Sense And Sensibility Page #6

Lucy!

We must go.

It would be your pleasure

to escort your young charge home.

How kind.

She actually sent him messages

during the night

- Marianne, please tell me.

- Do not ask me questions.

- You have no confidence in me.

- You confide in no one.

- I have nothing to tell.

- We neither of us do.

I, because I conceal nothing. You,

because you communicate nothing.

Lady Charter is ought to limit her

invitation list. It was very warm.

I am glad we left early.

There now ...

Lovers' quarrels are swift to heal.

That letter will do the trick.

I must be off. I do hope he doesn't

keep her waiting much longer.

It hurts to see her this way.

What a welcome I had

from Edward's family.

You never said how agreeable

your sister-in-law is. Robert, also.

It is fortunate that none of them

knows of your engagement.

"'Dear Madam. I am at a loss to see

how I might have offended you."

"lf I have given rise to a belief of

more than I meant to express, -

- I regret

not having been more guarded."

"My affections

are engaged elsewhere."

"It is with regret that I return

your letters and the lock of hair."

"l am, et cetera, John Willoughby."

Dearest ...

It is better than if your engagement

had carried on before he ended it.

We're not engaged.

I thought he left you

with some kind of understanding.

- He's not so unworthy as you think.

- Did he tell you that he loved you?

Yes. No ... Never absolutely.

It was implied but never declared.

Sometimes I thought it had been,

but it never was. He broke no vow.

He made us all believe he loved you.

He did! He loved me as I loved him.

I had to come straight up.

How are you, Miss Marianne?

Poor thing, she looks very bad.

No wonder. for it is but too true.

I was told by Miss Morton, -

- that he is soon to marry

a Miss Grey with 50,000!

If true, he is a good-for-nothing

who used my young friend ill.

And I wish with all my soul that his

wife might plague all his heart out.

He's not the only young man

worth having.

With your pretty face

You'll never want for admirers.

Better let her have her cry out

and have done with it.

I will go look out something

to tempt her.

- Does she care for olives?

- I cannot tell you.

Apparently, they never were engaged.

Miss Grey has 50,000.

Marianne is virtually penniless.

She couldn't expect him to go

through with it. But I feel for her.

She will lose her bloom

and end a spinster like Elinor.

We might have them to stay for a

few days. We are, after all, family.

- And my father ...

- My love ...

I would ask them with all my heart,

but I've already asked Miss Steele.

And we cannot deprive Mrs. Jennings

of all her company.

We can invite your sisters

some other year.

Miss Steele will profit more

from your generosity, poor girl.

Excellent notion.

Colonel Brandon to see you.

- Thank you so much for coming.

- How is your sister?

I must get her home. Palmer can take

us to Cleveland, a day from Barton.

- I'll take you to Barton myself.

- I confess, that is what I hoped.

Marianne suffers cruelly.

What pains me most is how hard

she tries to justify Mr. Willoughby.

Perhaps ...

Ma I relate some circumstances

which only a desire to be useful ...

You have something to tell me

of Mr. Willoughby?

When I quitted Barton last ...

No, I must go further back.

No doubt ...

No doubt ...

... Mrs. Jennings has appraised you

of certain events in my past.

The sad outcome of my connection

with a young woman named Eliza.

What is not commonly known -

- is that 20 years ago,

before she died. Eliza bore a child.

The father. whoever he was.

abandoned them.

As Eliza lay dying, she begged me

to look after the child.

I had failed her in ever other way,

I could not refuse her now.

I placed the child, Beth,

with a family in the country -

- where I knew she would be looked

after. I saw her whenever I could.

She grew up so headstrong, -

- and, God forgive me,

I allowed her too much freedom.

Almost a year ago she disappeared.

I instigated a search, but for

eight months I imagined the worst.

On the day of the Delaford picnic,

I received the first news of her.

She was ... with child.

And the blackguard who had left her

with no hint of his whereabouts ...

Do you mean Willoughby?

Before I could confront him.

Lady Allen had turned him out.

- He fled to London.

- He left without any explanation.

He risked losing the estate, and the

money that remained to his debtors.

So he abandoned Marianne -

- for Miss Grey

and her 50.000.

Is Beth still in town?

She has chosen to go to the country

for her confinement.

I would not burden you,

had I not, from my heart, -

- believed it might, in time,

lessen our sister's regrets.

I have described Mr. Willoughby

as the worst of libertines.

But I learned from Lady Allen that

he did mean to propose that day.

I cannot deny that his intentions

towards Marianne were honourable.

I feel certain

that he would have married her.

- Had it not been ...

- For the money.

- Was I right to tell you?

- Of course.

Whatever his past actions,

whatever his present course, -

- you may be certain

that he loved you.

But not enough.

Not enough ...

Here is someone to cheer you up.

How is your dear sister?

Poor thing.

I do not know what I'd do if a man

treated me with so little respect.

Are you enjoying your stay

with John and Fanny?

I was never so happy in my life.

Your sister-in-law has taken to me.

- You cannot imagine what happened.

- No. I cannot.

Yesterday I was introduced to his

mother. She was more than civil.

I have not yet seen Edward,

but I feel sure to, very soon.

There is a Mr. Edward Ferrars

to see you.

Do ask him to come in.

What a pleasure to see you.

You know Miss Steele. of course.

- How do you do, Miss Steele?

- I am well, thank you.

Do sit down.

Are you surprised to find me here

and not at your sister's house?

Let me fetch Marianne. She would be

disappointed to miss you.

Edward! I heard your voice.

- At last you found us.

- My visit is shamefully overdue.

- You're pale. Are you not well?

- Don't think of me. Elinor is well.

- That is enough for both of us.

- How do you enjoy London?

The sight of you is all the pleasure

it has afforded. Is that not so?

- Why have you not visited before?

- I have been engaged elsewhere.

But what was that when there were

such friends to be met?

Perhaps you think young men

never honour their engagements

Edward is the most incapable of

being selfish of anyone I ever saw.

Edward, will you not sit?

Help me to persuade him.

- Forgive me. I must take m leave.

- You are only just arrived.

I've an urgent commission for Fanny.

Perhaps you might escort me

back to your sister's house.

It would be an honour.

- Why did you not urge him to stay?

- He must have had his reasons.

Yes, your coldness. Were I Edward,

I'd assume you didn't care for me.

Marianne looked badly. It makes me

fear that I shall never marry.

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