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and with modern furniture it would be delightful。 It is a corner
room； and has windows on two sides。 On one side you look across
the bowling…green； behind the house； to a beautiful hanging wood；
and on the other you have a view of the church and village； and；
beyond them； of those fine bold hills that we have so often
admired。 I did not see it to advantage； for nothing could be more
forlorn than the furniture；—but if it were newly fitted up—a
couple of hundred pounds； Willoughby says； would make it one of
the pleasantest summer…rooms in England。”
Could Elinor have listened to her without interruption from the
others； she would have described every room in the house with
equal delight。
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CHAPTER XIV
he sudden termination of Colonel Brandon’s visit at the
park； with his steadiness in concealing its cause； filled the
T
mind； and raised the wonder of Mrs。 Jennings for two or
three days； she was a great wonderer； as every one must be who
takes a very lively interest in all the comings and goings of all their
acquaintance。 She wondered； with little intermission what could
be the reason of it； was sure there must be some bad news； and
thought over every kind of distress that could have befallen him；
with a fixed determination that he should not escape them all。
“Something very melancholy must be the matter； I am sure；”
said she。 “I could see it in his face。 Poor man！ I am afraid his
circumstances may be bad。 The estate at Delaford was never
reckoned more than two thousand a year； and his brother left
everything sadly involved。 I do think he must have been sent for
about money matters； for what else can it be？ I wonder whether it
is so。 I would give anything to know the truth of it。 Perhaps it is
about Miss Williams and； by the bye； I dare say it is； because he
looked so conscious when I mentioned her。 May be she is ill in
town； nothing in the world more likely； for I have a notion she is
always rather sickly。 I would lay any wager it is about Miss
Williams。 It is not so very likely he should be distressed in his
circumstances now； for he is a very prudent man； and to be sure
must have cleared the estate by this time。 I wonder what it can be！
May be his sister is worse at Avignon； and has sent for him over。
His setting off in such a hurry seems very like it。 Well； I wish him
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Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 86
out of all his trouble with all my heart； and a good wife into the
bargain。”
So wondered； so talked Mrs。 Jennings。 Her opinion varying
with every fresh conjecture； and all seeming equally probable as
they arose。 Elinor； though she felt really interested in the welfare
of Colonel Brandon； could not bestow all the wonder on his going
so suddenly away； which Mrs。 Jennings was desirous of her
feeling； for besides that the circumstance did not in her opinion
justify such lasting amazement or variety of speculation； her
wonder was otherwise disposed of。 It was engrossed by the
extraordinary silence of her sister and Willoughby on the subject；
which they must know to be peculiarly interesting to them all。 As
this silence continued； every day made it appear more strange and
more incompatible with the disposition of both。 Why they should
not openly acknowledge to her mother and herself； what their
constant behaviour to each other declared to have taken place；
Elinor could not imagine。
She could easily conceive that marriage might not be
immediately in their power； for though Willoughby was
independent； there was no reason to believe him rich。 His estate
had been rated by Sir John at about six or seven hundred a year；
but he lived at an expense to which that income could hardly be
equal； and he had himself often complained of his poverty。 But for
this strange kind of secrecy maintained by them relative to their
engagement； which in fact concealed nothing at all； she could not
account； and it was so wholly contradictory to their general
opinions and practice； that a doubt sometimes entered her mind of
their being really engaged； and this doubt was enough to prevent
her making any inquiry of Marianne。
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Nothing could be more expressive of attachment to them all；
than Willoughby’s behaviour。 To Marianne it had all the
distinguishing tenderness which a lover’s heart could give； and to
the rest of the family it was the affectionate attention of a son and
a brother。 The cottage seemed to be considered and loved by him
as his home； many more of his hours were spent there than at
Allenham； and if no general engagement collected them at the
park； the exercise which called him out in the morning was almost
certain of ending there； where the rest of the day was spent by
himself at the side of Marianne； and by his favourite pointer at her
feet。
One evening in particular； about a week after Colonel Brandon
left the country； his heart seemed more than usually open to every
feeling of attachment to the objects around him； and on Mrs。
Dashwood’s happening to mention her design of improving the
cottage in the spring； he warmly opposed every alteration of a
place which affection had established as perfect with him。
“What！” he exclaimed—“Improve this dear cottage！ No。 That I
will never consent to。 Not a stone must be added to its walls； not
an inch to its size； if my feelings are regarded。”
“Do not be alarmed；” said Miss Dashwood； “nothing of the kind
will be done； for my mother will never