Chapter XXXVIII

           

           Mrs.JenningswasverywarminherpraiseofEdward’sconduct,butonlyElinorandMarianneunderstooditstruemerit.THEYonlyknewhowlittlehehadhadtotempthimtobedisobedient,andhowsmallwastheconsolation,beyondtheconsciousnessofdoingright,thatcouldremaintohiminthelossoffriendsandfortune.Elinorgloriedinhisintegrity;andMarianneforgaveallhisoffencesincompassionforhispunishment.Butthoughconfidencebetweenthemwas,bythispublicdiscovery,restoredtoitsproperstate,itwasnotasubjectonwhicheitherofthemwerefondofdwellingwhenalone.Elinoravoidedituponprinciple,astendingtofixstillmoreuponherthoughts,bythetoowarm,toopositiveassurancesofMarianne,thatbeliefofEdward’scontinuedaffectionforherselfwhichsheratherwishedtodoaway;andMarianne’scouragesoonfailedher,intryingtoconverseuponatopicwhichalwayslefthermoredissatisfiedwithherselfthanever,bythecomparisonitnecessarilyproducedbetweenElinor’sconductandherown.

           Shefeltalltheforceofthatcomparison;butnotashersisterhadhoped,tourgehertoexertionnow;shefeltitwithallthepainofcontinualself-reproach,regrettedmostbitterlythatshehadneverexertedherselfbefore;butitbroughtonlythetortureofpenitence,withoutthehopeofamendment.Hermindwassomuchweakenedthatshestillfanciedpresentexertionimpossible,andthereforeitonlydispiritedhermore.

           Nothingnewwasheardbythem,foradayortwoafterwards,ofaffairsinHarleyStreet,orBartlett’sBuildings.

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