Sense and Sensibility: Chapter 18 Summary & Analysis

Elinor couldn’t help but notice Edward’s seeming unhappiness. The next morning at breakfast, Marianne left Edward and Elinor by themselves, attempting to give them time to catch up, but Edward almost immediately left to go check on his horses. When he returned, he admired the surrounding country, though told Marianne that he had “no knowledge in the picturesque,” and wouldn’t be able to describe the landscape as she would like.

Marianne saw a ring on Edward’s finger that had a lock of hair in it. She asked if it was Fanny’s hair. Edward blushed and, after a long pause, said that it was. Elinor thought it looked like some of her own hair. Edward seemed embarrassed the rest of the morning. Later that day, Sir John and Mrs. Jennings visited to meet Edward. Upon discovering that his name started with an F, they suspected he was the person Margaret had mentioned Elinor was fond of.

Sir John and Mrs. Jennings invited everyone to a dance at Barton Park. Since Willoughby wouldn’t be there, Marianne cried out, “Impossible! Who is to dance?” Sir John said he wished Willoughby was around and Edward asked who Willoughby was, which made Marianne blush, giving away her feelings for him.