Chapter 1:
Austen fills in the story's background: Norland Park, in Sussex, was once occupied by its owner, a Mr. Dashwood, and by his nephew and his wife. The nephew had been married twice; by his first marriage he had a son and by his second, three daughters. When Mr. Dashwood died, he left Norland to his nephew, but secured it on his nephew's son. Just before the nephew's own death, he asks his son to look after his stepmother and three stepsisters, knowing that they will no longer be able to live at Norland. Mr. and Mrs. John Dashwood move into Norland, to which Mrs. Dashwood and her middle daughter, Marianne, react melodramatically. Elinor, the eldest daughter, who represents the "sense" side of the axiomatic title, takes it more philosophically.
Chapter 2:
John Dashwood invites his stepmother and stepsisters to stay at Norland as long as they like; nevertheless, they know it is only a matter of time before they will have to find somewhere else to live. John Dashwood considers his father's dying wish that his wife and daughters should be looked after and decides to give them one thousand pounds each. Mrs. John Dashwood persuades him that his father did not mean him to help them financially; she resents the idea that the money should not be spent on her own son.
Chapter 3:
We learn that Mrs. John Dashwood's brother, Edward Ferrars, has been staying at Norland and that he and Elinor are growing attached to each other. This causes Mrs. Dashwood to delay her plans for leaving Norland. She discusses Edward with Marianne, who likes him but does not think him passionate enough. Her own romantic nature could never be attracted to a man as quiet and reserved as Edward who has no talent for reading poetry aloud.
Chapter 4:
Marianne draws her sister out on the subject of Edward. Elinor speaks her feelings for him calmly, letting Marianne understand that they are not engaged and that, although she is almost convinced of Edward's affection for her, they may never be. Elinor knows that Edward is totally dependent on his mother, who expects him to marry well.
Mrs. John Dashwood has observed Elinor and Edward with alarm and remarks to Mrs. Dashwood that any alliance of his with a girl unequal to him in fortune will not be acceptable to his family. Mrs. Dashwood is incensed by such an insinuation and decides to leave Norland as soon as possible. Conveniently, her relation Sir John Middleton writes to offer her and her daughters a home in a cottage on his estate in Devon. She accepts immediately.
Chapter 5:
Mrs. Dashwood and the girls leave Norland.
Chapter 6:
They move into Barton Cottage and are visited by Sir John and Lady Middleton who invite them to dinner the next day.
Chapter 7:
The dinner-party at Barton Park also includes Mrs. Jennings, who is staying there, and a Colonel Brandon. Sir John is sociable but vulgar; his mother-in-law is like him and his wife is only interested in her children. Colonel Brandon is too old to be of interest to Marianne (he is over thirty-five), but he is a sensible, if grave, man.
Chapter 8:
Mrs. Jennings, who is a well-meaning but clumsy matchmaker, decides that Colonel Brandon is in love with Marianne, on the evidence that he has listened attentively to her playing the piano on two occasions. Marianne rejects the idea out of hand, saying that anyone of his age must have already used up all his capacity for passion. Later, she confides in her mother her concern that Edward has not yet visited them; she is amazed that Elinor does not appear to be pining for him.
Chapter 9:
While out walking, Marianne falls and sprains her ankle. She is carried home by a Mr. Willoughby, who happened to arrive on the scene at the very moment of her fall. His "manly beauty and more than common gracefulness" recommend him to the whole family, particularly to Mrs. Dashwood and Marianne, who are delighted by the romance of the incident. They ask Sir John about him, who fills them in on where he lives and what his reputation in the county is.
Chapter 10:
Willoughby is a welcome visitor at the cottage; Marianne finds that he is identical in every detail to her idea the perfect man, and her mother is no less taken with him. Only Elinor judges him more carefully. She sees that Colonel Brandon really does admire her sister, and defends him when Marianne and Willoughby are scathing about him.
Chapter 11:
Marianne and Willoughby make no attempt to hide their feelings for each other; Mrs. Dashwood excuses them, but Elinor is less indulgent. She is unhappy at Barton; she misses Edward and finds that only Colonel Brandon is his equal among all her new acquaintances. In one particular conversation with him he hints that he has suffered from unrequited love before, which increases Elinor's sympathy towards him for Marianne's total lack of interest in him.
Chapter 12:
Elinor becomes convinced that Marianne and Willoughby are engaged; when Marianne is forced to decline his present of a horse she overhears him offering to keep it for her until she has a home of her own, implying that that home should be his, and Margaret (the youngest sister) reports seeing Willoughby cut off a lock of Marianne's hair.
At dinner at Barton Park Elinor is subjected to Mrs. Jennings' attempts to find out the name of her suitor; Margaret gives it away that his name begins with an F.
A plan is made for going the next day to a beautiful park that belongs to Colonel Brandon's brother-in- law.
Chapter 13:
The outing is cancelled. Colonel Brandon receives a letter summoning him to London immediately and the others cannot get into the park without him. They amuse themselves by driving around the country. Later it is revealed that Marianne and Willoughby, who had detached themselves from the rest of the party, went to Allenham, Willoughby's house. Elinor is shocked that Marianne's did this while Mrs. Smith, Willoughby's guardian, was there and berates her sister for her indiscretion.
Chapter 14:
Mrs. Jennings wonders at Brandon's sudden departure, believing that it has something to do with a Miss Williams who she claims is his "natural daughter".
Elinor is astonished that Marianne has not told her family that she and Willoughby are engaged, as she believes their behaviour proves them to be. That evening Willoughby shows even more attachment than usual to Barton Cottage and everyone in it.
Chapter 15:
Willoughby announces that he has to go to London immediately; he has been ordered there by Mrs. Smith, who has "exercised the privilege of riches on a poor dependent cousin". His manner in saying goodbye is awkward. In their discussion after his departure Mrs. Dashwood is eager to exonerate him from any suspicion, but Elinor cannot be so optimistic. She insists that Marianne and Willoughby may not be engaged. Mrs. Dashwood replies that she is sure that they are, even though no announcement has been made. Marianne is suffering under "a violent oppression of spirits" and cannot restrain her tears.
Chapter 16:
Marianne indulges her grief by revisiting places she and Willoughby had been together and playing all the songs they used to sing. One day, when she and Elinor are out walking she imagines that she sees Willoughby riding towards them, but it turns out to be Edward Ferrars, who has been in Devon for two weeks and has come to pay them a visit.
Chapter 17:
Edward seems at first out of spirits, but revives slightly while talking with Elinor and Marianne, until an accusation from Marianne of his being "reserved" plunges him back into gloom.
Chapter 18:
Edward and Marianne disagree over whether landscapes should be laid out on Classical or Romantic principles. Sir John arrives to invite them all to tea that day and dinner the next.
Chapter 19:
After a week at Barton, Edward leaves for London. He is unhappy with his current dependence on his mother and with his family's aspirations for him to go into some "smart" profession when his own preference is to be a clergyman. Elinor is disappointed after his departure that he did not stay longer; she cannot be certain that he loves her, but controls her feelings as Marianne is incapable of doing.
Mrs. Jennings brings her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, to see the family at Barton Cottage and insists that they have dinner with them the next day. Marianne complains about how often they are invited to the Park because she finds the company there vulgar.
Chapter 20:
Mrs. Palmer is excessively friendly to Elinor, insisting that both sisters should come and stay with her. Elinor declines the invitation and diverts Mrs. Palmer by asking her if she knows Willoughby. Mrs. Palmer says that she knows that Marianne is engaged to him and will not accept Elinor's assertion that she is not.
Chapter 21:
The Palmers return home and are soon replaced by the Miss Steeles, cousins of Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings. Sir John is determined that the girls should know each other; Elinor and Marianne find that they cannot escape the acquaintance even though they find nothing to like in Anne and Lucy. In the course of Mrs. Jennings's teasing of Elinor about Edward Ferrars, it turns out that the Miss Steeles have met him at their uncle's in Plymouth.
Chapter 22:
Lucy singles Elinor out to be her particular friend, and one day confesses that she and Edward have been secretly engaged for four years. They could not make their engagement public because Edward's mother would disapprove of it on account of Lucy's lack of money.
Chapter 23:
Once she is on her own Elinor is able to give free rein to all her pain and astonishment at Lucy's news. She is convinced that Edward does love her and that he must have changed his mind about Lucy in the four years that they have been engaged. She resigns herself to giving up all hope of ever marrying Edward herself.
Chapter 24:
At Barton Park Elinor unselfishly lets Lucy talk about her engagement; we begin to suspect that Lucy told Elinor about it deliberately in to order to divide her from Edward.
Chapter 25:
Mrs. Jennings invites Elinor and Marianne to go to London with her. Marianne, despite her low opinion of Mrs. Jennings, is enthusiastic about going - Willoughby is in London. They decide to accept the invitation.
Chapter 26:
After a journey of three days, Elinor and Marianne arrive in London. Marianne immediately writes to Willoughby, and is surprised not to receive a quick reply. Colonel Brandon and Mrs. Palmer visit Mrs. Jennings's house.
Chapter 27:
Marianne remembers that the good weather will be keeping anyone who hunts in the country, and is temporarily cheerful again. Within a few days Willoughby has left his card at Mrs. Jennings's house, but avoids going to a party at the Middleton's. Elinor writes to her mother to ask her to discover from Marianne whether she and Willougby are engaged or not.p>
Elinor finds that the greatest pleasure of being in London is in talking to Colonel Brandon, who she sees is falling more and more in love with Marianne. This is confirmed when he asks Elinor whether it is true that her sister is engaged to Willoughby, saying that their engagement is "generally known".
Chapter 28:
Marianne finally meets Willoughby at a party; he is cold and withdrawn and Elinor concludes that whatever there was between them, it is now all over.
Chapter 29:
Willoughby writes a cold note explaining that he had not meant to encourage Marianne, and that he has been engaged to someone else for some time. Marianne is overwhelmed with grief, torn between excusing and blaming him for his behaviour.
Chapter 30:
Mrs. Jennings confirms that Willoughby is engaged to a Miss Grey, who is rich. Marianne sits through dinner in silence and soon returns to her room. Mrs. Jennings is as attentive and sympathetic as possible; Colonel Brandon has also heard the news and comes to commiserate with Elinor.
Chapter 31:
Marianne receives a letter from her mother, whose confidence in Willoughby's affection throws her further into her grief.
Colonel Brandon reveals to Elinor that Willoughby had seduced and abandoned a young girl who was in his care. He hopes that this information will help Marianne to recover from her disappointment.
Chapter 32:
Elinor repeats Colonel Brandon's story to Marianne, who reacts to it by being more polite to the Colonel. Mrs. Dashwood replies to Elinor's letter telling her of Willoughby's defection. The news travels quickly through all the sisters' acquaintances in London and is the main topic of conversation. The Miss Steeles arrive in London.
Chapter 33:
Elinor meets her stepbrother, who has just arrived in London with his wife and son, in a jeweler's shop. He complains of the expense of living at Norland and voices his conviction that Colonel Brandon wants to marry Elinor. He is introduced to the Middletons - the foundations for an acquaintance between the two families are laid.
Chapter 34:
The Middletons give a dinner-party for Mr. and Mrs. John Dashwood; Elinor, Marianne, Anne and Lucy Steele and the formidable Mrs. Ferrars are also invited. During the dinner Mrs. Ferrars is rude to Eleanor, whom she suspects of wanting to marry Edward, and charming to Lucy, who is delighted.
Chapter 35:
Lucy calls on Elinor to rejoice in how well she was treated the previous evening by Mrs. Ferrars and Mrs. Dashwood. While they are together, Edward arrives. The awkwardness of the situation is not improved by Marianne, who meets him with an enthusiasm that is embarrassing to Elinor.
Chapter 36:
Mrs. Parker gives birth to a son; Mrs. Jennings is with her daughter constantly, leaving Elinor and Marianne with Anne and Lucy. At a party the girls are introduced to Robert Ferrars, Edward's brother; having danced with him, Elinor decides that he is a "coxcomb".
John Dashwood suggests to his wife that Elinor and Marianne be invited to their house in London, but Mrs. Dashwood replies that she has just invited the Miss Steeles to stay.
Chapter 37:
Lucy's engagement is revealed; Mrs. Ferrars is outraged and announces her intention to disinherit Edward and leave everything to her younger son Robert. Marianne is astounded at the news, and at hearing that Elinor has known about it for the past four months. Though at first she accuses Elinor of being unfeeling because she appears so calm, soon she realises that her sister's disappointment has been no less great than her own and is overcome with remorse for how self-indulgently she has behaved.
Chapter 38:
Elinor hears from Anne Steele that Lucy and Edward still intend to marry, despite his now being penniless and her never having had any money to begin with. They want to wait for Edward to obtain a living as a clergyman. Lucy writes to Elinor confirming this.
Chapter 39:
Elinor and Marianne decide that they will go home via the Parker's house in Somerset, where they have been invited with Mrs. Jennings. This means that they will be at Barton in about three weeks.
Colonel Brandon tells Elinor that he wants to give Edward the living on his estate. The two men do not know each other, but Brandon has heard of Edward's misfortune and wants to help him. He asks Elinor to make the offer to Edward. Mrs. Jennings, who overhears bits of their conversation, assumes that Colonel Brandon has asked Elinor to marry him.
Chapter 40:
Elinor intends to write to Edward to tell him about Colonel's Brandon's offer, but before she can post the letter Edward arrives at Mrs. Jennings' house and Elinor tells him the news in person. Mrs. Jennings realises her mistake, but is equally delighted to hear about Colonel Brandon's generosity.
Chapter 41:
Elinor visits her sister-in-law, who has fallen ill after the shock of hearing about Edward's engagement. She also meets Robert Ferrars, who states his low opinion of Lucy.
Chapter 42:
Elinor and Marianne leave London and arrive at Cleveland, the Parkers's home. Mr. Palmer and Colonel Brandon arrive soon after them. Marianne takes every opportunity of wandering around the grounds in order to indulge her pain at being so near Willoughby's house at Combe Magna, and, as a result, falls ill.
Chapter 43:
Marianne's illness gets so much worse that Colonel Brandon offers to fetch her mother from Barton. Before Mrs. Dashwood arrives, however, Marianne recovers. Hearing a carriage late one evening, Elinor runs to welcome her mother, but it is Willoughby who has arrived.
Chapter 44:
Willoughby has heard of Marianne's illness from Sir John Middleton in London and has come to make sure that her life is not in danger. He also wants to explain himself, and tells Elinor that he had been in love with Marianne but had been forced to give her up. Mrs. Smith had found out about his treatment of Colonel Brandon's charge and ordered him out of her house. Knowing that he could not now afford to marry anyone without money, Willoughby abandoned Marianne. He is now unhappily married.
Chapter 45:
Mrs. Dashwood arrives the next day, is relieved to find Marianne recovering, and tells Elinor that Colonel Brandon has confessed to her that he loves Marianne. Mrs. Dashwood is sure that Marianne would be happy with him and hopes that they will be married. Elinor is less sure that they are suited to each other, but does not say so.
Chapter 46:
Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters return to Barton. Marianne confesses to Elinor how remorseful she feels about her behaviour; her self-indulgence, her rudeness to her acquaintances, her injustice to Elinor. She resolves to mend her ways. Elinor comforts her by telling her about Willoughby's visit and by assuring her that he did really love her.
Chapter 47:
Marianne tells her mother and Elinor that she would not want things to be otherwise, now that she knows Willoughby's true character. The family's man-servant informs them that he saw Lucy Steele in the local town, and that she was married.
Chapter 48:
Edward visits the family at Barton. It turns out that Lucy is not married to him, but to his brother. When Edward was disinherited, she transferred her affections to Robert. Elinor bursts into tears at this news and leaves the room.
Chapter 49:
Edward proposes to Elinor; she accepts and he decides to attempt reconciliation with his mother. Colonel Brandon and Edward get to know each other, and soon leave for Brandon's house so that Edward can see the Parsonage where he is to live.
Chapter 50:
Mrs. Ferrars forgives Edward and gives him an income large enough to make him and Elinor very comfortable. They move into the Parsonage, where Mrs. Dashwood and Marianne are often with them. Eventually, Marianne marries Colonel Brandon.