kind of compassionate respect； and though she saw her spirits less
violently irritated than before； she did not see her less wretched。
Her mind did become settled； but it was settled in a gloomy
dejection。 She felt the loss of Willoughby’s character yet more
heavily than she had felt the loss of his heart； his seduction and
desertion of Miss Williams； the misery of that poor girl； and the
doubt of what his designs might once have been on herself； preyed
altogether so much on her spirits； that she could not bring herself
to speak of what she felt even to Elinor； and； brooding over her
sorrows in silence； gave more pain to her sister than could have
been communicated by the most open and most frequent
confession of them。
To give the feelings or the language of Mrs。 Dashwood on
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receiving and answering Elinor’s letter would be only to give a
repetition of what her daughters had already felt and said； of a
disappointment hardly less painful than Marianne’s； and an
indignation even greater than Elinor’s。 Long letters from her；
quickly succeeding each other； arrived to tell all that she suffered
and thought； to express her anxious solicitude for Marianne； and
entreat she would bear up with fortitude under this misfortune。
Bad indeed must the nature of Marianne’s affliction be； when her
mother could talk of fortitude！ mortifying and humiliating must be
the origin of those regrets； which she could wish her not to
indulge！
Against the interest of her own individual comfort； Mrs。
Dashwood had determined that it would be better for Marianne to
be any where； at that time； than at Barton； where every thing
within her view would be bringing back the past in the strongest
and most afflicting manner； by constantly placing Willoughby
before her； such as she had always seen him there。 She
recommended it to her daughters； therefore； by all means not to
shorten their visit to Mrs。 Jennings； the length of which； though
never exactly fixed； had been expected by all to comprise at least
five or six weeks。 A variety of occupations； of objects； and of
company； which could not be procured at Barton； would be
inevitable there； and might yet； she hoped； cheat Marianne； at
times； into some interest beyond herself； and even into some
amusement； much as the ideas of both might now be spurned by
her。
From all danger of seeing Willoughby again； her mother
considered her to be at least equally safe in town as in the country；
since his acquaintance must now be dropped by all who called
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themselves her friends。 Design could never bring them in each
other’s way： negligence could never leave them exposed to a
surprise； and chance had less in its favour in the crowd of London
than even in the retirement of Barton； where it might force him
before her while paying that visit at Allenham on his marriage；
which Mrs。 Dashwood； from foreseeing at first as a probable event；
had brought herself to expect as a certain one。
She had yet another reason for wishing her children to remain
where they were； a letter from her son…in…law had told her that he
and his wife were to be in town before the middle of February； and
she judged it right that they should sometimes see their brother。
Marianne had promised to be guided by her mother’s opinion；
and she submitted to it therefore without opposition； though it
proved perfectly different from what she wished and expected；
though she felt it to be entirely wrong； formed on mistaken
grounds； and that by requiring her longer continuance in London
it deprived her of the only possible alleviation of her
wretchedness； the personal sympathy of her mother； and doomed
her to such society and such scenes as must prevent her ever
knowing a moment’s rest。
But it was a matter of great consolation to her； that what
brought evil to herself would bring good to her sister； and Elinor；
on the other hand； suspecting that it would not be in her power to
avoid Edward entirely； comforted herself by thinking； that though
their longer stay would therefore militate against her own
happiness； it would be better for Marianne than an immediate
return into Devonshire。
Her carefulness in guarding her sister from ever hearing
Willoughby’s name mentioned； was not thrown away。 Marianne；
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though without knowing it herself； reaped all its advantage； for
neither Mrs。 Jennings； nor Sir John； nor even Mrs。 Palmer herself；
ever spoke of him before her。 Elinor wished that the same
forbearance could have extended towards herself； but that was
impossible； and she was obliged to listen day after day to the
indignation of them all。
Sir John could not have thought it possible。 “A man of whom he
had always had such reason to think well！ Such a good…natured
fellow！ He did not believe there was a bolder rider in England！ It
was an unaccountable business。 He wished him at the devil with
all his heart。 He would not speak another word to him； meet him
where he might； for all the world！ No； not if it were to be by the
side of Barton covert； and they were kept watching for two hours
together。 Such a scoundrel of a fellow！ such a deceitful dog！ It was
only the last time they met that he had offered him one of Folly’s
puppies！ and this was the end of it！”
Mrs。 Palmer； in her way； was equally angry。 “She was
determined to drop his acquaintance immediately； and she was
very thankful that she had never been acquainted with him at all。
She wished with all her heart Combe Magna was not so near
Cleveland； but it did not signify； for it was a great deal too far off to
visit； she hated him so much that she was resolved never to
mention his name again； and she should tell everybody she saw；
how good…for…nothing he was。”
The rest of Mrs。 Palmer’s sympathy was shewn in procuring all
the particulars in her power of the approaching marriage； and
communicating them to Elinor。 She could soon tell at what
coachmaker’s the new carriage was building； by what painter Mr。
Willoughby’s portrait was drawn； and at what warehouse Miss
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Grey’s clothes might be seen。
The calm and polite unconcern of Lady Middleton on the
occasion was a happy relief to Elinor’s spirits； oppressed as they
often were by the clamorous kindness of the others。 It was a great
comfort to her to be sure of exciting no interest in one person at
least among their circle of friends； a great comfort to know that
there was one who would meet her without feeling any curiosity
after particulars； or any anxiety for her sister’s health。
Every qualification is raised at times； by the circumstances of
the moment； to more than its real value； and she was sometimes
worried down by officious condolence to rate good…breeding as
more indispensable to comfort than good…nature。
Lady Middleton expressed her sense of the affair about once
every day； or twice； if the subject occurred very often； by saying；
“It is very shocking； indeed！” and by the means of this continual
though gentle vent； was able not only to see the Miss Dashwoods
from the first without the smallest emotion； but very soon to see
them without recollecting a word of the matter； and having thus
supported the dignity of her own sex； and spoken her decided
censure of what was wrong in the other； she thought herself at
liberty to attend to the interest of her own assemblies； and
therefore determined （though rather against the opinion of Sir
John） that as Mrs。 Willoughby would at once be a woman of
elegance and fortu
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