CHAPTER 41
Edward, having carried his thanks to Colonel Brandon, proceeded withhis happiness to Lucy; and such was the excess of it by the time hereached Bartlett's Buildings, that she was able to assure Mrs.Jennings, who called on her again the next day with hercongratulations, that she had never seen him in such spirits before inher life.
Her own happiness, and her own spirits, were at least very certain; andshe joined Mrs. Jennings most heartily in her expectation of theirbeing all comfortably together in Delaford Parsonage before Michaelmas.So far was she, at the same time, from any backwardness to give Elinorthat credit which Edward WOULD give her, that she spoke of herfriendship for them both with the most grateful warmth, was ready toown all their obligation to her, and openly declared that no exertionfor their good on Miss Dashwood's part, either present or future, wouldever surprise her, for she believed her capable of doing any thing inthe world for those she really valued. As for Colonel Brandon, she wasnot only ready to worship him as a saint, but was moreover trulyanxious that he should be treated as one in all worldly concerns;anxious that his tithes should be raised to the utmost; and scarcelyresolved to avail herself, at Delaford, as far as she possibly could,of his servants, his carriage, his cows, and his poultry.
It was now above a week since John Dashwood had called in BerkeleyStreet, and as since that time no notice had been taken by them of hiswife's indisposition, beyond one verbal enquiry, Elinor began to feelit necessary to pay her a visit.--This was an obligation, however,which not only opposed her own inclination, but which had not theassistance of any encouragement from her companions. Marianne, notcontented with absolutely refusing to go herself, was very urgent toprevent her sister's going at all; and Mrs. Jennings, though hercarriage was always at Elinor's service, so very much disliked Mrs.John Dashwood, that not even her curiosity to see how she looked afterthe late discovery, nor her strong desire to affront her by takingEdward's part, could overcome her unwillingness to be in her companyagain. The consequence was, that Elinor set out by herself to pay avisit, for which no one could really have less inclination, and to runthe risk of a tete-a-tete with a woman, whom neither of the others hadso much reason to dislike.
Mrs. Dashwood was denied; but before the carriage could turn from thehouse, her husband accidentally came out. He expressed great pleasurein meeting Elinor, told her that he had been just going to call inBerkeley Street, and, assuring her that Fanny would be very glad to seeher, invited her to come in.
They walked up stairs in to the drawing-room.--Nobody was there.
Fanny is in her own room, I suppose, said he:--I will go to herpresently, for I am sure she will not have the least objection in theworld to seeing YOU.-- Very far from it, indeed. NOW especially therecannot be--but however, you and Marianne were always greatfavourites.--Why would not Marianne come?--
Elinor made what excuse she could for her.
I am not sorry to see you alone, he replied, for I have a good dealto say to you. This living of Colonel Brandon's--can it be true?--hashe really given it to Edward?--I heard it yesterday by chance, and wascoming to you on purpose to enquire farther about it.
It is perfectly true.--Colonel Brandon has given the living ofDelaford to Edward.
Really!--Well, this is very astonishing!--no relationship!--noconnection between them!--and now that livings fetch such aprice!--what was the value of this?
About two hundred a year.
Very well--and for the next presentation to a living of thatvalue--supposing the late incumbent to have been old and sickly, andlikely to vacate it soon--he might have got I dare say--fourteenhundred pounds. And how came he not to have settled that matter beforethis person's death?--NOW indeed it would be too late to sell it, but aman of Colonel Brandon's sense!--I wonder he should be so improvidentin a point of such common, such natural, concern!--Well, I am convincedthat there is a vast deal of inconsistency in almost every humancharacter. I suppose, however--on recollection--that the case mayprobably be THIS. Edward is only to hold the living till the person towhom the Colonel has really sold the presentation, is old enough totake it.--Aye, aye, that is the fact, depend upon it.
Elinor contradicted it, however, very positively; and by relating thatshe had herself been employed in conveying the offer from ColonelBrandon to Edward, and, therefore, must understand the terms on whichit was given, obliged him to submit to her authority.
It is truly astonishing!--he cried, after hearing what shesaid--what could be the Colonel's motive?
A very simple one--to be of use to Mr. Ferrars.
Well, well; whatever Colonel Brandon may be, Edward is a very luckyman.--You will not mention the matter to Fanny, however, for though Ihave broke it to her, and she bears it vastly well,--she will not liketo hear it much talked of.
Elinor had some difficulty here to refrain from observing, that shethought Fanny might have borne with composure, an acquisition of wealthto her brother, by which neither she nor her child could be possiblyimpoverished.
Mrs. Ferrars, added he, lowering his voice to the tone becoming soimportant a subject, knows nothing about it at present, and I believeit will be best to keep it entirely concealed from her as long as maybe.-- When the marriage takes place, I fear she must hear of it all.
But why should such precaution be used?--Though it is not to besupposed that Mrs. Ferrars can have the smallest satisfaction inknowing that her son has money enough to live upon,--for THAT must bequite out of the question; yet why, upon her late behaviour, is shesupposed to feel at all?--She has done with her son, she cast him offfor ever, and has made all those over whom she had any influence, casthim off likewise. Surely, after doing so, she cannot be imaginedliable to any impression of sorrow or of joy on his account--she cannotbe interested in any thing that befalls him.-- She would not be so weakas to throw away the comfort of a child, and yet retain the anxiety ofa parent!
Ah! Elinor, said John, your reasoning is very good, but it isfounded on ignorance of human nature. When Edward's unhappy matchtakes place, depend upon it his mother will feel as much as if she hadnever discarded him; and, therefore every circumstance that mayaccelerate that dreadful event, must be concealed from her as much aspossible. Mrs. Ferrars can never forget that Edward is her son.
You surprise me; I should think it must nearly have escaped her memoryby THIS time.
You wrong her exceedingly. Mrs. Ferrars is one of the mostaffectionate mothers in the world.
Elinor was silent.
We think NOW,--said Mr. Dashwood, after a short pause, of ROBERT'Smarrying Miss Morton.
Elinor, smiling at the grave and decisive importance of her brother'stone, calmly replied,
The lady, I suppose, has no choice in the affair.
Choice!--how do you mean?
I only mean that I suppose, from your manner of speaking, it must bethe same to Miss Morton whether she marry Edward or Robert.
Certainly, there can be no difference; for Robert will now to allintents and purposes be considered as the eldest son;--and as to anything else, they are both very agreeable young men: I do not know thatone is superior to the other.
Elinor said no more, and John was also for a short time silent.--Hisreflections ended thus.
Of ONE thing, my dear sister, kindly taking her hand, and speaking inan awful whisper,--I may assure you;--and I WILL do it, because I knowit must gratify you. I have good reason to think--indeed I have itfrom the best authority, or I should not repeat it, for otherwise itwould be very wrong to say any thing about it--but I have it from thevery best authority--not that I ever precisely heard Mrs. Ferrars sayit herself--but her daughter DID, and I have it from her--That inshort, whatever objections there might be against a certain--a certainconnection--you understand me--it would have been far preferable toher, it would not have given her half the vexation that THIS does. Iwas exceedingly pleased to hear that Mrs. Ferrars considered it in thatlight--a very gratifying circumstance you know to us all. 'It wouldhave been beyond comparison,' she said, 'the least evil of the two, andshe would be glad to compound NOW for nothing worse.' But however, allthat is quite out of the question--not to be thought of ormentioned--as to any attachment you know--it never could be--all thatis gone by. But I thought I would just tell you of this, because Iknew how much it must please you. Not that you have any reason toregret, my dear Elinor. There is no doubt of your doing exceedinglywell--quite as well, or better, perhaps, all things considered. HasColonel Brandon been with you lately?
Elinor had heard enough, if not to gratify her vanity, and raise herself-importance, to agitate her nerves and fill her mind;--and she wastherefore glad to be spared from the necessity of saying much in replyherself, and from the danger of hearing any thing more from herbrother, by the entrance of Mr. Robert Ferrars. After a few moments'chat, John Dashwood, recollecting that Fanny was yet uninformed of hersister's being there, quitted the room in quest of her; and Elinor wasleft to improve her acquaintance with Robert, who, by the gayunconcern, the happy self-complacency of his manner while enjoying sounfair a division of his mother's love and liberality, to the prejudiceof his banished brother, earned only by his own dissipated course oflife, and that brother's integrity, was confirming her mostunfavourable opinion of his head and heart.
They had scarcely been two minutes by themselves, before he began tospeak of Edward; for he, too, had heard of the living, and was veryinquisitive on the subject. Elinor repeated the particulars of it, asshe had given them to John; and their effect on Robert, though verydifferent, was not less striking than it had been on HIM. He laughedmost immoderately. The idea of Edward's being a clergyman, and livingin a small parsonage-house, diverted him beyond measure;--and when tothat was added the fanciful imagery of Edward reading prayers in awhite surplice, and publishing the banns of marriage between John Smithand Mary Brown, he could conceive nothing more ridiculous.
Elinor, while she waited in silence and immovable gravity, theconclusion of such folly, could not restrain her eyes from being fixedon him with a look that spoke all the contempt it excited. It was alook, however, very well bestowed, for it relieved her own feelings,and gave no intelligence to him. He was recalled from wit to wisdom,not by any reproof of hers, but by his own sensibility.
We may treat it as a joke, said he, at last, recovering from theaffected laugh which had considerably lengthened out the genuine gaietyof the moment--but, upon my soul, it is a most serious business. PoorEdward! he is ruined for ever. I am extremely sorry for it--for Iknow him to be a very good-hearted creature; as well-meaning a fellowperhaps, as any in the world. You must not judge of him, MissDashwood, from YOUR slight acquaintance.--Poor Edward!--His manners arecertainly not the happiest in nature.--But we are not all born, youknow, with the same powers,--the same address.-- Poor fellow!--to seehim in a circle of strangers!--to be sure it was pitiable enough!--butupon my soul, I believe he has as good a heart as any in the kingdom;and I declare and protest to you I never was so shocked in my life, aswhen it all burst forth. I could not believe it.-- My mother was thefirst person who told me of it; and I, feeling myself called on to actwith resolution, immediately said to her, 'My dear madam, I do not knowwhat you may intend to do on the occasion, but as for myself, I mustsay, that if Edward does marry this young woman, I never will see himagain.' That was what I said immediately.-- I was most uncommonlyshocked, indeed!--Poor Edward!--he has done for himselfcompletely--shut himself out for ever from all decent society!--but, asI directly said to my mother, I am not in the least surprised at it;from his style of education, it was always to be expected. My poormother was half frantic.
Have you ever seen the lady?
Yes; once, while she was staying in this house, I happened to drop infor ten minutes; and I saw quite enough of her. The merest awkwardcountry girl, without style, or elegance, and almost without beauty.--I remember her perfectly. Just the kind of girl I should supposelikely to captivate poor Edward. I offered immediately, as soon as mymother related the affair to me, to talk to him myself, and dissuadehim from the match; but it was too late THEN, I found, to do any thing,for unluckily, I was not in the way at first, and knew nothing of ittill after the breach had taken place, when it was not for me, youknow, to interfere. But had I been informed of it a few hoursearlier--I think it is most probable--that something might have beenhit on. I certainly should have represented it to Edward in a verystrong light. 'My dear fellow,' I should have said, 'consider what youare doing. You are making a most disgraceful connection, and such aone as your family are unanimous in disapproving.' I cannot helpthinking, in short, that means might have been found. But now it isall too late. He must be starved, you know;--that is certain;absolutely starved.
He had just settled this point with great composure, when the entranceof Mrs. John Dashwood put an end to the subject. But though SHE neverspoke of it out of her own family, Elinor could see its influence onher mind, in the something like confusion of countenance with which sheentered, and an attempt at cordiality in her behaviour to herself. Sheeven proceeded so far as to be concerned to find that Elinor and hersister were so soon to leave town, as she had hoped to see more ofthem;--an exertion in which her husband, who attended her into theroom, and hung enamoured over her accents, seemed to distinguish everything that was most affectionate and graceful.