sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第99节
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breakfast。
A three weeks’ residence at Delaford； where； in his evening
hours at least； he had little to do but to calculate the disproportion
between thirty…six and seventeen； brought him to Barton in a
temper of mind which needed all the improvement in Marianne’s
looks； all the kindness of her welcome； and all the encouragement
of her mother’s language； to make it cheerful。 Among such friends；
however； and such flattery； he did revive。 No rumour of Lucy’s
marriage had yet reached him；—he knew nothing of what had
passed； and the first hours of his visit were consequently spent in
hearing and in wondering。 Every thing was explained to him by
Mrs。 Dashwood； and he found fresh reason to rejoice in what he
had done for Mr。 Ferrars； since eventually it promoted the interest
of Elinor。
It would be needless to say； that the gentlemen advanced in the
good opinion of each other； as they advanced in each other’s
acquaintance； for it could not be otherwise。 Their resemblance in
good principles and good sense； in disposition and manner of
thinking； would probably have been sufficient to unite them in
friendship； without any other attraction； but their being in love
with two sisters； and two sisters fond of each other； made that
mutual regard inevitable and immediate； which might otherwise
have waited the effect of time and judgment。
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The letters from town； which a few days before would have
made every nerve in Elinor’s body thrill with transport； now
arrived to be read with less emotion than mirth。 Mrs。 Jennings
wrote to tell the wonderful tale； to vent her honest indignation
against the jilting girl； and pour forth her compassion towards
poor Mr。 Edward； who； she was sure； had quite doted upon the
worthless hussy； and was now； by all accounts； almost broken…
hearted； at Oxford。—“I do think；” she continued； “nothing was
ever carried on so sly； for it was but two days before Lucy called
and sat a couple of hours with me。 Not a soul suspected anything
of the matter； not even Nancy； who； poor soul！ came crying to me
the day after； in a great fright for fear of Mrs。 Ferrars； as well as
not knowing how to get to Plymouth； for Lucy it seems borrowed
all her money before she went off to be married； on purpose we
suppose to make a show with； and poor Nancy had not seven
shillings in the world；—so I was very glad to give her five guineas
to take her down to Exeter； where she thinks of staying three or
four weeks with Mrs。 Burgess； in hopes； as I tell her； to fall in with
the Doctor again。 And I must say that Lucy’s crossness not to take
them along with them in the chaise is worse than all。 Poor Mr。
Edward！ I cannot get him out of my head； but you must send for
him to Barton； and Miss Marianne must try to comfort him。”
Mr。 Dashwood’s strains were more solemn。 Mrs。 Ferrars was
the most unfortunate of women—poor Fanny had suffered agonies
of sensibility—and he considered the existence of each； under
such a blow； with grateful wonder。 Robert’s offence was
unpardonable； but Lucy’s was infinitely worse。 Neither of them
were ever again to be mentioned to Mrs。 Ferrars； and even； if she
might hereafter be induced to forgive her son； his wife should
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never be acknowledged as her daughter； nor be permitted to
appear in her presence。 The secrecy with which everything had
been carried on between them； was rationally treated as
enormously heightening the crime； because； had any suspicion of
it occurred to the others； proper measures would have been taken
to prevent the marriage； and he called on Elinor to join with him
in regretting that Lucy’s engagement with Edward had not rather
been fulfilled； than that she should thus be the means of spreading
misery farther in the family。—He thus continued：
“Mrs。 Ferrars has never yet mentioned Edward’s name； which
does not surprise us； but； to our great astonishment； not a line has
been received from him on the occasion。 Perhaps； however； he is
kept silent by his fear of offending； and I shall； therefore； give him
a hint； by a line to Oxford； that his sister and I both think a letter
of proper submission from him； addressed perhaps to Fanny； and
by her shewn to her mother； might not be taken amiss； for we all
know the tenderness of Mrs。 Ferrars’s heart； and that she wishes
for nothing so much as to be on good terms with her children。”
This paragraph was of some importance to the prospects and
conduct of Edward。 It determined him to attempt a reconciliation；
though not exactly in the manner pointed out by their brother and
sister。
“A letter of proper submission！” repeated he； “would they have
me beg my mother’s pardon for Robert’s ingratitude to her； and
breach of honour to me？—I can make no submission—I am grown
neither humble nor penitent by what has passed。—I am grown
very happy； but that would not interest。—I know of no submission
that is proper for me to make。”
“You may certainly ask to be forgiven；” said Elinor； “because
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you have offended；—and I should think you might now venture so
far as to profess some concern for having ever formed the
engagement which drew on you your mother’s anger。”
He agreed that he might。
“And when she has forgiven you； perhaps a little humility may
be convenient while acknowledging a second engagement； almost
as imprudent in her eyes as the first。”
He had nothing to urge against it； but still resisted the idea of a
letter of proper submission； and therefore； to make it easier to
him； as he declared a much greater willingness to make mean
concessions by word of mouth than on paper； it was resolved that；
instead of writing to Fanny； he should go to London； and
personally intreat her good offices in his favour。—“And if they
really do interest themselves；” said Marianne； in her new
character of candour； “in bringing about a reconciliation； I shall
think that even John and Fanny are not entirely without merit。”
After a visit on Colonel Brandon’s side of only three or four
days； the two gentlemen quitted Barton together。—They were to
go immediately to Delaford； that Edward might have some
personal knowledge of his future home； and assist his patron and
friend in deciding on what improvements were needed to it； and
from thence； after staying there a couple of nights； he was to
proceed on his journey to town。
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CHAPTER XIV
fter a proper resistance on the part of Mrs。 Ferrars； just so
Aviolent and so steady as to preserve her from that
reproach which she always seemed fearful of incurring；
the reproach of being too amiable； Edward was admitted to her
presence； and pronounced to be again her son。
Her family had of late been exceedingly fluctuating。 For many
years of her life she had had two sons； but the crime and
annihilation of Edward a few weeks ago； had robbed her of one；
the sim
