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Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 218
She then went away； walking on tiptoe out of the room； as if she
supposed her young friend’s affliction could be increased by noise。
Marianne； to the surprise of her sister； determined on dining
with them。 Elinor even advised her against it。 But “no； she would
go down； she could bear it very well； and the bustle about her
would be less。” Elinor； pleased to have her governed for a moment
by such a motive； though believing it hardly possible that she
could sit out the dinner； said no more； and adjusting her dress for
her as well as she could； while Marianne still remained on the bed；
was ready to assist her into the dining room as soon as they were
summoned to it。
When there； though looking most wretchedly； she ate more and
was calmer than her sister had expected。 Had she tried to speak；
or had she been conscious of half Mrs。 Jennings’s well…meant but
ill…judged attentions to her； this calmness could not have been
maintained； but not a syllable escaped her lips； and the
abstraction of her thoughts preserved her in ignorance of every
thing that was passing before her。
Elinor； who did justice to Mrs。 Jennings’s kindness； though its
effusions were often distressing； and sometimes almost ridiculous；
made her those acknowledgments； and returned her those
civilities； which her sister could not make or return for herself。
Their good friend saw that Marianne was unhappy； and felt that
every thing was due to her which might make her at all less so。
She treated her therefore； with all the indulgent fondness of a
parent towards a favourite child on the last day of its holidays。
Marianne was to have the best place by the fire； was to be tempted
to eat by every delicacy in the house； and to be amused by the
relation of all the news of the day。 Had not Elinor； in the sad
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countenance of her sister； seen a check to all mirth； she could have
been entertained by Mrs。 Jennings’s endeavours to cure a
disappointment in love； by a variety of sweetmeats and olives； and
a good fire。 As soon； however； as the consciousness of all this was
forced by continual repetition on Marianne； she could stay no
longer。 With a hasty exclamation of Misery； and a sign to her sister
not to follow her； she directly got up and hurried out of the room。
“Poor soul！” cried Mrs。 Jennings； as soon as she was gone；
“how it grieves me to see her！ And I declare if she is not gone away
without finishing her wine！ And the dried cherries too！ Lord！
nothing seems to do her any good。 I am sure if I knew of any thing
she would like； I would send all over the town for it。 Well； it is the
oddest thing to me； that a man should use such a pretty girl so ill！
But when there is plenty of money on one side； and next to none
on the other； Lord bless you！ they care no more about such
things！—”
“The lady then—Miss Grey I think you called her—is very
rich？”
“Fifty thousand pounds； my dear。 Did you ever see her？ a
smart； stylish girl they say； but not handsome。 I remember her
aunt very well； Biddy Henshawe； she married a very wealthy man。
But the family are all rich together。 Fifty thousand pounds！ and by
all accounts； it won’t come before it’s wanted； for they say he is all
to pieces。 No wonder！ dashing about with his curricle and hunters！
Well； it don’t signify talking； but when a young man； be who he
will； comes and makes love to a pretty girl； and promises marriage；
he has no business to fly off from his word only because he grows
poor； and a richer girl is ready to have him。 Why don’t he； in such
a case； sell his horses； let his house； turn off his servants； and
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make a thorough reform at once？ I warrant you； Miss Marianne
would have been ready to wait till matters came round。 But that
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