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great。”
Elinor was very angry； but Marianne seemed entirely insensible
of the sting； for she calmly replied；
“Not so； indeed； for； seriously speaking； I am very sure that
conscience only kept Edward from Harley…street。 And I really
believe he has the most delicate conscience in the world； the most
scrupulous in performing every engagement； however minute； and
however it may make against his interest or pleasure。 He is the
most fearful of giving pain； of wounding expectation； and the most
incapable of being selfish； of any body I ever saw。 Edward； it is so；
and I will say it。 What！ are you never to hear yourself praised！—
Then you must be no friend of mine； for those who will accept of
my love and esteem； must submit to my open commendation。”
The nature of her commendation； in the present case； however；
happened to be particularly ill…suited to the feelings of two thirds
of her auditors； and was so very unexhilarating to Edward； that he
very soon got up to go away。
“Going so soon！” said Marianne； “my dear Edward； this must
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not be。”
And drawing him a little aside； she whispered her persuasion
that Lucy could not stay much longer。 But even this
encouragement failed； for he would go； and Lucy； who would have
outstaid him； had his visit lasted two hours； soon afterwards went
away。
“What can bring her here so often？” said Marianne； on her
leaving them。 “Could not she see that we wanted her gone！—how
teazing to Edward！”
“Why so？—we were all his friends； and Lucy has been the
longest known to him of any。 It is but natural that he should like to
see her as well as ourselves。”
Marianne looked at her steadily； and said； “You know； Elinor；
that this is a kind of talking which I cannot bear。 If you only hope
to have your assertion contradicted； as I must suppose to be the
case； you ought to recollect that I am the last person in the world
to do it。 I cannot descend to be tricked out of assurances； that are
not really wanted。”
She then left the room； and Elinor dared not follow her to say
more； for bound as she was by her promise of secrecy to Lucy； she
could give no information that would convince Marianne； and
painful as the consequences of her still continuing in an error
might be； she was obliged to submit to it。 All that she could hope；
was that Edward would not often expose her or himself to the
distress of hearing Marianne’s mistaken warmth； nor to the
repetition of any other part of the pain that had attended their
recent meeting—and this she had every reason to expect。
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CHAPTER XIV
ithin a few days after this meeting； the newspapers
Wannounced to the world； that the lady of Thomas
Palmer； Esq。 was safely delivered of a son and heir； a
very interesting and satisfactory paragraph； at least to all those
intimate connections who knew it before。
This event； highly important to Mrs。 Jennings’s happiness；
produced a temporary alteration in the disposal of her time； and
influenced； in a like degree； the engagements of her young friends；
for as she wished to be as much as possible with Charlotte； she
went thither every morning as soon as she was dressed； and did
not return till late in the evening； and the Miss Dashwoods； at the
particular request of the Middletons； spent the whole of every day；
in every day in Conduit…street。 For their own comfort they would
much rather have remained； at least all the morning； in Mrs。
Jennings’s house； but it was not a thing to be urged against the
wishes of everybody。 Their hours were therefore made over to
Lady Middleton and the two Miss Steeles； by whom their company
was in fact as little valued； as it was professedly sought。
They had too much sense to be desirable companions to the
former； and by the latter they were considered with a jealous eye；
as intruding on their ground； and sharing the kindness which they
wanted to monopolize。 Though nothing could be more polite than
Lady Middleton’s behaviour to Elinor and Marianne； she did not
really like them at all。 Because they neither flattered herself nor
her children； she could not believe them good…natured； and
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because they were fond of reading； she fancied them satirical：
perhaps without exactly knowing what it was to be satirical； but
that did not signify。 It was censure in common use； and easily
given。
Their presence was a restraint both on her and on Lucy。 It
checked the idleness of one； and the business of the other。 Lady
Middleton was ashamed of doing nothing before them； and the
flattery which Lucy was proud to think of and administer at other
times； she feared they would despise her for offering。 Miss Steele
was the least discomposed of the three； by their presence； and it
was in their power to reconcile her to it entirely。 Would either of
them only have given her a full and minute account of the whole
affair between Marianne and Mr。 Willoughby； she would have
thought herself amply rewarded for the sacrifice of the best place
by the fire after dinner； which their arrival occasioned。 But this
conciliation was not granted； for though she often threw out
expressions of pity for her sister to Elinor； and more than once
dropt a reflection on the inconstancy of beaux before Marianne； no
effect was produced； but a look of indifference from the former； or
of disgust in the latter。 An effort even yet lighter might have made
her their friend。 Would they only have laughed at her about the
Doctor！ But so little were they； anymore than the others； inclined
to oblige her； that if Sir John dined from home； she might spend a
whole day without hearing any other raillery on the subject； than
what she was kind enough to bestow on herself。
All these jealousies and discontents； however； were so totally
unsuspected by Mrs。 Jennings； that she thought it a delightful
thing for the girls to be together； and generally congratulated her
young friends every night； on having escaped the company of a
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stupid old woman so long。 She joined them sometimes at Sir
John’s； sometimes at her own house； but wherever it was； she
always came in excellent spirits； full of delight and importance；
attributing Charlotte’s well doing to her own care； and ready to
give so exact； so minute a detail of her situation； as only Miss
Steele had curiosity enough to desire。 One thing did disturb her；
and of that she made her daily complaint。 Mr。 Palmer maintained
the common； but unfatherly opinion among his sex； of all infants
being alike； and though she could plainly perceive； at different
times； the most striking resemblance between this baby and every
one of his relations on both sides； there was no convincing his
father of it； no persuading him to believe that it was not exactly
like every other baby of the same age； nor could he even be
brought to acknowledge the simple proposition of its being the