Elinor read and returned it without any comment.

“I will not ask your opinion of it as a composition,” said Edward. — ”For worlds would not I have had a letter of hers seen by YOU in former days. — In a sister it is bad enough, but in a wife! — how I have blushed over the pages of her writing! — and I believe I may say that since the first half year of our foolish — business — this is the only letter I ever received from her, of which the substance made me any amends for the defect of the style.”

“However it may have come about,” said Elinor, after a pause, — ”they are certainly married.

And your mother has brought on herself a most appropriate punishment.