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“Can you； ma’am？” said almost every body。
“Yes； it is about Miss Williams； I am sure。”
“And who is Miss Williams？” asked Marianne。
“What！ do not you know who Miss Williams is？ I am sure you
must have heard of her before。 She is a relation of the Colonel’s；
my dear； a very near relation。 We will not say how near； for fear of
shocking the young ladies。” Then； lowering her voice a little； she
said to Elinor； “She is his natural daughter。”
“Indeed！”
“Oh； yes； and as like him as she can stare。 I dare say the Colonel
will leave her all his fortune。”
When Sir John returned； he joined most heartily in the general
regret on so unfortunate an event； concluding however by
observing； that as they were all got together； they must do
something by way of being happy； and after some consultation it
was agreed； that although happiness could only be enjoyed at
Whitwell； they might procure a tolerable composure of mind by
driving about the country。 The carriages were then ordered；
Willoughby’s was first； and Marianne never looked happier than
when she got into it。 He drove through the park very fast； and they
were soon out of sight； and nothing more of them was seen till
their return； which did not happen till after the return of all the
rest。 They both seemed delighted with their drive； but said only in
general terms that they had kept in the lanes； while the others
went on the downs。
It was settled that there should be a dance in the evening； and
that every body should be extremely merry all day long。 Some
more of the Careys came to dinner； and they had the pleasure of
sitting down nearly twenty to table； which Sir John observed with
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great contentment。 Willoughby took his usual place between the
two elder Miss Dashwoods。 Mrs。 Jennings sat on Elinor’s right
hand； and they had not been long seated； before she leant behind
her and Willoughby； and said to Marianne； loud enough for them
both to hear； “I have found you out in spite of all your tricks。 I
know where you spent the morning。”
Marianne coloured； and replied very hastily； “Where； pray？”—
“Did not you know；” said Willoughby； “that we had been out in
my curricle？”
“Yes； yes； Mr。 Impudence； I know that very well； and I was
determined to find out where you had been to。—I hope you like
your house； Miss Marianne。 It is a very large one； I know； and
when I come to see you； I hope you will have new…furnished it； for
it wanted it very much； when I was there six years ago。”
Marianne turned away in great confusion。 Mrs。 Jennings
laughed heartily； and Elinor found that in her resolution to know
where they had been； she had actually made her own woman
enquire of Mr。 Willoughby’s groom； and that she had by that
method been informed that they had gone to Allenham； and spent
a considerable time there in walking about the garden and going
all over the house。
Elinor could hardly believe this to be true； as it seemed very
unlikely that Willoughby should propose； or Marianne consent； to
enter the house while Mrs。 Smith was in it； with whom Marianne
had not the smallest acquaintance。
As soon as they left the dining…room； Elinor enquired of her
about it； and great was her surprise when she found that every
circumstance related by Mrs。 Jennings was perfectly true。
Marianne was quite angry with her for doubting it。
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“Why should you imagine； Elinor； that we did not go there； or
that we did not see the house？ Is not it what you have often
wished to do yourself？”
“Yes； Marianne； but I would not go while Mrs。 Smith was there；
and with no other companion than Mr。 Willoughby。”
“Mr。 Willoughby however is the only person who can have a
right to shew that house； and as he went in an open carriage； it
was impossible to have any other companion。 I never spent a
pleasanter morning in my life。”
“I am afraid；” replied Elinor； “that the pleasantness of an
employment does not always evince its propriety。”
“On the contrary； nothing can be a stronger proof of it； Elinor；
for if there had been any real impropriety in what I did； I should
have been sensible of it at the time； for we always know when we
are acting wrong； and with such a conviction I could have had no
pleasure。”
“But； my dear Marianne； as it has already exposed you to some
very impertinent remarks； do you not now begin to doubt the
discretion of your own conduct？”
“If the impertinent remarks of Mrs。 Jennings are to be the proof
of impropriety in conduct； we are all offending every moment of
our lives。 I value not her censure any more than I should do her
commendation。 I am not sensible of having done anything wrong
in walking over Mrs。 Smith’s grounds； or in seeing her house。
They will one day be Mr。 Willoughby’s； and—”
“If they were one day to be your own； Marianne； you would not
be justified in what you have done。”
She blushed at this hint； but it was even visibly gratifying to
her； and after a ten minutes’ interval of earnest thought； she came
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to her sister again； and said with great good humour； “Perhaps；
Elinor； it was rather ill…judged in me to go to Allenham； but Mr。
Willoughby wanted particularly to shew me the place； and it is a
charming house； I assure you。—There is one remarkably pretty
sitting room up stairs； of a nice comfortable size for constant use；
and with modern furniture it would be delightful。 It is a corner
room； and has windows on two side