sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第59章
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you will give me leave； I will drink the wine myself。”
Mrs。 Jennings； though regretting that she had not been five
minutes earlier； was satisfied with the compromise； and Elinor； as
she swallowed the chief of it； reflected； that though its effects on a
colicky gout were； at present； of little importance to her； its
healing powers； on a disappointed heart might be as reasonably
tried on herself as on her sister。
Colonel Brandon came in while the party were at tea； and by
his manner of looking round the room for Marianne； Elinor
immediately fancied that he neither expected nor wished to see
her there； and； in short； that he was already aware of what
occasioned her absence。 Mrs。 Jennings was not struck by the same
thought； for soon after his entrance； she walked across the room to
the tea…table where Elinor presided； and whispered—“The Colonel
looks as grave as ever you see。 He knows nothing of it； do tell him；
my dear。”
He shortly afterwards drew a chair close to her’s； and； with a
look which perfectly assured her of his good information； inquired
after her sister。
“Marianne is not well；” said she。 “She has been indisposed all
day； and we have persuaded her to go to bed。”
“Perhaps； then；” he hesitatingly replied； “what I heard this
morning may be—there may be more truth in it than I could
believe possible at first。”
“What did you hear？”
“That a gentleman； whom I had reason to think—in short； that
a man； whom I knew to be engaged—but how shall I tell you？ If
you know it already； as surely you must； I may be spared。”
“You mean；” answered Elinor； with forced calmness； “Mr。
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Willoughby’s marriage with Miss Grey。 Yes； we do know it all。 This
seems to have been a day of general elucidation； for this very
morning first unfolded it to us。 Mr。 Willoughby is unfathomable！
Where did you hear it？”
“In a stationer’s shop in Pall Mall； where I had business。 Two
ladies were waiting for their carriage； and one of them was giving
the other an account of the intended match； in a voice so little
attempting concealment； that it was impossible for me not to hear
all。 The name of Willoughby； John Willoughby； frequently
repeated； first caught my attention； and what followed was a
positive assertion that every thing was now finally settled
respecting his marriage with Miss Grey—it was no longer to be a
secret—it would take place even within a few weeks； with many
particulars of preparations and other matters。 One thing；
especially； I remember； because it served to identify the man still
more：—as soon as the ceremony was over； they were to go to
Combe Magna； his seat in Somersetshire。 My astonishment！—but
it would be impossible to describe what I felt。 The communicative
lady I learnt； on inquiry； for I stayed in the shop till they were
gone； was a Mrs。 Ellison； and that； as I have been since informed；
is the name of Miss Grey’s guardian。”
“It is。 But have you likewise heard that Miss Grey has fifty
thousand pounds？ In that； if in any thing； we may find an
explanation。”
“It may be so； but Willoughby is capable—at least I think”—he
stopped a moment； then added in a voice which seemed to distrust
itself； “And your sister—how did she—”
“Her sufferings have been very severe。 I have only to hope that
they may be proportionately short。 It has been； it is a most cruel
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affliction。 Till yesterday； I believe； she never doubted his regard；
and even now； perhaps—but I am almost convinced that he never
was really attached to her。 He has been very deceitful！ and； in
some points； there seems a hardness of heart about him。”
“Ah！” said Colonel Brandon； “there is； indeed！ But your sister
does not—I think you said so—she does not consider quite as you
do？”
“You know her disposition； and may believe how eagerly she
would still justify him if she could。”
He made no answer； and soon afterwards； by the removal of the
tea…things； and the arrangement of the card parties； the subject
was necessarily dropped。 Mrs。 Jennings； who had watched them
with pleasure while they were talking； and who expected to see
the effect of Miss Dashwood’s communication； in such an
instantaneous gaiety on Colonel Brandon’s side； as might have
become a man in the bloom of youth； of hope and happiness； saw
him； with amazement； remain the whole evening more serious and
thoughtful than usual。
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CHAPTER IX
rom a night of more sleep than she had expected；
Marianne awoke the next morning to the same
Fconsciousness of misery in which she had closed her eyes。
Elinor encouraged her as much as possible to talk of what she
felt； and before breakfast was ready； they had gone through the
subject again and again； and with the same steady conviction and
affectionate counsel on Elinor’s side； the same impetuous feelings
and varying opinions on Marianne’s； as before。 Sometimes she
could believe Willoughby to be as unfortunate and as innocent as
herself； and at others； lost every consolation in the impossibility of
acquitting him。 At one moment she was absolutely indifferent to
the observation of all the world； at another she would seclude
herself from it for ever； and at a third could resist it with energy。
In one thing； however； she was uniform； when it came to the point；
in avoiding； where it was possible； the presence of Mrs。 Jennings；
and in a determined silence when obliged to endure it。 Her heart
was hardened against the belief of Mrs。 Jennings’s entering into
her sorrows with any compassion。
“No； no； no； it cannot be；” she cried； “she cannot feel。 Her
kindness is not sympathy； her good…nature is not tenderness。 All
that she wants is gossip； and she only likes me now because I
supply it。”
Elinor had not needed this to be assured of the injustice to
which her sister was often led in her opinion of others； by the
irritable refinement of her own mind； and the too great
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importance placed by her on the delicacies of a strong sensibility；
