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An intimate acquaintance of Mrs。 Jennings joined them soon
after they entered the Gardens； and Elinor was not sorry that by
her continuing with them； and engaging all Mrs。 Jennings’s
conversation； she was herself left to quiet reflection。 She saw
nothing of the Willoughbys； nothing of Edward； and for some time
nothing of anybody who could by any chance whether grave or
gay； be interesting to her。 But at last she found herself with some
surprise； accosted by Miss Steele； who； though looking rather shy；
expressed great satisfaction in meeting them； and on receiving
encouragement from the particular kindness of Mrs。 Jennings； left
her own party for a short time； to join their’s。 Mrs。 Jennings
immediately whispered to Elinor；
“Get it all out of her； my dear。 She will tell you any thing if you
ask。 You see I cannot leave Mrs。 Clarke。”
It was lucky； however； for Mrs。 Jennings’s curiosity and Elinor’s
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too； that she would tell any thing without being asked； for nothing
would otherwise have been learnt。
“I am so glad to meet you；” said Miss Steele； taking her
familiarly by the arm—“for I wanted to see you of all things in the
world。” And then lowering her voice； “I suppose Mrs。 Jennings
has heard all about it。 Is she angry？”
“Not at all； I believe； with you。”
“That is a good thing。 And Lady Middleton； is she angry？”
“I cannot suppose it possible that she should。”
“I am monstrous glad of it。 Good gracious！ I have had such a
time of it！ I never saw Lucy in such a rage in my life。 She vowed at
first she would never trim me up a new bonnet； nor do any thing
else for me again； so long as she lived； but now she is quite come
to； and we are as good friends as ever。 Look； she made me this
bow to my hat； and put in the feather last night。 There now； you
are going to laugh at me too。 But why should not I wear pink
ribbons？ I do not care if it is the Doctor’s favourite colour。 I am
sure； for my part； I should never have known he did like it better
than any other colour； if he had not happened to say so。 My
cousins have been so plaguing me！ I declare sometimes I do not
know which way to look before them。”
She had wandered away to a subject on which Elinor had
nothing to say； and therefore soon judged it expedient to find her
way back again to the first。
“Well； but Miss Dashwood；” speaking triumphantly； “people
may say what they chuse about Mr。 Ferrars’s declaring he would
not have Lucy； for it is no such thing I can tell you； and it is quite a
shame for such ill…natured reports to be spread abroad。 Whatever
Lucy might think about it herself； you know； it was no business of
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other people to set it down for certain。”
“I never heard any thing of the kind hinted at before； I assure
you；” said Elinor。
“Oh； did not you？ But it was said； I know； very well； and by
more than one； for Miss Godby told Miss Sparks； that nobody in
their senses could expect Mr。 Ferrars to give up a woman like Miss
Morton； with thirty thousand pounds to her fortune； for Lucy
Steele that had nothing at all； and I had it from Miss Sparks
myself。 And besides that； my cousin Richard said himself； that
when it came to the point he was afraid Mr。 Ferrars would be off；
and when Edward did not come near us for three days； I could not
tell what to think myself； and I believe in my heart Lucy gave it up
all for lost； for we came away from your brother’s Wednesday； and
we saw nothing of him not all Thursday； Friday； and Saturday；
and did not know what was become of him。 Once Lucy thought to
write to him； but then her spirits rose against that。 However this
morning he came just as we came home from church； and then it
all came out； how he had been sent for Wednesday to Harley…
street； and been talked to by his mother and all of them； and how
he had declared before them all that he loved nobody but Lucy；
and nobody but Lucy would he have。 And how he had been so
worried by what passed； that as soon as he had went away from
his mother’s house； he had got upon his horse； and rid into the
country some where or other； and how he had stayed about at an
inn all Thursday and Friday； on purpose to get the better of it。 And
after thinking it all over and over again； he said； it seemed to him
as if； now he had no fortune； and no nothing at all； it would be
quite unkind to keep her on to the engagement； because it must be
for her loss； for he had nothing but two thousand pounds； and no
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hope of any thing else； and if he was to go into orders； as he had
some thoughts； he could get nothing but a curacy； and how was
they to live upon that？—He could not bear to think of her doing no
better； and so he begged； if she had the least mind for it； to put an
end to the matter directly； and leave him to shift for himself。 I
heard him say all this as plain as could possibly be。 And it was
entirely for her sake； and upon her account； that he said a word
about being off； and not upon his own。 I will take my oath he never
dropt a syllable of being tired of her； or of wishing to marry Miss
Morton； or any thing like it。 But； to be sure； Lucy would not give
ear to such kind of talking； so she told him directly （with a great
deal about sweet and love； you know； and all that—Oh； la！ one
can’t repeat such kind of things you know）—she told him directly；
she had not the least mind in the world to be off； for she could live
with him upon a trifle； and how little so ever he might have； she
should be very glad to have it all； you know； or something of the
kind。 So then he was monstrous happy； and talked on some time
about what they should do； and they agreed he should take orders
directly； and they must wait to be married till he got a living。 And
just then I could not hear any more； for my cousin called from
below to tell me Mrs。 Richardson was come in her coach； and
would take one of us to Kensington Gardens； so I was forced to go
into the room and interrupt them； to ask Lucy if she would like to
go； but she did not care to leave Edward； so I just run up stairs
and put on a pair of silk stockings and came off with the
Richardsons。”
“I do not understand what you mean by interrupting them；”
said Elinor； “you were all in the same room together； were not
you？”
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“No； indeed； not us。 La！ Miss Dashwood； do you think people
make love when any body else is by？ Oh； for shame！—To be sure
you must know better than that。 （Laughing affectedly。）—No； no；
they were shut up in the drawing…room together； and all I heard
was only by listening at the door。”
“How！” cried Elinor； “have you been repeating to me what you
only learnt yourself by listening at the door？ I am sorry I did not
know it before； for I certainly would not have suffered you to give
me particulars of a conversation which you ought not to have
known yourself。 How could you behave so unfairly by your
sister？”
“Oh； la！ there is nothing in that。 I only stood at the door； and
heard what I could。 And I am sure Lucy would have done just the
same by