I learned to revile Fanny in Ch. 2 for her mercenary stripping of John’s plan to help his sisters. In Ch. 34, along with Lucy and Elinor; I met Mrs. Ferrars at the Dashwood’s trial of a dinner party. Her determined prejudice against Elinor is laughable but still despicable. Robert ambles along two chapters later in all his unmerited smugness, too foolish for rational conversation. We finally have a picture of those with whom Edward has been forced by Fate to call family and it is an ugly one. It does not even seem that they have affection for Edward. It was a challenge but I have construed some possible signs of affection. Are Fanny’s hysterics a symptom of her affection? Are Mrs. Ferrars’ single minded efforts to force Edward to marry Lord’s Morton’s daughter (gasp!) have any root in care or affection as John Dashwood says in Ch. 37? Does Robert putting the blame for Edward’s “extreme gaucherie” (36) to private education rather than his brother suggest even the slightest hint of affection lives among the envy and self-aggrandizing? Convinced? I’m not! I think all three are thoroughly without anything to recommend them—at least living with them must have been excellent training for a life with Lucy! (;D)