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Elinor read and returned it without any comment

"I will not ask your opinion of it as a composition," said Edward--"For worlds would not I have had a letter of hers seen by YOU in forh, but in a wife!--how I have blushed over the pages of her writing!--and I believe I may say that since the first half year of our foolish--business--this is the only letter I ever received from her, of which the substance made me any amends for the defect of the style"

"However it may have come about," said Elinor, after a pause,--"they are certainly ht on herself a most appropriate punishh resentainst you, has put it in his power toone son with a thousand a-year, to do the very deed which she disinherited the other for intending to do She will hardly be less hurt, I suppose, by Robert'sher"

"She will be more hurt by it, for Robert alas her favourite--She will be ive him much sooner"

In what state the affair stood at present between them, Edward knew not, for no communication with any of his family had yet been attempted by him He had quitted Oxford within four and twenty hours after Lucy's letter arrived, and with only one object before him, the nearest road to Barton, had had no leisure to form any scheme of conduct, hich that road did not hold thetill he were assured of his fate with Miss Dashwood; and by his rapidity in seeking THAT fate, it is to be supposed, in spite of the jealousy hich he had once thought of Colonel Brandon, in spite of the modesty hich he rated his own deserts, and the politeness hich he talked of his doubts, he did not, upon the whole, expect a very cruel reception It was his business, however, to say that he DID, and he said it very prettily What he ht say on the subject a twelveination of husbands and wives

That Lucy had certainly ainst hie by Thomas, was perfectly clear to Elinor; and Edward hihtened on her character, had no scruple in believing her capable of the uth his eyes had been long opened, even before his acquaintance with Elinor began, to her ignorance and a want of liberality in some of her opinions--they had been equally imputed, by him, to her want of education; and till her last letter reached hiood-hearted girl, and thoroughly attached to hi but such a persuasion could have prevented his putting an end to an engage before the discovery of it laid hier, had been a continual source of disquiet and regret to him