sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第39章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
affections of her sister from the first； without any design that
would bear investigation。 Absence might have weakened his
regard； and convenience might have determined him to overcome
it； but that such a regard had formerly existed she could not bring
herself to doubt。
As for Marianne； on the pangs which so unhappy a meeting
must already have given her； and on those still more severe which
might await her in its probable consequence； she could not reflect
without the deepest concern。 Her own situation gained in the
comparison； for while she could esteem Edward as much as ever；
however they might be divided in future； her mind might be
always supported。 But every circumstance that could embitter
such an evil seemed uniting to heighten the misery of Marianne in
a final separation from Willoughby—in an immediate and
irreconcilable rupture with him。
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 203…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 203
CHAPTER VII
efore the house…maid had lit their fire the next day； or
the sun gained any power over a cold； gloomy morning in
B
January； Marianne； only half dressed； was kneeling
against one of the window…seats for the sake of all the little light
she could command from it； and writing as fast as a continual flow
of tears would permit her。 In this situation； Elinor； roused from
sleep by her agitation and sobs； first perceived her； and after
observing her for a few moments with silent anxiety； said； in a
tone of the most considerate gentleness；
“Marianne； may I ask？”—
“No； Elinor；” she replied； “ask nothing； you will soon know all。”
The sort of desperate calmness with which this was said； lasted
no longer than while she spoke； and was immediately followed by
a return of the same excessive affliction。 It was some minutes
before she could go on with her letter； and the frequent bursts of
grief which still obliged her； at intervals； to withhold her pen； were
proofs enough of her feeling how more than probable it was that
she was writing for the last time to Willoughby。
Elinor paid her every quiet and unobtrusive attention in her
power； and she would have tried to sooth and tranquillize her still
more； had not Marianne entreated her； with all the eagerness of
the most nervous irritability； not to speak to her for the world。 In
such circumstances； it was better for both that they should not be
long together； and the restless state of Marianne’s mind not only
prevented her from remaining in the room a moment after she was
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 204…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 204
dressed； but requiring at once solitude and continual change of
place； made her wander about the house till breakfast time；
avoiding the sight of every body。
At breakfast she neither ate； nor attempted to eat any thing；
and Elinor’s attention was then all employed； not in urging her；
not in pitying her； nor in appearing to regard her； but in
endeavouring to engage Mrs。 Jenning’s notice entirely to herself。
As this was a favourite meal with Mrs。 Jennings； it lasted a
considerable time； and they were just setting themselves； after it；
round the common working table； when a letter was delivered to
Marianne； which she eagerly caught from the servant； and；
turning of a death…like paleness； instantly ran out of the room。
Elinor； who saw as plainly by this； as if she had seen the direction；
that it must come from Willoughby； felt immediately such a
sickness at heart as made her hardly able to hold up her head； and
sat in such a general tremour as made her fear it impossible to
escape Mrs。 Jenning’s notice。 That good lady； however； saw only
that Marianne had received a letter from Willoughby； which
appeared to her a very good joke； and which she treated
accordingly； by hoping； with a laugh； that she would find it to her
liking。 Of Elinor’s distress； she was too busily employed in
measuring lengths of worsted for her rug； to see any thing at all；
and calmly continuing her talk； as soon as Marianne disappeared；
she said；
“Upon my word； I never saw a young woman so desperately in
love in my life！ My girls were nothing to her； and yet they used to
be foolish enough； but as for Miss Marianne； she is quite an
altered creature。 I hope； from the bottom of my heart； he won’t
keep her waiting much longer； for it is quite grievous to see her
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 205…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 205
look so ill and forlorn。 Pray； when are they to be married？”
Elinor； though never less disposed to speak than at that
moment； obliged herself to answer such an attack as this； and；
therefore； trying to smile； replied； “And have you really； Ma’am；
talked yourself into a persuasion of my sister’s being engaged to
Mr。 Willoughby？ I thought it had been only a joke； but so serious a
question seems to imply more； and I must beg； therefore； that you
will not deceive yourself any longer。 I do assure you that nothing
would surprise me more than to hear of their being going to be
married。”
“For shame； for shame； Miss Dashwood！ how can you talk so？
Don’t we all know that it must be a match； that they were over
head and ears in love with each other from the first moment they
met？ Did not I see them together in Devonshire every day； and all
day long； and did not I know that your sister came to town with
me on purpose to buy wedding clothes？ Come； come； this won’t
do。 Because you are so sly about it yourself； you think nobody else
has any senses； but it is no such thing； I can tell you； for it has
been known all over town this ever so long。 I tell every body of it
and so does Charlotte。”
“Indeed； Ma’am；” said Elinor； very seriously； “you are
mistaken。 Indeed； you are doing a very unkind thing in spreading
the report； and you will find that you have； though you will not
believe me now。”
Mrs。 Jennings laughed again； but Elinor had not spirits to say
more； and eager at all events to know what Willoughby had
written； hurried away to their room； where； on opening the door；
she saw Marianne stretched on the bed； almost choked by grief；
one letter in her hand； and two or three others laying by her。
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 206…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 206
Elinor drew near； but without saying a word； and seating herself
on the bed； took her hand； kissed her affectionately several times；
and then gave way to a burst of tears； which at first was scarcely
less violent than Marianne’s。 The latter； though unable to speak；
seemed to feel all the tenderness of this behaviour； and after some
time thus spent in joint affliction； she put all the letters into
Elinor’s hands； and then covering her face with her handkerchief；
almost screamed with agony。 Elinor； who knew that such grief；
shocking as it was to witness it； must have its course； watched by
her till this excess of suffering had somewhat spent itself； and then
turning eagerly to Willoughby’s letter； read as follows：
Bond…street； January。
My Dear Madam；
I have just had the honour of receiving your letter； for which I
beg to return my sincere acknowledgments。 I am much concerned
to find there was anything in my behaviour last night that did not
meet your approbation； and though I am quite at a loss to discover
in what point I could be so unfortunate as to offend you； I entreat
your forgiveness of what I can assure you to have been perfectly
unintentional。 I shall never reflect on my former acquaintance
with your family in Devonshire without the most grateful pleasure；
and flatter myself it will not be broken by any mistake or
misapprehension of my actions。 My esteem for your whole family
is very sincere； but if I have been so unfortunate as to give rise to a
belief of more than I felt； or meant to express； I shall reproach
myself for not having been more guarded in my professions of that
esteem。 That I should ever have meant more you will allow to be
impossible； when you understand that my affections have been
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 207…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 207
long engaged elsewhere； and it will not be many weeks； I believe；
before this engagement is fulfilled。 It is with great regret that I
obey your commands in returning the letters with which I have
been honoured from you； and the lock of hair； which you so
obligingly bestowed on me。
I am； dear Madam；
Your most obedient humble servant；
JOHN WILLOUGHBY。
With what indignation such a letter as this must be read by
Miss Dashwood； may be imagined。 Though aware； before she
began it； that it must
