Elinor perceived Willoughby, standing within a few
yards of them, in earnest conversation with a very
fashionable looking young woman. She soon caught his
eye, and he immediately bowed, but without attempting
to speak to her, or to approach Marianne, though he
could not but see her; and then continued his discourse
with the same lady. Elinor turned involuntarily to
Marianne, to see whether it could be unobserved by her.
At that moment she first perceived him, and her whole
countenance glowing with sudden delight, she would
have moved towards him instantly, had not her sister
caught hold of her.

"Good heavens!" she exclaimed, "he is there--he
is there--Oh! why does he not look at me? why cannot
I speak to him?"

"Pray, pray be composed," cried Elinor, "and do
not betray what you feel to every body present. Perhaps
he has not observed you yet."

This however was more than she could believe herself
and to be composed at such a moment was not only
beyond the reach of Marianne, it was beyond her wish.
She sat in an agony of impatience, which affected every
feature.

At last he turned round again, and regarded them
both; she started up, and pronouncing his name in
a tone of affection, held out her hand to him. He
approached, and addressing himself rather to Elinor
than Marianne, as if wishing to avoid her eye, and
determined not to observe her attitude, inquired in
a hurried manner after Mrs. Dashwood, and asked how
long they had been in town. Elinor was robbed of all
presence of mind by such an address, and was unable
to say a word. But the feelings of her sister were
instantly expressed. Her face was crimsoned over, and
she exclaimed in a voice of the greatest emotion, "Good
God! Willoughby, what is the meaning of this? Have
you not received my letters? Will you not shake hands
with me?"

-176-