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see the person that all my happiness depends on—that is to be my
mother！”—
Elinor could have given her immediate relief by suggesting the
possibility of its being Miss Morton’s mother； rather than her own；
whom they were about to behold； but instead of doing that； she
assured her； and with great sincerity； that she did pity her—to the
utter amazement of Lucy； who； though really uncomfortable
herself； hoped at least to be an object of irrepressible envy to
Elinor。
Mrs。 Ferrars was a little； thin woman； upright； even to
formality； in her figure； and serious； even to sourness； in her
aspect。 Her complexion was sallow； and her features small；
without beauty； and naturally without expression； but a lucky
contraction of the brow had rescued her countenance from the
disgrace of insipidity； by giving it the strong characters of pride
and ill nature。 She was not a woman of many words； for； unlike
people in general； she proportioned them to the number of her
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ideas； and of the few syllables that did escape her； not one fell to
the share of Miss Dashwood； whom she eyed with the spirited
determination of disliking her at all events。
Elinor could not now be made unhappy by this behaviour。—A
few months ago it would have hurt her exceedingly； but it was not
in Mrs。 Ferrars’ power to distress her by it now；—and the
difference of her manners to the Miss Steeles； a difference which
seemed purposely made to humble her more； only amused her。
She could not but smile to see the graciousness of both mother
and daughter towards the very person—for Lucy was particularly
distinguished—whom of all others； had they known as much as
she did； they would have been most anxious to mortify； while she
herself； who had comparatively no power to wound them； sat
pointedly slighted by both。 But while she smiled at a graciousness
so misapplied； she could not reflect on the mean…spirited folly from
which it sprung； nor observe the studied attentions with which the
Miss Steeles courted its continuance； without thoroughly
despising them all four。
Lucy was all exultation on being so honourably distinguished；
and Miss Steele wanted only to be teazed about Dr。 Davis to be
perfectly happy。
The dinner was a grand one； the servants were numerous； and
every thing bespoke the Mistress’s inclination for show； and the
Master’s ability to support it。 In spite of the improvements and
additions which were making to the Norland estate； and in spite of
its owner having once been within some thousand pounds of being
obliged to sell out at a loss； nothing gave any symptom of that
indigence which he had tried to infer from it；—no poverty of any
kind； except of conversation； appeared—but there； the deficiency
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was considerable。 John Dashwood had not much to say for himself
that was worth hearing； and his wife had still less。 But there was
no peculiar disgrace in this； for it was very much the case with the
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