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her want of thought could not be surpassed by his。 He coloured
very deeply； and giving a momentary glance at Elinor； replied；
“Yes； it is my sister’s hair。 The setting always casts a different
shade on it； you know。”
Elinor had met his eye； and looked conscious likewise。 That the
hair was her own； she instantaneously felt as well satisfied as
Marianne； the only difference in their conclusions was； that what
Marianne considered as a free gift from her sister； Elinor was
conscious must have been procured by some theft or contrivance
unknown to herself。 She was not in a humour； however； to regard
it as an affront； and affecting to take no notice of what passed； by
instantly talking of something else； she internally resolved
henceforward to catch every opportunity of eyeing the hair and of
satisfying herself； beyond all doubt； that it was exactly the shade of
her own。
Edward’s embarrassment lasted some time； and it ended in an
absence of mind still more settled。 He was particularly grave the
whole morning。 Marianne severely censured herself for what she
had said； but her own forgiveness might have been more speedy；
had she known how little offence it had given her sister。
Before the middle of the day； they were visited by Sir John and
Mrs。 Jennings； who； having heard of the arrival of a gentleman at
the cottage； came to take a survey of the guest。 With the assistance
of his mother…in…law； Sir John was not long in discovering that the
name of Ferrars began with an F。 and this prepared a future mine
of raillery against the devoted Elinor； which nothing but the
newness of their acquaintance with Edward could have prevented
from being immediately sprung。 But； as it was； she only learned；
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from some very significant looks； how far their penetration；
founded on Margaret’s instructions； extended。
Sir John never came to the Dashwoods without either inviting
them to dine at the park the next day； or to drink tea with them
that evening。 On the present occasion； for the better
entertainment of their visitor； towards whose amusement he felt
himself bound to contribute； he wished to engage them for both。
“You must drink tea with us to night；” said he； “for we shall be
quite alone—and tomorrow you must absolutely dine with us； for
we shall be a large party。”
Mrs。 Jennings enforced the necessity。 “And who knows but you
may raise a dance；” said she。 “And that will tempt you； Miss
Marianne。”
“A dance！” cried Marianne。 “Impossible！ Who is to dance？”
“Who！ why yourselves； and the Careys； and Whitakers to be
sure。—What！ you thought nobody could dance because a certain
person that shall be nameless is gone！”
“I wish with all my soul；” cried Sir John； “that Willoughby were
among us again。”
This； and Marianne’s blushing； gave new suspicions to Edward。
“And who is Willoughby？” said he； in a low voice； to Miss
Dashwood； by whom he was sitting。
She gave him a brief reply。 Marianne’s countenance was more
communicative。 Edward saw enough to comprehend； not only the
meaning of others； but such of Marianne’s expressions as had
puzzled him before； and when their visitors left them； he went
immediately round to her； and said； in a whisper； “I have been
guessing。 Shall I tell you my guess？”
“What do you mean？”
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“Shall I tell you。”
“Certainly。”
“Well then； I guess that Mr。 Willoughby hunts。”
Marianne was surprised and confused； yet she could not help
smiling at the quiet archness of his manner； and after a moment’s
silence； said；
“Oh； Edward！ How can you？—But the time will come I hope 。 。 。
I am sure you will like him。”
“I do not doubt it；” replied he； rather astonished at her
earnestness and warmth； for had he not imagined it to be a joke
for the good of her acquaintance in general； founded only on a
something or a nothing between Mr。 Willoughby and herself； he
would not have ventured to mention it。
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CHAPTER XIX
dward remained a week at the cottage； he was earnestly
pressed by Mrs。 Dashwood to stay longer； but； as if he
E
were bent only on self…mortification； he seemed resolved
to be gone when his enjoyment among his friends was at the
height。 His spirits； during the last two or three days； though still
very unequal； were greatly improved—he grew more and more
partial to the house and environs—never spoke of going away
without a sigh—declared his time to be wholly disengaged—even
doubted to what place he should go when he left them—but still；
go he must。 Never had any week passed so quickly—he could
hardly believe it to be gone。 He said so repeatedly； other things he
said too； which marked the turn of his feelings and gave the lie to
his actions。 He had no pleasure at Norland； he detested being in
town； but either to Norland or London； he must go。 He valued
their kindness beyond any thing； and his greatest happiness was
in being with them。 Yet； he must leave them at the end of a week；
in spite of their wishes and his own； and without any restraint on
his time。
Elinor placed all that was astonishing in this way of acting to
his mother’s account； and it was happy for her that he had a
mother whose character was so imperfectly known to her； as to be
the general excuse for every thing strange on the part of her son。
Disappointed； however； and vexed as she was； and sometimes
displeased with his uncertain behaviour to herself； she was very
well disposed on the whole to regard his actions with all the
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candid allowances and generous qualifications； which had been
rather more painfully extorted from her； for Willoughby’s service；
by her mother。 His want of spirits； of openness； and of consistency；
were most usually attributed to his want of independence； and his
better knowledge of Mrs。 Ferrars’s disposition and designs。 The
shortness of his visit； the steadiness of his purpose in leaving
them； originated in the same fettered inclination； the same
inevitable necessity of temporising with his mother。 The old well…
established grievance of duty against will； parent against child；
was the cause of all。 She would have been glad to know when
these difficulties were to cease； this opposition was to yield；—
when Mrs。 Ferrars would be reformed； and her son be at liberty to
be happy。 But from such vain wishes she was forced to turn for
comfort to the renewal of her confidence in Edward’s affection； to
the remembrance of every mark of regard in look or word which
fell from him while at Barton； and above all to that flattering proof
of it which he constantly wore round his finger。
“I think； Edward；” said Mrs。 Dashwood； as they were at
breakfast the last morning； “you would be a happier man if you
had any profession to engage your time and give an interest to
your plans and actions。 Some inconvenience to your friends；
indeed； might result from it—you would not be able to give them
so much of your time。 But （with a smile） you would be materially
benefited in one particular