Page:Jane Austen (Sarah Fanny Malden 1889).djvu/73

 despair at his absence, which nothing can moderate. Elinor has troubles of her own quite as severe as her sister's. She has always felt that there was some unacknowledged obstacle between Edward Ferrars and herself, and has believed it to be the opposition of his mother, on whom he is entirely dependent, as he has never been allowed to have a profession. Now, however, two Miss Steeles, cousins of Sir John Middleton, appear at Barton Park, and Elinor learns for the first time, quite unexpectedly, what it is that lies between Edward and herself. He is engaged to Lucy Steele, an engagement formed in a moment of boyish folly when he was only nineteen and living with her uncle, his tutor; but the young lady, who has a keen eye to her own interests, is quite determined not to release him, and he cannot in honour draw back. Lucy has heard enough of Elinor to be jealous and suspicious; her engagement is a profound secret at present, but she confides it to Elinor under a pledge of secrecy, hoping thereby to make her thoroughly wretched. In this amiable intention she only half succeeds. Elinor knows Edward too well to believe that he really cares for a girl of Lucy's type; but she does feel that he is separated from her, probably for ever, and, being obliged to keep this knowledge a secret from her mother and sisters, and being at the same time very anxious to betray nothing that should give Lucy any triumph over her, her position is a very bard one. All this time nothing is heard of Willoughby, and, Marianne becomes increasingly wretched. Mrs. Jennings is going to her London house for the winter, and as she is fond of young people, and has married both her own daughters, she urges the Miss Dashwoods to accompany her. Elinor at first refuses the invitation.