, this reproach would have been spared.«
    »My love,« said her mother, »you must not be offended with Elinor - she was
only in jest. I should scold her myself, if she were capable of wishing to check
the delight of your conversation with our new friend.« - Marianne was softened
in a moment.
    Willoughby, on his side, gave every proof of his pleasure in their
acquaintance, which an evident wish of improving it could offer. He came to them
every day. To inquire after Marianne was at first his excuse; but the
encouragement of his reception, to which every day gave greater kindness, made
such an excuse unnecessary before it had ceased to be possible, by Marianne's
perfect recovery. She was confined for some days to the house; but never had any
confinement been less irksome. Willoughby was a young man of good abilities,
quick imagination, lively spirits, and open, affectionate manners. He was
exactly formed to engage Marianne's heart, for with all this, he joined not only
a captivating person, but a natural ardour of mind which was now roused and
increased by the example of her own, and which recommended him to her affection
beyond every thing else.
    His society became gradually her most exquisite enjoyment. They read, they
talked, they sang together; his musical talents were considerable; and he read
with all the sensibility and spirit which Edward had unfortunately wanted.
    In Mrs. Dashwood's estimation, he was as faultless as in Marianne's; and
Elinor saw nothing to censure in him but a propensity, in which he strongly
resembled and peculiarly delighted her sister, of saying too much what he
thought on every occasion, without attention to persons or circumstances. In
hastily forming and giving his opinion of other people, in sacrificing general
politeness to the enjoyment of undivided attention where his heart was engaged,
and in slighting too easily the forms of worldly propriety, he displayed a want
of caution which Elinor could not approve, in spite of all that he and Marianne
could say in its support.
    Marianne began now to perceive that the desperation which had seized her at
sixteen and a half, of ever seeing a man who could satisfy her ideas of
perfection, had been rash and unjustifiable. Willoughby was all that her fancy
had delineated in that unhappy hour and in every brighter period, as capable of
attaching her; and his behaviour declared his wishes to be in that respect as
earnest, as his abilities were strong.
    Her mother too, in whose mind not one speculative thought of their marriage
had been raised