The shock of Colonel Brandon's errand at Barton had been much softened to Mrs. Dashwood by her own previous alarm; for so great was her uneasiness about Marianne, that she had already determined to set out for Cleveland on that very day, without waiting for any further intelligence, and had so far settled her journey before his arrival, that the Careys were then expected every moment to fetch Margaret away, as her mother was unwilling to take her where there might be infection.
De schrik over Kolonel Brandon's komst te Barton was voor Mevrouw Dashwood verzacht door haar eigen reeds lang gekoesterde bezorgdheid; want zij was zoo ongerust over Marianne, dat zij reeds besloten had, dien zelfden dag naar Cleveland te vertrekken, zonder nader bericht af te wachten; en zij had haar reis reeds zoover voorbereid, eer hij kwam, dat zij juist op dat oogenblik de Carey's verwachtte, die Margaret zouden komen afhalen, daar hare moeder haar niet aan eene mogelijke besmetting wilde blootstellen.