Edward is what modern-day behavioral experts would call a "melancholy" personality. He neither gets too high or low but is quiet, steady and somewhat self-absorbed. His more subtle and less effusive description of the "country" is a counterpoint to Marianne's gushing and rapturous description of same. I found his teasing of Marianne over "who is Willoughby" on Ch 18 really cute. He obviously has great affection for all the Dashwoods and his playful provoking of Marianne, I believe, demonstrates his affection:

This, and Marianne's blushing, gave new suspicions to Edward. "And who is Willoughby?" said he, in a low voice, to Miss Dashwood, by whom he was sitting.

She gave him a brief reply. Marianne's countenance was more communicative. Edward saw enough to comprehend not only the meaning of others, but such of Marianne's expressions as had puzzled him before; and when their visitors left them, he went immediately round to her and said, in a whisper, "I have been guessing. Shall I tell you my guess?"

"What do you mean?"

"Shall I tell you?"

"Certainly."

"Well, then, I guess that Mr. Willoughby hunts."

ZING! That showed some wit and totally threw Marianne off-base as to what sort of an answer she anticipated!