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“Oh！ dear！ one never thinks of married men’s being beaux—
they have something else to do。”
“Lord！ Anne；” cried her sister； “you can talk of nothing but
beaux；—you will make Miss Dashwood believe you think of
nothing else。” And then to turn the discourse； she began admiring
the house and the furniture。
This specimen of the Miss Steeles was enough。 The vulgar
freedom and folly of the eldest left her no recommendation； and as
Elinor was not blinded by the beauty； or the shrewd look of the
youngest； to her want of real elegance and artlessness； she left the
house without any wish of knowing them better。
Not so the Miss Steeles。—They came from Exeter； well
provided with admiration for the use of Sir John Middleton； his
family； and all his relations； and no niggardly proportion was now
dealt out to his fair cousins； whom they declared to be the most
beautiful； elegant； accomplished； and agreeable girls they had ever
beheld； and with whom they were particularly anxious to be better
acquainted。—And to be better acquainted therefore； Elinor soon
found was their inevitable lot； for as Sir John was entirely on the
side of the Miss Steeles； their party would be too strong for
opposition； and that kind of intimacy must be submitted to； which
consists of sitting an hour or two together in the same room almost
every day。 Sir John could do no more； but he did not know that
any more was required； to be together was； in his opinion； to be
intimate； and while his continual schemes for their meeting were
effectual； he had not a doubt of their being established friends。
To do him justice； he did every thing in his power to promote
their unreserve； by making the Miss Steeles acquainted with
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whatever he knew or supposed of his cousins’ situations in the
most delicate particulars；—and Elinor had not seen them more
than twice； before the eldest of them wished her joy on her sister’s
having been so lucky as to make a conquest of a very smart beau
since she came to Barton。
“’Twill be a fine thing to have her married so young to be sure；”
said she； “and I hear he is quite a beau； and prodigious handsome。
And I hope you may have as good luck yourself soon；—but
perhaps you may have a friend in the corner already。”
Elinor could not suppose that Sir John would be more nice in
proclaiming his suspicions of her regard for Edward； than he had
been with respect to Marianne； indeed it was rather his favourite
joke of the two； as being somewhat newer and more conjectural；
and since Edward’s visit； they had never dined together without
his drinking to her best affections with so much significancy and
so many nods and winks； as to excite general attention。 The letter
F— had been likewise invariably brought forward； and found
productive of such countless jokes； that its character as the wittiest
letter in the alphabet had been long established with Elinor。
The Miss Steeles； as she expected； had now all the benefit of
these jokes； and in the eldest of them they raised a curiosity to
know the name of the gentleman alluded to； which； though often
impertinently expressed； was perfectly of a piece with her general
inquisitiveness into the concerns of their family。 But Sir John did
not sport long with the curiosity which he delighted to raise； for he
had at least as much pleasure in telling the name； as Miss Steele
had in hearing it。
“His name is Ferrars；” said he； in a very audible whisper； “but
pray do not tell it； for it’s a great secret。”
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“Ferrars！” repeated Miss Steele； “Mr。 Ferrars is the happy
man； is he？ What！ your sister…in…law’s brother； Miss Dashwood？ a
very agreeable young man to be sure； I know him very well。”
“How can you say so； Anne？” cried Lucy； who generally made
an amendment to all her sister’s assertions。 “Though we have seen
him once or twice at my uncle’s； it is rather too much to pretend to
know him very well。”
Elinor heard all this with attention and surprise。 “And who was
this uncle？ Where did he live？ How came they acquainted？” She
wished very much to have the subject continued； though she did
not chuse to join in it herself； but nothing more of it was said； and
for the first time in her life； she thought Mrs。 Jennings deficient
either in curiosity after petty information； or in a disposition to
communicate it。 The manner in which Miss Steele had spoken of
Edward； increased her curiosity； for it struck her as being rather
ill…natured； and suggested the suspicion of that lady’s knowing； or
fancying herself to know something to his disadvantage。—But her
curiosity was unavailing； for no farther notice was taken of Mr。
Ferrars’s name by Miss Steele when alluded to； or even openly
mentioned by Sir John。
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CHAPTER XXII
arianne； who had never much toleration for any thing
like impertinence； vulgarity； inferiority of parts； or
M
even difference of taste from herself； was at this time
particularly ill…disposed； from the state of her spirits； to be pleased
with the Miss Steeles； or to encourage their advances； and to the
invariable coldness of her behaviour towards them； which checked
every endeavour at intimacy on their side； Elinor principally
attributed that preference of herself which soon became evident in
the manners of both； but especially of Lucy； who missed no
opportunity of engaging her in conversation； or of striving to
improve their acquaintance by an easy and frank communication
of her sentiments。
Lucy was naturally clever； her remarks were often just and
amusing； a