Her insipidity was invariable, for even her spirits were always the same; and though she did not oppose the parties arranged by her husband, provided every thing were conducted in style and her two eldest children attended her, she never appeared to receive more enjoyment from them than she might have experienced in sitting at home;--and so little did her presence add to the pleasure of the others, by any share in their conversation, that they were sometimes only reminded of her being amongst them by her solicitude about her troublesome boys.
In Colonel Brandon alone, of all her new acquaintance, did Elinor find a person who could in any degree claim the respect of abilities, excite the interest of friendship, or give pleasure as a companion.Willoughby was out of the question.Her admiration and regard, even her sisterly regard, was all his own; but he was a lover;his attentions were wholly Marianne's, and a far less agreeable man might have been more generally pleasing.
Colonel Brandon, unfortunately for himself, had no such encouragement to think only of Marianne, and in conversing with Elinor he found the greatest consolation for the indifference of her sister.
Elinor's compassion for him increased, as she had reason to suspect that the misery of disappointed love had already been known to him.This suspicion was given by some words which accidently dropped from him one evening at the park, when they were sitting down together by mutual consent, while the others were dancing.His eyes were fixed on Marianne, and, after a silence of some minutes, he said, with a faint smile, "Your sister, I understand, does not approve of second attachments.""No," replied Elinor, "her opinions are all romantic.""Or rather, as I believe, she considers them impossible to exist.""I believe she does.But how she contrives it without reflecting on the character of her own father, who had himself two wives, I know not.A few years however will settle her opinions on the reasonable basis of common sense and observation; and then they may be more easy to define and to justify than they now are, by any body but herself.""This will probably be the case," he replied;"and yet there is something so amiable in the prejudices of a young mind, that one is sorry to see them give way to the reception of more general opinions.""I cannot agree with you there," said Elinor.
"There are inconveniences attending such feelings as Marianne's, which all the charms of enthusiasm and ignorance of the world cannot atone for.Her systems have all the unfortunate tendency of setting propriety at nought;and a better acquaintance with the world is what I look forward to as her greatest possible advantage."After a short pause he resumed the conversation by saying,--"Does your sister make no distinction in her objections against a second attachment? or is it equally criminal in every body? Are those who have been disappointed in their first choice, whether from the inconstancy of its object, or the perverseness of circumstances, to be equally indifferent during the rest of their lives?""Upon my word, I am not acquainted with the minutiae of her principles.I only know that I never yet heard her admit any instance of a second attachment's being pardonable.""This," said he, "cannot hold; but a change, a total change of sentiments--No, no, do not desire it;for when the romantic refinements of a young mind are obliged to give way, how frequently are they succeeded by such opinions as are but too common, and too dangerous! I speak from experience.I once knew a lady who in temper and mind greatly resembled your sister, who thought and judged like her, but who from an inforced change--from a series of unfortunate circumstances"--Here he stopt suddenly; appeared to think that he had said too much, and by his countenance gave rise to conjectures, which might not otherwise have entered Elinor's head.
The lady would probably have passed without suspicion, had he not convinced Miss Dashwood that what concerned her ought not to escape his lips.As it was, it required but a slight effort of fancy to connect his emotion with the tender recollection of past regard.
Elinor attempted no more.But Marianne, in her place, would not have done so little.The whole story would have been speedily formed under her active imagination;and every thing established in the most melancholy order of disastrous love.