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weather that morning allowed him to get out of doors； and
Marianne’s accident being related to him； he was eagerly asked
whether he knew any gentleman of the name of Willoughby at
Allenham。
“Willoughby！” cried Sir John； “what； is he in the country？ That
is good news however； I will ride over tomorrow； and ask him to
dinner on Thursday。”
“You know him then；” said Mrs。 Dashwood。
“Know him！ to be sure I do。 Why； he is down here every year。”
“And what sort of a young man is he？”
“As good a kind of fellow as ever lived； I assure you。 A very
decent shot； and there is not a bolder rider in England。”
“And is that all you can say for him？” cried Marianne；
indignantly。 “But what are his manners on more intimate
acquaintance？ What his pursuits； his talents； and genius？”
Sir John was rather puzzled。
“Upon my soul；” said he； “I do not know much about him as to
all that。 But he is a pleasant； good humoured fellow； and has got
the nicest little black bitch of a pointer I ever saw。 Was she out
with him today？”
But Marianne could no more satisfy him as to the colour of Mr。
Willoughby’s pointer； than he could describe to her the shades of
his mind。
“But who is he？” said Elinor。 “Where does he come from？ Has
he a house at Allenham？”
On this point Sir John could give more certain intelligence； and
he told them that Mr。 Willoughby had no property of his own in
the country； that he resided there only while he was visiting the
old lady at Allenham Court； to whom he was related； and whose
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possessions he was to inherit； adding； “Yes； yes； he is very well
worth catching I can tell you； Miss Dashwood； he has a pretty little
estate of his own in Somersetshire besides； and if I were you； I
would not give him up to my younger sister； in spite of all this
tumbling down hills。 Miss Marianne must not expect to have all
the men to herself。 Brandon will be jealous； if she does not take
care。”
“I do not believe；” said Mrs。 Dashwood； with a good humoured
smile； “that Mr。 Willoughby will be incommoded by the attempts
of either of my daughters towards what you call catching him。 It is
not an employment to which they have been brought up。 Men are
very safe with us； let them be ever so rich。 I am glad to find；
however； from what you say； that he is a respectable young man；
and one whose acquaintance will not be ineligible。”
“He is as good a sort of fellow； I believe； as ever lived；” repeated
Sir John。 “I remember last Christmas at a little hop at the park； he
danced from eight o’clock till four； without once sitting down。”
“Did he indeed？” cried Marianne with sparkling eyes； “and
with elegance； with spirit？”
“Yes； and he was up again at eight to ride to covert。”
“That is what I like； that is what a young man ought to be。
Whatever be his pursuits； his eagerness in them should know no
moderation； and leave him no sense of fatigue。”
“Aye； aye； I see how it will be；” said Sir John； “I see how it will
be。 You will be setting your cap at him now； and never think of
poor Brandon。”
“That is an expression； Sir John；” said Marianne； warmly；
“which I particularly dislike。 I abhor every common…place phrase
by which wit is intended； and ‘setting one’s cap at a man；’ or
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‘making a conquest；’ are the most odious of all。 Their tendency is
gross and illiberal； and if their construction could ever be deemed
clever； time has long ago destroyed all its ingenuity。”
Sir John did not much understand this reproof； but he laughed
as heartily as if he did； and then replied；
“Ay； you will make conquests enough； I dare say； one way or
other。 Poor Brandon！ he is quite smitten already； and he is very
well worth setting your cap at； I can tell you； in spite of all this
tumbling about and spraining of ankles。”
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CHAPTER X
arianne’s preserver； as Margaret； with more elegance
than precision； styled Willoughby； called at the cottage
M
early the next morning to make his personal inquiries。
He was received by Mrs。 Dashwood with more than politeness；
with a kindness which Sir John’s account of him and her own
gratitude prompted； and every thing that passed during the visit
tended to assure him of the sense； elegance； mutual affection； and
domestic comfort of the family to whom accident had now
introduced him。 Of their personal charms he had not required a
second interview to be convinced。
Miss Dashwood had a delicate complexion； regular features；
and a remarkably pretty figure。 Marianne was still handsomer。
Her form； though not so correct as her sister’s； in having the
advantage of height； was more striking； and her face was so lovely；
that when in the common cant of praise； she was called a beautiful
girl； truth was less violently outraged than usually happens。 Her
skin was very brown； but； from its transparency； her complexion
was uncommonly brilliant； her features were all good； her smile
was sweet and attractive； and in her eyes； which were very dark；
there was a life； a spirit； an eagerness； which could hardly be seen
without delight。 From Willoughby their expression was at first
held back； by the embarrassment which the remembrance of his
assistance created。 But when this passed away； when her spirits
became collected； when she saw that to the perfect good…breeding
of the gentleman； he united frankness and vivacity； and above all；
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when she heard him declare； that of music and dancing he was
passionately fond； she gave him such a look of approbation as
secured the largest share of his discourse to herself for the rest of
his stay。
It was only necessary to mention any favourite amusement to
engage her to talk。 She could not be silent when such points were
introduced； and she had neither shyness nor reserve in their
discussion。 They speedily discovered that their enjoyment of
dancing and music was mutual； and that it arose from a general
conformity of judgment in all that related to either。 Encouraged by
this to a further examination of his opinions； she proceeded to
question him on the subject of books； her favourite authors were
brought forward and dwelt upon with so rapturous a delight； that
any young man of five and twenty must have been insensible
indeed； not to become an immediate convert to the excellence of
such works； however disregarded before。 Their taste was
strikingly alike。 The same books； the same passages were idolised
by each—or if any difference appeared； any objection arose； it
lasted no longer than till the force of her arguments and the
brightness of her eyes could be displayed。 He acquiesced in all her
decisions； caught all her enthusiasm； and long before his visit
concluded； they conversed with the familiarity of a long…
established acquaintance。
“Well； Marianne；