August 14, 2025 • 18 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter twenty two. Mary Anne, who had never much toleration
for anything like impertinence, vulgarity, inferiority of parts, or even
difference of taste from herself, was at this time particularly
ill disposed from the state of her spirits to be
(00:21):
pleased with the miss Steeles or to encourage their advances,
and to the invariable coldness of her behavior towards them,
which checked every endeavor at intimacy on their side. Eleanor
principally attributed that preference of herself, which soon became evident
in the manners of both, but especially of Lucy, who
(00:42):
missed no opportunity of engaging her in conversation or of
striving to improve their acquaintance by an easy and frank
communication of her sentiments. Lucy was naturally clever, her remarks
were often just and amusing, and as a companion for
half an hour, Eleanor frequently found her agreeable. But her
(01:06):
powers had received no aid from education. She was ignorant
and illiterate, and her deficiency of all mental improvement her
want of information in the most common particulars could not
be concealed from Miss Dashwood. In spite of her constant
endeavor to appear to advantage. Eleanor saw and pitied her
(01:28):
for the neglect of abilities which education might have rendered
so respectable. But she saw with less tenderness of feeling,
the thorough want of delicacy, of rectitude and integrity of
mind which her attentions, her assiduities, her flatteries at the
park betrayed, and she could have no lasting satisfaction in
(01:52):
the company of a person who joined insincerity with ignorance,
whose want of instruction prevented their meeting conversation on terms
of equality, and whose conduct toward others made every show
of attention and deference towards herself perfectly valueless.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
You will think my question an odd one, I daresay.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Said Lucy to her one day, as they were walking
together from the park to the cottage.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
But pray, are you personally acquainted with your sister in
law's mother, missus Ferris.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Eleanor did think the question a very odd one, and
her countenance expressed it as she answered that she had
never seen missus Ferris. Indeed, replied Lucy, I wonder at that,
for I thought you must have seen her at Norland sometimes.
Then perhaps you cannot tell me what sort of a
(02:48):
woman she is, no, returned Eleanor, cautious of giving her
real opinion of Edward's mother, and not very desirous of
satisfying what seemed impertinent curios I know nothing of her.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
I am sure you think me very strange for inquiring
about her in such a way.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Said Lucy, hyeing Eleanor attentively as she spoke.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
But perhaps there may be reasons I wish I might venture.
But however, I hope you will do me the justice
of believing that I do not mean to be impertinent.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Eleanor made her a civil reply, and they walked on
for a few minutes in silence. It was broken by Lucy,
who renewed the subject again by saying, with some hesitation.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
I cannot bear to have you think me impertinently curious.
I am sure I would rather do anything in the
world than be thought so by a person whose good
opinion is so well worth having as yours. And I
am sure I should not have the smallest fear of
trusting you. Indeed, I should be very glad of your
(03:57):
advice and how to manage in such an uncomfortable situation
as I am. But however, there is no occasion to
trouble you. I am sorry you do not happen to
know Missus Ferris.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
I am sorry I.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Do not, said Eleanor in great astonishment.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
If it could be of any use to you to
know my opinion of her. But I never really understood
that you were at all connected with that family, and
therefore I am a little surprised I confess as so
serious an inquiry into her character.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
I daresay you are, and I am sure I do
not wonder at all at it. But if I dared
tell you all, you would not be so much surprised.
Missus Ferris is certainly nothing to me at present, but
the time may come. How soon it will come must
depend upon herself, when we may be very intimately connected.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
She looked down as she said this, amiably boushful, with
only one side glance at her companion to observe its
effect on her. Heavens, cried Eleanor.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
What do you mean? Are you acquainted with mister Robert Ferris?
Can you be?
Speaker 1 (05:06):
And she did not feel much delighted with the idea
of such a sister in law. No, replied Lucy.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Not to mister Robert Ferris, I never saw him in
my life, But fixing her eyes upon Eleanor to his
eldest brother, what felt Eleanor at that moment astonishment that
would have been as painful as it was strong, had
not an immediate disbelief of the assertion attended it? She
(05:36):
turned towards Lucy in silent amazement, unable to divine the
reason or object of such a declaration, And though her
complexion varied, she stood firm in incredulity and felt in
no danger of an hysterical fit or a swoon. You
may well be surprised, continued Lucy, for to be s
(06:00):
or you could not have had no idea of it before.
For I dare say he never dropped the smallest hint
of it to you or any of your family, because
it was always meant to be a great secret, and
I am sure it has been faithfully kept by me
to this hour. Not a soul of all my relations
know of it. But Anne, and I should never have
(06:22):
mentioned it to you if I had not felt the
greatest dependence in the world upon your secrecy. And I
really thought my behavior in asking so many questions about
missus Ferris, must seem so odd that it ought to
be explained. And I do not think mister Ferris can
be displeased when he knows I have trusted you, because
(06:42):
I know he has the highest opinion in the world
of all your family, and looks upon yourself and the
other Miss Dashwoods, quite as his own sisters.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
She paused, Eleanor for a few minutes, remained silent. Her
astonishment at what she heard was first too great for words,
but at length forcing herself to speak, and to speak cautiously,
she said, with calmness of manner which tolerably well concealed
her surprise and solicitude.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
May I ask if your engagement is of long standing?
Speaker 2 (07:17):
We have been engaged these four years?
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Four years, yes, Eleanor, though greatly shocked, still felt unable
to believe it.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
I did not know, said she, that you were even
acquainted till the other day.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Our acquaintance, however, is of many years date. He was
under my uncle's care, you know, a considerable while your uncle, yes,
mister Pratt.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
Did you never hear him talk of mister Pratt?
Speaker 1 (07:46):
I think I have, replied Eleanor, with an exertion of spirits,
which increased with her increase of emotion.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
He was four years with my uncle, who lives at Longstaple,
near Plymouth. It was there our acquaintance begun. For my
sister and me was often staying with my uncle, and
it was there our engagement was formed, though not till
a year after he acquitted as a pupil, but he
was almost always with us afterwards. I was very unwilling
(08:15):
to enter into it, as you may imagine, without the
knowledge and approbation of his mother.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
But I was too young.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
And loved him too well to be so prudent as
I ought to have been. Though you do not know
him so well as me, Miss Dashwood, you must have
seen enough of him to be sensible. He is very
capable of making a woman sincerely attached.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
To him certainly, answered Eleanor, without knowing what she said,
but after a moment's reflection, she added, with revived security
of Edward's honor and love and her companion's falsehood.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Engaged to mister Edward Ferris. I confess myself so totally
surprised at what you tell me that really I beg
your pardon. But surely there must be some mistake of
person in our name. We cannot mean the same, mister Ferris.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
We can mean no other, cried lucy, smiling.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Mister Edward Ferris, the eldest son of Missus Ferrers of
Park Street, and brother of your sister in law, Missus
John Dashwood, is the person I mean. You must allow
that I am not likely to be deceived as to
the name of the man on whom all my happiness depends.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
It is strange, replied Eleanor, in a most painful perplexity.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
That I should never have heard him even mention your name.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
No, considering our situation, it was not strange. Our first
care has been to keep the matter secret. You knew
nothing of me or my family, and therefore there could
be no occasion for ever mentioning my name to you.
And as he was always particularly afraid of his sister's
suspecting anything, that was reason enough for his not mentioning it.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
She was silent. Eleanor's security sunk, but her self command
did not sink.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
With us.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Four years you have been engaged.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Said she with a firm voice.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Yes, and Heaven knows how much longer we may have
to wait.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
Poor Edward.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
It puts him quite out of heart.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Then, taking a small miniature from her pocket, she added.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
To prevent the possibility of mistake, be so good as
to look at this face. It does not do him justice,
to be sure. But yet I think you cannot be
deceived as to the person it was trueful, I have
had it above these three years.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
She put it into her hands as she spoke, and
when Eleanor saw the painting, whatever other doubts, her fear
of a too hasty decision, or her wish of detecting
falsehood might suffer to linger in her mind, she could
have none of its being Edward's face, she returned it
almost instantly, acknowledging the likeness.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
I have never been able, continued Lucy, to give him
my picture in return, which I am very much vexed at,
for he has been always so anxious to get it.
But I am determined to set.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
For it the very first opportunity.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
You are quite in the right, replied Eleanor calmly. They
then proceeded a few paces in silence. Lucy spoke first.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
I am sure, said she, I have no doubt in
the world of your faithfully keeping this secret, because you
must know of what importance it is to us not
to have it reach his mother for she would never
approve of it. I dare say, I shall have no fortune,
and I fancy she is an exceeding proud woman.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
I certainly did not seek your confidence, said Eleanor. But
you do me no more than justice in imagining that
I may be depended upon Your secret is safe with me.
But pardon me if I express some surprise at so
unnecessary a communication. You must at least have felt that
my being acquainted with it could not a head to
its safety.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
As she did this, she looked earnestly at Lucy, hoping
to discover something in her countenance, perhaps the falsehood of
the greatest part of what she had been saying. But
Lucy's countenance suffered no change.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
I was afraid you would think I was taking a
great liberty with you, said she, in telling you all this.
I have not known you long to be sure, personally
at least, but I have known you and all your
family by description a great while, and as soon as
I saw you, I felt almost as if you was
an old acquaintance. Besides, in the present case, I really
(12:37):
thought some explanation was due to you. After my making
such particular inquiries about Edward's mother and I am so
unfortunate that I have not a creature whose advice I
can ask. Anne is the only person that knows of it,
and she has no judgment at all. Indeed, she does
me a great deal more harm than good, for I
(12:58):
am in constant fear of her betraying me. She does
not know how to hold her tongue that you must perceive,
And I am sure I was in the greatest fright
in the world to the day when Edward's name was
mentioned by Sir John, lest she should out with it all.
You can't think how much I go through in my
mind from it altogether. I only wonder that I am
(13:19):
alive after what I have suffered for Edward's sake these
last four years, everything in such suspense and uncertainty, and
seeing him so seldom, we can hardly meet above twice
a year. I am sure I wonder my heart is
not quite broke.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Here she took out her handkerchief, but Eleanor did not
feel very compassionate, sometimes, continued Lucy, after wiping her eyes.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
I think whether it would not be better for us both
to break off the matter entirely.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
As she said this, she looked directly at her companion.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
But then at other times I have not resolution enough
for it. I cannot bear the thoughts of making him
so miserable as I know the very mention of such
a thing would do, and on my own account too,
so dear as he is to me, I don't think
I could be equal to it. What would you advise
me to do in such a case.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Miss Dashwood? What would you do yourself?
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Pardon me, replied Eleanor, startled by the question.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
But I can give you no advice under such circumstances.
Your own judgment must direct you.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
To be sure, continued Lucy, after a few minutes of
silence on both sides.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
His mother must provide for him some time or other.
But poor Edward is so cast down by it. Did
you not think him dreadful, low spirited when he was
at Barton? He was so miserable when he left us
at Longstaple to go to you that I was afraid
you would think him quite ill.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Did he come from your uncle's then when he visited us?
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Oh? Yes, he had been staying a fortnight with us.
Did you think he came directly?
Speaker 1 (15:01):
No, replied Eleanor. Most feelingly sensible of every fresh circumstance
in favor of Lucy's veracity.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
I remember he told us that he had been staying
a fortnight with some friends near Plymouth.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
She remembered too her own surprise at the time at
his mentioning nothing farther of those friends, at his total
silence with respect even to their names.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Did not you think him sadly out of spirits?
Speaker 1 (15:27):
Repeated Lucy.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
We did, indeed, particularly so when he first arrived.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
I begged him to exert himself, for fear you should
suspect what was the matter. But it made him so melancholy,
not being able to stay more than a fortnight with us,
and seeing me so much affected poor fellow. I am
afraid it is just the same with him now, for
he writes in wretched spirits. I heard from him just
before I left Exeter.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Taking a letter from her pocket and carelessly showing the
direction to Eleanor.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
You know his hair, and I daresay a charming one
it is, But that is not written so well as usual.
He was tired, I daresay, for he had just filled
the sheet to me as full as possible.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Eleanor saw that it was his hand, and she could
doubt no longer. This picture, she had allowed herself to believe,
might have been accidentally obtained. It might not have been
Edward's gift. But a correspondence between them by letter could
subsist only under a positive engagement, could be authorized by
(16:33):
nothing else. For a few moments she was almost overcome.
Her heart sunk within her, and she could hardly stand.
But exertion was indispensably necessary, and she struggled so resolutely
against the oppression of her feelings that her success was
speedy and for the time complete.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
Writing to each other, said.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Lucy, returning the letter into her.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Is the only comfort we have in such long separations. Yes,
I have one other comfort in his picture, But poor
Edward has not even that. If he had but my picture,
he says, he should be easy. I gave him a
lock of my hair set in a ring when he
was at Longstaple last, and that was some comfort to him,
(17:21):
he said, but not equal to a picture. Perhaps you
might notice the ring when you saw him, I did.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Said Eleanor, with a composure of voice, under which was
concealed an emotion and distress beyond anything she had ever
felt before. She was mortified, shocked, confounded, fortunately, for her.
They had now reached the cottage, and the conversation could
be continued no farther. After sitting with them a few minutes,
(17:51):
the miss Steeles returned to the park, and Eleanor was
then at liberty to think and be wretched. End of
Chapter twenty two.
Chapter twenty two. Mary Anne, who had never much toleration
for anything like impertinence, vulgarity, inferiority of parts, or even
difference of taste from herself, was at this time particularly
ill disposed from the state of her spirits to be
(00:21):
pleased with the miss Steeles or to encourage their advances,
and to the invariable coldness of her behavior towards them,
which checked every endeavor at intimacy on their side. Eleanor
principally attributed that preference of herself, which soon became evident
in the manners of both, but especially of Lucy, who
(00:42):
missed no opportunity of engaging her in conversation or of
striving to improve their acquaintance by an easy and frank
communication of her sentiments. Lucy was naturally clever, her remarks
were often just and amusing, and as a companion for
half an hour, Eleanor frequently found her agreeable. But her
(01:06):
powers had received no aid from education. She was ignorant
and illiterate, and her deficiency of all mental improvement her
want of information in the most common particulars could not
be concealed from Miss Dashwood. In spite of her constant
endeavor to appear to advantage. Eleanor saw and pitied her
(01:28):
for the neglect of abilities which education might have rendered
so respectable. But she saw with less tenderness of feeling,
the thorough want of delicacy, of rectitude and integrity of
mind which her attentions, her assiduities, her flatteries at the
park betrayed, and she could have no lasting satisfaction in
(01:52):
the company of a person who joined insincerity with ignorance,
whose want of instruction prevented their meeting conversation on terms
of equality, and whose conduct toward others made every show
of attention and deference towards herself perfectly valueless.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
You will think my question an odd one, I daresay.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Said Lucy to her one day, as they were walking
together from the park to the cottage.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
But pray, are you personally acquainted with your sister in
law's mother, missus Ferris.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Eleanor did think the question a very odd one, and
her countenance expressed it as she answered that she had
never seen missus Ferris. Indeed, replied Lucy, I wonder at that,
for I thought you must have seen her at Norland sometimes.
Then perhaps you cannot tell me what sort of a
(02:48):
woman she is, no, returned Eleanor, cautious of giving her
real opinion of Edward's mother, and not very desirous of
satisfying what seemed impertinent curios I know nothing of her.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
I am sure you think me very strange for inquiring
about her in such a way.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Said Lucy, hyeing Eleanor attentively as she spoke.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
But perhaps there may be reasons I wish I might venture.
But however, I hope you will do me the justice
of believing that I do not mean to be impertinent.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Eleanor made her a civil reply, and they walked on
for a few minutes in silence. It was broken by Lucy,
who renewed the subject again by saying, with some hesitation.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
I cannot bear to have you think me impertinently curious.
I am sure I would rather do anything in the
world than be thought so by a person whose good
opinion is so well worth having as yours. And I
am sure I should not have the smallest fear of
trusting you. Indeed, I should be very glad of your
(03:57):
advice and how to manage in such an uncomfortable situation
as I am. But however, there is no occasion to
trouble you. I am sorry you do not happen to
know Missus Ferris.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
I am sorry I.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Do not, said Eleanor in great astonishment.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
If it could be of any use to you to
know my opinion of her. But I never really understood
that you were at all connected with that family, and
therefore I am a little surprised I confess as so
serious an inquiry into her character.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
I daresay you are, and I am sure I do
not wonder at all at it. But if I dared
tell you all, you would not be so much surprised.
Missus Ferris is certainly nothing to me at present, but
the time may come. How soon it will come must
depend upon herself, when we may be very intimately connected.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
She looked down as she said this, amiably boushful, with
only one side glance at her companion to observe its
effect on her. Heavens, cried Eleanor.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
What do you mean? Are you acquainted with mister Robert Ferris?
Can you be?
Speaker 1 (05:06):
And she did not feel much delighted with the idea
of such a sister in law. No, replied Lucy.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Not to mister Robert Ferris, I never saw him in
my life, But fixing her eyes upon Eleanor to his
eldest brother, what felt Eleanor at that moment astonishment that
would have been as painful as it was strong, had
not an immediate disbelief of the assertion attended it? She
(05:36):
turned towards Lucy in silent amazement, unable to divine the
reason or object of such a declaration, And though her
complexion varied, she stood firm in incredulity and felt in
no danger of an hysterical fit or a swoon. You
may well be surprised, continued Lucy, for to be s
(06:00):
or you could not have had no idea of it before.
For I dare say he never dropped the smallest hint
of it to you or any of your family, because
it was always meant to be a great secret, and
I am sure it has been faithfully kept by me
to this hour. Not a soul of all my relations
know of it. But Anne, and I should never have
(06:22):
mentioned it to you if I had not felt the
greatest dependence in the world upon your secrecy. And I
really thought my behavior in asking so many questions about
missus Ferris, must seem so odd that it ought to
be explained. And I do not think mister Ferris can
be displeased when he knows I have trusted you, because
(06:42):
I know he has the highest opinion in the world
of all your family, and looks upon yourself and the
other Miss Dashwoods, quite as his own sisters.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
She paused, Eleanor for a few minutes, remained silent. Her
astonishment at what she heard was first too great for words,
but at length forcing herself to speak, and to speak cautiously,
she said, with calmness of manner which tolerably well concealed
her surprise and solicitude.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
May I ask if your engagement is of long standing?
Speaker 2 (07:17):
We have been engaged these four years?
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Four years, yes, Eleanor, though greatly shocked, still felt unable
to believe it.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
I did not know, said she, that you were even
acquainted till the other day.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Our acquaintance, however, is of many years date. He was
under my uncle's care, you know, a considerable while your uncle, yes,
mister Pratt.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
Did you never hear him talk of mister Pratt?
Speaker 1 (07:46):
I think I have, replied Eleanor, with an exertion of spirits,
which increased with her increase of emotion.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
He was four years with my uncle, who lives at Longstaple,
near Plymouth. It was there our acquaintance begun. For my
sister and me was often staying with my uncle, and
it was there our engagement was formed, though not till
a year after he acquitted as a pupil, but he
was almost always with us afterwards. I was very unwilling
(08:15):
to enter into it, as you may imagine, without the
knowledge and approbation of his mother.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
But I was too young.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
And loved him too well to be so prudent as
I ought to have been. Though you do not know
him so well as me, Miss Dashwood, you must have
seen enough of him to be sensible. He is very
capable of making a woman sincerely attached.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
To him certainly, answered Eleanor, without knowing what she said,
but after a moment's reflection, she added, with revived security
of Edward's honor and love and her companion's falsehood.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Engaged to mister Edward Ferris. I confess myself so totally
surprised at what you tell me that really I beg
your pardon. But surely there must be some mistake of
person in our name. We cannot mean the same, mister Ferris.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
We can mean no other, cried lucy, smiling.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Mister Edward Ferris, the eldest son of Missus Ferrers of
Park Street, and brother of your sister in law, Missus
John Dashwood, is the person I mean. You must allow
that I am not likely to be deceived as to
the name of the man on whom all my happiness depends.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
It is strange, replied Eleanor, in a most painful perplexity.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
That I should never have heard him even mention your name.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
No, considering our situation, it was not strange. Our first
care has been to keep the matter secret. You knew
nothing of me or my family, and therefore there could
be no occasion for ever mentioning my name to you.
And as he was always particularly afraid of his sister's
suspecting anything, that was reason enough for his not mentioning it.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
She was silent. Eleanor's security sunk, but her self command
did not sink.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
With us.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Four years you have been engaged.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Said she with a firm voice.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Yes, and Heaven knows how much longer we may have
to wait.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
Poor Edward.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
It puts him quite out of heart.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Then, taking a small miniature from her pocket, she added.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
To prevent the possibility of mistake, be so good as
to look at this face. It does not do him justice,
to be sure. But yet I think you cannot be
deceived as to the person it was trueful, I have
had it above these three years.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
She put it into her hands as she spoke, and
when Eleanor saw the painting, whatever other doubts, her fear
of a too hasty decision, or her wish of detecting
falsehood might suffer to linger in her mind, she could
have none of its being Edward's face, she returned it
almost instantly, acknowledging the likeness.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
I have never been able, continued Lucy, to give him
my picture in return, which I am very much vexed at,
for he has been always so anxious to get it.
But I am determined to set.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
For it the very first opportunity.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
You are quite in the right, replied Eleanor calmly. They
then proceeded a few paces in silence. Lucy spoke first.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
I am sure, said she, I have no doubt in
the world of your faithfully keeping this secret, because you
must know of what importance it is to us not
to have it reach his mother for she would never
approve of it. I dare say, I shall have no fortune,
and I fancy she is an exceeding proud woman.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
I certainly did not seek your confidence, said Eleanor. But
you do me no more than justice in imagining that
I may be depended upon Your secret is safe with me.
But pardon me if I express some surprise at so
unnecessary a communication. You must at least have felt that
my being acquainted with it could not a head to
its safety.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
As she did this, she looked earnestly at Lucy, hoping
to discover something in her countenance, perhaps the falsehood of
the greatest part of what she had been saying. But
Lucy's countenance suffered no change.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
I was afraid you would think I was taking a
great liberty with you, said she, in telling you all this.
I have not known you long to be sure, personally
at least, but I have known you and all your
family by description a great while, and as soon as
I saw you, I felt almost as if you was
an old acquaintance. Besides, in the present case, I really
(12:37):
thought some explanation was due to you. After my making
such particular inquiries about Edward's mother and I am so
unfortunate that I have not a creature whose advice I
can ask. Anne is the only person that knows of it,
and she has no judgment at all. Indeed, she does
me a great deal more harm than good, for I
(12:58):
am in constant fear of her betraying me. She does
not know how to hold her tongue that you must perceive,
And I am sure I was in the greatest fright
in the world to the day when Edward's name was
mentioned by Sir John, lest she should out with it all.
You can't think how much I go through in my
mind from it altogether. I only wonder that I am
(13:19):
alive after what I have suffered for Edward's sake these
last four years, everything in such suspense and uncertainty, and
seeing him so seldom, we can hardly meet above twice
a year. I am sure I wonder my heart is
not quite broke.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Here she took out her handkerchief, but Eleanor did not
feel very compassionate, sometimes, continued Lucy, after wiping her eyes.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
I think whether it would not be better for us both
to break off the matter entirely.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
As she said this, she looked directly at her companion.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
But then at other times I have not resolution enough
for it. I cannot bear the thoughts of making him
so miserable as I know the very mention of such
a thing would do, and on my own account too,
so dear as he is to me, I don't think
I could be equal to it. What would you advise
me to do in such a case.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Miss Dashwood? What would you do yourself?
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Pardon me, replied Eleanor, startled by the question.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
But I can give you no advice under such circumstances.
Your own judgment must direct you.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
To be sure, continued Lucy, after a few minutes of
silence on both sides.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
His mother must provide for him some time or other.
But poor Edward is so cast down by it. Did
you not think him dreadful, low spirited when he was
at Barton? He was so miserable when he left us
at Longstaple to go to you that I was afraid
you would think him quite ill.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Did he come from your uncle's then when he visited us?
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Oh? Yes, he had been staying a fortnight with us.
Did you think he came directly?
Speaker 1 (15:01):
No, replied Eleanor. Most feelingly sensible of every fresh circumstance
in favor of Lucy's veracity.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
I remember he told us that he had been staying
a fortnight with some friends near Plymouth.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
She remembered too her own surprise at the time at
his mentioning nothing farther of those friends, at his total
silence with respect even to their names.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Did not you think him sadly out of spirits?
Speaker 1 (15:27):
Repeated Lucy.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
We did, indeed, particularly so when he first arrived.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
I begged him to exert himself, for fear you should
suspect what was the matter. But it made him so melancholy,
not being able to stay more than a fortnight with us,
and seeing me so much affected poor fellow. I am
afraid it is just the same with him now, for
he writes in wretched spirits. I heard from him just
before I left Exeter.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Taking a letter from her pocket and carelessly showing the
direction to Eleanor.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
You know his hair, and I daresay a charming one
it is, But that is not written so well as usual.
He was tired, I daresay, for he had just filled
the sheet to me as full as possible.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Eleanor saw that it was his hand, and she could
doubt no longer. This picture, she had allowed herself to believe,
might have been accidentally obtained. It might not have been
Edward's gift. But a correspondence between them by letter could
subsist only under a positive engagement, could be authorized by
(16:33):
nothing else. For a few moments she was almost overcome.
Her heart sunk within her, and she could hardly stand.
But exertion was indispensably necessary, and she struggled so resolutely
against the oppression of her feelings that her success was
speedy and for the time complete.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
Writing to each other, said.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Lucy, returning the letter into her.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Is the only comfort we have in such long separations. Yes,
I have one other comfort in his picture, But poor
Edward has not even that. If he had but my picture,
he says, he should be easy. I gave him a
lock of my hair set in a ring when he
was at Longstaple last, and that was some comfort to him,
(17:21):
he said, but not equal to a picture. Perhaps you
might notice the ring when you saw him, I did.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Said Eleanor, with a composure of voice, under which was
concealed an emotion and distress beyond anything she had ever
felt before. She was mortified, shocked, confounded, fortunately, for her.
They had now reached the cottage, and the conversation could
be continued no farther. After sitting with them a few minutes,
(17:51):
the miss Steeles returned to the park, and Eleanor was
then at liberty to think and be wretched. End of
Chapter twenty two.
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