sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第21章
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spite of the insufficiency of wealth。”
“Oh dear！” cried Margaret； “how happy I should be！ I wonder
what I should do with it！”
Marianne looked as if she had no doubt on that point。
“I should be puzzled to spend so large a fortune myself；” said
Mrs。 Dashwood； “if my children were all to be rich without my
help。”
“You must begin your improvements on this house；” observed
Elinor； “and your difficulties will soon vanish。”
“What magnificent orders would travel from this family to
London；” said Edward； “in such an event！ What a happy day for
booksellers； music…sellers； and print…shops！ You； Miss Dashwood；
would give a general commission for every new print of merit to be
sent you—and as for Marianne； I know her greatness of soul； there
would not be music enough in London to content her。 And
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books！—Thomson； Cowper； Scott—she would buy them all over
and over again； she would buy up every copy； I believe； to prevent
their falling into unworthy hands； and she would have every book
that tells her how to admire an old twisted tree。 Should not you；
Marianne？ Forgive me； if I am very saucy。 But I was willing to
shew you that I had not forgot our old disputes。”
“I love to be reminded of the past； Edward—whether it be
melancholy or gay； I love to recall it—and you will never offend me
by talking of former times。 You are very right in supposing how
my money would be spent—some of it； at least—my loose cash
would certainly be employed in improving my collection of music
and books。”
“And the bulk of your fortune would be laid out in annuities on
the authors or their heirs。”
“No； Edward； I should have something else to do with it。”
“Perhaps； then； you would bestow it as a reward on that person
who wrote the ablest defence of your favourite maxim； that no one
can ever be in love more than once in their life—your opinion on
that point is unchanged； I presume？”
“Undoubtedly。 At my time of life opinions are tolerably fixed。 It
is not likely that I should now see or hear any thing to change
them。”
“Marianne is as stedfast as ever； you see；” said Elinor； “she is
not at all altered。”
“She is only grown a little more grave than she was。”
“Nay； Edward；” said Marianne； “you need not reproach me。
You are not very gay yourself。”
“Why should you think so！” replied he； with a sigh。 “But gaiety
never was a part of my character。”
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“Nor do I think it a part of Marianne’s；” said Elinor； “I should
hardly call her a lively girl—she is very earnest； very eager in all
she does—sometimes talks a great deal and always with
animation—but she is not often really merry。”
“I believe you are right；” he replied； “and yet I have always set
her down as a lively girl。”
“I have frequently detected myself in such kind of mistakes；”
said Elinor； “in a total misapprehension of character in some point
or other： fancying people so much more gay or grave； or ingenious
or stupid than they really are； and I can hardly tell why or in what
the deception originated。 Sometimes one is guided by what they
say of themselves； and very frequently by what other people say of
them； without giving oneself time to deliberate and judge。”
“But I thought it was right； Elinor；” said Marianne； “to be
guided wholly by the opinion of other people。 I thought our
judgments were given us merely to be subservient to those of
neighbours。 This has always been your doctrine； I am sure。”
“No； Marianne； never。 My doctrine has never aimed at the
subjection of the understanding。 All I have ever attempted to
influence has been the behaviour。 You must not confound my
meaning。 I am guilty； I confess； of having often wished you to treat
our acquaintance in general with greater attention； but when have
I advised you to adopt their sentiments or to conform to their
judgment in serious matters？”
“You have not been able to bring your sister over to your plan
of general civility；” said Edward to Elinor。 “Do you gain no
ground？”
“Quite the contrary；” replied Elinor； looking expressively at
Marianne。
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“My judgment；” he returned； “is all on your side of the
question； but I am afraid my practice is much more on your
sister’s。 I never wish to offend； but I am so foolishly shy； that I
often seem negligent； when I am only kept back by my natural
awkwardness。 I have frequently thought that I must have been
intended by nature to be fond of low company； I am so little at my
ease among strangers of gentility！”
“Marianne has not shyness to excuse any inattention of hers；”
said Elinor。
“She knows her own worth too well for false shame；” replied
Edward。 “Shyness is only the effect of a sense of inferiority in
some way or other。 If I could persuade myself that my manners
were perfectly easy and graceful； I should not be shy。”
“But you would still be reserved；” said Marianne； “and that is
worse。”
Edward stared—“Reserved！ Am I reserved； Marianne？”
“Yes； very。”
“I do not understand you；” replied he； colouring。 “Reserved！—
how； in what manner？ What am I to tell you？ What can you
suppose？”
Elinor looked surprised at his emotion； but trying to laugh off
the subject； she said to him； “Do not you know my sister well
enough to understand what she means？ Do not you know she calls
every one reserved who does not talk as fast； and admire what she
admires as rapturously as herself？”
Edward made no answer。 His gravity and thoughtfulness
returned on him in their fullest extent—and he sat for some time
silent and dull。
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CHAPTER XVIII
linor saw； with great uneasiness the low spirits of her
friend。 His visit afforded her but a very partial
E
satisfaction； while his own enjoyment in it appeared so
imperfect。 It was evident that he was unhappy； she wished it were
equally evident that he still distinguished her by the same
affection which once she had felt no doubt of inspiring； but
hitherto the continuance of his preference seemed very uncertain；
and the reservedness of his manner towards her contradicted one
moment what a more animated look had intimated the preceding
one。
He joined her and Marianne in the breakfast…room the next
morning before the others were down； and Marianne； who was
always eager to promote their happiness as far as she could； soon
left them to themselves。 But before she was half way upstairs she
heard the parlour door open； and； turning round； was astonished
to see Edward himself come out。
“I am going into the village to see my horses；” said he； “as you
are not yet ready for breakfast； I shall be back again presently。”
———————
Edward returned to them with fresh admiration of the
surrounding country； in his walk to the village； he had seen many
parts of the valley to advantage； and the village itself； in a much
higher situation than the cottage； afforded a general view of the
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whole； which had exceedingly pleased him。 This was a subject
which ensured Marianne’s attention； and she was beginning to
describe her own admiration of these scenes； and to question him
more minutely on the objects that had particularly struck him；
when Edward interrupted her by saying； “You must not enquire
too far； Marianne—remember I have no knowledge in the
picturesque； and I shall offend you by my ignorance and want of
taste if we come to particulars。 I shall call hills steep； which ought
to be bold； surfaces strange and uncouth； which ought to be
irregular and rugged； and distant objects out of sight； which ought
only to be indistinct through the soft medium of a hazy
atmosphere。 You must be satisfied with such admiration as I can
honestly give。 I call it a very fine country—the hills are steep； the
woods seem full of fine timber； and the valley looks comfortable
and snug—with rich meadows and several neat farm houses
scattered here and there。 It exactly answers my idea of a fine
country； because it unites beauty with utility—and I dare say it is a
picturesque one too； because you admire it； I can easily believe it
to be full of rocks and promontories； grey moss and brush wood；
but these are all lost on me。 I know nothing of the picturesque。”
“I am afraid it is but too true；” said Marianne； “but why should
you boast of it？”
“I suspect；” said Elinor； “that to avoid one kind of affectation；
Edward here fall
