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tomorrow would find her recovered； and the idea of what
tomorrow would have produced； but for this unlucky illness； made
every ailment severe； for on that day they were to have begun
their journey home； and； attended the whole way by a servant of
Mrs。 Jennings； were to have taken their mother by surprise on the
following forenoon。 The little she said was all in lamentation of
this inevitable delay； though Elinor tried to raise her spirits； and
make her believe； as she then really believed herself； that it would
be a very short one。
The next day produced little or no alteration in the state of the
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patient； she certainly was not better； and； except that there was no
amendment； did not appear worse。 Their party was now farther
reduced； for Mr。 Palmer； though very unwilling to go as well from
real humanity and good…nature； as from a dislike of appearing to
be frightened away by his wife； was persuaded at last by Colonel
Brandon to perform his promise of following her； and while he
was preparing to go； Colonel Brandon himself； with a much
greater exertion； began to talk of going likewise。—Here； however；
the kindness of Mrs。 Jennings interposed most acceptably； for to
send the Colonel away while his love was in so much uneasiness
on her sister’s account； would be to deprive them both； she
thought； of every comfort； and therefore telling him at once that
his stay at Cleveland was necessary to herself； that she should
want him to play at piquet of an evening； while Miss Dashwood
was above with her sister； &c。 she urged him so strongly to
remain； that he； who was gratifying the first wish of his own heart
by a compliance； could not long even affect to demur； especially as
Mrs。 Jennings’s entreaty was warmly seconded by Mr。 Palmer；
who seemed to feel a relief to himself； in leaving behind him a
person so well able to assist or advise Miss Dashwood in any
emergence。
Marianne was； of course； kept in ignorance of all these
arrangements。 She knew not that she had been the means of
sending the owners of Cleveland away； in about seven days from
the time of their arrival。 It gave her no surprise that she saw
nothing of Mrs。 Palmer； and as it gave her likewise no concern；
she never mentioned her name。
Two days passed away from the time of Mr。 Palmer’s departure；
and her situation continued； with little variation； the same。 Mr。
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Harris； who attended her every day； still talked boldly of a speedy
recovery； and Miss Dashwood was equally sanguine； but the
expectation of the others was by no means so cheerful。 Mrs。
Jennings had determined very early in the seizure that Marianne
would never get over it； and Colonel Brandon； who was chiefly of
use in listening to Mrs。 Jennings’s forebodings； was not in a state
of mind to resist their influence。 He tried to reason himself out of
fears； which the different judgment of the apothecary seemed to
render absurd； but the many hours of each day in which he was
left entirely alone； were but too favourable for the admission of
every melancholy idea； and he could not expel from his mind the
persuasion that he should see Marianne no more。
On the morning of the third day however； the gloomy
anticipations of both were almost done away； for when Mr。 Harris
arrived； he declared his patient materially better。 Her pulse was
much stronger； and every symptom more favourable than on the
preceding visit。 Elinor； confirmed in every pleasant hope； was all
cheerfulness； rejoicing that in her letters to her mother； she had
pursued her own judgment rather than her friend’s； in making
very light of the indisposition which delayed them at Cleveland；
and almost fixing on the time when Marianne would be able to
travel。
But the day did not close so auspiciously as it began。—Towards
the evening Marianne became ill again； growing more heavy；
restless； and uncomfortable than before。 Her sister； however； still
sanguine； was willing to attribute the change to nothing more than
the fatigue of having sat up to have her bed made； and carefully
administering the cordials prescribed； saw her； with satisfaction；
sink at last into a slumber； from which she expected the most
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beneficial effects。 Her sleep； though not so quiet as Elinor wished
to see it； lasted a considerable time； and anxious to observe the
result of it herself； she resolved to sit with her during the whole of
it。 Mrs。 Jennings； knowing nothing of any change in the patient；
went unusually early to bed； her maid； who was one of the
principal nurses； was recreating herself in the housekeeper’s
room； and Elinor remained alone with Marianne。
The repose of the latter became more and more disturbed； and
her sister； who watched； with unremitting attention her continual
change of posture； and heard the frequent but inarticulate sounds
of complaint which passed her lips； was almost wishing to rouse
her from so painful a slumber； when Marianne； suddenly
awakened by some accidental noise in the house； started hastily
up； and； with feverish wildness； cried out；—
“Is mama coming？—”
“Not yet；” cried the other； concealing her terror； and assisting
Marianne to lie down again； “but she will be here； I hope； before it
is long。 It is a great way； you know； from hence to Barton。”
“But she must not go round by London；” cried Marianne； in the
same hurried manner。 “I shall never see her； if she goes by
London。”
Elinor perceived with alarm that she was not quite herself； and；
while attempting to soothe her； eagerly felt her pulse。 It was lower
and quicker than ever！ and Marianne； still talking wildly of mama；
her alarm increased so rapidly； as to determine her on sending
instantly for Mr。 Harris； and despatching a messenger to Barton
for her mother。 To consult with Colonel Brandon on the best
means of effecting the latter； was a thought which immediately
followed the resolution of its performance； and as soon as she had
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rung up the maid to take her place by her sister； she hastened
down to the drawing…room； where she knew he was generally to be
found at a much later hour than the present。
It was no time for hesitation。 Her fears and her difficulties were
immediately before him。 Her fears； he had no courage； no
confidence to attempt the removal of；—he listened to them in
silent despondence；—but her difficulties were instantly obviated；
for with a readiness that seemed to speak the occasion； and the
service pre…arranged in his mind； he offered himself as the
messenger who should fetch Mrs。 Dashwood。 Elinor made no
resistance that was not easily overcome。 She thanked him with
brief； though fervent gratitude； and while he went to hurry off his
servant with a message to Mr。 Harris； and an order for post…horses
directly； she wrote a few lines to her mother。
The comfort of such a friend