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soon afterwards increased； more powerfully than pleasantly； by
her hearing that the Miss Steeles were also to be at it。
So well had they recommended themselves to Lady Middleton；
so agreeable had their assiduities made them to her； that though
Lucy was certainly not so elegant； and her sister not even genteel；
she was as ready as Sir John to ask them to spend a week or two in
Conduit…street； and it happened to be particularly convenient to
the Miss Steeles； as soon as the Dashwoods’ invitation was known；
that their visit should begin a few days before the party took place。
Their claims to the notice of Mrs。 John Dashwood； as the nieces
of the gentleman who for many years had had the care of her
brother； might not have done much； however； towards procuring
them seats at her table； but as Lady Middleton’s guests they must
be welcome； and Lucy； who had long wanted to be personally
known to the family； to have a nearer view of their characters and
her own difficulties； and to have an opportunity of endeavouring
to please them； had seldom been happier in her life； than she was
on receiving Mrs。 John Dashwood’s card。
On Elinor its effect was very different。 She began immediately
to determine that Edward who lived with his mother； must be
asked as his mother was； to a party given by his sister； and to see
him for the first time； after all that passed； in the company of
Lucy！—she hardly knew how she could bear it！
These apprehensions； perhaps； were not founded entirely on
reason； and certainly not at all on truth。 They were relieved
however； not by her own recollection； but by the good will of Lucy；
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who believed herself to be inflicting a severe disappointment when
she told her that Edward certainly would not be in Harley…street
on Tuesday； and even hoped to be carrying the pain still farther by
persuading her that he was kept away by the extreme affection for
herself； which he could not conceal when they were together。
The important Tuesday came that was to introduce the two
young ladies to this formidable mother…in…law。
“Pity me； dear Miss Dashwood！” said Lucy； as they walked up
the stairs together—for the Middletons arrived so directly after
Mrs。 Jennings； that they all followed the servant at the same
time—“There is nobody here but you； that can feel for me。—I
declare I can hardly stand。 Good gracious！—In a moment I shall
see the person that all my happiness depends on—that is to be my
mother！”—
Elinor could have given her immediate relief by suggesting the
possibility of its being Miss Morton’s mother； rather than her own；
whom they were about to behold； but instead of doing that； she
assured her； and with great sincerity； that she did pity her—to the
utter amazement of Lucy； who； though really uncomfortable
herself； hoped at least to be an object of irrepressible envy to
Elinor。
Mrs。 Ferrars was a little； thin woman； upright； even to
formality； in her figure； and serious； even to sourness； in her
aspect。 Her complexion was sallow； and her features small；
without beauty； and naturally without expression； but a lucky
contraction of the brow had rescued her countenance from the
disgrace of insipidity； by giving it the strong characters of pride
and ill nature。 She was not a woman of many words； for； unlike
people in general； she proportioned them to the number of her
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ideas； and of the few syllables that did escape her； not one fell to
the share of Miss Dashwood； whom she eyed with the spirited
determination of disliking her at all events。
Elinor could not now be made unhappy by this behaviour。—A
few months ago it would have hurt her exceedingly； but it was not
in Mrs。 Ferrars’ power to distress her by it now；—and the
difference of her manners to the Miss Steeles； a difference which
seemed purposely made to humble her more； only amused her。
She could not but smile to see the graciousness of both mother
and daughter towards the very person—for Lucy was particularly
distinguished—whom of all others； had they known as much as
she did； they would have been most anxious to mortify； while she
herself； who had comparatively no power to wound them； sat
pointedly slighted by both。 But while she smiled at a graciousness
so misapplied； she could not reflect on the mean…spirited folly from
which it sprung； nor observe the studied attentions with which the
Miss Steeles courted its continuance； without thoroughly
despising them all four。
Lucy was all exultation on being so honourably distinguished；
and Miss Steele wanted only to be teazed about Dr。 Davis to be
perfectly happy。
The dinner was a grand one； the servants were numerous； and
every thing bespoke the Mistress’s inclination for show； and the
Master’s ability to support it。 In spite of the improvements and
additions which were making to the Norland estate； and in spite of
its owner having once been within some thousand pounds of being
obliged to sell out at a loss； nothing gave any symptom of that
indigence which he had tried to infer from it；—no poverty of any
kind； except of conversation； appeared—but there； the deficiency
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was considerable。 John Dashwood had not much to say for himself
that was worth hearing； and his wife had still less。 But there was
no peculiar disgrace in this； for it was very much the case with the
chief of their visitors； who almost all laboured under one or other
of these disqualifications for being agreeable—Want of sense；
either