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My Dear Madam；
I have just had the honour of receiving your letter； for which I
beg to return my sincere acknowledgments。 I am much concerned
to find there was anything in my behaviour last night that did not
meet your approbation； and though I am quite at a loss to discover
in what point I could be so unfortunate as to offend you； I entreat
your forgiveness of what I can assure you to have been perfectly
unintentional。 I shall never reflect on my former acquaintance
with your family in Devonshire without the most grateful pleasure；
and flatter myself it will not be broken by any mistake or
misapprehension of my actions。 My esteem for your whole family
is very sincere； but if I have been so unfortunate as to give rise to a
belief of more than I felt； or meant to express； I shall reproach
myself for not having been more guarded in my professions of that
esteem。 That I should ever have meant more you will allow to be
impossible； when you understand that my affections have been
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long engaged elsewhere； and it will not be many weeks； I believe；
before this engagement is fulfilled。 It is with great regret that I
obey your commands in returning the letters with which I have
been honoured from you； and the lock of hair； which you so
obligingly bestowed on me。
I am； dear Madam；
Your most obedient humble servant；
JOHN WILLOUGHBY。
With what indignation such a letter as this must be read by
Miss Dashwood； may be imagined。 Though aware； before she
began it； that it must bring a confession of his inconstancy； and
confirm their separation for ever； she was not aware that such
language could be suffered to announce it； nor could she have
supposed Willoughby capable of departing so far from the
appearance of every honourable and delicate feeling—so far from
the common decorum of a gentleman； as to send a letter so
impudently cruel： a letter which； instead of bringing with his
desire of a release any professions of regret； acknowledged no
breach of faith； denied all peculiar affection whatever—a letter of
which every line was an insult； and which proclaimed its writer to
be deep in hardened villainy。
She paused over it for some time with indignant astonishment；
then read it again and again； but every perusal only served to
increase her abhorrence of the man； and so bitter were her
feelings against him； that she dared not trust herself to speak； lest
she might wound Marianne still deeper by treating their
disengagement； not as a loss to her of any possible good but as an
escape from the worst and most irremediable of all evils； a
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connection； for life； with an unprincipled man； as a deliverance the
most real； a blessing the most important。
In her earnest meditations on the contents of the letter； on the
depravity of that mind which could dictate it； and probably； on the
very different mind of a very different person； who had no other
connection whatever with the affair than what her heart gave him
with every thing that passed； Elinor forgot the immediate distress
of her sister； forgot that she had three letters on her lap yet
unread； and so entirely forgot how long she had been in the room；
that when on hearing a carriage drive up to the door； she went to
the window to see who could be coming so unreasonably early； she
was all astonishment to perceive Mrs。 Jennings’s chariot； which
she knew had not been ordered till one。 Determined not to quit
Marianne； though hopeless of contributing； at present； to her ease；
she hurried away to excuse herself from attending Mrs。 Jennings；
on account of her sister being indisposed。 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。 A glass of wine； which Elinor procured for her directly；
made her more comfortable； and she was at last able to express
some sense of her kindness； by saying；
“Poor Elinor！ how unhappy I make you！”
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“I only wish；” replied her sister； “there were any thing I could
do； which might be of comfort to you。”
This； as every thing else would have been； was too much for
Marianne； who could only exclaim； in the anguish of her heart；
“Oh！ Elinor； I am miserable； indeed；” before her voice was entirely
lost in sobs。
Elinor could no longer witness this torrent of unresisted grief in
silence。
“Exert yourself； dear Marianne；” she cried； “if you would not
kill yourself and all who love you。 Think of your mother； think of
her misery while you suffer； for her sake you must exert yourself。”
“I cannot； I cannot；” cried Marianne； “leave me； leave me； if I
distress you； leave me； hate me； forget me！ but do not torture me
so。 Oh！ how easy for those who have no sorrow of their own to talk
of exertion！ Happy； happy Elinor； you cannot have an idea of what
I suffer。”
“Do you call me happy； Marianne？ Ah！ if you knew！—And can
you believe me to be so； while I see you so wretched！”
“Forgive me； forgive me；” throwing he