sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第48章
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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！”
“Long a time； indeed！” interposed Mrs。 Jennings。 “Why； their
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visit is but just begun！”
Lucy was silenced。
“I am sorry we cannot see your sister； Miss Dashwood；” said
Miss Steele。 “I am sorry she is not well；” for Marianne had left the
room on their arrival。
“You are very good。 My sister will be equally sorry to miss the
pleasure of seeing you； but she has been very much plagued lately
with nervous head…aches； which make her unfit for company or
conversation。”
“Oh； dear； that is a great pity！ but such old friends as Lucy and
me！—I think she might see us； and I am sure we would not speak a
word。”
Elinor； with great civility； declined the proposal。 Her sister was
perhaps laid down upon the bed； or in her dressing gown； and
therefore not able to come to them。
“Oh； if that’s all；” cried Miss Steele； “we can just as well go and
see her。”
Elinor began to find this impertinence too much for her temper；
but she was saved the trouble of checking it； by Lucy’s sharp
reprimand； which now； as on many occasions； though it did not
give much sweetness to the manners of one sister； was of
advantage in governing those of the other。
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CHAPTER XI
fter some opposition； Marianne yielded to her sister’s
Aentreaties； and consented to go out with her and Mrs。
Jennings one morning for half an hour。 She expressly
conditioned； however； for paying no visits； and would do no more
than accompany them to Gray’s in Sackville…street； where Elinor
was carrying on a negotiation for the exchange of a few old…
fashioned jewels of her mother。
When they stopped at the door； Mrs。 Jennings recollected that
there was a lady at the other end of the street on whom she ought
to call； and as she had no business at Gray’s； it was resolved； that
while her young friends transacted their’s； she should pay her visit
and return for them。
On ascending the stairs； the Miss Dashwoods found so many
people before them in the room； that there was not a person at
liberty to tend to their orders； and they were obliged to wait。 All
that could be done was； to sit down at that end of the counter
which seemed to promise the quickest succession； one gentleman
only was standing there； and it is probable that Elinor was not
without hope of exciting his politeness to a quicker despatch。 But
the correctness of his eye； and the delicacy of his taste； proved to
be beyond his politeness。 He was giving orders for a toothpick…
case for himself； and till its size； shape； and ornaments were
determined； all of which； after examining and debating for a
quarter of an hour over every toothpick…case in the shop； were
finally arranged by his own inventive fancy； he had no leisure to
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bestow any other attention on the two ladies； than what was
comprised in three or four very broad stares； a kind of notice
which served to imprint on Elinor the remembrance of a person
and face； of strong； natural； sterling insignificance； though
adorned in the first style of fashion。
Marianne was spared from the troublesome feelings of
contempt and resentment； on this impertinent examination of
their features； and on the puppyism of his manner in deciding on
all the different horrors of the different toothpick…cases presented
to his inspection； by remaining unconscious of it all； for she was as
well able to collect her thoughts within herself； and be as ignorant
of what was passing around her； in Mr。 Gray’s shop； as in her own
bedroom。
At last the affair was decided。 The ivory； the gold； and the
pearls； all received their appointment； and the gentleman having
named the last day on which his existence could be continued
without the possession of the toothpick…case； drew on his gloves
with leisurely care； and bestowing another glance on the Miss
Dashwoods； but such a one as seemed rather to demand than
express admiration； walked off with a happy air of real conceit and
affected indifference。
Elinor lost no time in bringing her business forward； was on the
point of concluding it； when another gentleman presented himself
at her side。 She turned her eyes towards his face； and found him
with some surprise to be her brother。
Their affection and pleasure in meeting was just enough to
make a very creditable appearance in Mr。 Gray’s shop。 John
Dashwood was really far from being sorry to see his sisters again；
it rather gave them satisfaction； and his inquiries after their
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mother were respectful and attentive。
Elinor found that he and Fanny had been in town two days。
“I wished very much to call upon you yesterday；” said he； “but
it was impossible； for we were obliged to take Harry to see the wild
beasts at Exeter Exchange； and we spent the rest of the day with
Mrs。 Ferrars。 Harry was vastly pleased。 This morning I had fully
intended to call on you； if I could possibly find a spare half hour；
but one has always so much to do on first coming to town。 I am
come here to bespeak Fanny a seal。 But tomorrow I think I shall
certainly be able to call in Berkeley…street； and be introduced to
your friend Mrs。 Jennings。 I understand she is a woman of very
good fortune。 And the Middletons too； you must introduce me to
them。 As my mother…in…law’s relations； I shall be happy to show
them every respect。 They are excellent neighbours to you in the
country； I understand。”
“Excellent indeed。 Their attention to our comfort； their
friendliness in every particular； is more than I can express。”
“I am extremely glad to hear it； upon my word； extremely glad
indeed。 But so it ought to be； they are people of large fortune； they
are related to you； and every civility and accommodation that can
serve to make your situation pleasant might be reasonably
expected。 And so you are most comfortably settled in your little
cottage and want for nothing！ Edward brought us a most
charming account of the place； the most complete thing of its kind；
he said； that ever was； and you all seemed to enjoy it beyond any
thing。 It was a great satisfaction to us to hear it； I assure you。”
Elinor did feel a little ashamed of her brother； and was not
sorry to be spared the necessity of answering him； by the arrival of
Mrs。 Jennings’s servant； who came to tell her that his mistress
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waited for them at the door。
Mr。 Dashwood attended them down stairs； was introduced to
Mrs。 Jennings at the door of her carriage； and repeating his hope
of being able to call on them the next day； took leave。
His visit was duly paid。 He came with a pretence at an apology
from their sister…in…law； for not coming too； “but she was so much
engaged with her mother； that really she had no leisure for going
any where。” Mrs。 Jennings； however； assured him directly； that
she should not stand upon ceremony； for they were all cousins； or
something like it； and she should certainly wait on Mrs。 John
Dashwood very soon； and bring her sisters to see her。 His manners
to them； though calm； were perfectly kind； to Mrs。 Jennings； most
attentively civil； and on Colonel Brandon’s coming in soon after
himself； he eyed him with a curiosity which seemed to say； that he
only wanted to know him to be rich； to be equally civil to him。
After staying with them half an hour； he asked Elinor to walk
with him to Conduit…street； and introduce him to Sir John and
Lady Middleton。 The weather was remarkably fine； and she
readily consented。 As soon as they were out of the house； his
enquiries began。
“Who is Colonel Brandon？ Is he a man of fortune？”
“Yes； he has very good property in Dorsetshire。”
“I am glad of it。 He seems a most gentlemanlike man； and I
think； Elinor； I may congratulate you on the prospect of a very
respectable establishment in life。”
“Me； brother！ what do you mean？”
“He likes you。 I observed him narrowly； and am convinced of it。
What is the amount of his fortune？”
“I believe about two thousand a year。”
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“Two thousand a…year；” and then working himself up to a pitch
of enthusiastic generosity； he added； “Elinor； I wish with all my
heart it were twice as much
