feat_summary_path: finished_summaries/cliffnotes/Sense and Sensibility/section_22_part_0.txt
feat_book_id: Sense and Sensibility.chapters 32-33
feat_summary_id: chapters 32-33
feat_summary: {"name": "Chapters 32-33", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20201101060302/https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/s/sense-and-sensibility/summary-and-analysis/chapters-3233", "summary": "When Elinor told Marianne about Willoughby's shocking behavior, she \"felt the loss of Willoughby's character yet more heavily than she had felt the loss of his heart.\" But she was kinder to Colonel Brandon, \"even voluntarily speaking, with a kind of compassionate respect.\" Mrs. Dashwood, on learning the truth from Elinor's letter, was miserable; however, she advised them not to shorten their visit to Mrs. Jennings, for the distraction would do Marianne good. Mrs. Palmer, Sir John, and Lady Middleton were all indignant about Willoughby's behavior and swore they would have nothing more to do with him, although, seeing the future Mrs. Willoughby would be a lady of fashion, Lady Middleton planned to leave her card with her. Two weeks after Marianne received Willoughby's letter, Elinor had to break the news of his marriage. At first Marianne received it \"with resolute composure,\" but for the rest of the day was in a pitiable state. The Misses Steele arrived in town and paid a call, behaving with their usual vulgarity. Lucy insinuated that Elinor had stayed in town to see Edward, and it took all Elinor's civility to remain composed in front of the girl. One day Marianne yielded to Elinor's urging and went shopping with her and Mrs. Jennings. Mrs. Jennings left them to do some business in Gray's jewelry shop while she paid a short call on a friend. While waiting to be served, Elinor and Marianne were diverted by a foppish young man who was buying a toothpick case and calling attention to himself. Finally he decided on his purchase, and the girls were served. Just as they finished their business, a gentleman appeared at their side. It was their stepbrother, John, who promised to call on them the next day. John was punctual and, after exchanging civilities with Mrs. Jennings and Colonel Brandon, went with Elinor to call on Sir John and Lady Middleton. On the way, John questioned her about Colonel Brandon and despite her protests insisted on believing that the colonel was interested in Elinor. He mentioned a prior attachment of Elinor's, saying it was out of the question and, alluding to an engagement for Edward, told her, \"It is not actually settled, but there is such a thing in agitation.\" Guiltily he tried to persuade his half-sister that, because of his many expenses, he was \"very far . . . from being rich\" and inquired about Mrs. Jennings, hinting that because of her kindness to Elinor and Marianne, they might well have \"expectations\" from her. Elinor protested again. He then asked, \"What is the matter with Marianne? She looks very unwell, has lost her colour, and is grown quite thin.\" Elinor told him that Marianne was suffering from a \"nervous complaint.\" John seemed to fear she would lose her looks and thus the chance of a good marriage. John was well pleased with his visit to Sir John and Lady Middleton and went off satisfied that he would have \"a charming account to carry to Fanny.\" He had feared they would be low-class due to Mrs. Jennings' low connections. But he was much impressed by Lady Middleton's elegance and Sir John's amiability.", "analysis": "Some of Jane Austen's most humorous writing is found in these chapters, especially in the reactions of Mrs. Palmer, Sir John, and Fanny to the news of Willoughby's faithlessness. Mrs. Palmer \"was determined to drop his acquaintance immediately, and she was very thankful that she had never been acquainted with him at all.\" Sir John is appalled by the fact that he had ever offered Willoughby a puppy. Lady Middleton expressed her shock daily and \"was able not only to see the Miss Dashwoods from the first without the smallest emotion, but very soon to see them without recollecting a word of the matter.\" The description of the stranger in Mr. Gray's shop is a masterpiece of satiric humor -- \"a person and face of strong, natural, sterling insignificance.\" In Austen's novels, good looks are invariably associated with good health, and a \"sickly\" girl has no allure for the male. John Dashwood is thus alarmed to see Marianne looking so poorly. John is anxious for his half-sisters to marry as soon and as well as possible to relieve him of the guilt he feels for not having provided for them. However, any pangs of conscience he does feel are quickly assuaged by his rationalizations concerning his own expenses, the Dashwoods' complacency at Barton, and their expectations for good marriages and a possible inheritance from someone as unlikely as Mrs. Jennings."}
text: 
  
  When the particulars of this conversation were repeated by Miss
  Dashwood to her sister, as they very soon were, the effect on her was
  not entirely such as the former had hoped to see.  Not that Marianne
  appeared to distrust the truth of any part of it, for she listened to
  it all with the most steady and submissive attention, made neither
  objection nor remark, attempted no vindication of Willoughby, and
  seemed to shew by her tears that she felt it to be impossible.  But
  though this behaviour assured Elinor that the conviction of this guilt
  WAS carried home to her mind, though she saw with satisfaction the
  effect of it, in her no longer avoiding Colonel Brandon when he called,
  in her speaking to him, even voluntarily speaking, with a kind of
  compassionate respect, and though she saw her spirits less violently
  irritated than before, she did not see her less wretched.  Her mind did
  become settled, but it was settled in a gloomy dejection.  She felt the
  loss of Willoughby's character yet more heavily than she had felt the
  loss of his heart; his seduction and desertion of Miss Williams, the
  misery of that poor girl, and the doubt of what his designs might ONCE
  have been on herself, preyed altogether so much on her spirits, that
  she could not bring herself to speak of what she felt even to Elinor;
  and, brooding over her sorrows in silence, gave more pain to her sister
  than could have been communicated by the most open and most frequent
  confession of them.
  
  To give the feelings or the language of Mrs. Dashwood on receiving and
  answering Elinor's letter would be only to give a repetition of what
  her daughters had already felt and said; of a disappointment hardly
  less painful than Marianne's, and an indignation even greater than
  Elinor's.  Long letters from her, quickly succeeding each other,
  arrived to tell all that she suffered and thought; to express her
  anxious solicitude for Marianne, and entreat she would bear up with
  fortitude under this misfortune.  Bad indeed must the nature of
  Marianne's affliction be, when her mother could talk of fortitude!
  mortifying and humiliating must be the origin of those regrets, which
  SHE could wish her not to indulge!
  
  Against the interest of her own individual comfort, Mrs. Dashwood had
  determined that it would be better for Marianne to be any where, at
  that time, than at Barton, where every thing within her view would be
  bringing back the past in the strongest and most afflicting manner, by
  constantly placing Willoughby before her, such as she had always seen
  him there.  She recommended it to her daughters, therefore, by all
  means not to shorten their visit to Mrs. Jennings; the length of which,
  though never exactly fixed, had been expected by all to comprise at
  least five or six weeks.  A variety of occupations, of objects, and of
  company, which could not be procured at Barton, would be inevitable
  there, and might yet, she hoped, cheat Marianne, at times, into some
  interest beyond herself, and even into some amusement, much as the
  ideas of both might now be spurned by her.
  
  From all danger of seeing Willoughby again, her mother considered her
  to be at least equally safe in town as in the country, since his
  acquaintance must now be dropped by all who called themselves her
  friends.  Design could never bring them in each other's way: negligence
  could never leave them exposed to a surprise; and chance had less in
  its favour in the crowd of London than even in the retirement of
  Barton, where it might force him before her while paying that visit at
  Allenham on his marriage, which Mrs. Dashwood, from foreseeing at first
  as a probable event, had brought herself to expect as a certain one.
  
  She had yet another reason for wishing her children to remain where
  they were; a letter from her son-in-law had told her that he and his
  wife were to be in town before the middle of February, and she judged
  it right that they should sometimes see their brother.
  
  Marianne had promised to be guided by her mother's opinion, and she
  submitted to it therefore without opposition, though it proved
  perfectly different from what she wished and expected, though she felt
  it to be entirely wrong, formed on mistaken grounds, and that by
  requiring her longer continuance in London it deprived her of the only
  possible alleviation of her wretchedness, the personal sympathy of her
  mother, and doomed her to such society and such scenes as must prevent
  her ever knowing a moment's rest.
  
  But it was a matter of great consolation to her, that what brought evil
  to herself would bring good to her sister; and Elinor, on the other
  hand, suspecting that it would not be in her power to avoid Edward
  entirely, comforted herself by thinking, that though their longer stay
  would therefore militate against her own happiness, it would be better
  for Marianne than an immediate return into Devonshire.
  
  Her carefulness in guarding her sister from ever hearing Willoughby's
  name mentioned, was not thrown away.  Marianne, though without knowing
  it herself, reaped all its advantage; for neither Mrs. Jennings, nor
  Sir John, nor even Mrs. Palmer herself, ever spoke of him before her.
  Elinor wished that the same forbearance could have extended towards
  herself, but that was impossible, and she was obliged to listen day
  after day to the indignation of them all.
  
  Sir John, could not have thought it possible.  "A man of whom he had
  always had such reason to think well!  Such a good-natured fellow!  He
  did not believe there was a bolder rider in England!  It was an
  unaccountable business.  He wished him at the devil with all his heart.
  He would not speak another word to him, meet him where he might, for
  all the world!  No, not if it were to be by the side of Barton covert,
  and they were kept watching for two hours together.  Such a scoundrel
  of a fellow! such a deceitful dog!  It was only the last time they met
  that he had offered him one of Folly's puppies! and this was the end of
  it!"
  
  Mrs. Palmer, in her way, was equally angry.  "She was determined to
  drop his acquaintance immediately, and she was very thankful that she
  had never been acquainted with him at all.  She wished with all her
  heart Combe Magna was not so near Cleveland; but it did not signify,
  for it was a great deal too far off to visit; she hated him so much
  that she was resolved never to mention his name again, and she should
  tell everybody she saw, how good-for-nothing he was."
  
  The rest of Mrs. Palmer's sympathy was shewn in procuring all the
  particulars in her power of the approaching marriage, and communicating
  them to Elinor.  She could soon tell at what coachmaker's the new
  carriage was building, by what painter Mr. Willoughby's portrait was
  drawn, and at what warehouse Miss Grey's clothes might be seen.
  
  The calm and polite unconcern of Lady Middleton on the occasion was a
  happy relief to Elinor's spirits, oppressed as they often were by the
  clamorous kindness of the others.  It was a great comfort to her to be
  sure of exciting no interest in ONE person at least among their circle
  of friends: a great comfort to know that there was ONE who would meet
  her without feeling any curiosity after particulars, or any anxiety for
  her sister's health.
  
  Every qualification is raised at times, by the circumstances of the
  moment, to more than its real value; and she was sometimes worried down
  by officious condolence to rate good-breeding as more indispensable to
  comfort than good-nature.
  
  Lady Middleton expressed her sense of the affair about once every day,
  or twice, if the subject occurred very often, by saying, "It is very
  shocking, indeed!" and by the means of this continual though gentle
  vent, was able not only to see the Miss Dashwoods from the first
  without the smallest emotion, but very soon to see them without
  recollecting a word of the matter; and having thus supported the
  dignity of her own sex, and spoken her decided censure of what was
  wrong in the other, she thought herself at liberty to attend to the
  interest of her own assemblies, and therefore determined (though rather
  against the opinion of Sir John) that as Mrs. Willoughby would at once
  be a woman of elegance and fortune, to leave her card with her as soon
  as she married.
  
  Colonel Brandon's delicate, unobtrusive enquiries were never unwelcome
  to Miss Dashwood.  He had abundantly earned the privilege of intimate
  discussion of her sister's disappointment, by the friendly zeal with
  which he had endeavoured to soften it, and they always conversed with
  confidence.  His chief reward for the painful exertion of disclosing
  past sorrows and present humiliations, was given in the pitying eye
  with which Marianne sometimes observed him, and the gentleness of her
  voice whenever (though it did not often happen) she was obliged, or
  could oblige herself to speak to him.  THESE assured him that his
  exertion had produced an increase of good-will towards himself, and
  THESE gave Elinor hopes of its being farther augmented hereafter; but
  Mrs. Jennings, who knew nothing of all this, who knew only that the
  Colonel continued as grave as ever, and that she could neither prevail
  on him to make the offer himself, nor commission her to make it for
  him, began, at the end of two days, to think that, instead of
  Midsummer, they would not be married till Michaelmas, and by the end of
  a week that it would not be a match at all.  The good understanding
  between the Colonel and Miss Dashwood seemed rather to declare that the
  honours of the mulberry-tree, the canal, and the yew arbour, would all
  be made over to HER; and Mrs. Jennings had, for some time ceased to
  think at all of Mrs. Ferrars.
  
  Early in February, within a fortnight from the receipt of Willoughby's
  letter, Elinor had the painful office of informing her sister that he
  was married.  She had taken care to have the intelligence conveyed to
  herself, as soon as it was known that the ceremony was over, as she was
  desirous that Marianne should not receive the first notice of it from
  the public papers, which she saw her eagerly examining every morning.
  
  She received the news with resolute composure; made no observation on
  it, and at first shed no tears; but after a short time they would burst
  out, and for the rest of the day, she was in a state hardly less
  pitiable than when she first learnt to expect the event.
  
  The Willoughbys left town as soon as they were married; and Elinor now
  hoped, as there could be no danger of her seeing either of them, to
  prevail on her sister, who had never yet left the house since the blow
  first fell, to go out again by degrees as she had done before.
  
  About this time the two Miss Steeles, lately arrived at their cousin's
  house in Bartlett's Buildings, Holburn, presented themselves again
  before their more grand relations in Conduit and Berkeley Streets; and
  were welcomed by them all with great cordiality.
  
  Elinor only was sorry to see them.  Their presence always gave her
  pain, and she hardly knew how to make a very gracious return to the
  overpowering delight of Lucy in finding her STILL in town.
  
  "I should have been quite disappointed if I had not found you here
  STILL," said she repeatedly, with a strong emphasis on the word.  "But
  I always thought I SHOULD.  I was almost sure you would not leave
  London yet awhile; though you TOLD me, you know, at Barton, that you
  should not stay above a MONTH.  But I thought, at the time, that you
  would most likely change your mind when it came to the point.  It would
  have been such a great pity to have went away before your brother and
  sister came.  And now to be sure you will be in no hurry to be gone.  I
  am amazingly glad you did not keep to YOUR WORD."
  
  Elinor perfectly understood her, and was forced to use all her
  self-command to make it appear that she did NOT.
  
  "Well, my dear," said Mrs. Jennings, "and how did you travel?"
  
  "Not in the stage, I assure you," replied Miss Steele, with quick
  exultation; "we came post all the way, and had a very smart beau to
  attend us.  Dr. Davies was coming to town, and so we thought we'd join
  him in a post-chaise; and he behaved very genteelly, and paid ten or
  twelve shillings more than we did."
  
  "Oh, oh!" cried Mrs. Jennings; "very pretty, indeed! and the Doctor is
  a single man, I warrant you."
  
  "There now," said Miss Steele, affectedly simpering, "everybody laughs
  at me so about the Doctor, and I cannot think why.  My cousins say they
  are sure I have made a conquest; but for my part I declare I never
  think about him from one hour's end to another.  'Lord! here comes your
  beau, Nancy,' my cousin said t'other day, when she saw him crossing the
  street to the house.  My beau, indeed! said I--I cannot think who you
  mean.  The Doctor is no beau of mine."
  
  "Aye, aye, that is very pretty talking--but it won't do--the Doctor is
  the man, I see."
  
  "No, indeed!" replied her cousin, with affected earnestness, "and I beg
  you will contradict it, if you ever hear it talked of."
  
  Mrs. Jennings directly gave her the gratifying assurance that she
  certainly would NOT, and Miss Steele was made completely happy.
  
  "I suppose you will go and stay with your brother and sister, Miss
  Dashwood, when they come to town," said Lucy, returning, after a
  cessation of hostile hints, to the charge.
  
  "No, I do not think we shall."
  
  "Oh, yes, I dare say you will."
  
  Elinor would not humour her by farther opposition.
  
  "What a charming thing it is that Mrs. Dashwood can spare you both for
  so long a time together!"
  
  "Long a time, indeed!" interposed Mrs. Jennings.  "Why, their visit is
  but just begun!"
  
  Lucy was silenced.
  
  "I am sorry we cannot see your sister, Miss Dashwood," said Miss
  Steele.  "I am sorry she is not well--" for Marianne had left the room
  on their arrival.
  
  "You are very good.  My sister will be equally sorry to miss the
  pleasure of seeing you; but she has been very much plagued lately with
  nervous head-aches, which make her unfit for company or conversation."
  
  "Oh, dear, that is a great pity! but such old friends as Lucy and
  me!--I think she might see US; and I am sure we would not speak a word."
  
  Elinor, with great civility, declined the proposal.  Her sister was
  perhaps laid down upon the bed, or in her dressing gown, and therefore
  not able to come to them.
  
  "Oh, if that's all," cried Miss Steele, "we can just as well go and see
  HER."
  
  Elinor began to find this impertinence too much for her temper; but she
  was saved the trouble of checking it, by Lucy's sharp reprimand, which
  now, as on many occasions, though it did not give much sweetness to the
  manners of one sister, was of advantage in governing those of the other.
  
  
  
  
  After some opposition, Marianne yielded to her sister's entreaties, and
  consented to go out with her and Mrs. Jennings one morning for half an
  hour. She expressly conditioned, however, for paying no visits, and
  would do no more than accompany them to Gray's in Sackville Street,
  where Elinor was carrying on a negotiation for the exchange of a few
  old-fashioned jewels of her mother.
  
  When they stopped at the door, Mrs. Jennings recollected that there was
  a lady at the other end of the street on whom she ought to call; and as
  she had no business at Gray's, it was resolved, that while her young
  friends transacted their's, she should pay her visit and return for
  them.
  
  On ascending the stairs, the Miss Dashwoods found so many people before
  them in the room, that there was not a person at liberty to tend to
  their orders; and they were obliged to wait.  All that could be done
  was, to sit down at that end of the counter which seemed to promise the
  quickest succession; one gentleman only was standing there, and it is
  probable that Elinor was not without hope of exciting his politeness to
  a quicker despatch.  But the correctness of his eye, and the delicacy
  of his taste, proved to be beyond his politeness.  He was giving orders
  for a toothpick-case for himself, and till its size, shape, and
  ornaments were determined, all of which, after examining and debating
  for a quarter of an hour over every toothpick-case in the shop, were
  finally arranged by his own inventive fancy, he had no leisure to
  bestow any other attention on the two ladies, than what was comprised
  in three or four very broad stares; a kind of notice which served to
  imprint on Elinor the remembrance of a person and face, of strong,
  natural, sterling insignificance, though adorned in the first style of
  fashion.
  
  Marianne was spared from the troublesome feelings of contempt and
  resentment, on this impertinent examination of their features, and on
  the puppyism of his manner in deciding on all the different horrors of
  the different toothpick-cases presented to his inspection, by remaining
  unconscious of it all; for she was as well able to collect her thoughts
  within herself, and be as ignorant of what was passing around her, in
  Mr. Gray's shop, as in her own bedroom.
  
  At last the affair was decided.  The ivory, the gold, and the pearls,
  all received their appointment, and the gentleman having named the last
  day on which his existence could be continued without the possession of
  the toothpick-case, drew on his gloves with leisurely care, and
  bestowing another glance on the Miss Dashwoods, but such a one as
  seemed rather to demand than express admiration, walked off with a
  happy air of real conceit and affected indifference.
  
  Elinor lost no time in bringing her business forward, was on the point
  of concluding it, when another gentleman presented himself at her side.
  She turned her eyes towards his face, and found him with some surprise
  to be her brother.
  
  Their affection and pleasure in meeting was just enough to make a very
  creditable appearance in Mr. Gray's shop.  John Dashwood was really far
  from being sorry to see his sisters again; it rather gave them
  satisfaction; and his inquiries after their mother were respectful and
  attentive.
  
  Elinor found that he and Fanny had been in town two days.
  
  "I wished very much to call upon you yesterday," said he, "but it was
  impossible, for we were obliged to take Harry to see the wild beasts at
  Exeter Exchange; and we spent the rest of the day with Mrs. Ferrars.
  Harry was vastly pleased.  THIS morning I had fully intended to call on
  you, if I could possibly find a spare half hour, but one has always so
  much to do on first coming to town.  I am come here to bespeak Fanny a
  seal.  But tomorrow I think I shall certainly be able to call in
  Berkeley Street, and be introduced to your friend Mrs. Jennings.  I
  understand she is a woman of very good fortune.  And the Middletons
  too, you must introduce me to THEM.  As my mother-in-law's relations, I
  shall be happy to show them every respect.  They are excellent
  neighbours to you in the country, I understand."
  
  "Excellent indeed.  Their attention to our comfort, their friendliness
  in every particular, is more than I can express."
  
  "I am extremely glad to hear it, upon my word; extremely glad indeed.
  But so it ought to be; they are people of large fortune, they are
  related to you, and every civility and accommodation that can serve to
  make your situation pleasant might be reasonably expected.  And so you
  are most comfortably settled in your little cottage and want for
  nothing!  Edward brought us a most charming account of the place: the
  most complete thing of its kind, he said, that ever was, and you all
  seemed to enjoy it beyond any thing.  It was a great satisfaction to us
  to hear it, I assure you."
  
  Elinor did feel a little ashamed of her brother; and was not sorry to
  be spared the necessity of answering him, by the arrival of Mrs.
  Jennings's servant, who came to tell her that his mistress waited for
  them at the door.
  
  Mr. Dashwood attended them down stairs, was introduced to Mrs. Jennings
  at the door of her carriage, and repeating his hope of being able to
  call on them the next day, took leave.
  
  His visit was duly paid.  He came with a pretence at an apology from
  their sister-in-law, for not coming too; "but she was so much engaged
  with her mother, that really she had no leisure for going any where."
  Mrs. Jennings, however, assured him directly, that she should not stand
  upon ceremony, for they were all cousins, or something like it, and she
  should certainly wait on Mrs. John Dashwood very soon, and bring her
  sisters to see her.  His manners to THEM, though calm, were perfectly
  kind; to Mrs. Jennings, most attentively civil; and on Colonel
  Brandon's coming in soon after himself, he eyed him with a curiosity
  which seemed to say, that he only wanted to know him to be rich, to be
  equally civil to HIM.
  
  After staying with them half an hour, he asked Elinor to walk with him
  to Conduit Street, and introduce him to Sir John and Lady Middleton.
  The weather was remarkably fine, and she readily consented.  As soon as
  they were out of the house, his enquiries began.
  
  "Who is Colonel Brandon?  Is he a man of fortune?"
  
  "Yes; he has very good property in Dorsetshire."
  
  "I am glad of it.  He seems a most gentlemanlike man; and I think,
  Elinor, I may congratulate you on the prospect of a very respectable
  establishment in life."
  
  "Me, brother! what do you mean?"
  
  "He likes you.  I observed him narrowly, and am convinced of it.  What
  is the amount of his fortune?"
  
  "I believe about two thousand a year."
  
  "Two thousand a-year;" and then working himself up to a pitch of
  enthusiastic generosity, he added, "Elinor, I wish with all my heart it
  were TWICE as much, for your sake."
  
  "Indeed I believe you," replied Elinor; "but I am very sure that
  Colonel Brandon has not the smallest wish of marrying ME."
  
  "You are mistaken, Elinor; you are very much mistaken.  A very little
  trouble on your side secures him.  Perhaps just at present he may be
  undecided; the smallness of your fortune may make him hang back; his
  friends may all advise him against it.  But some of those little
  attentions and encouragements which ladies can so easily give will fix
  him, in spite of himself.  And there can be no reason why you should
  not try for him.  It is not to be supposed that any prior attachment on
  your side--in short, you know as to an attachment of that kind, it is
  quite out of the question, the objections are insurmountable--you have
  too much sense not to see all that.  Colonel Brandon must be the man;
  and no civility shall be wanting on my part to make him pleased with
  you and your family.  It is a match that must give universal
  satisfaction.  In short, it is a kind of thing that"--lowering his
  voice to an important whisper--"will be exceedingly welcome to ALL
  PARTIES." Recollecting himself, however, he added, "That is, I mean to
  say--your friends are all truly anxious to see you well settled; Fanny
  particularly, for she has your interest very much at heart, I assure
  you.  And her mother too, Mrs. Ferrars, a very good-natured woman, I am
  sure it would give her great pleasure; she said as much the other day."
  
  Elinor would not vouchsafe any answer.
  
  "It would be something remarkable, now," he continued, "something
  droll, if Fanny should have a brother and I a sister settling at the
  same time.  And yet it is not very unlikely."
  
  "Is Mr. Edward Ferrars," said Elinor, with resolution, "going to be
  married?"
  
  "It is not actually settled, but there is such a thing in agitation.
  He has a most excellent mother.  Mrs. Ferrars, with the utmost
  liberality, will come forward, and settle on him a thousand a year, if
  the match takes place.  The lady is the Hon. Miss Morton, only daughter
  of the late Lord Morton, with thirty thousand pounds.  A very desirable
  connection on both sides, and I have not a doubt of its taking place in
  time.  A thousand a-year is a great deal for a mother to give away, to
  make over for ever; but Mrs. Ferrars has a noble spirit.  To give you
  another instance of her liberality:--The other day, as soon as we came
  to town, aware that money could not be very plenty with us just now,
  she put bank-notes into Fanny's hands to the amount of two hundred
  pounds.  And extremely acceptable it is, for we must live at a great
  expense while we are here."
  
  He paused for her assent and compassion; and she forced herself to say,
  
  "Your expenses both in town and country must certainly be considerable;
  but your income is a large one."
  
  "Not so large, I dare say, as many people suppose.  I do not mean to
  complain, however; it is undoubtedly a comfortable one, and I hope will
  in time be better.  The enclosure of Norland Common, now carrying on,
  is a most serious drain.  And then I have made a little purchase within
  this half year; East Kingham Farm, you must remember the place, where
  old Gibson used to live.  The land was so very desirable for me in
  every respect, so immediately adjoining my own property, that I felt it
  my duty to buy it.  I could not have answered it to my conscience to
  let it fall into any other hands.  A man must pay for his convenience;
  and it HAS cost me a vast deal of money."
  
  "More than you think it really and intrinsically worth."
  
  "Why, I hope not that.  I might have sold it again, the next day, for
  more than I gave: but, with regard to the purchase-money, I might have
  been very unfortunate indeed; for the stocks were at that time so low,
  that if I had not happened to have the necessary sum in my banker's
  hands, I must have sold out to very great loss."
  
  Elinor could only smile.
  
  "Other great and inevitable expenses too we have had on first coming to
  Norland.  Our respected father, as you well know, bequeathed all the
  Stanhill effects that remained at Norland (and very valuable they were)
  to your mother.  Far be it from me to repine at his doing so; he had an
  undoubted right to dispose of his own property as he chose, but, in
  consequence of it, we have been obliged to make large purchases of
  linen, china, &c. to supply the place of what was taken away.  You may
  guess, after all these expenses, how very far we must be from being
  rich, and how acceptable Mrs. Ferrars's kindness is."
  
  "Certainly," said Elinor; "and assisted by her liberality, I hope you
  may yet live to be in easy circumstances."
  
  "Another year or two may do much towards it," he gravely replied; "but
  however there is still a great deal to be done.  There is not a stone
  laid of Fanny's green-house, and nothing but the plan of the
  flower-garden marked out."
  
  "Where is the green-house to be?"
  
  "Upon the knoll behind the house.  The old walnut trees are all come
  down to make room for it.  It will be a very fine object from many
  parts of the park, and the flower-garden will slope down just before
  it, and be exceedingly pretty.  We have cleared away all the old thorns
  that grew in patches over the brow."
  
  Elinor kept her concern and her censure to herself; and was very
  thankful that Marianne was not present, to share the provocation.
  
  Having now said enough to make his poverty clear, and to do away the
  necessity of buying a pair of ear-rings for each of his sisters, in his
  next visit at Gray's his thoughts took a cheerfuller turn, and he began
  to congratulate Elinor on having such a friend as Mrs. Jennings.
  
  "She seems a most valuable woman indeed--Her house, her style of
  living, all bespeak an exceeding good income; and it is an acquaintance
  that has not only been of great use to you hitherto, but in the end may
  prove materially advantageous.--Her inviting you to town is certainly a
  vast thing in your favour; and indeed, it speaks altogether so great a
  regard for you, that in all probability when she dies you will not be
  forgotten.-- She must have a great deal to leave."
  
  "Nothing at all, I should rather suppose; for she has only her
  jointure, which will descend to her children."
  
  "But it is not to be imagined that she lives up to her income.  Few
  people of common prudence will do THAT; and whatever she saves, she
  will be able to dispose of."
  
  "And do you not think it more likely that she should leave it to her
  daughters, than to us?"
  
  "Her daughters are both exceedingly well married, and therefore I
  cannot perceive the necessity of her remembering them farther.
  Whereas, in my opinion, by her taking so much notice of you, and
  treating you in this kind of way, she has given you a sort of claim on
  her future consideration, which a conscientious woman would not
  disregard.  Nothing can be kinder than her behaviour; and she can
  hardly do all this, without being aware of the expectation it raises."
  
  "But she raises none in those most concerned.  Indeed, brother, your
  anxiety for our welfare and prosperity carries you too far."
  
  "Why, to be sure," said he, seeming to recollect himself, "people have
  little, have very little in their power.  But, my dear Elinor, what is
  the matter with Marianne?-- she looks very unwell, has lost her colour,
  and is grown quite thin.  Is she ill?"
  
  "She is not well, she has had a nervous complaint on her for several
  weeks."
  
  "I am sorry for that.  At her time of life, any thing of an illness
  destroys the bloom for ever!  Hers has been a very short one!  She was
  as handsome a girl last September, as I ever saw; and as likely to
  attract the man.  There was something in her style of beauty, to please
  them particularly.  I remember Fanny used to say that she would marry
  sooner and better than you did; not but what she is exceedingly fond of
  YOU, but so it happened to strike her.  She will be mistaken, however.
  I question whether Marianne NOW, will marry a man worth more than five
  or six hundred a-year, at the utmost, and I am very much deceived if
  YOU do not do better.  Dorsetshire!  I know very little of Dorsetshire;
  but, my dear Elinor, I shall be exceedingly glad to know more of it;
  and I think I can answer for your having Fanny and myself among the
  earliest and best pleased of your visitors."
  
  Elinor tried very seriously to convince him that there was no
  likelihood of her marrying Colonel Brandon; but it was an expectation
  of too much pleasure to himself to be relinquished, and he was really
  resolved on seeking an intimacy with that gentleman, and promoting the
  marriage by every possible attention.  He had just compunction enough
  for having done nothing for his sisters himself, to be exceedingly
  anxious that everybody else should do a great deal; and an offer from
  Colonel Brandon, or a legacy from Mrs. Jennings, was the easiest means
  of atoning for his own neglect.
  
  They were lucky enough to find Lady Middleton at home, and Sir John
  came in before their visit ended.  Abundance of civilities passed on
  all sides.  Sir John was ready to like anybody, and though Mr. Dashwood
  did not seem to know much about horses, he soon set him down as a very
  good-natured fellow: while Lady Middleton saw enough of fashion in his
  appearance to think his acquaintance worth having; and Mr. Dashwood
  went away delighted with both.
  
  "I shall have a charming account to carry to Fanny," said he, as he
  walked back with his sister.  "Lady Middleton is really a most elegant
  woman!  Such a woman as I am sure Fanny will be glad to know.  And Mrs.
  Jennings too, an exceedingly well-behaved woman, though not so elegant
  as her daughter.  Your sister need not have any scruple even of
  visiting HER, which, to say the truth, has been a little the case, and
  very naturally; for we only knew that Mrs. Jennings was the widow of a
  man who had got all his money in a low way; and Fanny and Mrs. Ferrars
  were both strongly prepossessed, that neither she nor her daughters
  were such kind of women as Fanny would like to associate with.  But now
  I can carry her a most satisfactory account of both."
  
  
  
feat_summary_name: Chapters 32-33
target: When Elinor told Marianne about Willoughby's shocking behavior, she "felt the loss of Willoughby's character yet more heavily than she had felt the loss of his heart." But she was kinder to Colonel Brandon, "even voluntarily speaking, with a kind of compassionate respect." Mrs. Dashwood, on learning the truth from Elinor's letter, was miserable; however, she advised them not to shorten their visit to Mrs. Jennings, for the distraction would do Marianne good. Mrs. Palmer, Sir John, and Lady Middleton were all indignant about Willoughby's behavior and swore they would have nothing more to do with him, although, seeing the future Mrs. Willoughby would be a lady of fashion, Lady Middleton planned to leave her card with her. Two weeks after Marianne received Willoughby's letter, Elinor had to break the news of his marriage. At first Marianne received it "with resolute composure," but for the rest of the day was in a pitiable state. The Misses Steele arrived in town and paid a call, behaving with their usual vulgarity. Lucy insinuated that Elinor had stayed in town to see Edward, and it took all Elinor's civility to remain composed in front of the girl. One day Marianne yielded to Elinor's urging and went shopping with her and Mrs. Jennings. Mrs. Jennings left them to do some business in Gray's jewelry shop while she paid a short call on a friend. While waiting to be served, Elinor and Marianne were diverted by a foppish young man who was buying a toothpick case and calling attention to himself. Finally he decided on his purchase, and the girls were served. Just as they finished their business, a gentleman appeared at their side. It was their stepbrother, John, who promised to call on them the next day. John was punctual and, after exchanging civilities with Mrs. Jennings and Colonel Brandon, went with Elinor to call on Sir John and Lady Middleton. On the way, John questioned her about Colonel Brandon and despite her protests insisted on believing that the colonel was interested in Elinor. He mentioned a prior attachment of Elinor's, saying it was out of the question and, alluding to an engagement for Edward, told her, "It is not actually settled, but there is such a thing in agitation." Guiltily he tried to persuade his half-sister that, because of his many expenses, he was "very far . . . from being rich" and inquired about Mrs. Jennings, hinting that because of her kindness to Elinor and Marianne, they might well have "expectations" from her. Elinor protested again. He then asked, "What is the matter with Marianne? She looks very unwell, has lost her colour, and is grown quite thin." Elinor told him that Marianne was suffering from a "nervous complaint." John seemed to fear she would lose her looks and thus the chance of a good marriage. John was well pleased with his visit to Sir John and Lady Middleton and went off satisfied that he would have "a charming account to carry to Fanny." He had feared they would be low-class due to Mrs. Jennings' low connections. But he was much impressed by Lady Middleton's elegance and Sir John's amiability.
feat_summary_analysis: Some of Jane Austen's most humorous writing is found in these chapters, especially in the reactions of Mrs. Palmer, Sir John, and Fanny to the news of Willoughby's faithlessness. Mrs. Palmer "was determined to drop his acquaintance immediately, and she was very thankful that she had never been acquainted with him at all." Sir John is appalled by the fact that he had ever offered Willoughby a puppy. Lady Middleton expressed her shock daily and "was able not only to see the Miss Dashwoods from the first without the smallest emotion, but very soon to see them without recollecting a word of the matter." The description of the stranger in Mr. Gray's shop is a masterpiece of satiric humor -- "a person and face of strong, natural, sterling insignificance." In Austen's novels, good looks are invariably associated with good health, and a "sickly" girl has no allure for the male. John Dashwood is thus alarmed to see Marianne looking so poorly. John is anxious for his half-sisters to marry as soon and as well as possible to relieve him of the guilt he feels for not having provided for them. However, any pangs of conscience he does feel are quickly assuaged by his rationalizations concerning his own expenses, the Dashwoods' complacency at Barton, and their expectations for good marriages and a possible inheritance from someone as unlikely as Mrs. Jennings.