You make me laugh BarbaraB but what an interesting point! (;D)I feel for dear Elinor. This seems to be a pattern. Willoughby has all the dramatics of a lover while Edward continually falls short. At first in Marianne’s eyes but at least at the end of Ch. 16 Elinor (as you say) is also vexed. On the road home Edward compares ill to Willoughby:

To Marianne, indeed, the meeting between Edward and her sister was but a continuation of that unaccountable coldness which she had often observed at Norland in their mutual behaviour. On Edward's side, more particularly, there was a deficiency of all that a lover ought to look and say on such an occasion. He was confused, seemed scarcely sensible of pleasure in seeing them, looked neither rapturous nor gay, said little but what was forced from him by questions, and distinguished Elinor by no mark of affection. Marianne saw and listened with increasing surprise. She began almost to feel a dislike of Edward; and it ended, as every feeling must end with her, by carrying back her thoughts to Willoughby, whose manners formed a contrast sufficiently striking to those of his brother elect. (Ch. 16)

Just because Edward was neither rapturous nor gay by Marianne’s standards does not really mean much but he does appear to be steeped in a quiet confusion which is odd since he came of a purpose to Barton cottage to visit them. What is it that has Edward so twisted inside that he cannot enjoy their company, especially Elinor’s company? Is it perhaps Marianne’s questioning him where he has been before coming to Barton? When he first arrived he seemed well and joined Elinor and Margaret in calling Marianne back to meet him which to me does not agree with the later description above:

They were soon within thirty yards of the gentleman. Marianne looked again; her heart sunk within her: and abruptly turning round, she was hurrying back, when [as] the voices of both her sisters were raised to detain her, a third, almost as well known as Willoughby's, joined them in begging her to stop, and she turned round with surprise to see and welcome Edward Ferrars. (Ch. 16)