CHAPTER TWELVE

As Elinor and Marianne were walking together the next morning, Marianne announced that Willoughby had given her a horse as a gift that would soon be delivered. Without considering that their cottage has no place to keep a horse, Marianne had accepted the gift.

"He intends for his servant to bring the horse immediately from Somersetshire, his home," she added, "and when it arrives, we will ride every day."

Marianne was quite unwilling to understand that accepting such a gift was not possible for their small income. This was too much. Soon after, however, Elinor persuaded her sister to decline Willoughby's generous offer.

That same day, Willoughby arrived for a visit, during which Marianne sadly told him she could not accept his gift.

"But, Marianne, the horse is still yours. I will keep it until you leave the cottage to find your own home."

After hearing such a tender, honest response, Elinor realized that Willoughby and her sister had quite a serious relationship. He had called her by her first name, only used by close friends and family, or a lover.

The next day, Margaret came to Elinor with more news of Marianne's close relationship with Willoughby.

"Oh! Elinor," cried Margaret, "I have such a secret to tell you about Marianne," she told her sister with a cheerful smile. "I know Marianne will marry Willoughby soon; I saw him cut off a piece of her hair to keep for himself."

Such an act as cutting off a lock of hair from a lover was quite serious. Therefore, Elinor was surprised to hear such news. She then knew that the growing fondness between Marianne and Willoughby was true.

(end of section)