Pride and Prejudice; Sense and Sensibility

Chapter 108 Eleanor's Conversation with the Colonel
The Miss Dashwoods had now been in the town for more than two months, and Marianne's eagerness to go home grew every day.She was attached to the air, the leisure and the quietness of the country, and she felt that if there was any place where she could feel free, it was Barton.Elinor was as eager to return as she was, but she was not very inclined to go at once, for she knew the difficulties of going so far, which Marianne would not admit.Eleanor, however, had begun to seriously consider the question of returning home, and she mentioned their wishes to the kindly hostess.The hostess tried her best to keep her with good intentions and proposed a solution.According to this plan, although they would not go home for several weeks, it seemed to Elinor that it was more feasible than the other plan.At the end of March, the Palmers were going to Cleveland for Easter, and Mrs. Jennings and her two friends were very cordially invited by Charlotte to go with them.Miss Dashwood, being a lady of refined disposition, had not thought such an invitation inappropriate.But it was a sincere invitation from Mr. Palmer himself, and this gentleman's invitation to them so politely, after the news of his sister's misfortune had changed so much, made She happily agreed.

However, when she told Marianne about the incident, Marianne's initial reaction was extremely unpleasant.

"Cleveland!" she exclaimed with great emotion. "No, I can't go to Cleveland."

"You forget," said Eleanor calmly, "that Cleveland isn't... not near..."

"But it's in Somerset. I can't go to Somerset. I've hoped to be there. . . . No, Eleanor, you don't expect me to go there now."

Eleanor did not want to persuade her sister to restrain her feelings.She just wanted to try to counteract her thoughts by changing the subject.So she told her sister: Wouldn't she really like to see her dear mother, then going to Cleveland would be the best arrangement to get them back to her mother in the most practicable and comfortable way possible, fix a date maybe It doesn't have to be long.Cleveland Manor was less than a few miles from Bristol, and Baden was less than a day's journey, and Mother's servants could easily go there to fetch them home.And they will stay in Cleveland Manor for a week at most, so they can get home in a little more than three weeks.The sincerity of Marianne's affection for her mother made it easy for her to overcome her initial antipathy.

Mrs. Jennings showed no sign of distaste for her guests, and most earnestly persuaded them to return from Cleveland to the city with her then.Eleanor was grateful for her care, but their plans could not be changed.The plan was readily assented to by the mother, and every possible arrangement was made for their return home.Marianne felt that she could take some comfort in calculating how long it would take to get back to Baden.

Mrs. Jennings said to Colonel Bland on his first visit after the Miss Dashwoods were sure to leave the town: "Well, Colonel, I don't know. What shall we do with the two of us. The Dashwood sisters must go home from Mr. Palmer's, and how lonely we shall be when I come back from there! God, we are sitting there facing each other, you see Look at me, I look at you, as bored as two cats."

Mrs. Jennings spoke so alarmistly of future boredom, perhaps in the hope of eliciting a proposal from the Colonel to relieve himself of it—if so, the lady would soon have good reason to think she had attained Purpose.It turned out that Eleanor was about to copy a painting for her friend at this time, and in order to measure the size as soon as possible, she walked to the window. There was a few minutes of conversation.The effect this conversation had on the young lady could not escape Mrs. Jennings's gaze.For though she was decent enough not to eavesdrop, and even to change her seat, so as not to hear, to be near where Marianne was playing, she could not refrain from taking a look: Elinor's face changed, and at the same time agitated, He just listened to what the colonel had to say, and stopped what he was doing.What further confirmed her hopes was that, in the intermission between Marianne's passages from one piece to another, some words of the Colonel's words inevitably reached her ears, which sounded as if he was apologizing. , Said that his house is not good, which further confirmed her expectation.That leaves things beyond doubt.She really wondered why he did it.She guessed, though, that this might be normal courtesy.Eleanor answered something, which she did not catch, but judging from the movement of her lips, she did not think it mattered much.Mrs. Jennings admired her sincerity and frankness from the bottom of her heart.Then they talked for some minutes, but she did not hear a word, when, fortunately, Marianne's music stopped again, and the Colonel said in a calm tone:
"I'm afraid this can't be done for a while."

Mrs. Jennings was greatly astonished at hearing this, as she found it not at all like a lover's speech.Almost exclaimed: "My God! What can't be done!"—but she could bear it, and only murmured:

"That's queer! He can't wait to grow old."

The colonel's postponement, however, did not seem to offend his handsome friend at all, for their talk was soon over, and they went their separate ways.Mrs. Jennings distinctly heard Elinor say with sincerity:
"I will forever be grateful to you."

Mrs. Jennings couldn't help being delighted to hear her express her gratitude, but she was a little surprised that after hearing such a sentence, the colonel could still take his leave of them immediately without saying a word to the other party when he left!She did not expect that her old friend could be so careless in his proposal.

In fact, what they were talking about was this:

"I have heard," said the Colonel sympathetically, "that your friend Mr. Fellers has been treated unfairly by the family. engagement, and was completely abandoned by the family. Am I right? Is that the case?"

Eleanor told him that was the case.

"To separate two young men who have been in love for a long time," said the Colonel with deep sympathy, "or to attempt to separate them, is an act of cruelty and insolence. Mrs. Ferrars wondered what she would do— —how far she will drive her son. I have seen Mr. Ferrars two or three times in Harley Street, and I like him very much. He is not a young man you can get acquainted with in a short time, But I have seen him a few times, and I wish him luck. And, as your friend, I wish him the best. I heard he intends to become a priest. Please tell him, as I have learned from today's letter, Delaford's priesthood is currently vacant and may be given to him if he is willing to take it. However, since he is in such a difficult situation, it may be nonsense to doubt his willingness. I just hope that the reward will be repaid. A little more, and a rector's stipend, but very little. I think the late vicar earned no more than two hundred pounds a year, and though it would certainly increase, I am afraid that would not be enough for him to live in a very comfortable way. I would like to. Notwithstanding this, it is with great pleasure that I recommend him for the position. Please put him at ease."

Elinor was astonished at hearing of this commission, and could not have been more surprised if the Colonel had actually proposed to her.Only two days before she had thought that Edward had no hope of getting the priesthood, and now there was one, and he could marry.And there are so many people in the world, why she should be asked to give this favor!But her agitation was perceived by Mrs. Jennings for quite another reason.Notwithstanding the less innocent and unpleasant secondary elements of Elinor's affection, she admired Colonel Bland's kindness to everyone, and thanked him for his special kindness to herself.Not only did she think so in her heart, she also expressed her enthusiasm in her mouth.She thanked him heartily, and spoke aptly of his principles and temperament, with the admiration she thought Edward deserved.She also promised that if the colonel really wanted someone to pass on such a good thing, she would be happy to do so.Even so, she still had to think that it was best for the colonel to speak for himself.In short, she did not want Edward to feel painfully that he was in her favour, and she thought it best to leave it alone.Unexpectedly, Colonel Brand refused to say it himself based on the same subtle motive.He still seemed to wish for Eleanor to tell her not to refuse at all costs.Elinor believed that Edward was still in town, and luckily she had got his address from Miss Steele.So she can promise to tell him that day.When the matter was settled, Colonel Bland said that he would be greatly benefited from having such a respectable and modest neighbour.He then mentioned with regret that the house was relatively small and of low quality.Elinor was, as Mrs. Jennings supposed, indifferent to this defect, at least not to the size of the house.

"The house is small," she said. "I don't think it will cause them any inconvenience, because it is just in proportion to their family and income."

Hearing this, the Colonel was taken aback.He found that Eleanor had decided that this recommendation would lead to their marriage.From the colonel's point of view, Delaford's pastor's income was limited, and anyone accustomed to Edward's lifestyle would not dare to rely on that income to start a family - so he told Eleanor the truth.

"This clergyman's salary will only enable Mr. Ferrars to live a more comfortable bachelor life, and will not guarantee their marriage. I am sorry, but I can only help so far, and my concern for him can only go so far. However, if I am able to help further in the future, as long as I do not completely change my present opinion of him, then I will certainly do as much as I do now. What I am doing is really worthless, because It will hardly help him to attain his chief and only object of happiness. Their marriage remains a happy event in the distant future. At least, I fear it will not happen for a while."

It was this remark, which was heard and misunderstood by the sentimental Mrs. Jennings, and which so rightly aroused her displeasure.However, after the author has faithfully described the conversation between Colonel Bland and Eleanor standing at the window, in general, Eleanor's excited and sincere words when she parted to express her gratitude The look, maybe it really looks like someone is asking her to marry him.

(End of this chapter)