第 14 节
作者:南方网      更新:2021-02-19 19:55      字数:9277
  concluded;        they    conversed       with    the   familiarity     of   a   long…
  established acquaintance。
  “Well; Marianne;” said Elinor; as soon as he had left them; “for
  one morning I think you have done pretty well。 You have already
  ascertained   Mr。   Willoughby’s   opinion   in   almost   every   matter   of
  importance。   You  know  what  he   thinks   of  Cowper   and   Scott;   you
  are   certain   of  his   estimating  their   beauties   as   he   ought;   and   you
  have received every assurance of his admiring Pope no more than
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  is   proper。   But   how   is   your   acquaintance   to   be   long   supported;
  under such extraordinary despatch of every subject for discourse?
  You     will  soon    have    exhausted      each    favourite    topic。   Another
  meeting      will  suffice   to   explain    his  sentiments      on   picturesque
  beauty;   and   second   marriages;   and   then        you   can   have    nothing
  farther to ask。”—
  “Elinor;” cried Marianne; “is this fair? is this just? are my ideas
  so scanty? But I see what you mean。 I have been too much at my
  ease;   too   happy;   too   frank。   I   have   erred   against   every   common…
  place   notion   of   decorum;   I   have   been   open   and   sincere   where   I
  ought to have been reserved; spiritless; dull; and deceitful:—had I
  talked only of the   weather  and   the   roads; and   had I   spoken   only
  once in ten minutes; this reproach would have been spared。”
  “My   love;”   said   her   mother;   “you   must   not   be   offended   with
  Elinor—she was only in jest。 I should scold her myself; if she were
  capable of wishing to check the delight of your conversation with
  our new friend。”—Marianne was softened in a moment。
  Willoughby; on his side; gave every proof of his pleasure in their
  acquaintance;   which an evident  wish  of   improving   it   could   offer。
  He came to them every day。 To enquire after Marianne was at first
  his excuse; but the encouragement of his reception; to which every
  day    gave    greater   kindness;     made     such   an   excuse    unnecessary
  before     it  had    ceased    to   be   possible;    by   Marianne’s       perfect
  recovery。 She was confined for some days to the house; but never
  had any confinement been less irksome。 Willoughby was a young
  man   of  good   abilities;   quick imagination; lively  spirits; and   open;
  affectionate       manners。       He    was     exactly     formed      to   engage
  Marianne’s heart; for with all this; he joined not only a captivating
  person; but a natural ardour of mind which was now roused and
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  increased   by   the   example   of   her   own;   and   which   recommended
  him to her affection beyond every thing else。
  His    society   became      gradually   her   most     exquisite    enjoyment。
  They   read;   they   talked;   they   sang   together;       his   musical    talents
  were considerable; and   he   read   with all   the   sensibility  and   spirit
  which Edward had unfortunately wanted。
  In   Mrs。    Dashwood’s        estimation      he   was    as   faultless    as  in
  Marianne’s;       and    Elinor    saw   nothing     to  censure     in  him    but   a
  propensity;       in   which     he    strongly     resembled       and    peculiarly
  delighted her sister; of saying too much what he thought on every
  occasion; without attention to persons or circumstances。 In hastily
  forming      and    giving   his   opinion    of  other    people;    in  sacrificing
  general politeness to the enjoyment of undivided attention where
  his   heart   was   engaged;   and   in   slighting   too   easily   the   forms   of
  worldly   propriety;   he   displayed   a   want   of   caution   which   Elinor
  could not approve; in spite of all that he and Marianne could say in
  its support。
  Marianne   began   now   to   perceive   that   the   desperation   which
  had   seized   her   at   sixteen   and   a   half;   of   ever   seeing   a   man   who
  could      satisfy   her    ideas    of   perfection;      had    been     rash    and
  unjustifiable。 Willoughby was all that her fancy had delineated in
  that   unhappy   hour   and   in   every   brighter   period;   as   capable   of
  attaching her; and his behaviour declared his wishes to be in that
  respect as earnest; as his abilities were strong。
  Her mother too; in whose mind not one speculative thought of
  their marriage had been raised; by his prospect of riches; was led
  before   the   end   of   a   week   to   hope   and   expect   it;   and   secretly   to
  congratulate       herself   on   having     gained    two   such    sons…in…law     as
  Edward and Willoughby。
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  Colonel Brandon’s partiality for  Marianne;   which  had   so  early
  been   discovered   by   his   friends;   now   first   became   perceptible   to
  Elinor; when it ceased to be noticed by them。 Their attention and
  wit   were   drawn   off   to   his   more   fortunate   rival;   and   the   raillery
  which      the  other   had    incurred    before    any   partiality    arose;   was
  removed when his feelings began really to call for the ridicule so
  justly     annexed      to    sensibility。    Elinor     was     obliged;    though
  unwillingly;   to   believe   that   the   sentiments   which   Mrs。   Jennings
  had     assigned    him    for  her   own    satisfaction;    were    now    actually
  excited by her sister; and that however a general resemblance   of
  disposition between the parties might forward the affection of Mr。
  Willoughby;   an   equally   striking   opposition   of        character   was     no
  hindrance       to  the   regard    of  Colonel    Brandon。      She   saw    it  with
  concern; for what could a silent man of five and thirty hope; when
  opposed to a very lively one of five and twenty? and as she could
  not even wish him successful; she heartily wished him indifferent。
  She   liked   him—in   spite   of  his   gravity  and   reserve;   she beheld   in
  him an object of interest。 His manners; though serious; were mild;
  and his reserve appeared rather the result of some oppression of
  spirits   than   of   any   natural   gloominess   of   temper。   Sir   John   had
  dropped       hints    of   past   injuries    and     disappointments;        which
  justified    her   belief   of  his  being    an   unfortunate      man;    and   she
  regarded him with respect and compassion。
  Perhaps she pitied and esteemed him the more because he was
  slighted   by   Willoughby        and   Marianne;      who;   prejudiced      against
  him     for   being    neither    lively   nor   young;     seemed     resolved     to
  undervalue his merits。
  “Brandon   is   just   the   kind   of   man;”   said   Willoughby   one   day;
  when they were talking of him together; “whom every body speaks
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  well   of;   and   nobody   cares   about;   whom   all   are   delighted   to   see;
  and nobody remembers to talk to。”
  “That is exactly what I think of him;” cried Marianne。
  “Do not boast of it; however;” said Elinor; “for it is injustice in
  both  of  you。   He   is   highly  esteemed   by all   the   family   at   the   park;
  and I never see him myself without taking pains to converse with
  him。”
  “That he is patronised by you;” replied Willoughby; “is certainly
  in his favour; but as for the esteem of the others; it is a reproach in
  itself。   Who   would   submit   to   the   indignity   of   being   approved   by
  such  a   woman as   Lady  Middleton and   Mrs。   Jennings;   that   could
  command the indifference of any body else?”
  “But     perhaps     the   abuse     of  such    people     as   yourself    and
  Marianne will make amends for the regard of Lady Middleton and
  her mother。 If their praise is censure; your censure may be praise;
  for they are not more undiscerning; than you are   prejudiced and
  unjust。”
  “In defence of your protegé you can even be saucy。”
  “My protegé; as you call him; is a sensible man; and sense will
  always   have