sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第14章
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had been twisted in her fall； and she was scarcely able to stand。
The gentleman offered his services； and perceiving that her
modesty declined what her situation rendered necessary； took her
up in his arms without farther delay； and carried her down the
hill。 Then passing through the garden； the gate of which had been
left open by Margaret； he bore her directly into the house； whither
Margaret was just arrived； and quitted not his hold till he had
seated her in a chair in the parlour。
Elinor and her mother rose up in amazement at their entrance；
and while the eyes of both were fixed on him with an evident
wonder and a secret admiration which equally sprung from his
appearance； he apologised for his intrusion by relating its cause； in
a manner so frank and so graceful that his person； which was
uncommonly handsome； received additional charms from his
voice and expression。 Had he been even old； ugly； and vulgar； the
gratitude and kindness of Mrs。 Dashwood would have been
secured by any act of attention to her child； but the influence of
youth； beauty； and elegance； gave an interest to the action which
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came home to her feelings。
She thanked him again and again； and with a sweetness of
address which always attended her； invited him to be seated。 But
this he declined； as he was dirty and wet。 Mrs。 Dashwood then
begged to know to whom she was obliged。 His name； he replied；
was Willoughby； and his present home was at Allenham； from
whence he hoped she would allow him the honour of calling
tomorrow to enquire after Miss Dashwood。 The honour was
readily granted； and he then departed； to make himself still more
interesting； in the midst of an heavy rain。
His manly beauty and more than common gracefulness were
instantly the theme of general admiration； and the laugh which his
gallantry raised against Marianne received particular spirit from
his exterior attractions。—Marianne herself had seen less of his
person that the rest； for the confusion which crimsoned over her
face； on his lifting her up； had robbed her of the power of
regarding him after their entering the house。 But she had seen
enough of him to join in all the admiration of the others； and with
an energy which always adorned her praise。 His person and air
were equal to what her fancy had ever drawn for the hero of a
favourite story； and in his carrying her into the house with so little
previous formality； there was a rapidity of thought which
particularly recommended the action to her。 Every circumstance
belonging to him was interesting。 His name was good； his
residence was in their favourite village； and she soon found out
that of all manly dresses a shooting…jacket was the most becoming。
Her imagination was busy； her reflections were pleasant； and the
pain of a sprained ankle was disregarded。
Sir John called on them as soon as the next interval of fair
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weather that morning allowed him to get out of doors； and
Marianne’s accident being related to him； he was eagerly asked
whether he knew any gentleman of the name of Willoughby at
Allenham。
“Willoughby！” cried Sir John； “what； is he in the country？ That
is good news however； I will ride over tomorrow； and ask him to
dinner on Thursday。”
“You know him then；” said Mrs。 Dashwood。
“Know him！ to be sure I do。 Why； he is down here every year。”
“And what sort of a young man is he？”
“As good a kind of fellow as ever lived； I assure you。 A very
decent shot； and there is not a bolder rider in England。”
“And is that all you can say for him？” cried Marianne；
indignantly。 “But what are his manners on more intimate
acquaintance？ What his pursuits； his talents； and genius？”
Sir John was rather puzzled。
“Upon my soul；” said he； “I do not know much about him as to
all that。 But he is a pleasant； good humoured fellow； and has got
the nicest little black bitch of a pointer I ever saw。 Was she out
with him today？”
But Marianne could no more satisfy him as to the colour of Mr。
Willoughby’s pointer； than he could describe to her the shades of
his mind。
“But who is he？” said Elinor。 “Where does he come from？ Has
he a house at Allenham？”
On this point Sir John could give more certain intelligence； and
he told them that Mr。 Willoughby had no property of his own in
the country； that he resided there only while he was visiting the
old lady at Allenham Court； to whom he was related； and whose
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possessions he was to inherit； adding； “Yes； yes； he is very well
worth catching I can tell you； Miss Dashwood； he has a pretty little
estate of his own in Somersetshire besides； and if I were you； I
would not give him up to my younger sister； in spite of all this
tumbling down hills。 Miss Marianne must not expect to have all
the men to herself。 Brandon will be jealous； if she does not take
care。”
“I do not believe；” said Mrs。 Dashwood； with a good humoured
smile； “that Mr。 Willoughby will be incommoded by the attempts
of either of my daughters towards what you call catching him。 It is
not an employment to which they have been brought up。 Men are
very safe with us； let them be ever so rich。 I am glad to find；
however； from what you say； that he is a respectable young man；
and one whose acquaintance will not be ineligible。”
“He is as good a sort of fellow； I believe； as ever lived；” repeated
Sir John。 “I remember last Christmas at a little hop at the park； he
danced from eight o’clock till four； without once sitting down。”
“Did he indeed？” cried Marianne with sparkling eyes； “and
with elegance； with spirit？”
“Yes； and he was up again at eight to ride to covert。”
“That is what I like； that is what a young man ought to be。
Whatever be his pursuits； his eagerness in them should know no
moderation； and leave him no sense of fatigue。”
“Aye； aye； I see how it will be；” said Sir John； “I see how it will
be。 You will be setting your cap at him now； and never think of
poor Brandon。”
“That is an expression； Sir John；” said Marianne； warmly；
“which I particularly dislike。 I abhor every common…place phrase
by which w
