therefore watching to very different effect； saw nothing in the
Colonel’s behaviour but what arose from the most simple and self…
evident sensations； while in the actions and words of Marianne she
persuaded herself to think that something more than gratitude
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already dawned。
At the end of another day or two； Marianne growing visibly
stronger every twelve hours； Mrs。 Dashwood； urged equally by her
own and her daughter’s wishes； began to talk of removing to
Barton。 On her measures depended those of her two friends； Mrs。
Jennings could not quit Cleveland during the Dashwoods’ stay；
and Colonel Brandon was soon brought； by their united request；
to consider his own abode there as equally determinate； if not
equally indispensable。 At his and Mrs。 Jennings’s united request
in return； Mrs。 Dashwood was prevailed on to accept the use of his
carriage on her journey back； for the better accommodation of her
sick child； and the Colonel； at the joint invitation of Mrs。
Dashwood and Mrs。 Jennings； whose active good…nature made her
friendly and hospitable for other people as well as herself； engaged
with pleasure to redeem it by a visit at the cottage； in the course of
a few weeks。
The day of separation and departure arrived； and Marianne；
after taking so particular and lengthened a leave of Mrs。 Jennings；
one so earnestly grateful； so full of respect and kind wishes as
seemed due to her own heart from a secret acknowledgment of
past inattention； and bidding Colonel Brandon farewell with a
cordiality of a friend； was carefully assisted by him into the
carriage； of which he seemed anxious that she should engross at
least half。 Mrs。 Dashwood and Elinor then followed； and the others
were left by themselves； to talk of the travellers； and feel their own
dullness； till Mrs。 Jennings was summoned to her chaise to take
comfort in the gossip of her maid for the loss of her two young
companions； and Colonel Brandon immediately afterwards took
his solitary way to Delaford。
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The Dashwoods were two days on the road； and Marianne bore
her journey on both； without essential fatigue。 Every thing that the
most zealous affection； the most solicitous care could do to render
her comfortable； was the office of each watchful companion； and
each found their reward in her bodily ease； and her calmness of
spirits。 To Elinor； the observation of the latter was particularly
grateful。 She； who had seen her week after week so constantly
suffering； oppressed by anguish of heart which she had neither
courage to speak of； nor fortitude to conceal； now saw with a joy；
which no other could equally share； an apparent composure of
mind； which； in being the result as she trusted of serious
reflection； must eventually lead her to contentment and
cheerfulness。
As they approached Barton； indeed； and entered on scenes of
which every field and every tree brought some peculiar； some
painful recollection； she grew silent and thoughtful； and turning
away her face from their notice； sat earnestly gazing through the
window。 But here； Elinor could neither wonder nor blame； and
when she saw； as she assisted Marianne from the carriage； that
she had been crying； she saw only an emotion too natural in itself
to raise any thing less tender than pity； and in its unobtrusiveness
entitled to praise。 In the whole of her subsequent manner； she
traced the direction of a mind awakened to reasonable exertion；
for no sooner had they entered their common sitting…room； than
Marianne turned her eyes around it with a look of resolute
firmness； as if determined at once to accustom herself to the sight
of every object with which the remembrance of Willoughby could
be connected。—She said little； but every sentence aimed at
cheerfulness； and though a sigh sometimes escaped her； it never
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passed away without the atonement of a smile。 After dinner she
would try her pianoforté。 She went to it； but the music on which
her eye first rested was an opera； procured for her by Willoughby；
containing some of their favourite duets； and bearing on its
outward leaf her own name in his hand…writing。—That would not
do。—She shook her head； put the music aside； and after running
over the keys for a minute； complained of feebleness in her
fingers； and closed the instrument again； declaring however with
firmness as she did so； that she should in future practise much。
The next morning produced no abatement in these happy
symptoms。 On the contrary； with a mind and body alike
strengthened by rest； she looked and spoke with more genuine
spirit； anticipating the pleasure of Margaret’s return； and talking
of the dear family party which would then be restored； of their
mutual pursuits and cheerful society； as the only happiness worth
a wish。
“When the weather is settled； and I have recovered my
strength；” said she； “we will take long walks together every day。
We will walk to the farm at the edge of the down； and see how the
children go on； we will walk to Sir John’s new plantations at
Barton Cross； and the Abbeyland； and we will often go to the old
ruins of the Priory； and try to trace its foundations as far as we are
told they once reached。 I know we shall be happy。 I know the
summer will pass happily away。 I mean never to be later in rising
than six； and from that time till dinner I shall divide every moment
between music and reading。 I have formed my plan； and am
determined to enter on a course of serious study。 Our own library
is too well known to me； to be resorted to for any thing beyond
mere amusement。 But there are many works well worth reading at
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the Park； and there are others of more modern production which I
know I can borrow of Colonel Brandon。 By reading only six hours
a…day； I shall gain in the course of a twelve…month a great deal of
instruction which I now feel myself to want。”
Elinor honoured her for a plan which originated so nobly as
this； though smiling to see the same eager fancy which had been
leading her to the extreme of languid indolence and selfish
repining； now at work in introducing excess into a scheme of such
rational employment and virtuous self…control。 Her smile however
changed to a sigh when she remembered that promise to
Willoughby was yet unfulfilled； and feared she had that to
communicate which might again unsettle the mind of Marianne；
and ruin at least for a time this fair prospect of busy tranquillity。
Willing therefore to delay the evil hour； she resolved to wait till her
sister’s health were more secure； before she appointed it。 But the
resolution was made only to be broken。
Marianne had been two or three days at home； before the
weather was fine enough for an invalid like herself to venture out。
But at last a soft； genial morning appeared； such as might tempt
the daughter’s wishes and the mother’s confidence； and Marianne；
leaning on Elinor’s arm； was authorised to walk as long as she
could without fatigue； in the lane before the house。
The sisters set out at a pace； slow as the feebleness of Marianne
in an exercise hitherto untried since her illness required；—and
they had advanced only so far beyond the house as to admit a full
view of the hill； the important hill behind； when pausing with her
eyes turned towards it； Marianne calmly said；
“There； exactly there；”—pointing with one hand； “on that
projecting mound；—there I fell； and there I first saw Willoughby。”
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Her voice sunk with the word； but presently reviving she added；
“I am thankful to find that I can look with so little pain on the
spot！