sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第47章
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neither Mrs。 Jennings； nor Sir John； nor even Mrs。 Palmer herself；
ever spoke of him before her。 Elinor wished that the same
forbearance could have extended towards herself； but that was
impossible； and she was obliged to listen day after day to the
indignation of them all。
Sir John could not have thought it possible。 “A man of whom he
had always had such reason to think well！ Such a good…natured
fellow！ He did not believe there was a bolder rider in England！ It
was an unaccountable business。 He wished him at the devil with
all his heart。 He would not speak another word to him； meet him
where he might； for all the world！ No； not if it were to be by the
side of Barton covert； and they were kept watching for two hours
together。 Such a scoundrel of a fellow！ such a deceitful dog！ It was
only the last time they met that he had offered him one of Folly’s
puppies！ and this was the end of it！”
Mrs。 Palmer； in her way； was equally angry。 “She was
determined to drop his acquaintance immediately； and she was
very thankful that she had never been acquainted with him at all。
She wished with all her heart Combe Magna was not so near
Cleveland； but it did not signify； for it was a great deal too far off to
visit； she hated him so much that she was resolved never to
mention his name again； and she should tell everybody she saw；
how good…for…nothing he was。”
The rest of Mrs。 Palmer’s sympathy was shewn in procuring all
the particulars in her power of the approaching marriage； and
communicating them to Elinor。 She could soon tell at what
coachmaker’s the new carriage was building； by what painter Mr。
Willoughby’s portrait was drawn； and at what warehouse Miss
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Grey’s clothes might be seen。
The calm and polite unconcern of Lady Middleton on the
occasion was a happy relief to Elinor’s spirits； oppressed as they
often were by the clamorous kindness of the others。 It was a great
comfort to her to be sure of exciting no interest in one person at
least among their circle of friends； a great comfort to know that
there was one who would meet her without feeling any curiosity
after particulars； or any anxiety for her sister’s health。
Every qualification is raised at times； by the circumstances of
the moment； to more than its real value； and she was sometimes
worried down by officious condolence to rate good…breeding as
more indispensable to comfort than good…nature。
Lady Middleton expressed her sense of the affair about once
every day； or twice； if the subject occurred very often； by saying；
“It is very shocking； indeed！” and by the means of this continual
though gentle vent； was able not only to see the Miss Dashwoods
from the first without the smallest emotion； but very soon to see
them without recollecting a word of the matter； and having thus
supported the dignity of her own sex； and spoken her decided
censure of what was wrong in the other； she thought herself at
liberty to attend to the interest of her own assemblies； and
therefore determined （though rather against the opinion of Sir
John） that as Mrs。 Willoughby would at once be a woman of
elegance and fortune； to leave her card with her as soon as she
married。
Colonel Brandon’s delicate； unobtrusive inquiries were never
unwelcome to Miss Dashwood。 He had abundantly earned the
privilege of intimate discussion of her sister’s disappointment； by
the friendly zeal with which he had endeavoured to soften it； and
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they always conversed with confidence。 His chief reward for the
painful exertion of disclosing past sorrows and present
humiliations； was given in the pitying eye with which Marianne
sometimes observed him； and the gentleness of her voice
whenever （though it did not often happen） she was obliged； or
could oblige herself to speak to him。 These assured him that his
exertion had produced an increase of good…will towards himself；
and these gave Elinor hopes of its being farther augmented
hereafter； but Mrs。 Jennings； who knew nothing of all this； who
knew only that the Colonel continued as grave as ever； and that
she could neither prevail on him to make the offer himself； nor
commission her to make it for him； began； at the end of two days；
to think that； instead of Midsummer； they would not be married
till Michaelmas； and by the end of a week that it would not be a
match at all。 The good understanding between the Colonel and
Miss Dashwood seemed rather to declare that the honours of the
mulberry…tree； the canal； and the yew arbour； would all be made
over to her； and Mrs。 Jennings had； for some time ceased to think
at all of Mr。 Ferrars。
Early in February； within a fortnight from the receipt of
Willoughby’s letter； Elinor had the painful office of informing her
sister that he was married。 She had taken care to have the
intelligence conveyed to herself； as soon as it was known that the
ceremony was over； as she was desirous that Marianne should not
receive the first notice of it from the public papers； which she saw
her eagerly examining every morning。
She received the news with resolute composure； made no
observation on it； and at first shed no tears； but after a short time
they would burst out； and for the rest of the day； she was in a state
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hardly less pitiable than when she first learnt to expect the event。
The Willoughbys left town as soon as they were married； and
Elinor now hoped； as there could be no danger of her seeing either
of them； to prevail on her sister； who had never yet left the house
since the blow first fell； to go out again by degrees as she had done
before。
About this time the two Miss Steeles； lately arrived at their
cousin’s house in Bartlett’s Buildings； Holburn； presented
themselves again before their more grand relations in Conduit and
Berkeley…street； and were welcomed by them all with great
cordiality。
Elinor only was sorry to see them。 Their presence always gave
her pain； and she hardly knew how to make a very gracious return
to the overpowering delight of Lucy in finding her still in town。
“I should have been quite disappointed if I had not found you
here still；” said she repeatedly； with a strong emphasis on the
word。 “But I always thought I should。 I was almost sure you would
not leave London yet awhile； though you told me； you know； at
Barton； that you should not stay above a month。 But I thought； at
the time； that you would most likely change your mind when it
came to the point。 It would have been such a great pity to have
went away before your brother and sister came。 And now to be
sure you will be in no hurry to be gone。 I am amazingly glad you
did not keep to your word。”
Elinor perfectly understood her； and was forced to use all her
self…command to make it appear that she did not。
“Well； my dear；” said Mrs。 Jennings； “and how did you travel？”
“Not in the stage； I assure you；” replied Miss Steele； with quick
exultation； “we came post all the way； and had a very smart beau
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to attend us。 Dr。 Davies was coming to town； and so we thought
we’d join him in a post…chaise； and he behaved very genteelly； and
paid ten or twelve shillings more than we did。”
“Oh； oh！” cried Mrs。 Jennings； “very pretty； indeed！ and the
Doctor is a single man； I warrant you。”
“There now；” said Miss Steele； affectedly simpering；
“everybody laughs at me so about the Doctor； and I cannot think
why。 My cousins say they are sure I have made a conquest； but for
my part I declare I never think about him from one hour’s end to
another。 ‘Lord！ here comes your beau； Nancy；’ my cousin said
t’other day； when she saw him crossing the street to the house。 My
beau； indeed！ said I—I cannot think who you mean。 The Doctor is
no beau of mine。”
“Aye； aye； that is very pretty talking—but it won’t do—the
Doctor is the man； I see。”
“No； indeed！” replied her cousin； with affected earnestness；
“and I beg you will contradict it； if you ever hear it talked of。”
Mrs。 Jennings directly gave her the gratifying assurance that
she certainly would not； and Miss Steele was made completely
happy。
“I suppose you will go and stay with your brother and sister；
Miss Dashwood； when they come to town；” said Lucy； returning；
after a cessation of hostile hints； to the charge。
“No； I do not think we shall。”
“Oh； yes； I dare say you will。”
Elinor would not humour her by farther opposition。
“What a charming thing it is that Mrs。 Dashwood can spare you
both for so long a time together！�
