feat_summary_path: finished_summaries/pinkmonkey/Sense and Sensibility/section_39_part_0.txt
feat_book_id: Sense and Sensibility.chapter 40
feat_summary_id: chapter 40
feat_summary: {"name": "Chapter  40", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20180820034609/http://www.pinkmonkey.com/booknotes/monkeynotes/pmSenseSensibility55.asp", "summary": "Three days after the incident at John Dashwood's house, Mrs. Jennings and Elinor go out for a walk to Kensington gardens. After separating from Mrs. Jennings, Elinor meets Anne Steele, and the two talk about Lucy and the unhappy incident. Miss Steele also tells Elinor about Edward's visit that morning and how she had overheard an intimate conversation between him and Lucy. Elinor is disgusted at her behavior. After reaching home, she relates the incident to Mrs. Jennings. Later, she receives a letter from Lucy by the two-penny post informing her of their current circumstances. She seeks the help of the Middletons or Palmers to offer a position to Edward. Elinor shows the letter to Mrs. Jennings. The old lady is impressed by the letter.", "analysis": "Notes The chapter reveals the somewhat crass behavior of the Steele sisters. Miss Steele reveals to Elinor that she had purposely stood outside the door of the locked room in which Lucy and Edward were conversing. She does not feel guilty about her behavior; her justification is that even Lucy had eavesdropped earlier. Lucy's letter also exposes her selfishness and base nature. Lucy asks Elinor to recommend her case to anyone who will be willing to provide a position to Edward. She looks forward to the help of Mrs. Jennings, the Middletons and the Palmers. Lucy is not ashamed to ask favors of others. CHAPTER 39 Summary Elinor and Marianne are invited by the Palmers to Cleveland. At the insistence of Mrs. Jennings, they decide to accept the invitation. One day Colonel Brandon visits them and asks Elinor to inform Edward that he is prepared to give a position at Delaford to him. Edward could lead a comfortable life on an income of two thousand pounds, but he would not be able to afford a wife. Mrs. Jennings, who observes Elinor and Colonel Brandon talking animatedly, concludes that they must be talking about a wedding. Notes In answer to Marianne's wish that they go home, the sisters are invited to accompany Mrs. Jennings to Cleveland. Since it will be easy for them to reach Barton from Cleveland, they accept the invitation. Mrs. Jennings, who is always engaged in matchmaking, starts imagining the Colonel to be in love with Elinor. Thus, when she hears the phrase, \"I am afraid it cannot take place very soon,\" she is angry with the Colonel for postponing their wedding. Misunderstanding causes much humor in the scene. Colonel Brandon can be rightly identified as a generous man who willingly offers a living to Edward in Delaford. His love for Marianne and respect for Elinor makes him extend help to their friends. It is ironic that he chooses Elinor to convey this information to Edward. CHAPTER 40 Summary Mrs. Jennings approaches Elinor soon after the Colonel's exit. She congratulates her and asks her many questions, which gradually reveal her mistaken assumption that there is an engagement between Elinor and the Colonel. Elinor mentions Brandon's generosity and his request to her to convey the information to Edward. Mrs. Jennings is puzzled, and as she is in a hurry to leave, she decides to speak further with Elinor upon her return. When Edward arrives, Elinor tells him the good news. He is pleasantly surprised. He promises to meet the Colonel and thank him for his generosity. Mrs. Jennings returns to the house and asks Elinor if Edward is prepared to get ordained to perform her marriage to the Colonel. Elinor is shocked to hear Mrs. Jennings' words. She corrects the misunderstanding by informing the old lady of the Colonel's offer to Edward. Notes This chapter demonstrates the misunderstandings that arise when a character like Mrs. Jennings gives her interpretation of the events that she witnesses. The conversation between Elinor and Mrs. Jennings is amusing as each misinterprets the other's words. Elinor is unaware of Mrs. Jennings' suspicions, and hence she talks about informing Edward of the Colonel's offer. Mrs. Jennings is then unable to understand why Edward should be informed of the Colonel's proposal. She surmises that Elinor and the Colonel might have decided to get married only after Edward has been ordained and is ready to perform their wedding. Much humor results from this confused conversation. Edward Ferrars is obviously surprised when Elinor informs him of the Colonel's generous offer at Delaford: in this time of crisis, assistance from such an unexpected quarter is astonishing. Like Mrs. Jennings, he believes the Colonel to be in love with Elinor. He feels that Brandon has offered him help only to please Elinor. Thus he thanks Elinor for helping him."}
text: 
  
  "Well, Miss Dashwood," said Mrs. Jennings, sagaciously smiling, as soon
  as the gentleman had withdrawn, "I do not ask you what the Colonel has
  been saying to you; for though, upon my honour, I TRIED to keep out of
  hearing, I could not help catching enough to understand his business.
  And I assure you I never was better pleased in my life, and I wish you
  joy of it with all my heart."
  
  "Thank you, ma'am," said Elinor.  "It is a matter of great joy to me;
  and I feel the goodness of Colonel Brandon most sensibly.  There are
  not many men who would act as he has done.  Few people who have so
  compassionate a heart!  I never was more astonished in my life."
  
  "Lord! my dear, you are very modest.  I an't the least astonished at it
  in the world, for I have often thought of late, there was nothing more
  likely to happen."
  
  "You judged from your knowledge of the Colonel's general benevolence;
  but at least you could not foresee that the opportunity would so very
  soon occur."
  
  "Opportunity!" repeated Mrs. Jennings--"Oh! as to that, when a man has
  once made up his mind to such a thing, somehow or other he will soon
  find an opportunity.  Well, my dear, I wish you joy of it again and
  again; and if ever there was a happy couple in the world, I think I
  shall soon know where to look for them."
  
  "You mean to go to Delaford after them I suppose," said Elinor, with a
  faint smile.
  
  "Aye, my dear, that I do, indeed.  And as to the house being a bad one,
  I do not know what the Colonel would be at, for it is as good a one as
  ever I saw."
  
  "He spoke of its being out of repair."
  
  "Well, and whose fault is that? why don't he repair it?--who should do
  it but himself?"
  
  They were interrupted by the servant's coming in to announce the
  carriage being at the door; and Mrs. Jennings immediately preparing to
  go, said,--
  
  "Well, my dear, I must be gone before I have had half my talk out.
  But, however, we may have it all over in the evening; for we shall be
  quite alone.  I do not ask you to go with me, for I dare say your mind
  is too full of the matter to care for company; and besides, you must
  long to tell your sister all about it."
  
  Marianne had left the room before the conversation began.
  
  "Certainly, ma'am, I shall tell Marianne of it; but I shall not mention
  it at present to any body else."
  
  "Oh! very well," said Mrs. Jennings rather disappointed.  "Then you
  would not have me tell it to Lucy, for I think of going as far as
  Holborn to-day."
  
  "No, ma'am, not even Lucy if you please.  One day's delay will not be
  very material; and till I have written to Mr. Ferrars, I think it ought
  not to be mentioned to any body else.  I shall do THAT directly.  It is
  of importance that no time should be lost with him, for he will of
  course have much to do relative to his ordination."
  
  This speech at first puzzled Mrs. Jennings exceedingly.  Why Mr.
  Ferrars was to have been written to about it in such a hurry, she could
  not immediately comprehend.  A few moments' reflection, however,
  produced a very happy idea, and she exclaimed;--
  
  "Oh, ho!--I understand you.  Mr. Ferrars is to be the man.  Well, so
  much the better for him.  Ay, to be sure, he must be ordained in
  readiness; and I am very glad to find things are so forward between
  you.  But, my dear, is not this rather out of character?  Should not
  the Colonel write himself?--sure, he is the proper person."
  
  Elinor did not quite understand the beginning of Mrs. Jennings's
  speech, neither did she think it worth inquiring into; and therefore
  only replied to its conclusion.
  
  "Colonel Brandon is so delicate a man, that he rather wished any one to
  announce his intentions to Mr. Ferrars than himself."
  
  "And so YOU are forced to do it.  Well THAT is an odd kind of delicacy!
  However, I will not disturb you (seeing her preparing to write.)  You
  know your own concerns best.  So goodby, my dear.  I have not heard of
  any thing to please me so well since Charlotte was brought to bed."
  
  And away she went; but returning again in a moment,
  
  "I have just been thinking of Betty's sister, my dear.  I should be
  very glad to get her so good a mistress.  But whether she would do for
  a lady's maid, I am sure I can't tell.  She is an excellent housemaid,
  and works very well at her needle.  However, you will think of all that
  at your leisure."
  
  "Certainly, ma'am," replied Elinor, not hearing much of what she said,
  and more anxious to be alone, than to be mistress of the subject.
  
  How she should begin--how she should express herself in her note to
  Edward, was now all her concern.  The particular circumstances between
  them made a difficulty of that which to any other person would have
  been the easiest thing in the world; but she equally feared to say too
  much or too little, and sat deliberating over her paper, with the pen
  in her hand, till broken in on by the entrance of Edward himself.
  
  He had met Mrs. Jennings at the door in her way to the carriage, as he
  came to leave his farewell card; and she, after apologising for not
  returning herself, had obliged him to enter, by saying that Miss
  Dashwood was above, and wanted to speak with him on very particular
  business.
  
  Elinor had just been congratulating herself, in the midst of her
  perplexity, that however difficult it might be to express herself
  properly by letter, it was at least preferable to giving the
  information by word of mouth, when her visitor entered, to force her
  upon this greatest exertion of all.  Her astonishment and confusion
  were very great on his so sudden appearance.  She had not seen him
  before since his engagement became public, and therefore not since his
  knowing her to be acquainted with it; which, with the consciousness of
  what she had been thinking of, and what she had to tell him, made her
  feel particularly uncomfortable for some minutes.  He too was much
  distressed; and they sat down together in a most promising state of
  embarrassment.--Whether he had asked her pardon for his intrusion on
  first coming into the room, he could not recollect; but determining to
  be on the safe side, he made his apology in form as soon as he could
  say any thing, after taking a chair.
  
  "Mrs. Jennings told me," said he, "that you wished to speak with me, at
  least I understood her so--or I certainly should not have intruded on
  you in such a manner; though at the same time, I should have been
  extremely sorry to leave London without seeing you and your sister;
  especially as it will most likely be some time--it is not probable that
  I should soon have the pleasure of meeting you again.  I go to Oxford
  tomorrow."
  
  "You would not have gone, however," said Elinor, recovering herself,
  and determined to get over what she so much dreaded as soon as
  possible, "without receiving our good wishes, even if we had not been
  able to give them in person.  Mrs. Jennings was quite right in what she
  said.  I have something of consequence to inform you of, which I was on
  the point of communicating by paper.  I am charged with a most
  agreeable office (breathing rather faster than usual as she spoke.)
  Colonel Brandon, who was here only ten minutes ago, has desired me to
  say, that understanding you mean to take orders, he has great pleasure
  in offering you the living of Delaford now just vacant, and only wishes
  it were more valuable.  Allow me to congratulate you on having so
  respectable and well-judging a friend, and to join in his wish that the
  living--it is about two hundred a-year--were much more considerable,
  and such as might better enable you to--as might be more than a
  temporary accommodation to yourself--such, in short, as might establish
  all your views of happiness."
  
  What Edward felt, as he could not say it himself, it cannot be expected
  that any one else should say for him.  He LOOKED all the astonishment
  which such unexpected, such unthought-of information could not fail of
  exciting; but he said only these two words,
  
  "Colonel Brandon!"
  
  "Yes," continued Elinor, gathering more resolution, as some of the
  worst was over, "Colonel Brandon means it as a testimony of his concern
  for what has lately passed--for the cruel situation in which the
  unjustifiable conduct of your family has placed you--a concern which I
  am sure Marianne, myself, and all your friends, must share; and
  likewise as a proof of his high esteem for your general character, and
  his particular approbation of your behaviour on the present occasion."
  
  "Colonel Brandon give ME a living!--Can it be possible?"
  
  "The unkindness of your own relations has made you astonished to find
  friendship any where."
  
  "No," replied he, with sudden consciousness, "not to find it in YOU;
  for I cannot be ignorant that to you, to your goodness, I owe it
  all.--I feel it--I would express it if I could--but, as you well know,
  I am no orator."
  
  "You are very much mistaken.  I do assure you that you owe it entirely,
  at least almost entirely, to your own merit, and Colonel Brandon's
  discernment of it.  I have had no hand in it.  I did not even know,
  till I understood his design, that the living was vacant; nor had it
  ever occurred to me that he might have had such a living in his gift.
  As a friend of mine, of my family, he may, perhaps--indeed I know he
  HAS, still greater pleasure in bestowing it; but, upon my word, you owe
  nothing to my solicitation."
  
  Truth obliged her to acknowledge some small share in the action, but
  she was at the same time so unwilling to appear as the benefactress of
  Edward, that she acknowledged it with hesitation; which probably
  contributed to fix that suspicion in his mind which had recently
  entered it.  For a short time he sat deep in thought, after Elinor had
  ceased to speak;--at last, and as if it were rather an effort, he said,
  
  "Colonel Brandon seems a man of great worth and respectability.  I have
  always heard him spoken of as such, and your brother I know esteems him
  highly.  He is undoubtedly a sensible man, and in his manners perfectly
  the gentleman."
  
  "Indeed," replied Elinor, "I believe that you will find him, on farther
  acquaintance, all that you have heard him to be, and as you will be
  such very near neighbours (for I understand the parsonage is almost
  close to the mansion-house,) it is particularly important that he
  SHOULD be all this."
  
  Edward made no answer; but when she had turned away her head, gave her
  a look so serious, so earnest, so uncheerful, as seemed to say, that he
  might hereafter wish the distance between the parsonage and the
  mansion-house much greater.
  
  "Colonel Brandon, I think, lodges in St. James Street," said he, soon
  afterwards, rising from his chair.
  
  Elinor told him the number of the house.
  
  "I must hurry away then, to give him those thanks which you will not
  allow me to give YOU; to assure him that he has made me a very--an
  exceedingly happy man."
  
  Elinor did not offer to detain him; and they parted, with a very
  earnest assurance on HER side of her unceasing good wishes for his
  happiness in every change of situation that might befall him; on HIS,
  with rather an attempt to return the same good will, than the power of
  expressing it.
  
  "When I see him again," said Elinor to herself, as the door shut him
  out, "I shall see him the husband of Lucy."
  
  And with this pleasing anticipation, she sat down to reconsider the
  past, recall the words and endeavour to comprehend all the feelings of
  Edward; and, of course, to reflect on her own with discontent.
  
  When Mrs. Jennings came home, though she returned from seeing people
  whom she had never seen before, and of whom therefore she must have a
  great deal to say, her mind was so much more occupied by the important
  secret in her possession, than by anything else, that she reverted to
  it again as soon as Elinor appeared.
  
  "Well, my dear," she cried, "I sent you up the young man.  Did not I
  do right?--And I suppose you had no great difficulty--You did not find
  him very unwilling to accept your proposal?"
  
  "No, ma'am; THAT was not very likely."
  
  "Well, and how soon will he be ready?--For it seems all to depend upon
  that."
  
  "Really," said Elinor, "I know so little of these kind of forms, that I
  can hardly even conjecture as to the time, or the preparation
  necessary; but I suppose two or three months will complete his
  ordination."
  
  "Two or three months!" cried Mrs. Jennings; "Lord! my dear, how calmly
  you talk of it; and can the Colonel wait two or three months! Lord
  bless me!--I am sure it would put ME quite out of patience!--And though
  one would be very glad to do a kindness by poor Mr. Ferrars, I do think
  it is not worth while to wait two or three months for him.  Sure
  somebody else might be found that would do as well; somebody that is in
  orders already."
  
  "My dear ma'am," said Elinor, "what can you be thinking of?-- Why,
  Colonel Brandon's only object is to be of use to Mr. Ferrars."
  
  "Lord bless you, my dear!--Sure you do not mean to persuade me that the
  Colonel only marries you for the sake of giving ten guineas to Mr.
  Ferrars!"
  
  The deception could not continue after this; and an explanation
  immediately took place, by which both gained considerable amusement for
  the moment, without any material loss of happiness to either, for Mrs.
  Jennings only exchanged one form of delight for another, and still
  without forfeiting her expectation of the first.
  
  "Aye, aye, the parsonage is but a small one," said she, after the first
  ebullition of surprise and satisfaction was over, "and very likely MAY
  be out of repair; but to hear a man apologising, as I thought, for a
  house that to my knowledge has five sitting rooms on the ground-floor,
  and I think the housekeeper told me could make up fifteen beds!--and to
  you too, that had been used to live in Barton cottage!-- It seems quite
  ridiculous.  But, my dear, we must touch up the Colonel to do some
  thing to the parsonage, and make it comfortable for them, before Lucy
  goes to it."
  
  "But Colonel Brandon does not seem to have any idea of the living's
  being enough to allow them to marry."
  
  "The Colonel is a ninny, my dear; because he has two thousand a-year
  himself, he thinks that nobody else can marry on less.  Take my word
  for it, that, if I am alive, I shall be paying a visit at Delaford
  Parsonage before Michaelmas; and I am sure I shan't go if Lucy an't
  there."
  
  Elinor was quite of her opinion, as to the probability of their not
  waiting for any thing more.
  
  
  
feat_summary_name: Chapter  40
target: Three days after the incident at John Dashwood's house, Mrs. Jennings and Elinor go out for a walk to Kensington gardens. After separating from Mrs. Jennings, Elinor meets Anne Steele, and the two talk about Lucy and the unhappy incident. Miss Steele also tells Elinor about Edward's visit that morning and how she had overheard an intimate conversation between him and Lucy. Elinor is disgusted at her behavior. After reaching home, she relates the incident to Mrs. Jennings. Later, she receives a letter from Lucy by the two-penny post informing her of their current circumstances. She seeks the help of the Middletons or Palmers to offer a position to Edward. Elinor shows the letter to Mrs. Jennings. The old lady is impressed by the letter.
feat_summary_analysis: Notes The chapter reveals the somewhat crass behavior of the Steele sisters. Miss Steele reveals to Elinor that she had purposely stood outside the door of the locked room in which Lucy and Edward were conversing. She does not feel guilty about her behavior; her justification is that even Lucy had eavesdropped earlier. Lucy's letter also exposes her selfishness and base nature. Lucy asks Elinor to recommend her case to anyone who will be willing to provide a position to Edward. She looks forward to the help of Mrs. Jennings, the Middletons and the Palmers. Lucy is not ashamed to ask favors of others. CHAPTER 39 Summary Elinor and Marianne are invited by the Palmers to Cleveland. At the insistence of Mrs. Jennings, they decide to accept the invitation. One day Colonel Brandon visits them and asks Elinor to inform Edward that he is prepared to give a position at Delaford to him. Edward could lead a comfortable life on an income of two thousand pounds, but he would not be able to afford a wife. Mrs. Jennings, who observes Elinor and Colonel Brandon talking animatedly, concludes that they must be talking about a wedding. Notes In answer to Marianne's wish that they go home, the sisters are invited to accompany Mrs. Jennings to Cleveland. Since it will be easy for them to reach Barton from Cleveland, they accept the invitation. Mrs. Jennings, who is always engaged in matchmaking, starts imagining the Colonel to be in love with Elinor. Thus, when she hears the phrase, "I am afraid it cannot take place very soon," she is angry with the Colonel for postponing their wedding. Misunderstanding causes much humor in the scene. Colonel Brandon can be rightly identified as a generous man who willingly offers a living to Edward in Delaford. His love for Marianne and respect for Elinor makes him extend help to their friends. It is ironic that he chooses Elinor to convey this information to Edward. CHAPTER 40 Summary Mrs. Jennings approaches Elinor soon after the Colonel's exit. She congratulates her and asks her many questions, which gradually reveal her mistaken assumption that there is an engagement between Elinor and the Colonel. Elinor mentions Brandon's generosity and his request to her to convey the information to Edward. Mrs. Jennings is puzzled, and as she is in a hurry to leave, she decides to speak further with Elinor upon her return. When Edward arrives, Elinor tells him the good news. He is pleasantly surprised. He promises to meet the Colonel and thank him for his generosity. Mrs. Jennings returns to the house and asks Elinor if Edward is prepared to get ordained to perform her marriage to the Colonel. Elinor is shocked to hear Mrs. Jennings' words. She corrects the misunderstanding by informing the old lady of the Colonel's offer to Edward. Notes This chapter demonstrates the misunderstandings that arise when a character like Mrs. Jennings gives her interpretation of the events that she witnesses. The conversation between Elinor and Mrs. Jennings is amusing as each misinterprets the other's words. Elinor is unaware of Mrs. Jennings' suspicions, and hence she talks about informing Edward of the Colonel's offer. Mrs. Jennings is then unable to understand why Edward should be informed of the Colonel's proposal. She surmises that Elinor and the Colonel might have decided to get married only after Edward has been ordained and is ready to perform their wedding. Much humor results from this confused conversation. Edward Ferrars is obviously surprised when Elinor informs him of the Colonel's generous offer at Delaford: in this time of crisis, assistance from such an unexpected quarter is astonishing. Like Mrs. Jennings, he believes the Colonel to be in love with Elinor. He feels that Brandon has offered him help only to please Elinor. Thus he thanks Elinor for helping him.