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won’t do now…a…days； nothing in the way of pleasure can ever be
given up by the young men of this age。”
“Do you know what kind of a girl Miss Grey is？ Is she said to be
amiable？”
“I never heard any harm of her； indeed I hardly ever heard her
mentioned； except that Mrs。 Taylor did say this morning； that one
day Miss Walker hinted to her； that she believed Mr。 and Mrs。
Ellison would not be sorry to have Miss Grey married； for she and
Mrs。 Ellison could never agree。”—
“And who are the Ellisons？”
“Her guardians； my dear。 But now she is of age and may choose
for herself； and a pretty choice she has made！—What now；” after
pausing a moment—“your poor sister is gone to her own room； I
suppose； to moan by herself。 Is there nothing one can get to
comfort her？ Poor dear； it seems quite cruel to let her be alone。
Well； by…and…by we shall have a few friends； and that will amuse
her a little。 What shall we play at？ She hates whist I know； but is
there no round game she cares for？”
“Dear ma’am； this kindness is quite unnecessary。 Marianne； I
dare say； will not leave her room again this evening。 I shall
persuade her if I can to go early to bed； for I am sure she wants
rest。”
“Aye； I believe that will be best for her。 Let her name her own
supper； and go to bed。 Lord！ no wonder she has been looking so
bad and so cast down this last week or two； for this matter I
suppose has been hanging over her head as long as that。 And so
the letter that came to…day finished it！ Poor soul！ I am sure if I had
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had a notion of it； I would not have joked her about it for all my
money。 But then you know； how should I guess such a thing？ I
made sure of its being nothing but a common love letter； and you
know young people like to be laughed at about them。 Lord！ how
concerned Sir John and my daughters will be when they hear it！ If
I had my senses about me I might have called in Conduit…street in
my way home； and told them of it。 But I shall see them tomorrow。”
“It would be unnecessary I am sure； for you to caution Mrs。
Palmer and Sir John against ever naming Mr。 Willoughby； or
making the slightest allusion to what has passed； before my sister。
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。”
“Oh！ Lord！ yes； that I do indeed。 It must be terrible for you to
hear it talked of； and as for your sister； I am sure I would not
mention a word about it to her for the world。 You saw I did not all
dinner time。 No more would Sir John； nor my daughters； for they
are all very thoughtful and considerate； especially if I give them a
hint； as I certainly will。 For my part； I think the less that is said
about such things； the better； the sooner ’tis blown over and
forgot。 And what does talking ever do you know？”
“In this affair it can only do harm； more so perhaps than in
many cases of a similar kind； for it has been attended by
circumstances which； for the sake of every one concerned in it；
make it unfit to become the public conversation。 I must do this
justice to Mr。 Willoughby—he has broken no positive engagement
with my sister。”
“Law； my dear！ Don’t pretend to defend him。 No positive
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engagement indeed！ after taking her all over Allenham House； and
fixing on the very rooms they were to live in hereafter！”
Elinor； for her sister’s sake； could not press the subject farther；
and she hoped it was not required of her for Willoughby’s； since；
though Marianne might lose much； he could gain very little by the
enforcement of the real truth。 After a short silence on both sides；
Mrs。 Jennings； with all her natural hilarity； burst forth again。
“Well； my dear； ’tis a true saying about an ill…wind； for it will be
all the better for Colonel Brandon。 He will have her at last； aye；
that he will。 Mind me； now； if they an’t married by Mid…summer。
Lord！ how he’ll chuckle over this news！ I hope he will come
tonight。 It will be all to one a better match for your sister。 Two
thousand a year without debt or drawback—except the little love…
child； indeed； aye； I had forgot her； but she may be ’prenticed out
at a small cost； and then what does it signify？ Delaford is a nice
place； I can tell you； exactly what I call a nice old fashioned place；
full of comforts and conveniences； quite shut in with great garden
walls that are covered with the best fruit…trees in the country； and
such a mulberry tree in one corner！ Lord！ how Charlotte and I did
stuff the only time we were there！ Then； there is a dove…cote； some
delightful stew…ponds； and a very pretty canal； and every thing； in
short； that one could wish for； and； moreover； it is close to the
church； and only a quarter of a mile from the turnpike…road； so ’tis
never dull； for if you only go and sit up in an old yew arbour
behind the house； you may see all the carriages that pass along。
Oh！ ’tis a nice place！ A butcher hard by in the village； and the
parsonage…house within a stone’s throw。 To my fancy； a thousand
times prettier than Barton Park； where they are forced to send
three miles for their meat； and have not a neighbour nearer than
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your mother。 Well； I shall spirit up the Colonel as soon as I can。
One shoulder of mutton； you know； drives another down。 If we can
but put Willoughby out of her head！”
“Ay； if we can do that； Ma’am；” said Elinor； “we shall do very
well with or without Colonel Brandon。