ion. "And
_that_," he presently added, "might perhaps be in _his_ head when the
acquaintance between them first began. And Lucy perhaps at first might
think only of procuring his good offices in my favour. Other designs
might afterward arise."

How long it had been carrying on between them, however, he was equally
at a loss with herself to make out; for at Oxford, where he had
remained for choice ever since his quitting London, he had had no
means of hearing of her but from herself, and her letters to the very
last were neither less frequent, nor less affectionate than usual. Not
the smallest suspicion, therefore, had ever occurred to prepare him
for what followed;--and when at last it burst on him in a letter from
Lucy herself, he had been for some time, he believed, half stupified
between the wonder, the horror, and the joy of such a deliverance. He
put the letter into Elinor's hands.

"DEAR SIR,

"Being very sure I have long lost your affections, I have
thought myself at liberty to bestow my own on another, and
have no doubt of being as happy with him as I once used to
think I might be with you; but I scorn to accept a hand
while the heart was another's. Sincerely wish you happy in
your choice, and it shall not be my fault if we are not
always good friends, as our near relationship now makes
proper. I can safely say I owe you no ill-will, and am sure
you will be too generous to do us any ill offices. Your
brother has gained my affections entirely, and as we could
not live without one another, we are just returned from the
altar, and are now on our way to Dawlish for a few weeks,
which place your dear brother has great curiosity to see,
but thought I would first trouble you with these few lines,
and shall always remain--

"Your sincere well-wisher, friend, and sister,

"LUCY FERRARS."

"I have burnt all your letters, and will return your picture
the first opportunity. Please to destroy my scrawls--but the
ring with my hair you are very welcome to keep."

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
former days. In a sister it is bad enough, 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 foolis