sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第8章
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perfectly well…bred； she was reserved； cold； and had nothing to say
for herself beyond the most common…place inquiry or remark。
Conversation however was not wanted； for Sir John was very
chatty； and Lady Middleton had taken the wise precaution of
bringing with her their eldest child； a fine little boy about six years
old； by which means there was one subject always to be recurred
to by the ladies in case of extremity； for they had to enquire his
name and age； admire his beauty； and ask him questions which his
mother answered for him； while he hung about her and held down
his head； to the great surprise of her ladyship； who wondered at
his being so shy before company； as he could make noise enough
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at home。 On every formal visit a child ought to be of the party； by
way of provision for discourse。 In the present case it took up ten
minutes to determine whether the boy were most like his father or
mother； and in what particular he resembled either； for of course
every body differed； and every body was astonished at the opinion
of the others。
An opportunity was soon to be given to the Dashwoods of
debating on the rest of the children； as Sir John would not leave
the house without securing their promise of dining at the park the
next day。
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CHAPTER VII
arton Park was about half a mile from the cottage。 The
ladies had passed near it in their way along the valley；
B
but it was screened from their view at home by the
projection of a hill。 The house was large and handsome； and the
Middletons lived in a style of equal hospitality and elegance。 The
former was for Sir John’s gratification； the latter for that of his
lady。 They were scarcely ever without some friends staying with
them in the house； and they kept more company of every kind
than any other family in the neighbourhood。 It was necessary to
the happiness of both； for however dissimilar in temper and
outward behaviour； they strongly resembled each other in that
total want of talent and taste which confined their employments；
unconnected with such as society produced； within a very narrow
compass。 Sir John was a sportsman； Lady Middleton a mother。 He
hunted and shot； and she humoured her children； and these were
their only resources。 Lady Middleton had the advantage of being
able to spoil her children all the year round； while Sir John’s
independent employments were in existence only half the time。
Continual engagements at home and abroad； however； supplied all
the deficiencies of nature and education； supported the good
spirits of Sir John； and gave exercise to the good breeding of his
wife。
Lady Middleton piqued herself upon the elegance of her table；
and of all her domestic arrangements； and from this kind of vanity
was her greatest enjoyment in any of their parties。 But Sir John’s
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satisfaction in society was much more real； he delighted in
collecting about him more young people than his house would
hold； and the noisier they were the better was he pleased。 He was
a blessing to all the juvenile part of the neighbourhood； for in
summer he was for ever forming parties to eat cold ham and
chicken out of doors； and in winter his private balls were
numerous enough for any young lady who was not suffering under
the unsatiable appetite of fifteen。
The arrival of a new family in the country was always a matter
of joy to him； and in every point of view he was charmed with the
inhabitants he had now procured for his cottage at Barton。 The
Miss Dashwoods were young； pretty； and unaffected。 It was
enough to secure his good opinion； for to be unaffected was all
that a pretty girl could want to make her mind as captivating as
her person。 The friendliness of his disposition made him happy in
accommodating those； whose situation might be considered； in
comparison with the past； as unfortunate。 In showing kindness to
his cousins therefore he had the real satisfaction of a good heart；
and in settling a family of females only in his cottage； he had all
the satisfaction of a sportsman； for a sportsman； though he
esteems only those of his sex who are sportsmen likewise； is not
often desirous of encouraging their taste by admitting them to a
residence within his own manor。
Mrs。 Dashwood and her daughters were met at the door of the
house by Sir John； who welcomed them to Barton Park with
unaffected sincerity； and as he attended them to the drawing room
repeated to the young ladies the concern which the same subject
had drawn from him the day before； at being unable to get any
smart young men to meet them。 They would see； he said； only one
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gentleman there besides himself； a particular friend who was
staying at the park； but who was neither very young nor very gay。
He hoped they would all excuse the smallness of the party； and
could assure them it should never happen so again。 He had been
to several families that morning in hopes of procuring some
addition to their number； but it was moonlight and every body was
full of engagements。 Luckily Lady Middleton’s mother had arrived
at Barton within the last hour； and as she was a very cheerful
agreeable woman； he hoped the young ladies would not find it so
very dull as they might imagine。 The young ladies； as well as their
mother； were perfectly satisfied with having two entire strangers
of the party； and wished for no more。
Mrs。 Jennings； Lady Middleton’s mother； was a good…
humoured； merry； fat； elderly woman； who talked a great deal；
seemed very happy； and rather vulgar。 She was full of jokes and
laughter； and before dinner was over had said many witty things
on the subject of lovers and husbands； hoped they had not left
their hearts behind them in Sussex； and pretended to see them
blush whether they did or not。 Marianne was vexed at it for her
sister’s sake； and turned her eyes towards Elinor to see how she
bore these attacks； with an earnestness which gave Elinor far
more pain than could arise from such common…place raillery as
Mrs。 Jennings’s。
Colonel Brandon； the friend of Sir John； seemed no more
adapted by resemblance of manner to be his friend； than Lady
Middleton was to be his wife； or Mrs。 Jennings to be Lady
Middleton’s mother。 He was silent and grave。 His appearance
however was not unpleasing； in spite of his being in the opinion of
Marianne and Margaret an absolute old bachelor； for he was on
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the wrong side of five and thirty； but though his face was not
handsome； his countenance was sensible； and his address was
particularly gentlemanlike。
There was nothing in any of the party which could recommend
them as companions to the Dashwoods； but the cold insipidity of
Lady Middleton was so particularly repulsive； that in comparison
of it the gravity of Colonel Brandon； and even the boisterous mirth
of Sir John and his mother…in…law was interesting。 Lady Middleton
seemed to be roused to enjoyment only by the entrance of her four
noisy children after dinner； who pulled her about； tore her clothes；
and put an end to every kind of discourse except what related to
themselves。
In the evening； as Marianne was discovered to be musical； she
was invited to play。 The instrument was unlocked； every body
prepared to be charmed； and Marianne； who sang very well； at
their request went through the chief of the songs which Lady
Middleton had brought into the family on her marriage； and which
perhaps had lain ever since in the same position on the pianoforté；
for her ladyship had celebrated that event by giving up music；
although by her mother’s account； she had played extremely well；
and by her own was very fond of it。
Marianne’s performance was highly applauded。 Sir John was
loud in his admiration at the end of every song； and as loud in his
conversation with the others while every song lasted。 Lady
Middleton frequently called him to order； wondered how any one’s
attention could be diverted from music for a moment； and asked
Marianne to sing a particular song which Marianne had just
finished。 Colonel Brandon alone； of all the party； heard her
without being in raptures。 He paid her only the compliment of
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attention； and she felt a respect for h
