CHAPTER X

Marianne's preserver, as Margaret, with more elegance than precision,

styled Willoughby, called at the cottage early the next morning to

make his personal enquiries. He was received by Mrs. Dashwood with

more than politeness; with a kindness which Sir John's account of him

and her own gratitude prompted; and every thing that passed during the

visit tended to assure him of the sense, elegance, mutual affection,

and domestic comfort of the family to whom accident had now introduced

him. Of their personal charms he had not required a second interview

to be convinced.

Miss Dashwood had a delicate complexion, regular features, and a

remarkably pretty figure. Marianne was still handsomer. Her form,

though not so correct as her sister's, in having the advantage of

height, was more striking; and her face was so lovely, that when in

the common cant of praise, she was called a beautiful girl, truth was

less violently outraged than usually happens. Her skin was very brown,

but, from its transparency, her complexion was uncommonly brilliant;

her features were all good; her smile was sweet and attractive; and in

her eyes, which were very dark, there was a life, a spirit, an

eagerness, which could hardily be seen without delight. From

Willoughby their expression was at first held back, by the

embarrassment which the remembrance of his assistance created. But

when this passed away, when her spirits became collected, when she saw

that to the perfect good-breeding of the gentleman, he united

frankness and vivacity, and above all, when she heard him declare,

that of music and dancing he was passionately fond, she gave him such

a look of approbation as secured the largest share of his discourse to

herself for the rest of his stay.

It was only necessary to mention any favourite amusement to engage her

to talk. She could not be silent when such points were introduced, and

she had neither shyness nor reserve in their discussion. They speedily

discovered that their enjoyment of dancing and music was mutual, and

that it arose from a general conformity of judgment in all that

related to either. Encouraged by this to a further examination of his

opinions, she proceeded to question him on the subject of books; her

favourite authors were brought forward and dwelt upon with so

rapturous a delight, that any young man of five and twenty must have

been insensible indeed, not to become an immediate convert to the

excellence of such works, however disregarded before. Their taste was

strikingly alike. The same books, the same passages were idolized by

each; or if any difference appeared, any objection arose, it lasted no

longer than till the force of her arguments and the brightness of her

eyes could be displayed. He acquiesced in all her decisions, caught

all her enthusiasm; and long before his visit concluded, they

conversed with the familiarity of a long-established acquaintance.

"Well, Marianne," said Elinor, as soon as he had left them, "for _one_

morning I think you have done pretty well. You have already

ascertained Mr. Willoughby's opinion in almost every matter of

importance. You know what he thinks of Cowper and Scott; you are

certain of his estimating their beauties as he ought, and you have

received every assurance of his admiring Pope no more than is proper.

But how is your acquaintance to be long supported, under such

extraordinary despatch of every subject for discourse? You will soon

have exhausted each favourite topic. Another meeting will suffice to

explain his sentiments on picturesque beauty, and second marriages,

and then you can have nothing farther to ask."

"Elinor," cried Marianne, "is this fair? is this just? are my ideas so

scanty? But I see what you mean. I have been too much at my ease, too

happy, too frank. I have erred against every common-place notion of

decorum; I have been open and sincere where I ought to have been

reserved, spiritless, dull, and deceitful:--had I talked only of the

weather and the roads, and had I spoken only once in ten minutes, this

reproach would have been spared."

"My love," said her mother, "you must not be offended with Elinor--she

was only in jest. I should scold her myself, if she were capable of

wishing to check the delight of your conversation with our new

friend." Marianne was softened in a moment.

Willoughby, on his side, gave every proof of his pleasure in their

acquaintance, which an evident wish of improving it could offer. He

came to them every day. To enquire after Marianne was at first his

excuse; but the encouragement of his reception, to which every day

gave greater kindness, made such an excuse unnecessary before it had

ceased to be possible, by Marianne's perfect recovery. She was

confined for some days to the house; but never had any confinement

been less irksome. Willoughby was a young man of good abilities, quick

imagination, lively spirits, and open, affectionate manners. He was

exactly formed to engage Marianne's heart, for with all this, he

joined not only a captivating person, but a natural ardour of mind

which was now roused and increased by the example of her own, and

which recommended him to her affection beyond every thing else.

His society became gradually her most exquisite enjoyment. They read,

they talked, they sang together; his musical talents were

considerable; and he read with all the sensibility and spirit which

Edward had unfortunately wanted.

In Mrs. Dashwood's estimation he was as faultless as in Marianne's;

and Elinor saw nothing to censure in him but a propensity, in which he

strongly resembled and peculiarly delighted her sister, of saying too

much what he thought on every occasion, without attention to persons

or circumstances. In hastily forming and giving his opinion of other

people, in sacrificing general politeness to the enjoyment of

undivided attention where his heart was engaged, and in slighting too

easily the forms of worldly propriety, he displayed a want of caution

which Elinor could not approve, in spite of all that he and Marianne

could say in its support.

Marianne began now to perceive that the desperation which had seized

her at sixteen and a half, of ever seeing a man who could satisfy her

ideas of perfection, had been rash and unjustifiable. Willoughby was

all that her fancy had delineated in that unhappy hour and in every

brighter period, as capable of attaching her; and his behaviour

declared his wishes to be in that respect as earnest, as his abilities

were strong.

[Illustration: _They sang together._]

Her mother too, in whose mind not one speculative thought of their

marriage had been raised, by his prospect of riches, was led before

the end of a week to hope and expect it; and secretly to congratulate

herself on having gained two such sons-in-law as Edward and

Willoughby.

Colonel Brandon's partiality for Marianne, which had so

early been discovered by his friends, now first became perceptible to

Elinor, when it ceased to be noticed by them. Their attention and wit

were drawn off to his more fortunate rival; and the raillery which the

other had incurred before any partiality arose, was removed when his

feelings began really to call for the ridicule so justly annexed to

sensibility. Elinor was obliged, though unwillingly, to believe that

the sentiments which Mrs. Jennings had assigned him for her own

satisfaction, were now actually excited by her sister; and that

however a general resemblance of disposition between the parties might

forward the affection of Mr. Willoughby, an equally striking

opposition of character was no hindrance to the regard of Colonel

Brandon. She saw it with concern; for what could a silent man of five

and thirty hope, when opposed to a very lively one of five and twenty?

and as she could not even wish him successful, she heartily wished him

indifferent. She liked him--in spite of his gravity and reserve, she

beheld in him an object of interest. His manners, though serious, were

mild; and his reserve appeared rather the result of some oppression of

spirits than of any natural gloominess of temper. Sir John had dropped

hints of past injuries and disappointments, which justified her belief

of his being an unfortunate man, and she regarded him with respect and

compassion.

Perhaps she pitied and esteemed him the more because he was slighted

by Willoughby and Marianne, who, prejudiced against him for being

neither lively nor young, seemed resolved to undervalue his merits.

"Brandon is just the kind of man," said Willoughby one day, when they

were talking of him together, "whom every body speaks well of, and

nobody cares about; whom all are delighted to see, and nobody

remembers to talk to."

"That is exactly what I think of him," cried Marianne.

"Do not boast of it, however," said Elinor, "for it is injustice in

both of you. He is highly esteemed by all the family at the park, and

I never see him myself without taking pains to converse with him."

"That he is patronised by _you_," replied Willoughby, "is certainly in

his favour; but as for the esteem of the others, it is a reproach in

itself. Who would submit to the indignity of being approved by such a

woman as Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings, that could command the

indifference of any body else?"

"But perhaps the abuse of such people as yourself and Marianne will

make amends for the regard of Lady Middleton and her mother. If their

praise is censure, your censure may be praise, for they are not more

undiscerning, than you are prejudiced and unjust."

"In defence of your _protege_ you can even be saucy."

"My _protege_, as you call him, is a sensible man; and sense will

always have attractions for me. Yes, Marianne, even in a man between

thirty and forty. He has seen a great deal of the world; has been

abroad, has read, and has a thinking mind. I have found him capable of

giving me much information on various subjects; and he has always

answered my inquiries with readiness of good-breeding and good

nature."

"That is to say," cried Marianne contemptuously, "he has told you,

that in the East Indies the climate is hot, and the mosquitoes are

troublesome."

"He _would_ have told me so, I doubt not, had I made any such

inquiries, but they happened to be points on which I had been

previously informed."

"Perhaps," said Willoughby, "his observations may have extended to the

existence of nabobs, gold mohrs, and palanquins."

"I may venture to say that _his_ observations have stretched much

further than _your_ candour. But why should you dislike him?"

"I do not dislike him. I consider him, on the contrary, as a very

respectable man, who has every body's good word, and nobody's notice;

who, has more money than he can spend, more time than he knows how to

employ, and two new coats every year."

"Add to which," cried Marianne, "that he has neither genius, taste,

nor spirit. That his understanding has no brilliancy, his feelings no

ardour, and his voice no expression."

"You decide on his imperfections so much in the mass," replied Elinor,

"and so much on the strength of your own imagination, that the

commendation I am able to give of him is comparatively cold and

insipid. I can only pronounce him to be a sensible man, well-bred,

well-informed, of gentle address, and, I believe, possessing an

amiable heart."

"Miss Dashwood," cried Willoughby, "you are now using me unkindly. You

are endeavouring to disarm me by reason, and to convince me against my

will. But it will not do. You shall find me as stubborn as you can be

artful. I have three unanswerable reasons for disliking Colonel

Brandon; he threatened me with rain when I wanted it to be fine; he

has found fault with the hanging of my curricle, and I cannot persuade

him to buy my brown mare. If it will be any satisfaction to you,

however, to be told, that I believe his character to be in other

respects irreproachable, I am ready to confess it. And in return for

an acknowledgment, which must give me some pain, you cannot deny me

the privilege of disliking him as much as ever."