Austen Said:

"Shall I tell you."

"Well then; I guess that Mr. Willoughby hunts."

I do not doubt it,"

"I do assure you,"

"that I have long thought on this point, as you think now. It has been, and is, and probably will always be a heavy misfortune to me, that I have had no necessary business to engage me, no profession to give me employment, or afford me any thing like independence. But unfortunately my own nicety, and the nicety of my friends, have made me what I am, an idle, helpless being. We never could agree in our choice of a profession. I always preferred the church, as I still do. But that was not smart enough for my family. They recommended the army. That was a great deal too smart for me. The law was allowed to be genteel enough; many young men, who had chambers in the Temple, made a very good appearance in the first circles, and drove about town in very knowing gigs. But I had no inclination for the law, even in this less abstruse study of it, which my family approved. As for the navy, it had fashion on its side, but I was too old when the subject was first started to enter it — and, at length, as there was no necessity for my having any profession at all, as I might be as dashing and expensive without a red coat on my back as with one, idleness was pronounced on the whole to be most advantageous and honourable, and a young man of eighteen is not in general so earnestly bent on being busy as to resist the solicitations of his friends to do nothing. I was therefore entered at Oxford and have been properly idle ever since."

"They will be brought up,"

"to be as unlike myself as is possible. In feeling, in action, in condition, in every thing."

"I think,"

"that I may defy many months to produce any good to me."

"Well,"

"we have brought you some strangers. How do you like them?"

"Never mind if they do. It is only the Palmers. Charlotte is very pretty, I can tell you. You may see her if you look this way."

"Where is Marianne? Has she run away because we are come? I see her instrument is open."

"No, none at all,"

"Here comes Marianne,"

"Now, Palmer, you shall see a monstrous pretty girl."

"How horrid all this is!"

"Such weather makes every thing and every body disgusting. Dullness is as much produced within doors as without, by rain. It makes one detest all one's acquaintance. What the devil does Sir John mean by not having a billiard room in his house? How few people know what comfort is! Sir John is as stupid as the weather."

"I am afraid, Miss Marianne,"

"you have not been able to take your usual walk to Allenham today."

"Much nearer thirty,"

"As vile a spot as I ever saw in my life,"

"My dear,"

"it is very provoking that we should be so few. Why did not you ask the Gilberts to come to us today?"

"Then you would be very ill-bred,"

"I did not know I contradicted any body in calling your mother ill-bred."

"Certainly,"

"I came into Devonshire with no other view."

"No,"

"I never said any thing so irrational. Don't palm all your abuses of languages upon me."

"Do come now,"

"pray come — you must come — I declare you shall come — You can't think how you will like them. Lucy is monstrous pretty, and so good humoured and agreeable! The children are all hanging about her already, as if she was an old acquaintance. And they both long to see you of all things, for they have heard at Exeter that you are the most beautiful creatures in the world; and I have told them it is all very true, and a great deal more. You will be delighted with them I am sure. They have brought the whole coach full of playthings for the children. How can you be so cross as not to come? Why they are your cousins, you know, after a fashion. YOU are my cousins, and they are my wife's, so you must be related."

"His name is Ferrars,"

"but pray do not tell it, for it's a great secret."

"I have a notion,"

"that Miss Marianne would not object to such a scheme, if her elder sister would come into it. It is very hard indeed that she should not have a little pleasure, because Miss Dashwood does not wish it. So I would advise you two, to set off for town, when you are tired of Barton, without saying a word to Miss Dashwood about it."

"Is your sister ill?"

"Yes,"

"almost ever since; I have been once or twice at Delaford for a few days, but it has never been in my power to return to Barton."

"I had the pleasure of hearing it at Mr. Palmer's, where I have been dining."

"Mrs. Palmer appeared quite well, and I am commissioned to tell you, that

"I thought you were both in Devonshire,"

"When do you go back again?"

"your sister looks unwell to-day,"

"your sister seems out of spirits,"

"your sister's engagement to Mr. Willoughby is very generally known."

"I beg your pardon, I am afraid my inquiry has been impertinent; but I had not supposed any secrecy intended, as they openly correspond, and their marriage is universally talked of."

"By many — by some of whom you know nothing, by others with whom you are most intimate, Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. Palmer, and the Middletons. But still I might not have believed it, for where the mind is perhaps rather unwilling to be convinced, it will always find something to support its doubts, if I had not, when the servant let me in today, accidentally seen a letter in his hand, directed to Mr. Willoughby in your sister's writing. I came to inquire, but I was convinced before I could ask the question. Is every thing finally settled? Is it impossible to-? But I have no right, and I could have no chance of succeeding. Excuse me, Miss Dashwood. I believe I have been wrong in saying so much, but I hardly know what to do, and on your prudence I have the strongest dependence. Tell me that it is all absolutely resolved on, that any attempt, that in short concealment, if concealment be possible, is all that remains."

"to your sister I wish all imaginable happiness; to Willoughby that he may endeavour to deserve her," —

"I did myself the honour of calling in Berkeley Street last Tuesday, and very much regretted that I was not fortunate enough to find yourselves and Mrs. Jennings at home. My card was not lost, I hope."