Austen Said:

"have you been repeating to me what you only learnt yourself by listening at the door? I am sorry I did not know it before; for I certainly would not have suffered you to give me particulars of a conversation which you ought not to have known yourself. How could you behave so unfairly by your sister?"

"Well,"

"it is a comfort to be prepared against the worst. You have got your answer ready."

"Cleveland!" —

"No, I cannot go to Cleveland." —

"You forget,"

"that its situation is not...that it is not in the neighbourhood of..."

"But it is in Somersetshire. — I cannot go into Somersetshire. — There, where I looked forward to going...No, Elinor, you cannot expect me to go there."

as a measure which would fix the time of her returning to that dear mother, whom she so much wished to see, in a more eligible, more comfortable manner, than any other plan could do, and perhaps without any greater delay. From Cleveland, which was within a few miles of Bristol, the distance to Barton was not beyond one day, though a long day's journey; and their mother's servant might easily come there to attend them down; and as there could be no occasion of their staying above a week at Cleveland, they might now be at home in little more than three weeks' time.

"I shall always think myself very much obliged to you."

The preferment,

was already provided to enable him to marry; — and SHE, of all people in the world, was fixed on to bestow it!

to undertake the commission with pleasure, if it were really his wish to put off so agreeable an office to another.

no one could so well perform it as himself. It was an office in short, from which, unwilling to give Edward the pain of receiving an obligation from HER, she would have been very glad to be spared herself;

Edward,

was still in town, and fortunately she had heard his address from Miss Steele. She could undertake therefore to inform him of it, in the course of the day.

"The smallness of the house,"

"I cannot imagine any inconvenience to them, for it will be in proportion to their family and income."

"Thank you, ma'am,"

"It is a matter of great joy to me; and I feel the goodness of Colonel Brandon most sensibly. There are not many men who would act as he has done. Few people who have so compassionate a heart! I never was more astonished in my life."

"You judged from your knowledge of the Colonel's general benevolence; but at least you could not foresee that the opportunity would so very soon occur."

"You mean to go to Delaford after them I suppose,"

"He spoke of its being out of repair."

"Certainly, ma'am, I shall tell Marianne of it; but I shall not mention it at present to any body else."

"No, ma'am, not even Lucy if you please. One day's delay will not be very material; and till I have written to Mr. Ferrars, I think it ought not to be mentioned to any body else. I shall do THAT directly. It is of importance that no time should be lost with him, for he will of course have much to do relative to his ordination."

"Colonel Brandon is so delicate a man, that he rather wished any one to announce his intentions to Mr. Ferrars than himself."

"Certainly, ma'am,"

however difficult it might be to express herself properly by letter, it was at least preferable to giving the information by word of mouth,

"You would not have gone, however,"

"without receiving our good wishes, even if we had not been able to give them in person. Mrs. Jennings was quite right in what she said. I have something of consequence to inform you of, which I was on the point of communicating by paper. I am charged with a most agreeable office

Colonel Brandon,

who was here only ten minutes ago,

has desired me to say, that

Allow me to congratulate you on having so respectable and well-judging a friend, and to join in his wish that the living — it is about two hundred a-year — were much more considerable, and such as might better enable you to — as might be more than a temporary accommodation to yourself — such, in short, as might establish all your views of happiness."

"Yes,"

"Colonel Brandon means it as a testimony of his concern for what has lately passed — for the cruel situation in which the unjustifiable conduct of your family has placed you — a concern which I am sure Marianne, myself, and all your friends, must share; and likewise as a proof of his high esteem for your general character, and his particular approbation of your behaviour on the present occasion."

"The unkindness of your own relations has made you astonished to find friendship any where."

"You are very much mistaken. I do assure you that you owe it entirely, at least almost entirely, to your own merit, and Colonel Brandon's discernment of it. I have had no hand in it. I did not even know, till I understood his design, that the living was vacant; nor had it ever occurred to me that he might have had such a living in his gift. As a friend of mine, of my family, he may, perhaps — indeed I know he HAS, still greater pleasure in bestowing it; but, upon my word, you owe nothing to my solicitation."

"Indeed,"

"I believe that you will find him, on farther acquaintance, all that you have heard him to be, and as you will be such very near neighbours (for I understand the parsonage is almost close to the mansion-house,) it is particularly important that he SHOULD be all this."

"When I see him again,"

"I shall see him the husband of Lucy."

"No, ma'am; THAT was not very likely."

"Really,"

"I know so little of these kind of forms, that I can hardly even conjecture as to the time, or the preparation necessary; but I suppose two or three months will complete his ordination."

"My dear ma'am,"

"what can you be thinking of? — Why, Colonel Brandon's only object is to be of use to Mr. Ferrars."

"But Colonel Brandon does not seem to have any idea of the living's being enough to allow them to marry."

the probability of their not waiting for any thing more.

"It is perfectly true. — Colonel Brandon has given the living of Delaford to Edward."