You are right. It would have been nice to see them interacting somehow... at least a bit.

You've given a good example of Edward and Elinor's being mfeo.- made for each other :-) Sorry couldn't resist that reference to Sleepless in Seattle. Even though we didn't experience a whole lot of Edward, we got to see enough to know they will have a happy marriage.

While we didn't get to see enough of the Colonel interacting with Marianne, I learned enough to know he's quite wonderful; so I can accept their pairing pretty well. I must say I agree with you some (from the Agony Aunt thread) about the idea of Marianne's being his "reward". That word doesn't quite sit too well. I comfort myself with the fact that with her personality, she wouldn't allow herself to be a reward if she didn't really wish it.

It's funny too, that if Mrs. Jennings had kept her mouth shut, I think Marianne would have at least respected the Colonel as a flannel bedecked friend. After all she decided that he had good taste at their first meeting, despite his lack of raptures.

So I guess this brings us back to your prior point. I agree with you that Jane could have given us more interaction if she wished it. So I guess that wasn't her aim.