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even for Elinor。 His complexion was white with agitation； and he
looked as if fearful of his reception； and conscious that he merited
no kind one。 Mrs。 Dashwood； however； conforming； as she trusted；
to the wishes of that daughter； by whom she then meant in the
warmth of her heart to be guided in every thing； met with a look of
forced complacency； gave him her hand； and wished him joy。
He coloured； and stammered out an unintelligible reply。
Elinor’s lips had moved with her mother’s； and； when the moment
of action was over； she wished that she had shaken hands with
him too。 But it was then too late； and with a countenance meaning
to be open； she sat down again and talked of the weather。
Marianne had retreated as much as possible out of sight； to
conceal her distress； and Margaret； understanding some part； but
not the whole of the case； thought it incumbent on her to be
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dignified； and therefore took a seat as far from him as she could；
and maintained a strict silence。
When Elinor had ceased to rejoice in the dryness of the season；
a very awful pause took place。 It was put an end to by Mrs。
Dashwood； who felt obliged to hope that he had left Mrs。 Ferrars
very well。 In a hurried manner； he replied in the affirmative。
Another pause。
Elinor resolving to exert herself； though fearing the sound of
her own voice； now said；
“Is Mrs。 Ferrars at Longstaple？”
“At Longstaple！” he replied； with an air of surprise。—“No； my
mother is in town。”
“I meant；” said Elinor； taking up some work from the table； “to
inquire for Mrs。 Edward Ferrars。”
She dared not look up；—but her mother and Marianne both
turned their eyes on him。 He coloured； seemed perplexed； looked
doubtingly； and； after some hesitation； said；—
“Perhaps you mean—my brother—you mean Mrs。—Mrs。 Robert
Ferrars。”
“Mrs。 Robert Ferrars！”—was repeated by Marianne and her
mother in an accent of the utmost amazement；—and though
Elinor could not speak； even her eyes were fixed on him with the
same impatient wonder。 He rose from his seat； and walked to the
window； apparently from not knowing what to do； took up a pair
of scissors that lay there； and while spoiling both them and their
sheath by cutting the latter to pieces as he spoke； said； in a hurried
voice；
“Perhaps you do not know—you may not have heard that my
brother is lately married to—to the youngest—to Miss Lucy
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Steele。”
His words were echoed with unspeakable astonishment by all
but Elinor； who sat with her head leaning over her work； in a state
of such agitation as made her hardly know where she was。
“Yes；” said he； “they were married last week； and are now at
Dawlish。”
Elinor could sit it no longer。 She almost ran out of the room；
and as soon as the door was closed； burst into tears of joy； which at
first she thought would never cease。 Edward； who had till then
looked any where； rather than at her； saw her hurry away； and
perhaps saw—or even heard； her emotion； for immediately
afterwards he fell into a reverie； which no remarks； no inquiries；
no affectionate address of Mrs。 Dashwood could penetrate； and at
last； without saying a word； quitted the room； and walked out
towards the village—leaving the others in the greatest
astonishment and perplexity on a change in his situation； so
wonderful and so sudden；—a perplexity which they had no means
of lessening but by their own conjectures。
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CHAPTER XIII
naccountable； however； as the circumstances of his
Urelease might appear to the whole family； it was certain
that Edward was free； and to what purpose that freedom
would be employed was easily pre…determined by all；—for after
experiencing the blessings of one imprudent engagement；
contracted without his mother’s consent； as he had already done
for more than four years； nothing less could be expected of him in
the failure of that； than the immediate contraction of another。
His errand at Barton； in fact； was a simple one。 It was only to
ask Elinor to marry him；—and considering that he was not
altogether inexperienced in such a question； it might be strange
that he should feel so uncomfortable in the present case as he
really did； so much in need of encouragement and fresh air。
How soon he had walked himself into the proper resolution；
however； how soon an opportunity of exercising it occurred； in
what manner he expressed himself； and how he was received；
need not be particularly told。 This only need be said；—that when
they all sat down to table at four o’clock； about three hours after
his arrival； he had secured his lady； engaged her mother’s consent；
and was not only in the rapturous profession of the lover； but； in
the reality of reason and truth； one of the happiest of men。 His
situation indeed was more than commonly joyful。 He had more
than the ordinary triumph of accepted love to swell his heart； and
raise his spirits。 He was released without any reproach to himself；
from an entanglement which had long formed his misery； from a
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woman whom he had long ceased to love；—and elevated at once to
that security with another； which he must have thought of almost
with despair； as soon as he had learnt to consider it with desire。
He was brought； not from doubt or suspense； but from misery to
happiness；—and t