Chapter 92 A man's bad reputation doesn't affect...
A man's bad reputation doesn't prevent him from finding a good wife through the marriage market, and Mary's words soon provided a compelling example. Through Mr. Hawthorne, they learned that Willoughby had already entered town.
“I had heard that he had gone bankrupt and had been living a muddled life for a while. I thought he was being punished for that incident and was reflecting on his actions. But when I was shopping with Susan and saw him walking intimately with Miss Grey, you can’t imagine how surprised I was.”
“And who is Miss Gray? Didn’t Willoughby already have an agreement with Miss Marian Dashwood in Devon last October? Otherwise, why would that lady’s attitude towards us have become so hostile?” Anne asked in surprise.
“Anne, is there even a question? Whoever Miss Grey is, she’s obviously richer than Miss Marian,” Mary asserted.
“Yes, this young lady is very fashionable, but not very pretty. She reportedly has a dowry of fifty thousand pounds and currently lives with her patrons, the Exxons. However, their relationship isn't good; Mrs. Exxons hopes Miss Grey will marry soon,” Susan told everyone the information she had gathered.
"It seems this marriage is unbreakable. The man desperately needs a large sum of money to save himself, and the woman is also looking to break free from her protector," Mary concluded.
Anne sighed deeply, "Oh, Miss Grey, do you know who Willoughby is? It's really worrying for her to have such a fiancé."
Susan, who had seen the haughty young lady in person, remarked, "Miss Grey may not need our sympathy; she keeps a close eye on Willoughby."
"Anyway, the two of them are already engaged, and it's not our place to interfere. Willoughby hates me now, and I just hope he can mend his ways," Mr. Hawthorne added.
Not long after Mr. Hawthorne met Willoughby, Mary received a letter from Eleanor, who, along with Marianne, accompanied Mrs. Jennings to town.
The day after receiving the letter, Mary went to Berkeley Street to return the visit, and Mrs. Jennings was as cheerful and smiling as ever.
“Oh, Miss Price, you didn’t expect this, did you! I brought both Miss Dashwoods to town, and I told Mrs. Dashwood she must find a suitable husband for her daughter. We had barely arrived when Colonel Brandon came to visit, and I know who he’s here for. Miss Price, is your brother Richard Price in town lately?”
“Where else could he go this season? Richard has many things to do and isn’t as enthusiastic about hunting as Sir John. Besides, it’s getting cold.”
After Mrs. Jennings left, Mary looked at Marianne, whose attitude had softened somewhat since Mary left Devon, and asked Eleanor, "Did you see Willoughby in town?"
“No. According to the servants, he came once and gave Mrs. Jennings his card, but we happened to be out that day and didn’t see him,” Eleanor replied.
Marian seemed indifferent, but as soon as Miss Price mentioned "Willoughby," she walked aside and listened carefully.
“My sister and brother-in-law ran into him a while ago, and they were told that Willoughby was already engaged to Miss Grey.”
If Eleanor's persuasion hadn't had a significant effect on Marianne back in Devon, then the news Marianne had told them this time was like a bomb. Eleanor kept giving her sister meaningful glances, trying to get her to control her emotions, but it was clearly to no avail.
Before Mary could finish speaking, Marianne, disregarding her composure, asked loudly, "Miss Grey, who is she? How did she meet Willoughby? Is she beautiful? Or is her personality particularly charming?"
“Marianne, calm down!” Eleanor pulled her sister back.
“I have no dealings with this lady and don’t know much about her personality. I only know that her dowry is £50,000.”
At this point, Willoughby's reasons for choosing Miss Grey hardly need further explanation. She was already prepared for this man's character, and learning this news only further confirmed that Willoughby's character was indeed terrible.
Eleanor was momentarily relieved, having learned from her sister after Miss Price left Devonshire that she and Willoughby were not engaged. She thought with a pang of anguish, "Poor Marianne, has she been fooled by Willoughby all along? What will become of her sincere heart after such a blow?"
“Thank you for telling us this news, Mary. We will always remember your kindness,” Eleanor said, holding Mary’s hands in both of hers.
Marian sat there, looking somewhat dazed, muttering to herself as if no one else was around, "How could Willoughby do this!"
In just a short while, Mrs. Jennings had returned to the living room, where she warmly invited Mary and the others to try the candied fruit.
"Ladies, look! These are some cherry preserves and apricot preserves I just bought. Try them all. I dare say no one can resist these sweet treats."
Marianne was still not in a good mood and refused to talk to Mrs. Jennings, who was very surprised that someone didn't like sweets and tried her best to persuade her to try them.
Eleanor had to explain to Mrs. Jennings that Marianne was feeling unwell and had sent her sister back to her room first.
As soon as the two Miss Dashwoods left, Mrs. Jennings said loudly to Mary, “I know why Miss Marian is unhappy. It must be because she didn’t get to see Willoughby. To be honest, he’s really impolite. We’ve been in town for a week and he hasn’t come to visit us yet. Do you think they’re engaged? I’m sure Miss Marian wouldn’t look down on him for losing his inheritance to Allenham.”
"Engaged? Mrs. Jennings, you have quite the imagination. They're certainly not engaged. Miss Marianne is just naturally sentimental. She left Mrs. Dashwood when she wasn't feeling well, and people always miss home when they're not feeling well."
Just then, Eleanor returned and, hearing Mary's words defending her sister, looked at her gratefully and said, "Mrs. Jennings, I told you in Devonshire that Marianne and Willoughby are not engaged."
"He took Miss Marian all over Allenham Courtyard back then, and I don't believe he didn't expect her to be the mistress of the house. Of course, it will belong to Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne in the future, but I think Marian would still prefer to be the mistress of Comme House in Somerset," Mrs. Jennings exclaimed incredulously.
“I’m afraid the mistress there is someone else, Mrs. Jennings.” Eleanor was extremely reluctant to say this herself, and worried that Mrs. Jennings would continue to misunderstand, so she said, “Willowy is engaged to a lady we don’t know.”
This news truly surprised Mrs. Jennings. Seeing her curiosity, Mary had to repeat what she knew to Mrs. Jennings again, thus rescuing Eleanor from Mrs. Jennings's incessant questioning.
"Willoughby's actions are simply unacceptable. Because of his bankruptcy, he abandons all affections and falls for wealthy ladies as if he has no other options. He could easily give up his pleasures, sell his carriages, hunting dogs, and other luxuries, and start anew." Mrs. Jennings saw this very clearly.
“My dear lady, how could a young man accustomed to comfort possibly give up his pleasures? If he could do that, we would have to look at him with new respect. While Miss Grey is still unaware of his true nature, Willoughby has certainly sold his marriage for a good price,” Mary said sarcastically.
Mrs. Jennings, thinking of Marianne who was resting, prepared to get busy again: "Poor Marianne, no wonder she's not feeling well! I have to pour her some wine."
Eleanor quickly told the lady that Marianne had just fallen asleep and that she felt her sister needed to rest more.
“Let’s not talk about Willoughby anymore, Mrs. Jennings. There are many interesting things happening in town lately. Have you heard about Baron Brooke?” Mary helped change the subject.
Mrs. Jennings had, of course, heard about this horrifying incident, and she immediately shifted her attention to a heated discussion with Mary about the details.
A few days after the visit ended, Eleanor and Marianne were invited to Mary's residence in St. James' Square.
The meticulously constructed house reflected the owner's aesthetic sense in every detail, prompting Miss Dashwood to exclaim, "Miss Price's residence is truly beautiful. Although the house is not large, it stands out among the surrounding buildings."
Eleanor tried to use the magnificent architecture to pique her sister's interest, but Marianne remained unmoved. It seems that the blow of finally accepting Willoughby as a shameless scoundrel was still very strong for her.
Upon entering the living room and seeing Mary, Marianne felt ashamed and apologized for her attitude the previous year. Mary smiled unconcerned and warmly welcomed them, introducing Charlotte and Susan, who happened to be visiting, to the two Miss Dashwoods.
Upon learning that the beautiful and charming young woman before them was Mrs. Hawthorne, Eleanor and Marianne were immediately struck by her beauty. Mrs. Hawthorne's lively conversation and elegant manners also earned the admiration of the two young ladies. Mrs. Smith, on the other hand, was extremely kind. Her conversation was both approachable and unlike Mrs. Jennings's, which was somewhat conventional.
Eleanor and Marianne silently compared the ladies they had recently met and genuinely believed that Mrs. Hawthorne and Mrs. Smith were more worthy of their acquaintance than Mrs. Jennings' two daughters, Mrs. Middleton and Mrs. Palmer.
As for the two Miss Steeles, Eleanor didn't want to associate with them, and their manners and tastes were nowhere near those of Miss Price.
Driven by this mentality, the group chatted happily, and even Marianne unusually spoke a few more words.
After the two Miss Dashwoods took their leave, Susan remarked with a touch of melancholy, "Mary, these two ladies are truly remarkable. Although Miss Marian seemed rather melancholy today, I can imagine how Willoughby fell in love with her. He'll definitely regret it; Miss Grey's personality isn't exactly endearing."
The sociable Charlotte observed more carefully: "I think Miss Dashwood seems to have something on her mind, I wonder if she's worried about her sister."
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