第 5 节
作者:南方网      更新:2021-02-19 19:54      字数:9272
  felt   for  her   daughter…in…law;       was   very   much     increased     by   the
  farther knowledge of her character; which half a year’s residence
  in her family afforded; and perhaps in spite of every consideration
  of  politeness   or  maternal   affection   on   the   side  of   the   former;   the
  two ladies might have found it impossible to have lived together so
  long;    had   not   a  particular    circumstance       occurred     to  give   still
  greater eligibility; according to the opinions of Mrs。 Dashwood; to
  her daughters’ continuance at Norland。
  This    circumstance       was   a   growing     attachment      between      her
  eldest girl and the brother of Mrs。 John Dashwood; a gentleman…
  like    and    pleasing    young     man;    who     was   introduced      to   their
  acquaintance soon after his sister’s establishment at Norland; and
  who had since spent the greatest part of his time there。
  Some      mothers     might     have    encouraged       the   intimacy     from
  motives   of   interest;   for   Edward   Ferrars   was   the   eldest   son   of   a
  man   who   had   died   very   rich;   and   some   might   have   repressed   it
  from motives of prudence; for; except a trifling sum; the whole of
  his    fortune    depended       on   the   will   of  his   mother。     But    Mrs。
  Dashwood was alike uninfluenced by either consideration。 It was
  enough for her that he appeared to be amiable; that he loved her
  daughter; and that Elinor returned the partiality。 It was contrary
  to   every   doctrine   of   her’s   that   difference   of   fortune   should   keep
  any     couple    asunder      who    were    attracted     by   resemblance        of
  disposition;   and   that   Elinor’s   merit   should   not   be   acknowledged
  by every one who knew her; was to her comprehension impossible。
  Edward Ferrars was not recommended to their good opinion by
  any peculiar graces of person   or  address。   He  was  not  handsome;
  and   his   manners   required   intimacy   to   make   them   pleasing。   He
  Classics in Literature: Jane Austen                                          ElecBook
  … Page 21…
  Jane Austen: Sense and Sensibility                         21
  was   too   diffident   to   do   justice   to   himself;   but   when   his   natural
  shyness was overcome; his behaviour gave every indication of an
  open;     affectionate    heart。   His   understanding        was   good;    and   his
  education      had   given    it   solid  improvement。      But   he   was   neither
  fitted    by  abilities   nor   disposition     to  answer     the   wishes    of  his
  mother and sister; who longed to see him distinguished—as—they
  hardly knew what。 They wanted him to make a fine figure in the
  world in some manner or other。 His mother wished to interest him
  in   political   concerns;   to   get   him   into   parliament;   or   to   see   him
  connected       with   some    of  the   great   men    of  the   day。   Mrs。   John
  Dashwood   wished   it   likewise;   but   in   the   mean   while;   till   one   of
  these superior blessings could be attained; it would   have   quieted
  her ambition to see him driving a  barouche。   But  Edward   had no
  turn     for  great    men    or   barouches。      All  his   wishes    centred     in
  domestic comfort and the quiet of private life。 Fortunately he had
  a younger brother who was more promising。
  Edward had been staying several weeks in the house before he
  engaged much of Mrs。 Dashwood’s attention; for she was; at that
  time;   in   such   affliction   as   rendered   her   careless   of   surrounding
  objects。 She saw only that he was quiet and unobtrusive; and she
  liked him for it。 He did not disturb the wretchedness of her mind
  by    ill…timed   conversation。      She    was   first  called   to  observe     and
  approve him farther; by a reflection which Elinor chanced one day
  to   make   on   the   difference   between   him   and   his   sister。   It   was   a
  contrast which recommended him most forcibly to her mother。
  “It   is  enough;”    said   she;   “to   say   that  he  is  unlike   Fanny     is
  enough。 It implies everything amiable。 I love him already。”
  “I think you will like him;” said Elinor; “when you know more
  of him。”
  Classics in Literature: Jane Austen                                           ElecBook
  … Page 22…
  Jane Austen: Sense and Sensibility                         22
  “Like     him!”    replied   her    mother     with   a   smile。   “I  feel   no
  sentiment of approbation inferior to love。”
  “You may esteem him。”
  “I   have   never   yet   known   what   it   was   to   separate   esteem   and
  love。”
  Mrs。 Dashwood now took pains to get acquainted with him。 Her
  manners       were    attaching;    and   soon    banished     his  reserve。    She
  speedily comprehended all his merits; the persuasion of his regard
  for   Elinor   perhaps   assisted     her   penetration;   but   she    really   felt
  assured   of   his   worth:   and   even   that   quietness   of   manner;   which
  militated against all her established ideas of what  a   young  man’s
  address ought to be; was no longer uninteresting when she knew
  his heart to be warm and his temper affectionate。
  No    sooner     did  she    perceive    any    symptom      of   love   in  his
  behaviour to Elinor; than she considered their serious attachment
  as    certain;   and    looked    forward     to  their   marriage     as   rapidly
  approaching。
  “In a few months; my dear Marianne;” said she; “Elinor will; in
  all probability be settled for life。 We shall miss her; but she will be
  happy。”
  “Oh! mama; how shall we do without her?”
  “My love; it will be scarcely a separation。 We shall live within a
  few miles of each other; and shall meet every day of our lives。 You
  will gain a brother; a real; affectionate brother。 I have the highest
  opinion     in   the  world    of  Edward’s      heart。   But   you   look   grave;
  Marianne; do you disapprove your sister’s choice?”
  “Perhaps;”       said   Marianne;      “I  may    consider     it  with   some
  surprise。   Edward   is   very   amiable;   and   I   love   him   tenderly。   But
  yet—he       is  not   the   kind    of  young     man—there        is  something
  Classics in Literature: Jane Austen                                         ElecBook
  … Page 23…
  Jane Austen: Sense and Sensibility                           23
  wanting—his figure is not striking; it has none of that grace which
  I should expect in the man who  could   seriously  attach my  sister。
  His   eyes   want   all   that   spirit;   that   fire;   which   at   once   announce
  virtue and intelligence。 And besides all this; I am afraid; mama; he
  has no real taste。 Music seems scarcely to attract him; and though
  he admires Elinor’s drawings very much; it is not the admiration
  of a person who can understand their worth。 It is evident; in spite
  of   his   frequent   attention   to   her   while   she   draws;   that   in   fact   he
  knows   nothing   of   the      matter。    He    admires     as  a  lover;   not   as  a
  connoisseur。       To   satisfy   me;   those   characters   must   be       united。    I
  could not be happy with a man whose taste did not in every point
  coincide   with   my   own。   He   must   enter   into   all   my   feelings;   the
  same books; the same music must charm us both。 Oh! mama; how
  spiritless;   how   tame   was   Edward’s   manner   in   reading   to   us   last
  night!   I   felt   for   my   sister   most   severely。   Yet   she   bore   it   with   so
  much composure; she seemed scarcely to notice it。 I could hardly
  keep my seat。 To hear those beautiful lines which have frequently
  almost      driven    me     wild;   pronounced        with    such    impenetrable
  calmness; such dreadful indifference!”—
  “He     would    certainly     have   done     more    justice   to   simple    and
  elegant   prose。   I   thought   so   at   the   time;   but   you would   give   him
  Cowper。”
  “Nay; mama; if   he   is   not   to   be   animated   by   Cowper!—but   we
  must allow for difference of taste。 Elinor has not my feelings; and
  therefore   she   may   overlook         it;  and  be   happy     with   him。    But   it
  would have broke my heart; had I loved him; to hear him read with
  so little sensibility。 Mama; the more I know of the world; the more
  am   I   convinced   that   I   shall   never   see   a   man   whom   I   can   really
  love。   I   require   so  much!  He must  have   all   Edward’s   virtues;   and
  Classics in Literature: Jane Austen                                             ElecBook
  …