sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第33节
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brothers for offering to touch her； and all their united soothings
were ineffectual till Lady Middleton luckily remembering that in a
scene of similar distress last week； some apricot marmalade had
been successfully applied for a bruised temple； the same remedy
was eagerly proposed for this unfortunate scratch； and a slight
intermission of screams in the young lady on hearing it； gave them
reason to hope that it would not be rejected。—She was carried out
of the room therefore in her mother’s arms； in quest of this
medicine； and as the two boys chose to follow； though earnestly
entreated by their mother to stay behind； the four young ladies
were left in a quietness which the room had not known for many
hours。
“Poor little creatures！” said Miss Steele； as soon as they were
gone。 “It might have been a very sad accident。”
“Yet I hardly know how；” cried Marianne； “unless it had been
under totally different circumstances。 But this is the usual way of
heightening alarm； where there is nothing to be alarmed at in
reality。”
“What a sweet woman Lady Middleton is！” said Lucy Steele。
Marianne was silent； it was impossible for her to say what she
did not feel； however trivial the occasion； and upon Elinor
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therefore the whole task of telling lies when politeness required it；
always fell。 She did her best when thus called on； by speaking of
Lady Middleton with more warmth than she felt； though with far
less than Miss Lucy。
“And Sir John too；” cried the elder sister； “what a charming
man he is！”
Here too； Miss Dashwood’s commendation； being only simple
and just； came in without any eclat。 She merely observed that he
was perfectly good humoured and friendly。
“And what a charming little family they have！ I never saw such
fine children in my life。—I declare I quite doat upon them already；
and indeed I am always distractedly fond of children。”
“I should guess so；” said Elinor； with a smile； “from what I have
witnessed this morning。”
“I have a notion；” said Lucy； “you think the little Middletons
rather too much indulged； perhaps they may be the outside of
enough； but it is so natural in Lady Middleton； and for my part； I
love to see children full of life and spirits； I cannot bear them if
they are tame and quiet。”
“I confess；” replied Elinor； “that while I am at Barton Park； I
never think of tame and quiet children with any abhorrence。”
A short pause succeeded this speech； which was first broken by
Miss Steele； who seemed very much disposed for conversation；
and who now said rather abruptly； “And how do you like
Devonshire； Miss Dashwood？ I suppose you were very sorry to
leave Sussex。”
In some surprise at the familiarity of this question； or at least of
the manner in which it was spoken； Elinor replied that she was。
“Norland is a prodigious beautiful place； is not it？” added Miss
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Steele。
“We have heard Sir John admire it excessively；” said Lucy； who
seemed to think some apology necessary for the freedom of her
sister。
“I think every one must admire it；” replied Elinor； “who ever
saw the place； though it is not to be supposed that any one can
estimate its beauties as we do。”
“And had you a great many smart beaux there？ I suppose you
have not so many in this part of the world； for my part； I think they
are a vast addition always。”
“But why should you think；” said Lucy； looking ashamed of her
sister； “that there are not as many genteel young men in
Devonshire as Sussex？”
“Nay； my dear； I’m sure I don’t pretend to say that there an’t。
I’m sure there’s a vast many smart beaux in Exeter； but you know；
how could I tell what smart beaux there might be about Norland；
and I was only afraid the Miss Dashwoods might find it dull at
Barton； if they had not so many as they used to have。 But perhaps
you young ladies may not care about the beaux； and had as lief be
without them as with them。 For my part； I think they are vastly
agreeable； provided they dress smart and behave civil。 But I can’t
bear to see them dirty and nasty。 Now there’s Mr。 Rose at Exeter；
a prodigious smart young man； quite a beau； clerk to Mr。 Simpson；
you know； and yet if you do but meet him of a morning； he is not
fit to be seen。—I suppose your brother was quite a beau； Miss
Dashwood； before he married； as he was so rich？”
“Upon my word；” replied Elinor； “I cannot tell you； for I do not
perfectly comprehend the meaning of the word。 But this I can say；
that if he ever was a beau before he married； he is one still for
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there is not the smallest alteration in him。”
“Oh！ dear！ one never thinks of married men’s being beaux—
they have something else to do。”
“Lord！ Anne；” cried her sister； “you can talk of nothing but
beaux；—you will make Miss Dashwood believe you think of
nothing else。” And then to turn the discourse； she began admiring
the house and the furniture。
This specimen of the Miss Steeles was enough。 The vulgar
freedom and folly of the eldest left her no recommendation； and as
Elinor was not blinded by the beauty； or the shrewd look of the
youngest； to her want of real elegance and artlessness； she left the
house without any wish of knowing them better。
Not so the Miss Steeles。—They came from Exeter； well
provided with admiration for the use of Sir John Middleton； his
family； and all his relations； and no niggardly proportion was now
dealt out to his fair cousins； whom they declared to be the most
beautiful； elegant； accomplished； and agreeable girls they had ever
beheld； and with whom they were particularly anxious to be better
acquainted。—And to be better acquainted therefore； Elinor soon
found was their inevitable lot； for as Sir John was entirely on the
side of the Miss Steeles； their party would be too strong for
opposition； and that kind of intimacy must be submitted to； which
consists of sitting an hour or two together in the same room almost
every day。 Sir John could do no more； but he did not know that
any more was required； to be together was； in his opinion； to be
intimate； and while his continual schemes for their meeting were
effectual； he had not a doubt of their being established friends。
To do him justice； he did every thing in his power to promote
their unreserve； by making the Miss Steeles acquainted with
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whatever he knew or supposed of his cousins’ situations in the
most delicate particulars；—and Elinor had not seen them more
than twice； before the eldest of them wished her joy on her sister’s
having been so lucky as to make a conquest of a very smart beau
since she came to Barton。
“’Twill be a fine thing to have her married so young to be sure；”
said she； “and I hear he is quite a beau； and prodigious handsome。
And I hope you may have as good luck yourself soon；—but
perhaps you may have a friend in the corner already。”
Elinor could not suppose that Sir John would be more nice in
proclaiming his suspicions of her regard for Edward； than he had
been with respect to Marianne； indeed it was rather his favourite
