sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第44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！
smiling； from the persuasion of bringing comfort； she entered their
room； saying；
“Now； my dear； I bring you something that I am sure will do
you good。”
Marianne heard enough。 In one moment her imagination
placed before her a letter from Willoughby； full of tenderness and
contrition； explanatory of all that had passed； satisfactory；
convincing； and instantly followed by Willoughby himself； rushing
eagerly into the room to inforce； at her feet； by the eloquence of
his eyes； the assurances of his letter。 The work of one moment was
destroyed by the next。 The hand writing of her mother； never till
then unwelcome； was before her； and； in the acuteness of the
disappointment which followed such an ecstasy of more than
hope； she felt as if； till that instant； she had never suffered。
The cruelty of Mrs。 Jennings no language； within her reach in
her moments of happiest eloquence； could have expressed； and
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 229…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 229
now she could reproach her only by the tears which streamed
from her eyes with passionate violence—a reproach； however； so
entirely lost on its object； that after many expressions of pity； she
withdrew； still referring her to the letter of comfort。 But the letter；
when she was calm enough to read it； brought little comfort。
Willoughby filled every page。 Her mother； still confident of their
engagement； and relying as warmly as ever on his constancy； had
only been roused by Elinor’s application； to intreat from Marianne
greater openness towards them both； and this； with such
tenderness towards her； such affection for Willoughby； and such a
conviction of their future happiness in each other； that she wept
with agony through the whole of it。
All her impatience to be at home again now returned； her
mother was dearer to her than ever； dearer through the very
excess of her mistaken confidence in Willoughby； and she was
wildly urgent to be gone。 Elinor； unable herself to determine
whether it were better for Marianne to be in London or at Barton；
offered no counsel of her own except of patience till their mother’s
wishes could be known； and at length she obtained her sister’s
consent to wait for that knowledge。
Mrs。 Jennings left them earlier than usual； for she could not be
easy till the Middletons and Palmers were able to grieve as much
as herself； and positively refusing Elinor’s offered attendance；
went out alone for the rest of the morning。 Elinor； with a very
heavy heart； aware of the pain she was going to communicate； and
perceiving； by Marianne’s letter； how ill she had succeeded in
laying any foundation for it； then sat down to write her mother an
account of what had passed； and entreat her directions for the
future； while Marianne； who came into the drawing…room on Mrs。
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 230…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 230
Jennings’s going away； remained fixed at the table where Elinor
wrote； watching the advancement of her pen； grieving over her for
the hardship of such a task； and grieving still more fondly over its
effect on her mother。
In this manner they had continued about a quarter of an hour；
when Marianne； whose nerves could not then bear any sudden
noise； was startled by a rap at the door。
“Who can this be？” cried Elinor。 “So early too！ I thought we had
been safe。”
Marianne moved to the window—
“It is Colonel Brandon！” said she； with vexation。 “We are never
safe from him。”
“He will not come in； as Mrs。 Jennings is from home。”
“I will not trust to that；” retreating to her own room。 “A man
who has nothing to do with his own time has no conscience in his
intrusion on that of others。”
The event proved her conjecture right； though it was founded
on injustice and error； for Colonel Brandon did come in； and
Elinor； who was convinced that solicitude for Marianne brought
him thither； and who saw that solicitude in his disturbed and
melancholy look； and in his anxious though brief inquiry after her；
could not forgive her sister for esteeming him so lightly。
“I met Mrs。 Jennings in Bond…street；” said he； after the first
salutation； “and she encouraged me to come on； and I was the
more easily encouraged； because I thought it probable that I might
find you alone； which I was very desirous of doing。 My object—my
wish—my sole wish in desiring it—I hope； I believe it is—is to be a
means of giving comfort；—no； I must not say comfort—not present
comfort—but conviction； lasting conviction to your sister’s mind。
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 231…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 231
My regard for her； for yourself； for your mother—will you allow
me to prove it； by relating some circumstances which nothing but
a very sincere regard—nothing but an earnest desire of being
useful—I think I am justified—though where so many hours have
been spent in convincing myself that I am right； is there not some
reason to fear I may be wrong？” He stopped。
“I understand you；” said Elinor。 “You have something to tell me
of Mr。 Willoughby； that will open his character farther。 Your
telling it will be the greatest act of friendship that can be shewn
Marianne。 My gratitude will be insured immediately by any
information tending to that end； and hers must be gained by it in
time。 Pray； pray let me hear it。”
“You shall； and； to be brief； when I quitted Barton last
October；—but this will give you no idea—I must go farther back。
You will find me a very awkward narrator； Miss Dashwood； I
hardly know where to begin。 A short account of myself； I believe；
will be necessary； and it shall be a short one。 On such a subject；”
sighing heavily； “I can have little temptation to be diffuse。”
He stopt a moment for recollection； and then； with another sigh；
went on。
“You have probably entirely forgotten a conversation—（it is not
to be supposed that it could make any impression on you）—a
conversation between us one evening at Barton Park—it was the
evening of a dance—in which I alluded to a lady I had once known；
as resembling； in some measure； your sister Marianne。”
“Indeed；” answered Elinor； “I have not forgotten it。” He looked
pleased by this remembrance； and added；
“If I am not deceived by the uncertainty； the partiality of tender
recollection； there is a very strong resemblance between them； as
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 232…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 232
well in mind as person。 The same warmth of heart； the same
eagerness of fancy and spirits。 This lady was one of my nearest
relations； an orphan from her infancy； and under the guardianship
of my father。 Our ages were nearly the same； and from our earliest
years we were playfellows and friends。 I cannot remember the
time when I did not love Eliza； and my affection for her； as we
grew up； was such； as perhaps； judging from my present forlorn
and cheerless gravity； you might think me incapable of having
ever felt。 Her’s； for me； was； I believe； fervent as the attachment of
your sister to Mr。 Willoughby and it was； though from a different
cause； no less unfortunate。 At seventeen she was lost to me for
ever。 She was married—married against her inclination to my
brother。 Her fortune was large； and our family estate much
encumbered。 And this； I fear； is all that can be said for the conduct
of one； who was at once her uncle and guardian。 My brother did
not deserve her； he did not even love her。 I had hoped that her
regard for me would support her under any difficulty； and for
some time it did； but at last the misery of her situation； for she
experienced great unkindness； overcame all her resolution； and
though she had promised me that nothing—but how blindly I
relate！ I have never told you how this was brought on。 We were
within a few hours of eloping together for Scotland。 The treachery；
or the folly； of my cousin’s maid betrayed us。 I was banished to the
house of a relation far distant； and she was allowed no liberty； no
society； no amusement； till my father’s point was gained。 I had
depended on her fortitude too far； and the blow was a severe
one—but had her marriage been happy； so young as I then was； a
few months must have reconciled me to it； or at least I should not
have now to lament it。 This however was not the case。 My brother
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 233…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 233
had no regard for her； his pleasures were not what they ought to
have been； and from the first he treated her unkindly。 The
consequence of this； upon a mind so young； so lively； so
inexperienced as Mrs。 Brandon’s； was but too natural。 She
resigned herself at first to all the misery of her situation； and
happy had it been if she had not lived to overcome th
