Chapter 4

by Jane Austen

　　"What a pity it is, Elinor," said Marianne,"that Edward should have no taste for drawing.""No taste for drawing!" replied Elinor, "why shouldyou think so? He does not draw himself, indeed, but he hasgreat pleasure in seeing the performances of other people,and I assure you he is by no means deficient in natural taste,though he has not had opportunities of improving it.Had he ever been in the way of learning, I think he wouldhave drawn very well. He distrusts his own judgmentin such matters so much, that he is always unwillingto give his opinion on any picture; but he has an innatepropriety and simplicity of taste, which in generaldirect him perfectly right."Marianne was afraid of offending, and said no moreon the subject; but the kind of approbation which Elinordescribed as excited in him by the drawings of otherpeople, was very far from that rapturous delight, which,in her opinion, could alone be called taste. Yet, thoughsmiling within herself at the mistake, she honouredher sister for that blind partiality to Edward which produced it."I hope, Marianne," continued Elinor, "you do notconsider him as deficient in general taste. Indeed, I thinkI may say that you cannot, for your behaviour to himis perfectly cordial, and if that were your opinion,I am sure you could never be civil to him."Marianne hardly knew what to say. She wouldnot wound the feelings of her sister on any account,and yet to say what she did not believe was impossible.At length she replied:"Do not be offended, Elinor, if my praise of himis not in every thing equal to your sense of his merits.I have not had so many opportunities of estimating the minuterpropensities of his mind, his inclinations and tastes,as you have; but I have the highest opinion in the worldof his goodness and sense. I think him every thing that isworthy and amiable.""I am sure," replied Elinor, with a smile,"that his dearest friends could not be dissatisfiedwith such commendation as that. I do not perceivehow you could express yourself more warmly."Marianne was rejoiced to find her sister so easily pleased."Of his sense and his goodness," continued Elinor,"no one can, I think, be in doubt, who has seen himoften enough to engage him in unreserved conversation.The excellence of his understanding and his principlescan be concealed only by that shyness which too oftenkeeps him silent. You know enough of him to do justiceto his solid worth. But of his minuter propensities,as you call them you have from peculiar circumstancesbeen kept more ignorant than myself. He and I havebeen at times thrown a good deal together, while youhave been wholly engrossed on the most affectionateprinciple by my mother. I have seen a great deal of him,have studied his sentiments and heard his opinion onsubjects of literature and taste; and, upon the whole,I venture to pronounce that his mind is well-informed,enjoyment of books exceedingly great, his imagination lively,his observation just and correct, and his taste delicateand pure. His abilities in every respect improveas much upon acquaintance as his manners and person.At first sight, his address is certainly not striking;and his person can hardly be called handsome, till theexpression of his eyes, which are uncommonly good,and the general sweetness of his countenance, is perceived.At present, I know him so well, that I think himreally handsome; or at least, almost so. What say you,Marianne?""I shall very soon think him handsome, Elinor, if Ido not now. When you tell me to love him as a brother,I shall no more see imperfection in his face, than I now doin his heart."Elinor started at this declaration, and was sorry forthe warmth she had been betrayed into, in speaking of him.She felt that Edward stood very high in her opinion.She believed the regard to be mutual; but she requiredgreater certainty of it to make Marianne's convictionof their attachment agreeable to her. She knew thatwhat Marianne and her mother conjectured one moment,they believed the next--that with them, to wish was to hope,and to hope was to expect. She tried to explain the realstate of the case to her sister."I do not attempt to deny," said she, "that I thinkvery highly of him--that I greatly esteem, that I like him."Marianne here burst forth with indignation--"Esteem him! Like him! Cold-hearted Elinor! Oh!worse than cold-hearted! Ashamed of being otherwise.Use those words again, and I will leave the room this moment."Elinor could not help laughing. "Excuse me,"said she; "and be assured that I meant no offence to you,by speaking, in so quiet a way, of my own feelings.Believe them to be stronger than I have declared;believe them, in short, to be such as his merit, and thesuspicion--the hope of his affection for me may warrant,without imprudence or folly. But farther than this you mustnot believe. I am by no means assured of his regard for me.There are moments when the extent of it seems doubtful;and till his sentiments are fully known, you cannot wonderat my wishing to avoid any encouragement of my own partiality,by believing or calling it more than it is. In my heartI feel little--scarcely any doubt of his preference.But there are other points to be considered besideshis inclination. He is very far from being independent.What his mother really is we cannot know; but, from Fanny'soccasional mention of her conduct and opinions, we havenever been disposed to think her amiable; and I am verymuch mistaken if Edward is not himself aware that therewould be many difficulties in his way, if he were to wishto marry a woman who had not either a great fortune orhigh rank."Marianne was astonished to find how much the imaginationof her mother and herself had outstripped the truth."And you really are not engaged to him!" said she."Yet it certainly soon will happen. But two advantageswill proceed from this delay. I shall not lose you so soon,and Edward will have greater opportunity of improvingthat natural taste for your favourite pursuit which mustbe so indispensably necessary to your future felicity.Oh! if he should be so far stimulated by your genius as tolearn to draw himself, how delightful it would be!"Elinor had given her real opinion to her sister.She could not consider her partiality for Edwardin so prosperous a state as Marianne had believed it.There was, at times, a want of spirits about him which,if it did not denote indifference, spoke a something almostas unpromising. A doubt of her regard, supposing himto feel it, need not give him more than inquietude.It would not be likely to produce that dejection of mindwhich frequently attended him. A more reasonable causemight be found in the dependent situation which forbadthe indulgence of his affection. She knew that his motherneither behaved to him so as to make his home comfortableat present, nor to give him any assurance that he might forma home for himself, without strictly attending to her viewsfor his aggrandizement. With such a knowledge as this,it was impossible for Elinor to feel easy on the subject.She was far from depending on that result of his preferenceof her, which her mother and sister still consideredas certain. Nay, the longer they were together the moredoubtful seemed the nature of his regard; and sometimes,for a few painful minutes, she believed it to be no morethan friendship.But, whatever might really be its limits, it was enough,when perceived by his sister, to make her uneasy,and at the same time, (which was still more common,)to make her uncivil. She took the first opportunity ofaffronting her mother-in-law on the occasion, talking toher so expressively of her brother's great expectations,of Mrs. Ferrars's resolution that both her sons shouldmarry well, and of the danger attending any young womanwho attempted to draw him in; that Mrs. Dashwood couldneither pretend to be unconscious, nor endeavor to be calm.She gave her an answer which marked her contempt,and instantly left the room, resolving that, whatever mightbe the inconvenience or expense of so sudden a removal,her beloved Elinor should not be exposed another weekto such insinuations.In this state of her spirits, a letter was deliveredto her from the post, which contained a proposalparticularly well timed. It was the offer of a small house,on very easy terms, belonging to a relation of her own,a gentleman of consequence and property in Devonshire.The letter was from this gentleman himself, and writtenin the true spirit of friendly accommodation.He understood that she was in need of a dwelling;and though the house he now offered her was merely a cottage,he assured her that everything should be done to it whichshe might think necessary, if the situation pleased her.He earnestly pressed her, after giving the particularsof the house and garden, to come with her daughters toBarton Park, the place of his own residence, from whenceshe might judge, herself, whether Barton Cottage, for thehouses were in the same parish, could, by any alteration,be made comfortable to her. He seemed really anxious toaccommodate them and the whole of his letter was writtenin so friendly a style as could not fail of giving pleasureto his cousin; more especially at a moment when she wassuffering under the cold and unfeeling behaviour of hernearer connections. She needed no time for deliberationor inquiry. Her resolution was formed as she read.The situation of Barton, in a county so far distant fromSussex as Devonshire, which, but a few hours before,would have been a sufficient objection to outweigh everypossible advantage belonging to the place, was now itsfirst recommendation. To quit the neighbourhood of Norlandwas no longer an evil; it was an object of desire;it was a blessing, in comparison of the misery of continuingher daughter-in-law's guest; and to remove for everfrom that beloved place would be less painful than toinhabit or visit it while such a woman was its mistress.She instantly wrote Sir John Middleton her acknowledgmentof his kindness, and her acceptance of his proposal;and then hastened to shew both letters to her daughters,that she might be secure of their approbation before heranswer were sent.Elinor had always thought it would be more prudentfor them to settle at some distance from Norland,than immediately amongst their present acquaintance.On that head, therefore, it was not for her to opposeher mother's intention of removing into Devonshire.The house, too, as described by Sir John, was on sosimple a scale, and the rent so uncommonly moderate,as to leave her no right of objection on either point;and, therefore, though it was not a plan which broughtany charm to her fancy, though it was a removal fromthe vicinity of Norland beyond her wishes, she madeno attempt to dissuade her mother from sending a letterof acquiescence.