Marianne was surprised and confused, yet she could not help smiling at the quiet archness of his manner, and after a moment’s silence, said⁠—

“Oh, Edward! How can you?⁠—But the time will come I hope⁠—I am sure you will like him.”

“I do not doubt it,” replied he, rather astonished at her earnestness and warmth; for had he not imagined it to be a joke for the good of her acquaintance in general, founded only on a something or a nothing between Mr. Willoughby and herself, he would not have ventured to mention it.