第 7 节
作者:南方网      更新:2021-02-19 19:54      字数:9310
  genius as to learn to draw himself; how delightful it would be!”
  Elinor  had   given  her  real   opinion   to   her   sister。   She   could   not
  consider   her   partiality   for   Edward   in   so   prosperous   a         state   as
  Marianne   had   believed   it。   There   was;   at   times;   a   want   of   spirits
  about      him    which;    if  it  did   not   denote     indifference;      spoke    a
  something        almost     as   unpromising。        A    doubt     of   her   regard;
  supposing him to feel it; need not give him more than inquietude。
  It   would   not   be   likely   to   produce   that   dejection   of   mind   which
  frequently attended him。 A more reasonable cause might be found
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  in   the   dependent   situation      which   forbad     the   indulgence     of  his
  affection。 She knew that his mother neither behaved to him so as
  to   make   his   home   comfortable   at   present;   nor   to   give   him   any
  assurance that he might form a home for himself; without strictly
  attending      to  her   views    for   his  aggrandisement。         With    such   a
  knowledge as this; it was impossible for Elinor to feel easy on the
  subject。     She    was    far  from    depending       on   that   result    of  his
  preference of her; which her mother and sister still considered as
  certain。   Nay;     the  longer   they   were    together    the   more    doubtful
  seemed the nature of his regard; and sometimes; for a few painful
  minutes; she believed it to be no more than friendship。
  But;   whatever   might   really   be   its   limits;   it   was   enough;   when
  perceived by his sister; to make her uneasy; and at the same time;
  (which was still more common;) to make her uncivil。 She took the
  first opportunity of affronting her mother…in…law on the   occasion;
  talking to her so expressively of her brother’s great expectations;
  of Mrs。 Ferrars’s resolution that both her sons should marry well;
  and of the danger attending any young woman who attempted to
  draw     him   in;  that   Mrs。   Dashwood      could    neither   pretend     to  be
  unconscious; nor endeavour  to  be  calm。 She  gave  her  an  answer
  which marked her contempt; and instantly left the room; resolving
  that;    whatever     might    be   the   inconvenience       or   expense     of  so
  sudden      a  removal;     her   beloved    Elinor    should    not   be  exposed
  another week to such insinuations。
  In this state of her spirits; a letter was delivered to her from the
  post;   which   contained   a   proposal   particularly   well   timed。   It   was
  the   offer   of   a  small  house;   on   very   easy   terms;   belonging   to   a
  relation of her own; a gentleman of consequence and property in
  Devonshire。       The    letter  was    from    this  gentleman      himself;    and
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  written      in   the    true    spirit    of   friendly     accommodation。          He
  understood   that   she   was   in   need   of   a   dwelling;   and   though   the
  house   he   now   offered   her   was   merely   a   cottage;   he   assured   her
  that    everything      should     be   done    to  it  which     she   might     think
  necessary;   if  the   situation   pleased   her。   He   earnestly  pressed   her;
  after giving the particulars of the house and garden; to come with
  her daughters to Barton Park; the place of his own residence; from
  whence she might judge; herself; whether Barton Cottage; for the
  houses were in the same parish; could; by any alteration; be made
  comfortable   to   her。      He   seemed      really   anxious     to   accommodate
  them and the whole of his letter was written in so friendly a style
  as could not fail of giving pleasure to his cousin; more especially at
  a   moment   when   she   was   suffering   under   the   cold   and   unfeeling
  behaviour       of  her   nearer     connections。      She   needed      no   time   for
  deliberation   or   inquiry。   Her   resolution   was   formed   as   she   read。
  The situation of Barton; in a county so far distant from Sussex as
  Devonshire;   which;   but   a   few   hours   before;   would   have   been   a
  sufficient      objection      to    outweigh       every     possible     advantage
  belonging to the place; was now its first recommendation。 To quit
  the   neighbourhood   of   Norland   was   no   longer   an   evil;   it   was   an
  object of desire; it was a blessing; in comparison of the misery of
  continuing   her   daughter…in…law’s   guest;   and   to   remove   for   ever
  from   that  beloved   place   would   be   less   painful   than   to   inhabit   or
  visit it while such  a   woman   was   its mistress。   She instantly  wrote
  Sir John Middleton her acknowledgment of his kindness; and her
  acceptance of his proposal; and then hastened to shew both letters
  to   her   daughters;   that   she   might   be   secure   of   their   approbation
  before her answer were sent。
  Elinor had always thought it would be more prudent for  them
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  to    settle   at  some     distance     from    Norland;      than    immediately
  amongst   their   present   acquaintance。   On  that   head;   therefore;   it
  was not for her to oppose her mother’s intention of removing into
  Devonshire。 The house; too;   as described by  Sir  John;   was   on   so
  simple a scale; and the rent so uncommonly moderate; as to leave
  her no right of objection on either point; and; therefore; though it
  was   not  a  plan  which  brought  any  charm   to  her  fancy;   though  it
  was a removal from the vicinity of Norland beyond her wishes; she
  made no attempt to dissuade her mother from sending a letter of
  acquiescence。
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  CHAPTER V
  o    sooner     was     her   answer      dispatched;      than    Mrs。
  Dashwood          indulged      herself     in   the    pleasure      of
  Nannouncing to her son…in…law and his wife that she was
  provided   with   a   house;   and   should   incommode   them   no   longer
  than till every thing were ready for her inhabiting it。 They heard
  her    with   surprise。   Mrs。    John   Dashwood       said   nothing;    but   her
  husband       civilly  hoped    that  she   would    not   be   settled   far  from
  Norland。 She had great satisfaction in replying that she was going
  into Devonshire。—Edward turned hastily towards her; on hearing
  this;   and;   in   a   voice   of   surprise   and   concern;   which   required   no
  explanation to her; repeated; “Devonshire! Are you; indeed; going
  there? So far from hence! And to what part of it?” She explained
  the situation。 It was within four miles northward of Exeter。
  “It is but a cottage;” she continued; “but I hope to see many of
  my   friends   in   it。   A   room   or   two   can   easily   be   added;   and   if   my
  friends find no difficulty in travelling so far to see me; I am sure I
  will find none in accommodating them。”
  She concluded with a very kind invitation to Mr。 and Mrs。 John
  Dashwood to visit her at Barton; and to Edward she gave one with
  still  greater    affection。    Though     her   late  conversation      with    her
  daughter…in…law had made her resolve on remaining at Norland no
  longer   than   was   unavoidable;   it   had   not   produced   the   smallest
  effect    on  her   in  that   point   to  which    it  principally    tended。   To
  separate   Edward and   Elinor  was   as   far  from   being  her   object   as
  ever; and she wished to shew Mrs。 John Dashwood by this pointed
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  invitation      to   her   brother;     how     totally    she    disregarded      her
  disapprobation of the match。
  Mr。    John    Dashwood        told  his   mother     again    and   again    how
  exceedingly   sorry   he   was   that   she   had   taken   a   house   at   such   a
  distance from Norland as to prevent his being of any