nor was silent.

"We think _now_,"--said Mr. Dashwood, after a short pause, "of
_Robert's_ marrying Miss Morton."

Elinor, smiling at the grave and decisive importance of her brother's
tone, calmly replied--

"The lady, I suppose, has no choice in the affair."

"Choice!--how do you mean?"

"I only mean that I suppose, from your manner of speaking, it must be
the same to Miss Morton whether she marry Edward or Robert."

"Certainly, there can be no difference; for Robert will now to all
intents and purposes be considered as the eldest son;--and as to any
thing else, they are both very agreeable young men: I do not know that
one is superior to the other."

Elinor said no more, and John was also for a short time silent. His
reflections ended thus.

"Of _one_ thing, my dear sister," kindly taking her hand, and speaking
in an awful whisper,--"I may assure you; and I _will_ do it, because I
know it must gratify you. I have good reason to think--indeed I have
it from the best authority, or I should not repeat it, for otherwise
it would be very wrong to say any thing about it,--but I have it from
the very best authority,--not that I ever precisely heard Mrs. Ferrars
say it herself--but her daughter _did_, and I have it from her,--that
in short, whatever objections there might be against a certain--a
certain connection, you understand me,--it would have been far
preferable to her, it would not have given her half the vexation that
_this_ does. I was exceedingly pleased to hear that Mrs. Ferrars
considered it in that light; a very gratifying circumstance you know
to us all. 'It would have been beyond comparison,' she said, 'the
least evil of the two, and she would be glad to compound _now_ for
nothing worse.' But however, all that is quite out of the
question,--not to be thought of or mentioned. As to any attachment you
know, it never could be; all that is gone by. But I thought I would
just tell you of this, because I knew how much it must please you. Not
that you have any reason to regret, my dear Elinor. There is no doubt
of your doing exceedingly well,--quite as well, or better, perhaps,
all things considered. Has Colonel Brandon been with you lately?"

Elinor had heard enough, if not to gratify her vanity, and raise her
self-importance, to agitate her nerves and fill her mind;--and she was
therefore glad to be spared from the necessity of saying much in reply
herself, and from the danger of hearing any thing more f