sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第58部分
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nor the consciousness of some injustice towards herself； to deter
her from saying that she was happy to see him； and that she had
very much regretted being from home； when he called before in
Berkeley…street。 She would not be frightened from paying him
those attentions which； as a friend and almost a relation； were his
due； by the observant eyes of Lucy； though she soon perceived
them to be narrowly watching her。
Her manners gave some re…assurance to Edward； and he had
courage enough to sit down； but his embarrassment still exceeded
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that of the ladies in a proportion； which the case rendered
reasonable； though his sex might make it rare； for his heart had
not the indifference of Lucy’s； nor could his conscience have quite
the ease of Elinor’s。
Lucy； with a demure and settled air； seemed determined to
make no contribution to the comfort of the others； and would not
say a word； and almost every thing that was said； proceeded from
Elinor； who was obliged to volunteer all the information about her
mother’s health； their coming to town； &c。 which Edward ought to
have inquired about； but never did。
Her exertions did not stop here； for she soon afterwards felt
herself so heroically disposed as to determine； under pretence of
fetching Marianne； to leave the others by themselves； and she
really did it； and that in the handsomest manner； for she loitered
away several minutes on the landing…place； with the most high…
minded fortitude； before she went to her sister。 When that was
once done； however； it was time for the raptures of Edward to
cease； for Marianne’s joy hurried her into the drawing…room
immediately。 Her pleasure in seeing him was like every other of
her feelings； strong in itself； and strongly spoken。 She met him
with a hand that would be taken； and a voice that expressed the
affection of a sister。
“Dear Edward！” she cried； “this is a moment of great
happiness！—This would almost make amends for every thing！”
Edward tried to return her kindness as it deserved； but before
such witnesses he dared not say half what he really felt。 Again
they all sat down； and for a moment or two all were silent； while
Marianne was looking with the most speaking tenderness；
sometimes at Edward and sometimes at Elinor； regretting only
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that their delight in each other should be checked by Lucy’s
unwelcome presence。 Edward was the first to speak； and it was to
notice Marianne’s altered looks； and express his fear of her not
finding London agree with her。
“Oh！ don’t think of me！” she replied with spirited earnestness；
though her eyes were filled with tears as she spoke； “don’t think of
my health。 Elinor is well； you see。 That must be enough for us
both。”
This remark was not calculated to make Edward or Elinor more
easy； nor to conciliate the good will of Lucy； who looked up at
Marianne with no very benignant expression。
“Do you like London？” said Edward； willing to say any thing
that might introduce another subject。
“Not at all。 I expected much pleasure in it； but I have found
none。 The sight of you； Edward； is the only comfort it has afforded；
and thank Heaven！ you are what you always were！”
She paused—no one spoke。
“I think； Elinor；” she presently added； “we must employ
Edward to take care of us in our return to Barton。 In a week or
two； I suppose； we shall be going； and； I trust； Edward will not be
very unwilling to accept the charge。”
Poor Edward muttered something； but what it was； nobody
knew； not even himself。 But Marianne； who saw his agitation； and
could easily trace it to whatever cause best pleased herself； was
perfectly satisfied； and soon talked of something else。
“We spent such a day； Edward； in Harley…street yesterday！ So
dull； so wretchedly dull！—But I have much to say to you on that
head； which cannot be said now。”
And with this admirable discretion did she defer the assurance
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of her finding their mutual relatives more disagreeable than ever；
and of her being particularly disgusted with his mother； till they
were more in private。
“But why were you not there； Edward？—Why did you not
come？”
“I was engaged elsewhere。”
“Engaged！ But what was that； when such friends were to be
met？”
“Perhaps； Miss Marianne；” cried Lucy； eager to take some
revenge on her； “you think young men never stand upon
engagements； if they have no mind to keep them； little as well as
great。”
Elinor was very angry； but Marianne seemed entirely insensible
of the sting； for she calmly replied；
“Not so； indeed； for； seriously speaking； I am very sure that
conscience only kept Edward from Harley…street。 And I really
believe he has the most delicate conscience in the world； the most
scrupulous in performing every engagement； however minute； and
however it may make against his interest or pleasure。 He is the
most fearful of giving pain； of wounding expectation； and the most
incapable of being selfish； of any body I ever saw。 Edward； it is so；
and I will say it。 What！ are you never to hear yourself praised！—
Then you must be no friend of mine； for those who will accept of
my love and esteem； must submit to my open commendation。”
The nature of her commendation； in the present case； however；
happened to be particularly ill…suited to the feelings of two thirds
of her auditors； and was so very unexhilarating to Edward； that he
very soon got up to go away。
“Going so soon！” said Marianne； “my dear Edward； this must
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not be。”
And drawing him a little aside； she whispered her persuasion
that Lucy could not stay much longer。 But even this
encouragement failed； for he would go； and Lucy； who would have
outstaid him； had his visit lasted two hours； soon afterwards went
away。
“What can bring her here so often？” said Marianne； on her
leaving them。 “Could not she see that we wanted her gone！—how
teazing to Edward！”
“Why so？—we were all his friends； and Lucy has been the
longest known to him of any。 It is but natural that he should like to
see her as well as ourselves。”
Marianne looked at her steadily； and said； “You know； Elinor；
that this is a kind of talking which I cannot bear。 If you only hope
to have your assertion contradicted； as I must suppose to be the
case； you ought to recollect that I am the last person in the world
to do it。 I cannot descend to be tricked out of assurances； that are
not really wanted。”
She then left the room； and Elinor dared not follow her to say
more； for bound as she was by her promise of secrecy to Lucy； she
could give no information that would convince Marianne； and
painful as the consequences of her still continuing in an error
might be； she was obliged to submit to it。 All that she could hope；
was that Edward would not often expose her or himself to the
distress of hearing Marianne’s mistaken warmth； nor to the
repetition of any other part of the pain that had attended their
recent meeting—and this she had every reason to expect。
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CHAPTER XIV
ithin a few days after this meeting； the newspapers
Wannounced to the world； that the lady of Thomas
Palmer； Esq。 was safely delivered of a son and heir； a
very interesting and satisfactory paragraph； at least to all those
intimate connections who knew it before。
This event； highly important to Mrs。 Jennings’s happiness；
produced a temporary alteration in the disposal of her time； and
influenced； in a like degree； the engagements of her young friends；
for as she wish
