wasflattered
by
it
;
but
it
amused
him
much
more
to
see
Elinor’s
excited
look
,
which
turned
to
perplexity
,
as
she
heard
and
saw
Laura’s
alarm
.
“
My
horse
did
it
gallantly
,
did
not
he
?
”
said
Leslie
,
looking
cheerily
at
Elinor
,
whose
face
caught
and
returned
his
smile
.
“
Like
flying
,
”
said
Elinor
;
“
it
was
very
pretty
.
”
“
How
childish
you
are
!
”
said
Laura
;
“
you
know
nothing
of
the
danger
.
”
“
After
all
,
there
was
none
,
”
said
Leslie
,
“
and
the
appearance
of
it
gave
zest
to
the
leap
.
”
“
It
is
very
pleasant
,
”
said
Elinor
,
“
to
see
danger
,
if
one
is
safe
.
”
“
How
do
you
know
that
?
”
said
Leslie
.
“
Because
in
the
convent
,
”
said
Elinor
;
answering
quickly
to
his
quick
question
,
“
the
waves
used
to
dash
against
the
garden
wall
,
but
could
not
come
in
,
and
we
all
liked
to
be
near
them
.
But
once
the
waves
broke
over
,
and
then
we
all
ran
away
.
”
Leslie
laughed
,
and
looked
investigatingly
at
Elinor’s
face
which
had
blushed
brightly
,
as
she
replied
to
his
imperative
question
,
and
he
was
thinking
why
she
blushed
.
Laura
was
little
pleased
at
this
effect
of
Elinor’s
simplicity
,
and
seeing
him
inclined
to
turn
his
attention
entirely
to
her
young
companion
,
suddenly
declared
herself
tired
,
and
said
they
would
go
home
.
She
chose
a
path
along
the
rocky
channel
of
the
brook
,
where
no
horse
could
be
even
led
,
and
could
not
refrain
from
turning
her
shoulder
pettishly
to
Leslie
as
they
parted
.
He
scarcely
observed
it
,
he
had
forgotten
also
his
reigned
anger
with
Elinor
,
and
he
rode
gently
away
,
thinking
of
the
little
scene
that
had
passed
.
“
How
moveable
her
nature
is
,
”
said
he
.
“
It
was
made
on
purpose
,
I
think
,
to
complete
mine
,
cast
in
my
mould
,
when
a
man
had
been
completed
,
and
it
was
fit
only
to
form
a
woman
.
”
CHAPTER
VII
.
ELINOR
accepted
peace
with
Leslie
gladly
and
gratefully
.
Nothing
was
said
between
them
,
but
they
resumed
without
words
their
former
position
.
He
did
not
want
—
from
her
at
least
—
any
show
of
spirit
,
or
assertion
of
the
rights
of
woman
;
the
meek
glad
cordiality
of
the
young
gift
was
what
enchanted
him
.
“
I
should
have
taken
Leslie
for
Elinor’s
lover
,
if
you
had
not
told
me
,
Laura
,
”
said
her
brother
.
The
word
went
like
a
dagger
through
her
heart
,
but
she
smiled
as
though
the
thing
were
beneath
notice
,
and
said
merely
,
“
Oh
!
that
little
girl
!
he
is
good
natured
to
her
.
”
And
Mr.
Chanson
was
willing
to
adopt
her
view
of
the
subject
.
Nevertheless
he
would
have
been
glad
the
expected
word
should
have
been
said
,
which
plighted
his
guest
and
his
sister
;
and
one
morning
as
they
stood
together
,
after
breakfast
,
in
front
of
a
great
dahlia
bed
,
he
broke
out
into
words
.
“
This
is
all
my
sister’s
doing
,
the
whole
of
this
garden
;
I
know
nothing
of
such
matters
,
and
it
is
very
lucky
for
me
to
have
a
woman
of
so
much
taste
and
manner
at
the
head
of
my
establishment
.
”
Leslie
had
been
profoundly
meditating
on
Elinor
,
but
roused
himself
to
answer
.
“
Indeed
it
is
;
we
are
glad
enough
of
the
result
,
but
we
don’t
like
the
trouble
of
providing
for
it
beforehand
.
”
“
Laura
is
uncommonly
clever
about
the
management
of
one’s
house
,
”
said
her
brother
,
“
indeed
about
everything
.
She
looks
well
,
don’t
she
,
at
the
head
of
one’s
table
?
I
am
proud
of
her
.
”
“
With
great
reasons
,
”
said
Leslie
.
Mr.
Chanson
was
warmed
by
this
agreement
.
“
And
it
is
my
good
luck
that
a
girl
who
might
have
her
own
house
in
London
,
and
do
what
she
likes
—
for
she
has
all
her
mother’s
property
—
she
is
only
my
half
sister
,
you
know
,
and
her
mother
had
Kitsal
,
you
know
,
at
her
brother’s
death
.
”
“
Kitsal
,
”
said
Leslie
,
absently
,
but
with
a
kind
of
wise
voice
,
as
though
that
word
explained
the
whole
matter
.
“
It
was
turned
into
money
,
”
said
the
Squire
.
“
If
Laura
should
ever
marry
,
I
should
try
to
keep
her
interested
in
the
county
by
giving
my
influence
to
bring
her
husband
into
Parliament
;
I
could
do
it
,
sir
.
They
want
a
Whig
,
and
at
the
next
election
,
I
could
,
and
I
would
do
it
.
”
“
That’s
an
object
worth
every
man’s
ambition
,
”
said
Leslie
.
“
I
wonder
you
never
put
yourself
in
,
you
would
surely
have
liked
it
.
”
“
No
,
no
,
it’s
not
the
place
for
me
;
I
was
young
once
,
but
I
never
could
hear
anybody
talk
above
ten
minutes
without
falling
asleep
,
and
what
should
I
do
therefore
in
the
House
of
Commons
?
I
leave
all
that
to
the
clever
men
and
the
fine
gentlemen
.
It
is
not
in
me
.
”
Mr.
Chanson
was
pleased
with
himself
for
this
successful
exposition
of
the
advantages
which
an
alliance
with
Laura
held
out
,
and
when
he
saw
Leslie
in
the
course
of
the
day
talking
with
his
sister
,
he
repeated
to
himself
with
inward
self
applause
“
it
works
,
it
works
!
”
Sir
Peter
also
tried
to
put
in
a
good
word
for
her
;
“
Desperately
fine
shoulders
my
cousin
has
,
”
said
he
,
looking
at
her
in
a
becoming
evening
dress
;
“
she
is
a
fine
creature
,
don’t
you
think
so
,
yourself
?
”
“
To
be
sure
,
everybody
must
;
good
colouring
too
—
bright
and
clear
.
”
“
Yes
,
very
unlike
that
little
pale
sparrow
,
”
said
Sir
Peter
,
designating
Elinor
.
“
Sparrow
!
oh
yes
!
she
chirps
nicely
,
don’t
you
think
so
,
yourself
?
”
said
Leslie
.
“
What
her
singing
?
I
am
not
very
learned
about
music
,
but
I
was
much
indebted
to
her
for
obliging
me
so
about
that
song
the
other
night
.
”
Nobody
ever
caught
Leslie
wincing
under
a
sudden
attack
,
he
answered
readily
.
“
Ay
,
she
was
conscientious
in
keeping
her
first
engagement
.
”
Sir
Peter
laughed
;
“
I
doubt
,
”
said
he
,
“
whether
that
would
be
uppermost
in
her
thoughts
.
Conventual
as
she
has
been
,
she
has
no
objection
to
learn
the
polite
art
of
flirtation
;
you
see
that
yourself
?
”
“
Not
I
,
”
said
Leslie
,
“
I’ve
something
else
to
do
;
and
I
apprehend
if
I
had
not
,
that
little
sparrow
would
only
chirp
defiance
at
me
.
”
“
I
apprehend
no
such
thing
,
”
said
Sir
Peter
,
“
I
mean
to
have
a
walk
and
a
talk
with
her
to‐morrow
morning
;
just
keep
my
secret
,
and
don’t
spoil
sport
.
”
“
It
is
no
matter
of
mine
,
”
said
Leslie
.
“
You
have
other
views
,
perhaps
,
”
said
Sir
Peter
.
“
What
?
”
said
Leslie
,
in
a
quite
altered
tone
,
which
sounded
very
much
like
,
“
Don’t
be
impertinent
.
”
But
Elinor
!
Leslie
felt
she
did
not
love
him
,
that
her
regard
was
one
of
respect
and
liking
,
such
as
she
felt
for
the
old
Holy
Mother
in
the
convent
,
only
tempered
by
the
unholiness
of
his
sex
and
conversation
,
and
he
did
not
know
but
what
the
giddy
and
prattling
Sir
Peter
might
succeed
in
inspiring
those
feelings
of
which
she
was
hitherto
ignorant
.
But
he
could
have
no
intentions
except
those
of
amusing
himself
for
the
hour
,
and
Leslie
felt
quite
indignant
that
any
man
except
himself
,
should
entertain
views
which
could
interfere
with
her
happiness
.
He
resolved
to
warn
her
;
and
at
dinner
when
a
large
party
were
all
talking
,
he
asked
her
what
were
her
engagements
for
the
next
day
.
Elinor
did
not
know
that
she
had
any
.
“
I
said
I
would
show
Sir
Peter
where
the
stones
with
shells
in
them
are
to
be
found
,
”
she
added
,
after
a
pause
.
“
Why
did
you
say
you
had
no
engagement
,
then
?
”
said
Leslie
,
abruptly
.
His
tone
made
her
blush
suddenly
,
for
it
alarmed
her
with
the
feeling
of
having
unconsciously
said
what
she
ought
not
;
but
after
two
or
three
seconds
she
answered
,
“
because
I
forgot
it
.
”
Leslie
did
not
believe
her
,
he
saw
the
rising
blood
,
and
interpreted
it
his
own
way
;
but
the
one
truth
told
about
her
intended
walk
was
enough
effort
,
without
requiring
a
second
about
her
motive
,
and
he
went
on
,
“
Don’t
do
as
you
promised
.
”
“
No
?
”
said
Elinor
,
astonished
.
“
Let
older
people
show
him
the
stones
with
shells
in
them
,
”
said
he
,
“
you
had
better
not
.
”
“
Why
?
”
asked
Elinor
,
“
I
once
showed
them
to
you
.
”
“
Yes
—
very
true
—
but
you
know
that
as
soon
as
you
came
to
this
new
scene
,
you
thought
I
could
be
useful
in
giving
you
an
insight
into
it
,
and
in
advising
you
.
I
have
done
so
to
the
best
of
my
power
,
have
I
not
?
so
that
you
can
be
sure
your
fast
friend
.
”
“
Indeed
you
are
,
”
said
Elinor
.
“
Now
you
are
not
so
sure
of
everybody
—
and
unless
you
wish
it
very
much
...
...
”
“
Oh
!
no
;
besides
he
can
easily
find
the
way
if
I
tell
him
.
”
“
Yes
;
and
never
mind
saying
much
about
it
to
anybody
,
that’s
my
advice
.
It
will
be
better
just
not
to
do
it
.
”
Elinor
instantly
agreed
;
and
after
this
they
talked
on
other
subjects
,
about
which
,
although
Elinor
laughed
a
great
deal
less
than
with
Sir
Peter
,
she
was
far
more
deeply
interested
,
and
forgot
every
one
else
,
while
his
low
voice
,
and
her
lower
rejoinder
was
suffered
to
continue
uninterrupted
.
“
Oh
!
that
inveterate
flirt
!
”
said
Sir
Peter
to
Laura
,
by
whose
side
he
sat
;
and
Laura
with
death
in
her
heart
,
was
cross
to
her
cousin
,
and
conveyed
in
obscure
language
,
which
had
a
clear
meaning
for
him
,
that
he
did
not
help
her
,
and
was
either
clumsy
or
careless
.
The
boy
was
piqued
at
this
,
to
strain
his
efforts
for
better
success
,
and
it
was
therefore
with
eagerness
that
he
watched
next
morning
,
lest
the
promised
walk
should
escape
him
;
but
,
Leslie
also
had
his
attention
alive
,
and
in
order
to
give
Elinor
a
good
excuse
for
not
going
out
,
he
made
use
of
a
means
,
which
no
object
less
interesting
could
have
induced
him
to
bring
into
play
.
This
was
a
literary
effort
of
his
own
,
a
poem
which
he
could
willingly
have
read
to
a
severe
judge
,
who
would
have
treated
it
according
to
its
own
faults
or
merits
;
but
very
unwillingly
to
an
audience
whose
admiration
was
determined
beforehand
,
by
the
fact
that
it
was
their
guest
and
friend
who
wrote
it
.
Laura’s
eagerness
to
accept
his
offer
was
based
on
exactly
this
reason
.
“
D’ailleurs
tous
nos
parens
sont
sages
,
vertueux
.
”
BOILEAU
.
“
Oh
!
thanks
,
thanks
,
what
a
treat
it
will
be
!
Peter
,
here’s
such
a
pleasure
for
you
,
Mr.
Leslie
is
going
to
read
a
poem
of
his
own
to
us
.
Oh
!
I
am
all
impatience
—
such
a
treat
.
”
“
Nay
,
”
said
Leslie
,
“
how
can
you
know
that
beforehand
.
I
want
your
opinion
whether
the
thing
is
good
or
not
.
”
“
Oh
!
there
can
be
no
doubt
of
that
.
Come
to
my
morning
room
,
where
we
shall
not
be
interrupted
;
I
could
not
endure
any
interruption
.
You
don’t
mind
Elinor
,
do
you
,
she
is
there
already
.
”
“
Not
in
the
least
,
”
said
the
candid
Leslie
.
Accordingly
,
to
this
select
committee
,
he
about
half
an
hour
after
this
time
unfolded
his
MS.
,
and
told
them
it
was
a
few
verses
,
which
he
had
a
mind
to
send
to
a
magazine
then
in
fashion
,
to
see
whether
they
would
be
accepted
or
not
.
“
Of
course
they
must
,
”
said
Laura
,
“
they
will
be
only
too
happy
to
print
anything
you
may
write
.
”
“
If
they
don’t
,
”
said
Leslie
,
“
I
shall
be
mortified
that
my
verses
should
be
worse
than
those
which
they
do
print
—
but
a
man
cannot
judge
for
himself
.
I
like
them
,
but
that
is
no
test
;
I
shall
learn
their
value
from
your
decision
.
”
“
I
know
THAT
will
be
favourable
,
”
said
Laura
.
“
And
you
,
Miss
Ladylift
?
”
said
Leslie
,
to
Elinor
.
“
I
can
tell
if
I
like
them
,
or
not
;
but
that’s
all
,
”
said
Elinor
.
Leslie
smiled
,
and
Laura
flattered
herself
he
was
comparing
the
childish
simplicity
of
the
young
girl
,
with
her
own
confidence
in
his
genius
.
It
was
a
poem
of
some
ten
or
twelve
quatrains
,
beginning
,
“
I
stood
within
the
graves
o’ershadow’d
vault
,
”
verses
which
were
afterwards
sealed
with
public
applause
,
and
which
delighted
Leslie
himself
;
but
,
he
had
no
confidence
that
they
would
be
approved
by
others
.
The
approbation
on
this
occasion
was
unbounded
on
the
part
of
the
mistress
of
the
house
;
but
the
author
was
not
at
all
touched
by
it
,
except
so
far
as
he
considered
it
a
homage
to
his
own
personal
merits
;
indeed
he
thought
none
of
them
able
to
form
any
useful
judgment
,
but
he
had
a
mind
to
hear
what
Elinor
would
say
.
“
It
is
too
long
,
I
think
,
”
said
Elinor
.
“
Good
heavens
,
too
long
!
”
cried
Laura
,
“
I
only
wish
it
were
ten
times
longer
.
”
Elinor
coloured
up
to
her
eyes
,
at
being
thus
convicted
of
misapprehension
;
but
Leslie
smiled
brightly
,
and
after
a
few
seconds
said
she
was
quite
right
;
as
he
read
it
,
he
had
himself
been
struck
by
the
necessity
of
cutting
out
some
of
the
stanzas
.
“
It
is
very
useful
to
read
aloud
what
one
has
silently
written
,
”
said
he
;
“
which
do
you
think
I
must
take
away
?
”
Elinor
answered
nothing
at
all
to
this
,
and
Leslie
had
not
expected
she
could
.
The
morning
had
worn
on
meantime
,
and
when
the
party
seemed
likely
to
disperse
,
Elinor
had
withdrawn
to
her
room
,
and
it
was
plain
to
Sir
Peter
that
his
chance
was
over
for
the
present
.
He
took
Laura
into
the
conservatory
just
outside
,
and
here
their
conversation
soon
began
to
break
into
gleeful
laughter
,
and
exclamations
of
capital
!
and
then
hush
!
and
foolish
boy
!
Leslie
paid
no
attention
,
but
went
his
way
,
with
his
verses
in
his
hand
,
remodelling
what
he
thought
faulty
,
and
intent
on
showing
the
approving
answer
of
the
magazine
when
it
should
arrive
,
to
his
late
audience
.
In
no
long
time
after
,
he
was
summoned
to
luncheon
,
and
then
to
an
expedition
which
had
been
arranged
to
a
neighhouring
lion
.
When
the
ladies
had
gone
upstairs
to
get
their
cloaks
and
bonnets
,
hats
and
habits
,
Laura
followed
Elinor
into
her
room
,
and
in
a
friendly
tone
asked
whether
she
particularly
wished
to
go
to
Gilbert’s
Glen
.
“
I
should
like
it
very
much
,
”
said
Elinor
,
not
sure
what
answer
the
question
meant
to
get
.
“
Oh
!
then
of
course
it
is
settled
—
it
does
not
signify
.
”
“
What
does
not
?
I
am
quite
willing
to
stay
at
home
.
”
“
What
,
really
!
”
said
Laura
;
“
are
you
certain
?
”
“
Quite
,
if
you
prefer
it
.
”
“
Nay
,
in
that
case
,
you
could
do
me
a
service
.
I
meant
to
have
gone
myself
this
morning
,
but
Mr.
Leslie’s
interesting
poem
prevented
me
.
I
want
some
specimens
from
the
Neenshill
quarry
to
show
Mr.
Goell
to‐night
,
and
if
you
don’t
mind
staying
,
you
could
get
them
while
I
am
away
.
”
“
Is
Sir
Peter
going
to
Neenshill
?
”
said
Elinor
,
speaking
suddenly
the
thought
that
instantly
occurred
.
“
Peter
!
no
—
he
is
to
ride
with
me
—
what
should
take
him
there
?
”
Elinor
coloured
again
,
at
her
mistake
,
and
willingly
undertook
Laura’s
commission
.
Pleased
at
her
success
,
Laura
descended
the
staircase
,
and
found
the
party
assembled
in
the
hall
,
some
for
riding
,
some
for
driving
.
“
Isn’t
Miss
Ladylift
coming
?
”
said
Sir
Peter
.
“
Well
!
do
you
know
,
she
has
changed
her
mind
,
”
said
Laura
;
“
she
says
she
thinks
the
day
too
hot
,
though
I
don’t
know
that
it
is
hotter
than
it
was
.
I
can’t
persuade
her
,
she
thinks
she
had
better
stay
quietly
in
her
room
—
her
head
aches
she
says
.
”
Thus
glibly
lying
,
Laura
got
into
the
phaeton
,
and
the
party
set
off
.
Leslie
had
been
appointed
to
drive
Laura
;
therefore
he
saw
nothing
of
the
movements
of
the
rest
,
till
they
arrived
at
the
destined
place
,
and
assembled
to
walk
up
the
glen
;
then
both
he
and
his
companions
missed
Sir
Peter
.
“
Oh
!
such
a
misfortune
!
”
said
one
of
the
girls
who
had
come
on
horseback
,
“
that
beautiful
horse
of
Mr.
Chanson’s
,
which
Sir
Peter
was
riding
,
fell
lame
.
”
“
Really
,
”
cried
Laura
,
“
how
annoyed
my
brother
will
be
.
”
“
And
Sir
Peter
thought
best
to
ride
it
back
gently
,
when
we
were
about
half‐way
.
”
“
The
best
thing
he
could
do
,
”
said
Laura
.
Leslie
meantime
spoke
to
the
groom
who
had
accompanied
the
riding
party
.
“
What’s
the
matter
with
the
horse
?
”
said
he
,
indifferently
.
“
Don’t
think
there’s
nothing
,
sir
,
”
said
the
groom
;
“
but
Sir
Peter
took
it
quite
on
his‐self
.
”
Leslie
feared
Sir
Peter
had
taken
more
interesting
matter
on
his‐self
than
conveying
home
a
lame
horse
,
and
instantly
he
suspected
Elinor
of
being
a
party
to
this
pre‐arranged
lameness
of
Rampage
;
and
he
resolved
to
know
what
it
all
meant
.
He
followed
the
party
who
had
walked
forward
into
the
glen
,
and
expressing
his
admiration
of
the
scene
to
Laura
,
said
he
should
like
to
climb
the
right
side
of
the
valley
,
where
the
rocks
were
steepest
,
and
would
join
her
again
at
the
farthest
outlet
;
but
,
if
he
should
not
be
arrived
by
the
time
they
reached
it
,
they
were
not
to
wait
.
Laura
gave
an
easy
assent
,
which
was
more
than
he
expected
;
but
he
had
been
prepared
to
disregard
any
remonstrance
she
might
make
,
and
therefore
at
once
struck
away
into
the
wood
,
and
having
lost
sight
of
the
rest
,
turned
,
and
came
straight
to
the
inn
where
the
horses
were
being
put
up
.
The
present
of
a
sovereign
convinced
the
groom
that
it
could
do
the
horse
he
had
ridden
no
harm
to
turn
round
and
carry
Mr.
Leslie
home
,
and
that
he
,
the
groom
,
was
to
return
in
the
vacated
seat
of
the
phaeton
.
Accordingly
Leslie
mounted
and
riding
gently
away
for
the
first
quarter
of
a
mile
gradually
increased
his
horse’s
speed
,
till
he
was
going
at
a
good
hand‐gallop
back
on
the
road
to
Chanson
Wood
.
Had
Sir
Peter
been
cautiously
riding
a
lame
horse
,
Leslie
must
have
over‐
taken
him
,
but
he
did
no
such
thing
,
and
this
convinced
him
more
and
more
that
the
sudden
lameness
was
a
mere
fiction
,
fitting
into
the
sudden
headache
which
he
believed
to
be
equally
fictitious
.
When
he
came
to
the
house
,
nobody
was
there
—
the
servants
knew
nothing
—
had
not
seen
Miss
Ladylift
go
out
or
come
in
.
Leslie
had
met
with
Rampage
in
the
stableyard
being
led
about
quite
cured
of
his
lameness
,
but
not
yet
of
his
perspiration
;
his
own
horse
required
similar
cares
,
and
the
head
groom
uttered
anathemas
upon
young
gentlemen’s
“
hignorance
of
orses
,
”
such
as
often
follow
upon
young
gentlemen’s
excited
passions
which
the
grooms
leave
out
of
the
account
when
they
attribute
all
to
“
hignorance
.
”
Turning
at
once
to
the
wood
,
Leslie
strode
along
the
path
which
led
to
the
quarry
,
with
all
the
feelings
of
an
injured
man
,
and
in
a
very
short
time
had
reached
the
hill
,
the
highest
point
of
which
contained
the
quarry
.
It
was
dotted
with
trees
in
natural
clumps
,
growing
from
rocky
ledges
which
broke
out
over
the
surface
from
top
to
bottom
,
and
among
these
the
path
wound
,
appearing
and
disappearing
in
its
descent
to
the
level
ground
.
He
stood
a
moment
at
the
bottom
,
feeling
that
his
appearance
in
pursuit
of
his
rival
would
not
wear
a
very
dignified
aspect
,
and
while
this
occurred
to
him
,
two
figures
emerged
for
a
moment
from
the
wood
to
an
open
space
and
again
disappeared
among
the
trees
.
Leslie’s
eyes
were
fixed
on
the
next
opening
,
devouring
the
space
beforehand
;
again
the
figures
came
and
vanished
,
but
nearer
and
plainer
,
and
near
and
plain
enough
to
know
they
were
Elinor
and
Sir
Peter
.
Leslie
ground
his
teeth
—
to
be
deceived
was
one
of
the
bitter
feelings‐that
a
creature
so
guileless
as
she
seemed
should
have
deceived
,
and
been
believed
by
him
,
was
another
.
He
thought
at
first
he
would
meet
and
confound
her
by
mere
silence
—
then
he
would
have
given
much
not
to
have
returned
,
and
not
to
be
found
out
by
her
in
such
interest
as
to
watch
her
.
Under
this
sudden
thought
he
dashed
into
the
thick
of
the
wood
,
and
there
,
from
safe
distances
,
again
fixed
his
eyes
on
the
path
along
which
they
must
go
.
They
passed
very
near
,
Sir
Peter
carrying
her
basket
,
and
talking
with
great
animation
.
Elinor’s
face
was
hidden
by
her
great
hat
and
veil
;
she
was
saying
nothing
as
she
passed
,
but
how
could
she
when
her
companion
was
so
loquacious
?
enough
,
enough
,
she
was
walking
with
him
!
They
passed
on
,
and
Leslie
strode
away
,
burying
himself
in
the
woods
till
nearly
dinner
time
,
and
then
dressed
furiously
,
and
came
down
to
the
drawing‐room
as
placidly
and
calmly
as
if
not
one
disturbed
thought
raged
within
.
“
What
became
of
you
,
Mr.
Leslie
?
”
said
Laura
;
“
did
you
lose
your
way
in
the
glen
?
”
“
No
,
”
said
Leslie
;
“
but
I
got
so
entirely
away
from
the
place
where
we
were
to
have
met
,
that
I
resolved
to
borrow
your
groom’s
horse
,
and
ride
home
without
waiting
for
you
.
”
Laura
let
the
subject
drop
.
“
Look
here
,
”
she
said
,
turning
to
the
table
;
“
Elinor
has
been
so
kind
as
to
get
me
some
fossils
to
show
Mr.
Goell
this
evening
,
and
after
all
that
tiresome
man
is
not
come
.
They
are
beautiful
,
are
they
not
?
”
“
Very
,
”
said
Leslie
,
and
turned
to
Elinor
.
“
You
got
as
far
as
the
stone
quarry
then
,
”
said
he
,
in
the
blandest
tone
,
“
this
hot
day
?
”
Irreproachable
as
the
voice
was
,
it
made
her
colour
.
“
Yes
,
”
she
said
,
in
a
low
voice
;
“
but
...
...
”
the
disjunctive
conjunction
was
indicated
,
not
spoken
through
,
and
Leslie
,
taking
up
two
or
three
in
his
hand
,
said
“
You
must
have
had
a
great
weight
to
carry
.
Your
arm
must
ache
,
does
it
not
?
”
“
No
,
”
said
Elinor
;
“
for
Si
...
...
”
“
I
had
the
honour
of
sparing
Miss
Ladylift
that
trouble
,
”
said
Sir
Peter
.
“
Oh
—
yes
!
”
said
Leslie
,
as
if
the
explanation
were
most
satisfactory
,
and
he
would
not
catch
the
eyes
of
Elinor
,
which
he
felt
sought
his
,
to
explain
or
deprecate
,
or
deceive
—
he
thought
the
latter
.
And
now
for
the
next
few
days
Leslie
behaved
like
a
brute
to
Elinor
;
a
polished
brute
,
bringing
her
shawl
,
setting
her
chair
,
opening
the
door
with
frigid
politeness
,
but
never
once
looking
her
in
the
face
;
never
coming
near
for
a
word
of
explanation
,
never
entering
into
what
she
said
or
did
;
never
including
her
in
any
project
or
employment
.
All
the
time
he
felt
he
was
straightening
,
rather
than
loosing
the
bond
between
them
,
for
he
was
aware
she
was
intent
upon
explanation
,
and
that
at
any
moment
by
a
return
to
kindliness
he
could
open
all
the
pent‐up
feelings
of
that
guileless
heart
;
yes
,
guileless
,
for
in
his
most
secret
thought
he
was
convinced
there
was
no
guile
in
Elinor
,
though
he
chose
to
say
,
even
to
himself
,
there
was
.
Meantime
,
she
was
so
unhappy
that
she
sometimes
rebelled
against
it
;
she
seriously
thought
she
would
return
to
her
convent
,
and
hide
herself
from
a
world
where
plainly
nobody
cared
for
her
.
When
all
her
efforts
to
speak
to
Leslie
,
and
to
conciliate
him
,
failed
—
when
he
persevered
in
mortifying
her
,
and
in
affecting
unconsciousness
of
her
presence
,
her
heart
rose
quite
full
of
tears
,
and
seemed
too
swollen
for
her
bosom
.
“
What
right
has
he
to
make
me
so
unhappy
,
”
she
said
to
herself
,
but
Leslie
did
not
melt
,
though
he
saw
her
eyes
cloud
with
what
he
knew
were
tears
,
suppressed
though
they
might
be
.
Laura
saw
all
this
and
was
delighted
;
she
thought
her
plans
were
working
their
full
effect
;
and
Leslie’s
attention
to
her
,
which
was
mostly
aimed
at
vexing
Elinor
,
she
readily
deceived
herself
into
thinking
was
wholly
to
please
herself
.
She
was
in
great
spirits
;
she
looked
very
handsome
,
and
did
all
that
she
could
imagine
would
best
please
her
favoured
guest
.
His
poem
she
continually
brought
forward
till
he
dreaded
the
very
mention
of
it
.
Every
post
,
she
remembered
not
to
forget
her
interest
about
the
expected
answer
,
and
each
time
she
expressed
her
conviction
that
the
editor
would
only
not
know
how
to
give
it
sufficient
welcome
.
Leslie
felt
confident
enough
of
that
also
,
but
the
pudeur
of
composition
(
when
the
author
has
written
what
he
felt
)
made
him
shrink
from
so
much
talk
about
it
.
It
was
the
fourth
morning
after
his
estrangement
from
Elinor
that
the
letters
as
usual
being
brought
round
at
breakfast
,
Laura’s
inquiry
again
broke
in
on
Leslie’s
glance
over
those
laid
beside
him
.
“
Is
there
an
answer
yet
?
”
—
and
he
,
breaking
open
the
seal
of
a
business‐like
looking
one
,
ran
his
eye
down
the
page
,
and
replied
in
rather
an
unnecessarily
indifferent
tone
,
“
Yes
,
they
refuse
it
.
”
Laura
had
not
much
tact
;
instead
of
dropping
so
distasteful
a
subject
,
she
could
not
let
it
alone
.
“
Impossible
!
how
absurd
!
and
the
things
they
do
take
,
yet
refuse
yours
!
—
for
my
part
I
thought
they
would
have
seized
upon
it
like
a
gold
mine
!
Well
they
don’t
know
their
own
interest
.
”
“
That
is
just
what
they
do
know
,
”
said
Leslie
;
“
what
is
likely
to
please
,
they
are
certain
to
adopt
,
”
and
he
folded
each
fold
of
the
paper
,
and
put
it
into
his
pocket
.
“
I
only
wish
you
would
give
it
me
,
”
said
Laura
;
“
I
would
print
it
,
and
show
the
world
what
poetry
is
.
”
So
she
went
on
,
not
conscious
how
this
effort
to
show
the
author
was
not
mortified
,
pressed
on
him
the
assurance
that
everybody
saw
he
was
.
Leslie
,
however
,
turned
the
matter
into
laughter
,
wished
his
enemy
might
write
a
book
;
and
,
in
fact
,
took
the
rejection
to
heart
very
little
after
the
first
moment
of
making
it
public
.
But
Elinor
had
seen
that
he
was
vexed
for
some
instants
,
and
when
the
ladies
were
lingering
in
the
morning‐room
before
separating
for
their
several
avocations
,
she
had
heard
Laura
making
much
of
it
to
the
circle
round
her
.
“
Poor
Mr.
Leslie
,
”
she
said
;
“
I’m
sorry
for
Mr.
Leslie
,
he
bore
it
pretty
well
.
”
In
the
innocence
of
her
heart
,
Elinor
deduced
that
he
had
suffered
a
great
fall
,
that
he
was
humbled
,
he
who
had
been
so
proud
and
lofty
in
every
way
.
She
glided
away
,
unnoticed
;
and
with
a
beating
heart
reached
the
door
of
the
library
,
where
Leslie
was
reading
,
forgetful
,
probably
of
the
whole
matter
;
or
,
if
he
thought
of
it
at
all
,
merely
resolving
to
annihilate
the
editor
some
day
or
other
,
by
giving
all
his
support
to
the
rival
magazine
.
He
did
not
look
up
,
though
he
saw
in
a
mirror
opposite
that
it
was
Elinor
,
and
his
heart
quickened
its
throb
in
consequence
;
but
he
would
not
relax
from
his
unkindness
.
She
had
laid
her
little
plan
for
doing
him
a
sort
of
homage
,
in
what
she
looked
upon
to
be
adverse
circumstances
,
and
in
pursuance
of
it
had
already
sought
for
,
and
found
a
book
,
the
only
circumstance
about
which
that
interested
her
,
was
that
the
text
in
one
page
was
mixed
with
a
certain
number
of
Latin
verses
,
which
verses
she
meant
to
be
her
allies
in
her
harmless
stratagem
.
Yet
she
hesitated
for
a
minute
before
carrying
her
plan
into
execution
,
and
in
the
mirror
he
contrived
to
watch
her
,
without
attracting
her
observation
.
He
saw
her
timid
approach
,
he
marked
the
pause
she
made
,
and
how
she
lightly
pressed
her
small
white
teeth
upon
her
under
lip
,
like
one
in
perplexity
about
the
thing
she
was
going
to
do
.
Presently
she
resolved
to
come
forward
,
and
did
so
hastily
;
upon
which
,
Leslie
rose
,
and
was
ceremoniously
placing
a
chair
for
her
,
when
she
broke
in
.
“
No
,
I
don’t
want
to
sit
down
,
I
want
to
ask
you
if
you
will
explain
this
Latin
for
me
.
”
He
took
the
book
a
little
surprised
at
her
request
,
and
read
into
English
four
lines
beginning
—
“
Pannonis
haud
aliter
post
ictum
sævior
Ursa
.
”
“
Thank
you
,
”
said
Elinor
,
looking
him
in
the
face
,
“
you
know
everything
,
you
can
do
everything
.
How
pleasant
to
be
so
clever
as
you
are
.
”
Leslie
returned
her
look
,
trying
to
comprehend
what
this
little
scene
meant
.
“
What
book
is
it
,
”
said
he
,
“
where
you
have
found
this
passage
?
”
and
he
turned
to
the
title
page
of
the
little
volume
.
Elinor
did
not
know
;
she
held
out
her
hand
for
it
.
“
It
is
,
”
said
she
,
“
it
is
...
...
”
and
she
tried
to
catch
the
title
at
the
top
of
the
page
,
Leslie
saw
in
a
moment
that
she
knew
nothing
about
it
.
“
Have
you
read
it
through
,
as
far
as
this
?
”
said
he
.
“
Not
quite
,
”
said
Elinor
.
“
It
is
a
volume
of
Montaigne’s
Essays
,
”
said
Leslie
.
“
What
would
the
Reverend
Mother
say
,
if
she
knew
you
had
such
a
book
in
your
hands
?
”
“
Would
she
be
angry
?
”
said
Elinor
,
in
sincerest
alarm
.
“
Nay
,
does
not
it
strike
you
as
you
read
,
especially
now
this
twentieth
Essay
,
”
(
he
knew
perfectly
well
she
had
not
read
a
word
of
it
)
—
“
that
she
would
hardly
have
thought
it
a
fit
study
for
her
pupil
?
”
“
Would
not
she
indeed
,
”
said
Elinor
,
“
Oh
!
indeed
I
did
but
just
look
at
it
a
very
little
.
”
“
If
you
had
looked
a
very
little
more
,
”
said
Leslie
,
“
I
should
not
have
had
the
pleasure
of
being
your
interpreter
,
for
here
is
the
Latin
done
into
French
at
the
bottom
of
the
page
.
”
“
Is
there
?
”
said
Elinor
,
more
embarrassed
,
“
I
did
not
think
—
that
is
I
thought
...
...
”
“
You
thought
,
”
said
Leslie
,
his
whole
manner
changing
to
tenderness
,
“
that
I
was
vexed
,
and
you
came
to
raise
my
self‐esteem
.
”
“
No
,
no
,
not
vexed
,
”
she
murmured
.
“
Yes
,
indeed
;
do
not
deny
it
.
I
see
it
,
like
a
glimpse
of
Paradise
.
How
gentle
,
how
womanly
—
all
I
could
have
aspired
to
,
would
have
been
forgiveness
,
for
I
have
done
very
ill
,
but
you
no
sooner
fancy
me
humbled
,
than
your
generosity
comes
to
put
me
higher
than
I
was
before
.
”
“
Indeed
,
”
said
Elinor
,
“
I
wanted
to
know
the
meaning
.
”
“
Indeed
no
,
”
said
Leslie
;
“
you
had
something
better
in
view
.
You
acted
from
the
impulses
of
your
noble
heart
.
How
inferior
I
am
—
despicable
.
If
I
might
ever
reach
to
your
height
—
nay
,
do
hear
me
,
Elinor
—
I
begin
to
know
myself
.
”
“
I
know
you
are
good
and
clever
,
”
said
Elinor
.
“
Good
?
alas
!
but
I
may
become
so
.
All
good
is
possible
in
contact
with
such
lovely
goodness
.
Elinor
!
I
cannot
tell
whether
there
is
any
feeling
in
your
heart
for
me
,
beyond
that
which
you
would
have
for
your
father
confessor
;
but
in
mine
,
there
is
a
perfect
love
for
you
,
which
I
did
not
know
I
was
capable
of
.
Love
me
!
love
me
!
Oh
!
Elinor
,
say
you
can
love
me
enough
to
be
my
wife
.
”
Elinor
stood
speechless
,
puzzled
by
his
change
of
manner
,
uncertain
whether
he
was
displeased
at
first
,
amazed
at
his
earnest
expressions
,
and
perfectly
bewildered
by
the
prayer
to
which
it
all
led
.
“
How
can
I
tell
,
”
she
said
,
at
last
,
and
Leslie’s
earnestness
increased
with
his
uncertainty
.
“
Is
there
no
answer
for
me
but
that
,
”
he
said
;
“
what
does
it
mean
,
Elinor
,
am
I
such
a
stranger
to
all
your
thoughts
,
am
I
so
indifferent
to
you
,
that
you
cannot
tell
whether
you
think
kindly
of
me
?
”
.
“
Oh
yes
!
I
can
tell
that
,
”
said
Elinor
,
“
you
know
you
are
my
only
friend
.
”
“
And
is
not
your
only
friend
fit
to
ask
you
for
his
only
friend
,
the
nearest
,
dearest
friend
—
his
wife
?
”
“
That
only
Mr.
Chanson
can
tell
,
”
said
Elinor
.
“
Oh
!
your
guardian
?
yes
,
I
understand
you
now
;
but
it
is
your
answer
,
not
his
,
that
I
want
;
Elinor
,
I
am
not
asking
your
guardian
to
be
my
wife
.
”
Elinor
smiled
,
and
her
bright
,
shy
eyes
were
kindled
almost
to
laughter
,
but
she
answered
with
a
grave
voice
.
“
It
is
only
he
,
who
can
determine
for
me
about
such
things
.
”
“
So
they
say
in
your
convent
,
”
said
Leslie
,
“
but
consider
how
many
things
were
told
you
there
,
which
differ
from
what
you
have
learned
in
the
world
.
Think
,
most
precious
Elinor
,
is
it
he
who
can
tell
,
or
you
,
whether
you
would
be
pleased
at
dwelling
always
where
I
dwell
,
at
being
as
certain
that
my
heart
is
full
of
you
,
as
that
you
say
your
daily
prayers
,
at
making
my
life
,
(
and
yours
with
mine
)
good
and
happy
;
at
knowing
all
I
know
,
no
secret
ever
between
us
,
and
if
we
have
any
trouble
,
having
it
together
,
and
knowing
exactly
the
measure
and
weight
of
each
other’s
pain
as
well
as
pleasure
?
”
Elinor
was
silent
,
but
she
was
listening
to
every
word
;
her
eyes
had
fallen
from
his
,
but
her
hand
rested
in
the
grasp
of
his
two
hands
.
“
Can
any
tell
all
this
,
except
yourself
?
Can
you
not
tell
it
now
?
answer
me
,
only
answer
may
I
love
you
.
”
“
I
thought
I
had
made
you
angry
,
”
said
Elinor
.
“
Oh
!
never
think
that
again
—
be
my
wife
,
and
such
thoughts
could
never
come
—
there
would
be
but
one
thought
between
us
,
neither
you
could
doubt
me
,
nor
I
you
;
would
not
there
be
a
pleasure
in
that
?
”
“
Yes
,
”
said
Elinor
,
thinking
,
“
he
will
never
suspect
me
again
,
”
while
through
Leslie’s
mind
it
glanced
—
“
She
played
me
false
about
that
rendezvous
with
Bicester
,
but
never
mind
,
I
won’t
tempt
her
to
tell
me
stories
.
”
Aloud
he
said
,
“
Then
tell
me
your
own
self
you
are
mine
.
Say
there
is
so
much
happiness
for
me
in
this
world
,
land
for
you
too
,
happiness
—
is
it
not
—
will
it
not
be
?
”
and
now
his
hand
unforbidden
got
round
her
waist
.
Elinor
began
to
understand
him
.
“
Yes
—
it
is
more
happiness
than
I
ever
thought
of
,
”
she
said
;
“
but
Mr.
Chanson
must
say
if
I
may
.
”
“
No
,
no
;
not
yet
,
at
least
,
you
have
nothing
to
ask
from
him
;
it
will
be
enough
that
he
should
be
told
by
and
by
.
This
is
our
own
concern
,
that
the
world’s
.
Why
should
they
meddle
,
and
whisper
,
and
smile
;
to
us
it
is
serious
,
it
is
sacred
?
Why
should
every
fool
know
our
precious
secret
?
”
Elinor
was
glad
to
be
allowed
silence
,
she
would
have
felt
it
a
painful
task
,
to
say
anything
so
interesting
to
Mr.
Chanson
,
to
whom
she
never
talked
;
or
to
Laura
,
of
whom
she
was
afraid
;
and
she
went
out
of
that
room
full
of
a
consciousness
of
the
great
thing
that
had
happened
,
yet
apparently
as
much
the
same
quiet
Elinor
,
as
it
was
possible
to
be
.
Leslie
was
equally
self‐controlled
,
he
wished
beyond
measure
to
keep
his
secret
,
and
therefore
succeeded
;
there
was
no
covert
thought
prompting
either
of
them
to
let
it
be
discovered
,
and
therefore
there
was
a
perfect
simplicity
and
good
faith
in
their
manner
of
doing
it
.
The
days
following
were
a
time
of
incredible
happiness
to
Leslie
.
He
had
been
vanquished
by
generous
and
good
feelings
suddenly
getting
the
mastery
over
him
,
and
he
was
lifted
above
the
base
purposes
which
he
had
entertained
towards
Elinor
.
He
enjoyed
his
own
better
feelings
,
the
nobler
part
of
his
nature
took
the
place
of
the
baser
,
and
had
an
artistic
attraction
for
him
;
he
felt
himself
freer
for
great
things
than
before
,
he
had
the
pleasure
of
loving
what
was
not
himself
,
yet
his
own
;
and
although
he
was
unable
to
conceive
the
guileless
purity
of
the
young
girl
,
he
was
more
and
more
captivated
by
the
degree
of
it
,
which
he
could
not
help
discerning
,
as
he
became
more
intimate
with
her
thoughts
and
ways
.
Elinor
was
awakening
to
the
hopes
and
happiness
of
life
;
the
Being
under
whose
influence
these
prospects
unfolded
themselves
,
became
her
one
interest
,
and
identified
himself
with
all
her
feelings
.
She
opened
her
heart
to
his
love
,
and
mused
upon
his
home
,
his
society
,
their
position
together
as
dwellers
under
one
roof
,
mused
with
the
innocence
of
a
child
which
hears
many
things
,
but
has
no
interpreter
within
,
by
which
to
understand
them
.
She
would
have
been
contented
with
this
state
of
things
for
an
indefinite
length
of
time
,
but
Leslie
began
to
entertain
some
remorse
as
to
the
part
he
was
playing
by
Laura
.
“
She
must
be
told
,
”
he
said
to
himself
.
“
It
is
due
to
her
generous
behaviour
towards
me
,
and
my
position
as
guest
of
her
house
.
I
will
tell
her
,
if
nobody
else
.
”
Accordingly
,
one
morning
,
when
he
knew
her
to
be
alone
in
her
sitting‐room
,
he
bade
Elinor
make
some
pretence
for
going
to
her
there
,
and
when
she
had
been
in
the
room
for
a
few
minutes
,
he
also
knocked
at
the
door
,
and
on
hearing
permission
,
went
in
.
Laura
rose
hastily
,
with
a
look
of
sudden
wonder
,
and
of
some
other
emotion
which
prompted
her
to
get
rid
of
Elinor
by
all
means
.
“
Have
you
found
what
you
want
,
dear
child
,
”
she
said
;
“
there
,
yes
,
that’s
it
,
is
not
it
?
...
...
”
but
Leslie
interrupted
her
.
“
Nay
,
”
he
said
,
“
it
was
I
who
told
—
begged
,
that
is
,
her
to
be
here
.
We
want
your
concurrence
.
”
He
observed
,
though
without
fixing
his
eyes
on
Laura’s
face
that
there
was
a
kind
of
horror
in
it
,
such
as
comes
when
an
object
of
phantom‐like
dread
rises
before
one
,
and
the
mind
refuses
to
believe
it
.
He
immediately
finished
his
sentence
.
“
This
lady
,
”
Leslie
indicated
Elinor
,
“
consents
to
be
my
wife
.
I
owe
it
to
you
that
you
should
be
the
first
informed
.
”
The
blood
forsook
Laura’s
lips
;
her
heart
it
was
plain
had
stopped
,
so
far
as
a
heart
can
stop
which
is
to
go
again
.
The
nerves
relaxed
,
so
that
the
strong
will
could
hardly
make
instruments
of
them
;
but
she
did
force
them
to
act
.
She
smiled
as
some
one
among
us
may
have
seen
a
dying
man
attempt
to
smile
when
the
power
over
his
muscles
was
half
departed
;
she
looked
on
both
with
eyes
where
were
no
tears
,
the
conventionalities
of
society
held
them
back
.
Leslie
went
on
speaking
,
without
appearing
to
observe
her
.
“
And
now
we
shall
look
to
your
kind
offices
for
counsel
and
assistance
in
our
project
,
and
for
making
known
to
the
world
in
general
what
we
thought
it
right
to
bring
first
to
the
best
friend
of
both
.
”
“
Not
yet
,
”
said
Laura
,
speaking
with
a
steadily
,
uniform
voice
;
“
my
brother
has
so
little
thought
of
such
a
thing
,
that
he
would
,
perhaps
,
throw
obstacles
in
the
way
.
”
“
Obstacles
!
”
said
Leslie
,
carelessly
.
“
No
,
not
that
,
but
he
might
be
angry
with
her
I
mean
;
it
would
so
disturb
him
.
”
“
Believe
me
,
”
said
Leslie
;
“
we
are
both
willing
to
leave
it
to
you
to
make
the
discovery
when
you
like
.
Neither
of
us
shall
interfere
on
that
subject
,
if
one
way
or
another
seems
better
to
you
.
”
“
It
is
merely
your
advantage
I
think
of
,
”
said
Laura
.
“
Of
that
I
am
QUITE
sure
,
”
said
Leslie
:
in
order
to
convey
some
pleasant
impression
to
Laura’s
mind
.
“
And
now
,
”
he
said
,
“
I’ll
leave
my
little
betrothed
with
you
to
get
some
woman’s
talk
about
fringe
and
so
on
.
She
wants
a
friend
on
all
matters
as
you
well
know
,
and
I
humbly
beg
for
one
than
whom
she
could
not
anywhere
find
a
better
.
”
Leslie
drew
back
,
courteously
applying
his
compliment
by
a
slight
indication
of
his
head
,
and
quitted
the
room
,
after
an
encouraging
glance
at
Elinor
.
When
he
was
gone
,
the
agitation
of
the
scene
acted
upon
Elinor
,
and
she
could
not
restrain
her
tears
,
while
she
tried
to
possess
herself
of
Laura’s
hand
,
but
Laura’s
efforts
were
exhausted
;
she
drew
away
her
hand
as
if
it
had
come
in
contact
with
a
fester
,
or
a
nest
of
snakes
,
and
forcing
open
the
door
to
her
bed‐room
flung
it
behind
her
,
and
fell
on
the
floor
by
her
bed
,
totally
giddy
and
beside
herself
for
a
brief
time
.
In
some
people
,
their
first
thought
under
a
sudden
shock
is
,
that
the
thing
is
not
;
or
that
it
will
cease
to
be
.
In
the
worst
of
her
anguish
this
latter
idea
spread
a
gloomy
light
through
the
thick
darkness
,
otherwise
no
strength
of
hers
could
have
supported
it
.
It
was
that
which
by
degrees
gave
consistency
to
her
thoughts
,
and
upon
which
her
mind
as
tenaciously
laid
hold
,
as
the
falling
man
,
on
the
bush
which
grows
over
the
edge
of
the
precipice
.
She
collected
her
senses
and
forced
her
mind
into
action
,
not
with
any
view
ever
entertained
for
a
moment
of
making
the
best
for
herself
and
others
of
what
had
taken
place
,
but
with
the
desperate
purpose
of
destroying
it
at
no
matter
what
sacrifice
.
The
first
thing
was
to
gain
time
,
and
this
her
instinct
had
already
prompted
her
to
do
,
when
she
besought
Leslie
to
keep
the
secret
for
awhile
.
What
was
to
follow
she
ran
over
in
her
head
,
and
sate
in
her
tranquil
room
,
among
all
,
the
pretty
luxuries
of
toilette
and
draperied
mirror
,
of
flaçons
and
flowers
,
leaning
her
rounded
cheek
on
her
hand
,
while
the
natural
folds
of
rich
silk
fell
around
her
figure
,
and
all
this
time
was
brooding
the
project
which
should
immolate
the
innocent
girl
,
and
the
beloved
man
to
the
idol
enshrined
in
her
own
person
.
To
this
end
she
laid
her
plan
,
and
with
farsighted
anticipation
she
soon
after
sought
her
brother
,
and
engaged
him
by
gentle
degrees
in
a
conversation
on
his
political
interest
,
which
had
always
a
certain
charm
for
him
.
There
was
some
property
at
a
little
distance
lately
acquired
by
him
,
where
the
votes
of
the
tenants
were
less
their
landlord’s
than
those
which
had
longer
felt
his
subject
of
discourse
,
and
suggested
the
propriety
of
“
at
some
future
time
,
any
leisure
day
,
”
cultivating
their
acquaintance
and
gaining
a
hold
on
their
opinions
.
Her
brother
assented
,
but
complained
of
the
tediousness
of
the
operation
.
Laura
hinted
that
he
should
lighten
the
disgust
by
taking
a
companion
;
some
one
,
she
said
,
who
would
do
credit
to
the
cause
,
and
whom
he
might
recommend
to
them
whenever
there
was
occasion
.
“
Why
not
speak
out
,
”
said
Mr.
Chanson
;
“
there
is
one
I
should
be
glad
enough
to
recommend
,
if
you
can
tell
me
you
wish
it
.
”
“
Nay
,
you
know
all
I
know
about
him
,
”
said
Laura
.
“
All
?
”
“
Yes
,
and
far
more
than
any
other
human
being
ever
can
know
.
”
“
Then
I
wish
it
were
more
,
for
my
dear
little
Laura
is
not
the
woman
to
be
trifled
with
.
”
“
No
,
no
,
don’t
say
such
a
word
.
I
understand
him
,
and
so
he
does
me
.
Only
be
best
friends
with
him
,
and
give
him
an
interest
among
us
.
”
“
I
will
do
anything
for
you
,
sister
,
”
said
he
;
“
you
are
as
clever
as
you
are
hand‐
some
,
and
deserve
the
very
best
man
wit
and
money
can
gain
.
I
shall
be
sorry
to
part
with
you
,
that
is
all
.
But
if
you
gain
by
it
,
I
won’t
think
of
myself
.
”
“
Thank
you
,
Lawrence
,
”
said
Miss
Chanson
,
and
the
kindness
breathed
over
her
heart
like
dew
upon
some
burning
,
arid
plain
.
The
tears
came
to
her
eyes
,
and
she
hid
them
on
his
shoulder
.
“
You
are
happy
,
Laura
?
”
said
he
,
inquiringly
;
“
you
are
satisfied
?
”
“
Yes
,
”
said
Laura
;
“
oh
,
yes
,
I
am
.
”
It
was
very
hard
to
form
those
words
,
but
she
succeeded
.
She
had
provided
in
this
manœuvre
for
securing
the
absence
of
Leslie
whenever
her
plans
should
require
such
a
movement
to
work
out
the
present
details
.
She
had
only
her
cousin
Peter
to
help
her
,
and
in
the
late
circumstances
of
apparent
estrangement
between
Leslie
and
Elinor
,
he
had
been
laid
aside
as
not
wanted
.
Now
,
however
,
he
was
her
chief
hope
;
and
the
day
of
his
departure
drawing
very
near
,
what
he
had
to
do
must
be
done
without
delay
.
“
Peter
,
”
she
said
,
“
we
are
all
going
to
walk
after
luncheon
.
Now
that
little
flirt
will
enjoy
a
tête‐à‐tête
with
you
.
I
really
think
she
begins
to
get
an
appetite
for
it
.
”
“
Do
you
think
so
,
”
said
her
cousin
;
“
well
she
shows
it
in
an
odd
way
.
How
uncommonly
silent
she
is
,
except
to
Leslie
.
”
“
Oh
!
she
torments
him
to
death
,
”
said
Laura
,
“
he
was
saying
to
me
this
morning
that
he
wished
—
wished
—
that
is
...
...
”
“
What
,
Laura
?
”
“
He
came
,
Peter
,
to
my
room
to
speak
to
me
;
and
she
was
there
,
and
would
not
go
away
.
”
“
My
dear
Laura
!
”
“
No
,
no
,
nonsense
;
I
don’t
know
what
he
had
to
say
,
but
with
her
in
the
room
,
and
so
determined
to
stay
...
...
”
“
Yes
,
yes
;
but
during
the
walk
this
afternoon
there
may
be
a
better
opportunity
.
Well
,
cousin
Laura
,
you
know
it
will
break
my
heart
,
but
I
devote
myself
,
I
cover
my
head
with
a
white
mantle
,
and
stretch
out
my
hands
to
the
infernal
gods
.
”
“
What
nonsense
you
talk
,
dear
Peter
.
”
“
Shall
we
take
a
gentle
walk
in
the
woods
?
”
said
Laura
,
to
the
party
after
luncheon
,
“
the
autumn
colours
are
growing
beautiful
,
and
the
day
is
neither
too
hot
nor
cold
.
”
Everybody
agreed
,
and
they
assembled
gradually
under
the
portico
,
as
they
were
ready
,
previous
to
the
start
.
Leslie
had
gently
driven
Laura
into
a
corner
,
and
in
the
fulness
of
contentment
with
himself
and
others
,
was
asking
questions
sufficiently
embarrassing
.
“
Have
you
taught
her
,
Miss
Chanson
,
how
to
cut
out
cloaks
and
gowns
;
and
what
to
do
with
a
housekeeper
?
”
Laura
commanded
her
voice
,
and
made
some
trifling
answer
.
“
You
know
it
is
to
you
only
I
can
talk
on
the
subject
,
”
Leslie
went
on
;
“
in
the
first
place
,
I
have
no
mind
to
let
everybody
into
my
affairs
,
and
in
the
next
,
you
bid
me
be
silent
for
the
present
.
”
“
Oh
yes
!
be
silent
,
”
said
Laura
,
“
I
have
more
reasons
than
one
for
that
request
.
Pray
say
nothing
yet
.
”
“
That
you
command
me
is
sufficient
reason
,
”
said
Leslie
,
who
felt
that
he
owed
her
some
reparation
.
“
You
yourself
,
perhaps
,
may
find
reason
to
thank
me
,
”
said
Laura
.
“
Nay
,
I
thank
you
already
.
The
one
point
being
gained
,
of
security
in
the
regard
of
that
little
lady
,
I
am
grateful
for
every
evidence
of
interest
in
either
her
,
or
me
.
”
“
How
happy
you
are
in
a
confiding
,
honest
nature
,
”
said
Laura
.
“
People
always
despise
those
whom
they
call
confiding
”
said
Leslie
,
“
and
those
despised
persons
always
presume
on
their
own
particular
clear‐sightedness
,
and
say
others
may
be
taken
in
,
but
as
for
them
it
is
impossible
.
”
“
Heaven
forbid
,
that
it
should
happen
to
you
!
”
said
Laura
,
then
hastily
went
on
.
“
You
talk
so
loftily
about
despising
,
and
being
despised
,
like
one
who
knows
there
is
no
such
word
for
him
;
but
come
,
the
party
is
all
assembled
now
I
think
.
”
She
moved
a
step
forward
,
and
so
did
Leslie
,
and
saw
that
Elinor
was
standing
just
within
the
door
,
and
that
the
officious
Sir
Peter
had
offered
her
his
arm
for
the
walk
.
Laura
eagerly
watching
also
,
perceived
that
Elinor
lifted
her
eyes
to
Leslie
,
and
that
a
slight
glance
of
intelligence
passed
between
them
,
after
which
Elinor
demurely
took
the
offered
arm
,
and
proceeded
with
Sir
Peter
.
That
look
wrenched
the
dagger
round
in
Laura’s
heart
;
it
was
the
thing
which
her
imagination
had
represented
as
most
intolerable
,
the
familiar
token
which
both
understood
,
and
from
which
all
others
were
shut
out
;
her
insidious
words
had
fallen
useless
,
and
now
,
friendly
as
Leslie
might
be
,
faithfully
as
he
kept
by
her
side
,
he
did
but
confirm
her
anguish
by
a
behaviour
which
was
so
friendly
,
merely
because
he
had
made
her
the
confidant
of
his
successful
love
for
another
.
She
could
not
play
out
her
part
to
the
end
to‐day
.
She
was
obliged
to
complain
of
a
headache
before
the
walk
was
over
,
and
sank
into
silence
,
which
this
excuse
justified
,
and
which
with
her
throbbing
head
and
dry
lips
,
it
was
impossible
for
her
to
avoid
.
When
they
reached
home
again
,
she
went
straight
to
her
room
,
and
appeared
no
more
,
accepting
Elinor’s
timid
offers
of
service
,
in
order
to
keep
her
away
from
the
society
of
Leslie
.
For
a
time
she
preserved
the
impenetrable
silence
which
her
feelings
dictated
and
which
Elinor
,
frightened
at
the
repulses
she
met
,
shrank
into
herself
to
observe
;
but
at
last
,
as
she
slowly
won
self‐command
,
she
resolved
to
employ
the
time
in
preparing
the
ground
for
the
scheme
before
her
,
and
however
odious
to
herself
to
enter
into
conversation
with
the
happy
young
girl
.
“
How
was
this
all
arranged
,
dear
?
”
she
began
,
in
an
invalid
tone
,
“
tell
me
about
it
.
”
Elinor
was
as
little
inclined
as
she
to
pour
out
confidences
,
but
she
hesitated
not
to
answer
.
“
I
was
afraid
he
was
angry
,
”
she
began
...
...
“
Well
,
”
said
Laura
,
impatiently
.
“
I
was
afraid
he
was
unhappy
,
”
said
Elinor
.
“
What
do
you
mean
?
”
again
said
Laura
,
hastily
.
“
He
seemed
angry
.
”
“
Oh
!
nonsense
—
what
stuff
—
what
made
him
angry
?
”
“
Your
cousin
...
...
”
Elinor
began
,
but
was
glad
to
be
interrupted
by
her
imperious
sympathizer
.
“
By
the
by
,
I
wanted
to
speak
about
Peter
