第 3 节
作者:南方网      更新:2021-02-19 19:54      字数:9266
  renewed; was sought for; was created again and again。 They gave
  themselves        up    wholly      to   their   sorrow;      seeking      increase     of
  wretchedness in every reflection that could afford it; and resolved
  against      ever   admitting      consolation       in  future。    Elinor;    too;   was
  deeply      afflicted;    but   still  she   could     struggle;    she    could    exert
  herself。     She   could    consult     with   her   brother;     could    receive    her
  sister…in…law   on   her   arrival;   and   treat   her   with   proper   attention;
  and     could    strive   to  rouse    her   mother      to  similar    exertion;     and
  encourage her to similar forbearance。
  Margaret; the other sister; was a good…humoured; well…disposed
  girl;   but   as   she   had   already   imbibed   a   good   deal   of   Marianne’s
  romance;       without      having     much     of  her    sense;    she   did   not;   at
  thirteen; bid fair to equal her sisters at a more advanced period of
  life。
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  CHAPTER II
  rs。   John   Dashwood   now   installed   herself   mistress   of
  Norland;      and   her   mother     and    sisters…in…law    were
  M
  degraded       to   the   condition     of  visitors。   As    such;
  however; they were treated by her with quiet civility; and by  her
  husband with as much kindness as he could feel towards anybody
  beyond himself; his wife; and their child。 He really pressed them;
  with some earnestness; to consider Norland as their home; and; as
  no plan appeared so eligible to Mrs。 Dashwood as remaining there
  till   she   could    accommodate        herself    with    a   house    in   the
  neighbourhood; his invitation was accepted。
  A   continuance   in   a   place   where   everything   reminded   her   of
  former   delight;   was   exactly   what   suited   her   mind。   In   seasons   of
  cheerfulness;      no  temper    could   be   more   cheerful    than   hers;  or
  possess;     in   a  greater    degree;    that   sanguine     expectation      of
  happiness   which   is   happiness   itself。   But   in   sorrow   she   must   be
  equally carried away by her fancy; and as far beyond consolation
  as in pleasure she was beyond alloy。
  Mrs。     John   Dashwood       did   not  at  all  approve     of  what    her
  husband   intended   to   do   for   his   sisters。   To   take   three   thousand
  pounds      from    the   fortune   of   their  dear    little  boy   would    be
  impoverishing him to  the   most dreadful   degree。   She begged   him
  to think again on the subject。 How could he answer it to himself to
  rob his child; and his only child too; of so large a sum? And what
  possible claim could the Miss Dashwoods; who were related to him
  only by half blood; which she considered as no relationship at all;
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  have   on   his   generosity   to   so   large   an   amount。   It   was   very   well
  known   that no  affection   was   ever   supposed   to   exist   between   the
  children   of   any   man   by   different   marriages;   and   why   was   he   to
  ruin   himself;   and   their   poor   little   Harry;   by   giving   away   all   his
  money to his half sisters?
  “It   was   my   father’s   last   request   to   me;”   replied   her   husband;
  “that I should assist his widow and daughters。”
  “He did not know what he was talking of; I dare say; ten to one
  but   he   was   light…headed   at   the   time。   Had   he   been   in   his       right
  senses; he could not have thought of such a thing as begging you
  to give away half your fortune from your own child。”
  “He did not stipulate for any particular sum; my dear Fanny; he
  only   requested   me;   in   general   terms;   to   assist   them;   and   make
  their   situation   more   comfortable   than   it   was   in   his   power   to   do。
  Perhaps   it   would   have   been   as   well   if   he      had   left   it   wholly   to
  myself。 He could hardly suppose I should neglect them。 But as he
  required   the   promise;   I   could   not   do   less   than   give   it;   at   least   I
  thought   so   at   the   time。   The   promise;   therefore;   was   given;   and
  must be performed。 Something must be done for them whenever
  they leave Norland and settle in a new home。”
  “Well; then; let something be done for them; but that something
  need not  be   three   thousand   pounds。  Consider;”   she   added;   “that
  when   the   money   is   once   parted   with;   it   never   can   return。   Your
  sisters will marry; and it will be gone for ever。 If; indeed; it could
  be restored to our poor little boy—”
  “Why; to be sure;” said her husband; very gravely; “that would
  make great difference。 The time may come when Harry will regret
  that so large a sum was parted with。 If he should have a numerous
  family; for instance; it would be a very convenient addition。”
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  “To be sure it would。”
  “Perhaps;   then;   it   would   be   better   for   all   parties;   if   the   sum
  were     diminished      one   half。—Five      hundred     pounds     would     be  a
  prodigious increase to their fortunes!”
  “Oh!  beyond   anything  great!  What brother  on   earth  would   do
  half so much for his sisters; even if really his sisters! And as it is—
  only half blood!—But you have such a generous spirit!”
  “I would not wish to do any thing mean;” he replied。 “One had
  rather; on such occasions; do too much than too little。 No one; at
  least; can think I have not done enough for them: even themselves;
  they can hardly expect more。”
  “There   is   no   knowing   what  they   may   expect;”   said   the   lady;
  “but we are not to think of their expectations: the question is; what
  you can afford to do。”
  “Certainly—and I think I may afford to give them five hundred
  pounds   a…piece。   As   it   is;   without   any   addition   of   mine;   they   will
  each have about three thousand pounds on their mother’s death—
  a very comfortable fortune for any young woman。”
  “To be sure it is: and; indeed; it strikes me that they can want
  no   addition   at   all。   They   will   have   ten   thousand   pounds   divided
  amongst them。 If they marry; they will be sure of doing well; and if
  they   do   not;   they   may   all   live   very   comfortably   together   on   the
  interest of ten thousand pounds。”
  “That is very true; and; therefore; I do not know whether; upon
  the   whole;   it   would   not   be   more   advisable   to   do   something   for
  their mother while she lives; rather than   for  them—something  of
  the annuity kind I mean。—My sisters would feel the good effects of
  it  as   well  as   herself。   A  hundred      a  year   would    make     them    all
  perfectly comfortable。”
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  His wife hesitated a little; however; in giving her consent to this
  plan。
  “To   be   sure;”   said   she;   “it   is   better   than   parting   with   fifteen
  hundred pounds at once。 But; then; if Mrs。 Dashwood should live
  fifteen years we shall be completely taken in。”
  “Fifteen   years!   my   dear   Fanny;   her   life   cannot   be   worth   half
  that purchase。”
  “Certainly  not;   but   if   you   observe;   people   always   live   for   ever
  when   there   is   an   annuity   to   be   paid   them;   and   she   is   very   stout
  and     healthy;    and    hardly    forty。   An    annuity     is  a  very    serious
  business;      it  comes    over   and    over   every    year;   and   there    is  no
  getting rid of it。 You are not aware of what you are doing。 I have
  known a great deal of the trouble of annuities; for my mother was
  clogged with the payment of three to old superannuated servants
  by my father’s will; and it is amazing how disagreeable she found
  it。   Twice   every   year   these   annuities   were   to   be   paid;   and   then
  there was the trouble of getting it to them; and then one of them
  was said to have died; and afterwards it turned out to be