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her mother felt it no longer necessary to give up the
M
whole of her time to her； and； contenting herself with
visiting her once or twice a day； returned from that period to her
own home； and her own habits； in which she found the Miss
Dashwoods very ready to reassume their former share。
About the third or fourth morning after their being thus
resettled in Berkeley…street； Mrs。 Jennings； on returning from her
ordinary visit to Mrs。 Palmer； entered the drawing…room； where
Elinor was sitting by herself； with an air of such hurrying
importance as prepared her to hear something wonderful； and
giving her time only to form that idea； began directly to justify it；
by saying；
“Lord！ my dear Miss Dashwood！ have you heard the news？”
“No； ma’am。 What is it？”
“Something so strange！ But you shall hear it all。—When I got to
Mr。 Palmer’s； I found Charlotte quite in a fuss about the child。 She
was sure it was very ill—it cried； and fretted； and was all over
pimples。 So I looked at it directly； and； ‘Lord！ my dear；’ says I； ‘it is
nothing in the world； but the red gum—’ and nurse said just the
same。 But Charlotte； she would not be satisfied； so Mr。 Donavan
was sent for； and luckily he happened to just come in from Harley…
street； so he stepped over directly； and as soon as ever he saw the
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child； he said just as we did； that it was nothing in the world but
the red gum； and then Charlotte was easy。 And so； just as he was
going away again； it came into my head； I am sure I do not know
how I happened to think of it； but it came into my head to ask him
if there was any news。 So upon that； he smirked； and simpered；
and looked grave； and seemed to know something or other； and at
last he said in a whisper； ‘For fear any unpleasant report should
reach the young ladies under your care as to their sister’s
indisposition； I think it advisable to say； that I believe there is no
great reason for alarm； I hope Mrs。 Dashwood will do very well。’”
“What！ is Fanny ill？”
“That is exactly what I said； my dear。 ‘Lord！’ says I； ‘is Mrs。
Dashwood ill？’ So then it all came out； and the long and the short
of the matter； by all I can learn； seems to be this。 Mr。 Edward
Ferrars； the very young man I used to joke with you about （but
however； as it turns out； I am monstrous glad there was never any
thing in it）； Mr。 Edward Ferrars； it seems； has been engaged above
this twelvemonth to my cousin Lucy！—There’s for you； my dear！—
And not a creature knowing a syllable of the matter； except
Nancy！—Could you have believed such a thing possible？—There
is no great wonder in their liking one another； but that matters
should be brought so forward between them； and nobody suspect
it！ That is strange！—I never happened to see them together； or I
am sure I should have found it out directly。 Well； and so this was
kept a great secret； for fear of Mrs。 Ferrars； and neither she nor
your brother or sister suspected a word of the matter；—till this
very morning； poor Nancy； who； you know； is a well…meaning
creature； but no conjurer； popt it all out。 ‘Lord！’ thinks she to
herself； ‘they are all so fond of Lucy； to be sure they will make no
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difficulty about it；’ and so； away she went to your sister； who was
sitting all alone at her carpet…work； little suspecting what was to
come—for she had just been saying to your brother； only five
minutes before； that she thought to make a match between
Edward and some Lord’s daughter or other； I forget who。 So you
may think what a blow it was to all her vanity and pride。 She fell
into violent hysterics immediately； with such screams as reached
your brother’s ears； as he was sitting in his own dressing…room
down stairs； thinking about writing a letter to his steward in the
country。 So up he flew directly； and a terrible scene took place； for
Lucy was come to them by that time； little dreaming what was
going on。 Poor soul！ I pity her。 And I must say； I think she was
used very hardly； for your sister scolded like any fury； and soon
drove her into a fainting fit。 Nancy； she fell upon her knees； and
cried bitterly； and your brother； he walked about the room； and
said he did not know what to do。 Mrs。 Dashwood declared they
should not stay a minute longer in the house； and your brother
was forced to go down upon his knees too； to persuade her to let
them stay till they had packed up their clothes。 Then she fell into
hysterics again； and he was so frightened that he would send for
Mr。 Donavan； and Mr。 Donavan found the house in all this uproar。
The carriage was at the door ready to take my poor cousins away；
and they were just stepping in as he came off； poor Lucy in such a
condition； he says； she could hardly walk； and Nancy； she was
almost as bad。 I declare； I have no patience with your sister； and I
hope； with all my heart； it will be a match in spite of her。 Lord！
what a taking poor Mr。 Edward will be in when he hears of it！ To
have his love used so scornfully！ for they say he is monstrous fond
of her； as well he may。 I should not wonder； if he was to be in the
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greatest passion！—and Mr。 Donavan thinks just the same。 He and
I had a great deal of talk about it； and the best of all is； that he is
gone back again to Harley…street； that he may be within call when
Mrs。 Ferrars is told of it； for she was sent for as soon as ever my
cousins left the house； for your sister was sure she would be in
hysterics too； and so she may； for what I care。 I have no pity for
either of them。 I have no notion of people’s making such a to…do
about money and greatness。 There is no reason on earth why Mr。
Edward and Lucy should not marry； for I am sure Mrs。 Ferrars
may afford to do very well by her son； and though Lucy has next to
nothing herself； she knows better than any body how to make the
most of every thing； I dare say； if Mrs。 Ferrars would only allow
him five hundred a…year； she would make as good an appearance
with it as any body else would with eight。 Lord！ how snug they
might live in such another cottage as yours—or a little bigger—
with two maids； and two men； and I believe I could help them to a
housemaid； for my Betty has a sister out of place； that would fit
them exactly。”
Here Mrs。 Jennings ceased； and as Elinor had had time enough
to collect her thoughts； she was able to give such an answer； and
make such observations； as the subject might naturally be
supposed to produce。 Happy to find that she was not suspected of
any extraordinary interest in it； that Mrs。 Jennings （as she had of
late often hoped might be the case） had ceased to imagine her at
all attached to Edward； and happy above all the rest； in the
absence of Marianne； she felt very well able to speak of the affair
without embarrassment； and to give her judgment； as she
believed； with impartiality on the conduct of every one concerned
in it。
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She could hardly determine what her own expectation of its
event really was； though she earnestly tried to drive awa