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dissatisfied with herself than ever； by the comparison it
necessarily produced between Elinor’s conduct and her own。
She felt all the force of that comparison； but not as her sister
had hoped； to urge her to exertion now； she felt it with all the pain
of continual self…reproach； regretted most bitterly that she had
never exerted herself before； but it brought only the torture of
penitence； without the hope of amendment。 Her mind was so
much weakened that she still fancied present exertion impossible；
and therefore it only dispirited her more。
Nothing new was heard by them； for a day or two afterwards； of
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affairs in Harley…street； or Bartlett’s Buildings。 But though so
much of the matter was known to them already； that Mrs。
Jennings might have had enough to do in spreading that
knowledge farther； without seeking after more； she had resolved
from the first to pay a visit of comfort and inquiry to her cousins as
soon as she could； and nothing but the hindrance of more visitors
than usual； had prevented her going to them within that time。
The third day succeeding their knowledge of the particulars；
was so fine； so beautiful a Sunday as to draw many to Kensington
Gardens； though it was only the second week in March。 Mrs。
Jennings and Elinor were of the number； but Marianne； who knew
that the Willoughbys were again in town； and had a constant
dread of meeting them； chose rather to stay at home； than venture
into so public a place。
An intimate acquaintance of Mrs。 Jennings joined them soon
after they entered the Gardens； and Elinor was not sorry that by
her continuing with them； and engaging all Mrs。 Jennings’s
conversation； she was herself left to quiet reflection。 She saw
nothing of the Willoughbys； nothing of Edward； and for some time
nothing of anybody who could by any chance whether grave or
gay； be interesting to her。 But at last she found herself with some
surprise； accosted by Miss Steele； who； though looking rather shy；
expressed great satisfaction in meeting them； and on receiving
encouragement from the particular kindness of Mrs。 Jennings； left
her own party for a short time； to join their’s。 Mrs。 Jennings
immediately whispered to Elinor；
“Get it all out of her； my dear。 She will tell you any thing if you
ask。 You see I cannot leave Mrs。 Clarke。”
It was lucky； however； for Mrs。 Jennings’s curiosity and Elinor’s
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too； that she would tell any thing without being asked； for nothing
would otherwise have been learnt。
“I am so glad to meet you；” said Miss Steele； taking her
familiarly by the arm—“for I wanted to see you of all things in the
world。” And then lowering her voice； “I suppose Mrs。 Jennings
has heard all about it。 Is she angry？”
“Not at all； I believe； with you。”
“That is a good thing。 And Lady Middleton； is she angry？”
“I cannot suppose it possible that she should。”
“I am monstrous glad of it。 Good gracious！ I have had such a
time of it！ I never saw Lucy in such a rage in my life。 She vowed at
first she would never trim me up a new bonnet； nor do any thing
else for me again； so long as she lived； but now she is quite come
to； and we are as good friends as ever。 Look； she made me this
bow to my hat； and put in the feather last night。 There now； you
are going to laugh at me too。 But why should not I wear pink
ribbons？ I do not care if it is the Doctor’s favourite colour。 I am
sure； for my part； I should never have known he did like it better
than any other colour； if he had not happened to say so。 My
cousins have been so plaguing me！ I declare sometimes I do not
know which way to look before them。”
She had wandered away to a subject on which Elinor had
nothing to say； and therefore soon judged it expedient to find her
way back again to the first。
“Well； but Miss Dashwood；” speaking triumphantly； “people
may say what they chuse about Mr。 Ferrars’s declaring he would
not have Lucy； for it is no such thing I can tell you； and it is quite a
shame for such ill…natured reports to be spread abroad。 Whatever
Lucy might think about it herself； you know； it was no business of
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other people to set it down for certain。”
“I never heard any thing of the kind hinted at before； I assure
you；” said Elinor。
“Oh； did not you？ But it was said； I know； very well； and by
more than one； for Miss Godby told Miss Sparks； that nobody in
their senses could expect Mr。 Ferrars to give up a woman like Miss
Morton； with thirty thousand pounds to her fortune； for Lucy
Steele that had nothing at all； and I had it from Miss Sparks
myself。 And besides that； my cousin Richard said himself； that
when it came to the point he was afraid Mr。 Ferrars would be off；
and when Edward did not come near us for three days； I could not
tell what to think myself； and I believe in my heart Lucy gave it up
all for lost； for we came away from your brother’s Wednesday； and
we saw nothing of him not all Thursday； Friday； and Saturday；
and did not know what was become of him。 Once Lucy thought to
write to him； but then her spirits rose against that。 However this
morning he came just as we came home from church； and then it
all came out； how he had been sent for Wednesday to Harley…
street； and been talked to by his mother and all of them； and how
he had declared before them all that he loved nobody but Lucy；
and nobody but Lucy would he have。 And how he had been so
worried by what passed； that as soon as he had went aw