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1Elinor's astonishment at this commission could hardly have been greater, had the Colonel been really making her an offer
2of his hand. The preferment, which only two days before she had considered as hopeless for Edward, was already provided
3to enable him to marry; and she, of all people in the world, was fixed on to bestow it! Her emotion was such as Mrs.
4Jennings had attributed to a very different cause; but whatever minor feelings less pure, less pleasing, might have a
5share in that emotion, her esteem for the general benevolence, and her gratitude for the particular friendship, which
6together prompted Colonel Brandon to this act, were strongly felt, and warmly expressed. She thanked him for it with all
7her heart, spoke of Edward's principles and disposition with that praise which she knew them to deserve; and promised to
8undertake the commission with pleasure, if it were really his wish to put off so agreeable an office to another. But at
9the same time, she could not help thinking that no one could so well perform it as himself. It was an office in short,
10from which, unwilling to give Edward the pain of receiving an obligation from her, she would have been very glad to be
11spared herself; but Colonel Brandon, on motives of equal delicacy, declining it likewise, still seemed so desirous of
12its being given through her means, that she would not on any account make farther opposition. Edward, she believed, was
13still in town, and fortunately she had heard his address from Miss Steele. She could undertake therefore to inform him
14of it, in the course of the day. After this had been settled, Colonel Brandon began to talk of his own advantage in
15securing so respectable and agreeable a neighbour, and then it was that he mentioned with regret, that the house was
16small and indifferent; an evil which Elinor, as Mrs. Jennings had supposed her to do, made very light of, at least as
17far as regarded its size. "The smallness of the house," said she, "I cannot imagine any inconvenience to them, for it
18will be in proportion to their family and income." By which the Colonel was surprised to find that she was considering
19Mr. Ferrars's marriage as the certain consequence of the presentation; for he did not suppose it possible that Delaford
20living could supply such an income, as anybody in his style of life would venture to settle on, and he said so. "This
21little rectory can do no more than make Mr. Ferrars comfortable as a bachelor; it cannot enable him to marry. I am sorry
22to say that my patronage ends with this; and my interest is hardly more extensive. If, however, by an unforeseen chance
23it should be in my power to serve him farther, I must think very differently of him from what I now do, if I am not as
24ready to be useful to him then as I sincerely wish I could be at present. What I am now doing indeed, seems nothing at
25all, since it can advance him so little towards what must be his principal, his only object of happiness. His marriage
26must still be a distant good; at least, I am afraid it cannot take place very soon." Such was the sentence which, when
27misunderstood, so justly offended the delicate feelings of Mrs. Jennings; but after this narration of what really passed
28between Colonel Brandon and Elinor, while they stood at the window, the gratitude expressed by the latter on their
29parting, may perhaps appear in general, not less reasonably excited, nor less properly worded than if it had arisen from
30an offer of marriage. CHAPTER XL. "Well, Miss Dashwood," said Mrs. Jennings, sagaciously smiling, as soon as the
31gentleman had withdrawn, "I do not ask you what the Colonel has been saying to you; for though, upon my honour, I tried
32to keep out of hearing, I could not help catching enough to understand his business. And I assure you I never was better
33pleased in my life, and I wish you joy of it with all my heart." "Thank you, ma'am," said Elinor. "It is a matter of
34great joy to me; and I feel the goodness of Colonel Brandon most sensibly. There are not many men who would act as he
35has done. Few people who have so compassionate a heart! I never was more astonished in my life." "Lord! my dear, you are
36very modest. I an't the least astonished at it in the world, for I have often thought of late, there was nothing more
37likely to happen." "You judged from your knowledge of the Colonel's general benevolence; but at least you could not
38foresee that the opportunity would so very soon occur." "Opportunity!" repeated Mrs. Jennings--"Oh! as to that, when a
39man has once made up his mind to such a thing, somehow or other he will soon find an opportunity. Well, my dear, I wish
40you joy of it again and again; and if ever there was a happy couple in the world, I think I shall soon know where to
41look for them." "You mean to go to Delaford after them I suppose," said Elinor, with a faint smile. "Aye, my dear, that
42I do, indeed. And as to the house being a bad one, I do not know what the Colonel would be at, for it is as good a one
43as ever I saw." "He spoke of its being out of repair." "Well, and whose fault is that? why don't he repair it?--who
44should do it but himself?" They were interrupted by the servant's coming in to announce the carriage being at the door;
45and Mrs. Jennings immediately preparing to go, said,-- "Well, my dear, I must be gone before I have had half my talk
46out. But, however, we may have it all over in the evening; for we shall be quite alone. I do not ask you to go with me,
47for I dare say your mind is too full of the matter to care for company; and besides, you must long to tell your sister
48all about it." Marianne had left the room before the conversation began. "Certainly, ma'am, I shall tell Marianne of it;
49but I shall not mention it at present to any body else." "Oh! very well," said Mrs. Jennings rather disappointed. "Then
50you would not have me tell it to Lucy, for I think of going as far as Holborn to-day." "No, ma'am, not even Lucy if you
51please. One day's delay will not be very material; and till I have written to Mr. Ferrars, I think it ought not to be
52mentioned to any body else. I shall do that directly. It is of importance that no time should be lost with him, for he
53will of course have much to do relative to his ordination." This speech at first puzzled Mrs. Jennings exceedingly. Why
54Mr. Ferrars was to have been written to about it in such a hurry, she could not immediately comprehend. A few moments'
55reflection, however, produced a very happy idea, and she exclaimed;-- "Oh, ho!--I understand you. Mr. Ferrars is to be
56the man. Well, so much the better for him. Ay, to be sure, he must be ordained in readiness; and I am very glad to find
57things are so forward between you. But, my dear, is not this rather out of character? Should not the Colonel write
58himself?--sure, he is the proper person." Elinor did not quite understand the beginning of Mrs. Jennings's speech,
59neither did she think it worth inquiring into; and therefore only replied to its conclusion. "Colonel Brandon is so
60delicate a man, that he rather wished any one to announce his intentions to Mr. Ferrars than himself." "And so you are
61forced to do it. Well that is an odd kind of delicacy! However, I will not disturb you (seeing her preparing to write.)
62You know your own concerns best. So goodby, my dear. I have not heard of any thing to please me so well since Charlotte
63was brought to bed." And away she went; but returning again in a moment, "I have just been thinking of Betty's sister,
64my dear. I should be very glad to get her so good a mistress. But whether she would do for a lady's maid, I am sure I
65can't tell. She is an excellent housemaid, and works very well at her needle. However, you will think of all that at
66your leisure." "Certainly, ma'am," replied Elinor, not hearing much of what she said, and more anxious to be alone, than
67to be mistress of the subject.
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