Astonished and shocked at so unlover-like a speech, she was almost ready to cry out, “Lord! what should hinder it?” but checking her desire, confined herself to this silent ejaculation⁠—

“This is very strange!⁠—sure he need not wait to be older.”

This delay on the Colonel’s side, however, did not seem to offend or mortify his fair companion in the least, for on their breaking up the conference soon afterwards, and moving different ways, Mrs. Jennings very plainly heard Elinor say, and with a voice which showed her to feel what she said⁠—

“I shall always think myself very much obliged to you.”