This is part of the novel where I readily sympathize with whatever snobbish attitude the Dashwoods may have towards Sir John and Mrs. Jennings.

Colonel Brandon has just received an important private communication, to which he must respond immediately by leaving for London. And what do Sir John and his mother-in-law do? Behave in a manner that would have given Lydia a run for her money.

Mrs. Jennings tries to get the Colonel to reveal what the letter is about. She then pretends to have discovered his secret and publicly embarrasses him by predicting that it concerns a woman, later even revealing her conjecture to Elinor. Sir John and Mrs. Jennings badger him to put his visit off when they learn of his decision to leave the party at once. Then, Mrs. Jennings presses him over and over and over to reveal his business so that they would be able to judge whether his journey could be put off or not. Finally, Sir John tops off this whole rude-fest by saying that this matter was probably something the Colonel was ashamed of!!!