sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第76章
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had procured it； wrote the next morning to Lucy； to request her
company and her sister’s； for some days； in Harley…street； as soon
as Lady Middleton could spare them。 This was enough to make
Lucy really and reasonably happy。 Mrs。 Dashwood seemed
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actually working for her； herself； cherishing all her hopes； and
promoting all her views！ Such an opportunity of being with
Edward and his family was； above all things； the most material to
her interest； and such an invitation the most gratifying to her
feelings！ It was an advantage that could not be too gratefully
acknowledged； nor too speedily made use of； and the visit to Lady
Middleton； which had not before had any precise limits； was
instantly discovered to have been always meant to end in two
days’ time。
When the note was shown to Elinor； as it was within ten
minutes after its arrival； it gave her； for the first time； some share
in the expectations of Lucy； for such a mark of uncommon
kindness； vouchsafed on so short an acquaintance； seemed to
declare that the good…will towards her arose from something more
than merely malice against herself； and might be brought； by time
and address； to do every thing that Lucy wished。 Her flattery had
already subdued the pride of Lady Middleton； and made an entry
into the close heart of Mrs。 John Dashwood； and these were effects
that laid open the probability of greater。
The Miss Steeles removed to Harley…street； and all that reached
Elinor of their influence there； strengthened her expectation of the
event。 Sir John； who called on them more than once； brought
home such accounts of the favour they were in； as must be
universally striking。 Mrs。 Dashwood had never been so much
pleased with any young women in her life； as she was with them；
had given each of them a needle book made by some emigrant；
called Lucy by her Christian name； and did not know whether she
should ever be able to part with them。
End of Volume II
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VOLUME III
CHAPTER I
rs。 Palmer was so well at the end of a fortnight； that
her mother felt it no longer necessary to give up the
M
whole of her time to her； and； contenting herself with
visiting her once or twice a day； returned from that period to her
own home； and her own habits； in which she found the Miss
Dashwoods very ready to reassume their former share。
About the third or fourth morning after their being thus
resettled in Berkeley…street； Mrs。 Jennings； on returning from her
ordinary visit to Mrs。 Palmer； entered the drawing…room； where
Elinor was sitting by herself； with an air of such hurrying
importance as prepared her to hear something wonderful； and
giving her time only to form that idea； began directly to justify it；
by saying；
“Lord！ my dear Miss Dashwood！ have you heard the news？”
“No； ma’am。 What is it？”
“Something so strange！ But you shall hear it all。—When I got to
Mr。 Palmer’s； I found Charlotte quite in a fuss about the child。 She
was sure it was very ill—it cried； and fretted； and was all over
pimples。 So I looked at it directly； and； ‘Lord！ my dear；’ says I； ‘it is
nothing in the world； but the red gum—’ and nurse said just the
same。 But Charlotte； she would not be satisfied； so Mr。 Donavan
was sent for； and luckily he happened to just come in from Harley…
street； so he stepped over directly； and as soon as ever he saw the
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child； he said just as we did； that it was nothing in the world but
the red gum； and then Charlotte was easy。 And so； just as he was
going away again； it came into my head； I am sure I do not know
how I happened to think of it； but it came into my head to ask him
if there was any news。 So upon that； he smirked； and simpered；
and looked grave； and seemed to know something or other； and at
last he said in a whisper； ‘For fear any unpleasant report should
reach the young ladies under your care as to their sister’s
indisposition； I think it advisable to say； that I believe there is no
great reason for alarm； I hope Mrs。 Dashwood will do very well。’”
“What！ is Fanny ill？”
“That is exactly what I said； my dear。 ‘Lord！’ says I； ‘is Mrs。
Dashwood ill？’ So then it all came out； and the long and the short
of the matter； by all I can learn； seems to be this。 Mr。 Edward
Ferrars； the very young man I used to joke with you about （but
however； as it turns out； I am monstrous glad there was never any
thing in it）； Mr。 Edward Ferrars； it seems； has been engaged above
this twelvemonth to my cousin Lucy！—There’s for you； my dear！—
And not a creature knowing a syllable of the matter； except
Nancy！—Could you have believed such a thing possible？—There
is no great wonder in their liking one another； but that matters
should be brought so forward between them； and nobody suspect
it！ That is strange！—I never happened to see them together； or I
am sure I should have found it out directly。 Well； and so this was
kept a great secret； for fear of Mrs。 Ferrars； and neither she nor
your brother or sister suspected a word of the matter；—till this
very morning； poor Nancy； who； you know； is a well…meaning
creature； but no conjurer； popt it all out。 ‘Lord！’ thinks she to
herself； ‘they are all so fond of Lucy； to be sure they will make no
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difficulty about it；’ and so； away she went to your sister； who was
sitting all alone at her carpet…work； little suspecting what was to
come—for she had just been saying to your brother； only five
minutes before； that she thought to make a match between
Edward and some Lord’s daughter or other； I forget who。 So you
may think what a blow it was to all her vanity and pride。 She fell
into violent hysterics immediately； with such screams as reached
your brother’s ears； as he was sitting in his own dressing…room
down stairs； thinking about writing a letter to his steward in the
country。 So up he flew directly； and a terrible scene took place； for
Lucy was come to them by that time； little dreaming what was
going on。 Poor soul！ I
