“They are very pretty, ma’am⁠—an’t they?” But then again, the dread of having been too civil, too encouraging herself, probably came over her, for she presently added⁠—

“Do you not think they are something in Miss Morton’s style of painting, Ma’am?⁠— She does paint most delightfully!⁠—How beautifully her last landscape is done!”

“Beautifully indeed! But she does everything well.”

Marianne could not bear this. She was already greatly displeased with Mrs. Ferrars; and such ill-timed praise of another, at Elinor’s expense, though she had not any notion of what was principally meant by it, provoked her immediately to say with warmth⁠—