Barbara began a thread on how Elinor likes to weigh and evaluate, wanting proof before jumping to conclusions which is futher evidenced with Elinor's effort in trying to determine if her sister and Willoughby are engaged. I, also noticed how she uses the same system of weighing and evaluating along with observaion and available information to determine what people are like. This week's section has her observing Brandon. (ch. 10)

"Colonel Brandon's partiality for Marianne, which had so early been discovered by his friends, now first became perceptible to Elinor, when it ceased to be noticed by them. Their attention and wit were drawn off to his more fortunate rival;..."

This tells us that Elinor, has taken her time to recognize the Colonel's feelings, instead of jumping on the bandwagon with the others teasing and making quick judgements based on the fact that the Colonel was attentive to Marianne's playing, etc. Elinor's assessment continues:

"...She saw it with concern; for what could a silent man of five-and-thirty hope, when opposed by a very lively one of five-and-twenty? and as she could not even wish him successful, she heartily wished him indifferent. She liked him -- in spite of his gravity and reserve, she beheld in him an object of interest. His manners, though serious, were mild; and his reserve appeared rather the result of some oppression of spirits, than of any natural gloominess of temper. Sir John had dropped hints of past injuries and disappointments, which justified her belief of his being an unfortunate man, and she regarded him with respect and compassion."

Here she has taken bits of information from Sir John, evaluated them with what she has observed herself and, as with Edward, delved beneath the surface to determine that his oppression of spirits is more than a tendency than what appears to be a naturally gloomy personality.

Ch. 11

"In Colonel Brandon alone, of all her new acquaintance, did Elinor find a person who could in any degree claim the respect of abilities, excite the interest of friendship, or give pleasure as a companion. Willoughby was out of the question... Colonel Brandon...in conversing with Elinor...found the greatest consolation for the total indifference of her sister."

They seem so well suited, don't they? As it is looking like the Colonel can't have Marianne and Elinor can't have Edward, could JA be setting them up as a couple?