] My vote is for the latter. She keeps her feelings to herself because it is the prudent thing to do. And isn't that what all we Mariannes learn as we grow up into Elinors?

... it's too much. It isn't Elinor's high moral principles I have a problem with: sorry to get into Austenuations territory here, but I very much admire Elizabeth Bennet for her high moral principles, while I can only manage a kind of lukewarm admiration for Elinor. I know this is going against the majority opinion on this board, but she just doesn't seem to get much pleasure out of life (even apart from the fact that she's unhappy in love!). She's suppressing so many unhappy feelings that I wonder she doesn't explode! All right, so she can't confide in her mother and sister, but why not look around for somebody she *can* confide in, or at least keep a diary ... something!