y affections; our prospects are not very bright, to be
sure, but we must wait, and hope for the best; he will be
ordained shortly; and should it ever be in your power to
recommend him to any body that has a living to bestow, am
very sure you will not forget us, and dear Mrs. Jennings
too, trust she will speak a good word for us to Sir John, or
Mr. Palmer, or any friend that may be able to assist us.
Poor Anne was much to blame for what she did, but she did it
for the best, so I say nothing; hope Mrs. Jennings won't
think it too much trouble to give us a call, should she come
this way any morning, 'twould be a great kindness, and my
cousins would be proud to know her. My paper reminds me to
conclude; and begging to be most gratefully and respectfully
remembered to her, and to Sir John, and Lady Middleton, and
the dear children, when you chance to see them, and love to
Miss Marianne,

"I am, etc., etc."

As soon as Elinor had finished it, she performed what she concluded to
be its writer's real design, by placing it in the hands of Mrs.
Jennings, who read it aloud with many comments of satisfaction and
praise.

"Very well indeed!--how prettily she writes!--aye, that was quite
proper to let him be off if he would. That was just like Lucy. Poor
soul! I wish I _could_ get him a living, with all my heart. She calls
me dear Mrs. Jennings, you see. She is a good-hearted girl as ever
lived. Very well upon my word. That sentence is very prettily turned.
Yes, yes, I will go and see her, sure enough. How attentive she is, to
think of every body!--Thank you, my dear, for showing it me. It is as
pretty a letter as ever I saw, and does Lucy's head and heart great
credit."

CHAPTER XXXIX

The Miss Dashwoods had now been rather more than two months in town,
and Marianne's impatience to be gone increased every day. She sighed
for the air, the liberty, the quiet of the country; and fancied that
if any place could give her ease, Barton must do it. Elinor was hardly
less anxious than herself for their removal, and only so much less
bent on its being effected immediately, as that she was conscious of
the difficulties of so long a journey, which Marianne could not be
brought to acknowledge. She began, however, seriously to turn her
thoughts towards its accomplishment, and had already mentioned their
wishes to their kind hostess, who resisted them with a