, and promoting all
her views! Such an opportunity of being with Edward and his family was, above
all things, the most material to her interest, and such an invitation the most
gratifying to her feelings! It was an advantage that could not be too gratefully
acknowledged, nor too speedily made use of; and the visit to Lady Middleton,
which had not before had any precise limits, was instantly discovered to have
been always meant to end in two days time.
    When the note was shewn to Elinor, as it was within ten minutes after its
arrival, it gave her, for the first time, some share in the expectations of
Lucy; for such a mark of uncommon kindness, vouchsafed on so short an
acquaintance, seemed to declare that the good will towards her arose from
something more than merely malice against herself; and might be brought, by time
and address, to do every thing that Lucy wished. Her flattery had already
subdued the pride of Lady Middleton, and made an entry into the close heart of
Mrs. John Dashwood; and these were effects that laid open the probability of
greater.
    The Miss Steeles removed to Harley-street, and all that reached Elinor of
their influence there, strengthened her expectation of the event. Sir John, who
called on them more than once, brought home such accounts of the favour they
were in, as must be universally striking. Mrs. Dashwood had never been so much
pleased with any young women in her life, as she was with them; had given each
of them a needle book, made by some emigrant; called Lucy by her christian name;
and did not know whether she should ever be able to part with them.
 
                                End of Vol. II.
 

                                   Volume III

                                   Chapter I

Mrs. Palmer was so well at the end of a fortnight, that her mother felt it no
longer necessary to give up the whole of her time to her; and contenting herself
with visiting her once or twice a day, returned from that period to her own
home, and her own habits, in which she found the Miss Dashwoods very ready to
reassume their former share.
    About the third or fourth morning after their being thus re-settled in
Berkeley-street, Mrs. Jennings, on returning from her ordinary visit to Mrs.
Palmer, entered the drawing-room, where Elinor was sitting by herself, with an
air of such hurrying importance as prepared her to hear something wonderful; and
giving her time only to form that idea, began directly to justify it by saying,
    »Lord! my dear Miss Dashwood! have you