I delight in reading Marianne in chapter 18. She is so focussed on her sister Elinor, and what she conceives of as Elinor's happiness, that it is a lovely change from her sighings over Willoughby.
And yet she keeps getting things if not wrong, then not quite right. Somehow I find it sweet.
He joined her and Marianne in the breakfast-room the next morning before the others were down; and Marianne, who was always eager to promote their happiness as far as she could, soon left them to themselves. But before she was half way up stairs she heard the parlour door open, and, turning round, was astonished to see Edward himself come out.
...
"I never saw you wear a ring before, Edward," she cried. "Is that Fanny's hair? I remember her promising to give you some. But I should have thought her hair had been darker."
Marianne spoke inconsiderately what she really felt -- but when she saw how much she had pained Edward, her own vexation at her want of thought could not be surpassed by his.
...
Edward's embarrassment lasted some time, and it ended in an absence of mind still more settled. He was particularly grave the whole morning. Marianne severely censured herself for what she had said; but her own forgiveness might have been more speedy, had she known how little offence it had given her sister.