There was petting! They showed them petting at the aunt's house.

Well, their hands brushed each against each others and there was that one kiss.

...

What is "petting" anyway? I always imagined as a kid that it was stroking your beloveds hair.

I remember them barely kissing, but it's been a couple of months since I saw that version.

As for the illness, I think the implication is that Marianne either a) basically works herself into a state over Willoughby or b) is so worked up that she displays no judgment at all and exhausts herself while walking in the rain. Her whole illness is the last hurrah of her being the one with "sensibility", as opposed to sense.

Well, they definitely made it to first base, and they showed him unfastening pieces of her clothing, so he had rounded first base and was headed to second before they cut away.

b) is so worked up that she displays no judgment at all and exhausts herself while walking in the rain.

This is what I thought as well. And that the exhaustion lowered her immune system and she caught the virus or whatever that made her dangerously ill.

She gets chilled from walking in the rain in a state of mental anguish. . . or something.

I couldn't believe that they had Brandon carry her all the way from the carriage across the threshold in their final scene. Was that just to prove what a manly man he is?

My definition of "petting" is kissing plus minor above the waist clothed groping. "Heavy petting" would take that below the waist and might get underneath the clothes.

I very much doubt Austen meant to imply that Marianne kissed Willoughby at all. She was reckless in giving him her heart, but there was never any question that her morals were compromised. And kissing men you are not officially engaged to was a big no.

b) is so worked up that she displays no judgment at all and exhausts herself while walking in the rain.

That's what I got from the novel, but I'll note that I haven't seen the TV version.

My definition of "petting" was unclothed groping, with flea's above/below the waist distinction. Also, my definition of "petting" was "one of those weird terms that the cheesy sex-ed materials left over from the 50s like to use". And whatever it is, I'd be shocked if it were in Austen.

Need moar coffee. Last clusterfuck will not die. Am startled by Masterpiece Theatre's S&S sexytiems.

want lunch NOW! ok, it's possible I am not really that hungry and am looking for distractions, reasons to eat bad food.

Am startled by Masterpiece Theatre's S&S sexytiems.

Totally not! All in Mr. Scola's head.

Edit: Though admittedly, the recent BBC version did sexify Edward, and he got to be all sweaty and chop wood.