People: Elinor, Lucy Steele, Edward Ferrars, Marianne
Text: While Lucy Steele was still visiting with Elinor, a very unwelcome visitor decided to call. Edward Ferrars, secretly engaged to one woman and secretly loving the other, entered the drawing room where the two women met. Instantly, the uneasiness was felt by all and for various reasons.
Just then, Marianne entered the room, not knowing about the secret engagement that kept the other three feeling awkward.
“Dear Edward!” she cried, “this is a moment of great happiness! This would almost make amends for everything!”
Edward tried to return her kindness as it deserved, but before such witnesses he dared not say half what he really felt. Again, they all sat down, and for a moment or two all were silent. Edward was the first to speak, and it was to notice Marianne’s altered looks, and express his fear of her not finding London to agree with her.
“Oh! Don’t think of me!” she replied, with spirited earnestness, though her eyes were filled with tears as she spoke, “don’t think of my health. Elinor is well, you see. That must be enough for us both.”
Lucy looked at Marianne with no very benignant expression.
“Do you like London?” said Edward, willing to say anything that might introduce another subject.
“Not at all,” said Marianne. “I expected much pleasure in it, but I have found none. The sight of you, Edward, is the only comfort it has afforded; and thank Heaven! You are what you always were!”
She paused. No one spoke.
“I think, Elinor,” she presently added, “we must employ Edward to take care of us in our return to Barton. In a week or two, I suppose, we shall be going; and I trust, Edward will not be very unwilling to accept the charge.”
Poor Edward muttered something, but what it was, nobody knew, not even himself. Edward soon left and right after him Lucy Steele.
Emotion: awkwardness
Insight: Philippians 2:4 describes the love of others, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Not knowing about the secret engagement of Lucy, and not knowing that Elinor is aware of it, Marianne attempts to draw all of Edward’s attention towards her sister. The situation only becomes more awkward as each sees the others respond with little interaction. Edward looks like he was caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Elinor is deeply embarrassed. Lucy is angry. The conversation continues with Marianne trying to point all attention toward Elinor, but rather unsuccessfully.
May we love as well as Marianne. Unknowing of all the relational entanglements of the three people before her, Marianne continues to push the conversation in Elinor’s direction. She is not looking at all toward her own interests, but rather the good of her sister, Elinor. Although being asked about her health and London, Marianne thinks only of her sister and her love for this man. Let us emulate Marianne in her consistent and fervent love for others.
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