 first communication had reached no farther than to state the fact of the
engagement, and the length of time it had existed. - Marianne's feelings had
then broken in, and put an end to all regularity of detail; and for some time
all that could be done was to sooth her distress, lessen her alarms, and combat
her resentment. The first question on her side, which led to farther
particulars, was,
    »How long has this been known to you, Elinor? has he written to you?«
    »I have known it these four months. When Lucy first came to Barton-park last
November, she told me in confidence of her engagement.«
    At these words, Marianne's eyes expressed the astonishment, which her lips
could not utter. After a pause of wonder, she exclaimed,
    »Four months! - Have you known of this four months?« -
    Elinor confirmed it.
    »What! - while attending me in all my misery, has this been on your heart? -
and I have reproached you for being happy!« -
    »It was not fit that you should then know how much I was the reverse!« -
    »Four months!« - cried Marianne again. - »So calm! - so cheerful! - how have
you been supported?« -
    »By feeling that I was doing my duty. - My promise to Lucy, obliged me to be
secret. I owed it to her, therefore, to avoid giving any hint of the truth; and
I owed it to my family and friends, not to create in them a solicitude about me,
which it could not be in my power to satisfy.«
    Marianne seemed much struck. -
    »I have very often wished to undeceive yourself and my mother,« added
Elinor; »and once or twice I have attempted it; - but without betraying my
trust, I never could have convinced you.«
    »Four months! - and yet you loved him!« -
    »Yes. But I did not love only him; - and while the comfort of others was
dear to me, I was glad to spare them from knowing how much I felt. Now, I can
think and speak of it with little emotion. I would not have you suffer on my
account; for I assure you I no longer suffer materially myself. I have many
things to support me. I am not conscious of having provoked the disappointment
by any imprudence of my own, and I have borne it as much as possible without
spreading it farther. I acquit Edward
