Page:Austen - Sense and Sensibility, vol. III, 1811.djvu/22

 When Lucy first came to Barton Park last November, she told me in confidence of her engagement.”

At these words, Marianne’s eyes expressed the astonishment, which her lips could not utter. After a pause of wonder, she exclaimed,

“Four months!—Have you known of this four months?”—

Elinor confirmed it.

“What!—while attending me in all my misery, has this been on your heart?—and I have reproached you for being happy!”—

“It was not fit that you should then know how much I was the reverse.”—

“Four months!”—cried Marianne again.—“So calm!—so cheerful!—how have you been supported?”—

“By feeling that I was doing my duty.—My promise to Lucy, obliged me to be secret. I owed it to her, therefore,