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hardly less pitiable than when she first learnt to expect the event。
The Willoughbys left town as soon as they were married； and
Elinor now hoped； as there could be no danger of her seeing either
of them； to prevail on her sister； who had never yet left the house
since the blow first fell； to go out again by degrees as she had done
before。
About this time the two Miss Steeles； lately arrived at their
cousin’s house in Bartlett’s Buildings； Holburn； presented
themselves again before their more grand relations in Conduit and
Berkeley…street； and were welcomed by them all with great
cordiality。
Elinor only was sorry to see them。 Their presence always gave
her pain； and she hardly knew how to make a very gracious return
to the overpowering delight of Lucy in finding her still in town。
“I should have been quite disappointed if I had not found you
here still；” said she repeatedly； with a strong emphasis on the
word。 “But I always thought I should。 I was almost sure you would
not leave London yet awhile； though you told me； you know； at
Barton； that you should not stay above a month。 But I thought； at
the time； that you would most likely change your mind when it
came to the point。 It would have been such a great pity to have
went away before your brother and sister came。 And now to be
sure you will be in no hurry to be gone。 I am amazingly glad you
did not keep to your word。”
Elinor perfectly understood her； and was forced to use all her
self…command to make it appear that she did not。
“Well； my dear；” said Mrs。 Jennings； “and how did you travel？”
“Not in the stage； I assure you；” replied Miss Steele； with quick
exultation； “we came post all the way； and had a very smart beau
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to attend us。 Dr。 Davies was coming to town； and so we thought
we’d join him in a post…chaise； and he behaved very genteelly； and
paid ten or twelve shillings more than we did。”
“Oh； oh！” cried Mrs。 Jennings； “very pretty； indeed！ and the
Doctor is a single man； I warrant you。”
“There now；” said Miss Steele； affectedly simpering；
“everybody laughs at me so about the Doctor； and I cannot think
why。 My cousins say they are sure I have made a conquest； but for
my part I declare I never think about him from one hour’s end to
another。 ‘Lord！ here comes your beau； Nancy；’ my cousin said
t’other day； when she saw him crossing the street to the house。 My
beau； indeed！ said I—I cannot think who you mean。 The Doctor is
no beau of mine。”
“Aye； aye； that is very pretty talking—but it won’t do—the
Doctor is the man； I see。”
“No； indeed！” replied her cousin； with affected earnestness；
“and I beg you will contradict it； if you ever hear it talked of。”
Mrs。 Jennings directly gave her the gratifying assurance that
she certainly would not； and Miss Steele was made completely
happy。
“I suppose you will go and stay with your brother and sister；
Miss Dashwood； when they come to town；” said Lucy； returning；
after a cessation of hostile hints； to the charge。
“No； I do not think we shall。”
“Oh； yes； I dare say you will。”
Elinor would not humour her by farther opposition。
“What a charming thing it is that Mrs。 Dashwood can spare you
both for so long a time together！”
“Long a time； indeed！” interposed Mrs。 Jennings。 “Why； their
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visit is but just begun！”
Lucy was silenced。
“I am sorry we cannot see your sister； Miss Dashwood；” said
Miss Steele。 “I am sorry she is not well；” for Marianne had left the
room on their arrival。
“You are very good。 My sister will be equally sorry to miss the
pleasure of seeing you； but she has been very much plagued lately
with nervous head…aches； which make her unfit for company or
conversation。”
“Oh； dear； that is a great pity！ but such old friends as Lucy and
me！—I think she might see us； and I am sure we would not speak a
word。”
Elinor； with great civility； declined the proposal。 Her sister was
perhaps laid down upon the bed； or in her dressing gown； and
therefore not able to come to them。
“Oh； if that’s all；” cried Miss Steele； “we can just as well go and
see her。”
Elinor began to find this impertinence too much for her temper；
but she was saved the trouble of checking it； by Lucy’s sharp
reprimand； which now； as on many occasions； though it did not
give much sweetness to the manners of one sister； was of
advantage in governing those of the other。
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CHAPTER XI
fter some opposition； Marianne yielded to her sister’s
Aentreaties； and consented to go out with her and Mrs。
Jennings one morning for half an hour。 She expressly
conditioned； however； for paying no visits； and would do no more
than accompany them to Gray’s in Sackville…street； where Elinor
was carrying on a negotiation for the exchange of a few old…
fashioned jewels of her mother。
When they stopped at the door； Mrs。 Jennings recollected that
there was a lady at the other end of the street on whom she ought
to call； and as she had no business at Gray’s； it was resolved； that
while her young friends transacted their’s； she should pay her visit
and return for them。
On ascending the stairs； the Miss Dashwoods found so many
people before them in the room； that there was not a person at
liberty to tend to their orders； and they were obliged to wait。 All
that could be done was； to sit down at that end of the counter
which seemed to promise the quickest succession； one gentleman
only was standing there； and it is probable that Elinor was not
without hope of exciting his politeness to a quicker despatch。 But
the correctness of his eye； and the delicacy of his taste； proved to
be beyond his politeness。 He was giving orders for a toothpick…
case for himself； and till its size； shape； and ornaments were
determined； all of which； after examining and debating for a
quarter of an hour over every toothpick…case in the shop； were
finally arranged by his own inventive fancy； he had no leisure to
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bestow any other attention on the two ladies； than what was
comprised in three or four very broad stares； a kind of notice
which served to imprint on Elinor the remembrance of a person
and face； of strong； natural； sterling insignificance； though
adorned in the first style of fashion。
Marianne was spared from the troublesome feelings of
contempt and resentment； on this impertinent examination of
their features； and on the puppyism of his manner in deciding on
all the different horrors of the different toothpick…cases presented
to his inspection； by remaining unconscious of it all； for she was as
well able to collect her thoughts within herself； and be as ignorant
of what was passing around her； in Mr。 Gray’s shop； as in her own
bedroom。
At last the affair was decided。 The ivory； the gold； and the