Austen Said:

"there is nothing I so abominate for young people as a long engagement. It is what I always protested against for my children. It is all very well, I used to say, for young people to be engaged, if there is a certainty of their being able to marry in six months, or even in twelve; but a long engagement --"

"Yes, dear ma'am,"

"or an uncertain engagement, an engagement which may be long. To begin without knowing that at such a time there will be the means of marrying, I hold to be very unsafe and unwise, and what I think all parents should prevent as far as they can."

"Here, Frederick, you and I part company, I believe,"

"I am going home, and you have an engagement with your friend. To-night we may have the pleasure of all meeting again at your party,"

"We had your sister's card yesterday, and I understood Frederick had a card too, though I did not see it; and you are disengaged, Frederick, are you not, as well as ourselves?"

"By all means, my dear,"

"go home directly, and take care of yourself, that you may be fit for the evening. I wish Sarah was here to doctor you, but I am no doctor myself. Charles, ring and order a chair. She must not walk."

there had been no fall in the case;

Anne had not at any time lately slipped down, and got a blow on her head;

she was perfectly convinced of having had no fall;

finding her better at night.

"Oh! my dear, it is quite understood, I give you my word. Captain Harville has no thought but of going."

"To be sure I will, if you wish it. Charles, if you see Captain Harville anywhere, remember to give Miss Anne's message. But indeed, my dear, you need not be uneasy. Captain Harville holds himself quite engaged, I'll answer for it; and Captain Wentworth the same, I dare say."