Austen Said:

"Aye, aye,"

"we know the reason of all that very well; if a certain person who shall be nameless, had been there, you would not have been a bit tired: and to say the truth it was not very pretty of him not to give you the meeting when he was invited."

"Invited!"

"So my daughter Middleton told me, for it seems Sir John met him somewhere in the street this morning."

to write the next morning to her mother, and hoped by awakening her fears for the health of Marianne, to procure those inquiries which had been so long delayed;

could not suppose it to be to any other person.

what he meant?

"It cannot be generally known,"

"for her own family do not know it."

"How can that be? By whom can you have heard it mentioned?"

The real state of things between Willoughby and her sister was so little known to herself, that in endeavouring to explain it, she might be as liable to say too much as too little.

Marianne's affection for Willoughby, could leave no hope of Colonel Brandon's success, whatever the event of that affection might be,

though she had never been informed by themselves of the terms on which they stood with each other, of their mutual affection she had no doubt, and of their correspondence she was not astonished to hear.

"Good heavens!"

"he is there — he is there — Oh! why does he not look at me? why cannot I speak to him?"

"Pray, pray be composed,"

"and do not betray what you feel to every body present. Perhaps he has not observed you yet."

"Good God! Willoughby, what is the meaning of this? Have you not received my letters? Will you not shake hands with me?"

"But have you not received my notes?"

"Here is some mistake I am sure — some dreadful mistake. What can be the meaning of it? Tell me, Willoughby; for heaven's sake tell me, what is the matter?"

"Go to him, Elinor,"

"and force him to come to me. Tell him I must see him again — must speak to him instantly. — I cannot rest — I shall not have a moment's peace till this is explained — some dreadful misapprehension or other. — Oh go to him this moment."

"How can that be done? No, my dearest Marianne, you must wait. This is not the place for explanations. Wait only till tomorrow."

he was gone,

would entreat Lady Middleton to take them home, as she was too miserable to stay a minute longer.

some kind of engagement had subsisted between Willoughby and Marianne

Willoughby was weary of it,

for however Marianne might still feed her own wishes, SHE could not attribute such behaviour to mistake or misapprehension of any kind. Nothing but a thorough change of sentiment could account for it.

Absence might have weakened his regard, and convenience might have determined him to overcome it, but that such a regard had formerly existed she could not bring herself to doubt.

while she could

ESTEEM

Edward as much as ever, however they might be divided in future, her mind might be always supported. But every circumstance that could embitter such an evil seemed uniting to heighten the misery of Marianne in a final separation from Willoughby — in an immediate and irreconcilable rupture with him.

"Marianne, may I ask-?"

"No, Elinor,"

"ask nothing; you will soon know all."

not to speak to her for the world.

it must come from Willoughby,

by hoping,

she would find it to her liking.

"Upon my word, I never saw a young woman so desperately in love in my life! MY girls were nothing to her, and yet they used to be foolish enough; but as for Miss Marianne, she is quite an altered creature. I hope, from the bottom of my heart, he won't keep her waiting much longer, for it is quite grievous to see her look so ill and forlorn. Pray, when are they to be married?"

"And have you really, Ma'am, talked yourself into a persuasion of my sister's being engaged to Mr. Willoughby? I thought it had been only a joke, but so serious a question seems to imply more; and I must beg, therefore, that you will not deceive yourself any longer. I do assure you that nothing would surprise me more than to hear of their being going to be married."

"For shame, for shame, Miss Dashwood! how can you talk so? Don't we all know that it must be a match, that they were over head and ears in love with each other from the first moment they met? Did not I see them together in Devonshire every day, and all day long; and did not I know that your sister came to town with me on purpose to buy wedding clothes? Come, come, this won't do. Because you are so sly about it yourself, you think nobody else has any senses; but it is no such thing, I can tell you, for it has been known all over town this ever so long. I tell every body of it and so does Charlotte."

"Indeed, Ma'am,"

"you are mistaken. Indeed, you are doing a very unkind thing in spreading the report, and you will find that you have though you will not believe me now."

Willoughby capable of departing so far from the appearance of every honourable and delicate feeling — so far from the common decorum of a gentleman, as to send a letter so impudently cruel: a letter which, instead of bringing with his desire of a release any professions of regret, acknowledged no breach of faith, denied all peculiar affection whatever — a letter of which every line was an insult, and which proclaimed its writer to be deep in hardened villainy.

"Poor Elinor! how unhappy I make you!"

"I only wish,"

"there were any thing I COULD do, which might be of comfort to you."

"Oh! Elinor, I am miserable, indeed,"

"Exert yourself, dear Marianne,"