sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第52部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
John） that as Mrs。 Willoughby would at once be a woman of
elegance and fortune； to leave her card with her as soon as she
married。
Colonel Brandon’s delicate； unobtrusive inquiries were never
unwelcome to Miss Dashwood。 He had abundantly earned the
privilege of intimate discussion of her sister’s disappointment； by
the friendly zeal with which he had endeavoured to soften it； and
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 245…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 245
they always conversed with confidence。 His chief reward for the
painful exertion of disclosing past sorrows and present
humiliations； was given in the pitying eye with which Marianne
sometimes observed him； and the gentleness of her voice
whenever （though it did not often happen） she was obliged； or
could oblige herself to speak to him。 These assured him that his
exertion had produced an increase of good…will towards himself；
and these gave Elinor hopes of its being farther augmented
hereafter； but Mrs。 Jennings； who knew nothing of all this； who
knew only that the Colonel continued as grave as ever； and that
she could neither prevail on him to make the offer himself； nor
commission her to make it for him； began； at the end of two days；
to think that； instead of Midsummer； they would not be married
till Michaelmas； and by the end of a week that it would not be a
match at all。 The good understanding between the Colonel and
Miss Dashwood seemed rather to declare that the honours of the
mulberry…tree； the canal； and the yew arbour； would all be made
over to her； and Mrs。 Jennings had； for some time ceased to think
at all of Mr。 Ferrars。
Early in February； within a fortnight from the receipt of
Willoughby’s letter； Elinor had the painful office of informing her
sister that he was married。 She had taken care to have the
intelligence conveyed to herself； as soon as it was known that the
ceremony was over； as she was desirous that Marianne should not
receive the first notice of it from the public papers； which she saw
her eagerly examining every morning。
She received the news with resolute composure； made no
observation on it； and at first shed no tears； but after a short time
they would burst out； and for the rest of the day； she was in a state
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 246…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 246
hardly less pitiable than when she first learnt to expect the event。
The Willoughbys left town as soon as they were married； and
Elinor now hoped； as there could be no danger of her seeing either
of them； to prevail on her sister； who had never yet left the house
since the blow first fell； to go out again by degrees as she had done
before。
About this time the two Miss Steeles； lately arrived at their
cousin’s house in Bartlett’s Buildings； Holburn； presented
themselves again before their more grand relations in Conduit and
Berkeley…street； and were welcomed by them all with great
cordiality。
Elinor only was sorry to see them。 Their presence always gave
her pain； and she hardly knew how to make a very gracious return
to the overpowering delight of Lucy in finding her still in town。
“I should have been quite disappointed if I had not found you
here still；” said she repeatedly； with a strong emphasis on the
word。 “But I always thought I should。 I was almost sure you would
not leave London yet awhile； though you told me； you know； at
Barton； that you should not stay above a month。 But I thought； at
the time； that you would most likely change your mind when it
came to the point。 It would have been such a great pity to have
went away before your brother and sister came。 And now to be
sure you will be in no hurry to be gone。 I am amazingly glad you
did not keep to your word。”
Elinor perfectly understood her； and was forced to use all her
self…command to make it appear that she did not。
“Well； my dear；” said Mrs。 Jennings； “and how did you travel？”
“Not in the stage； I assure you；” replied Miss Steele； with quick
exultation； “we came post all the way； and had a very smart beau
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 247…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 247
to attend us。 Dr。 Davies was coming to town； and so we thought
we’d join him in a post…chaise； and he behaved very genteelly； and
paid ten or twelve shillings more than we did。”
“Oh； oh！” cried Mrs。 Jennings； “very pretty； indeed！ and the
Doctor is a single man； I warrant you。”
“There now；” said Miss Steele； affectedly simpering；
“everybody laughs at me so about the Doctor； and I cannot think
why。 My cousins say they are sure I have made a conquest； but for
my part I declare I never think about him from one hour’s end to
another。 ‘Lord！ here comes your beau； Nancy；’ my cousin said
t’other day； when she saw him crossing the street to the house。 My
beau； indeed！ said I—I cannot think who you mean。 The Doctor is
no beau of mine。”
“Aye； aye； that is very pretty talking—but it won’t do—the
Doctor is the man； I see。”
“No； indeed！” replied her cousin； with affected earnestness；
“and I beg you will contradict it； if you ever hear it talked of。”
Mrs。 Jennings directly gave her the gratifying assurance that
she certainly would not； and Miss Steele was made completely
happy。
“I suppose you will go and stay with your brother and sister；
Miss Dashwood； when they come to town；” said Lucy； returning；
after a cessation of hostile hints； to the charge。
“No； I do not think we shall。”
“Oh； yes； I dare say you will。”
Elinor would not humour her by farther opposition。
“What a charming thing it is that Mrs。 Dashwood can spare you
both for so long a time together！”
“Long a time； indeed！” interposed Mrs。 Jennings。 “Why； their
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 248…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 248
visit is but just begun！”
Lucy was silenced。
“I am sorry we cannot see your sister； Miss Dashwood；” said
Miss Steele。 “I am sorry she is not well；” for Marianne had left the
room on their arrival。
“You are very good。 My sister will be equally sorry to miss the
pleasure of seeing you； but she has been very much plagued lately
with nervous head…aches； which make her unfit for company or
conversation。”
“Oh； dear； that is a great pity！ but such old friends as Lucy and
me！—I think she might see us； and I am sure we would not speak a
word。”
Elinor； with great civility； declined the proposal。 Her sister was
perhaps laid down upon the bed； or in her dressing gown； and
therefore not able to come to them。
“Oh； if that’s all；” cried Miss Steele； “we can just as well go and
see her。”
Elinor began to find this impertinence too much for her temper；
but she was saved the trouble of checking it； by Lucy’s sharp
reprimand； which now； as on many occasions； though it did not
give much sweetness to the manners of one sister； was of
advantage in governing those of the other。
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 249…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 249
CHAPTER XI
fter some opposition； Marianne yielded to her sister’s
Aentreaties； and consented to go out with her and Mrs。
Jennings one morning for half an hour。 She expressly
conditioned； however； for paying no visits； and would do no more
than accompany them to Gray’s in Sackville…street； where Elinor
was carrying on a negotiation for the exchange of a few old…
fashioned jewels of her mother。
When they stopped at the door； Mrs。 Jennings recollected that
there was a lady at the other end of the street on whom she ought
to call； and as she had no business at Gray’s； it was resolved； that
while her young friends transacted their’s； she should pay her visit
and return for them。
On ascending the stairs； the Miss Dashwoods found so many
people before them in the room； that there was not a person at
liberty to tend to their orders； and they were obliged to wait。 All
tha
