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Her narration was clear and siiven without eitation, nor ied rather to the hearer, for Marianne listened with horror, and cried excessively Elinor was to be the comforter of others in her own distresses, no less than in theirs; and all the coiven by assurances of her own composure of mind, and a very earnest vindication of Edward froe but of imprudence, was readily offered

But Marianne for soive credit to neither Edward see as Elinor did, that she HAD loved him most sincerely, could she feel less than herself! As for Lucy Steele, she considered her so totally una a sensible man, that she could not be persuaded at first to believe, and afterwards to pardon, any former affection of Edward for her She would not even admit it to have been natural; and Elinor left her to be convinced that it was so, by that which only could convince her, a better knowledge of mankind

Her first communication had reached no farther than to state the fact of the engageth of tis had then broken in, and put an end to all regularity of detail; and for some time all that could be done was to soothe her distress, lessen her alarms, and combat her resentment The first question on her side, which led to farther particulars, was, "How long has this been known to you, Elinor? has he written to you?"

"I have known it these four months When Lucy first came to Barton Park last Noveement"

At these words, Marianne's eyes expressed the astonishment which her lips could not utter After a pause of wonder, she exclaimed-"Four months!--Have you known of this fourme in all my misery, has this been on your heart?--And I have reproached you for being happy!"-"It was not fit that you should then kno ain--"So cal that I was doing edany hint of the truth; and I owed it to my family and friends, not to create in them a solicitude about me, which it could not be in my power to satisfy"