. But he was now married, and she condemned her heart for the
lurking flattery, which so much heightened the pain of the intelligence.
    That he should be married so soon, before (as she imagined) he could be in
orders, and consequently before he could be in possession of the living,
surprised her a little at first. But she soon saw how likely it was that Lucy,
in her self-provident care, in her haste to secure him, should overlook every
thing but the risk of delay. They were married, married in town, and now
hastening down to her uncle's. What had Edward felt on being within four miles
of Barton, on seeing her mother's servant, on hearing Lucy's message!
    They would soon, she supposed, be settled at Delaford. - Delaford, - that
place in which so much conspired to give her an interest; which she wished to be
acquainted with, and yet desired to avoid. She saw them in an instant in their
parsonage-house; saw in Lucy, the active, contriving manager, uniting at once a
desire of smart appearance, with the utmost frugality, and ashamed to be
suspected of half her economical practices; - pursuing her own interest in every
thought, courting the favour of Colonel Brandon, of Mrs. Jennings, and of every
wealthy friend. In Edward - she knew not what she saw, nor what she wished to
see; - happy or unhappy, - nothing pleased her; she turned away her head from
every sketch of him.
    Elinor flattered herself that some one of their connections in London would
write to them to announce the event, and give farther particulars, - but day
after day passed off, and brought no letter, no tidings. Though uncertain that
any one were to blame, she found fault with every absent friend. They were all
thoughtless or indolent.
    »When do you write to Colonel Brandon, ma'am?« was an inquiry which sprung
from the impatience of her mind to have something going on.
    »I wrote to him, my love, last week, and rather expect to see, than to hear
from him again. I earnestly pressed his coming to us, and should not be
surprised to see him walk in to-day or to-morrow, or any day.«
    This was gaining something, something to look forward to. Colonel Brandon
must have some information to give.
    Scarcely had she so determined it, when the figure of a man on horseback
drew her eyes to the window. He stopt at their gate
