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The night was cold and stormy . The wind roared round the house , and the rain beat against the windows ; but Elinor , all happiness within , regarded it not . Marianne slept through every blast ; and the travellers — they had a rich reward in store , for every present inconvenience . The clock struck eight . Had it been ten , Elinor would have been convinced that at that moment she heard a carriage driving up to the house ; and so strong was the persuasion that she did , in spite of the almost impossibility of their being already come , that she moved into the adjoining dressing - closet and opened a window shutter , to be satisfied of the truth . She instantly saw that her ears had not deceived her . The flaring lamps of a carriage were immediately in view . By their uncertain light she thought she could discern it to be drawn by four horses ; and this , while it told the excess of her poor mother’s alarm , gave some explanation to such unexpected rapidity . Never in her life had Elinor found it so difficult to be calm , as at that moment . The knowledge of what her mother must be feeling as the carriage stopt at the door — of her doubt — her dread — perhaps her despair ! — and of what she had to tell ! — with such knowledge it was impossible to be calm . All that remained to be done was to be speedy ; and , therefore staying only till she could leave Mrs . Jennings’s maid with her sister , she hurried down stairs . The bustle in the vestibule , as she passed along an inner lobby , assured her that they were already in the house . She rushed to the drawing - room , — she entered it , — and saw only Willoughby . CHAPTER XLIV . Elinor , starting back with a look of horror at the sight of him , obeyed the first impulse of her heart in turning instantly to quit the room , and her hand was already on the lock , when its action was suspended by his hastily advancing , and saying , in a voice rather of command than supplication , “ Miss Dashwood , for half an hour — for ten minutes — I entreat you to stay . ” “ No , sir , ” she replied with firmness , “ I shall not stay . Your business cannot be with me . The servants , I suppose , forgot to tell you that Mr . Palmer was not in the house . ” “ Had they told me , ” he cried with vehemence , “ that Mr . Palmer and all his relations were at the devil , it would not have turned me from the door . My business is with you , and only you . ” “ With me ! ” — in the utmost amazement — “ well , sir , — be quick — and if you can — less violent . ” “ Sit down , and I will be both . ”
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