Thanks for your kind words and for the interesting ideas! I have not considered the birth order of any of the sisters and how it relates to the degree of responsibility the older child takes on for the younger sibling so it is a new and interesting idea for me. It works (they are similar) for each pair of sisters but Nancy and Lucy Steele. As an oldest sibling myself, necessarily the oldest sister too—I think your point is a good one for I always felt responsible to look out for my younger sister and brother without the necessity of being asked to do so. I do not know about JA but it is also an interesting idea, perhaps the upcoming group read of her letters will be enlightening. Edward does not seem to show much responsibility for Robert but as we never see them together perhaps it is something that cannot be known. ;D

I think it is an interesting point that Marianne and Charlotte are both the second daughter and were the favorites of their mothers and also very much like them and throwing Robert into the mix (second son and obviously the favorite) is just a whole lot of fun—he is like her in not understanding the honor and pride by which Edward conducts himself after the engagement is exposed. I wonder if Robert tries to talk Lucy out of the engagement on his own or because someone asked him to. Who would ask him to do such a thing? Mrs. Ferrars decreed that Edward was no longer her son and John asks Elinor and Marianne to never acknowledge him at all because that is her wish--so I do not see any of the three asking Robert to go to Lucy. I cannot see John and Fanny going against Mrs. Ferrars wishes. Robert, however, does not speak that respectfully of his mother IMO—he blames her for Edward’s social inaptitude attributing it to her choice of a private education for him and he shows himself to be much more rebellious and “ungrateful” than Edward by actually marrying Lucy without parental consent. Robert has the inheritance and has nothing to loose if Edward abandons Lucy except the horrid connection to her. I can hardly believe I am saying this but I can see him defying his mother to try to help Edward. He would not go to the trouble just to sever an embarrassing connection would he? At times during Robert’s snide monologs he almost seems to actually feel sorry for Edward although he has done himself in. From Robert’s point of view and he must feel it sincerely—Miss Morton and her money would be a better match for Edward. I have always wondered why Robert is not automatically exchanged for Edward as the potential husband for her—I guess it does not happen because Mrs. Ferrars expects Edward to eventually give in and do as she asks. She really knows neither of her sons at all. ;D