The elopement took place, with the unconscious Mrs. Ferrars and the
deeply interested Mrs. Brandon as chaperones. It was, of course, a very
romantic affair.
The journey through England was as delightful as such a journey must
be. It was leisurely, and if Mrs. Dashwood had wished to stop them
she could very easily have done so. Thirty-six hours were spent in
Bath, and at each stopping-place they arrived in time for dinner and
did not proceed till the next day. Commander Pennington had no idea
of keeping out of sight, and Mrs. Ferrars’s anger steadily grew,
while her curiosity was not aroused. When they reached the Border the
wedding ceremony was short and to the point. Marianne returned to the
carriage without her sister, and stated that she would not accompany
them farther as she was now married. The effect of this news on Mrs.
Ferrars was all that Marianne had desired. It was even greater than she
had expected, and she was not at all sorry to part from her when they
came to the meeting-place at which Colonel Brandon had been charged to
appear.
He was there, somewhat bewildered at his wife’s unlooked-for decision
to follow him, and not less so when he heard a part of the romantic
adventure which had just been achieved.
If Marianne supposed that an elopement would give people less to talk
about than an ordinary wedding she was mistaken, but if, after hearing
what Colonel Brandon had to say to her, she was afraid that she had
hurried her young sister into an imprudent marriage, she was again
mistaken, for the marriage proved a very happy one. It was founded,
not on long friendship, careful choice, the wishes of true friends,
similarity of tastes or equality of fortune, not in fact on any of
those circumstances which bring about successful unions, but on that
which happens to some few fortunate mortals and is called “Love at
first sight.”
Mrs. Dashwood was easily placated. She had never been very angry,
though she would have counselled delay if she had been given the
opportunity to offer advice. Nothing was left for her to do but to be
kind and welcoming, and nothing was so easy. Richard Pennington was
soon as well-beloved as her other sons-in-law, and not far behind them
in the affection he returned.
The life of a naval officer’s wife, though not so full of hardships as
Mrs. Palmer had predicted, was not easy. It was long before Commander
Pennington attained post-rank. He was employed on a guardship off Malta
for some years, and Margaret had her wish of travelling, but not in
circumstances of great wealth.
When William IV came to the throne he took care of the navy, and a
great many officers who had fancied themselves forgotten got a pleasant
surprise. Richard was among them, and became Captain Pennington. He got
no further promotion, but was contented with this step in rank. They
had but one son, and their income was sufficient for their needs.
If Margaret had less of some things than her sisters she had more of
others. Marianne was right in saying that Margaret’s marriage was
romantic for she had that kind of happiness which is not deserved
because no one can deserve it, and Richard Pennington shared that
happiness because he made it.
But happiness _should_ result from well-doing. It must be as
distressing to the reader as it is to the writer to notice that if
Commander Pennington’s manners had been better he would have allowed
Margaret to go home without attempting to make her acquaintance on
High-church down; and if she had had more discretion she would have
withdrawn after a proper acknowledgment of his politeness, returned
home, and no doubt become Lady Carey in due course. _She_ might have
been almost as happy in that case, and would certainly have been richer
and more comfortable, but there is no doubt that _Richard’s_ happiness
resulted from his lapse in manners, and Margaret’s inattention to
decorum.
THE END
* * * * *
Transcriber’s note
Minor punctuation errors have been changed without notice.
Spelling was retained as in the original except for the following
changes:
Page 72: “She was in her” “She was on her”
Page 81: “with patient displeasure” “with patent displeasure”
Page 155: “had noticed the Carey’s” “had noticed the Careys’”