sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第79章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
no affectionate address of Mrs。 Dashwood could penetrate； and at
last； without saying a word； quitted the room； and walked out
towards the village—leaving the others in the greatest
astonishment and perplexity on a change in his situation； so
wonderful and so sudden；—a perplexity which they had no means
of lessening but by their own conjectures。
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 404…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 404
CHAPTER XIII
naccountable； however； as the circumstances of his
Urelease might appear to the whole family； it was certain
that Edward was free； and to what purpose that freedom
would be employed was easily pre…determined by all；—for after
experiencing the blessings of one imprudent engagement；
contracted without his mother’s consent； as he had already done
for more than four years； nothing less could be expected of him in
the failure of that； than the immediate contraction of another。
His errand at Barton； in fact； was a simple one。 It was only to
ask Elinor to marry him；—and considering that he was not
altogether inexperienced in such a question； it might be strange
that he should feel so uncomfortable in the present case as he
really did； so much in need of encouragement and fresh air。
How soon he had walked himself into the proper resolution；
however； how soon an opportunity of exercising it occurred； in
what manner he expressed himself； and how he was received；
need not be particularly told。 This only need be said；—that when
they all sat down to table at four o’clock； about three hours after
his arrival； he had secured his lady； engaged her mother’s consent；
and was not only in the rapturous profession of the lover； but； in
the reality of reason and truth； one of the happiest of men。 His
situation indeed was more than commonly joyful。 He had more
than the ordinary triumph of accepted love to swell his heart； and
raise his spirits。 He was released without any reproach to himself；
from an entanglement which had long formed his misery； from a
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 405…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 405
woman whom he had long ceased to love；—and elevated at once to
that security with another； which he must have thought of almost
with despair； as soon as he had learnt to consider it with desire。
He was brought； not from doubt or suspense； but from misery to
happiness；—and the change was openly spoken in such a genuine；
flowing； grateful cheerfulness； as his friends had never witnessed
in him before。
His heart was now open to Elinor； all its weaknesses； all its
errors confessed； and his first boyish attachment to Lucy treated
with all the philosophic dignity of twenty…four。
“It was a foolish； idle inclination on my side；” said he； “the
consequence of ignorance of the world—and want of employment。
Had my brother given me some active profession when I was
removed at eighteen from the care of Mr。 Pratt； I think—nay； I am
sure； it would never have happened； for though I left Longstaple
with what I thought； at the time； a most unconquerable preference
for his niece； yet had I then had any pursuit； any object to engage
my time and keep me at a distance from her for a few months； I
should very soon have outgrown the fancied attachment；
especially by mixing more with the world； as in such case I must
have done。 But instead of having any thing to do； instead of having
any profession chosen for me； or being allowed to chuse any
myself； I returned home to be completely idle； and for the first
twelvemonth afterwards I had not even the nominal employment；
which belonging to the university would have given me； for I was
not entered at Oxford till I was nineteen。 I had therefore nothing
in the world to do； but to fancy myself in love； and as my mother
did not make my home in every respect comfortable； as I had no
friend； no companion in my brother； and disliked new
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 406…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 406
acquaintance； it was not unnatural for me to be very often at
Longstaple； where I always felt myself at home； and was always
sure of a welcome； and accordingly I spent the greatest part of my
time there from eighteen to nineteen： Lucy appeared everything
that was amiable and obliging。 She was pretty too—at least I
thought so then； and I had seen so little of other women； that I
could make no comparisons； and see no defects。 Considering
everything； therefore； I hope； foolish as our engagement was；
foolish as it has since in every way been proved； it was not at the
time an unnatural or an inexcusable piece of folly。”
The change which a few hours had wrought in the minds and
the happiness of the Dashwoods； was such—so great—as promised
them all； the satisfaction of a sleepless night。 Mrs。 Dashwood； too
happy to be comfortable； knew not how to love Edward； nor praise
Elinor enough； how to be enough thankful for his release without
wounding his delicacy； nor how at once to give them leisure for
unrestrained conversation together； and yet enjoy； as she wished；
the sight and society of both。
Marianne could speak her happiness only by tears。
Comparisons would occur—regrets would arise；—and her joy；
though sincere as her love for her sister； was of a kind to give her
neither spirits nor language。
But Elinor—how are her feelings to be described？—From the
moment of learning that Lucy was married to another； that
Edward was free； to the moment of his justifying the hopes which
had so instantly followed； she was every thing by turns but
tranquil。 But when the second moment had passed； when she
found every doubt； every solicitude removed； compared her
situation with what so lately it had been；—saw him honourably
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 407…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 407
released from his former engagement； saw him instantly profiting
by the release； to address herself and declare an affection as
tender； as constant as she had ever supposed it to be；—she was
oppressed； she was overcome by her own felicity；—and happily
disposed as is the human mind to be easily familiarized with any
change for the better； it required several hours to give sedateness
to her spirits； or any degree of tranquillity to her heart。
Edward was now fixed at the cottage at least for a week；—for
whatever other claims might be made on him； it was impossible
that less than a week should be given up to the enjoyment of
Elinor’s company； or suffice to say half that was to be said of the
past； the present； and the future；—for though a very few hours
spent in the hard labour of incessant talking will dispatch more
subjects than can really be in common between any two rational
creatures； yet with lovers it is different。 Between them no subject is
finished； no communication is even made； till it has been made at
least twenty times over。
Lucy’s marriage； the unceasing and reasonable wonder among
them all； formed of course one of the earliest discussions of the
lovers；—and Elinor’s particular knowledge of each party made it
appear to her in every view； as one of the most extraordinary and
unaccountable circumstances she had ever heard。 How they could
be thrown together； and by what attraction Robert could be drawn
on to marry a girl； of whose beauty she had herself heard him
speak without any admiration；—a girl too already engaged to his
brother； and on whose account that brother had been thrown off
by his family—it was beyond her comprehension to make out。 To
her own heart it was a delightful affair； to her imagination it was
even a ridiculous one； but to her reason； her judgment； it was
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 408…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 408
completely a puzzle。
Edward could only attempt an explanation by supposing； that
perhaps at first accidentally meeting； the vanity of the one had
been so worked on by the flattery of the other； as to lead by
degrees to all the rest。 Elinor remembered what Robert had told
her in Harley…street； of his opinion of what his own mediation in
his brother’s affairs might have done； if applied to in time。 She
repeated it to Edward。
“That was exactly like Robert；”—was his immediate
observation。—“And that；” he presently added； “might perhaps be
in his head when the acquaintance between them first began。 And
Lucy perhaps at first might think only of procuring his good
offices in my favour。 Other designs might afterwards arise。”
How long it had been carrying on between them； however； he
was equally at a loss with herself to make out； for at Oxford； where
he had remained for choice ever since his quitting London； he had
had no means of hearing of her but from herself； and her letters to
the very last were neither less frequent； nor less affectionate than
