Host/Reader

His visit was duly paid.

He came with a pretense at an apology from their sister-in-law for not coming too, but she was so much engaged with her mother that really she had no leisure for going anywhere.

Mrs. Jennings, however, assured him directly that she should not stand upon ceremony, for they were all cousins, or something like it, and she should certainly wait on Mrs. John Dashwood very soon and bring her sisters to see her.

His manners to them, though calm, were perfectly kind.

To Mrs. Jennings, most attentively civil, and on Colonel Brandon's coming in soon after himself, he eyed him with a curiosity which seemed to say that he only wanted to know him to be rich, to be equally civil to him.

After staying with them half an hour, he asked Eleanor to walk with him to Conduit Street and introduce him to Sir John and Lady Middleton.

The weather was remarkably fine and she readily consented.

As soon as they were out of the house, his inquiries began.

Who is Colonel Brandon?

Is he a man of fortune?

Yes, he has very good property in Dorsetshire.

I'm glad of it.

He seems a most gentleman-like man.

And I think, Eleanor, I may congratulate you on the prospect of a very respectable establishment in life.

Me, brother, what do you mean?

He likes you.

I observed him narrowly and am convinced of it.

What is the amount of his fortune?

I believe about two thousand a year.

Two thousand a year, and then working himself up to a pitch of enthusiastic generosity, he added, Eleanor, I wish with all my heart it were twice as much for your sake.