Chapter 13

by Jane Austen

　　Their intended excursion to Whitwell turned outvery different from what Elinor had expected. She wasprepared to be wet through, fatigued, and frightened;but the event was still more unfortunate, for they didnot go at all.By ten o'clock the whole party was assembled atthe park, where they were to breakfast. The morningwas rather favourable, though it had rained all night,as the clouds were then dispersing across the sky,and the sun frequently appeared. They were all in highspirits and good humour, eager to be happy, and determinedto submit to the greatest inconveniences and hardshipsrather than be otherwise.While they were at breakfast the letters were brought in.Among the rest there was one for Colonel Brandon;--hetook it, looked at the direction, changed colour,and immediately left the room."What is the matter with Brandon?" said Sir John.Nobody could tell."I hope he has had no bad news," said Lady Middleton."It must be something extraordinary that could make ColonelBrandon leave my breakfast table so suddenly."In about five minutes he returned."No bad news, Colonel, I hope;" said Mrs. Jennings,as soon as he entered the room."None at all, ma'am, I thank you.""Was it from Avignon? I hope it is not to saythat your sister is worse.""No, ma'am. It came from town, and is merelya letter of business.""But how came the hand to discompose you so much,if it was only a letter of business? Come, come,this won't do, Colonel; so let us hear the truth of it.""My dear madam," said Lady Middleton, "recollect whatyou are saying.""Perhaps it is to tell you that your cousin Fannyis married?" said Mrs. Jennings, without attendingto her daughter's reproof."No, indeed, it is not.""Well, then, I know who it is from, Colonel. And Ihope she is well.""Whom do you mean, ma'am?" said he, colouring a little."Oh! you know who I mean.""I am particularly sorry, ma'am," said he,addressing Lady Middleton, "that I should receive thisletter today, for it is on business which requiresmy immediate attendance in town.""In town!" cried Mrs. Jennings. "What can youhave to do in town at this time of year?""My own loss is great," be continued, "in being obligedto leave so agreeable a party; but I am the more concerned,as I fear my presence is necessary to gain your admittanceat Whitwell."What a blow upon them all was this!"But if you write a note to the housekeeper, Mr. Brandon,"said Marianne, eagerly, "will it not be sufficient?"He shook his head."We must go," said Sir John.--"It shall not be putoff when we are so near it. You cannot go to town tilltomorrow, Brandon, that is all.""I wish it could be so easily settled. But itis not in my power to delay my journey for one day!""If you would but let us know what your business is,"said Mrs. Jennings, "we might see whether it could be putoff or not.""You would not be six hours later," said Willoughby,"if you were to defer your journey till our return.""I cannot afford to lose one hour."--Elinor then heard Willoughby say, in a low voice to Marianne,"There are some people who cannot bear a party of pleasure.Brandon is one of them. He was afraid of catching coldI dare say, and invented this trick for getting out of it.I would lay fifty guineas the letter was of his own writing.""I have no doubt of it," replied Marianne."There is no persuading you to change your mind,Brandon, I know of old," said Sir John, "when once youare determined on anything. But, however, I hope youwill think better of it. Consider, here are the two MissCareys come over from Newton, the three Miss Dashwoodswalked up from the cottage, and Mr. Willoughby got uptwo hours before his usual time, on purpose to go to Whitwell."Colonel Brandon again repeated his sorrow at beingthe cause of disappointing the party; but at the sametime declared it to be unavoidable."Well, then, when will you come back again?""I hope we shall see you at Barton," added her ladyship,"as soon as you can conveniently leave town; and we mustput off the party to Whitwell till you return.""You are very obliging. But it is so uncertain,when I may have it in my power to return, that I darenot engage for it at all.""Oh! he must and shall come back," cried Sir John."If he is not here by the end of the week, I shall goafter him.""Ay, so do, Sir John," cried Mrs. Jennings, "and thenperhaps you may find out what his business is.""I do not want to pry into other men's concerns.I suppose it is something he is ashamed of."Colonel Brandon's horses were announced."You do not go to town on horseback, do you?"added Sir John."No. Only to Honiton. I shall then go post.""Well, as you are resolved to go, I wish youa good journey. But you had better change your mind.""I assure you it is not in my power."He then took leave of the whole party."Is there no chance of my seeing you and your sistersin town this winter, Miss Dashwood?""I am afraid, none at all.""Then I must bid you farewell for a longer timethan I should wish to do."To Marianne, he merely bowed and said nothing."Come Colonel," said Mrs. Jennings, "before you go,do let us know what you are going about."He wished her a good morning, and, attended by Sir John,left the room.The complaints and lamentations which politenesshad hitherto restrained, now burst forth universally;and they all agreed again and again how provoking it wasto be so disappointed."I can guess what his business is, however,"said Mrs. Jennings exultingly."Can you, ma'am?" said almost every body."Yes; it is about Miss Williams, I am sure.""And who is Miss Williams?" asked Marianne."What! do not you know who Miss Williams is? I amsure you must have heard of her before. She is a relationof the Colonel's, my dear; a very near relation. We willnot say how near, for fear of shocking the young ladies."Then, lowering her voice a little, she said to Elinor,"She is his natural daughter.""Indeed!""Oh, yes; and as like him as she can stare.I dare say the Colonel will leave her all his fortune."When Sir John returned, he joined most heartilyin the general regret on so unfortunate an event;concluding however by observing, that as they wereall got together, they must do something by way ofbeing happy; and after some consultation it was agreed,that although happiness could only be enjoyed at Whitwell,they might procure a tolerable composure of mind by drivingabout the country. The carriages were then ordered;Willoughby's was first, and Marianne never lookedhappier than when she got into it. He drove throughthe park very fast, and they were soon out of sight;and nothing more of them was seen till their return,which did not happen till after the return of all the rest.They both seemed delighted with their drive; but saidonly in general terms that they had kept in the lanes,while the others went on the downs.It was settled that there should be a dance in the evening,and that every body should be extremely merry all day long.Some more of the Careys came to dinner, and they had thepleasure of sitting down nearly twenty to table, which SirJohn observed with great contentment. Willoughby tookhis usual place between the two elder Miss Dashwoods.Mrs. Jennings sat on Elinor's right hand; and they had notbeen long seated, before she leant behind her and Willoughby,and said to Marianne, loud enough for them both to hear,"I have found you out in spite of all your tricks.I know where you spent the morning."Marianne coloured, and replied very hastily,"Where, pray?"--"Did not you know," said Willoughby, "that we hadbeen out in my curricle?""Yes, yes, Mr. Impudence, I know that very well,and I was determined to find out where you had been to.--I hope you like your house, Miss Marianne. It is a verylarge one, I know; and when I come to see you, I hope youwill have new-furnished it, for it wanted it very muchwhen I was there six years ago."Marianne turned away in great confusion.Mrs. Jennings laughed heartily; and Elinor found that in herresolution to know where they had been, she had actuallymade her own woman enquire of Mr. Willoughby's groom;and that she had by that method been informed that theyhad gone to Allenham, and spent a considerable time therein walking about the garden and going all over the house.Elinor could hardly believe this to be true,as it seemed very unlikely that Willoughby should propose,or Marianne consent, to enter the house while Mrs. Smith wasin it, with whom Marianne had not the smallest acquaintance.As soon as they left the dining-room, Elinor enquiredof her about it; and great was her surprise when shefound that every circumstance related by Mrs. Jenningswas perfectly true. Marianne was quite angry with herfor doubting it."Why should you imagine, Elinor, that we did notgo there, or that we did not see the house? Is not itwhat you have often wished to do yourself?""Yes, Marianne, but I would not go while Mrs. Smithwas there, and with no other companion than Mr. Willoughby.""Mr. Willoughby however is the only person who canhave a right to shew that house; and as he went in an opencarriage, it was impossible to have any other companion.I never spent a pleasanter morning in my life.""I am afraid," replied Elinor, "that the pleasantnessof an employment does not always evince its propriety.""On the contrary, nothing can be a stronger proofof it, Elinor; for if there had been any real improprietyin what I did, I should have been sensible of it atthe time, for we always know when we are acting wrong,and with such a conviction I could have had no pleasure.""But, my dear Marianne, as it has already exposed youto some very impertinent remarks, do you not now beginto doubt the discretion of your own conduct?""If the impertinent remarks of Mrs. Jennings areto be the proof of impropriety in conduct, we are alloffending every moment of our lives. I value not hercensure any more than I should do her commendation.I am not sensible of having done anything wrong in walkingover Mrs. Smith's grounds, or in seeing her house.They will one day be Mr. Willoughby's, and--""If they were one day to be your own, Marianne,you would not be justified in what you have done."She blushed at this hint; but it was even visiblygratifying to her; and after a ten minutes' interval ofearnest thought, she came to her sister again, and saidwith great good humour, "Perhaps, Elinor, it was ratherill-judged in me to go to Allenham; but Mr. Willoughby wantedparticularly to shew me the place; and it is a charming house,I assure you.--There is one remarkably pretty sitting roomup stairs; of a nice comfortable size for constant use,and with modern furniture it would be delightful.It is a corner room, and has windows on two sides.On one side you look across the bowling-green, behindthe house, to a beautiful hanging wood, and on the other youhave a view of the church and village, and, beyond them,of those fine bold hills that we have so often admired.I did not see it to advantage, for nothing could bemore forlorn than the furniture,--but if it were newlyfitted up--a couple of hundred pounds, Willoughby says,would make it one of the pleasantest summer-roomsin England."Could Elinor have listened to her without interruptionfrom the others, she would have described every roomin the house with equal delight.