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To do hi in his power to pro the Miss Steeles acquainted hatever he knew or supposed of his cousins' situations in the most delicate particulars,--and Elinor had not seen them more than twice, before the eldest of the been so lucky as to make a conquest of a very s to have herto be sure," said she, "and I hear he is quite a beau, and prodigious handsoood luck yourself soon,--but perhaps you may have a friend in the corner already"

Elinor could not suppose that Sir John would be ard for Edward, than he had been with respect to Marianne; indeed it was rather his favourite joke of the two, as being somewhat newer and more conjectural; and since Edward's visit, they had never dined together without his drinking to her best affections with so eneral attention The letter F--had been likewise invariably brought forward, and found productive of such countless jokes, that its character as the wittiest letter in the alphabet had been long established with Elinor

The Miss Steeles, as she expected, had now all the benefit of these jokes, and in the eldest of theentleh often ieneral inquisitiveness into the concerns of their fa with the curiosity which he delighted to raise, for he had at least asthe na it

"His name is Ferrars," said he, in a very audible whisper; "but pray do not tell it, for it's a great secret"

"Ferrars!" repeated Miss Steele; "Mr Ferrars is the happy man, is he?

What! your sister-in-law's brother, Miss Dashwood? a very agreeable young man to be sure; I know hienerally h we have seen him once or twice at my uncle's, it is rather too much to pretend to know him very well"

Elinor heard all this with attention and surprise "And as this uncle? Where did he live? How came they acquainted?" She wished very h she did not chuse to join in it herself; but nothing more of it was said, and for the first tis deficient either in curiosity after petty information, or in a disposition to communicate it The manner in which Miss Steele had spoken of Edward, increased her curiosity; for it struck her as being rather ill-natured, and suggested the suspicion of that lady's knowing, or fancying herself to know so, for no farther notice was taken of Mr Ferrars's name by Miss Steele when alluded to, or even openly mentioned by Sir John