feat_summary_path: finished_summaries/shmoop/Sense and Sensibility/section_25_part_0.txt
feat_book_id: Sense and Sensibility.chapter 26
feat_summary_id: chapter 26
feat_summary: {"name": "Chapter 26", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20210421140324/https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/sense-and-sensibility/summary/chapter-26", "summary": "Elinor is rather astonished by the situation she finds herself in - going to London with Mrs. Jennings, who she doesn't exactly count among her close acquaintances. Despite the oddness of this setup, Marianne and their mother are both thrilled about the trip, which will no doubt blissfully reunite Marianne with Willoughby. Marianne is as gentle as a lamb all the way to London, and totally without her usual obvious disdain for Mrs. Jennings. She's basically silent the whole way, except for occasional outbursts about the beauty of the landscape. Elinor, to make up for her sister's reticence, chats with Mrs. Jennings the whole way. They reach London after three days of travel, and find themselves in quite a satisfactory setting - Mrs. Jennings' house is pretty and stylish, and the girls are put up in Charlotte's old room. Upon their arrival, the group has some free time before dinner. Elinor decides to fill this time with writing a letter home; Marianne sits down to write as well, but when asks, denies that she's writing home. Elinor assumes that she's writing to Willoughby to announce their arrival. Marianne writes her letter in a rushed tizzy, and then sends it in the local post, which cements Elinor's thought that it's addressed to Willoughby. Marianne then spends the rest of the afternoon nervously awaiting a return letter. Elinor's glad Mrs. Jennings doesn't observe her sister's odd behavior. Finally a visitor arrives - Marianne's sure it's Willoughby! However, it turns out to be Colonel Brandon. Marianne rushes off, distressed. Elinor worried that the Colonel has been offended by her sister's rude behavior, particularly considering the fact that he's in love with Marianne. He asks if Marianne is ill, and Elinor lies to cover for her sister, saying that she's been unwell recently. Colonel Brandon politely makes small talk about London and Barton, saying that he's been home a couple of times, but never had enough time to visit. Elinor wants desperately to ask if Willoughby's in London, but feels that it would be too rude to ask the Colonel about his rival for Marianne's affections. Mrs. Jennings arrives and greets the Colonel enthusiastically. Apparently, he's been hanging out with Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, so the conversation tends that way for a while. Colonel Brandon stays to tea, withstanding Mrs. Jennings' nosy questions about his personal life. Marianne eventually reappears, and the Colonel seems particularly pensive. He leaves, and everyone heads off to bed. The next morning, Marianne seems to have recovered from her bad mood. Charlotte Palmer stops by to visit, and after a couple of hours of gossip, the ladies all go off shopping together. Marianne seems on the lookout for something, and is distracted the whole time they're out. The party returns home late in the morning, only to find that Willoughby has neither visited nor written back. Marianne is disappointed again, and Elinor is confused. If her sister and Willoughby are actually engaged, how come Marianne doesn't know where he is or what he's up to? And how come he won't write back to her? Elinor decides to ask her mother for advice if this odd behavior continues. Charlotte Palmer and two of Mrs. Jennings's friends join them for dinner. Marianne is distracted and socially useless the whole time.", "analysis": ""}
text: 
  
  Elinor could not find herself in the carriage with Mrs. Jennings, and
  beginning a journey to London under her protection, and as her guest,
  without wondering at her own situation, so short had their acquaintance
  with that lady been, so wholly unsuited were they in age and
  disposition, and so many had been her objections against such a measure
  only a few days before! But these objections had all, with that happy
  ardour of youth which Marianne and her mother equally shared, been
  overcome or overlooked; and Elinor, in spite of every occasional doubt
  of Willoughby's constancy, could not witness the rapture of delightful
  expectation which filled the whole soul and beamed in the eyes of
  Marianne, without feeling how blank was her own prospect, how cheerless
  her own state of mind in the comparison, and how gladly she would
  engage in the solicitude of Marianne's situation to have the same
  animating object in view, the same possibility of hope.  A short, a
  very short time however must now decide what Willoughby's intentions
  were; in all probability he was already in town.  Marianne's eagerness
  to be gone declared her dependence on finding him there; and Elinor was
  resolved not only upon gaining every new light as to his character
  which her own observation or the intelligence of others could give her,
  but likewise upon watching his behaviour to her sister with such
  zealous attention, as to ascertain what he was and what he meant,
  before many meetings had taken place.  Should the result of her
  observations be unfavourable, she was determined at all events to open
  the eyes of her sister; should it be otherwise, her exertions would be
  of a different nature--she must then learn to avoid every selfish
  comparison, and banish every regret which might lessen her satisfaction
  in the happiness of Marianne.
  
  They were three days on their journey, and Marianne's behaviour as they
  travelled was a happy specimen of what future complaisance and
  companionableness to Mrs. Jennings might be expected to be.  She sat in
  silence almost all the way, wrapt in her own meditations, and scarcely
  ever voluntarily speaking, except when any object of picturesque beauty
  within their view drew from her an exclamation of delight exclusively
  addressed to her sister.  To atone for this conduct therefore, Elinor
  took immediate possession of the post of civility which she had
  assigned herself, behaved with the greatest attention to Mrs. Jennings,
  talked with her, laughed with her, and listened to her whenever she
  could; and Mrs. Jennings on her side treated them both with all
  possible kindness, was solicitous on every occasion for their ease and
  enjoyment, and only disturbed that she could not make them choose their
  own dinners at the inn, nor extort a confession of their preferring
  salmon to cod, or boiled fowls to veal cutlets.  They reached town by
  three o'clock the third day, glad to be released, after such a journey,
  from the confinement of a carriage, and ready to enjoy all the luxury
  of a good fire.
  
  The house was handsome, and handsomely fitted up, and the young ladies
  were immediately put in possession of a very comfortable apartment.  It
  had formerly been Charlotte's, and over the mantelpiece still hung a
  landscape in coloured silks of her performance, in proof of her having
  spent seven years at a great school in town to some effect.
  
  As dinner was not to be ready in less than two hours from their
  arrival, Elinor determined to employ the interval in writing to her
  mother, and sat down for that purpose.  In a few moments Marianne did
  the same.  "I am writing home, Marianne," said Elinor; "had not you
  better defer your letter for a day or two?"
  
  "I am NOT going to write to my mother," replied Marianne, hastily, and
  as if wishing to avoid any farther inquiry.  Elinor said no more; it
  immediately struck her that she must then be writing to Willoughby; and
  the conclusion which as instantly followed was, that, however
  mysteriously they might wish to conduct the affair, they must be
  engaged.  This conviction, though not entirely satisfactory, gave her
  pleasure, and she continued her letter with greater alacrity.
  Marianne's was finished in a very few minutes; in length it could be no
  more than a note; it was then folded up, sealed, and directed with
  eager rapidity.  Elinor thought she could distinguish a large W in the
  direction; and no sooner was it complete than Marianne, ringing the
  bell, requested the footman who answered it to get that letter conveyed
  for her to the two-penny post.  This decided the matter at once.
  
  Her spirits still continued very high; but there was a flutter in them
  which prevented their giving much pleasure to her sister, and this
  agitation increased as the evening drew on.  She could scarcely eat any
  dinner, and when they afterwards returned to the drawing room, seemed
  anxiously listening to the sound of every carriage.
  
  It was a great satisfaction to Elinor that Mrs. Jennings, by being much
  engaged in her own room, could see little of what was passing.  The tea
  things were brought in, and already had Marianne been disappointed more
  than once by a rap at a neighbouring door, when a loud one was suddenly
  heard which could not be mistaken for one at any other house, Elinor
  felt secure of its announcing Willoughby's approach, and Marianne,
  starting up, moved towards the door.  Every thing was silent; this
  could not be borne many seconds; she opened the door, advanced a few
  steps towards the stairs, and after listening half a minute, returned
  into the room in all the agitation which a conviction of having heard
  him would naturally produce; in the ecstasy of her feelings at that
  instant she could not help exclaiming, "Oh, Elinor, it is Willoughby,
  indeed it is!" and seemed almost ready to throw herself into his arms,
  when Colonel Brandon appeared.
  
  It was too great a shock to be borne with calmness, and she immediately
  left the room.  Elinor was disappointed too; but at the same time her
  regard for Colonel Brandon ensured his welcome with her; and she felt
  particularly hurt that a man so partial to her sister should perceive
  that she experienced nothing but grief and disappointment in seeing
  him.  She instantly saw that it was not unnoticed by him, that he even
  observed Marianne as she quitted the room, with such astonishment and
  concern, as hardly left him the recollection of what civility demanded
  towards herself.
  
  "Is your sister ill?" said he.
  
  Elinor answered in some distress that she was, and then talked of
  head-aches, low spirits, and over fatigues; and of every thing to which
  she could decently attribute her sister's behaviour.
  
  He heard her with the most earnest attention, but seeming to recollect
  himself, said no more on the subject, and began directly to speak of
  his pleasure at seeing them in London, making the usual inquiries about
  their journey, and the friends they had left behind.
  
  In this calm kind of way, with very little interest on either side,
  they continued to talk, both of them out of spirits, and the thoughts
  of both engaged elsewhere.  Elinor wished very much to ask whether
  Willoughby were then in town, but she was afraid of giving him pain by
  any enquiry after his rival; and at length, by way of saying something,
  she asked if he had been in London ever since she had seen him last.
  "Yes," he replied, with some embarrassment, "almost ever since; I have
  been once or twice at Delaford for a few days, but it has never been in
  my power to return to Barton."
  
  This, and the manner in which it was said, immediately brought back to
  her remembrance all the circumstances of his quitting that place, with
  the uneasiness and suspicions they had caused to Mrs. Jennings, and she
  was fearful that her question had implied much more curiosity on the
  subject than she had ever felt.
  
  Mrs. Jennings soon came in.  "Oh! Colonel," said she, with her usual
  noisy cheerfulness, "I am monstrous glad to see you--sorry I could not
  come before--beg your pardon, but I have been forced to look about me a
  little, and settle my matters; for it is a long while since I have been
  at home, and you know one has always a world of little odd things to do
  after one has been away for any time; and then I have had Cartwright to
  settle with-- Lord, I have been as busy as a bee ever since dinner!
  But pray, Colonel, how came you to conjure out that I should be in town
  today?"
  
  "I had the pleasure of hearing it at Mr. Palmer's, where I have been
  dining."
  
  "Oh, you did; well, and how do they all do at their house?  How does
  Charlotte do?  I warrant you she is a fine size by this time."
  
  "Mrs. Palmer appeared quite well, and I am commissioned to tell you,
  that you will certainly see her to-morrow."
  
  "Ay, to be sure, I thought as much.  Well, Colonel, I have brought two
  young ladies with me, you see--that is, you see but one of them now,
  but there is another somewhere.  Your friend, Miss Marianne, too--which
  you will not be sorry to hear.  I do not know what you and Mr.
  Willoughby will do between you about her.  Ay, it is a fine thing to be
  young and handsome.  Well! I was young once, but I never was very
  handsome--worse luck for me.  However, I got a very good husband, and I
  don't know what the greatest beauty can do more.  Ah! poor man! he has
  been dead these eight years and better.  But Colonel, where have you
  been to since we parted?  And how does your business go on?  Come,
  come, let's have no secrets among friends."
  
  He replied with his accustomary mildness to all her inquiries, but
  without satisfying her in any.  Elinor now began to make the tea, and
  Marianne was obliged to appear again.
  
  After her entrance, Colonel Brandon became more thoughtful and silent
  than he had been before, and Mrs. Jennings could not prevail on him to
  stay long.  No other visitor appeared that evening, and the ladies were
  unanimous in agreeing to go early to bed.
  
  Marianne rose the next morning with recovered spirits and happy looks.
  The disappointment of the evening before seemed forgotten in the
  expectation of what was to happen that day.  They had not long finished
  their breakfast before Mrs. Palmer's barouche stopped at the door, and
  in a few minutes she came laughing into the room: so delighted to see
  them all, that it was hard to say whether she received most pleasure
  from meeting her mother or the Miss Dashwoods again.  So surprised at
  their coming to town, though it was what she had rather expected all
  along; so angry at their accepting her mother's invitation after having
  declined her own, though at the same time she would never have forgiven
  them if they had not come!
  
  "Mr. Palmer will be so happy to see you," said she; "What do you think
  he said when he heard of your coming with Mama?  I forget what it was
  now, but it was something so droll!"
  
  After an hour or two spent in what her mother called comfortable chat,
  or in other words, in every variety of inquiry concerning all their
  acquaintance on Mrs. Jennings's side, and in laughter without cause on
  Mrs. Palmer's, it was proposed by the latter that they should all
  accompany her to some shops where she had business that morning, to
  which Mrs. Jennings and Elinor readily consented, as having likewise
  some purchases to make themselves; and Marianne, though declining it at
  first was induced to go likewise.
  
  Wherever they went, she was evidently always on the watch.  In Bond
  Street especially, where much of their business lay, her eyes were in
  constant inquiry; and in whatever shop the party were engaged, her mind
  was equally abstracted from every thing actually before them, from all
  that interested and occupied the others.  Restless and dissatisfied
  every where, her sister could never obtain her opinion of any article
  of purchase, however it might equally concern them both: she received
  no pleasure from anything; was only impatient to be at home again, and
  could with difficulty govern her vexation at the tediousness of Mrs.
  Palmer, whose eye was caught by every thing pretty, expensive, or new;
  who was wild to buy all, could determine on none, and dawdled away her
  time in rapture and indecision.
  
  It was late in the morning before they returned home; and no sooner had
  they entered the house than Marianne flew eagerly up stairs, and when
  Elinor followed, she found her turning from the table with a sorrowful
  countenance, which declared that no Willoughby had been there.
  
  "Has no letter been left here for me since we went out?" said she to
  the footman who then entered with the parcels.  She was answered in the
  negative.  "Are you quite sure of it?" she replied.  "Are you certain
  that no servant, no porter has left any letter or note?"
  
  The man replied that none had.
  
  "How very odd!" said she, in a low and disappointed voice, as she
  turned away to the window.
  
  "How odd, indeed!" repeated Elinor within herself, regarding her sister
  with uneasiness.  "If she had not known him to be in town she would not
  have written to him, as she did; she would have written to Combe Magna;
  and if he is in town, how odd that he should neither come nor write!
  Oh! my dear mother, you must be wrong in permitting an engagement
  between a daughter so young, a man so little known, to be carried on in
  so doubtful, so mysterious a manner!  I long to inquire; and how will
  MY interference be borne."
  
  She determined, after some consideration, that if appearances continued
  many days longer as unpleasant as they now were, she would represent in
  the strongest manner to her mother the necessity of some serious
  enquiry into the affair.
  
  Mrs. Palmer and two elderly ladies of Mrs. Jennings's intimate
  acquaintance, whom she had met and invited in the morning, dined with
  them.  The former left them soon after tea to fulfill her evening
  engagements; and Elinor was obliged to assist in making a whist table
  for the others.  Marianne was of no use on these occasions, as she
  would never learn the game; but though her time was therefore at her
  own disposal, the evening was by no means more productive of pleasure
  to her than to Elinor, for it was spent in all the anxiety of
  expectation and the pain of disappointment.  She sometimes endeavoured
  for a few minutes to read; but the book was soon thrown aside, and she
  returned to the more interesting employment of walking backwards and
  forwards across the room, pausing for a moment whenever she came to the
  window, in hopes of distinguishing the long-expected rap.
  
  
  
feat_summary_name: Chapter 26
target: Elinor is rather astonished by the situation she finds herself in - going to London with Mrs. Jennings, who she doesn't exactly count among her close acquaintances. Despite the oddness of this setup, Marianne and their mother are both thrilled about the trip, which will no doubt blissfully reunite Marianne with Willoughby. Marianne is as gentle as a lamb all the way to London, and totally without her usual obvious disdain for Mrs. Jennings. She's basically silent the whole way, except for occasional outbursts about the beauty of the landscape. Elinor, to make up for her sister's reticence, chats with Mrs. Jennings the whole way. They reach London after three days of travel, and find themselves in quite a satisfactory setting - Mrs. Jennings' house is pretty and stylish, and the girls are put up in Charlotte's old room. Upon their arrival, the group has some free time before dinner. Elinor decides to fill this time with writing a letter home; Marianne sits down to write as well, but when asks, denies that she's writing home. Elinor assumes that she's writing to Willoughby to announce their arrival. Marianne writes her letter in a rushed tizzy, and then sends it in the local post, which cements Elinor's thought that it's addressed to Willoughby. Marianne then spends the rest of the afternoon nervously awaiting a return letter. Elinor's glad Mrs. Jennings doesn't observe her sister's odd behavior. Finally a visitor arrives - Marianne's sure it's Willoughby! However, it turns out to be Colonel Brandon. Marianne rushes off, distressed. Elinor worried that the Colonel has been offended by her sister's rude behavior, particularly considering the fact that he's in love with Marianne. He asks if Marianne is ill, and Elinor lies to cover for her sister, saying that she's been unwell recently. Colonel Brandon politely makes small talk about London and Barton, saying that he's been home a couple of times, but never had enough time to visit. Elinor wants desperately to ask if Willoughby's in London, but feels that it would be too rude to ask the Colonel about his rival for Marianne's affections. Mrs. Jennings arrives and greets the Colonel enthusiastically. Apparently, he's been hanging out with Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, so the conversation tends that way for a while. Colonel Brandon stays to tea, withstanding Mrs. Jennings' nosy questions about his personal life. Marianne eventually reappears, and the Colonel seems particularly pensive. He leaves, and everyone heads off to bed. The next morning, Marianne seems to have recovered from her bad mood. Charlotte Palmer stops by to visit, and after a couple of hours of gossip, the ladies all go off shopping together. Marianne seems on the lookout for something, and is distracted the whole time they're out. The party returns home late in the morning, only to find that Willoughby has neither visited nor written back. Marianne is disappointed again, and Elinor is confused. If her sister and Willoughby are actually engaged, how come Marianne doesn't know where he is or what he's up to? And how come he won't write back to her? Elinor decides to ask her mother for advice if this odd behavior continues. Charlotte Palmer and two of Mrs. Jennings's friends join them for dinner. Marianne is distracted and socially useless the whole time.