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Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 217
CHAPTER VIII
rs。 Jennings came immediately to their room on her
return； and without waiting to have her request of
M
admittance answered； opened the door and walked in
with a look of real concern。
“How do you do my dear？”—said she in a voice of great
compassion to Marianne； who turned away her face without
attempting to answer。
“How is she； Miss Dashwood？—Poor thing！ she looks very
bad。—No wonder。 Ay； it is but too true。 He is to be married very
soon—a good…for…nothing fellow！ I have no patience with him。 Mrs。
Taylor told me of it half an hour ago； and she was told it by a
particular friend of Miss Grey herself； else I am sure I should not
have believed it； and I was almost ready to sink as it was。 Well；
said I； all I can say is； that if this be true； he has used a young lady
of my acquaintance abominably ill； and I wish with all my soul his
wife may plague his heart out。 And so I shall always say； my dear；
you may depend on it。 I have no notion of men’s going on in this
way； and if ever I meet him again； I will give him such a dressing
as he has not had this many a day。 But there is one comfort； my
dear Miss Marianne； he is not the only young man in the world
worth having； and with your pretty face you will never want
admirers。 Well； poor thing！ I won’t disturb her any longer； for she
had better have her cry out at once and have done with。 The
Parrys and Sandersons luckily are coming tonight you know； and
that will amuse her。”
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She then went away； walking on tiptoe out of the room； as if she
supposed her young friend’s affliction could be increased by noise。
Marianne； to the surprise of her sister； determined on dining
with them。 Elinor even advised her against it。 But “no； she would
go down； she could bear it very well； and the bustle about her
would be less。” Elinor； pleased to have her governed for a moment
by such a motive； though believing it hardly possible that she
could sit out the dinner； said no more； and adjusting her dress for
her as well as she could； while Marianne still remained on the bed；
was ready to assist her into the dining room as soon as they were
summoned to it。
When there； though looking most wretchedly； she ate more and
was calmer than her sister had expected。 Had she tried to speak；
or had she been conscious of half Mrs。 Jennings’s well…meant but
ill…judged attentions to her； this calmness could not have been
maintained； but not a syllable escaped her lips； and the
abstraction of her thoughts preserved her in ignorance of every
thing that was passing before her。
Elinor； who did justice to Mrs。 Jennings’s kindness； though its
effusions were often distressing； and sometimes almost ridiculous；
made her those acknowledgments； and returned her those
civilities； which her sister could not make or return for herself。
Their good friend saw that Marianne was unhappy； and felt that
every thing was due to her which might make her at all less so。
She treated her therefore； with all the indulgent fondness of a
parent towards a favourite child on the last day of its holidays。
Marianne was to have the best place by the fire； was to be tempted
to eat by every delicacy in the house； and to be amused by the
relation of all the news of the day。 Had not Elinor； in the sad
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countenance of her sister； seen a check to all mirth； she could have
been entertained by Mrs。 Jennings’s endeavours to cure a
disappointment in love； by a variety of sweetmeats and olives； and
a good fire。 As soon； however； as the consciousness of all this was
forced by continual repetition on Marianne； she could stay no
longer。 With a hasty exclamation of Misery； and a sign to her sister
not to follow her； she directly got up and hurried out of the room。
“Poor soul！” cried Mrs。 Jennings； as soon as she was gone；
“how it grieves me to see her！ And I declare if she is not gone away
without finishing her wine！ And the dried cherries too！ Lord！
nothing seems to do her any good。 I am sure if I knew of any thing
she would like； I would send all over the town for it。 Well； it is the
oddest thing to me； that a man should use such a pretty girl so ill！
But when there is plenty of money on one side； and next to none
on the other； Lord bless you！ they care no more about such
things！—”
“The lady then—Miss Grey I think you called her—is very
rich？”
“Fifty thousand pounds； my dear。 Did you ever see her？ a
smart； stylish girl they say； but not handsome。 I remember her
aunt very well； Biddy Henshawe； she married a very wealthy man。
But the family are all rich together。 Fifty thousand pounds！ and by
all accounts； it won’t come before it’s wanted； for they say he is all
to pieces。 No wonder！ dashing about with his curricle and hunters！
Well； it don’t signify talking； but when a young man； be who he
will； comes and makes love to a pretty girl； and promises marriage；
he has no business to fly off from his word only because he grows
poor； and a richer girl is ready to have him。 Why don’t he； in such
a case； sell his horses； let his house； turn off his servants； and
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make a thorough reform at once？ I warrant you； Miss Marianne
would have been ready to wait till matters came round。 But that
won’t do now…a…days； nothing in the way of pleasure can ever be
given up by