sanditon(桑底顿)-第2章
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aware of the fact；—Stay—Can I be mistaken in the place？—Am I
not in Willingden？—Is not this Willingden？’ ‘Yes Sir； this is
certainly Willingden。’ ‘Then Sir； I can bring proof of your having a
Surgeon in the Parish—whether you may know it or not。 Here
Sir—（taking out his Pocket book） if you will do me the favour of
casting your eye over these advertisements； which I cut out myself
from the Morning Post and the Kentish Gazette； only yesterday
morning in London—I think you will be convinced that I am not
speaking at random。 You will find it an advertisement Sir； of the
dissolution of a Partnership in the Medical Line—in your own
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Parish—extensive Business—undeniable Character—respectable
references—wishing to form a separate Establishment—You will
find it at full length Sir’—offering him the two little oblong
extracts。—‘Sir’—said Mr。 Heywood with a good humoured smile—
‘if you were to shew me all the Newspapers that are printed in one
week throughout the Kingdom； you would not persuade me of
there being a Surgeon in Willingden；—for having lived here ever
since I was born； Man and Boy fifty…seven years； I think I must
have known of such a person； at least I may venture to say that he
has not much Business—To be sure； if Gentlemen were to be often
attempting this Lane in Post…chaises； it might not be a bad
speculation for a Surgeon to get a House at the top of the Hill—
But as to that Cottage； I can assure you Sir that it is in fact—
（inspite of its spruce air at this distance—） as indifferent a double
Tenement as any in the Parish； and that my Shepherd lives at one
end； and three old women at the other。’ He took the pieces of
paper as he spoke—and having looked them over； added—‘I
believe I can explain it Sir。—Your mistake is in the place。—There
are two Willingdens in this Country—and your advertisements
refer to the other—which is Great Willingden； or Willingden
Abbots； and lies seven miles off； on the other side of Battel—quite
down in the Weald。 And we Sir—’ （speaking rather proudly） ‘are
not in the Weald。’—‘Not down in the Weald I am sure Sir；’ replied
the Traveller； pleasantly。 ‘It took us half an hour to climb your
Hill。—Well Sir—I dare say it is as you say； and I have made an
abominably stupid Blunder。—All done in a moment；—the
advertisements did not catch my eye till the last half hour of our
being in Town；—when everything was in the hurry and confusion
which always attend a short stay there—One is never able to
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complete anything in the way of Business you know till the
Carriage is at the door—and accordingly satisfying myself with a
brief enquiry； and finding we were actually to pass within a mile
or two of a Willingden； I sought no farther。。。 My Dear—’ （to his
wife） ‘I am very sorry to have brought you into this Scrape。 But do
not be alarmed about my Leg。 It gives me no pain while I am
quiet；—and as soon as these good people have succeeded in
setting the Carriage to rights and turning the Horses round； the
best thing we can do will be to measure back our steps into the
Turnpike road and proceed to Hailsham； and so Home； without
attempting anything farther。—Two hours take us home； from
Hailsham—And when once at home； we have our remedy at hand
you know。—A little of our own Bracing Sea Air will soon set me on
my feet again。—Depend upon it my Dear； it is exactly a case for
the Sea。 Saline air and immersion will be the very thing。—My
sensations tell me so already。’—In a most friendly manner Mr。
Heywood here interposed； entreating them not to think of
proceeding till the ancle had been examined； and some
refreshment taken； and very cordially pressing them to make use
of his House for both purposes。—‘We are always well stocked；’
said he； ‘with all the common remedies for sprains and Bruises—
and I will answer for the pleasure it will give my Wife and
daughters to be of service to you and this Lady in every way in
their power。’—A twinge or two； in trying to move his foot disposed
the Travellor to think rather more as he had done at first of the
benefit of immediate assistance—and consulting his wife in the
few words of ‘Well my Dear； I believe it will be better for us。’—
turned again to Mr。 H—and said—‘Before we accept your
Hospitality Sir；—and in order to do away with any unfavourable
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impression which the sort of wild goose…chace you find me in； may
have given rise to—allow me to tell you who we are。 My name is
Parker。—Mr。 Parker of Sanditon； this Lady； my wife Mrs。
Parker。—We are on our road home from London；—My name
perhaps—tho’ I am by no means the first of my Family； holding
Landed Property in the Parish of Sanditon； may be unknown at
this distance from the Coast—but Sanditon itself—everybody has
heard of Sanditon；—the favourite—for a young and rising
Bathing…place； certainly the favourite spot of all that are to be
found along the coast of Sussex；—the most favoured by Nature；
and promising to be the most chosen by Man。’—‘Yes—I have
heard of Sanditon。’ replied Mr。 H。—‘Every five years； one hears of
some new place or other starting up by the Sea； and growing the
fashion。—How they can half of them be filled； is the wonder！
Where People can be found with Money or Time to go to them！—
Bad things for a Country；—sure to raise the price of Provisions
and make the poor good for nothing—as I dare say you find； Sir。’
‘Not at all Sir； not at all’—cried Mr。 Parker eagerly。 ‘Quite the
contrary I assure you。—A common idea—but a mistaken one。 It
may apply to your large； overgrown Places； like Brighton； or
Worthing； or East Bourne—but not to a small Village like
Sanditon； precluded by its size from experiencing any of the evils
of Civilization； while the growth of the place； the Buildings； the
Nursery Grounds； the demand for every thing； and the sure resort
of the very best Company； those regular； steady； private F
