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1The first month after their marriage was spent with their friend at the Mansion-house; from whence they could
2superintend the progress of the Parsonage, and direct every thing as they liked on the spot;--could chuse papers,
3project shrubberies, and invent a sweep. Mrs. Jennings's prophecies, though rather jumbled together, were chiefly
4fulfilled; for she was able to visit Edward and his wife in their Parsonage by Michaelmas, and she found in Elinor and
5her husband, as she really believed, one of the happiest couples in the world. They had in fact nothing to wish for, but
6the marriage of Colonel Brandon and Marianne, and rather better pasturage for their cows. They were visited on their
7first settling by almost all their relations and friends. Mrs. Ferrars came to inspect the happiness which she was
8almost ashamed of having authorised; and even the Dashwoods were at the expense of a journey from Sussex to do them
9honour. "I will not say that I am disappointed, my dear sister," said John, as they were walking together one morning
10before the gates of Delaford House, "that would be saying too much, for certainly you have been one of the most
11fortunate young women in the world, as it is. But, I confess, it would give me great pleasure to call Colonel Brandon
12brother. His property here, his place, his house, every thing is in such respectable and excellent condition! And his
13woods,--I have not seen such timber any where in Dorsetshire, as there is now standing in Delaford Hanger! And though,
14perhaps, Marianne may not seem exactly the person to attract him, yet I think it would altogether be advisable for you
15to have them now frequently staying with you, for as Colonel Brandon seems a great deal at home, nobody can tell what
16may happen; for, when people are much thrown together, and see little of anybody else,--and it will always be in your
17power to set her off to advantage, and so forth. In short, you may as well give her a chance: you understand me." But
18though Mrs. Ferrars did come to see them, and always treated them with the make-believe of decent affection, they were
19never insulted by her real favour and preference. That was due to the folly of Robert, and the cunning of his wife; and
20it was earned by them before many months had passed away. The selfish sagacity of the latter, which had at first drawn
21Robert into the scrape, was the principal instrument of his deliverance from it; for her respectful humility, assiduous
22attentions, and endless flatteries, as soon as the smallest opening was given for their exercise, reconciled Mrs.
23Ferrars to his choice, and re-established him completely in her favour. The whole of Lucy's behaviour in the affair, and
24the prosperity which crowned it, therefore, may be held forth as a most encouraging instance of what an earnest, an
25unceasing attention to self-interest, however its progress may be apparently obstructed, will do in securing every
26advantage of fortune, with no other sacrifice than that of time and conscience. When Robert first sought her
27acquaintance, and privately visited her in Bartlett's Buildings, it was only with the view imputed to him by his
28brother. He merely meant to persuade her to give up the engagement; and as there could be nothing to overcome but the
29affection of both, he naturally expected that one or two interviews would settle the matter. In that point, however, and
30that only, he erred; for though Lucy soon gave him hopes that his eloquence would convince her in time, another visit,
31another conversation, was always wanted to produce this conviction. Some doubts always lingered in her mind when they
32parted, which could only be removed by another half hour's discourse with himself. His attendance was by this means
33secured, and the rest followed in course. Instead of talking of Edward, they came gradually to talk only of Robert,--a
34subject on which he had always more to say than on any other, and in which she soon betrayed an interest even equal to
35his own; and in short, it became speedily evident to both, that he had entirely supplanted his brother. He was proud of
36his conquest, proud of tricking Edward, and very proud of marrying privately without his mother's consent. What
37immediately followed is known. They passed some months in great happiness at Dawlish; for she had many relations and old
38acquaintances to cut--and he drew several plans for magnificent cottages;--and from thence returning to town, procured
39the forgiveness of Mrs. Ferrars, by the simple expedient of asking it, which, at Lucy's instigation, was adopted. The
40forgiveness, at first, indeed, as was reasonable, comprehended only Robert; and Lucy, who had owed his mother no duty
41and therefore could have transgressed none, still remained some weeks longer unpardoned. But perseverance in humility of
42conduct and messages, in self-condemnation for Robert's offence, and gratitude for the unkindness she was treated with,
43procured her in time the haughty notice which overcame her by its graciousness, and led soon afterwards, by rapid
44degrees, to the highest state of affection and influence. Lucy became as necessary to Mrs. Ferrars, as either Robert or
45Fanny; and while Edward was never cordially forgiven for having once intended to marry her, and Elinor, though superior
46to her in fortune and birth, was spoken of as an intruder, she was in every thing considered, and always openly
47acknowledged, to be a favourite child. They settled in town, received very liberal assistance from Mrs. Ferrars, were on
48the best terms imaginable with the Dashwoods; and setting aside the jealousies and ill-will continually subsisting
49between Fanny and Lucy, in which their husbands of course took a part, as well as the frequent domestic disagreements
50between Robert and Lucy themselves, nothing could exceed the harmony in which they all lived together. What Edward had
51done to forfeit the right of eldest son, might have puzzled many people to find out; and what Robert had done to succeed
52to it, might have puzzled them still more. It was an arrangement, however, justified in its effects, if not in its
53cause; for nothing ever appeared in Robert's style of living or of talking to give a suspicion of his regretting the
54extent of his income, as either leaving his brother too little, or bringing himself too much;--and if Edward might be
55judged from the ready discharge of his duties in every particular, from an increasing attachment to his wife and his
56home, and from the regular cheerfulness of his spirits, he might be supposed no less contented with his lot, no less
57free from every wish of an exchange. Elinor's marriage divided her as little from her family as could well be contrived,
58without rendering the cottage at Barton entirely useless, for her mother and sisters spent much more than half their
59time with her. Mrs. Dashwood was acting on motives of policy as well as pleasure in the frequency of her visits at
60Delaford; for her wish of bringing Marianne and Colonel Brandon together was hardly less earnest, though rather more
61liberal than what John had expressed. It was now her darling object. Precious as was the company of her daughter to her,
62she desired nothing so much as to give up its constant enjoyment to her valued friend; and to see Marianne settled at
63the mansion-house was equally the wish of Edward and Elinor. They each felt his sorrows, and their own obligations, and
64Marianne, by general consent, was to be the reward of all. With such a confederacy against her--with a knowledge so
65intimate of his goodness--with a conviction of his fond attachment to herself, which at last, though long after it was
66observable to everybody else--burst on her--what could she do? Marianne Dashwood was born to an extraordinary fate. She
67was born to discover the falsehood of her own opinions, and to counteract, by her conduct, her most favourite maxims.
68She was born to overcome an affection formed so late in life as at seventeen, and with no sentiment superior to strong
69esteem and lively friendship, voluntarily to give her hand to another!--and that other, a man who had suffered no less
70than herself under the event of a former attachment, whom, two years before, she had considered too old to be
71married,--and who still sought the constitutional safeguard of a flannel waistcoat! But so it was. Instead of falling a
72sacrifice to an irresistible passion, as once she had fondly flattered herself with expecting,--instead of remaining
73even for ever with her mother, and finding her only pleasures in retirement and study, as afterwards in her more calm
74and sober judgment she had determined on,--she found herself at nineteen, submitting to new attachments, entering on new
75duties, placed in a new home, a wife, the mistress of a family, and the patroness of a village.
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