Sense and Sensibility: Chapter 41 Summary & Analysis

Lucy and Edward were both equally happy and grateful to Elinor and Colonel Brandon. After this development, Elinor felt that she should pay a visit to Fanny, even though she did not particularly want to see her. She went alone and John invited her in to see Fanny.

John was astonished about the news of Colonel Brandon’s gift and wondered what Brandon’s motive was. Elinor said Brandon simply wanted “to be of use to Mr. Ferrars.” John cautioned Elinor not to speak of Edward with Fanny, as it would upset her.

John said that Mrs. Ferrars was unaware of the recent news and said that he thought she and Edward would reconcile when he married Lucy. He said that Mrs. Ferrars was “one of the most affectionate mothers in the world,” and told Elinor that now Robert was planning to marry Miss Morton.

Elinor asked if Miss Morton had any choice in the matter, but John said that there was no difference between Robert and Edward from her point of view, as he had received Edward’s former fortune. John then told her that, although Mrs. Ferrars would have opposed a union between Edward and Elinor, it would have been preferable to her to the engagement with Lucy.

At this point, Robert Ferrars entered. John went to go get Fanny, and Robert began talking of Edward. He laughed at the idea of Edward becoming a priest. Elinor couldn’t help but show her contempt for Robert in her expression. Robert said that he pitied Edward, and called Lucy “the merest awkward country girl, without style, or elegance, and almost without beauty.” Robert and Elinor were interrupted by the entrance of Fanny.