sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第18节
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thing conducted in the usual style of a complete party of pleasure。
To some few of the company it appeared rather a bold
undertaking； considering the time of year； and that it had rained
every day for the last fortnight；—and Mrs。 Dashwood； who had
already a cold； was persuaded by Elinor to stay at home。
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CHAPTER XIII
heir intended excursion to Whitwell turned out very
different from what Elinor had expected。 She was
T
prepared to be wet through； fatigued； and frightened； but
the event was still more unfortunate； for they did not go at all。
By ten o’clock the whole party was assembled at the park；
where they were to breakfast。 The morning was rather favourable；
though it had rained all night； as the clouds were then dispersing
across the sky； and the sun frequently appeared。 They were all in
high spirits and good humour； eager to be happy； and determined
to submit to the greatest inconveniences and hardships rather
than be otherwise。
While they were at breakfast the letters were brought in。
Among the rest there was one for Colonel Brandon；—he took it；
looked at the direction； changed colour； and immediately left the
room。
“What is the matter with Brandon？” said Sir John。
Nobody could tell。
“I hope he has had no bad news；” said Lady Middleton。 “It
must be something extraordinary that could make Colonel
Brandon leave my breakfast table so suddenly。”
In about five minutes he returned。
“No bad news； Colonel； I hope；” said Mrs。 Jennings； as soon as
he entered the room。
“None at all； ma’am； I thank you。”
“Was it from Avignon？ I hope it is not to say that your sister is
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worse。”
“No； ma’am。 It came from town； and is merely a letter of
business。”
“But how came the hand to discompose you so much； if it was
only a letter of business？ Come； come； this won’t do； Colonel； so let
us hear the truth of it。”
“My dear madam；” said Lady Middleton； “recollect what you
are saying。”
“Perhaps it is to tell you that your cousin Fanny is married？”
said Mrs。 Jennings； without attending to her daughter’s reproof。
“No； indeed； it is not。”
“Well； then； I know who it is from； Colonel。 And I hope she is
well。”
“Whom do you mean； ma’am？” said he； colouring a little。
“Oh！ you know who I mean。”
“I am particularly sorry； ma’am；” said he； addressing Lady
Middleton； “that I should receive this letter today； for it is on
business which requires my immediate attendance in town。”
“In town！” cried Mrs。 Jennings。 “What can you have to do in
town at this time of year？”
“My own loss is great；” be continued； “in being obliged to leave
so agreeable a party； but I am the more concerned； as I fear my
presence is necessary to gain your admittance at Whitwell。”
What a blow upon them all was this！
“But if you write a note to the housekeeper； Mr。 Brandon；” said
Marianne； eagerly； “will it not be sufficient？”
He shook his head。
“We must go；” said Sir John。—“It shall not be put off when we
are so near it。 You cannot go to town till tomorrow； Brandon； that
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is all。”
“I wish it could be so easily settled。 But it is not in my power to
delay my journey for one day！”
“If you would but let us know what your business is；” said Mrs。
Jennings； “we might see whether it could be put off or not。”
“You would not be six hours later；” said Willoughby； “if you
were to defer your journey till our return。”
“I cannot afford to lose one hour。”—
Elinor then heard Willoughby say； in a low voice to Marianne；
“There are some people who cannot bear a party of pleasure。
Brandon is one of them。 He was afraid of catching cold I dare say；
and invented this trick for getting out of it。 I would lay fifty
guineas the letter was of his own writing。”
“I have no doubt of it；” replied Marianne。
“There is no persuading you to change your mind； Brandon； I
know of old；” said Sir John； “when once you are determined on
anything。 But； however； I hope you will think better of it。
Consider； here are the two Miss Careys come over from Newton；
the three Miss Dashwoods walked up from the cottage； and Mr。
Willoughby got up two hours before his usual time； on purpose to
go to Whitwell。”
Colonel Brandon again repeated his sorrow at being the cause
of disappointing the party； but at the same time declared it to be
unavoidable。
“Well； then； when will you come back again？”
“I hope we shall see you at Barton；” added her ladyship； “as
soon as you can conveniently leave town； and we must put off the
party to Whitwell till you return。”
“You are very obliging。 But it is so uncertain； when I may have
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it in my power to return； that I dare not engage for it at all。”
“Oh！ he must and shall come back；” cried Sir John。 “If he is not
here by the end of the week； I shall go after him。”
“Ay； so do； Sir John；” cried Mrs。 Jennings； “and then perhaps
you may find out what his business is。”
“I do not want to pry into other men’s concerns。 I suppose it is
something he is ashamed of。”
Colonel Brandon’s horses were announced。
“You do not go to town on horseback； do you？” added Sir John。
“No。 Only to Honiton。 I shall then go post。”
“Well； as you are resolved to go； I wish you a good journey。 But
you had better change your mind。”
“I assure you it is not in my power。”
He then took leave of the whole party。
“Is there no chance of my seeing you and your sisters in town
this winter； Miss Dashwood？”
“I am afraid； none at all。”
“Then I must bid you farewell for a longer time than I should
wish to do。”
To Marianne； he merely bowed and said nothing。
“Come Colonel；” said Mrs。 Jennings； “before you go； do let us
know what you are going about。”
He wished her a good morning； and； attended by Sir John； left
the room。
The complaints and lamentations which politeness had hitherto
restrained； now burst forth universally； and they all agreed again
and again how provoking it was to be so disappointed。
“I can guess what his business is； however；” said Mrs。 Jennings
exultingly。
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“Can you； ma’am？” said almost every body。
“Yes； it is about Miss Williams； I am sure。”
“And who is Miss Williams？” asked Marianne。
“What！ do not you know who Miss Williams is？ I am sure you
must have heard of her before。 She is a relation of the Colonel’s；
my dear； a very near relation。 We will not say how near； for fear of
shocking the young ladies。” Then； lowering her voice a little； she
said to Elinor； “She is his natural daughter。”
“Indeed！”
“Oh； yes； and as like him as she can stare。 I dare say the Colonel
will leave her all his fortune。”
When Sir John returned； he joined most heartily in the general
regret on so unfortunate an event； concluding however by
observing； that as they were all got together； they must do
something by way of being happy； and after some consultation it
was agreed； that although happiness could only be enjoyed at
Whitwell； they might procure a tolerable composure o
