Sense and Sensibility

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

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 hardily 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 idolized 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 every thing 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 had

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 a***e 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 inquiries 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

inquiries, 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 no 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."