Ch2 20 was an interesting read as Elinor probes Mrs. Palmer for more "intelligence" concerning both Willoughby and Col Brandon. What she got was, on the surface, very little but I think it reveals Mrs. Palmer as someone who is desperately seeking company and society as she talks about every subject brought up by Elinor in glittering generalities. Both the Dashwoods steadfastly refuse Mrs. Palmer's invitation to visit and I think this probably happened often with the Palmers. Elinor is suspicious when Mrs. Palmer claims to have met Col Brandon on Bond St. in London. Mrs. Palmer claims to know both Willoughby and Col Brandon quite well, even though she lives a distance from each of them. Both Willoughby and Col. Brandon are "out of the country" for lengths of time which would make her "knowing them for a long time" also questionable. Her "refusal" of a marriage proposal by Col. Brandon is sort of twisted about to give the impression that she refused Col. Brandon on the advice of her "Mama," an excellent and insightful point brought out by Barbara. People who lack society and are little respected seem to indulge in such exaggeratons and name-dropping in order to make themselves appear more acceptable by society.