I think the fireside discussion in ch. 17 also reveals the different approaches to life of the two sisters:

Marieanne asks, 'What have wealth or grandeur to do with happiness ?' although it is clear that she believes life would be unendurable without a large house with servents, a carriage and one must have hunters. ;)
Elinor regonizes that it's hard to be happy without money yet has less extravagent ideas of income.
Marieanne's idea of a competence is about £2,000 a-year which is Elinor's idea of wealth.

When Margaret wishes someone would give them 'a large fortune a piece', an animated Edward joins in discussion of how the Dashwoods would spend their new wealth.
Yet how surprised and disturbed he appears when Marieanne calls him 'reserved'.