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every moment to fetch Margaret away； as her mother was
unwilling to take her where there might be infection。
Marianne continued to mend every day； and the brilliant
cheerfulness of Mrs。 Dashwood’s looks and spirits proved her to
be； as she repeatedly declared herself； one of the happiest women
in the world。 Elinor could not hear the declaration； nor witness its
proofs without sometimes wondering whether her mother ever
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recollected Edward。 But Mrs。 Dashwood； trusting to the temperate
account of her own disappointment which Elinor had sent her；
was led away by the exuberance of her joy to think only of what
would increase it。 Marianne was restored to her from a danger in
which； as she now began to feel； her own mistaken judgment in
encouraging the unfortunate attachment to Willoughby； had
contributed to place her；—and in her recovery she had yet another
source of joy unthought of by Elinor。 It was thus imparted to her；
as soon as any opportunity of private conference between them
occurred。
“At last we are alone。 My Elinor； you do not yet know all my
happiness。 Colonel Brandon loves Marianne。 He has told me so
himself。”
Her daughter； feeling by turns both pleased and pained；
surprised and not surprised； was all silent attention。
“You are never like me； dear Elinor； or I should wonder at your
composure now。 Had I sat down to wish for any possible good to
my family； I should have fixed on Colonel Brandon’s marrying one
of you as the object most desirable。 And I believe Marianne will be
the most happy with him of the two。”
Elinor was half inclined to ask her reason for thinking so；
because satisfied that none founded on an impartial consideration
of their age； characters； or feelings； could be given；—but her
mother must always be carried away by her imagination on any
interesting subject； and therefore instead of an inquiry； she passed
it off with a smile。
“He opened his whole heart to me yesterday as we travelled。 It
came out quite unawares； quite undesignedly。 I； you may well
believe； could talk of nothing but my child；—he could not conceal
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his distress； I saw that it equalled my own； and he perhaps；
thinking that mere friendship； as the world now goes； would not
justify so warm a sympathy—or rather； not thinking at all； I
suppose—giving way to irresistible feelings； made me acquainted
with his earnest； tender； constant； affection for Marianne。 He has
loved her； my Elinor； ever since the first moment of seeing her。”
Here； however； Elinor perceived；—not the language； not the
professions of Colonel Brandon； but the natural embellishments of
her mother’s active fancy； which fashioned every thing delightful
to her； as it chose。
“His regard for her； infinitely surpassing anything that
Willoughby ever felt or feigned； as much more warm； as more
sincere or constant—which ever we are to call it—has subsisted
through all the knowledge of dear Marianne’s unhappy
prepossession for that worthless young man！—and without
selfishness—without encouraging a hope！—could he have seen her
happy with another—Such a noble mind！—such openness； such
sincerity！—no one can be deceived in him。”
“Colonel Brandon’s character；” said Elinor； “as an excellent
man； is well established。”
“I know it is”—replied her mother seriously； “or after such a
warning； I should be the last to encourage such affection； or even
to be pleased by it。 But his coming for me as he did； with such
active； such ready friendship； is enough to prove him one of the
worthiest of men。”
“His character； however；” answered Elinor； “does not rest on
one act of kindness； to which his affection for Marianne； were
humanity out of the case； would have prompted him。 To Mrs。
Jennings； to the Middletons； he has been long and intimately
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known； they equally love and respect him； and even my own
knowledge of him； though lately acquired； is very considerable；
and so highly do I value and esteem him； that if Marianne can be
happy with him； I shall be as ready as yourself to think our
connection the greatest blessing to us in the world。 What answer
did you give him？—Did you allow him to hope？”
“Oh！ my love； I could not then talk of hope to him or to myself。
Marianne might at that moment be dying。 But he did not ask for
hope or encouragement。 His was an involuntary confidence； an
irrepressible effusion to a soothing friend—not an application to a
parent。 Yet after a time I did say； for at first I was quite
overcome—that if she lived； as I trusted she might； my greatest
happiness would lie in promoting their marriage； and since our
arrival； since our delightful security； I have repeated it to him
more fully； have given him every encouragement in my power。
Time； a very little time； I tell him； will do everything；—Marianne’s
heart is not to be wasted for ever on such a man as Willoughby。—
His own merits must soon secure it。”
“To judge from the Colonel’s spirits； however； you have not yet
made him equally sanguine。”
“No。—He thinks Marianne’s affection too deeply rooted for any
change in it under a great length of time； and even supposing her
heart again free； is too diffident of himself to believe； that with
such a difference of age and disposition he could ever atta