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who could not be interested in it； even if it were true； is not what I
should expect Colonel Brandon to do。”
“But I do assure you it was so； for all that； and I will tell you
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how it happened。 When we met him； he turned back and walked
with us； and so we began talking of my brother and sister； and one
thing and another； and I said to him； ‘So； Colonel； there is a new
family come to Barton cottage； I hear； and mama sends me word
they are very pretty； and that one of them is going to be married to
Mr。 Willoughby of Combe Magna。 Is it true； pray？ for of course
you must know； as you have been in Devonshire so lately。’”
“And what did the Colonel say？”
“Oh—he did not say much； but he looked as if he knew it to be
true； so from that moment I set it down as certain。 It will be quite
delightful； I declare！ When is it to take place？”
“Mr。 Brandon was very well I hope？”
“Oh！ yes； quite well； and so full of your praises； he did nothing
but say fine things of you。”
“I am flattered by his commendation。 He seems an excellent
man； and I think him uncommonly pleasing。”
“So do I。—He is such a charming man； that it is quite a pity he
should be so grave and so dull。 Mama says he was in love with your
sister too。—I assure you it was a great compliment if he was； for he
hardly ever falls in love with any body。”
“Is Mr。 Willoughby much known in your part of
Somersetshire？” said Elinor。
“Oh！ yes； extremely well； that is； I do not believe many people
are acquainted with him； because Combe Magna is so far off； but
they all think him extremely agreeable I assure you。 Nobody is
more liked than Mr。 Willoughby wherever he goes； and so you may
tell your sister。 She is a monstrous lucky girl to get him； upon my
honour； not but that he is much more lucky in getting her； because
she is so very handsome and agreeable； that nothing can be good
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enough for her。 However； I don’t think her hardly at all
handsomer than you； I assure you； for I think you both excessively
pretty； and so does Mr。 Palmer too I am sure； though we could not
get him to own it last night。”
Mrs。 Palmer’s information respecting Willoughby was not very
material； but any testimony in his favour； however small； was
pleasing to her。
“I am so glad we are got acquainted at last；” continued
Charlotte。—“And now I hope we shall always be great friends。 You
can’t think how much I longed to see you！ It is so delightful that
you should live at the cottage！ Nothing can be like it； to be sure！
And I am so glad your sister is going to be well married！ I hope
you will be a great deal at Combe Magna。 It is a sweet place； by all
accounts。”
“You have been long acquainted with Colonel Brandon； have
not you？”
“Yes； a great while； ever since my sister married。—He was a
particular friend of Sir John’s。 I believe；” she added in a low voice；
“he would have been very glad to have had me； if he could。 Sir
John and Lady Middleton wished it very much。 But mama did not
think the match good enough for me； otherwise Sir John would
have mentioned it to the Colonel； and we should have been
married immediately。”
“Did not Colonel Brandon know of Sir John’s proposal to your
mother before it was made？ Had he never owned his affection to
yourself？”
“Oh！ no； but if mama had not objected to it； I dare say he would
have liked it of all things。 He had not seen me then above twice；
for it was before I left school。 However； I am much happier as I
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am。 Mr。 Palmer is the kind of man I like。”
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CHAPTER XXI
he Palmers returned to Cleveland the next day； and the
two families at Barton were again left to entertain each
T
other。 But this did not last long； Elinor had hardly got
their last visitors out of her head； had hardly done wondering at
Charlotte’s being so happy without a cause； at Mr。 Palmer’s acting
so simply； with good abilities； and at the strange unsuitableness
which often existed between husband and wife； before Sir John’s
and Mrs。 Jennings’s active zeal in the cause of society； procured
her some other new acquaintance to see and observe。
In a morning’s excursion to Exeter； they had met with two
young ladies； whom Mrs。 Jennings had the satisfaction of
discovering to be her relations； and this was enough for Sir John
to invite them directly to the park； as soon as their present
engagements at Exeter were over。 Their engagements at Exeter
instantly gave way before such an invitation； and Lady Middleton
was thrown into no little alarm on the return of Sir John； by
hearing that she was very soon to receive a visit from two girls
whom she had never seen in her life； and of whose elegance；—
whose tolerable gentility even； she could have no proof； for the
assurances of her husband and mother on that subject went for
nothing at all。 Their being her relations too made it so much the
worse； and Mrs。 Jennings’s attempts at consolation were therefore
unfortunately founded； when she advised her daughter not to care
about their being so fashionable； because they were all cousins
and must put up with one another。 As it was impossible； however；
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