Sense and Sensibility
CHAPTER 10
Marianne's preserver, as Margaret, with more elegance than precision,styled Willoughby, called at the cottage early the next morning to makehis personal enquiries. He was received by Mrs. Dashwood with morethan politeness; with a kindness which Sir John's account of him andher own gratitude prompted; and every thing that passed during thevisit tended to assure him of the sense, elegance, mutual affection,and domestic comfort of the family to whom accident had now introducedhim. Of their personal charms he had not required a second interviewto be convinced.
Miss Dashwood had a delicate complexion, regular features, and aremarkably pretty figure. Marianne was still handsomer. Her form,though not so correct as her sister's, in having the advantage ofheight, was more striking; and her face was so lovely, that when in thecommon cant of praise, she was called a beautiful girl, truth was lessviolently outraged than usually happens. Her skin was very brown, but,from its transparency, her complexion was uncommonly brilliant; herfeatures were all good; her smile was sweet and attractive; and in hereyes, which were very dark, there was a life, a spirit, an eagerness,which could hardily be seen without delight. From Willoughby theirexpression was at first held back, by the embarrassment which theremembrance of his assistance created. But when this passed away, whenher spirits became collected, when she saw that to the perfectgood-breeding of the gentleman, he united frankness and vivacity, andabove all, when she heard him declare, that of music and dancing he waspassionately fond, she gave him such a look of approbation as securedthe largest share of his discourse to herself for the rest of his stay.
It was only necessary to mention any favourite amusement to engage herto talk. She could not be silent when such points were introduced, andshe had neither shyness nor reserve in their discussion. They speedilydiscovered that their enjoyment of dancing and music was mutual, andthat it arose from a general conformity of judgment in all that relatedto either. Encouraged by this to a further examination of hisopinions, she proceeded to question him on the subject of books; herfavourite authors were brought forward and dwelt upon with so rapturousa delight, that any young man of five and twenty must have beeninsensible indeed, not to become an immediate convert to the excellenceof such works, however disregarded before. Their taste was strikinglyalike. The same books, the same passages were idolized by each--or ifany difference appeared, any objection arose, it lasted no longer thantill the force of her arguments and the brightness of her eyes could bedisplayed. He acquiesced in all her decisions, caught all herenthusiasm; and long before his visit concluded, they conversed withthe familiarity of a long-established acquaintance.
Well, Marianne, said Elinor, as soon as he had left them, for ONEmorning I think you have done pretty well. You have alreadyascertained Mr. Willoughby's opinion in almost every matter ofimportance. You know what he thinks of Cowper and Scott; you arecertain of his estimating their beauties as he ought, and you havereceived every assurance of his admiring Pope no more than is proper.But how is your acquaintance to be long supported, under suchextraordinary despatch of every subject for discourse? You will soonhave exhausted each favourite topic. Another meeting will suffice toexplain his sentiments on picturesque beauty, and second marriages, andthen you can have nothing farther to ask.--
Elinor, cried Marianne, is this fair? is this just? are my ideas soscanty? But I see what you mean. I have been too much at my ease, toohappy, too frank. I have erred against every common-place notion ofdecorum; I have been open and sincere where I ought to have beenreserved, spiritless, dull, and deceitful--had I talked only of theweather and the roads, and had I spoken only once in ten minutes, thisreproach would have been spared.
My love, said her mother, you must not be offended with Elinor--shewas only in jest. I should scold her myself, if she were capable ofwishing to check the delight of your conversation with our newfriend.-- Marianne was softened in a moment.
Willoughby, on his side, gave every proof of his pleasure in theiracquaintance, which an evident wish of improving it could offer. Hecame to them every day. To enquire after Marianne was at first hisexcuse; but the encouragement of his reception, to which every day gavegreater kindness, made such an excuse unnecessary before it had ceasedto be possible, by Marianne's perfect recovery. She was confined forsome days to the house; but never had any confinement been lessirksome. Willoughby was a young man of good abilities, quickimagination, lively spirits, and open, affectionate manners. He wasexactly formed to engage Marianne's heart, for with all this, he joinednot only a captivating person, but a natural ardour of mind which wasnow roused and increased by the example of her own, and whichrecommended 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 hadunfortunately wanted.
In Mrs. Dashwood's estimation he was as faultless as in Marianne's; andElinor saw nothing to censure in him but a propensity, in which hestrongly resembled and peculiarly delighted her sister, of saying toomuch what he thought on every occasion, without attention to persons orcircumstances. In hastily forming and giving his opinion of otherpeople, in sacrificing general politeness to the enjoyment of undividedattention where his heart was engaged, and in slighting too easily theforms of worldly propriety, he displayed a want of caution which Elinorcould not approve, in spite of all that he and Marianne could say inits support.
Marianne began now to perceive that the desperation which had seizedher at sixteen and a half, of ever seeing a man who could satisfy herideas of perfection, had been rash and unjustifiable. Willoughby wasall that her fancy had delineated in that unhappy hour and in everybrighter period, as capable of attaching her; and his behaviourdeclared his wishes to be in that respect as earnest, as his abilitieswere strong.
Her mother too, in whose mind not one speculative thought of theirmarriage had been raised, by his prospect of riches, was led before theend of a week to hope and expect it; and secretly to congratulateherself on having gained two such sons-in-law as Edward and Willoughby.
Colonel Brandon's partiality for Marianne, which had so early beendiscovered by his friends, now first became perceptible to Elinor, whenit ceased to be noticed by them. Their attention and wit were drawnoff to his more fortunate rival; and the raillery which the other hadincurred before any partiality arose, was removed when his feelingsbegan really to call for the ridicule so justly annexed to sensibility.Elinor was obliged, though unwillingly, to believe that the sentimentswhich Mrs. Jennings had assigned him for her own satisfaction, were nowactually excited by her sister; and that however a general resemblanceof disposition between the parties might forward the affection of Mr.Willoughby, an equally striking opposition of character was nohindrance 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 avery lively one of five and twenty? and as she could not even wish himsuccessful, she heartily wished him indifferent. She liked him--inspite of his gravity and reserve, she beheld in him an object ofinterest. His manners, though serious, were mild; and his reserveappeared rather the result of some oppression of spirits than of anynatural gloominess of temper. Sir John had dropped hints of pastinjuries and disappointments, which justified her belief of his beingan unfortunate man, and she regarded him with respect and compassion.
Perhaps she pitied and esteemed him the more because he was slighted byWilloughby and Marianne, who, prejudiced against him for being neitherlively nor young, seemed resolved to undervalue his merits.
Brandon is just the kind of man, said Willoughby one day, when theywere talking of him together, whom every body speaks well of, andnobody cares about; whom all are delighted to see, and nobody remembersto talk to.
That is exactly what I think of him, cried Marianne.
Do not boast of it, however, said Elinor, for it is injustice inboth of you. He is highly esteemed by all the family at the park, andI never see him myself without taking pains to converse with him.
That he is patronised by YOU, replied Willoughby, is certainly inhis favour; but as for the esteem of the others, it is a reproach initself. Who would submit to the indignity of being approved by such awoman as Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings, that could command theindifference of any body else?
But perhaps the abuse of such people as yourself and Marianne willmake amends for the regard of Lady Middleton and her mother. If theirpraise is censure, your censure may be praise, for they are not moreundiscerning, 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 alwayshave attractions for me. Yes, Marianne, even in a man between thirtyand forty. He has seen a great deal of the world; has been abroad, hasread, and has a thinking mind. I have found him capable of giving memuch information on various subjects; and he has always answered myinquiries with readiness of good-breeding and good nature.
That is to say, cried Marianne contemptuously, he has told you, thatin the East Indies the climate is hot, and the mosquitoes aretroublesome.
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 theexistence of nabobs, gold mohrs, and palanquins.
I may venture to say that HIS observations have stretched much furtherthan your candour. But why should you dislike him?
I do not dislike him. I consider him, on the contrary, as a veryrespectable 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 toemploy, and two new coats every year.
Add to which, cried Marianne, that he has neither genius, taste, norspirit. That his understanding has no brilliancy, his feelings noardour, 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 thecommendation I am able to give of him is comparatively cold andinsipid. I can only pronounce him to be a sensible man, well-bred,well-informed, of gentle address, and, I believe, possessing an amiableheart.
Miss Dashwood, cried Willoughby, you are now using me unkindly. Youare endeavouring to disarm me by reason, and to convince me against mywill. But it will not do. You shall find me as stubborn as you can beartful. I have three unanswerable reasons for disliking ColonelBrandon; he threatened me with rain when I wanted it to be fine; he hasfound fault with the hanging of my curricle, and I cannot persuade himto 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 respectsirreproachable, I am ready to confess it. And in return for anacknowledgment, which must give me some pain, you cannot deny me theprivilege of disliking him as much as ever.