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of Mrs。 Jennings； who read it aloud with many comments of
satisfaction and praise。 “Very well indeed！—how prettily she
writes！—aye； that was quite proper to let him be off if he would。
That was just like Lucy。—Poor soul！ I wish I could get him a living；
with all my heart。—She calls me dear Mrs。 Jennings； you see。 She
is a good…hearted girl as ever lived。—Very well upon my word。
That sentence is very prettily turned。 Yes； yes； I will go and see
her； sure enough。 How attentive she is； to think of every body！—
Thank you； my dear； for shewing it me。 It is as pretty a letter as
ever I saw； and does Lucy’s head and heart great credit。”
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CHAPTER III
he Miss Dashwoods had now been rather more than two
months in town； and Marianne’s impatience to be gone
T
increased every day。 She sighed for the air； the liberty； the
quiet of the country； and fancied that if any place could give her
ease； Barton must do it。 Elinor was hardly less anxious than
herself for their removal； and only so much less bent on its being
effected immediately； as that she was conscious of the difficulties
of so long a journey； which Marianne could not be brought to
acknowledge。 She began； however； seriously to turn her thoughts
towards its accomplishment； and had already mentioned their
wishes to their kind hostess； who resisted them with all the
eloquence of her good…will； when a plan was suggested； which；
though detaining them from home yet a few weeks longer；
appeared to Elinor altogether much more eligible than any other。
The Palmers were to remove to Cleveland about the end of March；
for the Easter holidays； and Mrs。 Jennings； with both her friends；
received a very warm invitation from Charlotte to go with them。
This would not； in itself； have been sufficient for the delicacy of
Miss Dashwood；—but it was inforced with so much real politeness
by Mr。 Palmer himself； as； joined to the very great amendment of
his manners towards them since her sister had been known to be
unhappy； induced her to accept it with pleasure。
When she told Marianne what she had done； however； her first
reply was not very auspicious。
“Cleveland！”—she cried； with great agitation。 “No； I cannot go
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to Cleveland。”—
“You forget；” said Elinor gently； “that its situation is not 。 。 。 that
it is not in the neighbourhood of 。 。 。”
“But it is in Somersetshire。—I cannot go into Somersetshire。—
There； where I looked forward to going 。 。 。 No； Elinor； you cannot
expect me to go there。”
Elinor would not argue upon the propriety of overcoming such
feelings；—she only endeavoured to counteract them by working
on others；—represented it； therefore； as a measure which would
fix the time of her returning to that dear mother； whom she so
much wished to see； in a more eligible； more comfortable manner；
than any other plan could do； and perhaps without any greater
delay。 From Cleveland； which was within a few miles of Bristol；
the distance to Barton was not beyond one day； though a long
day’s journey； and their mother’s servant might easily come there
to attend them down； and as there could be no occasion of their
staying above a week at Cleveland； they might now be at home in
little more than three weeks’ time。 As Marianne’s affection for her
mother was sincere； it must triumph with little difficulty； over the
imaginary evils she had started。
Mrs。 Jennings was so far from being weary of her guests； that
she pressed them very earnestly to return with her again from
Cleveland。 Elinor was grateful for the attention； but it could not
alter her design； and their mother’s concurrence being readily
gained； every thing relative to their return was arranged as far as
it could be；—and Marianne found some relief in drawing up a
statement of the hours that were yet to divide her from Barton。
“Ah！ Colonel； I do not know what you and I shall do without the
Miss Dashwoods；”—was Mrs。 Jennings’s address to him when he
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first called on her； after their leaving her was settled—“for they
are quite resolved upon going home from the Palmers；—and how
forlorn we shall be； when I come back！—Lord！ we shall sit and
gape at one another as dull as two cats。”
Perhaps Mrs。 Jennings was in hopes； by this vigorous sketch of
their future ennui； to provoke him to make that offer； which might
give himself an escape from it；—and if so； she had soon afterwards
good reason to think her object gained； for； on Elinor’s moving to
the window to take more expeditiously the dimensions of a print；
which she was going to copy for her friend； he followed her to it
with a look of particular meaning； and conversed with her there
for several minutes。 The effect of his discourse on the lady too；
could not escape her observation； for though she was too
honourable to listen； and had even changed her seat； on purpose
that she might not hear； to one close by the pianoforté on which
Marianne was playing； she could not keep herself from seeing that
Elinor changed colour； attended with agitation； and was too intent
on what he said to pursue her employment。—Still farther in
confirmation of her hopes； in the interval of Marianne’s turning
from one lesson to another； some words of the Colonel’s inevitably
reached her ear； in which he seemed to be apologizing for the
badness of his house。 This set the matter beyond a doubt。 She
wondered； indeed； at his thinking it necessary to do so； but
supposed it to be the proper etiquette。 What Elinor said in reply
she could not distinguish； but judged from the motion of her lips；
that she did not think that any material objection；—and Mrs。
Jennings commended her in her heart for being so honest。 They
then talked on for a few minutes longer without her catching a
syllable； when another lucky stop in Marianne’s performance
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brought her these words in the Colonel’s calm voice；
“I am afraid it cannot take place very soon。”
Astonished and shocked at so unlover…like a speech； she was
almost ready to cry out； “Lord！ what should hinder it？”—but
checking her desire； confined herself to this silent ejaculation。
“This is very strange！—sure he need not wait to be older。”
This delay on the Colonel’s side； however； did not seem to
offend or mortify his fair companion in the least； for on their
breaking up the conference soon afterwards； and moving different
ways； Mrs。 Jennings very plainly heard Elinor say； and with a
voice which shewed her to feel what she said；
“I shall always think myself very much obliged to you。”
Mrs。 Jennings was delighted with her gratitude； and only
wondered that after hearing such a sentence； the Colonel should
be able to take leave of them； as he immediately did； with the
utmost sang…froid； and go away without making her any reply！—
She had not thought her old friend could have made so indifferent
a suitor。
What had really passed between them was to this