Oh, la! here come the Richardsons. I had a vast deal more to say toyou, but I must not stay away from them not any longer. I assure youthey are very genteel people. He makes a monstrous deal of money, andthey keep their own coach. I have not time to speak to Mrs. Jenningsabout it myself, but pray tell her I am quite happy to hear she is notin anger against us, and Lady Middleton the same; and if anythingshould happen to take you and your sister away, and Mrs. Jenningsshould want company, I am sure we should be very glad to come and staywith her for as long a time as she likes.

I suppose Lady Middletonwon't ask us any more this bout. Good-by; I am sorry Miss Marianne wasnot here. Remember me kindly to her. La! if you have not got yourspotted muslin on!--I wonder you was not afraid of its being torn.

Such was her parting concern; for after this, she had time only to payher farewell compliments to Mrs. Jennings, before her company wasclaimed by Mrs. Richardson; and Elinor was left in possession ofknowledge which might feed her powers of reflection some time, thoughshe had learnt very little more than what had been already foreseen andforeplanned in her own mind. Edward's marriage with Lucy was as firmlydetermined on, and the time of its taking place remained as absolutelyuncertain, as she had concluded it would be;--every thing depended,exactly after her expectation, on his getting that preferment, ofwhich, at present, there seemed not the smallest chance.

As soon as they returned to the carriage, Mrs. Jennings was eager forinformation; but as Elinor wished to spread as little as possibleintelligence that had in the first place been so unfairly obtained, sheconfined herself to the brief repetition of such simple particulars, asshe felt assured that Lucy, for the sake of her own consequence. The continuance of their engagement, and themeans that were able to be taken for promoting its end, was all hercommunication; and this produced from Mrs. Jennings the followingnatural remark.