”

This speech at first puzzled Mrs. Jennings exceedingly. Why Mr. Ferrars was to have been written to about it in such a hurry, she could not immediately comprehend. A few moments' reflection, however, produced a very happy idea, and she exclaimed; —

“Oh, ho! — I understand you. Mr. Ferrars is to be the man. Well, so much the better for him. Ay, to be sure, he must be ordained in readiness; and I am very glad to find things are so forward between you.

But, my dear, is not this rather out of character? Should not the Colonel write himself? — sure, he is the proper person.”

Elinor did not quite understand the beginning of Mrs. Jennings's speech, neither did she think it worth