Sense & Sensibility, chapter 25: Trip Advisory
You know how I’ve hinted that Mrs. J and Marianne share a couple of character traits? Well, here’s another example of what one might call a kindred spirit: see, Marianne’s motivation for accepting the invite is pretty selfish (although she expresses her sincere gratitude in the first positive dialogue exchange she has with Mrs. J). But the matron is also pretty blatant about why she’s inviting the Dashwood girls: she likes their company, but she wants to go husband-hunting for them. “[I]f I don't get one of you at least well married before I have done with you, it shall not be my fault,” she promises. She wants the girls to use her—she loves the idea. She even accepts that the girls are going to “laugh at [her] odd ways behind [her] back,” fully embracing her silliness in the name of hosting duties. Sign me up for this Airbnb!
Marianne has declared that she doesn’t wish to participate in this husband-hunting culture. But this situation is different, because London is where Willoughby has gone. So she’s just hunting … the one guy. Which doesn’t at all make her a hypocrite. Right??? I don’t know. MA contains multitudes.
And hunting is what she’ll have to do, considering that she doesn’t know anything about Willoughby’s schedule (although it appears that she knows his address). The one thing that keeps MA from accepting the invite—at first—is her equally sincere desire to not leave Mama Dashwood. Aw. But when has the golden girl ever not been given anything by her mother?
When they ask Mama Dashwood’s permission, she’s happy as a clam to let them go. Notably, Elinor (who doesn’t think Marianne ought to go at all) voices an objection without using the W-word. Mrs. J, affable as she is, has what one might refer to as an inelegant social circle. (I would say vulgar, but then I just hear Miss Bingley’s voice and shudder.) This is treated with some weight, because, as Shapard points out, the distinction of class is important even to Mama Dashwood—who points out that “appear[ing] in public with Lady Middleton” will be the sisters’ saving grace. Marianne, in a tremendous display of cognitive dissonance, pooh-poohs Elinor being “frightened away by her dislike of Mrs. Jennings” and resolves to go whether or not Elinor deems it acceptable.
Okay, now MA is acting more like a hypocrite.
Of course, the real reason why Elinor herself would rather not go to London is one of the reasons why Mama Dashwood wants to get her there. The prospect of running into Edward (and Lucy, who’s already stated her plans to visit London) really doesn’t appeal to her. Elinor accepts that she must go because she realizes that Marianne and Mrs. J won’t be a good combination, what with Marianne’s anti-social tendencies and impulsive nature. She tries to mitigate her mother’s expectations regarding Edward, but it changes nothing because Mama and MA are a bit … obtuse when it comes to reading between the lines.
Then there’s Elinor’s anxiety about Marianne and Willoughby. Seeing MA “disregard” her absolute distaste for Mrs. J’s personality and conduct “in her pursuit of [Willoughby] was such a proof, so strong, so full, of the importance of that object to her, as Elinor, in spite of all that had passed, was not prepared to witness.” At this point, I don’t know who I feel more sorry for: MA for having caught feelings (and taking it to extremes); or Elinor, who wants to warn her sister but knows it won’t do any good. Even worse? The Steeles are going to be in London a week after the Dashwood sisters arrive.
The hunters are feeling pretty hunted right now.
Next stop: London, where letters are sent and old neighbors show up.
I just researched the information about the barouche box, read that entire article about all the carriages, and found it really interesting....thanks for that link! Knowing the details of how crowded Lizzy would be in that carriage makes it easier to see why she would refuse the offer, although having to ride with Lady Catherine under any circumstances would be enough motive by itself!
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