It was too great a shock to be borne with calmness, and she immediately left the room.Elinor was disappointed too;but at the same time her regard for Colonel Brandon ensured his welcome with her; and she felt particularly hurt that a man so partial to her sister should perceive that she experienced nothing but grief and disappointment in seeing him.
She instantly saw that it was not unnoticed by him, that he even observed Marianne as she quitted the room, with such astonishment and concern, as hardly left him the recollection of what civility demanded towards herself.
"Is your sister ill?" said he.
Elinor answered in some distress that she was, and then talked of head-aches, low spirits, and over fatigues;and of every thing to which she could decently attribute her sister's behaviour.
He heard her with the most earnest attention, but seeming to recollect himself, said no more on the subject, and began directly to speak of his pleasure at seeing them in London, making the usual inquiries about their journey, and the friends they had left behind.
In this calm kind of way, with very little interest on either side, they continued to talk, both of them out of spirits, and the thoughts of both engaged elsewhere.
Elinor wished very much to ask whether Willoughby were then in town, but she was afraid of giving him pain by any enquiry after his rival; and at length, by way of saying something, she asked if he had been in London ever since she had seen him last."Yes," he replied, with some embarrassment, "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."This, and the manner in which it was said, immediately brought back to her remembrance all the circumstances of his quitting that place, with the uneasiness and suspicions they had caused to Mrs.Jennings, and she was fearful that her question had implied much more curiosity on the subject than she had ever felt.
Mrs.Jennings soon came in."Oh! Colonel,"said she, with her usual noisy cheerfulness, "I am monstrous glad to see you--sorry I could not come before--beg your pardon, but I have been forced to look about me a little, and settle my matters; for it is a long while since Ihave been at home, and you know one has always a world of little odd things to do after one has been away for any time; and then I have had Cartwright to settle with--Lord, I have been as busy as a bee ever since dinner!
But pray, Colonel, how came you to conjure out that I should be in town today?""I had the pleasure of hearing it at Mr.Palmer's, where I have been dining.""Oh, you did; well, and how do they all do at their house? How does Charlotte do? I warrant you she is a fine size by this time.""Mrs.Palmer appeared quite well, and I am commissioned to tell you, that you will certainly see her to-morrow.""Ay, to be sure, I thought as much.Well, Colonel, I have brought two young ladies with me, you see--that is, you see but one of them now, but there is another somewhere.
Your friend, Miss Marianne, too--which you will not be sorry to hear.I do not know what you and Mr.Willoughby will do between you about her.Ay, it is a fine thing to be young and handsome.Well! I was young once, but Inever was very handsome--worse luck for me.However, I got a very good husband, and I don't know what the greatest beauty can do more.Ah! poor man! he has been dead these eight years and better.But Colonel, where have you been to since we parted? And how does your business go on? Come, come, let's have no secrets among friends."He replied with his accustomary mildness to all her inquiries, but without satisfying her in any.
Elinor now began to make the tea, and Marianne was obliged to appear again.
After her entrance, Colonel Brandon became more thoughtful and silent than he had been before, and Mrs.Jennings could not prevail on him to stay long.
No other visitor appeared that evening, and the ladies were unanimous in agreeing to go early to bed.
