CHAPTER 12

As Elinor and Marianne were walking together the

next morning the latter communicated a piece of news

to her sister, which in spite of all that she knew

before of Marianne's imprudence and want of thought,

surprised her by its extravagant testimony of both.

Marianne told her, with the greatest delight, that

Willoughby had given her a horse, one that he had bred

himself on his estate in Somersetshire, and which was

exactly calculated to carry a woman. Without considering

that it was not in her mother's plan to keep any horse,

that if she were to alter her resolution in favour of

this gift, she must buy another for the servant, and

keep a servant to ride it, and after all, build a stable

to receive them, she had accepted the present without

hesitation, and told her sister of it in raptures.

"He intends to send his groom into Somersetshire

immediately for it," she added, "and when it arrives we

will ride every day. You shall share its use with me.

Imagine to yourself, my dear Elinor, the delight of a gallop

on some of these downs."

Most unwilling was she to awaken from such a dream of

felicity to comprehend all the unhappy truths which attended

the affair; and for some time she refused to submit to them.

As to an additional servant, the expense would be a trifle;

Mamma she was sure would never object to it; and any horse

would do for HIM; he might always get one at the park;

as to a stable, the merest shed would be sufficient.

Elinor then ventured to doubt the propriety of her receiving

such a present from a man so little, or at least so lately

known to her. This was too much.

"You are mistaken, Elinor," said she warmly,

"in supposing I know very little of Willoughby.

I have not known him long indeed, but I am much better

acquainted with him, than I am with any other creature

in the world, except yourself and mama. It is not

time or opportunity that is to determine intimacy;--

it is disposition alone. Seven years would be insufficient