I ask more of America’s business leaders

Elinor could not NOW be made unhappy by this behaviour.-- A few monthsago it would have hurt her exceedingly; but it was not in Mrs. Ferrars'power to distress her by it now;--and the difference of her manners tothe Miss Steeles, a difference which seemed purposely made to humbleher more, only amused her.
She could not but smile to see thegraciousness of both mother and daughter towards the very person-- forLucy was particularly distinguished--whom of all others,they would have been most anxious to mortify; whileshe herself, who had comparatively no power to wound them, satpointedly slighted by both. But while she smiled at a graciousness somisapplied, she could not reflect on the mean-spirited folly from whichit sprung, nor observe the studied attentions with which the MissSteeles courted its continuance, without thoroughly despising them allfour.
Lucy was all exultation on being so honorably distinguished; and MissSteele wanted only to be teazed about Dr. Davies to be perfectly happy.
The dinner was a grand one, the servants were numerous, and every thingbespoke the Mistress's inclination for show, and the Master's abilityto support it. In spite of the improvements and additions which weremaking to the Norland estate, and in spite of its owner having university course oncebeen within some thousand pounds of being obliged to sell out at aloss, nothing gave any symptom of that indigence which he had tried toinfer from it;--no poverty of any kind, except of conversation,appeared--but there, the deficiency was considerable. John Dashwoodhad not much to say for himself that was worth hearing, and his wifehad still less.
But there was no peculiar disgrace in this; for it wasvery much the case with the chief of their visitors, who almost alllaboured under one or other of these disqualifications for
beingagreeable--Want of sense, either natural or improved--want ofelegance--want of spirits--or want of temper.