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might provoke each other to an unsuitable increase of ease and
unreserve； and was even partly determined never to mention the
subject again。 Another pause therefore of many minutes’ duration；
succeeded this speech； and Lucy was still the first to end it。
“Shall you be in town this winter； Miss Dashwood？” said she
with all her accustomary complacency。
“Certainly not。”
“I am sorry for that；” returned the other； while her eyes
brightened at the information； “it would have gave me such
pleasure to meet you there！ But I dare say you will go for all that。
To be sure； your brother and sister will ask you to come to them。”
“It will not be in my power to accept their invitation if they do。”
“How unlucky that is！ I had quite depended upon meeting you
there。 Anne and me are to go the latter end of January to some
relations who have been wanting us to visit them these several
years！ But I only go for the sake of seeing Edward。 He will be there
in February； otherwise London would have no charms for me； I
have not spirits for it。”
Elinor was soon called to the card…table by the conclusion of the
first rubber； and the confidential discourse of the two ladies was
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therefore at an end； to which both of them submitted without any
reluctance； for nothing had been said on either side to make them
dislike each other less than they had done before； and Elinor sat
down to the card table with the melancholy persuasion that
Edward was not only without affection for the person who was to
be his wife； but that he had not even the chance of being tolerably
happy in marriage； which sincere affection on her side would have
given； for self…interest alone could induce a woman to keep a man
to an engagement； of which she seemed so thoroughly aware that
he was weary。
From this time the subject was never revived by Elinor； and
when entered on by Lucy； who seldom missed an opportunity of
introducing it； and was particularly careful to inform her
confidante； of her happiness whenever she received a letter from
Edward； it was treated by the former with calmness and caution；
and dismissed as soon as civility would allow； for she felt such
conversations to be an indulgence which Lucy did not deserve；
and which were dangerous to herself。
The visit of the Miss Steeles at Barton Park was lengthened far
beyond what the first invitation implied。 Their favour increased；
they could not be spared； Sir John would not hear of their going；
and in spite of their numerous and long arranged engagements in
Exeter； in spite of the absolute necessity of returning to fulfil them
immediately； which was in full force at the end of every week； they
were prevailed on to stay nearly two months at the park； and to
assist in the due celebration of that festival which requires a more
than ordinary share of private balls and large dinners to proclaim
its importance。
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CHAPTER III
hough Mrs。 Jennings was in the habit of spending a large
portion of the year at the houses of her children and
T
friends； she was not without a settled habitation of her
own。 Since the death of her husband； who had traded with success
in a less elegant part of the town； she had resided every winter in a
house in one of the streets near Portman…square。 Towards this
home； she began on the approach of January to turn her thoughts；
and thither she one day abruptly； and very unexpectedly by them；
asked the elder Miss Dashwoods to accompany her。 Elinor；
without observing the varying complexion of her sister； and the
animated look which spoke no indifference to the plan；
immediately gave a grateful but absolute denial for both； in which
she believed herself to be speaking their united inclinations。 The
reason alleged was their determined resolution of not leaving their
mother at that time of the year。 Mrs。 Jennings received the refusal
with some surprise； and repeated her invitation immediately。
“Oh！ Lord； I am sure your mother can spare you very well； and
I do beg you will favour me with your company； for I’ve quite set
my heart upon it。 Don’t fancy that you will be any inconvenience
to me； for I shan’t put myself at all out of my way for you。 It will
only be sending Betty by the coach； and I hope I can afford that。
We three shall be able to go very well in my chaise； and when we
are in town； if you do not like to go wherever I do； well and good；
you may always go with one of my daughters。 I am sure your
mother will not object to it； for I have had such good luck in
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getting my own children off my hands that she will think me a very
fit person to have the charge of you； and if I don’t get one of you at
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