Last post I said there was a weird paradox in Edward's love for Lucy. I forgot to say that there is an even weirder one on in Elinor's attraction to Edward. It's this: the very virtue (constancy) that makes Edward so desired a partner by Elinor is the very thing that may make him unattainable. She admires him more for sticking to the promise to marry Lucy even though she thinks he is no longer in love with Lucy and that Lucy is the wrong choice for him. And yet, she wants him more because he is constant to Lucy.
(Yes, I'm being very careful not to say Elinor is in love with Edward. I'm being very careful because she is being very careful not to let go and fall completely in love. For Elinor, hanging on the edge of the water hesitating is a virtue.)
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