"There certainly are circumstances," said Willoughby,

"which might greatly endear it to me; but this place will

always have one claim of my affection, which no other can

possibly share."

Mrs. Dashwood looked with pleasure at Marianne,

whose fine eyes were fixed so expressively on Willoughby,

as plainly denoted how well she understood him.

"How often did I wish," added he, "when I was at

Allenham this time twelvemonth, that Barton cottage were

inhabited! I never passed within view of it without admiring

its situation, and grieving that no one should live in it.

How little did I then think that the very first news

I should hear from Mrs. Smith, when I next came into

the country, would be that Barton cottage was taken: and I

felt an immediate satisfaction and interest in the event,

which nothing but a kind of prescience of what happiness I

should experience from it, can account for. Must it not have

been so, Marianne?" speaking to her in a lowered voice.

Then continuing his former tone, he said, "And yet this

house you would spoil, Mrs. Dashwood? You would rob it

of its simplicity by imaginary improvement! and this dear

parlour in which our acquaintance first began, and in which

so many happy hours have been since spent by us together,

you would degrade to the condition of a common entrance,

and every body would be eager to pass through the room

which has hitherto contained within itself more real

accommodation and comfort than any other apartment of

the handsomest dimensions in the world could possibly afford."

Mrs. Dashwood again assured him that no alteration

of the kind should be attempted.

"You are a good woman," he warmly replied.

"Your promise makes me easy. Extend it a little farther,

and it will make me happy. Tell me that not only your

house will remain the same, but that I shall ever find

you and yours as unchanged as your dwelling; and that you

will always consider me with the kindness which has made

everything belonging to you so dear to me."

The promise was readily given, and Willoughby's

behaviour during the whole of the evening declared