came you to conjure out that I should be in town to…day？”
“I had the pleasure of hearing it at Mr。 Palmer’s； where I have
been dining。”
“Oh； you did； well； and how do they all do at their house？ How
does Charlotte do？ I warrant you she is a fine size by this time。”
“Mrs。 Palmer appeared quite well； and I am commissioned to
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tell you； that you will certainly see her to…morrow。”
“Ay； to be sure； I thought as much。 Well； Colonel； I have
brought two young ladies with me； you see—that is； you see but
one of them now； but there is another somewhere。 Your friend；
Miss Marianne； too—which you will not be sorry to hear。 I do not
know what you and Mr。 Willoughby will do between you about
her。 Ay； it is a fine thing to be young and handsome。 Well！ I was
young once； but I never was very handsome—worse luck for me。
However； I got a very good husband； and I don’t know what the
greatest beauty can do more。 Ah！ poor man！ he has been dead
these eight years and better。 But Colonel； where have you been to
since we parted？ And how does your business go on？ Come； come；
let’s have no secrets among friends。”
He replied with his accustomary mildness to all her inquiries；
but without satisfying her in any。 Elinor now began to make the
tea； and Marianne was obliged to appear again。
After her entrance； Colonel Brandon became more thoughtful
and silent than he had been before； and Mrs。 Jennings could not
prevail on him to stay long。 No other visitor appeared that
evening； and the ladies were unanimous in agreeing to go early to
bed。
Marianne rose the next morning with recovered spirits and
happy looks。 The disappointment of the evening before seemed
forgotten in the expectation of what was to happen that day。 They
had not long finished their breakfast before Mrs。 Palmer’s
barouche stopped at the door； and in a few minutes she came
laughing into the room； so delighted to see them all； that it was
hard to say whether she received most pleasure from meeting her
mother or the Miss Dashwoods again。 So surprised at their coming
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to town； though it was what she had rather expected all along； so
angry at their accepting her mother’s invitation after having
declined her own； though at the same time she would never have
forgiven them if they had not come！
“Mr。 Palmer will be so happy to see you；” said she； “What do
you think he said when he heard of your coming with mama？ I
forget what it was now； but it was something so droll！”
After an hour or two spent in what her mother called
comfortable chat； or in other words； in every variety of inquiry
concerning all their acquaintance on Mrs。 Jennings’s side； and in
laughter without cause on Mrs。 Palmer’s； it was proposed by the
latter that they should all accompany her to some shops where she
had business that morning； to which Mrs。 Jennings and Elinor
readily consented； as having likewise some purchases to make
themselves； and Marianne； though declining it at first； was
induced to go likewise。
Wherever they went； she was evidently always on the watch。 In
Bond…street especially； where much of their business lay； her eyes
were in constant inquiry； and in whatever shop the party were
engaged； her mind was equally abstracted from every thing
actually before them； from all that interested and occupied the
others。 Restless and dissatisfied every where； her sister could
never obtain her opinion of any article of purchase； however it
might equally concern them both； she received no pleasure from
any thing； was only impatient to be at home again； and could with
difficulty govern her vexation at the tediousness of Mrs。 Palmer；
whose eye was caught by every thing pretty； expensive； or new；
who was wild to buy all； could determine on none； and dawdled
away her time in rapture and indecision。
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It was late in the morning before they returned home； and no
sooner had they entered the house than Marianne flew eagerly up
stairs； and when Elinor followed； she found her turning from the
table with a sorrowful countenance； which declared that no
Willoughby had been there。
“Has no letter been left here for me since we went out？” said
she to the footman who then entered with the parcels。 She was
answered in the negative。 “Are you quite sure of it？” she replied。
“Are you certain that no servant； no porter has left any letter or
note？”
The man replied that none had。
“How very odd！” said she； in a low and disappointed voice； as
she turned away to the window。
“How odd； indeed！” repeated Elinor within herself； regarding
her sister with uneasiness。 “If she had not known him to be in
town she would not have written to him； as she did； she would
have written to Combe Magna； and if he is in town； how odd that
he should neither come nor write！ Oh！ my dear mother； you must
be wrong in permitting an engagement between a daughter so
young； a man so little known； to be carried on in so doubtful； so
mysterious a manner！ I long to inquire； and how will my
interference be borne。”
She determined； after some consideration； that if appearances
continued many days longer as unpleasant as they now were； she
would represent in the strongest manner to her mother the
necessity of some serious inquiry into the affair。
Mrs。 Palmer and two elderly ladies of Mrs。 Jennings’s intimate
acquaintance； whom she had met and invited in the morning；
dined with them。 The former left them soon after tea to fulfil her
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evening engagements； and Elinor was obliged to assist in making a
whist table for the others。 Marianne was of no use on these
occasions； as she would never learn the game； but though her time
was therefore at her own disposal； the evening was by no means
more productive of pleasure to her than to Elinor； for it was spent
in all the anxiety of expectation and the pain of disappointment。
She sometimes endeavoured for a few minutes to read； but the
book was soon thrown aside； and she returned to the more
interesting employment of walking backwards and forwards
across the room； pausing for a moment whenever she came to the
window； in hopes of distinguishing the long…expected rap。
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CHAPTER V
f this open weather holds much longer；” said Mrs。
Jennings； when they met at breakfast the following
“Imorning； “Sir John will not like leaving Barton next
week； ’tis a sad thing for sportsmen to lose a day’s pleasure。 Poor
souls！ I always pity them when they do； they seem to take it so
much to heart。”
“That is true；” cried Marianne； in a cheerful voice； and walking
to the window as she spoke； to examine the day。 “I had not
thought of that。 This weather will keep many sportsmen in the
country。”
It was a lucky recollection； all her good spirits were restored by
it。 “It is charming weather for them indeed；” she continued； as she
sat down to the breakfast table with a happy countenance。 “How
much they must enjoy it！ But” （with a little return of anxiety） “it
cannot be expected to last long。 At this time of the year； and after
such a series of rain； we shall certainly have very little more of it。
Frosts will soon set in； and in all probability with severity。 In
another day or two perhaps； this extreme mildness can hardly last
longer—nay； perhaps it may freeze tonight！”
“At any rate；” said Elinor； wishing to prevent Mrs。 Jennings
from seeing her sister’s thoughts as clearly as she did； “I dare say
we shall have Sir John and Lady Middleton in town by the end of
next week。”
“Ay； my dear； I’
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