sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第61章
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to Cleveland。”—
“You forget；” said Elinor gently； “that its situation is not 。 。 。 that
it is not in the neighbourhood of 。 。 。”
“But it is in Somersetshire。—I cannot go into Somersetshire。—
There； where I looked forward to going 。 。 。 No； Elinor； you cannot
expect me to go there。”
Elinor would not argue upon the propriety of overcoming such
feelings；—she only endeavoured to counteract them by working
on others；—represented it； therefore； as a measure which would
fix the time of her returning to that dear mother； whom she so
much wished to see； in a more eligible； more comfortable manner；
than any other plan could do； and perhaps without any greater
delay。 From Cleveland； which was within a few miles of Bristol；
the distance to Barton was not beyond one day； though a long
day’s journey； and their mother’s servant might easily come there
to attend them down； and as there could be no occasion of their
staying above a week at Cleveland； they might now be at home in
little more than three weeks’ time。 As Marianne’s affection for her
mother was sincere； it must triumph with little difficulty； over the
imaginary evils she had started。
Mrs。 Jennings was so far from being weary of her guests； that
she pressed them very earnestly to return with her again from
Cleveland。 Elinor was grateful for the attention； but it could not
alter her design； and their mother’s concurrence being readily
gained； every thing relative to their return was arranged as far as
it could be；—and Marianne found some relief in drawing up a
statement of the hours that were yet to divide her from Barton。
“Ah！ Colonel； I do not know what you and I shall do without the
Miss Dashwoods；”—was Mrs。 Jennings’s address to him when he
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first called on her； after their leaving her was settled—“for they
are quite resolved upon going home from the Palmers；—and how
forlorn we shall be； when I come back！—Lord！ we shall sit and
gape at one another as dull as two cats。”
Perhaps Mrs。 Jennings was in hopes； by this vigorous sketch of
their future ennui； to provoke him to make that offer； which might
give himself an escape from it；—and if so； she had soon afterwards
good reason to think her object gained； for； on Elinor’s moving to
the window to take more expeditiously the dimensions of a print；
which she was going to copy for her friend； he followed her to it
with a look of particular meaning； and conversed with her there
for several minutes。 The effect of his discourse on the lady too；
could not escape her observation； for though she was too
honourable to listen； and had even changed her seat； on purpose
that she might not hear； to one close by the pianoforté on which
Marianne was playing； she could not keep herself from seeing that
Elinor changed colour； attended with agitation； and was too intent
on what he said to pursue her employment。—Still farther in
confirmation of her hopes； in the interval of Marianne’s turning
from one lesson to another； some words of the Colonel’s inevitably
reached her ear； in which he seemed to be apologizing for the
badness of his house。 This set the matter beyond a doubt。 She
wondered； indeed； at his thinking it necessary to do so； but
supposed it to be the proper etiquette。 What Elinor said in reply
she could not distinguish； but judged from the motion of her lips；
that she did not think that any material objection；—and Mrs。
Jennings commended her in her heart for being so honest。 They
then talked on for a few minutes longer without her catching a
syllable； when another lucky stop in Marianne’s performance
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brought her these words in the Colonel’s calm voice；
“I am afraid it cannot take place very soon。”
Astonished and shocked at so unlover…like a speech； she was
almost ready to cry out； “Lord！ what should hinder it？”—but
checking her desire； confined herself to this silent ejaculation。
“This is very strange！—sure he need not wait to be older。”
This delay on the Colonel’s side； however； did not seem to
offend or mortify his fair companion in the least； for on their
breaking up the conference soon afterwards； and moving different
ways； Mrs。 Jennings very plainly heard Elinor say； and with a
voice which shewed her to feel what she said；
“I shall always think myself very much obliged to you。”
Mrs。 Jennings was delighted with her gratitude； and only
wondered that after hearing such a sentence； the Colonel should
be able to take leave of them； as he immediately did； with the
utmost sang…froid； and go away without making her any reply！—
She had not thought her old friend could have made so indifferent
a suitor。
What had really passed between them was to this effect。
“I have heard；” said he； with great compassion； “of the injustice
your friend Mr。 Ferrars has suffered from his family； for if I
understand the matter right； he has been entirely cast off by them
for persevering in his engagement with a very deserving young
woman。—Have I been rightly informed？—Is it so？—”
Elinor told him that it was。
“The cruelty； the impolitic cruelty；”—he replied； with great
feeling；—“of dividing； or attempting to divide； two young people
long attached to each other； is terrible。—Mrs。 Ferrars does not
know what she may be doing—what she may drive her son to。 I
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have seen Mr。 Ferrars two or three times in Harley…street； and am
much pleased with him。 He is not a young man with whom one
can be intimately acquainted in a short time； but I have seen
enough of him to wish him well for his own sake； and as a friend of
yours； I wish it still more。 I understand that he intends to take
orders。 Will you be so good as to tell him that the living of
Delaford； now just vacant； as I am informed by this day’s post； is
his； if he think it worth his acceptance—but that； perhaps； so
unfortunately circumstanced as he is now； it may be nonsense to
appear to doubt； I only wish it were more valuable。—It is a rectory；
but a small one； the late incumbent； I believe； did not make more
l
than 200 。 per annum； and though it is certainly capable of
improvement； I fear； not to such an amount as to afford him a very
comfortable income。 Such as it is； however； my pleasure in
presenting him to it； will be very great。 Pray assure him of it。”
Elinor’s astonishment at this commission could hardly have
been greater； had the Colonel been really making her an offer of
his hand。 The preferment； which only two days before she had
considered as hopeless for Edward； was already provided to
enable him to marry；—and she； of all people in the world； was
fixed on to bestow it！—Her emotion was such as Mrs。 Jennings
had attributed to a very different cause；—but whatever minor
feelings less pure； less pleasing； might have a share in that
emotion； her esteem for the general benevolence； and her
gratitude for the particular friendship； which together prompted
Colonel Brandon to this act； were strongly felt； and warmly
expressed。 She thanked him for it with all her heart； spoke of
Edward’s principles and disposition with that praise which she
knew them to deserve； and promised to undertake the commission
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with pleasure； if it were really his wish to put off so agreeable an
office to another。 But at the same time； she could not help thinking
that no one could so well perform it as himself。 It was an office in
short； from which； unwilling to give Edward the pain of receiving
an obligation from her； she would have been very glad to be spared
herself；—but Colonel Brandon； on motives of equal delicacy；
declining it likewise； still seemed so desirous of its being given
through her means； that she would not on any account make
farther opposition。 Edward； she believed； was still in town； and
fortunately she had heard his address from Miss Steele。 She could
undertake therefore to inform him of it； in the course of the day。
After this had been settled； Colonel Brandon began to talk of his
own advantage in securing so respectable and agreeable a
neighbour； and then it was that he mentioned with regret； that the
house was small and indifferent；—an evil which Elinor； as Mrs。
Jennings had supposed her to do； made very light of； at least as far
as regarded its size。
“The smallness of the house；” said she； “I cannot imagine any
inconvenience to them； for it will be i
