sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第26章
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more liked than Mr。 Willoughby wherever he goes； and so you may
tell your sister。 She is a monstrous lucky girl to get him； upon my
honour； not but that he is much more lucky in getting her； because
she is so very handsome and agreeable； that nothing can be good
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enough for her。 However； I don’t think her hardly at all
handsomer than you； I assure you； for I think you both excessively
pretty； and so does Mr。 Palmer too I am sure； though we could not
get him to own it last night。”
Mrs。 Palmer’s information respecting Willoughby was not very
material； but any testimony in his favour； however small； was
pleasing to her。
“I am so glad we are got acquainted at last；” continued
Charlotte。—“And now I hope we shall always be great friends。 You
can’t think how much I longed to see you！ It is so delightful that
you should live at the cottage！ Nothing can be like it； to be sure！
And I am so glad your sister is going to be well married！ I hope
you will be a great deal at Combe Magna。 It is a sweet place； by all
accounts。”
“You have been long acquainted with Colonel Brandon； have
not you？”
“Yes； a great while； ever since my sister married。—He was a
particular friend of Sir John’s。 I believe；” she added in a low voice；
“he would have been very glad to have had me； if he could。 Sir
John and Lady Middleton wished it very much。 But mama did not
think the match good enough for me； otherwise Sir John would
have mentioned it to the Colonel； and we should have been
married immediately。”
“Did not Colonel Brandon know of Sir John’s proposal to your
mother before it was made？ Had he never owned his affection to
yourself？”
“Oh！ no； but if mama had not objected to it； I dare say he would
have liked it of all things。 He had not seen me then above twice；
for it was before I left school。 However； I am much happier as I
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am。 Mr。 Palmer is the kind of man I like。”
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CHAPTER XXI
he Palmers returned to Cleveland the next day； and the
two families at Barton were again left to entertain each
T
other。 But this did not last long； Elinor had hardly got
their last visitors out of her head； had hardly done wondering at
Charlotte’s being so happy without a cause； at Mr。 Palmer’s acting
so simply； with good abilities； and at the strange unsuitableness
which often existed between husband and wife； before Sir John’s
and Mrs。 Jennings’s active zeal in the cause of society； procured
her some other new acquaintance to see and observe。
In a morning’s excursion to Exeter； they had met with two
young ladies； whom Mrs。 Jennings had the satisfaction of
discovering to be her relations； and this was enough for Sir John
to invite them directly to the park； as soon as their present
engagements at Exeter were over。 Their engagements at Exeter
instantly gave way before such an invitation； and Lady Middleton
was thrown into no little alarm on the return of Sir John； by
hearing that she was very soon to receive a visit from two girls
whom she had never seen in her life； and of whose elegance；—
whose tolerable gentility even； she could have no proof； for the
assurances of her husband and mother on that subject went for
nothing at all。 Their being her relations too made it so much the
worse； and Mrs。 Jennings’s attempts at consolation were therefore
unfortunately founded； when she advised her daughter not to care
about their being so fashionable； because they were all cousins
and must put up with one another。 As it was impossible； however；
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now to prevent their coming； Lady Middleton resigned herself to
the idea of it； with all the philosophy of a well…bred woman；
contenting herself with merely giving her husband a gentle
reprimand on the subject five or six times every day。
The young ladies arrived； their appearance was by no means
ungenteel or unfashionable。 Their dress was very smart； their
manners very civil； they were delighted with the house； and in
raptures with the furniture； and they happened to be so doatingly
fond of children that Lady Middleton’s good opinion was engaged
in their favour before they had been an hour at the Park。 She
declared them to be very agreeable girls indeed； which for her
ladyship was enthusiastic admiration。 Sir John’s confidence in his
own judgment rose with this animated praise； and he set off
directly for the cottage to tell the Miss Dashwoods of the Miss
Steeles’ arrival； and to assure them of their being the sweetest
girls in the world。 From such commendation as this； however；
there was not much to be learned； Elinor well knew that the
sweetest girls in the world were to be met with in every part of
England； under every possible variation of form； face； temper and
understanding。 Sir John wanted the whole family to walk to the
Park directly and look at his guests。 Benevolent； philanthropic
man！ It was painful to him even to keep a third cousin to himself。
“Do come now；” said he—“pray come—you must come—I
declare you shall come—You can’t think how you will like them。
Lucy is monstrous pretty； and so good humoured and agreeable！
The children are all hanging about her already； as if she was an
old acquaintance。 And they both long to see you of all things； for
they have heard at Exeter that you are the most beautiful
creatures in the world； and I have told them it is all very true； and
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a great deal more。 You will be delighted with them I am sure。 They
have brought the whole coach full of playthings for the children。
How can you be so cross as not to come？ Why they are your
cousins； you know； after a fashion。 You are my cousins； and they
are my wife’s； so you must be related。”
But Sir John could not prevail。 He could only obtain a promise
of their calling at the Park within a day or two； and then left them
in amazement at their indifference； to walk home and boast anew
of their attractions to the Miss Steeles； as he had been already
boasting of the Miss Steeles to them。
When their promised visit to the Park and consequent
introduction to these young ladies took place； they found in the
appearance of the eldest； who was nearly thirty； with a very plain
and not a sensible face； nothing to admire； but in the other； who
was not more than two or three and twenty； they acknowledged
considerable beauty； her features were pretty； and she had a sharp
quick eye； and a smartness of air； which though it did not give
actual elegance or grace； gave distinction to her person。—Their
manners were particularly civil； and Elinor soon allowed them
credit for some kind of sense； when she saw with what constant
and judicious attention they were making themselves agreeable to
Lady Middleton。 With her children they were in continual
raptures； extolling their beauty； courting their notice； and
humouring their whims； and such of their time as could be spared
from the importunate demands which this politeness made on it；
was spent in admiration of whatever her ladyship was doing； if she
happened to be doing any thing； or in taking patterns of some
elegant new dress； in which her appearance the day before had
thrown them into unceasing delight。 Fortunately for those who
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pay their court through such foibles； a fond mother； though； in
pursuit of praise for her children； the most rapacious of human
beings； is likewise the most credulous； her demands are
exorbitant； but she will swallow any thing； and the excessive
affection and endurance of the Miss Steeles towards her offspring
were viewed therefore by Lady Middleton without the smallest
surprise or distrust。 She saw with maternal complacency all the
impertinent encroachments and mischievous tricks to which her
cousins submitted。 She saw their sashes untied； their hair pulled
about their ears； their work…bags searched； and their knives and
scissors stolen away； and felt no doubt of its being a reciprocal
enjoyment。 It suggested no other surprise than that Elinor and
Marianne should sit so composedly by； withou
