;he
is
a
very
young
man
,
and
you
must
not
make
mischief
.
You
have
been
talking
a
great
deal
with
him
,
you
know
that
surely
;
and
flirting
,
the
world
would
say
,
and
now
that
another
man
is
going
to
marry
you
,
that
man
may
take
fancies
against
Peter
;
you
must
say
nothing
against
Peter
,
that’s
the
only
reparation
you
can
make
.
”
“
I
have
never
...
...
”
“
Yes
,
you
have
—
never
mind
that
.
Have
you
talked
to
Mr.
Leslie
about
that
time
when
you
stayed
at
home
on
account
of
a
bad
headache
you
had
,
and
then
walked
to
the
stone
quarry
?
”
“
Had
I
a
bad
headache
?
”
“
Yes
,
of
course
,
you
can’t
forget
that
.
”
“
I
don’t
think
...
...
”
“
Yes
,
very
bad
,
you
did
not
drive
with
me
to
the
glen
on
account
of
it
.
”
Elinor
was
silent
.
“
Have
you
talked
to
him
about
it
?
I
say
.
”
“
No.
”
“
Oh
!
that’s
very
well
,
then
do
not
.
I
know
that
you
and
Peter
went
together
.
”
“
No
...
...
he
...
...
”
“
Well
,
came
back
together
,
from
the
stone
quarry
,
and
if
you
were
to
make
a
long
story
about
it
to
Mr.
Leslie
,
there
is
no
knowing
what
might
happen
.
It
was
foolish
,
perhaps
thoughtless
that
is
,
in
my
dear
cousin
,
but
merely
that
,
scarcely
that
;
and
Mr.
Leslie
is
so
proud
,
he
might
take
the
greatest
offence
,
he
might
shoot
him
dead
,
my
poor
cousin
.
”
“
Might
he
really
?
”
said
Elinor
.
“
So
promise
me
one
thing
,
never
to
say
one
word
about
that
walk
—
now
promise
.
”
“
I
never
will
,
if
I
can
help
it
.
”
“
Oh
!
you
can
help
it
of
course
.
Promise
.
”
“
I
promise
,
as
far
as
I
can
,
”
said
Elinor
.
“
Can
!
ridiculous
!
however
,
that
will
do
,
and
now
pray
let
me
be
quiet
.
I
really
cannot
talk
any
more
,
my
poor
head
in
such
a
state
.
”
And
now
putting
her
hand
to
her
head
,
she
leaned
it
down
against
the
back
of
her
easy
chair
,
and
there
in
anything
but
ease
,
she
acted
the
motionless
invalid
,
in
which
character
she
could
escape
further
conversation
,
yet
retain
the
young
girl
as
nurse
,
and
watch
in
her
room
.
This
lasted
till
bed
time
,
and
a
severe
trial
it
was
.
When
at
last
she
had
dismissed
Elinor
,
with
severe
directions
to
go
at
once
to
her
chamber
,
and
had
got
rid
of
the
importunate
services
of
her
maid
,
she
was
at
liberty
to
start
up
,
and
walking
through
her
room
,
to
give
vent
to
the
bodily
expressions
of
the
tempest
in
her
mind
.
The
one
fixed
purpose
was
that
the
marriage
of
Elinor
and
Leslie
should
be
prevented
.
She
had
ceased
to
justify
that
purpose
to
herself
,
and
had
reached
the
point
when
the
right
or
wrong
was
cast
aside
,
and
the
end
only
,
kept
resolutely
in
view
.
When
all
the
house
was
quiet
,
when
her
brother
had
come
,
and
tenderly
stroked
her
hair
,
asking
how
his
little
Laura
did
now
;
when
he
was
gone
,
carefully
closing
the
door
without
noise
behind
him
,
Laura
unlocked
her
desk
,
pressed
the
spring
of
the
secret
drawer
within
,
and
took
out
a
slip
of
written
paper
,
poor
Elinor’s
note
to
Leslie
,
which
had
fallen
on
the
ground
the
night
of
their
interview
in
the
wood
.
And
there
in
the
early
hours
,
between
night
and
morning
,
when
she
ought
to
have
been
stretched
in
maiden
slumber
on
her
bed
,
when
she
ought
to
have
been
profiting
by
the
safety
and
the
indulgence
of
her
prosperous
position
,
Laura
sat
cold
and
weary
,
yet
absorbed
from
such
feelings
,
patiently
effacing
by
the
smallest
advances
one
letter
after
another
from
the
harmless
billet
,
in
order
to
replace
them
by
others
which
should
carry
condemnation
to
the
guiltless
writer
.
Her
brother’s
name
was
the
word
she
rubbed
out
;
and
then
with
a
pen
,
prepared
with
the
most
delicate
touches
of
the
knife
,
and
tried
twenty
times
before
it
suited
her
,
Leslie’s
was
the
one
she
put
in
.
Now
it
stood
—
“
I
cannot
come
to‐night
.
Mr.
Leslie
forbids
me
to
go
out
.
—
ELINOR
LADYLIFT
.
”
This
note
thus
altered
,
she
purposed
to
convey
to
Sir
Peter
as
coming
from
Elinor
,
and
from
him
it
should
pass
either
by
Sir
Peter
,
or
by
Laura
herself
to
Leslie
,
whom
she
trusted
it
would
persuade
of
Elinor’s
falsity
,
and
by
so
doing
wrench
two
hearts
asunder
.
There
were
chances
of
an
explanation
between
them
,
and
that
Laura
saw
with
fearful
distinctness
;
should
it
take
place
,
her
plot
was
ruined
,
and
she
herself
with
it
—
where
should
she
be
then
?
“
Hated
,
despised
!
”
she
cried
to
herself
;
“
for
ever
parted
from
him
.
But
so
I
am
now
.
Can
it
be
worse
than
to
see
her
in
my
place
.
Oh
!
nothing
is
worse
.
Death
were
most
dear
in
comparison
...
...
”
and
as
she
said
so
,
tears
of
self‐compassion
broke
from
her
eyes
,
and
she
laid
her
head
on
her
arms
and
wept
.
Presently
she
rose
from
this
position
,
and
letting
her
dressing‐gown
fall
from
her
shoulders
,
put
one
knee
on
her
luxurious
bed
,
and
laid
herself
down
beneath
the
fine
woollen
,
fine
linen
of
the
bed
clothes
.
“
Alas
!
”
she
said
to
herself
,
“
if
the
felicity
which
I
labour
through
all
obstacles
to
attain
were
mine
by
the
gracious
course
of
fortune
and
fate
,
how
good
I
could
be
,
how
kind
to
others
,
how
grateful
myself
!
”
CHAPTER
VIII
.
THE
next
morning
,
after
breakfast
,
Leslie
contrived
to
say
to
Elinor
,
that
he
had
been
unjustly
deprived
of
her
society
the
previous
evening
,
and
that
she
must
come
out
and
walk
with
him
.
“
Miss
Chanson
can
say
nothing
against
it
,
”
he
added
;
“
for
you
need
only
answer
her
that
you
are
going
with
your
affianced
husband
,
and
her
brother
won’t
think
of
us
one
way
or
the
other
.
”
“
Besides
,
”
said
Elinor
,
“
he
will
be
at
the
stable
for
the
next
half
hour
,
and
Miss
Chanson
will
have
the
housekeeper
almost
directly
.
I
can
come
down
the
turret
stair
and
out
by
the
great
Datura
.
”
“
We
are
doing
all
we
can
to
spoil
the
most
guileless
nature
in
the
world
,
”
said
Leslie
to
himself
;
“
when
she
came
here
,
such
a
woman’s
calculation
as
that
was
out
of
the
reach
of
her
imagination
.
Well
,
well
,
she
is
a
creature
of
whom
I
am
most
unworthy
,
be
she
spoiled
a
little
or
not
.
”
In
about
a
quarter
of
an
hour
Elinor
did
as
she
had
proposed
and
joined
him
in
the
garden
,
and
then
seizing
her
hand
he
led
her
into
the
park
and
out
thence
to
the
fields
,
and
soon
they
were
quite
away
from
all
frequented
track
.
It
was
an
autumn
day
,
the
heavy
mists
were
golden
with
the
sun
which
was
vigorously
dispelling
them
from
the
valleys
and
brook
courses
,
and
lifting
them
up
all
gorgeously
from
the
glowing
earth
.
The
red
berries
of
the
wild
convolvulus
hung
in
long
festoons
upon
the
hedges
,
and
its
yellow
leaves
shone
like
pale
gold
in
the
sun
.
The
wild
cherry
trees
were
glowing
with
bright
red
,
the
birch
all
amber
;
the
ferns
dressed
the
hill
sides
with
their
rich
shapes
and
colours
,
and
the
hills
drew
nearer
than
usual
,
with
every
white
house
and
spire
distinct
on
their
intense
blue
.
A
fragrance
of
vegetation
came
and
went
on
the
breeze
;
perhaps
it
was
the
breath
of
dying
Nature
,
but
it
pleased
the
lungs
with
its
exciting
draught
.
“
I
feel
my
heart
beating
”
said
Elinor
;
“
at
seeing
everything
so
beautiful
.
Why
does
it
beat
?
”
“
Because
everything
is
so
beautiful
,
”
said
Leslie
,
smiling
.
“
And
you
told
me
I
might
enjoy
the
pleasure
,
”
said
Elinor
.
“
Yes
,
it
is
fitted
to
give
enjoyment
.
It
is
innocent
;
you
feel
no
regret
afterwards
.
”
“
No
,
I
don’t
,
”
said
Elinor
;
“
but
I
should
have
done
so
in
my
convent
,
because
I
was
taught
to
fear
the
things
I
liked
.
It
was
you
who
taught
me
differently
.
”
“
Yes
;
but
at
all
events
do
whatever
you
think
is
right
,
”
said
Leslie
.
“
I
only
meant
to
say
that
whatever
is
good
and
pleasant
you
may
do
.
”
“
I
think
”
said
Elinor
,
“
that
walking
through
this
autumn
country
,
and
my
hand
held
by
yours
is
both
.
”
“
Both
,
both
,
”
said
Leslie
;
“
and
it
will
soon
be
our
right
for
ever
.
We
shall
be
never
parted
,
Elinor
;
never
,
not
at
all
,
together
always
,
and
it
will
be
right
to
be
so
;
do
you
understand
?
”
“
Yes
,
”
said
Elinor
,
her
calm
,
maidenly
face
looking
straight
forward
;
“
there
will
be
no
stranger
to
interrupt
our
talk
,
no
necessity
to
ask
anybody’s
leave
to
walk
with
you
.
I
may
sit
in
the
room
where
you
write
,
and
work
without
talking
;
when
you
like
,
I
may
sing
what
you
only
like
;
if
you
are
tired
you
can
sleep
without
caring
whether
I
am
there
or
not
,
and
I
shall
be
there
watching
that
neither
the
sun
nor
the
flies
disturb
you
.
I
have
been
thinking
of
all
those
things
.
”
Leslie
was
silent
.
It
was
a
new
,
strange
pleasure
to
hear
the
meditations
of
that
innocent
heart
.
He
believed
at
that
hour
what
so
very
few
men
have
the
enjoyment
of
believing
,
the
purity
and
guilelessness
there
can
be
,
and
is
,
in
many
young
girls
.
His
pleasure
was
like
that
of
a
man
who
gets
sight
of
an
unsunned
treasure
,
which
the
earthly
air
and
light
he
lets
in
will
soon
crumble
away
;
but
which
is
there
and
has
been
there
in
perfection
,
for
all
the
time
before
he
discovered
it
.
The
loveliness
of
the
day
,
the
accidents
of
the
scene
gave
scope
to
the
easy
happiness
they
were
enjoying
.
It
grew
hot
,
and
Elinor
untied
her
bonnet
in
the
shade
,
and
Leslie
took
it
from
her
to
carry
,
maltreating
the
ribbons
as
he
talked
and
walked
,
and
then
laughing
with
Elinor
at
his
male
ignorance
of
their
nature
and
wants
.
They
came
to
a
steep
slope
,
and
beginning
to
move
quicker
and
quicker
down
it
,
ended
by
running
at
the
top
of
Elinor’s
speed
,
so
that
laughing
,
and
the
blood
mounting
in
her
cool
cheek
,
she
came
to
the
bottom
holding
tight
by
Leslie’s
arm
,
while
he
kept
her
safely
on
her
feet
,
and
laughed
with
her
at
nothing
but
their
own
spirits
,
and
their
own
active
frames
.
There
,
as
they
coasted
along
a
high
bank
with
an
irregular
hedge
on
the
crest
,
Elinor’s
eye
was
caught
by
something
hounding
about
in
the
fern
,
and
in
a
moment
they
saw
it
was
a
leveret
which
seemed
at
play
so
near
them
.
Elinor
paused
to
look
,
but
Leslie
saw
how
it
was
,
and
said
it
was
caught
in
a
noose
,
and
the
string
was
tightening
round
its
neck
.
“
Oh
!
how
cruel
,
how
wicked
!
”
said
Elinor
;
“
who
could
!
loose
it
do
,
pray
.
”
Leslie
,
to
obey
Elinor
,
went
up
the
bank
and
tried
to
lay
hold
of
the
leveret
,
which
,
half
dead
as
it
was
,
still
sprang
about
to
avoid
him
.
“
It
will
die
,
”
cried
Elinor
,
the
tears
almost
running
over
;
“
oh
!
do
catch
it
,
”
and
she
also
scrambled
up
,
and
helped
Leslie
to
try
to
lay
hold
of
it
.
At
last
they
succeeded
.
Then
Leslie
,
with
one
hand
upon
the
suffocated
little
beast
,
searched
his
waistcoat
pocket
for
a
knife
,
and
gave
it
to
Elinor
to
open
,
and
to
insinuate
it
between
the
leveret’s
neck
and
the
string
in
order
to
set
it
free
.
He
watched
her
earnest
face
,
all
given
over
to
pity
and
interest
;
her
fear
to
give
pain
,
her
resolution
to
venture
it
,
her
disgust
at
suffering
inflicted
;
and
she
,
thinking
of
nothing
but
the
leveret
,
most
delicately
,
most
skilfully
got
in
the
knife
,
and
drawing
the
sharp
edge
across
the
string
released
it
.
The
poor
leveret
,
under
the
sudden
revulsion
of
blood
to
its
natural
course
,
lost
all
active
power
,
and
lay
motionless
.
“
Poor
brute
,
it’s
all
over
,
”
said
Leslie
,
putting
it
on
the
grass
;
but
Elinor
was
not
so
indifferent
.
She
raised
its
head
upon
a
little
tussock
,
stroked
it
gently
,
pitied
it
,
while
her
lover
stood
by
smiling
at
the
pretty
picture
;
and
at
last
the
leveret
began
to
move
,
and
Elinor
was
relieved
and
delighted
.
“
Oh
!
I’ll
carry
it
home
,
”
she
said
,
breaking
off
a
great
burdock
leaf
,
and
placing
the
little
body
upon
it
;
then
carefully
set
it
on
her
arms
,
and
Leslie
held
her
by
the
elbow
,
to
get
her
safely
down
the
bank
.
“
I’ll
get
what
they
call
a
whisket
for
it
,
”
said
Elinor
,
pleased
like
a
fresh
child
with
the
imaginary
details
of
the
leveret’s
life
;
“
and
keep
it
in
my
room
,
and
give
it
leaves
.
What
does
it
like
best
?
”
“
Flowers
,
I
think
,
”
said
Leslie
;
“
any
fresh
,
tender
annuals
out
of
the
garden
.
It
will
eat
up
the
verbenas
with
the
greatest
pleasure
.
”
“
Do
you
think
you
can
get
some
?
”
said
Elinor
.
“
Oh
yes
,
every
morning
;
but
I
must
take
care
Miss
Chanson
does
not
see
me
.
”
“
Oh
!
you
must
not
hurt
her
garden
.
”
“
Well
,
well
;
we
will
take
the
hare
away
with
us
,
when
you
and
I
go
away
ourselves
,
and
it
shall
have
all
the
flowers
at
the
Tower
to
itself
,
if
you
like
.
”
Elinor
looked
at
Leslie
,
and
smiled
.
“
Yes
,
thank
you
;
it
shall
live
on
the
eastern
terrace
you
told
me
of
,
and
have
a
wooden
house
of
some
kind
to
go
into
at
night
.
”
“
That
will
be
the
very
place
,
”
said
Leslie
.
At
this
moment
the
leveret
,
which
had
recovered
its
senses
,
but
kept
the
recovery
to
itself
watching
its
opportunity
,
made
so
sudden
a
spring
,
that
before
Elinor
could
utter
the
little
cry
its
movement
provoked
,
it
was
out
of
her
arms
,
and
scudding
away
to
the
copse
.
“
Oh
dear
!
”
said
Elinor
,
looking
at
her
empty
leaf
.
Leslie
laughed
.
“
Never
mind
,
I
can
have
your
hand
again
;
so
all
is
for
the
best
,
”
said
he
.
And
thus
they
walked
,
by
the
hedgerow
sides
of
the
corn
fields
,
across
banky
meadows
cropped
by
sheep
,
along
woodland
paths
,
which
descended
to
the
brook
courses
;
where
they
were
crossed
by
gray
large
stepping‐stones
;
within
the
edges
of
the
wood
,
where
with
trees
for
a
natural
colonnade
,
they
looked
out
upon
the
silent
,
sunny
country
;
hand
in
hand
they
walked
,
healthy
,
beautiful
,
good
.
It
was
Adam
and
Eve
moving
through
the
Garden
of
Eden
.
They
had
scarcely
met
a
human
being
,
the
country
was
thinly
inhabited
,
and
they
had
unconsciously
sought
the
least
frequented
parts
;
but
some
hours
after
they
first
began
their
walk
,
the
forest
silence
was
disturbed
by
a
distant
voice
,
uttering
a
loud
“
mark
!
”
and
then
was
fired
a
gun
as
distant
,
and
before
long
both
sounds
came
nearer
;
nay
,
they
presently
saw
a
towering
pheasant
hit
by
the
discharge
from
the
loud
gun
,
and
tumbling
over
and
over
in
the
air
,
fall
with
hanging
wings
,
and
dropped
head
,
out
of
sight
in
the
underwood
.
The
next
moment
,
Sir
Peter
Bicester
,
and
a
gamekeeper
,
and
couple
of
beaters
came
in
view
;
he
immediately
left
off
his
pursuit
,
and
came
up
to
Elinor
,
hoping
he
had
not
frightened
her
,
and
so
on
.
Leslie
had
dropped
Elinor’s
hand
;
till
she
was
declared
his
promised
wife
,
he
did
not
wish
to
claim
any
intimacy
with
her
;
but
Elinor
was
unconscious
of
such
scruples
,
and
replied
in
the
simplest
way
to
the
young
man’s
apologies
.
“
But
we
are
going
home
now
,
”
she
said
,
“
so
do
not
stop
your
amusement
for
me
.
Thank
you
for
thinking
of
it
.
”
And
she
moved
on
.
“
Shan’t
you
come
out
,
Leslie
?
”
said
Sir
Peter
.
“
No
,
not
I
;
if
there’s
anything
better
to
do
,
I
don’t
care
for
a
gun
.
”
“
And
there
is
something
it
seems
,
”
said
Sir
Peter
.
“
Well
!
that
is
as
it
may
be
,
”
answered
Leslie
,
and
followed
Elinor
,
whom
he
speedily
overtook
.
CHAPTER
IX
.
THAT
evening
,
Sir
Peter
knocked
at
the
door
of
his
cousin’s
sitting‐room
,
when
he
came
in
an
hour
before
dinner
.
“
Have
you
got
some
tea
,
Laura
?
”
he
asked
;
“
let
me
have
a
cup
with
you
,
if
you
are
going
to
have
any
.
”
“
Come
in
,
come
in
!
”
said
Laura
,
ringing
the
bell
at
the
same
time
,
and
ordering
tea
for
him
and
her
.
“
Well
,
what
have
you
shot
?
”
“
Six
pheasants
,
and
a
woodcock
,
”
said
Sir
Peter
;
“
I
just
went
into
that
outside
cover
,
you
know
,
below
the
lime
kiln
.
”
“
And
quite
enough
,
”
said
Laura
,
“
for
a
distant
part
,
scarcely
preserved
.
”
“
Yes
,
it
is
a
good
way
off
,
”
said
Sir
Peter
;
“
and
do
you
know
,
Leslie
had
taken
your
ward
walking
all
that
way
.
”
“
He
had
?
”
“
Yes
,
and
they
looked
as
like
real
lovers
as
ever
you
saw
any
two
people
.
Now
,
Laura
,
I
want
you
to
answer
me
one
question
;
are
you
quite
certain
there
is
nothing
between
them
,
quite
certain
?
Because
if
there
is
,
I
would
not
put
myself
in
their
way
for
the
generalship
of
the
Indian
army
—
no
,
not
to
be
made
knight
banneret
on
the
field
of
battle
.
”
“
Have
not
I
told
you
,
”
said
Laura
,
“
how
matters
stand
.
”
“
Yes
;
but
he
may
be
a
fool
,
and
he
may
have
taken
up
with
the
little
idiot
;
and
if
the
flirting
is
not
on
her
side
,
I
will
have
nothing
to
do
with
making
her
break
her
little
heart
.
”
“
It
is
all
,
all
on
her
side
;
but
for
her
intrigues
I
should
be
happy
—
and
I
can
be
happy
—
I
am
;
what
is
that
man
to
me
?
”
“
Nothing
,
Laura
;
that’s
right
,
don’t
throw
away
a
thought
upon
him
,
if
he
has
been
such
an
ass
.
”
“
But
he
has
not
!
”
said
Laura
,
struggling
mentally
against
the
doom
,
as
one
does
bodily
against
the
great
weight
that
is
pressing
the
lungs
together
,
so
as
to
stop
breath
.
“
It
is
merely
that
a
child
is
artful
enough
to
deceive
him
,
is
thoughtless
enough
to
hazard
her
own
character
,
and
ruins
my
peace
.
”
“
Nay
,
if
it
is
so
...
...
”
“
I
tell
you
it
is
.
”
“
Swear
!
”
said
Sir
Peter
,
crossing
the
forefingers
of
his
two
hands
,
playfully
,
yet
in
his
heart
looking
seriously
to
such
an
appeal
as
safe
to
procure
him
the
truth
.
Laura
did
not
think
nor
hesitate
for
a
moment
.
She
laid
her
hand
on
his
crossed
fingers
—
“
I
swear
!
”
she
said
.
She
hated
her
cousin
for
making
her
do
this
,
but
she
had
no
doubt
,
nevertheless
,
about
doing
it
.
“
Very
well
,
then
,
I
will
serve
you
loyally
and
zealously
to
the
extent
of
my
power
,
and
that
extent
is
limited
,
for
I
must
go
on
Thursday
.
”
“
Yes
,
yes
,
go
on
Thursday
,
”
said
Laura
,
“
and
before
that
time
,
let
Leslie
merely
see
whether
or
not
her
pretended
passion
for
him
is
true
,
only
let
her
show
herself
in
her
true
colours
,
that
is
all
I
ask
.
”
“
As
how
?
”
“
Well
,
if
she
appoints
you
to
meet
her
?
If
she
tampers
with
you
,
as
she
does
with
Leslie
?
”
“
Oh
!
in
that
case
.
”
“
You
will
let
him
know
it
?
”
“
No
,
I
shall
not
tell
him
—
that’s
quite
impossible
.
”
“
He
can
find
it
out
then
,
”
said
Laura
.
“
It
would
be
better
for
him
if
he
did
;
would
lose
a
trifle
and
gain
a
treasure
.
Oh
!
Laura
,
I
wish
I
were
but
older
,
wiser
,
or
of
more
value
in
the
world
,
I
would
fling
myself
at
your
feet
,
though
Crœsus
and
Lycurgus
were
in
the
way
.
”
“
And
I
would
not
have
you
,
”
said
Laura
,
peevishly
,
then
correcting
herself
,
she
added
,
“
what
a
hoary
pair
to
offer
to
a
young
lady
;
you
would
have
a
much
better
chance
my
Pet
.
”
Sir
Peter
went
on
talking
nonsense
,
which
he
much
preferred
to
plotting
against
Elinor
,
for
of
that
employment
he
was
getting
rather
tired
,
and
Laura
was
afraid
to
weary
him
entirely
of
the
subject
,
for
upon
his
co‐operation
all
her
remaining
hopes
depended
.
She
therefore
treated
the
subject
as
lightly
as
she
could
,
only
insisting
on
some
display
of
despair
on
his
part
at
his
approaching
separation
from
Elinor
,
and
contriving
to
amuse
him
with
details
,
each
of
which
she
hoped
would
be
a
blow
against
the
security
in
which
she
saw
that
Leslie
was
fortified
.
She
herself
conducted
the
assault
this
evening
.
Leslie
gave
her
occasion
;
he
told
her
that
he
must
very
soon
announce
to
her
brother
the
engagement
into
which
his
ward
had
entered
;
and
Laura
,
now
thoroughly
on
her
guard
assented
,
proposing
that
the
end
of
the
week
should
be
the
time
chosen
.
Leslie
agreed
,
and
Laura
had
gained
one
point
,
for
did
not
the
Thursday
of
Sir
Peter’s
departure
come
between
?
“
I
shall
be
glad
when
he
is
gone
for
your
sake
,
”
said
Laura
to
Leslie
.
“
Why
so
?
”
“
Nay
,
I
think
you
deserve
all
the
walks
and
talks
and
little
appointments
to
yourself
.
”
“
Oh
,
I
am
not
uneasy
about
that
,
”
said
Leslie
;
“
such
fancies
trouble
me
not
.
As
King
Pericles
says
,
‘Falseness
cannot
dwell
in
thee
!
’
”
“
Falseness
in
me
?
”
said
Laura
,
startled
.
“
In
her
,
I
ought
to
have
said
,
but
I
was
too
conscientious
to
misquote
Shakespeare
.
Oh
!
no
,
that
trouble
is
quite
over
.
”
“
Then
why
did
she
and
my
cousin
find
themselves
at
the
stone
quarry
that
day
she
had
the
sudden
headache
,
and
could
not
drive
with
us
?
”
“
I’m
sure
I
don’t
know
,
”
said
Leslie
;
“
the
best
way
would
be
to
ask
her
.
”
“
Do
,
if
you
think
the
truth
so
easy
to
be
had
.
”
“
Only
I
don’t
care
to
know
,
”
said
Leslie
.
“
Oh
!
very
well
.
I
am
sure
I
don’t
,
”
said
Laura
.
She
turned
away
,
and
proposed
music
to
one
of
the
party
,
but
her
eyes
did
not
fail
to
observe
that
Leslie
took
advantage
of
the
opportunity
to
stand
talking
with
Elinor
at
the
open
window
,
and
she
persuaded
herself
was
asking
the
explanation
she
intended
him
to
seek
.
There
was
some
little
pre‐occupation
in
his
way
of
carrying
on
the
beginning
of
the
conversation
,
a
shade
of
embarrassment
,
and
a
questioning
air
.
Elinor
coloured
deeply
,
and
hesitated
to
answer
him
,
and
Laura
believed
that
the
headache
which
she
herself
had
ordered
Elinor
to
remember
,
and
the
silence
which
she
herself
had
ordered
Elinor
to
keep
about
the
stone
quarry
walk
,
were
throwing
the
appearance
of
double‐dealing
over
the
entangled
girl
.
Leslie’s
fond
look
at
last
she
could
not
so
well
interpret
.
She
did
not
think
he
was
satisfied
with
respect
to
the
walk
,
yet
“
perhaps
”
(
thought
she
)
,
“
he
believes
a
woman
cannot
speak
the
truth
,
and
forgives
her
—
forgives
her
;
yes
,
but
he
would
not
forgive
me
.
”
Laura
was
not
much
out
in
her
interpretation
of
Leslie’s
looks
;
in
fact
,
he
was
disposed
to
believe
and
to
excuse
in
Elinor
,
the
manœuvres
which
he
fancied
the
inexperienced
young
girl
had
been
led
to
practise
before
her
present
engagement
with
him
;
but
at
all
events
,
as
things
were
now
,
he
determined
to
put
a
stop
to
all
proceedings
of
the
kind
,
and
would
fain
have
warned
and
set
Elinor
on
her
guard
,
as
her
mother
would
have
done
,
had
she
ever
known
her
mother
.
“
Nobody
may
interrupt
me
now
,
”
he
said
,
“
in
the
happiness
of
such
walks
as
we
had
yesterday
.
Nobody
has
any
claim
on
you
now
,
when
I
claim
you
.
You
have
given
me
that
right
,
remember
.
”
“
Mr.
Chanson
said
I
must
go
with
him
to
see
his
greyhounds
fed
,
”
said
Elinor
;
“
but
I
will
not
.
”
“
Oh
!
Mr.
Chanson
.
Yes
,
you
may
go
with
him
.
”
“
Miss
Chanson
also
said
I
was
to
carry
the
hymn
books
to
the
school
.
She
wants
to
show
me
how
to
teach
them
to
sing
.
I
will
tell
her
I
cannot
do
it
.
”
“
No
,
no
;
you
must
do
what
she
asks
till
you
leave
her
altogether
.
”
“
But
you
said
I
was
to
walk
with
you
only
.
”
“
I
mean
it
is
not
fit
for
a
young
girl
to
let
an
idle
young
man
like
Bicester
,
meet
and
follow
her
.
”
“
So
my
Reverend
Mother
told
me
,
and
I
did
not
,
till
you
laughed
,
and
made
me
laugh
too
,
about
it
.
”
“
Well
,
well
,
yes
;
but
a
man
says
things
he
does
not
mean
;
you
should
be
aware
that
he
does
not
even
remember
many
things
he
says
,
and
if
a
girl
does
,
and
believes
it
is
all
true
,
she
gets
into
a
very
awkward
position
.
”
“
You
are
a
young
man
,
”
said
Elinor
,
smiling
;
“
am
I
to
believe
you
?
”
“
Oh
!
it
is
quite
a
different
thing
with
me
.
What
I
say
now
,
does
not
apply
to
me
.
Only
I
don’t
want
you
.
to
let
that
puppy
talk
to
you
.
He
can
,
only
mean
mischief
,
and
you
had
better
be
on
your
guard
.
”
“
So
the
Reverend
Mother
said
,
”
repeated
Elinor
;
“
and
I
will
obey
her
and
you
.
”
“
Next
Thursday
he
goes
away
,
”
said
Leslie
;
“
and
do
you
know
,
dearest
and
gentlest
Elinor
,
that
I
am
going
too
?
Chanson
has
got
a
project
in
his
head
about
visiting
some
property
he
bought
not
long
ago
;
and
he
says
his
sister
thinks
it
will
be
a
good
opportunity
to
do
so
when
young
Bicester
leaves
the
house
,
and
before
fresh
guests
come
in
.
He
wants
me
so
very
much
to
be
his
companion
,
that
I
have
consented
.
We
shall
not
be
away
above
a
few
days
,
and
during
those
days
I
will
tell
him
that
his
ward
is
his
ward
no
longer
,
but
that
it
is
I
who
have
to
answer
for
her
in
future
.
”
“
Do
,
”
said
Elinor
.
Leslie
looked
at
her
,
and
half
laughed
.
“
You
will
not
tell
him
the
contrary
?
”
said
he
.
“
Oh
!
no
,
no
,
”
said
Elinor
;
“
no
more
,
surely
,
will
he
?
I
am
sorry
though
that
I
did
not
ask
him
first
if
I
might
,
for
the
Reverend
Mother
told
me
it
was
my
guardian
who
must
settle
that
.
”
“
And
I
told
you
not
;
very
true
.
But
you
do
not
think
I
told
you
to
do
anything
wrong
?
”
“
I
hope
not
,
”
said
Elinor
,
“
for
I
have
no
right
or
wrong
in
my
head
now
,
except
what
I
learn
from
you
.
”
“
Ay
!
trust
me
,
then
...
...
Oh
!
I
could
not
mislead
you
.
”
“
No
,
I
am
sure
of
that
,
”
said
Elinor
,
lifting
her
eyes
to
his
.
He
thought
of
the
morning
at
breakfast
,
when
he
could
not
get
one
glimpse
of
those
shy
eyes
;
and
he
thought
also
of
the
many
things
between
that
moment
and
the
one
in
which
her
innocence
had
converted
all
his
thoughts
into
pure
projects
like
itself
.
In
his
heart
he
worshipped
the
creature
who
held
so
strong
,
yet
so
silken
a
dominion
over
him
,
and
in
his
enjoyment
of
the
prospect
now
before
him
,
he
instinctively
tried
to
forget
the
cruel
one
which
he
had
entertained
and
abandoned
.
Laura
had
no
time
to
spare
,
or
she
would
have
let
things
work
more
gently
than
she
could
now
afford
.
This
was
Saturday
evening
;
and
the
evening
of
Sunday
she
destined
to
commence
a
plot
which
must
explode
before
Thursday
,
or
all
her
schemes
would
be
at
fault
.
The
course
of
Sunday
contented
her
well
enough
.
The
usual
duties
of
the
day
went
forward
,
and
however
mechanically
to
Laura
,
there
was
no
outward
dereliction
.
She
would
have
had
a
vague
uneasiness
at
absenting
herself
from
the
village
church
,
but
no
word
that
she
heard
there
struck
her
as
forbidding
—
no
word
she
uttered
there
,
struck
her
as
renouncing
—
the
secret
purposes
she
meditated
.
Once
,
as
a
very
young
child
,
instructed
to
lay
by
every
secular
employment
on
the
Sabbath
day
,
it
chanted
that
her
mother
,
who
led
a
usually
secluded
life
,
was
invited
by
a
very
great
house
to
very
great
feast
on
a
Sunday
;
and
the
mother
went
,
not
because
she
thought
and
explained
that
there
was
no
harm
in
it
,
but
because
the
temptation
was
so
strong
.
Laura
had
opportunities
enough
to
melt
down
the
impression
which
this
fact
made
on
her
;
nor
did
it
,
probably
,
in
itself
produce
much
effect
,
but
her
nature
had
that
bias
which
caused
it
to
select
and
feed
upon
this
and
various
similar
incidents
which
the
tide
of
things
presented
to
her
,
until
at
length
led
away
by
selfishness
and
by
uncontrolled
passions
,
she
had
come
to
be
,
as
one
may
say
,
two
Lauras
,
the
one
who
professed
in
theory
whatever
was
good
,
and
the
one
whose
actions
regarded
simply
what
was
convenient
.
It
is
a
very
common
character
.
This
Sunday
,
therefore
,
saw
her
in
the
family
pew
with
her
guests
;
saw
her
take
the
school
report
from
the
hand
of
the
curtseying
schoolmistress
,
and
rebuke
the
child
who
was
shown
up
for
inattention
.
She
let
the
horses
and
servants
rest
to‐day
,
and
proposed
merely
a
walk
by
way
of
amusement
.
Before
she
could
prevent
him
,
Leslie
drew
Elinor
away
,
and
by
the
side
of
the
waterfall
and
up
the
banks
of
the
brook
,
they
passed
the
afternoon
hours
.
Laura
had
got
a
present
for
her
cousin
Peter
,
a
travelling
bag
,
fitted
in
the
smallest
compass
with
the
most
numerous
articles
,
and
called
him
to
her
sitting‐room
to
give
it
.
Sir
Peter
was
rather
melancholy
and
sentimental
.
He
was
going
to
the
other
side
of
the
world
,
and
was
pleased
to
do
so
,
and
yet
it
touched
him
to
feel
that
nobody
was
much
interested
in
his
departure
except
himself
;
his
place
would
close
over
at
once
,
and
it
was
he
only
who
cared
or
reflected
that
he
was
going
.
Laura’s
care
,
therefore
,
to
procure
a
present
for
him
,
gave
him
pleasure
.
He
employed
himself
in
examining
and
admiring
every
article
,
and
in
obtaining
from
Laura
a
few
words
in
her
own
hand
,
declaring
herself
the
giver
of
the
bag
,
and
the
well‐wishing
cousin
of
the
recipient
.
“
And
you
will
think
of
me
once
or
twice
,
will
you
?
”
said
Sir
Peter
;
“
when
my
thoughts
are
travelling
homewards
they
will
now
and
then
meet
yours
coming
out
to
Ceylon
.
”
“
To
be
sure
they
will
;
and
many
others
will
be
on
the
same
journey
,
anxious
to
know
what
you
are
about
.
”
“
No
,
Laura
,
no.
My
mother
,
if
she
were
alive
,
would
have
let
no
post
go
by
without
a
letter
.
I
have
a
green
bag
stuffed
with
those
she
wrote
to
me
at
school
,
and
so
would
a
sister
,
perhaps
,
if
I
ever
had
one
,
but
nobody
else
ever
cares
for
a
young
man
more
than
for
one
grain
of
wheat
rather
than
another
in
a
sack
full
.
”
“
Oh
!
indeed
,
I
do
,
”
said
Laura
,
“
and
I
am
not
the
only
one
.
”
“
Who
else
?
”
“
Nay
,
I
don’t
think
I
shall
tell
you
.
It
is
such
nonsense
.
”
“
You
don’t
mean
the
little
nun
?
”
“
No
,
no
;
of
course
not
.
”
“
You
do
,
”
said
Sir
Peter
,
starting
up
,
and
forgetting
his
melancholy
;
“
what
did
she
say
?
”
“
Oh
!
nothing
—
I
forget
—
nothing
worth
hearing
.
”
“
Nay
,
Laura
,
you
shall
tell
me
,
or
I
will
ask
her
.
Where
is
she
?
”
“
In
her
own
room
,
I
should
think
.
You
can’t
go
there
and
ask
her
.
”
“
I
thought
she
was
walking
with
Leslie
.
”
“
Not
very
likely
after
what
she
said
to
me
.
If
she
is
walking
with
Mr.
Leslie
her
coquetry
passes
all
allowable
bounds
.
”
“
Why
,
what
did
she
say
?
”
“
Nay
,
you
will
be
so
vain
.
”
“
Not
vainer
than
I
am
,
”
said
Sir
Peter
,
smiling
gaily
.
“
True
;
that’s
hardly
possible
,
”
said
Laura
;
“
well
,
well
,
she
is
very
demure
,
and
does
not
talk
much
you
know
,
to
me
at
least
,
but
she
said
this
morning
in
her
sudden
way
,
as
if
her
words
broke
out
of
her
thoughts
,
‘Sir
.
Peter
smokes
every
evening
,
does
not
he
?
’
”
“
What
an
unsentimental
meditation
!
”
said
Sir
Peter
.
“
I
did
not
think
so
,
”
said
Laura
.
“
As
how
,
is
it
not
?
”
“
When
you
smoke
,
you
walk
out
;
when
you
walk
out
you
can
be
met
.
”
“
Nay
,
is
that
it
?
nice
little
girl
!
”
“
I
don’t
know
that
it
is
that
,
but
it
would
be
easy
to
make
the
experiment
.
If
it
is
so
,
and
she
likes
you
Peter
,
do
take
her
with
you
to
Ceylon
.
I
use
no
concealment
.
I
should
be
glad
if
she
were
gone
.
”
“
Thanks
,
thanks
,
dear
cousin
,
but
I
can’t
be
quite
so
convenient
as
that
,
for
I
suppose
you
would
have
her
my
wife
.
”
“
Peter
!
”
“
But
if
she
do
think
of
morning
walks
with
Leslie
,
and
moonlight
walks
with
me
,
at
least
he
will
never
marry
her
.
”
“
Never
,
never
,
never
!
”
said
Laura
.
Dinner
was
not
over
till
the
evening
was
dark
,
for
October
was
at
the
end
of
its
first
week
.
The
rooms
were
bright
with
lamps
and
candles
,
but
the
windows
were
open
to
the
shadowy
scene
without
,
for
the
weather
was
very
hot
,
even
as
though
summer
were
abroad
masquerading
in
the
splendidly
coloured
robes
of
the
aged
year
.
“
Let
us
walk
down
the
garden
,
”
said
Laura
to
Elinor
,
who
was
the
only
lady
beside
herself
of
the
party
;
“
the
air
is
oppressive
,
further
from
the
house
it
will
be
cooler
.
”
They
went
together
along
the
garden
paths
,
and
reached
the
avenue
of
great
Scotch
firs
which
terminated
it
,
and
which
at
its
other
extremity
had
a
wicket
opening
into
the
park
.
“
I
wonder
,
”
said
Laura
,
“
whether
Eliza
Mosterick
has
had
the
broth
she
wanted
;
did
you
hear
anything
about
it
?
”
“
No
,
I
did
not
.
”
“
But
you
knew
she
was
ill.
Did
you
call
to
inquire
about
her
when
you
were
out
this
morning
?
”
“
No
,
”
said
Elinor
.
“
You
might
just
as
well
have
done
so
,
and
put
the
Sunday
to
some
better
purpose
than
merely
amusing
yourself
,
”
said
Laura
;
“
poor
woman
,
perhaps
she
has
been
waiting
vainly
all
day
.
I
wish
I
could
go
as
far
before
my
brother
comes
into
the
drawing‐room
;
he
does
not
like
me
to
be
absent
.
”
Elinor
was
silent
;
whatever
she
might
say
she
felt
would
bring
down
a
rebuke
.
“
Could
you
go
,
Elinor
?
”
said
Laura
,
at
last
.
“
Certainly
,
”
said
Elinor
,
who
was
accustomed
at
the
convent
to
wait
on
the
sick
,
and
to
be
employed
about
their
errands
.
“
Shall
I
?
”
“
Well
,
if
you
will
.
You
know
the
house
;
it
is
the
underkeeper’s
—
you
know
,
just
fifty
yards
from
the
end
of
the
avenue
on
the
right
—
she
was
very
ill
—
unless
she
is
better
—
and
I
meant
to
send
her
some
broth
and
things
...
...
.
Stay
,
take
her
five
shillings
will
you
,
in
case
she
wants
to
buy
anything
.
Here
,
put
my
scarf
over
your
head
.
It
is
as
good
as
a
bonnet
.
”
Elinor
did
all
she
was
bid
,
and
Laura
,
when
she
was
disappearing
like
a
white
spirit
down
the
gloomy
avenue
,
turned
hastily
and
ran
to
the
house
,
where
she
gave
thanks
(
like
Shylock
when
his
enemies’
ships
are
lost
,
and
he
says
,
“
Thank
God
,
I
thank
God
!
”
)
to
see
that
the
time
for
evening
Sunday
prayers
was
not
more
than
a
quarter
of
an
hour
distant
,
at
which
epoch
of
the
evening
the
absence
of
any
member
of
the
party
must
become
conspicuous
.
Both
Leslie
and
Sir
Peter
glanced
round
the
room
as
soon
as
they
came
in
,
for
Elinor
.
Both
looked
at
Laura
to
account
for
her
absence
.
A
faint
smile
,
and
a
slight
elevation
of
her
eyebrows
informed
the
latter
that
Elinor
would
be
found
where
he
expected
,
and
Sir
Peter
vanished
to
keep
the
imaginary
rendezvous
on
his
side
.
Leslie
asked
in
a
low
voice
,
where
was
Elinor
.
“
Is
not
she
here
?
”
said
Laura
,
looking
round
;
“
I
have
been
in
the
garden
,
but
she
refused
to
come
.
I
think
she
said
she
was
going
to
write
a
letter
.
”
Leslie
was
obliged
to
content
himself
;
and
taking
up
a
book
,
sat
watching
the
door
which
,
every
time
it
opened
drew
his
eager
eyes
,
till
the
appearance
of
some
uninteresting
figure
caused
them
to
be
impatiently
cast
down
again
.
Laura’s
attention
went
nervously
to
the
clock
,
which
ticked
on
so
composedly
,
and
would
not
hasten
towards
half‐past
nine
.
Nor
even
when
the
half‐hour
had
leisurely
lifted
up
its
voice
twice
,
to
denote
that
it
was
come
,
did
the
outer
bell
sound
for
prayers
,
till
another
full
minute
had
gone
by
;
and
yet
further
,
several
seconds
,
which
seemed
like
hours
(
as
they
do
to
a
man
under
the
surgeon’s
hands
,
or
hanging
on
the
edge
of
a
precipice
while
relief
is
coming
)
,
passed
by
,
before
the
butler
threw
open
the
door
,
and
announced
,
after
the
manner
of
butlers
,
“
Prayers
is
ready
.
”
Laura
rose
at
once
,
and
with
a
bland
smile
,
walked
alone
out
of
the
room
followed
by
her
brother
,
by
Leslie
,
and
by
the
few
men
who
were
guests
in
the
house
.
Nothing
could
have
answered
better
,
for
as
they
crossed
the
ante‐room
,
which
opened
on
the
garden
,
Elinor
came
hastily
in
,
the
veil
on
her
head
,
and
Sir
Peter
following
closely
.
Laura
saw
Leslie’s
start
of
displeased
surprise
;
he
went
to
her
and
offered
his
arm
,
regardless
who
observed
him
,
or
what
they
thought
.
“
Where
have
you
been
?
”
he
said
,
in
a
very
low
voice
.
“
Miss
Chanson
took
me
into
the
garden
and
sent
me
on
an
errand
.
”
Leslie
had
just
heard
that
Miss
Chanson
bad
been
alone
in
the
garden
,
and
that
Elinor
had
said
she
was
going
to
her
own
room
.
“
But
you
are
not
alone
,
”
said
Leslie
.
“
I
could
not
help
it
,
”
said
Elinor
;
“
he
came
out
to
smoke
and
met
me
.
”
“
He
always
smokes
in
the
garden
at
night
.
You
knew
it
?
”
“
Indeed
,
indeed
,
I
did
not
.
”
“
Dear
,
dear
Elinor
,
do
not
...
...
.
”
They
had
now
crossed
the
hall
and
entered
the
parlour
where
the
servants
were
assembled
.
The
necessary
outer
decorum
prevailed
,
but
stormy
was
Leslie’s
bosom
,
sad
and
frightened
was
Elinor’s
,
while
holy
words
and
pious
attitudes
alone
appeared
to
the
public
ear
and
eye
.
Laura
hastened
Elinor
away
with
her
after
prayers
,
saying
that
they
must
be
punctual
to‐morrow
at
breakfast
in
order
to
be
ready
for
an
expedition
which
she
had
arranged
,
and
however
early
it
was
they
would
now
go
to
bed
to
prepare
for
it
.
Leslie
was
so
much
in
love
that
he
did
not
venture
on
being
offended
with
Elinor
;
he
no
longer
assumed
an
authoritative
manner
with
her
,
that
was
too
paternal
,
too
like
a
guardian
,
but
he
had
a
grieved
look
and
way
towards
her
,
wholly
natural
and
unpremeditated
,
which
brought
the
tears
into
her
eyes
.
He
saw
them
,
and
they
atoned
for
everything
.
“
She
is
sorry
,
”
he
said
to
himself
;
“
she
knows
she
has
been
wrong
.
No
doubt
it
is
his
fault
more
than
hers
.
Still
,
why
did
she
use
the
worn
out
plea
to
Laura
of
writing
letters
.
Why
did
she
,
to
me
,
invent
the
pretext
of
being
sent
on
a
message
.
And
she
tells
these
little
lies
so
innocently
,
she
would
deceive
any
man
,
if
he
were
fool
enough
to
think
there
is
a
woman
in
the
world
who
does
not
lie
.
”
He
stamped
the
unoffending
boards
of
his
room
as
he
came
to
this
conclusion
,
and
walked
up
and
down
till
he
reflected
there
was
such
a
thing
as
going
to
bed
.
And
now
came
Monday
,
the
day
on
which
the
drawing
,
the
needlework
,
the
gardening
,
the
professional
duties
,
if
there
be
any
,
or
the
gun
and
the
dogs
,
the
fishing
rod
and
ride
if
there
be
none
,
are
resumed
after
one
day’s
suspension
.
There
has
been
the
village
church
changing
the
disposal
of
the
morning
and
afternoon
from
the
six
days’
course
;
there
has
been
,
perhaps
,
a
different
style
of
books
read
,
an
abstinence
from
some
favourite
employment
,
and
,
at
all
events
,
there
has
been
the
sight
of
the
poor
man’s
holiday
;
twenty‐four
hours
,
in
short
,
in
some
way
different
from
other
similar
periods
,
and
a
consequent
mark
left
upon
Time
.
Laura
awaking
,
saw
before
her
three
wretched
days
,
in
which
she
had
to
fight
against
the
natural
order
of
things
in
order
to
bring
about
a
base
purpose
of
her
own
;
a
purpose
liable
in
a
high
degree
to
failure
,
she
was
disinclined
to
get
up
and
do
this
iniquitous
battle
,
although
it
was
not
that
the
iniquity
struck
her
,
but
her
own
hard
fate
in
being
unable
to
obtain
the
object
necessary
to
her
happiness
without
such
a
struggle
.
“
And
why
is
it
?
”
thus
her
thoughts
came
over
her
,
but
not
worded
;
“
why
is
it
that
I
love
him
thus
?
—
he
is
not
eager
to
please
me
,
as
others
are
.
I
am
obliged
to
cultivate
conversation
before
it
runs
freely
between
us
.
He
does
not
seek
out
my
wishes
as
my
poor
brother
does
,
and
as
William
Mansfield
and
the
other
man
did
whom
I
could
not
bear
.
No
!
I
must
sacrifice
plans
and
comforts
to
him
.
If
he
once
loved
me
,
if
I
once
knew
that
he
would
be
sorry
to
go
away
,
then
I
could
renounce
him
—
perhaps
—
but
if
he
went
now
,
he
would
forget
me
to‐morrow
.
I
should
think
of
him
,
and
he
would
not
think
of
me
;
he
is
so
commanding
among
men
,
he
cares
so
little
what
is
thought
of
him
;
he
is
so
acceptable
in
society
,
so
beautiful
—
if
I
could
but
know
I
had
power
over
him
—
shall
another
?
—
she
...
...
?
”
Laura
sprang
out
of
bed
and
took
up
her
self‐imposed
burthen
.
How
carefully
were
all
the
minute
cares
of
her
person
attended
to
,
and
how
mechanically
;
but
as
for
her
mind
,
its
habits
were
not
those
which
led
her
to
be
true
with
herself
;
hence
all
was
slurred
and
burred
within
,
and
she
had
a
most
imperfect
view
of
what
she
herself
was
doing
.
But
at
half‐past
nine
she
descended
clean
as
a
white
pebble
from
a
running
brook
,
neat
as
a
rose‐bud
still
bound
by
its
unfolding
calyx
;
agreeable
,
attentive
,
handsome
;
but
within
,
there
was
a
heart
constantly
conscious
in
its
way
of
beating
that
something
was
wrong
;
there
was
a
dry
mouth
which
disliked
the
business
of
talking
,
and
hated
that
of
eating
;
there
was
the
sense
of
hearing
strained
to
catch
one
voice
,
and
rebelling
because
that
voice
was
not
addressed
to
her
.
There
was
fear
over
all
,
that
some
of
the
many
words
might
be
said
which
would
reveal
those
secrets
which
lay
so
near
the
surface
,
and
which
any
chance
might
lay
bare
from
the
covering
she
was
able
to
draw
over
them
.
Chance
did
not
show
itself
favourable
to‐day
;
for
her
plan
had
been
to
keep
the
lovers
apart
by
dividing
the
party
between
carriage
and
horseback
,
and
to
visit
a
show
place
in
the
neighbourhood
,
of
which
the
possessors
were
friends
of
hers
,
and
their
society
and
chaperonage
round
their
house
and
garden
,
would
prevent
the
formation
of
tête‐à‐têtes
.
But
before
breakfast
was
over
,
the
clouds
let
fall
their
long‐threatening
torrents
,
and
in
a
very
short
time
Mr.
Chanson
declared
the
expedition
impossible
.
“
It
will
be
too
late
,
even
if
the
rain
stops
by
mid‐day
,
”
said
he
;
“
you
must
do
something
else
.
Come
,
we’ll
have
a
game
of
billiards
first
,
and
then
,
when
you
two
women
have
written
a
dozen
letters
,
and
worked
your
frills
,
or
your
kettle‐holders
,
you
shall
help
me
to
change
the
shells
out
of
the
library
to
the
new
cases
.
I
want
the
labels
neatly
written
,
and
little
card
boxes
made
.
I
am
glad
it
rains
.
”
“
I
will
be
glad
too
,
for
your
sake
,
”
said
Laura
;
“
Elinor
,
will
you
help
?
”
“
Oh
,
yes
!
”
said
Elinor
.
“
You
can’t
want
to
write
more
letters
!
”
said
Laura
,
availing
herself
of
the
shot
which
accident
opened
to
her
.
“
No
,
”
said
Elinor
.
“
Have
you
finished
all
?
”
asked
Leslie
,
in
a
low
voice
.
“
I
have
not
,
”
said
Elinor
,
in
a
voice
still
lower
;
“
but
say
nothing
.
I
shall
be
so
glad
to
do
Mr.
Chanson
a
little
service
.
”
“
His
sister
believed
that
you
were
employed
in
writing
last
night
,
”
said
Leslie
.
“
How
could
she
,
”
said
Elinor
;
“
I
went
to
bed
by
her
desire
as
soon
as
we
were
upstairs
.
”
“
Equivocator
!
”
thought
Leslie
.
Evening
came
,
and
with
it
a
change
in
the
weather
.
Before
setting
,
the
sun
shone
brightly
out
,
and
it
left
the
autumnal
garden
in
a
gentle
haze
of
warm
air
,
where
the
smell
of
the
fresh
earth
and
the
excited
flowers
,
and
the
air
renovated
with
moisture
,
flattered
every
sense
of
eye
and
ear
.
“
How
delicious
,
”
said
Laura
,
when
she
and
Elinor
stood
again
outside
the
window
which
opened
on
the
walk
;
“
let
us
take
our
bonnets
and
walk
for
ten
minutes
.
”
They
did
so
,
and
at
the
end
of
that
time
,
Laura
said
she
must
return
to
the
house
.
“
Elinor
,
will
you
be
so
good
as
to
go
as
far
as
the
clerk’s
,
and
ask
him
to
look
in
our
pew
for
my
prayer
book
?
the
one
in
vellum
,
you
know
,
which
my
brother
gave
me
.
I
forgot
to
bring
it
away
,
and
I
want
to
gum
down
the
label
on
the
back
before
it
gets
rubbed
off
.
”
“
I
can’t
do
that
to‐night
,
”
said
Elinor
.
;
“
in
the
morning
if
you
like
.
”
“
Why
not
?
”
said
Laura
,
turning
full
round
upon
her
.
“
Sir
Peter
does
not
allow
me
to
walk
alone
.
”
Laura
burst
into
laughter
.
“
What
,
must
Sir
Peter
shut
himself
up
every
time
it
pleases
you
to
take
the
air
?
”
“
I
don’t
mean
that
”
said
Elinor
.
“
Oh
!
you
fancy
he
means
to
assassinate
you
,
or
take
hold
of
your
hand
...
...
or
...
...
”
“
No
!
”
“
Or
that
his
sole
object
in
walking
out
is
to
share
the
delights
of
your
conversation
,
and
wait
upon
your
presence
.
Upon
my
word
his
sole
object
is
,
rather
,
to
smoke
his
pipe
.
”
“
Oh
!
yes
.
”
“
Which
object
he
pursues
in
the
garden
and
the
fir‐grove
.
Therefore
,
even
though
that
frightful
young
man
were
to
amuse
his
leisure
with
the
sin
of
tobacco
,
you
would
be
quite
safe
my
dear
in
walking
to
the
church
.
Now
go
,
will
you
,
Elinor
?
”
“
No
,
”
said
Elinor
,
“
I
cannot
.
Mr.
Leslie
does
not
choose
I
should
.
”
“
Oh
!
now
it
comes
out
.
She’s
afraid
of
beiing
scolded
,
is
she
?
What
!
she
has
been
scolded
already
,
and
has
cried
and
said
she
would
never
do
so
no
more
,
no
!
never
.
What
a
good
child
!
”
Elinor
stood
with
tears
in
her
eyes
.
“
Yes
,
”
she
said
,
when
Laura
scornfully
waited
for
an
answer
;
“
I
said
I
never
would
do
what
he
disliked
.
”
“
I
never
heard
anything
so
babyish
in
my
life
.
Why
you
are
no
more
fit
to
be
a
married
woman
than
an
infant
.
If
you
let
a
man
tyrannize
over
you
in
that
way
while
he
is
your
lover
,
he
will
be
cruel
as
a
husband
,
and
sick
to
death
of
you
in
six
months
.
”
Elinor
stood
silent
:
her
colour
rose
under
the
hard
words
and
fearful
prophecy
,
but
she
did
not
credit
it
,
and
yet
would
not
contradict
the
utterer
.
“
Now
,
my
dear
child
,
”
said
Miss
Chan‐
son
,
“
for
your
own
sake
let
me
entreat
you
to
behave
a
little
more
like
a
woman
.
Have
a
little
independence
,
just
enough
to
make
him
think
you
his
equal
.
If
he
finds
fault
with
things
right
and
innocent
,
don’t
mind
him
,
go
your
own
way
.
Stand
up
to
him
.
Men
like
to
be
stood
up
to
.
”
“
Very
well
,
”
said
Elinor
,
smiling
,
“
I
will
remember
what
you
say
.
”
“
And
go
to
the
church
for
me
,
”
said
Laura
,
smiling
also
,
“
there’s
a
good
girl
.
”
Elinor
shook
her
head
.
“
You
will
not
?
”
“
I
cannot
.
”
“
Say
will
not
at
once
,
if
you
mean
it
.
Well
?
”
“
Indeed
I
cannot
,
I
will
not
.
”
“
That
will
do
.
Then
will
you
be
so
very
obliging
as
to
go
in
and
tell
my
brother
,
that
I
am
obliged
to
go
on
an
errand
,
because
you
will
not
,
and
that
I
...
...
and
that
you
...
...
what
you
choose
.
”
Laura
turned
her
back
,
and
set
out
hastily
;
but
in
a
few
seconds
she
stopped
,
and
looked
back
,
she
had
expected
that
the
gentle
girl
would
have
run
after
her
,
but
there
was
Elinor
,
standing
quite
still
,
watching
her
.
Laura
ran
back
—
“
What
!
will
you
do
neither
one
nor
the
other
,
do
you
defy
me
?
am
I
to
be
defied
in
my
own
house
?
ridiculed
?
go
to
the
church
directly
,
or
let
me
believe
you
are
the
most
ungrateful
of
women
.
”
“
I
will
not
walk
alone
this
evening
,
”
said
Elinor
.
“
Will
you
do
this
,
then
?
”
said
Laura
,
commanding
her
voice
to
the
lowest
and
calmest
tone
.
“
Will
you
pass
this
evening
in
your
own
room
?
”
“
I
am
very
sorry
I
have
offended
you
,
”
said
Elinor
,
“
I
will
do
whatever
you
bid
me
,
”
and
she
turned
away
,
and
went
straight
into
the
house
,
and
upstairs
,
while
Laura
dashed
the
tears
of
passion
from
her
eyes
,
and
inveighed
against
the
cruelty
of
the
young
girl
,
for
triumphing
in
her
victory
over
the
lover
of
her
benefactress
.
When
she
reached
the
drawing‐room
it
was
still
empty
.
She
opened
a
book
of
drawings
on
the
table
,
and
composed
her
agitated
frame
.
A
few
minutes
brought
in
her
brother
and
his
guests
,
and
then
the
first
inquiry
was
for
Miss
Ladylift
.
“
She
told
me
she
was
going
to
write
letters
,
”
said
Miss
Chanson
,
demurely
.
Sir
Peter
instantly
glanced
at
his
cousin
,
and
smiled
.
Mr.
Leslie
caught
the
smile
,
and
his
