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invitation。 I have no such scruples； and I am sure I could put up
with every unpleasantness of that kind with very little effort。”
Elinor could not help smiling at this display of indifference
towards the manners of a person； to whom she had often had
difficulty in persuading Marianne to behave with tolerable
politeness； and resolved within herself； that if her sister persisted
in going； she would go likewise； as she did not think it proper that
Marianne should be left to the sole guidance of her own judgment；
or that Mrs。 Jennings should be abandoned to the mercy of
Marianne for all the comfort of her domestic hours。 To this
determination she was the more easily reconciled； by recollecting
that Edward Ferrars； by Lucy’s account； was not to be in town
before February； and that their visit； without any unreasonable
abridgement； might be previously finished。
“I will have you both go；” said Mrs。 Dashwood； “these objections
are nonsensical。 You will have much pleasure in being in London；
and especially in being together； and if Elinor would ever
condescend to anticipate enjoyment； she would foresee it there
from a variety of sources； she would； perhaps； expect some from
improving her acquaintance with her sister…in…law’s family。”
Elinor had often wished for an opportunity of attempting to
weaken her mother’s dependence on the attachment of Edward
and herself； that the shock might be less when the whole truth
were revealed； and now on this attack； though almost hopeless of
success； she forced herself to begin her design by saying； as calmly
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as she could； “I like Edward Ferrars very much； and shall always
be glad to see him； but as to the rest of the family； it is a matter of
perfect indifference to me； whether I am ever known to them or
not。”
Mrs。 Dashwood smiled and said nothing。 Marianne lifted up her
eyes in astonishment； and Elinor conjectured that she might as
well have held her tongue。
After very little farther discourse； it was finally settled that the
invitation should be fully accepted。 Mrs。 Jennings received the
information with a great deal of joy； and many assurances of
kindness and care； nor was it a matter of pleasure merely to her。
Sir John was delighted； for to a man； whose prevailing anxiety was
the dread of being alone； the acquisition of two； to the number of
inhabitants in London； was something。 Even Lady Middleton took
the trouble of being delighted； which was putting herself rather
out of her way； and as for the Miss Steeles； especially Lucy； they
had never been so happy in their lives as this intelligence made
them。
Elinor submitted to the arrangement which counteracted her
wishes with less reluctance than she had expected to feel。 With
regard to herself； it was now a matter of unconcern whether she
went to town or not； and when she saw her mother so thoroughly
pleased with the plan； and her sister exhilarated by it in look；
voice； and manner； restored to all her usual animation； and
elevated to more than her usual gaiety； she could not be
dissatisfied with the cause； and would hardly allow herself to
distrust the consequence。
Marianne’s joy was almost a degree beyond happiness； so great
was the perturbation of her spirits and her impatience to be gone。
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Her unwillingness to quit her mother was her only restorative to
calmness； and at the moment of parting her grief on that score was
excessive。 Her mother’s affliction was hardly less； and Elinor was
the only one of the three； who seemed to consider the separation
as any thing short of eternal。
Their departure took place in the first week in January。 The
Middletons were to follow in about a week。 The Miss Steeles kept
their station at the park； and were to quit it only with the rest of
the family。
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CHAPTER IV
linor could not find herself in the carriage with Mrs。
Jennings； and beginning a journey to London under her
E
protection； and as her guest； without wondering at her
own situation； so short had their acquaintance with that lady been；
so wholly unsuited were they in age and disposition； and so many
had been her objections against such a measure only a few days
before！ But these objections had all； with that happy ardour of
youth which Marianne and her mother equally shared； been
overcome or overlooked； and Elinor； in spite of every occasional
doubt of Willoughby’s constancy； could not witness the rapture of
delightful expectation which filled the whole soul and beamed in
the eyes of Marianne； without feeling how blank was her own
prospect； how cheerless her own state of mind in the comparison；
and how gladly she would engage in the solicitude of Marianne’s
situation to have the same animating object in view； the same
possibility of hope。 A short； a very short time however must now
decide what Willoughby’s intentions were； in all probability he
was already in town。 Marianne’s eagerness to be gone declared
her dependence on finding him there； and Elinor was resolved not
only upon gaining every new light as to his character which her
own observation or the intelligence of others could give her； but
likewise upon watching his behaviour to her sister with such
zealous attention； as to ascertain what he was and what he meant；
before many meetings had taken place。 Should the result of her
observations be unfavourable； she was determined at all events to