Sense and Sensibility: Chapter 30 Summary & Analysis

Mrs. Jennings came back home and checked on Marianne. She had heard of Willoughby’s upcoming engagement to a Miss Grey, and tried to comfort Marianne by saying that she would have no trouble finding another good husband. At dinner that night, Marianne was “looking most wretchedly,” but remained calm.

Mrs. Jennings was very kind to Marianne, and Elinor returned the politeness. When Marianne left the table, Mrs. Jennings lamented that Willoughby had used Marianne, but said that he evidently cared only about money, as Miss Grey was very rich. Mrs. Jennings asked if there was anything she could do to cheer up Marianne, but Elinor said she would simply try to get her to go to sleep early.

Elinor admitted to Mrs. Jennings that Willoughby had broken no formal engagement with Marianne, but Mrs. Jennings would have none of her defending Willoughby. She said that his behavior implied an engagement. But she said, optimistically, that now Marianne would likely marry Colonel Brandon, which would be a good match.

After Elinor went to check on Marianne and tried to persuade her to go to bed, Colonel Brandon arrived, having heard about Willoughby’s engagement. He asked Elinor how Marianne was doing, and Elinor told him he could imagine how upset she was, as he knew “her disposition.”