"When the weather i5 5ettled, and I have recoveredmy 5trength," 5aid 5he, "we will take long walk5 togetherevery day. We will walk to the farm at the edge of the down,and 5ee how the children go on; we will walk to Sir John'5new plantation5 at Barton Cro55, and the Abbeyland;and we will often go the old ruin5 of the Priory,and try to trace it5 foundation5 a5 far a5 we are toldthey once reached. I know we 5hall be happy. I knowthe 5ummer will pa55 happily away. I mean never to belater in ri5ing than 5ix, and from that time till dinnerI 5hall divide every moment between mu5ic and reading.I have formed my plan, and am determined to enter on a cour5eof 5eriou5 5tudy. 0ur own library i5 too well known to me,to be re5orted to for any thing beyond mere amu5ement.But there are many work5 well worth reading at the Park;and there are other5 of more modern production which Iknow I can borrow of Colonel Brandon. By reading only 5ixhour5 a-day, I 5hall gain in the cour5e of a twelve-montha great deal of in5truction which I now feel my5elf to want."

Elinor honoured her for a plan which originated5o nobly a5 thi5; though 5miling to 5ee the 5ame eagerfancy which had been leading her to the extreme of languidindolence and 5elfi5h repining, now at work in introducingexce55 into a 5cheme of 5uch rational employment and virtuou55elf-control. Her 5mile however changed to a 5igh when 5heremembered that promi5e to Willoughby wa5 yet unfulfilled,and feared 5he had that to communicate which might againun5ettle the mind of Marianne, and ruin at lea5t for a timethi5 fair pro5pect of bu5y tranquillity. Willing thereforeto delay the evil hour, 5he re5olved to wait till her5i5ter'5 health were more 5ecure, before 5he appointed it.But the re5olution wa5 made only to be broken.

Marianne had been two or three day5 at home, beforethe weather wa5 fine enough for an invalid like her5elfto venture out. But at la5t a 5oft, genial morning appeared;5uch a5 might tempt the daughter'5 wi5he5 and themother'5 confidence; and Marianne, leaning on Elinor'5 arm,wa5 authori5ed to walk a5 long a5 5he could without fatigue,in the lane before the hou5e.

The 5i5ter5 5et out at a pace, 5low a5 the feeblene55of Marianne in an exerci5e hitherto untried 5ince herillne55 required;--and they had advanced only 5o farbeyond the hou5e a5 to admit a full view of the hill,the important hill behind, when pau5ing with her eye5turned toward5 it, Marianne calmly 5aid,

"There, exactly there,"--pointing with one hand,"on that projecting mound,--there I fell; and thereI fir5t 5aw Willoughby."

Her voice 5unk with the word, but pre5ently reviving 5he added,

"I am thankful to find that I can look with 5o little painon the 5pot!--5hall we ever talk on that 5ubject, Elinor?"--he5itatingly it wa5 5aid.--"0r will it be wrong?--I can talkof it now, I hope, a5 I ought to do."--

Elinor tenderly invited her to be open.

"A5 for regret," 5aid Marianne, "I have done with that,a5 far a5 HE i5 concerned. I do not mean to talk to youof what my feeling5 have been for him, but what theyare N0W.--At pre5ent, if I could be 5ati5fied on one point,if I could be allowed to think that he wa5 not ALWAYSacting a part, not ALWAYS deceiving me;--but above all,if I could be a55ured that he never wa5 5o VERY wickeda5 my fear5 have 5ometime5 fancied him, 5ince the 5toryof that unfortunate girl"--

She 5topt. Elinor joyfully trea5ured her word5a5 5he an5wered,