 persuaded that Mrs. Smith
suspects his regard for Marianne, disapproves of it, (perhaps because she has
other views for him,) and on that account is eager to get him away; - and that
the business which she sends him off to transact, is invented as an excuse to
dismiss him. This is what I believe to have happened. He is moreover aware that
she does disapprove the connection, he dares not therefore at present confess to
her his engagement with Marianne, and he feels himself obliged, from his
dependent situation, to give into her schemes, and absent himself from
Devonshire for a while. You will tell me, I know, that this may, or may not have
happened; but I will listen to no cavil, unless you can point out any other
method of understanding the affair as satisfactory as this. And now, Elinor,
what have you to say?«
    »Nothing, for you have anticipated my answer.«
    »Then you would have told me, that it might or might not have happened. Oh!
Elinor, how incomprehensible are your feelings! You had rather take evil upon
credit than good. You had rather look out for misery for Marianne and guilt for
poor Willoughby, than an apology for the latter. You are resolved to think him
blameable, because he took leave of us with less affection than his usual
behaviour has shewn. And is no allowance to be made for inadvertence, or for
spirits depressed by recent disappointment? Are no probabilities to be accepted,
merely because they are not certainties? Is nothing due to the man whom we have
all so much reason to love, and no reason in the world to think ill of? To the
possibility of motives unanswerable in themselves, though unavoidably secret for
a while? And, after all, what is it you suspect him of?«
    »I can hardly tell you myself. - But suspicion of something unpleasant is
the inevitable consequence of such an alteration as we have just witnessed in
him. There is great truth, however, in what you have now urged of the allowances
which ought to be made for him, and it is my wish to be candid in my judgment of
every body. Willoughby may undoubtedly have very sufficient reasons for his
conduct, and I will hope that he has. But it would have been more like
Willoughby to acknowledge them at once. Secrecy may be advisable; but still I
cannot help wondering at its being practised by him.«
    »Do not blame him, however, for departing from his character, where the
deviation is necessary. But you
