Certainty is not the same thing as the expectation she had told herself to treat as certain. While Edward remained single, Elinor had always admitted a hope that something would prevent his marrying Lucy. Now he is married, and she condemns that hope for heightening the pain. That it should be so soon, before he could be in orders, and so before he could hold the living, surprises her only for a moment. Lucy's haste to secure him would overlook everything but the risk of delay. What had he felt, within four miles of Barton, seeing her mother's servant, hearing the message? She pictures them at Delaford. Lucy contriving, smart and frugal at once, courting every wealthy friend. Edward she cannot bear to sketch, happy or unhappy. No letter comes to announce it. She asks when her mother writes to Colonel Brandon. Last week, and he may walk in any day. A man on horseback stops at the gate. It is a gentleman. It is Colonel Brandon. It is not his air, nor his height. It is Edward. He comes from Mr Pratt's, she tells herself, on purpose to see them. She will be calm. She will be mistress of herself.
Her mother and Marianne change colour, look at her, and whisper. She would give the world to say that she hopes for no coolness in their behaviour to him. She has no utterance. His face, as he enters, is not too happy even for her. It is white with agitation. He looks as if he merited no kind reception. Mrs Dashwood gives him her hand and wishes him joy. He colours, and stammers something unintelligible. Elinor's lips had moved with her mother's. When the moment is past she wishes she had shaken hands too. It is too late. With a countenance meaning to be open, she talks of the weather. Marianne retreats out of sight. Margaret, understanding some of it and not the whole, sits as far from him as she can and says nothing. The pause is ended by a hope that he has left Mrs Ferrars very well. Yes, in a hurry. Is Mrs Ferrars at Longstaple? He is surprised. No. His mother is in town. Elinor takes up her work. She meant Mrs Edward Ferrars. She dares not look up.
He seems perplexed, rises, walks to the window, and takes up a pair of scissors. While he cuts the sheath to pieces, spoiling both, he says they may mean his brother. Mrs Robert Ferrars. Marianne and her mother repeat it in amazement. Even Elinor's eyes fix on him. Lucy Steele and his brother were married last week, and are now at Dawlish. Elinor can sit no longer. She almost runs out, and with the door closed she bursts into tears of joy. He, who had looked anywhere rather than at her, walks out toward the village without a word. Will the joy they offered him still be the joy that is remembered, once the wife's name has had to be changed?
Coming Up in Chapter 49
Edward is free, though nobody in the family can account for the release. His errand at Barton is a simple one. It is only to ask Elinor to marry him. He is so uncomfortable in the asking, and so in need of encouragement and fresh air, that the family has already decided what he came to do.
