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that might introduce another subject。
“Not at all。 I expected much pleasure in it； but I have found
none。 The sight of you； Edward； is the only comfort it has afforded；
and thank Heaven！ you are what you always were！”
She paused—no one spoke。
“I think； Elinor；” she presently added； “we must employ
Edward to take care of us in our return to Barton。 In a week or
two； I suppose； we shall be going； and； I trust； Edward will not be
very unwilling to accept the charge。”
Poor Edward muttered something； but what it was； nobody
knew； not even himself。 But Marianne； who saw his agitation； and
could easily trace it to whatever cause best pleased herself； was
perfectly satisfied； and soon talked of something else。
“We spent such a day； Edward； in Harley…street yesterday！ So
dull； so wretchedly dull！—But I have much to say to you on that
head； which cannot be said now。”
And with this admirable discretion did she defer the assurance
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of her finding their mutual relatives more disagreeable than ever；
and of her being particularly disgusted with his mother； till they
were more in private。
“But why were you not there； Edward？—Why did you not
come？”
“I was engaged elsewhere。”
“Engaged！ But what was that； when such friends were to be
met？”
“Perhaps； Miss Marianne；” cried Lucy； eager to take some
revenge on her； “you think young men never stand upon
engagements； if they have no mind to keep them； little as well as
great。”
Elinor was very angry； but Marianne seemed entirely insensible
of the sting； for she calmly replied；
“Not so； indeed； for； seriously speaking； I am very sure that
conscience only kept Edward from Harley…street。 And I really
believe he has the most delicate conscience in the world； the most
scrupulous in performing every engagement； however minute； and
however it may make against his interest or pleasure。 He is the
most fearful of giving pain； of wounding expectation； and the most
incapable of being selfish； of any body I ever saw。 Edward； it is so；
and I will say it。 What！ are you never to hear yourself praised！—
Then you must be no friend of mine； for those who will accept of
my love and esteem； must submit to my open commendation。”
The nature of her commendation； in the present case； however；
happened to be particularly ill…suited to the feelings of two thirds
of her auditors； and was so very unexhilarating to Edward； that he
very soon got up to go away。
“Going so soon！” said Marianne； “my dear Edward； this must
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not be。”
And drawing him a little aside； she whispered her persuasion
that Lucy could not stay much longer。 But even this
encouragement failed； for he would go； and Lucy； who would have
outstaid him； had his visit lasted two hours； soon afterwards went
away。
“What can bring her here so often？” said Marianne； on her
leaving them。 “Could not she see that we wanted her gone！—how
teazing to Edward！”
“Why so？—we were all his friends； and Lucy has been the
longest known to him of any。 It is but natural that he should like to
see her as well as ourselves。”
Marianne looked at her steadily； and said； “You know； Elinor；
that this is a kind of talking which I cannot bear。 If you only hope
to have your assertion contradicted； as I must suppose to be the
case； you ought to recollect that I am the last person in the world
to do it。 I cannot descend to be tricked out of assurances； that are
not really wanted。”
She then left the room； and Elinor dared not follow her to say
more； for bound as she was by her promise of secrecy to Lucy； she
could give no information that would convince Marianne； and
painful as the consequences of her still continuing in an error
might be； she was obliged to submit to it。 All that she could hope；
was that Edward would not often expose her or himself to the
distress of hearing Marianne’s mistaken warmth； nor to the
repetition of any other part of the pain that had attended their
recent meeting—and this she had every reason to expect。
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CHAPTER XIV
ithin a few days after this meeting； the newspapers
Wannounced to the world； that the lady of Thomas
Palmer； Esq。 was safely delivered of a son and heir； a
very interesting and satisfactory paragraph； at least to all those
intimate connections who knew it before。
This event； highly important to Mrs。 Jennings’s happiness；
produced a temporary alteration in the disposal of her time； and
influenced； in a like degree； the engagements of her young friends；
for as she wished to be as much as possible with Charlotte； she
went thither every morning as soon as she was dressed； and did
not return till late in the evening； and the Miss Dashwoods； at the
particular request of the Middletons； spent the whole of every day；
in every day in Conduit…street。 For their own comfort they would
much rather have remained； at least all the morning； in Mrs。
Jennings’s house； but it was not a thing to be urged against the
wishes of everybody。 Their hours were therefore made over to
Lady Middleton and the two Miss Steeles； by whom their company
was in fact as little valued； as it was professedly sought。
They had too much sense to be desirable companions to the
former； and by the latter they were considered with a jealous eye；
as intruding on their ground； and sharing the kindness which they
wanted to monopolize。 Though nothing could be more polite than
La