(This conversation will contain spoilers for the current chapters and possibly for future chapters.)

R: These chapters reveal pretty much everyone’s secrets, which are the cause of much mayhem. 

Mrs. Jennings becomes extra busy because her daughter has her baby, so Elinor and Marianne end up spending a lot of time at the Middletons and with the Steeles. They don’t know that they have had a narrow escape from being invited to stay with their brother and sister-in-law; however, Fanny wriggles out of that by claiming that she’d already planned to invite the Miss Steeles to visit. After all, their sisters can visit any time. Lucy is, of course, over the moon about the opportunity to further her acquaintance with the Ferrars.

S: You know, I regret saying anything positive about Lady Middleton; she really is a snob and extremely self-centered. Just because the Miss Dashwoods don’t dote on her children or offer superfluous compliments to her she doesn’t like them. Even though Mrs. Jennings is loud and a gossip, at least you know who her friends are and she truly doesn’t care about wealth or status.

R: They meet Edward’s younger brother Robert, who proves himself to be without depth, intelligence, or a lick of sense. He also loves the sound of his own voice.

S: I had an inkling that the man they had met at the jeweler’s was Robert! I so enjoyed the moment when, after Robert’s lengthy estimation of how wonderful cottages are, Elinor refused to contradict him because ‘…she did not think he deserved the compliment of rational opposition’. 

How I feel for Elinor and Marianne! Their sister-in-law would much rather be hostess to two women she hardly knows than have her husband’s sisters stay with them. I find myself feeling a bit of pity for Fanny to have grown up in such an unkind environment, but I admit it is difficult to feel that pity for long.

R: Then, all is revealed! Or mostly. While staying with Mr. and Mrs. Dashwood, Lucy’s sister tells her secret to Fanny, sending her into hysterics, which sends Lucy into hysterics. Mrs. Jennings learns all of this second-hand and conveys it to Elinor, who maintains her composure, and yet again, must keep her own feelings to herself while she relays the information to Marianne. 

Elinor is a model of self-control even as she finally reveals her feelings about Edward and everything that has happened. Marianne finally shows some sense in following interactions when the subject comes up.

S: I really enjoyed the line, ‘Marianne was quite subdued’. We’ve had the most emotional soliloquy from Elinor, explaining that she felt more deeply than she was ever able to admit, finally giving her sister a glimpse into her soul. From her reaction, it seems that Marianne is growing up. Yes, she’s still rather self-focused, but she rallys her emotions and refuses to let Elinor go it alone. I’m beginning to admire Marianne’s tenacity as well as Elinor’s kindness.

R: This chapter clearly shows the contrast between Elinor’s self-control and Marianne’s lack thereof thus far. It made me wonder if Jane Austen was really portraying a contrast of two extremes – too emotional and not emotional enough. Was Elinor really better off keeping everything bottled up? It’s just as bad for us to keep all of our feelings to ourselves.

S: Agreed! That’s a great observation. It’s difficult sometimes to know where the line is.

R: There are more revelations, primarily of Edward’s stalwartness. Despite being disowned by his mother, he is determined to keep his promises to Lucy. And she seems equally committed to him despite the reduction of his circumstances, though she certainly takes every opportunity to crow to Elinor about his steadfastness. Edward’s inheritance is passed to his younger brother, and Edward will seek a position as a clergyman where he and Lucy will likely have to live on a pittance. The Jane Austen Society of North America has some information here about how priests in the Anglican church received their positions. (There are spoilers in the link, if you haven’t read the book before).

I do admire Edward’s faithfulness, despite the unworthiness of its recipient. I can only imagine Lucy being as petty and jealous as a priest’s wife if any woman dared look crosswise at Edward.

S: I’m so disappointed. I find it rather amusing, actually, that we are told both Lucy and Edward ask the other if they just want to call it off, but both are determined to stick it out. It’s akin to asking someone what they want to do, and the conversation goes back and forth and neither person ends up happy. And Lucy! How awful must it be to be a person who feels she must hurt people at every turn!

John Dashwood is rather a pragmatic man. Henpecked, but pragmatic. He sees the dire situation in which Edward could end up. I think John could have been a good man, had not social climbing consumed his thoughts and had he not married a nasty woman. (And still, he thinks Elinor will end up with the Colonel! Of course, we don’t know what will happen, but it makes me shake my head every time because the reader knows the Colonel has eyes only for Marianne.)

Again and again the blows to Elinor just keep coming. Miss Steele reveals Lucy’s childish behaviour (and her own) when she tells Elinor of Lucy and Edward’s conversation. Colonel Brandon, bless him!, desires Elinor to give Edward the news that there is a place for him should he desire. I love how he lets Elinor know that the marriage cannot take place soon, for I think the Colonel guesses more about Elinor than she or anyone else realises. (It’s so nice to have a truly good character!)

R: This scene shows Colonel Brandon’s amazing goodness. Even though he barely knows Edward, he’s willing to hand over this position, very close to or on his own estate. What if Edward turns out to be a terrible neighbor?

S: Mrs. Jennings is hilarious! Even though my heart hurts for Elinor (and even though now Edward believes that she and the Colonel are to marry) the miscommunication between herself and Mrs. Jennings is one that at least both can laugh about. 

R: That whole time Elinor and Mrs. Jennings were talking across each other was hilarious. It was a good thing they sorted it out and Elinor got a promise from Mrs. Jennings not to spread it around.

Fortuitously, Edward shows up just as Elinor is sitting down to write him a letter to share the good news, so she is able to tell him in person, another awkward situation for her, but Edward is immensely grateful. He goes off to thank the colonel straightaway.

S: I’ll be interested to see how this all gets resolved. Will Elinor actually marry the Colonel as everyone thinks she will, or will the Colonel propose to Marianne? Will Elinor end up the quintessential ‘Old Maid’? (I certainly hope not!) We have ten chapters left so I’m hoping some of these questions will be answered and that at least one of the Miss Dashwoods will end up with a happy ending!