! How could you suppose so? Believe me,« and Elinor spoke it
with the truest sincerity, »nothing could be farther from my intention, than to
give you such an idea. Could you have a motive for the trust, that was not
honourable and flattering to me?«
    »And yet I do assure you,« replied Lucy, her little sharp eyes full of
meaning, »there seemed to me to be a coldness and displeasure in your manner,
that made me quite uncomfortable. I felt sure that you was angry with me; and
have been quarrelling with myself ever since, for having took such a liberty as
to trouble you with my affairs. But I am very glad to find it was only my own
fancy, and that you do not really blame me. If you knew what a consolation it
was to me to relieve my heart by speaking to you of what I am always thinking of
every moment of my life, your compassion would make you overlook every thing
else I am sure.«
    »Indeed I can easily believe that it was a very great relief to you, to
acknowledge your situation to me, and be assured that you shall never have
reason to repent it. Your case is a very unfortunate one; you seem to me to be
surrounded with difficulties, and you will have need of all your mutual
affection to support you under them. Mr. Ferrars, I believe, is entirely
dependent on his mother.«
    »He has only two thousand pounds of his own; it would be madness to marry
upon that, though for my own part, I could give up every prospect of more
without a sigh. I have been always used to a very small income, and could
struggle with any poverty for him; but I love him too well to be the selfish
means of robbing him, perhaps, of all that his mother might give him if he
married to please her. We must wait, it may be for many years. With almost every
other man in the world, it would be an alarming prospect; but Edward's affection
and constancy nothing can deprive me of I know.«
    »That conviction must be every thing to you; and he is undoubtedly supported
by the same trust in your's. If the strength of your reciprocal attachment had
failed, as between many people and under many circumstances it naturally would
during a four years' engagement, your situation would have been pitiable
indeed.«
    Lucy here looked up; but Elinor was careful in guarding her countenance from
every expression that could give her words a suspicious
