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Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 393
And why does he regret it？—Because he finds it has not answered
towards himself。 It has not made him happy。 His circumstances
are now unembarrassed—he suffers from no evil of that kind； and
he thinks only that he has married a woman of a less amiable
temper than yourself。 But does it follow that had he married you；
he would have been happy？—The inconveniences would have
been different。 He would then have suffered under the pecuniary
distresses which； because they are removed； he now reckons as
nothing。 He would have had a wife of whose temper he could
make no complaint； but he would have been always necessitous—
always poor； and probably would soon have learned to rank the
innumerable comforts of a clear estate and good income as of far
more importance； even to domestic happiness； than the mere
temper of a wife。”
“I have not a doubt of it；” said Marianne； “and I have nothing to
regret—nothing but my own folly。”
“Rather say your mother’s imprudence； my child；” said Mrs。
Dashwood； “she must be answerable。”
Marianne would not let her proceed；—and Elinor； satisfied that
each felt their own error； wished to avoid any survey of the past
that might weaken her sister’s spirits； she； therefore； pursuing the
first subject； immediately continued；
“One observation may； I think； be fairly drawn from the whole
of the story—that all Willoughby’s difficulties have arisen from the
first offence against virtue； in his behaviour to Eliza Williams。 That
crime has been the origin of every lesser one； and of all his present
discontents。”
Marianne assented most feelingly to the remark； and her
mother was led by it to an enumeration of Colonel Brandon’s
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Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 394
injuries and merits； warm as friendship and design could unitedly
dictate。 Her daughter did not look； however； as if much of it were
heard by her。
Elinor； according to her expectation； saw on the two or three
following days； that Marianne did not continue to gain strength as
she had done； but while her resolution was unsubdued； and she
still tried to appear cheerful and easy； her sister could safely trust
to the effect of time upon her health。
Margaret returned； and the family were again all restored to
each other； again quietly settled at the cottage； and if not pursuing
their usual studies with quite so much vigour as when they first
came to Barton； at least planning a vigorous prosecution of them
in future。
Elinor grew impatient for some tidings of Edward。 She had
heard nothing of him since her leaving London； nothing new of his
plans； nothing certain even of his present abode。 Some letters had
passed between her and her brother； in consequence of
Marianne’s illness； and in the first of John’s； there had been this
sentence：—“We know nothing of our unfortunate Edward； and
can make no inquiries on so prohibited a subject； but conclude
him to be still at Oxford；” which was all the intelligence of Edward
afforded her by the correspondence； for his name was not even
mentioned in any of the succeeding letters。 She was not doomed；
however； to be long in ignorance of his measures。
Their man…servant had been sent one morning to Exeter on
business； and when； as he waited at table； he had satisfied the
inquiries of his mistress as to the event of his errand； this was his
voluntary communication—
“I suppose you know； ma’am； that Mr。 Ferrars is married。”
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Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 395
Marianne gave a violent start； fixed her eyes upon Elinor； saw
her turning pale； and fell back in her chair in hysterics。 Mrs。
Dashwood； whose eyes； as she answered the servant’s inquiry； had
intuitively taken the same direction； was shocked to perceive by
Elinor’s countenance how much she really suffered； and a moment
afterwards； alike distressed by Marianne’s situation； knew not on
which child to bestow her principal attention。
The servant； who saw only that Miss Marianne was taken ill；
had sense enough to call one of the maids； who； with Mrs。
Dashwood’s assistance； supported her into the other room。 By that
time； Marianne was rather better； and her mother leaving her to
the care of Margaret and the maid； returned to Elinor； who；
though still much disordered； had so far recovered the use of her
reason and voice as to be just beginning an inquiry of Thomas； as
to the source of his intelligence。 Mrs。 Dashwood immediately took
all that trouble on herself； and Elinor had the benefit of the
information without the exertion of seeking it。
“Who told you that Mr。 Ferrars was married； Thomas？”
“I see Mr。 Ferrars myself； ma’am； this morning in Exeter； and
his lady too； Miss Steele as was。 They was stopping in a chaise at
the door of the New London Inn； as I went there with a message
from Sally at the Park to her brother； who is one of the post…boys。 I
happened to look up as I went by the chaise； and so I see directly it
was the youngest Miss Steele； so I took off my hat； and she knew
me and called to me； and inquired after you； ma’am； and the
young ladies； especially Miss Marianne； and bid me I should give
her compliments and Mr。 Ferrars’s； their best compliments and
service； and how sorry they was they had not time to come on and
see you； but they was in a great hurry to go forwards； for they was
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Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 396
going further down for a little while； but howsever； when they
come back； they’d make sure to come and see you。”
“But did she tell you she was married； Thomas？”
“Yes； ma’am。 She smiled； and said how she had changed her
name since she was in these parts。 She was always a very affable
and free…spoken young lady； and very civil behaved。 So； I made
free to wish her joy。”
“Was Mr。 Ferrars in the carriage with her？”
“Yes； ma’am； I just see him leaning back in it； but he did not
look up；—he never was a gentleman much for talking。”
Elinor’s heart could easily account for his not putting himself
forward； and Mrs。 Dashwood probably found the same
explanation。
“Was there no one else in the carriage？”
“No； ma’am； only they two。”
“Do you know where they came from？”
“They come straight from town； as Miss Lucy—Mrs。 Ferrars
told me。”
“And are they going farther westward？”
“Yes； ma’am—but not to bide long。 They will soon be back
again； and then they’d be sure and call here。”
Mrs。 Dashwood now looked at her daughter； but Elinor knew
better than to expect them。 She recognised the whole of Lucy in
the message； and was very confident that Edward would never
come near them。 She observed in a low voice； to her mother； that
they were probably going down to Mr。 Pratt’s； near Plymouth。
Thomas’s intelligence seemed over。 Elinor looked as if she
wished to hear more。
“Did you see them off； before you came away？”
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Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 397
“No； ma’am—the horses were just coming out； but I could not
bide any longer； I was afraid of being late。”
“Did Mrs。 Ferrars look well？”
“Yes； ma’am； she said how she was very well； and to my mind
she was always a very handsome young la