Cleveland — Sense and Sensibility

Fanny Dashwood calls on Mrs. Jennings and Lady Middleton, pleasing the latter's cold propriety while offending Mrs. Jennings with silence toward her sisters. Lucy confides that Edward is in town but dares not visit Bartlett's Buildings. The Dashwoods give a Harley Street dinner inviting Middletons, Jenningses, Colonel Brandon, Mrs. Ferrars, and, to Elinor's dread, the Steele sisters. Lucy exults at meeting Edward's mother; Elinor finds Mrs. Ferrars proud, sour, and disposed to dislike her while flattering Lucy ignorant of the engagement. After a dull dinner the ladies compare the heights of Harry Dashwood and William Middleton with absurd partisanship.

John displays Elinor's painted screens; Mrs. Ferrars dismisses them until learning the artist, then Fanny praises Miss Morton's superior painting. Marianne bursts out in Elinor's defense, embraces her sister, and weeps, shocking the room while Colonel Brandon sees only her affection. John tells Brandon Marianne has lost her beauty through nerves. Ferrars family meanness stands fully exposed, and Elinor must witness Lucy's social triumph beside Edward's mother without speaking the truth that would explain everything. Marianne's public defense of Elinor's screens is the chapter's emotional climax: sisterly loyalty erupts where Ferrars politeness failed, and Colonel Brandon reads only Marianne's generous heart while John cruelly blames her nerves for lost beauty.