Dear Henry--Part 2

What trait next doth make my heart a-quiver? Why 'tis that of improving one's mind with extensive reading. For I am an avid reader myself and thoroughly enjoy a good book. Even more do I enjoy discussing reading, books, and other related topics with others. And if such an conversation may be had with a gentleman, so much the better. The male mind always brings with it fascinating views, opinions, and analyses that my opposite female one would never discover on its own.

So it is with pleasure to know that Dear Henry--

*Understands how wonderful reading is.

"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid."

*Knows and enjoys the pleasure of being held in suspense, and eagerly presses forward to know what happens next.

"Here was I, in my eagerness to get on, refusing to wait only five minutes for my sister, breaking the promise I had made of reading it aloud, and keeping her in suspense at a most interesting part, by running away with the volume, which, you are to observe, was her own, particularly her own. I am proud when I reflect on it, and I think it must establish me in your good opinion."

*Welcomes conversation about books, likens books to every day living, and sees humor in reading as well as lessons to be learned.

"If we proceed to particulars, and engage in the never-ceasing inquiry of 'Have you read this?' and 'Have you read that?' I shall soon leave you as far behind me as—what shall I say?—I want an appropriate simile.—as far as your friend Emily herself left poor Valancourt when she went with her aunt into Italy."

Henry not only reads, knows how to read, and learns from reading, but he loves to read.

"'Is there a felicity in the world...superior to this?'"

Why, yes, Marianne Dashwood. Yes, there is. But we'll glory in more of those at later dates.