sanditon(桑底顿)-第9节
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the Library Subscription book； and Charlotte was glad to
see as much； and as quickly as possible； where all was new。 They
were out in the very quietest part of a Watering…place Day； when
the important Business of Dinner or of sitting after Dinner was
going on in almost every inhabited Lodging；—here and there a
solitary Elderly Man might be seen； who was forced to move early
and walk for health—but in general； it was a thorough pause of
Company； it was Emptiness and Tranquillity on the Terrace； the
Cliffs； and the Sands。—The Shops were deserted—the Straw Hats
and pendant Lace seemed left to their fate both within the House
and without； and Mrs。 Whitby at the Library was sitting in her
inner room； reading one of her own Novels； for want of
Employment。 The List of Subscribers was but commonplace。 The
Lady Denham； Miss Brereton； Mr。 and Mrs。 P。—Sir Edward
Denham and Miss Denham； whose names might be said to lead off
the Season； were followed by nothing better than—Mrs。
Mathews—Miss Mathews； Miss E。 Mathews； Miss H。 Mathews。—
Dr。 and Mrs。 Brown—Mr。 Richard Pratt。—Lieut。 Smith R。N。 Capt。
Little；—Limehouse。—Mrs。 Jane Fisher； Miss Fisher； Miss
Scroggs。—Rev。 Mr。 Hanking。 Mr。 Beard—Solicitor； Grays Inn。—
Mrs。 Davis； and Miss Merryweather。—Mr。 P。 could not but feel
that the List was not only without Distinction； but less numerous
than he had hoped。 It was but July however； and August and
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September were the Months；—And besides； the promised large
Families from Surry and Camberwell； were an ever…ready
consolation。—Mrs。 Whitby came forward without delay from her
Literary recess； delighted to see Mr。 Parker again； whose manners
recommended him to every body； and they were fully occupied in
their various Civilities and Communications； while Charlotte
having added her name to the List as the first offering to the
success of the Season； was busy in some immediate purchases for
the further good of Every body； as soon as Miss Whitby could be
hurried down from her Toilette； with all her glossy Curls and
smart Trinkets to wait on her。—The Library of course； afforded
every thing； all the useless things in the World that could not be
done without； and among so many pretty Temptations； and with
so much good will for Mr。 P。 to encourage Expenditure； Charlotte
began to feel that she must check herself—or rather she reflected
that at two and Twenty there could be no excuse for her doing
otherwise—and that it would not do for her to be spending all her
Money the very first Evening。 She took up a Book； it happened to
be a volume of Camilla。 She had not Camilla’s Youth； and had no
intention of having her Distress；—so； she turned from the Drawers
of rings and Broches repressed farther solicitation and paid for
what she bought。—For her particular gratification； they were then
to take a Turn on the Cliff—but as they quitted the Library they
were met by two Ladies whose arrival made an alteration
necessary； Lady Denham and Miss Brereton。—They had been to
Trafalgar House； and been directed thence to the Library； and
though Lady D。 was a great deal too active to regard the walk of a
mile as any thing requiring rest； and talked of going home again
directly； the Parkers knew that to be pressed into their House； and
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obliged to take her Tea with them； would suit her best；—and
therefore the stroll on the Cliff gave way to an immediate return
home。—‘No； no；’ said her Ladyship—‘I will not have you hurry
your Tea on my account。—I know you like your Tea late。—My
early hours are not to put my Neighbours to inconvenience。 No；
no； Miss Clara and I will get back to our own Tea。 We came out
with no other Thought。—We wanted just to see you and make sure
of your being really come； but we get back to our own Tea。’—She
went on however towards Trafalgar House and took possession of
the Drawing room very quietly—without seeming to hear a word
of Mrs。 P。’s orders to the Servant as they entered； to bring Tea
directly。 Charlotte was fully consoled for the loss of her walk； by
finding herself in company with those； whom the conversation of
the morning had given her a great curiosity to see。 She observed
them well。—Lady D。 was of middle height； stout； upright and alert
in her motions； with a shrewd eye； and self…satisfied air—but not
an unagreable Countenance—and tho’ her manner was rather
downright and abrupt as of a person who valued herself on being
free…spoken； there was a good humour and cordiality about her—a
civility and readiness to be acquainted with Charlotte herself； and
a heartiness of welcome towards her old friends； which was
inspiring the Good will； she seemed to feel。 And as for Miss
Brereton； her appearance so completely justified Mr。 P。’s praise
that Charlotte thought she had never beheld a more lovely； or
more Interesting young Woman。—Elegantly tall； regularly
handsome； with great delicacy of complexion and soft Blue eyes； a
sweetly modest and yet naturally graceful Address； Charlotte
could see in her only the most perfect representation of whatever
Heroine might be most beautiful and bewitching； in all the
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numerous volumes they had left behind them on Mrs。 Whitby’s
shelves。—Perhaps it might be partly oweing to her having just
issued from a Circulating Library—but she could not separate the
idea of a complete Heroine from Clara Brereton。 Her situation
with Lady Denham so very much in favour of it！—She seemed
placed with her on purpose to be ill…used。 Such Poverty and
Dependance joined to such Beauty and Merit； seemed to leave no
choice in the business。—These feelings were not the result of any
spirit of Romance in Charlotte herself。 No； she was a very sober…
minded young Lady； sufficiently well…read in Novels to supply her
Imagination with amusement； but not at all unreasonably
influenced by them； and while she pleased herself the first five
minutes with fancying the Persecutions which ought to be the Lot
of the interesting Clara； especially in the form of the most
barbarous conduct on Lady Denham’s side； she found no
reluctance to admit from subsequent observation； that they
appeared to be on very comfortable Terms。—She could see
nothing worse in Lady Denham； than the sort of oldfashioned
formality of always calling her Miss Clara—nor anything
objectionable in the degree of observance and attention which
Clara paid。—On one side it seemed protecting kindness； on the
other grateful and affectionate respect。—The Conversation turned
entirely upon Sanditon； its present number of Visitants and the
Chances of a good Season。 It was evident that Lady D。 had more
anxiety； more fears of loss； than her Coadjutor。 She wanted to
have the Place fill faster； and seemed to have many harassing
apprehensions of the Lodgings being in some instances
underlet。—Miss Diana Parker’s two large Families were not
forgotten。 ‘Very good； very good；
