sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第2章
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imperfect articulation； an earnest desire of having his own way；
many cunning tricks； and a great deal of noise； as to outweigh all
the value of all the attention which； for years； he had received
from his niece and her daughters。 He meant not to be unkind
however； and； as a mark of his affection for the three girls； he left
them a thousand pounds a…piece。
Mr。 Dashwood’s disappointment was； at first； severe； but his
temper was cheerful and sanguine； and he might reasonably hope
to live many years； and by living economically； lay by a
considerable sum from the produce of an estate already large； and
capable of almost immediate improvement。 But the fortune； which
had been so tardy in coming； was his only one twelvemonth。 He
survived his uncle no longer； and ten thousand pounds； including
the late legacies； was all that remained for his widow and
daughters。
His son was sent for as soon as his danger was known； and to
him Mr。 Dashwood recommended； with all the strength and
urgency which illness could command； the interest of his mother…
in…law and sisters。
Mr。 John Dashwood had not the strong feelings of the rest of
the family； but he was affected by a recommendation of such a
nature at such a time； and he promised to do every thing in his
power to make them comfortable。 His father was rendered easy by
such an assurance； and Mr。 John Dashwood had then leisure to
consider how much there might prudently be in his power to do
for them。
He was not an ill…disposed young man； unless to be rather cold
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hearted and rather selfish； is to be ill…disposed： but he was； in
general； well respected； for he conducted himself with propriety in
the discharge of his ordinary duties。 Had he married a more
amiable woman； he might have been made still more respectable
than he was：—he might even have been made amiable himself； for
he was very young when he married； and very fond of his wife。 But
Mrs。 John Dashwood was a strong caricature of himself；—more
narrow…minded and selfish。
When he gave his promise to his father； he meditated within
himself to increase the fortunes of his sisters by the present of a
thousand pounds a…piece。 He then really thought himself equal to
it。 The prospect of four thousand a…year； in addition to his present
income； besides the remaining half of his own mother’s fortune；
warmed his heart； and made him feel capable of generosity。—
“Yes； he would give them three thousand pounds： it would be
liberal and handsome！ It would be enough to make them
completely easy。 Three thousand pounds！ he could spare so
considerable a sum with little inconvenience。”—He thought of it
all day long； and for many days successively； and he did not
repent。
No sooner was his father’s funeral over； than Mrs。 John
Dashwood； without sending any notice of her intention to her
mother…in…law； arrived with her child and their attendants。 No one
could dispute her right to come； the house was her husband’s from
the moment of his father’s decease； but the indelicacy of her
conduct was so much the greater； and to a woman in Mrs。
Dashwood’s situation； with only common feelings； must have been
highly unpleasing；—but in her mind there was a sense of honour
so keen； a generosity so romantic； that any offence of the kind； by
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whomsoever given or received； was to her a source of immoveable
disgust。 Mrs。 John Dashwood had never been a favourite with any
of her husband’s family； but she had had no opportunity； till the
present； of shewing them with how little attention to the comfort
of other people she could act when occasion required it。
So acutely did Mrs。 Dashwood feel this ungracious behaviour；
and so earnestly did she despise her daughter…in…law for it； that； on
the arrival of the latter； she would have quitted the house for ever；
had not the entreaty of her eldest girl induced her first to reflect
on the propriety of going； and her own tender love for all her three
children determined her afterwards to stay； and for their sakes
avoid a breach with their brother。
Elinor； this eldest daughter； whose advice was so effectual；
possessed a strength of understanding； and coolness of judgment；
which qualified her； though only nineteen； to be the counsellor of
her mother； and enabled her frequently to counteract； to the
advantage of them all； that eagerness of mind in Mrs。 Dashwood
which must generally have led to imprudence。 She had an
excellent heart；—her disposition was affectionate； and her feelings
were strong； but she knew how to govern them： it was a
knowledge which her mother had yet to learn； and which one of
her sisters had resolved never to be taught。
Marianne’s abilities were； in many respects； quite equal to
Elinor’s。 She was sensible and clever； but eager in every thing； her
sorrows； her joys； could have no moderation。 She was generous；
amiable； interesting： she was every thing but prudent。 The
resemblance between her and her mother was strikingly great。
Elinor saw； with concern； the excess of her sister’s sensibility；
but by Mrs。 Dashwood it was valued and cherished。 They
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encouraged each other now in the violence of their affliction。 The
agony of grief which overpowered them at first； was voluntarily
renewed； was sought for； was created again and again。 They gave
themselves up wholly to their sorrow； seeking increase of
wretchedness in every reflection that could afford it； and resolved
against ever admitting consolation in future。 Elinor； too； was
deeply afflicted； but still she could struggle； she could exert
herself。 She could consult with her brother； could receive her
sister…in…law on her arrival； and treat her with proper attention；
and could strive to rouse her mother to similar exertion； and
encourage her to similar forbearance。
Margaret； the other sister； was a good…humoured； well…disposed
girl； but as she had already imbibed a good deal of Marianne’s
romance； without having much of her sense； she did not； at
thirteen； bid fair to equal her sisters at a more advanced period of
life。
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CHAPTER II
rs。 John Dashwood now installed herself mistress of
Norland； and her mother and sisters…in…law were
M
degraded to the condition of visitors。 As such；
however； they were treated by her with quiet civility； and by her
husband with as much kindness as he could feel towards anybody
beyond himself； his wife； and their child。 He really pressed them；
with some earnestness； to consider Norland as their home； and； as
no plan appeared so eligible to Mrs。 Dashwood as remaining there
till she could accommodate herself with a house in the
neighbourhood； his invitation was accepted。
A continuance in a place where everything reminded her of
former delight； was exactly what suited her mind。 In seasons of
cheerfulness； no temper could be more cheerful than hers； or
possess； in a greater degree； that sanguine expectation of
happiness which is happiness itself。 But in sorrow she must be
equally carried away by her fancy； and as far beyond consolation
as in pleasure she was beyond alloy。
Mrs。 John Dashwood did not at all approve of what her
husband intended to do for his sisters。 To take three thousand
pounds from the fortune of their dear little boy would be
impoverishing him to the most dreadful degree。 She begged him
to think again on the subject。 How could he answer it to himself to
rob his child； and his only child too； of so large a sum？ And what
possible claim could the Miss Dashwoods； who were related to him
only by half blood； which she considered as no relationship at all；
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have on his generosity to so large an amount。 It was very well
known that no affection was ever supposed to exist between the
children of any man by different marriages； and why was he to
ruin himself； and their poor little Harry； by giving away all his
money to his half sisters？
“It was my father’s last request to me；” replied her husband；
“that I should assist his widow and daughters。”
“He did not know what he was talking of； I dare say； ten to one
but he was light…headed at the time。 Had he been in his right
senses； he could not have thought of such a thing as begging you
to
