sanditon(桑底顿)-第4章
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planned and built； and praised and puffed； and raised it to a
Something of young Renown—and Mr。 Parker could now think of
very little besides。—The Facts； which in more direct
communication； he laid before them were that he was about five
and thirty—had been married；—very happily married seven
years—and had four sweet Children at home；—that he was of a
respectable Family； and easy though not large fortune；—no
Profession—succeeding as eldest son to the Property which two or
three Generations had been holding and accumulating before
him；—that he had two Brothers and two Sisters—all single and all
independant—the eldest of the two former indeed； by collateral
Inheritance； quite as well provided for as himself。—His object in
quitting the high road； to hunt for an advertising Surgeon； was
also plainly stated；—it had not proceeded from any intention of
spraining his ancle or doing himself any other Injury for the good
of such Surgeon—nor （as Mr H。 had been apt to suppose） from
any design of entering into Partnership with him—； it was merely
in consequence of a wish to establish some medical Man at
Sanditon； which the nature of the Advertisement induced him to
expect to accomplish in Willingden。—He was convinced that the
advantage of a medical Man at hand would very materially
promote the rise and prosperity of the Place—would in fact tend to
bring a prodigious influx；—nothing else was wanting。 He had
strong reason to believe that one family had been deterred last
year from trying Sanditon on that account—and probably very
many more—and his own Sisters who were sad Invalids； and
whom he was very anxious to get to Sanditon this Summer； could
hardly be expected to hazard themselves in a place where they
could not have immediate medical advice。—Upon the whole； Mr。
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P。 was evidently an amiable； family…man； fond of Wife； Children；
Brothers and Sisters—and generally kind…hearted；—Liberal；
gentlemanlike； easy to please；—of a sanguine turn of mind； with
more Imagination than Judgement。 And Mrs。 P。 was as evidently a
gentle； amiable； sweet tempered Woman； the properest wife in the
World for a Man of strong Understanding； but not of capacity to
supply the cooler reflection which her own Husband sometimes
needed； and so entirely waiting to be guided on every occasion；
that whether he were risking his Fortune or spraining his Ancle；
she remained equally useless。—Sanditon was a second Wife and
four Children to him—hardly less Dear—and certainly more
engrossing。—He could talk of it for ever。—It had indeed the
highest claims；—not only those of Birthplace； Property； and
Home；—it was his Mine； his Lottery； his Speculation and his
Hobby Horse； his Occupation his Hope and his Futurity。—He was
extremely desirous of drawing his good friends at Willingden
thither； and his endeavours in the cause； were as grateful and
disinterested； as they were warm。 He wanted to secure the
promise of a visit—to get as many of the Family as his own house
would contain； to follow him to Sanditon as soon as possible—and
healthy as they all undeniably were—foresaw that every one of
them would be benefited by the sea。—He held it indeed as certain；
that no person could be really well； no person； （however upheld
for the present by fortuitous aids of exercise and spirits in a
semblance of Health） could be really in a state of secure and
permanent Health without spending at least six weeks by the Sea
every year。—The Sea air and Sea Bathing together were nearly
infallible； one or the other of them being a match for every
Disorder； of the Stomach； the Lungs or the Blood； They were anti…
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spasmodic； anti…pulmonary； anti…sceptic； anti…bilious and anti…
rheumatic。 Nobody could catch cold by the Sea； Nobody wanted
Appetite by the Sea； Nobody wanted Spirits； Nobody wanted
Strength。—They were healing； softing； relaxing—fortifying and
bracing—seemingly just as was wanted—sometimes one；
sometimes the other。—If the Sea breeze failed； the Sea…Bath was
the certain corrective；—and where Bathing disagreed； the Sea
Breeze alone was evidently designed by Nature for the cure。—His
eloquence however could not prevail。 Mr。 and Mrs。 H。 never left
home。 Marrying early and having a very numerous Family； their
movements had been long limited to one small circle； and they
were older in Habits than in Age。—Excepting two Journeys to
London in the year； to receive his Dividends； Mr。 H。 went no
farther than his feet or his well…tried old Horse could carry him；
and Mrs。 Heywood’s Adventurings were only now and then to visit
her Neighbours； in the old Coach which had been new when they
married and fresh lined on their eldest Son’s coming of age ten
years ago。—They had very pretty Property—enough； had their
family been of reasonable Limits to have allowed them a very
gentlemanlike share of Luxuries and Change—enough for them to
have indulged in a new Carriage and better roads； an occasional
month at Tunbridge Wells； and symptoms of the Gout and a
Winter at Bath；—but the maintenance； Education and fitting out
of fourteen Children demanded a very quiet； settled； careful
course of Life—and obliged them to be stationary and healthy at
Willingden。 What Prudence had at first enjoined； was now
rendered pleasant by Habit。 They never left home； and they had a
gratification in saying so。—But very far from wishing their
Children to do the same； they were glad to promote their getting
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out into the World； as much as possible。 They staid at home； that
their Children might get out；—and while making that home
extremely comfortable； welcomed every change from it which
could give useful connections or respectable acquaintance to Sons
or Daughters。 When Mr。 and Mrs。 Parker therefore ceased from
soliciting a family…visit； and bounded their views to carrying back
one Daughter with
