sanditon(桑底顿)-第16节
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Sisters were perhaps driven to dissipate theirs in the invention of
odd complaints。—The whole of their mental vivacity was evidently
not so employed； Part was laid out in a Zeal for being useful。—It
should seem that they must either be very busy for the Good of
others； or else extremely ill themselves。 Some natural delicacy of
Constitution in fact； with an unfortunate turn for Medecine；
especially quack Medecine； had given them an early tendency at
various times； to various Disorders；—the rest of their sufferings
was from Fancy； the love of Distinction and the love of the
Wonderful。—They had Charitable hearts and many amiable
feelings—but a spirit of restless activity； and the glory of doing
more than anybody else； had their share in every exertion of
Benevolence—and there was Vanity in all they did； as well as in all
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they endured。—Mr。 and Mrs。 P。 spent a great part of the Evening
at the Hotel； but Charlotte had only two or three views of Miss
Diana posting over the Down after a House for this Lady whom
she had never seen； and who had never employed her。 She was
not made acquainted with the others till the following day； when；
being removed into Lodgings and all the party continuing quite
well； their Brother and Sister and herself were entreated to drink
tea with them。—They were in one of the Terrace Houses—and she
found them arranged for the Evening in a small neat Drawing
room； with a beautiful view of the Sea if they had chosen it；—but
though it had been a very fair English Summer…day；—not only was
there no open window； but the Sopha and the Table； and the
Establishment in general was all at the other end of the room by a
brisk fire。—Miss P。 whom； remembering the three Teeth drawn in
one day； Charlotte approached with a peculiar degree of respectful
Compassion； was not very unlike her Sister in person or manner—
tho’ more thin and worn by Illness and Medecine； more relaxed in
air； and more subdued in voice。 She talked however； the whole
Evening as incessantly as Diana—and excepting that she sat with
salts in her hand； took Drops two or three times from one； out of
the several Phials already at home on the Mantelpiece；—and made
a great many odd faces and contortions； Charlotte could perceive
no symptoms of illness which she； in the boldness of her own good
health； would not have undertaken to cure； by putting out the fire；
opening the Window； and disposing of the Drops and the salts by
means of one or the other。 She had had considerable curiosity to
see Mr。 Arthur Parker； and having fancied him a very puny；
delicate…looking young Man； the smallest very materially of not a
robust Family； was astonished to find him quite as tall as his
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Brother and a great deal Stouter—Broad made and Lusty—and
with no other look of an Invalide； than a sodden complexion。—
Diana was evidently the chief of the family； principal Mover and
Actor；—she had been on her Feet the whole Morning； on Mrs。 G。’s
business or their own； and was still the most alert of the three。—
Susan had only superintended their final removal from the Hotel；
bringing two heavy Boxes herself； and Arthur had found the air so
cold that he had merely walked from one House to the other as
nimbly as he could；—and boasted much of sitting by the fire till he
had cooked up a very good one。—Diana； whose exercise had been
too domestic to admit of calculation； but who； by her own account；
had not once sat down during the space of seven hours； confessed
herself a little tired。 She had been too successful however for
much fatigue； for not only had she by walking and talking down a
thousand difficulties at last secured a proper House at eight
guineas per week for Mrs。 G。； she had also opened so many
Treaties with Cooks； Housemaids； Washer…women and Bathing
Women； that Mrs。 G。 would have little more to do on her arrival；
than to wave her hand and collect them around her for choice。—
Her concluding effort in the cause； had been a few polite lines of
Information to Mrs。 G。 herself—time not allowing for the
circuitous train of intelligence； which had been hitherto kept up；—
and she was now regaling in the delight of opening the first
Trenches of an acquaintance with such a powerful discharge of
unexpected Obligation。 Mr。 and Mrs。 P。—and Charlotte had seen
two Post chaises crossing the Down to the Hotel as they were
setting off；—a joyful sight—and full of speculation。—The Miss
P。s—and Arthur had also seen something；—they could distinguish
from their window that there was an arrival at the Hotel； but not
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its amount。 Their Visitors answered for two Hack…Chaises。—Could
it be the Camberwell Seminary？—No—No。—Had there been a
third carriage； perhaps it might； but it was very generally agreed
that two Hack chaises could never contain a Seminary。—Mr。 P。
was confident of another new Family。—When they were all finally
seated； after some removals to look at the Sea and the Hotel；
Charlotte’s place was by Arthur； who was sitting next to the Fire
with a degree of Enjoyment which gave a good deal of merit to his
civility in wishing her to take his Chair。—There was nothing
dubious in her manner of declining it； and he sat down again with
much satisfaction。 She drew back her Chair to have all the
advantage of his Person as a screen； and was very thankful for
every inch of Back and Shoulders beyond her pre…conceived idea。
Arthur was heavy in Eye as well as figure； but by no means
indisposed to talk；—and while the other four were chiefly engaged
together； he evidently felt it no penance to have a fine young
Woman next to him； requiring in common Politeness some
attention—as his Brother who felt the decided want of some
motive for action； some Powerful object of animation for him；
observed with considerable pleasure。—Such was the influence of
Youth and Bloom that he began even to make a sort of apology for
having a Fire。 ‘We should not have one at home；’ said he； ‘but the
Sea air is always damp。 I am not afraid of any thing so much as
Damp。’ ‘I am so fortunate；’ said C。 ‘as never to know whether the
air is damp or dry。 It has always some property that is wholesome
and invigorating to me。’ ‘I like the Air too； as well as any body can；’
replied Arthur； ‘I am very fond of standing at an open Window
when there is no Wind—but unluckily a Damp air does not like
me。—It gives me the Rheumatism。—You are not rheumatic I
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suppose？’ ‘Not at all。’ ‘That’s a great blessing。—But perhaps you
are nervous。’ ‘No—I believe not。 I have no idea that I am。’—‘I am
very nervous。—To say the truth Nerves are the worst part of my
Complaints in my opinion。 My Sisters think me Bilious； but I
doubt it。’ ‘You are quite in the right； to doubt it as long as you
possibly can； I am sure。’ ‘If I were Bilious；’ he continued； ‘you
know Wine would disagree with me； but it always does me good。—
The more Wine I drink （in Moderation） the better I am。�
