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displeased with Mrs。 Ferrars； and such ill…timed praise of another；
at Elinor’s expense； though she had not any notion of what was
principally meant by it； provoked her immediately to say with
warmth；
“This is admiration of a very particular kind！—what is Miss
Morton to us？—who knows； or who cares； for her？—it is Elinor of
whom we think and speak。”
And so saying； she took the screens out of her sister…in…law’s
hands； to admire them herself as they ought to be admired。
Mrs。 Ferrars looked exceedingly angry； and drawing herself up
more stiffly than ever； pronounced in retort this bitter phillippic：
“Miss Morton is Lord Morton’s daughter。”
Fanny looked very angry too； and her husband was all in a
fright at his sister’s audacity。 Elinor was much more hurt by
Marianne’s warmth than she had been by what produced it； but
Colonel Brandon’s eyes； as they were fixed on Marianne； declared
that he noticed only what was amiable in it； the affectionate heart
which could not bear to see a sister slighted in the smallest point。
Marianne’s feelings did not stop here。 The cold insolence of
Mrs。 Ferrars’s general behaviour to her sister； seemed； to her； to
foretell such difficulties and distresses to Elinor； as her own
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wounded heart taught her to think of with horror； and urged by a
strong impulse of affectionate sensibility； she moved after a
moment； to her sister’s chair； and putting one arm round her neck；
and one cheek close to hers； said in a low； but eager； voice；
“Dear； dear Elinor； don’t mind them。 Don’t let them make you
unhappy。”
She could say no more； her spirits were quite overcome； and
hiding her face on Elinor’s shoulder； she burst into tears。 Every
body’s attention was called； and almost every body was
concerned。—Colonel Brandon rose up and went to them without
knowing what he did。—Mrs。 Jennings； with a very intelligent “Ah！
poor dear；” immediately gave her her salts； and Sir John felt so
desperately enraged against the author of this nervous distress；
that he instantly changed his seat to one close by Lucy Steele； and
gave her； in a whisper； a brief account of the whole shocking affair。
In a few minutes； however； Marianne was recovered enough to
put an end to the bustle； and sit down among the rest； though her
spirits retained the impression of what had passed； the whole
evening。
“Poor Marianne！” said her brother to Colonel Brandon； in a low
voice； as soon as he could secure his attention；—“She has not such
good health as her sister；—she is very nervous；—she has not
Elinor’s constitution；—and one must allow that there is something
very trying to a young woman who has been a beauty； in the loss of
her personal attractions。 You would not think it perhaps； but
Marianne was remarkably handsome a few months ago； quite as
handsome as Elinor。— Now you see it is all gone。”
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CHAPTER XIII
linor’s curiosity to see Mrs。 Ferrars was satisfied。—She
had found in her every thing that could tend to make a
E
farther connection between the families undesirable。—
She had seen enough of her pride； her meanness； and her
determined prejudice against herself； to comprehend all the
difficulties that must have perplexed the engagement； and
retarded the marriage； of Edward and herself； had he been
otherwise free；—and she had seen almost enough to be thankful
for her own sake； that one greater obstacle preserved her from
suffering under any other of Mrs。 Ferrars’s creation； preserved her
from all dependence upon her caprice； or any solicitude for her
good opinion。 Or at least； if she did not bring herself quite to
rejoice in Edward’s being fettered to Lucy； she determined； that
had Lucy been more amiable； she ought to have rejoiced。
She wondered that Lucy’s spirits could be so very much
elevated by the civility of Mrs。 Ferrars；—that her interest and her
vanity should so very much blind her as to make the attention
which seemed only paid her because she was not Elinor； appear a
compliment to herself—or to allow her to derive encouragement
from a preference only given her； because her real situation was
unknown。 But that it was so； had not only been declared by Lucy’s
eyes at the time； but was declared over again the next morning
more openly； for at her particular desire； Lady Middleton set her
down in Berkeley…street on the chance of seeing Elinor alone； to
tell her how happy she was。
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The chance proved a lucky one； for a message from Mrs。
Palmer soon after she arrived； carried Mrs。 Jennings away。
“My dear friend；” cried Lucy； as soon as they were by
themselves； “I come to talk to you of my happiness。 Could
anything be so flattering as Mrs。 Ferrars’s way of treating me
yesterday？ So exceeding affable as she was！—You know how I
dreaded the thoughts of seeing her；—but the very moment I was
introduced； there was such an affability in her behaviour as really
should seem to say； she had quite took a fancy to me。 Now was not
it so？—You saw it all； and was not you quite struck with it？”
“She was certainly very civil to you。”
“Civil！—Did you see nothing but only civility？—I saw a vast
deal more。 Such kindness as fell to the share of nobody but me！—
No pride； no hauteur； and your sister just the same—all sweetness
and affability！”
Elinor wished to talk of something else； but Lucy still pressed
her to own that she had reason for her happiness； and Elinor was
obliged to go on。—
“Undoubtedly； if they had known your engagement；” said she；
“nothing could be more flattering than their treatment of you；—
but as that was not the case”—
“I guessed you would say so”—replied Lucy quickly—“but
there was no reason in the world why Mrs。 Ferrars should seem to
like me； if she did not； and her liking me is every thing。 You shan’t
talk me out of my satisfaction。 I am sure it will all end well； and
there will be no difficulties at all； to what I used to think。 Mrs。
Ferrars is a charming woman； and so is your sister。 They are both
delightful women； indeed！—I wonder I should never hear you say
how agreeable Mrs。 Dashwood was！”
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To this Elinor had no answer to make； and did not attempt any。
“Are you ill； Miss Dashwood？—you seem low—you don’t
speak；—sure you an’t well。”
“I never was in better health。”
“I am glad of it with all my heart； but really you did not look it。 I
should be sorry to have you ill； you； that have been the greatest
comfort to me in the world！—Heaven knows what I should have
done without your friendship。”—
Elinor tried to make a civil answer； though doubting her own
success。 But it seemed to satisfy Lucy； for she directly replied；
“Indeed I am perfectly convinced of your regard for me； and
next to Edward’s love； it is the greatest comfort I have。—Poor
Edward！—But now there is one