Until I saw the Emma Thompson movie, I never cared much for Edward, and could not feel emotionally invested in the Edward-Elinor relationship. I had partly blamed this on the fact that we are told that they are in love without being shown it, but it wasn't until this reading that I realized how blatant it is.

The first mention of Edward is "This circumstance was a growing attachment between her eldest girl and the brother of Mrs. John Dashwood". We are told they are attached before we even know his name! Then we have discussions between Elinor and Mrs. Dashwood, Mrs. Dashwood and Marianne, Marianne and Elinor, and Fanny and Mrs. Dashwood, all about the relationship between Edward and Elinor.

But through all this, Edward has still not actually appeared in a scene! This is his first appearance: "Edward turned hastily towards her on hearing this, and in a voice of surprise and concern, which required no explanation to her, repeated, 'Devonshire! Are you, indeed, going there? So far from hence! And to what part of it?'"

And that's it. He doesn't appear again while the Dashwoods are at Norland!