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tone of the most considerate gentleness；
“Marianne； may I ask？”—
“No； Elinor；” she replied； “ask nothing； you will soon know all。”
The sort of desperate calmness with which this was said； lasted
no longer than while she spoke； and was immediately followed by
a return of the same excessive affliction。 It was some minutes
before she could go on with her letter； and the frequent bursts of
grief which still obliged her； at intervals； to withhold her pen； were
proofs enough of her feeling how more than probable it was that
she was writing for the last time to Willoughby。
Elinor paid her every quiet and unobtrusive attention in her
power； and she would have tried to sooth and tranquillize her still
more； had not Marianne entreated her； with all the eagerness of
the most nervous irritability； not to speak to her for the world。 In
such circumstances； it was better for both that they should not be
long together； and the restless state of Marianne’s mind not only
prevented her from remaining in the room a moment after she was
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dressed； but requiring at once solitude and continual change of
place； made her wander about the house till breakfast time；
avoiding the sight of every body。
At breakfast she neither ate； nor attempted to eat any thing；
and Elinor’s attention was then all employed； not in urging her；
not in pitying her； nor in appearing to regard her； but in
endeavouring to engage Mrs。 Jenning’s notice entirely to herself。
As this was a favourite meal with Mrs。 Jennings； it lasted a
considerable time； and they were just setting themselves； after it；
round the common working table； when a letter was delivered to
Marianne； which she eagerly caught from the servant； and；
turning of a death…like paleness； instantly ran out of the room。
Elinor； who saw as plainly by this； as if she had seen the direction；
that it must come from Willoughby； felt immediately such a
sickness at heart as made her hardly able to hold up her head； and
sat in such a general tremour as made her fear it impossible to
escape Mrs。 Jenning’s notice。 That good lady； however； saw only
that Marianne had received a letter from Willoughby； which
appeared to her a very good joke； and which she treated
accordingly； by hoping； with a laugh； that she would find it to her
liking。 Of Elinor’s distress； she was too busily employed in
measuring lengths of worsted for her rug； to see any thing at all；
and calmly continuing her talk； as soon as Marianne disappeared；
she said；
“Upon my word； I never saw a young woman so desperately in
love in my life！ My girls were nothing to her； and yet they used to
be foolish enough； but as for Miss Marianne； she is quite an
altered creature。 I hope； from the bottom of my heart； he won’t
keep her waiting much longer； for it is quite grievous to see her
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look so ill and forlorn。 Pray； when are they to be married？”
Elinor； though never less disposed to speak than at that
moment； obliged herself to answer such an attack as this； and；
therefore； trying to smile； replied； “And have you really； Ma’am；
talked yourself into a persuasion of my sister’s being engaged to
Mr。 Willoughby？ I thought it had been only a joke； but so serious a
question seems to imply more； and I must beg； therefore； that you
will not deceive yourself any longer。 I do assure you that nothing
would surprise me more than to hear of their being going to be
married。”
“For shame； for shame； Miss Dashwood！ how can you talk so？
Don’t we all know that it must be a match； that they were over
head and ears in love with each other from the first moment they
met？ Did not I see them together in Devonshire every day； and all
day long； and did not I know that your sister came to town with
me on purpose to buy wedding clothes？ Come； come； this won’t
do。 Because you are so sly about it yourself； you think nobody else
has any senses； but it is no such thing； I can tell you； for it has
been known all over town this ever so long。 I tell every body of it
and so does Charlotte。”
“Indeed； Ma’am；” said Elinor； very seriously； “you are
mistaken。 Indeed； you are doing a very unkind thing in spreading
the report； and you will find that you have； though you will not
believe me now。”
Mrs。 Jennings laughed again； but Elinor had not spirits to say
more； and eager at all events to know what Willoughby had
written； hurried away to their room； where； on opening the door；
she saw Marianne stretched on the bed； almost choked by grief；
one letter in her hand； and two or three others laying by her。
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Elinor drew near； but without saying a word； and seating herself
on the bed； took her hand； kissed her affectionately several times；
and then gave way to a burst of tears； which at first was scarcely
less violent than Marianne’s。 The latter； though unable to speak；
seemed to feel all the tenderness of this behaviour； and after some
time thus spent in joint affliction； she put all the letters into
Elinor’s hands； and then covering her face with her handkerchief；
almost screamed with agony。 Elinor； who knew that such grief；
shocking as it was to witness it； must have its course； watched by
her till this excess of suffering had somewhat spent itself； and then
turning eagerly to Willoughby’s letter； read as follows：
Bond…street； January。
My Dear Madam；
I have just had the honour of receiving your letter； for