第 8 节
作者:南方网      更新:2021-02-19 19:54      字数:9301
  exceedingly   sorry   he   was   that   she   had   taken   a   house   at   such   a
  distance from Norland as to prevent his being of any service to her
  in removing her furniture。 He really felt conscientiously vexed on
  the   occasion;   for   the   very   exertion   to   which   he   had   limited   the
  performance of his promise to his father was by this arrangement
  rendered       impracticable。—The          furniture    was   all  sent   around   by
  water。   It   chiefly   consisted   of   household   linen;   plate;   china;   and
  books;     with    a  handsome       pianoforté     of   Marianne’s。      Mrs。   John
  Dashwood saw the packages depart with a sigh: she could not help
  feeling it hard that as Mrs。 Dashwood’s income would be so trifling
  in   comparison       with   their   own;   she   should     have   any   handsome
  article of furniture。
  Mrs。 Dashwood took the house for a twelvemonth; it was ready
  furnished; and she might have immediate possession。 No difficulty
  arose on either side in the agreement; and she waited only for the
  disposal   of   her   effects   at   Norland;   and   to   determine   her   future
  household;   before   she   set   off   for   the   west;   and   this;   as   she   was
  exceedingly        rapid    in   the    performance        of   every    thing     that
  interested her; was soon done。—The horses which were left her by
  her     husband      had    been     sold   soon     after   his   death;    and     an
  opportunity now offering of disposing of her carriage; she agreed
  to  sell   that likewise   at  the  earnest  advice   of   her   eldest   daughter。
  For the comfort of her children;  had she  consulted  only  her  own
  wishes;     she    would    have    kept    it;  but   the   discretion    of   Elinor
  prevailed。 Her wisdom too limited the number of their servants to
  three;    two    maids    and    a  man;     with   whom      they   were    speedily
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  provided from amongst those who had formed their establishment
  at Norland。
  The man and one of the maids were   sent  off  immediately  into
  Devonshire; to prepare the house for their mistress’s arrival; for as
  Lady   Middleton        was   entirely   unknown       to  Mrs。   Dashwood;       she
  preferred going directly to the cottage to being a visitor at Barton
  Park; and she relied so undoubtingly on Sir John’s description of
  the   house;   as   to   feel   no   curiosity   to   examine   it   herself  till   she
  entered it as her own。 Her eagerness to be gone from Norland was
  preserved      from    diminution      by   the   evident    satisfaction    of   her
  daughter…in…law        in  the   prospect     of  her   removal;    a   satisfaction
  which   was     but   feebly   attempted      to  be  concealed     under     a  cold
  invitation to her to defer her departure。   Now  was   the   time   when
  her    son…in…law’s     promise      to  his   father   might     with   particular
  propriety   be     fulfilled。  Since    he  had   neglected     to  do   it  on  first
  coming to the estate; their quitting his house might be looked on
  as   the   most    suitable    period    for  its  accomplishment。        But   Mrs。
  Dashwood began shortly to give over every hope of the kind; and
  to   be   convinced;   from   the   general   drift   of   his   discourse;   that   his
  assistance      extended     no   farther   than   their   maintenance       for  six
  months      at  Norland。     He   so   frequently    talked    of  the   increasing
  expenses of housekeeping; and of the perpetual demands upon his
  purse; which a man of any consequence in the world was beyond
  calculation exposed to; that he seemed rather to stand in need of
  more   money   himself        than   to   have   any   design   of  giving   money
  away。
  In   a  very   few   weeks    from    the  day   which     brought    Sir   John
  Middleton’s first letter to Norland; every thing was so far settled in
  their future abode as to enable Mrs。 Dashwood and her daughters
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  to begin their journey。
  Many were the tears shed by them in their last adieus to a place
  so   much   beloved。   “Dear;   dear   Norland!”   said   Marianne;   as   she
  wandered   alone   before        the   house;   on   the  last  evening     of  their
  being there; “when shall I cease to regret you!—when learn to feel
  a   home   elsewhere!—Oh!   happy   house;   could   you   know              what    I
  suffer in now viewing you from this spot; from whence perhaps I
  may view you no more!—And you; ye well…known trees!—but you
  will   continue     the   same。—No        leaf   will  decay    because     we    are
  removed;      nor   any   branch   become       motionless      although    we   can
  observe      you    no    longer!—No;        you    will   continue     the    same;
  unconscious        of  the   pleasure    or   the   regret   you    occasion;    and
  insensible of any change   in  those   who  walk   under  your  shade!—
  But who will remain to enjoy you?”
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  CHAPTER VI
  he    first  part   of  their   journey     was    performed      in   too
  melancholy a disposition to be otherwise than tedious and
  T
  unpleasant。 But as they drew towards the end of it; their
  interest in the appearance of a country which they were to inhabit
  overcame       their   dejection;   and   a  view   of  Barton     Valley   as  they
  entered   it  gave   them   cheerfulness。   It   was   a   pleasant   fertile   spot;
  well wooded; and rich in pasture。 After winding along it for more
  than   a   mile;   they   reached   their   own   house。   A   small   green   court
  was   the   whole   of   its   demesne   in   front;   and   a   neat   wicket   gate
  admitted them into it。
  As a house; Barton Cottage; though small; was comfortable and
  compact;   but   as   a   cottage   it   was   defective;   for   the   building   was
  regular; the roof was tiled; the window shutters were not painted
  green;   nor   were   the   walls   covered   with   honeysuckles。   A   narrow
  passage led directly through the house into the garden behind。 On
  each   side   of   the   entrance   was   a   sitting   room;   about   sixteen   feet
  square;   and   beyond   them   were   the   offices   and   the   stairs。   Four
  bed…rooms and two garrets formed the rest of the house。 It had not
  been built  many  years and   was in   good   repair。   In  comparison   of
  Norland;      it  was   poor   and    small   indeed!—but       the   tears   which
  recollection called forth as they entered the house were soon dried
  away。     They    were    cheered    by   the   joy  of  the   servants    on   their
  arrival;   and   each   for   the   sake   of   the   others   resolved   to   appear
  happy。   It  was   very  early  in   September;   the   season   was   fine;   and
  from first seeing the place under the advantage of good   weather;
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  they   received   an   impression   in   its   favour   which   was   of   material
  service in recommending it to their lasting approbation。
  The     situation     of   the   house      was    good。     High    hills   rose
  immediately behind; and at no great distance on each side; some
  of which were open downs; the others cultivated and woody。 The
  village  of  Barton   was   chiefly   on   one   of   these   hills;   and   formed   a
  pleasant view from the cottage windows。 The prospect in front was
  more      extensive;    it  commanded         the   whole    of   the   valley;   and
  reached into the country beyond。 The hills which surrounded the
  cottage     terminated      the   valley   in  that  direction;    under     another
  name; and in another course; it branched out again   between  two
  of the steepest of them。
  With   the   size   and   furniture   of   the   house   Mrs。   Dashwood   was
  upon   the  whole  well satisfied;   for   though   her   former   style   of   life
  rendered   many   additions   to   the   latter   indispensable;   yet   to   add
  and improve was a delight to her; and she had