It is difficult not knowing what was said between Marianne and Willoughby! Mrs. Dashwood was unfair to Elinor because she does not wish to doubt Willoughby but she is also not watching out for Marianne. What if the worst is true and they are not engaged and Marianne is pinning away for a man who has no honorable intentions. It seems to me Mrs. Dashwood ought to find out what is going on because if they are not engaged then Willoughby’s behavior has not been honorable. To paraphrase Persuasion—Mrs. Dashwood needs to love her daughters better than her own abilities. (:D)