Sense And Sensibility And Sea Monsters Part 13

After staying with them half an hour, he asked Elinor to take him to be introduced 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 enquiries began.

"Who is Colonel Brandon? Is he a man of fortune? What in the name of the Father and the Son is wrong with his face?"

"He has very good property in Dorsets.h.i.+re. And, it is reported, a sea-witch curse."

"Well, he seems a most gentlemanlike man; and I think, Elinor, I may congratulate you on the prospect of a very respectable establishment in life."

"Me, brother! What do you mean?"

"He likes you. I am convinced of it."

"I am very sure that Colonel Brandon has not the smallest wish of marrying me me."

"You are mistaken, Elinor; you are very much mistaken. Perhaps just at present he may be undecided; the smallness of your fortune may make him hang back; his friends may all advise him against it. But some of those little attentions and encouragements which ladies can so easily give will fix him, in spite of himself. Brush those tentacles of his as if by accident with the back of your hand; adjust his cravat, wipe the excretions from his chin. It is a match that must give universal satisfaction. Your friends are all truly anxious to see you well settled; f.a.n.n.y particularly, for she has your interest very much at heart, I a.s.sure you. And her mother too, Mrs. Ferrars, a very good-natured woman, I am sure it would give her great pleasure; she said as much the other day."

Elinor would not vouchsafe any answer.

"It would be something remarkable, now," he continued, "if f.a.n.n.y should have a brother and I a sister settling at the same time."

At this surprising declaration from her brother, the five-pointed star flashed in Elinor's mind with the suddenness and violence of a pistol shot; and then was gone again.

"Is Mr. Edward Ferrars," said Elinor, with resolution, "going to be married?"

"It is not actually settled, but there is such a thing in agitation. His mother will come forward and settle on him a thousand a year, if the match takes place. The lady is the Honourable Miss Morton, only daughter of the late Lord Morton, the very engineer and public hero who over-saw the creation of Sub-Marine Station Alpha. It is a very desirable connection on both sides, and I have not a doubt of its taking place in time. A thousand a year is a great deal for a mother to give away, but Mrs. Ferrars has a n.o.ble spirit. On occasion, I tell you confidentially, she puts bank-notes into f.a.n.n.y's hands; I find this extremely acceptable, for we must live at a great expense while we are here. But I am also finding ways to earn a bit extra."

"Oh?"

"Indeed. I am-partic.i.p.ating."

Elinor, having lived in the Station now for a period of weeks, knew the meaning of the expression; her brother was submitting himself to the attentions of the Station's government scientists, in their ongoing efforts to enhance human beings, to provide us advantages over the sea-borne beasts determined to bedevil our race. John was giving his sister to understand, in short, that he was allowing his body to be experimented upon, in exchange for financial recompense. Having now said enough to make his poverty clear, and to do away the necessity of buying a pair of ear-rings for each of his sisters, John inquired after Marianne. "She looks very unwell," he said.

"She has had a nervous complaint on her for several weeks."

"I am sorry for that. At her time of life, anything of an illness destroys the bloom forever! She was as handsome a girl last September, as I ever saw; and as likely to attract the man. I question whether Marianne now now, will marry a man worth more than five or six hundred a year, at the utmost, and I am very much deceived if you will not do better."

Elinor tried very seriously to convince him that there was no likelihood of her marrying Colonel Brandon; but he was really resolved on seeking an intimacy with that gentleman, and promoting the marriage by every possible attention, before at last he put on his Float-Suit and departed.

CHAPTER 34

MRS. JOHN DASHWOOD had so much confidence in her husband's judgment, despite his chemically altered perceptions, that she waited the very next day on Mrs. Jennings and her daughter. Her confidence was rewarded by finding the woman with whom her sisters were staying most worthy of her notice; and as for Lady Middleton, she found her one of the most charming women in the world, even if she had been married, as the saying has it, out of a bag! had so much confidence in her husband's judgment, despite his chemically altered perceptions, that she waited the very next day on Mrs. Jennings and her daughter. Her confidence was rewarded by finding the woman with whom her sisters were staying most worthy of her notice; and as for Lady Middleton, she found her one of the most charming women in the world, even if she had been married, as the saying has it, out of a bag!

Lady Middleton was equally pleased with Mrs. Dashwood. There was a kind of cold-hearted selfishness on both sides, a desire to escape, on the one hand, from pecuniary anxiety, and on the other, from civilization as a whole, which mutually attracted them.

To Mrs. Jennings, however, Mrs. Dashwood was a mere pxtypyp pxtypyp; that is, a little proud-looking woman of uncordial address. She met her husband's sisters without any affection, and almost without having anything to say to them; for of the quarter of an hour bestowed on Berkeley Causeway, she sat at least seven minutes and a half in silence.

Elinor wanted very much to know, though she did not choose to ask, whether Edward was in town; but nothing would have induced f.a.n.n.y voluntarily to mention his name before her. The intelligence she would not give, however, soon flowed from another quarter. Lucy came very shortly to claim Elinor's compa.s.sion on being unable to see Edward, though he had arrived in-Station with Mr. and Mrs. Dashwood. Despite their mutual impatience to meet, they could do nothing at present but write.

Edward a.s.sured them himself of his being in town, within a very short time, by twice calling in Berkeley Causeway. His hermit-crab sh.e.l.l calling card was found on the table when they returned from a diverting morning at Mr. Pennywhistle's Aqua-Museo-Quarium, where they had spent an hour and a quarter mesmerised by the antics of a troupe of flying fish who had been trained in sub-aqueous acrobatics. Elinor was pleased that Edward had called; and still more pleased that she had missed him.

The Dashwoods were so prodigiously delighted with the Middletons that they determined to give them a dinner; soon after their acquaintance began, they invited them to dine in Harley Piscina, where they had taken a very good docking for three months. Their sisters and Mrs. Jennings were invited likewise, and John Dashwood was careful to secure Colonel Brandon. Always glad to be where the Miss Dashwoods were, he received his civilities with some surprise, but much more pleasure. He prepared his best dress uniform and neatly combed his tentacles.

They were to meet Mrs. Ferrars; but Elinor could not learn whether her sons were to be of the party. The expectation of seeing her her, however, was enough to make her interested in the engagement.

The evening promised other amus.e.m.e.nts as well. Given the minimal time required for the preparation and consumption of foodstuffs, the custom of dinner parties in Sub-Marine Station Beta placed a large emphasis on the after-dinner entertainment. As taken as was f.a.n.n.y Dashwood with the Middletons, it came as no surprise to Elinor that she intended to present for them the most rarified of amus.e.m.e.nts-namely of arranging for their domestic servants to compete in various contests of skill and strength against enhanced sea creatures.

The important Tuesday arrived, and Elinor found Lucy professing a state of extreme anxiety as they disembarked from their gondola at the home of the Dashwoods.

"Pity me, dear Miss Dashwood!" said Lucy. "There is n.o.body here but you that can feel for me. I declare I can hardly stand. Good gracious! In a moment I shall see the person that all my happiness depends on- that is to be my mother!"

Mrs. Ferrars was a little, thin woman, upright in her figure, and serious in her aspect. Her complexion was sallow; and her features small, without beauty, and naturally without expression. As f.a.n.n.y presented her with that evening's main course, an elegantly presented large loaf of beef-steakflavoured gelatin paste, she felt it unnecessary to present a peroration on the deficiencies of Station cuisine; she simply wrinkled her sour nose and said "Ick." Of the few syllables that did escape her that evening, not one fell to the share of Miss Dashwood, whom she eyed with the spirited determination of disliking her at all events.

Elinor could not now now be made unhappy by this behaviour. A few months ago, it would have hurt her exceedingly; but it was not in Mrs. Ferrars's power to distress her by it now; and the difference of her manners to the Miss Steeles, a difference which seemed purposely made to humble her more, only amused her. She could not but smile to see the graciousness of both mother and daughter towards Lucy, the very person whom of all others (had they known as much as she did) they would have been most anxious to mortify. be made unhappy by this behaviour. A few months ago, it would have hurt her exceedingly; but it was not in Mrs. Ferrars's power to distress her by it now; and the difference of her manners to the Miss Steeles, a difference which seemed purposely made to humble her more, only amused her. She could not but smile to see the graciousness of both mother and daughter towards Lucy, the very person whom of all others (had they known as much as she did) they would have been most anxious to mortify.

She herself, who had comparatively no power to wound them, sat pointedly slighted by both. But while she smiled at a graciousness so misapplied, she could not reflect on the mean-spirited folly from which it sprung without thoroughly despising them all four, and idly trying to recall a method of swiftly murdering a person with two fingers pressed to the throat, which she had once been taught by a drunken Sir John.

The dinner was a grand one, the servants were numerous, and everything bespoke the Mistress's inclination for show, and the Master's ability to support it. The after-dinner entertainment was truly remarkable; first came a display in which a household servant played three hands of Jeu d'enfer Jeu d'enfer against a sea horse; and then one in which their housemaid was caged inside a giant razor-clam from which she had to fight her way out. Mrs. Ferrars, not to be satisfied, p.r.o.nounced the clamsh.e.l.l a weak one, its razors dull, and averred that, were she a younger woman, she might have broken free much quicker. against a sea horse; and then one in which their housemaid was caged inside a giant razor-clam from which she had to fight her way out. Mrs. Ferrars, not to be satisfied, p.r.o.nounced the clamsh.e.l.l a weak one, its razors dull, and averred that, were she a younger woman, she might have broken free much quicker.

Before departing Norland, Elinor had whittled out of flotsam a very pretty pair of parakeets for her sister-in-law; and these birds, catching the eye of John Dashwood on his following the other gentlemen into the room, were officiously handed by him to Colonel Brandon for his admiration.

"These are done by my eldest sister," said he, "and you, as a man of taste, will, I dare say, be pleased with them. I do not know whether you have seen any of her Elinor's work before, but she is reckoned to whittle extremely well."

The colonel, though disclaiming all pretensions to connoisseurs.h.i.+p, warmly admired the driftwood budgies, as he would have done anything created by Miss Dashwood, and they were handed round for general inspection. Mrs. Ferrars, not aware of their being Elinor's work, particularly requested to look at them; and after they had received gratifying testimony of Lady Middleton's approbation, f.a.n.n.y presented them to her mother, considerately informing her, at the same time, that they were done by Miss Dashwood.

"Hum," said Mrs. Ferrars, "very pretty," and dropped them on the ground, causing one of the parakeet's tailfeathers to snap off.

Perhaps f.a.n.n.y thought for a moment that her mother had been quite rude enough, for, colouring a little, she immediately said, "They are very pretty, ma'am-ain't they?" But then again, the dread of having been too civil, too encouraging herself, probably came over her, for she dropped the other parakeet (causing its its tail to fall off) and presently added, "Do you not think they are something in Miss Morton's style of whittling, Ma'am? She tail to fall off) and presently added, "Do you not think they are something in Miss Morton's style of whittling, Ma'am? She does does sculpt most delightfully! How masterfully her diorama of the late, lamented Sub-Marine Station Alpha was done! One nearly felt that one was there!" sculpt most delightfully! How masterfully her diorama of the late, lamented Sub-Marine Station Alpha was done! One nearly felt that one was there!"

"Beautifully indeed! But she she does every thing well. Have you seen her peel a banana? It is like listening to a symphony." does every thing well. Have you seen her peel a banana? It is like listening to a symphony."

Marianne could not bear this. She was already greatly displeased with Mrs. Ferrars, and such ill-timed praise of another, at Elinor's expense, though she had not any notion of what was princ.i.p.ally meant by it, provoked her immediately to say with warmth, "This is admiration of a very particular kind! What is Miss Morton to us?" And so saying, she took the parakeets out of her sister-in-law's hands, and reattached their dismembered tailfeathers with bandages she removed for the purpose from the still-bleeding, sh.e.l.l-sliced housemaid.

"It is Elinor of whom we we think and speak," Marianne continued angrily. "Who knows, or who cares, for this Miss Morton!" think and speak," Marianne continued angrily. "Who knows, or who cares, for this Miss Morton!"

Mrs. Ferrars looked exceedingly angry, and drawing herself up more stiffly than ever, p.r.o.nounced in retort this bitter philippic, "Miss Morton is Lord Morton's daughter. The The Lord Morton! He, the great hydraulic engineer of his or any age; he who was so dreadfully betrayed!" Lord Morton! He, the great hydraulic engineer of his or any age; he who was so dreadfully betrayed!"

It was not necessary for Mrs. Ferrars to relate the details; all present were familiar with the tragic story of Lord Morton and Sub-Marine Station Alpha. The great man had been commissioned by the Crown to create the original underwater fortress, and his plans for the Station had been flawless, his execution exemplary. How could Lord Morton have known that Sir Bradley, his faithful amanuensis and chief engineer, was a merman in disguise, an ally to the sea creatures bent on the destruction of all mankind? This Bradley, cursed be the name, had waited patiently, tail disguised, for the entire Station to be constructed and inhabited by a city's worth of good English souls, before he triggered the gate-failure that flooded Morton's masterwork in an instant, and took the lives of so many brave undersea pioneers, Lord Morton included. The fortunate ones had been drowned, while the rest were shortly feasted upon by the swimming army of deep-sea murder-beasts that poured into the breached gate.

For Marianne to sully the name of Lord Morton in such company was a grave faux pas faux pas; f.a.n.n.y looked very angry, and her husband was all in a fright at his sister's audacity. Elinor was much more hurt by Marianne's warmth than by what produced it; but Colonel Brandon's eyes, as they were fixed on Marianne, declared that he noticed only what was amiable in it, the affectionate heart which could not bear to see a sister slighted in the smallest point. His tentacles performed a sort of gentle, romantic sway as he gazed upon her.

Marianne's feelings did not stop here. She moved to her sister's chair, and putting one arm round her neck, and one cheek close to hers, said in a low, but eager, voice, "Dear, dear Elinor, don't mind them. Don't let them make you you unhappy." unhappy."

She could say no more; her spirits were quite overcome, and hiding her face on Elinor's shoulder, she burst into tears. Mrs. Jennings, with a very intelligent "Ah! poor dear," immediately gave her her salts, and Sir John instantly changed his seat to one close by Lucy Steele, and gave her, in a whisper, a brief account of the whole shocking Willoughby affair.

And then the bell was rung for the next act of the floor show, in which a man was to play badminton against a fur seal.

CHAPTER 35

ELINOR'S CURIOSITY TO SEE Mrs. Ferrars was satisfied, as was her curiosity to know how a fur seal might wield a badminton racquet. She had found in Mrs. Ferrars everything that could make a further connection between the families undesirable. She had seen enough of her pride, her meanness, and her determined prejudice, to comprehend all the difficulties that must have perplexed the engagement of Edward and herself, had he been otherwise free. Mrs. Ferrars was satisfied, as was her curiosity to know how a fur seal might wield a badminton racquet. She had found in Mrs. Ferrars everything that could make a further connection between the families undesirable. She had seen enough of her pride, her meanness, and her determined prejudice, to comprehend all the difficulties that must have perplexed the engagement of Edward and herself, had he been otherwise free.

"My dear friend," cried Lucy, as soon as they met the next day, "I come to talk to you of my happiness. Could anything be so flattering as Mrs. Ferrars's way of treating me yesterday? So exceeding affable as she was! Arranging me a seat up front, where I could best view the floorshow, but draping me considerately with a poncho. You know how I dreaded the thoughts of seeing her; but the very moment I was introduced, there was such an affability in her behaviour. She had quite took a fancy to me. Now was not it so? You saw it all; and was not you quite struck with it?"

"She was certainly very civil to you."

"Civil! Did you see nothing but civility? I saw a vast deal more. Such kindness as fell to the share of n.o.body but me!"

Elinor wished to talk of something else; rifling through her mind for other topics of interest, she recalled the subject of the swordfish and the tiny cracks she had noticed in the Dome, and enquired whether Lucy had ever seen such a crack before, during her time in-Station-but Lucy would not allow the subject to be changed; she still pressed her to admit she had reason for her happiness, and Elinor was obliged to go on.

"If they had known your engagement," said she, "nothing could be more flattering than their treatment of you; but as that was not the case-"

"I guessed you would say so," replied Lucy quickly, "but there was no reason in the world why Mrs. Ferrars should seem to like me, if she did not. Mrs. Ferrars is a charming woman, and so is your sister-in-law. They are both delightful women, indeed! I wonder I should never hear you say how agreeable Mrs. Dashwood was!"

To this Elinor had no answer to make, and did not attempt any.

"Are you ill, Miss Dashwood? You seem low. You don't speak. Sure you ain't well?"

"I never was in better health." In truth, as the conversation on the hated topic continued, Elinor felt the familiar terrifying darkness swimming about her eyes, saw the familiar star pattern begin to form itself in her mind. She took a series of deep breaths, in desperate hope that she could keep the eerie vision at bay. What was this torment? Why would it not leave her be?

"I am glad of it with all my heart," Lucy continued. "But I cannot help notice you are squeezing your eyes shut and holding your head between your legs. I should be sorry to have you you ill. Heaven knows what I should have done without your friends.h.i.+p." ill. Heaven knows what I should have done without your friends.h.i.+p."

Elinor was prevented from making any response by the door's being thrown open, the servant's announcing Mr. Ferrars, and Edward immediately walking in.

It was a very awkward moment; and the countenance of each showed that it was so. They all looked exceedingly foolish; and Edward seemed to have as great an inclination to walk out of the room again, as to advance farther into it. The very circ.u.mstance, which they would each have been most anxious to avoid, had fallen on them. They were not only all three together, but were together without the relief of any other person. There they were, like three fish, caught unexpectedly together in the same net-all wis.h.i.+ng they could be eaten straightaway, rather than continue together in their current company.

The ladies recovered themselves first. It was not Lucy's business to put herself forward; the appearance of secrecy must still be kept up. After slightly addressing him, she said no more. For Elinor's part, she was only glad that Edward's familiar, comforting presence had for now dispelled the five-pointed design, and the weird, suffocating darkness, from her mind.

Elinor resolved that she would not allow the presence of Lucy, nor the consciousness of some injustice towards herself, deter her from saying that she was happy to see him. She would not be frightened by Lucy from paying him those attentions which, as a friend and almost a relation, were his due.

Her manners gave some rea.s.surance to Edward, and he had courage enough to sit down; but his embarra.s.sment still exceeded that of the ladies in a proportion; for his heart had not the indifference of Lucy's, nor could his conscience have quite the ease of Elinor's.

It only contributed to the awkwardness when a loud bang was heard against the gla.s.s back wall of the docking; turning their heads, they saw that a servant, who had been changing the water filtration tank and come detached from the breathing hose of his special Ex-Domic Float-Suit, was clamouring for their attention. The operations of the Station's various life-sustaining apparatuses were meant to be entirely invisible to the inhabitants, and the man's noisy exhibition was a rather embarra.s.sing violation of decorum; Elinor and her guests studiously ignored him, and his increasingly insistent thras.h.i.+ng became the background to the ensuing uncomfortable exchange.

Almost everything that was was said proceeded from Elinor, who was obliged to volunteer all the information about her mother's health, their coming to town, etc.-all things Edward ought to have inquired about, but never did. In the resulting silence, the drowning servant pounded violently against the Dome, forming his mouth into the words said proceeded from Elinor, who was obliged to volunteer all the information about her mother's health, their coming to town, etc.-all things Edward ought to have inquired about, but never did. In the resulting silence, the drowning servant pounded violently against the Dome, forming his mouth into the words HELP ME HELP ME and clawing at the gla.s.s. and clawing at the gla.s.s.

Elinor then determined, under pretence of fetching Marianne, to leave the others by themselves; and she really did it, and that that in the handsomest manner, for she loitered away several minutes on the landing-place before she went to her sister. When that was once done, however, it was time for the raptures of Edward to cease; for Marianne's joy hurried her into the drawing-room immediately. Her pleasure in seeing him was like every other of her feelings, strong in itself, and strongly spoken. She met him with a hand that would be taken, and a voice that expressed the affection of a sister. "Dear Edward!" she cried. "This is a moment of great happiness! This would almost make amends for everything! Oh my G.o.d, there is a man out there-a drowning man!" Elinor leveled her sister with a corrective expression, to warn her from excessive enthusiasm regarding the presence of Edward, or as to the fate of the filtration-unit attendant. A gigantic and grotesquely toothsome anglerfish was swimming rapidly towards the latter, it's photoph.o.r.e angled upwards like a spotlight; seeing the fish, the man turned back to the gla.s.s wall, eyes bulging, pleading wordlessly for rescue. in the handsomest manner, for she loitered away several minutes on the landing-place before she went to her sister. When that was once done, however, it was time for the raptures of Edward to cease; for Marianne's joy hurried her into the drawing-room immediately. Her pleasure in seeing him was like every other of her feelings, strong in itself, and strongly spoken. She met him with a hand that would be taken, and a voice that expressed the affection of a sister. "Dear Edward!" she cried. "This is a moment of great happiness! This would almost make amends for everything! Oh my G.o.d, there is a man out there-a drowning man!" Elinor leveled her sister with a corrective expression, to warn her from excessive enthusiasm regarding the presence of Edward, or as to the fate of the filtration-unit attendant. A gigantic and grotesquely toothsome anglerfish was swimming rapidly towards the latter, it's photoph.o.r.e angled upwards like a spotlight; seeing the fish, the man turned back to the gla.s.s wall, eyes bulging, pleading wordlessly for rescue.

Edward tried to return Marianne's kindness as it deserved, but before such witnesses he dared not say half what he really felt. Again they all sat down, and for a moment or two all were silent; while Marianne was looking with the most speaking tenderness, sometimes at Edward and sometimes at Elinor, regretting only that their delight in each other should be checked by Lucy's unwelcome presence.

The anglerfish closed its hundreds of razor-like teeth on the man's lower half, splitting him messily in two.

Edward was the first to speak, and it was to notice Marianne's altered looks, and express his fear of her not finding the Sub-Station agreeable.

"Oh, don't think of me!" she replied with spirited earnestness. The filtration-man's upper body floated upwards, as his legs disappeared in ragged hunks into the gullet of the anglerfish. "Elinor is well, you see. That must be enough for us both."

This remark was not calculated to make Edward or Elinor more easy, nor to conciliate the good will of Lucy, who looked up at Marianne with no very benignant expression.

"Do you like the Sub-Station?" said Edward, willing to say anything that might introduce another subject.

"Not at all. I expected much pleasure in it, but I have found none. The sight of you, Edward, is the only comfort it has afforded; and thank Heaven! You are what you always were!"

Outside the Dome, enough blood was left in the man's upper portion for him to remain conscious, and he watched in horror as his lower portion was chewed to pieces by the great beast. Marianne paused- and no one spoke. The anglerfish finished the legs and began its a.s.sault on the remaining portion of the filtration attendant. The ocean fogged with blood.

"I think, Elinor," she presently added, "we must employ Edward to take care of us in our return to Barton Cottage. In a week or two, I suppose, we shall be going; and, I trust, Edward will not be very unwilling to accept the charge."

Poor Edward muttered something, but what it was, n.o.body knew- it may have been to the effect of, "Anglerfish certainly have a lot of teeth." But Marianne, who saw his agitation, was perfectly satisfied, and soon talked of something else. "We spent such a day, Edward, in Harley Piscina yesterday! So dull, so wretchedly dull! But I have much to say to you on that head, which cannot be said now."

And with this admirable discretion did she defer the a.s.surance of her finding their mutual relatives more disagreeable than ever, and of her being particularly disgusted with his mother, till they were more in private.

"But why were you not there, Edward? Why did you not come?"

"I was engaged elsewhere."

"Engaged! What was that, when such friends were to be met?"

"Perhaps, Miss Marianne," cried Lucy, eager to take some revenge on her, "you think young men never stand upon engagements, if they have no mind to keep them, little as well as great."

Elinor was very angry, but Marianne seemed entirely insensible of the sting. The water-tank servant was all the more insensible, and would remain so forever, as the anglerfish swallowed his head in two great gulps. At this, Edward gasped and hid his eyes behind his hand.

"I am very sure that only conscience kept Edward from Harley Piscina," Marianne calmly replied to Lucy's slight. "And I really believe he has has the most delicate conscience in the world; the most scrupulous in performing every engagement, however minute, and however it may make against his interest or pleasure. He is the most fearful of giving pain, of wounding expectation, and the most incapable of being selfish, of anybody I ever saw. Edward, it is so, and I will say it." Winding up her speech, she turned and looked at the observation gla.s.s. "My G.o.d! That will need cleaning!" the most delicate conscience in the world; the most scrupulous in performing every engagement, however minute, and however it may make against his interest or pleasure. He is the most fearful of giving pain, of wounding expectation, and the most incapable of being selfish, of anybody I ever saw. Edward, it is so, and I will say it." Winding up her speech, she turned and looked at the observation gla.s.s. "My G.o.d! That will need cleaning!"

CHAPTER 36

WITHIN A FEW DAYS after this meeting, the newspapers announced to the world that the lady of Thomas Palmer, Esq. was safely delivered of a son and heir. This event, highly important to Mrs. Jennings's happiness, produced a temporary alteration in the disposal of her time, and influenced the engagements of her young friends; for as she wished to be as much as possible with Charlotte, she went thither every morning as soon as she was up, and did not return till late in the evening; and the Miss Dashwoods found their hours made over to Lady Middleton and the two Miss Steeles-by whom their company, in fact was as little valued, as it was professedly sought. after this meeting, the newspapers announced to the world that the lady of Thomas Palmer, Esq. was safely delivered of a son and heir. This event, highly important to Mrs. Jennings's happiness, produced a temporary alteration in the disposal of her time, and influenced the engagements of her young friends; for as she wished to be as much as possible with Charlotte, she went thither every morning as soon as she was up, and did not return till late in the evening; and the Miss Dashwoods found their hours made over to Lady Middleton and the two Miss Steeles-by whom their company, in fact was as little valued, as it was professedly sought.

The presence of more guests was particularly undesirable to Lady Middleton, who of late had much to hide; at night she was clandestinely repairing the submarine that sat hidden in her pantry, teaching herself the secrets of the s.h.i.+pwright's art as were necessary to weld the hull and repair the battered old propellers; by day she continued to quiz herself on intricacies of navigation and underwater piloting, preparatory to her long-dreamed-of escape. As for Lucy, she considered Elinor and Marianne with a jealous eye, as intruding on her her ground, and sharing the kindness which she wanted to monopolize. ground, and sharing the kindness which she wanted to monopolize.