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“Ay； if we can do that； Ma’am；” said Elinor； “we shall do very
well with or without Colonel Brandon。” And then rising； she went
away to join Marianne； whom she found； as she expected； in her
own room； leaning； in silent misery； over the small remains of a
fire； which； till Elinor’s entrance； had been her only light。
“You had better leave me；” was all the notice that her sister
received from her。
“I will leave you；” said Elinor； “if you will go to bed。” But this；
from the momentary perverseness of impatient suffering； she at
first refused to do。 Her sister’s earnest； though gentle persuasion；
however； soon softened her to compliance； and Elinor saw her lay
her aching head on the pillow； and as she hoped； in a way to get
some quiet rest before she left her。
In the drawing…room； whither she then repaired； she was soon
joined by Mrs。 Jennings； with a wine…glass； full of something； in
her hand。
“My dear；” said she； entering； “I have just recollected that I
have some of the finest old Constantia wine in the house that ever
was tasted； so I have brought a glass of it for your sister。 My poor
husband！ how fond he was of it！ Whenever he had a touch of his
old colicky gout； he said it did him more good than any thing else
in the world。 Do take it to your sister。”
“Dear Ma’am；” replied Elinor； smiling at the difference of the
complaints for which it was recommended； “how good you are！
But I have just left Marianne in bed； and； I hope； almost asleep；
and as I think nothing will be of so much service to her as rest； if
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you will give me leave； I will drink the wine myself。”
Mrs。 Jennings； though regretting that she had not been five
minutes earlier； was satisfied with the compromise； and Elinor； as
she swallowed the chief of it； reflected； that though its effects on a
colicky gout were； at present； of little importance to her； its
healing powers； on a disappointed heart might be as reasonably
tried on herself as on her sister。
Colonel Brandon came in while the party were at tea； and by
his manner of looking round the room for Marianne； Elinor
immediately fancied that he neither expected nor wished to see
her there； and； in short； that he was already aware of what
occasioned her absence。 Mrs。 Jennings was not struck by the same
thought； for soon after his entrance； she walked across the room to
the tea…table where Elinor presided； and whispered—“The Colonel
looks as grave as ever you see。 He knows nothing of it； do tell him；
my dear。”
He shortly afterwards drew a chair close to her’s； and； with a
look which perfectly assured her of his good information； inquired
after her sister。
“Marianne is not well；” said she。 “She has been indisposed all
day； and we have persuaded her to go to bed。”
“Perhaps； then；” he hesitatingly replied； “what I heard this
morning may be—there may be more truth in it than I could
believe possible at first。”
“What did you hear？”
“That a gentleman； whom I had reason to think—in short； that
a man； whom I knew to be engaged—but how shall I tell you？ If
you know it already； as surely you must； I may be spared。”
“You mean；” answered Elinor； with forced calmness； “Mr。
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Willoughby’s marriage with Miss Grey。 Yes； we do know it all。 This
seems to have been a day of general elucidation； for this very
morning first unfolded it to us。 Mr。 Willoughby is unfathomable！
Where did you hear it？”
“In a stationer’s shop in Pall Mall； where I had business。 Two
ladies were waiting for their carriage； and one of them was giving
the other an account of the intended match； in a voice so little
attempting concealment； that it was impossible for me not to hear
all。 The name of Willoughby； John Willoughby； frequently
repeated； first caught my attention； and what followed was a
positive assertion that every thing was now finally settled
respecting his marriage with Miss Grey—it was no longer to be a
secret—it would take place even within a few weeks； with many
particulars of preparations and other matters。 One thing；
especially； I remember； because it served to identify the man still
more：—as soon as the ceremony was over； they were to go to
Combe Magna； his seat in Somersetshire。 My astonishment！—but
it would be impossible to describe what I felt。 The communicative
lady I learnt； on inquiry； for I stayed in the shop till they were
gone； was a Mrs。 Ellison； and that； as I have been since informed；
is the name of Miss Grey’s guardian。”
“It is。 But have you likewise heard that Miss Grey has fifty
thousand pounds？ In that； if in any thing； we may find an
explanation。”
“It may be so； but Willoughby is capable—at least I think”—he
stopped a moment； then added in a voice which seemed to distrust
itself； “And your sister—how did she—”
“Her sufferings have been very severe。 I have only to hope that
they may be proportionately short。 It has been； it is a most cruel
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affliction。 Till yesterday； I believe； she never doubted his regard；
and even now； perhaps—but I am almost convinced that he never
was really attached to her。 He has been very deceitful！ and； in
some points； there seems a hardness of heart about him。”
“Ah！” said Colonel Brandon； “there is； indeed！ But your sister
does not—I think you said so—she does not consider quite as you
do？”
“You know her disposition； and may believe how eagerly she
would still justify him if she could。”
He made no an