sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第70部分
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“My dear ma’am；” said Elinor； “what can you be thinking of？—
Why； Colonel Brandon’s only object is to be of use to Mr。 Ferrars。”
“Lord bless you； my dear！—Sure you do not mean to persuade
me that the Colonel only marries you for the sake of giving ten
guineas to Mr。 Ferrars！”
The deception could not continue after this； and an explanation
immediately took place； by which both gained considerable
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amusement for the moment； without any material loss of
happiness to either； for Mrs。 Jennings only exchanged one form of
delight for another； and still without forfeiting her expectation of
the first。
“Aye； aye； the parsonage is but a small one；” said she； after the
first ebullition of surprise and satisfaction was over； “and very
likely may be out of repair； but to hear a man apologising； as I
thought； for a house that to my knowledge has five sitting rooms
on the ground…floor； and I think the housekeeper told me could
make up fifteen beds！—and to you too； that had been used to live
in Barton cottage！—It seems quite ridiculous。 But； my dear； we
must touch up the Colonel to do some thing to the parsonage； and
make it comfortable for them； before Lucy goes to it。”
“But Colonel Brandon does not seem to have any idea of the
living’s being enough to allow them to marry。”
“The Colonel is a ninny； my dear； because he has two thousand
a…year himself； he thinks that nobody else can marry on less。 Take
my word for it； that； if I am alive； I shall be paying a visit at
Delaford Parsonage before Michaelmas； and I am sure I sha’nt go
if Lucy an’t there。”
Elinor was quite of her opinion； as to the probability of their not
waiting for any thing more。
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CHAPTER V
dward； having carried his thanks to Colonel Brandon；
proceeded with his happiness to Lucy； and such was the
E
excess of it by the time he reached Bartlett’s Buildings；
that she was able to assure Mrs。 Jennings； who called on her again
the next day with her congratulations； that she had never seen
him in such spirits before in her life。
Her own happiness； and her own spirits； were at least very
certain； and she joined Mrs。 Jennings most heartily in her
expectation of their being all comfortably together in Delaford
Parsonage before Michaelmas。 So far was she； at the same time；
from any backwardness to give Elinor that credit which Edward
would give her； that she spoke of her friendship for them both with
the most grateful warmth； was ready to own all their obligation to
her； and openly declared that no exertion for their good on Miss
Dashwood’s part； either present or future； would ever surprise
her； for she believed her capable of doing any thing in the world
for those she really valued。 As for Colonel Brandon； she was not
only ready to worship him as a saint； but was moreover truly
anxious that he should be treated as one in all worldly concerns；
anxious that his tithes should be raised to the utmost； and scarcely
resolved to avail herself； at Delaford； as far as she possibly could；
of his servants； his carriage； his cows； and his poultry。
It was now above a week since John Dashwood had called in
Berkeley…street； and as since that time no notice had been taken
by them of his wife’s indisposition； beyond one verbal inquiry；
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Elinor began to feel it necessary to pay her a visit。—This was an
obligation； however； which not only opposed her own inclination；
but which had not the assistance of any encouragement from her
companions。 Marianne； not contented with absolutely refusing to
go herself； was very urgent to prevent her sister’s going at all； and
Mrs。 Jennings； though her carriage was always at Elinor’s service；
so very much disliked Mrs。 John Dashwood； that not even her
curiosity to see how she looked after the late discovery； nor her
strong desire to affront her by taking Edward’s part； could
overcome her unwillingness to be in her company again。 The
consequence was； that Elinor set out by herself to pay a visit； for
which no one could really have less inclination； and to run the risk
of a tête…à…tête with a woman； whom neither of the others had so
much reason to dislike。
Mrs。 Dashwood was denied； but before the carriage could turn
from the house； her husband accidentally came out。 He expressed
great pleasure in meeting Elinor； told her that he had been just
going to call in Berkeley…street； and； assuring her that Fanny
would be very glad to see her； invited her to come in。
They walked up stairs into the drawing…room。—Nobody was
there。
“Fanny is in her own room； I suppose；” said he；—“I will go to
her presently； for I am sure she will not have the least objection in
the world to seeing you。—Very far from it； indeed。 Now especially
there cannot be—but however； you and Marianne were always
great favourites。—Why would not Marianne come？”—
Elinor made what excuse she could for her。
“I am not sorry to see you alone；” he replied； “for I have a good
deal to say to you。 This living of Colonel Brandon’s—can it be
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true？—has he really given it to Edward？—I heard it yesterday by
chance； and was coming to you on purpose to inquire farther
about it。”
“It is perfectly true。—Colonel Brandon has given the living of
Delaford to Edward。”
“Really！—Well； this is very astonishing！—no relationship！—no
connection between them！—and now that livings fetch such a
price！—what was the value of this？”
“About two hundred a year。”
“Very well—and for the next presentation to a living of that
value—supposing the late incumbent to have been old and sickly；
and likely to vacate it soon—he might have got I dare say—
fourteen hundred pounds。 And how came he not to have settled
that matter before this person’s death？—Now indeed it would be
too late to sell it； but a man of Colonel Brandon’s sense！—I wonder
he should be so improvident in a point of such common； such
natural； concern！—Well； I am convinced that there is a vast deal of
inconsistency in almost every human character。 I suppose；
however—on recollection—that the case may probably be this。
Edward is only to hold the living till the person to whom the
Colonel has really sold the presentation； is old enough to take it。—
Aye； aye； that is the fact； depend upon it。”
Elinor contradicted it； however； very positively； and by relating
that she had herself been employed in conveying the offer from
Colonel Brandon to Edward； and； therefore； must understand the
terms on which it was given； obliged him to submit to her
authority。
“It is truly astonishing！”—he cried； after hearing what she
said—“what could be the Colonel’s motive？”
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“A very simple one—to be of use to Mr。 Ferrars。”
“Well； well； whatever Colonel Brandon may be； Edward is a
very lucky man。—You will not mention the matter to Fanny；
however； for though I have broke it to her； and she bears it vastly
well；—she will not like to hear it much talked of。”
Elinor had some difficulty here to refrain from observing； that
she thought Fanny might have borne with composure； an
acquisition of wealth to her brother； by which neither she nor her
child could be possibly impoverished。
“Mrs。 Ferrars；” added he； lowering his voice to the tone
becoming so important a subject； “knows nothing about it at
present； and I believe it will be best to keep it entirely concealed
from her as long as may be。—When the marriage takes place； I
fear she must hear of it all。”
“But why should such precaution be used？—Though it is not to
be supposed that Mrs。 Ferrars can
