"I may venture to say that HIS observations

have stretched much further than your candour.

But why should you dislike him?"

"I do not dislike him. I consider him, on the contrary,

as a very respectable man, who has every body's good word,

and nobody's notice; who, has more money than he can spend,

more time than he knows how to employ, and two new coats

every year."

"Add to which," cried Marianne, "that he has

neither genius, taste, nor spirit. That his understanding

has no brilliancy, his feelings no ardour, and his voice

no expression."

"You decide on his imperfections so much in the mass,"

replied Elinor, "and so much on the strength of your

own imagination, that the commendation I am able to give

of him is comparatively cold and insipid. I can only

pronounce him to be a sensible man, well-bred, well-informed,

of gentle address, and, I believe, possessing an amiable heart."

"Miss Dashwood," cried Willoughby, "you are now using

me unkindly. You are endeavouring to disarm me by reason,

and to convince me against my will. But it will not do.

You shall find me as stubborn as you can be artful. I have

three unanswerable reasons for disliking Colonel Brandon;

he threatened me with rain when I wanted it to be fine;

he has found fault with the hanging of my curricle,

and I cannot persuade him to buy my brown mare. If it

will be any satisfaction to you, however, to be told,

that I believe his character to be in other respects

irreproachable, I am ready to confess it. And in return

for an acknowledgment, which must give me some pain,

you cannot deny me the privilege of disliking him as much

as ever."