sanditon(桑底顿)-第7节
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to laugh at my Improvements。 Sidney says any thing you know。 He
has always said what he chose of and to us； all。 Most Families have
such a member among them I believe Miss Heywood。—There is a
someone in most families privileged by superior abilities or spirits
to say anything。—In ours； it is Sidney； who is a very clever Young
Man；—and with great powers of pleasing。—He lives too much in
the World to be settled； that is his only fault。—He is here and there
and every where。 I wish we may get him to Sanditon。 I should like
to have you acquainted with him。—And it would be a fine thing for
the Place！—Such a young Man as Sidney； with his neat equipage
and fashionable air；—You and I Mary； know what effect it might
have： Many a respectable Family； many a careful Mother； many a
pretty Daughter； might it secure us； to the prejudice of E。 Bourne
and Hastings。’—They were now approaching the Church and real
village of Sanditon； which stood at the foot of the Hill they were
afterwards to ascend—a Hill； whose side was covered with the
Woods and enclosures of Sanditon House and whose Height
ended in an open Down where the new Buildings might soon be
looked for。 A branch only； of the Valley； winding more obliquely
towards the Sea； gave a passage to an inconsiderable Stream； and
formed at its mouth； a third Habitable Division； in a small cluster
of Fisherman’s Houses。—The Village contained little more than
Cottages； but the Spirit of the day had been caught； as Mr。 P。
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observed with delight to Charlotte； and two or three of the best of
them were smartened up with a white Curtain and ‘Lodgings to
let’； and farther on； in the little Green Court of an old Farm House；
two Females in elegant white were actually to be seen with their
books and camp stools—and in turning the corner of the Baker’s
shop； the sound of a Harp might be heard through the upper
Casement。—Such sights and sounds were highly Blissful to Mr。
P。—Not that he had any personal concern in the success of the
Village itself； for considering it as too remote from the Beach； he
had done nothing there—but it was a most valuable proof of the
increasing fashion of the place altogether。 If the Village could
attract； the Hill might be nearly full。—He anticipated an amazing
Season。—At the same time last year； （late in July） there had not
been a single Lodger in the Village！—nor did he remember any
during the whole Summer； excepting one family of children who
came from London for sea air after the hooping Cough； and whose
Mother would not let them be nearer the shore for fear of their
tumbling in。—‘Civilization； Civilization indeed！’—cried Mr。 P。；
delighted。 ‘Look my dear Mary—Look at William Heeley’s
windows。—Blue Shoes； and nankin Boots！—Who would have
expected such a sight at a Shoemaker’s in old Sanditon！—This is
new within the Month。 There was no blue Shoe when we passed
this way a month ago。—Glorious indeed！—Well； I think I have
done something in my Day。—Now； for our Hill； our health…
breathing Hill。—’ In ascending； they passed the Lodge…Gates of
Sanditon House； and saw the top of the House itself among its
Groves。 It was the last Building of former Days in that line of the
Parish。 A little higher up； the Modern began； and in crossing the
Down； a Prospect House； a Bellevue Cottage； and a Denham Place
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were to be looked at by Charlotte with the calmness of amused
Curiosity； and by Mr。 P。 with the eager eye which hoped to see
scarcely any empty houses。—More Bills at the Window than he
had calculated on；—and a smaller shew of company on the Hill—
Fewer Carriages； fewer Walkers。 He had fancied it just the time of
day for them to be all returning from their Airings to dinner—But
the Sands and the Terrace always attracted some； and the Tide
must be flowing—about half…Tide now。—He longed to be on the
Sands； the Cliffs； at his own House； and everywhere out of his
House at once。 His Spirits rose with the very sight of the Sea and
he could almost feel his Ancle getting stronger already。—Trafalgar
House； on the most elevated spot on the Down was a light elegant
Building； standing in a small Lawn with a very young plantation
round it； about an hundred yards from the brow of a steep； but not
very lofty Cliff—and the nearest to it； of every Building； excepting
one short row of smart…looking Houses； called the Terrace； with a
broad walk in front； aspiring to be the Mall of the Place。 In this
row were the best Milliner’s shop and the Library—a little
detached from it； the Hotel and Billiard Room—Here began the
Descent to the Beach； and to the Bathing Machines—and this was
therefore the favourite spot for Beauty and Fashion。 At Trafalgar
House； rising at a little distance behind the Terrace； the Travellers
were safely set down； and all was happiness and Joy between Papa
and Mama and their Children； while Charlotte having received
possession of her apartment； found amusement enough in
standing at her ample Venetian window； and looking over the
miscellaneous foreground of unfinished Buildings； waving Linen；
and tops of Houses； to the Sea； dancing and sparkling in Sunshine
and Freshness。
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CHAPTER V
hen they met before dinner； Mr。 P。 was looking over
WLetters。—‘Not a Line from Sidney！’—said he。—‘He is an
idle fellow。—I sent him an account of my accident from
Willingden； and thought he would have vouchsafed me an
Answer。—But perhaps it implies that he is coming himself。—I
trust it may。—But here is a Letter from one of my Sisters。 They
never fail me。—Women are the only Correspondents to be
depended on。—Now Mary； （smiling at his Wife）—before I open it；
what shall we guess as to the state of health of those it comes
from—or rather what would Sidney say if he were here？—Sidney
is a saucy fellow； Miss H。—And you must know； he will have it
there is a good deal of Imagination in my two Sisters’ complaints—
but it really is not so—or very little—They have wretched health；
as you have heard us say frequently； and are subject to a variety of
very serious Disorders。—Indeed； I do not believe they know what
a day’s health is；—and at the same time； they are such excellent
useful Women and have so much energy of Character that； where
any Good is to be done； they force themselves on exertions which
to those who do not thoroughly know them； have an extraordinary
appearance。—But there is really no affectation about them。 They
have only weaker constitutions and stronger minds than are often
met with； either separate or together。—And our Youngest
Brother—who lives with them； and who is not much above twenty；
I am sorry to say； is almost as great an Invalid as themselves。—He
is so delicate that he can engage in no Profession。—Sidney laughs
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at him—but it really is no Joke—though Sidney often makes me
laugh at them all inspite of myself。—Now； if he were here； I know
he would be offering odds； that either Susan Diana or Arthur
would appear by this lett
