sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第66章
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them into the cherished； or the prohibited； county of Somerset； for
as such was it dwelt on by turns in Marianne’s imagination； and in
the forenoon of the third they drove up to Cleveland。
Cleveland was a spacious； modern…built house； situated on a
sloping lawn。 It had no park； but the pleasure…grounds were
tolerably extensive； and like every other place of the same degree
of importance； it had its open shrubbery； and closer wood walk； a
road of smooth gravel winding round a plantation； led to the front；
the lawn was dotted over with timber； the house itself was under
the guardianship of the fir； the mountain…ash； and the acacia； and
a thick screen of them altogether； interspersed with tall Lombardy
poplars； shut out the offices。
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Marianne entered the house with a heart swelling with emotion
from the consciousness of being only eighty miles from Barton；
and not thirty from Combe Magna； and before she had been five
minutes within its walls； while the others were busily helping
Charlotte to show her child to the housekeeper； she quitted it
again； stealing away through the winding shrubberies； now just
beginning to be in beauty； to gain a distant eminence； where； from
its Grecian temple； her eye； wandering over a wide tract of country
to the south…east； could fondly rest on the farthest ridge of hills in
the horizon； and fancy that from their summits Combe Magna
might be seen。
In such moments of precious； invaluable misery； she rejoiced in
tears of agony to be at Cleveland； and as she returned by a
different circuit to the house； feeling all the happy privilege of
country liberty； of wandering from place to place in free and
luxurious solitude； she resolved to spend almost every hour of
every day while she remained with the Palmers； in the indulgence
of such solitary rambles。
She returned just in time to join the others as they quitted the
house； on an excursion through its more immediate premises； and
the rest of the morning was easily whiled away； in lounging round
the kitchen garden； examining the bloom upon its walls； and
listening to the gardener’s lamentations upon blights； in dawdling
through the green…house； where the loss of her favourite plants；
unwarily exposed； and nipped by the lingering frost； raised the
laughter of Charlotte；—and in visiting her poultry…yard； where； in
the disappointed hopes of her dairy…maid； by hens forsaking their
nests； or being stolen by a fox； or in the rapid decrease of a
promising young brood； she found fresh sources of merriment。
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The morning was fine and dry； and Marianne； in her plan of
employment abroad； had not calculated for any change of weather
during their stay at Cleveland。 With great surprise therefore； did
she find herself prevented by a settled rain from going out again
after dinner。 She had depended on a twilight walk to the Grecian
temple； and perhaps all over the grounds； and an evening merely
cold or damp would not have deterred her from it； but a heavy and
settled rain even she could not fancy dry or pleasant weather for
walking。
Their party was small； and the hours passed quietly away。 Mrs。
Palmer had her child； and Mrs。 Jennings her carpet…work； they
talked of the friends they had left behind； arranged Lady
Middleton’s engagements； and wondered whether Mr。 Palmer and
Colonel Brandon would get farther than Reading that night。
Elinor； however little concerned in it； joined in their discourse；
and Marianne； who had the knack of finding her way in every
house to the library； however it might be avoided by the family in
general； soon procured herself a book。
Nothing was wanting on Mrs。 Palmer’s side that constant and
friendly good humour could do； to make them feel themselves
welcome。 The openness and heartiness of her manner more than
atoned for that want of recollection and elegance which made her
often deficient in the forms of politeness； her kindness；
recommended by so pretty a face； was engaging； her folly； though
evident was not disgusting； because it was not conceited； and
Elinor could have forgiven every thing but her laugh。
The two gentlemen arrived the next day to a very late dinner；
affording a pleasant enlargement of the party； and a very welcome
variety to their conversation； which a long morning of the same
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continued rain had reduced very low。
Elinor had seen so little of Mr。 Palmer； and in that little had
seen so much variety in his address to her sister and herself； that
she knew not what to expect to find him in his own family。 She
found him； however； perfectly the gentleman in his behaviour to
all his visitors； and only occasionally rude to his wife and her
mother； she found him very capable of being a pleasant
companion； and only prevented from being so always； by too great
an aptitude to fancy himself as much superior to people in general；
as he must feel himself to be to Mrs。 Jennings and Charlotte。 For
the rest of his character and habits； they were marked； as far as
Elinor could perceive； with no traits at all unusual in his sex and
time of life。 He was nice in his eating； uncertain in his hours； fond
of his child； though affecting to slight it； and idled away the
mornings at billiards； which ought to have been devoted to
business。 She liked him； however； upon the whole； much better
than she had expected； and in her heart was not sorry that she
could like him no more；—not sorry to be driven by the observation
of his Epicurism； his selfishness； and his conceit； to rest with
complacency on the remembrance of Edward’s generous temper；
simple taste； and diffident feelings。
Of Edward； or at least of some of his concerns； she now
received intelligence from Colonel Brandon； who had been into
Dorsetshire lately； and who； treating her at once as the
disinterested friend of Mr。 Ferrars； and the kind confidante of
himself； talked to her a great deal of the parsonage at Delaford；
described its deficiencies； and told her what he meant to do
himself towards removing them。—His behaviour to her in this； as
well as in every other particular； his open pleasure in meeting her
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after an absence of only ten days； his readiness to converse with
her； and his deference for her opinion； might very well justify Mrs。
Jennings’s persuasion of his attachment； and would have been
enough； perhaps； had not Elinor still； as from the first； believed
Marianne his real favourite； to make her suspect it herself。 But as
it was； such a notion had scarcely ever entered her head； except by
Mrs。 Jennings’s suggestion； and she could not help believing
herself the nicest observer of the two；—she watched his eyes；
while Mrs。 Jennings thought only of his behaviour；—and while his
looks of anxious solicitude on Marianne’s feeling； in her head and
throat； the beginning of a heavy cold； because unexpressed by
words； entirely escaped the latter lady’s observation；—she could
discover in them the quick feelings； and needless alarm of a lover。
Two delighful twilight walks on the third and fourth evenings of
her being there； not merely on the dry gravel of the shrubbery； but
all over the grounds； and especially in the most distant parts of
them； where there was something more of wildness than in the
rest； where the trees were the oldest； and the grass was the longest
and wettest； had—assisted by the still greater imprudence of
sitting in her wet shoes and stockings—given Marianne a cold so
violent as； though for a day or two trifled with or denied； would
force itself by increasing ailments on the concern of every body；
and the notice of herself。 Prescriptions poured in from all
quarters； and as usual； were all declined。 Though heavy and
feverish； with a pain in her limbs； and a cough； and a sore throat； a
good night’s rest was to cure her entirely； and it was with difficulty
that Elinor prevailed on her； when she went to bed； to try one or
two of the simplest of the remedies。
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CHAPTER VII
arianne got up the next morning at her usual time； to
every inquiry replied that she was better； and tried to
M
prove herself so； by engaging in her accustomary
employments。 But a day spent in sitting shivering over the fire
with a book in her hand； which she was unable to read； or in lying；
weary and languid； on a sofa； did not speak much in favour of her
amendment； and when； at last； she went early to bed； more and
m
