I think Marianne deserved to be set down a bit. They are in a public place, prying eyes and ears everywhere - it is a time for circumspection, not confrontation. But Marianne - for whom disguise of every kind is her abhorance! - makes a public scene.

""Good heavens!" she exclaimed ... to be composed at such a moment was not only beyond the reach of Marianne, it was beyond her wish ... in an agony of impatience, which affected every feature ... the feelings of her sister were instantly expressed ... she exclaimed in a voice of the greatest emotion ... cried Marianne in the wildest anxiety ... Marianne, now looking dreadfully white, and unable to stand, sunk into her chair..."

Can't you just picture it? This loud, distraught, emotive girl bringing the attention of the whole place onto her and Willoughby - totally inappropriate. I think S&S2 does a good job of making this a visual squirm-fest.

I'm not saying that Willoughby doesn't owe her an explanation - he most certainly does - I'm just saying that this is part and parcel with Marianne's MO where her concerns and feelings take precidence over everyone else's, no matter the time or place or occasion. This was not the time for this, and she deserved to be rebuffed, IMO.

(Can you tell I'm having a really hard time with Marianne this read?)