sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第48节
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measuring lengths of worsted for her rug； to see any thing at all；
and calmly continuing her talk； as soon as Marianne disappeared；
she said；
“Upon my word； I never saw a young woman so desperately in
love in my life！ My girls were nothing to her； and yet they used to
be foolish enough； but as for Miss Marianne； she is quite an
altered creature。 I hope； from the bottom of my heart； he won’t
keep her waiting much longer； for it is quite grievous to see her
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look so ill and forlorn。 Pray； when are they to be married？”
Elinor； though never less disposed to speak than at that
moment； obliged herself to answer such an attack as this； and；
therefore； trying to smile； replied； “And have you really； Ma’am；
talked yourself into a persuasion of my sister’s being engaged to
Mr。 Willoughby？ I thought it had been only a joke； but so serious a
question seems to imply more； and I must beg； therefore； that you
will not deceive yourself any longer。 I do assure you that nothing
would surprise me more than to hear of their being going to be
married。”
“For shame； for shame； Miss Dashwood！ how can you talk so？
Don’t we all know that it must be a match； that they were over
head and ears in love with each other from the first moment they
met？ Did not I see them together in Devonshire every day； and all
day long； and did not I know that your sister came to town with
me on purpose to buy wedding clothes？ Come； come； this won’t
do。 Because you are so sly about it yourself； you think nobody else
has any senses； but it is no such thing； I can tell you； for it has
been known all over town this ever so long。 I tell every body of it
and so does Charlotte。”
“Indeed； Ma’am；” said Elinor； very seriously； “you are
mistaken。 Indeed； you are doing a very unkind thing in spreading
the report； and you will find that you have； though you will not
believe me now。”
Mrs。 Jennings laughed again； but Elinor had not spirits to say
more； and eager at all events to know what Willoughby had
written； hurried away to their room； where； on opening the door；
she saw Marianne stretched on the bed； almost choked by grief；
one letter in her hand； and two or three others laying by her。
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Elinor drew near； but without saying a word； and seating herself
on the bed； took her hand； kissed her affectionately several times；
and then gave way to a burst of tears； which at first was scarcely
less violent than Marianne’s。 The latter； though unable to speak；
seemed to feel all the tenderness of this behaviour； and after some
time thus spent in joint affliction； she put all the letters into
Elinor’s hands； and then covering her face with her handkerchief；
almost screamed with agony。 Elinor； who knew that such grief；
shocking as it was to witness it； must have its course； watched by
her till this excess of suffering had somewhat spent itself； and then
turning eagerly to Willoughby’s letter； read as follows：
Bond…street； January。
My Dear Madam；
I have just had the honour of receiving your letter； for which I
beg to return my sincere acknowledgments。 I am much concerned
to find there was anything in my behaviour last night that did not
meet your approbation； and though I am quite at a loss to discover
in what point I could be so unfortunate as to offend you； I entreat
your forgiveness of what I can assure you to have been perfectly
unintentional。 I shall never reflect on my former acquaintance
with your family in Devonshire without the most grateful pleasure；
and flatter myself it will not be broken by any mistake or
misapprehension of my actions。 My esteem for your whole family
is very sincere； but if I have been so unfortunate as to give rise to a
belief of more than I felt； or meant to express； I shall reproach
myself for not having been more guarded in my professions of that
esteem。 That I should ever have meant more you will allow to be
impossible； when you understand that my affections have been
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long engaged elsewhere； and it will not be many weeks； I believe；
before this engagement is fulfilled。 It is with great regret that I
obey your commands in returning the letters with which I have
been honoured from you； and the lock of hair； which you so
obligingly bestowed on me。
I am； dear Madam；
Your most obedient humble servant；
JOHN WILLOUGHBY。
With what indignation such a letter as this must be read by
Miss Dashwood； may be imagined。 Though aware； before she
began it； that it must bring a confession of his inconstancy； and
confirm their separation for ever； she was not aware that such
language could be suffered to announce it； nor could she have
supposed Willoughby capable of departing so far from the
appearance of every honourable and delicate feeling—so far from
the common decorum of a gentleman； as to send a letter so
impudently cruel： a letter which； instead of bringing with his
desire of a release any professions of regret； acknowledged no
breach of faith； denied all peculiar affection whatever—a letter of
which every line was an insult； and which proclaimed its writer to
be deep in hardened villainy。
She paused over it for some time with indignant astonishment；
then read it again and again； but every perusal only served to
increase her abhorrence of the man； and so bitter were her
feelings against him； that she dared not trust herself to speak； lest
she might wound Marianne still deeper by treating their
disengagement； not as a loss to her of any possible good but as an
escape from the worst and most irremediable of all evils； a
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connection； for life； with an unprincipled man； as a deliverance the
most real； a blessing the most important。
In her earnest meditations on the contents of the letter； on the
depravity of that mind which could dictate it； and probably； on the
very different mind of a very different person； who had no other
connection whatever with the affair than what her heart gave him
with every thing that passed； Elinor forgot the immediate distress
of her sister； forgot that she had three letters on her lap yet
unread； and so entirely forgot how long she had been in the room；
that when on hearing a carriage drive up to the door； she went to
the window to see who could be coming so unreasonably early； she
was all astonishment to perceive Mrs。 Jennings’s chariot； which
she knew had not been ordered till one。 Determined not to quit
Marianne； though hopeless of contributing； at present； to her ease；
she hurried away to excuse herself from attending Mrs。 Jennings；
on account of her sister being indisposed。 Mrs。 Jennings； with a
thoroughly good…humoured concern for its cause； admitted the
excuse most readily； and Elinor； after seeing her safe off； returned
to Marianne； whom she found attempting to rise from the bed； and
whom she reached just in time to prevent her from falling
