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However sht be, it was impossible for her on serious reflection to suspect it in the present case, where no te a falsehood of such a description What Lucy had asserted to be true, therefore, Elinor could not, dared not longer doubt; supported as it was too on every side by such probabilities and proofs, and contradicted by nothing but her oishes Their opportunity of acquaintance in the house of Mr Pratt was a foundation for the rest, at once indisputable and alar; and Edward's visit near Plymouth, his melancholy state of mind, his dissatisfaction at his own prospects, his uncertain behaviour towards herself, the intie of the Miss Steeles as to Norland and their family connections, which had often surprised her, the picture, the letter, the ring, forether such a body of evidence, as overca him unfairly, and established as a fact, which no partiality could set aside, his ill-treatnation at having been its dupe, for a short time made her feel only for herself; but other ideas, other considerations, soon arose Had Edward been intentionally deceiving her? Had he feigned a regard for her which he did not feel? Was his engageht once have been, she could not believe it such at present His affection was all her own She could not be deceived in that Her ard for her at Norland; it was not an illusion of her own vanity He certainly loved her What a softener of the heart was this persuasion! How ive! He had been bla at Norland after he first felt her influence over hiht to be In that, he could not be defended; but if he had injured her, how much more had he injured himself; if her case were pitiable, his was hopeless His imprudence had made her miserable for a while; but it see otherwise She ain tranquillity; but HE, what had he to look forward to? Could he ever be tolerably happy with Lucy Steele; could he, were his affection for herself out of the question, with his integrity, his delicacy, and well-informed mind, be satisfied with a wife like her--illiterate, artful, and selfish?

The youthful infatuation of nineteen would naturally blind hiood nature; but the four succeeding years--years, which if rationally spent, give such i, must have opened his eyes to her defects of education, while the same period of time, spent on her side in inferior society and more frivolous pursuits, had perhaps robbed her of that si character to her beauty