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Edward , she believed , was still in town , and fortunately she had heard his address from Miss Steele . She could undertake therefore to inform him of it , in the course of the day . After this had been settled , Colonel Brandon began to talk of his own advantage in securing so respectable and agreeable a neighbour , and then it was that he mentioned with regret , that the house was small and indifferent ; an evil which Elinor , as Mrs . Jennings had supposed her to do , made very light of , at least as far as regarded its size . “ The smallness of the house , ” said she , “ I cannot imagine any inconvenience to them , for it will be in proportion to their family and income . ” By which the Colonel was surprised to find that she was considering Mr . Ferrars’s marriage as the certain consequence of the presentation ; for he did not suppose it possible that Delaford living could supply such an income , as anybody in his style of life would venture to settle on , and he said so . “ This little rectory can do no more than make Mr . Ferrars comfortable as a bachelor ; it cannot enable him to marry . I am sorry to say that my patronage ends with this ; and my interest is hardly more extensive . If , however , by an unforeseen chance it should be in my power to serve him farther , I must think very differently of him from what I now do , if I am not as ready to be useful to him then as I sincerely wish I could be at present . What I am now doing indeed , seems nothing at all , since it can advance him so little towards what must be his principal , his only object of happiness . His marriage must still be a distant good ; at least , I am afraid it cannot take place very soon . ” Such was the sentence which , when misunderstood , so justly offended the delicate feelings of Mrs . Jennings ; but after this narration of what really passed between Colonel Brandon and Elinor , while they stood at the window , the gratitude expressed by the latter on their parting , may perhaps appear in general , not less reasonably excited , nor less properly worded than if it had arisen from an offer of marriage . CHAPTER XL . “ Well , Miss Dashwood , ” said Mrs . Jennings , sagaciously smiling , as soon as the gentleman had withdrawn , “ I do not ask you what the Colonel has been saying to you ; for though , upon my honour , I tried to keep out of hearing , I could not help catching enough to understand his business . And I assure you I never was better pleased in my life , and I wish you joy of it with all my heart . ” “ Thank you , ma’am , ” said Elinor . “ It is a matter of great joy to me ; and I feel the goodness of Colonel Brandon most sensibly . There are not many men who would act as he has done . Few people who have so compassionate a heart ! I never was more astonished in my life . ”
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