Sense and Sensibility

Mrs. Palmer gives birth and Mrs. Jennings becomes preoccupied with attending to her. She insists that in her absence the Dashwood sisters should spend time at Lady Middleton’s, where the Miss Steeles are also present. Elinor and Marianne, who prefer to read and do not flatter Lady Middleton and her children as the Steeles do, are no great favorites.

Fanny's meanness to her sisters-in-law is exposed when a Mrs. Dennison assumes that they are staying with her in London. Fanny begrudgingly makes a gesture of generosity by sending her carriage to conduct them to Harley Street for a musical party. Elinor, who is not musical, finds herself in conversation with the toothpick connoisseur from the pawn shop, who turns out to be Robert Ferrars, Fanny and Edward’s brother. His conversation and manners reveal his superficiality and emphasize Edward’s “modesty and worth” (283).

John Dashwood, feeling guilty for breaking his promise to his father, suggests that the Dashwood girls reside with them in Harley Street, but Fanny prefers the Miss Steeles because they are more flattering companions. 

Mrs. Jennings bursts in with the news that a doctor had to revive Fanny from hysterics after she learned of Edward's engagement to Lucy Steele. Anne accidentally exposed them, and Fanny was so angry that she immediately dismissed the Steeles from her house. Elinor feigns surprise and is pleased that Mrs. Jennings no longer thinks her interested in Edward. Both Mrs. Jennings and Elinor feel sorry for Edward, as they know it is likely that his mother will now cut him off.

Marianne is horrified and astonished to learn about the engagement, and that Elinor has known about it for months. She feels guilty that Elinor has been looking after her while nursing her own broken heart. Elinor explains that she was doing her social duty and did not want to cause her family worry. She tells Marianne “I did not love only him;—and while the comfort of others was dear to me, I was glad to spare them from knowing how much I felt” (294). Still, Elinor describes the ordeal of having to listen to Lucy gloat. Marianne compares her own conduct to her sister’s and finds herself lacking. Elinor says that Marianne can reward her with discretion and correct behavior to all involved, including Edward and Lucy.

John Dashwood visits the next morning. He is fixated on the fact that Edward will be cut off, rather than gaining a handsome standard of living by marrying Miss Morton. He reveals that as Edward insists on honoring his engagement, Mrs. Ferrars will bequeath the entirety of his fortune to his younger brother Robert. John thinks he is an ungrateful fool. After he leaves, Marianne, Elinor, and Mrs. Jennings are united in their mutual critique of him, Fanny, and Mrs. Ferrars.

While Mrs. Jennings praises Edward’s honorable conduct in keeping his engagement, only Elinor and Marianne know “how small was the consolation, beyond the consciousness of doing right, that could remain to him in the loss of friends and fortune” (303). Mrs. Jennings and Elinor go to Kensington Gardens, but Marianne stays home, conscious that Willoughby and his new wife are back in town. Anne Steele appears in the gardens and walks with Elinor, hinting that although Edward feels duty-bound to marry Lucy, they are both having second thoughts. He offered Lucy an escape from the engagement as he is now devoid of his original fortune, and argued that they should at least delay the marriage until he takes holy orders and receives a living. All of this information was obtained through Anne's eavesdropping on Lucy and Edward. Mrs. Jennings thinks Edward and Lucy will be paupers, especially when they have children.

The next day, Elinor receives a letter from Lucy, stating that “though we have suffered dreadfully, we are […] as happy as we must always be in one another’s love” (310). Hinting that they must wait or end the engagement, Lucy entreats Elinor to tell her if she hears of an available living.

Both Dashwood sisters are eager to quit London for Barton. However, as the journey is long and expensive, their best option is to go with Mrs. Jennings via Cleveland, the Palmers’ Somersetshire residence. Marianne is initially opposed to this because of Cleveland’s relative proximity to Combe Magna, Willoughby’s residence, but Elinor wins her over with the practical argument.

When Colonel Brandon comes to visit, Mrs. Jennings hopes to bring him to the point of proposing to Elinor by lamenting the Miss Dashwoods’ departure. Mrs. Jennings watches Elinor change color and conjectures that an attachment has taken root between her and the colonel. In fact, the real subject of the colonel and Elinor’s conversation was his regret at Edward Ferrars’ situation. He proposes to give him a modest living at the parsonage at Delaford. He wants Elinor to share the news with Edward, given their existing relationship. Elinor is surprised that she should be in the position to give Edward and Lucy more hope and thinks that the offer would be better coming from the colonel. However, Colonel Brandon persuades Elinor that it is within her power to perform the task, as Lucy has given her Edward’s temporary address.

Under the mistaken impression that Elinor and the colonel have become engaged, Mrs. Jennings congratulates her. Elinor thinks that Mrs. Jennings congratulates her on securing the living for Edward and says she must write to Edward and tell him.

Elinor is poised to write to Edward when he suddenly appears. Elinor shares Colonel Brandon's offer. He fixates on the fact that the living comes from Colonel Brandon and credits Elinor for her kindness. Elinor, however, does not want to seem like a benefactress, so continues to praise Colonel Brandon. Edward in turn gives her “so serious, so earnest, so uncheerful” a look “as seemed to say, that he might hereafter wish the distance between the parsonage and the mansion-house much greater” (326). It is evident that Edward regards the colonel as his rival for Elinor’s heart. She sends him off to Colonel Brandon and Edward tries to reassure Elinor that he is happy.

When Mrs. Jennings comes home, Elinor clears the misunderstanding about Colonel Brandon.

Elinor feels obligated to visit the Dashwoods, even as Marianne and Mrs. Jennings refuse to accompany her. Elinor spends a long time with her brother, who cannot see what motive Colonel Brandon has in assisting Edward with plans that go against his family’s wishes. He talks of Mrs. Ferrars’ plans to attach Miss Morton to Robert instead of Edward, arguing “there can be no difference; for Robert will now to all intents and purposes be considered as the eldest son” (334). He also whispers that were the marriage between Edward and Elinor to have taken place, Mrs. Ferrars would have preferred it to the connection with Lucy Steele.

Elinor greets Robert Ferrars and her bad opinion of him is reinforced when he judges his brother harshly and promises his mother to never see him again. Robert reveals that he has met Lucy Steele but dismisses her as an awkward sort of country girl.

Elinor and Marianne head to Cleveland with Mrs. Jennings and Mrs. Palmer for the first leg of their trip back to Devonshire. Both Dashwood sisters are keen to leave London, a place that has afforded them more pain than joy. At Cleveland, Marianne becomes sentimental because the house is 30 miles from Mr. Willoughby’s estate. She goes on many solitary rambles, heedless of the damp, chilly weather. Elinor finds she likes cynical Mr. Palmer better than last time. However, she cannot help comparing his selfishness and fussiness with Edward’s generosity and simplicity.

Marianne’s long walks in the wildest, coldest parts of the grounds leave her with wet shoes and the onset of a cold.

Marianne’s cold turns into a fever so severe that the Palmers call their doctor, Mr. Harris. Worried that Marianne is infectious, Mrs. Palmer fears for her infant and goes to stay with at another house. Mrs. Jennings remains, as does the colonel. Elinor remains on constant vigil at Marianne’s side.

Marianne’s illness goes through several phases. There is an early hope of recovery, when Mr. Harris comes to check on her and declares her improved. However, the next day, Marianne becomes ill again and enters a restless sleep. In her feverishness, she asks for her mother to come, fearing that she does not have long to live. Colonel Brandon offers to collect Mrs. Dashwood himself and the party is in anxious turmoil about whether Marianne will make it, especially when Mr. Harris admits that his medicines have failed. However, another type of medication works and Marianne is “in every respect materially better” (353).

When Elinor hears the sound of the carriage at night, she expects that it will either be her mother or Colonel Brandon. To her shock, the visitor is Willoughby.

Elinor at first refuses to speak to Willoughby. However, he insists on being heard. He first confirms that Marianne is out of danger, then tells Elinor that “I mean to offer some kind of explanation, some kind of apology, for the past” (358).

Willoughby admits that Marianne’s attractions were initially just for his amusement. Given the smallness of his own fortune, it would have been impossible for him to marry someone as poor as Marianne. However, he fell in love with her, spent the happiest time of his life with her, and even thought of enduring poverty if he could be with her. His plan was upended by Mrs. Smith’s discovery of his involvement with Eliza Williams. He tries to defend himself by blaming Eliza but admits that his actions were selfish and injurious. Elinor confronts him, saying that his “indifference” to Eliza “is no apology for your cruel neglect of her” (362). She judges him for enjoying himself with Marianne in Devonshire while abandoning Eliza to poverty and infamy. Mrs. Smith offered to forgive Willoughby and financially support him if he married Eliza. When he refused, Mrs. Smith broke her connection with him. After this event, Willoughby felt tortured at the prospect of dining with the Dashwoods and facing Marianne. When he received Marianne’s note in London, Willoughby tried to convince himself that he was growing indifferent to her. He asks for Elinor’s pity, as he was in love with Marianne but had to pretend to be happily engaged to Miss Grey, who jealously read Marianne's final letter aloud to him. His marriage is an unhappy one and he resents his wife.

Elinor chastises him, pointing out that he made his choice. Willoughby entreats her to communicate his apology to Marianne. He dreads the news of Marianne’s future marriage, especially to Colonel Brandon. Elinor emphasizes that Willoughby has already lost Marianne and that her marriage would make no difference. Elinor judges Willoughby as extravagant, vain, and selfish, and believes that while these traits have made Marianne miserable, they will have a worse effect on Willoughby’s own happiness.

Elinor can only think of Mr. Willoughby and his likely lasting influence on Marianne. When her mother and Colonel Brandon arrive, she immediately tells Mrs. Dashwood that Marianne is out of danger. The reunion of mother and daughter is joyous.

Later, Mrs. Dashwood tells Elinor that Colonel Brandon confessed his love for Marianne. She wants to promote the match, believing that Colonel Brandon’s temperament will best suit Marianne and that “a very little time […] will do everything” to turn Marianne’s affections (379). While Colonel Brandon is not as sure, Mrs. Dashwood believes that the “manly unstudied simplicity” of his manners “is much more accordant” with Marianne’s “real disposition” than Willoughby’s liveliness (379). The match will also ensure Mrs. Dashwood a comfortable living in her dotage and keep her near her daughter. Elinor, who had imagined that Willoughby might become a widower and be free to marry again, feels sorry for him even as she acknowledges that Colonel Brandon is the more deserving man.

Marianne recovers enough for the Dashwoods to return to Barton Cottage. She asks Colonel Brandon to visit her and thanks him for bringing her mother. Colonel Brandon is moved and reminded of his first love, and lends his carriage for the journey.

When they arrive home, Marianne is reminded of Willoughby. However, she controls her conduct, engaging in a comprehensive mode of study and determining to go on walks with her sisters, rather than alone, when she is recovered. She wants to be like Elinor, forgoing selfish passion in order to be a better person for all those around her.

Marianne announces that she will be at peace once she knows that Willoughby once felt something for her, so Elinor shares Willoughby’s story. Marianne bursts into tears and urges Elinor to tell their mother.

Mrs. Dashwood is not unmoved by Willoughby’s plight but stands firm in her view of Colonel Brandon as the worthier suitor. Marianne confesses that Elinor’s tidings have brought her exactly the relief she needed. She declares herself “perfectly satisfied” and wishes for no change in the situation that would enable her to marry Willoughby. Mrs. Dashwood agrees, and Elinor argues that Willoughby and Marianne would have been under pressure if married. Their small income would have not suited his extravagance and he may have regretted the match. When Marianne blames her own folly at becoming involved with Willoughby, Mrs. Dashwood acknowledges her own imprudent, lackadaisical parenting.

Elinor regrets not hearing about Edward. However, one day, their manservant brings the report that Lucy is now a Mrs. Ferrars. He saw the new couple on business in Exeter. Mrs. Dashwood regrets that she has been so distracted with her younger daughter’s woes that she has not been able to comfort the elder.

While Elinor has long known of Edward and Lucy’s engagement, she held out hope that something would prevent the marriage. She is surprised that none of their friends has informed her sooner.

When Edward suddenly appears on horseback, Elinor endeavors to be calm and encourages her mother and sister to be kind to him. He looks agitated and wary of the reception the Dashwoods will give him.

He relates that Lucy is not Mrs. Edward Ferrars, but Mrs. Robert Ferrars. Elinor is so overcome with emotion that she runs from the room and bursts into joyful tears. Edward leaves the cottage in a state of hopeful reverie.

Edward explains that his engagement to Lucy was foolish and resulted from idleness. While he thought that he would love Lucy forever, at 19, he had no one to compare her to. Elinor is curious how Lucy switched her affections from one brother to another and how Robert changed his mind about Lucy. Edward hands Elinor Lucy’s letter, in which she describes how she has “no doubt of being as happy with him as I once used to think I might be with you” (409). She signs the letter Lucy Ferrars, indicating that the marriage has already taken place. While Edward retained an illusion of Lucy’s good nature and her attachment to him, the letter reveals her as a social-climbing schemer. He felt it was his duty to give Lucy the option to continue the engagement, but he cannot figure out her motive for staying in it when she did not love him and he was also cut off from his fortune. Elinor surmises that Lucy was biding her time in case Mrs. Ferrars changed her mind. Edward reveals that he set off for Barton Cottage as soon as he received Lucy’s letter, because Elinor is the most important part of his destiny.

While they are keen to be married and settle at Delaford, they fear that their present living will not be enough. Edward thinks that his mother may soften and do something for them, but Elinor is wary, as Mrs. Ferrars likely still has hopes that Edward will marry Miss Morton. Elinor receives a letter from John, expressing shock at the wedding of Robert and Lucy. John hints that Edward might re-ingratiate himself with his mother if he sends her a letter of apology. Edward is indignant that his mother demands an apology from him, but Elinor deems that apologizing for forming one engagement against her will would be wise, especially before he tells her of a second engagement she will also disapprove of. Edward will go to London in person, after going to Delaford to inspect his new home.

Mrs. Ferrars agrees to forgive her son, but she tries to dissuade him from marrying Elinor and to think of Miss Morton instead. Robert retains his smaller independent living and Mrs. Ferrars offers to do little for the new married couple beyond a modest dowry. Elinor and Edward find that this amount is enough, and make improvements to the parsonage at Delaford and eventually move in. They eagerly hope for a marriage between Colonel Brandon and Marianne.

Mrs. Ferrars visits them, revealing that her preference has been restored to Robert due to Lucy’s flattery. Robert and Lucy became acquainted when Robert tried to dissuade her from marrying Edward. Robert could not help talking about himself and was pleased when Lucy encouraged him. He is proud that he has supplanted Edward in Lucy’s affections and managed to outwit him in marrying privately without his mother’s consent.

Elinor's mother and sisters spend time at Delaford. Mrs. Dashwood hopes that the proximity to Colonel Brandon will bring him and Marianne together. Marianne finds that “with such a confederacy against her—with a knowledge so intimate of his goodness—with a conviction of his fond attachment to herself” she cannot long resist (424). Thus, although Marianne resolved to remain single and live with her mother, at 19 she becomes the colonel’s wife and patroness of the village of Delaford. In time, Marianne finds that she can give her whole heart to her husband and that she can love him as much as she did Willoughby. Willoughby is pained by Marianne’s marriage, and she becomes his standard of beauty and womanly perfection. However, he finds comfort in an extravagant lifestyle.

Life continues at Barton Cottage, and when Margaret Dashwood comes of age for dancing and suitors, she also becomes the main object of interest for Sir John and Mrs. Jennings. As for Elinor and Marianne, they are happy not only in their marriages, but to be living so close to one another.