sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第81节
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recommended by so pretty a face； was engaging； her folly； though
evident was not disgusting； because it was not conceited； and
Elinor could have forgiven every thing but her laugh。
The two gentlemen arrived the next day to a very late dinner；
affording a pleasant enlargement of the party； and a very welcome
variety to their conversation； which a long morning of the same
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continued rain had reduced very low。
Elinor had seen so little of Mr。 Palmer； and in that little had
seen so much variety in his address to her sister and herself； that
she knew not what to expect to find him in his own family。 She
found him； however； perfectly the gentleman in his behaviour to
all his visitors； and only occasionally rude to his wife and her
mother； she found him very capable of being a pleasant
companion； and only prevented from being so always； by too great
an aptitude to fancy himself as much superior to people in general；
as he must feel himself to be to Mrs。 Jennings and Charlotte。 For
the rest of his character and habits； they were marked； as far as
Elinor could perceive； with no traits at all unusual in his sex and
time of life。 He was nice in his eating； uncertain in his hours； fond
of his child； though affecting to slight it； and idled away the
mornings at billiards； which ought to have been devoted to
business。 She liked him； however； upon the whole； much better
than she had expected； and in her heart was not sorry that she
could like him no more；—not sorry to be driven by the observation
of his Epicurism； his selfishness； and his conceit； to rest with
complacency on the remembrance of Edward’s generous temper；
simple taste； and diffident feelings。
Of Edward； or at least of some of his concerns； she now
received intelligence from Colonel Brandon； who had been into
Dorsetshire lately； and who； treating her at once as the
disinterested friend of Mr。 Ferrars； and the kind confidante of
himself； talked to her a great deal of the parsonage at Delaford；
described its deficiencies； and told her what he meant to do
himself towards removing them。—His behaviour to her in this； as
well as in every other particular； his open pleasure in meeting her
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after an absence of only ten days； his readiness to converse with
her； and his deference for her opinion； might very well justify Mrs。
Jennings’s persuasion of his attachment； and would have been
enough； perhaps； had not Elinor still； as from the first； believed
Marianne his real favourite； to make her suspect it herself。 But as
it was； such a notion had scarcely ever entered her head； except by
Mrs。 Jennings’s suggestion； and she could not help believing
herself the nicest observer of the two；—she watched his eyes；
while Mrs。 Jennings thought only of his behaviour；—and while his
looks of anxious solicitude on Marianne’s feeling； in her head and
throat； the beginning of a heavy cold； because unexpressed by
words； entirely escaped the latter lady’s observation；—she could
discover in them the quick feelings； and needless alarm of a lover。
Two delighful twilight walks on the third and fourth evenings of
her being there； not merely on the dry gravel of the shrubbery； but
all over the grounds； and especially in the most distant parts of
them； where there was something more of wildness than in the
rest； where the trees were the oldest； and the grass was the longest
and wettest； had—assisted by the still greater imprudence of
sitting in her wet shoes and stockings—given Marianne a cold so
violent as； though for a day or two trifled with or denied； would
force itself by increasing ailments on the concern of every body；
and the notice of herself。 Prescriptions poured in from all
quarters； and as usual； were all declined。 Though heavy and
feverish； with a pain in her limbs； and a cough； and a sore throat； a
good night’s rest was to cure her entirely； and it was with difficulty
that Elinor prevailed on her； when she went to bed； to try one or
two of the simplest of the remedies。
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CHAPTER VII
arianne got up the next morning at her usual time； to
every inquiry replied that she was better； and tried to
M
prove herself so； by engaging in her accustomary
employments。 But a day spent in sitting shivering over the fire
with a book in her hand； which she was unable to read； or in lying；
weary and languid； on a sofa； did not speak much in favour of her
amendment； and when； at last； she went early to bed； more and
more indisposed； Colonel Brandon was only astonished at her
sister’s composure； who； though attending and nursing her the
whole day； against Marianne’s inclination； and forcing proper
medicines on her at night； trusted； like Marianne； to the certainty
and efficacy of sleep； and felt no real alarm。
A very restless and feverish night； however； disappointed the
expectation of both； and when Marianne； after persisting in rising；
confessed herself unable to sit up； and returned voluntarily to her
bed； Elinor was very ready to adopt Mrs。 Jennings’s advice； of
sending for the Palmers’ apothecary。
He came； examined his patient； and though encouraging Miss
Dashwood to expect that a very few days would restore her sister
to health； yet； by pronouncing her disorder to have a putrid
tendency； and allowing the word “infection” to pass his lips； gave
instant alarm to Mrs。 Palmer； on her baby’s account。 Mrs。
Jennings； who had been inclined from the first to think
Marianne’s complaint more serious than Elinor； now looked very
grave on Mr。 Harris’s report； and confirming Charlotte’s fears and
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caution； urged the necessity of her immediate removal with her
infant； and Mr。 Palmer； though treating their apprehensions as
idle； found the anxiety and importunity of his wife too great to be
withstood。 Her departure； therefore； was fixed on； and within an
hour after Mr。 Harris’s arrival； she set off； with her little boy and
his nurse； for the house of a near relation of Mr。 Palmer’s； who
lived a few miles on the other side of Bath； whither her husband
promised； at her earnest entreaty； to join her in a day or two； and
whither she was almost equally urgent with her mother to
accompany her。 Mrs。 Jennings； however； with a kindness of heart
which made Elinor really love her； declared her resolution of not
stirring from Cleveland as long as Marianne remained ill； and of
endeavouring； by her own attentive care； to supply to her the place
of the mother she had taken her from； and Elinor found her on
every occasion a most willing and active helpmate； desirous to
share in all her fatigues； and often by her better experience in
nursing； of material use。
Poor Marianne； languid and low from the nature of her malady；
and feeling herself universally ill； could no longer hope that
tomorrow w
