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After a short silence which succeeded the first surprise and enquiries of , Marianne asked Edward if he came directly froht
"A fortnight!" she repeated, surprised at his being so long in the sa her before
He looked rather distressed as he added, that he had been staying with some friends near Plymouth
"Have you been lately in Sussex?" said Elinor
"I was at Norland about a o"
"And how does dear, dear Norland look?" cried Marianne
"Dear, dear Norland," said Elinor, "probably looks much as it always does at this time of the year The woods and walks thickly covered with dead leaves"
"Oh," cried Marianne, "hat transporting sensation have I forhted, as I walked, to see thes have they, the season, the air altogether inspired! Now there is no one to regard them They are seen only as a nuisance, swept hastily off, and driven as ht"
"It is not every one," said Elinor, "who has your passion for dead leaves"
"No; s are not often shared, not often understood But SOMETIMES they are"--As she said this, she sunk into a reverie for a few ain, "Noard," said she, calling his attention to the prospect, "here is Barton valley Look up to it, and be tranquil if you can Look at those hills! Did you ever see their equals? To the left is Barton park, ast those woods and plantations You may see the end of the house And there, beneath that farthest hill, which rises with such grandeur, is our cottage"
"It is a beautiful country," he replied; "but these bottoms must be dirty in winter"
"How can you think of dirt, with such objects before you?"
"Because," replied he, s the rest of the objects before e!" said Marianne to herself as she walked on
"Have you an agreeable neighbourhood here? Are the Middletons pleasant people?"
"No, not all," answered Marianne; "we could not be more unfortunately situated"
"Marianne," cried her sister, "how can you say so? How can you be so unjust? They are a very respectable family, Mr Ferrars; and towards us have behaved in the friendliest ot, Marianne, how many pleasant days we have owed to them?"