a great pity, indeed.
i have.
the air is full of spices.
marianne dashwood would no more think of me than she would of you, john.
and all the better for her.
for the simple reason that you have a far superior musician here.
how is the invalid?
mr willoughby--lady allen's nephew?
miss dashwood! miss marianne!
i come to issue an invitation. a picnic on my estate at delaford--if you would care to join us on thursday next. mrs jennings's daughter and her husband are traveling up especially.
i will of course be including mr willoughby in the party.
a broadwood grand.
your sister seems very happy.
she is wholly unspoilt.
i knew a lady like your sister--the same impulsive sweetness of temper-- who was forced into, as you put it, a better acquaintance with the world. the result was only ruination and despair.
do not desire it, miss dashwood.
my horse! quickly!
i must away to london.
imperative.
i cannot afford to lose one minute.
i have. how is your dear mother?
forgive me, miss dashwood, but i have heard reports through town.  is it impossible to--but i could have no chance of succeeding--indeed i hardly know what to do. tell me once and for all, is everything finally resolved between your sister and mr willoughby?
thank you, miss dashwood. to your sister i wish all imaginable happiness. to mr willoughby, that he.  may endeavour to deserve her.
forgive me, i--forgive me.
how does your sister?
then permit me to accompany you and take you straight on from cleveland to barton myself.
perhaps i--my regard for you all-- miss dashwood, will you allow me to prove it by relating some circumstances which nothing but an earnest desire of being useful--
when i quitted barton last--but i must go further back. a short account of myself will be necessary. no doubt.  no doubt mrs jennings has apprised you of certain events in my past--the sad outcome of my connection with a young woman named eliza.
what is not commonly known is that twenty years ago, eliza bore an illegitimate child. the father, whoever he was, abandoned them.
as she lay dying, she begged me to look after the child. eliza died in my arms, broken, wasted away--ah! miss dashwood, such a subject-- untouched for so many years--it is dangerous.
i had failed eliza in every other way--i could not refuse her now. i took the child--beth is her name-- and placed her with a family where i could be sure she would be well looked after. i saw her whenever i could. i saw that she was headstrong like her mother--and, god forgive me, i indulged her, i allowed her too much freedom. almost a year ago, she disappeared.
i instigated a search but for eight months i was left to imagine the worst. at last, on the day of the delaford picnic, i received the first news her. she was with child.  and the blackguard who had--
before i could return to confront him, lady allen learned of his behaviour and turned him from the house. he beat a hasty retreat to london--
lady allen had annulled his legacy. he was left with next to nothing, and in danger of losing all that remained to his debtors--
she has chosen to go into the country for her confinement. such has been the unhappy resemblance between the fate of mother and daughter, and so imperfectly have i discharged my trust.
i would not have burdened you, miss dashwood, had i not from my heart believed it might, in time, lessen your sister's regrets.
i have described mr willoughby as the worst of libertines--but i have since learned from lady allen that he did mean to propose that day. therefore i cannot deny that his intentions towards marianne were honourable, and i feel certain he would have married her, had it not been for--for the money.
i have heard that your friend mr ferrars has been entirely cast off by his family for persevering in his engagement to miss steele.
have i been rightly informed? is it so?
no, we have never met. but i know only too well the cruelty--the impolitic cruelty of dividing two young people long attached to one another. mrs ferrars does not know what she may drive her son to--
i have a proposal to make that should enable him to marry miss steele immediately. since the gentleman is so close a friend to your family, perhaps you will be good enough to mention it to him?
i think not. his behaviour has proved him proud--in the best sense. i feel certain this is the right course.
marianne!
she is not hurt--but we must get her warm!
what is your diagnosis?
what can i do?
give me an occupation, miss dashwood, or i shall run mad. he is dangerously quiet.
of course. barton is but eight hours away. if i make no stop, you may see us early tomorrow morning.
in your hands i know she will be safe.
what though the sea with waves continuall doe eate the earth, it is no more at all.
nor is the earth the lesse, or loseth aught. for whatsoever from one place doth fall, is with the tide unto another brought.
'for there is nothing lost, but may be found, if sought.
no--for i must away.
that i cannot tell you. it is a secret.