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away her time in rapture and indecision。
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It was late in the morning before they returned home； and no
sooner had they entered the house than Marianne flew eagerly up
stairs； and when Elinor followed； she found her turning from the
table with a sorrowful countenance； which declared that no
Willoughby had been there。
“Has no letter been left here for me since we went out？” said
she to the footman who then entered with the parcels。 She was
answered in the negative。 “Are you quite sure of it？” she replied。
“Are you certain that no servant； no porter has left any letter or
note？”
The man replied that none had。
“How very odd！” said she； in a low and disappointed voice； as
she turned away to the window。
“How odd； indeed！” repeated Elinor within herself； regarding
her sister with uneasiness。 “If she had not known him to be in
town she would not have written to him； as she did； she would
have written to Combe Magna； and if he is in town； how odd that
he should neither come nor write！ Oh！ my dear mother； you must
be wrong in permitting an engagement between a daughter so
young； a man so little known； to be carried on in so doubtful； so
mysterious a manner！ I long to inquire； and how will my
interference be borne。”
She determined； after some consideration； that if appearances
continued many days longer as unpleasant as they now were； she
would represent in the strongest manner to her mother the
necessity of some serious inquiry into the affair。
Mrs。 Palmer and two elderly ladies of Mrs。 Jennings’s intimate
acquaintance； whom she had met and invited in the morning；
dined with them。 The former left them soon after tea to fulfil her
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evening engagements； and Elinor was obliged to assist in making a
whist table for the others。 Marianne was of no use on these
occasions； as she would never learn the game； but though her time
was therefore at her own disposal； the evening was by no means
more productive of pleasure to her than to Elinor； for it was spent
in all the anxiety of expectation and the pain of disappointment。
She sometimes endeavoured for a few minutes to read； but the
book was soon thrown aside； and she returned to the more
interesting employment of walking backwards and forwards
across the room； pausing for a moment whenever she came to the
window； in hopes of distinguishing the long…expected rap。
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CHAPTER V
f this open weather holds much longer；” said Mrs。
Jennings； when they met at breakfast the following
“Imorning； “Sir John will not like leaving Barton next
week； ’tis a sad thing for sportsmen to lose a day’s pleasure。 Poor
souls！ I always pity them when they do； they seem to take it so
much to heart。”
“That is true；” cried Marianne； in a cheerful voice； and walking
to the window as she spoke； to examine the day。 “I had not
thought of that。 This weather will keep many sportsmen in the
country。”
It was a lucky recollection； all her good spirits were restored by
it。 “It is charming weather for them indeed；” she continued； as she
sat down to the breakfast table with a happy countenance。 “How
much they must enjoy it！ But” （with a little return of anxiety） “it
cannot be expected to last long。 At this time of the year； and after
such a series of rain； we shall certainly have very little more of it。
Frosts will soon set in； and in all probability with severity。 In
another day or two perhaps； this extreme mildness can hardly last
longer—nay； perhaps it may freeze tonight！”
“At any rate；” said Elinor； wishing to prevent Mrs。 Jennings
from seeing her sister’s thoughts as clearly as she did； “I dare say
we shall have Sir John and Lady Middleton in town by the end of
next week。”
“Ay； my dear； I’ll warrant you we do。 Mary always has her own
way。”
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“And now；” silently conjectured Elinor； “she will write to
Combe by this day’s post。”
But if she did； the letter was written and sent away with a
privacy which eluded all her watchfulness to ascertain the fact。
Whatever the truth of it might be； and far as Elinor was from
feeling thorough contentment about it； yet while she saw
Marianne in spirits； she could not be very uncomfortable herself。
And Marianne was in spirits； happy in the mildness of the
weather； and still happier in her expectation of a frost。
The morning was chiefly spent in leaving cards at the houses of
Mrs。 Jennings’s acquaintance to inform them of her being in town；
and Marianne was all the time busy in observing the direction of
the wind； watching the variations of the sky and imagining an
alteration in the air。
“Don’t you find it colder than it was in the morning； Elinor？
There seems to me a very decided difference。 I can hardly keep
my hands warm even in my muff。 It was not so yesterday； I think。
The clouds seem parting too； the sun will be out in a moment； and
we shall have a clear afternoon。”
Elinor was alternately diverted and pained； but Marianne
persevered； and saw every night in the brightness of the fire； and
every morning in the appearance of the atmosphere； the certain
symptoms of approaching frost。
The Miss Dashwoods had no greater reason to be dissatisfied
with Mrs。 Jennings’s style of living