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Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
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Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 24
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 them；
you have from peculiar circumstances been kept more ignorant
than myself。 He and I have been at times thrown a good deal
together； while you have been wholly engrossed on the most
affectionate principle by my mother。 I have seen a great deal of
him； have studied his sentiments and heard his opinion on
subjects of literature and taste； and； upon the whole； I venture to
pronounce that his mind is well…informed； enjoyment of books
exceedingly great； his imagination lively； his observation just and
correct； and his taste delicate and pure。 His abilities in every
respect improve as much upon acquaintance as his manners and
person。 At first sight； his address is certainly not striking； and his
person can hardly be called handsome； till the expression of his
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eyes； which are uncommonly good； and the general sweetness of
his countenance； is perceived。 At present； I know him so well； that
I think him really handsome； or at least； almost so。 What say you；
Marianne？”
“I shall very soon think him handsome； Elinor； if I do not now。
When you tell me to love him as a brother； I shall no more see
imperfection in his face； than I now do in his heart。”
Elinor started at this declaration； and was sorry for the warmth
she had been betrayed into； in speaking of him。 She felt that
Edward stood very high in her opinion。 She believed the regard to
be mutual； but she required greater certainty of it to make
Marianne’s conviction of their attachment agreeable to her。 She
knew that what Marianne and her mother conjectured one
moment； they believed the next—that with them； to wish was to
hope； and to hope was to expect。 She tried to explain the real state
of the case to her sister。
“I do not attempt to deny；” said she； “that I think very highly of
him—that I greatly esteem； that I like him。”
Marianne here burst forth with indignation—
“Esteem him！ Like him！ Cold…hearted Elinor！ Oh！ worse than
cold…hearted！ Ashamed of being otherwise。 Use those words again；
and I will leave the room this moment。”
Elinor could not help laughing。 “Excuse me；” said she； “and be
assured that I meant no offence to you； by speaking； in so quiet a
way； of my own feelings。 Believe them to be stronger than I have
declared； believe them； in short； to be such as his merit； and the
suspicion—the hope of his affection for me may warrant； without
imprudence or folly。 But farther than this you must not believe。 I
am by no means assured of his regard for me。 There are moments
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when the extent of it seems doubtful； and till his sentiments are
fully known； you cannot wonder at my wishing to avoid any
encouragement of my own partiality； by believing or calling it
more than it is。 In my heart I feel little—scarcely any doubt of his
preference。 But there are other points to be considered besides his
inclination。 He is very far from being independent。 What his
mother really is we cannot know； but； from Fanny’s occasional
mention of her conduct and opinions； we have never been
disposed to think her amiable； and I am very much mistaken if
Edward is not himself aware that there would be many difficulties
in his way； if he were to wish to marry a woman who had not
either a great fortune or high rank。”
Marianne was astonished to find how much the imagination of
her mother and herself had outstripped the truth。
“And you really are not engaged to him！” said she。 “Yet it
certainly soon will happen。 But two advantages will proceed from
this delay。 I shall not lose you so soon； and Edward will have
greater opportunity of improving that natural taste for your
favourite pursuit which must be so indispensably necessary to
your future felicity。 Oh！ if he should be so far stimulated by your
genius as to learn to draw himself； how delightful it would be！”
Eli