sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第16部分
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Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 75
no right to repeat them。”
“I never had any conjectures about it；” replied Margaret； “it
was you who told me of it yourself。”
This increased the mirth of the company； and Margaret was
eagerly pressed to say something more。
“Oh！ pray； Miss Margaret； let us know all about it；” said Mrs。
Jennings。 “What is the gentleman’s name？”
“I must not tell； ma’am。 But I know very well what it is； and I
know where he is too。”
“Yes； yes； we can guess where he is； at his own house at
Norland to be sure。 He is the curate of the parish I dare say。”
“No； that he is not。 He is of no profession at all。”
“Margaret；” said Marianne with great warmth； “you know that
all this is an invention of your own； and that there is no such
person in existence。”
“Well； then； he is lately dead； Marianne； for I am sure there was
such a man once； and his name begins with an F。”
Most grateful did Elinor feel to Lady Middleton for observing；
at this moment； “that it rained very hard；” though she believed the
interruption to proceed less from any attention to her； than from
her ladyship’s great dislike of all such inelegant subjects of raillery
as delighted her husband and mother。 The idea however started
by her； was immediately pursued by Colonel Brandon； who was on
every occasion mindful of the feelings of others； and much was
said on the subject of rain by both of them。 Willoughby opened the
pianoforté； and asked Marianne to sit down to it； and thus amidst
the various endeavours of different people to quit the topic； it fell
to the ground。 But not so easily did Elinor recover from the alarm
into which it had thrown her。
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A party was formed this evening for going on the following day
to see a very fine place about twelve miles from Barton； belonging
to a brother…in…law of Colonel Brandon； without whose interest it
could not be seen； as the proprietor； who was then abroad； had left
strict orders on that head。 The grounds were declared to be highly
beautiful； and Sir John； who was particularly warm in their praise；
might be allowed to be a tolerable judge； for he had formed parties
to visit them； at least； twice every summer for the last ten years。
They contained a noble piece of water； a sail on which was to a
form a great part of the morning’s amusement； cold provisions
were to be taken； open carriages only to be employed； and every
thing conducted in the usual style of a complete party of pleasure。
To some few of the company it appeared rather a bold
undertaking； considering the time of year； and that it had rained
every day for the last fortnight；—and Mrs。 Dashwood； who had
already a cold； was persuaded by Elinor to stay at home。
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CHAPTER XIII
heir intended excursion to Whitwell turned out very
different from what Elinor had expected。 She was
T
prepared to be wet through； fatigued； and frightened； but
the event was still more unfortunate； for they did not go at all。
By ten o’clock the whole party was assembled at the park；
where they were to breakfast。 The morning was rather favourable；
though it had rained all night； as the clouds were then dispersing
across the sky； and the sun frequently appeared。 They were all in
high spirits and good humour； eager to be happy； and determined
to submit to the greatest inconveniences and hardships rather
than be otherwise。
While they were at breakfast the letters were brought in。
Among the rest there was one for Colonel Brandon；—he took it；
looked at the direction； changed colour； and immediately left the
room。
“What is the matter with Brandon？” said Sir John。
Nobody could tell。
“I hope he has had no bad news；” said Lady Middleton。 “It
must be something extraordinary that could make Colonel
Brandon leave my breakfast table so suddenly。”
In about five minutes he returned。
“No bad news； Colonel； I hope；” said Mrs。 Jennings； as soon as
he entered the room。
“None at all； ma’am； I thank you。”
“Was it from Avignon？ I hope it is not to say that your sister is
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worse。”
“No； ma’am。 It came from town； and is merely a letter of
business。”
“But how came the hand to discompose you so much； if it was
only a letter of business？ Come； come； this won’t do； Colonel； so let
us hear the truth of it。”
“My dear madam；” said Lady Middleton； “recollect what you
are saying。”
“Perhaps it is to tell you that your cousin Fanny is married？”
said Mrs。 Jennings； without attending to her daughter’s reproof。
“No； indeed； it is not。”
“Well； then； I know who it is from； Colonel。 And I hope she is
well。”
“Whom do you mean； ma’am？” said he； colouring a little。
“Oh！ you know who I mean。”
“I am particularly sorry； ma’am；” said he； addressing Lady
Middleton； “that I should receive this letter today； for it is on
business which requires my immediate attendance in town。”
“In town！” cried Mrs。 Jennings。 “What can you have to do in
town at this time of year？”
“My own loss is great；” be continued； “in being obliged to leave
so agreeable a party； but I am the more concerned； as I fear my
presence is necessary to gain your admittance at Whitwell。”
What a blow upon them all was this！
“But if you write a note to the housekeeper； Mr。 Brandon；” said
Marianne； eagerly； “will it not be sufficient？”
He shook his head。
“We must go；” said Sir John。—“It shall not be put off when we
are so near it。 You cannot go to town till tomorrow； Brandon； that
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is all。”
“I wish it could be so easily settled。 But it is not in my power to
delay my journey for one day！”
“If you would but let us know what your business is；” said Mrs。
Jennings； “we might see whether it could be put off or not。”
“You would not be six hours later；” said Willoughby； “if you
were to defer your journey till our return。”
“I cannot afford to lose one hour。”—
Elinor then heard Willoughby say； in a low voice to Marianne；
“There are some people who cannot bear a party of pleasure。
Brandon is one of them。 He was afraid of catching cold I dare say；
and invented this trick for getting out of it。 I would lay fifty
guineas the letter was of his own writing。”
“I have no doubt of it；” replied Marianne。
“There is no persuading you to change your mind； Brandon； I
know of old；” said Sir John； “when once you are determined on
anything。 But； however； I hope you will think better of it。
Consider； here are the two Miss Careys come over from Newton；
the three Miss Dashwoods walked up from the cottage； and Mr。
Willoughby got up two hours before his usual time； on purpose to
go to Whitwell。”
Colonel Brandon again repeated his sorrow at being the cause
of disappointing the party； but at the same time declared it to be
unavoidable。
“Well； then； when will you come back again？”
“I hope we shall see you at Barton；” added her ladyship； “as
soon as you can conveniently leave town； and we must put off the
party to Whitwell till you return。”
“You are very obliging。 But it is so uncertain； when I may have
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it in my power to return； that I dare not engage for it at all。”
“Oh！ he must and shall come back；” cried Sir John。 “If he is not
here by the end of the week； I shall go after him。”
“Ay； so do； Sir John；” cried Mrs。 Jennings； “and then perhaps
you may find out what his business is。”
“I do not want to pry into other men’s concerns。 I suppose it is
something he is ashamed of。”
Colonel Brandon’s horses were announced。
“You do not go to town on horseback； do you？” added Sir John。
“No。 Only to Honiton。 I shall then go post。”
“Well； as you are resolved to go； I wish you a good journey。 But
you had better change your mind。”
“I assure you it is not in my power。”
He then took leave of the whole party。
“Is there no chance of my
