Mrs. Jennings, Lady Middleton's mother, was a good-humoured, merry, fat, elderly woman, who talked a great deal, seemed very happy, and rather vulgar. She was full of jokes and laughter, and before dinner was over had said many witty things on the subject of lovers and husbands; hoped they had not left their hearts behind them in Sussex, and pretended to see them blush whether they did or not. Marianne was vexed at it for her sister's sake, and turned her eyes towards Elinor to see how she bore these attacks, with an earnestness which gave Elinor far more pain than could arise from such common-place raillery as Mrs. Jennings's.

米德尔顿夫人的母亲詹宁斯太太是个上了年纪的女人，性情和悦，体态肥胖。她唠唠叨叨地说个不停，看样子很开心，也相当粗俗。她很能说笑话，自己也跟着哈哈大笑。到晚饭结束时，她已经情人长、情人短地说了不少俏皮话。她希望小姐们没把自己的心上人留在苏塞克斯，还假装看见她们羞红了脸，也不管是否真有其事。玛丽安为姐姐抱不平，感到十分恼火。她将目光转向埃丽诺，想看看她如何忍受这番攻击，谁想埃丽诺看见妹妹那副一本正经的神气，比听到詹宁斯太太那陈腐不堪的戏谑还感觉痛苦。

Colonel Brandon, the friend of Sir John, seemed no more adapted by resemblance of manner to be his friend, than Lady Middleton was to be his wife, or Mrs. Jennings to be Lady Middleton's mother. He was silent and grave. His appearance however was not unpleasing, in spite of his being in the opinion of Marianne and Margaret an absolute old bachelor, for he was on the wrong side of five and thirty; but though his face was not handsome, his countenance was sensible, and his address was particularly gentlemanlike.

从风度上看，客人布兰登上校似乎并不适合做约翰爵士的朋友，就如同米德尔顿夫人不适合做他的妻子、詹宁斯太太不适合做米德尔顿夫人的母亲一样。他沉默严肃，不过外貌倒不令人讨厌，尽管玛丽安和玛格丽特认为他一定是个老光棍，因为他已经过了三十五岁。虽说他的面孔不算漂亮，却显得神情明善，颇有绅士气派。