达什伍德太太在诺兰庄园又住了好几个月；这并不是因为每当看到那些熟悉的景物时，她不再像起初那样激起强烈的情绪波动就不愿搬走；因为当她的精神开始恢复，心境也能从借忧郁的回忆加重哀伤中抽身做些别的事时，她就急不可耐地想要离开，并不知疲倦地打听诺兰附近有没有合适的住所；因为要远远离开这片心爱的地方是不可能的。可是她打听到的地方，没有一处能同时满足她对舒适安逸的想法，又合乎长女审慎的要求——长女判断更稳重，嫌好几处房子对他们家的收入来说太大，而母亲本是会看中的。
达什伍德先生曾告诉妻子，他儿子郑重许诺会照顾她们母女，这给了他尘世最后的慰藉。她对此事的诚意毫不怀疑，正如他自己也不曾怀疑；为了女儿们，她想到这事也感到满意，虽说就她自己而言，她相信远不到七千镑的进项也足以让她宽裕度日。为了她们兄弟的缘故，为了他自己的心，她也感到欣喜；她责备自己从前错怪了他，原以为他不可能这样慷慨。他对她们母女和姐妹们的体贴关照，让她确信她们的利益对他弥足珍贵，很长一段时间里，她都坚信他心意宽厚。
早在相识之初，她对这个儿媳就满心轻蔑；后来在其家中住了半年，对她性情有了更深的了解，这轻蔑更是有增无减；或许若非有个特别的情形，按达什伍德太太的想法，让女儿们继续留在诺兰更为妥当，那么尽管前者再怎么顾全礼数或母女情分，这两位女士只怕也难相处如此之久。
这情形便是她长女与约翰·达什伍德太太的兄弟之间日渐亲密。那是个温文尔雅、讨人喜欢的青年，其妹在诺兰安顿后不久便被引见相识，此后大半时间都待在那里。
有些母亲会出于利益撮合这般亲近，因为爱德华·费拉斯是位巨富的独子；有些则会出于谨慎加以阻拦，因为除了一笔小数目，他的全部家产都系于其母的遗嘱。但达什伍德太太两样都不为所动。对她而言，只要他看来和善、爱她女儿、而埃莉诺也投以青眼，便已足够。她素来不认同任何因家财悬殊而拆散性情相投之人的道理；在她看来，但凡识得埃莉诺的人，不可能不认可她的美德。
爱德华·费拉斯并不靠出众的相貌或风度赢得她们的好感。他不算英俊，他的举止也需熟识才显可亲。他太过怯懦，不能尽展所长；可一旦天生的羞涩被克服，他的做派便显出一颗坦诚亲切的心。他悟性不差，所受教养也令其踏实长进。但他无论才具还是性情，都合不上母亲与姐姐的心意——她们盼着他出人头地，却也说不清究竟怎样。她们只望他在世间某途某径上风光体面。他母亲想引他关心政务，进议会，或结交当朝显贵。约翰·达什伍德太太 likewise 如此指望；但在此等鸿运未至的当口，哪怕见他驾着一辆四轮马车，也能安了她那野心。可爱德华对显贵与马车皆无兴致。他所有的心愿，不过在家庭的安逸与私生活的宁静。所幸他有个更出息的弟弟。
爱德华在宅中住了好几周，才惹得达什伍德太太多加留意；因那时她哀伤难抑，对周遭浑不在意。她只看出他安静、不张扬，便因此喜欢他。他不以不合时宜的闲谈扰她心绪。头回教她多瞧多许他的，是埃莉诺一日偶然评说他与姐妹的不同。这对比最有力地把他荐到了母亲跟前。
“这就够了，”她说，“只说他和范妮不同，便已足够。那便意味着一切可人之处。我已经爱上他了。”
“我想你多了解他后会喜欢他的。”埃莉诺说。
“喜欢他！”母亲含笑答道，“我心中称许之情，无一不近于爱。”
“你或许会敬重他。”
“我从不曾晓得，敬重与爱竟能分开。”
达什伍德太太这便用心与他相熟。她举止亲和，很快便去了他的拘谨。她迅即识尽他的好处；或许因信他属意埃莉诺，助了她的眼力；但她确然信他为人可贵：乃至那与她素来认定青年该有的做派相悖的安静，待她知他心热性柔后，也不再无趣了。
她刚看出他对埃莉诺有些情意的苗头，便认定他们已是认真相许，且眼看着婚事将近。
“再过几个月，我亲爱的玛丽安，”她说，“埃莉诺十有八九就要终身有托了。我们会想她；可她会是幸福的。”
“噢！妈妈，没了她我们可怎么过？”
“我的宝贝，这算不得分离。我们相距不过几英里，此生日日可见。你会得个兄弟，一个真心疼你的兄弟。我世上最信爱德华的心。可你神情凝重，玛丽安；你不赞成姐姐的择人么？”
“或许，”玛丽安说，“我会有些讶异。爱德华很和善，我也疼他。可毕竟——他不是那类青年——总缺了点什么——他身形不惹眼；全无我以为能叫我姐姐倾心的人该有的风度。他眼中缺了那般神采、那般火光，教人一眼便知德行与聪慧。此外，妈妈，我怕他毫无真趣味。音乐似乎不大引他，虽他极赞埃莉诺的画，却也不是懂其价值之人的赞法。分明地，尽管她作画时他频频注目，其实他一窍不通。他是以情人之眼赞，而非以行家之眼。要叫我满意，这两样须得兼备。我绝不能和一个趣味不与我处处相合的人同乐。他须得懂我所有感受；同样的书、同样的曲，须得叫我俩都醉心。噢！妈妈，昨晚爱德华读给我们听时，那神情多没生气、多乏味！我替姐姐难受极了。可她那样镇定，简直像没察觉。我几乎坐不住。听那些美丽诗句——常教我几乎发狂的——竟被他以那般木然的平静、可怖的淡漠念出来！”
“读浅白雅致的散文，他定会更胜任些。我当时便这么想；可你偏要给他考珀。”
“哎，妈妈，若连考珀都燃不动他！——可我们须容人趣味不同。埃莉诺没我的心思，故而她或能不计，与他欢喜。可若我爱他，听他读得如此无感，心都要碎了。妈妈，我越懂这世道，越确信永见不到一个我能真爱的男人。我要的太多！他须有爱德华所有的美德，而身形举止更要以一切可能的魅力妆点他的好。”
“记着，宝贝，你还不到十七。此生尚早，不必绝了这等福分的望。你怎就该比母亲少些运气？只愿有一处，我的玛丽安，你的命数可与她不同！
Mrs. Dashwood remained at Norland several months; not from any
disinclination to move when the sight of every well known spot ceased
to raise the violent emotion which it produced for a while; for when
her spirits began to revive, and her mind became capable of some other
exertion than that of heightening its affliction by melancholy
remembrances, she was impatient to be gone, and indefatigable in her
inquiries for a suitable dwelling in the neighbourhood of Norland; for
to remove far from that beloved spot was impossible. But she could hear
of no situation that at once answered her notions of comfort and ease,
and suited the prudence of her eldest daughter, whose steadier judgment
rejected several houses as too large for their income, which her mother
would have approved.
Mrs. Dashwood had been informed by her husband of the solemn promise on
the part of his son in their favour, which gave comfort to his last
earthly reflections. She doubted the sincerity of this assurance no
more than he had doubted it himself, and she thought of it for her
daughters’ sake with satisfaction, though as for herself she was
persuaded that a much smaller provision than 7000£ would support her in
affluence. For their brother’s sake, too, for the sake of his own
heart, she rejoiced; and she reproached herself for being unjust to his
merit before, in believing him incapable of generosity. His attentive
behaviour to herself and his sisters convinced her that their welfare
was dear to him, and, for a long time, she firmly relied on the
liberality of his intentions.
The contempt which she had, very early in their acquaintance, felt for
her daughter-in-law, was very much increased by the farther knowledge
of her character, which half a year’s residence in her family afforded;
and perhaps in spite of every consideration of politeness or maternal
affection on the side of the former, the two ladies might have found it
impossible to have lived together so long, had not a particular
circumstance occurred to give still greater eligibility, according to
the opinions of Mrs. Dashwood, to her daughters’ continuance at
Norland.
This circumstance was a growing attachment between her eldest girl and
the brother of Mrs. John Dashwood, a gentleman-like and pleasing young
man, who was introduced to their acquaintance soon after his sister’s
establishment at Norland, and who had since spent the greatest part of
his time there.
Some mothers might have encouraged the intimacy from motives of
interest, for Edward Ferrars was the eldest son of a man who had died
very rich; and some might have repressed it from motives of prudence,
for, except a trifling sum, the whole of his fortune depended on the
will of his mother. But Mrs. Dashwood was alike uninfluenced by either
consideration. It was enough for her that he appeared to be amiable,
that he loved her daughter, and that Elinor returned the partiality. It
was contrary to every doctrine of hers that difference of fortune
should keep any couple asunder who were attracted by resemblance of
disposition; and that Elinor’s merit should not be acknowledged by
every one who knew her, was to her comprehension impossible.
