 rather too much to pretend to know him very well.«
    Elinor heard all this with attention and surprise. »And who was this uncle?
Where did he live? How came they acquainted?« She wished very much to have the
subject continued, though she did not chuse to join in it herself; but nothing
more of it was said, and for the first time in her life, she thought Mrs.
Jennings deficient either in curiosity after petty information, or in a
disposition to communicate it. The manner in which Miss Steele had spoken of
Edward, increased her curiosity; for it struck her as being rather ill-natured,
and suggested the suspicion of that lady's knowing, or fancying herself to know
something to his disadvantage. - But her curiosity was unavailing, for no
farther notice was taken of Mr. Ferrars's name by Miss Steele when alluded to,
or even openly mentioned by Sir John.
 

                                  Chapter XXII

Marianne, who had never much toleration for any thing like impertinence,
vulgarity, inferiority of parts, or even difference of taste from herself, was
at this time particularly ill-disposed, from the state of her spirits, to be
pleased with the Miss Steeles, or to encourage their advances; and to the
invariable coldness of her behaviour towards them, which checked every endeavour
at intimacy on their side, Elinor principally attributed that preference of
herself which soon became evident in the manners of both, but especially of
Lucy, who missed no opportunity of engaging her in conversation, or of striving
to improve their acquaintance by an easy and frank communication of her
sentiments.
    Lucy was naturally clever; her remarks were often just and amusing; and as a
companion for half an hour Elinor frequently found her agreeable; but her powers
had received no aid from education, she was ignorant and illiterate, and her
deficiency of all mental improvement, her want of information in the most common
particulars, could not be concealed from Miss Dashwood, in spite of her constant
endeavour to appear to advantage. Elinor saw, and pitied her for, the neglect of
abilities which education might have rendered so respectable; but she saw, with
less tenderness of feeling, the thorough want of delicacy, of rectitude, and
integrity of mind, which her attentions, her assiduities, her flatteries at the
Park betrayed; and she could have no lasting satisfaction in the company of a
person who joined insincerity with ignorance; whose want of instruction
prevented their meeting in conversation on terms of equality, and whose conduct
towards others, made every shew of attention and deference towards herself
perfectly valueless.
    »You
