LITMIR.BIZ

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going on the following day to see a very fine place about twelve miles from Barton. It belonged to a brother-in-law of Colonel Brandon, who was then abroad.

      To somebody it appeared rather a bold undertaking, considering the time of year, and that it had rained everyday for the last fortnight. Elinor persuaded Mrs. Dashwood, who had already a cold, to stay at home.

      Chapter XIII

      Their excursion to Whitwell turned out very different from what Elinor had expected. She was prepared to be wet through, fatigued, and frightened; but the event was still more unfortunate, for they did not go at all.

      By ten o’clock the whole party was assembled at the park, where they ready to breakfast. The morning was rather favourable, though it had rained all night.

      While they were at breakfast the letters were brought in. Among the rest there was one for Colonel Brandon. He took it, looked at the direction, changed colour, and immediately left the room.

      “What is the matter with Brandon?” said Sir John.

      Nobody could tell.

      “I hope he has had no bad news,” said Lady Middleton. “It must be something extraordinary that could make Colonel Brandon leave my breakfast table so suddenly.”

      In about five minutes he returned.

      “No bad news, Colonel, I hope;” said Mrs. Jennings, as soon as he entered the room.

      “None at all, ma’am, I thank you.”

      “Was it from Avignon? I hope it is not to say that your sister is worse.”

      “No, ma’am. It came from town, and is merely a letter of business.”

      “But why does it discompose you so much, if it is only a letter of business? Come, come, Colonel; so let us hear the truth of it.”

      “My dear madam,” said Lady Middleton, “recollect what you are saying.”

      “Well, then, I know who it is from, Colonel. And I hope she is well.”

      “Whom do you mean, ma’am?” said he.

      “Oh! you know who I mean.”

      “I am particularly sorry, ma’am,” said he, addressing Lady Middleton, “that I receive this letter today, for it is on business which requires my immediate attendance in town.”

      “In town!” cried Mrs. Jennings. “What will you do in town at this time of year?”

      “I am very sorry,” he continued, “to leave you; as I fear my presence is necessary to gain your admittance at Whitwell.”

      “But if you write a note to the housekeeper, Mr. Brandon,” said Marianne, eagerly, “will it not be sufficient?”

      He shook his head.

      “We must go,” said Sir John. “You cannot go to town till tomorrow, Brandon, that is all.”

      “It is not in my power to delay my journey for one day!”

      “Let us know what your business is,” said Mrs. Jennings, “and we’ll see whether it can be put off or not.”

      Elinor then heard Willoughby say, in a low voice to Marianne,

      “There are some people who cannot bear a party of pleasure. Brandon is one of them. He is afraid of catching cold I dare say, and invented this trick. The letter is of his own writing.”

      “I have no doubt of it,” replied Marianne.

      “Well, then, when will you come back again?”

      “It is very uncertain.”

      “Oh! he must come back,” cried Sir John. “If he is not here by the end of the week, I shall go after him.”

      “So do, Sir John,” cried Mrs. Jennings, “and then perhaps you may find out what his business is. I wish you a good journey. But you must change your mind.”

      “I assure you it is not in my power,” said the Colonel.

      To Marianne, he merely bowed and said nothing. He wished Mrs. Jennings a good morning and left the room.

      “I can guess what his business is, however,” said Mrs. Jennings exultingly.

      “Can you, ma’am?” said almost everybody.

      “Yes; it is about Miss Williams, I am sure.”

      “And who is Miss Williams?” asked Marianne.

      “What! do not you know who Miss Williams is? She is a relation of the Colonel’s, my dear; a very near relation.” Then, lowering her voice a little, she said to Elinor, “She is his natural daughter[12].”

      “Indeed!”

      “Oh, yes; and I dare say the Colonel will leave her all his fortune.”

      Chapter XIV

      The sudden termination of Colonel Brandon’s visit filled the mind and raised the wonder of Mrs. Jennings for two or three days. She wondered what could be the reason of it.

      “Something very melancholy must be the matter, I am sure,” said she. “I saw it in his face. Poor man! I am afraid his circumstances may be bad. I will give anything to know the truth. Perhaps it is about Miss Williams and, I dare say it is, because he looked so conscious when I mentioned her. May be she is ill in town. Or may be his sister is ill at Avignon. Who knows.”

      So wondered, so talked Mrs. Jennings. Her opinion varied. Elinor, though she felt really interested in the welfare of Colonel Brandon, did not pay much attention. She was more interested in the extraordinary silence of her sister and Willoughby. As this silence continued, every day made it appear more strange. Why they did not openly acknowledge to her mother and herself, what their behaviour meant, Elinor could not imagine.

      She can easily conceive that marriage will not take place tomorrow; for though Willoughby is independent, there is no reason to believe him rich.

      Nothing could be more expressive of attachment to them all, than Willoughby’s behaviour. The cottage was considered and loved by him as his home; many hours were spent there.

      One evening, about a week after Colonel Brandon left, Mrs. Dashwood mentioned her design of improving the cottage in the spring. He warmly opposed every alteration of the place.

      “What!” he exclaimed – “Improve this dear cottage! No. Never! Not a stone must be added to its walls, not an inch to its size!”

      “Do not be alarmed,” said Miss Dashwood, “nothing of the kind will be done. My mother will never have money enough to attempt it.”

      “I am glad of it,” he cried. “May she always be poor, if she can employ her riches no better.”

      “Thank you, Willoughby. But are you really so attached to this place?”

      “I am,” said he. “To me it is faultless. I consider it as the only form of building in which happiness is attainable.”

      “With dark narrow stairs and a kitchen that smokes, I suppose,” said Elinor.

      “Yes,” cried he in the same eager tone, “with all and everything belonging to it. Under such a roof, I may perhaps be happy.”

      Mrs. Dashwood looked with pleasure at Marianne.

      “Mrs. Dashwood,” added he, “do you really want to spoil this house? You want to rob it of its simplicity by imaginary improvement! This dear parlour in which our acquaintance first began, and in which so many happy hours have been since spent by us together!”

      Mrs. Dashwood assured him that no alteration of the kind would be attempted.

      “You are a good woman,” he warmly replied. “Your promise makes me easy.”

      “Shall we see you tomorrow to dinner?” said Mrs. Dashwood, when he was leaving them. “I do not ask you to come in the morning, for we must walk to the park, to visit Lady Middleton.”

      He

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