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moments her voice was lost； but recovering herself； she added；
and with greater calmness than before—“I am now perfectly
satisfied； I wish for no change。 I never could have been happy with
him； after knowing； as sooner or later I must have known； all
this。—I should have had no confidence； no esteem。 Nothing could
have done it away to my feelings。”
“I know it—I know it；” cried her mother。 “Happy with a man of
libertine practices！—With one who so injured the peace of the
dearest of our friends； and the best of men！—No—my Marianne
has not a heart to be made happy with such a man！—Her
conscience； her sensitive conscience； would have felt all that the
conscience of her husband ought to have felt。”
Marianne sighed； and repeated； “I wish for no change。”
“You consider the matter；” said Elinor； “exactly as a good mind
and a sound understanding must consider it； and I dare say you
perceive； as well as myself； not only in this； but in many other
circumstances； reason enough to be convinced that your marriage
must have involved you in many certain troubles and
disappointments； in which you would have been poorly supported
by an affection； on his side； much less certain。 Had you married；
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you must have been always poor。 His expensiveness is
acknowledged even by himself； and his whole conduct declares
that self…denial is a word hardly understood by him。 His demands
and your inexperience together； on a small； very small income；
must have brought on distresses which would not be the less
grievous to you； from having been entirely unknown and
unthought of before。 Your sense of honour and honesty would
have led you； I know； when aware of your situation； to attempt all
the economy that would appear to you possible； and perhaps； as
long as your frugality retrenched only on your own comfort； you
might have been suffered to practise it； but beyond that—and how
little could the utmost of your single management do to stop the
ruin which had begun before your marriage？—Beyond that； had
you endeavoured； however reasonably； to abridge his enjoyments；
is it not to be feared； that instead of prevailing on feelings so
selfish to consent to it； you would have lessened your own
influence on his heart； and made him regret the connection which
had involved him in such difficulties？”
Marianne’s lips quivered； and she repeated the word “Selfish？”
in a tone that implied—“do you really think him selfish？”
“The whole of his behaviour；” replied Elinor； “from the
beginning to the end of the affair； has been grounded on
selfishness。 It was selfishness which first made him sport with
your affections； which afterwards； when his own were engaged；
made him delay the confession of it； and which finally carried him
from Barton。 His own enjoyment； or his own ease； was； in every
particular； his ruling principle。”
“It is very true。 My happiness never was his object。”
“At present；” continued Elinor； “he regrets what he has done。
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And why does he regret it？—Because he finds it has not answered
towards himself。 It has not made him happy。 His circumstances
are now unembarrassed—he suffers from no evil of that kind； and
he thinks only that he has married a woman of a less amiable
temper than yourself。 But does it follow that had he married you；
he would have been happy？—The inconveniences would have
been different。 He would then have suffered under the pecuniary
distresses which； because they are removed； he now reckons as
nothing。 He would have had a wife of whose temper he could
make no complaint； but he would have been always necessitous—
always poor； and probably would soon have learned to rank the
innumerable comforts of a clear estate and good income as of far
more importance； even to domestic happiness； than the mere
temper of a wife。”
“I have not a doubt of it；” said Marianne； “and I have nothing to
regret—nothing but my own folly。”
“Rather say your mother’s imprudence； my child；” said Mrs。
Dashwood； “she must be answerable。”
Marianne would not let her proceed；—and Elinor； satisfied that
each felt their own error； wished to avoid any survey of the past
that might weaken her sister’s spirits； she； therefore； pursuing the
first subject； immediately continued；
“One observation may； I think； be fairly drawn from the whole
of the story—that all Willoughby’s difficulties have arisen from the
first offence against virtue； in his behaviour to Eliza Williams。 That
crime has been the origin of every lesser one； and of all his present
discontents。”
Marianne assented most feelingly to the remark； and her
mother was led by it to an enumeration of Colonel Brandon’s
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injuries and merits； warm as friendship and design could unitedly
dictate。 Her daughter did not look； however； as if much of it were
heard by her。
Elinor； according to her expectation； saw on the two or three
following days； that Marianne did not continue to gain strength as
she had done； but while her resolution was unsubdued； and she
still tried to appear cheerful and easy； her sister could safely trust
to the effect of time upon her health。
Margaret returned； and the family were again all restored to
each other； again quietly settled at the cottage； and if not pursuing
their usual studies with quite so much vigour as when they first
came to Barton； at least plan