] She is certainly not going to have much rational conversation with Sir John, Lady Middleton or Mrs. Jennings - or Willoughby, for he is too wrought up in Marianne. How she must be missing the reasoned discourse she enjoyed with Edward, and how pleased I am that she is able to develope a friendship with Col. Brandon. But she does seem to me to be very lonely at times...

I had never looked at it this way before but it's true, Elinor must feel quite lonely. Previously, their differences on romantic values and practical realism were merely spirited sisterly debates but it would seem otherwise now that Willoughby has come on the scene. In the past it would appear they talked and discussed most other matters as part of their everyday conversations. Willoughby appears to be making himslef the embodiment of a concrete wedge between the sisters. This is not to suggest they don't still love each other dearly, but the presence of Willoughby has brought to life and intensified their differences because Marianne now focuses her energies on Willoughby and purposefully...oh, I wanted to make a further point but will have to save it until next weeek. This observation, though, has made me more aware of Elinor's isolation in the story.