? ? ? ? When Elinor had ceased to rejoice in the dryness of the season, a very awful pause took place. It was put an end to by Mrs. Dashwood, who felt obliged to hope that he had left Mrs. Ferrars very well. In a hurried manner, he replied in the affirmative.
? ? ? ? Another pause.
? ? ? ? Elinor resolving to exert herself, though fearing the sound of her own voice, now said,
? ? ? ? "Is Mrs. Ferrars at Longstaple?"
? ? ? ? "At Longstaple!" he replied, with an air of surprise.-- "No, my mother is in town."
? ? ? ? "I meant," said Elinor, taking up some work from the table, "to inquire for Mrs. EDWARD Ferrars."
? ? ? ? She dared not look up;--but her mother and Marianne both turned their eyes on him. He coloured, seemed perplexed, looked doubtingly, and, after some hesitation, said,--
? ? ? ? "Perhaps you mean--my brother--you mean Mrs.--Mrs. ROBERT Ferrars."
? ? ? ? "Mrs. Robert Ferrars!"--was repeated by Marianne and her mother in an accent of the utmost amazement;--and though Elinor could not speak, even HER eyes were fixed on him with the same impatient wonder.
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