sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第42部分
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was not in spirits for moving about； she and Elinor luckily
succeeding to chairs； placed themselves at no great distance from
the table。
They had not remained in this manner long； before Elinor
perceived Willoughby； standing within a few yards of them； in
earnest conversation with a very fashionable looking young
woman。 She soon caught his eye； and he immediately bowed； but
without attempting to speak to her； or to approach Marianne；
though he could not but see her； and then continued his discourse
with the same lady。 Elinor turned involuntarily to Marianne； to see
whether it could be unobserved by her。 At that moment she first
perceived him； and her whole countenance glowing with sudden
delight； she would have moved towards him instantly； had not her
sister caught hold of her。
“Good heavens！” she exclaimed； “he is there—he is there—Oh！
why does he not look at me？ why cannot I speak to him？”
“Pray； pray be composed；” cried Elinor； “and do not betray
what you feel to every body present。 Perhaps he has not observed
you yet。”
This however was more than she could believe herself； and to
be composed at such a moment was not only beyond the reach of
Marianne； it was beyond her wish。 She sat in an agony of
impatience which affected every feature。
At last he turned round again； and regarded them both； she
started up； and pronouncing his name in a tone of affection； held
out her hand to him。 He approached； and addressing himself
rather to Elinor than Marianne； as if wishing to avoid her eye； and
determined not to observe her attitude； inquired in a hurried
manner after Mrs。 Dashwood； and asked how long they had been
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in town。 Elinor was robbed of all presence of mind by such an
address； and was unable to say a word。 But the feelings of her
sister were instantly expressed。 Her face was crimsoned over； and
she exclaimed； in a voice of the greatest emotion； “Good God！
Willoughby； what is the meaning of this？ Have you not received
my letters？ Will you not shake hands with me？”
He could not then avoid it； but her touch seemed painful to him；
and he held her hand only for a moment。 During all this time he
was evidently struggling for composure。 Elinor watched his
countenance and saw its expression becoming more tranquil。
After a moment’s pause； he spoke with calmness。
“I did myself the honour of calling in Berkeley…street last
Tuesday； and very much regretted that I was not fortunate enough
to find yourselves and Mrs。 Jennings at home。 My card was not
lost； I hope。”
“But have you not received my notes？” cried Marianne in the
wildest anxiety。 “Here is some mistake I am sure—some dreadful
mistake。 What can be the meaning of it？ Tell me； Willoughby； for
heaven’s sake tell me； what is the matter？”
He made no reply； his complexion changed and all his
embarrassment returned； but as if； on catching the eye of the
young lady with whom he had been previously talking； he felt the
necessity of instant exertion； he recovered himself again； and after
saying； “Yes； I had the pleasure of receiving the information of
your arrival in town； which you were so good as to send me；”
turned hastily away with a slight bow and joined his friend。
Marianne； now looking dreadfully white； and unable to stand；
sunk into her chair； and Elinor； expecting every moment to see
her faint； tried to screen her from the observation of others； while
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reviving her with lavender water。
“Go to him； Elinor；” she cried； as soon as she could speak； “and
force him to come to me。 Tell him I must see him again—must
speak to him instantly。—I cannot rest—I shall not have a
moment’s peace till this is explained—some dreadful
misapprehension or other。—Oh go to him this moment。”
“How can that be done？ No； my dearest Marianne； you must
wait。 This is not the place for explanations。 Wait only till
tomorrow。”
With difficulty however could she prevent her from following
him herself； and to persuade her to check her agitation； to wait； at
least； with the appearance of composure； till she might speak to
him with more privacy and more effect； was impossible； for
Marianne continued incessantly to give way in a low voice to the
misery of her feelings； by exclamations of wretchedness。 In a short
time Elinor saw Willoughby quit the room by the door towards the
staircase； and telling Marianne that he was gone； urged the
impossibility of speaking to him again that evening； as a fresh
argument for her to be calm。 She instantly begged her sister would
entreat Lady Middleton to take them home； as she was too
miserable to stay a minute longer。
Lady Middleton； though in the middle of a rubber； on being
informed that Marianne was unwell； was too polite to object for a
moment to her wish of going away； and making over her cards to a
friend； they departed as soon the carriage could be found。 Scarcely
a word was spoken during their return to Berkeley…street。
Marianne was in a silent agony； too much oppressed even for
tears； but as Mrs。 Jennings was luckily not come home； they could
go directly to their own room； where hartshorn restored her a little
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to herself。 She was soon undressed and in bed； and as she seemed
desirous of being alone； her sister then left her； and while she
waited the return of Mrs。 Jennings； had leisure enough for
thinking over the past。
That some kind of engagement had subsisted between
Willoughby and Marianne she could not doubt； and that
Willoughby was weary of it； seemed equally clear； for however
Marianne might still feed her own wishes； she could not attribute
such behaviour to mistake or misapprehension of any kind。
Nothing but a thorough change of sentiment could account for it。
Her indignation would have been still stronger than it was； had
she not witnessed that embarrassment which seemed to speak a
consciousness of his own misconduct； and prevented her from
believing him so unprincipled as to have been sporting with the
affections of her sister from the first； without any design that
would bear investigation。 Absence might have weakened his
regard； and convenience might have determined him to overcome
it； but that such a regard had formerly existed she could not bring
herself to doubt。
As for Marianne； on the pangs which so unhappy a meeting
must already have given her； and on those still more severe which
might await her in its probable consequence； she could not reflect
without the deepest concern。 Her own situation gained in the
comparison； for while she could esteem Edward as much as ever；
however they might be divided in future； her mind might be
always supported。 But every circumstance that could embitter
such an evil seemed uniting to heighten the misery of Marianne in
a final separation from Willoughby—in an immediate and
irreconcilable rupture with him。
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CHAPTER VII
efore the house…maid had lit their fire the next day； or
the sun gained any power over a cold； gloomy morning in
B
January； Marianne； only half dressed； was kneeling
against one of the window…seats for the sake of all the little light
she could command from it； and writing as fast as a continual flow
of tears would permit her。 In this situation； Elinor； roused from
sleep by her agitation and sobs； first perceived her； and after
observing her for a few moments with silent anxiety； said； in a
tone of the most considerate gentleness；
“Marianne； may I ask？”—
“No； Elinor；” she replied； “ask nothing； you will soon know all。”
