] ] I wouldn't feel this way if Marianne were just a few years older.

] She's 19 when they marry. Elinor also married at 19 (Snip). I'm not sure what kind of 'experience' a young woman who is already considered to be of marriageable age would be able to gain by waiting around for another couple of years.

In the context of Austenian times I agree with you. What could Marianne gain by remaining at home? With Elinor absent, apart from domestic chores she wouldn't receive much experience of life! She has already matured from a self-centred, selfish girl into a more thoughtful, aware young woman of marriagable age and demeanour. I thought genteel young women gained their life experience through marriage; She'll have her house keeping duties and we read of Marianne as a mother,'village patroness'.As a Colonel's wife she may have duties in society.Seems like she's going to be pretty busy so it's hard to believe her charecter won't continue to evolve. True, she may have to expect a fairly long widowhood but if she can look over 20-25 years of relative domestic harmony and has her family and sisters around her; the Brandons age difference seems no obstacle to marriage. (In our Age there are still long widowhoods.) Through her marriage I think Marianne will learn,become more experienced and be happier than if she merely stays home.