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1Had both the children been there, the affair might have been determined too easily by measuring them at once; but as
2Harry only was present, it was all conjectural assertion on both sides; and every body had a right to be equally
3positive in their opinion, and to repeat it over and over again as often as they liked. The parties stood thus: The two
4mothers, though each really convinced that her own son was the tallest, politely decided in favour of the other. The two
5grandmothers, with not less partiality, but more sincerity, were equally earnest in support of their own descendant.
6Lucy, who was hardly less anxious to please one parent than the other, thought the boys were both remarkably tall for
7their age, and could not conceive that there could be the smallest difference in the world between them; and Miss
8Steele, with yet greater address gave it, as fast as she could, in favour of each. Elinor, having once delivered her
9opinion on William's side, by which she offended Mrs. Ferrars and Fanny still more, did not see the necessity of
10enforcing it by any farther assertion; and Marianne, when called on for hers, offended them all, by declaring that she
11had no opinion to give, as she had never thought about it. Before her removing from Norland, Elinor had painted a very
12pretty pair of screens for her sister-in-law, which being now just mounted and brought home, ornamented her present
13drawing room; and these screens, catching the eye of John Dashwood on his following the other gentlemen into the room,
14were officiously handed by him to Colonel Brandon for his admiration. "These are done by my eldest sister," said he;
15"and you, as a man of taste, will, I dare say, be pleased with them. I do not know whether you have ever happened to see
16any of her performances before, but she is in general reckoned to draw extremely well." The Colonel, though disclaiming
17all pretensions to connoisseurship, warmly admired the screens, as he would have done any thing painted by Miss
18Dashwood; and on the curiosity of the others being of course excited, they were handed round for general inspection.
19Mrs. Ferrars, not aware of their being Elinor's work, particularly requested to look at them; and after they had
20received gratifying testimony of Lady Middletons's approbation, Fanny presented them to her mother, considerately
21informing her, at the same time, that they were done by Miss Dashwood. "Hum"--said Mrs. Ferrars--"very pretty,"--and
22without regarding them at all, returned them to her daughter. Perhaps Fanny thought for a moment that her mother had
23been quite rude enough,--for, colouring a little, she immediately said, "They are very pretty, ma'am--an't they?" But
24then again, the dread of having been too civil, too encouraging herself, probably came over her, for she presently
25added, "Do you not think they are something in Miss Morton's style of painting, Ma'am?--She does paint most
26delightfully!--How beautifully her last landscape is done!" "Beautifully indeed! But she does every thing well."
27Marianne could not bear this.--She was already greatly displeased with Mrs. Ferrars; and such ill-timed praise of
28another, at Elinor's expense, though she had not any notion of what was principally meant by it, provoked her
29immediately to say with warmth, "This is admiration of a very particular kind!--what is Miss Morton to us?--who knows,
30or who cares, for her?--it is Elinor of whom we think and speak." And so saying, she took the screens out of her
31sister-in-law's hands, to admire them herself as they ought to be admired. Mrs. Ferrars looked exceedingly angry, and
32drawing herself up more stiffly than ever, pronounced in retort this bitter philippic, "Miss Morton is Lord Morton's
33daughter." Fanny looked very angry too, and her husband was all in a fright at his sister's audacity. Elinor was much
34more hurt by Marianne's warmth than she had been by what produced it; but Colonel Brandon's eyes, as they were fixed on
35Marianne, declared that he noticed only what was amiable in it, the affectionate heart which could not bear to see a
36sister slighted in the smallest point. Marianne's feelings did not stop here. The cold insolence of Mrs. Ferrars's
37general behaviour to her sister, seemed, to her, to foretell such difficulties and distresses to Elinor, as her own
38wounded heart taught her to think of with horror; and urged by a strong impulse of affectionate sensibility, she moved
39after a moment, to her sister's chair, and putting one arm round her neck, and one cheek close to hers, said in a low,
40but eager, voice, "Dear, dear Elinor, don't mind them. Don't let them make you unhappy." She could say no more; her
41spirits were quite overcome, and hiding her face on Elinor's shoulder, she burst into tears. Every body's attention was
42called, and almost every body was concerned.--Colonel Brandon rose up and went to them without knowing what he
43did.--Mrs. Jennings, with a very intelligent "Ah! poor dear," immediately gave her her salts; and Sir John felt so
44desperately enraged against the author of this nervous distress, that he instantly changed his seat to one close by Lucy
45Steele, and gave her, in a whisper, a brief account of the whole shocking affair. In a few minutes, however, Marianne
46was recovered enough to put an end to the bustle, and sit down among the rest; though her spirits retained the
47impression of what had passed, the whole evening. "Poor Marianne!" said her brother to Colonel Brandon, in a low voice,
48as soon as he could secure his attention: "She has not such good health as her sister,--she is very nervous,--she has
49not Elinor's constitution;--and one must allow that there is something very trying to a young woman who has been a
50beauty in the loss of her personal attractions. You would not think it perhaps, but Marianne was remarkably handsome a
51few months ago; quite as handsome as Elinor. Now you see it is all gone." CHAPTER XXXV. Elinor's curiosity to see Mrs.
52Ferrars was satisfied. She had found in her every thing that could tend to make a farther connection between the
53families undesirable. She had seen enough of her pride, her meanness, and her determined prejudice against herself, to
54comprehend all the difficulties that must have perplexed the engagement, and retarded the marriage, of Edward and
55herself, had he been otherwise free; and she had seen almost enough to be thankful for her own sake, that one greater
56obstacle preserved her from suffering under any other of Mrs. Ferrars's creation, preserved her from all dependence upon
57her caprice, or any solicitude for her good opinion. Or at least, if she did not bring herself quite to rejoice in
58Edward's being fettered to Lucy, she determined, that had Lucy been more amiable, she ought to have rejoiced. She
59wondered that Lucy's spirits could be so very much elevated by the civility of Mrs. Ferrars;--that her interest and her
60vanity should so very much blind her as to make the attention which seemed only paid her because she was not Elinor,
61appear a compliment to herself--or to allow her to derive encouragement from a preference only given her, because her
62real situation was unknown. But that it was so, had not only been declared by Lucy's eyes at the time, but was declared
63over again the next morning more openly, for at her particular desire, Lady Middleton set her down in Berkeley Street on
64the chance of seeing Elinor alone, to tell her how happy she was. The chance proved a lucky one, for a message from Mrs.
65Palmer soon after she arrived, carried Mrs. Jennings away. "My dear friend," cried Lucy, as soon as they were by
66themselves, "I come to talk to you of my happiness. Could anything be so flattering as Mrs. Ferrars's way of treating me
67yesterday? So exceeding affable as she was! You know how I dreaded the thoughts of seeing her; but the very moment I was
68introduced, there was such an affability in her behaviour as really should seem to say, she had quite took a fancy to
69me. Now was not it so? You saw it all; and was not you quite struck with it?" "She was certainly very civil to you."
70"Civil!--Did you see nothing but only civility?--I saw a vast deal more. Such kindness as fell to the share of nobody
71but me!--No pride, no hauteur, and your sister just the same--all sweetness and affability!" Elinor wished to talk of
72something else, but Lucy still pressed her to own that she had reason for her happiness; and Elinor was obliged to go
73on. "Undoubtedly, if they had known your engagement," said she, "nothing could be more flattering than their treatment
74of you;--but as that was not the case--"
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