# bib

id: chapter-001
title: chapter-001
txt: ./txt/chapter-001.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-001.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  Their mother had nothing, and their father only seven thousand pounds in his own disposal; for the remaining moiety of his first wife''s fortune was also secured to her child, and he had only a life-interest in it. The whole was tied up for the benefit of this child, who, in occasional visits with his father and mother at Norland, had so far gained on the affections of his uncle, by such attractions as are by no means unusual in children of two or three years old; an imperfect articulation, an earnest desire of having his own way, many cunning tricks, and a great deal of noise, as to outweigh all the value of all the attention which, for years, he had received from his niece and her daughters. When he gave his promise to his father, he meditated within himself to increase the fortunes of his sisters by the present of a thousand pounds a-piece.


id: chapter-002
title: chapter-002
txt: ./txt/chapter-002.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-002.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  To take three thousand pounds from the fortune of their dear little boy would be impoverishing him to the most dreadful degree. It was very well known that no affection was ever supposed to exist between the children of any man by different marriages; and why was he to ruin himself, and their poor little Harry, by giving away all his money to his half sisters? Had he been in his right senses, he could not have thought of such a thing as begging you to give away half your fortune from your own child." As it is, without any addition of mine, they will each have about three thousand pounds on their mother''s death--a very comfortable fortune for any young woman." If they marry, they will be sure of doing well, and if they do not, they may all live very comfortably together on the interest of ten thousand pounds."


id: chapter-003
title: chapter-003
txt: ./txt/chapter-003.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-003.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  The contempt which she had, very early in their acquaintance, felt for her daughter-in-law, was very much increased by the farther knowledge of her character, which half a year''s residence in her family afforded; and perhaps in spite of every consideration of politeness or maternal affection on the side of the former, the two ladies might have found it impossible to have lived together so long, had not a particular circumstance occurred to give still greater eligibility, according to the opinions of Mrs. Dashwood, to her daughters'' continuance at Norland. This circumstance was a growing attachment between her eldest girl and the brother of Mrs. John Dashwood, a gentlemanlike and pleasing young man, who was introduced to their acquaintance soon after his sister''s establishment at Norland, and who had since spent the greatest part of his time there.


id: chapter-004
title: chapter-004
txt: ./txt/chapter-004.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-004.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  "What a pity it is, Elinor," said Marianne, "that Edward should have no taste for drawing." "No taste for drawing!" replied Elinor, "why should you think so? Marianne was afraid of offending, and said no more on the subject; but the kind of approbation which Elinor described as excited in him by the drawings of other people, was very far from that rapturous delight, which, in her opinion, could alone be called taste. "I hope, Marianne," continued Elinor, "you do not consider him as deficient in general taste. "Of his sense and his goodness," continued Elinor, "no one can, I think, be in doubt, who has seen him often enough to engage him in unreserved conversation. She knew that what Marianne and her mother conjectured one moment, they believed the next--that with them, to wish was to hope, and to hope was to expect. She could not consider her partiality for Edward in so prosperous a state as Marianne had believed it.


id: chapter-005
title: chapter-005
txt: ./txt/chapter-005.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-005.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  No sooner was her answer dispatched, than Mrs. Dashwood indulged herself in the pleasure of announcing to her son-in-law and his wife that she was provided with a house, and should incommode them no longer than till every thing were ready for her inhabiting it. Mrs. John Dashwood said nothing; but her husband civilly hoped that she would not be settled far from Norland. To separate Edward and Elinor was as far from being her object as ever; and she wished to show Mrs. John Dashwood, by this pointed invitation to her brother, how totally she disregarded her disapprobation of the match. In a very few weeks from the day which brought Sir John Middleton''s first letter to Norland, every thing was so far settled in their future abode as to enable Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters to begin their journey.


id: chapter-006
title: chapter-006
txt: ./txt/chapter-006.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-006.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  As a house, Barton Cottage, though small, was comfortable and compact; but as a cottage it was defective, for the building was regular, the roof was tiled, the window shutters were not painted green, nor were the walls covered with honeysuckles. "As for the house itself, to be sure," said she, "it is too small for our family, but we will make ourselves tolerably comfortable for the present, as it is too late in the year for improvements. In such employments as these they were interrupted soon after breakfast the next day by the entrance of their landlord, who called to welcome them to Barton, and to offer them every accommodation from his own house and garden in which theirs might at present be deficient. An opportunity was soon to be given to the Dashwoods of debating on the rest of the children, as Sir John would not leave the house without securing their promise of dining at the park the next day.


id: chapter-007
title: chapter-007
txt: ./txt/chapter-007.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-007.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters were met at the door of the house by Sir John, who welcomed them to Barton Park with unaffected sincerity; and as he attended them to the drawing room repeated to the young ladies the concern which the same subject had drawn from him the day before, at being unable to get any smart young men to meet them. Colonel Brandon, the friend of Sir John, seemed no more adapted by resemblance of manner to be his friend, than Lady Middleton was to be his wife, or Mrs. Jennings to be Lady Middleton''s mother. There was nothing in any of the party which could recommend them as companions to the Dashwoods; but the cold insipidity of Lady Middleton was so particularly repulsive, that in comparison of it the gravity of Colonel Brandon, and even the boisterous mirth of Sir John and his mother-in-law was interesting.


id: chapter-008
title: chapter-008
txt: ./txt/chapter-008.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-008.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  She was remarkably quick in the discovery of attachments, and had enjoyed the advantage of raising the blushes and the vanity of many a young lady by insinuations of her power over such a young man; and this kind of discernment enabled her soon after her arrival at Barton decisively to pronounce that Colonel Brandon was very much in love with Marianne Dashwood. Mrs. Dashwood, who could not think a man five years younger than herself, so exceedingly ancient as he appeared to the youthful fancy of her daughter, ventured to clear Mrs. Jennings from the probability of wishing to throw ridicule on his age. But if there should by any chance happen to be a woman who is single at seven and twenty, I should not think Colonel Brandon''s being thirty-five any objection to his marrying her ." Soon after this, upon Elinor''s leaving the room, "Mamma," said Marianne, "I have an alarm on the subject of illness which I cannot conceal from you.


id: chapter-009
title: chapter-009
txt: ./txt/chapter-009.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-009.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  Their visitors, except those from Barton Park, were not many; for, in spite of Sir John''s urgent entreaties that they would mix more in the neighbourhood, and repeated assurances of his carriage being always at their service, the independence of Mrs. Dashwood''s spirit overcame the wish of society for her children; and she was resolute in declining to visit any family beyond the distance of a walk. Sir John called on them as soon as the next interval of fair weather that morning allowed him to get out of doors; and Marianne''s accident being related to him, he was eagerly asked whether he knew any gentleman of the name of Willoughby at Allenham.


id: chapter-010
title: chapter-010
txt: ./txt/chapter-010.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-010.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  In hastily forming and giving his opinion of other people, in sacrificing general politeness to the enjoyment of undivided attention where his heart was engaged, and in slighting too easily the forms of worldly propriety, he displayed a want of caution which Elinor could not approve, in spite of all that he and Marianne could say in its support. Elinor was obliged, though unwillingly, to believe that the sentiments which Mrs. Jennings had assigned him for her own satisfaction, were now actually excited by her sister; and that however a general resemblance of disposition between the parties might forward the affection of Mr. Willoughby, an equally striking opposition of character was no hindrance to the regard of Colonel Brandon. "Brandon is just the kind of man," said Willoughby one day, when they were talking of him together, "whom every body speaks well of, and nobody cares about; whom all are delighted to see, and nobody remembers to talk to."


id: chapter-011
title: chapter-011
txt: ./txt/chapter-011.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-011.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  In every meeting of the kind Willoughby was included; and the ease and familiarity which naturally attended these parties were exactly calculated to give increasing intimacy to his acquaintance with the Dashwoods, to afford him opportunity of witnessing the excellencies of Marianne, of marking his animated admiration of her, and of receiving, in her behaviour to himself, the most pointed assurance of her affection. Colonel Brandon, unfortunately for himself, had no such encouragement to think only of Marianne, and in conversing with Elinor he found the greatest consolation for the indifference of her sister. His eyes were fixed on Marianne, and, after a silence of some minutes, he said, with a faint smile, "Your sister, I understand, does not approve of second attachments."


id: chapter-012
title: chapter-012
txt: ./txt/chapter-012.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-012.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  Willoughby had spent the preceding evening with them, and Margaret, by being left some time in the parlour with only him and Marianne, had had opportunity for observations, which, with a most important face, she communicated to her eldest sister, when they were next by themselves. "You have said so," replied Elinor, "almost every day since they first met on High-church Down; and they had not known each other a week, I believe, before you were certain that Marianne wore his picture round her neck; but it turned out to be only the miniature of our great uncle." When Mrs. Jennings attacked her one evening at the park, to give the name of the young man who was Elinor''s particular favourite, which had been long a matter of great curiosity to her, Margaret answered by looking at her sister, and saying, "I must not tell, may I, Elinor?"


id: chapter-013
title: chapter-013
txt: ./txt/chapter-013.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-013.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  "No bad news, Colonel, I hope;" said Mrs. Jennings, as soon as he entered the room. "There is no persuading you to change your mind, Brandon, I know of old," said Sir John, "when once you are determined on anything. "I hope we shall see you at Barton," added her ladyship, "as soon as you can conveniently leave town; and we must put off the party to Whitwell till you return." "Come Colonel," said Mrs. Jennings, "before you go, do let us know what you are going about." Mrs. Jennings sat on Elinor''s right hand; and they had not been long seated, before she leant behind her and Willoughby, and said to Marianne, loud enough for them both to hear, "I have found you out in spite of all your tricks.


id: chapter-014
title: chapter-014
txt: ./txt/chapter-014.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-014.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  One evening in particular, about a week after Colonel Brandon left the country, his heart seemed more than usually open to every feeling of attachment to the objects around him; and on Mrs. Dashwood''s happening to mention her design of improving the cottage in the spring, he warmly opposed every alteration of a place which affection had established as perfect with him. How little did I then think that the very first news I should hear from Mrs. Smith, when I next came into the country, would be that Barton cottage was taken: and I felt an immediate satisfaction and interest in the event, which nothing but a kind of prescience of what happiness I should experience from it, can account for.


id: chapter-015
title: chapter-015
txt: ./txt/chapter-015.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-015.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  Mrs. Dashwood''s visit to Lady Middleton took place the next day, and two of her daughters went with her; but Marianne excused herself from being of the party, under some trifling pretext of employment; and her mother, who concluded that a promise had been made by Willoughby the night before of calling on her while they were absent, was perfectly satisfied with her remaining at home. "I have only to add, my dear Willoughby, that at Barton cottage you will always be welcome; for I will not press you to return here immediately, because you only can judge how far that might be pleasing to Mrs. Smith; and on this head I shall be no more disposed to question your judgment than to doubt your inclination." Willoughby''s behaviour in taking leave of them, his embarrassment, and affectation of cheerfulness, and, above all, his unwillingness to accept her mother''s invitation--a backwardness so unlike a lover, so unlike himself--greatly disturbed her.


id: chapter-016
title: chapter-016
txt: ./txt/chapter-016.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-016.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  Mrs. Dashwood was sorry for what she had said; but it gave Elinor pleasure, as it produced a reply from Marianne so expressive of confidence in Willoughby and knowledge of his intentions. Marianne looked again; her heart sunk within her; and abruptly turning round, she was hurrying back, when the voices of both her sisters were raised to detain her; a third, almost as well known as Willoughby''s, joined them in begging her to stop, and she turned round with surprise to see and welcome Edward Ferrars. He was confused, seemed scarcely sensible of pleasure in seeing them, looked neither rapturous nor gay, said little but what was forced from him by questions, and distinguished Elinor by no mark of affection.


id: chapter-017
title: chapter-017
txt: ./txt/chapter-017.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-017.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  "Elinor, for shame!" said Marianne, "money can only give happiness where there is nothing else to give it. "We are all unanimous in that wish, I suppose," said Elinor, "in spite of the insufficiency of wealth." "Nor do I think it a part of Marianne''s," said Elinor; "I should hardly call her a lively girl--she is very earnest, very eager in all she does--sometimes talks a great deal and always with animation--but she is not often really merry." "I have frequently detected myself in such kind of mistakes," said Elinor, "in a total misapprehension of character in some point or other: fancying people so much more gay or grave, or ingenious or stupid than they really are, and I can hardly tell why or in what the deception originated. "But I thought it was right, Elinor," said Marianne, "to be guided wholly by the opinion of other people. "Marianne has not shyness to excuse any inattention of hers," said Elinor.


id: chapter-018
title: chapter-018
txt: ./txt/chapter-018.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-018.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  This was a subject which ensured Marianne''s attention, and she was beginning to describe her own admiration of these scenes, and to question him more minutely on the objects that had particularly struck him, when Edward interrupted her by saying, "You must not enquire too far, Marianne: remember I have no knowledge in the picturesque, and I shall offend you by my ignorance and want of taste if we come to particulars. "I suspect," said Elinor, "that to avoid one kind of affectation, Edward here falls into another. Before the middle of the day, they were visited by Sir John and Mrs. Jennings, who, having heard of the arrival of a gentleman at the cottage, came to take a survey of the guest. Edward saw enough to comprehend, not only the meaning of others, but such of Marianne''s expressions as had puzzled him before; and when their visitors left them, he went immediately round her, and said, in a whisper, "I have been guessing.


id: chapter-019
title: chapter-019
txt: ./txt/chapter-019.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-019.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  "I think, Edward," said Mrs. Dashwood, as they were at breakfast the last morning, "you would be a happier man if you had any profession to engage your time and give an interest to your plans and actions. Elinor was obliged to turn from her, in the middle of her story, to receive the rest of the party; Lady Middleton introduced the two strangers; Mrs. Dashwood and Margaret came down stairs at the same time, and they all sat down to look at one another, while Mrs. Jennings continued her story as she walked through the passage into the parlour, attended by Sir John. He entered the room with a look of self-consequence, slightly bowed to the ladies, without speaking a word, and, after briefly surveying them and their apartments, took up a newspaper from the table, and continued to read it as long as he stayed.


id: chapter-020
title: chapter-020
txt: ./txt/chapter-020.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-020.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  "I am so glad to see you!" said she, seating herself between Elinor and Marianne, "for it is so bad a day I was afraid you might not come, which would be a shocking thing, as we go away again tomorrow. "Oh, don''t be so sly before us," said Mrs. Palmer; "for we know all about it, I assure you; and I admire your taste very much, for I think he is extremely handsome. When we met him, he turned back and walked with us; and so we began talking of my brother and sister, and one thing and another, and I said to him, ''So, Colonel, there is a new family come to Barton cottage, I hear, and mama sends me word they are very pretty, and that one of them is going to be married to Mr. Willoughby of Combe Magna.


id: chapter-021
title: chapter-021
txt: ./txt/chapter-021.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-021.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  Their engagements at Exeter instantly gave way before such an invitation, and Lady Middleton was thrown into no little alarm on the return of Sir John, by hearing that she was very soon to receive a visit from two girls whom she had never seen in her life, and of whose elegance--whose tolerable gentility even--she could have no proof; for the assurances of her husband and mother on that subject went for nothing at all. Fortunately for those who pay their court through such foibles, a fond mother, though, in pursuit of praise for her children, the most rapacious of human beings, is likewise the most credulous; her demands are exorbitant; but she will swallow any thing; and the excessive affection and endurance of the Miss Steeles towards her offspring were viewed therefore by Lady Middleton without the smallest surprise or distrust.


id: chapter-022
title: chapter-022
txt: ./txt/chapter-022.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-022.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  Marianne, who had never much toleration for any thing like impertinence, vulgarity, inferiority of parts, or even difference of taste from herself, was at this time particularly ill-disposed, from the state of her spirits, to be pleased with the Miss Steeles, or to encourage their advances; and to the invariable coldness of her behaviour towards them, which checked every endeavour at intimacy on their side, Elinor principally attributed that preference of herself which soon became evident in the manners of both, but especially of Lucy, who missed no opportunity of engaging her in conversation, or of striving to improve their acquaintance by an easy and frank communication of her sentiments. "You will think my question an odd one, I dare say," said Lucy to her one day, as they were walking together from the park to the cottage--"but pray, are you personally acquainted with your sister-in-law''s mother, Mrs. Ferrars?"


id: chapter-023
title: chapter-023
txt: ./txt/chapter-023.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-023.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  One or two meetings of this kind had taken place, without affording Elinor any chance of engaging Lucy in private, when Sir John called at the cottage one morning, to beg, in the name of charity, that they would all dine with Lady Middleton that day, as he was obliged to attend the club at Exeter, and she would otherwise be quite alone, except her mother and the two Miss Steeles. "I am glad," said Lady Middleton to Lucy, "you are not going to finish poor little Annamaria''s basket this evening; for I am sure it must hurt your eyes to work filigree by candlelight. "You are very kind," said Lady Middleton to Elinor; "and as you really like the work, perhaps you will be as well pleased not to cut in till another rubber, or will you take your chance now?"


id: chapter-024
title: chapter-024
txt: ./txt/chapter-024.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-024.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  "I can answer for it that Miss Dashwood''s is not," said Mrs. Jennings, laughing heartily; "for he is one of the modestest, prettiest behaved young men I ever saw; but as for Lucy, she is such a sly little creature, there is no finding out who she likes." "Oh," cried Miss Steele, looking significantly round at them, "I dare say Lucy''s beau is quite as modest and pretty behaved as Miss Dashwood''s." "Indeed you wrong me," replied Lucy, with great solemnity; "I know nobody of whose judgment I think so highly as I do of yours; and I do really believe, that if you was to say to me, ''I advise you by all means to put an end to your engagement with Edward Ferrars, it will be more for the happiness of both of you,'' I should resolve upon doing it immediately."


id: chapter-025
title: chapter-025
txt: ./txt/chapter-025.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-025.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  "Nay," cried Mrs. Jennings, "I am sure I shall be monstrous glad of Miss Marianne''s company, whether Miss Dashwood will go or not, only the more the merrier say I, and I thought it would be more comfortable for them to be together; because, if they got tired of me, they might talk to one another, and laugh at my old ways behind my back. Mrs. Jennings repeated her assurance that Mrs. Dashwood could spare them perfectly well; and Elinor, who now understood her sister, and saw to what indifference to almost every thing else she was carried by her eagerness to be with Willoughby again, made no farther direct opposition to the plan, and merely referred it to her mother''s decision, from whom however she scarcely expected to receive any support in her endeavour to prevent a visit, which she could not approve of for Marianne, and which on her own account she had particular reasons to avoid.


id: chapter-026
title: chapter-026
txt: ./txt/chapter-026.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-026.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  Every thing was silent; this could not be borne many seconds; she opened the door, advanced a few steps towards the stairs, and after listening half a minute, returned into the room in all the agitation which a conviction of having heard him would naturally produce; in the ecstasy of her feelings at that instant she could not help exclaiming, "Oh, Elinor, it is Willoughby, indeed it is!" and seemed almost ready to throw herself into his arms, when Colonel Brandon appeared. Colonel," said she, with her usual noisy cheerfulness, "I am monstrous glad to see you--sorry I could not come before--beg your pardon, but I have been forced to look about me a little, and settle my matters; for it is a long while since I have been at home, and you know one has always a world of little odd things to do after one has been away for any time; and then I have had Cartwright to settle with.


id: chapter-027
title: chapter-027
txt: ./txt/chapter-027.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-027.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  "If this open weather holds much longer," said Mrs. Jennings, when they met at breakfast the following morning, "Sir John will not like leaving Barton next week; ''tis a sad thing for sportsmen to lose a day''s pleasure. "At any rate," said Elinor, wishing to prevent Mrs. Jennings from seeing her sister''s thoughts as clearly as she did, "I dare say we shall have Sir John and Lady Middleton in town by the end of next week." Colonel Brandon, who had a general invitation to the house, was with them almost every day; he came to look at Marianne and talk to Elinor, who often derived more satisfaction from conversing with him than from any other daily occurrence, but who saw at the same time with much concern his continued regard for her sister.


id: chapter-028
title: chapter-028
txt: ./txt/chapter-028.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-028.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  They were engaged about the end of that time to attend Lady Middleton to a party, from which Mrs. Jennings was kept away by the indisposition of her youngest daughter; and for this party, Marianne, wholly dispirited, careless of her appearance, and seeming equally indifferent whether she went or staid, prepared, without one look of hope or one expression of pleasure. She sat by the drawing-room fire after tea, till the moment of Lady Middleton''s arrival, without once stirring from her seat, or altering her attitude, lost in her own thoughts, and insensible of her sister''s presence; and when at last they were told that Lady Middleton waited for them at the door, she started as if she had forgotten that any one was expected. After some time spent in saying little or doing less, Lady Middleton sat down to Cassino, and as Marianne was not in spirits for moving about, she and Elinor luckily succeeding to chairs, placed themselves at no great distance from the table.


id: chapter-029
title: chapter-029
txt: ./txt/chapter-029.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-029.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  Mrs. Jennings laughed again, but Elinor had not spirits to say more, and eager at all events to know what Willoughby had written, hurried away to their room, where, on opening the door, she saw Marianne stretched on the bed, almost choked by grief, one letter in her hand, and two or three others laying by her. Mrs. Jennings, with a thoroughly good-humoured concern for its cause, admitted the excuse most readily, and Elinor, after seeing her safe off, returned to Marianne, whom she found attempting to rise from the bed, and whom she reached just in time to prevent her from falling on the floor, faint and giddy from a long want of proper rest and food; for it was many days since she had any appetite, and many nights since she had really slept; and now, when her mind was no longer supported by the fever of suspense, the consequence of all this was felt in an aching head, a weakened stomach, and a general nervous faintness.


id: chapter-030
title: chapter-030
txt: ./txt/chapter-030.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-030.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  But there is one comfort, my dear Miss Marianne--he is not the only young man in the world worth having; and with your pretty face you will never want admirers. But "no, she would go down; she could bear it very well, and the bustle about her would be less." Elinor, pleased to have her governed for a moment by such a motive, though believing it hardly possible that she could sit out the dinner, said no more; and adjusting her dress for her as well as she could, while Marianne still remained on the bed, was ready to assist her into the dining room as soon as they were summoned to it. Their own good-nature must point out to them the real cruelty of appearing to know any thing about it when she is present; and the less that may ever be said to myself on the subject, the more my feelings will be spared, as you my dear madam will easily believe."


id: chapter-031
title: chapter-031
txt: ./txt/chapter-031.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-031.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  Her mother, still confident of their engagement, and relying as warmly as ever on his constancy, had only been roused by Elinor''s application, to entreat from Marianne greater openness towards them both; and this, with such tenderness towards her, such affection for Willoughby, and such a conviction of their future happiness in each other, that she wept with agony through the whole of it. Elinor, unable herself to determine whether it were better for Marianne to be in London or at Barton, offered no counsel of her own except of patience till their mother''s wishes could be known; and at length she obtained her sister''s consent to wait for that knowledge. The event proved her conjecture right, though it was founded on injustice and error; for Colonel Brandon did come in; and Elinor, who was convinced that solicitude for Marianne brought him thither, and who saw that solicitude in his disturbed and melancholy look, and in his anxious though brief inquiry after her, could not forgive her sister for esteeming him so lightly.


id: chapter-032
title: chapter-032
txt: ./txt/chapter-032.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-032.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  But it was a matter of great consolation to her, that what brought evil to herself would bring good to her sister; and Elinor, on the other hand, suspecting that it would not be in her power to avoid Edward entirely, comforted herself by thinking, that though their longer stay would therefore militate against her own happiness, it would be better for Marianne than an immediate return into Devonshire. These assured him that his exertion had produced an increase of good-will towards himself, and these gave Elinor hopes of its being farther augmented hereafter; but Mrs. Jennings, who knew nothing of all this, who knew only that the Colonel continued as grave as ever, and that she could neither prevail on him to make the offer himself, nor commission her to make it for him, began, at the end of two days, to think that, instead of Mid-summer, they would not be married till Michaelmas, and by the end of a week that it would not be a match at all.


id: chapter-033
title: chapter-033
txt: ./txt/chapter-033.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-033.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  Elinor did feel a little ashamed of her brother; and was not sorry to be spared the necessity of answering him, by the arrival of Mrs. Jennings''s servant, who came to tell her that his mistress waited for them at the door. His manners to them, though calm, were perfectly kind; to Mrs. Jennings, most attentively civil; and on Colonel Brandon''s coming in soon after himself, he eyed him with a curiosity which seemed to say, that he only wanted to know him to be rich, to be equally civil to him. And her mother too, Mrs. Ferrars, a very good-natured woman, I am sure it would give her great pleasure; she said as much the other day."


id: chapter-034
title: chapter-034
txt: ./txt/chapter-034.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-034.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  So well had they recommended themselves to Lady Middleton, so agreeable had their assiduities made them to her, that though Lucy was certainly not so elegant, and her sister not even genteel, she was as ready as Sir John to ask them to spend a week or two in Conduit Street; and it happened to be particularly convenient to the Miss Steeles, as soon as the Dashwoods'' invitation was known, that their visit should begin a few days before the party took place. Mrs. Ferrars, not aware of their being Elinor''s work, particularly requested to look at them; and after they had received gratifying testimony of Lady Middleton''s approbation, Fanny presented them to her mother, considerately informing her, at the same time, that they were done by Miss Dashwood.


id: chapter-035
title: chapter-035
txt: ./txt/chapter-035.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-035.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  She wondered that Lucy''s spirits could be so very much elevated by the civility of Mrs. Ferrars;--that her interest and her vanity should so very much blind her as to make the attention which seemed only paid her because she was not Elinor appear a compliment to herself--or to allow her to derive encouragement from a preference only given her, because her real situation was unknown. Again they all sat down, and for a moment or two all were silent; while Marianne was looking with the most speaking tenderness, sometimes at Edward and sometimes at Elinor, regretting only that their delight in each other should be checked by Lucy''s unwelcome presence. This remark was not calculated to make Edward or Elinor more easy, nor to conciliate the good will of Lucy, who looked up at Marianne with no very benignant expression.


id: chapter-036
title: chapter-036
txt: ./txt/chapter-036.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-036.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  This event, highly important to Mrs. Jennings''s happiness, produced a temporary alteration in the disposal of her time, and influenced, in a like degree, the engagements of her young friends; for as she wished to be as much as possible with Charlotte, she went thither every morning as soon as she was dressed, and did not return till late in the evening; and the Miss Dashwoods, at the particular request of the Middletons, spent the whole of every day, in Conduit Street. In the present instance, this last-arrived lady allowed her fancy to so far outrun truth and probability, that on merely hearing the name of the Miss Dashwoods, and understanding them to be Mr. Dashwood''s sisters, she immediately concluded them to be staying in Harley Street; and this misconstruction produced within a day or two afterwards, cards of invitation for them as well as for their brother and sister, to a small musical party at her house.


id: chapter-037
title: chapter-037
txt: ./txt/chapter-037.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-037.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  So upon that, he smirked, and simpered, and looked grave, and seemed to know something or other, and at last he said in a whisper, ''For fear any unpleasant report should reach the young ladies under your care as to their sister''s indisposition, I think it advisable to say, that I believe there is no great reason for alarm; I hope Mrs. Dashwood will do very well.''" ''Lord!'' thinks she to herself, ''they are all so fond of Lucy, to be sure they will make no difficulty about it;'' and so, away she went to your sister, who was sitting all alone at her carpet-work, little suspecting what was to come--for she had just been saying to your brother, only five minutes before, that she thought to make a match between Edward and some Lord''s daughter or other, I forget who.


id: chapter-038
title: chapter-038
txt: ./txt/chapter-038.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-038.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  "I am so glad to meet you;" said Miss Steele, taking her familiarly by the arm--"for I wanted to see you of all things in the world." And then lowering her voice, "I suppose Mrs. Jennings has heard all about it. And besides that, my cousin Richard said himself, that when it came to the point he was afraid Mr. Ferrars would be off; and when Edward did not come near us for three days, I could not tell what to think myself; and I believe in my heart Lucy gave it up all for lost; for we came away from your brother''s Wednesday, and we saw nothing of him not all Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and did not know what was become of him.


id: chapter-039
title: chapter-039
txt: ./txt/chapter-039.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-039.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  Perhaps Mrs. Jennings was in hopes, by this vigorous sketch of their future ennui, to provoke him to make that offer, which might give himself an escape from it; and if so, she had soon afterwards good reason to think her object gained; for, on Elinor''s moving to the window to take more expeditiously the dimensions of a print, which she was going to copy for her friend, he followed her to it with a look of particular meaning, and conversed with her there for several minutes. This delay on the Colonel''s side, however, did not seem to offend or mortify his fair companion in the least, for on their breaking up the conference soon afterwards, and moving different ways, Mrs. Jennings very plainly heard Elinor say, and with a voice which showed her to feel what she said--


id: chapter-040
title: chapter-040
txt: ./txt/chapter-040.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-040.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  "Well, Miss Dashwood," said Mrs. Jennings, sagaciously smiling, as soon as the gentleman had withdrawn, "I do not ask you what the Colonel has been saying to you; for though, upon my honour, I tried to keep out of hearing, I could not help catching enough to understand his business. Well, my dear, I wish you joy of it again and again; and if ever there was a happy couple in the world, I think I shall soon know where to look for them." "Mrs. Jennings told me," said he, "that you wished to speak with me, at least I understood her so--or I certainly should not have intruded on you in such a manner; though at the same time, I should have been extremely sorry to leave London without seeing you and your sister; especially as it will most likely be some time--it is not probable that I should soon have the pleasure of meeting you again.


id: chapter-041
title: chapter-041
txt: ./txt/chapter-041.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-041.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  So far was she, at the same time, from any backwardness to give Elinor that credit which Edward would give her, that she spoke of her friendship for them both with the most grateful warmth, was ready to own all their obligation to her, and openly declared that no exertion for their good on Miss Dashwood''s part, either present or future, would ever surprise her, for she believed her capable of doing any thing in the world for those she really valued. Marianne, not contented with absolutely refusing to go herself, was very urgent to prevent her sister''s going at all; and Mrs. Jennings, though her carriage was always at Elinor''s service, so very much disliked Mrs. John Dashwood, that not even her curiosity to see how she looked after the late discovery, nor her strong desire to affront her by taking Edward''s part, could overcome her unwillingness to be in her company again.


id: chapter-042
title: chapter-042
txt: ./txt/chapter-042.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-042.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  For the convenience of Charlotte and her child, they were to be more than two days on their journey, and Mr. Palmer, travelling more expeditiously with Colonel Brandon, was to join them at Cleveland soon after their arrival. Marianne entered the house with a heart swelling with emotion from the consciousness of being only eighty miles from Barton, and not thirty from Combe Magna; and before she had been five minutes within its walls, while the others were busily helping Charlotte to show her child to the housekeeper, she quitted it again, stealing away through the winding shrubberies, now just beginning to be in beauty, to gain a distant eminence; where, from its Grecian temple, her eye, wandering over a wide tract of country to the south-east, could fondly rest on the farthest ridge of hills in the horizon, and fancy that from their summits Combe Magna might be seen.


id: chapter-043
title: chapter-043
txt: ./txt/chapter-043.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-043.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  Mrs. Jennings, who had been inclined from the first to think Marianne''s complaint more serious than Elinor, now looked very grave on Mr. Harris''s report, and confirming Charlotte''s fears and caution, urged the necessity of her immediate removal with her infant; and Mr. Palmer, though treating their apprehensions as idle, found the anxiety and importunity of his wife too great to be withstood. Mrs. Jennings, however, with a kindness of heart which made Elinor really love her, declared her resolution of not stirring from Cleveland as long as Marianne remained ill, and of endeavouring, by her own attentive care, to supply to her the place of the mother she had taken her from; and Elinor found her on every occasion a most willing and active helpmate, desirous to share in all her fatigues, and often by her better experience in nursing, of material use.


id: chapter-044
title: chapter-044
txt: ./txt/chapter-044.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-044.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  Elinor, starting back with a look of horror at the sight of him, obeyed the first impulse of her heart in turning instantly to quit the room, and her hand was already on the lock, when its action was suspended by his hastily advancing, and saying, in a voice rather of command than supplication-"Had I known as much half an hour ago--But since I am here,"--speaking with a forced vivacity as he returned to his seat,--"what does it signify?--For once, Miss Dashwood--it will be the last time, perhaps--let us be cheerful together. To attach myself to your sister, therefore, was not a thing to be thought of; and with a meanness, selfishness, cruelty, which no indignant, no contemptuous look, even of yours, Miss Dashwood, can ever reprobate too much,--I was acting in this manner, trying to engage her regard, without a thought of returning it.


id: chapter-045
title: chapter-045
txt: ./txt/chapter-045.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-045.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  Mrs. Dashwood, whose terror as they drew near the house had produced almost the conviction of Marianne''s being no more, had no voice to inquire after her, no voice even for Elinor; but she, waiting neither for salutation nor inquiry, instantly gave the joyful relief; and her mother, catching it with all her usual warmth, was in a moment as much overcome by her happiness, as she had been before by her fears. The shock of Colonel Brandon''s errand at Barton had been much softened to Mrs. Dashwood by her own previous alarm; for so great was her uneasiness about Marianne, that she had already determined to set out for Cleveland on that very day, without waiting for any further intelligence, and had so far settled her journey before his arrival, that the Careys were then expected every moment to fetch Margaret away, as her mother was unwilling to take her where there might be infection.


id: chapter-046
title: chapter-046
txt: ./txt/chapter-046.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-046.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  His emotion on entering the room, in seeing her altered looks, and in receiving the pale hand which she immediately held out to him, was such, as, in Elinor''s conjecture, must arise from something more than his affection for Marianne, or the consciousness of its being known to others; and she soon discovered in his melancholy eye and varying complexion as he looked at her sister, the probable recurrence of many past scenes of misery to his mind, brought back by that resemblance between Marianne and Eliza already acknowledged, and now strengthened by the hollow eye, the sickly skin, the posture of reclining weakness, and the warm acknowledgment of peculiar obligation. The day of separation and departure arrived; and Marianne, after taking so particular and lengthened a leave of Mrs. Jennings, one so earnestly grateful, so full of respect and kind wishes as seemed due to her own heart from a secret acknowledgment of past inattention, and bidding Colonel Brandon farewell with a cordiality of a friend, was carefully assisted by him into the carriage, of which he seemed anxious that she should engross at least half.


id: chapter-047
title: chapter-047
txt: ./txt/chapter-047.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-047.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  Mrs. Dashwood, whose eyes, as she answered the servant''s inquiry, had intuitively taken the same direction, was shocked to perceive by Elinor''s countenance how much she really suffered, and a moment afterwards, alike distressed by Marianne''s situation, knew not on which child to bestow her principal attention. By that time, Marianne was rather better, and her mother leaving her to the care of Margaret and the maid, returned to Elinor, who, though still much disordered, had so far recovered the use of her reason and voice as to be just beginning an inquiry of Thomas, as to the source of his intelligence.


id: chapter-048
title: chapter-048
txt: ./txt/chapter-048.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-048.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  She now found, that in spite of herself, she had always admitted a hope, while Edward remained single, that something would occur to prevent his marrying Lucy; that some resolution of his own, some mediation of friends, or some more eligible opportunity of establishment for the lady, would arise to assist the happiness of all. She saw them in an instant in their parsonage-house; saw in Lucy, the active, contriving manager, uniting at once a desire of smart appearance with the utmost frugality, and ashamed to be suspected of half her economical practices; pursuing her own interest in every thought, courting the favour of Colonel Brandon, of Mrs. Jennings, and of every wealthy friend. "I meant," said Elinor, taking up some work from the table, "to inquire for Mrs. Edward Ferrars." "Mrs. Robert Ferrars!"--was repeated by Marianne and her mother in an accent of the utmost amazement;--and though Elinor could not speak, even her eyes were fixed on him with the same impatient wonder.


id: chapter-049
title: chapter-049
txt: ./txt/chapter-049.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-049.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  I had therefore nothing in the world to do, but to fancy myself in love; and as my mother did not make my home in every respect comfortable, as I had no friend, no companion in my brother, and disliked new acquaintance, it was not unnatural for me to be very often at Longstaple, where I always felt myself at home, and was always sure of a welcome; and accordingly I spent the greatest part of my time there from eighteen to nineteen: Lucy appeared everything that was amiable and obliging. Perhaps, however, he is kept silent by his fear of offending, and I shall, therefore, give him a hint, by a line to Oxford, that his sister and I both think a letter of proper submission from him, addressed perhaps to Fanny, and by her shown to her mother, might not be taken amiss; for we all know the tenderness of Mrs. Ferrars''s heart, and that she wishes for nothing so much as to be on good terms with her children."


id: chapter-050
title: chapter-050
txt: ./txt/chapter-050.txt
cache: ./cache/chapter-050.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
summary:
  Mrs. Ferrars at first reasonably endeavoured to dissuade him from marrying Miss Dashwood, by every argument in her power; told him, that in Miss Morton he would have a woman of higher rank and larger fortune; and enforced the assertion, by observing that Miss Morton was the daughter of a nobleman with thirty thousand pounds, while Miss Dashwood was only the daughter of a private gentleman with no more than three; but when she found that, though perfectly admitting the truth of her representation, he was by no means inclined to be guided by it, she judged it wisest, from the experience of the past, to submit; and therefore, after such an ungracious delay as she owed to her own dignity, and as served to prevent every suspicion of good-will, she issued her decree of consent to the marriage of Edward and Elinor.


