After the passing of her beloved husband, Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters are forced to move to a tiny cottage on a cousin's estate in Devonshire to start their lives again. This causes a shakeup in romantic lives of her daughters Elinor and Marianne.

Marianne cannot understand Elinor's philosophical acceptance of their new way of life at Barton Cottage as her own heart is breaking for their beloved house at Norwood.

Just as it seems that Willoughby and Marianne must be about to announce their engagement, he departs for London, leaving her bewildered and desolate.

Elinor has promised to keep the secret of Edward Ferrars' engagement to Lucy Steele. She manages to conceal her unhappiness even from Marianne, who is overjoyed that the two sisters are to visit London, as Willoughby lives there.

Marianne's heart is doubly broken by a yet more callous rejection by Willoughby. Elinor is to meet Edward's mother.

The sisters are to end their unhappy stay in London. Elinor is now as desolate as Marianne, for the secret of Edward's engagement is out at last and he intends to stand by it. Mrs. Ferrars has cut him off without a penny, settling her entire estate on his brother Robert.