 her. Mrs. Dashwood
was acting on motives of policy as well as pleasure in the frequency of her
visits at Delaford; for her wish of bringing Marianne and Colonel Brandon
together was hardly less earnest, though rather more liberal than what John had
expressed. It was now her darling object. Precious as was the company of her
daughter to her, she desired nothing so much as to give up its constant
enjoyment to her valued friend; and to see Marianne settled at the mansion-house
was equally the wish of Edward and Elinor. They each felt his sorrows, and their
own obligations, and Marianne, by general consent, was to be the reward of all.
    With such a confederacy against her - with a knowledge so intimate of his
goodness - with a conviction of his fond attachment to herself, which at last,
though long after it was observable to everybody else - burst on her - what
could she do?
    Marianne Dashwood was born to an extraordinary fate. She was born to
discover the falsehood of her own opinions, and to counteract, by her conduct,
her most favourite maxims. She was born to overcome an affection formed so late
in life as at seventeen, and with no sentiment superior to strong esteem and
lively friendship, voluntarily to give her hand to another! - and that other, a
man who had suffered no less than herself under the event of a former
attachment, whom, two years before, she had considered too old to be married, -
and who still sought the constitutional safeguard of a flannel waistcoat!
    But so it was. Instead of falling a sacrifice to an irresistible passion, as
once she had fondly flattered herself with expecting, - instead of remaining
even for ever with her mother, and finding her only pleasures in retirement and
study, as afterwards in her more calm and sober judgment she had determined on,
- she found herself at nineteen, submitting to new attachments, entering on new
duties, placed in a new home, a wife, the mistress of a family, and the
patroness of a village.
    Colonel Brandon was now as happy, as all those who best loved him, believed
he deserved to be; - in Marianne he was consoled for every past affliction; -
her regard and her society restored his mind to animation, and his spirits to
cheerfulness; and that Marianne found her own happiness in forming his, was
equally the persuasion and delight of each observing friend. Marianne could
never love by halves; and her whole heart became, in time, as much devoted to
her husband, as it had once been to Willoughby.
