] There are two scenes were Mrs. Jennings is teasing Elinor about lovers left behind at Norland. Elinor is very uncomfortable and pained, but is composed outwardly.

](snip) an earnestness which gave Elinor far more pain than could arise from such common-place raillery as Mrs. Jennings's." (end of chapter 7)

] Then Marianne "felt for her most sincerely; but she did more harm than good to the cause, by turning very red, and saying in an angry manner to Margaret.." (end of chapter 12)

] Through every re-read, I'm always bothered that Elinor didn't appreciate Marianne's emotional support for her pain. True, Marianne's emotions are overwrought and unwanted at times, but I would at least appreciate a sister that felt badly for you.

My reaction here is the opposite, and I side with Elinor. Marianne had resolved 'never to be taught' how to govern her strong feelings as Elinor does. In both of these instances, and others, Marianne's refusal to keep her feelings to herself makes matters worse for Elinor. Marianne's earnestness and turning red and reacting angrily to Mrs. Jennings' teasing serve to confirm her suspicions and add fuel to the fire, as it were. If, in response to the raillery, Elinor simply let it pass by with no reaction and nobody else reacted either, Mrs. Jennings would soon find some other amusement.