sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第86部分
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miles from Barton； on seeing her mother’s servant； on hearing
Lucy’s message！
They would soon； she supposed； be settled at Delaford。—
Delaford；—that place in which so much conspired to give her an
interest； which she wished to be acquainted with； and yet desired
to avoid。 She saw them in an instant in their parsonage…house； saw
in Lucy； the active； contriving manager； uniting at once a desire of
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smart appearance with the utmost frugality； and ashamed to be
suspected of half her economical practices；—pursuing her own
interest in every thought； courting the favour of Colonel Brandon；
of Mrs。 Jennings； and of every wealthy friend。 In Edward—she
knew not what she saw； nor what she wished to see；—happy or
unhappy；—nothing pleased her； she turned away her head from
every sketch of him。
Elinor flattered herself that some one of their connections in
London would write to them to announce the event； and give
farther particulars；—but day after day passed off； and brought no
letter； no tidings。 Though uncertain that any one were to blame；
she found fault with every absent friend。 They were all thoughtless
or indolent。
“When do you write to Colonel Brandon； ma’am？” was an
inquiry which sprung from the impatience of her mind to have
something going on。
“I wrote to him； my love； last week； and rather expect to see；
than to hear from him again。 I earnestly pressed his coming to us；
and should not be surprised to see him walk in today or tomorrow；
or any day。”
This was gaining something； something to look forward to。
Colonel Brandon must have some information to give。
Scarcely had she so determined it； when the figure of a man on
horseback drew her eyes to the window。 He stopt at their gate。 It
was a gentleman； it was Colonel Brandon himself。 Now she could
hear more； and she trembled in expectation of it。 But—it was not
Colonel Brandon—neither his air—nor his height。 Were it
possible； she must say it must be Edward。 She looked again。 He
had just dismounted；—she could not be mistaken；—it was
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Edward。 She moved away and sat down。 “He comes from Mr。
Pratt’s purposely to see us。 I will be calm； I will be mistress of
myself。”
In a moment she perceived that the others were likewise aware
of the mistake。 She saw her mother and Marianne change colour；
saw them look at herself； and whisper a few sentences to each
other。 She would have given the world to be able to speak—and to
make them understand that she hoped no coolness； no slight；
would appear in their behaviour to him；—but she had no
utterance； and was obliged to leave all to their own discretion。
Not a syllable passed aloud。 They all waited in silence for the
appearance of their visitor。 His footsteps were heard along the
gravel path； in a moment he was in the passage； and in another he
was before them。
His countenance； as he entered the room； was not too happy；
even for Elinor。 His complexion was white with agitation； and he
looked as if fearful of his reception； and conscious that he merited
no kind one。 Mrs。 Dashwood； however； conforming； as she trusted；
to the wishes of that daughter； by whom she then meant in the
warmth of her heart to be guided in every thing； met with a look of
forced complacency； gave him her hand； and wished him joy。
He coloured； and stammered out an unintelligible reply。
Elinor’s lips had moved with her mother’s； and； when the moment
of action was over； she wished that she had shaken hands with
him too。 But it was then too late； and with a countenance meaning
to be open； she sat down again and talked of the weather。
Marianne had retreated as much as possible out of sight； to
conceal her distress； and Margaret； understanding some part； but
not the whole of the case； thought it incumbent on her to be
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dignified； and therefore took a seat as far from him as she could；
and maintained a strict silence。
When Elinor had ceased to rejoice in the dryness of the season；
a very awful pause took place。 It was put an end to by Mrs。
Dashwood； who felt obliged to hope that he had left Mrs。 Ferrars
very well。 In a hurried manner； he replied in the affirmative。
Another pause。
Elinor resolving to exert herself； though fearing the sound of
her own voice； now said；
“Is Mrs。 Ferrars at Longstaple？”
“At Longstaple！” he replied； with an air of surprise。—“No； my
mother is in town。”
“I meant；” said Elinor； taking up some work from the table； “to
inquire for Mrs。 Edward Ferrars。”
She dared not look up；—but her mother and Marianne both
turned their eyes on him。 He coloured； seemed perplexed； looked
doubtingly； and； after some hesitation； said；—
“Perhaps you mean—my brother—you mean Mrs。—Mrs。 Robert
Ferrars。”
“Mrs。 Robert Ferrars！”—was repeated by Marianne and her
mother in an accent of the utmost amazement；—and though
Elinor could not speak； even her eyes were fixed on him with the
same impatient wonder。 He rose from his seat； and walked to the
window； apparently from not knowing what to do； took up a pair
of scissors that lay there； and while spoiling both them and their
sheath by cutting the latter to pieces as he spoke； said； in a hurried
voice；
“Perhaps you do not know—you may not have heard that my
brother is lately married to—to the youngest—to Miss Lucy
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Steele。”
His words were echoed with unspeakable astonishment by all
but Elinor； who sat with her head leaning over her work； in a state
of such agitation as made her hardly know where she was。
“Yes；” said he； “they were married last week； and are now at
Dawlish。”
Elinor could sit it no longer。 She almost ran out of the room；
and as soon as the door was closed； burst into tears of joy； which at
first she thought would never cease。 Edward； who had till then
looked any where； rather than at her； saw her hurry away； and
perhaps saw—or even heard； her emotion； for immediately
afterwards he fell into a reverie； which no remarks； no inquiries；
no affectionate address of Mrs。 Dashwood could penetrate； and at
last； without saying a word； quitted the room； and walked out
towards the village—leaving the others in the greatest
astonishment and perplexity on a change in his situation； so
wonderful and so sudden；—a perplexity which they had no means
of lessening but by their own conjectures。
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CHAPTER XIII
naccountable； however； as the circumstances of his
Urelease might appear to the whole family； it was certain
that Edward was free； and to what purpose that freedom
would be employed was easily pre…determined by all；—for after
experiencing the blessings of one imprudent engagement；
contracted without his mother’s consent； as he had already done
for more than four years； nothing less could be expected of him in
the failure of that； than the immediate contraction of another。
His errand at Barton； in fact； was a simple one。 It was only to
ask Elinor to marry him；—and considering that he was not
altogether inexperienced in such a question； it might be strange
that he should feel so uncomfortable in the present case as he
really did； so much in need of encouragement and fresh air。
How soon he had walked himself into the proper resolution；
however； how soon an opportunity of exercising it occurred； in
what manner he expressed himself； and how he was received；
need not be particularly told。 This only need be said；—that when
they all sat down to table at four o’clock； about three hours after
his arrival； he had secur
