The Dashwoods were so prodigiously delighted with the Middletons,that though not much in the habit of giving anything,they determined to give them a dinner,and soon after their acquaintance began,invited them to dine in Harley Street,where they had taken a very good house for three months.Their sisters and Mrs Jennings were invited likewise,and John Dashwood was careful to secure Colonel Brandon,who,always glad to be where the Miss Dashwoods were,received his eager civilities with some surprise,but much more pleasure.They were to meet Mrs Ferrars;but Elinor could not learn whether her sons were to be of the party.The expectation of seeing her,however,was enough to make her interested in the engagement;for though she could now meet Edward's mother without that strong anxiety which had once promised to attend such an introduction,though she could now see her with perfect indifference,as to her opinion of herself,her desire of being in company with Mrs Ferrars,her curiosity to know what she was like,was as lively as ever.
The interest with which she thus anticipated the party,was soon afterwards increased,more powerfully than pleasantly,by her hearing that the Miss Steeles were also to be at it.
So well had they recommended themselves to Lady Middleton,so agreeable had their assiduities made them to her,that though Lucy was certainly not elegant,and her sister not even genteel,she was as ready as Sir John to ask them to spend a week or two in Conduit Street;and it happened to be particularly convenient to the Miss Steeles,as soon as the Dashwoods'invitation was known,that their visit should begin a few days before the party took place.
Their claims to the notice of Mrs John Dashwood as the nieces of the gentleman who for many years had had the care of her brother,might not have done much,however,towards procuring them seats at her table;but as Lady Middleton's guests they must be welcome;and Lucy,who had long wanted to be personally known to the family,to have a nearer view of their characters and her own difficulties,and to have an opportunity of endeavouring to please them,had seldom been happier in her life than she was on receiving Mrs John Dashwood's card.
On Elinor its effect was very different.She began immediately to determine that Edward,who lived with his mother,must be asked,as his mother was,to a party given by his sister;and to see him for the first time,after all that had passed,in the company of Lucy!-she hardly knew how she could bear it!
These apprehensions perhaps were not founded entirely on reason,and certainly not at all on truth.They were relieved,however,not by her own recollection,but by the good-will of Lucy,who believed herself to be inflicting a severe disappointment when she told her that Edward certainly would not be in Harley Street on Tuesday,and even hoped to be carrying the pain still farther by persuading her,that he was kept away by that extreme affection for herself,which he could not conceal when they were together.
The important Tuesday came that was to introduce the two young ladies to this formidable mother-in-law.
‘Pity me,dear Miss Dashwood!’said Lucy,as they walked up the stairs together-for the Middletons arrived so directly after Mrs Jennings,that they all followed the servant at the same time-‘There is nobody here but you,that can feel for me.I declare I can hardly stand.Good gracious!-In a moment I shall see the person that all my happiness depends on-that is to be my mother!’
Elinor could have given her immediate relief by suggesting the possibility of its being Miss Morton's mother,rather than her own,whom they were about to behold;but instead of doing that,she assured her,and with great sincerity,that she did pity her,to the utter amazement of Lucy,who,though really uncomfortable herself,hoped at least to be an object of irrepressible envy to Elinor.
Mrs Ferrars was a little,thin woman,upright,even to formality,in her figure,and serious,even to sourness,in her aspect.Her complexion was sallow:and her features small,without beauty,and naturally without expression:but a lucky contraction of the brow had rescued her countenance from the disgrace of insipidity,by giving it the strong characters of pride and ill-nature.She was not a woman of many words;for,unlike people in general,she proportioned them to the number of her ideas:and of the few syllables that did escape her,not one fell to the share of Miss Dashwood,whom she eyed with the spirited determination of disliking her at all events.
Elinor could not now be made unhappy by this behaviour.A few months ago it would have hurt her exceedingly;but it was not in Mrs Ferrars's power to distress her by it now;and the difference of her manners to the Miss Steeles-a difference which seemed purposely made to humble her more-only amused her.She could not but smile to see the graciousness of both mother and daughter towards the very person-for Lucy was particularly distinguished-whom of all others,had they known as much as she did,they would have been most anxious to mortify;while she herself,who had comparatively no power to wound them,sat pointedly slighted by both.But while she smiled at a graciousness so misapplied,she could not reflect on the mean-spirited folly from which it sprung,nor observe the studied attentions with which the Miss Steeles courted its continuance,without thoroughly despising them all four.
Lucy was all exultation on being so honourably distinguished;and Miss Steele wanted only to be teased about Dr Davies to be perfectly happy.
