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CHAPTER XXII
arianne； who had never much toleration for any thing
like impertinence； vulgarity； inferiority of parts； or
M
even difference of taste from herself； was at this time
particularly ill…disposed； from the state of her spirits； to be pleased
with the Miss Steeles； or to encourage their advances； and to the
invariable coldness of her behaviour towards them； which checked
every endeavour at intimacy on their side； Elinor principally
attributed that preference of herself which soon became evident in
the manners of both； but especially of Lucy； who missed no
opportunity of engaging her in conversation； or of striving to
improve their acquaintance by an easy and frank communication
of her sentiments。
Lucy was naturally clever； her remarks were often just and
amusing； and as a companion for half an hour Elinor frequently
found her agreeable； but her powers had received no aid from
education； she was ignorant and illiterate； and her deficiency of all
mental improvement； her want of information in the most
common particulars； could not be concealed from Miss Dashwood；
in spite of her constant endeavour to appear to advantage。 Elinor
saw； and pitied her for； the neglect of abilities which education
might have rendered so respectable； but she saw； with less
tenderness of feeling； the thorough want of delicacy； of rectitude；
and integrity of mind； which her attentions； her assiduities； her
flatteries at the Park betrayed； and she could have no lasting
satisfaction in the company of a person who joined insincerity with
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ignorance； whose want of instruction prevented their meeting in
conversation on terms of equality； and whose conduct toward
others made every shew of attention and deference towards
herself perfectly valueless。
“You will think my question an odd one； I dare say；” said Lucy
to her one day； as they were walking together from the park to the
cottage—“but pray； are you personally acquainted with your
sister…in…law’s mother； Mrs。 Ferrars？”
Elinor did think the question a very odd one； and her
countenance expressed it； as she answered that she had never
seen Mrs。 Ferrars。
“Indeed！” replied Lucy； “I wonder at that； for I thought you
must have seen her at Norland sometimes。 Then； perhaps； you
cannot tell me what sort of a woman she is？”
“No；” returned Elinor； cautious of giving her real opinion of
Edward’s mother； and not very desirous of satisfying what seemed
impertinent curiosity—“I know nothing of her。”
“I am sure you think me very strange； for enquiring about her
in such a way；” said Lucy； eyeing Elinor attentively as she spoke；
“but perhaps there may be reasons—I wish I might venture； but
however I hope you will do me the justice of believing that I do not
mean to be impertinent。”
Elinor made her a civil reply； and they walked on for a few
minutes in silence。 It was broken by Lucy； who renewed the
subject again by saying； with some hesitation；
“I cannot bear to have you think me impertinently curious。 I am
sure I would rather do any thing in the world than be thought so
by a person whose good opinion is so well worth having as yours。
And I am sure I should not have the smallest fear of trusting you；
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indeed I should be very glad of your advice how to manage in such
and uncomfortable situation as I am； but however there is no
occasion to trouble you。 I am sorry you do not happen to know
Mrs。 Ferrars。”
“I am sorry I do not；” said Elinor； in great astonishment； “if it
could be of any use to you to know my opinion of her。 But really I
never understood that you were at all connected with that family；
and therefore I am a little surprised； I confess； at so serious an
inquiry into her character。”
“I dare say you are； and I am sure I do not at all wonder at it。
But if I dared tell you all； you would not be so much surprised。
Mrs。 Ferrars is certainly nothing to me at present—but the time
may come—how soon it will come must depend upon herself—
when we may be very intimately connected。”
She looked down as she said this； amiably bashful； with only
one side glance at her companion to observe its effect on her。
“Good heavens！” cried Elinor； “what do you mean？ Are you
acquainted with Mr。 Robert Ferrars？ Can you be？” And she did
not feel much delighted with the idea of such a sister…in…law。
“No；” replied Lucy； “not to Mr。 Robert Ferrars—I never saw
him in my life； but；” fixing her eyes upon Elinor； “to his eldest
brother。”
What felt Elinor at that moment？ Astonishment； that would
have been as painful as it was strong； had not an immediate
disbelief of the assertion attended it。 She turned towards Lucy in
silent amazement； unable to divine the reason or object of such a
declaration； and though her complexion varied； she stood firm in
incredulity； and felt in no danger of an hysterical fit； or a swoon。
“You may well be surprised；” continued Lucy； “for to be sure
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you could have had no idea of it before； for I dare say he never
dropped the smallest hint of it to you or any of your family；
because it was always meant to be a great secret； and I am sure
has been faithfully kept so by me to this hour。 Not a soul of all my
relations know of it but Anne； and I never should have mentioned
it to you； if I had not felt the greatest dependence in the world
upon your secrecy； and I really thought my behaviour in asking so
many questions about Mrs。 Ferrars must seem so odd； that it
ought to be explained。 And I do not think Mr。 Ferrars can be
displeased； when he knows I have trusted you； because I know he
has the highest opinion in the world of all your family； and looks
upon yourself and the other Miss Dashwoods quite as his own
sisters。”—She paused。
Elinor for a few moments remained silent。 Her astonishment at
what she heard was at first too great for words； but at length
forcing herself to speak； and to speak cautiously； she said； with
calmness of manner； which tolerably well concealed her surprise
and solicitude—“May I ask if your engagement is of long
standing？”
“We have been engaged these four years。”
“Four years！”
“Yes。”
Elinor； though greatly shocked； still felt unable to believe it。
“I did not know；” said she； “that you were even acquainted till
the other day。”
“Our acquaintance； however； is of many years date。 He was
under my uncle’s care； you know； a considerable while。”
“Your uncle！”
“Yes； Mr。 Pratt。 Did you never hear him talk of Mr。 Pratt？”
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“I think I have；” replied Elinor； with an exertion of spirits；
which increased with her increase of emotion。
“He was four years with my uncle； who lives at Longstaple；
near Plymouth。 It was there our acquaintance begun； for my sister
and me was often staying with my uncle； and it was there our
engagement was formed； though not till a year after he had
quitted as a pupil； but he was almost always with us afterwards。 I
was very unwilling to enter into it； as you may imagine； without
the knowledge and approbation of his mother； but I was too
young； and loved him too well； to be so prudent as I ought to have
been。—Though you do not know him so well as me； Miss
Dashwood； you must have seen enough of him to be sensible he is
very capable of making a woman sincerely attached to him。”
“Certainly；” answered Elinor； without knowing what she said；
but after a moment’s reflection； she added； with revived security of
Edward’s honour and love； and her companion’s falsehood—
“Engaged t
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