Marianne's
preserver, as Margaret, with more elegance than
precision, styled Willoughby, called at the cottage early the next
morning, to make his personal enquiries. He was received by Mrs.
Dashwood with more than politeness; with a kindness which Sir John's
account of him and her own gratitude prompted; and every thing that
passed during the visit tended to assure him of the sense, elegance,
mutual affection, and domestic comfort of the family, to whom accident
had now introduced him. Of their personal charms he had not required a
second interview to be convinced.
Miss Dashwood had a delicate complexion, regular features, and a
remarkably pretty figure. Marianne was still handsomer. Her form,
though not so correct as her sister's, in having the advantage of
height, was more striking; and her face was so lovely, that when, in
the common cant of praise, she was called a beautiful girl, truth
was less violently outraged than usually happens. Her skin was very
brown, but, from its transparency, her complexion was uncommonly
brilliant; her features were all good; her smile was sweet and
attractive; and in her eyes, which were very dark, there was a life, a
spirit, an eagerness, which could hardly be seen without delight.
From Willoughby their expression was at first held back, by the
embarrassment which the remembrance of his assistance created. But
when this passed away, when her spirits became collected, when she saw
that to the perfect good breeding of the gentleman, he united
frankness and vivacity, and above all, when she heard him declare,
that of music and dancing he was passionately fond, she gave him
such a look of approbation, as secured the largest share of his
discourse to herself for the rest of his stay.
It was only necessary to mention any favourite amusement to engage
her to talk. She could not be silent when such points were introduced,
and she had neither shyness nor reserve in their discussion. They
speedily discovered that their enjoyment of dancing and music was
mutual, and that it arose from a general conformity of judgment in all
that related to either. Encouraged by this to a further examination of
his opinions, she proceeded to question him on the subject of books:
her favourite authors were brought forward and dwelt upon with so
rapturous a delight, that any young man of five-and-twenty must have
been insensible indeed, not to become an immediate convert to the
excellence of such works, however disregarded before. Their taste
was strikingly alike. The same books, the same passages were
idolised by each; or if any difference appeared, any objection
arose, it lasted no longer than till the force of her arguments and
the brightness of her eyes could be displayed. He acquiesced in all
her decisions, caught all her enthusiasm; and long before his visit
concluded, they conversed with the familiarity of a long established
acquaintance.
"Well, Marianne," said Elinor, as soon as he had left them, "for
one morning I think you have done pretty well. You have already
ascertained Mr. Willoughby's opinion in almost every matter of
importance. You know what he thinks of Cowper and Scott; you are
certain of his estimating their beauties as he ought, and you have
received every assurance of his admiring Pope no more than is
proper. But how is your acquaintance to be long supported, under
such extraordinary despatch of every subject for discourse? You will
soon have exhausted each favourite topic. Another meeting will suffice
to explain his sentiments on picturesque beauty, and second marriages,
and then you can have nothing farther to ask."
"Elinor," cried Marianne, "is this fair? is this just? are my
ideas so scanty? But I see what you mean. I have been too much at my
ease, too happy, too frank. I have erred against every common-place
notion of decorum; I have been open and sincere where I ought to
have been reserved, spiritless, dull, and deceitful:- had I talked
only of the weather and the roads, and had I spoken only once in ten
minutes, this reproach would have been spared."
"My love," said her mother, "you must not be offended with Elinor-
she was only in jest. I should scold her myself, if she were capable
of wishing to check the delight of your conversation with our new
friend." Marianne was softened in a moment.
Willoughby, on his side, gave every proof of his pleasure in their
acquaintance, which an evident wish of improving it could offer. He
came to them every day. To enquire after Marianne was at first his
excuse; but the encouragement of his reception, to which every day
gave greater kindness, made such an excuse unnecessary before it had
ceased to be possible, by Marianne's perfect recovery. She was
confined for some days to the house; but never had any confinement
been less irksome. Willoughby was a young man of good abilities, quick
imagination, lively spirits, and open, affectionate manners. He was
exactly formed to engage Marianne's heart; for with all this, he
joined not only a captivating person, but a natural ardour of mind
which was now roused and increased by the example of her own, and
which recommended him to her affection beyond everything else.
His society became gradually her most exquisite enjoyment. They
read, they talked, they sang together; his musical talents were
considerable; and he read with all the sensibility and spirit which
Edward had unfortunately wanted.
In Mrs. Dashwood's estimation he was as faultless as in
Marianne's; and Elinor saw nothing to censure in him but a propensity,
in which he strongly resembled and peculiarly delighted her sister, of
saying too much what he thought on every occasion, without attention
to persons or circumstances. In hastily forming and giving his opinion
of other people, in sacrificing general politeness to the enjoyment of
undivided attention where his heart was engaged, and in slighting
too easily the forms of worldly propriety, he displayed a want of
caution which Elinor could not approve, in spite of all that he and
Marianne could say in its support.
Marianne began now to perceive that the desperation which bad
seized her at sixteen and a half, of ever seeing a man who could
satisfy her ideas of perfection, had been rash and unjustifiable.
Willoughby was all that her fancy had delineated in that unhappy hour,
and in every brighter period, as capable of attaching her; and his
behaviour declared his wishes to be in that respect as earnest as
his abilities were strong.
Her mother, too, in whose mind not one speculative thought of
their marriage had been raised, by his prospect of riches, was led
before the end of a week to hope and expect it; and secretly to
congratulate herself on having gained two such sons-in-law as Edward
and Willoughby.
Colonel Brandon's partiality for Marianne, which had so early been
discovered by his friends, now first became perceptible to Elinor,
when it ceased to be noticed by them. Their attention and wit were
drawn off to his more fortunate rival; and the raillery which the
other had incurred before any partiality arose was removed when his
feelings began really to call for the ridicule so justly annexed to
sensibility. Elinor was obliged, though unwillingly, to believe that
the sentiments which Mrs. Jennings had assigned him for her own
satisfaction were now actually excited by her sister; and that however
a general resemblance of disposition between the parties might forward
the affection of Mr. Willoughby, an equally striking opposition of
character was no hindrance to the regard of Colonel Brandon. She saw
it with concern; for what could a silent man of five-and-thirty
hope, when opposed to a very lively one of five-and-twenty? and as she
could not even wish him successful, she heartily wished him
indifferent. She liked him- in spite of his gravity and reserve, she
beheld in him an object of interest. His manners, though serious, were
mild; and his reserve appeared rather the result of some oppression of
spirits than of any natural gloominess of temper. Sir John had dropped
hints of past injuries and disappointments, which justified her belief
of his being an unfortunate man, and she regarded him with respect and
compassion. Perhaps she pitied and esteemed him the more because he was
slighted by Willoughby and Marianne, who, prejudiced against him for
being neither lively nor young, seemed resolved to undervalue his merits.
"Brandon is just the kind of man," said Willoughby one day, when
they were talking of him together, "whom every body speaks well of and
nobody cares about; whom all are delighted to see, and nobody
remembers to talk to."
"That is exactly what I think of him," cried Marianne.
"Do not boast of it, however," said Elinor, "for it is injustice
in both of you. He is highly esteemed by all the family at the Park,
and I never see him myself without taking pains to converse with him."
"That he is patronised by you," replied Willoughby, "is
certainly in his favour; but as for the esteem of the others, it is
a reproach in itself. Who would submit to the indignity of being
approved by such a woman as Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings, that
could command the indifference of any body else?"
"But perhaps the abuse of such people as yourself and Marianne
will make amends for the regard of Lady Middleton and her mother. If
their praise is censure, your censure may be praise, for they are
not more undiscerning, than you are prejudiced and unjust."
"In defence of your protege you can even be saucy."
"My protege, as you call him, is a sensible man; and sense will
always have attractions for me. Yes, Marianne, even in a man between
thirty and forty. He has seen a great deal of the world; has been
abroad, has read, and has a thinking mind. I have found him capable of
giving me much information on various subjects; and he has always
answered my enquiries with readiness of good breeding and good nature."
"That is to say," cried Marianne contemptuously, "he has told you,
that in the East Indies the climate is hot, and the mosquitoes are troublesome."
"He would have told me so, I doubt not, had I made any such
enquiries, but they happened to be points on which I had been
previously informed."
"Perhaps," said Willoughby, "his observations may have extended to
the existence of nabobs, gold mohrs, and palanquins."
"I may venture to say that his observations have stretched much
further than your candour. But why should you dislike him?"
"I do not dislike him. I consider him, on the contrary as a very
respectable man, who has every body's good word, and nobody's
notice; who, has more money than he can spend, more time than he knows
how to employ, and two new coats every year."
"Add to which," cried Marianne, "that he has neither genius,
taste, nor spirit. That his understanding has no brilliancy, his
feelings ardour, and his voice no expression."
"You decide on his imperfections so much in the mass," replied
Elinor, "and so much on the strength of your own imagination, that the
commendation I am able to give of him is comparatively cold and
insipid. I can only pronounce him to be a sensible man, well-bred,
well-informed, of gentle address, and, I believe, possessing an amiable heart."
"Miss Dashwood," cried Willoughby, "you are now using me unkindly.
You are endeavouring to disarm me by reason, and to convince me
against my will. But it will not do. You shall find me as stubborn
as you can be artful. I have three unanswerable reasons for
disliking Colonel Brandon; he threatened me with rain when I wanted it
to be fine; he has found fault with the hanging of my curricle, and
I cannot persuade him to buy my brown mare. If it will be any
satisfaction to you, however, to be told, that I believe his character
to be in other respects irreproachable, I am ready to confess it.
And in return for an acknowledgment, which must give me some pain, you
cannot deny me the privilege of disliking him as much as ever."
Sense and Sensibility - Chapter 9 Sense and Sensibility Sense and Sensibility - Chapter 11