sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第80章
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“What； indeed； ma’am！ It is a melancholy consideration。 Born
to the prospect of such affluence！ I cannot conceive a situation
more deplorable。 The interest of two thousand pounds—how can a
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man live on it？—and when to that is added the recollection； that
he might； but for his own folly； within three months have been in
the receipt of two thousand； five hundred a…year （for Miss Morton
has thirty thousand pounds；） I cannot picture to myself a more
wretched condition。 We must all feel for him； and the more so；
because it is totally out of our power to assist him。”
“Poor young man！” cried Mrs。 Jennings； “I am sure he should
be very welcome to bed and board at my house； and so I would tell
him if I could see him。 It is not fit that he should be living about at
his own charge now； at lodgings and taverns。”
Elinor’s heart thanked her for such kindness towards Edward；
though she could not forbear smiling at the form of it。
“If he would only have done as well by himself；” said John
Dashwood； “as all his friends were disposed to do by him； he might
now have been in his proper situation； and would have wanted for
nothing。 But as it is； it must be out of anybody’s power to assist
him。 And there is one thing more preparing against him； which
must be worse than all—his mother has determined； with a very
natural kind of spirit； to settle that estate upon Robert
immediately； which might have been Edward’s； on proper
conditions。 I left her this morning with her lawyer； talking over the
business。”
“Well！” said Mrs。 Jennings； “that is her revenge。 Everybody has
a way of their own。 But I don’t think mine would be； to make one
son independent； because another had plagued me。”
Marianne got up and walked about the room。
“Can anything be more galling to the spirit of a man；”
continued John； “than to see his younger brother in possession of
an estate which might have been his own？ Poor Edward！ I feel for
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him sincerely。”
A few minutes more spent in the same kind of effusion；
concluded his visit； and with repeated assurances to his sisters
that he really believed there was no material danger in Fanny’s
indisposition； and that they need not therefore be very uneasy
about it； he went away； leaving the three ladies unanimous in their
sentiments on the present occasion； as far at least as it regarded
Mrs。 Ferrars’s conduct； the Dashwoods’； and Edward’s。
Marianne’s indignation burst forth as soon as he quitted the
room； and as her vehemence made reserve impossible in Elinor；
and unnecessary in Mrs。 Jennings； they all joined in a very
spirited critique upon the party。
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CHAPTER II
rs。 Jennings was very warm in her praise of Edward’s
conduct； but only Elinor and Marianne understood its
M They
true merit。 only knew how little he had had to
tempt him to be disobedient； and how small was the consolation；
beyond the consciousness of doing right； that could remain to him
in the loss of friends and fortune。 Elinor gloried in his integrity；
and Marianne forgave all his offences in compassion for his
punishment。 But though confidence between them was； by this
public discovery； restored to its proper state； it was not a subject
on which either of them were fond of dwelling when alone。 Elinor
avoided it upon principle； as tending to fix still more upon her
thoughts； by the too warm； too positive assurances of Marianne；
that belief of Edward’s continued affection for herself which she
rather wished to do away； and Marianne’s courage soon failed her；
in trying to converse upon a topic which always left her more
dissatisfied with herself than ever； by the comparison it
necessarily produced between Elinor’s conduct and her own。
She felt all the force of that comparison； but not as her sister
had hoped； to urge her to exertion now； she felt it with all the pain
of continual self…reproach； regretted most bitterly that she had
never exerted herself before； but it brought only the torture of
penitence； without the hope of amendment。 Her mind was so
much weakened that she still fancied present exertion impossible；
and therefore it only dispirited her more。
Nothing new was heard by them； for a day or two afterwards； of
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affairs in Harley…street； or Bartlett’s Buildings。 But though so
much of the matter was known to them already； that Mrs。
Jennings might have had enough to do in spreading that
knowledge farther； without seeking after more； she had resolved
from the first to pay a visit of comfort and inquiry to her cousins as
soon as she could； and nothing but the hindrance of more visitors
than usual； had prevented her going to them within that time。
The third day succeeding their knowledge of the particulars；
was so fine； so beautiful a Sunday as to draw many to Kensington
Gardens； though it was only the second week in March。 Mrs。
Jennings and Elinor were of the number； but Marianne； who knew
that the Willoughbys were again in town； and had a constant
dread of meeting them； chose rather to stay at home； than venture
into so public a place。
An intimate acquaintance of Mrs。 Jennings joined them soon
after they entered the Gardens； and Elinor was not sorry that by
her continuing with them； and engaging all Mrs。 Jennings’s
conversation； she was herself left to quiet reflection。 She saw
nothing of the Willoughbys； nothing of Edward； and for some time
nothing of anybody who could by any chance whether grave or
gay； be interesting to her。 But at last she found herself with some
surprise； accosted by Miss Steele； who； though looking rather shy；
expressed great satisfaction in meeting them； and on receiving
encouragement from the particular kindness of Mrs。 Jennings； left
her own party for a short time； to join their’s。 Mrs。 Jennings
immediately whispered to Elinor；
“Get it all out of her； my dear。 She will tell you any thing if you
ask。 You see I cannot leave Mrs。 Clarke。”
It was lucky； however； for Mrs。 Jennings’s curiosity and Elinor’s
Cla
