sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第3章
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senses； he could not have thought of such a thing as begging you
to give away half your fortune from your own child。”
“He did not stipulate for any particular sum； my dear Fanny； he
only requested me； in general terms； to assist them； and make
their situation more comfortable than it was in his power to do。
Perhaps it would have been as well if he had left it wholly to
myself。 He could hardly suppose I should neglect them。 But as he
required the promise； I could not do less than give it； at least I
thought so at the time。 The promise； therefore； was given； and
must be performed。 Something must be done for them whenever
they leave Norland and settle in a new home。”
“Well； then； let something be done for them； but that something
need not be three thousand pounds。 Consider；” she added； “that
when the money is once parted with； it never can return。 Your
sisters will marry； and it will be gone for ever。 If； indeed； it could
be restored to our poor little boy—”
“Why； to be sure；” said her husband； very gravely； “that would
make great difference。 The time may come when Harry will regret
that so large a sum was parted with。 If he should have a numerous
family； for instance； it would be a very convenient addition。”
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“To be sure it would。”
“Perhaps； then； it would be better for all parties； if the sum
were diminished one half。—Five hundred pounds would be a
prodigious increase to their fortunes！”
“Oh！ beyond anything great！ What brother on earth would do
half so much for his sisters； even if really his sisters！ And as it is—
only half blood！—But you have such a generous spirit！”
“I would not wish to do any thing mean；” he replied。 “One had
rather； on such occasions； do too much than too little。 No one； at
least； can think I have not done enough for them： even themselves；
they can hardly expect more。”
“There is no knowing what they may expect；” said the lady；
“but we are not to think of their expectations： the question is； what
you can afford to do。”
“Certainly—and I think I may afford to give them five hundred
pounds a…piece。 As it is； without any addition of mine； they will
each have about three thousand pounds on their mother’s death—
a very comfortable fortune for any young woman。”
“To be sure it is： and； indeed； it strikes me that they can want
no addition at all。 They will have ten thousand pounds divided
amongst them。 If they marry； they will be sure of doing well； and if
they do not； they may all live very comfortably together on the
interest of ten thousand pounds。”
“That is very true； and； therefore； I do not know whether； upon
the whole； it would not be more advisable to do something for
their mother while she lives； rather than for them—something of
the annuity kind I mean。—My sisters would feel the good effects of
it as well as herself。 A hundred a year would make them all
perfectly comfortable。”
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His wife hesitated a little； however； in giving her consent to this
plan。
“To be sure；” said she； “it is better than parting with fifteen
hundred pounds at once。 But； then； if Mrs。 Dashwood should live
fifteen years we shall be completely taken in。”
“Fifteen years！ my dear Fanny； her life cannot be worth half
that purchase。”
“Certainly not； but if you observe； people always live for ever
when there is an annuity to be paid them； and she is very stout
and healthy； and hardly forty。 An annuity is a very serious
business； it comes over and over every year； and there is no
getting rid of it。 You are not aware of what you are doing。 I have
known a great deal of the trouble of annuities； for my mother was
clogged with the payment of three to old superannuated servants
by my father’s will； and it is amazing how disagreeable she found
it。 Twice every year these annuities were to be paid； and then
there was the trouble of getting it to them； and then one of them
was said to have died； and afterwards it turned out to be no such
thing。 My mother was quite sick of it。 Her income was not her
own； she said； with such perpetual claims on it； and it was the
more unkind in my father； because； otherwise； the money would
have been entirely at my mother’s disposal； without any restriction
whatever。 It has given me such an abhorrence of annuities； that I
am sure I would not pin myself down to the payment of one for all
the world。”
“It is certainly an unpleasant thing；” replied Mr。 Dashwood； “to
have those kind of yearly drains on one’s income。 One’s fortune； as
your mother justly says； is not one’s own。 To be tied down to the
regular payment of such a sum； on every rent day； is by no means
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desirable： it takes away one’s independence。”
“Undoubtedly； and after all you have no thanks for it。 They
think themselves secure； you do no more than what is expected；
and it raises no gratitude at all。 If I were you； whatever I did
should be done at my own discretion entirely。 I would not bind
myself to allow them any thing yearly。 It may be very inconvenient
some years to spare a hundred； or even fifty pounds from our own
expenses。”
“I believe you are right； my love； it will be better that there
should by no annuity in the case； whatever I may give them
occasionally will be of far greater assistance than a yearly
allowance； because they would only enlarge their style of living if
they felt sure of a larger income； and would not be sixpence the
richer for it at the end of the year。 It will certainly be much the
best way。 A present of fifty pounds； now and then； will prevent
their ever being distressed for money； and will； I think； be amply
discharging my promise to my father。”
“To be sure it will。 Indeed； to say the truth； I am convinced
within myself that your father had no idea of your giving them any
money at all。 The assistance he thought of； I dare say； was only
such as might be reasonably expected of you； for instance； such as
looking out for a comfortable small house for them； helping them
to move their things； and sending them presents of fish and game；
and so forth； whenever they are in season。 I’ll lay my life that he
meant nothing farther； indeed； it would be very strange and
unreasonable if he did。 Do but consider； my dear Mr。 Dashwood；
how excessively comfortable your mother…in…law and her
daughters may live on the interest of seven thousand pounds；
besides the thousand pounds belonging to each of the girls； which
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brings them in fifty pounds a year a…piece； and； of course； they will
pay their mother for their board out of it。 Altogether； they will
have five hundred a…year amongst them； and what on earth can
four women want for more than that？—They will live so cheap！
Their housekeeping will be nothing at all。 They will have no
carriage； no horses； and hardly any servants； they will keep no
company； and can have no expenses of any kind！ Only conceive
how comfortable they will be！ Five hundred a year！ I am sure I
cannot imagine how they will spend half of it； and as to your giving
them more； it is quite absurd to think of it。 They will be much
more able to give you something。”
“Upon my word；” said Mr。 Dashwood； “I believe you are
perfectly right。 My father certainly could mean nothing more by
his request to me than what you say。 I clearly understand it now；
and I will strictly fulfil my engagement by such acts of assistance
and kindness to them as you have described。 When my mother
removes into another house my services shall be readily given to
accommodate her as far as I can。 Some little present of furniture
too may be acceptable then。”
“Certainly；” returned Mrs。 John Dashwood。 “But； however； one
thing must be considered。 When your father and mother moved to
Norland； though the furniture of Stanhill was sold； all the china；
plate； and linen was saved； and is now left to your mother。 Her
house will therefore be almost completely fitted up as soon as she
takes it。”
“That is a material consideration undoubtedly。 A valuable
legacy indeed！ And yet some of the plate would have been a very
pleasant addition to our own stock here。”
“Yes； and the set of breakfast china is twice as handsome as
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what belongs to this house。 A great deal too handsome； in my
e
opinion； for any place th y can ever afford to live in。 But； however；
so it is。 Your father thought only of them。 And I must say this： that
you owe no particular gratitude to him； nor atten
