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"It cannot be generally known," returned Elinor, "for her own fa your pardon, I am afraid my inquiry has been impertinent; but I had not supposed any secrecy intended, as they openly correspond, and their e is universally talked of"

"How can that be? By whom can you have heard it , by others hos, Mrs Palht not have believed it, for where theto be convinced, it will always find so to support its doubts, if I had not, when the servant let me in today, accidentally seen a letter in his hand, directed to Mr Willoughby in your sister's writing I came to inquire, but I was convinced before I could ask the question Is every thing finally settled? Is it iht, and I could have no chance of succeeding Excuseso much, but I hardly knohat to do, and on your prudence I have the strongest dependence Tell me that it is all absolutely resolved on, that any attempt, that in short concealment, if concealment be possible, is all that remains"

These words, which conveyed to Elinor a direct avowal of his love for her sister, affected her very , and even when her spirits were recovered, she debated for a short tiive The real state of things between Willoughby and her sister was so little known to herself, that in endeavouring to explain it, she ht be as liable to say too much as too little Yet as she was convinced that Marianne's affection for Willoughby, could leave no hope of Colonel Brandon's success, whatever the event of that affection ht be, and at the saht it most prudent and kind, after some consideration, to say ed, therefore, that though she had never been informed by themselves of the terms on which they stood with each other, of their mutual affection she had no doubt, and of their correspondence she was not astonished to hear

He listened to her with silent attention, and on her ceasing to speak, rose directly fro in a voice of einable happiness; to Willoughby that he may endeavour to deserve her,"--took leave, and went away