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Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 298
John Dashwood was greatly astonished； but his nature was
calm； not open to provocation； and he never wished to offend
anybody； especially anybody of good fortune。 He therefore replied；
without any resentment；
“I would by no means speak disrespectfully of any relation of
yours； madam。 Miss Lucy Steele is； I dare say； a very deserving
young woman； but in the present case you know； the connection
must be impossible。 And to have entered into a secret engagement
with a young man under her uncle’s care； the son of a woman
especially of such very large fortune as Mrs。 Ferrars； is perhaps；
altogether a little extraordinary。 In short； I do not mean to reflect
upon the behaviour of any person whom you have a regard for；
Mrs。 Jennings。 We all wish her extremely happy； and Mrs。
Ferrars’s conduct throughout the whole； has been such as every
conscientious； good mother； in like circumstances； would adopt。 It
has been dignified and liberal。 Edward has drawn his own lot； and
I fear it will be a bad one。”
Marianne sighed out her similar apprehension； and Elinor’s
heart wrung for the feelings of Edward； while braving his mother’s
threats； for a woman who could not reward him。
“Well； sir；” said Mrs。 Jennings； “and how did it end？”
“I am sorry to say； ma’am； in a most unhappy rupture：—
Edward is dismissed for ever from his mother’s notice。 He left her
house yesterday； but where he is gone； or whether he is still in
town； I do not know； for we of course can make no inquiry。”
“Poor young man！—and what is to become of him？”
“What； indeed； ma’am！ It is a melancholy consideration。 Born
to the prospect of such affluence！ I cannot conceive a situation
more deplorable。 The interest of two thousand pounds—how can a
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man live on it？—and when to that is added the recollection； that
he might； but for his own folly； within three months have been in
the receipt of two thousand； five hundred a…year （for Miss Morton
has thirty thousand pounds；） I cannot picture to myself a more
wretched condition。 We must all feel for him； and the more so；
because it is totally out of our power to assist him。”
“Poor young man！” cried Mrs。 Jennings； “I am sure he should
be very welcome to bed and board at my house； and so I would tell
him if I could see him。 It is not fit that he should be living about at
his own charge now； at lodgings and taverns。”
Elinor’s heart thanked her for such kindness towards Edward；
though she could not forbear smiling at the form of it。
“If he would only have done as well by himself；” said John
Dashwood； “as all his friends were disposed to do by him； he might
now have been in his proper situation； and would have wanted for
nothing。 But as it is； it must be out of anybody’s power to assist
him。 And there is one thing more preparing against him； which
must be worse than all—his mother has determined； with a very
natural kind of spirit； to settle that estate upon Robert
immediately； which might have been Edward’s； on proper
conditions。 I left her this morning with her lawyer； talking over the
business。”
“Well！” said Mrs。 Jennings； “that is her revenge。 Everybody has
a way of their own。 But I don’t think mine would be； to make one
son independent； because another had plagued me。”
Marianne got up and walked about the room。
“Can anything be more galling to the spirit of a man；”
continued John； “than to see his younger brother in possession of
an estate which might have been his own？ Poor Edward！ I feel for
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him sincerely。”
A few minutes more spent in the same kind of effusion；
concluded his visit； and with repeated assurances to his sisters
that he really believed there was no material danger in Fanny’s
indisposition； and that they need not therefore be very uneasy
about it； he went away； leaving the three ladies unanimous in their
sentiments on the present occasion； as far at least as it regarded
Mrs。 Ferrars’s conduct； the Dashwoods’； and Edward’s。
Marianne’s indignation burst forth as soon as he quitted the
room； and as her vehemence made reserve impossible in Elinor；
and unnecessary in Mrs。 Jennings； they all joined in a very
spirited critique upon the party。
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CHAPTER II
rs。 Jennings was very warm in her praise of Edward’s
conduct； but only Elinor and Marianne understood its
M They
true merit。 only knew how little he had had to
tempt him to be disobedient； and how small was the consolation；
beyond the consciousness of doing right； that could remain to him
in the loss of friends and fortune。 Elinor gloried in his integrity；
and Marianne forgave all his offences in compassion for his
punishment。 But though confidence between them was； by this
public discovery； restored to its proper state； it was not a subject
on which either of them were fond of dwelling when alone。 Elinor
avoided it upon principle； as tending to fix still more upon her
thoughts； by the too warm； too positive assurances of Marianne；
that belief of Edward’s continued affection for herself which she
rather wished to do away； and Marianne’s courage soon failed her；
in trying to converse upon a topic which always left her more
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