sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第30部分
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man he is！”
Here too； Miss Dashwood’s commendation； being only simple
and just； came in without any eclat。 She merely observed that he
was perfectly good humoured and friendly。
“And what a charming little family they have！ I never saw such
fine children in my life。—I declare I quite doat upon them already；
and indeed I am always distractedly fond of children。”
“I should guess so；” said Elinor； with a smile； “from what I have
witnessed this morning。”
“I have a notion；” said Lucy； “you think the little Middletons
rather too much indulged； perhaps they may be the outside of
enough； but it is so natural in Lady Middleton； and for my part； I
love to see children full of life and spirits； I cannot bear them if
they are tame and quiet。”
“I confess；” replied Elinor； “that while I am at Barton Park； I
never think of tame and quiet children with any abhorrence。”
A short pause succeeded this speech； which was first broken by
Miss Steele； who seemed very much disposed for conversation；
and who now said rather abruptly； “And how do you like
Devonshire； Miss Dashwood？ I suppose you were very sorry to
leave Sussex。”
In some surprise at the familiarity of this question； or at least of
the manner in which it was spoken； Elinor replied that she was。
“Norland is a prodigious beautiful place； is not it？” added Miss
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Steele。
“We have heard Sir John admire it excessively；” said Lucy； who
seemed to think some apology necessary for the freedom of her
sister。
“I think every one must admire it；” replied Elinor； “who ever
saw the place； though it is not to be supposed that any one can
estimate its beauties as we do。”
“And had you a great many smart beaux there？ I suppose you
have not so many in this part of the world； for my part； I think they
are a vast addition always。”
“But why should you think；” said Lucy； looking ashamed of her
sister； “that there are not as many genteel young men in
Devonshire as Sussex？”
“Nay； my dear； I’m sure I don’t pretend to say that there an’t。
I’m sure there’s a vast many smart beaux in Exeter； but you know；
how could I tell what smart beaux there might be about Norland；
and I was only afraid the Miss Dashwoods might find it dull at
Barton； if they had not so many as they used to have。 But perhaps
you young ladies may not care about the beaux； and had as lief be
without them as with them。 For my part； I think they are vastly
agreeable； provided they dress smart and behave civil。 But I can’t
bear to see them dirty and nasty。 Now there’s Mr。 Rose at Exeter；
a prodigious smart young man； quite a beau； clerk to Mr。 Simpson；
you know； and yet if you do but meet him of a morning； he is not
fit to be seen。—I suppose your brother was quite a beau； Miss
Dashwood； before he married； as he was so rich？”
“Upon my word；” replied Elinor； “I cannot tell you； for I do not
perfectly comprehend the meaning of the word。 But this I can say；
that if he ever was a beau before he married； he is one still for
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there is not the smallest alteration in him。”
“Oh！ dear！ one never thinks of married men’s being beaux—
they have something else to do。”
“Lord！ Anne；” cried her sister； “you can talk of nothing but
beaux；—you will make Miss Dashwood believe you think of
nothing else。” And then to turn the discourse； she began admiring
the house and the furniture。
This specimen of the Miss Steeles was enough。 The vulgar
freedom and folly of the eldest left her no recommendation； and as
Elinor was not blinded by the beauty； or the shrewd look of the
youngest； to her want of real elegance and artlessness； she left the
house without any wish of knowing them better。
Not so the Miss Steeles。—They came from Exeter； well
provided with admiration for the use of Sir John Middleton； his
family； and all his relations； and no niggardly proportion was now
dealt out to his fair cousins； whom they declared to be the most
beautiful； elegant； accomplished； and agreeable girls they had ever
beheld； and with whom they were particularly anxious to be better
acquainted。—And to be better acquainted therefore； Elinor soon
found was their inevitable lot； for as Sir John was entirely on the
side of the Miss Steeles； their party would be too strong for
opposition； and that kind of intimacy must be submitted to； which
consists of sitting an hour or two together in the same room almost
every day。 Sir John could do no more； but he did not know that
any more was required； to be together was； in his opinion； to be
intimate； and while his continual schemes for their meeting were
effectual； he had not a doubt of their being established friends。
To do him justice； he did every thing in his power to promote
their unreserve； by making the Miss Steeles acquainted with
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whatever he knew or supposed of his cousins’ situations in the
most delicate particulars；—and Elinor had not seen them more
than twice； before the eldest of them wished her joy on her sister’s
having been so lucky as to make a conquest of a very smart beau
since she came to Barton。
“’Twill be a fine thing to have her married so young to be sure；”
said she； “and I hear he is quite a beau； and prodigious handsome。
And I hope you may have as good luck yourself soon；—but
perhaps you may have a friend in the corner already。”
Elinor could not suppose that Sir John would be more nice in
proclaiming his suspicions of her regard for Edward； than he had
been with respect to Marianne； indeed it was rather his favourite
joke of the two； as being somewhat newer and more conjectural；
and since Edward’s visit； they had never dined together without
his drinking to her best affections with so much significancy and
so many nods and winks； as to excite general attention。 The letter
F— had been likewise invariably brought forward； and found
productive of such countless jokes； that its character as the wittiest
letter in the alphabet had been long established with Elinor。
The Miss Steeles； as she expected； had now all the benefit of
these jokes； and in the eldest of them they raised a curiosity to
know the name of the gentleman alluded to； which； though often
impertinently expressed； was perfectly of a piece with her general
inquisitiveness into the concerns of their family。 But Sir John did
not sport long with the curiosity which he delighted to raise； for he
had at least as much pleasure in telling the name； as Miss Steele
had in hearing it。
“His name is Ferrars；” said he； in a very audible whisper； “but
pray do not tell it； for it’s a great secret。”
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“Ferrars！” repeated Miss Steele； “Mr。 Ferrars is the happy
man； is he？ What！ your sister…in…law’s brother； Miss Dashwood？ a
very agreeable young man to be sure； I know him very well。”
“How can you say so； Anne？” cried Lucy； who generally made
an amendment to all her sister’s assertions。 “Though we have seen
him once or twice at my uncle’s； it is rather too much to pretend to
know him very well。”
Elinor heard all this with attention and surprise。 “And who was
this uncle？ Where did he live？ How came they acquainted？” She
wished very much to have the subject continued； though she did
not chuse to join in it herself； but nothing more of it was said； and
for the first time in her life； she thought Mrs。 Jennings deficient
either in curiosity after petty information； or in a disposition to
communicate it。 The manner in which Miss Steele had spoken of
Edward； increased her curiosity； for it struck her as being rather
ill…natured； and suggested the suspicion of that lady’s knowing； or
fancying herself to know something to his disadvantage。—But her
curiosity was unavailing； for no farther notice was taken of Mr。
Ferrars’s name by Miss Steele when alluded to； or even openly
mentioned by Sir John。
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