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least well married before I have done with you； it shall not be my
fault。 I shall speak a good word for you to all the young men； you
may depend upon it。”
“I have a notion；” said Sir John； “that Miss Marianne would not
object to such a scheme； if her elder sister would come into it。 It is
very hard indeed that she should not have a little pleasure；
because Miss Dashwood does not wish it。 So I would advise you
two； to set off for town； when you are tired of Barton； without
saying a word to Miss Dashwood about it。”
“Nay；” cried Mrs。 Jennings； “I am sure I shall be monstrous
glad of Miss Marianne’s company； whether Miss Dashwood will go
or not； only the more the merrier say I； and I thought it would be
more comfortable for them to be together； because； if they got
tired of me； they might talk to one another； and laugh at my old
ways behind my back。 But one or the other； if not both of them； I
must have。 Lord bless me！ how do you think I can live poking by
myself； I who have been always used till this winter to have
Charlotte with me。 Come； Miss Marianne； let us strike hands upon
the bargain； and if Miss Dashwood will change her mind by and
bye； why so much the better。”
“I thank you； ma’am； sincerely thank you；” said Marianne； with
warmth； “your invitation has insured my gratitude for ever； and it
would give me such happiness； yes； almost the greatest happiness
I am capable of； to be able to accept it。 But my mother； my dearest；
kindest mother；—I feel the justice of what Elinor has urged； and if
she were to be made less happy； less comfortable by our absence—
Oh！ no； nothing should tempt me to leave her。 It should not； must
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not be a struggle。”
Mrs。 Jennings repeated her assurance that Mrs。 Dashwood
could spare them perfectly well； and Elinor； who now understood
her sister； and saw to what indifference to almost every thing else
she was carried by her eagerness to be with Willoughby again；
made no farther direct opposition to the plan； and merely referred
it to her mother’s decision； from whom however she scarcely
expected to receive any support in her endeavour to prevent a
visit； which she could not approve of for Marianne； and which on
her own account she had particular reasons to avoid。 Whatever
Marianne was desirous of； her mother would be eager to
promote—she could not expect to influence the latter to
cautiousness of conduct in an affair respecting which she had
never been able to inspire her with distrust； and she dared not
explain the motive of her own disinclination for going to London。
That Marianne； fastidious as she was； thoroughly acquainted with
Mrs。 Jennings’ manners； and invariably disgusted by them； should
overlook every inconvenience of that kind； should disregard
whatever must be most wounding to her irritable feelings； in her
pursuit of one object； was such a proof； so strong； so full； of the
importance of that object to her； as Elinor； in spite of all that had
passed； was not prepared to witness。
On being informed of the invitation； Mrs。 Dashwood； persuaded
that such an excursion would be productive of much amusement
to both her daughters； and perceiving through all her affectionate
attention to herself； how much the heart of Marianne was in it；
would not hear of their declining the offer upon her account；
insisted on their both accepting it directly； and then began to
foresee； with her usual cheerfulness； a variety of advantages that
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would accrue to them all； from this separation。
“I am delighted with the plan；” she cried； “it is exactly what I
could wish。 Margaret and I shall be as much benefited by it as
yourselves。 When you and the Middletons are gone； we shall go on
so quietly and happily together with our books and our music！ You
will find Margaret so improved when you come back again！ I have
a little plan of alteration for your bedrooms too； which may now be
performed without any inconvenience to any one。 It is very right
that you should go to town； I would have every young woman of
your condition in life acquainted with the manners and
amusements of London。 You will be under the care of a motherly
good sort of woman； of whose kindness to you I can have no doubt。
And in all probability you will see your brother； and whatever may
be his faults； or the faults of his wife； when I consider whose son
he is； I cannot bear to have you so wholly estranged from each
other。”
“Though with your usual anxiety for our happiness；” said
Elinor； “you have been obviating every impediment to the present
scheme which occurred to you； there is still one objection which；
in my opinion； cannot be so easily removed。”
Marianne’s countenance sunk。
“And what；” said Mrs。 Dashwood； “is my dear prudent Elinor
going to suggest？ What formidable obstacle is she now to bring
forward？ Do let me hear a word about the expense of it。”
“My objection is this； though I think very well of Mrs。
Jennings’s heart； she is not a woman whose society can afford us
pleasure； or whose protection will give us consequence。”
“That is very true；” replied her mother； “but of her society；
separately from that of other people； you will scarcely have any
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thing at all； and you will almost always appear in public with Lady
Middleton。”
“If Elinor is frightened away by her dislike of Mrs。 Jennings；”
said Marianne； “at least it need not prevent my accepting her
invitation。 I have no such scruples； and I am sure I could put up
with every unpleasantness of that ki