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affected laugh which had considerably lengthened out the genuine
gaiety of the moment—“but； upon my soul； it is a most serious
business。 Poor Edward！ he is ruined for ever。 I am extremely sorry
for it—for I know him to be a very good…hearted creature； as well…
meaning a fellow perhaps； as any in the world。 You must not judge
of him； Miss Dashwood； from your slight acquaintance。—Poor
Edward！—His manners are certainly not the happiest in nature。—
But we are not all born； you know； with the same powers；—the
same address。—Poor fellow！—to see him in a circle of strangers！—
to be sure it was pitiable enough！—but upon my soul； I believe he
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has as good a heart as any in the kingdom； and I declare and
protest to you I never was so shocked in my life； as when it all
burst forth。 I could not believe it。—My mother was the first person
who told me of it； and I； feeling myself called on to act with
resolution； immediately said to her； ‘My dear madam； I do not
know what you may intend to do on the occasion； but as for
myself； I must say； that if Edward does marry this young woman； I
never will see him again。’ That was what I said immediately。—I
was most uncommonly shocked； indeed！—Poor Edward！—he has
done for himself completely—shut himself out for ever from all
decent society！—but； as I directly said to my mother； I am not in
the least surprised at it； from his style of education； it was always
to be expected。 My poor mother was half frantic。”
“Have you ever seen the lady？”
“Yes； once； while she was staying in this house； I happened to
drop in for ten minutes； and I saw quite enough of her。 The merest
awkward country girl； without style； or elegance； and almost
without beauty。—I remember her perfectly。 Just the kind of girl I
should suppose likely to captivate poor Edward。 I offered
immediately； as soon as my mother related the affair to me； to talk
to him myself； and dissuade him from the match； but it was too
late then； I found； to do any thing； for unluckily； I was not in the
way at first； and knew nothing of it till after the breach had taken
place； when it was not for me； you know； to interfere。 But had I
been informed of it a few hours earlier—I think it is most
probable—that something might have been hit on。 I certainly
should have represented it to Edward in a very strong light。 ‘My
dear fellow；’ I should have said； ‘consider what you are doing。 You
are making a most disgraceful connection； and such a one as your
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family are unanimous in disapproving。’ I cannot help thinking； in
short； that means might have been found。 But now it is all too late。
He must be starved； you know；—that is certain； absolutely
starved。”
He had just settled this point with great composure； when the
entrance of Mrs。 John Dashwood put an end to the subject。 But
though she never spoke of it out of her own family； Elinor could
see its influence on her mind； in the something like confusion of
countenance with which she entered； and an attempt at cordiality
in her behaviour to herself。 She even proceeded so far as to be
concerned to find that Elinor and her sister were so soon to leave
town； as she had hoped to see more of them；—an exertion in
which her husband； who attended her into the room； and hung
enamoured over her accents； seemed to distinguish every thing
that was most affectionate and graceful。
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CHAPTER VI
ne other short call in Harley…street； in which Elinor
received her brother’s congratulations on their travelling
O
so far towards Barton without any expense； and on
Colonel Brandon’s being to follow them to Cleveland in a day or
two； completed the intercourse of the brother and sisters in
town；—and a faint invitation from Fanny； to come to Norland
whenever it should happen to be in their way； which of all things
was the most unlikely to occur； with a more warm； though less
public； assurance； from John to Elinor； of the promptitude with
which he should come to see her at Delaford； was all that foretold
any meeting in the country。
It amused her to observe that all her friends seemed
determined to send her to Delaford；—a place； in which； of all
others； she would now least chuse to visit； or wish to reside； for not
only was it considered as her future home by her brother and Mrs。
Jennings； but even Lucy； when they parted； gave her a pressing
invitation to visit her there。
Very early in April； and tolerably early in the day； the two
parties from Hanover…square and Berkeley…street set out from
their respective homes； to meet； by appointment； on the road。 For
the convenience of Charlotte and her child； they were to be more
than two days on their journey； and Mr。 Palmer； travelling more
expeditiously with Colonel Brandon； was to join them at Cleveland
soon after their arrival。
Marianne； few as had been her hours of comfort in London； and
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eager as she had long been to quit it； could not； when it came to
the point； bid adieu to the house in which she had for the last time
enjoyed those hopes； and that confidence； in Willoughby； which
were now extinguished for ever； without great pain。 Nor could she
leave the place in which Willoughby remained； busy