I agree Mrs. Dashwood wears her heart on her sleeve. Perhaps Fanny’s decent on Norland is in part payback for being so obviously disliked. That Fanny had no prior “opportunity, till the present, of shewing them with how little attention to the comfort of other people she could act when occasion required it makes me wonder if like Caroline Bingley to Mrs. Darcy (P&P) she had “paid off every arrear of civility to” the mistress of Norland before her father in-law’s death. I think Fanny is disingenuous enough to do it and had reason to since it does not appear anyone knew the contents of Henry Dashwood’s will till it was read. I also think Mrs. Dashwood did try to be civil to Fanny but sometimes forbearance was not to be had such as after Fanny insinuated Elinor was attempting to draw Edward in. She “could neither pretend to be unconscious, nor endeavour to be calm. She gave her an answer which marked her contempt, and instantly left the room” per Ch. 4. Not that Fanny deserves better but it does not seem Mrs. Dashwood exited with much control and although the former was a spontaneous outburst I cannot imagine her and Marianne in the throes of their renewed and renewed-again grief (Ch.1) to have had much to do with control either. Elinor sees “the excess of her sister's sensibility” with concern and she “frequently [had] to counteract, to the advantage of them all, that eagerness of mind in Mrs. Dashwood which must generally have led to imprudence”. It seems that giving rein to excess sensibility can contribute to troubled family relations or cause serious problems such as a breach with a brother. If Marianne and Mrs. Dashwood continue in this fashion what will dear Elinor have to content with? (:D)