" said Elinor, \"who has your\n    passion for dead"
	.ascii	" leaves.\"\n    \n    \"No; my feelings are not often shared"
	.ascii	", not often\n    understood.  But SOMETIMES they are.\"--As "
	.ascii	"she said this,\n    she sunk into a reverie for a few moment"
	.ascii	"s;--but rousing\n    herself again, \"Now, Edward,\" said sh"
	.ascii	"e, calling his attention\n    to the prospect, \"here is Bar"
	.ascii	"ton valley.  Look up to it,\n    and be tranquil if you can."
	.ascii	"  Look at those hills!\n    Did you ever see their equals?  "
	.ascii	"To the left is Barton park,\n    amongst those woods and pla"
	.ascii	"ntations.  You may see the end\n    of the house.  And there"
	.ascii	", beneath that farthest hill,\n    which rises with such gra"
	.ascii	"ndeur, is our cottage.\"\n    \n    \"It is a beautiful coun"
	.ascii	"try,\" he replied; \"but these\n    bottoms must be dirty in"
	.ascii	" winter.\"\n    \n    \"How can you think of dirt, with such"
	.ascii	" objects before you?\"\n    \n    \"Because,\" replied he, s"
	.ascii	"miling, \"among the rest of the\n    objects before me, I se"
	.ascii	"e a very dirty lane.\"\n    \n    \"How strange!\" said Mari"
	.ascii	"anne to herself as she walked on.\n    \n    \"Have you an a"
	.ascii	"greeable neighbourhood here?  Are the\n    Middletons pleasa"
	.ascii	"nt people?\"\n    \n    \"No, not all,\" answered Marianne; "
	.ascii	"\"we could not\n    be more unfortunately situated.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"Marianne,\" cried her sister, \"how can you say so? Ho"
	.ascii	"w can\n    you be so unjust?  They are a very respectable fa"
	.ascii	"mily, Mr.\n    Ferrars;\n    and towards us have behaved in "
	.ascii	"the friendliest manner.  Have you\n    forgot, Marianne, how"
	.ascii	" many pleasant days we have owed to them?\"\n    \n    \"No,"
	.ascii	"\" said Marianne, in a low voice, \"nor how many\n    painfu"
	.ascii	"l moments.\"\n    \n    Elinor took no notice of this; and d"
	.ascii	"irecting\n    her attention to their visito"
	.ascii	"r, endeavoured to support\n    something like discourse with"
	.ascii	" him, by talking of their\n    present residence, its conven"
	.ascii	"iences, &c. extorting from him\n    occasional questions and"
	.ascii	" remarks.  His coldness and reserve\n    mortified her sever"
	.ascii	"ely; she was vexed and half angry;\n    but resolving to reg"
	.ascii	"ulate her behaviour to him by the past\n    rather than the "
	.ascii	"present, she avoided every appearance\n    of resentment or "
	.ascii	"displeasure, and treated him as she\n    thought he ought to"
	.ascii	" be treated from the family connection.\n    \n    \n    \n "
	.ascii	"   CHAPTER 17\n    \n    \n    Mrs. Dashwood was surprised o"
	.ascii	"nly for a moment at\n    seeing him; for his coming to Barto"
	.ascii	"n was, in her opinion,\n    of all things the most natural. "
	.ascii	" Her joy and expression\n    of regard long outlived her won"
	.ascii	"der.  He received the kindest\n    welcome from her; and shy"
	.ascii	"ness, coldness, reserve could not\n    stand against such a "
	.ascii	"reception.  They had begun to fail him\n    before he entere"
	.ascii	"d the house, and they were quite overcome\n    by the captiv"
	.ascii	"ating manners of Mrs. Dashwood.  Indeed a man\n    could not"
	.ascii	" very well be in love with either of her daughters,\n    wit"
	.ascii	"hout extending the passion to her; and Elinor had the\n    s"
	.ascii	"atisfaction of seeing him soon become more like himself.\n  "
	.ascii	"  His affections seemed to reanimate towards them all,\n    "
	.ascii	"and his interest in their welfare again became perceptible.\n"
	.ascii	"    He was not in spirits, however; he praised their house,\n"
	.ascii	"    admired its prospect, was attentive, and kind; but still"
	.ascii	"\n    he was not in spirits.  The whole family perceived it,"
	.ascii	"\n    and Mrs. Dashwood, attributing it to some want of libe"
	.ascii	"rality\n    in his mother, sat down to table indignant again"
	.ascii	"st all\n    selfish parents.\n    \n    \"What are Mrs. Ferr"
	.ascii	"ars's views for you at present, Edward?\"\n    said she, whe"
	.ascii	"n dinner was over and they had drawn round\n    the fire; \""
	.ascii	"are you still to be a great orator in spite of\n    yourself"
	.ascii	"?\"\n    \n    \"No. I hope my mother is now convinced that "
	.ascii	"I have\n    no more talents than inclination for a public li"
	.ascii	"fe!\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"But how is your fame to be established? for fa"
	.ascii	"mous you\n    must be to satisfy all your family; and with n"
	.ascii	"o inclination\n    for expense, no affection for strangers, "
	.ascii	"no profession,\n    and no assurance, you may find it a diff"
	.ascii	"icult matter.\"\n    \n    \"I shall not attempt it.  I have"
	.ascii	" no wish to be\n    distinguished; and have every reason to "
	.ascii	"hope I never shall.\n    Thank Heaven! I cannot be forced in"
	.ascii	"to genius and eloquence.\"\n    \n    \"You have no ambition"
	.ascii	", I well know.  Your wishes\n    are all moderate.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"As moderate as those of the rest of the world,\n    I "
	.ascii	"believe.  I wish as well as every body else to be\n    perfe"
	.ascii	"ctly happy; but, like every body else it must be\n    in my "
	.ascii	"own way.  Greatness will not make me so.\"\n    \n    \"Stra"
	.ascii	"nge that it would!\" cried Marianne.  \"What have\n    wealt"
	.ascii	"h or grandeur to do with happiness?\"\n    \n    \"Grandeur "
	.ascii	"has but little,\" said Elinor, \"but wealth\n    has much to"
	.ascii	" do with it.\"\n    \n    \"Elinor, for shame!\" said Marian"
	.ascii	"ne, \"money can only\n    give happiness where there is noth"
	.ascii	"ing else to give it.\n    Beyond a competence, it can afford"
	.ascii	" no real satisfaction,\n    as far as mere self is concerned"
	.ascii	".\"\n    \n    \"Perhaps,\" said Elinor, smiling, \"we may c"
	.ascii	"ome\n    to the same point.  YOUR competence and MY wealth\n"
	.ascii	"    are very much alike, I dare say; and without them,\n    "
	.ascii	"as the world goes now, we shall both agree that every\n    k"
	.ascii	"ind of external comfort must be wanting.  Your ideas\n    ar"
	.ascii	"e only more noble than mine.  Come, what is your competence?"
	.ascii	"\"\n    \n    \"About eighteen hundred or two thousand a yea"
	.ascii	"r;\n    not more than THAT.\"\n    \n    Elinor laughed.  \""
	.ascii	"TWO thousand a year! ONE is my\n    wealth! I guessed how it"
	.ascii	" would end.\"\n    \n    \"And yet two thousand a-year is a "
	.ascii	"very moderate income,\"\n    said Marianne.  \"A family cann"
	.ascii	"ot well be maintained on\n    a smaller.  I am sure I am not"
	.ascii	" extravagant in my demands.\n    A proper establishment of s"
	.ascii	"ervants, a carriage, perhaps two,\n    and hunters, cannot b"
	.ascii	"e supported on less.\"\n    \n    Elinor "
	.ascii	"smiled again, to hear her sister describing\n    so accurate"
	.ascii	"ly their future expenses at Combe Magna.\n    \n    \"Hunter"
	.ascii	"s!\" repeated Edward--\"but why must you have\n    hunters? "
	.ascii	" Every body does not hunt.\"\n    \n    Marianne coloured as"
	.ascii	" she replied, \"But most people do.\"\n    \n    \"I wish,\""
	.ascii	" said Margaret, striking out a novel thought,\n    \"that so"
	.ascii	"mebody would give us all a large fortune apiece!\"\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \"Oh that they would!\" cried Marianne, her eyes\n    spar"
	.ascii	"kling with animation, and her cheeks glowing\n    with the d"
	.ascii	"elight of such imaginary happiness.\n    \n    \"We are all "
	.ascii	"unanimous in that wish, I suppose,\"\n    said Elinor, \"in "
	.ascii	"spite of the insufficiency of wealth.\"\n    \n    \"Oh dear"
	.ascii	"!\" cried Margaret, \"how happy I should be!\n    I wonder w"
	.ascii	"hat I should do with it!\"\n    \n    Marianne looked as if "
	.ascii	"she had no doubt on that point.\n    \n    \"I should be puz"
	.ascii	"zled to spend so large a fortune myself,\"\n    said Mrs. Da"
	.ascii	"shwood, \"if my children were all to be rich\n    my help.\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"You must begin your improvements on this house"
	.ascii	",\"\n    observed Elinor, \"and your difficulties will soon "
	.ascii	"vanish.\"\n    \n    \"What magnificent orders would travel "
	.ascii	"from this family\n    to London,\" said Edward, \"in such an"
	.ascii	" event!  What a happy\n    day for booksellers, music-seller"
	.ascii	"s, and print-shops!  You,\n    Miss Dashwood, would give a g"
	.ascii	"eneral commission for every\n    new print of merit to be se"
	.ascii	"nt you--and as for Marianne,\n    I know her greatness of so"
	.ascii	"ul, there would not be music enough\n    in London to conten"
	.ascii	"t her.  And books!--Thomson, Cowper,\n    Scott--she would b"
	.ascii	"uy them all over and over again: she\n    would buy up every"
	.ascii	" copy, I believe, to prevent their\n    falling into unworth"
	.ascii	"y hands; and she would have every\n    book that tells her h"
	.ascii	"ow to admire an old twisted tree.\n    Should not you, Maria"
	.ascii	"nne?  Forgive me, if I am very saucy.\n    But I was willing"
	.ascii	" to shew you that I had not forgot our\n    old disputes.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"I love to be reminded of the past, Edward--wheth"
	.ascii	"er it\n    be melancholy or gay, I lov"
	.ascii	"e to recall it--and you\n    will never offend me by talking"
	.ascii	" of former times.\n    You are very right in supposing how m"
	.ascii	"y money would be\n    spent--some of it, at least--my loose "
	.ascii	"cash would certainly\n    be employed in improving my collec"
	.ascii	"tion of music and books.\"\n    \n    \"And the bulk of your"
	.ascii	" fortune would be laid out\n    in annuities on the authors "
	.ascii	"or their heirs.\"\n    \n    \"No, Edward, I should have som"
	.ascii	"ething else to do\n    with it.\"\n    \n    \"Perhaps, then"
	.ascii	", you would bestow it as a reward on that\n    person who wr"
	.ascii	"ote the ablest defence of your favourite maxim,\n    that no"
	.ascii	" one can ever be in love more than once in their\n    life--"
	.ascii	"your opinion on that point is unchanged, I presume?\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"Undoubtedly. At my time of life opinions are tolerably"
	.ascii	" fixed.\n    It is not likely that I should now see or hear "
	.ascii	"any thing to\n    change them.\"\n    \n    \"Marianne is as"
	.ascii	" steadfast as ever, you see,\" said Elinor,\n    \"she is no"
	.ascii	"t at all altered.\"\n    \n    \"She is only grown a little "
	.ascii	"more grave than she was.\"\n    \n    \"Nay, Edward,\" said "
	.ascii	"Marianne, \"you need not reproach me.\n    You are not very "
	.ascii	"gay yourself.\"\n    \n    \"Why should you think so!\" repl"
	.ascii	"ied he, with a sigh.\n    \"But gaiety never was a part of M"
	.ascii	"Y character.\"\n    \n    \"Nor do I think it a part of Mari"
	.ascii	"anne's,\" said Elinor;\n    \"I should hardly call her a liv"
	.ascii	"ely girl--she is very earnest,\n    very eager in all she do"
	.ascii	"es--sometimes talks a great deal\n    and always with animat"
	.ascii	"ion--but she is not often really merry.\"\n    \n    \"I bel"
	.ascii	"ieve you are right,\" he replied, \"and yet I\n    have alwa"
	.ascii	"ys set her down as a lively girl.\"\n    \n    \"I have freq"
	.ascii	"uently detected myself in such kind of mistakes,\"\n    said"
	.ascii	" Elinor, \"in a total misapprehension of character in some\n"
	.ascii	"    point or other: fancying people so much more gay or grav"
	.ascii	"e,\n    or ingenious or stupid than they really are, and I c"
	.ascii	"an\n    hardly tell why or in what the deception originated."
	.ascii	"\n    Sometimes one is guided by what they say of themselves"
	.ascii	",\n    and very frequently by what othe"
	.ascii	"r people say of them,\n    without giving oneself time to de"
	.ascii	"liberate and judge.\"\n    \n    \"But I thought it was righ"
	.ascii	"t, Elinor,\" said Marianne,\n    \"to be guided wholly by th"
	.ascii	"e opinion of other people.\n    I thought our judgments were"
	.ascii	" given us merely to be subservient\n    to those of neighbou"
	.ascii	"rs.  This has always been your doctrine,\n    I am sure.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"No, Marianne, never.  My doctrine has never aime"
	.ascii	"d\n    at the subjection of the understanding.  All I have\n"
	.ascii	"    ever attempted to influence has been the behaviour.\n   "
	.ascii	" You must not confound my meaning.  I am guilty, I confess,\n"
	.ascii	"    of having often wished you to treat our acquaintance\n  "
	.ascii	"  in general with greater attention; but when have I advised"
	.ascii	"\n    you to adopt their sentiments or to conform to their\n"
	.ascii	"    judgment in serious matters?\"\n    \n    \"You have not"
	.ascii	" been able to bring your sister over to your\n    plan of ge"
	.ascii	"neral civility,\" said Edward to Elinor, \"Do you gain\n    "
	.ascii	"no ground?\"\n    \n    \"Quite the contrary,\" replied Elin"
	.ascii	"or,\n    looking expressively at Marianne.\n    \n    \"My j"
	.ascii	"udgment,\" he returned, \"is all on your side\n    of the qu"
	.ascii	"estion; but I am afraid my practice is much\n    more on you"
	.ascii	"r sister's.  I never wish to offend, but I\n    am so foolis"
	.ascii	"hly shy, that I often seem negligent,\n    when I am only ke"
	.ascii	"pt back by my natural awkwardness.\n    I have frequently th"
	.ascii	"ought that I must have been intended\n    by nature to be fo"
	.ascii	"nd of low company, I am so little at\n    my ease among stra"
	.ascii	"ngers of gentility!\"\n    \n    \"Marianne has not shyness "
	.ascii	"to excuse any inattention\n    of hers,\" said Elinor.\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    \"She knows her own worth too well for false shame,\"\n"
	.ascii	"    replied Edward.  \"Shyness is only the effect of a sense"
	.ascii	"\n    of inferiority in some way or other.  If I could persu"
	.ascii	"ade\n    myself that my manners were perfectly easy and grac"
	.ascii	"eful,\n    I should not be shy.\"\n    \n    \"But you would"
	.ascii	" still be reserved,\" said Marianne,\n    \"and that is wors"
	.ascii	"e.\"\n    \n    Edward started--\"Reserved! Am I reserved, M"
	.ascii	"arianne?\"\n    \n    \"Yes, very.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"I do not understand you,\" replied he, colouring"
	.ascii	".\n    \"Reserved!--how, in what manner?  What am I to tell "
	.ascii	"you?\n    What can you suppose?\"\n    \n    Elinor looked s"
	.ascii	"urprised at his emotion; but trying\n    to laugh off the su"
	.ascii	"bject, she said to him, \"Do not you\n    know my sister wel"
	.ascii	"l enough to understand what she means?\n    Do not you know "
	.ascii	"she calls every one reserved who does not\n    talk as fast,"
	.ascii	" and admire what she admires as rapturously\n    as herself?"
	.ascii	"\"\n    \n    Edward made no answer.  His gravity and though"
	.ascii	"tfulness\n    returned on him in their fullest extent--and h"
	.ascii	"e sat\n    for some time silent and dull.\n    \n    \n    \n"
	.ascii	"    CHAPTER 18\n    \n    \n    Elinor saw, with great uneas"
	.ascii	"iness the low spirits\n    of her friend.  His visit afforde"
	.ascii	"d her but a very\n    partial satisfaction, while his own en"
	.ascii	"joyment in it\n    appeared so imperfect.  It was evident th"
	.ascii	"at he was unhappy;\n    she wished it were equally evident t"
	.ascii	"hat he still\n    distinguished her by the same affection wh"
	.ascii	"ich once\n    she had felt no doubt of inspiring; but hither"
	.ascii	"to the\n    continuance of his preference seemed very uncert"
	.ascii	"ain;\n    and the reservedness of his manner towards her con"
	.ascii	"tradicted\n    one moment what a more animated look had inti"
	.ascii	"mated the preceding\n    one.\n    \n    He joined her and M"
	.ascii	"arianne in the breakfast-room\n    the next morning before t"
	.ascii	"he others were down; and Marianne,\n    who was always eager"
	.ascii	" to promote their happiness as far\n    as she could, soon l"
	.ascii	"eft them to themselves.  But before she\n    was half way up"
	.ascii	"stairs she heard the parlour door open, and,\n    turning ro"
	.ascii	"und, was astonished to see Edward himself come out.\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   \"I am going into the village to see my horses,\"\n    sa"
	.ascii	"id he, \"as you are not yet ready for breakfast; I shall\n  "
	.ascii	"  be back again presently.\"\n    \n                        "
	.ascii	"***\n    \n    Edward returned to them with fresh admiration"
	.ascii	"\n    of the surrounding country; in his walk to the village"
	.ascii	",\n    he had seen many parts of the valley to advantage;\n "
	.ascii	"   and the village"
	.ascii	" itself, in a much higher situation than\n    the cottage, a"
	.ascii	"fforded a general view of the whole, which had\n    exceedin"
	.ascii	"gly pleased him.  This was a subject which ensured\n    Mari"
	.ascii	"anne's attention, and she was beginning to describe\n    her"
	.ascii	" own admiration of these scenes, and to question him more\n "
	.ascii	"   minutely on the objects that had particularly struck him,"
	.ascii	"\n    when Edward interrupted her by saying, \"You must not\n"
	.ascii	"    enquire too far, Marianne--remember I have no knowledge\n"
	.ascii	"    in the picturesque, and I shall offend you by my ignoran"
	.ascii	"ce\n    and want of taste if we come to particulars.  I shal"
	.ascii	"l call\n    hills steep, which ought to be bold; surfaces st"
	.ascii	"range\n    and uncouth, which ought to be irregular and rugg"
	.ascii	"ed;\n    and distant objects out of sight, which ought only "
	.ascii	"to be\n    indistinct through the soft medium of a hazy atmo"
	.ascii	"sphere.\n    You must be satisfied with such admiration as I"
	.ascii	" can\n    honestly give.  I call it a very fine country--the"
	.ascii	"\n    hills are steep, the woods seem full of fine timber,\n"
	.ascii	"    and the valley looks comfortable and snug--with rich\n  "
	.ascii	"  meadows and several neat farm houses scattered here\n    a"
	.ascii	"nd there.  It exactly answers my idea of a fine country,\n  "
	.ascii	"  because it unites beauty with utility--and I dare say it\n"
	.ascii	"    is a picturesque one too, because you admire it; I can\n"
	.ascii	"    easily believe it to be full of rocks and promontories,\n"
	.ascii	"    grey moss and brush wood, but these are all lost on me.\n"
	.ascii	"    I know nothing of the picturesque.\"\n    \n    \"I am a"
	.ascii	"fraid it is but too true,\" said Marianne;\n    \"but why sh"
	.ascii	"ould you boast of it?\"\n    \n    \"I suspect,\" said Elino"
	.ascii	"r, \"that to avoid one kind\n    of affectation, Edward here"
	.ascii	" falls into another.  Because he\n    believes many people p"
	.ascii	"retend to more admiration of the beauties\n    of nature tha"
	.ascii	"n they really feel, and is disgusted with\n    such pretensi"
	.ascii	"ons, he affects greater indifference and less\n    discrimin"
	.ascii	"ation in viewing them himself than he possesses.\n    He is "
	.ascii	"fastidious and will have an affectation of his own.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"  "
	.ascii	"  \"It is very true,\" said Marianne, \"that admiration\n   "
	.ascii	" of landscape scenery is become a mere jargon.\n    Every bo"
	.ascii	"dy pretends to feel and tries to describe with\n    the tast"
	.ascii	"e and elegance of him who first defined what\n    picturesqu"
	.ascii	"e beauty was.  I detest jargon of every kind,\n    and somet"
	.ascii	"imes I have kept my feelings to myself,\n    because I could"
	.ascii	" find no language to describe them\n    in but what was worn"
	.ascii	" and hackneyed out of all sense and meaning.\"\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"I am convinced,\" said Edward, \"that you really feel\n    a"
	.ascii	"ll the delight in a fine prospect which you profess\n    to "
	.ascii	"feel.  But, in return, your sister must allow me\n    to fee"
	.ascii	"l no more than I profess.  I like a fine prospect,\n    but "
	.ascii	"not on picturesque principles.  I do not like crooked,\n    "
	.ascii	"twisted, blasted trees.  I admire them much more if they\n  "
	.ascii	"  are tall, straight, and flourishing.  I do not like ruined"
	.ascii	",\n    tattered cottages.  I am not fond of nettles or thist"
	.ascii	"les,\n    or heath blossoms.  I have more pleasure in a snug"
	.ascii	"\n    farm-house than a watch-tower--and a troop of tidy,\n "
	.ascii	"   happy villages please me better than the finest banditti\n"
	.ascii	"    in the world.\"\n    \n    Marianne looked with amazemen"
	.ascii	"t at Edward,\n    with compassion at her sister.  Elinor onl"
	.ascii	"y laughed.\n    \n    The subject was continued no farther; "
	.ascii	"and Marianne\n    remained thoughtfully silent, till a new o"
	.ascii	"bject suddenly\n    engaged her attention.  She was sitting "
	.ascii	"by Edward, and\n    in taking his tea from Mrs. Dashwood, hi"
	.ascii	"s hand passed\n    so directly before her, as to make a ring"
	.ascii	", with a plait\n    of hair in the centre, very conspicuous "
	.ascii	"on one of his fingers.\n    \n    \"I never saw you wear a r"
	.ascii	"ing before, Edward,\" she cried.\n    \"Is that Fanny's hair"
	.ascii	"? I remember her promising to give\n    you some.  But I sho"
	.ascii	"uld have thought her hair had been darker.\"\n    \n    Mari"
	.ascii	"anne spoke inconsiderately what she really felt--\n    but w"
	.ascii	"hen she saw how much she had pained Edward, her own\n    vex"
	.ascii	"ation at her want of thought could not be surpassed\n    by "
	.ascii	"his.  He c"
	.ascii	"oloured very deeply, and giving a momentary\n    glance at E"
	.ascii	"linor, replied, \"Yes; it is my sister's hair.\n    The sett"
	.ascii	"ing always casts a different shade on it,\n    you know.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    Elinor had met his eye, and looked conscious likew"
	.ascii	"ise.\n    That the hair was her own, she instantaneously fel"
	.ascii	"t as\n    well satisfied as Marianne; the only difference in"
	.ascii	" their\n    conclusions was, that what Marianne considered a"
	.ascii	"s a free\n    gift from her sister, Elinor was conscious mus"
	.ascii	"t have been\n    procured by some theft or contrivance unkno"
	.ascii	"wn to herself.\n    She was not in a humour, however, to reg"
	.ascii	"ard it as an affront,\n    and affecting to take no notice o"
	.ascii	"f what passed,\n    by instantly talking of something else, "
	.ascii	"she internally\n    resolved henceforward to catch every opp"
	.ascii	"ortunity of eyeing\n    the hair and of satisfying herself, "
	.ascii	"beyond all doubt,\n    that it was exactly the shade of her "
	.ascii	"own.\n    \n    Edward's embarrassment lasted some time, and"
	.ascii	" it\n    ended in an absence of mind still more settled.\n  "
	.ascii	"  He was particularly grave the whole morning.\n    Marianne"
	.ascii	" severely censured herself for what she had said;\n    but h"
	.ascii	"er own forgiveness might have been more speedy,\n    had she"
	.ascii	" known how little offence it had given her sister.\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  Before the middle of the day, they were visited by Sir\n  "
	.ascii	"  John and Mrs. Jennings, who, having heard of the arrival\n"
	.ascii	"    of a gentleman at the cottage, came to take a survey\n  "
	.ascii	"  of the guest.  With the assistance of his mother-in-law,\n"
	.ascii	"    Sir John was not long in discovering that the name of\n "
	.ascii	"   Ferrars began with an F. and this prepared a future mine\n"
	.ascii	"    of raillery against the devoted Elinor, which nothing bu"
	.ascii	"t\n    the newness of their acquaintance with Edward could h"
	.ascii	"ave\n    prevented from being immediately sprung.  But, as i"
	.ascii	"t was,\n    she only learned, from some very significant loo"
	.ascii	"ks, how far\n    their penetration, founded on Margaret's in"
	.ascii	"structions, extended.\n    \n    Sir John never came to the "
	.ascii	"Dashwoods without either\n    inviting them to dine at the "
	.ascii	"park the next day, or to drink\n    tea with them that eveni"
	.ascii	"ng.  On the present occasion,\n    for the better entertainm"
	.ascii	"ent of their visitor, towards\n    whose amusement he felt h"
	.ascii	"imself bound to contribute,\n    he wished to engage them fo"
	.ascii	"r both.\n    \n    \"You MUST drink tea with us to night,\" "
	.ascii	"said he,\n    \"for we shall be quite alone--and tomorrow yo"
	.ascii	"u must\n    absolutely dine with us, for we shall be a large"
	.ascii	" party.\"\n    \n    Mrs. Jennings enforced the necessity.  "
	.ascii	"\"And who knows\n    but you may raise a dance,\" said she. "
	.ascii	" \"And that will\n    tempt YOU, Miss Marianne.\"\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" \"A dance!\" cried Marianne.  \"Impossible! Who is to dance"
	.ascii	"?\"\n    \n    \"Who! why yourselves, and the Careys, and Wh"
	.ascii	"itakers\n    to be sure.--What! you thought nobody could dan"
	.ascii	"ce\n    because a certain person that shall be nameless is g"
	.ascii	"one!\"\n    \n    \"I wish with all my soul,\" cried Sir Joh"
	.ascii	"n,\n    \"that Willoughby were among us again.\"\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"This, and Marianne's blushing, gave new suspicions\n    to E"
	.ascii	"dward.  \"And who is Willoughby?\" said he, in a low voice,\n"
	.ascii	"    to Miss Dashwood, by whom he was sitting.\n    \n    She"
	.ascii	" gave him a brief reply.  Marianne's countenance\n    was mo"
	.ascii	"re communicative.  Edward saw enough to comprehend,\n    not"
	.ascii	" only the meaning of others, but such of Marianne's\n    exp"
	.ascii	"ressions as had puzzled him before; and when their\n    visi"
	.ascii	"tors left them, he went immediately round her, and said,\n  "
	.ascii	"  in a whisper, \"I have been guessing.  Shall I tell you\n "
	.ascii	"   my guess?\"\n    \n    \"What do you mean?\"\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"Shall I tell you.\"\n    \n    \"Certainly.\"\n    \n    \"W"
	.ascii	"ell then; I guess that Mr. Willoughby hunts.\"\n    \n    Ma"
	.ascii	"rianne was surprised and confused, yet she could\n    not he"
	.ascii	"lp smiling at the quiet archness of his manner,\n    and aft"
	.ascii	"er a moment's silence, said,\n    \n    \"Oh, Edward! How ca"
	.ascii	"n you?--But the time will come\n    I hope...I am sure you w"
	.ascii	"ill like him.\"\n    \n    \"I do not doubt it,\" replied he"
	.ascii	", rather astonished\n    at her earnestness and warmth; for "
	.ascii	"had he not imagined it\n    to be a joke for"
	.ascii	" the good of her acquaintance in general,\n    founded only "
	.ascii	"on a something or a nothing between Mr. Willoughby\n    and "
	.ascii	"herself, he would not have ventured to mention it.\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    \n    CHAPTER 19\n    \n    \n    Edward remained a "
	.ascii	"week at the cottage; he was earnestly\n    pressed by Mrs. D"
	.ascii	"ashwood to stay longer; but, as if he\n    were bent only on"
	.ascii	" self-mortification, he seemed resolved\n    to be gone when"
	.ascii	" his enjoyment among his friends was at\n    the height.  Hi"
	.ascii	"s spirits, during the last two or three days,\n    though st"
	.ascii	"ill very unequal, were greatly improved--he grew\n    more a"
	.ascii	"nd more partial to the house and environs--never\n    spoke "
	.ascii	"of going away without a sigh--declared his time\n    to be w"
	.ascii	"holly disengaged--even doubted to what place he\n    should "
	.ascii	"go when he left them--but still, go he must.\n    Never had "
	.ascii	"any week passed so quickly--he could hardly\n    believe it "
	.ascii	"to be gone.  He said so repeatedly; other things\n    he sai"
	.ascii	"d too, which marked the turn of his feelings and gave\n    t"
	.ascii	"he lie to his actions.  He had no pleasure at Norland;\n    "
	.ascii	"he detested being in town; but either to Norland or London,\n"
	.ascii	"    he must go.  He valued their kindness beyond any thing,\n"
	.ascii	"    and his greatest happiness was in being with them.\n    "
	.ascii	"Yet, he must leave them at the end of a week, in spite\n    "
	.ascii	"of their wishes and his own, and without any restraint\n    "
	.ascii	"on his time.\n    \n    Elinor placed all that was astonishi"
	.ascii	"ng in this\n    way of acting to his mother's account; and i"
	.ascii	"t was\n    happy for her that he had a mother whose characte"
	.ascii	"r\n    was so imperfectly known to her, as to be the general"
	.ascii	"\n    excuse for every thing strange on the part of her son."
	.ascii	"\n    Disappointed, however, and vexed as she was, and somet"
	.ascii	"imes\n    displeased with his uncertain behaviour to herself"
	.ascii	",\n    she was very well disposed on the whole to regard his"
	.ascii	" actions\n    with all the candid allowances and generous qu"
	.ascii	"alifications,\n    which had been rather more painfully exto"
	.ascii	"rted from her,\n    for Willoughby's service, by her mothe"
	.ascii	"r.  His want of spirits,\n    of openness, and of consistenc"
	.ascii	"y, were most usually\n    attributed to his want of independ"
	.ascii	"ence, and his better\n    knowledge of Mrs. Ferrars's dispos"
	.ascii	"ition and designs.\n    The shortness of his visit, the stea"
	.ascii	"diness of his purpose\n    in leaving them, originated in th"
	.ascii	"e same fettered inclination,\n    the same inevitable necess"
	.ascii	"ity of temporizing with his mother.\n    The old well-establ"
	.ascii	"ished grievance of duty against will,\n    parent against ch"
	.ascii	"ild, was the cause of all.  She would have\n    been glad to"
	.ascii	" know when these difficulties were to cease,\n    this oppos"
	.ascii	"ition was to yield,--when Mrs. Ferrars would\n    be reforme"
	.ascii	"d, and her son be at liberty to be happy.\n    But from such"
	.ascii	" vain wishes she was forced to turn for comfort\n    to the "
	.ascii	"renewal of her confidence in Edward's affection,\n    to the"
	.ascii	" remembrance of every mark of regard in look or word\n    wh"
	.ascii	"ich fell from him while at Barton, and above all\n    to tha"
	.ascii	"t flattering proof of it which he constantly wore\n    round"
	.ascii	" his finger.\n    \n    \"I think, Edward,\" said Mrs. Dashw"
	.ascii	"ood, as they were\n    at breakfast the last morning, \"you "
	.ascii	"would be a happier man\n    if you had any profession to eng"
	.ascii	"age your time and give\n    an interest to your plans and ac"
	.ascii	"tions.  Some inconvenience\n    to your friends, indeed, mig"
	.ascii	"ht result from it--you\n    would not be able to give them s"
	.ascii	"o much of your time.\n    But (with a smile) you would be ma"
	.ascii	"terially benefited\n    in one particular at least--you woul"
	.ascii	"d know where to go\n    when you left them.\"\n    \n    \"I"
	.ascii	" do assure you,\" he replied, \"that I have long\n    though"
	.ascii	"t on this point, as you think now.  It has been,\n    and is"
	.ascii	", and probably will always be a heavy misfortune\n    to me,"
	.ascii	" that I have had no necessary business to engage me,\n    no"
	.ascii	" profession to give me employment, or afford me any\n    thi"
	.ascii	"ng like independence.  But unfortunately my own nicety,\n   "
	.ascii	" and the nicety of my friends, have made me what I am,\n    "
	.ascii	"an idle, helpless being.  We never could agree in our\n    c"
	.ascii	"hoic"
	.ascii	"e of a profession.  I always preferred the church,\n    as I"
	.ascii	" still do.  But that was not smart enough for my family.\n  "
	.ascii	"  They recommended the army.  That was a great deal\n    too"
	.ascii	" smart for me.  The law was allowed to be genteel\n    enoug"
	.ascii	"h; many young men, who had chambers in the Temple,\n    made"
	.ascii	" a very good appearance in the first circles,\n    and drove"
	.ascii	" about town in very knowing gigs.  But I had\n    no inclina"
	.ascii	"tion for the law, even in this less abstruse\n    study of i"
	.ascii	"t, which my family approved.  As for the navy,\n    it had f"
	.ascii	"ashion on its side, but I was too old when the\n    subject "
	.ascii	"was first started to enter it--and, at length,\n    as there"
	.ascii	" was no necessity for my having any profession\n    at all, "
	.ascii	"as I might be as dashing and expensive without\n    a red co"
	.ascii	"at on my back as with one, idleness was pronounced\n    on t"
	.ascii	"he whole to be most advantageous and honourable,\n    and a "
	.ascii	"young man of eighteen is not in general so earnestly\n    be"
	.ascii	"nt on being busy as to resist the solicitations of his\n    "
	.ascii	"friends to do nothing.  I was therefore entered at Oxford\n "
	.ascii	"   and have been properly idle ever since.\"\n    \n    \"Th"
	.ascii	"e consequence of which, I suppose, will be,\"\n    said Mrs."
	.ascii	" Dashwood, \"since leisure has not promoted\n    your own ha"
	.ascii	"ppiness, that your sons will be brought up\n    to as many p"
	.ascii	"ursuits, employments, professions, and trades\n    as Colume"
	.ascii	"lla's.\"\n    \n    \"They will be brought up,\" said he, in"
	.ascii	" a serious accent,\n    \"to be as unlike myself as is possi"
	.ascii	"ble.  In feeling,\n    in action, in condition, in every thi"
	.ascii	"ng.\"\n    \n    \"Come, come; this is all an effusion of im"
	.ascii	"mediate\n    want of spirits, Edward.  You are in a melancho"
	.ascii	"ly humour,\n    and fancy that any one unlike yourself must "
	.ascii	"be happy.\n    But remember that the pain of parting from fr"
	.ascii	"iends\n    will be felt by every body at times, whatever be "
	.ascii	"their\n    education or state.  Know your own happiness.  Yo"
	.ascii	"u want\n    nothing but patience--or give it a more fascinat"
	.ascii	"ing name,\n    call it hope.  Your mother will secure to you"
	.ascii	", in ti"
	.ascii	"me,\n    that independence you are so anxious for; it is her"
	.ascii	" duty,\n    and it will, it must ere long become her happine"
	.ascii	"ss to\n    prevent your whole youth from being wasted in dis"
	.ascii	"content.\n    How much may not a few months do?\"\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" \"I think,\" replied Edward, \"that I may defy many\n    mo"
	.ascii	"nths to produce any good to me.\"\n    \n    This desponding"
	.ascii	" turn of mind, though it could not\n    be communicated to M"
	.ascii	"rs. Dashwood, gave additional pain\n    to them all in the p"
	.ascii	"arting, which shortly took place,\n    and left an uncomfort"
	.ascii	"able impression on Elinor's\n    feelings especially, which "
	.ascii	"required some trouble and time\n    to subdue.  But as it wa"
	.ascii	"s her determination to subdue it,\n    and to prevent hersel"
	.ascii	"f from appearing to suffer more than\n    what all her famil"
	.ascii	"y suffered on his going away, she did\n    not adopt the met"
	.ascii	"hod so judiciously employed by Marianne,\n    on a similar o"
	.ascii	"ccasion, to augment and fix her sorrow,\n    by seeking sile"
	.ascii	"nce, solitude and idleness.  Their means\n    were as differ"
	.ascii	"ent as their objects, and equally suited\n    to the advance"
	.ascii	"ment of each.\n    \n    Elinor sat down to her drawing-tabl"
	.ascii	"e as soon as he\n    was out of the house, busily employed h"
	.ascii	"erself the whole day,\n    neither sought nor avoided the me"
	.ascii	"ntion of his name,\n    appeared to interest herself almost "
	.ascii	"as much as ever in the\n    general concerns of the family, "
	.ascii	"and if, by this conduct,\n    she did not lessen her own gri"
	.ascii	"ef, it was at least prevented\n    from unnecessary increase"
	.ascii	", and her mother and sisters\n    were spared much solicitud"
	.ascii	"e on her account.\n    \n    Such behaviour as this, so exac"
	.ascii	"tly the reverse\n    of her own, appeared no more meritoriou"
	.ascii	"s to Marianne,\n    than her own had seemed faulty to her.  "
	.ascii	"The business\n    of self-command she settled very easily;--"
	.ascii	"with strong\n    affections it was impossible, with calm one"
	.ascii	"s it could\n    have no merit.  That her sister's affections"
	.ascii	" WERE calm,\n    she dared not deny, though she blushed to a"
	.ascii	"cknowledge it;\n    and of the strength of her own, she gave"
	.ascii	" a v"
	.ascii	"ery striking proof,\n    by still loving and respecting that"
	.ascii	" sister, in spite\n    of this mortifying conviction.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    Without shutting herself up from her family,\n    or lea"
	.ascii	"ving the house in determined solitude to avoid them,\n    or"
	.ascii	" lying awake the whole night to indulge meditation,\n    Eli"
	.ascii	"nor found every day afforded her leisure enough\n    to thin"
	.ascii	"k of Edward, and of Edward's behaviour, in every\n    possib"
	.ascii	"le variety which the different state of her spirits\n    at "
	.ascii	"different times could produce,--with tenderness,\n    pity, "
	.ascii	"approbation, censure, and doubt.  There were moments\n    in"
	.ascii	" abundance, when, if not by the absence of her mother\n    a"
	.ascii	"nd sisters, at least by the nature of their employments,\n  "
	.ascii	"  conversation was forbidden among them, and every effect\n "
	.ascii	"   of solitude was produced.  Her mind was inevitably\n    a"
	.ascii	"t liberty; her thoughts could not be chained elsewhere;\n   "
	.ascii	" and the past and the future, on a subject so interesting,\n"
	.ascii	"    must be before her, must force her attention, and engros"
	.ascii	"s\n    her memory, her reflection, and her fancy.\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" From a reverie of this kind, as she sat at her\n    drawing"
	.ascii	"-table, she was roused one morning, soon after\n    Edward's"
	.ascii	" leaving them, by the arrival of company.\n    She happened "
	.ascii	"to be quite alone.  The closing of the\n    little gate, at "
	.ascii	"the entrance of the green court in front\n    of the house, "
	.ascii	"drew her eyes to the window, and she saw\n    a large party "
	.ascii	"walking up to the door.  Amongst them\n    were Sir John and"
	.ascii	" Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings,\n    but there were two o"
	.ascii	"thers, a gentleman and lady, who were\n    quite unknown to "
	.ascii	"her.  She was sitting near the window,\n    and as soon as S"
	.ascii	"ir John perceived her, he left the rest\n    of the party to"
	.ascii	" the ceremony of knocking at the door,\n    and stepping acr"
	.ascii	"oss the turf, obliged her to open the\n    casement to speak"
	.ascii	" to him, though the space was so short\n    between the door"
	.ascii	" and the window, as to make it hardly\n    possible to speak"
	.ascii	" at one without being heard at the other.\n    \n    \"Wel"
	.ascii	"l,\" said he, \"we have brought you some strangers.\n    How"
	.ascii	" do you like them?\"\n    \n    \"Hush! they will hear you.\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"Never mind if they do.  It is only the Palmers"
	.ascii	".\n    Charlotte is very pretty, I can tell you.  You may se"
	.ascii	"e her\n    if you look this way.\"\n    \n    As Elinor was "
	.ascii	"certain of seeing her in a couple\n    of minutes, without t"
	.ascii	"aking that liberty, she begged\n    to be excused.\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \"Where is Marianne? Has she run away because we\n    are "
	.ascii	"come? I see her instrument is open.\"\n    \n    \"She is wa"
	.ascii	"lking, I believe.\"\n    \n    They were now joined by Mrs. "
	.ascii	"Jennings, who had not\n    patience enough to wait till the "
	.ascii	"door was opened before\n    she told HER story.  She came ha"
	.ascii	"llooing to the window,\n    \"How do you do, my dear?  How d"
	.ascii	"oes Mrs. Dashwood do?\n    And where are your sisters?  What"
	.ascii	"! all alone! you\n    will be glad of a little company to si"
	.ascii	"t with you.\n    I have brought my other son and daughter to"
	.ascii	" see you.\n    Only think of their coming so suddenly!  I th"
	.ascii	"ought I heard\n    a carriage last night, while we were drin"
	.ascii	"king our tea,\n    but it never entered my head that it coul"
	.ascii	"d be them.\n    I thought of nothing but whether it might no"
	.ascii	"t be Colonel\n    Brandon come back again; so I said to Sir "
	.ascii	"John, I do think\n    I hear a carriage; perhaps it is Colon"
	.ascii	"el Brandon come\n    back again\"--\n    \n    Elinor was ob"
	.ascii	"liged to turn from her, in the middle\n    of her story, to "
	.ascii	"receive the rest of the party; Lady\n    Middleton introduce"
	.ascii	"d the two strangers; Mrs. Dashwood\n    and Margaret came do"
	.ascii	"wn stairs at the same time, and they\n    all sat down to lo"
	.ascii	"ok at one another, while Mrs. Jennings\n    continued her st"
	.ascii	"ory as she walked through the passage\n    into the parlour,"
	.ascii	" attended by Sir John.\n    \n    Mrs. Palmer was several ye"
	.ascii	"ars younger than Lady\n    Middleton, and totally unlike her"
	.ascii	" in every respect.\n    She was short and plump, had a very "
	.ascii	"pretty face,\n    and the finest expression of good humour i"
	.ascii	"n it that could\n    possibly be.  Her manners were by no me"
	.ascii	"ans so elegant\n  "
	.ascii	"  as her sister's, but they were much more prepossessing.\n "
	.ascii	"   She came in with a smile, smiled all the time of her visi"
	.ascii	"t,\n    except when she laughed, and smiled when she went aw"
	.ascii	"ay.\n    Her husband was a grave looking young man of five o"
	.ascii	"r six\n    and twenty, with an air of more fashion and sense"
	.ascii	" than\n    his wife, but of less willingness to please or be"
	.ascii	" pleased.\n    He entered the room with a look of self-conse"
	.ascii	"quence,\n    slightly bowed to the ladies, without speaking "
	.ascii	"a word,\n    and, after briefly surveying them and their apa"
	.ascii	"rtments,\n    took up a newspaper from the table, and contin"
	.ascii	"ued to read it\n    as long as he staid.\n    \n    Mrs. Pal"
	.ascii	"mer, on the contrary, who was strongly endowed\n    by natur"
	.ascii	"e with a turn for being uniformly civil and happy,\n    was "
	.ascii	"hardly seated before her admiration of the parlour\n    and "
	.ascii	"every thing in it burst forth.\n    \n    \"Well! what a del"
	.ascii	"ightful room this is! I never\n    saw anything so charming!"
	.ascii	"  Only think, Mamma, how it\n    is improved since I was her"
	.ascii	"e last! I always thought it\n    such a sweet place, ma'am! "
	.ascii	"(turning to Mrs. Dashwood)\n    but you have made it so char"
	.ascii	"ming!  Only look, sister,\n    how delightful every thing is"
	.ascii	"! How I should like such\n    a house for myself!  Should no"
	.ascii	"t you, Mr. Palmer?\"\n    \n    Mr. Palmer made her no answe"
	.ascii	"r, and did not even raise\n    his eyes from the newspaper.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"Mr. Palmer does not hear me,\" said she, laughin"
	.ascii	"g;\n    \"he never does sometimes.  It is so ridiculous!\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    This was quite a new idea to Mrs. Dashwood; she ha"
	.ascii	"d\n    never been used to find wit in the inattention of any"
	.ascii	" one,\n    and could not help looking with surprise at them "
	.ascii	"both.\n    \n    Mrs. Jennings, in the meantime, talked on a"
	.ascii	"s loud\n    as she could, and continued her account of their"
	.ascii	" surprise,\n    the evening before, on seeing their friends,"
	.ascii	" without\n    ceasing till every thing was told.  Mrs. Palme"
	.ascii	"r laughed\n    heartily at the recollection of their astonis"
	.ascii	"hment,\n    and every body agreed, two or three times over, "
	.ascii	"that "
	.ascii	"it\n    had been quite an agreeable surprise.\n    \n    \"Y"
	.ascii	"ou may believe how glad we all were to see them,\"\n    adde"
	.ascii	"d Mrs. Jennings, leaning forward towards Elinor,\n    and sp"
	.ascii	"eaking in a low voice as if she meant to be heard\n    by no"
	.ascii	" one else, though they were seated on different sides\n    o"
	.ascii	"f the room; \"but, however, I can't help wishing they had\n "
	.ascii	"   not travelled quite so fast, nor made such a long journey"
	.ascii	"\n    of it, for they came all round by London upon account\n"
	.ascii	"    of some business, for you know (nodding significantly an"
	.ascii	"d\n    pointing to her daughter) it was wrong in her situati"
	.ascii	"on.\n    I wanted her to stay at home and rest this morning,"
	.ascii	"\n    but she would come with us; she longed so much to see\n"
	.ascii	"    you all!\"\n    \n    Mrs. Palmer laughed, and said it w"
	.ascii	"ould not do her\n    any harm.\n    \n    \"She expects to b"
	.ascii	"e confined in February,\"\n    continued Mrs. Jennings.\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    Lady Middleton could no longer endure such a conversa"
	.ascii	"tion,\n    and therefore exerted herself to ask Mr. Palmer i"
	.ascii	"f there\n    was any news in the paper.\n    \n    \"No, non"
	.ascii	"e at all,\" he replied, and read on.\n    \n    \"Here comes"
	.ascii	" Marianne,\" cried Sir John.  \"Now, Palmer,\n    you shall "
	.ascii	"see a monstrous pretty girl.\"\n    \n    He immediately wen"
	.ascii	"t into the passage, opened the front door,\n    and ushered "
	.ascii	"her in himself.  Mrs. Jennings asked her,\n    as soon as sh"
	.ascii	"e appeared, if she had not been to Allenham;\n    and Mrs. P"
	.ascii	"almer laughed so heartily at the question,\n    as to show s"
	.ascii	"he understood it.  Mr. Palmer looked up\n    on her entering"
	.ascii	" the room, stared at her some minutes,\n    and then returne"
	.ascii	"d to his newspaper.  Mrs. Palmer's eye\n    was now caught b"
	.ascii	"y the drawings which hung round the room.\n    She got up to"
	.ascii	" examine them.\n    \n    \"Oh! dear, how beautiful these ar"
	.ascii	"e!  Well! how delightful!\n    Do but look, mama, how sweet!"
	.ascii	" I declare they are quite charming;\n    I could look at the"
	.ascii	"m for ever.\" And then sitting down again,\n    she very soo"
	.ascii	"n forgot that there were any such things in the room.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    When Lady Mid"
	.ascii	"dleton rose to go away, Mr. Palmer\n    rose also, laid down"
	.ascii	" the newspaper, stretched himself\n    and looked at them al"
	.ascii	"l around.\n    \n    \"My love, have you been asleep?\" said"
	.ascii	" his wife, laughing.\n    \n    He made her no answer; and o"
	.ascii	"nly observed, after again\n    examining the room, that it w"
	.ascii	"as very low pitched,\n    and that the ceiling was crooked. "
	.ascii	" He then made his bow,\n    and departed with the rest.\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    Sir John had been very urgent with them all to\n    s"
	.ascii	"pend the next day at the park.  Mrs. Dashwood, who did\n    "
	.ascii	"not chuse to dine with them oftener than they dined\n    at "
	.ascii	"the cottage, absolutely refused on her own account;\n    her"
	.ascii	" daughters might do as they pleased.  But they had no\n    c"
	.ascii	"uriosity to see how Mr. and Mrs. Palmer ate their dinner,\n "
	.ascii	"   and no expectation of pleasure from them in any other way"
	.ascii	".\n    They attempted, therefore, likewise, to excuse themse"
	.ascii	"lves;\n    the weather was uncertain, and not likely to be g"
	.ascii	"ood.\n    But Sir John would not be satisfied--the carriage "
	.ascii	"should\n    be sent for them and they must come.  Lady Middl"
	.ascii	"eton too,\n    though she did not press their mother, presse"
	.ascii	"d them.\n    Mrs. Jennings and Mrs. Palmer joined their entr"
	.ascii	"eaties, all\n    seemed equally anxious to avoid a family pa"
	.ascii	"rty; and the young\n    ladies were obliged to yield.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"Why should they ask us?\" said Marianne, as soon as th"
	.ascii	"ey\n    were gone.  \"The rent of this cottage is said to be"
	.ascii	" low;\n    but we have it on very hard terms, if we are to d"
	.ascii	"ine\n    at the park whenever any one is staying either with"
	.ascii	" them,\n    or with us.\"\n    \n    \"They mean no less to "
	.ascii	"be civil and kind to us now,\"\n    said Elinor, \"by these "
	.ascii	"frequent invitations, than by\n    those which we received f"
	.ascii	"rom them a few weeks ago.\n    The alteration is not in them"
	.ascii	", if their parties are grown\n    tedious and dull.  We must"
	.ascii	" look for the change elsewhere.\"\n    \n    \n    \n    CHA"
	.ascii	"PTER 20\n    \n    \n    As the Miss Dashwoods entered the d"
	.ascii	"rawing-room of the park\n    the next day, at one door, Mrs."
	.ascii	" Palmer came r"
	.ascii	"unning in at\n    the other, looking as good humoured and me"
	.ascii	"rry as before.\n    She took them all most affectionately by"
	.ascii	" the hand,\n    and expressed great delight in seeing them a"
	.ascii	"gain.\n    \n    \"I am so glad to see you!\" said she, seat"
	.ascii	"ing herself\n    between Elinor and Marianne, \"for it is so"
	.ascii	" bad a day I was\n    afraid you might not come, which would"
	.ascii	" be a shocking thing,\n    as we go away again tomorrow. We "
	.ascii	"must go, for the Westons\n    come to us next week you know."
	.ascii	"  It was quite a sudden thing\n    our coming at all, and I "
	.ascii	"knew nothing of it till the carriage\n    was coming to the "
	.ascii	"door, and then Mr. Palmer asked me if I\n    would go with h"
	.ascii	"im to Barton.  He is so droll! He never\n    tells me any th"
	.ascii	"ing! I am so sorry we cannot stay longer;\n    however we sh"
	.ascii	"all meet again in town very soon, I hope.\"\n    \n    They "
	.ascii	"were obliged to put an end to such an expectation.\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \"Not go to town!\" cried Mrs. Palmer, with a laugh,\n    "
	.ascii	"\"I shall be quite disappointed if you do not.  I could\n   "
	.ascii	" get the nicest house in world for you, next door to ours,\n"
	.ascii	"    in Hanover-square.  You must come, indeed.  I am sure\n "
	.ascii	"   I shall be very happy to chaperon you at any time till\n "
	.ascii	"   I am confined, if Mrs. Dashwood should not like to go\n  "
	.ascii	"  into public.\"\n    \n    They thanked her; but were oblig"
	.ascii	"ed to resist all\n    her entreaties.\n    \n    \"Oh, my lo"
	.ascii	"ve,\" cried Mrs. Palmer to her husband,\n    who just then e"
	.ascii	"ntered the room--\"you must help me to\n    persuade the Mis"
	.ascii	"s Dashwoods to go to town this winter.\"\n    \n    Her love"
	.ascii	" made no answer; and after slightly bowing\n    to the ladie"
	.ascii	"s, began complaining of the weather.\n    \n    \"How horrid"
	.ascii	" all this is!\" said he.  \"Such weather\n    makes every th"
	.ascii	"ing and every body disgusting.  Dullness\n    is as much pro"
	.ascii	"duced within doors as without, by rain.\n    It makes one de"
	.ascii	"test all one's acquaintance.  What the\n    devil does Sir J"
	.ascii	"ohn mean by not having a billiard room\n    in his house?  H"
	.ascii	"ow few people know what comfort is!  Sir\n    John is as stu"
	.ascii	"pid as the weathe"
	.ascii	"r.\"\n    \n    The rest of the company soon dropt in.\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    \"I am afraid, Miss Marianne,\" said Sir John, \"you h"
	.ascii	"ave\n    not been able to take your usual walk to Allenham t"
	.ascii	"oday.\"\n    \n    Marianne looked very grave and said nothi"
	.ascii	"ng.\n    \n    \"Oh, don't be so sly before us,\" said Mrs. "
	.ascii	"Palmer;\n    \"for we know all about it, I assure you; and I"
	.ascii	" admire your\n    taste very much, for I think he is extreme"
	.ascii	"ly handsome.\n    We do not live a great way from him in the"
	.ascii	" country, you know.\n    Not above ten miles, I dare say.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"Much nearer thirty,\" said her husband.\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   \"Ah, well! there is not much difference.\n    I never wa"
	.ascii	"s at his house; but they say it is a sweet\n    pretty place"
	.ascii	".\"\n    \n    \"As vile a spot as I ever saw in my life,\"\n"
	.ascii	"    said Mr. Palmer.\n    \n    Marianne remained perfectly "
	.ascii	"silent, though her\n    countenance betrayed her interest in"
	.ascii	" what was said.\n    \n    \"Is it very ugly?\" continued Mr"
	.ascii	"s. Palmer--\"then it\n    must be some other place that is s"
	.ascii	"o pretty I suppose.\"\n    \n    When they were seated in th"
	.ascii	"e dining room, Sir John\n    observed with regret that they "
	.ascii	"were only eight all together.\n    \n    \"My dear,\" said h"
	.ascii	"e to his lady, \"it is very provoking\n    that we should be"
	.ascii	" so few.  Why did not you ask the Gilberts\n    to come to u"
	.ascii	"s today?\"\n    \n    \"Did not I tell you, Sir John, when y"
	.ascii	"ou spoke to me\n    about it before, that it could not be do"
	.ascii	"ne?  They dined\n    with us last.\"\n    \n    \"You and I,"
	.ascii	" Sir John,\" said Mrs. Jennings,\n    \"should not stand upo"
	.ascii	"n such ceremony.\"\n    \n    \"Then you would be very ill-b"
	.ascii	"red,\" cried Mr. Palmer.\n    \n    \"My love you contradict"
	.ascii	" every body,\" said his wife\n    with her usual laugh.  \"D"
	.ascii	"o you know that you are quite rude?\"\n    \n    \"I did not"
	.ascii	" know I contradicted any body in calling\n    your mother il"
	.ascii	"l-bred.\"\n    \n    \"Ay, you may abuse me as you please,\""
	.ascii	" said the good-natured\n    old lady, \"you have taken Charl"
	.ascii	"otte off my hands, and cannot\n    give her back again.  So "
	.ascii	"there I have the whip hand of you.\"\n    \n    Charlot"
	.ascii	"te laughed heartily to think that her\n    husband could not"
	.ascii	" get rid of her; and exultingly said,\n    she did not care "
	.ascii	"how cross he was to her, as they must\n    live together.  I"
	.ascii	"t was impossible for any one to be more\n    thoroughly good"
	.ascii	"-natured, or more determined to be happy\n    than Mrs. Palm"
	.ascii	"er.  The studied indifference, insolence,\n    and disconten"
	.ascii	"t of her husband gave her no pain;\n    and when he scolded "
	.ascii	"or abused her, she was highly diverted.\n    \n    \"Mr. Pal"
	.ascii	"mer is so droll!\" said she, in a whisper,\n    to Elinor.  "
	.ascii	"\"He is always out of humour.\"\n    \n    Elinor was not in"
	.ascii	"clined, after a little observation,\n    to give him credit "
	.ascii	"for being so genuinely and unaffectedly\n    ill-natured or "
	.ascii	"ill-bred as he wished to appear.\n    His temper might perha"
	.ascii	"ps be a little soured by finding,\n    like many others of h"
	.ascii	"is sex, that through some unaccountable\n    bias in favour "
	.ascii	"of beauty, he was the husband of a very silly\n    woman,--b"
	.ascii	"ut she knew that this kind of blunder was too\n    common fo"
	.ascii	"r any sensible man to be lastingly hurt by it.--\n    It was"
	.ascii	" rather a wish of distinction, she believed,\n    which prod"
	.ascii	"uced his contemptuous treatment of every body,\n    and his "
	.ascii	"general abuse of every thing before him.\n    It was the des"
	.ascii	"ire of appearing superior to other people.\n    The motive w"
	.ascii	"as too common to be wondered at; but the means,\n    however"
	.ascii	" they might succeed by establishing his superiority\n    in "
	.ascii	"ill-breeding, were not likely to attach any one to him\n    "
	.ascii	"except his wife.\n    \n    \"Oh, my dear Miss Dashwood,\" s"
	.ascii	"aid Mrs. Palmer soon afterwards,\n    \"I have got such a fa"
	.ascii	"vour to ask of you and your sister.\n    Will you come and s"
	.ascii	"pend some time at Cleveland this\n    Christmas?  Now, pray "
	.ascii	"do,--and come while the Westons are\n    with us.  You canno"
	.ascii	"t think how happy I shall be!  It will\n    be quite delight"
	.ascii	"ful!--My love,\" applying to her husband,\n    \"don't you l"
	.ascii	"ong to have the Miss Dashwoods come to Cleveland?\"\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   \"Certainly,\" he replied, with a sneer--\"I came\n    in"
	.ascii	"to Devonshi"
	.ascii	"re with no other view.\"\n    \n    \"There now,\"--said his"
	.ascii	" lady, \"you see Mr. Palmer\n    expects you; so you cannot "
	.ascii	"refuse to come.\"\n    \n    They both eagerly and resolutel"
	.ascii	"y declined her invitation.\n    \n    \"But indeed you must "
	.ascii	"and shall come.  I am sure you\n    will like it of all thin"
	.ascii	"gs.  The Westons will be with us,\n    and it will be quite "
	.ascii	"delightful.  You cannot think\n    what a sweet place Clevel"
	.ascii	"and is; and we are so gay now,\n    for Mr. Palmer is always"
	.ascii	" going about the country canvassing\n    against the electio"
	.ascii	"n; and so many people came to dine\n    with us that I never"
	.ascii	" saw before, it is quite charming!  But,\n    poor fellow! i"
	.ascii	"t is very fatiguing to him! for he is forced\n    to make ev"
	.ascii	"ery body like him.\"\n    \n    Elinor could hardly keep her"
	.ascii	" countenance as she\n    assented to the hardship of such an"
	.ascii	" obligation.\n    \n    \"How charming it will be,\" said Ch"
	.ascii	"arlotte, \"when he\n    is in Parliament!--won't it? How I s"
	.ascii	"hall laugh!  It will\n    be so ridiculous to see all his le"
	.ascii	"tters directed to him\n    with an M.P.--But do you know, he"
	.ascii	" says, he will never frank\n    for me?  He declares he won'"
	.ascii	"t.  Don't you, Mr. Palmer?\"\n    \n    Mr. Palmer took no n"
	.ascii	"otice of her.\n    \n    \"He cannot bear writing, you know,"
	.ascii	"\" she continued--\n    \"he says it is quite shocking.\"\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    \"No,\" said he, \"I never said any thing so irrati"
	.ascii	"onal.\n    Don't palm all your abuses of languages upon me.\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"There now; you see how droll he is.  This is a"
	.ascii	"lways\n    the way with him!  Sometimes he won't speak to me"
	.ascii	" for half\n    a day together, and then he comes out with so"
	.ascii	"mething\n    so droll--all about any thing in the world.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    She surprised Elinor very much as they returned\n "
	.ascii	"   into the drawing-room, by asking her whether she did\n   "
	.ascii	" not like Mr. Palmer excessively.\n    \n    \"Certainly,\" "
	.ascii	"said Elinor; \"he seems very agreeable.\"\n    \n    \"Well-"
	.ascii	"-I am so glad you do.  I thought you would,\n    he is so pl"
	.ascii	"easant; and Mr. Palmer is excessively pleased\n    with you "
	.ascii	"and your sisters I can tell you,"
	.ascii	" and you can't\n    think how disappointed he will be if you"
	.ascii	" don't come\n    to Cleveland.--I can't imagine why you shou"
	.ascii	"ld object\n    to it.\"\n    \n    Elinor was again obliged "
	.ascii	"to decline her invitation;\n    and by changing the subject,"
	.ascii	" put a stop to her entreaties.\n    She thought it probable "
	.ascii	"that as they lived in the\n    same county, Mrs. Palmer migh"
	.ascii	"t be able to give some\n    more particular account of Willo"
	.ascii	"ughby's general\n    character, than could be gathered from "
	.ascii	"the Middletons'\n    partial acquaintance with him; and she "
	.ascii	"was eager to gain\n    from any one, such a confirmation of "
	.ascii	"his merits as might\n    remove the possibility of fear from"
	.ascii	" Marianne.  She began\n    by inquiring if they saw much of "
	.ascii	"Mr. Willoughby at Cleveland,\n    and whether they were inti"
	.ascii	"mately acquainted with him.\n    \n    \"Oh dear, yes; I kno"
	.ascii	"w him extremely well,\"\n    replied Mrs. Palmer;--\"Not tha"
	.ascii	"t I ever spoke\n    to him, indeed; but I have seen him for "
	.ascii	"ever in town.\n    Somehow or other I never happened to be s"
	.ascii	"taying at Barton\n    while he was at Allenham.  Mama saw hi"
	.ascii	"m here once before;--\n    but I was with my uncle at Weymou"
	.ascii	"th.  However, I dare say\n    we should have seen a great de"
	.ascii	"al of him in Somersetshire,\n    if it had not happened very"
	.ascii	" unluckily that we should never\n    have been in the countr"
	.ascii	"y together.  He is very little\n    at Combe, I believe; but"
	.ascii	" if he were ever so much there,\n    I do not think Mr. Palm"
	.ascii	"er would visit him, for he is\n    in the opposition, you kn"
	.ascii	"ow, and besides it is such a\n    way off.  I know why you i"
	.ascii	"nquire about him, very well;\n    your sister is to marry hi"
	.ascii	"m.  I am monstrous glad of it,\n    for then I shall have he"
	.ascii	"r for a neighbour you know.\"\n    \n    \"Upon my word,\" r"
	.ascii	"eplied Elinor, \"you know much\n    more of the matter than "
	.ascii	"I do, if you have any reason\n    to expect such a match.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"Don't pretend to deny it, because you know it is"
	.ascii	"\n    what every body talks of.  I assure you I heard of it\n"
	.ascii	"    in my way through town.\"\n    \n    \"My dear Mrs. Palm"
	.ascii	"er!\"\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   \"Upon my honour I did.--I met Colonel Brandon\n    Monda"
	.ascii	"y morning in Bond-street, just before we left town,\n    and"
	.ascii	" he told me of it directly.\"\n    \n    \"You surprise me v"
	.ascii	"ery much.  Colonel Brandon tell\n    you of it!  Surely you "
	.ascii	"must be mistaken.  To give such\n    intelligence to a perso"
	.ascii	"n who could not be interested in it,\n    even if it were tr"
	.ascii	"ue, is not what I should expect Colonel\n    Brandon to do.\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"But I do assure you it was so, for all that,\n"
	.ascii	"    and I will tell you how it happened.  When we met him,\n"
	.ascii	"    he turned back and walked with us; and so we began talki"
	.ascii	"ng\n    of my brother and sister, and one thing and another,"
	.ascii	"\n    and I said to him, 'So, Colonel, there is a new family"
	.ascii	"\n    come to Barton cottage, I hear, and mama sends me word"
	.ascii	"\n    they are very pretty, and that one of them is going to"
	.ascii	" be\n    married to Mr. Willoughby of Combe Magna.  Is it tr"
	.ascii	"ue,\n    pray? for of course you must know, as you have been"
	.ascii	" in\n    Devonshire so lately.'\"\n    \n    \"And what did "
	.ascii	"the Colonel say?\"\n    \n    \"Oh--he did not say much; but"
	.ascii	" he looked as if he\n    knew it to be true, so from that mo"
	.ascii	"ment I set it down\n    as certain.  It will be quite deligh"
	.ascii	"tful, I declare!\n    When is it to take place?\"\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" \"Mr. Brandon was very well I hope?\"\n    \n    \"Oh! yes,"
	.ascii	" quite well; and so full of your praises,\n    he did nothin"
	.ascii	"g but say fine things of you.\"\n    \n    \"I am flattered "
	.ascii	"by his commendation.  He seems\n    an excellent man; and I "
	.ascii	"think him uncommonly pleasing.\"\n    \n    \"So do I.--He i"
	.ascii	"s such a charming man, that it\n    is quite a pity he shoul"
	.ascii	"d be so grave and so dull.\n    Mamma says HE was in love wi"
	.ascii	"th your sister too.--\n    I assure you it was a great compl"
	.ascii	"iment if he was, for he\n    hardly ever falls in love with "
	.ascii	"any body.\"\n    \n    \"Is Mr. Willoughby much known in you"
	.ascii	"r part\n    of Somersetshire?\" said Elinor.\n    \n    \"Oh"
	.ascii	"! yes, extremely well; that is, I do not believe\n    many p"
	.ascii	"eople are acquainted with him, because Combe Magna\n    is s"
	.ascii	"o far off; but they all thi"
	.ascii	"nk him extremely agreeable\n    I assure you.  Nobody is mor"
	.ascii	"e liked than Mr. Willoughby\n    wherever he goes, and so yo"
	.ascii	"u may tell your sister.\n    She is a monstrous lucky girl t"
	.ascii	"o get him, upon my honour;\n    not but that he is much more"
	.ascii	" lucky in getting her,\n    because she is so very handsome "
	.ascii	"and agreeable, that nothing\n    can be good enough for her."
	.ascii	"  However, I don't think\n    her hardly at all handsomer th"
	.ascii	"an you, I assure you;\n    for I think you both excessively "
	.ascii	"pretty, and so does\n    Mr. Palmer too I am sure, though we"
	.ascii	" could not get him\n    to own it last night.\"\n    \n    M"
	.ascii	"rs. Palmer's information respecting Willoughby\n    was not "
	.ascii	"very material; but any testimony in his favour,\n    however"
	.ascii	" small, was pleasing to her.\n    \n    \"I am so glad we ar"
	.ascii	"e got acquainted at last,\"\n    continued Charlotte.--\"And"
	.ascii	" now I hope we shall always be\n    great friends.  You can'"
	.ascii	"t think how much I longed to see you!\n    It is so delightf"
	.ascii	"ul that you should live at the cottage!\n    Nothing can be "
	.ascii	"like it, to be sure!  And I am so glad\n    your sister is g"
	.ascii	"oing to be well married!  I hope you will\n    be a great de"
	.ascii	"al at Combe Magna.  It is a sweet place,\n    by all account"
	.ascii	"s.\"\n    \n    \"You have been long acquainted with Colonel"
	.ascii	" Brandon,\n    have not you?\"\n    \n    \"Yes, a great whi"
	.ascii	"le; ever since my sister married.--\n    He was a particular"
	.ascii	" friend of Sir John's. I believe,\"\n    she added in a low "
	.ascii	"voice, \"he would have been very\n    glad to have had me, i"
	.ascii	"f he could.  Sir John and Lady\n    Middleton wished it very"
	.ascii	" much.  But mama did not think\n    the match good enough fo"
	.ascii	"r me, otherwise Sir John would\n    have mentioned it to the"
	.ascii	" Colonel, and we should have been\n    married immediately.\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"Did not Colonel Brandon know of Sir John's pro"
	.ascii	"posal\n    to your mother before it was made?  Had he never "
	.ascii	"owned\n    his affection to yourself?\"\n    \n    \"Oh, no;"
	.ascii	" but if mama had not objected to it,\n    I dare say he woul"
	.ascii	"d have liked it of all things.\n    He had not seen me then "
	.ascii	"above twice, for"
	.ascii	" it was before\n    I left school.  However, I am much happi"
	.ascii	"er as I am.\n    Mr. Palmer is the kind of man I like.\"\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 21\n    \n    \n    The Palmers "
	.ascii	"returned to Cleveland the next day,\n    and the two familie"
	.ascii	"s at Barton were again left to entertain\n    each other.  B"
	.ascii	"ut this did not last long; Elinor had hardly\n    got their "
	.ascii	"last visitors out of her head, had hardly done\n    wonderin"
	.ascii	"g at Charlotte's being so happy without a cause,\n    at Mr."
	.ascii	" Palmer's acting so simply, with good abilities,\n    and at"
	.ascii	" the strange unsuitableness which often existed between\n   "
	.ascii	" husband and wife, before Sir John's and Mrs. Jennings's\n  "
	.ascii	"  active zeal in the cause of society, procured her some\n  "
	.ascii	"  other new acquaintance to see and observe.\n    \n    In a"
	.ascii	" morning's excursion to Exeter, they had met with\n    two y"
	.ascii	"oung ladies, whom Mrs. Jennings had the satisfaction\n    of"
	.ascii	" discovering to be her relations, and this was enough\n    f"
	.ascii	"or Sir John to invite them directly to the park,\n    as soo"
	.ascii	"n as their present engagements at Exeter were over.\n    The"
	.ascii	"ir engagements at Exeter instantly gave way before\n    such"
	.ascii	" an invitation, and Lady Middleton was thrown into\n    no l"
	.ascii	"ittle alarm on the return of Sir John, by hearing\n    that "
	.ascii	"she was very soon to receive a visit from two girls\n    who"
	.ascii	"m she had never seen in her life, and of whose elegance,--\n"
	.ascii	"    whose tolerable gentility even, she could have no proof;"
	.ascii	"\n    for the assurances of her husband and mother on that s"
	.ascii	"ubject\n    went for nothing at all.  Their being her relati"
	.ascii	"ons too\n    made it so much the worse; and Mrs. Jennings's "
	.ascii	"attempts\n    at consolation were therefore unfortunately fo"
	.ascii	"unded,\n    when she advised her daughter not to care about "
	.ascii	"their being\n    so fashionable; because they were all cousi"
	.ascii	"ns and must put\n    up with one another.  As it was impossi"
	.ascii	"ble, however, now to\n    prevent their coming, Lady Middlet"
	.ascii	"on resigned herself to the\n    idea of it, with all the phi"
	.ascii	"losophy of a well-bred woman,\n    contenting herself with m"
	.ascii	"e"
	.ascii	"rely giving her husband a gentle\n    reprimand on the subje"
	.ascii	"ct five or six times every day.\n    \n    The young ladies "
	.ascii	"arrived: their appearance was by\n    no means ungenteel or "
	.ascii	"unfashionable.  Their dress was\n    very smart, their manne"
	.ascii	"rs very civil, they were delighted\n    with the house, and "
	.ascii	"in raptures with the furniture,\n    and they happened to be"
	.ascii	" so doatingly fond of children\n    that Lady Middleton's go"
	.ascii	"od opinion was engaged in their\n    favour before they had "
	.ascii	"been an hour at the Park.\n    She declared them to be very "
	.ascii	"agreeable girls indeed,\n    which for her ladyship was enth"
	.ascii	"usiastic admiration.\n    Sir John's confidence in his own j"
	.ascii	"udgment rose with this\n    animated praise, and he set off "
	.ascii	"directly for the cottage\n    to tell the Miss Dashwoods of "
	.ascii	"the Miss Steeles' arrival,\n    and to assure them of their "
	.ascii	"being the sweetest girls\n    in the world.  From such comme"
	.ascii	"ndation as this, however,\n    there was not much to be lear"
	.ascii	"ned; Elinor well knew\n    that the sweetest girls in the wo"
	.ascii	"rld were to be met\n    with in every part of England, under"
	.ascii	" every possible\n    variation of form, face, temper and und"
	.ascii	"erstanding.\n    Sir John wanted the whole family to walk to"
	.ascii	" the Park directly\n    and look at his guests.  Benevolent,"
	.ascii	" philanthropic man!  It\n    was painful to him even to keep"
	.ascii	" a third cousin to himself.\n    \n    \"Do come now,\" said"
	.ascii	" he--\"pray come--you must come--I\n    declare you shall co"
	.ascii	"me--You can't think how you will\n    like them.  Lucy is mo"
	.ascii	"nstrous pretty, and so good humoured\n    and agreeable!  Th"
	.ascii	"e children are all hanging about her already,\n    as if she"
	.ascii	" was an old acquaintance.  And they both long\n    to see yo"
	.ascii	"u of all things, for they have heard at Exeter\n    that you"
	.ascii	" are the most beautiful creatures in the world;\n    and I h"
	.ascii	"ave told them it is all very true, and a great\n    deal mor"
	.ascii	"e.  You will be delighted with them I am sure.\n    They hav"
	.ascii	"e brought the whole coach full of playthings\n    for the ch"
	.ascii	"ildren.  How can you be so cross as not to come?\n    Why t"
	.ascii	"hey are your cousins, you know, after a fashion.\n    YOU ar"
	.ascii	"e my cousins, and they are my wife's, so you must\n    be re"
	.ascii	"lated.\"\n    \n    But Sir John could not prevail.  He coul"
	.ascii	"d only obtain\n    a promise of their calling at the Park wi"
	.ascii	"thin a day or two,\n    and then left them in amazement at t"
	.ascii	"heir indifference,\n    to walk home and boast anew of their"
	.ascii	" attractions to the\n    Miss Steeles, as he had been alread"
	.ascii	"y boasting of the Miss\n    Steeles to them.\n    \n    When"
	.ascii	" their promised visit to the Park and consequent\n    introd"
	.ascii	"uction to these young ladies took place, they found\n    in "
	.ascii	"the appearance of the eldest, who was nearly thirty,\n    wi"
	.ascii	"th a very plain and not a sensible face, nothing to admire;\n"
	.ascii	"    but in the other, who was not more than two or three\n  "
	.ascii	"  and twenty, they acknowledged considerable beauty; her\n  "
	.ascii	"  features were pretty, and she had a sharp quick eye,\n    "
	.ascii	"and a smartness of air, which though it did not give\n    ac"
	.ascii	"tual elegance or grace, gave distinction to her person.--\n "
	.ascii	"   Their manners were particularly civil, and Elinor soon\n "
	.ascii	"   allowed them credit for some kind of sense, when she\n   "
	.ascii	" saw with what constant and judicious attention they\n    we"
	.ascii	"re making themselves agreeable to Lady Middleton.\n    With "
	.ascii	"her children they were in continual raptures,\n    extolling"
	.ascii	" their beauty, courting their notice, and humouring\n    the"
	.ascii	"ir whims; and such of their time as could be spared from\n  "
	.ascii	"  the importunate demands which this politeness made on it,\n"
	.ascii	"    was spent in admiration of whatever her ladyship was doi"
	.ascii	"ng,\n    if she happened to be doing any thing, or in taking"
	.ascii	" patterns\n    of some elegant new dress, in which her appea"
	.ascii	"rance\n    the day before had thrown them into unceasing del"
	.ascii	"ight.\n    Fortunately for those who pay their court through"
	.ascii	"\n    such foibles, a fond mother, though, in pursuit of pra"
	.ascii	"ise\n    for her children, the most rapacious of human being"
	.ascii	"s,\n    is likewise the most credulous; her demands are exor"
	.ascii	"bitant;\n    but she will swallow any thing; and the ex"
	.ascii	"cessive\n    affection and endurance of the Miss Steeles tow"
	.ascii	"ards\n    her offspring were viewed therefore by Lady Middle"
	.ascii	"ton\n    without the smallest surprise or distrust.  She saw"
	.ascii	" with\n    maternal complacency all the impertinent encroach"
	.ascii	"ments\n    and mischievous tricks to which her cousins submi"
	.ascii	"tted.\n    She saw their sashes untied, their hair pulled ab"
	.ascii	"out\n    their ears, their work-bags searched, and their kni"
	.ascii	"ves\n    and scissors stolen away, and felt no doubt of its "
	.ascii	"being\n    a reciprocal enjoyment.  It suggested no other su"
	.ascii	"rprise\n    than that Elinor and Marianne should sit so comp"
	.ascii	"osedly by,\n    without claiming a share in what was passing"
	.ascii	".\n    \n    \"John is in such spirits today!\" said she, on"
	.ascii	" his\n    taking Miss Steeles's pocket handkerchief, and thr"
	.ascii	"owing\n    it out of window--\"He is full of monkey tricks.\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    And soon afterwards, on the second boy's violent"
	.ascii	"ly\n    pinching one of the same lady's fingers, she fondly "
	.ascii	"observed,\n    \"How playful William is!\"\n    \n    \"And "
	.ascii	"here is my sweet little Annamaria,\" she added,\n    tenderl"
	.ascii	"y caressing a little girl of three years old,\n    who had n"
	.ascii	"ot made a noise for the last two minutes;\n    \"And she is "
	.ascii	"always so gentle and quiet--Never was there\n    such a quie"
	.ascii	"t little thing!\"\n    \n    But unfortunately in bestowing "
	.ascii	"these embraces,\n    a pin in her ladyship's head dress slig"
	.ascii	"htly scratching\n    the child's neck, produced from this pa"
	.ascii	"ttern of gentleness\n    such violent screams, as could hard"
	.ascii	"ly be outdone by any\n    creature professedly noisy.  The m"
	.ascii	"other's consternation\n    was excessive; but it could not s"
	.ascii	"urpass the alarm of the\n    Miss Steeles, and every thing w"
	.ascii	"as done by all three,\n    in so critical an emergency, whic"
	.ascii	"h affection could suggest\n    as likely to assuage the agon"
	.ascii	"ies of the little sufferer.\n    She was seated in her mothe"
	.ascii	"r's lap, covered with kisses,\n    her wound bathed with lav"
	.ascii	"ender-water, by one of the\n    Miss Steeles, who was on her"
	.ascii	" knees to attend her,\n    and her mouth stuffed with sugar "
	.ascii	"plums by"
	.ascii	" the other.\n    With such a reward for her tears, the child"
	.ascii	" was too wise\n    to cease crying.  She still screamed and "
	.ascii	"sobbed lustily,\n    kicked her two brothers for offering to"
	.ascii	" touch her, and all\n    their united soothings were ineffec"
	.ascii	"tual till Lady Middleton\n    luckily remembering that in a "
	.ascii	"scene of similar distress\n    last week, some apricot marma"
	.ascii	"lade had been successfully\n    applied for a bruised temple"
	.ascii	", the same remedy was eagerly\n    proposed for this unfortu"
	.ascii	"nate scratch, and a slight\n    intermission of screams in t"
	.ascii	"he young lady on hearing it,\n    gave them reason to hope t"
	.ascii	"hat it would not be rejected.--\n    She was carried out of "
	.ascii	"the room therefore in her\n    mother's arms, in quest of th"
	.ascii	"is medicine, and as the\n    two boys chose to follow, thoug"
	.ascii	"h earnestly entreated\n    by their mother to stay behind, t"
	.ascii	"he four young ladies\n    were left in a quietness which the"
	.ascii	" room had not known for\n    many hours.\n    \n    \"Poor l"
	.ascii	"ittle creatures!\" said Miss Steele, as soon\n    as they we"
	.ascii	"re gone.  \"It might have been a very sad accident.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"Yet I hardly know how,\" cried Marianne, \"unless it\n"
	.ascii	"    had been under totally different circumstances.\n    But"
	.ascii	" this is the usual way of heightening alarm, where there\n  "
	.ascii	"  is nothing to be alarmed at in reality.\"\n    \n    \"Wha"
	.ascii	"t a sweet woman Lady Middleton is!\" said Lucy Steele.\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    Marianne was silent; it was impossible for her to say\n"
	.ascii	"    what she did not feel, however trivial the occasion;\n  "
	.ascii	"  and upon Elinor therefore the whole task of telling lies\n"
	.ascii	"    when politeness required it, always fell.  She did her\n"
	.ascii	"    best when thus called on, by speaking of Lady Middleton\n"
	.ascii	"    with more warmth than she felt, though with far less tha"
	.ascii	"n\n    Miss Lucy.\n    \n    \"And Sir John too,\" cried the"
	.ascii	" elder sister,\n    \"what a charming man he is!\"\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  Here too, Miss Dashwood's commendation, being only\n    si"
	.ascii	"mple and just, came in without any eclat.  She merely\n    o"
	.ascii	"bserved that he was perfectly good humoured and friendly.\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    \"And "
	.ascii	"what a charming little family they have!  I\n    never saw s"
	.ascii	"uch fine children in my life.--I declare I\n    quite doat u"
	.ascii	"pon them already, and indeed I am always\n    distractedly f"
	.ascii	"ond of children.\"\n    \n    \"I should guess so,\" said El"
	.ascii	"inor, with a smile,\n    \"from what I have witnessed this m"
	.ascii	"orning.\"\n    \n    \"I have a notion,\" said Lucy, \"you t"
	.ascii	"hink the little\n    Middletons rather too much indulged; pe"
	.ascii	"rhaps they may be the\n    outside of enough; but it is so n"
	.ascii	"atural in Lady Middleton;\n    and for my part, I love to se"
	.ascii	"e children full of life\n    and spirits; I cannot bear them"
	.ascii	" if they are tame and quiet.\"\n    \n    \"I confess,\" rep"
	.ascii	"lied Elinor, \"that while I am at\n    Barton Park, I never "
	.ascii	"think of tame and quiet children\n    with any abhorrence.\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    A short pause succeeded this speech, which was f"
	.ascii	"irst\n    broken by Miss Steele, who seemed very much dispos"
	.ascii	"ed\n    for conversation, and who now said rather abruptly,\n"
	.ascii	"    \"And how do you like Devonshire, Miss Dashwood?  I supp"
	.ascii	"ose\n    you were very sorry to leave Sussex.\"\n    \n    I"
	.ascii	"n some surprise at the familiarity of this question,\n    or"
	.ascii	" at least of the manner in which it was spoken,\n    Elinor "
	.ascii	"replied that she was.\n    \n    \"Norland is a prodigious b"
	.ascii	"eautiful place, is not it?\"\n    added Miss Steele.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"We have heard Sir John admire it excessively,\"\n    s"
	.ascii	"aid Lucy, who seemed to think some apology necessary\n    fo"
	.ascii	"r the freedom of her sister.\n    \n    \"I think every one "
	.ascii	"MUST admire it,\" replied Elinor,\n    \"who ever saw the pl"
	.ascii	"ace; though it is not to be supposed\n    that any one can e"
	.ascii	"stimate its beauties as we do.\"\n    \n    \"And had you a "
	.ascii	"great many smart beaux there?  I\n    suppose you have not s"
	.ascii	"o many in this part of the world;\n    for my part, I think "
	.ascii	"they are a vast addition always.\"\n    \n    \"But why shou"
	.ascii	"ld you think,\" said Lucy, looking ashamed\n    of her siste"
	.ascii	"r, \"that there are not as many genteel young\n    men in De"
	.ascii	"vonshire as Sussex?\"\n    \n    \"Nay, my dear, I'm sure I "
	.ascii	"don't pretend to say that there\n    "
	.ascii	"an't.  I'm sure there's a vast many smart beaux in Exeter;\n"
	.ascii	"    but you know, how could I tell what smart beaux there\n "
	.ascii	"   might be about Norland; and I was only afraid the Miss\n "
	.ascii	"   Dashwoods might find it dull at Barton, if they had not\n"
	.ascii	"    so many as they used to have.  But perhaps you young lad"
	.ascii	"ies\n    may not care about the beaux, and had as lief be wi"
	.ascii	"thout\n    them as with them.  For my part, I think they are"
	.ascii	" vastly\n    agreeable, provided they dress smart and behave"
	.ascii	" civil.\n    But I can't bear to see them dirty and nasty.  "
	.ascii	"Now there's\n    Mr. Rose at Exeter, a prodigious smart youn"
	.ascii	"g man,\n    quite a beau, clerk to Mr. Simpson, you know, an"
	.ascii	"d yet if you\n    do but meet him of a morning, he is not fi"
	.ascii	"t to be seen.--\n    I suppose your brother was quite a beau"
	.ascii	", Miss Dashwood,\n    before he married, as he was so rich?\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"Upon my word,\" replied Elinor, \"I cannot tel"
	.ascii	"l you,\n    for I do not perfectly comprehend the meaning of"
	.ascii	" the word.\n    But this I can say, that if he ever was a be"
	.ascii	"au before\n    he married, he is one still for there is not "
	.ascii	"the smallest\n    alteration in him.\"\n    \n    \"Oh! dear"
	.ascii	"! one never thinks of married men's being\n    beaux--they h"
	.ascii	"ave something else to do.\"\n    \n    \"Lord! Anne,\" cried"
	.ascii	" her sister, \"you can talk of\n    nothing but beaux;--you "
	.ascii	"will make Miss Dashwood believe you\n    think of nothing el"
	.ascii	"se.\" And then to turn the discourse,\n    she began admirin"
	.ascii	"g the house and the furniture.\n    \n    This specimen of t"
	.ascii	"he Miss Steeles was enough.\n    The vulgar freedom and foll"
	.ascii	"y of the eldest left\n    her no recommendation, and as Elin"
	.ascii	"or was not blinded\n    by the beauty, or the shrewd look of"
	.ascii	" the youngest,\n    to her want of real elegance and artless"
	.ascii	"ness, she left\n    the house without any wish of knowing th"
	.ascii	"em better.\n    \n    Not so the Miss Steeles.--They came fr"
	.ascii	"om Exeter, well\n    provided with admiration for the use of"
	.ascii	" Sir John Middleton,\n    his family, and all his relations,"
	.ascii	" and no niggardly\n    proportion was now dealt out to his f"
	.ascii	"air cousi"
	.ascii	"ns, whom they\n    declared to be the most beautiful, elegan"
	.ascii	"t, accomplished,\n    and agreeable girls they had ever behe"
	.ascii	"ld, and with whom\n    they were particularly anxious to be "
	.ascii	"better acquainted.--\n    And to be better acquainted theref"
	.ascii	"ore, Elinor soon found\n    was their inevitable lot, for as"
	.ascii	" Sir John was entirely\n    on the side of the Miss Steeles,"
	.ascii	" their party would be\n    too strong for opposition, and th"
	.ascii	"at kind of intimacy\n    must be submitted to, which consist"
	.ascii	"s of sitting an hour\n    or two together in the same room a"
	.ascii	"lmost every day.\n    Sir John could do no more; but he did "
	.ascii	"not know that any\n    more was required: to be together was"
	.ascii	", in his opinion,\n    to be intimate, and while his continu"
	.ascii	"al schemes for their\n    meeting were effectual, he had not"
	.ascii	" a doubt of their being\n    established friends.\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" To do him justice, he did every thing in his power\n    to "
	.ascii	"promote their unreserve, by making the Miss Steeles\n    acq"
	.ascii	"uainted with whatever he knew or supposed of his cousins'\n "
	.ascii	"   situations in the most delicate particulars,--and Elinor\n"
	.ascii	"    had not seen them more than twice, before the eldest of\n"
	.ascii	"    them wished her joy on her sister's having been so lucky"
	.ascii	"\n    as to make a conquest of a very smart beau since she\n"
	.ascii	"    came to Barton.\n    \n    \"'Twill be a fine thing to h"
	.ascii	"ave her married so young\n    to be sure,\" said she, \"and "
	.ascii	"I hear he is quite a beau,\n    and prodigious handsome.  An"
	.ascii	"d I hope you may have as good\n    luck yourself soon,--but "
	.ascii	"perhaps you may have a friend\n    in the corner already.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    Elinor could not suppose that Sir John would be mo"
	.ascii	"re\n    nice in proclaiming his suspicions of her regard for"
	.ascii	" Edward,\n    than he had been with respect to Marianne; ind"
	.ascii	"eed it was\n    rather his favourite joke of the two, as bei"
	.ascii	"ng somewhat\n    newer and more conjectural; and since Edwar"
	.ascii	"d's visit,\n    they had never dined together without his dr"
	.ascii	"inking to her\n    best affections with so much significancy"
	.ascii	" and so many nods\n    and winks, as to excite general atte"
	.ascii	"ntion.  The letter F--\n    had been likewise invariably bro"
	.ascii	"ught forward, and found\n    productive of such countless jo"
	.ascii	"kes, that its character\n    as the wittiest letter in the a"
	.ascii	"lphabet had been long\n    established with Elinor.\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   The Miss Steeles, as she expected, had now all the\n    b"
	.ascii	"enefit of these jokes, and in the eldest of them they\n    r"
	.ascii	"aised a curiosity to know the name of the gentleman\n    all"
	.ascii	"uded to, which, though often impertinently expressed,\n    w"
	.ascii	"as perfectly of a piece with her general inquisitiveness\n  "
	.ascii	"  into the concerns of their family.  But Sir John did not\n"
	.ascii	"    sport long with the curiosity which he delighted to rais"
	.ascii	"e,\n    for he had at least as much pleasure in telling the "
	.ascii	"name,\n    as Miss Steele had in hearing it.\n    \n    \"Hi"
	.ascii	"s name is Ferrars,\" said he, in a very audible whisper;\n  "
	.ascii	"  \"but pray do not tell it, for it's a great secret.\"\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    \"Ferrars!\" repeated Miss Steele; \"Mr. Ferrars is\n"
	.ascii	"    the happy man, is he? What! your sister-in-law's brother"
	.ascii	",\n    Miss Dashwood? a very agreeable young man to be sure;"
	.ascii	"\n    I know him very well.\"\n    \n    \"How can you say s"
	.ascii	"o, Anne?\" cried Lucy, who generally\n    made an amendment "
	.ascii	"to all her sister's assertions.\n    \"Though we have seen h"
	.ascii	"im once or twice at my uncle's, it\n    is rather too much t"
	.ascii	"o pretend to know him very well.\"\n    \n    Elinor heard a"
	.ascii	"ll this with attention and surprise.\n    \"And who was this"
	.ascii	" uncle?  Where did he live?  How came\n    they acquainted?\""
	.ascii	"  She wished very much to have the subject\n    continued, t"
	.ascii	"hough she did not chuse to join in it herself;\n    but noth"
	.ascii	"ing more of it was said, and for the first time\n    in her "
	.ascii	"life, she thought Mrs. Jennings deficient either\n    in cur"
	.ascii	"iosity after petty information, or in a disposition\n    to "
	.ascii	"communicate it.  The manner in which Miss Steele had\n    sp"
	.ascii	"oken of Edward, increased her curiosity; for it struck\n    "
	.ascii	"her as being rather ill-natured, and suggested the suspicion"
	.ascii	"\n    of that lady's knowing, or fancying herself to know so"
	.ascii	"mething\n    "
	.ascii	"to his disadvantage.--But her curiosity was unavailing,\n   "
	.ascii	" for no farther notice was taken of Mr. Ferrars's name by\n "
	.ascii	"   Miss Steele when alluded to, or even openly mentioned by "
	.ascii	"Sir\n    John.\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 22\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"\n    Marianne, who had never much toleration for any\n    t"
	.ascii	"hing like impertinence, vulgarity, inferiority of parts,\n  "
	.ascii	"  or even difference of taste from herself, was at\n    this"
	.ascii	" time particularly ill-disposed, from the state\n    of her "
	.ascii	"spirits, to be pleased with the Miss Steeles,\n    or to enc"
	.ascii	"ourage their advances; and to the invariable\n    coldness o"
	.ascii	"f her behaviour towards them, which checked every\n    endea"
	.ascii	"vour at intimacy on their side, Elinor principally\n    attr"
	.ascii	"ibuted that preference of herself which soon became\n    evi"
	.ascii	"dent in the manners of both, but especially of Lucy,\n    wh"
	.ascii	"o missed no opportunity of engaging her in conversation,\n  "
	.ascii	"  or of striving to improve their acquaintance by an easy\n "
	.ascii	"   and frank communication of her sentiments.\n    \n    Luc"
	.ascii	"y was naturally clever; her remarks were often\n    just and"
	.ascii	" amusing; and as a companion for half an hour\n    Elinor fr"
	.ascii	"equently found her agreeable; but her powers\n    had receiv"
	.ascii	"ed no aid from education: she was ignorant\n    and illitera"
	.ascii	"te; and her deficiency of all mental improvement,\n    her w"
	.ascii	"ant of information in the most common particulars,\n    coul"
	.ascii	"d not be concealed from Miss Dashwood, in spite of her\n    "
	.ascii	"constant endeavour to appear to advantage.  Elinor saw,\n   "
	.ascii	" and pitied her for, the neglect of abilities which educatio"
	.ascii	"n\n    might have rendered so respectable; but she saw, with"
	.ascii	" less\n    tenderness of feeling, the thorough want of delic"
	.ascii	"acy,\n    of rectitude, and integrity of mind, which her att"
	.ascii	"entions,\n    her assiduities, her flatteries at the Park be"
	.ascii	"trayed;\n    and she could have no lasting satisfaction in t"
	.ascii	"he company\n    of a person who joined insincerity with igno"
	.ascii	"rance;\n    whose want of instruction prevented their meetin"
	.ascii	"g\n    in conversation on terms of equality, and whose condu"
	.ascii	"ct\n    toward others made every shew of attention and defer"
	.ascii	"ence\n    towards herself perfectly valueless.\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"You will think my question an odd one, I dare say,\"\n    sa"
	.ascii	"id Lucy to her one day, as they were walking together\n    f"
	.ascii	"rom the park to the cottage--\"but pray, are you\n    person"
	.ascii	"ally acquainted with your sister-in-law's mother,\n    Mrs. "
	.ascii	"Ferrars?\"\n    \n    Elinor DID think the question a very o"
	.ascii	"dd one,\n    and her countenance expressed it, as she answer"
	.ascii	"ed that she\n    had never seen Mrs. Ferrars.\n    \n    \"I"
	.ascii	"ndeed!\" replied Lucy; \"I wonder at that, for I\n    though"
	.ascii	"t you must have seen her at Norland sometimes.\n    Then, pe"
	.ascii	"rhaps, you cannot tell me what sort of a woman\n    she is?\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"No,\" returned Elinor, cautious of giving her "
	.ascii	"real\n    opinion of Edward's mother, and not very desirous\n"
	.ascii	"    of satisfying what seemed impertinent curiosity--\n    \""
	.ascii	"I know nothing of her.\"\n    \n    \"I am sure you think me"
	.ascii	" very strange, for enquiring\n    about her in such a way,\""
	.ascii	" said Lucy, eyeing Elinor attentively\n    as she spoke; \"b"
	.ascii	"ut perhaps there may be reasons--I wish\n    I might venture"
	.ascii	"; but however I hope you will do me the justice\n    of beli"
	.ascii	"eving that I do not mean to be impertinent.\"\n    \n    Eli"
	.ascii	"nor made her a civil reply, and they walked on\n    for a fe"
	.ascii	"w minutes in silence.  It was broken by Lucy,\n    who renew"
	.ascii	"ed the subject again by saying, with some\n    hesitation,\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"I cannot bear to have you think me impertinently"
	.ascii	" curious.\n    I am sure I would rather do any thing in the "
	.ascii	"world than be\n    thought so by a person whose good opinion"
	.ascii	" is so well worth\n    having as yours.  And I am sure I sho"
	.ascii	"uld not have the smallest\n    fear of trusting YOU; indeed,"
	.ascii	" I should be very glad of your\n    advice how to manage in "
	.ascii	"such and uncomfortable situation\n    as I am; but, however,"
	.ascii	" there is no occasion to trouble YOU.\n    I am sorry you do"
	.ascii	" not happen to know Mrs. Ferrars.\"\n    \n    \"I am sorry "
	.ascii	"I do NOT,\" said Elinor, in great astonishment,\n    \"if it"
	.ascii	" could be of any use to"
	.ascii	" YOU to know my opinion of her.\n    But really I never unde"
	.ascii	"rstood that you were at all connected\n    with that family,"
	.ascii	" and therefore I am a little surprised,\n    I confess, at s"
	.ascii	"o serious an inquiry into her character.\"\n    \n    \"I da"
	.ascii	"re say you are, and I am sure I do not at all\n    wonder at"
	.ascii	" it.  But if I dared tell you all, you would not be\n    so "
	.ascii	"much surprised.  Mrs. Ferrars is certainly nothing to me\n  "
	.ascii	"  at present--but the time MAY come--how soon it will come\n"
	.ascii	"    must depend upon herself--when we may be very intimately"
	.ascii	"\n    connected.\"\n    \n    She looked down as she said th"
	.ascii	"is, amiably bashful,\n    with only one side glance at her c"
	.ascii	"ompanion to observe its\n    effect on her.\n    \n    \"Goo"
	.ascii	"d heavens!\" cried Elinor, \"what do you mean?\n    Are you "
	.ascii	"acquainted with Mr. Robert Ferrars?  Can you be?\"\n    And "
	.ascii	"she did not feel much delighted with the idea of such\n    a"
	.ascii	" sister-in-law.\n    \n    \"No,\" replied Lucy, \"not to Mr"
	.ascii	". ROBERT Ferrars--I\n    never saw him in my life; but,\" fi"
	.ascii	"xing her eyes upon Elinor,\n    \"to his eldest brother.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    What felt Elinor at that moment? Astonishment,\n  "
	.ascii	"  that would have been as painful as it was strong, had not\n"
	.ascii	"    an immediate disbelief of the assertion attended it.\n  "
	.ascii	"  She turned towards Lucy in silent amazement, unable to div"
	.ascii	"ine\n    the reason or object of such a declaration; and tho"
	.ascii	"ugh\n    her complexion varied, she stood firm in incredulit"
	.ascii	"y,\n    and felt in no danger of an hysterical fit, or a swo"
	.ascii	"on.\n    \n    \"You may well be surprised,\" continued Lucy"
	.ascii	";\n    \"for to be sure you could have had no idea of it bef"
	.ascii	"ore;\n    for I dare say he never dropped the smallest hint "
	.ascii	"of it\n    to you or any of your family; because it was alwa"
	.ascii	"ys meant\n    to be a great secret, and I am sure has been f"
	.ascii	"aithfully\n    kept so by me to this hour.  Not a soul of al"
	.ascii	"l my relations\n    know of it but Anne, and I never should "
	.ascii	"have mentioned\n    it to you, if I had not felt the greates"
	.ascii	"t dependence\n    in the world upon your secrecy; and I real"
	.ascii	"ly thought my\n  "
	.ascii	"  behaviour in asking so many questions about Mrs. Ferrars\n"
	.ascii	"    must seem so odd, that it ought to be explained.\n    An"
	.ascii	"d I do not think Mr. Ferrars can be displeased,\n    when he"
	.ascii	" knows I have trusted you, because I know he has\n    the hi"
	.ascii	"ghest opinion in the world of all your family,\n    and look"
	.ascii	"s upon yourself and the other Miss Dashwoods quite\n    as h"
	.ascii	"is own sisters.\"--She paused.\n    \n    Elinor for a few m"
	.ascii	"oments remained silent.\n    Her astonishment at what she he"
	.ascii	"ard was at first too\n    great for words; but at length for"
	.ascii	"cing herself to speak,\n    and to speak cautiously, she sai"
	.ascii	"d, with calmness of manner,\n    which tolerably well concea"
	.ascii	"led her surprise and solicitude--\n    \"May I ask if your e"
	.ascii	"ngagement is of long standing?\"\n    \n    \"We have been e"
	.ascii	"ngaged these four years.\"\n    \n    \"Four years!\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"Yes.\"\n    \n    Elinor, though greatly shocked, stil"
	.ascii	"l felt unable\n    to believe it.\n    \n    \"I did not kno"
	.ascii	"w,\" said she, \"that you were even\n    acquainted till the"
	.ascii	" other day.\"\n    \n    \"Our acquaintance, however, is of "
	.ascii	"many years date.\n    He was under my uncle's care, you know"
	.ascii	", a considerable while.\"\n    \n    \"Your uncle!\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"Yes; Mr. Pratt.  Did you never hear him talk\n    of M"
	.ascii	"r. Pratt?\"\n    \n    \"I think I have,\" replied Elinor, w"
	.ascii	"ith an exertion\n    of spirits, which increased with her in"
	.ascii	"crease of emotion.\n    \n    \"He was four years with my un"
	.ascii	"cle, who lives at Longstaple,\n    near Plymouth.  It was th"
	.ascii	"ere our acquaintance begun,\n    for my sister and me was of"
	.ascii	"ten staying with my uncle,\n    and it was there our engagem"
	.ascii	"ent was formed, though not till\n    a year after he had qui"
	.ascii	"tted as a pupil; but he was almost\n    always with us after"
	.ascii	"wards.  I was very unwilling to enter\n    into it, as you m"
	.ascii	"ay imagine, without the knowledge and\n    approbation of hi"
	.ascii	"s mother; but I was too young, and loved\n    him too well, "
	.ascii	"to be so prudent as I ought to have been.--\n    Though you "
	.ascii	"do not know him so well as me, Miss Dashwood,\n    you must "
	.ascii	"have seen enough of him to be"
	.ascii	" sensible he is\n    very capable of making a woman sincerel"
	.ascii	"y attached to him.\"\n    \n    \"Certainly,\" answered Elin"
	.ascii	"or, without knowing what\n    she said; but after a moment's"
	.ascii	" reflection, she added,\n    with revived security of Edward"
	.ascii	"'s honour and love,\n    and her companion's falsehood--\"En"
	.ascii	"gaged to Mr. Edward\n    Ferrars!--I confess myself so total"
	.ascii	"ly surprised at\n    what you tell me, that really--I beg yo"
	.ascii	"ur pardon;\n    but surely there must be some mistake of per"
	.ascii	"son or name.\n    We cannot mean the same Mr. Ferrars.\"\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    \"We can mean no other,\" cried Lucy, smiling.  \"Mr"
	.ascii	". Edward\n    Ferrars, the eldest son of Mrs. Ferrars, of Pa"
	.ascii	"rk Street,\n    and brother of your sister-in-law, Mrs. John"
	.ascii	" Dashwood,\n    is the person I mean; you must allow that I "
	.ascii	"am not likely\n    to be deceived as to the name of the man "
	.ascii	"on who all my happiness\n    depends.\"\n    \n    \"It is s"
	.ascii	"trange,\" replied Elinor, in a most painful perplexity,\n   "
	.ascii	" \"that I should never have heard him even mention your name"
	.ascii	".\"\n    \n    \"No; considering our situation, it was not s"
	.ascii	"trange.\n    Our first care has been to keep the matter secr"
	.ascii	"et.--\n    You knew nothing of me, or my family, and, theref"
	.ascii	"ore,\n    there could be no OCCASION for ever mentioning my "
	.ascii	"name\n    to you; and, as he was always particularly afraid "
	.ascii	"of his\n    sister's suspecting any thing, THAT was reason e"
	.ascii	"nough\n    for his not mentioning it.\"\n    \n    She was s"
	.ascii	"ilent.--Elinor's security sunk; but her\n    self-command di"
	.ascii	"d not sink with it.\n    \n    \"Four years you have been en"
	.ascii	"gaged,\" said she\n    with a firm voice.\n    \n    \"Yes; "
	.ascii	"and heaven knows how much longer we may have\n    to wait.  "
	.ascii	"Poor Edward!  It puts him quite out of heart.\"\n    Then ta"
	.ascii	"king a small miniature from her pocket, she added,\n    \"To"
	.ascii	" prevent the possibility of mistake, be so good as to look\n"
	.ascii	"    at this face.  It does not do him justice, to be sure,\n"
	.ascii	"    but yet I think you cannot be deceived as to the person\n"
	.ascii	"    it was drew for.--I have had it above these three years."
	.ascii	"\"\n    \n    She put it"
	.ascii	" into her hands as she spoke; and when Elinor\n    saw the p"
	.ascii	"ainting, whatever other doubts her fear of a\n    too hasty "
	.ascii	"decision, or her wish of detecting falsehood\n    might suff"
	.ascii	"er to linger in her mind, she could have none of\n    its be"
	.ascii	"ing Edward's face.  She returned it almost instantly,\n    a"
	.ascii	"cknowledging the likeness.\n    \n    \"I have never been ab"
	.ascii	"le,\" continued Lucy, \"to give\n    him my picture in retur"
	.ascii	"n, which I am very much vexed at,\n    for he has been alway"
	.ascii	"s so anxious to get it!  But I am\n    determined to set for"
	.ascii	" it the very first opportunity.\"\n    \n    \"You are quite"
	.ascii	" in the right,\" replied Elinor calmly.\n    They then proce"
	.ascii	"eded a few paces in silence.  Lucy spoke first.\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"I am sure,\" said she, \"I have no doubt in the world\n    o"
	.ascii	"f your faithfully keeping this secret, because you must\n   "
	.ascii	" know of what importance it is to us, not to have it reach\n"
	.ascii	"    his mother; for she would never approve of it, I dare sa"
	.ascii	"y.\n    I shall have no fortune, and I fancy she is an excee"
	.ascii	"ding\n    proud woman.\"\n    \n    \"I certainly did not se"
	.ascii	"ek your confidence,\" said Elinor;\n    \"but you do me no m"
	.ascii	"ore than justice in imagining that I\n    may be depended on"
	.ascii	".  Your secret is safe with me;\n    but pardon me if I expr"
	.ascii	"ess some surprise at so unnecessary\n    a communication.  Y"
	.ascii	"ou must at least have felt that my\n    being acquainted wit"
	.ascii	"h it could not add to its safety.\"\n    \n    As she said t"
	.ascii	"his, she looked earnestly at Lucy,\n    hoping to discover s"
	.ascii	"omething in her countenance; perhaps the\n    falsehood of t"
	.ascii	"he greatest part of what she had been saying;\n    but Lucy'"
	.ascii	"s countenance suffered no change.\n    \n    \"I was afraid "
	.ascii	"you would think I was taking a great\n    liberty with you,\""
	.ascii	" said she, \"in telling you all this.\n    I have not known "
	.ascii	"you long to be sure, personally at least,\n    but I have kn"
	.ascii	"own you and all your family by description\n    a great whil"
	.ascii	"e; and as soon as I saw you, I felt almost as if\n    you wa"
	.ascii	"s an old acquaintance.  Besides in the present case,\n    I "
	.ascii	"really thought "
	.ascii	"some explanation was due to you after my\n    making such pa"
	.ascii	"rticular inquiries about Edward's mother;\n    and I am so u"
	.ascii	"nfortunate, that I have not a creature whose\n    advice I c"
	.ascii	"an ask.  Anne is the only person that knows of it,\n    and "
	.ascii	"she has no judgment at all; indeed, she does me a great\n   "
	.ascii	" deal more harm than good, for I am in constant fear of her\n"
	.ascii	"    betraying me.  She does not know how to hold her tongue,"
	.ascii	"\n    as you must perceive, and I am sure I was in the great"
	.ascii	"est\n    fright in the world t'other day, when Edward's name"
	.ascii	" was\n    mentioned by Sir John, lest she should out with it"
	.ascii	" all.\n    You can't think how much I go through in my mind "
	.ascii	"from\n    it altogether.  I only wonder that I am alive afte"
	.ascii	"r what\n    I have suffered for Edward's sake these last fou"
	.ascii	"r years.\n    Every thing in such suspense and uncertainty; "
	.ascii	"and seeing\n    him so seldom--we can hardly meet above twic"
	.ascii	"e a-year.\n    I am sure I wonder my heart is not quite brok"
	.ascii	"e.\"\n    \n    Here she took out her handkerchief; but Elin"
	.ascii	"or did\n    not feel very compassionate.\n    \n    \"Someti"
	.ascii	"mes.\" continued Lucy, after wiping her eyes,\n    \"I think"
	.ascii	" whether it would not be better for us both\n    to break of"
	.ascii	"f the matter entirely.\"  As she said this,\n    she looked "
	.ascii	"directly at her companion.  \"But then\n    at other times I"
	.ascii	" have not resolution enough for it.--\n    I cannot bear the"
	.ascii	" thoughts of making him so miserable,\n    as I know the ver"
	.ascii	"y mention of such a thing would do.\n    And on my own accou"
	.ascii	"nt too--so dear as he is to me--I don't\n    think I could b"
	.ascii	"e equal to it.  What would you advise\n    me to do in such "
	.ascii	"a case, Miss Dashwood?  What would you\n    do yourself?\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"Pardon me,\" replied Elinor, startled by the que"
	.ascii	"stion;\n    \"but I can give you no advice under such circum"
	.ascii	"stances.\n    Your own judgment must direct you.\"\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \"To be sure,\" continued Lucy, after a few minutes\n    s"
	.ascii	"ilence on both sides, \"his mother must provide for him\n   "
	.ascii	" sometime or other; but poor Edward is so cast down by it!\n"
	.ascii	"    Did you "
	.ascii	"not think him dreadful low-spirited when he was at\n    Bart"
	.ascii	"on?  He was so miserable when he left us at Longstaple,\n   "
	.ascii	" to go to you, that I was afraid you would think him quite i"
	.ascii	"ll.\"\n    \n    \"Did he come from your uncle's, then, when"
	.ascii	" he visited us?\"\n    \n    \"Oh, yes; he had been staying "
	.ascii	"a fortnight with us.\n    Did you think he came directly fro"
	.ascii	"m town?\"\n    \n    \"No,\" replied Elinor, most feelingly "
	.ascii	"sensible of\n    every fresh circumstance in favour of Lucy'"
	.ascii	"s veracity;\n    \"I remember he told us, that he had been s"
	.ascii	"taying\n    a fortnight with some friends near Plymouth.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    She remembered too, her own surprise at the time,\n    a"
	.ascii	"t his mentioning nothing farther of those friends,\n    at h"
	.ascii	"is total silence with respect even to their names.\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \"Did not you think him sadly out of spirits?\"\n    repea"
	.ascii	"ted Lucy.\n    \n    \"We did, indeed, particularly so when "
	.ascii	"he first arrived.\"\n    \n    \"I begged him to exert himse"
	.ascii	"lf for fear you\n    should suspect what was the matter; but"
	.ascii	" it made him\n    so melancholy, not being able to stay more"
	.ascii	" than a\n    fortnight with us, and seeing me so much affect"
	.ascii	"ed.--\n    Poor fellow!--I am afraid it is just the same wit"
	.ascii	"h him now;\n    for he writes in wretched spirits.  I heard "
	.ascii	"from him just\n    before I left Exeter;\" taking a letter f"
	.ascii	"rom her pocket\n    and carelessly showing the direction to "
	.ascii	"Elinor.\n    \"You know his hand, I dare say, a charming one"
	.ascii	" it is;\n    but that is not written so well as usual.--He w"
	.ascii	"as tired,\n    I dare say, for he had just filled the sheet "
	.ascii	"to me as full\n    as possible.\"\n    \n    Elinor saw that"
	.ascii	" it WAS his hand, and she could doubt\n    no longer.  This "
	.ascii	"picture, she had allowed herself to believe,\n    might have"
	.ascii	" been accidentally obtained; it might not have\n    been Edw"
	.ascii	"ard's gift; but a correspondence between them\n    by letter"
	.ascii	", could subsist only under a positive engagement,\n    could"
	.ascii	" be authorised by nothing else; for a few moments, she\n    "
	.ascii	"was almost overcome--her heart sunk within her, and she coul"
	.ascii	"d\n    hardly stand"
	.ascii	"; but exertion was indispensably necessary;\n    and she str"
	.ascii	"uggled so resolutely against the oppression\n    of her feel"
	.ascii	"ings, that her success was speedy, and for\n    the time com"
	.ascii	"plete.\n    \n    \"Writing to each other,\" said Lucy, retu"
	.ascii	"rning the\n    letter into her pocket, \"is the only comfort"
	.ascii	" we have\n    in such long separations.  Yes, I have one oth"
	.ascii	"er comfort\n    in his picture, but poor Edward has not even"
	.ascii	" THAT.\n    If he had but my picture, he says he should be e"
	.ascii	"asy.\n    I gave him a lock of my hair set in a ring when he"
	.ascii	" was at\n    Longstaple last, and that was some comfort to h"
	.ascii	"im, he said,\n    but not equal to a picture.  Perhaps you m"
	.ascii	"ight notice\n    the ring when you saw him?\"\n    \n    \"I"
	.ascii	" did,\" said Elinor, with a composure of voice,\n    under w"
	.ascii	"hich was concealed an emotion and distress beyond\n    any t"
	.ascii	"hing she had ever felt before.  She was mortified,\n    shoc"
	.ascii	"ked, confounded.\n    \n    Fortunately for her, they had no"
	.ascii	"w reached the cottage,\n    and the conversation could be co"
	.ascii	"ntinued no farther.\n    After sitting with them a few minut"
	.ascii	"es, the Miss Steeles\n    returned to the Park, and Elinor w"
	.ascii	"as then at liberty\n    to think and be wretched.\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" \n    \n    \n    \n    [At this point in the first and sec"
	.ascii	"ond editions, Volume 1 ends.]\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n"
	.ascii	"    CHAPTER 23\n    \n    \n    However small Elinor's gener"
	.ascii	"al dependence on\n    Lucy's veracity might be, it was impos"
	.ascii	"sible for her\n    on serious reflection to suspect it in th"
	.ascii	"e present case,\n    where no temptation could be answerable"
	.ascii	" to the folly\n    of inventing a falsehood of such a descri"
	.ascii	"ption.  What Lucy\n    had asserted to be true, therefore, E"
	.ascii	"linor could not,\n    dared not longer doubt; supported as i"
	.ascii	"t was too on every\n    side by such probabilities and proof"
	.ascii	"s, and contradicted\n    by nothing but her own wishes.  The"
	.ascii	"ir opportunity of\n    acquaintance in the house of Mr. Prat"
	.ascii	"t was a foundation\n    for the rest, at once indisputable a"
	.ascii	"nd alarming; and Edward's\n    visit near Plymouth, his mela"
	.ascii	"ncholy state of"
	.ascii	" mind,\n    his dissatisfaction at his own prospects, his un"
	.ascii	"certain\n    behaviour towards herself, the intimate knowled"
	.ascii	"ge of the\n    Miss Steeles as to Norland and their family c"
	.ascii	"onnections,\n    which had often surprised her, the picture,"
	.ascii	" the letter,\n    the ring, formed altogether such a body of"
	.ascii	" evidence,\n    as overcame every fear of condemning him unf"
	.ascii	"airly,\n    and established as a fact, which no partiality c"
	.ascii	"ould\n    set aside, his ill-treatment of herself.--Her rese"
	.ascii	"ntment\n    of such behaviour, her indignation at having bee"
	.ascii	"n its dupe,\n    for a short time made her feel only for her"
	.ascii	"self;\n    but other ideas, other considerations, soon arose"
	.ascii	".\n    Had Edward been intentionally deceiving her?  Had he "
	.ascii	"feigned\n    a regard for her which he did not feel?  Was hi"
	.ascii	"s engagement\n    to Lucy an engagement of the heart?  No; w"
	.ascii	"hatever it might\n    once have been, she could not believe "
	.ascii	"it such at present.\n    His affection was all her own.  She"
	.ascii	" could not be deceived\n    in that.  Her mother, sisters, F"
	.ascii	"anny, all had been\n    conscious of his regard for her at N"
	.ascii	"orland; it was not\n    an illusion of her own vanity.  He c"
	.ascii	"ertainly loved her.\n    What a softener of the heart was th"
	.ascii	"is persuasion!  How much\n    could it not tempt her to forg"
	.ascii	"ive!  He had been blamable,\n    highly blamable, in remaini"
	.ascii	"ng at Norland after he first\n    felt her influence over hi"
	.ascii	"m to be more than it ought\n    to be.  In that, he could no"
	.ascii	"t be defended; but if he\n    had injured her, how much more"
	.ascii	" had he injured himself;\n    if her case were pitiable, his"
	.ascii	" was hopeless.\n    His imprudence had made her miserable fo"
	.ascii	"r a while; but it\n    seemed to have deprived himself of al"
	.ascii	"l chance of ever\n    being otherwise.  She might in time re"
	.ascii	"gain tranquillity;\n    but HE, what had he to look forward "
	.ascii	"to?  Could he\n    ever be tolerably happy with Lucy Steele;"
	.ascii	" could he,\n    were his affection for herself out of the qu"
	.ascii	"estion,\n    with his integrity, his delicacy, and well-info"
	.ascii	"rmed mind,\n    be satisfied with a wife like her--ill"
	.ascii	"iterate, artful,\n    and selfish?\n    \n    The youthful i"
	.ascii	"nfatuation of nineteen would naturally\n    blind him to eve"
	.ascii	"ry thing but her beauty and good nature;\n    but the four s"
	.ascii	"ucceeding years--years, which if rationally\n    spent, give"
	.ascii	" such improvement to the understanding, must\n    have opene"
	.ascii	"d his eyes to her defects of education,\n    while the same "
	.ascii	"period of time, spent on her side\n    in inferior society a"
	.ascii	"nd more frivolous pursuits,\n    had perhaps robbed her of t"
	.ascii	"hat simplicity which might\n    once have given an interesti"
	.ascii	"ng character to her beauty.\n    \n    If in the supposition"
	.ascii	" of his seeking to marry herself,\n    his difficulties from"
	.ascii	" his mother had seemed great,\n    how much greater were the"
	.ascii	"y now likely to be, when\n    the object of his engagement w"
	.ascii	"as undoubtedly inferior\n    in connections, and probably in"
	.ascii	"ferior in fortune to herself.\n    These difficulties, indee"
	.ascii	"d, with a heart so alienated\n    from Lucy, might not press"
	.ascii	" very hard upon his patience;\n    but melancholy was the st"
	.ascii	"ate of the person by whom the\n    expectation of family opp"
	.ascii	"osition and unkindness, could\n    be felt as a relief!\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    As these considerations occurred to her in painful\n "
	.ascii	"   succession, she wept for him, more than for herself.\n   "
	.ascii	" Supported by the conviction of having done nothing to\n    "
	.ascii	"merit her present unhappiness, and consoled by the belief\n "
	.ascii	"   that Edward had done nothing to forfeit her esteem,\n    "
	.ascii	"she thought she could even now, under the first smart\n    o"
	.ascii	"f the heavy blow, command herself enough to guard every\n   "
	.ascii	" suspicion of the truth from her mother and sisters.\n    An"
	.ascii	"d so well was she able to answer her own expectations,\n    "
	.ascii	"that when she joined them at dinner only two hours\n    afte"
	.ascii	"r she had first suffered the extinction of all her\n    dear"
	.ascii	"est hopes, no one would have supposed from the\n    appearan"
	.ascii	"ce of the sisters, that Elinor was mourning\n    in secret o"
	.ascii	"ver obstacles which must divide her for ever\n    from the o"
	.ascii	"bject of her love, and that Marianne was\n    internally dw"
	.ascii	"elling on the perfections of a man, of whose\n    whole hear"
	.ascii	"t she felt thoroughly possessed, and whom she\n    expected "
	.ascii	"to see in every carriage which drove near their house.\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    The necessity of concealing from her mother and\n    M"
	.ascii	"arianne, what had been entrusted in confidence to herself,\n"
	.ascii	"    though it obliged her to unceasing exertion, was no\n   "
	.ascii	" aggravation of Elinor's distress.  On the contrary\n    it "
	.ascii	"was a relief to her, to be spared the communication\n    of "
	.ascii	"what would give such affliction to them, and to be\n    save"
	.ascii	"d likewise from hearing that condemnation of Edward,\n    wh"
	.ascii	"ich would probably flow from the excess of their partial\n  "
	.ascii	"  affection for herself, and which was more than she felt\n "
	.ascii	"   equal to support.\n    \n    From their counsel, or their"
	.ascii	" conversation, she knew\n    she could receive no assistance"
	.ascii	", their tenderness and\n    sorrow must add to her distress,"
	.ascii	" while her self-command\n    would neither receive encourage"
	.ascii	"ment from their example\n    nor from their praise.  She was"
	.ascii	" stronger alone,\n    and her own good sense so well support"
	.ascii	"ed her, that her\n    firmness was as unshaken, her appearan"
	.ascii	"ce of cheerfulness\n    as invariable, as with regrets so po"
	.ascii	"ignant and so fresh,\n    it was possible for them to be.\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    Much as she had suffered from her first conversatio"
	.ascii	"n\n    with Lucy on the subject, she soon felt an earnest wi"
	.ascii	"sh\n    of renewing it; and this for more reasons than one.\n"
	.ascii	"    She wanted to hear many particulars of their engagement\n"
	.ascii	"    repeated again, she wanted more clearly to understand\n "
	.ascii	"   what Lucy really felt for Edward, whether there were any\n"
	.ascii	"    sincerity in her declaration of tender regard for him,\n"
	.ascii	"    and she particularly wanted to convince Lucy, by her\n  "
	.ascii	"  readiness to enter on the matter again, and her calmness\n"
	.ascii	"    in conversing on it, that she was no otherwise intereste"
	.ascii	"d\n    in it than as a friend, which she very much feared\n "
	.ascii	"   her involuntary agitation, in their morning discourse,\n "
	.ascii	"   must have left at least doubtful.  That Lucy was di"
	.ascii	"sposed\n    to be jealous of her appeared very probable: it "
	.ascii	"was plain\n    that Edward had always spoken highly in her p"
	.ascii	"raise,\n    not merely from Lucy's assertion, but from her v"
	.ascii	"enturing\n    to trust her on so short a personal acquaintan"
	.ascii	"ce,\n    with a secret so confessedly and evidently importan"
	.ascii	"t.\n    And even Sir John's joking intelligence must have ha"
	.ascii	"d\n    some weight.  But indeed, while Elinor remained so we"
	.ascii	"ll\n    assured within herself of being really beloved by Ed"
	.ascii	"ward,\n    it required no other consideration of probabiliti"
	.ascii	"es\n    to make it natural that Lucy should be jealous;\n   "
	.ascii	" and that she was so, her very confidence was a proof.\n    "
	.ascii	"What other reason for the disclosure of the affair could\n  "
	.ascii	"  there be, but that Elinor might be informed by it of Lucy'"
	.ascii	"s\n    superior claims on Edward, and be taught to avoid him"
	.ascii	"\n    in future?  She had little difficulty in understanding"
	.ascii	" thus\n    much of her rival's intentions, and while she was"
	.ascii	" firmly\n    resolved to act by her as every principle of ho"
	.ascii	"nour and\n    honesty directed, to combat her own affection "
	.ascii	"for Edward\n    and to see him as little as possible; she co"
	.ascii	"uld not deny\n    herself the comfort of endeavouring to con"
	.ascii	"vince Lucy\n    that her heart was unwounded.  And as she co"
	.ascii	"uld now have\n    nothing more painful to hear on the subjec"
	.ascii	"t than had already\n    been told, she did not mistrust her "
	.ascii	"own ability of going\n    through a repetition of particular"
	.ascii	"s with composure.\n    \n    But it was not immediately that"
	.ascii	" an opportunity\n    of doing so could be commanded, though "
	.ascii	"Lucy was as well\n    disposed as herself to take advantage "
	.ascii	"of any that occurred;\n    for the weather was not often fin"
	.ascii	"e enough to allow\n    of their joining in a walk, where the"
	.ascii	"y might most easily\n    separate themselves from the others"
	.ascii	"; and though they\n    met at least every other evening eith"
	.ascii	"er at the park\n    or cottage, and chiefly at the former, t"
	.ascii	"hey could\n    not be supposed to meet for the sake of conve"
	.ascii	"rsation.\n    Such a thought would never enter either S"
	.ascii	"ir John or Lady\n    Middleton's head; and therefore very li"
	.ascii	"ttle leisure\n    was ever given for a general chat, and non"
	.ascii	"e at all for\n    particular discourse.  They met for the sa"
	.ascii	"ke of eating,\n    drinking, and laughing together, playing "
	.ascii	"at cards,\n    or consequences, or any other game that was s"
	.ascii	"ufficiently noisy.\n    \n    One or two meetings of this ki"
	.ascii	"nd had taken place,\n    without affording Elinor any chance"
	.ascii	" of engaging Lucy\n    in private, when Sir John called at t"
	.ascii	"he cottage one morning,\n    to beg, in the name of charity,"
	.ascii	" that they would all\n    dine with Lady Middleton that day,"
	.ascii	" as he was obliged\n    to attend the club at Exeter, and sh"
	.ascii	"e would otherwise be\n    quite alone, except her mother and"
	.ascii	" the two Miss Steeles.\n    Elinor, who foresaw a fairer ope"
	.ascii	"ning for the point she\n    had in view, in such a party as "
	.ascii	"this was likely to be,\n    more at liberty among themselves"
	.ascii	" under the tranquil\n    and well-bred direction of Lady Mid"
	.ascii	"dleton than when\n    her husband united them together in on"
	.ascii	"e noisy purpose,\n    immediately accepted the invitation; M"
	.ascii	"argaret, with her\n    mother's permission, was equally comp"
	.ascii	"liant, and Marianne,\n    though always unwilling to join an"
	.ascii	"y of their parties,\n    was persuaded by her mother, who co"
	.ascii	"uld not bear to have her\n    seclude herself from any chanc"
	.ascii	"e of amusement, to go likewise.\n    \n    The young ladies "
	.ascii	"went, and Lady Middleton was happily\n    preserved from the"
	.ascii	" frightful solitude which had threatened her.\n    The insip"
	.ascii	"idity of the meeting was exactly such as Elinor\n    had exp"
	.ascii	"ected; it produced not one novelty of thought\n    or expres"
	.ascii	"sion, and nothing could be less interesting\n    than the wh"
	.ascii	"ole of their discourse both in the dining\n    parlour and d"
	.ascii	"rawing room: to the latter, the children\n    accompanied th"
	.ascii	"em, and while they remained there, she was\n    too well con"
	.ascii	"vinced of the impossibility of engaging Lucy's\n    attentio"
	.ascii	"n to attempt it.  They quitted it only with the\n    removal"
	.ascii	" of the tea-things.  The card-table was then placed,\n  "
	.ascii	"  and Elinor began to wonder at herself for having ever\n   "
	.ascii	" entertained a hope of finding time for conversation\n    at"
	.ascii	" the park.  They all rose up in preparation for a round game"
	.ascii	".\n    \n    \"I am glad,\" said Lady Middleton to Lucy,\n  "
	.ascii	"  \"you are not going to finish poor little Annamaria's\n   "
	.ascii	" basket this evening; for I am sure it must hurt your\n    e"
	.ascii	"yes to work filigree by candlelight.  And we will make\n    "
	.ascii	"the dear little love some amends for her disappointment\n   "
	.ascii	" to-morrow, and then I hope she will not much mind it.\"\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    This hint was enough, Lucy recollected herself insta"
	.ascii	"ntly\n    and replied, \"Indeed you are very much mistaken,\n"
	.ascii	"    Lady Middleton; I am only waiting to know whether you ca"
	.ascii	"n\n    make your party without me, or I should have been at "
	.ascii	"my\n    filigree already.  I would not disappoint the little"
	.ascii	" angel\n    for all the world: and if you want me at the car"
	.ascii	"d-table now,\n    I am resolved to finish the basket after s"
	.ascii	"upper.\"\n    \n    \"You are very good, I hope it won't hur"
	.ascii	"t your eyes--\n    will you ring the bell for some working c"
	.ascii	"andles?\n    My poor little girl would be sadly disappointed"
	.ascii	", I know,\n    if the basket was not finished tomorrow, for "
	.ascii	"though I\n    told her it certainly would not, I am sure she"
	.ascii	" depends\n    upon having it done.\"\n    \n    Lucy directl"
	.ascii	"y drew her work table near her\n    and reseated herself wit"
	.ascii	"h an alacrity and cheerfulness\n    which seemed to infer th"
	.ascii	"at she could taste no greater\n    delight than in making a "
	.ascii	"filigree basket for a spoilt child.\n    \n    Lady Middleto"
	.ascii	"n proposed a rubber of Casino to the others.\n    No one mad"
	.ascii	"e any objection but Marianne, who with her usual\n    inatte"
	.ascii	"ntion to the forms of general civility, exclaimed,\n    \"Yo"
	.ascii	"ur Ladyship will have the goodness to excuse ME--you\n    kn"
	.ascii	"ow I detest cards.  I shall go to the piano-forte;\n    I ha"
	.ascii	"ve not touched it since it was tuned.\"  And without\n    fa"
	.ascii	"rther ceremony, she turned away and walked to the instrument"
	.ascii	".\n    \n    Lady Middleton looked as if she thanked heaven\n"
	.ascii	"    that"
	.ascii	" SHE had never made so rude a speech.\n    \n    \"Marianne "
	.ascii	"can never keep long from that instrument\n    you know, ma'a"
	.ascii	"m,\" said Elinor, endeavouring to smooth\n    away the offen"
	.ascii	"ce; \"and I do not much wonder at it; for it\n    is the ver"
	.ascii	"y best toned piano-forte I ever heard.\"\n    \n    The rema"
	.ascii	"ining five were now to draw their cards.\n    \n    \"Perhap"
	.ascii	"s,\" continued Elinor, \"if I should happen\n    to cut out,"
	.ascii	" I may be of some use to Miss Lucy Steele,\n    in rolling h"
	.ascii	"er papers for her; and there is so much still\n    to be don"
	.ascii	"e to the basket, that it must be impossible\n    I think for"
	.ascii	" her labour singly, to finish it this evening.\n    I should"
	.ascii	" like the work exceedingly, if she would allow\n    me a sha"
	.ascii	"re in it.\"\n    \n    \"Indeed I shall be very much obliged"
	.ascii	" to you\n    for your help,\" cried Lucy, \"for I find there"
	.ascii	" is more\n    to be done to it than I thought there was; and"
	.ascii	" it would\n    be a shocking thing to disappoint dear Annama"
	.ascii	"ria after all.\"\n    \n    \"Oh! that would be terrible, in"
	.ascii	"deed,\" said Miss Steele--\n    \"Dear little soul, how I do"
	.ascii	" love her!\"\n    \n    \"You are very kind,\" said Lady Mid"
	.ascii	"dleton to Elinor;\n    \"and as you really like the work, pe"
	.ascii	"rhaps you will be\n    as well pleased not to cut in till an"
	.ascii	"other rubber,\n    or will you take your chance now?\"\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    Elinor joyfully profited by the first of these proposa"
	.ascii	"ls,\n    and thus by a little of that address which Marianne"
	.ascii	"\n    could never condescend to practise, gained her own end"
	.ascii	",\n    and pleased Lady Middleton at the same time.  Lucy ma"
	.ascii	"de room\n    for her with ready attention, and the two fair "
	.ascii	"rivals were\n    thus seated side by side at the same table,"
	.ascii	" and, with the\n    utmost harmony, engaged in forwarding th"
	.ascii	"e same work.\n    The pianoforte at which Marianne, wrapped "
	.ascii	"up in her own\n    music and her own thoughts, had by this t"
	.ascii	"ime forgotten\n    that any body was in the room besides her"
	.ascii	"self, was luckily\n    so near them that Miss Dashwood now j"
	.ascii	"udged she might safely,\n    under the shelter of its noise,"
	.ascii	" introduce the intere"
	.ascii	"sting\n    subject, without any risk of being heard at the c"
	.ascii	"ard-table.\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 24\n    \n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  In a firm, though cautious tone, Elinor thus began.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"I should be undeserving of the confidence you have\n  "
	.ascii	"  honoured me with, if I felt no desire for its continuance,"
	.ascii	"\n    or no farther curiosity on its subject.  I will\n    n"
	.ascii	"ot apologize therefore for bringing it forward again.\"\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    \"Thank you,\" cried Lucy warmly, \"for breaking\n   "
	.ascii	" the ice; you have set my heart at ease by it; for I was\n  "
	.ascii	"  somehow or other afraid I had offended you by what I\n    "
	.ascii	"told you that Monday.\"\n    \n    \"Offended me! How could "
	.ascii	"you suppose so? Believe me,\"\n    and Elinor spoke it with "
	.ascii	"the truest sincerity,\n    \"nothing could be farther from m"
	.ascii	"y intention than to give\n    you such an idea.  Could you h"
	.ascii	"ave a motive for the trust,\n    that was not honourable and"
	.ascii	" flattering to me?\"\n    \n    \"And yet I do assure you,\""
	.ascii	" replied Lucy, her little\n    sharp eyes full of meaning, \""
	.ascii	"there seemed to me to be\n    a coldness and displeasure in "
	.ascii	"your manner that made me\n    quite uncomfortable.  I felt s"
	.ascii	"ure that you was angry with me;\n    and have been quarrelli"
	.ascii	"ng with myself ever since, for having\n    took such a liber"
	.ascii	"ty as to trouble you with my affairs.\n    But I am very gla"
	.ascii	"d to find it was only my own fancy,\n    and that you really"
	.ascii	" do not blame me.  If you knew what a\n    consolation it wa"
	.ascii	"s to me to relieve my heart speaking to you\n    of what I a"
	.ascii	"m always thinking of every moment of my life,\n    your comp"
	.ascii	"assion would make you overlook every thing else\n    I am su"
	.ascii	"re.\"\n    \n    \"Indeed, I can easily believe that it was "
	.ascii	"a very great\n    relief to you, to acknowledge your situati"
	.ascii	"on to me, and be\n    assured that you shall never have reas"
	.ascii	"on to repent it.\n    Your case is a very unfortunate one; y"
	.ascii	"ou seem to me to\n    be surrounded with difficulties, and y"
	.ascii	"ou will have need\n    of all your mutual affection to suppo"
	.ascii	"rt you under them.\n    Mr. Ferrars, I believe, is entirely "
	.ascii	"dependent on his m"
	.ascii	"other.\"\n    \n    \"He has only two thousand pounds of his"
	.ascii	" own; it would\n    be madness to marry upon that, though fo"
	.ascii	"r my own part,\n    I could give up every prospect of more w"
	.ascii	"ithout a sigh.\n    I have been always used to a very small "
	.ascii	"income, and could\n    struggle with any poverty for him; bu"
	.ascii	"t I love him too well\n    to be the selfish means of robbin"
	.ascii	"g him, perhaps, of all that\n    his mother might give him i"
	.ascii	"f he married to please her.\n    We must wait, it may be for"
	.ascii	" many years.  With almost every\n    other man in the world,"
	.ascii	" it would be an alarming prospect;\n    but Edward's affecti"
	.ascii	"on and constancy nothing can deprive me of\n    I know.\"\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    \"That conviction must be every thing to you;\n    "
	.ascii	"and he is undoubtedly supported by the same trust in your's."
	.ascii	"\n    If the strength of your reciprocal attachment had fail"
	.ascii	"ed,\n    as between many people, and under many circumstance"
	.ascii	"s\n    it naturally would during a four years' engagement,\n"
	.ascii	"    your situation would have been pitiable, indeed.\"\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    Lucy here looked up; but Elinor was careful\n    in gu"
	.ascii	"arding her countenance from every expression\n    that could"
	.ascii	" give her words a suspicious tendency.\n    \n    \"Edward's"
	.ascii	" love for me,\" said Lucy, \"has been pretty\n    well put t"
	.ascii	"o the test, by our long, very long absence\n    since we wer"
	.ascii	"e first engaged, and it has stood the trial\n    so well, th"
	.ascii	"at I should be unpardonable to doubt it now.\n    I can safe"
	.ascii	"ly say that he has never gave me one moment's\n    alarm on "
	.ascii	"that account from the first.\"\n    \n    Elinor hardly knew"
	.ascii	" whether to smile or sigh\n    at this assertion.\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" Lucy went on.  \"I am rather of a jealous temper too\n    b"
	.ascii	"y nature, and from our different situations in life,\n    fr"
	.ascii	"om his being so much more in the world than me, and our\n   "
	.ascii	" continual separation, I was enough inclined for suspicion,\n"
	.ascii	"    to have found out the truth in an instant, if there had "
	.ascii	"been\n    the slightest alteration in his behaviour to me wh"
	.ascii	"en we met,\n    or any lowness of spirits that I could not a"
	.ascii	"ccount for"
	.ascii	",\n    or if he had talked more of one lady than another,\n "
	.ascii	"   or seemed in any respect less happy at Longstaple than he"
	.ascii	"\n    used to be.  I do not mean to say that I am particular"
	.ascii	"ly\n    observant or quick-sighted in general, but in such a"
	.ascii	" case\n    I am sure I could not be deceived.\"\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"All this,\" thought Elinor, \"is very pretty;\n    but it ca"
	.ascii	"n impose upon neither of us.\"\n    \n    \"But what,\" said"
	.ascii	" she after a short silence,\n    \"are your views? or have y"
	.ascii	"ou none but that of waiting for\n    Mrs. Ferrars's death, w"
	.ascii	"hich is a melancholy and shocking\n    extremity?--Is her so"
	.ascii	"n determined to submit to this,\n    and to all the tediousn"
	.ascii	"ess of the many years of suspense\n    in which it may invol"
	.ascii	"ve you, rather than run the risk\n    of her displeasure for"
	.ascii	" a while by owning the truth?\"\n    \n    \"If we could be "
	.ascii	"certain that it would be only\n    for a while!  But Mrs. Fe"
	.ascii	"rrars is a very headstrong\n    proud woman, and in her firs"
	.ascii	"t fit of anger upon hearing\n    it, would very likely secur"
	.ascii	"e every thing to Robert,\n    and the idea of that, for Edwa"
	.ascii	"rd's sake, frightens away\n    all my inclination for hasty "
	.ascii	"measures.\"\n    \n    \"And for your own sake too, or you a"
	.ascii	"re carrying\n    your disinterestedness beyond reason.\"\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    Lucy looked at Elinor again, and was silent.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"Do you know Mr. Robert Ferrars?\" asked Elinor.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"Not at all--I never saw him; but I fancy he\n    is ve"
	.ascii	"ry unlike his brother--silly and a great coxcomb.\"\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   \"A great coxcomb!\" repeated Miss Steele, whose ear had\n"
	.ascii	"    caught those words by a sudden pause in Marianne's music"
	.ascii	".--\n    \"Oh, they are talking of their favourite beaux, I "
	.ascii	"dare say.\"\n    \n    \"No sister,\" cried Lucy, \"you are "
	.ascii	"mistaken there, our\n    favourite beaux are NOT great coxco"
	.ascii	"mbs.\"\n    \n    \"I can answer for it that Miss Dashwood's"
	.ascii	" is not,\"\n    said Mrs. Jennings, laughing heartily; \"for"
	.ascii	" he is one\n    of the modestest, prettiest behaved young me"
	.ascii	"n I ever saw;\n    but as for Lucy, she is such a sly little"
	.ascii	" creature,\n    there is no fin"
	.ascii	"ding out who SHE likes.\"\n    \n    \"Oh,\" cried Miss Stee"
	.ascii	"le, looking significantly round\n    at them, \"I dare say L"
	.ascii	"ucy's beau is quite as modest\n    and pretty behaved as Mis"
	.ascii	"s Dashwood's.\"\n    \n    Elinor blushed in spite of hersel"
	.ascii	"f.  Lucy bit her lip,\n    and looked angrily at her sister."
	.ascii	"  A mutual silence took\n    place for some time.  Lucy firs"
	.ascii	"t put an end to it by saying\n    in a lower tone, though Ma"
	.ascii	"rianne was then giving them\n    the powerful protection of "
	.ascii	"a very magnificent concerto--\n    \n    \"I will honestly t"
	.ascii	"ell you of one scheme which has\n    lately come into my hea"
	.ascii	"d, for bringing matters to bear;\n    indeed I am bound to l"
	.ascii	"et you into the secret, for you\n    are a party concerned. "
	.ascii	" I dare say you have seen enough\n    of Edward to know that"
	.ascii	" he would prefer the church to every\n    other profession; "
	.ascii	"now my plan is that he should take\n    orders as soon as he"
	.ascii	" can, and then through your interest,\n    which I am sure y"
	.ascii	"ou would be kind enough to use out of\n    friendship for hi"
	.ascii	"m, and I hope out of some regard to me,\n    your brother mi"
	.ascii	"ght be persuaded to give him Norland living;\n    which I un"
	.ascii	"derstand is a very good one, and the present\n    incumbent "
	.ascii	"not likely to live a great while.  That would\n    be enough"
	.ascii	" for us to marry upon, and we might trust to time\n    and c"
	.ascii	"hance for the rest.\"\n    \n    \"I should always be happy,"
	.ascii	"\" replied Elinor, \"to show\n    any mark of my esteem and "
	.ascii	"friendship for Mr. Ferrars;\n    but do you not perceive tha"
	.ascii	"t my interest on such an\n    occasion would be perfectly un"
	.ascii	"necessary?  He is brother\n    to Mrs. John Dashwood--THAT m"
	.ascii	"ust be recommendation enough\n    to her husband.\"\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   \"But Mrs. John Dashwood would not much approve\n    of E"
	.ascii	"dward's going into orders.\"\n    \n    \"Then I rather susp"
	.ascii	"ect that my interest would\n    do very little.\"\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" They were again silent for many minutes.  At length\n    Lu"
	.ascii	"cy exclaimed with a deep sigh,\n    \n    \"I believe it wou"
	.ascii	"ld be the wisest way to put an end\n    to the business at o"
	.ascii	"nce by dissolving th"
	.ascii	"e engagement.\n    We seem so beset with difficulties on eve"
	.ascii	"ry side,\n    that though it would make us miserable for a t"
	.ascii	"ime,\n    we should be happier perhaps in the end.  But you "
	.ascii	"will\n    not give me your advice, Miss Dashwood?\"\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   \"No,\" answered Elinor, with a smile, which concealed\n "
	.ascii	"   very agitated feelings, \"on such a subject I certainly\n"
	.ascii	"    will not.  You know very well that my opinion would have"
	.ascii	"\n    no weight with you, unless it were on the side of your"
	.ascii	" wishes.\"\n    \n    \"Indeed you wrong me,\" replied Lucy,"
	.ascii	" with great\n    solemnity; \"I know nobody of whose judgmen"
	.ascii	"t I think\n    so highly as I do of yours; and I do really b"
	.ascii	"elieve,\n    that if you was to say to me, 'I advise you by "
	.ascii	"all means\n    to put an end to your engagement with Edward "
	.ascii	"Ferrars,\n    it will be more for the happiness of both of y"
	.ascii	"ou,'\n    I should resolve upon doing it immediately.\"\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    Elinor blushed for the insincerity of Edward's\n    f"
	.ascii	"uture wife, and replied, \"This compliment would effectually"
	.ascii	"\n    frighten me from giving any opinion on the subject\n  "
	.ascii	"  had I formed one.  It raises my influence much too high;\n"
	.ascii	"    the power of dividing two people so tenderly attached\n "
	.ascii	"   is too much for an indifferent person.\"\n    \n    \"'Ti"
	.ascii	"s because you are an indifferent person,\" said Lucy,\n    w"
	.ascii	"ith some pique, and laying a particular stress on those word"
	.ascii	"s,\n    \"that your judgment might justly have such weight w"
	.ascii	"ith me.\n    If you could be supposed to be biased in any re"
	.ascii	"spect\n    by your own feelings, your opinion would not be w"
	.ascii	"orth having.\"\n    \n    Elinor thought it wisest to make n"
	.ascii	"o answer to this,\n    lest they might provoke each other to"
	.ascii	" an unsuitable increase\n    of ease and unreserve; and was "
	.ascii	"even partly determined\n    never to mention the subject aga"
	.ascii	"in.  Another pause\n    therefore of many minutes' duration,"
	.ascii	" succeeded this speech,\n    and Lucy was still the first to"
	.ascii	" end it.\n    \n    \"Shall you be in town this winter, Miss"
	.ascii	" Dashwood?\"\n    said she with all her accustomary complace"
	.ascii	"ncy.\n    \n    \"Ce"
	.ascii	"rtainly not.\"\n    \n    \"I am sorry for that,\" returned "
	.ascii	"the other,\n    while her eyes brightened at the information"
	.ascii	",\n    \"it would have gave me such pleasure to meet you the"
	.ascii	"re!\n    But I dare say you will go for all that.  To be sur"
	.ascii	"e,\n    your brother and sister will ask you to come to them"
	.ascii	".\"\n    \n    \"It will not be in my power to accept their "
	.ascii	"invitation\n    if they do.\"\n    \n    \"How unlucky that "
	.ascii	"is! I had quite depended upon\n    meeting you there.  Anne "
	.ascii	"and me are to go the latter end\n    of January to some rela"
	.ascii	"tions who have been wanting us to\n    visit them these seve"
	.ascii	"ral years!  But I only go for the sake\n    of seeing Edward"
	.ascii	".  He will be there in February, otherwise\n    London would"
	.ascii	" have no charms for me; I have not spirits for it.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    Elinor was soon called to the card-table by the\n    con"
	.ascii	"clusion of the first rubber, and the confidential\n    disco"
	.ascii	"urse of the two ladies was therefore at an end,\n    to whic"
	.ascii	"h both of them submitted without any reluctance,\n    for no"
	.ascii	"thing had been said on either side to make them\n    dislike"
	.ascii	" each other less than they had done before;\n    and Elinor "
	.ascii	"sat down to the card table with the melancholy\n    persuasi"
	.ascii	"on that Edward was not only without affection\n    for the p"
	.ascii	"erson who was to be his wife; but that he had\n    not even "
	.ascii	"the chance of being tolerably happy in marriage,\n    which "
	.ascii	"sincere affection on HER side would have given,\n    for sel"
	.ascii	"f-interest alone could induce a woman to keep a man\n    to "
	.ascii	"an engagement, of which she seemed so thoroughly aware\n    "
	.ascii	"that he was weary.\n    \n    From this time the subject was"
	.ascii	" never revived by Elinor,\n    and when entered on by Lucy, "
	.ascii	"who seldom missed an opportunity\n    of introducing it, and"
	.ascii	" was particularly careful to inform\n    her confidante, of "
	.ascii	"her happiness whenever she received a letter\n    from Edwar"
	.ascii	"d, it was treated by the former with calmness\n    and cauti"
	.ascii	"on, and dismissed as soon as civility would allow;\n    for "
	.ascii	"she felt such conversations to be an indulgence which\n    L"
	.ascii	"ucy did n"
	.ascii	"ot deserve, and which were dangerous to herself.\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"The visit of the Miss Steeles at Barton Park was\n    length"
	.ascii	"ened far beyond what the first invitation implied.\n    Thei"
	.ascii	"r favour increased; they could not be spared;\n    Sir John "
	.ascii	"would not hear of their going; and in spite\n    of their nu"
	.ascii	"merous and long arranged engagements in Exeter,\n    in spit"
	.ascii	"e of the absolute necessity of returning to fulfill\n    the"
	.ascii	"m immediately, which was in full force at the end\n    of ev"
	.ascii	"ery week, they were prevailed on to stay nearly two\n    mon"
	.ascii	"ths at the park, and to assist in the due celebration\n    o"
	.ascii	"f that festival which requires a more than ordinary\n    sha"
	.ascii	"re of private balls and large dinners to proclaim\n    its i"
	.ascii	"mportance.\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 25\n    \n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  Though Mrs. Jennings was in the habit of spending a large\n"
	.ascii	"    portion of the year at the houses of her children and fr"
	.ascii	"iends,\n    she was not without a settled habitation of her "
	.ascii	"own.\n    Since the death of her husband, who had traded wit"
	.ascii	"h success\n    in a less elegant part of the town, she had r"
	.ascii	"esided every\n    winter in a house in one of the streets ne"
	.ascii	"ar Portman Square.\n    Towards this home, she began on the "
	.ascii	"approach of January\n    to turn her thoughts, and thither s"
	.ascii	"he one day abruptly,\n    and very unexpectedly by them, ask"
	.ascii	"ed the elder Misses\n    Dashwood to accompany her.  Elinor,"
	.ascii	" without observing\n    the varying complexion of her sister"
	.ascii	", and the animated look\n    which spoke no indifference to "
	.ascii	"the plan, immediately gave\n    a grateful but absolute deni"
	.ascii	"al for both, in which she\n    believed herself to be speaki"
	.ascii	"ng their united inclinations.\n    The reason alleged was th"
	.ascii	"eir determined resolution\n    of not leaving their mother a"
	.ascii	"t that time of the year.\n    Mrs. Jennings received the ref"
	.ascii	"usal with some surprise,\n    and repeated her invitation im"
	.ascii	"mediately.\n    \n    \"Oh, Lord! I am sure your mother can "
	.ascii	"spare you\n    very well, and I DO beg you will favour me wi"
	.ascii	"th\n    your company, for I've quite set my heart upon it.\n"
	.ascii	"  "
	.ascii	"  Don't fancy that you will be any inconvenience to me,\n   "
	.ascii	" for I shan't put myself at all out of my way for you.\n    "
	.ascii	"It will only be sending Betty by the coach, and I\n    hope "
	.ascii	"I can afford THAT.  We three shall be able to go\n    very w"
	.ascii	"ell in my chaise; and when we are in town,\n    if you do no"
	.ascii	"t like to go wherever I do, well and good,\n    you may alwa"
	.ascii	"ys go with one of my daughters.  I am sure\n    your mother "
	.ascii	"will not object to it; for I have had such\n    good luck in"
	.ascii	" getting my own children off my hands that she\n    will thi"
	.ascii	"nk me a very fit person to have the charge of you;\n    and "
	.ascii	"if I don't get one of you at least well married\n    before "
	.ascii	"I have done with you, it shall not be my fault.\n    I shall"
	.ascii	" speak a good word for you to all the young men,\n    you ma"
	.ascii	"y depend upon it.\"\n    \n    \"I have a notion,\" said Sir"
	.ascii	" John, \"that Miss Marianne\n    would not object to such a "
	.ascii	"scheme, if her elder sister\n    would come into it.  It is "
	.ascii	"very hard indeed that she\n    should not have a little plea"
	.ascii	"sure, because Miss Dashwood\n    does not wish it.  So I wou"
	.ascii	"ld advise you two, to set off\n    for town, when you are ti"
	.ascii	"red of Barton, without saying\n    a word to Miss Dashwood a"
	.ascii	"bout it.\"\n    \n    \"Nay,\" cried Mrs. Jennings, \"I am s"
	.ascii	"ure I shall be\n    monstrous glad of Miss Marianne's compan"
	.ascii	"y, whether Miss\n    Dashwood will go or not, only the more "
	.ascii	"the merrier say I,\n    and I thought it would be more comfo"
	.ascii	"rtable for them to\n    be together; because, if they got ti"
	.ascii	"red of me, they might talk\n    to one another, and laugh at"
	.ascii	" my old ways behind my back.\n    But one or the other, if n"
	.ascii	"ot both of them, I must have.\n    Lord bless me! how do you"
	.ascii	" think I can live poking by myself,\n    I who have been alw"
	.ascii	"ays used till this winter to have\n    Charlotte with me.  C"
	.ascii	"ome, Miss Marianne, let us strike\n    hands upon the bargai"
	.ascii	"n, and if Miss Dashwood will change\n    her mind by and bye"
	.ascii	", why so much the better.\"\n    \n    \"I thank you, ma'am,"
	.ascii	" sincerely thank you,\" said Marianne,\n    with warmth: \"y"
	.ascii	"our invit"
	.ascii	"ation has insured my gratitude for ever,\n    and it would g"
	.ascii	"ive me such happiness, yes, almost the greatest\n    happine"
	.ascii	"ss I am capable of, to be able to accept it.\n    But my mot"
	.ascii	"her, my dearest, kindest mother,--I feel the\n    justice of"
	.ascii	" what Elinor has urged, and if she were to be\n    made less"
	.ascii	" happy, less comfortable by our absence--Oh! no,\n    nothin"
	.ascii	"g should tempt me to leave her.  It should not,\n    must no"
	.ascii	"t be a struggle.\"\n    \n    Mrs. Jennings repeated her ass"
	.ascii	"urance that Mrs. Dashwood\n    could spare them perfectly we"
	.ascii	"ll; and Elinor, who now\n    understood her sister, and saw "
	.ascii	"to what indifference to\n    almost every thing else she was"
	.ascii	" carried by her eagerness\n    to be with Willoughby again, "
	.ascii	"made no farther direct\n    opposition to the plan, and mere"
	.ascii	"ly referred it to her\n    mother's decision, from whom howe"
	.ascii	"ver she scarcely expected\n    to receive any support in her"
	.ascii	" endeavour to prevent a visit,\n    which she could not appr"
	.ascii	"ove of for Marianne, and which\n    on her own account she h"
	.ascii	"ad particular reasons to avoid.\n    Whatever Marianne was d"
	.ascii	"esirous of, her mother would be eager\n    to promote--she c"
	.ascii	"ould not expect to influence the latter\n    to cautiousness"
	.ascii	" of conduct in an affair respecting which she\n    had never"
	.ascii	" been able to inspire her with distrust; and she\n    dared "
	.ascii	"not explain the motive of her own disinclination\n    for go"
	.ascii	"ing to London.  That Marianne, fastidious as she was,\n    t"
	.ascii	"horoughly acquainted with Mrs. Jennings' manners,\n    and i"
	.ascii	"nvariably disgusted by them, should overlook every\n    inco"
	.ascii	"nvenience of that kind, should disregard whatever\n    must "
	.ascii	"be most wounding to her irritable feelings, in her\n    purs"
	.ascii	"uit of one object, was such a proof, so strong,\n    so full"
	.ascii	", of the importance of that object to her, as Elinor,\n    i"
	.ascii	"n spite of all that had passed, was not prepared to witness."
	.ascii	"\n    \n    On being informed of the invitation, Mrs. Dashwo"
	.ascii	"od,\n    persuaded that such an excursion would be productiv"
	.ascii	"e\n    of much amusement to both her daughters, and perc"
	.ascii	"eiving\n    through all her affectionate attention to hersel"
	.ascii	"f,\n    how much the heart of Marianne was in it, would not "
	.ascii	"hear\n    of their declining the offer upon HER account; ins"
	.ascii	"isted on\n    their both accepting it directly; and then beg"
	.ascii	"an to foresee,\n    with her usual cheerfulness, a variety o"
	.ascii	"f advantages that\n    would accrue to them all, from this s"
	.ascii	"eparation.\n    \n    \"I am delighted with the plan,\" she "
	.ascii	"cried,\n    \"it is exactly what I could wish.  Margaret and"
	.ascii	" I shall\n    be as much benefited by it as yourselves.  Whe"
	.ascii	"n you\n    and the Middletons are gone, we shall go on so qu"
	.ascii	"ietly\n    and happily together with our books and our music"
	.ascii	"! You\n    will find Margaret so improved when you come back"
	.ascii	" again!\n    I have a little plan of alteration for your bed"
	.ascii	"rooms too,\n    which may now be performed without any incon"
	.ascii	"venience\n    to any one.  It is very right that you SHOULD "
	.ascii	"go to town;\n    I would have every young woman of your cond"
	.ascii	"ition in life\n    acquainted with the manners and amusement"
	.ascii	"s of London.\n    You will be under the care of a motherly g"
	.ascii	"ood sort\n    of woman, of whose kindness to you I can have "
	.ascii	"no doubt.\n    And in all probability you will see your brot"
	.ascii	"her,\n    and whatever may be his faults, or the faults of h"
	.ascii	"is wife,\n    when I consider whose son he is, I cannot bear"
	.ascii	" to have you so\n    wholly estranged from each other.\"\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    \"Though with your usual anxiety for our happiness,\""
	.ascii	"\n    said Elinor, \"you have been obviating every impedimen"
	.ascii	"t\n    to the present scheme which occurred to you, there is"
	.ascii	"\n    still one objection which, in my opinion, cannot be so"
	.ascii	"\n    easily removed.\"\n    \n    Marianne's countenance su"
	.ascii	"nk.\n    \n    \"And what,\" said Mrs. Dashwood, \"is my dea"
	.ascii	"r prudent\n    Elinor going to suggest?  What formidable obs"
	.ascii	"tacle is she\n    now to bring forward?  Do let me hear a wo"
	.ascii	"rd about the\n    expense of it.\"\n    \n    \"My objection"
	.ascii	" is this; though I think very well of\n    Mrs. Jennings's h"
	.ascii	"eart, she is not a woman whose society\n    can afford us pl"
	.ascii	"easure, or wh"
	.ascii	"ose protection will give\n    us consequence.\"\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"That is very true,\" replied her mother, \"but of\n    her s"
	.ascii	"ociety, separately from that of other people,\n    you will "
	.ascii	"scarcely have any thing at all, and you will\n    almost alw"
	.ascii	"ays appear in public with Lady Middleton.\"\n    \n    \"If "
	.ascii	"Elinor is frightened away by her dislike of\n    Mrs. Jennin"
	.ascii	"gs,\" said Marianne, \"at least it need not prevent\n    MY "
	.ascii	"accepting her invitation.  I have no such scruples,\n    and"
	.ascii	" I am sure I could put up with every unpleasantness\n    of "
	.ascii	"that kind with very little effort.\"\n    \n    Elinor could"
	.ascii	" not help smiling at this display of\n    indifference towar"
	.ascii	"ds the manners of a person, to whom she\n    had often had d"
	.ascii	"ifficulty in persuading Marianne to behave\n    with tolerab"
	.ascii	"le politeness; and resolved within herself,\n    that if her"
	.ascii	" sister persisted in going, she would\n    go likewise, as s"
	.ascii	"he did not think it proper that Marianne\n    should be left"
	.ascii	" to the sole guidance of her own judgment,\n    or that Mrs."
	.ascii	" Jennings should be abandoned to the mercy\n    of Marianne "
	.ascii	"for all the comfort of her domestic hours.\n    To this dete"
	.ascii	"rmination she was the more easily reconciled,\n    by recoll"
	.ascii	"ecting that Edward Ferrars, by Lucy's account,\n    was not "
	.ascii	"to be in town before February; and that\n    their visit, wi"
	.ascii	"thout any unreasonable abridgement,\n    might be previously"
	.ascii	" finished.\n    \n    \"I will have you BOTH go,\" said Mrs."
	.ascii	" Dashwood;\n    \"these objections are nonsensical.  You wil"
	.ascii	"l have much\n    pleasure in being in London, and especially"
	.ascii	" in being together;\n    and if Elinor would ever condescend"
	.ascii	" to anticipate enjoyment,\n    she would foresee it there fr"
	.ascii	"om a variety of sources;\n    she would, perhaps, expect som"
	.ascii	"e from improving her\n    acquaintance with her sister-in-la"
	.ascii	"w's family.\"\n    \n    Elinor had often wished for an oppo"
	.ascii	"rtunity of\n    attempting to weaken her mother's dependence"
	.ascii	" on the\n    attachment of Edward and herself, that the shoc"
	.ascii	"k might\n    be less when the whole truth were revealed, and"
	.ascii	" now\n    on "
	.ascii	"this attack, though almost hopeless of success,\n    she for"
	.ascii	"ced herself to begin her design by saying,\n    as calmly as"
	.ascii	" she could, \"I like Edward Ferrars very much,\n    and shal"
	.ascii	"l always be glad to see him; but as to the rest\n    of the "
	.ascii	"family, it is a matter of perfect indifference\n    to me, w"
	.ascii	"hether I am ever known to them or not.\"\n    \n    Mrs. Das"
	.ascii	"hwood smiled, and said nothing.\n    Marianne lifted up her "
	.ascii	"eyes in astonishment, and Elinor\n    conjectured that she m"
	.ascii	"ight as well have held her tongue.\n    \n    After very lit"
	.ascii	"tle farther discourse, it was finally\n    settled that the "
	.ascii	"invitation should be fully accepted.\n    Mrs. Jennings rece"
	.ascii	"ived the information with a great\n    deal of joy, and many"
	.ascii	" assurances of kindness and care;\n    nor was it a matter o"
	.ascii	"f pleasure merely to her.  Sir John\n    was delighted; for "
	.ascii	"to a man, whose prevailing anxiety\n    was the dread of bei"
	.ascii	"ng alone, the acquisition of two,\n    to the number of inha"
	.ascii	"bitants in London, was something.\n    Even Lady Middleton t"
	.ascii	"ook the trouble of being delighted,\n    which was putting h"
	.ascii	"erself rather out of her way;\n    and as for the Miss Steel"
	.ascii	"es, especially Lucy, they had\n    never been so happy in th"
	.ascii	"eir lives as this intelligence\n    made them.\n    \n    El"
	.ascii	"inor submitted to the arrangement which counteracted\n    he"
	.ascii	"r wishes with less reluctance than she had expected\n    to "
	.ascii	"feel.  With regard to herself, it was now a matter\n    of u"
	.ascii	"nconcern whether she went to town or not, and when\n    she "
	.ascii	"saw her mother so thoroughly pleased with the plan,\n    and"
	.ascii	" her sister exhilarated by it in look, voice, and manner,\n "
	.ascii	"   restored to all her usual animation, and elevated to more"
	.ascii	"\n    than her usual gaiety, she could not be dissatisfied\n"
	.ascii	"    with the cause, and would hardly allow herself to distru"
	.ascii	"st\n    the consequence.\n    \n    Marianne's joy was almos"
	.ascii	"t a degree beyond happiness,\n    so great was the perturbat"
	.ascii	"ion of her spirits and her\n    impatience to be gone.  Her "
	.ascii	"unwillingness to quit her\n    mother was her only restorati"
	.ascii	"v"
	.ascii	"e to calmness; and at the\n    moment of parting her grief o"
	.ascii	"n that score was excessive.\n    Her mother's affliction was"
	.ascii	" hardly less, and Elinor\n    was the only one of the three,"
	.ascii	" who seemed to consider\n    the separation as any thing sho"
	.ascii	"rt of eternal.\n    \n    Their departure took place in the "
	.ascii	"first week in January.\n    The Middletons were to follow in"
	.ascii	" about a week.  The Miss\n    Steeles kept their station at "
	.ascii	"the park, and were to quit\n    it only with the rest of the"
	.ascii	" family.\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 26\n    \n    \n    "
	.ascii	"Elinor could not find herself in the carriage with Mrs. Jenn"
	.ascii	"ings,\n    and beginning a journey to London under her prote"
	.ascii	"ction,\n    and as her guest, without wondering at her own s"
	.ascii	"ituation,\n    so short had their acquaintance with that lad"
	.ascii	"y been,\n    so wholly unsuited were they in age and disposi"
	.ascii	"tion,\n    and so many had been her objections against such "
	.ascii	"a measure\n    only a few days before! But these objections "
	.ascii	"had all,\n    with that happy ardour of youth which Marianne"
	.ascii	" and her mother\n    equally shared, been overcome or overlo"
	.ascii	"oked; and Elinor,\n    in spite of every occasional doubt of"
	.ascii	" Willoughby's constancy,\n    could not witness the rapture "
	.ascii	"of delightful expectation\n    which filled the whole soul a"
	.ascii	"nd beamed in the eyes\n    of Marianne, without feeling how "
	.ascii	"blank was her own prospect,\n    how cheerless her own state"
	.ascii	" of mind in the comparison,\n    and how gladly she would en"
	.ascii	"gage in the solicitude of\n    Marianne's situation to have "
	.ascii	"the same animating object\n    in view, the same possibility"
	.ascii	" of hope.  A short, a very\n    short time however must now "
	.ascii	"decide what Willoughby's\n    intentions were; in all probab"
	.ascii	"ility he was already in town.\n    Marianne's eagerness to b"
	.ascii	"e gone declared her dependence\n    on finding him there; an"
	.ascii	"d Elinor was resolved not only upon\n    gaining every new l"
	.ascii	"ight as to his character which her\n    own observation or t"
	.ascii	"he intelligence of others could give her,\n    but likewise "
	.ascii	"upon watching his behaviour to her sister\n    with such zea"
	.ascii	"lous attention, as to ascertain what he was\n    and what he"
	.ascii	" meant, before many meetings had taken place.\n    Should th"
	.ascii	"e result of her observations be unfavourable,\n    she was d"
	.ascii	"etermined at all events to open the eyes\n    of her sister;"
	.ascii	" should it be otherwise, her exertions\n    would be of a di"
	.ascii	"fferent nature--she must then learn\n    to avoid every self"
	.ascii	"ish comparison, and banish every regret\n    which might les"
	.ascii	"sen her satisfaction in the happiness of Marianne.\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  They were three days on their journey, and Marianne's\n   "
	.ascii	" behaviour as they travelled was a happy specimen of what\n "
	.ascii	"   future complaisance and companionableness to Mrs. Jenning"
	.ascii	"s\n    might be expected to be.  She sat in silence almost a"
	.ascii	"ll\n    the way, wrapt in her own meditations, and scarcely "
	.ascii	"ever\n    voluntarily speaking, except when any object of pi"
	.ascii	"cturesque\n    beauty within their view drew from her an exc"
	.ascii	"lamation\n    of delight exclusively addressed to her sister"
	.ascii	".  To atone\n    for this conduct therefore, Elinor took imm"
	.ascii	"ediate possession\n    of the post of civility which she had"
	.ascii	" assigned herself,\n    behaved with the greatest attention "
	.ascii	"to Mrs. Jennings,\n    talked with her, laughed with her, an"
	.ascii	"d listened to her\n    whenever she could; and Mrs. Jennings"
	.ascii	" on her side\n    treated them both with all possible kindne"
	.ascii	"ss, was solicitous\n    on every occasion for their ease and"
	.ascii	" enjoyment, and only\n    disturbed that she could not make "
	.ascii	"them choose their own\n    dinners at the inn, nor extort a "
	.ascii	"confession of their\n    preferring salmon to cod, or boiled"
	.ascii	" fowls to veal cutlets.\n    They reached town by three o'cl"
	.ascii	"ock the third day, glad to\n    be released, after such a jo"
	.ascii	"urney, from the confinement\n    of a carriage, and ready to"
	.ascii	" enjoy all the luxury of a good fire.\n    \n    The house w"
	.ascii	"as handsome, and handsomely fitted up,\n    and the young la"
	.ascii	"dies were immediately put in possession\n    of a very comfo"
	.ascii	"rtable apartment.  It had formerly\n    been Charlotte's, an"
	.ascii	"d over the mantelpiece still hung\n    a landscape in c"
	.ascii	"oloured silks of her performance,\n    in proof of her havin"
	.ascii	"g spent seven years at a great school\n    in town to some e"
	.ascii	"ffect.\n    \n    As dinner was not to be ready in less than"
	.ascii	" two\n    hours from their arrival, Elinor determined to emp"
	.ascii	"loy\n    the interval in writing to her mother, and sat down"
	.ascii	" for\n    that purpose.  In a few moments Marianne did the s"
	.ascii	"ame.\n    \"I am writing home, Marianne,\" said Elinor; \"ha"
	.ascii	"d not you\n    better defer your letter for a day or two?\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"I am NOT going to write to my mother,\"\n    rep"
	.ascii	"lied Marianne, hastily, and as if wishing to avoid\n    any "
	.ascii	"farther inquiry.  Elinor said no more; it immediately\n    s"
	.ascii	"truck her that she must then be writing to Willoughby;\n    "
	.ascii	"and the conclusion which as instantly followed was,\n    tha"
	.ascii	"t, however mysteriously they might wish to conduct\n    the "
	.ascii	"affair, they must be engaged.  This conviction,\n    though "
	.ascii	"not entirely satisfactory, gave her pleasure,\n    and she c"
	.ascii	"ontinued her letter with greater alacrity.\n    Marianne's w"
	.ascii	"as finished in a very few minutes;\n    in length it could b"
	.ascii	"e no more than a note; it was then\n    folded up, sealed, a"
	.ascii	"nd directed with eager rapidity.\n    Elinor thought she cou"
	.ascii	"ld distinguish a large W in\n    the direction; and no soone"
	.ascii	"r was it complete than Marianne,\n    ringing the bell, requ"
	.ascii	"ested the footman who answered it\n    to get that letter co"
	.ascii	"nveyed for her to the two-penny post.\n    This decided the "
	.ascii	"matter at once.\n    \n    Her spirits still continued very "
	.ascii	"high; but there\n    was a flutter in them which prevented t"
	.ascii	"heir giving much\n    pleasure to her sister, and this agita"
	.ascii	"tion increased as\n    the evening drew on.  She could scarc"
	.ascii	"ely eat any dinner,\n    and when they afterwards returned t"
	.ascii	"o the drawing room,\n    seemed anxiously listening to the s"
	.ascii	"ound of every carriage.\n    \n    It was a great satisfacti"
	.ascii	"on to Elinor that Mrs. Jennings,\n    by being much engaged "
	.ascii	"in her own room, could see little\n    of what was passing. "
	.ascii	" The tea things were brought in,\n    and already had Marian"
	.ascii	"ne b"
	.ascii	"een disappointed more than once\n    by a rap at a neighbour"
	.ascii	"ing door, when a loud one was suddenly\n    heard which coul"
	.ascii	"d not be mistaken for one at any other house,\n    Elinor fe"
	.ascii	"lt secure of its announcing Willoughby's approach,\n    and "
	.ascii	"Marianne, starting up, moved towards the door.\n    Every th"
	.ascii	"ing was silent; this could not be borne many seconds;\n    s"
	.ascii	"he opened the door, advanced a few steps towards the stairs,"
	.ascii	"\n    and after listening half a minute, returned into the r"
	.ascii	"oom\n    in all the agitation which a conviction of having h"
	.ascii	"eard\n    him would naturally produce; in the ecstasy of her"
	.ascii	"\n    feelings at that instant she could not help exclaiming"
	.ascii	",\n    \"Oh, Elinor, it is Willoughby, indeed it is!\" and s"
	.ascii	"eemed\n    almost ready to throw herself into his arms, when"
	.ascii	" Colonel\n    Brandon appeared.\n    \n    It was too great "
	.ascii	"a shock to be borne with calmness,\n    and she immediately "
	.ascii	"left the room.  Elinor was disappointed too;\n    but at the"
	.ascii	" same time her regard for Colonel Brandon ensured\n    his w"
	.ascii	"elcome with her; and she felt particularly hurt that\n    a "
	.ascii	"man so partial to her sister should perceive that she\n    e"
	.ascii	"xperienced nothing but grief and disappointment in seeing hi"
	.ascii	"m.\n    She instantly saw that it was not unnoticed by him,\n"
	.ascii	"    that he even observed Marianne as she quitted the room,\n"
	.ascii	"    with such astonishment and concern, as hardly left him\n"
	.ascii	"    the recollection of what civility demanded towards herse"
	.ascii	"lf.\n    \n    \"Is your sister ill?\" said he.\n    \n    E"
	.ascii	"linor answered in some distress that she was,\n    and then "
	.ascii	"talked of head-aches, low spirits, and over fatigues;\n    a"
	.ascii	"nd of every thing to which she could decently attribute\n   "
	.ascii	" her sister's behaviour.\n    \n    He heard her with the mo"
	.ascii	"st earnest attention,\n    but seeming to recollect himself,"
	.ascii	" said no more on the subject,\n    and began directly to spe"
	.ascii	"ak of his pleasure at seeing them\n    in London, making the"
	.ascii	" usual inquiries about their journey,\n    and the friends t"
	.ascii	"hey had left behind.\n    \n    In this calm kind of way, wi"
	.ascii	"t"
	.ascii	"h very little interest\n    on either side, they continued t"
	.ascii	"o talk, both of them out\n    of spirits, and the thoughts o"
	.ascii	"f both engaged elsewhere.\n    Elinor wished very much to as"
	.ascii	"k whether Willoughby were\n    then in town, but she was afr"
	.ascii	"aid of giving him pain\n    by any enquiry after his rival; "
	.ascii	"and at length, by way\n    of saying something, she asked if"
	.ascii	" he had been in London\n    ever since she had seen him last"
	.ascii	".  \"Yes,\" he replied,\n    with some embarrassment, \"almo"
	.ascii	"st ever since; I have been\n    once or twice at Delaford fo"
	.ascii	"r a few days, but it has never\n    been in my power to retu"
	.ascii	"rn to Barton.\"\n    \n    This, and the manner in which it "
	.ascii	"was said,\n    immediately brought back to her remembrance a"
	.ascii	"ll the\n    circumstances of his quitting that place, with t"
	.ascii	"he\n    uneasiness and suspicions they had caused to Mrs. Je"
	.ascii	"nnings,\n    and she was fearful that her question had impli"
	.ascii	"ed\n    much more curiosity on the subject than she had ever"
	.ascii	" felt.\n    \n    Mrs. Jennings soon came in.  \"Oh! Colonel"
	.ascii	",\" said she,\n    with her usual noisy cheerfulness, \"I am"
	.ascii	" monstrous glad\n    to see you--sorry I could not come befo"
	.ascii	"re--beg your\n    pardon, but I have been forced to look abo"
	.ascii	"ut me a little,\n    and settle my matters; for it is a long"
	.ascii	" while since I\n    have been at home, and you know one has "
	.ascii	"always a world\n    of little odd things to do after one has"
	.ascii	" been away for\n    any time; and then I have had Cartwright"
	.ascii	" to settle with--\n    Lord, I have been as busy as a bee ev"
	.ascii	"er since dinner!\n    But pray, Colonel, how came you to con"
	.ascii	"jure out that I should\n    be in town today?\"\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"I had the pleasure of hearing it at Mr. Palmer's,\n    where"
	.ascii	" I have been dining.\"\n    \n    \"Oh, you did; well, and h"
	.ascii	"ow do they all do at their\n    house?  How does Charlotte d"
	.ascii	"o?  I warrant you she is a fine\n    size by this time.\"\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    \"Mrs. Palmer appeared quite well, and I am commiss"
	.ascii	"ioned\n    to tell you, that you will certainly see her to-m"
	.ascii	"orrow.\"\n    \n    \"Ay, to be sure, I thought as much.  We"
	.ascii	"ll, Colonel,\n  "
	.ascii	"  I have brought two young ladies with me, you see--that is,"
	.ascii	"\n    you see but one of them now, but there is another some"
	.ascii	"where.\n    Your friend, Miss Marianne, too--which you will "
	.ascii	"not be\n    sorry to hear.  I do not know what you and Mr. W"
	.ascii	"illoughby\n    will do between you about her.  Ay, it is a f"
	.ascii	"ine thing\n    to be young and handsome.  Well! I was young "
	.ascii	"once, but I\n    never was very handsome--worse luck for me."
	.ascii	"  However, I got\n    a very good husband, and I don't know "
	.ascii	"what the greatest\n    beauty can do more.  Ah! poor man! he"
	.ascii	" has been dead\n    these eight years and better.  But Colon"
	.ascii	"el, where have\n    you been to since we parted?  And how do"
	.ascii	"es your business\n    go on?  Come, come, let's have no secr"
	.ascii	"ets among friends.\"\n    \n    He replied with his accustom"
	.ascii	"ary mildness to all\n    her inquiries, but without satisfyi"
	.ascii	"ng her in any.\n    Elinor now began to make the tea, and Ma"
	.ascii	"rianne was\n    obliged to appear again.\n    \n    After he"
	.ascii	"r entrance, Colonel Brandon became\n    more thoughtful and "
	.ascii	"silent than he had been before,\n    and Mrs. Jennings could"
	.ascii	" not prevail on him to stay long.\n    No other visitor appe"
	.ascii	"ared that evening, and the ladies\n    were unanimous in agr"
	.ascii	"eeing to go early to bed.\n    \n    Marianne rose the next "
	.ascii	"morning with recovered spirits\n    and happy looks.  The di"
	.ascii	"sappointment of the evening before\n    seemed forgotten in "
	.ascii	"the expectation of what was to happen\n    that day.  They h"
	.ascii	"ad not long finished their breakfast before\n    Mrs. Palmer"
	.ascii	"'s barouche stopped at the door, and in a few\n    minutes s"
	.ascii	"he came laughing into the room: so delighted\n    to see the"
	.ascii	"m all, that it was hard to say whether she\n    received mos"
	.ascii	"t pleasure from meeting her mother or the Miss\n    Dashwood"
	.ascii	"s again.  So surprised at their coming to town,\n    though "
	.ascii	"it was what she had rather expected all along;\n    so angry"
	.ascii	" at their accepting her mother's invitation\n    after havin"
	.ascii	"g declined her own, though at the same time\n    she would n"
	.ascii	"ever have forgiven them if they had not come!\n    \n    \"M"
	.ascii	"r. Palmer will be so happy to see you,\"\n    said she; \"Wh"
	.ascii	"at do you think he said when he heard\n    of your coming wi"
	.ascii	"th Mamma?  I forget what it was now,\n    but it was somethi"
	.ascii	"ng so droll!\"\n    \n    After an hour or two spent in what"
	.ascii	" her mother called\n    comfortable chat, or in other words,"
	.ascii	" in every variety of inquiry\n    concerning all their acqua"
	.ascii	"intance on Mrs. Jennings's side,\n    and in laughter withou"
	.ascii	"t cause on Mrs. Palmer's, it was\n    proposed by the latter"
	.ascii	" that they should all accompany\n    her to some shops where"
	.ascii	" she had business that morning,\n    to which Mrs. Jennings "
	.ascii	"and Elinor readily consented,\n    as having likewise some p"
	.ascii	"urchases to make themselves;\n    and Marianne, though decli"
	.ascii	"ning it at first was induced\n    to go likewise.\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" Wherever they went, she was evidently always on\n    the wa"
	.ascii	"tch.  In Bond Street especially, where much of\n    their bu"
	.ascii	"siness lay, her eyes were in constant inquiry;\n    and in w"
	.ascii	"hatever shop the party were engaged, her mind was\n    equal"
	.ascii	"ly abstracted from every thing actually before them,\n    fr"
	.ascii	"om all that interested and occupied the others.\n    Restles"
	.ascii	"s and dissatisfied every where, her sister could\n    never "
	.ascii	"obtain her opinion of any article of purchase,\n    however "
	.ascii	"it might equally concern them both: she received\n    no ple"
	.ascii	"asure from anything; was only impatient to be at\n    home a"
	.ascii	"gain, and could with difficulty govern her vexation\n    at "
	.ascii	"the tediousness of Mrs. Palmer, whose eye was caught\n    by"
	.ascii	" every thing pretty, expensive, or new; who was wild\n    to"
	.ascii	" buy all, could determine on none, and dawdled away her\n   "
	.ascii	" time in rapture and indecision.\n    \n    It was late in t"
	.ascii	"he morning before they returned home;\n    and no sooner had"
	.ascii	" they entered the house than Marianne flew\n    eagerly up s"
	.ascii	"tairs, and when Elinor followed, she found\n    her turning "
	.ascii	"from the table with a sorrowful countenance,\n    which decl"
	.ascii	"ared that no Willoughby had been there.\n    \n    \"Has no "
	.ascii	"letter been left here for me since we went out?\"\n    said "
	.ascii	"she "
	.ascii	"to the footman who then entered with the parcels.\n    She w"
	.ascii	"as answered in the negative.  \"Are you quite sure\n    of i"
	.ascii	"t?\" she replied.  \"Are you certain that no servant,\n    n"
	.ascii	"o porter has left any letter or note?\"\n    \n    The man r"
	.ascii	"eplied that none had.\n    \n    \"How very odd!\" said she,"
	.ascii	" in a low and disappointed\n    voice, as she turned away to"
	.ascii	" the window.\n    \n    \"How odd, indeed!\" repeated Elinor"
	.ascii	" within herself,\n    regarding her sister with uneasiness. "
	.ascii	" \"If she had not\n    known him to be in town she would not"
	.ascii	" have written to him,\n    as she did; she would have writte"
	.ascii	"n to Combe Magna;\n    and if he is in town, how odd that he"
	.ascii	" should neither\n    come nor write!  Oh! my dear mother, yo"
	.ascii	"u must be wrong\n    in permitting an engagement between a d"
	.ascii	"aughter so young,\n    a man so little known, to be carried "
	.ascii	"on in so doubtful,\n    so mysterious a manner!  I long to i"
	.ascii	"nquire; and how will MY\n    interference be borne.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    She determined, after some consideration, that if\n    a"
	.ascii	"ppearances continued many days longer as unpleasant as they\n"
	.ascii	"    now were, she would represent in the strongest manner\n "
	.ascii	"   to her mother the necessity of some serious enquiry into "
	.ascii	"the\n    affair.\n    \n    Mrs. Palmer and two elderly ladi"
	.ascii	"es of Mrs. Jennings's\n    intimate acquaintance, whom she h"
	.ascii	"ad met and invited\n    in the morning, dined with them.  Th"
	.ascii	"e former left them\n    soon after tea to fulfill her evenin"
	.ascii	"g engagements;\n    and Elinor was obliged to assist in maki"
	.ascii	"ng a whist table\n    for the others.  Marianne was of no us"
	.ascii	"e on these occasions,\n    as she would never learn the game"
	.ascii	"; but though her time\n    was therefore at her own disposal"
	.ascii	", the evening was by no\n    means more productive of pleasu"
	.ascii	"re to her than to Elinor,\n    for it was spent in all the a"
	.ascii	"nxiety of expectation and the\n    pain of disappointment.  "
	.ascii	"She sometimes endeavoured for a\n    few minutes to read; bu"
	.ascii	"t the book was soon thrown aside,\n    and she returned to t"
	.ascii	"he more interesting employment\n    of walking backwards and"
	.ascii	" forward"
	.ascii	"s across the room,\n    pausing for a moment whenever she ca"
	.ascii	"me to the window,\n    in hopes of distinguishing the long-e"
	.ascii	"xpected rap.\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 27\n    \n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"If this open weather holds much longer,\" said Mrs. Je"
	.ascii	"nnings,\n    when they met at breakfast the following mornin"
	.ascii	"g,\n    \"Sir John will not like leaving Barton next week;\n"
	.ascii	"    'tis a sad thing for sportsmen to lose a day's pleasure."
	.ascii	"\n    Poor souls!  I always pity them when they do; they see"
	.ascii	"m\n    to take it so much to heart.\"\n    \n    \"That is t"
	.ascii	"rue,\" cried Marianne, in a cheerful voice,\n    and walking"
	.ascii	" to the window as she spoke, to examine the day.\n    \"I ha"
	.ascii	"d not thought of that.  This weather will keep many\n    spo"
	.ascii	"rtsmen in the country.\"\n    \n    It was a lucky recollect"
	.ascii	"ion, all her good spirits were\n    restored by it.  \"It is"
	.ascii	" charming weather for THEM indeed,\"\n    she continued, as "
	.ascii	"she sat down to the breakfast table\n    with a happy counte"
	.ascii	"nance.  \"How much they must enjoy\n    it! But\" (with a li"
	.ascii	"ttle return of anxiety) \"it cannot\n    be expected to last"
	.ascii	" long.  At this time of the year,\n    and after such a seri"
	.ascii	"es of rain, we shall certainly\n    have very little more of"
	.ascii	" it.  Frosts will soon set in,\n    and in all probability w"
	.ascii	"ith severity.  In another day\n    or two perhaps; this extr"
	.ascii	"eme mildness can hardly last\n    longer--nay, perhaps it ma"
	.ascii	"y freeze tonight!\"\n    \n    \"At any rate,\" said Elinor,"
	.ascii	" wishing to prevent\n    Mrs. Jennings from seeing her siste"
	.ascii	"r's thoughts as clearly\n    as she did, \"I dare say we sha"
	.ascii	"ll have Sir John and Lady\n    Middleton in town by the end "
	.ascii	"of next week.\"\n    \n    \"Ay, my dear, I'll warrant you w"
	.ascii	"e do.  Mary always\n    has her own way.\"\n    \n    \"And "
	.ascii	"now,\" silently conjectured Elinor, \"she will\n    write to"
	.ascii	" Combe by this day's post.\"\n    \n    But if she DID, the "
	.ascii	"letter was written and sent away\n    with a privacy which e"
	.ascii	"luded all her watchfulness to ascertain\n    the fact.  What"
	.ascii	"ever the truth of it might be, and far\n    as Elinor was fr"
	.ascii	"om feeling thorough contentment"
	.ascii	" about it,\n    yet while she saw Marianne in spirits, she c"
	.ascii	"ould not be\n    very uncomfortable herself.  And Marianne w"
	.ascii	"as in spirits;\n    happy in the mildness of the weather, an"
	.ascii	"d still happier\n    in her expectation of a frost.\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   The morning was chiefly spent in leaving cards at\n    th"
	.ascii	"e houses of Mrs. Jennings's acquaintance to inform\n    them"
	.ascii	" of her being in town; and Marianne was all the time\n    bu"
	.ascii	"sy in observing the direction of the wind, watching the\n   "
	.ascii	" variations of the sky and imagining an alteration in the ai"
	.ascii	"r.\n    \n    \"Don't you find it colder than it was in the "
	.ascii	"morning,\n    Elinor? There seems to me a very decided diffe"
	.ascii	"rence.\n    I can hardly keep my hands warm even in my muff."
	.ascii	"  It was\n    not so yesterday, I think.  The clouds seem pa"
	.ascii	"rting too,\n    the sun will be out in a moment, and we shal"
	.ascii	"l have a\n    clear afternoon.\"\n    \n    Elinor was alter"
	.ascii	"nately diverted and pained;\n    but Marianne persevered, an"
	.ascii	"d saw every night in the\n    brightness of the fire, and ev"
	.ascii	"ery morning in the appearance\n    of the atmosphere, the ce"
	.ascii	"rtain symptoms of approaching frost.\n    \n    The Miss Das"
	.ascii	"hwoods had no greater reason to be\n    dissatisfied with Mr"
	.ascii	"s. Jennings's style of living, and set\n    of acquaintance,"
	.ascii	" than with her behaviour to themselves,\n    which was invar"
	.ascii	"iably kind.  Every thing in her household\n    arrangements "
	.ascii	"was conducted on the most liberal plan,\n    and excepting a"
	.ascii	" few old city friends, whom, to Lady\n    Middleton's regret"
	.ascii	", she had never dropped, she visited\n    no one to whom an "
	.ascii	"introduction could at all discompose\n    the feelings of he"
	.ascii	"r young companions.  Pleased to find\n    herself more comfo"
	.ascii	"rtably situated in that particular than\n    she had expecte"
	.ascii	"d, Elinor was very willing to compound\n    for the want of "
	.ascii	"much real enjoyment from any of their\n    evening parties, "
	.ascii	"which, whether at home or abroad,\n    formed only for cards"
	.ascii	", could have little to amuse her.\n    \n    Colonel Brandon"
	.ascii	", who had a general invitation\n    to the house, was with t"
	.ascii	"he"
	.ascii	"m almost every day; he came\n    to look at Marianne and tal"
	.ascii	"k to Elinor, who often derived\n    more satisfaction from c"
	.ascii	"onversing with him than from any\n    other daily occurrence"
	.ascii	", but who saw at the same time\n    with much concern his co"
	.ascii	"ntinued regard for her sister.\n    She feared it was a stre"
	.ascii	"ngthening regard.  It grieved her\n    to see the earnestnes"
	.ascii	"s with which he often watched Marianne,\n    and his spirits"
	.ascii	" were certainly worse than when at Barton.\n    \n    About "
	.ascii	"a week after their arrival, it became\n    certain that Will"
	.ascii	"oughby was also arrived.  His card\n    was on the table whe"
	.ascii	"n they came in from the morning's drive.\n    \n    \"Good G"
	.ascii	"od!\" cried Marianne, \"he has been here while\n    we were "
	.ascii	"out.\"  Elinor, rejoiced to be assured of his\n    being in "
	.ascii	"London, now ventured to say, \"Depend upon it,\n    he will "
	.ascii	"call again tomorrow.\"  But Marianne seemed\n    hardly to h"
	.ascii	"ear her, and on Mrs. Jenning's entrance,\n    escaped with t"
	.ascii	"he precious card.\n    \n    This event, while it raised the"
	.ascii	" spirits of Elinor,\n    restored to those of her sister all"
	.ascii	", and more than all,\n    their former agitation.  From this"
	.ascii	" moment her mind was\n    never quiet; the expectation of se"
	.ascii	"eing him every hour\n    of the day, made her unfit for any "
	.ascii	"thing.  She insisted\n    on being left behind, the next mor"
	.ascii	"ning, when the others\n    went out.\n    \n    Elinor's tho"
	.ascii	"ughts were full of what might be passing\n    in Berkeley St"
	.ascii	"reet during their absence; but a moment's\n    glance at her"
	.ascii	" sister when they returned was enough to\n    inform her, th"
	.ascii	"at Willoughby had paid no second visit there.\n    A note wa"
	.ascii	"s just then brought in, and laid on the table,\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"For me!\" cried Marianne, stepping hastily forward.\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   \"No, ma'am, for my mistress.\"\n    \n    But Marianne, "
	.ascii	"not convinced, took it instantly up.\n    \n    \"It is inde"
	.ascii	"ed for Mrs. Jennings; how provoking!\"\n    \n    \"You are "
	.ascii	"expecting a letter, then?\" said Elinor,\n    unable to be l"
	.ascii	"onger silent.\n    \n    \"Yes, a little--not much.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    After a short paus"
	.ascii	"e.  \"You have no confidence\n    in me, Marianne.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"Nay, Elinor, this reproach from YOU--you who have\n   "
	.ascii	" confidence in no one!\"\n    \n    \"Me!\" returned Elinor "
	.ascii	"in some confusion; \"indeed,\n    Marianne, I have nothing t"
	.ascii	"o tell.\"\n    \n    \"Nor I,\" answered Marianne with energ"
	.ascii	"y, \"our situations\n    then are alike.  We have neither of"
	.ascii	" us any thing to tell;\n    you, because you do not communic"
	.ascii	"ate, and I, because\n    I conceal nothing.\"\n    \n    Eli"
	.ascii	"nor, distressed by this charge of reserve in herself,\n    w"
	.ascii	"hich she was not at liberty to do away, knew not how,\n    u"
	.ascii	"nder such circumstances, to press for greater openness\n    "
	.ascii	"in Marianne.\n    \n    Mrs. Jennings soon appeared, and the"
	.ascii	" note being\n    given her, she read it aloud.  It was from "
	.ascii	"Lady Middleton,\n    announcing their arrival in Conduit Str"
	.ascii	"eet the night before,\n    and requesting the company of her"
	.ascii	" mother and cousins\n    the following evening.  Business on"
	.ascii	" Sir John's part,\n    and a violent cold on her own, preven"
	.ascii	"ted their calling\n    in Berkeley Street.  The invitation w"
	.ascii	"as accepted;\n    but when the hour of appointment drew near"
	.ascii	", necessary as\n    it was in common civility to Mrs. Jennin"
	.ascii	"gs, that they\n    should both attend her on such a visit, E"
	.ascii	"linor had some\n    difficulty in persuading her sister to g"
	.ascii	"o, for still\n    she had seen nothing of Willoughby; and th"
	.ascii	"erefore was\n    not more indisposed for amusement abroad, t"
	.ascii	"han unwilling\n    to run the risk of his calling again in h"
	.ascii	"er absence.\n    \n    Elinor found, when the evening was ov"
	.ascii	"er,\n    that disposition is not materially altered by a cha"
	.ascii	"nge\n    of abode, for although scarcely settled in town,\n "
	.ascii	"   Sir John had contrived to collect around him, nearly twen"
	.ascii	"ty\n    young people, and to amuse them with a ball.  This w"
	.ascii	"as\n    an affair, however, of which Lady Middleton did not "
	.ascii	"approve.\n    In the country, an unpremeditated dance was ve"
	.ascii	"ry allowable;\n    but in London, where the reputation of el"
	.ascii	"egance was more\n    important and less easily attained, it "
	.ascii	"was risking to"
	.ascii	"o much\n    for the gratification of a few girls, to have it"
	.ascii	" known that\n    Lady Middleton had given a small dance of e"
	.ascii	"ight or nine couple,\n    with two violins, and a mere side-"
	.ascii	"board collation.\n    \n    Mr. and Mrs. Palmer were of the "
	.ascii	"party; from the former,\n    whom they had not seen before s"
	.ascii	"ince their arrival in town,\n    as he was careful to avoid "
	.ascii	"the appearance of any attention\n    to his mother-in-law, a"
	.ascii	"nd therefore never came near her,\n    they received no mark"
	.ascii	" of recognition on their entrance.\n    He looked at them sl"
	.ascii	"ightly, without seeming to know\n    who they were, and mere"
	.ascii	"ly nodded to Mrs. Jennings from\n    the other side of the r"
	.ascii	"oom.  Marianne gave one glance\n    round the apartment as s"
	.ascii	"he entered: it was enough--HE\n    was not there--and she sa"
	.ascii	"t down, equally ill-disposed\n    to receive or communicate "
	.ascii	"pleasure.  After they had been\n    assembled about an hour,"
	.ascii	" Mr. Palmer sauntered towards\n    the Miss Dashwoods to exp"
	.ascii	"ress his surprise on seeing them\n    in town, though Colone"
	.ascii	"l Brandon had been first informed\n    of their arrival at h"
	.ascii	"is house, and he had himself said\n    something very droll "
	.ascii	"on hearing that they were to come.\n    \n    \"I thought yo"
	.ascii	"u were both in Devonshire,\" said he.\n    \n    \"Did you?\""
	.ascii	" replied Elinor.\n    \n    \"When do you go back again?\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"I do not know.\" And thus ended their discourse."
	.ascii	"\n    \n    Never had Marianne been so unwilling to dance\n "
	.ascii	"   in her life, as she was that evening, and never so much\n"
	.ascii	"    fatigued by the exercise.  She complained of it\n    as "
	.ascii	"they returned to Berkeley Street.\n    \n    \"Aye, aye,\" s"
	.ascii	"aid Mrs. Jennings, \"we know the reason\n    of all that ver"
	.ascii	"y well; if a certain person who shall\n    be nameless, had "
	.ascii	"been there, you would not have been a\n    bit tired: and to"
	.ascii	" say the truth it was not very pretty\n    of him not to giv"
	.ascii	"e you the meeting when he was invited.\"\n    \n    \"Invite"
	.ascii	"d!\" cried Marianne.\n    \n    \"So my daughter Middleton t"
	.ascii	"old me, for it seems Sir\n    John met him somewhere in the "
	.ascii	"street this mornin"
	.ascii	"g.\"\n    Marianne said no more, but looked exceedingly hurt"
	.ascii	".\n    Impatient in this situation to be doing something\n  "
	.ascii	"  that might lead to her sister's relief, Elinor resolved\n "
	.ascii	"   to write the next morning to her mother, and hoped\n    b"
	.ascii	"y awakening her fears for the health of Marianne,\n    to pr"
	.ascii	"ocure those inquiries which had been so long delayed;\n    a"
	.ascii	"nd she was still more eagerly bent on this measure\n    by p"
	.ascii	"erceiving after breakfast on the morrow, that Marianne\n    "
	.ascii	"was again writing to Willoughby, for she could not suppose\n"
	.ascii	"    it to be to any other person.\n    \n    About the middl"
	.ascii	"e of the day, Mrs. Jennings went out by\n    herself on busi"
	.ascii	"ness, and Elinor began her letter directly,\n    while Maria"
	.ascii	"nne, too restless for employment, too anxious\n    for conve"
	.ascii	"rsation, walked from one window to the other,\n    or sat do"
	.ascii	"wn by the fire in melancholy meditation.\n    Elinor was ver"
	.ascii	"y earnest in her application to her mother,\n    relating al"
	.ascii	"l that had passed, her suspicions of\n    Willoughby's incon"
	.ascii	"stancy, urging her by every plea\n    of duty and affection "
	.ascii	"to demand from Marianne an account\n    of her real situatio"
	.ascii	"n with respect to him.\n    \n    Her letter was scarcely fi"
	.ascii	"nished, when a rap\n    foretold a visitor, and Colonel Bran"
	.ascii	"don was announced.\n    Marianne, who had seen him from the "
	.ascii	"window, and who hated\n    company of any kind, left the roo"
	.ascii	"m before he entered it.\n    He looked more than usually gra"
	.ascii	"ve, and though expressing\n    satisfaction at finding Miss "
	.ascii	"Dashwood alone, as if he\n    had somewhat in particular to "
	.ascii	"tell her, sat for some\n    time without saying a word.  Eli"
	.ascii	"nor, persuaded that he\n    had some communication to make i"
	.ascii	"n which her sister\n    was concerned, impatiently expected "
	.ascii	"its opening.\n    It was not the first time of her feeling t"
	.ascii	"he same kind\n    of conviction; for, more than once before,"
	.ascii	" beginning with\n    the observation of \"your sister looks "
	.ascii	"unwell to-day,\"\n    or \"your sister seems out of spirits,"
	.ascii	"\" he had appeared\n    on the point, either of disclosing, "
	.ascii	"or"
	.ascii	" of inquiring,\n    something particular about her.  After a"
	.ascii	" pause of several\n    minutes, their silence was broken, by"
	.ascii	" his asking her\n    in a voice of some agitation, when he w"
	.ascii	"as to congratulate\n    her on the acquisition of a brother?"
	.ascii	"  Elinor was not\n    prepared for such a question, and havi"
	.ascii	"ng no answer ready,\n    was obliged to adopt the simple and"
	.ascii	" common expedient,\n    of asking what he meant?  He tried t"
	.ascii	"o smile as he replied,\n    \"your sister's engagement to Mr"
	.ascii	". Willoughby is very generally\n    known.\"\n    \n    \"It"
	.ascii	" cannot be generally known,\" returned Elinor,\n    \"for he"
	.ascii	"r own family do not know it.\"\n    \n    He looked surprise"
	.ascii	"d and said, \"I beg your pardon,\n    I am afraid my inquiry"
	.ascii	" has been impertinent; but I had not\n    supposed any secre"
	.ascii	"cy intended, as they openly correspond,\n    and their marri"
	.ascii	"age is universally talked of.\"\n    \n    \"How can that be"
	.ascii	"? By whom can you have heard\n    it mentioned?\"\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" \"By many--by some of whom you know nothing, by others\n   "
	.ascii	" with whom you are most intimate, Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. Palmer"
	.ascii	",\n    and the Middletons.  But still I might not have belie"
	.ascii	"ved it,\n    for where the mind is perhaps rather unwilling "
	.ascii	"to\n    be convinced, it will always find something to suppo"
	.ascii	"rt\n    its doubts, if I had not, when the servant let me in"
	.ascii	" today,\n    accidentally seen a letter in his hand, directe"
	.ascii	"d to\n    Mr. Willoughby in your sister's writing.  I came t"
	.ascii	"o inquire,\n    but I was convinced before I could ask the q"
	.ascii	"uestion.\n    Is every thing finally settled?  Is it impossi"
	.ascii	"ble to-?\n    But I have no right, and I could have no chanc"
	.ascii	"e of succeeding.\n    Excuse me, Miss Dashwood.  I believe I"
	.ascii	" have been wrong\n    in saying so much, but I hardly know w"
	.ascii	"hat to do, and on\n    your prudence I have the strongest de"
	.ascii	"pendence.  Tell me\n    that it is all absolutely resolved o"
	.ascii	"n, that any attempt,\n    that in short concealment, if conc"
	.ascii	"ealment be possible,\n    is all that remains.\"\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"These words, which conveyed to Elinor a direct avowal\n    o"
	.ascii	"f his love fo"
	.ascii	"r her sister, affected her very much.\n    She was not immed"
	.ascii	"iately able to say anything, and even\n    when her spirits "
	.ascii	"were recovered, she debated for a short\n    time, on the an"
	.ascii	"swer it would be most proper to give.\n    The real state of"
	.ascii	" things between Willoughby and her sister\n    was so little"
	.ascii	" known to herself, that in endeavouring\n    to explain it, "
	.ascii	"she might be as liable to say too much\n    as too little.  "
	.ascii	"Yet as she was convinced that Marianne's\n    affection for "
	.ascii	"Willoughby, could leave no hope of Colonel\n    Brandon's su"
	.ascii	"ccess, whatever the event of that affection\n    might be, a"
	.ascii	"nd at the same time wished to shield her conduct\n    from c"
	.ascii	"ensure, she thought it most prudent and kind,\n    after som"
	.ascii	"e consideration, to say more than she really knew\n    or be"
	.ascii	"lieved.  She acknowledged, therefore, that though\n    she h"
	.ascii	"ad never been informed by themselves of the terms\n    on wh"
	.ascii	"ich they stood with each other, of their mutual\n    affecti"
	.ascii	"on she had no doubt, and of their correspondence\n    she wa"
	.ascii	"s not astonished to hear.\n    \n    He listened to her with"
	.ascii	" silent attention, and on\n    her ceasing to speak, rose di"
	.ascii	"rectly from his seat,\n    and after saying in a voice of em"
	.ascii	"otion, \"to your sister\n    I wish all imaginable happiness"
	.ascii	"; to Willoughby that he\n    may endeavour to deserve her,\""
	.ascii	"--took leave, and went away.\n    \n    Elinor derived no co"
	.ascii	"mfortable feelings from this\n    conversation, to lessen th"
	.ascii	"e uneasiness of her mind on\n    other points; she was left,"
	.ascii	" on the contrary, with a\n    melancholy impression of Colon"
	.ascii	"el Brandon's unhappiness,\n    and was prevented even from w"
	.ascii	"ishing it removed,\n    by her anxiety for the very event th"
	.ascii	"at must confirm it.\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 28\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \n    Nothing occurred during the next three or four day"
	.ascii	"s,\n    to make Elinor regret what she had done, in applying"
	.ascii	"\n    to her mother; for Willoughby neither came nor wrote.\n"
	.ascii	"    They were engaged about the end of that time to attend\n"
	.ascii	"    Lady Middleton to a party, from which Mrs. Jennings was\n"
	.ascii	" "
	.ascii	"   kept away by the indisposition of her youngest daughter;\n"
	.ascii	"    and for this party, Marianne, wholly dispirited,\n    ca"
	.ascii	"reless of her appearance, and seeming equally indifferent\n "
	.ascii	"   whether she went or staid, prepared, without one look\n  "
	.ascii	"  of hope or one expression of pleasure.  She sat by the\n  "
	.ascii	"  drawing-room fire after tea, till the moment of Lady\n    "
	.ascii	"Middleton's arrival, without once stirring from her seat,\n "
	.ascii	"   or altering her attitude, lost in her own thoughts,\n    "
	.ascii	"and insensible of her sister's presence; and when at\n    la"
	.ascii	"st they were told that Lady Middleton waited for them\n    a"
	.ascii	"t the door, she started as if she had forgotten that\n    an"
	.ascii	"y one was expected.\n    \n    They arrived in due time at t"
	.ascii	"he place of destination,\n    and as soon as the string of c"
	.ascii	"arriages before them\n    would allow, alighted, ascended th"
	.ascii	"e stairs, heard their\n    names announced from one landing-"
	.ascii	"place to another in an\n    audible voice, and entered a roo"
	.ascii	"m splendidly lit up,\n    quite full of company, and insuffe"
	.ascii	"rably hot.  When they had\n    paid their tribute of politen"
	.ascii	"ess by curtsying to the lady\n    of the house, they were pe"
	.ascii	"rmitted to mingle in the crowd,\n    and take their share of"
	.ascii	" the heat and inconvenience, to\n    which their arrival mus"
	.ascii	"t necessarily add.  After some time\n    spent in saying lit"
	.ascii	"tle or doing less, Lady Middleton sat\n    down to Cassino, "
	.ascii	"and as Marianne was not in spirits for\n    moving about, sh"
	.ascii	"e and Elinor luckily succeeding to chairs,\n    placed thems"
	.ascii	"elves at no great distance from the table.\n    \n    They h"
	.ascii	"ad not remained in this manner long, before Elinor\n    perc"
	.ascii	"eived Willoughby, standing within a few yards\n    of them, "
	.ascii	"in earnest conversation with a very fashionable\n    looking"
	.ascii	" young woman.  She soon caught his eye, and he\n    immediat"
	.ascii	"ely bowed, but without attempting to speak to her,\n    or t"
	.ascii	"o approach Marianne, though he could not but see her;\n    a"
	.ascii	"nd then continued his discourse with the same lady.\n    Eli"
	.ascii	"nor turned involuntarily to Marianne, to see whether\n "
	.ascii	"   it could be unobserved by her.  At that moment she first\n"
	.ascii	"    perceived him, and her whole countenance glowing with\n "
	.ascii	"   sudden delight, she would have moved towards him instantl"
	.ascii	"y,\n    had not her sister caught hold of her.\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"Good heavens!\" she exclaimed, \"he is there--he\n    is the"
	.ascii	"re--Oh! why does he not look at me? why cannot\n    I speak "
	.ascii	"to him?\"\n    \n    \"Pray, pray be composed,\" cried Elino"
	.ascii	"r, \"and do\n    not betray what you feel to every body pres"
	.ascii	"ent.\n    Perhaps he has not observed you yet.\"\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"This however was more than she could believe herself;\n    a"
	.ascii	"nd to be composed at such a moment was not only beyond\n    "
	.ascii	"the reach of Marianne, it was beyond her wish.  She sat\n   "
	.ascii	" in an agony of impatience which affected every feature.\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    At last he turned round again, and regarded them bot"
	.ascii	"h;\n    she started up, and pronouncing his name in a tone\n"
	.ascii	"    of affection, held out her hand to him.  He approached,\n"
	.ascii	"    and addressing himself rather to Elinor than Marianne,\n"
	.ascii	"    as if wishing to avoid her eye, and determined not to\n "
	.ascii	"   observe her attitude, inquired in a hurried manner after\n"
	.ascii	"    Mrs. Dashwood, and asked how long they had been in town."
	.ascii	"\n    Elinor was robbed of all presence of mind by such an a"
	.ascii	"ddress,\n    and was unable to say a word.  But the feelings"
	.ascii	" of her sister\n    were instantly expressed.  Her face was "
	.ascii	"crimsoned over,\n    and she exclaimed, in a voice of the gr"
	.ascii	"eatest emotion,\n    \"Good God! Willoughby, what is the mea"
	.ascii	"ning of this?\n    Have you not received my letters?  Will y"
	.ascii	"ou not shake\n    hands with me?\"\n    \n    He could not t"
	.ascii	"hen avoid it, but her touch seemed\n    painful to him, and "
	.ascii	"he held her hand only for a moment.\n    During all this tim"
	.ascii	"e he was evidently struggling for composure.\n    Elinor wat"
	.ascii	"ched his countenance and saw its expression\n    becoming mo"
	.ascii	"re tranquil.  After a moment's pause, he spoke\n    with cal"
	.ascii	"mness.\n    \n    \"I did myself the honour of calling in Be"
	.ascii	"rkeley\n    Street last Tuesday, and very much regretted tha"
	.ascii	"t I was\n "
	.ascii	"   not fortunate enough to find yourselves and Mrs. Jennings"
	.ascii	"\n    at home.  My card was not lost, I hope.\"\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"But have you not received my notes?\" cried Marianne\n    in"
	.ascii	" the wildest anxiety.  \"Here is some mistake I am\n    sure"
	.ascii	"--some dreadful mistake.  What can be the meaning\n    of it"
	.ascii	"?  Tell me, Willoughby; for heaven's sake tell me,\n    what"
	.ascii	" is the matter?\"\n    \n    He made no reply; his complexio"
	.ascii	"n changed and all his\n    embarrassment returned; but as if"
	.ascii	", on catching the eye\n    of the young lady with whom he ha"
	.ascii	"d been previously talking,\n    he felt the necessity of ins"
	.ascii	"tant exertion, he recovered\n    himself again, and after sa"
	.ascii	"ying, \"Yes, I had the pleasure\n    of receiving the inform"
	.ascii	"ation of your arrival in town,\n    which you were so good a"
	.ascii	"s to send me,\" turned hastily away\n    with a slight bow a"
	.ascii	"nd joined his friend.\n    \n    Marianne, now looking dread"
	.ascii	"fully white, and unable\n    to stand, sunk into her chair, "
	.ascii	"and Elinor, expecting every\n    moment to see her faint, tr"
	.ascii	"ied to screen her from the\n    observation of others, while"
	.ascii	" reviving her with lavender water.\n    \n    \"Go to him, E"
	.ascii	"linor,\" she cried, as soon as she\n    could speak, \"and f"
	.ascii	"orce him to come to me.  Tell him\n    I must see him again-"
	.ascii	"-must speak to him instantly.--\n    I cannot rest--I shall "
	.ascii	"not have a moment's peace till this\n    is explained--some "
	.ascii	"dreadful misapprehension or other.--\n    Oh go to him this "
	.ascii	"moment.\"\n    \n    \"How can that be done? No, my dearest "
	.ascii	"Marianne,\n    you must wait.  This is not the place for exp"
	.ascii	"lanations.\n    Wait only till tomorrow.\"\n    \n    With d"
	.ascii	"ifficulty however could she prevent her\n    from following "
	.ascii	"him herself; and to persuade her to check\n    her agitation"
	.ascii	", to wait, at least, with the appearance\n    of composure, "
	.ascii	"till she might speak to him with more privacy\n    and more "
	.ascii	"effect, was impossible; for Marianne continued\n    incessan"
	.ascii	"tly to give way in a low voice to the misery\n    of her fee"
	.ascii	"lings, by exclamations of wretchedness.\n    In a short time"
	.ascii	" Elinor saw W"
	.ascii	"illoughby quit the room by the\n    door towards the stairca"
	.ascii	"se, and telling Marianne that he\n    was gone, urged the im"
	.ascii	"possibility of speaking to him again\n    that evening, as a"
	.ascii	" fresh argument for her to be calm.\n    She instantly begge"
	.ascii	"d her sister would entreat Lady\n    Middleton to take them "
	.ascii	"home, as she was too miserable\n    to stay a minute longer."
	.ascii	"\n    \n    Lady Middleton, though in the middle of a rubber"
	.ascii	",\n    on being informed that Marianne was unwell, was too\n"
	.ascii	"    polite to object for a moment to her wish of going away,"
	.ascii	"\n    and making over her cards to a friend, they departed\n"
	.ascii	"    as soon the carriage could be found.  Scarcely a word\n "
	.ascii	"   was spoken during their return to Berkeley Street.\n    M"
	.ascii	"arianne was in a silent agony, too much oppressed even\n    "
	.ascii	"for tears; but as Mrs. Jennings was luckily not come home,\n"
	.ascii	"    they could go directly to their own room, where hartshor"
	.ascii	"n\n    restored her a little to herself.  She was soon undre"
	.ascii	"ssed\n    and in bed, and as she seemed desirous of being al"
	.ascii	"one,\n    her sister then left her, and while she waited the"
	.ascii	" return\n    of Mrs. Jennings, had leisure enough for thinki"
	.ascii	"ng over\n    the past.\n    \n    That some kind of engageme"
	.ascii	"nt had subsisted\n    between Willoughby and Marianne she co"
	.ascii	"uld not doubt,\n    and that Willoughby was weary of it, see"
	.ascii	"med equally clear;\n    for however Marianne might still fee"
	.ascii	"d her own wishes,\n    SHE could not attribute such behaviou"
	.ascii	"r to mistake\n    or misapprehension of any kind.  Nothing b"
	.ascii	"ut a thorough\n    change of sentiment could account for it."
	.ascii	"  Her indignation\n    would have been still stronger than i"
	.ascii	"t was, had she\n    not witnessed that embarrassment which s"
	.ascii	"eemed to speak\n    a consciousness of his own misconduct, a"
	.ascii	"nd prevented\n    her from believing him so unprincipled as "
	.ascii	"to have been\n    sporting with the affections of her sister"
	.ascii	" from the first,\n    without any design that would bear inv"
	.ascii	"estigation.\n    Absence might have weakened his regard, and"
	.ascii	" convenience\n    might have determined him to overcome i"
	.ascii	"t, but that such\n    a regard had formerly existed she coul"
	.ascii	"d not bring herself\n    to doubt.\n    \n    As for Mariann"
	.ascii	"e, on the pangs which so unhappy a meeting\n    must already"
	.ascii	" have given her, and on those still more\n    severe which m"
	.ascii	"ight await her in its probable consequence,\n    she could n"
	.ascii	"ot reflect without the deepest concern.\n    Her own situati"
	.ascii	"on gained in the comparison; for while she\n    could ESTEEM"
	.ascii	" Edward as much as ever, however they might be\n    divided "
	.ascii	"in future, her mind might be always supported.\n    But ever"
	.ascii	"y circumstance that could embitter such an evil\n    seemed "
	.ascii	"uniting to heighten the misery of Marianne\n    in a final s"
	.ascii	"eparation from Willoughby--in an immediate\n    and irreconc"
	.ascii	"ilable rupture with him.\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 29\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \n    Before the house-maid had lit their fire the"
	.ascii	" next day,\n    or the sun gained any power over a cold, glo"
	.ascii	"omy morning\n    in January, Marianne, only half dressed, wa"
	.ascii	"s kneeling\n    against one of the window-seats for the sake"
	.ascii	" of all\n    the little light she could command from it, and"
	.ascii	" writing\n    as fast as a continual flow of tears would per"
	.ascii	"mit her.\n    In this situation, Elinor, roused from sleep b"
	.ascii	"y her agitation\n    and sobs, first perceived her; and afte"
	.ascii	"r observing her\n    for a few moments with silent anxiety, "
	.ascii	"said, in a tone\n    of the most considerate gentleness,\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    \"Marianne, may I ask-?\"\n    \n    \"No, Elinor,\""
	.ascii	" she replied, \"ask nothing; you will\n    soon know all.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    The sort of desperate calmness with which this was"
	.ascii	" said,\n    lasted no longer than while she spoke, and was i"
	.ascii	"mmediately\n    followed by a return of the same excessive a"
	.ascii	"ffliction.\n    It was some minutes before she could go on w"
	.ascii	"ith her letter,\n    and the frequent bursts of grief which "
	.ascii	"still obliged her,\n    at intervals, to withhold her pen, w"
	.ascii	"ere proofs enough of her\n    feeling how more than probable"
	.ascii	" it was that she was writing\n    for the last time to Willo"
	.ascii	"ughby.\n    \n    Elinor paid her every quiet and unobtrusiv"
	.ascii	"e attention"
	.ascii	"\n    in her power; and she would have tried to sooth and\n "
	.ascii	"   tranquilize her still more, had not Marianne entreated he"
	.ascii	"r,\n    with all the eagerness of the most nervous irritabil"
	.ascii	"ity,\n    not to speak to her for the world.  In such circum"
	.ascii	"stances,\n    it was better for both that they should not be"
	.ascii	" long together;\n    and the restless state of Marianne's mi"
	.ascii	"nd not only prevented\n    her from remaining in the room a "
	.ascii	"moment after she was dressed,\n    but requiring at once sol"
	.ascii	"itude and continual change of place,\n    made her wander ab"
	.ascii	"out the house till breakfast time, avoiding\n    the sight o"
	.ascii	"f every body.\n    \n    At breakfast she neither ate, nor a"
	.ascii	"ttempted to eat\n    any thing; and Elinor's attention was t"
	.ascii	"hen all employed,\n    not in urging her, not in pitying her"
	.ascii	", nor in appearing\n    to regard her, but in endeavouring t"
	.ascii	"o engage Mrs. Jenning's\n    notice entirely to herself.\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    As this was a favourite meal with Mrs. Jennings,\n  "
	.ascii	"  it lasted a considerable time, and they were just setting\n"
	.ascii	"    themselves, after it, round the common working table, wh"
	.ascii	"en a\n    letter was delivered to Marianne, which she eagerl"
	.ascii	"y caught\n    from the servant, and, turning of a death-like"
	.ascii	" paleness,\n    instantly ran out of the room.  Elinor, who "
	.ascii	"saw as plainly\n    by this, as if she had seen the directio"
	.ascii	"n, that it must\n    come from Willoughby, felt immediately "
	.ascii	"such a sickness\n    at heart as made her hardly able to hol"
	.ascii	"d up her head,\n    and sat in such a general tremour as mad"
	.ascii	"e her fear it\n    impossible to escape Mrs. Jenning's notic"
	.ascii	"e.  That good lady,\n    however, saw only that Marianne had"
	.ascii	" received a letter\n    from Willoughby, which appeared to h"
	.ascii	"er a very good joke,\n    and which she treated accordingly,"
	.ascii	" by hoping, with a laugh,\n    that she would find it to her"
	.ascii	" liking.  Of Elinor's distress,\n    she was too busily empl"
	.ascii	"oyed in measuring lengths of worsted\n    for her rug, to se"
	.ascii	"e any thing at all; and calmly continuing\n    her talk, as "
	.ascii	"soon as Marianne disappeared, she said,\n    \n    \"Upon"
	.ascii	" my word, I never saw a young woman so\n    desperately in l"
	.ascii	"ove in my life!  MY girls were nothing\n    to her, and yet "
	.ascii	"they used to be foolish enough; but as\n    for Miss Mariann"
	.ascii	"e, she is quite an altered creature.\n    I hope, from the b"
	.ascii	"ottom of my heart, he won't keep her\n    waiting much longe"
	.ascii	"r, for it is quite grievous to see her\n    look so ill and "
	.ascii	"forlorn.  Pray, when are they to be married?\"\n    \n    El"
	.ascii	"inor, though never less disposed to speak than at\n    that "
	.ascii	"moment, obliged herself to answer such an attack\n    as thi"
	.ascii	"s, and, therefore, trying to smile, replied, \"And have\n   "
	.ascii	" you really, Ma'am, talked yourself into a persuasion\n    o"
	.ascii	"f my sister's being engaged to Mr. Willoughby?  I thought\n "
	.ascii	"   it had been only a joke, but so serious a question seems\n"
	.ascii	"    to imply more; and I must beg, therefore, that you will "
	.ascii	"not\n    deceive yourself any longer.  I do assure you that "
	.ascii	"nothing\n    would surprise me more than to hear of their be"
	.ascii	"ing going\n    to be married.\"\n    \n    \"For shame, for "
	.ascii	"shame, Miss Dashwood! how can you\n    talk so?  Don't we al"
	.ascii	"l know that it must be a match, that\n    they were over hea"
	.ascii	"d and ears in love with each other from\n    the first momen"
	.ascii	"t they met?  Did not I see them together\n    in Devonshire "
	.ascii	"every day, and all day long; and did not I\n    know that yo"
	.ascii	"ur sister came to town with me on purpose\n    to buy weddin"
	.ascii	"g clothes?  Come, come, this won't do.\n    Because you are "
	.ascii	"so sly about it yourself, you think nobody\n    else has any"
	.ascii	" senses; but it is no such thing, I can tell you,\n    for i"
	.ascii	"t has been known all over town this ever so long.\n    I tel"
	.ascii	"l every body of it and so does Charlotte.\"\n    \n    \"Ind"
	.ascii	"eed, Ma'am,\" said Elinor, very seriously,\n    \"you are mi"
	.ascii	"staken.  Indeed, you are doing a very unkind thing\n    in s"
	.ascii	"preading the report, and you will find that you have\n    th"
	.ascii	"ough you will not believe me now.\"\n    \n    Mrs. Jennings"
	.ascii	" laughed again, but Elinor had not\n    spirits to say more,"
	.ascii	" and eager at all events to know\n    what Willoughby had wr"
	.ascii	"itten,"
	.ascii	" hurried away to their room,\n    where, on opening the door"
	.ascii	", she saw Marianne stretched on\n    the bed, almost choked "
	.ascii	"by grief, one letter in her hand,\n    and two or three othe"
	.ascii	"rs laying by her.  Elinor drew near,\n    but without saying"
	.ascii	" a word; and seating herself on the bed,\n    took her hand,"
	.ascii	" kissed her affectionately several times,\n    and then gave"
	.ascii	" way to a burst of tears, which at first\n    was scarcely l"
	.ascii	"ess violent than Marianne's. The latter,\n    though unable "
	.ascii	"to speak, seemed to feel all the tenderness\n    of this beh"
	.ascii	"aviour, and after some time thus spent in\n    joint afflict"
	.ascii	"ion, she put all the letters into Elinor's hands;\n    and t"
	.ascii	"hen covering her face with her handkerchief,\n    almost scr"
	.ascii	"eamed with agony.  Elinor, who knew that such grief,\n    sh"
	.ascii	"ocking as it was to witness it, must have its course,\n    w"
	.ascii	"atched by her till this excess of suffering had somewhat\n  "
	.ascii	"  spent itself, and then turning eagerly to Willoughby's let"
	.ascii	"ter,\n    read as follows:\n    \n                          "
	.ascii	"        \"Bond Street, January.\n         \"MY DEAR MADAM,\n"
	.ascii	"    \n         \"I have just had the honour of receiving you"
	.ascii	"r\n         letter, for which I beg to return my sincere\n  "
	.ascii	"       acknowledgments.  I am much concerned to find there\n"
	.ascii	"         was anything in my behaviour last night that did\n "
	.ascii	"        not meet your approbation; and though I am quite at\n"
	.ascii	"         a loss to discover in what point I could be so\n   "
	.ascii	"      unfortunate as to offend you, I entreat your\n        "
	.ascii	" forgiveness of what I can assure you to have been\n        "
	.ascii	" perfectly unintentional.  I shall never reflect on\n       "
	.ascii	"  my former acquaintance with your family in Devonshire\n   "
	.ascii	"      without the most grateful pleasure, and flatter\n     "
	.ascii	"    myself it will not be broken by any mistake or\n        "
	.ascii	" misapprehension of my actions.  My esteem for your\n       "
	.ascii	"  whole family is very sincere; but if I have been so\n     "
	.ascii	"    unfortunate as to give rise to a belief of more than\n  "
	.ascii	"       I felt, or meant to express, I shall reproach mysel"
	.ascii	"f\n         for not having been more guarded in my professio"
	.ascii	"ns\n         of that esteem.  That I should ever have meant "
	.ascii	"more\n         you will allow to be impossible, when you und"
	.ascii	"erstand\n         that my affections have been long engaged "
	.ascii	"elsewhere,\n         and it will not be many weeks, I believ"
	.ascii	"e, before\n         this engagement is fulfilled.  It is wit"
	.ascii	"h great\n         regret that I obey your commands in return"
	.ascii	"ing the\n         letters with which I have been honoured fr"
	.ascii	"om you,\n         and the lock of hair, which you so obligin"
	.ascii	"gly bestowed\n         on me.\n    \n         \"I am, dear M"
	.ascii	"adam,\n                   \"Your most obedient\n            "
	.ascii	"            \"humble servant,\n                             "
	.ascii	"               \"JOHN WILLOUGHBY.\"\n    \n    \n    With wh"
	.ascii	"at indignation such a letter as this must\n    be read by Mi"
	.ascii	"ss Dashwood, may be imagined.  Though aware,\n    before she"
	.ascii	" began it, that it must bring a confession\n    of his incon"
	.ascii	"stancy, and confirm their separation for ever,\n    she was "
	.ascii	"not aware that such language could be suffered\n    to annou"
	.ascii	"nce it; nor could she have supposed Willoughby\n    capable "
	.ascii	"of departing so far from the appearance of every\n    honour"
	.ascii	"able and delicate feeling--so far from the common\n    decor"
	.ascii	"um of a gentleman, as to send a letter so impudently\n    cr"
	.ascii	"uel: a letter which, instead of bringing with his desire\n  "
	.ascii	"  of a release any professions of regret, acknowledged no\n "
	.ascii	"   breach of faith, denied all peculiar affection whatever--"
	.ascii	"\n    a letter of which every line was an insult, and which\n"
	.ascii	"    proclaimed its writer to be deep in hardened villainy.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    She paused over it for some time with indignant\n "
	.ascii	"   astonishment; then read it again and again; but every\n  "
	.ascii	"  perusal only served to increase her abhorrence of the man,"
	.ascii	"\n    and so bitter were her feelings against him, that she\n"
	.ascii	"    dared not trust herself to speak, lest she might wound\n"
	.ascii	"    Marianne still deeper by treating their disengagement,\n"
	.ascii	"    not as a loss to her of any possible good but as an\n   "
	.ascii	" es"
	.ascii	"cape from the worst and most irremediable of all\n    evils,"
	.ascii	" a connection, for life, with an unprincipled man,\n    as a"
	.ascii	" deliverance the most real, a blessing the most important.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    In her earnest meditations on the contents of the "
	.ascii	"letter,\n    on the depravity of that mind which could dicta"
	.ascii	"te it,\n    and probably, on the very different mind of a ve"
	.ascii	"ry different\n    person, who had no other connection whatev"
	.ascii	"er with the affair\n    than what her heart gave him with ev"
	.ascii	"ery thing that passed,\n    Elinor forgot the immediate dist"
	.ascii	"ress of her sister,\n    forgot that she had three letters o"
	.ascii	"n her lap yet unread,\n    and so entirely forgot how long s"
	.ascii	"he had been in the room,\n    that when on hearing a carriag"
	.ascii	"e drive up to the door,\n    she went to the window to see w"
	.ascii	"ho could be coming so\n    unreasonably early, she was all a"
	.ascii	"stonishment to perceive\n    Mrs. Jennings's chariot, which "
	.ascii	"she knew had not been\n    ordered till one.  Determined not"
	.ascii	" to quit Marianne,\n    though hopeless of contributing, at "
	.ascii	"present, to her ease,\n    she hurried away to excuse hersel"
	.ascii	"f from attending\n    Mrs. Jennings, on account of her siste"
	.ascii	"r being indisposed.\n    Mrs. Jennings, with a thoroughly go"
	.ascii	"od-humoured concern\n    for its cause, admitted the excuse "
	.ascii	"most readily, and Elinor,\n    after seeing her safe off, re"
	.ascii	"turned to Marianne, whom she\n    found attempting to rise f"
	.ascii	"rom the bed, and whom she reached\n    just in time to preve"
	.ascii	"nt her from falling on the floor,\n    faint and giddy from "
	.ascii	"a long want of proper rest and food;\n    for it was many da"
	.ascii	"ys since she had any appetite, and many\n    nights since sh"
	.ascii	"e had really slept; and now, when her\n    mind was no longe"
	.ascii	"r supported by the fever of suspense,\n    the consequence o"
	.ascii	"f all this was felt in an aching head,\n    a weakened stoma"
	.ascii	"ch, and a general nervous faintness.\n    A glass of wine, w"
	.ascii	"hich Elinor procured for her directly,\n    made her more co"
	.ascii	"mfortable, and she was at last able to express\n    some sen"
	.ascii	"se of her kindness, by saying,\n    \n    \"Poor Elinor!"
	.ascii	" how unhappy I make you!\"\n    \n    \"I only wish,\" repli"
	.ascii	"ed her sister, \"there were\n    any thing I COULD do, which"
	.ascii	" might be of comfort to you.\"\n    \n    This, as every thi"
	.ascii	"ng else would have been,\n    was too much for Marianne, who"
	.ascii	" could only exclaim,\n    in the anguish of her heart, \"Oh!"
	.ascii	" Elinor, I am miserable,\n    indeed,\" before her voice was"
	.ascii	" entirely lost in sobs.\n    \n    Elinor could no longer wi"
	.ascii	"tness this torrent\n    of unresisted grief in silence.\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    \"Exert yourself, dear Marianne,\" she cried,\n    \""
	.ascii	"if you would not kill yourself and all who love you.\n    Th"
	.ascii	"ink of your mother; think of her misery while YOU suffer:\n "
	.ascii	"   for her sake you must exert yourself.\"\n    \n    \"I ca"
	.ascii	"nnot, I cannot,\" cried Marianne; \"leave me,\n    leave me,"
	.ascii	" if I distress you; leave me, hate me, forget me!\n    but d"
	.ascii	"o not torture me so.  Oh! how easy for those,\n    who have "
	.ascii	"no sorrow of their own to talk of exertion!  Happy,\n    hap"
	.ascii	"py Elinor, YOU cannot have an idea of what I suffer.\"\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    \"Do you call ME happy, Marianne?  Ah! if you knew!--A"
	.ascii	"nd\n    can you believe me to be so, while I see you so wret"
	.ascii	"ched!\"\n    \n    \"Forgive me, forgive me,\" throwing her "
	.ascii	"arms round\n    her sister's neck; \"I know you feel for me;"
	.ascii	" I know what\n    a heart you have; but yet you are--you mus"
	.ascii	"t be happy;\n    Edward loves you--what, oh what, can do awa"
	.ascii	"y such happiness\n    as that?\"\n    \n    \"Many, many cir"
	.ascii	"cumstances,\" said Elinor, solemnly.\n    \n    \"No, no, no"
	.ascii	",\" cried Marianne wildly, \"he loves you,\n    and only you"
	.ascii	".  You CAN have no grief.\"\n    \n    \"I can have no pleas"
	.ascii	"ure while I see you in this state.\"\n    \n    \"And you wi"
	.ascii	"ll never see me otherwise.  Mine is\n    a misery which noth"
	.ascii	"ing can do away.\"\n    \n    \"You must not talk so, Marian"
	.ascii	"ne.  Have you no\n    comforts? no friends?  Is your loss su"
	.ascii	"ch as leaves\n    no opening for consolation?  Much as you s"
	.ascii	"uffer now,\n    think of what you would have suffered if the"
	.ascii	" discovery\n    of his character had been delayed to a later"
	.ascii	" period--\n    if your engagement had be"
	.ascii	"en carried on for months and months,\n    as it might have b"
	.ascii	"een, before he chose to put an end to it.\n    Every additio"
	.ascii	"nal day of unhappy confidence, on your side,\n    would have"
	.ascii	" made the blow more dreadful.\"\n    \n    \"Engagement!\" c"
	.ascii	"ried Marianne, \"there has been\n    no engagement.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"No engagement!\"\n    \n    \"No, he is not so unworth"
	.ascii	"y as you believe him.\n    He has broken no faith with me.\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"But he told you that he loved you.\"\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \"Yes--no--never absolutely.  It was every day implied,\n "
	.ascii	"   but never professedly declared.  Sometimes I thought it\n"
	.ascii	"    had been--but it never was.\"\n    \n    \"Yet you wrote"
	.ascii	" to him?\"--\n    \n    \"Yes--could that be wrong after all"
	.ascii	" that had passed?--\n    But I cannot talk.\"\n    \n    Eli"
	.ascii	"nor said no more, and turning again to the three\n    letter"
	.ascii	"s which now raised a much stronger curiosity\n    than befor"
	.ascii	"e, directly ran over the contents of all.\n    The first, wh"
	.ascii	"ich was what her sister had sent him\n    on their arrival i"
	.ascii	"n town, was to this effect.\n    \n                         "
	.ascii	"    Berkeley Street, January.\n    \n         \"How surprise"
	.ascii	"d you will be, Willoughby, on\n         receiving this; and "
	.ascii	"I think you will feel something\n         more than surprise"
	.ascii	", when you know that I am in town.\n         An opportunity "
	.ascii	"of coming hither, though with Mrs.\n         Jennings, was a"
	.ascii	" temptation we could not resist.\n         I wish you may re"
	.ascii	"ceive this in time to come here\n         to-night, but I wi"
	.ascii	"ll not depend on it.  At any rate\n         I shall expect y"
	.ascii	"ou to-morrow. For the present, adieu.\n    \n               "
	.ascii	"                                  \"M.D.\"\n    \n    Her se"
	.ascii	"cond note, which had been written on the morning\n    after "
	.ascii	"the dance at the Middletons', was in these words:--\n    \n "
	.ascii	"        \"I cannot express my disappointment in having\n    "
	.ascii	"     missed you the day before yesterday, nor my astonishmen"
	.ascii	"t\n         at not having received any answer to a note whic"
	.ascii	"h\n         I sent you above a week ago.  I have been expect"
	.ascii	"ing\n         to hear from you"
	.ascii	", and still more to see you, every\n         hour of the day"
	.ascii	".  Pray call again as soon as possible,\n         and explai"
	.ascii	"n the reason of my having expected this\n         in vain.  "
	.ascii	"You had better come earlier another time,\n         because "
	.ascii	"we are generally out by one.  We were last\n         night a"
	.ascii	"t Lady Middleton's, where there was a dance.\n         I hav"
	.ascii	"e been told that you were asked to be of the\n         party"
	.ascii	".  But could it be so?  You must be very much\n         alte"
	.ascii	"red indeed since we parted, if that could be\n         the c"
	.ascii	"ase, and you not there.  But I will not suppose\n         th"
	.ascii	"is possible, and I hope very soon to receive your\n         "
	.ascii	"personal assurance of its being otherwise.\n    \n          "
	.ascii	"                                      \"M.D.\"\n    \n    Th"
	.ascii	"e contents of her last note to him were these:--\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"     \"What am I to imagine, Willoughby, by your\n         b"
	.ascii	"ehaviour last night?  Again I demand an explanation\n       "
	.ascii	"  of it.  I was prepared to meet you with the pleasure\n    "
	.ascii	"     which our separation naturally produced, with the\n    "
	.ascii	"     familiarity which our intimacy at Barton appeared\n    "
	.ascii	"     to me to justify.  I was repulsed indeed! I have\n     "
	.ascii	"    passed a wretched night in endeavouring to excuse\n     "
	.ascii	"    a conduct which can scarcely be called less than\n      "
	.ascii	"   insulting; but though I have not yet been able to\n      "
	.ascii	"   form any reasonable apology for your behaviour,\n        "
	.ascii	" I am perfectly ready to hear your justification of\n       "
	.ascii	"  it.  You have perhaps been misinformed, or purposely\n    "
	.ascii	"     deceived, in something concerning me, which may have\n "
	.ascii	"        lowered me in your opinion.  Tell me what it is,\n  "
	.ascii	"       explain the grounds on which you acted, and I shall\n"
	.ascii	"         be satisfied, in being able to satisfy you.  It\n  "
	.ascii	"       would grieve me indeed to be obliged to think ill\n  "
	.ascii	"       of you; but if I am to do it, if I am to learn that\n"
	.ascii	"         you are not what we have hitherto believed you, tha"
	.ascii	"t\n         your regard for us all was insincere, that your"
	.ascii	"\n         behaviour to me was intended only to deceive, let"
	.ascii	"\n         it be told as soon as possible.  My feelings are "
	.ascii	"at\n         present in a state of dreadful indecision; I wi"
	.ascii	"sh\n         to acquit you, but certainty on either side wil"
	.ascii	"l be\n         ease to what I now suffer.  If your sentiment"
	.ascii	"s are\n         no longer what they were, you will return my"
	.ascii	" notes,\n         and the lock of my hair which is in your p"
	.ascii	"ossession.\n    \n                                          "
	.ascii	"       \"M.D.\"\n    \n    That such letters, so full of aff"
	.ascii	"ection and confidence,\n    could have been so answered, Eli"
	.ascii	"nor, for Willoughby's sake,\n    would have been unwilling t"
	.ascii	"o believe.  But her condemnation\n    of him did not blind h"
	.ascii	"er to the impropriety of their\n    having been written at a"
	.ascii	"ll; and she was silently grieving\n    over the imprudence w"
	.ascii	"hich had hazarded such unsolicited\n    proofs of tenderness"
	.ascii	", not warranted by anything preceding,\n    and most severel"
	.ascii	"y condemned by the event, when Marianne,\n    perceiving tha"
	.ascii	"t she had finished the letters, observed to\n    her that th"
	.ascii	"ey contained nothing but what any one would\n    have writte"
	.ascii	"n in the same situation.\n    \n    \"I felt myself,\" she a"
	.ascii	"dded, \"to be as solemnly\n    engaged to him, as if the str"
	.ascii	"ictest legal covenant\n    had bound us to each other.\"\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    \"I can believe it,\" said Elinor; \"but unfortunate"
	.ascii	"ly\n    he did not feel the same.\"\n    \n    \"He DID feel"
	.ascii	" the same, Elinor--for weeks and weeks he\n    felt it.  I k"
	.ascii	"now he did.  Whatever may have changed him now, (and\n    no"
	.ascii	"thing but the blackest art employed against me can have done"
	.ascii	"\n    it), I was once as dear to him as my own soul could wi"
	.ascii	"sh.\n    This lock of hair, which now he can so readily give"
	.ascii	" up,\n    was begged of me with the most earnest supplicatio"
	.ascii	"n.\n    Had you seen his look, his manner, had you heard his"
	.ascii	" voice\n    at that moment!  Have you forgot the last evenin"
	.ascii	"g of our\n    being together at Barton?  The morning that we"
	.ascii	" parted\n    too!  When he told me that it might be many wee"
	.ascii	"ks before\n"
	.ascii	"    we met again--his distress--can I ever forget his distre"
	.ascii	"ss?\"\n    \n    For a moment or two she could say no more;\n"
	.ascii	"    but when this emotion had passed away, she added,\n    i"
	.ascii	"n a firmer tone,\n    \n    \"Elinor, I have been cruelly us"
	.ascii	"ed; but not by Willoughby.\"\n    \n    \"Dearest Marianne, "
	.ascii	"who but himself?  By whom can he\n    have been instigated?\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"By all the world, rather than by his own heart"
	.ascii	".\n    I could rather believe every creature of my acquainta"
	.ascii	"nce\n    leagued together to ruin me in his opinion, than be"
	.ascii	"lieve\n    his nature capable of such cruelty.  This woman o"
	.ascii	"f whom he\n    writes--whoever she be--or any one, in short,"
	.ascii	" but your own\n    dear self, mama, and Edward, may have bee"
	.ascii	"n so barbarous\n    to bely me.  Beyond you three, is there "
	.ascii	"a creature\n    in the world whom I would not rather suspect"
	.ascii	" of evil\n    than Willoughby, whose heart I know so well?\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    Elinor would not contend, and only replied,\n   "
	.ascii	" \"Whoever may have been so detestably your enemy, let them\n"
	.ascii	"    be cheated of their malignant triumph, my dear sister,\n"
	.ascii	"    by seeing how nobly the consciousness of your own\n    i"
	.ascii	"nnocence and good intentions supports your spirits.\n    It "
	.ascii	"is a reasonable and laudable pride which resists\n    such m"
	.ascii	"alevolence.\"\n    \n    \"No, no,\" cried Marianne, \"miser"
	.ascii	"y such as mine has\n    no pride.  I care not who knows that"
	.ascii	" I am wretched.\n    The triumph of seeing me so may be open"
	.ascii	" to all the world.\n    Elinor, Elinor, they who suffer litt"
	.ascii	"le may be proud and\n    independent as they like--may resis"
	.ascii	"t insult, or return\n    mortification--but I cannot.  I mus"
	.ascii	"t feel--I must be\n    wretched--and they are welcome to enj"
	.ascii	"oy the consciousness\n    of it that can.\"\n    \n    \"But"
	.ascii	" for my mother's sake and mine--\"\n    \n    \"I would do m"
	.ascii	"ore than for my own.  But to appear\n    happy when I am so "
	.ascii	"miserable--Oh! who can require it?\"\n    \n    Again they w"
	.ascii	"ere both silent.  Elinor was employed\n    in walking though"
	.ascii	"tfully from the fire to the window,\n    from the window to "
	.ascii	"the fire, without k"
	.ascii	"nowing that she\n    received warmth from one, or discerning"
	.ascii	" objects through\n    the other; and Marianne, seated at the"
	.ascii	" foot of the bed,\n    with her head leaning against one of "
	.ascii	"its posts,\n    again took up Willoughby's letter, and, afte"
	.ascii	"r shuddering\n    over every sentence, exclaimed--\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \"It is too much! Oh, Willoughby, Willoughby, could this\n"
	.ascii	"    be yours!  Cruel, cruel--nothing can acquit you.  Elinor"
	.ascii	",\n    nothing can.  Whatever he might have heard against me"
	.ascii	"--\n    ought he not to have suspended his belief? ought he "
	.ascii	"not to\n    have told me of it, to have given me the power o"
	.ascii	"f clearing\n    myself? 'The lock of hair, (repeating it fro"
	.ascii	"m the letter,)\n    which you so obligingly bestowed on me'-"
	.ascii	"-That is unpardonable.\n    Willoughby, where was your heart"
	.ascii	" when you wrote those words?\n    Oh, barbarously insolent!-"
	.ascii	"-Elinor, can he be justified?\"\n    \n    \"No, Marianne, i"
	.ascii	"n no possible way.\"\n    \n    \"And yet this woman--who kn"
	.ascii	"ows what her art may\n    have been?--how long it may have b"
	.ascii	"een premeditated,\n    and how deeply contrived by her!--Who"
	.ascii	" is she?--Who can\n    she be?--Whom did I ever hear him tal"
	.ascii	"k of as young and\n    attractive among his female acquainta"
	.ascii	"nce?--Oh! no one,\n    no one--he talked to me only of mysel"
	.ascii	"f.\"\n    \n    Another pause ensued; Marianne was greatly a"
	.ascii	"gitated,\n    and it ended thus.\n    \n    \"Elinor, I must"
	.ascii	" go home.  I must go and comfort mama.\n    Can not we be go"
	.ascii	"ne to-morrow?\"\n    \n    \"To-morrow, Marianne!\"\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   \"Yes, why should I stay here? I came only for\n    Willo"
	.ascii	"ughby's sake--and now who cares for me? Who regards me?\"\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    \"It would be impossible to go to-morrow. We owe\n "
	.ascii	"   Mrs. Jennings much more than civility; and civility of\n "
	.ascii	"   the commonest kind must prevent such a hasty removal as t"
	.ascii	"hat.\"\n    \n    \"Well then, another day or two, perhaps; "
	.ascii	"but I cannot\n    stay here long, I cannot stay to endure th"
	.ascii	"e questions\n    and remarks of all these people.  The Middl"
	.ascii	"etons and\n    Palmers--how am I to bear their pity?  The pi"
	.ascii	"ty of such\n    a wo"
	.ascii	"man as Lady Middleton!  Oh, what would HE say to that!\"\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    Elinor advised her to lie down again, and for a\n   "
	.ascii	" moment she did so; but no attitude could give her ease;\n  "
	.ascii	"  and in restless pain of mind and body she moved from one\n"
	.ascii	"    posture to another, till growing more and more hysterica"
	.ascii	"l,\n    her sister could with difficulty keep her on the bed"
	.ascii	" at all,\n    and for some time was fearful of being constra"
	.ascii	"ined to call\n    for assistance.  Some lavender drops, howe"
	.ascii	"ver, which she\n    was at length persuaded to take, were of"
	.ascii	" use; and from\n    that time till Mrs. Jennings returned, s"
	.ascii	"he continued\n    on the bed quiet and motionless.\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    \n    CHAPTER 30\n    \n    \n    Mrs. Jennings came"
	.ascii	" immediately to their room on her return,\n    and without w"
	.ascii	"aiting to have her request of admittance answered,\n    open"
	.ascii	"ed the door and walked in with a look of real concern.\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    \"How do you do my dear?\"--said she in a voice of gre"
	.ascii	"at\n    compassion to Marianne, who turned away her face wit"
	.ascii	"hout\n    attempting to answer.\n    \n    \"How is she, Mis"
	.ascii	"s Dashwood?--Poor thing! she looks very bad.--\n    No wonde"
	.ascii	"r.  Ay, it is but too true.  He is to be married\n    very s"
	.ascii	"oon--a good-for-nothing fellow!  I have no patience\n    wit"
	.ascii	"h him.  Mrs. Taylor told me of it half an hour ago,\n    and"
	.ascii	" she was told it by a particular friend of Miss\n    Grey he"
	.ascii	"rself, else I am sure I should not have believed it;\n    an"
	.ascii	"d I was almost ready to sink as it was.  Well, said I,\n    "
	.ascii	"all I can say is, that if this be true, he has used\n    a y"
	.ascii	"oung lady of my acquaintance abominably ill, and I\n    wish"
	.ascii	" with all my soul his wife may plague his heart out.\n    An"
	.ascii	"d so I shall always say, my dear, you may depend on it.\n   "
	.ascii	" I have no notion of men's going on in this way; and if ever"
	.ascii	"\n    I meet him again, I will give him such a dressing as h"
	.ascii	"e\n    has not had this many a day.  But there is one comfor"
	.ascii	"t,\n    my dear Miss Marianne; he is not the only young man\n"
	.ascii	"    in the world worth having; and with your pretty face\n  "
	.ascii	"  you"
	.ascii	" will never want admirers.  Well, poor thing!  I won't\n    "
	.ascii	"disturb her any longer, for she had better have her cry\n   "
	.ascii	" out at once and have done with.  The Parrys and Sandersons\n"
	.ascii	"    luckily are coming tonight you know, and that will amuse"
	.ascii	" her.\"\n    \n    She then went away, walking on tiptoe out"
	.ascii	" of the room,\n    as if she supposed her young friend's aff"
	.ascii	"liction could\n    be increased by noise.\n    \n    Mariann"
	.ascii	"e, to the surprise of her sister,\n    determined on dining "
	.ascii	"with them.  Elinor even advised\n    her against it.  But \""
	.ascii	"no, she would go down; she could\n    bear it very well, and"
	.ascii	" the bustle about her would\n    be less.\"  Elinor, pleased"
	.ascii	" to have her governed for a\n    moment by such a motive, th"
	.ascii	"ough believing it hardly\n    possible that she could sit ou"
	.ascii	"t the dinner, said no more;\n    and adjusting her dress for"
	.ascii	" her as well as she could,\n    while Marianne still remaine"
	.ascii	"d on the bed, was ready\n    to assist her into the dining r"
	.ascii	"oom as soon as they were\n    summoned to it.\n    \n    Whe"
	.ascii	"n there, though looking most wretchedly,\n    she ate more a"
	.ascii	"nd was calmer than her sister had expected.\n    Had she tri"
	.ascii	"ed to speak, or had she been conscious of half\n    Mrs. Jen"
	.ascii	"nings's well-meant but ill-judged attentions\n    to her, th"
	.ascii	"is calmness could not have been maintained;\n    but not a s"
	.ascii	"yllable escaped her lips; and the abstraction\n    of her th"
	.ascii	"oughts preserved her in ignorance of every thing\n    that w"
	.ascii	"as passing before her.\n    \n    Elinor, who did justice to"
	.ascii	" Mrs. Jennings's kindness,\n    though its effusions were of"
	.ascii	"ten distressing, and sometimes\n    almost ridiculous, made "
	.ascii	"her those acknowledgments,\n    and returned her those civil"
	.ascii	"ities, which her sister could\n    not make or return for he"
	.ascii	"rself.  Their good friend saw\n    that Marianne was unhappy"
	.ascii	", and felt that every thing\n    was due to her which might "
	.ascii	"make her at all less so.\n    She treated her therefore, wit"
	.ascii	"h all the indulgent fondness\n    of a parent towards a favo"
	.ascii	"urite child on the last day of\n    its holidays.  Marianne "
	.ascii	"w"
	.ascii	"as to have the best place by the fire,\n    was to be tempte"
	.ascii	"d to eat by every delicacy in the house,\n    and to be amus"
	.ascii	"ed by the relation of all the news of the day.\n    Had not "
	.ascii	"Elinor, in the sad countenance of her sister,\n    seen a ch"
	.ascii	"eck to all mirth, she could have been entertained\n    by Mr"
	.ascii	"s. Jennings's endeavours to cure a disappointment in love,\n"
	.ascii	"    by a variety of sweetmeats and olives, and a good fire.\n"
	.ascii	"    As soon, however, as the consciousness of all this was\n"
	.ascii	"    forced by continual repetition on Marianne, she could\n "
	.ascii	"   stay no longer.  With a hasty exclamation of Misery,\n   "
	.ascii	" and a sign to her sister not to follow her, she directly go"
	.ascii	"t\n    up and hurried out of the room.\n    \n    \"Poor sou"
	.ascii	"l!\" cried Mrs. Jennings, as soon as she was gone,\n    \"ho"
	.ascii	"w it grieves me to see her!  And I declare if she is\n    no"
	.ascii	"t gone away without finishing her wine!  And the dried\n    "
	.ascii	"cherries too!  Lord! nothing seems to do her any good.\n    "
	.ascii	"I am sure if I knew of any thing she would like, I would\n  "
	.ascii	"  send all over the town for it.  Well, it is the oddest\n  "
	.ascii	"  thing to me, that a man should use such a pretty girl\n   "
	.ascii	" so ill!  But when there is plenty of money on one side,\n  "
	.ascii	"  and next to none on the other, Lord bless you! they care\n"
	.ascii	"    no more about such things!--\"\n    \n    \"The lady the"
	.ascii	"n--Miss Grey I think you called her--\n    is very rich?\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"Fifty thousand pounds, my dear.  Did you ever se"
	.ascii	"e\n    her? a smart, stylish girl they say, but not handsome"
	.ascii	".\n    I remember her aunt very well, Biddy Henshawe; she ma"
	.ascii	"rried\n    a very wealthy man.  But the family are all rich "
	.ascii	"together.\n    Fifty thousand pounds! and by all accounts, i"
	.ascii	"t won't come\n    before it's wanted; for they say he is all"
	.ascii	" to pieces.\n    No wonder! dashing about with his curricle "
	.ascii	"and hunters!\n    Well, it don't signify talking; but when a"
	.ascii	" young man,\n    be who he will, comes and makes love to a p"
	.ascii	"retty girl,\n    and promises marriage, he has no business t"
	.ascii	"o fly off\n    from his word only because he grows poor, and"
	.ascii	" a "
	.ascii	"richer\n    girl is ready to have him.  Why don't he, in suc"
	.ascii	"h a case,\n    sell his horses, let his house, turn off his "
	.ascii	"servants,\n    and make a thorough reform at once? I warrant"
	.ascii	" you,\n    Miss Marianne would have been ready to wait till "
	.ascii	"matters\n    came round.  But that won't do now-a-days; noth"
	.ascii	"ing in the\n    way of pleasure can ever be given up by the "
	.ascii	"young men of\n    this age.\"\n    \n    \"Do you know what "
	.ascii	"kind of a girl Miss Grey is?\n    Is she said to be amiable?"
	.ascii	"\"\n    \n    \"I never heard any harm of her; indeed I hard"
	.ascii	"ly ever\n    heard her mentioned; except that Mrs. Taylor di"
	.ascii	"d say\n    this morning, that one day Miss Walker hinted to "
	.ascii	"her,\n    that she believed Mr. and Mrs. Ellison would not b"
	.ascii	"e sorry\n    to have Miss Grey married, for she and Mrs. Ell"
	.ascii	"ison could\n    never agree.\"--\n    \n    \"And who are th"
	.ascii	"e Ellisons?\"\n    \n    \"Her guardians, my dear.  But now "
	.ascii	"she is of age\n    and may choose for herself; and a pretty "
	.ascii	"choice she has\n    made!--What now,\" after pausing a momen"
	.ascii	"t--\"your poor sister\n    is gone to her own room, I suppos"
	.ascii	"e, to moan by herself.\n    Is there nothing one can get to "
	.ascii	"comfort her?  Poor dear,\n    it seems quite cruel to let he"
	.ascii	"r be alone.  Well, by-and-by we\n    shall have a few friend"
	.ascii	"s, and that will amuse her a little.\n    What shall we play"
	.ascii	" at?  She hates whist I know; but is there\n    no round gam"
	.ascii	"e she cares for?\"\n    \n    \"Dear ma'am, this kindness is"
	.ascii	" quite unnecessary.\n    Marianne, I dare say, will not leav"
	.ascii	"e her room again\n    this evening.  I shall persuade her if"
	.ascii	" I can to go\n    early to bed, for I am sure she wants rest"
	.ascii	".\"\n    \n    \"Aye, I believe that will be best for her.  "
	.ascii	"Let her name\n    her own supper, and go to bed.  Lord! no w"
	.ascii	"onder she has\n    been looking so bad and so cast down this"
	.ascii	" last week or two,\n    for this matter I suppose has been h"
	.ascii	"anging over her head as\n    long as that.  And so the lette"
	.ascii	"r that came today finished it!\n    Poor soul!  I am sure if"
	.ascii	" I had had a notion of it,\n    I would not have joked her a"
	.ascii	"bout it for all "
	.ascii	"my money.\n    But then you know, how should I guess such a "
	.ascii	"thing?  I made\n    sure of its being nothing but a common l"
	.ascii	"ove letter, and\n    you know young people like to be laughe"
	.ascii	"d at about them.  Lord!\n    how concerned Sir John and my d"
	.ascii	"aughters will be when they\n    hear it!  If I had my senses"
	.ascii	" about me I might have called\n    in Conduit Street in my w"
	.ascii	"ay home, and told them of it.\n    But I shall see them tomo"
	.ascii	"rrow.\"\n    \n    \"It would be unnecessary I am sure, for "
	.ascii	"you to caution\n    Mrs. Palmer and Sir John against ever na"
	.ascii	"ming Mr. Willoughby,\n    or making the slightest allusion t"
	.ascii	"o what has passed,\n    before my sister.  Their own good-na"
	.ascii	"ture must point out\n    to them the real cruelty of appeari"
	.ascii	"ng to know any thing\n    about it when she is present; and "
	.ascii	"the less that may ever\n    be said to myself on the subject"
	.ascii	", the more my feelings\n    will be spared, as you my dear m"
	.ascii	"adam will easily believe.\"\n    \n    \"Oh! Lord! yes, that"
	.ascii	" I do indeed.  It must be terrible\n    for you to hear it t"
	.ascii	"alked of; and as for your sister,\n    I am sure I would not"
	.ascii	" mention a word about it to her\n    for the world.  You saw"
	.ascii	" I did not all dinner time.\n    No more would Sir John, nor"
	.ascii	" my daughters, for they are\n    all very thoughtful and con"
	.ascii	"siderate; especially if I\n    give them a hint, as I certai"
	.ascii	"nly will.  For my part,\n    I think the less that is said a"
	.ascii	"bout such things, the better,\n    the sooner 'tis blown ove"
	.ascii	"r and forgot.  And what does\n    talking ever do you know?\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"In this affair it can only do harm; more so\n "
	.ascii	"   perhaps than in many cases of a similar kind, for it\n   "
	.ascii	" has been attended by circumstances which, for the sake\n   "
	.ascii	" of every one concerned in it, make it unfit to become\n    "
	.ascii	"the public conversation.  I must do THIS justice to\n    Mr."
	.ascii	" Willoughby--he has broken no positive engagement\n    with "
	.ascii	"my sister.\"\n    \n    \"Law, my dear!  Don't pretend to de"
	.ascii	"fend him.\n    No positive engagement indeed! after taking h"
	.ascii	"er all\n    over Allenham House, and fixing on the very room"
	.ascii	"s they"
	.ascii	"\n    were to live in hereafter!\"\n    \n    Elinor, for he"
	.ascii	"r sister's sake, could not press the\n    subject farther, a"
	.ascii	"nd she hoped it was not required of her\n    for Willoughby'"
	.ascii	"s; since, though Marianne might lose much,\n    he could gai"
	.ascii	"n very little by the enforcement of the real truth.\n    Aft"
	.ascii	"er a short silence on both sides, Mrs. Jennings,\n    with a"
	.ascii	"ll her natural hilarity, burst forth again.\n    \n    \"Wel"
	.ascii	"l, my dear, 'tis a true saying about an ill-wind,\n    for i"
	.ascii	"t will be all the better for Colonel Brandon.\n    He will h"
	.ascii	"ave her at last; aye, that he will.  Mind me,\n    now, if t"
	.ascii	"hey an't married by Mid-summer.  Lord! how he'll\n    chuckl"
	.ascii	"e over this news!  I hope he will come tonight.\n    It will"
	.ascii	" be all to one a better match for your sister.\n    Two thou"
	.ascii	"sand a year without debt or drawback--except\n    the little"
	.ascii	" love-child, indeed; aye, I had forgot her;\n    but she may"
	.ascii	" be 'prenticed out at a small cost, and then\n    what does "
	.ascii	"it signify?  Delaford is a nice place, I can\n    tell you; "
	.ascii	"exactly what I call a nice old fashioned place,\n    full of"
	.ascii	" comforts and conveniences; quite shut in with great\n    ga"
	.ascii	"rden walls that are covered with the best fruit-trees\n    i"
	.ascii	"n the country; and such a mulberry tree in one corner!\n    "
	.ascii	"Lord! how Charlotte and I did stuff the only time we\n    we"
	.ascii	"re there!  Then, there is a dove-cote, some delightful\n    "
	.ascii	"stew-ponds, and a very pretty canal; and every thing,\n    i"
	.ascii	"n short, that one could wish for; and, moreover, it is\n    "
	.ascii	"close to the church, and only a quarter of a mile from\n    "
	.ascii	"the turnpike-road, so 'tis never dull, for if you only\n    "
	.ascii	"go and sit up in an old yew arbour behind the house,\n    yo"
	.ascii	"u may see all the carriages that pass along.\n    Oh! 'tis a"
	.ascii	" nice place!  A butcher hard by in the village,\n    and the"
	.ascii	" parsonage-house within a stone's throw.\n    To my fancy, a"
	.ascii	" thousand times prettier than Barton Park,\n    where they a"
	.ascii	"re forced to send three miles for their meat,\n    and have "
	.ascii	"not a neighbour nearer than your mother.\n    Well, I shall"
	.ascii	" spirit up the Colonel as soon as I can.\n    One shoulder o"
	.ascii	"f mutton, you know, drives another down.\n    If we CAN but "
	.ascii	"put Willoughby out of her head!\"\n    \n    \"Ay, if we can"
	.ascii	" do THAT, Ma'am,\" said Elinor,\n    \"we shall do very well"
	.ascii	" with or without Colonel Brandon.\"\n    And then rising, sh"
	.ascii	"e went away to join Marianne,\n    whom she found, as she ex"
	.ascii	"pected, in her own room, leaning,\n    in silent misery, ove"
	.ascii	"r the small remains of a fire,\n    which, till Elinor's ent"
	.ascii	"rance, had been her only light.\n    \n    \"You had better "
	.ascii	"leave me,\" was all the notice\n    that her sister received"
	.ascii	" from her.\n    \n    \"I will leave you,\" said Elinor, \"i"
	.ascii	"f you will go\n    to bed.\" But this, from the momentary pe"
	.ascii	"rverseness\n    of impatient suffering, she at first refused"
	.ascii	" to do.\n    Her sister's earnest, though gentle persuasion,"
	.ascii	" however,\n    soon softened her to compliance, and Elinor s"
	.ascii	"aw her\n    lay her aching head on the pillow, and as she ho"
	.ascii	"ped,\n    in a way to get some quiet rest before she left he"
	.ascii	"r.\n    \n    In the drawing-room, whither she then repaired"
	.ascii	",\n    she was soon joined by Mrs. Jennings, with a wine-gla"
	.ascii	"ss,\n    full of something, in her hand.\n    \n    \"My dea"
	.ascii	"r,\" said she, entering, \"I have just recollected\n    that"
	.ascii	" I have some of the finest old Constantia wine in the\n    h"
	.ascii	"ouse that ever was tasted, so I have brought a glass of it\n"
	.ascii	"    for your sister.  My poor husband! how fond he was of it"
	.ascii	"!\n    Whenever he had a touch of his old colicky gout, he s"
	.ascii	"aid\n    it did him more good than any thing else in the wor"
	.ascii	"ld.\n    Do take it to your sister.\"\n    \n    \"Dear Ma'a"
	.ascii	"m,\" replied Elinor, smiling at the difference\n    of the c"
	.ascii	"omplaints for which it was recommended, \"how good\n    you "
	.ascii	"are!  But I have just left Marianne in bed, and, I hope,\n  "
	.ascii	"  almost asleep; and as I think nothing will be of so much\n"
	.ascii	"    service to her as rest, if you will give me leave,\n    "
	.ascii	"I will drink the wine myself.\"\n    \n    Mrs. Jennings, th"
	.ascii	"ough regretting that she had not been\n    five minutes earl"
	.ascii	"ier, was satisfied wi"
	.ascii	"th the compromise;\n    and Elinor, as she swallowed the chi"
	.ascii	"ef of it, reflected,\n    that though its effects on a colic"
	.ascii	"ky gout were, at present,\n    of little importance to her, "
	.ascii	"its healing powers,\n    on a disappointed heart might be as"
	.ascii	" reasonably tried\n    on herself as on her sister.\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   Colonel Brandon came in while the party were at tea,\n   "
	.ascii	" and by his manner of looking round the room for Marianne,\n"
	.ascii	"    Elinor immediately fancied that he neither expected\n   "
	.ascii	" nor wished to see her there, and, in short, that he\n    wa"
	.ascii	"s already aware of what occasioned her absence.\n    Mrs. Je"
	.ascii	"nnings was not struck by the same thought;\n    for soon aft"
	.ascii	"er his entrance, she walked across the room\n    to the tea-"
	.ascii	"table where Elinor presided, and whispered--\n    \"The Colo"
	.ascii	"nel looks as grave as ever you see.  He knows\n    nothing o"
	.ascii	"f it; do tell him, my dear.\"\n    \n    He shortly afterwar"
	.ascii	"ds drew a chair close to her's,\n    and, with a look which "
	.ascii	"perfectly assured her of his\n    good information, inquired"
	.ascii	" after her sister.\n    \n    \"Marianne is not well,\" said"
	.ascii	" she.  \"She has been\n    indisposed all day, and we have p"
	.ascii	"ersuaded her to go to bed.\"\n    \n    \"Perhaps, then,\" h"
	.ascii	"e hesitatingly replied, \"what I\n    heard this morning may"
	.ascii	" be--there may be more truth in it\n    than I could believe"
	.ascii	" possible at first.\"\n    \n    \"What did you hear?\"\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    \"That a gentleman, whom I had reason to think--in sh"
	.ascii	"ort,\n    that a man, whom I KNEW to be engaged--but how sha"
	.ascii	"ll I\n    tell you?  If you know it already, as surely you m"
	.ascii	"ust,\n    I may be spared.\"\n    \n    \"You mean,\" answer"
	.ascii	"ed Elinor, with forced calmness,\n    \"Mr. Willoughby's mar"
	.ascii	"riage with Miss Grey.  Yes, we DO\n    know it all.  This se"
	.ascii	"ems to have been a day of general\n    elucidation, for this"
	.ascii	" very morning first unfolded it to us.\n    Mr. Willoughby i"
	.ascii	"s unfathomable!  Where did you hear it?\"\n    \n    \"In a "
	.ascii	"stationer's shop in Pall Mall, where I\n    had business.  T"
	.ascii	"wo ladies were waiting for their carriage,\n    and one of t"
	.ascii	"hem was giving the othe"
	.ascii	"r an account of the\n    intended match, in a voice so littl"
	.ascii	"e attempting concealment,\n    that it was impossible for me"
	.ascii	" not to hear all.  The name\n    of Willoughby, John Willoug"
	.ascii	"hby, frequently repeated,\n    first caught my attention; an"
	.ascii	"d what followed was a positive\n    assertion that every thi"
	.ascii	"ng was now finally settled\n    respecting his marriage with"
	.ascii	" Miss Grey--it was no longer\n    to be a secret--it would t"
	.ascii	"ake place even within a few weeks,\n    with many particular"
	.ascii	"s of preparations and other matters.\n    One thing, especia"
	.ascii	"lly, I remember, because it served\n    to identify the man "
	.ascii	"still more:--as soon as the ceremony\n    was over, they wer"
	.ascii	"e to go to Combe Magna, his seat\n    in Somersetshire.  My "
	.ascii	"astonishment!--but it would be\n    impossible to describe w"
	.ascii	"hat I felt.  The communicative\n    lady I learnt, on inquir"
	.ascii	"y, for I stayed in the shop\n    till they were gone, was a "
	.ascii	"Mrs. Ellison, and that, as I\n    have been since informed, "
	.ascii	"is the name of Miss Grey's guardian.\"\n    \n    \"It is.  "
	.ascii	"But have you likewise heard that Miss Grey\n    has fifty th"
	.ascii	"ousand pounds?  In that, if in any thing,\n    we may find a"
	.ascii	"n explanation.\"\n    \n    \"It may be so; but Willoughby i"
	.ascii	"s capable--at least\n    I think\"--he stopped a moment; the"
	.ascii	"n added in a voice\n    which seemed to distrust itself, \"A"
	.ascii	"nd your sister--\n    how did she--\"\n    \n    \"Her suffe"
	.ascii	"rings have been very severe.  I have\n    only to hope that "
	.ascii	"they may be proportionately short.\n    It has been, it is a"
	.ascii	" most cruel affliction.  Till yesterday,\n    I believe, she"
	.ascii	" never doubted his regard; and even now,\n    perhaps--but I"
	.ascii	" am almost convinced that he never was\n    really attached "
	.ascii	"to her.  He has been very deceitful! and,\n    in some point"
	.ascii	"s, there seems a hardness of heart about him.\"\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"Ah!\" said Colonel Brandon, \"there is, indeed!  But\n    yo"
	.ascii	"ur sister does not--I think you said so--she does\n    not c"
	.ascii	"onsider quite as you do?\"\n    \n    \"You know her disposi"
	.ascii	"tion, and may believe how eagerly\n    she would still justi"
	.ascii	"fy him if she"
	.ascii	" could.\"\n    \n    He made no answer; and soon afterwards,"
	.ascii	" by the removal\n    of the tea-things, and the arrangement "
	.ascii	"of the card parties,\n    the subject was necessarily droppe"
	.ascii	"d.  Mrs. Jennings, who had\n    watched them with pleasure w"
	.ascii	"hile they were talking, and who\n    expected to see the eff"
	.ascii	"ect of Miss Dashwood's communication,\n    in such an instan"
	.ascii	"taneous gaiety on Colonel Brandon's side,\n    as might have"
	.ascii	" become a man in the bloom of youth, of hope\n    and happin"
	.ascii	"ess, saw him, with amazement, remain the whole\n    evening "
	.ascii	"more serious and thoughtful than usual.\n    \n    \n    \n "
	.ascii	"   CHAPTER 31\n    \n    \n    From a night of more sleep th"
	.ascii	"an she had expected,\n    Marianne awoke the next morning to"
	.ascii	" the same consciousness\n    of misery in which she had clos"
	.ascii	"ed her eyes.\n    \n    Elinor encouraged her as much as pos"
	.ascii	"sible to talk\n    of what she felt; and before breakfast wa"
	.ascii	"s ready, they had\n    gone through the subject again and ag"
	.ascii	"ain; and with the same\n    steady conviction and affectiona"
	.ascii	"te counsel on Elinor's side,\n    the same impetuous feeling"
	.ascii	"s and varying opinions on\n    Marianne's, as before.  Somet"
	.ascii	"imes she could believe\n    Willoughby to be as unfortunate "
	.ascii	"and as innocent as herself,\n    and at others, lost every c"
	.ascii	"onsolation in the impossibility\n    of acquitting him.  At "
	.ascii	"one moment she was absolutely\n    indifferent to the observ"
	.ascii	"ation of all the world, at another\n    she would seclude he"
	.ascii	"rself from it for ever, and at a third\n    could resist it "
	.ascii	"with energy.  In one thing, however,\n    she was uniform, w"
	.ascii	"hen it came to the point, in avoiding,\n    where it was pos"
	.ascii	"sible, the presence of Mrs. Jennings,\n    and in a determin"
	.ascii	"ed silence when obliged to endure it.\n    Her heart was har"
	.ascii	"dened against the belief of Mrs. Jennings's\n    entering in"
	.ascii	"to her sorrows with any compassion.\n    \n    \"No, no, no,"
	.ascii	" it cannot be,\" she cried;\n    \"she cannot feel.  Her kin"
	.ascii	"dness is not sympathy;\n    her good-nature is not tendernes"
	.ascii	"s.  All that she wants\n    is gossip, and she only likes me"
	.ascii	" now b"
	.ascii	"ecause I supply it.\"\n    \n    Elinor had not needed this "
	.ascii	"to be assured of the injustice\n    to which her sister was "
	.ascii	"often led in her opinion of others,\n    by the irritable re"
	.ascii	"finement of her own mind, and the too\n    great importance "
	.ascii	"placed by her on the delicacies of a\n    strong sensibility"
	.ascii	", and the graces of a polished manner.\n    Like half the re"
	.ascii	"st of the world, if more than half there\n    be that are cl"
	.ascii	"ever and good, Marianne, with excellent\n    abilities and a"
	.ascii	"n excellent disposition, was neither\n    reasonable nor can"
	.ascii	"did.  She expected from other people\n    the same opinions "
	.ascii	"and feelings as her own, and she judged\n    of their motive"
	.ascii	"s by the immediate effect of their actions\n    on herself. "
	.ascii	" Thus a circumstance occurred, while the\n    sisters were t"
	.ascii	"ogether in their own room after breakfast,\n    which sunk t"
	.ascii	"he heart of Mrs. Jennings still lower\n    in her estimation"
	.ascii	"; because, through her own weakness,\n    it chanced to prov"
	.ascii	"e a source of fresh pain to herself,\n    though Mrs. Jennin"
	.ascii	"gs was governed in it by an impulse\n    of the utmost goodw"
	.ascii	"ill.\n    \n    With a letter in her outstretched hand, and "
	.ascii	"countenance\n    gaily smiling, from the persuasion of bring"
	.ascii	"ing comfort,\n    she entered their room, saying,\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" \"Now, my dear, I bring you something that I am sure\n    w"
	.ascii	"ill do you good.\"\n    \n    Marianne heard enough.  In one"
	.ascii	" moment her imagination\n    placed before her a letter from"
	.ascii	" Willoughby, full of tenderness\n    and contrition, explana"
	.ascii	"tory of all that had passed, satisfactory,\n    convincing; "
	.ascii	"and instantly followed by Willoughby himself,\n    rushing e"
	.ascii	"agerly into the room to inforce, at her feet,\n    by the el"
	.ascii	"oquence of his eyes, the assurances of his letter.\n    The "
	.ascii	"work of one moment was destroyed by the next.\n    The hand "
	.ascii	"writing of her mother, never till then unwelcome,\n    was b"
	.ascii	"efore her; and, in the acuteness of the disappointment\n    "
	.ascii	"which followed such an ecstasy of more than hope,\n    she f"
	.ascii	"elt as if, till that instant, she had never suffered.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"  "
	.ascii	"  The cruelty of Mrs. Jennings no language, within\n    her "
	.ascii	"reach in her moments of happiest eloquence,\n    could have "
	.ascii	"expressed; and now she could reproach her\n    only by the t"
	.ascii	"ears which streamed from her eyes with\n    passionate viole"
	.ascii	"nce--a reproach, however, so entirely\n    lost on its objec"
	.ascii	"t, that after many expressions of pity,\n    she withdrew, s"
	.ascii	"till referring her to the letter of comfort.\n    But the le"
	.ascii	"tter, when she was calm enough to read it,\n    brought litt"
	.ascii	"le comfort.  Willoughby filled every page.\n    Her mother, "
	.ascii	"still confident of their engagement, and relying\n    as war"
	.ascii	"mly as ever on his constancy, had only been roused\n    by E"
	.ascii	"linor's application, to intreat from Marianne greater\n    o"
	.ascii	"penness towards them both; and this, with such tenderness\n "
	.ascii	"   towards her, such affection for Willoughby, and such\n   "
	.ascii	" a conviction of their future happiness in each other,\n    "
	.ascii	"that she wept with agony through the whole of it.\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" All her impatience to be at home again now returned;\n    h"
	.ascii	"er mother was dearer to her than ever; dearer through\n    t"
	.ascii	"he very excess of her mistaken confidence in Willoughby,\n  "
	.ascii	"  and she was wildly urgent to be gone.  Elinor, unable hers"
	.ascii	"elf\n    to determine whether it were better for Marianne to"
	.ascii	" be\n    in London or at Barton, offered no counsel of her o"
	.ascii	"wn\n    except of patience till their mother's wishes could "
	.ascii	"be known;\n    and at length she obtained her sister's conse"
	.ascii	"nt to wait\n    for that knowledge.\n    \n    Mrs. Jennings"
	.ascii	" left them earlier than usual; for she\n    could not be eas"
	.ascii	"y till the Middletons and Palmers were able\n    to grieve a"
	.ascii	"s much as herself; and positively refusing\n    Elinor's off"
	.ascii	"ered attendance, went out alone for the rest\n    of the mor"
	.ascii	"ning.  Elinor, with a very heavy heart, aware of\n    the pa"
	.ascii	"in she was going to communicate, and perceiving,\n    by Mar"
	.ascii	"ianne's letter, how ill she had succeeded in laying\n    any"
	.ascii	" foundation for it, then sat down to write her mother\n    a"
	.ascii	"n account of what had passed, and entreat her direction"
	.ascii	"s\n    for the future; while Marianne, who came into the dra"
	.ascii	"wing-room\n    on Mrs. Jennings's going away, remained fixed"
	.ascii	" at the table\n    where Elinor wrote, watching the advancem"
	.ascii	"ent of her pen,\n    grieving over her for the hardship of s"
	.ascii	"uch a task,\n    and grieving still more fondly over its eff"
	.ascii	"ect on her mother.\n    \n    In this manner they had contin"
	.ascii	"ued about a quarter\n    of an hour, when Marianne, whose ne"
	.ascii	"rves could not then\n    bear any sudden noise, was startled"
	.ascii	" by a rap at the door.\n    \n    \"Who can this be?\" cried"
	.ascii	" Elinor.  \"So early too! I\n    thought we HAD been safe.\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    Marianne moved to the window--\n    \n    \"It i"
	.ascii	"s Colonel Brandon!\" said she, with vexation.\n    \"We are "
	.ascii	"never safe from HIM.\"\n    \n    \"He will not come in, as "
	.ascii	"Mrs. Jennings is from home.\"\n    \n    \"I will not trust "
	.ascii	"to THAT,\" retreating to her own room.\n    \"A man who has "
	.ascii	"nothing to do with his own time has no\n    conscience in hi"
	.ascii	"s intrusion on that of others.\"\n    \n    The event proved"
	.ascii	" her conjecture right, though it\n    was founded on injusti"
	.ascii	"ce and error; for Colonel Brandon\n    DID come in; and Elin"
	.ascii	"or, who was convinced that\n    solicitude for Marianne brou"
	.ascii	"ght him thither, and who saw\n    THAT solicitude in his dis"
	.ascii	"turbed and melancholy look,\n    and in his anxious though b"
	.ascii	"rief inquiry after her,\n    could not forgive her sister fo"
	.ascii	"r esteeming him so lightly.\n    \n    \"I met Mrs. Jennings"
	.ascii	" in Bond Street,\" said he,\n    after the first salutation,"
	.ascii	" \"and she encouraged me\n    to come on; and I was the more"
	.ascii	" easily encouraged,\n    because I thought it probable that "
	.ascii	"I might find you alone,\n    which I was very desirous of do"
	.ascii	"ing.  My object--my\n    wish--my sole wish in desiring it--"
	.ascii	"I hope, I believe\n    it is--is to be a means of giving com"
	.ascii	"fort;--no, I must\n    not say comfort--not present comfort-"
	.ascii	"-but conviction,\n    lasting conviction to your sister's mi"
	.ascii	"nd.  My regard for her,\n    for yourself, for your mother--"
	.ascii	"will you allow me to prove it,\n    by relating some circums"
	.ascii	"tances which nothing"
	.ascii	" but a VERY\n    sincere regard--nothing but an earnest desi"
	.ascii	"re of being\n    useful--I think I am justified--though wher"
	.ascii	"e so many hours\n    have been spent in convincing myself th"
	.ascii	"at I am right,\n    is there not some reason to fear I may b"
	.ascii	"e wrong?\"\n    He stopped.\n    \n    \"I understand you,\""
	.ascii	" said Elinor.  \"You have something\n    to tell me of Mr. W"
	.ascii	"illoughby, that will open his character\n    farther.  Your "
	.ascii	"telling it will be the greatest act of friendship\n    that "
	.ascii	"can be shewn Marianne.  MY gratitude will be insured\n    im"
	.ascii	"mediately by any information tending to that end, and HERS\n"
	.ascii	"    must be gained by it in time.  Pray, pray let me hear it"
	.ascii	".\"\n    \n    \"You shall; and, to be brief, when I quitted"
	.ascii	" Barton\n    last October,--but this will give you no idea--"
	.ascii	"I must go\n    farther back.  You will find me a very awkwar"
	.ascii	"d narrator,\n    Miss Dashwood; I hardly know where to begin"
	.ascii	".  A short\n    account of myself, I believe, will be necess"
	.ascii	"ary, and it\n    SHALL be a short one.  On such a subject,\""
	.ascii	" sighing heavily,\n    \"can I have little temptation to be "
	.ascii	"diffuse.\"\n    \n    He stopt a moment for recollection, an"
	.ascii	"d then,\n    with another sigh, went on.\n    \n    \"You ha"
	.ascii	"ve probably entirely forgotten a conversation--\n    (it is "
	.ascii	"not to be supposed that it could make any impression\n    on"
	.ascii	" you)--a conversation between us one evening at Barton\n    "
	.ascii	"Park--it was the evening of a dance--in which I alluded\n   "
	.ascii	" to a lady I had once known, as resembling, in some measure,"
	.ascii	"\n    your sister Marianne.\"\n    \n    \"Indeed,\" answere"
	.ascii	"d Elinor, \"I have NOT forgotten it.\"\n    He looked please"
	.ascii	"d by this remembrance, and added,\n    \n    \"If I am not d"
	.ascii	"eceived by the uncertainty, the partiality\n    of tender re"
	.ascii	"collection, there is a very strong resemblance\n    between "
	.ascii	"them, as well in mind as person.  The same warmth\n    of he"
	.ascii	"art, the same eagerness of fancy and spirits.\n    This lady"
	.ascii	" was one of my nearest relations, an orphan from\n    her in"
	.ascii	"fancy, and under the guardianship of my father.\n    Our age"
	.ascii	"s were nearly the"
	.ascii	" same, and from our earliest years\n    we were playfellows "
	.ascii	"and friends.  I cannot remember the\n    time when I did not"
	.ascii	" love Eliza; and my affection for her,\n    as we grew up, w"
	.ascii	"as such, as perhaps, judging from my\n    present forlorn an"
	.ascii	"d cheerless gravity, you might think me\n    incapable of ha"
	.ascii	"ving ever felt.  Her's, for me, was, I believe,\n    fervent"
	.ascii	" as the attachment of your sister to Mr. Willoughby\n    and"
	.ascii	" it was, though from a different cause, no less unfortunate."
	.ascii	"\n    At seventeen she was lost to me for ever.  She was\n  "
	.ascii	"  married--married against her inclination to my brother.\n "
	.ascii	"   Her fortune was large, and our family estate much encumbe"
	.ascii	"red.\n    And this, I fear, is all that can be said for the\n"
	.ascii	"    conduct of one, who was at once her uncle and guardian.\n"
	.ascii	"    My brother did not deserve her; he did not even love her"
	.ascii	".\n    I had hoped that her regard for me would support her\n"
	.ascii	"    under any difficulty, and for some time it did; but at\n"
	.ascii	"    last the misery of her situation, for she experienced\n "
	.ascii	"   great unkindness, overcame all her resolution, and though"
	.ascii	"\n    she had promised me that nothing--but how blindly I\n "
	.ascii	"   relate!  I have never told you how this was brought on.\n"
	.ascii	"    We were within a few hours of eloping together for Scotl"
	.ascii	"and.\n    The treachery, or the folly, of my cousin's maid b"
	.ascii	"etrayed us.\n    I was banished to the house of a relation f"
	.ascii	"ar distant,\n    and she was allowed no liberty, no society,"
	.ascii	" no amusement,\n    till my father's point was gained.  I ha"
	.ascii	"d depended on her\n    fortitude too far, and the blow was a"
	.ascii	" severe one--\n    but had her marriage been happy, so young"
	.ascii	" as I then was,\n    a few months must have reconciled me to"
	.ascii	" it, or at least\n    I should not have now to lament it.  T"
	.ascii	"his however\n    was not the case.  My brother had no regard"
	.ascii	" for her;\n    his pleasures were not what they ought to hav"
	.ascii	"e been,\n    and from the first he treated her unkindly.  Th"
	.ascii	"e consequence\n    of this, upon a mind so young, so lively,"
	.ascii	" so inexperienced\n    as Mrs. Brandon's, was but "
	.ascii	"too natural.  She resigned\n    herself at first to all the "
	.ascii	"misery of her situation;\n    and happy had it been if she h"
	.ascii	"ad not lived to overcome those\n    regrets which the rememb"
	.ascii	"rance of me occasioned.  But can we\n    wonder that, with s"
	.ascii	"uch a husband to provoke inconstancy,\n    and without a fri"
	.ascii	"end to advise or restrain her (for\n    my father lived only"
	.ascii	" a few months after their marriage,\n    and I was with my r"
	.ascii	"egiment in the East Indies) she\n    should fall?  Had I rem"
	.ascii	"ained in England, perhaps--but I\n    meant to promote the h"
	.ascii	"appiness of both by removing\n    from her for years, and fo"
	.ascii	"r that purpose had procured\n    my exchange.  The shock whi"
	.ascii	"ch her marriage had given me,\"\n    he continued, in a voic"
	.ascii	"e of great agitation, \"was of\n    trifling weight--was not"
	.ascii	"hing to what I felt when I heard,\n    about two years after"
	.ascii	"wards, of her divorce.  It was\n    THAT which threw this gl"
	.ascii	"oom,--even now the recollection\n    of what I suffered--\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    He could say no more, and rising hastily walked fo"
	.ascii	"r a few\n    minutes about the room.  Elinor, affected by hi"
	.ascii	"s relation,\n    and still more by his distress, could not s"
	.ascii	"peak.  He saw\n    her concern, and coming to her, took her "
	.ascii	"hand, pressed it,\n    and kissed it with grateful respect. "
	.ascii	" A few minutes more\n    of silent exertion enabled him to p"
	.ascii	"roceed with composure.\n    \n    \"It was nearly three year"
	.ascii	"s after this unhappy\n    period before I returned to Englan"
	.ascii	"d.  My first care,\n    when I DID arrive, was of course to "
	.ascii	"seek for her;\n    but the search was as fruitless as it was"
	.ascii	" melancholy.\n    I could not trace her beyond her first sed"
	.ascii	"ucer, and there\n    was every reason to fear that she had r"
	.ascii	"emoved from him\n    only to sink deeper in a life of sin.  "
	.ascii	"Her legal allowance\n    was not adequate to her fortune, no"
	.ascii	"r sufficient for her\n    comfortable maintenance, and I lea"
	.ascii	"rnt from my brother that\n    the power of receiving it had "
	.ascii	"been made over some months\n    before to another person.  H"
	.ascii	"e imagined, and calmly could he\n    imagine it, that her e"
	.ascii	"xtravagance, and consequent distress,\n    had obliged her t"
	.ascii	"o dispose of it for some immediate relief.\n    At last, how"
	.ascii	"ever, and after I had been six months in England,\n    I DID"
	.ascii	" find her.  Regard for a former servant of my own,\n    who "
	.ascii	"had since fallen into misfortune, carried me to visit\n    h"
	.ascii	"im in a spunging-house, where he was confined for debt;\n   "
	.ascii	" and there, the same house, under a similar confinement,\n  "
	.ascii	"  was my unfortunate sister.  So altered--so faded--worn\n  "
	.ascii	"  down by acute suffering of every kind! hardly could I\n   "
	.ascii	" believe the melancholy and sickly figure before me,\n    to"
	.ascii	" be the remains of the lovely, blooming, healthful girl,\n  "
	.ascii	"  on whom I had once doted.  What I endured in so beholding\n"
	.ascii	"    her--but I have no right to wound your feelings by attem"
	.ascii	"pting\n    to describe it--I have pained you too much alread"
	.ascii	"y.\n    That she was, to all appearance, in the last stage\n"
	.ascii	"    of a consumption, was--yes, in such a situation it was\n"
	.ascii	"    my greatest comfort.  Life could do nothing for her,\n  "
	.ascii	"  beyond giving time for a better preparation for death;\n  "
	.ascii	"  and that was given.  I saw her placed in comfortable lodgi"
	.ascii	"ngs,\n    and under proper attendants; I visited her every d"
	.ascii	"ay\n    during the rest of her short life: I was with her in"
	.ascii	" her\n    last moments.\"\n    \n    Again he stopped to rec"
	.ascii	"over himself; and Elinor\n    spoke her feelings in an excla"
	.ascii	"mation of tender concern,\n    at the fate of his unfortunat"
	.ascii	"e friend.\n    \n    \"Your sister, I hope, cannot be offend"
	.ascii	"ed,\" said he,\n    \"by the resemblance I have fancied betw"
	.ascii	"een her and my\n    poor disgraced relation.  Their fates, t"
	.ascii	"heir fortunes,\n    cannot be the same; and had the natural "
	.ascii	"sweet\n    disposition of the one been guarded by a firmer m"
	.ascii	"ind,\n    or a happier marriage, she might have been all tha"
	.ascii	"t you\n    will live to see the other be.  But to what does "
	.ascii	"all this\n    lead?  I seem to have been distressing you for"
	.ascii	" nothing.\n    Ah! Miss Dashwood--a subject such as this--un"
	.ascii	"touched\n    for fourteen years--it is dangerous to handle "
	.ascii	"it at all!\n    I WILL be more collected--more concise.  She"
	.ascii	" left to my care\n    her only child, a little girl, the off"
	.ascii	"spring of her first\n    guilty connection, who was then abo"
	.ascii	"ut three years old.\n    She loved the child, and had always"
	.ascii	" kept it with her.\n    It was a valued, a precious trust to"
	.ascii	" me; and gladly\n    would I have discharged it in the stric"
	.ascii	"test sense,\n    by watching over her education myself, had "
	.ascii	"the nature\n    of our situations allowed it; but I had no f"
	.ascii	"amily, no home;\n    and my little Eliza was therefore place"
	.ascii	"d at school.\n    I saw her there whenever I could, and afte"
	.ascii	"r the death of my\n    brother, (which happened about five y"
	.ascii	"ears ago, and which\n    left to me the possession of the fa"
	.ascii	"mily property,) she\n    visited me at Delaford.  I called h"
	.ascii	"er a distant relation;\n    but I am well aware that I have "
	.ascii	"in general been suspected\n    of a much nearer connection w"
	.ascii	"ith her.  It is now three\n    years ago (she had just reach"
	.ascii	"ed her fourteenth year,)\n    that I removed her from school"
	.ascii	", to place her under the care\n    of a very respectable wom"
	.ascii	"an, residing in Dorsetshire,\n    who had the charge of four"
	.ascii	" or five other girls of about\n    the same time of life; an"
	.ascii	"d for two years I had every reason\n    to be pleased with h"
	.ascii	"er situation.  But last February,\n    almost a twelvemonth "
	.ascii	"back, she suddenly disappeared.\n    I had allowed her, (imp"
	.ascii	"rudently, as it has since turned\n    out,) at her earnest d"
	.ascii	"esire, to go to Bath with one of\n    her young friends, who"
	.ascii	" was attending her father there\n    for his health.  I knew"
	.ascii	" him to be a very good sort of man,\n    and I thought well "
	.ascii	"of his daughter--better than she deserved,\n    for, with a "
	.ascii	"most obstinate and ill-judged secrecy,\n    she would tell n"
	.ascii	"othing, would give no clue, though she\n    certainly knew a"
	.ascii	"ll.  He, her father, a well-meaning,\n    but not a quick-si"
	.ascii	"ghted man, could really, I believe,\n    give no information"
	.ascii	"; for he had been generally confined\n    to the house, whil"
	.ascii	"e the girls were ranging over the town\n    and making"
	.ascii	" what acquaintance they chose; and he tried\n    to convince"
	.ascii	" me, as thoroughly as he was convinced himself,\n    of his "
	.ascii	"daughter's being entirely unconcerned in the business.\n    "
	.ascii	"In short, I could learn nothing but that she was gone;\n    "
	.ascii	"all the rest, for eight long months, was left to conjecture."
	.ascii	"\n    What I thought, what I feared, may be imagined; and wh"
	.ascii	"at I\n    suffered too.\"\n    \n    \"Good heavens!\" cried"
	.ascii	" Elinor, \"could it be--could\n    Willoughby!\"--\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \"The first news that reached me of her,\" he continued,\n"
	.ascii	"    \"came in a letter from herself, last October.\n    It w"
	.ascii	"as forwarded to me from Delaford, and I received it\n    on "
	.ascii	"the very morning of our intended party to Whitwell;\n    and"
	.ascii	" this was the reason of my leaving Barton so suddenly,\n    "
	.ascii	"which I am sure must at the time have appeared strange\n    "
	.ascii	"to every body, and which I believe gave offence to some.\n  "
	.ascii	"  Little did Mr. Willoughby imagine, I suppose, when his\n  "
	.ascii	"  looks censured me for incivility in breaking up the party,"
	.ascii	"\n    that I was called away to the relief of one whom he\n "
	.ascii	"   had made poor and miserable; but HAD he known it,\n    wh"
	.ascii	"at would it have availed?  Would he have been less\n    gay "
	.ascii	"or less happy in the smiles of your sister?  No,\n    he had"
	.ascii	" already done that, which no man who CAN feel\n    for anoth"
	.ascii	"er would do.  He had left the girl whose\n    youth and inno"
	.ascii	"cence he had seduced, in a situation of\n    the utmost dist"
	.ascii	"ress, with no creditable home, no help,\n    no friends, ign"
	.ascii	"orant of his address!  He had left her,\n    promising to re"
	.ascii	"turn; he neither returned, nor wrote,\n    nor relieved her."
	.ascii	"\"\n    \n    \"This is beyond every thing!\" exclaimed Elin"
	.ascii	"or.\n    \n    \"His character is now before you; expensive,"
	.ascii	" dissipated,\n    and worse than both.  Knowing all this, as"
	.ascii	" I have now\n    known it many weeks, guess what I must have"
	.ascii	" felt on seeing\n    your sister as fond of him as ever, and"
	.ascii	" on being assured\n    that she was to marry him: guess what"
	.ascii	" I must have felt\n    for all your sakes.  When I came to y"
	.ascii	"ou last wee"
	.ascii	"k and\n    found you alone, I came determined to know the tr"
	.ascii	"uth;\n    though irresolute what to do when it WAS known.\n "
	.ascii	"   My behaviour must have seemed strange to you then;\n    b"
	.ascii	"ut now you will comprehend it.  To suffer you all to be\n   "
	.ascii	" so deceived; to see your sister--but what could I do?\n    "
	.ascii	"I had no hope of interfering with success; and sometimes\n  "
	.ascii	"  I thought your sister's influence might yet reclaim him.\n"
	.ascii	"    But now, after such dishonorable usage, who can tell wha"
	.ascii	"t\n    were his designs on her.  Whatever they may have been"
	.ascii	",\n    however, she may now, and hereafter doubtless WILL\n "
	.ascii	"   turn with gratitude towards her own condition, when she\n"
	.ascii	"    compares it with that of my poor Eliza, when she conside"
	.ascii	"rs\n    the wretched and hopeless situation of this poor gir"
	.ascii	"l,\n    and pictures her to herself, with an affection for h"
	.ascii	"im so strong,\n    still as strong as her own, and with a mi"
	.ascii	"nd tormented\n    by self-reproach, which must attend her th"
	.ascii	"rough life.\n    Surely this comparison must have its use wi"
	.ascii	"th her.\n    She will feel her own sufferings to be nothing."
	.ascii	"  They\n    proceed from no misconduct, and can bring no dis"
	.ascii	"grace.\n    On the contrary, every friend must be made still"
	.ascii	" more\n    her friend by them.  Concern for her unhappiness,"
	.ascii	"\n    and respect for her fortitude under it, must strengthe"
	.ascii	"n\n    every attachment.  Use your own discretion, however,\n"
	.ascii	"    in communicating to her what I have told you.  You must\n"
	.ascii	"    know best what will be its effect; but had I not serious"
	.ascii	"ly,\n    and from my heart believed it might be of service,\n"
	.ascii	"    might lessen her regrets, I would not have suffered\n   "
	.ascii	" myself to trouble you with this account of my family\n    a"
	.ascii	"fflictions, with a recital which may seem to have been\n    "
	.ascii	"intended to raise myself at the expense of others.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    Elinor's thanks followed this speech with grateful\n    "
	.ascii	"earnestness; attended too with the assurance of her\n    exp"
	.ascii	"ecting material advantage to Marianne, from the\n    communi"
	.ascii	"cation of what had passed.\n    \n    \"I have been more"
	.ascii	" pained,\" said she, \"by her\n    endeavors to acquit him t"
	.ascii	"han by all the rest; for it\n    irritates her mind more tha"
	.ascii	"n the most perfect conviction\n    of his unworthiness can d"
	.ascii	"o.  Now, though at first she\n    will suffer much, I am sur"
	.ascii	"e she will soon become easier.\n    Have you,\" she continue"
	.ascii	"d, after a short silence,\n    \"ever seen Mr. Willoughby si"
	.ascii	"nce you left him at Barton?\"\n    \n    \"Yes,\" he replied"
	.ascii	" gravely, \"once I have.  One meeting\n    was unavoidable.\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    Elinor, startled by his manner, looked at him an"
	.ascii	"xiously,\n    saying,\n    \n    \"What? have you met him to"
	.ascii	"--\"\n    \n    \"I could meet him no other way.  Eliza had "
	.ascii	"confessed\n    to me, though most reluctantly, the name of h"
	.ascii	"er lover;\n    and when he returned to town, which was withi"
	.ascii	"n a fortnight\n    after myself, we met by appointment, he t"
	.ascii	"o defend,\n    I to punish his conduct.  We returned unwound"
	.ascii	"ed,\n    and the meeting, therefore, never got abroad.\"\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    Elinor sighed over the fancied necessity of this;\n "
	.ascii	"   but to a man and a soldier she presumed not to censure it"
	.ascii	".\n    \n    \"Such,\" said Colonel Brandon, after a pause,\n"
	.ascii	"    \"has been the unhappy resemblance between the fate of m"
	.ascii	"other\n    and daughter! and so imperfectly have I discharge"
	.ascii	"d my trust!\"\n    \n    \"Is she still in town?\"\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \"No; as soon as she recovered from her lying-in,\n    for"
	.ascii	" I found her near her delivery, I removed her and her\n    c"
	.ascii	"hild into the country, and there she remains.\"\n    \n    R"
	.ascii	"ecollecting, soon afterwards, that he was probably\n    divi"
	.ascii	"ding Elinor from her sister, he put an end to his visit,\n  "
	.ascii	"  receiving from her again the same grateful acknowledgments"
	.ascii	",\n    and leaving her full of compassion and esteem for him"
	.ascii	".\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 32\n    \n    \n    When th"
	.ascii	"e particulars of this conversation were repeated\n    by Mis"
	.ascii	"s Dashwood to her sister, as they very soon were,\n    the e"
	.ascii	"ffect on her was not entirely such as the former\n    had ho"
	.ascii	"ped to see.  Not that Marianne appeared to distrust\n    the"
	.ascii	" truth of any part of it, for"
	.ascii	" she listened to it all\n    with the most steady and submis"
	.ascii	"sive attention, made neither\n    objection nor remark, atte"
	.ascii	"mpted no vindication of Willoughby,\n    and seemed to shew "
	.ascii	"by her tears that she felt it to\n    be impossible.  But th"
	.ascii	"ough this behaviour assured Elinor\n    that the conviction "
	.ascii	"of this guilt WAS carried home to\n    her mind, though she "
	.ascii	"saw with satisfaction the effect of it,\n    in her no longe"
	.ascii	"r avoiding Colonel Brandon when he called,\n    in her speak"
	.ascii	"ing to him, even voluntarily speaking,\n    with a kind of c"
	.ascii	"ompassionate respect, and though she\n    saw her spirits le"
	.ascii	"ss violently irritated than before,\n    she did not see her"
	.ascii	" less wretched.  Her mind did become\n    settled, but it wa"
	.ascii	"s settled in a gloomy dejection.\n    She felt the loss of W"
	.ascii	"illoughby's character yet more heavily\n    than she had fel"
	.ascii	"t the loss of his heart; his seduction and\n    desertion of"
	.ascii	" Miss Williams, the misery of that poor girl,\n    and the d"
	.ascii	"oubt of what his designs might ONCE have been\n    on hersel"
	.ascii	"f, preyed altogether so much on her spirits,\n    that she c"
	.ascii	"ould not bring herself to speak of what she felt\n    even t"
	.ascii	"o Elinor; and, brooding over her sorrows in silence,\n    ga"
	.ascii	"ve more pain to her sister than could have been communicated"
	.ascii	"\n    by the most open and most frequent confession of them."
	.ascii	"\n    \n    To give the feelings or the language of Mrs. Das"
	.ascii	"hwood\n    on receiving and answering Elinor's letter would "
	.ascii	"be only\n    to give a repetition of what her daughters had "
	.ascii	"already felt\n    and said; of a disappointment hardly less "
	.ascii	"painful than\n    Marianne's, and an indignation even greate"
	.ascii	"r than Elinor's.\n    Long letters from her, quickly succeed"
	.ascii	"ing each other,\n    arrived to tell all that she suffered a"
	.ascii	"nd thought;\n    to express her anxious solicitude for Maria"
	.ascii	"nne, and entreat\n    she would bear up with fortitude under"
	.ascii	" this misfortune.\n    Bad indeed must the nature of Mariann"
	.ascii	"e's affliction be,\n    when her mother could talk of fortit"
	.ascii	"ude! mortifying\n    and humiliating must be the origi"
	.ascii	"n of those regrets,\n    which SHE could wish her not to ind"
	.ascii	"ulge!\n    \n    Against the interest of her own individual "
	.ascii	"comfort,\n    Mrs. Dashwood had determined that it would be "
	.ascii	"better for\n    Marianne to be any where, at that time, than"
	.ascii	" at Barton,\n    where every thing within her view would be "
	.ascii	"bringing back\n    the past in the strongest and most afflic"
	.ascii	"ting manner,\n    by constantly placing Willoughby before he"
	.ascii	"r, such as\n    she had always seen him there.  She recommen"
	.ascii	"ded it to\n    her daughters, therefore, by all means not to"
	.ascii	" shorten their\n    visit to Mrs. Jennings; the length of wh"
	.ascii	"ich, though never\n    exactly fixed, had been expected by a"
	.ascii	"ll to comprise at least\n    five or six weeks.  A variety o"
	.ascii	"f occupations, of objects,\n    and of company, which could "
	.ascii	"not be procured at Barton,\n    would be inevitable there, a"
	.ascii	"nd might yet, she hoped,\n    cheat Marianne, at times, into"
	.ascii	" some interest beyond herself,\n    and even into some amuse"
	.ascii	"ment, much as the ideas of both\n    might now be spurned by"
	.ascii	" her.\n    \n    From all danger of seeing Willoughby again,"
	.ascii	"\n    her mother considered her to be at least equally safe\n"
	.ascii	"    in town as in the country, since his acquaintance must\n"
	.ascii	"    now be dropped by all who called themselves her friends."
	.ascii	"\n    Design could never bring them in each other's way:\n  "
	.ascii	"  negligence could never leave them exposed to a surprise;\n"
	.ascii	"    and chance had less in its favour in the crowd of London"
	.ascii	"\n    than even in the retirement of Barton, where it might\n"
	.ascii	"    force him before her while paying that visit at Allenham"
	.ascii	"\n    on his marriage, which Mrs. Dashwood, from foreseeing "
	.ascii	"at\n    first as a probable event, had brought herself to ex"
	.ascii	"pect\n    as a certain one.\n    \n    She had yet another r"
	.ascii	"eason for wishing her children\n    to remain where they wer"
	.ascii	"e; a letter from her son-in-law\n    had told her that he an"
	.ascii	"d his wife were to be in town\n    before the middle of Febr"
	.ascii	"uary, and she judged it right\n    that they should sometime"
	.ascii	"s see their brother.\n    \n    Marianne had promised to "
	.ascii	"be guided by her mother's opinion,\n    and she submitted to"
	.ascii	" it therefore without opposition,\n    though it proved perf"
	.ascii	"ectly different from what she wished\n    and expected, thou"
	.ascii	"gh she felt it to be entirely wrong,\n    formed on mistaken"
	.ascii	" grounds, and that by requiring her\n    longer continuance "
	.ascii	"in London it deprived her of the only\n    possible alleviat"
	.ascii	"ion of her wretchedness, the personal\n    sympathy of her m"
	.ascii	"other, and doomed her to such society and\n    such scenes a"
	.ascii	"s must prevent her ever knowing a moment's rest.\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"But it was a matter of great consolation to her,\n    that w"
	.ascii	"hat brought evil to herself would bring good to\n    her sis"
	.ascii	"ter; and Elinor, on the other hand, suspecting that\n    it "
	.ascii	"would not be in her power to avoid Edward entirely,\n    com"
	.ascii	"forted herself by thinking, that though their longer\n    st"
	.ascii	"ay would therefore militate against her own happiness,\n    "
	.ascii	"it would be better for Marianne than an immediate return\n  "
	.ascii	"  into Devonshire.\n    \n    Her carefulness in guarding he"
	.ascii	"r sister from ever\n    hearing Willoughby's name mentioned,"
	.ascii	" was not thrown away.\n    Marianne, though without knowing "
	.ascii	"it herself, reaped all\n    its advantage; for neither Mrs. "
	.ascii	"Jennings, nor Sir John,\n    nor even Mrs. Palmer herself, e"
	.ascii	"ver spoke of him before her.\n    Elinor wished that the sam"
	.ascii	"e forbearance could have extended\n    towards herself, but "
	.ascii	"that was impossible, and she was\n    obliged to listen day "
	.ascii	"after day to the indignation of them all.\n    \n    Sir Joh"
	.ascii	"n, could not have thought it possible.\n    \"A man of whom "
	.ascii	"he had always had such reason to think well!\n    Such a goo"
	.ascii	"d-natured fellow!  He did not believe there was a\n    bolde"
	.ascii	"r rider in England!  It was an unaccountable business.\n    "
	.ascii	"He wished him at the devil with all his heart.  He would\n  "
	.ascii	"  not speak another word to him, meet him where he might,\n "
	.ascii	"   for all the world!  No, not if it were to be by the side\n"
	.ascii	"    of Barton covert, and they were kept watching for two\n "
	.ascii	"   hours together.  Such a scoundrel of a fellow! such\n "
	.ascii	"   a deceitful dog!  It was only the last time they met\n   "
	.ascii	" that he had offered him one of Folly's puppies! and this\n "
	.ascii	"   was the end of it!\"\n    \n    Mrs. Palmer, in her way, "
	.ascii	"was equally angry.\n    \"She was determined to drop his acq"
	.ascii	"uaintance immediately,\n    and she was very thankful that s"
	.ascii	"he had never been acquainted\n    with him at all.  She wish"
	.ascii	"ed with all her heart Combe\n    Magna was not so near Cleve"
	.ascii	"land; but it did not signify,\n    for it was a great deal t"
	.ascii	"oo far off to visit; she hated\n    him so much that she was"
	.ascii	" resolved never to mention\n    his name again, and she shou"
	.ascii	"ld tell everybody she saw,\n    how good-for-nothing he was."
	.ascii	"\"\n    \n    The rest of Mrs. Palmer's sympathy was shewn i"
	.ascii	"n procuring\n    all the particulars in her power of the app"
	.ascii	"roaching marriage,\n    and communicating them to Elinor.  S"
	.ascii	"he could soon tell\n    at what coachmaker's the new carriag"
	.ascii	"e was building,\n    by what painter Mr. Willoughby's portra"
	.ascii	"it was drawn,\n    and at what warehouse Miss Grey's clothes"
	.ascii	" might be seen.\n    \n    The calm and polite unconcern of "
	.ascii	"Lady Middleton\n    on the occasion was a happy relief to El"
	.ascii	"inor's spirits,\n    oppressed as they often were by the cla"
	.ascii	"morous kindness\n    of the others.  It was a great comfort "
	.ascii	"to her to be sure\n    of exciting no interest in ONE person"
	.ascii	" at least among their\n    circle of friends: a great comfor"
	.ascii	"t to know that there\n    was ONE who would meet her without"
	.ascii	" feeling any curiosity\n    after particulars, or any anxiet"
	.ascii	"y for her sister's health.\n    \n    Every qualification is"
	.ascii	" raised at times, by the\n    circumstances of the moment, t"
	.ascii	"o more than its real value;\n    and she was sometimes worri"
	.ascii	"ed down by officious condolence\n    to rate good-breeding a"
	.ascii	"s more indispensable to comfort\n    than good-nature.\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    Lady Middleton expressed her sense of the affair\n    "
	.ascii	"about once every day, or twice, if the subject occurred\n   "
	.ascii	" very often, by saying, \"It is very shocking, indeed!\"\n  "
	.ascii	"  and by the means of this continual though gentle vent,\n  "
	.ascii	"  was"
	.ascii	" able not only to see the Miss Dashwoods from the\n    first"
	.ascii	" without the smallest emotion, but very soon\n    to see the"
	.ascii	"m without recollecting a word of the matter;\n    and having"
	.ascii	" thus supported the dignity of her own sex,\n    and spoken "
	.ascii	"her decided censure of what was wrong\n    in the other, she"
	.ascii	" thought herself at liberty to attend\n    to the interest o"
	.ascii	"f her own assemblies, and therefore\n    determined (though "
	.ascii	"rather against the opinion of Sir John)\n    that as Mrs. Wi"
	.ascii	"lloughby would at once be a woman of elegance\n    and fortu"
	.ascii	"ne, to leave her card with her as soon as she married.\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    Colonel Brandon's delicate, unobtrusive enquiries\n   "
	.ascii	" were never unwelcome to Miss Dashwood.  He had abundantly\n"
	.ascii	"    earned the privilege of intimate discussion of her\n    "
	.ascii	"sister's disappointment, by the friendly zeal with\n    whic"
	.ascii	"h he had endeavoured to soften it, and they always\n    conv"
	.ascii	"ersed with confidence.  His chief reward for the\n    painfu"
	.ascii	"l exertion of disclosing past sorrows and present\n    humil"
	.ascii	"iations, was given in the pitying eye with which\n    Marian"
	.ascii	"ne sometimes observed him, and the gentleness\n    of her vo"
	.ascii	"ice whenever (though it did not often happen)\n    she was o"
	.ascii	"bliged, or could oblige herself to speak to him.\n    THESE "
	.ascii	"assured him that his exertion had produced an\n    increase "
	.ascii	"of good-will towards himself, and THESE gave\n    Elinor hop"
	.ascii	"es of its being farther augmented hereafter;\n    but Mrs. J"
	.ascii	"ennings, who knew nothing of all this, who knew\n    only th"
	.ascii	"at the Colonel continued as grave as ever, and that\n    she"
	.ascii	" could neither prevail on him to make the offer himself,\n  "
	.ascii	"  nor commission her to make it for him, began, at the\n    "
	.ascii	"end of two days, to think that, instead of Midsummer,\n    t"
	.ascii	"hey would not be married till Michaelmas, and by the\n    en"
	.ascii	"d of a week that it would not be a match at all.\n    The go"
	.ascii	"od understanding between the Colonel and Miss\n    Dashwood "
	.ascii	"seemed rather to declare that the honours\n    of the mulber"
	.ascii	"ry-tree, the canal, and the yew arbour,\n    would all "
	.ascii	"be made over to HER; and Mrs. Jennings had,\n    for some ti"
	.ascii	"me ceased to think at all of Mrs. Ferrars.\n    \n    Early "
	.ascii	"in February, within a fortnight from the\n    receipt of Wil"
	.ascii	"loughby's letter, Elinor had the painful\n    office of info"
	.ascii	"rming her sister that he was married.\n    She had taken car"
	.ascii	"e to have the intelligence conveyed\n    to herself, as soon"
	.ascii	" as it was known that the ceremony\n    was over, as she was"
	.ascii	" desirous that Marianne should not\n    receive the first no"
	.ascii	"tice of it from the public papers,\n    which she saw her ea"
	.ascii	"gerly examining every morning.\n    \n    She received the n"
	.ascii	"ews with resolute composure;\n    made no observation on it,"
	.ascii	" and at first shed no tears;\n    but after a short time the"
	.ascii	"y would burst out, and for the\n    rest of the day, she was"
	.ascii	" in a state hardly less pitiable\n    than when she first le"
	.ascii	"arnt to expect the event.\n    \n    The Willoughbys left to"
	.ascii	"wn as soon as they were married;\n    and Elinor now hoped, "
	.ascii	"as there could be no danger\n    of her seeing either of the"
	.ascii	"m, to prevail on her sister,\n    who had never yet left the"
	.ascii	" house since the blow first fell,\n    to go out again by de"
	.ascii	"grees as she had done before.\n    \n    About this time the"
	.ascii	" two Miss Steeles, lately arrived\n    at their cousin's hou"
	.ascii	"se in Bartlett's Buildings,\n    Holburn, presented themselv"
	.ascii	"es again before their more\n    grand relations in Conduit a"
	.ascii	"nd Berkeley Streets;\n    and were welcomed by them all with"
	.ascii	" great cordiality.\n    \n    Elinor only was sorry to see t"
	.ascii	"hem.  Their presence\n    always gave her pain, and she hard"
	.ascii	"ly knew how to make\n    a very gracious return to the overp"
	.ascii	"owering delight of Lucy\n    in finding her STILL in town.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"I should have been quite disappointed if I had n"
	.ascii	"ot\n    found you here STILL,\" said she repeatedly, with a "
	.ascii	"strong\n    emphasis on the word.  \"But I always thought I "
	.ascii	"SHOULD.\n    I was almost sure you would not leave London ye"
	.ascii	"t awhile;\n    though you TOLD me, you know, at Barton, that"
	.ascii	" you should\n    not stay above a MONTH.  But I thought, at "
	.ascii	"the"
	.ascii	" time,\n    that you would most likely change your mind when"
	.ascii	" it came\n    to the point.  It would have been such a great"
	.ascii	" pity\n    to have went away before your brother and sister "
	.ascii	"came.\n    And now to be sure you will be in no hurry to be "
	.ascii	"gone.\n    I am amazingly glad you did not keep to YOUR WORD"
	.ascii	".\"\n    \n    Elinor perfectly understood her, and was forc"
	.ascii	"ed\n    to use all her self-command to make it appear that s"
	.ascii	"he\n    did NOT.\n    \n    \"Well, my dear,\" said Mrs. Jen"
	.ascii	"nings, \"and how did\n    you travel?\"\n    \n    \"Not in "
	.ascii	"the stage, I assure you,\" replied Miss Steele,\n    with qu"
	.ascii	"ick exultation; \"we came post all the way, and had\n    a v"
	.ascii	"ery smart beau to attend us.  Dr. Davies was coming\n    to "
	.ascii	"town, and so we thought we'd join him in a post-chaise;\n   "
	.ascii	" and he behaved very genteelly, and paid ten or twelve\n    "
	.ascii	"shillings more than we did.\"\n    \n    \"Oh, oh!\" cried M"
	.ascii	"rs. Jennings; \"very pretty,\n    indeed! and the Doctor is "
	.ascii	"a single man, I warrant you.\"\n    \n    \"There now,\" sai"
	.ascii	"d Miss Steele, affectedly simpering,\n    \"everybody laughs"
	.ascii	" at me so about the Doctor, and I\n    cannot think why.  My"
	.ascii	" cousins say they are sure I have\n    made a conquest; but "
	.ascii	"for my part I declare I never think\n    about him from one "
	.ascii	"hour's end to another.  'Lord! here\n    comes your beau, Na"
	.ascii	"ncy,' my cousin said t'other day,\n    when she saw him cros"
	.ascii	"sing the street to the house.\n    My beau, indeed! said I--"
	.ascii	"I cannot think who you mean.\n    The Doctor is no beau of m"
	.ascii	"ine.\"\n    \n    \"Aye, aye, that is very pretty talking--b"
	.ascii	"ut it won't do--\n    the Doctor is the man, I see.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"No, indeed!\" replied her cousin, with affected earnes"
	.ascii	"tness,\n    \"and I beg you will contradict it, if you ever "
	.ascii	"hear it talked\n    of.\"\n    \n    Mrs. Jennings directly "
	.ascii	"gave her the gratifying\n    assurance that she certainly wo"
	.ascii	"uld NOT, and Miss Steele\n    was made completely happy.\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    \"I suppose you will go and stay with your brother\n"
	.ascii	"    and sister, Miss Dashwood, when they come to town,\"\n  "
	.ascii	"  said Lucy, returning, after a"
	.ascii	" cessation of hostile hints,\n    to the charge.\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"\"No, I do not think we shall.\"\n    \n    \"Oh, yes, I dar"
	.ascii	"e say you will.\"\n    \n    Elinor would not humour her by "
	.ascii	"farther opposition.\n    \n    \"What a charming thing it is"
	.ascii	" that Mrs. Dashwood can\n    spare you both for so long a ti"
	.ascii	"me together!\"\n    \n    \"Long a time, indeed!\" interpose"
	.ascii	"d Mrs. Jennings.\n    \"Why, their visit is but just begun!\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    Lucy was silenced.\n    \n    \"I am sorry we ca"
	.ascii	"nnot see your sister, Miss Dashwood,\"\n    said Miss Steele"
	.ascii	".  \"I am sorry she is not well--\"\n    for Marianne had le"
	.ascii	"ft the room on their arrival.\n    \n    \"You are very good"
	.ascii	".  My sister will be equally\n    sorry to miss the pleasure"
	.ascii	" of seeing you; but she has\n    been very much plagued late"
	.ascii	"ly with nervous head-aches,\n    which make her unfit for co"
	.ascii	"mpany or conversation.\"\n    \n    \"Oh, dear, that is a gr"
	.ascii	"eat pity! but such old\n    friends as Lucy and me!--I think"
	.ascii	" she might see US;\n    and I am sure we would not speak a w"
	.ascii	"ord.\"\n    \n    Elinor, with great civility, declined the "
	.ascii	"proposal.\n    Her sister was perhaps laid down upon the bed"
	.ascii	", or in her\n    dressing gown, and therefore not able to co"
	.ascii	"me to them.\n    \n    \"Oh, if that's all,\" cried Miss Ste"
	.ascii	"ele, \"we can\n    just as well go and see HER.\"\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" Elinor began to find this impertinence too much for\n    he"
	.ascii	"r temper; but she was saved the trouble of checking it,\n   "
	.ascii	" by Lucy's sharp reprimand, which now, as on many occasions,"
	.ascii	"\n    though it did not give much sweetness to the manners\n"
	.ascii	"    of one sister, was of advantage in governing those of\n "
	.ascii	"   the other.\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 33\n    \n    \n"
	.ascii	"    After some opposition, Marianne yielded to her\n    sist"
	.ascii	"er's entreaties, and consented to go out with her\n    and M"
	.ascii	"rs. Jennings one morning for half an hour. She\n    expressl"
	.ascii	"y conditioned, however, for paying no visits,\n    and would"
	.ascii	" do no more than accompany them to Gray's in\n    Sackville "
	.ascii	"Street, where Elinor was carrying on a negotiation\n    for "
	.ascii	"the exchange of a few old-fashioned"
	.ascii	" jewels of her mother.\n    \n    When they stopped at the d"
	.ascii	"oor, Mrs. Jennings recollected\n    that there was a lady at"
	.ascii	" the other end of the street\n    on whom she ought to call;"
	.ascii	" and as she had no business\n    at Gray's, it was resolved,"
	.ascii	" that while her young friends\n    transacted their's, she s"
	.ascii	"hould pay her visit and\n    return for them.\n    \n    On "
	.ascii	"ascending the stairs, the Miss Dashwoods found\n    so many "
	.ascii	"people before them in the room, that there was\n    not a pe"
	.ascii	"rson at liberty to tend to their orders; and they\n    were "
	.ascii	"obliged to wait.  All that could be done was, to sit\n    do"
	.ascii	"wn at that end of the counter which seemed to promise the\n "
	.ascii	"   quickest succession; one gentleman only was standing ther"
	.ascii	"e,\n    and it is probable that Elinor was not without hope\n"
	.ascii	"    of exciting his politeness to a quicker despatch.\n    B"
	.ascii	"ut the correctness of his eye, and the delicacy\n    of his "
	.ascii	"taste, proved to be beyond his politeness.\n    He was givin"
	.ascii	"g orders for a toothpick-case for himself,\n    and till its"
	.ascii	" size, shape, and ornaments were determined,\n    all of whi"
	.ascii	"ch, after examining and debating for a quarter\n    of an ho"
	.ascii	"ur over every toothpick-case in the shop,\n    were finally "
	.ascii	"arranged by his own inventive fancy, he had\n    no leisure "
	.ascii	"to bestow any other attention on the two ladies,\n    than w"
	.ascii	"hat was comprised in three or four very broad stares;\n    a"
	.ascii	" kind of notice which served to imprint on Elinor\n    the r"
	.ascii	"emembrance of a person and face, of strong,\n    natural, st"
	.ascii	"erling insignificance, though adorned in\n    the first styl"
	.ascii	"e of fashion.\n    \n    Marianne was spared from the troubl"
	.ascii	"esome feelings\n    of contempt and resentment, on this impe"
	.ascii	"rtinent examination\n    of their features, and on the puppy"
	.ascii	"ism of his manner\n    in deciding on all the different horr"
	.ascii	"ors of the different\n    toothpick-cases presented to his i"
	.ascii	"nspection, by remaining\n    unconscious of it all; for she "
	.ascii	"was as well able to collect\n    her thoughts within herself"
	.ascii	", and be as ignorant of what was\n    passing around her,"
	.ascii	" in Mr. Gray's shop, as in her own bedroom.\n    \n    At la"
	.ascii	"st the affair was decided.  The ivory,\n    the gold, and th"
	.ascii	"e pearls, all received their appointment,\n    and the gentl"
	.ascii	"eman having named the last day on which his\n    existence c"
	.ascii	"ould be continued without the possession of the\n    toothpi"
	.ascii	"ck-case, drew on his gloves with leisurely care,\n    and be"
	.ascii	"stowing another glance on the Miss Dashwoods, but such\n    "
	.ascii	"a one as seemed rather to demand than express admiration,\n "
	.ascii	"   walked off with a happy air of real conceit and affected\n"
	.ascii	"    indifference.\n    \n    Elinor lost no time in bringing"
	.ascii	" her business forward,\n    was on the point of concluding i"
	.ascii	"t, when another gentleman\n    presented himself at her side"
	.ascii	".  She turned her eyes towards\n    his face, and found him "
	.ascii	"with some surprise to be her brother.\n    \n    Their affec"
	.ascii	"tion and pleasure in meeting was just enough\n    to make a "
	.ascii	"very creditable appearance in Mr. Gray's shop.\n    John Das"
	.ascii	"hwood was really far from being sorry to see\n    his sister"
	.ascii	"s again; it rather gave them satisfaction;\n    and his inqu"
	.ascii	"iries after their mother were respectful\n    and attentive."
	.ascii	"\n    \n    Elinor found that he and Fanny had been in town\n"
	.ascii	"    two days.\n    \n    \"I wished very much to call upon y"
	.ascii	"ou yesterday,\"\n    said he, \"but it was impossible, for w"
	.ascii	"e were obliged\n    to take Harry to see the wild beasts at "
	.ascii	"Exeter Exchange;\n    and we spent the rest of the day with "
	.ascii	"Mrs. Ferrars.\n    Harry was vastly pleased.  THIS morning I"
	.ascii	" had fully intended\n    to call on you, if I could possibly"
	.ascii	" find a spare half hour,\n    but one has always so much to "
	.ascii	"do on first coming to town.\n    I am come here to bespeak F"
	.ascii	"anny a seal.  But tomorrow I\n    think I shall certainly be"
	.ascii	" able to call in Berkeley Street,\n    and be introduced to "
	.ascii	"your friend Mrs. Jennings.\n    I understand she is a woman "
	.ascii	"of very good fortune.\n    And the Middletons too, you must "
	.ascii	"introduce me to THEM.\n    As my mother-in-law's relations, "
	.ascii	"I shall be happy to show\n    them every respect.  They are "
	.ascii	"e"
	.ascii	"xcellent neighbours to you in\n    the country, I understand"
	.ascii	".\"\n    \n    \"Excellent indeed.  Their attention to our c"
	.ascii	"omfort,\n    their friendliness in every particular, is more"
	.ascii	" than I\n    can express.\"\n    \n    \"I am extremely glad"
	.ascii	" to hear it, upon my word;\n    extremely glad indeed.  But "
	.ascii	"so it ought to be; they are\n    people of large fortune, th"
	.ascii	"ey are related to you, and\n    every civility and accommoda"
	.ascii	"tion that can serve to make\n    your situation pleasant mig"
	.ascii	"ht be reasonably expected.\n    And so you are most comforta"
	.ascii	"bly settled in your little cottage\n    and want for nothing"
	.ascii	"!  Edward brought us a most charming\n    account of the pla"
	.ascii	"ce: the most complete thing of its kind,\n    he said, that "
	.ascii	"ever was, and you all seemed to enjoy it beyond\n    any thi"
	.ascii	"ng.  It was a great satisfaction to us to hear it,\n    I as"
	.ascii	"sure you.\"\n    \n    Elinor did feel a little ashamed of h"
	.ascii	"er brother;\n    and was not sorry to be spared the necessit"
	.ascii	"y of answering him,\n    by the arrival of Mrs. Jennings's s"
	.ascii	"ervant, who came to tell\n    her that his mistress waited f"
	.ascii	"or them at the door.\n    \n    Mr. Dashwood attended them d"
	.ascii	"own stairs, was introduced\n    to Mrs. Jennings at the door"
	.ascii	" of her carriage, and repeating\n    his hope of being able "
	.ascii	"to call on them the next day,\n    took leave.\n    \n    Hi"
	.ascii	"s visit was duly paid.  He came with a pretence at\n    an a"
	.ascii	"pology from their sister-in-law, for not coming too;\n    \""
	.ascii	"but she was so much engaged with her mother, that really\n  "
	.ascii	"  she had no leisure for going any where.\"  Mrs. Jennings,\n"
	.ascii	"    however, assured him directly, that she should not stand"
	.ascii	"\n    upon ceremony, for they were all cousins, or something"
	.ascii	"\n    like it, and she should certainly wait on Mrs. John\n "
	.ascii	"   Dashwood very soon, and bring her sisters to see her.\n  "
	.ascii	"  His manners to THEM, though calm, were perfectly kind;\n  "
	.ascii	"  to Mrs. Jennings, most attentively civil; and on Colonel\n"
	.ascii	"    Brandon's coming in soon after himself, he eyed him with"
	.ascii	" a\n    curiosity which seemed to say, that he only wanted t"
	.ascii	"o know"
	.ascii	"\n    him to be rich, to be equally civil to HIM.\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" After staying with them half an hour, he asked\n    Elinor "
	.ascii	"to walk with him to Conduit Street, and introduce\n    him t"
	.ascii	"o Sir John and Lady Middleton.  The weather was\n    remarka"
	.ascii	"bly fine, and she readily consented.  As soon\n    as they w"
	.ascii	"ere out of the house, his enquiries began.\n    \n    \"Who "
	.ascii	"is Colonel Brandon?  Is he a man of fortune?\"\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"Yes; he has very good property in Dorsetshire.\"\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"\"I am glad of it.  He seems a most gentlemanlike man;\n    "
	.ascii	"and I think, Elinor, I may congratulate you on the prospect\n"
	.ascii	"    of a very respectable establishment in life.\"\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \"Me, brother! what do you mean?\"\n    \n    \"He likes y"
	.ascii	"ou.  I observed him narrowly, and am\n    convinced of it.  "
	.ascii	"What is the amount of his fortune?\"\n    \n    \"I believe "
	.ascii	"about two thousand a year.\"\n    \n    \"Two thousand a-yea"
	.ascii	"r;\" and then working himself\n    up to a pitch of enthusia"
	.ascii	"stic generosity, he added,\n    \"Elinor, I wish with all my"
	.ascii	" heart it were TWICE as much,\n    for your sake.\"\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   \"Indeed I believe you,\" replied Elinor; \"but I am\n   "
	.ascii	" very sure that Colonel Brandon has not the smallest wish\n "
	.ascii	"   of marrying ME.\"\n    \n    \"You are mistaken, Elinor; "
	.ascii	"you are very much mistaken.\n    A very little trouble on yo"
	.ascii	"ur side secures him.\n    Perhaps just at present he may be "
	.ascii	"undecided; the smallness\n    of your fortune may make him h"
	.ascii	"ang back; his friends\n    may all advise him against it.  B"
	.ascii	"ut some of those little\n    attentions and encouragements w"
	.ascii	"hich ladies can so easily\n    give will fix him, in spite o"
	.ascii	"f himself.  And there can be\n    no reason why you should n"
	.ascii	"ot try for him.  It is not to be\n    supposed that any prio"
	.ascii	"r attachment on your side--in short,\n    you know as to an "
	.ascii	"attachment of that kind, it is quite\n    out of the questio"
	.ascii	"n, the objections are insurmountable--\n    you have too muc"
	.ascii	"h sense not to see all that.  Colonel Brandon\n    must be t"
	.ascii	"he man; and no civility shall be wanting on\n    my part to "
	.ascii	"make him pleased with you "
	.ascii	"and your family.\n    It is a match that must give universal"
	.ascii	" satisfaction.\n    In short, it is a kind of thing that\"--"
	.ascii	"lowering his voice\n    to an important whisper--\"will be e"
	.ascii	"xceedingly welcome\n    to ALL PARTIES.\" Recollecting himse"
	.ascii	"lf, however, he added,\n    \"That is, I mean to say--your f"
	.ascii	"riends are all truly\n    anxious to see you well settled; F"
	.ascii	"anny particularly,\n    for she has your interest very much "
	.ascii	"at heart, I assure you.\n    And her mother too, Mrs. Ferrar"
	.ascii	"s, a very good-natured woman,\n    I am sure it would give h"
	.ascii	"er great pleasure; she said as much\n    the other day.\"\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    Elinor would not vouchsafe any answer.\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"It would be something remarkable, now,\" he continued,\n    "
	.ascii	"\"something droll, if Fanny should have a brother and I\n   "
	.ascii	" a sister settling at the same time.  And yet it is not\n   "
	.ascii	" very unlikely.\"\n    \n    \"Is Mr. Edward Ferrars,\" said"
	.ascii	" Elinor, with resolution,\n    \"going to be married?\"\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    \"It is not actually settled, but there is such\n    "
	.ascii	"a thing in agitation.  He has a most excellent mother.\n    "
	.ascii	"Mrs. Ferrars, with the utmost liberality, will come forward,"
	.ascii	"\n    and settle on him a thousand a year, if the match\n   "
	.ascii	" takes place.  The lady is the Hon. Miss Morton, only daught"
	.ascii	"er\n    of the late Lord Morton, with thirty thousand pounds"
	.ascii	".\n    A very desirable connection on both sides, and I have"
	.ascii	" not\n    a doubt of its taking place in time.  A thousand a"
	.ascii	"-year\n    is a great deal for a mother to give away, to mak"
	.ascii	"e over\n    for ever; but Mrs. Ferrars has a noble spirit.  "
	.ascii	"To give\n    you another instance of her liberality:--The ot"
	.ascii	"her day,\n    as soon as we came to town, aware that money c"
	.ascii	"ould\n    not be very plenty with us just now, she put bank-"
	.ascii	"notes\n    into Fanny's hands to the amount of two hundred p"
	.ascii	"ounds.\n    And extremely acceptable it is, for we must live"
	.ascii	" at a great\n    expense while we are here.\"\n    \n    He "
	.ascii	"paused for her assent and compassion; and she\n    forced he"
	.ascii	"rself to say,\n    \n    \"Your expenses both in town and co"
	.ascii	"untry must certai"
	.ascii	"nly\n    be considerable; but your income is a large one.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"Not so large, I dare say, as many people suppose"
	.ascii	".\n    I do not mean to complain, however; it is undoubtedly"
	.ascii	"\n    a comfortable one, and I hope will in time be better.\n"
	.ascii	"    The enclosure of Norland Common, now carrying on,\n    i"
	.ascii	"s a most serious drain.  And then I have made a little\n    "
	.ascii	"purchase within this half year; East Kingham Farm,\n    you "
	.ascii	"must remember the place, where old Gibson used to live.\n   "
	.ascii	" The land was so very desirable for me in every respect,\n  "
	.ascii	"  so immediately adjoining my own property, that I felt it\n"
	.ascii	"    my duty to buy it.  I could not have answered it to my\n"
	.ascii	"    conscience to let it fall into any other hands.  A man m"
	.ascii	"ust\n    pay for his convenience; and it HAS cost me a vast "
	.ascii	"deal\n    of money.\"\n    \n    \"More than you think it re"
	.ascii	"ally and intrinsically worth.\"\n    \n    \"Why, I hope not"
	.ascii	" that.  I might have sold it again,\n    the next day, for m"
	.ascii	"ore than I gave: but, with regard to the\n    purchase-money"
	.ascii	", I might have been very unfortunate indeed;\n    for the st"
	.ascii	"ocks were at that time so low, that if I had not\n    happen"
	.ascii	"ed to have the necessary sum in my banker's hands,\n    I mu"
	.ascii	"st have sold out to very great loss.\"\n    \n    Elinor cou"
	.ascii	"ld only smile.\n    \n    \"Other great and inevitable expen"
	.ascii	"ses too we have\n    had on first coming to Norland.  Our re"
	.ascii	"spected father,\n    as you well know, bequeathed all the St"
	.ascii	"anhill effects\n    that remained at Norland (and very valua"
	.ascii	"ble they were)\n    to your mother.  Far be it from me to re"
	.ascii	"pine at his\n    doing so; he had an undoubted right to disp"
	.ascii	"ose of his\n    own property as he chose, but, in consequenc"
	.ascii	"e of it,\n    we have been obliged to make large purchases o"
	.ascii	"f linen,\n    china, &c. to supply the place of what was tak"
	.ascii	"en away.\n    You may guess, after all these expenses, how v"
	.ascii	"ery far we\n    must be from being rich, and how acceptable "
	.ascii	"Mrs. Ferrars's\n    kindness is.\"\n    \n    \"Certainly,\""
	.ascii	" said Elinor; \"and assisted by her liberality,\n    I hope "
	.ascii	"you may yet "
	.ascii	"live to be in easy circumstances.\"\n    \n    \"Another yea"
	.ascii	"r or two may do much towards it,\"\n    he gravely replied; "
	.ascii	"\"but however there is still a great\n    deal to be done.  "
	.ascii	"There is not a stone laid of Fanny's\n    green-house, and n"
	.ascii	"othing but the plan of the flower-garden\n    marked out.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"Where is the green-house to be?\"\n    \n    \"U"
	.ascii	"pon the knoll behind the house.  The old\n    walnut trees a"
	.ascii	"re all come down to make room for it.\n    It will be a very"
	.ascii	" fine object from many parts of the park,\n    and the flowe"
	.ascii	"r-garden will slope down just before it,\n    and be exceedi"
	.ascii	"ngly pretty.  We have cleared away all the old\n    thorns t"
	.ascii	"hat grew in patches over the brow.\"\n    \n    Elinor kept "
	.ascii	"her concern and her censure to herself;\n    and was very th"
	.ascii	"ankful that Marianne was not present,\n    to share the prov"
	.ascii	"ocation.\n    \n    Having now said enough to make his pover"
	.ascii	"ty clear,\n    and to do away the necessity of buying a pair"
	.ascii	" of ear-rings\n    for each of his sisters, in his next visi"
	.ascii	"t at Gray's\n    his thoughts took a cheerfuller turn, and h"
	.ascii	"e began to\n    congratulate Elinor on having such a friend "
	.ascii	"as Mrs. Jennings.\n    \n    \"She seems a most valuable wom"
	.ascii	"an indeed--Her house,\n    her style of living, all bespeak "
	.ascii	"an exceeding good income;\n    and it is an acquaintance tha"
	.ascii	"t has not only been\n    of great use to you hitherto, but i"
	.ascii	"n the end may prove\n    materially advantageous.--Her invit"
	.ascii	"ing you to town is\n    certainly a vast thing in your favou"
	.ascii	"r; and indeed, it\n    speaks altogether so great a regard f"
	.ascii	"or you, that in all\n    probability when she dies you will "
	.ascii	"not be forgotten.--\n    She must have a great deal to leave"
	.ascii	".\"\n    \n    \"Nothing at all, I should rather suppose; fo"
	.ascii	"r she has\n    only her jointure, which will descend to her "
	.ascii	"children.\"\n    \n    \"But it is not to be imagined that s"
	.ascii	"he lives up to\n    her income.  Few people of common pruden"
	.ascii	"ce will do THAT;\n    and whatever she saves, she will be ab"
	.ascii	"le to dispose of.\"\n    \n    \"And do you not think it mor"
	.ascii	"e likely that she\n "
	.ascii	"   should leave it to her daughters, than to us?\"\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \"Her daughters are both exceedingly well married,\n    an"
	.ascii	"d therefore I cannot perceive the necessity of her\n    reme"
	.ascii	"mbering them farther.  Whereas, in my opinion, by her\n    t"
	.ascii	"aking so much notice of you, and treating you in this\n    k"
	.ascii	"ind of way, she has given you a sort of claim on her\n    fu"
	.ascii	"ture consideration, which a conscientious woman would\n    n"
	.ascii	"ot disregard.  Nothing can be kinder than her behaviour;\n  "
	.ascii	"  and she can hardly do all this, without being aware\n    o"
	.ascii	"f the expectation it raises.\"\n    \n    \"But she raises n"
	.ascii	"one in those most concerned.\n    Indeed, brother, your anxi"
	.ascii	"ety for our welfare and prosperity\n    carries you too far."
	.ascii	"\"\n    \n    \"Why, to be sure,\" said he, seeming to recol"
	.ascii	"lect himself,\n    \"people have little, have very little in"
	.ascii	" their power.\n    But, my dear Elinor, what is the matter w"
	.ascii	"ith Marianne?--\n    she looks very unwell, has lost her col"
	.ascii	"our, and is grown\n    quite thin.  Is she ill?\"\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" \"She is not well, she has had a nervous complaint\n    on "
	.ascii	"her for several weeks.\"\n    \n    \"I am sorry for that.  "
	.ascii	"At her time of life,\n    any thing of an illness destroys t"
	.ascii	"he bloom for ever!\n    Her's has been a very short one!  Sh"
	.ascii	"e was as handsome a girl\n    last September, as I ever saw;"
	.ascii	" and as likely to attract\n    the man.  There was something"
	.ascii	" in her style of beauty,\n    to please them particularly.  "
	.ascii	"I remember Fanny used to say\n    that she would marry soone"
	.ascii	"r and better than you did;\n    not but what she is exceedin"
	.ascii	"gly fond of YOU, but so it\n    happened to strike her.  She"
	.ascii	" will be mistaken, however.\n    I question whether Marianne"
	.ascii	" NOW, will marry a man worth\n    more than five or six hund"
	.ascii	"red a-year, at the utmost,\n    and I am very much deceived "
	.ascii	"if YOU do not do better.\n    Dorsetshire!  I know very litt"
	.ascii	"le of Dorsetshire; but, my dear\n    Elinor, I shall be exce"
	.ascii	"edingly glad to know more of it;\n    and I think I can answ"
	.ascii	"er for your having Fanny and myself\n    among the earliest "
	.ascii	"and best ple"
	.ascii	"ased of your visitors.\"\n    \n    Elinor tried very seriou"
	.ascii	"sly to convince him that\n    there was no likelihood of her"
	.ascii	" marrying Colonel Brandon;\n    but it was an expectation of"
	.ascii	" too much pleasure to himself\n    to be relinquished, and h"
	.ascii	"e was really resolved on seeking\n    an intimacy with that "
	.ascii	"gentleman, and promoting the marriage\n    by every possible"
	.ascii	" attention.  He had just compunction\n    enough for having "
	.ascii	"done nothing for his sisters himself,\n    to be exceedingly"
	.ascii	" anxious that everybody else should\n    do a great deal; an"
	.ascii	"d an offer from Colonel Brandon,\n    or a legacy from Mrs. "
	.ascii	"Jennings, was the easiest means\n    of atoning for his own "
	.ascii	"neglect.\n    \n    They were lucky enough to find Lady Midd"
	.ascii	"leton\n    at home, and Sir John came in before their visit "
	.ascii	"ended.\n    Abundance of civilities passed on all sides.  Si"
	.ascii	"r John\n    was ready to like anybody, and though Mr. Dashwo"
	.ascii	"od did\n    not seem to know much about horses, he soon set "
	.ascii	"him\n    down as a very good-natured fellow: while Lady Midd"
	.ascii	"leton\n    saw enough of fashion in his appearance to think "
	.ascii	"his\n    acquaintance worth having; and Mr. Dashwood went aw"
	.ascii	"ay\n    delighted with both.\n    \n    \"I shall have a cha"
	.ascii	"rming account to carry\n    to Fanny,\" said he, as he walke"
	.ascii	"d back with his sister.\n    \"Lady Middleton is really a mo"
	.ascii	"st elegant woman!  Such\n    a woman as I am sure Fanny will"
	.ascii	" be glad to know.\n    And Mrs. Jennings too, an exceedingly"
	.ascii	" well-behaved woman,\n    though not so elegant as her daugh"
	.ascii	"ter.  Your sister need\n    not have any scruple even of vis"
	.ascii	"iting HER, which, to say\n    the truth, has been a little t"
	.ascii	"he case, and very naturally;\n    for we only knew that Mrs."
	.ascii	" Jennings was the widow of a man\n    who had got all his mo"
	.ascii	"ney in a low way; and Fanny and\n    Mrs. Ferrars were both "
	.ascii	"strongly prepossessed, that neither\n    she nor her daughte"
	.ascii	"rs were such kind of women as Fanny\n    would like to assoc"
	.ascii	"iate with.  But now I can carry her\n    a most satisfactory"
	.ascii	" account of both.\"\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 34\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \n  "
	.ascii	"  Mrs. John Dashwood had so much confidence in her\n    husb"
	.ascii	"and's judgment, that she waited the very next day\n    both "
	.ascii	"on Mrs. Jennings and her daughter; and her\n    confidence w"
	.ascii	"as rewarded by finding even the former,\n    even the woman "
	.ascii	"with whom her sisters were staying,\n    by no means unworth"
	.ascii	"y her notice; and as for Lady Middleton,\n    she found her "
	.ascii	"one of the most charming women in the world!\n    \n    Lady"
	.ascii	" Middleton was equally pleased with Mrs. Dashwood.\n    Ther"
	.ascii	"e was a kind of cold hearted selfishness on both sides,\n   "
	.ascii	" which mutually attracted them; and they sympathised\n    wi"
	.ascii	"th each other in an insipid propriety of demeanor,\n    and "
	.ascii	"a general want of understanding.\n    \n    The same manners"
	.ascii	", however, which recommended Mrs. John\n    Dashwood to the "
	.ascii	"good opinion of Lady Middleton did not suit\n    the fancy o"
	.ascii	"f Mrs. Jennings, and to HER she appeared nothing\n    more t"
	.ascii	"han a little proud-looking woman of uncordial address,\n    "
	.ascii	"who met her husband's sisters without any affection,\n    an"
	.ascii	"d almost without having anything to say to them;\n    for of"
	.ascii	" the quarter of an hour bestowed on Berkeley Street,\n    sh"
	.ascii	"e sat at least seven minutes and a half in silence.\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   Elinor wanted very much to know, though she did\n    not "
	.ascii	"chuse to ask, whether Edward was then in town;\n    but noth"
	.ascii	"ing would have induced Fanny voluntarily\n    to mention his"
	.ascii	" name before her, till able to tell her\n    that his marria"
	.ascii	"ge with Miss Morton was resolved on,\n    or till her husban"
	.ascii	"d's expectations on Colonel Brandon\n    were answered; beca"
	.ascii	"use she believed them still so very\n    much attached to ea"
	.ascii	"ch other, that they could not be too\n    sedulously divided"
	.ascii	" in word and deed on every occasion.\n    The intelligence h"
	.ascii	"owever, which SHE would not give,\n    soon flowed from anot"
	.ascii	"her quarter.  Lucy came very shortly\n    to claim Elinor's "
	.ascii	"compassion on being unable to see Edward,\n    though he had"
	.ascii	" arrived in town with Mr. and Mrs. Dashwood.\n    He dared n"
	.ascii	"ot come to Bartlett's Buildings for fear\n    of detectio"
	.ascii	"n, and though their mutual impatience to meet,\n    was not "
	.ascii	"to be told, they could do nothing at present\n    but write."
	.ascii	"\n    \n    Edward assured them himself of his being in town"
	.ascii	",\n    within a very short time, by twice calling in Berkele"
	.ascii	"y Street.\n    Twice was his card found on the table, when t"
	.ascii	"hey returned\n    from their morning's engagements.  Elinor "
	.ascii	"was pleased\n    that he had called; and still more pleased "
	.ascii	"that she had\n    missed him.\n    \n    The Dashwoods were "
	.ascii	"so prodigiously delighted\n    with the Middletons, that, th"
	.ascii	"ough not much in the habit\n    of giving anything, they det"
	.ascii	"ermined to give them--\n    a dinner; and soon after their a"
	.ascii	"cquaintance began,\n    invited them to dine in Harley Stree"
	.ascii	"t, where they had\n    taken a very good house for three mon"
	.ascii	"ths.  Their sisters\n    and Mrs. Jennings were invited like"
	.ascii	"wise, and John Dashwood\n    was careful to secure Colonel B"
	.ascii	"randon, who, always glad\n    to be where the Miss Dashwoods"
	.ascii	" were, received his eager\n    civilities with some surprise"
	.ascii	", but much more pleasure.\n    They were to meet Mrs. Ferrar"
	.ascii	"s; but Elinor could not learn\n    whether her sons were to "
	.ascii	"be of the party.  The expectation\n    of seeing HER, howeve"
	.ascii	"r, was enough to make her interested\n    in the engagement;"
	.ascii	" for though she could now meet Edward's\n    mother without "
	.ascii	"that strong anxiety which had once promised\n    to attend s"
	.ascii	"uch an introduction, though she could now see\n    her with "
	.ascii	"perfect indifference as to her opinion of herself,\n    her "
	.ascii	"desire of being in company with Mrs. Ferrars,\n    her curio"
	.ascii	"sity to know what she was like, was as lively as ever.\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    The interest with which she thus anticipated the\n    "
	.ascii	"party, was soon afterwards increased, more powerfully\n    t"
	.ascii	"han pleasantly, by her hearing that the Miss Steeles\n    we"
	.ascii	"re also to be at it.\n    \n    So well had they recommended"
	.ascii	" themselves to Lady Middleton,\n    so agreeable had their a"
	.ascii	"ssiduities made them to her,\n    that though Lucy was certa"
	.ascii	"inly not so elegant, and her\n    sister not even genteel, "
	.ascii	"she was as ready as Sir John\n    to ask them to spend a wee"
	.ascii	"k or two in Conduit Street;\n    and it happened to be parti"
	.ascii	"cularly convenient to the Miss\n    Steeles, as soon as the "
	.ascii	"Dashwoods' invitation was known,\n    that their visit shoul"
	.ascii	"d begin a few days before the party\n    took place.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    Their claims to the notice of Mrs. John Dashwood,\n    a"
	.ascii	"s the nieces of the gentleman who for many years had\n    ha"
	.ascii	"d the care of her brother, might not have done much,\n    ho"
	.ascii	"wever, towards procuring them seats at her table;\n    but a"
	.ascii	"s Lady Middleton's guests they must be welcome; and Lucy,\n "
	.ascii	"   who had long wanted to be personally known to the family,"
	.ascii	"\n    to have a nearer view of their characters and her own\n"
	.ascii	"    difficulties, and to have an opportunity of endeavouring"
	.ascii	"\n    to please them, had seldom been happier in her life,\n"
	.ascii	"    than she was on receiving Mrs. John Dashwood's card.\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    On Elinor its effect was very different.  She began\n"
	.ascii	"    immediately to determine, that Edward who lived with\n  "
	.ascii	"  his mother, must be asked as his mother was, to a party\n "
	.ascii	"   given by his sister; and to see him for the first time,\n"
	.ascii	"    after all that passed, in the company of Lucy!--she hard"
	.ascii	"ly\n    knew how she could bear it!\n    \n    These apprehe"
	.ascii	"nsions, perhaps, were not founded\n    entirely on reason, a"
	.ascii	"nd certainly not at all on truth.\n    They were relieved ho"
	.ascii	"wever, not by her own recollection,\n    but by the good wil"
	.ascii	"l of Lucy, who believed herself to be\n    inflicting a seve"
	.ascii	"re disappointment when she told her\n    that Edward certain"
	.ascii	"ly would not be in Harley Street on Tuesday,\n    and even h"
	.ascii	"oped to be carrying the pain still farther\n    by persuadin"
	.ascii	"g her that he was kept away by the extreme\n    affection fo"
	.ascii	"r herself, which he could not conceal when they\n    were to"
	.ascii	"gether.\n    \n    The important Tuesday came that was to in"
	.ascii	"troduce\n    the two young ladies to this formidable mother-"
	.ascii	"in-law.\n    \n    \"Pity me, dear Miss Dashwood!\" said Luc"
	.ascii	"y, as they\n    walked up the stairs together--for the Middl"
	.ascii	"etons arrived\n    so directly after Mrs. Jennings, that the"
	.ascii	"y all followed\n    the servant at the same time--\"There is"
	.ascii	" nobody here but\n    you, that can feel for me.--I declare "
	.ascii	"I can hardly stand.\n    Good gracious!--In a moment I shall"
	.ascii	" see the person that all\n    my happiness depends on--that "
	.ascii	"is to be my mother!\"--\n    \n    Elinor could have given h"
	.ascii	"er immediate relief\n    by suggesting the possibility of it"
	.ascii	"s being Miss Morton's mother,\n    rather than her own, whom"
	.ascii	" they were about to behold;\n    but instead of doing that, "
	.ascii	"she assured her, and with\n    great sincerity, that she did"
	.ascii	" pity her--to the utter\n    amazement of Lucy, who, though "
	.ascii	"really uncomfortable herself,\n    hoped at least to be an o"
	.ascii	"bject of irrepressible envy to Elinor.\n    \n    Mrs. Ferra"
	.ascii	"rs was a little, thin woman, upright,\n    even to formality"
	.ascii	", in her figure, and serious,\n    even to sourness, in her "
	.ascii	"aspect.  Her complexion was sallow;\n    and her features sm"
	.ascii	"all, without beauty, and naturally\n    without expression; "
	.ascii	"but a lucky contraction of the brow\n    had rescued her cou"
	.ascii	"ntenance from the disgrace of insipidity,\n    by giving it "
	.ascii	"the strong characters of pride and ill nature.\n    She was "
	.ascii	"not a woman of many words; for, unlike people\n    in genera"
	.ascii	"l, she proportioned them to the number of\n    her ideas; an"
	.ascii	"d of the few syllables that did escape her,\n    not one fel"
	.ascii	"l to the share of Miss Dashwood, whom she eyed\n    with the"
	.ascii	" spirited determination of disliking her at all events.\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    Elinor could not NOW be made unhappy by this behaviou"
	.ascii	"r.--\n    A few months ago it would have hurt her exceedingl"
	.ascii	"y; but it\n    was not in Mrs. Ferrars' power to distress he"
	.ascii	"r by it now;--\n    and the difference of her manners to the"
	.ascii	" Miss Steeles,\n    a difference which seemed purposely made"
	.ascii	" to humble her more,\n    only amused her.  She could not bu"
	.ascii	"t smile to see the graciousness\n    of both mother and daug"
	.ascii	"hter towards the very person--\n    for Lucy was particularl"
	.ascii	"y distinguished--whom of all others,\n    had they known a"
	.ascii	"s much as she did, they would have been most\n    anxious to"
	.ascii	" mortify; while she herself, who had comparatively\n    no p"
	.ascii	"ower to wound them, sat pointedly slighted by both.\n    But"
	.ascii	" while she smiled at a graciousness so misapplied,\n    she "
	.ascii	"could not reflect on the mean-spirited folly from\n    which"
	.ascii	" it sprung, nor observe the studied attentions\n    with whi"
	.ascii	"ch the Miss Steeles courted its continuance,\n    without th"
	.ascii	"oroughly despising them all four.\n    \n    Lucy was all ex"
	.ascii	"ultation on being so honorably\n    distinguished; and Miss "
	.ascii	"Steele wanted only to be teazed\n    about Dr. Davies to be "
	.ascii	"perfectly happy.\n    \n    The dinner was a grand one, the "
	.ascii	"servants were numerous,\n    and every thing bespoke the Mis"
	.ascii	"tress's inclination\n    for show, and the Master's ability "
	.ascii	"to support it.\n    In spite of the improvements and additio"
	.ascii	"ns which were\n    making to the Norland estate, and in spit"
	.ascii	"e of its owner\n    having once been within some thousand po"
	.ascii	"unds of being\n    obliged to sell out at a loss, nothing ga"
	.ascii	"ve any symptom\n    of that indigence which he had tried to "
	.ascii	"infer from it;--\n    no poverty of any kind, except of conv"
	.ascii	"ersation, appeared--\n    but there, the deficiency was cons"
	.ascii	"iderable.  John Dashwood\n    had not much to say for himsel"
	.ascii	"f that was worth hearing,\n    and his wife had still less. "
	.ascii	" But there was no peculiar\n    disgrace in this; for it was"
	.ascii	" very much the case with\n    the chief of their visitors, w"
	.ascii	"ho almost all laboured\n    under one or other of these disq"
	.ascii	"ualifications for being\n    agreeable--Want of sense, eithe"
	.ascii	"r natural or improved--want\n    of elegance--want of spirit"
	.ascii	"s--or want of temper.\n    \n    When the ladies withdrew to"
	.ascii	" the drawing-room\n    after dinner, this poverty was partic"
	.ascii	"ularly evident,\n    for the gentlemen HAD supplied the disc"
	.ascii	"ourse with some\n    variety--the variety of politics, inclo"
	.ascii	"sing land,\n    and breaking horses--but then it was all ove"
	.ascii	"r; and one\n    subject only engaged the ladies till coffee "
	.ascii	"came in,\n    which was the comparative heights of Harry "
	.ascii	"Dashwood,\n    and Lady Middleton's second son William, who "
	.ascii	"were nearly\n    of the same age.\n    \n    Had both the ch"
	.ascii	"ildren been there, the affair might\n    have been determine"
	.ascii	"d too easily by measuring them at once;\n    but as Harry on"
	.ascii	"ly was present, it was all conjectural\n    assertion on bot"
	.ascii	"h sides; and every body had a right to\n    be equally posit"
	.ascii	"ive in their opinion, and to repeat it\n    over and over ag"
	.ascii	"ain as often as they liked.\n    \n    The parties stood thu"
	.ascii	"s:\n    \n    The two mothers, though each really convinced "
	.ascii	"that\n    her own son was the tallest, politely decided in f"
	.ascii	"avour\n    of the other.\n    \n    The two grandmothers, wi"
	.ascii	"th not less partiality,\n    but more sincerity, were equall"
	.ascii	"y earnest in support\n    of their own descendant.\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  Lucy, who was hardly less anxious to please one parent\n  "
	.ascii	"  than the other, thought the boys were both remarkably tall"
	.ascii	"\n    for their age, and could not conceive that there could"
	.ascii	"\n    be the smallest difference in the world between them;\n"
	.ascii	"    and Miss Steele, with yet greater address gave it,\n    "
	.ascii	"as fast as she could, in favour of each.\n    \n    Elinor, "
	.ascii	"having once delivered her opinion on\n    William's side, by"
	.ascii	" which she offended Mrs. Ferrars and\n    Fanny still more, "
	.ascii	"did not see the necessity of enforcing\n    it by any farthe"
	.ascii	"r assertion; and Marianne, when called\n    on for her's, of"
	.ascii	"fended them all, by declaring that she\n    had no opinion t"
	.ascii	"o give, as she had never thought about it.\n    \n    Before"
	.ascii	" her removing from Norland, Elinor had painted\n    a very p"
	.ascii	"retty pair of screens for her sister-in-law,\n    which bein"
	.ascii	"g now just mounted and brought home,\n    ornamented her pre"
	.ascii	"sent drawing room; and these screens,\n    catching the eye "
	.ascii	"of John Dashwood on his following\n    the other gentlemen i"
	.ascii	"nto the room, were officiously\n    handed by him to Colonel"
	.ascii	" Brandon for his admiration.\n    \n    \"These are done by "
	.ascii	"my eldest sister,\" said he; \"and you,\n    as a man of tas"
	.ascii	"te, will, I dare say, be pleased with them.\n    I do not kn"
	.ascii	"ow whet"
	.ascii	"her you have ever happened to see any\n    of her performanc"
	.ascii	"es before, but she is in general reckoned\n    to draw extre"
	.ascii	"mely well.\"\n    \n    The Colonel, though disclaiming all "
	.ascii	"pretensions\n    to connoisseurship, warmly admired the scre"
	.ascii	"ens, as he\n    would have done any thing painted by Miss Da"
	.ascii	"shwood;\n    and on the curiosity of the others being of cou"
	.ascii	"rse excited,\n    they were handed round for general inspect"
	.ascii	"ion.\n    Mrs. Ferrars, not aware of their being Elinor's wo"
	.ascii	"rk,\n    particularly requested to look at them; and after t"
	.ascii	"hey had\n    received gratifying testimony of Lady Middleton"
	.ascii	"s's approbation,\n    Fanny presented them to her mother, co"
	.ascii	"nsiderately informing\n    her, at the same time, that they "
	.ascii	"were done by Miss Dashwood.\n    \n    \"Hum\"--said Mrs. Fe"
	.ascii	"rrars--\"very pretty,\"--and without\n    regarding them at "
	.ascii	"all, returned them to her daughter.\n    \n    Perhaps Fanny"
	.ascii	" thought for a moment that her mother\n    had been quite ru"
	.ascii	"de enough,--for, colouring a little,\n    she immediately sa"
	.ascii	"id,\n    \n    \"They are very pretty, ma'am--an't they?\" B"
	.ascii	"ut then again,\n    the dread of having been too civil, too "
	.ascii	"encouraging herself,\n    probably came over her, for she pr"
	.ascii	"esently added,\n    \n    \"Do you not think they are someth"
	.ascii	"ing in Miss\n    Morton's style of painting, Ma'am?--She DOE"
	.ascii	"S paint most\n    delightfully!--How beautifully her last la"
	.ascii	"ndscape is done!\"\n    \n    \"Beautifully indeed!  But SHE"
	.ascii	" does every thing well.\"\n    \n    Marianne could not bear"
	.ascii	" this.--She was already\n    greatly displeased with Mrs. Fe"
	.ascii	"rrars; and such ill-timed\n    praise of another, at Elinor'"
	.ascii	"s expense, though she\n    had not any notion of what was pr"
	.ascii	"incipally meant by it,\n    provoked her immediately to say "
	.ascii	"with warmth,\n    \n    \"This is admiration of a very parti"
	.ascii	"cular kind!--\n    what is Miss Morton to us?--who knows, or"
	.ascii	" who cares,\n    for her?--it is Elinor of whom WE think and"
	.ascii	" speak.\"\n    \n    And so saying, she took the screens out"
	.ascii	" of her\n    sister-in-law's hands, to admire them herself a"
	.ascii	"s they\n    ought"
	.ascii	" to be admired.\n    \n    Mrs. Ferrars looked exceedingly a"
	.ascii	"ngry, and drawing\n    herself up more stiffly than ever, pr"
	.ascii	"onounced in retort\n    this bitter philippic, \"Miss Morton"
	.ascii	" is Lord Morton's daughter.\"\n    \n    Fanny looked very a"
	.ascii	"ngry too, and her husband was\n    all in a fright at his si"
	.ascii	"ster's audacity.  Elinor was\n    much more hurt by Marianne"
	.ascii	"'s warmth than she had been\n    by what produced it; but Co"
	.ascii	"lonel Brandon's eyes, as they\n    were fixed on Marianne, d"
	.ascii	"eclared that he noticed only\n    what was amiable in it, th"
	.ascii	"e affectionate heart which could\n    not bear to see a sist"
	.ascii	"er slighted in the smallest point.\n    \n    Marianne's fee"
	.ascii	"lings did not stop here.  The cold\n    insolence of Mrs. Fe"
	.ascii	"rrars's general behaviour to her sister,\n    seemed, to her"
	.ascii	", to foretell such difficulties and distresses\n    to Elino"
	.ascii	"r, as her own wounded heart taught her to think\n    of with"
	.ascii	" horror; and urged by a strong impulse of\n    affectionate "
	.ascii	"sensibility, she moved after a moment,\n    to her sister's "
	.ascii	"chair, and putting one arm round her neck,\n    and one chee"
	.ascii	"k close to hers, said in a low, but eager,\n    voice,\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    \"Dear, dear Elinor, don't mind them.  Don't let them\n"
	.ascii	"    make YOU unhappy.\"\n    \n    She could say no more; he"
	.ascii	"r spirits were quite overcome,\n    and hiding her face on E"
	.ascii	"linor's shoulder, she burst\n    into tears.  Every body's a"
	.ascii	"ttention was called, and almost\n    every body was concerne"
	.ascii	"d.--Colonel Brandon rose up and went\n    to them without kn"
	.ascii	"owing what he did.--Mrs. Jennings,\n    with a very intellig"
	.ascii	"ent \"Ah! poor dear,\" immediately gave\n    her her salts; "
	.ascii	"and Sir John felt so desperately enraged\n    against the au"
	.ascii	"thor of this nervous distress, that he\n    instantly change"
	.ascii	"d his seat to one close by Lucy Steele,\n    and gave her, i"
	.ascii	"n a whisper, a brief account of the whole\n    shocking affa"
	.ascii	"ir.\n    \n    In a few minutes, however, Marianne was recov"
	.ascii	"ered\n    enough to put an end to the bustle, and sit down a"
	.ascii	"mong\n    the rest; though her spirits retained the impressi"
	.ascii	"on\n   "
	.ascii	" of what had passed, the whole evening.\n    \n    \"Poor Ma"
	.ascii	"rianne!\" said her brother to Colonel Brandon,\n    in a low"
	.ascii	" voice, as soon as he could secure his attention,--\n    \"S"
	.ascii	"he has not such good health as her sister,--she is very\n   "
	.ascii	" nervous,--she has not Elinor's constitution;--and one must\n"
	.ascii	"    allow that there is something very trying to a young wom"
	.ascii	"an\n    who HAS BEEN a beauty in the loss of her personal at"
	.ascii	"tractions.\n    You would not think it perhaps, but Marianne"
	.ascii	" WAS remarkably\n    handsome a few months ago; quite as han"
	.ascii	"dsome as Elinor.--\n    Now you see it is all gone.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \n    CHAPTER 35\n    \n    \n    Elinor's curiosi"
	.ascii	"ty to see Mrs. Ferrars was satisfied.--\n    She had found i"
	.ascii	"n her every thing that could tend to make\n    a farther con"
	.ascii	"nection between the families undesirable.--\n    She had see"
	.ascii	"n enough of her pride, her meanness, and her\n    determined"
	.ascii	" prejudice against herself, to comprehend all\n    the diffi"
	.ascii	"culties that must have perplexed the engagement,\n    and re"
	.ascii	"tarded the marriage, of Edward and herself, had he been\n   "
	.ascii	" otherwise free;--and she had seen almost enough to be thank"
	.ascii	"ful\n    for her OWN sake, that one greater obstacle preserv"
	.ascii	"ed her\n    from suffering under any other of Mrs. Ferrars's"
	.ascii	" creation,\n    preserved her from all dependence upon her c"
	.ascii	"aprice, or any\n    solicitude for her good opinion.  Or at "
	.ascii	"least, if she did not\n    bring herself quite to rejoice in"
	.ascii	" Edward's being fettered\n    to Lucy, she determined, that "
	.ascii	"had Lucy been more amiable,\n    she OUGHT to have rejoiced."
	.ascii	"\n    \n    She wondered that Lucy's spirits could be so ver"
	.ascii	"y much\n    elevated by the civility of Mrs. Ferrars;--that "
	.ascii	"her interest\n    and her vanity should so very much blind h"
	.ascii	"er as to make\n    the attention which seemed only paid her "
	.ascii	"because she was\n    NOT ELINOR, appear a compliment to hers"
	.ascii	"elf--or to allow\n    her to derive encouragement from a pre"
	.ascii	"ference only given her,\n    because her real situation was "
	.ascii	"unknown.  But that it was so,\n    had not only been declare"
	.ascii	"d "
	.ascii	"by Lucy's eyes at the time,\n    but was declared over again"
	.ascii	" the next morning more openly,\n    for at her particular de"
	.ascii	"sire, Lady Middleton set her down\n    in Berkeley Street on"
	.ascii	" the chance of seeing Elinor alone,\n    to tell her how hap"
	.ascii	"py she was.\n    \n    The chance proved a lucky one, for a "
	.ascii	"message from\n    Mrs. Palmer soon after she arrived, carrie"
	.ascii	"d Mrs. Jennings away.\n    \n    \"My dear friend,\" cried L"
	.ascii	"ucy, as soon as they were\n    by themselves, \"I come to ta"
	.ascii	"lk to you of my happiness.\n    Could anything be so flatter"
	.ascii	"ing as Mrs. Ferrars's way\n    of treating me yesterday?  So"
	.ascii	" exceeding affable as she\n    was!--You know how I dreaded "
	.ascii	"the thoughts of seeing her;--\n    but the very moment I was"
	.ascii	" introduced, there was such an\n    affability in her behavi"
	.ascii	"our as really should seem to say,\n    she had quite took a "
	.ascii	"fancy to me.  Now was not it so?--\n    You saw it all; and "
	.ascii	"was not you quite struck with it?\"\n    \n    \"She was cer"
	.ascii	"tainly very civil to you.\"\n    \n    \"Civil!--Did you see"
	.ascii	" nothing but only civility?--\n    I saw a vast deal more.  "
	.ascii	"Such kindness as fell to the share\n    of nobody but me!--N"
	.ascii	"o pride, no hauteur, and your sister\n    just the same--all"
	.ascii	" sweetness and affability!\"\n    \n    Elinor wished to tal"
	.ascii	"k of something else, but Lucy still\n    pressed her to own "
	.ascii	"that she had reason for her happiness;\n    and Elinor was o"
	.ascii	"bliged to go on.--\n    \n    \"Undoubtedly, if they had kno"
	.ascii	"wn your engagement,\"\n    said she, \"nothing could be more"
	.ascii	" flattering than their\n    treatment of you;--but as that w"
	.ascii	"as not the case\"--\n    \n    \"I guessed you would say so\""
	.ascii	"--replied Lucy\n    quickly--\"but there was no reason in th"
	.ascii	"e world why\n    Mrs. Ferrars should seem to like me, if she"
	.ascii	" did not,\n    and her liking me is every thing.  You shan't"
	.ascii	" talk me\n    out of my satisfaction.  I am sure it will all"
	.ascii	" end well,\n    and there will be no difficulties at all, to"
	.ascii	" what I\n    used to think.  Mrs. Ferrars is a charming woma"
	.ascii	"n,\n    and so is your sister.  They are both delightful wom"
	.ascii	"en,\n    indeed!"
	.ascii	"--I wonder I should never hear you say how agreeable\n    Mr"
	.ascii	"s. Dashwood was!\"\n    \n    To this Elinor had no answer t"
	.ascii	"o make, and did not\n    attempt any.\n    \n    \"Are you i"
	.ascii	"ll, Miss Dashwood?--you seem low--you\n    don't speak;--sur"
	.ascii	"e you an't well.\"\n    \n    \"I never was in better health"
	.ascii	".\"\n    \n    \"I am glad of it with all my heart; but real"
	.ascii	"ly you did\n    not look it.  I should be sorry to have YOU "
	.ascii	"ill; you, that have\n    been the greatest comfort to me in "
	.ascii	"the world!--Heaven\n    knows what I should have done withou"
	.ascii	"t your friendship.\"--\n    \n    Elinor tried to make a civ"
	.ascii	"il answer, though doubting\n    her own success.  But it see"
	.ascii	"med to satisfy Lucy, for she\n    directly replied,\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   \"Indeed I am perfectly convinced of your regard\n    for"
	.ascii	" me, and next to Edward's love, it is the greatest\n    comf"
	.ascii	"ort I have.--Poor Edward!--But now there is one\n    good th"
	.ascii	"ing, we shall be able to meet, and meet pretty often,\n    f"
	.ascii	"or Lady Middleton's delighted with Mrs. Dashwood,\n    so we"
	.ascii	" shall be a good deal in Harley Street, I dare say,\n    and"
	.ascii	" Edward spends half his time with his sister--besides,\n    "
	.ascii	"Lady Middleton and Mrs. Ferrars will visit now;--\n    and M"
	.ascii	"rs. Ferrars and your sister were both so good to say\n    mo"
	.ascii	"re than once, they should always be glad to see me.--\n    T"
	.ascii	"hey are such charming women!--I am sure if ever you\n    tel"
	.ascii	"l your sister what I think of her, you cannot speak\n    too"
	.ascii	" high.\"\n    \n    But Elinor would not give her any encour"
	.ascii	"agement\n    to hope that she SHOULD tell her sister.  Lucy "
	.ascii	"continued.\n    \n    \"I am sure I should have seen it in a"
	.ascii	" moment,\n    if Mrs. Ferrars had took a dislike to me.  If "
	.ascii	"she had only\n    made me a formal courtesy, for instance, w"
	.ascii	"ithout saying\n    a word, and never after had took any noti"
	.ascii	"ce of me,\n    and never looked at me in a pleasant way--you"
	.ascii	" know\n    what I mean--if I had been treated in that forbid"
	.ascii	"ding\n    sort of way, I should have gave it all up in despa"
	.ascii	"ir.\n    I could not have stood it.  For where she DOES disl"
	.ascii	"ike,\n    I kno"
	.ascii	"w it is most violent.\"\n    \n    Elinor was prevented from"
	.ascii	" making any reply to this\n    civil triumph, by the door's "
	.ascii	"being thrown open, the servant's\n    announcing Mr. Ferrars"
	.ascii	", and Edward's immediately walking in.\n    \n    It was a v"
	.ascii	"ery awkward moment; and the countenance of each\n    shewed "
	.ascii	"that it was so.  They all looked exceedingly foolish;\n    a"
	.ascii	"nd Edward seemed to have as great an inclination to walk\n  "
	.ascii	"  out of the room again, as to advance farther into it.\n   "
	.ascii	" The very circumstance, in its unpleasantest form,\n    whic"
	.ascii	"h they would each have been most anxious to avoid,\n    had "
	.ascii	"fallen on them.--They were not only all three together,\n   "
	.ascii	" but were together without the relief of any other person.\n"
	.ascii	"    The ladies recovered themselves first.  It was not Lucy'"
	.ascii	"s\n    business to put herself forward, and the appearance o"
	.ascii	"f\n    secrecy must still be kept up.  She could therefore o"
	.ascii	"nly\n    LOOK her tenderness, and after slightly addressing "
	.ascii	"him,\n    said no more.\n    \n    But Elinor had more to do"
	.ascii	"; and so anxious was she,\n    for his sake and her own, to "
	.ascii	"do it well, that she\n    forced herself, after a moment's r"
	.ascii	"ecollection,\n    to welcome him, with a look and manner tha"
	.ascii	"t were almost easy,\n    and almost open; and another strugg"
	.ascii	"le, another effort still\n    improved them.  She would not "
	.ascii	"allow the presence of Lucy,\n    nor the consciousness of so"
	.ascii	"me injustice towards herself,\n    to deter her from saying "
	.ascii	"that she was happy to see him,\n    and that she had very mu"
	.ascii	"ch regretted being from home,\n    when he called before in "
	.ascii	"Berkeley Street.  She would\n    not be frightened from payi"
	.ascii	"ng him those attentions which,\n    as a friend and almost a"
	.ascii	" relation, were his due, by the\n    observant eyes of Lucy,"
	.ascii	" though she soon perceived them\n    to be narrowly watching"
	.ascii	" her.\n    \n    Her manners gave some re-assurance to Edwar"
	.ascii	"d, and he\n    had courage enough to sit down; but his embar"
	.ascii	"rassment still\n    exceeded that of the ladies in a proport"
	.ascii	"ion, which the case\n    rendered reasonable, though his se"
	.ascii	"x might make it rare;\n    for his heart had not the indiffe"
	.ascii	"rence of Lucy's, nor\n    could his conscience have quite th"
	.ascii	"e ease of Elinor's.\n    \n    Lucy, with a demure and settl"
	.ascii	"ed air, seemed determined\n    to make no contribution to th"
	.ascii	"e comfort of the others,\n    and would not say a word; and "
	.ascii	"almost every thing that WAS\n    said, proceeded from Elinor"
	.ascii	", who was obliged to volunteer\n    all the information abou"
	.ascii	"t her mother's health, their coming\n    to town, &c. which "
	.ascii	"Edward ought to have inquired about,\n    but never did.\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    Her exertions did not stop here; for she soon\n    a"
	.ascii	"fterwards felt herself so heroically disposed as\n    to det"
	.ascii	"ermine, under pretence of fetching Marianne,\n    to leave t"
	.ascii	"he others by themselves; and she really did it,\n    and THA"
	.ascii	"T in the handsomest manner, for she loitered away\n    sever"
	.ascii	"al minutes on the landing-place, with the most\n    high-min"
	.ascii	"ded fortitude, before she went to her sister.\n    When that"
	.ascii	" was once done, however, it was time for the raptures\n    o"
	.ascii	"f Edward to cease; for Marianne's joy hurried her into\n    "
	.ascii	"the drawing-room immediately.  Her pleasure in seeing him\n "
	.ascii	"   was like every other of her feelings, strong in itself,\n"
	.ascii	"    and strongly spoken.  She met him with a hand that would"
	.ascii	"\n    be taken, and a voice that expressed the affection of "
	.ascii	"a sister.\n    \n    \"Dear Edward!\" she cried, \"this is a"
	.ascii	" moment of great\n    happiness!--This would almost make ame"
	.ascii	"nds for every thing?\"\n    \n    Edward tried to return her"
	.ascii	" kindness as it deserved,\n    but before such witnesses he "
	.ascii	"dared not say half what he\n    really felt.  Again they all"
	.ascii	" sat down, and for a moment\n    or two all were silent; whi"
	.ascii	"le Marianne was looking with the\n    most speaking tenderne"
	.ascii	"ss, sometimes at Edward and sometimes\n    at Elinor, regret"
	.ascii	"ting only that their delight in each\n    other should be ch"
	.ascii	"ecked by Lucy's unwelcome presence.\n    Edward was the firs"
	.ascii	"t to speak, and it was to notice\n    Marianne's altered loo"
	.ascii	"ks, and express his fear of her\n    not finding London agre"
	.ascii	"e "
	.ascii	"with her.\n    \n    \"Oh, don't think of me!\" she replied "
	.ascii	"with spirited\n    earnestness, though her eyes were filled "
	.ascii	"with tears\n    as she spoke, \"don't think of MY health.  E"
	.ascii	"linor is well,\n    you see.  That must be enough for us bot"
	.ascii	"h.\"\n    \n    This remark was not calculated to make Edwar"
	.ascii	"d or\n    Elinor more easy, nor to conciliate the good will "
	.ascii	"of Lucy,\n    who looked up at Marianne with no very benigna"
	.ascii	"nt expression.\n    \n    \"Do you like London?\" said Edwar"
	.ascii	"d, willing to say\n    any thing that might introduce anothe"
	.ascii	"r subject.\n    \n    \"Not at all.  I expected much pleasur"
	.ascii	"e in it,\n    but I have found none.  The sight of you, Edwa"
	.ascii	"rd, is the\n    only comfort it has afforded; and thank Heav"
	.ascii	"en! you\n    are what you always were!\"\n    \n    She paus"
	.ascii	"ed--no one spoke.\n    \n    \"I think, Elinor,\" she presen"
	.ascii	"tly added, \"we must\n    employ Edward to take care of us i"
	.ascii	"n our return to Barton.\n    In a week or two, I suppose, we"
	.ascii	" shall be going; and, I trust,\n    Edward will not be very "
	.ascii	"unwilling to accept the charge.\"\n    \n    Poor Edward mut"
	.ascii	"tered something, but what it was,\n    nobody knew, not even"
	.ascii	" himself.  But Marianne, who saw\n    his agitation, and cou"
	.ascii	"ld easily trace it to whatever\n    cause best pleased herse"
	.ascii	"lf, was perfectly satisfied,\n    and soon talked of somethi"
	.ascii	"ng else.\n    \n    \"We spent such a day, Edward, in Harley"
	.ascii	" Street\n    yesterday!  So dull, so wretchedly dull!--But I"
	.ascii	" have much\n    to say to you on that head, which cannot be "
	.ascii	"said now.\"\n    \n    And with this admirable discretion di"
	.ascii	"d she defer\n    the assurance of her finding their mutual r"
	.ascii	"elatives more\n    disagreeable than ever, and of her being "
	.ascii	"particularly\n    disgusted with his mother, till they were "
	.ascii	"more in private.\n    \n    \"But why were you not there, Ed"
	.ascii	"ward?--Why did you\n    not come?\"\n    \n    \"I was engag"
	.ascii	"ed elsewhere.\"\n    \n    \"Engaged!  But what was that, wh"
	.ascii	"en such friends\n    were to be met?\"\n    \n    \"Perhaps,"
	.ascii	" Miss Marianne,\" cried Lucy, eager to take\n    some reveng"
	.ascii	"e on her, \"you think young men n"
	.ascii	"ever stand\n    upon engagements, if they have no mind to ke"
	.ascii	"ep them,\n    little as well as great.\"\n    \n    Elinor w"
	.ascii	"as very angry, but Marianne seemed entirely\n    insensible "
	.ascii	"of the sting; for she calmly replied,\n    \n    \"Not so, i"
	.ascii	"ndeed; for, seriously speaking, I am very\n    sure that con"
	.ascii	"science only kept Edward from Harley Street.\n    And I real"
	.ascii	"ly believe he HAS the most delicate conscience\n    in the w"
	.ascii	"orld; the most scrupulous in performing\n    every engagemen"
	.ascii	"t, however minute, and however it\n    may make against his "
	.ascii	"interest or pleasure.  He is the\n    most fearful of giving"
	.ascii	" pain, of wounding expectation,\n    and the most incapable "
	.ascii	"of being selfish, of any body\n    I ever saw.  Edward, it i"
	.ascii	"s so, and I will say it.\n    What! are you never to hear yo"
	.ascii	"urself praised!--Then you\n    must be no friend of mine; fo"
	.ascii	"r those who will accept\n    of my love and esteem, must sub"
	.ascii	"mit to my open commendation.\"\n    \n    The nature of her "
	.ascii	"commendation, in the present case,\n    however, happened to"
	.ascii	" be particularly ill-suited to the\n    feelings of two thir"
	.ascii	"ds of her auditors, and was so very\n    unexhilarating to E"
	.ascii	"dward, that he very soon got up to go away.\n    \n    \"Goi"
	.ascii	"ng so soon!\" said Marianne; \"my dear Edward,\n    this mus"
	.ascii	"t not be.\"\n    \n    And drawing him a little aside, she w"
	.ascii	"hispered\n    her persuasion that Lucy could not stay much l"
	.ascii	"onger.\n    But even this encouragement failed, for he would"
	.ascii	" go;\n    and Lucy, who would have outstaid him, had his vis"
	.ascii	"it lasted\n    two hours, soon afterwards went away.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"What can bring her here so often?\" said Marianne,\n  "
	.ascii	"  on her leaving them.  \"Could not she see that we wanted\n"
	.ascii	"    her gone!--how teazing to Edward!\"\n    \n    \"Why so?"
	.ascii	"--we were all his friends, and Lucy has been\n    the longes"
	.ascii	"t known to him of any.  It is but natural\n    that he shoul"
	.ascii	"d like to see her as well as ourselves.\"\n    \n    Mariann"
	.ascii	"e looked at her steadily, and said, \"You know,\n    Elinor,"
	.ascii	" that this is a kind of talking which I cannot bear.\n    If"
	.ascii	" you only hope to "
	.ascii	"have your assertion contradicted,\n    as I must suppose to "
	.ascii	"be the case, you ought to recollect\n    that I am the last "
	.ascii	"person in the world to do it.\n    I cannot descend to be tr"
	.ascii	"icked out of assurances, that are\n    not really wanted.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    She then left the room; and Elinor dared not follo"
	.ascii	"w\n    her to say more, for bound as she was by her promise\n"
	.ascii	"    of secrecy to Lucy, she could give no information that\n"
	.ascii	"    would convince Marianne; and painful as the consequences"
	.ascii	"\n    of her still continuing in an error might be, she was\n"
	.ascii	"    obliged to submit to it.  All that she could hope, was\n"
	.ascii	"    that Edward would not often expose her or himself to the"
	.ascii	"\n    distress of hearing Marianne's mistaken warmth, nor to"
	.ascii	" the\n    repetition of any other part of the pain that had "
	.ascii	"attended\n    their recent meeting--and this she had every r"
	.ascii	"eason to expect.\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 36\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    Within a few days after this meeting, the newspapers"
	.ascii	"\n    announced to the world, that the lady of Thomas Palmer"
	.ascii	",\n    Esq. was safely delivered of a son and heir; a very\n"
	.ascii	"    interesting and satisfactory paragraph, at least to all\n"
	.ascii	"    those intimate connections who knew it before.\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  This event, highly important to Mrs. Jennings's happiness,"
	.ascii	"\n    produced a temporary alteration in the disposal of her"
	.ascii	" time,\n    and influenced, in a like degree, the engagement"
	.ascii	"s\n    of her young friends; for as she wished to be as much"
	.ascii	"\n    as possible with Charlotte, she went thither every mor"
	.ascii	"ning\n    as soon as she was dressed, and did not return til"
	.ascii	"l late\n    in the evening; and the Miss Dashwoods, at the p"
	.ascii	"articular\n    request of the Middletons, spent the whole of"
	.ascii	" every day,\n    in every day in Conduit Street.  For their "
	.ascii	"own comfort\n    they would much rather have remained, at le"
	.ascii	"ast all\n    the morning, in Mrs. Jennings's house; but it w"
	.ascii	"as not\n    a thing to be urged against the wishes of everyb"
	.ascii	"ody.\n    Their hours were therefore made over to Lady Middl"
	.ascii	"eton\n    and the two Miss Steeles, by whom their company,"
	.ascii	" in fact\n    was as little valued, as it was professedly so"
	.ascii	"ught.\n    \n    They had too much sense to be desirable com"
	.ascii	"panions\n    to the former; and by the latter they were cons"
	.ascii	"idered with\n    a jealous eye, as intruding on THEIR ground"
	.ascii	", and sharing\n    the kindness which they wanted to monopol"
	.ascii	"ize.  Though nothing\n    could be more polite than Lady Mid"
	.ascii	"dleton's behaviour to\n    Elinor and Marianne, she did not "
	.ascii	"really like them at all.\n    Because they neither flattered"
	.ascii	" herself nor her children,\n    she could not believe them g"
	.ascii	"ood-natured; and because they\n    were fond of reading, she"
	.ascii	" fancied them satirical: perhaps\n    without exactly knowin"
	.ascii	"g what it was to be satirical;\n    but THAT did not signify"
	.ascii	".  It was censure in common use,\n    and easily given.\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    Their presence was a restraint both on her and on Luc"
	.ascii	"y.\n    It checked the idleness of one, and the business of "
	.ascii	"the other.\n    Lady Middleton was ashamed of doing nothing "
	.ascii	"before them,\n    and the flattery which Lucy was proud to t"
	.ascii	"hink of\n    and administer at other times, she feared they "
	.ascii	"would despise\n    her for offering.  Miss Steele was the le"
	.ascii	"ast discomposed\n    of the three, by their presence; and it"
	.ascii	" was in their power\n    to reconcile her to it entirely.  W"
	.ascii	"ould either of them\n    only have given her a full and minu"
	.ascii	"te account of the whole\n    affair between Marianne and Mr."
	.ascii	" Willoughby, she would\n    have thought herself amply rewar"
	.ascii	"ded for the sacrifice\n    of the best place by the fire aft"
	.ascii	"er dinner, which their\n    arrival occasioned.  But this co"
	.ascii	"nciliation was not granted;\n    for though she often threw "
	.ascii	"out expressions of pity for her\n    sister to Elinor, and m"
	.ascii	"ore than once dropt a reflection\n    on the inconstancy of "
	.ascii	"beaux before Marianne, no effect\n    was produced, but a lo"
	.ascii	"ok of indifference from the former,\n    or of disgust in th"
	.ascii	"e latter.  An effort even yet lighter\n    might have made h"
	.ascii	"er their friend.  Would they only have\n    laughed at her a"
	.ascii	"bout the Doctor!  But so little were they,\n    anymore "
	.ascii	"than the others, inclined to oblige her,\n    that if Sir Jo"
	.ascii	"hn dined from home, she might spend a whole\n    day without"
	.ascii	" hearing any other raillery on the subject,\n    than what s"
	.ascii	"he was kind enough to bestow on herself.\n    \n    All thes"
	.ascii	"e jealousies and discontents, however, were so\n    totally "
	.ascii	"unsuspected by Mrs. Jennings, that she thought\n    it a del"
	.ascii	"ightful thing for the girls to be together;\n    and general"
	.ascii	"ly congratulated her young friends every night,\n    on havi"
	.ascii	"ng escaped the company of a stupid old woman so long.\n    S"
	.ascii	"he joined them sometimes at Sir John's, sometimes\n    at he"
	.ascii	"r own house; but wherever it was, she always came\n    in ex"
	.ascii	"cellent spirits, full of delight and importance,\n    attrib"
	.ascii	"uting Charlotte's well doing to her own care, and ready\n   "
	.ascii	" to give so exact, so minute a detail of her situation,\n   "
	.ascii	" as only Miss Steele had curiosity enough to desire.\n    On"
	.ascii	"e thing DID disturb her; and of that she made her\n    daily"
	.ascii	" complaint.  Mr. Palmer maintained the common,\n    but unfa"
	.ascii	"therly opinion among his sex, of all infants being alike;\n "
	.ascii	"   and though she could plainly perceive, at different times"
	.ascii	",\n    the most striking resemblance between this baby and e"
	.ascii	"very\n    one of his relations on both sides, there was no c"
	.ascii	"onvincing\n    his father of it; no persuading him to believ"
	.ascii	"e that it\n    was not exactly like every other baby of the "
	.ascii	"same age;\n    nor could he even be brought to acknowledge t"
	.ascii	"he simple\n    proposition of its being the finest child in "
	.ascii	"the world.\n    \n    I come now to the relation of a misfor"
	.ascii	"tune,\n    which about this time befell Mrs. John Dashwood.\n"
	.ascii	"    It so happened that while her two sisters with\n    Mrs."
	.ascii	" Jennings were first calling on her in Harley Street,\n    a"
	.ascii	"nother of her acquaintance had dropt in--a circumstance\n   "
	.ascii	" in itself not apparently likely to produce evil to her.\n  "
	.ascii	"  But while the imaginations of other people will carry\n   "
	.ascii	" them away to form wrong judgments of our conduct,\n    and "
	.ascii	"to decide on it by slight appearances, one's happiness"
	.ascii	"\n    must in some measure be always at the mercy of chance."
	.ascii	"\n    In the present instance, this last-arrived lady allowe"
	.ascii	"d\n    her fancy to so far outrun truth and probability,\n  "
	.ascii	"  that on merely hearing the name of the Miss Dashwoods,\n  "
	.ascii	"  and understanding them to be Mr. Dashwood's sisters,\n    "
	.ascii	"she immediately concluded them to be staying in Harley Stree"
	.ascii	"t;\n    and this misconstruction produced within a day\n    "
	.ascii	"or two afterwards, cards of invitation for them\n    as well"
	.ascii	" as for their brother and sister, to a small\n    musical pa"
	.ascii	"rty at her house.  The consequence of which was,\n    that M"
	.ascii	"rs. John Dashwood was obliged to submit not only\n    to the"
	.ascii	" exceedingly great inconvenience of sending her\n    carriag"
	.ascii	"e for the Miss Dashwoods, but, what was still worse,\n    mu"
	.ascii	"st be subject to all the unpleasantness of appearing\n    to"
	.ascii	" treat them with attention: and who could tell that they\n  "
	.ascii	"  might not expect to go out with her a second time?  The po"
	.ascii	"wer\n    of disappointing them, it was true, must always be "
	.ascii	"her's.\n    But that was not enough; for when people are det"
	.ascii	"ermined\n    on a mode of conduct which they know to be wron"
	.ascii	"g, they feel\n    injured by the expectation of any thing be"
	.ascii	"tter from them.\n    \n    Marianne had now been brought by "
	.ascii	"degrees, so much\n    into the habit of going out every day,"
	.ascii	" that it was become\n    a matter of indifference to her, wh"
	.ascii	"ether she went or not:\n    and she prepared quietly and mec"
	.ascii	"hanically for every\n    evening's engagement, though withou"
	.ascii	"t expecting the smallest\n    amusement from any, and very o"
	.ascii	"ften without knowing,\n    till the last moment, where it wa"
	.ascii	"s to take her.\n    \n    To her dress and appearance she wa"
	.ascii	"s grown so perfectly\n    indifferent, as not to bestow half"
	.ascii	" the consideration on it,\n    during the whole of her toile"
	.ascii	"t, which it received from\n    Miss Steele in the first five"
	.ascii	" minutes of their being\n    together, when it was finished."
	.ascii	"  Nothing escaped HER minute\n    observation and general cu"
	.ascii	"riosity; she saw every thing,\n    and asked every thing"
	.ascii	"; was never easy till she knew the price\n    of every part "
	.ascii	"of Marianne's dress; could have guessed the\n    number of h"
	.ascii	"er gowns altogether with better judgment than\n    Marianne "
	.ascii	"herself, and was not without hopes of finding out\n    befor"
	.ascii	"e they parted, how much her washing cost per week,\n    and "
	.ascii	"how much she had every year to spend upon herself.\n    The "
	.ascii	"impertinence of these kind of scrutinies, moreover,\n    was"
	.ascii	" generally concluded with a compliment, which\n    though me"
	.ascii	"ant as its douceur, was considered by Marianne\n    as the g"
	.ascii	"reatest impertinence of all; for after undergoing\n    an ex"
	.ascii	"amination into the value and make of her gown,\n    the colo"
	.ascii	"ur of her shoes, and the arrangement of her hair,\n    she w"
	.ascii	"as almost sure of being told that upon \"her word\n    she l"
	.ascii	"ooked vastly smart, and she dared to say she would\n    make"
	.ascii	" a great many conquests.\"\n    \n    With such encouragemen"
	.ascii	"t as this, was she dismissed\n    on the present occasion, t"
	.ascii	"o her brother's carriage;\n    which they were ready to ente"
	.ascii	"r five minutes after it\n    stopped at the door, a punctual"
	.ascii	"ity not very agreeable\n    to their sister-in-law, who had "
	.ascii	"preceded them to the house\n    of her acquaintance, and was"
	.ascii	" there hoping for some delay\n    on their part that might i"
	.ascii	"nconvenience either herself\n    or her coachman.\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" The events of this evening were not very remarkable.\n    T"
	.ascii	"he party, like other musical parties, comprehended a\n    gr"
	.ascii	"eat many people who had real taste for the performance,\n   "
	.ascii	" and a great many more who had none at all; and the performe"
	.ascii	"rs\n    themselves were, as usual, in their own estimation,\n"
	.ascii	"    and that of their immediate friends, the first private\n"
	.ascii	"    performers in England.\n    \n    As Elinor was neither "
	.ascii	"musical, nor affecting to be so,\n    she made no scruple of"
	.ascii	" turning her eyes from the grand\n    pianoforte, whenever i"
	.ascii	"t suited her, and unrestrained even\n    by the presence of "
	.ascii	"a harp, and violoncello, would fix\n    them at pleasure on "
	.ascii	"any other object in the room.  In one\n    of these excursi"
	.ascii	"ve glances she perceived among a group\n    of young men, th"
	.ascii	"e very he, who had given them a lecture\n    on toothpick-ca"
	.ascii	"ses at Gray's.  She perceived him soon\n    afterwards looki"
	.ascii	"ng at herself, and speaking familiarly\n    to her brother; "
	.ascii	"and had just determined to find out his\n    name from the l"
	.ascii	"atter, when they both came towards her,\n    and Mr. Dashwoo"
	.ascii	"d introduced him to her as Mr. Robert Ferrars.\n    \n    He"
	.ascii	" addressed her with easy civility, and twisted\n    his head"
	.ascii	" into a bow which assured her as plainly as\n    words could"
	.ascii	" have done, that he was exactly the coxcomb\n    she had hea"
	.ascii	"rd him described to be by Lucy.  Happy had\n    it been for "
	.ascii	"her, if her regard for Edward had depended\n    less on his "
	.ascii	"own merit, than on the merit of his nearest\n    relations! "
	.ascii	" For then his brother's bow must have given\n    the finishi"
	.ascii	"ng stroke to what the ill-humour of his mother\n    and sist"
	.ascii	"er would have begun.  But while she wondered\n    at the dif"
	.ascii	"ference of the two young men, she did not find\n    that the"
	.ascii	" emptiness of conceit of the one, put her out\n    of all ch"
	.ascii	"arity with the modesty and worth of the other.\n    Why they"
	.ascii	" WERE different, Robert exclaimed to her himself\n    in the"
	.ascii	" course of a quarter of an hour's conversation;\n    for, ta"
	.ascii	"lking of his brother, and lamenting the extreme\n    GAUCHER"
	.ascii	"IE which he really believed kept him from mixing\n    in pro"
	.ascii	"per society, he candidly and generously attributed it\n    m"
	.ascii	"uch less to any natural deficiency, than to the misfortune\n"
	.ascii	"    of a private education; while he himself, though probabl"
	.ascii	"y\n    without any particular, any material superiority\n   "
	.ascii	" by nature, merely from the advantage of a public school,\n "
	.ascii	"   was as well fitted to mix in the world as any other man.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"Upon my soul,\" he added, \"I believe it is noth"
	.ascii	"ing more;\n    and so I often tell my mother, when she is gr"
	.ascii	"ieving\n    about it.  'My dear Madam,' I always say to her,"
	.ascii	" 'you must\n    make yourself easy.  The evil is now irremed"
	.ascii	"iable,\n    and it has been entirely your own doing.  Why"
	.ascii	" would\n    you be persuaded by my uncle, Sir Robert, agains"
	.ascii	"t your\n    own judgment, to place Edward under private tuit"
	.ascii	"ion,\n    at the most critical time of his life?  If you had"
	.ascii	" only sent\n    him to Westminster as well as myself, instea"
	.ascii	"d of sending\n    him to Mr. Pratt's, all this would have be"
	.ascii	"en prevented.'\n    This is the way in which I always consid"
	.ascii	"er the matter,\n    and my mother is perfectly convinced of "
	.ascii	"her error.\"\n    \n    Elinor would not oppose his opinion,"
	.ascii	" because,\n    whatever might be her general estimation of t"
	.ascii	"he advantage\n    of a public school, she could not think of"
	.ascii	" Edward's\n    abode in Mr. Pratt's family, with any satisfa"
	.ascii	"ction.\n    \n    \"You reside in Devonshire, I think,\"--wa"
	.ascii	"s his\n    next observation, \"in a cottage near Dawlish.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    Elinor set him right as to its situation;\n    and"
	.ascii	" it seemed rather surprising to him that anybody\n    could "
	.ascii	"live in Devonshire, without living near Dawlish.\n    He bes"
	.ascii	"towed his hearty approbation however on their\n    species o"
	.ascii	"f house.\n    \n    \"For my own part,\" said he, \"I am exc"
	.ascii	"essively fond\n    of a cottage; there is always so much com"
	.ascii	"fort, so much\n    elegance about them.  And I protest, if I"
	.ascii	" had any money\n    to spare, I should buy a little land and"
	.ascii	" build one myself,\n    within a short distance of London, w"
	.ascii	"here I might drive\n    myself down at any time, and collect"
	.ascii	" a few friends\n    about me, and be happy.  I advise every "
	.ascii	"body who is going\n    to build, to build a cottage.  My fri"
	.ascii	"end Lord Courtland\n    came to me the other day on purpose "
	.ascii	"to ask my advice,\n    and laid before me three different pl"
	.ascii	"ans of Bonomi's.\n    I was to decide on the best of them.  "
	.ascii	"'My dear Courtland,'\n    said I, immediately throwing them "
	.ascii	"all into the fire, 'do not\n    adopt either of them, but by"
	.ascii	" all means build a cottage.'\n    And that I fancy, will be "
	.ascii	"the end of it.\n    \n    \"Some people imagine that there c"
	.ascii	"an be no accommodations,\n    no space in a cottage; but thi"
	.ascii	"s is all a mistake.\n    I was last month at my friend Ellio"
	.ascii	"tt's, ne"
	.ascii	"ar Dartford.\n    Lady Elliott wished to give a dance.  'But"
	.ascii	" how can it\n    be done?' said she; 'my dear Ferrars, do te"
	.ascii	"ll me how it\n    is to be managed.  There is not a room in "
	.ascii	"this cottage\n    that will hold ten couple, and where can t"
	.ascii	"he supper be?'\n    I immediately saw that there could be no"
	.ascii	" difficulty in it,\n    so I said, 'My dear Lady Elliott, do"
	.ascii	" not be uneasy.\n    The dining parlour will admit eighteen "
	.ascii	"couple with ease;\n    card-tables may be placed in the draw"
	.ascii	"ing-room; the library\n    may be open for tea and other ref"
	.ascii	"reshments; and let the\n    supper be set out in the saloon."
	.ascii	"'  Lady Elliott was delighted\n    with the thought.  We mea"
	.ascii	"sured the dining-room, and found\n    it would hold exactly "
	.ascii	"eighteen couple, and the affair\n    was arranged precisely "
	.ascii	"after my plan.  So that, in fact,\n    you see, if people do"
	.ascii	" but know how to set about it,\n    every comfort may be as "
	.ascii	"well enjoyed in a cottage\n    as in the most spacious dwell"
	.ascii	"ing.\"\n    \n    Elinor agreed to it all, for she did not t"
	.ascii	"hink\n    he deserved the compliment of rational opposition."
	.ascii	"\n    \n    As John Dashwood had no more pleasure in music t"
	.ascii	"han his\n    eldest sister, his mind was equally at liberty "
	.ascii	"to fix on\n    any thing else; and a thought struck him duri"
	.ascii	"ng the evening,\n    which he communicated to his wife, for "
	.ascii	"her approbation,\n    when they got home.  The consideration"
	.ascii	" of Mrs. Dennison's\n    mistake,\n    in supposing his sist"
	.ascii	"ers their guests, had suggested the\n    propriety of their "
	.ascii	"being really invited to become such,\n    while Mrs. Jenning"
	.ascii	"'s engagements kept her from home.\n    The expense would be"
	.ascii	" nothing, the inconvenience not more;\n    and it was altoge"
	.ascii	"ther an attention which the delicacy\n    of his conscience "
	.ascii	"pointed out to be requisite to its\n    complete enfranchise"
	.ascii	"ment from his promise to his father.\n    Fanny was startled"
	.ascii	" at the proposal.\n    \n    \"I do not see how it can be do"
	.ascii	"ne,\" said she,\n    \"without affronting Lady Middleton, fo"
	.ascii	"r they spend every day\n    with her; otherwise I should be "
	.ascii	"ex"
	.ascii	"ceedingly glad to do it.\n    You know I am always ready to "
	.ascii	"pay them any attention\n    in my power, as my taking them o"
	.ascii	"ut this evening shews.\n    But they are Lady Middleton's vi"
	.ascii	"sitors.  How can I ask them\n    away from her?\"\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" Her husband, but with great humility, did not see\n    the "
	.ascii	"force of her objection.  \"They had already spent a week\n  "
	.ascii	"  in this manner in Conduit Street, and Lady Middleton\n    "
	.ascii	"could not be displeased at their giving the same number\n   "
	.ascii	" of days to such near relations.\"\n    \n    Fanny paused a"
	.ascii	" moment, and then, with fresh vigor, said,\n    \n    \"My l"
	.ascii	"ove I would ask them with all my heart, if it\n    was in my"
	.ascii	" power.  But I had just settled within myself\n    to ask th"
	.ascii	"e Miss Steeles to spend a few days with us.\n    They are ve"
	.ascii	"ry well behaved, good kind of girls; and I think\n    the at"
	.ascii	"tention is due to them, as their uncle did so very\n    well"
	.ascii	" by Edward.  We can ask your sisters some other year,\n    y"
	.ascii	"ou know; but the Miss Steeles may not be in town any more.\n"
	.ascii	"    I am sure you will like them; indeed, you DO like them,\n"
	.ascii	"    you know, very much already, and so does my mother; and "
	.ascii	"they\n    are such favourites with Harry!\"\n    \n    Mr. D"
	.ascii	"ashwood was convinced.  He saw the necessity\n    of invitin"
	.ascii	"g the Miss Steeles immediately, and his conscience\n    was "
	.ascii	"pacified by the resolution of inviting his sisters\n    anot"
	.ascii	"her year; at the same time, however, slyly suspecting\n    t"
	.ascii	"hat another year would make the invitation needless,\n    by"
	.ascii	" bringing Elinor to town as Colonel Brandon's wife,\n    and"
	.ascii	" Marianne as THEIR visitor.\n    \n    Fanny, rejoicing in h"
	.ascii	"er escape, and proud of the ready\n    wit that had procured"
	.ascii	" it, wrote the next morning to Lucy,\n    to request her com"
	.ascii	"pany and her sister's, for some days,\n    in Harley Street,"
	.ascii	" as soon as Lady Middleton could spare them.\n    This was e"
	.ascii	"nough to make Lucy really and reasonably happy.\n    Mrs. Da"
	.ascii	"shwood seemed actually working for her, herself;\n    cheris"
	.ascii	"hing all her hopes, and promoting all her views!\n    Such a"
	.ascii	"n op"
	.ascii	"portunity of being with Edward and his family was,\n    abov"
	.ascii	"e all things, the most material to her interest,\n    and su"
	.ascii	"ch an invitation the most gratifying to her\n    feelings!  "
	.ascii	"It was an advantage that could not be too\n    gratefully ac"
	.ascii	"knowledged, nor too speedily made use of;\n    and the visit"
	.ascii	" to Lady Middleton, which had not before had\n    any precis"
	.ascii	"e limits, was instantly discovered to have been\n    always "
	.ascii	"meant to end in two days' time.\n    \n    When the note was"
	.ascii	" shown to Elinor, as it was within ten\n    minutes after it"
	.ascii	"s arrival, it gave her, for the first time,\n    some share "
	.ascii	"in the expectations of Lucy; for such a mark\n    of uncommo"
	.ascii	"n kindness, vouchsafed on so short an acquaintance,\n    see"
	.ascii	"med to declare that the good-will towards her arose\n    fro"
	.ascii	"m something more than merely malice against herself;\n    an"
	.ascii	"d might be brought, by time and address, to do\n    every th"
	.ascii	"ing that Lucy wished.  Her flattery had already\n    subdued"
	.ascii	" the pride of Lady Middleton, and made an entry\n    into th"
	.ascii	"e close heart of Mrs. John Dashwood; and these\n    were eff"
	.ascii	"ects that laid open the probability of greater.\n    \n    T"
	.ascii	"he Miss Steeles removed to Harley Street, and all\n    that "
	.ascii	"reached Elinor of their influence there, strengthened\n    h"
	.ascii	"er expectation of the event.  Sir John, who called on\n    t"
	.ascii	"hem more than once, brought home such accounts of the\n    f"
	.ascii	"avour they were in, as must be universally striking.\n    Mr"
	.ascii	"s. Dashwood had never been so much pleased with any\n    you"
	.ascii	"ng women in her life, as she was with them; had given\n    e"
	.ascii	"ach of them a needle book made by some emigrant;\n    called"
	.ascii	" Lucy by her Christian name; and did not know\n    whether s"
	.ascii	"he should ever be able to part with them.\n    \n    \n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \n    [At this point in the first and second editi"
	.ascii	"ons, Volume II ended.]\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER "
	.ascii	"37\n    \n    \n    Mrs. Palmer was so well at the end of a "
	.ascii	"fortnight,\n    that her mother felt it no longer necessary "
	.ascii	"to give up\n    the whole of her time to her; and, contentin"
	.ascii	"g her"
	.ascii	"self with\n    visiting her once or twice a day, returned fr"
	.ascii	"om that period\n    to her own home, and her own habits, in "
	.ascii	"which she found\n    the Miss Dashwoods very ready to resume"
	.ascii	" their former share.\n    \n    About the third or fourth mo"
	.ascii	"rning after their\n    being thus resettled in Berkeley Stre"
	.ascii	"et, Mrs. Jennings,\n    on returning from her ordinary visit"
	.ascii	" to Mrs. Palmer,\n    entered the drawing-room, where Elinor"
	.ascii	" was sitting\n    by herself, with an air of such hurrying i"
	.ascii	"mportance\n    as prepared her to hear something wonderful; "
	.ascii	"and giving her\n    time only to form that idea, began direc"
	.ascii	"tly to justify it,\n    by saying,\n    \n    \"Lord! my dea"
	.ascii	"r Miss Dashwood! have you heard the news?\"\n    \n    \"No,"
	.ascii	" ma'am.  What is it?\"\n    \n    \"Something so strange!  B"
	.ascii	"ut you shall hear it all.--\n    When I got to Mr. Palmer's,"
	.ascii	" I found Charlotte quite\n    in a fuss about the child.  Sh"
	.ascii	"e was sure it was very\n    ill--it cried, and fretted, and "
	.ascii	"was all over pimples.\n    So I looked at it directly, and, "
	.ascii	"'Lord! my dear,'\n    says I, 'it is nothing in the world, b"
	.ascii	"ut the red gum--'\n    and nurse said just the same.  But Ch"
	.ascii	"arlotte, she would\n    not be satisfied, so Mr. Donavan was"
	.ascii	" sent for; and luckily\n    he happened to just come in from"
	.ascii	" Harley Street, so he\n    stepped over directly, and as soo"
	.ascii	"n as ever he saw the child,\n    be said just as we did, tha"
	.ascii	"t it was nothing in the world\n    but the red gum, and then"
	.ascii	" Charlotte was easy.  And so,\n    just as he was going away"
	.ascii	" again, it came into my head,\n    I am sure I do not know h"
	.ascii	"ow I happened to think of it,\n    but it came into my head "
	.ascii	"to ask him if there was any news.\n    So upon that, he smir"
	.ascii	"ked, and simpered, and looked grave,\n    and seemed to know"
	.ascii	" something or other, and at last he\n    said in a whisper, "
	.ascii	"'For fear any unpleasant report\n    should reach the young "
	.ascii	"ladies under your care as to their\n    sister's indispositi"
	.ascii	"on, I think it advisable to say,\n    that I believe there i"
	.ascii	"s no great reason for alarm; I hope\n    Mrs. Dashwood will "
	.ascii	"do v"
	.ascii	"ery well.'\"\n    \n    \"What! is Fanny ill?\"\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"That is exactly what I said, my dear.  'Lord!' says I,\n    "
	.ascii	"'is Mrs. Dashwood ill?' So then it all came out; and the\n  "
	.ascii	"  long and the short of the matter, by all I can learn,\n   "
	.ascii	" seems to be this.  Mr. Edward Ferrars, the very young\n    "
	.ascii	"man I used to joke with you about (but however, as it\n    t"
	.ascii	"urns out, I am monstrous glad there was never any thing\n   "
	.ascii	" in it), Mr. Edward Ferrars, it seems, has been engaged\n   "
	.ascii	" above this twelvemonth to my cousin Lucy!--There's for you,"
	.ascii	"\n    my dear!--And not a creature knowing a syllable of the"
	.ascii	" matter,\n    except Nancy!--Could you have believed such a "
	.ascii	"thing possible?--\n    There is no great wonder in their lik"
	.ascii	"ing one another;\n    but that matters should be brought so "
	.ascii	"forward between them,\n    and nobody suspect it!--THAT is s"
	.ascii	"trange!--I never happened\n    to see them together, or I am"
	.ascii	" sure I should have found it\n    out directly.  Well, and s"
	.ascii	"o this was kept a great secret,\n    for fear of Mrs. Ferrar"
	.ascii	"s, and neither she nor your\n    brother or sister suspected"
	.ascii	" a word of the matter;--\n    till this very morning, poor N"
	.ascii	"ancy, who, you know, is a\n    well-meaning creature, but no"
	.ascii	" conjurer, popt it all out.\n    'Lord!' thinks she to herse"
	.ascii	"lf, 'they are all so fond\n    of Lucy, to be sure they will"
	.ascii	" make no difficulty about it;'\n    and so, away she went to"
	.ascii	" your sister, who was sitting all\n    alone at her carpet-w"
	.ascii	"ork, little suspecting what was to\n    come--for she had ju"
	.ascii	"st been saying to your brother, only five\n    minutes befor"
	.ascii	"e, that she thought to make a match between\n    Edward and "
	.ascii	"some Lord's daughter or other, I forget who.\n    So you may"
	.ascii	" think what a blow it was to all her vanity\n    and pride. "
	.ascii	" She fell into violent hysterics immediately,\n    with such"
	.ascii	" screams as reached your brother's ears,\n    as he was sitt"
	.ascii	"ing in his own dressing-room down stairs,\n    thinking abou"
	.ascii	"t writing a letter to his steward in the country.\n    So up"
	.ascii	" he flew directly, and a terrible scene took place,\n    fo"
	.ascii	"r Lucy was come to them by that time, little dreaming\n    w"
	.ascii	"hat was going on.  Poor soul!  I pity HER.  And I must say,\n"
	.ascii	"    I think she was used very hardly; for your sister scolde"
	.ascii	"d\n    like any fury, and soon drove her into a fainting fit"
	.ascii	".\n    Nancy, she fell upon her knees, and cried bitterly;\n"
	.ascii	"    and your brother, he walked about the room, and said\n  "
	.ascii	"  he did not know what to do.  Mrs. Dashwood declared\n    t"
	.ascii	"hey should not stay a minute longer in the house,\n    and y"
	.ascii	"our brother was forced to go down upon HIS knees too,\n    t"
	.ascii	"o persuade her to let them stay till they had packed\n    up"
	.ascii	" their clothes.  THEN she fell into hysterics again,\n    an"
	.ascii	"d he was so frightened that he would send for Mr. Donavan,\n"
	.ascii	"    and Mr. Donavan found the house in all this uproar.\n   "
	.ascii	" The carriage was at the door ready to take my poor\n    cou"
	.ascii	"sins away, and they were just stepping in as he\n    came of"
	.ascii	"f; poor Lucy in such a condition, he says,\n    she could ha"
	.ascii	"rdly walk; and Nancy, she was almost as bad.\n    I declare,"
	.ascii	" I have no patience with your sister; and I hope,\n    with "
	.ascii	"all my heart, it will be a match in spite of her.\n    Lord!"
	.ascii	" what a taking poor Mr. Edward will be in when he\n    hears"
	.ascii	" of it!  To have his love used so scornfully! for\n    they "
	.ascii	"say he is monstrous fond of her, as well he may.\n    I shou"
	.ascii	"ld not wonder, if he was to be in the greatest\n    passion!"
	.ascii	"--and Mr. Donavan thinks just the same.  He and I\n    had a"
	.ascii	" great deal of talk about it; and the best of all is,\n    t"
	.ascii	"hat he is gone back again to Harley Street, that he may\n   "
	.ascii	" be within call when Mrs. Ferrars is told of it, for she\n  "
	.ascii	"  was sent for as soon as ever my cousins left the house,\n "
	.ascii	"   for your sister was sure SHE would be in hysterics too;\n"
	.ascii	"    and so she may, for what I care.  I have no pity for\n  "
	.ascii	"  either of them.  I have no notion of people's making\n    "
	.ascii	"such a to-do about money and greatness.  There is no\n    re"
	.ascii	"ason on earth why Mr. Edward and Lucy should not marry;\n   "
	.ascii	" for I am sure Mrs. Ferrars may afford to do very we"
	.ascii	"ll\n    by her son, and though Lucy has next to nothing hers"
	.ascii	"elf,\n    she knows better than any body how to make the mos"
	.ascii	"t\n    of every thing; I dare say, if Mrs. Ferrars would onl"
	.ascii	"y\n    allow him five hundred a-year, she would make as good"
	.ascii	"\n    an appearance with it as any body else would with eigh"
	.ascii	"t.\n    Lord! how snug they might live in such another cotta"
	.ascii	"ge\n    as yours--or a little bigger--with two maids, and tw"
	.ascii	"o men;\n    and I believe I could help them to a housemaid, "
	.ascii	"for my\n    Betty has a sister out of place, that would fit "
	.ascii	"them\n    exactly.\"\n    \n    Here Mrs. Jennings ceased, a"
	.ascii	"nd as Elinor had had\n    time enough to collect her thought"
	.ascii	"s, she was able\n    to give such an answer, and make such o"
	.ascii	"bservations,\n    as the subject might naturally be supposed"
	.ascii	" to produce.\n    Happy to find that she was not suspected o"
	.ascii	"f any extraordinary\n    interest in it; that Mrs. Jennings "
	.ascii	"(as she had of late\n    often hoped might be the case) had "
	.ascii	"ceased to imagine her\n    at all attached to Edward; and ha"
	.ascii	"ppy above all the rest,\n    in the absence of Marianne, she"
	.ascii	" felt very well able\n    to speak of the affair without emb"
	.ascii	"arrassment, and to\n    give her judgment, as she believed, "
	.ascii	"with impartiality\n    on the conduct of every one concerned"
	.ascii	" in it.\n    \n    She could hardly determine what her own e"
	.ascii	"xpectation\n    of its event really was; though she earnestl"
	.ascii	"y tried\n    to drive away the notion of its being possible "
	.ascii	"to end\n    otherwise at last, than in the marriage of Edwar"
	.ascii	"d and Lucy.\n    What Mrs. Ferrars would say and do, though "
	.ascii	"there could\n    not be a doubt of its nature, she was anxio"
	.ascii	"us to hear;\n    and still more anxious to know how Edward w"
	.ascii	"ould\n    conduct himself.  For HIM she felt much compassion"
	.ascii	";--\n    for Lucy very little--and it cost her some pains to"
	.ascii	" procure\n    that little;--for the rest of the party none a"
	.ascii	"t all.\n    \n    As Mrs. Jennings could talk on no other su"
	.ascii	"bject,\n    Elinor soon saw the necessity of preparing Maria"
	.ascii	"nne for\n    its discussion.  No time was to be lost in und"
	.ascii	"eceiving her,\n    in making her acquainted with the real tr"
	.ascii	"uth, and in\n    endeavouring to bring her to hear it talked"
	.ascii	" of by others,\n    without betraying that she felt any unea"
	.ascii	"siness for her sister,\n    or any resentment against Edward"
	.ascii	".\n    \n    Elinor's office was a painful one.--She was goi"
	.ascii	"ng\n    to remove what she really believed to be her sister'"
	.ascii	"s\n    chief consolation,--to give such particulars of Edwar"
	.ascii	"d as she\n    feared would ruin him for ever in her good opi"
	.ascii	"nion,-and\n    to make Marianne, by a resemblance in their s"
	.ascii	"ituations,\n    which to HER fancy would seem strong, feel a"
	.ascii	"ll her own\n    disappointment over again.  But unwelcome as"
	.ascii	" such a task\n    must be, it was necessary to be done, and "
	.ascii	"Elinor therefore\n    hastened to perform it.\n    \n    She"
	.ascii	" was very far from wishing to dwell on her own\n    feelings"
	.ascii	", or to represent herself as suffering much,\n    any otherw"
	.ascii	"ise than as the self-command she had practised\n    since he"
	.ascii	"r first knowledge of Edward's engagement, might\n    suggest"
	.ascii	" a hint of what was practicable to Marianne.\n    Her narrat"
	.ascii	"ion was clear and simple; and though it could\n    not be gi"
	.ascii	"ven without emotion, it was not accompanied\n    by violent "
	.ascii	"agitation, nor impetuous grief.--THAT belonged\n    rather t"
	.ascii	"o the hearer, for Marianne listened with horror,\n    and cr"
	.ascii	"ied excessively.  Elinor was to be the comforter\n    of oth"
	.ascii	"ers in her own distresses, no less than in theirs;\n    and "
	.ascii	"all the comfort that could be given by assurances\n    of he"
	.ascii	"r own composure of mind, and a very earnest\n    vindication"
	.ascii	" of Edward from every charge but of imprudence,\n    was rea"
	.ascii	"dily offered.\n    \n    But Marianne for some time would gi"
	.ascii	"ve credit to neither.\n    Edward seemed a second Willoughby"
	.ascii	"; and acknowledging\n    as Elinor did, that she HAD loved h"
	.ascii	"im most sincerely,\n    could she feel less than herself!  A"
	.ascii	"s for Lucy Steele,\n    she considered her so totally unamia"
	.ascii	"ble, so absolutely\n    incapable of attaching a sensible ma"
	.ascii	"n, that she could\n    not be persuaded at first to believ"
	.ascii	"e, and afterwards\n    to pardon, any former affection of Ed"
	.ascii	"ward for her.\n    She would not even admit it to have been "
	.ascii	"natural;\n    and Elinor left her to be convinced that it wa"
	.ascii	"s so,\n    by that which only could convince her, a better k"
	.ascii	"nowledge\n    of mankind.\n    \n    Her first communication"
	.ascii	" had reached no farther than\n    to state the fact of the e"
	.ascii	"ngagement, and the length of time\n    it had existed.--Mari"
	.ascii	"anne's feelings had then broken in,\n    and put an end to a"
	.ascii	"ll regularity of detail; and for some\n    time all that cou"
	.ascii	"ld be done was to soothe her distress,\n    lessen her alarm"
	.ascii	"s, and combat her resentment.  The first\n    question on he"
	.ascii	"r side, which led to farther particulars,\n    was,\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   \"How long has this been known to you, Elinor? has\n    h"
	.ascii	"e written to you?\"\n    \n    \"I have known it these four "
	.ascii	"months.  When Lucy\n    first came to Barton Park last Novem"
	.ascii	"ber, she told me\n    in confidence of her engagement.\"\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    At these words, Marianne's eyes expressed the astoni"
	.ascii	"shment\n    which her lips could not utter.  After a pause o"
	.ascii	"f wonder,\n    she exclaimed--\n    \n    \"Four months!--Ha"
	.ascii	"ve you known of this four months?\"\n    \n    Elinor confir"
	.ascii	"med it.\n    \n    \"What!--while attending me in all my mis"
	.ascii	"ery, has this\n    been on your heart?--And I have reproache"
	.ascii	"d you for being\n    happy!\"--\n    \n    \"It was not fit "
	.ascii	"that you should then know how much\n    I was the reverse!\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"Four months!\"--cried Marianne again.--\"So ca"
	.ascii	"lm!--\n    so cheerful!--how have you been supported?\"--\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    \"By feeling that I was doing my duty.--My promise "
	.ascii	"to\n    Lucy, obliged me to be secret.  I owed it to her, th"
	.ascii	"erefore,\n    to avoid giving any hint of the truth; and I o"
	.ascii	"wed it to my\n    family and friends, not to create in them "
	.ascii	"a solicitude about me,\n    which it could not be in my powe"
	.ascii	"r to satisfy.\"\n    \n    Marianne seemed much struck.\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    \"I have very often wished to undeceive yourself and "
	.ascii	"my\n    mother,\" added Elinor; \"and once or twice I have a"
	.ascii	"ttempted it;--\n    but withou"
	.ascii	"t betraying my trust, I never could have convinced\n    you."
	.ascii	"\"\n    \n    \"Four months!--and yet you loved him!\"--\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    \"Yes. But I did not love only him;--and while the c"
	.ascii	"omfort\n    of others was dear to me, I was glad to spare th"
	.ascii	"em from knowing\n    how much I felt.  Now, I can think and "
	.ascii	"speak of it with\n    little emotion.  I would not have you "
	.ascii	"suffer on my account;\n    for I assure you I no longer suff"
	.ascii	"er materially myself.\n    I have many things to support me."
	.ascii	"  I am not conscious of having\n    provoked the disappointm"
	.ascii	"ent by any imprudence of my own,\n    I have borne it as muc"
	.ascii	"h as possible without spreading\n    it farther.  I acquit E"
	.ascii	"dward of essential misconduct.\n    I wish him very happy; a"
	.ascii	"nd I am so sure of his always\n    doing his duty, that thou"
	.ascii	"gh now he may harbour some regret,\n    in the end he must b"
	.ascii	"ecome so.  Lucy does not want sense,\n    and that is the fo"
	.ascii	"undation on which every thing good may\n    be built.--And a"
	.ascii	"fter all, Marianne, after all that is\n    bewitching in the"
	.ascii	" idea of a single and constant attachment,\n    and all that"
	.ascii	" can be said of one's happiness depending\n    entirely on a"
	.ascii	"ny particular person, it is not meant--it\n    is not fit--i"
	.ascii	"t is not possible that it should be so.--\n    Edward will m"
	.ascii	"arry Lucy; he will marry a woman superior\n    in person and"
	.ascii	" understanding to half her sex; and time\n    and habit will"
	.ascii	" teach him to forget that he ever thought\n    another super"
	.ascii	"ior to HER.\"--\n    \n    \"If such is your way of thinking"
	.ascii	",\" said Marianne,\n    \"if the loss of what is most valued"
	.ascii	" is so easily\n    to be made up by something else, your res"
	.ascii	"olution,\n    your self-command, are, perhaps, a little less"
	.ascii	" to be\n    wondered at.--They are brought more within my co"
	.ascii	"mprehension.\"\n    \n    \"I understand you.--You do not su"
	.ascii	"ppose that I have ever\n    felt much.--For four months, Mar"
	.ascii	"ianne, I have had all this\n    hanging on my mind, without "
	.ascii	"being at liberty to speak\n    of it to a single creature; k"
	.ascii	"nowing that it would make\n    you and my mother most unhapp"
	.ascii	"y whenev"
	.ascii	"er it were explained\n    to you, yet unable to prepare you "
	.ascii	"for it in the least.--\n    It was told me,--it was in a man"
	.ascii	"ner forced on me by the\n    very person herself, whose prio"
	.ascii	"r engagement ruined all\n    my prospects; and told me, as I"
	.ascii	" thought, with triumph.--\n    This person's suspicions, the"
	.ascii	"refore, I have had to oppose,\n    by endeavouring to appear"
	.ascii	" indifferent where I have been most\n    deeply interested;-"
	.ascii	"-and it has not been only once;--I have\n    had her hopes a"
	.ascii	"nd exultation to listen to again and again.--\n    I have kn"
	.ascii	"own myself to be divided from Edward for ever,\n    without "
	.ascii	"hearing one circumstance that could make me less\n    desire"
	.ascii	" the connection.--Nothing has proved him unworthy;\n    nor "
	.ascii	"has anything declared him indifferent to me.--\n    I have h"
	.ascii	"ad to contend against the unkindness of his sister,\n    and"
	.ascii	" the insolence of his mother; and have suffered the\n    pun"
	.ascii	"ishment of an attachment, without enjoying its advantages.--"
	.ascii	"\n    And all this has been going on at a time, when, as you"
	.ascii	"\n    know too well, it has not been my only unhappiness.--\n"
	.ascii	"    If you can think me capable of ever feeling--surely you\n"
	.ascii	"    may suppose that I have suffered NOW.  The composure\n  "
	.ascii	"  of mind with which I have brought myself at present\n    t"
	.ascii	"o consider the matter, the consolation that I have been\n   "
	.ascii	" willing to admit, have been the effect of constant and\n   "
	.ascii	" painful exertion;--they did not spring up of themselves;--\n"
	.ascii	"    they did not occur to relieve my spirits at first.--\n  "
	.ascii	"  No, Marianne.--THEN, if I had not been bound to silence,\n"
	.ascii	"    perhaps nothing could have kept me entirely--not even wh"
	.ascii	"at I\n    owed to my dearest friends--from openly shewing th"
	.ascii	"at I was\n    VERY unhappy.\"--\n    \n    Marianne was quit"
	.ascii	"e subdued.--\n    \n    \"Oh! Elinor,\" she cried, \"you hav"
	.ascii	"e made me hate\n    myself for ever.--How barbarous have I b"
	.ascii	"een to you!--\n    you, who have been my only comfort, who h"
	.ascii	"ave borne with me\n    in all my misery, who have seemed to "
	.ascii	"be only suffering\n    for me!--Is this my gratitude?--Is"
	.ascii	" this the only return I\n    can make you?--Because your mer"
	.ascii	"it cries out upon myself,\n    I have been trying to do it a"
	.ascii	"way.\"\n    \n    The tenderest caresses followed this confe"
	.ascii	"ssion.\n    In such a frame of mind as she was now in, Elino"
	.ascii	"r had\n    no difficulty in obtaining from her whatever prom"
	.ascii	"ise\n    she required; and at her request, Marianne engaged\n"
	.ascii	"    never to speak of the affair to any one with the least\n"
	.ascii	"    appearance of bitterness;--to meet Lucy without betrayin"
	.ascii	"g\n    the smallest increase of dislike to her;--and even to"
	.ascii	" see\n    Edward himself, if chance should bring them togeth"
	.ascii	"er,\n    without any diminution of her usual cordiality.--\n"
	.ascii	"    These were great concessions;--but where Marianne felt\n"
	.ascii	"    that she had injured, no reparation could be too much\n "
	.ascii	"   for her to make.\n    \n    She performed her promise of "
	.ascii	"being discreet,\n    to admiration.--She attended to all tha"
	.ascii	"t Mrs. Jennings\n    had to say upon the subject, with an un"
	.ascii	"changing complexion,\n    dissented from her in nothing, and"
	.ascii	" was heard three\n    times to say, \"Yes, ma'am.\"--She lis"
	.ascii	"tened to her praise\n    of Lucy with only moving from one c"
	.ascii	"hair to another,\n    and when Mrs. Jennings talked of Edwar"
	.ascii	"d's affection,\n    it cost her only a spasm in her throat.-"
	.ascii	"-Such advances\n    towards heroism in her sister, made Elin"
	.ascii	"or feel equal\n    to any thing herself.\n    \n    The next"
	.ascii	" morning brought a farther trial of it,\n    in a visit from"
	.ascii	" their brother, who came with a most serious\n    aspect to "
	.ascii	"talk over the dreadful affair, and bring them\n    news of h"
	.ascii	"is wife.\n    \n    \"You have heard, I suppose,\" said he w"
	.ascii	"ith great solemnity,\n    as soon as he was seated, \"of the"
	.ascii	" very shocking discovery\n    that took place under our roof"
	.ascii	" yesterday.\"\n    \n    They all looked their assent; it se"
	.ascii	"emed too awful\n    a moment for speech.\n    \n    \"Your s"
	.ascii	"ister,\" he continued, \"has suffered dreadfully.\n    Mrs. "
	.ascii	"Ferrars too--in short it has been a scene of such\n    compl"
	.ascii	"icated distress--but I will hope that the storm may\n    be "
	.ascii	"weathered wi"
	.ascii	"thout our being any of us quite overcome.\n    Poor Fanny! s"
	.ascii	"he was in hysterics all yesterday.\n    But I would not alar"
	.ascii	"m you too much.  Donavan says there\n    is nothing material"
	.ascii	"ly to be apprehended; her constitution\n    is a good one, a"
	.ascii	"nd her resolution equal to any thing.\n    She has borne it "
	.ascii	"all, with the fortitude of an angel!\n    She says she never"
	.ascii	" shall think well of anybody again;\n    and one cannot wond"
	.ascii	"er at it, after being so deceived!--\n    meeting with such "
	.ascii	"ingratitude, where so much kindness\n    had been shewn, so "
	.ascii	"much confidence had been placed!  It\n    was quite out of t"
	.ascii	"he benevolence of her heart, that she\n    had asked these y"
	.ascii	"oung women to her house; merely because\n    she thought the"
	.ascii	"y deserved some attention, were harmless,\n    well-behaved "
	.ascii	"girls, and would be pleasant companions;\n    for otherwise "
	.ascii	"we both wished very much to have invited you\n    and Marian"
	.ascii	"ne to be with us, while your kind friend there,\n    was att"
	.ascii	"ending her daughter.  And now to be so rewarded!\n    'I wis"
	.ascii	"h, with all my heart,' says poor Fanny in her\n    affection"
	.ascii	"ate way, 'that we had asked your sisters instead\n    of the"
	.ascii	"m.'\"\n    \n    Here he stopped to be thanked; which being "
	.ascii	"done,\n    he went on.\n    \n    \"What poor Mrs. Ferrars s"
	.ascii	"uffered, when first Fanny\n    broke it to her, is not to be"
	.ascii	" described.  While she with\n    the truest affection had be"
	.ascii	"en planning a most eligible\n    connection for him, was it "
	.ascii	"to be supposed that he could\n    be all the time secretly e"
	.ascii	"ngaged to another person!--such\n    a suspicion could never"
	.ascii	" have entered her head!  If she\n    suspected ANY preposses"
	.ascii	"sion elsewhere, it could not be\n    in THAT quarter.  'THER"
	.ascii	"E, to be sure,' said she, 'I might\n    have thought myself "
	.ascii	"safe.' She was quite in an agony.\n    We consulted together"
	.ascii	", however, as to what should be done,\n    and at last she d"
	.ascii	"etermined to send for Edward.\n    He came.  But I am sorry "
	.ascii	"to relate what ensued.\n    All that Mrs. Ferrars could say "
	.ascii	"to make him put an end\n    to the engagement, assisted too"
	.ascii	" as you may well suppose\n    by my arguments, and Fanny's e"
	.ascii	"ntreaties, was of\n    no avail.  Duty, affection, every thi"
	.ascii	"ng was disregarded.\n    I never thought Edward so stubborn,"
	.ascii	" so unfeeling before.\n    His mother explained to him her l"
	.ascii	"iberal designs, in case\n    of his marrying Miss Morton; to"
	.ascii	"ld him she would settle on\n    him the Norfolk estate, whic"
	.ascii	"h, clear of land-tax, brings\n    in a good thousand a-year;"
	.ascii	" offered even, when matters\n    grew desperate, to make it "
	.ascii	"twelve hundred; and in opposition\n    to this, if he still "
	.ascii	"persisted in this low connection,\n    represented to him th"
	.ascii	"e certain penury that must attend\n    the match.  His own t"
	.ascii	"wo thousand pounds she protested\n    should be his all; she"
	.ascii	" would never see him again; and so far\n    would she be fro"
	.ascii	"m affording him the smallest assistance,\n    that if he wer"
	.ascii	"e to enter into any profession with a view\n    of better su"
	.ascii	"pport, she would do all in her power to prevent\n    him adv"
	.ascii	"ancing in it.\"\n    \n    Here Marianne, in an ecstasy of i"
	.ascii	"ndignation,\n    clapped her hands together, and cried, \"Gr"
	.ascii	"acious God!\n    can this be possible!\"\n    \n    \"Well m"
	.ascii	"ay you wonder, Marianne,\" replied her brother,\n    \"at th"
	.ascii	"e obstinacy which could resist such arguments as these.\n   "
	.ascii	" Your exclamation is very natural.\"\n    \n    Marianne was"
	.ascii	" going to retort, but she remembered\n    her promises, and "
	.ascii	"forbore.\n    \n    \"All this, however,\" he continued, \"w"
	.ascii	"as urged in vain.\n    Edward said very little; but what he "
	.ascii	"did say, was in\n    the most determined manner.  Nothing sh"
	.ascii	"ould prevail on\n    him to give up his engagement.  He woul"
	.ascii	"d stand to it,\n    cost him what it might.\"\n    \n    \"T"
	.ascii	"hen,\" cried Mrs. Jennings with blunt sincerity,\n    no lon"
	.ascii	"ger able to be silent, \"he has acted like an honest\n    ma"
	.ascii	"n! I beg your pardon, Mr. Dashwood, but if he had\n    done "
	.ascii	"otherwise, I should have thought him a rascal.\n    I have s"
	.ascii	"ome little concern in the business, as well\n    as yourself"
	.ascii	", for Lucy Steele is my cousin, and I believe\n    there is "
	.ascii	"not a better ki"
	.ascii	"nd of girl in the world, nor one\n    who more deserves a go"
	.ascii	"od husband.\"\n    \n    John Dashwood was greatly astonishe"
	.ascii	"d; but his nature\n    was calm, not open to provocation, an"
	.ascii	"d he never wished\n    to offend anybody, especially anybody"
	.ascii	" of good fortune.\n    He therefore replied, without any res"
	.ascii	"entment,\n    \n    \"I would by no means speak disrespectfu"
	.ascii	"lly of any\n    relation of yours, madam.  Miss Lucy Steele "
	.ascii	"is, I dare say,\n    a very deserving young woman, but in th"
	.ascii	"e present case\n    you know, the connection must be impossi"
	.ascii	"ble.\n    And to have entered into a secret engagement with "
	.ascii	"a\n    young man under her uncle's care, the son of a woman\n"
	.ascii	"    especially of such very large fortune as Mrs. Ferrars,\n"
	.ascii	"    is perhaps, altogether a little extraordinary. In short,"
	.ascii	"\n    I do not mean to reflect upon the behaviour of any per"
	.ascii	"son\n    whom you have a regard for, Mrs. Jennings.  We all "
	.ascii	"wish\n    her extremely happy; and Mrs. Ferrars's conduct th"
	.ascii	"roughout\n    the whole, has been such as every conscientiou"
	.ascii	"s, good mother,\n    in like circumstances, would adopt.  It"
	.ascii	" has been dignified\n    and liberal.  Edward has drawn his "
	.ascii	"own lot, and I fear\n    it will be a bad one.\"\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"Marianne sighed out her similar apprehension;\n    and Elino"
	.ascii	"r's heart wrung for the feelings of Edward,\n    while bravi"
	.ascii	"ng his mother's threats, for a woman who could\n    not rewa"
	.ascii	"rd him.\n    \n    \"Well, sir,\" said Mrs. Jennings, \"and "
	.ascii	"how did it end?\"\n    \n    \"I am sorry to say, ma'am, in "
	.ascii	"a most unhappy rupture:--\n    Edward is dismissed for ever "
	.ascii	"from his mother's notice.\n    He left her house yesterday, "
	.ascii	"but where he is gone, or whether\n    he is still in town, I"
	.ascii	" do not know; for WE of course can\n    make no inquiry.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"Poor young man!--and what is to become of him?\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"What, indeed, ma'am!  It is a melancholy consi"
	.ascii	"deration.\n    Born to the prospect of such affluence!  I ca"
	.ascii	"nnot conceive\n    a situation more deplorable.  The interes"
	.ascii	"t of two thousand\n    pounds--how can a man live on it?--an"
	.ascii	"d when to tha"
	.ascii	"t is added\n    the recollection, that he might, but for his"
	.ascii	" own folly,\n    within three months have been in the receip"
	.ascii	"t of two\n    thousand, five hundred a-year (for Miss Morton"
	.ascii	" has\n    thirty thousand pounds,) I cannot picture to mysel"
	.ascii	"f\n    a more wretched condition.  We must all feel for him;"
	.ascii	"\n    and the more so, because it is totally out of our powe"
	.ascii	"r\n    to assist him.\"\n    \n    \"Poor young man!\" cried"
	.ascii	" Mrs. Jennings, \"I am sure\n    he should be very welcome t"
	.ascii	"o bed and board at my house;\n    and so I would tell him if"
	.ascii	" I could see him.  It is not fit\n    that he should be livi"
	.ascii	"ng about at his own charge now,\n    at lodgings and taverns"
	.ascii	".\"\n    \n    Elinor's heart thanked her for such kindness "
	.ascii	"towards Edward,\n    though she could not forbear smiling at"
	.ascii	" the form of it.\n    \n    \"If he would only have done as "
	.ascii	"well by himself,\"\n    said John Dashwood, \"as all his fri"
	.ascii	"ends were disposed to do\n    by him, he might now have been"
	.ascii	" in his proper situation,\n    and would have wanted for not"
	.ascii	"hing.  But as it is, it must\n    be out of anybody's power "
	.ascii	"to assist him.  And there is one\n    thing more preparing a"
	.ascii	"gainst him, which must be worse than\n    all--his mother ha"
	.ascii	"s determined, with a very natural kind\n    of spirit, to se"
	.ascii	"ttle THAT estate upon Robert immediately,\n    which might h"
	.ascii	"ave been Edward's, on proper conditions.\n    I left her thi"
	.ascii	"s morning with her lawyer, talking over\n    the business.\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"Well!\" said Mrs. Jennings, \"that is HER reve"
	.ascii	"nge.\n    Everybody has a way of their own.  But I don't thi"
	.ascii	"nk mine\n    would be, to make one son independent, because "
	.ascii	"another had\n    plagued me.\"\n    \n    Marianne got up an"
	.ascii	"d walked about the room.\n    \n    \"Can anything be more g"
	.ascii	"alling to the spirit of a man,\"\n    continued John, \"than"
	.ascii	" to see his younger brother in\n    possession of an estate "
	.ascii	"which might have been his own?\n    Poor Edward!  I feel for"
	.ascii	" him sincerely.\"\n    \n    A few minutes more spent in the"
	.ascii	" same kind of effusion,\n    concluded his visit; and with r"
	.ascii	"epeated assurances t"
	.ascii	"o his\n    sisters that he really believed there was no mate"
	.ascii	"rial\n    danger in Fanny's indisposition, and that they nee"
	.ascii	"d\n    not therefore be very uneasy about it, he went away;\n"
	.ascii	"    leaving the three ladies unanimous in their sentiments\n"
	.ascii	"    on the present occasion, as far at least as it regarded\n"
	.ascii	"    Mrs. Ferrars's conduct, the Dashwoods', and Edward's.\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    Marianne's indignation burst forth as soon as he\n "
	.ascii	"   quitted the room; and as her vehemence made reserve\n    "
	.ascii	"impossible in Elinor, and unnecessary in Mrs. Jennings,\n   "
	.ascii	" they all joined in a very spirited critique upon the party."
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 38\n    \n    \n    Mrs. Jen"
	.ascii	"nings was very warm in her praise of Edward's\n    conduct, "
	.ascii	"but only Elinor and Marianne understood its\n    true merit."
	.ascii	"  THEY only knew how little he had had to tempt\n    him to "
	.ascii	"be disobedient, and how small was the consolation,\n    beyo"
	.ascii	"nd the consciousness of doing right, that could\n    remain "
	.ascii	"to him in the loss of friends and fortune.\n    Elinor glori"
	.ascii	"ed in his integrity; and Marianne forgave all\n    his offen"
	.ascii	"ces in compassion for his punishment.  But though\n    confi"
	.ascii	"dence between them was, by this public discovery,\n    resto"
	.ascii	"red to its proper state, it was not a subject on\n    which "
	.ascii	"either of them were fond of dwelling when alone.\n    Elinor"
	.ascii	" avoided it upon principle, as tending to fix still\n    mor"
	.ascii	"e upon her thoughts, by the too warm, too positive\n    assu"
	.ascii	"rances of Marianne, that belief of Edward's continued\n    a"
	.ascii	"ffection for herself which she rather wished to do away;\n  "
	.ascii	"  and Marianne's courage soon failed her, in trying\n    to "
	.ascii	"converse upon a topic which always left her more\n    dissat"
	.ascii	"isfied with herself than ever, by the comparison\n    it nec"
	.ascii	"essarily produced between Elinor's conduct and her own.\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    She felt all the force of that comparison; but not\n "
	.ascii	"   as her sister had hoped, to urge her to exertion now;\n  "
	.ascii	"  she felt it with all the pain of continual self-reproach,\n"
	.ascii	"    regretted most bitterly that she had never exerted\n   "
	.ascii	" herself before; but it brought only the torture of penitenc"
	.ascii	"e,\n    without the hope of amendment.  Her mind was so much"
	.ascii	" weakened\n    that she still fancied present exertion impos"
	.ascii	"sible,\n    and therefore it only dispirited her more.\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    Nothing new was heard by them, for a day or two afterw"
	.ascii	"ards,\n    of affairs in Harley Street, or Bartlett's Buildi"
	.ascii	"ngs.\n    But though so much of the matter was known to them"
	.ascii	" already,\n    that Mrs. Jennings might have had enough to d"
	.ascii	"o in spreading\n    that knowledge farther, without seeking "
	.ascii	"after more,\n    she had resolved from the first to pay a vi"
	.ascii	"sit of comfort\n    and inquiry to her cousins as soon as sh"
	.ascii	"e could;\n    and nothing but the hindrance of more visitors"
	.ascii	" than usual,\n    had prevented her going to them within tha"
	.ascii	"t time.\n    \n    The third day succeeding their knowledge "
	.ascii	"of the\n    particulars, was so fine, so beautiful a Sunday "
	.ascii	"as to draw\n    many to Kensington Gardens, though it was on"
	.ascii	"ly the second\n    week in March.  Mrs. Jennings and Elinor "
	.ascii	"were of the number;\n    but Marianne, who knew that the Wil"
	.ascii	"loughbys were again\n    in town, and had a constant dread o"
	.ascii	"f meeting them,\n    chose rather to stay at home, than vent"
	.ascii	"ure into so public\n    a place.\n    \n    An intimate acqu"
	.ascii	"aintance of Mrs. Jennings joined\n    them soon after they e"
	.ascii	"ntered the Gardens, and Elinor was\n    not sorry that by he"
	.ascii	"r continuing with them, and engaging\n    all Mrs. Jennings'"
	.ascii	"s conversation, she was herself left\n    to quiet reflectio"
	.ascii	"n.  She saw nothing of the Willoughbys,\n    nothing of Edwa"
	.ascii	"rd, and for some time nothing of anybody\n    who could by a"
	.ascii	"ny chance whether grave or gay, be interesting\n    to her. "
	.ascii	" But at last she found herself with some surprise,\n    acco"
	.ascii	"sted by Miss Steele, who, though looking rather shy,\n    ex"
	.ascii	"pressed great satisfaction in meeting them, and on receiving"
	.ascii	"\n    encouragement from the particular kindness of Mrs. Jen"
	.ascii	"nings,\n    left her own party for a short time, to join the"
	.ascii	"ir's.\n    Mrs. Jennings immediately whispered to Elinor"
	.ascii	",\n    \n    \"Get it all out of her, my dear.  She will tel"
	.ascii	"l you\n    any thing if you ask.  You see I cannot leave Mrs"
	.ascii	". Clarke.\"\n    \n    It was lucky, however, for Mrs. Jenni"
	.ascii	"ngs's curiosity\n    and Elinor's too, that she would tell a"
	.ascii	"ny thing WITHOUT\n    being asked; for nothing would otherwi"
	.ascii	"se have been learnt.\n    \n    \"I am so glad to meet you;\""
	.ascii	" said Miss Steele,\n    taking her familiarly by the arm--\""
	.ascii	"for I wanted to see you\n    of all things in the world.\"  "
	.ascii	"And then lowering her voice,\n    \"I suppose Mrs. Jennings "
	.ascii	"has heard all about it.\n    Is she angry?\"\n    \n    \"No"
	.ascii	"t at all, I believe, with you.\"\n    \n    \"That is a good"
	.ascii	" thing.  And Lady Middleton, is SHE angry?\"\n    \n    \"I "
	.ascii	"cannot suppose it possible that she should.\"\n    \n    \"I"
	.ascii	" am monstrous glad of it.  Good gracious!  I have\n    had s"
	.ascii	"uch a time of it!  I never saw Lucy in such a rage\n    in m"
	.ascii	"y life.  She vowed at first she would never trim me\n    up "
	.ascii	"a new bonnet, nor do any thing else for me again,\n    so lo"
	.ascii	"ng as she lived; but now she is quite come to,\n    and we a"
	.ascii	"re as good friends as ever.  Look, she made me\n    this bow"
	.ascii	" to my hat, and put in the feather last night.\n    There no"
	.ascii	"w, YOU are going to laugh at me too.  But why\n    should no"
	.ascii	"t I wear pink ribbons?  I do not care if it IS\n    the Doct"
	.ascii	"or's favourite colour.  I am sure, for my part,\n    I shoul"
	.ascii	"d never have known he DID like it better than\n    any other"
	.ascii	" colour, if he had not happened to say so.\n    My cousins h"
	.ascii	"ave been so plaguing me!  I declare sometimes\n    I do not "
	.ascii	"know which way to look before them.\"\n    \n    She had wan"
	.ascii	"dered away to a subject on which Elinor\n    had nothing to "
	.ascii	"say, and therefore soon judged it expedient\n    to find her"
	.ascii	" way back again to the first.\n    \n    \"Well, but Miss Da"
	.ascii	"shwood,\" speaking triumphantly,\n    \"people may say what "
	.ascii	"they chuse about Mr. Ferrars's\n    declaring he would not h"
	.ascii	"ave Lucy, for it is no such thing\n    I can tell you; and i"
	.ascii	"t is quite a shame for such ill-natured\n    reports to be s"
	.ascii	"pread abroad.  Whateve"
	.ascii	"r Lucy might think\n    about it herself, you know, it was n"
	.ascii	"o business of other\n    people to set it down for certain.\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"I never heard any thing of the kind hinted at "
	.ascii	"before,\n    I assure you,\" said Elinor.\n    \n    \"Oh, d"
	.ascii	"id not you?  But it WAS said, I know, very well,\n    and by"
	.ascii	" more than one; for Miss Godby told Miss Sparks,\n    that n"
	.ascii	"obody in their senses could expect Mr. Ferrars\n    to give "
	.ascii	"up a woman like Miss Morton, with thirty thousand\n    pound"
	.ascii	"s to her fortune, for Lucy Steele that had\n    nothing at a"
	.ascii	"ll; and I had it from Miss Sparks myself.\n    And besides t"
	.ascii	"hat, my cousin Richard said himself,\n    that when it came "
	.ascii	"to the point he was afraid Mr. Ferrars\n    would be off; an"
	.ascii	"d when Edward did not come near us\n    for three days, I co"
	.ascii	"uld not tell what to think myself;\n    and I believe in my "
	.ascii	"heart Lucy gave it up all for lost;\n    for we came away fr"
	.ascii	"om your brother's Wednesday,\n    and we saw nothing of him "
	.ascii	"not all Thursday, Friday,\n    and Saturday, and did not kno"
	.ascii	"w what was become of him.\n    Once Lucy thought to write to"
	.ascii	" him, but then her spirits\n    rose against that.  However "
	.ascii	"this morning he came just\n    as we came home from church; "
	.ascii	"and then it all came out,\n    how he had been sent for Wedn"
	.ascii	"esday to Harley Street,\n    and been talked to by his mothe"
	.ascii	"r and all of them,\n    and how he had declared before them "
	.ascii	"all that he loved\n    nobody but Lucy, and nobody but Lucy "
	.ascii	"would he have.\n    And how he had been so worried by what p"
	.ascii	"assed,\n    that as soon as he had went away from his mother"
	.ascii	"'s house,\n    he had got upon his horse, and rid into the c"
	.ascii	"ountry,\n    some where or other; and how he had stayed abou"
	.ascii	"t at an inn\n    all Thursday and Friday, on purpose to get "
	.ascii	"the better\n    of it.  And after thinking it all over and o"
	.ascii	"ver again,\n    he said, it seemed to him as if, now he had "
	.ascii	"no fortune,\n    and no nothing at all, it would be quite un"
	.ascii	"kind to keep\n    her on to the engagement, because it must "
	.ascii	"be for her loss,\n    for he had nothing but two thousand po"
	.ascii	"unds, and no hope\n    of any thing else; and if he was to g"
	.ascii	"o into orders,\n    as he had some thoughts, he could get no"
	.ascii	"thing but a curacy,\n    and how was they to live upon that?"
	.ascii	"--He could not bear\n    to think of her doing no better, an"
	.ascii	"d so he begged,\n    if she had the least mind for it, to pu"
	.ascii	"t an end to the\n    matter directly, and leave him shift fo"
	.ascii	"r himself.\n    I heard him say all this as plain as could p"
	.ascii	"ossibly be.\n    And it was entirely for HER sake, and upon "
	.ascii	"HER account,\n    that he said a word about being off, and n"
	.ascii	"ot upon his own.\n    I will take my oath he never dropt a s"
	.ascii	"yllable of being\n    tired of her, or of wishing to marry M"
	.ascii	"iss Morton, or any\n    thing like it.  But, to be sure, Luc"
	.ascii	"y would not give\n    ear to such kind of talking; so she to"
	.ascii	"ld him directly\n    (with a great deal about sweet and love"
	.ascii	", you know,\n    and all that--Oh, la! one can't repeat such"
	.ascii	" kind of things\n    you know)--she told him directly, she h"
	.ascii	"ad not the least\n    mind in the world to be off, for she c"
	.ascii	"ould live with him\n    upon a trifle, and how little so eve"
	.ascii	"r he might have,\n    she should be very glad to have it all"
	.ascii	", you know,\n    or something of the kind.  So then he was m"
	.ascii	"onstrous happy,\n    and talked on some time about what they"
	.ascii	" should do,\n    and they agreed he should take orders direc"
	.ascii	"tly,\n    and they must wait to be married till he got a liv"
	.ascii	"ing.\n    And just then I could not hear any more, for my co"
	.ascii	"usin\n    called from below to tell me Mrs. Richardson was c"
	.ascii	"ome in\n    her coach, and would take one of us to Kensingto"
	.ascii	"n Gardens;\n    so I was forced to go into the room and inte"
	.ascii	"rrupt them,\n    to ask Lucy if she would like to go, but sh"
	.ascii	"e did not\n    care to leave Edward; so I just run up stairs"
	.ascii	" and put\n    on a pair of silk stockings and came off with "
	.ascii	"the Richardsons.\"\n    \n    \"I do not understand what you"
	.ascii	" mean by interrupting them,\"\n    said Elinor; \"you were a"
	.ascii	"ll in the same room together,\n    were not you?\"\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \"No, indeed, not us.  La! Miss Dashwood, do you\n    thin"
	.ascii	"k p"
	.ascii	"eople make love when any body else is by?  Oh,\n    for sham"
	.ascii	"e!--To be sure you must know better than that.\n    (Laughin"
	.ascii	"g affectedly.)--No, no; they were shut up in the\n    drawin"
	.ascii	"g-room together, and all I heard was only by listening\n    "
	.ascii	"at the door.\"\n    \n    \"How!\" cried Elinor; \"have you "
	.ascii	"been repeating to me\n    what you only learnt yourself by l"
	.ascii	"istening at the door?\n    I am sorry I did not know it befo"
	.ascii	"re; for I certainly\n    would not have suffered you to give"
	.ascii	" me particulars of a\n    conversation which you ought not t"
	.ascii	"o have known yourself.\n    How could you behave so unfairly"
	.ascii	" by your sister?\"\n    \n    \"Oh, la! there is nothing in "
	.ascii	"THAT.  I only stood at\n    the door, and heard what I could"
	.ascii	".  And I am sure Lucy would\n    have done just the same by "
	.ascii	"me; for a year or two back,\n    when Martha Sharpe and I ha"
	.ascii	"d so many secrets together,\n    she never made any bones of"
	.ascii	" hiding in a closet, or behind\n    a chimney-board, on purp"
	.ascii	"ose to hear what we said.\"\n    \n    Elinor tried to talk "
	.ascii	"of something else; but Miss\n    Steele could not be kept be"
	.ascii	"yond a couple of minutes,\n    from what was uppermost in he"
	.ascii	"r mind.\n    \n    \"Edward talks of going to Oxford soon,\""
	.ascii	" said she;\n    \"but now he is lodging at No. --, Pall Mall"
	.ascii	".  What an\n    ill-natured woman his mother is, an't she? A"
	.ascii	"nd your\n    brother and sister were not very kind! However,"
	.ascii	"\n    I shan't say anything against them to YOU; and to be s"
	.ascii	"ure\n    they did send us home in their own chariot, which\n"
	.ascii	"    was more than I looked for.  And for my part, I was all\n"
	.ascii	"    in a fright for fear your sister should ask us for the\n"
	.ascii	"    huswifes she had gave us a day or two before; but, howev"
	.ascii	"er,\n    nothing was said about them, and I took care to kee"
	.ascii	"p mine\n    out of sight.  Edward have got some business at "
	.ascii	"Oxford,\n    he says; so he must go there for a time; and af"
	.ascii	"ter THAT,\n    as soon as he can light upon a Bishop, he wil"
	.ascii	"l be ordained.\n    I wonder what curacy he will get!--Good "
	.ascii	"gracious!\n    (giggling as she spoke) I'd lay my life I kno"
	.ascii	"w what\n"
	.ascii	"    my cousins will say, when they hear of it.  They will\n "
	.ascii	"   tell me I should write to the Doctor, to get Edward\n    "
	.ascii	"the curacy of his new living.  I know they will; but I am\n "
	.ascii	"   sure I would not do such a thing for all the world.--\n  "
	.ascii	"  'La!' I shall say directly, 'I wonder how you could think\n"
	.ascii	"    of such a thing?  I write to the Doctor, indeed!'\"\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    \"Well,\" said Elinor, \"it is a comfort to be prepar"
	.ascii	"ed\n    against the worst.  You have got your answer ready.\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    Miss Steele was going to reply on the same subje"
	.ascii	"ct,\n    but the approach of her own party made another more"
	.ascii	" necessary.\n    \n    \"Oh, la! here come the Richardsons. "
	.ascii	" I had a vast deal\n    more to say to you, but I must not s"
	.ascii	"tay away from them not\n    any longer.  I assure you they a"
	.ascii	"re very genteel people.\n    He makes a monstrous deal of mo"
	.ascii	"ney, and they keep their\n    own coach.  I have not time to"
	.ascii	" speak to Mrs. Jennings about\n    it myself, but pray tell "
	.ascii	"her I am quite happy to hear she\n    is not in anger agains"
	.ascii	"t us, and Lady Middleton the same;\n    and if anything shou"
	.ascii	"ld happen to take you and your\n    sister away, and Mrs. Je"
	.ascii	"nnings should want company,\n    I am sure we should be very"
	.ascii	" glad to come and stay with her\n    for as long a time as s"
	.ascii	"he likes.  I suppose Lady Middleton\n    won't ask us any mo"
	.ascii	"re this bout.  Good-by; I am sorry\n    Miss Marianne was no"
	.ascii	"t here.  Remember me kindly to her.\n    La! if you have not"
	.ascii	" got your spotted muslin on!--I wonder\n    you was not afra"
	.ascii	"id of its being torn.\"\n    \n    Such was her parting conc"
	.ascii	"ern; for after this, she had\n    time only to pay her farew"
	.ascii	"ell compliments to Mrs. Jennings,\n    before her company wa"
	.ascii	"s claimed by Mrs. Richardson;\n    and Elinor was left in po"
	.ascii	"ssession of knowledge which\n    might feed her powers of re"
	.ascii	"flection some time, though she\n    had learnt very little m"
	.ascii	"ore than what had been already\n    foreseen and foreplanned"
	.ascii	" in her own mind.  Edward's marriage\n    with Lucy was as f"
	.ascii	"irmly determined on, and the time\n    of its taking place r"
	.ascii	"em"
	.ascii	"ained as absolutely uncertain,\n    as she had concluded it "
	.ascii	"would be;--every thing depended,\n    exactly after her expe"
	.ascii	"ctation, on his getting that preferment,\n    of which, at p"
	.ascii	"resent, there seemed not the smallest chance.\n    \n    As "
	.ascii	"soon as they returned to the carriage,\n    Mrs. Jennings wa"
	.ascii	"s eager for information; but as Elinor\n    wished to spread"
	.ascii	" as little as possible intelligence\n    that had in the fir"
	.ascii	"st place been so unfairly obtained,\n    she confined hersel"
	.ascii	"f to the brief repetition of such\n    simple particulars, a"
	.ascii	"s she felt assured that Lucy,\n    for the sake of her own c"
	.ascii	"onsequence, would choose\n    to have known.  The continuanc"
	.ascii	"e of their engagement,\n    and the means that were able to "
	.ascii	"be taken for promoting\n    its end, was all her communicati"
	.ascii	"on; and this produced\n    from Mrs. Jennings the following "
	.ascii	"natural remark.\n    \n    \"Wait for his having a living!--"
	.ascii	"ay, we all know how\n    THAT will end:--they will wait a tw"
	.ascii	"elvemonth, and finding\n    no good comes of it, will set do"
	.ascii	"wn upon a curacy of fifty\n    pounds a-year, with the inter"
	.ascii	"est of his two thousand pounds,\n    and what little matter "
	.ascii	"Mr. Steele and Mr. Pratt can\n    give her.--Then they will "
	.ascii	"have a child every year! and\n    Lord help 'em! how poor th"
	.ascii	"ey will be!--I must see\n    what I can give them towards fu"
	.ascii	"rnishing their house.\n    Two maids and two men, indeed!--a"
	.ascii	"s I talked of t'other\n    day.--No, no, they must get a sto"
	.ascii	"ut girl of all works.--\n    Betty's sister would never do f"
	.ascii	"or them NOW.\"\n    \n    The next morning brought Elinor a "
	.ascii	"letter by the\n    two-penny post from Lucy herself.  It was"
	.ascii	" as follows:\n    \n                        \"Bartlett's Bui"
	.ascii	"lding, March.\n    \n         \"I hope my dear Miss Dashwood"
	.ascii	" will excuse the\n         liberty I take of writing to her;"
	.ascii	" but I know your\n         friendship for me will make you p"
	.ascii	"leased to hear such\n         a good account of myself and m"
	.ascii	"y dear Edward, after\n         all the troubles we have went"
	.ascii	" through lately,\n         therefore will make no more apolo"
	.ascii	"gie"
	.ascii	"s, but proceed\n         to say that, thank God! though we h"
	.ascii	"ave suffered\n         dreadfully, we are both quite well no"
	.ascii	"w, and as happy\n         as we must always be in one anothe"
	.ascii	"r's love.  We have\n         had great trials, and great per"
	.ascii	"secutions, but\n         however, at the same time, grateful"
	.ascii	"ly acknowledge\n         many friends, yourself not the leas"
	.ascii	"t among them,\n         whose great kindness I shall always "
	.ascii	"thankfully\n         remember, as will Edward too, who I hav"
	.ascii	"e told of\n         it.  I am sure you will be glad to hear,"
	.ascii	" as likewise\n         dear Mrs. Jennings, I spent two happy"
	.ascii	" hours with\n         him yesterday afternoon, he would not "
	.ascii	"hear of our\n         parting, though earnestly did I, as I "
	.ascii	"thought my\n         duty required, urge him to it for prude"
	.ascii	"nce sake,\n         and would have parted for ever on the sp"
	.ascii	"ot, would\n         he consent to it; but he said it should "
	.ascii	"never be,\n         he did not regard his mother's anger, wh"
	.ascii	"ile he could\n         have my affections; our prospects are"
	.ascii	" not very\n         bright, to be sure, but we must wait, an"
	.ascii	"d hope for\n         the best; he will be ordained shortly; "
	.ascii	"and should\n         it ever be in your power to recommend h"
	.ascii	"im to any\n         body that has a living to bestow, am ver"
	.ascii	"y sure you\n         will not forget us, and dear Mrs. Jenni"
	.ascii	"ngs too,\n         trust she will speak a good word for us t"
	.ascii	"o Sir John,\n         or Mr. Palmer, or any friend that may "
	.ascii	"be able to\n         assist us.--Poor Anne was much to blame"
	.ascii	" for what\n         she did, but she did it for the best, so"
	.ascii	" I say\n         nothing; hope Mrs. Jennings won't think it "
	.ascii	"too much\n         trouble to give us a call, should she com"
	.ascii	"e this way\n         any morning, 'twould be a great kindnes"
	.ascii	"s, and my\n         cousins would be proud to know her.--My "
	.ascii	"paper reminds\n         me to conclude; and begging to be mo"
	.ascii	"st gratefully\n         and respectfully remembered to her, "
	.ascii	"and to Sir John,\n         and Lady Middleton, and the dear "
	.ascii	"children, when you\n         chance to see them, and l"
	.ascii	"ove to Miss Marianne,\n    \n                               "
	.ascii	"           \"I am, &c.\"\n    \n    As soon as Elinor had fi"
	.ascii	"nished it, she performed\n    what she concluded to be its w"
	.ascii	"riter's real design,\n    by placing it in the hands of Mrs."
	.ascii	" Jennings, who read it\n    aloud with many comments of sati"
	.ascii	"sfaction and praise.\n    \n    \"Very well indeed!--how pre"
	.ascii	"ttily she writes!--aye,\n    that was quite proper to let hi"
	.ascii	"m be off if he would.\n    That was just like Lucy.--Poor so"
	.ascii	"ul! I wish I COULD get\n    him a living, with all my heart."
	.ascii	"--She calls me dear\n    Mrs. Jennings, you see.  She is a g"
	.ascii	"ood-hearted girl\n    as ever lived.--Very well upon my word"
	.ascii	".  That sentence\n    is very prettily turned.  Yes, yes, I "
	.ascii	"will go and see her,\n    sure enough.  How attentive she is"
	.ascii	", to think of every\n    body!--Thank you, my dear, for shew"
	.ascii	"ing it me.  It is\n    as pretty a letter as ever I saw, and"
	.ascii	" does Lucy's head\n    and heart great credit.\"\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"\n    \n    CHAPTER 39\n    \n    \n    The Miss Dashwoods h"
	.ascii	"ad now been rather more than\n    two months in town, and Ma"
	.ascii	"rianne's impatience to be gone\n    increased every day.  Sh"
	.ascii	"e sighed for the air, the liberty,\n    the quiet of the cou"
	.ascii	"ntry; and fancied that if any place\n    could give her ease"
	.ascii	", Barton must do it.  Elinor was hardly\n    less anxious th"
	.ascii	"an herself for their removal, and only so much\n    less ben"
	.ascii	"t on its being effected immediately, as that she\n    was co"
	.ascii	"nscious of the difficulties of so long a journey,\n    which"
	.ascii	" Marianne could not be brought to acknowledge.\n    She bega"
	.ascii	"n, however, seriously to turn her thoughts towards\n    its "
	.ascii	"accomplishment, and had already mentioned their wishes\n    "
	.ascii	"to their kind hostess, who resisted them with all the\n    e"
	.ascii	"loquence of her good-will, when a plan was suggested,\n    w"
	.ascii	"hich, though detaining them from home yet a few weeks\n    l"
	.ascii	"onger, appeared to Elinor altogether much more eligible\n   "
	.ascii	" than any other. The Palmers were to remove to Cleveland\n  "
	.ascii	"  about the end of March, for the Easter holidays;\n    and "
	.ascii	"Mrs. Je"
	.ascii	"nnings, with both her friends, received a very\n    warm inv"
	.ascii	"itation from Charlotte to go with them.  This would\n    not"
	.ascii	", in itself, have been sufficient for the delicacy of\n    M"
	.ascii	"iss Dashwood;--but it was inforced with so much real\n    po"
	.ascii	"liteness by Mr. Palmer himself, as, joined to the very\n    "
	.ascii	"great amendment of his manners towards them since her\n    s"
	.ascii	"ister had been known to be unhappy, induced her to accept\n "
	.ascii	"   it with pleasure.\n    \n    When she told Marianne what "
	.ascii	"she had done, however,\n    her first reply was not very aus"
	.ascii	"picious.\n    \n    \"Cleveland!\"--she cried, with great ag"
	.ascii	"itation.\n    \"No, I cannot go to Cleveland.\"--\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" \"You forget,\" said Elinor gently, \"that its situation\n "
	.ascii	"   is not...that it is not in the neighbourhood of...\"\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    \"But it is in Somersetshire.--I cannot go\n    into "
	.ascii	"Somersetshire.--There, where I looked forward\n    to going."
	.ascii	"..No, Elinor, you cannot expect me to go there.\"\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" Elinor would not argue upon the propriety of overcoming\n  "
	.ascii	"  such feelings;--she only endeavoured to counteract them by"
	.ascii	"\n    working on others;--represented it, therefore, as a me"
	.ascii	"asure\n    which would fix the time of her returning to that"
	.ascii	" dear mother,\n    whom she so much wished to see, in a more"
	.ascii	" eligible,\n    more comfortable manner, than any other plan"
	.ascii	" could do,\n    and perhaps without any greater delay.  From"
	.ascii	" Cleveland,\n    which was within a few miles of Bristol, th"
	.ascii	"e distance to\n    Barton was not beyond one day, though a l"
	.ascii	"ong day's journey;\n    and their mother's servant might eas"
	.ascii	"ily come there to attend\n    them down; and as there could "
	.ascii	"be no occasion of their\n    staying above a week at Clevela"
	.ascii	"nd, they might now be at\n    home in little more than three"
	.ascii	" weeks' time.  As Marianne's\n    affection for her mother w"
	.ascii	"as sincere, it must triumph\n    with little difficulty, ove"
	.ascii	"r the imaginary evils she had started.\n    \n    Mrs. Jenni"
	.ascii	"ngs was so far from being weary of her guest,\n    that she "
	.ascii	"pressed them very earnestly to return with her again\n    fr"
	.ascii	"om Clevela"
	.ascii	"nd.  Elinor was grateful for the attention,\n    but it coul"
	.ascii	"d not alter her design; and their mother's\n    concurrence "
	.ascii	"being readily gained, every thing relative\n    to their ret"
	.ascii	"urn was arranged as far as it could be;--\n    and Marianne "
	.ascii	"found some relief in drawing up a statement\n    of the hour"
	.ascii	"s that were yet to divide her from Barton.\n    \n    \"Ah! "
	.ascii	"Colonel, I do not know what you and I shall\n    do without "
	.ascii	"the Miss Dashwoods;\"--was Mrs. Jennings's\n    address to h"
	.ascii	"im when he first called on her, after their\n    leaving her"
	.ascii	" was settled--\"for they are quite resolved\n    upon going "
	.ascii	"home from the Palmers;--and how forlorn we\n    shall be, wh"
	.ascii	"en I come back!--Lord! we shall sit and gape\n    at one ano"
	.ascii	"ther as dull as two cats.\"\n    \n    Perhaps Mrs. Jennings"
	.ascii	" was in hopes, by this vigorous\n    sketch of their future "
	.ascii	"ennui, to provoke him to make\n    that offer, which might g"
	.ascii	"ive himself an escape from it;--\n    and if so, she had soo"
	.ascii	"n afterwards good reason to think\n    her object gained; fo"
	.ascii	"r, on Elinor's moving to the window\n    to take more expedi"
	.ascii	"tiously the dimensions of a print,\n    which she was going "
	.ascii	"to copy for her friend, he followed\n    her to it with a lo"
	.ascii	"ok of particular meaning, and conversed\n    with her there "
	.ascii	"for several minutes.  The effect of his\n    discourse on th"
	.ascii	"e lady too, could not escape her observation,\n    for thoug"
	.ascii	"h she was too honorable to listen, and had even\n    changed"
	.ascii	" her seat, on purpose that she might NOT hear,\n    to one c"
	.ascii	"lose by the piano forte on which Marianne\n    was playing, "
	.ascii	"she could not keep herself from seeing\n    that Elinor chan"
	.ascii	"ged colour, attended with agitation,\n    and was too intent"
	.ascii	" on what he said to pursue her employment.--\n    Still fart"
	.ascii	"her in confirmation of her hopes, in the interval\n    of Ma"
	.ascii	"rianne's turning from one lesson to another,\n    some words"
	.ascii	" of the Colonel's inevitably reached her ear,\n    in which "
	.ascii	"he seemed to be apologising for the badness\n    of his hous"
	.ascii	"e.  This set the matter beyond a doubt.\n    She wondered, i"
	.ascii	"ndeed, at his thinking it necessary\n    to do so; but suppo"
	.ascii	"sed it to be the proper etiquette.\n    What Elinor said in "
	.ascii	"reply she could not distinguish,\n    but judged from the mo"
	.ascii	"tion of her lips, that she did\n    not think THAT any mater"
	.ascii	"ial objection;--and Mrs. Jennings\n    commended her in her "
	.ascii	"heart for being so honest.\n    They then talked on for a fe"
	.ascii	"w minutes longer without her\n    catching a syllable, when "
	.ascii	"another lucky stop in Marianne's\n    performance brought he"
	.ascii	"r these words in the Colonel's calm voice,--\n    \n    \"I "
	.ascii	"am afraid it cannot take place very soon.\"\n    \n    Aston"
	.ascii	"ished and shocked at so unlover-like a speech,\n    she was "
	.ascii	"almost ready to cry out, \"Lord! what should\n    hinder it?"
	.ascii	"\"--but checking her desire, confined herself\n    to this s"
	.ascii	"ilent ejaculation.\n    \n    \"This is very strange!--sure "
	.ascii	"he need not wait to be older.\"\n    \n    This delay on the"
	.ascii	" Colonel's side, however, did not\n    seem to offend or mor"
	.ascii	"tify his fair companion in the least,\n    for on their brea"
	.ascii	"king up the conference soon afterwards,\n    and moving diff"
	.ascii	"erent ways, Mrs. Jennings very plainly heard\n    Elinor say"
	.ascii	", and with a voice which shewed her to feel what she said,\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"I shall always think myself very much obliged to"
	.ascii	" you.\"\n    \n    Mrs. Jennings was delighted with her grat"
	.ascii	"itude,\n    and only wondered that after hearing such a sent"
	.ascii	"ence,\n    the Colonel should be able to take leave of them,"
	.ascii	" as he\n    immediately did, with the utmost sang-froid, and"
	.ascii	" go away\n    without making her any reply!--She had not tho"
	.ascii	"ught her old\n    friend could have made so indifferent a su"
	.ascii	"itor.\n    \n    What had really passed between them was to "
	.ascii	"this effect.\n    \n    \"I have heard,\" said he, with grea"
	.ascii	"t compassion,\n    \"of the injustice your friend Mr. Ferrar"
	.ascii	"s has suffered\n    from his family; for if I understand the"
	.ascii	" matter right,\n    he has been entirely cast off by them fo"
	.ascii	"r persevering\n    in his engagement with a very deserving y"
	.ascii	"oung woman.--\n    Have I been rightly informed?--Is it so?-"
	.ascii	"-\"\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"Elinor told him that it was.\n    \n    \"The cruelty, the i"
	.ascii	"mpolitic cruelty,\"--he replied,\n    with great feeling,--\""
	.ascii	"of dividing, or attempting to divide,\n    two young people "
	.ascii	"long attached to each other, is terrible.--\n    Mrs. Ferrar"
	.ascii	"s does not know what she may be doing--what\n    she may dri"
	.ascii	"ve her son to.  I have seen Mr. Ferrars two\n    or three ti"
	.ascii	"mes in Harley Street, and am much pleased\n    with him.  He"
	.ascii	" is not a young man with whom one can\n    be intimately acq"
	.ascii	"uainted in a short time, but I have\n    seen enough of him "
	.ascii	"to wish him well for his own sake,\n    and as a friend of y"
	.ascii	"ours, I wish it still more.\n    I understand that he intend"
	.ascii	"s to take orders.  Will you\n    be so good as to tell him t"
	.ascii	"hat the living of Delaford,\n    now just vacant, as I am in"
	.ascii	"formed by this day's post,\n    is his, if he think it worth"
	.ascii	" his acceptance--but THAT,\n    perhaps, so unfortunately ci"
	.ascii	"rcumstanced as he is now,\n    it may be  nonsense to appear"
	.ascii	" to doubt; I only wish it\n    were more  valuable.-- It is "
	.ascii	"a rectory, but a small one;\n    the late incumbent, I belie"
	.ascii	"ve, did not make more than\n    200 L per annum, and though "
	.ascii	"it is certainly capable\n    of improvement, I fear, not to "
	.ascii	"such an amount as\n    to afford him a very comfortable inco"
	.ascii	"me.  Such as it is,\n    however, my pleasure in presenting "
	.ascii	"him to it,\n    will be very great.  Pray assure him of it.\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    Elinor's astonishment at this commission could\n"
	.ascii	"    hardly have been greater, had the Colonel been really\n "
	.ascii	"   making her an offer of his hand.  The preferment,\n    wh"
	.ascii	"ich only two days before she had considered as hopeless\n   "
	.ascii	" for Edward, was already provided to enable him to marry;--\n"
	.ascii	"    and SHE, of all people in the world, was fixed on to\n  "
	.ascii	"  bestow it!--Her emotion was such as Mrs. Jennings had\n   "
	.ascii	" attributed to a very different cause;--but whatever minor\n"
	.ascii	"    feelings less pure, less pleasing, might have a share\n "
	.ascii	"   in that emotion, her esteem for the general benevolence,\n"
	.ascii	"    and her gratitude for the particular friendship,\n   "
	.ascii	" which together prompted Colonel Brandon to this act,\n    w"
	.ascii	"ere strongly felt, and warmly expressed.  She thanked him\n "
	.ascii	"   for it with all her heart, spoke of Edward's principles a"
	.ascii	"nd\n    disposition with that praise which she knew them to "
	.ascii	"deserve;\n    and promised to undertake the commission with "
	.ascii	"pleasure,\n    if it were really his wish to put off so agre"
	.ascii	"eable an office\n    to another.  But at the same time, she "
	.ascii	"could not help\n    thinking that no one could so well perfo"
	.ascii	"rm it as himself.\n    It was an office in short, from which"
	.ascii	", unwilling to give\n    Edward the pain of receiving an obl"
	.ascii	"igation from HER,\n    she would have been very glad to be s"
	.ascii	"pared herself;--\n    but Colonel Brandon, on motives of equ"
	.ascii	"al delicacy,\n    declining it likewise, still seemed so des"
	.ascii	"irous of its being\n    given through her means, that she wo"
	.ascii	"uld not on any account\n    make farther opposition.  Edward"
	.ascii	", she believed, was still in\n    town,\n    and fortunately"
	.ascii	" she had heard his address from Miss Steele.\n    She could "
	.ascii	"undertake therefore to inform him of it,\n    in the course "
	.ascii	"of the day.  After this had been settled,\n    Colonel Brand"
	.ascii	"on began to talk of his own advantage\n    in securing so re"
	.ascii	"spectable and agreeable a neighbour,\n    and THEN it was th"
	.ascii	"at he mentioned with regret, that the\n    house was small a"
	.ascii	"nd indifferent;--an evil which Elinor,\n    as Mrs. Jennings"
	.ascii	" had supposed her to do, made very light of,\n    at least a"
	.ascii	"s far as regarded its size.\n    \n    \"The smallness of th"
	.ascii	"e house,\" said she,\n    \"I cannot imagine any inconvenien"
	.ascii	"ce to them,\n    for it will be in proportion to their famil"
	.ascii	"y and income.\"\n    \n    By which the Colonel was surprise"
	.ascii	"d to find that SHE\n    was considering Mr. Ferrars's marria"
	.ascii	"ge as the certain\n    consequence of the presentation; for "
	.ascii	"he did not suppose it\n    possible that Delaford living cou"
	.ascii	"ld supply such an income,\n    as anybody in his style of li"
	.ascii	"fe would venture to settle on--\n    and he said so.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"This little rectory CAN do no more than make Mr. Ferra"
	.ascii	"rs"
	.ascii	"\n    comfortable as a bachelor; it cannot enable him to mar"
	.ascii	"ry.\n    I am sorry to say that my patronage ends with this;"
	.ascii	"\n    and my interest is hardly more extensive.  If, however"
	.ascii	",\n    by an unforeseen chance it should be in my power to s"
	.ascii	"erve\n    him farther, I must think very differently of him\n"
	.ascii	"    from what I now do, if I am not as ready to be useful\n "
	.ascii	"   to him then as I sincerely wish I could be at present.\n "
	.ascii	"   What I am now doing indeed, seems nothing at all,\n    si"
	.ascii	"nce it can advance him so little towards what must\n    be h"
	.ascii	"is principal, his only object of happiness.\n    His marriag"
	.ascii	"e must still be a distant good;--at least,\n    I am afraid "
	.ascii	"it cannot take place very soon.--\"\n    \n    Such was the "
	.ascii	"sentence which, when misunderstood,\n    so justly offended "
	.ascii	"the delicate feelings of Mrs. Jennings;\n    but after this "
	.ascii	"narration of what really passed between\n    Colonel Brandon"
	.ascii	" and Elinor, while they stood at the window,\n    the gratit"
	.ascii	"ude expressed by the latter on their parting, may\n    perha"
	.ascii	"ps appear in general, not less reasonably excited,\n    nor "
	.ascii	"less properly worded than if it had arisen from\n    an offe"
	.ascii	"r of marriage.\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 40\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"\n    \"Well, Miss Dashwood,\" said Mrs. Jennings,\n    saga"
	.ascii	"ciously smiling, as soon as the gentleman had withdrawn,\n  "
	.ascii	"  \"I do not ask you what the Colonel has been saying to you"
	.ascii	";\n    for though, upon my honour, I TRIED to keep out of he"
	.ascii	"aring,\n    I could not help catching enough to understand h"
	.ascii	"is business.\n    And I assure you I never was better please"
	.ascii	"d in my life,\n    and I wish you joy of it with all my hear"
	.ascii	"t.\"\n    \n    \"Thank you, ma'am,\" said Elinor.  \"It is "
	.ascii	"a matter\n    of great joy to me; and I feel the goodness of"
	.ascii	" Colonel\n    Brandon most sensibly.  There are not many men"
	.ascii	" who would\n    act as he has done.  Few people who have so "
	.ascii	"compassionate\n    a heart!  I never was more astonished in "
	.ascii	"my life.\"\n    \n    \"Lord! my dear, you are very modest. "
	.ascii	" I an't the least\n    astonished at it in the world, for I "
	.ascii	"have often t"
	.ascii	"hought\n    of late, there was nothing more likely to happen"
	.ascii	".\"\n    \n    \"You judged from your knowledge of the Colon"
	.ascii	"el's\n    general benevolence; but at least you could not fo"
	.ascii	"resee\n    that the opportunity would so very soon occur.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"Opportunity!\" repeated Mrs. Jennings--\"Oh! as "
	.ascii	"to that,\n    when a man has once made up his mind to such a"
	.ascii	" thing,\n    somehow or other he will soon find an opportuni"
	.ascii	"ty.\n    Well, my dear, I wish you joy of it again and again"
	.ascii	";\n    and if ever there was a happy couple in the world, I "
	.ascii	"think\n    I shall soon know where to look for them.\"\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    \"You mean to go to Delaford after them I suppose,\"\n"
	.ascii	"    said Elinor, with a faint smile.\n    \n    \"Aye, my de"
	.ascii	"ar, that I do, indeed.  And as to the house\n    being a bad"
	.ascii	" one, I do not know what the Colonel would be at,\n    for i"
	.ascii	"t is as good a one as ever I saw.\"\n    \n    \"He spoke of"
	.ascii	" its being out of repair.\"\n    \n    \"Well, and whose fau"
	.ascii	"lt is that? why don't he repair it?--\n    who should do it "
	.ascii	"but himself?\"\n    \n    They were interrupted by the serva"
	.ascii	"nt's coming in to\n    announce the carriage being at the do"
	.ascii	"or; and Mrs. Jennings\n    immediately preparing to go, said"
	.ascii	",--\n    \n    \"Well, my dear, I must be gone before I have"
	.ascii	" had half\n    my talk out.  But, however, we may have it al"
	.ascii	"l over in\n    the evening; for we shall be quite alone.  I "
	.ascii	"do not ask\n    you to go with me, for I dare say your mind "
	.ascii	"is too full\n    of the matter to care for company; and besi"
	.ascii	"des, you must\n    long to tell your sister all about it.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    Marianne had left the room before the conversation"
	.ascii	" began.\n    \n    \"Certainly, ma'am, I shall tell Marianne"
	.ascii	" of it;\n    but I shall not mention it at present to any bo"
	.ascii	"dy else.\"\n    \n    \"Oh! very well,\" said Mrs. Jennings "
	.ascii	"rather disappointed.\n    \"Then you would not have me tell "
	.ascii	"it to Lucy, for I think\n    of going as far as Holborn to-d"
	.ascii	"ay.\"\n    \n    \"No, ma'am, not even Lucy if you please.\n"
	.ascii	"    One day's delay will not be very material; and till I\n "
	.ascii	"   have written to Mr. Ferrars"
	.ascii	", I think it ought not to be\n    mentioned to any body else"
	.ascii	".  I shall do THAT directly.\n    It is of importance that n"
	.ascii	"o time should be lost with him,\n    for he will of course h"
	.ascii	"ave much to do relative to\n    his ordination.\"\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" This speech at first puzzled Mrs. Jennings exceedingly.\n  "
	.ascii	"  Why Mr. Ferrars was to have been written to about it\n    "
	.ascii	"in such a hurry, she could not immediately comprehend.\n    "
	.ascii	"A few moments' reflection, however, produced a very happy id"
	.ascii	"ea,\n    and she exclaimed;--\n    \n    \"Oh, ho!--I unders"
	.ascii	"tand you.  Mr. Ferrars is to be\n    the man.  Well, so much"
	.ascii	" the better for him.  Ay, to be sure,\n    he must be ordain"
	.ascii	"ed in readiness; and I am very glad\n    to find things are "
	.ascii	"so forward between you.  But, my dear,\n    is not this rath"
	.ascii	"er out of character?  Should not the Colonel\n    write hims"
	.ascii	"elf?--sure, he is the proper person.\"\n    \n    Elinor did"
	.ascii	" not quite understand the beginning of\n    Mrs. Jennings's "
	.ascii	"speech, neither did she think it worth\n    inquiring into; "
	.ascii	"and therefore only replied to its conclusion.\n    \n    \"C"
	.ascii	"olonel Brandon is so delicate a man, that he rather\n    wis"
	.ascii	"hed any one to announce his intentions to Mr. Ferrars\n    t"
	.ascii	"han himself.\"\n    \n    \"And so YOU are forced to do it. "
	.ascii	" Well THAT is an odd\n    kind of delicacy!  However, I will"
	.ascii	" not disturb you (seeing\n    her preparing to write.)  You "
	.ascii	"know your own concerns best.\n    So goodby, my dear.  I hav"
	.ascii	"e not heard of any thing to\n    please me so well since Cha"
	.ascii	"rlotte was brought to bed.\"\n    \n    And away she went; b"
	.ascii	"ut returning again in a moment,\n    \n    \"I have just bee"
	.ascii	"n thinking of Betty's sister, my dear.\n    I should be very"
	.ascii	" glad to get her so good a mistress.\n    But whether she wo"
	.ascii	"uld do for a lady's maid, I am sure I\n    can't tell.  She "
	.ascii	"is an excellent housemaid, and works\n    very well at her n"
	.ascii	"eedle.  However, you will think of all\n    that at your lei"
	.ascii	"sure.\"\n    \n    \"Certainly, ma'am,\" replied Elinor, not"
	.ascii	" hearing\n    much of what she said, and more anxious to be "
	.ascii	"alone,\n    tha"
	.ascii	"n to be mistress of the subject.\n    \n    How she should b"
	.ascii	"egin--how she should express\n    herself in her note to Edw"
	.ascii	"ard, was now all her concern.\n    The particular circumstan"
	.ascii	"ces between them made\n    a difficulty of that which to any"
	.ascii	" other person would\n    have been the easiest thing in the "
	.ascii	"world; but she\n    equally feared to say too much or too li"
	.ascii	"ttle, and sat\n    deliberating over her paper, with the pen"
	.ascii	" in her hand,\n    till broken in on by the entrance of Edwa"
	.ascii	"rd himself.\n    \n    He had met Mrs. Jennings at the door "
	.ascii	"in her way to\n    the carriage, as he came to leave his far"
	.ascii	"ewell card; and she,\n    after apologising for not returnin"
	.ascii	"g herself, had obliged\n    him to enter, by saying that Mis"
	.ascii	"s Dashwood was above,\n    and wanted to speak with him on v"
	.ascii	"ery particular business.\n    \n    Elinor had just been con"
	.ascii	"gratulating herself,\n    in the midst of her perplexity, th"
	.ascii	"at however difficult it\n    might be to express herself pro"
	.ascii	"perly by letter, it was\n    at least preferable to giving t"
	.ascii	"he information by word\n    of mouth, when her visitor enter"
	.ascii	"ed, to force her upon this\n    greatest exertion of all.  H"
	.ascii	"er astonishment and confusion\n    were very great on his so"
	.ascii	" sudden appearance.  She had\n    not seen him before since "
	.ascii	"his engagement became public,\n    and therefore not since h"
	.ascii	"is knowing her to be acquainted\n    with it; which, with th"
	.ascii	"e consciousness of what she\n    had been thinking of, and w"
	.ascii	"hat she had to tell him,\n    made her feel particularly unc"
	.ascii	"omfortable for some minutes.\n    He too was much distressed"
	.ascii	"; and they sat down together\n    in a most promising state "
	.ascii	"of embarrassment.--Whether he\n    had asked her pardon for "
	.ascii	"his intrusion on first coming\n    into the room, he could n"
	.ascii	"ot recollect; but determining\n    to be on the safe side, h"
	.ascii	"e made his apology in form\n    as soon as he could say any "
	.ascii	"thing, after taking a chair.\n    \n    \"Mrs. Jennings told"
	.ascii	" me,\" said he, \"that you wished\n    to speak with me, at "
	.ascii	"least I understood her so--or I\n    certainly should not ha"
	.ascii	"v"
	.ascii	"e intruded on you in such a manner;\n    though at the same "
	.ascii	"time, I should have been extremely\n    sorry to leave Londo"
	.ascii	"n without seeing you and your sister;\n    especially as it "
	.ascii	"will most likely be some time--it\n    is not probable that "
	.ascii	"I should soon have the pleasure\n    of meeting you again.  "
	.ascii	"I go to Oxford tomorrow.\"\n    \n    \"You would not have g"
	.ascii	"one, however,\" said Elinor,\n    recovering herself, and de"
	.ascii	"termined to get over what she\n    so much dreaded as soon a"
	.ascii	"s possible, \"without receiving\n    our good wishes, even i"
	.ascii	"f we had not been able to give them\n    in person.  Mrs. Je"
	.ascii	"nnings was quite right in what she said.\n    I have somethi"
	.ascii	"ng of consequence to inform you of,\n    which I was on the "
	.ascii	"point of communicating by paper.\n    I am charged with a mo"
	.ascii	"st agreeable office (breathing\n    rather faster than usual"
	.ascii	" as she spoke.)  Colonel Brandon,\n    who was here only ten"
	.ascii	" minutes ago, has desired me to say,\n    that understanding"
	.ascii	" you mean to take orders, he has\n    great pleasure in offe"
	.ascii	"ring you the living of Delaford\n    now just vacant, and on"
	.ascii	"ly wishes it were more valuable.\n    Allow me to congratula"
	.ascii	"te you on having so respectable\n    and well-judging a frie"
	.ascii	"nd, and to join in his wish that\n    the living--it is abou"
	.ascii	"t two hundred a-year--were much\n    more considerable, and "
	.ascii	"such as might better enable you\n    to--as might be more th"
	.ascii	"an a temporary accommodation to\n    yourself--such, in shor"
	.ascii	"t, as might establish all your views\n    of happiness.\"\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    What Edward felt, as he could not say it himself,\n"
	.ascii	"    it cannot be expected that any one else should say for h"
	.ascii	"im.\n    He LOOKED all the astonishment which such unexpecte"
	.ascii	"d,\n    such unthought-of information could not fail of exci"
	.ascii	"ting;\n    but he said only these two words,\n    \n    \"Co"
	.ascii	"lonel Brandon!\"\n    \n    \"Yes,\" continued Elinor, gathe"
	.ascii	"ring more resolution,\n    as some of the worst was over, \""
	.ascii	"Colonel Brandon means\n    it as a testimony of his concern "
	.ascii	"for what has lately\n    passed--for the cruel situation in "
	.ascii	"which the"
	.ascii	" unjustifiable\n    conduct of your family has placed you--a"
	.ascii	" concern\n    which I am sure Marianne, myself, and all your"
	.ascii	" friends,\n    must share; and likewise as a proof of his hi"
	.ascii	"gh esteem\n    for your general character, and his particula"
	.ascii	"r approbation\n    of your behaviour on the present occasion"
	.ascii	".\"\n    \n    \"Colonel Brandon give ME a living!--Can it b"
	.ascii	"e possible?\"\n    \n    \"The unkindness of your own relati"
	.ascii	"ons has made you\n    astonished to find friendship any wher"
	.ascii	"e.\"\n    \n    \"No,\" replied be, with sudden consciousnes"
	.ascii	"s, \"not to\n    find it in YOU; for I cannot be ignorant th"
	.ascii	"at to you,\n    to your goodness, I owe it all.--I feel it--"
	.ascii	"I would express\n    it if I could--but, as you well know, I"
	.ascii	" am no orator.\"\n    \n    \"You are very much mistaken.  I"
	.ascii	" do assure you\n    that you owe it entirely, at least almos"
	.ascii	"t entirely,\n    to your own merit, and Colonel Brandon's di"
	.ascii	"scernment\n    of it.  I have had no hand in it.  I did not "
	.ascii	"even know,\n    till I understood his design, that the livin"
	.ascii	"g was vacant;\n    nor had it ever occurred to me that he mi"
	.ascii	"ght have\n    had such a living in his gift.  As a friend of"
	.ascii	" mine,\n    of my family, he may, perhaps--indeed I know he "
	.ascii	"HAS,\n    still greater pleasure in bestowing it; but, upon "
	.ascii	"my word,\n    you owe nothing to my solicitation.\"\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   Truth obliged her to acknowledge some small share\n    in"
	.ascii	" the action, but she was at the same time so unwilling\n    "
	.ascii	"to appear as the benefactress of Edward, that she acknowledg"
	.ascii	"ed\n    it with hesitation; which probably contributed to fi"
	.ascii	"x\n    that suspicion in his mind which had recently entered"
	.ascii	" it.\n    For a short time he sat deep in thought, after Eli"
	.ascii	"nor had ceased\n    to speak;--at last, and as if it were ra"
	.ascii	"ther an effort, he said,\n    \n    \"Colonel Brandon seems "
	.ascii	"a man of great worth and respectability.\n    I have always "
	.ascii	"heard him spoken of as such, and your brother\n    I know es"
	.ascii	"teems him highly.  He is undoubtedly a sensible man,\n    an"
	.ascii	"d in his manners perfectly the gentleman.\"\n    \n    \"Ind"
	.ascii	"eed,\" replied E"
	.ascii	"linor, \"I believe that you will find him,\n    on farther a"
	.ascii	"cquaintance, all that you have heard him to be,\n    and as "
	.ascii	"you will be such very near neighbours (for I understand\n   "
	.ascii	" the parsonage is almost close to the mansion-house,)\n    i"
	.ascii	"t is particularly important that he SHOULD be all this.\"\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    Edward made no answer; but when she had turned\n   "
	.ascii	" away her head, gave her a look so serious, so earnest,\n   "
	.ascii	" so uncheerful, as seemed to say, that he might hereafter wi"
	.ascii	"sh\n    the distance between the parsonage and the mansion-h"
	.ascii	"ouse\n    much greater.\n    \n    \"Colonel Brandon, I thin"
	.ascii	"k, lodges in St. James Street,\"\n    said he, soon afterwar"
	.ascii	"ds, rising from his chair.\n    \n    Elinor told him the nu"
	.ascii	"mber of the house.\n    \n    \"I must hurry away then, to g"
	.ascii	"ive him those thanks\n    which you will not allow me to giv"
	.ascii	"e YOU; to assure him\n    that he has made me a very--an exc"
	.ascii	"eedingly happy man.\"\n    \n    Elinor did not offer to det"
	.ascii	"ain him; and they parted,\n    with a very earnest assurance"
	.ascii	" on HER side of her unceasing\n    good wishes for his happi"
	.ascii	"ness in every change of situation\n    that might befall him"
	.ascii	"; on HIS, with rather an attempt to\n    return the same goo"
	.ascii	"d will, than the power of expressing it.\n    \n    \"When I"
	.ascii	" see him again,\" said Elinor to herself,\n    as the door s"
	.ascii	"hut him out, \"I shall see him the husband\n    of Lucy.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    And with this pleasing anticipation, she sat down\n"
	.ascii	"    to reconsider the past, recall the words and endeavour\n"
	.ascii	"    to comprehend all the feelings of Edward; and, of course"
	.ascii	",\n    to reflect on her own with discontent.\n    \n    Whe"
	.ascii	"n Mrs. Jennings came home, though she returned\n    from see"
	.ascii	"ing people whom she had never seen before,\n    and of whom "
	.ascii	"therefore she must have a great deal to say,\n    her mind w"
	.ascii	"as so much more occupied by the important secret\n    in her"
	.ascii	" possession, than by anything else, that she\n    reverted t"
	.ascii	"o it again as soon as Elinor appeared.\n    \n    \"Well, my"
	.ascii	" dear,\" she cried, \"I sent you up to the\n    young man.  "
	.ascii	"Did not I do rig"
	.ascii	"ht?--And I suppose you had\n    no great difficulty--You did"
	.ascii	" not find him very unwilling\n    to accept your proposal?\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"No, ma'am; THAT was not very likely.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"Well, and how soon will he be ready?--For it seems\n  "
	.ascii	"  all to depend upon that.\"\n    \n    \"Really,\" said Eli"
	.ascii	"nor, \"I know so little of these kind\n    of forms, that I "
	.ascii	"can hardly even conjecture as to the time,\n    or the prepa"
	.ascii	"ration necessary; but I suppose two or three\n    months wil"
	.ascii	"l complete his ordination.\"\n    \n    \"Two or three month"
	.ascii	"s!\" cried Mrs. Jennings; \"Lord! my dear,\n    how calmly y"
	.ascii	"ou talk of it; and can the Colonel wait two\n    or three mo"
	.ascii	"nths! Lord bless me!--I am sure it would put ME\n    quite o"
	.ascii	"ut of patience!--And though one would be very glad\n    to d"
	.ascii	"o a kindness by poor Mr. Ferrars, I do think it is\n    not "
	.ascii	"worth while to wait two or three months for him.\n    Sure s"
	.ascii	"omebody else might be found that would do as well;\n    some"
	.ascii	"body that is in orders already.\"\n    \n    \"My dear ma'am"
	.ascii	",\" said Elinor, \"what can you be thinking of?--\n    Why, "
	.ascii	"Colonel Brandon's only object is to be of use to Mr. Ferrars"
	.ascii	".\"\n    \n    \"Lord bless you, my dear!--Sure you do not m"
	.ascii	"ean to persuade\n    me that the Colonel only marries you fo"
	.ascii	"r the sake of giving\n    ten guineas to Mr. Ferrars!\"\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    The deception could not continue after this;\n    and"
	.ascii	" an explanation immediately took place, by which both\n    g"
	.ascii	"ained considerable amusement for the moment, without any\n  "
	.ascii	"  material loss of happiness to either, for Mrs. Jennings\n "
	.ascii	"   only exchanged one form of delight for another, and still"
	.ascii	"\n    without forfeiting her expectation of the first.\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    \"Aye, aye, the parsonage is but a small one,\" said s"
	.ascii	"he,\n    after the first ebullition of surprise and satisfac"
	.ascii	"tion\n    was over, \"and very likely MAY be out of repair; "
	.ascii	"but to hear\n    a man apologising, as I thought, for a hous"
	.ascii	"e that to my\n    knowledge has five sitting rooms on the gr"
	.ascii	"ound-floor, and I\n    think the housekeeper told me could m"
	.ascii	"ake up fifteen beds!--\n "
	.ascii	"   and to you too, that had been used to live in Barton cott"
	.ascii	"age!--\n    It seems quite ridiculous.  But, my dear, we mus"
	.ascii	"t\n    touch up the Colonel to do some thing to the parsonag"
	.ascii	"e,\n    and make it comfortable for them, before Lucy goes t"
	.ascii	"o it.\"\n    \n    \"But Colonel Brandon does not seem to ha"
	.ascii	"ve any idea\n    of the living's being enough to allow them "
	.ascii	"to marry.\"\n    \n    \"The Colonel is a ninny, my dear; be"
	.ascii	"cause he has two\n    thousand a-year himself, he thinks tha"
	.ascii	"t nobody else can marry\n    on less.  Take my word for it, "
	.ascii	"that, if I am alive, I shall\n    be paying a visit at Delaf"
	.ascii	"ord Parsonage before Michaelmas;\n    and I am sure I shan't"
	.ascii	" go if Lucy an't there.\"\n    \n    Elinor was quite of her"
	.ascii	" opinion, as to the probability\n    of their not waiting fo"
	.ascii	"r any thing more.\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 41\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   \n    Edward, having carried his thanks to Colonel Brando"
	.ascii	"n,\n    proceeded with his happiness to Lucy; and such was t"
	.ascii	"he\n    excess of it by the time he reached Bartlett's Build"
	.ascii	"ings,\n    that she was able to assure Mrs. Jennings, who ca"
	.ascii	"lled\n    on her again the next day with her congratulations"
	.ascii	",\n    that she had never seen him in such spirits before\n "
	.ascii	"   in her life.\n    \n    Her own happiness, and her own sp"
	.ascii	"irits, were at\n    least very certain; and she joined Mrs. "
	.ascii	"Jennings most\n    heartily in her expectation of their bein"
	.ascii	"g all comfortably\n    together in Delaford Parsonage before"
	.ascii	" Michaelmas.\n    So far was she, at the same time, from any"
	.ascii	" backwardness\n    to give Elinor that credit which Edward W"
	.ascii	"OULD give her,\n    that she spoke of her friendship for the"
	.ascii	"m both with the most\n    grateful warmth, was ready to own "
	.ascii	"all their obligation\n    to her, and openly declared that n"
	.ascii	"o exertion for their\n    good on Miss Dashwood's part, eith"
	.ascii	"er present or future,\n    would ever surprise her, for she "
	.ascii	"believed her capable of\n    doing any thing in the world fo"
	.ascii	"r those she really valued.\n    As for Colonel Brandon, she "
	.ascii	"was not only ready to worship\n    him as a saint, but was m"
	.ascii	"oreover "
	.ascii	"truly anxious that\n    he should be treated as one in all w"
	.ascii	"orldly concerns;\n    anxious that his tithes should be rais"
	.ascii	"ed to the utmost;\n    and scarcely resolved to avail hersel"
	.ascii	"f, at Delaford,\n    as far as she possibly could, of his se"
	.ascii	"rvants, his carriage,\n    his cows, and his poultry.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    It was now above a week since John Dashwood had\n    cal"
	.ascii	"led in Berkeley Street, and as since that time no notice\n  "
	.ascii	"  had been taken by them of his wife's indisposition,\n    b"
	.ascii	"eyond one verbal enquiry, Elinor began to feel it\n    neces"
	.ascii	"sary to pay her a visit.--This was an obligation,\n    howev"
	.ascii	"er, which not only opposed her own inclination,\n    but whi"
	.ascii	"ch had not the assistance of any encouragement\n    from her"
	.ascii	" companions.  Marianne, not contented with\n    absolutely r"
	.ascii	"efusing to go herself, was very urgent\n    to prevent her s"
	.ascii	"ister's going at all; and Mrs. Jennings,\n    though her car"
	.ascii	"riage was always at Elinor's service,\n    so very much disl"
	.ascii	"iked Mrs. John Dashwood, that not even her\n    curiosity to"
	.ascii	" see how she looked after the late discovery,\n    nor her s"
	.ascii	"trong desire to affront her by taking Edward's part,\n    co"
	.ascii	"uld overcome her unwillingness to be in her company again.\n"
	.ascii	"    The consequence was, that Elinor set out by herself\n   "
	.ascii	" to pay a visit, for which no one could really have\n    les"
	.ascii	"s inclination, and to run the risk of a tete-a-tete\n    wit"
	.ascii	"h a woman, whom neither of the others had so much\n    reaso"
	.ascii	"n to dislike.\n    \n    Mrs. Dashwood was denied; but befor"
	.ascii	"e the carriage could\n    turn from the house, her husband a"
	.ascii	"ccidentally came out.\n    He expressed great pleasure in me"
	.ascii	"eting Elinor, told her\n    that he had been just going to c"
	.ascii	"all in Berkeley Street,\n    and, assuring her that Fanny wo"
	.ascii	"uld be very glad to see her,\n    invited her to come in.\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    They walked up stairs in to the drawing-room.--Nobo"
	.ascii	"dy was there.\n    \n    \"Fanny is in her own room, I suppo"
	.ascii	"se,\" said he:--\"I\n    will go to her presently, for I am "
	.ascii	"sure she will not\n    have the least objection in the world"
	.ascii	" "
	.ascii	"to seeing YOU.--\n    Very far from it, indeed.  NOW especia"
	.ascii	"lly there\n    cannot be--but however, you and Marianne were"
	.ascii	" always\n    great favourites.--Why would not Marianne come?"
	.ascii	"\"--\n    \n    Elinor made what excuse she could for her.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"I am not sorry to see you alone,\" he replied,\n"
	.ascii	"    \"for I have a good deal to say to you.  This living\n  "
	.ascii	"  of Colonel Brandon's--can it be true?--has he really given"
	.ascii	"\n    it to Edward?--I heard it yesterday by chance, and was"
	.ascii	"\n    coming to you on purpose to enquire farther about it.\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"It is perfectly true.--Colonel Brandon has giv"
	.ascii	"en\n    the living of Delaford to Edward.\"\n    \n    \"Rea"
	.ascii	"lly!--Well, this is very astonishing!--no\n    relationship!"
	.ascii	"--no connection between them!--and now\n    that livings fet"
	.ascii	"ch such a price!--what was the value of this?\"\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"About two hundred a year.\"\n    \n    \"Very well--and for "
	.ascii	"the next presentation to a living\n    of that value--suppos"
	.ascii	"ing the late incumbent to have\n    been old and sickly, and"
	.ascii	" likely to vacate it soon--he\n    might have got I dare say"
	.ascii	"--fourteen hundred pounds.\n    And how came he not to have "
	.ascii	"settled that matter before this\n    person's death?--NOW in"
	.ascii	"deed it would be too late to sell it,\n    but a man of Colo"
	.ascii	"nel Brandon's sense!--I wonder he should\n    be so improvid"
	.ascii	"ent in a point of such common, such natural,\n    concern!--"
	.ascii	"Well, I am convinced that there is a vast deal\n    of incon"
	.ascii	"sistency in almost every human character.  I suppose,\n    h"
	.ascii	"owever--on recollection--that the case may probably be THIS."
	.ascii	"\n    Edward is only to hold the living till the person to w"
	.ascii	"hom\n    the Colonel has really sold the presentation, is ol"
	.ascii	"d enough\n    to take it.--Aye, aye, that is the fact, depen"
	.ascii	"d upon it.\"\n    \n    Elinor contradicted it, however, ver"
	.ascii	"y positively;\n    and by relating that she had herself been"
	.ascii	" employed\n    in conveying the offer from Colonel Brandon t"
	.ascii	"o Edward,\n    and, therefore, must understand the terms on "
	.ascii	"which it\n    was given, obliged him to submit to her author"
	.ascii	"ity.\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \"It is truly astonishing!\"--he cried, after hearing\n   "
	.ascii	" what she said--\"what could be the Colonel's motive?\"\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    \"A very simple one--to be of use to Mr. Ferrars.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"Well, well; whatever Colonel Brandon may be,\n  "
	.ascii	"  Edward is a very lucky man.--You will not mention the matt"
	.ascii	"er\n    to Fanny, however, for though I have broke it to her"
	.ascii	",\n    and she bears it vastly well,--she will not like to h"
	.ascii	"ear\n    it much talked of.\"\n    \n    Elinor had some dif"
	.ascii	"ficulty here to refrain from observing,\n    that she though"
	.ascii	"t Fanny might have borne with composure,\n    an acquisition"
	.ascii	" of wealth to her brother, by which neither\n    she nor her"
	.ascii	" child could be possibly impoverished.\n    \n    \"Mrs. Fer"
	.ascii	"rars,\" added he, lowering his voice to the\n    tone becomi"
	.ascii	"ng so important a subject, \"knows nothing\n    about it at "
	.ascii	"present, and I believe it will be best to\n    keep it entir"
	.ascii	"ely concealed from her as long as may be.--\n    When the ma"
	.ascii	"rriage takes place, I fear she must hear\n    of it all.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"But why should such precaution be used?--Though\n"
	.ascii	"    it is not to be supposed that Mrs. Ferrars can have\n   "
	.ascii	" the smallest satisfaction in knowing that her son has\n    "
	.ascii	"money enough to live upon,--for THAT must be quite\n    out "
	.ascii	"of the question; yet why, upon her late behaviour,\n    is s"
	.ascii	"he supposed to feel at all?--She has done with her\n    son,"
	.ascii	" she cast him off for ever, and has made all those\n    over"
	.ascii	" whom she had any influence, cast him off likewise.\n    Sur"
	.ascii	"ely, after doing so, she cannot be imagined liable\n    to a"
	.ascii	"ny impression of sorrow or of joy on his account--\n    she "
	.ascii	"cannot be interested in any thing that befalls him.--\n    S"
	.ascii	"he would not be so weak as to throw away the comfort\n    of"
	.ascii	" a child, and yet retain the anxiety of a parent!\"\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   \"Ah! Elinor,\" said John, \"your reasoning is very good,"
	.ascii	"\n    but it is founded on ignorance of human nature.\n    W"
	.ascii	"hen Edward's unhappy match takes place, depend upon it\n    "
	.ascii	"his mother will feel as much as if she had never discarded h"
	.ascii	"im;\n    and, the"
	.ascii	"refore every circumstance that may accelerate that\n    drea"
	.ascii	"dful event, must be concealed from her as much as possible.\n"
	.ascii	"    Mrs. Ferrars can never forget that Edward is her son.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"You surprise me; I should think it must nearly\n"
	.ascii	"    have escaped her memory by THIS time.\"\n    \n    \"You"
	.ascii	" wrong her exceedingly.  Mrs. Ferrars is one\n    of the mos"
	.ascii	"t affectionate mothers in the world.\"\n    \n    Elinor was"
	.ascii	" silent.\n    \n    \"We think NOW,\"--said Mr. Dashwood, af"
	.ascii	"ter a short pause,\n    \"of ROBERT'S marrying Miss Morton.\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    Elinor, smiling at the grave and decisive import"
	.ascii	"ance\n    of her brother's tone, calmly replied,\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"\"The lady, I suppose, has no choice in the affair.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"Choice!--how do you mean?\"\n    \n    \"I only mean t"
	.ascii	"hat I suppose, from your manner\n    of speaking, it must be"
	.ascii	" the same to Miss Morton whether\n    she marry Edward or Ro"
	.ascii	"bert.\"\n    \n    \"Certainly, there can be no difference; "
	.ascii	"for Robert\n    will now to all intents and purposes be cons"
	.ascii	"idered\n    as the eldest son;--and as to any thing else, th"
	.ascii	"ey are\n    both very agreeable young men: I do not know tha"
	.ascii	"t one\n    is superior to the other.\"\n    \n    Elinor sai"
	.ascii	"d no more, and John was also for a short\n    time silent.--"
	.ascii	"His reflections ended thus.\n    \n    \"Of ONE thing, my de"
	.ascii	"ar sister,\" kindly taking her hand,\n    and speaking in an"
	.ascii	" awful whisper,--\"I may assure you;--\n    and I WILL do it"
	.ascii	", because I know it must gratify you.\n    I have good reaso"
	.ascii	"n to think--indeed I have it from the\n    best authority, o"
	.ascii	"r I should not repeat it, for otherwise\n    it would be ver"
	.ascii	"y wrong to say any thing about it--but\n    I have it from t"
	.ascii	"he very best authority--not that I ever\n    precisely heard"
	.ascii	" Mrs. Ferrars say it herself--but her\n    daughter DID, and"
	.ascii	" I have it from her--That in short,\n    whatever objections"
	.ascii	" there might be against a certain--a\n    certain connection"
	.ascii	"--you understand me--it would have been\n    far preferable "
	.ascii	"to her, it would not have given her half\n    the vexation t"
	.ascii	"hat THIS does.  I was e"
	.ascii	"xceedingly pleased\n    to hear that Mrs. Ferrars considered"
	.ascii	" it in that light--\n    a very gratifying circumstance you "
	.ascii	"know to us all.\n    'It would have been beyond comparison,'"
	.ascii	" she said, 'the least\n    evil of the two, and she would be"
	.ascii	" glad to compound NOW\n    for nothing worse.' But however, "
	.ascii	"all that is quite out\n    of the question--not to be though"
	.ascii	"t of or mentioned--\n    as to any attachment you know--it n"
	.ascii	"ever could be--all\n    that is gone by.  But I thought I wo"
	.ascii	"uld just tell you\n    of this, because I knew how much it m"
	.ascii	"ust please you.\n    Not that you have any reason to regret,"
	.ascii	" my dear Elinor.  There\n    is no doubt of your doing excee"
	.ascii	"dingly well--quite as well,\n    or better, perhaps, all thi"
	.ascii	"ngs considered.  Has Colonel\n    Brandon been with you late"
	.ascii	"ly?\"\n    \n    Elinor had heard enough, if not to gratify "
	.ascii	"her vanity,\n    and raise her self-importance, to agitate h"
	.ascii	"er nerves\n    and fill her mind;--and she was therefore gla"
	.ascii	"d to be\n    spared from the necessity of saying much in rep"
	.ascii	"ly herself,\n    and from the danger of hearing any thing mo"
	.ascii	"re from\n    her brother, by the entrance of Mr. Robert Ferr"
	.ascii	"ars.\n    After a few moments' chat, John Dashwood, recollec"
	.ascii	"ting that\n    Fanny was yet uninformed of her sister's bein"
	.ascii	"g there,\n    quitted the room in quest of her; and Elinor w"
	.ascii	"as left\n    to improve her acquaintance with Robert, who, b"
	.ascii	"y the\n    gay unconcern, the happy self-complacency of his "
	.ascii	"manner\n    while enjoying so unfair a division of his mothe"
	.ascii	"r's love\n    and liberality, to the prejudice of his banish"
	.ascii	"ed brother,\n    earned only by his own dissipated course of"
	.ascii	" life, and that\n    brother's integrity, was confirming her"
	.ascii	" most unfavourable\n    opinion of his head and heart.\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    They had scarcely been two minutes by themselves,\n   "
	.ascii	" before he began to speak of Edward; for he, too, had heard\n"
	.ascii	"    of the living, and was very inquisitive on the subject.\n"
	.ascii	"    Elinor repeated the particulars of it, as she had given "
	.ascii	"them\n    to John; and their effect on Robert, though v"
	.ascii	"ery different,\n    was not less striking than it had been o"
	.ascii	"n HIM.  He laughed\n    most immoderately.  The idea of Edwa"
	.ascii	"rd's being a clergyman,\n    and living in a small parsonage"
	.ascii	"-house, diverted him\n    beyond measure;--and when to that "
	.ascii	"was added the fanciful\n    imagery of Edward reading prayer"
	.ascii	"s in a white surplice,\n    and publishing the banns of marr"
	.ascii	"iage between John Smith and\n    Mary Brown, he could concei"
	.ascii	"ve nothing more ridiculous.\n    \n    Elinor, while she wai"
	.ascii	"ted in silence and immovable\n    gravity, the conclusion of"
	.ascii	" such folly, could not restrain\n    her eyes from being fix"
	.ascii	"ed on him with a look that spoke\n    all the contempt it ex"
	.ascii	"cited.  It was a look, however,\n    very well bestowed, for"
	.ascii	" it relieved her own feelings, and gave\n    no intelligence"
	.ascii	" to him.  He was recalled from wit to wisdom,\n    not by an"
	.ascii	"y reproof of her's, but by his own sensibility.\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"We may treat it as a joke,\" said he, at last,\n    recoveri"
	.ascii	"ng from the affected laugh which had considerably\n    lengt"
	.ascii	"hened out the genuine gaiety of the moment--\"but, upon\n   "
	.ascii	" my soul, it is a most serious business.  Poor Edward!\n    "
	.ascii	"he is ruined for ever.  I am extremely sorry for it--\n    f"
	.ascii	"or I know him to be a very good-hearted creature; as\n    we"
	.ascii	"ll-meaning a fellow perhaps, as any in the world.\n    You m"
	.ascii	"ust not judge of him, Miss Dashwood, from YOUR\n    slight a"
	.ascii	"cquaintance.--Poor Edward!--His manners are certainly\n    n"
	.ascii	"ot the happiest in nature.--But we are not all born,\n    yo"
	.ascii	"u know, with the same powers,--the same address.--\n    Poor"
	.ascii	" fellow!--to see him in a circle of strangers!--\n    to be "
	.ascii	"sure it was pitiable enough!--but upon my soul,\n    I belie"
	.ascii	"ve he has as good a heart as any in the kingdom;\n    and I "
	.ascii	"declare and protest to you I never was so shocked in my\n   "
	.ascii	" life, as when it all burst forth.  I could not believe it.-"
	.ascii	"-\n    My mother was the first person who told me of it;\n  "
	.ascii	"  and I, feeling myself called on to act with resolution,\n "
	.ascii	"   immediately said to her, 'My dear madam, I do not know"
	.ascii	"\n    what you may intend to do on the occasion, but as for "
	.ascii	"myself,\n    I must say, that if Edward does marry this youn"
	.ascii	"g woman,\n    I never will see him again.' That was what I s"
	.ascii	"aid immediately.--\n    I was most uncommonly shocked, indee"
	.ascii	"d!--Poor Edward!--he has\n    done for himself completely--s"
	.ascii	"hut himself out for ever from\n    all decent society!--but,"
	.ascii	" as I directly said to my mother,\n    I am not in the least"
	.ascii	" surprised at it; from his style\n    of education, it was a"
	.ascii	"lways to be expected.  My poor mother\n    was half frantic."
	.ascii	"\"\n    \n    \"Have you ever seen the lady?\"\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"Yes; once, while she was staying in this house,\n    I happe"
	.ascii	"ned to drop in for ten minutes; and I saw\n    quite enough "
	.ascii	"of her.  The merest awkward country girl,\n    without style"
	.ascii	", or elegance, and almost without beauty.--\n    I remember "
	.ascii	"her perfectly.  Just the kind of girl I\n    should suppose "
	.ascii	"likely to captivate poor Edward.\n    I offered immediately,"
	.ascii	" as soon as my mother related\n    the affair to me, to talk"
	.ascii	" to him myself, and dissuade\n    him from the match; but it"
	.ascii	" was too late THEN, I found,\n    to do any thing, for unluc"
	.ascii	"kily, I was not in the way\n    at first, and knew nothing o"
	.ascii	"f it till after the breach\n    had taken place, when it was"
	.ascii	" not for me, you know,\n    to interfere.  But had I been in"
	.ascii	"formed of it a few\n    hours earlier--I think it is most pr"
	.ascii	"obable--that something\n    might have been hit on.  I certa"
	.ascii	"inly should have represented\n    it to Edward in a very str"
	.ascii	"ong light.  'My dear fellow,'\n    I should have said, 'cons"
	.ascii	"ider what you are doing.\n    You are making a most disgrace"
	.ascii	"ful connection, and such a one\n    as your family are unani"
	.ascii	"mous in disapproving.' I cannot\n    help thinking, in short"
	.ascii	", that means might have been found.\n    But now it is all t"
	.ascii	"oo late.  He must be starved, you know;--\n    that is certa"
	.ascii	"in; absolutely starved.\"\n    \n    He had just settled thi"
	.ascii	"s point with great composure,\n    when the entrance of Mrs."
	.ascii	" John Dashwood put an end to the\n    subject.\n    But thou"
	.ascii	"gh S"
	.ascii	"HE never spoke of it out of her own family,\n    Elinor coul"
	.ascii	"d see its influence on her mind, in the something\n    like "
	.ascii	"confusion of countenance with which she entered,\n    and an"
	.ascii	" attempt at cordiality in her behaviour to herself.\n    She"
	.ascii	" even proceeded so far as to be concerned to find\n    that "
	.ascii	"Elinor and her sister were so soon to leave town,\n    as sh"
	.ascii	"e had hoped to see more of them;--an exertion\n    in which "
	.ascii	"her husband, who attended her into the room,\n    and hung e"
	.ascii	"namoured over her accents, seemed to distinguish\n    every "
	.ascii	"thing that was most affectionate and graceful.\n    \n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \n    CHAPTER 42\n    \n    \n    One other short call i"
	.ascii	"n Harley Street, in which Elinor\n    received her brother's"
	.ascii	" congratulations on their travelling\n    so far towards Bar"
	.ascii	"ton without any expense, and on Colonel\n    Brandon's being"
	.ascii	" to follow them to Cleveland in a day or two,\n    completed"
	.ascii	" the intercourse of the brother and sisters\n    in town;--a"
	.ascii	"nd a faint invitation from Fanny, to come\n    to Norland wh"
	.ascii	"enever it should happen to be in their way,\n    which of al"
	.ascii	"l things was the most unlikely to occur,\n    with a more wa"
	.ascii	"rm, though less public, assurance, from John\n    to Elinor,"
	.ascii	" of the promptitude with which he should come\n    to see he"
	.ascii	"r at Delaford, was all that foretold any meeting\n    in the"
	.ascii	" country.\n    \n    It amused her to observe that all her f"
	.ascii	"riends seemed\n    determined to send her to Delaford;--a pl"
	.ascii	"ace, in which,\n    of all others, she would now least chuse"
	.ascii	" to visit,\n    or wish to reside; for not only was it consi"
	.ascii	"dered as\n    her future home by her brother and Mrs. Jennin"
	.ascii	"gs, but even Lucy,\n    when they parted, gave her a pressin"
	.ascii	"g invitation to visit her there.\n    \n    Very early in Ap"
	.ascii	"ril, and tolerably early in the day,\n    the two parties fr"
	.ascii	"om Hanover Square and Berkeley Street set\n    out from thei"
	.ascii	"r respective homes, to meet, by appointment,\n    on the roa"
	.ascii	"d.  For the convenience of Charlotte and her child,\n    the"
	.ascii	"y were to be more than two days on their journey,\n    and M"
	.ascii	"r"
	.ascii	". Palmer, travelling more expeditiously with Colonel Brandon"
	.ascii	",\n    was to join them at Cleveland soon after their arriva"
	.ascii	"l.\n    \n    Marianne, few as had been her hours of comfort"
	.ascii	"\n    in London, and eager as she had long been to quit it,\n"
	.ascii	"    could not, when it came to the point, bid adieu to\n    "
	.ascii	"the house in which she had for the last time enjoyed\n    th"
	.ascii	"ose hopes, and that confidence, in Willoughby,\n    which we"
	.ascii	"re now extinguished for ever, without great pain.\n    Nor c"
	.ascii	"ould she leave the place in which Willoughby remained,\n    "
	.ascii	"busy in new engagements, and new schemes, in which SHE\n    "
	.ascii	"could have no share, without shedding many tears.\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" Elinor's satisfaction, at the moment of removal,\n    was m"
	.ascii	"ore positive.  She had no such object for her lingering\n   "
	.ascii	" thoughts to fix on, she left no creature behind, from whom\n"
	.ascii	"    it would give her a moment's regret to be divided for ev"
	.ascii	"er,\n    she was pleased to be free herself from the persecu"
	.ascii	"tion\n    of Lucy's friendship, she was grateful for bringin"
	.ascii	"g\n    her sister away unseen by Willoughby since his marria"
	.ascii	"ge,\n    and she looked forward with hope to what a few mont"
	.ascii	"hs\n    of tranquility at Barton might do towards restoring\n"
	.ascii	"    Marianne's peace of mind, and confirming her own.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    Their journey was safely performed.  The second\n    day"
	.ascii	" brought them into the cherished, or the prohibited,\n    co"
	.ascii	"unty of Somerset, for as such was it dwelt on by turns\n    "
	.ascii	"in Marianne's imagination; and in the forenoon of the third\n"
	.ascii	"    they drove up to Cleveland.\n    \n    Cleveland was a s"
	.ascii	"pacious, modern-built house,\n    situated on a sloping lawn"
	.ascii	".  It had no park, but the\n    pleasure-grounds were tolera"
	.ascii	"bly extensive; and like\n    every other place of the same d"
	.ascii	"egree of importance,\n    it had its open shrubbery, and clo"
	.ascii	"ser wood walk,\n    a road of smooth gravel winding round a "
	.ascii	"plantation,\n    led to the front, the lawn was dotted over "
	.ascii	"with timber,\n    the house itself was under the guardianshi"
	.ascii	"p of the fir,\n    the mountain-ash, and the acacia, "
	.ascii	"and a thick screen of\n    them altogether, interspersed wit"
	.ascii	"h tall Lombardy poplars,\n    shut out the offices.\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   Marianne entered the house with a heart swelling\n    wit"
	.ascii	"h emotion from the consciousness of being only eighty\n    m"
	.ascii	"iles from Barton, and not thirty from Combe Magna;\n    and "
	.ascii	"before she had been five minutes within its walls,\n    whil"
	.ascii	"e the others were busily helping Charlotte to show\n    her "
	.ascii	"child to the housekeeper, she quitted it again,\n    stealin"
	.ascii	"g away through the winding shrubberies, now just\n    beginn"
	.ascii	"ing to be in beauty, to gain a distant eminence;\n    where,"
	.ascii	" from its Grecian temple, her eye, wandering over\n    a wid"
	.ascii	"e tract of country to the south-east, could fondly\n    rest"
	.ascii	" on the farthest ridge of hills in the horizon,\n    and fan"
	.ascii	"cy that from their summits Combe Magna might be seen.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    In such moments of precious, invaluable misery,\n    she"
	.ascii	" rejoiced in tears of agony to be at Cleveland;\n    and as "
	.ascii	"she returned by a different circuit to the house,\n    feeli"
	.ascii	"ng all the happy privilege of country liberty,\n    of wande"
	.ascii	"ring from place to place in free and luxurious solitude,\n  "
	.ascii	"  she resolved to spend almost every hour of every day\n    "
	.ascii	"while she remained with the Palmers, in the indulgence of\n "
	.ascii	"   such solitary rambles.\n    \n    She returned just in ti"
	.ascii	"me to join the others\n    as they quitted the house, on an "
	.ascii	"excursion through its\n    more immediate premises; and the "
	.ascii	"rest of the morning was\n    easily whiled away, in lounging"
	.ascii	" round the kitchen garden,\n    examining the bloom upon its"
	.ascii	" walls, and listening to the\n    gardener's lamentations up"
	.ascii	"on blights, in dawdling through\n    the green-house, where "
	.ascii	"the loss of her favourite plants,\n    unwarily exposed, and"
	.ascii	" nipped by the lingering frost,\n    raised the laughter of "
	.ascii	"Charlotte,--and in visiting her\n    poultry-yard, where, in"
	.ascii	" the disappointed hopes of her\n    dairy-maid, by hens fors"
	.ascii	"aking their nests, or being\n    stolen by a fox, or in the "
	.ascii	"rapid decrease of a promising\n    young brood, she found"
	.ascii	" fresh sources of merriment.\n    \n    The morning was fine"
	.ascii	" and dry, and Marianne,\n    in her plan of employment abroa"
	.ascii	"d, had not calculated\n    for any change of weather during "
	.ascii	"their stay at Cleveland.\n    With great surprise therefore,"
	.ascii	" did she find herself prevented\n    by a settled rain from "
	.ascii	"going out again after dinner.\n    She had depended on a twi"
	.ascii	"light walk to the Grecian temple,\n    and perhaps all over "
	.ascii	"the grounds, and an evening merely\n    cold or damp would n"
	.ascii	"ot have deterred her from it;\n    but a heavy and settled r"
	.ascii	"ain even SHE could not fancy dry\n    or pleasant weather fo"
	.ascii	"r walking.\n    \n    Their party was small, and the hours p"
	.ascii	"assed quietly away.\n    Mrs. Palmer had her child, and Mrs."
	.ascii	" Jennings her carpet-work;\n    they talked of the friends t"
	.ascii	"hey had left behind,\n    arranged Lady Middleton's engageme"
	.ascii	"nts, and wondered\n    whether Mr. Palmer and Colonel Brando"
	.ascii	"n would get farther\n    than Reading that night.  Elinor, h"
	.ascii	"owever little concerned\n    in it, joined in their discours"
	.ascii	"e; and Marianne, who had\n    the knack of finding her way i"
	.ascii	"n every house to the library,\n    however it might be avoid"
	.ascii	"ed by the family in general,\n    soon procured herself a bo"
	.ascii	"ok.\n    \n    Nothing was wanting on Mrs. Palmer's side tha"
	.ascii	"t constant\n    and friendly good humour could do, to make t"
	.ascii	"hem feel\n    themselves welcome.  The openness and heartine"
	.ascii	"ss of her\n    manner more than atoned for that want of reco"
	.ascii	"llection\n    and elegance which made her often deficient in"
	.ascii	" the forms\n    of politeness; her kindness, recommended by "
	.ascii	"so pretty\n    a face, was engaging; her folly, though evide"
	.ascii	"nt\n    was not disgusting, because it was not conceited;\n "
	.ascii	"   and Elinor could have forgiven every thing but her laugh."
	.ascii	"\n    \n    The two gentlemen arrived the next day to a very"
	.ascii	"\n    late dinner, affording a pleasant enlargement of the p"
	.ascii	"arty,\n    and a very welcome variety to their conversation,"
	.ascii	" which a\n    long morning of the same continued rain had re"
	.ascii	"duced very low.\n    \n    Elinor had seen so little of Mr."
	.ascii	" Palmer, and in that\n    little had seen so much variety in"
	.ascii	" his address to her\n    sister and herself, that she knew n"
	.ascii	"ot what to expect\n    to find him in his own family.  She f"
	.ascii	"ound him, however,\n    perfectly the gentleman in his behav"
	.ascii	"iour to all his visitors,\n    and only occasionally rude to"
	.ascii	" his wife and her mother;\n    she found him very capable of"
	.ascii	" being a pleasant companion,\n    and only prevented from be"
	.ascii	"ing so always, by too great\n    an aptitude to fancy himsel"
	.ascii	"f as much superior to people\n    in general, as he must fee"
	.ascii	"l himself to be to Mrs. Jennings\n    and Charlotte.  For th"
	.ascii	"e rest of his character and habits,\n    they were marked, a"
	.ascii	"s far as Elinor could perceive,\n    with no traits at all u"
	.ascii	"nusual in his sex and time of life.\n    He was nice in his "
	.ascii	"eating, uncertain in his hours;\n    fond of his child, thou"
	.ascii	"gh affecting to slight it;\n    and idled away the mornings "
	.ascii	"at billiards, which ought\n    to have been devoted to busin"
	.ascii	"ess.  She liked him, however,\n    upon the whole, much bett"
	.ascii	"er than she had expected, and in\n    her heart was not sorr"
	.ascii	"y that she could like him no more;--\n    not sorry to be dr"
	.ascii	"iven by the observation of his Epicurism,\n    his selfishne"
	.ascii	"ss, and his conceit, to rest with complacency\n    on the re"
	.ascii	"membrance of Edward's generous temper, simple taste,\n    an"
	.ascii	"d diffident feelings.\n    \n    Of Edward, or at least of s"
	.ascii	"ome of his concerns,\n    she now received intelligence from"
	.ascii	" Colonel Brandon,\n    who had been into Dorsetshire lately;"
	.ascii	" and who,\n    treating her at once as the disinterested fri"
	.ascii	"end\n    of Mr. Ferrars, and the kind of confidant of himsel"
	.ascii	"f,\n    talked to her a great deal of the parsonage at Delaf"
	.ascii	"ord,\n    described its deficiencies, and told her what he m"
	.ascii	"eant\n    to do himself towards removing them.--His behaviou"
	.ascii	"r\n    to her in this, as well as in every other particular,"
	.ascii	"\n    his open pleasure in meeting her after an absence\n   "
	.ascii	" of only ten days, his readiness to converse with her,\n    "
	.ascii	"and his deference for her opinion, might very well\n    "
	.ascii	"justify Mrs. Jennings's persuasion of his attachment,\n    a"
	.ascii	"nd would have been enough, perhaps, had not Elinor still,\n "
	.ascii	"   as from the first, believed Marianne his real favourite,\n"
	.ascii	"    to make her suspect it herself.  But as it was,\n    suc"
	.ascii	"h a notion had scarcely ever entered her head,\n    except b"
	.ascii	"y Mrs. Jennings's suggestion; and she could\n    not help be"
	.ascii	"lieving herself the nicest observer of the\n    two;--she wa"
	.ascii	"tched his eyes, while Mrs. Jennings thought\n    only of his"
	.ascii	" behaviour;--and while his looks of anxious\n    solicitude "
	.ascii	"on Marianne's feeling, in her head and throat,\n    the begi"
	.ascii	"nning of a heavy cold, because unexpressed by words,\n    en"
	.ascii	"tirely escaped the latter lady's observation;--SHE could\n  "
	.ascii	"  discover in them the quick feelings, and needless alarm\n "
	.ascii	"   of a lover.\n    \n    Two delightful twilight walks on t"
	.ascii	"he third and fourth\n    evenings of her being there, not me"
	.ascii	"rely on the dry gravel\n    of the shrubbery, but all over t"
	.ascii	"he grounds, and especially\n    in the most distant parts of"
	.ascii	" them, where there was something\n    more of wildness than "
	.ascii	"in the rest, where the trees were\n    the oldest, and the g"
	.ascii	"rass was the longest and wettest,\n    had--assisted by the "
	.ascii	"still greater imprudence of sitting\n    in her wet shoes an"
	.ascii	"d stockings--given Marianne a cold\n    so violent as, thoug"
	.ascii	"h for a day or two trifled with\n    or denied, would force "
	.ascii	"itself by increasing ailments on\n    the concern of every b"
	.ascii	"ody, and the notice of herself.\n    Prescriptions poured in"
	.ascii	" from all quarters, and as usual,\n    were all declined.  T"
	.ascii	"hough heavy and feverish, with a pain\n    in her limbs, and"
	.ascii	" a cough, and a sore throat, a good night's\n    rest was to"
	.ascii	" cure her entirely; and it was with difficulty\n    that Eli"
	.ascii	"nor prevailed on her, when she went to bed,\n    to try one "
	.ascii	"or two of the simplest of the remedies.\n    \n    \n    \n "
	.ascii	"   CHAPTER 43\n    \n    \n    Marianne got up the next morn"
	.ascii	"ing at her usual time;\n    to every inquiry replied that sh"
	.ascii	"e was better, and tried to\n    prove herself so, by engagi"
	.ascii	"ng in her accustomary employments.\n    But a day spent in s"
	.ascii	"itting shivering over the fire\n    with a book in her hand,"
	.ascii	" which she was unable to read,\n    or in lying, weary and l"
	.ascii	"anguid, on a sofa, did not speak\n    much in favour of her "
	.ascii	"amendment; and when, at last,\n    she went early to bed, mo"
	.ascii	"re and more indisposed, Colonel\n    Brandon was only astoni"
	.ascii	"shed at her sister's composure,\n    who, though attending a"
	.ascii	"nd nursing her the whole day,\n    against Marianne's inclin"
	.ascii	"ation, and forcing proper medicines\n    on her at night, tr"
	.ascii	"usted, like Marianne, to the certainty\n    and efficacy of "
	.ascii	"sleep, and felt no real alarm.\n    \n    A very restless an"
	.ascii	"d feverish night, however,\n    disappointed the expectation"
	.ascii	" of both; and when Marianne,\n    after persisting in rising"
	.ascii	", confessed herself unable\n    to sit up, and returned volu"
	.ascii	"ntarily to her bed,\n    Elinor was very ready to adopt Mrs."
	.ascii	" Jennings's advice,\n    of sending for the Palmers' apothec"
	.ascii	"ary.\n    \n    He came, examined his patient, and though en"
	.ascii	"couraging\n    Miss Dashwood to expect that a very few days "
	.ascii	"would restore\n    her sister to health, yet, by pronouncing"
	.ascii	" her disorder\n    to have a putrid tendency, and allowing t"
	.ascii	"he word \"infection\"\n    to pass his lips, gave instant al"
	.ascii	"arm to Mrs. Palmer,\n    on her baby's account.  Mrs. Jennin"
	.ascii	"gs, who had been inclined\n    from the first to think Maria"
	.ascii	"nne's complaint more serious\n    than Elinor, now looked ve"
	.ascii	"ry grave on Mr. Harris's report,\n    and confirming Charlot"
	.ascii	"te's fears and caution, urged the\n    necessity of her imme"
	.ascii	"diate removal with her infant;\n    and Mr. Palmer, though t"
	.ascii	"reating their apprehensions as idle,\n    found the anxiety "
	.ascii	"and importunity of his wife too great\n    to be withstood. "
	.ascii	" Her departure, therefore, was fixed on;\n    and within an "
	.ascii	"hour after Mr. Harris's arrival, she set off,\n    with her "
	.ascii	"little boy and his nurse, for the house of a\n    near relat"
	.ascii	"ion of Mr. Palmer's, who lived a few miles\n    on the other"
	.ascii	" side of Bath; whither her husband promised,\n    at her e"
	.ascii	"arnest entreaty, to join her in a day or two;\n    and whith"
	.ascii	"er she was almost equally urgent with her\n    mother to acc"
	.ascii	"ompany her.  Mrs. Jennings, however, with a\n    kindness of"
	.ascii	" heart which made Elinor really love her,\n    declared her "
	.ascii	"resolution of not stirring from Cleveland\n    as long as Ma"
	.ascii	"rianne remained ill, and of endeavouring,\n    by her own at"
	.ascii	"tentive care, to supply to her the place\n    of the mother "
	.ascii	"she had taken her from; and Elinor found her\n    on every o"
	.ascii	"ccasion a most willing and active helpmate,\n    desirous to"
	.ascii	" share in all her fatigues, and often by her\n    better exp"
	.ascii	"erience in nursing, of material use.\n    \n    Poor Mariann"
	.ascii	"e, languid and low from the nature\n    of her malady, and f"
	.ascii	"eeling herself universally ill,\n    could no longer hope th"
	.ascii	"at tomorrow would find her recovered;\n    and the idea of w"
	.ascii	"hat tomorrow would have produced,\n    but for this unlucky "
	.ascii	"illness, made every ailment severe;\n    for on that day the"
	.ascii	"y were to have begun their journey home;\n    and, attended "
	.ascii	"the whole way by a servant of Mrs. Jennings,\n    were to ha"
	.ascii	"ve taken their mother by surprise on the\n    following fore"
	.ascii	"noon.  The little she said was all in\n    lamentation of th"
	.ascii	"is inevitable delay; though Elinor tried\n    to raise her s"
	.ascii	"pirits, and make her believe, as she THEN\n    really believ"
	.ascii	"ed herself, that it would be a very short one.\n    \n    Th"
	.ascii	"e next day produced little or no alteration in the\n    stat"
	.ascii	"e of the patient; she certainly was not better, and,\n    ex"
	.ascii	"cept that there was no amendment, did not appear worse.\n   "
	.ascii	" Their party was now farther reduced; for Mr. Palmer,\n    t"
	.ascii	"hough very unwilling to go as well from real humanity\n    a"
	.ascii	"nd good-nature, as from a dislike of appearing to be\n    fr"
	.ascii	"ightened away by his wife, was persuaded at last\n    by Col"
	.ascii	"onel Brandon to perform his promise of following her;\n    a"
	.ascii	"nd while he was preparing to go, Colonel Brandon himself,\n "
	.ascii	"   with a much greater exertion, began to talk of going\n   "
	.ascii	" likewise.--Here, however, the kindness of Mrs. Jenning"
	.ascii	"s\n    interposed most acceptably; for to send the Colonel a"
	.ascii	"way\n    while his love was in so much uneasiness on her sis"
	.ascii	"ter's\n    account, would be to deprive them both, she thoug"
	.ascii	"ht,\n    of every comfort; and therefore telling him at once"
	.ascii	"\n    that his stay at Cleveland was necessary to herself,\n"
	.ascii	"    that she should want him to play at piquet of an evening"
	.ascii	",\n    while Miss Dashwood was above with her sister, &c. sh"
	.ascii	"e\n    urged him so strongly to remain, that he, who was gra"
	.ascii	"tifying\n    the first wish of his own heart by a compliance"
	.ascii	", could not\n    long even affect to demur; especially as Mr"
	.ascii	"s. Jennings's\n    entreaty was warmly seconded by Mr. Palme"
	.ascii	"r, who seemed\n    to feel a relief to himself, in leaving b"
	.ascii	"ehind him a person\n    so well able to assist or advise Mis"
	.ascii	"s Dashwood in any emergence.\n    \n    Marianne was, of cou"
	.ascii	"rse, kept in ignorance of all\n    these arrangements.  She "
	.ascii	"knew not that she had been\n    the means of sending the own"
	.ascii	"ers of Cleveland away,\n    in about seven days from the tim"
	.ascii	"e of their arrival.\n    It gave her no surprise that she sa"
	.ascii	"w nothing\n    of Mrs. Palmer; and as it gave her likewise n"
	.ascii	"o concern,\n    she never mentioned her name.\n    \n    Two"
	.ascii	" days passed away from the time of Mr. Palmer's departure,\n"
	.ascii	"    and her situation continued, with little variation,\n   "
	.ascii	" the same.  Mr. Harris, who attended her every day,\n    sti"
	.ascii	"ll talked boldly of a speedy recovery, and Miss Dashwood\n  "
	.ascii	"  was equally sanguine; but the expectation of the others\n "
	.ascii	"   was by no means so cheerful.  Mrs. Jennings had determine"
	.ascii	"d\n    very early in the seizure that Marianne would never\n"
	.ascii	"    get over it, and Colonel Brandon, who was chiefly\n    o"
	.ascii	"f use in listening to Mrs. Jennings's forebodings,\n    was "
	.ascii	"not in a state of mind to resist their influence.\n    He tr"
	.ascii	"ied to reason himself out of fears, which the different\n   "
	.ascii	" judgment of the apothecary seemed to render absurd;\n    bu"
	.ascii	"t the many hours of each day in which he was left\n    entir"
	.ascii	"ely alone, were but too favourable for the admission\n   "
	.ascii	" of every melancholy idea, and he could not expel from\n    "
	.ascii	"his mind the persuasion that he should see Marianne no more."
	.ascii	"\n    \n    On the morning of the third day however, the glo"
	.ascii	"omy\n    anticipations of both were almost done away; for wh"
	.ascii	"en\n    Mr. Harris arrived, he declared his patient material"
	.ascii	"ly better.\n    Her pulse was much stronger, and every sympt"
	.ascii	"om more favourable\n    than on the preceding visit.  Elinor"
	.ascii	", confirmed in every\n    pleasant hope, was all cheerfulnes"
	.ascii	"s; rejoicing that\n    in her letters to her mother, she had"
	.ascii	" pursued her own\n    judgment rather than her friend's, in "
	.ascii	"making very light\n    of the indisposition which delayed th"
	.ascii	"em at Cleveland;\n    and almost fixing on the time when Mar"
	.ascii	"ianne would be\n    able to travel.\n    \n    But the day d"
	.ascii	"id not close so auspiciously as it began.--\n    Towards the"
	.ascii	" evening Marianne became ill again, growing\n    more heavy,"
	.ascii	" restless, and uncomfortable than before.\n    Her sister, h"
	.ascii	"owever, still sanguine, was willing to\n    attribute the ch"
	.ascii	"ange to nothing more than the fatigue\n    of having sat up "
	.ascii	"to have her bed made; and carefully\n    administering the c"
	.ascii	"ordials prescribed, saw her, with\n    satisfaction, sink at"
	.ascii	" last into a slumber, from which\n    she expected the most "
	.ascii	"beneficial effects.  Her sleep,\n    though not so quiet as "
	.ascii	"Elinor wished to see it,\n    lasted a considerable time; an"
	.ascii	"d anxious to observe\n    the result of it herself, she reso"
	.ascii	"lved to sit with her\n    during the whole of it.  Mrs. Jenn"
	.ascii	"ings, knowing nothing\n    of any change in the patient, wen"
	.ascii	"t unusually early to bed;\n    her maid, who was one of the "
	.ascii	"principal nurses, was recreating\n    herself in the houseke"
	.ascii	"eper's room, and Elinor remained\n    alone with Marianne.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    The repose of the latter became more and more dist"
	.ascii	"urbed;\n    and her sister, who watched, with unremitting at"
	.ascii	"tention\n    her continual change of posture, and heard the "
	.ascii	"frequent\n    but inarticulate sounds of complaint which pas"
	.ascii	"sed her lips,\n    was almost wishing to rouse her from s"
	.ascii	"o painful a slumber,\n    when Marianne, suddenly awakened b"
	.ascii	"y some accidental noise\n    in the house, started hastily u"
	.ascii	"p, and, with feverish wildness,\n    cried out,--\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" \"Is mama coming?--\"\n    \n    \"Not yet,\" cried the oth"
	.ascii	"er, concealing her terror,\n    and assisting Marianne to li"
	.ascii	"e down again, \"but she will\n    be here, I hope, before it"
	.ascii	" is long.  It is a great way,\n    you know, from hence to B"
	.ascii	"arton.\"\n    \n    \"But she must not go round by London,\""
	.ascii	" cried Marianne,\n    in the same hurried manner.  \"I shall"
	.ascii	" never see her,\n    if she goes by London.\"\n    \n    Eli"
	.ascii	"nor perceived with alarm that she was not\n    quite herself"
	.ascii	", and, while attempting to soothe her,\n    eagerly felt her"
	.ascii	" pulse.  It was lower and quicker than ever!\n    and Marian"
	.ascii	"ne, still talking wildly of mama, her alarm\n    increased s"
	.ascii	"o rapidly, as to determine her on sending\n    instantly for"
	.ascii	" Mr. Harris, and despatching a messenger\n    to Barton for "
	.ascii	"her mother.  To consult with Colonel Brandon\n    on the bes"
	.ascii	"t means of effecting the latter, was a thought\n    which im"
	.ascii	"mediately followed the resolution of its performance;\n    a"
	.ascii	"nd as soon she had rung up the maid to take her place\n    b"
	.ascii	"y her sister, she hastened down to the drawing-room,\n    wh"
	.ascii	"ere she knew he was generally to be found at a much\n    lat"
	.ascii	"er hour than the present.\n    \n    It was no time for hesi"
	.ascii	"tation.  Her fears and her\n    difficulties were immediatel"
	.ascii	"y before him.  Her fears,\n    he had no courage, no confide"
	.ascii	"nce to attempt the removal of:--\n    he listened to them in"
	.ascii	" silent despondence;--but her\n    difficulties were instant"
	.ascii	"ly obviated, for with a readiness\n    that seemed to speak "
	.ascii	"the occasion, and the service\n    pre-arranged in his mind,"
	.ascii	" he offered himself as the\n    messenger who should fetch M"
	.ascii	"rs. Dashwood.  Elinor made no\n    resistance that was not e"
	.ascii	"asily overcome.  She thanked him\n    with brief, though fer"
	.ascii	"vent gratitude, and while he went\n    to hurry off his serv"
	.ascii	"ant with a message to Mr. Harris, and\n    an order for post"
	.ascii	"-horses dir"
	.ascii	"ectly, she wrote a few lines\n    to her mother.\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"The comfort of such a friend at that moment as Colonel\n    "
	.ascii	"Brandon--or such a companion for her mother,--how gratefully"
	.ascii	"\n    was it felt!--a companion whose judgment would guide,\n"
	.ascii	"    whose attendance must relieve, and whose friendship migh"
	.ascii	"t\n    soothe her!--as far as the shock of such a summons CO"
	.ascii	"ULD\n    be lessened to her, his presence, his manners, his "
	.ascii	"assistance,\n    would lessen it.\n    \n    HE, meanwhile, "
	.ascii	"whatever he might feel, acted with all\n    the firmness of "
	.ascii	"a collected mind, made every necessary\n    arrangement with"
	.ascii	" the utmost despatch, and calculated\n    with exactness the"
	.ascii	" time in which she might look for\n    his return.  Not a mo"
	.ascii	"ment was lost in delay of any kind.\n    The horses arrived,"
	.ascii	" even before they were expected,\n    and Colonel Brandon on"
	.ascii	"ly pressing her hand with a look\n    of solemnity, and a fe"
	.ascii	"w words spoken too low to reach her ear,\n    hurried into t"
	.ascii	"he carriage.  It was then about twelve\n    o'clock, and she"
	.ascii	" returned to her sister's apartment to wait\n    for the arr"
	.ascii	"ival of the apothecary, and to watch by her\n    the rest of"
	.ascii	" the night.  It was a night of almost equal\n    suffering t"
	.ascii	"o both.  Hour after hour passed away in sleepless\n    pain "
	.ascii	"and delirium on Marianne's side, and in the most\n    cruel "
	.ascii	"anxiety on Elinor's, before Mr. Harris appeared.\n    Her ap"
	.ascii	"prehensions once raised, paid by their excess for all\n    h"
	.ascii	"er former security; and the servant who sat up with her,\n  "
	.ascii	"  for she would not allow Mrs. Jennings to be called,\n    o"
	.ascii	"nly tortured her more, by hints of what her mistress\n    ha"
	.ascii	"d always thought.\n    \n    Marianne's ideas were still, at"
	.ascii	" intervals,\n    fixed incoherently on her mother, and whene"
	.ascii	"ver she\n    mentioned her name, it gave a pang to the heart"
	.ascii	" of\n    poor Elinor, who, reproaching herself for having tr"
	.ascii	"ifled\n    with so many days of illness, and wretched for so"
	.ascii	"me\n    immediate relief, fancied that all relief might soon"
	.ascii	"\n    be in vain, that every thing had been delayed too l"
	.ascii	"ong,\n    and pictured to herself her suffering mother arriv"
	.ascii	"ing\n    too late to see this darling child, or to see her r"
	.ascii	"ational.\n    \n    She was on the point of sending again fo"
	.ascii	"r Mr. Harris,\n    or if HE could not come, for some other a"
	.ascii	"dvice,\n    when the former--but not till after five o'clock"
	.ascii	"--arrived.\n    His opinion, however, made some little amend"
	.ascii	"s for his delay,\n    for though acknowledging a very unexpe"
	.ascii	"cted and unpleasant\n    alteration in his patient, he would"
	.ascii	" not allow the danger\n    to be material, and talked of the"
	.ascii	" relief which a fresh\n    mode of treatment must procure, w"
	.ascii	"ith a confidence which,\n    in a lesser degree, was communi"
	.ascii	"cated to Elinor.  He promised\n    to call again in the cour"
	.ascii	"se of three or four hours,\n    and left both the patient an"
	.ascii	"d her anxious attendant more\n    composed than he had found"
	.ascii	" them.\n    \n    With strong concern, and with many reproac"
	.ascii	"hes for not\n    being called to their aid, did Mrs. Jenning"
	.ascii	"s hear in the\n    morning of what had passed.  Her former a"
	.ascii	"pprehensions,\n    now with greater reason restored, left he"
	.ascii	"r no doubt of\n    the event; and though trying to speak com"
	.ascii	"fort to Elinor,\n    her conviction of her sister's danger w"
	.ascii	"ould not allow her\n    to offer the comfort of hope.  Her h"
	.ascii	"eart was really grieved.\n    The rapid decay, the early dea"
	.ascii	"th of a girl so young,\n    so lovely as Marianne, must have"
	.ascii	" struck a less interested\n    person with concern.  On Mrs."
	.ascii	" Jennings's compassion\n    she had other claims.  She had b"
	.ascii	"een for three months\n    her companion, was still under her"
	.ascii	" care, and she was\n    known to have been greatly injured, "
	.ascii	"and long unhappy.\n    The distress of her sister too, parti"
	.ascii	"cularly a favourite,\n    was before her;--and as for their "
	.ascii	"mother, when Mrs. Jennings\n    considered that Marianne mig"
	.ascii	"ht probably be to HER what\n    Charlotte was to herself, he"
	.ascii	"r sympathy in HER sufferings\n    was very sincere.\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   Mr. Harris was punctual in his second visit;--\n    but h"
	.ascii	"e came to be disappointed in his hopes of what the\n    la"
	.ascii	"st would produce.  His medicines had failed;--the fever\n   "
	.ascii	" was unabated; and Marianne only more quiet--not more\n    h"
	.ascii	"erself--remained in a heavy stupor.  Elinor, catching all,\n"
	.ascii	"    and more than all, his fears in a moment, proposed to ca"
	.ascii	"ll\n    in further advice.  But he judged it unnecessary: he"
	.ascii	" had\n    still something more to try, some more fresh appli"
	.ascii	"cation,\n    of whose success he was as confident as the las"
	.ascii	"t, and his\n    visit concluded with encouraging assurances "
	.ascii	"which reached\n    the ear, but could not enter the heart of"
	.ascii	" Miss Dashwood.\n    She was calm, except when she thought o"
	.ascii	"f her mother;\n    but she was almost hopeless; and in this "
	.ascii	"state she continued\n    till noon, scarcely stirring from h"
	.ascii	"er sister's bed,\n    her thoughts wandering from one image "
	.ascii	"of grief,\n    one suffering friend to another, and her spir"
	.ascii	"its oppressed\n    to the utmost by the conversation of Mrs."
	.ascii	" Jennings,\n    who scrupled not to attribute the severity a"
	.ascii	"nd danger\n    of this attack to the many weeks of previous "
	.ascii	"indisposition\n    which Marianne's disappointment had broug"
	.ascii	"ht on.\n    Elinor felt all the reasonableness of the idea, "
	.ascii	"and it\n    gave fresh misery to her reflections.\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" About noon, however, she began--but with a caution--a\n    "
	.ascii	"dread of disappointment which for some time kept her silent,"
	.ascii	"\n    even to her friend--to fancy, to hope she could percei"
	.ascii	"ve\n    a slight amendment in her sister's pulse;--she waite"
	.ascii	"d,\n    watched, and examined it again and again;--and at la"
	.ascii	"st,\n    with an agitation more difficult to bury under exte"
	.ascii	"rior calmness,\n    than all her foregoing distress, venture"
	.ascii	"d to communicate\n    her hopes.  Mrs. Jennings, though forc"
	.ascii	"ed, on examination,\n    to acknowledge a temporary revival,"
	.ascii	" tried to keep her\n    young friend from indulging a though"
	.ascii	"t of its continuance;--\n    and Elinor, conning over every "
	.ascii	"injunction of distrust,\n    told herself likewise not to ho"
	.ascii	"pe.  But it was too late.\n    Hope had already entered; and"
	.ascii	" feeling all its anxious flutter,\n    she bent over h"
	.ascii	"er sister to watch--she hardly knew for what.\n    Half an h"
	.ascii	"our passed away, and the favourable symptom\n    yet blessed"
	.ascii	" her.  Others even arose to confirm it.\n    Her breath, her"
	.ascii	" skin, her lips, all flattered Elinor\n    with signs of ame"
	.ascii	"ndment; and Marianne fixed her eyes on\n    her with a ratio"
	.ascii	"nal, though languid, gaze.  Anxiety and\n    hope now oppres"
	.ascii	"sed her in equal degrees, and left her no\n    moment of tra"
	.ascii	"nquillity till the arrival of Mr. Harris at\n    four o'cloc"
	.ascii	"k;--when his assurances, his felicitations on\n    a recover"
	.ascii	"y in her sister even surpassing his expectation,\n    gave h"
	.ascii	"er confidence, comfort, and tears of joy.\n    \n    Mariann"
	.ascii	"e was in every respect materially better,\n    and he declar"
	.ascii	"ed her entirely out of danger.  Mrs. Jennings,\n    perhaps "
	.ascii	"satisfied with the partial justification of her\n    forebod"
	.ascii	"ings which had been found in their late alarm,\n    allowed "
	.ascii	"herself to trust in his judgment, and admitted,\n    with un"
	.ascii	"feigned joy, and soon with unequivocal cheerfulness,\n    th"
	.ascii	"e probability of an entire recovery.\n    \n    Elinor could"
	.ascii	" not be cheerful.  Her joy was of a\n    different kind, and"
	.ascii	" led to any thing rather than to gaiety.\n    Marianne resto"
	.ascii	"red to life, health, friends, and to her\n    doting mother,"
	.ascii	" was an idea to fill her heart with sensations\n    of exqui"
	.ascii	"site comfort, and expand it in fervent gratitude;--\n    but"
	.ascii	" it lead to no outward demonstrations of joy, no words,\n   "
	.ascii	" no smiles.  All within Elinor's breast was satisfaction,\n "
	.ascii	"   silent and strong.\n    \n    She continued by the side o"
	.ascii	"f her sister, with little\n    intermission the whole aftern"
	.ascii	"oon, calming every fear,\n    satisfying every inquiry of he"
	.ascii	"r enfeebled spirits,\n    supplying every succour, and watch"
	.ascii	"ing almost every look and\n    every breath.  The possibilit"
	.ascii	"y of a relapse would of course,\n    in some moments, occur "
	.ascii	"to remind her of what anxiety was--\n    but when she saw, o"
	.ascii	"n her frequent and minute examination,\n    that every sympt"
	.ascii	"om of recovery continued, and saw Marianne\n    at six o'"
	.ascii	"clock sink into a quiet, steady, and to all\n    appearance "
	.ascii	"comfortable, sleep, she silenced every doubt.\n    \n    The"
	.ascii	" time was now drawing on, when Colonel Brandon\n    might be"
	.ascii	" expected back.  At ten o'clock, she trusted,\n    or at lea"
	.ascii	"st not much later her mother would be relieved\n    from the"
	.ascii	" dreadful suspense in which she must now be\n    travelling "
	.ascii	"towards them.  The Colonel, too!--perhaps scarcely\n    less"
	.ascii	" an object of pity!--Oh!--how slow was the progress\n    of "
	.ascii	"time which yet kept them in ignorance!\n    \n    At seven o"
	.ascii	"'clock, leaving Marianne still sweetly asleep,\n    she join"
	.ascii	"ed Mrs. Jennings in the drawing-room to tea.\n    Of breakfa"
	.ascii	"st she had been kept by her fears, and of\n    dinner by the"
	.ascii	"ir sudden reverse, from eating much;--\n    and the present "
	.ascii	"refreshment, therefore, with such feelings\n    of content a"
	.ascii	"s she brought to it, was particularly welcome.\n    Mrs. Jen"
	.ascii	"nings would have persuaded her, at its conclusion,\n    to t"
	.ascii	"ake some rest before her mother's arrival, and allow HER to\n"
	.ascii	"    take her place by Marianne; but Elinor had no sense of f"
	.ascii	"atigue,\n    no capability of sleep at that moment about her"
	.ascii	", and she was\n    not to be kept away from her sister an un"
	.ascii	"necessary instant.\n    Mrs. Jennings therefore attending he"
	.ascii	"r up stairs into the\n    sick chamber, to satisfy herself t"
	.ascii	"hat all continued right,\n    left her there again to her ch"
	.ascii	"arge and her thoughts,\n    and retired to her own room to w"
	.ascii	"rite letters and sleep.\n    \n    The night was cold and st"
	.ascii	"ormy.  The wind roared\n    round the house, and the rain be"
	.ascii	"at against the windows;\n    but Elinor, all happiness withi"
	.ascii	"n, regarded it not.\n    Marianne slept through every blast;"
	.ascii	" and the travellers--\n    they had a rich reward in store, "
	.ascii	"for every present inconvenience.\n    \n    The clock struck"
	.ascii	" eight.  Had it been ten,\n    Elinor would have been convin"
	.ascii	"ced that at that moment\n    she heard a carriage driving up"
	.ascii	" to the house;\n    and so strong was the persuasion that sh"
	.ascii	"e DID, in spite\n    of the ALMOST impossibility of thei"
	.ascii	"r being already come,\n    that she moved into the adjoining"
	.ascii	" dressing-closet and\n    opened a window shutter, to be sat"
	.ascii	"isfied of the truth.\n    She instantly saw that her ears ha"
	.ascii	"d not deceived her.\n    The flaring lamps of a carriage wer"
	.ascii	"e immediately in view.\n    By their uncertain light she tho"
	.ascii	"ught she could discern it\n    to be drawn by four horses; a"
	.ascii	"nd this, while it told the\n    excess of her poor mother's "
	.ascii	"alarm, gave some explanation\n    to such unexpected rapidit"
	.ascii	"y.\n    \n    Never in her life had Elinor found it so diffi"
	.ascii	"cult\n    to be calm, as at that moment.  The knowledge of w"
	.ascii	"hat her\n    mother must be feeling as the carriage stopt at"
	.ascii	" the door--\n    of her doubt--her dread--perhaps her despai"
	.ascii	"r!--and\n    of what SHE had to tell!--with such knowledge i"
	.ascii	"t was\n    impossible to be calm.  All that remained to be d"
	.ascii	"one\n    was to be speedy; and, therefore staying only till\n"
	.ascii	"    she could leave Mrs. Jennings's maid with her sister,\n "
	.ascii	"   she hurried down stairs.\n    \n    The bustle in the ves"
	.ascii	"tibule, as she passed along\n    an inner lobby, assured her"
	.ascii	" that they were already\n    in the house.  She rushed to th"
	.ascii	"e drawing-room,--she\n    entered it,--and saw only Willough"
	.ascii	"by.\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 44\n    \n    \n    Elino"
	.ascii	"r, starting back with a look of horror at\n    the sight of "
	.ascii	"him, obeyed the first impulse of her heart\n    in turning i"
	.ascii	"nstantly to quit the room, and her hand\n    was already on "
	.ascii	"the lock, when its action was suspended\n    by his hastily "
	.ascii	"advancing, and saying, in a voice rather\n    of command tha"
	.ascii	"n supplication,\n    \n    \"Miss Dashwood, for half an hour"
	.ascii	"--for ten minutes--\n    I entreat you to stay.\"\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" \"No, sir,\" she replied with firmness, \"I shall NOT stay."
	.ascii	"\n    Your business cannot be with ME.  The servants, I supp"
	.ascii	"ose,\n    forgot to tell you that Mr. Palmer was not in the "
	.ascii	"house.\"\n    \n    \"Had they told me,\" he cried with vehe"
	.ascii	"mence,\n    \"that Mr. Palmer and all his relations were at "
	.ascii	"the devil,\n    it would not have turned me from the door.  "
	.ascii	"My business\n  "
	.ascii	"  is with you, and only you.\"\n    \n    \"With me!\"--in t"
	.ascii	"he utmost amazement--\"well, sir,--\n    be quick--and if yo"
	.ascii	"u can--less violent.\"\n    \n    \"Sit down, and I will be "
	.ascii	"both.\"\n    \n    She hesitated; she knew not what to do.  "
	.ascii	"The possibility\n    of Colonel Brandon's arriving and findi"
	.ascii	"ng her there,\n    came across her.  But she had promised to"
	.ascii	" hear him,\n    and her curiosity no less than her honor was"
	.ascii	" engaged.\n    After a moment's recollection, therefore, con"
	.ascii	"cluding that\n    prudence required dispatch, and that her a"
	.ascii	"cquiescence would\n    best promote it, she walked silently "
	.ascii	"towards the table,\n    and sat down.  He took the opposite "
	.ascii	"chair, and for half\n    a minute not a word was said by eit"
	.ascii	"her.\n    \n    \"Pray be quick, sir,\"--said Elinor, impati"
	.ascii	"ently;--\n    \"I have no time to spare.\"\n    \n    He was"
	.ascii	" sitting in an attitude of deep meditation,\n    and seemed "
	.ascii	"not to hear her.\n    \n    \"Your sister,\" said he, with a"
	.ascii	"bruptness, a moment\n    afterwards--\"is out of danger.  I "
	.ascii	"heard it from the servant.\n    God be praised!--But is it t"
	.ascii	"rue? is it really true?\"\n    \n    Elinor would not speak."
	.ascii	"  He repeated the inquiry with\n    yet greater eagerness.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"For God's sake tell me, is she out of danger, or"
	.ascii	" is she not?\"\n    \n    \"We hope she is.\"\n    \n    He "
	.ascii	"rose up, and walked across the room.\n    \n    \"Had I know"
	.ascii	"n as much half an hour ago--But\n    since I AM here,\"--spe"
	.ascii	"aking with a forced vivacity as he\n    returned to his seat"
	.ascii	"--\"what does it signify?--For once,\n    Miss Dashwood--it "
	.ascii	"will be the last time, perhaps--let us\n    be cheerful toge"
	.ascii	"ther.--I am in a fine mood for gaiety.--\n    Tell me honest"
	.ascii	"ly\"--a deeper glow overspreading his cheeks--\n    \"do you"
	.ascii	" think me most a knave or a fool?\"\n    \n    Elinor looked"
	.ascii	" at him with greater astonishment than ever.\n    She began "
	.ascii	"to think that he must be in liquor;--the\n    strangeness of"
	.ascii	" such a visit, and of such manners,\n    seemed no otherwise"
	.ascii	" intelligible; and with this impression\n    she immediately"
	.ascii	" rose, saying,\n    \n    \"Mr. Will"
	.ascii	"oughby, I advise you at present to return\n    to Combe--I a"
	.ascii	"m not at leisure to remain with you longer.--\n    Whatever "
	.ascii	"your business may be with me, will it be better\n    recolle"
	.ascii	"cted and explained to-morrow.\"\n    \n    \"I understand yo"
	.ascii	"u,\" he replied, with an expressive smile,\n    and a voice "
	.ascii	"perfectly calm; \"yes, I am very drunk.--\n    A pint of por"
	.ascii	"ter with my cold beef at Marlborough was\n    enough to over"
	.ascii	"-set me.\"\n    \n    \"At Marlborough!\"--cried Elinor, mor"
	.ascii	"e and more at\n    a loss to understand what he would be at."
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"Yes,--I left London this morning at eight o'cl"
	.ascii	"ock,\n    and the only ten minutes I have spent out of my ch"
	.ascii	"aise\n    since that time procured me a nuncheon at Marlboro"
	.ascii	"ugh.\"\n    \n    The steadiness of his manner, and the inte"
	.ascii	"lligence\n    of his eye as he spoke, convincing Elinor, tha"
	.ascii	"t whatever\n    other unpardonable folly might bring him to "
	.ascii	"Cleveland,\n    he was not brought there by intoxication, sh"
	.ascii	"e said,\n    after a moment's recollection,\n    \n    \"Mr."
	.ascii	" Willoughby, you OUGHT to feel, and I certainly\n    DO--tha"
	.ascii	"t after what has passed--your coming here in\n    this manne"
	.ascii	"r, and forcing yourself upon my notice,\n    requires a very"
	.ascii	" particular excuse.--What is it,\n    that you mean by it?\""
	.ascii	"--\n    \n    \"I mean,\"--said he, with serious energy--\"i"
	.ascii	"f I can,\n    to make you hate me one degree less than you d"
	.ascii	"o NOW.\n    I mean to offer some kind of explanation, some k"
	.ascii	"ind\n    of apology, for the past; to open my whole heart to"
	.ascii	" you,\n    and by convincing you, that though I have been al"
	.ascii	"ways\n    a blockhead, I have not been always a rascal, to o"
	.ascii	"btain\n    something like forgiveness from Ma--from your sis"
	.ascii	"ter.\"\n    \n    \"Is this the real reason of your coming?\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"Upon my soul it is,\"--was his answer, with a "
	.ascii	"warmth\n    which brought all the former Willoughby to her r"
	.ascii	"emembrance,\n    and in spite of herself made her think him "
	.ascii	"sincere.\n    \n    \"If that is all, you may be satisfied a"
	.ascii	"lready,--\n    for Marianne DOES--she has LONG forgiven you."
	.ascii	"\"\n    \n    \"Has she?\"--"
	.ascii	"he cried, in the same eager tone.--\n    \"Then she has forg"
	.ascii	"iven me before she ought to have done it.\n    But she shall"
	.ascii	" forgive me again, and on more reasonable\n    grounds.--NOW"
	.ascii	" will you listen to me?\"\n    \n    Elinor bowed her assent"
	.ascii	".\n    \n    \"I do not know,\" said he, after a pause of ex"
	.ascii	"pectation\n    on her side, and thoughtfulness on his own,--"
	.ascii	"\"how YOU\n    may have accounted for my behaviour to your s"
	.ascii	"ister,\n    or what diabolical motive you may have imputed t"
	.ascii	"o me.--\n    Perhaps you will hardly think the better of me,"
	.ascii	"--it is\n    worth the trial however, and you shall hear eve"
	.ascii	"ry thing.\n    When I first became intimate in your family, "
	.ascii	"I had no\n    other intention, no other view in the acquaint"
	.ascii	"ance\n    than to pass my time pleasantly while I was oblige"
	.ascii	"d to remain\n    in Devonshire, more pleasantly than I had e"
	.ascii	"ver done before.\n    Your sister's lovely person and intere"
	.ascii	"sting manners\n    could not but please me; and her behaviou"
	.ascii	"r to me almost\n    from the first, was of a kind--It is ast"
	.ascii	"onishing,\n    when I reflect on what it was, and what SHE w"
	.ascii	"as, that my\n    heart should have been so insensible!  But "
	.ascii	"at first\n    I must confess, my vanity only was elevated by"
	.ascii	" it.\n    Careless of her happiness, thinking only of my own"
	.ascii	" amusement,\n    giving way to feelings which I had always b"
	.ascii	"een too much\n    in the habit of indulging, I endeavoured, "
	.ascii	"by every means\n    in my power, to make myself pleasing to "
	.ascii	"her, without any\n    design of returning her affection.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    Miss Dashwood, at this point, turning her eyes on "
	.ascii	"him\n    with the most angry contempt, stopped him, by sayin"
	.ascii	"g,\n    \n    \"It is hardly worth while, Mr. Willoughby,\n "
	.ascii	"   for you to relate, or for me to listen any longer.\n    S"
	.ascii	"uch a beginning as this cannot be followed by any thing.--\n"
	.ascii	"    Do not let me be pained by hearing any thing more on\n  "
	.ascii	"  the subject.\"\n    \n    \"I insist on you hearing the wh"
	.ascii	"ole of it,\" he replied,\n    \"My fortune was never large, "
	.ascii	"and I had always been expensive,\n    always in the habit of"
	.ascii	" associatin"
	.ascii	"g with people of better\n    income than myself.  Every year"
	.ascii	" since my coming of age,\n    or even before, I believe, had"
	.ascii	" added to my debts; and though\n    the death of my old cous"
	.ascii	"in, Mrs. Smith, was to set me free;\n    yet that event bein"
	.ascii	"g uncertain, and possibly far distant,\n    it had been for "
	.ascii	"some time my intention to re-establish my\n    circumstances"
	.ascii	" by marrying a woman of fortune.  To attach\n    myself to y"
	.ascii	"our sister, therefore, was not a thing to be\n    thought of"
	.ascii	";--and with a meanness, selfishness, cruelty--\n    which no"
	.ascii	" indignant, no contemptuous look, even of yours,\n    Miss D"
	.ascii	"ashwood, can ever reprobate too much--I was acting\n    in t"
	.ascii	"his manner, trying to engage her regard, without a\n    thou"
	.ascii	"ght of returning it.--But one thing may be said\n    for me:"
	.ascii	" even in that horrid state of selfish vanity,\n    I did not"
	.ascii	" know the extent of the injury I meditated,\n    because I d"
	.ascii	"id not THEN know what it was to love.\n    But have I ever k"
	.ascii	"nown it?--Well may it be doubted; for, had I\n    really lov"
	.ascii	"ed, could I have sacrificed my feelings to vanity,\n    to a"
	.ascii	"varice?--or, what is more, could I have sacrificed hers?--\n"
	.ascii	"    But I have done it.  To avoid a comparative poverty,\n  "
	.ascii	"  which her affection and her society would have deprived\n "
	.ascii	"   of all its horrors, I have, by raising myself to affluenc"
	.ascii	"e,\n    lost every thing that could make it a blessing.\"\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    \"You did then,\" said Elinor, a little softened,\n"
	.ascii	"    \"believe yourself at one time attached to her?\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"To have resisted such attractions, to have withstood\n"
	.ascii	"    such tenderness!--Is there a man on earth who could have"
	.ascii	"\n    done it?--Yes, I found myself, by insensible degrees,\n"
	.ascii	"    sincerely fond of her; and the happiest hours of my life"
	.ascii	"\n    were what I spent with her when I felt my intentions\n"
	.ascii	"    were strictly honourable, and my feelings blameless.\n  "
	.ascii	"  Even THEN, however, when fully determined on paying\n    m"
	.ascii	"y addresses to her, I allowed myself most improperly\n    to"
	.ascii	" put off, from day to day, the moment of doing it,\n    from"
	.ascii	" an unwillingness to enter into an engagement\n    while my "
	.ascii	"circumstances were so greatly embarrassed.\n    I will not r"
	.ascii	"eason here--nor will I stop for YOU to expatiate\n    on the"
	.ascii	" absurdity, and the worse than absurdity, of scrupling\n    "
	.ascii	"to engage my faith where my honour was already bound.\n    T"
	.ascii	"he event has proved, that I was a cunning fool,\n    providi"
	.ascii	"ng with great circumspection for a possible\n    opportunity"
	.ascii	" of making myself contemptible and wretched\n    for ever.  "
	.ascii	"At last, however, my resolution was taken,\n    and I had de"
	.ascii	"termined, as soon as I could engage her alone,\n    to justi"
	.ascii	"fy the attentions I had so invariably paid her,\n    and ope"
	.ascii	"nly assure her of an affection which I had already\n    take"
	.ascii	"n such pains to display.  But in the interim--in the\n    in"
	.ascii	"terim of the very few hours that were to pass, before I\n   "
	.ascii	" could have an opportunity of speaking with her in private--"
	.ascii	"\n    a circumstance occurred--an unlucky circumstance, to r"
	.ascii	"uin\n    all my resolution, and with it all my comfort.  A d"
	.ascii	"iscovery\n    took place,\"--here he hesitated and looked do"
	.ascii	"wn.--\"Mrs. Smith\n    had somehow or other been informed, I"
	.ascii	" imagine by some\n    distant relation, whose interest it wa"
	.ascii	"s to deprive me of\n    her favour, of an affair, a connecti"
	.ascii	"on--but I need not\n    explain myself farther,\" he added, "
	.ascii	"looking at her with an\n    heightened colour and an enquiri"
	.ascii	"ng eye--\"your particular\n    intimacy--you have probably h"
	.ascii	"eard the whole story long ago.\"\n    \n    \"I have,\" retu"
	.ascii	"rned Elinor, colouring likewise,\n    and hardening her hear"
	.ascii	"t anew against any compassion for him,\n    \"I have heard i"
	.ascii	"t all.  And how you will explain away any\n    part of your "
	.ascii	"guilt in that dreadful business, I confess\n    is beyond my"
	.ascii	" comprehension.\"\n    \n    \"Remember,\" cried Willoughby,"
	.ascii	" \"from whom you received\n    the account.  Could it be an "
	.ascii	"impartial one?  I acknowledge\n    that her situation and he"
	.ascii	"r character ought to have been\n    respected by me.  I do n"
	.ascii	"ot mean to justify myself, but at\n    the same time cannot "
	.ascii	"leave y"
	.ascii	"ou to suppose that I have nothing\n    to urge--that because"
	.ascii	" she was injured she was irreproachable,\n    and because I "
	.ascii	"was a libertine, SHE must be a saint.\n    If the violence o"
	.ascii	"f her passions, the weakness of her\n    understanding--I do"
	.ascii	" not mean, however, to defend myself.\n    Her affection for"
	.ascii	" me deserved better treatment, and I often,\n    with great "
	.ascii	"self-reproach, recall the tenderness which,\n    for a very "
	.ascii	"short time, had the power of creating any return.\n    I wis"
	.ascii	"h--I heartily wish it had never been.  But I have injured\n "
	.ascii	"   more than herself; and I have injured one, whose affectio"
	.ascii	"n\n    for me--(may I say it?) was scarcely less warm than h"
	.ascii	"ers;\n    and whose mind--Oh! how infinitely superior!\"--\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"Your indifference, however, towards that unfortu"
	.ascii	"nate\n    girl--I must say it, unpleasant to me as the discu"
	.ascii	"ssion\n    of such a subject may well be--your indifference "
	.ascii	"is no\n    apology for your cruel neglect of her.  Do not th"
	.ascii	"ink yourself\n    excused by any weakness, any natural defec"
	.ascii	"t of understanding\n    on her side, in the wanton cruelty s"
	.ascii	"o evident on yours.\n    You must have known, that while you"
	.ascii	" were enjoying yourself\n    in Devonshire pursuing fresh sc"
	.ascii	"hemes, always gay,\n    always happy, she was reduced to the"
	.ascii	" extremest indigence.\"\n    \n    \"But, upon my soul, I di"
	.ascii	"d NOT know it,\" he warmly\n    replied; \"I did not recolle"
	.ascii	"ct that I had omitted to give\n    her my direction; and com"
	.ascii	"mon sense might have told her\n    how to find it out.\"\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    \"Well, sir, and what said Mrs. Smith?\"\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"\"She taxed me with the offence at once, and my confusion\n "
	.ascii	"   may be guessed.  The purity of her life, the formality\n "
	.ascii	"   of her notions, her ignorance of the world--every thing\n"
	.ascii	"    was against me.  The matter itself I could not deny,\n  "
	.ascii	"  and vain was every endeavour to soften it.  She was\n    p"
	.ascii	"reviously disposed, I believe, to doubt the morality of my\n"
	.ascii	"    conduct in general, and was moreover discontented with\n"
	.ascii	"    the very little attention, the very little portion of my"
	.ascii	"\n    ti"
	.ascii	"me that I had bestowed on her, in my present visit.\n    In "
	.ascii	"short, it ended in a total breach.  By one measure I\n    mi"
	.ascii	"ght have saved myself.  In the height of her morality,\n    "
	.ascii	"good woman! she offered to forgive the past, if I would\n   "
	.ascii	" marry Eliza.  That could not be--and I was formally\n    di"
	.ascii	"smissed from her favour and her house.  The night\n    follo"
	.ascii	"wing this affair--I was to go the next morning--\n    was sp"
	.ascii	"ent by me in deliberating on what my future conduct\n    sho"
	.ascii	"uld be.  The struggle was great--but it ended too soon.\n   "
	.ascii	" My affection for Marianne, my thorough conviction of her\n "
	.ascii	"   attachment to me--it was all insufficient to outweigh\n  "
	.ascii	"  that dread of poverty, or get the better of those false\n "
	.ascii	"   ideas of the necessity of riches, which I was naturally\n"
	.ascii	"    inclined to feel, and expensive society had increased.\n"
	.ascii	"    I had reason to believe myself secure of my present wife"
	.ascii	",\n    if I chose to address her, and I persuaded myself to "
	.ascii	"think\n    that nothing else in common prudence remained for"
	.ascii	" me to do.\n    A heavy scene however awaited me, before I c"
	.ascii	"ould leave\n    Devonshire;--I was engaged to dine with you "
	.ascii	"on that very day;\n    some apology was therefore necessary "
	.ascii	"for my breaking\n    this engagement.  But whether I should "
	.ascii	"write this apology,\n    or deliver it in person, was a poin"
	.ascii	"t of long debate.\n    To see Marianne, I felt, would be dre"
	.ascii	"adful, and I even doubted\n    whether I could see her again"
	.ascii	", and keep to my resolution.\n    In that point, however, I "
	.ascii	"undervalued my own magnanimity,\n    as the event declared; "
	.ascii	"for I went, I saw her, and saw\n    her miserable, and left "
	.ascii	"her miserable--and left her hoping\n    never to see her aga"
	.ascii	"in.\"\n    \n    \"Why did you call, Mr. Willoughby?\" said "
	.ascii	"Elinor,\n    reproachfully; \"a note would have answered eve"
	.ascii	"ry purpose.--\n    Why was it necessary to call?\"\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \"It was necessary to my own pride.  I could not bear\n   "
	.ascii	" to leave the country in a manner that might lead you,\n    "
	.ascii	"or the rest of the neighbourhood, to suspect any part\n    o"
	.ascii	"f "
	.ascii	"what had really passed between Mrs. Smith and myself--\n    "
	.ascii	"and I resolved therefore on calling at the cottage,\n    in "
	.ascii	"my way to Honiton.  The sight of your dear sister,\n    howe"
	.ascii	"ver, was really dreadful; and, to heighten the matter,\n    "
	.ascii	"I found her alone.  You were all gone I do not know where.\n"
	.ascii	"    I had left her only the evening before, so fully,\n    s"
	.ascii	"o firmly resolved within my self on doing right!\n    A few "
	.ascii	"hours were to have engaged her to me for ever;\n    and I re"
	.ascii	"member how happy, how gay were my spirits, as I\n    walked "
	.ascii	"from the cottage to Allenham, satisfied with myself,\n    de"
	.ascii	"lighted with every body!  But in this, our last interview\n "
	.ascii	"   of friendship, I approached her with a sense of guilt\n  "
	.ascii	"  that almost took from me the power of dissembling.\n    He"
	.ascii	"r sorrow, her disappointment, her deep regret, when I told\n"
	.ascii	"    her that I was obliged to leave Devonshire so immediatel"
	.ascii	"y--I\n    never shall forget it--united too with such relian"
	.ascii	"ce,\n    such confidence in me!--Oh, God!--what a hard-heart"
	.ascii	"ed\n    rascal I was!\"\n    \n    They were both silent for"
	.ascii	" a few moments.\n    Elinor first spoke.\n    \n    \"Did yo"
	.ascii	"u tell her that you should soon return?\"\n    \n    \"I do "
	.ascii	"not know what I told her,\" he replied, impatiently;\n    \""
	.ascii	"less than was due to the past, beyond a doubt, and in all\n "
	.ascii	"   likelihood much more than was justified by the future.\n "
	.ascii	"   I cannot think of it.--It won't do.--Then came your dear "
	.ascii	"mother\n    to torture me farther, with all her kindness and"
	.ascii	" confidence.\n    Thank Heaven! it DID torture me.  I was mi"
	.ascii	"serable.\n    Miss Dashwood, you cannot have an idea of the "
	.ascii	"comfort it\n    gives me to look back on my own misery.  I o"
	.ascii	"we such a grudge\n    to myself for the stupid, rascally fol"
	.ascii	"ly of my own heart,\n    that all my past sufferings under i"
	.ascii	"t are only triumph and\n    exultation to me now.  Well, I w"
	.ascii	"ent, left all that I loved,\n    and went to those to whom, "
	.ascii	"at best, I was only indifferent.\n    My journey to town--tr"
	.ascii	"avelling with my own horses,\n    and therefore so tediously"
	.ascii	"--n"
	.ascii	"o creature to speak to--my\n    own reflections so cheerful-"
	.ascii	"-when I looked forward\n    every thing so inviting!--when I"
	.ascii	" looked back at Barton,\n    the picture so soothing!--oh, i"
	.ascii	"t was a blessed journey!\"\n    \n    He stopped.\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" \"Well, sir,\" said Elinor, who, though pitying him,\n    g"
	.ascii	"rew impatient for his departure, \"and this is all?\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"Ah!--no,--have you forgot what passed in town?--\n    "
	.ascii	"That infamous letter--Did she shew it you?\"\n    \n    \"Ye"
	.ascii	"s, I saw every note that passed.\"\n    \n    \"When the fir"
	.ascii	"st of hers reached me (as it immediately did,\n    for I was"
	.ascii	" in town the whole time,) what I felt is--\n    in the commo"
	.ascii	"n phrase, not to be expressed; in a more\n    simple one--pe"
	.ascii	"rhaps too simple to raise any emotion--\n    my feelings wer"
	.ascii	"e very, very painful.--Every line, every word\n    was--in t"
	.ascii	"he hackneyed metaphor which their dear writer,\n    were she"
	.ascii	" here, would forbid--a dagger to my heart.\n    To know that"
	.ascii	" Marianne was in town was--in the same language--\n    a thu"
	.ascii	"nderbolt.--Thunderbolts and daggers!--what a reproof\n    wo"
	.ascii	"uld she have given me!--her taste, her opinions--I believe\n"
	.ascii	"    they are better known to me than my own,--and I am sure\n"
	.ascii	"    they are dearer.\"\n    \n    Elinor's heart, which had "
	.ascii	"undergone many changes\n    in the course of this extraordin"
	.ascii	"ary conversation,\n    was now softened again;--yet she felt"
	.ascii	" it her duty to check\n    such ideas in her companion as th"
	.ascii	"e last.\n    \n    \"This is not right, Mr. Willoughby.--Rem"
	.ascii	"ember that\n    you are married.  Relate only what in your c"
	.ascii	"onscience\n    you think necessary for me to hear.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"Marianne's note, by assuring me that I was still\n    "
	.ascii	"as dear to her as in former days, that in spite of the many,"
	.ascii	"\n    many weeks we had been separated, she was as constant\n"
	.ascii	"    in her own feelings, and as full of faith in the constan"
	.ascii	"cy\n    of mine as ever, awakened all my remorse.  I say awa"
	.ascii	"kened,\n    because time and London, business and dissipatio"
	.ascii	"n,\n    had in some measure quieted it, and I had been growi"
	.ascii	"ng\n    a fine "
	.ascii	"hardened villain, fancying myself indifferent to her,\n    a"
	.ascii	"nd chusing to fancy that she too must have become\n    indif"
	.ascii	"ferent to me; talking to myself of our past attachment\n    "
	.ascii	"as a mere idle, trifling business, shrugging up my shoulders"
	.ascii	"\n    in proof of its being so, and silencing every reproach"
	.ascii	",\n    overcoming every scruple, by secretly saying now and "
	.ascii	"then,\n    'I shall be heartily glad to hear she is well mar"
	.ascii	"ried.'--\n    But this note made me know myself better.  I f"
	.ascii	"elt that\n    she was infinitely dearer to me than any other"
	.ascii	" woman\n    in the world, and that I was using her infamousl"
	.ascii	"y.\n    But every thing was then just settled between Miss G"
	.ascii	"rey\n    and me.  To retreat was impossible.  All that I had"
	.ascii	" to do,\n    was to avoid you both.  I sent no answer to Mar"
	.ascii	"ianne,\n    intending by that to preserve myself from her fa"
	.ascii	"rther notice;\n    and for some time I was even determined n"
	.ascii	"ot to call in\n    Berkeley Street;--but at last, judging it"
	.ascii	" wiser to affect\n    the air of a cool, common acquaintance"
	.ascii	" than anything else,\n    I watched you all safely out of th"
	.ascii	"e house one morning,\n    and left my name.\"\n    \n    \"W"
	.ascii	"atched us out of the house!\"\n    \n    \"Even so.  You wou"
	.ascii	"ld be surprised to hear how often\n    I watched you, how of"
	.ascii	"ten I was on the point of falling\n    in with you.  I have "
	.ascii	"entered many a shop to avoid your sight,\n    as the carriag"
	.ascii	"e drove by.  Lodging as I did in Bond Street,\n    there was"
	.ascii	" hardly a day in which I did not catch a glimpse\n    of one"
	.ascii	" or other of you; and nothing but the most constant\n    wat"
	.ascii	"chfulness on my side, a most invariably prevailing\n    desi"
	.ascii	"re to keep out of your sight, could have separated us\n    s"
	.ascii	"o long.  I avoided the Middletons as much as possible,\n    "
	.ascii	"as well as everybody else who was likely to prove\n    an ac"
	.ascii	"quaintance in common.  Not aware of their being\n    in town"
	.ascii	", however, I blundered on Sir John, I believe,\n    the firs"
	.ascii	"t day of his coming, and the day after I had called\n    at "
	.ascii	"Mrs. Jennings's.  He asked me to a party, a dance at his\n  "
	.ascii	"  house in the evening.--Had he NOT told me as an inducement"
	.ascii	"\n    that you and your sister were to be there, I should ha"
	.ascii	"ve\n    felt it too certain a thing, to trust myself near hi"
	.ascii	"m.\n    The next morning brought another short note from Mar"
	.ascii	"ianne--\n    still affectionate, open, artless, confiding--e"
	.ascii	"verything\n    that could make MY conduct most hateful.  I c"
	.ascii	"ould not\n    answer it.  I tried--but could not frame a sen"
	.ascii	"tence.\n    But I thought of her, I believe, every moment of"
	.ascii	" the day.\n    If you CAN pity me, Miss Dashwood, pity my si"
	.ascii	"tuation as it\n    was THEN.  With my head and heart full of"
	.ascii	" your sister,\n    I was forced to play the happy lover to a"
	.ascii	"nother woman!--Those\n    three or four weeks were worse tha"
	.ascii	"n all.  Well, at last,\n    as I need not tell you, you were"
	.ascii	" forced on me; and what a\n    sweet figure I cut!--what an "
	.ascii	"evening of agony it was!--\n    Marianne, beautiful as an an"
	.ascii	"gel on one side, calling me\n    Willoughby in such a tone!-"
	.ascii	"-Oh, God!--holding out her hand\n    to me, asking me for an"
	.ascii	" explanation, with those bewitching\n    eyes fixed in such "
	.ascii	"speaking solicitude on my face!--and\n    Sophia, jealous as"
	.ascii	" the devil on the other hand, looking\n    all that was--Wel"
	.ascii	"l, it does not signify; it is over now.--\n    Such an eveni"
	.ascii	"ng!--I ran away from you all as soon as I could;\n    but no"
	.ascii	"t before I had seen Marianne's sweet face as white\n    as d"
	.ascii	"eath.--THAT was the last, last look I ever had of her;--\n  "
	.ascii	"  the last manner in which she appeared to me.  It was a hor"
	.ascii	"rid\n    sight!--yet when I thought of her to-day as really "
	.ascii	"dying,\n    it was a kind of comfort to me to imagine that I"
	.ascii	" knew\n    exactly how she would appear to those, who saw he"
	.ascii	"r last\n    in this world.  She was before me, constantly be"
	.ascii	"fore me,\n    as I travelled, in the same look and hue.\"\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    A short pause of mutual thoughtfulness succeeded.\n"
	.ascii	"    Willoughby first rousing himself, broke it thus:\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"Well, let me make haste and be gone.  Your sister\n   "
	.ascii	" is certainly better, certainly out of danger?\"\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" \"We are assured of it.\"\n    \n    \"Your poor mother, to"
	.ascii	"o!--doting on Marianne.\"\n    \n    \"But the letter, Mr. W"
	.ascii	"illoughby, your own letter;\n    have you any thing to say a"
	.ascii	"bout that?\"\n    \n    \"Yes, yes, THAT in particular.  You"
	.ascii	"r sister\n    wrote to me again, you know, the very next mor"
	.ascii	"ning.\n    You saw what she said.  I was breakfasting at the"
	.ascii	"\n    Ellisons,--and her letter, with some others, was broug"
	.ascii	"ht\n    to me there from my lodgings.  It happened to catch\n"
	.ascii	"    Sophia's eye before it caught mine--and its size,\n    t"
	.ascii	"he elegance of the paper, the hand-writing altogether,\n    "
	.ascii	"immediately gave her a suspicion.  Some vague report had\n  "
	.ascii	"  reached her before of my attachment to some young lady\n  "
	.ascii	"  in Devonshire, and what had passed within her observation\n"
	.ascii	"    the preceding evening had marked who the young lady was,"
	.ascii	"\n    and made her more jealous than ever.  Affecting that a"
	.ascii	"ir\n    of playfulness, therefore, which is delightful in a "
	.ascii	"woman\n    one loves, she opened the letter directly, and re"
	.ascii	"ad\n    its contents.  She was well paid for her impudence.\n"
	.ascii	"    She read what made her wretched.  Her wretchedness I cou"
	.ascii	"ld\n    have borne, but her passion--her malice--At all even"
	.ascii	"ts it\n    must be appeased.  And, in short--what do you thi"
	.ascii	"nk of my\n    wife's style of letter-writing?--delicate--ten"
	.ascii	"der--\n    truly feminine--was it not?\"\n    \n    \"Your w"
	.ascii	"ife!--The letter was in your own hand-writing.\"\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"\"Yes, but I had only the credit of servilely copying\n    s"
	.ascii	"uch sentences as I was ashamed to put my name to.\n    The o"
	.ascii	"riginal was all her own--her own happy thoughts\n    and gen"
	.ascii	"tle diction.  But what could I do!--we were engaged,\n    ev"
	.ascii	"ery thing in preparation, the day almost fixed--But I am\n  "
	.ascii	"  talking like a fool.  Preparation!--day!--In honest words,"
	.ascii	"\n    her money was necessary to me, and in a situation like"
	.ascii	"\n    mine, any thing was to be done to prevent a rupture.\n"
	.ascii	"    And after all, what did it signify to my character\n    "
	.ascii	"in the opinion of Marianne and her friends, in what language"
	.ascii	"\n    my"
	.ascii	" answer was couched?--It must have been only to one end.\n  "
	.ascii	"  My business was to declare myself a scoundrel, and whether"
	.ascii	"\n    I did it with a bow or a bluster was of little importa"
	.ascii	"nce.--\n    'I am ruined for ever in their opinion--' said I"
	.ascii	" to\n    myself--'I am shut out for ever from their society,"
	.ascii	"\n    they already think me an unprincipled fellow, this let"
	.ascii	"ter\n    will only make them think me a blackguard one.' Suc"
	.ascii	"h were\n    my reasonings, as, in a sort of desperate carele"
	.ascii	"ssness,\n    I copied my wife's words, and parted with the l"
	.ascii	"ast relics\n    of Marianne.  Her three notes--unluckily the"
	.ascii	"y were all\n    in my pocketbook, or I should have denied th"
	.ascii	"eir existence,\n    and hoarded them for ever--I was forced "
	.ascii	"to put them up,\n    and could not even kiss them.  And the "
	.ascii	"lock of hair--that too\n    I had always carried about me in"
	.ascii	" the same pocket-book,\n    which was now searched by Madam "
	.ascii	"with the most ingratiating\n    virulence,--the dear lock--a"
	.ascii	"ll, every memento was torn from me.\"\n    \n    \"You are v"
	.ascii	"ery wrong, Mr. Willoughby, very blamable,\"\n    said Elinor"
	.ascii	", while her voice, in spite of herself,\n    betrayed her co"
	.ascii	"mpassionate emotion; \"you ought not to speak\n    in this w"
	.ascii	"ay, either of Mrs. Willoughby or my sister.\n    You had mad"
	.ascii	"e your own choice.  It was not forced on you.\n    Your wife"
	.ascii	" has a claim to your politeness, to your respect,\n    at le"
	.ascii	"ast.  She must be attached to you, or she would not\n    hav"
	.ascii	"e married you.  To treat her with unkindness, to speak\n    "
	.ascii	"of her slightingly is no atonement to Marianne--nor can I\n "
	.ascii	"   suppose it a relief to your own conscience.\"\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"\"Do not talk to me of my wife,\" said he with a heavy sigh."
	.ascii	"--\n    \"She does not deserve your compassion.--She knew I "
	.ascii	"had no\n    regard for her when we married.--Well, married w"
	.ascii	"e were,\n    and came down to Combe Magna to be happy, and a"
	.ascii	"fterwards\n    returned to town to be gay.--And now do you p"
	.ascii	"ity me,\n    Miss Dashwood?--or have I said all this to no p"
	.ascii	"urpose?--\n    Am I--be it only one degree--am I less guilty"
	.ascii	" i"
	.ascii	"n your opinion\n    than I was before?--My intentions were n"
	.ascii	"ot always wrong.\n    Have I explained away any part of my g"
	.ascii	"uilt?\"\n    \n    \"Yes, you have certainly removed somethi"
	.ascii	"ng--a little.--\n    You have proved yourself, on the whole,"
	.ascii	" less faulty than\n    I had believed you.  You have proved "
	.ascii	"your heart less wicked,\n    much less wicked.  But I hardly"
	.ascii	" know--the misery that\n    you have inflicted--I hardly kno"
	.ascii	"w what could have made\n    it worse.\"\n    \n    \"Will yo"
	.ascii	"u repeat to your sister when she is recovered,\n    what I h"
	.ascii	"ave been telling you?--Let me be a little lightened\n    too"
	.ascii	" in her opinion as well as in yours.  You tell me that\n    "
	.ascii	"she has forgiven me already.  Let me be able to fancy that\n"
	.ascii	"    a better knowledge of my heart, and of my present feelin"
	.ascii	"gs,\n    will draw from her a more spontaneous, more natural"
	.ascii	", more\n    gentle, less dignified, forgiveness.  Tell her o"
	.ascii	"f my misery\n    and my penitence--tell her that my heart wa"
	.ascii	"s never inconstant\n    to her, and if you will, that at thi"
	.ascii	"s moment she is dearer\n    to me than ever.\"\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"I will tell her all that is necessary to what may\n    compa"
	.ascii	"ratively be called, your justification.  But you have\n    n"
	.ascii	"ot explained to me the particular reason of your coming now,"
	.ascii	"\n    nor how you heard of her illness.\"\n    \n    \"Last "
	.ascii	"night, in Drury Lane lobby, I ran against Sir\n    John Midd"
	.ascii	"leton, and when he saw who I was--for the first\n    time th"
	.ascii	"ese two months--he spoke to me.--That he had cut\n    me eve"
	.ascii	"r since my marriage, I had seen without surprise\n    or res"
	.ascii	"entment.  Now, however, his good-natured, honest,\n    stupi"
	.ascii	"d soul, full of indignation against me, and concern\n    for"
	.ascii	" your sister, could not resist the temptation of telling\n  "
	.ascii	"  me what he knew ought to--though probably he did not\n    "
	.ascii	"think it WOULD--vex me horridly.  As bluntly as he could\n  "
	.ascii	"  speak it, therefore, he told me that Marianne Dashwood\n  "
	.ascii	"  was dying of a putrid fever at Cleveland--a letter that\n "
	.ascii	"   morning received from Mrs. Jennings declared her danger\n"
	.ascii	"    mos"
	.ascii	"t imminent--the Palmers are all gone off in a fright,\n    &"
	.ascii	"c.--I was too much shocked to be able to pass myself\n    of"
	.ascii	"f as insensible even to the undiscerning Sir John.\n    His "
	.ascii	"heart was softened in seeing mine suffer; and so much\n    o"
	.ascii	"f his ill-will was done away, that when we parted,\n    he a"
	.ascii	"lmost shook me by the hand while he reminded me of an\n    o"
	.ascii	"ld promise about a pointer puppy.  What I felt on hearing\n "
	.ascii	"   that your sister was dying--and dying too, believing me\n"
	.ascii	"    the greatest villain upon earth, scorning, hating me\n  "
	.ascii	"  in her latest moments--for how could I tell what horrid\n "
	.ascii	"   projects might not have been imputed?  ONE person I\n    "
	.ascii	"was sure would represent me as capable of any thing--\n    W"
	.ascii	"hat I felt was dreadful!--My resolution was soon made,\n    "
	.ascii	"and at eight o'clock this morning I was in my carriage.\n   "
	.ascii	" Now you know all.\"\n    \n    Elinor made no answer.  Her "
	.ascii	"thoughts were silently fixed\n    on the irreparable injury "
	.ascii	"which too early an independence\n    and its consequent habi"
	.ascii	"ts of idleness, dissipation, and luxury,\n    had made in th"
	.ascii	"e mind, the character, the happiness,\n    of a man who, to "
	.ascii	"every advantage of person and talents,\n    united a disposi"
	.ascii	"tion naturally open and honest, and a\n    feeling, affectio"
	.ascii	"nate temper.  The world had made him\n    extravagant and va"
	.ascii	"in--Extravagance and vanity had made him\n    cold-hearted a"
	.ascii	"nd selfish.  Vanity, while seeking its own\n    guilty trium"
	.ascii	"ph at the expense of another, had involved\n    him in a rea"
	.ascii	"l attachment, which extravagance, or at least\n    its offsp"
	.ascii	"ring, necessity, had required to be sacrificed.\n    Each fa"
	.ascii	"ulty propensity in leading him to evil, had led\n    him lik"
	.ascii	"ewise to punishment.  The attachment, from which\n    agains"
	.ascii	"t honour, against feeling, against every better interest\n  "
	.ascii	"  he had outwardly torn himself, now, when no longer allowab"
	.ascii	"le,\n    governed every thought; and the connection, for the"
	.ascii	" sake\n    of which he had, with little scruple, left her si"
	.ascii	"ster\n    to misery, was likely to prove a source of un"
	.ascii	"happiness\n    to himself of a far more incurable nature.  F"
	.ascii	"rom a reverie\n    of this kind she was recalled at the end "
	.ascii	"of some minutes\n    by Willoughby, who, rousing himself fro"
	.ascii	"m a reverie at least\n    equally painful, started up in pre"
	.ascii	"paration for going, and said--\n    \n    \"There is no use "
	.ascii	"in staying here; I must be off.\"\n    \n    \"Are you going"
	.ascii	" back to town?\"\n    \n    \"No--to Combe Magna.  I have bu"
	.ascii	"siness there;\n    from thence to town in a day or two.  Goo"
	.ascii	"d bye.\"\n    \n    He held out his hand.  She could not ref"
	.ascii	"use to give\n    him hers's;--he pressed it with affection.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"And you DO think something better of me than\n  "
	.ascii	"  you did?\"--said he, letting it fall, and leaning against\n"
	.ascii	"    the mantel-piece as if forgetting he was to go.\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   Elinor assured him that she did;--that she forgave,\n    "
	.ascii	"pitied, wished him well--was even interested in his\n    hap"
	.ascii	"piness--and added some gentle counsel as to the behaviour\n "
	.ascii	"   most likely to promote it.  His answer was not very encou"
	.ascii	"raging.\n    \n    \"As to that,\" said he, \"I must rub thr"
	.ascii	"ough the world\n    as well as I can.  Domestic happiness is"
	.ascii	" out of the question.\n    If, however, I am allowed to thin"
	.ascii	"k that you and yours feel\n    an interest in my fate and ac"
	.ascii	"tions, it may be the means--it\n    may put me on my guard--"
	.ascii	"at least, it may be something to\n    live for.  Marianne to"
	.ascii	" be sure is lost to me for ever.\n    Were I even by any ble"
	.ascii	"ssed chance at liberty again--\"\n    \n    Elinor stopped h"
	.ascii	"im with a reproof.\n    \n    \"Well,\"--he replied--\"once "
	.ascii	"more good bye. I shall\n    now go away and live in dread of"
	.ascii	" one event.\"\n    \n    \"What do you mean?\"\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"Your sister's marriage.\"\n    \n    \"You are very wrong.  "
	.ascii	"She can never be more lost\n    to you than she is now.\"\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    \"But she will be gained by some one else.  And if\n"
	.ascii	"    that some one should be the very he whom, of all others,"
	.ascii	"\n    I could least bear--but I will not stay to rob myself\n"
	.ascii	"    of all your compassionate goodwill, by shewing\n    that"
	.ascii	" where I have most injured I"
	.ascii	" can least forgive.\n    Good bye,--God bless you!\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    And with these words, he almost ran out of the room.\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 45\n    \n    \n    Elinor, for "
	.ascii	"some time after he left her, for some time\n    even after t"
	.ascii	"he sound of his carriage had died away, remained\n    too mu"
	.ascii	"ch oppressed by a crowd of ideas, widely differing in\n    t"
	.ascii	"hemselves, but of which sadness was the general result,\n   "
	.ascii	" to think even of her sister.\n    \n    Willoughby, he, who"
	.ascii	"m only half an hour ago she had\n    abhorred as the most wo"
	.ascii	"rthless of men, Willoughby, in spite\n    of all his faults,"
	.ascii	" excited a degree of commiseration\n    for the sufferings p"
	.ascii	"roduced by them, which made her\n    think of him as now sep"
	.ascii	"arated for ever from her family,\n    with a tenderness, a r"
	.ascii	"egret, rather in proportion, as she\n    soon acknowledged w"
	.ascii	"ithin herself--to his wishes than to\n    his merits.  She f"
	.ascii	"elt that his influence over her mind\n    was heightened by "
	.ascii	"circumstances which ought not in reason\n    to have weight;"
	.ascii	" by that person of uncommon attraction,\n    that open, affe"
	.ascii	"ctionate, and lively manner which it\n    was no merit to po"
	.ascii	"ssess; and by that still ardent love\n    for Marianne, whic"
	.ascii	"h it was not even innocent to indulge.\n    But she felt tha"
	.ascii	"t it was so, long, long before she could\n    feel his influ"
	.ascii	"ence less.\n    \n    When at last she returned to the uncon"
	.ascii	"scious Marianne,\n    she found her just awaking, refreshed "
	.ascii	"by so long and sweet\n    a sleep to the extent of her hopes"
	.ascii	".  Elinor's heart was full.\n    The past, the present, the "
	.ascii	"future, Willoughby's visit,\n    Marianne's safety, and her "
	.ascii	"mother's expected arrival,\n    threw her altogether into an"
	.ascii	" agitation of spirits\n    which kept off every indication o"
	.ascii	"f fatigue, and made\n    her only fearful of betraying herse"
	.ascii	"lf to her sister.\n    Short was the time, however, in which"
	.ascii	" that fear could\n    affect her, for within half an hour af"
	.ascii	"ter Willoughby's\n    leaving the house, she was again calle"
	.ascii	"d down stairs\n    by the sound of another carriage.--Eager "
	.ascii	"to s"
	.ascii	"ave her\n    mother from every unnecessary moment's horrible"
	.ascii	" suspense,\n    she ran immediately into the hall, and reach"
	.ascii	"ed the outward\n    door just in time to receive and support"
	.ascii	" her as she entered it.\n    \n    Mrs. Dashwood, whose terr"
	.ascii	"or as they drew near the\n    house had produced almost the "
	.ascii	"conviction of Marianne's\n    being no more, had no voice to"
	.ascii	" inquire after her,\n    no voice even for Elinor; but SHE, "
	.ascii	"waiting neither for\n    salutation nor inquiry, instantly g"
	.ascii	"ave the joyful relief;--\n    and her mother, catching it wi"
	.ascii	"th all her usual warmth,\n    was in a moment as much overco"
	.ascii	"me by her happiness, as she\n    had been before by her fear"
	.ascii	"s.  She was supported into\n    the drawing-room between her"
	.ascii	" daughter and her friend;--\n    and there, shedding tears o"
	.ascii	"f joy, though still unable\n    to speak, embraced Elinor ag"
	.ascii	"ain and again, turning from her\n    at intervals to press C"
	.ascii	"olonel Brandon's hand, with a look\n    which spoke at once "
	.ascii	"her gratitude, and her conviction\n    of his sharing with h"
	.ascii	"erself in the bliss of the moment.\n    He shared it, howeve"
	.ascii	"r, in a silence even greater than her own.\n    \n    As soo"
	.ascii	"n as Mrs. Dashwood had recovered herself,\n    to see Marian"
	.ascii	"ne was her first desire; and in two minutes she\n    was wit"
	.ascii	"h her beloved child, rendered dearer to her than ever\n    b"
	.ascii	"y absence, unhappiness, and danger.  Elinor's delight,\n    "
	.ascii	"as she saw what each felt in the meeting, was only checked\n"
	.ascii	"    by an apprehension of its robbing Marianne of farther sl"
	.ascii	"eep;--\n    but Mrs. Dashwood could be calm, could be even p"
	.ascii	"rudent,\n    when the life of a child was at stake, and Mari"
	.ascii	"anne,\n    satisfied in knowing her mother was near her, and"
	.ascii	" conscious\n    of being too weak for conversation, submitte"
	.ascii	"d readily to the\n    silence and quiet prescribed by every "
	.ascii	"nurse around her.\n    Mrs. Dashwood WOULD sit up with her a"
	.ascii	"ll night; and Elinor,\n    in compliance with her mother's e"
	.ascii	"ntreaty, went to bed.\n    But the rest, which one night ent"
	.ascii	"irely sleepless,\n    and many hours of the most wearin"
	.ascii	"g anxiety seemed to\n    make requisite, was kept off by irr"
	.ascii	"itation of spirits.\n    Willoughby, \"poor Willoughby,\" as"
	.ascii	" she now allowed\n    herself to call him, was constantly in"
	.ascii	" her thoughts; she\n    would not but have heard his vindica"
	.ascii	"tion for the world,\n    and now blamed, now acquitted herse"
	.ascii	"lf for having judged him\n    so harshly before.  But her pr"
	.ascii	"omise of relating it to her\n    sister was invariably painf"
	.ascii	"ul.  She dreaded the performance\n    of it, dreaded what it"
	.ascii	"s effect on Marianne might be;\n    doubted whether after su"
	.ascii	"ch an explanation she could ever\n    be happy with another;"
	.ascii	" and for a moment wished Willoughby\n    a widower.  Then, r"
	.ascii	"emembering Colonel Brandon, reproved herself,\n    felt that"
	.ascii	" to HIS sufferings and his constancy far more\n    than to h"
	.ascii	"is rival's, the reward of her sister was due,\n    and wishe"
	.ascii	"d any thing rather than Mrs. Willoughby's death.\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"The shock of Colonel Brandon's errand at Barton had been\n  "
	.ascii	"  much softened to Mrs. Dashwood by her own previous alarm;\n"
	.ascii	"    for so great was her uneasiness about Marianne, that she"
	.ascii	"\n    had already determined to set out for Cleveland on tha"
	.ascii	"t\n    very day, without waiting for any further intelligenc"
	.ascii	"e,\n    and had so far settled her journey before his arriva"
	.ascii	"l,\n    that the Careys were then expected every moment to f"
	.ascii	"etch\n    Margaret away, as her mother was unwilling to take"
	.ascii	" her\n    where there might be infection.\n    \n    Mariann"
	.ascii	"e continued to mend every day, and the brilliant\n    cheerf"
	.ascii	"ulness of Mrs. Dashwood's looks and spirits proved\n    her "
	.ascii	"to be, as she repeatedly declared herself, one of\n    the h"
	.ascii	"appiest women in the world.  Elinor could not hear\n    the "
	.ascii	"declaration, nor witness its proofs without sometimes\n    w"
	.ascii	"ondering whether her mother ever recollected Edward.\n    Bu"
	.ascii	"t Mrs. Dashwood, trusting to the temperate account\n    of h"
	.ascii	"er own disappointment which Elinor had sent her,\n    was le"
	.ascii	"d away by the exuberance of her joy to think only\n    of wh"
	.ascii	"at would increase it.  Marianne was restored to her\n    "
	.ascii	"from a danger in which, as she now began to feel,\n    her o"
	.ascii	"wn mistaken judgment in encouraging the unfortunate\n    att"
	.ascii	"achment to Willoughby, had contributed to place her;--\n    "
	.ascii	"and in her recovery she had yet another source of joy\n    u"
	.ascii	"nthought of by Elinor.  It was thus imparted to her,\n    as"
	.ascii	" soon as any opportunity of private conference\n    between "
	.ascii	"them occurred.\n    \n    \"At last we are alone.  My Elinor"
	.ascii	", you do not yet\n    know all my happiness.  Colonel Brando"
	.ascii	"n loves Marianne.\n    He has told me so himself.\"\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   Her daughter, feeling by turns both pleased and pained,\n"
	.ascii	"    surprised and not surprised, was all silent attention.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"You are never like me, dear Elinor, or I should\n"
	.ascii	"    wonder at your composure now.  Had I sat down to wish\n "
	.ascii	"   for any possible good to my family, I should have fixed\n"
	.ascii	"    on Colonel Brandon's marrying one of you as the object\n"
	.ascii	"    most desirable.  And I believe Marianne will be the most"
	.ascii	"\n    happy with him of the two.\"\n    \n    Elinor was hal"
	.ascii	"f inclined to ask her reason for thinking so,\n    because s"
	.ascii	"atisfied that none founded on an impartial\n    consideratio"
	.ascii	"n of their age, characters, or feelings,\n    could be given"
	.ascii	";--but her mother must always be carried\n    away by her im"
	.ascii	"agination on any interesting subject,\n    and therefore ins"
	.ascii	"tead of an inquiry, she passed it off with a\n    smile.\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    \"He opened his whole heart to me yesterday as we tr"
	.ascii	"avelled.\n    It came out quite unawares, quite undesignedly"
	.ascii	".  I, you may\n    well believe, could talk of nothing but m"
	.ascii	"y child;--he could\n    not conceal his distress; I saw that"
	.ascii	" it equalled my own,\n    and he perhaps, thinking that mere"
	.ascii	" friendship, as the world\n    now goes, would not justify s"
	.ascii	"o warm a sympathy--or rather,\n    not thinking at all, I su"
	.ascii	"ppose--giving way to irresistible\n    feelings, made me acq"
	.ascii	"uainted with his earnest, tender, constant,\n    affection f"
	.ascii	"or Marianne.  He has loved her, my Elinor, ever since\n    t"
	.ascii	"he first moment of seeing her.\"\n    \n    Here, however, E"
	.ascii	"linor "
	.ascii	"perceived,--not the language,\n    not the professions of Co"
	.ascii	"lonel Brandon, but the natural\n    embellishments of her mo"
	.ascii	"ther's active fancy, which fashioned\n    every thing deligh"
	.ascii	"tful to her as it chose.\n    \n    \"His regard for her, in"
	.ascii	"finitely surpassing anything\n    that Willoughby ever felt "
	.ascii	"or feigned, as much more warm,\n    as more sincere or const"
	.ascii	"ant--which ever we are to call it--\n    has subsisted throu"
	.ascii	"gh all the knowledge of dear Marianne's\n    unhappy preposs"
	.ascii	"ession for that worthless young man!--and\n    without selfi"
	.ascii	"shness--without encouraging a hope!--could\n    he have seen"
	.ascii	" her happy with another--Such a noble mind!--\n    such open"
	.ascii	"ness, such sincerity!--no one can be deceived\n    in HIM.\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"Colonel Brandon's character,\" said Elinor,\n "
	.ascii	"   \"as an excellent man, is well established.\"\n    \n    "
	.ascii	"\"I know it is\"--replied her mother seriously, \"or\n    af"
	.ascii	"ter such a warning, I should be the last to encourage\n    s"
	.ascii	"uch affection, or even to be pleased by it.  But his coming\n"
	.ascii	"    for me as he did, with such active, such ready friendshi"
	.ascii	"p,\n    is enough to prove him one of the worthiest of men.\""
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \"His character, however,\" answered Elinor, \"d"
	.ascii	"oes not rest\n    on ONE act of kindness, to which his affec"
	.ascii	"tion for Marianne,\n    were humanity out of the case, would"
	.ascii	" have prompted him.\n    To Mrs. Jennings, to the Middletons"
	.ascii	", he has been long\n    and intimately known; they equally l"
	.ascii	"ove and respect him;\n    and even my own knowledge of him, "
	.ascii	"though lately acquired,\n    is very considerable; and so hi"
	.ascii	"ghly do I value and esteem him,\n    that if Marianne can be"
	.ascii	" happy with him, I shall be as ready\n    as yourself to thi"
	.ascii	"nk our connection the greatest blessing\n    to us in the wo"
	.ascii	"rld.  What answer did you give him?--Did you\n    allow him "
	.ascii	"to hope?\"\n    \n    \"Oh! my love, I could not then talk o"
	.ascii	"f hope to him\n    or to myself.  Marianne might at that mom"
	.ascii	"ent be dying.\n    But he did not ask for hope or encouragem"
	.ascii	"ent.  His was\n    an involuntary confidence, an irrepressib"
	.ascii	"le effusion\n"
	.ascii	"    to a soothing friend--not an application to a parent.\n "
	.ascii	"   Yet after a time I DID say, for at first I was quite\n   "
	.ascii	" overcome--that if she lived, as I trusted she might,\n    m"
	.ascii	"y greatest happiness would lie in promoting their marriage;\n"
	.ascii	"    and since our arrival, since our delightful security,\n "
	.ascii	"   I have repeated it to him more fully, have given him ever"
	.ascii	"y\n    encouragement in my power.  Time, a very little time,"
	.ascii	"\n    I tell him, will do everything;--Marianne's heart is\n"
	.ascii	"    not to be wasted for ever on such a man as Willoughby.--"
	.ascii	"\n    His own merits must soon secure it.\"\n    \n    \"To "
	.ascii	"judge from the Colonel's spirits, however,\n    you have not"
	.ascii	" yet made him equally sanguine.\"\n    \n    \"No.--He think"
	.ascii	"s Marianne's affection too deeply\n    rooted for any change"
	.ascii	" in it under a great length of time,\n    and even supposing"
	.ascii	" her heart again free, is too diffident\n    of himself to b"
	.ascii	"elieve, that with such a difference of age\n    and disposit"
	.ascii	"ion he could ever attach her.  There, however,\n    he is qu"
	.ascii	"ite mistaken.  His age is only so much beyond\n    hers as t"
	.ascii	"o be an advantage, as to make his character and\n    princip"
	.ascii	"les fixed;--and his disposition, I am well convinced,\n    i"
	.ascii	"s exactly the very one to make your sister happy.\n    And h"
	.ascii	"is person, his manners too, are all in his favour.\n    My p"
	.ascii	"artiality does not blind me; he certainly is not\n    so han"
	.ascii	"dsome as Willoughby--but at the same time,\n    there is som"
	.ascii	"ething much more pleasing in his countenance.--\n    There w"
	.ascii	"as always a something,--if you remember,--in Willoughby's\n "
	.ascii	"   eyes at times, which I did not like.\"\n    \n    Elinor "
	.ascii	"could NOT remember it;--but her mother,\n    without waiting"
	.ascii	" for her assent, continued,\n    \n    \"And his manners, th"
	.ascii	"e Colonel's manners are not only\n    more pleasing to me th"
	.ascii	"an Willoughby's ever were, but they\n    are of a kind I wel"
	.ascii	"l know to be more solidly attaching\n    to Marianne.  Their"
	.ascii	" gentleness, their genuine attention\n    to other people, a"
	.ascii	"nd their manly unstudied simplicity\n    is much more accord"
	.ascii	"ant"
	.ascii	" with her real disposition, than\n    the liveliness--often "
	.ascii	"artificial, and often ill-timed\n    of the other.  I am ver"
	.ascii	"y sure myself, that had Willoughby\n    turned out as really"
	.ascii	" amiable, as he has proved himself\n    the contrary, Marian"
	.ascii	"ne would yet never have been so happy\n    with HIM, as she "
	.ascii	"will be with Colonel Brandon.\"\n    \n    She paused.--Her "
	.ascii	"daughter could not quite agree\n    with her, but her dissen"
	.ascii	"t was not heard, and therefore\n    gave no offence.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"At Delaford, she will be within an easy distance of me"
	.ascii	",\"\n    added Mrs. Dashwood, \"even if I remain at Barton; "
	.ascii	"and in all\n    probability,--for I hear it is a large villa"
	.ascii	"ge,--indeed there\n    certainly MUST be some small house or"
	.ascii	" cottage close by,\n    that would suit us quite as well as "
	.ascii	"our present situation.\"\n    \n    Poor Elinor!--here was a"
	.ascii	" new scheme for getting\n    her to Delaford!--but her spiri"
	.ascii	"t was stubborn.\n    \n    \"His fortune too!--for at my tim"
	.ascii	"e of life you know,\n    everybody cares about THAT;--and th"
	.ascii	"ough I neither know\n    nor desire to know, what it really "
	.ascii	"is, I am sure it must be\n    a good one.\"\n    \n    Here "
	.ascii	"they were interrupted by the entrance of a\n    third person"
	.ascii	", and Elinor withdrew to think it all over\n    in private, "
	.ascii	"to wish success to her friend, and yet\n    in wishing it, t"
	.ascii	"o feel a pang for Willoughby.\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER"
	.ascii	" 46\n    \n    \n    Marianne's illness, though weakening in"
	.ascii	" its kind,\n    had not been long enough to make her recover"
	.ascii	"y slow;\n    and with youth, natural strength, and her mothe"
	.ascii	"r's presence\n    in aid, it proceeded so smoothly as to ena"
	.ascii	"ble her to remove,\n    within four days after the arrival o"
	.ascii	"f the latter,\n    into Mrs. Palmer's dressing-room.  When t"
	.ascii	"here, at her own\n    particular request, for she was impati"
	.ascii	"ent to pour forth\n    her thanks to him for fetching her mo"
	.ascii	"ther, Colonel Brandon\n    was invited to visit her.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    His emotion on entering the room, in seeing her altered\n"
	.ascii	"    looks, and in receiving the pale hand which she immediat"
	.ascii	"ely\n    held"
	.ascii	" out to him, was such, as, in Elinor's conjecture,\n    must"
	.ascii	" arise from something more than his affection for Marianne,\n"
	.ascii	"    or the consciousness of its being known to others;\n    "
	.ascii	"and she soon discovered in his melancholy eye and varying\n "
	.ascii	"   complexion as he looked at her sister, the probable\n    "
	.ascii	"recurrence of many past scenes of misery to his mind,\n    b"
	.ascii	"rought back by that resemblance between Marianne and Eliza\n"
	.ascii	"    already acknowledged, and now strengthened by the hollow"
	.ascii	" eye,\n    the sickly skin, the posture of reclining weaknes"
	.ascii	"s,\n    and the warm acknowledgment of peculiar obligation.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    Mrs. Dashwood, not less watchful of what passed th"
	.ascii	"an\n    her daughter, but with a mind very differently influ"
	.ascii	"enced,\n    and therefore watching to very different effect,"
	.ascii	"\n    saw nothing in the Colonel's behaviour but what arose\n"
	.ascii	"    from the most simple and self-evident sensations, while "
	.ascii	"in\n    the actions and words of Marianne she persuaded hers"
	.ascii	"elf\n    to think that something more than gratitude already"
	.ascii	" dawned.\n    \n    At the end of another day or two, Marian"
	.ascii	"ne growing\n    visibly stronger every twelve hours, Mrs. Da"
	.ascii	"shwood,\n    urged equally by her own and her daughter's wis"
	.ascii	"hes,\n    began to talk of removing to Barton.  On HER measu"
	.ascii	"res\n    depended those of her two friends; Mrs. Jennings co"
	.ascii	"uld\n    not quit Cleveland during the Dashwoods' stay; and "
	.ascii	"Colonel\n    Brandon was soon brought, by their united reque"
	.ascii	"st,\n    to consider his own abode there as equally determin"
	.ascii	"ate,\n    if not equally indispensable.  At his and Mrs. Jen"
	.ascii	"nings's\n    united request in return, Mrs. Dashwood was pre"
	.ascii	"vailed\n    on to accept the use of his carriage on her jour"
	.ascii	"ney back,\n    for the better accommodation of her sick chil"
	.ascii	"d; and the Colonel,\n    at the joint invitation of Mrs. Das"
	.ascii	"hwood and Mrs. Jennings,\n    whose active good-nature made "
	.ascii	"her friendly and hospitable\n    for other people as well as"
	.ascii	" herself, engaged with pleasure\n    to redeem it by a visit"
	.ascii	" at the cottage, in the course\n    of a few weeks.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    The day of separation and departure arrived;\n    "
	.ascii	"and Marianne, after taking so particular and lengthened\n   "
	.ascii	" a leave of Mrs. Jennings, one so earnestly grateful, so ful"
	.ascii	"l\n    of respect and kind wishes as seemed due to her own h"
	.ascii	"eart\n    from a secret acknowledgment of past inattention, "
	.ascii	"and bidding\n    Colonel Brandon farewell with a cordiality "
	.ascii	"of a friend,\n    was carefully assisted by him into the car"
	.ascii	"riage, of which he\n    seemed anxious that she should engro"
	.ascii	"ss at least half.\n    Mrs. Dashwood and Elinor then followe"
	.ascii	"d, and the others\n    were left by themselves, to talk of t"
	.ascii	"he travellers,\n    and feel their own dullness, till Mrs. J"
	.ascii	"ennings was summoned\n    to her chaise to take comfort in t"
	.ascii	"he gossip of her maid\n    for the loss of her two young com"
	.ascii	"panions; and Colonel Brandon\n    immediately afterwards too"
	.ascii	"k his solitary way to Delaford.\n    \n    The Dashwoods wer"
	.ascii	"e two days on the road, and Marianne\n    bore her journey o"
	.ascii	"n both, without essential fatigue.\n    Every thing that the"
	.ascii	" most zealous affection, the most\n    solicitous care could"
	.ascii	" do to render her comfortable,\n    was the office of each w"
	.ascii	"atchful companion, and each\n    found their reward in her b"
	.ascii	"odily ease, and her calmness\n    of spirits.  To Elinor, th"
	.ascii	"e observation of the latter\n    was particularly grateful. "
	.ascii	" She, who had seen her week\n    after week so constantly su"
	.ascii	"ffering, oppressed by anguish\n    of heart which she had ne"
	.ascii	"ither courage to speak of,\n    nor fortitude to conceal, no"
	.ascii	"w saw with a joy, which no other\n    could equally share, a"
	.ascii	"n apparent composure of mind, which,\n    in being the resul"
	.ascii	"t as she trusted of serious reflection,\n    must eventually"
	.ascii	" lead her to contentment and cheerfulness.\n    \n    As the"
	.ascii	"y approached Barton, indeed, and entered\n    on scenes of w"
	.ascii	"hich every field and every tree brought\n    some peculiar, "
	.ascii	"some painful recollection, she grew silent\n    and thoughtf"
	.ascii	"ul, and turning away her face from their notice,\n    sat ea"
	.ascii	"rnestly gazing through the window.  But here,\n    Elino"
	.ascii	"r could neither wonder nor blame; and when she saw,\n    as "
	.ascii	"she assisted Marianne from the carriage, that she\n    had b"
	.ascii	"een crying, she saw only an emotion too natural\n    in itse"
	.ascii	"lf to raise any thing less tender than pity,\n    and in its"
	.ascii	" unobtrusiveness entitled to praise.  In the\n    whole of h"
	.ascii	"er subsequent manner, she traced the direction\n    of a min"
	.ascii	"d awakened to reasonable exertion; for no sooner\n    had th"
	.ascii	"ey entered their common sitting-room, than Marianne\n    tur"
	.ascii	"ned her eyes around it with a look of resolute firmness,\n  "
	.ascii	"  as if determined at once to accustom herself to the sight\n"
	.ascii	"    of every object with which the remembrance of Willoughby"
	.ascii	" could\n    be connected.--She said little, but every senten"
	.ascii	"ce aimed\n    at cheerfulness, and though a sigh sometimes e"
	.ascii	"scaped her,\n    it never passed away without the atonement "
	.ascii	"of a smile.\n    After dinner she would try her piano-forte."
	.ascii	" She went to it;\n    but the music on which her eye first r"
	.ascii	"ested was an opera,\n    procured for her by Willoughby, con"
	.ascii	"taining some of their\n    favourite duets, and bearing on i"
	.ascii	"ts outward leaf her own name\n    in his hand-writing.--That"
	.ascii	" would not do.--She shook her head,\n    put the music aside"
	.ascii	", and after running over the keys\n    for a minute, complai"
	.ascii	"ned of feebleness in her fingers,\n    and closed the instru"
	.ascii	"ment again; declaring however with firmness\n    as she did "
	.ascii	"so, that she should in future practice much.\n    \n    The "
	.ascii	"next morning produced no abatement in these\n    happy sympt"
	.ascii	"oms.  On the contrary, with a mind and body\n    alike stren"
	.ascii	"gthened by rest, she looked and spoke with\n    more genuine"
	.ascii	" spirit, anticipating the pleasure of\n    Margaret's return"
	.ascii	", and talking of the dear family party\n    which would then"
	.ascii	" be restored, of their mutual pursuits\n    and cheerful soc"
	.ascii	"iety, as the only happiness worth a wish.\n    \n    \"When "
	.ascii	"the weather is settled, and I have recovered\n    my strengt"
	.ascii	"h,\" said she, \"we will take long walks together\n    every"
	.ascii	" day.  We will walk to the farm at the edge of the down,"
	.ascii	"\n    and see how the children go on; we will walk to Sir Jo"
	.ascii	"hn's\n    new plantations at Barton Cross, and the Abbeyland"
	.ascii	";\n    and we will often go the old ruins of the Priory,\n  "
	.ascii	"  and try to trace its foundations as far as we are told\n  "
	.ascii	"  they once reached.  I know we shall be happy.  I know\n   "
	.ascii	" the summer will pass happily away.  I mean never to be\n   "
	.ascii	" later in rising than six, and from that time till dinner\n "
	.ascii	"   I shall divide every moment between music and reading.\n "
	.ascii	"   I have formed my plan, and am determined to enter on a co"
	.ascii	"urse\n    of serious study.  Our own library is too well kno"
	.ascii	"wn to me,\n    to be resorted to for any thing beyond mere a"
	.ascii	"musement.\n    But there are many works well worth reading a"
	.ascii	"t the Park;\n    and there are others of more modern product"
	.ascii	"ion which I\n    know I can borrow of Colonel Brandon.  By r"
	.ascii	"eading only six\n    hours a-day, I shall gain in the course"
	.ascii	" of a twelve-month\n    a great deal of instruction which I "
	.ascii	"now feel myself to want.\"\n    \n    Elinor honoured her fo"
	.ascii	"r a plan which originated\n    so nobly as this; though smil"
	.ascii	"ing to see the same eager\n    fancy which had been leading "
	.ascii	"her to the extreme of languid\n    indolence and selfish rep"
	.ascii	"ining, now at work in introducing\n    excess into a scheme "
	.ascii	"of such rational employment and virtuous\n    self-control. "
	.ascii	"Her smile however changed to a sigh when she\n    remembered"
	.ascii	" that promise to Willoughby was yet unfulfilled,\n    and fe"
	.ascii	"ared she had that to communicate which might again\n    unse"
	.ascii	"ttle the mind of Marianne, and ruin at least for a time\n   "
	.ascii	" this fair prospect of busy tranquillity.  Willing therefore"
	.ascii	"\n    to delay the evil hour, she resolved to wait till her\n"
	.ascii	"    sister's health were more secure, before she appointed i"
	.ascii	"t.\n    But the resolution was made only to be broken.\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    Marianne had been two or three days at home, before\n "
	.ascii	"   the weather was fine enough for an invalid like herself\n"
	.ascii	"    to venture out.  But at last a soft, genial morning appe"
	.ascii	"ared;\n    such as might tempt the daughter's wishes an"
	.ascii	"d the\n    mother's confidence; and Marianne, leaning on Eli"
	.ascii	"nor's arm,\n    was authorised to walk as long as she could "
	.ascii	"without fatigue,\n    in the lane before the house.\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   The sisters set out at a pace, slow as the feebleness\n  "
	.ascii	"  of Marianne in an exercise hitherto untried since her\n   "
	.ascii	" illness required;--and they had advanced only so far\n    b"
	.ascii	"eyond the house as to admit a full view of the hill,\n    th"
	.ascii	"e important hill behind, when pausing with her eyes\n    tur"
	.ascii	"ned towards it, Marianne calmly said,\n    \n    \"There, ex"
	.ascii	"actly there,\"--pointing with one hand,\n    \"on that proje"
	.ascii	"cting mound,--there I fell; and there\n    I first saw Willo"
	.ascii	"ughby.\"\n    \n    Her voice sunk with the word, but presen"
	.ascii	"tly reviving she added,\n    \n    \"I am thankful to find t"
	.ascii	"hat I can look with so little pain\n    on the spot!--shall "
	.ascii	"we ever talk on that subject, Elinor?\"--\n    hesitatingly "
	.ascii	"it was said.--\"Or will it be wrong?--I can talk\n    of it "
	.ascii	"now, I hope, as I ought to do.\"--\n    \n    Elinor tenderl"
	.ascii	"y invited her to be open.\n    \n    \"As for regret,\" said"
	.ascii	" Marianne, \"I have done with that,\n    as far as HE is con"
	.ascii	"cerned.  I do not mean to talk to you\n    of what my feelin"
	.ascii	"gs have been for him, but what they\n    are NOW.--At presen"
	.ascii	"t, if I could be satisfied on one point,\n    if I could be "
	.ascii	"allowed to think that he was not ALWAYS\n    acting a part, "
	.ascii	"not ALWAYS deceiving me;--but above all,\n    if I could be "
	.ascii	"assured that he never was so VERY wicked\n    as my fears ha"
	.ascii	"ve sometimes fancied him, since the story\n    of that unfor"
	.ascii	"tunate girl\"--\n    \n    She stopt.  Elinor joyfully treas"
	.ascii	"ured her words\n    as she answered,\n    \n    \"If you cou"
	.ascii	"ld be assured of that, you think you\n    should be easy.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"Yes. My peace of mind is doubly involved in it;-"
	.ascii	"-\n    for not only is it horrible to suspect a person, who "
	.ascii	"has\n    been what HE has been to ME, of such designs,--but "
	.ascii	"what must\n    it make me appear to myself?--What in a situa"
	.ascii	"tion like mine,\n    but a most shamefully unguarded affecti"
	.ascii	"on could expose\n   "
	.ascii	" me to\"--\n    \n    \"How then,\" asked her sister, \"woul"
	.ascii	"d you account\n    for his behaviour?\"\n    \n    \"I would"
	.ascii	" suppose him,--Oh, how gladly would I suppose him,\n    only"
	.ascii	" fickle, very, very fickle.\"\n    \n    Elinor said no more"
	.ascii	".  She was debating within herself\n    on the eligibility o"
	.ascii	"f beginning her story directly,\n    or postponing it till M"
	.ascii	"arianne were in stronger health;--\n    and they crept on fo"
	.ascii	"r a few minutes in silence.\n    \n    \"I am not wishing hi"
	.ascii	"m too much good,\" said Marianne\n    at last with a sigh, \""
	.ascii	"when I wish his secret reflections\n    may be no more unple"
	.ascii	"asant than my own.  He will suffer\n    enough in them.\"\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    \"Do you compare your conduct with his?\"\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \"No. I compare it with what it ought to have been;\n    I"
	.ascii	" compare it with yours.\"\n    \n    \"Our situations have b"
	.ascii	"orne little resemblance.\"\n    \n    \"They have borne more"
	.ascii	" than our conduct.--Do not,\n    my dearest Elinor, let your"
	.ascii	" kindness defend what I know\n    your judgment must censure"
	.ascii	".  My illness has made me think--\n    It has given me leisu"
	.ascii	"re and calmness for serious recollection.\n    Long before I"
	.ascii	" was enough recovered to talk, I was perfectly\n    able to "
	.ascii	"reflect.  I considered the past: I saw in my\n    own behavi"
	.ascii	"our, since the beginning of our acquaintance\n    with him l"
	.ascii	"ast autumn, nothing but a series of imprudence\n    towards "
	.ascii	"myself, and want of kindness to others.\n    I saw that my o"
	.ascii	"wn feelings had prepared my sufferings,\n    and that my wan"
	.ascii	"t of fortitude under them had almost led\n    me to the grav"
	.ascii	"e.  My illness, I well knew, had been\n    entirely brought "
	.ascii	"on by myself by such negligence of my\n    own health, as I "
	.ascii	"had felt even at the time to be wrong.\n    Had I died,--it "
	.ascii	"would have been self-destruction. I\n    did not know my dan"
	.ascii	"ger till the danger was removed;\n    but with such feelings"
	.ascii	" as these reflections gave me,\n    I wonder at my recovery,"
	.ascii	"--wonder that the very eagerness\n    of my desire to live, "
	.ascii	"to have time for atonement to my God,\n    and to you all, d"
	.ascii	"id not kill me at onc"
	.ascii	"e.  Had I died,--\n    in what peculiar misery should I have"
	.ascii	" left you, my nurse,\n    my friend, my sister!--You, who ha"
	.ascii	"d seen all the fretful\n    selfishness of my latter days; w"
	.ascii	"ho had known all the\n    murmurings of my heart!--How shoul"
	.ascii	"d I have lived in YOUR\n    remembrance!--My mother too! How"
	.ascii	" could you have consoled\n    her!--I cannot express my own "
	.ascii	"abhorrence of myself.\n    Whenever I looked towards the pas"
	.ascii	"t, I saw some duty neglected,\n    or some failing indulged."
	.ascii	"  Every body seemed injured by me.\n    The kindness, the un"
	.ascii	"ceasing kindness of Mrs. Jennings,\n    I had repaid with un"
	.ascii	"grateful contempt.  To the Middletons,\n    to the Palmers, "
	.ascii	"the Steeles, to every common acquaintance even,\n    I had b"
	.ascii	"een insolent and unjust; with a heart hardened\n    against "
	.ascii	"their merits, and a temper irritated by their\n    very atte"
	.ascii	"ntion.--To John, to Fanny,--yes, even to them,\n    little a"
	.ascii	"s they deserve, I had given less than their due.\n    But yo"
	.ascii	"u,--you above all, above my mother, had been wronged\n    by"
	.ascii	" me.  I, and only I, knew your heart and its sorrows;\n    y"
	.ascii	"et to what did it influence me?--not to any compassion\n    "
	.ascii	"that could benefit you or myself.--Your example was\n    bef"
	.ascii	"ore me; but to what avail?--Was I more considerate\n    of y"
	.ascii	"ou and your comfort?  Did I imitate your forbearance,\n    o"
	.ascii	"r lessen your restraints, by taking any part in those\n    o"
	.ascii	"ffices of general complaisance or particular gratitude\n    "
	.ascii	"which you had hitherto been left to discharge alone?--No;--\n"
	.ascii	"    not less when I knew you to be unhappy, than when I\n   "
	.ascii	" had believed you at ease, did I turn away from every\n    e"
	.ascii	"xertion of duty or friendship; scarcely allowing sorrow\n   "
	.ascii	" to exist but with me, regretting only THAT heart\n    which"
	.ascii	" had deserted and wronged me, and leaving you,\n    for or I"
	.ascii	" professed an unbounded affection, to be miserable\n    for "
	.ascii	"my sake.\"\n    \n    Here ceased the rapid flow of her self"
	.ascii	"-reproving spirit;\n    and Elinor, impatient to soothe, tho"
	.ascii	"ugh too honest\n    to flatter, gave her instantly that"
	.ascii	" praise and support\n    which her frankness and her contrit"
	.ascii	"ion so well deserved.\n    Marianne pressed her hand and rep"
	.ascii	"lied,\n    \n    \"You are very good.--The future must be my"
	.ascii	" proof.\n    I have laid down my plan, and if I am capable o"
	.ascii	"f adhering\n    to it--my feelings shall be governed and my "
	.ascii	"temper improved.\n    They shall no longer worry others, nor"
	.ascii	" torture myself.\n    I shall now live solely for my family."
	.ascii	"  You, my mother,\n    and Margaret, must henceforth be all "
	.ascii	"the world to me;\n    you will share my affections entirely "
	.ascii	"between you.\n    From you, from my home, I shall never agai"
	.ascii	"n have the smallest\n    incitement to move; and if I do mix"
	.ascii	" in other society,\n    it will be only to shew that my spir"
	.ascii	"it is humbled,\n    my heart amended, and that I can practis"
	.ascii	"e the civilities,\n    the lesser duties of life, with gentl"
	.ascii	"eness and forbearance.\n    As for Willoughby--to say that I"
	.ascii	" shall soon or that I shall\n    ever forget him, would be i"
	.ascii	"dle.  His remembrance can be overcome\n    by no change of c"
	.ascii	"ircumstances or opinions.  But it shall\n    be regulated, i"
	.ascii	"t shall be checked by religion, by reason,\n    by constant "
	.ascii	"employment.\"\n    \n    She paused--and added in a low voic"
	.ascii	"e, \"If I could\n    but know HIS heart, everything would be"
	.ascii	"come easy.\"\n    \n    Elinor, who had now been for some ti"
	.ascii	"me reflecting\n    on the propriety or impropriety of speedi"
	.ascii	"ly hazarding\n    her narration, without feeling at all near"
	.ascii	"er decision than\n    at first, heard this; and perceiving t"
	.ascii	"hat as reflection\n    did nothing, resolution must do all, "
	.ascii	"soon found herself\n    leading to the fact.\n    \n    She "
	.ascii	"managed the recital, as she hoped, with address;\n    prepar"
	.ascii	"ed her anxious listener with caution; related simply\n    an"
	.ascii	"d honestly the chief points on which Willoughby\n    grounde"
	.ascii	"d his apology; did justice to his repentance,\n    and softe"
	.ascii	"ned only his protestations of present regard.\n    Marianne "
	.ascii	"said not a word.--She trembled, her eyes\n    were fixed on "
	.ascii	"the ground, and her lips became whiter\n    than even sickne"
	.ascii	"ss "
	.ascii	"had left them.  A thousand inquiries\n    sprung up from her"
	.ascii	" heart, but she dared not urge one.\n    She caught every sy"
	.ascii	"llable with panting eagerness; her hand,\n    unknowingly to"
	.ascii	" herself, closely pressed her sister's, and\n    tears cover"
	.ascii	"ed her cheeks.\n    \n    Elinor, dreading her being tired, "
	.ascii	"led her towards home;\n    and till they reached the door of"
	.ascii	" the cottage,\n    easily conjecturing what her curiosity mu"
	.ascii	"st be\n    though no question was suffered to speak it, talk"
	.ascii	"ed of\n    nothing but Willoughby, and their conversation to"
	.ascii	"gether;\n    and was carefully minute in every particular of"
	.ascii	" speech\n    and look, where minuteness could be safely indu"
	.ascii	"lged.\n    As soon as they entered the house, Marianne with "
	.ascii	"a kiss\n    of gratitude and these two words just articulate"
	.ascii	" through\n    her tears, \"Tell mama,\" withdrew from her si"
	.ascii	"ster and\n    walked slowly up stairs.  Elinor would not att"
	.ascii	"empt\n    to disturb a solitude so reasonable as what she no"
	.ascii	"w sought;\n    and with a mind anxiously pre-arranging its r"
	.ascii	"esult,\n    and a resolution of reviving the subject again,\n"
	.ascii	"    should Marianne fail to do it, she turned into the parlo"
	.ascii	"ur\n    to fulfill her parting injunction.\n    \n    \n    "
	.ascii	"\n    CHAPTER 47\n    \n    \n    Mrs. Dashwood did not hear"
	.ascii	" unmoved the vindication\n    of her former favourite.  She "
	.ascii	"rejoiced in his being\n    cleared from some part of his imp"
	.ascii	"uted guilt;--she was\n    sorry for him;--she wished him hap"
	.ascii	"py.  But the feelings\n    of the past could not be recalled"
	.ascii	".--Nothing could restore\n    him with a faith unbroken--a c"
	.ascii	"haracter unblemished,\n    to Marianne.  Nothing could do aw"
	.ascii	"ay the knowledge\n    of what the latter had suffered throug"
	.ascii	"h his means,\n    nor remove the guilt of his conduct toward"
	.ascii	"s Eliza.\n    Nothing could replace him, therefore, in her f"
	.ascii	"ormer esteem,\n    nor injure the interests of Colonel Brand"
	.ascii	"on.\n    \n    Had Mrs. Dashwood, like her daughter, heard W"
	.ascii	"illoughby's\n    story from himself--had she witnessed his d"
	.ascii	"istress,\n    and been under the influence of his countenanc"
	.ascii	"e a"
	.ascii	"nd his\n    manner, it is probable that her compassion would"
	.ascii	" have\n    been greater.  But it was neither in Elinor's pow"
	.ascii	"er,\n    nor in her wish, to rouse such feelings in another,"
	.ascii	" by her\n    retailed explanation, as had at first been call"
	.ascii	"ed forth\n    in herself.  Reflection had given calmness to "
	.ascii	"her judgment,\n    and sobered her own opinion of Willoughby"
	.ascii	"'s deserts;--\n    she wished, therefore, to declare only th"
	.ascii	"e simple truth,\n    and lay open such facts as were really "
	.ascii	"due to his character,\n    without any embellishment of tend"
	.ascii	"erness to lead the\n    fancy astray.\n    \n    In the even"
	.ascii	"ing, when they were all three together,\n    Marianne began "
	.ascii	"voluntarily to speak of him again;--\n    but that it was no"
	.ascii	"t without an effort, the restless,\n    unquiet thoughtfulne"
	.ascii	"ss in which she had been for some time\n    previously sitti"
	.ascii	"ng--her rising colour, as she spoke,--\n    and her unsteady"
	.ascii	" voice, plainly shewed.\n    \n    \"I wish to assure you bo"
	.ascii	"th,\" said she, \"that I see\n    every thing--as you can de"
	.ascii	"sire me to do.\"\n    \n    Mrs. Dashwood would have interru"
	.ascii	"pted her instantly\n    with soothing tenderness, had not El"
	.ascii	"inor, who really wished\n    to hear her sister's unbiased o"
	.ascii	"pinion, by an eager sign,\n    engaged her silence.  Mariann"
	.ascii	"e slowly continued--\n    \n    \"It is a great relief to me"
	.ascii	"--what Elinor told\n    me this morning--I have now heard ex"
	.ascii	"actly what I\n    wished to hear.\"--For some moments her vo"
	.ascii	"ice was lost;\n    but recovering herself, she added, and wi"
	.ascii	"th greater\n    calmness than before--\"I am now perfectly s"
	.ascii	"atisfied,\n    I wish for no change.  I never could have bee"
	.ascii	"n happy\n    with him, after knowing, as sooner or later I m"
	.ascii	"ust\n    have known, all this.--I should have had no confide"
	.ascii	"nce,\n    no esteem.  Nothing could have done it away to my "
	.ascii	"feelings.\"\n    \n    \"I know it--I know it,\" cried her m"
	.ascii	"other.\n    \"Happy with a man of libertine practices!--With"
	.ascii	" one\n    who so injured the peace of the dearest of our fri"
	.ascii	"ends,\n    and the best of men!--No--my Marianne has not a h"
	.ascii	"eart\n    to"
	.ascii	" be made happy with such a man!--Her conscience, her\n    se"
	.ascii	"nsitive conscience, would have felt all that the\n    consci"
	.ascii	"ence of her husband ought to have felt.\"\n    \n    Mariann"
	.ascii	"e sighed, and repeated, \"I wish for no change.\"\n    \n   "
	.ascii	" \"You consider the matter,\" said Elinor, \"exactly as\n   "
	.ascii	" a good mind and a sound understanding must consider it;\n  "
	.ascii	"  and I dare say you perceive, as well as myself, not only\n"
	.ascii	"    in this, but in many other circumstances, reason enough\n"
	.ascii	"    to be convinced that your marriage must have involved yo"
	.ascii	"u\n    in many certain troubles and disappointments, in whic"
	.ascii	"h\n    you would have been poorly supported by an affection,"
	.ascii	"\n    on his side, much less certain.  Had you married,\n   "
	.ascii	" you must have been always poor.  His expensiveness is\n    "
	.ascii	"acknowledged even by himself, and his whole conduct declares"
	.ascii	"\n    that self-denial is a word hardly understood by him.\n"
	.ascii	"    His demands and your inexperience together, on a small,\n"
	.ascii	"    very small income, must have brought on distresses which"
	.ascii	"\n    would not be the LESS grievous to you, from having bee"
	.ascii	"n\n    entirely unknown and unthought of before.  YOUR sense"
	.ascii	"\n    of honour and honesty would have led you, I know,\n   "
	.ascii	" when aware of your situation, to attempt all the economy\n "
	.ascii	"   that would appear to you possible: and, perhaps, as long\n"
	.ascii	"    as your frugality retrenched only on your own comfort,\n"
	.ascii	"    you might have been suffered to practice it, but beyond "
	.ascii	"that--\n    and how little could the utmost of your single m"
	.ascii	"anagement\n    do to stop the ruin which had begun before yo"
	.ascii	"ur marriage?--\n    Beyond THAT, had you endeavoured, howeve"
	.ascii	"r reasonably,\n    to abridge HIS enjoyments, is it not to b"
	.ascii	"e feared, that instead\n    of prevailing on feelings so sel"
	.ascii	"fish to consent to it,\n    you would have lessened your own"
	.ascii	" influence on his heart,\n    and made him regret the connec"
	.ascii	"tion which had involved him\n    in such difficulties?\"\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    Marianne's lips quivered, and she repeated the word\n"
	.ascii	"    \"Selfish?\" in a tone that implied--\"do you really thi"
	.ascii	"nk"
	.ascii	"\n    him selfish?\"\n    \n    \"The whole of his behaviour"
	.ascii	",\" replied Elinor,\n    \"from the beginning to the end of "
	.ascii	"the affair, has been\n    grounded on selfishness.  It was s"
	.ascii	"elfishness which first\n    made him sport with your affecti"
	.ascii	"ons; which afterwards,\n    when his own were engaged, made "
	.ascii	"him delay the confession\n    of it, and which finally carri"
	.ascii	"ed him from Barton.\n    His own enjoyment, or his own ease,"
	.ascii	" was, in every particular,\n    his ruling principle.\"\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    \"It is very true.  MY happiness never was his object"
	.ascii	".\"\n    \n    \"At present,\" continued Elinor, \"he regret"
	.ascii	"s what he\n    has done.  And why does he regret it?--Becaus"
	.ascii	"e he finds\n    it has not answered towards himself.  It has"
	.ascii	" not made\n    him happy.  His circumstances are now unembar"
	.ascii	"rassed--he\n    suffers from no evil of that kind; and he th"
	.ascii	"inks only\n    that he has married a woman of a less amiable"
	.ascii	" temper\n    than yourself.  But does it follow that had he "
	.ascii	"married you,\n    he would have been happy?--The inconvenien"
	.ascii	"ces would have\n    been different.  He would then have suff"
	.ascii	"ered under the\n    pecuniary distresses which, because they"
	.ascii	" are removed,\n    he now reckons as nothing.  He would have"
	.ascii	" had a wife\n    of whose temper he could make no complaint,"
	.ascii	" but he would\n    have been always necessitous--always poor"
	.ascii	"; and probably\n    would soon have learned to rank the innu"
	.ascii	"merable comforts\n    of a clear estate and good income as o"
	.ascii	"f far more importance,\n    even to domestic happiness, than"
	.ascii	" the mere temper of a wife.\"\n    \n    \"I have not a doub"
	.ascii	"t of it,\" said Marianne; \"and I\n    have nothing to regre"
	.ascii	"t--nothing but my own folly.\"\n    \n    \"Rather say your "
	.ascii	"mother's imprudence, my child,\"\n    said Mrs. Dashwood; \""
	.ascii	"SHE must be answerable.\"\n    \n    Marianne would not let "
	.ascii	"her proceed;--and Elinor,\n    satisfied that each felt thei"
	.ascii	"r own error, wished to avoid\n    any survey of the past tha"
	.ascii	"t might weaken her sister's\n    spirits; she, therefore, pu"
	.ascii	"rsuing the first subject,\n    immediately continued,\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"One observation "
	.ascii	"may, I think, be fairly drawn from\n    the whole of the sto"
	.ascii	"ry--that all Willoughby's difficulties\n    have arisen from"
	.ascii	" the first offence against virtue, in his\n    behaviour to "
	.ascii	"Eliza Williams.  That crime has been the origin\n    of ever"
	.ascii	"y lesser one, and of all his present discontents.\"\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   Marianne assented most feelingly to the remark;\n    and "
	.ascii	"her mother was led by it to an enumeration of Colonel\n    B"
	.ascii	"randon's injuries and merits, warm as friendship\n    and de"
	.ascii	"sign could unitedly dictate.  Her daughter did\n    not look"
	.ascii	", however, as if much of it were heard by her.\n    \n    El"
	.ascii	"inor, according to her expectation, saw on the two\n    or t"
	.ascii	"hree following days, that Marianne did not continue\n    to "
	.ascii	"gain strength as she had done; but while her resolution\n   "
	.ascii	" was unsubdued, and she still tried to appear cheerful\n    "
	.ascii	"and easy, her sister could safely trust to the effect\n    o"
	.ascii	"f time upon her health.\n    \n    Margaret returned, and th"
	.ascii	"e family were again all\n    restored to each other, again q"
	.ascii	"uietly settled at the cottage;\n    and if not pursuing thei"
	.ascii	"r usual studies with quite\n    so much vigour as when they "
	.ascii	"first came to Barton,\n    at least planning a vigorous pros"
	.ascii	"ecution of them in future.\n    \n    Elinor grew impatient "
	.ascii	"for some tidings of Edward.\n    She had heard nothing of hi"
	.ascii	"m since her leaving London,\n    nothing new of his plans, n"
	.ascii	"othing certain even of his\n    present abode.  Some letters"
	.ascii	" had passed between her\n    and her brother, in consequence"
	.ascii	" of Marianne's illness;\n    and in the first of John's, the"
	.ascii	"re had been this sentence:--\n    \"We know nothing of our u"
	.ascii	"nfortunate Edward, and can make no\n    enquiries on so proh"
	.ascii	"ibited a subject, but conclude him\n    to be still at Oxfor"
	.ascii	"d;\" which was all the intelligence\n    of Edward afforded "
	.ascii	"her by the correspondence, for his name\n    was not even me"
	.ascii	"ntioned in any of the succeeding letters.\n    She was not d"
	.ascii	"oomed, however, to be long in ignorance of\n    his measures"
	.ascii	".\n    \n    Their man-servant had been sent one morning to "
	.ascii	"Ex"
	.ascii	"eter\n    on business; and when, as he waited at table, he h"
	.ascii	"ad\n    satisfied the inquiries of his mistress as to the ev"
	.ascii	"ent\n    of his errand, this was his voluntary communication"
	.ascii	"--\n    \n    \"I suppose you know, ma'am, that Mr. Ferrars "
	.ascii	"is married.\"\n    \n    Marianne gave a violent start, fixe"
	.ascii	"d her eyes\n    upon Elinor, saw her turning pale, and fell "
	.ascii	"back in her\n    chair in hysterics.  Mrs. Dashwood, whose e"
	.ascii	"yes, as she\n    answered the servant's inquiry, had intuiti"
	.ascii	"vely taken\n    the same direction, was shocked to perceive "
	.ascii	"by Elinor's\n    countenance how much she really suffered, a"
	.ascii	"nd a moment\n    afterwards, alike distressed by Marianne's "
	.ascii	"situation,\n    knew not on which child to bestow her princi"
	.ascii	"pal attention.\n    \n    The servant, who saw only that Mis"
	.ascii	"s Marianne was\n    taken ill, had sense enough to call one "
	.ascii	"of the maids,\n    who, with Mrs. Dashwood's assistance, sup"
	.ascii	"ported her into\n    the other room.  By that time, Marianne"
	.ascii	" was rather better,\n    and her mother leaving her to the c"
	.ascii	"are of Margaret\n    and the maid, returned to Elinor, who, "
	.ascii	"though still\n    much disordered, had so far recovered the "
	.ascii	"use of her reason\n    and voice as to be just beginning an "
	.ascii	"inquiry of Thomas,\n    as to the source of his intelligence"
	.ascii	".  Mrs. Dashwood\n    immediately took all that trouble on h"
	.ascii	"erself; and Elinor\n    had the benefit of the information w"
	.ascii	"ithout the exertion\n    of seeking it.\n    \n    \"Who tol"
	.ascii	"d you that Mr. Ferrars was married, Thomas?\"\n    \n    \"I"
	.ascii	" see Mr. Ferrars myself, ma'am, this morning\n    in Exeter,"
	.ascii	" and his lady too, Miss Steele as was.  They was\n    stoppi"
	.ascii	"ng in a chaise at the door of the New London Inn,\n    as I "
	.ascii	"went there with a message from Sally at the Park\n    to her"
	.ascii	" brother, who is one of the post-boys. I happened\n    to lo"
	.ascii	"ok up as I went by the chaise, and so I see directly\n    it"
	.ascii	" was the youngest Miss Steele; so I took off my hat,\n    an"
	.ascii	"d she knew me and called to me, and inquired after you,\n   "
	.ascii	" ma'am, and the young ladies, especially Miss Marianne,\n   "
	.ascii	" and "
	.ascii	"bid me I should give her compliments and Mr. Ferrars's,\n   "
	.ascii	" their best compliments and service, and how sorry they\n   "
	.ascii	" was they had not time to come on and see you, but they was\n"
	.ascii	"    in a great hurry to go forwards, for they was going furt"
	.ascii	"her\n    down for a little while, but howsever, when they co"
	.ascii	"me back,\n    they'd make sure to come and see you.\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"But did she tell you she was married, Thomas?\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"Yes, ma'am. She smiled, and said how she\n    had chan"
	.ascii	"ged her name since she was in these parts.\n    She was alwa"
	.ascii	"ys a very affable and free-spoken young lady,\n    and very "
	.ascii	"civil behaved.  So, I made free to wish her joy.\"\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \"Was Mr. Ferrars in the carriage with her?\"\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"Yes, ma'am, I just see him leaning back in it,\n    but he d"
	.ascii	"id not look up;--he never was a gentleman much\n    for talk"
	.ascii	"ing.\"\n    \n    Elinor's heart could easily account for hi"
	.ascii	"s not\n    putting himself forward; and Mrs. Dashwood probab"
	.ascii	"ly\n    found the same explanation.\n    \n    \"Was there n"
	.ascii	"o one else in the carriage?\"\n    \n    \"No, ma'am, only t"
	.ascii	"hey two.\"\n    \n    \"Do you know where they came from?\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    \"They come straight from town, as Miss Lucy--\n  "
	.ascii	"  Mrs. Ferrars told me.\"\n    \n    \"And are they going fa"
	.ascii	"rther westward?\"\n    \n    \"Yes, ma'am--but not to bide l"
	.ascii	"ong.  They will soon\n    be back again, and then they'd be "
	.ascii	"sure and call here.\"\n    \n    Mrs. Dashwood now looked at"
	.ascii	" her daughter;\n    but Elinor knew better than to expect th"
	.ascii	"em.\n    She recognised the whole of Lucy in the message, an"
	.ascii	"d was\n    very confident that Edward would never come near "
	.ascii	"them.\n    She observed in a low voice, to her mother, that "
	.ascii	"they\n    were probably going down to Mr. Pratt's, near Plym"
	.ascii	"outh.\n    \n    Thomas's intelligence seemed over.  Elinor "
	.ascii	"looked\n    as if she wished to hear more.\n    \n    \"Did "
	.ascii	"you see them off, before you came away?\"\n    \n    \"No, m"
	.ascii	"a'am--the horses were just coming out, but I\n    could not "
	.ascii	"bide any longer; I was afraid of being late.\"\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"Did Mrs. Ferrars look well?\"\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"Yes, ma'am, she said how she was very well;\n    and t"
	.ascii	"o my mind she was always a very handsome young\n    lady--an"
	.ascii	"d she seemed vastly contented.\"\n    \n    Mrs. Dashwood co"
	.ascii	"uld think of no other question,\n    and Thomas and the tabl"
	.ascii	"ecloth, now alike needless,\n    were soon afterwards dismis"
	.ascii	"sed.  Marianne had already sent\n    to say, that she should"
	.ascii	" eat nothing more.  Mrs. Dashwood's\n    and Elinor's appeti"
	.ascii	"tes were equally lost, and Margaret\n    might think herself"
	.ascii	" very well off, that with so much\n    uneasiness as both he"
	.ascii	"r sisters had lately experienced,\n    so much reason as the"
	.ascii	"y had often had to be careless\n    of their meals, she had "
	.ascii	"never been obliged to go without\n    her dinner before.\n  "
	.ascii	"  \n    When the dessert and the wine were arranged,\n    an"
	.ascii	"d Mrs. Dashwood and Elinor were left by themselves,\n    the"
	.ascii	"y remained long together in a similarity of thoughtfulness\n"
	.ascii	"    and silence.  Mrs. Dashwood feared to hazard any remark,"
	.ascii	"\n    and ventured not to offer consolation.  She now found\n"
	.ascii	"    that she had erred in relying on Elinor's representation"
	.ascii	"\n    of herself; and justly concluded that every thing\n   "
	.ascii	" had been expressly softened at the time, to spare her\n    "
	.ascii	"from an increase of unhappiness, suffering as she then\n    "
	.ascii	"had suffered for Marianne.  She found that she had been\n   "
	.ascii	" misled by the careful, the considerate attention of\n    he"
	.ascii	"r daughter, to think the attachment, which once she\n    had"
	.ascii	" so well understood, much slighter in reality, than\n    she"
	.ascii	" had been wont to believe, or than it was now proved\n    to"
	.ascii	" be.  She feared that under this persuasion she had\n    bee"
	.ascii	"n unjust, inattentive, nay, almost unkind, to her Elinor;--\n"
	.ascii	"    that Marianne's affliction, because more acknowledged,\n"
	.ascii	"    more immediately before her, had too much engrossed\n   "
	.ascii	" her tenderness, and led her away to forget that in Elinor\n"
	.ascii	"    she might have a daughter suffering almost as much,\n   "
	.ascii	" certainly with less self-provocation, and greater fortitude"
	.ascii	".\n    \n    \n    \n    CHAPTER 48\n    \n    \n    Elinor "
	.ascii	"no"
	.ascii	"w found the difference between the expectation\n    of an un"
	.ascii	"pleasant event, however certain the mind may be told\n    to"
	.ascii	" consider it, and certainty itself.  She now found, that\n  "
	.ascii	"  in spite of herself, she had always admitted a hope,\n    "
	.ascii	"while Edward remained single, that something would occur\n  "
	.ascii	"  to prevent his marrying Lucy; that some resolution of\n   "
	.ascii	" his own, some mediation of friends, or some more eligible\n"
	.ascii	"    opportunity of establishment for the lady, would arise\n"
	.ascii	"    to assist the happiness of all.  But he was now married;"
	.ascii	"\n    and she condemned her heart for the lurking flattery,\n"
	.ascii	"    which so much heightened the pain of the intelligence.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    That he should be married soon, before (as she ima"
	.ascii	"gined)\n    he could be in orders, and consequently before h"
	.ascii	"e could\n    be in possession of the living, surprised her a"
	.ascii	" little\n    at first.  But she soon saw how likely it was t"
	.ascii	"hat Lucy,\n    in her self-provident care, in her haste to s"
	.ascii	"ecure him,\n    should overlook every thing but the risk of "
	.ascii	"delay.\n    They were married, married in town, and now hast"
	.ascii	"ening\n    down to her uncle's.  What had Edward felt on bei"
	.ascii	"ng within\n    four miles from Barton, on seeing her mother'"
	.ascii	"s servant,\n    on hearing Lucy's message!\n    \n    They w"
	.ascii	"ould soon, she supposed, be settled at\n    Delaford.--Delaf"
	.ascii	"ord,--that place in which so much\n    conspired to give her"
	.ascii	" an interest; which she wished\n    to be acquainted with, a"
	.ascii	"nd yet desired to avoid.\n    She saw them in an instant in "
	.ascii	"their parsonage-house; saw\n    in Lucy, the active, contriv"
	.ascii	"ing manager, uniting at once\n    a desire of smart appearan"
	.ascii	"ce with the utmost frugality,\n    and ashamed to be suspect"
	.ascii	"ed of half her economical practices;--\n    pursuing her own"
	.ascii	" interest in every thought, courting the\n    favour of Colo"
	.ascii	"nel Brandon, of Mrs. Jennings, and of every\n    wealthy fri"
	.ascii	"end.  In Edward--she knew not what she saw,\n    nor what sh"
	.ascii	"e wished to see;--happy or unhappy,--nothing\n    pleased he"
	.ascii	"r; she turned away her head from every sketch of him.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    Elinor flattered herself that some one of their\n "
	.ascii	"   connections in London would write to them to announce\n  "
	.ascii	"  the event, and give farther particulars,--but day after\n "
	.ascii	"   day passed off, and brought no letter, no tidings.\n    T"
	.ascii	"hough uncertain that any one were to blame, she found\n    f"
	.ascii	"ault with every absent friend.  They were all thoughtless\n "
	.ascii	"   or indolent.\n    \n    \"When do you write to Colonel Br"
	.ascii	"andon, ma'am?\"\n    was an inquiry which sprung from the im"
	.ascii	"patience\n    of her mind to have something going on.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"I wrote to him, my love, last week, and rather\n    ex"
	.ascii	"pect to see, than to hear from him again.  I earnestly\n    "
	.ascii	"pressed his coming to us, and should not be surprised\n    t"
	.ascii	"o see him walk in today or tomorrow, or any day.\"\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  This was gaining something, something to look forward to.\n"
	.ascii	"    Colonel Brandon must have some information to give.\n   "
	.ascii	" \n    Scarcely had she so determined it, when the figure\n "
	.ascii	"   of a man on horseback drew her eyes to the window.\n    H"
	.ascii	"e stopt at their gate.  It was a gentleman, it\n    was Colo"
	.ascii	"nel Brandon himself.  Now she could hear more;\n    and she "
	.ascii	"trembled in expectation of it.  But--it was\n    NOT Colonel"
	.ascii	" Brandon--neither his air--nor his height.\n    Were it poss"
	.ascii	"ible, she must say it must be Edward.\n    She looked again."
	.ascii	"  He had just dismounted;--she could not be\n    mistaken,--"
	.ascii	"it WAS Edward.  She moved away and sat down.\n    \"He comes"
	.ascii	" from Mr. Pratt's purposely to see us.  I WILL be\n    calm;"
	.ascii	" I WILL be mistress of myself.\"\n    \n    In a moment she "
	.ascii	"perceived that the others were likewise\n    aware of the mi"
	.ascii	"stake.  She saw her mother and Marianne\n    change colour; "
	.ascii	"saw them look at herself, and whisper\n    a few sentences t"
	.ascii	"o each other.  She would have given\n    the world to be abl"
	.ascii	"e to speak--and to make them understand\n    that she hoped "
	.ascii	"no coolness, no slight, would appear\n    in their behaviour"
	.ascii	" to him;--but she had no utterance,\n    and was obliged to "
	.ascii	"leave all to their own discretion.\n    \n    Not a syllable"
	.ascii	" passe"
	.ascii	"d aloud.  They all waited\n    in silence for the appearance"
	.ascii	" of their visitor.\n    His footsteps were heard along the g"
	.ascii	"ravel path; in a moment\n    he was in the passage, and in a"
	.ascii	"nother he was before them.\n    \n    His countenance, as he"
	.ascii	" entered the room, was not\n    too happy, even for Elinor. "
	.ascii	" His complexion was white\n    with agitation, and he looked"
	.ascii	" as if fearful of his\n    reception, and conscious that he "
	.ascii	"merited no kind one.\n    Mrs. Dashwood, however, conforming"
	.ascii	", as she trusted,\n    to the wishes of that daughter, by wh"
	.ascii	"om she then meant\n    in the warmth of her heart to be guid"
	.ascii	"ed in every thing,\n    met with a look of forced complacenc"
	.ascii	"y, gave him her hand,\n    and wished him joy.\n    \n    He"
	.ascii	" coloured, and stammered out an unintelligible reply.\n    E"
	.ascii	"linor's lips had moved with her mother's, and, when the\n   "
	.ascii	" moment of action was over, she wished that she had shaken\n"
	.ascii	"    hands with him too.  But it was then too late, and with "
	.ascii	"a\n    countenance meaning to be open, she sat down again\n "
	.ascii	"   and talked of the weather.\n    \n    Marianne had retrea"
	.ascii	"ted as much as possible\n    out of sight, to conceal her di"
	.ascii	"stress; and Margaret,\n    understanding some part, but not "
	.ascii	"the whole of the case,\n    thought it incumbent on her to b"
	.ascii	"e dignified, and therefore\n    took a seat as far from him "
	.ascii	"as she could, and maintained\n    a strict silence.\n    \n "
	.ascii	"   When Elinor had ceased to rejoice in the dryness\n    of "
	.ascii	"the season, a very awful pause took place.  It was put\n    "
	.ascii	"an end to by Mrs. Dashwood, who felt obliged to hope that he"
	.ascii	"\n    had left Mrs. Ferrars very well.  In a hurried manner,"
	.ascii	"\n    he replied in the affirmative.\n    \n    Another paus"
	.ascii	"e.\n    \n    Elinor resolving to exert herself, though fear"
	.ascii	"ing\n    the sound of her own voice, now said,\n    \n    \""
	.ascii	"Is Mrs. Ferrars at Longstaple?\"\n    \n    \"At Longstaple!"
	.ascii	"\" he replied, with an air of surprise.--\n    \"No, my moth"
	.ascii	"er is in town.\"\n    \n    \"I meant,\" said Elinor, taking"
	.ascii	" up some work from\n    the table, \"to inquire for Mrs. EDW"
	.ascii	"ARD Ferrars.\"\n "
	.ascii	"   \n    She dared not look up;--but her mother and Marianne"
	.ascii	" both\n    turned their eyes on him.  He coloured, seemed pe"
	.ascii	"rplexed,\n    looked doubtingly, and, after some hesitation,"
	.ascii	" said,--\n    \n    \"Perhaps you mean--my brother--you mean"
	.ascii	" Mrs.--Mrs.\n    ROBERT Ferrars.\"\n    \n    \"Mrs. Robert "
	.ascii	"Ferrars!\"--was repeated by Marianne and her\n    mother in "
	.ascii	"an accent of the utmost amazement;--and though\n    Elinor c"
	.ascii	"ould not speak, even HER eyes were fixed on him\n    with th"
	.ascii	"e same impatient wonder.  He rose from his seat,\n    and wa"
	.ascii	"lked to the window, apparently from not knowing\n    what to"
	.ascii	" do; took up a pair of scissors that lay there,\n    and whi"
	.ascii	"le spoiling both them and their sheath by cutting\n    the l"
	.ascii	"atter to pieces as he spoke, said, in a hurried voice,\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    \"Perhaps you do not know--you may not have heard\n   "
	.ascii	" that my brother is lately married to--to the youngest--to\n"
	.ascii	"    Miss Lucy Steele.\"\n    \n    His words were echoed wit"
	.ascii	"h unspeakable astonishment\n    by all but Elinor, who sat w"
	.ascii	"ith her head leaning over\n    her work, in a state of such "
	.ascii	"agitation as made her hardly\n    know where she was.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    \"Yes,\" said he, \"they were married last week,\n    an"
	.ascii	"d are now at Dawlish.\"\n    \n    Elinor could sit it no lo"
	.ascii	"nger.  She almost ran\n    out of the room, and as soon as t"
	.ascii	"he door was closed,\n    burst into tears of joy, which at f"
	.ascii	"irst she thought would\n    never cease.  Edward, who had ti"
	.ascii	"ll then looked any where,\n    rather than at her, saw her h"
	.ascii	"urry away, and perhaps saw--\n    or even heard, her emotion"
	.ascii	"; for immediately afterwards\n    he fell into a reverie, wh"
	.ascii	"ich no remarks, no inquiries,\n    no affectionate address o"
	.ascii	"f Mrs. Dashwood could penetrate,\n    and at last, without s"
	.ascii	"aying a word, quitted the room,\n    and walked out towards "
	.ascii	"the village--leaving the others\n    in the greatest astonis"
	.ascii	"hment and perplexity on a change\n    in his situation, so w"
	.ascii	"onderful and so sudden;--a perplexity\n    which they had no"
	.ascii	" means of lessening but by their\n    own conjectures.\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    \n    \n "
	.ascii	"   CHAPTER 49\n    \n    \n    Unaccountable, however, as th"
	.ascii	"e circumstances of his\n    release might appear to the whol"
	.ascii	"e family, it was certain\n    that Edward was free; and to w"
	.ascii	"hat purpose that freedom would\n    be employed was easily p"
	.ascii	"re-determined by all;--for after\n    experiencing the bless"
	.ascii	"ings of ONE imprudent engagement,\n    contracted without hi"
	.ascii	"s mother's consent, as he had already\n    done for more tha"
	.ascii	"n four years, nothing less could be expected\n    of him in "
	.ascii	"the failure of THAT, than the immediate contraction\n    of "
	.ascii	"another.\n    \n    His errand at Barton, in fact, was a sim"
	.ascii	"ple one.\n    It was only to ask Elinor to marry him;--and c"
	.ascii	"onsidering\n    that he was not altogether inexperienced in "
	.ascii	"such a question,\n    it might be strange that he should fee"
	.ascii	"l so uncomfortable\n    in the present case as he really did"
	.ascii	", so much in need of\n    encouragement and fresh air.\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    How soon he had walked himself into the proper\n    re"
	.ascii	"solution, however, how soon an opportunity of exercising\n  "
	.ascii	"  it occurred, in what manner he expressed himself,\n    and"
	.ascii	" how he was received, need not be particularly told.\n    Th"
	.ascii	"is only need be said;--that when they all sat down to\n    t"
	.ascii	"able at four o'clock, about three hours after his arrival,\n"
	.ascii	"    he had secured his lady, engaged her mother's consent,\n"
	.ascii	"    and was not only in the rapturous profession of\n    the"
	.ascii	" lover, but, in the reality of reason and truth,\n    one of"
	.ascii	" the happiest of men.  His situation indeed was\n    more th"
	.ascii	"an commonly joyful.  He had more than the ordinary\n    triu"
	.ascii	"mph of accepted love to swell his heart, and raise\n    his "
	.ascii	"spirits.  He was released without any reproach\n    to himse"
	.ascii	"lf, from an entanglement which had long formed\n    his mise"
	.ascii	"ry, from a woman whom he had long ceased to love;--\n    and"
	.ascii	" elevated at once to that security with another,\n    which "
	.ascii	"he must have thought of almost with despair,\n    as soon as"
	.ascii	" he had learnt to consider it with desire.\n    He was broug"
	.ascii	"ht, not from doubt or suspense, but from\n    misery to hap"
	.ascii	"piness;--and the change was openly spoken\n    in such a gen"
	.ascii	"uine, flowing, grateful cheerfulness,\n    as his friends ha"
	.ascii	"d never witnessed in him before.\n    \n    His heart was no"
	.ascii	"w open to Elinor, all its weaknesses,\n    all its errors co"
	.ascii	"nfessed, and his first boyish attachment\n    to Lucy treate"
	.ascii	"d with all the philosophic dignity of twenty-four.\n    \n  "
	.ascii	"  \"It was a foolish, idle inclination on my side,\"\n    sa"
	.ascii	"id he, \"the consequence of ignorance of the world--\n    an"
	.ascii	"d want of employment.  Had my brother given me\n    some act"
	.ascii	"ive profession when I was removed at eighteen\n    from the "
	.ascii	"care of Mr. Pratt, I think--nay, I am sure,\n    it would ne"
	.ascii	"ver have happened; for though I left Longstaple\n    with wh"
	.ascii	"at I thought, at the time, a most unconquerable\n    prefere"
	.ascii	"nce for his niece, yet had I then had any pursuit,\n    any "
	.ascii	"object to engage my time and keep me at a distance\n    from"
	.ascii	" her for a few months, I should very soon have\n    outgrown"
	.ascii	" the fancied attachment, especially by mixing\n    more with"
	.ascii	" the world, as in such case I must have done.\n    But inste"
	.ascii	"ad of having any thing to do, instead of having any\n    pro"
	.ascii	"fession chosen for me, or being allowed to chuse any myself,"
	.ascii	"\n    I returned home to be completely idle; and for the fir"
	.ascii	"st\n    twelvemonth afterwards I had not even the nominal em"
	.ascii	"ployment,\n    which belonging to the university would have "
	.ascii	"given me;\n    for I was not entered at Oxford till I was ni"
	.ascii	"neteen.\n    I had therefore nothing in the world to do, but"
	.ascii	" to fancy\n    myself in love; and as my mother did not make"
	.ascii	" my home\n    in every respect comfortable, as I had no frie"
	.ascii	"nd,\n    no companion in my brother, and disliked new acquai"
	.ascii	"ntance,\n    it was not unnatural for me to be very often at"
	.ascii	" Longstaple,\n    where I always felt myself at home, and wa"
	.ascii	"s always sure\n    of a welcome; and accordingly I spent the"
	.ascii	" greatest part\n    of my time there from eighteen to ninete"
	.ascii	"en: Lucy appeared\n    everything that was amiable and oblig"
	.ascii	"ing.  She was pretty\n    too--at least I thought so THEN;"
	.ascii	" and I had seen so little\n    of other women, that I could "
	.ascii	"make no comparisons, and see\n    no defects.  Considering e"
	.ascii	"verything, therefore, I hope,\n    foolish as our engagement"
	.ascii	" was, foolish as it has since\n    in every way been proved,"
	.ascii	" it was not at the time an unnatural\n    or an inexcusable "
	.ascii	"piece of folly.\"\n    \n    The change which a few hours ha"
	.ascii	"d wrought in the minds\n    and the happiness of the Dashwoo"
	.ascii	"ds, was such--so great--as\n    promised them all, the satis"
	.ascii	"faction of a sleepless night.\n    Mrs. Dashwood, too happy "
	.ascii	"to be comfortable, knew not how\n    to love Edward, nor pra"
	.ascii	"ise Elinor enough, how to be enough\n    thankful for his re"
	.ascii	"lease without wounding his delicacy,\n    nor how at once to"
	.ascii	" give them leisure for unrestrained\n    conversation togeth"
	.ascii	"er, and yet enjoy, as she wished,\n    the sight and society"
	.ascii	" of both.\n    \n    Marianne could speak HER happiness only"
	.ascii	" by tears.\n    Comparisons would occur--regrets would arise"
	.ascii	";--and her joy,\n    though sincere as her love for her sist"
	.ascii	"er, was of a kind to\n    give her neither spirits nor langu"
	.ascii	"age.\n    \n    But Elinor--how are HER feelings to be descr"
	.ascii	"ibed?--From\n    the moment of learning that Lucy was marrie"
	.ascii	"d to another,\n    that Edward was free, to the moment of hi"
	.ascii	"s justifying\n    the hopes which had so instantly followed,"
	.ascii	" she was every\n    thing by turns but tranquil.  But when t"
	.ascii	"he second moment\n    had passed, when she found every doubt"
	.ascii	", every solicitude\n    removed, compared her situation with"
	.ascii	" what so lately it\n    had been,--saw him honourably releas"
	.ascii	"ed from his former\n    engagement, saw him instantly profit"
	.ascii	"ing by the release,\n    to address herself and declare an a"
	.ascii	"ffection as tender,\n    as constant as she had ever suppose"
	.ascii	"d it to be,--she\n    was oppressed, she was overcome by her"
	.ascii	" own felicity;--\n    and happily disposed as is the human m"
	.ascii	"ind to be easily\n    familiarized with any change for the b"
	.ascii	"etter, it required\n    several hours to give sedateness to "
	.ascii	"her spirits, or any\n    degree of tranquillity to her hea"
	.ascii	"rt.\n    \n    Edward was now fixed at the cottage at least "
	.ascii	"for\n    a week;--for whatever other claims might be made on"
	.ascii	" him,\n    it was impossible that less than a week should be"
	.ascii	" given\n    up to the enjoyment of Elinor's company, or suff"
	.ascii	"ice\n    to say half that was to be said of the past, the pr"
	.ascii	"esent,\n    and the future;--for though a very few hours spe"
	.ascii	"nt in\n    the hard labor of incessant talking will despatch"
	.ascii	" more\n    subjects than can really be in common between any"
	.ascii	" two\n    rational creatures, yet with lovers it is differen"
	.ascii	"t.\n    Between THEM no subject is finished, no communicatio"
	.ascii	"n\n    is even made, till it has been made at least twenty\n"
	.ascii	"    times over.\n    \n    Lucy's marriage, the unceasing an"
	.ascii	"d reasonable wonder\n    among them all, formed of course on"
	.ascii	"e of the earliest\n    discussions of the lovers;--and Elino"
	.ascii	"r's particular knowledge\n    of each party made it appear t"
	.ascii	"o her in every view, as one\n    of the most extraordinary a"
	.ascii	"nd unaccountable circumstances\n    she had ever heard.  How"
	.ascii	" they could be thrown together,\n    and by what attraction "
	.ascii	"Robert could be drawn on to marry\n    a girl, of whose beau"
	.ascii	"ty she had herself heard him speak\n    without any admirati"
	.ascii	"on,--a girl too already engaged\n    to his brother, and on "
	.ascii	"whose account that brother had been\n    thrown off by his f"
	.ascii	"amily--it was beyond her comprehension\n    to make out.  To"
	.ascii	" her own heart it was a delightful affair,\n    to her imagi"
	.ascii	"nation it was even a ridiculous one, but\n    to her reason,"
	.ascii	" her judgment, it was completely a puzzle.\n    \n    Edward"
	.ascii	" could only attempt an explanation by supposing,\n    that, "
	.ascii	"perhaps, at first accidentally meeting, the vanity\n    of t"
	.ascii	"he one had been so worked on by the flattery\n    of the oth"
	.ascii	"er, as to lead by degrees to all the rest.\n    Elinor remem"
	.ascii	"bered what Robert had told her in Harley Street,\n    of his"
	.ascii	" opinion of what his own mediation in his brother's\n    aff"
	.ascii	"airs might have done, if applied to in time.\n    She repeat"
	.ascii	"ed it to Edward.\n    \n    \"THAT was exactly like Robert,\""
	.ascii	"--was his immediate\n    observation.--\"And THAT,\" he pres"
	.ascii	"ently added, \"might\n    perhaps be in HIS head when the ac"
	.ascii	"quaintance between\n    them first began.  And Lucy perhaps "
	.ascii	"at first might\n    think only of procuring his good offices"
	.ascii	" in my favour.\n    Other designs might afterward arise.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    How long it had been carrying on between them,\n  "
	.ascii	"  however, he was equally at a loss with herself to make out"
	.ascii	";\n    for at Oxford, where he had remained for choice ever "
	.ascii	"since\n    his quitting London, he had had no means of heari"
	.ascii	"ng of her\n    but from herself, and her letters to the very"
	.ascii	" last were\n    neither less frequent, nor less affectionate"
	.ascii	" than usual.\n    Not the smallest suspicion, therefore, had"
	.ascii	" ever occurred\n    to prepare him for what followed;--and w"
	.ascii	"hen at last it\n    burst on him in a letter from Lucy herse"
	.ascii	"lf, he had been\n    for some time, he believed, half stupif"
	.ascii	"ied between\n    the wonder, the horror, and the joy of such"
	.ascii	" a deliverance.\n    He put the letter into Elinor's hands.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n         \"DEAR SIR,\n    \n         \"Being very sure"
	.ascii	" I have long lost your affections,\n         I have thought "
	.ascii	"myself at liberty to bestow my own\n         on another, and"
	.ascii	" have no doubt of being as happy with\n         him as I onc"
	.ascii	"e used to think I might be with you;\n         but I scorn t"
	.ascii	"o accept a hand while the heart was\n         another's.  Si"
	.ascii	"ncerely wish you happy in your choice,\n         and it shal"
	.ascii	"l not be my fault if we are not always\n         good friend"
	.ascii	"s, as our near relationship now makes\n         proper.  I c"
	.ascii	"an safely say I owe you no ill-will,\n         and am sure y"
	.ascii	"ou will be too generous to do us any\n         ill offices. "
	.ascii	" Your brother has gained my affections\n         entirely, a"
	.ascii	"nd as we could not live without one\n         another, we ar"
	.ascii	"e just returned from the altar, and\n         are now on our"
	.ascii	" way to Dawlish for a few weeks, which\n         place your "
	.ascii	"dear brother has great curiosity to see,\n         but thoug"
	.ascii	"ht I would first trouble you with these\n         few lines,"
	.ascii	" an"
	.ascii	"d shall always remain,\n    \n         \"Your sincere well-w"
	.ascii	"isher, friend, and sister,\n                                "
	.ascii	"            \"LUCY FERRARS.\n    \n         \"I have burnt a"
	.ascii	"ll your letters, and will return\n         your picture the "
	.ascii	"first opportunity.  Please to destroy\n         my scrawls--"
	.ascii	"but the ring with my hair you are very\n         welcome to "
	.ascii	"keep.\"\n    \n    Elinor read and returned it without any c"
	.ascii	"omment.\n    \n    \"I will not ask your opinion of it as a "
	.ascii	"composition,\"\n    said Edward.--\"For worlds would not I h"
	.ascii	"ave had a letter\n    of hers seen by YOU in former days.--I"
	.ascii	"n a sister it\n    is bad enough, but in a wife!--how I have"
	.ascii	" blushed over\n    the pages of her writing!--and I believe "
	.ascii	"I may say that\n    since the first half year of our foolish"
	.ascii	"--business--this\n    is the only letter I ever received fro"
	.ascii	"m her, of which\n    the substance made me any amends for th"
	.ascii	"e defect of the style.\"\n    \n    \"However it may have co"
	.ascii	"me about,\" said Elinor,\n    after a pause,--\"they are cer"
	.ascii	"tainly married.  And your mother\n    has brought on herself"
	.ascii	" a most appropriate punishment.\n    The independence she se"
	.ascii	"ttled on Robert, through resentment\n    against you, has pu"
	.ascii	"t it in his power to make his own choice;\n    and she has a"
	.ascii	"ctually been bribing one son with a thousand\n    a-year, to"
	.ascii	" do the very deed which she disinherited the\n    other for "
	.ascii	"intending to do.  She will hardly be less hurt,\n    I suppo"
	.ascii	"se, by Robert's marrying Lucy, than she would have\n    been"
	.ascii	" by your marrying her.\"\n    \n    \"She will be more hurt "
	.ascii	"by it, for Robert always\n    was her favourite.--She will b"
	.ascii	"e more hurt by it,\n    and on the same principle will forgi"
	.ascii	"ve him much sooner.\"\n    \n    In what state the affair st"
	.ascii	"ood at present between them,\n    Edward knew not, for no co"
	.ascii	"mmunication with any of his family\n    had yet been attempt"
	.ascii	"ed by him.  He had quitted Oxford\n    within four and twent"
	.ascii	"y hours after Lucy's letter arrived,\n    and with only one "
	.ascii	"object before him, the nearest road\n    to Barton, had had "
	.ascii	"no leisure to f"
	.ascii	"orm any scheme of conduct,\n    with which that road did not"
	.ascii	" hold the most intimate connection.\n    He could do nothing"
	.ascii	" till he were assured of his fate with\n    Miss Dashwood; a"
	.ascii	"nd by his rapidity in seeking THAT fate,\n    it is to be su"
	.ascii	"pposed, in spite of the jealousy with\n    which he had once"
	.ascii	" thought of Colonel Brandon, in spite\n    of the modesty wi"
	.ascii	"th which he rated his own deserts,\n    and the politeness w"
	.ascii	"ith which he talked of his doubts,\n    he did not, upon the"
	.ascii	" whole, expect a very cruel reception.\n    It was his busin"
	.ascii	"ess, however, to say that he DID, and he\n    said it very p"
	.ascii	"rettily.  What he might say on the subject\n    a twelvemont"
	.ascii	"h after, must be referred to the imagination\n    of husband"
	.ascii	"s and wives.\n    \n    That Lucy had certainly meant to dec"
	.ascii	"eive, to go off\n    with a flourish of malice against him i"
	.ascii	"n her message\n    by Thomas, was perfectly clear to Elinor;"
	.ascii	" and Edward himself,\n    now thoroughly enlightened on her "
	.ascii	"character, had no\n    scruple in believing her capable of t"
	.ascii	"he utmost meanness\n    of wanton ill-nature. Though his eye"
	.ascii	"s had been long opened,\n    even before his acquaintance wi"
	.ascii	"th Elinor began, to her\n    ignorance and a want of liberal"
	.ascii	"ity in some of her opinions--\n    they had been equally imp"
	.ascii	"uted, by him, to her want\n    of education; and till her la"
	.ascii	"st letter reached him,\n    he had always believed her to be"
	.ascii	" a well-disposed,\n    good-hearted girl, and thoroughly att"
	.ascii	"ached to himself.\n    Nothing but such a persuasion could h"
	.ascii	"ave prevented\n    his putting an end to an engagement, whic"
	.ascii	"h, long before\n    the discovery of it laid him open to his"
	.ascii	" mother's anger,\n    had been a continual source of disquie"
	.ascii	"t and regret to him.\n    \n    \"I thought it my duty,\" sa"
	.ascii	"id he, \"independent of my feelings,\n    to give her the op"
	.ascii	"tion of continuing the engagement or not,\n    when I was re"
	.ascii	"nounced by my mother, and stood to all\n    appearance witho"
	.ascii	"ut a friend in the world to assist me.\n    In such a situat"
	.ascii	"ion as that, where there seemed nothing\n    to tempt the a"
	.ascii	"varice or the vanity of any living creature,\n    how could "
	.ascii	"I suppose, when she so earnestly, so warmly insisted\n    on"
	.ascii	" sharing my fate, whatever it might be, that any thing\n    "
	.ascii	"but the most disinterested affection was her inducement?\n  "
	.ascii	"  And even now, I cannot comprehend on what motive she acted"
	.ascii	",\n    or what fancied advantage it could be to her, to be\n"
	.ascii	"    fettered to a man for whom she had not the smallest rega"
	.ascii	"rd,\n    and who had only two thousand pounds in the world.\n"
	.ascii	"    She could not foresee that Colonel Brandon would give me"
	.ascii	" a\n    living.\"\n    \n    \"No; but she might suppose tha"
	.ascii	"t something would occur\n    in your favour; that your own f"
	.ascii	"amily might in time relent.\n    And at any rate, she lost n"
	.ascii	"othing by continuing the engagement,\n    for she has proved"
	.ascii	" that it fettered neither her inclination\n    nor her actio"
	.ascii	"ns.  The connection was certainly a\n    respectable one, an"
	.ascii	"d probably gained her consideration among\n    her friends; "
	.ascii	"and, if nothing more advantageous occurred,\n    it would be"
	.ascii	" better for her to marry YOU than be single.\"\n    \n    Ed"
	.ascii	"ward was, of course, immediately convinced that\n    nothing"
	.ascii	" could have been more natural than Lucy's conduct,\n    nor "
	.ascii	"more self-evident than the motive of it.\n    \n    Elinor s"
	.ascii	"colded him, harshly as ladies always scold\n    the impruden"
	.ascii	"ce which compliments themselves, for having\n    spent so mu"
	.ascii	"ch time with them at Norland, when he must\n    have felt hi"
	.ascii	"s own inconstancy.\n    \n    \"Your behaviour was certainly"
	.ascii	" very wrong,\" said she;\n    \"because--to say nothing of m"
	.ascii	"y own conviction, our relations\n    were all led away by it"
	.ascii	" to fancy and expect WHAT, as you\n    were THEN situated, c"
	.ascii	"ould never be.\"\n    \n    He could only plead an ignorance"
	.ascii	" of his own heart,\n    and a mistaken confidence in the for"
	.ascii	"ce of his engagement.\n    \n    \"I was simple enough to th"
	.ascii	"ink, that because my FAITH\n    was plighted to another, the"
	.ascii	"re could be no danger in my being\n    with you; and that th"
	.ascii	"e consciousness of my engagement was\n    to keep my heart a"
	.ascii	"s safe "
	.ascii	"and sacred as my honour.  I felt\n    that I admired you, bu"
	.ascii	"t I told myself it was only friendship;\n    and till I bega"
	.ascii	"n to make comparisons between yourself\n    and Lucy, I did "
	.ascii	"not know how far I was got.  After that,\n    I suppose, I W"
	.ascii	"AS wrong in remaining so much in Sussex,\n    and the argume"
	.ascii	"nts with which I reconciled myself to the\n    expediency of"
	.ascii	" it, were no better than these:--The danger\n    is my own; "
	.ascii	"I am doing no injury to anybody but myself.\"\n    \n    Eli"
	.ascii	"nor smiled, and shook her head.\n    \n    Edward heard with"
	.ascii	" pleasure of Colonel Brandon's\n    being expected at the Co"
	.ascii	"ttage, as he really wished\n    not only to be better acquai"
	.ascii	"nted with him, but to have an\n    opportunity of convincing"
	.ascii	" him that he no longer resented\n    his giving him the livi"
	.ascii	"ng of Delaford--\"Which, at present,\"\n    said he, \"after"
	.ascii	" thanks so ungraciously delivered as mine\n    were on the o"
	.ascii	"ccasion, he must think I have never forgiven\n    him for of"
	.ascii	"fering.\"\n    \n    NOW he felt astonished himself that he "
	.ascii	"had never yet\n    been to the place.  But so little interes"
	.ascii	"t had be taken\n    in the matter, that he owed all his know"
	.ascii	"ledge of the house,\n    garden, and glebe, extent of the pa"
	.ascii	"rish, condition of\n    the land, and rate of the tithes, to"
	.ascii	" Elinor herself,\n    who had heard so much of it from Colon"
	.ascii	"el Brandon,\n    and heard it with so much attention, as to "
	.ascii	"be entirely\n    mistress of the subject.\n    \n    One que"
	.ascii	"stion after this only remained undecided,\n    between them,"
	.ascii	" one difficulty only was to be overcome.\n    They were brou"
	.ascii	"ght together by mutual affection,\n    with the warmest appr"
	.ascii	"obation of their real friends;\n    their intimate knowledge"
	.ascii	" of each other seemed to make\n    their happiness certain--"
	.ascii	"and they only wanted something\n    to live upon.  Edward ha"
	.ascii	"d two thousand pounds, and Elinor\n    one, which, with Dela"
	.ascii	"ford living, was all that they could\n    call their own; fo"
	.ascii	"r it was impossible that Mrs. Dashwood\n    should advance a"
	.ascii	"nything; and they were neither of them\n    quite enough in "
	.ascii	"love"
	.ascii	" to think that three hundred and fifty\n    pounds a-year wo"
	.ascii	"uld supply them with the comforts of life.\n    \n    Edward"
	.ascii	" was not entirely without hopes of some\n    favourable chan"
	.ascii	"ge in his mother towards him; and on THAT\n    he rested for"
	.ascii	" the residue of their income.  But Elinor\n    had no such d"
	.ascii	"ependence; for since Edward would still\n    be unable to ma"
	.ascii	"rry Miss Morton, and his chusing herself\n    had been spoke"
	.ascii	"n of in Mrs. Ferrars's flattering language\n    as only a le"
	.ascii	"sser evil than his chusing Lucy Steele,\n    she feared that"
	.ascii	" Robert's offence would serve no other\n    purpose than to "
	.ascii	"enrich Fanny.\n    \n    About four days after Edward's arri"
	.ascii	"val Colonel\n    Brandon appeared, to complete Mrs. Dashwood"
	.ascii	"'s satisfaction,\n    and to give her the dignity of having,"
	.ascii	" for the first time\n    since her living at Barton, more co"
	.ascii	"mpany with her than\n    her house would hold.  Edward was a"
	.ascii	"llowed to retain the\n    privilege of first comer, and Colo"
	.ascii	"nel Brandon therefore\n    walked every night to his old qua"
	.ascii	"rters at the Park;\n    from whence he usually returned in t"
	.ascii	"he morning, early enough\n    to interrupt the lovers' first"
	.ascii	" tete-a-tete before breakfast.\n    \n    A three weeks' res"
	.ascii	"idence at Delaford, where,\n    in his evening hours at leas"
	.ascii	"t, he had little to do\n    but to calculate the disproporti"
	.ascii	"on between thirty-six\n    and seventeen, brought him to Bar"
	.ascii	"ton in a temper of mind\n    which needed all the improvemen"
	.ascii	"t in Marianne's looks,\n    all the kindness of her welcome,"
	.ascii	" and all the encouragement\n    of her mother's language, to"
	.ascii	" make it cheerful.\n    Among such friends, however, and suc"
	.ascii	"h flattery, he did revive.\n    No rumour of Lucy's marriage"
	.ascii	" had yet reached him:--he knew\n    nothing of what had pass"
	.ascii	"ed; and the first hours of his\n    visit were consequently "
	.ascii	"spent in hearing and in wondering.\n    Every thing was expl"
	.ascii	"ained to him by Mrs. Dashwood,\n    and he found fresh reaso"
	.ascii	"n to rejoice in what he had done\n    for Mr. Ferrars, since"
	.ascii	" eventually it promoted the interest\n    of Elinor.\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    It would be needless to say, that the gentlemen advanc"
	.ascii	"ed\n    in the good opinion of each other, as they advanced "
	.ascii	"in each\n    other's acquaintance, for it could not be other"
	.ascii	"wise.\n    Their resemblance in good principles and good sen"
	.ascii	"se,\n    in disposition and manner of thinking, would probab"
	.ascii	"ly\n    have been sufficient to unite them in friendship,\n "
	.ascii	"   without any other attraction; but their being in love\n  "
	.ascii	"  with two sisters, and two sisters fond of each other,\n   "
	.ascii	" made that mutual regard inevitable and immediate,\n    whic"
	.ascii	"h might otherwise have waited the effect of time\n    and ju"
	.ascii	"dgment.\n    \n    The letters from town, which a few days b"
	.ascii	"efore would\n    have made every nerve in Elinor's body thri"
	.ascii	"ll with transport,\n    now arrived to be read with less emo"
	.ascii	"tion that mirth.\n    Mrs. Jennings wrote to tell the wonder"
	.ascii	"ful tale, to vent her\n    honest indignation against the ji"
	.ascii	"lting girl, and pour forth\n    her compassion towards poor "
	.ascii	"Mr. Edward, who, she was sure,\n    had quite doted upon the"
	.ascii	" worthless hussy, and was now,\n    by all accounts, almost "
	.ascii	"broken-hearted, at Oxford.--\n    \"I do think,\" she contin"
	.ascii	"ued, \"nothing was ever carried\n    on so sly; for it was b"
	.ascii	"ut two days before Lucy called\n    and sat a couple of hour"
	.ascii	"s with me.  Not a soul suspected\n    anything of the matter"
	.ascii	", not even Nancy, who, poor soul!\n    came crying to me the"
	.ascii	" day after, in a great fright\n    for fear of Mrs. Ferrars,"
	.ascii	" as well as not knowing how to\n    get to Plymouth; for Luc"
	.ascii	"y it seems borrowed all her\n    money before she went off t"
	.ascii	"o be married, on purpose\n    we suppose to make a show with"
	.ascii	", and poor Nancy had not\n    seven shillings in the world;-"
	.ascii	"-so I was very glad to give\n    her five guineas to take he"
	.ascii	"r down to Exeter, where she\n    thinks of staying three or "
	.ascii	"four weeks with Mrs. Burgess,\n    in hopes, as I tell her, "
	.ascii	"to fall in with the Doctor again.\n    And I must say that L"
	.ascii	"ucy's crossness not to take them\n    along with them in the"
	.ascii	" chaise is worse than all.\n    Poor Mr. Edward! I cannot g"
	.ascii	"et him out of my head, but you\n    must send for him to Bar"
	.ascii	"ton, and Miss Marianne must try to\n    comfort him.\"\n    "
	.ascii	"\n    Mr. Dashwood's strains were more solemn.\n    Mrs. Fer"
	.ascii	"rars was the most unfortunate of women--poor\n    Fanny had "
	.ascii	"suffered agonies of sensibility--and he\n    considered the "
	.ascii	"existence of each, under such a blow,\n    with grateful won"
	.ascii	"der.  Robert's offence was unpardonable,\n    but Lucy's was"
	.ascii	" infinitely worse.  Neither of them were\n    ever again to "
	.ascii	"be mentioned to Mrs. Ferrars; and even,\n    if she might he"
	.ascii	"reafter be induced to forgive her son,\n    his wife should "
	.ascii	"never be acknowledged as her daughter,\n    nor be permitted"
	.ascii	" to appear in her presence.  The secrecy\n    with which eve"
	.ascii	"rything had been carried on between them,\n    was rationall"
	.ascii	"y treated as enormously heightening\n    the crime, because,"
	.ascii	" had any suspicion of it occurred\n    to the others, proper"
	.ascii	" measures would have been taken\n    to prevent the marriage"
	.ascii	"; and he called on Elinor to join\n    with him in regrettin"
	.ascii	"g that Lucy's engagement with Edward\n    had not rather bee"
	.ascii	"n fulfilled, than that she should thus\n    be the means of "
	.ascii	"spreading misery farther in the family.--\n    He thus conti"
	.ascii	"nued:\n    \n    \"Mrs. Ferrars has never yet mentioned Edwa"
	.ascii	"rd's name,\n    which does not surprise us; but, to our grea"
	.ascii	"t astonishment,\n    not a line has been received from him o"
	.ascii	"n the occasion.\n    Perhaps, however, he is kept silent by "
	.ascii	"his fear of offending,\n    and I shall, therefore, give him"
	.ascii	" a hint, by a line\n    to Oxford, that his sister and I bot"
	.ascii	"h think a letter\n    of proper submission from him, address"
	.ascii	"ed perhaps to Fanny,\n    and by her shewn to her mother, mi"
	.ascii	"ght not be taken amiss;\n    for we all know the tenderness "
	.ascii	"of Mrs. Ferrars's heart,\n    and that she wishes for nothin"
	.ascii	"g so much as to be on good terms\n    with her children.\"\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    This paragraph was of some importance to the\n    "
	.ascii	"prospects and conduct of Edward.  It determined him\n    to "
	.ascii	"attempt a reconciliation, though not exactly\n    in the man"
	.ascii	"ne"
	.ascii	"r pointed out by their brother and sister.\n    \n    \"A le"
	.ascii	"tter of proper submission!\" repeated he;\n    \"would they "
	.ascii	"have me beg my mother's pardon for Robert's\n    ingratitude"
	.ascii	" to HER, and breach of honour to ME?--I can\n    make no sub"
	.ascii	"mission--I am grown neither humble nor\n    penitent by what"
	.ascii	" has passed.--I am grown very happy;\n    but that would not"
	.ascii	" interest.--I know of no submission\n    that IS proper for "
	.ascii	"me to make.\"\n    \n    \"You may certainly ask to be forgi"
	.ascii	"ven,\" said Elinor,\n    \"because you have offended;--and I"
	.ascii	" should think you\n    might NOW venture so far as to profes"
	.ascii	"s some concern\n    for having ever formed the engagement wh"
	.ascii	"ich drew on you\n    your mother's anger.\"\n    \n    He ag"
	.ascii	"reed that he might.\n    \n    \"And when she has forgiven y"
	.ascii	"ou, perhaps a little humility\n    may be convenient while a"
	.ascii	"cknowledging a second engagement,\n    almost as imprudent i"
	.ascii	"n HER eyes as the first.\"\n    \n    He had nothing to urge"
	.ascii	" against it, but still\n    resisted the idea of a letter of"
	.ascii	" proper submission;\n    and therefore, to make it easier to"
	.ascii	" him, as he declared\n    a much greater willingness to make"
	.ascii	" mean concessions\n    by word of mouth than on paper, it wa"
	.ascii	"s resolved that,\n    instead of writing to Fanny, he should"
	.ascii	" go to London,\n    and personally intreat her good offices "
	.ascii	"in his favour.--\n    \"And if they really DO interest thems"
	.ascii	"elves,\" said Marianne,\n    in her new character of candour"
	.ascii	", \"in bringing about\n    a reconciliation, I shall think t"
	.ascii	"hat even John and Fanny\n    are not entirely without merit."
	.ascii	"\"\n    \n    After a visit on Colonel Brandon's side of onl"
	.ascii	"y three\n    or four days, the two gentlemen quitted Barton "
	.ascii	"together.--\n    They were to go immediately to Delaford, th"
	.ascii	"at Edward\n    might have some personal knowledge of his fut"
	.ascii	"ure home,\n    and assist his patron and friend in deciding "
	.ascii	"on what\n    improvements were needed to it; and from thence"
	.ascii	",\n    after staying there a couple of nights, he was to pro"
	.ascii	"ceed\n    on his journey to town.\n    \n    \n    \n    CHA"
	.ascii	"PTER 50\n    \n    \n "
	.ascii	"   After a proper resistance on the part of Mrs. Ferrars,\n "
	.ascii	"   just so violent and so steady as to preserve her from tha"
	.ascii	"t\n    reproach which she always seemed fearful of incurring"
	.ascii	",\n    the reproach of being too amiable, Edward was admitte"
	.ascii	"d\n    to her presence, and pronounced to be again her son.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    Her family had of late been exceedingly fluctuatin"
	.ascii	"g.\n    For many years of her life she had had two sons;\n  "
	.ascii	"  but the crime and annihilation of Edward a few weeks ago,\n"
	.ascii	"    had robbed her of one; the similar annihilation of Rober"
	.ascii	"t\n    had left her for a fortnight without any; and now,\n "
	.ascii	"   by the resuscitation of Edward, she had one again.\n    \n"
	.ascii	"    In spite of his being allowed once more to live,\n    ho"
	.ascii	"wever, he did not feel the continuance of his existence\n   "
	.ascii	" secure, till he had revealed his present engagement;\n    f"
	.ascii	"or the publication of that circumstance, he feared,\n    mig"
	.ascii	"ht give a sudden turn to his constitution, and carry\n    hi"
	.ascii	"m off as rapidly as before.  With apprehensive caution\n    "
	.ascii	"therefore it was revealed, and he was listened to with\n    "
	.ascii	"unexpected calmness.  Mrs. Ferrars at first reasonably\n    "
	.ascii	"endeavoured to dissuade him from marrying Miss Dashwood,\n  "
	.ascii	"  by every argument in her power;--told him, that in Miss Mo"
	.ascii	"rton\n    he would have a woman of higher rank and larger fo"
	.ascii	"rtune;--\n    and enforced the assertion, by observing that "
	.ascii	"Miss Morton\n    was the daughter of a nobleman with thirty "
	.ascii	"thousand pounds,\n    while Miss Dashwood was only the daugh"
	.ascii	"ter of a private\n    gentleman with no more than THREE; but"
	.ascii	" when she found that,\n    though perfectly admitting the tr"
	.ascii	"uth of her representation,\n    he was by no means inclined "
	.ascii	"to be guided by it,\n    she judged it wisest, from the expe"
	.ascii	"rience of the past,\n    to submit--and therefore, after suc"
	.ascii	"h an ungracious delay\n    as she owed to her own dignity, a"
	.ascii	"nd as served to prevent\n    every suspicion of good-will, s"
	.ascii	"he issued her decree\n    of consent to the marriage of Edwa"
	.ascii	"rd and Elinor.\n    \n    What she would engage to do"
	.ascii	" towards augmenting\n    their income was next to be conside"
	.ascii	"red; and here it\n    plainly appeared, that though Edward w"
	.ascii	"as now her only son,\n    he was by no means her eldest; for"
	.ascii	" while Robert was\n    inevitably endowed with a thousand po"
	.ascii	"unds a-year,\n    not the smallest objection was made agains"
	.ascii	"t Edward's taking\n    orders for the sake of two hundred an"
	.ascii	"d fifty at the utmost;\n    nor was anything promised either"
	.ascii	" for the present or in future,\n    beyond the ten thousand "
	.ascii	"pounds, which had been given with Fanny.\n    \n    It was a"
	.ascii	"s much, however, as was desired,\n    and more than was expe"
	.ascii	"cted, by Edward and Elinor;\n    and Mrs. Ferrars herself, b"
	.ascii	"y her shuffling excuses,\n    seemed the only person surpris"
	.ascii	"ed at her not giving more.\n    \n    With an income quite s"
	.ascii	"ufficient to their wants\n    thus secured to them, they had"
	.ascii	" nothing to wait for\n    after Edward was in possession of "
	.ascii	"the living, but the\n    readiness of the house, to which Co"
	.ascii	"lonel Brandon,\n    with an eager desire for the accommodati"
	.ascii	"on of Elinor,\n    was making considerable improvements; and"
	.ascii	" after waiting\n    some time for their completion, after ex"
	.ascii	"periencing,\n    as usual, a thousand disappointments and de"
	.ascii	"lays\n    from the unaccountable dilatoriness of the workmen"
	.ascii	", Elinor,\n    as usual, broke through the first positive re"
	.ascii	"solution\n    of not marrying till every thing was ready, an"
	.ascii	"d the\n    ceremony took place in Barton church early in the"
	.ascii	" autumn.\n    \n    The first month after their marriage was"
	.ascii	" spent\n    with their friend at the Mansion-house; from whe"
	.ascii	"nce\n    they could superintend the progress of the Parsonag"
	.ascii	"e,\n    and direct every thing as they liked on the spot;--\n"
	.ascii	"    could chuse papers, project shrubberies, and invent a sw"
	.ascii	"eep.\n    Mrs. Jennings's prophecies, though rather jumbled "
	.ascii	"together,\n    were chiefly fulfilled; for she was able to v"
	.ascii	"isit Edward\n    and his wife in their Parsonage by Michaelm"
	.ascii	"as, and she\n    found in Elinor and her husband, as she rea"
	.ascii	"lly believed,\n    one of the happiest couples in the wo"
	.ascii	"rld.  They had\n    in fact nothing to wish for, but the mar"
	.ascii	"riage of Colonel\n    Brandon and Marianne, and rather bette"
	.ascii	"r pasturage for\n    their cows.\n    \n    They were visite"
	.ascii	"d on their first settling by almost\n    all their relations"
	.ascii	" and friends.  Mrs. Ferrars came\n    to inspect the happine"
	.ascii	"ss which she was almost ashamed\n    of having authorised; a"
	.ascii	"nd even the Dashwoods were at\n    the expense of a journey "
	.ascii	"from Sussex to do them honour.\n    \n    \"I will not say t"
	.ascii	"hat I am disappointed, my dear sister,\"\n    said John, as "
	.ascii	"they were walking together one morning before\n    the gates"
	.ascii	" of Delaford House, \"THAT would be saying too much,\n    fo"
	.ascii	"r certainly you have been one of the most fortunate young\n "
	.ascii	"   women in the world, as it is.  But, I confess, it would\n"
	.ascii	"    give me great pleasure to call Colonel Brandon brother.\n"
	.ascii	"    His property here, his place, his house, every thing is "
	.ascii	"in\n    such respectable and excellent condition!--and his w"
	.ascii	"oods!--I\n    have not seen such timber any where in Dorsets"
	.ascii	"hire, as there\n    is now standing in Delaford Hanger!--And"
	.ascii	" though, perhaps,\n    Marianne may not seem exactly the per"
	.ascii	"son to attract him--\n    yet I think it would altogether be"
	.ascii	" advisable for you to\n    have them now frequently staying "
	.ascii	"with you, for as Colonel\n    Brandon seems a great deal at "
	.ascii	"home, nobody can tell what\n    may happen--for, when people"
	.ascii	" are much thrown together,\n    and see little of anybody el"
	.ascii	"se--and it will always be\n    in your power to set her off "
	.ascii	"to advantage, and so forth;--\n    in short, you may as well"
	.ascii	" give her a chance--You understand\n    me.\"--\n    \n    B"
	.ascii	"ut though Mrs. Ferrars DID come to see them, and always\n   "
	.ascii	" treated them with the make-believe of decent affection,\n  "
	.ascii	"  they were never insulted by her real favour and preference"
	.ascii	".\n    THAT was due to the folly of Robert, and the cunning\n"
	.ascii	"    of his wife; and it was earned by them before many month"
	.ascii	"s\n    had passed away.  The selfish sagacity of the latter,"
	.ascii	"\n    which had at first drawn Robert into the scrape,\n    "
	.ascii	"was the principal instrument of his deliverance from it;\n  "
	.ascii	"  for her respectful humility, assiduous attentions,\n    an"
	.ascii	"d endless flatteries, as soon as the smallest opening\n    w"
	.ascii	"as given for their exercise, reconciled Mrs. Ferrars\n    to"
	.ascii	" his choice, and re-established him completely in\n    her f"
	.ascii	"avour.\n    \n    The whole of Lucy's behaviour in the affai"
	.ascii	"r,\n    and the prosperity which crowned it, therefore, may "
	.ascii	"be held\n    forth as a most encouraging instance of what an"
	.ascii	" earnest,\n    an unceasing attention to self-interest, howe"
	.ascii	"ver its progress\n    may be apparently obstructed, will do "
	.ascii	"in securing every\n    advantage of fortune, with no other s"
	.ascii	"acrifice than that of time\n    and conscience.  When Robert"
	.ascii	" first sought her acquaintance,\n    and privately visited h"
	.ascii	"er in Bartlett's Buildings,\n    it was only with the view i"
	.ascii	"mputed to him by his brother.\n    He merely meant to persua"
	.ascii	"de her to give up the engagement;\n    and as there could be"
	.ascii	" nothing to overcome but the affection\n    of both, he natu"
	.ascii	"rally expected that one or two interviews\n    would settle "
	.ascii	"the matter.  In that point, however,\n    and that only, he "
	.ascii	"erred;--for though Lucy soon gave him\n    hopes that his el"
	.ascii	"oquence would convince her in TIME,\n    another visit, anot"
	.ascii	"her conversation, was always wanted\n    to produce this con"
	.ascii	"viction.  Some doubts always lingered\n    in her mind when "
	.ascii	"they parted, which could only be\n    removed by another hal"
	.ascii	"f hour's discourse with himself.\n    His attendance was by "
	.ascii	"this means secured, and the rest\n    followed in course.  I"
	.ascii	"nstead of talking of Edward,\n    they came gradually to tal"
	.ascii	"k only of Robert,--a subject\n    on which he had always mor"
	.ascii	"e to say than on any other,\n    and in which she soon betra"
	.ascii	"yed an interest even equal\n    to his own; and in short, it"
	.ascii	" became speedily evident\n    to both, that he had entirely "
	.ascii	"supplanted his brother.\n    He was proud of his conquest, p"
	.ascii	"roud of tricking Edward,\n    and very proud of marrying pri"
	.ascii	"vately without his\n    mother's consent.  What immedia"
	.ascii	"tely followed is known.\n    They passed some months in grea"
	.ascii	"t happiness at Dawlish;\n    for she had many relations and "
	.ascii	"old acquaintances to\n    cut--and he drew several plans for"
	.ascii	" magnificent cottages;--\n    and from thence returning to t"
	.ascii	"own, procured the forgiveness\n    of Mrs. Ferrars, by the s"
	.ascii	"imple expedient of asking it,\n    which, at Lucy's instigat"
	.ascii	"ion, was adopted.  The forgiveness,\n    at first, indeed, a"
	.ascii	"s was reasonable, comprehended only Robert;\n    and Lucy, w"
	.ascii	"ho had owed his mother no duty and therefore\n    could have"
	.ascii	" transgressed none, still remained some weeks\n    longer un"
	.ascii	"pardoned.  But perseverance in humility of conduct\n    and "
	.ascii	"messages, in self-condemnation for Robert's offence,\n    an"
	.ascii	"d gratitude for the unkindness she was treated with,\n    pr"
	.ascii	"ocured her in time the haughty notice which overcame\n    he"
	.ascii	"r by its graciousness, and led soon afterwards, by rapid\n  "
	.ascii	"  degrees, to the highest state of affection and influence.\n"
	.ascii	"    Lucy became as necessary to Mrs. Ferrars, as either Robe"
	.ascii	"rt\n    or Fanny; and while Edward was never cordially forgi"
	.ascii	"ven\n    for having once intended to marry her, and Elinor,\n"
	.ascii	"    though superior to her in fortune and birth, was spoken\n"
	.ascii	"    of as an intruder, SHE was in every thing considered,\n "
	.ascii	"   and always openly acknowledged, to be a favourite child.\n"
	.ascii	"    They settled in town, received very liberal assistance\n"
	.ascii	"    from Mrs. Ferrars, were on the best terms imaginable\n  "
	.ascii	"  with the Dashwoods; and setting aside the jealousies\n    "
	.ascii	"and ill-will continually subsisting between Fanny and Lucy,\n"
	.ascii	"    in which their husbands of course took a part, as well\n"
	.ascii	"    as the frequent domestic disagreements between Robert an"
	.ascii	"d\n    Lucy themselves, nothing could exceed the harmony in "
	.ascii	"which\n    they all lived together.\n    \n    What Edward h"
	.ascii	"ad done to forfeit the right of eldest\n    son, might have "
	.ascii	"puzzled many people to find out; and what\n    Robert had do"
	.ascii	"ne to succeed to it, might have puzzled them\n    still more"
	.ascii	".  It was an arrangement, however, justified in\n "
	.ascii	"   its effects, if not in its cause; for nothing ever\n    a"
	.ascii	"ppeared in Robert's style of living or of talking to give\n "
	.ascii	"   a suspicion of his regretting the extent of his income,\n"
	.ascii	"    as either leaving his brother too little, or bringing\n "
	.ascii	"   himself too much;--and if Edward might be judged from\n  "
	.ascii	"  the ready discharge of his duties in every particular,\n  "
	.ascii	"  from an increasing attachment to his wife and his home,\n "
	.ascii	"   and from the regular cheerfulness of his spirits,\n    he"
	.ascii	" might be supposed no less contented with his lot,\n    no l"
	.ascii	"ess free from every wish of an exchange.\n    \n    Elinor's"
	.ascii	" marriage divided her as little from her\n    family as coul"
	.ascii	"d well be contrived, without rendering\n    the cottage at B"
	.ascii	"arton entirely useless, for her mother\n    and sisters spen"
	.ascii	"t much more than half their time with her.\n    Mrs. Dashwoo"
	.ascii	"d was acting on motives of policy as well\n    as pleasure i"
	.ascii	"n the frequency of her visits at Delaford;\n    for her wish"
	.ascii	" of bringing Marianne and Colonel Brandon together\n    was "
	.ascii	"hardly less earnest, though rather more liberal than\n    wh"
	.ascii	"at John had expressed.  It was now her darling object.\n    "
	.ascii	"Precious as was the company of her daughter to her,\n    she"
	.ascii	" desired nothing so much as to give up its constant\n    enj"
	.ascii	"oyment to her valued friend; and to see Marianne settled at\n"
	.ascii	"    the mansion-house was equally the wish of Edward and Eli"
	.ascii	"nor.\n    They each felt his sorrows, and their own obligati"
	.ascii	"ons,\n    and Marianne, by general consent, was to be the re"
	.ascii	"ward\n    of all.\n    \n    With such a confederacy against"
	.ascii	" her--with a knowledge\n    so intimate of his goodness--wit"
	.ascii	"h a conviction of his fond\n    attachment to herself, which"
	.ascii	" at last, though long after it\n    was observable to everyb"
	.ascii	"ody else--burst on her--what could she\n    do?\n    \n    M"
	.ascii	"arianne Dashwood was born to an extraordinary fate.\n    She"
	.ascii	" was born to discover the falsehood of her own opinions,\n  "
	.ascii	"  and to counteract, by her conduct, her most favourite maxi"
	.ascii	"ms.\n    She was born to overcome an affection formed so"
	.ascii	" late\n    in life as at seventeen, and with no sentiment\n "
	.ascii	"   superior to strong esteem and lively friendship,\n    vol"
	.ascii	"untarily to give her hand to another!--and THAT other,\n    "
	.ascii	"a man who had suffered no less than herself under the\n    e"
	.ascii	"vent of a former attachment, whom, two years before,\n    sh"
	.ascii	"e had considered too old to be married,--and who still\n    "
	.ascii	"sought the constitutional safeguard of a flannel waistcoat!\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    But so it was.  Instead of falling a sacrifice\n  "
	.ascii	"  to an irresistible passion, as once she had fondly\n    fl"
	.ascii	"attered herself with expecting,--instead of remaining\n    e"
	.ascii	"ven for ever with her mother, and finding her only\n    plea"
	.ascii	"sures in retirement and study, as afterwards in her\n    mor"
	.ascii	"e calm and sober judgment she had determined on,--\n    she "
	.ascii	"found herself at nineteen, submitting to new attachments,\n "
	.ascii	"   entering on new duties, placed in a new home, a wife,\n  "
	.ascii	"  the mistress of a family, and the patroness of a village.\n"
	.ascii	"    \n    Colonel Brandon was now as happy, as all those who"
	.ascii	" best\n    loved him, believed he deserved to be;--in Marian"
	.ascii	"ne he\n    was consoled for every past affliction;--her rega"
	.ascii	"rd and her\n    society restored his mind to animation, and "
	.ascii	"his spirits\n    to cheerfulness; and that Marianne found he"
	.ascii	"r own happiness\n    in forming his, was equally the persuas"
	.ascii	"ion and delight\n    of each observing friend.  Marianne cou"
	.ascii	"ld never love\n    by halves; and her whole heart became, in"
	.ascii	" time, as much\n    devoted to her husband, as it had once b"
	.ascii	"een to Willoughby.\n    \n    Willoughby could not hear of h"
	.ascii	"er marriage without\n    a pang; and his punishment was soon"
	.ascii	" afterwards complete\n    in the voluntary forgiveness of Mr"
	.ascii	"s. Smith, who, by stating\n    his marriage with a woman of "
	.ascii	"character, as the source\n    of her clemency, gave him reas"
	.ascii	"on for believing that had he\n    behaved with honour toward"
	.ascii	"s Marianne, he might at once have\n    been happy and rich. "
	.ascii	" That his repentance of misconduct,\n    which thus brought "
	.ascii	"its own punishment, was sincere,\n    need not be doubt"
	.ascii	"ed;--nor that he long thought of Colonel\n    Brandon with e"
	.ascii	"nvy, and of Marianne with regret.  But that\n    he was for "
	.ascii	"ever inconsolable, that he fled from society,\n    or contra"
	.ascii	"cted an habitual gloom of temper, or died of a\n    broken h"
	.ascii	"eart, must not be depended on--for he did neither.\n    He l"
	.ascii	"ived to exert, and frequently to enjoy himself.\n    His wif"
	.ascii	"e was not always out of humour, nor his home\n    always unc"
	.ascii	"omfortable; and in his breed of horses and dogs,\n    and in"
	.ascii	" sporting of every kind, he found no inconsiderable\n    deg"
	.ascii	"ree of domestic felicity.\n    \n    For Marianne, however--"
	.ascii	"in spite of his incivility\n    in surviving her loss--he al"
	.ascii	"ways retained that decided\n    regard which interested him "
	.ascii	"in every thing that befell her,\n    and made her his secret"
	.ascii	" standard of perfection in woman;--\n    and many a rising b"
	.ascii	"eauty would be slighted by him in\n    after-days as bearing"
	.ascii	" no comparison with Mrs. Brandon.\n    \n    Mrs. Dashwood w"
	.ascii	"as prudent enough to remain at the cottage,\n    without att"
	.ascii	"empting a removal to Delaford; and fortunately for\n    Sir "
	.ascii	"John and Mrs. Jennings, when Marianne was taken from them,\n"
	.ascii	"    Margaret had reached an age highly suitable for dancing,"
	.ascii	"\n    and not very ineligible for being supposed to have a l"
	.ascii	"over.\n    \n    Between Barton and Delaford, there was that"
	.ascii	" constant\n    communication which strong family affection w"
	.ascii	"ould\n    naturally dictate;--and among the merits and the h"
	.ascii	"appiness\n    of Elinor and Marianne, let it not be ranked a"
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	.string	"nd living almost within\n    sight of each other, they could live without disagreement\n    between themselves, or producing coolness between their husbands.\n    \n    THE END\n    \n    \n    End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Sense and Sensibility\n    \n    "
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sense:
	.ascii	"    The Project Gutenberg Etext of Sense and Sensib"
	.ascii	"ility, by Austen\012    \012    Please take a look "
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	.ascii	"    **Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla El"
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	.ascii	" your donations.\012    \012    \012    Sense and S"
	.ascii	"ensibility, by Jane Austen\012    \012    September"
	.ascii	", 1994  [Etext #161]\012    [Most recently updated:"
	.ascii	" November 3, 2003]\012    \012    \012    *****The "
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	.ascii	"    \012    \012    \012    \012    \012    \012   "
	.ascii	" SENSE AND SENSIBILITY\012    \012    by Jane Auste"
	.ascii	"n\012    (1811)\012    \012    \012    \012    \012"
	.ascii	"    CHAPTER 1\012    \012    \012    The family of "
	.ascii	"Dashwood had long been settled in Sussex.\012    Th"
	.ascii	"eir estate was large, and their residence was at No"
	.ascii	"rland Park,\012    in the centre of their property,"
	.ascii	" where, for many generations,\012    they had lived"
	.ascii	" in so respectable a manner as to engage\012    the"
	.ascii	" general good opinion of their surrounding acquaint"
	.ascii	"ance.\012    The late owner of this estate was a si"
	.ascii	"ngle man, who lived\012    to a very advanced age, "
	.ascii	"and who for many"
	.ascii	" years of his life,\012    had a constant companion"
	.ascii	" and housekeeper in his sister.\012    But her deat"
	.ascii	"h, which happened ten years before his own,\012    "
	.ascii	"produced a great alteration in his home; for to sup"
	.ascii	"ply\012    her loss, he invited and received into h"
	.ascii	"is house the family\012    of his nephew Mr. Henry "
	.ascii	"Dashwood, the legal inheritor\012    of the Norland"
	.ascii	" estate, and the person to whom he intended\012    "
	.ascii	"to bequeath it.  In the society of his nephew and n"
	.ascii	"iece,\012    and their children, the old Gentleman'"
	.ascii	"s days were\012    comfortably spent.  His attachme"
	.ascii	"nt to them all increased.\012    The constant atten"
	.ascii	"tion of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dashwood\012    to his w"
	.ascii	"ishes, which proceeded not merely from interest,\012"
	.ascii	"    but from goodness of heart, gave him every degr"
	.ascii	"ee of solid\012    comfort which his age could rece"
	.ascii	"ive; and the cheerfulness\012    of the children ad"
	.ascii	"ded a relish to his existence.\012    \012    By a "
	.ascii	"former marriage, Mr. Henry Dashwood had one\012    "
	.ascii	"son: by his present lady, three daughters.  The son"
	.ascii	",\012    a steady respectable young man, was amply "
	.ascii	"provided\012    for by the fortune of his mother, w"
	.ascii	"hich had been large,\012    and half of which devol"
	.ascii	"ved on him on his coming of age.\012    By his own "
	.ascii	"marriage, likewise, which happened soon afterwards,"
	.ascii	"\012    he added to his wealth.  To him therefore t"
	.ascii	"he succession\012    to the Norland estate was not "
	.ascii	"so really important as to\012    his sisters; for t"
	.ascii	"heir fortune, independent of what might\012    aris"
	.ascii	"e to them from their father's inheriting that prope"
	.ascii	"rty,\012    could be but small.  Their mother had n"
	.ascii	"othing, and their\012    father only seven thousand"
	.ascii	" pounds in his own disposal;\012    for the remaini"
	.ascii	"ng moiety of his first wife's fortune was\012    al"
	.ascii	"so secured to her child, and he had only a life-int"
	.ascii	"erest\012    in it.\012    \012    The old gentlema"
	.ascii	"n died: his will was read, and\012    like almost e"
	.ascii	"very other will, gave as much disappointment\012   "
	.ascii	" as pleasure.  He was neither so unjust, nor so ung"
	.ascii	"rateful,\012    as to leave his estate from his nep"
	.ascii	"hew;--but he left it to him\012    on such terms as"
	.ascii	" destroyed half "
	.ascii	"the value of the bequest.\012    Mr. Dashwood had w"
	.ascii	"ished for it more for the sake of his\012    wife a"
	.ascii	"nd daughters than for himself or his son;--but to\012"
	.ascii	"    his son, and his son's son, a child of four yea"
	.ascii	"rs old,\012    it was secured, in such a way, as to"
	.ascii	" leave to himself\012    no power of providing for "
	.ascii	"those who were most dear\012    to him, and who mos"
	.ascii	"t needed a provision by any charge\012    on the es"
	.ascii	"tate, or by any sale of its valuable woods.\012    "
	.ascii	"The whole was tied up for the benefit of this child"
	.ascii	", who,\012    in occasional visits with his father "
	.ascii	"and mother at Norland,\012    had so far gained on "
	.ascii	"the affections of his uncle,\012    by such attract"
	.ascii	"ions as are by no means unusual in children\012    "
	.ascii	"of two or three years old; an imperfect articulatio"
	.ascii	"n,\012    an earnest desire of having his own way, "
	.ascii	"many cunning tricks,\012    and a great deal of noi"
	.ascii	"se, as to outweigh all the value\012    of all the "
	.ascii	"attention which, for years, he had received\012    "
	.ascii	"from his niece and her daughters.  He meant not to\012"
	.ascii	"    be unkind, however, and, as a mark of his affec"
	.ascii	"tion\012    for the three girls, he left them a tho"
	.ascii	"usand pounds a-piece.\012    \012    Mr. Dashwood's"
	.ascii	" disappointment was, at first, severe;\012    but h"
	.ascii	"is temper was cheerful and sanguine; and he might\012"
	.ascii	"    reasonably hope to live many years, and by livi"
	.ascii	"ng economically,\012    lay by a considerable sum f"
	.ascii	"rom the produce of an estate\012    already large, "
	.ascii	"and capable of almost immediate improvement.\012   "
	.ascii	" But the fortune, which had been so tardy in coming"
	.ascii	", was his\012    only one twelvemonth.  He survived"
	.ascii	" his uncle no longer;\012    and ten thousand pound"
	.ascii	"s, including the late legacies,\012    was all that"
	.ascii	" remained for his widow and daughters.\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   His son was sent for as soon as his danger was k"
	.ascii	"nown,\012    and to him Mr. Dashwood recommended, w"
	.ascii	"ith all the strength\012    and urgency which illne"
	.ascii	"ss could command, the interest\012    of his mother"
	.ascii	"-in-law and sisters.\012    \012    Mr. John Dashwo"
	.ascii	"od had not the strong feelings of the\012    rest o"
	.ascii	"f the family; but he was affected by a recommendati"
	.ascii	"on\012    of "
	.ascii	"such a nature at such a time, and he promised to do"
	.ascii	"\012    every thing in his power to make them comfo"
	.ascii	"rtable.\012    His father was rendered easy by such"
	.ascii	" an assurance,\012    and Mr. John Dashwood had the"
	.ascii	"n leisure to consider how\012    much there might p"
	.ascii	"rudently be in his power to do for them.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    He was not an ill-disposed young man, unless to"
	.ascii	"\012    be rather cold hearted and rather selfish i"
	.ascii	"s to be\012    ill-disposed: but he was, in general"
	.ascii	", well respected;\012    for he conducted himself w"
	.ascii	"ith propriety in the discharge\012    of his ordina"
	.ascii	"ry duties.  Had he married a more amiable woman,\012"
	.ascii	"    he might have been made still more respectable "
	.ascii	"than he\012    was:--he might even have been made a"
	.ascii	"miable himself; for he\012    was very young when h"
	.ascii	"e married, and very fond of his wife.\012    But Mr"
	.ascii	"s. John Dashwood was a strong caricature of himself"
	.ascii	";--\012    more narrow-minded and selfish.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    When he gave his promise to his father, he medi"
	.ascii	"tated\012    within himself to increase the fortune"
	.ascii	"s of his sisters\012    by the present of a thousan"
	.ascii	"d pounds a-piece.  He then\012    really thought hi"
	.ascii	"mself equal to it.  The prospect of four\012    tho"
	.ascii	"usand a-year, in addition to his present income,\012"
	.ascii	"    besides the remaining half of his own mother's "
	.ascii	"fortune,\012    warmed his heart, and made him feel"
	.ascii	" capable of generosity.--\012    \"Yes, he would gi"
	.ascii	"ve them three thousand pounds: it would\012    be l"
	.ascii	"iberal and handsome! It would be enough to make\012"
	.ascii	"    them completely easy.  Three thousand pounds! h"
	.ascii	"e could\012    spare so considerable a sum with lit"
	.ascii	"tle inconvenience.\"--\012    He thought of it all "
	.ascii	"day long, and for many days successively,\012    an"
	.ascii	"d he did not repent.\012    \012    No sooner was h"
	.ascii	"is father's funeral over, than Mrs. John\012    Das"
	.ascii	"hwood, without sending any notice of her intention "
	.ascii	"to her\012    mother-in-law, arrived with her child"
	.ascii	" and their attendants.\012    No one could dispute "
	.ascii	"her right to come; the house was\012    her husband"
	.ascii	"'s from the moment of his father's decease;\012    "
	.ascii	"but the indelicacy of her conduct was so much the g"
	.ascii	"reater,\012    a"
	.ascii	"nd to a woman in Mrs. Dashwood's situation, with on"
	.ascii	"ly\012    common feelings, must have been highly un"
	.ascii	"pleasing;--\012    but in HER mind there was a sens"
	.ascii	"e of honor so keen,\012    a generosity so romantic"
	.ascii	", that any offence of the kind,\012    by whomsoeve"
	.ascii	"r given or received, was to her a source\012    of "
	.ascii	"immoveable disgust.  Mrs. John Dashwood had never\012"
	.ascii	"    been a favourite with any of her husband's fami"
	.ascii	"ly;\012    but she had had no opportunity, till the"
	.ascii	" present,\012    of shewing them with how little at"
	.ascii	"tention to the comfort\012    of other people she c"
	.ascii	"ould act when occasion required it.\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"So acutely did Mrs. Dashwood feel this ungracious\012"
	.ascii	"    behaviour, and so earnestly did she despise her"
	.ascii	"\012    daughter-in-law for it, that, on the arriva"
	.ascii	"l of the latter,\012    she would have quitted the "
	.ascii	"house for ever, had not the\012    entreaty of her "
	.ascii	"eldest girl induced her first to reflect\012    on "
	.ascii	"the propriety of going, and her own tender love for"
	.ascii	" all\012    her three children determined her after"
	.ascii	"wards to stay,\012    and for their sakes avoid a b"
	.ascii	"reach with their brother.\012    \012    Elinor, th"
	.ascii	"is eldest daughter, whose advice was\012    so effe"
	.ascii	"ctual, possessed a strength of understanding,\012  "
	.ascii	"  and coolness of judgment, which qualified her,\012"
	.ascii	"    though only nineteen, to be the counsellor of h"
	.ascii	"er mother,\012    and enabled her frequently to cou"
	.ascii	"nteract, to the advantage\012    of them all, that "
	.ascii	"eagerness of mind in Mrs. Dashwood\012    which mus"
	.ascii	"t generally have led to imprudence.  She had\012   "
	.ascii	" an excellent heart;--her disposition was affection"
	.ascii	"ate,\012    and her feelings were strong; but she k"
	.ascii	"new how to govern\012    them: it was a knowledge w"
	.ascii	"hich her mother had yet to learn;\012    and which "
	.ascii	"one of her sisters had resolved never to be taught."
	.ascii	"\012    \012    Marianne's abilities were, in many "
	.ascii	"respects,\012    quite equal to Elinor's. She was s"
	.ascii	"ensible and clever;\012    but eager in everything:"
	.ascii	" her sorrows, her joys, could have\012    no modera"
	.ascii	"tion.  She was generous, amiable, interesting: she\012"
	.ascii	"    was everything but prudent.  The resemblance be"
	.ascii	"tween\012   "
	.ascii	" her and her mother was strikingly great.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Elinor saw, with concern, the excess of her\012"
	.ascii	"    sister's sensibility; but by Mrs. Dashwood it w"
	.ascii	"as valued\012    and cherished.  They encouraged ea"
	.ascii	"ch other now in the\012    violence of their afflic"
	.ascii	"tion.  The agony of grief\012    which overpowered "
	.ascii	"them at first, was voluntarily renewed,\012    was "
	.ascii	"sought for, was created again and again.  They gave"
	.ascii	"\012    themselves up wholly to their sorrow, seeki"
	.ascii	"ng increase\012    of wretchedness in every reflect"
	.ascii	"ion that could afford it,\012    and resolved again"
	.ascii	"st ever admitting consolation\012    in future.  El"
	.ascii	"inor, too, was deeply afflicted; but still\012    s"
	.ascii	"he could struggle, she could exert herself.  She co"
	.ascii	"uld\012    consult with her brother, could receive "
	.ascii	"her sister-in-law\012    on her arrival, and treat "
	.ascii	"her with proper attention;\012    and could strive "
	.ascii	"to rouse her mother to similar exertion,\012    and"
	.ascii	" encourage her to similar forbearance.\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   Margaret, the other sister, was a good-humored,\012"
	.ascii	"    well-disposed girl; but as she had already imbi"
	.ascii	"bed\012    a good deal of Marianne's romance, witho"
	.ascii	"ut having\012    much of her sense, she did not, at"
	.ascii	" thirteen, bid fair\012    to equal her sisters at "
	.ascii	"a more advanced period of life.\012    \012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \012    CHAPTER 2\012    \012    \012    Mrs. J"
	.ascii	"ohn Dashwood now installed herself mistress\012    "
	.ascii	"of Norland; and her mother and sisters-in-law were "
	.ascii	"degraded\012    to the condition of visitors.  As s"
	.ascii	"uch, however, they were\012    treated by her with "
	.ascii	"quiet civility; and by her husband\012    with as m"
	.ascii	"uch kindness as he could feel towards anybody\012  "
	.ascii	"  beyond himself, his wife, and their child.  He re"
	.ascii	"ally\012    pressed them, with some earnestness, to"
	.ascii	" consider Norland\012    as their home; and, as no "
	.ascii	"plan appeared so eligible\012    to Mrs. Dashwood a"
	.ascii	"s remaining there till she could\012    accommodate"
	.ascii	" herself with a house in the neighbourhood,\012    "
	.ascii	"his invitation was accepted.\012    \012    A conti"
	.ascii	"nuance in a place where everything reminded\012    "
	.ascii	"her of former delight, was exactly what suited her "
	.ascii	"mind.\012    In seasons of cheerf"
	.ascii	"ulness, no temper could be more cheerful\012    tha"
	.ascii	"n hers, or possess, in a greater degree, that sangu"
	.ascii	"ine\012    expectation of happiness which is happin"
	.ascii	"ess itself.\012    But in sorrow she must be equall"
	.ascii	"y carried away by her fancy,\012    and as far beyo"
	.ascii	"nd consolation as in pleasure she was\012    beyond"
	.ascii	" alloy.\012    \012    Mrs. John Dashwood did not a"
	.ascii	"t all approve of what her\012    husband intended t"
	.ascii	"o do for his sisters.  To take three\012    thousan"
	.ascii	"d pounds from the fortune of their dear little boy\012"
	.ascii	"    would be impoverishing him to the most dreadful"
	.ascii	" degree.\012    She begged him to think again on th"
	.ascii	"e subject.  How could\012    he answer it to himsel"
	.ascii	"f to rob his child, and his only\012    child too, "
	.ascii	"of so large a sum?  And what possible claim\012    "
	.ascii	"could the Miss Dashwoods, who were related to him o"
	.ascii	"nly by\012    half blood, which she considered as n"
	.ascii	"o relationship at all,\012    have on his generosit"
	.ascii	"y to so large an amount.  It was very\012    well k"
	.ascii	"nown that no affection was ever supposed to exist\012"
	.ascii	"    between the children of any man by different ma"
	.ascii	"rriages;\012    and why was he to ruin himself, and"
	.ascii	" their poor little Harry,\012    by giving away all"
	.ascii	" his money to his half sisters?\012    \012    \"It"
	.ascii	" was my father's last request to me,\" replied\012 "
	.ascii	"   her husband, \"that I should assist his widow an"
	.ascii	"d daughters.\"\012    \012    \"He did not know wha"
	.ascii	"t he was talking of, I dare say;\012    ten to one "
	.ascii	"but he was light-headed at the time.\012    Had he "
	.ascii	"been in his right senses, he could not have thought"
	.ascii	"\012    of such a thing as begging you to give away"
	.ascii	" half your\012    fortune from your own child.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"He did not stipulate for any particul"
	.ascii	"ar sum,\012    my dear Fanny; he only requested me,"
	.ascii	" in general terms,\012    to assist them, and make "
	.ascii	"their situation more comfortable\012    than it was"
	.ascii	" in his power to do.  Perhaps it would\012    have "
	.ascii	"been as well if he had left it wholly to myself.\012"
	.ascii	"    He could hardly suppose I should neglect them.\012"
	.ascii	"    But as he required the promise, I could not do "
	.ascii	"less\012    than give it; at least I thought so at "
	.ascii	"the time.\012    The pr"
	.ascii	"omise, therefore, was given, and must be performed."
	.ascii	"\012    Something must be done for them whenever th"
	.ascii	"ey leave Norland\012    and settle in a new home.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"Well, then, LET something be done"
	.ascii	" for them;\012    but THAT something need not be th"
	.ascii	"ree thousand pounds.\012    Consider,\" she added, "
	.ascii	"\"that when the money is once\012    parted with, i"
	.ascii	"t never can return.  Your sisters will marry,\012  "
	.ascii	"  and it will be gone for ever.  If, indeed, it cou"
	.ascii	"ld\012    be restored to our poor little boy--\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Why, to be sure,\" said her husband, "
	.ascii	"very gravely,\012    \"that would make great differ"
	.ascii	"ence.  The time may come when\012    Harry will reg"
	.ascii	"ret that so large a sum was parted with.\012    If "
	.ascii	"he should have a numerous family, for instance, it "
	.ascii	"would\012    be a very convenient addition.\"\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    \"To be sure it would.\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"Perhaps, then, it would be better for all parties,\012"
	.ascii	"    if the sum were diminished one half.--Five hund"
	.ascii	"red pounds\012    would be a prodigious increase to"
	.ascii	" their fortunes!\"\012    \012    \"Oh! beyond anyt"
	.ascii	"hing great!  What brother on earth\012    would do "
	.ascii	"half so much for his sisters, even if REALLY\012   "
	.ascii	" his sisters!  And as it is--only half blood!--But "
	.ascii	"you\012    have such a generous spirit!\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"I would not wish to do any thing mean,\" he r"
	.ascii	"eplied.\012    \"One had rather, on such occasions,"
	.ascii	" do too much than\012    too little.  No one, at le"
	.ascii	"ast, can think I have not\012    done enough for th"
	.ascii	"em: even themselves, they can hardly\012    expect "
	.ascii	"more.\"\012    \012    \"There is no knowing what T"
	.ascii	"HEY may expect,\"\012    said the lady, \"but we ar"
	.ascii	"e not to think of their\012    expectations: the qu"
	.ascii	"estion is, what you can afford to do.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Certainly--and I think I may afford to give t"
	.ascii	"hem five\012    hundred pounds a-piece.  As it is, "
	.ascii	"without any addition\012    of mine, they will each"
	.ascii	" have about three thousand pounds\012    on their m"
	.ascii	"other's death--a very comfortable fortune\012    fo"
	.ascii	"r any young woman.\"\012    \012    \"To be sure it"
	.ascii	" is; and, indeed, it strikes me that\012    they ca"
	.ascii	"n want no addition at all.  They will have ten\012 "
	.ascii	"   thousand pou"
	.ascii	"nds divided amongst them.  If they marry,\012    th"
	.ascii	"ey will be sure of doing well, and if they do not,\012"
	.ascii	"    they may all live very comfortably together on "
	.ascii	"the interest\012    of ten thousand pounds.\"\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    \"That is very true, and, therefore, I do"
	.ascii	" not know whether,\012    upon the whole, it would "
	.ascii	"not be more advisable to do\012    something for th"
	.ascii	"eir mother while she lives, rather than\012    for "
	.ascii	"them--something of the annuity kind I mean.--My sis"
	.ascii	"ters\012    would feel the good effects of it as we"
	.ascii	"ll as herself.\012    A hundred a year would make t"
	.ascii	"hem all perfectly comfortable.\"\012    \012    His"
	.ascii	" wife hesitated a little, however, in giving\012   "
	.ascii	" her consent to this plan.\012    \012    \"To be s"
	.ascii	"ure,\" said she, \"it is better than parting with\012"
	.ascii	"    fifteen hundred pounds at once.  But, then, if "
	.ascii	"Mrs. Dashwood\012    should live fifteen years we s"
	.ascii	"hall be completely taken in.\"\012    \012    \"Fif"
	.ascii	"teen years! my dear Fanny; her life cannot\012    b"
	.ascii	"e worth half that purchase.\"\012    \012    \"Cert"
	.ascii	"ainly not; but if you observe, people always\012   "
	.ascii	" live for ever when there is an annuity to be paid "
	.ascii	"them;\012    and she is very stout and healthy, and"
	.ascii	" hardly forty.\012    An annuity is a very serious "
	.ascii	"business; it comes over\012    and over every year,"
	.ascii	" and there is no getting rid\012    of it.  You are"
	.ascii	" not aware of what you are doing.\012    I have kno"
	.ascii	"wn a great deal of the trouble of annuities;\012   "
	.ascii	" for my mother was clogged with the payment of thre"
	.ascii	"e\012    to old superannuated servants by my father"
	.ascii	"'s will,\012    and it is amazing how disagreeable "
	.ascii	"she found it.\012    Twice every year these annuiti"
	.ascii	"es were to be paid; and then\012    there was the t"
	.ascii	"rouble of getting it to them; and then one\012    o"
	.ascii	"f them was said to have died, and afterwards it tur"
	.ascii	"ned\012    out to be no such thing.  My mother was "
	.ascii	"quite sick of it.\012    Her income was not her own"
	.ascii	", she said, with such perpetual\012    claims on it"
	.ascii	"; and it was the more unkind in my father,\012    b"
	.ascii	"ecause, otherwise, the money would have been entire"
	.ascii	"ly at\012    my mother's disposal, without any rest"
	.ascii	"riction whatever.\012    It has gi"
	.ascii	"ven me such an abhorrence of annuities, that I am\012"
	.ascii	"    sure I would not pin myself down to the payment"
	.ascii	" of one for\012    all the world.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"It is certainly an unpleasant thing,\" replied Mr"
	.ascii	". Dashwood,\012    \"to have those kind of yearly d"
	.ascii	"rains on one's income.\012    One's fortune, as you"
	.ascii	"r mother justly says, is NOT one's own.\012    To b"
	.ascii	"e tied down to the regular payment of such a sum,\012"
	.ascii	"    on every rent day, is by no means desirable: it"
	.ascii	" takes away\012    one's independence.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Undoubtedly; and after all you have no thanks"
	.ascii	" for it.\012    They think themselves secure, you d"
	.ascii	"o no more than what\012    is expected, and it rais"
	.ascii	"es no gratitude at all.  If I were you,\012    what"
	.ascii	"ever I did should be done at my own discretion enti"
	.ascii	"rely.\012    I would not bind myself to allow them "
	.ascii	"any thing yearly.\012    It may be very inconvenien"
	.ascii	"t some years to spare a hundred,\012    or even fif"
	.ascii	"ty pounds from our own expenses.\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"I believe you are right, my love; it will be better"
	.ascii	"\012    that there should by no annuity in the case"
	.ascii	"; whatever I\012    may give them occasionally will"
	.ascii	" be of far greater assistance\012    than a yearly "
	.ascii	"allowance, because they would only enlarge\012    t"
	.ascii	"heir style of living if they felt sure of a larger "
	.ascii	"income,\012    and would not be sixpence the richer"
	.ascii	" for it at the end\012    of the year.  It will cer"
	.ascii	"tainly be much the best way.\012    A present of fi"
	.ascii	"fty pounds, now and then, will prevent\012    their"
	.ascii	" ever being distressed for money, and will, I think"
	.ascii	",\012    be amply discharging my promise to my fath"
	.ascii	"er.\"\012    \012    \"To be sure it will.  Indeed,"
	.ascii	" to say the truth,\012    I am convinced within mys"
	.ascii	"elf that your father had no idea\012    of your giv"
	.ascii	"ing them any money at all.  The assistance\012    h"
	.ascii	"e thought of, I dare say, was only such as might be"
	.ascii	"\012    reasonably expected of you; for instance, s"
	.ascii	"uch as looking\012    out for a comfortable small h"
	.ascii	"ouse for them, helping them\012    to move their th"
	.ascii	"ings, and sending them presents of fish\012    and "
	.ascii	"game, and so forth, whenever they are in season.\012"
	.ascii	"    I'll lay my life that "
	.ascii	"he meant nothing farther; indeed,\012    it would b"
	.ascii	"e very strange and unreasonable if he did.\012    D"
	.ascii	"o but consider, my dear Mr. Dashwood, how excessive"
	.ascii	"ly\012    comfortable your mother-in-law and her da"
	.ascii	"ughters may live\012    on the interest of seven th"
	.ascii	"ousand pounds, besides the\012    thousand pounds b"
	.ascii	"elonging to each of the girls, which brings\012    "
	.ascii	"them in fifty pounds a year a-piece, and, of course"
	.ascii	",\012    they will pay their mother for their board"
	.ascii	" out of it.\012    Altogether, they will have five "
	.ascii	"hundred a-year amongst them,\012    and what on ear"
	.ascii	"th can four women want for more than\012    that?--"
	.ascii	"They will live so cheap! Their housekeeping will\012"
	.ascii	"    be nothing at all.  They will have no carriage,"
	.ascii	" no horses,\012    and hardly any servants; they wi"
	.ascii	"ll keep no company,\012    and can have no expenses"
	.ascii	" of any kind!  Only conceive\012    how comfortable"
	.ascii	" they will be!  Five hundred a year! I am\012    su"
	.ascii	"re I cannot imagine how they will spend half of it;"
	.ascii	"\012    and as to your giving them more, it is quit"
	.ascii	"e absurd to think\012    of it.  They will be much "
	.ascii	"more able to give YOU something.\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"Upon my word,\" said Mr. Dashwood, \"I believe you\012"
	.ascii	"    are perfectly right.  My father certainly could"
	.ascii	" mean\012    nothing more by his request to me than"
	.ascii	" what you say.\012    I clearly understand it now, "
	.ascii	"and I will strictly fulfil\012    my engagement by "
	.ascii	"such acts of assistance and kindness\012    to them"
	.ascii	" as you have described.  When my mother removes\012"
	.ascii	"    into another house my services shall be readily"
	.ascii	" given\012    to accommodate her as far as I can.  "
	.ascii	"Some little present\012    of furniture too may be "
	.ascii	"acceptable then.\"\012    \012    \"Certainly,\" re"
	.ascii	"turned Mrs. John Dashwood.  \"But, however,\012    "
	.ascii	"ONE thing must be considered.  When your father and"
	.ascii	" mother\012    moved to Norland, though the furnitu"
	.ascii	"re of Stanhill\012    was sold, all the china, plat"
	.ascii	"e, and linen was saved,\012    and is now left to y"
	.ascii	"our mother.  Her house will therefore\012    be alm"
	.ascii	"ost completely fitted up as soon as she takes it.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"That is a material consideration "
	.ascii	"undoubtedly.\012    A val"
	.ascii	"uable legacy indeed! And yet some of the plate woul"
	.ascii	"d\012    have been a very pleasant addition to our "
	.ascii	"own stock here.\"\012    \012    \"Yes; and the set"
	.ascii	" of breakfast china is twice\012    as handsome as "
	.ascii	"what belongs to this house.  A great\012    deal to"
	.ascii	"o handsome, in my opinion, for any place THEY\012  "
	.ascii	"  can ever afford to live in.  But, however, so it "
	.ascii	"is.\012    Your father thought only of THEM.  And I"
	.ascii	" must say this:\012    that you owe no particular g"
	.ascii	"ratitude to him, nor attention\012    to his wishes"
	.ascii	"; for we very well know that if he could,\012    he"
	.ascii	" would have left almost everything in the world to "
	.ascii	"THEM.\"\012    \012    This argument was irresistib"
	.ascii	"le.  It gave to his\012    intentions whatever of d"
	.ascii	"ecision was wanting before; and he\012    finally r"
	.ascii	"esolved, that it would be absolutely unnecessary,\012"
	.ascii	"    if not highly indecorous, to do more for the wi"
	.ascii	"dow\012    and children of his father, than such ki"
	.ascii	"nd of neighbourly\012    acts as his own wife point"
	.ascii	"ed out.\012    \012    \012    \012    CHAPTER 3\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \012    Mrs. Dashwood remained at Norla"
	.ascii	"nd several months;\012    not from any disinclinati"
	.ascii	"on to move when the sight of every\012    well know"
	.ascii	"n spot ceased to raise the violent emotion which it"
	.ascii	"\012    produced for a while; for when her spirits "
	.ascii	"began to revive,\012    and her mind became capable"
	.ascii	" of some other exertion than that\012    of heighte"
	.ascii	"ning its affliction by melancholy remembrances,\012"
	.ascii	"    she was impatient to be gone, and indefatigable"
	.ascii	" in her inquiries\012    for a suitable dwelling in"
	.ascii	" the neighbourhood of Norland;\012    for to remove"
	.ascii	" far from that beloved spot was impossible.\012    "
	.ascii	"But she could hear of no situation that at once ans"
	.ascii	"wered\012    her notions of comfort and ease, and s"
	.ascii	"uited the prudence\012    of her eldest daughter, w"
	.ascii	"hose steadier judgment rejected\012    several hous"
	.ascii	"es as too large for their income, which her\012    "
	.ascii	"mother would have approved.\012    \012    Mrs. Das"
	.ascii	"hwood had been informed by her husband of the\012  "
	.ascii	"  solemn promise on the part of his son in their fa"
	.ascii	"vour,\012    which gave comfort to his last earthly"
	.ascii	" reflections.\012    She doubted th"
	.ascii	"e sincerity of this assurance no more than he\012  "
	.ascii	"  had doubted it himself, and she thought of it for"
	.ascii	" her daughters'\012    sake with satisfaction, thou"
	.ascii	"gh as for herself she was\012    persuaded that a m"
	.ascii	"uch smaller provision than 7000L would\012    suppo"
	.ascii	"rt her in affluence.  For their brother's sake, too"
	.ascii	",\012    for the sake of his own heart, she rejoice"
	.ascii	"d; and she\012    reproached herself for being unju"
	.ascii	"st to his merit before,\012    in believing him inc"
	.ascii	"apable of generosity.  His attentive\012    behavio"
	.ascii	"ur to herself and his sisters convinced her that\012"
	.ascii	"    their welfare was dear to him, and, for a long "
	.ascii	"time,\012    she firmly relied on the liberality of"
	.ascii	" his intentions.\012    \012    The contempt which "
	.ascii	"she had, very early in their acquaintance,\012    f"
	.ascii	"elt for her daughter-in-law, was very much increase"
	.ascii	"d\012    by the farther knowledge of her character,"
	.ascii	" which half\012    a year's residence in her family"
	.ascii	" afforded; and perhaps\012    in spite of every con"
	.ascii	"sideration of politeness or maternal\012    affecti"
	.ascii	"on on the side of the former, the two ladies might\012"
	.ascii	"    have found it impossible to have lived together"
	.ascii	" so long,\012    had not a particular circumstance "
	.ascii	"occurred to give\012    still greater eligibility, "
	.ascii	"according to the opinions\012    of Mrs. Dashwood, "
	.ascii	"to her daughters' continuance at Norland.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    This circumstance was a growing attachment betw"
	.ascii	"een\012    her eldest girl and the brother of Mrs. "
	.ascii	"John Dashwood,\012    a gentleman-like and pleasing"
	.ascii	" young man, who was introduced\012    to their acqu"
	.ascii	"aintance soon after his sister's establishment\012 "
	.ascii	"   at Norland, and who had since spent the greatest"
	.ascii	" part\012    of his time there.\012    \012    Some"
	.ascii	" mothers might have encouraged the intimacy from\012"
	.ascii	"    motives of interest, for Edward Ferrars was the"
	.ascii	" eldest son\012    of a man who had died very rich;"
	.ascii	" and some might have repressed\012    it from motiv"
	.ascii	"es of prudence, for, except a trifling sum,\012    "
	.ascii	"the whole of his fortune depended on the will of hi"
	.ascii	"s mother.\012    But Mrs. Dashwood was alike uninfl"
	.ascii	"uenced by either consideration.\012    It was enoug"
	.ascii	"h for her "
	.ascii	"that he appeared to be amiable,\012    that he love"
	.ascii	"d her daughter, and that Elinor returned\012    the"
	.ascii	" partiality.  It was contrary to every doctrine of\012"
	.ascii	"    her's that difference of fortune should keep an"
	.ascii	"y couple\012    asunder who were attracted by resem"
	.ascii	"blance of disposition;\012    and that Elinor's mer"
	.ascii	"it should not be acknowledged\012    by every one w"
	.ascii	"ho knew her, was to her comprehension impossible.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Edward Ferrars was not recommended to t"
	.ascii	"heir good\012    opinion by any peculiar graces of "
	.ascii	"person or address.\012    He was not handsome, and "
	.ascii	"his manners required intimacy\012    to make them p"
	.ascii	"leasing.  He was too diffident to do justice\012   "
	.ascii	" to himself; but when his natural shyness was overc"
	.ascii	"ome,\012    his behaviour gave every indication of "
	.ascii	"an open,\012    affectionate heart.  His understand"
	.ascii	"ing was good,\012    and his education had given it"
	.ascii	" solid improvement.\012    But he was neither fitte"
	.ascii	"d by abilities nor disposition\012    to answer the"
	.ascii	" wishes of his mother and sister, who longed\012   "
	.ascii	" to see him distinguished--as--they hardly knew wha"
	.ascii	"t.\012    They wanted him to make a fine figure in "
	.ascii	"the world in some\012    manner or other.  His moth"
	.ascii	"er wished to interest him in\012    political conce"
	.ascii	"rns, to get him into parliament, or to see\012    h"
	.ascii	"im connected with some of the great men of the day."
	.ascii	"\012    Mrs. John Dashwood wished it likewise; but "
	.ascii	"in the mean while,\012    till one of these superio"
	.ascii	"r blessings could be attained, it would\012    have"
	.ascii	" quieted her ambition to see him driving a barouche"
	.ascii	".\012    But Edward had no turn for great men or ba"
	.ascii	"rouches.\012    All his wishes centered in domestic"
	.ascii	" comfort and the quiet\012    of private life.  For"
	.ascii	"tunately he had a younger brother\012    who was mo"
	.ascii	"re promising.\012    \012    Edward had been stayin"
	.ascii	"g several weeks in the house\012    before he engag"
	.ascii	"ed much of Mrs. Dashwood's attention;\012    for sh"
	.ascii	"e was, at that time, in such affliction as rendered"
	.ascii	"\012    her careless of surrounding objects.  She s"
	.ascii	"aw only that he\012    was quiet and unobtrusive, a"
	.ascii	"nd she liked him for it.\012    He did not disturb "
	.ascii	"the wretched"
	.ascii	"ness of her mind by\012    ill-timed conversation. "
	.ascii	" She was first called to observe\012    and approve"
	.ascii	" him farther, by a reflection which Elinor\012    c"
	.ascii	"hanced one day to make on the difference between hi"
	.ascii	"m\012    and his sister.  It was a contrast which r"
	.ascii	"ecommended him\012    most forcibly to her mother.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"It is enough,\" said she; \"to say th"
	.ascii	"at he is unlike\012    Fanny is enough.  It implies"
	.ascii	" everything amiable.\012    I love him already.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"I think you will like him,\" said Eli"
	.ascii	"nor, \"when you\012    know more of him.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Like him!\" replied her mother with a smile.\012"
	.ascii	"    \"I feel no sentiment of approbation inferior t"
	.ascii	"o love.\"\012    \012    \"You may esteem him.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"I have never yet known what it was to"
	.ascii	" separate\012    esteem and love.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"Mrs. Dashwood now took pains to get acquainted with"
	.ascii	" him.\012    Her manners were attaching, and soon b"
	.ascii	"anished his reserve.\012    She speedily comprehend"
	.ascii	"ed all his merits; the persuasion\012    of his reg"
	.ascii	"ard for Elinor perhaps assisted her penetration;\012"
	.ascii	"    but she really felt assured of his worth: and e"
	.ascii	"ven that\012    quietness of manner, which militate"
	.ascii	"d against all her\012    established ideas of what "
	.ascii	"a young man's address ought to be,\012    was no lo"
	.ascii	"nger uninteresting when she knew his heart to be\012"
	.ascii	"    warm and his temper affectionate.\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  No sooner did she perceive any symptom of love\012"
	.ascii	"    in his behaviour to Elinor, than she considered"
	.ascii	" their\012    serious attachment as certain, and lo"
	.ascii	"oked forward\012    to their marriage as rapidly ap"
	.ascii	"proaching.\012    \012    \"In a few months, my dea"
	.ascii	"r Marianne.\" said she,\012    \"Elinor will, in al"
	.ascii	"l probability be settled for life.\012    We shall "
	.ascii	"miss her; but SHE will be happy.\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"Oh! Mamma, how shall we do without her?\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"My love, it will be scarcely a separation.\012"
	.ascii	"    We shall live within a few miles of each other,"
	.ascii	" and shall\012    meet every day of our lives.  You"
	.ascii	" will gain a brother,\012    a real, affectionate b"
	.ascii	"rother.  I have the highest opinion\012    in the w"
	.ascii	"orld of Edward's heart.  But you look grave,\012   "
	.ascii	" Maria"
	.ascii	"nne; do you disapprove your sister's choice?\"\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"Perhaps,\" said Marianne, \"I may cons"
	.ascii	"ider it\012    with some surprise.  Edward is very "
	.ascii	"amiable, and I love\012    him tenderly.  But yet--"
	.ascii	"he is not the kind of young\012    man--there is so"
	.ascii	"mething wanting--his figure is not striking;\012   "
	.ascii	" it has none of that grace which I should expect\012"
	.ascii	"    in the man who could seriously attach my sister"
	.ascii	".\012    His eyes want all that spirit, that fire, "
	.ascii	"which at once\012    announce virtue and intelligen"
	.ascii	"ce.  And besides all this,\012    I am afraid, Mamm"
	.ascii	"a, he has no real taste.  Music seems\012    scarce"
	.ascii	"ly to attract him, and though he admires Elinor's\012"
	.ascii	"    drawings very much, it is not the admiration of"
	.ascii	" a person\012    who can understand their worth.  I"
	.ascii	"t is evident, in spite of\012    his frequent atten"
	.ascii	"tion to her while she draws, that in fact\012    he"
	.ascii	" knows nothing of the matter.  He admires as a love"
	.ascii	"r,\012    not as a connoisseur.  To satisfy me, tho"
	.ascii	"se characters\012    must be united.  I could not b"
	.ascii	"e happy with a man whose\012    taste did not in ev"
	.ascii	"ery point coincide with my own.\012    He must ente"
	.ascii	"r into all my feelings; the same books,\012    the "
	.ascii	"same music must charm us both.  Oh! mama, how spiri"
	.ascii	"tless,\012    how tame was Edward's manner in readi"
	.ascii	"ng to us last night!\012    I felt for my sister mo"
	.ascii	"st severely.  Yet she bore it\012    with so much c"
	.ascii	"omposure, she seemed scarcely to notice it.\012    "
	.ascii	"I could hardly keep my seat.  To hear those beautif"
	.ascii	"ul lines\012    which have frequently almost driven"
	.ascii	" me wild, pronounced\012    with such impenetrable "
	.ascii	"calmness, such dreadful indifference!\"--\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"He would certainly have done more justice to\012"
	.ascii	"    simple and elegant prose.  I thought so at the "
	.ascii	"time;\012    but you WOULD give him Cowper.\"\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    \"Nay, Mamma, if he is not to be animated"
	.ascii	" by Cowper!--\012    but we must allow for differen"
	.ascii	"ce of taste.  Elinor has\012    not my feelings, an"
	.ascii	"d therefore she may overlook it, and\012    be happ"
	.ascii	"y with him.  But it would have broke MY heart,\012 "
	.ascii	"   had I loved him, to hear him read with so little"
	.ascii	" sensibility.\012   "
	.ascii	" Mama, the more I know of the world, the more am I "
	.ascii	"convinced\012    that I shall never see a man whom "
	.ascii	"I can really love.\012    I require so much!  He mu"
	.ascii	"st have all Edward's virtues,\012    and his person"
	.ascii	" and manners must ornament his goodness\012    with"
	.ascii	" every possible charm.\"\012    \012    \"Remember,"
	.ascii	" my love, that you are not seventeen.\012    It is "
	.ascii	"yet too early in life to despair of such a happines"
	.ascii	"s.\012    Why should you be less fortunate than you"
	.ascii	"r mother?  In\012    one circumstance only, my Mari"
	.ascii	"anne, may your destiny be\012    different from her"
	.ascii	"'s!\"\012    \012    \012    \012    CHAPTER 4\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \012    \"What a pity it is, Elinor,\" s"
	.ascii	"aid Marianne,\012    \"that Edward should have no t"
	.ascii	"aste for drawing.\"\012    \012    \"No taste for d"
	.ascii	"rawing!\" replied Elinor, \"why should\012    you t"
	.ascii	"hink so? He does not draw himself, indeed, but he h"
	.ascii	"as\012    great pleasure in seeing the performances"
	.ascii	" of other people,\012    and I assure you he is by "
	.ascii	"no means deficient in natural taste,\012    though "
	.ascii	"he has not had opportunities of improving it.\012  "
	.ascii	"  Had he ever been in the way of learning, I think "
	.ascii	"he would\012    have drawn very well.  He distrusts"
	.ascii	" his own judgment\012    in such matters so much, t"
	.ascii	"hat he is always unwilling\012    to give his opini"
	.ascii	"on on any picture; but he has an innate\012    prop"
	.ascii	"riety and simplicity of taste, which in general\012"
	.ascii	"    direct him perfectly right.\"\012    \012    Ma"
	.ascii	"rianne was afraid of offending, and said no more\012"
	.ascii	"    on the subject; but the kind of approbation whi"
	.ascii	"ch Elinor\012    described as excited in him by the"
	.ascii	" drawings of other\012    people, was very far from"
	.ascii	" that rapturous delight, which,\012    in her opini"
	.ascii	"on, could alone be called taste.  Yet, though\012  "
	.ascii	"  smiling within herself at the mistake, she honour"
	.ascii	"ed\012    her sister for that blind partiality to E"
	.ascii	"dward which produced it.\012    \012    \"I hope, M"
	.ascii	"arianne,\" continued Elinor, \"you do not\012    co"
	.ascii	"nsider him as deficient in general taste.  Indeed, "
	.ascii	"I think\012    I may say that you cannot, for your "
	.ascii	"behaviour to him\012    is perfectly cordial, and i"
	.ascii	"f THAT were your opinion,\012    I am sure you coul"
	.ascii	"d n"
	.ascii	"ever be civil to him.\"\012    \012    Marianne har"
	.ascii	"dly knew what to say.  She would\012    not wound t"
	.ascii	"he feelings of her sister on any account,\012    an"
	.ascii	"d yet to say what she did not believe was impossibl"
	.ascii	"e.\012    At length she replied:\012    \012    \"D"
	.ascii	"o not be offended, Elinor, if my praise of him\012 "
	.ascii	"   is not in every thing equal to your sense of his"
	.ascii	" merits.\012    I have not had so many opportunitie"
	.ascii	"s of estimating the minuter\012    propensities of "
	.ascii	"his mind, his inclinations and tastes,\012    as yo"
	.ascii	"u have; but I have the highest opinion in the world"
	.ascii	"\012    of his goodness and sense.  I think him eve"
	.ascii	"ry thing that is\012    worthy and amiable.\"\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    \"I am sure,\" replied Elinor, with a smi"
	.ascii	"le,\012    \"that his dearest friends could not be "
	.ascii	"dissatisfied\012    with such commendation as that."
	.ascii	"  I do not perceive\012    how you could express yo"
	.ascii	"urself more warmly.\"\012    \012    Marianne was r"
	.ascii	"ejoiced to find her sister so easily pleased.\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    \"Of his sense and his goodness,\" contin"
	.ascii	"ued Elinor,\012    \"no one can, I think, be in dou"
	.ascii	"bt, who has seen him\012    often enough to engage "
	.ascii	"him in unreserved conversation.\012    The excellen"
	.ascii	"ce of his understanding and his principles\012    c"
	.ascii	"an be concealed only by that shyness which too ofte"
	.ascii	"n\012    keeps him silent.  You know enough of him "
	.ascii	"to do justice\012    to his solid worth.  But of hi"
	.ascii	"s minuter propensities,\012    as you call them you"
	.ascii	" have from peculiar circumstances\012    been kept "
	.ascii	"more ignorant than myself.  He and I have\012    be"
	.ascii	"en at times thrown a good deal together, while you\012"
	.ascii	"    have been wholly engrossed on the most affectio"
	.ascii	"nate\012    principle by my mother.  I have seen a "
	.ascii	"great deal of him,\012    have studied his sentimen"
	.ascii	"ts and heard his opinion on\012    subjects of lite"
	.ascii	"rature and taste; and, upon the whole,\012    I ven"
	.ascii	"ture to pronounce that his mind is well-informed,\012"
	.ascii	"    enjoyment of books exceedingly great, his imagi"
	.ascii	"nation lively,\012    his observation just and corr"
	.ascii	"ect, and his taste delicate\012    and pure.  His a"
	.ascii	"bilities in every respect improve\012    as much up"
	.ascii	"on acquaintance as his manners and"
	.ascii	" person.\012    At first sight, his address is cert"
	.ascii	"ainly not striking;\012    and his person can hardl"
	.ascii	"y be called handsome, till the\012    expression of"
	.ascii	" his eyes, which are uncommonly good,\012    and th"
	.ascii	"e general sweetness of his countenance, is perceive"
	.ascii	"d.\012    At present, I know him so well, that I th"
	.ascii	"ink him\012    really handsome; or at least, almost"
	.ascii	" so.  What say you,\012    Marianne?\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"I shall very soon think him handsome, Elinor, "
	.ascii	"if I\012    do not now.  When you tell me to love h"
	.ascii	"im as a brother,\012    I shall no more see imperfe"
	.ascii	"ction in his face, than I now do\012    in his hear"
	.ascii	"t.\"\012    \012    Elinor started at this declarat"
	.ascii	"ion, and was sorry for\012    the warmth she had be"
	.ascii	"en betrayed into, in speaking of him.\012    She fe"
	.ascii	"lt that Edward stood very high in her opinion.\012 "
	.ascii	"   She believed the regard to be mutual; but she re"
	.ascii	"quired\012    greater certainty of it to make Maria"
	.ascii	"nne's conviction\012    of their attachment agreeab"
	.ascii	"le to her.  She knew that\012    what Marianne and "
	.ascii	"her mother conjectured one moment,\012    they beli"
	.ascii	"eved the next--that with them, to wish was to hope,"
	.ascii	"\012    and to hope was to expect.  She tried to ex"
	.ascii	"plain the real\012    state of the case to her sist"
	.ascii	"er.\012    \012    \"I do not attempt to deny,\" sa"
	.ascii	"id she, \"that I think\012    very highly of him--t"
	.ascii	"hat I greatly esteem, that I like him.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Marianne here burst forth with indignation--\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Esteem him! Like him! Cold-hearted El"
	.ascii	"inor! Oh!\012    worse than cold-hearted! Ashamed o"
	.ascii	"f being otherwise.\012    Use those words again, an"
	.ascii	"d I will leave the room this moment.\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   Elinor could not help laughing.  \"Excuse me,\"\012"
	.ascii	"    said she; \"and be assured that I meant no offe"
	.ascii	"nce to you,\012    by speaking, in so quiet a way, "
	.ascii	"of my own feelings.\012    Believe them to be stron"
	.ascii	"ger than I have declared;\012    believe them, in s"
	.ascii	"hort, to be such as his merit, and the\012    suspi"
	.ascii	"cion--the hope of his affection for me may warrant,"
	.ascii	"\012    without imprudence or folly.  But farther t"
	.ascii	"han this you must\012    not believe.  I am by no m"
	.ascii	"eans assured of his regard for me.\012    "
	.ascii	"There are moments when the extent of it seems doubt"
	.ascii	"ful;\012    and till his sentiments are fully known"
	.ascii	", you cannot wonder\012    at my wishing to avoid a"
	.ascii	"ny encouragement of my own partiality,\012    by be"
	.ascii	"lieving or calling it more than it is.  In my heart"
	.ascii	"\012    I feel little--scarcely any doubt of his pr"
	.ascii	"eference.\012    But there are other points to be c"
	.ascii	"onsidered besides\012    his inclination.  He is ve"
	.ascii	"ry far from being independent.\012    What his moth"
	.ascii	"er really is we cannot know; but, from Fanny's\012 "
	.ascii	"   occasional mention of her conduct and opinions, "
	.ascii	"we have\012    never been disposed to think her ami"
	.ascii	"able; and I am very\012    much mistaken if Edward "
	.ascii	"is not himself aware that there\012    would be man"
	.ascii	"y difficulties in his way, if he were to wish\012  "
	.ascii	"  to marry a woman who had not either a great fortu"
	.ascii	"ne or\012    high rank.\"\012    \012    Marianne w"
	.ascii	"as astonished to find how much the imagination\012 "
	.ascii	"   of her mother and herself had outstripped the tr"
	.ascii	"uth.\012    \012    \"And you really are not engage"
	.ascii	"d to him!\" said she.\012    \"Yet it certainly soo"
	.ascii	"n will happen.  But two advantages\012    will proc"
	.ascii	"eed from this delay.  I shall not lose you so soon,"
	.ascii	"\012    and Edward will have greater opportunity of"
	.ascii	" improving\012    that natural taste for your favou"
	.ascii	"rite pursuit which must\012    be so indispensably "
	.ascii	"necessary to your future felicity.\012    Oh! if he"
	.ascii	" should be so far stimulated by your genius as to\012"
	.ascii	"    learn to draw himself, how delightful it would "
	.ascii	"be!\"\012    \012    Elinor had given her real opin"
	.ascii	"ion to her sister.\012    She could not consider he"
	.ascii	"r partiality for Edward\012    in so prosperous a s"
	.ascii	"tate as Marianne had believed it.\012    There was,"
	.ascii	" at times, a want of spirits about him which,\012  "
	.ascii	"  if it did not denote indifference, spoke of somet"
	.ascii	"hing almost\012    as unpromising.  A doubt of her "
	.ascii	"regard, supposing him\012    to feel it, need not g"
	.ascii	"ive him more than inquietude.\012    It would not b"
	.ascii	"e likely to produce that dejection of mind\012    w"
	.ascii	"hich frequently attended him.  A more reasonable ca"
	.ascii	"use\012    might be found in the dependent situatio"
	.ascii	"n which forbade\012    "
	.ascii	"the indulgence of his affection.  She knew that his"
	.ascii	" mother\012    neither behaved to him so as to make"
	.ascii	" his home comfortable\012    at present, nor to giv"
	.ascii	"e him any assurance that he might form\012    a hom"
	.ascii	"e for himself, without strictly attending to her vi"
	.ascii	"ews\012    for his aggrandizement.  With such a kno"
	.ascii	"wledge as this,\012    it was impossible for Elinor"
	.ascii	" to feel easy on the subject.\012    She was far fr"
	.ascii	"om depending on that result of his preference\012  "
	.ascii	"  of her, which her mother and sister still conside"
	.ascii	"red\012    as certain.  Nay, the longer they were t"
	.ascii	"ogether the more\012    doubtful seemed the nature "
	.ascii	"of his regard; and sometimes,\012    for a few pain"
	.ascii	"ful minutes, she believed it to be no more\012    t"
	.ascii	"han friendship.\012    \012    But, whatever might "
	.ascii	"really be its limits, it was enough,\012    when pe"
	.ascii	"rceived by his sister, to make her uneasy,\012    a"
	.ascii	"nd at the same time, (which was still more common,)"
	.ascii	"\012    to make her uncivil.  She took the first op"
	.ascii	"portunity of\012    affronting her mother-in-law on"
	.ascii	" the occasion, talking to\012    her so expressivel"
	.ascii	"y of her brother's great expectations,\012    of Mr"
	.ascii	"s. Ferrars's resolution that both her sons should\012"
	.ascii	"    marry well, and of the danger attending any you"
	.ascii	"ng woman\012    who attempted to DRAW HIM IN; that "
	.ascii	"Mrs. Dashwood could\012    neither pretend to be un"
	.ascii	"conscious, nor endeavor to be calm.\012    She gave"
	.ascii	" her an answer which marked her contempt,\012    an"
	.ascii	"d instantly left the room, resolving that, whatever"
	.ascii	" might\012    be the inconvenience or expense of so"
	.ascii	" sudden a removal,\012    her beloved Elinor should"
	.ascii	" not be exposed another week\012    to such insinua"
	.ascii	"tions.\012    \012    In this state of her spirits,"
	.ascii	" a letter was delivered\012    to her from the post"
	.ascii	", which contained a proposal\012    particularly we"
	.ascii	"ll timed.  It was the offer of a small house,\012  "
	.ascii	"  on very easy terms, belonging to a relation of he"
	.ascii	"r own,\012    a gentleman of consequence and proper"
	.ascii	"ty in Devonshire.\012    The letter was from this g"
	.ascii	"entleman himself, and written\012    in the true sp"
	.ascii	"irit of friendly accommodation.\012    He understoo"
	.ascii	"d that she was "
	.ascii	"in need of a dwelling;\012    and though the house "
	.ascii	"he now offered her was merely a cottage,\012    he "
	.ascii	"assured her that everything should be done to it wh"
	.ascii	"ich\012    she might think necessary, if the situat"
	.ascii	"ion pleased her.\012    He earnestly pressed her, a"
	.ascii	"fter giving the particulars\012    of the house and"
	.ascii	" garden, to come with her daughters to\012    Barto"
	.ascii	"n Park, the place of his own residence, from whence"
	.ascii	"\012    she might judge, herself, whether Barton Co"
	.ascii	"ttage, for the\012    houses were in the same paris"
	.ascii	"h, could, by any alteration,\012    be made comfort"
	.ascii	"able to her.  He seemed really anxious to\012    ac"
	.ascii	"commodate them and the whole of his letter was writ"
	.ascii	"ten\012    in so friendly a style as could not fail"
	.ascii	" of giving pleasure\012    to his cousin; more espe"
	.ascii	"cially at a moment when she was\012    suffering un"
	.ascii	"der the cold and unfeeling behaviour of her\012    "
	.ascii	"nearer connections.  She needed no time for deliber"
	.ascii	"ation\012    or inquiry.  Her resolution was formed"
	.ascii	" as she read.\012    The situation of Barton, in a "
	.ascii	"county so far distant from\012    Sussex as Devonsh"
	.ascii	"ire, which, but a few hours before,\012    would ha"
	.ascii	"ve been a sufficient objection to outweigh every\012"
	.ascii	"    possible advantage belonging to the place, was "
	.ascii	"now its\012    first recommendation.  To quit the n"
	.ascii	"eighbourhood of Norland\012    was no longer an evi"
	.ascii	"l; it was an object of desire;\012    it was a bles"
	.ascii	"sing, in comparison of the misery of continuing\012"
	.ascii	"    her daughter-in-law's guest; and to remove for "
	.ascii	"ever\012    from that beloved place would be less p"
	.ascii	"ainful than to\012    inhabit or visit it while suc"
	.ascii	"h a woman was its mistress.\012    She instantly wr"
	.ascii	"ote Sir John Middleton her acknowledgment\012    of"
	.ascii	" his kindness, and her acceptance of his proposal;\012"
	.ascii	"    and then hastened to shew both letters to her d"
	.ascii	"aughters,\012    that she might be secure of their "
	.ascii	"approbation before her\012    answer were sent.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Elinor had always thought it would be m"
	.ascii	"ore prudent\012    for them to settle at some dista"
	.ascii	"nce from Norland,\012    than immediately amongst t"
	.ascii	"heir present acquaintance.\012    On THAT head, the"
	.ascii	"refore, it"
	.ascii	" was not for her to oppose\012    her mother's inte"
	.ascii	"ntion of removing into Devonshire.\012    The house"
	.ascii	", too, as described by Sir John, was on so\012    s"
	.ascii	"imple a scale, and the rent so uncommonly moderate,"
	.ascii	"\012    as to leave her no right of objection on ei"
	.ascii	"ther point;\012    and, therefore, though it was no"
	.ascii	"t a plan which brought\012    any charm to her fanc"
	.ascii	"y, though it was a removal from\012    the vicinity"
	.ascii	" of Norland beyond her wishes, she made\012    no a"
	.ascii	"ttempt to dissuade her mother from sending a letter"
	.ascii	"\012    of acquiescence.\012    \012    \012    \012"
	.ascii	"    CHAPTER 5\012    \012    \012    No sooner was "
	.ascii	"her answer dispatched, than Mrs. Dashwood\012    in"
	.ascii	"dulged herself in the pleasure of announcing to her"
	.ascii	"\012    son-in-law and his wife that she was provid"
	.ascii	"ed with a house,\012    and should incommode them n"
	.ascii	"o longer than till every thing were\012    ready fo"
	.ascii	"r her inhabiting it.  They heard her with surprise."
	.ascii	"\012    Mrs. John Dashwood said nothing; but her hu"
	.ascii	"sband civilly\012    hoped that she would not be se"
	.ascii	"ttled far from Norland.\012    She had great satisf"
	.ascii	"action in replying that she was going\012    into D"
	.ascii	"evonshire.--Edward turned hastily towards her,\012 "
	.ascii	"   on hearing this, and, in a voice of surprise and"
	.ascii	" concern,\012    which required no explanation to h"
	.ascii	"er, repeated,\012    \"Devonshire! Are you, indeed,"
	.ascii	" going there?  So far from hence!\012    And to wha"
	.ascii	"t part of it?\"  She explained the situation.\012  "
	.ascii	"  It was within four miles northward of Exeter.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"It is but a cottage,\" she continued,"
	.ascii	" \"but I hope\012    to see many of my friends in i"
	.ascii	"t.  A room or two can\012    easily be added; and i"
	.ascii	"f my friends find no difficulty\012    in travellin"
	.ascii	"g so far to see me, I am sure I will find\012    no"
	.ascii	"ne in accommodating them.\"\012    \012    She conc"
	.ascii	"luded with a very kind invitation to\012    Mr. and"
	.ascii	" Mrs. John Dashwood to visit her at Barton;\012    "
	.ascii	"and to Edward she gave one with still greater affec"
	.ascii	"tion.\012    Though her late conversation with her "
	.ascii	"daughter-in-law had\012    made her resolve on rema"
	.ascii	"ining at Norland no longer than\012    was unavoida"
	.ascii	"ble, it had not produced the smallest ef"
	.ascii	"fect\012    on her in that point to which it princi"
	.ascii	"pally tended.\012    To separate Edward and Elinor "
	.ascii	"was as far from being her\012    object as ever; an"
	.ascii	"d she wished to show Mrs. John Dashwood,\012    by "
	.ascii	"this pointed invitation to her brother, how totally"
	.ascii	" she\012    disregarded her disapprobation of the m"
	.ascii	"atch.\012    \012    Mr. John Dashwood told his mot"
	.ascii	"her again and again\012    how exceedingly sorry he"
	.ascii	" was that she had taken a house at\012    such a di"
	.ascii	"stance from Norland as to prevent his being of any\012"
	.ascii	"    service to her in removing her furniture.  He r"
	.ascii	"eally felt\012    conscientiously vexed on the occa"
	.ascii	"sion; for the very exertion\012    to which he had "
	.ascii	"limited the performance of his promise to\012    hi"
	.ascii	"s father was by this arrangement rendered impractic"
	.ascii	"able.--\012    The furniture was all sent around by"
	.ascii	" water.  It chiefly\012    consisted of household l"
	.ascii	"inen, plate, china, and books,\012    with a handso"
	.ascii	"me pianoforte of Marianne's.  Mrs. John\012    Dash"
	.ascii	"wood saw the packages depart with a sigh: she could"
	.ascii	"\012    not help feeling it hard that as Mrs. Dashw"
	.ascii	"ood's income\012    would be so trifling in compari"
	.ascii	"son with their own,\012    she should have any hand"
	.ascii	"some article of furniture.\012    \012    Mrs. Dash"
	.ascii	"wood took the house for a twelvemonth; it was\012  "
	.ascii	"  ready furnished, and she might have immediate pos"
	.ascii	"session.\012    No difficulty arose on either side "
	.ascii	"in the agreement; and she\012    waited only for th"
	.ascii	"e disposal of her effects at Norland,\012    and to"
	.ascii	" determine her future household, before she set\012"
	.ascii	"    off for the west; and this, as she was exceedin"
	.ascii	"gly rapid\012    in the performance of everything t"
	.ascii	"hat interested her,\012    was soon done.--The hors"
	.ascii	"es which were left her by her husband\012    had be"
	.ascii	"en sold soon after his death, and an opportunity\012"
	.ascii	"    now offering of disposing of her carriage, she "
	.ascii	"agreed\012    to sell that likewise at the earnest "
	.ascii	"advice of her\012    eldest daughter.  For the comf"
	.ascii	"ort of her children, had she\012    consulted only "
	.ascii	"her own wishes, she would have kept it;\012    but "
	.ascii	"the discretion of Elinor prevailed.  HER wisdom\012"
	.ascii	"    too limit"
	.ascii	"ed the number of their servants to three;\012    tw"
	.ascii	"o maids and a man, with whom they were speedily pro"
	.ascii	"vided\012    from amongst those who had formed thei"
	.ascii	"r establishment\012    at Norland.\012    \012    T"
	.ascii	"he man and one of the maids were sent off immediate"
	.ascii	"ly\012    into Devonshire, to prepare the house for"
	.ascii	" their mistress's\012    arrival; for as Lady Middl"
	.ascii	"eton was entirely unknown\012    to Mrs. Dashwood, "
	.ascii	"she preferred going directly to the\012    cottage "
	.ascii	"to being a visitor at Barton Park; and she relied\012"
	.ascii	"    so undoubtingly on Sir John's description of th"
	.ascii	"e house,\012    as to feel no curiosity to examine "
	.ascii	"it herself till she\012    entered it as her own.  "
	.ascii	"Her eagerness to be gone from Norland\012    was pr"
	.ascii	"eserved from diminution by the evident satisfaction"
	.ascii	"\012    of her daughter-in-law in the prospect of h"
	.ascii	"er removal;\012    a satisfaction which was but fee"
	.ascii	"bly attempted to be concealed\012    under a cold i"
	.ascii	"nvitation to her to defer her departure.\012    Now"
	.ascii	" was the time when her son-in-law's promise to his\012"
	.ascii	"    father might with particular propriety be fulfi"
	.ascii	"lled.\012    Since he had neglected to do it on fir"
	.ascii	"st coming to\012    the estate, their quitting his "
	.ascii	"house might be looked\012    on as the most suitabl"
	.ascii	"e period for its accomplishment.\012    But Mrs. Da"
	.ascii	"shwood began shortly to give over every\012    hope"
	.ascii	" of the kind, and to be convinced, from the general"
	.ascii	"\012    drift of his discourse, that his assistance"
	.ascii	" extended no\012    farther than their maintenance "
	.ascii	"for six months at Norland.\012    He so frequently "
	.ascii	"talked of the increasing expenses\012    of houseke"
	.ascii	"eping, and of the perpetual demands upon his purse,"
	.ascii	"\012    which a man of any consequence in the world"
	.ascii	" was beyond\012    calculation exposed to, that he "
	.ascii	"seemed rather to stand\012    in need of more money"
	.ascii	" himself than to have any design of\012    giving m"
	.ascii	"oney away.\012    \012    In a very few weeks from "
	.ascii	"the day which brought Sir\012    John Middleton's f"
	.ascii	"irst letter to Norland, every thing was\012    so f"
	.ascii	"ar settled in their future abode as to enable\012  "
	.ascii	"  Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters to begin their jo"
	.ascii	"urney.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Many were the tears shed by them in their last\012"
	.ascii	"    adieus to a place so much beloved.  \"Dear, dea"
	.ascii	"r Norland!\"\012    said Marianne, as she wandered "
	.ascii	"alone before the house,\012    on the last evening "
	.ascii	"of their being there; \"when shall I cease\012    t"
	.ascii	"o regret you!--when learn to feel a home elsewhere!"
	.ascii	"--Oh!\012    happy house, could you know what I suf"
	.ascii	"fer in now viewing\012    you from this spot, from "
	.ascii	"whence perhaps I may view\012    you no more!--And "
	.ascii	"you, ye well-known trees!--but you\012    will cont"
	.ascii	"inue the same.--No leaf will decay because we\012  "
	.ascii	"  are removed, nor any branch become motionless alt"
	.ascii	"hough we\012    can observe you no longer!--No; you"
	.ascii	" will continue the same;\012    unconscious of the "
	.ascii	"pleasure or the regret you occasion,\012    and ins"
	.ascii	"ensible of any change in those who walk under your\012"
	.ascii	"    shade!--But who will remain to enjoy you?\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \012    \012    CHAPTER 6\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    The first part of their journey was perfo"
	.ascii	"rmed in too\012    melancholy a disposition to be o"
	.ascii	"therwise than tedious\012    and unpleasant.  But a"
	.ascii	"s they drew towards the end of it,\012    their int"
	.ascii	"erest in the appearance of a country which they\012"
	.ascii	"    were to inhabit overcame their dejection, and a"
	.ascii	" view of\012    Barton Valley as they entered it ga"
	.ascii	"ve them cheerfulness.\012    It was a pleasant fert"
	.ascii	"ile spot, well wooded, and rich\012    in pasture. "
	.ascii	" After winding along it for more than a mile,\012  "
	.ascii	"  they reached their own house.  A small green cour"
	.ascii	"t was\012    the whole of its demesne in front; and"
	.ascii	" a neat wicket gate\012    admitted them into it.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    As a house, Barton Cottage, though smal"
	.ascii	"l, was comfortable\012    and compact; but as a cot"
	.ascii	"tage it was defective, for the\012    building was "
	.ascii	"regular, the roof was tiled, the window\012    shut"
	.ascii	"ters were not painted green, nor were the walls cov"
	.ascii	"ered\012    with honeysuckles.  A narrow passage le"
	.ascii	"d directly through\012    the house into the garden"
	.ascii	" behind.  On each side of the\012    entrance was a"
	.ascii	" sitting room, about sixteen feet square;\012    an"
	.ascii	"d beyond them were the offices and the stairs.\012 "
	.ascii	"   Four bed-rooms and two"
	.ascii	" garrets formed the rest of the house.\012    It ha"
	.ascii	"d not been built many years and was in good repair."
	.ascii	"\012    In comparison of Norland, it was poor and s"
	.ascii	"mall indeed!--but\012    the tears which recollecti"
	.ascii	"on called forth as they entered\012    the house we"
	.ascii	"re soon dried away.  They were cheered\012    by th"
	.ascii	"e joy of the servants on their arrival, and each\012"
	.ascii	"    for the sake of the others resolved to appear h"
	.ascii	"appy.\012    It was very early in September; the se"
	.ascii	"ason was fine,\012    and from first seeing the pla"
	.ascii	"ce under the advantage\012    of good weather, they"
	.ascii	" received an impression in its\012    favour which "
	.ascii	"was of material service in recommending\012    it t"
	.ascii	"o their lasting approbation.\012    \012    The sit"
	.ascii	"uation of the house was good.  High hills rose\012 "
	.ascii	"   immediately behind, and at no great distance on "
	.ascii	"each side;\012    some of which were open downs, th"
	.ascii	"e others cultivated and woody.\012    The village o"
	.ascii	"f Barton was chiefly on one of these hills,\012    "
	.ascii	"and formed a pleasant view from the cottage windows"
	.ascii	".\012    The prospect in front was more extensive; "
	.ascii	"it commanded the\012    whole of the valley, and re"
	.ascii	"ached into the country beyond.\012    The hills whi"
	.ascii	"ch surrounded the cottage terminated\012    the val"
	.ascii	"ley in that direction; under another name,\012    a"
	.ascii	"nd in another course, it branched out again between"
	.ascii	" two\012    of the steepest of them.\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" With the size and furniture of the house Mrs. Dash"
	.ascii	"wood\012    was upon the whole well satisfied; for "
	.ascii	"though her former\012    style of life rendered man"
	.ascii	"y additions to the latter\012    indispensable, yet"
	.ascii	" to add and improve was a delight to her;\012    an"
	.ascii	"d she had at this time ready money enough to supply"
	.ascii	" all\012    that was wanted of greater elegance to "
	.ascii	"the apartments.\012    \"As for the house itself, t"
	.ascii	"o be sure,\" said she, \"it is\012    too small for"
	.ascii	" our family, but we will make ourselves\012    tole"
	.ascii	"rably comfortable for the present, as it is too lat"
	.ascii	"e\012    in the year for improvements.  Perhaps in "
	.ascii	"the spring,\012    if I have plenty of money, as I "
	.ascii	"dare say I shall, we may\012    think about buildin"
	.ascii	"g.  These parlors a"
	.ascii	"re both too small\012    for such parties of our fr"
	.ascii	"iends as I hope to see often\012    collected here;"
	.ascii	" and I have some thoughts of throwing the\012    pa"
	.ascii	"ssage into one of them with perhaps a part of the o"
	.ascii	"ther,\012    and so leave the remainder of that oth"
	.ascii	"er for an entrance;\012    this, with a new drawing"
	.ascii	" room which may be easily added,\012    and a bed-c"
	.ascii	"hamber and garret above, will make it a very snug\012"
	.ascii	"    little cottage.  I could wish the stairs were h"
	.ascii	"andsome.\012    But one must not expect every thing"
	.ascii	"; though I suppose it\012    would be no difficult "
	.ascii	"matter to widen them.  I shall see\012    how much "
	.ascii	"I am before-hand with the world in the spring,\012 "
	.ascii	"   and we will plan our improvements accordingly.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    In the mean time, till all these al"
	.ascii	"terations could\012    be made from the savings of "
	.ascii	"an income of five hundred\012    a-year by a woman "
	.ascii	"who never saved in her life, they were\012    wise "
	.ascii	"enough to be contented with the house as it was;\012"
	.ascii	"    and each of them was busy in arranging their pa"
	.ascii	"rticular\012    concerns, and endeavoring, by placi"
	.ascii	"ng around them books\012    and other possessions, "
	.ascii	"to form themselves a home.\012    Marianne's pianof"
	.ascii	"orte was unpacked and properly disposed of;\012    "
	.ascii	"and Elinor's drawings were affixed to the walls of "
	.ascii	"their\012    sitting room.\012    \012    In such e"
	.ascii	"mployments as these they were interrupted\012    so"
	.ascii	"on after breakfast the next day by the entrance of\012"
	.ascii	"    their landlord, who called to welcome them to B"
	.ascii	"arton,\012    and to offer them every accommodation"
	.ascii	" from his own house\012    and garden in which thei"
	.ascii	"rs might at present be deficient.\012    Sir John M"
	.ascii	"iddleton was a good looking man about forty.\012   "
	.ascii	" He had formerly visited at Stanhill, but it was to"
	.ascii	"o long\012    for his young cousins to remember him"
	.ascii	".  His countenance\012    was thoroughly good-humou"
	.ascii	"red; and his manners were\012    as friendly as the"
	.ascii	" style of his letter.  Their arrival\012    seemed "
	.ascii	"to afford him real satisfaction, and their comfort\012"
	.ascii	"    to be an object of real solicitude to him.  He "
	.ascii	"said much\012    of his earnest desire of their liv"
	.ascii	"ing in th"
	.ascii	"e most sociable\012    terms with his family, and p"
	.ascii	"ressed them so cordially\012    to dine at Barton P"
	.ascii	"ark every day till they were better\012    settled "
	.ascii	"at home, that, though his entreaties were carried\012"
	.ascii	"    to a point of perseverance beyond civility, the"
	.ascii	"y could\012    not give offence.  His kindness was "
	.ascii	"not confined to words;\012    for within an hour af"
	.ascii	"ter he left them, a large basket\012    full of gar"
	.ascii	"den stuff and fruit arrived from the park,\012    w"
	.ascii	"hich was followed before the end of the day by a pr"
	.ascii	"esent\012    of game.  He insisted, moreover, on co"
	.ascii	"nveying all their\012    letters to and from the po"
	.ascii	"st for them, and would not be\012    denied the sat"
	.ascii	"isfaction of sending them his newspaper\012    ever"
	.ascii	"y day.\012    \012    Lady Middleton had sent a ver"
	.ascii	"y civil message by him,\012    denoting her intenti"
	.ascii	"on of waiting on Mrs. Dashwood as soon as\012    sh"
	.ascii	"e could be assured that her visit would be no incon"
	.ascii	"venience;\012    and as this message was answered b"
	.ascii	"y an invitation\012    equally polite, her ladyship"
	.ascii	" was introduced to them the next day.\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  They were, of course, very anxious to see a perso"
	.ascii	"n on\012    whom so much of their comfort at Barton"
	.ascii	" must depend; and the\012    elegance of her appear"
	.ascii	"ance was favourable to their wishes.\012    Lady Mi"
	.ascii	"ddleton was not more than six or seven and twenty;\012"
	.ascii	"    her face was handsome, her figure tall and stri"
	.ascii	"king,\012    and her address graceful.  Her manners"
	.ascii	" had all the elegance\012    which her husband's wa"
	.ascii	"nted.  But they would have been\012    improved by "
	.ascii	"some share of his frankness and warmth;\012    and "
	.ascii	"her visit was long enough to detract something from"
	.ascii	"\012    their first admiration, by shewing that, th"
	.ascii	"ough perfectly\012    well-bred, she was reserved, "
	.ascii	"cold, and had nothing to say\012    for herself bey"
	.ascii	"ond the most common-place inquiry or remark.\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    Conversation however was not wanted, for S"
	.ascii	"ir John\012    was very chatty, and Lady Middleton "
	.ascii	"had taken the wise\012    precaution of bringing wi"
	.ascii	"th her their eldest child, a fine\012    little boy"
	.ascii	" about six years old, by which means there was\012 "
	.ascii	"   one subject "
	.ascii	"always to be recurred to by the ladies in case\012 "
	.ascii	"   of extremity, for they had to enquire his name a"
	.ascii	"nd age,\012    admire his beauty, and ask him quest"
	.ascii	"ions which his mother\012    answered for him, whil"
	.ascii	"e he hung about her and held\012    down his head, "
	.ascii	"to the great surprise of her ladyship,\012    who w"
	.ascii	"ondered at his being so shy before company, as he\012"
	.ascii	"    could make noise enough at home.  On every form"
	.ascii	"al visit\012    a child ought to be of the party, b"
	.ascii	"y way of provision\012    for discourse.  In the pr"
	.ascii	"esent case it took up ten minutes\012    to determi"
	.ascii	"ne whether the boy were most like his father\012   "
	.ascii	" or mother, and in what particular he resembled eit"
	.ascii	"her,\012    for of course every body differed, and "
	.ascii	"every body was\012    astonished at the opinion of "
	.ascii	"the others.\012    \012    An opportunity was soon "
	.ascii	"to be given to the Dashwoods\012    of debating on "
	.ascii	"the rest of the children, as Sir John\012    would "
	.ascii	"not leave the house without securing their promise\012"
	.ascii	"    of dining at the park the next day.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \012    CHAPTER 7\012    \012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  Barton Park was about half a mile from the cottag"
	.ascii	"e.\012    The ladies had passed near it in their wa"
	.ascii	"y along the valley,\012    but it was screened from"
	.ascii	" their view at home by the\012    projection of a h"
	.ascii	"ill.  The house was large and handsome;\012    and "
	.ascii	"the Middletons lived in a style of equal hospitalit"
	.ascii	"y\012    and elegance.  The former was for Sir John"
	.ascii	"'s gratification,\012    the latter for that of his"
	.ascii	" lady.  They were scarcely\012    ever without some"
	.ascii	" friends staying with them in the house,\012    and"
	.ascii	" they kept more company of every kind than any othe"
	.ascii	"r\012    family in the neighbourhood.  It was neces"
	.ascii	"sary to the\012    happiness of both; for however d"
	.ascii	"issimilar in temper\012    and outward behaviour, t"
	.ascii	"hey strongly resembled each other\012    in that to"
	.ascii	"tal want of talent and taste which confined\012    "
	.ascii	"their employments, unconnected with such as society"
	.ascii	" produced,\012    within a very narrow compass.  Si"
	.ascii	"r John was a sportsman,\012    Lady Middleton a mot"
	.ascii	"her.  He hunted and shot, and she\012    humoured h"
	.ascii	"er children; and these w"
	.ascii	"ere their only resources.\012    Lady Middleton had"
	.ascii	" the advantage of being able to spoil her\012    ch"
	.ascii	"ildren all the year round, while Sir John's indepen"
	.ascii	"dent\012    employments were in existence only half"
	.ascii	" the time.\012    Continual engagements at home and"
	.ascii	" abroad, however,\012    supplied all the deficienc"
	.ascii	"ies of nature and education;\012    supported the g"
	.ascii	"ood spirits of Sir John, and gave exercise\012    t"
	.ascii	"o the good breeding of his wife.\012    \012    Lad"
	.ascii	"y Middleton piqued herself upon the elegance\012   "
	.ascii	" of her table, and of all her domestic arrangements"
	.ascii	";\012    and from this kind of vanity was her great"
	.ascii	"est enjoyment\012    in any of their parties.  But "
	.ascii	"Sir John's satisfaction\012    in society was much "
	.ascii	"more real; he delighted in collecting\012    about "
	.ascii	"him more young people than his house would hold,\012"
	.ascii	"    and the noisier they were the better was he ple"
	.ascii	"ased.\012    He was a blessing to all the juvenile "
	.ascii	"part of the neighbourhood,\012    for in summer he "
	.ascii	"was for ever forming parties to eat cold\012    ham"
	.ascii	" and chicken out of doors, and in winter his privat"
	.ascii	"e\012    balls were numerous enough for any young l"
	.ascii	"ady who was not\012    suffering under the unsatiab"
	.ascii	"le appetite of fifteen.\012    \012    The arrival "
	.ascii	"of a new family in the country was always\012    a "
	.ascii	"matter of joy to him, and in every point of view he"
	.ascii	" was\012    charmed with the inhabitants he had now"
	.ascii	" procured for his\012    cottage at Barton.  The Mi"
	.ascii	"ss Dashwoods were young, pretty,\012    and unaffec"
	.ascii	"ted.  It was enough to secure his good opinion;\012"
	.ascii	"    for to be unaffected was all that a pretty girl"
	.ascii	" could\012    want to make her mind as captivating "
	.ascii	"as her person.\012    The friendliness of his dispo"
	.ascii	"sition made him happy in\012    accommodating those"
	.ascii	", whose situation might be considered,\012    in co"
	.ascii	"mparison with the past, as unfortunate.  In showing"
	.ascii	"\012    kindness to his cousins therefore he had th"
	.ascii	"e real satisfaction\012    of a good heart; and in "
	.ascii	"settling a family of females only\012    in his cot"
	.ascii	"tage, he had all the satisfaction of a sportsman;\012"
	.ascii	"    for a sportsman, though he esteems only those o"
	.ascii	"f his sex w"
	.ascii	"ho\012    are sportsmen likewise, is not often desi"
	.ascii	"rous of encouraging\012    their taste by admitting"
	.ascii	" them to a residence within his own\012    manor.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters were me"
	.ascii	"t at the door\012    of the house by Sir John, who "
	.ascii	"welcomed them to Barton\012    Park with unaffected"
	.ascii	" sincerity; and as he attended them\012    to the d"
	.ascii	"rawing room repeated to the young ladies the concer"
	.ascii	"n\012    which the same subject had drawn from him "
	.ascii	"the day before,\012    at being unable to get any s"
	.ascii	"mart young men to meet them.\012    They would see,"
	.ascii	" he said, only one gentleman there\012    besides h"
	.ascii	"imself; a particular friend who was staying at\012 "
	.ascii	"   the park, but who was neither very young nor ver"
	.ascii	"y gay.\012    He hoped they would all excuse the sm"
	.ascii	"allness of the party,\012    and could assure them "
	.ascii	"it should never happen so again.\012    He had been"
	.ascii	" to several families that morning in hopes\012    o"
	.ascii	"f procuring some addition to their number, but it\012"
	.ascii	"    was moonlight and every body was full of engage"
	.ascii	"ments.\012    Luckily Lady Middleton's mother had a"
	.ascii	"rrived at Barton\012    within the last hour, and a"
	.ascii	"s she was a very cheerful\012    agreeable woman, h"
	.ascii	"e hoped the young ladies would not find\012    it s"
	.ascii	"o very dull as they might imagine.  The young ladie"
	.ascii	"s,\012    as well as their mother, were perfectly s"
	.ascii	"atisfied with\012    having two entire strangers of"
	.ascii	" the party, and wished for\012    no more.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Mrs. Jennings, Lady Middleton's mother, was a\012"
	.ascii	"    good-humoured, merry, fat, elderly woman, who t"
	.ascii	"alked a\012    great deal, seemed very happy, and r"
	.ascii	"ather vulgar.  She was full\012    of jokes and lau"
	.ascii	"ghter, and before dinner was over had said\012    m"
	.ascii	"any witty things on the subject of lovers and husba"
	.ascii	"nds;\012    hoped they had not left their hearts be"
	.ascii	"hind them in Sussex,\012    and pretended to see th"
	.ascii	"em blush whether they did or not.\012    Marianne w"
	.ascii	"as vexed at it for her sister's sake, and turned\012"
	.ascii	"    her eyes towards Elinor to see how she bore the"
	.ascii	"se attacks,\012    with an earnestness which gave E"
	.ascii	"linor far more pain than\012    could arise from su"
	.ascii	"ch common-"
	.ascii	"place raillery as Mrs. Jennings's.\012    \012    C"
	.ascii	"olonel Brandon, the friend of Sir John, seemed no\012"
	.ascii	"    more adapted by resemblance of manner to be his"
	.ascii	" friend,\012    than Lady Middleton was to be his w"
	.ascii	"ife, or Mrs. Jennings\012    to be Lady Middleton's"
	.ascii	" mother.  He was silent and grave.\012    His appea"
	.ascii	"rance however was not unpleasing, in spite\012    o"
	.ascii	"f his being in the opinion of Marianne and Margaret"
	.ascii	"\012    an absolute old bachelor, for he was on the"
	.ascii	" wrong side\012    of five and thirty; but though h"
	.ascii	"is face was not handsome,\012    his countenance wa"
	.ascii	"s sensible, and his address was\012    particularly"
	.ascii	" gentlemanlike.\012    \012    There was nothing in"
	.ascii	" any of the party which could\012    recommend them"
	.ascii	" as companions to the Dashwoods; but the cold\012  "
	.ascii	"  insipidity of Lady Middleton was so particularly "
	.ascii	"repulsive,\012    that in comparison of it the grav"
	.ascii	"ity of Colonel Brandon,\012    and even the boister"
	.ascii	"ous mirth of Sir John and his\012    mother-in-law "
	.ascii	"was interesting.  Lady Middleton seemed\012    to b"
	.ascii	"e roused to enjoyment only by the entrance of her\012"
	.ascii	"    four noisy children after dinner, who pulled he"
	.ascii	"r about,\012    tore her clothes, and put an end to"
	.ascii	" every kind of discourse\012    except what related"
	.ascii	" to themselves.\012    \012    In the evening, as M"
	.ascii	"arianne was discovered to be musical,\012    she wa"
	.ascii	"s invited to play.  The instrument was unlocked,\012"
	.ascii	"    every body prepared to be charmed, and Marianne"
	.ascii	",\012    who sang very well, at their request went "
	.ascii	"through the\012    chief of the songs which Lady Mi"
	.ascii	"ddleton had brought into\012    the family on her m"
	.ascii	"arriage, and which perhaps had lain\012    ever sin"
	.ascii	"ce in the same position on the pianoforte,\012    f"
	.ascii	"or her ladyship had celebrated that event by giving"
	.ascii	"\012    up music, although by her mother's account,"
	.ascii	" she had\012    played extremely well, and by her o"
	.ascii	"wn was very fond of it.\012    \012    Marianne's p"
	.ascii	"erformance was highly applauded.\012    Sir John wa"
	.ascii	"s loud in his admiration at the end of every song,\012"
	.ascii	"    and as loud in his conversation with the others"
	.ascii	" while every\012    song lasted.  Lady Middleton fr"
	.ascii	"equently called"
	.ascii	" him to order,\012    wondered how any one's attent"
	.ascii	"ion could be diverted from music\012    for a momen"
	.ascii	"t, and asked Marianne to sing a particular song\012"
	.ascii	"    which Marianne had just finished.  Colonel Bran"
	.ascii	"don alone,\012    of all the party, heard her witho"
	.ascii	"ut being in raptures.\012    He paid her only the c"
	.ascii	"ompliment of attention; and she felt\012    a respe"
	.ascii	"ct for him on the occasion, which the others had\012"
	.ascii	"    reasonably forfeited by their shameless want of"
	.ascii	" taste.\012    His pleasure in music, though it amo"
	.ascii	"unted not to that\012    ecstatic delight which alo"
	.ascii	"ne could sympathize with her own,\012    was estima"
	.ascii	"ble when contrasted against the horrible\012    ins"
	.ascii	"ensibility of the others; and she was reasonable en"
	.ascii	"ough\012    to allow that a man of five and thirty "
	.ascii	"might well have\012    outlived all acuteness of fe"
	.ascii	"eling and every exquisite\012    power of enjoyment"
	.ascii	".  She was perfectly disposed to make\012    every "
	.ascii	"allowance for the colonel's advanced state of life\012"
	.ascii	"    which humanity required.\012    \012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \012    CHAPTER 8\012    \012    \012    Mrs. Jenn"
	.ascii	"ings was a widow with an ample jointure.\012    She"
	.ascii	" had only two daughters, both of whom she had lived"
	.ascii	"\012    to see respectably married, and she had now"
	.ascii	" therefore\012    nothing to do but to marry all th"
	.ascii	"e rest of the world.\012    In the promotion of thi"
	.ascii	"s object she was zealously active,\012    as far as"
	.ascii	" her ability reached; and missed no opportunity\012"
	.ascii	"    of projecting weddings among all the young peop"
	.ascii	"le\012    of her acquaintance.  She was remarkably "
	.ascii	"quick in the\012    discovery of attachments, and h"
	.ascii	"ad enjoyed the advantage\012    of raising the blus"
	.ascii	"hes and the vanity of many a young\012    lady by i"
	.ascii	"nsinuations of her power over such a young man;\012"
	.ascii	"    and this kind of discernment enabled her soon a"
	.ascii	"fter her\012    arrival at Barton decisively to pro"
	.ascii	"nounce that Colonel\012    Brandon was very much in"
	.ascii	" love with Marianne Dashwood.\012    She rather sus"
	.ascii	"pected it to be so, on the very first\012    evenin"
	.ascii	"g of their being together, from his listening\012  "
	.ascii	"  so attentively while she sang to them; and when t"
	.ascii	"he visit\012    was retur"
	.ascii	"ned by the Middletons' dining at the cottage,\012  "
	.ascii	"  the fact was ascertained by his listening to her "
	.ascii	"again.\012    It must be so.  She was perfectly con"
	.ascii	"vinced of it.\012    It would be an excellent match"
	.ascii	", for HE was rich, and SHE\012    was handsome.  Mr"
	.ascii	"s. Jennings had been anxious to see\012    Colonel "
	.ascii	"Brandon well married, ever since her connection\012"
	.ascii	"    with Sir John first brought him to her knowledg"
	.ascii	"e;\012    and she was always anxious to get a good "
	.ascii	"husband for every\012    pretty girl.\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  The immediate advantage to herself was by no mean"
	.ascii	"s\012    inconsiderable, for it supplied her with e"
	.ascii	"ndless jokes\012    against them both.  At the park"
	.ascii	" she laughed at the colonel,\012    and in the cott"
	.ascii	"age at Marianne.  To the former her\012    raillery"
	.ascii	" was probably, as far as it regarded only himself,\012"
	.ascii	"    perfectly indifferent; but to the latter it was"
	.ascii	" at\012    first incomprehensible; and when its obj"
	.ascii	"ect was understood,\012    she hardly knew whether "
	.ascii	"most to laugh at its absurdity,\012    or censure i"
	.ascii	"ts impertinence, for she considered it as an\012   "
	.ascii	" unfeeling reflection on the colonel's advanced yea"
	.ascii	"rs,\012    and on his forlorn condition as an old b"
	.ascii	"achelor.\012    \012    Mrs. Dashwood, who could no"
	.ascii	"t think a man five years\012    younger than hersel"
	.ascii	"f, so exceedingly ancient as he appeared\012    to "
	.ascii	"the youthful fancy of her daughter, ventured to cle"
	.ascii	"ar\012    Mrs. Jennings from the probability of wis"
	.ascii	"hing to throw\012    ridicule on his age.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"But at least, Mamma, you cannot deny the absu"
	.ascii	"rdity\012    of the accusation, though you may not "
	.ascii	"think it intentionally\012    ill-natured.  Colonel"
	.ascii	" Brandon is certainly younger than\012    Mrs. Jenn"
	.ascii	"ings, but he is old enough to be MY father;\012    "
	.ascii	"and if he were ever animated enough to be in love,\012"
	.ascii	"    must have long outlived every sensation of the "
	.ascii	"kind.\012    It is too ridiculous!  When is a man t"
	.ascii	"o be safe from such wit,\012    if age and infirmit"
	.ascii	"y will not protect him?\"\012    \012    \"Infirmit"
	.ascii	"y!\" said Elinor, \"do you call Colonel Brandon\012"
	.ascii	"    infirm?  I can easily suppose that his age may "
	.ascii	"appear much\012    grea"
	.ascii	"ter to you than to my mother; but you can hardly\012"
	.ascii	"    deceive yourself as to his having the use of hi"
	.ascii	"s limbs!\"\012    \012    \"Did not you hear him co"
	.ascii	"mplain of the rheumatism?\012    and is not that th"
	.ascii	"e commonest infirmity of declining life?\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"My dearest child,\" said her mother, laughing"
	.ascii	",\012    \"at this rate you must be in continual te"
	.ascii	"rror of MY decay;\012    and it must seem to you a "
	.ascii	"miracle that my life has been\012    extended to th"
	.ascii	"e advanced age of forty.\"\012    \012    \"Mamma, "
	.ascii	"you are not doing me justice.  I know very well\012"
	.ascii	"    that Colonel Brandon is not old enough to make "
	.ascii	"his friends\012    yet apprehensive of losing him i"
	.ascii	"n the course of nature.\012    He may live twenty y"
	.ascii	"ears longer.  But thirty-five has\012    nothing to"
	.ascii	" do with matrimony.\"\012    \012    \"Perhaps,\" s"
	.ascii	"aid Elinor, \"thirty-five and seventeen had\012    "
	.ascii	"better not have any thing to do with matrimony toge"
	.ascii	"ther.\012    But if there should by any chance happ"
	.ascii	"en to be a woman\012    who is single at seven and "
	.ascii	"twenty, I should not think\012    Colonel Brandon's"
	.ascii	" being thirty-five any objection to his\012    marr"
	.ascii	"ying HER.\"\012    \012    \"A woman of seven and t"
	.ascii	"wenty,\" said Marianne,\012    after pausing a mome"
	.ascii	"nt, \"can never hope to feel or inspire\012    affe"
	.ascii	"ction again, and if her home be uncomfortable,\012 "
	.ascii	"   or her fortune small, I can suppose that she mig"
	.ascii	"ht\012    bring herself to submit to the offices of"
	.ascii	" a nurse,\012    for the sake of the provision and "
	.ascii	"security of a wife.\012    In his marrying such a w"
	.ascii	"oman therefore there would be\012    nothing unsuit"
	.ascii	"able.  It would be a compact of convenience,\012   "
	.ascii	" and the world would be satisfied.  In my eyes it w"
	.ascii	"ould\012    be no marriage at all, but that would b"
	.ascii	"e nothing.\012    To me it would seem only a commer"
	.ascii	"cial exchange, in which\012    each wished to be be"
	.ascii	"nefited at the expense of the other.\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"It would be impossible, I know,\" replied Elin"
	.ascii	"or,\012    \"to convince you that a woman of seven "
	.ascii	"and twenty could\012    feel for a man of thirty-fi"
	.ascii	"ve anything near enough\012    to love, to make him"
	.ascii	" a desirable companion to her.\012    But I must"
	.ascii	" object to your dooming Colonel Brandon and\012    "
	.ascii	"his wife to the constant confinement of a sick cham"
	.ascii	"ber,\012    merely because he chanced to complain y"
	.ascii	"esterday (a\012    very cold damp day) of a slight "
	.ascii	"rheumatic feel in one\012    of his shoulders.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"But he talked of flannel waistcoats,\""
	.ascii	" said Marianne;\012    \"and with me a flannel wais"
	.ascii	"tcoat is invariably connected\012    with aches, cr"
	.ascii	"amps, rheumatisms, and every species of\012    ailm"
	.ascii	"ent that can afflict the old and the feeble.\"\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"Had he been only in a violent fever, y"
	.ascii	"ou would not\012    have despised him half so much."
	.ascii	"  Confess, Marianne, is not\012    there something "
	.ascii	"interesting to you in the flushed cheek,\012    hol"
	.ascii	"low eye, and quick pulse of a fever?\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   Soon after this, upon Elinor's leaving the room,"
	.ascii	"\012    \"Mamma,\" said Marianne, \"I have an alarm"
	.ascii	" on the subject\012    of illness which I cannot co"
	.ascii	"nceal from you.  I am sure\012    Edward Ferrars is"
	.ascii	" not well.  We have now been here almost\012    a f"
	.ascii	"ortnight, and yet he does not come.  Nothing but re"
	.ascii	"al\012    indisposition could occasion this extraor"
	.ascii	"dinary delay.\012    What else can detain him at No"
	.ascii	"rland?\"\012    \012    \"Had you any idea of his c"
	.ascii	"oming so soon?\"\012    said Mrs. Dashwood.  \"I ha"
	.ascii	"d none.  On the contrary,\012    if I have felt any"
	.ascii	" anxiety at all on the subject, it has\012    been "
	.ascii	"in recollecting that he sometimes showed a want\012"
	.ascii	"    of pleasure and readiness in accepting my invit"
	.ascii	"ation,\012    when I talked of his coming to Barton"
	.ascii	".  Does Elinor\012    expect him already?\"\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \"I have never mentioned it to her, but of "
	.ascii	"course\012    she must.\"\012    \012    \"I rather"
	.ascii	" think you are mistaken, for when I\012    was talk"
	.ascii	"ing to her yesterday of getting a new grate\012    "
	.ascii	"for the spare bedchamber, she observed that there\012"
	.ascii	"    was no immediate hurry for it, as it was not li"
	.ascii	"kely\012    that the room would be wanted for some "
	.ascii	"time.\"\012    \012    \"How strange this is! what "
	.ascii	"can be the meaning of it!\012    But the whole of t"
	.ascii	"heir behaviour to each other has been\012    unacco"
	.ascii	"untable! How cold, how composed were their last\012"
	.ascii	"    ad"
	.ascii	"ieus! How languid their conversation the last eveni"
	.ascii	"ng\012    of their being together! In Edward's fare"
	.ascii	"well there was no\012    distinction between Elinor"
	.ascii	" and me: it was the good wishes\012    of an affect"
	.ascii	"ionate brother to both.  Twice did I leave\012    t"
	.ascii	"hem purposely together in the course of the last mo"
	.ascii	"rning,\012    and each time did he most unaccountab"
	.ascii	"ly follow me out\012    of the room.  And Elinor, i"
	.ascii	"n quitting Norland and Edward,\012    cried not as "
	.ascii	"I did.  Even now her self-command is invariable.\012"
	.ascii	"    When is she dejected or melancholy? When does s"
	.ascii	"he try\012    to avoid society, or appear restless "
	.ascii	"and dissatisfied\012    in it?\"\012    \012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \012    CHAPTER 9\012    \012    \012    The Da"
	.ascii	"shwoods were now settled at Barton with tolerable\012"
	.ascii	"    comfort to themselves.  The house and the garde"
	.ascii	"n, with all\012    the objects surrounding them, we"
	.ascii	"re now become familiar,\012    and the ordinary pur"
	.ascii	"suits which had given to Norland\012    half its ch"
	.ascii	"arms were engaged in again with far greater\012    "
	.ascii	"enjoyment than Norland had been able to afford, sin"
	.ascii	"ce the\012    loss of their father.  Sir John Middl"
	.ascii	"eton, who called\012    on them every day for the f"
	.ascii	"irst fortnight, and who was\012    not in the habit"
	.ascii	" of seeing much occupation at home,\012    could no"
	.ascii	"t conceal his amazement on finding them always empl"
	.ascii	"oyed.\012    \012    Their visitors, except those f"
	.ascii	"rom Barton Park,\012    were not many; for, in spit"
	.ascii	"e of Sir John's urgent entreaties\012    that they "
	.ascii	"would mix more in the neighbourhood, and repeated\012"
	.ascii	"    assurances of his carriage being always at thei"
	.ascii	"r service,\012    the independence of Mrs. Dashwood"
	.ascii	"'s spirit overcame the\012    wish of society for h"
	.ascii	"er children; and she was resolute\012    in declini"
	.ascii	"ng to visit any family beyond the distance\012    o"
	.ascii	"f a walk.  There were but few who could be so class"
	.ascii	"ed;\012    and it was not all of them that were att"
	.ascii	"ainable.\012    About a mile and a half from the co"
	.ascii	"ttage, along the narrow\012    winding valley of Al"
	.ascii	"lenham, which issued from that of Barton,\012    as"
	.ascii	" formerly described, the girls had, in one of their"
	.ascii	"\012    earliest walks, "
	.ascii	"discovered an ancient respectable looking\012    ma"
	.ascii	"nsion which, by reminding them a little of Norland,"
	.ascii	"\012    interested their imagination and made them "
	.ascii	"wish to be\012    better acquainted with it.  But t"
	.ascii	"hey learnt, on enquiry,\012    that its possessor, "
	.ascii	"an elderly lady of very good character,\012    was "
	.ascii	"unfortunately too infirm to mix with the world,\012"
	.ascii	"    and never stirred from home.\012    \012    The"
	.ascii	" whole country about them abounded in beautiful wal"
	.ascii	"ks.\012    The high downs which invited them from a"
	.ascii	"lmost every window\012    of the cottage to seek th"
	.ascii	"e exquisite enjoyment of air\012    on their summit"
	.ascii	"s, were a happy alternative when the dirt\012    of"
	.ascii	" the valleys beneath shut up their superior beautie"
	.ascii	"s;\012    and towards one of these hills did Marian"
	.ascii	"ne and Margaret\012    one memorable morning direct"
	.ascii	" their steps, attracted by the\012    partial sunsh"
	.ascii	"ine of a showery sky, and unable longer to bear\012"
	.ascii	"    the confinement which the settled rain of the t"
	.ascii	"wo preceding\012    days had occasioned.  The weath"
	.ascii	"er was not tempting enough\012    to draw the two o"
	.ascii	"thers from their pencil and their book,\012    in s"
	.ascii	"pite of Marianne's declaration that the day would\012"
	.ascii	"    be lastingly fair, and that every threatening c"
	.ascii	"loud would\012    be drawn off from their hills; an"
	.ascii	"d the two girls set off\012    together.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    They gaily ascended the downs, rejoicing in the"
	.ascii	"ir own\012    penetration at every glimpse of blue "
	.ascii	"sky; and when they\012    caught in their faces the"
	.ascii	" animating gales of a high\012    south-westerly wi"
	.ascii	"nd, they pitied the fears which had prevented\012  "
	.ascii	"  their mother and Elinor from sharing such delight"
	.ascii	"ful sensations.\012    \012    \"Is there a felicit"
	.ascii	"y in the world,\" said Marianne,\012    \"superior "
	.ascii	"to this?--Margaret, we will walk here at least\012 "
	.ascii	"   two hours.\"\012    \012    Margaret agreed, and"
	.ascii	" they pursued their way against\012    the wind, re"
	.ascii	"sisting it with laughing delight for about\012    t"
	.ascii	"wenty minutes longer, when suddenly the clouds unit"
	.ascii	"ed over\012    their heads, and a driving rain set "
	.ascii	"full in their face.--\012    Chagrined and surprise"
	.ascii	"d, they were obliged, th"
	.ascii	"ough unwillingly,\012    to turn back, for no shelt"
	.ascii	"er was nearer than their own house.\012    One cons"
	.ascii	"olation however remained for them, to which the\012"
	.ascii	"    exigence of the moment gave more than usual pro"
	.ascii	"priety;\012    it was that of running with all poss"
	.ascii	"ible speed down the steep\012    side of the hill w"
	.ascii	"hich led immediately to their garden gate.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    They set off.  Marianne had at first the advant"
	.ascii	"age,\012    but a false step brought her suddenly t"
	.ascii	"o the ground;\012    and Margaret, unable to stop h"
	.ascii	"erself to assist her,\012    was involuntarily hurr"
	.ascii	"ied along, and reached the bottom\012    in safety."
	.ascii	"\012    \012    A gentleman carrying a gun, with tw"
	.ascii	"o pointers\012    playing round him, was passing up"
	.ascii	" the hill and within\012    a few yards of Marianne"
	.ascii	", when her accident happened.\012    He put down hi"
	.ascii	"s gun and ran to her assistance.  She had\012    ra"
	.ascii	"ised herself from the ground, but her foot had been"
	.ascii	"\012    twisted in her fall, and she was scarcely a"
	.ascii	"ble to stand.\012    The gentleman offered his serv"
	.ascii	"ices; and perceiving that her\012    modesty declin"
	.ascii	"ed what her situation rendered necessary,\012    to"
	.ascii	"ok her up in his arms without farther delay, and ca"
	.ascii	"rried\012    her down the hill.  Then passing throu"
	.ascii	"gh the garden,\012    the gate of which had been le"
	.ascii	"ft open by Margaret, he bore her\012    directly in"
	.ascii	"to the house, whither Margaret was just arrived,\012"
	.ascii	"    and quitted not his hold till he had seated her"
	.ascii	" in a chair\012    in the parlour.\012    \012    E"
	.ascii	"linor and her mother rose up in amazement at\012   "
	.ascii	" their entrance, and while the eyes of both were fi"
	.ascii	"xed\012    on him with an evident wonder and a secr"
	.ascii	"et admiration\012    which equally sprung from his "
	.ascii	"appearance, he apologized\012    for his intrusion "
	.ascii	"by relating its cause, in a manner\012    so frank "
	.ascii	"and so graceful that his person, which was\012    u"
	.ascii	"ncommonly handsome, received additional charms from"
	.ascii	" his voice\012    and expression.  Had he been even"
	.ascii	" old, ugly, and vulgar,\012    the gratitude and ki"
	.ascii	"ndness of Mrs. Dashwood would\012    have been secu"
	.ascii	"red by any act of attention to her child;\012    bu"
	.ascii	"t the influence of "
	.ascii	"youth, beauty, and elegance,\012    gave an interes"
	.ascii	"t to the action which came home to her feelings.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    She thanked him again and again; and, w"
	.ascii	"ith a sweetness\012    of address which always atte"
	.ascii	"nded her, invited him to\012    be seated.  But thi"
	.ascii	"s he declined, as he was dirty and wet.\012    Mrs."
	.ascii	" Dashwood then begged to know to whom she was oblig"
	.ascii	"ed.\012    His name, he replied, was Willoughby, an"
	.ascii	"d his present\012    home was at Allenham, from whe"
	.ascii	"nce he hoped she would\012    allow him the honour "
	.ascii	"of calling tomorrow to enquire\012    after Miss Da"
	.ascii	"shwood.  The honour was readily granted,\012    and"
	.ascii	" he then departed, to make himself still more inter"
	.ascii	"esting,\012    in the midst of a heavy rain.\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    His manly beauty and more than common grac"
	.ascii	"efulness\012    were instantly the theme of general"
	.ascii	" admiration,\012    and the laugh which his gallant"
	.ascii	"ry raised against Marianne\012    received particul"
	.ascii	"ar spirit from his exterior attractions.--\012    M"
	.ascii	"arianne herself had seen less of his person that th"
	.ascii	"e rest,\012    for the confusion which crimsoned ov"
	.ascii	"er her face, on his\012    lifting her up, had robb"
	.ascii	"ed her of the power of regarding\012    him after t"
	.ascii	"heir entering the house.  But she had seen\012    e"
	.ascii	"nough of him to join in all the admiration of the o"
	.ascii	"thers,\012    and with an energy which always adorn"
	.ascii	"ed her praise.\012    His person and air were equal"
	.ascii	" to what her fancy had ever\012    drawn for the he"
	.ascii	"ro of a favourite story; and in his carrying\012   "
	.ascii	" her into the house with so little previous formali"
	.ascii	"ty, there\012    was a rapidity of thought which pa"
	.ascii	"rticularly recommended\012    the action to her.  E"
	.ascii	"very circumstance belonging to him\012    was inter"
	.ascii	"esting.  His name was good, his residence was in\012"
	.ascii	"    their favourite village, and she soon found out"
	.ascii	" that of all\012    manly dresses a shooting-jacket"
	.ascii	" was the most becoming.\012    Her imagination was "
	.ascii	"busy, her reflections were pleasant,\012    and the"
	.ascii	" pain of a sprained ankle was disregarded.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Sir John called on them as soon as the next int"
	.ascii	"erval\012    of fair weather that morning allowed h"
	.ascii	"im to get ou"
	.ascii	"t\012    of doors; and Marianne's accident being re"
	.ascii	"lated to him,\012    he was eagerly asked whether h"
	.ascii	"e knew any gentleman\012    of the name of Willough"
	.ascii	"by at Allenham.\012    \012    \"Willoughby!\" crie"
	.ascii	"d Sir John; \"what, is HE\012    in the country? Th"
	.ascii	"at is good news however; I will\012    ride over to"
	.ascii	"morrow, and ask him to dinner on Thursday.\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \"You know him then,\" said Mrs. Dashwood."
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"Know him! to be sure I do.  Why, "
	.ascii	"he is down here\012    every year.\"\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"And what sort of a young man is he?\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"As good a kind of fellow as ever lived, I ass"
	.ascii	"ure you.\012    A very decent shot, and there is no"
	.ascii	"t a bolder rider\012    in England.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"And is that all you can say for him?\" cried Ma"
	.ascii	"rianne,\012    indignantly.  \"But what are his man"
	.ascii	"ners on more intimate\012    acquaintance? What his"
	.ascii	" pursuits, his talents, and genius?\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  Sir John was rather puzzled.\012    \012    \"Upo"
	.ascii	"n my soul,\" said he, \"I do not know much about hi"
	.ascii	"m\012    as to all THAT.  But he is a pleasant, goo"
	.ascii	"d humoured fellow,\012    and has got the nicest li"
	.ascii	"ttle black bitch of a pointer\012    I ever saw.  W"
	.ascii	"as she out with him today?\"\012    \012    But Mar"
	.ascii	"ianne could no more satisfy him as to the\012    co"
	.ascii	"lour of Mr. Willoughby's pointer, than he could\012"
	.ascii	"    describe to her the shades of his mind.\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \"But who is he?\" said Elinor.  \"Where do"
	.ascii	"es he come\012    from?  Has he a house at Allenham"
	.ascii	"?\"\012    \012    On this point Sir John could giv"
	.ascii	"e more certain intelligence;\012    and he told the"
	.ascii	"m that Mr. Willoughby had no property\012    of his"
	.ascii	" own in the country; that he resided there only\012"
	.ascii	"    while he was visiting the old lady at Allenham "
	.ascii	"Court,\012    to whom he was related, and whose pos"
	.ascii	"sessions he was\012    to inherit; adding, \"Yes, y"
	.ascii	"es, he is very well worth\012    catching I can tel"
	.ascii	"l you, Miss Dashwood; he has a pretty\012    little"
	.ascii	" estate of his own in Somersetshire besides;\012   "
	.ascii	" and if I were you, I would not give him up to my\012"
	.ascii	"    younger sister, in spite of all this tumbling d"
	.ascii	"own hills.\012    Miss Marianne must not expect to "
	.ascii	"have all the men to hers"
	.ascii	"elf.\012    Brandon will be jealous, if she does no"
	.ascii	"t take care.\"\012    \012    \"I do not believe,\""
	.ascii	" said Mrs. Dashwood, with a\012    good humoured sm"
	.ascii	"ile, \"that Mr. Willoughby will be incommoded\012  "
	.ascii	"  by the attempts of either of MY daughters towards"
	.ascii	" what\012    you call CATCHING him.  It is not an e"
	.ascii	"mployment to which\012    they have been brought up"
	.ascii	".  Men are very safe with us,\012    let them be ev"
	.ascii	"er so rich.  I am glad to find, however,\012    fro"
	.ascii	"m what you say, that he is a respectable young man,"
	.ascii	"\012    and one whose acquaintance will not be inel"
	.ascii	"igible.\"\012    \012    \"He is as good a sort of "
	.ascii	"fellow, I believe,\012    as ever lived,\" repeated"
	.ascii	" Sir John.  \"I remember\012    last Christmas at a"
	.ascii	" little hop at the park, he danced\012    from eigh"
	.ascii	"t o'clock till four, without once sitting down.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Did he indeed?\" cried Marianne with "
	.ascii	"sparkling eyes,\012    \"and with elegance, with sp"
	.ascii	"irit?\"\012    \012    \"Yes; and he was up again a"
	.ascii	"t eight to ride to covert.\"\012    \012    \"That "
	.ascii	"is what I like; that is what a young man ought\012 "
	.ascii	"   to be.  Whatever be his pursuits, his eagerness "
	.ascii	"in them\012    should know no moderation, and leave"
	.ascii	" him no sense of fatigue.\"\012    \012    \"Aye, a"
	.ascii	"ye, I see how it will be,\" said Sir John, \"I see\012"
	.ascii	"    how it will be.  You will be setting your cap a"
	.ascii	"t him now,\012    and never think of poor Brandon.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"That is an expression, Sir John,\""
	.ascii	" said Marianne,\012    warmly, \"which I particular"
	.ascii	"ly dislike.  I abhor every\012    common-place phra"
	.ascii	"se by which wit is intended; and 'setting\012    on"
	.ascii	"e's cap at a man,' or 'making a conquest,' are the "
	.ascii	"most\012    odious of all.  Their tendency is gross"
	.ascii	" and illiberal;\012    and if their construction co"
	.ascii	"uld ever be deemed clever,\012    time has long ago"
	.ascii	" destroyed all its ingenuity.\"\012    \012    Sir "
	.ascii	"John did not much understand this reproof;\012    b"
	.ascii	"ut he laughed as heartily as if he did, and then re"
	.ascii	"plied,\012    \012    \"Ay, you will make conquests"
	.ascii	" enough, I dare say,\012    one way or other.  Poor"
	.ascii	" Brandon! he is quite smitten already,\012    and h"
	.ascii	"e is very well worth setting your cap at, I can\012"
	.ascii	"    tell "
	.ascii	"you, in spite of all this tumbling about and sprain"
	.ascii	"ing\012    of ankles.\"\012    \012    \012    \012"
	.ascii	"    CHAPTER 10\012    \012    \012    Marianne's pr"
	.ascii	"eserver, as Margaret, with more elegance\012    tha"
	.ascii	"n precision, styled Willoughby, called at the cotta"
	.ascii	"ge\012    early the next morning to make his person"
	.ascii	"al enquiries.\012    He was received by Mrs. Dashwo"
	.ascii	"od with more than politeness;\012    with a kindnes"
	.ascii	"s which Sir John's account of him and her own\012  "
	.ascii	"  gratitude prompted; and every thing that passed d"
	.ascii	"uring\012    the visit tended to assure him of the "
	.ascii	"sense, elegance,\012    mutual affection, and domes"
	.ascii	"tic comfort of the family\012    to whom accident h"
	.ascii	"ad now introduced him.  Of their\012    personal ch"
	.ascii	"arms he had not required a second interview\012    "
	.ascii	"to be convinced.\012    \012    Miss Dashwood had a"
	.ascii	" delicate complexion,\012    regular features, and "
	.ascii	"a remarkably pretty figure.\012    Marianne was sti"
	.ascii	"ll handsomer.  Her form, though not so\012    corre"
	.ascii	"ct as her sister's, in having the advantage of heig"
	.ascii	"ht,\012    was more striking; and her face was so l"
	.ascii	"ovely, that when\012    in the common cant of prais"
	.ascii	"e, she was called a beautiful girl,\012    truth wa"
	.ascii	"s less violently outraged than usually happens.\012"
	.ascii	"    Her skin was very brown, but, from its transpar"
	.ascii	"ency,\012    her complexion was uncommonly brillian"
	.ascii	"t; her features\012    were all good; her smile was"
	.ascii	" sweet and attractive;\012    and in her eyes, whic"
	.ascii	"h were very dark, there was a life,\012    a spirit"
	.ascii	", an eagerness, which could hardily be seen\012    "
	.ascii	"without delight.  From Willoughby their expression "
	.ascii	"was at\012    first held back, by the embarrassment"
	.ascii	" which the remembrance\012    of his assistance cre"
	.ascii	"ated.  But when this passed away,\012    when her s"
	.ascii	"pirits became collected, when she saw that to the\012"
	.ascii	"    perfect good-breeding of the gentleman, he unit"
	.ascii	"ed frankness\012    and vivacity, and above all, wh"
	.ascii	"en she heard him declare,\012    that of music and "
	.ascii	"dancing he was passionately fond,\012    she gave h"
	.ascii	"im such a look of approbation as secured the\012   "
	.ascii	" largest share of his discourse to herself for the "
	.ascii	"rest\012    of his stay.\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   It was only necessary to mention any favourite\012"
	.ascii	"    amusement to engage her to talk.  She could not"
	.ascii	" be\012    silent when such points were introduced,"
	.ascii	" and she\012    had neither shyness nor reserve in "
	.ascii	"their discussion.\012    They speedily discovered t"
	.ascii	"hat their enjoyment of dancing\012    and music was"
	.ascii	" mutual, and that it arose from a general\012    co"
	.ascii	"nformity of judgment in all that related to either."
	.ascii	"\012    Encouraged by this to a further examination"
	.ascii	" of his opinions,\012    she proceeded to question "
	.ascii	"him on the subject of books;\012    her favourite a"
	.ascii	"uthors were brought forward and dwelt\012    upon w"
	.ascii	"ith so rapturous a delight, that any young man of\012"
	.ascii	"    five and twenty must have been insensible indee"
	.ascii	"d, not to\012    become an immediate convert to the"
	.ascii	" excellence of such works,\012    however disregard"
	.ascii	"ed before.  Their taste was strikingly alike.\012  "
	.ascii	"  The same books, the same passages were idolized b"
	.ascii	"y each--\012    or if any difference appeared, any "
	.ascii	"objection arose,\012    it lasted no longer than ti"
	.ascii	"ll the force of her arguments\012    and the bright"
	.ascii	"ness of her eyes could be displayed.\012    He acqu"
	.ascii	"iesced in all her decisions, caught all her enthusi"
	.ascii	"asm;\012    and long before his visit concluded, th"
	.ascii	"ey conversed\012    with the familiarity of a long-"
	.ascii	"established acquaintance.\012    \012    \"Well, Ma"
	.ascii	"rianne,\" said Elinor, as soon as he had left them,"
	.ascii	"\012    \"for ONE morning I think you have done pre"
	.ascii	"tty well.\012    You have already ascertained Mr. W"
	.ascii	"illoughby's opinion in\012    almost every matter o"
	.ascii	"f importance.  You know what he thinks\012    of Co"
	.ascii	"wper and Scott; you are certain of his estimating\012"
	.ascii	"    their beauties as he ought, and you have receiv"
	.ascii	"ed every\012    assurance of his admiring Pope no m"
	.ascii	"ore than is proper.\012    But how is your acquaint"
	.ascii	"ance to be long supported, under such\012    extrao"
	.ascii	"rdinary despatch of every subject for discourse?\012"
	.ascii	"    You will soon have exhausted each favourite top"
	.ascii	"ic.\012    Another meeting will suffice to explain "
	.ascii	"his sentiments\012    on picturesque beauty, and se"
	.ascii	"cond marriages, and then\012    you can have nothin"
	.ascii	"g farth"
	.ascii	"er to ask.\"--\012    \012    \"Elinor,\" cried Mar"
	.ascii	"ianne, \"is this fair? is this\012    just? are my "
	.ascii	"ideas so scanty?  But I see what you mean.\012    I"
	.ascii	" have been too much at my ease, too happy, too fran"
	.ascii	"k.\012    I have erred against every common-place n"
	.ascii	"otion of decorum;\012    I have been open and since"
	.ascii	"re where I ought to have\012    been reserved, spir"
	.ascii	"itless, dull, and deceitful--had\012    I talked on"
	.ascii	"ly of the weather and the roads, and had I\012    s"
	.ascii	"poken only once in ten minutes, this reproach would"
	.ascii	" have\012    been spared.\"\012    \012    \"My lov"
	.ascii	"e,\" said her mother, \"you must not be offended\012"
	.ascii	"    with Elinor--she was only in jest.  I should sc"
	.ascii	"old\012    her myself, if she were capable of wishi"
	.ascii	"ng to check\012    the delight of your conversation"
	.ascii	" with our new friend.\"--\012    Marianne was softe"
	.ascii	"ned in a moment.\012    \012    Willoughby, on his "
	.ascii	"side, gave every proof of his\012    pleasure in th"
	.ascii	"eir acquaintance, which an evident wish\012    of i"
	.ascii	"mproving it could offer.  He came to them every day"
	.ascii	".\012    To enquire after Marianne was at first his"
	.ascii	" excuse; but the\012    encouragement of his recept"
	.ascii	"ion, to which every day gave\012    greater kindnes"
	.ascii	"s, made such an excuse unnecessary before it\012   "
	.ascii	" had ceased to be possible, by Marianne's perfect r"
	.ascii	"ecovery.\012    She was confined for some days to t"
	.ascii	"he house; but never had\012    any confinement been"
	.ascii	" less irksome.  Willoughby was a young\012    man o"
	.ascii	"f good abilities, quick imagination, lively spirits"
	.ascii	",\012    and open, affectionate manners.  He was ex"
	.ascii	"actly formed\012    to engage Marianne's heart, for"
	.ascii	" with all this, he joined\012    not only a captiva"
	.ascii	"ting person, but a natural ardour\012    of mind wh"
	.ascii	"ich was now roused and increased by the example\012"
	.ascii	"    of her own, and which recommended him to her af"
	.ascii	"fection\012    beyond every thing else.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    His society became gradually her most exquisite"
	.ascii	" enjoyment.\012    They read, they talked, they san"
	.ascii	"g together; his musical\012    talents were conside"
	.ascii	"rable; and he read with all the\012    sensibility "
	.ascii	"and spirit which Edward had unfortunately wanted.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    In Mrs. Dashwood's esti"
	.ascii	"mation he was as faultless\012    as in Marianne's;"
	.ascii	" and Elinor saw nothing to censure in him\012    bu"
	.ascii	"t a propensity, in which he strongly resembled and "
	.ascii	"peculiarly\012    delighted her sister, of saying t"
	.ascii	"oo much what he thought on\012    every occasion, w"
	.ascii	"ithout attention to persons or circumstances.\012  "
	.ascii	"  In hastily forming and giving his opinion of othe"
	.ascii	"r people,\012    in sacrificing general politeness "
	.ascii	"to the enjoyment\012    of undivided attention wher"
	.ascii	"e his heart was engaged,\012    and in slighting to"
	.ascii	"o easily the forms of worldly propriety,\012    he "
	.ascii	"displayed a want of caution which Elinor could not "
	.ascii	"approve,\012    in spite of all that he and Mariann"
	.ascii	"e could say in its support.\012    \012    Marianne"
	.ascii	" began now to perceive that the desperation\012    "
	.ascii	"which had seized her at sixteen and a half, of ever"
	.ascii	"\012    seeing a man who could satisfy her ideas of"
	.ascii	" perfection,\012    had been rash and unjustifiable"
	.ascii	".  Willoughby was all\012    that her fancy had del"
	.ascii	"ineated in that unhappy hour\012    and in every br"
	.ascii	"ighter period, as capable of attaching her;\012    "
	.ascii	"and his behaviour declared his wishes to be in that"
	.ascii	" respect\012    as earnest, as his abilities were s"
	.ascii	"trong.\012    \012    Her mother too, in whose mind"
	.ascii	" not one speculative\012    thought of their marria"
	.ascii	"ge had been raised, by his prospect\012    of riche"
	.ascii	"s, was led before the end of a week to hope and\012"
	.ascii	"    expect it; and secretly to congratulate herself"
	.ascii	" on having\012    gained two such sons-in-law as Ed"
	.ascii	"ward and Willoughby.\012    \012    Colonel Brandon"
	.ascii	"'s partiality for Marianne, which had\012    so ear"
	.ascii	"ly been discovered by his friends, now first became"
	.ascii	"\012    perceptible to Elinor, when it ceased to be"
	.ascii	" noticed\012    by them.  Their attention and wit w"
	.ascii	"ere drawn off to his\012    more fortunate rival; a"
	.ascii	"nd the raillery which the other\012    had incurred"
	.ascii	" before any partiality arose, was removed\012    wh"
	.ascii	"en his feelings began really to call for the ridicu"
	.ascii	"le\012    so justly annexed to sensibility.  Elinor"
	.ascii	" was obliged,\012    though unwillingly, to believe"
	.ascii	" that the sentiments which\012    Mrs. Jennings had"
	.ascii	" assigned him for"
	.ascii	" her own satisfaction,\012    were now actually exc"
	.ascii	"ited by her sister; and that however\012    a gener"
	.ascii	"al resemblance of disposition between the parties\012"
	.ascii	"    might forward the affection of Mr. Willoughby, "
	.ascii	"an equally\012    striking opposition of character "
	.ascii	"was no hindrance to the\012    regard of Colonel Br"
	.ascii	"andon.  She saw it with concern;\012    for what co"
	.ascii	"uld a silent man of five and thirty hope,\012    wh"
	.ascii	"en opposed to a very lively one of five and twenty?"
	.ascii	" and as\012    she could not even wish him successf"
	.ascii	"ul, she heartily wished\012    him indifferent.  Sh"
	.ascii	"e liked him--in spite of his gravity\012    and res"
	.ascii	"erve, she beheld in him an object of interest.\012 "
	.ascii	"   His manners, though serious, were mild; and his "
	.ascii	"reserve\012    appeared rather the result of some o"
	.ascii	"ppression of spirits\012    than of any natural glo"
	.ascii	"ominess of temper.  Sir John\012    had dropped hin"
	.ascii	"ts of past injuries and disappointments,\012    whi"
	.ascii	"ch justified her belief of his being an unfortunate"
	.ascii	" man,\012    and she regarded him with respect and "
	.ascii	"compassion.\012    \012    Perhaps she pitied and e"
	.ascii	"steemed him the more\012    because he was slighted"
	.ascii	" by Willoughby and Marianne,\012    who, prejudiced"
	.ascii	" against him for being neither lively\012    nor yo"
	.ascii	"ung, seemed resolved to undervalue his merits.\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"Brandon is just the kind of man,\" sai"
	.ascii	"d Willoughby\012    one day, when they were talking"
	.ascii	" of him together,\012    \"whom every body speaks w"
	.ascii	"ell of, and nobody cares about;\012    whom all are"
	.ascii	" delighted to see, and nobody remembers\012    to t"
	.ascii	"alk to.\"\012    \012    \"That is exactly what I t"
	.ascii	"hink of him,\" cried Marianne.\012    \012    \"Do "
	.ascii	"not boast of it, however,\" said Elinor, \"for it\012"
	.ascii	"    is injustice in both of you.  He is highly este"
	.ascii	"emed\012    by all the family at the park, and I ne"
	.ascii	"ver see him myself\012    without taking pains to c"
	.ascii	"onverse with him.\"\012    \012    \"That he is pat"
	.ascii	"ronised by YOU,\" replied Willoughby,\012    \"is c"
	.ascii	"ertainly in his favour; but as for the esteem\012  "
	.ascii	"  of the others, it is a reproach in itself.  Who w"
	.ascii	"ould\012    submit to the indignity of being approv"
	.ascii	"ed by such a woman\012    as Lady Midd"
	.ascii	"leton and Mrs. Jennings, that could command\012    "
	.ascii	"the indifference of any body else?\"\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"But perhaps the abuse of such people as yourself"
	.ascii	"\012    and Marianne will make amends for the regar"
	.ascii	"d of Lady\012    Middleton and her mother.  If thei"
	.ascii	"r praise is censure,\012    your censure may be pra"
	.ascii	"ise, for they are not more undiscerning,\012    tha"
	.ascii	"n you are prejudiced and unjust.\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"In defence of your protege you can even be saucy.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"My protege, as you call him, is a"
	.ascii	" sensible man;\012    and sense will always have at"
	.ascii	"tractions for me.\012    Yes, Marianne, even in a m"
	.ascii	"an between thirty and forty.\012    He has seen a g"
	.ascii	"reat deal of the world; has been abroad,\012    has"
	.ascii	" read, and has a thinking mind.  I have found him\012"
	.ascii	"    capable of giving me much information on variou"
	.ascii	"s subjects;\012    and he has always answered my in"
	.ascii	"quiries with readiness of\012    good-breeding and "
	.ascii	"good nature.\"\012    \012    \"That is to say,\" c"
	.ascii	"ried Marianne contemptuously,\012    \"he has told "
	.ascii	"you, that in the East Indies the climate is hot,\012"
	.ascii	"    and the mosquitoes are troublesome.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"He WOULD have told me so, I doubt not, had I "
	.ascii	"made\012    any such inquiries, but they happened t"
	.ascii	"o be points\012    on which I had been previously i"
	.ascii	"nformed.\"\012    \012    \"Perhaps,\" said Willoug"
	.ascii	"hby, \"his observations may\012    have extended to"
	.ascii	" the existence of nabobs, gold mohrs,\012    and pa"
	.ascii	"lanquins.\"\012    \012    \"I may venture to say t"
	.ascii	"hat HIS observations\012    have stretched much fur"
	.ascii	"ther than your candour.\012    But why should you d"
	.ascii	"islike him?\"\012    \012    \"I do not dislike him"
	.ascii	".  I consider him, on the contrary,\012    as a ver"
	.ascii	"y respectable man, who has every body's good word,\012"
	.ascii	"    and nobody's notice; who, has more money than h"
	.ascii	"e can spend,\012    more time than he knows how to "
	.ascii	"employ, and two new coats\012    every year.\"\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"Add to which,\" cried Marianne, \"that"
	.ascii	" he has\012    neither genius, taste, nor spirit.  "
	.ascii	"That his understanding\012    has no brilliancy, hi"
	.ascii	"s feelings no ardour, and his voice\012    no expre"
	.ascii	"ssion.\"\012    \012    \"You decide on his imperfe"
	.ascii	"ctions so much i"
	.ascii	"n the mass,\"\012    replied Elinor, \"and so much "
	.ascii	"on the strength of your\012    own imagination, tha"
	.ascii	"t the commendation I am able to give\012    of him "
	.ascii	"is comparatively cold and insipid.  I can only\012 "
	.ascii	"   pronounce him to be a sensible man, well-bred, w"
	.ascii	"ell-informed,\012    of gentle address, and, I beli"
	.ascii	"eve, possessing an amiable heart.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"Miss Dashwood,\" cried Willoughby, \"you are now "
	.ascii	"using\012    me unkindly.  You are endeavouring to "
	.ascii	"disarm me by reason,\012    and to convince me agai"
	.ascii	"nst my will.  But it will not do.\012    You shall "
	.ascii	"find me as stubborn as you can be artful.  I have\012"
	.ascii	"    three unanswerable reasons for disliking Colone"
	.ascii	"l Brandon;\012    he threatened me with rain when I"
	.ascii	" wanted it to be fine;\012    he has found fault wi"
	.ascii	"th the hanging of my curricle,\012    and I cannot "
	.ascii	"persuade him to buy my brown mare.  If it\012    wi"
	.ascii	"ll be any satisfaction to you, however, to be told,"
	.ascii	"\012    that I believe his character to be in other"
	.ascii	" respects\012    irreproachable, I am ready to conf"
	.ascii	"ess it.  And in return\012    for an acknowledgment"
	.ascii	", which must give me some pain,\012    you cannot d"
	.ascii	"eny me the privilege of disliking him as much\012  "
	.ascii	"  as ever.\"\012    \012    \012    \012    CHAPTER"
	.ascii	" 11\012    \012    \012    Little had Mrs. Dashwood"
	.ascii	" or her daughters imagined\012    when they first c"
	.ascii	"ame into Devonshire, that so many\012    engagement"
	.ascii	"s would arise to occupy their time as shortly\012  "
	.ascii	"  presented themselves, or that they should have su"
	.ascii	"ch frequent\012    invitations and such constant vi"
	.ascii	"sitors as to leave them little\012    leisure for s"
	.ascii	"erious employment.  Yet such was the case.\012    W"
	.ascii	"hen Marianne was recovered, the schemes of amusemen"
	.ascii	"t at home\012    and abroad, which Sir John had bee"
	.ascii	"n previously forming,\012    were put into executio"
	.ascii	"n.  The private balls at the park\012    then began"
	.ascii	"; and parties on the water were made and\012    acc"
	.ascii	"omplished as often as a showery October would allow"
	.ascii	".\012    In every meeting of the kind Willoughby wa"
	.ascii	"s included;\012    and the ease and familiarity whi"
	.ascii	"ch naturally attended\012    these parties were exa"
	.ascii	"ctly calculated to give increasing"
	.ascii	"\012    intimacy to his acquaintance with the Dashw"
	.ascii	"oods, to afford\012    him opportunity of witnessin"
	.ascii	"g the excellencies of Marianne,\012    of marking h"
	.ascii	"is animated admiration of her, and of receiving,\012"
	.ascii	"    in her behaviour to himself, the most pointed a"
	.ascii	"ssurance\012    of her affection.\012    \012    El"
	.ascii	"inor could not be surprised at their attachment.\012"
	.ascii	"    She only wished that it were less openly shewn;"
	.ascii	" and once\012    or twice did venture to suggest th"
	.ascii	"e propriety of some\012    self-command to Marianne"
	.ascii	".  But Marianne abhorred all\012    concealment whe"
	.ascii	"re no real disgrace could attend unreserve;\012    "
	.ascii	"and to aim at the restraint of sentiments which wer"
	.ascii	"e not\012    in themselves illaudable, appeared to "
	.ascii	"her not merely\012    an unnecessary effort, but a "
	.ascii	"disgraceful subjection\012    of reason to common-p"
	.ascii	"lace and mistaken notions.\012    Willoughby though"
	.ascii	"t the same; and their behaviour at\012    all times"
	.ascii	", was an illustration of their opinions.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    When he was present she had no eyes for any one"
	.ascii	" else.\012    Every thing he did, was right.  Every"
	.ascii	" thing he said, was clever.\012    If their evening"
	.ascii	"s at the park were concluded with cards,\012    he "
	.ascii	"cheated himself and all the rest of the party to ge"
	.ascii	"t\012    her a good hand.  If dancing formed the am"
	.ascii	"usement\012    of the night, they were partners for"
	.ascii	" half the time;\012    and when obliged to separate"
	.ascii	" for a couple of dances,\012    were careful to sta"
	.ascii	"nd together and scarcely spoke a word\012    to any"
	.ascii	" body else.  Such conduct made them of course\012  "
	.ascii	"  most exceedingly laughed at; but ridicule could n"
	.ascii	"ot shame,\012    and seemed hardly to provoke them."
	.ascii	"\012    \012    Mrs. Dashwood entered into all thei"
	.ascii	"r feelings with\012    a warmth which left her no i"
	.ascii	"nclination for checking this\012    excessive displ"
	.ascii	"ay of them.  To her it was but the natural\012    c"
	.ascii	"onsequence of a strong affection in a young and ard"
	.ascii	"ent mind.\012    \012    This was the season of hap"
	.ascii	"piness to Marianne.\012    Her heart was devoted to"
	.ascii	" Willoughby, and the fond attachment\012    to Norl"
	.ascii	"and, which she brought with her from Sussex,\012   "
	.ascii	" was more likely to be "
	.ascii	"softened than she had thought it\012    possible be"
	.ascii	"fore, by the charms which his society bestowed\012 "
	.ascii	"   on her present home.\012    \012    Elinor's hap"
	.ascii	"piness was not so great.  Her heart was not\012    "
	.ascii	"so much at ease, nor her satisfaction in their amus"
	.ascii	"ements\012    so pure.  They afforded her no compan"
	.ascii	"ion that could make\012    amends for what she had "
	.ascii	"left behind, nor that could teach\012    her to thi"
	.ascii	"nk of Norland with less regret than ever.\012    Ne"
	.ascii	"ither Lady Middleton nor Mrs. Jennings could supply"
	.ascii	"\012    to her the conversation she missed; althoug"
	.ascii	"h the latter\012    was an everlasting talker, and "
	.ascii	"from the first had regarded\012    her with a kindn"
	.ascii	"ess which ensured her a large share of\012    her d"
	.ascii	"iscourse.  She had already repeated her own history"
	.ascii	"\012    to Elinor three or four times; and had Elin"
	.ascii	"or's memory been\012    equal to her means of impro"
	.ascii	"vement, she might have known\012    very early in t"
	.ascii	"heir acquaintance all the particulars of\012    Mr."
	.ascii	" Jenning's last illness, and what he said to his wi"
	.ascii	"fe\012    a few minutes before he died.  Lady Middl"
	.ascii	"eton was more\012    agreeable than her mother only"
	.ascii	" in being more silent.\012    Elinor needed little "
	.ascii	"observation to perceive that her\012    reserve was"
	.ascii	" a mere calmness of manner with which sense\012    "
	.ascii	"had nothing to do.  Towards her husband and mother "
	.ascii	"she\012    was the same as to them; and intimacy wa"
	.ascii	"s therefore\012    neither to be looked for nor des"
	.ascii	"ired.  She had nothing\012    to say one day that s"
	.ascii	"he had not said the day before.\012    Her insipidi"
	.ascii	"ty was invariable, for even her spirits were\012   "
	.ascii	" always the same; and though she did not oppose the"
	.ascii	" parties\012    arranged by her husband, provided e"
	.ascii	"very thing were conducted\012    in style and her t"
	.ascii	"wo eldest children attended her,\012    she never a"
	.ascii	"ppeared to receive more enjoyment from them\012    "
	.ascii	"than she might have experienced in sitting at home;"
	.ascii	"--\012    and so little did her presence add to the"
	.ascii	" pleasure\012    of the others, by any share in the"
	.ascii	"ir conversation,\012    that they were sometimes on"
	.ascii	"ly reminded of her being\012    amongst them by her"
	.ascii	" solicitude ab"
	.ascii	"out her troublesome boys.\012    \012    In Colonel"
	.ascii	" Brandon alone, of all her new acquaintance,\012   "
	.ascii	" did Elinor find a person who could in any degree c"
	.ascii	"laim the\012    respect of abilities, excite the in"
	.ascii	"terest of friendship,\012    or give pleasure as a "
	.ascii	"companion.  Willoughby was out\012    of the questi"
	.ascii	"on.  Her admiration and regard, even her\012    sis"
	.ascii	"terly regard, was all his own; but he was a lover;\012"
	.ascii	"    his attentions were wholly Marianne's, and a fa"
	.ascii	"r less\012    agreeable man might have been more ge"
	.ascii	"nerally pleasing.\012    Colonel Brandon, unfortuna"
	.ascii	"tely for himself, had no such\012    encouragement "
	.ascii	"to think only of Marianne, and in conversing\012   "
	.ascii	" with Elinor he found the greatest consolation for "
	.ascii	"the\012    indifference of her sister.\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   Elinor's compassion for him increased, as she ha"
	.ascii	"d reason\012    to suspect that the misery of disap"
	.ascii	"pointed love had already\012    been known to him. "
	.ascii	" This suspicion was given by some words\012    whic"
	.ascii	"h accidently dropped from him one evening at the pa"
	.ascii	"rk,\012    when they were sitting down together by "
	.ascii	"mutual consent,\012    while the others were dancin"
	.ascii	"g.  His eyes were fixed\012    on Marianne, and, af"
	.ascii	"ter a silence of some minutes,\012    he said, with"
	.ascii	" a faint smile, \"Your sister, I understand,\012   "
	.ascii	" does not approve of second attachments.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"No,\" replied Elinor, \"her opinions are all "
	.ascii	"romantic.\"\012    \012    \"Or rather, as I believ"
	.ascii	"e, she considers them\012    impossible to exist.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"I believe she does.  But how she "
	.ascii	"contrives it\012    without reflecting on the chara"
	.ascii	"cter of her own father,\012    who had himself two "
	.ascii	"wives, I know not.  A few years\012    however will"
	.ascii	" settle her opinions on the reasonable basis\012   "
	.ascii	" of common sense and observation; and then they may"
	.ascii	" be\012    more easy to define and to justify than "
	.ascii	"they now are,\012    by any body but herself.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"This will probably be the case,\" he "
	.ascii	"replied;\012    \"and yet there is something so ami"
	.ascii	"able in the prejudices\012    of a young mind, that"
	.ascii	" one is sorry to see them give way\012    to the re"
	.ascii	"ception of more general opinions.\"\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \"I cannot agree with you there,\" said Eli"
	.ascii	"nor.\012    \"There are inconveniences attending su"
	.ascii	"ch feelings\012    as Marianne's, which all the cha"
	.ascii	"rms of enthusiasm and\012    ignorance of the world"
	.ascii	" cannot atone for.  Her systems have\012    all the"
	.ascii	" unfortunate tendency of setting propriety at nough"
	.ascii	"t;\012    and a better acquaintance with the world "
	.ascii	"is what I look\012    forward to as her greatest po"
	.ascii	"ssible advantage.\"\012    \012    After a short pa"
	.ascii	"use he resumed the conversation\012    by saying,--"
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"Does your sister make no distinct"
	.ascii	"ion in her objections\012    against a second attac"
	.ascii	"hment? or is it equally criminal\012    in every bo"
	.ascii	"dy?  Are those who have been disappointed\012    in"
	.ascii	" their first choice, whether from the inconstancy\012"
	.ascii	"    of its object, or the perverseness of circumsta"
	.ascii	"nces,\012    to be equally indifferent during the r"
	.ascii	"est of their lives?\"\012    \012    \"Upon my word"
	.ascii	", I am not acquainted with the minutiae\012    of h"
	.ascii	"er principles.  I only know that I never yet heard "
	.ascii	"her\012    admit any instance of a second attachmen"
	.ascii	"t's being pardonable.\"\012    \012    \"This,\" sa"
	.ascii	"id he, \"cannot hold; but a change,\012    a total "
	.ascii	"change of sentiments--No, no, do not desire it;\012"
	.ascii	"    for when the romantic refinements of a young mi"
	.ascii	"nd\012    are obliged to give way, how frequently a"
	.ascii	"re they\012    succeeded by such opinions as are bu"
	.ascii	"t too common, and too\012    dangerous!  I speak fr"
	.ascii	"om experience.  I once knew a lady\012    who in te"
	.ascii	"mper and mind greatly resembled your sister,\012   "
	.ascii	" who thought and judged like her, but who from an i"
	.ascii	"nforced\012    change--from a series of unfortunate"
	.ascii	" circumstances\"--\012    Here he stopt suddenly; a"
	.ascii	"ppeared to think that he had said\012    too much, "
	.ascii	"and by his countenance gave rise to conjectures,\012"
	.ascii	"    which might not otherwise have entered Elinor's"
	.ascii	" head.\012    The lady would probably have passed w"
	.ascii	"ithout suspicion,\012    had he not convinced Miss "
	.ascii	"Dashwood that what concerned\012    her ought not t"
	.ascii	"o escape his lips.  As it was,\012    it required b"
	.ascii	"ut a slight effort of fancy to connect his\012    e"
	.ascii	"motion with the tender recollection"
	.ascii	" of past regard.\012    Elinor attempted no more.  "
	.ascii	"But Marianne, in her place,\012    would not have d"
	.ascii	"one so little.  The whole story would\012    have b"
	.ascii	"een speedily formed under her active imagination;\012"
	.ascii	"    and every thing established in the most melanch"
	.ascii	"oly order\012    of disastrous love.\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \012    CHAPTER 12\012    \012    \012    "
	.ascii	"As Elinor and Marianne were walking together the\012"
	.ascii	"    next morning the latter communicated a piece of"
	.ascii	" news\012    to her sister, which in spite of all t"
	.ascii	"hat she knew\012    before of Marianne's imprudence"
	.ascii	" and want of thought,\012    surprised her by its e"
	.ascii	"xtravagant testimony of both.\012    Marianne told "
	.ascii	"her, with the greatest delight, that\012    Willoug"
	.ascii	"hby had given her a horse, one that he had bred\012"
	.ascii	"    himself on his estate in Somersetshire, and whi"
	.ascii	"ch was\012    exactly calculated to carry a woman. "
	.ascii	" Without considering\012    that it was not in her "
	.ascii	"mother's plan to keep any horse,\012    that if she"
	.ascii	" were to alter her resolution in favour of\012    t"
	.ascii	"his gift, she must buy another for the servant, and"
	.ascii	"\012    keep a servant to ride it, and after all, b"
	.ascii	"uild a stable\012    to receive them, she had accep"
	.ascii	"ted the present without\012    hesitation, and told"
	.ascii	" her sister of it in raptures.\012    \012    \"He "
	.ascii	"intends to send his groom into Somersetshire\012   "
	.ascii	" immediately for it,\" she added, \"and when it arr"
	.ascii	"ives we\012    will ride every day.  You shall shar"
	.ascii	"e its use with me.\012    Imagine to yourself, my d"
	.ascii	"ear Elinor, the delight of a gallop\012    on some "
	.ascii	"of these downs.\"\012    \012    Most unwilling was"
	.ascii	" she to awaken from such a dream of\012    felicity"
	.ascii	" to comprehend all the unhappy truths which attende"
	.ascii	"d\012    the affair; and for some time she refused "
	.ascii	"to submit to them.\012    As to an additional serva"
	.ascii	"nt, the expense would be a trifle;\012    Mamma she"
	.ascii	" was sure would never object to it; and any horse\012"
	.ascii	"    would do for HIM; he might always get one at th"
	.ascii	"e park;\012    as to a stable, the merest shed woul"
	.ascii	"d be sufficient.\012    Elinor then ventured to dou"
	.ascii	"bt the propriety of her receiving\012    such a pre"
	.ascii	"sent from a man so little, or at l"
	.ascii	"east so lately\012    known to her.  This was too m"
	.ascii	"uch.\012    \012    \"You are mistaken, Elinor,\" s"
	.ascii	"aid she warmly,\012    \"in supposing I know very l"
	.ascii	"ittle of Willoughby.\012    I have not known him lo"
	.ascii	"ng indeed, but I am much better\012    acquainted w"
	.ascii	"ith him, than I am with any other creature\012    i"
	.ascii	"n the world, except yourself and mama.  It is not\012"
	.ascii	"    time or opportunity that is to determine intima"
	.ascii	"cy;--\012    it is disposition alone.  Seven years "
	.ascii	"would be insufficient\012    to make some people ac"
	.ascii	"quainted with each other, and seven\012    days are"
	.ascii	" more than enough for others.  I should hold\012   "
	.ascii	" myself guilty of greater impropriety in accepting "
	.ascii	"a horse\012    from my brother, than from Willoughb"
	.ascii	"y.  Of John I know\012    very little, though we ha"
	.ascii	"ve lived together for years;\012    but of Willough"
	.ascii	"by my judgment has long been formed.\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   Elinor thought it wisest to touch that point no "
	.ascii	"more.\012    She knew her sister's temper.  Opposit"
	.ascii	"ion on so tender a\012    subject would only attach"
	.ascii	" her the more to her own opinion.\012    But by an "
	.ascii	"appeal to her affection for her mother,\012    by r"
	.ascii	"epresenting the inconveniences which that indulgent"
	.ascii	"\012    mother must draw on herself, if (as would p"
	.ascii	"robably be\012    the case) she consented to this i"
	.ascii	"ncrease of establishment,\012    Marianne was short"
	.ascii	"ly subdued; and she promised not to\012    tempt he"
	.ascii	"r mother to such imprudent kindness by mentioning\012"
	.ascii	"    the offer, and to tell Willoughby when she saw "
	.ascii	"him next,\012    that it must be declined.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    She was faithful to her word; and when Willough"
	.ascii	"by\012    called at the cottage, the same day, Elin"
	.ascii	"or heard her\012    express her disappointment to h"
	.ascii	"im in a low voice, on\012    being obliged to foreg"
	.ascii	"o the acceptance of his present.\012    The reasons"
	.ascii	" for this alteration were at the same time related,"
	.ascii	"\012    and they were such as to make further entre"
	.ascii	"aty on his\012    side impossible.  His concern how"
	.ascii	"ever was very apparent;\012    and after expressing"
	.ascii	" it with earnestness, he added,\012    in the same "
	.ascii	"low voice,--\"But, Marianne, the horse is\012    st"
	.ascii	"ill yours, though you"
	.ascii	" cannot use it now.  I shall keep\012    it only ti"
	.ascii	"ll you can claim it.  When you leave Barton\012    "
	.ascii	"to form your own establishment in a more lasting ho"
	.ascii	"me,\012    Queen Mab shall receive you.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    This was all overheard by Miss Dashwood; and in"
	.ascii	" the\012    whole of the sentence, in his manner of"
	.ascii	" pronouncing it,\012    and in his addressing her s"
	.ascii	"ister by her Christian name alone,\012    she insta"
	.ascii	"ntly saw an intimacy so decided, a meaning\012    s"
	.ascii	"o direct, as marked a perfect agreement between the"
	.ascii	"m.\012    From that moment she doubted not of their"
	.ascii	" being engaged\012    to each other; and the belief"
	.ascii	" of it created no other surprise\012    than that s"
	.ascii	"he, or any of their friends, should be left\012    "
	.ascii	"by tempers so frank, to discover it by accident.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Margaret related something to her the n"
	.ascii	"ext day,\012    which placed this matter in a still"
	.ascii	" clearer light.\012    Willoughby had spent the pre"
	.ascii	"ceding evening with them,\012    and Margaret, by b"
	.ascii	"eing left some time in the parlour\012    with only"
	.ascii	" him and Marianne, had had opportunity\012    for o"
	.ascii	"bservations, which, with a most important face,\012"
	.ascii	"    she communicated to her eldest sister, when the"
	.ascii	"y were\012    next by themselves.\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"Oh, Elinor!\" she cried, \"I have such a secret to\012"
	.ascii	"    tell you about Marianne.  I am sure she will be"
	.ascii	" married\012    to Mr. Willoughby very soon.\"\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"You have said so,\" replied Elinor, \""
	.ascii	"almost every\012    day since they first met on Hig"
	.ascii	"h-church Down; and they\012    had not known each o"
	.ascii	"ther a week, I believe, before you\012    were cert"
	.ascii	"ain that Marianne wore his picture round her neck;\012"
	.ascii	"    but it turned out to be only the miniature of o"
	.ascii	"ur great uncle.\"\012    \012    \"But indeed this "
	.ascii	"is quite another thing.  I am sure\012    they will"
	.ascii	" be married very soon, for he has got a lock\012   "
	.ascii	" of her hair.\"\012    \012    \"Take care, Margare"
	.ascii	"t.  It may be only the hair\012    of some great un"
	.ascii	"cle of HIS.\"\012    \012    \"But, indeed, Elinor,"
	.ascii	" it is Marianne's. I am almost\012    sure it is, f"
	.ascii	"or I saw him cut it off.  Last night\012    after t"
	.ascii	"ea, when you and mama went out of the room,"
	.ascii	"\012    they were whispering and talking together a"
	.ascii	"s fast as\012    could be, and he seemed to be begg"
	.ascii	"ing something of her,\012    and presently he took "
	.ascii	"up her scissors and cut off a long\012    lock of h"
	.ascii	"er hair, for it was all tumbled down her back;\012 "
	.ascii	"   and he kissed it, and folded it up in a piece of"
	.ascii	" white paper;\012    and put it into his pocket-boo"
	.ascii	"k.\"\012    \012    For such particulars, stated on"
	.ascii	" such authority,\012    Elinor could not withhold h"
	.ascii	"er credit; nor was she disposed\012    to it, for t"
	.ascii	"he circumstance was in perfect unison with\012    w"
	.ascii	"hat she had heard and seen herself.\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"Margaret's sagacity was not always displayed in a\012"
	.ascii	"    way so satisfactory to her sister.  When Mrs. J"
	.ascii	"ennings\012    attacked her one evening at the park"
	.ascii	", to give the name\012    of the young man who was "
	.ascii	"Elinor's particular favourite,\012    which had bee"
	.ascii	"n long a matter of great curiosity to her,\012    M"
	.ascii	"argaret answered by looking at her sister, and sayi"
	.ascii	"ng,\012    \"I must not tell, may I, Elinor?\"\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    This of course made every body laugh; an"
	.ascii	"d Elinor\012    tried to laugh too.  But the effort"
	.ascii	" was painful.\012    She was convinced that Margare"
	.ascii	"t had fixed on a person\012    whose name she could"
	.ascii	" not bear with composure to become\012    a standin"
	.ascii	"g joke with Mrs. Jennings.\012    \012    Marianne "
	.ascii	"felt for her most sincerely; but she did\012    mor"
	.ascii	"e harm than good to the cause, by turning very red\012"
	.ascii	"    and saying in an angry manner to Margaret,\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"Remember that whatever your conjecture"
	.ascii	"s may be,\012    you have no right to repeat them.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"I never had any conjectures about"
	.ascii	" it,\" replied Margaret;\012    \"it was you who to"
	.ascii	"ld me of it yourself.\"\012    \012    This increas"
	.ascii	"ed the mirth of the company, and Margaret\012    wa"
	.ascii	"s eagerly pressed to say something more.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Oh! pray, Miss Margaret, let us know all abou"
	.ascii	"t it,\"\012    said Mrs. Jennings.  \"What is the g"
	.ascii	"entleman's name?\"\012    \012    \"I must not tell"
	.ascii	", ma'am. But I know very well what it is;\012    an"
	.ascii	"d I know where he is too.\"\012    \012    \"Yes, y"
	.ascii	"es, we can guess where he is; at his own house\012 "
	.ascii	"   at No"
	.ascii	"rland to be sure.  He is the curate of the parish\012"
	.ascii	"    I dare say.\"\012    \012    \"No, THAT he is n"
	.ascii	"ot.  He is of no profession at all.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"Margaret,\" said Marianne with great warmth,\012"
	.ascii	"    \"you know that all this is an invention of you"
	.ascii	"r own,\012    and that there is no such person in e"
	.ascii	"xistence.\"\012    \012    \"Well, then, he is late"
	.ascii	"ly dead, Marianne, for I\012    am sure there was s"
	.ascii	"uch a man once, and his name begins\012    with an "
	.ascii	"F.\"\012    \012    Most grateful did Elinor feel t"
	.ascii	"o Lady Middleton\012    for observing, at this mome"
	.ascii	"nt, \"that it rained very hard,\"\012    though she"
	.ascii	" believed the interruption to proceed less from\012"
	.ascii	"    any attention to her, than from her ladyship's "
	.ascii	"great dislike\012    of all such inelegant subjects"
	.ascii	" of raillery as delighted\012    her husband and mo"
	.ascii	"ther.  The idea however started by her,\012    was "
	.ascii	"immediately pursued by Colonel Brandon, who was\012"
	.ascii	"    on every occasion mindful of the feelings of ot"
	.ascii	"hers;\012    and much was said on the subject of ra"
	.ascii	"in by both of them.\012    Willoughby opened the pi"
	.ascii	"ano-forte, and asked Marianne\012    to sit down to"
	.ascii	" it; and thus amidst the various endeavours\012    "
	.ascii	"of different people to quit the topic, it fell to t"
	.ascii	"he ground.\012    But not so easily did Elinor reco"
	.ascii	"ver from the alarm into\012    which it had thrown "
	.ascii	"her.\012    \012    A party was formed this evening"
	.ascii	" for going on the\012    following day to see a ver"
	.ascii	"y fine place about twelve miles\012    from Barton,"
	.ascii	" belonging to a brother-in-law of Colonel Brandon,\012"
	.ascii	"    without whose interest it could not be seen, as"
	.ascii	" the proprietor,\012    who was then abroad, had le"
	.ascii	"ft strict orders on that head.\012    The grounds w"
	.ascii	"ere declared to be highly beautiful,\012    and Sir"
	.ascii	" John, who was particularly warm in their praise,\012"
	.ascii	"    might be allowed to be a tolerable judge, for h"
	.ascii	"e had\012    formed parties to visit them, at least"
	.ascii	", twice every summer\012    for the last ten years."
	.ascii	"  They contained a noble piece\012    of water; a s"
	.ascii	"ail on which was to a form a great part of\012    t"
	.ascii	"he morning's amusement; cold provisions were to be "
	.ascii	"taken,\012    open carriages onl"
	.ascii	"y to be employed, and every thing\012    conducted "
	.ascii	"in the usual style of a complete party of pleasure."
	.ascii	"\012    \012    To some few of the company it appea"
	.ascii	"red rather\012    a bold undertaking, considering t"
	.ascii	"he time of year,\012    and that it had rained ever"
	.ascii	"y day for the last fortnight;--\012    and Mrs. Das"
	.ascii	"hwood, who had already a cold, was persuaded\012   "
	.ascii	" by Elinor to stay at home.\012    \012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\012    CHAPTER 13\012    \012    \012    Their int"
	.ascii	"ended excursion to Whitwell turned out\012    very "
	.ascii	"different from what Elinor had expected.  She was\012"
	.ascii	"    prepared to be wet through, fatigued, and frigh"
	.ascii	"tened;\012    but the event was still more unfortun"
	.ascii	"ate, for they did\012    not go at all.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    By ten o'clock the whole party was assembled at"
	.ascii	"\012    the park, where they were to breakfast.  Th"
	.ascii	"e morning\012    was rather favourable, though it h"
	.ascii	"ad rained all night,\012    as the clouds were then"
	.ascii	" dispersing across the sky,\012    and the sun freq"
	.ascii	"uently appeared.  They were all in high\012    spir"
	.ascii	"its and good humour, eager to be happy, and determi"
	.ascii	"ned\012    to submit to the greatest inconveniences"
	.ascii	" and hardships\012    rather than be otherwise.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    While they were at breakfast the letter"
	.ascii	"s were brought in.\012    Among the rest there was "
	.ascii	"one for Colonel Brandon;--he\012    took it, looked"
	.ascii	" at the direction, changed colour,\012    and immed"
	.ascii	"iately left the room.\012    \012    \"What is the "
	.ascii	"matter with Brandon?\" said Sir John.\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  Nobody could tell.\012    \012    \"I hope he has"
	.ascii	" had no bad news,\" said Lady Middleton.\012    \"I"
	.ascii	"t must be something extraordinary that could make C"
	.ascii	"olonel\012    Brandon leave my breakfast table so s"
	.ascii	"uddenly.\"\012    \012    In about five minutes he "
	.ascii	"returned.\012    \012    \"No bad news, Colonel, I "
	.ascii	"hope;\" said Mrs. Jennings,\012    as soon as he en"
	.ascii	"tered the room.\012    \012    \"None at all, ma'am"
	.ascii	", I thank you.\"\012    \012    \"Was it from Avign"
	.ascii	"on?  I hope it is not to say\012    that your siste"
	.ascii	"r is worse.\"\012    \012    \"No, ma'am. It came f"
	.ascii	"rom town, and is merely\012    a letter of business"
	.ascii	".\"\012    \012    \"But how came the hand to disco"
	.ascii	"mpose you so much,\012    if it was onl"
	.ascii	"y a letter of business?  Come, come,\012    this wo"
	.ascii	"n't do, Colonel; so let us hear the truth of it.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"My dear madam,\" said Lady Middleton,"
	.ascii	" \"recollect what\012    you are saying.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Perhaps it is to tell you that your cousin Fa"
	.ascii	"nny\012    is married?\" said Mrs. Jennings, withou"
	.ascii	"t attending\012    to her daughter's reproof.\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    \"No, indeed, it is not.\"\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"Well, then, I know who it is from, Colonel.  And"
	.ascii	" I\012    hope she is well.\"\012    \012    \"Whom"
	.ascii	" do you mean, ma'am?\" said he, colouring a little."
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"Oh! you know who I mean.\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \"I am particularly sorry, ma'am,\" said h"
	.ascii	"e,\012    addressing Lady Middleton, \"that I shoul"
	.ascii	"d receive this\012    letter today, for it is on bu"
	.ascii	"siness which requires\012    my immediate attendanc"
	.ascii	"e in town.\"\012    \012    \"In town!\" cried Mrs."
	.ascii	" Jennings.  \"What can you\012    have to do in tow"
	.ascii	"n at this time of year?\"\012    \012    \"My own l"
	.ascii	"oss is great,\" he continued, \"in being obliged\012"
	.ascii	"    to leave so agreeable a party; but I am the mor"
	.ascii	"e concerned,\012    as I fear my presence is necess"
	.ascii	"ary to gain your admittance\012    at Whitwell.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    What a blow upon them all was this!\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"But if you write a note to the housek"
	.ascii	"eeper, Mr. Brandon,\"\012    said Marianne, eagerly"
	.ascii	", \"will it not be sufficient?\"\012    \012    He "
	.ascii	"shook his head.\012    \012    \"We must go,\" said"
	.ascii	" Sir John.--\"It shall not be put\012    off when w"
	.ascii	"e are so near it.  You cannot go to town till\012  "
	.ascii	"  tomorrow, Brandon, that is all.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"I wish it could be so easily settled.  But it\012"
	.ascii	"    is not in my power to delay my journey for one "
	.ascii	"day!\"\012    \012    \"If you would but let us kno"
	.ascii	"w what your business is,\"\012    said Mrs. Jenning"
	.ascii	"s, \"we might see whether it could be put\012    of"
	.ascii	"f or not.\"\012    \012    \"You would not be six h"
	.ascii	"ours later,\" said Willoughby,\012    \"if you were"
	.ascii	" to defer your journey till our return.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"I cannot afford to lose ONE hour.\"--\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    Elinor then heard Willoughby say, in a low "
	.ascii	"voice to Marianne,\012    \"There are some people w"
	.ascii	"ho cannot bear a party of pleasure.\012    Brandon "
	.ascii	"is one of them."
	.ascii	"  He was afraid of catching cold\012    I dare say,"
	.ascii	" and invented this trick for getting out of it.\012"
	.ascii	"    I would lay fifty guineas the letter was of his"
	.ascii	" own writing.\"\012    \012    \"I have no doubt of"
	.ascii	" it,\" replied Marianne.\012    \012    \"There is "
	.ascii	"no persuading you to change your mind,\012    Brand"
	.ascii	"on, I know of old,\" said Sir John, \"when once you"
	.ascii	"\012    are determined on anything.  But, however, "
	.ascii	"I hope you\012    will think better of it.  Conside"
	.ascii	"r, here are the two Miss\012    Careys come over fr"
	.ascii	"om Newton, the three Miss Dashwoods\012    walked u"
	.ascii	"p from the cottage, and Mr. Willoughby got up\012  "
	.ascii	"  two hours before his usual time, on purpose to go"
	.ascii	" to Whitwell.\"\012    \012    Colonel Brandon agai"
	.ascii	"n repeated his sorrow at being\012    the cause of "
	.ascii	"disappointing the party; but at the same\012    tim"
	.ascii	"e declared it to be unavoidable.\012    \012    \"W"
	.ascii	"ell, then, when will you come back again?\"\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \"I hope we shall see you at Barton,\" adde"
	.ascii	"d her ladyship,\012    \"as soon as you can conveni"
	.ascii	"ently leave town; and we must\012    put off the pa"
	.ascii	"rty to Whitwell till you return.\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"You are very obliging.  But it is so uncertain,\012"
	.ascii	"    when I may have it in my power to return, that "
	.ascii	"I dare\012    not engage for it at all.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Oh! he must and shall come back,\" cried Sir "
	.ascii	"John.\012    \"If he is not here by the end of the "
	.ascii	"week, I shall go\012    after him.\"\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"Ay, so do, Sir John,\" cried Mrs. Jennings, \"an"
	.ascii	"d then\012    perhaps you may find out what his bus"
	.ascii	"iness is.\"\012    \012    \"I do not want to pry i"
	.ascii	"nto other men's concerns.\012    I suppose it is so"
	.ascii	"mething he is ashamed of.\"\012    \012    Colonel "
	.ascii	"Brandon's horses were announced.\012    \012    \"Y"
	.ascii	"ou do not go to town on horseback, do you?\"\012   "
	.ascii	" added Sir John.\012    \012    \"No. Only to Honit"
	.ascii	"on.  I shall then go post.\"\012    \012    \"Well,"
	.ascii	" as you are resolved to go, I wish you\012    a goo"
	.ascii	"d journey.  But you had better change your mind.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"I assure you it is not in my power.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    He then took leave of the whole par"
	.ascii	"ty.\012    \012    \"Is there no chance of my seein"
	.ascii	"g you and your sisters\012    in town this wi"
	.ascii	"nter, Miss Dashwood?\"\012    \012    \"I am afraid"
	.ascii	", none at all.\"\012    \012    \"Then I must bid y"
	.ascii	"ou farewell for a longer time\012    than I should "
	.ascii	"wish to do.\"\012    \012    To Marianne, he merely"
	.ascii	" bowed and said nothing.\012    \012    \"Come Colo"
	.ascii	"nel,\" said Mrs. Jennings, \"before you go,\012    "
	.ascii	"do let us know what you are going about.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    He wished her a good morning, and, attended by "
	.ascii	"Sir John,\012    left the room.\012    \012    The "
	.ascii	"complaints and lamentations which politeness\012   "
	.ascii	" had hitherto restrained, now burst forth universal"
	.ascii	"ly;\012    and they all agreed again and again how "
	.ascii	"provoking it was\012    to be so disappointed.\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"I can guess what his business is, howe"
	.ascii	"ver,\"\012    said Mrs. Jennings exultingly.\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \"Can you, ma'am?\" said almost every body"
	.ascii	".\012    \012    \"Yes; it is about Miss Williams, "
	.ascii	"I am sure.\"\012    \012    \"And who is Miss Willi"
	.ascii	"ams?\" asked Marianne.\012    \012    \"What! do no"
	.ascii	"t you know who Miss Williams is? I am\012    sure y"
	.ascii	"ou must have heard of her before.  She is a relatio"
	.ascii	"n\012    of the Colonel's, my dear; a very near rel"
	.ascii	"ation.  We will\012    not say how near, for fear o"
	.ascii	"f shocking the young ladies.\"\012    Then, lowerin"
	.ascii	"g her voice a little, she said to Elinor,\012    \""
	.ascii	"She is his natural daughter.\"\012    \012    \"Ind"
	.ascii	"eed!\"\012    \012    \"Oh, yes; and as like him as"
	.ascii	" she can stare.\012    I dare say the Colonel will "
	.ascii	"leave her all his fortune.\"\012    \012    When Si"
	.ascii	"r John returned, he joined most heartily\012    in "
	.ascii	"the general regret on so unfortunate an event;\012 "
	.ascii	"   concluding however by observing, that as they we"
	.ascii	"re\012    all got together, they must do something "
	.ascii	"by way of\012    being happy; and after some consul"
	.ascii	"tation it was agreed,\012    that although happines"
	.ascii	"s could only be enjoyed at Whitwell,\012    they mi"
	.ascii	"ght procure a tolerable composure of mind by drivin"
	.ascii	"g\012    about the country.  The carriages were the"
	.ascii	"n ordered;\012    Willoughby's was first, and Maria"
	.ascii	"nne never looked\012    happier than when she got i"
	.ascii	"nto it.  He drove through\012    the park very fast"
	.ascii	", and they were soon out of sight;\012    and nothi"
	.ascii	"ng more of them was seen till their "
	.ascii	"return,\012    which did not happen till after the "
	.ascii	"return of all the rest.\012    They both seemed del"
	.ascii	"ighted with their drive; but said\012    only in ge"
	.ascii	"neral terms that they had kept in the lanes,\012   "
	.ascii	" while the others went on the downs.\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" It was settled that there should be a dance in the"
	.ascii	" evening,\012    and that every body should be extr"
	.ascii	"emely merry all day long.\012    Some more of the C"
	.ascii	"areys came to dinner, and they had the\012    pleas"
	.ascii	"ure of sitting down nearly twenty to table, which S"
	.ascii	"ir\012    John observed with great contentment.  Wi"
	.ascii	"lloughby took\012    his usual place between the tw"
	.ascii	"o elder Miss Dashwoods.\012    Mrs. Jennings sat on"
	.ascii	" Elinor's right hand; and they had not\012    been "
	.ascii	"long seated, before she leant behind her and Willou"
	.ascii	"ghby,\012    and said to Marianne, loud enough for "
	.ascii	"them both to hear,\012    \"I have found you out in"
	.ascii	" spite of all your tricks.\012    I know where you "
	.ascii	"spent the morning.\"\012    \012    Marianne colour"
	.ascii	"ed, and replied very hastily,\012    \"Where, pray?"
	.ascii	"\"--\012    \012    \"Did not you know,\" said Will"
	.ascii	"oughby, \"that we had\012    been out in my curricl"
	.ascii	"e?\"\012    \012    \"Yes, yes, Mr. Impudence, I kn"
	.ascii	"ow that very well,\012    and I was determined to f"
	.ascii	"ind out WHERE you had been to.--\012    I hope you "
	.ascii	"like your house, Miss Marianne.  It is a very\012  "
	.ascii	"  large one, I know; and when I come to see you, I "
	.ascii	"hope you\012    will have new-furnished it, for it "
	.ascii	"wanted it very much\012    when I was there six yea"
	.ascii	"rs ago.\"\012    \012    Marianne turned away in gr"
	.ascii	"eat confusion.\012    Mrs. Jennings laughed heartil"
	.ascii	"y; and Elinor found that in her\012    resolution t"
	.ascii	"o know where they had been, she had actually\012   "
	.ascii	" made her own woman enquire of Mr. Willoughby's gro"
	.ascii	"om;\012    and that she had by that method been inf"
	.ascii	"ormed that they\012    had gone to Allenham, and sp"
	.ascii	"ent a considerable time there\012    in walking abo"
	.ascii	"ut the garden and going all over the house.\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    Elinor could hardly believe this to be true"
	.ascii	",\012    as it seemed very unlikely that Willoughby"
	.ascii	" should propose,\012    or Marianne consent, to ent"
	.ascii	"er the house while Mrs. Smith was\012    in i"
	.ascii	"t, with whom Marianne had not the smallest acquaint"
	.ascii	"ance.\012    \012    As soon as they left the dinin"
	.ascii	"g-room, Elinor enquired\012    of her about it; and"
	.ascii	" great was her surprise when she\012    found that "
	.ascii	"every circumstance related by Mrs. Jennings\012    "
	.ascii	"was perfectly true.  Marianne was quite angry with "
	.ascii	"her\012    for doubting it.\012    \012    \"Why sh"
	.ascii	"ould you imagine, Elinor, that we did not\012    go"
	.ascii	" there, or that we did not see the house?  Is not i"
	.ascii	"t\012    what you have often wished to do yourself?"
	.ascii	"\"\012    \012    \"Yes, Marianne, but I would not "
	.ascii	"go while Mrs. Smith\012    was there, and with no o"
	.ascii	"ther companion than Mr. Willoughby.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"Mr. Willoughby however is the only person who c"
	.ascii	"an\012    have a right to shew that house; and as h"
	.ascii	"e went in an open\012    carriage, it was impossibl"
	.ascii	"e to have any other companion.\012    I never spent"
	.ascii	" a pleasanter morning in my life.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"I am afraid,\" replied Elinor, \"that the pleasan"
	.ascii	"tness\012    of an employment does not always evinc"
	.ascii	"e its propriety.\"\012    \012    \"On the contrary"
	.ascii	", nothing can be a stronger proof\012    of it, Eli"
	.ascii	"nor; for if there had been any real impropriety\012"
	.ascii	"    in what I did, I should have been sensible of i"
	.ascii	"t at\012    the time, for we always know when we ar"
	.ascii	"e acting wrong,\012    and with such a conviction I"
	.ascii	" could have had no pleasure.\"\012    \012    \"But"
	.ascii	", my dear Marianne, as it has already exposed you\012"
	.ascii	"    to some very impertinent remarks, do you not no"
	.ascii	"w begin\012    to doubt the discretion of your own "
	.ascii	"conduct?\"\012    \012    \"If the impertinent rema"
	.ascii	"rks of Mrs. Jennings are\012    to be the proof of "
	.ascii	"impropriety in conduct, we are all\012    offending"
	.ascii	" every moment of our lives.  I value not her\012   "
	.ascii	" censure any more than I should do her commendation"
	.ascii	".\012    I am not sensible of having done anything "
	.ascii	"wrong in walking\012    over Mrs. Smith's grounds, "
	.ascii	"or in seeing her house.\012    They will one day be"
	.ascii	" Mr. Willoughby's, and--\"\012    \012    \"If they"
	.ascii	" were one day to be your own, Marianne,\012    you "
	.ascii	"would not be justified in what you have done.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    She blushed at this hint; but it was ev"
	.ascii	"en vis"
	.ascii	"ibly\012    gratifying to her; and after a ten minu"
	.ascii	"tes' interval of\012    earnest thought, she came t"
	.ascii	"o her sister again, and said\012    with great good"
	.ascii	" humour, \"Perhaps, Elinor, it WAS rather\012    il"
	.ascii	"l-judged in me to go to Allenham; but Mr. Willoughb"
	.ascii	"y wanted\012    particularly to shew me the place; "
	.ascii	"and it is a charming house,\012    I assure you.--T"
	.ascii	"here is one remarkably pretty sitting room\012    u"
	.ascii	"p stairs; of a nice comfortable size for constant u"
	.ascii	"se,\012    and with modern furniture it would be de"
	.ascii	"lightful.\012    It is a corner room, and has windo"
	.ascii	"ws on two sides.\012    On one side you look across"
	.ascii	" the bowling-green, behind\012    the house, to a b"
	.ascii	"eautiful hanging wood, and on the other you\012    "
	.ascii	"have a view of the church and village, and, beyond "
	.ascii	"them,\012    of those fine bold hills that we have "
	.ascii	"so often admired.\012    I did not see it to advant"
	.ascii	"age, for nothing could be\012    more forlorn than "
	.ascii	"the furniture,--but if it were newly\012    fitted "
	.ascii	"up--a couple of hundred pounds, Willoughby says,\012"
	.ascii	"    would make it one of the pleasantest summer-roo"
	.ascii	"ms\012    in England.\"\012    \012    Could Elinor"
	.ascii	" have listened to her without interruption\012    f"
	.ascii	"rom the others, she would have described every room"
	.ascii	"\012    in the house with equal delight.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \012    CHAPTER 14\012    \012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   The sudden termination of Colonel Brandon's visi"
	.ascii	"t\012    at the park, with his steadiness in concea"
	.ascii	"ling its cause,\012    filled the mind, and raised "
	.ascii	"the wonder of Mrs. Jennings\012    for two or three"
	.ascii	" days; she was a great wonderer, as every\012    on"
	.ascii	"e must be who takes a very lively interest in all t"
	.ascii	"he\012    comings and goings of all their acquainta"
	.ascii	"nce.  She wondered,\012    with little intermission"
	.ascii	" what could be the reason of it;\012    was sure th"
	.ascii	"ere must be some bad news, and thought over\012    "
	.ascii	"every kind of distress that could have befallen him"
	.ascii	",\012    with a fixed determination that he should "
	.ascii	"not escape\012    them all.\012    \012    \"Someth"
	.ascii	"ing very melancholy must be the matter,\012    I am"
	.ascii	" sure,\" said she.  \"I could see it in his face.\012"
	.ascii	"    Poor man!  I am afraid his circumst"
	.ascii	"ances may be bad.\012    The estate at Delaford was"
	.ascii	" never reckoned more than two thousand\012    a yea"
	.ascii	"r, and his brother left everything sadly involved.\012"
	.ascii	"    I do think he must have been sent for about mon"
	.ascii	"ey matters,\012    for what else can it be?  I wond"
	.ascii	"er whether it is so.\012    I would give anything t"
	.ascii	"o know the truth of it.  Perhaps it\012    is about"
	.ascii	" Miss Williams and, by the bye, I dare say it is,\012"
	.ascii	"    because he looked so conscious when I mentioned"
	.ascii	" her.\012    May be she is ill in town; nothing in "
	.ascii	"the world more likely,\012    for I have a notion s"
	.ascii	"he is always rather sickly.\012    I would lay any "
	.ascii	"wager it is about Miss Williams.\012    It is not s"
	.ascii	"o very likely he should be distressed in\012    his"
	.ascii	" circumstances NOW, for he is a very prudent man,\012"
	.ascii	"    and to be sure must have cleared the estate by "
	.ascii	"this time.\012    I wonder what it can be!  May be "
	.ascii	"his sister is worse\012    at Avignon, and has sent"
	.ascii	" for him over.  His setting off\012    in such a hu"
	.ascii	"rry seems very like it.  Well, I wish him out\012  "
	.ascii	"  of all his trouble with all my heart, and a good "
	.ascii	"wife into\012    the bargain.\"\012    \012    So w"
	.ascii	"ondered, so talked Mrs. Jennings.  Her opinion\012 "
	.ascii	"   varying with every fresh conjecture, and all see"
	.ascii	"ming\012    equally probable as they arose.  Elinor"
	.ascii	", though she felt\012    really interested in the w"
	.ascii	"elfare of Colonel Brandon,\012    could not bestow "
	.ascii	"all the wonder on his going so suddenly\012    away"
	.ascii	", which Mrs. Jennings was desirous of her feeling;\012"
	.ascii	"    for besides that the circumstance did not in he"
	.ascii	"r opinion\012    justify such lasting amazement or "
	.ascii	"variety of speculation,\012    her wonder was other"
	.ascii	"wise disposed of.  It was engrossed\012    by the e"
	.ascii	"xtraordinary silence of her sister and Willoughby\012"
	.ascii	"    on the subject, which they must know to be pecu"
	.ascii	"liarly\012    interesting to them all.  As this sil"
	.ascii	"ence continued,\012    every day made it appear mor"
	.ascii	"e strange and more incompatible\012    with the dis"
	.ascii	"position of both.  Why they should not openly\012  "
	.ascii	"  acknowledge to her mother and herself, what their"
	.ascii	" constant\012    behaviour to each other declared t"
	.ascii	"o h"
	.ascii	"ave taken place,\012    Elinor could not imagine.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    She could easily conceive that marriage"
	.ascii	" might not\012    be immediately in their power; fo"
	.ascii	"r though Willoughby\012    was independent, there w"
	.ascii	"as no reason to believe him rich.\012    His estate"
	.ascii	" had been rated by Sir John at about six or seven\012"
	.ascii	"    hundred a year; but he lived at an expense to w"
	.ascii	"hich that income\012    could hardly be equal, and "
	.ascii	"he had himself often complained\012    of his pover"
	.ascii	"ty.  But for this strange kind of secrecy\012    ma"
	.ascii	"intained by them relative to their engagement, whic"
	.ascii	"h\012    in fact concealed nothing at all, she coul"
	.ascii	"d not account;\012    and it was so wholly contradi"
	.ascii	"ctory to their general\012    opinions and practice"
	.ascii	", that a doubt sometimes entered\012    her mind of"
	.ascii	" their being really engaged, and this doubt\012    "
	.ascii	"was enough to prevent her making any inquiry of Mar"
	.ascii	"ianne.\012    \012    Nothing could be more express"
	.ascii	"ive of attachment\012    to them all, than Willough"
	.ascii	"by's behaviour.  To Marianne\012    it had all the "
	.ascii	"distinguishing tenderness which a lover's\012    he"
	.ascii	"art could give, and to the rest of the family it wa"
	.ascii	"s the\012    affectionate attention of a son and a "
	.ascii	"brother.  The cottage\012    seemed to be considere"
	.ascii	"d and loved by him as his home;\012    many more of"
	.ascii	" his hours were spent there than at Allenham;\012  "
	.ascii	"  and if no general engagement collected them at th"
	.ascii	"e park,\012    the exercise which called him out in"
	.ascii	" the morning was\012    almost certain of ending th"
	.ascii	"ere, where the rest of the day\012    was spent by "
	.ascii	"himself at the side of Marianne, and by his\012    "
	.ascii	"favourite pointer at her feet.\012    \012    One e"
	.ascii	"vening in particular, about a week after\012    Col"
	.ascii	"onel Brandon left the country, his heart seemed\012"
	.ascii	"    more than usually open to every feeling of atta"
	.ascii	"chment\012    to the objects around him; and on Mrs"
	.ascii	". Dashwood's\012    happening to mention her design"
	.ascii	" of improving the cottage\012    in the spring, he "
	.ascii	"warmly opposed every alteration\012    of a place w"
	.ascii	"hich affection had established as perfect with him."
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"What!\" he exclaimed--\"Improve t"
	.ascii	"his dear cottage!\012    "
	.ascii	"No. THAT I will never consent to.  Not a stone must"
	.ascii	"\012    be added to its walls, not an inch to its s"
	.ascii	"ize,\012    if my feelings are regarded.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Do not be alarmed,\" said Miss Dashwood,\012 "
	.ascii	"   \"nothing of the kind will be done; for my mothe"
	.ascii	"r\012    will never have money enough to attempt it"
	.ascii	".\"\012    \012    \"I am heartily glad of it,\" he"
	.ascii	" cried.  \"May she\012    always be poor, if she ca"
	.ascii	"n employ her riches no better.\"\012    \012    \"T"
	.ascii	"hank you, Willoughby.  But you may be assured that "
	.ascii	"I\012    would not sacrifice one sentiment of local"
	.ascii	" attachment\012    of yours, or of any one whom I l"
	.ascii	"oved, for all the improvements\012    in the world."
	.ascii	"  Depend upon it that whatever unemployed\012    su"
	.ascii	"m may remain, when I make up my accounts in the spr"
	.ascii	"ing,\012    I would even rather lay it uselessly by"
	.ascii	" than dispose\012    of it in a manner so painful t"
	.ascii	"o you.  But are you really\012    so attached to th"
	.ascii	"is place as to see no defect in it?\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"I am,\" said he.  \"To me it is faultless.  Nay"
	.ascii	", more,\012    I consider it as the only form of bu"
	.ascii	"ilding in which happiness\012    is attainable, and"
	.ascii	" were I rich enough I would instantly pull\012    C"
	.ascii	"ombe down, and build it up again in the exact plan "
	.ascii	"of this\012    cottage.\"\012    \012    \"With dar"
	.ascii	"k narrow stairs and a kitchen that smokes,\012    I"
	.ascii	" suppose,\" said Elinor.\012    \012    \"Yes,\" cr"
	.ascii	"ied he in the same eager tone, \"with all\012    an"
	.ascii	"d every thing belonging to it;--in no one convenien"
	.ascii	"ce\012    or INconvenience about it, should the lea"
	.ascii	"st variation\012    be perceptible.  Then, and then"
	.ascii	" only, under such a roof, I\012    might perhaps be"
	.ascii	" as happy at Combe as I have been at Barton.\"\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"I flatter myself,\" replied Elinor, \""
	.ascii	"that even under\012    the disadvantage of better r"
	.ascii	"ooms and a broader staircase,\012    you will herea"
	.ascii	"fter find your own house as faultless as you\012   "
	.ascii	" now do this.\"\012    \012    \"There certainly ar"
	.ascii	"e circumstances,\" said Willoughby,\012    \"which "
	.ascii	"might greatly endear it to me; but this place will\012"
	.ascii	"    always have one claim of my affection, which no"
	.ascii	" other can\012    possibly share.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"Mrs. Dashwood lo"
	.ascii	"oked with pleasure at Marianne,\012    whose fine e"
	.ascii	"yes were fixed so expressively on Willoughby,\012  "
	.ascii	"  as plainly denoted how well she understood him.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"How often did I wish,\" added he, \"w"
	.ascii	"hen I was at\012    Allenham this time twelvemonth,"
	.ascii	" that Barton cottage were\012    inhabited!  I neve"
	.ascii	"r passed within view of it without admiring\012    "
	.ascii	"its situation, and grieving that no one should live"
	.ascii	" in it.\012    How little did I then think that the"
	.ascii	" very first news\012    I should hear from Mrs. Smi"
	.ascii	"th, when I next came into\012    the country, would"
	.ascii	" be that Barton cottage was taken: and I\012    fel"
	.ascii	"t an immediate satisfaction and interest in the eve"
	.ascii	"nt,\012    which nothing but a kind of prescience o"
	.ascii	"f what happiness I\012    should experience from it"
	.ascii	", can account for.  Must it not have\012    been so"
	.ascii	", Marianne?\" speaking to her in a lowered voice.\012"
	.ascii	"    Then continuing his former tone, he said, \"And"
	.ascii	" yet this\012    house you would spoil, Mrs. Dashwo"
	.ascii	"od?  You would rob it\012    of its simplicity by i"
	.ascii	"maginary improvement! and this dear\012    parlour "
	.ascii	"in which our acquaintance first began, and in which"
	.ascii	"\012    so many happy hours have been since spent b"
	.ascii	"y us together,\012    you would degrade to the cond"
	.ascii	"ition of a common entrance,\012    and every body w"
	.ascii	"ould be eager to pass through the room\012    which"
	.ascii	" has hitherto contained within itself more real\012"
	.ascii	"    accommodation and comfort than any other apartm"
	.ascii	"ent of\012    the handsomest dimensions in the worl"
	.ascii	"d could possibly afford.\"\012    \012    Mrs. Dash"
	.ascii	"wood again assured him that no alteration\012    of"
	.ascii	" the kind should be attempted.\012    \012    \"You"
	.ascii	" are a good woman,\" he warmly replied.\012    \"Yo"
	.ascii	"ur promise makes me easy.  Extend it a little farth"
	.ascii	"er,\012    and it will make me happy.  Tell me that"
	.ascii	" not only your\012    house will remain the same, b"
	.ascii	"ut that I shall ever find\012    you and yours as u"
	.ascii	"nchanged as your dwelling; and that you\012    will"
	.ascii	" always consider me with the kindness which has mad"
	.ascii	"e\012    everything belonging to you so dear to me."
	.ascii	"\"\012    \012    The promise was readily given, an"
	.ascii	"d Willoughby's\012    behavio"
	.ascii	"ur during the whole of the evening declared\012    "
	.ascii	"at once his affection and happiness.\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"Shall we see you tomorrow to dinner?\" said Mrs."
	.ascii	" Dashwood,\012    when he was leaving them.  \"I do"
	.ascii	" not ask you to come in\012    the morning, for we "
	.ascii	"must walk to the park, to call on Lady\012    Middl"
	.ascii	"eton.\"\012    \012    He engaged to be with them b"
	.ascii	"y four o'clock.\012    \012    \012    \012    CHAP"
	.ascii	"TER 15\012    \012    \012    Mrs. Dashwood's visit"
	.ascii	" to Lady Middleton took place\012    the next day, "
	.ascii	"and two of her daughters went with her;\012    but "
	.ascii	"Marianne excused herself from being of the party,\012"
	.ascii	"    under some trifling pretext of employment; and "
	.ascii	"her mother,\012    who concluded that a promise had"
	.ascii	" been made by Willoughby\012    the night before of"
	.ascii	" calling on her while they were absent,\012    was "
	.ascii	"perfectly satisfied with her remaining at home.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    On their return from the park they foun"
	.ascii	"d Willoughby's\012    curricle and servant in waiti"
	.ascii	"ng at the cottage,\012    and Mrs. Dashwood was con"
	.ascii	"vinced that her conjecture\012    had been just.  S"
	.ascii	"o far it was all as she had foreseen;\012    but on"
	.ascii	" entering the house she beheld what no foresight\012"
	.ascii	"    had taught her to expect.  They were no sooner "
	.ascii	"in the\012    passage than Marianne came hastily ou"
	.ascii	"t of the parlour\012    apparently in violent affli"
	.ascii	"ction, with her handkerchief\012    at her eyes; an"
	.ascii	"d without noticing them ran up stairs.\012    Surpr"
	.ascii	"ised and alarmed they proceeded directly into the r"
	.ascii	"oom\012    she had just quitted, where they found o"
	.ascii	"nly Willoughby,\012    who was leaning against the "
	.ascii	"mantel-piece with his back\012    towards them.  He"
	.ascii	" turned round on their coming in,\012    and his co"
	.ascii	"untenance shewed that he strongly partook\012    of"
	.ascii	" the emotion which over-powered Marianne.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Is anything the matter with her?\" cried Mrs."
	.ascii	" Dashwood\012    as she entered--\"is she ill?\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"I hope not,\" he replied, trying to l"
	.ascii	"ook cheerful;\012    and with a forced smile presen"
	.ascii	"tly added, \"It is I who may\012    rather expect t"
	.ascii	"o be ill--for I am now suffering under a\012    ver"
	.ascii	"y heavy disappointment!\"\012    \012    \"Disappoi"
	.ascii	"ntment"
	.ascii	"?\"\012    \012    \"Yes, for I am unable to keep m"
	.ascii	"y engagement with you.\012    Mrs. Smith has this m"
	.ascii	"orning exercised the privilege\012    of riches upo"
	.ascii	"n a poor dependent cousin, by sending me on\012    "
	.ascii	"business to London.  I have just received my dispat"
	.ascii	"ches,\012    and taken my farewell of Allenham; and"
	.ascii	" by way of exhilaration\012    I am now come to tak"
	.ascii	"e my farewell of you.\"\012    \012    \"To London!"
	.ascii	"--and are you going this morning?\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"Almost this moment.\"\012    \012    \"This is ve"
	.ascii	"ry unfortunate.  But Mrs. Smith must\012    be obli"
	.ascii	"ged;--and her business will not detain you from\012"
	.ascii	"    us long I hope.\"\012    \012    He coloured as"
	.ascii	" he replied, \"You are very kind, but I\012    have"
	.ascii	" no idea of returning into Devonshire immediately.\012"
	.ascii	"    My visits to Mrs. Smith are never repeated with"
	.ascii	"in\012    the twelvemonth.\"\012    \012    \"And i"
	.ascii	"s Mrs. Smith your only friend?  Is Allenham the onl"
	.ascii	"y\012    house in the neighbourhood to which you wi"
	.ascii	"ll be welcome?\012    For shame, Willoughby, can yo"
	.ascii	"u wait for an invitation here?\"\012    \012    His"
	.ascii	" colour increased; and with his eyes fixed\012    o"
	.ascii	"n the ground he only replied, \"You are too good.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    Mrs. Dashwood looked at Elinor with"
	.ascii	" surprise.\012    Elinor felt equal amazement.  For"
	.ascii	" a few moments every one\012    was silent.  Mrs. D"
	.ascii	"ashwood first spoke.\012    \012    \"I have only t"
	.ascii	"o add, my dear Willoughby, that at\012    Barton co"
	.ascii	"ttage you will always be welcome; for I will not\012"
	.ascii	"    press you to return here immediately, because y"
	.ascii	"ou only\012    can judge how far THAT might be plea"
	.ascii	"sing to Mrs. Smith;\012    and on this head I shall"
	.ascii	" be no more disposed to question\012    your judgme"
	.ascii	"nt than to doubt your inclination.\"\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"My engagements at present,\" replied Willoughby,"
	.ascii	"\012    confusedly, \"are of such a nature--that--I"
	.ascii	" dare not flatter\012    myself\"--\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"He stopt.  Mrs. Dashwood was too much astonished\012"
	.ascii	"    to speak, and another pause succeeded.  This wa"
	.ascii	"s broken\012    by Willoughby, who said with a fain"
	.ascii	"t smile, \"It is folly\012    to linger in this man"
	.ascii	"ner.  I will not torment myself\012    any longer b"
	.ascii	"y remaining among f"
	.ascii	"riends whose society\012    it is impossible for me"
	.ascii	" now to enjoy.\"\012    \012    He then hastily too"
	.ascii	"k leave of them all and left\012    the room.  They"
	.ascii	" saw him step into his carriage,\012    and in a mi"
	.ascii	"nute it was out of sight.\012    \012    Mrs. Dashw"
	.ascii	"ood felt too much for speech, and instantly\012    "
	.ascii	"quitted the parlour to give way in solitude to the "
	.ascii	"concern\012    and alarm which this sudden departur"
	.ascii	"e occasioned.\012    \012    Elinor's uneasiness wa"
	.ascii	"s at least equal to her mother's.\012    She though"
	.ascii	"t of what had just passed with anxiety and distrust"
	.ascii	".\012    Willoughby's behaviour in taking leave of "
	.ascii	"them, his\012    embarrassment,\012    and affectat"
	.ascii	"ion of cheerfulness, and, above all, his\012    unw"
	.ascii	"illingness\012    to accept her mother's invitation"
	.ascii	", a backwardness so unlike a\012    lover,\012    s"
	.ascii	"o unlike himself, greatly disturbed her.  One momen"
	.ascii	"t she feared\012    that no serious design had ever"
	.ascii	" been formed on his side; and the\012    next that "
	.ascii	"some unfortunate quarrel had taken place between hi"
	.ascii	"m\012    and\012    her sister;--the distress in wh"
	.ascii	"ich Marianne had quitted the room\012    was such a"
	.ascii	"s a serious quarrel could most reasonably account f"
	.ascii	"or,\012    though when she considered what Marianne"
	.ascii	"'s love for him was,\012    a quarrel seemed almost"
	.ascii	" impossible.\012    \012    But whatever might be t"
	.ascii	"he particulars of their separation,\012    her sist"
	.ascii	"er's affliction was indubitable; and she thought\012"
	.ascii	"    with the tenderest compassion of that violent s"
	.ascii	"orrow\012    which Marianne was in all probability "
	.ascii	"not merely giving\012    way to as a relief, but fe"
	.ascii	"eding and encouraging as a duty.\012    \012    In "
	.ascii	"about half an hour her mother returned, and though\012"
	.ascii	"    her eyes were red, her countenance was not unch"
	.ascii	"eerful.\012    \012    \"Our dear Willoughby is now"
	.ascii	" some miles from Barton, Elinor,\"\012    said she,"
	.ascii	" as she sat down to work, \"and with how heavy a he"
	.ascii	"art\012    does he travel?\"\012    \012    \"It is"
	.ascii	" all very strange.  So suddenly to be gone! It\012 "
	.ascii	"   seems but the work of a moment.  And last night "
	.ascii	"he was\012    with us so happy, so cheerful, so aff"
	.ascii	"ectionate?  And now,\012    after only ten "
	.ascii	"minutes notice--Gone too without intending\012    t"
	.ascii	"o return!--Something more than what he owned to us "
	.ascii	"must\012    have happened.  He did not speak, he di"
	.ascii	"d not behave\012    like himself.  YOU must have se"
	.ascii	"en the difference as well as I.\012    What can it "
	.ascii	"be?  Can they have quarrelled?  Why else should he\012"
	.ascii	"    have shewn such unwillingness to accept your in"
	.ascii	"vitation here?\"--\012    \012    \"It was not incl"
	.ascii	"ination that he wanted, Elinor; I could\012    plai"
	.ascii	"nly see THAT.  He had not the power of accepting it"
	.ascii	".\012    I have thought it all over I assure you, a"
	.ascii	"nd I can\012    perfectly account for every thing t"
	.ascii	"hat at first seemed\012    strange to me as well as"
	.ascii	" to you.\"\012    \012    \"Can you, indeed!\"\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"Yes. I have explained it to myself in "
	.ascii	"the most\012    satisfactory way;--but you, Elinor,"
	.ascii	" who love to doubt\012    where you can--it will no"
	.ascii	"t satisfy YOU, I know; but you\012    shall not tal"
	.ascii	"k ME out of my trust in it.  I am persuaded\012    "
	.ascii	"that Mrs. Smith suspects his regard for Marianne,\012"
	.ascii	"    disapproves of it, (perhaps because she has oth"
	.ascii	"er views\012    for him,) and on that account is ea"
	.ascii	"ger to get him away;--\012    and that the business"
	.ascii	" which she sends him off to transact\012    is inve"
	.ascii	"nted as an excuse to dismiss him.  This is what I\012"
	.ascii	"    believe to have happened.  He is, moreover, awa"
	.ascii	"re that she\012    DOES disapprove the connection, "
	.ascii	"he dares not therefore\012    at present confess to"
	.ascii	" her his engagement with Marianne,\012    and he fe"
	.ascii	"els himself obliged, from his dependent situation,\012"
	.ascii	"    to give into her schemes, and absent himself fr"
	.ascii	"om\012    Devonshire for a while.  You will tell me"
	.ascii	", I know,\012    that this may or may NOT have happ"
	.ascii	"ened; but I will listen\012    to no cavil, unless "
	.ascii	"you can point out any other method\012    of unders"
	.ascii	"tanding the affair as satisfactory at this.\012    "
	.ascii	"And now, Elinor, what have you to say?\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Nothing, for you have anticipated my answer.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"Then you would have told me, that"
	.ascii	" it might or might not\012    have happened.  Oh, E"
	.ascii	"linor, how incomprehensible are your\012    feeling"
	.ascii	"s!  You had rather take "
	.ascii	"evil upon credit than good.\012    You had rather l"
	.ascii	"ook out for misery for Marianne, and guilt\012    f"
	.ascii	"or poor Willoughby, than an apology for the latter."
	.ascii	"\012    You are resolved to think him blameable, be"
	.ascii	"cause he took\012    leave of us with less affectio"
	.ascii	"n than his usual behaviour\012    has shewn.  And i"
	.ascii	"s no allowance to be made for inadvertence,\012    "
	.ascii	"or for spirits depressed by recent disappointment? "
	.ascii	" Are\012    no probabilities to be accepted, merely"
	.ascii	" because they\012    are not certainties?  Is nothi"
	.ascii	"ng due to the man whom we\012    have all such reas"
	.ascii	"on to love, and no reason in the world\012    to th"
	.ascii	"ink ill of?  To the possibility of motives unanswer"
	.ascii	"able\012    in themselves, though unavoidably secre"
	.ascii	"t for a while?  And,\012    after all, what is it y"
	.ascii	"ou suspect him of?\"\012    \012    \"I can hardly "
	.ascii	"tell myself.  But suspicion of\012    something unp"
	.ascii	"leasant is the inevitable consequence\012    of suc"
	.ascii	"h an alteration as we just witnessed in him.\012   "
	.ascii	" There is great truth, however, in what you have no"
	.ascii	"w urged\012    of the allowances which ought to be "
	.ascii	"made for him, and it\012    is my wish to be candid"
	.ascii	" in my judgment of every body.\012    Willoughby ma"
	.ascii	"y undoubtedly have very sufficient\012    reasons f"
	.ascii	"or his conduct, and I will hope that he has.\012   "
	.ascii	" But it would have been more like Willoughby to ack"
	.ascii	"nowledge\012    them at once.  Secrecy may be advis"
	.ascii	"able; but still I\012    cannot help wondering at i"
	.ascii	"ts being practiced by him.\"\012    \012    \"Do no"
	.ascii	"t blame him, however, for departing from\012    his"
	.ascii	" character, where the deviation is necessary.\012  "
	.ascii	"  But you really do admit the justice of what I hav"
	.ascii	"e said\012    in his defence?--I am happy--and he i"
	.ascii	"s acquitted.\"\012    \012    \"Not entirely.  It m"
	.ascii	"ay be proper to conceal their\012    engagement (if"
	.ascii	" they ARE engaged) from Mrs. Smith--\012    and if "
	.ascii	"that is the case, it must be highly expedient\012  "
	.ascii	"  for Willoughby to be but little in Devonshire at "
	.ascii	"present.\012    But this is no excuse for their con"
	.ascii	"cealing it from us.\"\012    \012    \"Concealing i"
	.ascii	"t from us! my dear child, do you accuse\012    Will"
	.ascii	"oughby and Marianne of concealm"
	.ascii	"ent? This is strange\012    indeed, when your eyes "
	.ascii	"have been reproaching them every day\012    for inc"
	.ascii	"autiousness.\"\012    \012    \"I want no proof of "
	.ascii	"their affection,\" said Elinor;\012    \"but of the"
	.ascii	"ir engagement I do.\"\012    \012    \"I am perfect"
	.ascii	"ly satisfied of both.\"\012    \012    \"Yet not a "
	.ascii	"syllable has been said to you on the\012    subject"
	.ascii	", by either of them.\"\012    \012    \"I have not "
	.ascii	"wanted syllables where actions have\012    spoken s"
	.ascii	"o plainly.  Has not his behaviour to Marianne\012  "
	.ascii	"  and to all of us, for at least the last fortnight"
	.ascii	",\012    declared that he loved and considered her "
	.ascii	"as his future wife,\012    and that he felt for us "
	.ascii	"the attachment of the nearest\012    relation?  Hav"
	.ascii	"e we not perfectly understood each other?\012    Ha"
	.ascii	"s not my consent been daily asked by his looks, his"
	.ascii	" manner,\012    his attentive and affectionate resp"
	.ascii	"ect?  My Elinor,\012    is it possible to doubt the"
	.ascii	"ir engagement?  How could\012    such a thought occ"
	.ascii	"ur to you?  How is it to be supposed\012    that Wi"
	.ascii	"lloughby, persuaded as he must be of your\012    si"
	.ascii	"ster's love, should leave her, and leave her perhap"
	.ascii	"s\012    for months, without telling her of his aff"
	.ascii	"ection;--that\012    they should part without a mut"
	.ascii	"ual exchange of confidence?\"\012    \012    \"I co"
	.ascii	"nfess,\" replied Elinor, \"that every circumstance\012"
	.ascii	"    except ONE is in favour of their engagement;\012"
	.ascii	"    but that ONE is the total silence of both on th"
	.ascii	"e subject,\012    and with me it almost outweighs e"
	.ascii	"very other.\"\012    \012    \"How strange this is!"
	.ascii	"  You must think wretchedly indeed\012    of Willou"
	.ascii	"ghby, if, after all that has openly passed between "
	.ascii	"them,\012    you can doubt the nature of the terms "
	.ascii	"on which they are together.\012    Has he been acti"
	.ascii	"ng a part in his behaviour to your sister\012    al"
	.ascii	"l this time?  Do you suppose him really indifferent"
	.ascii	" to her?\"\012    \012    \"No, I cannot think that"
	.ascii	".  He must and does love her\012    I am sure.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"But with a strange kind of tenderness"
	.ascii	", if he can\012    leave her with such indifference"
	.ascii	", such carelessness\012    of the future, as you at"
	.ascii	"tribute to him.\"\012    \012    \"You must remembe"
	.ascii	"r, my dear"
	.ascii	" mother, that I have never\012    considered this m"
	.ascii	"atter as certain.  I have had my doubts,\012    I c"
	.ascii	"onfess; but they are fainter than they were, and th"
	.ascii	"ey\012    may soon be entirely done away.  If we fi"
	.ascii	"nd they correspond,\012    every fear of mine will "
	.ascii	"be removed.\"\012    \012    \"A mighty concession "
	.ascii	"indeed!  If you were to see\012    them at the alta"
	.ascii	"r, you would suppose they were going to\012    be m"
	.ascii	"arried.  Ungracious girl!  But I require no such pr"
	.ascii	"oof.\012    Nothing in my opinion has ever passed t"
	.ascii	"o justify doubt;\012    no secrecy has been attempt"
	.ascii	"ed; all has been uniformly open\012    and unreserv"
	.ascii	"ed.  You cannot doubt your sister's wishes.\012    "
	.ascii	"It must be Willoughby therefore whom you suspect.  "
	.ascii	"But why?\012    Is he not a man of honour and feeli"
	.ascii	"ng? Has there been any\012    inconsistency on his "
	.ascii	"side to create alarm? can he be deceitful?\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \"I hope not, I believe not,\" cried Elino"
	.ascii	"r.\012    \"I love Willoughby, sincerely love him; "
	.ascii	"and suspicion of his\012    integrity cannot be mor"
	.ascii	"e painful to yourself than to me.\012    It has bee"
	.ascii	"n involuntary, and I will not encourage it.\012    "
	.ascii	"I was startled, I confess, by the alteration in his"
	.ascii	"\012    manners this morning;--he did not speak lik"
	.ascii	"e himself,\012    and did not return your kindness "
	.ascii	"with any cordiality.\012    But all this may be exp"
	.ascii	"lained by such a situation of his\012    affairs as"
	.ascii	" you have supposed.  He had just parted from\012   "
	.ascii	" my sister, had seen her leave him in the greatest "
	.ascii	"affliction;\012    and if he felt obliged, from a f"
	.ascii	"ear of offending Mrs. Smith,\012    to resist the t"
	.ascii	"emptation of returning here soon, and yet\012    aw"
	.ascii	"are that by declining your invitation, by saying\012"
	.ascii	"    that he was going away for some time, he should"
	.ascii	" seem\012    to act an ungenerous, a suspicious par"
	.ascii	"t by our family,\012    he might well be embarrasse"
	.ascii	"d and disturbed.  In such a case,\012    a plain an"
	.ascii	"d open avowal of his difficulties would have been\012"
	.ascii	"    more to his honour I think, as well as more con"
	.ascii	"sistent\012    with his general character;--but I w"
	.ascii	"ill not raise objections\012    against any one's c"
	.ascii	"onduct on so illi"
	.ascii	"beral a foundation,\012    as a difference in judgm"
	.ascii	"ent from myself, or a deviation from\012    what I "
	.ascii	"may think right and consistent.\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"You speak very properly.  Willoughby certainly does"
	.ascii	"\012    not deserve to be suspected.  Though WE hav"
	.ascii	"e not known\012    him long, he is no stranger in t"
	.ascii	"his part of the world;\012    and who has ever spok"
	.ascii	"en to his disadvantage?  Had he been\012    in a si"
	.ascii	"tuation to act independently and marry immediately,"
	.ascii	"\012    it might have been odd that he should leave"
	.ascii	" us without\012    acknowledging everything to me a"
	.ascii	"t once: but this is not the case.\012    It is an e"
	.ascii	"ngagement in some respects not prosperously begun,\012"
	.ascii	"    for their marriage must be at a very uncertain "
	.ascii	"distance;\012    and even secrecy, as far as it can"
	.ascii	" be observed, may now\012    be very advisable.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    They were interrupted by the entrance o"
	.ascii	"f Margaret;\012    and Elinor was then at liberty t"
	.ascii	"o think over the representations\012    of her moth"
	.ascii	"er, to acknowledge the probability of many,\012    "
	.ascii	"and hope for the justice of all.\012    \012    The"
	.ascii	"y saw nothing of Marianne till dinner time,\012    "
	.ascii	"when she entered the room and took her place at the"
	.ascii	" table\012    without saying a word.  Her eyes were"
	.ascii	" red and swollen;\012    and it seemed as if her te"
	.ascii	"ars were even then restrained\012    with difficult"
	.ascii	"y.  She avoided the looks of them all,\012    could"
	.ascii	" neither eat nor speak, and after some time, on her"
	.ascii	"\012    mother's silently pressing her hand with te"
	.ascii	"nder compassion,\012    her small degree of fortitu"
	.ascii	"de was quite overcome, she burst\012    into tears "
	.ascii	"and left the room.\012    \012    This violent oppr"
	.ascii	"ession of spirits continued the\012    whole evenin"
	.ascii	"g.  She was without any power, because she\012    w"
	.ascii	"as without any desire of command over herself.\012 "
	.ascii	"   The slightest mention of anything relative to Wi"
	.ascii	"lloughby\012    overpowered her in an instant; and "
	.ascii	"though her family\012    were most anxiously attent"
	.ascii	"ive to her comfort, it was\012    impossible for th"
	.ascii	"em, if they spoke at all, to keep clear\012    of e"
	.ascii	"very subject which her feelings connected with him."
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \012    \012    C"
	.ascii	"HAPTER 16\012    \012    \012    Marianne would hav"
	.ascii	"e thought herself very inexcusable\012    had she b"
	.ascii	"een able to sleep at all the first night\012    aft"
	.ascii	"er parting from Willoughby.  She would have been\012"
	.ascii	"    ashamed to look her family in the face the next"
	.ascii	" morning,\012    had she not risen from her bed in "
	.ascii	"more need of repose\012    than when she lay down i"
	.ascii	"n it.  But the feelings which\012    made such comp"
	.ascii	"osure a disgrace, left her in no danger\012    of i"
	.ascii	"ncurring it.  She was awake the whole night, and sh"
	.ascii	"e\012    wept the greatest part of it.  She got up "
	.ascii	"with a headache,\012    was unable to talk, and unw"
	.ascii	"illing to take any nourishment;\012    giving pain "
	.ascii	"every moment to her mother and sisters,\012    and "
	.ascii	"forbidding all attempt at consolation from either.\012"
	.ascii	"    Her sensibility was potent enough!\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   When breakfast was over she walked out by hersel"
	.ascii	"f,\012    and wandered about the village of Allenha"
	.ascii	"m, indulging the\012    recollection of past enjoym"
	.ascii	"ent and crying over the present\012    reverse for "
	.ascii	"the chief of the morning.\012    \012    The evenin"
	.ascii	"g passed off in the equal indulgence of feeling.\012"
	.ascii	"    She played over every favourite song that she h"
	.ascii	"ad been used\012    to play to Willoughby, every ai"
	.ascii	"r in which their voices\012    had been oftenest jo"
	.ascii	"ined, and sat at the instrument gazing\012    on ev"
	.ascii	"ery line of music that he had written out for her,\012"
	.ascii	"    till her heart was so heavy that no farther sad"
	.ascii	"ness\012    could be gained; and this nourishment o"
	.ascii	"f grief was every\012    day applied.  She spent wh"
	.ascii	"ole hours at the pianoforte\012    alternately sing"
	.ascii	"ing and crying; her voice often totally\012    susp"
	.ascii	"ended by her tears.  In books too, as well as in mu"
	.ascii	"sic,\012    she courted the misery which a contrast"
	.ascii	" between the past\012    and present was certain of"
	.ascii	" giving.  She read nothing\012    but what they had"
	.ascii	" been used to read together.\012    \012    Such vi"
	.ascii	"olence of affliction indeed could not be supported\012"
	.ascii	"    for ever; it sunk within a few days into a calm"
	.ascii	"er melancholy;\012    but these employments, to whi"
	.ascii	"ch she daily recurred,\012    her solitary walks an"
	.ascii	"d silent medita"
	.ascii	"tions, still produced\012    occasional effusions o"
	.ascii	"f sorrow as lively as ever.\012    \012    No lette"
	.ascii	"r from Willoughby came; and none seemed expected\012"
	.ascii	"    by Marianne.  Her mother was surprised, and Eli"
	.ascii	"nor again\012    became uneasy.  But Mrs. Dashwood "
	.ascii	"could find explanations\012    whenever she wanted "
	.ascii	"them, which at least satisfied herself.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Remember, Elinor,\" said she, \"how very ofte"
	.ascii	"n Sir John\012    fetches our letters himself from "
	.ascii	"the post, and carries them\012    to it.  We have a"
	.ascii	"lready agreed that secrecy may be necessary,\012   "
	.ascii	" and we must acknowledge that it could not be maint"
	.ascii	"ained if\012    their correspondence were to pass t"
	.ascii	"hrough Sir John's hands.\"\012    \012    Elinor co"
	.ascii	"uld not deny the truth of this, and she tried\012  "
	.ascii	"  to find in it a motive sufficient for their silen"
	.ascii	"ce.\012    But there was one method so direct, so s"
	.ascii	"imple, and in\012    her opinion so eligible of kno"
	.ascii	"wing the real state\012    of the affair, and of in"
	.ascii	"stantly removing all mystery,\012    that she could"
	.ascii	" not help suggesting it to her mother.\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"Why do you not ask Marianne at once,\" said sh"
	.ascii	"e,\012    \"whether she is or she is not engaged to"
	.ascii	" Willoughby?  From you,\012    her mother, and so k"
	.ascii	"ind, so indulgent a mother, the question\012    cou"
	.ascii	"ld not give offence.  It would be the natural resul"
	.ascii	"t\012    of your affection for her.  She used to be"
	.ascii	" all unreserve,\012    and to you more especially.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"I would not ask such a question f"
	.ascii	"or the world.\012    Supposing it possible that the"
	.ascii	"y are not engaged,\012    what distress would not s"
	.ascii	"uch an enquiry inflict!  At any\012    rate it woul"
	.ascii	"d be most ungenerous.  I should never deserve\012  "
	.ascii	"  her confidence again, after forcing from her a co"
	.ascii	"nfession\012    of what is meant at present to be u"
	.ascii	"nacknowledged to any one.\012    I know Marianne's "
	.ascii	"heart: I know that she dearly loves me,\012    and "
	.ascii	"that I shall not be the last to whom the affair is "
	.ascii	"made\012    known,\012    when circumstances make t"
	.ascii	"he revealment of it eligible.\012    I would not at"
	.ascii	"tempt to force the confidence of any one;\012    of"
	.ascii	" a child much less; because a sen"
	.ascii	"se of duty would prevent\012    the denial which he"
	.ascii	"r wishes might direct.\"\012    \012    Elinor thou"
	.ascii	"ght this generosity overstrained,\012    considerin"
	.ascii	"g her sister's youth, and urged the matter farther,"
	.ascii	"\012    but in vain; common sense, common care, com"
	.ascii	"mon prudence,\012    were all sunk in Mrs. Dashwood"
	.ascii	"'s romantic delicacy.\012    \012    It was several"
	.ascii	" days before Willoughby's name\012    was mentioned"
	.ascii	" before Marianne by any of her family;\012    Sir J"
	.ascii	"ohn and Mrs. Jennings, indeed, were not so nice;\012"
	.ascii	"    their witticisms added pain to many a painful h"
	.ascii	"our;--\012    but one evening, Mrs. Dashwood, accid"
	.ascii	"entally taking up a\012    volume of Shakespeare, e"
	.ascii	"xclaimed,\012    \012    \"We have never finished H"
	.ascii	"amlet, Marianne; our dear\012    Willoughby went aw"
	.ascii	"ay before we could get through it.\012    We will p"
	.ascii	"ut it by, that when he comes again...But it may\012"
	.ascii	"    be months, perhaps, before THAT happens.\"\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"Months!\" cried Marianne, with strong "
	.ascii	"surprise.\012    \"No--nor many weeks.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Mrs. Dashwood was sorry for what she had said;\012"
	.ascii	"    but it gave Elinor pleasure, as it produced a r"
	.ascii	"eply\012    from Marianne so expressive of confiden"
	.ascii	"ce in Willoughby\012    and knowledge of his intent"
	.ascii	"ions.\012    \012    One morning, about a week afte"
	.ascii	"r his leaving the country,\012    Marianne was prev"
	.ascii	"ailed on to join her sisters in their\012    usual "
	.ascii	"walk, instead of wandering away by herself.\012    "
	.ascii	"Hitherto she had carefully avoided every companion "
	.ascii	"in\012    her rambles.  If her sisters intended to "
	.ascii	"walk on the downs,\012    she directly stole away t"
	.ascii	"owards the lanes; if they talked\012    of the vall"
	.ascii	"ey, she was as speedy in climbing the hills,\012   "
	.ascii	" and could never be found when the others set off.\012"
	.ascii	"    But at length she was secured by the exertions "
	.ascii	"of Elinor,\012    who greatly disapproved such cont"
	.ascii	"inual seclusion.  They walked\012    along the road"
	.ascii	" through the valley, and chiefly in silence,\012   "
	.ascii	" for Marianne's MIND could not be controlled, and E"
	.ascii	"linor,\012    satisfied with gaining one point, wou"
	.ascii	"ld not then attempt more.\012    Beyond the entranc"
	.ascii	"e of the valley, where the coun"
	.ascii	"try,\012    though still rich, was less wild and mo"
	.ascii	"re open, a long\012    stretch of the road which th"
	.ascii	"ey had travelled on first coming\012    to Barton, "
	.ascii	"lay before them; and on reaching that point,\012   "
	.ascii	" they stopped to look around them, and examine a pr"
	.ascii	"ospect\012    which formed the distance of their vi"
	.ascii	"ew from the cottage,\012    from a spot which they "
	.ascii	"had never happened to reach in any\012    of their "
	.ascii	"walks before.\012    \012    Amongst the objects in"
	.ascii	" the scene, they soon discovered\012    an animated"
	.ascii	" one; it was a man on horseback riding towards them"
	.ascii	".\012    In a few minutes they could distinguish hi"
	.ascii	"m to be a gentleman;\012    and in a moment afterwa"
	.ascii	"rds Marianne rapturously exclaimed,\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"It is he; it is indeed;--I know it is!\"--and was"
	.ascii	"\012    hastening to meet him, when Elinor cried ou"
	.ascii	"t,\012    \012    \"Indeed, Marianne, I think you a"
	.ascii	"re mistaken.  It is\012    not Willoughby.  The per"
	.ascii	"son is not tall enough for him,\012    and has not "
	.ascii	"his air.\"\012    \012    \"He has, he has,\" cried"
	.ascii	" Marianne, \"I am sure he has.\012    His air, his "
	.ascii	"coat, his horse.  I knew how soon he would come.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    She walked eagerly on as she spoke; and"
	.ascii	" Elinor,\012    to screen Marianne from particulari"
	.ascii	"ty, as she felt almost\012    certain of its not be"
	.ascii	"ing Willoughby, quickened her\012    pace and kept "
	.ascii	"up with her.  They were soon within\012    thirty y"
	.ascii	"ards of the gentleman.  Marianne looked again;\012 "
	.ascii	"   her heart sunk within her; and abruptly turning "
	.ascii	"round,\012    she was hurrying back, when the voice"
	.ascii	"s of both her sisters\012    were raised to detain "
	.ascii	"her; a third, almost as well known\012    as Willou"
	.ascii	"ghby's, joined them in begging her to stop,\012    "
	.ascii	"and she turned round with surprise to see and welco"
	.ascii	"me\012    Edward Ferrars.\012    \012    He was the"
	.ascii	" only person in the world who could\012    at that "
	.ascii	"moment be forgiven for not being Willoughby;\012   "
	.ascii	" the only one who could have gained a smile from he"
	.ascii	"r;\012    but she dispersed her tears to smile on H"
	.ascii	"IM, and in her\012    sister's happiness forgot for"
	.ascii	" a time her own disappointment.\012    \012    He d"
	.ascii	"ismounted, and giving his horse to his s"
	.ascii	"ervant,\012    walked back with them to Barton, whi"
	.ascii	"ther he was purposely\012    coming to visit them.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    He was welcomed by them all with great "
	.ascii	"cordiality,\012    but especially by Marianne, who "
	.ascii	"showed more warmth of\012    regard in her receptio"
	.ascii	"n of him than even Elinor herself.\012    To Marian"
	.ascii	"ne, indeed, the meeting between Edward and her sist"
	.ascii	"er\012    was but a continuation of that unaccounta"
	.ascii	"ble coldness which she\012    had often observed at"
	.ascii	" Norland in their mutual behaviour.\012    On Edwar"
	.ascii	"d's side, more particularly, there was a deficiency"
	.ascii	"\012    of all that a lover ought to look and say o"
	.ascii	"n such an occasion.\012    He was confused, seemed "
	.ascii	"scarcely sensible of pleasure\012    in seeing them"
	.ascii	", looked neither rapturous nor gay,\012    said lit"
	.ascii	"tle but what was forced from him by questions,\012 "
	.ascii	"   and distinguished Elinor by no mark of affection"
	.ascii	".\012    Marianne saw and listened with increasing "
	.ascii	"surprise.\012    She began almost to feel a dislike"
	.ascii	" of Edward; and it ended,\012    as every feeling m"
	.ascii	"ust end with her, by carrying back her\012    thoug"
	.ascii	"hts to Willoughby, whose manners formed a contrast\012"
	.ascii	"    sufficiently striking to those of his brother e"
	.ascii	"lect.\012    \012    After a short silence which su"
	.ascii	"cceeded the first\012    surprise and enquiries of "
	.ascii	"meeting, Marianne asked\012    Edward if he came di"
	.ascii	"rectly from London.  No, he had\012    been in Devo"
	.ascii	"nshire a fortnight.\012    \012    \"A fortnight!\""
	.ascii	" she repeated, surprised at his being\012    so lon"
	.ascii	"g in the same county with Elinor without seeing\012"
	.ascii	"    her before.\012    \012    He looked rather dis"
	.ascii	"tressed as he added, that he\012    had been stayin"
	.ascii	"g with some friends near Plymouth.\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"Have you been lately in Sussex?\" said Elinor.\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"I was at Norland about a month ago.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"And how does dear, dear Norland look?"
	.ascii	"\" cried Marianne.\012    \012    \"Dear, dear Norl"
	.ascii	"and,\" said Elinor, \"probably looks\012    much as"
	.ascii	" it always does at this time of the year.\012    Th"
	.ascii	"e woods and walks thickly covered with dead leaves."
	.ascii	"\"\012    \012    \"Oh,\" cried Marianne, \"with wh"
	.ascii	"at transporting sensation\012    have I formerly "
	.ascii	"seen them fall!  How have I delighted,\012    as I "
	.ascii	"walked, to see them driven in showers about me\012 "
	.ascii	"   by the wind!  What feelings have they, the seaso"
	.ascii	"n, the air\012    altogether inspired!  Now there i"
	.ascii	"s no one to regard them.\012    They are seen only "
	.ascii	"as a nuisance, swept hastily off,\012    and driven"
	.ascii	" as much as possible from the sight.\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"It is not every one,\" said Elinor, \"who has "
	.ascii	"your\012    passion for dead leaves.\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"No; my feelings are not often shared, not ofte"
	.ascii	"n\012    understood.  But SOMETIMES they are.\"--As"
	.ascii	" she said this,\012    she sunk into a reverie for "
	.ascii	"a few moments;--but rousing\012    herself again, \""
	.ascii	"Now, Edward,\" said she, calling his attention\012 "
	.ascii	"   to the prospect, \"here is Barton valley.  Look "
	.ascii	"up to it,\012    and be tranquil if you can.  Look "
	.ascii	"at those hills!\012    Did you ever see their equal"
	.ascii	"s?  To the left is Barton park,\012    amongst thos"
	.ascii	"e woods and plantations.  You may see the end\012  "
	.ascii	"  of the house.  And there, beneath that farthest h"
	.ascii	"ill,\012    which rises with such grandeur, is our "
	.ascii	"cottage.\"\012    \012    \"It is a beautiful count"
	.ascii	"ry,\" he replied; \"but these\012    bottoms must b"
	.ascii	"e dirty in winter.\"\012    \012    \"How can you t"
	.ascii	"hink of dirt, with such objects before you?\"\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    \"Because,\" replied he, smiling, \"among"
	.ascii	" the rest of the\012    objects before me, I see a "
	.ascii	"very dirty lane.\"\012    \012    \"How strange!\" "
	.ascii	"said Marianne to herself as she walked on.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Have you an agreeable neighbourhood here?  Ar"
	.ascii	"e the\012    Middletons pleasant people?\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"No, not all,\" answered Marianne; \"we could "
	.ascii	"not\012    be more unfortunately situated.\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \"Marianne,\" cried her sister, \"how can "
	.ascii	"you say so? How can\012    you be so unjust?  They "
	.ascii	"are a very respectable family, Mr.\012    Ferrars;\012"
	.ascii	"    and towards us have behaved in the friendliest "
	.ascii	"manner.  Have you\012    forgot, Marianne, how many"
	.ascii	" pleasant days we have owed to them?\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"No,\" said Marianne, in a low voice, \"nor how"
	.ascii	" many\012    painful moments.\"\012    \012    Elin"
	.ascii	"or took no notice of this; and directing\012    her"
	.ascii	" attention to their visito"
	.ascii	"r, endeavoured to support\012    something like dis"
	.ascii	"course with him, by talking of their\012    present"
	.ascii	" residence, its conveniences, &c. extorting from hi"
	.ascii	"m\012    occasional questions and remarks.  His col"
	.ascii	"dness and reserve\012    mortified her severely; sh"
	.ascii	"e was vexed and half angry;\012    but resolving to"
	.ascii	" regulate her behaviour to him by the past\012    r"
	.ascii	"ather than the present, she avoided every appearanc"
	.ascii	"e\012    of resentment or displeasure, and treated "
	.ascii	"him as she\012    thought he ought to be treated fr"
	.ascii	"om the family connection.\012    \012    \012    \012"
	.ascii	"    CHAPTER 17\012    \012    \012    Mrs. Dashwood"
	.ascii	" was surprised only for a moment at\012    seeing h"
	.ascii	"im; for his coming to Barton was, in her opinion,\012"
	.ascii	"    of all things the most natural.  Her joy and ex"
	.ascii	"pression\012    of regard long outlived her wonder."
	.ascii	"  He received the kindest\012    welcome from her; "
	.ascii	"and shyness, coldness, reserve could not\012    sta"
	.ascii	"nd against such a reception.  They had begun to fai"
	.ascii	"l him\012    before he entered the house, and they "
	.ascii	"were quite overcome\012    by the captivating manne"
	.ascii	"rs of Mrs. Dashwood.  Indeed a man\012    could not"
	.ascii	" very well be in love with either of her daughters,"
	.ascii	"\012    without extending the passion to her; and E"
	.ascii	"linor had the\012    satisfaction of seeing him soo"
	.ascii	"n become more like himself.\012    His affections s"
	.ascii	"eemed to reanimate towards them all,\012    and his"
	.ascii	" interest in their welfare again became perceptible"
	.ascii	".\012    He was not in spirits, however; he praised"
	.ascii	" their house,\012    admired its prospect, was atte"
	.ascii	"ntive, and kind; but still\012    he was not in spi"
	.ascii	"rits.  The whole family perceived it,\012    and Mr"
	.ascii	"s. Dashwood, attributing it to some want of liberal"
	.ascii	"ity\012    in his mother, sat down to table indigna"
	.ascii	"nt against all\012    selfish parents.\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"What are Mrs. Ferrars's views for you at prese"
	.ascii	"nt, Edward?\"\012    said she, when dinner was over"
	.ascii	" and they had drawn round\012    the fire; \"are yo"
	.ascii	"u still to be a great orator in spite of\012    you"
	.ascii	"rself?\"\012    \012    \"No. I hope my mother is n"
	.ascii	"ow convinced that I have\012    no more talents tha"
	.ascii	"n inclination for a public life!\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"But how is your fame to be establ"
	.ascii	"ished? for famous you\012    must be to satisfy all"
	.ascii	" your family; and with no inclination\012    for ex"
	.ascii	"pense, no affection for strangers, no profession,\012"
	.ascii	"    and no assurance, you may find it a difficult m"
	.ascii	"atter.\"\012    \012    \"I shall not attempt it.  "
	.ascii	"I have no wish to be\012    distinguished; and have"
	.ascii	" every reason to hope I never shall.\012    Thank H"
	.ascii	"eaven! I cannot be forced into genius and eloquence"
	.ascii	".\"\012    \012    \"You have no ambition, I well k"
	.ascii	"now.  Your wishes\012    are all moderate.\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \"As moderate as those of the rest of the "
	.ascii	"world,\012    I believe.  I wish as well as every b"
	.ascii	"ody else to be\012    perfectly happy; but, like ev"
	.ascii	"ery body else it must be\012    in my own way.  Gre"
	.ascii	"atness will not make me so.\"\012    \012    \"Stra"
	.ascii	"nge that it would!\" cried Marianne.  \"What have\012"
	.ascii	"    wealth or grandeur to do with happiness?\"\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"Grandeur has but little,\" said Elinor"
	.ascii	", \"but wealth\012    has much to do with it.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Elinor, for shame!\" said Marianne, \""
	.ascii	"money can only\012    give happiness where there is"
	.ascii	" nothing else to give it.\012    Beyond a competenc"
	.ascii	"e, it can afford no real satisfaction,\012    as fa"
	.ascii	"r as mere self is concerned.\"\012    \012    \"Per"
	.ascii	"haps,\" said Elinor, smiling, \"we may come\012    "
	.ascii	"to the same point.  YOUR competence and MY wealth\012"
	.ascii	"    are very much alike, I dare say; and without th"
	.ascii	"em,\012    as the world goes now, we shall both agr"
	.ascii	"ee that every\012    kind of external comfort must "
	.ascii	"be wanting.  Your ideas\012    are only more noble "
	.ascii	"than mine.  Come, what is your competence?\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \"About eighteen hundred or two thousand a"
	.ascii	" year;\012    not more than THAT.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"Elinor laughed.  \"TWO thousand a year! ONE is my\012"
	.ascii	"    wealth! I guessed how it would end.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"And yet two thousand a-year is a very moderat"
	.ascii	"e income,\"\012    said Marianne.  \"A family canno"
	.ascii	"t well be maintained on\012    a smaller.  I am sur"
	.ascii	"e I am not extravagant in my demands.\012    A prop"
	.ascii	"er establishment of servants, a carriage, perhaps t"
	.ascii	"wo,\012    and hunters, cannot be supported on less"
	.ascii	".\"\012    \012    Elinor "
	.ascii	"smiled again, to hear her sister describing\012    "
	.ascii	"so accurately their future expenses at Combe Magna."
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"Hunters!\" repeated Edward--\"but"
	.ascii	" why must you have\012    hunters?  Every body does"
	.ascii	" not hunt.\"\012    \012    Marianne coloured as sh"
	.ascii	"e replied, \"But most people do.\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"I wish,\" said Margaret, striking out a novel thoug"
	.ascii	"ht,\012    \"that somebody would give us all a larg"
	.ascii	"e fortune apiece!\"\012    \012    \"Oh that they w"
	.ascii	"ould!\" cried Marianne, her eyes\012    sparkling w"
	.ascii	"ith animation, and her cheeks glowing\012    with t"
	.ascii	"he delight of such imaginary happiness.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"We are all unanimous in that wish, I suppose,"
	.ascii	"\"\012    said Elinor, \"in spite of the insufficie"
	.ascii	"ncy of wealth.\"\012    \012    \"Oh dear!\" cried "
	.ascii	"Margaret, \"how happy I should be!\012    I wonder "
	.ascii	"what I should do with it!\"\012    \012    Marianne"
	.ascii	" looked as if she had no doubt on that point.\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    \"I should be puzzled to spend so large a"
	.ascii	" fortune myself,\"\012    said Mrs. Dashwood, \"if "
	.ascii	"my children were all to be rich\012    my help.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"You must begin your improvements on t"
	.ascii	"his house,\"\012    observed Elinor, \"and your dif"
	.ascii	"ficulties will soon vanish.\"\012    \012    \"What"
	.ascii	" magnificent orders would travel from this family\012"
	.ascii	"    to London,\" said Edward, \"in such an event!  "
	.ascii	"What a happy\012    day for booksellers, music-sell"
	.ascii	"ers, and print-shops!  You,\012    Miss Dashwood, w"
	.ascii	"ould give a general commission for every\012    new"
	.ascii	" print of merit to be sent you--and as for Marianne"
	.ascii	",\012    I know her greatness of soul, there would "
	.ascii	"not be music enough\012    in London to content her"
	.ascii	".  And books!--Thomson, Cowper,\012    Scott--she w"
	.ascii	"ould buy them all over and over again: she\012    w"
	.ascii	"ould buy up every copy, I believe, to prevent their"
	.ascii	"\012    falling into unworthy hands; and she would "
	.ascii	"have every\012    book that tells her how to admire"
	.ascii	" an old twisted tree.\012    Should not you, Marian"
	.ascii	"ne?  Forgive me, if I am very saucy.\012    But I w"
	.ascii	"as willing to shew you that I had not forgot our\012"
	.ascii	"    old disputes.\"\012    \012    \"I love to be r"
	.ascii	"eminded of the past, Edward--whether it\012    be m"
	.ascii	"elancholy or gay, I lov"
	.ascii	"e to recall it--and you\012    will never offend me"
	.ascii	" by talking of former times.\012    You are very ri"
	.ascii	"ght in supposing how my money would be\012    spent"
	.ascii	"--some of it, at least--my loose cash would certain"
	.ascii	"ly\012    be employed in improving my collection of"
	.ascii	" music and books.\"\012    \012    \"And the bulk o"
	.ascii	"f your fortune would be laid out\012    in annuitie"
	.ascii	"s on the authors or their heirs.\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"No, Edward, I should have something else to do\012 "
	.ascii	"   with it.\"\012    \012    \"Perhaps, then, you w"
	.ascii	"ould bestow it as a reward on that\012    person wh"
	.ascii	"o wrote the ablest defence of your favourite maxim,"
	.ascii	"\012    that no one can ever be in love more than o"
	.ascii	"nce in their\012    life--your opinion on that poin"
	.ascii	"t is unchanged, I presume?\"\012    \012    \"Undou"
	.ascii	"btedly. At my time of life opinions are tolerably f"
	.ascii	"ixed.\012    It is not likely that I should now see"
	.ascii	" or hear any thing to\012    change them.\"\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \"Marianne is as steadfast as ever, you see"
	.ascii	",\" said Elinor,\012    \"she is not at all altered"
	.ascii	".\"\012    \012    \"She is only grown a little mor"
	.ascii	"e grave than she was.\"\012    \012    \"Nay, Edwar"
	.ascii	"d,\" said Marianne, \"you need not reproach me.\012"
	.ascii	"    You are not very gay yourself.\"\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"Why should you think so!\" replied he, with a si"
	.ascii	"gh.\012    \"But gaiety never was a part of MY char"
	.ascii	"acter.\"\012    \012    \"Nor do I think it a part "
	.ascii	"of Marianne's,\" said Elinor;\012    \"I should har"
	.ascii	"dly call her a lively girl--she is very earnest,\012"
	.ascii	"    very eager in all she does--sometimes talks a g"
	.ascii	"reat deal\012    and always with animation--but she"
	.ascii	" is not often really merry.\"\012    \012    \"I be"
	.ascii	"lieve you are right,\" he replied, \"and yet I\012 "
	.ascii	"   have always set her down as a lively girl.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"I have frequently detected myself in "
	.ascii	"such kind of mistakes,\"\012    said Elinor, \"in a"
	.ascii	" total misapprehension of character in some\012    "
	.ascii	"point or other: fancying people so much more gay or"
	.ascii	" grave,\012    or ingenious or stupid than they rea"
	.ascii	"lly are, and I can\012    hardly tell why or in wha"
	.ascii	"t the deception originated.\012    Sometimes one is"
	.ascii	" guided by what they say of themselves,\012    and "
	.ascii	"very frequently by what othe"
	.ascii	"r people say of them,\012    without giving oneself"
	.ascii	" time to deliberate and judge.\"\012    \012    \"B"
	.ascii	"ut I thought it was right, Elinor,\" said Marianne,"
	.ascii	"\012    \"to be guided wholly by the opinion of oth"
	.ascii	"er people.\012    I thought our judgments were give"
	.ascii	"n us merely to be subservient\012    to those of ne"
	.ascii	"ighbours.  This has always been your doctrine,\012 "
	.ascii	"   I am sure.\"\012    \012    \"No, Marianne, neve"
	.ascii	"r.  My doctrine has never aimed\012    at the subje"
	.ascii	"ction of the understanding.  All I have\012    ever"
	.ascii	" attempted to influence has been the behaviour.\012"
	.ascii	"    You must not confound my meaning.  I am guilty,"
	.ascii	" I confess,\012    of having often wished you to tr"
	.ascii	"eat our acquaintance\012    in general with greater"
	.ascii	" attention; but when have I advised\012    you to a"
	.ascii	"dopt their sentiments or to conform to their\012   "
	.ascii	" judgment in serious matters?\"\012    \012    \"Yo"
	.ascii	"u have not been able to bring your sister over to y"
	.ascii	"our\012    plan of general civility,\" said Edward "
	.ascii	"to Elinor, \"Do you gain\012    no ground?\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \"Quite the contrary,\" replied Elinor,\012"
	.ascii	"    looking expressively at Marianne.\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"My judgment,\" he returned, \"is all on your si"
	.ascii	"de\012    of the question; but I am afraid my pract"
	.ascii	"ice is much\012    more on your sister's.  I never "
	.ascii	"wish to offend, but I\012    am so foolishly shy, t"
	.ascii	"hat I often seem negligent,\012    when I am only k"
	.ascii	"ept back by my natural awkwardness.\012    I have f"
	.ascii	"requently thought that I must have been intended\012"
	.ascii	"    by nature to be fond of low company, I am so li"
	.ascii	"ttle at\012    my ease among strangers of gentility"
	.ascii	"!\"\012    \012    \"Marianne has not shyness to ex"
	.ascii	"cuse any inattention\012    of hers,\" said Elinor."
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"She knows her own worth too well "
	.ascii	"for false shame,\"\012    replied Edward.  \"Shynes"
	.ascii	"s is only the effect of a sense\012    of inferiori"
	.ascii	"ty in some way or other.  If I could persuade\012  "
	.ascii	"  myself that my manners were perfectly easy and gr"
	.ascii	"aceful,\012    I should not be shy.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"But you would still be reserved,\" said Mariann"
	.ascii	"e,\012    \"and that is worse.\"\012    \012    Edw"
	.ascii	"ard started--\"Reserved! Am I reserved, Marianne?\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"Yes, very.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"I do not understand you,\" replied he"
	.ascii	", colouring.\012    \"Reserved!--how, in what manne"
	.ascii	"r?  What am I to tell you?\012    What can you supp"
	.ascii	"ose?\"\012    \012    Elinor looked surprised at hi"
	.ascii	"s emotion; but trying\012    to laugh off the subje"
	.ascii	"ct, she said to him, \"Do not you\012    know my si"
	.ascii	"ster well enough to understand what she means?\012 "
	.ascii	"   Do not you know she calls every one reserved who"
	.ascii	" does not\012    talk as fast, and admire what she "
	.ascii	"admires as rapturously\012    as herself?\"\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    Edward made no answer.  His gravity and tho"
	.ascii	"ughtfulness\012    returned on him in their fullest"
	.ascii	" extent--and he sat\012    for some time silent and"
	.ascii	" dull.\012    \012    \012    \012    CHAPTER 18\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \012    Elinor saw, with great uneasine"
	.ascii	"ss the low spirits\012    of her friend.  His visit"
	.ascii	" afforded her but a very\012    partial satisfactio"
	.ascii	"n, while his own enjoyment in it\012    appeared so"
	.ascii	" imperfect.  It was evident that he was unhappy;\012"
	.ascii	"    she wished it were equally evident that he stil"
	.ascii	"l\012    distinguished her by the same affection wh"
	.ascii	"ich once\012    she had felt no doubt of inspiring;"
	.ascii	" but hitherto the\012    continuance of his prefere"
	.ascii	"nce seemed very uncertain;\012    and the reservedn"
	.ascii	"ess of his manner towards her contradicted\012    o"
	.ascii	"ne moment what a more animated look had intimated t"
	.ascii	"he preceding\012    one.\012    \012    He joined h"
	.ascii	"er and Marianne in the breakfast-room\012    the ne"
	.ascii	"xt morning before the others were down; and Mariann"
	.ascii	"e,\012    who was always eager to promote their hap"
	.ascii	"piness as far\012    as she could, soon left them t"
	.ascii	"o themselves.  But before she\012    was half way u"
	.ascii	"pstairs she heard the parlour door open, and,\012  "
	.ascii	"  turning round, was astonished to see Edward himse"
	.ascii	"lf come out.\012    \012    \"I am going into the v"
	.ascii	"illage to see my horses,\"\012    said he, \"as you"
	.ascii	" are not yet ready for breakfast; I shall\012    be"
	.ascii	" back again presently.\"\012    \012               "
	.ascii	"         ***\012    \012    Edward returned to them"
	.ascii	" with fresh admiration\012    of the surrounding co"
	.ascii	"untry; in his walk to the village,\012    he had se"
	.ascii	"en many parts of the valley to advantage;\012    an"
	.ascii	"d the village"
	.ascii	" itself, in a much higher situation than\012    the"
	.ascii	" cottage, afforded a general view of the whole, whi"
	.ascii	"ch had\012    exceedingly pleased him.  This was a "
	.ascii	"subject which ensured\012    Marianne's attention, "
	.ascii	"and she was beginning to describe\012    her own ad"
	.ascii	"miration of these scenes, and to question him more\012"
	.ascii	"    minutely on the objects that had particularly s"
	.ascii	"truck him,\012    when Edward interrupted her by sa"
	.ascii	"ying, \"You must not\012    enquire too far, Marian"
	.ascii	"ne--remember I have no knowledge\012    in the pict"
	.ascii	"uresque, and I shall offend you by my ignorance\012"
	.ascii	"    and want of taste if we come to particulars.  I"
	.ascii	" shall call\012    hills steep, which ought to be b"
	.ascii	"old; surfaces strange\012    and uncouth, which oug"
	.ascii	"ht to be irregular and rugged;\012    and distant o"
	.ascii	"bjects out of sight, which ought only to be\012    "
	.ascii	"indistinct through the soft medium of a hazy atmosp"
	.ascii	"here.\012    You must be satisfied with such admira"
	.ascii	"tion as I can\012    honestly give.  I call it a ve"
	.ascii	"ry fine country--the\012    hills are steep, the wo"
	.ascii	"ods seem full of fine timber,\012    and the valley"
	.ascii	" looks comfortable and snug--with rich\012    meado"
	.ascii	"ws and several neat farm houses scattered here\012 "
	.ascii	"   and there.  It exactly answers my idea of a fine"
	.ascii	" country,\012    because it unites beauty with util"
	.ascii	"ity--and I dare say it\012    is a picturesque one "
	.ascii	"too, because you admire it; I can\012    easily bel"
	.ascii	"ieve it to be full of rocks and promontories,\012  "
	.ascii	"  grey moss and brush wood, but these are all lost "
	.ascii	"on me.\012    I know nothing of the picturesque.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"I am afraid it is but too true,\" sai"
	.ascii	"d Marianne;\012    \"but why should you boast of it"
	.ascii	"?\"\012    \012    \"I suspect,\" said Elinor, \"th"
	.ascii	"at to avoid one kind\012    of affectation, Edward "
	.ascii	"here falls into another.  Because he\012    believe"
	.ascii	"s many people pretend to more admiration of the bea"
	.ascii	"uties\012    of nature than they really feel, and i"
	.ascii	"s disgusted with\012    such pretensions, he affect"
	.ascii	"s greater indifference and less\012    discriminati"
	.ascii	"on in viewing them himself than he possesses.\012  "
	.ascii	"  He is fastidious and will have an affectation of "
	.ascii	"his own.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"It is very true,\" said Marianne, \"that admira"
	.ascii	"tion\012    of landscape scenery is become a mere j"
	.ascii	"argon.\012    Every body pretends to feel and tries"
	.ascii	" to describe with\012    the taste and elegance of "
	.ascii	"him who first defined what\012    picturesque beaut"
	.ascii	"y was.  I detest jargon of every kind,\012    and s"
	.ascii	"ometimes I have kept my feelings to myself,\012    "
	.ascii	"because I could find no language to describe them\012"
	.ascii	"    in but what was worn and hackneyed out of all s"
	.ascii	"ense and meaning.\"\012    \012    \"I am convinced"
	.ascii	",\" said Edward, \"that you really feel\012    all "
	.ascii	"the delight in a fine prospect which you profess\012"
	.ascii	"    to feel.  But, in return, your sister must allo"
	.ascii	"w me\012    to feel no more than I profess.  I like"
	.ascii	" a fine prospect,\012    but not on picturesque pri"
	.ascii	"nciples.  I do not like crooked,\012    twisted, bl"
	.ascii	"asted trees.  I admire them much more if they\012  "
	.ascii	"  are tall, straight, and flourishing.  I do not li"
	.ascii	"ke ruined,\012    tattered cottages.  I am not fond"
	.ascii	" of nettles or thistles,\012    or heath blossoms. "
	.ascii	" I have more pleasure in a snug\012    farm-house t"
	.ascii	"han a watch-tower--and a troop of tidy,\012    happ"
	.ascii	"y villages please me better than the finest banditt"
	.ascii	"i\012    in the world.\"\012    \012    Marianne lo"
	.ascii	"oked with amazement at Edward,\012    with compassi"
	.ascii	"on at her sister.  Elinor only laughed.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    The subject was continued no farther; and Maria"
	.ascii	"nne\012    remained thoughtfully silent, till a new"
	.ascii	" object suddenly\012    engaged her attention.  She"
	.ascii	" was sitting by Edward, and\012    in taking his te"
	.ascii	"a from Mrs. Dashwood, his hand passed\012    so dir"
	.ascii	"ectly before her, as to make a ring, with a plait\012"
	.ascii	"    of hair in the centre, very conspicuous on one "
	.ascii	"of his fingers.\012    \012    \"I never saw you we"
	.ascii	"ar a ring before, Edward,\" she cried.\012    \"Is "
	.ascii	"that Fanny's hair? I remember her promising to give"
	.ascii	"\012    you some.  But I should have thought her ha"
	.ascii	"ir had been darker.\"\012    \012    Marianne spoke"
	.ascii	" inconsiderately what she really felt--\012    but "
	.ascii	"when she saw how much she had pained Edward, her ow"
	.ascii	"n\012    vexation at her want of thought could not "
	.ascii	"be surpassed\012    by his.  He c"
	.ascii	"oloured very deeply, and giving a momentary\012    "
	.ascii	"glance at Elinor, replied, \"Yes; it is my sister's"
	.ascii	" hair.\012    The setting always casts a different "
	.ascii	"shade on it,\012    you know.\"\012    \012    Elin"
	.ascii	"or had met his eye, and looked conscious likewise.\012"
	.ascii	"    That the hair was her own, she instantaneously "
	.ascii	"felt as\012    well satisfied as Marianne; the only"
	.ascii	" difference in their\012    conclusions was, that w"
	.ascii	"hat Marianne considered as a free\012    gift from "
	.ascii	"her sister, Elinor was conscious must have been\012"
	.ascii	"    procured by some theft or contrivance unknown t"
	.ascii	"o herself.\012    She was not in a humour, however,"
	.ascii	" to regard it as an affront,\012    and affecting t"
	.ascii	"o take no notice of what passed,\012    by instantl"
	.ascii	"y talking of something else, she internally\012    "
	.ascii	"resolved henceforward to catch every opportunity of"
	.ascii	" eyeing\012    the hair and of satisfying herself, "
	.ascii	"beyond all doubt,\012    that it was exactly the sh"
	.ascii	"ade of her own.\012    \012    Edward's embarrassme"
	.ascii	"nt lasted some time, and it\012    ended in an abse"
	.ascii	"nce of mind still more settled.\012    He was parti"
	.ascii	"cularly grave the whole morning.\012    Marianne se"
	.ascii	"verely censured herself for what she had said;\012 "
	.ascii	"   but her own forgiveness might have been more spe"
	.ascii	"edy,\012    had she known how little offence it had"
	.ascii	" given her sister.\012    \012    Before the middle"
	.ascii	" of the day, they were visited by Sir\012    John a"
	.ascii	"nd Mrs. Jennings, who, having heard of the arrival\012"
	.ascii	"    of a gentleman at the cottage, came to take a s"
	.ascii	"urvey\012    of the guest.  With the assistance of "
	.ascii	"his mother-in-law,\012    Sir John was not long in "
	.ascii	"discovering that the name of\012    Ferrars began w"
	.ascii	"ith an F. and this prepared a future mine\012    of"
	.ascii	" raillery against the devoted Elinor, which nothing"
	.ascii	" but\012    the newness of their acquaintance with "
	.ascii	"Edward could have\012    prevented from being immed"
	.ascii	"iately sprung.  But, as it was,\012    she only lea"
	.ascii	"rned, from some very significant looks, how far\012"
	.ascii	"    their penetration, founded on Margaret's instru"
	.ascii	"ctions, extended.\012    \012    Sir John never cam"
	.ascii	"e to the Dashwoods without either\012    inviting t"
	.ascii	"hem to dine at the "
	.ascii	"park the next day, or to drink\012    tea with them"
	.ascii	" that evening.  On the present occasion,\012    for"
	.ascii	" the better entertainment of their visitor, towards"
	.ascii	"\012    whose amusement he felt himself bound to co"
	.ascii	"ntribute,\012    he wished to engage them for both."
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"You MUST drink tea with us to nig"
	.ascii	"ht,\" said he,\012    \"for we shall be quite alone"
	.ascii	"--and tomorrow you must\012    absolutely dine with"
	.ascii	" us, for we shall be a large party.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  Mrs. Jennings enforced the necessity.  \"And who "
	.ascii	"knows\012    but you may raise a dance,\" said she."
	.ascii	"  \"And that will\012    tempt YOU, Miss Marianne.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"A dance!\" cried Marianne.  \"Imp"
	.ascii	"ossible! Who is to dance?\"\012    \012    \"Who! w"
	.ascii	"hy yourselves, and the Careys, and Whitakers\012   "
	.ascii	" to be sure.--What! you thought nobody could dance\012"
	.ascii	"    because a certain person that shall be nameless"
	.ascii	" is gone!\"\012    \012    \"I wish with all my sou"
	.ascii	"l,\" cried Sir John,\012    \"that Willoughby were "
	.ascii	"among us again.\"\012    \012    This, and Marianne"
	.ascii	"'s blushing, gave new suspicions\012    to Edward. "
	.ascii	" \"And who is Willoughby?\" said he, in a low voice"
	.ascii	",\012    to Miss Dashwood, by whom he was sitting.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    She gave him a brief reply.  Marianne's"
	.ascii	" countenance\012    was more communicative.  Edward"
	.ascii	" saw enough to comprehend,\012    not only the mean"
	.ascii	"ing of others, but such of Marianne's\012    expres"
	.ascii	"sions as had puzzled him before; and when their\012"
	.ascii	"    visitors left them, he went immediately round h"
	.ascii	"er, and said,\012    in a whisper, \"I have been gu"
	.ascii	"essing.  Shall I tell you\012    my guess?\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \"What do you mean?\"\012    \012    \"Sha"
	.ascii	"ll I tell you.\"\012    \012    \"Certainly.\"\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"Well then; I guess that Mr. Willoughby"
	.ascii	" hunts.\"\012    \012    Marianne was surprised and"
	.ascii	" confused, yet she could\012    not help smiling at"
	.ascii	" the quiet archness of his manner,\012    and after"
	.ascii	" a moment's silence, said,\012    \012    \"Oh, Edw"
	.ascii	"ard! How can you?--But the time will come\012    I "
	.ascii	"hope...I am sure you will like him.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"I do not doubt it,\" replied he, rather astonis"
	.ascii	"hed\012    at her earnestness and warmth; for had h"
	.ascii	"e not imagined it\012    to be a joke for"
	.ascii	" the good of her acquaintance in general,\012    fo"
	.ascii	"unded only on a something or a nothing between Mr. "
	.ascii	"Willoughby\012    and herself, he would not have ve"
	.ascii	"ntured to mention it.\012    \012    \012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  CHAPTER 19\012    \012    \012    Edward remained"
	.ascii	" a week at the cottage; he was earnestly\012    pre"
	.ascii	"ssed by Mrs. Dashwood to stay longer; but, as if he"
	.ascii	"\012    were bent only on self-mortification, he se"
	.ascii	"emed resolved\012    to be gone when his enjoyment "
	.ascii	"among his friends was at\012    the height.  His sp"
	.ascii	"irits, during the last two or three days,\012    th"
	.ascii	"ough still very unequal, were greatly improved--he "
	.ascii	"grew\012    more and more partial to the house and "
	.ascii	"environs--never\012    spoke of going away without "
	.ascii	"a sigh--declared his time\012    to be wholly disen"
	.ascii	"gaged--even doubted to what place he\012    should "
	.ascii	"go when he left them--but still, go he must.\012   "
	.ascii	" Never had any week passed so quickly--he could har"
	.ascii	"dly\012    believe it to be gone.  He said so repea"
	.ascii	"tedly; other things\012    he said too, which marke"
	.ascii	"d the turn of his feelings and gave\012    the lie "
	.ascii	"to his actions.  He had no pleasure at Norland;\012"
	.ascii	"    he detested being in town; but either to Norlan"
	.ascii	"d or London,\012    he must go.  He valued their ki"
	.ascii	"ndness beyond any thing,\012    and his greatest ha"
	.ascii	"ppiness was in being with them.\012    Yet, he must"
	.ascii	" leave them at the end of a week, in spite\012    o"
	.ascii	"f their wishes and his own, and without any restrai"
	.ascii	"nt\012    on his time.\012    \012    Elinor placed"
	.ascii	" all that was astonishing in this\012    way of act"
	.ascii	"ing to his mother's account; and it was\012    happ"
	.ascii	"y for her that he had a mother whose character\012 "
	.ascii	"   was so imperfectly known to her, as to be the ge"
	.ascii	"neral\012    excuse for every thing strange on the "
	.ascii	"part of her son.\012    Disappointed, however, and "
	.ascii	"vexed as she was, and sometimes\012    displeased w"
	.ascii	"ith his uncertain behaviour to herself,\012    she "
	.ascii	"was very well disposed on the whole to regard his a"
	.ascii	"ctions\012    with all the candid allowances and ge"
	.ascii	"nerous qualifications,\012    which had been rather"
	.ascii	" more painfully extorted from her,\012    for Willo"
	.ascii	"ughby's service, by her mothe"
	.ascii	"r.  His want of spirits,\012    of openness, and of"
	.ascii	" consistency, were most usually\012    attributed t"
	.ascii	"o his want of independence, and his better\012    k"
	.ascii	"nowledge of Mrs. Ferrars's disposition and designs."
	.ascii	"\012    The shortness of his visit, the steadiness "
	.ascii	"of his purpose\012    in leaving them, originated i"
	.ascii	"n the same fettered inclination,\012    the same in"
	.ascii	"evitable necessity of temporizing with his mother.\012"
	.ascii	"    The old well-established grievance of duty agai"
	.ascii	"nst will,\012    parent against child, was the caus"
	.ascii	"e of all.  She would have\012    been glad to know "
	.ascii	"when these difficulties were to cease,\012    this "
	.ascii	"opposition was to yield,--when Mrs. Ferrars would\012"
	.ascii	"    be reformed, and her son be at liberty to be ha"
	.ascii	"ppy.\012    But from such vain wishes she was force"
	.ascii	"d to turn for comfort\012    to the renewal of her "
	.ascii	"confidence in Edward's affection,\012    to the rem"
	.ascii	"embrance of every mark of regard in look or word\012"
	.ascii	"    which fell from him while at Barton, and above "
	.ascii	"all\012    to that flattering proof of it which he "
	.ascii	"constantly wore\012    round his finger.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"I think, Edward,\" said Mrs. Dashwood, as the"
	.ascii	"y were\012    at breakfast the last morning, \"you "
	.ascii	"would be a happier man\012    if you had any profes"
	.ascii	"sion to engage your time and give\012    an interes"
	.ascii	"t to your plans and actions.  Some inconvenience\012"
	.ascii	"    to your friends, indeed, might result from it--"
	.ascii	"you\012    would not be able to give them so much o"
	.ascii	"f your time.\012    But (with a smile) you would be"
	.ascii	" materially benefited\012    in one particular at l"
	.ascii	"east--you would know where to go\012    when you le"
	.ascii	"ft them.\"\012    \012    \"I do assure you,\" he r"
	.ascii	"eplied, \"that I have long\012    thought on this p"
	.ascii	"oint, as you think now.  It has been,\012    and is"
	.ascii	", and probably will always be a heavy misfortune\012"
	.ascii	"    to me, that I have had no necessary business to"
	.ascii	" engage me,\012    no profession to give me employm"
	.ascii	"ent, or afford me any\012    thing like independenc"
	.ascii	"e.  But unfortunately my own nicety,\012    and the"
	.ascii	" nicety of my friends, have made me what I am,\012 "
	.ascii	"   an idle, helpless being.  We never could agree i"
	.ascii	"n our\012    choic"
	.ascii	"e of a profession.  I always preferred the church,\012"
	.ascii	"    as I still do.  But that was not smart enough f"
	.ascii	"or my family.\012    They recommended the army.  Th"
	.ascii	"at was a great deal\012    too smart for me.  The l"
	.ascii	"aw was allowed to be genteel\012    enough; many yo"
	.ascii	"ung men, who had chambers in the Temple,\012    mad"
	.ascii	"e a very good appearance in the first circles,\012 "
	.ascii	"   and drove about town in very knowing gigs.  But "
	.ascii	"I had\012    no inclination for the law, even in th"
	.ascii	"is less abstruse\012    study of it, which my famil"
	.ascii	"y approved.  As for the navy,\012    it had fashion"
	.ascii	" on its side, but I was too old when the\012    sub"
	.ascii	"ject was first started to enter it--and, at length,"
	.ascii	"\012    as there was no necessity for my having any"
	.ascii	" profession\012    at all, as I might be as dashing"
	.ascii	" and expensive without\012    a red coat on my back"
	.ascii	" as with one, idleness was pronounced\012    on the"
	.ascii	" whole to be most advantageous and honourable,\012 "
	.ascii	"   and a young man of eighteen is not in general so"
	.ascii	" earnestly\012    bent on being busy as to resist t"
	.ascii	"he solicitations of his\012    friends to do nothin"
	.ascii	"g.  I was therefore entered at Oxford\012    and ha"
	.ascii	"ve been properly idle ever since.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"The consequence of which, I suppose, will be,\"\012"
	.ascii	"    said Mrs. Dashwood, \"since leisure has not pro"
	.ascii	"moted\012    your own happiness, that your sons wil"
	.ascii	"l be brought up\012    to as many pursuits, employm"
	.ascii	"ents, professions, and trades\012    as Columella's"
	.ascii	".\"\012    \012    \"They will be brought up,\" sai"
	.ascii	"d he, in a serious accent,\012    \"to be as unlike"
	.ascii	" myself as is possible.  In feeling,\012    in acti"
	.ascii	"on, in condition, in every thing.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"Come, come; this is all an effusion of immediate\012"
	.ascii	"    want of spirits, Edward.  You are in a melancho"
	.ascii	"ly humour,\012    and fancy that any one unlike you"
	.ascii	"rself must be happy.\012    But remember that the p"
	.ascii	"ain of parting from friends\012    will be felt by "
	.ascii	"every body at times, whatever be their\012    educa"
	.ascii	"tion or state.  Know your own happiness.  You want\012"
	.ascii	"    nothing but patience--or give it a more fascina"
	.ascii	"ting name,\012    call it hope.  Your mother will s"
	.ascii	"ecure to you, in ti"
	.ascii	"me,\012    that independence you are so anxious for"
	.ascii	"; it is her duty,\012    and it will, it must ere l"
	.ascii	"ong become her happiness to\012    prevent your who"
	.ascii	"le youth from being wasted in discontent.\012    Ho"
	.ascii	"w much may not a few months do?\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"I think,\" replied Edward, \"that I may defy many\012"
	.ascii	"    months to produce any good to me.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    This desponding turn of mind, though it could n"
	.ascii	"ot\012    be communicated to Mrs. Dashwood, gave ad"
	.ascii	"ditional pain\012    to them all in the parting, wh"
	.ascii	"ich shortly took place,\012    and left an uncomfor"
	.ascii	"table impression on Elinor's\012    feelings especi"
	.ascii	"ally, which required some trouble and time\012    t"
	.ascii	"o subdue.  But as it was her determination to subdu"
	.ascii	"e it,\012    and to prevent herself from appearing "
	.ascii	"to suffer more than\012    what all her family suff"
	.ascii	"ered on his going away, she did\012    not adopt th"
	.ascii	"e method so judiciously employed by Marianne,\012  "
	.ascii	"  on a similar occasion, to augment and fix her sor"
	.ascii	"row,\012    by seeking silence, solitude and idlene"
	.ascii	"ss.  Their means\012    were as different as their "
	.ascii	"objects, and equally suited\012    to the advanceme"
	.ascii	"nt of each.\012    \012    Elinor sat down to her d"
	.ascii	"rawing-table as soon as he\012    was out of the ho"
	.ascii	"use, busily employed herself the whole day,\012    "
	.ascii	"neither sought nor avoided the mention of his name,"
	.ascii	"\012    appeared to interest herself almost as much"
	.ascii	" as ever in the\012    general concerns of the fami"
	.ascii	"ly, and if, by this conduct,\012    she did not les"
	.ascii	"sen her own grief, it was at least prevented\012   "
	.ascii	" from unnecessary increase, and her mother and sist"
	.ascii	"ers\012    were spared much solicitude on her accou"
	.ascii	"nt.\012    \012    Such behaviour as this, so exact"
	.ascii	"ly the reverse\012    of her own, appeared no more "
	.ascii	"meritorious to Marianne,\012    than her own had se"
	.ascii	"emed faulty to her.  The business\012    of self-co"
	.ascii	"mmand she settled very easily;--with strong\012    "
	.ascii	"affections it was impossible, with calm ones it cou"
	.ascii	"ld\012    have no merit.  That her sister's affecti"
	.ascii	"ons WERE calm,\012    she dared not deny, though sh"
	.ascii	"e blushed to acknowledge it;\012    and of the stre"
	.ascii	"ngth of her own, she gave a v"
	.ascii	"ery striking proof,\012    by still loving and resp"
	.ascii	"ecting that sister, in spite\012    of this mortify"
	.ascii	"ing conviction.\012    \012    Without shutting her"
	.ascii	"self up from her family,\012    or leaving the hous"
	.ascii	"e in determined solitude to avoid them,\012    or l"
	.ascii	"ying awake the whole night to indulge meditation,\012"
	.ascii	"    Elinor found every day afforded her leisure eno"
	.ascii	"ugh\012    to think of Edward, and of Edward's beha"
	.ascii	"viour, in every\012    possible variety which the d"
	.ascii	"ifferent state of her spirits\012    at different t"
	.ascii	"imes could produce,--with tenderness,\012    pity, "
	.ascii	"approbation, censure, and doubt.  There were moment"
	.ascii	"s\012    in abundance, when, if not by the absence "
	.ascii	"of her mother\012    and sisters, at least by the n"
	.ascii	"ature of their employments,\012    conversation was"
	.ascii	" forbidden among them, and every effect\012    of s"
	.ascii	"olitude was produced.  Her mind was inevitably\012 "
	.ascii	"   at liberty; her thoughts could not be chained el"
	.ascii	"sewhere;\012    and the past and the future, on a s"
	.ascii	"ubject so interesting,\012    must be before her, m"
	.ascii	"ust force her attention, and engross\012    her mem"
	.ascii	"ory, her reflection, and her fancy.\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"From a reverie of this kind, as she sat at her\012 "
	.ascii	"   drawing-table, she was roused one morning, soon "
	.ascii	"after\012    Edward's leaving them, by the arrival "
	.ascii	"of company.\012    She happened to be quite alone. "
	.ascii	" The closing of the\012    little gate, at the entr"
	.ascii	"ance of the green court in front\012    of the hous"
	.ascii	"e, drew her eyes to the window, and she saw\012    "
	.ascii	"a large party walking up to the door.  Amongst them"
	.ascii	"\012    were Sir John and Lady Middleton and Mrs. J"
	.ascii	"ennings,\012    but there were two others, a gentle"
	.ascii	"man and lady, who were\012    quite unknown to her."
	.ascii	"  She was sitting near the window,\012    and as so"
	.ascii	"on as Sir John perceived her, he left the rest\012 "
	.ascii	"   of the party to the ceremony of knocking at the "
	.ascii	"door,\012    and stepping across the turf, obliged "
	.ascii	"her to open the\012    casement to speak to him, th"
	.ascii	"ough the space was so short\012    between the door"
	.ascii	" and the window, as to make it hardly\012    possib"
	.ascii	"le to speak at one without being heard at the other"
	.ascii	".\012    \012    \"Wel"
	.ascii	"l,\" said he, \"we have brought you some strangers."
	.ascii	"\012    How do you like them?\"\012    \012    \"Hu"
	.ascii	"sh! they will hear you.\"\012    \012    \"Never mi"
	.ascii	"nd if they do.  It is only the Palmers.\012    Char"
	.ascii	"lotte is very pretty, I can tell you.  You may see "
	.ascii	"her\012    if you look this way.\"\012    \012    A"
	.ascii	"s Elinor was certain of seeing her in a couple\012 "
	.ascii	"   of minutes, without taking that liberty, she beg"
	.ascii	"ged\012    to be excused.\012    \012    \"Where is"
	.ascii	" Marianne? Has she run away because we\012    are c"
	.ascii	"ome? I see her instrument is open.\"\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"She is walking, I believe.\"\012    \012    They"
	.ascii	" were now joined by Mrs. Jennings, who had not\012 "
	.ascii	"   patience enough to wait till the door was opened"
	.ascii	" before\012    she told HER story.  She came halloo"
	.ascii	"ing to the window,\012    \"How do you do, my dear?"
	.ascii	"  How does Mrs. Dashwood do?\012    And where are y"
	.ascii	"our sisters?  What! all alone! you\012    will be g"
	.ascii	"lad of a little company to sit with you.\012    I h"
	.ascii	"ave brought my other son and daughter to see you.\012"
	.ascii	"    Only think of their coming so suddenly!  I thou"
	.ascii	"ght I heard\012    a carriage last night, while we "
	.ascii	"were drinking our tea,\012    but it never entered "
	.ascii	"my head that it could be them.\012    I thought of "
	.ascii	"nothing but whether it might not be Colonel\012    "
	.ascii	"Brandon come back again; so I said to Sir John, I d"
	.ascii	"o think\012    I hear a carriage; perhaps it is Col"
	.ascii	"onel Brandon come\012    back again\"--\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Elinor was obliged to turn from her, in the mid"
	.ascii	"dle\012    of her story, to receive the rest of the"
	.ascii	" party; Lady\012    Middleton introduced the two st"
	.ascii	"rangers; Mrs. Dashwood\012    and Margaret came dow"
	.ascii	"n stairs at the same time, and they\012    all sat "
	.ascii	"down to look at one another, while Mrs. Jennings\012"
	.ascii	"    continued her story as she walked through the p"
	.ascii	"assage\012    into the parlour, attended by Sir Joh"
	.ascii	"n.\012    \012    Mrs. Palmer was several years you"
	.ascii	"nger than Lady\012    Middleton, and totally unlike"
	.ascii	" her in every respect.\012    She was short and plu"
	.ascii	"mp, had a very pretty face,\012    and the finest e"
	.ascii	"xpression of good humour in it that could\012    po"
	.ascii	"ssibly be.  Her manners were by no means so elegant"
	.ascii	"\012  "
	.ascii	"  as her sister's, but they were much more preposse"
	.ascii	"ssing.\012    She came in with a smile, smiled all "
	.ascii	"the time of her visit,\012    except when she laugh"
	.ascii	"ed, and smiled when she went away.\012    Her husba"
	.ascii	"nd was a grave looking young man of five or six\012"
	.ascii	"    and twenty, with an air of more fashion and sen"
	.ascii	"se than\012    his wife, but of less willingness to"
	.ascii	" please or be pleased.\012    He entered the room w"
	.ascii	"ith a look of self-consequence,\012    slightly bow"
	.ascii	"ed to the ladies, without speaking a word,\012    a"
	.ascii	"nd, after briefly surveying them and their apartmen"
	.ascii	"ts,\012    took up a newspaper from the table, and "
	.ascii	"continued to read it\012    as long as he staid.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Mrs. Palmer, on the contrary, who was s"
	.ascii	"trongly endowed\012    by nature with a turn for be"
	.ascii	"ing uniformly civil and happy,\012    was hardly se"
	.ascii	"ated before her admiration of the parlour\012    an"
	.ascii	"d every thing in it burst forth.\012    \012    \"W"
	.ascii	"ell! what a delightful room this is! I never\012   "
	.ascii	" saw anything so charming!  Only think, Mamma, how "
	.ascii	"it\012    is improved since I was here last! I alwa"
	.ascii	"ys thought it\012    such a sweet place, ma'am! (tu"
	.ascii	"rning to Mrs. Dashwood)\012    but you have made it"
	.ascii	" so charming!  Only look, sister,\012    how deligh"
	.ascii	"tful every thing is! How I should like such\012    "
	.ascii	"a house for myself!  Should not you, Mr. Palmer?\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Mr. Palmer made her no answer, and did "
	.ascii	"not even raise\012    his eyes from the newspaper.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Mr. Palmer does not hear me,\" said s"
	.ascii	"he, laughing;\012    \"he never does sometimes.  It"
	.ascii	" is so ridiculous!\"\012    \012    This was quite "
	.ascii	"a new idea to Mrs. Dashwood; she had\012    never b"
	.ascii	"een used to find wit in the inattention of any one,"
	.ascii	"\012    and could not help looking with surprise at"
	.ascii	" them both.\012    \012    Mrs. Jennings, in the me"
	.ascii	"antime, talked on as loud\012    as she could, and "
	.ascii	"continued her account of their surprise,\012    the"
	.ascii	" evening before, on seeing their friends, without\012"
	.ascii	"    ceasing till every thing was told.  Mrs. Palmer"
	.ascii	" laughed\012    heartily at the recollection of the"
	.ascii	"ir astonishment,\012    and every body agreed, two "
	.ascii	"or three times over, that "
	.ascii	"it\012    had been quite an agreeable surprise.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"You may believe how glad we all were "
	.ascii	"to see them,\"\012    added Mrs. Jennings, leaning "
	.ascii	"forward towards Elinor,\012    and speaking in a lo"
	.ascii	"w voice as if she meant to be heard\012    by no on"
	.ascii	"e else, though they were seated on different sides\012"
	.ascii	"    of the room; \"but, however, I can't help wishi"
	.ascii	"ng they had\012    not travelled quite so fast, nor"
	.ascii	" made such a long journey\012    of it, for they ca"
	.ascii	"me all round by London upon account\012    of some "
	.ascii	"business, for you know (nodding significantly and\012"
	.ascii	"    pointing to her daughter) it was wrong in her s"
	.ascii	"ituation.\012    I wanted her to stay at home and r"
	.ascii	"est this morning,\012    but she would come with us"
	.ascii	"; she longed so much to see\012    you all!\"\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    Mrs. Palmer laughed, and said it would no"
	.ascii	"t do her\012    any harm.\012    \012    \"She expe"
	.ascii	"cts to be confined in February,\"\012    continued "
	.ascii	"Mrs. Jennings.\012    \012    Lady Middleton could "
	.ascii	"no longer endure such a conversation,\012    and th"
	.ascii	"erefore exerted herself to ask Mr. Palmer if there\012"
	.ascii	"    was any news in the paper.\012    \012    \"No,"
	.ascii	" none at all,\" he replied, and read on.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Here comes Marianne,\" cried Sir John.  \"Now"
	.ascii	", Palmer,\012    you shall see a monstrous pretty g"
	.ascii	"irl.\"\012    \012    He immediately went into the "
	.ascii	"passage, opened the front door,\012    and ushered "
	.ascii	"her in himself.  Mrs. Jennings asked her,\012    as"
	.ascii	" soon as she appeared, if she had not been to Allen"
	.ascii	"ham;\012    and Mrs. Palmer laughed so heartily at "
	.ascii	"the question,\012    as to show she understood it. "
	.ascii	" Mr. Palmer looked up\012    on her entering the ro"
	.ascii	"om, stared at her some minutes,\012    and then ret"
	.ascii	"urned to his newspaper.  Mrs. Palmer's eye\012    w"
	.ascii	"as now caught by the drawings which hung round the "
	.ascii	"room.\012    She got up to examine them.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Oh! dear, how beautiful these are!  Well! how"
	.ascii	" delightful!\012    Do but look, mama, how sweet! I"
	.ascii	" declare they are quite charming;\012    I could lo"
	.ascii	"ok at them for ever.\" And then sitting down again,"
	.ascii	"\012    she very soon forgot that there were any su"
	.ascii	"ch things in the room.\012    \012    When Lady Mid"
	.ascii	"dleton rose to go away, Mr. Palmer\012    rose also"
	.ascii	", laid down the newspaper, stretched himself\012   "
	.ascii	" and looked at them all around.\012    \012    \"My"
	.ascii	" love, have you been asleep?\" said his wife, laugh"
	.ascii	"ing.\012    \012    He made her no answer; and only"
	.ascii	" observed, after again\012    examining the room, t"
	.ascii	"hat it was very low pitched,\012    and that the ce"
	.ascii	"iling was crooked.  He then made his bow,\012    an"
	.ascii	"d departed with the rest.\012    \012    Sir John h"
	.ascii	"ad been very urgent with them all to\012    spend t"
	.ascii	"he next day at the park.  Mrs. Dashwood, who did\012"
	.ascii	"    not chuse to dine with them oftener than they d"
	.ascii	"ined\012    at the cottage, absolutely refused on h"
	.ascii	"er own account;\012    her daughters might do as th"
	.ascii	"ey pleased.  But they had no\012    curiosity to se"
	.ascii	"e how Mr. and Mrs. Palmer ate their dinner,\012    "
	.ascii	"and no expectation of pleasure from them in any oth"
	.ascii	"er way.\012    They attempted, therefore, likewise,"
	.ascii	" to excuse themselves;\012    the weather was uncer"
	.ascii	"tain, and not likely to be good.\012    But Sir Joh"
	.ascii	"n would not be satisfied--the carriage should\012  "
	.ascii	"  be sent for them and they must come.  Lady Middle"
	.ascii	"ton too,\012    though she did not press their moth"
	.ascii	"er, pressed them.\012    Mrs. Jennings and Mrs. Pal"
	.ascii	"mer joined their entreaties, all\012    seemed equa"
	.ascii	"lly anxious to avoid a family party; and the young\012"
	.ascii	"    ladies were obliged to yield.\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"Why should they ask us?\" said Marianne, as soon as"
	.ascii	" they\012    were gone.  \"The rent of this cottage"
	.ascii	" is said to be low;\012    but we have it on very h"
	.ascii	"ard terms, if we are to dine\012    at the park whe"
	.ascii	"never any one is staying either with them,\012    o"
	.ascii	"r with us.\"\012    \012    \"They mean no less to "
	.ascii	"be civil and kind to us now,\"\012    said Elinor, "
	.ascii	"\"by these frequent invitations, than by\012    tho"
	.ascii	"se which we received from them a few weeks ago.\012"
	.ascii	"    The alteration is not in them, if their parties"
	.ascii	" are grown\012    tedious and dull.  We must look f"
	.ascii	"or the change elsewhere.\"\012    \012    \012    \012"
	.ascii	"    CHAPTER 20\012    \012    \012    As the Miss D"
	.ascii	"ashwoods entered the drawing-room of the park\012  "
	.ascii	"  the next day, at one door, Mrs. Palmer came r"
	.ascii	"unning in at\012    the other, looking as good humo"
	.ascii	"ured and merry as before.\012    She took them all "
	.ascii	"most affectionately by the hand,\012    and express"
	.ascii	"ed great delight in seeing them again.\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"I am so glad to see you!\" said she, seating h"
	.ascii	"erself\012    between Elinor and Marianne, \"for it"
	.ascii	" is so bad a day I was\012    afraid you might not "
	.ascii	"come, which would be a shocking thing,\012    as we"
	.ascii	" go away again tomorrow. We must go, for the Weston"
	.ascii	"s\012    come to us next week you know.  It was qui"
	.ascii	"te a sudden thing\012    our coming at all, and I k"
	.ascii	"new nothing of it till the carriage\012    was comi"
	.ascii	"ng to the door, and then Mr. Palmer asked me if I\012"
	.ascii	"    would go with him to Barton.  He is so droll! H"
	.ascii	"e never\012    tells me any thing! I am so sorry we"
	.ascii	" cannot stay longer;\012    however we shall meet a"
	.ascii	"gain in town very soon, I hope.\"\012    \012    Th"
	.ascii	"ey were obliged to put an end to such an expectatio"
	.ascii	"n.\012    \012    \"Not go to town!\" cried Mrs. Pa"
	.ascii	"lmer, with a laugh,\012    \"I shall be quite disap"
	.ascii	"pointed if you do not.  I could\012    get the nice"
	.ascii	"st house in world for you, next door to ours,\012  "
	.ascii	"  in Hanover-square.  You must come, indeed.  I am "
	.ascii	"sure\012    I shall be very happy to chaperon you a"
	.ascii	"t any time till\012    I am confined, if Mrs. Dashw"
	.ascii	"ood should not like to go\012    into public.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    They thanked her; but were obliged to r"
	.ascii	"esist all\012    her entreaties.\012    \012    \"O"
	.ascii	"h, my love,\" cried Mrs. Palmer to her husband,\012"
	.ascii	"    who just then entered the room--\"you must help"
	.ascii	" me to\012    persuade the Miss Dashwoods to go to "
	.ascii	"town this winter.\"\012    \012    Her love made no"
	.ascii	" answer; and after slightly bowing\012    to the la"
	.ascii	"dies, began complaining of the weather.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"How horrid all this is!\" said he.  \"Such we"
	.ascii	"ather\012    makes every thing and every body disgu"
	.ascii	"sting.  Dullness\012    is as much produced within "
	.ascii	"doors as without, by rain.\012    It makes one dete"
	.ascii	"st all one's acquaintance.  What the\012    devil d"
	.ascii	"oes Sir John mean by not having a billiard room\012"
	.ascii	"    in his house?  How few people know what comfort"
	.ascii	" is!  Sir\012    John is as stupid as the weathe"
	.ascii	"r.\"\012    \012    The rest of the company soon dr"
	.ascii	"opt in.\012    \012    \"I am afraid, Miss Marianne"
	.ascii	",\" said Sir John, \"you have\012    not been able "
	.ascii	"to take your usual walk to Allenham today.\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    Marianne looked very grave and said nothin"
	.ascii	"g.\012    \012    \"Oh, don't be so sly before us,\""
	.ascii	" said Mrs. Palmer;\012    \"for we know all about i"
	.ascii	"t, I assure you; and I admire your\012    taste ver"
	.ascii	"y much, for I think he is extremely handsome.\012  "
	.ascii	"  We do not live a great way from him in the countr"
	.ascii	"y, you know.\012    Not above ten miles, I dare say"
	.ascii	".\"\012    \012    \"Much nearer thirty,\" said her"
	.ascii	" husband.\012    \012    \"Ah, well! there is not m"
	.ascii	"uch difference.\012    I never was at his house; bu"
	.ascii	"t they say it is a sweet\012    pretty place.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"As vile a spot as I ever saw in my li"
	.ascii	"fe,\"\012    said Mr. Palmer.\012    \012    Marian"
	.ascii	"ne remained perfectly silent, though her\012    cou"
	.ascii	"ntenance betrayed her interest in what was said.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Is it very ugly?\" continued Mrs. Pal"
	.ascii	"mer--\"then it\012    must be some other place that"
	.ascii	" is so pretty I suppose.\"\012    \012    When they"
	.ascii	" were seated in the dining room, Sir John\012    ob"
	.ascii	"served with regret that they were only eight all to"
	.ascii	"gether.\012    \012    \"My dear,\" said he to his "
	.ascii	"lady, \"it is very provoking\012    that we should "
	.ascii	"be so few.  Why did not you ask the Gilberts\012   "
	.ascii	" to come to us today?\"\012    \012    \"Did not I "
	.ascii	"tell you, Sir John, when you spoke to me\012    abo"
	.ascii	"ut it before, that it could not be done?  They dine"
	.ascii	"d\012    with us last.\"\012    \012    \"You and I"
	.ascii	", Sir John,\" said Mrs. Jennings,\012    \"should n"
	.ascii	"ot stand upon such ceremony.\"\012    \012    \"The"
	.ascii	"n you would be very ill-bred,\" cried Mr. Palmer.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"My love you contradict every body,\" "
	.ascii	"said his wife\012    with her usual laugh.  \"Do yo"
	.ascii	"u know that you are quite rude?\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"I did not know I contradicted any body in calling\012"
	.ascii	"    your mother ill-bred.\"\012    \012    \"Ay, yo"
	.ascii	"u may abuse me as you please,\" said the good-natur"
	.ascii	"ed\012    old lady, \"you have taken Charlotte off "
	.ascii	"my hands, and cannot\012    give her back again.  S"
	.ascii	"o there I have the whip hand of you.\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   Charlot"
	.ascii	"te laughed heartily to think that her\012    husban"
	.ascii	"d could not get rid of her; and exultingly said,\012"
	.ascii	"    she did not care how cross he was to her, as th"
	.ascii	"ey must\012    live together.  It was impossible fo"
	.ascii	"r any one to be more\012    thoroughly good-natured"
	.ascii	", or more determined to be happy\012    than Mrs. P"
	.ascii	"almer.  The studied indifference, insolence,\012   "
	.ascii	" and discontent of her husband gave her no pain;\012"
	.ascii	"    and when he scolded or abused her, she was high"
	.ascii	"ly diverted.\012    \012    \"Mr. Palmer is so drol"
	.ascii	"l!\" said she, in a whisper,\012    to Elinor.  \"H"
	.ascii	"e is always out of humour.\"\012    \012    Elinor "
	.ascii	"was not inclined, after a little observation,\012  "
	.ascii	"  to give him credit for being so genuinely and una"
	.ascii	"ffectedly\012    ill-natured or ill-bred as he wish"
	.ascii	"ed to appear.\012    His temper might perhaps be a "
	.ascii	"little soured by finding,\012    like many others o"
	.ascii	"f his sex, that through some unaccountable\012    b"
	.ascii	"ias in favour of beauty, he was the husband of a ve"
	.ascii	"ry silly\012    woman,--but she knew that this kind"
	.ascii	" of blunder was too\012    common for any sensible "
	.ascii	"man to be lastingly hurt by it.--\012    It was rat"
	.ascii	"her a wish of distinction, she believed,\012    whi"
	.ascii	"ch produced his contemptuous treatment of every bod"
	.ascii	"y,\012    and his general abuse of every thing befo"
	.ascii	"re him.\012    It was the desire of appearing super"
	.ascii	"ior to other people.\012    The motive was too comm"
	.ascii	"on to be wondered at; but the means,\012    however"
	.ascii	" they might succeed by establishing his superiority"
	.ascii	"\012    in ill-breeding, were not likely to attach "
	.ascii	"any one to him\012    except his wife.\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"Oh, my dear Miss Dashwood,\" said Mrs. Palmer "
	.ascii	"soon afterwards,\012    \"I have got such a favour "
	.ascii	"to ask of you and your sister.\012    Will you come"
	.ascii	" and spend some time at Cleveland this\012    Chris"
	.ascii	"tmas?  Now, pray do,--and come while the Westons ar"
	.ascii	"e\012    with us.  You cannot think how happy I sha"
	.ascii	"ll be!  It will\012    be quite delightful!--My lov"
	.ascii	"e,\" applying to her husband,\012    \"don't you lo"
	.ascii	"ng to have the Miss Dashwoods come to Cleveland?\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Certainly,\" he replied, with a sneer"
	.ascii	"--\"I came\012    into Devonshi"
	.ascii	"re with no other view.\"\012    \012    \"There now"
	.ascii	",\"--said his lady, \"you see Mr. Palmer\012    exp"
	.ascii	"ects you; so you cannot refuse to come.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    They both eagerly and resolutely declined her i"
	.ascii	"nvitation.\012    \012    \"But indeed you must and"
	.ascii	" shall come.  I am sure you\012    will like it of "
	.ascii	"all things.  The Westons will be with us,\012    an"
	.ascii	"d it will be quite delightful.  You cannot think\012"
	.ascii	"    what a sweet place Cleveland is; and we are so "
	.ascii	"gay now,\012    for Mr. Palmer is always going abou"
	.ascii	"t the country canvassing\012    against the electio"
	.ascii	"n; and so many people came to dine\012    with us t"
	.ascii	"hat I never saw before, it is quite charming!  But,"
	.ascii	"\012    poor fellow! it is very fatiguing to him! f"
	.ascii	"or he is forced\012    to make every body like him."
	.ascii	"\"\012    \012    Elinor could hardly keep her coun"
	.ascii	"tenance as she\012    assented to the hardship of s"
	.ascii	"uch an obligation.\012    \012    \"How charming it"
	.ascii	" will be,\" said Charlotte, \"when he\012    is in "
	.ascii	"Parliament!--won't it? How I shall laugh!  It will\012"
	.ascii	"    be so ridiculous to see all his letters directe"
	.ascii	"d to him\012    with an M.P.--But do you know, he s"
	.ascii	"ays, he will never frank\012    for me?  He declare"
	.ascii	"s he won't.  Don't you, Mr. Palmer?\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  Mr. Palmer took no notice of her.\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"He cannot bear writing, you know,\" she continued"
	.ascii	"--\012    \"he says it is quite shocking.\"\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \"No,\" said he, \"I never said any thing s"
	.ascii	"o irrational.\012    Don't palm all your abuses of "
	.ascii	"languages upon me.\"\012    \012    \"There now; yo"
	.ascii	"u see how droll he is.  This is always\012    the w"
	.ascii	"ay with him!  Sometimes he won't speak to me for ha"
	.ascii	"lf\012    a day together, and then he comes out wit"
	.ascii	"h something\012    so droll--all about any thing in"
	.ascii	" the world.\"\012    \012    She surprised Elinor v"
	.ascii	"ery much as they returned\012    into the drawing-r"
	.ascii	"oom, by asking her whether she did\012    not like "
	.ascii	"Mr. Palmer excessively.\012    \012    \"Certainly,"
	.ascii	"\" said Elinor; \"he seems very agreeable.\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \"Well--I am so glad you do.  I thought yo"
	.ascii	"u would,\012    he is so pleasant; and Mr. Palmer i"
	.ascii	"s excessively pleased\012    with you and your sist"
	.ascii	"ers I can tell you,"
	.ascii	" and you can't\012    think how disappointed he wil"
	.ascii	"l be if you don't come\012    to Cleveland.--I can'"
	.ascii	"t imagine why you should object\012    to it.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Elinor was again obliged to decline her"
	.ascii	" invitation;\012    and by changing the subject, pu"
	.ascii	"t a stop to her entreaties.\012    She thought it p"
	.ascii	"robable that as they lived in the\012    same count"
	.ascii	"y, Mrs. Palmer might be able to give some\012    mo"
	.ascii	"re particular account of Willoughby's general\012  "
	.ascii	"  character, than could be gathered from the Middle"
	.ascii	"tons'\012    partial acquaintance with him; and she"
	.ascii	" was eager to gain\012    from any one, such a conf"
	.ascii	"irmation of his merits as might\012    remove the p"
	.ascii	"ossibility of fear from Marianne.  She began\012   "
	.ascii	" by inquiring if they saw much of Mr. Willoughby at"
	.ascii	" Cleveland,\012    and whether they were intimately"
	.ascii	" acquainted with him.\012    \012    \"Oh dear, yes"
	.ascii	"; I know him extremely well,\"\012    replied Mrs. "
	.ascii	"Palmer;--\"Not that I ever spoke\012    to him, ind"
	.ascii	"eed; but I have seen him for ever in town.\012    S"
	.ascii	"omehow or other I never happened to be staying at B"
	.ascii	"arton\012    while he was at Allenham.  Mama saw hi"
	.ascii	"m here once before;--\012    but I was with my uncl"
	.ascii	"e at Weymouth.  However, I dare say\012    we shoul"
	.ascii	"d have seen a great deal of him in Somersetshire,\012"
	.ascii	"    if it had not happened very unluckily that we s"
	.ascii	"hould never\012    have been in the country togethe"
	.ascii	"r.  He is very little\012    at Combe, I believe; b"
	.ascii	"ut if he were ever so much there,\012    I do not t"
	.ascii	"hink Mr. Palmer would visit him, for he is\012    i"
	.ascii	"n the opposition, you know, and besides it is such "
	.ascii	"a\012    way off.  I know why you inquire about him"
	.ascii	", very well;\012    your sister is to marry him.  I"
	.ascii	" am monstrous glad of it,\012    for then I shall h"
	.ascii	"ave her for a neighbour you know.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"Upon my word,\" replied Elinor, \"you know much\012"
	.ascii	"    more of the matter than I do, if you have any r"
	.ascii	"eason\012    to expect such a match.\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"Don't pretend to deny it, because you know it "
	.ascii	"is\012    what every body talks of.  I assure you I"
	.ascii	" heard of it\012    in my way through town.\"\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    \"My dear Mrs. Palmer!\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"Upon my honour I did.--I met Colonel Brandon\012"
	.ascii	"    Monday morning in Bond-street, just before we l"
	.ascii	"eft town,\012    and he told me of it directly.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"You surprise me very much.  Colonel B"
	.ascii	"randon tell\012    you of it!  Surely you must be m"
	.ascii	"istaken.  To give such\012    intelligence to a per"
	.ascii	"son who could not be interested in it,\012    even "
	.ascii	"if it were true, is not what I should expect Colone"
	.ascii	"l\012    Brandon to do.\"\012    \012    \"But I do"
	.ascii	" assure you it was so, for all that,\012    and I w"
	.ascii	"ill tell you how it happened.  When we met him,\012"
	.ascii	"    he turned back and walked with us; and so we be"
	.ascii	"gan talking\012    of my brother and sister, and on"
	.ascii	"e thing and another,\012    and I said to him, 'So,"
	.ascii	" Colonel, there is a new family\012    come to Bart"
	.ascii	"on cottage, I hear, and mama sends me word\012    t"
	.ascii	"hey are very pretty, and that one of them is going "
	.ascii	"to be\012    married to Mr. Willoughby of Combe Mag"
	.ascii	"na.  Is it true,\012    pray? for of course you mus"
	.ascii	"t know, as you have been in\012    Devonshire so la"
	.ascii	"tely.'\"\012    \012    \"And what did the Colonel "
	.ascii	"say?\"\012    \012    \"Oh--he did not say much; bu"
	.ascii	"t he looked as if he\012    knew it to be true, so "
	.ascii	"from that moment I set it down\012    as certain.  "
	.ascii	"It will be quite delightful, I declare!\012    When"
	.ascii	" is it to take place?\"\012    \012    \"Mr. Brando"
	.ascii	"n was very well I hope?\"\012    \012    \"Oh! yes,"
	.ascii	" quite well; and so full of your praises,\012    he"
	.ascii	" did nothing but say fine things of you.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"I am flattered by his commendation.  He seems"
	.ascii	"\012    an excellent man; and I think him uncommonl"
	.ascii	"y pleasing.\"\012    \012    \"So do I.--He is such"
	.ascii	" a charming man, that it\012    is quite a pity he "
	.ascii	"should be so grave and so dull.\012    Mamma says H"
	.ascii	"E was in love with your sister too.--\012    I assu"
	.ascii	"re you it was a great compliment if he was, for he\012"
	.ascii	"    hardly ever falls in love with any body.\"\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"Is Mr. Willoughby much known in your p"
	.ascii	"art\012    of Somersetshire?\" said Elinor.\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \"Oh! yes, extremely well; that is, I do no"
	.ascii	"t believe\012    many people are acquainted with hi"
	.ascii	"m, because Combe Magna\012    is so far off; but th"
	.ascii	"ey all thi"
	.ascii	"nk him extremely agreeable\012    I assure you.  No"
	.ascii	"body is more liked than Mr. Willoughby\012    where"
	.ascii	"ver he goes, and so you may tell your sister.\012  "
	.ascii	"  She is a monstrous lucky girl to get him, upon my"
	.ascii	" honour;\012    not but that he is much more lucky "
	.ascii	"in getting her,\012    because she is so very hands"
	.ascii	"ome and agreeable, that nothing\012    can be good "
	.ascii	"enough for her.  However, I don't think\012    her "
	.ascii	"hardly at all handsomer than you, I assure you;\012"
	.ascii	"    for I think you both excessively pretty, and so"
	.ascii	" does\012    Mr. Palmer too I am sure, though we co"
	.ascii	"uld not get him\012    to own it last night.\"\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    Mrs. Palmer's information respecting Wil"
	.ascii	"loughby\012    was not very material; but any testi"
	.ascii	"mony in his favour,\012    however small, was pleas"
	.ascii	"ing to her.\012    \012    \"I am so glad we are go"
	.ascii	"t acquainted at last,\"\012    continued Charlotte."
	.ascii	"--\"And now I hope we shall always be\012    great "
	.ascii	"friends.  You can't think how much I longed to see "
	.ascii	"you!\012    It is so delightful that you should liv"
	.ascii	"e at the cottage!\012    Nothing can be like it, to"
	.ascii	" be sure!  And I am so glad\012    your sister is g"
	.ascii	"oing to be well married!  I hope you will\012    be"
	.ascii	" a great deal at Combe Magna.  It is a sweet place,"
	.ascii	"\012    by all accounts.\"\012    \012    \"You hav"
	.ascii	"e been long acquainted with Colonel Brandon,\012   "
	.ascii	" have not you?\"\012    \012    \"Yes, a great whil"
	.ascii	"e; ever since my sister married.--\012    He was a "
	.ascii	"particular friend of Sir John's. I believe,\"\012  "
	.ascii	"  she added in a low voice, \"he would have been ve"
	.ascii	"ry\012    glad to have had me, if he could.  Sir Jo"
	.ascii	"hn and Lady\012    Middleton wished it very much.  "
	.ascii	"But mama did not think\012    the match good enough"
	.ascii	" for me, otherwise Sir John would\012    have menti"
	.ascii	"oned it to the Colonel, and we should have been\012"
	.ascii	"    married immediately.\"\012    \012    \"Did not"
	.ascii	" Colonel Brandon know of Sir John's proposal\012   "
	.ascii	" to your mother before it was made?  Had he never o"
	.ascii	"wned\012    his affection to yourself?\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Oh, no; but if mama had not objected to it,\012"
	.ascii	"    I dare say he would have liked it of all things"
	.ascii	".\012    He had not seen me then above twice, for"
	.ascii	" it was before\012    I left school.  However, I am"
	.ascii	" much happier as I am.\012    Mr. Palmer is the kin"
	.ascii	"d of man I like.\"\012    \012    \012    \012    C"
	.ascii	"HAPTER 21\012    \012    \012    The Palmers return"
	.ascii	"ed to Cleveland the next day,\012    and the two fa"
	.ascii	"milies at Barton were again left to entertain\012  "
	.ascii	"  each other.  But this did not last long; Elinor h"
	.ascii	"ad hardly\012    got their last visitors out of her"
	.ascii	" head, had hardly done\012    wondering at Charlott"
	.ascii	"e's being so happy without a cause,\012    at Mr. P"
	.ascii	"almer's acting so simply, with good abilities,\012 "
	.ascii	"   and at the strange unsuitableness which often ex"
	.ascii	"isted between\012    husband and wife, before Sir J"
	.ascii	"ohn's and Mrs. Jennings's\012    active zeal in the"
	.ascii	" cause of society, procured her some\012    other n"
	.ascii	"ew acquaintance to see and observe.\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"In a morning's excursion to Exeter, they had met wi"
	.ascii	"th\012    two young ladies, whom Mrs. Jennings had "
	.ascii	"the satisfaction\012    of discovering to be her re"
	.ascii	"lations, and this was enough\012    for Sir John to"
	.ascii	" invite them directly to the park,\012    as soon a"
	.ascii	"s their present engagements at Exeter were over.\012"
	.ascii	"    Their engagements at Exeter instantly gave way "
	.ascii	"before\012    such an invitation, and Lady Middleto"
	.ascii	"n was thrown into\012    no little alarm on the ret"
	.ascii	"urn of Sir John, by hearing\012    that she was ver"
	.ascii	"y soon to receive a visit from two girls\012    who"
	.ascii	"m she had never seen in her life, and of whose eleg"
	.ascii	"ance,--\012    whose tolerable gentility even, she "
	.ascii	"could have no proof;\012    for the assurances of h"
	.ascii	"er husband and mother on that subject\012    went f"
	.ascii	"or nothing at all.  Their being her relations too\012"
	.ascii	"    made it so much the worse; and Mrs. Jennings's "
	.ascii	"attempts\012    at consolation were therefore unfor"
	.ascii	"tunately founded,\012    when she advised her daugh"
	.ascii	"ter not to care about their being\012    so fashion"
	.ascii	"able; because they were all cousins and must put\012"
	.ascii	"    up with one another.  As it was impossible, how"
	.ascii	"ever, now to\012    prevent their coming, Lady Midd"
	.ascii	"leton resigned herself to the\012    idea of it, wi"
	.ascii	"th all the philosophy of a well-bred woman,\012    "
	.ascii	"contenting herself with me"
	.ascii	"rely giving her husband a gentle\012    reprimand o"
	.ascii	"n the subject five or six times every day.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    The young ladies arrived: their appearance was "
	.ascii	"by\012    no means ungenteel or unfashionable.  The"
	.ascii	"ir dress was\012    very smart, their manners very "
	.ascii	"civil, they were delighted\012    with the house, a"
	.ascii	"nd in raptures with the furniture,\012    and they "
	.ascii	"happened to be so doatingly fond of children\012   "
	.ascii	" that Lady Middleton's good opinion was engaged in "
	.ascii	"their\012    favour before they had been an hour at"
	.ascii	" the Park.\012    She declared them to be very agre"
	.ascii	"eable girls indeed,\012    which for her ladyship w"
	.ascii	"as enthusiastic admiration.\012    Sir John's confi"
	.ascii	"dence in his own judgment rose with this\012    ani"
	.ascii	"mated praise, and he set off directly for the cotta"
	.ascii	"ge\012    to tell the Miss Dashwoods of the Miss St"
	.ascii	"eeles' arrival,\012    and to assure them of their "
	.ascii	"being the sweetest girls\012    in the world.  From"
	.ascii	" such commendation as this, however,\012    there w"
	.ascii	"as not much to be learned; Elinor well knew\012    "
	.ascii	"that the sweetest girls in the world were to be met"
	.ascii	"\012    with in every part of England, under every "
	.ascii	"possible\012    variation of form, face, temper and"
	.ascii	" understanding.\012    Sir John wanted the whole fa"
	.ascii	"mily to walk to the Park directly\012    and look a"
	.ascii	"t his guests.  Benevolent, philanthropic man!  It\012"
	.ascii	"    was painful to him even to keep a third cousin "
	.ascii	"to himself.\012    \012    \"Do come now,\" said he"
	.ascii	"--\"pray come--you must come--I\012    declare you "
	.ascii	"shall come--You can't think how you will\012    lik"
	.ascii	"e them.  Lucy is monstrous pretty, and so good humo"
	.ascii	"ured\012    and agreeable!  The children are all ha"
	.ascii	"nging about her already,\012    as if she was an ol"
	.ascii	"d acquaintance.  And they both long\012    to see y"
	.ascii	"ou of all things, for they have heard at Exeter\012"
	.ascii	"    that you are the most beautiful creatures in th"
	.ascii	"e world;\012    and I have told them it is all very"
	.ascii	" true, and a great\012    deal more.  You will be d"
	.ascii	"elighted with them I am sure.\012    They have brou"
	.ascii	"ght the whole coach full of playthings\012    for t"
	.ascii	"he children.  How can you be so cross as not to com"
	.ascii	"e?\012    Why t"
	.ascii	"hey are your cousins, you know, after a fashion.\012"
	.ascii	"    YOU are my cousins, and they are my wife's, so "
	.ascii	"you must\012    be related.\"\012    \012    But Si"
	.ascii	"r John could not prevail.  He could only obtain\012"
	.ascii	"    a promise of their calling at the Park within a"
	.ascii	" day or two,\012    and then left them in amazement"
	.ascii	" at their indifference,\012    to walk home and boa"
	.ascii	"st anew of their attractions to the\012    Miss Ste"
	.ascii	"eles, as he had been already boasting of the Miss\012"
	.ascii	"    Steeles to them.\012    \012    When their prom"
	.ascii	"ised visit to the Park and consequent\012    introd"
	.ascii	"uction to these young ladies took place, they found"
	.ascii	"\012    in the appearance of the eldest, who was ne"
	.ascii	"arly thirty,\012    with a very plain and not a sen"
	.ascii	"sible face, nothing to admire;\012    but in the ot"
	.ascii	"her, who was not more than two or three\012    and "
	.ascii	"twenty, they acknowledged considerable beauty; her\012"
	.ascii	"    features were pretty, and she had a sharp quick"
	.ascii	" eye,\012    and a smartness of air, which though i"
	.ascii	"t did not give\012    actual elegance or grace, gav"
	.ascii	"e distinction to her person.--\012    Their manners"
	.ascii	" were particularly civil, and Elinor soon\012    al"
	.ascii	"lowed them credit for some kind of sense, when she\012"
	.ascii	"    saw with what constant and judicious attention "
	.ascii	"they\012    were making themselves agreeable to Lad"
	.ascii	"y Middleton.\012    With her children they were in "
	.ascii	"continual raptures,\012    extolling their beauty, "
	.ascii	"courting their notice, and humouring\012    their w"
	.ascii	"hims; and such of their time as could be spared fro"
	.ascii	"m\012    the importunate demands which this politen"
	.ascii	"ess made on it,\012    was spent in admiration of w"
	.ascii	"hatever her ladyship was doing,\012    if she happe"
	.ascii	"ned to be doing any thing, or in taking patterns\012"
	.ascii	"    of some elegant new dress, in which her appeara"
	.ascii	"nce\012    the day before had thrown them into unce"
	.ascii	"asing delight.\012    Fortunately for those who pay"
	.ascii	" their court through\012    such foibles, a fond mo"
	.ascii	"ther, though, in pursuit of praise\012    for her c"
	.ascii	"hildren, the most rapacious of human beings,\012   "
	.ascii	" is likewise the most credulous; her demands are ex"
	.ascii	"orbitant;\012    but she will swallow any thing; an"
	.ascii	"d the ex"
	.ascii	"cessive\012    affection and endurance of the Miss "
	.ascii	"Steeles towards\012    her offspring were viewed th"
	.ascii	"erefore by Lady Middleton\012    without the smalle"
	.ascii	"st surprise or distrust.  She saw with\012    mater"
	.ascii	"nal complacency all the impertinent encroachments\012"
	.ascii	"    and mischievous tricks to which her cousins sub"
	.ascii	"mitted.\012    She saw their sashes untied, their h"
	.ascii	"air pulled about\012    their ears, their work-bags"
	.ascii	" searched, and their knives\012    and scissors sto"
	.ascii	"len away, and felt no doubt of its being\012    a r"
	.ascii	"eciprocal enjoyment.  It suggested no other surpris"
	.ascii	"e\012    than that Elinor and Marianne should sit s"
	.ascii	"o composedly by,\012    without claiming a share in"
	.ascii	" what was passing.\012    \012    \"John is in such"
	.ascii	" spirits today!\" said she, on his\012    taking Mi"
	.ascii	"ss Steeles's pocket handkerchief, and throwing\012 "
	.ascii	"   it out of window--\"He is full of monkey tricks."
	.ascii	"\"\012    \012    And soon afterwards, on the secon"
	.ascii	"d boy's violently\012    pinching one of the same l"
	.ascii	"ady's fingers, she fondly observed,\012    \"How pl"
	.ascii	"ayful William is!\"\012    \012    \"And here is my"
	.ascii	" sweet little Annamaria,\" she added,\012    tender"
	.ascii	"ly caressing a little girl of three years old,\012 "
	.ascii	"   who had not made a noise for the last two minute"
	.ascii	"s;\012    \"And she is always so gentle and quiet--"
	.ascii	"Never was there\012    such a quiet little thing!\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    But unfortunately in bestowing thes"
	.ascii	"e embraces,\012    a pin in her ladyship's head dre"
	.ascii	"ss slightly scratching\012    the child's neck, pro"
	.ascii	"duced from this pattern of gentleness\012    such v"
	.ascii	"iolent screams, as could hardly be outdone by any\012"
	.ascii	"    creature professedly noisy.  The mother's const"
	.ascii	"ernation\012    was excessive; but it could not sur"
	.ascii	"pass the alarm of the\012    Miss Steeles, and ever"
	.ascii	"y thing was done by all three,\012    in so critica"
	.ascii	"l an emergency, which affection could suggest\012  "
	.ascii	"  as likely to assuage the agonies of the little su"
	.ascii	"fferer.\012    She was seated in her mother's lap, "
	.ascii	"covered with kisses,\012    her wound bathed with l"
	.ascii	"avender-water, by one of the\012    Miss Steeles, w"
	.ascii	"ho was on her knees to attend her,\012    and her m"
	.ascii	"outh stuffed with sugar plums by"
	.ascii	" the other.\012    With such a reward for her tears"
	.ascii	", the child was too wise\012    to cease crying.  S"
	.ascii	"he still screamed and sobbed lustily,\012    kicked"
	.ascii	" her two brothers for offering to touch her, and al"
	.ascii	"l\012    their united soothings were ineffectual ti"
	.ascii	"ll Lady Middleton\012    luckily remembering that i"
	.ascii	"n a scene of similar distress\012    last week, som"
	.ascii	"e apricot marmalade had been successfully\012    ap"
	.ascii	"plied for a bruised temple, the same remedy was eag"
	.ascii	"erly\012    proposed for this unfortunate scratch, "
	.ascii	"and a slight\012    intermission of screams in the "
	.ascii	"young lady on hearing it,\012    gave them reason t"
	.ascii	"o hope that it would not be rejected.--\012    She "
	.ascii	"was carried out of the room therefore in her\012   "
	.ascii	" mother's arms, in quest of this medicine, and as t"
	.ascii	"he\012    two boys chose to follow, though earnestl"
	.ascii	"y entreated\012    by their mother to stay behind, "
	.ascii	"the four young ladies\012    were left in a quietne"
	.ascii	"ss which the room had not known for\012    many hou"
	.ascii	"rs.\012    \012    \"Poor little creatures!\" said "
	.ascii	"Miss Steele, as soon\012    as they were gone.  \"I"
	.ascii	"t might have been a very sad accident.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Yet I hardly know how,\" cried Marianne, \"un"
	.ascii	"less it\012    had been under totally different cir"
	.ascii	"cumstances.\012    But this is the usual way of hei"
	.ascii	"ghtening alarm, where there\012    is nothing to be"
	.ascii	" alarmed at in reality.\"\012    \012    \"What a s"
	.ascii	"weet woman Lady Middleton is!\" said Lucy Steele.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Marianne was silent; it was impossible "
	.ascii	"for her to say\012    what she did not feel, howeve"
	.ascii	"r trivial the occasion;\012    and upon Elinor ther"
	.ascii	"efore the whole task of telling lies\012    when po"
	.ascii	"liteness required it, always fell.  She did her\012"
	.ascii	"    best when thus called on, by speaking of Lady M"
	.ascii	"iddleton\012    with more warmth than she felt, tho"
	.ascii	"ugh with far less than\012    Miss Lucy.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"And Sir John too,\" cried the elder sister,\012"
	.ascii	"    \"what a charming man he is!\"\012    \012    H"
	.ascii	"ere too, Miss Dashwood's commendation, being only\012"
	.ascii	"    simple and just, came in without any eclat.  Sh"
	.ascii	"e merely\012    observed that he was perfectly good"
	.ascii	" humoured and friendly.\012    \012    \"And "
	.ascii	"what a charming little family they have!  I\012    "
	.ascii	"never saw such fine children in my life.--I declare"
	.ascii	" I\012    quite doat upon them already, and indeed "
	.ascii	"I am always\012    distractedly fond of children.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"I should guess so,\" said Elinor,"
	.ascii	" with a smile,\012    \"from what I have witnessed "
	.ascii	"this morning.\"\012    \012    \"I have a notion,\""
	.ascii	" said Lucy, \"you think the little\012    Middleton"
	.ascii	"s rather too much indulged; perhaps they may be the"
	.ascii	"\012    outside of enough; but it is so natural in "
	.ascii	"Lady Middleton;\012    and for my part, I love to s"
	.ascii	"ee children full of life\012    and spirits; I cann"
	.ascii	"ot bear them if they are tame and quiet.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"I confess,\" replied Elinor, \"that while I a"
	.ascii	"m at\012    Barton Park, I never think of tame and "
	.ascii	"quiet children\012    with any abhorrence.\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    A short pause succeeded this speech, which"
	.ascii	" was first\012    broken by Miss Steele, who seemed"
	.ascii	" very much disposed\012    for conversation, and wh"
	.ascii	"o now said rather abruptly,\012    \"And how do you"
	.ascii	" like Devonshire, Miss Dashwood?  I suppose\012    "
	.ascii	"you were very sorry to leave Sussex.\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   In some surprise at the familiarity of this ques"
	.ascii	"tion,\012    or at least of the manner in which it "
	.ascii	"was spoken,\012    Elinor replied that she was.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Norland is a prodigious beautiful pla"
	.ascii	"ce, is not it?\"\012    added Miss Steele.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"We have heard Sir John admire it excessively,"
	.ascii	"\"\012    said Lucy, who seemed to think some apolo"
	.ascii	"gy necessary\012    for the freedom of her sister.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"I think every one MUST admire it,\" r"
	.ascii	"eplied Elinor,\012    \"who ever saw the place; tho"
	.ascii	"ugh it is not to be supposed\012    that any one ca"
	.ascii	"n estimate its beauties as we do.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"And had you a great many smart beaux there?  I\012"
	.ascii	"    suppose you have not so many in this part of th"
	.ascii	"e world;\012    for my part, I think they are a vas"
	.ascii	"t addition always.\"\012    \012    \"But why shoul"
	.ascii	"d you think,\" said Lucy, looking ashamed\012    of"
	.ascii	" her sister, \"that there are not as many genteel y"
	.ascii	"oung\012    men in Devonshire as Sussex?\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Nay, my dear, I'm sure I don't pretend to say"
	.ascii	" that there\012    "
	.ascii	"an't.  I'm sure there's a vast many smart beaux in "
	.ascii	"Exeter;\012    but you know, how could I tell what "
	.ascii	"smart beaux there\012    might be about Norland; an"
	.ascii	"d I was only afraid the Miss\012    Dashwoods might"
	.ascii	" find it dull at Barton, if they had not\012    so "
	.ascii	"many as they used to have.  But perhaps you young l"
	.ascii	"adies\012    may not care about the beaux, and had "
	.ascii	"as lief be without\012    them as with them.  For m"
	.ascii	"y part, I think they are vastly\012    agreeable, p"
	.ascii	"rovided they dress smart and behave civil.\012    B"
	.ascii	"ut I can't bear to see them dirty and nasty.  Now t"
	.ascii	"here's\012    Mr. Rose at Exeter, a prodigious smar"
	.ascii	"t young man,\012    quite a beau, clerk to Mr. Simp"
	.ascii	"son, you know, and yet if you\012    do but meet hi"
	.ascii	"m of a morning, he is not fit to be seen.--\012    "
	.ascii	"I suppose your brother was quite a beau, Miss Dashw"
	.ascii	"ood,\012    before he married, as he was so rich?\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"Upon my word,\" replied Elinor, \""
	.ascii	"I cannot tell you,\012    for I do not perfectly co"
	.ascii	"mprehend the meaning of the word.\012    But this I"
	.ascii	" can say, that if he ever was a beau before\012    "
	.ascii	"he married, he is one still for there is not the sm"
	.ascii	"allest\012    alteration in him.\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"Oh! dear! one never thinks of married men's being\012"
	.ascii	"    beaux--they have something else to do.\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \"Lord! Anne,\" cried her sister, \"you ca"
	.ascii	"n talk of\012    nothing but beaux;--you will make "
	.ascii	"Miss Dashwood believe you\012    think of nothing e"
	.ascii	"lse.\" And then to turn the discourse,\012    she b"
	.ascii	"egan admiring the house and the furniture.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    This specimen of the Miss Steeles was enough.\012"
	.ascii	"    The vulgar freedom and folly of the eldest left"
	.ascii	"\012    her no recommendation, and as Elinor was no"
	.ascii	"t blinded\012    by the beauty, or the shrewd look "
	.ascii	"of the youngest,\012    to her want of real eleganc"
	.ascii	"e and artlessness, she left\012    the house withou"
	.ascii	"t any wish of knowing them better.\012    \012    N"
	.ascii	"ot so the Miss Steeles.--They came from Exeter, wel"
	.ascii	"l\012    provided with admiration for the use of Si"
	.ascii	"r John Middleton,\012    his family, and all his re"
	.ascii	"lations, and no niggardly\012    proportion was now"
	.ascii	" dealt out to his fair cousi"
	.ascii	"ns, whom they\012    declared to be the most beauti"
	.ascii	"ful, elegant, accomplished,\012    and agreeable gi"
	.ascii	"rls they had ever beheld, and with whom\012    they"
	.ascii	" were particularly anxious to be better acquainted."
	.ascii	"--\012    And to be better acquainted therefore, El"
	.ascii	"inor soon found\012    was their inevitable lot, fo"
	.ascii	"r as Sir John was entirely\012    on the side of th"
	.ascii	"e Miss Steeles, their party would be\012    too str"
	.ascii	"ong for opposition, and that kind of intimacy\012  "
	.ascii	"  must be submitted to, which consists of sitting a"
	.ascii	"n hour\012    or two together in the same room almo"
	.ascii	"st every day.\012    Sir John could do no more; but"
	.ascii	" he did not know that any\012    more was required:"
	.ascii	" to be together was, in his opinion,\012    to be i"
	.ascii	"ntimate, and while his continual schemes for their\012"
	.ascii	"    meeting were effectual, he had not a doubt of t"
	.ascii	"heir being\012    established friends.\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   To do him justice, he did every thing in his pow"
	.ascii	"er\012    to promote their unreserve, by making the"
	.ascii	" Miss Steeles\012    acquainted with whatever he kn"
	.ascii	"ew or supposed of his cousins'\012    situations in"
	.ascii	" the most delicate particulars,--and Elinor\012    "
	.ascii	"had not seen them more than twice, before the eldes"
	.ascii	"t of\012    them wished her joy on her sister's hav"
	.ascii	"ing been so lucky\012    as to make a conquest of a"
	.ascii	" very smart beau since she\012    came to Barton.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"'Twill be a fine thing to have her ma"
	.ascii	"rried so young\012    to be sure,\" said she, \"and"
	.ascii	" I hear he is quite a beau,\012    and prodigious h"
	.ascii	"andsome.  And I hope you may have as good\012    lu"
	.ascii	"ck yourself soon,--but perhaps you may have a frien"
	.ascii	"d\012    in the corner already.\"\012    \012    El"
	.ascii	"inor could not suppose that Sir John would be more\012"
	.ascii	"    nice in proclaiming his suspicions of her regar"
	.ascii	"d for Edward,\012    than he had been with respect "
	.ascii	"to Marianne; indeed it was\012    rather his favour"
	.ascii	"ite joke of the two, as being somewhat\012    newer"
	.ascii	" and more conjectural; and since Edward's visit,\012"
	.ascii	"    they had never dined together without his drink"
	.ascii	"ing to her\012    best affections with so much sign"
	.ascii	"ificancy and so many nods\012    and winks, as to e"
	.ascii	"xcite general atte"
	.ascii	"ntion.  The letter F--\012    had been likewise inv"
	.ascii	"ariably brought forward, and found\012    productiv"
	.ascii	"e of such countless jokes, that its character\012  "
	.ascii	"  as the wittiest letter in the alphabet had been l"
	.ascii	"ong\012    established with Elinor.\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"The Miss Steeles, as she expected, had now all the\012"
	.ascii	"    benefit of these jokes, and in the eldest of th"
	.ascii	"em they\012    raised a curiosity to know the name "
	.ascii	"of the gentleman\012    alluded to, which, though o"
	.ascii	"ften impertinently expressed,\012    was perfectly "
	.ascii	"of a piece with her general inquisitiveness\012    "
	.ascii	"into the concerns of their family.  But Sir John di"
	.ascii	"d not\012    sport long with the curiosity which he"
	.ascii	" delighted to raise,\012    for he had at least as "
	.ascii	"much pleasure in telling the name,\012    as Miss S"
	.ascii	"teele had in hearing it.\012    \012    \"His name "
	.ascii	"is Ferrars,\" said he, in a very audible whisper;\012"
	.ascii	"    \"but pray do not tell it, for it's a great sec"
	.ascii	"ret.\"\012    \012    \"Ferrars!\" repeated Miss St"
	.ascii	"eele; \"Mr. Ferrars is\012    the happy man, is he?"
	.ascii	" What! your sister-in-law's brother,\012    Miss Da"
	.ascii	"shwood? a very agreeable young man to be sure;\012 "
	.ascii	"   I know him very well.\"\012    \012    \"How can"
	.ascii	" you say so, Anne?\" cried Lucy, who generally\012 "
	.ascii	"   made an amendment to all her sister's assertions"
	.ascii	".\012    \"Though we have seen him once or twice at"
	.ascii	" my uncle's, it\012    is rather too much to preten"
	.ascii	"d to know him very well.\"\012    \012    Elinor he"
	.ascii	"ard all this with attention and surprise.\012    \""
	.ascii	"And who was this uncle?  Where did he live?  How ca"
	.ascii	"me\012    they acquainted?\"  She wished very much "
	.ascii	"to have the subject\012    continued, though she di"
	.ascii	"d not chuse to join in it herself;\012    but nothi"
	.ascii	"ng more of it was said, and for the first time\012 "
	.ascii	"   in her life, she thought Mrs. Jennings deficient"
	.ascii	" either\012    in curiosity after petty information"
	.ascii	", or in a disposition\012    to communicate it.  Th"
	.ascii	"e manner in which Miss Steele had\012    spoken of "
	.ascii	"Edward, increased her curiosity; for it struck\012 "
	.ascii	"   her as being rather ill-natured, and suggested t"
	.ascii	"he suspicion\012    of that lady's knowing, or fanc"
	.ascii	"ying herself to know something\012    "
	.ascii	"to his disadvantage.--But her curiosity was unavail"
	.ascii	"ing,\012    for no farther notice was taken of Mr. "
	.ascii	"Ferrars's name by\012    Miss Steele when alluded t"
	.ascii	"o, or even openly mentioned by Sir\012    John.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \012    \012    CHAPTER 22\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    Marianne, who had never much toleration "
	.ascii	"for any\012    thing like impertinence, vulgarity, "
	.ascii	"inferiority of parts,\012    or even difference of "
	.ascii	"taste from herself, was at\012    this time particu"
	.ascii	"larly ill-disposed, from the state\012    of her sp"
	.ascii	"irits, to be pleased with the Miss Steeles,\012    "
	.ascii	"or to encourage their advances; and to the invariab"
	.ascii	"le\012    coldness of her behaviour towards them, w"
	.ascii	"hich checked every\012    endeavour at intimacy on "
	.ascii	"their side, Elinor principally\012    attributed th"
	.ascii	"at preference of herself which soon became\012    e"
	.ascii	"vident in the manners of both, but especially of Lu"
	.ascii	"cy,\012    who missed no opportunity of engaging he"
	.ascii	"r in conversation,\012    or of striving to improve"
	.ascii	" their acquaintance by an easy\012    and frank com"
	.ascii	"munication of her sentiments.\012    \012    Lucy w"
	.ascii	"as naturally clever; her remarks were often\012    "
	.ascii	"just and amusing; and as a companion for half an ho"
	.ascii	"ur\012    Elinor frequently found her agreeable; bu"
	.ascii	"t her powers\012    had received no aid from educat"
	.ascii	"ion: she was ignorant\012    and illiterate; and he"
	.ascii	"r deficiency of all mental improvement,\012    her "
	.ascii	"want of information in the most common particulars,"
	.ascii	"\012    could not be concealed from Miss Dashwood, "
	.ascii	"in spite of her\012    constant endeavour to appear"
	.ascii	" to advantage.  Elinor saw,\012    and pitied her f"
	.ascii	"or, the neglect of abilities which education\012   "
	.ascii	" might have rendered so respectable; but she saw, w"
	.ascii	"ith less\012    tenderness of feeling, the thorough"
	.ascii	" want of delicacy,\012    of rectitude, and integri"
	.ascii	"ty of mind, which her attentions,\012    her assidu"
	.ascii	"ities, her flatteries at the Park betrayed;\012    "
	.ascii	"and she could have no lasting satisfaction in the c"
	.ascii	"ompany\012    of a person who joined insincerity wi"
	.ascii	"th ignorance;\012    whose want of instruction prev"
	.ascii	"ented their meeting\012    in conversation on terms"
	.ascii	" of equality, and whose condu"
	.ascii	"ct\012    toward others made every shew of attentio"
	.ascii	"n and deference\012    towards herself perfectly va"
	.ascii	"lueless.\012    \012    \"You will think my questio"
	.ascii	"n an odd one, I dare say,\"\012    said Lucy to her"
	.ascii	" one day, as they were walking together\012    from"
	.ascii	" the park to the cottage--\"but pray, are you\012  "
	.ascii	"  personally acquainted with your sister-in-law's m"
	.ascii	"other,\012    Mrs. Ferrars?\"\012    \012    Elinor"
	.ascii	" DID think the question a very odd one,\012    and "
	.ascii	"her countenance expressed it, as she answered that "
	.ascii	"she\012    had never seen Mrs. Ferrars.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Indeed!\" replied Lucy; \"I wonder at that, f"
	.ascii	"or I\012    thought you must have seen her at Norla"
	.ascii	"nd sometimes.\012    Then, perhaps, you cannot tell"
	.ascii	" me what sort of a woman\012    she is?\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"No,\" returned Elinor, cautious of giving her"
	.ascii	" real\012    opinion of Edward's mother, and not ve"
	.ascii	"ry desirous\012    of satisfying what seemed impert"
	.ascii	"inent curiosity--\012    \"I know nothing of her.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"I am sure you think me very stran"
	.ascii	"ge, for enquiring\012    about her in such a way,\""
	.ascii	" said Lucy, eyeing Elinor attentively\012    as she"
	.ascii	" spoke; \"but perhaps there may be reasons--I wish\012"
	.ascii	"    I might venture; but however I hope you will do"
	.ascii	" me the justice\012    of believing that I do not m"
	.ascii	"ean to be impertinent.\"\012    \012    Elinor made"
	.ascii	" her a civil reply, and they walked on\012    for a"
	.ascii	" few minutes in silence.  It was broken by Lucy,\012"
	.ascii	"    who renewed the subject again by saying, with s"
	.ascii	"ome\012    hesitation,\012    \012    \"I cannot be"
	.ascii	"ar to have you think me impertinently curious.\012 "
	.ascii	"   I am sure I would rather do any thing in the wor"
	.ascii	"ld than be\012    thought so by a person whose good"
	.ascii	" opinion is so well worth\012    having as yours.  "
	.ascii	"And I am sure I should not have the smallest\012   "
	.ascii	" fear of trusting YOU; indeed, I should be very gla"
	.ascii	"d of your\012    advice how to manage in such and u"
	.ascii	"ncomfortable situation\012    as I am; but, however"
	.ascii	", there is no occasion to trouble YOU.\012    I am "
	.ascii	"sorry you do not happen to know Mrs. Ferrars.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"I am sorry I do NOT,\" said Elinor, i"
	.ascii	"n great astonishment,\012    \"if it could be of an"
	.ascii	"y use to"
	.ascii	" YOU to know my opinion of her.\012    But really I"
	.ascii	" never understood that you were at all connected\012"
	.ascii	"    with that family, and therefore I am a little s"
	.ascii	"urprised,\012    I confess, at so serious an inquir"
	.ascii	"y into her character.\"\012    \012    \"I dare say"
	.ascii	" you are, and I am sure I do not at all\012    wond"
	.ascii	"er at it.  But if I dared tell you all, you would n"
	.ascii	"ot be\012    so much surprised.  Mrs. Ferrars is ce"
	.ascii	"rtainly nothing to me\012    at present--but the ti"
	.ascii	"me MAY come--how soon it will come\012    must depe"
	.ascii	"nd upon herself--when we may be very intimately\012"
	.ascii	"    connected.\"\012    \012    She looked down as "
	.ascii	"she said this, amiably bashful,\012    with only on"
	.ascii	"e side glance at her companion to observe its\012  "
	.ascii	"  effect on her.\012    \012    \"Good heavens!\" c"
	.ascii	"ried Elinor, \"what do you mean?\012    Are you acq"
	.ascii	"uainted with Mr. Robert Ferrars?  Can you be?\"\012"
	.ascii	"    And she did not feel much delighted with the id"
	.ascii	"ea of such\012    a sister-in-law.\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"No,\" replied Lucy, \"not to Mr. ROBERT Ferrars--I\012"
	.ascii	"    never saw him in my life; but,\" fixing her eye"
	.ascii	"s upon Elinor,\012    \"to his eldest brother.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    What felt Elinor at that moment? Astoni"
	.ascii	"shment,\012    that would have been as painful as i"
	.ascii	"t was strong, had not\012    an immediate disbelief"
	.ascii	" of the assertion attended it.\012    She turned to"
	.ascii	"wards Lucy in silent amazement, unable to divine\012"
	.ascii	"    the reason or object of such a declaration; and"
	.ascii	" though\012    her complexion varied, she stood fir"
	.ascii	"m in incredulity,\012    and felt in no danger of a"
	.ascii	"n hysterical fit, or a swoon.\012    \012    \"You "
	.ascii	"may well be surprised,\" continued Lucy;\012    \"f"
	.ascii	"or to be sure you could have had no idea of it befo"
	.ascii	"re;\012    for I dare say he never dropped the smal"
	.ascii	"lest hint of it\012    to you or any of your family"
	.ascii	"; because it was always meant\012    to be a great "
	.ascii	"secret, and I am sure has been faithfully\012    ke"
	.ascii	"pt so by me to this hour.  Not a soul of all my rel"
	.ascii	"ations\012    know of it but Anne, and I never shou"
	.ascii	"ld have mentioned\012    it to you, if I had not fe"
	.ascii	"lt the greatest dependence\012    in the world upon"
	.ascii	" your secrecy; and I really thought my\012  "
	.ascii	"  behaviour in asking so many questions about Mrs. "
	.ascii	"Ferrars\012    must seem so odd, that it ought to b"
	.ascii	"e explained.\012    And I do not think Mr. Ferrars "
	.ascii	"can be displeased,\012    when he knows I have trus"
	.ascii	"ted you, because I know he has\012    the highest o"
	.ascii	"pinion in the world of all your family,\012    and "
	.ascii	"looks upon yourself and the other Miss Dashwoods qu"
	.ascii	"ite\012    as his own sisters.\"--She paused.\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    Elinor for a few moments remained silent."
	.ascii	"\012    Her astonishment at what she heard was at f"
	.ascii	"irst too\012    great for words; but at length forc"
	.ascii	"ing herself to speak,\012    and to speak cautiousl"
	.ascii	"y, she said, with calmness of manner,\012    which "
	.ascii	"tolerably well concealed her surprise and solicitud"
	.ascii	"e--\012    \"May I ask if your engagement is of lon"
	.ascii	"g standing?\"\012    \012    \"We have been engaged"
	.ascii	" these four years.\"\012    \012    \"Four years!\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"Yes.\"\012    \012    Elinor, tho"
	.ascii	"ugh greatly shocked, still felt unable\012    to be"
	.ascii	"lieve it.\012    \012    \"I did not know,\" said s"
	.ascii	"he, \"that you were even\012    acquainted till the"
	.ascii	" other day.\"\012    \012    \"Our acquaintance, ho"
	.ascii	"wever, is of many years date.\012    He was under m"
	.ascii	"y uncle's care, you know, a considerable while.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Your uncle!\"\012    \012    \"Yes; M"
	.ascii	"r. Pratt.  Did you never hear him talk\012    of Mr"
	.ascii	". Pratt?\"\012    \012    \"I think I have,\" repli"
	.ascii	"ed Elinor, with an exertion\012    of spirits, whic"
	.ascii	"h increased with her increase of emotion.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"He was four years with my uncle, who lives at"
	.ascii	" Longstaple,\012    near Plymouth.  It was there ou"
	.ascii	"r acquaintance begun,\012    for my sister and me w"
	.ascii	"as often staying with my uncle,\012    and it was t"
	.ascii	"here our engagement was formed, though not till\012"
	.ascii	"    a year after he had quitted as a pupil; but he "
	.ascii	"was almost\012    always with us afterwards.  I was"
	.ascii	" very unwilling to enter\012    into it, as you may"
	.ascii	" imagine, without the knowledge and\012    approbat"
	.ascii	"ion of his mother; but I was too young, and loved\012"
	.ascii	"    him too well, to be so prudent as I ought to ha"
	.ascii	"ve been.--\012    Though you do not know him so wel"
	.ascii	"l as me, Miss Dashwood,\012    you must have seen e"
	.ascii	"nough of him to be"
	.ascii	" sensible he is\012    very capable of making a wom"
	.ascii	"an sincerely attached to him.\"\012    \012    \"Ce"
	.ascii	"rtainly,\" answered Elinor, without knowing what\012"
	.ascii	"    she said; but after a moment's reflection, she "
	.ascii	"added,\012    with revived security of Edward's hon"
	.ascii	"our and love,\012    and her companion's falsehood-"
	.ascii	"-\"Engaged to Mr. Edward\012    Ferrars!--I confess"
	.ascii	" myself so totally surprised at\012    what you tel"
	.ascii	"l me, that really--I beg your pardon;\012    but su"
	.ascii	"rely there must be some mistake of person or name.\012"
	.ascii	"    We cannot mean the same Mr. Ferrars.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"We can mean no other,\" cried Lucy, smiling. "
	.ascii	" \"Mr. Edward\012    Ferrars, the eldest son of Mrs"
	.ascii	". Ferrars, of Park Street,\012    and brother of yo"
	.ascii	"ur sister-in-law, Mrs. John Dashwood,\012    is the"
	.ascii	" person I mean; you must allow that I am not likely"
	.ascii	"\012    to be deceived as to the name of the man on"
	.ascii	" who all my happiness\012    depends.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"It is strange,\" replied Elinor, in a most pa"
	.ascii	"inful perplexity,\012    \"that I should never have"
	.ascii	" heard him even mention your name.\"\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"No; considering our situation, it was not strang"
	.ascii	"e.\012    Our first care has been to keep the matte"
	.ascii	"r secret.--\012    You knew nothing of me, or my fa"
	.ascii	"mily, and, therefore,\012    there could be no OCCA"
	.ascii	"SION for ever mentioning my name\012    to you; and"
	.ascii	", as he was always particularly afraid of his\012  "
	.ascii	"  sister's suspecting any thing, THAT was reason en"
	.ascii	"ough\012    for his not mentioning it.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    She was silent.--Elinor's security sunk; but he"
	.ascii	"r\012    self-command did not sink with it.\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \"Four years you have been engaged,\" said "
	.ascii	"she\012    with a firm voice.\012    \012    \"Yes;"
	.ascii	" and heaven knows how much longer we may have\012  "
	.ascii	"  to wait.  Poor Edward!  It puts him quite out of "
	.ascii	"heart.\"\012    Then taking a small miniature from "
	.ascii	"her pocket, she added,\012    \"To prevent the poss"
	.ascii	"ibility of mistake, be so good as to look\012    at"
	.ascii	" this face.  It does not do him justice, to be sure"
	.ascii	",\012    but yet I think you cannot be deceived as "
	.ascii	"to the person\012    it was drew for.--I have had i"
	.ascii	"t above these three years.\"\012    \012    She put"
	.ascii	" it"
	.ascii	" into her hands as she spoke; and when Elinor\012  "
	.ascii	"  saw the painting, whatever other doubts her fear "
	.ascii	"of a\012    too hasty decision, or her wish of dete"
	.ascii	"cting falsehood\012    might suffer to linger in he"
	.ascii	"r mind, she could have none of\012    its being Edw"
	.ascii	"ard's face.  She returned it almost instantly,\012 "
	.ascii	"   acknowledging the likeness.\012    \012    \"I h"
	.ascii	"ave never been able,\" continued Lucy, \"to give\012"
	.ascii	"    him my picture in return, which I am very much "
	.ascii	"vexed at,\012    for he has been always so anxious "
	.ascii	"to get it!  But I am\012    determined to set for i"
	.ascii	"t the very first opportunity.\"\012    \012    \"Yo"
	.ascii	"u are quite in the right,\" replied Elinor calmly.\012"
	.ascii	"    They then proceeded a few paces in silence.  Lu"
	.ascii	"cy spoke first.\012    \012    \"I am sure,\" said "
	.ascii	"she, \"I have no doubt in the world\012    of your "
	.ascii	"faithfully keeping this secret, because you must\012"
	.ascii	"    know of what importance it is to us, not to hav"
	.ascii	"e it reach\012    his mother; for she would never a"
	.ascii	"pprove of it, I dare say.\012    I shall have no fo"
	.ascii	"rtune, and I fancy she is an exceeding\012    proud"
	.ascii	" woman.\"\012    \012    \"I certainly did not seek"
	.ascii	" your confidence,\" said Elinor;\012    \"but you d"
	.ascii	"o me no more than justice in imagining that I\012  "
	.ascii	"  may be depended on.  Your secret is safe with me;"
	.ascii	"\012    but pardon me if I express some surprise at"
	.ascii	" so unnecessary\012    a communication.  You must a"
	.ascii	"t least have felt that my\012    being acquainted w"
	.ascii	"ith it could not add to its safety.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  As she said this, she looked earnestly at Lucy,\012"
	.ascii	"    hoping to discover something in her countenance"
	.ascii	"; perhaps the\012    falsehood of the greatest part"
	.ascii	" of what she had been saying;\012    but Lucy's cou"
	.ascii	"ntenance suffered no change.\012    \012    \"I was"
	.ascii	" afraid you would think I was taking a great\012   "
	.ascii	" liberty with you,\" said she, \"in telling you all"
	.ascii	" this.\012    I have not known you long to be sure,"
	.ascii	" personally at least,\012    but I have known you a"
	.ascii	"nd all your family by description\012    a great wh"
	.ascii	"ile; and as soon as I saw you, I felt almost as if\012"
	.ascii	"    you was an old acquaintance.  Besides in the pr"
	.ascii	"esent case,\012    I really thought "
	.ascii	"some explanation was due to you after my\012    mak"
	.ascii	"ing such particular inquiries about Edward's mother"
	.ascii	";\012    and I am so unfortunate, that I have not a"
	.ascii	" creature whose\012    advice I can ask.  Anne is t"
	.ascii	"he only person that knows of it,\012    and she has"
	.ascii	" no judgment at all; indeed, she does me a great\012"
	.ascii	"    deal more harm than good, for I am in constant "
	.ascii	"fear of her\012    betraying me.  She does not know"
	.ascii	" how to hold her tongue,\012    as you must perceiv"
	.ascii	"e, and I am sure I was in the greatest\012    frigh"
	.ascii	"t in the world t'other day, when Edward's name was\012"
	.ascii	"    mentioned by Sir John, lest she should out with"
	.ascii	" it all.\012    You can't think how much I go throu"
	.ascii	"gh in my mind from\012    it altogether.  I only wo"
	.ascii	"nder that I am alive after what\012    I have suffe"
	.ascii	"red for Edward's sake these last four years.\012   "
	.ascii	" Every thing in such suspense and uncertainty; and "
	.ascii	"seeing\012    him so seldom--we can hardly meet abo"
	.ascii	"ve twice a-year.\012    I am sure I wonder my heart"
	.ascii	" is not quite broke.\"\012    \012    Here she took"
	.ascii	" out her handkerchief; but Elinor did\012    not fe"
	.ascii	"el very compassionate.\012    \012    \"Sometimes.\""
	.ascii	" continued Lucy, after wiping her eyes,\012    \"I "
	.ascii	"think whether it would not be better for us both\012"
	.ascii	"    to break off the matter entirely.\"  As she sai"
	.ascii	"d this,\012    she looked directly at her companion"
	.ascii	".  \"But then\012    at other times I have not reso"
	.ascii	"lution enough for it.--\012    I cannot bear the th"
	.ascii	"oughts of making him so miserable,\012    as I know"
	.ascii	" the very mention of such a thing would do.\012    "
	.ascii	"And on my own account too--so dear as he is to me--"
	.ascii	"I don't\012    think I could be equal to it.  What "
	.ascii	"would you advise\012    me to do in such a case, Mi"
	.ascii	"ss Dashwood?  What would you\012    do yourself?\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Pardon me,\" replied Elinor, startled"
	.ascii	" by the question;\012    \"but I can give you no ad"
	.ascii	"vice under such circumstances.\012    Your own judg"
	.ascii	"ment must direct you.\"\012    \012    \"To be sure"
	.ascii	",\" continued Lucy, after a few minutes\012    sile"
	.ascii	"nce on both sides, \"his mother must provide for hi"
	.ascii	"m\012    sometime or other; but poor Edward is so c"
	.ascii	"ast down by it!\012    Did you "
	.ascii	"not think him dreadful low-spirited when he was at\012"
	.ascii	"    Barton?  He was so miserable when he left us at"
	.ascii	" Longstaple,\012    to go to you, that I was afraid"
	.ascii	" you would think him quite ill.\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"Did he come from your uncle's, then, when he visite"
	.ascii	"d us?\"\012    \012    \"Oh, yes; he had been stayi"
	.ascii	"ng a fortnight with us.\012    Did you think he cam"
	.ascii	"e directly from town?\"\012    \012    \"No,\" repl"
	.ascii	"ied Elinor, most feelingly sensible of\012    every"
	.ascii	" fresh circumstance in favour of Lucy's veracity;\012"
	.ascii	"    \"I remember he told us, that he had been stayi"
	.ascii	"ng\012    a fortnight with some friends near Plymou"
	.ascii	"th.\"\012    She remembered too, her own surprise a"
	.ascii	"t the time,\012    at his mentioning nothing farthe"
	.ascii	"r of those friends,\012    at his total silence wit"
	.ascii	"h respect even to their names.\012    \012    \"Did"
	.ascii	" not you think him sadly out of spirits?\"\012    r"
	.ascii	"epeated Lucy.\012    \012    \"We did, indeed, part"
	.ascii	"icularly so when he first arrived.\"\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"I begged him to exert himself for fear you\012  "
	.ascii	"  should suspect what was the matter; but it made h"
	.ascii	"im\012    so melancholy, not being able to stay mor"
	.ascii	"e than a\012    fortnight with us, and seeing me so"
	.ascii	" much affected.--\012    Poor fellow!--I am afraid "
	.ascii	"it is just the same with him now;\012    for he wri"
	.ascii	"tes in wretched spirits.  I heard from him just\012"
	.ascii	"    before I left Exeter;\" taking a letter from he"
	.ascii	"r pocket\012    and carelessly showing the directio"
	.ascii	"n to Elinor.\012    \"You know his hand, I dare say"
	.ascii	", a charming one it is;\012    but that is not writ"
	.ascii	"ten so well as usual.--He was tired,\012    I dare "
	.ascii	"say, for he had just filled the sheet to me as full"
	.ascii	"\012    as possible.\"\012    \012    Elinor saw th"
	.ascii	"at it WAS his hand, and she could doubt\012    no l"
	.ascii	"onger.  This picture, she had allowed herself to be"
	.ascii	"lieve,\012    might have been accidentally obtained"
	.ascii	"; it might not have\012    been Edward's gift; but "
	.ascii	"a correspondence between them\012    by letter, cou"
	.ascii	"ld subsist only under a positive engagement,\012   "
	.ascii	" could be authorised by nothing else; for a few mom"
	.ascii	"ents, she\012    was almost overcome--her heart sun"
	.ascii	"k within her, and she could\012    hardly stand"
	.ascii	"; but exertion was indispensably necessary;\012    "
	.ascii	"and she struggled so resolutely against the oppress"
	.ascii	"ion\012    of her feelings, that her success was sp"
	.ascii	"eedy, and for\012    the time complete.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Writing to each other,\" said Lucy, returning"
	.ascii	" the\012    letter into her pocket, \"is the only c"
	.ascii	"omfort we have\012    in such long separations.  Ye"
	.ascii	"s, I have one other comfort\012    in his picture, "
	.ascii	"but poor Edward has not even THAT.\012    If he had"
	.ascii	" but my picture, he says he should be easy.\012    "
	.ascii	"I gave him a lock of my hair set in a ring when he "
	.ascii	"was at\012    Longstaple last, and that was some co"
	.ascii	"mfort to him, he said,\012    but not equal to a pi"
	.ascii	"cture.  Perhaps you might notice\012    the ring wh"
	.ascii	"en you saw him?\"\012    \012    \"I did,\" said El"
	.ascii	"inor, with a composure of voice,\012    under which"
	.ascii	" was concealed an emotion and distress beyond\012  "
	.ascii	"  any thing she had ever felt before.  She was mort"
	.ascii	"ified,\012    shocked, confounded.\012    \012    F"
	.ascii	"ortunately for her, they had now reached the cottag"
	.ascii	"e,\012    and the conversation could be continued n"
	.ascii	"o farther.\012    After sitting with them a few min"
	.ascii	"utes, the Miss Steeles\012    returned to the Park,"
	.ascii	" and Elinor was then at liberty\012    to think and"
	.ascii	" be wretched.\012    \012    \012    \012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    [At this point in the first and second ed"
	.ascii	"itions, Volume 1 ends.]\012    \012    \012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \012    CHAPTER 23\012    \012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   However small Elinor's general dependence on\012"
	.ascii	"    Lucy's veracity might be, it was impossible for"
	.ascii	" her\012    on serious reflection to suspect it in "
	.ascii	"the present case,\012    where no temptation could "
	.ascii	"be answerable to the folly\012    of inventing a fa"
	.ascii	"lsehood of such a description.  What Lucy\012    ha"
	.ascii	"d asserted to be true, therefore, Elinor could not,"
	.ascii	"\012    dared not longer doubt; supported as it was"
	.ascii	" too on every\012    side by such probabilities and"
	.ascii	" proofs, and contradicted\012    by nothing but her"
	.ascii	" own wishes.  Their opportunity of\012    acquainta"
	.ascii	"nce in the house of Mr. Pratt was a foundation\012 "
	.ascii	"   for the rest, at once indisputable and alarming;"
	.ascii	" and Edward's\012    visit near Plymouth, his melan"
	.ascii	"choly state of"
	.ascii	" mind,\012    his dissatisfaction at his own prospe"
	.ascii	"cts, his uncertain\012    behaviour towards herself"
	.ascii	", the intimate knowledge of the\012    Miss Steeles"
	.ascii	" as to Norland and their family connections,\012   "
	.ascii	" which had often surprised her, the picture, the le"
	.ascii	"tter,\012    the ring, formed altogether such a bod"
	.ascii	"y of evidence,\012    as overcame every fear of con"
	.ascii	"demning him unfairly,\012    and established as a f"
	.ascii	"act, which no partiality could\012    set aside, hi"
	.ascii	"s ill-treatment of herself.--Her resentment\012    "
	.ascii	"of such behaviour, her indignation at having been i"
	.ascii	"ts dupe,\012    for a short time made her feel only"
	.ascii	" for herself;\012    but other ideas, other conside"
	.ascii	"rations, soon arose.\012    Had Edward been intenti"
	.ascii	"onally deceiving her?  Had he feigned\012    a rega"
	.ascii	"rd for her which he did not feel?  Was his engageme"
	.ascii	"nt\012    to Lucy an engagement of the heart?  No; "
	.ascii	"whatever it might\012    once have been, she could "
	.ascii	"not believe it such at present.\012    His affectio"
	.ascii	"n was all her own.  She could not be deceived\012  "
	.ascii	"  in that.  Her mother, sisters, Fanny, all had bee"
	.ascii	"n\012    conscious of his regard for her at Norland"
	.ascii	"; it was not\012    an illusion of her own vanity. "
	.ascii	" He certainly loved her.\012    What a softener of "
	.ascii	"the heart was this persuasion!  How much\012    cou"
	.ascii	"ld it not tempt her to forgive!  He had been blamab"
	.ascii	"le,\012    highly blamable, in remaining at Norland"
	.ascii	" after he first\012    felt her influence over him "
	.ascii	"to be more than it ought\012    to be.  In that, he"
	.ascii	" could not be defended; but if he\012    had injure"
	.ascii	"d her, how much more had he injured himself;\012   "
	.ascii	" if her case were pitiable, his was hopeless.\012  "
	.ascii	"  His imprudence had made her miserable for a while"
	.ascii	"; but it\012    seemed to have deprived himself of "
	.ascii	"all chance of ever\012    being otherwise.  She mig"
	.ascii	"ht in time regain tranquillity;\012    but HE, what"
	.ascii	" had he to look forward to?  Could he\012    ever b"
	.ascii	"e tolerably happy with Lucy Steele; could he,\012  "
	.ascii	"  were his affection for herself out of the questio"
	.ascii	"n,\012    with his integrity, his delicacy, and wel"
	.ascii	"l-informed mind,\012    be satisfied with a wife li"
	.ascii	"ke her--ill"
	.ascii	"iterate, artful,\012    and selfish?\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" The youthful infatuation of nineteen would natural"
	.ascii	"ly\012    blind him to every thing but her beauty a"
	.ascii	"nd good nature;\012    but the four succeeding year"
	.ascii	"s--years, which if rationally\012    spent, give su"
	.ascii	"ch improvement to the understanding, must\012    ha"
	.ascii	"ve opened his eyes to her defects of education,\012"
	.ascii	"    while the same period of time, spent on her sid"
	.ascii	"e\012    in inferior society and more frivolous pur"
	.ascii	"suits,\012    had perhaps robbed her of that simpli"
	.ascii	"city which might\012    once have given an interest"
	.ascii	"ing character to her beauty.\012    \012    If in t"
	.ascii	"he supposition of his seeking to marry herself,\012"
	.ascii	"    his difficulties from his mother had seemed gre"
	.ascii	"at,\012    how much greater were they now likely to"
	.ascii	" be, when\012    the object of his engagement was u"
	.ascii	"ndoubtedly inferior\012    in connections, and prob"
	.ascii	"ably inferior in fortune to herself.\012    These d"
	.ascii	"ifficulties, indeed, with a heart so alienated\012 "
	.ascii	"   from Lucy, might not press very hard upon his pa"
	.ascii	"tience;\012    but melancholy was the state of the "
	.ascii	"person by whom the\012    expectation of family opp"
	.ascii	"osition and unkindness, could\012    be felt as a r"
	.ascii	"elief!\012    \012    As these considerations occur"
	.ascii	"red to her in painful\012    succession, she wept f"
	.ascii	"or him, more than for herself.\012    Supported by "
	.ascii	"the conviction of having done nothing to\012    mer"
	.ascii	"it her present unhappiness, and consoled by the bel"
	.ascii	"ief\012    that Edward had done nothing to forfeit "
	.ascii	"her esteem,\012    she thought she could even now, "
	.ascii	"under the first smart\012    of the heavy blow, com"
	.ascii	"mand herself enough to guard every\012    suspicion"
	.ascii	" of the truth from her mother and sisters.\012    A"
	.ascii	"nd so well was she able to answer her own expectati"
	.ascii	"ons,\012    that when she joined them at dinner onl"
	.ascii	"y two hours\012    after she had first suffered the"
	.ascii	" extinction of all her\012    dearest hopes, no one"
	.ascii	" would have supposed from the\012    appearance of "
	.ascii	"the sisters, that Elinor was mourning\012    in sec"
	.ascii	"ret over obstacles which must divide her for ever\012"
	.ascii	"    from the object of her love, and that Marianne "
	.ascii	"was\012    internally dw"
	.ascii	"elling on the perfections of a man, of whose\012   "
	.ascii	" whole heart she felt thoroughly possessed, and who"
	.ascii	"m she\012    expected to see in every carriage whic"
	.ascii	"h drove near their house.\012    \012    The necess"
	.ascii	"ity of concealing from her mother and\012    Marian"
	.ascii	"ne, what had been entrusted in confidence to hersel"
	.ascii	"f,\012    though it obliged her to unceasing exerti"
	.ascii	"on, was no\012    aggravation of Elinor's distress."
	.ascii	"  On the contrary\012    it was a relief to her, to"
	.ascii	" be spared the communication\012    of what would g"
	.ascii	"ive such affliction to them, and to be\012    saved"
	.ascii	" likewise from hearing that condemnation of Edward,"
	.ascii	"\012    which would probably flow from the excess o"
	.ascii	"f their partial\012    affection for herself, and w"
	.ascii	"hich was more than she felt\012    equal to support"
	.ascii	".\012    \012    From their counsel, or their conve"
	.ascii	"rsation, she knew\012    she could receive no assis"
	.ascii	"tance, their tenderness and\012    sorrow must add "
	.ascii	"to her distress, while her self-command\012    woul"
	.ascii	"d neither receive encouragement from their example\012"
	.ascii	"    nor from their praise.  She was stronger alone,"
	.ascii	"\012    and her own good sense so well supported he"
	.ascii	"r, that her\012    firmness was as unshaken, her ap"
	.ascii	"pearance of cheerfulness\012    as invariable, as w"
	.ascii	"ith regrets so poignant and so fresh,\012    it was"
	.ascii	" possible for them to be.\012    \012    Much as sh"
	.ascii	"e had suffered from her first conversation\012    w"
	.ascii	"ith Lucy on the subject, she soon felt an earnest w"
	.ascii	"ish\012    of renewing it; and this for more reason"
	.ascii	"s than one.\012    She wanted to hear many particul"
	.ascii	"ars of their engagement\012    repeated again, she "
	.ascii	"wanted more clearly to understand\012    what Lucy "
	.ascii	"really felt for Edward, whether there were any\012 "
	.ascii	"   sincerity in her declaration of tender regard fo"
	.ascii	"r him,\012    and she particularly wanted to convin"
	.ascii	"ce Lucy, by her\012    readiness to enter on the ma"
	.ascii	"tter again, and her calmness\012    in conversing o"
	.ascii	"n it, that she was no otherwise interested\012    i"
	.ascii	"n it than as a friend, which she very much feared\012"
	.ascii	"    her involuntary agitation, in their morning dis"
	.ascii	"course,\012    must have left at least doubtful.  T"
	.ascii	"hat Lucy was di"
	.ascii	"sposed\012    to be jealous of her appeared very pr"
	.ascii	"obable: it was plain\012    that Edward had always "
	.ascii	"spoken highly in her praise,\012    not merely from"
	.ascii	" Lucy's assertion, but from her venturing\012    to"
	.ascii	" trust her on so short a personal acquaintance,\012"
	.ascii	"    with a secret so confessedly and evidently impo"
	.ascii	"rtant.\012    And even Sir John's joking intelligen"
	.ascii	"ce must have had\012    some weight.  But indeed, w"
	.ascii	"hile Elinor remained so well\012    assured within "
	.ascii	"herself of being really beloved by Edward,\012    i"
	.ascii	"t required no other consideration of probabilities\012"
	.ascii	"    to make it natural that Lucy should be jealous;"
	.ascii	"\012    and that she was so, her very confidence wa"
	.ascii	"s a proof.\012    What other reason for the disclos"
	.ascii	"ure of the affair could\012    there be, but that E"
	.ascii	"linor might be informed by it of Lucy's\012    supe"
	.ascii	"rior claims on Edward, and be taught to avoid him\012"
	.ascii	"    in future?  She had little difficulty in unders"
	.ascii	"tanding thus\012    much of her rival's intentions,"
	.ascii	" and while she was firmly\012    resolved to act by"
	.ascii	" her as every principle of honour and\012    honest"
	.ascii	"y directed, to combat her own affection for Edward\012"
	.ascii	"    and to see him as little as possible; she could"
	.ascii	" not deny\012    herself the comfort of endeavourin"
	.ascii	"g to convince Lucy\012    that her heart was unwoun"
	.ascii	"ded.  And as she could now have\012    nothing more"
	.ascii	" painful to hear on the subject than had already\012"
	.ascii	"    been told, she did not mistrust her own ability"
	.ascii	" of going\012    through a repetition of particular"
	.ascii	"s with composure.\012    \012    But it was not imm"
	.ascii	"ediately that an opportunity\012    of doing so cou"
	.ascii	"ld be commanded, though Lucy was as well\012    dis"
	.ascii	"posed as herself to take advantage of any that occu"
	.ascii	"rred;\012    for the weather was not often fine eno"
	.ascii	"ugh to allow\012    of their joining in a walk, whe"
	.ascii	"re they might most easily\012    separate themselve"
	.ascii	"s from the others; and though they\012    met at le"
	.ascii	"ast every other evening either at the park\012    o"
	.ascii	"r cottage, and chiefly at the former, they could\012"
	.ascii	"    not be supposed to meet for the sake of convers"
	.ascii	"ation.\012    Such a thought would never enter eith"
	.ascii	"er S"
	.ascii	"ir John or Lady\012    Middleton's head; and theref"
	.ascii	"ore very little leisure\012    was ever given for a"
	.ascii	" general chat, and none at all for\012    particula"
	.ascii	"r discourse.  They met for the sake of eating,\012 "
	.ascii	"   drinking, and laughing together, playing at card"
	.ascii	"s,\012    or consequences, or any other game that w"
	.ascii	"as sufficiently noisy.\012    \012    One or two me"
	.ascii	"etings of this kind had taken place,\012    without"
	.ascii	" affording Elinor any chance of engaging Lucy\012  "
	.ascii	"  in private, when Sir John called at the cottage o"
	.ascii	"ne morning,\012    to beg, in the name of charity, "
	.ascii	"that they would all\012    dine with Lady Middleton"
	.ascii	" that day, as he was obliged\012    to attend the c"
	.ascii	"lub at Exeter, and she would otherwise be\012    qu"
	.ascii	"ite alone, except her mother and the two Miss Steel"
	.ascii	"es.\012    Elinor, who foresaw a fairer opening for"
	.ascii	" the point she\012    had in view, in such a party "
	.ascii	"as this was likely to be,\012    more at liberty am"
	.ascii	"ong themselves under the tranquil\012    and well-b"
	.ascii	"red direction of Lady Middleton than when\012    he"
	.ascii	"r husband united them together in one noisy purpose"
	.ascii	",\012    immediately accepted the invitation; Marga"
	.ascii	"ret, with her\012    mother's permission, was equal"
	.ascii	"ly compliant, and Marianne,\012    though always un"
	.ascii	"willing to join any of their parties,\012    was pe"
	.ascii	"rsuaded by her mother, who could not bear to have h"
	.ascii	"er\012    seclude herself from any chance of amusem"
	.ascii	"ent, to go likewise.\012    \012    The young ladie"
	.ascii	"s went, and Lady Middleton was happily\012    prese"
	.ascii	"rved from the frightful solitude which had threaten"
	.ascii	"ed her.\012    The insipidity of the meeting was ex"
	.ascii	"actly such as Elinor\012    had expected; it produc"
	.ascii	"ed not one novelty of thought\012    or expression,"
	.ascii	" and nothing could be less interesting\012    than "
	.ascii	"the whole of their discourse both in the dining\012"
	.ascii	"    parlour and drawing room: to the latter, the ch"
	.ascii	"ildren\012    accompanied them, and while they rema"
	.ascii	"ined there, she was\012    too well convinced of th"
	.ascii	"e impossibility of engaging Lucy's\012    attention"
	.ascii	" to attempt it.  They quitted it only with the\012 "
	.ascii	"   removal of the tea-things.  The card-table was t"
	.ascii	"hen placed,\012  "
	.ascii	"  and Elinor began to wonder at herself for having "
	.ascii	"ever\012    entertained a hope of finding time for "
	.ascii	"conversation\012    at the park.  They all rose up "
	.ascii	"in preparation for a round game.\012    \012    \"I"
	.ascii	" am glad,\" said Lady Middleton to Lucy,\012    \"y"
	.ascii	"ou are not going to finish poor little Annamaria's\012"
	.ascii	"    basket this evening; for I am sure it must hurt"
	.ascii	" your\012    eyes to work filigree by candlelight. "
	.ascii	" And we will make\012    the dear little love some "
	.ascii	"amends for her disappointment\012    to-morrow, and"
	.ascii	" then I hope she will not much mind it.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    This hint was enough, Lucy recollected herself "
	.ascii	"instantly\012    and replied, \"Indeed you are very"
	.ascii	" much mistaken,\012    Lady Middleton; I am only wa"
	.ascii	"iting to know whether you can\012    make your part"
	.ascii	"y without me, or I should have been at my\012    fi"
	.ascii	"ligree already.  I would not disappoint the little "
	.ascii	"angel\012    for all the world: and if you want me "
	.ascii	"at the card-table now,\012    I am resolved to fini"
	.ascii	"sh the basket after supper.\"\012    \012    \"You "
	.ascii	"are very good, I hope it won't hurt your eyes--\012"
	.ascii	"    will you ring the bell for some working candles"
	.ascii	"?\012    My poor little girl would be sadly disappo"
	.ascii	"inted, I know,\012    if the basket was not finishe"
	.ascii	"d tomorrow, for though I\012    told her it certain"
	.ascii	"ly would not, I am sure she depends\012    upon hav"
	.ascii	"ing it done.\"\012    \012    Lucy directly drew he"
	.ascii	"r work table near her\012    and reseated herself w"
	.ascii	"ith an alacrity and cheerfulness\012    which seeme"
	.ascii	"d to infer that she could taste no greater\012    d"
	.ascii	"elight than in making a filigree basket for a spoil"
	.ascii	"t child.\012    \012    Lady Middleton proposed a r"
	.ascii	"ubber of Casino to the others.\012    No one made a"
	.ascii	"ny objection but Marianne, who with her usual\012  "
	.ascii	"  inattention to the forms of general civility, exc"
	.ascii	"laimed,\012    \"Your Ladyship will have the goodne"
	.ascii	"ss to excuse ME--you\012    know I detest cards.  I"
	.ascii	" shall go to the piano-forte;\012    I have not tou"
	.ascii	"ched it since it was tuned.\"  And without\012    f"
	.ascii	"arther ceremony, she turned away and walked to the "
	.ascii	"instrument.\012    \012    Lady Middleton looked as"
	.ascii	" if she thanked heaven\012    that"
	.ascii	" SHE had never made so rude a speech.\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"Marianne can never keep long from that instrume"
	.ascii	"nt\012    you know, ma'am,\" said Elinor, endeavour"
	.ascii	"ing to smooth\012    away the offence; \"and I do n"
	.ascii	"ot much wonder at it; for it\012    is the very bes"
	.ascii	"t toned piano-forte I ever heard.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"The remaining five were now to draw their cards.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Perhaps,\" continued Elinor, \"if I s"
	.ascii	"hould happen\012    to cut out, I may be of some us"
	.ascii	"e to Miss Lucy Steele,\012    in rolling her papers"
	.ascii	" for her; and there is so much still\012    to be d"
	.ascii	"one to the basket, that it must be impossible\012  "
	.ascii	"  I think for her labour singly, to finish it this "
	.ascii	"evening.\012    I should like the work exceedingly,"
	.ascii	" if she would allow\012    me a share in it.\"\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"Indeed I shall be very much obliged to"
	.ascii	" you\012    for your help,\" cried Lucy, \"for I fi"
	.ascii	"nd there is more\012    to be done to it than I tho"
	.ascii	"ught there was; and it would\012    be a shocking t"
	.ascii	"hing to disappoint dear Annamaria after all.\"\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"Oh! that would be terrible, indeed,\" "
	.ascii	"said Miss Steele--\012    \"Dear little soul, how I"
	.ascii	" do love her!\"\012    \012    \"You are very kind,"
	.ascii	"\" said Lady Middleton to Elinor;\012    \"and as y"
	.ascii	"ou really like the work, perhaps you will be\012   "
	.ascii	" as well pleased not to cut in till another rubber,"
	.ascii	"\012    or will you take your chance now?\"\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    Elinor joyfully profited by the first of th"
	.ascii	"ese proposals,\012    and thus by a little of that "
	.ascii	"address which Marianne\012    could never condescen"
	.ascii	"d to practise, gained her own end,\012    and pleas"
	.ascii	"ed Lady Middleton at the same time.  Lucy made room"
	.ascii	"\012    for her with ready attention, and the two f"
	.ascii	"air rivals were\012    thus seated side by side at "
	.ascii	"the same table, and, with the\012    utmost harmony"
	.ascii	", engaged in forwarding the same work.\012    The p"
	.ascii	"ianoforte at which Marianne, wrapped up in her own\012"
	.ascii	"    music and her own thoughts, had by this time fo"
	.ascii	"rgotten\012    that any body was in the room beside"
	.ascii	"s herself, was luckily\012    so near them that Mis"
	.ascii	"s Dashwood now judged she might safely,\012    unde"
	.ascii	"r the shelter of its noise, introduce the intere"
	.ascii	"sting\012    subject, without any risk of being hea"
	.ascii	"rd at the card-table.\012    \012    \012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  CHAPTER 24\012    \012    \012    In a firm, thou"
	.ascii	"gh cautious tone, Elinor thus began.\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"I should be undeserving of the confidence you ha"
	.ascii	"ve\012    honoured me with, if I felt no desire for"
	.ascii	" its continuance,\012    or no farther curiosity on"
	.ascii	" its subject.  I will\012    not apologize therefor"
	.ascii	"e for bringing it forward again.\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"Thank you,\" cried Lucy warmly, \"for breaking\012 "
	.ascii	"   the ice; you have set my heart at ease by it; fo"
	.ascii	"r I was\012    somehow or other afraid I had offend"
	.ascii	"ed you by what I\012    told you that Monday.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Offended me! How could you suppose so"
	.ascii	"? Believe me,\"\012    and Elinor spoke it with the"
	.ascii	" truest sincerity,\012    \"nothing could be farthe"
	.ascii	"r from my intention than to give\012    you such an"
	.ascii	" idea.  Could you have a motive for the trust,\012 "
	.ascii	"   that was not honourable and flattering to me?\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"And yet I do assure you,\" replied Lu"
	.ascii	"cy, her little\012    sharp eyes full of meaning, \""
	.ascii	"there seemed to me to be\012    a coldness and disp"
	.ascii	"leasure in your manner that made me\012    quite un"
	.ascii	"comfortable.  I felt sure that you was angry with m"
	.ascii	"e;\012    and have been quarrelling with myself eve"
	.ascii	"r since, for having\012    took such a liberty as t"
	.ascii	"o trouble you with my affairs.\012    But I am very"
	.ascii	" glad to find it was only my own fancy,\012    and "
	.ascii	"that you really do not blame me.  If you knew what "
	.ascii	"a\012    consolation it was to me to relieve my hea"
	.ascii	"rt speaking to you\012    of what I am always think"
	.ascii	"ing of every moment of my life,\012    your compass"
	.ascii	"ion would make you overlook every thing else\012   "
	.ascii	" I am sure.\"\012    \012    \"Indeed, I can easily"
	.ascii	" believe that it was a very great\012    relief to "
	.ascii	"you, to acknowledge your situation to me, and be\012"
	.ascii	"    assured that you shall never have reason to rep"
	.ascii	"ent it.\012    Your case is a very unfortunate one;"
	.ascii	" you seem to me to\012    be surrounded with diffic"
	.ascii	"ulties, and you will have need\012    of all your m"
	.ascii	"utual affection to support you under them.\012    M"
	.ascii	"r. Ferrars, I believe, is entirely dependent on his"
	.ascii	" m"
	.ascii	"other.\"\012    \012    \"He has only two thousand "
	.ascii	"pounds of his own; it would\012    be madness to ma"
	.ascii	"rry upon that, though for my own part,\012    I cou"
	.ascii	"ld give up every prospect of more without a sigh.\012"
	.ascii	"    I have been always used to a very small income,"
	.ascii	" and could\012    struggle with any poverty for him"
	.ascii	"; but I love him too well\012    to be the selfish "
	.ascii	"means of robbing him, perhaps, of all that\012    h"
	.ascii	"is mother might give him if he married to please he"
	.ascii	"r.\012    We must wait, it may be for many years.  "
	.ascii	"With almost every\012    other man in the world, it"
	.ascii	" would be an alarming prospect;\012    but Edward's"
	.ascii	" affection and constancy nothing can deprive me of\012"
	.ascii	"    I know.\"\012    \012    \"That conviction must"
	.ascii	" be every thing to you;\012    and he is undoubtedl"
	.ascii	"y supported by the same trust in your's.\012    If "
	.ascii	"the strength of your reciprocal attachment had fail"
	.ascii	"ed,\012    as between many people, and under many c"
	.ascii	"ircumstances\012    it naturally would during a fou"
	.ascii	"r years' engagement,\012    your situation would ha"
	.ascii	"ve been pitiable, indeed.\"\012    \012    Lucy her"
	.ascii	"e looked up; but Elinor was careful\012    in guard"
	.ascii	"ing her countenance from every expression\012    th"
	.ascii	"at could give her words a suspicious tendency.\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"Edward's love for me,\" said Lucy, \"h"
	.ascii	"as been pretty\012    well put to the test, by our "
	.ascii	"long, very long absence\012    since we were first "
	.ascii	"engaged, and it has stood the trial\012    so well,"
	.ascii	" that I should be unpardonable to doubt it now.\012"
	.ascii	"    I can safely say that he has never gave me one "
	.ascii	"moment's\012    alarm on that account from the firs"
	.ascii	"t.\"\012    \012    Elinor hardly knew whether to s"
	.ascii	"mile or sigh\012    at this assertion.\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   Lucy went on.  \"I am rather of a jealous temper"
	.ascii	" too\012    by nature, and from our different situa"
	.ascii	"tions in life,\012    from his being so much more i"
	.ascii	"n the world than me, and our\012    continual separ"
	.ascii	"ation, I was enough inclined for suspicion,\012    "
	.ascii	"to have found out the truth in an instant, if there"
	.ascii	" had been\012    the slightest alteration in his be"
	.ascii	"haviour to me when we met,\012    or any lowness of"
	.ascii	" spirits that I could not account for"
	.ascii	",\012    or if he had talked more of one lady than "
	.ascii	"another,\012    or seemed in any respect less happy"
	.ascii	" at Longstaple than he\012    used to be.  I do not"
	.ascii	" mean to say that I am particularly\012    observan"
	.ascii	"t or quick-sighted in general, but in such a case\012"
	.ascii	"    I am sure I could not be deceived.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"All this,\" thought Elinor, \"is very pretty;"
	.ascii	"\012    but it can impose upon neither of us.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"But what,\" said she after a short si"
	.ascii	"lence,\012    \"are your views? or have you none bu"
	.ascii	"t that of waiting for\012    Mrs. Ferrars's death, "
	.ascii	"which is a melancholy and shocking\012    extremity"
	.ascii	"?--Is her son determined to submit to this,\012    "
	.ascii	"and to all the tediousness of the many years of sus"
	.ascii	"pense\012    in which it may involve you, rather th"
	.ascii	"an run the risk\012    of her displeasure for a whi"
	.ascii	"le by owning the truth?\"\012    \012    \"If we co"
	.ascii	"uld be certain that it would be only\012    for a w"
	.ascii	"hile!  But Mrs. Ferrars is a very headstrong\012   "
	.ascii	" proud woman, and in her first fit of anger upon he"
	.ascii	"aring\012    it, would very likely secure every thi"
	.ascii	"ng to Robert,\012    and the idea of that, for Edwa"
	.ascii	"rd's sake, frightens away\012    all my inclination"
	.ascii	" for hasty measures.\"\012    \012    \"And for you"
	.ascii	"r own sake too, or you are carrying\012    your dis"
	.ascii	"interestedness beyond reason.\"\012    \012    Lucy"
	.ascii	" looked at Elinor again, and was silent.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Do you know Mr. Robert Ferrars?\" asked Elino"
	.ascii	"r.\012    \012    \"Not at all--I never saw him; bu"
	.ascii	"t I fancy he\012    is very unlike his brother--sil"
	.ascii	"ly and a great coxcomb.\"\012    \012    \"A great "
	.ascii	"coxcomb!\" repeated Miss Steele, whose ear had\012 "
	.ascii	"   caught those words by a sudden pause in Marianne"
	.ascii	"'s music.--\012    \"Oh, they are talking of their "
	.ascii	"favourite beaux, I dare say.\"\012    \012    \"No "
	.ascii	"sister,\" cried Lucy, \"you are mistaken there, our"
	.ascii	"\012    favourite beaux are NOT great coxcombs.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"I can answer for it that Miss Dashwoo"
	.ascii	"d's is not,\"\012    said Mrs. Jennings, laughing h"
	.ascii	"eartily; \"for he is one\012    of the modestest, p"
	.ascii	"rettiest behaved young men I ever saw;\012    but a"
	.ascii	"s for Lucy, she is such a sly little creature,\012 "
	.ascii	"   there is no fin"
	.ascii	"ding out who SHE likes.\"\012    \012    \"Oh,\" cr"
	.ascii	"ied Miss Steele, looking significantly round\012   "
	.ascii	" at them, \"I dare say Lucy's beau is quite as mode"
	.ascii	"st\012    and pretty behaved as Miss Dashwood's.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Elinor blushed in spite of herself.  Lu"
	.ascii	"cy bit her lip,\012    and looked angrily at her si"
	.ascii	"ster.  A mutual silence took\012    place for some "
	.ascii	"time.  Lucy first put an end to it by saying\012   "
	.ascii	" in a lower tone, though Marianne was then giving t"
	.ascii	"hem\012    the powerful protection of a very magnif"
	.ascii	"icent concerto--\012    \012    \"I will honestly t"
	.ascii	"ell you of one scheme which has\012    lately come "
	.ascii	"into my head, for bringing matters to bear;\012    "
	.ascii	"indeed I am bound to let you into the secret, for y"
	.ascii	"ou\012    are a party concerned.  I dare say you ha"
	.ascii	"ve seen enough\012    of Edward to know that he wou"
	.ascii	"ld prefer the church to every\012    other professi"
	.ascii	"on; now my plan is that he should take\012    order"
	.ascii	"s as soon as he can, and then through your interest"
	.ascii	",\012    which I am sure you would be kind enough t"
	.ascii	"o use out of\012    friendship for him, and I hope "
	.ascii	"out of some regard to me,\012    your brother might"
	.ascii	" be persuaded to give him Norland living;\012    wh"
	.ascii	"ich I understand is a very good one, and the presen"
	.ascii	"t\012    incumbent not likely to live a great while"
	.ascii	".  That would\012    be enough for us to marry upon"
	.ascii	", and we might trust to time\012    and chance for "
	.ascii	"the rest.\"\012    \012    \"I should always be hap"
	.ascii	"py,\" replied Elinor, \"to show\012    any mark of "
	.ascii	"my esteem and friendship for Mr. Ferrars;\012    bu"
	.ascii	"t do you not perceive that my interest on such an\012"
	.ascii	"    occasion would be perfectly unnecessary?  He is"
	.ascii	" brother\012    to Mrs. John Dashwood--THAT must be"
	.ascii	" recommendation enough\012    to her husband.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"But Mrs. John Dashwood would not much"
	.ascii	" approve\012    of Edward's going into orders.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Then I rather suspect that my interes"
	.ascii	"t would\012    do very little.\"\012    \012    The"
	.ascii	"y were again silent for many minutes.  At length\012"
	.ascii	"    Lucy exclaimed with a deep sigh,\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"I believe it would be the wisest way to put an e"
	.ascii	"nd\012    to the business at once by dissolving th"
	.ascii	"e engagement.\012    We seem so beset with difficul"
	.ascii	"ties on every side,\012    that though it would mak"
	.ascii	"e us miserable for a time,\012    we should be happ"
	.ascii	"ier perhaps in the end.  But you will\012    not gi"
	.ascii	"ve me your advice, Miss Dashwood?\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"No,\" answered Elinor, with a smile, which concea"
	.ascii	"led\012    very agitated feelings, \"on such a subj"
	.ascii	"ect I certainly\012    will not.  You know very wel"
	.ascii	"l that my opinion would have\012    no weight with "
	.ascii	"you, unless it were on the side of your wishes.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Indeed you wrong me,\" replied Lucy, "
	.ascii	"with great\012    solemnity; \"I know nobody of who"
	.ascii	"se judgment I think\012    so highly as I do of you"
	.ascii	"rs; and I do really believe,\012    that if you was"
	.ascii	" to say to me, 'I advise you by all means\012    to"
	.ascii	" put an end to your engagement with Edward Ferrars,"
	.ascii	"\012    it will be more for the happiness of both o"
	.ascii	"f you,'\012    I should resolve upon doing it immed"
	.ascii	"iately.\"\012    \012    Elinor blushed for the ins"
	.ascii	"incerity of Edward's\012    future wife, and replie"
	.ascii	"d, \"This compliment would effectually\012    frigh"
	.ascii	"ten me from giving any opinion on the subject\012  "
	.ascii	"  had I formed one.  It raises my influence much to"
	.ascii	"o high;\012    the power of dividing two people so "
	.ascii	"tenderly attached\012    is too much for an indiffe"
	.ascii	"rent person.\"\012    \012    \"'Tis because you ar"
	.ascii	"e an indifferent person,\" said Lucy,\012    with s"
	.ascii	"ome pique, and laying a particular stress on those "
	.ascii	"words,\012    \"that your judgment might justly hav"
	.ascii	"e such weight with me.\012    If you could be suppo"
	.ascii	"sed to be biased in any respect\012    by your own "
	.ascii	"feelings, your opinion would not be worth having.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    Elinor thought it wisest to make no"
	.ascii	" answer to this,\012    lest they might provoke eac"
	.ascii	"h other to an unsuitable increase\012    of ease an"
	.ascii	"d unreserve; and was even partly determined\012    "
	.ascii	"never to mention the subject again.  Another pause\012"
	.ascii	"    therefore of many minutes' duration, succeeded "
	.ascii	"this speech,\012    and Lucy was still the first to"
	.ascii	" end it.\012    \012    \"Shall you be in town this"
	.ascii	" winter, Miss Dashwood?\"\012    said she with all "
	.ascii	"her accustomary complacency.\012    \012    \"Ce"
	.ascii	"rtainly not.\"\012    \012    \"I am sorry for that"
	.ascii	",\" returned the other,\012    while her eyes brigh"
	.ascii	"tened at the information,\012    \"it would have ga"
	.ascii	"ve me such pleasure to meet you there!\012    But I"
	.ascii	" dare say you will go for all that.  To be sure,\012"
	.ascii	"    your brother and sister will ask you to come to"
	.ascii	" them.\"\012    \012    \"It will not be in my powe"
	.ascii	"r to accept their invitation\012    if they do.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"How unlucky that is! I had quite depe"
	.ascii	"nded upon\012    meeting you there.  Anne and me ar"
	.ascii	"e to go the latter end\012    of January to some re"
	.ascii	"lations who have been wanting us to\012    visit th"
	.ascii	"em these several years!  But I only go for the sake"
	.ascii	"\012    of seeing Edward.  He will be there in Febr"
	.ascii	"uary, otherwise\012    London would have no charms "
	.ascii	"for me; I have not spirits for it.\"\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" Elinor was soon called to the card-table by the\012"
	.ascii	"    conclusion of the first rubber, and the confide"
	.ascii	"ntial\012    discourse of the two ladies was theref"
	.ascii	"ore at an end,\012    to which both of them submitt"
	.ascii	"ed without any reluctance,\012    for nothing had b"
	.ascii	"een said on either side to make them\012    dislike"
	.ascii	" each other less than they had done before;\012    "
	.ascii	"and Elinor sat down to the card table with the mela"
	.ascii	"ncholy\012    persuasion that Edward was not only w"
	.ascii	"ithout affection\012    for the person who was to b"
	.ascii	"e his wife; but that he had\012    not even the cha"
	.ascii	"nce of being tolerably happy in marriage,\012    wh"
	.ascii	"ich sincere affection on HER side would have given,"
	.ascii	"\012    for self-interest alone could induce a woma"
	.ascii	"n to keep a man\012    to an engagement, of which s"
	.ascii	"he seemed so thoroughly aware\012    that he was we"
	.ascii	"ary.\012    \012    From this time the subject was "
	.ascii	"never revived by Elinor,\012    and when entered on"
	.ascii	" by Lucy, who seldom missed an opportunity\012    o"
	.ascii	"f introducing it, and was particularly careful to i"
	.ascii	"nform\012    her confidante, of her happiness whene"
	.ascii	"ver she received a letter\012    from Edward, it wa"
	.ascii	"s treated by the former with calmness\012    and ca"
	.ascii	"ution, and dismissed as soon as civility would allo"
	.ascii	"w;\012    for she felt such conversations to be an "
	.ascii	"indulgence which\012    Lucy did n"
	.ascii	"ot deserve, and which were dangerous to herself.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    The visit of the Miss Steeles at Barton"
	.ascii	" Park was\012    lengthened far beyond what the fir"
	.ascii	"st invitation implied.\012    Their favour increase"
	.ascii	"d; they could not be spared;\012    Sir John would "
	.ascii	"not hear of their going; and in spite\012    of the"
	.ascii	"ir numerous and long arranged engagements in Exeter"
	.ascii	",\012    in spite of the absolute necessity of retu"
	.ascii	"rning to fulfill\012    them immediately, which was"
	.ascii	" in full force at the end\012    of every week, the"
	.ascii	"y were prevailed on to stay nearly two\012    month"
	.ascii	"s at the park, and to assist in the due celebration"
	.ascii	"\012    of that festival which requires a more than"
	.ascii	" ordinary\012    share of private balls and large d"
	.ascii	"inners to proclaim\012    its importance.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \012    CHAPTER 25\012    \012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   Though Mrs. Jennings was in the habit of spendin"
	.ascii	"g a large\012    portion of the year at the houses "
	.ascii	"of her children and friends,\012    she was not wit"
	.ascii	"hout a settled habitation of her own.\012    Since "
	.ascii	"the death of her husband, who had traded with succe"
	.ascii	"ss\012    in a less elegant part of the town, she h"
	.ascii	"ad resided every\012    winter in a house in one of"
	.ascii	" the streets near Portman Square.\012    Towards th"
	.ascii	"is home, she began on the approach of January\012  "
	.ascii	"  to turn her thoughts, and thither she one day abr"
	.ascii	"uptly,\012    and very unexpectedly by them, asked "
	.ascii	"the elder Misses\012    Dashwood to accompany her. "
	.ascii	" Elinor, without observing\012    the varying compl"
	.ascii	"exion of her sister, and the animated look\012    w"
	.ascii	"hich spoke no indifference to the plan, immediately"
	.ascii	" gave\012    a grateful but absolute denial for bot"
	.ascii	"h, in which she\012    believed herself to be speak"
	.ascii	"ing their united inclinations.\012    The reason al"
	.ascii	"leged was their determined resolution\012    of not"
	.ascii	" leaving their mother at that time of the year.\012"
	.ascii	"    Mrs. Jennings received the refusal with some su"
	.ascii	"rprise,\012    and repeated her invitation immediat"
	.ascii	"ely.\012    \012    \"Oh, Lord! I am sure your moth"
	.ascii	"er can spare you\012    very well, and I DO beg you"
	.ascii	" will favour me with\012    your company, for I've "
	.ascii	"quite set my heart upon it.\012  "
	.ascii	"  Don't fancy that you will be any inconvenience to"
	.ascii	" me,\012    for I shan't put myself at all out of m"
	.ascii	"y way for you.\012    It will only be sending Betty"
	.ascii	" by the coach, and I\012    hope I can afford THAT."
	.ascii	"  We three shall be able to go\012    very well in "
	.ascii	"my chaise; and when we are in town,\012    if you d"
	.ascii	"o not like to go wherever I do, well and good,\012 "
	.ascii	"   you may always go with one of my daughters.  I a"
	.ascii	"m sure\012    your mother will not object to it; fo"
	.ascii	"r I have had such\012    good luck in getting my ow"
	.ascii	"n children off my hands that she\012    will think "
	.ascii	"me a very fit person to have the charge of you;\012"
	.ascii	"    and if I don't get one of you at least well mar"
	.ascii	"ried\012    before I have done with you, it shall n"
	.ascii	"ot be my fault.\012    I shall speak a good word fo"
	.ascii	"r you to all the young men,\012    you may depend u"
	.ascii	"pon it.\"\012    \012    \"I have a notion,\" said "
	.ascii	"Sir John, \"that Miss Marianne\012    would not obj"
	.ascii	"ect to such a scheme, if her elder sister\012    wo"
	.ascii	"uld come into it.  It is very hard indeed that she\012"
	.ascii	"    should not have a little pleasure, because Miss"
	.ascii	" Dashwood\012    does not wish it.  So I would advi"
	.ascii	"se you two, to set off\012    for town, when you ar"
	.ascii	"e tired of Barton, without saying\012    a word to "
	.ascii	"Miss Dashwood about it.\"\012    \012    \"Nay,\" c"
	.ascii	"ried Mrs. Jennings, \"I am sure I shall be\012    m"
	.ascii	"onstrous glad of Miss Marianne's company, whether M"
	.ascii	"iss\012    Dashwood will go or not, only the more t"
	.ascii	"he merrier say I,\012    and I thought it would be "
	.ascii	"more comfortable for them to\012    be together; be"
	.ascii	"cause, if they got tired of me, they might talk\012"
	.ascii	"    to one another, and laugh at my old ways behind"
	.ascii	" my back.\012    But one or the other, if not both "
	.ascii	"of them, I must have.\012    Lord bless me! how do "
	.ascii	"you think I can live poking by myself,\012    I who"
	.ascii	" have been always used till this winter to have\012"
	.ascii	"    Charlotte with me.  Come, Miss Marianne, let us"
	.ascii	" strike\012    hands upon the bargain, and if Miss "
	.ascii	"Dashwood will change\012    her mind by and bye, wh"
	.ascii	"y so much the better.\"\012    \012    \"I thank yo"
	.ascii	"u, ma'am, sincerely thank you,\" said Marianne,\012"
	.ascii	"    with warmth: \"your invit"
	.ascii	"ation has insured my gratitude for ever,\012    and"
	.ascii	" it would give me such happiness, yes, almost the g"
	.ascii	"reatest\012    happiness I am capable of, to be abl"
	.ascii	"e to accept it.\012    But my mother, my dearest, k"
	.ascii	"indest mother,--I feel the\012    justice of what E"
	.ascii	"linor has urged, and if she were to be\012    made "
	.ascii	"less happy, less comfortable by our absence--Oh! no"
	.ascii	",\012    nothing should tempt me to leave her.  It "
	.ascii	"should not,\012    must not be a struggle.\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    Mrs. Jennings repeated her assurance that "
	.ascii	"Mrs. Dashwood\012    could spare them perfectly wel"
	.ascii	"l; and Elinor, who now\012    understood her sister"
	.ascii	", and saw to what indifference to\012    almost eve"
	.ascii	"ry thing else she was carried by her eagerness\012 "
	.ascii	"   to be with Willoughby again, made no farther dir"
	.ascii	"ect\012    opposition to the plan, and merely refer"
	.ascii	"red it to her\012    mother's decision, from whom h"
	.ascii	"owever she scarcely expected\012    to receive any "
	.ascii	"support in her endeavour to prevent a visit,\012   "
	.ascii	" which she could not approve of for Marianne, and w"
	.ascii	"hich\012    on her own account she had particular r"
	.ascii	"easons to avoid.\012    Whatever Marianne was desir"
	.ascii	"ous of, her mother would be eager\012    to promote"
	.ascii	"--she could not expect to influence the latter\012 "
	.ascii	"   to cautiousness of conduct in an affair respecti"
	.ascii	"ng which she\012    had never been able to inspire "
	.ascii	"her with distrust; and she\012    dared not explain"
	.ascii	" the motive of her own disinclination\012    for go"
	.ascii	"ing to London.  That Marianne, fastidious as she wa"
	.ascii	"s,\012    thoroughly acquainted with Mrs. Jennings'"
	.ascii	" manners,\012    and invariably disgusted by them, "
	.ascii	"should overlook every\012    inconvenience of that "
	.ascii	"kind, should disregard whatever\012    must be most"
	.ascii	" wounding to her irritable feelings, in her\012    "
	.ascii	"pursuit of one object, was such a proof, so strong,"
	.ascii	"\012    so full, of the importance of that object t"
	.ascii	"o her, as Elinor,\012    in spite of all that had p"
	.ascii	"assed, was not prepared to witness.\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"On being informed of the invitation, Mrs. Dashwood,"
	.ascii	"\012    persuaded that such an excursion would be p"
	.ascii	"roductive\012    of much amusement to both her daug"
	.ascii	"hters, and perc"
	.ascii	"eiving\012    through all her affectionate attentio"
	.ascii	"n to herself,\012    how much the heart of Marianne"
	.ascii	" was in it, would not hear\012    of their declinin"
	.ascii	"g the offer upon HER account; insisted on\012    th"
	.ascii	"eir both accepting it directly; and then began to f"
	.ascii	"oresee,\012    with her usual cheerfulness, a varie"
	.ascii	"ty of advantages that\012    would accrue to them a"
	.ascii	"ll, from this separation.\012    \012    \"I am del"
	.ascii	"ighted with the plan,\" she cried,\012    \"it is e"
	.ascii	"xactly what I could wish.  Margaret and I shall\012"
	.ascii	"    be as much benefited by it as yourselves.  When"
	.ascii	" you\012    and the Middletons are gone, we shall g"
	.ascii	"o on so quietly\012    and happily together with ou"
	.ascii	"r books and our music! You\012    will find Margare"
	.ascii	"t so improved when you come back again!\012    I ha"
	.ascii	"ve a little plan of alteration for your bedrooms to"
	.ascii	"o,\012    which may now be performed without any in"
	.ascii	"convenience\012    to any one.  It is very right th"
	.ascii	"at you SHOULD go to town;\012    I would have every"
	.ascii	" young woman of your condition in life\012    acqua"
	.ascii	"inted with the manners and amusements of London.\012"
	.ascii	"    You will be under the care of a motherly good s"
	.ascii	"ort\012    of woman, of whose kindness to you I can"
	.ascii	" have no doubt.\012    And in all probability you w"
	.ascii	"ill see your brother,\012    and whatever may be hi"
	.ascii	"s faults, or the faults of his wife,\012    when I "
	.ascii	"consider whose son he is, I cannot bear to have you"
	.ascii	" so\012    wholly estranged from each other.\"\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"Though with your usual anxiety for our"
	.ascii	" happiness,\"\012    said Elinor, \"you have been o"
	.ascii	"bviating every impediment\012    to the present sch"
	.ascii	"eme which occurred to you, there is\012    still on"
	.ascii	"e objection which, in my opinion, cannot be so\012 "
	.ascii	"   easily removed.\"\012    \012    Marianne's coun"
	.ascii	"tenance sunk.\012    \012    \"And what,\" said Mrs"
	.ascii	". Dashwood, \"is my dear prudent\012    Elinor goin"
	.ascii	"g to suggest?  What formidable obstacle is she\012 "
	.ascii	"   now to bring forward?  Do let me hear a word abo"
	.ascii	"ut the\012    expense of it.\"\012    \012    \"My "
	.ascii	"objection is this; though I think very well of\012 "
	.ascii	"   Mrs. Jennings's heart, she is not a woman whose "
	.ascii	"society\012    can afford us pleasure, or wh"
	.ascii	"ose protection will give\012    us consequence.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"That is very true,\" replied her moth"
	.ascii	"er, \"but of\012    her society, separately from th"
	.ascii	"at of other people,\012    you will scarcely have a"
	.ascii	"ny thing at all, and you will\012    almost always "
	.ascii	"appear in public with Lady Middleton.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"If Elinor is frightened away by her dislike o"
	.ascii	"f\012    Mrs. Jennings,\" said Marianne, \"at least"
	.ascii	" it need not prevent\012    MY accepting her invita"
	.ascii	"tion.  I have no such scruples,\012    and I am sur"
	.ascii	"e I could put up with every unpleasantness\012    o"
	.ascii	"f that kind with very little effort.\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   Elinor could not help smiling at this display of"
	.ascii	"\012    indifference towards the manners of a perso"
	.ascii	"n, to whom she\012    had often had difficulty in p"
	.ascii	"ersuading Marianne to behave\012    with tolerable "
	.ascii	"politeness; and resolved within herself,\012    tha"
	.ascii	"t if her sister persisted in going, she would\012  "
	.ascii	"  go likewise, as she did not think it proper that "
	.ascii	"Marianne\012    should be left to the sole guidance"
	.ascii	" of her own judgment,\012    or that Mrs. Jennings "
	.ascii	"should be abandoned to the mercy\012    of Marianne"
	.ascii	" for all the comfort of her domestic hours.\012    "
	.ascii	"To this determination she was the more easily recon"
	.ascii	"ciled,\012    by recollecting that Edward Ferrars, "
	.ascii	"by Lucy's account,\012    was not to be in town bef"
	.ascii	"ore February; and that\012    their visit, without "
	.ascii	"any unreasonable abridgement,\012    might be previ"
	.ascii	"ously finished.\012    \012    \"I will have you BO"
	.ascii	"TH go,\" said Mrs. Dashwood;\012    \"these objecti"
	.ascii	"ons are nonsensical.  You will have much\012    ple"
	.ascii	"asure in being in London, and especially in being t"
	.ascii	"ogether;\012    and if Elinor would ever condescend"
	.ascii	" to anticipate enjoyment,\012    she would foresee "
	.ascii	"it there from a variety of sources;\012    she woul"
	.ascii	"d, perhaps, expect some from improving her\012    a"
	.ascii	"cquaintance with her sister-in-law's family.\"\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    Elinor had often wished for an opportuni"
	.ascii	"ty of\012    attempting to weaken her mother's depe"
	.ascii	"ndence on the\012    attachment of Edward and herse"
	.ascii	"lf, that the shock might\012    be less when the wh"
	.ascii	"ole truth were revealed, and now\012    on "
	.ascii	"this attack, though almost hopeless of success,\012"
	.ascii	"    she forced herself to begin her design by sayin"
	.ascii	"g,\012    as calmly as she could, \"I like Edward F"
	.ascii	"errars very much,\012    and shall always be glad t"
	.ascii	"o see him; but as to the rest\012    of the family,"
	.ascii	" it is a matter of perfect indifference\012    to m"
	.ascii	"e, whether I am ever known to them or not.\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    Mrs. Dashwood smiled, and said nothing.\012"
	.ascii	"    Marianne lifted up her eyes in astonishment, an"
	.ascii	"d Elinor\012    conjectured that she might as well "
	.ascii	"have held her tongue.\012    \012    After very lit"
	.ascii	"tle farther discourse, it was finally\012    settle"
	.ascii	"d that the invitation should be fully accepted.\012"
	.ascii	"    Mrs. Jennings received the information with a g"
	.ascii	"reat\012    deal of joy, and many assurances of kin"
	.ascii	"dness and care;\012    nor was it a matter of pleas"
	.ascii	"ure merely to her.  Sir John\012    was delighted; "
	.ascii	"for to a man, whose prevailing anxiety\012    was t"
	.ascii	"he dread of being alone, the acquisition of two,\012"
	.ascii	"    to the number of inhabitants in London, was som"
	.ascii	"ething.\012    Even Lady Middleton took the trouble"
	.ascii	" of being delighted,\012    which was putting herse"
	.ascii	"lf rather out of her way;\012    and as for the Mis"
	.ascii	"s Steeles, especially Lucy, they had\012    never b"
	.ascii	"een so happy in their lives as this intelligence\012"
	.ascii	"    made them.\012    \012    Elinor submitted to t"
	.ascii	"he arrangement which counteracted\012    her wishes"
	.ascii	" with less reluctance than she had expected\012    "
	.ascii	"to feel.  With regard to herself, it was now a matt"
	.ascii	"er\012    of unconcern whether she went to town or "
	.ascii	"not, and when\012    she saw her mother so thorough"
	.ascii	"ly pleased with the plan,\012    and her sister exh"
	.ascii	"ilarated by it in look, voice, and manner,\012    r"
	.ascii	"estored to all her usual animation, and elevated to"
	.ascii	" more\012    than her usual gaiety, she could not b"
	.ascii	"e dissatisfied\012    with the cause, and would har"
	.ascii	"dly allow herself to distrust\012    the consequenc"
	.ascii	"e.\012    \012    Marianne's joy was almost a degre"
	.ascii	"e beyond happiness,\012    so great was the perturb"
	.ascii	"ation of her spirits and her\012    impatience to b"
	.ascii	"e gone.  Her unwillingness to quit her\012    mothe"
	.ascii	"r was her only restorativ"
	.ascii	"e to calmness; and at the\012    moment of parting "
	.ascii	"her grief on that score was excessive.\012    Her m"
	.ascii	"other's affliction was hardly less, and Elinor\012 "
	.ascii	"   was the only one of the three, who seemed to con"
	.ascii	"sider\012    the separation as any thing short of e"
	.ascii	"ternal.\012    \012    Their departure took place i"
	.ascii	"n the first week in January.\012    The Middletons "
	.ascii	"were to follow in about a week.  The Miss\012    St"
	.ascii	"eeles kept their station at the park, and were to q"
	.ascii	"uit\012    it only with the rest of the family.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \012    \012    CHAPTER 26\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    Elinor could not find herself in the car"
	.ascii	"riage with Mrs. Jennings,\012    and beginning a jo"
	.ascii	"urney to London under her protection,\012    and as"
	.ascii	" her guest, without wondering at her own situation,"
	.ascii	"\012    so short had their acquaintance with that l"
	.ascii	"ady been,\012    so wholly unsuited were they in ag"
	.ascii	"e and disposition,\012    and so many had been her "
	.ascii	"objections against such a measure\012    only a few"
	.ascii	" days before! But these objections had all,\012    "
	.ascii	"with that happy ardour of youth which Marianne and "
	.ascii	"her mother\012    equally shared, been overcome or "
	.ascii	"overlooked; and Elinor,\012    in spite of every oc"
	.ascii	"casional doubt of Willoughby's constancy,\012    co"
	.ascii	"uld not witness the rapture of delightful expectati"
	.ascii	"on\012    which filled the whole soul and beamed in"
	.ascii	" the eyes\012    of Marianne, without feeling how b"
	.ascii	"lank was her own prospect,\012    how cheerless her"
	.ascii	" own state of mind in the comparison,\012    and ho"
	.ascii	"w gladly she would engage in the solicitude of\012 "
	.ascii	"   Marianne's situation to have the same animating "
	.ascii	"object\012    in view, the same possibility of hope"
	.ascii	".  A short, a very\012    short time however must n"
	.ascii	"ow decide what Willoughby's\012    intentions were;"
	.ascii	" in all probability he was already in town.\012    "
	.ascii	"Marianne's eagerness to be gone declared her depend"
	.ascii	"ence\012    on finding him there; and Elinor was re"
	.ascii	"solved not only upon\012    gaining every new light"
	.ascii	" as to his character which her\012    own observati"
	.ascii	"on or the intelligence of others could give her,\012"
	.ascii	"    but likewise upon watching his behaviour to her"
	.ascii	" sister\012    with such zea"
	.ascii	"lous attention, as to ascertain what he was\012    "
	.ascii	"and what he meant, before many meetings had taken p"
	.ascii	"lace.\012    Should the result of her observations "
	.ascii	"be unfavourable,\012    she was determined at all e"
	.ascii	"vents to open the eyes\012    of her sister; should"
	.ascii	" it be otherwise, her exertions\012    would be of "
	.ascii	"a different nature--she must then learn\012    to a"
	.ascii	"void every selfish comparison, and banish every reg"
	.ascii	"ret\012    which might lessen her satisfaction in t"
	.ascii	"he happiness of Marianne.\012    \012    They were "
	.ascii	"three days on their journey, and Marianne's\012    "
	.ascii	"behaviour as they travelled was a happy specimen of"
	.ascii	" what\012    future complaisance and companionablen"
	.ascii	"ess to Mrs. Jennings\012    might be expected to be"
	.ascii	".  She sat in silence almost all\012    the way, wr"
	.ascii	"apt in her own meditations, and scarcely ever\012  "
	.ascii	"  voluntarily speaking, except when any object of p"
	.ascii	"icturesque\012    beauty within their view drew fro"
	.ascii	"m her an exclamation\012    of delight exclusively "
	.ascii	"addressed to her sister.  To atone\012    for this "
	.ascii	"conduct therefore, Elinor took immediate possession"
	.ascii	"\012    of the post of civility which she had assig"
	.ascii	"ned herself,\012    behaved with the greatest atten"
	.ascii	"tion to Mrs. Jennings,\012    talked with her, laug"
	.ascii	"hed with her, and listened to her\012    whenever s"
	.ascii	"he could; and Mrs. Jennings on her side\012    trea"
	.ascii	"ted them both with all possible kindness, was solic"
	.ascii	"itous\012    on every occasion for their ease and e"
	.ascii	"njoyment, and only\012    disturbed that she could "
	.ascii	"not make them choose their own\012    dinners at th"
	.ascii	"e inn, nor extort a confession of their\012    pref"
	.ascii	"erring salmon to cod, or boiled fowls to veal cutle"
	.ascii	"ts.\012    They reached town by three o'clock the t"
	.ascii	"hird day, glad to\012    be released, after such a "
	.ascii	"journey, from the confinement\012    of a carriage,"
	.ascii	" and ready to enjoy all the luxury of a good fire.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    The house was handsome, and handsomely "
	.ascii	"fitted up,\012    and the young ladies were immedia"
	.ascii	"tely put in possession\012    of a very comfortable"
	.ascii	" apartment.  It had formerly\012    been Charlotte'"
	.ascii	"s, and over the mantelpiece still hung\012    a lan"
	.ascii	"dscape in c"
	.ascii	"oloured silks of her performance,\012    in proof o"
	.ascii	"f her having spent seven years at a great school\012"
	.ascii	"    in town to some effect.\012    \012    As dinne"
	.ascii	"r was not to be ready in less than two\012    hours"
	.ascii	" from their arrival, Elinor determined to employ\012"
	.ascii	"    the interval in writing to her mother, and sat "
	.ascii	"down for\012    that purpose.  In a few moments Mar"
	.ascii	"ianne did the same.\012    \"I am writing home, Mar"
	.ascii	"ianne,\" said Elinor; \"had not you\012    better d"
	.ascii	"efer your letter for a day or two?\"\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"I am NOT going to write to my mother,\"\012    r"
	.ascii	"eplied Marianne, hastily, and as if wishing to avoi"
	.ascii	"d\012    any farther inquiry.  Elinor said no more;"
	.ascii	" it immediately\012    struck her that she must the"
	.ascii	"n be writing to Willoughby;\012    and the conclusi"
	.ascii	"on which as instantly followed was,\012    that, ho"
	.ascii	"wever mysteriously they might wish to conduct\012  "
	.ascii	"  the affair, they must be engaged.  This convictio"
	.ascii	"n,\012    though not entirely satisfactory, gave he"
	.ascii	"r pleasure,\012    and she continued her letter wit"
	.ascii	"h greater alacrity.\012    Marianne's was finished "
	.ascii	"in a very few minutes;\012    in length it could be"
	.ascii	" no more than a note; it was then\012    folded up,"
	.ascii	" sealed, and directed with eager rapidity.\012    E"
	.ascii	"linor thought she could distinguish a large W in\012"
	.ascii	"    the direction; and no sooner was it complete th"
	.ascii	"an Marianne,\012    ringing the bell, requested the"
	.ascii	" footman who answered it\012    to get that letter "
	.ascii	"conveyed for her to the two-penny post.\012    This"
	.ascii	" decided the matter at once.\012    \012    Her spi"
	.ascii	"rits still continued very high; but there\012    wa"
	.ascii	"s a flutter in them which prevented their giving mu"
	.ascii	"ch\012    pleasure to her sister, and this agitatio"
	.ascii	"n increased as\012    the evening drew on.  She cou"
	.ascii	"ld scarcely eat any dinner,\012    and when they af"
	.ascii	"terwards returned to the drawing room,\012    seeme"
	.ascii	"d anxiously listening to the sound of every carriag"
	.ascii	"e.\012    \012    It was a great satisfaction to El"
	.ascii	"inor that Mrs. Jennings,\012    by being much engag"
	.ascii	"ed in her own room, could see little\012    of what"
	.ascii	" was passing.  The tea things were brought in,\012 "
	.ascii	"   and already had Marianne b"
	.ascii	"een disappointed more than once\012    by a rap at "
	.ascii	"a neighbouring door, when a loud one was suddenly\012"
	.ascii	"    heard which could not be mistaken for one at an"
	.ascii	"y other house,\012    Elinor felt secure of its ann"
	.ascii	"ouncing Willoughby's approach,\012    and Marianne,"
	.ascii	" starting up, moved towards the door.\012    Every "
	.ascii	"thing was silent; this could not be borne many seco"
	.ascii	"nds;\012    she opened the door, advanced a few ste"
	.ascii	"ps towards the stairs,\012    and after listening h"
	.ascii	"alf a minute, returned into the room\012    in all "
	.ascii	"the agitation which a conviction of having heard\012"
	.ascii	"    him would naturally produce; in the ecstasy of "
	.ascii	"her\012    feelings at that instant she could not h"
	.ascii	"elp exclaiming,\012    \"Oh, Elinor, it is Willough"
	.ascii	"by, indeed it is!\" and seemed\012    almost ready "
	.ascii	"to throw herself into his arms, when Colonel\012   "
	.ascii	" Brandon appeared.\012    \012    It was too great "
	.ascii	"a shock to be borne with calmness,\012    and she i"
	.ascii	"mmediately left the room.  Elinor was disappointed "
	.ascii	"too;\012    but at the same time her regard for Col"
	.ascii	"onel Brandon ensured\012    his welcome with her; a"
	.ascii	"nd she felt particularly hurt that\012    a man so "
	.ascii	"partial to her sister should perceive that she\012 "
	.ascii	"   experienced nothing but grief and disappointment"
	.ascii	" in seeing him.\012    She instantly saw that it wa"
	.ascii	"s not unnoticed by him,\012    that he even observe"
	.ascii	"d Marianne as she quitted the room,\012    with suc"
	.ascii	"h astonishment and concern, as hardly left him\012 "
	.ascii	"   the recollection of what civility demanded towar"
	.ascii	"ds herself.\012    \012    \"Is your sister ill?\" "
	.ascii	"said he.\012    \012    Elinor answered in some dis"
	.ascii	"tress that she was,\012    and then talked of head-"
	.ascii	"aches, low spirits, and over fatigues;\012    and o"
	.ascii	"f every thing to which she could decently attribute"
	.ascii	"\012    her sister's behaviour.\012    \012    He h"
	.ascii	"eard her with the most earnest attention,\012    bu"
	.ascii	"t seeming to recollect himself, said no more on the"
	.ascii	" subject,\012    and began directly to speak of his"
	.ascii	" pleasure at seeing them\012    in London, making t"
	.ascii	"he usual inquiries about their journey,\012    and "
	.ascii	"the friends they had left behind.\012    \012    In"
	.ascii	" this calm kind of way, wit"
	.ascii	"h very little interest\012    on either side, they "
	.ascii	"continued to talk, both of them out\012    of spiri"
	.ascii	"ts, and the thoughts of both engaged elsewhere.\012"
	.ascii	"    Elinor wished very much to ask whether Willough"
	.ascii	"by were\012    then in town, but she was afraid of "
	.ascii	"giving him pain\012    by any enquiry after his riv"
	.ascii	"al; and at length, by way\012    of saying somethin"
	.ascii	"g, she asked if he had been in London\012    ever s"
	.ascii	"ince she had seen him last.  \"Yes,\" he replied,\012"
	.ascii	"    with some embarrassment, \"almost ever since; I"
	.ascii	" have been\012    once or twice at Delaford for a f"
	.ascii	"ew days, but it has never\012    been in my power t"
	.ascii	"o return to Barton.\"\012    \012    This, and the "
	.ascii	"manner in which it was said,\012    immediately bro"
	.ascii	"ught back to her remembrance all the\012    circums"
	.ascii	"tances of his quitting that place, with the\012    "
	.ascii	"uneasiness and suspicions they had caused to Mrs. J"
	.ascii	"ennings,\012    and she was fearful that her questi"
	.ascii	"on had implied\012    much more curiosity on the su"
	.ascii	"bject than she had ever felt.\012    \012    Mrs. J"
	.ascii	"ennings soon came in.  \"Oh! Colonel,\" said she,\012"
	.ascii	"    with her usual noisy cheerfulness, \"I am monst"
	.ascii	"rous glad\012    to see you--sorry I could not come"
	.ascii	" before--beg your\012    pardon, but I have been fo"
	.ascii	"rced to look about me a little,\012    and settle m"
	.ascii	"y matters; for it is a long while since I\012    ha"
	.ascii	"ve been at home, and you know one has always a worl"
	.ascii	"d\012    of little odd things to do after one has b"
	.ascii	"een away for\012    any time; and then I have had C"
	.ascii	"artwright to settle with--\012    Lord, I have been"
	.ascii	" as busy as a bee ever since dinner!\012    But pra"
	.ascii	"y, Colonel, how came you to conjure out that I shou"
	.ascii	"ld\012    be in town today?\"\012    \012    \"I ha"
	.ascii	"d the pleasure of hearing it at Mr. Palmer's,\012  "
	.ascii	"  where I have been dining.\"\012    \012    \"Oh, "
	.ascii	"you did; well, and how do they all do at their\012 "
	.ascii	"   house?  How does Charlotte do?  I warrant you sh"
	.ascii	"e is a fine\012    size by this time.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Mrs. Palmer appeared quite well, and I am com"
	.ascii	"missioned\012    to tell you, that you will certain"
	.ascii	"ly see her to-morrow.\"\012    \012    \"Ay, to be "
	.ascii	"sure, I thought as much.  Well, Colonel,\012  "
	.ascii	"  I have brought two young ladies with me, you see-"
	.ascii	"-that is,\012    you see but one of them now, but t"
	.ascii	"here is another somewhere.\012    Your friend, Miss"
	.ascii	" Marianne, too--which you will not be\012    sorry "
	.ascii	"to hear.  I do not know what you and Mr. Willoughby"
	.ascii	"\012    will do between you about her.  Ay, it is a"
	.ascii	" fine thing\012    to be young and handsome.  Well!"
	.ascii	" I was young once, but I\012    never was very hand"
	.ascii	"some--worse luck for me.  However, I got\012    a v"
	.ascii	"ery good husband, and I don't know what the greates"
	.ascii	"t\012    beauty can do more.  Ah! poor man! he has "
	.ascii	"been dead\012    these eight years and better.  But"
	.ascii	" Colonel, where have\012    you been to since we pa"
	.ascii	"rted?  And how does your business\012    go on?  Co"
	.ascii	"me, come, let's have no secrets among friends.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    He replied with his accustomary mildnes"
	.ascii	"s to all\012    her inquiries, but without satisfyi"
	.ascii	"ng her in any.\012    Elinor now began to make the "
	.ascii	"tea, and Marianne was\012    obliged to appear agai"
	.ascii	"n.\012    \012    After her entrance, Colonel Brand"
	.ascii	"on became\012    more thoughtful and silent than he"
	.ascii	" had been before,\012    and Mrs. Jennings could no"
	.ascii	"t prevail on him to stay long.\012    No other visi"
	.ascii	"tor appeared that evening, and the ladies\012    we"
	.ascii	"re unanimous in agreeing to go early to bed.\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    Marianne rose the next morning with recove"
	.ascii	"red spirits\012    and happy looks.  The disappoint"
	.ascii	"ment of the evening before\012    seemed forgotten "
	.ascii	"in the expectation of what was to happen\012    tha"
	.ascii	"t day.  They had not long finished their breakfast "
	.ascii	"before\012    Mrs. Palmer's barouche stopped at the"
	.ascii	" door, and in a few\012    minutes she came laughin"
	.ascii	"g into the room: so delighted\012    to see them al"
	.ascii	"l, that it was hard to say whether she\012    recei"
	.ascii	"ved most pleasure from meeting her mother or the Mi"
	.ascii	"ss\012    Dashwoods again.  So surprised at their c"
	.ascii	"oming to town,\012    though it was what she had ra"
	.ascii	"ther expected all along;\012    so angry at their a"
	.ascii	"ccepting her mother's invitation\012    after havin"
	.ascii	"g declined her own, though at the same time\012    "
	.ascii	"she would never have forgiven them if they had not "
	.ascii	"come!\012    \012    \"M"
	.ascii	"r. Palmer will be so happy to see you,\"\012    sai"
	.ascii	"d she; \"What do you think he said when he heard\012"
	.ascii	"    of your coming with Mamma?  I forget what it wa"
	.ascii	"s now,\012    but it was something so droll!\"\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    After an hour or two spent in what her m"
	.ascii	"other called\012    comfortable chat, or in other w"
	.ascii	"ords, in every variety of inquiry\012    concerning"
	.ascii	" all their acquaintance on Mrs. Jennings's side,\012"
	.ascii	"    and in laughter without cause on Mrs. Palmer's,"
	.ascii	" it was\012    proposed by the latter that they sho"
	.ascii	"uld all accompany\012    her to some shops where sh"
	.ascii	"e had business that morning,\012    to which Mrs. J"
	.ascii	"ennings and Elinor readily consented,\012    as hav"
	.ascii	"ing likewise some purchases to make themselves;\012"
	.ascii	"    and Marianne, though declining it at first was "
	.ascii	"induced\012    to go likewise.\012    \012    Where"
	.ascii	"ver they went, she was evidently always on\012    t"
	.ascii	"he watch.  In Bond Street especially, where much of"
	.ascii	"\012    their business lay, her eyes were in consta"
	.ascii	"nt inquiry;\012    and in whatever shop the party w"
	.ascii	"ere engaged, her mind was\012    equally abstracted"
	.ascii	" from every thing actually before them,\012    from"
	.ascii	" all that interested and occupied the others.\012  "
	.ascii	"  Restless and dissatisfied every where, her sister"
	.ascii	" could\012    never obtain her opinion of any artic"
	.ascii	"le of purchase,\012    however it might equally con"
	.ascii	"cern them both: she received\012    no pleasure fro"
	.ascii	"m anything; was only impatient to be at\012    home"
	.ascii	" again, and could with difficulty govern her vexati"
	.ascii	"on\012    at the tediousness of Mrs. Palmer, whose "
	.ascii	"eye was caught\012    by every thing pretty, expens"
	.ascii	"ive, or new; who was wild\012    to buy all, could "
	.ascii	"determine on none, and dawdled away her\012    time"
	.ascii	" in rapture and indecision.\012    \012    It was l"
	.ascii	"ate in the morning before they returned home;\012  "
	.ascii	"  and no sooner had they entered the house than Mar"
	.ascii	"ianne flew\012    eagerly up stairs, and when Elino"
	.ascii	"r followed, she found\012    her turning from the t"
	.ascii	"able with a sorrowful countenance,\012    which dec"
	.ascii	"lared that no Willoughby had been there.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Has no letter been left here for me since we "
	.ascii	"went out?\"\012    said she "
	.ascii	"to the footman who then entered with the parcels.\012"
	.ascii	"    She was answered in the negative.  \"Are you qu"
	.ascii	"ite sure\012    of it?\" she replied.  \"Are you ce"
	.ascii	"rtain that no servant,\012    no porter has left an"
	.ascii	"y letter or note?\"\012    \012    The man replied "
	.ascii	"that none had.\012    \012    \"How very odd!\" sai"
	.ascii	"d she, in a low and disappointed\012    voice, as s"
	.ascii	"he turned away to the window.\012    \012    \"How "
	.ascii	"odd, indeed!\" repeated Elinor within herself,\012 "
	.ascii	"   regarding her sister with uneasiness.  \"If she "
	.ascii	"had not\012    known him to be in town she would no"
	.ascii	"t have written to him,\012    as she did; she would"
	.ascii	" have written to Combe Magna;\012    and if he is i"
	.ascii	"n town, how odd that he should neither\012    come "
	.ascii	"nor write!  Oh! my dear mother, you must be wrong\012"
	.ascii	"    in permitting an engagement between a daughter "
	.ascii	"so young,\012    a man so little known, to be carri"
	.ascii	"ed on in so doubtful,\012    so mysterious a manner"
	.ascii	"!  I long to inquire; and how will MY\012    interf"
	.ascii	"erence be borne.\"\012    \012    She determined, a"
	.ascii	"fter some consideration, that if\012    appearances"
	.ascii	" continued many days longer as unpleasant as they\012"
	.ascii	"    now were, she would represent in the strongest "
	.ascii	"manner\012    to her mother the necessity of some s"
	.ascii	"erious enquiry into the\012    affair.\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   Mrs. Palmer and two elderly ladies of Mrs. Jenni"
	.ascii	"ngs's\012    intimate acquaintance, whom she had me"
	.ascii	"t and invited\012    in the morning, dined with the"
	.ascii	"m.  The former left them\012    soon after tea to f"
	.ascii	"ulfill her evening engagements;\012    and Elinor w"
	.ascii	"as obliged to assist in making a whist table\012   "
	.ascii	" for the others.  Marianne was of no use on these o"
	.ascii	"ccasions,\012    as she would never learn the game;"
	.ascii	" but though her time\012    was therefore at her ow"
	.ascii	"n disposal, the evening was by no\012    means more"
	.ascii	" productive of pleasure to her than to Elinor,\012 "
	.ascii	"   for it was spent in all the anxiety of expectati"
	.ascii	"on and the\012    pain of disappointment.  She some"
	.ascii	"times endeavoured for a\012    few minutes to read;"
	.ascii	" but the book was soon thrown aside,\012    and she"
	.ascii	" returned to the more interesting employment\012   "
	.ascii	" of walking backwards and forward"
	.ascii	"s across the room,\012    pausing for a moment when"
	.ascii	"ever she came to the window,\012    in hopes of dis"
	.ascii	"tinguishing the long-expected rap.\012    \012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \012    CHAPTER 27\012    \012    \012    \"If "
	.ascii	"this open weather holds much longer,\" said Mrs. Je"
	.ascii	"nnings,\012    when they met at breakfast the follo"
	.ascii	"wing morning,\012    \"Sir John will not like leavi"
	.ascii	"ng Barton next week;\012    'tis a sad thing for sp"
	.ascii	"ortsmen to lose a day's pleasure.\012    Poor souls"
	.ascii	"!  I always pity them when they do; they seem\012  "
	.ascii	"  to take it so much to heart.\"\012    \012    \"T"
	.ascii	"hat is true,\" cried Marianne, in a cheerful voice,"
	.ascii	"\012    and walking to the window as she spoke, to "
	.ascii	"examine the day.\012    \"I had not thought of that"
	.ascii	".  This weather will keep many\012    sportsmen in "
	.ascii	"the country.\"\012    \012    It was a lucky recoll"
	.ascii	"ection, all her good spirits were\012    restored b"
	.ascii	"y it.  \"It is charming weather for THEM indeed,\"\012"
	.ascii	"    she continued, as she sat down to the breakfast"
	.ascii	" table\012    with a happy countenance.  \"How much"
	.ascii	" they must enjoy\012    it! But\" (with a little re"
	.ascii	"turn of anxiety) \"it cannot\012    be expected to "
	.ascii	"last long.  At this time of the year,\012    and af"
	.ascii	"ter such a series of rain, we shall certainly\012  "
	.ascii	"  have very little more of it.  Frosts will soon se"
	.ascii	"t in,\012    and in all probability with severity. "
	.ascii	" In another day\012    or two perhaps; this extreme"
	.ascii	" mildness can hardly last\012    longer--nay, perha"
	.ascii	"ps it may freeze tonight!\"\012    \012    \"At any"
	.ascii	" rate,\" said Elinor, wishing to prevent\012    Mrs"
	.ascii	". Jennings from seeing her sister's thoughts as cle"
	.ascii	"arly\012    as she did, \"I dare say we shall have "
	.ascii	"Sir John and Lady\012    Middleton in town by the e"
	.ascii	"nd of next week.\"\012    \012    \"Ay, my dear, I'"
	.ascii	"ll warrant you we do.  Mary always\012    has her o"
	.ascii	"wn way.\"\012    \012    \"And now,\" silently conj"
	.ascii	"ectured Elinor, \"she will\012    write to Combe by"
	.ascii	" this day's post.\"\012    \012    But if she DID, "
	.ascii	"the letter was written and sent away\012    with a "
	.ascii	"privacy which eluded all her watchfulness to ascert"
	.ascii	"ain\012    the fact.  Whatever the truth of it migh"
	.ascii	"t be, and far\012    as Elinor was from feeling tho"
	.ascii	"rough contentment"
	.ascii	" about it,\012    yet while she saw Marianne in spi"
	.ascii	"rits, she could not be\012    very uncomfortable he"
	.ascii	"rself.  And Marianne was in spirits;\012    happy i"
	.ascii	"n the mildness of the weather, and still happier\012"
	.ascii	"    in her expectation of a frost.\012    \012    T"
	.ascii	"he morning was chiefly spent in leaving cards at\012"
	.ascii	"    the houses of Mrs. Jennings's acquaintance to i"
	.ascii	"nform\012    them of her being in town; and Mariann"
	.ascii	"e was all the time\012    busy in observing the dir"
	.ascii	"ection of the wind, watching the\012    variations "
	.ascii	"of the sky and imagining an alteration in the air.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Don't you find it colder than it was "
	.ascii	"in the morning,\012    Elinor? There seems to me a "
	.ascii	"very decided difference.\012    I can hardly keep m"
	.ascii	"y hands warm even in my muff.  It was\012    not so"
	.ascii	" yesterday, I think.  The clouds seem parting too,\012"
	.ascii	"    the sun will be out in a moment, and we shall h"
	.ascii	"ave a\012    clear afternoon.\"\012    \012    Elin"
	.ascii	"or was alternately diverted and pained;\012    but "
	.ascii	"Marianne persevered, and saw every night in the\012"
	.ascii	"    brightness of the fire, and every morning in th"
	.ascii	"e appearance\012    of the atmosphere, the certain "
	.ascii	"symptoms of approaching frost.\012    \012    The M"
	.ascii	"iss Dashwoods had no greater reason to be\012    di"
	.ascii	"ssatisfied with Mrs. Jennings's style of living, an"
	.ascii	"d set\012    of acquaintance, than with her behavio"
	.ascii	"ur to themselves,\012    which was invariably kind."
	.ascii	"  Every thing in her household\012    arrangements "
	.ascii	"was conducted on the most liberal plan,\012    and "
	.ascii	"excepting a few old city friends, whom, to Lady\012"
	.ascii	"    Middleton's regret, she had never dropped, she "
	.ascii	"visited\012    no one to whom an introduction could"
	.ascii	" at all discompose\012    the feelings of her young"
	.ascii	" companions.  Pleased to find\012    herself more c"
	.ascii	"omfortably situated in that particular than\012    "
	.ascii	"she had expected, Elinor was very willing to compou"
	.ascii	"nd\012    for the want of much real enjoyment from "
	.ascii	"any of their\012    evening parties, which, whether"
	.ascii	" at home or abroad,\012    formed only for cards, c"
	.ascii	"ould have little to amuse her.\012    \012    Colon"
	.ascii	"el Brandon, who had a general invitation\012    to "
	.ascii	"the house, was with the"
	.ascii	"m almost every day; he came\012    to look at Maria"
	.ascii	"nne and talk to Elinor, who often derived\012    mo"
	.ascii	"re satisfaction from conversing with him than from "
	.ascii	"any\012    other daily occurrence, but who saw at t"
	.ascii	"he same time\012    with much concern his continued"
	.ascii	" regard for her sister.\012    She feared it was a "
	.ascii	"strengthening regard.  It grieved her\012    to see"
	.ascii	" the earnestness with which he often watched Marian"
	.ascii	"ne,\012    and his spirits were certainly worse tha"
	.ascii	"n when at Barton.\012    \012    About a week after"
	.ascii	" their arrival, it became\012    certain that Willo"
	.ascii	"ughby was also arrived.  His card\012    was on the"
	.ascii	" table when they came in from the morning's drive.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Good God!\" cried Marianne, \"he has "
	.ascii	"been here while\012    we were out.\"  Elinor, rejo"
	.ascii	"iced to be assured of his\012    being in London, n"
	.ascii	"ow ventured to say, \"Depend upon it,\012    he wil"
	.ascii	"l call again tomorrow.\"  But Marianne seemed\012  "
	.ascii	"  hardly to hear her, and on Mrs. Jenning's entranc"
	.ascii	"e,\012    escaped with the precious card.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    This event, while it raised the spirits of Elin"
	.ascii	"or,\012    restored to those of her sister all, and"
	.ascii	" more than all,\012    their former agitation.  Fro"
	.ascii	"m this moment her mind was\012    never quiet; the "
	.ascii	"expectation of seeing him every hour\012    of the "
	.ascii	"day, made her unfit for any thing.  She insisted\012"
	.ascii	"    on being left behind, the next morning, when th"
	.ascii	"e others\012    went out.\012    \012    Elinor's t"
	.ascii	"houghts were full of what might be passing\012    i"
	.ascii	"n Berkeley Street during their absence; but a momen"
	.ascii	"t's\012    glance at her sister when they returned "
	.ascii	"was enough to\012    inform her, that Willoughby ha"
	.ascii	"d paid no second visit there.\012    A note was jus"
	.ascii	"t then brought in, and laid on the table,\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"For me!\" cried Marianne, stepping hastily fo"
	.ascii	"rward.\012    \012    \"No, ma'am, for my mistress."
	.ascii	"\"\012    \012    But Marianne, not convinced, took"
	.ascii	" it instantly up.\012    \012    \"It is indeed for"
	.ascii	" Mrs. Jennings; how provoking!\"\012    \012    \"Y"
	.ascii	"ou are expecting a letter, then?\" said Elinor,\012"
	.ascii	"    unable to be longer silent.\012    \012    \"Ye"
	.ascii	"s, a little--not much.\"\012    \012    After a sho"
	.ascii	"rt paus"
	.ascii	"e.  \"You have no confidence\012    in me, Marianne"
	.ascii	".\"\012    \012    \"Nay, Elinor, this reproach fro"
	.ascii	"m YOU--you who have\012    confidence in no one!\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Me!\" returned Elinor in some confusi"
	.ascii	"on; \"indeed,\012    Marianne, I have nothing to te"
	.ascii	"ll.\"\012    \012    \"Nor I,\" answered Marianne w"
	.ascii	"ith energy, \"our situations\012    then are alike."
	.ascii	"  We have neither of us any thing to tell;\012    y"
	.ascii	"ou, because you do not communicate, and I, because\012"
	.ascii	"    I conceal nothing.\"\012    \012    Elinor, dis"
	.ascii	"tressed by this charge of reserve in herself,\012  "
	.ascii	"  which she was not at liberty to do away, knew not"
	.ascii	" how,\012    under such circumstances, to press for"
	.ascii	" greater openness\012    in Marianne.\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  Mrs. Jennings soon appeared, and the note being\012"
	.ascii	"    given her, she read it aloud.  It was from Lady"
	.ascii	" Middleton,\012    announcing their arrival in Cond"
	.ascii	"uit Street the night before,\012    and requesting "
	.ascii	"the company of her mother and cousins\012    the fo"
	.ascii	"llowing evening.  Business on Sir John's part,\012 "
	.ascii	"   and a violent cold on her own, prevented their c"
	.ascii	"alling\012    in Berkeley Street.  The invitation w"
	.ascii	"as accepted;\012    but when the hour of appointmen"
	.ascii	"t drew near, necessary as\012    it was in common c"
	.ascii	"ivility to Mrs. Jennings, that they\012    should b"
	.ascii	"oth attend her on such a visit, Elinor had some\012"
	.ascii	"    difficulty in persuading her sister to go, for "
	.ascii	"still\012    she had seen nothing of Willoughby; an"
	.ascii	"d therefore was\012    not more indisposed for amus"
	.ascii	"ement abroad, than unwilling\012    to run the risk"
	.ascii	" of his calling again in her absence.\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  Elinor found, when the evening was over,\012    t"
	.ascii	"hat disposition is not materially altered by a chan"
	.ascii	"ge\012    of abode, for although scarcely settled i"
	.ascii	"n town,\012    Sir John had contrived to collect ar"
	.ascii	"ound him, nearly twenty\012    young people, and to"
	.ascii	" amuse them with a ball.  This was\012    an affair"
	.ascii	", however, of which Lady Middleton did not approve."
	.ascii	"\012    In the country, an unpremeditated dance was"
	.ascii	" very allowable;\012    but in London, where the re"
	.ascii	"putation of elegance was more\012    important and "
	.ascii	"less easily attained, it was risking to"
	.ascii	"o much\012    for the gratification of a few girls,"
	.ascii	" to have it known that\012    Lady Middleton had gi"
	.ascii	"ven a small dance of eight or nine couple,\012    w"
	.ascii	"ith two violins, and a mere side-board collation.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Mr. and Mrs. Palmer were of the party; "
	.ascii	"from the former,\012    whom they had not seen befo"
	.ascii	"re since their arrival in town,\012    as he was ca"
	.ascii	"reful to avoid the appearance of any attention\012 "
	.ascii	"   to his mother-in-law, and therefore never came n"
	.ascii	"ear her,\012    they received no mark of recognitio"
	.ascii	"n on their entrance.\012    He looked at them sligh"
	.ascii	"tly, without seeming to know\012    who they were, "
	.ascii	"and merely nodded to Mrs. Jennings from\012    the "
	.ascii	"other side of the room.  Marianne gave one glance\012"
	.ascii	"    round the apartment as she entered: it was enou"
	.ascii	"gh--HE\012    was not there--and she sat down, equa"
	.ascii	"lly ill-disposed\012    to receive or communicate p"
	.ascii	"leasure.  After they had been\012    assembled abou"
	.ascii	"t an hour, Mr. Palmer sauntered towards\012    the "
	.ascii	"Miss Dashwoods to express his surprise on seeing th"
	.ascii	"em\012    in town, though Colonel Brandon had been "
	.ascii	"first informed\012    of their arrival at his house"
	.ascii	", and he had himself said\012    something very dro"
	.ascii	"ll on hearing that they were to come.\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"I thought you were both in Devonshire,\" said h"
	.ascii	"e.\012    \012    \"Did you?\" replied Elinor.\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"When do you go back again?\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"I do not know.\" And thus ended their discour"
	.ascii	"se.\012    \012    Never had Marianne been so unwil"
	.ascii	"ling to dance\012    in her life, as she was that e"
	.ascii	"vening, and never so much\012    fatigued by the ex"
	.ascii	"ercise.  She complained of it\012    as they return"
	.ascii	"ed to Berkeley Street.\012    \012    \"Aye, aye,\""
	.ascii	" said Mrs. Jennings, \"we know the reason\012    of"
	.ascii	" all that very well; if a certain person who shall\012"
	.ascii	"    be nameless, had been there, you would not have"
	.ascii	" been a\012    bit tired: and to say the truth it w"
	.ascii	"as not very pretty\012    of him not to give you th"
	.ascii	"e meeting when he was invited.\"\012    \012    \"I"
	.ascii	"nvited!\" cried Marianne.\012    \012    \"So my da"
	.ascii	"ughter Middleton told me, for it seems Sir\012    J"
	.ascii	"ohn met him somewhere in the street this mornin"
	.ascii	"g.\"\012    Marianne said no more, but looked excee"
	.ascii	"dingly hurt.\012    Impatient in this situation to "
	.ascii	"be doing something\012    that might lead to her si"
	.ascii	"ster's relief, Elinor resolved\012    to write the "
	.ascii	"next morning to her mother, and hoped\012    by awa"
	.ascii	"kening her fears for the health of Marianne,\012   "
	.ascii	" to procure those inquiries which had been so long "
	.ascii	"delayed;\012    and she was still more eagerly bent"
	.ascii	" on this measure\012    by perceiving after breakfa"
	.ascii	"st on the morrow, that Marianne\012    was again wr"
	.ascii	"iting to Willoughby, for she could not suppose\012 "
	.ascii	"   it to be to any other person.\012    \012    Abo"
	.ascii	"ut the middle of the day, Mrs. Jennings went out by"
	.ascii	"\012    herself on business, and Elinor began her l"
	.ascii	"etter directly,\012    while Marianne, too restless"
	.ascii	" for employment, too anxious\012    for conversatio"
	.ascii	"n, walked from one window to the other,\012    or s"
	.ascii	"at down by the fire in melancholy meditation.\012  "
	.ascii	"  Elinor was very earnest in her application to her"
	.ascii	" mother,\012    relating all that had passed, her s"
	.ascii	"uspicions of\012    Willoughby's inconstancy, urgin"
	.ascii	"g her by every plea\012    of duty and affection to"
	.ascii	" demand from Marianne an account\012    of her real"
	.ascii	" situation with respect to him.\012    \012    Her "
	.ascii	"letter was scarcely finished, when a rap\012    for"
	.ascii	"etold a visitor, and Colonel Brandon was announced."
	.ascii	"\012    Marianne, who had seen him from the window,"
	.ascii	" and who hated\012    company of any kind, left the"
	.ascii	" room before he entered it.\012    He looked more t"
	.ascii	"han usually grave, and though expressing\012    sat"
	.ascii	"isfaction at finding Miss Dashwood alone, as if he\012"
	.ascii	"    had somewhat in particular to tell her, sat for"
	.ascii	" some\012    time without saying a word.  Elinor, p"
	.ascii	"ersuaded that he\012    had some communication to m"
	.ascii	"ake in which her sister\012    was concerned, impat"
	.ascii	"iently expected its opening.\012    It was not the "
	.ascii	"first time of her feeling the same kind\012    of c"
	.ascii	"onviction; for, more than once before, beginning wi"
	.ascii	"th\012    the observation of \"your sister looks un"
	.ascii	"well to-day,\"\012    or \"your sister seems out of"
	.ascii	" spirits,\" he had appeared\012    on the point, ei"
	.ascii	"ther of disclosing, or"
	.ascii	" of inquiring,\012    something particular about he"
	.ascii	"r.  After a pause of several\012    minutes, their "
	.ascii	"silence was broken, by his asking her\012    in a v"
	.ascii	"oice of some agitation, when he was to congratulate"
	.ascii	"\012    her on the acquisition of a brother?  Elino"
	.ascii	"r was not\012    prepared for such a question, and "
	.ascii	"having no answer ready,\012    was obliged to adopt"
	.ascii	" the simple and common expedient,\012    of asking "
	.ascii	"what he meant?  He tried to smile as he replied,\012"
	.ascii	"    \"your sister's engagement to Mr. Willoughby is"
	.ascii	" very generally\012    known.\"\012    \012    \"It"
	.ascii	" cannot be generally known,\" returned Elinor,\012 "
	.ascii	"   \"for her own family do not know it.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    He looked surprised and said, \"I beg your pard"
	.ascii	"on,\012    I am afraid my inquiry has been impertin"
	.ascii	"ent; but I had not\012    supposed any secrecy inte"
	.ascii	"nded, as they openly correspond,\012    and their m"
	.ascii	"arriage is universally talked of.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"How can that be? By whom can you have heard\012  "
	.ascii	"  it mentioned?\"\012    \012    \"By many--by some"
	.ascii	" of whom you know nothing, by others\012    with wh"
	.ascii	"om you are most intimate, Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. Palme"
	.ascii	"r,\012    and the Middletons.  But still I might no"
	.ascii	"t have believed it,\012    for where the mind is pe"
	.ascii	"rhaps rather unwilling to\012    be convinced, it w"
	.ascii	"ill always find something to support\012    its dou"
	.ascii	"bts, if I had not, when the servant let me in today"
	.ascii	",\012    accidentally seen a letter in his hand, di"
	.ascii	"rected to\012    Mr. Willoughby in your sister's wr"
	.ascii	"iting.  I came to inquire,\012    but I was convinc"
	.ascii	"ed before I could ask the question.\012    Is every"
	.ascii	" thing finally settled?  Is it impossible to-?\012 "
	.ascii	"   But I have no right, and I could have no chance "
	.ascii	"of succeeding.\012    Excuse me, Miss Dashwood.  I "
	.ascii	"believe I have been wrong\012    in saying so much,"
	.ascii	" but I hardly know what to do, and on\012    your p"
	.ascii	"rudence I have the strongest dependence.  Tell me\012"
	.ascii	"    that it is all absolutely resolved on, that any"
	.ascii	" attempt,\012    that in short concealment, if conc"
	.ascii	"ealment be possible,\012    is all that remains.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    These words, which conveyed to Elinor a"
	.ascii	" direct avowal\012    of his love fo"
	.ascii	"r her sister, affected her very much.\012    She wa"
	.ascii	"s not immediately able to say anything, and even\012"
	.ascii	"    when her spirits were recovered, she debated fo"
	.ascii	"r a short\012    time, on the answer it would be mo"
	.ascii	"st proper to give.\012    The real state of things "
	.ascii	"between Willoughby and her sister\012    was so lit"
	.ascii	"tle known to herself, that in endeavouring\012    t"
	.ascii	"o explain it, she might be as liable to say too muc"
	.ascii	"h\012    as too little.  Yet as she was convinced t"
	.ascii	"hat Marianne's\012    affection for Willoughby, cou"
	.ascii	"ld leave no hope of Colonel\012    Brandon's succes"
	.ascii	"s, whatever the event of that affection\012    migh"
	.ascii	"t be, and at the same time wished to shield her con"
	.ascii	"duct\012    from censure, she thought it most prude"
	.ascii	"nt and kind,\012    after some consideration, to sa"
	.ascii	"y more than she really knew\012    or believed.  Sh"
	.ascii	"e acknowledged, therefore, that though\012    she h"
	.ascii	"ad never been informed by themselves of the terms\012"
	.ascii	"    on which they stood with each other, of their m"
	.ascii	"utual\012    affection she had no doubt, and of the"
	.ascii	"ir correspondence\012    she was not astonished to "
	.ascii	"hear.\012    \012    He listened to her with silent"
	.ascii	" attention, and on\012    her ceasing to speak, ros"
	.ascii	"e directly from his seat,\012    and after saying i"
	.ascii	"n a voice of emotion, \"to your sister\012    I wis"
	.ascii	"h all imaginable happiness; to Willoughby that he\012"
	.ascii	"    may endeavour to deserve her,\"--took leave, an"
	.ascii	"d went away.\012    \012    Elinor derived no comfo"
	.ascii	"rtable feelings from this\012    conversation, to l"
	.ascii	"essen the uneasiness of her mind on\012    other po"
	.ascii	"ints; she was left, on the contrary, with a\012    "
	.ascii	"melancholy impression of Colonel Brandon's unhappin"
	.ascii	"ess,\012    and was prevented even from wishing it "
	.ascii	"removed,\012    by her anxiety for the very event t"
	.ascii	"hat must confirm it.\012    \012    \012    \012   "
	.ascii	" CHAPTER 28\012    \012    \012    Nothing occurred"
	.ascii	" during the next three or four days,\012    to make"
	.ascii	" Elinor regret what she had done, in applying\012  "
	.ascii	"  to her mother; for Willoughby neither came nor wr"
	.ascii	"ote.\012    They were engaged about the end of that"
	.ascii	" time to attend\012    Lady Middleton to a party, f"
	.ascii	"rom which Mrs. Jennings was\012 "
	.ascii	"   kept away by the indisposition of her youngest d"
	.ascii	"aughter;\012    and for this party, Marianne, wholl"
	.ascii	"y dispirited,\012    careless of her appearance, an"
	.ascii	"d seeming equally indifferent\012    whether she we"
	.ascii	"nt or staid, prepared, without one look\012    of h"
	.ascii	"ope or one expression of pleasure.  She sat by the\012"
	.ascii	"    drawing-room fire after tea, till the moment of"
	.ascii	" Lady\012    Middleton's arrival, without once stir"
	.ascii	"ring from her seat,\012    or altering her attitude"
	.ascii	", lost in her own thoughts,\012    and insensible o"
	.ascii	"f her sister's presence; and when at\012    last th"
	.ascii	"ey were told that Lady Middleton waited for them\012"
	.ascii	"    at the door, she started as if she had forgotte"
	.ascii	"n that\012    any one was expected.\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"They arrived in due time at the place of destinatio"
	.ascii	"n,\012    and as soon as the string of carriages be"
	.ascii	"fore them\012    would allow, alighted, ascended th"
	.ascii	"e stairs, heard their\012    names announced from o"
	.ascii	"ne landing-place to another in an\012    audible vo"
	.ascii	"ice, and entered a room splendidly lit up,\012    q"
	.ascii	"uite full of company, and insufferably hot.  When t"
	.ascii	"hey had\012    paid their tribute of politeness by "
	.ascii	"curtsying to the lady\012    of the house, they wer"
	.ascii	"e permitted to mingle in the crowd,\012    and take"
	.ascii	" their share of the heat and inconvenience, to\012 "
	.ascii	"   which their arrival must necessarily add.  After"
	.ascii	" some time\012    spent in saying little or doing l"
	.ascii	"ess, Lady Middleton sat\012    down to Cassino, and"
	.ascii	" as Marianne was not in spirits for\012    moving a"
	.ascii	"bout, she and Elinor luckily succeeding to chairs,\012"
	.ascii	"    placed themselves at no great distance from the"
	.ascii	" table.\012    \012    They had not remained in thi"
	.ascii	"s manner long, before Elinor\012    perceived Willo"
	.ascii	"ughby, standing within a few yards\012    of them, "
	.ascii	"in earnest conversation with a very fashionable\012"
	.ascii	"    looking young woman.  She soon caught his eye, "
	.ascii	"and he\012    immediately bowed, but without attemp"
	.ascii	"ting to speak to her,\012    or to approach Mariann"
	.ascii	"e, though he could not but see her;\012    and then"
	.ascii	" continued his discourse with the same lady.\012   "
	.ascii	" Elinor turned involuntarily to Marianne, to see wh"
	.ascii	"ether\012 "
	.ascii	"   it could be unobserved by her.  At that moment s"
	.ascii	"he first\012    perceived him, and her whole counte"
	.ascii	"nance glowing with\012    sudden delight, she would"
	.ascii	" have moved towards him instantly,\012    had not h"
	.ascii	"er sister caught hold of her.\012    \012    \"Good"
	.ascii	" heavens!\" she exclaimed, \"he is there--he\012   "
	.ascii	" is there--Oh! why does he not look at me? why cann"
	.ascii	"ot\012    I speak to him?\"\012    \012    \"Pray, "
	.ascii	"pray be composed,\" cried Elinor, \"and do\012    n"
	.ascii	"ot betray what you feel to every body present.\012 "
	.ascii	"   Perhaps he has not observed you yet.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    This however was more than she could believe he"
	.ascii	"rself;\012    and to be composed at such a moment w"
	.ascii	"as not only beyond\012    the reach of Marianne, it"
	.ascii	" was beyond her wish.  She sat\012    in an agony o"
	.ascii	"f impatience which affected every feature.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    At last he turned round again, and regarded the"
	.ascii	"m both;\012    she started up, and pronouncing his "
	.ascii	"name in a tone\012    of affection, held out her ha"
	.ascii	"nd to him.  He approached,\012    and addressing hi"
	.ascii	"mself rather to Elinor than Marianne,\012    as if "
	.ascii	"wishing to avoid her eye, and determined not to\012"
	.ascii	"    observe her attitude, inquired in a hurried man"
	.ascii	"ner after\012    Mrs. Dashwood, and asked how long "
	.ascii	"they had been in town.\012    Elinor was robbed of "
	.ascii	"all presence of mind by such an address,\012    and"
	.ascii	" was unable to say a word.  But the feelings of her"
	.ascii	" sister\012    were instantly expressed.  Her face "
	.ascii	"was crimsoned over,\012    and she exclaimed, in a "
	.ascii	"voice of the greatest emotion,\012    \"Good God! W"
	.ascii	"illoughby, what is the meaning of this?\012    Have"
	.ascii	" you not received my letters?  Will you not shake\012"
	.ascii	"    hands with me?\"\012    \012    He could not th"
	.ascii	"en avoid it, but her touch seemed\012    painful to"
	.ascii	" him, and he held her hand only for a moment.\012  "
	.ascii	"  During all this time he was evidently struggling "
	.ascii	"for composure.\012    Elinor watched his countenanc"
	.ascii	"e and saw its expression\012    becoming more tranq"
	.ascii	"uil.  After a moment's pause, he spoke\012    with "
	.ascii	"calmness.\012    \012    \"I did myself the honour "
	.ascii	"of calling in Berkeley\012    Street last Tuesday, "
	.ascii	"and very much regretted that I was\012 "
	.ascii	"   not fortunate enough to find yourselves and Mrs."
	.ascii	" Jennings\012    at home.  My card was not lost, I "
	.ascii	"hope.\"\012    \012    \"But have you not received "
	.ascii	"my notes?\" cried Marianne\012    in the wildest an"
	.ascii	"xiety.  \"Here is some mistake I am\012    sure--so"
	.ascii	"me dreadful mistake.  What can be the meaning\012  "
	.ascii	"  of it?  Tell me, Willoughby; for heaven's sake te"
	.ascii	"ll me,\012    what is the matter?\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"He made no reply; his complexion changed and all hi"
	.ascii	"s\012    embarrassment returned; but as if, on catc"
	.ascii	"hing the eye\012    of the young lady with whom he "
	.ascii	"had been previously talking,\012    he felt the nec"
	.ascii	"essity of instant exertion, he recovered\012    him"
	.ascii	"self again, and after saying, \"Yes, I had the plea"
	.ascii	"sure\012    of receiving the information of your ar"
	.ascii	"rival in town,\012    which you were so good as to "
	.ascii	"send me,\" turned hastily away\012    with a slight"
	.ascii	" bow and joined his friend.\012    \012    Marianne"
	.ascii	", now looking dreadfully white, and unable\012    t"
	.ascii	"o stand, sunk into her chair, and Elinor, expecting"
	.ascii	" every\012    moment to see her faint, tried to scr"
	.ascii	"een her from the\012    observation of others, whil"
	.ascii	"e reviving her with lavender water.\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"Go to him, Elinor,\" she cried, as soon as she\012"
	.ascii	"    could speak, \"and force him to come to me.  Te"
	.ascii	"ll him\012    I must see him again--must speak to h"
	.ascii	"im instantly.--\012    I cannot rest--I shall not h"
	.ascii	"ave a moment's peace till this\012    is explained-"
	.ascii	"-some dreadful misapprehension or other.--\012    O"
	.ascii	"h go to him this moment.\"\012    \012    \"How can"
	.ascii	" that be done? No, my dearest Marianne,\012    you "
	.ascii	"must wait.  This is not the place for explanations."
	.ascii	"\012    Wait only till tomorrow.\"\012    \012    W"
	.ascii	"ith difficulty however could she prevent her\012   "
	.ascii	" from following him herself; and to persuade her to"
	.ascii	" check\012    her agitation, to wait, at least, wit"
	.ascii	"h the appearance\012    of composure, till she migh"
	.ascii	"t speak to him with more privacy\012    and more ef"
	.ascii	"fect, was impossible; for Marianne continued\012   "
	.ascii	" incessantly to give way in a low voice to the mise"
	.ascii	"ry\012    of her feelings, by exclamations of wretc"
	.ascii	"hedness.\012    In a short time Elinor saw W"
	.ascii	"illoughby quit the room by the\012    door towards "
	.ascii	"the staircase, and telling Marianne that he\012    "
	.ascii	"was gone, urged the impossibility of speaking to hi"
	.ascii	"m again\012    that evening, as a fresh argument fo"
	.ascii	"r her to be calm.\012    She instantly begged her s"
	.ascii	"ister would entreat Lady\012    Middleton to take t"
	.ascii	"hem home, as she was too miserable\012    to stay a"
	.ascii	" minute longer.\012    \012    Lady Middleton, thou"
	.ascii	"gh in the middle of a rubber,\012    on being infor"
	.ascii	"med that Marianne was unwell, was too\012    polite"
	.ascii	" to object for a moment to her wish of going away,\012"
	.ascii	"    and making over her cards to a friend, they dep"
	.ascii	"arted\012    as soon the carriage could be found.  "
	.ascii	"Scarcely a word\012    was spoken during their retu"
	.ascii	"rn to Berkeley Street.\012    Marianne was in a sil"
	.ascii	"ent agony, too much oppressed even\012    for tears"
	.ascii	"; but as Mrs. Jennings was luckily not come home,\012"
	.ascii	"    they could go directly to their own room, where"
	.ascii	" hartshorn\012    restored her a little to herself."
	.ascii	"  She was soon undressed\012    and in bed, and as "
	.ascii	"she seemed desirous of being alone,\012    her sist"
	.ascii	"er then left her, and while she waited the return\012"
	.ascii	"    of Mrs. Jennings, had leisure enough for thinki"
	.ascii	"ng over\012    the past.\012    \012    That some k"
	.ascii	"ind of engagement had subsisted\012    between Will"
	.ascii	"oughby and Marianne she could not doubt,\012    and"
	.ascii	" that Willoughby was weary of it, seemed equally cl"
	.ascii	"ear;\012    for however Marianne might still feed h"
	.ascii	"er own wishes,\012    SHE could not attribute such "
	.ascii	"behaviour to mistake\012    or misapprehension of a"
	.ascii	"ny kind.  Nothing but a thorough\012    change of s"
	.ascii	"entiment could account for it.  Her indignation\012"
	.ascii	"    would have been still stronger than it was, had"
	.ascii	" she\012    not witnessed that embarrassment which "
	.ascii	"seemed to speak\012    a consciousness of his own m"
	.ascii	"isconduct, and prevented\012    her from believing "
	.ascii	"him so unprincipled as to have been\012    sporting"
	.ascii	" with the affections of her sister from the first,\012"
	.ascii	"    without any design that would bear investigatio"
	.ascii	"n.\012    Absence might have weakened his regard, a"
	.ascii	"nd convenience\012    might have determined him to "
	.ascii	"overcome i"
	.ascii	"t, but that such\012    a regard had formerly exist"
	.ascii	"ed she could not bring herself\012    to doubt.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    As for Marianne, on the pangs which so "
	.ascii	"unhappy a meeting\012    must already have given he"
	.ascii	"r, and on those still more\012    severe which migh"
	.ascii	"t await her in its probable consequence,\012    she"
	.ascii	" could not reflect without the deepest concern.\012"
	.ascii	"    Her own situation gained in the comparison; for"
	.ascii	" while she\012    could ESTEEM Edward as much as ev"
	.ascii	"er, however they might be\012    divided in future,"
	.ascii	" her mind might be always supported.\012    But eve"
	.ascii	"ry circumstance that could embitter such an evil\012"
	.ascii	"    seemed uniting to heighten the misery of Marian"
	.ascii	"ne\012    in a final separation from Willoughby--in"
	.ascii	" an immediate\012    and irreconcilable rupture wit"
	.ascii	"h him.\012    \012    \012    \012    CHAPTER 29\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \012    Before the house-maid had lit t"
	.ascii	"heir fire the next day,\012    or the sun gained an"
	.ascii	"y power over a cold, gloomy morning\012    in Janua"
	.ascii	"ry, Marianne, only half dressed, was kneeling\012  "
	.ascii	"  against one of the window-seats for the sake of a"
	.ascii	"ll\012    the little light she could command from i"
	.ascii	"t, and writing\012    as fast as a continual flow o"
	.ascii	"f tears would permit her.\012    In this situation,"
	.ascii	" Elinor, roused from sleep by her agitation\012    "
	.ascii	"and sobs, first perceived her; and after observing "
	.ascii	"her\012    for a few moments with silent anxiety, s"
	.ascii	"aid, in a tone\012    of the most considerate gentl"
	.ascii	"eness,\012    \012    \"Marianne, may I ask-?\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"No, Elinor,\" she replied, \"ask noth"
	.ascii	"ing; you will\012    soon know all.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  The sort of desperate calmness with which this wa"
	.ascii	"s said,\012    lasted no longer than while she spok"
	.ascii	"e, and was immediately\012    followed by a return "
	.ascii	"of the same excessive affliction.\012    It was som"
	.ascii	"e minutes before she could go on with her letter,\012"
	.ascii	"    and the frequent bursts of grief which still ob"
	.ascii	"liged her,\012    at intervals, to withhold her pen"
	.ascii	", were proofs enough of her\012    feeling how more"
	.ascii	" than probable it was that she was writing\012    f"
	.ascii	"or the last time to Willoughby.\012    \012    Elin"
	.ascii	"or paid her every quiet and unobtrusive attention"
	.ascii	"\012    in her power; and she would have tried to s"
	.ascii	"ooth and\012    tranquilize her still more, had not"
	.ascii	" Marianne entreated her,\012    with all the eagern"
	.ascii	"ess of the most nervous irritability,\012    not to"
	.ascii	" speak to her for the world.  In such circumstances"
	.ascii	",\012    it was better for both that they should no"
	.ascii	"t be long together;\012    and the restless state o"
	.ascii	"f Marianne's mind not only prevented\012    her fro"
	.ascii	"m remaining in the room a moment after she was dres"
	.ascii	"sed,\012    but requiring at once solitude and cont"
	.ascii	"inual change of place,\012    made her wander about"
	.ascii	" the house till breakfast time, avoiding\012    the"
	.ascii	" sight of every body.\012    \012    At breakfast s"
	.ascii	"he neither ate, nor attempted to eat\012    any thi"
	.ascii	"ng; and Elinor's attention was then all employed,\012"
	.ascii	"    not in urging her, not in pitying her, nor in a"
	.ascii	"ppearing\012    to regard her, but in endeavouring "
	.ascii	"to engage Mrs. Jenning's\012    notice entirely to "
	.ascii	"herself.\012    \012    As this was a favourite mea"
	.ascii	"l with Mrs. Jennings,\012    it lasted a considerab"
	.ascii	"le time, and they were just setting\012    themselv"
	.ascii	"es, after it, round the common working table, when "
	.ascii	"a\012    letter was delivered to Marianne, which sh"
	.ascii	"e eagerly caught\012    from the servant, and, turn"
	.ascii	"ing of a death-like paleness,\012    instantly ran "
	.ascii	"out of the room.  Elinor, who saw as plainly\012   "
	.ascii	" by this, as if she had seen the direction, that it"
	.ascii	" must\012    come from Willoughby, felt immediately"
	.ascii	" such a sickness\012    at heart as made her hardly"
	.ascii	" able to hold up her head,\012    and sat in such a"
	.ascii	" general tremour as made her fear it\012    impossi"
	.ascii	"ble to escape Mrs. Jenning's notice.  That good lad"
	.ascii	"y,\012    however, saw only that Marianne had recei"
	.ascii	"ved a letter\012    from Willoughby, which appeared"
	.ascii	" to her a very good joke,\012    and which she trea"
	.ascii	"ted accordingly, by hoping, with a laugh,\012    th"
	.ascii	"at she would find it to her liking.  Of Elinor's di"
	.ascii	"stress,\012    she was too busily employed in measu"
	.ascii	"ring lengths of worsted\012    for her rug, to see "
	.ascii	"any thing at all; and calmly continuing\012    her "
	.ascii	"talk, as soon as Marianne disappeared, she said,\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Upon"
	.ascii	" my word, I never saw a young woman so\012    despe"
	.ascii	"rately in love in my life!  MY girls were nothing\012"
	.ascii	"    to her, and yet they used to be foolish enough;"
	.ascii	" but as\012    for Miss Marianne, she is quite an a"
	.ascii	"ltered creature.\012    I hope, from the bottom of "
	.ascii	"my heart, he won't keep her\012    waiting much lon"
	.ascii	"ger, for it is quite grievous to see her\012    loo"
	.ascii	"k so ill and forlorn.  Pray, when are they to be ma"
	.ascii	"rried?\"\012    \012    Elinor, though never less d"
	.ascii	"isposed to speak than at\012    that moment, oblige"
	.ascii	"d herself to answer such an attack\012    as this, "
	.ascii	"and, therefore, trying to smile, replied, \"And hav"
	.ascii	"e\012    you really, Ma'am, talked yourself into a "
	.ascii	"persuasion\012    of my sister's being engaged to M"
	.ascii	"r. Willoughby?  I thought\012    it had been only a"
	.ascii	" joke, but so serious a question seems\012    to im"
	.ascii	"ply more; and I must beg, therefore, that you will "
	.ascii	"not\012    deceive yourself any longer.  I do assur"
	.ascii	"e you that nothing\012    would surprise me more th"
	.ascii	"an to hear of their being going\012    to be marrie"
	.ascii	"d.\"\012    \012    \"For shame, for shame, Miss Da"
	.ascii	"shwood! how can you\012    talk so?  Don't we all k"
	.ascii	"now that it must be a match, that\012    they were "
	.ascii	"over head and ears in love with each other from\012"
	.ascii	"    the first moment they met?  Did not I see them "
	.ascii	"together\012    in Devonshire every day, and all da"
	.ascii	"y long; and did not I\012    know that your sister "
	.ascii	"came to town with me on purpose\012    to buy weddi"
	.ascii	"ng clothes?  Come, come, this won't do.\012    Beca"
	.ascii	"use you are so sly about it yourself, you think nob"
	.ascii	"ody\012    else has any senses; but it is no such t"
	.ascii	"hing, I can tell you,\012    for it has been known "
	.ascii	"all over town this ever so long.\012    I tell ever"
	.ascii	"y body of it and so does Charlotte.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"Indeed, Ma'am,\" said Elinor, very seriously,\012"
	.ascii	"    \"you are mistaken.  Indeed, you are doing a ve"
	.ascii	"ry unkind thing\012    in spreading the report, and"
	.ascii	" you will find that you have\012    though you will"
	.ascii	" not believe me now.\"\012    \012    Mrs. Jennings"
	.ascii	" laughed again, but Elinor had not\012    spirits t"
	.ascii	"o say more, and eager at all events to know\012    "
	.ascii	"what Willoughby had written,"
	.ascii	" hurried away to their room,\012    where, on openi"
	.ascii	"ng the door, she saw Marianne stretched on\012    t"
	.ascii	"he bed, almost choked by grief, one letter in her h"
	.ascii	"and,\012    and two or three others laying by her. "
	.ascii	" Elinor drew near,\012    but without saying a word"
	.ascii	"; and seating herself on the bed,\012    took her h"
	.ascii	"and, kissed her affectionately several times,\012  "
	.ascii	"  and then gave way to a burst of tears, which at f"
	.ascii	"irst\012    was scarcely less violent than Marianne"
	.ascii	"'s. The latter,\012    though unable to speak, seem"
	.ascii	"ed to feel all the tenderness\012    of this behavi"
	.ascii	"our, and after some time thus spent in\012    joint"
	.ascii	" affliction, she put all the letters into Elinor's "
	.ascii	"hands;\012    and then covering her face with her h"
	.ascii	"andkerchief,\012    almost screamed with agony.  El"
	.ascii	"inor, who knew that such grief,\012    shocking as "
	.ascii	"it was to witness it, must have its course,\012    "
	.ascii	"watched by her till this excess of suffering had so"
	.ascii	"mewhat\012    spent itself, and then turning eagerl"
	.ascii	"y to Willoughby's letter,\012    read as follows:\012"
	.ascii	"    \012                                  \"Bond St"
	.ascii	"reet, January.\012         \"MY DEAR MADAM,\012    "
	.ascii	"\012         \"I have just had the honour of receiv"
	.ascii	"ing your\012         letter, for which I beg to ret"
	.ascii	"urn my sincere\012         acknowledgments.  I am m"
	.ascii	"uch concerned to find there\012         was anythin"
	.ascii	"g in my behaviour last night that did\012         n"
	.ascii	"ot meet your approbation; and though I am quite at\012"
	.ascii	"         a loss to discover in what point I could b"
	.ascii	"e so\012         unfortunate as to offend you, I en"
	.ascii	"treat your\012         forgiveness of what I can as"
	.ascii	"sure you to have been\012         perfectly uninten"
	.ascii	"tional.  I shall never reflect on\012         my fo"
	.ascii	"rmer acquaintance with your family in Devonshire\012"
	.ascii	"         without the most grateful pleasure, and fl"
	.ascii	"atter\012         myself it will not be broken by a"
	.ascii	"ny mistake or\012         misapprehension of my act"
	.ascii	"ions.  My esteem for your\012         whole family "
	.ascii	"is very sincere; but if I have been so\012         "
	.ascii	"unfortunate as to give rise to a belief of more tha"
	.ascii	"n\012         I felt, or meant to express, I shall "
	.ascii	"reproach mysel"
	.ascii	"f\012         for not having been more guarded in m"
	.ascii	"y professions\012         of that esteem.  That I s"
	.ascii	"hould ever have meant more\012         you will all"
	.ascii	"ow to be impossible, when you understand\012       "
	.ascii	"  that my affections have been long engaged elsewhe"
	.ascii	"re,\012         and it will not be many weeks, I be"
	.ascii	"lieve, before\012         this engagement is fulfil"
	.ascii	"led.  It is with great\012         regret that I ob"
	.ascii	"ey your commands in returning the\012         lette"
	.ascii	"rs with which I have been honoured from you,\012   "
	.ascii	"      and the lock of hair, which you so obligingly"
	.ascii	" bestowed\012         on me.\012    \012         \""
	.ascii	"I am, dear Madam,\012                   \"Your most"
	.ascii	" obedient\012                        \"humble serva"
	.ascii	"nt,\012                                            "
	.ascii	"\"JOHN WILLOUGHBY.\"\012    \012    \012    With wh"
	.ascii	"at indignation such a letter as this must\012    be"
	.ascii	" read by Miss Dashwood, may be imagined.  Though aw"
	.ascii	"are,\012    before she began it, that it must bring"
	.ascii	" a confession\012    of his inconstancy, and confir"
	.ascii	"m their separation for ever,\012    she was not awa"
	.ascii	"re that such language could be suffered\012    to a"
	.ascii	"nnounce it; nor could she have supposed Willoughby\012"
	.ascii	"    capable of departing so far from the appearance"
	.ascii	" of every\012    honourable and delicate feeling--s"
	.ascii	"o far from the common\012    decorum of a gentleman"
	.ascii	", as to send a letter so impudently\012    cruel: a"
	.ascii	" letter which, instead of bringing with his desire\012"
	.ascii	"    of a release any professions of regret, acknowl"
	.ascii	"edged no\012    breach of faith, denied all peculia"
	.ascii	"r affection whatever--\012    a letter of which eve"
	.ascii	"ry line was an insult, and which\012    proclaimed "
	.ascii	"its writer to be deep in hardened villainy.\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    She paused over it for some time with indig"
	.ascii	"nant\012    astonishment; then read it again and ag"
	.ascii	"ain; but every\012    perusal only served to increa"
	.ascii	"se her abhorrence of the man,\012    and so bitter "
	.ascii	"were her feelings against him, that she\012    dare"
	.ascii	"d not trust herself to speak, lest she might wound\012"
	.ascii	"    Marianne still deeper by treating their disenga"
	.ascii	"gement,\012    not as a loss to her of any possible"
	.ascii	" good but as an\012    es"
	.ascii	"cape from the worst and most irremediable of all\012"
	.ascii	"    evils, a connection, for life, with an unprinci"
	.ascii	"pled man,\012    as a deliverance the most real, a "
	.ascii	"blessing the most important.\012    \012    In her "
	.ascii	"earnest meditations on the contents of the letter,\012"
	.ascii	"    on the depravity of that mind which could dicta"
	.ascii	"te it,\012    and probably, on the very different m"
	.ascii	"ind of a very different\012    person, who had no o"
	.ascii	"ther connection whatever with the affair\012    tha"
	.ascii	"n what her heart gave him with every thing that pas"
	.ascii	"sed,\012    Elinor forgot the immediate distress of"
	.ascii	" her sister,\012    forgot that she had three lette"
	.ascii	"rs on her lap yet unread,\012    and so entirely fo"
	.ascii	"rgot how long she had been in the room,\012    that"
	.ascii	" when on hearing a carriage drive up to the door,\012"
	.ascii	"    she went to the window to see who could be comi"
	.ascii	"ng so\012    unreasonably early, she was all astoni"
	.ascii	"shment to perceive\012    Mrs. Jennings's chariot, "
	.ascii	"which she knew had not been\012    ordered till one"
	.ascii	".  Determined not to quit Marianne,\012    though h"
	.ascii	"opeless of contributing, at present, to her ease,\012"
	.ascii	"    she hurried away to excuse herself from attendi"
	.ascii	"ng\012    Mrs. Jennings, on account of her sister b"
	.ascii	"eing indisposed.\012    Mrs. Jennings, with a thoro"
	.ascii	"ughly good-humoured concern\012    for its cause, a"
	.ascii	"dmitted the excuse most readily, and Elinor,\012   "
	.ascii	" after seeing her safe off, returned to Marianne, w"
	.ascii	"hom she\012    found attempting to rise from the be"
	.ascii	"d, and whom she reached\012    just in time to prev"
	.ascii	"ent her from falling on the floor,\012    faint and"
	.ascii	" giddy from a long want of proper rest and food;\012"
	.ascii	"    for it was many days since she had any appetite"
	.ascii	", and many\012    nights since she had really slept"
	.ascii	"; and now, when her\012    mind was no longer suppo"
	.ascii	"rted by the fever of suspense,\012    the consequen"
	.ascii	"ce of all this was felt in an aching head,\012    a"
	.ascii	" weakened stomach, and a general nervous faintness."
	.ascii	"\012    A glass of wine, which Elinor procured for "
	.ascii	"her directly,\012    made her more comfortable, and"
	.ascii	" she was at last able to express\012    some sense "
	.ascii	"of her kindness, by saying,\012    \012    \"Poor E"
	.ascii	"linor!"
	.ascii	" how unhappy I make you!\"\012    \012    \"I only "
	.ascii	"wish,\" replied her sister, \"there were\012    any"
	.ascii	" thing I COULD do, which might be of comfort to you"
	.ascii	".\"\012    \012    This, as every thing else would "
	.ascii	"have been,\012    was too much for Marianne, who co"
	.ascii	"uld only exclaim,\012    in the anguish of her hear"
	.ascii	"t, \"Oh! Elinor, I am miserable,\012    indeed,\" b"
	.ascii	"efore her voice was entirely lost in sobs.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Elinor could no longer witness this torrent\012"
	.ascii	"    of unresisted grief in silence.\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"Exert yourself, dear Marianne,\" she cried,\012  "
	.ascii	"  \"if you would not kill yourself and all who love"
	.ascii	" you.\012    Think of your mother; think of her mis"
	.ascii	"ery while YOU suffer:\012    for her sake you must "
	.ascii	"exert yourself.\"\012    \012    \"I cannot, I cann"
	.ascii	"ot,\" cried Marianne; \"leave me,\012    leave me, "
	.ascii	"if I distress you; leave me, hate me, forget me!\012"
	.ascii	"    but do not torture me so.  Oh! how easy for tho"
	.ascii	"se,\012    who have no sorrow of their own to talk "
	.ascii	"of exertion!  Happy,\012    happy Elinor, YOU canno"
	.ascii	"t have an idea of what I suffer.\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"Do you call ME happy, Marianne?  Ah! if you knew!--"
	.ascii	"And\012    can you believe me to be so, while I see"
	.ascii	" you so wretched!\"\012    \012    \"Forgive me, fo"
	.ascii	"rgive me,\" throwing her arms round\012    her sist"
	.ascii	"er's neck; \"I know you feel for me; I know what\012"
	.ascii	"    a heart you have; but yet you are--you must be "
	.ascii	"happy;\012    Edward loves you--what, oh what, can "
	.ascii	"do away such happiness\012    as that?\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Many, many circumstances,\" said Elinor, sole"
	.ascii	"mnly.\012    \012    \"No, no, no,\" cried Marianne"
	.ascii	" wildly, \"he loves you,\012    and only you.  You "
	.ascii	"CAN have no grief.\"\012    \012    \"I can have no"
	.ascii	" pleasure while I see you in this state.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"And you will never see me otherwise.  Mine is"
	.ascii	"\012    a misery which nothing can do away.\"\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    \"You must not talk so, Marianne.  Have y"
	.ascii	"ou no\012    comforts? no friends?  Is your loss su"
	.ascii	"ch as leaves\012    no opening for consolation?  Mu"
	.ascii	"ch as you suffer now,\012    think of what you woul"
	.ascii	"d have suffered if the discovery\012    of his char"
	.ascii	"acter had been delayed to a later period--\012    i"
	.ascii	"f your engagement had be"
	.ascii	"en carried on for months and months,\012    as it m"
	.ascii	"ight have been, before he chose to put an end to it"
	.ascii	".\012    Every additional day of unhappy confidence"
	.ascii	", on your side,\012    would have made the blow mor"
	.ascii	"e dreadful.\"\012    \012    \"Engagement!\" cried "
	.ascii	"Marianne, \"there has been\012    no engagement.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"No engagement!\"\012    \012    \"No,"
	.ascii	" he is not so unworthy as you believe him.\012    H"
	.ascii	"e has broken no faith with me.\"\012    \012    \"B"
	.ascii	"ut he told you that he loved you.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"Yes--no--never absolutely.  It was every day impl"
	.ascii	"ied,\012    but never professedly declared.  Someti"
	.ascii	"mes I thought it\012    had been--but it never was."
	.ascii	"\"\012    \012    \"Yet you wrote to him?\"--\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    \"Yes--could that be wrong after all that"
	.ascii	" had passed?--\012    But I cannot talk.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Elinor said no more, and turning again to the t"
	.ascii	"hree\012    letters which now raised a much stronge"
	.ascii	"r curiosity\012    than before, directly ran over t"
	.ascii	"he contents of all.\012    The first, which was wha"
	.ascii	"t her sister had sent him\012    on their arrival i"
	.ascii	"n town, was to this effect.\012    \012            "
	.ascii	"                 Berkeley Street, January.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"         \"How surprised you will be, Willoughby, o"
	.ascii	"n\012         receiving this; and I think you will "
	.ascii	"feel something\012         more than surprise, when"
	.ascii	" you know that I am in town.\012         An opportu"
	.ascii	"nity of coming hither, though with Mrs.\012        "
	.ascii	" Jennings, was a temptation we could not resist.\012"
	.ascii	"         I wish you may receive this in time to com"
	.ascii	"e here\012         to-night, but I will not depend "
	.ascii	"on it.  At any rate\012         I shall expect you "
	.ascii	"to-morrow. For the present, adieu.\012    \012     "
	.ascii	"                                            \"M.D.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    Her second note, which had been wri"
	.ascii	"tten on the morning\012    after the dance at the M"
	.ascii	"iddletons', was in these words:--\012    \012      "
	.ascii	"   \"I cannot express my disappointment in having\012"
	.ascii	"         missed you the day before yesterday, nor m"
	.ascii	"y astonishment\012         at not having received a"
	.ascii	"ny answer to a note which\012         I sent you ab"
	.ascii	"ove a week ago.  I have been expecting\012         "
	.ascii	"to hear from you"
	.ascii	", and still more to see you, every\012         hour"
	.ascii	" of the day.  Pray call again as soon as possible,\012"
	.ascii	"         and explain the reason of my having expect"
	.ascii	"ed this\012         in vain.  You had better come e"
	.ascii	"arlier another time,\012         because we are gen"
	.ascii	"erally out by one.  We were last\012         night "
	.ascii	"at Lady Middleton's, where there was a dance.\012  "
	.ascii	"       I have been told that you were asked to be o"
	.ascii	"f the\012         party.  But could it be so?  You "
	.ascii	"must be very much\012         altered indeed since "
	.ascii	"we parted, if that could be\012         the case, a"
	.ascii	"nd you not there.  But I will not suppose\012      "
	.ascii	"   this possible, and I hope very soon to receive y"
	.ascii	"our\012         personal assurance of its being oth"
	.ascii	"erwise.\012    \012                                "
	.ascii	"                \"M.D.\"\012    \012    The content"
	.ascii	"s of her last note to him were these:--\012    \012"
	.ascii	"         \"What am I to imagine, Willoughby, by you"
	.ascii	"r\012         behaviour last night?  Again I demand"
	.ascii	" an explanation\012         of it.  I was prepared "
	.ascii	"to meet you with the pleasure\012         which our"
	.ascii	" separation naturally produced, with the\012       "
	.ascii	"  familiarity which our intimacy at Barton appeared"
	.ascii	"\012         to me to justify.  I was repulsed inde"
	.ascii	"ed! I have\012         passed a wretched night in e"
	.ascii	"ndeavouring to excuse\012         a conduct which c"
	.ascii	"an scarcely be called less than\012         insulti"
	.ascii	"ng; but though I have not yet been able to\012     "
	.ascii	"    form any reasonable apology for your behaviour,"
	.ascii	"\012         I am perfectly ready to hear your just"
	.ascii	"ification of\012         it.  You have perhaps been"
	.ascii	" misinformed, or purposely\012         deceived, in"
	.ascii	" something concerning me, which may have\012       "
	.ascii	"  lowered me in your opinion.  Tell me what it is,\012"
	.ascii	"         explain the grounds on which you acted, an"
	.ascii	"d I shall\012         be satisfied, in being able t"
	.ascii	"o satisfy you.  It\012         would grieve me inde"
	.ascii	"ed to be obliged to think ill\012         of you; b"
	.ascii	"ut if I am to do it, if I am to learn that\012     "
	.ascii	"    you are not what we have hitherto believed you,"
	.ascii	" that\012         your regard for us all was insinc"
	.ascii	"ere, that your"
	.ascii	"\012         behaviour to me was intended only to d"
	.ascii	"eceive, let\012         it be told as soon as possi"
	.ascii	"ble.  My feelings are at\012         present in a s"
	.ascii	"tate of dreadful indecision; I wish\012         to "
	.ascii	"acquit you, but certainty on either side will be\012"
	.ascii	"         ease to what I now suffer.  If your sentim"
	.ascii	"ents are\012         no longer what they were, you "
	.ascii	"will return my notes,\012         and the lock of m"
	.ascii	"y hair which is in your possession.\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"                                             \"M.D."
	.ascii	"\"\012    \012    That such letters, so full of aff"
	.ascii	"ection and confidence,\012    could have been so an"
	.ascii	"swered, Elinor, for Willoughby's sake,\012    would"
	.ascii	" have been unwilling to believe.  But her condemnat"
	.ascii	"ion\012    of him did not blind her to the impropri"
	.ascii	"ety of their\012    having been written at all; and"
	.ascii	" she was silently grieving\012    over the impruden"
	.ascii	"ce which had hazarded such unsolicited\012    proof"
	.ascii	"s of tenderness, not warranted by anything precedin"
	.ascii	"g,\012    and most severely condemned by the event,"
	.ascii	" when Marianne,\012    perceiving that she had fini"
	.ascii	"shed the letters, observed to\012    her that they "
	.ascii	"contained nothing but what any one would\012    hav"
	.ascii	"e written in the same situation.\012    \012    \"I"
	.ascii	" felt myself,\" she added, \"to be as solemnly\012 "
	.ascii	"   engaged to him, as if the strictest legal covena"
	.ascii	"nt\012    had bound us to each other.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"I can believe it,\" said Elinor; \"but unfort"
	.ascii	"unately\012    he did not feel the same.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"He DID feel the same, Elinor--for weeks and w"
	.ascii	"eeks he\012    felt it.  I know he did.  Whatever m"
	.ascii	"ay have changed him now, (and\012    nothing but th"
	.ascii	"e blackest art employed against me can have done\012"
	.ascii	"    it), I was once as dear to him as my own soul c"
	.ascii	"ould wish.\012    This lock of hair, which now he c"
	.ascii	"an so readily give up,\012    was begged of me with"
	.ascii	" the most earnest supplication.\012    Had you seen"
	.ascii	" his look, his manner, had you heard his voice\012 "
	.ascii	"   at that moment!  Have you forgot the last evenin"
	.ascii	"g of our\012    being together at Barton?  The morn"
	.ascii	"ing that we parted\012    too!  When he told me tha"
	.ascii	"t it might be many weeks before\012"
	.ascii	"    we met again--his distress--can I ever forget h"
	.ascii	"is distress?\"\012    \012    For a moment or two s"
	.ascii	"he could say no more;\012    but when this emotion "
	.ascii	"had passed away, she added,\012    in a firmer tone"
	.ascii	",\012    \012    \"Elinor, I have been cruelly used"
	.ascii	"; but not by Willoughby.\"\012    \012    \"Dearest"
	.ascii	" Marianne, who but himself?  By whom can he\012    "
	.ascii	"have been instigated?\"\012    \012    \"By all the"
	.ascii	" world, rather than by his own heart.\012    I coul"
	.ascii	"d rather believe every creature of my acquaintance\012"
	.ascii	"    leagued together to ruin me in his opinion, tha"
	.ascii	"n believe\012    his nature capable of such cruelty"
	.ascii	".  This woman of whom he\012    writes--whoever she"
	.ascii	" be--or any one, in short, but your own\012    dear"
	.ascii	" self, mama, and Edward, may have been so barbarous"
	.ascii	"\012    to bely me.  Beyond you three, is there a c"
	.ascii	"reature\012    in the world whom I would not rather"
	.ascii	" suspect of evil\012    than Willoughby, whose hear"
	.ascii	"t I know so well?\"\012    \012    Elinor would not"
	.ascii	" contend, and only replied,\012    \"Whoever may ha"
	.ascii	"ve been so detestably your enemy, let them\012    b"
	.ascii	"e cheated of their malignant triumph, my dear siste"
	.ascii	"r,\012    by seeing how nobly the consciousness of "
	.ascii	"your own\012    innocence and good intentions suppo"
	.ascii	"rts your spirits.\012    It is a reasonable and lau"
	.ascii	"dable pride which resists\012    such malevolence.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"No, no,\" cried Marianne, \"miser"
	.ascii	"y such as mine has\012    no pride.  I care not who"
	.ascii	" knows that I am wretched.\012    The triumph of se"
	.ascii	"eing me so may be open to all the world.\012    Eli"
	.ascii	"nor, Elinor, they who suffer little may be proud an"
	.ascii	"d\012    independent as they like--may resist insul"
	.ascii	"t, or return\012    mortification--but I cannot.  I"
	.ascii	" must feel--I must be\012    wretched--and they are"
	.ascii	" welcome to enjoy the consciousness\012    of it th"
	.ascii	"at can.\"\012    \012    \"But for my mother's sake"
	.ascii	" and mine--\"\012    \012    \"I would do more than"
	.ascii	" for my own.  But to appear\012    happy when I am "
	.ascii	"so miserable--Oh! who can require it?\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Again they were both silent.  Elinor was employ"
	.ascii	"ed\012    in walking thoughtfully from the fire to "
	.ascii	"the window,\012    from the window to the fire, wit"
	.ascii	"hout k"
	.ascii	"nowing that she\012    received warmth from one, or"
	.ascii	" discerning objects through\012    the other; and M"
	.ascii	"arianne, seated at the foot of the bed,\012    with"
	.ascii	" her head leaning against one of its posts,\012    "
	.ascii	"again took up Willoughby's letter, and, after shudd"
	.ascii	"ering\012    over every sentence, exclaimed--\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    \"It is too much! Oh, Willoughby, Willoug"
	.ascii	"hby, could this\012    be yours!  Cruel, cruel--not"
	.ascii	"hing can acquit you.  Elinor,\012    nothing can.  "
	.ascii	"Whatever he might have heard against me--\012    ou"
	.ascii	"ght he not to have suspended his belief? ought he n"
	.ascii	"ot to\012    have told me of it, to have given me t"
	.ascii	"he power of clearing\012    myself? 'The lock of ha"
	.ascii	"ir, (repeating it from the letter,)\012    which yo"
	.ascii	"u so obligingly bestowed on me'--That is unpardonab"
	.ascii	"le.\012    Willoughby, where was your heart when yo"
	.ascii	"u wrote those words?\012    Oh, barbarously insolen"
	.ascii	"t!--Elinor, can he be justified?\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"No, Marianne, in no possible way.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"And yet this woman--who knows what her art may\012"
	.ascii	"    have been?--how long it may have been premedita"
	.ascii	"ted,\012    and how deeply contrived by her!--Who i"
	.ascii	"s she?--Who can\012    she be?--Whom did I ever hea"
	.ascii	"r him talk of as young and\012    attractive among "
	.ascii	"his female acquaintance?--Oh! no one,\012    no one"
	.ascii	"--he talked to me only of myself.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"Another pause ensued; Marianne was greatly agitated"
	.ascii	",\012    and it ended thus.\012    \012    \"Elinor"
	.ascii	", I must go home.  I must go and comfort mama.\012 "
	.ascii	"   Can not we be gone to-morrow?\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"To-morrow, Marianne!\"\012    \012    \"Yes, why sh"
	.ascii	"ould I stay here? I came only for\012    Willoughby"
	.ascii	"'s sake--and now who cares for me? Who regards me?\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"It would be impossible to go to-m"
	.ascii	"orrow. We owe\012    Mrs. Jennings much more than c"
	.ascii	"ivility; and civility of\012    the commonest kind "
	.ascii	"must prevent such a hasty removal as that.\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \"Well then, another day or two, perhaps; "
	.ascii	"but I cannot\012    stay here long, I cannot stay t"
	.ascii	"o endure the questions\012    and remarks of all th"
	.ascii	"ese people.  The Middletons and\012    Palmers--how"
	.ascii	" am I to bear their pity?  The pity of such\012    "
	.ascii	"a wo"
	.ascii	"man as Lady Middleton!  Oh, what would HE say to th"
	.ascii	"at!\"\012    \012    Elinor advised her to lie down"
	.ascii	" again, and for a\012    moment she did so; but no "
	.ascii	"attitude could give her ease;\012    and in restles"
	.ascii	"s pain of mind and body she moved from one\012    p"
	.ascii	"osture to another, till growing more and more hyste"
	.ascii	"rical,\012    her sister could with difficulty keep"
	.ascii	" her on the bed at all,\012    and for some time wa"
	.ascii	"s fearful of being constrained to call\012    for a"
	.ascii	"ssistance.  Some lavender drops, however, which she"
	.ascii	"\012    was at length persuaded to take, were of us"
	.ascii	"e; and from\012    that time till Mrs. Jennings ret"
	.ascii	"urned, she continued\012    on the bed quiet and mo"
	.ascii	"tionless.\012    \012    \012    \012    CHAPTER 30"
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \012    Mrs. Jennings came immediat"
	.ascii	"ely to their room on her return,\012    and without"
	.ascii	" waiting to have her request of admittance answered"
	.ascii	",\012    opened the door and walked in with a look "
	.ascii	"of real concern.\012    \012    \"How do you do my "
	.ascii	"dear?\"--said she in a voice of great\012    compas"
	.ascii	"sion to Marianne, who turned away her face without\012"
	.ascii	"    attempting to answer.\012    \012    \"How is s"
	.ascii	"he, Miss Dashwood?--Poor thing! she looks very bad."
	.ascii	"--\012    No wonder.  Ay, it is but too true.  He i"
	.ascii	"s to be married\012    very soon--a good-for-nothin"
	.ascii	"g fellow!  I have no patience\012    with him.  Mrs"
	.ascii	". Taylor told me of it half an hour ago,\012    and"
	.ascii	" she was told it by a particular friend of Miss\012"
	.ascii	"    Grey herself, else I am sure I should not have "
	.ascii	"believed it;\012    and I was almost ready to sink "
	.ascii	"as it was.  Well, said I,\012    all I can say is, "
	.ascii	"that if this be true, he has used\012    a young la"
	.ascii	"dy of my acquaintance abominably ill, and I\012    "
	.ascii	"wish with all my soul his wife may plague his heart"
	.ascii	" out.\012    And so I shall always say, my dear, yo"
	.ascii	"u may depend on it.\012    I have no notion of men'"
	.ascii	"s going on in this way; and if ever\012    I meet h"
	.ascii	"im again, I will give him such a dressing as he\012"
	.ascii	"    has not had this many a day.  But there is one "
	.ascii	"comfort,\012    my dear Miss Marianne; he is not th"
	.ascii	"e only young man\012    in the world worth having; "
	.ascii	"and with your pretty face\012    you"
	.ascii	" will never want admirers.  Well, poor thing!  I wo"
	.ascii	"n't\012    disturb her any longer, for she had bett"
	.ascii	"er have her cry\012    out at once and have done wi"
	.ascii	"th.  The Parrys and Sandersons\012    luckily are c"
	.ascii	"oming tonight you know, and that will amuse her.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    She then went away, walking on tiptoe o"
	.ascii	"ut of the room,\012    as if she supposed her young"
	.ascii	" friend's affliction could\012    be increased by n"
	.ascii	"oise.\012    \012    Marianne, to the surprise of h"
	.ascii	"er sister,\012    determined on dining with them.  "
	.ascii	"Elinor even advised\012    her against it.  But \"n"
	.ascii	"o, she would go down; she could\012    bear it very"
	.ascii	" well, and the bustle about her would\012    be les"
	.ascii	"s.\"  Elinor, pleased to have her governed for a\012"
	.ascii	"    moment by such a motive, though believing it ha"
	.ascii	"rdly\012    possible that she could sit out the din"
	.ascii	"ner, said no more;\012    and adjusting her dress f"
	.ascii	"or her as well as she could,\012    while Marianne "
	.ascii	"still remained on the bed, was ready\012    to assi"
	.ascii	"st her into the dining room as soon as they were\012"
	.ascii	"    summoned to it.\012    \012    When there, thou"
	.ascii	"gh looking most wretchedly,\012    she ate more and"
	.ascii	" was calmer than her sister had expected.\012    Ha"
	.ascii	"d she tried to speak, or had she been conscious of "
	.ascii	"half\012    Mrs. Jennings's well-meant but ill-judg"
	.ascii	"ed attentions\012    to her, this calmness could no"
	.ascii	"t have been maintained;\012    but not a syllable e"
	.ascii	"scaped her lips; and the abstraction\012    of her "
	.ascii	"thoughts preserved her in ignorance of every thing\012"
	.ascii	"    that was passing before her.\012    \012    Eli"
	.ascii	"nor, who did justice to Mrs. Jennings's kindness,\012"
	.ascii	"    though its effusions were often distressing, an"
	.ascii	"d sometimes\012    almost ridiculous, made her thos"
	.ascii	"e acknowledgments,\012    and returned her those ci"
	.ascii	"vilities, which her sister could\012    not make or"
	.ascii	" return for herself.  Their good friend saw\012    "
	.ascii	"that Marianne was unhappy, and felt that every thin"
	.ascii	"g\012    was due to her which might make her at all"
	.ascii	" less so.\012    She treated her therefore, with al"
	.ascii	"l the indulgent fondness\012    of a parent towards"
	.ascii	" a favourite child on the last day of\012    its ho"
	.ascii	"lidays.  Marianne w"
	.ascii	"as to have the best place by the fire,\012    was t"
	.ascii	"o be tempted to eat by every delicacy in the house,"
	.ascii	"\012    and to be amused by the relation of all the"
	.ascii	" news of the day.\012    Had not Elinor, in the sad"
	.ascii	" countenance of her sister,\012    seen a check to "
	.ascii	"all mirth, she could have been entertained\012    b"
	.ascii	"y Mrs. Jennings's endeavours to cure a disappointme"
	.ascii	"nt in love,\012    by a variety of sweetmeats and o"
	.ascii	"lives, and a good fire.\012    As soon, however, as"
	.ascii	" the consciousness of all this was\012    forced by"
	.ascii	" continual repetition on Marianne, she could\012   "
	.ascii	" stay no longer.  With a hasty exclamation of Miser"
	.ascii	"y,\012    and a sign to her sister not to follow he"
	.ascii	"r, she directly got\012    up and hurried out of th"
	.ascii	"e room.\012    \012    \"Poor soul!\" cried Mrs. Je"
	.ascii	"nnings, as soon as she was gone,\012    \"how it gr"
	.ascii	"ieves me to see her!  And I declare if she is\012  "
	.ascii	"  not gone away without finishing her wine!  And th"
	.ascii	"e dried\012    cherries too!  Lord! nothing seems t"
	.ascii	"o do her any good.\012    I am sure if I knew of an"
	.ascii	"y thing she would like, I would\012    send all ove"
	.ascii	"r the town for it.  Well, it is the oddest\012    t"
	.ascii	"hing to me, that a man should use such a pretty gir"
	.ascii	"l\012    so ill!  But when there is plenty of money"
	.ascii	" on one side,\012    and next to none on the other,"
	.ascii	" Lord bless you! they care\012    no more about suc"
	.ascii	"h things!--\"\012    \012    \"The lady then--Miss "
	.ascii	"Grey I think you called her--\012    is very rich?\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"Fifty thousand pounds, my dear.  "
	.ascii	"Did you ever see\012    her? a smart, stylish girl "
	.ascii	"they say, but not handsome.\012    I remember her a"
	.ascii	"unt very well, Biddy Henshawe; she married\012    a"
	.ascii	" very wealthy man.  But the family are all rich tog"
	.ascii	"ether.\012    Fifty thousand pounds! and by all acc"
	.ascii	"ounts, it won't come\012    before it's wanted; for"
	.ascii	" they say he is all to pieces.\012    No wonder! da"
	.ascii	"shing about with his curricle and hunters!\012    W"
	.ascii	"ell, it don't signify talking; but when a young man"
	.ascii	",\012    be who he will, comes and makes love to a "
	.ascii	"pretty girl,\012    and promises marriage, he has n"
	.ascii	"o business to fly off\012    from his word only bec"
	.ascii	"ause he grows poor, and a "
	.ascii	"richer\012    girl is ready to have him.  Why don't"
	.ascii	" he, in such a case,\012    sell his horses, let hi"
	.ascii	"s house, turn off his servants,\012    and make a t"
	.ascii	"horough reform at once? I warrant you,\012    Miss "
	.ascii	"Marianne would have been ready to wait till matters"
	.ascii	"\012    came round.  But that won't do now-a-days; "
	.ascii	"nothing in the\012    way of pleasure can ever be g"
	.ascii	"iven up by the young men of\012    this age.\"\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"Do you know what kind of a girl Miss G"
	.ascii	"rey is?\012    Is she said to be amiable?\"\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \"I never heard any harm of her; indeed I h"
	.ascii	"ardly ever\012    heard her mentioned; except that "
	.ascii	"Mrs. Taylor did say\012    this morning, that one d"
	.ascii	"ay Miss Walker hinted to her,\012    that she belie"
	.ascii	"ved Mr. and Mrs. Ellison would not be sorry\012    "
	.ascii	"to have Miss Grey married, for she and Mrs. Ellison"
	.ascii	" could\012    never agree.\"--\012    \012    \"And"
	.ascii	" who are the Ellisons?\"\012    \012    \"Her guard"
	.ascii	"ians, my dear.  But now she is of age\012    and ma"
	.ascii	"y choose for herself; and a pretty choice she has\012"
	.ascii	"    made!--What now,\" after pausing a moment--\"yo"
	.ascii	"ur poor sister\012    is gone to her own room, I su"
	.ascii	"ppose, to moan by herself.\012    Is there nothing "
	.ascii	"one can get to comfort her?  Poor dear,\012    it s"
	.ascii	"eems quite cruel to let her be alone.  Well, by-and"
	.ascii	"-by we\012    shall have a few friends, and that wi"
	.ascii	"ll amuse her a little.\012    What shall we play at"
	.ascii	"?  She hates whist I know; but is there\012    no r"
	.ascii	"ound game she cares for?\"\012    \012    \"Dear ma"
	.ascii	"'am, this kindness is quite unnecessary.\012    Mar"
	.ascii	"ianne, I dare say, will not leave her room again\012"
	.ascii	"    this evening.  I shall persuade her if I can to"
	.ascii	" go\012    early to bed, for I am sure she wants re"
	.ascii	"st.\"\012    \012    \"Aye, I believe that will be "
	.ascii	"best for her.  Let her name\012    her own supper, "
	.ascii	"and go to bed.  Lord! no wonder she has\012    been"
	.ascii	" looking so bad and so cast down this last week or "
	.ascii	"two,\012    for this matter I suppose has been hang"
	.ascii	"ing over her head as\012    long as that.  And so t"
	.ascii	"he letter that came today finished it!\012    Poor "
	.ascii	"soul!  I am sure if I had had a notion of it,\012  "
	.ascii	"  I would not have joked her about it for all "
	.ascii	"my money.\012    But then you know, how should I gu"
	.ascii	"ess such a thing?  I made\012    sure of its being "
	.ascii	"nothing but a common love letter, and\012    you kn"
	.ascii	"ow young people like to be laughed at about them.  "
	.ascii	"Lord!\012    how concerned Sir John and my daughter"
	.ascii	"s will be when they\012    hear it!  If I had my se"
	.ascii	"nses about me I might have called\012    in Conduit"
	.ascii	" Street in my way home, and told them of it.\012   "
	.ascii	" But I shall see them tomorrow.\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"It would be unnecessary I am sure, for you to cauti"
	.ascii	"on\012    Mrs. Palmer and Sir John against ever nam"
	.ascii	"ing Mr. Willoughby,\012    or making the slightest "
	.ascii	"allusion to what has passed,\012    before my siste"
	.ascii	"r.  Their own good-nature must point out\012    to "
	.ascii	"them the real cruelty of appearing to know any thin"
	.ascii	"g\012    about it when she is present; and the less"
	.ascii	" that may ever\012    be said to myself on the subj"
	.ascii	"ect, the more my feelings\012    will be spared, as"
	.ascii	" you my dear madam will easily believe.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Oh! Lord! yes, that I do indeed.  It must be "
	.ascii	"terrible\012    for you to hear it talked of; and a"
	.ascii	"s for your sister,\012    I am sure I would not men"
	.ascii	"tion a word about it to her\012    for the world.  "
	.ascii	"You saw I did not all dinner time.\012    No more w"
	.ascii	"ould Sir John, nor my daughters, for they are\012  "
	.ascii	"  all very thoughtful and considerate; especially i"
	.ascii	"f I\012    give them a hint, as I certainly will.  "
	.ascii	"For my part,\012    I think the less that is said a"
	.ascii	"bout such things, the better,\012    the sooner 'ti"
	.ascii	"s blown over and forgot.  And what does\012    talk"
	.ascii	"ing ever do you know?\"\012    \012    \"In this af"
	.ascii	"fair it can only do harm; more so\012    perhaps th"
	.ascii	"an in many cases of a similar kind, for it\012    h"
	.ascii	"as been attended by circumstances which, for the sa"
	.ascii	"ke\012    of every one concerned in it, make it unf"
	.ascii	"it to become\012    the public conversation.  I mus"
	.ascii	"t do THIS justice to\012    Mr. Willoughby--he has "
	.ascii	"broken no positive engagement\012    with my sister"
	.ascii	".\"\012    \012    \"Law, my dear!  Don't pretend t"
	.ascii	"o defend him.\012    No positive engagement indeed!"
	.ascii	" after taking her all\012    over Allenham House, a"
	.ascii	"nd fixing on the very rooms they"
	.ascii	"\012    were to live in hereafter!\"\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" Elinor, for her sister's sake, could not press the"
	.ascii	"\012    subject farther, and she hoped it was not r"
	.ascii	"equired of her\012    for Willoughby's; since, thou"
	.ascii	"gh Marianne might lose much,\012    he could gain v"
	.ascii	"ery little by the enforcement of the real truth.\012"
	.ascii	"    After a short silence on both sides, Mrs. Jenni"
	.ascii	"ngs,\012    with all her natural hilarity, burst fo"
	.ascii	"rth again.\012    \012    \"Well, my dear, 'tis a t"
	.ascii	"rue saying about an ill-wind,\012    for it will be"
	.ascii	" all the better for Colonel Brandon.\012    He will"
	.ascii	" have her at last; aye, that he will.  Mind me,\012"
	.ascii	"    now, if they an't married by Mid-summer.  Lord!"
	.ascii	" how he'll\012    chuckle over this news!  I hope h"
	.ascii	"e will come tonight.\012    It will be all to one a"
	.ascii	" better match for your sister.\012    Two thousand "
	.ascii	"a year without debt or drawback--except\012    the "
	.ascii	"little love-child, indeed; aye, I had forgot her;\012"
	.ascii	"    but she may be 'prenticed out at a small cost, "
	.ascii	"and then\012    what does it signify?  Delaford is "
	.ascii	"a nice place, I can\012    tell you; exactly what I"
	.ascii	" call a nice old fashioned place,\012    full of co"
	.ascii	"mforts and conveniences; quite shut in with great\012"
	.ascii	"    garden walls that are covered with the best fru"
	.ascii	"it-trees\012    in the country; and such a mulberry"
	.ascii	" tree in one corner!\012    Lord! how Charlotte and"
	.ascii	" I did stuff the only time we\012    were there!  T"
	.ascii	"hen, there is a dove-cote, some delightful\012    s"
	.ascii	"tew-ponds, and a very pretty canal; and every thing"
	.ascii	",\012    in short, that one could wish for; and, mo"
	.ascii	"reover, it is\012    close to the church, and only "
	.ascii	"a quarter of a mile from\012    the turnpike-road, "
	.ascii	"so 'tis never dull, for if you only\012    go and s"
	.ascii	"it up in an old yew arbour behind the house,\012   "
	.ascii	" you may see all the carriages that pass along.\012"
	.ascii	"    Oh! 'tis a nice place!  A butcher hard by in th"
	.ascii	"e village,\012    and the parsonage-house within a "
	.ascii	"stone's throw.\012    To my fancy, a thousand times"
	.ascii	" prettier than Barton Park,\012    where they are f"
	.ascii	"orced to send three miles for their meat,\012    an"
	.ascii	"d have not a neighbour nearer than your mother.\012"
	.ascii	"    Well, I shall"
	.ascii	" spirit up the Colonel as soon as I can.\012    One"
	.ascii	" shoulder of mutton, you know, drives another down."
	.ascii	"\012    If we CAN but put Willoughby out of her hea"
	.ascii	"d!\"\012    \012    \"Ay, if we can do THAT, Ma'am,"
	.ascii	"\" said Elinor,\012    \"we shall do very well with"
	.ascii	" or without Colonel Brandon.\"\012    And then risi"
	.ascii	"ng, she went away to join Marianne,\012    whom she"
	.ascii	" found, as she expected, in her own room, leaning,\012"
	.ascii	"    in silent misery, over the small remains of a f"
	.ascii	"ire,\012    which, till Elinor's entrance, had been"
	.ascii	" her only light.\012    \012    \"You had better le"
	.ascii	"ave me,\" was all the notice\012    that her sister"
	.ascii	" received from her.\012    \012    \"I will leave y"
	.ascii	"ou,\" said Elinor, \"if you will go\012    to bed.\""
	.ascii	" But this, from the momentary perverseness\012    o"
	.ascii	"f impatient suffering, she at first refused to do.\012"
	.ascii	"    Her sister's earnest, though gentle persuasion,"
	.ascii	" however,\012    soon softened her to compliance, a"
	.ascii	"nd Elinor saw her\012    lay her aching head on the"
	.ascii	" pillow, and as she hoped,\012    in a way to get s"
	.ascii	"ome quiet rest before she left her.\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"In the drawing-room, whither she then repaired,\012"
	.ascii	"    she was soon joined by Mrs. Jennings, with a wi"
	.ascii	"ne-glass,\012    full of something, in her hand.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"My dear,\" said she, entering, \"I ha"
	.ascii	"ve just recollected\012    that I have some of the "
	.ascii	"finest old Constantia wine in the\012    house that"
	.ascii	" ever was tasted, so I have brought a glass of it\012"
	.ascii	"    for your sister.  My poor husband! how fond he "
	.ascii	"was of it!\012    Whenever he had a touch of his ol"
	.ascii	"d colicky gout, he said\012    it did him more good"
	.ascii	" than any thing else in the world.\012    Do take i"
	.ascii	"t to your sister.\"\012    \012    \"Dear Ma'am,\" "
	.ascii	"replied Elinor, smiling at the difference\012    of"
	.ascii	" the complaints for which it was recommended, \"how"
	.ascii	" good\012    you are!  But I have just left Mariann"
	.ascii	"e in bed, and, I hope,\012    almost asleep; and as"
	.ascii	" I think nothing will be of so much\012    service "
	.ascii	"to her as rest, if you will give me leave,\012    I"
	.ascii	" will drink the wine myself.\"\012    \012    Mrs. "
	.ascii	"Jennings, though regretting that she had not been\012"
	.ascii	"    five minutes earlier, was satisfied wi"
	.ascii	"th the compromise;\012    and Elinor, as she swallo"
	.ascii	"wed the chief of it, reflected,\012    that though "
	.ascii	"its effects on a colicky gout were, at present,\012"
	.ascii	"    of little importance to her, its healing powers"
	.ascii	",\012    on a disappointed heart might be as reason"
	.ascii	"ably tried\012    on herself as on her sister.\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    Colonel Brandon came in while the party "
	.ascii	"were at tea,\012    and by his manner of looking ro"
	.ascii	"und the room for Marianne,\012    Elinor immediatel"
	.ascii	"y fancied that he neither expected\012    nor wishe"
	.ascii	"d to see her there, and, in short, that he\012    w"
	.ascii	"as already aware of what occasioned her absence.\012"
	.ascii	"    Mrs. Jennings was not struck by the same though"
	.ascii	"t;\012    for soon after his entrance, she walked a"
	.ascii	"cross the room\012    to the tea-table where Elinor"
	.ascii	" presided, and whispered--\012    \"The Colonel loo"
	.ascii	"ks as grave as ever you see.  He knows\012    nothi"
	.ascii	"ng of it; do tell him, my dear.\"\012    \012    He"
	.ascii	" shortly afterwards drew a chair close to her's,\012"
	.ascii	"    and, with a look which perfectly assured her of"
	.ascii	" his\012    good information, inquired after her si"
	.ascii	"ster.\012    \012    \"Marianne is not well,\" said"
	.ascii	" she.  \"She has been\012    indisposed all day, an"
	.ascii	"d we have persuaded her to go to bed.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Perhaps, then,\" he hesitatingly replied, \"w"
	.ascii	"hat I\012    heard this morning may be--there may b"
	.ascii	"e more truth in it\012    than I could believe poss"
	.ascii	"ible at first.\"\012    \012    \"What did you hear"
	.ascii	"?\"\012    \012    \"That a gentleman, whom I had r"
	.ascii	"eason to think--in short,\012    that a man, whom I"
	.ascii	" KNEW to be engaged--but how shall I\012    tell yo"
	.ascii	"u?  If you know it already, as surely you must,\012"
	.ascii	"    I may be spared.\"\012    \012    \"You mean,\""
	.ascii	" answered Elinor, with forced calmness,\012    \"Mr"
	.ascii	". Willoughby's marriage with Miss Grey.  Yes, we DO"
	.ascii	"\012    know it all.  This seems to have been a day"
	.ascii	" of general\012    elucidation, for this very morni"
	.ascii	"ng first unfolded it to us.\012    Mr. Willoughby i"
	.ascii	"s unfathomable!  Where did you hear it?\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"In a stationer's shop in Pall Mall, where I\012"
	.ascii	"    had business.  Two ladies were waiting for thei"
	.ascii	"r carriage,\012    and one of them was giving the o"
	.ascii	"the"
	.ascii	"r an account of the\012    intended match, in a voi"
	.ascii	"ce so little attempting concealment,\012    that it"
	.ascii	" was impossible for me not to hear all.  The name\012"
	.ascii	"    of Willoughby, John Willoughby, frequently repe"
	.ascii	"ated,\012    first caught my attention; and what fo"
	.ascii	"llowed was a positive\012    assertion that every t"
	.ascii	"hing was now finally settled\012    respecting his "
	.ascii	"marriage with Miss Grey--it was no longer\012    to"
	.ascii	" be a secret--it would take place even within a few"
	.ascii	" weeks,\012    with many particulars of preparation"
	.ascii	"s and other matters.\012    One thing, especially, "
	.ascii	"I remember, because it served\012    to identify th"
	.ascii	"e man still more:--as soon as the ceremony\012    w"
	.ascii	"as over, they were to go to Combe Magna, his seat\012"
	.ascii	"    in Somersetshire.  My astonishment!--but it wou"
	.ascii	"ld be\012    impossible to describe what I felt.  T"
	.ascii	"he communicative\012    lady I learnt, on inquiry, "
	.ascii	"for I stayed in the shop\012    till they were gone"
	.ascii	", was a Mrs. Ellison, and that, as I\012    have be"
	.ascii	"en since informed, is the name of Miss Grey's guard"
	.ascii	"ian.\"\012    \012    \"It is.  But have you likewi"
	.ascii	"se heard that Miss Grey\012    has fifty thousand p"
	.ascii	"ounds?  In that, if in any thing,\012    we may fin"
	.ascii	"d an explanation.\"\012    \012    \"It may be so; "
	.ascii	"but Willoughby is capable--at least\012    I think\""
	.ascii	"--he stopped a moment; then added in a voice\012   "
	.ascii	" which seemed to distrust itself, \"And your sister"
	.ascii	"--\012    how did she--\"\012    \012    \"Her suff"
	.ascii	"erings have been very severe.  I have\012    only t"
	.ascii	"o hope that they may be proportionately short.\012 "
	.ascii	"   It has been, it is a most cruel affliction.  Til"
	.ascii	"l yesterday,\012    I believe, she never doubted hi"
	.ascii	"s regard; and even now,\012    perhaps--but I am al"
	.ascii	"most convinced that he never was\012    really atta"
	.ascii	"ched to her.  He has been very deceitful! and,\012 "
	.ascii	"   in some points, there seems a hardness of heart "
	.ascii	"about him.\"\012    \012    \"Ah!\" said Colonel Br"
	.ascii	"andon, \"there is, indeed!  But\012    your sister "
	.ascii	"does not--I think you said so--she does\012    not "
	.ascii	"consider quite as you do?\"\012    \012    \"You kn"
	.ascii	"ow her disposition, and may believe how eagerly\012"
	.ascii	"    she would still justify him if she"
	.ascii	" could.\"\012    \012    He made no answer; and soo"
	.ascii	"n afterwards, by the removal\012    of the tea-thin"
	.ascii	"gs, and the arrangement of the card parties,\012   "
	.ascii	" the subject was necessarily dropped.  Mrs. Jenning"
	.ascii	"s, who had\012    watched them with pleasure while "
	.ascii	"they were talking, and who\012    expected to see t"
	.ascii	"he effect of Miss Dashwood's communication,\012    "
	.ascii	"in such an instantaneous gaiety on Colonel Brandon'"
	.ascii	"s side,\012    as might have become a man in the bl"
	.ascii	"oom of youth, of hope\012    and happiness, saw him"
	.ascii	", with amazement, remain the whole\012    evening m"
	.ascii	"ore serious and thoughtful than usual.\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \012    CHAPTER 31\012    \012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  From a night of more sleep than she had expected,"
	.ascii	"\012    Marianne awoke the next morning to the same"
	.ascii	" consciousness\012    of misery in which she had cl"
	.ascii	"osed her eyes.\012    \012    Elinor encouraged her"
	.ascii	" as much as possible to talk\012    of what she fel"
	.ascii	"t; and before breakfast was ready, they had\012    "
	.ascii	"gone through the subject again and again; and with "
	.ascii	"the same\012    steady conviction and affectionate "
	.ascii	"counsel on Elinor's side,\012    the same impetuous"
	.ascii	" feelings and varying opinions on\012    Marianne's"
	.ascii	", as before.  Sometimes she could believe\012    Wi"
	.ascii	"lloughby to be as unfortunate and as innocent as he"
	.ascii	"rself,\012    and at others, lost every consolation"
	.ascii	" in the impossibility\012    of acquitting him.  At"
	.ascii	" one moment she was absolutely\012    indifferent t"
	.ascii	"o the observation of all the world, at another\012 "
	.ascii	"   she would seclude herself from it for ever, and "
	.ascii	"at a third\012    could resist it with energy.  In "
	.ascii	"one thing, however,\012    she was uniform, when it"
	.ascii	" came to the point, in avoiding,\012    where it wa"
	.ascii	"s possible, the presence of Mrs. Jennings,\012    a"
	.ascii	"nd in a determined silence when obliged to endure i"
	.ascii	"t.\012    Her heart was hardened against the belief"
	.ascii	" of Mrs. Jennings's\012    entering into her sorrow"
	.ascii	"s with any compassion.\012    \012    \"No, no, no,"
	.ascii	" it cannot be,\" she cried;\012    \"she cannot fee"
	.ascii	"l.  Her kindness is not sympathy;\012    her good-n"
	.ascii	"ature is not tenderness.  All that she wants\012   "
	.ascii	" is gossip, and she only likes me now b"
	.ascii	"ecause I supply it.\"\012    \012    Elinor had not"
	.ascii	" needed this to be assured of the injustice\012    "
	.ascii	"to which her sister was often led in her opinion of"
	.ascii	" others,\012    by the irritable refinement of her "
	.ascii	"own mind, and the too\012    great importance place"
	.ascii	"d by her on the delicacies of a\012    strong sensi"
	.ascii	"bility, and the graces of a polished manner.\012   "
	.ascii	" Like half the rest of the world, if more than half"
	.ascii	" there\012    be that are clever and good, Marianne"
	.ascii	", with excellent\012    abilities and an excellent "
	.ascii	"disposition, was neither\012    reasonable nor cand"
	.ascii	"id.  She expected from other people\012    the same"
	.ascii	" opinions and feelings as her own, and she judged\012"
	.ascii	"    of their motives by the immediate effect of the"
	.ascii	"ir actions\012    on herself.  Thus a circumstance "
	.ascii	"occurred, while the\012    sisters were together in"
	.ascii	" their own room after breakfast,\012    which sunk "
	.ascii	"the heart of Mrs. Jennings still lower\012    in he"
	.ascii	"r estimation; because, through her own weakness,\012"
	.ascii	"    it chanced to prove a source of fresh pain to h"
	.ascii	"erself,\012    though Mrs. Jennings was governed in"
	.ascii	" it by an impulse\012    of the utmost goodwill.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    With a letter in her outstretched hand,"
	.ascii	" and countenance\012    gaily smiling, from the per"
	.ascii	"suasion of bringing comfort,\012    she entered the"
	.ascii	"ir room, saying,\012    \012    \"Now, my dear, I b"
	.ascii	"ring you something that I am sure\012    will do yo"
	.ascii	"u good.\"\012    \012    Marianne heard enough.  In"
	.ascii	" one moment her imagination\012    placed before he"
	.ascii	"r a letter from Willoughby, full of tenderness\012 "
	.ascii	"   and contrition, explanatory of all that had pass"
	.ascii	"ed, satisfactory,\012    convincing; and instantly "
	.ascii	"followed by Willoughby himself,\012    rushing eage"
	.ascii	"rly into the room to inforce, at her feet,\012    b"
	.ascii	"y the eloquence of his eyes, the assurances of his "
	.ascii	"letter.\012    The work of one moment was destroyed"
	.ascii	" by the next.\012    The hand writing of her mother"
	.ascii	", never till then unwelcome,\012    was before her;"
	.ascii	" and, in the acuteness of the disappointment\012   "
	.ascii	" which followed such an ecstasy of more than hope,\012"
	.ascii	"    she felt as if, till that instant, she had neve"
	.ascii	"r suffered.\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  The cruelty of Mrs. Jennings no language, within\012"
	.ascii	"    her reach in her moments of happiest eloquence,"
	.ascii	"\012    could have expressed; and now she could rep"
	.ascii	"roach her\012    only by the tears which streamed f"
	.ascii	"rom her eyes with\012    passionate violence--a rep"
	.ascii	"roach, however, so entirely\012    lost on its obje"
	.ascii	"ct, that after many expressions of pity,\012    she"
	.ascii	" withdrew, still referring her to the letter of com"
	.ascii	"fort.\012    But the letter, when she was calm enou"
	.ascii	"gh to read it,\012    brought little comfort.  Will"
	.ascii	"oughby filled every page.\012    Her mother, still "
	.ascii	"confident of their engagement, and relying\012    a"
	.ascii	"s warmly as ever on his constancy, had only been ro"
	.ascii	"used\012    by Elinor's application, to intreat fro"
	.ascii	"m Marianne greater\012    openness towards them bot"
	.ascii	"h; and this, with such tenderness\012    towards he"
	.ascii	"r, such affection for Willoughby, and such\012    a"
	.ascii	" conviction of their future happiness in each other"
	.ascii	",\012    that she wept with agony through the whole"
	.ascii	" of it.\012    \012    All her impatience to be at "
	.ascii	"home again now returned;\012    her mother was dear"
	.ascii	"er to her than ever; dearer through\012    the very"
	.ascii	" excess of her mistaken confidence in Willoughby,\012"
	.ascii	"    and she was wildly urgent to be gone.  Elinor, "
	.ascii	"unable herself\012    to determine whether it were "
	.ascii	"better for Marianne to be\012    in London or at Ba"
	.ascii	"rton, offered no counsel of her own\012    except o"
	.ascii	"f patience till their mother's wishes could be know"
	.ascii	"n;\012    and at length she obtained her sister's c"
	.ascii	"onsent to wait\012    for that knowledge.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Mrs. Jennings left them earlier than usual; for"
	.ascii	" she\012    could not be easy till the Middletons a"
	.ascii	"nd Palmers were able\012    to grieve as much as he"
	.ascii	"rself; and positively refusing\012    Elinor's offe"
	.ascii	"red attendance, went out alone for the rest\012    "
	.ascii	"of the morning.  Elinor, with a very heavy heart, a"
	.ascii	"ware of\012    the pain she was going to communicat"
	.ascii	"e, and perceiving,\012    by Marianne's letter, how"
	.ascii	" ill she had succeeded in laying\012    any foundat"
	.ascii	"ion for it, then sat down to write her mother\012  "
	.ascii	"  an account of what had passed, and entreat her di"
	.ascii	"rection"
	.ascii	"s\012    for the future; while Marianne, who came i"
	.ascii	"nto the drawing-room\012    on Mrs. Jennings's goin"
	.ascii	"g away, remained fixed at the table\012    where El"
	.ascii	"inor wrote, watching the advancement of her pen,\012"
	.ascii	"    grieving over her for the hardship of such a ta"
	.ascii	"sk,\012    and grieving still more fondly over its "
	.ascii	"effect on her mother.\012    \012    In this manner"
	.ascii	" they had continued about a quarter\012    of an ho"
	.ascii	"ur, when Marianne, whose nerves could not then\012 "
	.ascii	"   bear any sudden noise, was startled by a rap at "
	.ascii	"the door.\012    \012    \"Who can this be?\" cried"
	.ascii	" Elinor.  \"So early too! I\012    thought we HAD b"
	.ascii	"een safe.\"\012    \012    Marianne moved to the wi"
	.ascii	"ndow--\012    \012    \"It is Colonel Brandon!\" sa"
	.ascii	"id she, with vexation.\012    \"We are never safe f"
	.ascii	"rom HIM.\"\012    \012    \"He will not come in, as"
	.ascii	" Mrs. Jennings is from home.\"\012    \012    \"I w"
	.ascii	"ill not trust to THAT,\" retreating to her own room"
	.ascii	".\012    \"A man who has nothing to do with his own"
	.ascii	" time has no\012    conscience in his intrusion on "
	.ascii	"that of others.\"\012    \012    The event proved h"
	.ascii	"er conjecture right, though it\012    was founded o"
	.ascii	"n injustice and error; for Colonel Brandon\012    D"
	.ascii	"ID come in; and Elinor, who was convinced that\012 "
	.ascii	"   solicitude for Marianne brought him thither, and"
	.ascii	" who saw\012    THAT solicitude in his disturbed an"
	.ascii	"d melancholy look,\012    and in his anxious though"
	.ascii	" brief inquiry after her,\012    could not forgive "
	.ascii	"her sister for esteeming him so lightly.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"I met Mrs. Jennings in Bond Street,\" said he"
	.ascii	",\012    after the first salutation, \"and she enco"
	.ascii	"uraged me\012    to come on; and I was the more eas"
	.ascii	"ily encouraged,\012    because I thought it probabl"
	.ascii	"e that I might find you alone,\012    which I was v"
	.ascii	"ery desirous of doing.  My object--my\012    wish--"
	.ascii	"my sole wish in desiring it--I hope, I believe\012 "
	.ascii	"   it is--is to be a means of giving comfort;--no, "
	.ascii	"I must\012    not say comfort--not present comfort-"
	.ascii	"-but conviction,\012    lasting conviction to your "
	.ascii	"sister's mind.  My regard for her,\012    for yours"
	.ascii	"elf, for your mother--will you allow me to prove it"
	.ascii	",\012    by relating some circumstances which nothi"
	.ascii	"ng"
	.ascii	" but a VERY\012    sincere regard--nothing but an e"
	.ascii	"arnest desire of being\012    useful--I think I am "
	.ascii	"justified--though where so many hours\012    have b"
	.ascii	"een spent in convincing myself that I am right,\012"
	.ascii	"    is there not some reason to fear I may be wrong"
	.ascii	"?\"\012    He stopped.\012    \012    \"I understan"
	.ascii	"d you,\" said Elinor.  \"You have something\012    "
	.ascii	"to tell me of Mr. Willoughby, that will open his ch"
	.ascii	"aracter\012    farther.  Your telling it will be th"
	.ascii	"e greatest act of friendship\012    that can be she"
	.ascii	"wn Marianne.  MY gratitude will be insured\012    i"
	.ascii	"mmediately by any information tending to that end, "
	.ascii	"and HERS\012    must be gained by it in time.  Pray"
	.ascii	", pray let me hear it.\"\012    \012    \"You shall"
	.ascii	"; and, to be brief, when I quitted Barton\012    la"
	.ascii	"st October,--but this will give you no idea--I must"
	.ascii	" go\012    farther back.  You will find me a very a"
	.ascii	"wkward narrator,\012    Miss Dashwood; I hardly kno"
	.ascii	"w where to begin.  A short\012    account of myself"
	.ascii	", I believe, will be necessary, and it\012    SHALL"
	.ascii	" be a short one.  On such a subject,\" sighing heav"
	.ascii	"ily,\012    \"can I have little temptation to be di"
	.ascii	"ffuse.\"\012    \012    He stopt a moment for recol"
	.ascii	"lection, and then,\012    with another sigh, went o"
	.ascii	"n.\012    \012    \"You have probably entirely forg"
	.ascii	"otten a conversation--\012    (it is not to be supp"
	.ascii	"osed that it could make any impression\012    on yo"
	.ascii	"u)--a conversation between us one evening at Barton"
	.ascii	"\012    Park--it was the evening of a dance--in whi"
	.ascii	"ch I alluded\012    to a lady I had once known, as "
	.ascii	"resembling, in some measure,\012    your sister Mar"
	.ascii	"ianne.\"\012    \012    \"Indeed,\" answered Elinor"
	.ascii	", \"I have NOT forgotten it.\"\012    He looked ple"
	.ascii	"ased by this remembrance, and added,\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"If I am not deceived by the uncertainty, the par"
	.ascii	"tiality\012    of tender recollection, there is a v"
	.ascii	"ery strong resemblance\012    between them, as well"
	.ascii	" in mind as person.  The same warmth\012    of hear"
	.ascii	"t, the same eagerness of fancy and spirits.\012    "
	.ascii	"This lady was one of my nearest relations, an orpha"
	.ascii	"n from\012    her infancy, and under the guardiansh"
	.ascii	"ip of my father.\012    Our ages were nearly the"
	.ascii	" same, and from our earliest years\012    we were p"
	.ascii	"layfellows and friends.  I cannot remember the\012 "
	.ascii	"   time when I did not love Eliza; and my affection"
	.ascii	" for her,\012    as we grew up, was such, as perhap"
	.ascii	"s, judging from my\012    present forlorn and cheer"
	.ascii	"less gravity, you might think me\012    incapable o"
	.ascii	"f having ever felt.  Her's, for me, was, I believe,"
	.ascii	"\012    fervent as the attachment of your sister to"
	.ascii	" Mr. Willoughby\012    and it was, though from a di"
	.ascii	"fferent cause, no less unfortunate.\012    At seven"
	.ascii	"teen she was lost to me for ever.  She was\012    m"
	.ascii	"arried--married against her inclination to my broth"
	.ascii	"er.\012    Her fortune was large, and our family es"
	.ascii	"tate much encumbered.\012    And this, I fear, is a"
	.ascii	"ll that can be said for the\012    conduct of one, "
	.ascii	"who was at once her uncle and guardian.\012    My b"
	.ascii	"rother did not deserve her; he did not even love he"
	.ascii	"r.\012    I had hoped that her regard for me would "
	.ascii	"support her\012    under any difficulty, and for so"
	.ascii	"me time it did; but at\012    last the misery of he"
	.ascii	"r situation, for she experienced\012    great unkin"
	.ascii	"dness, overcame all her resolution, and though\012 "
	.ascii	"   she had promised me that nothing--but how blindl"
	.ascii	"y I\012    relate!  I have never told you how this "
	.ascii	"was brought on.\012    We were within a few hours o"
	.ascii	"f eloping together for Scotland.\012    The treache"
	.ascii	"ry, or the folly, of my cousin's maid betrayed us.\012"
	.ascii	"    I was banished to the house of a relation far d"
	.ascii	"istant,\012    and she was allowed no liberty, no s"
	.ascii	"ociety, no amusement,\012    till my father's point"
	.ascii	" was gained.  I had depended on her\012    fortitud"
	.ascii	"e too far, and the blow was a severe one--\012    b"
	.ascii	"ut had her marriage been happy, so young as I then "
	.ascii	"was,\012    a few months must have reconciled me to"
	.ascii	" it, or at least\012    I should not have now to la"
	.ascii	"ment it.  This however\012    was not the case.  My"
	.ascii	" brother had no regard for her;\012    his pleasure"
	.ascii	"s were not what they ought to have been,\012    and"
	.ascii	" from the first he treated her unkindly.  The conse"
	.ascii	"quence\012    of this, upon a mind so young, so liv"
	.ascii	"ely, so inexperienced\012    as Mrs. Brandon's, was"
	.ascii	" but "
	.ascii	"too natural.  She resigned\012    herself at first "
	.ascii	"to all the misery of her situation;\012    and happ"
	.ascii	"y had it been if she had not lived to overcome thos"
	.ascii	"e\012    regrets which the remembrance of me occasi"
	.ascii	"oned.  But can we\012    wonder that, with such a h"
	.ascii	"usband to provoke inconstancy,\012    and without a"
	.ascii	" friend to advise or restrain her (for\012    my fa"
	.ascii	"ther lived only a few months after their marriage,\012"
	.ascii	"    and I was with my regiment in the East Indies) "
	.ascii	"she\012    should fall?  Had I remained in England,"
	.ascii	" perhaps--but I\012    meant to promote the happine"
	.ascii	"ss of both by removing\012    from her for years, a"
	.ascii	"nd for that purpose had procured\012    my exchange"
	.ascii	".  The shock which her marriage had given me,\"\012"
	.ascii	"    he continued, in a voice of great agitation, \""
	.ascii	"was of\012    trifling weight--was nothing to what "
	.ascii	"I felt when I heard,\012    about two years afterwa"
	.ascii	"rds, of her divorce.  It was\012    THAT which thre"
	.ascii	"w this gloom,--even now the recollection\012    of "
	.ascii	"what I suffered--\"\012    \012    He could say no "
	.ascii	"more, and rising hastily walked for a few\012    mi"
	.ascii	"nutes about the room.  Elinor, affected by his rela"
	.ascii	"tion,\012    and still more by his distress, could "
	.ascii	"not speak.  He saw\012    her concern, and coming t"
	.ascii	"o her, took her hand, pressed it,\012    and kissed"
	.ascii	" it with grateful respect.  A few minutes more\012 "
	.ascii	"   of silent exertion enabled him to proceed with c"
	.ascii	"omposure.\012    \012    \"It was nearly three year"
	.ascii	"s after this unhappy\012    period before I returne"
	.ascii	"d to England.  My first care,\012    when I DID arr"
	.ascii	"ive, was of course to seek for her;\012    but the "
	.ascii	"search was as fruitless as it was melancholy.\012  "
	.ascii	"  I could not trace her beyond her first seducer, a"
	.ascii	"nd there\012    was every reason to fear that she h"
	.ascii	"ad removed from him\012    only to sink deeper in a"
	.ascii	" life of sin.  Her legal allowance\012    was not a"
	.ascii	"dequate to her fortune, nor sufficient for her\012 "
	.ascii	"   comfortable maintenance, and I learnt from my br"
	.ascii	"other that\012    the power of receiving it had bee"
	.ascii	"n made over some months\012    before to another pe"
	.ascii	"rson.  He imagined, and calmly could he\012    imag"
	.ascii	"ine it, that her e"
	.ascii	"xtravagance, and consequent distress,\012    had ob"
	.ascii	"liged her to dispose of it for some immediate relie"
	.ascii	"f.\012    At last, however, and after I had been si"
	.ascii	"x months in England,\012    I DID find her.  Regard"
	.ascii	" for a former servant of my own,\012    who had sin"
	.ascii	"ce fallen into misfortune, carried me to visit\012 "
	.ascii	"   him in a spunging-house, where he was confined f"
	.ascii	"or debt;\012    and there, the same house, under a "
	.ascii	"similar confinement,\012    was my unfortunate sist"
	.ascii	"er.  So altered--so faded--worn\012    down by acut"
	.ascii	"e suffering of every kind! hardly could I\012    be"
	.ascii	"lieve the melancholy and sickly figure before me,\012"
	.ascii	"    to be the remains of the lovely, blooming, heal"
	.ascii	"thful girl,\012    on whom I had once doted.  What "
	.ascii	"I endured in so beholding\012    her--but I have no"
	.ascii	" right to wound your feelings by attempting\012    "
	.ascii	"to describe it--I have pained you too much already."
	.ascii	"\012    That she was, to all appearance, in the las"
	.ascii	"t stage\012    of a consumption, was--yes, in such "
	.ascii	"a situation it was\012    my greatest comfort.  Lif"
	.ascii	"e could do nothing for her,\012    beyond giving ti"
	.ascii	"me for a better preparation for death;\012    and t"
	.ascii	"hat was given.  I saw her placed in comfortable lod"
	.ascii	"gings,\012    and under proper attendants; I visite"
	.ascii	"d her every day\012    during the rest of her short"
	.ascii	" life: I was with her in her\012    last moments.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    Again he stopped to recover himself"
	.ascii	"; and Elinor\012    spoke her feelings in an exclam"
	.ascii	"ation of tender concern,\012    at the fate of his "
	.ascii	"unfortunate friend.\012    \012    \"Your sister, I"
	.ascii	" hope, cannot be offended,\" said he,\012    \"by t"
	.ascii	"he resemblance I have fancied between her and my\012"
	.ascii	"    poor disgraced relation.  Their fates, their fo"
	.ascii	"rtunes,\012    cannot be the same; and had the natu"
	.ascii	"ral sweet\012    disposition of the one been guarde"
	.ascii	"d by a firmer mind,\012    or a happier marriage, s"
	.ascii	"he might have been all that you\012    will live to"
	.ascii	" see the other be.  But to what does all this\012  "
	.ascii	"  lead?  I seem to have been distressing you for no"
	.ascii	"thing.\012    Ah! Miss Dashwood--a subject such as "
	.ascii	"this--untouched\012    for fourteen years--it is da"
	.ascii	"ngerous to handle "
	.ascii	"it at all!\012    I WILL be more collected--more co"
	.ascii	"ncise.  She left to my care\012    her only child, "
	.ascii	"a little girl, the offspring of her first\012    gu"
	.ascii	"ilty connection, who was then about three years old"
	.ascii	".\012    She loved the child, and had always kept i"
	.ascii	"t with her.\012    It was a valued, a precious trus"
	.ascii	"t to me; and gladly\012    would I have discharged "
	.ascii	"it in the strictest sense,\012    by watching over "
	.ascii	"her education myself, had the nature\012    of our "
	.ascii	"situations allowed it; but I had no family, no home"
	.ascii	";\012    and my little Eliza was therefore placed a"
	.ascii	"t school.\012    I saw her there whenever I could, "
	.ascii	"and after the death of my\012    brother, (which ha"
	.ascii	"ppened about five years ago, and which\012    left "
	.ascii	"to me the possession of the family property,) she\012"
	.ascii	"    visited me at Delaford.  I called her a distant"
	.ascii	" relation;\012    but I am well aware that I have i"
	.ascii	"n general been suspected\012    of a much nearer co"
	.ascii	"nnection with her.  It is now three\012    years ag"
	.ascii	"o (she had just reached her fourteenth year,)\012  "
	.ascii	"  that I removed her from school, to place her unde"
	.ascii	"r the care\012    of a very respectable woman, resi"
	.ascii	"ding in Dorsetshire,\012    who had the charge of f"
	.ascii	"our or five other girls of about\012    the same ti"
	.ascii	"me of life; and for two years I had every reason\012"
	.ascii	"    to be pleased with her situation.  But last Feb"
	.ascii	"ruary,\012    almost a twelvemonth back, she sudden"
	.ascii	"ly disappeared.\012    I had allowed her, (impruden"
	.ascii	"tly, as it has since turned\012    out,) at her ear"
	.ascii	"nest desire, to go to Bath with one of\012    her y"
	.ascii	"oung friends, who was attending her father there\012"
	.ascii	"    for his health.  I knew him to be a very good s"
	.ascii	"ort of man,\012    and I thought well of his daught"
	.ascii	"er--better than she deserved,\012    for, with a mo"
	.ascii	"st obstinate and ill-judged secrecy,\012    she wou"
	.ascii	"ld tell nothing, would give no clue, though she\012"
	.ascii	"    certainly knew all.  He, her father, a well-mea"
	.ascii	"ning,\012    but not a quick-sighted man, could rea"
	.ascii	"lly, I believe,\012    give no information; for he "
	.ascii	"had been generally confined\012    to the house, wh"
	.ascii	"ile the girls were ranging over the town\012    and"
	.ascii	" making"
	.ascii	" what acquaintance they chose; and he tried\012    "
	.ascii	"to convince me, as thoroughly as he was convinced h"
	.ascii	"imself,\012    of his daughter's being entirely unc"
	.ascii	"oncerned in the business.\012    In short, I could "
	.ascii	"learn nothing but that she was gone;\012    all the"
	.ascii	" rest, for eight long months, was left to conjectur"
	.ascii	"e.\012    What I thought, what I feared, may be ima"
	.ascii	"gined; and what I\012    suffered too.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Good heavens!\" cried Elinor, \"could it be--"
	.ascii	"could\012    Willoughby!\"--\012    \012    \"The f"
	.ascii	"irst news that reached me of her,\" he continued,\012"
	.ascii	"    \"came in a letter from herself, last October.\012"
	.ascii	"    It was forwarded to me from Delaford, and I rec"
	.ascii	"eived it\012    on the very morning of our intended"
	.ascii	" party to Whitwell;\012    and this was the reason "
	.ascii	"of my leaving Barton so suddenly,\012    which I am"
	.ascii	" sure must at the time have appeared strange\012   "
	.ascii	" to every body, and which I believe gave offence to"
	.ascii	" some.\012    Little did Mr. Willoughby imagine, I "
	.ascii	"suppose, when his\012    looks censured me for inci"
	.ascii	"vility in breaking up the party,\012    that I was "
	.ascii	"called away to the relief of one whom he\012    had"
	.ascii	" made poor and miserable; but HAD he known it,\012 "
	.ascii	"   what would it have availed?  Would he have been "
	.ascii	"less\012    gay or less happy in the smiles of your"
	.ascii	" sister?  No,\012    he had already done that, whic"
	.ascii	"h no man who CAN feel\012    for another would do. "
	.ascii	" He had left the girl whose\012    youth and innoce"
	.ascii	"nce he had seduced, in a situation of\012    the ut"
	.ascii	"most distress, with no creditable home, no help,\012"
	.ascii	"    no friends, ignorant of his address!  He had le"
	.ascii	"ft her,\012    promising to return; he neither retu"
	.ascii	"rned, nor wrote,\012    nor relieved her.\"\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \"This is beyond every thing!\" exclaimed E"
	.ascii	"linor.\012    \012    \"His character is now before"
	.ascii	" you; expensive, dissipated,\012    and worse than "
	.ascii	"both.  Knowing all this, as I have now\012    known"
	.ascii	" it many weeks, guess what I must have felt on seei"
	.ascii	"ng\012    your sister as fond of him as ever, and o"
	.ascii	"n being assured\012    that she was to marry him: g"
	.ascii	"uess what I must have felt\012    for all your sake"
	.ascii	"s.  When I came to you last wee"
	.ascii	"k and\012    found you alone, I came determined to "
	.ascii	"know the truth;\012    though irresolute what to do"
	.ascii	" when it WAS known.\012    My behaviour must have s"
	.ascii	"eemed strange to you then;\012    but now you will "
	.ascii	"comprehend it.  To suffer you all to be\012    so d"
	.ascii	"eceived; to see your sister--but what could I do?\012"
	.ascii	"    I had no hope of interfering with success; and "
	.ascii	"sometimes\012    I thought your sister's influence "
	.ascii	"might yet reclaim him.\012    But now, after such d"
	.ascii	"ishonorable usage, who can tell what\012    were hi"
	.ascii	"s designs on her.  Whatever they may have been,\012"
	.ascii	"    however, she may now, and hereafter doubtless W"
	.ascii	"ILL\012    turn with gratitude towards her own cond"
	.ascii	"ition, when she\012    compares it with that of my "
	.ascii	"poor Eliza, when she considers\012    the wretched "
	.ascii	"and hopeless situation of this poor girl,\012    an"
	.ascii	"d pictures her to herself, with an affection for hi"
	.ascii	"m so strong,\012    still as strong as her own, and"
	.ascii	" with a mind tormented\012    by self-reproach, whi"
	.ascii	"ch must attend her through life.\012    Surely this"
	.ascii	" comparison must have its use with her.\012    She "
	.ascii	"will feel her own sufferings to be nothing.  They\012"
	.ascii	"    proceed from no misconduct, and can bring no di"
	.ascii	"sgrace.\012    On the contrary, every friend must b"
	.ascii	"e made still more\012    her friend by them.  Conce"
	.ascii	"rn for her unhappiness,\012    and respect for her "
	.ascii	"fortitude under it, must strengthen\012    every at"
	.ascii	"tachment.  Use your own discretion, however,\012   "
	.ascii	" in communicating to her what I have told you.  You"
	.ascii	" must\012    know best what will be its effect; but"
	.ascii	" had I not seriously,\012    and from my heart beli"
	.ascii	"eved it might be of service,\012    might lessen he"
	.ascii	"r regrets, I would not have suffered\012    myself "
	.ascii	"to trouble you with this account of my family\012  "
	.ascii	"  afflictions, with a recital which may seem to hav"
	.ascii	"e been\012    intended to raise myself at the expen"
	.ascii	"se of others.\"\012    \012    Elinor's thanks foll"
	.ascii	"owed this speech with grateful\012    earnestness; "
	.ascii	"attended too with the assurance of her\012    expec"
	.ascii	"ting material advantage to Marianne, from the\012  "
	.ascii	"  communication of what had passed.\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"I have been more"
	.ascii	" pained,\" said she, \"by her\012    endeavors to a"
	.ascii	"cquit him than by all the rest; for it\012    irrit"
	.ascii	"ates her mind more than the most perfect conviction"
	.ascii	"\012    of his unworthiness can do.  Now, though at"
	.ascii	" first she\012    will suffer much, I am sure she w"
	.ascii	"ill soon become easier.\012    Have you,\" she cont"
	.ascii	"inued, after a short silence,\012    \"ever seen Mr"
	.ascii	". Willoughby since you left him at Barton?\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \"Yes,\" he replied gravely, \"once I have"
	.ascii	".  One meeting\012    was unavoidable.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Elinor, startled by his manner, looked at him a"
	.ascii	"nxiously,\012    saying,\012    \012    \"What? hav"
	.ascii	"e you met him to--\"\012    \012    \"I could meet "
	.ascii	"him no other way.  Eliza had confessed\012    to me"
	.ascii	", though most reluctantly, the name of her lover;\012"
	.ascii	"    and when he returned to town, which was within "
	.ascii	"a fortnight\012    after myself, we met by appointm"
	.ascii	"ent, he to defend,\012    I to punish his conduct. "
	.ascii	" We returned unwounded,\012    and the meeting, the"
	.ascii	"refore, never got abroad.\"\012    \012    Elinor s"
	.ascii	"ighed over the fancied necessity of this;\012    bu"
	.ascii	"t to a man and a soldier she presumed not to censur"
	.ascii	"e it.\012    \012    \"Such,\" said Colonel Brandon"
	.ascii	", after a pause,\012    \"has been the unhappy rese"
	.ascii	"mblance between the fate of mother\012    and daugh"
	.ascii	"ter! and so imperfectly have I discharged my trust!"
	.ascii	"\"\012    \012    \"Is she still in town?\"\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \"No; as soon as she recovered from her lyi"
	.ascii	"ng-in,\012    for I found her near her delivery, I "
	.ascii	"removed her and her\012    child into the country, "
	.ascii	"and there she remains.\"\012    \012    Recollectin"
	.ascii	"g, soon afterwards, that he was probably\012    div"
	.ascii	"iding Elinor from her sister, he put an end to his "
	.ascii	"visit,\012    receiving from her again the same gra"
	.ascii	"teful acknowledgments,\012    and leaving her full "
	.ascii	"of compassion and esteem for him.\012    \012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \012    CHAPTER 32\012    \012    \012    When "
	.ascii	"the particulars of this conversation were repeated\012"
	.ascii	"    by Miss Dashwood to her sister, as they very so"
	.ascii	"on were,\012    the effect on her was not entirely "
	.ascii	"such as the former\012    had hoped to see.  Not th"
	.ascii	"at Marianne appeared to distrust\012    the truth o"
	.ascii	"f any part of it, for"
	.ascii	" she listened to it all\012    with the most steady"
	.ascii	" and submissive attention, made neither\012    obje"
	.ascii	"ction nor remark, attempted no vindication of Willo"
	.ascii	"ughby,\012    and seemed to shew by her tears that "
	.ascii	"she felt it to\012    be impossible.  But though th"
	.ascii	"is behaviour assured Elinor\012    that the convict"
	.ascii	"ion of this guilt WAS carried home to\012    her mi"
	.ascii	"nd, though she saw with satisfaction the effect of "
	.ascii	"it,\012    in her no longer avoiding Colonel Brando"
	.ascii	"n when he called,\012    in her speaking to him, ev"
	.ascii	"en voluntarily speaking,\012    with a kind of comp"
	.ascii	"assionate respect, and though she\012    saw her sp"
	.ascii	"irits less violently irritated than before,\012    "
	.ascii	"she did not see her less wretched.  Her mind did be"
	.ascii	"come\012    settled, but it was settled in a gloomy"
	.ascii	" dejection.\012    She felt the loss of Willoughby'"
	.ascii	"s character yet more heavily\012    than she had fe"
	.ascii	"lt the loss of his heart; his seduction and\012    "
	.ascii	"desertion of Miss Williams, the misery of that poor"
	.ascii	" girl,\012    and the doubt of what his designs mig"
	.ascii	"ht ONCE have been\012    on herself, preyed altoget"
	.ascii	"her so much on her spirits,\012    that she could n"
	.ascii	"ot bring herself to speak of what she felt\012    e"
	.ascii	"ven to Elinor; and, brooding over her sorrows in si"
	.ascii	"lence,\012    gave more pain to her sister than cou"
	.ascii	"ld have been communicated\012    by the most open a"
	.ascii	"nd most frequent confession of them.\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" To give the feelings or the language of Mrs. Dashw"
	.ascii	"ood\012    on receiving and answering Elinor's lett"
	.ascii	"er would be only\012    to give a repetition of wha"
	.ascii	"t her daughters had already felt\012    and said; o"
	.ascii	"f a disappointment hardly less painful than\012    "
	.ascii	"Marianne's, and an indignation even greater than El"
	.ascii	"inor's.\012    Long letters from her, quickly succe"
	.ascii	"eding each other,\012    arrived to tell all that s"
	.ascii	"he suffered and thought;\012    to express her anxi"
	.ascii	"ous solicitude for Marianne, and entreat\012    she"
	.ascii	" would bear up with fortitude under this misfortune"
	.ascii	".\012    Bad indeed must the nature of Marianne's a"
	.ascii	"ffliction be,\012    when her mother could talk of "
	.ascii	"fortitude! mortifying\012    and humiliating must b"
	.ascii	"e the origi"
	.ascii	"n of those regrets,\012    which SHE could wish her"
	.ascii	" not to indulge!\012    \012    Against the interes"
	.ascii	"t of her own individual comfort,\012    Mrs. Dashwo"
	.ascii	"od had determined that it would be better for\012  "
	.ascii	"  Marianne to be any where, at that time, than at B"
	.ascii	"arton,\012    where every thing within her view wou"
	.ascii	"ld be bringing back\012    the past in the stronges"
	.ascii	"t and most afflicting manner,\012    by constantly "
	.ascii	"placing Willoughby before her, such as\012    she h"
	.ascii	"ad always seen him there.  She recommended it to\012"
	.ascii	"    her daughters, therefore, by all means not to s"
	.ascii	"horten their\012    visit to Mrs. Jennings; the len"
	.ascii	"gth of which, though never\012    exactly fixed, ha"
	.ascii	"d been expected by all to comprise at least\012    "
	.ascii	"five or six weeks.  A variety of occupations, of ob"
	.ascii	"jects,\012    and of company, which could not be pr"
	.ascii	"ocured at Barton,\012    would be inevitable there,"
	.ascii	" and might yet, she hoped,\012    cheat Marianne, a"
	.ascii	"t times, into some interest beyond herself,\012    "
	.ascii	"and even into some amusement, much as the ideas of "
	.ascii	"both\012    might now be spurned by her.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    From all danger of seeing Willoughby again,\012"
	.ascii	"    her mother considered her to be at least equall"
	.ascii	"y safe\012    in town as in the country, since his "
	.ascii	"acquaintance must\012    now be dropped by all who "
	.ascii	"called themselves her friends.\012    Design could "
	.ascii	"never bring them in each other's way:\012    neglig"
	.ascii	"ence could never leave them exposed to a surprise;\012"
	.ascii	"    and chance had less in its favour in the crowd "
	.ascii	"of London\012    than even in the retirement of Bar"
	.ascii	"ton, where it might\012    force him before her whi"
	.ascii	"le paying that visit at Allenham\012    on his marr"
	.ascii	"iage, which Mrs. Dashwood, from foreseeing at\012  "
	.ascii	"  first as a probable event, had brought herself to"
	.ascii	" expect\012    as a certain one.\012    \012    She"
	.ascii	" had yet another reason for wishing her children\012"
	.ascii	"    to remain where they were; a letter from her so"
	.ascii	"n-in-law\012    had told her that he and his wife w"
	.ascii	"ere to be in town\012    before the middle of Febru"
	.ascii	"ary, and she judged it right\012    that they shoul"
	.ascii	"d sometimes see their brother.\012    \012    Maria"
	.ascii	"nne had promised to "
	.ascii	"be guided by her mother's opinion,\012    and she s"
	.ascii	"ubmitted to it therefore without opposition,\012   "
	.ascii	" though it proved perfectly different from what she"
	.ascii	" wished\012    and expected, though she felt it to "
	.ascii	"be entirely wrong,\012    formed on mistaken ground"
	.ascii	"s, and that by requiring her\012    longer continua"
	.ascii	"nce in London it deprived her of the only\012    po"
	.ascii	"ssible alleviation of her wretchedness, the persona"
	.ascii	"l\012    sympathy of her mother, and doomed her to "
	.ascii	"such society and\012    such scenes as must prevent"
	.ascii	" her ever knowing a moment's rest.\012    \012    B"
	.ascii	"ut it was a matter of great consolation to her,\012"
	.ascii	"    that what brought evil to herself would bring g"
	.ascii	"ood to\012    her sister; and Elinor, on the other "
	.ascii	"hand, suspecting that\012    it would not be in her"
	.ascii	" power to avoid Edward entirely,\012    comforted h"
	.ascii	"erself by thinking, that though their longer\012   "
	.ascii	" stay would therefore militate against her own happ"
	.ascii	"iness,\012    it would be better for Marianne than "
	.ascii	"an immediate return\012    into Devonshire.\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    Her carefulness in guarding her sister from"
	.ascii	" ever\012    hearing Willoughby's name mentioned, w"
	.ascii	"as not thrown away.\012    Marianne, though without"
	.ascii	" knowing it herself, reaped all\012    its advantag"
	.ascii	"e; for neither Mrs. Jennings, nor Sir John,\012    "
	.ascii	"nor even Mrs. Palmer herself, ever spoke of him bef"
	.ascii	"ore her.\012    Elinor wished that the same forbear"
	.ascii	"ance could have extended\012    towards herself, bu"
	.ascii	"t that was impossible, and she was\012    obliged t"
	.ascii	"o listen day after day to the indignation of them a"
	.ascii	"ll.\012    \012    Sir John, could not have thought"
	.ascii	" it possible.\012    \"A man of whom he had always "
	.ascii	"had such reason to think well!\012    Such a good-n"
	.ascii	"atured fellow!  He did not believe there was a\012 "
	.ascii	"   bolder rider in England!  It was an unaccountabl"
	.ascii	"e business.\012    He wished him at the devil with "
	.ascii	"all his heart.  He would\012    not speak another w"
	.ascii	"ord to him, meet him where he might,\012    for all"
	.ascii	" the world!  No, not if it were to be by the side\012"
	.ascii	"    of Barton covert, and they were kept watching f"
	.ascii	"or two\012    hours together.  Such a scoundrel of "
	.ascii	"a fellow! such\012 "
	.ascii	"   a deceitful dog!  It was only the last time they"
	.ascii	" met\012    that he had offered him one of Folly's "
	.ascii	"puppies! and this\012    was the end of it!\"\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    Mrs. Palmer, in her way, was equally angr"
	.ascii	"y.\012    \"She was determined to drop his acquaint"
	.ascii	"ance immediately,\012    and she was very thankful "
	.ascii	"that she had never been acquainted\012    with him "
	.ascii	"at all.  She wished with all her heart Combe\012   "
	.ascii	" Magna was not so near Cleveland; but it did not si"
	.ascii	"gnify,\012    for it was a great deal too far off t"
	.ascii	"o visit; she hated\012    him so much that she was "
	.ascii	"resolved never to mention\012    his name again, an"
	.ascii	"d she should tell everybody she saw,\012    how goo"
	.ascii	"d-for-nothing he was.\"\012    \012    The rest of "
	.ascii	"Mrs. Palmer's sympathy was shewn in procuring\012  "
	.ascii	"  all the particulars in her power of the approachi"
	.ascii	"ng marriage,\012    and communicating them to Elino"
	.ascii	"r.  She could soon tell\012    at what coachmaker's"
	.ascii	" the new carriage was building,\012    by what pain"
	.ascii	"ter Mr. Willoughby's portrait was drawn,\012    and"
	.ascii	" at what warehouse Miss Grey's clothes might be see"
	.ascii	"n.\012    \012    The calm and polite unconcern of "
	.ascii	"Lady Middleton\012    on the occasion was a happy r"
	.ascii	"elief to Elinor's spirits,\012    oppressed as they"
	.ascii	" often were by the clamorous kindness\012    of the"
	.ascii	" others.  It was a great comfort to her to be sure\012"
	.ascii	"    of exciting no interest in ONE person at least "
	.ascii	"among their\012    circle of friends: a great comfo"
	.ascii	"rt to know that there\012    was ONE who would meet"
	.ascii	" her without feeling any curiosity\012    after par"
	.ascii	"ticulars, or any anxiety for her sister's health.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Every qualification is raised at times,"
	.ascii	" by the\012    circumstances of the moment, to more"
	.ascii	" than its real value;\012    and she was sometimes "
	.ascii	"worried down by officious condolence\012    to rate"
	.ascii	" good-breeding as more indispensable to comfort\012"
	.ascii	"    than good-nature.\012    \012    Lady Middleton"
	.ascii	" expressed her sense of the affair\012    about onc"
	.ascii	"e every day, or twice, if the subject occurred\012 "
	.ascii	"   very often, by saying, \"It is very shocking, in"
	.ascii	"deed!\"\012    and by the means of this continual t"
	.ascii	"hough gentle vent,\012    was"
	.ascii	" able not only to see the Miss Dashwoods from the\012"
	.ascii	"    first without the smallest emotion, but very so"
	.ascii	"on\012    to see them without recollecting a word o"
	.ascii	"f the matter;\012    and having thus supported the "
	.ascii	"dignity of her own sex,\012    and spoken her decid"
	.ascii	"ed censure of what was wrong\012    in the other, s"
	.ascii	"he thought herself at liberty to attend\012    to t"
	.ascii	"he interest of her own assemblies, and therefore\012"
	.ascii	"    determined (though rather against the opinion o"
	.ascii	"f Sir John)\012    that as Mrs. Willoughby would at"
	.ascii	" once be a woman of elegance\012    and fortune, to"
	.ascii	" leave her card with her as soon as she married.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Colonel Brandon's delicate, unobtrusive"
	.ascii	" enquiries\012    were never unwelcome to Miss Dash"
	.ascii	"wood.  He had abundantly\012    earned the privileg"
	.ascii	"e of intimate discussion of her\012    sister's dis"
	.ascii	"appointment, by the friendly zeal with\012    which"
	.ascii	" he had endeavoured to soften it, and they always\012"
	.ascii	"    conversed with confidence.  His chief reward fo"
	.ascii	"r the\012    painful exertion of disclosing past so"
	.ascii	"rrows and present\012    humiliations, was given in"
	.ascii	" the pitying eye with which\012    Marianne sometim"
	.ascii	"es observed him, and the gentleness\012    of her v"
	.ascii	"oice whenever (though it did not often happen)\012 "
	.ascii	"   she was obliged, or could oblige herself to spea"
	.ascii	"k to him.\012    THESE assured him that his exertio"
	.ascii	"n had produced an\012    increase of good-will towa"
	.ascii	"rds himself, and THESE gave\012    Elinor hopes of "
	.ascii	"its being farther augmented hereafter;\012    but M"
	.ascii	"rs. Jennings, who knew nothing of all this, who kne"
	.ascii	"w\012    only that the Colonel continued as grave a"
	.ascii	"s ever, and that\012    she could neither prevail o"
	.ascii	"n him to make the offer himself,\012    nor commiss"
	.ascii	"ion her to make it for him, began, at the\012    en"
	.ascii	"d of two days, to think that, instead of Midsummer,"
	.ascii	"\012    they would not be married till Michaelmas, "
	.ascii	"and by the\012    end of a week that it would not b"
	.ascii	"e a match at all.\012    The good understanding bet"
	.ascii	"ween the Colonel and Miss\012    Dashwood seemed ra"
	.ascii	"ther to declare that the honours\012    of the mulb"
	.ascii	"erry-tree, the canal, and the yew arbour,\012    wo"
	.ascii	"uld all "
	.ascii	"be made over to HER; and Mrs. Jennings had,\012    "
	.ascii	"for some time ceased to think at all of Mrs. Ferrar"
	.ascii	"s.\012    \012    Early in February, within a fortn"
	.ascii	"ight from the\012    receipt of Willoughby's letter"
	.ascii	", Elinor had the painful\012    office of informing"
	.ascii	" her sister that he was married.\012    She had tak"
	.ascii	"en care to have the intelligence conveyed\012    to"
	.ascii	" herself, as soon as it was known that the ceremony"
	.ascii	"\012    was over, as she was desirous that Marianne"
	.ascii	" should not\012    receive the first notice of it f"
	.ascii	"rom the public papers,\012    which she saw her eag"
	.ascii	"erly examining every morning.\012    \012    She re"
	.ascii	"ceived the news with resolute composure;\012    mad"
	.ascii	"e no observation on it, and at first shed no tears;"
	.ascii	"\012    but after a short time they would burst out"
	.ascii	", and for the\012    rest of the day, she was in a "
	.ascii	"state hardly less pitiable\012    than when she fir"
	.ascii	"st learnt to expect the event.\012    \012    The W"
	.ascii	"illoughbys left town as soon as they were married;\012"
	.ascii	"    and Elinor now hoped, as there could be no dang"
	.ascii	"er\012    of her seeing either of them, to prevail "
	.ascii	"on her sister,\012    who had never yet left the ho"
	.ascii	"use since the blow first fell,\012    to go out aga"
	.ascii	"in by degrees as she had done before.\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  About this time the two Miss Steeles, lately arri"
	.ascii	"ved\012    at their cousin's house in Bartlett's Bu"
	.ascii	"ildings,\012    Holburn, presented themselves again"
	.ascii	" before their more\012    grand relations in Condui"
	.ascii	"t and Berkeley Streets;\012    and were welcomed by"
	.ascii	" them all with great cordiality.\012    \012    Eli"
	.ascii	"nor only was sorry to see them.  Their presence\012"
	.ascii	"    always gave her pain, and she hardly knew how t"
	.ascii	"o make\012    a very gracious return to the overpow"
	.ascii	"ering delight of Lucy\012    in finding her STILL i"
	.ascii	"n town.\012    \012    \"I should have been quite d"
	.ascii	"isappointed if I had not\012    found you here STIL"
	.ascii	"L,\" said she repeatedly, with a strong\012    emph"
	.ascii	"asis on the word.  \"But I always thought I SHOULD."
	.ascii	"\012    I was almost sure you would not leave Londo"
	.ascii	"n yet awhile;\012    though you TOLD me, you know, "
	.ascii	"at Barton, that you should\012    not stay above a "
	.ascii	"MONTH.  But I thought, at the"
	.ascii	" time,\012    that you would most likely change you"
	.ascii	"r mind when it came\012    to the point.  It would "
	.ascii	"have been such a great pity\012    to have went awa"
	.ascii	"y before your brother and sister came.\012    And n"
	.ascii	"ow to be sure you will be in no hurry to be gone.\012"
	.ascii	"    I am amazingly glad you did not keep to YOUR WO"
	.ascii	"RD.\"\012    \012    Elinor perfectly understood he"
	.ascii	"r, and was forced\012    to use all her self-comman"
	.ascii	"d to make it appear that she\012    did NOT.\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \"Well, my dear,\" said Mrs. Jennings, \"a"
	.ascii	"nd how did\012    you travel?\"\012    \012    \"No"
	.ascii	"t in the stage, I assure you,\" replied Miss Steele"
	.ascii	",\012    with quick exultation; \"we came post all "
	.ascii	"the way, and had\012    a very smart beau to attend"
	.ascii	" us.  Dr. Davies was coming\012    to town, and so "
	.ascii	"we thought we'd join him in a post-chaise;\012    a"
	.ascii	"nd he behaved very genteelly, and paid ten or twelv"
	.ascii	"e\012    shillings more than we did.\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"Oh, oh!\" cried Mrs. Jennings; \"very pretty,\012"
	.ascii	"    indeed! and the Doctor is a single man, I warra"
	.ascii	"nt you.\"\012    \012    \"There now,\" said Miss S"
	.ascii	"teele, affectedly simpering,\012    \"everybody lau"
	.ascii	"ghs at me so about the Doctor, and I\012    cannot "
	.ascii	"think why.  My cousins say they are sure I have\012"
	.ascii	"    made a conquest; but for my part I declare I ne"
	.ascii	"ver think\012    about him from one hour's end to a"
	.ascii	"nother.  'Lord! here\012    comes your beau, Nancy,"
	.ascii	"' my cousin said t'other day,\012    when she saw h"
	.ascii	"im crossing the street to the house.\012    My beau"
	.ascii	", indeed! said I--I cannot think who you mean.\012 "
	.ascii	"   The Doctor is no beau of mine.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"Aye, aye, that is very pretty talking--but it won"
	.ascii	"'t do--\012    the Doctor is the man, I see.\"\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"No, indeed!\" replied her cousin, with"
	.ascii	" affected earnestness,\012    \"and I beg you will "
	.ascii	"contradict it, if you ever hear it talked\012    of"
	.ascii	".\"\012    \012    Mrs. Jennings directly gave her "
	.ascii	"the gratifying\012    assurance that she certainly "
	.ascii	"would NOT, and Miss Steele\012    was made complete"
	.ascii	"ly happy.\012    \012    \"I suppose you will go an"
	.ascii	"d stay with your brother\012    and sister, Miss Da"
	.ascii	"shwood, when they come to town,\"\012    said Lucy,"
	.ascii	" returning, after a"
	.ascii	" cessation of hostile hints,\012    to the charge.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"No, I do not think we shall.\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \"Oh, yes, I dare say you will.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Elinor would not humour her by farther oppositi"
	.ascii	"on.\012    \012    \"What a charming thing it is th"
	.ascii	"at Mrs. Dashwood can\012    spare you both for so l"
	.ascii	"ong a time together!\"\012    \012    \"Long a time"
	.ascii	", indeed!\" interposed Mrs. Jennings.\012    \"Why,"
	.ascii	" their visit is but just begun!\"\012    \012    Lu"
	.ascii	"cy was silenced.\012    \012    \"I am sorry we can"
	.ascii	"not see your sister, Miss Dashwood,\"\012    said M"
	.ascii	"iss Steele.  \"I am sorry she is not well--\"\012  "
	.ascii	"  for Marianne had left the room on their arrival.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"You are very good.  My sister will be"
	.ascii	" equally\012    sorry to miss the pleasure of seein"
	.ascii	"g you; but she has\012    been very much plagued la"
	.ascii	"tely with nervous head-aches,\012    which make her"
	.ascii	" unfit for company or conversation.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"Oh, dear, that is a great pity! but such old\012"
	.ascii	"    friends as Lucy and me!--I think she might see "
	.ascii	"US;\012    and I am sure we would not speak a word."
	.ascii	"\"\012    \012    Elinor, with great civility, decl"
	.ascii	"ined the proposal.\012    Her sister was perhaps la"
	.ascii	"id down upon the bed, or in her\012    dressing gow"
	.ascii	"n, and therefore not able to come to them.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Oh, if that's all,\" cried Miss Steele, \"we "
	.ascii	"can\012    just as well go and see HER.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Elinor began to find this impertinence too much"
	.ascii	" for\012    her temper; but she was saved the troub"
	.ascii	"le of checking it,\012    by Lucy's sharp reprimand"
	.ascii	", which now, as on many occasions,\012    though it"
	.ascii	" did not give much sweetness to the manners\012    "
	.ascii	"of one sister, was of advantage in governing those "
	.ascii	"of\012    the other.\012    \012    \012    \012   "
	.ascii	" CHAPTER 33\012    \012    \012    After some oppos"
	.ascii	"ition, Marianne yielded to her\012    sister's entr"
	.ascii	"eaties, and consented to go out with her\012    and"
	.ascii	" Mrs. Jennings one morning for half an hour. She\012"
	.ascii	"    expressly conditioned, however, for paying no v"
	.ascii	"isits,\012    and would do no more than accompany t"
	.ascii	"hem to Gray's in\012    Sackville Street, where Eli"
	.ascii	"nor was carrying on a negotiation\012    for the ex"
	.ascii	"change of a few old-fashioned"
	.ascii	" jewels of her mother.\012    \012    When they sto"
	.ascii	"pped at the door, Mrs. Jennings recollected\012    "
	.ascii	"that there was a lady at the other end of the stree"
	.ascii	"t\012    on whom she ought to call; and as she had "
	.ascii	"no business\012    at Gray's, it was resolved, that"
	.ascii	" while her young friends\012    transacted their's,"
	.ascii	" she should pay her visit and\012    return for the"
	.ascii	"m.\012    \012    On ascending the stairs, the Miss"
	.ascii	" Dashwoods found\012    so many people before them "
	.ascii	"in the room, that there was\012    not a person at "
	.ascii	"liberty to tend to their orders; and they\012    we"
	.ascii	"re obliged to wait.  All that could be done was, to"
	.ascii	" sit\012    down at that end of the counter which s"
	.ascii	"eemed to promise the\012    quickest succession; on"
	.ascii	"e gentleman only was standing there,\012    and it "
	.ascii	"is probable that Elinor was not without hope\012   "
	.ascii	" of exciting his politeness to a quicker despatch.\012"
	.ascii	"    But the correctness of his eye, and the delicac"
	.ascii	"y\012    of his taste, proved to be beyond his poli"
	.ascii	"teness.\012    He was giving orders for a toothpick"
	.ascii	"-case for himself,\012    and till its size, shape,"
	.ascii	" and ornaments were determined,\012    all of which"
	.ascii	", after examining and debating for a quarter\012   "
	.ascii	" of an hour over every toothpick-case in the shop,\012"
	.ascii	"    were finally arranged by his own inventive fanc"
	.ascii	"y, he had\012    no leisure to bestow any other att"
	.ascii	"ention on the two ladies,\012    than what was comp"
	.ascii	"rised in three or four very broad stares;\012    a "
	.ascii	"kind of notice which served to imprint on Elinor\012"
	.ascii	"    the remembrance of a person and face, of strong"
	.ascii	",\012    natural, sterling insignificance, though a"
	.ascii	"dorned in\012    the first style of fashion.\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    Marianne was spared from the troublesome f"
	.ascii	"eelings\012    of contempt and resentment, on this "
	.ascii	"impertinent examination\012    of their features, a"
	.ascii	"nd on the puppyism of his manner\012    in deciding"
	.ascii	" on all the different horrors of the different\012 "
	.ascii	"   toothpick-cases presented to his inspection, by "
	.ascii	"remaining\012    unconscious of it all; for she was"
	.ascii	" as well able to collect\012    her thoughts within"
	.ascii	" herself, and be as ignorant of what was\012    pas"
	.ascii	"sing around her,"
	.ascii	" in Mr. Gray's shop, as in her own bedroom.\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    At last the affair was decided.  The ivory,"
	.ascii	"\012    the gold, and the pearls, all received thei"
	.ascii	"r appointment,\012    and the gentleman having name"
	.ascii	"d the last day on which his\012    existence could "
	.ascii	"be continued without the possession of the\012    t"
	.ascii	"oothpick-case, drew on his gloves with leisurely ca"
	.ascii	"re,\012    and bestowing another glance on the Miss"
	.ascii	" Dashwoods, but such\012    a one as seemed rather "
	.ascii	"to demand than express admiration,\012    walked of"
	.ascii	"f with a happy air of real conceit and affected\012"
	.ascii	"    indifference.\012    \012    Elinor lost no tim"
	.ascii	"e in bringing her business forward,\012    was on t"
	.ascii	"he point of concluding it, when another gentleman\012"
	.ascii	"    presented himself at her side.  She turned her "
	.ascii	"eyes towards\012    his face, and found him with so"
	.ascii	"me surprise to be her brother.\012    \012    Their"
	.ascii	" affection and pleasure in meeting was just enough\012"
	.ascii	"    to make a very creditable appearance in Mr. Gra"
	.ascii	"y's shop.\012    John Dashwood was really far from "
	.ascii	"being sorry to see\012    his sisters again; it rat"
	.ascii	"her gave them satisfaction;\012    and his inquirie"
	.ascii	"s after their mother were respectful\012    and att"
	.ascii	"entive.\012    \012    Elinor found that he and Fan"
	.ascii	"ny had been in town\012    two days.\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"I wished very much to call upon you yesterday,\""
	.ascii	"\012    said he, \"but it was impossible, for we we"
	.ascii	"re obliged\012    to take Harry to see the wild bea"
	.ascii	"sts at Exeter Exchange;\012    and we spent the res"
	.ascii	"t of the day with Mrs. Ferrars.\012    Harry was va"
	.ascii	"stly pleased.  THIS morning I had fully intended\012"
	.ascii	"    to call on you, if I could possibly find a spar"
	.ascii	"e half hour,\012    but one has always so much to d"
	.ascii	"o on first coming to town.\012    I am come here to"
	.ascii	" bespeak Fanny a seal.  But tomorrow I\012    think"
	.ascii	" I shall certainly be able to call in Berkeley Stre"
	.ascii	"et,\012    and be introduced to your friend Mrs. Je"
	.ascii	"nnings.\012    I understand she is a woman of very "
	.ascii	"good fortune.\012    And the Middletons too, you mu"
	.ascii	"st introduce me to THEM.\012    As my mother-in-law"
	.ascii	"'s relations, I shall be happy to show\012    them "
	.ascii	"every respect.  They are e"
	.ascii	"xcellent neighbours to you in\012    the country, I"
	.ascii	" understand.\"\012    \012    \"Excellent indeed.  "
	.ascii	"Their attention to our comfort,\012    their friend"
	.ascii	"liness in every particular, is more than I\012    c"
	.ascii	"an express.\"\012    \012    \"I am extremely glad "
	.ascii	"to hear it, upon my word;\012    extremely glad ind"
	.ascii	"eed.  But so it ought to be; they are\012    people"
	.ascii	" of large fortune, they are related to you, and\012"
	.ascii	"    every civility and accommodation that can serve"
	.ascii	" to make\012    your situation pleasant might be re"
	.ascii	"asonably expected.\012    And so you are most comfo"
	.ascii	"rtably settled in your little cottage\012    and wa"
	.ascii	"nt for nothing!  Edward brought us a most charming\012"
	.ascii	"    account of the place: the most complete thing o"
	.ascii	"f its kind,\012    he said, that ever was, and you "
	.ascii	"all seemed to enjoy it beyond\012    any thing.  It"
	.ascii	" was a great satisfaction to us to hear it,\012    "
	.ascii	"I assure you.\"\012    \012    Elinor did feel a li"
	.ascii	"ttle ashamed of her brother;\012    and was not sor"
	.ascii	"ry to be spared the necessity of answering him,\012"
	.ascii	"    by the arrival of Mrs. Jennings's servant, who "
	.ascii	"came to tell\012    her that his mistress waited fo"
	.ascii	"r them at the door.\012    \012    Mr. Dashwood att"
	.ascii	"ended them down stairs, was introduced\012    to Mr"
	.ascii	"s. Jennings at the door of her carriage, and repeat"
	.ascii	"ing\012    his hope of being able to call on them t"
	.ascii	"he next day,\012    took leave.\012    \012    His "
	.ascii	"visit was duly paid.  He came with a pretence at\012"
	.ascii	"    an apology from their sister-in-law, for not co"
	.ascii	"ming too;\012    \"but she was so much engaged with"
	.ascii	" her mother, that really\012    she had no leisure "
	.ascii	"for going any where.\"  Mrs. Jennings,\012    howev"
	.ascii	"er, assured him directly, that she should not stand"
	.ascii	"\012    upon ceremony, for they were all cousins, o"
	.ascii	"r something\012    like it, and she should certainl"
	.ascii	"y wait on Mrs. John\012    Dashwood very soon, and "
	.ascii	"bring her sisters to see her.\012    His manners to"
	.ascii	" THEM, though calm, were perfectly kind;\012    to "
	.ascii	"Mrs. Jennings, most attentively civil; and on Colon"
	.ascii	"el\012    Brandon's coming in soon after himself, h"
	.ascii	"e eyed him with a\012    curiosity which seemed to "
	.ascii	"say, that he only wanted to know"
	.ascii	"\012    him to be rich, to be equally civil to HIM."
	.ascii	"\012    \012    After staying with them half an hou"
	.ascii	"r, he asked\012    Elinor to walk with him to Condu"
	.ascii	"it Street, and introduce\012    him to Sir John and"
	.ascii	" Lady Middleton.  The weather was\012    remarkably"
	.ascii	" fine, and she readily consented.  As soon\012    a"
	.ascii	"s they were out of the house, his enquiries began.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Who is Colonel Brandon?  Is he a man "
	.ascii	"of fortune?\"\012    \012    \"Yes; he has very goo"
	.ascii	"d property in Dorsetshire.\"\012    \012    \"I am "
	.ascii	"glad of it.  He seems a most gentlemanlike man;\012"
	.ascii	"    and I think, Elinor, I may congratulate you on "
	.ascii	"the prospect\012    of a very respectable establish"
	.ascii	"ment in life.\"\012    \012    \"Me, brother! what "
	.ascii	"do you mean?\"\012    \012    \"He likes you.  I ob"
	.ascii	"served him narrowly, and am\012    convinced of it."
	.ascii	"  What is the amount of his fortune?\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"I believe about two thousand a year.\"\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \"Two thousand a-year;\" and then working h"
	.ascii	"imself\012    up to a pitch of enthusiastic generos"
	.ascii	"ity, he added,\012    \"Elinor, I wish with all my "
	.ascii	"heart it were TWICE as much,\012    for your sake.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"Indeed I believe you,\" replied E"
	.ascii	"linor; \"but I am\012    very sure that Colonel Bra"
	.ascii	"ndon has not the smallest wish\012    of marrying M"
	.ascii	"E.\"\012    \012    \"You are mistaken, Elinor; you"
	.ascii	" are very much mistaken.\012    A very little troub"
	.ascii	"le on your side secures him.\012    Perhaps just at"
	.ascii	" present he may be undecided; the smallness\012    "
	.ascii	"of your fortune may make him hang back; his friends"
	.ascii	"\012    may all advise him against it.  But some of"
	.ascii	" those little\012    attentions and encouragements "
	.ascii	"which ladies can so easily\012    give will fix him"
	.ascii	", in spite of himself.  And there can be\012    no "
	.ascii	"reason why you should not try for him.  It is not t"
	.ascii	"o be\012    supposed that any prior attachment on y"
	.ascii	"our side--in short,\012    you know as to an attach"
	.ascii	"ment of that kind, it is quite\012    out of the qu"
	.ascii	"estion, the objections are insurmountable--\012    "
	.ascii	"you have too much sense not to see all that.  Colon"
	.ascii	"el Brandon\012    must be the man; and no civility "
	.ascii	"shall be wanting on\012    my part to make him plea"
	.ascii	"sed with you "
	.ascii	"and your family.\012    It is a match that must giv"
	.ascii	"e universal satisfaction.\012    In short, it is a "
	.ascii	"kind of thing that\"--lowering his voice\012    to "
	.ascii	"an important whisper--\"will be exceedingly welcome"
	.ascii	"\012    to ALL PARTIES.\" Recollecting himself, how"
	.ascii	"ever, he added,\012    \"That is, I mean to say--yo"
	.ascii	"ur friends are all truly\012    anxious to see you "
	.ascii	"well settled; Fanny particularly,\012    for she ha"
	.ascii	"s your interest very much at heart, I assure you.\012"
	.ascii	"    And her mother too, Mrs. Ferrars, a very good-n"
	.ascii	"atured woman,\012    I am sure it would give her gr"
	.ascii	"eat pleasure; she said as much\012    the other day"
	.ascii	".\"\012    \012    Elinor would not vouchsafe any a"
	.ascii	"nswer.\012    \012    \"It would be something remar"
	.ascii	"kable, now,\" he continued,\012    \"something drol"
	.ascii	"l, if Fanny should have a brother and I\012    a si"
	.ascii	"ster settling at the same time.  And yet it is not\012"
	.ascii	"    very unlikely.\"\012    \012    \"Is Mr. Edward"
	.ascii	" Ferrars,\" said Elinor, with resolution,\012    \""
	.ascii	"going to be married?\"\012    \012    \"It is not a"
	.ascii	"ctually settled, but there is such\012    a thing i"
	.ascii	"n agitation.  He has a most excellent mother.\012  "
	.ascii	"  Mrs. Ferrars, with the utmost liberality, will co"
	.ascii	"me forward,\012    and settle on him a thousand a y"
	.ascii	"ear, if the match\012    takes place.  The lady is "
	.ascii	"the Hon. Miss Morton, only daughter\012    of the l"
	.ascii	"ate Lord Morton, with thirty thousand pounds.\012  "
	.ascii	"  A very desirable connection on both sides, and I "
	.ascii	"have not\012    a doubt of its taking place in time"
	.ascii	".  A thousand a-year\012    is a great deal for a m"
	.ascii	"other to give away, to make over\012    for ever; b"
	.ascii	"ut Mrs. Ferrars has a noble spirit.  To give\012   "
	.ascii	" you another instance of her liberality:--The other"
	.ascii	" day,\012    as soon as we came to town, aware that"
	.ascii	" money could\012    not be very plenty with us just"
	.ascii	" now, she put bank-notes\012    into Fanny's hands "
	.ascii	"to the amount of two hundred pounds.\012    And ext"
	.ascii	"remely acceptable it is, for we must live at a grea"
	.ascii	"t\012    expense while we are here.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  He paused for her assent and compassion; and she\012"
	.ascii	"    forced herself to say,\012    \012    \"Your ex"
	.ascii	"penses both in town and country must certai"
	.ascii	"nly\012    be considerable; but your income is a la"
	.ascii	"rge one.\"\012    \012    \"Not so large, I dare sa"
	.ascii	"y, as many people suppose.\012    I do not mean to "
	.ascii	"complain, however; it is undoubtedly\012    a comfo"
	.ascii	"rtable one, and I hope will in time be better.\012 "
	.ascii	"   The enclosure of Norland Common, now carrying on"
	.ascii	",\012    is a most serious drain.  And then I have "
	.ascii	"made a little\012    purchase within this half year"
	.ascii	"; East Kingham Farm,\012    you must remember the p"
	.ascii	"lace, where old Gibson used to live.\012    The lan"
	.ascii	"d was so very desirable for me in every respect,\012"
	.ascii	"    so immediately adjoining my own property, that "
	.ascii	"I felt it\012    my duty to buy it.  I could not ha"
	.ascii	"ve answered it to my\012    conscience to let it fa"
	.ascii	"ll into any other hands.  A man must\012    pay for"
	.ascii	" his convenience; and it HAS cost me a vast deal\012"
	.ascii	"    of money.\"\012    \012    \"More than you thin"
	.ascii	"k it really and intrinsically worth.\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"Why, I hope not that.  I might have sold it ag"
	.ascii	"ain,\012    the next day, for more than I gave: but"
	.ascii	", with regard to the\012    purchase-money, I might"
	.ascii	" have been very unfortunate indeed;\012    for the "
	.ascii	"stocks were at that time so low, that if I had not\012"
	.ascii	"    happened to have the necessary sum in my banker"
	.ascii	"'s hands,\012    I must have sold out to very great"
	.ascii	" loss.\"\012    \012    Elinor could only smile.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Other great and inevitable expenses t"
	.ascii	"oo we have\012    had on first coming to Norland.  "
	.ascii	"Our respected father,\012    as you well know, bequ"
	.ascii	"eathed all the Stanhill effects\012    that remaine"
	.ascii	"d at Norland (and very valuable they were)\012    t"
	.ascii	"o your mother.  Far be it from me to repine at his\012"
	.ascii	"    doing so; he had an undoubted right to dispose "
	.ascii	"of his\012    own property as he chose, but, in con"
	.ascii	"sequence of it,\012    we have been obliged to make"
	.ascii	" large purchases of linen,\012    china, &c. to sup"
	.ascii	"ply the place of what was taken away.\012    You ma"
	.ascii	"y guess, after all these expenses, how very far we\012"
	.ascii	"    must be from being rich, and how acceptable Mrs"
	.ascii	". Ferrars's\012    kindness is.\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"Certainly,\" said Elinor; \"and assisted by her lib"
	.ascii	"erality,\012    I hope you may yet "
	.ascii	"live to be in easy circumstances.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"Another year or two may do much towards it,\"\012"
	.ascii	"    he gravely replied; \"but however there is stil"
	.ascii	"l a great\012    deal to be done.  There is not a s"
	.ascii	"tone laid of Fanny's\012    green-house, and nothin"
	.ascii	"g but the plan of the flower-garden\012    marked o"
	.ascii	"ut.\"\012    \012    \"Where is the green-house to "
	.ascii	"be?\"\012    \012    \"Upon the knoll behind the ho"
	.ascii	"use.  The old\012    walnut trees are all come down"
	.ascii	" to make room for it.\012    It will be a very fine"
	.ascii	" object from many parts of the park,\012    and the"
	.ascii	" flower-garden will slope down just before it,\012 "
	.ascii	"   and be exceedingly pretty.  We have cleared away"
	.ascii	" all the old\012    thorns that grew in patches ove"
	.ascii	"r the brow.\"\012    \012    Elinor kept her concer"
	.ascii	"n and her censure to herself;\012    and was very t"
	.ascii	"hankful that Marianne was not present,\012    to sh"
	.ascii	"are the provocation.\012    \012    Having now said"
	.ascii	" enough to make his poverty clear,\012    and to do"
	.ascii	" away the necessity of buying a pair of ear-rings\012"
	.ascii	"    for each of his sisters, in his next visit at G"
	.ascii	"ray's\012    his thoughts took a cheerfuller turn, "
	.ascii	"and he began to\012    congratulate Elinor on havin"
	.ascii	"g such a friend as Mrs. Jennings.\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"She seems a most valuable woman indeed--Her house,\012"
	.ascii	"    her style of living, all bespeak an exceeding g"
	.ascii	"ood income;\012    and it is an acquaintance that h"
	.ascii	"as not only been\012    of great use to you hithert"
	.ascii	"o, but in the end may prove\012    materially advan"
	.ascii	"tageous.--Her inviting you to town is\012    certai"
	.ascii	"nly a vast thing in your favour; and indeed, it\012"
	.ascii	"    speaks altogether so great a regard for you, th"
	.ascii	"at in all\012    probability when she dies you will"
	.ascii	" not be forgotten.--\012    She must have a great d"
	.ascii	"eal to leave.\"\012    \012    \"Nothing at all, I "
	.ascii	"should rather suppose; for she has\012    only her "
	.ascii	"jointure, which will descend to her children.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"But it is not to be imagined that she"
	.ascii	" lives up to\012    her income.  Few people of comm"
	.ascii	"on prudence will do THAT;\012    and whatever she s"
	.ascii	"aves, she will be able to dispose of.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"And do you not think it more likely that she\012"
	.ascii	" "
	.ascii	"   should leave it to her daughters, than to us?\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Her daughters are both exceedingly we"
	.ascii	"ll married,\012    and therefore I cannot perceive "
	.ascii	"the necessity of her\012    remembering them farthe"
	.ascii	"r.  Whereas, in my opinion, by her\012    taking so"
	.ascii	" much notice of you, and treating you in this\012  "
	.ascii	"  kind of way, she has given you a sort of claim on"
	.ascii	" her\012    future consideration, which a conscient"
	.ascii	"ious woman would\012    not disregard.  Nothing can"
	.ascii	" be kinder than her behaviour;\012    and she can h"
	.ascii	"ardly do all this, without being aware\012    of th"
	.ascii	"e expectation it raises.\"\012    \012    \"But she"
	.ascii	" raises none in those most concerned.\012    Indeed"
	.ascii	", brother, your anxiety for our welfare and prosper"
	.ascii	"ity\012    carries you too far.\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"Why, to be sure,\" said he, seeming to recollect hi"
	.ascii	"mself,\012    \"people have little, have very littl"
	.ascii	"e in their power.\012    But, my dear Elinor, what "
	.ascii	"is the matter with Marianne?--\012    she looks ver"
	.ascii	"y unwell, has lost her colour, and is grown\012    "
	.ascii	"quite thin.  Is she ill?\"\012    \012    \"She is "
	.ascii	"not well, she has had a nervous complaint\012    on"
	.ascii	" her for several weeks.\"\012    \012    \"I am sor"
	.ascii	"ry for that.  At her time of life,\012    any thing"
	.ascii	" of an illness destroys the bloom for ever!\012    "
	.ascii	"Her's has been a very short one!  She was as handso"
	.ascii	"me a girl\012    last September, as I ever saw; and"
	.ascii	" as likely to attract\012    the man.  There was so"
	.ascii	"mething in her style of beauty,\012    to please th"
	.ascii	"em particularly.  I remember Fanny used to say\012 "
	.ascii	"   that she would marry sooner and better than you "
	.ascii	"did;\012    not but what she is exceedingly fond of"
	.ascii	" YOU, but so it\012    happened to strike her.  She"
	.ascii	" will be mistaken, however.\012    I question wheth"
	.ascii	"er Marianne NOW, will marry a man worth\012    more"
	.ascii	" than five or six hundred a-year, at the utmost,\012"
	.ascii	"    and I am very much deceived if YOU do not do be"
	.ascii	"tter.\012    Dorsetshire!  I know very little of Do"
	.ascii	"rsetshire; but, my dear\012    Elinor, I shall be e"
	.ascii	"xceedingly glad to know more of it;\012    and I th"
	.ascii	"ink I can answer for your having Fanny and myself\012"
	.ascii	"    among the earliest and best ple"
	.ascii	"ased of your visitors.\"\012    \012    Elinor trie"
	.ascii	"d very seriously to convince him that\012    there "
	.ascii	"was no likelihood of her marrying Colonel Brandon;\012"
	.ascii	"    but it was an expectation of too much pleasure "
	.ascii	"to himself\012    to be relinquished, and he was re"
	.ascii	"ally resolved on seeking\012    an intimacy with th"
	.ascii	"at gentleman, and promoting the marriage\012    by "
	.ascii	"every possible attention.  He had just compunction\012"
	.ascii	"    enough for having done nothing for his sisters "
	.ascii	"himself,\012    to be exceedingly anxious that ever"
	.ascii	"ybody else should\012    do a great deal; and an of"
	.ascii	"fer from Colonel Brandon,\012    or a legacy from M"
	.ascii	"rs. Jennings, was the easiest means\012    of atoni"
	.ascii	"ng for his own neglect.\012    \012    They were lu"
	.ascii	"cky enough to find Lady Middleton\012    at home, a"
	.ascii	"nd Sir John came in before their visit ended.\012  "
	.ascii	"  Abundance of civilities passed on all sides.  Sir"
	.ascii	" John\012    was ready to like anybody, and though "
	.ascii	"Mr. Dashwood did\012    not seem to know much about"
	.ascii	" horses, he soon set him\012    down as a very good"
	.ascii	"-natured fellow: while Lady Middleton\012    saw en"
	.ascii	"ough of fashion in his appearance to think his\012 "
	.ascii	"   acquaintance worth having; and Mr. Dashwood went"
	.ascii	" away\012    delighted with both.\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"I shall have a charming account to carry\012    to "
	.ascii	"Fanny,\" said he, as he walked back with his sister"
	.ascii	".\012    \"Lady Middleton is really a most elegant "
	.ascii	"woman!  Such\012    a woman as I am sure Fanny will"
	.ascii	" be glad to know.\012    And Mrs. Jennings too, an "
	.ascii	"exceedingly well-behaved woman,\012    though not s"
	.ascii	"o elegant as her daughter.  Your sister need\012   "
	.ascii	" not have any scruple even of visiting HER, which, "
	.ascii	"to say\012    the truth, has been a little the case"
	.ascii	", and very naturally;\012    for we only knew that "
	.ascii	"Mrs. Jennings was the widow of a man\012    who had"
	.ascii	" got all his money in a low way; and Fanny and\012 "
	.ascii	"   Mrs. Ferrars were both strongly prepossessed, th"
	.ascii	"at neither\012    she nor her daughters were such k"
	.ascii	"ind of women as Fanny\012    would like to associat"
	.ascii	"e with.  But now I can carry her\012    a most sati"
	.ascii	"sfactory account of both.\"\012    \012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\012    CHAPTER 34\012    \012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  Mrs. John Dashwood had so much confidence in her\012"
	.ascii	"    husband's judgment, that she waited the very ne"
	.ascii	"xt day\012    both on Mrs. Jennings and her daughte"
	.ascii	"r; and her\012    confidence was rewarded by findin"
	.ascii	"g even the former,\012    even the woman with whom "
	.ascii	"her sisters were staying,\012    by no means unwort"
	.ascii	"hy her notice; and as for Lady Middleton,\012    sh"
	.ascii	"e found her one of the most charming women in the w"
	.ascii	"orld!\012    \012    Lady Middleton was equally ple"
	.ascii	"ased with Mrs. Dashwood.\012    There was a kind of"
	.ascii	" cold hearted selfishness on both sides,\012    whi"
	.ascii	"ch mutually attracted them; and they sympathised\012"
	.ascii	"    with each other in an insipid propriety of deme"
	.ascii	"anor,\012    and a general want of understanding.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    The same manners, however, which recomm"
	.ascii	"ended Mrs. John\012    Dashwood to the good opinion"
	.ascii	" of Lady Middleton did not suit\012    the fancy of"
	.ascii	" Mrs. Jennings, and to HER she appeared nothing\012"
	.ascii	"    more than a little proud-looking woman of uncor"
	.ascii	"dial address,\012    who met her husband's sisters "
	.ascii	"without any affection,\012    and almost without ha"
	.ascii	"ving anything to say to them;\012    for of the qua"
	.ascii	"rter of an hour bestowed on Berkeley Street,\012   "
	.ascii	" she sat at least seven minutes and a half in silen"
	.ascii	"ce.\012    \012    Elinor wanted very much to know,"
	.ascii	" though she did\012    not chuse to ask, whether Ed"
	.ascii	"ward was then in town;\012    but nothing would hav"
	.ascii	"e induced Fanny voluntarily\012    to mention his n"
	.ascii	"ame before her, till able to tell her\012    that h"
	.ascii	"is marriage with Miss Morton was resolved on,\012  "
	.ascii	"  or till her husband's expectations on Colonel Bra"
	.ascii	"ndon\012    were answered; because she believed the"
	.ascii	"m still so very\012    much attached to each other,"
	.ascii	" that they could not be too\012    sedulously divid"
	.ascii	"ed in word and deed on every occasion.\012    The i"
	.ascii	"ntelligence however, which SHE would not give,\012 "
	.ascii	"   soon flowed from another quarter.  Lucy came ver"
	.ascii	"y shortly\012    to claim Elinor's compassion on be"
	.ascii	"ing unable to see Edward,\012    though he had arri"
	.ascii	"ved in town with Mr. and Mrs. Dashwood.\012    He d"
	.ascii	"ared not come to Bartlett's Buildings for fear\012 "
	.ascii	"   of detectio"
	.ascii	"n, and though their mutual impatience to meet,\012 "
	.ascii	"   was not to be told, they could do nothing at pre"
	.ascii	"sent\012    but write.\012    \012    Edward assure"
	.ascii	"d them himself of his being in town,\012    within "
	.ascii	"a very short time, by twice calling in Berkeley Str"
	.ascii	"eet.\012    Twice was his card found on the table, "
	.ascii	"when they returned\012    from their morning's enga"
	.ascii	"gements.  Elinor was pleased\012    that he had cal"
	.ascii	"led; and still more pleased that she had\012    mis"
	.ascii	"sed him.\012    \012    The Dashwoods were so prodi"
	.ascii	"giously delighted\012    with the Middletons, that,"
	.ascii	" though not much in the habit\012    of giving anyt"
	.ascii	"hing, they determined to give them--\012    a dinne"
	.ascii	"r; and soon after their acquaintance began,\012    "
	.ascii	"invited them to dine in Harley Street, where they h"
	.ascii	"ad\012    taken a very good house for three months."
	.ascii	"  Their sisters\012    and Mrs. Jennings were invit"
	.ascii	"ed likewise, and John Dashwood\012    was careful t"
	.ascii	"o secure Colonel Brandon, who, always glad\012    t"
	.ascii	"o be where the Miss Dashwoods were, received his ea"
	.ascii	"ger\012    civilities with some surprise, but much "
	.ascii	"more pleasure.\012    They were to meet Mrs. Ferrar"
	.ascii	"s; but Elinor could not learn\012    whether her so"
	.ascii	"ns were to be of the party.  The expectation\012   "
	.ascii	" of seeing HER, however, was enough to make her int"
	.ascii	"erested\012    in the engagement; for though she co"
	.ascii	"uld now meet Edward's\012    mother without that st"
	.ascii	"rong anxiety which had once promised\012    to atte"
	.ascii	"nd such an introduction, though she could now see\012"
	.ascii	"    her with perfect indifference as to her opinion"
	.ascii	" of herself,\012    her desire of being in company "
	.ascii	"with Mrs. Ferrars,\012    her curiosity to know wha"
	.ascii	"t she was like, was as lively as ever.\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   The interest with which she thus anticipated the"
	.ascii	"\012    party, was soon afterwards increased, more "
	.ascii	"powerfully\012    than pleasantly, by her hearing t"
	.ascii	"hat the Miss Steeles\012    were also to be at it.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    So well had they recommended themselves"
	.ascii	" to Lady Middleton,\012    so agreeable had their a"
	.ascii	"ssiduities made them to her,\012    that though Luc"
	.ascii	"y was certainly not so elegant, and her\012    sist"
	.ascii	"er not even genteel, "
	.ascii	"she was as ready as Sir John\012    to ask them to "
	.ascii	"spend a week or two in Conduit Street;\012    and i"
	.ascii	"t happened to be particularly convenient to the Mis"
	.ascii	"s\012    Steeles, as soon as the Dashwoods' invitat"
	.ascii	"ion was known,\012    that their visit should begin"
	.ascii	" a few days before the party\012    took place.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Their claims to the notice of Mrs. John"
	.ascii	" Dashwood,\012    as the nieces of the gentleman wh"
	.ascii	"o for many years had\012    had the care of her bro"
	.ascii	"ther, might not have done much,\012    however, tow"
	.ascii	"ards procuring them seats at her table;\012    but "
	.ascii	"as Lady Middleton's guests they must be welcome; an"
	.ascii	"d Lucy,\012    who had long wanted to be personally"
	.ascii	" known to the family,\012    to have a nearer view "
	.ascii	"of their characters and her own\012    difficulties"
	.ascii	", and to have an opportunity of endeavouring\012   "
	.ascii	" to please them, had seldom been happier in her lif"
	.ascii	"e,\012    than she was on receiving Mrs. John Dashw"
	.ascii	"ood's card.\012    \012    On Elinor its effect was"
	.ascii	" very different.  She began\012    immediately to d"
	.ascii	"etermine, that Edward who lived with\012    his mot"
	.ascii	"her, must be asked as his mother was, to a party\012"
	.ascii	"    given by his sister; and to see him for the fir"
	.ascii	"st time,\012    after all that passed, in the compa"
	.ascii	"ny of Lucy!--she hardly\012    knew how she could b"
	.ascii	"ear it!\012    \012    These apprehensions, perhaps"
	.ascii	", were not founded\012    entirely on reason, and c"
	.ascii	"ertainly not at all on truth.\012    They were reli"
	.ascii	"eved however, not by her own recollection,\012    b"
	.ascii	"ut by the good will of Lucy, who believed herself t"
	.ascii	"o be\012    inflicting a severe disappointment when"
	.ascii	" she told her\012    that Edward certainly would no"
	.ascii	"t be in Harley Street on Tuesday,\012    and even h"
	.ascii	"oped to be carrying the pain still farther\012    b"
	.ascii	"y persuading her that he was kept away by the extre"
	.ascii	"me\012    affection for herself, which he could not"
	.ascii	" conceal when they\012    were together.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    The important Tuesday came that was to introduc"
	.ascii	"e\012    the two young ladies to this formidable mo"
	.ascii	"ther-in-law.\012    \012    \"Pity me, dear Miss Da"
	.ascii	"shwood!\" said Lucy, as they\012    walked up the s"
	.ascii	"tairs together--for the Middl"
	.ascii	"etons arrived\012    so directly after Mrs. Jenning"
	.ascii	"s, that they all followed\012    the servant at the"
	.ascii	" same time--\"There is nobody here but\012    you, "
	.ascii	"that can feel for me.--I declare I can hardly stand"
	.ascii	".\012    Good gracious!--In a moment I shall see th"
	.ascii	"e person that all\012    my happiness depends on--t"
	.ascii	"hat is to be my mother!\"--\012    \012    Elinor c"
	.ascii	"ould have given her immediate relief\012    by sugg"
	.ascii	"esting the possibility of its being Miss Morton's m"
	.ascii	"other,\012    rather than her own, whom they were a"
	.ascii	"bout to behold;\012    but instead of doing that, s"
	.ascii	"he assured her, and with\012    great sincerity, th"
	.ascii	"at she did pity her--to the utter\012    amazement "
	.ascii	"of Lucy, who, though really uncomfortable herself,\012"
	.ascii	"    hoped at least to be an object of irrepressible"
	.ascii	" envy to Elinor.\012    \012    Mrs. Ferrars was a "
	.ascii	"little, thin woman, upright,\012    even to formali"
	.ascii	"ty, in her figure, and serious,\012    even to sour"
	.ascii	"ness, in her aspect.  Her complexion was sallow;\012"
	.ascii	"    and her features small, without beauty, and nat"
	.ascii	"urally\012    without expression; but a lucky contr"
	.ascii	"action of the brow\012    had rescued her countenan"
	.ascii	"ce from the disgrace of insipidity,\012    by givin"
	.ascii	"g it the strong characters of pride and ill nature."
	.ascii	"\012    She was not a woman of many words; for, unl"
	.ascii	"ike people\012    in general, she proportioned them"
	.ascii	" to the number of\012    her ideas; and of the few "
	.ascii	"syllables that did escape her,\012    not one fell "
	.ascii	"to the share of Miss Dashwood, whom she eyed\012   "
	.ascii	" with the spirited determination of disliking her a"
	.ascii	"t all events.\012    \012    Elinor could not NOW b"
	.ascii	"e made unhappy by this behaviour.--\012    A few mo"
	.ascii	"nths ago it would have hurt her exceedingly; but it"
	.ascii	"\012    was not in Mrs. Ferrars' power to distress "
	.ascii	"her by it now;--\012    and the difference of her m"
	.ascii	"anners to the Miss Steeles,\012    a difference whi"
	.ascii	"ch seemed purposely made to humble her more,\012   "
	.ascii	" only amused her.  She could not but smile to see t"
	.ascii	"he graciousness\012    of both mother and daughter "
	.ascii	"towards the very person--\012    for Lucy was parti"
	.ascii	"cularly distinguished--whom of all others,\012    h"
	.ascii	"ad they known a"
	.ascii	"s much as she did, they would have been most\012   "
	.ascii	" anxious to mortify; while she herself, who had com"
	.ascii	"paratively\012    no power to wound them, sat point"
	.ascii	"edly slighted by both.\012    But while she smiled "
	.ascii	"at a graciousness so misapplied,\012    she could n"
	.ascii	"ot reflect on the mean-spirited folly from\012    w"
	.ascii	"hich it sprung, nor observe the studied attentions\012"
	.ascii	"    with which the Miss Steeles courted its continu"
	.ascii	"ance,\012    without thoroughly despising them all "
	.ascii	"four.\012    \012    Lucy was all exultation on bei"
	.ascii	"ng so honorably\012    distinguished; and Miss Stee"
	.ascii	"le wanted only to be teazed\012    about Dr. Davies"
	.ascii	" to be perfectly happy.\012    \012    The dinner w"
	.ascii	"as a grand one, the servants were numerous,\012    "
	.ascii	"and every thing bespoke the Mistress's inclination\012"
	.ascii	"    for show, and the Master's ability to support i"
	.ascii	"t.\012    In spite of the improvements and addition"
	.ascii	"s which were\012    making to the Norland estate, a"
	.ascii	"nd in spite of its owner\012    having once been wi"
	.ascii	"thin some thousand pounds of being\012    obliged t"
	.ascii	"o sell out at a loss, nothing gave any symptom\012 "
	.ascii	"   of that indigence which he had tried to infer fr"
	.ascii	"om it;--\012    no poverty of any kind, except of c"
	.ascii	"onversation, appeared--\012    but there, the defic"
	.ascii	"iency was considerable.  John Dashwood\012    had n"
	.ascii	"ot much to say for himself that was worth hearing,\012"
	.ascii	"    and his wife had still less.  But there was no "
	.ascii	"peculiar\012    disgrace in this; for it was very m"
	.ascii	"uch the case with\012    the chief of their visitor"
	.ascii	"s, who almost all laboured\012    under one or othe"
	.ascii	"r of these disqualifications for being\012    agree"
	.ascii	"able--Want of sense, either natural or improved--wa"
	.ascii	"nt\012    of elegance--want of spirits--or want of "
	.ascii	"temper.\012    \012    When the ladies withdrew to "
	.ascii	"the drawing-room\012    after dinner, this poverty "
	.ascii	"was particularly evident,\012    for the gentlemen "
	.ascii	"HAD supplied the discourse with some\012    variety"
	.ascii	"--the variety of politics, inclosing land,\012    a"
	.ascii	"nd breaking horses--but then it was all over; and o"
	.ascii	"ne\012    subject only engaged the ladies till coff"
	.ascii	"ee came in,\012    which was the comparative height"
	.ascii	"s of Harry "
	.ascii	"Dashwood,\012    and Lady Middleton's second son Wi"
	.ascii	"lliam, who were nearly\012    of the same age.\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    Had both the children been there, the af"
	.ascii	"fair might\012    have been determined too easily b"
	.ascii	"y measuring them at once;\012    but as Harry only "
	.ascii	"was present, it was all conjectural\012    assertio"
	.ascii	"n on both sides; and every body had a right to\012 "
	.ascii	"   be equally positive in their opinion, and to rep"
	.ascii	"eat it\012    over and over again as often as they "
	.ascii	"liked.\012    \012    The parties stood thus:\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    The two mothers, though each really convi"
	.ascii	"nced that\012    her own son was the tallest, polit"
	.ascii	"ely decided in favour\012    of the other.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    The two grandmothers, with not less partiality,"
	.ascii	"\012    but more sincerity, were equally earnest in"
	.ascii	" support\012    of their own descendant.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Lucy, who was hardly less anxious to please one"
	.ascii	" parent\012    than the other, thought the boys wer"
	.ascii	"e both remarkably tall\012    for their age, and co"
	.ascii	"uld not conceive that there could\012    be the sma"
	.ascii	"llest difference in the world between them;\012    "
	.ascii	"and Miss Steele, with yet greater address gave it,\012"
	.ascii	"    as fast as she could, in favour of each.\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    Elinor, having once delivered her opinion "
	.ascii	"on\012    William's side, by which she offended Mrs"
	.ascii	". Ferrars and\012    Fanny still more, did not see "
	.ascii	"the necessity of enforcing\012    it by any farther"
	.ascii	" assertion; and Marianne, when called\012    on for"
	.ascii	" her's, offended them all, by declaring that she\012"
	.ascii	"    had no opinion to give, as she had never though"
	.ascii	"t about it.\012    \012    Before her removing from"
	.ascii	" Norland, Elinor had painted\012    a very pretty p"
	.ascii	"air of screens for her sister-in-law,\012    which "
	.ascii	"being now just mounted and brought home,\012    orn"
	.ascii	"amented her present drawing room; and these screens"
	.ascii	",\012    catching the eye of John Dashwood on his f"
	.ascii	"ollowing\012    the other gentlemen into the room, "
	.ascii	"were officiously\012    handed by him to Colonel Br"
	.ascii	"andon for his admiration.\012    \012    \"These ar"
	.ascii	"e done by my eldest sister,\" said he; \"and you,\012"
	.ascii	"    as a man of taste, will, I dare say, be pleased"
	.ascii	" with them.\012    I do not know whet"
	.ascii	"her you have ever happened to see any\012    of her"
	.ascii	" performances before, but she is in general reckone"
	.ascii	"d\012    to draw extremely well.\"\012    \012    T"
	.ascii	"he Colonel, though disclaiming all pretensions\012 "
	.ascii	"   to connoisseurship, warmly admired the screens, "
	.ascii	"as he\012    would have done any thing painted by M"
	.ascii	"iss Dashwood;\012    and on the curiosity of the ot"
	.ascii	"hers being of course excited,\012    they were hand"
	.ascii	"ed round for general inspection.\012    Mrs. Ferrar"
	.ascii	"s, not aware of their being Elinor's work,\012    p"
	.ascii	"articularly requested to look at them; and after th"
	.ascii	"ey had\012    received gratifying testimony of Lady"
	.ascii	" Middletons's approbation,\012    Fanny presented t"
	.ascii	"hem to her mother, considerately informing\012    h"
	.ascii	"er, at the same time, that they were done by Miss D"
	.ascii	"ashwood.\012    \012    \"Hum\"--said Mrs. Ferrars-"
	.ascii	"-\"very pretty,\"--and without\012    regarding the"
	.ascii	"m at all, returned them to her daughter.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Perhaps Fanny thought for a moment that her mot"
	.ascii	"her\012    had been quite rude enough,--for, colour"
	.ascii	"ing a little,\012    she immediately said,\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"They are very pretty, ma'am--an't they?\" But"
	.ascii	" then again,\012    the dread of having been too ci"
	.ascii	"vil, too encouraging herself,\012    probably came "
	.ascii	"over her, for she presently added,\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"Do you not think they are something in Miss\012    "
	.ascii	"Morton's style of painting, Ma'am?--She DOES paint "
	.ascii	"most\012    delightfully!--How beautifully her last"
	.ascii	" landscape is done!\"\012    \012    \"Beautifully "
	.ascii	"indeed!  But SHE does every thing well.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Marianne could not bear this.--She was already\012"
	.ascii	"    greatly displeased with Mrs. Ferrars; and such "
	.ascii	"ill-timed\012    praise of another, at Elinor's exp"
	.ascii	"ense, though she\012    had not any notion of what "
	.ascii	"was principally meant by it,\012    provoked her im"
	.ascii	"mediately to say with warmth,\012    \012    \"This"
	.ascii	" is admiration of a very particular kind!--\012    "
	.ascii	"what is Miss Morton to us?--who knows, or who cares"
	.ascii	",\012    for her?--it is Elinor of whom WE think an"
	.ascii	"d speak.\"\012    \012    And so saying, she took t"
	.ascii	"he screens out of her\012    sister-in-law's hands,"
	.ascii	" to admire them herself as they\012    ought"
	.ascii	" to be admired.\012    \012    Mrs. Ferrars looked "
	.ascii	"exceedingly angry, and drawing\012    herself up mo"
	.ascii	"re stiffly than ever, pronounced in retort\012    t"
	.ascii	"his bitter philippic, \"Miss Morton is Lord Morton'"
	.ascii	"s daughter.\"\012    \012    Fanny looked very angr"
	.ascii	"y too, and her husband was\012    all in a fright a"
	.ascii	"t his sister's audacity.  Elinor was\012    much mo"
	.ascii	"re hurt by Marianne's warmth than she had been\012 "
	.ascii	"   by what produced it; but Colonel Brandon's eyes,"
	.ascii	" as they\012    were fixed on Marianne, declared th"
	.ascii	"at he noticed only\012    what was amiable in it, t"
	.ascii	"he affectionate heart which could\012    not bear t"
	.ascii	"o see a sister slighted in the smallest point.\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    Marianne's feelings did not stop here.  "
	.ascii	"The cold\012    insolence of Mrs. Ferrars's general"
	.ascii	" behaviour to her sister,\012    seemed, to her, to"
	.ascii	" foretell such difficulties and distresses\012    t"
	.ascii	"o Elinor, as her own wounded heart taught her to th"
	.ascii	"ink\012    of with horror; and urged by a strong im"
	.ascii	"pulse of\012    affectionate sensibility, she moved"
	.ascii	" after a moment,\012    to her sister's chair, and "
	.ascii	"putting one arm round her neck,\012    and one chee"
	.ascii	"k close to hers, said in a low, but eager,\012    v"
	.ascii	"oice,\012    \012    \"Dear, dear Elinor, don't min"
	.ascii	"d them.  Don't let them\012    make YOU unhappy.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    She could say no more; her spirits were"
	.ascii	" quite overcome,\012    and hiding her face on Elin"
	.ascii	"or's shoulder, she burst\012    into tears.  Every "
	.ascii	"body's attention was called, and almost\012    ever"
	.ascii	"y body was concerned.--Colonel Brandon rose up and "
	.ascii	"went\012    to them without knowing what he did.--M"
	.ascii	"rs. Jennings,\012    with a very intelligent \"Ah! "
	.ascii	"poor dear,\" immediately gave\012    her her salts;"
	.ascii	" and Sir John felt so desperately enraged\012    ag"
	.ascii	"ainst the author of this nervous distress, that he\012"
	.ascii	"    instantly changed his seat to one close by Lucy"
	.ascii	" Steele,\012    and gave her, in a whisper, a brief"
	.ascii	" account of the whole\012    shocking affair.\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    In a few minutes, however, Marianne was r"
	.ascii	"ecovered\012    enough to put an end to the bustle,"
	.ascii	" and sit down among\012    the rest; though her spi"
	.ascii	"rits retained the impression\012   "
	.ascii	" of what had passed, the whole evening.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Poor Marianne!\" said her brother to Colonel "
	.ascii	"Brandon,\012    in a low voice, as soon as he could"
	.ascii	" secure his attention,--\012    \"She has not such "
	.ascii	"good health as her sister,--she is very\012    nerv"
	.ascii	"ous,--she has not Elinor's constitution;--and one m"
	.ascii	"ust\012    allow that there is something very tryin"
	.ascii	"g to a young woman\012    who HAS BEEN a beauty in "
	.ascii	"the loss of her personal attractions.\012    You wo"
	.ascii	"uld not think it perhaps, but Marianne WAS remarkab"
	.ascii	"ly\012    handsome a few months ago; quite as hands"
	.ascii	"ome as Elinor.--\012    Now you see it is all gone."
	.ascii	"\"\012    \012    \012    \012    CHAPTER 35\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \012    Elinor's curiosity to see Mrs. Fer"
	.ascii	"rars was satisfied.--\012    She had found in her e"
	.ascii	"very thing that could tend to make\012    a farther"
	.ascii	" connection between the families undesirable.--\012"
	.ascii	"    She had seen enough of her pride, her meanness,"
	.ascii	" and her\012    determined prejudice against hersel"
	.ascii	"f, to comprehend all\012    the difficulties that m"
	.ascii	"ust have perplexed the engagement,\012    and retar"
	.ascii	"ded the marriage, of Edward and herself, had he bee"
	.ascii	"n\012    otherwise free;--and she had seen almost e"
	.ascii	"nough to be thankful\012    for her OWN sake, that "
	.ascii	"one greater obstacle preserved her\012    from suff"
	.ascii	"ering under any other of Mrs. Ferrars's creation,\012"
	.ascii	"    preserved her from all dependence upon her capr"
	.ascii	"ice, or any\012    solicitude for her good opinion."
	.ascii	"  Or at least, if she did not\012    bring herself "
	.ascii	"quite to rejoice in Edward's being fettered\012    "
	.ascii	"to Lucy, she determined, that had Lucy been more am"
	.ascii	"iable,\012    she OUGHT to have rejoiced.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    She wondered that Lucy's spirits could be so ve"
	.ascii	"ry much\012    elevated by the civility of Mrs. Fer"
	.ascii	"rars;--that her interest\012    and her vanity shou"
	.ascii	"ld so very much blind her as to make\012    the att"
	.ascii	"ention which seemed only paid her because she was\012"
	.ascii	"    NOT ELINOR, appear a compliment to herself--or "
	.ascii	"to allow\012    her to derive encouragement from a "
	.ascii	"preference only given her,\012    because her real "
	.ascii	"situation was unknown.  But that it was so,\012    "
	.ascii	"had not only been declared "
	.ascii	"by Lucy's eyes at the time,\012    but was declared"
	.ascii	" over again the next morning more openly,\012    fo"
	.ascii	"r at her particular desire, Lady Middleton set her "
	.ascii	"down\012    in Berkeley Street on the chance of see"
	.ascii	"ing Elinor alone,\012    to tell her how happy she "
	.ascii	"was.\012    \012    The chance proved a lucky one, "
	.ascii	"for a message from\012    Mrs. Palmer soon after sh"
	.ascii	"e arrived, carried Mrs. Jennings away.\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"My dear friend,\" cried Lucy, as soon as they "
	.ascii	"were\012    by themselves, \"I come to talk to you "
	.ascii	"of my happiness.\012    Could anything be so flatte"
	.ascii	"ring as Mrs. Ferrars's way\012    of treating me ye"
	.ascii	"sterday?  So exceeding affable as she\012    was!--"
	.ascii	"You know how I dreaded the thoughts of seeing her;-"
	.ascii	"-\012    but the very moment I was introduced, ther"
	.ascii	"e was such an\012    affability in her behaviour as"
	.ascii	" really should seem to say,\012    she had quite to"
	.ascii	"ok a fancy to me.  Now was not it so?--\012    You "
	.ascii	"saw it all; and was not you quite struck with it?\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"She was certainly very civil to y"
	.ascii	"ou.\"\012    \012    \"Civil!--Did you see nothing "
	.ascii	"but only civility?--\012    I saw a vast deal more."
	.ascii	"  Such kindness as fell to the share\012    of nobo"
	.ascii	"dy but me!--No pride, no hauteur, and your sister\012"
	.ascii	"    just the same--all sweetness and affability!\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Elinor wished to talk of something else"
	.ascii	", but Lucy still\012    pressed her to own that she"
	.ascii	" had reason for her happiness;\012    and Elinor wa"
	.ascii	"s obliged to go on.--\012    \012    \"Undoubtedly,"
	.ascii	" if they had known your engagement,\"\012    said s"
	.ascii	"he, \"nothing could be more flattering than their\012"
	.ascii	"    treatment of you;--but as that was not the case"
	.ascii	"\"--\012    \012    \"I guessed you would say so\"-"
	.ascii	"-replied Lucy\012    quickly--\"but there was no re"
	.ascii	"ason in the world why\012    Mrs. Ferrars should se"
	.ascii	"em to like me, if she did not,\012    and her likin"
	.ascii	"g me is every thing.  You shan't talk me\012    out"
	.ascii	" of my satisfaction.  I am sure it will all end wel"
	.ascii	"l,\012    and there will be no difficulties at all,"
	.ascii	" to what I\012    used to think.  Mrs. Ferrars is a"
	.ascii	" charming woman,\012    and so is your sister.  The"
	.ascii	"y are both delightful women,\012    indeed!"
	.ascii	"--I wonder I should never hear you say how agreeabl"
	.ascii	"e\012    Mrs. Dashwood was!\"\012    \012    To thi"
	.ascii	"s Elinor had no answer to make, and did not\012    "
	.ascii	"attempt any.\012    \012    \"Are you ill, Miss Das"
	.ascii	"hwood?--you seem low--you\012    don't speak;--sure"
	.ascii	" you an't well.\"\012    \012    \"I never was in b"
	.ascii	"etter health.\"\012    \012    \"I am glad of it wi"
	.ascii	"th all my heart; but really you did\012    not look"
	.ascii	" it.  I should be sorry to have YOU ill; you, that "
	.ascii	"have\012    been the greatest comfort to me in the "
	.ascii	"world!--Heaven\012    knows what I should have done"
	.ascii	" without your friendship.\"--\012    \012    Elinor"
	.ascii	" tried to make a civil answer, though doubting\012 "
	.ascii	"   her own success.  But it seemed to satisfy Lucy,"
	.ascii	" for she\012    directly replied,\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"Indeed I am perfectly convinced of your regard\012 "
	.ascii	"   for me, and next to Edward's love, it is the gre"
	.ascii	"atest\012    comfort I have.--Poor Edward!--But now"
	.ascii	" there is one\012    good thing, we shall be able t"
	.ascii	"o meet, and meet pretty often,\012    for Lady Midd"
	.ascii	"leton's delighted with Mrs. Dashwood,\012    so we "
	.ascii	"shall be a good deal in Harley Street, I dare say,\012"
	.ascii	"    and Edward spends half his time with his sister"
	.ascii	"--besides,\012    Lady Middleton and Mrs. Ferrars w"
	.ascii	"ill visit now;--\012    and Mrs. Ferrars and your s"
	.ascii	"ister were both so good to say\012    more than onc"
	.ascii	"e, they should always be glad to see me.--\012    T"
	.ascii	"hey are such charming women!--I am sure if ever you"
	.ascii	"\012    tell your sister what I think of her, you c"
	.ascii	"annot speak\012    too high.\"\012    \012    But E"
	.ascii	"linor would not give her any encouragement\012    t"
	.ascii	"o hope that she SHOULD tell her sister.  Lucy conti"
	.ascii	"nued.\012    \012    \"I am sure I should have seen"
	.ascii	" it in a moment,\012    if Mrs. Ferrars had took a "
	.ascii	"dislike to me.  If she had only\012    made me a fo"
	.ascii	"rmal courtesy, for instance, without saying\012    "
	.ascii	"a word, and never after had took any notice of me,\012"
	.ascii	"    and never looked at me in a pleasant way--you k"
	.ascii	"now\012    what I mean--if I had been treated in th"
	.ascii	"at forbidding\012    sort of way, I should have gav"
	.ascii	"e it all up in despair.\012    I could not have sto"
	.ascii	"od it.  For where she DOES dislike,\012    I kno"
	.ascii	"w it is most violent.\"\012    \012    Elinor was p"
	.ascii	"revented from making any reply to this\012    civil"
	.ascii	" triumph, by the door's being thrown open, the serv"
	.ascii	"ant's\012    announcing Mr. Ferrars, and Edward's i"
	.ascii	"mmediately walking in.\012    \012    It was a very"
	.ascii	" awkward moment; and the countenance of each\012   "
	.ascii	" shewed that it was so.  They all looked exceedingl"
	.ascii	"y foolish;\012    and Edward seemed to have as grea"
	.ascii	"t an inclination to walk\012    out of the room aga"
	.ascii	"in, as to advance farther into it.\012    The very "
	.ascii	"circumstance, in its unpleasantest form,\012    whi"
	.ascii	"ch they would each have been most anxious to avoid,"
	.ascii	"\012    had fallen on them.--They were not only all"
	.ascii	" three together,\012    but were together without t"
	.ascii	"he relief of any other person.\012    The ladies re"
	.ascii	"covered themselves first.  It was not Lucy's\012   "
	.ascii	" business to put herself forward, and the appearanc"
	.ascii	"e of\012    secrecy must still be kept up.  She cou"
	.ascii	"ld therefore only\012    LOOK her tenderness, and a"
	.ascii	"fter slightly addressing him,\012    said no more.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    But Elinor had more to do; and so anxio"
	.ascii	"us was she,\012    for his sake and her own, to do "
	.ascii	"it well, that she\012    forced herself, after a mo"
	.ascii	"ment's recollection,\012    to welcome him, with a "
	.ascii	"look and manner that were almost easy,\012    and a"
	.ascii	"lmost open; and another struggle, another effort st"
	.ascii	"ill\012    improved them.  She would not allow the "
	.ascii	"presence of Lucy,\012    nor the consciousness of s"
	.ascii	"ome injustice towards herself,\012    to deter her "
	.ascii	"from saying that she was happy to see him,\012    a"
	.ascii	"nd that she had very much regretted being from home"
	.ascii	",\012    when he called before in Berkeley Street. "
	.ascii	" She would\012    not be frightened from paying him"
	.ascii	" those attentions which,\012    as a friend and alm"
	.ascii	"ost a relation, were his due, by the\012    observa"
	.ascii	"nt eyes of Lucy, though she soon perceived them\012"
	.ascii	"    to be narrowly watching her.\012    \012    Her"
	.ascii	" manners gave some re-assurance to Edward, and he\012"
	.ascii	"    had courage enough to sit down; but his embarra"
	.ascii	"ssment still\012    exceeded that of the ladies in "
	.ascii	"a proportion, which the case\012    rendered reason"
	.ascii	"able, though his se"
	.ascii	"x might make it rare;\012    for his heart had not "
	.ascii	"the indifference of Lucy's, nor\012    could his co"
	.ascii	"nscience have quite the ease of Elinor's.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Lucy, with a demure and settled air, seemed det"
	.ascii	"ermined\012    to make no contribution to the comfo"
	.ascii	"rt of the others,\012    and would not say a word; "
	.ascii	"and almost every thing that WAS\012    said, procee"
	.ascii	"ded from Elinor, who was obliged to volunteer\012  "
	.ascii	"  all the information about her mother's health, th"
	.ascii	"eir coming\012    to town, &c. which Edward ought t"
	.ascii	"o have inquired about,\012    but never did.\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    Her exertions did not stop here; for she s"
	.ascii	"oon\012    afterwards felt herself so heroically di"
	.ascii	"sposed as\012    to determine, under pretence of fe"
	.ascii	"tching Marianne,\012    to leave the others by them"
	.ascii	"selves; and she really did it,\012    and THAT in t"
	.ascii	"he handsomest manner, for she loitered away\012    "
	.ascii	"several minutes on the landing-place, with the most"
	.ascii	"\012    high-minded fortitude, before she went to h"
	.ascii	"er sister.\012    When that was once done, however,"
	.ascii	" it was time for the raptures\012    of Edward to c"
	.ascii	"ease; for Marianne's joy hurried her into\012    th"
	.ascii	"e drawing-room immediately.  Her pleasure in seeing"
	.ascii	" him\012    was like every other of her feelings, s"
	.ascii	"trong in itself,\012    and strongly spoken.  She m"
	.ascii	"et him with a hand that would\012    be taken, and "
	.ascii	"a voice that expressed the affection of a sister.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Dear Edward!\" she cried, \"this is a"
	.ascii	" moment of great\012    happiness!--This would almo"
	.ascii	"st make amends for every thing?\"\012    \012    Ed"
	.ascii	"ward tried to return her kindness as it deserved,\012"
	.ascii	"    but before such witnesses he dared not say half"
	.ascii	" what he\012    really felt.  Again they all sat do"
	.ascii	"wn, and for a moment\012    or two all were silent;"
	.ascii	" while Marianne was looking with the\012    most sp"
	.ascii	"eaking tenderness, sometimes at Edward and sometime"
	.ascii	"s\012    at Elinor, regretting only that their deli"
	.ascii	"ght in each\012    other should be checked by Lucy'"
	.ascii	"s unwelcome presence.\012    Edward was the first t"
	.ascii	"o speak, and it was to notice\012    Marianne's alt"
	.ascii	"ered looks, and express his fear of her\012    not "
	.ascii	"finding London agree "
	.ascii	"with her.\012    \012    \"Oh, don't think of me!\""
	.ascii	" she replied with spirited\012    earnestness, thou"
	.ascii	"gh her eyes were filled with tears\012    as she sp"
	.ascii	"oke, \"don't think of MY health.  Elinor is well,\012"
	.ascii	"    you see.  That must be enough for us both.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    This remark was not calculated to make "
	.ascii	"Edward or\012    Elinor more easy, nor to conciliat"
	.ascii	"e the good will of Lucy,\012    who looked up at Ma"
	.ascii	"rianne with no very benignant expression.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Do you like London?\" said Edward, willing to"
	.ascii	" say\012    any thing that might introduce another "
	.ascii	"subject.\012    \012    \"Not at all.  I expected m"
	.ascii	"uch pleasure in it,\012    but I have found none.  "
	.ascii	"The sight of you, Edward, is the\012    only comfor"
	.ascii	"t it has afforded; and thank Heaven! you\012    are"
	.ascii	" what you always were!\"\012    \012    She paused-"
	.ascii	"-no one spoke.\012    \012    \"I think, Elinor,\" "
	.ascii	"she presently added, \"we must\012    employ Edward"
	.ascii	" to take care of us in our return to Barton.\012   "
	.ascii	" In a week or two, I suppose, we shall be going; an"
	.ascii	"d, I trust,\012    Edward will not be very unwillin"
	.ascii	"g to accept the charge.\"\012    \012    Poor Edwar"
	.ascii	"d muttered something, but what it was,\012    nobod"
	.ascii	"y knew, not even himself.  But Marianne, who saw\012"
	.ascii	"    his agitation, and could easily trace it to wha"
	.ascii	"tever\012    cause best pleased herself, was perfec"
	.ascii	"tly satisfied,\012    and soon talked of something "
	.ascii	"else.\012    \012    \"We spent such a day, Edward,"
	.ascii	" in Harley Street\012    yesterday!  So dull, so wr"
	.ascii	"etchedly dull!--But I have much\012    to say to yo"
	.ascii	"u on that head, which cannot be said now.\"\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    And with this admirable discretion did she "
	.ascii	"defer\012    the assurance of her finding their mut"
	.ascii	"ual relatives more\012    disagreeable than ever, a"
	.ascii	"nd of her being particularly\012    disgusted with "
	.ascii	"his mother, till they were more in private.\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \"But why were you not there, Edward?--Why "
	.ascii	"did you\012    not come?\"\012    \012    \"I was e"
	.ascii	"ngaged elsewhere.\"\012    \012    \"Engaged!  But "
	.ascii	"what was that, when such friends\012    were to be "
	.ascii	"met?\"\012    \012    \"Perhaps, Miss Marianne,\" c"
	.ascii	"ried Lucy, eager to take\012    some revenge on her"
	.ascii	", \"you think young men n"
	.ascii	"ever stand\012    upon engagements, if they have no"
	.ascii	" mind to keep them,\012    little as well as great."
	.ascii	"\"\012    \012    Elinor was very angry, but Marian"
	.ascii	"ne seemed entirely\012    insensible of the sting; "
	.ascii	"for she calmly replied,\012    \012    \"Not so, in"
	.ascii	"deed; for, seriously speaking, I am very\012    sur"
	.ascii	"e that conscience only kept Edward from Harley Stre"
	.ascii	"et.\012    And I really believe he HAS the most del"
	.ascii	"icate conscience\012    in the world; the most scru"
	.ascii	"pulous in performing\012    every engagement, howev"
	.ascii	"er minute, and however it\012    may make against h"
	.ascii	"is interest or pleasure.  He is the\012    most fea"
	.ascii	"rful of giving pain, of wounding expectation,\012  "
	.ascii	"  and the most incapable of being selfish, of any b"
	.ascii	"ody\012    I ever saw.  Edward, it is so, and I wil"
	.ascii	"l say it.\012    What! are you never to hear yourse"
	.ascii	"lf praised!--Then you\012    must be no friend of m"
	.ascii	"ine; for those who will accept\012    of my love an"
	.ascii	"d esteem, must submit to my open commendation.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    The nature of her commendation, in the "
	.ascii	"present case,\012    however, happened to be partic"
	.ascii	"ularly ill-suited to the\012    feelings of two thi"
	.ascii	"rds of her auditors, and was so very\012    unexhil"
	.ascii	"arating to Edward, that he very soon got up to go a"
	.ascii	"way.\012    \012    \"Going so soon!\" said Mariann"
	.ascii	"e; \"my dear Edward,\012    this must not be.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    And drawing him a little aside, she whi"
	.ascii	"spered\012    her persuasion that Lucy could not st"
	.ascii	"ay much longer.\012    But even this encouragement "
	.ascii	"failed, for he would go;\012    and Lucy, who would"
	.ascii	" have outstaid him, had his visit lasted\012    two"
	.ascii	" hours, soon afterwards went away.\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"What can bring her here so often?\" said Marianne,\012"
	.ascii	"    on her leaving them.  \"Could not she see that "
	.ascii	"we wanted\012    her gone!--how teazing to Edward!\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"Why so?--we were all his friends,"
	.ascii	" and Lucy has been\012    the longest known to him "
	.ascii	"of any.  It is but natural\012    that he should li"
	.ascii	"ke to see her as well as ourselves.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  Marianne looked at her steadily, and said, \"You "
	.ascii	"know,\012    Elinor, that this is a kind of talking"
	.ascii	" which I cannot bear.\012    If you only hope to "
	.ascii	"have your assertion contradicted,\012    as I must "
	.ascii	"suppose to be the case, you ought to recollect\012 "
	.ascii	"   that I am the last person in the world to do it."
	.ascii	"\012    I cannot descend to be tricked out of assur"
	.ascii	"ances, that are\012    not really wanted.\"\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    She then left the room; and Elinor dared no"
	.ascii	"t follow\012    her to say more, for bound as she w"
	.ascii	"as by her promise\012    of secrecy to Lucy, she co"
	.ascii	"uld give no information that\012    would convince "
	.ascii	"Marianne; and painful as the consequences\012    of"
	.ascii	" her still continuing in an error might be, she was"
	.ascii	"\012    obliged to submit to it.  All that she coul"
	.ascii	"d hope, was\012    that Edward would not often expo"
	.ascii	"se her or himself to the\012    distress of hearing"
	.ascii	" Marianne's mistaken warmth, nor to the\012    repe"
	.ascii	"tition of any other part of the pain that had atten"
	.ascii	"ded\012    their recent meeting--and this she had e"
	.ascii	"very reason to expect.\012    \012    \012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   CHAPTER 36\012    \012    \012    Within a few d"
	.ascii	"ays after this meeting, the newspapers\012    annou"
	.ascii	"nced to the world, that the lady of Thomas Palmer,\012"
	.ascii	"    Esq. was safely delivered of a son and heir; a "
	.ascii	"very\012    interesting and satisfactory paragraph,"
	.ascii	" at least to all\012    those intimate connections "
	.ascii	"who knew it before.\012    \012    This event, high"
	.ascii	"ly important to Mrs. Jennings's happiness,\012    p"
	.ascii	"roduced a temporary alteration in the disposal of h"
	.ascii	"er time,\012    and influenced, in a like degree, t"
	.ascii	"he engagements\012    of her young friends; for as "
	.ascii	"she wished to be as much\012    as possible with Ch"
	.ascii	"arlotte, she went thither every morning\012    as s"
	.ascii	"oon as she was dressed, and did not return till lat"
	.ascii	"e\012    in the evening; and the Miss Dashwoods, at"
	.ascii	" the particular\012    request of the Middletons, s"
	.ascii	"pent the whole of every day,\012    in every day in"
	.ascii	" Conduit Street.  For their own comfort\012    they"
	.ascii	" would much rather have remained, at least all\012 "
	.ascii	"   the morning, in Mrs. Jennings's house; but it wa"
	.ascii	"s not\012    a thing to be urged against the wishes"
	.ascii	" of everybody.\012    Their hours were therefore ma"
	.ascii	"de over to Lady Middleton\012    and the two Miss S"
	.ascii	"teeles, by whom their company,"
	.ascii	" in fact\012    was as little valued, as it was pro"
	.ascii	"fessedly sought.\012    \012    They had too much s"
	.ascii	"ense to be desirable companions\012    to the forme"
	.ascii	"r; and by the latter they were considered with\012 "
	.ascii	"   a jealous eye, as intruding on THEIR ground, and"
	.ascii	" sharing\012    the kindness which they wanted to m"
	.ascii	"onopolize.  Though nothing\012    could be more pol"
	.ascii	"ite than Lady Middleton's behaviour to\012    Elino"
	.ascii	"r and Marianne, she did not really like them at all"
	.ascii	".\012    Because they neither flattered herself nor"
	.ascii	" her children,\012    she could not believe them go"
	.ascii	"od-natured; and because they\012    were fond of re"
	.ascii	"ading, she fancied them satirical: perhaps\012    w"
	.ascii	"ithout exactly knowing what it was to be satirical;"
	.ascii	"\012    but THAT did not signify.  It was censure i"
	.ascii	"n common use,\012    and easily given.\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   Their presence was a restraint both on her and o"
	.ascii	"n Lucy.\012    It checked the idleness of one, and "
	.ascii	"the business of the other.\012    Lady Middleton wa"
	.ascii	"s ashamed of doing nothing before them,\012    and "
	.ascii	"the flattery which Lucy was proud to think of\012  "
	.ascii	"  and administer at other times, she feared they wo"
	.ascii	"uld despise\012    her for offering.  Miss Steele w"
	.ascii	"as the least discomposed\012    of the three, by th"
	.ascii	"eir presence; and it was in their power\012    to r"
	.ascii	"econcile her to it entirely.  Would either of them\012"
	.ascii	"    only have given her a full and minute account o"
	.ascii	"f the whole\012    affair between Marianne and Mr. "
	.ascii	"Willoughby, she would\012    have thought herself a"
	.ascii	"mply rewarded for the sacrifice\012    of the best "
	.ascii	"place by the fire after dinner, which their\012    "
	.ascii	"arrival occasioned.  But this conciliation was not "
	.ascii	"granted;\012    for though she often threw out expr"
	.ascii	"essions of pity for her\012    sister to Elinor, an"
	.ascii	"d more than once dropt a reflection\012    on the i"
	.ascii	"nconstancy of beaux before Marianne, no effect\012 "
	.ascii	"   was produced, but a look of indifference from th"
	.ascii	"e former,\012    or of disgust in the latter.  An e"
	.ascii	"ffort even yet lighter\012    might have made her t"
	.ascii	"heir friend.  Would they only have\012    laughed a"
	.ascii	"t her about the Doctor!  But so little were they,\012"
	.ascii	"    anymore "
	.ascii	"than the others, inclined to oblige her,\012    tha"
	.ascii	"t if Sir John dined from home, she might spend a wh"
	.ascii	"ole\012    day without hearing any other raillery o"
	.ascii	"n the subject,\012    than what she was kind enough"
	.ascii	" to bestow on herself.\012    \012    All these jea"
	.ascii	"lousies and discontents, however, were so\012    to"
	.ascii	"tally unsuspected by Mrs. Jennings, that she though"
	.ascii	"t\012    it a delightful thing for the girls to be "
	.ascii	"together;\012    and generally congratulated her yo"
	.ascii	"ung friends every night,\012    on having escaped t"
	.ascii	"he company of a stupid old woman so long.\012    Sh"
	.ascii	"e joined them sometimes at Sir John's, sometimes\012"
	.ascii	"    at her own house; but wherever it was, she alwa"
	.ascii	"ys came\012    in excellent spirits, full of deligh"
	.ascii	"t and importance,\012    attributing Charlotte's we"
	.ascii	"ll doing to her own care, and ready\012    to give "
	.ascii	"so exact, so minute a detail of her situation,\012 "
	.ascii	"   as only Miss Steele had curiosity enough to desi"
	.ascii	"re.\012    One thing DID disturb her; and of that s"
	.ascii	"he made her\012    daily complaint.  Mr. Palmer mai"
	.ascii	"ntained the common,\012    but unfatherly opinion a"
	.ascii	"mong his sex, of all infants being alike;\012    an"
	.ascii	"d though she could plainly perceive, at different t"
	.ascii	"imes,\012    the most striking resemblance between "
	.ascii	"this baby and every\012    one of his relations on "
	.ascii	"both sides, there was no convincing\012    his fath"
	.ascii	"er of it; no persuading him to believe that it\012 "
	.ascii	"   was not exactly like every other baby of the sam"
	.ascii	"e age;\012    nor could he even be brought to ackno"
	.ascii	"wledge the simple\012    proposition of its being t"
	.ascii	"he finest child in the world.\012    \012    I come"
	.ascii	" now to the relation of a misfortune,\012    which "
	.ascii	"about this time befell Mrs. John Dashwood.\012    I"
	.ascii	"t so happened that while her two sisters with\012  "
	.ascii	"  Mrs. Jennings were first calling on her in Harley"
	.ascii	" Street,\012    another of her acquaintance had dro"
	.ascii	"pt in--a circumstance\012    in itself not apparent"
	.ascii	"ly likely to produce evil to her.\012    But while "
	.ascii	"the imaginations of other people will carry\012    "
	.ascii	"them away to form wrong judgments of our conduct,\012"
	.ascii	"    and to decide on it by slight appearances, one'"
	.ascii	"s happiness"
	.ascii	"\012    must in some measure be always at the mercy"
	.ascii	" of chance.\012    In the present instance, this la"
	.ascii	"st-arrived lady allowed\012    her fancy to so far "
	.ascii	"outrun truth and probability,\012    that on merely"
	.ascii	" hearing the name of the Miss Dashwoods,\012    and"
	.ascii	" understanding them to be Mr. Dashwood's sisters,\012"
	.ascii	"    she immediately concluded them to be staying in"
	.ascii	" Harley Street;\012    and this misconstruction pro"
	.ascii	"duced within a day\012    or two afterwards, cards "
	.ascii	"of invitation for them\012    as well as for their "
	.ascii	"brother and sister, to a small\012    musical party"
	.ascii	" at her house.  The consequence of which was,\012  "
	.ascii	"  that Mrs. John Dashwood was obliged to submit not"
	.ascii	" only\012    to the exceedingly great inconvenience"
	.ascii	" of sending her\012    carriage for the Miss Dashwo"
	.ascii	"ods, but, what was still worse,\012    must be subj"
	.ascii	"ect to all the unpleasantness of appearing\012    t"
	.ascii	"o treat them with attention: and who could tell tha"
	.ascii	"t they\012    might not expect to go out with her a"
	.ascii	" second time?  The power\012    of disappointing th"
	.ascii	"em, it was true, must always be her's.\012    But t"
	.ascii	"hat was not enough; for when people are determined\012"
	.ascii	"    on a mode of conduct which they know to be wron"
	.ascii	"g, they feel\012    injured by the expectation of a"
	.ascii	"ny thing better from them.\012    \012    Marianne "
	.ascii	"had now been brought by degrees, so much\012    int"
	.ascii	"o the habit of going out every day, that it was bec"
	.ascii	"ome\012    a matter of indifference to her, whether"
	.ascii	" she went or not:\012    and she prepared quietly a"
	.ascii	"nd mechanically for every\012    evening's engageme"
	.ascii	"nt, though without expecting the smallest\012    am"
	.ascii	"usement from any, and very often without knowing,\012"
	.ascii	"    till the last moment, where it was to take her."
	.ascii	"\012    \012    To her dress and appearance she was"
	.ascii	" grown so perfectly\012    indifferent, as not to b"
	.ascii	"estow half the consideration on it,\012    during t"
	.ascii	"he whole of her toilet, which it received from\012 "
	.ascii	"   Miss Steele in the first five minutes of their b"
	.ascii	"eing\012    together, when it was finished.  Nothin"
	.ascii	"g escaped HER minute\012    observation and general"
	.ascii	" curiosity; she saw every thing,\012    and asked e"
	.ascii	"very thing"
	.ascii	"; was never easy till she knew the price\012    of "
	.ascii	"every part of Marianne's dress; could have guessed "
	.ascii	"the\012    number of her gowns altogether with bett"
	.ascii	"er judgment than\012    Marianne herself, and was n"
	.ascii	"ot without hopes of finding out\012    before they "
	.ascii	"parted, how much her washing cost per week,\012    "
	.ascii	"and how much she had every year to spend upon herse"
	.ascii	"lf.\012    The impertinence of these kind of scruti"
	.ascii	"nies, moreover,\012    was generally concluded with"
	.ascii	" a compliment, which\012    though meant as its dou"
	.ascii	"ceur, was considered by Marianne\012    as the grea"
	.ascii	"test impertinence of all; for after undergoing\012 "
	.ascii	"   an examination into the value and make of her go"
	.ascii	"wn,\012    the colour of her shoes, and the arrange"
	.ascii	"ment of her hair,\012    she was almost sure of bei"
	.ascii	"ng told that upon \"her word\012    she looked vast"
	.ascii	"ly smart, and she dared to say she would\012    mak"
	.ascii	"e a great many conquests.\"\012    \012    With suc"
	.ascii	"h encouragement as this, was she dismissed\012    o"
	.ascii	"n the present occasion, to her brother's carriage;\012"
	.ascii	"    which they were ready to enter five minutes aft"
	.ascii	"er it\012    stopped at the door, a punctuality not"
	.ascii	" very agreeable\012    to their sister-in-law, who "
	.ascii	"had preceded them to the house\012    of her acquai"
	.ascii	"ntance, and was there hoping for some delay\012    "
	.ascii	"on their part that might inconvenience either herse"
	.ascii	"lf\012    or her coachman.\012    \012    The event"
	.ascii	"s of this evening were not very remarkable.\012    "
	.ascii	"The party, like other musical parties, comprehended"
	.ascii	" a\012    great many people who had real taste for "
	.ascii	"the performance,\012    and a great many more who h"
	.ascii	"ad none at all; and the performers\012    themselve"
	.ascii	"s were, as usual, in their own estimation,\012    a"
	.ascii	"nd that of their immediate friends, the first priva"
	.ascii	"te\012    performers in England.\012    \012    As "
	.ascii	"Elinor was neither musical, nor affecting to be so,"
	.ascii	"\012    she made no scruple of turning her eyes fro"
	.ascii	"m the grand\012    pianoforte, whenever it suited h"
	.ascii	"er, and unrestrained even\012    by the presence of"
	.ascii	" a harp, and violoncello, would fix\012    them at "
	.ascii	"pleasure on any other object in the room.  In one\012"
	.ascii	"    of these excursi"
	.ascii	"ve glances she perceived among a group\012    of yo"
	.ascii	"ung men, the very he, who had given them a lecture\012"
	.ascii	"    on toothpick-cases at Gray's.  She perceived hi"
	.ascii	"m soon\012    afterwards looking at herself, and sp"
	.ascii	"eaking familiarly\012    to her brother; and had ju"
	.ascii	"st determined to find out his\012    name from the "
	.ascii	"latter, when they both came towards her,\012    and"
	.ascii	" Mr. Dashwood introduced him to her as Mr. Robert F"
	.ascii	"errars.\012    \012    He addressed her with easy c"
	.ascii	"ivility, and twisted\012    his head into a bow whi"
	.ascii	"ch assured her as plainly as\012    words could hav"
	.ascii	"e done, that he was exactly the coxcomb\012    she "
	.ascii	"had heard him described to be by Lucy.  Happy had\012"
	.ascii	"    it been for her, if her regard for Edward had d"
	.ascii	"epended\012    less on his own merit, than on the m"
	.ascii	"erit of his nearest\012    relations!  For then his"
	.ascii	" brother's bow must have given\012    the finishing"
	.ascii	" stroke to what the ill-humour of his mother\012   "
	.ascii	" and sister would have begun.  But while she wonder"
	.ascii	"ed\012    at the difference of the two young men, s"
	.ascii	"he did not find\012    that the emptiness of concei"
	.ascii	"t of the one, put her out\012    of all charity wit"
	.ascii	"h the modesty and worth of the other.\012    Why th"
	.ascii	"ey WERE different, Robert exclaimed to her himself\012"
	.ascii	"    in the course of a quarter of an hour's convers"
	.ascii	"ation;\012    for, talking of his brother, and lame"
	.ascii	"nting the extreme\012    GAUCHERIE which he really "
	.ascii	"believed kept him from mixing\012    in proper soci"
	.ascii	"ety, he candidly and generously attributed it\012  "
	.ascii	"  much less to any natural deficiency, than to the "
	.ascii	"misfortune\012    of a private education; while he "
	.ascii	"himself, though probably\012    without any particu"
	.ascii	"lar, any material superiority\012    by nature, mer"
	.ascii	"ely from the advantage of a public school,\012    w"
	.ascii	"as as well fitted to mix in the world as any other "
	.ascii	"man.\012    \012    \"Upon my soul,\" he added, \"I"
	.ascii	" believe it is nothing more;\012    and so I often "
	.ascii	"tell my mother, when she is grieving\012    about i"
	.ascii	"t.  'My dear Madam,' I always say to her, 'you must"
	.ascii	"\012    make yourself easy.  The evil is now irreme"
	.ascii	"diable,\012    and it has been entirely your own do"
	.ascii	"ing.  Why"
	.ascii	" would\012    you be persuaded by my uncle, Sir Rob"
	.ascii	"ert, against your\012    own judgment, to place Edw"
	.ascii	"ard under private tuition,\012    at the most criti"
	.ascii	"cal time of his life?  If you had only sent\012    "
	.ascii	"him to Westminster as well as myself, instead of se"
	.ascii	"nding\012    him to Mr. Pratt's, all this would hav"
	.ascii	"e been prevented.'\012    This is the way in which "
	.ascii	"I always consider the matter,\012    and my mother "
	.ascii	"is perfectly convinced of her error.\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   Elinor would not oppose his opinion, because,\012"
	.ascii	"    whatever might be her general estimation of the"
	.ascii	" advantage\012    of a public school, she could not"
	.ascii	" think of Edward's\012    abode in Mr. Pratt's fami"
	.ascii	"ly, with any satisfaction.\012    \012    \"You res"
	.ascii	"ide in Devonshire, I think,\"--was his\012    next "
	.ascii	"observation, \"in a cottage near Dawlish.\"\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    Elinor set him right as to its situation;\012"
	.ascii	"    and it seemed rather surprising to him that any"
	.ascii	"body\012    could live in Devonshire, without livin"
	.ascii	"g near Dawlish.\012    He bestowed his hearty appro"
	.ascii	"bation however on their\012    species of house.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"For my own part,\" said he, \"I am ex"
	.ascii	"cessively fond\012    of a cottage; there is always"
	.ascii	" so much comfort, so much\012    elegance about the"
	.ascii	"m.  And I protest, if I had any money\012    to spa"
	.ascii	"re, I should buy a little land and build one myself"
	.ascii	",\012    within a short distance of London, where I"
	.ascii	" might drive\012    myself down at any time, and co"
	.ascii	"llect a few friends\012    about me, and be happy. "
	.ascii	" I advise every body who is going\012    to build, "
	.ascii	"to build a cottage.  My friend Lord Courtland\012  "
	.ascii	"  came to me the other day on purpose to ask my adv"
	.ascii	"ice,\012    and laid before me three different plan"
	.ascii	"s of Bonomi's.\012    I was to decide on the best o"
	.ascii	"f them.  'My dear Courtland,'\012    said I, immedi"
	.ascii	"ately throwing them all into the fire, 'do not\012 "
	.ascii	"   adopt either of them, but by all means build a c"
	.ascii	"ottage.'\012    And that I fancy, will be the end o"
	.ascii	"f it.\012    \012    \"Some people imagine that the"
	.ascii	"re can be no accommodations,\012    no space in a c"
	.ascii	"ottage; but this is all a mistake.\012    I was las"
	.ascii	"t month at my friend Elliott's, ne"
	.ascii	"ar Dartford.\012    Lady Elliott wished to give a d"
	.ascii	"ance.  'But how can it\012    be done?' said she; '"
	.ascii	"my dear Ferrars, do tell me how it\012    is to be "
	.ascii	"managed.  There is not a room in this cottage\012  "
	.ascii	"  that will hold ten couple, and where can the supp"
	.ascii	"er be?'\012    I immediately saw that there could b"
	.ascii	"e no difficulty in it,\012    so I said, 'My dear L"
	.ascii	"ady Elliott, do not be uneasy.\012    The dining pa"
	.ascii	"rlour will admit eighteen couple with ease;\012    "
	.ascii	"card-tables may be placed in the drawing-room; the "
	.ascii	"library\012    may be open for tea and other refres"
	.ascii	"hments; and let the\012    supper be set out in the"
	.ascii	" saloon.'  Lady Elliott was delighted\012    with t"
	.ascii	"he thought.  We measured the dining-room, and found"
	.ascii	"\012    it would hold exactly eighteen couple, and "
	.ascii	"the affair\012    was arranged precisely after my p"
	.ascii	"lan.  So that, in fact,\012    you see, if people d"
	.ascii	"o but know how to set about it,\012    every comfor"
	.ascii	"t may be as well enjoyed in a cottage\012    as in "
	.ascii	"the most spacious dwelling.\"\012    \012    Elinor"
	.ascii	" agreed to it all, for she did not think\012    he "
	.ascii	"deserved the compliment of rational opposition.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    As John Dashwood had no more pleasure i"
	.ascii	"n music than his\012    eldest sister, his mind was"
	.ascii	" equally at liberty to fix on\012    any thing else"
	.ascii	"; and a thought struck him during the evening,\012 "
	.ascii	"   which he communicated to his wife, for her appro"
	.ascii	"bation,\012    when they got home.  The considerati"
	.ascii	"on of Mrs. Dennison's\012    mistake,\012    in sup"
	.ascii	"posing his sisters their guests, had suggested the\012"
	.ascii	"    propriety of their being really invited to beco"
	.ascii	"me such,\012    while Mrs. Jenning's engagements ke"
	.ascii	"pt her from home.\012    The expense would be nothi"
	.ascii	"ng, the inconvenience not more;\012    and it was a"
	.ascii	"ltogether an attention which the delicacy\012    of"
	.ascii	" his conscience pointed out to be requisite to its\012"
	.ascii	"    complete enfranchisement from his promise to hi"
	.ascii	"s father.\012    Fanny was startled at the proposal"
	.ascii	".\012    \012    \"I do not see how it can be done,"
	.ascii	"\" said she,\012    \"without affronting Lady Middl"
	.ascii	"eton, for they spend every day\012    with her; oth"
	.ascii	"erwise I should be ex"
	.ascii	"ceedingly glad to do it.\012    You know I am alway"
	.ascii	"s ready to pay them any attention\012    in my powe"
	.ascii	"r, as my taking them out this evening shews.\012   "
	.ascii	" But they are Lady Middleton's visitors.  How can I"
	.ascii	" ask them\012    away from her?\"\012    \012    He"
	.ascii	"r husband, but with great humility, did not see\012"
	.ascii	"    the force of her objection.  \"They had already"
	.ascii	" spent a week\012    in this manner in Conduit Stre"
	.ascii	"et, and Lady Middleton\012    could not be displeas"
	.ascii	"ed at their giving the same number\012    of days t"
	.ascii	"o such near relations.\"\012    \012    Fanny pause"
	.ascii	"d a moment, and then, with fresh vigor, said,\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    \"My love I would ask them with all my he"
	.ascii	"art, if it\012    was in my power.  But I had just "
	.ascii	"settled within myself\012    to ask the Miss Steele"
	.ascii	"s to spend a few days with us.\012    They are very"
	.ascii	" well behaved, good kind of girls; and I think\012 "
	.ascii	"   the attention is due to them, as their uncle did"
	.ascii	" so very\012    well by Edward.  We can ask your si"
	.ascii	"sters some other year,\012    you know; but the Mis"
	.ascii	"s Steeles may not be in town any more.\012    I am "
	.ascii	"sure you will like them; indeed, you DO like them,\012"
	.ascii	"    you know, very much already, and so does my mot"
	.ascii	"her; and they\012    are such favourites with Harry"
	.ascii	"!\"\012    \012    Mr. Dashwood was convinced.  He "
	.ascii	"saw the necessity\012    of inviting the Miss Steel"
	.ascii	"es immediately, and his conscience\012    was pacif"
	.ascii	"ied by the resolution of inviting his sisters\012  "
	.ascii	"  another year; at the same time, however, slyly su"
	.ascii	"specting\012    that another year would make the in"
	.ascii	"vitation needless,\012    by bringing Elinor to tow"
	.ascii	"n as Colonel Brandon's wife,\012    and Marianne as"
	.ascii	" THEIR visitor.\012    \012    Fanny, rejoicing in "
	.ascii	"her escape, and proud of the ready\012    wit that "
	.ascii	"had procured it, wrote the next morning to Lucy,\012"
	.ascii	"    to request her company and her sister's, for so"
	.ascii	"me days,\012    in Harley Street, as soon as Lady M"
	.ascii	"iddleton could spare them.\012    This was enough t"
	.ascii	"o make Lucy really and reasonably happy.\012    Mrs"
	.ascii	". Dashwood seemed actually working for her, herself"
	.ascii	";\012    cherishing all her hopes, and promoting al"
	.ascii	"l her views!\012    Such an op"
	.ascii	"portunity of being with Edward and his family was,\012"
	.ascii	"    above all things, the most material to her inte"
	.ascii	"rest,\012    and such an invitation the most gratif"
	.ascii	"ying to her\012    feelings!  It was an advantage t"
	.ascii	"hat could not be too\012    gratefully acknowledged"
	.ascii	", nor too speedily made use of;\012    and the visi"
	.ascii	"t to Lady Middleton, which had not before had\012  "
	.ascii	"  any precise limits, was instantly discovered to h"
	.ascii	"ave been\012    always meant to end in two days' ti"
	.ascii	"me.\012    \012    When the note was shown to Elino"
	.ascii	"r, as it was within ten\012    minutes after its ar"
	.ascii	"rival, it gave her, for the first time,\012    some"
	.ascii	" share in the expectations of Lucy; for such a mark"
	.ascii	"\012    of uncommon kindness, vouchsafed on so shor"
	.ascii	"t an acquaintance,\012    seemed to declare that th"
	.ascii	"e good-will towards her arose\012    from something"
	.ascii	" more than merely malice against herself;\012    an"
	.ascii	"d might be brought, by time and address, to do\012 "
	.ascii	"   every thing that Lucy wished.  Her flattery had "
	.ascii	"already\012    subdued the pride of Lady Middleton,"
	.ascii	" and made an entry\012    into the close heart of M"
	.ascii	"rs. John Dashwood; and these\012    were effects th"
	.ascii	"at laid open the probability of greater.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    The Miss Steeles removed to Harley Street, and "
	.ascii	"all\012    that reached Elinor of their influence t"
	.ascii	"here, strengthened\012    her expectation of the ev"
	.ascii	"ent.  Sir John, who called on\012    them more than"
	.ascii	" once, brought home such accounts of the\012    fav"
	.ascii	"our they were in, as must be universally striking.\012"
	.ascii	"    Mrs. Dashwood had never been so much pleased wi"
	.ascii	"th any\012    young women in her life, as she was w"
	.ascii	"ith them; had given\012    each of them a needle bo"
	.ascii	"ok made by some emigrant;\012    called Lucy by her"
	.ascii	" Christian name; and did not know\012    whether sh"
	.ascii	"e should ever be able to part with them.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \012    \012    \012    [At this point "
	.ascii	"in the first and second editions, Volume II ended.]"
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \012    \012    \012    CHAPTER 37\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \012    Mrs. Palmer was so well at the "
	.ascii	"end of a fortnight,\012    that her mother felt it "
	.ascii	"no longer necessary to give up\012    the whole of "
	.ascii	"her time to her; and, contenting her"
	.ascii	"self with\012    visiting her once or twice a day, "
	.ascii	"returned from that period\012    to her own home, a"
	.ascii	"nd her own habits, in which she found\012    the Mi"
	.ascii	"ss Dashwoods very ready to resume their former shar"
	.ascii	"e.\012    \012    About the third or fourth morning"
	.ascii	" after their\012    being thus resettled in Berkele"
	.ascii	"y Street, Mrs. Jennings,\012    on returning from h"
	.ascii	"er ordinary visit to Mrs. Palmer,\012    entered th"
	.ascii	"e drawing-room, where Elinor was sitting\012    by "
	.ascii	"herself, with an air of such hurrying importance\012"
	.ascii	"    as prepared her to hear something wonderful; an"
	.ascii	"d giving her\012    time only to form that idea, be"
	.ascii	"gan directly to justify it,\012    by saying,\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    \"Lord! my dear Miss Dashwood! have you h"
	.ascii	"eard the news?\"\012    \012    \"No, ma'am.  What "
	.ascii	"is it?\"\012    \012    \"Something so strange!  Bu"
	.ascii	"t you shall hear it all.--\012    When I got to Mr."
	.ascii	" Palmer's, I found Charlotte quite\012    in a fuss"
	.ascii	" about the child.  She was sure it was very\012    "
	.ascii	"ill--it cried, and fretted, and was all over pimple"
	.ascii	"s.\012    So I looked at it directly, and, 'Lord! m"
	.ascii	"y dear,'\012    says I, 'it is nothing in the world"
	.ascii	", but the red gum--'\012    and nurse said just the"
	.ascii	" same.  But Charlotte, she would\012    not be sati"
	.ascii	"sfied, so Mr. Donavan was sent for; and luckily\012"
	.ascii	"    he happened to just come in from Harley Street,"
	.ascii	" so he\012    stepped over directly, and as soon as"
	.ascii	" ever he saw the child,\012    be said just as we d"
	.ascii	"id, that it was nothing in the world\012    but the"
	.ascii	" red gum, and then Charlotte was easy.  And so,\012"
	.ascii	"    just as he was going away again, it came into m"
	.ascii	"y head,\012    I am sure I do not know how I happen"
	.ascii	"ed to think of it,\012    but it came into my head "
	.ascii	"to ask him if there was any news.\012    So upon th"
	.ascii	"at, he smirked, and simpered, and looked grave,\012"
	.ascii	"    and seemed to know something or other, and at l"
	.ascii	"ast he\012    said in a whisper, 'For fear any unpl"
	.ascii	"easant report\012    should reach the young ladies "
	.ascii	"under your care as to their\012    sister's indispo"
	.ascii	"sition, I think it advisable to say,\012    that I "
	.ascii	"believe there is no great reason for alarm; I hope\012"
	.ascii	"    Mrs. Dashwood will do v"
	.ascii	"ery well.'\"\012    \012    \"What! is Fanny ill?\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"That is exactly what I said, my d"
	.ascii	"ear.  'Lord!' says I,\012    'is Mrs. Dashwood ill?"
	.ascii	"' So then it all came out; and the\012    long and "
	.ascii	"the short of the matter, by all I can learn,\012   "
	.ascii	" seems to be this.  Mr. Edward Ferrars, the very yo"
	.ascii	"ung\012    man I used to joke with you about (but h"
	.ascii	"owever, as it\012    turns out, I am monstrous glad"
	.ascii	" there was never any thing\012    in it), Mr. Edwar"
	.ascii	"d Ferrars, it seems, has been engaged\012    above "
	.ascii	"this twelvemonth to my cousin Lucy!--There's for yo"
	.ascii	"u,\012    my dear!--And not a creature knowing a sy"
	.ascii	"llable of the matter,\012    except Nancy!--Could y"
	.ascii	"ou have believed such a thing possible?--\012    Th"
	.ascii	"ere is no great wonder in their liking one another;"
	.ascii	"\012    but that matters should be brought so forwa"
	.ascii	"rd between them,\012    and nobody suspect it!--THA"
	.ascii	"T is strange!--I never happened\012    to see them "
	.ascii	"together, or I am sure I should have found it\012  "
	.ascii	"  out directly.  Well, and so this was kept a great"
	.ascii	" secret,\012    for fear of Mrs. Ferrars, and neith"
	.ascii	"er she nor your\012    brother or sister suspected "
	.ascii	"a word of the matter;--\012    till this very morni"
	.ascii	"ng, poor Nancy, who, you know, is a\012    well-mea"
	.ascii	"ning creature, but no conjurer, popt it all out.\012"
	.ascii	"    'Lord!' thinks she to herself, 'they are all so"
	.ascii	" fond\012    of Lucy, to be sure they will make no "
	.ascii	"difficulty about it;'\012    and so, away she went "
	.ascii	"to your sister, who was sitting all\012    alone at"
	.ascii	" her carpet-work, little suspecting what was to\012"
	.ascii	"    come--for she had just been saying to your brot"
	.ascii	"her, only five\012    minutes before, that she thou"
	.ascii	"ght to make a match between\012    Edward and some "
	.ascii	"Lord's daughter or other, I forget who.\012    So y"
	.ascii	"ou may think what a blow it was to all her vanity\012"
	.ascii	"    and pride.  She fell into violent hysterics imm"
	.ascii	"ediately,\012    with such screams as reached your "
	.ascii	"brother's ears,\012    as he was sitting in his own"
	.ascii	" dressing-room down stairs,\012    thinking about w"
	.ascii	"riting a letter to his steward in the country.\012 "
	.ascii	"   So up he flew directly, and a terrible scene too"
	.ascii	"k place,\012    fo"
	.ascii	"r Lucy was come to them by that time, little dreami"
	.ascii	"ng\012    what was going on.  Poor soul!  I pity HE"
	.ascii	"R.  And I must say,\012    I think she was used ver"
	.ascii	"y hardly; for your sister scolded\012    like any f"
	.ascii	"ury, and soon drove her into a fainting fit.\012   "
	.ascii	" Nancy, she fell upon her knees, and cried bitterly"
	.ascii	";\012    and your brother, he walked about the room"
	.ascii	", and said\012    he did not know what to do.  Mrs."
	.ascii	" Dashwood declared\012    they should not stay a mi"
	.ascii	"nute longer in the house,\012    and your brother w"
	.ascii	"as forced to go down upon HIS knees too,\012    to "
	.ascii	"persuade her to let them stay till they had packed\012"
	.ascii	"    up their clothes.  THEN she fell into hysterics"
	.ascii	" again,\012    and he was so frightened that he wou"
	.ascii	"ld send for Mr. Donavan,\012    and Mr. Donavan fou"
	.ascii	"nd the house in all this uproar.\012    The carriag"
	.ascii	"e was at the door ready to take my poor\012    cous"
	.ascii	"ins away, and they were just stepping in as he\012 "
	.ascii	"   came off; poor Lucy in such a condition, he says"
	.ascii	",\012    she could hardly walk; and Nancy, she was "
	.ascii	"almost as bad.\012    I declare, I have no patience"
	.ascii	" with your sister; and I hope,\012    with all my h"
	.ascii	"eart, it will be a match in spite of her.\012    Lo"
	.ascii	"rd! what a taking poor Mr. Edward will be in when h"
	.ascii	"e\012    hears of it!  To have his love used so sco"
	.ascii	"rnfully! for\012    they say he is monstrous fond o"
	.ascii	"f her, as well he may.\012    I should not wonder, "
	.ascii	"if he was to be in the greatest\012    passion!--an"
	.ascii	"d Mr. Donavan thinks just the same.  He and I\012  "
	.ascii	"  had a great deal of talk about it; and the best o"
	.ascii	"f all is,\012    that he is gone back again to Harl"
	.ascii	"ey Street, that he may\012    be within call when M"
	.ascii	"rs. Ferrars is told of it, for she\012    was sent "
	.ascii	"for as soon as ever my cousins left the house,\012 "
	.ascii	"   for your sister was sure SHE would be in hysteri"
	.ascii	"cs too;\012    and so she may, for what I care.  I "
	.ascii	"have no pity for\012    either of them.  I have no "
	.ascii	"notion of people's making\012    such a to-do about"
	.ascii	" money and greatness.  There is no\012    reason on"
	.ascii	" earth why Mr. Edward and Lucy should not marry;\012"
	.ascii	"    for I am sure Mrs. Ferrars may afford to do ver"
	.ascii	"y we"
	.ascii	"ll\012    by her son, and though Lucy has next to n"
	.ascii	"othing herself,\012    she knows better than any bo"
	.ascii	"dy how to make the most\012    of every thing; I da"
	.ascii	"re say, if Mrs. Ferrars would only\012    allow him"
	.ascii	" five hundred a-year, she would make as good\012   "
	.ascii	" an appearance with it as any body else would with "
	.ascii	"eight.\012    Lord! how snug they might live in suc"
	.ascii	"h another cottage\012    as yours--or a little bigg"
	.ascii	"er--with two maids, and two men;\012    and I belie"
	.ascii	"ve I could help them to a housemaid, for my\012    "
	.ascii	"Betty has a sister out of place, that would fit the"
	.ascii	"m\012    exactly.\"\012    \012    Here Mrs. Jennin"
	.ascii	"gs ceased, and as Elinor had had\012    time enough"
	.ascii	" to collect her thoughts, she was able\012    to gi"
	.ascii	"ve such an answer, and make such observations,\012 "
	.ascii	"   as the subject might naturally be supposed to pr"
	.ascii	"oduce.\012    Happy to find that she was not suspec"
	.ascii	"ted of any extraordinary\012    interest in it; tha"
	.ascii	"t Mrs. Jennings (as she had of late\012    often ho"
	.ascii	"ped might be the case) had ceased to imagine her\012"
	.ascii	"    at all attached to Edward; and happy above all "
	.ascii	"the rest,\012    in the absence of Marianne, she fe"
	.ascii	"lt very well able\012    to speak of the affair wit"
	.ascii	"hout embarrassment, and to\012    give her judgment"
	.ascii	", as she believed, with impartiality\012    on the "
	.ascii	"conduct of every one concerned in it.\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  She could hardly determine what her own expectati"
	.ascii	"on\012    of its event really was; though she earne"
	.ascii	"stly tried\012    to drive away the notion of its b"
	.ascii	"eing possible to end\012    otherwise at last, than"
	.ascii	" in the marriage of Edward and Lucy.\012    What Mr"
	.ascii	"s. Ferrars would say and do, though there could\012"
	.ascii	"    not be a doubt of its nature, she was anxious t"
	.ascii	"o hear;\012    and still more anxious to know how E"
	.ascii	"dward would\012    conduct himself.  For HIM she fe"
	.ascii	"lt much compassion;--\012    for Lucy very little--"
	.ascii	"and it cost her some pains to procure\012    that l"
	.ascii	"ittle;--for the rest of the party none at all.\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    As Mrs. Jennings could talk on no other "
	.ascii	"subject,\012    Elinor soon saw the necessity of pr"
	.ascii	"eparing Marianne for\012    its discussion.  No tim"
	.ascii	"e was to be lost in und"
	.ascii	"eceiving her,\012    in making her acquainted with "
	.ascii	"the real truth, and in\012    endeavouring to bring"
	.ascii	" her to hear it talked of by others,\012    without"
	.ascii	" betraying that she felt any uneasiness for her sis"
	.ascii	"ter,\012    or any resentment against Edward.\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    Elinor's office was a painful one.--She w"
	.ascii	"as going\012    to remove what she really believed "
	.ascii	"to be her sister's\012    chief consolation,--to gi"
	.ascii	"ve such particulars of Edward as she\012    feared "
	.ascii	"would ruin him for ever in her good opinion,-and\012"
	.ascii	"    to make Marianne, by a resemblance in their sit"
	.ascii	"uations,\012    which to HER fancy would seem stron"
	.ascii	"g, feel all her own\012    disappointment over agai"
	.ascii	"n.  But unwelcome as such a task\012    must be, it"
	.ascii	" was necessary to be done, and Elinor therefore\012"
	.ascii	"    hastened to perform it.\012    \012    She was "
	.ascii	"very far from wishing to dwell on her own\012    fe"
	.ascii	"elings, or to represent herself as suffering much,\012"
	.ascii	"    any otherwise than as the self-command she had "
	.ascii	"practised\012    since her first knowledge of Edwar"
	.ascii	"d's engagement, might\012    suggest a hint of what"
	.ascii	" was practicable to Marianne.\012    Her narration "
	.ascii	"was clear and simple; and though it could\012    no"
	.ascii	"t be given without emotion, it was not accompanied\012"
	.ascii	"    by violent agitation, nor impetuous grief.--THA"
	.ascii	"T belonged\012    rather to the hearer, for Mariann"
	.ascii	"e listened with horror,\012    and cried excessivel"
	.ascii	"y.  Elinor was to be the comforter\012    of others"
	.ascii	" in her own distresses, no less than in theirs;\012"
	.ascii	"    and all the comfort that could be given by assu"
	.ascii	"rances\012    of her own composure of mind, and a v"
	.ascii	"ery earnest\012    vindication of Edward from every"
	.ascii	" charge but of imprudence,\012    was readily offer"
	.ascii	"ed.\012    \012    But Marianne for some time would"
	.ascii	" give credit to neither.\012    Edward seemed a sec"
	.ascii	"ond Willoughby; and acknowledging\012    as Elinor "
	.ascii	"did, that she HAD loved him most sincerely,\012    "
	.ascii	"could she feel less than herself!  As for Lucy Stee"
	.ascii	"le,\012    she considered her so totally unamiable,"
	.ascii	" so absolutely\012    incapable of attaching a sens"
	.ascii	"ible man, that she could\012    not be persuaded at"
	.ascii	" first to believ"
	.ascii	"e, and afterwards\012    to pardon, any former affe"
	.ascii	"ction of Edward for her.\012    She would not even "
	.ascii	"admit it to have been natural;\012    and Elinor le"
	.ascii	"ft her to be convinced that it was so,\012    by th"
	.ascii	"at which only could convince her, a better knowledg"
	.ascii	"e\012    of mankind.\012    \012    Her first commu"
	.ascii	"nication had reached no farther than\012    to stat"
	.ascii	"e the fact of the engagement, and the length of tim"
	.ascii	"e\012    it had existed.--Marianne's feelings had t"
	.ascii	"hen broken in,\012    and put an end to all regular"
	.ascii	"ity of detail; and for some\012    time all that co"
	.ascii	"uld be done was to soothe her distress,\012    less"
	.ascii	"en her alarms, and combat her resentment.  The firs"
	.ascii	"t\012    question on her side, which led to farther"
	.ascii	" particulars,\012    was,\012    \012    \"How long"
	.ascii	" has this been known to you, Elinor? has\012    he "
	.ascii	"written to you?\"\012    \012    \"I have known it "
	.ascii	"these four months.  When Lucy\012    first came to "
	.ascii	"Barton Park last November, she told me\012    in co"
	.ascii	"nfidence of her engagement.\"\012    \012    At the"
	.ascii	"se words, Marianne's eyes expressed the astonishmen"
	.ascii	"t\012    which her lips could not utter.  After a p"
	.ascii	"ause of wonder,\012    she exclaimed--\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"Four months!--Have you known of this four mont"
	.ascii	"hs?\"\012    \012    Elinor confirmed it.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"What!--while attending me in all my misery, h"
	.ascii	"as this\012    been on your heart?--And I have repr"
	.ascii	"oached you for being\012    happy!\"--\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"It was not fit that you should then know how m"
	.ascii	"uch\012    I was the reverse!\"\012    \012    \"Fo"
	.ascii	"ur months!\"--cried Marianne again.--\"So calm!--\012"
	.ascii	"    so cheerful!--how have you been supported?\"--\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"By feeling that I was doing my duty.-"
	.ascii	"-My promise to\012    Lucy, obliged me to be secret"
	.ascii	".  I owed it to her, therefore,\012    to avoid giv"
	.ascii	"ing any hint of the truth; and I owed it to my\012 "
	.ascii	"   family and friends, not to create in them a soli"
	.ascii	"citude about me,\012    which it could not be in my"
	.ascii	" power to satisfy.\"\012    \012    Marianne seemed"
	.ascii	" much struck.\012    \012    \"I have very often wi"
	.ascii	"shed to undeceive yourself and my\012    mother,\" "
	.ascii	"added Elinor; \"and once or twice I have attempted "
	.ascii	"it;--\012    but withou"
	.ascii	"t betraying my trust, I never could have convinced\012"
	.ascii	"    you.\"\012    \012    \"Four months!--and yet y"
	.ascii	"ou loved him!\"--\012    \012    \"Yes. But I did n"
	.ascii	"ot love only him;--and while the comfort\012    of "
	.ascii	"others was dear to me, I was glad to spare them fro"
	.ascii	"m knowing\012    how much I felt.  Now, I can think"
	.ascii	" and speak of it with\012    little emotion.  I wou"
	.ascii	"ld not have you suffer on my account;\012    for I "
	.ascii	"assure you I no longer suffer materially myself.\012"
	.ascii	"    I have many things to support me.  I am not con"
	.ascii	"scious of having\012    provoked the disappointment"
	.ascii	" by any imprudence of my own,\012    I have borne i"
	.ascii	"t as much as possible without spreading\012    it f"
	.ascii	"arther.  I acquit Edward of essential misconduct.\012"
	.ascii	"    I wish him very happy; and I am so sure of his "
	.ascii	"always\012    doing his duty, that though now he ma"
	.ascii	"y harbour some regret,\012    in the end he must be"
	.ascii	"come so.  Lucy does not want sense,\012    and that"
	.ascii	" is the foundation on which every thing good may\012"
	.ascii	"    be built.--And after all, Marianne, after all t"
	.ascii	"hat is\012    bewitching in the idea of a single an"
	.ascii	"d constant attachment,\012    and all that can be s"
	.ascii	"aid of one's happiness depending\012    entirely on"
	.ascii	" any particular person, it is not meant--it\012    "
	.ascii	"is not fit--it is not possible that it should be so"
	.ascii	".--\012    Edward will marry Lucy; he will marry a "
	.ascii	"woman superior\012    in person and understanding t"
	.ascii	"o half her sex; and time\012    and habit will teac"
	.ascii	"h him to forget that he ever thought\012    another"
	.ascii	" superior to HER.\"--\012    \012    \"If such is y"
	.ascii	"our way of thinking,\" said Marianne,\012    \"if t"
	.ascii	"he loss of what is most valued is so easily\012    "
	.ascii	"to be made up by something else, your resolution,\012"
	.ascii	"    your self-command, are, perhaps, a little less "
	.ascii	"to be\012    wondered at.--They are brought more wi"
	.ascii	"thin my comprehension.\"\012    \012    \"I underst"
	.ascii	"and you.--You do not suppose that I have ever\012  "
	.ascii	"  felt much.--For four months, Marianne, I have had"
	.ascii	" all this\012    hanging on my mind, without being "
	.ascii	"at liberty to speak\012    of it to a single creatu"
	.ascii	"re; knowing that it would make\012    you and my mo"
	.ascii	"ther most unhappy whenev"
	.ascii	"er it were explained\012    to you, yet unable to p"
	.ascii	"repare you for it in the least.--\012    It was tol"
	.ascii	"d me,--it was in a manner forced on me by the\012  "
	.ascii	"  very person herself, whose prior engagement ruine"
	.ascii	"d all\012    my prospects; and told me, as I though"
	.ascii	"t, with triumph.--\012    This person's suspicions,"
	.ascii	" therefore, I have had to oppose,\012    by endeavo"
	.ascii	"uring to appear indifferent where I have been most\012"
	.ascii	"    deeply interested;--and it has not been only on"
	.ascii	"ce;--I have\012    had her hopes and exultation to "
	.ascii	"listen to again and again.--\012    I have known my"
	.ascii	"self to be divided from Edward for ever,\012    wit"
	.ascii	"hout hearing one circumstance that could make me le"
	.ascii	"ss\012    desire the connection.--Nothing has prove"
	.ascii	"d him unworthy;\012    nor has anything declared hi"
	.ascii	"m indifferent to me.--\012    I have had to contend"
	.ascii	" against the unkindness of his sister,\012    and t"
	.ascii	"he insolence of his mother; and have suffered the\012"
	.ascii	"    punishment of an attachment, without enjoying i"
	.ascii	"ts advantages.--\012    And all this has been going"
	.ascii	" on at a time, when, as you\012    know too well, i"
	.ascii	"t has not been my only unhappiness.--\012    If you"
	.ascii	" can think me capable of ever feeling--surely you\012"
	.ascii	"    may suppose that I have suffered NOW.  The comp"
	.ascii	"osure\012    of mind with which I have brought myse"
	.ascii	"lf at present\012    to consider the matter, the co"
	.ascii	"nsolation that I have been\012    willing to admit,"
	.ascii	" have been the effect of constant and\012    painfu"
	.ascii	"l exertion;--they did not spring up of themselves;-"
	.ascii	"-\012    they did not occur to relieve my spirits a"
	.ascii	"t first.--\012    No, Marianne.--THEN, if I had not"
	.ascii	" been bound to silence,\012    perhaps nothing coul"
	.ascii	"d have kept me entirely--not even what I\012    owe"
	.ascii	"d to my dearest friends--from openly shewing that I"
	.ascii	" was\012    VERY unhappy.\"--\012    \012    Marian"
	.ascii	"ne was quite subdued.--\012    \012    \"Oh! Elinor"
	.ascii	",\" she cried, \"you have made me hate\012    mysel"
	.ascii	"f for ever.--How barbarous have I been to you!--\012"
	.ascii	"    you, who have been my only comfort, who have bo"
	.ascii	"rne with me\012    in all my misery, who have seeme"
	.ascii	"d to be only suffering\012    for me!--Is this my g"
	.ascii	"ratitude?--Is"
	.ascii	" this the only return I\012    can make you?--Becau"
	.ascii	"se your merit cries out upon myself,\012    I have "
	.ascii	"been trying to do it away.\"\012    \012    The ten"
	.ascii	"derest caresses followed this confession.\012    In"
	.ascii	" such a frame of mind as she was now in, Elinor had"
	.ascii	"\012    no difficulty in obtaining from her whateve"
	.ascii	"r promise\012    she required; and at her request, "
	.ascii	"Marianne engaged\012    never to speak of the affai"
	.ascii	"r to any one with the least\012    appearance of bi"
	.ascii	"tterness;--to meet Lucy without betraying\012    th"
	.ascii	"e smallest increase of dislike to her;--and even to"
	.ascii	" see\012    Edward himself, if chance should bring "
	.ascii	"them together,\012    without any diminution of her"
	.ascii	" usual cordiality.--\012    These were great conces"
	.ascii	"sions;--but where Marianne felt\012    that she had"
	.ascii	" injured, no reparation could be too much\012    fo"
	.ascii	"r her to make.\012    \012    She performed her pro"
	.ascii	"mise of being discreet,\012    to admiration.--She "
	.ascii	"attended to all that Mrs. Jennings\012    had to sa"
	.ascii	"y upon the subject, with an unchanging complexion,\012"
	.ascii	"    dissented from her in nothing, and was heard th"
	.ascii	"ree\012    times to say, \"Yes, ma'am.\"--She liste"
	.ascii	"ned to her praise\012    of Lucy with only moving f"
	.ascii	"rom one chair to another,\012    and when Mrs. Jenn"
	.ascii	"ings talked of Edward's affection,\012    it cost h"
	.ascii	"er only a spasm in her throat.--Such advances\012  "
	.ascii	"  towards heroism in her sister, made Elinor feel e"
	.ascii	"qual\012    to any thing herself.\012    \012    Th"
	.ascii	"e next morning brought a farther trial of it,\012  "
	.ascii	"  in a visit from their brother, who came with a mo"
	.ascii	"st serious\012    aspect to talk over the dreadful "
	.ascii	"affair, and bring them\012    news of his wife.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"You have heard, I suppose,\" said he "
	.ascii	"with great solemnity,\012    as soon as he was seat"
	.ascii	"ed, \"of the very shocking discovery\012    that to"
	.ascii	"ok place under our roof yesterday.\"\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" They all looked their assent; it seemed too awful\012"
	.ascii	"    a moment for speech.\012    \012    \"Your sist"
	.ascii	"er,\" he continued, \"has suffered dreadfully.\012 "
	.ascii	"   Mrs. Ferrars too--in short it has been a scene o"
	.ascii	"f such\012    complicated distress--but I will hope"
	.ascii	" that the storm may\012    be weathered wi"
	.ascii	"thout our being any of us quite overcome.\012    Po"
	.ascii	"or Fanny! she was in hysterics all yesterday.\012  "
	.ascii	"  But I would not alarm you too much.  Donavan says"
	.ascii	" there\012    is nothing materially to be apprehend"
	.ascii	"ed; her constitution\012    is a good one, and her "
	.ascii	"resolution equal to any thing.\012    She has borne"
	.ascii	" it all, with the fortitude of an angel!\012    She"
	.ascii	" says she never shall think well of anybody again;\012"
	.ascii	"    and one cannot wonder at it, after being so dec"
	.ascii	"eived!--\012    meeting with such ingratitude, wher"
	.ascii	"e so much kindness\012    had been shewn, so much c"
	.ascii	"onfidence had been placed!  It\012    was quite out"
	.ascii	" of the benevolence of her heart, that she\012    h"
	.ascii	"ad asked these young women to her house; merely bec"
	.ascii	"ause\012    she thought they deserved some attentio"
	.ascii	"n, were harmless,\012    well-behaved girls, and wo"
	.ascii	"uld be pleasant companions;\012    for otherwise we"
	.ascii	" both wished very much to have invited you\012    a"
	.ascii	"nd Marianne to be with us, while your kind friend t"
	.ascii	"here,\012    was attending her daughter.  And now t"
	.ascii	"o be so rewarded!\012    'I wish, with all my heart"
	.ascii	",' says poor Fanny in her\012    affectionate way, "
	.ascii	"'that we had asked your sisters instead\012    of t"
	.ascii	"hem.'\"\012    \012    Here he stopped to be thanke"
	.ascii	"d; which being done,\012    he went on.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"What poor Mrs. Ferrars suffered, when first F"
	.ascii	"anny\012    broke it to her, is not to be described"
	.ascii	".  While she with\012    the truest affection had b"
	.ascii	"een planning a most eligible\012    connection for "
	.ascii	"him, was it to be supposed that he could\012    be "
	.ascii	"all the time secretly engaged to another person!--s"
	.ascii	"uch\012    a suspicion could never have entered her"
	.ascii	" head!  If she\012    suspected ANY prepossession e"
	.ascii	"lsewhere, it could not be\012    in THAT quarter.  "
	.ascii	"'THERE, to be sure,' said she, 'I might\012    have"
	.ascii	" thought myself safe.' She was quite in an agony.\012"
	.ascii	"    We consulted together, however, as to what shou"
	.ascii	"ld be done,\012    and at last she determined to se"
	.ascii	"nd for Edward.\012    He came.  But I am sorry to r"
	.ascii	"elate what ensued.\012    All that Mrs. Ferrars cou"
	.ascii	"ld say to make him put an end\012    to the engagem"
	.ascii	"ent, assisted too"
	.ascii	" as you may well suppose\012    by my arguments, an"
	.ascii	"d Fanny's entreaties, was of\012    no avail.  Duty"
	.ascii	", affection, every thing was disregarded.\012    I "
	.ascii	"never thought Edward so stubborn, so unfeeling befo"
	.ascii	"re.\012    His mother explained to him her liberal "
	.ascii	"designs, in case\012    of his marrying Miss Morton"
	.ascii	"; told him she would settle on\012    him the Norfo"
	.ascii	"lk estate, which, clear of land-tax, brings\012    "
	.ascii	"in a good thousand a-year; offered even, when matte"
	.ascii	"rs\012    grew desperate, to make it twelve hundred"
	.ascii	"; and in opposition\012    to this, if he still per"
	.ascii	"sisted in this low connection,\012    represented t"
	.ascii	"o him the certain penury that must attend\012    th"
	.ascii	"e match.  His own two thousand pounds she protested"
	.ascii	"\012    should be his all; she would never see him "
	.ascii	"again; and so far\012    would she be from affordin"
	.ascii	"g him the smallest assistance,\012    that if he we"
	.ascii	"re to enter into any profession with a view\012    "
	.ascii	"of better support, she would do all in her power to"
	.ascii	" prevent\012    him advancing in it.\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   Here Marianne, in an ecstasy of indignation,\012"
	.ascii	"    clapped her hands together, and cried, \"Gracio"
	.ascii	"us God!\012    can this be possible!\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"Well may you wonder, Marianne,\" replied her b"
	.ascii	"rother,\012    \"at the obstinacy which could resis"
	.ascii	"t such arguments as these.\012    Your exclamation "
	.ascii	"is very natural.\"\012    \012    Marianne was goin"
	.ascii	"g to retort, but she remembered\012    her promises"
	.ascii	", and forbore.\012    \012    \"All this, however,\""
	.ascii	" he continued, \"was urged in vain.\012    Edward s"
	.ascii	"aid very little; but what he did say, was in\012   "
	.ascii	" the most determined manner.  Nothing should prevai"
	.ascii	"l on\012    him to give up his engagement.  He woul"
	.ascii	"d stand to it,\012    cost him what it might.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Then,\" cried Mrs. Jennings with blun"
	.ascii	"t sincerity,\012    no longer able to be silent, \""
	.ascii	"he has acted like an honest\012    man! I beg your "
	.ascii	"pardon, Mr. Dashwood, but if he had\012    done oth"
	.ascii	"erwise, I should have thought him a rascal.\012    "
	.ascii	"I have some little concern in the business, as well"
	.ascii	"\012    as yourself, for Lucy Steele is my cousin, "
	.ascii	"and I believe\012    there is not a better ki"
	.ascii	"nd of girl in the world, nor one\012    who more de"
	.ascii	"serves a good husband.\"\012    \012    John Dashwo"
	.ascii	"od was greatly astonished; but his nature\012    wa"
	.ascii	"s calm, not open to provocation, and he never wishe"
	.ascii	"d\012    to offend anybody, especially anybody of g"
	.ascii	"ood fortune.\012    He therefore replied, without a"
	.ascii	"ny resentment,\012    \012    \"I would by no means"
	.ascii	" speak disrespectfully of any\012    relation of yo"
	.ascii	"urs, madam.  Miss Lucy Steele is, I dare say,\012  "
	.ascii	"  a very deserving young woman, but in the present "
	.ascii	"case\012    you know, the connection must be imposs"
	.ascii	"ible.\012    And to have entered into a secret enga"
	.ascii	"gement with a\012    young man under her uncle's ca"
	.ascii	"re, the son of a woman\012    especially of such ve"
	.ascii	"ry large fortune as Mrs. Ferrars,\012    is perhaps"
	.ascii	", altogether a little extraordinary. In short,\012 "
	.ascii	"   I do not mean to reflect upon the behaviour of a"
	.ascii	"ny person\012    whom you have a regard for, Mrs. J"
	.ascii	"ennings.  We all wish\012    her extremely happy; a"
	.ascii	"nd Mrs. Ferrars's conduct throughout\012    the who"
	.ascii	"le, has been such as every conscientious, good moth"
	.ascii	"er,\012    in like circumstances, would adopt.  It "
	.ascii	"has been dignified\012    and liberal.  Edward has "
	.ascii	"drawn his own lot, and I fear\012    it will be a b"
	.ascii	"ad one.\"\012    \012    Marianne sighed out her si"
	.ascii	"milar apprehension;\012    and Elinor's heart wrung"
	.ascii	" for the feelings of Edward,\012    while braving h"
	.ascii	"is mother's threats, for a woman who could\012    n"
	.ascii	"ot reward him.\012    \012    \"Well, sir,\" said M"
	.ascii	"rs. Jennings, \"and how did it end?\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"I am sorry to say, ma'am, in a most unhappy rup"
	.ascii	"ture:--\012    Edward is dismissed for ever from hi"
	.ascii	"s mother's notice.\012    He left her house yesterd"
	.ascii	"ay, but where he is gone, or whether\012    he is s"
	.ascii	"till in town, I do not know; for WE of course can\012"
	.ascii	"    make no inquiry.\"\012    \012    \"Poor young "
	.ascii	"man!--and what is to become of him?\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"What, indeed, ma'am!  It is a melancholy consid"
	.ascii	"eration.\012    Born to the prospect of such afflue"
	.ascii	"nce!  I cannot conceive\012    a situation more dep"
	.ascii	"lorable.  The interest of two thousand\012    pound"
	.ascii	"s--how can a man live on it?--and when to tha"
	.ascii	"t is added\012    the recollection, that he might, "
	.ascii	"but for his own folly,\012    within three months h"
	.ascii	"ave been in the receipt of two\012    thousand, fiv"
	.ascii	"e hundred a-year (for Miss Morton has\012    thirty"
	.ascii	" thousand pounds,) I cannot picture to myself\012  "
	.ascii	"  a more wretched condition.  We must all feel for "
	.ascii	"him;\012    and the more so, because it is totally "
	.ascii	"out of our power\012    to assist him.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Poor young man!\" cried Mrs. Jennings, \"I am"
	.ascii	" sure\012    he should be very welcome to bed and b"
	.ascii	"oard at my house;\012    and so I would tell him if"
	.ascii	" I could see him.  It is not fit\012    that he sho"
	.ascii	"uld be living about at his own charge now,\012    a"
	.ascii	"t lodgings and taverns.\"\012    \012    Elinor's h"
	.ascii	"eart thanked her for such kindness towards Edward,\012"
	.ascii	"    though she could not forbear smiling at the for"
	.ascii	"m of it.\012    \012    \"If he would only have don"
	.ascii	"e as well by himself,\"\012    said John Dashwood, "
	.ascii	"\"as all his friends were disposed to do\012    by "
	.ascii	"him, he might now have been in his proper situation"
	.ascii	",\012    and would have wanted for nothing.  But as"
	.ascii	" it is, it must\012    be out of anybody's power to"
	.ascii	" assist him.  And there is one\012    thing more pr"
	.ascii	"eparing against him, which must be worse than\012  "
	.ascii	"  all--his mother has determined, with a very natur"
	.ascii	"al kind\012    of spirit, to settle THAT estate upo"
	.ascii	"n Robert immediately,\012    which might have been "
	.ascii	"Edward's, on proper conditions.\012    I left her t"
	.ascii	"his morning with her lawyer, talking over\012    th"
	.ascii	"e business.\"\012    \012    \"Well!\" said Mrs. Je"
	.ascii	"nnings, \"that is HER revenge.\012    Everybody has"
	.ascii	" a way of their own.  But I don't think mine\012   "
	.ascii	" would be, to make one son independent, because ano"
	.ascii	"ther had\012    plagued me.\"\012    \012    Marian"
	.ascii	"ne got up and walked about the room.\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"Can anything be more galling to the spirit of a "
	.ascii	"man,\"\012    continued John, \"than to see his you"
	.ascii	"nger brother in\012    possession of an estate whic"
	.ascii	"h might have been his own?\012    Poor Edward!  I f"
	.ascii	"eel for him sincerely.\"\012    \012    A few minut"
	.ascii	"es more spent in the same kind of effusion,\012    "
	.ascii	"concluded his visit; and with repeated assurances t"
	.ascii	"o his\012    sisters that he really believed there "
	.ascii	"was no material\012    danger in Fanny's indisposit"
	.ascii	"ion, and that they need\012    not therefore be ver"
	.ascii	"y uneasy about it, he went away;\012    leaving the"
	.ascii	" three ladies unanimous in their sentiments\012    "
	.ascii	"on the present occasion, as far at least as it rega"
	.ascii	"rded\012    Mrs. Ferrars's conduct, the Dashwoods',"
	.ascii	" and Edward's.\012    \012    Marianne's indignatio"
	.ascii	"n burst forth as soon as he\012    quitted the room"
	.ascii	"; and as her vehemence made reserve\012    impossib"
	.ascii	"le in Elinor, and unnecessary in Mrs. Jennings,\012"
	.ascii	"    they all joined in a very spirited critique upo"
	.ascii	"n the party.\012    \012    \012    \012    CHAPTER"
	.ascii	" 38\012    \012    \012    Mrs. Jennings was very w"
	.ascii	"arm in her praise of Edward's\012    conduct, but o"
	.ascii	"nly Elinor and Marianne understood its\012    true "
	.ascii	"merit.  THEY only knew how little he had had to tem"
	.ascii	"pt\012    him to be disobedient, and how small was "
	.ascii	"the consolation,\012    beyond the consciousness of"
	.ascii	" doing right, that could\012    remain to him in th"
	.ascii	"e loss of friends and fortune.\012    Elinor glorie"
	.ascii	"d in his integrity; and Marianne forgave all\012   "
	.ascii	" his offences in compassion for his punishment.  Bu"
	.ascii	"t though\012    confidence between them was, by thi"
	.ascii	"s public discovery,\012    restored to its proper s"
	.ascii	"tate, it was not a subject on\012    which either o"
	.ascii	"f them were fond of dwelling when alone.\012    Eli"
	.ascii	"nor avoided it upon principle, as tending to fix st"
	.ascii	"ill\012    more upon her thoughts, by the too warm,"
	.ascii	" too positive\012    assurances of Marianne, that b"
	.ascii	"elief of Edward's continued\012    affection for he"
	.ascii	"rself which she rather wished to do away;\012    an"
	.ascii	"d Marianne's courage soon failed her, in trying\012"
	.ascii	"    to converse upon a topic which always left her "
	.ascii	"more\012    dissatisfied with herself than ever, by"
	.ascii	" the comparison\012    it necessarily produced betw"
	.ascii	"een Elinor's conduct and her own.\012    \012    Sh"
	.ascii	"e felt all the force of that comparison; but not\012"
	.ascii	"    as her sister had hoped, to urge her to exertio"
	.ascii	"n now;\012    she felt it with all the pain of cont"
	.ascii	"inual self-reproach,\012    regretted most bitterly"
	.ascii	" that she had never exerted\012   "
	.ascii	" herself before; but it brought only the torture of"
	.ascii	" penitence,\012    without the hope of amendment.  "
	.ascii	"Her mind was so much weakened\012    that she still"
	.ascii	" fancied present exertion impossible,\012    and th"
	.ascii	"erefore it only dispirited her more.\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" Nothing new was heard by them, for a day or two af"
	.ascii	"terwards,\012    of affairs in Harley Street, or Ba"
	.ascii	"rtlett's Buildings.\012    But though so much of th"
	.ascii	"e matter was known to them already,\012    that Mrs"
	.ascii	". Jennings might have had enough to do in spreading"
	.ascii	"\012    that knowledge farther, without seeking aft"
	.ascii	"er more,\012    she had resolved from the first to "
	.ascii	"pay a visit of comfort\012    and inquiry to her co"
	.ascii	"usins as soon as she could;\012    and nothing but "
	.ascii	"the hindrance of more visitors than usual,\012    h"
	.ascii	"ad prevented her going to them within that time.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    The third day succeeding their knowledg"
	.ascii	"e of the\012    particulars, was so fine, so beauti"
	.ascii	"ful a Sunday as to draw\012    many to Kensington G"
	.ascii	"ardens, though it was only the second\012    week i"
	.ascii	"n March.  Mrs. Jennings and Elinor were of the numb"
	.ascii	"er;\012    but Marianne, who knew that the Willough"
	.ascii	"bys were again\012    in town, and had a constant d"
	.ascii	"read of meeting them,\012    chose rather to stay a"
	.ascii	"t home, than venture into so public\012    a place."
	.ascii	"\012    \012    An intimate acquaintance of Mrs. Je"
	.ascii	"nnings joined\012    them soon after they entered t"
	.ascii	"he Gardens, and Elinor was\012    not sorry that by"
	.ascii	" her continuing with them, and engaging\012    all "
	.ascii	"Mrs. Jennings's conversation, she was herself left\012"
	.ascii	"    to quiet reflection.  She saw nothing of the Wi"
	.ascii	"lloughbys,\012    nothing of Edward, and for some t"
	.ascii	"ime nothing of anybody\012    who could by any chan"
	.ascii	"ce whether grave or gay, be interesting\012    to h"
	.ascii	"er.  But at last she found herself with some surpri"
	.ascii	"se,\012    accosted by Miss Steele, who, though loo"
	.ascii	"king rather shy,\012    expressed great satisfactio"
	.ascii	"n in meeting them, and on receiving\012    encourag"
	.ascii	"ement from the particular kindness of Mrs. Jennings"
	.ascii	",\012    left her own party for a short time, to jo"
	.ascii	"in their's.\012    Mrs. Jennings immediately whispe"
	.ascii	"red to Elinor"
	.ascii	",\012    \012    \"Get it all out of her, my dear. "
	.ascii	" She will tell you\012    any thing if you ask.  Yo"
	.ascii	"u see I cannot leave Mrs. Clarke.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"It was lucky, however, for Mrs. Jennings's curiosit"
	.ascii	"y\012    and Elinor's too, that she would tell any "
	.ascii	"thing WITHOUT\012    being asked; for nothing would"
	.ascii	" otherwise have been learnt.\012    \012    \"I am "
	.ascii	"so glad to meet you;\" said Miss Steele,\012    tak"
	.ascii	"ing her familiarly by the arm--\"for I wanted to se"
	.ascii	"e you\012    of all things in the world.\"  And the"
	.ascii	"n lowering her voice,\012    \"I suppose Mrs. Jenni"
	.ascii	"ngs has heard all about it.\012    Is she angry?\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Not at all, I believe, with you.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"That is a good thing.  And Lady Middl"
	.ascii	"eton, is SHE angry?\"\012    \012    \"I cannot sup"
	.ascii	"pose it possible that she should.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"I am monstrous glad of it.  Good gracious!  I hav"
	.ascii	"e\012    had such a time of it!  I never saw Lucy i"
	.ascii	"n such a rage\012    in my life.  She vowed at firs"
	.ascii	"t she would never trim me\012    up a new bonnet, n"
	.ascii	"or do any thing else for me again,\012    so long a"
	.ascii	"s she lived; but now she is quite come to,\012    a"
	.ascii	"nd we are as good friends as ever.  Look, she made "
	.ascii	"me\012    this bow to my hat, and put in the feathe"
	.ascii	"r last night.\012    There now, YOU are going to la"
	.ascii	"ugh at me too.  But why\012    should not I wear pi"
	.ascii	"nk ribbons?  I do not care if it IS\012    the Doct"
	.ascii	"or's favourite colour.  I am sure, for my part,\012"
	.ascii	"    I should never have known he DID like it better"
	.ascii	" than\012    any other colour, if he had not happen"
	.ascii	"ed to say so.\012    My cousins have been so plagui"
	.ascii	"ng me!  I declare sometimes\012    I do not know wh"
	.ascii	"ich way to look before them.\"\012    \012    She h"
	.ascii	"ad wandered away to a subject on which Elinor\012  "
	.ascii	"  had nothing to say, and therefore soon judged it "
	.ascii	"expedient\012    to find her way back again to the "
	.ascii	"first.\012    \012    \"Well, but Miss Dashwood,\" "
	.ascii	"speaking triumphantly,\012    \"people may say what"
	.ascii	" they chuse about Mr. Ferrars's\012    declaring he"
	.ascii	" would not have Lucy, for it is no such thing\012  "
	.ascii	"  I can tell you; and it is quite a shame for such "
	.ascii	"ill-natured\012    reports to be spread abroad.  Wh"
	.ascii	"ateve"
	.ascii	"r Lucy might think\012    about it herself, you kno"
	.ascii	"w, it was no business of other\012    people to set"
	.ascii	" it down for certain.\"\012    \012    \"I never he"
	.ascii	"ard any thing of the kind hinted at before,\012    "
	.ascii	"I assure you,\" said Elinor.\012    \012    \"Oh, d"
	.ascii	"id not you?  But it WAS said, I know, very well,\012"
	.ascii	"    and by more than one; for Miss Godby told Miss "
	.ascii	"Sparks,\012    that nobody in their senses could ex"
	.ascii	"pect Mr. Ferrars\012    to give up a woman like Mis"
	.ascii	"s Morton, with thirty thousand\012    pounds to her"
	.ascii	" fortune, for Lucy Steele that had\012    nothing a"
	.ascii	"t all; and I had it from Miss Sparks myself.\012   "
	.ascii	" And besides that, my cousin Richard said himself,\012"
	.ascii	"    that when it came to the point he was afraid Mr"
	.ascii	". Ferrars\012    would be off; and when Edward did "
	.ascii	"not come near us\012    for three days, I could not"
	.ascii	" tell what to think myself;\012    and I believe in"
	.ascii	" my heart Lucy gave it up all for lost;\012    for "
	.ascii	"we came away from your brother's Wednesday,\012    "
	.ascii	"and we saw nothing of him not all Thursday, Friday,"
	.ascii	"\012    and Saturday, and did not know what was bec"
	.ascii	"ome of him.\012    Once Lucy thought to write to hi"
	.ascii	"m, but then her spirits\012    rose against that.  "
	.ascii	"However this morning he came just\012    as we came"
	.ascii	" home from church; and then it all came out,\012   "
	.ascii	" how he had been sent for Wednesday to Harley Stree"
	.ascii	"t,\012    and been talked to by his mother and all "
	.ascii	"of them,\012    and how he had declared before them"
	.ascii	" all that he loved\012    nobody but Lucy, and nobo"
	.ascii	"dy but Lucy would he have.\012    And how he had be"
	.ascii	"en so worried by what passed,\012    that as soon a"
	.ascii	"s he had went away from his mother's house,\012    "
	.ascii	"he had got upon his horse, and rid into the country"
	.ascii	",\012    some where or other; and how he had stayed"
	.ascii	" about at an inn\012    all Thursday and Friday, on"
	.ascii	" purpose to get the better\012    of it.  And after"
	.ascii	" thinking it all over and over again,\012    he sai"
	.ascii	"d, it seemed to him as if, now he had no fortune,\012"
	.ascii	"    and no nothing at all, it would be quite unkind"
	.ascii	" to keep\012    her on to the engagement, because i"
	.ascii	"t must be for her loss,\012    for he had nothing b"
	.ascii	"ut two thousand po"
	.ascii	"unds, and no hope\012    of any thing else; and if "
	.ascii	"he was to go into orders,\012    as he had some tho"
	.ascii	"ughts, he could get nothing but a curacy,\012    an"
	.ascii	"d how was they to live upon that?--He could not bea"
	.ascii	"r\012    to think of her doing no better, and so he"
	.ascii	" begged,\012    if she had the least mind for it, t"
	.ascii	"o put an end to the\012    matter directly, and lea"
	.ascii	"ve him shift for himself.\012    I heard him say al"
	.ascii	"l this as plain as could possibly be.\012    And it"
	.ascii	" was entirely for HER sake, and upon HER account,\012"
	.ascii	"    that he said a word about being off, and not up"
	.ascii	"on his own.\012    I will take my oath he never dro"
	.ascii	"pt a syllable of being\012    tired of her, or of w"
	.ascii	"ishing to marry Miss Morton, or any\012    thing li"
	.ascii	"ke it.  But, to be sure, Lucy would not give\012   "
	.ascii	" ear to such kind of talking; so she told him direc"
	.ascii	"tly\012    (with a great deal about sweet and love,"
	.ascii	" you know,\012    and all that--Oh, la! one can't r"
	.ascii	"epeat such kind of things\012    you know)--she tol"
	.ascii	"d him directly, she had not the least\012    mind i"
	.ascii	"n the world to be off, for she could live with him\012"
	.ascii	"    upon a trifle, and how little so ever he might "
	.ascii	"have,\012    she should be very glad to have it all"
	.ascii	", you know,\012    or something of the kind.  So th"
	.ascii	"en he was monstrous happy,\012    and talked on som"
	.ascii	"e time about what they should do,\012    and they a"
	.ascii	"greed he should take orders directly,\012    and th"
	.ascii	"ey must wait to be married till he got a living.\012"
	.ascii	"    And just then I could not hear any more, for my"
	.ascii	" cousin\012    called from below to tell me Mrs. Ri"
	.ascii	"chardson was come in\012    her coach, and would ta"
	.ascii	"ke one of us to Kensington Gardens;\012    so I was"
	.ascii	" forced to go into the room and interrupt them,\012"
	.ascii	"    to ask Lucy if she would like to go, but she di"
	.ascii	"d not\012    care to leave Edward; so I just run up"
	.ascii	" stairs and put\012    on a pair of silk stockings "
	.ascii	"and came off with the Richardsons.\"\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"I do not understand what you mean by interruptin"
	.ascii	"g them,\"\012    said Elinor; \"you were all in the"
	.ascii	" same room together,\012    were not you?\"\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \"No, indeed, not us.  La! Miss Dashwood, d"
	.ascii	"o you\012    think p"
	.ascii	"eople make love when any body else is by?  Oh,\012 "
	.ascii	"   for shame!--To be sure you must know better than"
	.ascii	" that.\012    (Laughing affectedly.)--No, no; they "
	.ascii	"were shut up in the\012    drawing-room together, a"
	.ascii	"nd all I heard was only by listening\012    at the "
	.ascii	"door.\"\012    \012    \"How!\" cried Elinor; \"hav"
	.ascii	"e you been repeating to me\012    what you only lea"
	.ascii	"rnt yourself by listening at the door?\012    I am "
	.ascii	"sorry I did not know it before; for I certainly\012"
	.ascii	"    would not have suffered you to give me particul"
	.ascii	"ars of a\012    conversation which you ought not to"
	.ascii	" have known yourself.\012    How could you behave s"
	.ascii	"o unfairly by your sister?\"\012    \012    \"Oh, l"
	.ascii	"a! there is nothing in THAT.  I only stood at\012  "
	.ascii	"  the door, and heard what I could.  And I am sure "
	.ascii	"Lucy would\012    have done just the same by me; fo"
	.ascii	"r a year or two back,\012    when Martha Sharpe and"
	.ascii	" I had so many secrets together,\012    she never m"
	.ascii	"ade any bones of hiding in a closet, or behind\012 "
	.ascii	"   a chimney-board, on purpose to hear what we said"
	.ascii	".\"\012    \012    Elinor tried to talk of somethin"
	.ascii	"g else; but Miss\012    Steele could not be kept be"
	.ascii	"yond a couple of minutes,\012    from what was uppe"
	.ascii	"rmost in her mind.\012    \012    \"Edward talks of"
	.ascii	" going to Oxford soon,\" said she;\012    \"but now"
	.ascii	" he is lodging at No. --, Pall Mall.  What an\012  "
	.ascii	"  ill-natured woman his mother is, an't she? And yo"
	.ascii	"ur\012    brother and sister were not very kind! Ho"
	.ascii	"wever,\012    I shan't say anything against them to"
	.ascii	" YOU; and to be sure\012    they did send us home i"
	.ascii	"n their own chariot, which\012    was more than I l"
	.ascii	"ooked for.  And for my part, I was all\012    in a "
	.ascii	"fright for fear your sister should ask us for the\012"
	.ascii	"    huswifes she had gave us a day or two before; b"
	.ascii	"ut, however,\012    nothing was said about them, an"
	.ascii	"d I took care to keep mine\012    out of sight.  Ed"
	.ascii	"ward have got some business at Oxford,\012    he sa"
	.ascii	"ys; so he must go there for a time; and after THAT,"
	.ascii	"\012    as soon as he can light upon a Bishop, he w"
	.ascii	"ill be ordained.\012    I wonder what curacy he wil"
	.ascii	"l get!--Good gracious!\012    (giggling as she spok"
	.ascii	"e) I'd lay my life I know what\012"
	.ascii	"    my cousins will say, when they hear of it.  The"
	.ascii	"y will\012    tell me I should write to the Doctor,"
	.ascii	" to get Edward\012    the curacy of his new living."
	.ascii	"  I know they will; but I am\012    sure I would no"
	.ascii	"t do such a thing for all the world.--\012    'La!'"
	.ascii	" I shall say directly, 'I wonder how you could thin"
	.ascii	"k\012    of such a thing?  I write to the Doctor, i"
	.ascii	"ndeed!'\"\012    \012    \"Well,\" said Elinor, \"i"
	.ascii	"t is a comfort to be prepared\012    against the wo"
	.ascii	"rst.  You have got your answer ready.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Miss Steele was going to reply on the same subj"
	.ascii	"ect,\012    but the approach of her own party made "
	.ascii	"another more necessary.\012    \012    \"Oh, la! he"
	.ascii	"re come the Richardsons.  I had a vast deal\012    "
	.ascii	"more to say to you, but I must not stay away from t"
	.ascii	"hem not\012    any longer.  I assure you they are v"
	.ascii	"ery genteel people.\012    He makes a monstrous dea"
	.ascii	"l of money, and they keep their\012    own coach.  "
	.ascii	"I have not time to speak to Mrs. Jennings about\012"
	.ascii	"    it myself, but pray tell her I am quite happy t"
	.ascii	"o hear she\012    is not in anger against us, and L"
	.ascii	"ady Middleton the same;\012    and if anything shou"
	.ascii	"ld happen to take you and your\012    sister away, "
	.ascii	"and Mrs. Jennings should want company,\012    I am "
	.ascii	"sure we should be very glad to come and stay with h"
	.ascii	"er\012    for as long a time as she likes.  I suppo"
	.ascii	"se Lady Middleton\012    won't ask us any more this"
	.ascii	" bout.  Good-by; I am sorry\012    Miss Marianne wa"
	.ascii	"s not here.  Remember me kindly to her.\012    La! "
	.ascii	"if you have not got your spotted muslin on!--I wond"
	.ascii	"er\012    you was not afraid of its being torn.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Such was her parting concern; for after"
	.ascii	" this, she had\012    time only to pay her farewell"
	.ascii	" compliments to Mrs. Jennings,\012    before her co"
	.ascii	"mpany was claimed by Mrs. Richardson;\012    and El"
	.ascii	"inor was left in possession of knowledge which\012 "
	.ascii	"   might feed her powers of reflection some time, t"
	.ascii	"hough she\012    had learnt very little more than w"
	.ascii	"hat had been already\012    foreseen and foreplanne"
	.ascii	"d in her own mind.  Edward's marriage\012    with L"
	.ascii	"ucy was as firmly determined on, and the time\012  "
	.ascii	"  of its taking place rem"
	.ascii	"ained as absolutely uncertain,\012    as she had co"
	.ascii	"ncluded it would be;--every thing depended,\012    "
	.ascii	"exactly after her expectation, on his getting that "
	.ascii	"preferment,\012    of which, at present, there seem"
	.ascii	"ed not the smallest chance.\012    \012    As soon "
	.ascii	"as they returned to the carriage,\012    Mrs. Jenni"
	.ascii	"ngs was eager for information; but as Elinor\012   "
	.ascii	" wished to spread as little as possible intelligenc"
	.ascii	"e\012    that had in the first place been so unfair"
	.ascii	"ly obtained,\012    she confined herself to the bri"
	.ascii	"ef repetition of such\012    simple particulars, as"
	.ascii	" she felt assured that Lucy,\012    for the sake of"
	.ascii	" her own consequence, would choose\012    to have k"
	.ascii	"nown.  The continuance of their engagement,\012    "
	.ascii	"and the means that were able to be taken for promot"
	.ascii	"ing\012    its end, was all her communication; and "
	.ascii	"this produced\012    from Mrs. Jennings the followi"
	.ascii	"ng natural remark.\012    \012    \"Wait for his ha"
	.ascii	"ving a living!--ay, we all know how\012    THAT wil"
	.ascii	"l end:--they will wait a twelvemonth, and finding\012"
	.ascii	"    no good comes of it, will set down upon a curac"
	.ascii	"y of fifty\012    pounds a-year, with the interest "
	.ascii	"of his two thousand pounds,\012    and what little "
	.ascii	"matter Mr. Steele and Mr. Pratt can\012    give her"
	.ascii	".--Then they will have a child every year! and\012 "
	.ascii	"   Lord help 'em! how poor they will be!--I must se"
	.ascii	"e\012    what I can give them towards furnishing th"
	.ascii	"eir house.\012    Two maids and two men, indeed!--a"
	.ascii	"s I talked of t'other\012    day.--No, no, they mus"
	.ascii	"t get a stout girl of all works.--\012    Betty's s"
	.ascii	"ister would never do for them NOW.\"\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" The next morning brought Elinor a letter by the\012"
	.ascii	"    two-penny post from Lucy herself.  It was as fo"
	.ascii	"llows:\012    \012                        \"Bartlet"
	.ascii	"t's Building, March.\012    \012         \"I hope m"
	.ascii	"y dear Miss Dashwood will excuse the\012         li"
	.ascii	"berty I take of writing to her; but I know your\012"
	.ascii	"         friendship for me will make you pleased to"
	.ascii	" hear such\012         a good account of myself and"
	.ascii	" my dear Edward, after\012         all the troubles"
	.ascii	" we have went through lately,\012         therefore"
	.ascii	" will make no more apologie"
	.ascii	"s, but proceed\012         to say that, thank God! "
	.ascii	"though we have suffered\012         dreadfully, we "
	.ascii	"are both quite well now, and as happy\012         a"
	.ascii	"s we must always be in one another's love.  We have"
	.ascii	"\012         had great trials, and great persecutio"
	.ascii	"ns, but\012         however, at the same time, grat"
	.ascii	"efully acknowledge\012         many friends, yourse"
	.ascii	"lf not the least among them,\012         whose grea"
	.ascii	"t kindness I shall always thankfully\012         re"
	.ascii	"member, as will Edward too, who I have told of\012 "
	.ascii	"        it.  I am sure you will be glad to hear, as"
	.ascii	" likewise\012         dear Mrs. Jennings, I spent t"
	.ascii	"wo happy hours with\012         him yesterday after"
	.ascii	"noon, he would not hear of our\012         parting,"
	.ascii	" though earnestly did I, as I thought my\012       "
	.ascii	"  duty required, urge him to it for prudence sake,\012"
	.ascii	"         and would have parted for ever on the spot"
	.ascii	", would\012         he consent to it; but he said i"
	.ascii	"t should never be,\012         he did not regard hi"
	.ascii	"s mother's anger, while he could\012         have m"
	.ascii	"y affections; our prospects are not very\012       "
	.ascii	"  bright, to be sure, but we must wait, and hope fo"
	.ascii	"r\012         the best; he will be ordained shortly"
	.ascii	"; and should\012         it ever be in your power t"
	.ascii	"o recommend him to any\012         body that has a "
	.ascii	"living to bestow, am very sure you\012         will"
	.ascii	" not forget us, and dear Mrs. Jennings too,\012    "
	.ascii	"     trust she will speak a good word for us to Sir"
	.ascii	" John,\012         or Mr. Palmer, or any friend tha"
	.ascii	"t may be able to\012         assist us.--Poor Anne "
	.ascii	"was much to blame for what\012         she did, but"
	.ascii	" she did it for the best, so I say\012         noth"
	.ascii	"ing; hope Mrs. Jennings won't think it too much\012"
	.ascii	"         trouble to give us a call, should she come"
	.ascii	" this way\012         any morning, 'twould be a gre"
	.ascii	"at kindness, and my\012         cousins would be pr"
	.ascii	"oud to know her.--My paper reminds\012         me t"
	.ascii	"o conclude; and begging to be most gratefully\012  "
	.ascii	"       and respectfully remembered to her, and to S"
	.ascii	"ir John,\012         and Lady Middleton, and the de"
	.ascii	"ar children, when you\012         chance to see the"
	.ascii	"m, and l"
	.ascii	"ove to Miss Marianne,\012    \012                  "
	.ascii	"                        \"I am, &c.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  As soon as Elinor had finished it, she performed\012"
	.ascii	"    what she concluded to be its writer's real desi"
	.ascii	"gn,\012    by placing it in the hands of Mrs. Jenni"
	.ascii	"ngs, who read it\012    aloud with many comments of"
	.ascii	" satisfaction and praise.\012    \012    \"Very wel"
	.ascii	"l indeed!--how prettily she writes!--aye,\012    th"
	.ascii	"at was quite proper to let him be off if he would.\012"
	.ascii	"    That was just like Lucy.--Poor soul! I wish I C"
	.ascii	"OULD get\012    him a living, with all my heart.--S"
	.ascii	"he calls me dear\012    Mrs. Jennings, you see.  Sh"
	.ascii	"e is a good-hearted girl\012    as ever lived.--Ver"
	.ascii	"y well upon my word.  That sentence\012    is very "
	.ascii	"prettily turned.  Yes, yes, I will go and see her,\012"
	.ascii	"    sure enough.  How attentive she is, to think of"
	.ascii	" every\012    body!--Thank you, my dear, for shewin"
	.ascii	"g it me.  It is\012    as pretty a letter as ever I"
	.ascii	" saw, and does Lucy's head\012    and heart great c"
	.ascii	"redit.\"\012    \012    \012    \012    CHAPTER 39\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \012    The Miss Dashwoods had now been"
	.ascii	" rather more than\012    two months in town, and Ma"
	.ascii	"rianne's impatience to be gone\012    increased eve"
	.ascii	"ry day.  She sighed for the air, the liberty,\012  "
	.ascii	"  the quiet of the country; and fancied that if any"
	.ascii	" place\012    could give her ease, Barton must do i"
	.ascii	"t.  Elinor was hardly\012    less anxious than hers"
	.ascii	"elf for their removal, and only so much\012    less"
	.ascii	" bent on its being effected immediately, as that sh"
	.ascii	"e\012    was conscious of the difficulties of so lo"
	.ascii	"ng a journey,\012    which Marianne could not be br"
	.ascii	"ought to acknowledge.\012    She began, however, se"
	.ascii	"riously to turn her thoughts towards\012    its acc"
	.ascii	"omplishment, and had already mentioned their wishes"
	.ascii	"\012    to their kind hostess, who resisted them wi"
	.ascii	"th all the\012    eloquence of her good-will, when "
	.ascii	"a plan was suggested,\012    which, though detainin"
	.ascii	"g them from home yet a few weeks\012    longer, app"
	.ascii	"eared to Elinor altogether much more eligible\012  "
	.ascii	"  than any other. The Palmers were to remove to Cle"
	.ascii	"veland\012    about the end of March, for the Easte"
	.ascii	"r holidays;\012    and Mrs. Je"
	.ascii	"nnings, with both her friends, received a very\012 "
	.ascii	"   warm invitation from Charlotte to go with them. "
	.ascii	" This would\012    not, in itself, have been suffic"
	.ascii	"ient for the delicacy of\012    Miss Dashwood;--but"
	.ascii	" it was inforced with so much real\012    politenes"
	.ascii	"s by Mr. Palmer himself, as, joined to the very\012"
	.ascii	"    great amendment of his manners towards them sin"
	.ascii	"ce her\012    sister had been known to be unhappy, "
	.ascii	"induced her to accept\012    it with pleasure.\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    When she told Marianne what she had done"
	.ascii	", however,\012    her first reply was not very ausp"
	.ascii	"icious.\012    \012    \"Cleveland!\"--she cried, w"
	.ascii	"ith great agitation.\012    \"No, I cannot go to Cl"
	.ascii	"eveland.\"--\012    \012    \"You forget,\" said El"
	.ascii	"inor gently, \"that its situation\012    is not...t"
	.ascii	"hat it is not in the neighbourhood of...\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"But it is in Somersetshire.--I cannot go\012 "
	.ascii	"   into Somersetshire.--There, where I looked forwa"
	.ascii	"rd\012    to going...No, Elinor, you cannot expect "
	.ascii	"me to go there.\"\012    \012    Elinor would not a"
	.ascii	"rgue upon the propriety of overcoming\012    such f"
	.ascii	"eelings;--she only endeavoured to counteract them b"
	.ascii	"y\012    working on others;--represented it, theref"
	.ascii	"ore, as a measure\012    which would fix the time o"
	.ascii	"f her returning to that dear mother,\012    whom sh"
	.ascii	"e so much wished to see, in a more eligible,\012   "
	.ascii	" more comfortable manner, than any other plan could"
	.ascii	" do,\012    and perhaps without any greater delay. "
	.ascii	" From Cleveland,\012    which was within a few mile"
	.ascii	"s of Bristol, the distance to\012    Barton was not"
	.ascii	" beyond one day, though a long day's journey;\012  "
	.ascii	"  and their mother's servant might easily come ther"
	.ascii	"e to attend\012    them down; and as there could be"
	.ascii	" no occasion of their\012    staying above a week a"
	.ascii	"t Cleveland, they might now be at\012    home in li"
	.ascii	"ttle more than three weeks' time.  As Marianne's\012"
	.ascii	"    affection for her mother was sincere, it must t"
	.ascii	"riumph\012    with little difficulty, over the imag"
	.ascii	"inary evils she had started.\012    \012    Mrs. Je"
	.ascii	"nnings was so far from being weary of her guest,\012"
	.ascii	"    that she pressed them very earnestly to return "
	.ascii	"with her again\012    from Clevela"
	.ascii	"nd.  Elinor was grateful for the attention,\012    "
	.ascii	"but it could not alter her design; and their mother"
	.ascii	"'s\012    concurrence being readily gained, every t"
	.ascii	"hing relative\012    to their return was arranged a"
	.ascii	"s far as it could be;--\012    and Marianne found s"
	.ascii	"ome relief in drawing up a statement\012    of the "
	.ascii	"hours that were yet to divide her from Barton.\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \"Ah! Colonel, I do not know what you an"
	.ascii	"d I shall\012    do without the Miss Dashwoods;\"--"
	.ascii	"was Mrs. Jennings's\012    address to him when he f"
	.ascii	"irst called on her, after their\012    leaving her "
	.ascii	"was settled--\"for they are quite resolved\012    u"
	.ascii	"pon going home from the Palmers;--and how forlorn w"
	.ascii	"e\012    shall be, when I come back!--Lord! we shal"
	.ascii	"l sit and gape\012    at one another as dull as two"
	.ascii	" cats.\"\012    \012    Perhaps Mrs. Jennings was i"
	.ascii	"n hopes, by this vigorous\012    sketch of their fu"
	.ascii	"ture ennui, to provoke him to make\012    that offe"
	.ascii	"r, which might give himself an escape from it;--\012"
	.ascii	"    and if so, she had soon afterwards good reason "
	.ascii	"to think\012    her object gained; for, on Elinor's"
	.ascii	" moving to the window\012    to take more expeditio"
	.ascii	"usly the dimensions of a print,\012    which she wa"
	.ascii	"s going to copy for her friend, he followed\012    "
	.ascii	"her to it with a look of particular meaning, and co"
	.ascii	"nversed\012    with her there for several minutes. "
	.ascii	" The effect of his\012    discourse on the lady too"
	.ascii	", could not escape her observation,\012    for thou"
	.ascii	"gh she was too honorable to listen, and had even\012"
	.ascii	"    changed her seat, on purpose that she might NOT"
	.ascii	" hear,\012    to one close by the piano forte on wh"
	.ascii	"ich Marianne\012    was playing, she could not keep"
	.ascii	" herself from seeing\012    that Elinor changed col"
	.ascii	"our, attended with agitation,\012    and was too in"
	.ascii	"tent on what he said to pursue her employment.--\012"
	.ascii	"    Still farther in confirmation of her hopes, in "
	.ascii	"the interval\012    of Marianne's turning from one "
	.ascii	"lesson to another,\012    some words of the Colonel"
	.ascii	"'s inevitably reached her ear,\012    in which he s"
	.ascii	"eemed to be apologising for the badness\012    of h"
	.ascii	"is house.  This set the matter beyond a doubt.\012 "
	.ascii	"   She wondered, i"
	.ascii	"ndeed, at his thinking it necessary\012    to do so"
	.ascii	"; but supposed it to be the proper etiquette.\012  "
	.ascii	"  What Elinor said in reply she could not distingui"
	.ascii	"sh,\012    but judged from the motion of her lips, "
	.ascii	"that she did\012    not think THAT any material obj"
	.ascii	"ection;--and Mrs. Jennings\012    commended her in "
	.ascii	"her heart for being so honest.\012    They then tal"
	.ascii	"ked on for a few minutes longer without her\012    "
	.ascii	"catching a syllable, when another lucky stop in Mar"
	.ascii	"ianne's\012    performance brought her these words "
	.ascii	"in the Colonel's calm voice,--\012    \012    \"I a"
	.ascii	"m afraid it cannot take place very soon.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Astonished and shocked at so unlover-like a spe"
	.ascii	"ech,\012    she was almost ready to cry out, \"Lord"
	.ascii	"! what should\012    hinder it?\"--but checking her"
	.ascii	" desire, confined herself\012    to this silent eja"
	.ascii	"culation.\012    \012    \"This is very strange!--s"
	.ascii	"ure he need not wait to be older.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"This delay on the Colonel's side, however, did not\012"
	.ascii	"    seem to offend or mortify his fair companion in"
	.ascii	" the least,\012    for on their breaking up the con"
	.ascii	"ference soon afterwards,\012    and moving differen"
	.ascii	"t ways, Mrs. Jennings very plainly heard\012    Eli"
	.ascii	"nor say, and with a voice which shewed her to feel "
	.ascii	"what she said,\012    \012    \"I shall always thin"
	.ascii	"k myself very much obliged to you.\"\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" Mrs. Jennings was delighted with her gratitude,\012"
	.ascii	"    and only wondered that after hearing such a sen"
	.ascii	"tence,\012    the Colonel should be able to take le"
	.ascii	"ave of them, as he\012    immediately did, with the"
	.ascii	" utmost sang-froid, and go away\012    without maki"
	.ascii	"ng her any reply!--She had not thought her old\012 "
	.ascii	"   friend could have made so indifferent a suitor.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    What had really passed between them was"
	.ascii	" to this effect.\012    \012    \"I have heard,\" s"
	.ascii	"aid he, with great compassion,\012    \"of the inju"
	.ascii	"stice your friend Mr. Ferrars has suffered\012    f"
	.ascii	"rom his family; for if I understand the matter righ"
	.ascii	"t,\012    he has been entirely cast off by them for"
	.ascii	" persevering\012    in his engagement with a very d"
	.ascii	"eserving young woman.--\012    Have I been rightly "
	.ascii	"informed?--Is it so?--\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"Elinor told him that it was.\012    \012    \"The c"
	.ascii	"ruelty, the impolitic cruelty,\"--he replied,\012  "
	.ascii	"  with great feeling,--\"of dividing, or attempting"
	.ascii	" to divide,\012    two young people long attached t"
	.ascii	"o each other, is terrible.--\012    Mrs. Ferrars do"
	.ascii	"es not know what she may be doing--what\012    she "
	.ascii	"may drive her son to.  I have seen Mr. Ferrars two\012"
	.ascii	"    or three times in Harley Street, and am much pl"
	.ascii	"eased\012    with him.  He is not a young man with "
	.ascii	"whom one can\012    be intimately acquainted in a s"
	.ascii	"hort time, but I have\012    seen enough of him to "
	.ascii	"wish him well for his own sake,\012    and as a fri"
	.ascii	"end of yours, I wish it still more.\012    I unders"
	.ascii	"tand that he intends to take orders.  Will you\012 "
	.ascii	"   be so good as to tell him that the living of Del"
	.ascii	"aford,\012    now just vacant, as I am informed by "
	.ascii	"this day's post,\012    is his, if he think it wort"
	.ascii	"h his acceptance--but THAT,\012    perhaps, so unfo"
	.ascii	"rtunately circumstanced as he is now,\012    it may"
	.ascii	" be  nonsense to appear to doubt; I only wish it\012"
	.ascii	"    were more  valuable.-- It is a rectory, but a s"
	.ascii	"mall one;\012    the late incumbent, I believe, did"
	.ascii	" not make more than\012    200 L per annum, and tho"
	.ascii	"ugh it is certainly capable\012    of improvement, "
	.ascii	"I fear, not to such an amount as\012    to afford h"
	.ascii	"im a very comfortable income.  Such as it is,\012  "
	.ascii	"  however, my pleasure in presenting him to it,\012"
	.ascii	"    will be very great.  Pray assure him of it.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Elinor's astonishment at this commissio"
	.ascii	"n could\012    hardly have been greater, had the Co"
	.ascii	"lonel been really\012    making her an offer of his"
	.ascii	" hand.  The preferment,\012    which only two days "
	.ascii	"before she had considered as hopeless\012    for Ed"
	.ascii	"ward, was already provided to enable him to marry;-"
	.ascii	"-\012    and SHE, of all people in the world, was f"
	.ascii	"ixed on to\012    bestow it!--Her emotion was such "
	.ascii	"as Mrs. Jennings had\012    attributed to a very di"
	.ascii	"fferent cause;--but whatever minor\012    feelings "
	.ascii	"less pure, less pleasing, might have a share\012   "
	.ascii	" in that emotion, her esteem for the general benevo"
	.ascii	"lence,\012    and her gratitude for the particular "
	.ascii	"friendship,\012   "
	.ascii	" which together prompted Colonel Brandon to this ac"
	.ascii	"t,\012    were strongly felt, and warmly expressed."
	.ascii	"  She thanked him\012    for it with all her heart,"
	.ascii	" spoke of Edward's principles and\012    dispositio"
	.ascii	"n with that praise which she knew them to deserve;\012"
	.ascii	"    and promised to undertake the commission with p"
	.ascii	"leasure,\012    if it were really his wish to put o"
	.ascii	"ff so agreeable an office\012    to another.  But a"
	.ascii	"t the same time, she could not help\012    thinking"
	.ascii	" that no one could so well perform it as himself.\012"
	.ascii	"    It was an office in short, from which, unwillin"
	.ascii	"g to give\012    Edward the pain of receiving an ob"
	.ascii	"ligation from HER,\012    she would have been very "
	.ascii	"glad to be spared herself;--\012    but Colonel Bra"
	.ascii	"ndon, on motives of equal delicacy,\012    declinin"
	.ascii	"g it likewise, still seemed so desirous of its bein"
	.ascii	"g\012    given through her means, that she would no"
	.ascii	"t on any account\012    make farther opposition.  E"
	.ascii	"dward, she believed, was still in\012    town,\012 "
	.ascii	"   and fortunately she had heard his address from M"
	.ascii	"iss Steele.\012    She could undertake therefore to"
	.ascii	" inform him of it,\012    in the course of the day."
	.ascii	"  After this had been settled,\012    Colonel Brand"
	.ascii	"on began to talk of his own advantage\012    in sec"
	.ascii	"uring so respectable and agreeable a neighbour,\012"
	.ascii	"    and THEN it was that he mentioned with regret, "
	.ascii	"that the\012    house was small and indifferent;--a"
	.ascii	"n evil which Elinor,\012    as Mrs. Jennings had su"
	.ascii	"pposed her to do, made very light of,\012    at lea"
	.ascii	"st as far as regarded its size.\012    \012    \"Th"
	.ascii	"e smallness of the house,\" said she,\012    \"I ca"
	.ascii	"nnot imagine any inconvenience to them,\012    for "
	.ascii	"it will be in proportion to their family and income"
	.ascii	".\"\012    \012    By which the Colonel was surpris"
	.ascii	"ed to find that SHE\012    was considering Mr. Ferr"
	.ascii	"ars's marriage as the certain\012    consequence of"
	.ascii	" the presentation; for he did not suppose it\012   "
	.ascii	" possible that Delaford living could supply such an"
	.ascii	" income,\012    as anybody in his style of life wou"
	.ascii	"ld venture to settle on--\012    and he said so.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"This little rectory CAN do no more th"
	.ascii	"an make Mr. Ferrars"
	.ascii	"\012    comfortable as a bachelor; it cannot enable"
	.ascii	" him to marry.\012    I am sorry to say that my pat"
	.ascii	"ronage ends with this;\012    and my interest is ha"
	.ascii	"rdly more extensive.  If, however,\012    by an unf"
	.ascii	"oreseen chance it should be in my power to serve\012"
	.ascii	"    him farther, I must think very differently of h"
	.ascii	"im\012    from what I now do, if I am not as ready "
	.ascii	"to be useful\012    to him then as I sincerely wish"
	.ascii	" I could be at present.\012    What I am now doing "
	.ascii	"indeed, seems nothing at all,\012    since it can a"
	.ascii	"dvance him so little towards what must\012    be hi"
	.ascii	"s principal, his only object of happiness.\012    H"
	.ascii	"is marriage must still be a distant good;--at least"
	.ascii	",\012    I am afraid it cannot take place very soon"
	.ascii	".--\"\012    \012    Such was the sentence which, w"
	.ascii	"hen misunderstood,\012    so justly offended the de"
	.ascii	"licate feelings of Mrs. Jennings;\012    but after "
	.ascii	"this narration of what really passed between\012   "
	.ascii	" Colonel Brandon and Elinor, while they stood at th"
	.ascii	"e window,\012    the gratitude expressed by the lat"
	.ascii	"ter on their parting, may\012    perhaps appear in "
	.ascii	"general, not less reasonably excited,\012    nor le"
	.ascii	"ss properly worded than if it had arisen from\012  "
	.ascii	"  an offer of marriage.\012    \012    \012    \012"
	.ascii	"    CHAPTER 40\012    \012    \012    \"Well, Miss "
	.ascii	"Dashwood,\" said Mrs. Jennings,\012    sagaciously "
	.ascii	"smiling, as soon as the gentleman had withdrawn,\012"
	.ascii	"    \"I do not ask you what the Colonel has been sa"
	.ascii	"ying to you;\012    for though, upon my honour, I T"
	.ascii	"RIED to keep out of hearing,\012    I could not hel"
	.ascii	"p catching enough to understand his business.\012  "
	.ascii	"  And I assure you I never was better pleased in my"
	.ascii	" life,\012    and I wish you joy of it with all my "
	.ascii	"heart.\"\012    \012    \"Thank you, ma'am,\" said "
	.ascii	"Elinor.  \"It is a matter\012    of great joy to me"
	.ascii	"; and I feel the goodness of Colonel\012    Brandon"
	.ascii	" most sensibly.  There are not many men who would\012"
	.ascii	"    act as he has done.  Few people who have so com"
	.ascii	"passionate\012    a heart!  I never was more astoni"
	.ascii	"shed in my life.\"\012    \012    \"Lord! my dear, "
	.ascii	"you are very modest.  I an't the least\012    aston"
	.ascii	"ished at it in the world, for I have often t"
	.ascii	"hought\012    of late, there was nothing more likel"
	.ascii	"y to happen.\"\012    \012    \"You judged from you"
	.ascii	"r knowledge of the Colonel's\012    general benevol"
	.ascii	"ence; but at least you could not foresee\012    tha"
	.ascii	"t the opportunity would so very soon occur.\"\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    \"Opportunity!\" repeated Mrs. Jennings--"
	.ascii	"\"Oh! as to that,\012    when a man has once made u"
	.ascii	"p his mind to such a thing,\012    somehow or other"
	.ascii	" he will soon find an opportunity.\012    Well, my "
	.ascii	"dear, I wish you joy of it again and again;\012    "
	.ascii	"and if ever there was a happy couple in the world, "
	.ascii	"I think\012    I shall soon know where to look for "
	.ascii	"them.\"\012    \012    \"You mean to go to Delaford"
	.ascii	" after them I suppose,\"\012    said Elinor, with a"
	.ascii	" faint smile.\012    \012    \"Aye, my dear, that I"
	.ascii	" do, indeed.  And as to the house\012    being a ba"
	.ascii	"d one, I do not know what the Colonel would be at,\012"
	.ascii	"    for it is as good a one as ever I saw.\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \"He spoke of its being out of repair.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Well, and whose fault is that? why do"
	.ascii	"n't he repair it?--\012    who should do it but him"
	.ascii	"self?\"\012    \012    They were interrupted by the"
	.ascii	" servant's coming in to\012    announce the carriag"
	.ascii	"e being at the door; and Mrs. Jennings\012    immed"
	.ascii	"iately preparing to go, said,--\012    \012    \"We"
	.ascii	"ll, my dear, I must be gone before I have had half\012"
	.ascii	"    my talk out.  But, however, we may have it all "
	.ascii	"over in\012    the evening; for we shall be quite a"
	.ascii	"lone.  I do not ask\012    you to go with me, for I"
	.ascii	" dare say your mind is too full\012    of the matte"
	.ascii	"r to care for company; and besides, you must\012   "
	.ascii	" long to tell your sister all about it.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Marianne had left the room before the conversat"
	.ascii	"ion began.\012    \012    \"Certainly, ma'am, I sha"
	.ascii	"ll tell Marianne of it;\012    but I shall not ment"
	.ascii	"ion it at present to any body else.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"Oh! very well,\" said Mrs. Jennings rather disa"
	.ascii	"ppointed.\012    \"Then you would not have me tell "
	.ascii	"it to Lucy, for I think\012    of going as far as H"
	.ascii	"olborn to-day.\"\012    \012    \"No, ma'am, not ev"
	.ascii	"en Lucy if you please.\012    One day's delay will "
	.ascii	"not be very material; and till I\012    have writte"
	.ascii	"n to Mr. Ferrars"
	.ascii	", I think it ought not to be\012    mentioned to an"
	.ascii	"y body else.  I shall do THAT directly.\012    It i"
	.ascii	"s of importance that no time should be lost with hi"
	.ascii	"m,\012    for he will of course have much to do rel"
	.ascii	"ative to\012    his ordination.\"\012    \012    Th"
	.ascii	"is speech at first puzzled Mrs. Jennings exceedingl"
	.ascii	"y.\012    Why Mr. Ferrars was to have been written "
	.ascii	"to about it\012    in such a hurry, she could not i"
	.ascii	"mmediately comprehend.\012    A few moments' reflec"
	.ascii	"tion, however, produced a very happy idea,\012    a"
	.ascii	"nd she exclaimed;--\012    \012    \"Oh, ho!--I und"
	.ascii	"erstand you.  Mr. Ferrars is to be\012    the man. "
	.ascii	" Well, so much the better for him.  Ay, to be sure,"
	.ascii	"\012    he must be ordained in readiness; and I am "
	.ascii	"very glad\012    to find things are so forward betw"
	.ascii	"een you.  But, my dear,\012    is not this rather o"
	.ascii	"ut of character?  Should not the Colonel\012    wri"
	.ascii	"te himself?--sure, he is the proper person.\"\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    Elinor did not quite understand the begin"
	.ascii	"ning of\012    Mrs. Jennings's speech, neither did "
	.ascii	"she think it worth\012    inquiring into; and there"
	.ascii	"fore only replied to its conclusion.\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"Colonel Brandon is so delicate a man, that he ra"
	.ascii	"ther\012    wished any one to announce his intentio"
	.ascii	"ns to Mr. Ferrars\012    than himself.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"And so YOU are forced to do it.  Well THAT is"
	.ascii	" an odd\012    kind of delicacy!  However, I will n"
	.ascii	"ot disturb you (seeing\012    her preparing to writ"
	.ascii	"e.)  You know your own concerns best.\012    So goo"
	.ascii	"dby, my dear.  I have not heard of any thing to\012"
	.ascii	"    please me so well since Charlotte was brought t"
	.ascii	"o bed.\"\012    \012    And away she went; but retu"
	.ascii	"rning again in a moment,\012    \012    \"I have ju"
	.ascii	"st been thinking of Betty's sister, my dear.\012   "
	.ascii	" I should be very glad to get her so good a mistres"
	.ascii	"s.\012    But whether she would do for a lady's mai"
	.ascii	"d, I am sure I\012    can't tell.  She is an excell"
	.ascii	"ent housemaid, and works\012    very well at her ne"
	.ascii	"edle.  However, you will think of all\012    that a"
	.ascii	"t your leisure.\"\012    \012    \"Certainly, ma'am"
	.ascii	",\" replied Elinor, not hearing\012    much of what"
	.ascii	" she said, and more anxious to be alone,\012    tha"
	.ascii	"n to be mistress of the subject.\012    \012    How"
	.ascii	" she should begin--how she should express\012    he"
	.ascii	"rself in her note to Edward, was now all her concer"
	.ascii	"n.\012    The particular circumstances between them"
	.ascii	" made\012    a difficulty of that which to any othe"
	.ascii	"r person would\012    have been the easiest thing i"
	.ascii	"n the world; but she\012    equally feared to say t"
	.ascii	"oo much or too little, and sat\012    deliberating "
	.ascii	"over her paper, with the pen in her hand,\012    ti"
	.ascii	"ll broken in on by the entrance of Edward himself.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    He had met Mrs. Jennings at the door in"
	.ascii	" her way to\012    the carriage, as he came to leav"
	.ascii	"e his farewell card; and she,\012    after apologis"
	.ascii	"ing for not returning herself, had obliged\012    h"
	.ascii	"im to enter, by saying that Miss Dashwood was above"
	.ascii	",\012    and wanted to speak with him on very parti"
	.ascii	"cular business.\012    \012    Elinor had just been"
	.ascii	" congratulating herself,\012    in the midst of her"
	.ascii	" perplexity, that however difficult it\012    might"
	.ascii	" be to express herself properly by letter, it was\012"
	.ascii	"    at least preferable to giving the information b"
	.ascii	"y word\012    of mouth, when her visitor entered, t"
	.ascii	"o force her upon this\012    greatest exertion of a"
	.ascii	"ll.  Her astonishment and confusion\012    were ver"
	.ascii	"y great on his so sudden appearance.  She had\012  "
	.ascii	"  not seen him before since his engagement became p"
	.ascii	"ublic,\012    and therefore not since his knowing h"
	.ascii	"er to be acquainted\012    with it; which, with the"
	.ascii	" consciousness of what she\012    had been thinking"
	.ascii	" of, and what she had to tell him,\012    made her "
	.ascii	"feel particularly uncomfortable for some minutes.\012"
	.ascii	"    He too was much distressed; and they sat down t"
	.ascii	"ogether\012    in a most promising state of embarra"
	.ascii	"ssment.--Whether he\012    had asked her pardon for"
	.ascii	" his intrusion on first coming\012    into the room"
	.ascii	", he could not recollect; but determining\012    to"
	.ascii	" be on the safe side, he made his apology in form\012"
	.ascii	"    as soon as he could say any thing, after taking"
	.ascii	" a chair.\012    \012    \"Mrs. Jennings told me,\""
	.ascii	" said he, \"that you wished\012    to speak with me"
	.ascii	", at least I understood her so--or I\012    certain"
	.ascii	"ly should not hav"
	.ascii	"e intruded on you in such a manner;\012    though a"
	.ascii	"t the same time, I should have been extremely\012  "
	.ascii	"  sorry to leave London without seeing you and your"
	.ascii	" sister;\012    especially as it will most likely b"
	.ascii	"e some time--it\012    is not probable that I shoul"
	.ascii	"d soon have the pleasure\012    of meeting you agai"
	.ascii	"n.  I go to Oxford tomorrow.\"\012    \012    \"You"
	.ascii	" would not have gone, however,\" said Elinor,\012  "
	.ascii	"  recovering herself, and determined to get over wh"
	.ascii	"at she\012    so much dreaded as soon as possible, "
	.ascii	"\"without receiving\012    our good wishes, even if"
	.ascii	" we had not been able to give them\012    in person"
	.ascii	".  Mrs. Jennings was quite right in what she said.\012"
	.ascii	"    I have something of consequence to inform you o"
	.ascii	"f,\012    which I was on the point of communicating"
	.ascii	" by paper.\012    I am charged with a most agreeabl"
	.ascii	"e office (breathing\012    rather faster than usual"
	.ascii	" as she spoke.)  Colonel Brandon,\012    who was he"
	.ascii	"re only ten minutes ago, has desired me to say,\012"
	.ascii	"    that understanding you mean to take orders, he "
	.ascii	"has\012    great pleasure in offering you the livin"
	.ascii	"g of Delaford\012    now just vacant, and only wish"
	.ascii	"es it were more valuable.\012    Allow me to congra"
	.ascii	"tulate you on having so respectable\012    and well"
	.ascii	"-judging a friend, and to join in his wish that\012"
	.ascii	"    the living--it is about two hundred a-year--wer"
	.ascii	"e much\012    more considerable, and such as might "
	.ascii	"better enable you\012    to--as might be more than "
	.ascii	"a temporary accommodation to\012    yourself--such,"
	.ascii	" in short, as might establish all your views\012   "
	.ascii	" of happiness.\"\012    \012    What Edward felt, a"
	.ascii	"s he could not say it himself,\012    it cannot be "
	.ascii	"expected that any one else should say for him.\012 "
	.ascii	"   He LOOKED all the astonishment which such unexpe"
	.ascii	"cted,\012    such unthought-of information could no"
	.ascii	"t fail of exciting;\012    but he said only these t"
	.ascii	"wo words,\012    \012    \"Colonel Brandon!\"\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    \"Yes,\" continued Elinor, gathering more"
	.ascii	" resolution,\012    as some of the worst was over, "
	.ascii	"\"Colonel Brandon means\012    it as a testimony of"
	.ascii	" his concern for what has lately\012    passed--for"
	.ascii	" the cruel situation in which the"
	.ascii	" unjustifiable\012    conduct of your family has pl"
	.ascii	"aced you--a concern\012    which I am sure Marianne"
	.ascii	", myself, and all your friends,\012    must share; "
	.ascii	"and likewise as a proof of his high esteem\012    f"
	.ascii	"or your general character, and his particular appro"
	.ascii	"bation\012    of your behaviour on the present occa"
	.ascii	"sion.\"\012    \012    \"Colonel Brandon give ME a "
	.ascii	"living!--Can it be possible?\"\012    \012    \"The"
	.ascii	" unkindness of your own relations has made you\012 "
	.ascii	"   astonished to find friendship any where.\"\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    \"No,\" replied be, with sudden conscious"
	.ascii	"ness, \"not to\012    find it in YOU; for I cannot "
	.ascii	"be ignorant that to you,\012    to your goodness, I"
	.ascii	" owe it all.--I feel it--I would express\012    it "
	.ascii	"if I could--but, as you well know, I am no orator.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"You are very much mistaken.  I do"
	.ascii	" assure you\012    that you owe it entirely, at lea"
	.ascii	"st almost entirely,\012    to your own merit, and C"
	.ascii	"olonel Brandon's discernment\012    of it.  I have "
	.ascii	"had no hand in it.  I did not even know,\012    til"
	.ascii	"l I understood his design, that the living was vaca"
	.ascii	"nt;\012    nor had it ever occurred to me that he m"
	.ascii	"ight have\012    had such a living in his gift.  As"
	.ascii	" a friend of mine,\012    of my family, he may, per"
	.ascii	"haps--indeed I know he HAS,\012    still greater pl"
	.ascii	"easure in bestowing it; but, upon my word,\012    y"
	.ascii	"ou owe nothing to my solicitation.\"\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" Truth obliged her to acknowledge some small share\012"
	.ascii	"    in the action, but she was at the same time so "
	.ascii	"unwilling\012    to appear as the benefactress of E"
	.ascii	"dward, that she acknowledged\012    it with hesitat"
	.ascii	"ion; which probably contributed to fix\012    that "
	.ascii	"suspicion in his mind which had recently entered it"
	.ascii	".\012    For a short time he sat deep in thought, a"
	.ascii	"fter Elinor had ceased\012    to speak;--at last, a"
	.ascii	"nd as if it were rather an effort, he said,\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \"Colonel Brandon seems a man of great wort"
	.ascii	"h and respectability.\012    I have always heard hi"
	.ascii	"m spoken of as such, and your brother\012    I know"
	.ascii	" esteems him highly.  He is undoubtedly a sensible "
	.ascii	"man,\012    and in his manners perfectly the gentle"
	.ascii	"man.\"\012    \012    \"Indeed,\" replied E"
	.ascii	"linor, \"I believe that you will find him,\012    o"
	.ascii	"n farther acquaintance, all that you have heard him"
	.ascii	" to be,\012    and as you will be such very near ne"
	.ascii	"ighbours (for I understand\012    the parsonage is "
	.ascii	"almost close to the mansion-house,)\012    it is pa"
	.ascii	"rticularly important that he SHOULD be all this.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Edward made no answer; but when she had"
	.ascii	" turned\012    away her head, gave her a look so se"
	.ascii	"rious, so earnest,\012    so uncheerful, as seemed "
	.ascii	"to say, that he might hereafter wish\012    the dis"
	.ascii	"tance between the parsonage and the mansion-house\012"
	.ascii	"    much greater.\012    \012    \"Colonel Brandon,"
	.ascii	" I think, lodges in St. James Street,\"\012    said"
	.ascii	" he, soon afterwards, rising from his chair.\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    Elinor told him the number of the house.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"I must hurry away then, to give him t"
	.ascii	"hose thanks\012    which you will not allow me to g"
	.ascii	"ive YOU; to assure him\012    that he has made me a"
	.ascii	" very--an exceedingly happy man.\"\012    \012    E"
	.ascii	"linor did not offer to detain him; and they parted,"
	.ascii	"\012    with a very earnest assurance on HER side o"
	.ascii	"f her unceasing\012    good wishes for his happines"
	.ascii	"s in every change of situation\012    that might be"
	.ascii	"fall him; on HIS, with rather an attempt to\012    "
	.ascii	"return the same good will, than the power of expres"
	.ascii	"sing it.\012    \012    \"When I see him again,\" s"
	.ascii	"aid Elinor to herself,\012    as the door shut him "
	.ascii	"out, \"I shall see him the husband\012    of Lucy.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    And with this pleasing anticipation"
	.ascii	", she sat down\012    to reconsider the past, recal"
	.ascii	"l the words and endeavour\012    to comprehend all "
	.ascii	"the feelings of Edward; and, of course,\012    to r"
	.ascii	"eflect on her own with discontent.\012    \012    W"
	.ascii	"hen Mrs. Jennings came home, though she returned\012"
	.ascii	"    from seeing people whom she had never seen befo"
	.ascii	"re,\012    and of whom therefore she must have a gr"
	.ascii	"eat deal to say,\012    her mind was so much more o"
	.ascii	"ccupied by the important secret\012    in her posse"
	.ascii	"ssion, than by anything else, that she\012    rever"
	.ascii	"ted to it again as soon as Elinor appeared.\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \"Well, my dear,\" she cried, \"I sent you "
	.ascii	"up to the\012    young man.  Did not I do rig"
	.ascii	"ht?--And I suppose you had\012    no great difficul"
	.ascii	"ty--You did not find him very unwilling\012    to a"
	.ascii	"ccept your proposal?\"\012    \012    \"No, ma'am; "
	.ascii	"THAT was not very likely.\"\012    \012    \"Well, "
	.ascii	"and how soon will he be ready?--For it seems\012   "
	.ascii	" all to depend upon that.\"\012    \012    \"Really"
	.ascii	",\" said Elinor, \"I know so little of these kind\012"
	.ascii	"    of forms, that I can hardly even conjecture as "
	.ascii	"to the time,\012    or the preparation necessary; b"
	.ascii	"ut I suppose two or three\012    months will comple"
	.ascii	"te his ordination.\"\012    \012    \"Two or three "
	.ascii	"months!\" cried Mrs. Jennings; \"Lord! my dear,\012"
	.ascii	"    how calmly you talk of it; and can the Colonel "
	.ascii	"wait two\012    or three months! Lord bless me!--I "
	.ascii	"am sure it would put ME\012    quite out of patienc"
	.ascii	"e!--And though one would be very glad\012    to do "
	.ascii	"a kindness by poor Mr. Ferrars, I do think it is\012"
	.ascii	"    not worth while to wait two or three months for"
	.ascii	" him.\012    Sure somebody else might be found that"
	.ascii	" would do as well;\012    somebody that is in order"
	.ascii	"s already.\"\012    \012    \"My dear ma'am,\" said"
	.ascii	" Elinor, \"what can you be thinking of?--\012    Wh"
	.ascii	"y, Colonel Brandon's only object is to be of use to"
	.ascii	" Mr. Ferrars.\"\012    \012    \"Lord bless you, my"
	.ascii	" dear!--Sure you do not mean to persuade\012    me "
	.ascii	"that the Colonel only marries you for the sake of g"
	.ascii	"iving\012    ten guineas to Mr. Ferrars!\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    The deception could not continue after this;\012"
	.ascii	"    and an explanation immediately took place, by w"
	.ascii	"hich both\012    gained considerable amusement for "
	.ascii	"the moment, without any\012    material loss of hap"
	.ascii	"piness to either, for Mrs. Jennings\012    only exc"
	.ascii	"hanged one form of delight for another, and still\012"
	.ascii	"    without forfeiting her expectation of the first"
	.ascii	".\012    \012    \"Aye, aye, the parsonage is but a"
	.ascii	" small one,\" said she,\012    after the first ebul"
	.ascii	"lition of surprise and satisfaction\012    was over"
	.ascii	", \"and very likely MAY be out of repair; but to he"
	.ascii	"ar\012    a man apologising, as I thought, for a ho"
	.ascii	"use that to my\012    knowledge has five sitting ro"
	.ascii	"oms on the ground-floor, and I\012    think the hou"
	.ascii	"sekeeper told me could make up fifteen beds!--\012 "
	.ascii	"   and to you too, that had been used to live in Ba"
	.ascii	"rton cottage!--\012    It seems quite ridiculous.  "
	.ascii	"But, my dear, we must\012    touch up the Colonel t"
	.ascii	"o do some thing to the parsonage,\012    and make i"
	.ascii	"t comfortable for them, before Lucy goes to it.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"But Colonel Brandon does not seem to "
	.ascii	"have any idea\012    of the living's being enough t"
	.ascii	"o allow them to marry.\"\012    \012    \"The Colon"
	.ascii	"el is a ninny, my dear; because he has two\012    t"
	.ascii	"housand a-year himself, he thinks that nobody else "
	.ascii	"can marry\012    on less.  Take my word for it, tha"
	.ascii	"t, if I am alive, I shall\012    be paying a visit "
	.ascii	"at Delaford Parsonage before Michaelmas;\012    and"
	.ascii	" I am sure I shan't go if Lucy an't there.\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    Elinor was quite of her opinion, as to the"
	.ascii	" probability\012    of their not waiting for any th"
	.ascii	"ing more.\012    \012    \012    \012    CHAPTER 41"
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \012    Edward, having carried his "
	.ascii	"thanks to Colonel Brandon,\012    proceeded with hi"
	.ascii	"s happiness to Lucy; and such was the\012    excess"
	.ascii	" of it by the time he reached Bartlett's Buildings,"
	.ascii	"\012    that she was able to assure Mrs. Jennings, "
	.ascii	"who called\012    on her again the next day with he"
	.ascii	"r congratulations,\012    that she had never seen h"
	.ascii	"im in such spirits before\012    in her life.\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    Her own happiness, and her own spirits, w"
	.ascii	"ere at\012    least very certain; and she joined Mr"
	.ascii	"s. Jennings most\012    heartily in her expectation"
	.ascii	" of their being all comfortably\012    together in "
	.ascii	"Delaford Parsonage before Michaelmas.\012    So far"
	.ascii	" was she, at the same time, from any backwardness\012"
	.ascii	"    to give Elinor that credit which Edward WOULD g"
	.ascii	"ive her,\012    that she spoke of her friendship fo"
	.ascii	"r them both with the most\012    grateful warmth, w"
	.ascii	"as ready to own all their obligation\012    to her,"
	.ascii	" and openly declared that no exertion for their\012"
	.ascii	"    good on Miss Dashwood's part, either present or"
	.ascii	" future,\012    would ever surprise her, for she be"
	.ascii	"lieved her capable of\012    doing any thing in the"
	.ascii	" world for those she really valued.\012    As for C"
	.ascii	"olonel Brandon, she was not only ready to worship\012"
	.ascii	"    him as a saint, but was moreover "
	.ascii	"truly anxious that\012    he should be treated as o"
	.ascii	"ne in all worldly concerns;\012    anxious that his"
	.ascii	" tithes should be raised to the utmost;\012    and "
	.ascii	"scarcely resolved to avail herself, at Delaford,\012"
	.ascii	"    as far as she possibly could, of his servants, "
	.ascii	"his carriage,\012    his cows, and his poultry.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    It was now above a week since John Dash"
	.ascii	"wood had\012    called in Berkeley Street, and as s"
	.ascii	"ince that time no notice\012    had been taken by t"
	.ascii	"hem of his wife's indisposition,\012    beyond one "
	.ascii	"verbal enquiry, Elinor began to feel it\012    nece"
	.ascii	"ssary to pay her a visit.--This was an obligation,\012"
	.ascii	"    however, which not only opposed her own inclina"
	.ascii	"tion,\012    but which had not the assistance of an"
	.ascii	"y encouragement\012    from her companions.  Marian"
	.ascii	"ne, not contented with\012    absolutely refusing t"
	.ascii	"o go herself, was very urgent\012    to prevent her"
	.ascii	" sister's going at all; and Mrs. Jennings,\012    t"
	.ascii	"hough her carriage was always at Elinor's service,\012"
	.ascii	"    so very much disliked Mrs. John Dashwood, that "
	.ascii	"not even her\012    curiosity to see how she looked"
	.ascii	" after the late discovery,\012    nor her strong de"
	.ascii	"sire to affront her by taking Edward's part,\012   "
	.ascii	" could overcome her unwillingness to be in her comp"
	.ascii	"any again.\012    The consequence was, that Elinor "
	.ascii	"set out by herself\012    to pay a visit, for which"
	.ascii	" no one could really have\012    less inclination, "
	.ascii	"and to run the risk of a tete-a-tete\012    with a "
	.ascii	"woman, whom neither of the others had so much\012  "
	.ascii	"  reason to dislike.\012    \012    Mrs. Dashwood w"
	.ascii	"as denied; but before the carriage could\012    tur"
	.ascii	"n from the house, her husband accidentally came out"
	.ascii	".\012    He expressed great pleasure in meeting Eli"
	.ascii	"nor, told her\012    that he had been just going to"
	.ascii	" call in Berkeley Street,\012    and, assuring her "
	.ascii	"that Fanny would be very glad to see her,\012    in"
	.ascii	"vited her to come in.\012    \012    They walked up"
	.ascii	" stairs in to the drawing-room.--Nobody was there.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Fanny is in her own room, I suppose,\""
	.ascii	" said he:--\"I\012    will go to her presently, for"
	.ascii	" I am sure she will not\012    have the least objec"
	.ascii	"tion in the world "
	.ascii	"to seeing YOU.--\012    Very far from it, indeed.  "
	.ascii	"NOW especially there\012    cannot be--but however,"
	.ascii	" you and Marianne were always\012    great favourit"
	.ascii	"es.--Why would not Marianne come?\"--\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  Elinor made what excuse she could for her.\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \"I am not sorry to see you alone,\" he re"
	.ascii	"plied,\012    \"for I have a good deal to say to yo"
	.ascii	"u.  This living\012    of Colonel Brandon's--can it"
	.ascii	" be true?--has he really given\012    it to Edward?"
	.ascii	"--I heard it yesterday by chance, and was\012    co"
	.ascii	"ming to you on purpose to enquire farther about it."
	.ascii	"\"\012    \012    \"It is perfectly true.--Colonel "
	.ascii	"Brandon has given\012    the living of Delaford to "
	.ascii	"Edward.\"\012    \012    \"Really!--Well, this is v"
	.ascii	"ery astonishing!--no\012    relationship!--no conne"
	.ascii	"ction between them!--and now\012    that livings fe"
	.ascii	"tch such a price!--what was the value of this?\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"About two hundred a year.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Very well--and for the next presentation to a"
	.ascii	" living\012    of that value--supposing the late in"
	.ascii	"cumbent to have\012    been old and sickly, and lik"
	.ascii	"ely to vacate it soon--he\012    might have got I d"
	.ascii	"are say--fourteen hundred pounds.\012    And how ca"
	.ascii	"me he not to have settled that matter before this\012"
	.ascii	"    person's death?--NOW indeed it would be too lat"
	.ascii	"e to sell it,\012    but a man of Colonel Brandon's"
	.ascii	" sense!--I wonder he should\012    be so improviden"
	.ascii	"t in a point of such common, such natural,\012    c"
	.ascii	"oncern!--Well, I am convinced that there is a vast "
	.ascii	"deal\012    of inconsistency in almost every human "
	.ascii	"character.  I suppose,\012    however--on recollect"
	.ascii	"ion--that the case may probably be THIS.\012    Edw"
	.ascii	"ard is only to hold the living till the person to w"
	.ascii	"hom\012    the Colonel has really sold the presenta"
	.ascii	"tion, is old enough\012    to take it.--Aye, aye, t"
	.ascii	"hat is the fact, depend upon it.\"\012    \012    E"
	.ascii	"linor contradicted it, however, very positively;\012"
	.ascii	"    and by relating that she had herself been emplo"
	.ascii	"yed\012    in conveying the offer from Colonel Bran"
	.ascii	"don to Edward,\012    and, therefore, must understa"
	.ascii	"nd the terms on which it\012    was given, obliged "
	.ascii	"him to submit to her authority.\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"It is truly astonishing!\"--he cried, after hea"
	.ascii	"ring\012    what she said--\"what could be the Colo"
	.ascii	"nel's motive?\"\012    \012    \"A very simple one-"
	.ascii	"-to be of use to Mr. Ferrars.\"\012    \012    \"We"
	.ascii	"ll, well; whatever Colonel Brandon may be,\012    E"
	.ascii	"dward is a very lucky man.--You will not mention th"
	.ascii	"e matter\012    to Fanny, however, for though I hav"
	.ascii	"e broke it to her,\012    and she bears it vastly w"
	.ascii	"ell,--she will not like to hear\012    it much talk"
	.ascii	"ed of.\"\012    \012    Elinor had some difficulty "
	.ascii	"here to refrain from observing,\012    that she tho"
	.ascii	"ught Fanny might have borne with composure,\012    "
	.ascii	"an acquisition of wealth to her brother, by which n"
	.ascii	"either\012    she nor her child could be possibly i"
	.ascii	"mpoverished.\012    \012    \"Mrs. Ferrars,\" added"
	.ascii	" he, lowering his voice to the\012    tone becoming"
	.ascii	" so important a subject, \"knows nothing\012    abo"
	.ascii	"ut it at present, and I believe it will be best to\012"
	.ascii	"    keep it entirely concealed from her as long as "
	.ascii	"may be.--\012    When the marriage takes place, I f"
	.ascii	"ear she must hear\012    of it all.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"But why should such precaution be used?--Though"
	.ascii	"\012    it is not to be supposed that Mrs. Ferrars "
	.ascii	"can have\012    the smallest satisfaction in knowin"
	.ascii	"g that her son has\012    money enough to live upon"
	.ascii	",--for THAT must be quite\012    out of the questio"
	.ascii	"n; yet why, upon her late behaviour,\012    is she "
	.ascii	"supposed to feel at all?--She has done with her\012"
	.ascii	"    son, she cast him off for ever, and has made al"
	.ascii	"l those\012    over whom she had any influence, cas"
	.ascii	"t him off likewise.\012    Surely, after doing so, "
	.ascii	"she cannot be imagined liable\012    to any impress"
	.ascii	"ion of sorrow or of joy on his account--\012    she"
	.ascii	" cannot be interested in any thing that befalls him"
	.ascii	".--\012    She would not be so weak as to throw awa"
	.ascii	"y the comfort\012    of a child, and yet retain the"
	.ascii	" anxiety of a parent!\"\012    \012    \"Ah! Elinor"
	.ascii	",\" said John, \"your reasoning is very good,\012  "
	.ascii	"  but it is founded on ignorance of human nature.\012"
	.ascii	"    When Edward's unhappy match takes place, depend"
	.ascii	" upon it\012    his mother will feel as much as if "
	.ascii	"she had never discarded him;\012    and, the"
	.ascii	"refore every circumstance that may accelerate that\012"
	.ascii	"    dreadful event, must be concealed from her as m"
	.ascii	"uch as possible.\012    Mrs. Ferrars can never forg"
	.ascii	"et that Edward is her son.\"\012    \012    \"You s"
	.ascii	"urprise me; I should think it must nearly\012    ha"
	.ascii	"ve escaped her memory by THIS time.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"You wrong her exceedingly.  Mrs. Ferrars is one"
	.ascii	"\012    of the most affectionate mothers in the wor"
	.ascii	"ld.\"\012    \012    Elinor was silent.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"We think NOW,\"--said Mr. Dashwood, after a s"
	.ascii	"hort pause,\012    \"of ROBERT'S marrying Miss Mort"
	.ascii	"on.\"\012    \012    Elinor, smiling at the grave a"
	.ascii	"nd decisive importance\012    of her brother's tone"
	.ascii	", calmly replied,\012    \012    \"The lady, I supp"
	.ascii	"ose, has no choice in the affair.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"Choice!--how do you mean?\"\012    \012    \"I on"
	.ascii	"ly mean that I suppose, from your manner\012    of "
	.ascii	"speaking, it must be the same to Miss Morton whethe"
	.ascii	"r\012    she marry Edward or Robert.\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"Certainly, there can be no difference; for Rob"
	.ascii	"ert\012    will now to all intents and purposes be "
	.ascii	"considered\012    as the eldest son;--and as to any"
	.ascii	" thing else, they are\012    both very agreeable yo"
	.ascii	"ung men: I do not know that one\012    is superior "
	.ascii	"to the other.\"\012    \012    Elinor said no more,"
	.ascii	" and John was also for a short\012    time silent.-"
	.ascii	"-His reflections ended thus.\012    \012    \"Of ON"
	.ascii	"E thing, my dear sister,\" kindly taking her hand,\012"
	.ascii	"    and speaking in an awful whisper,--\"I may assu"
	.ascii	"re you;--\012    and I WILL do it, because I know i"
	.ascii	"t must gratify you.\012    I have good reason to th"
	.ascii	"ink--indeed I have it from the\012    best authorit"
	.ascii	"y, or I should not repeat it, for otherwise\012    "
	.ascii	"it would be very wrong to say any thing about it--b"
	.ascii	"ut\012    I have it from the very best authority--n"
	.ascii	"ot that I ever\012    precisely heard Mrs. Ferrars "
	.ascii	"say it herself--but her\012    daughter DID, and I "
	.ascii	"have it from her--That in short,\012    whatever ob"
	.ascii	"jections there might be against a certain--a\012   "
	.ascii	" certain connection--you understand me--it would ha"
	.ascii	"ve been\012    far preferable to her, it would not "
	.ascii	"have given her half\012    the vexation that THIS d"
	.ascii	"oes.  I was e"
	.ascii	"xceedingly pleased\012    to hear that Mrs. Ferrars"
	.ascii	" considered it in that light--\012    a very gratif"
	.ascii	"ying circumstance you know to us all.\012    'It wo"
	.ascii	"uld have been beyond comparison,' she said, 'the le"
	.ascii	"ast\012    evil of the two, and she would be glad t"
	.ascii	"o compound NOW\012    for nothing worse.' But howev"
	.ascii	"er, all that is quite out\012    of the question--n"
	.ascii	"ot to be thought of or mentioned--\012    as to any"
	.ascii	" attachment you know--it never could be--all\012   "
	.ascii	" that is gone by.  But I thought I would just tell "
	.ascii	"you\012    of this, because I knew how much it must"
	.ascii	" please you.\012    Not that you have any reason to"
	.ascii	" regret, my dear Elinor.  There\012    is no doubt "
	.ascii	"of your doing exceedingly well--quite as well,\012 "
	.ascii	"   or better, perhaps, all things considered.  Has "
	.ascii	"Colonel\012    Brandon been with you lately?\"\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    Elinor had heard enough, if not to grati"
	.ascii	"fy her vanity,\012    and raise her self-importance"
	.ascii	", to agitate her nerves\012    and fill her mind;--"
	.ascii	"and she was therefore glad to be\012    spared from"
	.ascii	" the necessity of saying much in reply herself,\012"
	.ascii	"    and from the danger of hearing any thing more f"
	.ascii	"rom\012    her brother, by the entrance of Mr. Robe"
	.ascii	"rt Ferrars.\012    After a few moments' chat, John "
	.ascii	"Dashwood, recollecting that\012    Fanny was yet un"
	.ascii	"informed of her sister's being there,\012    quitte"
	.ascii	"d the room in quest of her; and Elinor was left\012"
	.ascii	"    to improve her acquaintance with Robert, who, b"
	.ascii	"y the\012    gay unconcern, the happy self-complace"
	.ascii	"ncy of his manner\012    while enjoying so unfair a"
	.ascii	" division of his mother's love\012    and liberalit"
	.ascii	"y, to the prejudice of his banished brother,\012   "
	.ascii	" earned only by his own dissipated course of life, "
	.ascii	"and that\012    brother's integrity, was confirming"
	.ascii	" her most unfavourable\012    opinion of his head a"
	.ascii	"nd heart.\012    \012    They had scarcely been two"
	.ascii	" minutes by themselves,\012    before he began to s"
	.ascii	"peak of Edward; for he, too, had heard\012    of th"
	.ascii	"e living, and was very inquisitive on the subject.\012"
	.ascii	"    Elinor repeated the particulars of it, as she h"
	.ascii	"ad given them\012    to John; and their effect on R"
	.ascii	"obert, though v"
	.ascii	"ery different,\012    was not less striking than it"
	.ascii	" had been on HIM.  He laughed\012    most immoderat"
	.ascii	"ely.  The idea of Edward's being a clergyman,\012  "
	.ascii	"  and living in a small parsonage-house, diverted h"
	.ascii	"im\012    beyond measure;--and when to that was add"
	.ascii	"ed the fanciful\012    imagery of Edward reading pr"
	.ascii	"ayers in a white surplice,\012    and publishing th"
	.ascii	"e banns of marriage between John Smith and\012    M"
	.ascii	"ary Brown, he could conceive nothing more ridiculou"
	.ascii	"s.\012    \012    Elinor, while she waited in silen"
	.ascii	"ce and immovable\012    gravity, the conclusion of "
	.ascii	"such folly, could not restrain\012    her eyes from"
	.ascii	" being fixed on him with a look that spoke\012    a"
	.ascii	"ll the contempt it excited.  It was a look, however"
	.ascii	",\012    very well bestowed, for it relieved her ow"
	.ascii	"n feelings, and gave\012    no intelligence to him."
	.ascii	"  He was recalled from wit to wisdom,\012    not by"
	.ascii	" any reproof of her's, but by his own sensibility.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"We may treat it as a joke,\" said he,"
	.ascii	" at last,\012    recovering from the affected laugh"
	.ascii	" which had considerably\012    lengthened out the g"
	.ascii	"enuine gaiety of the moment--\"but, upon\012    my "
	.ascii	"soul, it is a most serious business.  Poor Edward!\012"
	.ascii	"    he is ruined for ever.  I am extremely sorry fo"
	.ascii	"r it--\012    for I know him to be a very good-hear"
	.ascii	"ted creature; as\012    well-meaning a fellow perha"
	.ascii	"ps, as any in the world.\012    You must not judge "
	.ascii	"of him, Miss Dashwood, from YOUR\012    slight acqu"
	.ascii	"aintance.--Poor Edward!--His manners are certainly\012"
	.ascii	"    not the happiest in nature.--But we are not all"
	.ascii	" born,\012    you know, with the same powers,--the "
	.ascii	"same address.--\012    Poor fellow!--to see him in "
	.ascii	"a circle of strangers!--\012    to be sure it was p"
	.ascii	"itiable enough!--but upon my soul,\012    I believe"
	.ascii	" he has as good a heart as any in the kingdom;\012 "
	.ascii	"   and I declare and protest to you I never was so "
	.ascii	"shocked in my\012    life, as when it all burst for"
	.ascii	"th.  I could not believe it.--\012    My mother was"
	.ascii	" the first person who told me of it;\012    and I, "
	.ascii	"feeling myself called on to act with resolution,\012"
	.ascii	"    immediately said to her, 'My dear madam, I do n"
	.ascii	"ot know"
	.ascii	"\012    what you may intend to do on the occasion, "
	.ascii	"but as for myself,\012    I must say, that if Edwar"
	.ascii	"d does marry this young woman,\012    I never will "
	.ascii	"see him again.' That was what I said immediately.--"
	.ascii	"\012    I was most uncommonly shocked, indeed!--Poo"
	.ascii	"r Edward!--he has\012    done for himself completel"
	.ascii	"y--shut himself out for ever from\012    all decent"
	.ascii	" society!--but, as I directly said to my mother,\012"
	.ascii	"    I am not in the least surprised at it; from his"
	.ascii	" style\012    of education, it was always to be exp"
	.ascii	"ected.  My poor mother\012    was half frantic.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Have you ever seen the lady?\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \"Yes; once, while she was staying in this"
	.ascii	" house,\012    I happened to drop in for ten minute"
	.ascii	"s; and I saw\012    quite enough of her.  The meres"
	.ascii	"t awkward country girl,\012    without style, or el"
	.ascii	"egance, and almost without beauty.--\012    I remem"
	.ascii	"ber her perfectly.  Just the kind of girl I\012    "
	.ascii	"should suppose likely to captivate poor Edward.\012"
	.ascii	"    I offered immediately, as soon as my mother rel"
	.ascii	"ated\012    the affair to me, to talk to him myself"
	.ascii	", and dissuade\012    him from the match; but it wa"
	.ascii	"s too late THEN, I found,\012    to do any thing, f"
	.ascii	"or unluckily, I was not in the way\012    at first,"
	.ascii	" and knew nothing of it till after the breach\012  "
	.ascii	"  had taken place, when it was not for me, you know"
	.ascii	",\012    to interfere.  But had I been informed of "
	.ascii	"it a few\012    hours earlier--I think it is most p"
	.ascii	"robable--that something\012    might have been hit "
	.ascii	"on.  I certainly should have represented\012    it "
	.ascii	"to Edward in a very strong light.  'My dear fellow,"
	.ascii	"'\012    I should have said, 'consider what you are"
	.ascii	" doing.\012    You are making a most disgraceful co"
	.ascii	"nnection, and such a one\012    as your family are "
	.ascii	"unanimous in disapproving.' I cannot\012    help th"
	.ascii	"inking, in short, that means might have been found."
	.ascii	"\012    But now it is all too late.  He must be sta"
	.ascii	"rved, you know;--\012    that is certain; absolutel"
	.ascii	"y starved.\"\012    \012    He had just settled thi"
	.ascii	"s point with great composure,\012    when the entra"
	.ascii	"nce of Mrs. John Dashwood put an end to the\012    "
	.ascii	"subject.\012    But though S"
	.ascii	"HE never spoke of it out of her own family,\012    "
	.ascii	"Elinor could see its influence on her mind, in the "
	.ascii	"something\012    like confusion of countenance with"
	.ascii	" which she entered,\012    and an attempt at cordia"
	.ascii	"lity in her behaviour to herself.\012    She even p"
	.ascii	"roceeded so far as to be concerned to find\012    t"
	.ascii	"hat Elinor and her sister were so soon to leave tow"
	.ascii	"n,\012    as she had hoped to see more of them;--an"
	.ascii	" exertion\012    in which her husband, who attended"
	.ascii	" her into the room,\012    and hung enamoured over "
	.ascii	"her accents, seemed to distinguish\012    every thi"
	.ascii	"ng that was most affectionate and graceful.\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \012    CHAPTER 42\012    \012    \012"
	.ascii	"    One other short call in Harley Street, in which"
	.ascii	" Elinor\012    received her brother's congratulatio"
	.ascii	"ns on their travelling\012    so far towards Barton"
	.ascii	" without any expense, and on Colonel\012    Brandon"
	.ascii	"'s being to follow them to Cleveland in a day or tw"
	.ascii	"o,\012    completed the intercourse of the brother "
	.ascii	"and sisters\012    in town;--and a faint invitation"
	.ascii	" from Fanny, to come\012    to Norland whenever it "
	.ascii	"should happen to be in their way,\012    which of a"
	.ascii	"ll things was the most unlikely to occur,\012    wi"
	.ascii	"th a more warm, though less public, assurance, from"
	.ascii	" John\012    to Elinor, of the promptitude with whi"
	.ascii	"ch he should come\012    to see her at Delaford, wa"
	.ascii	"s all that foretold any meeting\012    in the count"
	.ascii	"ry.\012    \012    It amused her to observe that al"
	.ascii	"l her friends seemed\012    determined to send her "
	.ascii	"to Delaford;--a place, in which,\012    of all othe"
	.ascii	"rs, she would now least chuse to visit,\012    or w"
	.ascii	"ish to reside; for not only was it considered as\012"
	.ascii	"    her future home by her brother and Mrs. Jenning"
	.ascii	"s, but even Lucy,\012    when they parted, gave her"
	.ascii	" a pressing invitation to visit her there.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Very early in April, and tolerably early in the"
	.ascii	" day,\012    the two parties from Hanover Square an"
	.ascii	"d Berkeley Street set\012    out from their respect"
	.ascii	"ive homes, to meet, by appointment,\012    on the r"
	.ascii	"oad.  For the convenience of Charlotte and her chil"
	.ascii	"d,\012    they were to be more than two days on the"
	.ascii	"ir journey,\012    and Mr"
	.ascii	". Palmer, travelling more expeditiously with Colone"
	.ascii	"l Brandon,\012    was to join them at Cleveland soo"
	.ascii	"n after their arrival.\012    \012    Marianne, few"
	.ascii	" as had been her hours of comfort\012    in London,"
	.ascii	" and eager as she had long been to quit it,\012    "
	.ascii	"could not, when it came to the point, bid adieu to\012"
	.ascii	"    the house in which she had for the last time en"
	.ascii	"joyed\012    those hopes, and that confidence, in W"
	.ascii	"illoughby,\012    which were now extinguished for e"
	.ascii	"ver, without great pain.\012    Nor could she leave"
	.ascii	" the place in which Willoughby remained,\012    bus"
	.ascii	"y in new engagements, and new schemes, in which SHE"
	.ascii	"\012    could have no share, without shedding many "
	.ascii	"tears.\012    \012    Elinor's satisfaction, at the"
	.ascii	" moment of removal,\012    was more positive.  She "
	.ascii	"had no such object for her lingering\012    thought"
	.ascii	"s to fix on, she left no creature behind, from whom"
	.ascii	"\012    it would give her a moment's regret to be d"
	.ascii	"ivided for ever,\012    she was pleased to be free "
	.ascii	"herself from the persecution\012    of Lucy's frien"
	.ascii	"dship, she was grateful for bringing\012    her sis"
	.ascii	"ter away unseen by Willoughby since his marriage,\012"
	.ascii	"    and she looked forward with hope to what a few "
	.ascii	"months\012    of tranquility at Barton might do tow"
	.ascii	"ards restoring\012    Marianne's peace of mind, and"
	.ascii	" confirming her own.\012    \012    Their journey w"
	.ascii	"as safely performed.  The second\012    day brought"
	.ascii	" them into the cherished, or the prohibited,\012   "
	.ascii	" county of Somerset, for as such was it dwelt on by"
	.ascii	" turns\012    in Marianne's imagination; and in the"
	.ascii	" forenoon of the third\012    they drove up to Clev"
	.ascii	"eland.\012    \012    Cleveland was a spacious, mod"
	.ascii	"ern-built house,\012    situated on a sloping lawn."
	.ascii	"  It had no park, but the\012    pleasure-grounds w"
	.ascii	"ere tolerably extensive; and like\012    every othe"
	.ascii	"r place of the same degree of importance,\012    it"
	.ascii	" had its open shrubbery, and closer wood walk,\012 "
	.ascii	"   a road of smooth gravel winding round a plantati"
	.ascii	"on,\012    led to the front, the lawn was dotted ov"
	.ascii	"er with timber,\012    the house itself was under t"
	.ascii	"he guardianship of the fir,\012    the mountain-ash"
	.ascii	", and the acacia, "
	.ascii	"and a thick screen of\012    them altogether, inter"
	.ascii	"spersed with tall Lombardy poplars,\012    shut out"
	.ascii	" the offices.\012    \012    Marianne entered the h"
	.ascii	"ouse with a heart swelling\012    with emotion from"
	.ascii	" the consciousness of being only eighty\012    mile"
	.ascii	"s from Barton, and not thirty from Combe Magna;\012"
	.ascii	"    and before she had been five minutes within its"
	.ascii	" walls,\012    while the others were busily helping"
	.ascii	" Charlotte to show\012    her child to the housekee"
	.ascii	"per, she quitted it again,\012    stealing away thr"
	.ascii	"ough the winding shrubberies, now just\012    begin"
	.ascii	"ning to be in beauty, to gain a distant eminence;\012"
	.ascii	"    where, from its Grecian temple, her eye, wander"
	.ascii	"ing over\012    a wide tract of country to the sout"
	.ascii	"h-east, could fondly\012    rest on the farthest ri"
	.ascii	"dge of hills in the horizon,\012    and fancy that "
	.ascii	"from their summits Combe Magna might be seen.\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    In such moments of precious, invaluable m"
	.ascii	"isery,\012    she rejoiced in tears of agony to be "
	.ascii	"at Cleveland;\012    and as she returned by a diffe"
	.ascii	"rent circuit to the house,\012    feeling all the h"
	.ascii	"appy privilege of country liberty,\012    of wander"
	.ascii	"ing from place to place in free and luxurious solit"
	.ascii	"ude,\012    she resolved to spend almost every hour"
	.ascii	" of every day\012    while she remained with the Pa"
	.ascii	"lmers, in the indulgence of\012    such solitary ra"
	.ascii	"mbles.\012    \012    She returned just in time to "
	.ascii	"join the others\012    as they quitted the house, o"
	.ascii	"n an excursion through its\012    more immediate pr"
	.ascii	"emises; and the rest of the morning was\012    easi"
	.ascii	"ly whiled away, in lounging round the kitchen garde"
	.ascii	"n,\012    examining the bloom upon its walls, and l"
	.ascii	"istening to the\012    gardener's lamentations upon"
	.ascii	" blights, in dawdling through\012    the green-hous"
	.ascii	"e, where the loss of her favourite plants,\012    u"
	.ascii	"nwarily exposed, and nipped by the lingering frost,"
	.ascii	"\012    raised the laughter of Charlotte,--and in v"
	.ascii	"isiting her\012    poultry-yard, where, in the disa"
	.ascii	"ppointed hopes of her\012    dairy-maid, by hens fo"
	.ascii	"rsaking their nests, or being\012    stolen by a fo"
	.ascii	"x, or in the rapid decrease of a promising\012    y"
	.ascii	"oung brood, she found"
	.ascii	" fresh sources of merriment.\012    \012    The mor"
	.ascii	"ning was fine and dry, and Marianne,\012    in her "
	.ascii	"plan of employment abroad, had not calculated\012  "
	.ascii	"  for any change of weather during their stay at Cl"
	.ascii	"eveland.\012    With great surprise therefore, did "
	.ascii	"she find herself prevented\012    by a settled rain"
	.ascii	" from going out again after dinner.\012    She had "
	.ascii	"depended on a twilight walk to the Grecian temple,\012"
	.ascii	"    and perhaps all over the grounds, and an evenin"
	.ascii	"g merely\012    cold or damp would not have deterre"
	.ascii	"d her from it;\012    but a heavy and settled rain "
	.ascii	"even SHE could not fancy dry\012    or pleasant wea"
	.ascii	"ther for walking.\012    \012    Their party was sm"
	.ascii	"all, and the hours passed quietly away.\012    Mrs."
	.ascii	" Palmer had her child, and Mrs. Jennings her carpet"
	.ascii	"-work;\012    they talked of the friends they had l"
	.ascii	"eft behind,\012    arranged Lady Middleton's engage"
	.ascii	"ments, and wondered\012    whether Mr. Palmer and C"
	.ascii	"olonel Brandon would get farther\012    than Readin"
	.ascii	"g that night.  Elinor, however little concerned\012"
	.ascii	"    in it, joined in their discourse; and Marianne,"
	.ascii	" who had\012    the knack of finding her way in eve"
	.ascii	"ry house to the library,\012    however it might be"
	.ascii	" avoided by the family in general,\012    soon proc"
	.ascii	"ured herself a book.\012    \012    Nothing was wan"
	.ascii	"ting on Mrs. Palmer's side that constant\012    and"
	.ascii	" friendly good humour could do, to make them feel\012"
	.ascii	"    themselves welcome.  The openness and heartines"
	.ascii	"s of her\012    manner more than atoned for that wa"
	.ascii	"nt of recollection\012    and elegance which made h"
	.ascii	"er often deficient in the forms\012    of politenes"
	.ascii	"s; her kindness, recommended by so pretty\012    a "
	.ascii	"face, was engaging; her folly, though evident\012  "
	.ascii	"  was not disgusting, because it was not conceited;"
	.ascii	"\012    and Elinor could have forgiven every thing "
	.ascii	"but her laugh.\012    \012    The two gentlemen arr"
	.ascii	"ived the next day to a very\012    late dinner, aff"
	.ascii	"ording a pleasant enlargement of the party,\012    "
	.ascii	"and a very welcome variety to their conversation, w"
	.ascii	"hich a\012    long morning of the same continued ra"
	.ascii	"in had reduced very low.\012    \012    Elinor had "
	.ascii	"seen so little of Mr."
	.ascii	" Palmer, and in that\012    little had seen so much"
	.ascii	" variety in his address to her\012    sister and he"
	.ascii	"rself, that she knew not what to expect\012    to f"
	.ascii	"ind him in his own family.  She found him, however,"
	.ascii	"\012    perfectly the gentleman in his behaviour to"
	.ascii	" all his visitors,\012    and only occasionally rud"
	.ascii	"e to his wife and her mother;\012    she found him "
	.ascii	"very capable of being a pleasant companion,\012    "
	.ascii	"and only prevented from being so always, by too gre"
	.ascii	"at\012    an aptitude to fancy himself as much supe"
	.ascii	"rior to people\012    in general, as he must feel h"
	.ascii	"imself to be to Mrs. Jennings\012    and Charlotte."
	.ascii	"  For the rest of his character and habits,\012    "
	.ascii	"they were marked, as far as Elinor could perceive,\012"
	.ascii	"    with no traits at all unusual in his sex and ti"
	.ascii	"me of life.\012    He was nice in his eating, uncer"
	.ascii	"tain in his hours;\012    fond of his child, though"
	.ascii	" affecting to slight it;\012    and idled away the "
	.ascii	"mornings at billiards, which ought\012    to have b"
	.ascii	"een devoted to business.  She liked him, however,\012"
	.ascii	"    upon the whole, much better than she had expect"
	.ascii	"ed, and in\012    her heart was not sorry that she "
	.ascii	"could like him no more;--\012    not sorry to be dr"
	.ascii	"iven by the observation of his Epicurism,\012    hi"
	.ascii	"s selfishness, and his conceit, to rest with compla"
	.ascii	"cency\012    on the remembrance of Edward's generou"
	.ascii	"s temper, simple taste,\012    and diffident feelin"
	.ascii	"gs.\012    \012    Of Edward, or at least of some o"
	.ascii	"f his concerns,\012    she now received intelligenc"
	.ascii	"e from Colonel Brandon,\012    who had been into Do"
	.ascii	"rsetshire lately; and who,\012    treating her at o"
	.ascii	"nce as the disinterested friend\012    of Mr. Ferra"
	.ascii	"rs, and the kind of confidant of himself,\012    ta"
	.ascii	"lked to her a great deal of the parsonage at Delafo"
	.ascii	"rd,\012    described its deficiencies, and told her"
	.ascii	" what he meant\012    to do himself towards removin"
	.ascii	"g them.--His behaviour\012    to her in this, as we"
	.ascii	"ll as in every other particular,\012    his open pl"
	.ascii	"easure in meeting her after an absence\012    of on"
	.ascii	"ly ten days, his readiness to converse with her,\012"
	.ascii	"    and his deference for her opinion, might very w"
	.ascii	"ell\012    "
	.ascii	"justify Mrs. Jennings's persuasion of his attachmen"
	.ascii	"t,\012    and would have been enough, perhaps, had "
	.ascii	"not Elinor still,\012    as from the first, believe"
	.ascii	"d Marianne his real favourite,\012    to make her s"
	.ascii	"uspect it herself.  But as it was,\012    such a no"
	.ascii	"tion had scarcely ever entered her head,\012    exc"
	.ascii	"ept by Mrs. Jennings's suggestion; and she could\012"
	.ascii	"    not help believing herself the nicest observer "
	.ascii	"of the\012    two;--she watched his eyes, while Mrs"
	.ascii	". Jennings thought\012    only of his behaviour;--a"
	.ascii	"nd while his looks of anxious\012    solicitude on "
	.ascii	"Marianne's feeling, in her head and throat,\012    "
	.ascii	"the beginning of a heavy cold, because unexpressed "
	.ascii	"by words,\012    entirely escaped the latter lady's"
	.ascii	" observation;--SHE could\012    discover in them th"
	.ascii	"e quick feelings, and needless alarm\012    of a lo"
	.ascii	"ver.\012    \012    Two delightful twilight walks o"
	.ascii	"n the third and fourth\012    evenings of her being"
	.ascii	" there, not merely on the dry gravel\012    of the "
	.ascii	"shrubbery, but all over the grounds, and especially"
	.ascii	"\012    in the most distant parts of them, where th"
	.ascii	"ere was something\012    more of wildness than in t"
	.ascii	"he rest, where the trees were\012    the oldest, an"
	.ascii	"d the grass was the longest and wettest,\012    had"
	.ascii	"--assisted by the still greater imprudence of sitti"
	.ascii	"ng\012    in her wet shoes and stockings--given Mar"
	.ascii	"ianne a cold\012    so violent as, though for a day"
	.ascii	" or two trifled with\012    or denied, would force "
	.ascii	"itself by increasing ailments on\012    the concern"
	.ascii	" of every body, and the notice of herself.\012    P"
	.ascii	"rescriptions poured in from all quarters, and as us"
	.ascii	"ual,\012    were all declined.  Though heavy and fe"
	.ascii	"verish, with a pain\012    in her limbs, and a coug"
	.ascii	"h, and a sore throat, a good night's\012    rest wa"
	.ascii	"s to cure her entirely; and it was with difficulty\012"
	.ascii	"    that Elinor prevailed on her, when she went to "
	.ascii	"bed,\012    to try one or two of the simplest of th"
	.ascii	"e remedies.\012    \012    \012    \012    CHAPTER "
	.ascii	"43\012    \012    \012    Marianne got up the next "
	.ascii	"morning at her usual time;\012    to every inquiry "
	.ascii	"replied that she was better, and tried to\012    pr"
	.ascii	"ove herself so, by engagi"
	.ascii	"ng in her accustomary employments.\012    But a day"
	.ascii	" spent in sitting shivering over the fire\012    wi"
	.ascii	"th a book in her hand, which she was unable to read"
	.ascii	",\012    or in lying, weary and languid, on a sofa,"
	.ascii	" did not speak\012    much in favour of her amendme"
	.ascii	"nt; and when, at last,\012    she went early to bed"
	.ascii	", more and more indisposed, Colonel\012    Brandon "
	.ascii	"was only astonished at her sister's composure,\012 "
	.ascii	"   who, though attending and nursing her the whole "
	.ascii	"day,\012    against Marianne's inclination, and for"
	.ascii	"cing proper medicines\012    on her at night, trust"
	.ascii	"ed, like Marianne, to the certainty\012    and effi"
	.ascii	"cacy of sleep, and felt no real alarm.\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   A very restless and feverish night, however,\012"
	.ascii	"    disappointed the expectation of both; and when "
	.ascii	"Marianne,\012    after persisting in rising, confes"
	.ascii	"sed herself unable\012    to sit up, and returned v"
	.ascii	"oluntarily to her bed,\012    Elinor was very ready"
	.ascii	" to adopt Mrs. Jennings's advice,\012    of sending"
	.ascii	" for the Palmers' apothecary.\012    \012    He cam"
	.ascii	"e, examined his patient, and though encouraging\012"
	.ascii	"    Miss Dashwood to expect that a very few days wo"
	.ascii	"uld restore\012    her sister to health, yet, by pr"
	.ascii	"onouncing her disorder\012    to have a putrid tend"
	.ascii	"ency, and allowing the word \"infection\"\012    to"
	.ascii	" pass his lips, gave instant alarm to Mrs. Palmer,\012"
	.ascii	"    on her baby's account.  Mrs. Jennings, who had "
	.ascii	"been inclined\012    from the first to think Marian"
	.ascii	"ne's complaint more serious\012    than Elinor, now"
	.ascii	" looked very grave on Mr. Harris's report,\012    a"
	.ascii	"nd confirming Charlotte's fears and caution, urged "
	.ascii	"the\012    necessity of her immediate removal with "
	.ascii	"her infant;\012    and Mr. Palmer, though treating "
	.ascii	"their apprehensions as idle,\012    found the anxie"
	.ascii	"ty and importunity of his wife too great\012    to "
	.ascii	"be withstood.  Her departure, therefore, was fixed "
	.ascii	"on;\012    and within an hour after Mr. Harris's ar"
	.ascii	"rival, she set off,\012    with her little boy and "
	.ascii	"his nurse, for the house of a\012    near relation "
	.ascii	"of Mr. Palmer's, who lived a few miles\012    on th"
	.ascii	"e other side of Bath; whither her husband promised,"
	.ascii	"\012    at her e"
	.ascii	"arnest entreaty, to join her in a day or two;\012  "
	.ascii	"  and whither she was almost equally urgent with he"
	.ascii	"r\012    mother to accompany her.  Mrs. Jennings, h"
	.ascii	"owever, with a\012    kindness of heart which made "
	.ascii	"Elinor really love her,\012    declared her resolut"
	.ascii	"ion of not stirring from Cleveland\012    as long a"
	.ascii	"s Marianne remained ill, and of endeavouring,\012  "
	.ascii	"  by her own attentive care, to supply to her the p"
	.ascii	"lace\012    of the mother she had taken her from; a"
	.ascii	"nd Elinor found her\012    on every occasion a most"
	.ascii	" willing and active helpmate,\012    desirous to sh"
	.ascii	"are in all her fatigues, and often by her\012    be"
	.ascii	"tter experience in nursing, of material use.\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    Poor Marianne, languid and low from the na"
	.ascii	"ture\012    of her malady, and feeling herself univ"
	.ascii	"ersally ill,\012    could no longer hope that tomor"
	.ascii	"row would find her recovered;\012    and the idea o"
	.ascii	"f what tomorrow would have produced,\012    but for"
	.ascii	" this unlucky illness, made every ailment severe;\012"
	.ascii	"    for on that day they were to have begun their j"
	.ascii	"ourney home;\012    and, attended the whole way by "
	.ascii	"a servant of Mrs. Jennings,\012    were to have tak"
	.ascii	"en their mother by surprise on the\012    following"
	.ascii	" forenoon.  The little she said was all in\012    l"
	.ascii	"amentation of this inevitable delay; though Elinor "
	.ascii	"tried\012    to raise her spirits, and make her bel"
	.ascii	"ieve, as she THEN\012    really believed herself, t"
	.ascii	"hat it would be a very short one.\012    \012    Th"
	.ascii	"e next day produced little or no alteration in the\012"
	.ascii	"    state of the patient; she certainly was not bet"
	.ascii	"ter, and,\012    except that there was no amendment"
	.ascii	", did not appear worse.\012    Their party was now "
	.ascii	"farther reduced; for Mr. Palmer,\012    though very"
	.ascii	" unwilling to go as well from real humanity\012    "
	.ascii	"and good-nature, as from a dislike of appearing to "
	.ascii	"be\012    frightened away by his wife, was persuade"
	.ascii	"d at last\012    by Colonel Brandon to perform his "
	.ascii	"promise of following her;\012    and while he was p"
	.ascii	"reparing to go, Colonel Brandon himself,\012    wit"
	.ascii	"h a much greater exertion, began to talk of going\012"
	.ascii	"    likewise.--Here, however, the kindness of Mrs. "
	.ascii	"Jenning"
	.ascii	"s\012    interposed most acceptably; for to send th"
	.ascii	"e Colonel away\012    while his love was in so much"
	.ascii	" uneasiness on her sister's\012    account, would b"
	.ascii	"e to deprive them both, she thought,\012    of ever"
	.ascii	"y comfort; and therefore telling him at once\012   "
	.ascii	" that his stay at Cleveland was necessary to hersel"
	.ascii	"f,\012    that she should want him to play at pique"
	.ascii	"t of an evening,\012    while Miss Dashwood was abo"
	.ascii	"ve with her sister, &c. she\012    urged him so str"
	.ascii	"ongly to remain, that he, who was gratifying\012   "
	.ascii	" the first wish of his own heart by a compliance, c"
	.ascii	"ould not\012    long even affect to demur; especial"
	.ascii	"ly as Mrs. Jennings's\012    entreaty was warmly se"
	.ascii	"conded by Mr. Palmer, who seemed\012    to feel a r"
	.ascii	"elief to himself, in leaving behind him a person\012"
	.ascii	"    so well able to assist or advise Miss Dashwood "
	.ascii	"in any emergence.\012    \012    Marianne was, of c"
	.ascii	"ourse, kept in ignorance of all\012    these arrang"
	.ascii	"ements.  She knew not that she had been\012    the "
	.ascii	"means of sending the owners of Cleveland away,\012 "
	.ascii	"   in about seven days from the time of their arriv"
	.ascii	"al.\012    It gave her no surprise that she saw not"
	.ascii	"hing\012    of Mrs. Palmer; and as it gave her like"
	.ascii	"wise no concern,\012    she never mentioned her nam"
	.ascii	"e.\012    \012    Two days passed away from the tim"
	.ascii	"e of Mr. Palmer's departure,\012    and her situati"
	.ascii	"on continued, with little variation,\012    the sam"
	.ascii	"e.  Mr. Harris, who attended her every day,\012    "
	.ascii	"still talked boldly of a speedy recovery, and Miss "
	.ascii	"Dashwood\012    was equally sanguine; but the expec"
	.ascii	"tation of the others\012    was by no means so chee"
	.ascii	"rful.  Mrs. Jennings had determined\012    very ear"
	.ascii	"ly in the seizure that Marianne would never\012    "
	.ascii	"get over it, and Colonel Brandon, who was chiefly\012"
	.ascii	"    of use in listening to Mrs. Jennings's forebodi"
	.ascii	"ngs,\012    was not in a state of mind to resist th"
	.ascii	"eir influence.\012    He tried to reason himself ou"
	.ascii	"t of fears, which the different\012    judgment of "
	.ascii	"the apothecary seemed to render absurd;\012    but "
	.ascii	"the many hours of each day in which he was left\012"
	.ascii	"    entirely alone, were but too favourable for the"
	.ascii	" admission\012   "
	.ascii	" of every melancholy idea, and he could not expel f"
	.ascii	"rom\012    his mind the persuasion that he should s"
	.ascii	"ee Marianne no more.\012    \012    On the morning "
	.ascii	"of the third day however, the gloomy\012    anticip"
	.ascii	"ations of both were almost done away; for when\012 "
	.ascii	"   Mr. Harris arrived, he declared his patient mate"
	.ascii	"rially better.\012    Her pulse was much stronger, "
	.ascii	"and every symptom more favourable\012    than on th"
	.ascii	"e preceding visit.  Elinor, confirmed in every\012 "
	.ascii	"   pleasant hope, was all cheerfulness; rejoicing t"
	.ascii	"hat\012    in her letters to her mother, she had pu"
	.ascii	"rsued her own\012    judgment rather than her frien"
	.ascii	"d's, in making very light\012    of the indispositi"
	.ascii	"on which delayed them at Cleveland;\012    and almo"
	.ascii	"st fixing on the time when Marianne would be\012   "
	.ascii	" able to travel.\012    \012    But the day did not"
	.ascii	" close so auspiciously as it began.--\012    Toward"
	.ascii	"s the evening Marianne became ill again, growing\012"
	.ascii	"    more heavy, restless, and uncomfortable than be"
	.ascii	"fore.\012    Her sister, however, still sanguine, w"
	.ascii	"as willing to\012    attribute the change to nothin"
	.ascii	"g more than the fatigue\012    of having sat up to "
	.ascii	"have her bed made; and carefully\012    administeri"
	.ascii	"ng the cordials prescribed, saw her, with\012    sa"
	.ascii	"tisfaction, sink at last into a slumber, from which"
	.ascii	"\012    she expected the most beneficial effects.  "
	.ascii	"Her sleep,\012    though not so quiet as Elinor wis"
	.ascii	"hed to see it,\012    lasted a considerable time; a"
	.ascii	"nd anxious to observe\012    the result of it herse"
	.ascii	"lf, she resolved to sit with her\012    during the "
	.ascii	"whole of it.  Mrs. Jennings, knowing nothing\012   "
	.ascii	" of any change in the patient, went unusually early"
	.ascii	" to bed;\012    her maid, who was one of the princi"
	.ascii	"pal nurses, was recreating\012    herself in the ho"
	.ascii	"usekeeper's room, and Elinor remained\012    alone "
	.ascii	"with Marianne.\012    \012    The repose of the lat"
	.ascii	"ter became more and more disturbed;\012    and her "
	.ascii	"sister, who watched, with unremitting attention\012"
	.ascii	"    her continual change of posture, and heard the "
	.ascii	"frequent\012    but inarticulate sounds of complain"
	.ascii	"t which passed her lips,\012    was almost wishing "
	.ascii	"to rouse her from s"
	.ascii	"o painful a slumber,\012    when Marianne, suddenly"
	.ascii	" awakened by some accidental noise\012    in the ho"
	.ascii	"use, started hastily up, and, with feverish wildnes"
	.ascii	"s,\012    cried out,--\012    \012    \"Is mama com"
	.ascii	"ing?--\"\012    \012    \"Not yet,\" cried the othe"
	.ascii	"r, concealing her terror,\012    and assisting Mari"
	.ascii	"anne to lie down again, \"but she will\012    be he"
	.ascii	"re, I hope, before it is long.  It is a great way,\012"
	.ascii	"    you know, from hence to Barton.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"But she must not go round by London,\" cried Ma"
	.ascii	"rianne,\012    in the same hurried manner.  \"I sha"
	.ascii	"ll never see her,\012    if she goes by London.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Elinor perceived with alarm that she wa"
	.ascii	"s not\012    quite herself, and, while attempting t"
	.ascii	"o soothe her,\012    eagerly felt her pulse.  It wa"
	.ascii	"s lower and quicker than ever!\012    and Marianne,"
	.ascii	" still talking wildly of mama, her alarm\012    inc"
	.ascii	"reased so rapidly, as to determine her on sending\012"
	.ascii	"    instantly for Mr. Harris, and despatching a mes"
	.ascii	"senger\012    to Barton for her mother.  To consult"
	.ascii	" with Colonel Brandon\012    on the best means of e"
	.ascii	"ffecting the latter, was a thought\012    which imm"
	.ascii	"ediately followed the resolution of its performance"
	.ascii	";\012    and as soon she had rung up the maid to ta"
	.ascii	"ke her place\012    by her sister, she hastened dow"
	.ascii	"n to the drawing-room,\012    where she knew he was"
	.ascii	" generally to be found at a much\012    later hour "
	.ascii	"than the present.\012    \012    It was no time for"
	.ascii	" hesitation.  Her fears and her\012    difficulties"
	.ascii	" were immediately before him.  Her fears,\012    he"
	.ascii	" had no courage, no confidence to attempt the remov"
	.ascii	"al of:--\012    he listened to them in silent despo"
	.ascii	"ndence;--but her\012    difficulties were instantly"
	.ascii	" obviated, for with a readiness\012    that seemed "
	.ascii	"to speak the occasion, and the service\012    pre-a"
	.ascii	"rranged in his mind, he offered himself as the\012 "
	.ascii	"   messenger who should fetch Mrs. Dashwood.  Elino"
	.ascii	"r made no\012    resistance that was not easily ove"
	.ascii	"rcome.  She thanked him\012    with brief, though f"
	.ascii	"ervent gratitude, and while he went\012    to hurry"
	.ascii	" off his servant with a message to Mr. Harris, and\012"
	.ascii	"    an order for post-horses dir"
	.ascii	"ectly, she wrote a few lines\012    to her mother.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    The comfort of such a friend at that mo"
	.ascii	"ment as Colonel\012    Brandon--or such a companion"
	.ascii	" for her mother,--how gratefully\012    was it felt"
	.ascii	"!--a companion whose judgment would guide,\012    w"
	.ascii	"hose attendance must relieve, and whose friendship "
	.ascii	"might\012    soothe her!--as far as the shock of su"
	.ascii	"ch a summons COULD\012    be lessened to her, his p"
	.ascii	"resence, his manners, his assistance,\012    would "
	.ascii	"lessen it.\012    \012    HE, meanwhile, whatever h"
	.ascii	"e might feel, acted with all\012    the firmness of"
	.ascii	" a collected mind, made every necessary\012    arra"
	.ascii	"ngement with the utmost despatch, and calculated\012"
	.ascii	"    with exactness the time in which she might look"
	.ascii	" for\012    his return.  Not a moment was lost in d"
	.ascii	"elay of any kind.\012    The horses arrived, even b"
	.ascii	"efore they were expected,\012    and Colonel Brando"
	.ascii	"n only pressing her hand with a look\012    of sole"
	.ascii	"mnity, and a few words spoken too low to reach her "
	.ascii	"ear,\012    hurried into the carriage.  It was then"
	.ascii	" about twelve\012    o'clock, and she returned to h"
	.ascii	"er sister's apartment to wait\012    for the arriva"
	.ascii	"l of the apothecary, and to watch by her\012    the"
	.ascii	" rest of the night.  It was a night of almost equal"
	.ascii	"\012    suffering to both.  Hour after hour passed "
	.ascii	"away in sleepless\012    pain and delirium on Maria"
	.ascii	"nne's side, and in the most\012    cruel anxiety on"
	.ascii	" Elinor's, before Mr. Harris appeared.\012    Her a"
	.ascii	"pprehensions once raised, paid by their excess for "
	.ascii	"all\012    her former security; and the servant who"
	.ascii	" sat up with her,\012    for she would not allow Mr"
	.ascii	"s. Jennings to be called,\012    only tortured her "
	.ascii	"more, by hints of what her mistress\012    had alwa"
	.ascii	"ys thought.\012    \012    Marianne's ideas were st"
	.ascii	"ill, at intervals,\012    fixed incoherently on her"
	.ascii	" mother, and whenever she\012    mentioned her name"
	.ascii	", it gave a pang to the heart of\012    poor Elinor"
	.ascii	", who, reproaching herself for having trifled\012  "
	.ascii	"  with so many days of illness, and wretched for so"
	.ascii	"me\012    immediate relief, fancied that all relief"
	.ascii	" might soon\012    be in vain, that every thing had"
	.ascii	" been delayed too l"
	.ascii	"ong,\012    and pictured to herself her suffering m"
	.ascii	"other arriving\012    too late to see this darling "
	.ascii	"child, or to see her rational.\012    \012    She w"
	.ascii	"as on the point of sending again for Mr. Harris,\012"
	.ascii	"    or if HE could not come, for some other advice,"
	.ascii	"\012    when the former--but not till after five o'"
	.ascii	"clock--arrived.\012    His opinion, however, made s"
	.ascii	"ome little amends for his delay,\012    for though "
	.ascii	"acknowledging a very unexpected and unpleasant\012 "
	.ascii	"   alteration in his patient, he would not allow th"
	.ascii	"e danger\012    to be material, and talked of the r"
	.ascii	"elief which a fresh\012    mode of treatment must p"
	.ascii	"rocure, with a confidence which,\012    in a lesser"
	.ascii	" degree, was communicated to Elinor.  He promised\012"
	.ascii	"    to call again in the course of three or four ho"
	.ascii	"urs,\012    and left both the patient and her anxio"
	.ascii	"us attendant more\012    composed than he had found"
	.ascii	" them.\012    \012    With strong concern, and with"
	.ascii	" many reproaches for not\012    being called to the"
	.ascii	"ir aid, did Mrs. Jennings hear in the\012    mornin"
	.ascii	"g of what had passed.  Her former apprehensions,\012"
	.ascii	"    now with greater reason restored, left her no d"
	.ascii	"oubt of\012    the event; and though trying to spea"
	.ascii	"k comfort to Elinor,\012    her conviction of her s"
	.ascii	"ister's danger would not allow her\012    to offer "
	.ascii	"the comfort of hope.  Her heart was really grieved."
	.ascii	"\012    The rapid decay, the early death of a girl "
	.ascii	"so young,\012    so lovely as Marianne, must have s"
	.ascii	"truck a less interested\012    person with concern."
	.ascii	"  On Mrs. Jennings's compassion\012    she had othe"
	.ascii	"r claims.  She had been for three months\012    her"
	.ascii	" companion, was still under her care, and she was\012"
	.ascii	"    known to have been greatly injured, and long un"
	.ascii	"happy.\012    The distress of her sister too, parti"
	.ascii	"cularly a favourite,\012    was before her;--and as"
	.ascii	" for their mother, when Mrs. Jennings\012    consid"
	.ascii	"ered that Marianne might probably be to HER what\012"
	.ascii	"    Charlotte was to herself, her sympathy in HER s"
	.ascii	"ufferings\012    was very sincere.\012    \012    M"
	.ascii	"r. Harris was punctual in his second visit;--\012  "
	.ascii	"  but he came to be disappointed in his hopes of wh"
	.ascii	"at the\012    la"
	.ascii	"st would produce.  His medicines had failed;--the f"
	.ascii	"ever\012    was unabated; and Marianne only more qu"
	.ascii	"iet--not more\012    herself--remained in a heavy s"
	.ascii	"tupor.  Elinor, catching all,\012    and more than "
	.ascii	"all, his fears in a moment, proposed to call\012   "
	.ascii	" in further advice.  But he judged it unnecessary: "
	.ascii	"he had\012    still something more to try, some mor"
	.ascii	"e fresh application,\012    of whose success he was"
	.ascii	" as confident as the last, and his\012    visit con"
	.ascii	"cluded with encouraging assurances which reached\012"
	.ascii	"    the ear, but could not enter the heart of Miss "
	.ascii	"Dashwood.\012    She was calm, except when she thou"
	.ascii	"ght of her mother;\012    but she was almost hopele"
	.ascii	"ss; and in this state she continued\012    till noo"
	.ascii	"n, scarcely stirring from her sister's bed,\012    "
	.ascii	"her thoughts wandering from one image of grief,\012"
	.ascii	"    one suffering friend to another, and her spirit"
	.ascii	"s oppressed\012    to the utmost by the conversatio"
	.ascii	"n of Mrs. Jennings,\012    who scrupled not to attr"
	.ascii	"ibute the severity and danger\012    of this attack"
	.ascii	" to the many weeks of previous indisposition\012   "
	.ascii	" which Marianne's disappointment had brought on.\012"
	.ascii	"    Elinor felt all the reasonableness of the idea,"
	.ascii	" and it\012    gave fresh misery to her reflections"
	.ascii	".\012    \012    About noon, however, she began--bu"
	.ascii	"t with a caution--a\012    dread of disappointment "
	.ascii	"which for some time kept her silent,\012    even to"
	.ascii	" her friend--to fancy, to hope she could perceive\012"
	.ascii	"    a slight amendment in her sister's pulse;--she "
	.ascii	"waited,\012    watched, and examined it again and a"
	.ascii	"gain;--and at last,\012    with an agitation more d"
	.ascii	"ifficult to bury under exterior calmness,\012    th"
	.ascii	"an all her foregoing distress, ventured to communic"
	.ascii	"ate\012    her hopes.  Mrs. Jennings, though forced"
	.ascii	", on examination,\012    to acknowledge a temporary"
	.ascii	" revival, tried to keep her\012    young friend fro"
	.ascii	"m indulging a thought of its continuance;--\012    "
	.ascii	"and Elinor, conning over every injunction of distru"
	.ascii	"st,\012    told herself likewise not to hope.  But "
	.ascii	"it was too late.\012    Hope had already entered; a"
	.ascii	"nd feeling all its anxious flutter,\012    she bent"
	.ascii	" over h"
	.ascii	"er sister to watch--she hardly knew for what.\012  "
	.ascii	"  Half an hour passed away, and the favourable symp"
	.ascii	"tom\012    yet blessed her.  Others even arose to c"
	.ascii	"onfirm it.\012    Her breath, her skin, her lips, a"
	.ascii	"ll flattered Elinor\012    with signs of amendment;"
	.ascii	" and Marianne fixed her eyes on\012    her with a r"
	.ascii	"ational, though languid, gaze.  Anxiety and\012    "
	.ascii	"hope now oppressed her in equal degrees, and left h"
	.ascii	"er no\012    moment of tranquillity till the arriva"
	.ascii	"l of Mr. Harris at\012    four o'clock;--when his a"
	.ascii	"ssurances, his felicitations on\012    a recovery i"
	.ascii	"n her sister even surpassing his expectation,\012  "
	.ascii	"  gave her confidence, comfort, and tears of joy.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Marianne was in every respect materiall"
	.ascii	"y better,\012    and he declared her entirely out o"
	.ascii	"f danger.  Mrs. Jennings,\012    perhaps satisfied "
	.ascii	"with the partial justification of her\012    forebo"
	.ascii	"dings which had been found in their late alarm,\012"
	.ascii	"    allowed herself to trust in his judgment, and a"
	.ascii	"dmitted,\012    with unfeigned joy, and soon with u"
	.ascii	"nequivocal cheerfulness,\012    the probability of "
	.ascii	"an entire recovery.\012    \012    Elinor could not"
	.ascii	" be cheerful.  Her joy was of a\012    different ki"
	.ascii	"nd, and led to any thing rather than to gaiety.\012"
	.ascii	"    Marianne restored to life, health, friends, and"
	.ascii	" to her\012    doting mother, was an idea to fill h"
	.ascii	"er heart with sensations\012    of exquisite comfor"
	.ascii	"t, and expand it in fervent gratitude;--\012    but"
	.ascii	" it lead to no outward demonstrations of joy, no wo"
	.ascii	"rds,\012    no smiles.  All within Elinor's breast "
	.ascii	"was satisfaction,\012    silent and strong.\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    She continued by the side of her sister, wi"
	.ascii	"th little\012    intermission the whole afternoon, "
	.ascii	"calming every fear,\012    satisfying every inquiry"
	.ascii	" of her enfeebled spirits,\012    supplying every s"
	.ascii	"uccour, and watching almost every look and\012    e"
	.ascii	"very breath.  The possibility of a relapse would of"
	.ascii	" course,\012    in some moments, occur to remind he"
	.ascii	"r of what anxiety was--\012    but when she saw, on"
	.ascii	" her frequent and minute examination,\012    that e"
	.ascii	"very symptom of recovery continued, and saw Mariann"
	.ascii	"e\012    at six o'"
	.ascii	"clock sink into a quiet, steady, and to all\012    "
	.ascii	"appearance comfortable, sleep, she silenced every d"
	.ascii	"oubt.\012    \012    The time was now drawing on, w"
	.ascii	"hen Colonel Brandon\012    might be expected back. "
	.ascii	" At ten o'clock, she trusted,\012    or at least no"
	.ascii	"t much later her mother would be relieved\012    fr"
	.ascii	"om the dreadful suspense in which she must now be\012"
	.ascii	"    travelling towards them.  The Colonel, too!--pe"
	.ascii	"rhaps scarcely\012    less an object of pity!--Oh!-"
	.ascii	"-how slow was the progress\012    of time which yet"
	.ascii	" kept them in ignorance!\012    \012    At seven o'"
	.ascii	"clock, leaving Marianne still sweetly asleep,\012  "
	.ascii	"  she joined Mrs. Jennings in the drawing-room to t"
	.ascii	"ea.\012    Of breakfast she had been kept by her fe"
	.ascii	"ars, and of\012    dinner by their sudden reverse, "
	.ascii	"from eating much;--\012    and the present refreshm"
	.ascii	"ent, therefore, with such feelings\012    of conten"
	.ascii	"t as she brought to it, was particularly welcome.\012"
	.ascii	"    Mrs. Jennings would have persuaded her, at its "
	.ascii	"conclusion,\012    to take some rest before her mot"
	.ascii	"her's arrival, and allow HER to\012    take her pla"
	.ascii	"ce by Marianne; but Elinor had no sense of fatigue,"
	.ascii	"\012    no capability of sleep at that moment about"
	.ascii	" her, and she was\012    not to be kept away from h"
	.ascii	"er sister an unnecessary instant.\012    Mrs. Jenni"
	.ascii	"ngs therefore attending her up stairs into the\012 "
	.ascii	"   sick chamber, to satisfy herself that all contin"
	.ascii	"ued right,\012    left her there again to her charg"
	.ascii	"e and her thoughts,\012    and retired to her own r"
	.ascii	"oom to write letters and sleep.\012    \012    The "
	.ascii	"night was cold and stormy.  The wind roared\012    "
	.ascii	"round the house, and the rain beat against the wind"
	.ascii	"ows;\012    but Elinor, all happiness within, regar"
	.ascii	"ded it not.\012    Marianne slept through every bla"
	.ascii	"st; and the travellers--\012    they had a rich rew"
	.ascii	"ard in store, for every present inconvenience.\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    The clock struck eight.  Had it been ten"
	.ascii	",\012    Elinor would have been convinced that at t"
	.ascii	"hat moment\012    she heard a carriage driving up t"
	.ascii	"o the house;\012    and so strong was the persuasio"
	.ascii	"n that she DID, in spite\012    of the ALMOST impos"
	.ascii	"sibility of thei"
	.ascii	"r being already come,\012    that she moved into th"
	.ascii	"e adjoining dressing-closet and\012    opened a win"
	.ascii	"dow shutter, to be satisfied of the truth.\012    S"
	.ascii	"he instantly saw that her ears had not deceived her"
	.ascii	".\012    The flaring lamps of a carriage were immed"
	.ascii	"iately in view.\012    By their uncertain light she"
	.ascii	" thought she could discern it\012    to be drawn by"
	.ascii	" four horses; and this, while it told the\012    ex"
	.ascii	"cess of her poor mother's alarm, gave some explanat"
	.ascii	"ion\012    to such unexpected rapidity.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Never in her life had Elinor found it so diffic"
	.ascii	"ult\012    to be calm, as at that moment.  The know"
	.ascii	"ledge of what her\012    mother must be feeling as "
	.ascii	"the carriage stopt at the door--\012    of her doub"
	.ascii	"t--her dread--perhaps her despair!--and\012    of w"
	.ascii	"hat SHE had to tell!--with such knowledge it was\012"
	.ascii	"    impossible to be calm.  All that remained to be"
	.ascii	" done\012    was to be speedy; and, therefore stayi"
	.ascii	"ng only till\012    she could leave Mrs. Jennings's"
	.ascii	" maid with her sister,\012    she hurried down stai"
	.ascii	"rs.\012    \012    The bustle in the vestibule, as "
	.ascii	"she passed along\012    an inner lobby, assured her"
	.ascii	" that they were already\012    in the house.  She r"
	.ascii	"ushed to the drawing-room,--she\012    entered it,-"
	.ascii	"-and saw only Willoughby.\012    \012    \012    \012"
	.ascii	"    CHAPTER 44\012    \012    \012    Elinor, start"
	.ascii	"ing back with a look of horror at\012    the sight "
	.ascii	"of him, obeyed the first impulse of her heart\012  "
	.ascii	"  in turning instantly to quit the room, and her ha"
	.ascii	"nd\012    was already on the lock, when its action "
	.ascii	"was suspended\012    by his hastily advancing, and "
	.ascii	"saying, in a voice rather\012    of command than su"
	.ascii	"pplication,\012    \012    \"Miss Dashwood, for hal"
	.ascii	"f an hour--for ten minutes--\012    I entreat you t"
	.ascii	"o stay.\"\012    \012    \"No, sir,\" she replied w"
	.ascii	"ith firmness, \"I shall NOT stay.\012    Your busin"
	.ascii	"ess cannot be with ME.  The servants, I suppose,\012"
	.ascii	"    forgot to tell you that Mr. Palmer was not in t"
	.ascii	"he house.\"\012    \012    \"Had they told me,\" he"
	.ascii	" cried with vehemence,\012    \"that Mr. Palmer and"
	.ascii	" all his relations were at the devil,\012    it wou"
	.ascii	"ld not have turned me from the door.  My business\012"
	.ascii	"  "
	.ascii	"  is with you, and only you.\"\012    \012    \"Wit"
	.ascii	"h me!\"--in the utmost amazement--\"well, sir,--\012"
	.ascii	"    be quick--and if you can--less violent.\"\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    \"Sit down, and I will be both.\"\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    She hesitated; she knew not what to do.  Th"
	.ascii	"e possibility\012    of Colonel Brandon's arriving "
	.ascii	"and finding her there,\012    came across her.  But"
	.ascii	" she had promised to hear him,\012    and her curio"
	.ascii	"sity no less than her honor was engaged.\012    Aft"
	.ascii	"er a moment's recollection, therefore, concluding t"
	.ascii	"hat\012    prudence required dispatch, and that her"
	.ascii	" acquiescence would\012    best promote it, she wal"
	.ascii	"ked silently towards the table,\012    and sat down"
	.ascii	".  He took the opposite chair, and for half\012    "
	.ascii	"a minute not a word was said by either.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Pray be quick, sir,\"--said Elinor, impatient"
	.ascii	"ly;--\012    \"I have no time to spare.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    He was sitting in an attitude of deep meditatio"
	.ascii	"n,\012    and seemed not to hear her.\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"Your sister,\" said he, with abruptness, a mome"
	.ascii	"nt\012    afterwards--\"is out of danger.  I heard "
	.ascii	"it from the servant.\012    God be praised!--But is"
	.ascii	" it true? is it really true?\"\012    \012    Elino"
	.ascii	"r would not speak.  He repeated the inquiry with\012"
	.ascii	"    yet greater eagerness.\012    \012    \"For God"
	.ascii	"'s sake tell me, is she out of danger, or is she no"
	.ascii	"t?\"\012    \012    \"We hope she is.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    He rose up, and walked across the room.\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \"Had I known as much half an hour ago--But"
	.ascii	"\012    since I AM here,\"--speaking with a forced "
	.ascii	"vivacity as he\012    returned to his seat--\"what "
	.ascii	"does it signify?--For once,\012    Miss Dashwood--i"
	.ascii	"t will be the last time, perhaps--let us\012    be "
	.ascii	"cheerful together.--I am in a fine mood for gaiety."
	.ascii	"--\012    Tell me honestly\"--a deeper glow overspr"
	.ascii	"eading his cheeks--\012    \"do you think me most a"
	.ascii	" knave or a fool?\"\012    \012    Elinor looked at"
	.ascii	" him with greater astonishment than ever.\012    Sh"
	.ascii	"e began to think that he must be in liquor;--the\012"
	.ascii	"    strangeness of such a visit, and of such manner"
	.ascii	"s,\012    seemed no otherwise intelligible; and wit"
	.ascii	"h this impression\012    she immediately rose, sayi"
	.ascii	"ng,\012    \012    \"Mr. Will"
	.ascii	"oughby, I advise you at present to return\012    to"
	.ascii	" Combe--I am not at leisure to remain with you long"
	.ascii	"er.--\012    Whatever your business may be with me,"
	.ascii	" will it be better\012    recollected and explained"
	.ascii	" to-morrow.\"\012    \012    \"I understand you,\" "
	.ascii	"he replied, with an expressive smile,\012    and a "
	.ascii	"voice perfectly calm; \"yes, I am very drunk.--\012"
	.ascii	"    A pint of porter with my cold beef at Marlborou"
	.ascii	"gh was\012    enough to over-set me.\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"At Marlborough!\"--cried Elinor, more and more"
	.ascii	" at\012    a loss to understand what he would be at"
	.ascii	".\012    \012    \"Yes,--I left London this morning"
	.ascii	" at eight o'clock,\012    and the only ten minutes "
	.ascii	"I have spent out of my chaise\012    since that tim"
	.ascii	"e procured me a nuncheon at Marlborough.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    The steadiness of his manner, and the intellige"
	.ascii	"nce\012    of his eye as he spoke, convincing Elino"
	.ascii	"r, that whatever\012    other unpardonable folly mi"
	.ascii	"ght bring him to Cleveland,\012    he was not broug"
	.ascii	"ht there by intoxication, she said,\012    after a "
	.ascii	"moment's recollection,\012    \012    \"Mr. Willoug"
	.ascii	"hby, you OUGHT to feel, and I certainly\012    DO--"
	.ascii	"that after what has passed--your coming here in\012"
	.ascii	"    this manner, and forcing yourself upon my notic"
	.ascii	"e,\012    requires a very particular excuse.--What "
	.ascii	"is it,\012    that you mean by it?\"--\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"I mean,\"--said he, with serious energy--\"if "
	.ascii	"I can,\012    to make you hate me one degree less t"
	.ascii	"han you do NOW.\012    I mean to offer some kind of"
	.ascii	" explanation, some kind\012    of apology, for the "
	.ascii	"past; to open my whole heart to you,\012    and by "
	.ascii	"convincing you, that though I have been always\012 "
	.ascii	"   a blockhead, I have not been always a rascal, to"
	.ascii	" obtain\012    something like forgiveness from Ma--"
	.ascii	"from your sister.\"\012    \012    \"Is this the re"
	.ascii	"al reason of your coming?\"\012    \012    \"Upon m"
	.ascii	"y soul it is,\"--was his answer, with a warmth\012 "
	.ascii	"   which brought all the former Willoughby to her r"
	.ascii	"emembrance,\012    and in spite of herself made her"
	.ascii	" think him sincere.\012    \012    \"If that is all"
	.ascii	", you may be satisfied already,--\012    for Marian"
	.ascii	"ne DOES--she has LONG forgiven you.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"Has she?\"--"
	.ascii	"he cried, in the same eager tone.--\012    \"Then s"
	.ascii	"he has forgiven me before she ought to have done it"
	.ascii	".\012    But she shall forgive me again, and on mor"
	.ascii	"e reasonable\012    grounds.--NOW will you listen t"
	.ascii	"o me?\"\012    \012    Elinor bowed her assent.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"I do not know,\" said he, after a pau"
	.ascii	"se of expectation\012    on her side, and thoughtfu"
	.ascii	"lness on his own,--\"how YOU\012    may have accoun"
	.ascii	"ted for my behaviour to your sister,\012    or what"
	.ascii	" diabolical motive you may have imputed to me.--\012"
	.ascii	"    Perhaps you will hardly think the better of me,"
	.ascii	"--it is\012    worth the trial however, and you sha"
	.ascii	"ll hear every thing.\012    When I first became int"
	.ascii	"imate in your family, I had no\012    other intenti"
	.ascii	"on, no other view in the acquaintance\012    than t"
	.ascii	"o pass my time pleasantly while I was obliged to re"
	.ascii	"main\012    in Devonshire, more pleasantly than I h"
	.ascii	"ad ever done before.\012    Your sister's lovely pe"
	.ascii	"rson and interesting manners\012    could not but p"
	.ascii	"lease me; and her behaviour to me almost\012    fro"
	.ascii	"m the first, was of a kind--It is astonishing,\012 "
	.ascii	"   when I reflect on what it was, and what SHE was,"
	.ascii	" that my\012    heart should have been so insensibl"
	.ascii	"e!  But at first\012    I must confess, my vanity o"
	.ascii	"nly was elevated by it.\012    Careless of her happ"
	.ascii	"iness, thinking only of my own amusement,\012    gi"
	.ascii	"ving way to feelings which I had always been too mu"
	.ascii	"ch\012    in the habit of indulging, I endeavoured,"
	.ascii	" by every means\012    in my power, to make myself "
	.ascii	"pleasing to her, without any\012    design of retur"
	.ascii	"ning her affection.\"\012    \012    Miss Dashwood,"
	.ascii	" at this point, turning her eyes on him\012    with"
	.ascii	" the most angry contempt, stopped him, by saying,\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"It is hardly worth while, Mr. Willoug"
	.ascii	"hby,\012    for you to relate, or for me to listen "
	.ascii	"any longer.\012    Such a beginning as this cannot "
	.ascii	"be followed by any thing.--\012    Do not let me be"
	.ascii	" pained by hearing any thing more on\012    the sub"
	.ascii	"ject.\"\012    \012    \"I insist on you hearing th"
	.ascii	"e whole of it,\" he replied,\012    \"My fortune wa"
	.ascii	"s never large, and I had always been expensive,\012"
	.ascii	"    always in the habit of associatin"
	.ascii	"g with people of better\012    income than myself. "
	.ascii	" Every year since my coming of age,\012    or even "
	.ascii	"before, I believe, had added to my debts; and thoug"
	.ascii	"h\012    the death of my old cousin, Mrs. Smith, wa"
	.ascii	"s to set me free;\012    yet that event being uncer"
	.ascii	"tain, and possibly far distant,\012    it had been "
	.ascii	"for some time my intention to re-establish my\012  "
	.ascii	"  circumstances by marrying a woman of fortune.  To"
	.ascii	" attach\012    myself to your sister, therefore, wa"
	.ascii	"s not a thing to be\012    thought of;--and with a "
	.ascii	"meanness, selfishness, cruelty--\012    which no in"
	.ascii	"dignant, no contemptuous look, even of yours,\012  "
	.ascii	"  Miss Dashwood, can ever reprobate too much--I was"
	.ascii	" acting\012    in this manner, trying to engage her"
	.ascii	" regard, without a\012    thought of returning it.-"
	.ascii	"-But one thing may be said\012    for me: even in t"
	.ascii	"hat horrid state of selfish vanity,\012    I did no"
	.ascii	"t know the extent of the injury I meditated,\012   "
	.ascii	" because I did not THEN know what it was to love.\012"
	.ascii	"    But have I ever known it?--Well may it be doubt"
	.ascii	"ed; for, had I\012    really loved, could I have sa"
	.ascii	"crificed my feelings to vanity,\012    to avarice?-"
	.ascii	"-or, what is more, could I have sacrificed hers?--\012"
	.ascii	"    But I have done it.  To avoid a comparative pov"
	.ascii	"erty,\012    which her affection and her society wo"
	.ascii	"uld have deprived\012    of all its horrors, I have"
	.ascii	", by raising myself to affluence,\012    lost every"
	.ascii	" thing that could make it a blessing.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"You did then,\" said Elinor, a little softene"
	.ascii	"d,\012    \"believe yourself at one time attached t"
	.ascii	"o her?\"\012    \012    \"To have resisted such att"
	.ascii	"ractions, to have withstood\012    such tenderness!"
	.ascii	"--Is there a man on earth who could have\012    don"
	.ascii	"e it?--Yes, I found myself, by insensible degrees,\012"
	.ascii	"    sincerely fond of her; and the happiest hours o"
	.ascii	"f my life\012    were what I spent with her when I "
	.ascii	"felt my intentions\012    were strictly honourable,"
	.ascii	" and my feelings blameless.\012    Even THEN, howev"
	.ascii	"er, when fully determined on paying\012    my addre"
	.ascii	"sses to her, I allowed myself most improperly\012  "
	.ascii	"  to put off, from day to day, the moment of doing "
	.ascii	"it,\012    from"
	.ascii	" an unwillingness to enter into an engagement\012  "
	.ascii	"  while my circumstances were so greatly embarrasse"
	.ascii	"d.\012    I will not reason here--nor will I stop f"
	.ascii	"or YOU to expatiate\012    on the absurdity, and th"
	.ascii	"e worse than absurdity, of scrupling\012    to enga"
	.ascii	"ge my faith where my honour was already bound.\012 "
	.ascii	"   The event has proved, that I was a cunning fool,"
	.ascii	"\012    providing with great circumspection for a p"
	.ascii	"ossible\012    opportunity of making myself contemp"
	.ascii	"tible and wretched\012    for ever.  At last, howev"
	.ascii	"er, my resolution was taken,\012    and I had deter"
	.ascii	"mined, as soon as I could engage her alone,\012    "
	.ascii	"to justify the attentions I had so invariably paid "
	.ascii	"her,\012    and openly assure her of an affection w"
	.ascii	"hich I had already\012    taken such pains to displ"
	.ascii	"ay.  But in the interim--in the\012    interim of t"
	.ascii	"he very few hours that were to pass, before I\012  "
	.ascii	"  could have an opportunity of speaking with her in"
	.ascii	" private--\012    a circumstance occurred--an unluc"
	.ascii	"ky circumstance, to ruin\012    all my resolution, "
	.ascii	"and with it all my comfort.  A discovery\012    too"
	.ascii	"k place,\"--here he hesitated and looked down.--\"M"
	.ascii	"rs. Smith\012    had somehow or other been informed"
	.ascii	", I imagine by some\012    distant relation, whose "
	.ascii	"interest it was to deprive me of\012    her favour,"
	.ascii	" of an affair, a connection--but I need not\012    "
	.ascii	"explain myself farther,\" he added, looking at her "
	.ascii	"with an\012    heightened colour and an enquiring e"
	.ascii	"ye--\"your particular\012    intimacy--you have pro"
	.ascii	"bably heard the whole story long ago.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"I have,\" returned Elinor, colouring likewise"
	.ascii	",\012    and hardening her heart anew against any c"
	.ascii	"ompassion for him,\012    \"I have heard it all.  A"
	.ascii	"nd how you will explain away any\012    part of you"
	.ascii	"r guilt in that dreadful business, I confess\012   "
	.ascii	" is beyond my comprehension.\"\012    \012    \"Rem"
	.ascii	"ember,\" cried Willoughby, \"from whom you received"
	.ascii	"\012    the account.  Could it be an impartial one?"
	.ascii	"  I acknowledge\012    that her situation and her c"
	.ascii	"haracter ought to have been\012    respected by me."
	.ascii	"  I do not mean to justify myself, but at\012    th"
	.ascii	"e same time cannot leave y"
	.ascii	"ou to suppose that I have nothing\012    to urge--t"
	.ascii	"hat because she was injured she was irreproachable,"
	.ascii	"\012    and because I was a libertine, SHE must be "
	.ascii	"a saint.\012    If the violence of her passions, th"
	.ascii	"e weakness of her\012    understanding--I do not me"
	.ascii	"an, however, to defend myself.\012    Her affection"
	.ascii	" for me deserved better treatment, and I often,\012"
	.ascii	"    with great self-reproach, recall the tenderness"
	.ascii	" which,\012    for a very short time, had the power"
	.ascii	" of creating any return.\012    I wish--I heartily "
	.ascii	"wish it had never been.  But I have injured\012    "
	.ascii	"more than herself; and I have injured one, whose af"
	.ascii	"fection\012    for me--(may I say it?) was scarcely"
	.ascii	" less warm than hers;\012    and whose mind--Oh! ho"
	.ascii	"w infinitely superior!\"--\012    \012    \"Your in"
	.ascii	"difference, however, towards that unfortunate\012  "
	.ascii	"  girl--I must say it, unpleasant to me as the disc"
	.ascii	"ussion\012    of such a subject may well be--your i"
	.ascii	"ndifference is no\012    apology for your cruel neg"
	.ascii	"lect of her.  Do not think yourself\012    excused "
	.ascii	"by any weakness, any natural defect of understandin"
	.ascii	"g\012    on her side, in the wanton cruelty so evid"
	.ascii	"ent on yours.\012    You must have known, that whil"
	.ascii	"e you were enjoying yourself\012    in Devonshire p"
	.ascii	"ursuing fresh schemes, always gay,\012    always ha"
	.ascii	"ppy, she was reduced to the extremest indigence.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"But, upon my soul, I did NOT know it,"
	.ascii	"\" he warmly\012    replied; \"I did not recollect "
	.ascii	"that I had omitted to give\012    her my direction;"
	.ascii	" and common sense might have told her\012    how to"
	.ascii	" find it out.\"\012    \012    \"Well, sir, and wha"
	.ascii	"t said Mrs. Smith?\"\012    \012    \"She taxed me "
	.ascii	"with the offence at once, and my confusion\012    m"
	.ascii	"ay be guessed.  The purity of her life, the formali"
	.ascii	"ty\012    of her notions, her ignorance of the worl"
	.ascii	"d--every thing\012    was against me.  The matter i"
	.ascii	"tself I could not deny,\012    and vain was every e"
	.ascii	"ndeavour to soften it.  She was\012    previously d"
	.ascii	"isposed, I believe, to doubt the morality of my\012"
	.ascii	"    conduct in general, and was moreover discontent"
	.ascii	"ed with\012    the very little attention, the very "
	.ascii	"little portion of my\012    ti"
	.ascii	"me that I had bestowed on her, in my present visit."
	.ascii	"\012    In short, it ended in a total breach.  By o"
	.ascii	"ne measure I\012    might have saved myself.  In th"
	.ascii	"e height of her morality,\012    good woman! she of"
	.ascii	"fered to forgive the past, if I would\012    marry "
	.ascii	"Eliza.  That could not be--and I was formally\012  "
	.ascii	"  dismissed from her favour and her house.  The nig"
	.ascii	"ht\012    following this affair--I was to go the ne"
	.ascii	"xt morning--\012    was spent by me in deliberating"
	.ascii	" on what my future conduct\012    should be.  The s"
	.ascii	"truggle was great--but it ended too soon.\012    My"
	.ascii	" affection for Marianne, my thorough conviction of "
	.ascii	"her\012    attachment to me--it was all insufficien"
	.ascii	"t to outweigh\012    that dread of poverty, or get "
	.ascii	"the better of those false\012    ideas of the neces"
	.ascii	"sity of riches, which I was naturally\012    inclin"
	.ascii	"ed to feel, and expensive society had increased.\012"
	.ascii	"    I had reason to believe myself secure of my pre"
	.ascii	"sent wife,\012    if I chose to address her, and I "
	.ascii	"persuaded myself to think\012    that nothing else "
	.ascii	"in common prudence remained for me to do.\012    A "
	.ascii	"heavy scene however awaited me, before I could leav"
	.ascii	"e\012    Devonshire;--I was engaged to dine with yo"
	.ascii	"u on that very day;\012    some apology was therefo"
	.ascii	"re necessary for my breaking\012    this engagement"
	.ascii	".  But whether I should write this apology,\012    "
	.ascii	"or deliver it in person, was a point of long debate"
	.ascii	".\012    To see Marianne, I felt, would be dreadful"
	.ascii	", and I even doubted\012    whether I could see her"
	.ascii	" again, and keep to my resolution.\012    In that p"
	.ascii	"oint, however, I undervalued my own magnanimity,\012"
	.ascii	"    as the event declared; for I went, I saw her, a"
	.ascii	"nd saw\012    her miserable, and left her miserable"
	.ascii	"--and left her hoping\012    never to see her again"
	.ascii	".\"\012    \012    \"Why did you call, Mr. Willough"
	.ascii	"by?\" said Elinor,\012    reproachfully; \"a note w"
	.ascii	"ould have answered every purpose.--\012    Why was "
	.ascii	"it necessary to call?\"\012    \012    \"It was nec"
	.ascii	"essary to my own pride.  I could not bear\012    to"
	.ascii	" leave the country in a manner that might lead you,"
	.ascii	"\012    or the rest of the neighbourhood, to suspec"
	.ascii	"t any part\012    of "
	.ascii	"what had really passed between Mrs. Smith and mysel"
	.ascii	"f--\012    and I resolved therefore on calling at t"
	.ascii	"he cottage,\012    in my way to Honiton.  The sight"
	.ascii	" of your dear sister,\012    however, was really dr"
	.ascii	"eadful; and, to heighten the matter,\012    I found"
	.ascii	" her alone.  You were all gone I do not know where."
	.ascii	"\012    I had left her only the evening before, so "
	.ascii	"fully,\012    so firmly resolved within my self on "
	.ascii	"doing right!\012    A few hours were to have engage"
	.ascii	"d her to me for ever;\012    and I remember how hap"
	.ascii	"py, how gay were my spirits, as I\012    walked fro"
	.ascii	"m the cottage to Allenham, satisfied with myself,\012"
	.ascii	"    delighted with every body!  But in this, our la"
	.ascii	"st interview\012    of friendship, I approached her"
	.ascii	" with a sense of guilt\012    that almost took from"
	.ascii	" me the power of dissembling.\012    Her sorrow, he"
	.ascii	"r disappointment, her deep regret, when I told\012 "
	.ascii	"   her that I was obliged to leave Devonshire so im"
	.ascii	"mediately--I\012    never shall forget it--united t"
	.ascii	"oo with such reliance,\012    such confidence in me"
	.ascii	"!--Oh, God!--what a hard-hearted\012    rascal I wa"
	.ascii	"s!\"\012    \012    They were both silent for a few"
	.ascii	" moments.\012    Elinor first spoke.\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"Did you tell her that you should soon return?\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"I do not know what I told her,\" he r"
	.ascii	"eplied, impatiently;\012    \"less than was due to "
	.ascii	"the past, beyond a doubt, and in all\012    likelih"
	.ascii	"ood much more than was justified by the future.\012"
	.ascii	"    I cannot think of it.--It won't do.--Then came "
	.ascii	"your dear mother\012    to torture me farther, with"
	.ascii	" all her kindness and confidence.\012    Thank Heav"
	.ascii	"en! it DID torture me.  I was miserable.\012    Mis"
	.ascii	"s Dashwood, you cannot have an idea of the comfort "
	.ascii	"it\012    gives me to look back on my own misery.  "
	.ascii	"I owe such a grudge\012    to myself for the stupid"
	.ascii	", rascally folly of my own heart,\012    that all m"
	.ascii	"y past sufferings under it are only triumph and\012"
	.ascii	"    exultation to me now.  Well, I went, left all t"
	.ascii	"hat I loved,\012    and went to those to whom, at b"
	.ascii	"est, I was only indifferent.\012    My journey to t"
	.ascii	"own--travelling with my own horses,\012    and ther"
	.ascii	"efore so tediously--n"
	.ascii	"o creature to speak to--my\012    own reflections s"
	.ascii	"o cheerful--when I looked forward\012    every thin"
	.ascii	"g so inviting!--when I looked back at Barton,\012  "
	.ascii	"  the picture so soothing!--oh, it was a blessed jo"
	.ascii	"urney!\"\012    \012    He stopped.\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"Well, sir,\" said Elinor, who, though pitying him"
	.ascii	",\012    grew impatient for his departure, \"and th"
	.ascii	"is is all?\"\012    \012    \"Ah!--no,--have you fo"
	.ascii	"rgot what passed in town?--\012    That infamous le"
	.ascii	"tter--Did she shew it you?\"\012    \012    \"Yes, "
	.ascii	"I saw every note that passed.\"\012    \012    \"Wh"
	.ascii	"en the first of hers reached me (as it immediately "
	.ascii	"did,\012    for I was in town the whole time,) what"
	.ascii	" I felt is--\012    in the common phrase, not to be"
	.ascii	" expressed; in a more\012    simple one--perhaps to"
	.ascii	"o simple to raise any emotion--\012    my feelings "
	.ascii	"were very, very painful.--Every line, every word\012"
	.ascii	"    was--in the hackneyed metaphor which their dear"
	.ascii	" writer,\012    were she here, would forbid--a dagg"
	.ascii	"er to my heart.\012    To know that Marianne was in"
	.ascii	" town was--in the same language--\012    a thunderb"
	.ascii	"olt.--Thunderbolts and daggers!--what a reproof\012"
	.ascii	"    would she have given me!--her taste, her opinio"
	.ascii	"ns--I believe\012    they are better known to me th"
	.ascii	"an my own,--and I am sure\012    they are dearer.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    Elinor's heart, which had undergone"
	.ascii	" many changes\012    in the course of this extraord"
	.ascii	"inary conversation,\012    was now softened again;-"
	.ascii	"-yet she felt it her duty to check\012    such idea"
	.ascii	"s in her companion as the last.\012    \012    \"Th"
	.ascii	"is is not right, Mr. Willoughby.--Remember that\012"
	.ascii	"    you are married.  Relate only what in your cons"
	.ascii	"cience\012    you think necessary for me to hear.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"Marianne's note, by assuring me t"
	.ascii	"hat I was still\012    as dear to her as in former "
	.ascii	"days, that in spite of the many,\012    many weeks "
	.ascii	"we had been separated, she was as constant\012    i"
	.ascii	"n her own feelings, and as full of faith in the con"
	.ascii	"stancy\012    of mine as ever, awakened all my remo"
	.ascii	"rse.  I say awakened,\012    because time and Londo"
	.ascii	"n, business and dissipation,\012    had in some mea"
	.ascii	"sure quieted it, and I had been growing\012    a fi"
	.ascii	"ne "
	.ascii	"hardened villain, fancying myself indifferent to he"
	.ascii	"r,\012    and chusing to fancy that she too must ha"
	.ascii	"ve become\012    indifferent to me; talking to myse"
	.ascii	"lf of our past attachment\012    as a mere idle, tr"
	.ascii	"ifling business, shrugging up my shoulders\012    i"
	.ascii	"n proof of its being so, and silencing every reproa"
	.ascii	"ch,\012    overcoming every scruple, by secretly sa"
	.ascii	"ying now and then,\012    'I shall be heartily glad"
	.ascii	" to hear she is well married.'--\012    But this no"
	.ascii	"te made me know myself better.  I felt that\012    "
	.ascii	"she was infinitely dearer to me than any other woma"
	.ascii	"n\012    in the world, and that I was using her inf"
	.ascii	"amously.\012    But every thing was then just settl"
	.ascii	"ed between Miss Grey\012    and me.  To retreat was"
	.ascii	" impossible.  All that I had to do,\012    was to a"
	.ascii	"void you both.  I sent no answer to Marianne,\012  "
	.ascii	"  intending by that to preserve myself from her far"
	.ascii	"ther notice;\012    and for some time I was even de"
	.ascii	"termined not to call in\012    Berkeley Street;--bu"
	.ascii	"t at last, judging it wiser to affect\012    the ai"
	.ascii	"r of a cool, common acquaintance than anything else"
	.ascii	",\012    I watched you all safely out of the house "
	.ascii	"one morning,\012    and left my name.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Watched us out of the house!\"\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"Even so.  You would be surprised to hear how oft"
	.ascii	"en\012    I watched you, how often I was on the poi"
	.ascii	"nt of falling\012    in with you.  I have entered m"
	.ascii	"any a shop to avoid your sight,\012    as the carri"
	.ascii	"age drove by.  Lodging as I did in Bond Street,\012"
	.ascii	"    there was hardly a day in which I did not catch"
	.ascii	" a glimpse\012    of one or other of you; and nothi"
	.ascii	"ng but the most constant\012    watchfulness on my "
	.ascii	"side, a most invariably prevailing\012    desire to"
	.ascii	" keep out of your sight, could have separated us\012"
	.ascii	"    so long.  I avoided the Middletons as much as p"
	.ascii	"ossible,\012    as well as everybody else who was l"
	.ascii	"ikely to prove\012    an acquaintance in common.  N"
	.ascii	"ot aware of their being\012    in town, however, I "
	.ascii	"blundered on Sir John, I believe,\012    the first "
	.ascii	"day of his coming, and the day after I had called\012"
	.ascii	"    at Mrs. Jennings's.  He asked me to a party, a "
	.ascii	"dance at his\012  "
	.ascii	"  house in the evening.--Had he NOT told me as an i"
	.ascii	"nducement\012    that you and your sister were to b"
	.ascii	"e there, I should have\012    felt it too certain a"
	.ascii	" thing, to trust myself near him.\012    The next m"
	.ascii	"orning brought another short note from Marianne--\012"
	.ascii	"    still affectionate, open, artless, confiding--e"
	.ascii	"verything\012    that could make MY conduct most ha"
	.ascii	"teful.  I could not\012    answer it.  I tried--but"
	.ascii	" could not frame a sentence.\012    But I thought o"
	.ascii	"f her, I believe, every moment of the day.\012    I"
	.ascii	"f you CAN pity me, Miss Dashwood, pity my situation"
	.ascii	" as it\012    was THEN.  With my head and heart ful"
	.ascii	"l of your sister,\012    I was forced to play the h"
	.ascii	"appy lover to another woman!--Those\012    three or"
	.ascii	" four weeks were worse than all.  Well, at last,\012"
	.ascii	"    as I need not tell you, you were forced on me; "
	.ascii	"and what a\012    sweet figure I cut!--what an even"
	.ascii	"ing of agony it was!--\012    Marianne, beautiful a"
	.ascii	"s an angel on one side, calling me\012    Willoughb"
	.ascii	"y in such a tone!--Oh, God!--holding out her hand\012"
	.ascii	"    to me, asking me for an explanation, with those"
	.ascii	" bewitching\012    eyes fixed in such speaking soli"
	.ascii	"citude on my face!--and\012    Sophia, jealous as t"
	.ascii	"he devil on the other hand, looking\012    all that"
	.ascii	" was--Well, it does not signify; it is over now.--\012"
	.ascii	"    Such an evening!--I ran away from you all as so"
	.ascii	"on as I could;\012    but not before I had seen Mar"
	.ascii	"ianne's sweet face as white\012    as death.--THAT "
	.ascii	"was the last, last look I ever had of her;--\012   "
	.ascii	" the last manner in which she appeared to me.  It w"
	.ascii	"as a horrid\012    sight!--yet when I thought of he"
	.ascii	"r to-day as really dying,\012    it was a kind of c"
	.ascii	"omfort to me to imagine that I knew\012    exactly "
	.ascii	"how she would appear to those, who saw her last\012"
	.ascii	"    in this world.  She was before me, constantly b"
	.ascii	"efore me,\012    as I travelled, in the same look a"
	.ascii	"nd hue.\"\012    \012    A short pause of mutual th"
	.ascii	"oughtfulness succeeded.\012    Willoughby first rou"
	.ascii	"sing himself, broke it thus:\012    \012    \"Well,"
	.ascii	" let me make haste and be gone.  Your sister\012   "
	.ascii	" is certainly better, certainly out of danger?\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"We are assured of it.\"\012    \012    \"Your po"
	.ascii	"or mother, too!--doting on Marianne.\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   \"But the letter, Mr. Willoughby, your own lette"
	.ascii	"r;\012    have you any thing to say about that?\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Yes, yes, THAT in particular.  Your s"
	.ascii	"ister\012    wrote to me again, you know, the very "
	.ascii	"next morning.\012    You saw what she said.  I was "
	.ascii	"breakfasting at the\012    Ellisons,--and her lette"
	.ascii	"r, with some others, was brought\012    to me there"
	.ascii	" from my lodgings.  It happened to catch\012    Sop"
	.ascii	"hia's eye before it caught mine--and its size,\012 "
	.ascii	"   the elegance of the paper, the hand-writing alto"
	.ascii	"gether,\012    immediately gave her a suspicion.  S"
	.ascii	"ome vague report had\012    reached her before of m"
	.ascii	"y attachment to some young lady\012    in Devonshir"
	.ascii	"e, and what had passed within her observation\012  "
	.ascii	"  the preceding evening had marked who the young la"
	.ascii	"dy was,\012    and made her more jealous than ever."
	.ascii	"  Affecting that air\012    of playfulness, therefo"
	.ascii	"re, which is delightful in a woman\012    one loves"
	.ascii	", she opened the letter directly, and read\012    i"
	.ascii	"ts contents.  She was well paid for her impudence.\012"
	.ascii	"    She read what made her wretched.  Her wretchedn"
	.ascii	"ess I could\012    have borne, but her passion--her"
	.ascii	" malice--At all events it\012    must be appeased. "
	.ascii	" And, in short--what do you think of my\012    wife"
	.ascii	"'s style of letter-writing?--delicate--tender--\012"
	.ascii	"    truly feminine--was it not?\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"Your wife!--The letter was in your own hand-writing"
	.ascii	".\"\012    \012    \"Yes, but I had only the credit"
	.ascii	" of servilely copying\012    such sentences as I wa"
	.ascii	"s ashamed to put my name to.\012    The original wa"
	.ascii	"s all her own--her own happy thoughts\012    and ge"
	.ascii	"ntle diction.  But what could I do!--we were engage"
	.ascii	"d,\012    every thing in preparation, the day almos"
	.ascii	"t fixed--But I am\012    talking like a fool.  Prep"
	.ascii	"aration!--day!--In honest words,\012    her money w"
	.ascii	"as necessary to me, and in a situation like\012    "
	.ascii	"mine, any thing was to be done to prevent a rupture"
	.ascii	".\012    And after all, what did it signify to my c"
	.ascii	"haracter\012    in the opinion of Marianne and her "
	.ascii	"friends, in what language\012    my"
	.ascii	" answer was couched?--It must have been only to one"
	.ascii	" end.\012    My business was to declare myself a sc"
	.ascii	"oundrel, and whether\012    I did it with a bow or "
	.ascii	"a bluster was of little importance.--\012    'I am "
	.ascii	"ruined for ever in their opinion--' said I to\012  "
	.ascii	"  myself--'I am shut out for ever from their societ"
	.ascii	"y,\012    they already think me an unprincipled fel"
	.ascii	"low, this letter\012    will only make them think m"
	.ascii	"e a blackguard one.' Such were\012    my reasonings"
	.ascii	", as, in a sort of desperate carelessness,\012    I"
	.ascii	" copied my wife's words, and parted with the last r"
	.ascii	"elics\012    of Marianne.  Her three notes--unlucki"
	.ascii	"ly they were all\012    in my pocketbook, or I shou"
	.ascii	"ld have denied their existence,\012    and hoarded "
	.ascii	"them for ever--I was forced to put them up,\012    "
	.ascii	"and could not even kiss them.  And the lock of hair"
	.ascii	"--that too\012    I had always carried about me in "
	.ascii	"the same pocket-book,\012    which was now searched"
	.ascii	" by Madam with the most ingratiating\012    virulen"
	.ascii	"ce,--the dear lock--all, every memento was torn fro"
	.ascii	"m me.\"\012    \012    \"You are very wrong, Mr. Wi"
	.ascii	"lloughby, very blamable,\"\012    said Elinor, whil"
	.ascii	"e her voice, in spite of herself,\012    betrayed h"
	.ascii	"er compassionate emotion; \"you ought not to speak\012"
	.ascii	"    in this way, either of Mrs. Willoughby or my si"
	.ascii	"ster.\012    You had made your own choice.  It was "
	.ascii	"not forced on you.\012    Your wife has a claim to "
	.ascii	"your politeness, to your respect,\012    at least. "
	.ascii	" She must be attached to you, or she would not\012 "
	.ascii	"   have married you.  To treat her with unkindness,"
	.ascii	" to speak\012    of her slightingly is no atonement"
	.ascii	" to Marianne--nor can I\012    suppose it a relief "
	.ascii	"to your own conscience.\"\012    \012    \"Do not t"
	.ascii	"alk to me of my wife,\" said he with a heavy sigh.-"
	.ascii	"-\012    \"She does not deserve your compassion.--S"
	.ascii	"he knew I had no\012    regard for her when we marr"
	.ascii	"ied.--Well, married we were,\012    and came down t"
	.ascii	"o Combe Magna to be happy, and afterwards\012    re"
	.ascii	"turned to town to be gay.--And now do you pity me,\012"
	.ascii	"    Miss Dashwood?--or have I said all this to no p"
	.ascii	"urpose?--\012    Am I--be it only one degree--am I "
	.ascii	"less guilty i"
	.ascii	"n your opinion\012    than I was before?--My intent"
	.ascii	"ions were not always wrong.\012    Have I explained"
	.ascii	" away any part of my guilt?\"\012    \012    \"Yes,"
	.ascii	" you have certainly removed something--a little.--\012"
	.ascii	"    You have proved yourself, on the whole, less fa"
	.ascii	"ulty than\012    I had believed you.  You have prov"
	.ascii	"ed your heart less wicked,\012    much less wicked."
	.ascii	"  But I hardly know--the misery that\012    you hav"
	.ascii	"e inflicted--I hardly know what could have made\012"
	.ascii	"    it worse.\"\012    \012    \"Will you repeat to"
	.ascii	" your sister when she is recovered,\012    what I h"
	.ascii	"ave been telling you?--Let me be a little lightened"
	.ascii	"\012    too in her opinion as well as in yours.  Yo"
	.ascii	"u tell me that\012    she has forgiven me already. "
	.ascii	" Let me be able to fancy that\012    a better knowl"
	.ascii	"edge of my heart, and of my present feelings,\012  "
	.ascii	"  will draw from her a more spontaneous, more natur"
	.ascii	"al, more\012    gentle, less dignified, forgiveness"
	.ascii	".  Tell her of my misery\012    and my penitence--t"
	.ascii	"ell her that my heart was never inconstant\012    t"
	.ascii	"o her, and if you will, that at this moment she is "
	.ascii	"dearer\012    to me than ever.\"\012    \012    \"I"
	.ascii	" will tell her all that is necessary to what may\012"
	.ascii	"    comparatively be called, your justification.  B"
	.ascii	"ut you have\012    not explained to me the particul"
	.ascii	"ar reason of your coming now,\012    nor how you he"
	.ascii	"ard of her illness.\"\012    \012    \"Last night, "
	.ascii	"in Drury Lane lobby, I ran against Sir\012    John "
	.ascii	"Middleton, and when he saw who I was--for the first"
	.ascii	"\012    time these two months--he spoke to me.--Tha"
	.ascii	"t he had cut\012    me ever since my marriage, I ha"
	.ascii	"d seen without surprise\012    or resentment.  Now,"
	.ascii	" however, his good-natured, honest,\012    stupid s"
	.ascii	"oul, full of indignation against me, and concern\012"
	.ascii	"    for your sister, could not resist the temptatio"
	.ascii	"n of telling\012    me what he knew ought to--thoug"
	.ascii	"h probably he did not\012    think it WOULD--vex me"
	.ascii	" horridly.  As bluntly as he could\012    speak it,"
	.ascii	" therefore, he told me that Marianne Dashwood\012  "
	.ascii	"  was dying of a putrid fever at Cleveland--a lette"
	.ascii	"r that\012    morning received from Mrs. Jennings d"
	.ascii	"eclared her danger\012    mos"
	.ascii	"t imminent--the Palmers are all gone off in a frigh"
	.ascii	"t,\012    &c.--I was too much shocked to be able to"
	.ascii	" pass myself\012    off as insensible even to the u"
	.ascii	"ndiscerning Sir John.\012    His heart was softened"
	.ascii	" in seeing mine suffer; and so much\012    of his i"
	.ascii	"ll-will was done away, that when we parted,\012    "
	.ascii	"he almost shook me by the hand while he reminded me"
	.ascii	" of an\012    old promise about a pointer puppy.  W"
	.ascii	"hat I felt on hearing\012    that your sister was d"
	.ascii	"ying--and dying too, believing me\012    the greate"
	.ascii	"st villain upon earth, scorning, hating me\012    i"
	.ascii	"n her latest moments--for how could I tell what hor"
	.ascii	"rid\012    projects might not have been imputed?  O"
	.ascii	"NE person I\012    was sure would represent me as c"
	.ascii	"apable of any thing--\012    What I felt was dreadf"
	.ascii	"ul!--My resolution was soon made,\012    and at eig"
	.ascii	"ht o'clock this morning I was in my carriage.\012  "
	.ascii	"  Now you know all.\"\012    \012    Elinor made no"
	.ascii	" answer.  Her thoughts were silently fixed\012    o"
	.ascii	"n the irreparable injury which too early an indepen"
	.ascii	"dence\012    and its consequent habits of idleness,"
	.ascii	" dissipation, and luxury,\012    had made in the mi"
	.ascii	"nd, the character, the happiness,\012    of a man w"
	.ascii	"ho, to every advantage of person and talents,\012  "
	.ascii	"  united a disposition naturally open and honest, a"
	.ascii	"nd a\012    feeling, affectionate temper.  The worl"
	.ascii	"d had made him\012    extravagant and vain--Extrava"
	.ascii	"gance and vanity had made him\012    cold-hearted a"
	.ascii	"nd selfish.  Vanity, while seeking its own\012    g"
	.ascii	"uilty triumph at the expense of another, had involv"
	.ascii	"ed\012    him in a real attachment, which extravaga"
	.ascii	"nce, or at least\012    its offspring, necessity, h"
	.ascii	"ad required to be sacrificed.\012    Each faulty pr"
	.ascii	"opensity in leading him to evil, had led\012    him"
	.ascii	" likewise to punishment.  The attachment, from whic"
	.ascii	"h\012    against honour, against feeling, against e"
	.ascii	"very better interest\012    he had outwardly torn h"
	.ascii	"imself, now, when no longer allowable,\012    gover"
	.ascii	"ned every thought; and the connection, for the sake"
	.ascii	"\012    of which he had, with little scruple, left "
	.ascii	"her sister\012    to misery, was likely to prove a "
	.ascii	"source of un"
	.ascii	"happiness\012    to himself of a far more incurable"
	.ascii	" nature.  From a reverie\012    of this kind she wa"
	.ascii	"s recalled at the end of some minutes\012    by Wil"
	.ascii	"loughby, who, rousing himself from a reverie at lea"
	.ascii	"st\012    equally painful, started up in preparatio"
	.ascii	"n for going, and said--\012    \012    \"There is n"
	.ascii	"o use in staying here; I must be off.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Are you going back to town?\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"No--to Combe Magna.  I have business there;\012  "
	.ascii	"  from thence to town in a day or two.  Good bye.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    He held out his hand.  She could no"
	.ascii	"t refuse to give\012    him hers's;--he pressed it "
	.ascii	"with affection.\012    \012    \"And you DO think s"
	.ascii	"omething better of me than\012    you did?\"--said "
	.ascii	"he, letting it fall, and leaning against\012    the"
	.ascii	" mantel-piece as if forgetting he was to go.\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    Elinor assured him that she did;--that she"
	.ascii	" forgave,\012    pitied, wished him well--was even "
	.ascii	"interested in his\012    happiness--and added some "
	.ascii	"gentle counsel as to the behaviour\012    most like"
	.ascii	"ly to promote it.  His answer was not very encourag"
	.ascii	"ing.\012    \012    \"As to that,\" said he, \"I mu"
	.ascii	"st rub through the world\012    as well as I can.  "
	.ascii	"Domestic happiness is out of the question.\012    I"
	.ascii	"f, however, I am allowed to think that you and your"
	.ascii	"s feel\012    an interest in my fate and actions, i"
	.ascii	"t may be the means--it\012    may put me on my guar"
	.ascii	"d--at least, it may be something to\012    live for"
	.ascii	".  Marianne to be sure is lost to me for ever.\012 "
	.ascii	"   Were I even by any blessed chance at liberty aga"
	.ascii	"in--\"\012    \012    Elinor stopped him with a rep"
	.ascii	"roof.\012    \012    \"Well,\"--he replied--\"once "
	.ascii	"more good bye. I shall\012    now go away and live "
	.ascii	"in dread of one event.\"\012    \012    \"What do y"
	.ascii	"ou mean?\"\012    \012    \"Your sister's marriage."
	.ascii	"\"\012    \012    \"You are very wrong.  She can ne"
	.ascii	"ver be more lost\012    to you than she is now.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"But she will be gained by some one el"
	.ascii	"se.  And if\012    that some one should be the very"
	.ascii	" he whom, of all others,\012    I could least bear-"
	.ascii	"-but I will not stay to rob myself\012    of all yo"
	.ascii	"ur compassionate goodwill, by shewing\012    that w"
	.ascii	"here I have most injured I"
	.ascii	" can least forgive.\012    Good bye,--God bless you"
	.ascii	"!\"\012    \012    And with these words, he almost "
	.ascii	"ran out of the room.\012    \012    \012    \012   "
	.ascii	" CHAPTER 45\012    \012    \012    Elinor, for some"
	.ascii	" time after he left her, for some time\012    even "
	.ascii	"after the sound of his carriage had died away, rema"
	.ascii	"ined\012    too much oppressed by a crowd of ideas,"
	.ascii	" widely differing in\012    themselves, but of whic"
	.ascii	"h sadness was the general result,\012    to think e"
	.ascii	"ven of her sister.\012    \012    Willoughby, he, w"
	.ascii	"hom only half an hour ago she had\012    abhorred a"
	.ascii	"s the most worthless of men, Willoughby, in spite\012"
	.ascii	"    of all his faults, excited a degree of commiser"
	.ascii	"ation\012    for the sufferings produced by them, w"
	.ascii	"hich made her\012    think of him as now separated "
	.ascii	"for ever from her family,\012    with a tenderness,"
	.ascii	" a regret, rather in proportion, as she\012    soon"
	.ascii	" acknowledged within herself--to his wishes than to"
	.ascii	"\012    his merits.  She felt that his influence ov"
	.ascii	"er her mind\012    was heightened by circumstances "
	.ascii	"which ought not in reason\012    to have weight; by"
	.ascii	" that person of uncommon attraction,\012    that op"
	.ascii	"en, affectionate, and lively manner which it\012   "
	.ascii	" was no merit to possess; and by that still ardent "
	.ascii	"love\012    for Marianne, which it was not even inn"
	.ascii	"ocent to indulge.\012    But she felt that it was s"
	.ascii	"o, long, long before she could\012    feel his infl"
	.ascii	"uence less.\012    \012    When at last she returne"
	.ascii	"d to the unconscious Marianne,\012    she found her"
	.ascii	" just awaking, refreshed by so long and sweet\012  "
	.ascii	"  a sleep to the extent of her hopes.  Elinor's hea"
	.ascii	"rt was full.\012    The past, the present, the futu"
	.ascii	"re, Willoughby's visit,\012    Marianne's safety, a"
	.ascii	"nd her mother's expected arrival,\012    threw her "
	.ascii	"altogether into an agitation of spirits\012    whic"
	.ascii	"h kept off every indication of fatigue, and made\012"
	.ascii	"    her only fearful of betraying herself to her si"
	.ascii	"ster.\012    Short was the time, however, in which "
	.ascii	"that fear could\012    affect her, for within half "
	.ascii	"an hour after Willoughby's\012    leaving the house"
	.ascii	", she was again called down stairs\012    by the so"
	.ascii	"und of another carriage.--Eager to s"
	.ascii	"ave her\012    mother from every unnecessary moment"
	.ascii	"'s horrible suspense,\012    she ran immediately in"
	.ascii	"to the hall, and reached the outward\012    door ju"
	.ascii	"st in time to receive and support her as she entere"
	.ascii	"d it.\012    \012    Mrs. Dashwood, whose terror as"
	.ascii	" they drew near the\012    house had produced almos"
	.ascii	"t the conviction of Marianne's\012    being no more"
	.ascii	", had no voice to inquire after her,\012    no voic"
	.ascii	"e even for Elinor; but SHE, waiting neither for\012"
	.ascii	"    salutation nor inquiry, instantly gave the joyf"
	.ascii	"ul relief;--\012    and her mother, catching it wit"
	.ascii	"h all her usual warmth,\012    was in a moment as m"
	.ascii	"uch overcome by her happiness, as she\012    had be"
	.ascii	"en before by her fears.  She was supported into\012"
	.ascii	"    the drawing-room between her daughter and her f"
	.ascii	"riend;--\012    and there, shedding tears of joy, t"
	.ascii	"hough still unable\012    to speak, embraced Elinor"
	.ascii	" again and again, turning from her\012    at interv"
	.ascii	"als to press Colonel Brandon's hand, with a look\012"
	.ascii	"    which spoke at once her gratitude, and her conv"
	.ascii	"iction\012    of his sharing with herself in the bl"
	.ascii	"iss of the moment.\012    He shared it, however, in"
	.ascii	" a silence even greater than her own.\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  As soon as Mrs. Dashwood had recovered herself,\012"
	.ascii	"    to see Marianne was her first desire; and in tw"
	.ascii	"o minutes she\012    was with her beloved child, re"
	.ascii	"ndered dearer to her than ever\012    by absence, u"
	.ascii	"nhappiness, and danger.  Elinor's delight,\012    a"
	.ascii	"s she saw what each felt in the meeting, was only c"
	.ascii	"hecked\012    by an apprehension of its robbing Mar"
	.ascii	"ianne of farther sleep;--\012    but Mrs. Dashwood "
	.ascii	"could be calm, could be even prudent,\012    when t"
	.ascii	"he life of a child was at stake, and Marianne,\012 "
	.ascii	"   satisfied in knowing her mother was near her, an"
	.ascii	"d conscious\012    of being too weak for conversati"
	.ascii	"on, submitted readily to the\012    silence and qui"
	.ascii	"et prescribed by every nurse around her.\012    Mrs"
	.ascii	". Dashwood WOULD sit up with her all night; and Eli"
	.ascii	"nor,\012    in compliance with her mother's entreat"
	.ascii	"y, went to bed.\012    But the rest, which one nigh"
	.ascii	"t entirely sleepless,\012    and many hours of the "
	.ascii	"most wearin"
	.ascii	"g anxiety seemed to\012    make requisite, was kept"
	.ascii	" off by irritation of spirits.\012    Willoughby, \""
	.ascii	"poor Willoughby,\" as she now allowed\012    hersel"
	.ascii	"f to call him, was constantly in her thoughts; she\012"
	.ascii	"    would not but have heard his vindication for th"
	.ascii	"e world,\012    and now blamed, now acquitted herse"
	.ascii	"lf for having judged him\012    so harshly before. "
	.ascii	" But her promise of relating it to her\012    siste"
	.ascii	"r was invariably painful.  She dreaded the performa"
	.ascii	"nce\012    of it, dreaded what its effect on Marian"
	.ascii	"ne might be;\012    doubted whether after such an e"
	.ascii	"xplanation she could ever\012    be happy with anot"
	.ascii	"her; and for a moment wished Willoughby\012    a wi"
	.ascii	"dower.  Then, remembering Colonel Brandon, reproved"
	.ascii	" herself,\012    felt that to HIS sufferings and hi"
	.ascii	"s constancy far more\012    than to his rival's, th"
	.ascii	"e reward of her sister was due,\012    and wished a"
	.ascii	"ny thing rather than Mrs. Willoughby's death.\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    The shock of Colonel Brandon's errand at "
	.ascii	"Barton had been\012    much softened to Mrs. Dashwo"
	.ascii	"od by her own previous alarm;\012    for so great w"
	.ascii	"as her uneasiness about Marianne, that she\012    h"
	.ascii	"ad already determined to set out for Cleveland on t"
	.ascii	"hat\012    very day, without waiting for any furthe"
	.ascii	"r intelligence,\012    and had so far settled her j"
	.ascii	"ourney before his arrival,\012    that the Careys w"
	.ascii	"ere then expected every moment to fetch\012    Marg"
	.ascii	"aret away, as her mother was unwilling to take her\012"
	.ascii	"    where there might be infection.\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"Marianne continued to mend every day, and the brill"
	.ascii	"iant\012    cheerfulness of Mrs. Dashwood's looks a"
	.ascii	"nd spirits proved\012    her to be, as she repeated"
	.ascii	"ly declared herself, one of\012    the happiest wom"
	.ascii	"en in the world.  Elinor could not hear\012    the "
	.ascii	"declaration, nor witness its proofs without sometim"
	.ascii	"es\012    wondering whether her mother ever recolle"
	.ascii	"cted Edward.\012    But Mrs. Dashwood, trusting to "
	.ascii	"the temperate account\012    of her own disappointm"
	.ascii	"ent which Elinor had sent her,\012    was led away "
	.ascii	"by the exuberance of her joy to think only\012    o"
	.ascii	"f what would increase it.  Marianne was restored to"
	.ascii	" her\012    "
	.ascii	"from a danger in which, as she now began to feel,\012"
	.ascii	"    her own mistaken judgment in encouraging the un"
	.ascii	"fortunate\012    attachment to Willoughby, had cont"
	.ascii	"ributed to place her;--\012    and in her recovery "
	.ascii	"she had yet another source of joy\012    unthought "
	.ascii	"of by Elinor.  It was thus imparted to her,\012    "
	.ascii	"as soon as any opportunity of private conference\012"
	.ascii	"    between them occurred.\012    \012    \"At last"
	.ascii	" we are alone.  My Elinor, you do not yet\012    kn"
	.ascii	"ow all my happiness.  Colonel Brandon loves Mariann"
	.ascii	"e.\012    He has told me so himself.\"\012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   Her daughter, feeling by turns both pleased and "
	.ascii	"pained,\012    surprised and not surprised, was all"
	.ascii	" silent attention.\012    \012    \"You are never l"
	.ascii	"ike me, dear Elinor, or I should\012    wonder at y"
	.ascii	"our composure now.  Had I sat down to wish\012    f"
	.ascii	"or any possible good to my family, I should have fi"
	.ascii	"xed\012    on Colonel Brandon's marrying one of you"
	.ascii	" as the object\012    most desirable.  And I believ"
	.ascii	"e Marianne will be the most\012    happy with him o"
	.ascii	"f the two.\"\012    \012    Elinor was half incline"
	.ascii	"d to ask her reason for thinking so,\012    because"
	.ascii	" satisfied that none founded on an impartial\012   "
	.ascii	" consideration of their age, characters, or feeling"
	.ascii	"s,\012    could be given;--but her mother must alwa"
	.ascii	"ys be carried\012    away by her imagination on any"
	.ascii	" interesting subject,\012    and therefore instead "
	.ascii	"of an inquiry, she passed it off with a\012    smil"
	.ascii	"e.\012    \012    \"He opened his whole heart to me"
	.ascii	" yesterday as we travelled.\012    It came out quit"
	.ascii	"e unawares, quite undesignedly.  I, you may\012    "
	.ascii	"well believe, could talk of nothing but my child;--"
	.ascii	"he could\012    not conceal his distress; I saw tha"
	.ascii	"t it equalled my own,\012    and he perhaps, thinki"
	.ascii	"ng that mere friendship, as the world\012    now go"
	.ascii	"es, would not justify so warm a sympathy--or rather"
	.ascii	",\012    not thinking at all, I suppose--giving way"
	.ascii	" to irresistible\012    feelings, made me acquainte"
	.ascii	"d with his earnest, tender, constant,\012    affect"
	.ascii	"ion for Marianne.  He has loved her, my Elinor, eve"
	.ascii	"r since\012    the first moment of seeing her.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Here, however, Elinor "
	.ascii	"perceived,--not the language,\012    not the profes"
	.ascii	"sions of Colonel Brandon, but the natural\012    em"
	.ascii	"bellishments of her mother's active fancy, which fa"
	.ascii	"shioned\012    every thing delightful to her as it "
	.ascii	"chose.\012    \012    \"His regard for her, infinit"
	.ascii	"ely surpassing anything\012    that Willoughby ever"
	.ascii	" felt or feigned, as much more warm,\012    as more"
	.ascii	" sincere or constant--which ever we are to call it-"
	.ascii	"-\012    has subsisted through all the knowledge of"
	.ascii	" dear Marianne's\012    unhappy prepossession for t"
	.ascii	"hat worthless young man!--and\012    without selfis"
	.ascii	"hness--without encouraging a hope!--could\012    he"
	.ascii	" have seen her happy with another--Such a noble min"
	.ascii	"d!--\012    such openness, such sincerity!--no one "
	.ascii	"can be deceived\012    in HIM.\"\012    \012    \"C"
	.ascii	"olonel Brandon's character,\" said Elinor,\012    \""
	.ascii	"as an excellent man, is well established.\"\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \"I know it is\"--replied her mother seriou"
	.ascii	"sly, \"or\012    after such a warning, I should be "
	.ascii	"the last to encourage\012    such affection, or eve"
	.ascii	"n to be pleased by it.  But his coming\012    for m"
	.ascii	"e as he did, with such active, such ready friendshi"
	.ascii	"p,\012    is enough to prove him one of the worthie"
	.ascii	"st of men.\"\012    \012    \"His character, howeve"
	.ascii	"r,\" answered Elinor, \"does not rest\012    on ONE"
	.ascii	" act of kindness, to which his affection for Marian"
	.ascii	"ne,\012    were humanity out of the case, would hav"
	.ascii	"e prompted him.\012    To Mrs. Jennings, to the Mid"
	.ascii	"dletons, he has been long\012    and intimately kno"
	.ascii	"wn; they equally love and respect him;\012    and e"
	.ascii	"ven my own knowledge of him, though lately acquired"
	.ascii	",\012    is very considerable; and so highly do I v"
	.ascii	"alue and esteem him,\012    that if Marianne can be"
	.ascii	" happy with him, I shall be as ready\012    as your"
	.ascii	"self to think our connection the greatest blessing\012"
	.ascii	"    to us in the world.  What answer did you give h"
	.ascii	"im?--Did you\012    allow him to hope?\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Oh! my love, I could not then talk of hope to"
	.ascii	" him\012    or to myself.  Marianne might at that m"
	.ascii	"oment be dying.\012    But he did not ask for hope "
	.ascii	"or encouragement.  His was\012    an involuntary co"
	.ascii	"nfidence, an irrepressible effusion\012"
	.ascii	"    to a soothing friend--not an application to a p"
	.ascii	"arent.\012    Yet after a time I DID say, for at fi"
	.ascii	"rst I was quite\012    overcome--that if she lived,"
	.ascii	" as I trusted she might,\012    my greatest happine"
	.ascii	"ss would lie in promoting their marriage;\012    an"
	.ascii	"d since our arrival, since our delightful security,"
	.ascii	"\012    I have repeated it to him more fully, have "
	.ascii	"given him every\012    encouragement in my power.  "
	.ascii	"Time, a very little time,\012    I tell him, will d"
	.ascii	"o everything;--Marianne's heart is\012    not to be"
	.ascii	" wasted for ever on such a man as Willoughby.--\012"
	.ascii	"    His own merits must soon secure it.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"To judge from the Colonel's spirits, however,"
	.ascii	"\012    you have not yet made him equally sanguine."
	.ascii	"\"\012    \012    \"No.--He thinks Marianne's affec"
	.ascii	"tion too deeply\012    rooted for any change in it "
	.ascii	"under a great length of time,\012    and even suppo"
	.ascii	"sing her heart again free, is too diffident\012    "
	.ascii	"of himself to believe, that with such a difference "
	.ascii	"of age\012    and disposition he could ever attach "
	.ascii	"her.  There, however,\012    he is quite mistaken. "
	.ascii	" His age is only so much beyond\012    hers as to b"
	.ascii	"e an advantage, as to make his character and\012   "
	.ascii	" principles fixed;--and his disposition, I am well "
	.ascii	"convinced,\012    is exactly the very one to make y"
	.ascii	"our sister happy.\012    And his person, his manner"
	.ascii	"s too, are all in his favour.\012    My partiality "
	.ascii	"does not blind me; he certainly is not\012    so ha"
	.ascii	"ndsome as Willoughby--but at the same time,\012    "
	.ascii	"there is something much more pleasing in his counte"
	.ascii	"nance.--\012    There was always a something,--if y"
	.ascii	"ou remember,--in Willoughby's\012    eyes at times,"
	.ascii	" which I did not like.\"\012    \012    Elinor coul"
	.ascii	"d NOT remember it;--but her mother,\012    without "
	.ascii	"waiting for her assent, continued,\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"And his manners, the Colonel's manners are not only"
	.ascii	"\012    more pleasing to me than Willoughby's ever "
	.ascii	"were, but they\012    are of a kind I well know to "
	.ascii	"be more solidly attaching\012    to Marianne.  Thei"
	.ascii	"r gentleness, their genuine attention\012    to oth"
	.ascii	"er people, and their manly unstudied simplicity\012"
	.ascii	"    is much more accordant"
	.ascii	" with her real disposition, than\012    the livelin"
	.ascii	"ess--often artificial, and often ill-timed\012    o"
	.ascii	"f the other.  I am very sure myself, that had Willo"
	.ascii	"ughby\012    turned out as really amiable, as he ha"
	.ascii	"s proved himself\012    the contrary, Marianne woul"
	.ascii	"d yet never have been so happy\012    with HIM, as "
	.ascii	"she will be with Colonel Brandon.\"\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"She paused.--Her daughter could not quite agree\012"
	.ascii	"    with her, but her dissent was not heard, and th"
	.ascii	"erefore\012    gave no offence.\012    \012    \"At"
	.ascii	" Delaford, she will be within an easy distance of m"
	.ascii	"e,\"\012    added Mrs. Dashwood, \"even if I remain"
	.ascii	" at Barton; and in all\012    probability,--for I h"
	.ascii	"ear it is a large village,--indeed there\012    cer"
	.ascii	"tainly MUST be some small house or cottage close by"
	.ascii	",\012    that would suit us quite as well as our pr"
	.ascii	"esent situation.\"\012    \012    Poor Elinor!--her"
	.ascii	"e was a new scheme for getting\012    her to Delafo"
	.ascii	"rd!--but her spirit was stubborn.\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"His fortune too!--for at my time of life you know,\012"
	.ascii	"    everybody cares about THAT;--and though I neith"
	.ascii	"er know\012    nor desire to know, what it really i"
	.ascii	"s, I am sure it must be\012    a good one.\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    Here they were interrupted by the entrance"
	.ascii	" of a\012    third person, and Elinor withdrew to t"
	.ascii	"hink it all over\012    in private, to wish success"
	.ascii	" to her friend, and yet\012    in wishing it, to fe"
	.ascii	"el a pang for Willoughby.\012    \012    \012    \012"
	.ascii	"    CHAPTER 46\012    \012    \012    Marianne's il"
	.ascii	"lness, though weakening in its kind,\012    had not"
	.ascii	" been long enough to make her recovery slow;\012   "
	.ascii	" and with youth, natural strength, and her mother's"
	.ascii	" presence\012    in aid, it proceeded so smoothly a"
	.ascii	"s to enable her to remove,\012    within four days "
	.ascii	"after the arrival of the latter,\012    into Mrs. P"
	.ascii	"almer's dressing-room.  When there, at her own\012 "
	.ascii	"   particular request, for she was impatient to pou"
	.ascii	"r forth\012    her thanks to him for fetching her m"
	.ascii	"other, Colonel Brandon\012    was invited to visit "
	.ascii	"her.\012    \012    His emotion on entering the roo"
	.ascii	"m, in seeing her altered\012    looks, and in recei"
	.ascii	"ving the pale hand which she immediately\012    hel"
	.ascii	"d"
	.ascii	" out to him, was such, as, in Elinor's conjecture,\012"
	.ascii	"    must arise from something more than his affecti"
	.ascii	"on for Marianne,\012    or the consciousness of its"
	.ascii	" being known to others;\012    and she soon discove"
	.ascii	"red in his melancholy eye and varying\012    comple"
	.ascii	"xion as he looked at her sister, the probable\012  "
	.ascii	"  recurrence of many past scenes of misery to his m"
	.ascii	"ind,\012    brought back by that resemblance betwee"
	.ascii	"n Marianne and Eliza\012    already acknowledged, a"
	.ascii	"nd now strengthened by the hollow eye,\012    the s"
	.ascii	"ickly skin, the posture of reclining weakness,\012 "
	.ascii	"   and the warm acknowledgment of peculiar obligati"
	.ascii	"on.\012    \012    Mrs. Dashwood, not less watchful"
	.ascii	" of what passed than\012    her daughter, but with "
	.ascii	"a mind very differently influenced,\012    and ther"
	.ascii	"efore watching to very different effect,\012    saw"
	.ascii	" nothing in the Colonel's behaviour but what arose\012"
	.ascii	"    from the most simple and self-evident sensation"
	.ascii	"s, while in\012    the actions and words of Mariann"
	.ascii	"e she persuaded herself\012    to think that someth"
	.ascii	"ing more than gratitude already dawned.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    At the end of another day or two, Marianne grow"
	.ascii	"ing\012    visibly stronger every twelve hours, Mrs"
	.ascii	". Dashwood,\012    urged equally by her own and her"
	.ascii	" daughter's wishes,\012    began to talk of removin"
	.ascii	"g to Barton.  On HER measures\012    depended those"
	.ascii	" of her two friends; Mrs. Jennings could\012    not"
	.ascii	" quit Cleveland during the Dashwoods' stay; and Col"
	.ascii	"onel\012    Brandon was soon brought, by their unit"
	.ascii	"ed request,\012    to consider his own abode there "
	.ascii	"as equally determinate,\012    if not equally indis"
	.ascii	"pensable.  At his and Mrs. Jennings's\012    united"
	.ascii	" request in return, Mrs. Dashwood was prevailed\012"
	.ascii	"    on to accept the use of his carriage on her jou"
	.ascii	"rney back,\012    for the better accommodation of h"
	.ascii	"er sick child; and the Colonel,\012    at the joint"
	.ascii	" invitation of Mrs. Dashwood and Mrs. Jennings,\012"
	.ascii	"    whose active good-nature made her friendly and "
	.ascii	"hospitable\012    for other people as well as herse"
	.ascii	"lf, engaged with pleasure\012    to redeem it by a "
	.ascii	"visit at the cottage, in the course\012    of a few"
	.ascii	" weeks.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    The day of separation and departure arr"
	.ascii	"ived;\012    and Marianne, after taking so particul"
	.ascii	"ar and lengthened\012    a leave of Mrs. Jennings, "
	.ascii	"one so earnestly grateful, so full\012    of respec"
	.ascii	"t and kind wishes as seemed due to her own heart\012"
	.ascii	"    from a secret acknowledgment of past inattentio"
	.ascii	"n, and bidding\012    Colonel Brandon farewell with"
	.ascii	" a cordiality of a friend,\012    was carefully ass"
	.ascii	"isted by him into the carriage, of which he\012    "
	.ascii	"seemed anxious that she should engross at least hal"
	.ascii	"f.\012    Mrs. Dashwood and Elinor then followed, a"
	.ascii	"nd the others\012    were left by themselves, to ta"
	.ascii	"lk of the travellers,\012    and feel their own dul"
	.ascii	"lness, till Mrs. Jennings was summoned\012    to he"
	.ascii	"r chaise to take comfort in the gossip of her maid\012"
	.ascii	"    for the loss of her two young companions; and C"
	.ascii	"olonel Brandon\012    immediately afterwards took h"
	.ascii	"is solitary way to Delaford.\012    \012    The Das"
	.ascii	"hwoods were two days on the road, and Marianne\012 "
	.ascii	"   bore her journey on both, without essential fati"
	.ascii	"gue.\012    Every thing that the most zealous affec"
	.ascii	"tion, the most\012    solicitous care could do to r"
	.ascii	"ender her comfortable,\012    was the office of eac"
	.ascii	"h watchful companion, and each\012    found their r"
	.ascii	"eward in her bodily ease, and her calmness\012    o"
	.ascii	"f spirits.  To Elinor, the observation of the latte"
	.ascii	"r\012    was particularly grateful.  She, who had s"
	.ascii	"een her week\012    after week so constantly suffer"
	.ascii	"ing, oppressed by anguish\012    of heart which she"
	.ascii	" had neither courage to speak of,\012    nor fortit"
	.ascii	"ude to conceal, now saw with a joy, which no other\012"
	.ascii	"    could equally share, an apparent composure of m"
	.ascii	"ind, which,\012    in being the result as she trust"
	.ascii	"ed of serious reflection,\012    must eventually le"
	.ascii	"ad her to contentment and cheerfulness.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    As they approached Barton, indeed, and entered\012"
	.ascii	"    on scenes of which every field and every tree b"
	.ascii	"rought\012    some peculiar, some painful recollect"
	.ascii	"ion, she grew silent\012    and thoughtful, and tur"
	.ascii	"ning away her face from their notice,\012    sat ea"
	.ascii	"rnestly gazing through the window.  But here,\012  "
	.ascii	"  Elino"
	.ascii	"r could neither wonder nor blame; and when she saw,"
	.ascii	"\012    as she assisted Marianne from the carriage,"
	.ascii	" that she\012    had been crying, she saw only an e"
	.ascii	"motion too natural\012    in itself to raise any th"
	.ascii	"ing less tender than pity,\012    and in its unobtr"
	.ascii	"usiveness entitled to praise.  In the\012    whole "
	.ascii	"of her subsequent manner, she traced the direction\012"
	.ascii	"    of a mind awakened to reasonable exertion; for "
	.ascii	"no sooner\012    had they entered their common sitt"
	.ascii	"ing-room, than Marianne\012    turned her eyes arou"
	.ascii	"nd it with a look of resolute firmness,\012    as i"
	.ascii	"f determined at once to accustom herself to the sig"
	.ascii	"ht\012    of every object with which the remembranc"
	.ascii	"e of Willoughby could\012    be connected.--She sai"
	.ascii	"d little, but every sentence aimed\012    at cheerf"
	.ascii	"ulness, and though a sigh sometimes escaped her,\012"
	.ascii	"    it never passed away without the atonement of a"
	.ascii	" smile.\012    After dinner she would try her piano"
	.ascii	"-forte. She went to it;\012    but the music on whi"
	.ascii	"ch her eye first rested was an opera,\012    procur"
	.ascii	"ed for her by Willoughby, containing some of their\012"
	.ascii	"    favourite duets, and bearing on its outward lea"
	.ascii	"f her own name\012    in his hand-writing.--That wo"
	.ascii	"uld not do.--She shook her head,\012    put the mus"
	.ascii	"ic aside, and after running over the keys\012    fo"
	.ascii	"r a minute, complained of feebleness in her fingers"
	.ascii	",\012    and closed the instrument again; declaring"
	.ascii	" however with firmness\012    as she did so, that s"
	.ascii	"he should in future practice much.\012    \012    T"
	.ascii	"he next morning produced no abatement in these\012 "
	.ascii	"   happy symptoms.  On the contrary, with a mind an"
	.ascii	"d body\012    alike strengthened by rest, she looke"
	.ascii	"d and spoke with\012    more genuine spirit, antici"
	.ascii	"pating the pleasure of\012    Margaret's return, an"
	.ascii	"d talking of the dear family party\012    which wou"
	.ascii	"ld then be restored, of their mutual pursuits\012  "
	.ascii	"  and cheerful society, as the only happiness worth"
	.ascii	" a wish.\012    \012    \"When the weather is settl"
	.ascii	"ed, and I have recovered\012    my strength,\" said"
	.ascii	" she, \"we will take long walks together\012    eve"
	.ascii	"ry day.  We will walk to the farm at the edge of th"
	.ascii	"e down,"
	.ascii	"\012    and see how the children go on; we will wal"
	.ascii	"k to Sir John's\012    new plantations at Barton Cr"
	.ascii	"oss, and the Abbeyland;\012    and we will often go"
	.ascii	" the old ruins of the Priory,\012    and try to tra"
	.ascii	"ce its foundations as far as we are told\012    the"
	.ascii	"y once reached.  I know we shall be happy.  I know\012"
	.ascii	"    the summer will pass happily away.  I mean neve"
	.ascii	"r to be\012    later in rising than six, and from t"
	.ascii	"hat time till dinner\012    I shall divide every mo"
	.ascii	"ment between music and reading.\012    I have forme"
	.ascii	"d my plan, and am determined to enter on a course\012"
	.ascii	"    of serious study.  Our own library is too well "
	.ascii	"known to me,\012    to be resorted to for any thing"
	.ascii	" beyond mere amusement.\012    But there are many w"
	.ascii	"orks well worth reading at the Park;\012    and the"
	.ascii	"re are others of more modern production which I\012"
	.ascii	"    know I can borrow of Colonel Brandon.  By readi"
	.ascii	"ng only six\012    hours a-day, I shall gain in the"
	.ascii	" course of a twelve-month\012    a great deal of in"
	.ascii	"struction which I now feel myself to want.\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    Elinor honoured her for a plan which origi"
	.ascii	"nated\012    so nobly as this; though smiling to se"
	.ascii	"e the same eager\012    fancy which had been leadin"
	.ascii	"g her to the extreme of languid\012    indolence an"
	.ascii	"d selfish repining, now at work in introducing\012 "
	.ascii	"   excess into a scheme of such rational employment"
	.ascii	" and virtuous\012    self-control. Her smile howeve"
	.ascii	"r changed to a sigh when she\012    remembered that"
	.ascii	" promise to Willoughby was yet unfulfilled,\012    "
	.ascii	"and feared she had that to communicate which might "
	.ascii	"again\012    unsettle the mind of Marianne, and rui"
	.ascii	"n at least for a time\012    this fair prospect of "
	.ascii	"busy tranquillity.  Willing therefore\012    to del"
	.ascii	"ay the evil hour, she resolved to wait till her\012"
	.ascii	"    sister's health were more secure, before she ap"
	.ascii	"pointed it.\012    But the resolution was made only"
	.ascii	" to be broken.\012    \012    Marianne had been two"
	.ascii	" or three days at home, before\012    the weather w"
	.ascii	"as fine enough for an invalid like herself\012    t"
	.ascii	"o venture out.  But at last a soft, genial morning "
	.ascii	"appeared;\012    such as might tempt the daughter's"
	.ascii	" wishes an"
	.ascii	"d the\012    mother's confidence; and Marianne, lea"
	.ascii	"ning on Elinor's arm,\012    was authorised to walk"
	.ascii	" as long as she could without fatigue,\012    in th"
	.ascii	"e lane before the house.\012    \012    The sisters"
	.ascii	" set out at a pace, slow as the feebleness\012    o"
	.ascii	"f Marianne in an exercise hitherto untried since he"
	.ascii	"r\012    illness required;--and they had advanced o"
	.ascii	"nly so far\012    beyond the house as to admit a fu"
	.ascii	"ll view of the hill,\012    the important hill behi"
	.ascii	"nd, when pausing with her eyes\012    turned toward"
	.ascii	"s it, Marianne calmly said,\012    \012    \"There,"
	.ascii	" exactly there,\"--pointing with one hand,\012    \""
	.ascii	"on that projecting mound,--there I fell; and there\012"
	.ascii	"    I first saw Willoughby.\"\012    \012    Her vo"
	.ascii	"ice sunk with the word, but presently reviving she "
	.ascii	"added,\012    \012    \"I am thankful to find that "
	.ascii	"I can look with so little pain\012    on the spot!-"
	.ascii	"-shall we ever talk on that subject, Elinor?\"--\012"
	.ascii	"    hesitatingly it was said.--\"Or will it be wron"
	.ascii	"g?--I can talk\012    of it now, I hope, as I ought"
	.ascii	" to do.\"--\012    \012    Elinor tenderly invited "
	.ascii	"her to be open.\012    \012    \"As for regret,\" s"
	.ascii	"aid Marianne, \"I have done with that,\012    as fa"
	.ascii	"r as HE is concerned.  I do not mean to talk to you"
	.ascii	"\012    of what my feelings have been for him, but "
	.ascii	"what they\012    are NOW.--At present, if I could b"
	.ascii	"e satisfied on one point,\012    if I could be allo"
	.ascii	"wed to think that he was not ALWAYS\012    acting a"
	.ascii	" part, not ALWAYS deceiving me;--but above all,\012"
	.ascii	"    if I could be assured that he never was so VERY"
	.ascii	" wicked\012    as my fears have sometimes fancied h"
	.ascii	"im, since the story\012    of that unfortunate girl"
	.ascii	"\"--\012    \012    She stopt.  Elinor joyfully tre"
	.ascii	"asured her words\012    as she answered,\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"If you could be assured of that, you think yo"
	.ascii	"u\012    should be easy.\"\012    \012    \"Yes. My"
	.ascii	" peace of mind is doubly involved in it;--\012    f"
	.ascii	"or not only is it horrible to suspect a person, who"
	.ascii	" has\012    been what HE has been to ME, of such de"
	.ascii	"signs,--but what must\012    it make me appear to m"
	.ascii	"yself?--What in a situation like mine,\012    but a"
	.ascii	" most shamefully unguarded affection could expose\012"
	.ascii	"   "
	.ascii	" me to\"--\012    \012    \"How then,\" asked her s"
	.ascii	"ister, \"would you account\012    for his behaviour"
	.ascii	"?\"\012    \012    \"I would suppose him,--Oh, how "
	.ascii	"gladly would I suppose him,\012    only fickle, ver"
	.ascii	"y, very fickle.\"\012    \012    Elinor said no mor"
	.ascii	"e.  She was debating within herself\012    on the e"
	.ascii	"ligibility of beginning her story directly,\012    "
	.ascii	"or postponing it till Marianne were in stronger hea"
	.ascii	"lth;--\012    and they crept on for a few minutes i"
	.ascii	"n silence.\012    \012    \"I am not wishing him to"
	.ascii	"o much good,\" said Marianne\012    at last with a "
	.ascii	"sigh, \"when I wish his secret reflections\012    m"
	.ascii	"ay be no more unpleasant than my own.  He will suff"
	.ascii	"er\012    enough in them.\"\012    \012    \"Do you"
	.ascii	" compare your conduct with his?\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"No. I compare it with what it ought to have been;\012"
	.ascii	"    I compare it with yours.\"\012    \012    \"Our"
	.ascii	" situations have borne little resemblance.\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \"They have borne more than our conduct.--"
	.ascii	"Do not,\012    my dearest Elinor, let your kindness"
	.ascii	" defend what I know\012    your judgment must censu"
	.ascii	"re.  My illness has made me think--\012    It has g"
	.ascii	"iven me leisure and calmness for serious recollecti"
	.ascii	"on.\012    Long before I was enough recovered to ta"
	.ascii	"lk, I was perfectly\012    able to reflect.  I cons"
	.ascii	"idered the past: I saw in my\012    own behaviour, "
	.ascii	"since the beginning of our acquaintance\012    with"
	.ascii	" him last autumn, nothing but a series of imprudenc"
	.ascii	"e\012    towards myself, and want of kindness to ot"
	.ascii	"hers.\012    I saw that my own feelings had prepare"
	.ascii	"d my sufferings,\012    and that my want of fortitu"
	.ascii	"de under them had almost led\012    me to the grave"
	.ascii	".  My illness, I well knew, had been\012    entirel"
	.ascii	"y brought on by myself by such negligence of my\012"
	.ascii	"    own health, as I had felt even at the time to b"
	.ascii	"e wrong.\012    Had I died,--it would have been sel"
	.ascii	"f-destruction. I\012    did not know my danger till"
	.ascii	" the danger was removed;\012    but with such feeli"
	.ascii	"ngs as these reflections gave me,\012    I wonder a"
	.ascii	"t my recovery,--wonder that the very eagerness\012 "
	.ascii	"   of my desire to live, to have time for atonement"
	.ascii	" to my God,\012    and to you all, did not kill me "
	.ascii	"at onc"
	.ascii	"e.  Had I died,--\012    in what peculiar misery sh"
	.ascii	"ould I have left you, my nurse,\012    my friend, m"
	.ascii	"y sister!--You, who had seen all the fretful\012   "
	.ascii	" selfishness of my latter days; who had known all t"
	.ascii	"he\012    murmurings of my heart!--How should I hav"
	.ascii	"e lived in YOUR\012    remembrance!--My mother too!"
	.ascii	" How could you have consoled\012    her!--I cannot "
	.ascii	"express my own abhorrence of myself.\012    Wheneve"
	.ascii	"r I looked towards the past, I saw some duty neglec"
	.ascii	"ted,\012    or some failing indulged.  Every body s"
	.ascii	"eemed injured by me.\012    The kindness, the uncea"
	.ascii	"sing kindness of Mrs. Jennings,\012    I had repaid"
	.ascii	" with ungrateful contempt.  To the Middletons,\012 "
	.ascii	"   to the Palmers, the Steeles, to every common acq"
	.ascii	"uaintance even,\012    I had been insolent and unju"
	.ascii	"st; with a heart hardened\012    against their meri"
	.ascii	"ts, and a temper irritated by their\012    very att"
	.ascii	"ention.--To John, to Fanny,--yes, even to them,\012"
	.ascii	"    little as they deserve, I had given less than t"
	.ascii	"heir due.\012    But you,--you above all, above my "
	.ascii	"mother, had been wronged\012    by me.  I, and only"
	.ascii	" I, knew your heart and its sorrows;\012    yet to "
	.ascii	"what did it influence me?--not to any compassion\012"
	.ascii	"    that could benefit you or myself.--Your example"
	.ascii	" was\012    before me; but to what avail?--Was I mo"
	.ascii	"re considerate\012    of you and your comfort?  Did"
	.ascii	" I imitate your forbearance,\012    or lessen your "
	.ascii	"restraints, by taking any part in those\012    offi"
	.ascii	"ces of general complaisance or particular gratitude"
	.ascii	"\012    which you had hitherto been left to dischar"
	.ascii	"ge alone?--No;--\012    not less when I knew you to"
	.ascii	" be unhappy, than when I\012    had believed you at"
	.ascii	" ease, did I turn away from every\012    exertion o"
	.ascii	"f duty or friendship; scarcely allowing sorrow\012 "
	.ascii	"   to exist but with me, regretting only THAT heart"
	.ascii	"\012    which had deserted and wronged me, and leav"
	.ascii	"ing you,\012    for or I professed an unbounded aff"
	.ascii	"ection, to be miserable\012    for my sake.\"\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    Here ceased the rapid flow of her self-re"
	.ascii	"proving spirit;\012    and Elinor, impatient to soo"
	.ascii	"the, though too honest\012    to flatter, gave her "
	.ascii	"instantly that"
	.ascii	" praise and support\012    which her frankness and "
	.ascii	"her contrition so well deserved.\012    Marianne pr"
	.ascii	"essed her hand and replied,\012    \012    \"You ar"
	.ascii	"e very good.--The future must be my proof.\012    I"
	.ascii	" have laid down my plan, and if I am capable of adh"
	.ascii	"ering\012    to it--my feelings shall be governed a"
	.ascii	"nd my temper improved.\012    They shall no longer "
	.ascii	"worry others, nor torture myself.\012    I shall no"
	.ascii	"w live solely for my family.  You, my mother,\012  "
	.ascii	"  and Margaret, must henceforth be all the world to"
	.ascii	" me;\012    you will share my affections entirely b"
	.ascii	"etween you.\012    From you, from my home, I shall "
	.ascii	"never again have the smallest\012    incitement to "
	.ascii	"move; and if I do mix in other society,\012    it w"
	.ascii	"ill be only to shew that my spirit is humbled,\012 "
	.ascii	"   my heart amended, and that I can practise the ci"
	.ascii	"vilities,\012    the lesser duties of life, with ge"
	.ascii	"ntleness and forbearance.\012    As for Willoughby-"
	.ascii	"-to say that I shall soon or that I shall\012    ev"
	.ascii	"er forget him, would be idle.  His remembrance can "
	.ascii	"be overcome\012    by no change of circumstances or"
	.ascii	" opinions.  But it shall\012    be regulated, it sh"
	.ascii	"all be checked by religion, by reason,\012    by co"
	.ascii	"nstant employment.\"\012    \012    She paused--and"
	.ascii	" added in a low voice, \"If I could\012    but know"
	.ascii	" HIS heart, everything would become easy.\"\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    Elinor, who had now been for some time refl"
	.ascii	"ecting\012    on the propriety or impropriety of sp"
	.ascii	"eedily hazarding\012    her narration, without feel"
	.ascii	"ing at all nearer decision than\012    at first, he"
	.ascii	"ard this; and perceiving that as reflection\012    "
	.ascii	"did nothing, resolution must do all, soon found her"
	.ascii	"self\012    leading to the fact.\012    \012    She"
	.ascii	" managed the recital, as she hoped, with address;\012"
	.ascii	"    prepared her anxious listener with caution; rel"
	.ascii	"ated simply\012    and honestly the chief points on"
	.ascii	" which Willoughby\012    grounded his apology; did "
	.ascii	"justice to his repentance,\012    and softened only"
	.ascii	" his protestations of present regard.\012    Marian"
	.ascii	"ne said not a word.--She trembled, her eyes\012    "
	.ascii	"were fixed on the ground, and her lips became white"
	.ascii	"r\012    than even sickness "
	.ascii	"had left them.  A thousand inquiries\012    sprung "
	.ascii	"up from her heart, but she dared not urge one.\012 "
	.ascii	"   She caught every syllable with panting eagerness"
	.ascii	"; her hand,\012    unknowingly to herself, closely "
	.ascii	"pressed her sister's, and\012    tears covered her "
	.ascii	"cheeks.\012    \012    Elinor, dreading her being t"
	.ascii	"ired, led her towards home;\012    and till they re"
	.ascii	"ached the door of the cottage,\012    easily conjec"
	.ascii	"turing what her curiosity must be\012    though no "
	.ascii	"question was suffered to speak it, talked of\012   "
	.ascii	" nothing but Willoughby, and their conversation tog"
	.ascii	"ether;\012    and was carefully minute in every par"
	.ascii	"ticular of speech\012    and look, where minuteness"
	.ascii	" could be safely indulged.\012    As soon as they e"
	.ascii	"ntered the house, Marianne with a kiss\012    of gr"
	.ascii	"atitude and these two words just articulate through"
	.ascii	"\012    her tears, \"Tell mama,\" withdrew from her"
	.ascii	" sister and\012    walked slowly up stairs.  Elinor"
	.ascii	" would not attempt\012    to disturb a solitude so "
	.ascii	"reasonable as what she now sought;\012    and with "
	.ascii	"a mind anxiously pre-arranging its result,\012    a"
	.ascii	"nd a resolution of reviving the subject again,\012 "
	.ascii	"   should Marianne fail to do it, she turned into t"
	.ascii	"he parlour\012    to fulfill her parting injunction"
	.ascii	".\012    \012    \012    \012    CHAPTER 47\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \012    Mrs. Dashwood did not hear unmoved "
	.ascii	"the vindication\012    of her former favourite.  Sh"
	.ascii	"e rejoiced in his being\012    cleared from some pa"
	.ascii	"rt of his imputed guilt;--she was\012    sorry for "
	.ascii	"him;--she wished him happy.  But the feelings\012  "
	.ascii	"  of the past could not be recalled.--Nothing could"
	.ascii	" restore\012    him with a faith unbroken--a charac"
	.ascii	"ter unblemished,\012    to Marianne.  Nothing could"
	.ascii	" do away the knowledge\012    of what the latter ha"
	.ascii	"d suffered through his means,\012    nor remove the"
	.ascii	" guilt of his conduct towards Eliza.\012    Nothing"
	.ascii	" could replace him, therefore, in her former esteem"
	.ascii	",\012    nor injure the interests of Colonel Brando"
	.ascii	"n.\012    \012    Had Mrs. Dashwood, like her daugh"
	.ascii	"ter, heard Willoughby's\012    story from himself--"
	.ascii	"had she witnessed his distress,\012    and been und"
	.ascii	"er the influence of his countenance a"
	.ascii	"nd his\012    manner, it is probable that her compa"
	.ascii	"ssion would have\012    been greater.  But it was n"
	.ascii	"either in Elinor's power,\012    nor in her wish, t"
	.ascii	"o rouse such feelings in another, by her\012    ret"
	.ascii	"ailed explanation, as had at first been called fort"
	.ascii	"h\012    in herself.  Reflection had given calmness"
	.ascii	" to her judgment,\012    and sobered her own opinio"
	.ascii	"n of Willoughby's deserts;--\012    she wished, the"
	.ascii	"refore, to declare only the simple truth,\012    an"
	.ascii	"d lay open such facts as were really due to his cha"
	.ascii	"racter,\012    without any embellishment of tendern"
	.ascii	"ess to lead the\012    fancy astray.\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" In the evening, when they were all three together,"
	.ascii	"\012    Marianne began voluntarily to speak of him "
	.ascii	"again;--\012    but that it was not without an effo"
	.ascii	"rt, the restless,\012    unquiet thoughtfulness in "
	.ascii	"which she had been for some time\012    previously "
	.ascii	"sitting--her rising colour, as she spoke,--\012    "
	.ascii	"and her unsteady voice, plainly shewed.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"I wish to assure you both,\" said she, \"that"
	.ascii	" I see\012    every thing--as you can desire me to "
	.ascii	"do.\"\012    \012    Mrs. Dashwood would have inter"
	.ascii	"rupted her instantly\012    with soothing tendernes"
	.ascii	"s, had not Elinor, who really wished\012    to hear"
	.ascii	" her sister's unbiased opinion, by an eager sign,\012"
	.ascii	"    engaged her silence.  Marianne slowly continued"
	.ascii	"--\012    \012    \"It is a great relief to me--wha"
	.ascii	"t Elinor told\012    me this morning--I have now he"
	.ascii	"ard exactly what I\012    wished to hear.\"--For so"
	.ascii	"me moments her voice was lost;\012    but recoverin"
	.ascii	"g herself, she added, and with greater\012    calmn"
	.ascii	"ess than before--\"I am now perfectly satisfied,\012"
	.ascii	"    I wish for no change.  I never could have been "
	.ascii	"happy\012    with him, after knowing, as sooner or "
	.ascii	"later I must\012    have known, all this.--I should"
	.ascii	" have had no confidence,\012    no esteem.  Nothing"
	.ascii	" could have done it away to my feelings.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"I know it--I know it,\" cried her mother.\012"
	.ascii	"    \"Happy with a man of libertine practices!--Wit"
	.ascii	"h one\012    who so injured the peace of the deares"
	.ascii	"t of our friends,\012    and the best of men!--No--"
	.ascii	"my Marianne has not a heart\012    to"
	.ascii	" be made happy with such a man!--Her conscience, he"
	.ascii	"r\012    sensitive conscience, would have felt all "
	.ascii	"that the\012    conscience of her husband ought to "
	.ascii	"have felt.\"\012    \012    Marianne sighed, and re"
	.ascii	"peated, \"I wish for no change.\"\012    \012    \""
	.ascii	"You consider the matter,\" said Elinor, \"exactly a"
	.ascii	"s\012    a good mind and a sound understanding must"
	.ascii	" consider it;\012    and I dare say you perceive, a"
	.ascii	"s well as myself, not only\012    in this, but in m"
	.ascii	"any other circumstances, reason enough\012    to be"
	.ascii	" convinced that your marriage must have involved yo"
	.ascii	"u\012    in many certain troubles and disappointmen"
	.ascii	"ts, in which\012    you would have been poorly supp"
	.ascii	"orted by an affection,\012    on his side, much les"
	.ascii	"s certain.  Had you married,\012    you must have b"
	.ascii	"een always poor.  His expensiveness is\012    ackno"
	.ascii	"wledged even by himself, and his whole conduct decl"
	.ascii	"ares\012    that self-denial is a word hardly under"
	.ascii	"stood by him.\012    His demands and your inexperie"
	.ascii	"nce together, on a small,\012    very small income,"
	.ascii	" must have brought on distresses which\012    would"
	.ascii	" not be the LESS grievous to you, from having been\012"
	.ascii	"    entirely unknown and unthought of before.  YOUR"
	.ascii	" sense\012    of honour and honesty would have led "
	.ascii	"you, I know,\012    when aware of your situation, t"
	.ascii	"o attempt all the economy\012    that would appear "
	.ascii	"to you possible: and, perhaps, as long\012    as yo"
	.ascii	"ur frugality retrenched only on your own comfort,\012"
	.ascii	"    you might have been suffered to practice it, bu"
	.ascii	"t beyond that--\012    and how little could the utm"
	.ascii	"ost of your single management\012    do to stop the"
	.ascii	" ruin which had begun before your marriage?--\012  "
	.ascii	"  Beyond THAT, had you endeavoured, however reasona"
	.ascii	"bly,\012    to abridge HIS enjoyments, is it not to"
	.ascii	" be feared, that instead\012    of prevailing on fe"
	.ascii	"elings so selfish to consent to it,\012    you woul"
	.ascii	"d have lessened your own influence on his heart,\012"
	.ascii	"    and made him regret the connection which had in"
	.ascii	"volved him\012    in such difficulties?\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Marianne's lips quivered, and she repeated the "
	.ascii	"word\012    \"Selfish?\" in a tone that implied--\""
	.ascii	"do you really think"
	.ascii	"\012    him selfish?\"\012    \012    \"The whole o"
	.ascii	"f his behaviour,\" replied Elinor,\012    \"from th"
	.ascii	"e beginning to the end of the affair, has been\012 "
	.ascii	"   grounded on selfishness.  It was selfishness whi"
	.ascii	"ch first\012    made him sport with your affections"
	.ascii	"; which afterwards,\012    when his own were engage"
	.ascii	"d, made him delay the confession\012    of it, and "
	.ascii	"which finally carried him from Barton.\012    His o"
	.ascii	"wn enjoyment, or his own ease, was, in every partic"
	.ascii	"ular,\012    his ruling principle.\"\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"It is very true.  MY happiness never was his obj"
	.ascii	"ect.\"\012    \012    \"At present,\" continued Eli"
	.ascii	"nor, \"he regrets what he\012    has done.  And why"
	.ascii	" does he regret it?--Because he finds\012    it has"
	.ascii	" not answered towards himself.  It has not made\012"
	.ascii	"    him happy.  His circumstances are now unembarra"
	.ascii	"ssed--he\012    suffers from no evil of that kind; "
	.ascii	"and he thinks only\012    that he has married a wom"
	.ascii	"an of a less amiable temper\012    than yourself.  "
	.ascii	"But does it follow that had he married you,\012    "
	.ascii	"he would have been happy?--The inconveniences would"
	.ascii	" have\012    been different.  He would then have su"
	.ascii	"ffered under the\012    pecuniary distresses which,"
	.ascii	" because they are removed,\012    he now reckons as"
	.ascii	" nothing.  He would have had a wife\012    of whose"
	.ascii	" temper he could make no complaint, but he would\012"
	.ascii	"    have been always necessitous--always poor; and "
	.ascii	"probably\012    would soon have learned to rank the"
	.ascii	" innumerable comforts\012    of a clear estate and "
	.ascii	"good income as of far more importance,\012    even "
	.ascii	"to domestic happiness, than the mere temper of a wi"
	.ascii	"fe.\"\012    \012    \"I have not a doubt of it,\" "
	.ascii	"said Marianne; \"and I\012    have nothing to regre"
	.ascii	"t--nothing but my own folly.\"\012    \012    \"Rat"
	.ascii	"her say your mother's imprudence, my child,\"\012  "
	.ascii	"  said Mrs. Dashwood; \"SHE must be answerable.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Marianne would not let her proceed;--an"
	.ascii	"d Elinor,\012    satisfied that each felt their own"
	.ascii	" error, wished to avoid\012    any survey of the pa"
	.ascii	"st that might weaken her sister's\012    spirits; s"
	.ascii	"he, therefore, pursuing the first subject,\012    i"
	.ascii	"mmediately continued,\012    \012    \"One observat"
	.ascii	"ion "
	.ascii	"may, I think, be fairly drawn from\012    the whole"
	.ascii	" of the story--that all Willoughby's difficulties\012"
	.ascii	"    have arisen from the first offence against virt"
	.ascii	"ue, in his\012    behaviour to Eliza Williams.  Tha"
	.ascii	"t crime has been the origin\012    of every lesser "
	.ascii	"one, and of all his present discontents.\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Marianne assented most feelingly to the remark;"
	.ascii	"\012    and her mother was led by it to an enumerat"
	.ascii	"ion of Colonel\012    Brandon's injuries and merits"
	.ascii	", warm as friendship\012    and design could united"
	.ascii	"ly dictate.  Her daughter did\012    not look, howe"
	.ascii	"ver, as if much of it were heard by her.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Elinor, according to her expectation, saw on th"
	.ascii	"e two\012    or three following days, that Marianne"
	.ascii	" did not continue\012    to gain strength as she ha"
	.ascii	"d done; but while her resolution\012    was unsubdu"
	.ascii	"ed, and she still tried to appear cheerful\012    a"
	.ascii	"nd easy, her sister could safely trust to the effec"
	.ascii	"t\012    of time upon her health.\012    \012    Ma"
	.ascii	"rgaret returned, and the family were again all\012 "
	.ascii	"   restored to each other, again quietly settled at"
	.ascii	" the cottage;\012    and if not pursuing their usua"
	.ascii	"l studies with quite\012    so much vigour as when "
	.ascii	"they first came to Barton,\012    at least planning"
	.ascii	" a vigorous prosecution of them in future.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    Elinor grew impatient for some tidings of Edwar"
	.ascii	"d.\012    She had heard nothing of him since her le"
	.ascii	"aving London,\012    nothing new of his plans, noth"
	.ascii	"ing certain even of his\012    present abode.  Some"
	.ascii	" letters had passed between her\012    and her brot"
	.ascii	"her, in consequence of Marianne's illness;\012    a"
	.ascii	"nd in the first of John's, there had been this sent"
	.ascii	"ence:--\012    \"We know nothing of our unfortunate"
	.ascii	" Edward, and can make no\012    enquiries on so pro"
	.ascii	"hibited a subject, but conclude him\012    to be st"
	.ascii	"ill at Oxford;\" which was all the intelligence\012"
	.ascii	"    of Edward afforded her by the correspondence, f"
	.ascii	"or his name\012    was not even mentioned in any of"
	.ascii	" the succeeding letters.\012    She was not doomed,"
	.ascii	" however, to be long in ignorance of\012    his mea"
	.ascii	"sures.\012    \012    Their man-servant had been se"
	.ascii	"nt one morning to Ex"
	.ascii	"eter\012    on business; and when, as he waited at "
	.ascii	"table, he had\012    satisfied the inquiries of his"
	.ascii	" mistress as to the event\012    of his errand, thi"
	.ascii	"s was his voluntary communication--\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"\"I suppose you know, ma'am, that Mr. Ferrars is ma"
	.ascii	"rried.\"\012    \012    Marianne gave a violent sta"
	.ascii	"rt, fixed her eyes\012    upon Elinor, saw her turn"
	.ascii	"ing pale, and fell back in her\012    chair in hyst"
	.ascii	"erics.  Mrs. Dashwood, whose eyes, as she\012    an"
	.ascii	"swered the servant's inquiry, had intuitively taken"
	.ascii	"\012    the same direction, was shocked to perceive"
	.ascii	" by Elinor's\012    countenance how much she really"
	.ascii	" suffered, and a moment\012    afterwards, alike di"
	.ascii	"stressed by Marianne's situation,\012    knew not o"
	.ascii	"n which child to bestow her principal attention.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    The servant, who saw only that Miss Mar"
	.ascii	"ianne was\012    taken ill, had sense enough to cal"
	.ascii	"l one of the maids,\012    who, with Mrs. Dashwood'"
	.ascii	"s assistance, supported her into\012    the other r"
	.ascii	"oom.  By that time, Marianne was rather better,\012"
	.ascii	"    and her mother leaving her to the care of Marga"
	.ascii	"ret\012    and the maid, returned to Elinor, who, t"
	.ascii	"hough still\012    much disordered, had so far reco"
	.ascii	"vered the use of her reason\012    and voice as to "
	.ascii	"be just beginning an inquiry of Thomas,\012    as t"
	.ascii	"o the source of his intelligence.  Mrs. Dashwood\012"
	.ascii	"    immediately took all that trouble on herself; a"
	.ascii	"nd Elinor\012    had the benefit of the information"
	.ascii	" without the exertion\012    of seeking it.\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \"Who told you that Mr. Ferrars was married"
	.ascii	", Thomas?\"\012    \012    \"I see Mr. Ferrars myse"
	.ascii	"lf, ma'am, this morning\012    in Exeter, and his l"
	.ascii	"ady too, Miss Steele as was.  They was\012    stopp"
	.ascii	"ing in a chaise at the door of the New London Inn,\012"
	.ascii	"    as I went there with a message from Sally at th"
	.ascii	"e Park\012    to her brother, who is one of the pos"
	.ascii	"t-boys. I happened\012    to look up as I went by t"
	.ascii	"he chaise, and so I see directly\012    it was the "
	.ascii	"youngest Miss Steele; so I took off my hat,\012    "
	.ascii	"and she knew me and called to me, and inquired afte"
	.ascii	"r you,\012    ma'am, and the young ladies, especial"
	.ascii	"ly Miss Marianne,\012    and "
	.ascii	"bid me I should give her compliments and Mr. Ferrar"
	.ascii	"s's,\012    their best compliments and service, and"
	.ascii	" how sorry they\012    was they had not time to com"
	.ascii	"e on and see you, but they was\012    in a great hu"
	.ascii	"rry to go forwards, for they was going further\012 "
	.ascii	"   down for a little while, but howsever, when they"
	.ascii	" come back,\012    they'd make sure to come and see"
	.ascii	" you.\"\012    \012    \"But did she tell you she w"
	.ascii	"as married, Thomas?\"\012    \012    \"Yes, ma'am. "
	.ascii	"She smiled, and said how she\012    had changed her"
	.ascii	" name since she was in these parts.\012    She was "
	.ascii	"always a very affable and free-spoken young lady,\012"
	.ascii	"    and very civil behaved.  So, I made free to wis"
	.ascii	"h her joy.\"\012    \012    \"Was Mr. Ferrars in th"
	.ascii	"e carriage with her?\"\012    \012    \"Yes, ma'am,"
	.ascii	" I just see him leaning back in it,\012    but he d"
	.ascii	"id not look up;--he never was a gentleman much\012 "
	.ascii	"   for talking.\"\012    \012    Elinor's heart cou"
	.ascii	"ld easily account for his not\012    putting himsel"
	.ascii	"f forward; and Mrs. Dashwood probably\012    found "
	.ascii	"the same explanation.\012    \012    \"Was there no"
	.ascii	" one else in the carriage?\"\012    \012    \"No, m"
	.ascii	"a'am, only they two.\"\012    \012    \"Do you know"
	.ascii	" where they came from?\"\012    \012    \"They come"
	.ascii	" straight from town, as Miss Lucy--\012    Mrs. Fer"
	.ascii	"rars told me.\"\012    \012    \"And are they going"
	.ascii	" farther westward?\"\012    \012    \"Yes, ma'am--b"
	.ascii	"ut not to bide long.  They will soon\012    be back"
	.ascii	" again, and then they'd be sure and call here.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Mrs. Dashwood now looked at her daughte"
	.ascii	"r;\012    but Elinor knew better than to expect the"
	.ascii	"m.\012    She recognised the whole of Lucy in the m"
	.ascii	"essage, and was\012    very confident that Edward w"
	.ascii	"ould never come near them.\012    She observed in a"
	.ascii	" low voice, to her mother, that they\012    were pr"
	.ascii	"obably going down to Mr. Pratt's, near Plymouth.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Thomas's intelligence seemed over.  Eli"
	.ascii	"nor looked\012    as if she wished to hear more.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    \"Did you see them off, before you came"
	.ascii	" away?\"\012    \012    \"No, ma'am--the horses wer"
	.ascii	"e just coming out, but I\012    could not bide any "
	.ascii	"longer; I was afraid of being late.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \"Did Mrs. Ferrars look well?\"\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Yes, ma'am, she said how she was very well;\012"
	.ascii	"    and to my mind she was always a very handsome y"
	.ascii	"oung\012    lady--and she seemed vastly contented.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    Mrs. Dashwood could think of no oth"
	.ascii	"er question,\012    and Thomas and the tablecloth, "
	.ascii	"now alike needless,\012    were soon afterwards dis"
	.ascii	"missed.  Marianne had already sent\012    to say, t"
	.ascii	"hat she should eat nothing more.  Mrs. Dashwood's\012"
	.ascii	"    and Elinor's appetites were equally lost, and M"
	.ascii	"argaret\012    might think herself very well off, t"
	.ascii	"hat with so much\012    uneasiness as both her sist"
	.ascii	"ers had lately experienced,\012    so much reason a"
	.ascii	"s they had often had to be careless\012    of their"
	.ascii	" meals, she had never been obliged to go without\012"
	.ascii	"    her dinner before.\012    \012    When the dess"
	.ascii	"ert and the wine were arranged,\012    and Mrs. Das"
	.ascii	"hwood and Elinor were left by themselves,\012    th"
	.ascii	"ey remained long together in a similarity of though"
	.ascii	"tfulness\012    and silence.  Mrs. Dashwood feared "
	.ascii	"to hazard any remark,\012    and ventured not to of"
	.ascii	"fer consolation.  She now found\012    that she had"
	.ascii	" erred in relying on Elinor's representation\012   "
	.ascii	" of herself; and justly concluded that every thing\012"
	.ascii	"    had been expressly softened at the time, to spa"
	.ascii	"re her\012    from an increase of unhappiness, suff"
	.ascii	"ering as she then\012    had suffered for Marianne."
	.ascii	"  She found that she had been\012    misled by the "
	.ascii	"careful, the considerate attention of\012    her da"
	.ascii	"ughter, to think the attachment, which once she\012"
	.ascii	"    had so well understood, much slighter in realit"
	.ascii	"y, than\012    she had been wont to believe, or tha"
	.ascii	"n it was now proved\012    to be.  She feared that "
	.ascii	"under this persuasion she had\012    been unjust, i"
	.ascii	"nattentive, nay, almost unkind, to her Elinor;--\012"
	.ascii	"    that Marianne's affliction, because more acknow"
	.ascii	"ledged,\012    more immediately before her, had too"
	.ascii	" much engrossed\012    her tenderness, and led her "
	.ascii	"away to forget that in Elinor\012    she might have"
	.ascii	" a daughter suffering almost as much,\012    certai"
	.ascii	"nly with less self-provocation, and greater fortitu"
	.ascii	"de.\012    \012    \012    \012    CHAPTER 48\012  "
	.ascii	"  \012    \012    Elinor no"
	.ascii	"w found the difference between the expectation\012 "
	.ascii	"   of an unpleasant event, however certain the mind"
	.ascii	" may be told\012    to consider it, and certainty i"
	.ascii	"tself.  She now found, that\012    in spite of hers"
	.ascii	"elf, she had always admitted a hope,\012    while E"
	.ascii	"dward remained single, that something would occur\012"
	.ascii	"    to prevent his marrying Lucy; that some resolut"
	.ascii	"ion of\012    his own, some mediation of friends, o"
	.ascii	"r some more eligible\012    opportunity of establis"
	.ascii	"hment for the lady, would arise\012    to assist th"
	.ascii	"e happiness of all.  But he was now married;\012   "
	.ascii	" and she condemned her heart for the lurking flatte"
	.ascii	"ry,\012    which so much heightened the pain of the"
	.ascii	" intelligence.\012    \012    That he should be mar"
	.ascii	"ried soon, before (as she imagined)\012    he could"
	.ascii	" be in orders, and consequently before he could\012"
	.ascii	"    be in possession of the living, surprised her a"
	.ascii	" little\012    at first.  But she soon saw how like"
	.ascii	"ly it was that Lucy,\012    in her self-provident c"
	.ascii	"are, in her haste to secure him,\012    should over"
	.ascii	"look every thing but the risk of delay.\012    They"
	.ascii	" were married, married in town, and now hastening\012"
	.ascii	"    down to her uncle's.  What had Edward felt on b"
	.ascii	"eing within\012    four miles from Barton, on seein"
	.ascii	"g her mother's servant,\012    on hearing Lucy's me"
	.ascii	"ssage!\012    \012    They would soon, she supposed"
	.ascii	", be settled at\012    Delaford.--Delaford,--that p"
	.ascii	"lace in which so much\012    conspired to give her "
	.ascii	"an interest; which she wished\012    to be acquaint"
	.ascii	"ed with, and yet desired to avoid.\012    She saw t"
	.ascii	"hem in an instant in their parsonage-house; saw\012"
	.ascii	"    in Lucy, the active, contriving manager, unitin"
	.ascii	"g at once\012    a desire of smart appearance with "
	.ascii	"the utmost frugality,\012    and ashamed to be susp"
	.ascii	"ected of half her economical practices;--\012    pu"
	.ascii	"rsuing her own interest in every thought, courting "
	.ascii	"the\012    favour of Colonel Brandon, of Mrs. Jenni"
	.ascii	"ngs, and of every\012    wealthy friend.  In Edward"
	.ascii	"--she knew not what she saw,\012    nor what she wi"
	.ascii	"shed to see;--happy or unhappy,--nothing\012    ple"
	.ascii	"ased her; she turned away her head from every sketc"
	.ascii	"h of him.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Elinor flattered herself that some one "
	.ascii	"of their\012    connections in London would write t"
	.ascii	"o them to announce\012    the event, and give farth"
	.ascii	"er particulars,--but day after\012    day passed of"
	.ascii	"f, and brought no letter, no tidings.\012    Though"
	.ascii	" uncertain that any one were to blame, she found\012"
	.ascii	"    fault with every absent friend.  They were all "
	.ascii	"thoughtless\012    or indolent.\012    \012    \"Wh"
	.ascii	"en do you write to Colonel Brandon, ma'am?\"\012   "
	.ascii	" was an inquiry which sprung from the impatience\012"
	.ascii	"    of her mind to have something going on.\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    \"I wrote to him, my love, last week, and r"
	.ascii	"ather\012    expect to see, than to hear from him a"
	.ascii	"gain.  I earnestly\012    pressed his coming to us,"
	.ascii	" and should not be surprised\012    to see him walk"
	.ascii	" in today or tomorrow, or any day.\"\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" This was gaining something, something to look forw"
	.ascii	"ard to.\012    Colonel Brandon must have some infor"
	.ascii	"mation to give.\012    \012    Scarcely had she so "
	.ascii	"determined it, when the figure\012    of a man on h"
	.ascii	"orseback drew her eyes to the window.\012    He sto"
	.ascii	"pt at their gate.  It was a gentleman, it\012    wa"
	.ascii	"s Colonel Brandon himself.  Now she could hear more"
	.ascii	";\012    and she trembled in expectation of it.  Bu"
	.ascii	"t--it was\012    NOT Colonel Brandon--neither his a"
	.ascii	"ir--nor his height.\012    Were it possible, she mu"
	.ascii	"st say it must be Edward.\012    She looked again. "
	.ascii	" He had just dismounted;--she could not be\012    m"
	.ascii	"istaken,--it WAS Edward.  She moved away and sat do"
	.ascii	"wn.\012    \"He comes from Mr. Pratt's purposely to"
	.ascii	" see us.  I WILL be\012    calm; I WILL be mistress"
	.ascii	" of myself.\"\012    \012    In a moment she percei"
	.ascii	"ved that the others were likewise\012    aware of t"
	.ascii	"he mistake.  She saw her mother and Marianne\012   "
	.ascii	" change colour; saw them look at herself, and whisp"
	.ascii	"er\012    a few sentences to each other.  She would"
	.ascii	" have given\012    the world to be able to speak--a"
	.ascii	"nd to make them understand\012    that she hoped no"
	.ascii	" coolness, no slight, would appear\012    in their "
	.ascii	"behaviour to him;--but she had no utterance,\012   "
	.ascii	" and was obliged to leave all to their own discreti"
	.ascii	"on.\012    \012    Not a syllable passe"
	.ascii	"d aloud.  They all waited\012    in silence for the"
	.ascii	" appearance of their visitor.\012    His footsteps "
	.ascii	"were heard along the gravel path; in a moment\012  "
	.ascii	"  he was in the passage, and in another he was befo"
	.ascii	"re them.\012    \012    His countenance, as he ente"
	.ascii	"red the room, was not\012    too happy, even for El"
	.ascii	"inor.  His complexion was white\012    with agitati"
	.ascii	"on, and he looked as if fearful of his\012    recep"
	.ascii	"tion, and conscious that he merited no kind one.\012"
	.ascii	"    Mrs. Dashwood, however, conforming, as she trus"
	.ascii	"ted,\012    to the wishes of that daughter, by whom"
	.ascii	" she then meant\012    in the warmth of her heart t"
	.ascii	"o be guided in every thing,\012    met with a look "
	.ascii	"of forced complacency, gave him her hand,\012    an"
	.ascii	"d wished him joy.\012    \012    He coloured, and s"
	.ascii	"tammered out an unintelligible reply.\012    Elinor"
	.ascii	"'s lips had moved with her mother's, and, when the\012"
	.ascii	"    moment of action was over, she wished that she "
	.ascii	"had shaken\012    hands with him too.  But it was t"
	.ascii	"hen too late, and with a\012    countenance meaning"
	.ascii	" to be open, she sat down again\012    and talked o"
	.ascii	"f the weather.\012    \012    Marianne had retreate"
	.ascii	"d as much as possible\012    out of sight, to conce"
	.ascii	"al her distress; and Margaret,\012    understanding"
	.ascii	" some part, but not the whole of the case,\012    t"
	.ascii	"hought it incumbent on her to be dignified, and the"
	.ascii	"refore\012    took a seat as far from him as she co"
	.ascii	"uld, and maintained\012    a strict silence.\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    When Elinor had ceased to rejoice in the d"
	.ascii	"ryness\012    of the season, a very awful pause too"
	.ascii	"k place.  It was put\012    an end to by Mrs. Dashw"
	.ascii	"ood, who felt obliged to hope that he\012    had le"
	.ascii	"ft Mrs. Ferrars very well.  In a hurried manner,\012"
	.ascii	"    he replied in the affirmative.\012    \012    A"
	.ascii	"nother pause.\012    \012    Elinor resolving to ex"
	.ascii	"ert herself, though fearing\012    the sound of her"
	.ascii	" own voice, now said,\012    \012    \"Is Mrs. Ferr"
	.ascii	"ars at Longstaple?\"\012    \012    \"At Longstaple"
	.ascii	"!\" he replied, with an air of surprise.--\012    \""
	.ascii	"No, my mother is in town.\"\012    \012    \"I mean"
	.ascii	"t,\" said Elinor, taking up some work from\012    t"
	.ascii	"he table, \"to inquire for Mrs. EDWARD Ferrars.\"\012"
	.ascii	" "
	.ascii	"   \012    She dared not look up;--but her mother a"
	.ascii	"nd Marianne both\012    turned their eyes on him.  "
	.ascii	"He coloured, seemed perplexed,\012    looked doubti"
	.ascii	"ngly, and, after some hesitation, said,--\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"Perhaps you mean--my brother--you mean Mrs.--"
	.ascii	"Mrs.\012    ROBERT Ferrars.\"\012    \012    \"Mrs."
	.ascii	" Robert Ferrars!\"--was repeated by Marianne and he"
	.ascii	"r\012    mother in an accent of the utmost amazemen"
	.ascii	"t;--and though\012    Elinor could not speak, even "
	.ascii	"HER eyes were fixed on him\012    with the same imp"
	.ascii	"atient wonder.  He rose from his seat,\012    and w"
	.ascii	"alked to the window, apparently from not knowing\012"
	.ascii	"    what to do; took up a pair of scissors that lay"
	.ascii	" there,\012    and while spoiling both them and the"
	.ascii	"ir sheath by cutting\012    the latter to pieces as"
	.ascii	" he spoke, said, in a hurried voice,\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"Perhaps you do not know--you may not have heard\012"
	.ascii	"    that my brother is lately married to--to the yo"
	.ascii	"ungest--to\012    Miss Lucy Steele.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  His words were echoed with unspeakable astonishme"
	.ascii	"nt\012    by all but Elinor, who sat with her head "
	.ascii	"leaning over\012    her work, in a state of such ag"
	.ascii	"itation as made her hardly\012    know where she wa"
	.ascii	"s.\012    \012    \"Yes,\" said he, \"they were mar"
	.ascii	"ried last week,\012    and are now at Dawlish.\"\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Elinor could sit it no longer.  She alm"
	.ascii	"ost ran\012    out of the room, and as soon as the "
	.ascii	"door was closed,\012    burst into tears of joy, wh"
	.ascii	"ich at first she thought would\012    never cease. "
	.ascii	" Edward, who had till then looked any where,\012   "
	.ascii	" rather than at her, saw her hurry away, and perhap"
	.ascii	"s saw--\012    or even heard, her emotion; for imme"
	.ascii	"diately afterwards\012    he fell into a reverie, w"
	.ascii	"hich no remarks, no inquiries,\012    no affectiona"
	.ascii	"te address of Mrs. Dashwood could penetrate,\012   "
	.ascii	" and at last, without saying a word, quitted the ro"
	.ascii	"om,\012    and walked out towards the village--leav"
	.ascii	"ing the others\012    in the greatest astonishment "
	.ascii	"and perplexity on a change\012    in his situation,"
	.ascii	" so wonderful and so sudden;--a perplexity\012    w"
	.ascii	"hich they had no means of lessening but by their\012"
	.ascii	"    own conjectures.\012    \012    \012    \012 "
	.ascii	"   CHAPTER 49\012    \012    \012    Unaccountable,"
	.ascii	" however, as the circumstances of his\012    releas"
	.ascii	"e might appear to the whole family, it was certain\012"
	.ascii	"    that Edward was free; and to what purpose that "
	.ascii	"freedom would\012    be employed was easily pre-det"
	.ascii	"ermined by all;--for after\012    experiencing the "
	.ascii	"blessings of ONE imprudent engagement,\012    contr"
	.ascii	"acted without his mother's consent, as he had alrea"
	.ascii	"dy\012    done for more than four years, nothing le"
	.ascii	"ss could be expected\012    of him in the failure o"
	.ascii	"f THAT, than the immediate contraction\012    of an"
	.ascii	"other.\012    \012    His errand at Barton, in fact"
	.ascii	", was a simple one.\012    It was only to ask Elino"
	.ascii	"r to marry him;--and considering\012    that he was"
	.ascii	" not altogether inexperienced in such a question,\012"
	.ascii	"    it might be strange that he should feel so unco"
	.ascii	"mfortable\012    in the present case as he really d"
	.ascii	"id, so much in need of\012    encouragement and fre"
	.ascii	"sh air.\012    \012    How soon he had walked himse"
	.ascii	"lf into the proper\012    resolution, however, how "
	.ascii	"soon an opportunity of exercising\012    it occurre"
	.ascii	"d, in what manner he expressed himself,\012    and "
	.ascii	"how he was received, need not be particularly told."
	.ascii	"\012    This only need be said;--that when they all"
	.ascii	" sat down to\012    table at four o'clock, about th"
	.ascii	"ree hours after his arrival,\012    he had secured "
	.ascii	"his lady, engaged her mother's consent,\012    and "
	.ascii	"was not only in the rapturous profession of\012    "
	.ascii	"the lover, but, in the reality of reason and truth,"
	.ascii	"\012    one of the happiest of men.  His situation "
	.ascii	"indeed was\012    more than commonly joyful.  He ha"
	.ascii	"d more than the ordinary\012    triumph of accepted"
	.ascii	" love to swell his heart, and raise\012    his spir"
	.ascii	"its.  He was released without any reproach\012    t"
	.ascii	"o himself, from an entanglement which had long form"
	.ascii	"ed\012    his misery, from a woman whom he had long"
	.ascii	" ceased to love;--\012    and elevated at once to t"
	.ascii	"hat security with another,\012    which he must hav"
	.ascii	"e thought of almost with despair,\012    as soon as"
	.ascii	" he had learnt to consider it with desire.\012    H"
	.ascii	"e was brought, not from doubt or suspense, but from"
	.ascii	"\012    misery to hap"
	.ascii	"piness;--and the change was openly spoken\012    in"
	.ascii	" such a genuine, flowing, grateful cheerfulness,\012"
	.ascii	"    as his friends had never witnessed in him befor"
	.ascii	"e.\012    \012    His heart was now open to Elinor,"
	.ascii	" all its weaknesses,\012    all its errors confesse"
	.ascii	"d, and his first boyish attachment\012    to Lucy t"
	.ascii	"reated with all the philosophic dignity of twenty-f"
	.ascii	"our.\012    \012    \"It was a foolish, idle inclin"
	.ascii	"ation on my side,\"\012    said he, \"the consequen"
	.ascii	"ce of ignorance of the world--\012    and want of e"
	.ascii	"mployment.  Had my brother given me\012    some act"
	.ascii	"ive profession when I was removed at eighteen\012  "
	.ascii	"  from the care of Mr. Pratt, I think--nay, I am su"
	.ascii	"re,\012    it would never have happened; for though"
	.ascii	" I left Longstaple\012    with what I thought, at t"
	.ascii	"he time, a most unconquerable\012    preference for"
	.ascii	" his niece, yet had I then had any pursuit,\012    "
	.ascii	"any object to engage my time and keep me at a dista"
	.ascii	"nce\012    from her for a few months, I should very"
	.ascii	" soon have\012    outgrown the fancied attachment, "
	.ascii	"especially by mixing\012    more with the world, as"
	.ascii	" in such case I must have done.\012    But instead "
	.ascii	"of having any thing to do, instead of having any\012"
	.ascii	"    profession chosen for me, or being allowed to c"
	.ascii	"huse any myself,\012    I returned home to be compl"
	.ascii	"etely idle; and for the first\012    twelvemonth af"
	.ascii	"terwards I had not even the nominal employment,\012"
	.ascii	"    which belonging to the university would have gi"
	.ascii	"ven me;\012    for I was not entered at Oxford till"
	.ascii	" I was nineteen.\012    I had therefore nothing in "
	.ascii	"the world to do, but to fancy\012    myself in love"
	.ascii	"; and as my mother did not make my home\012    in e"
	.ascii	"very respect comfortable, as I had no friend,\012  "
	.ascii	"  no companion in my brother, and disliked new acqu"
	.ascii	"aintance,\012    it was not unnatural for me to be "
	.ascii	"very often at Longstaple,\012    where I always fel"
	.ascii	"t myself at home, and was always sure\012    of a w"
	.ascii	"elcome; and accordingly I spent the greatest part\012"
	.ascii	"    of my time there from eighteen to nineteen: Luc"
	.ascii	"y appeared\012    everything that was amiable and o"
	.ascii	"bliging.  She was pretty\012    too--at least I tho"
	.ascii	"ught so THEN;"
	.ascii	" and I had seen so little\012    of other women, th"
	.ascii	"at I could make no comparisons, and see\012    no d"
	.ascii	"efects.  Considering everything, therefore, I hope,"
	.ascii	"\012    foolish as our engagement was, foolish as i"
	.ascii	"t has since\012    in every way been proved, it was"
	.ascii	" not at the time an unnatural\012    or an inexcusa"
	.ascii	"ble piece of folly.\"\012    \012    The change whi"
	.ascii	"ch a few hours had wrought in the minds\012    and "
	.ascii	"the happiness of the Dashwoods, was such--so great-"
	.ascii	"-as\012    promised them all, the satisfaction of a"
	.ascii	" sleepless night.\012    Mrs. Dashwood, too happy t"
	.ascii	"o be comfortable, knew not how\012    to love Edwar"
	.ascii	"d, nor praise Elinor enough, how to be enough\012  "
	.ascii	"  thankful for his release without wounding his del"
	.ascii	"icacy,\012    nor how at once to give them leisure "
	.ascii	"for unrestrained\012    conversation together, and "
	.ascii	"yet enjoy, as she wished,\012    the sight and soci"
	.ascii	"ety of both.\012    \012    Marianne could speak HE"
	.ascii	"R happiness only by tears.\012    Comparisons would"
	.ascii	" occur--regrets would arise;--and her joy,\012    t"
	.ascii	"hough sincere as her love for her sister, was of a "
	.ascii	"kind to\012    give her neither spirits nor languag"
	.ascii	"e.\012    \012    But Elinor--how are HER feelings "
	.ascii	"to be described?--From\012    the moment of learnin"
	.ascii	"g that Lucy was married to another,\012    that Edw"
	.ascii	"ard was free, to the moment of his justifying\012  "
	.ascii	"  the hopes which had so instantly followed, she wa"
	.ascii	"s every\012    thing by turns but tranquil.  But wh"
	.ascii	"en the second moment\012    had passed, when she fo"
	.ascii	"und every doubt, every solicitude\012    removed, c"
	.ascii	"ompared her situation with what so lately it\012   "
	.ascii	" had been,--saw him honourably released from his fo"
	.ascii	"rmer\012    engagement, saw him instantly profiting"
	.ascii	" by the release,\012    to address herself and decl"
	.ascii	"are an affection as tender,\012    as constant as s"
	.ascii	"he had ever supposed it to be,--she\012    was oppr"
	.ascii	"essed, she was overcome by her own felicity;--\012 "
	.ascii	"   and happily disposed as is the human mind to be "
	.ascii	"easily\012    familiarized with any change for the "
	.ascii	"better, it required\012    several hours to give se"
	.ascii	"dateness to her spirits, or any\012    degree of tr"
	.ascii	"anquillity to her hea"
	.ascii	"rt.\012    \012    Edward was now fixed at the cott"
	.ascii	"age at least for\012    a week;--for whatever other"
	.ascii	" claims might be made on him,\012    it was impossi"
	.ascii	"ble that less than a week should be given\012    up"
	.ascii	" to the enjoyment of Elinor's company, or suffice\012"
	.ascii	"    to say half that was to be said of the past, th"
	.ascii	"e present,\012    and the future;--for though a ver"
	.ascii	"y few hours spent in\012    the hard labor of inces"
	.ascii	"sant talking will despatch more\012    subjects tha"
	.ascii	"n can really be in common between any two\012    ra"
	.ascii	"tional creatures, yet with lovers it is different.\012"
	.ascii	"    Between THEM no subject is finished, no communi"
	.ascii	"cation\012    is even made, till it has been made a"
	.ascii	"t least twenty\012    times over.\012    \012    Lu"
	.ascii	"cy's marriage, the unceasing and reasonable wonder\012"
	.ascii	"    among them all, formed of course one of the ear"
	.ascii	"liest\012    discussions of the lovers;--and Elinor"
	.ascii	"'s particular knowledge\012    of each party made i"
	.ascii	"t appear to her in every view, as one\012    of the"
	.ascii	" most extraordinary and unaccountable circumstances"
	.ascii	"\012    she had ever heard.  How they could be thro"
	.ascii	"wn together,\012    and by what attraction Robert c"
	.ascii	"ould be drawn on to marry\012    a girl, of whose b"
	.ascii	"eauty she had herself heard him speak\012    withou"
	.ascii	"t any admiration,--a girl too already engaged\012  "
	.ascii	"  to his brother, and on whose account that brother"
	.ascii	" had been\012    thrown off by his family--it was b"
	.ascii	"eyond her comprehension\012    to make out.  To her"
	.ascii	" own heart it was a delightful affair,\012    to he"
	.ascii	"r imagination it was even a ridiculous one, but\012"
	.ascii	"    to her reason, her judgment, it was completely "
	.ascii	"a puzzle.\012    \012    Edward could only attempt "
	.ascii	"an explanation by supposing,\012    that, perhaps, "
	.ascii	"at first accidentally meeting, the vanity\012    of"
	.ascii	" the one had been so worked on by the flattery\012 "
	.ascii	"   of the other, as to lead by degrees to all the r"
	.ascii	"est.\012    Elinor remembered what Robert had told "
	.ascii	"her in Harley Street,\012    of his opinion of what"
	.ascii	" his own mediation in his brother's\012    affairs "
	.ascii	"might have done, if applied to in time.\012    She "
	.ascii	"repeated it to Edward.\012    \012    \"THAT was ex"
	.ascii	"actly like Robert,\""
	.ascii	"--was his immediate\012    observation.--\"And THAT"
	.ascii	",\" he presently added, \"might\012    perhaps be i"
	.ascii	"n HIS head when the acquaintance between\012    the"
	.ascii	"m first began.  And Lucy perhaps at first might\012"
	.ascii	"    think only of procuring his good offices in my "
	.ascii	"favour.\012    Other designs might afterward arise."
	.ascii	"\"\012    \012    How long it had been carrying on "
	.ascii	"between them,\012    however, he was equally at a l"
	.ascii	"oss with herself to make out;\012    for at Oxford,"
	.ascii	" where he had remained for choice ever since\012   "
	.ascii	" his quitting London, he had had no means of hearin"
	.ascii	"g of her\012    but from herself, and her letters t"
	.ascii	"o the very last were\012    neither less frequent, "
	.ascii	"nor less affectionate than usual.\012    Not the sm"
	.ascii	"allest suspicion, therefore, had ever occurred\012 "
	.ascii	"   to prepare him for what followed;--and when at l"
	.ascii	"ast it\012    burst on him in a letter from Lucy he"
	.ascii	"rself, he had been\012    for some time, he believe"
	.ascii	"d, half stupified between\012    the wonder, the ho"
	.ascii	"rror, and the joy of such a deliverance.\012    He "
	.ascii	"put the letter into Elinor's hands.\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"     \"DEAR SIR,\012    \012         \"Being very s"
	.ascii	"ure I have long lost your affections,\012         I"
	.ascii	" have thought myself at liberty to bestow my own\012"
	.ascii	"         on another, and have no doubt of being as "
	.ascii	"happy with\012         him as I once used to think "
	.ascii	"I might be with you;\012         but I scorn to acc"
	.ascii	"ept a hand while the heart was\012         another'"
	.ascii	"s.  Sincerely wish you happy in your choice,\012   "
	.ascii	"      and it shall not be my fault if we are not al"
	.ascii	"ways\012         good friends, as our near relation"
	.ascii	"ship now makes\012         proper.  I can safely sa"
	.ascii	"y I owe you no ill-will,\012         and am sure yo"
	.ascii	"u will be too generous to do us any\012         ill"
	.ascii	" offices.  Your brother has gained my affections\012"
	.ascii	"         entirely, and as we could not live without"
	.ascii	" one\012         another, we are just returned from"
	.ascii	" the altar, and\012         are now on our way to D"
	.ascii	"awlish for a few weeks, which\012         place you"
	.ascii	"r dear brother has great curiosity to see,\012     "
	.ascii	"    but thought I would first trouble you with thes"
	.ascii	"e\012         few lines, an"
	.ascii	"d shall always remain,\012    \012         \"Your s"
	.ascii	"incere well-wisher, friend, and sister,\012        "
	.ascii	"                                    \"LUCY FERRARS."
	.ascii	"\012    \012         \"I have burnt all your letter"
	.ascii	"s, and will return\012         your picture the fir"
	.ascii	"st opportunity.  Please to destroy\012         my s"
	.ascii	"crawls--but the ring with my hair you are very\012 "
	.ascii	"        welcome to keep.\"\012    \012    Elinor re"
	.ascii	"ad and returned it without any comment.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"I will not ask your opinion of it as a compos"
	.ascii	"ition,\"\012    said Edward.--\"For worlds would no"
	.ascii	"t I have had a letter\012    of hers seen by YOU in"
	.ascii	" former days.--In a sister it\012    is bad enough,"
	.ascii	" but in a wife!--how I have blushed over\012    the"
	.ascii	" pages of her writing!--and I believe I may say tha"
	.ascii	"t\012    since the first half year of our foolish--"
	.ascii	"business--this\012    is the only letter I ever rec"
	.ascii	"eived from her, of which\012    the substance made "
	.ascii	"me any amends for the defect of the style.\"\012   "
	.ascii	" \012    \"However it may have come about,\" said E"
	.ascii	"linor,\012    after a pause,--\"they are certainly "
	.ascii	"married.  And your mother\012    has brought on her"
	.ascii	"self a most appropriate punishment.\012    The inde"
	.ascii	"pendence she settled on Robert, through resentment\012"
	.ascii	"    against you, has put it in his power to make hi"
	.ascii	"s own choice;\012    and she has actually been brib"
	.ascii	"ing one son with a thousand\012    a-year, to do th"
	.ascii	"e very deed which she disinherited the\012    other"
	.ascii	" for intending to do.  She will hardly be less hurt"
	.ascii	",\012    I suppose, by Robert's marrying Lucy, than"
	.ascii	" she would have\012    been by your marrying her.\""
	.ascii	"\012    \012    \"She will be more hurt by it, for "
	.ascii	"Robert always\012    was her favourite.--She will b"
	.ascii	"e more hurt by it,\012    and on the same principle"
	.ascii	" will forgive him much sooner.\"\012    \012    In "
	.ascii	"what state the affair stood at present between them"
	.ascii	",\012    Edward knew not, for no communication with"
	.ascii	" any of his family\012    had yet been attempted by"
	.ascii	" him.  He had quitted Oxford\012    within four and"
	.ascii	" twenty hours after Lucy's letter arrived,\012    a"
	.ascii	"nd with only one object before him, the nearest roa"
	.ascii	"d\012    to Barton, had had no leisure to f"
	.ascii	"orm any scheme of conduct,\012    with which that r"
	.ascii	"oad did not hold the most intimate connection.\012 "
	.ascii	"   He could do nothing till he were assured of his "
	.ascii	"fate with\012    Miss Dashwood; and by his rapidity"
	.ascii	" in seeking THAT fate,\012    it is to be supposed,"
	.ascii	" in spite of the jealousy with\012    which he had "
	.ascii	"once thought of Colonel Brandon, in spite\012    of"
	.ascii	" the modesty with which he rated his own deserts,\012"
	.ascii	"    and the politeness with which he talked of his "
	.ascii	"doubts,\012    he did not, upon the whole, expect a"
	.ascii	" very cruel reception.\012    It was his business, "
	.ascii	"however, to say that he DID, and he\012    said it "
	.ascii	"very prettily.  What he might say on the subject\012"
	.ascii	"    a twelvemonth after, must be referred to the im"
	.ascii	"agination\012    of husbands and wives.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    That Lucy had certainly meant to deceive, to go"
	.ascii	" off\012    with a flourish of malice against him i"
	.ascii	"n her message\012    by Thomas, was perfectly clear"
	.ascii	" to Elinor; and Edward himself,\012    now thorough"
	.ascii	"ly enlightened on her character, had no\012    scru"
	.ascii	"ple in believing her capable of the utmost meanness"
	.ascii	"\012    of wanton ill-nature. Though his eyes had b"
	.ascii	"een long opened,\012    even before his acquaintanc"
	.ascii	"e with Elinor began, to her\012    ignorance and a "
	.ascii	"want of liberality in some of her opinions--\012   "
	.ascii	" they had been equally imputed, by him, to her want"
	.ascii	"\012    of education; and till her last letter reac"
	.ascii	"hed him,\012    he had always believed her to be a "
	.ascii	"well-disposed,\012    good-hearted girl, and thorou"
	.ascii	"ghly attached to himself.\012    Nothing but such a"
	.ascii	" persuasion could have prevented\012    his putting"
	.ascii	" an end to an engagement, which, long before\012   "
	.ascii	" the discovery of it laid him open to his mother's "
	.ascii	"anger,\012    had been a continual source of disqui"
	.ascii	"et and regret to him.\012    \012    \"I thought it"
	.ascii	" my duty,\" said he, \"independent of my feelings,\012"
	.ascii	"    to give her the option of continuing the engage"
	.ascii	"ment or not,\012    when I was renounced by my moth"
	.ascii	"er, and stood to all\012    appearance without a fr"
	.ascii	"iend in the world to assist me.\012    In such a si"
	.ascii	"tuation as that, where there seemed nothing\012    "
	.ascii	"to tempt the a"
	.ascii	"varice or the vanity of any living creature,\012   "
	.ascii	" how could I suppose, when she so earnestly, so war"
	.ascii	"mly insisted\012    on sharing my fate, whatever it"
	.ascii	" might be, that any thing\012    but the most disin"
	.ascii	"terested affection was her inducement?\012    And e"
	.ascii	"ven now, I cannot comprehend on what motive she act"
	.ascii	"ed,\012    or what fancied advantage it could be to"
	.ascii	" her, to be\012    fettered to a man for whom she h"
	.ascii	"ad not the smallest regard,\012    and who had only"
	.ascii	" two thousand pounds in the world.\012    She could"
	.ascii	" not foresee that Colonel Brandon would give me a\012"
	.ascii	"    living.\"\012    \012    \"No; but she might su"
	.ascii	"ppose that something would occur\012    in your fav"
	.ascii	"our; that your own family might in time relent.\012"
	.ascii	"    And at any rate, she lost nothing by continuing"
	.ascii	" the engagement,\012    for she has proved that it "
	.ascii	"fettered neither her inclination\012    nor her act"
	.ascii	"ions.  The connection was certainly a\012    respec"
	.ascii	"table one, and probably gained her consideration am"
	.ascii	"ong\012    her friends; and, if nothing more advant"
	.ascii	"ageous occurred,\012    it would be better for her "
	.ascii	"to marry YOU than be single.\"\012    \012    Edwar"
	.ascii	"d was, of course, immediately convinced that\012   "
	.ascii	" nothing could have been more natural than Lucy's c"
	.ascii	"onduct,\012    nor more self-evident than the motiv"
	.ascii	"e of it.\012    \012    Elinor scolded him, harshly"
	.ascii	" as ladies always scold\012    the imprudence which"
	.ascii	" compliments themselves, for having\012    spent so"
	.ascii	" much time with them at Norland, when he must\012  "
	.ascii	"  have felt his own inconstancy.\012    \012    \"Y"
	.ascii	"our behaviour was certainly very wrong,\" said she;"
	.ascii	"\012    \"because--to say nothing of my own convict"
	.ascii	"ion, our relations\012    were all led away by it t"
	.ascii	"o fancy and expect WHAT, as you\012    were THEN si"
	.ascii	"tuated, could never be.\"\012    \012    He could o"
	.ascii	"nly plead an ignorance of his own heart,\012    and"
	.ascii	" a mistaken confidence in the force of his engageme"
	.ascii	"nt.\012    \012    \"I was simple enough to think, "
	.ascii	"that because my FAITH\012    was plighted to anothe"
	.ascii	"r, there could be no danger in my being\012    with"
	.ascii	" you; and that the consciousness of my engagement w"
	.ascii	"as\012    to keep my heart as safe "
	.ascii	"and sacred as my honour.  I felt\012    that I admi"
	.ascii	"red you, but I told myself it was only friendship;\012"
	.ascii	"    and till I began to make comparisons between yo"
	.ascii	"urself\012    and Lucy, I did not know how far I wa"
	.ascii	"s got.  After that,\012    I suppose, I WAS wrong i"
	.ascii	"n remaining so much in Sussex,\012    and the argum"
	.ascii	"ents with which I reconciled myself to the\012    e"
	.ascii	"xpediency of it, were no better than these:--The da"
	.ascii	"nger\012    is my own; I am doing no injury to anyb"
	.ascii	"ody but myself.\"\012    \012    Elinor smiled, and"
	.ascii	" shook her head.\012    \012    Edward heard with p"
	.ascii	"leasure of Colonel Brandon's\012    being expected "
	.ascii	"at the Cottage, as he really wished\012    not only"
	.ascii	" to be better acquainted with him, but to have an\012"
	.ascii	"    opportunity of convincing him that he no longer"
	.ascii	" resented\012    his giving him the living of Delaf"
	.ascii	"ord--\"Which, at present,\"\012    said he, \"after"
	.ascii	" thanks so ungraciously delivered as mine\012    we"
	.ascii	"re on the occasion, he must think I have never forg"
	.ascii	"iven\012    him for offering.\"\012    \012    NOW "
	.ascii	"he felt astonished himself that he had never yet\012"
	.ascii	"    been to the place.  But so little interest had "
	.ascii	"be taken\012    in the matter, that he owed all his"
	.ascii	" knowledge of the house,\012    garden, and glebe, "
	.ascii	"extent of the parish, condition of\012    the land,"
	.ascii	" and rate of the tithes, to Elinor herself,\012    "
	.ascii	"who had heard so much of it from Colonel Brandon,\012"
	.ascii	"    and heard it with so much attention, as to be e"
	.ascii	"ntirely\012    mistress of the subject.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    One question after this only remained undecided"
	.ascii	",\012    between them, one difficulty only was to b"
	.ascii	"e overcome.\012    They were brought together by mu"
	.ascii	"tual affection,\012    with the warmest approbation"
	.ascii	" of their real friends;\012    their intimate knowl"
	.ascii	"edge of each other seemed to make\012    their happ"
	.ascii	"iness certain--and they only wanted something\012  "
	.ascii	"  to live upon.  Edward had two thousand pounds, an"
	.ascii	"d Elinor\012    one, which, with Delaford living, w"
	.ascii	"as all that they could\012    call their own; for i"
	.ascii	"t was impossible that Mrs. Dashwood\012    should a"
	.ascii	"dvance anything; and they were neither of them\012 "
	.ascii	"   quite enough in love"
	.ascii	" to think that three hundred and fifty\012    pound"
	.ascii	"s a-year would supply them with the comforts of lif"
	.ascii	"e.\012    \012    Edward was not entirely without h"
	.ascii	"opes of some\012    favourable change in his mother"
	.ascii	" towards him; and on THAT\012    he rested for the "
	.ascii	"residue of their income.  But Elinor\012    had no "
	.ascii	"such dependence; for since Edward would still\012  "
	.ascii	"  be unable to marry Miss Morton, and his chusing h"
	.ascii	"erself\012    had been spoken of in Mrs. Ferrars's "
	.ascii	"flattering language\012    as only a lesser evil th"
	.ascii	"an his chusing Lucy Steele,\012    she feared that "
	.ascii	"Robert's offence would serve no other\012    purpos"
	.ascii	"e than to enrich Fanny.\012    \012    About four d"
	.ascii	"ays after Edward's arrival Colonel\012    Brandon a"
	.ascii	"ppeared, to complete Mrs. Dashwood's satisfaction,\012"
	.ascii	"    and to give her the dignity of having, for the "
	.ascii	"first time\012    since her living at Barton, more "
	.ascii	"company with her than\012    her house would hold. "
	.ascii	" Edward was allowed to retain the\012    privilege "
	.ascii	"of first comer, and Colonel Brandon therefore\012  "
	.ascii	"  walked every night to his old quarters at the Par"
	.ascii	"k;\012    from whence he usually returned in the mo"
	.ascii	"rning, early enough\012    to interrupt the lovers'"
	.ascii	" first tete-a-tete before breakfast.\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" A three weeks' residence at Delaford, where,\012  "
	.ascii	"  in his evening hours at least, he had little to d"
	.ascii	"o\012    but to calculate the disproportion between"
	.ascii	" thirty-six\012    and seventeen, brought him to Ba"
	.ascii	"rton in a temper of mind\012    which needed all th"
	.ascii	"e improvement in Marianne's looks,\012    all the k"
	.ascii	"indness of her welcome, and all the encouragement\012"
	.ascii	"    of her mother's language, to make it cheerful.\012"
	.ascii	"    Among such friends, however, and such flattery,"
	.ascii	" he did revive.\012    No rumour of Lucy's marriage"
	.ascii	" had yet reached him:--he knew\012    nothing of wh"
	.ascii	"at had passed; and the first hours of his\012    vi"
	.ascii	"sit were consequently spent in hearing and in wonde"
	.ascii	"ring.\012    Every thing was explained to him by Mr"
	.ascii	"s. Dashwood,\012    and he found fresh reason to re"
	.ascii	"joice in what he had done\012    for Mr. Ferrars, s"
	.ascii	"ince eventually it promoted the interest\012    of "
	.ascii	"Elinor.\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    It would be needless to say, that the gentl"
	.ascii	"emen advanced\012    in the good opinion of each ot"
	.ascii	"her, as they advanced in each\012    other's acquai"
	.ascii	"ntance, for it could not be otherwise.\012    Their"
	.ascii	" resemblance in good principles and good sense,\012"
	.ascii	"    in disposition and manner of thinking, would pr"
	.ascii	"obably\012    have been sufficient to unite them in"
	.ascii	" friendship,\012    without any other attraction; b"
	.ascii	"ut their being in love\012    with two sisters, and"
	.ascii	" two sisters fond of each other,\012    made that m"
	.ascii	"utual regard inevitable and immediate,\012    which"
	.ascii	" might otherwise have waited the effect of time\012"
	.ascii	"    and judgment.\012    \012    The letters from t"
	.ascii	"own, which a few days before would\012    have made"
	.ascii	" every nerve in Elinor's body thrill with transport"
	.ascii	",\012    now arrived to be read with less emotion t"
	.ascii	"hat mirth.\012    Mrs. Jennings wrote to tell the w"
	.ascii	"onderful tale, to vent her\012    honest indignatio"
	.ascii	"n against the jilting girl, and pour forth\012    h"
	.ascii	"er compassion towards poor Mr. Edward, who, she was"
	.ascii	" sure,\012    had quite doted upon the worthless hu"
	.ascii	"ssy, and was now,\012    by all accounts, almost br"
	.ascii	"oken-hearted, at Oxford.--\012    \"I do think,\" s"
	.ascii	"he continued, \"nothing was ever carried\012    on "
	.ascii	"so sly; for it was but two days before Lucy called\012"
	.ascii	"    and sat a couple of hours with me.  Not a soul "
	.ascii	"suspected\012    anything of the matter, not even N"
	.ascii	"ancy, who, poor soul!\012    came crying to me the "
	.ascii	"day after, in a great fright\012    for fear of Mrs"
	.ascii	". Ferrars, as well as not knowing how to\012    get"
	.ascii	" to Plymouth; for Lucy it seems borrowed all her\012"
	.ascii	"    money before she went off to be married, on pur"
	.ascii	"pose\012    we suppose to make a show with, and poo"
	.ascii	"r Nancy had not\012    seven shillings in the world"
	.ascii	";--so I was very glad to give\012    her five guine"
	.ascii	"as to take her down to Exeter, where she\012    thi"
	.ascii	"nks of staying three or four weeks with Mrs. Burges"
	.ascii	"s,\012    in hopes, as I tell her, to fall in with "
	.ascii	"the Doctor again.\012    And I must say that Lucy's"
	.ascii	" crossness not to take them\012    along with them "
	.ascii	"in the chaise is worse than all.\012    Poor Mr. Ed"
	.ascii	"ward! I cannot g"
	.ascii	"et him out of my head, but you\012    must send for"
	.ascii	" him to Barton, and Miss Marianne must try to\012  "
	.ascii	"  comfort him.\"\012    \012    Mr. Dashwood's stra"
	.ascii	"ins were more solemn.\012    Mrs. Ferrars was the m"
	.ascii	"ost unfortunate of women--poor\012    Fanny had suf"
	.ascii	"fered agonies of sensibility--and he\012    conside"
	.ascii	"red the existence of each, under such a blow,\012  "
	.ascii	"  with grateful wonder.  Robert's offence was unpar"
	.ascii	"donable,\012    but Lucy's was infinitely worse.  N"
	.ascii	"either of them were\012    ever again to be mention"
	.ascii	"ed to Mrs. Ferrars; and even,\012    if she might h"
	.ascii	"ereafter be induced to forgive her son,\012    his "
	.ascii	"wife should never be acknowledged as her daughter,\012"
	.ascii	"    nor be permitted to appear in her presence.  Th"
	.ascii	"e secrecy\012    with which everything had been car"
	.ascii	"ried on between them,\012    was rationally treated"
	.ascii	" as enormously heightening\012    the crime, becaus"
	.ascii	"e, had any suspicion of it occurred\012    to the o"
	.ascii	"thers, proper measures would have been taken\012   "
	.ascii	" to prevent the marriage; and he called on Elinor t"
	.ascii	"o join\012    with him in regretting that Lucy's en"
	.ascii	"gagement with Edward\012    had not rather been ful"
	.ascii	"filled, than that she should thus\012    be the mea"
	.ascii	"ns of spreading misery farther in the family.--\012"
	.ascii	"    He thus continued:\012    \012    \"Mrs. Ferrar"
	.ascii	"s has never yet mentioned Edward's name,\012    whi"
	.ascii	"ch does not surprise us; but, to our great astonish"
	.ascii	"ment,\012    not a line has been received from him "
	.ascii	"on the occasion.\012    Perhaps, however, he is kep"
	.ascii	"t silent by his fear of offending,\012    and I sha"
	.ascii	"ll, therefore, give him a hint, by a line\012    to"
	.ascii	" Oxford, that his sister and I both think a letter\012"
	.ascii	"    of proper submission from him, addressed perhap"
	.ascii	"s to Fanny,\012    and by her shewn to her mother, "
	.ascii	"might not be taken amiss;\012    for we all know th"
	.ascii	"e tenderness of Mrs. Ferrars's heart,\012    and th"
	.ascii	"at she wishes for nothing so much as to be on good "
	.ascii	"terms\012    with her children.\"\012    \012    Th"
	.ascii	"is paragraph was of some importance to the\012    p"
	.ascii	"rospects and conduct of Edward.  It determined him\012"
	.ascii	"    to attempt a reconciliation, though not exactly"
	.ascii	"\012    in the manne"
	.ascii	"r pointed out by their brother and sister.\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \"A letter of proper submission!\" repeated he;"
	.ascii	"\012    \"would they have me beg my mother's pardon"
	.ascii	" for Robert's\012    ingratitude to HER, and breach"
	.ascii	" of honour to ME?--I can\012    make no submission-"
	.ascii	"-I am grown neither humble nor\012    penitent by w"
	.ascii	"hat has passed.--I am grown very happy;\012    but "
	.ascii	"that would not interest.--I know of no submission\012"
	.ascii	"    that IS proper for me to make.\"\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" \"You may certainly ask to be forgiven,\" said Eli"
	.ascii	"nor,\012    \"because you have offended;--and I sho"
	.ascii	"uld think you\012    might NOW venture so far as to"
	.ascii	" profess some concern\012    for having ever formed"
	.ascii	" the engagement which drew on you\012    your mothe"
	.ascii	"r's anger.\"\012    \012    He agreed that he might"
	.ascii	".\012    \012    \"And when she has forgiven you, p"
	.ascii	"erhaps a little humility\012    may be convenient w"
	.ascii	"hile acknowledging a second engagement,\012    almo"
	.ascii	"st as imprudent in HER eyes as the first.\"\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    He had nothing to urge against it, but stil"
	.ascii	"l\012    resisted the idea of a letter of proper su"
	.ascii	"bmission;\012    and therefore, to make it easier t"
	.ascii	"o him, as he declared\012    a much greater willing"
	.ascii	"ness to make mean concessions\012    by word of mou"
	.ascii	"th than on paper, it was resolved that,\012    inst"
	.ascii	"ead of writing to Fanny, he should go to London,\012"
	.ascii	"    and personally intreat her good offices in his "
	.ascii	"favour.--\012    \"And if they really DO interest t"
	.ascii	"hemselves,\" said Marianne,\012    in her new chara"
	.ascii	"cter of candour, \"in bringing about\012    a recon"
	.ascii	"ciliation, I shall think that even John and Fanny\012"
	.ascii	"    are not entirely without merit.\"\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  After a visit on Colonel Brandon's side of only t"
	.ascii	"hree\012    or four days, the two gentlemen quitted"
	.ascii	" Barton together.--\012    They were to go immediat"
	.ascii	"ely to Delaford, that Edward\012    might have some"
	.ascii	" personal knowledge of his future home,\012    and "
	.ascii	"assist his patron and friend in deciding on what\012"
	.ascii	"    improvements were needed to it; and from thence"
	.ascii	",\012    after staying there a couple of nights, he"
	.ascii	" was to proceed\012    on his journey to town.\012 "
	.ascii	"   \012    \012    \012    CHAPTER 50\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  \012 "
	.ascii	"   After a proper resistance on the part of Mrs. Fe"
	.ascii	"rrars,\012    just so violent and so steady as to p"
	.ascii	"reserve her from that\012    reproach which she alw"
	.ascii	"ays seemed fearful of incurring,\012    the reproac"
	.ascii	"h of being too amiable, Edward was admitted\012    "
	.ascii	"to her presence, and pronounced to be again her son"
	.ascii	".\012    \012    Her family had of late been exceed"
	.ascii	"ingly fluctuating.\012    For many years of her lif"
	.ascii	"e she had had two sons;\012    but the crime and an"
	.ascii	"nihilation of Edward a few weeks ago,\012    had ro"
	.ascii	"bbed her of one; the similar annihilation of Robert"
	.ascii	"\012    had left her for a fortnight without any; a"
	.ascii	"nd now,\012    by the resuscitation of Edward, she "
	.ascii	"had one again.\012    \012    In spite of his being"
	.ascii	" allowed once more to live,\012    however, he did "
	.ascii	"not feel the continuance of his existence\012    se"
	.ascii	"cure, till he had revealed his present engagement;\012"
	.ascii	"    for the publication of that circumstance, he fe"
	.ascii	"ared,\012    might give a sudden turn to his consti"
	.ascii	"tution, and carry\012    him off as rapidly as befo"
	.ascii	"re.  With apprehensive caution\012    therefore it "
	.ascii	"was revealed, and he was listened to with\012    un"
	.ascii	"expected calmness.  Mrs. Ferrars at first reasonabl"
	.ascii	"y\012    endeavoured to dissuade him from marrying "
	.ascii	"Miss Dashwood,\012    by every argument in her powe"
	.ascii	"r;--told him, that in Miss Morton\012    he would h"
	.ascii	"ave a woman of higher rank and larger fortune;--\012"
	.ascii	"    and enforced the assertion, by observing that M"
	.ascii	"iss Morton\012    was the daughter of a nobleman wi"
	.ascii	"th thirty thousand pounds,\012    while Miss Dashwo"
	.ascii	"od was only the daughter of a private\012    gentle"
	.ascii	"man with no more than THREE; but when she found tha"
	.ascii	"t,\012    though perfectly admitting the truth of h"
	.ascii	"er representation,\012    he was by no means inclin"
	.ascii	"ed to be guided by it,\012    she judged it wisest,"
	.ascii	" from the experience of the past,\012    to submit-"
	.ascii	"-and therefore, after such an ungracious delay\012 "
	.ascii	"   as she owed to her own dignity, and as served to"
	.ascii	" prevent\012    every suspicion of good-will, she i"
	.ascii	"ssued her decree\012    of consent to the marriage "
	.ascii	"of Edward and Elinor.\012    \012    What she would"
	.ascii	" engage to do"
	.ascii	" towards augmenting\012    their income was next to"
	.ascii	" be considered; and here it\012    plainly appeared"
	.ascii	", that though Edward was now her only son,\012    h"
	.ascii	"e was by no means her eldest; for while Robert was\012"
	.ascii	"    inevitably endowed with a thousand pounds a-yea"
	.ascii	"r,\012    not the smallest objection was made again"
	.ascii	"st Edward's taking\012    orders for the sake of tw"
	.ascii	"o hundred and fifty at the utmost;\012    nor was a"
	.ascii	"nything promised either for the present or in futur"
	.ascii	"e,\012    beyond the ten thousand pounds, which had"
	.ascii	" been given with Fanny.\012    \012    It was as mu"
	.ascii	"ch, however, as was desired,\012    and more than w"
	.ascii	"as expected, by Edward and Elinor;\012    and Mrs. "
	.ascii	"Ferrars herself, by her shuffling excuses,\012    s"
	.ascii	"eemed the only person surprised at her not giving m"
	.ascii	"ore.\012    \012    With an income quite sufficient"
	.ascii	" to their wants\012    thus secured to them, they h"
	.ascii	"ad nothing to wait for\012    after Edward was in p"
	.ascii	"ossession of the living, but the\012    readiness o"
	.ascii	"f the house, to which Colonel Brandon,\012    with "
	.ascii	"an eager desire for the accommodation of Elinor,\012"
	.ascii	"    was making considerable improvements; and after"
	.ascii	" waiting\012    some time for their completion, aft"
	.ascii	"er experiencing,\012    as usual, a thousand disapp"
	.ascii	"ointments and delays\012    from the unaccountable "
	.ascii	"dilatoriness of the workmen, Elinor,\012    as usua"
	.ascii	"l, broke through the first positive resolution\012 "
	.ascii	"   of not marrying till every thing was ready, and "
	.ascii	"the\012    ceremony took place in Barton church ear"
	.ascii	"ly in the autumn.\012    \012    The first month af"
	.ascii	"ter their marriage was spent\012    with their frie"
	.ascii	"nd at the Mansion-house; from whence\012    they co"
	.ascii	"uld superintend the progress of the Parsonage,\012 "
	.ascii	"   and direct every thing as they liked on the spot"
	.ascii	";--\012    could chuse papers, project shrubberies,"
	.ascii	" and invent a sweep.\012    Mrs. Jennings's prophec"
	.ascii	"ies, though rather jumbled together,\012    were ch"
	.ascii	"iefly fulfilled; for she was able to visit Edward\012"
	.ascii	"    and his wife in their Parsonage by Michaelmas, "
	.ascii	"and she\012    found in Elinor and her husband, as "
	.ascii	"she really believed,\012    one of the happiest cou"
	.ascii	"ples in the wo"
	.ascii	"rld.  They had\012    in fact nothing to wish for, "
	.ascii	"but the marriage of Colonel\012    Brandon and Mari"
	.ascii	"anne, and rather better pasturage for\012    their "
	.ascii	"cows.\012    \012    They were visited on their fir"
	.ascii	"st settling by almost\012    all their relations an"
	.ascii	"d friends.  Mrs. Ferrars came\012    to inspect the"
	.ascii	" happiness which she was almost ashamed\012    of h"
	.ascii	"aving authorised; and even the Dashwoods were at\012"
	.ascii	"    the expense of a journey from Sussex to do them"
	.ascii	" honour.\012    \012    \"I will not say that I am "
	.ascii	"disappointed, my dear sister,\"\012    said John, a"
	.ascii	"s they were walking together one morning before\012"
	.ascii	"    the gates of Delaford House, \"THAT would be sa"
	.ascii	"ying too much,\012    for certainly you have been o"
	.ascii	"ne of the most fortunate young\012    women in the "
	.ascii	"world, as it is.  But, I confess, it would\012    g"
	.ascii	"ive me great pleasure to call Colonel Brandon broth"
	.ascii	"er.\012    His property here, his place, his house,"
	.ascii	" every thing is in\012    such respectable and exce"
	.ascii	"llent condition!--and his woods!--I\012    have not"
	.ascii	" seen such timber any where in Dorsetshire, as ther"
	.ascii	"e\012    is now standing in Delaford Hanger!--And t"
	.ascii	"hough, perhaps,\012    Marianne may not seem exactl"
	.ascii	"y the person to attract him--\012    yet I think it"
	.ascii	" would altogether be advisable for you to\012    ha"
	.ascii	"ve them now frequently staying with you, for as Col"
	.ascii	"onel\012    Brandon seems a great deal at home, nob"
	.ascii	"ody can tell what\012    may happen--for, when peop"
	.ascii	"le are much thrown together,\012    and see little "
	.ascii	"of anybody else--and it will always be\012    in yo"
	.ascii	"ur power to set her off to advantage, and so forth;"
	.ascii	"--\012    in short, you may as well give her a chan"
	.ascii	"ce--You understand\012    me.\"--\012    \012    Bu"
	.ascii	"t though Mrs. Ferrars DID come to see them, and alw"
	.ascii	"ays\012    treated them with the make-believe of de"
	.ascii	"cent affection,\012    they were never insulted by "
	.ascii	"her real favour and preference.\012    THAT was due"
	.ascii	" to the folly of Robert, and the cunning\012    of "
	.ascii	"his wife; and it was earned by them before many mon"
	.ascii	"ths\012    had passed away.  The selfish sagacity o"
	.ascii	"f the latter,\012    which had at first drawn Rober"
	.ascii	"t into the scrape,\012    "
	.ascii	"was the principal instrument of his deliverance fro"
	.ascii	"m it;\012    for her respectful humility, assiduous"
	.ascii	" attentions,\012    and endless flatteries, as soon"
	.ascii	" as the smallest opening\012    was given for their"
	.ascii	" exercise, reconciled Mrs. Ferrars\012    to his ch"
	.ascii	"oice, and re-established him completely in\012    h"
	.ascii	"er favour.\012    \012    The whole of Lucy's behav"
	.ascii	"iour in the affair,\012    and the prosperity which"
	.ascii	" crowned it, therefore, may be held\012    forth as"
	.ascii	" a most encouraging instance of what an earnest,\012"
	.ascii	"    an unceasing attention to self-interest, howeve"
	.ascii	"r its progress\012    may be apparently obstructed,"
	.ascii	" will do in securing every\012    advantage of fort"
	.ascii	"une, with no other sacrifice than that of time\012 "
	.ascii	"   and conscience.  When Robert first sought her ac"
	.ascii	"quaintance,\012    and privately visited her in Bar"
	.ascii	"tlett's Buildings,\012    it was only with the view"
	.ascii	" imputed to him by his brother.\012    He merely me"
	.ascii	"ant to persuade her to give up the engagement;\012 "
	.ascii	"   and as there could be nothing to overcome but th"
	.ascii	"e affection\012    of both, he naturally expected t"
	.ascii	"hat one or two interviews\012    would settle the m"
	.ascii	"atter.  In that point, however,\012    and that onl"
	.ascii	"y, he erred;--for though Lucy soon gave him\012    "
	.ascii	"hopes that his eloquence would convince her in TIME"
	.ascii	",\012    another visit, another conversation, was a"
	.ascii	"lways wanted\012    to produce this conviction.  So"
	.ascii	"me doubts always lingered\012    in her mind when t"
	.ascii	"hey parted, which could only be\012    removed by a"
	.ascii	"nother half hour's discourse with himself.\012    H"
	.ascii	"is attendance was by this means secured, and the re"
	.ascii	"st\012    followed in course.  Instead of talking o"
	.ascii	"f Edward,\012    they came gradually to talk only o"
	.ascii	"f Robert,--a subject\012    on which he had always "
	.ascii	"more to say than on any other,\012    and in which "
	.ascii	"she soon betrayed an interest even equal\012    to "
	.ascii	"his own; and in short, it became speedily evident\012"
	.ascii	"    to both, that he had entirely supplanted his br"
	.ascii	"other.\012    He was proud of his conquest, proud o"
	.ascii	"f tricking Edward,\012    and very proud of marryin"
	.ascii	"g privately without his\012    mother's consent.  W"
	.ascii	"hat immedia"
	.ascii	"tely followed is known.\012    They passed some mon"
	.ascii	"ths in great happiness at Dawlish;\012    for she h"
	.ascii	"ad many relations and old acquaintances to\012    c"
	.ascii	"ut--and he drew several plans for magnificent cotta"
	.ascii	"ges;--\012    and from thence returning to town, pr"
	.ascii	"ocured the forgiveness\012    of Mrs. Ferrars, by t"
	.ascii	"he simple expedient of asking it,\012    which, at "
	.ascii	"Lucy's instigation, was adopted.  The forgiveness,\012"
	.ascii	"    at first, indeed, as was reasonable, comprehend"
	.ascii	"ed only Robert;\012    and Lucy, who had owed his m"
	.ascii	"other no duty and therefore\012    could have trans"
	.ascii	"gressed none, still remained some weeks\012    long"
	.ascii	"er unpardoned.  But perseverance in humility of con"
	.ascii	"duct\012    and messages, in self-condemnation for "
	.ascii	"Robert's offence,\012    and gratitude for the unki"
	.ascii	"ndness she was treated with,\012    procured her in"
	.ascii	" time the haughty notice which overcame\012    her "
	.ascii	"by its graciousness, and led soon afterwards, by ra"
	.ascii	"pid\012    degrees, to the highest state of affecti"
	.ascii	"on and influence.\012    Lucy became as necessary t"
	.ascii	"o Mrs. Ferrars, as either Robert\012    or Fanny; a"
	.ascii	"nd while Edward was never cordially forgiven\012   "
	.ascii	" for having once intended to marry her, and Elinor,"
	.ascii	"\012    though superior to her in fortune and birth"
	.ascii	", was spoken\012    of as an intruder, SHE was in e"
	.ascii	"very thing considered,\012    and always openly ack"
	.ascii	"nowledged, to be a favourite child.\012    They set"
	.ascii	"tled in town, received very liberal assistance\012 "
	.ascii	"   from Mrs. Ferrars, were on the best terms imagin"
	.ascii	"able\012    with the Dashwoods; and setting aside t"
	.ascii	"he jealousies\012    and ill-will continually subsi"
	.ascii	"sting between Fanny and Lucy,\012    in which their"
	.ascii	" husbands of course took a part, as well\012    as "
	.ascii	"the frequent domestic disagreements between Robert "
	.ascii	"and\012    Lucy themselves, nothing could exceed th"
	.ascii	"e harmony in which\012    they all lived together.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    What Edward had done to forfeit the rig"
	.ascii	"ht of eldest\012    son, might have puzzled many pe"
	.ascii	"ople to find out; and what\012    Robert had done t"
	.ascii	"o succeed to it, might have puzzled them\012    sti"
	.ascii	"ll more.  It was an arrangement, however, justified"
	.ascii	" in\012 "
	.ascii	"   its effects, if not in its cause; for nothing ev"
	.ascii	"er\012    appeared in Robert's style of living or o"
	.ascii	"f talking to give\012    a suspicion of his regrett"
	.ascii	"ing the extent of his income,\012    as either leav"
	.ascii	"ing his brother too little, or bringing\012    hims"
	.ascii	"elf too much;--and if Edward might be judged from\012"
	.ascii	"    the ready discharge of his duties in every part"
	.ascii	"icular,\012    from an increasing attachment to his"
	.ascii	" wife and his home,\012    and from the regular che"
	.ascii	"erfulness of his spirits,\012    he might be suppos"
	.ascii	"ed no less contented with his lot,\012    no less f"
	.ascii	"ree from every wish of an exchange.\012    \012    "
	.ascii	"Elinor's marriage divided her as little from her\012"
	.ascii	"    family as could well be contrived, without rend"
	.ascii	"ering\012    the cottage at Barton entirely useless"
	.ascii	", for her mother\012    and sisters spent much more"
	.ascii	" than half their time with her.\012    Mrs. Dashwoo"
	.ascii	"d was acting on motives of policy as well\012    as"
	.ascii	" pleasure in the frequency of her visits at Delafor"
	.ascii	"d;\012    for her wish of bringing Marianne and Col"
	.ascii	"onel Brandon together\012    was hardly less earnes"
	.ascii	"t, though rather more liberal than\012    what John"
	.ascii	" had expressed.  It was now her darling object.\012"
	.ascii	"    Precious as was the company of her daughter to "
	.ascii	"her,\012    she desired nothing so much as to give "
	.ascii	"up its constant\012    enjoyment to her valued frie"
	.ascii	"nd; and to see Marianne settled at\012    the mansi"
	.ascii	"on-house was equally the wish of Edward and Elinor."
	.ascii	"\012    They each felt his sorrows, and their own o"
	.ascii	"bligations,\012    and Marianne, by general consent"
	.ascii	", was to be the reward\012    of all.\012    \012  "
	.ascii	"  With such a confederacy against her--with a knowl"
	.ascii	"edge\012    so intimate of his goodness--with a con"
	.ascii	"viction of his fond\012    attachment to herself, w"
	.ascii	"hich at last, though long after it\012    was obser"
	.ascii	"vable to everybody else--burst on her--what could s"
	.ascii	"he\012    do?\012    \012    Marianne Dashwood was "
	.ascii	"born to an extraordinary fate.\012    She was born "
	.ascii	"to discover the falsehood of her own opinions,\012 "
	.ascii	"   and to counteract, by her conduct, her most favo"
	.ascii	"urite maxims.\012    She was born to overcome an af"
	.ascii	"fection formed so"
	.ascii	" late\012    in life as at seventeen, and with no s"
	.ascii	"entiment\012    superior to strong esteem and livel"
	.ascii	"y friendship,\012    voluntarily to give her hand t"
	.ascii	"o another!--and THAT other,\012    a man who had su"
	.ascii	"ffered no less than herself under the\012    event "
	.ascii	"of a former attachment, whom, two years before,\012"
	.ascii	"    she had considered too old to be married,--and "
	.ascii	"who still\012    sought the constitutional safeguar"
	.ascii	"d of a flannel waistcoat!\012    \012    But so it "
	.ascii	"was.  Instead of falling a sacrifice\012    to an i"
	.ascii	"rresistible passion, as once she had fondly\012    "
	.ascii	"flattered herself with expecting,--instead of remai"
	.ascii	"ning\012    even for ever with her mother, and find"
	.ascii	"ing her only\012    pleasures in retirement and stu"
	.ascii	"dy, as afterwards in her\012    more calm and sober"
	.ascii	" judgment she had determined on,--\012    she found"
	.ascii	" herself at nineteen, submitting to new attachments"
	.ascii	",\012    entering on new duties, placed in a new ho"
	.ascii	"me, a wife,\012    the mistress of a family, and th"
	.ascii	"e patroness of a village.\012    \012    Colonel Br"
	.ascii	"andon was now as happy, as all those who best\012  "
	.ascii	"  loved him, believed he deserved to be;--in Marian"
	.ascii	"ne he\012    was consoled for every past affliction"
	.ascii	";--her regard and her\012    society restored his m"
	.ascii	"ind to animation, and his spirits\012    to cheerfu"
	.ascii	"lness; and that Marianne found her own happiness\012"
	.ascii	"    in forming his, was equally the persuasion and "
	.ascii	"delight\012    of each observing friend.  Marianne "
	.ascii	"could never love\012    by halves; and her whole he"
	.ascii	"art became, in time, as much\012    devoted to her "
	.ascii	"husband, as it had once been to Willoughby.\012    "
	.ascii	"\012    Willoughby could not hear of her marriage w"
	.ascii	"ithout\012    a pang; and his punishment was soon a"
	.ascii	"fterwards complete\012    in the voluntary forgiven"
	.ascii	"ess of Mrs. Smith, who, by stating\012    his marri"
	.ascii	"age with a woman of character, as the source\012   "
	.ascii	" of her clemency, gave him reason for believing tha"
	.ascii	"t had he\012    behaved with honour towards Mariann"
	.ascii	"e, he might at once have\012    been happy and rich"
	.ascii	".  That his repentance of misconduct,\012    which "
	.ascii	"thus brought its own punishment, was sincere,\012  "
	.ascii	"  need not be doubt"
	.ascii	"ed;--nor that he long thought of Colonel\012    Bra"
	.ascii	"ndon with envy, and of Marianne with regret.  But t"
	.ascii	"hat\012    he was for ever inconsolable, that he fl"
	.ascii	"ed from society,\012    or contracted an habitual g"
	.ascii	"loom of temper, or died of a\012    broken heart, m"
	.ascii	"ust not be depended on--for he did neither.\012    "
	.ascii	"He lived to exert, and frequently to enjoy himself."
	.ascii	"\012    His wife was not always out of humour, nor "
	.ascii	"his home\012    always uncomfortable; and in his br"
	.ascii	"eed of horses and dogs,\012    and in sporting of e"
	.ascii	"very kind, he found no inconsiderable\012    degree"
	.ascii	" of domestic felicity.\012    \012    For Marianne,"
	.ascii	" however--in spite of his incivility\012    in surv"
	.ascii	"iving her loss--he always retained that decided\012"
	.ascii	"    regard which interested him in every thing that"
	.ascii	" befell her,\012    and made her his secret standar"
	.ascii	"d of perfection in woman;--\012    and many a risin"
	.ascii	"g beauty would be slighted by him in\012    after-d"
	.ascii	"ays as bearing no comparison with Mrs. Brandon.\012"
	.ascii	"    \012    Mrs. Dashwood was prudent enough to rem"
	.ascii	"ain at the cottage,\012    without attempting a rem"
	.ascii	"oval to Delaford; and fortunately for\012    Sir Jo"
	.ascii	"hn and Mrs. Jennings, when Marianne was taken from "
	.ascii	"them,\012    Margaret had reached an age highly sui"
	.ascii	"table for dancing,\012    and not very ineligible f"
	.ascii	"or being supposed to have a lover.\012    \012    B"
	.ascii	"etween Barton and Delaford, there was that constant"
	.ascii	"\012    communication which strong family affection"
	.ascii	" would\012    naturally dictate;--and among the mer"
	.ascii	"its and the happiness\012    of Elinor and Marianne"
	.ascii	", let it not be ranked as the least\012    consider"
	.ascii	"able, that though sisters, and living almost within"
	.ascii	"\012    sight of each other, they could live withou"
	.ascii	"t disagreement\012    between themselves, or produc"
	.ascii	"ing coolness between their husbands.\012    \012   "
	.ascii	" THE END\012    \012    \012    End of The Project "
	.ascii	"Gutenberg Etext of Sense and Sensibility\012    \012"
	.ascii	"    \000"
	.ident	"GCC: (Ubuntu 9.4.0-1ubuntu1~20.04.2) 9.4.0"
	.section	.note.GNU-stack,"",%progbits
