sanditon(桑底顿)-第16章
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foot—and therefore the sooner the better；—and Lady Denham’s
name at the head of the List will be a very necessary beginning。—
You will not dislike speaking to her about it； Mary？’—‘I will do
whatever you wish me；’ replied his Wife—‘but you would do it so
much better yourself。 I shall not know what to say。’—‘My dear
Mary；’ cried he； ‘it is impossible you can be really at a loss。
Nothing can be more simple。 You have only to state the present
afflicted situation of the family； their earnest application to me；
and my being willing to promote a little subscription for their
relief； provided it meet with her approbation。’ ‘The easiest thing in
the World’—cried Miss Diana Parker who happened to be calling
on them at the moment。 ‘All said and done； in less time than you
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have been talking of it now。—And while you are on the subject of
subscriptions Mary； I will thank you to mention a very melancholy
case to Lady D。 which has been represented to me in the most
affecting terms。—There is a poor Woman in Worcestershire；
whom some friends of mine are exceedingly interested about； and
I have undertaken to collect whatever I can for her。 If you would
mention the circumstance to Lady Denham！—Lady Denham can
give； if she is properly attacked—and I look upon her to be the sort
of Person who； when once she is prevailed on to undraw her
Purse； would as readily give ten guineas as five。—And therefore； if
you find her in a Giving mood； you might as well speak in favour of
another Charity which I and a few more； have very much at heart：
the establishment of a Charitable Repository at Burton on
Trent。—And then；—there is the family of the poor Man who was
hung last assizes at York； tho’ we really have raised the sum we
wanted for putting them all out； yet if you can get a Guinea from
her on their behalf； it may as well be done。’ ‘My dear Diana！’
exclaimed Mrs。 P。—‘I could no more mention these things to Lady
D。 than I could fly。’—‘Where’s the difficulty？—I wish I could go
with you myself—but in five minutes I must be at Mrs。 G。—to
encourage Miss Lambe in taking her first Dip。 She is so
frightened； poor Thing； that I promised to come and keep up her
Spirits； and go in the Machine with her if she wished it—and as
soon as that is over； I must hurry home； for Susan is to have
Leaches at one o’clock—which will be a three hours business；—
therefore I really have not a moment to spare—besides that
（between ourselves） I ought to be in bed myself at this present
time； for I am hardly able to stand—and when the Leaches have
done； I dare say we shall both go to our rooms for the rest of the
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day。’—‘I am sorry to hear it； indeed； but if this is the case I hope
Arthur will come to us。’—‘If Arthur takes my advice； he will go to
bed too； for if he stays up by himself； he will certainly eat and
drink more than he ought；—but you see Mary； how impossible it is
for me to go with you to Lady Denham’s。’—‘Upon second thoughts
Mary；’ said her husband； ‘I will not trouble you to speak about the
Mullins。—I will take an opportunity of seeing Lady D。 myself。—I
know how little it suits you to be pressing matters upon a Mind at
all unwilling。’—His application thus withdrawn； his sister could
say no more in support of hers； which was his object； as he felt all
their impropriety and all the certainty of their ill effect upon his
own better claim。—Mrs P。 was delighted at this release； and set off
very happy with her friend and her little girl； on this walk to
Sanditon House。—It was a close； misty morning； and when they
reached the brow of the Hill； they could not for some time make
out what sort of Carriage it was； which they saw coming up。 It
appeared at different moments to be everything from the Gig to
the Pheaton； from one horse to four； and just as they were
concluding in favour of a Tandem； little Mary’s young eyes
distinguished the Coachman and she eagerly called out； ‘’Tis
Uncle Sidney Mama； it is indeed。’ And so it proved。—Mr。 Sidney
Parker driving his Servant in a very neat Carriage was soon
opposite to them； and they all stopped for a few minutes。 The
manners of the Parkers were always pleasant among themselves—
and it was a very friendly meeting between Sidney and his sister…
in…law； who was most kindly taking it for granted that he was on
his way to Trafalgar House。 This he declined however。 ‘He was
just come from Eastbourne； proposing to spend two or three days；
as it might happen； at Sanditon—but the Hotel must be his
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Quarters—He was expecting to be joined there by a friend or
two。’—The rest was common enquiries and remarks； with kind
notice of little Mary； and a very well…bred Bow and proper address
to Miss Heywood on her being named to him—and they parted； to
meet again within a few hours。—Sidney Parker was about seven
or eight and twenty； very good…looking； with a decided air of Ease
and Fashion； and a lively countenance。—This adventure afforded
agreable discussion for some time。 Mrs。 P。 entered into all her
Husband’s joy on the occasion； and exulted in the credit which
Sidney’s arrival would give to the place。 The road to Sanditon H。
was a broad； handsome； planted approach； between fields； and
conducting at the end of a quarter of a mile through second Gates
into the Grounds； which though not extensive had all the Beauty
and Respectability which an abundance of very fine Timber could
give。—These Entrance Gates were so much in a corner of the
Grounds or Paddock； so near one of its Boundaries； that an
outside fence was at first almost pressing on the road—till an
angle here； and a curve there threw them to a better distance。 The
Fence was a proper Park paling in excellent condition； with
clusters of fine Elms； or rows of old Thorns following its line
almost every where。—Almost must be stipulated—for there were
vacant spaces—and through one of these； Charlotte as soon as
they entered the Enclosure； caught a glimpse over the pales of
something White and Womanish in the field on the other side；—it
was something which immediately brought Miss B。 into her
head—and stepping to the pales； she saw indeed—and very
decidedly； in spite of the Mist； Miss B。 seated； not far before her； at
the foot of the bank which sloped down from the outside of the
Paling and which a narrow Path seemed to skirt along；—Miss
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Brereton seated apparently very composedly—and Sir E。D。 by her
side。—They were sitting so near each other and appeared so
closely engaged in gentle conversation； that Charlotte instantly felt
she had nothing to do but to step back again； and say not a
word。—Privacy was certainly their object。—It could not but strike
her rather unfavourably with regard to Clara；—but hers was a
situation which must not be judged with severity。—She was glad
to perceive that nothing had been discerned by Mrs Parker； If
Charlotte had not been considerably the tallest of the two； Miss
B。’s white ribbons might not have fallen within the ken of her
more observant eyes。—Among other points of moralising
reflection which the sight of this Tete a Tete produced； Charlotte
could not but think of the extreme difficulty which secret Lovers
must have in finding a proper spot for their stolen Interviews。—
Here perhaps they had thought themselves so perfectly secure
from observation—the whole field open before them—a steep
bank and Pales never crossed by the foot of Man at their back—
and a great thickness of air； in aid。 Yet here； she had seen them。
They were really ill…used。—The House was large and handsome；
two Servants appeared； to admit them； and everything had a
suitable air of Property and Order。—Lady D。 valued herself upon
her liberal Establishment； and had great enjoyment in the order
and the Importance of her style of living。—They were shewn into
the usual sitting room； well…proportioned and well…furnished；—
tho’ it was Furniture rather originally good and extremely well
kept； than new or shewey—and as Lady D。 was not there；
Charlotte had leisure to look about； and to be told by Mrs。 P。 that
the whole…length Portrait of a stately Gentleman； which placed
over the Mantlepeice； caught the eye immediately； was the picture
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