People: Lucy Steele, Elinor, Mrs. Ferrars
Text: The natural result of Mrs. Fanny Dashwood and Lady Middleton becoming acquainted is that the two of them would get together socially. Fanny Dashwood invited Lady Middleton and her husband, Mrs. Jennings, the Dashwood sisters, and the Steele sisters for dinner. And the long-dreaded appearance of Mrs. Ferrars was to be a part of the dinner. But although Mrs. Ferrars was to be there, Edward Ferrars was not.
Lucy brought up this visit with Elinor, seemingly to give her pain.
Elinor began immediately to determine that Edward, who lived with his mother, must be asked as his mother was, to a party given by his sister; and to see him for the first time after all that passed, in the company of Lucy! She hardly knew how she could bear it!
But her worries were relieved by the good will of Lucy, who believed herself to be inflicting a severe disappointment when she told Elinor that Edward certainly would not be in the party on Tuesday, and she even hoped to be carrying the pain still farther by persuading Elinor, that he was kept away by that extreme affection for herself, which he could not conceal when they were together.
The important Tuesday came that was to introduce the two young ladies to this formidable mother-in-law.
Lucy said to Elinor as they were entering the house, “Pity me, dear Miss Dashwood! There is nobody here but you, that can feel for me. I declare I can hardly stand. Good gracious! In a moment I shall see the person that all my happiness depends on-that is to be my mother!”
Emotion: duplicity
Insight: Proverbs 17:27 knows one lady better than the other, “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.”
Quiet and self-controlled Elinor sees right through Lucy Steele’s words and motives. Elinor realizes that she’ being informed by Lucy of Edward’s potential presence with the sole purpose of wounding her and causing pain. By sharing her secret of an unknown engagement with Edward Ferrars to only Elinor, Lucy has in a sense trapped Elinor with her words. And this secret places Elinor in a position to get no help from another, not even Marianne. But Elinor, quiet, and wise to Lucy’s schemes, has the capacity to understand her rival well.
This verse knows the character of Elinor Dashwood. By guarding her words and keeping control over her own wounded spirit, Elinor has the advantage of truly knowing Lucy Steele better than she even knows herself. Elinor has the insight needed to grasp Lucy’s true jealous motives. And she has the self-control necessary to manage this rival. May we be wise like Elinor and quietly study those in our lives that seek to wound us. And then let us have the control needed to deal with our adversaries.
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