第 4 节
作者:南方网      更新:2021-02-19 19:54      字数:9290
  was said to have died; and afterwards it turned out to be no such
  thing。   My   mother   was   quite   sick   of   it。   Her   income   was   not   her
  own;   she   said;   with   such   perpetual   claims   on   it;   and   it   was   the
  more   unkind  in   my  father;   because;   otherwise;   the   money  would
  have been entirely at my mother’s disposal; without any restriction
  whatever。 It has given me such an abhorrence of annuities; that I
  am sure I would not pin myself down to the payment of one for all
  the world。”
  “It is certainly an unpleasant thing;” replied Mr。 Dashwood; “to
  have those kind of yearly drains on one’s income。 One’s fortune; as
  your mother justly says; is not one’s own。 To be tied down to the
  regular payment of such a sum; on every rent day; is by no means
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  desirable: it takes away one’s independence。”
  “Undoubtedly;   and   after   all   you   have   no   thanks   for   it。   They
  think   themselves   secure;   you  do  no more   than   what   is   expected;
  and   it   raises   no   gratitude   at   all。   If   I   were  you;  whatever   I   did
  should   be   done   at   my   own   discretion   entirely。   I   would   not   bind
  myself to allow them any thing yearly。 It may be very inconvenient
  some years to spare a hundred; or even fifty pounds from our own
  expenses。”
  “I   believe   you   are   right;   my   love;   it   will   be   better   that   there
  should      by  no   annuity     in  the   case;   whatever      I  may    give   them
  occasionally       will   be   of   far   greater    assistance      than    a   yearly
  allowance; because they would only enlarge their style of living if
  they  felt  sure   of  a   larger  income;  and   would   not   be   sixpence   the
  richer  for  it  at  the   end   of   the   year。   It   will   certainly  be   much   the
  best   way。   A   present   of   fifty   pounds;   now   and   then;   will   prevent
  their ever being distressed for money; and will; I think; be amply
  discharging my promise to my father。”
  “To   be   sure   it   will。   Indeed;   to   say   the   truth;   I   am   convinced
  within myself that your father had no idea of your giving them any
  money   at   all。   The   assistance   he   thought   of;   I   dare   say;   was   only
  such as might be reasonably expected of you; for instance; such as
  looking out for a comfortable small house for them; helping them
  to move their things; and sending them presents of fish and game;
  and so forth; whenever they are in season。 I’ll lay my life that he
  meant      nothing     farther;    indeed;    it  would     be   very   strange     and
  unreasonable if he did。 Do but consider; my dear Mr。 Dashwood;
  how      excessively       comfortable        your     mother…in…law        and     her
  daughters       may   live   on   the   interest    of  seven    thousand     pounds;
  besides the thousand pounds belonging to each of the girls; which
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  brings them in fifty pounds a year a…piece; and; of course; they will
  pay   their   mother   for   their   board   out   of   it。   Altogether;   they   will
  have   five   hundred   a…year   amongst   them;   and   what   on   earth   can
  four   women   want   for   more   than   that?—They   will   live   so   cheap!
  Their     housekeeping         will  be   nothing     at  all。  They     will  have    no
  carriage;   no   horses;   and   hardly   any   servants;   they   will   keep   no
  company;   and   can   have   no   expenses   of   any   kind!   Only   conceive
  how   comfortable   they   will   be!  Five   hundred   a   year!   I   am   sure   I
  cannot imagine how they will spend half of it; and as to your giving
  them   more;   it   is   quite   absurd   to   think   of   it。   They   will   be   much
  more able to give you something。”
  “Upon       my    word;”     said   Mr。    Dashwood;        “I  believe     you    are
  perfectly  right。   My   father   certainly   could   mean   nothing  more   by
  his request to me than what you say。 I clearly understand it now;
  and I will strictly fulfil my engagement by such acts of assistance
  and   kindness   to   them   as   you   have   described。   When   my   mother
  removes into another house my services shall be readily  given  to
  accommodate her as far as I can。 Some little present of furniture
  too may be acceptable then。”
  “Certainly;” returned Mrs。 John Dashwood。 “But; however; one
  thing must be considered。 When your father and mother moved to
  Norland;   though  the   furniture   of  Stanhill   was   sold; all   the   china;
  plate;   and   linen   was   saved;   and   is   now   left   to   your   mother。   Her
  house will therefore be almost completely fitted up as soon as she
  takes it。”
  “That      is  a  material     consideration        undoubtedly。        A   valuable
  legacy indeed! And yet some of the plate would have been a very
  pleasant addition to our own stock here。”
  “Yes;   and   the   set   of   breakfast   china   is   twice   as   handsome   as
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  what   belongs   to   this   house。   A   great   deal   too   handsome;   in   my
  e
  opinion; for any place th  y can ever afford to live in。 But; however;
  so it is。 Your father thought only of them。 And I must say this: that
  you owe no particular gratitude to him; nor attention to his wishes;
  for we very well know that if he could; he would have left almost
  everything in the world to them。”
  This     argument       was    irresistible。    It  gave    to   his   intentions
  whatever of decision was wanting before; and he finally resolved;
  that it would be absolutely unnecessary; if not highly indecorous;
  to   do   more   for   the   widow   and   children   of   his   father;   than   such
  kind of neighbourly acts as his own wife pointed out。
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  CHAPTER III
  rs。   Dashwood      remained     at  Norland    several   months;
  not from any disinclination to move when the sight of
  M
  every    well   known     spot   ceased    to  raise  the   violent
  emotion which it produced for a while; for when her spirits began
  to   revive;   and   her   mind   became   capable   of   some   other   exertion
  than      that    of    heightening      its    affliction    by    melancholy
  remembrances; she was impatient to be gone; and indefatigable in
  her    inquiries   for  a  suitable   dwelling    in  the  neighbourhood        of
  Norland; for to remove far from that beloved spot was impossible。
  But   she   could   hear   of   no  situation   that  at  once   answered     her
  notions of comfort and ease; and suited the prudence of her eldest
  daughter; whose steadier judgment rejected several houses as too
  large for their income; which her mother would have approved。
  Mrs。    Dashwood       had   been   informed     by  her   husband     of  the
  solemn promise on the part of his son in their favour; which gave
  comfort to his last earthly reflections。 She doubted the sincerity of
  this   assurance  no more   than   he   had   doubted   it   himself;   and   she
  thought   of  it  for  her  daughters’   sake   with   satisfaction;   though   as
  for herself she was persuaded that a much smaller provision than
  7000   l。   would   support   her   in   affluence。   For   their   brother’s   sake;
  too; for the sake of his own heart; she rejoiced; and she reproached
  herself    for  being   unjust   to  his  merit    before;   in  believing   him
  incapable of generosity。 His attentive behaviour to herself and his
  sisters convinced her that their welfare was dear to him; and; for a
  long time; she firmly relied on the liberality of his intentions。
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  The contempt which she had; very early in their acquaintance;
  felt   for  her   daughter…in…law;       was   very   much     increased     by   the
  far