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the dear lock—all； every memento was torn from me。”
“You are very wrong； Mr。 Willoughby； very blameable；” said
Elinor； while her voice； in spite of herself； betrayed her
compassionate emotion； “you ought not to speak in this way；
either of Mrs。 Willoughby or my sister。 You had made your own
choice。 It was not forced on you。 Your wife has a claim to your
politeness； to your respect； at least。 She must be attached to you；
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or she would not have married you。 To treat her with unkindness；
to speak of her slightingly is no atonement to Marianne—nor can I
suppose it a relief to your own conscience。”
“Do not talk to me of my wife；” said he with a heavy sigh。—“She
does not deserve your compassion。—She knew I had no regard for
her when we married。—Well； married we were； and came down to
Combe Magna to be happy； and afterwards returned to town to be
gay。—And now do you pity me； Miss Dashwood？—or have I said
all this to no purpose？—Am I—be it only one degree—am I less
guilty in your opinion than I was before？—My intentions were not
always wrong。 Have I explained away any part of my guilt？”
“Yes； you have certainly removed something—a little。—You
have proved yourself； on the whole； less faulty than I had believed
you。 You have proved your heart less wicked； much less wicked。
But I hardly know—the misery that you have inflicted—I hardly
know what could have made it worse。”
“Will you repeat to your sister when she is recovered； what I
have been telling you？—Let me be a little lightened too in her
opinion as well as in yours。 You tell me that she has forgiven me
already。 Let me be able to fancy that a better knowledge of my
heart； and of my present feelings； will draw from her a more
spontaneous； more natural； more gentle； less dignified；
forgiveness。 Tell her of my misery and my penitence—tell her that
my heart was never inconstant to her； and if you will； that at this
moment she is dearer to me than ever。”
“I will tell her all that is necessary to what may comparatively
be called； your justification。 But you have not explained to me the
particular reason of your coming now； nor how you heard of her
illness。”
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“Last night； in Drury…lane lobby； I ran against Sir John
Middleton； and when he saw who I was—for the first time these
two months—he spoke to me。—That he had cut me ever since my
marriage； I had seen without surprise or resentment。 Now；
however； his good…natured； honest； stupid soul； full of indignation
against me； and concern for your sister； could not resist the
temptation of telling me what he knew ought to—though probably
he did not think it would—vex me horridly。 As bluntly as he could
speak it； therefore； he told me that Marianne Dashwood was dying
of a putrid fever at Cleveland—a letter that morning received from
Mrs。 Jennings declared her danger most imminent—the Palmers
are all gone off in a fright； &c。—I was too much shocked to be able
to pass myself off as insensible even to the undiscerning Sir John。
His heart was softened in seeing mine suffer； and so much of his
ill…will was done away； that when we parted； he almost shook me
by the hand while he reminded me of an old promise about a
pointer puppy。 What I felt on hearing that your sister was dying—
and dying too； believing me the greatest villain upon earth；
scorning； hating me in her latest moments—for how could I tell
what horrid projects might not have been imputed？ One person I
was sure would represent me as capable of any thing—What I felt
was dreadful！—My resolution was soon made； and at eight o’clock
this morning I was in my carriage。 Now you know all。”
Elinor made no answer。 Her thoughts were silently fixed on the
irreparable injury which too early an independence and its
consequent habits of idleness； dissipation； and luxury； had made
in the mind； the character； the happiness； of a man who； to every
advantage of person and talents； united a disposition naturally
open and honest； and a feeling； affectionate temper。 The world
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had made him extravagant and vain—Extravagance and vanity
had made him cold…hearted and selfish。 Vanity； while seeking its
own guilty triumph at the expense of another； had involved him in
a real attachment； which extravagance； or at least its offspring；
necessity； had required to be sacrificed。 Each faulty propensity in
leading him to evil； had led him likewise to punishment。 The
attachment； from which against honour； against feeling； against
every better interest he had outwardly torn himself； now； when no
longer allowable； governed every thought； and the connection； for
the sake of which he had； with little scruple； left her sister to
misery； was likely to prove a source of unhappiness to himself of a
far more incurable nature。 From a reverie of this kind she was
recalled at the end of some minutes by Willoughby； who； rousing
himself from a reverie at least equally painful； started up in
preparation for going； and said—
“There is no use in staying here； I must be off。”
“Are you going back to town？”
“No—to Combe Magna。 I have business there； from thence to
town in a day or two。 Good bye。”
He held out his hand。 She could not refuse to give him hers’；—
he pressed it with affection。
“And you do think something better of me than you did？”—said
he； letting it fall； and leaning against the mantel…piece as if
forgetting he was to go。
Elinor assured him that she did；—that she forgave； pitied；
wished him well—was even interested in his happiness—and
added some gentle counsel as to the behaviour most likely to
promote it。 His answer was not very encouraging。
“As to that；” said he； “I must rub through the world as well as I
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can。 Domestic happiness is out of the question。 If； however； I am
allowed to think that you and yours feel an interest in my fate and
actions； it may be the means—it may put me on my guard—at
least； it may be something to live for。 Marianne to be sure is lost to
me for ever。 Were I even by any blessed chance at liberty again—”
Elinor stopped him with a reproof。
“Well；”—he replied—“once more good bye。 I shall now go away
and live in dread of one event。”
“What do you mean？”
“Your sister’s marriage。”
“You are very wrong。 She can never be more lost to you than
she is now。”
“But she will be gained by some one else。 And if that some one
should be the very he whom； of all others； I could least bear—but I
will not stay to rob myself of all your compassionate goodwill； by
shewing that where I have most injured I can least forgive。 Good
bye；—God bless you！”
And with these words； he almost ran out of the room。
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CHAPTER IX
linor； for some time after he left her； for some time even
after the sound of his carriage had died away； remained
E
too much oppressed by a crowd of ideas； widely differing
in themselves； but of whic