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chief of their visitors； who almost all laboured under one or other
of these disqualifications for being agreeable—Want of sense；
either natural or improved—want of elegance—want of spirits—or
want of temper。
When the ladies withdrew to the drawing…room after dinner；
this poverty was particularly evident； for the gentlemen had
supplied the discourse with some variety—the variety of politics；
inclosing land； and breaking horses—but then it was all over； and
one subject only engaged the ladies till coffee came in； which was
the comparative heights of Harry Dashwood； and Lady
Middleton’s second son William； who were nearly of the same age。
Had both the children been there； the affair might have been
determined too easily by measuring them at once； but as Harry
only was present； it was all conjectural assertion on both sides；
and every body had a right to be equally positive in their opinion；
and to repeat it over and over again as often as they liked。
The parties stood thus：
The two mothers； though each really convinced that her own
son was the tallest； politely decided in favour of the other。
The two grandmothers； with not less partiality； but more
sincerity； were equally earnest in support of their own descendant。
Lucy； who was hardly less anxious to please one parent than
the other； thought the boys were both remarkably tall for their
age； and could not conceive that there could be the smallest
difference in the world between them； and Miss Steele； with yet
greater address gave it； as fast as she could； in favour of each。
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Elinor； having once delivered her opinion on William’s side； by
which she offended Mrs。 Ferrars and Fanny still more； did not see
the necessity of enforcing it by any farther assertion； and
Marianne； when called on for her’s； offended them all； by
declaring that she had no opinion to give； as she had never
thought about it。
Before her removing from Norland； Elinor had painted a very
pretty pair of screens for her sister…in…law； which being now just
mounted and brought home； ornamented her present drawing
room； and these screens； catching the eye of John Dashwood on
his following the other gentlemen into the room； were officiously
handed by him to Colonel Brandon for his admiration。
“These are done by my eldest sister；” said he； “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 any of her performances
before； but she is in general reckoned to draw extremely well。”
The Colonel； though disclaiming all pretensions to
connoisseurship； warmly admired the screens； as he would have
done any thing painted by Miss Dashwood； and on the curiosity of
the others being of course excited； they were handed round for
general inspection。 Mrs。 Ferrars； not aware of their being Elinor’s
work； particularly requested to look at them； and after they had
received gratifying testimony of Lady Middletons’s approbation；
Fanny presented them to her mother； considerately informing her；
at the same time； that they were done by Miss Dashwood。
“Hum”—said Mrs。 Ferrars—“very pretty；”—and without
regarding them at all； returned them to her daughter。
Perhaps Fanny thought for a moment that her mother had been
quite rude enough；—for； colouring a little； she immediately said；
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“They are very pretty； ma’am—an’t they？” But then again； the
dread of having been too civil； too encouraging herself； probably
came over her； for she presently added；
“Do you not think they are something in Miss Morton’s style of
painting； Ma’am？—She does paint most delightfully！—How
beautifully her last landscape is done！”
“Beautifully indeed！ But she does every thing well。”
Marianne could not bear this。—She was already greatly
displeased with Mrs。 Ferrars； and such ill…timed praise of another；
at Elinor’s expense； though she had not any notion of what was
principally meant by it； provoked her immediately to say with
warmth；
“This is admiration of a very particular kind！—what is Miss
Morton to us？—who knows； or who cares； for her？—it is Elinor of
whom we think and speak。”
And so saying； she took the screens out of her sister…in…law’s
hands； to admire them herself as they ought to be admired。
Mrs。 Ferrars looked exceedingly angry； and drawing herself up
more stiffly than ever； pronounced in retort this bitter phillippic：
“Miss Morton is Lord Morton’s daughter。”
Fanny looked very angry too； and her husband was all in a
fright at his sister’s audacity。 Elinor was much more hurt by
Marianne’s warmth than she had been by what produced it； but
Colonel Brandon’s eyes； as they were fixed on Marianne； declared
that he noticed only what was amiable in it； the affectionate heart
which could not bear to see a sister slighted in the smallest point。
Marianne’s feelings did not stop here。 The cold insolence of
Mrs。 Ferrars’s general behaviour to her sister； seemed； to her； to
foretell such difficulties and distresses to Elinor； as her own
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wounded heart taught her to think of with horror； and urged by a
strong impulse of affectionate sensibility； she moved after a
moment； to her sister’s chair； and putting one arm round her neck；
and one cheek close to hers； said in a low； but eager； voice；
“Dear； dear Elinor； don’t mind them。 Don’t let them make you
unhappy。”
She