Sir John and Lady Middleton

I think a very deliberate parallel has been drawn between these two and John and Fanny Dashwood. First we are told that neither has much sensibility or taste making them the equals of the new owners of Norland. The first few times through this novel that was all I noticed.

And if we think like Marianne—which I suspect Jane Austen wants us to do for now—we will not notice, at least I didn't, that in every other way they are superior.

Sir John, who made no promises at anyone's deathbed, does as much for Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters as John Dashwood was willing to consider. And he does this with pleasure. Lady Middleton, meanwhile, makes it very clear to Mrs. Dashwood that she would not dream of visiting until she has been told that Mrs. Dashwood would not be inconvenienced by it when Mrs. Dashwood is, after all, staying in a house that belongs to her husband.