Sense and Sensibility III

Sir John Middleton loves company, and he then invites some more visitors. They are 2 sisters, the Miss Steeles, who are distant relatives. They are not so likable as Mrs Jennings, and are clearly sucking up to Lady Middleton by adoring her children. Lucy, the younger of the 2 is clever and pretty, while Anne is rather stupid and plain. Lucy works up a friendship with Elinor, and then tells her that she is engaged to Edward Ferrars but it is a secret, as she is not highly born or well to do and his family will not like the match. Elinor feels unhappy. She loved Edward and believed that although they had not spoken about love, he cared for her and would have proposed. She can see that Lucy is an adventuress, and is clinging to an engagement with Edward because of his family wealth. But Lucy has letters of his and mentions a ring she gave him, which Elinor has seen. Mrs Jennings is going back to her London house, and asks the older Dashwood girls to be her guests, and Marianne is very keen to go, because Willoughby is in London. Elinor finds the journey wearing because her sister is not particularly polite to Mrs Jennings, and she has to keep up good manners. In London, Marianne is highly emotional as they do not receive any visit from Willoughby. She has another suitor, Colonel Brandon, who is quite a bit older than her but she is cool towards him, thinking him too old for love. Elinor is sorry for Marianne, but regrets her bad manners. Then they meet Willoughby at a party. He looks shocked to see them and only gives Marianne a cool acknowledgement. The following day, he writes to her and tells her that he is engaged to another woman and returns her letters. Marianne collapses with grief and shock.