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“My love； it will be scarcely a separation。 We shall live within a
few miles of each other； and shall meet every day of our lives。 You
will gain a brother； a real； affectionate brother。 I have the highest
opinion in the world of Edward’s heart。 But you look grave；
Marianne； do you disapprove your sister’s choice？”
“Perhaps；” said Marianne； “I may consider it with some
surprise。 Edward is very amiable； and I love him tenderly。 But
yet—he is not the kind of young man—there is something
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wanting—his figure is not striking； it has none of that grace which
I should expect in the man who could seriously attach my sister。
His eyes want all that spirit； that fire； which at once announce
virtue and intelligence。 And besides all this； I am afraid； mama； he
has no real taste。 Music seems scarcely to attract him； and though
he admires Elinor’s drawings very much； it is not the admiration
of a person who can understand their worth。 It is evident； in spite
of his frequent attention to her while she draws； that in fact he
knows nothing of the matter。 He admires as a lover； not as a
connoisseur。 To satisfy me； those characters must be united。 I
could not be happy with a man whose taste did not in every point
coincide with my own。 He must enter into all my feelings； the
same books； the same music must charm us both。 Oh！ mama； how
spiritless； how tame was Edward’s manner in reading to us last
night！ I felt for my sister most severely。 Yet she bore it with so
much composure； she seemed scarcely to notice it。 I could hardly
keep my seat。 To hear those beautiful lines which have frequently
almost driven me wild； pronounced with such impenetrable
calmness； such dreadful indifference！”—
“He would certainly have done more justice to simple and
elegant prose。 I thought so at the time； but you would give him
Cowper。”
“Nay； mama； if he is not to be animated by Cowper！—but we
must allow for difference of taste。 Elinor has not my feelings； and
therefore she may overlook it； and be happy with him。 But it
would have broke my heart； had I loved him； to hear him read with
so little sensibility。 Mama； the more I know of the world； the more
am I convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really
love。 I require so much！ He must have all Edward’s virtues； and
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his person and manners must ornament his goodness with every
possible charm。”
“Remember； my love； that you are not seventeen。 It is yet too
early in life to despair of such a happiness。 Why should you be less
fortunate than your mother？ In one circumstance only； my
Marianne； may your destiny be different from her’s！”
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CHAPTER IV
hat a pity it is； Elinor；” said Marianne； “that
Edward should have no taste for drawing。”
“W “No taste for drawing！” replied Elinor； “why
should you think so？ He does not draw himself； indeed； but he has
great pleasure in seeing the performances of other people； and I
assure you he is by no means deficient in natural taste； though he
has not had opportunities of improving it。 Had he ever been in the
way of learning； I think he would have drawn very well。 He
distrusts his own judgment in such matters so much； that he is
always unwilling to give his opinion on any picture； but he has an
innate propriety and simplicity of taste； which in general direct
him perfectly right。”
Marianne was afraid of offending； and said no more on the
subject； but the kind of approbation which Elinor described as
excited in him by the drawings of other people； was very far from
that rapturous delight； which； in her opinion； could alone be called
taste。 Yet； though smiling within herself at the mistake； she
honoured her sister for that blind partiality to Edward which
produced it。
“I hope； Marianne；” continued Elinor； “you do not consider him
as deficient in general taste。 Indeed； I think I may say that you
cannot； for your behaviour to him is perfectly cordial； and if that
were your opinion； I am sure you could never be civil to him。”
Marianne hardly knew what to say。 She would not wound the
feelings of her sister on any account； and yet to say what she did
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not believe was impossible。 At length she replied：
“Do not be offended； Elinor； if my praise of him is not in every
thing equal to your sense of his merits。 I have not had so many
opportunities of estimating the minuter propensities of his mind；
his inclinations and tastes； as you have； but I have the highest
opinion in the world of his goodness and sense。 I think him every
thing that is worthy and amiable。”
“I am sure；” replied Elinor； with a smile； “that his dearest
friends could not be dissatisfied with such commendation as that。 I
do not perceive how you could express yourself more warmly。”
Marianne was rejoiced to find her sister so easily pleased。
“Of his sense and his goodness；” continued Elinor； “no one can；
I think； be in doubt； who has seen him often enough to engage him
in unreserved conversation。 The excellence of his understanding
and his principles can be concealed only by that shyness which too
often keeps him silent。 You know enough of him to do justice to
his solid worth。 But of his minuter propensities as you call the