sanditon(桑底顿)-第5节
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family； which were attributed to him。 She had been too wary to
put anything out of her own Power—and when on Sir Harry’s
Decease she returned again to her own House at Sanditon； she
was said to have made this boast to a friend ‘that though she had
got nothing but her Title from the Family； still she had given
nothing for it。’—For the Title； it was to be supposed that she had
married—and Mr。 P。 acknowledged there being just such a degree
of value for it apparent now； as to give her conduct that natural
explanation。 ‘There is at times；’ said he—‘a little self…importance—
but it is not offensive；—and there are moments； there are points；
when her Love of Money is carried greatly too far。 But she is a
goodnatured Woman； a very goodnatured Woman；—a very
obliging； friendly Neighbour； a chearful； independant； valuable
character； and her faults may be entirely imputed to her want of
Education。 She has good natural Sense； but quite uncultivated。—
She has a fine active mind； as well as a fine healthy frame for a
Woman of seventy； and enters into the improvement of Sanditon
with a spirit truly admirable—though now and then； a Littleness
will appear。 She cannot look forward quite as I would have her—
and takes alarm at a trifling present expence； without considering
what returns it will make her in a year or two。 That is—we think
differently； we now and then； see things differently； Miss H。—
Those who tell their own Story you know must be listened to with
Caution。—When you see us in contact； you will judge for
yourself。’—Lady D。 was indeed a great Lady beyond the common
wants of Society—for she had many Thousands a year to
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bequeath； and three distinct sets of People to be courted by； her
own relations； who might very reasonably wish for her Original
Thirty Thousand Pounds among them； the legal Heirs of Mr。
Hollis； who must hope to be more endebted to her sense of Justice
than he had allowed them to be to his； and those Members of the
Denham Family； whom her second Husband had hoped to make a
good Bargain for。—By all of these； or by Branches of them； she
had no doubt been long； and still continued to be； well attacked；—
and of these divisions； Mr。 P。 did not hesitate to say that Mr。
Hollis’ Kindred were the least in favour and Sir Harry Denham’s
the most。—The former he believed； had done themselves
irremediable harm by expressions of very unwise and unjustifiable
resentment at the time of Mr。 Hollis’s death；—the Latter； to the
advantage of being the remnant of a Connection which she
certainly valued； joined those of having been known to her from
their Childhood； and of being always at hand to preserve their
interest by reasonable attention。 Sir Edward； the present Baronet；
nephew to Sir Harry； resided constantly at Denham Park； and Mr。
P。 had little doubt； that he and his Sister Miss D。 who lived with
him； would be principally remembered in her Will。 He sincerely
hoped it。—Miss Denham had a very small provision—and her
Brother was a poor Man for his rank in Society。 ‘He is a warm
friend to Sanditon’—said Mr。 Parker—‘and his hand would be as
liberal as his heart； had he the Power。—He would be a noble
Coadjutor！—As it is； he does what he can—and is running up a
tasteful little Cottage Ornèe on a strip of Waste Ground Lady D。
has granted him； which I have no doubt we shall have many a
Candidate for； before the end even of this Season。’ Till within the
last twelvemonth； Mr。 P。 had considered Sir Edward as standing
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without a rival； as having the fairest chance of succeeding to the
greater part of all that she had to give—but there was now another
person’s claims to be taken into the account； those of the young
female relation； whom Lady D。 had been induced to receive into
her Family。 After having always protested against any such
Addition； and long and often enjoyed the repeated defeats she had
given to every attempt of her relations to introduce this young
Lady； or that young Lady as a Companion at Sanditon House； she
had brought back with her from London last Michaelmas a Miss
Brereton； who bid fair by her Merits to vie in favour with Sir
Edward； and to secure for herself and her family that share of the
accumulated Property which they had certainly the best right to
inherit。—Mr。 Parker spoke warmly of Clara Brereton； and the
interest of his story increased very much with the introduction of
such a Character。 Charlotte listened with more than amusement
now；—it was solicitude and Enjoyment； as she heard her
described to be lovely； amiable； gentle； unassuming； conducting
herself uniformly with great good sense； and evidently gaining by
her innate worth； on the affections of her Patroness。—Beauty；
Sweetness； Poverty and Dependance； do not want the imagination
of a Man to operate upon。 With due exceptions—Woman feels for
Woman very promptly and compassionately。 He gave the
particulars which had led to Clara’s admission at Sanditon； as no
bad exemplification of that mixture of Character； that union of
Littleness with Kindness with Good Sense with even Liberality
which he saw in Lady D。—After having avoided London for many
years； principally on account of these very Cousins； who were
continually writing； inviting and tormenting her； and whom she
was determined to keep at a distance； she had been obliged to go
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there last Michaelmas with the certainty of being detained at least
a fortnight。—She had gone to an Hotel—living by her own account
as prudently as possible； to defy the reputed expensiveness of such
a home； and at the end of three Days calling for her Bill； that she
might judge of her state。—Its amount was such as determined her
on staying not another hour in the House； and she was preparing
in all the anger and perturbation which a belief of very gross
imposition there； and an ignorance of where to go for better usage；
to leave the Hotel at all hazards； when the Cousins； the politic and
lucky Cousins； who seemed always to have a spy on her；
introduced themselves at this important moment； and learning her
situation； persuaded her to accept such a home for the rest of her
stay as their humbler house in a very inferior part of London；
could offer。—She went； was delighted with her welcome and the
hospitality and attention she received from every body—found her
good Cousins the B。s beyond her expectation worthy people—and
finally was impelled by a personal knowledge of their narrow
Income and pecuniary difficulties； to invite one of the girls of the
family to pass the Winter with her。 The invitation was to one； for
six months—with the probability of another being then to take her
place；—but in selecting the one； Lady D。 had shewn the good part
of her Character—for passing by the actual daughters of the
House； she had chosen Clara； a Niece； more helpless and more
pitiable of course than any—a dependant on Poverty—an
additional Burthen on an encumbered Circle—and one； who had
been so low in every worldly view； as with all her natural
