第29章

"Yes.I have explained it to myself in the most satisfactory way;--but you, Elinor, who love to doubt where you can--it will not satisfy YOU, I know; but you shall not talk ME out of my trust in it.I am persuaded that Mrs.Smith suspects his regard for Marianne, disapproves of it, (perhaps because she has other views for him,) and on that account is eager to get him away;--and that the business which she sends him off to transact is invented as an excuse to dismiss him.This is what Ibelieve to have happened.He is, moreover, aware that she DOES disapprove the connection, he dares not therefore at present confess to her his engagement with Marianne, and he feels himself obliged, from his dependent situation, to give into her schemes, and absent himself from Devonshire for a while.You will tell me, I know, that this may or may NOT have happened; but I will listen to no cavil, unless you can point out any other method of understanding the affair as satisfactory at this.

And now, Elinor, what have you to say?"

"Nothing, for you have anticipated my answer.""Then you would have told me, that it might or might not have happened.Oh, Elinor, how incomprehensible are your feelings! You had rather take evil upon credit than good.

You had rather look out for misery for Marianne, and guilt for poor Willoughby, than an apology for the latter.

You are resolved to think him blameable, because he took leave of us with less affection than his usual behaviour has shewn.And is no allowance to be made for inadvertence, or for spirits depressed by recent disappointment? Are no probabilities to be accepted, merely because they are not certainties? Is nothing due to the man whom we have all such reason to love, and no reason in the world to think ill of? To the possibility of motives unanswerable in themselves, though unavoidably secret for a while? And, after all, what is it you suspect him of?""I can hardly tell myself.But suspicion of something unpleasant is the inevitable consequence of such an alteration as we just witnessed in him.

There is great truth, however, in what you have now urged of the allowances which ought to be made for him, and it is my wish to be candid in my judgment of every body.

Willoughby may undoubtedly have very sufficient reasons for his conduct, and I will hope that he has.

But it would have been more like Willoughby to acknowledge them at once.Secrecy may be advisable; but still Icannot help wondering at its being practiced by him.""Do not blame him, however, for departing from his character, where the deviation is necessary.

But you really do admit the justice of what I have said in his defence?--I am happy--and he is acquitted.""Not entirely.It may be proper to conceal their engagement (if they ARE engaged) from Mrs.Smith--and if that is the case, it must be highly expedient for Willoughby to be but little in Devonshire at present.

But this is no excuse for their concealing it from us.""Concealing it from us! my dear child, do you accuse Willoughby and Marianne of concealment? This is strange indeed, when your eyes have been reproaching them every day for incautiousness.""I want no proof of their affection," said Elinor;"but of their engagement I do."

"I am perfectly satisfied of both."

"Yet not a syllable has been said to you on the subject, by either of them.""I have not wanted syllables where actions have spoken so plainly.Has not his behaviour to Marianne and to all of us, for at least the last fortnight, declared that he loved and considered her as his future wife, and that he felt for us the attachment of the nearest relation? Have we not perfectly understood each other?