questions； and distinguished Elinor by no mark of affection。
Marianne saw and listened with increasing surprise。 She began
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almost to feel a dislike of Edward； and it ended； as every feeling
must end with her； by carrying back her thoughts to Willoughby；
whose manners formed a contrast sufficiently striking to those of
his brother elect。
After a short silence which succeeded the first surprise and
inquiries of meeting； Marianne asked Edward if he came directly
from London。 No； he had been in Devonshire a fortnight。
“A fortnight！” she repeated； surprised at his being so long in the
same county with Elinor without seeing her before。
He looked rather distressed as he added； that he had been
staying with some friends near Plymouth。
“Have you been lately in Sussex？” said Elinor。
“I was at Norland about a month ago。”
“And how does dear； dear Norland look？” cried Marianne。
“Dear； dear Norland；” said Elinor； “probably looks much as it
always does at this time of the year。 The woods and walks thickly
covered with dead leaves。”
“Oh；” cried Marianne； “with what transporting sensation have I
formerly seen them fall！ How have I delighted； as I walked； to see
them driven in showers about me by the wind！ What feelings have
they； the season； the air altogether inspired！ Now there is no one
to regard them。 They are seen only as a nuisance； swept hastily off；
and driven as much as possible from the sight。”
“It is not every one；” said Elinor； “who has your passion for
dead leaves。”
“No； my feelings are not often shared； not often understood。
But sometimes they are。”—As she said this； she sunk into a reverie
for a few moments；—but rousing herself again； “Now； Edward；”
said she； calling his attention to the prospect； “here is Barton
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valley。 Look up to it； and be tranquil if you can。 Look at those hills！
Did you ever see their equals？ To the left is Barton park； amongst
those woods and plantations。 You may see the end of the house。
And there； beneath that farthest hill； which rises with such
grandeur； is our cottage。”
“It is a beautiful country；” he replied； “but these bottoms must
be dirty in winter。”
“How can you think of dirt； with such objects before you？”
“Because；” replied he； smiling； “among the rest of the objects
before me； I see a very dirty lane。”
“How strange！” said Marianne to herself as she walked on。
“Have you an agreeable neighbourhood here？ Are the
Middletons pleasant people？”
“No； not at all；” answered Marianne； “we could not be more
unfortunately situated。”
“Marianne；” cried her sister； “how can you say so？ How can
you be so unjust？ They are a very respectable family； Mr。 Ferrars；
and towards us have behaved in the friendliest manner。 Have you
forgot； Marianne； how many pleasant days we have owed to
them？”
“No；” said Marianne； in a low voice； “nor how many painful
moments。”
Elinor took no notice of this； and directing her attention to their
visitor； endeavoured to support something like discourse with him；
by talking of their present residence； its conveniences； &c。
extorting from him occasional questions and remarks。 His
coldness and reserve mortified her severely； she was vexed and
half angry； but resolving to regulate her behaviour to him by the
past rather than the present； she avoided every appearance of
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resentment or displeasure； and treated him as she thought he
ought to be treated from the family connection。
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CHAPTER XVII
rs。 Dashwood was surprised only for a moment at
seeing him； for his coming to Barton was； in her
M
opinion； of all things the most natural。 Her joy and
expression of regard long outlived her wonder。 He received the
kindest welcome from her； and shyness； coldness； reserve could
not stand against such a reception。 They had begun to fail him
before he entered the house； and they were quite overcome by the
captivating manners of Mrs。 Dashwood。 Indeed a man could not
very well be in love with either of her daughters； without
extending the passion to her； and Elinor had the satisfaction of
seeing him soon become more like himself。 His affections seemed
to reanimate towards them all； and his interest in their welfare
again became perceptible。 He was not in spirits； however； he
praised their house； admired its prospect； was attentive； and kind；
but still he was not in spirits。 The whole family perceived it； and
Mrs。 Dashwood； attributing it to some want of liberality in his
mother； sat down to table indignant against all selfish parents。
“What are Mrs。 Ferrars’s views for you at present； Edward？”
said she； when dinner was over and they had drawn round the
fire； “are you still to be a great orator in spite of yourself？”
“No。 I hope my mother is now convinced that I have no more
talents than inclination for a public life！”
“But how is your fame to be established？ for famous you must
be to satisfy all your family； and with no inclination for expense；
no affection for strangers； no profession； and no assurance； you
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may find it a difficult matter。”
“I shall not attempt it。 I have no wish to be distinguished； and
have every reason to hope I never shall。 Thank Heaven！ I cannot
be forced into genius and eloquence。”
“You have no ambition； I well know。 Your wishes are all
moderate。”
“As moderate as those of the rest of the world； I believe。 I wish
as well as every body else to be perfectly happy； but； like every
body else it must be in my own way。 Greatness will not make me
so。”
“Strange that it would！” cried Marianne。 “What have wealth or
grandeur to do with happiness？”
“Grandeur has but little；” said Elinor； “but wealth has much to
do with it。”
“Elinor； for shame！” said Marianne； “money can only give
happiness where there is nothing else to give it。 Beyond a
competence； it can afford no real satisfaction； as far as mere self is
concerned。”
“Perhaps；” said Elinor； smiling； “we may come to the same
point。 Your competence and my wealth are very much alike； I dare
say； and without them； as the world goes now； we shall both agree
that every kind of external comfort must be wanting。 Your ideas
are only more noble than mine。 Come； what is your competence？”
“About eighteen hundred or two thousand a year； not more
than that。”
Elinor laughed。 “Two thousand a year！ One is my wealth！ I
guessed how it would end。”
“And yet two thousand a…year is a very moderate income；” said
Marianne。 “A family cannot well be maintained on a smaller。 I am
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sure I am not extravagant in my demands。 A proper establishment
of servants； a carriage； perhaps two； and hunters； cannot be
supported on less。”
Elinor smiled again； to hear her sister describing so accurately
their future expenses at Combe Magna。
“Hunters！” repeated Edward—“but why must you have
hunters？ Every body does not hunt。”
Marianne coloured as she replied； “But most people do。”
“I wish；” said Margaret； striking out a novel thought； “that
somebody would give us all a large fortune apiece！”
“Oh that they would！” cried Marianne； her eyes sparkling with
animation； and her cheeks glowing with the delight of such
imaginary happiness。
“We are all unanimous in that wish； I suppose；” said Elinor； “in
spite of the insufficiency of wealth。”
“Oh dear！” cried Margaret； “how happy I should be！ I wonder
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