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Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 323
which the unjustifiable conduct of your family has placed you—a
concern which I am sure Marianne； myself； and all your friends；
must share； and likewise as a proof of his high esteem for your
general character； and his particular approbation of your
behaviour on the present occasion。”
“Colonel Brandon give me a living！—Can it be possible？”
“The unkindness of your own relations has made you
astonished to find friendship any where。”
“No；” replied be； with sudden consciousness； “not to find it in
you； for I cannot be ignorant that to you； to your goodness； I owe it
all。—I feel it—I would express it if I could—but； as you well know；
I am no orator。”
“You are very much mistaken。 I do assure you that you owe it
entirely； at least almost entirely； to your own merit； and Colonel
Brandon’s discernment of it。 I have had no hand in it。 I did not
even know； till I understood his design； that the living was vacant；
nor had it ever occurred to me that he might have had such a
living in his gift。 As a friend of mine； of my family； he may；
perhaps—indeed I know he has； still greater pleasure in bestowing
it； but； upon my word； you owe nothing to my solicitation。”
Truth obliged her to acknowledge some small share in the
action； but she was at the same time so unwilling to appear as the
benefactress of Edward； that she acknowledged it with hesitation；
which probably contributed to fix that suspicion in his mind which
had recently entered it。 For a short time he sat deep in thought；
after Elinor had ceased to speak；—at last； and as if it were rather
an effort； he said；
“Colonel Brandon seems a man of great worth and
respectability。 I have always heard him spoken of as such； and
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your brother I know esteems him highly。 He is undoubtedly a
sensible man； and in his manners perfectly the gentleman。”
“Indeed；” replied Elinor； “I believe that you will find him； on
farther acquaintance； all that you have heard him to be； and as you
will be such very near neighbours （for I understand the parsonage
is almost close to the mansion…house；） it is particularly important
that he should be all this。”
Edward made no answer； but when she had turned away her
head； gave her a look so serious； so earnest； so uncheerful； as
seemed to say； that he might hereafter wish the distance between
the parsonage and the mansion…house much greater。
“Colonel Brandon； I think； lodges in St。 James…street；” said he；
soon afterwards； rising from his chair。
Elinor told him the number of the house。
“I must hurry away then； to give him those thanks which you
will not allow me to give you； to assure him that he has made me a
very—an exceedingly happy man。”
Elinor did not offer to detain him； and they parted； with a very
earnest assurance on her side of her unceasing good wishes for his
happiness in every change of situation that might befall him； on
his； with rather an attempt to return the same good will； than the
power of expressing it。
“When I see him again；” said Elinor to herself； as the door shut
him out； “I shall see him the husband of Lucy。”
And with this pleasing anticipation； she sat down to reconsider
the past； recall the words and endeavour to comprehend all the
feelings of Edward； and； of course； to reflect on her own with
discontent。
When Mrs。 Jennings came home； though she returned from
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seeing people whom she had never seen before； and of whom
therefore she must have a great deal to say； her mind was so much
more occupied by the important secret in her possession； than by
anything else； that she reverted to it again as soon as Elinor
appeared。
“Well； my dear；” she cried； “I sent you up the young man。 Did
not I do right？—And I suppose you had no great difficulty—You
did not find him very unwilling to accept your proposal？”
“No； ma’am； that was not very likely。”
“Well； and how soon will he be ready？—For it seems all to
depend upon that。”
“Really；” said Elinor； “I know so little of these kind of forms；
that I can hardly even conjecture as to the time； or the preparation
necessary； but I suppose two or three months will complete his
ordination。”
“Two or three months！” cried Mrs。 Jennings； “Lord！ my dear；
how calmly you talk of it； and can the Colonel wait two or three
months！ Lord bless me！—I am sure it would put me quite out of
patience！—And though one would be very glad to do a kindness by
poor Mr。 Ferrars； I do think it is not worth while to wait two or
three months for him。 Sure somebody else might be found that
would do as well； somebody that is in orders already。”
“My dear ma’am；” said Elinor； “what can you be thinking of？—
Why； Colonel Brandon’s only object is to be of use to Mr。 Ferrars。”
“Lord bless you； my dear！—Sure you do not mean to persuade
me that the Colonel only marries you for the sake of giving ten
guineas to Mr。 Ferrars！”
The deception could not continue after this； and an explanation
immediately took place； by which both gained considerable
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amusement for the moment； without any material loss of
happiness to either； for Mrs。 Jennings only exchanged one form of
delight for another； and still without forfeiting her expectation of
the first。
“Aye； aye； the parsonage is but a small one；” said she； after the
first ebullition of surprise and satisfaction was over； “and very
likely may be out of repair； but to hear a man apologising； as I
thought； for a house that to my knowledge has five sitting rooms
on the ground…floor； and I think the housekeeper told me could
make up fifteen beds！—and to you too； that had been used to live
in Barton cottage！—It seems quite ridiculous。 But； my dear； we
must touch up the Colonel to do some thing to the parsonage； and
make it comfortable for them； before Lucy goes to it。”
“But Colonel Brandon does not seem to have any idea of the
living’s being enough to allow them to marry。”
“The Colonel is a ninny； my dear； because he has two thousand
a…year himself； he thinks that nobody else can marry on less。 Take
my word for it； that； if I am alive； I shall be paying a visit at
Delaford Parsonage before Michaelmas； and I am sure I sha’nt go
if Lucy an’t there。”
Elinor was quite of her opinion； as to the probability of their not
waiting for any thing more。
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CHAPTER V
dward； having carried his thanks to Colonel Brandon；
proceeded with his happiness to Lucy； and such was the
E
excess of it by the time he reached Bartlett’s Buildings；
that she was able to assure Mrs。 Jennings； who called on her again
the next day with her congratulations； that she had never seen
him in such spirits before in her life。
Her own happiness； and her own spirits； were at least very
certain； and she joined Mrs。 Jennings most heartily in her
expec