I meant nasty in the best possible meaning but should perhaps have chosen observant. I still maintain Fanny to be infantile, she seems hindered in her natural development by her domineering and oppressive surroundings, so it is hardly surprising that she cannot reach are more mature state. At the beginning of the book JA says "Kept back as she was by everybody else, his single support could not bring her forward" - admittedly she goes on describing Edmund's kindness, but it is not an equal relationship. As far as I remember Fanny stays more or less the same throughout the book, but as I am re-reading it I'm willing to change my view on that.

Your quote is a good example of Edmund's generosity which he certainly posseses, but don't you think he has a bit of a mean side to him? The best example is maybe the conversation he has with Fanny about moving in with Mrs Norris, there is not a lot of compassion in it and him trying to persuade her that it is " as good for her mind as riding is for her health" is nasty. I find Mrs Norris to be exctremely taxing and wouldn't wish sharing a house with her on anybody. But I suppose one may argue that he was trying to see the development in a positive light for Fanny's sake.