sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第60部分
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party； like other musical parties； comprehended a great many
people who had real taste for the performance； and a great many
more who had none at all； and the performers themselves were； as
usual； in their own estimation； and that of their immediate friends；
the first private performers in England。
As Elinor was neither musical； nor affecting to be so； she made
no scruple of turning her eyes from the grand pianoforté；
whenever it suited her； and unrestrained even by the presence of a
harp； and violoncello； would fix them at pleasure on any other
object in the room。 In one of these excursive glances she perceived
among a group of young men； the very he； who had given them a
lecture on toothpick…cases at Gray’s。 She perceived him soon
afterwards looking at herself； and speaking familiarly to her
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brother； and had just determined to find out his name from the
latter； when they both came towards her； and Mr。 Dashwood
introduced him to her as Mr。 Robert Ferrars。
He addressed her with easy civility； and twisted his head into a
bow which assured her as plainly as words could have done； that
he was exactly the coxcomb she had heard him described to be by
Lucy。 Happy had it been for her； if her regard for Edward had
depended less on his own merit； than on the merit of his nearest
relations！ For then his brother’s bow must have given the finishing
stroke to what the ill…humour of his mother and sister would have
begun。 But while she wondered at the difference of the two young
men； she did not find that the emptiness of conceit of the one； put
her out of all charity with the modesty and worth of the other。 Why
they were different； Robert exclaimed to her himself in the course
of a quarter of an hour’s conversation； for； talking of his brother；
and lamenting the extreme gaucherie which he really believed
kept him from mixing in proper society； he candidly and
generously attributed it much less to any natural deficiency； than
to the misfortune of a private education； while he himself； though
probably without any particular； any material superiority by
nature； merely from the advantage of a public school； was as well
fitted to mix in the world as any other man。
“Upon my soul；” he added； “I believe it is nothing more； and so
I often tell my mother； when she is grieving about it。 ‘My dear
Madam；’ I always say to her； ‘you must make yourself easy。 The
evil is now irremediable； and it has been entirely your own doing。
Why would you be persuaded by my uncle； Sir Robert； against
your own judgment； to place Edward under private tuition； at the
most critical time of his life？ If you had only sent him to
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Westminster as well as myself； instead of sending him to Mr。
Pratt’s； all this would have been prevented。’ This is the way in
which I always consider the matter； and my mother is perfectly
convinced of her error。”
Elinor would not oppose his opinion； because； whatever might
be her general estimation of the advantage of a public school； she
could not think of Edward’s abode in Mr。 Pratt’s family； with any
satisfaction。
“You reside in Devonshire； I think；”—was his next observation；
“in a cottage near Dawlish。”
Elinor set him right as to its situation； and it seemed rather
surprising to him that anybody could live in Devonshire； without
living near Dawlish。 He bestowed his hearty approbation however
on their species of house。
“For my own part；” said he； “I am excessively fond of a cottage；
there is always so much comfort； so much elegance about them。
And I protest； if I had any money to spare； I should buy a little
land and build one myself； within a short distance of London；
where I might drive myself down at any time； and collect a few
friends about me； and be happy。 I advise every body who is going
to build； to build a cottage。 My friend Lord Courtland came to me
the other day on purpose to ask my advice； and laid before me
three different plans of Bonomi’s。 I was to decide on the best of
them。 ‘My dear Courtland；’ said I； immediately throwing them all
into the fire； ‘do not adopt either of them； but by all means build a
cottage。’ And that I fancy； will be the end of it。
“Some people imagine that there can be no accommodations；
no space in a cottage； but this is all a mistake。 I was last month at
my friend Elliott’s； near Dartford。 Lady Elliott wished to give a
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dance。 ‘But how can it be done？’ said she； ‘my dear Ferrars； do tell
me how it is to be managed。 There is not a room in this cottage
that will hold ten couple； and where can the supper be？’ I
immediately saw that there could be no difficulty in it； so I said；
‘My dear Lady Elliott； do not be uneasy。 The dining parlour will
admit eighteen couple with ease； card…tables may be placed in the
drawing…room； the library may be open for tea and other
refreshments； and let the supper be set out in the saloon。’ Lady
Elliott was delighted with the thought。 We measured the dining…
room； and found it would hold exactly eighteen couple； and the
affair was arranged precisely after my plan。 So that； in fact； you
see； if people do but know how to set about it； every comfort may
be as well enjoyed in a cottage as in the most spacious dwelling。”
Elinor agreed to it all； for she did not think he deserved the
compliment of rational opposition。
As John Dashwood had no more pleasure in music than his
eldest sister； his mind was equally at liberty to fix on any thing
else； and a thought struck him during the evening； which he
communicated to his wife； for her approbation； when they got
home。 The consideration of Mrs。 Dennison’s mistake； in supposing
his sisters their guests； had suggested the propriety of their being
really invited to become such； while Mrs。 Jenning’s engagements
kept her from home。 The expense would be nothing； the
inconvenience not more； and it was altogether an attention which
the delicacy of his conscience pointed out to be requisite to its
complete enfranchisement from his promise to his father。 Fanny
was startled at the proposal。
“I do not see how it can be done；” said she； “without affronting
Lady Middleton； for they spend every day with her； otherwise I
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should be exceedingly glad to do it。 You know I am always ready
to pay them any attention in my power； as my taking them out this
evening shews。 But they are Lady Middleton’s visitors。 How can I
ask them away from her？”
Her husband； but with great humility； did not see the force of
her objection。 “They had already spent a week in this manner in
Conduit…street； and Lady Middleton could not be displeased at
their giving the same number of days to such near relations。”
Fanny paused a moment； and then； with fresh vigour； said；
“My love I would ask them with all my heart； if it was in my
power。 But I had just settled within myself to ask the Miss Steeles
to spend a few days with us。 They are very well behaved； good
kind of girls； and I think the attention is due to them； as their
uncle did so very well by Edward。 We can ask your sisters some
other year； you know； but the Miss Steeles may not be in town any
more。 I am sure you will like them； indeed； you do like them； you
know； very much already； and so does my mother； and they are
such favourites with Harry！”
Mr。 Dashwood was convinced。 He saw the necessity of inviting
the Miss Steeles immediately； and his conscience was pacified by
the resolution of inviting his sisters another year； at the same time；
however； slyly suspecting that another year would make the
invitation needless； by bringing Elinor to town as Colonel
Brandon’s wife； and Marianne as their visitor。
Fanny； rejoicing in her escape； and proud of the ready wit that
had procured it； wrote the next morning
