sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第60章
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but； however； nothing was said about them； and I took care to
keep mine out of sight。 Edward have got some business at Oxford；
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he says； so he must go there for a time； and after that； as soon as
he can light upon a Bishop； he will be ordained。 I wonder what
curacy he will get！—Good gracious！ （giggling as she spoke） I’d lay
my life I know what my cousins will say； when they hear of it。 They
will tell me I should write to the Doctor； to get Edward the curacy
of his new living。 I know they will； but I am sure I would not do
such a thing for all the world。— ‘La！’ I shall say directly； ‘I wonder
how you could think of such a thing？ I write to the Doctor；
indeed！’”
“Well；” said Elinor； “it is a comfort to be prepared against the
worst。 You have got your answer ready。”
Miss Steele was going to reply on the same subject； but the
approach of her own party made another more necessary。
“Oh； la！ here come the Richardsons。 I had a vast deal more to
say to you； but I must not stay away from them not any longer。 I
assure you they are very genteel people。 He makes a monstrous
deal of money； and they keep their own coach。 I have not time to
speak to Mrs。 Jennings about it myself； but pray tell her I am quite
happy to hear she is not in anger against us； and Lady Middleton
the same； and if anything should happen to take you and your
sister away； and Mrs。 Jennings should want company； I am sure
we should be very glad to come and stay with her for as long a
time as she likes。 I suppose Lady Middleton won’t ask us any more
this bout。 Good…bye； I am sorry Miss Marianne was not here。
Remember me kindly to her。 La！ if you have not got your spotted
muslin on！—I wonder you was not afraid of its being torn。”
Such was her parting concern； for after this； she had time only
to pay her farewell compliments to Mrs。 Jennings； before her
company was claimed by Mrs。 Richardson； and Elinor was left in
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possession of knowledge which might feed her powers of reflection
some time； though she had learnt very little more than what had
been already foreseen and foreplanned in her own mind。 Edward’s
marriage with Lucy was as firmly determined on； and the time of
its taking place remained as absolutely uncertain； as she had
concluded it would be；—every thing depended； exactly after her
expectation； on his getting that preferment； of which； at present；
there seemed not the smallest chance。
As soon as they returned to the carriage； Mrs。 Jennings was
eager for information； but as Elinor wished to spread as little as
possible intelligence that had in the first place been so unfairly
obtained； she confined herself to the brief repetition of such
simple particulars； as she felt assured that Lucy； for the sake of
her own consequence； would choose to have known。 The
continuance of their engagement； and the means that were able to
be taken for promoting its end； was all her communication； and
this produced from Mrs。 Jennings the following natural remark。
“Wait for his having a living！—ay； we all know how that will
end；—they will wait a twelvemonth； and finding no good comes of
it； will set down upon a curacy of fifty pounds a…year； with the
interest of his two thousand pounds； and what little matter Mr。
Steele and Mr。 Pratt can give her。—Then they will have a child
every year！ and Lord help ’em！ how poor they will be！—I must see
what I can give them towards furnishing their house。 Two maids
and two men； indeed！—as I talked of t’other day。—No； no； they
must get a stout girl of all works。—Betty’s sister would never do
for them now。”
The next morning brought Elinor a letter by the two…penny post
from Lucy herself。 It was as follows：
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Bartlett’s Building； March。
I hope my dear Miss Dashwood will excuse the liberty I take of
writing to her； but I know your friendship for me will make you
pleased to hear such a good account of myself and my dear
Edward； after all the troubles we have went through lately；
therefore will make no more apologies； but proceed to say that；
thank God！ though we have suffered dreadfully； we are both quite
well now； and as happy as we must always be in one another’s
love。 We have had great trials； and great persecutions； but
however； at the same time； gratefully acknowledge many friends；
yourself not the least among them； whose great kindness I shall
always thankfully remember； as will Edward too； who I have told
of it。 I am sure you will be glad to hear； as likewise dear Mrs。
Jennings； I spent two happy hours with him yesterday afternoon；
he would not hear of our parting； though earnestly did I； as I
thought my duty required； urge him to it for prudence sake； and
would have parted for ever on the spot； would he consent to it； but
he said it should never be； he did not regard his mother’s anger；
while he could have my affections； our prospects are not very
bright； to be sure； but we must wait； and hope for the best； he will
be ordained shortly； and should it ever be in your power to
recommend him to any body that has a living to bestow； am very
sure you will not forget us； and dear Mrs。 Jennings too； trust she
will speak a good word for us to Sir John； or Mr。 Palmer； or any
friend that may be able to assist us。—Poor Anne was much to
blame for what she did； but she did it for the best； so I say nothing；
hope Mrs。 Jennings won’t think it too much trouble to give us a
call； should she come this way any morning； ’twould be a great
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kindness； and my cousins would be proud to know her。—My paper
reminds me to conclude； and begging to be most gratefully and
respectfully remembered to her； and to Sir John； and Lady
Middleton； and the dear children； when you chance to see them；
and love to Miss Marianne；
I am； &c。
As soon as Elinor had finished it； she performed what she
concluded to be its writer’s real design； by placing it in the hands
of Mrs。 Jennings； who read it aloud with many comments of
satisfaction and praise。 “Very well indeed！—how prettily she
writes！—aye； that was quite proper to let him be off if he would。
That was just like Lucy。—Poor soul！ I wish I could get him a living；
with all my heart。—She calls me dear Mrs。 Jennings； you see。 She
is a good…hearted girl as ever lived。—Very well upon my word。
That sentence is very prettily turned。 Yes； yes； I will go and see
her； sure enough。 How attentive she is； to think of every body！—
Thank you； my dear； for shewing it me。 It is as pretty a letter as
ever I saw； and does Lucy’s head and heart great credit。”
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CHAPTER III
he Miss Dashwoods had now been rather more than two
months in town； and Marianne’s impatience to be gone
T
increased every day。 She sighed for the air； the liberty； the
quiet of the country； and fancied that if any place could give her
ease； Barton must do it。 Elinor was hardly less anxious than
herself for their removal； and only so much less bent on its being
effected immediately； as that she was conscious of the difficulties
of so long a journey； which Marianne could not be brought to
acknowledge。 She began； however； seriously to turn her thoughts
towards its accomplishment； and had already mentioned their
wishes to their kind hostess； who resisted them with all the
eloquence of her good…will； when a plan was suggested； which；
though detaining them from home yet a few weeks longer；
appeared to Elinor altogether much more eligible than any other。
The Palmers were to remove to Cleveland about the end of March；
for the Easter holidays； and Mrs。 Jennings； with both her friends；
received a very warm invitation from Charlotte to go with them。
This would not； in itself； have been sufficient for the delicacy of
Miss Dashwood；—but it was inforced with so much real politeness
by Mr。 Palmer himself； as； joined to the very great amendment of
his manners towards them since her sister had been known to be
unhappy； induced her to accept it with pleasure。
When she told Marianne what she had done； however； her first
reply was not very auspicious。
“Cleveland！”—she cried； with great agitation。 “No； I cannot go
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