 will think my question an odd one, I dare say,« said Lucy to her one
day as they were walking together from the park to the cottage - »but, pray, are
you personally acquainted with your sister-in-law's mother, Mrs. Ferrars?«
    Elinor did think the question a very odd one, and her countenance expressed
it, as she answered that she had never seen Mrs. Ferrars.
    »Indeed!« replied Lucy; »I wonder at that, for I thought you must have seen
her at Norland sometimes. Then perhaps you cannot tell me what sort of a woman
she is?«
    »No;« returned Elinor, cautious of giving her real opinion of Edward's
mother, and not very desirous of satisfying, what seemed impertinent curiosity -
»I know nothing of her.«
    »I am sure you think me very strange, for inquiring about her in such a
way;« said Lucy, eyeing Elinor attentively as she spoke; »but perhaps there may
be reasons - I wish I might venture; but however I hope you will do me the
justice of believing that I do not mean to be impertinent.«
    Elinor made her a civil reply, and they walked on for a few minutes in
silence. It was broken by Lucy, who renewed the subject again by saying with
some hesitation,
    »I cannot bear to have you think me impertinently curious. I am sure I would
rather do any thing in the world than be thought so by a person whose good
opinion is so well worth having as yours. And I am sure I should not have the
smallest fear of trusting you; indeed I should be very glad of your advice how
to manage in such an uncomfortable situation as I am; but however there is no
occasion to trouble you. I am sorry you do not happen to know Mrs. Ferrars.«
    »I am sorry I do not,« said Elinor, in great astonishment, »if it could be
of any use to you to know my opinion of her. But really, I never understood that
you were at all connected with that family, and therefore I am a little
surprised, I confess, at so serious an inquiry into her character.«
    »I dare say you are, and I am sure I do not at all wonder at it. But if I
dared tell you all, you would not be so much surprised. Mrs. Ferrars is
certainly nothing to me at present, - but the time may come - how soon it will
come must depend upon herself -
