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Edward！—But now there is one good thing； we shall be able to
meet； and meet pretty often； for Lady Middleton’s delighted with
Mrs。 Dashwood； so we shall be a good deal in Harley…street； I dare
say； and Edward spends half his time with his sister—besides；
Lady Middleton and Mrs。 Ferrars will visit now；—and Mrs。
Ferrars and your sister were both so good to say more than once；
they should always be glad to see me。—They are such charming
women！—I am sure if ever you tell your sister what I think of her；
you cannot speak too high。”
But Elinor would not give her any encouragement to hope that
she should tell her sister。 Lucy continued。
“I am sure I should have seen it in a moment； if Mrs。 Ferrars
had took a dislike to me。 If she had only made me a formal curtsey；
for instance； without saying a word； and never after had took any
notice of me； and never looked at me in a pleasant way—you know
what I mean—if I had been treated in that forbidding sort of way； I
should have gave it all up in despair。 I could not have stood it。 For
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where she does dislike； I know it is most violent。”
Elinor was prevented from making any reply to this civil
triumph； by the door’s being thrown open； the servant’s
announcing Mr。 Ferrars； and Edward’s immediately walking in。
It was a very awkward moment； and the countenance of each
shewed that it was so。 They all looked exceedingly foolish； and
Edward seemed to have as great an inclination to walk out of the
room again； as to advance farther into it。 The very circumstance；
in its unpleasantest form； which they would each have been most
anxious to avoid； had fallen on them。—They were not only all
three together； but were together without the relief of any other
person。 The ladies recovered themselves first。 It was not Lucy’s
business to put herself forward； and the appearance of secrecy
must still be kept up。 She could therefore only look her
tenderness； and after slightly addressing him； said no more。
But Elinor had more to do； and so anxious was she； for his sake
and her own； to do it well； that she forced herself； after a moment’s
recollection； to welcome him； with a look and manner that were
almost easy； and almost open； and another struggle； another effort
still improved them。 She would not allow the presence of Lucy；
nor the consciousness of some injustice towards herself； to deter
her from saying that she was happy to see him； and that she had
very much regretted being from home； when he called before in
Berkeley…street。 She would not be frightened from paying him
those attentions which； as a friend and almost a relation； were his
due； by the observant eyes of Lucy； though she soon perceived
them to be narrowly watching her。
Her manners gave some re…assurance to Edward； and he had
courage enough to sit down； but his embarrassment still exceeded
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that of the ladies in a proportion； which the case rendered
reasonable； though his sex might make it rare； for his heart had
not the indifference of Lucy’s； nor could his conscience have quite
the ease of Elinor’s。
Lucy； with a demure and settled air； seemed determined to
make no contribution to the comfort of the others； and would not
say a word； and almost every thing that was said； proceeded from
Elinor； who was obliged to volunteer all the information about her
mother’s health； their coming to town； &c。 which Edward ought to
have inquired about； but never did。
Her exertions did not stop here； for she soon afterwards felt
herself so heroically disposed as to determine； under pretence of
fetching Marianne； to leave the others by themselves； and she
really did it； and that in the handsomest manner； for she loitered
away several minutes on the landing…place； with the most high…
minded fortitude； before she went to her sister。 When that was
once done； however； it was time for the raptures of Edward to
cease； for Marianne’s joy hurried her into the drawing…room
immediately。 Her pleasure in seeing him was like every other of
her feelings； strong in itself； and strongly spoken。 She met him
with a hand that would be taken； and a voice that expressed the
affection of a sister。
“Dear Edward！” she cried； “this is a moment of great
happiness！—This would almost make amends for every thing！”
Edward tried to return her kindness as it deserved； but before
such witnesses he dared not say half what he really felt。 Again
they all sat down； and for a moment or two all were silent； while
Marianne was looking with the most speaking tenderness；
sometimes at Edward and sometimes at Elinor； regretting only
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that their delight in each other should be checked by Lucy’s
unwelcome presence。 Edward was the first to speak； and it was to
notice Marianne’s altered looks； and express his fear of her not
finding London agree with her。
“Oh！ don’t think of me！” she replied with spirited earnestness；
though her eyes were filled with tears as she spoke； “don’t think of
my health。 Elinor is well； you see。 That must be enough for us
both。”
This remark was not calculated to make Edward or Elinor more
easy； nor to conciliate the good will of Lucy； who looked up at
Marianne with no very benignant expression。
“Do you like London？” said Edward； willing to say any thing
that might introduce another subject。
“Not at all。 I expected much pleasure in it； but I have found
none。 The sight of you； Edward； is the only comfort it has afforded；
and thank Heaven！ you are what you always were！”
She paused—no one spoke。
“I think； Elinor；” she presently added； “we must employ
Edward to take care of us in our return to Barton。 In a week or
two； I suppose； we shall be going； and； I trust； Edward will not be
very unwilling to accept the charge。”
Poor Edward muttered something； but what it was； nobody
knew； not even himself。 But Marianne； who saw his agitation； and
could easily trace it to whatever cause best pleased herself； was
perfectly satisfied； and soon talked of something else。
“We spent such a day； Edward； in Harley…street yesterday！ So
dull； so wretchedly dull！—But I have much to say to you on that
head； which cannot be said now。”
And with this admirable discretion did she defer the assurance
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of her finding their mutual relatives more disagreeable than ever；
and of her being particularly disgusted with his mother； till they
were more in private。
“But why were you not there； Edward？—Why did you not
come？”
“I was engaged elsewhere。”
“Engaged！ But what was that； when such friends were to be
met？”
“Perhaps； Miss Marianne；” cried Lucy； eager to take some
revenge on her； “you think young men never stand upon
engagements； if they have no mind to keep them； little as well as
great。”
Elinor was very angry； but Marianne seemed entirely insensible
of the sting； for she calmly replied；