‘Edward's love for me,’said Lucy,‘has been pretty well put to the test,by our long,very long absence since we were first engaged,and it has stood the trial so well that I should be unpardonable to doubt it now.I can safely say that he has never gave me one moment's alarm on that account from the first.’
Elinor hardly knew whether to smile or sigh at this assertion.
Lucy went on.‘I am rather of a jealous temper,too,by nature,and from our different situations in life,from his being so much more in the world than me,and our continual separation,I was enough inclined for suspicion to have found out the truth in an instant,if there had been the slightest alteration in his behaviour to me when we met,or any lowness of spirits that I could not account for,or if he had talked more of one lady than another,or seemed in any respect less happy at Longstaple than he used to be.I do not mean to say that I am particularly observant or quick-sighted in general,but in such a case I am sure I could not be deceived.’
‘All this,’thought Elinor,‘is very pretty;but it can impose upon neither of us.’
‘But what,’said she，after a short silence,‘are your views?or have you none but that of waiting for Mrs Ferrars's death,which is a melancholy and shocking extremity?Is her son determined to submit to this,and to all the tediousness of the many years of suspense in which it may involve you,rather than run the risk of her displeasure for a while by owning the truth?’
‘If we could be certain that it would be only for a while!But Mrs Ferrars is a very headstrong，proud woman,and in her first fit of anger upon hearing it,would very likely secure everything to Robert;and the idea of that,for Edward's sake,frightens away all my inclination for hasty measures.’
‘And for your own sake too,or you are carrying your disinterestedness beyond reason.’
Lucy looked at Elinor again,and was silent.
‘Do you know Mr Robert Ferrars?’asked Elinor.
‘Not at all-I never saw him;but I fancy he is very unlike his brother-silly and a great coxcomb.’
‘A great coxcomb!’repeated Miss Steele,whose ear had caught those words by a sudden pause in Marianne's music.‘Oh!they are talking of their favourite beaux,I dare say.’
‘No,sister,’cried Lucy,‘you are mistaken there,our favourite beaux are not great coxcombs.’
‘I can answer for it that Miss Dashwood's is not,’said Mrs Jennings,laughing heartily;‘for he is one of the modestest,prettiest-behaved young men I ever saw.But as for Lucy,she is such a sly little creature,there is no finding out who she likes.’
‘Oh!’cried Miss Steele,looking significantly round at them,‘I dare say Lucy's beau is quite as modest and pretty-behaved as Miss Dashwood's.’
Elinor blushed in spite of herself.Lucy bit her lip,and looked angrily at her sister.A mutual silence took place for some time.Lucy first put an end to it by saying in a lower tone,though Marianne was then giving them the powerful protection of a very magnificent concerto-
‘I will honestly tell you of one scheme which has lately come into my head for bringing matters to bear;indeed,I am bound to let you into the secret,for you are a party concerned.I dare say you have seen enough of Edward to know that he would prefer the church to every other profession.Now,my plan is that he should take orders as soon as he can,and then through your interest,which I am sure you would be kind enough to use out of friendship for him,and,I hope,out of some regard to me,your brother might be persuaded to give him Norland living;which I understand is a very good one,and the present incumbent not likely to live a great while.That would be enough for us to marry upon,and we might trust to time and chance for the rest.’
‘I should be always happy,’replied Elinor,‘to show any mark of my esteem and friendship for Mr Ferrars;but do not you perceive that my interest on such an occasion would be perfectly unnecessary?He is brother to Mrs John Dashwood-that must be recommendation enough to her husband.’
‘But Mrs John Dashwood would not much approve of Edward's going into orders.’
‘Then I rather suspect that my interest would do very little.’
They were again silent for many minutes.At length Lucy exclaimed with a deep sigh-
‘I believe it would be the wisest way to put an end to the business at once by dissolving the engagement.We seem so beset with difficulties on every side,that though it would make us miserable for a time,we should be happier perhaps in the end.But will you not give me your advice,Miss Dashwood?’
‘No,’answered Elinor,with a smile which concealed very agitated feelings,‘on such a subject I certainly will not.You know very well that my opinion would have no weight with you,unless it were on the side of your wishes.’
‘Indeed,you wrong me,’replied Lucy with great solemnity;‘I know nobody of whose judgment I think so highly as I do of yours;and I do really believe,that if you was to say to me,“I advise you by all means to put an end to your engagement with Edward Ferrars,it will be more for the happiness of both of you,”I should resolve upon doing it immediately.’
Elinor blushed for the insincerity of Edward's future wife,and replied,‘This compliment would effectually frighten me from giving any opinion on the subject,had I formed one.It raises my influence much too high;the power of dividing two people so tenderly attached is too much for an indifferent person.’
‘'Tis because you are an indifferent person,’said Lucy,with some pique,and laying a particular stress on those words,‘that your judgment might justly have such weight with me.If you could be supposed to be biased in any respect by your own feelings,your opinion would not be worth having.’
Elinor thought it wisest to make no answer to this,lest they might provoke each other to an unsuitable increase of ease and unreserve,and was even partly determined never to mention the subject again.Another pause,therefore,of many minutes’duration succeeded this speech,and Lucy was still the first to end it.