] And a LOL line: "Colonel Brandon, the friend of Sir John, seemed no more adapted by resemblance of manner to be his friend, than Lady Middleton was to be his wife, or Mrs. Jennings to be Lady Middleton's mother."

I've always found this an intriguing part of the novel, and I think it says a lot about Brandon that he can not only tolerate Sir John with reasonable equanimity but is actually described as being friends with him. But I'm sure we can all give examples from our own lives of people we've known a long time and have great affection for on that basis, though there seems to be no other reason for it.