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Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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And as always, if you're enjoying the pod, please spread the word. Sharing with friends and family really does help. Thank you for joining us this evening. Now it's time to relax. Let your body fall into a comfortable position in your bed and drift gently into a state of total relaxation with tonight's story. Sense and Sensibility Chapter 37
Mrs. Palmer was so well at the end of a fortnight that her mother felt it no longer necessary to give up the whole of her time to her, and contenting herself with visiting her once or twice a day, returned from that period to her own home and her own habits, in which she found the Miss Dashwoods very ready to resume their former share.
about the third or fourth morning after their being thus resettled in barclay street mrs jennings on returning from her ordinary visit to mrs palmer entered the drawing room where eleanor was sitting by herself with an air of such hurrying importance as prepared her to hear something wonderful
And giving her time only to form that idea, began directly to justify it by saying, Lord, my dear Miss Dashwood, have you heard the news? No, ma'am, what is it? Something so strange, but you shall hear it all. When I got to Mr. Palmer's, I found Charlotte quite in a fuss about the child. She was sure it was very ill. It cried and fretted and was all over pimples.
So I looked at it directly and, Lord, my dear, says I, it is nothing in the world but the red gum. And nurse said just the same. But Charlotte, she would not be satisfied. So Mr. Donovan was sent for. And luckily he happened to just come in from Harley Street.
So he stepped over directly, and as soon as ever he saw the child, he said just as we did, that it was nothing in the world but the red gum, and then Charlotte was easy. And so, just as he was going away again, it came into my head, I am sure I do not know how I happened to think of it. But it came into my head to ask him if there was any news.
So upon that, he smirked and simpered and looked grave and seemed to know something or other. And at last he said in a whisper, For fear any unpleasant report should reach the young ladies under your care as to their sister's indisposition, I think it advisable to say that I believe there is no great reason for alarm. I hope Mrs. Dashwood will do very well. What is Fanny ill?
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Chapter 2: What significant news does Mrs. Jennings bring to the Dashwoods?
And though it could not be given without emotion, it was not accompanied by violent agitation nor impetuous grief. That belonged rather to the hearer, for Marianne listened with horror and cried excessively.
Eleanor was to be the comforter of others in her own distresses, no less than in theirs, and all the comfort that could be given by assurances of her own composure of mind and a very earnest vindication of Edward from every charge but of imprudence was readily offered. But Marianne for some time would give credit to neither.
Edward seemed a second Willoughby, and acknowledging, as Eleanor did, that she had loved him most sincerely, could she feel less than herself. As for Lucy Steele, she considered her so totally unamiable, so absolutely incapable of attaching a sensible man, that she could not be persuaded at first to believe, and afterwards to pardon, any former affection of Edward for her.
She would not even admit it to have been natural, and Eleanor left her to be convinced that it was so by that which only could convince her, a better knowledge of mankind. Her first communication had reached no farther than to state the fact of the engagement and the length of time it had existed. Marianne's feelings had then broken in and put an end to all regularity of detail.
And for some time, all that could be done was to soothe her distress, lessen her alarms and combat her resentment. The first question on her side, which led to farther particulars was, How long has this been known to you, Eleanor? Has he written to you? I have known it these four months. When Lucy first came to Barton Park last November, she told me in confidence of her engagement.
At these words, Marianne's eyes expressed the astonishment which her lips could not utter. After a pause of wonder, she exclaimed... Four months. Have you known of this four months? Eleanor confirmed it. What? While attending me in all my misery, has this been on your heart? And I have reproached you for being happy. It was not fit that you should then know how much I was the reverse.
"'Four months!' cried Marianne again. "'So calm, so cheerful! How have you been supported?' "'By feeling that I was doing my duty, my promise to Lucy obliged me to be secret. "'I owed it to her, therefore, to avoid giving any hint of the truth.' and I owed it to my family and friends, not to create in them a solicitude about me which it could not be in my power to satisfy.
Marianne seemed much struck. I have very often wished to undeceive yourself and my mother, added Eleanor. And once or twice I have attempted it, but without betraying my trust, I never could have convinced you. Four months and yet you loved him. Yes, but I did not love only him, and while the comfort of others was dear to me, I was glad to spare them from knowing how much I felt.
Now I can think and speak of it with little emotion. I would not have you suffer on my account, for I assure you I no longer suffer materially myself. I have many things to support me. I am not conscious of having provoked the disappointment by any imprudence of my own. I have borne it as much as possible without spreading it farther. I acquit Edward of essential misconduct.
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