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dignified； and therefore took a seat as far from him as she could；
and maintained a strict silence。
When Elinor had ceased to rejoice in the dryness of the season；
a very awful pause took place。 It was put an end to by Mrs。
Dashwood； who felt obliged to hope that he had left Mrs。 Ferrars
very well。 In a hurried manner； he replied in the affirmative。
Another pause。
Elinor resolving to exert herself； though fearing the sound of
her own voice； now said；
“Is Mrs。 Ferrars at Longstaple？”
“At Longstaple！” he replied； with an air of surprise。—“No； my
mother is in town。”
“I meant；” said Elinor； taking up some work from the table； “to
inquire for Mrs。 Edward Ferrars。”
She dared not look up；—but her mother and Marianne both
turned their eyes on him。 He coloured； seemed perplexed； looked
doubtingly； and； after some hesitation； said；—
“Perhaps you mean—my brother—you mean Mrs。—Mrs。 Robert
Ferrars。”
“Mrs。 Robert Ferrars！”—was repeated by Marianne and her
mother in an accent of the utmost amazement；—and though
Elinor could not speak； even her eyes were fixed on him with the
same impatient wonder。 He rose from his seat； and walked to the
window； apparently from not knowing what to do； took up a pair
of scissors that lay there； and while spoiling both them and their
sheath by cutting the latter to pieces as he spoke； said； in a hurried
voice；
“Perhaps you do not know—you may not have heard that my
brother is lately married to—to the youngest—to Miss Lucy
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Steele。”
His words were echoed with unspeakable astonishment by all
but Elinor； who sat with her head leaning over her work； in a state
of such agitation as made her hardly know where she was。
“Yes；” said he； “they were married last week； and are now at
Dawlish。”
Elinor could sit it no longer。 She almost ran out of the room；
and as soon as the door was closed； burst into tears of joy； which at
first she thought would never cease。 Edward； who had till then
looked any where； rather than at her； saw her hurry away； and
perhaps saw—or even heard； her emotion； for immediately
afterwards he fell into a reverie； which no remarks； no inquiries；
no affectionate address of Mrs。 Dashwood could penetrate； and at
last； without saying a word； quitted the room； and walked out
towards the village—leaving the others in the greatest
astonishment and perplexity on a change in his situation； so
wonderful and so sudden；—a perplexity which they had no means
of lessening but by their own conjectures。
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CHAPTER XIII
naccountable； however； as the circumstances of his
Urelease might appear to the whole family； it was certain
that Edward was free； and to what purpose that freedom
would be employed was easily pre…determined by all；—for after
experiencing the blessings of one imprudent engagement；
contracted without his mother’s consent； as he had already done
for more than four years； nothing less could be expected of him in
the failure of that； than the immediate contraction of another。
His errand at Barton； in fact； was a simple one。 It was only to
ask Elinor to marry him；—and considering that he was not
altogether inexperienced in such a question； it might be strange
that he should feel so uncomfortable in the present case as he
really did； so much in need of encouragement and fresh air。
How soon he had walked himself into the proper resolution；
however； how soon an opportunity of exercising it occurred； in
what manner he expressed himself； and how he was received；
need not be particularly told。 This only need be said；—that when
they all sat down to table at four o’clock； about three hours after
his arrival； he had secured his lady； engaged her mother’s consent；
and was not only in the rapturous profession of the lover； but； in
the reality of reason and truth； one of the happiest of men。 His
situation indeed was more than commonly joyful。 He had more
than the ordinary triumph of accepted love to swell his heart； and
raise his spirits。 He was released without any reproach to himself；
from an entanglement which had long formed his misery； from a
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woman whom he had long ceased to love；—and elevated at once to
that security with another； which he must have thought of almost
with despair； as soon as he had learnt to consider it with desire。
He was brought； not from doubt or suspense； but from misery to
happiness；—and the change was openly spoken in such a genuine；
flowing； grateful cheerfulness； as his friends had never witnessed
in him before。
His heart was now open to Elinor； all its weaknesses； all its
errors confessed； and his first boyish attachment to Lucy treated
with all the philosophic dignity of twenty…four。
“It was a foolish； idle inclination on my side；” said he； “the
consequence of ignorance of the world—and want of employment。
Had my brother given me some active profession when I was
removed at eighteen from the care of Mr。 Pratt； I think—nay； I am
sure； it would never have happened； for though I left Longstaple
with what I thought； at the time； a most unconquerable preference
for his niece； yet had I then had any pursuit； any object to engage
my time and keep me at a distance from her for a few months； I
should very soon have outgrown the fancied attachment；
especially by mixing more with the world； as in such case I must
have done。 But instead of having any thing to do； instead of having
any profession chosen for me； or being allowed to chuse any
myself； I returned home to be completely idle； and for the first
twelvemonth afterwards I had not even the nominal employment；
which belonging to the university would have given me； for I was
not entered at Oxford till I was nineteen。 I had therefore nothing
in the world to do； but to fancy myself in love； and as my mother
did not make my home in every respect comfortable； as I had no
friend； no companion in my brother； and disliked new
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acquaintance； it was not unnatural for me to be very often at
Longstaple； where I always felt myself at home； and was always
sure of a welcome； and accordingly I spent the greatest part of my
time there from eighteen to nineteen： Lucy appeared everything
that was amiable and obliging。 She was pretty too—at least I
thought so then； and I had seen so little of other women； that I
could make no comparisons； and see no defects。 Considering
everything； therefore； I hope； foolish as our engagement was；
foolish as it has since in every way been proved； it was not at the
time an unnatural or an inexcusable piece of folly。”
The change which a few hours had wrought in the minds and
the happiness of the Dashwoods； was such—so great—as promised
them all； the satisfaction of a sleepless night。 Mrs。 Dashwood； too
happy to be comfortable； knew not how to love Edward； nor praise