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to speak of his pleasure at seeing them in London； making the
usual inquiries about their journey； and the friends they had left
behind。
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In this calm kind of way； with very little interest on either side；
they continued to talk； both of them out of spirits； and the
thoughts of both engaged elsewhere。 Elinor wished very much to
ask whether Willoughby were then in town； but she was afraid of
giving him pain by any inquiry after his rival； and at length by way
of saying something； she asked if he had been in London ever
since she had seen him last。 “Yes；” he replied； with some
embarrassment； “almost ever since； I have been once or twice at
Delaford for a few days； but it has never been in my power to
return to Barton。”
This； and the manner in which it was said； immediately brought
back to her remembrance all the circumstances of his quitting that
place； with the uneasiness and suspicions they had caused to Mrs。
Jennings； and she was fearful that her question had implied much
more curiosity on the subject than she had ever felt。
Mrs。 Jennings soon came in。 “Oh！ Colonel；” said she； with her
usual noisy cheerfulness； “I am monstrous glad to see you—sorry I
could not come before—beg your pardon； but I have been forced
to look about me a little； and settle my matters； for it is a long
while since I have been at home； and you know one has always a
world of little odd things to do after one has been away for any
time； and then I have had Cartwright to settle with—Lord； I have
been as busy as a bee ever since dinner！ But pray； Colonel； how
came you to conjure out that I should be in town to…day？”
“I had the pleasure of hearing it at Mr。 Palmer’s； where I have
been dining。”
“Oh； you did； well； and how do they all do at their house？ How
does Charlotte do？ I warrant you she is a fine size by this time。”
“Mrs。 Palmer appeared quite well； and I am commissioned to
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tell you； that you will certainly see her to…morrow。”
“Ay； to be sure； I thought as much。 Well； Colonel； I have
brought two young ladies with me； you see—that is； you see but
one of them now； but there is another somewhere。 Your friend；
Miss Marianne； too—which you will not be sorry to hear。 I do not
know what you and Mr。 Willoughby will do between you about
her。 Ay； it is a fine thing to be young and handsome。 Well！ I was
young once； but I never was very handsome—worse luck for me。
However； I got a very good husband； and I don’t know what the
greatest beauty can do more。 Ah！ poor man！ he has been dead
these eight years and better。 But Colonel； where have you been to
since we parted？ And how does your business go on？ Come； come；
let’s have no secrets among friends。”
He replied with his accustomary mildness to all her inquiries；
but without satisfying her in any。 Elinor now began to make the
tea； and Marianne was obliged to appear again。
After her entrance； Colonel Brandon became more thoughtful
and silent than he had been before； and Mrs。 Jennings could not
prevail on him to stay long。 No other visitor appeared that
evening； and the ladies were unanimous in agreeing to go early to
bed。
Marianne rose the next morning with recovered spirits and
happy looks。 The disappointment of the evening before seemed
forgotten in the expectation of what was to happen that day。 They
had not long finished their breakfast before Mrs。 Palmer’s
barouche stopped at the door； and in a few minutes she came
laughing into the room； so delighted to see them all； that it was
hard to say whether she received most pleasure from meeting her
mother or the Miss Dashwoods again。 So surprised at their coming
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to town； though it was what she had rather expected all along； so
angry at their accepting her mother’s invitation after having
declined her own； though at the same time she would never have
forgiven them if they had not come！
“Mr。 Palmer will be so happy to see you；” said she； “What do
you think he said when he heard of your coming with mama？ I
forget what it was now； but it was something so droll！”
After an hour or two spent in what her mother called
comfortable chat； or in other words； in every variety of inquiry
concerning all their acquaintance on Mrs。 Jennings’s side； and in
laughter without cause on Mrs。 Palmer’s； it was proposed by the
latter that they should all accompany her to some shops where she
had business that morning； to which Mrs。 Jennings and Elinor
readily consented； as having likewise some purchases to make
themselves； and Marianne； though declining it at first； was
induced to go likewise。
Wherever they went； she was evidently always on the watch。 In
Bond…street especially； where much of their business lay； her eyes
were in constant inquiry； and in whatever shop the party were
engaged； her mind was equally abstracted from every thing
actually before them； from all that interested and occupied the
others。 Restless and dissatisfied every where； her sister could
never obtain her opinion of any article of purchase； however it
might equally concern them both； she received no pleasure from
any thing； was only impatient to be at home again； and could with
difficulty govern her vexation at the tediousness of Mrs。 Palmer；
whose eye was caught by every thing pretty； expensive； or new；
who was wild to buy all； could determine on none； and dawdled
away her time in rapture and indecision。
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It was late in the morning before they returned home； and no
sooner had they entered the house than Marianne flew eagerly up
stairs； and when Elinor followed； she found her turning from the
table with a sorrowful countenance； which declared that no
Willoughby had been there。
“Has no letter been left here for me since we went out？” said
she to the footman who then entered with the parcels。 She was
answered in the negative。 “Are you quite sure of it？” she replied。
“Are you certain that no servant； no porter has left any letter or
note？”
The man replied that none had。
“How very odd！” said she； in a low and disappointed voice； as
she turned away to the window。
“How odd； indeed！” repeated Elinor within herself； regarding
her sister with uneasiness。 “If she had not known him to be in
town she would not have written to him； as she did； she would
have written to Combe Magna； and if he is in town； how odd that
he should neither come nor write！ Oh！ my dear mother； you must
be wrong in permitting an engagement between a daughter so
young； a man so little known； to be carried on in so doubtful； so
mysterious a manner！ I long to inquire； and how will my
interference be borne。”
She determined； after some consideration； that if appearances
continued many days longer as unpleasant as they now were； she
would represent in the strongest manner to her mother the
necessity of some serious inquiry into the affair。
Mrs。 Palmer and two elderly ladies of Mr