sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第41节
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cautiousness of conduct in an affair respecting which she had
never been able to inspire her with distrust； and she dared not
explain the motive of her own disinclination for going to London。
That Marianne； fastidious as she was； thoroughly acquainted with
Mrs。 Jennings’ manners； and invariably disgusted by them； should
overlook every inconvenience of that kind； should disregard
whatever must be most wounding to her irritable feelings； in her
pursuit of one object； was such a proof； so strong； so full； of the
importance of that object to her； as Elinor； in spite of all that had
passed； was not prepared to witness。
On being informed of the invitation； Mrs。 Dashwood； persuaded
that such an excursion would be productive of much amusement
to both her daughters； and perceiving through all her affectionate
attention to herself； how much the heart of Marianne was in it；
would not hear of their declining the offer upon her account；
insisted on their both accepting it directly； and then began to
foresee； with her usual cheerfulness； a variety of advantages that
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would accrue to them all； from this separation。
“I am delighted with the plan；” she cried； “it is exactly what I
could wish。 Margaret and I shall be as much benefited by it as
yourselves。 When you and the Middletons are gone； we shall go on
so quietly and happily together with our books and our music！ You
will find Margaret so improved when you come back again！ I have
a little plan of alteration for your bedrooms too； which may now be
performed without any inconvenience to any one。 It is very right
that you should go to town； I would have every young woman of
your condition in life acquainted with the manners and
amusements of London。 You will be under the care of a motherly
good sort of woman； of whose kindness to you I can have no doubt。
And in all probability you will see your brother； and whatever may
be his faults； or the faults of his wife； when I consider whose son
he is； I cannot bear to have you so wholly estranged from each
other。”
“Though with your usual anxiety for our happiness；” said
Elinor； “you have been obviating every impediment to the present
scheme which occurred to you； there is still one objection which；
in my opinion； cannot be so easily removed。”
Marianne’s countenance sunk。
“And what；” said Mrs。 Dashwood； “is my dear prudent Elinor
going to suggest？ What formidable obstacle is she now to bring
forward？ Do let me hear a word about the expense of it。”
“My objection is this； though I think very well of Mrs。
Jennings’s heart； she is not a woman whose society can afford us
pleasure； or whose protection will give us consequence。”
“That is very true；” replied her mother； “but of her society；
separately from that of other people； you will scarcely have any
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thing at all； and you will almost always appear in public with Lady
Middleton。”
“If Elinor is frightened away by her dislike of Mrs。 Jennings；”
said Marianne； “at least it need not prevent my accepting her
invitation。 I have no such scruples； and I am sure I could put up
with every unpleasantness of that kind with very little effort。”
Elinor could not help smiling at this display of indifference
towards the manners of a person； to whom she had often had
difficulty in persuading Marianne to behave with tolerable
politeness； and resolved within herself； that if her sister persisted
in going； she would go likewise； as she did not think it proper that
Marianne should be left to the sole guidance of her own judgment；
or that Mrs。 Jennings should be abandoned to the mercy of
Marianne for all the comfort of her domestic hours。 To this
determination she was the more easily reconciled； by recollecting
that Edward Ferrars； by Lucy’s account； was not to be in town
before February； and that their visit； without any unreasonable
abridgement； might be previously finished。
“I will have you both go；” said Mrs。 Dashwood； “these objections
are nonsensical。 You will have much pleasure in being in London；
and especially in being together； and if Elinor would ever
condescend to anticipate enjoyment； she would foresee it there
from a variety of sources； she would； perhaps； expect some from
improving her acquaintance with her sister…in…law’s family。”
Elinor had often wished for an opportunity of attempting to
weaken her mother’s dependence on the attachment of Edward
and herself； that the shock might be less when the whole truth
were revealed； and now on this attack； though almost hopeless of
success； she forced herself to begin her design by saying； as calmly
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as she could； “I like Edward Ferrars very much； and shall always
be glad to see him； but as to the rest of the family； it is a matter of
perfect indifference to me； whether I am ever known to them or
not。”
Mrs。 Dashwood smiled and said nothing。 Marianne lifted up her
eyes in astonishment； and Elinor conjectured that she might as
well have held her tongue。
After very little farther discourse； it was finally settled that the
invitation should be fully accepted。 Mrs。 Jennings received the
information with a great deal of joy； and many assurances of
kindness and care； nor was it a matter of pleasure merely to her。
Sir John was delighted； for to a man； whose prevailing anxiety was
the dread of being alone； the acquisition of two； to the number of
inhabitants in London； was something。 Even Lady Middleton took
the trouble of being delighted； which was putting herself rather
out of her way； and as for the Miss Steeles； especially Lucy； they
had never been so happy in their lives as this intelligence made
them。
Elinor submitted to the arrangement which counteracted her
wishes with less reluctance than she had expected to feel。 With
regard to herself； it was now a matter of unconcern whether she
went to town or not； and when she saw her mother so thoroughly
pleased with the plan； and her sister exhilarated by it in look；
voice； and manner； restored to all her usual animation； and
elevated to more than her usual gaiety； she could not be
dissatisfied with the cause； and would hardly allow herself to
distrust the consequence。
Marianne’s joy was almost a degree beyond happiness； so great
was the perturbation of her spirits and her impatience to be gone。
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Her unwillingness to quit her mother was her only restorative to
calmness； and at the moment of parting her grief on that score was
excessive。 Her mother’s affliction was hardly less； and Elinor was
the only one of the three； who seemed to consider the separation
as any thing short of eternal。
Their departure took place in the first week in January。 The
Middletons were to follow in about a week。 The Miss Steeles kept
their station at the park； and were to quit it only with the rest of
the family。
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