Such violence of affliction indeed could not be supported for ever;it sunk within a few days into a calmer melancholy;but these employments，to which she daily recurred，her solitary walks and silent meditations，still produced occasional effusions of sorrow as lively as ever.No letter from Willoughby came;and none seemed expected by Marianne.Her mother was surprised，and Elinor again became uneasy.But Mrs.Dashwood could find explanations whenever she wanted them，which at least satisfied herself.

　　“Remember，Elinor，”said she，“how very often Sir John fetches our letters himself from the post，and carries them to it.We have already agreed that secrecy may be necessary，and we must acknowledge that it could not be maintained if their correspondence were to pass through Sir John‘s hands.”Elinor could not deny the truth of this，and she tried to find in it a motive sufficient for their silence.But there was one method so direct，so simple，and in her opinion so eligible of knowing the real state of the affair，and of instantly removing all mystery，that she could not help suggesting it to her mother.

　　“Why do you not ask Marianne at once，”said she，“whether she is or she is not engaged to Willoughby?From you，her mother，and so kind，so indulgent a mother，the question could not give offence.It would be the natural result of your affection for her.She used to be all unreserve，and to you more especially.”

　　……