sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第68章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
when she dies you will not be forgotten。—She must have a great
deal to leave。”
“Nothing at all； I should rather suppose； for she has only her
jointure； which will descend to her children。”
“But it is not to be imagined that she lives up to her income。
Few people of common prudence will do that； and whatever she
saves； she will be able to dispose of。”
“And do you not think it more likely that she should leave it to
her daughters； than to us？”
“Her daughters are both exceedingly well married； and
therefore I cannot perceive the necessity of her remembering
them farther。 Whereas； in my opinion； by her taking so much
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 257…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 257
notice of you； and treating you in this kind of way； she has given
you a sort of claim on her future consideration； which a
conscientious woman would not disregard。 Nothing can be kinder
than her behaviour； and she can hardly do all this； without being
aware of the expectation it raises。”
“But she raises none in those most concerned。 Indeed； brother；
your anxiety for our welfare and prosperity carries you too far。”
“Why； to be sure；” said he； seeming to recollect himself； “people
have little； have very little in their power。 But； my dear Elinor；
what is the matter with Marianne？—she looks very unwell； has
lost her colour； and is grown quite thin。 Is she ill？”
“She is not well； she has had a nervous complaint on her for
several weeks。”
“I am sorry for that。 At her time of life； any thing of an illness
destroys the bloom for ever！ Her’s has been a very short one！ She
was as handsome a girl last September； as I ever saw； and as likely
to attract the men。 There was something in her style of beauty； to
please them particularly。 I remember Fanny used to say that she
would marry sooner and better than you did； not but what she is
exceedingly fond of you； but so it happened to strike her。 She will
be mistaken； however。 I question whether Marianne now； will
marry a man worth more than five or six hundred a…year； at the
utmost； and I am very much deceived if you do not do better。
Dorsetshire！ I know very little of Dorsetshire； but； my dear Elinor；
I shall be exceedingly glad to know more of it； and I think I can
answer for your having Fanny and myself among the earliest and
best pleased of your visitors。”
Elinor tried very seriously to convince him that there was no
likelihood of her marrying Colonel Brandon； but it was an
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 258…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 258
expectation of too much pleasure to himself to be relinquished；
and he was really resolved on seeking an intimacy with that
gentleman； and promoting the marriage by every possible
attention。 He had just compunction enough for having done
nothing for his sisters himself； to be exceedingly anxious that
everybody else should do a great deal； and an offer from Colonel
Brandon； or a legacy from Mrs。 Jennings； was the easiest means of
atoning for his own neglect。
They were lucky enough to find Lady Middleton at home； and
Sir John came in before their visit ended。 Abundance of civilities
passed on all sides。 Sir John was ready to like anybody； and
though Mr。 Dashwood did not seem to know much about horses；
he soon set him down as a very good…natured fellow： while Lady
Middleton saw enough of fashion in his appearance to think his
acquaintance worth having； and Mr。 Dashwood went away
delighted with both。
“I shall have a charming account to carry to Fanny；” said he； as
he walked back with his sister。 “Lady Middleton is really a most
elegant woman！ Such a woman as I am sure Fanny will be glad to
know。 And Mrs。 Jennings too； an exceedingly well…behaved
woman； though not so elegant as her daughter。 Your sister need
not have any scruple even of visiting her； which； to say the truth；
has been a little the case； and very naturally； for we only knew that
Mrs。 Jennings was the widow of a man who had got all his money
in a low way； and Fanny and Mrs。 Ferrars were both strongly
prepossessed； that neither she nor her daughters were such kind
of women as Fanny would like to associate with。 But now I can
carry her a most satisfactory account of both。”
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 259…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 259
CHAPTER XII
rs。 John Dashwood had so much confidence in her
husband’s judgment； that she waited the very next day
M
both on Mrs。 Jennings and her daughter； and her
confidence was rewarded by finding even the former； even the
woman with whom her sisters were staying； by no means
unworthy her notice； and as for Lady Middleton； she found her
one of the most charming women in the world！
Lady Middleton was equally pleased with Mrs。 Dashwood。
There was a kind of cold hearted selfishness on both sides； which
mutually attracted them； and they sympathised with each other in
an insipid propriety of demeanour； and a general want of
understanding。
The same manners； however； which recommended Mrs。 John
Dashwood to the good opinion of Lady Middleton did not suit the
fancy of Mrs。 Jennings； and to her she appeared nothing more
than a little proud…looking woman of uncordial address； who met
her husband’s sisters without any affection； and almost without
having anything to say to them； for of the quarter of an hour
bestowed on Berkeley…street； she sat at least seven minutes and a
half in silence。
Elinor wanted very much to know； though she did not chuse to
ask； whether Edward was then in town； but nothing would have
induced Fanny voluntarily to mention his name before her； till
able to tell her that his marriage with Miss Morton was resolved
on； or till her husband’s expectations on Colonel Brandon were
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 260…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 260
answered； because she believed them still so very much attached
to each other； that they could not be too sedulously divided in
word and deed on every occasion。 The intelligence however；
which she would not give； soon flowed from another quarter。 Lucy
came very shortly to claim Elinor’s compassion on being unable to
see Edward； though he had arrived in town with Mr。 and Mrs。
Dashwood。 He dared not come to Bartlett’s Buildings for fear of
detect
