‘I am sure I should have seen it in a moment,if Mrs Ferrars had took a dislike to me.If she had only made me a formal curtsey,for instance,without saying a word,and never after had took any notice of me,and never looked at me in a pleasant way-you know what I mean，-if I had been treated in that forbidding sort of way,I should have gave it all up in despair.I could not have stood it.For where she does dislike,I know it is most violent.’
Elinor was prevented from making any reply to this civil triumph,by the door's being thrown open,the servant's announcing Mr Ferrars,and Edward's immediately walking in.
It was a very awkward moment;and the countenance of each showed that it was so.They all looked exceedingly foolish;and Edward seemed to have as great an inclination to walk out of the room again,as to advance farther into it.The very circumstance,in its unpleasantest form,which they would each have been most anxious to avoid,had fallen on them-they were not only all three together,but were together without the relief of any other person.The ladies recovered themselves first.It was not Lucy's business to put herself forward,and the appearance of secrecy must still be kept up.She could therefore only look her tenderness,and after slightly addressing him,said no more.
But Elinor had more to do;and so anxious was she,for his sake and her own,to do it well,that she forced herself after a moment's recollection,to welcome him,with a look and manner,that were almost easy and almost open;and another struggle,another effort still improved them.She would not allow the presence of Lucy,nor the consciousness of some injustice towards herself,to deter her from saying that she was happy to see him,and that she had very much regretted being from home,when he called before in Berkeley Street.She would not be frightened from paying him those attentions which,as a friend and almost a relation,were his due,by the observant eyes of Lucy,though she soon perceived them to be narrowly watching her.
Her manners gave some reassurance to Edward,and he had courage enough to sit down;but his embarrassment still exceeded that of the ladies in a proportion which the case rendered reasonable,though his sex might make it rare;for his heart had not the indifference of Lucy's,nor could his conscience have quite the ease of Elinor's.
Lucy,with a demure and settled air,seemed determined to make no contribution to the comfort of the others,and would not say a word;and almost everything that was said,proceeded from Elinor,who was obliged to volunteer all the information about her mother's health,their coming to town,etc.,which Edward ought to have inquired about,but never did.
Her exertions did not stop here;for she soon afterwards felt herself so heroically disposed as to determine,under pretence of fetching Marianne,to leave the others by themselves;and she really did it,and that in the handsomest manner,for she loitered away several minutes on the landing place,with the most high-minded fortitude,before she went to her sister.When that was once done,however,it was time for the raptures of Edward to cease;for Marianne's joy hurried her into the drawing-room immediately.Her pleasure in seeing him was like every other of her feelings,strong in itself and strongly spoken.She met him with a hand that would be taken,and a voice that expressed the affection of a sister.
‘Dear Edward!’she cried,‘this is a moment of great happiness!-This would almost make amends for everything!’
Edward tried to return her kindness as it deserved,but before such witnesses he dared not say half what he really felt.Again they all sat down,and for a moment or two all were silent;while Marianne was looking with the most speaking tenderness,sometimes at Edward and sometimes at Elinor,regretting only that their delight in each other should be checked by Lucy's unwelcome presence.Edward was the first to speak,and it was to notice Marianne's altered looks,and express his fear of her not finding London agree with her.
‘Oh!don't think of me!’she replied,with spirited earnestness,though her eyes were filled with tears as she spoke,‘don't think of my health.Elinor is well,you see.That must be enough for us both.’
This remark was not calculated to make Edward or Elinor more easy,nor to conciliate the good-will of Lucy,who looked up at Marianne with no very benignant expression.
‘Do you like London?’said Edward,willing to say anything that might introduce another subject.
‘Not at all.I expected much pleasure in it,but I have found none.The sight of you,Edward,is the only comfort it has afforded;and,thank heaven!you are what you always were!’
She paused-no one spoke.
‘I think,Elinor,’she presently added,‘we must employ Edward to take care of us in our return to Barton.In a week or two,I suppose,we shall be going;and,I trust,Edward will not be very unwilling to accept the charge.’
Poor Edward muttered something;but what it was,nobody knew,not even himself.But Marianne,who saw his agitation,and could easily trace it to whatever cause best pleased herself,was perfectly satisfied,and soon talked of something else.
‘We spent such a day,Edward,in Harley Street,yesterday!So dull,so wretchedly dull!But I have much to say to you on that head,which cannot be said now.’
And with this admirable discretion did she defer the assurance of her finding their mutual relatives more disagreeable than ever,and of her being particularly disgusted with his mother,till they were more in private.
‘But why were you not there,Edward?-Why did you not come?’
‘I was engaged elsewhere.’
‘Engaged!-But what was that,when such friends were to be met?’
‘Perhaps,Miss Marianne,’cried Lucy,eager to take some revenge on her,‘you think young men never stand upon engagements,if they have no mind to keep them,little as well as great.’
Elinor was very angry,but Marianne seemed entirely insensible of the sting;for she calmly replied,
