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again became perceptible。 He was not in spirits； however； he
praised their house； admired its prospect； was attentive； and kind；
but still he was not in spirits。 The whole family perceived it； and
Mrs。 Dashwood； attributing it to some want of liberality in his
mother； sat down to table indignant against all selfish parents。
“What are Mrs。 Ferrars’s views for you at present； Edward？”
said she； when dinner was over and they had drawn round the
fire； “are you still to be a great orator in spite of yourself？”
“No。 I hope my mother is now convinced that I have no more
talents than inclination for a public life！”
“But how is your fame to be established？ for famous you must
be to satisfy all your family； and with no inclination for expense；
no affection for strangers； no profession； and no assurance； you
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may find it a difficult matter。”
“I shall not attempt it。 I have no wish to be distinguished； and
have every reason to hope I never shall。 Thank Heaven！ I cannot
be forced into genius and eloquence。”
“You have no ambition； I well know。 Your wishes are all
moderate。”
“As moderate as those of the rest of the world； I believe。 I wish
as well as every body else to be perfectly happy； but； like every
body else it must be in my own way。 Greatness will not make me
so。”
“Strange that it would！” cried Marianne。 “What have wealth or
grandeur to do with happiness？”
“Grandeur has but little；” said Elinor； “but wealth has much to
do with it。”
“Elinor； for shame！” said Marianne； “money can only give
happiness where there is nothing else to give it。 Beyond a
competence； it can afford no real satisfaction； as far as mere self is
concerned。”
“Perhaps；” said Elinor； smiling； “we may come to the same
point。 Your competence and my wealth are very much alike； I dare
say； and without them； as the world goes now； we shall both agree
that every kind of external comfort must be wanting。 Your ideas
are only more noble than mine。 Come； what is your competence？”
“About eighteen hundred or two thousand a year； not more
than that。”
Elinor laughed。 “Two thousand a year！ One is my wealth！ I
guessed how it would end。”
“And yet two thousand a…year is a very moderate income；” said
Marianne。 “A family cannot well be maintained on a smaller。 I am
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sure I am not extravagant in my demands。 A proper establishment
of servants； a carriage； perhaps two； and hunters； cannot be
supported on less。”
Elinor smiled again； to hear her sister describing so accurately
their future expenses at Combe Magna。
“Hunters！” repeated Edward—“but why must you have
hunters？ Every body does not hunt。”
Marianne coloured as she replied； “But most people do。”
“I wish；” said Margaret； striking out a novel thought； “that
somebody would give us all a large fortune apiece！”
“Oh that they would！” cried Marianne； her eyes sparkling with
animation； and her cheeks glowing with the delight of such
imaginary happiness。
“We are all unanimous in that wish； I suppose；” said Elinor； “in
spite of the insufficiency of wealth。”
“Oh dear！” cried Margaret； “how happy I should be！ I wonder
what I should do with it！”
Marianne looked as if she had no doubt on that point。
“I should be puzzled to spend so large a fortune myself；” said
Mrs。 Dashwood； “if my children were all to be rich without my
help。”
“You must begin your improvements on this house；” observed
Elinor； “and your difficulties will soon vanish。”
“What magnificent orders would travel from this family to
London；” said Edward； “in such an event！ What a happy day for
booksellers； music…sellers； and print…shops！ You； Miss Dashwood；
would give a general commission for every new print of merit to be
sent you—and as for Marianne； I know her greatness of soul； there
would not be music enough in London to content her。 And
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books！—Thomson； Cowper； Scott—she would buy them all over
and over again； she would buy up every copy； I believe； to prevent
their falling into unworthy hands； and she would have every book
that tells her how to admire an old twisted tree。 Should not you；
Marianne？ Forgive me； if I am very saucy。 But I was willing to
shew you that I had not forgot our old disputes。”
“I love to be reminded of the past； Edward—whether it be
melancholy or gay； I love to recall it—and you will never offend me
by talking of former times。 You are very right in supposing how
my money would be spent—some of it； at least—my loose cash
would certainly be employed in improving my collection of music
and books。”
“And the bulk of your fortune would be laid out in annuities on
the authors or their heirs。”
“No； Edward； I should have something else to do with it。”
“Perhaps； then； you would bestow it as a reward on that person
who wrote the ablest defence of your favourite maxim； that no one
can ever be in love more than once in their life—your opinion on
that point is unchanged； I presume？”
“Undoubtedly。 At my time of life opinions are tolerably fixed。 It
is not likely that I should now see or hear any thing to change
them。”
“Marianne is as stedfast as ever； you see；” said Elinor； “she is
not at all altered。”
“She is only grown a little more grave than she was。”
“Nay； Edward；” said Marianne； “you need not reproach me。
You are not very gay yourself。”
“Why should you think so！” replied he； with a sigh。 “But gaiety
never was a part of my character。”
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“Nor do I think it a part of Marianne’s；” said Elinor； “I should
hardly call her a lively girl—she is very earnest； very eager in all
she does—sometimes talks a great deal and always with
animation—but she is not often really merry。”
“I believe you are right；” he replied； “and yet I have always set
her down as a lively girl。”
“I have frequently detected myself in such kind of mistakes；”
said Elinor； “in a total misapprehension of character in some point
or other： fancying people so much more gay or grave； or ingenious
or stupid than they really are； and I can hardly tell why or in what
the deception originated。 Sometimes one is guided by what they
say of themselves； and very frequently by what other people say of
them； without giving oneself time to deliberate and judge。”
“But I thought it was right； Elinor；” said Marianne； “to be
guided wholly by the opinion of other people。 I thought our
judgments were given us merely to be subservient to those of
neighbours。 This has always been your doctrine； I am sure。”
“No； Marianne； never。 My doctrine has never aimed at the
subjection of the understanding。 All I have ever attempted to
influence has been the behaviour。 You must not confound my
meaning。 I am guilty； I confess； of having often wished you to treat
our acquaintance in general with greater attention； but when have
I advised you to adopt their sentiments or to conform to their
judgment in serious matters？”
“You have not been able to bring your sister over to your plan
of general civility；” said Edward to Elinor