第 15 节
作者:南方网      更新:2021-02-19 19:55      字数:9288
  “My protegé; as you call him; is a sensible man; and sense will
  always   have      attractions    for   me。  Yes;   Marianne;     even   in   a  man
  between   thirty   and   forty。   He   has   seen   a   great   deal   of   the   world;
  has been abroad; has read; and has a thinking mind。 I have found
  him   capable  of  giving   me   much  information   on   various   subjects;
  and he has always answered my inquiries with readiness of good…
  breeding and good nature。”
  “That is to say;” cried Marianne contemptuously;   “he   has   told
  you that in the East Indies the climate is hot; and the mosquitoes
  are troublesome。”
  “He would have told me so; I doubt  not;   had   I made   any  such
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  inquiries;   but   they   happened   to   be   points   on   which   I   had   been
  previously informed。”
  “Perhaps;”       said   Willoughby;       “his   observations      may     have
  extended to the existence of nabobs; gold mohrs; and palanquins。”
  “I   may   venture     to  say  that  his   observations     have    stretched
  much      further   than  your    candour。     But   why    should    you   dislike
  him?”
  “I do not dislike him。 I consider him; on the contrary; as a very
  respectable man; who has every body’s  good   word;   and nobody’s
  notice; who has more money than he can spend; more   time   than
  he knows how to employ; and two new coats every year。”
  “Add   to   which;”   cried   Marianne;   “that   he   has   neither   genius;
  taste;   nor   spirit。  That   his  understanding       has   no   brilliancy;   his
  feelings no ardour; and his voice no expression。”
  “You decide on his imperfections so much in the mass;” replied
  Elinor;   “and   so   much   on   the   strength   of   your   own   imagination;
  that the commendation I am able to give of him is comparatively
  cold and insipid。 I can only pronounce him to be a sensible man;
  well…bred;      well…informed;       of  gentle    address;     and;    I  believe;
  possessing an amiable heart。”
  “Miss   Dashwood;”   cried   Willoughby;   “you   are   now   using   me
  unkindly。   You  are   endeavouring  to   disarm   me   by   reason;   and   to
  convince me against my will。 But it will not do。 You shall find me
  as   stubborn     as   you   can   be  artful。   I  have   three   unanswerable
  reasons for disliking Colonel Brandon: he threatened me with rain
  when I wanted it to be fine; he has found fault with the hanging of
  my curricle; and I cannot persuade him to buy my brown mare。 If
  it will be any satisfaction to you; however; to be told; that I believe
  his character to be in other respects irreproachable; I am ready to
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  confess it。 And in return for an acknowledgment; which must give
  me some pain; you cannot deny me the privilege of disliking him
  as much as ever。”
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  CHAPTER XI
  ittle had Mrs。 Dashwood or her daughters imagined when
  they     first  came      into   Devonshire;       that    so   many
  L
  engagements would arise to occupy their time as shortly
  presented      themselves;    or  that   they  should    have   such   frequent
  invitations and such constant visitors as to leave them little leisure
  for  serious   employment。   Yet   such   was   the   case。   When   Marianne
  was   recovered;   the   schemes   of   amusement   at   home   and   abroad;
  which     Sir  John    had   been    previously    forming;     were   put   into
  execution。 The private balls at the park then began; and parties on
  the   water   were   made   and   accomplished   as   often      as  a  showery
  October would allow。 In every meeting of the kind Willoughby was
  included;   and   the   ease   and   familiarity   which   naturally   attended
  these parties were exactly calculated to give increasing intimacy to
  his acquaintance with the Dashwoods; to afford him opportunity of
  witnessing the excellencies of Marianne; of marking his animated
  admiration   of   her;   and   of   receiving;   in   her   behaviour   to   himself;
  the most pointed assurance of her affection。
  Elinor   could   not   be   surprised    at   their   attachment。   She   only
  wished     that   it   were  less  openly  shewn;    and   once   or  twice   did
  venture     to   suggest    the   propriety    of   some    self…command       to
  Marianne。 But Marianne abhorred all concealment where no real
  disgrace   could   attend   unreserve;   and   to   aim   at   the   restraint   of
  sentiments which were not in   themselves illaudable; appeared   to
  her not merely an unnecessary effort; but a disgraceful subjection
  of   reason    to  common…place       and   mistaken     notions。   Willoughby
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  thought      the   same;     and    their   behaviour      at   all  times;    was    an
  illustration of their opinions。
  When he was present she had no eyes for any  one else。   Every
  thing   he   did;   was   right。   Every   thing   he   said;   was   clever。   If   their
  evenings      at   the   park    were    concluded      with    cards;    he   cheated
  himself   and   all   the   rest   of   the   party   to   get   her   a   good   hand。   If
  dancing  formed   the   amusement  of   the   night;   they   were   partners
  for   half   the   time;   and   when   obliged   to   separate   for   a   couple   of
  dances; were careful to stand together and scarcely spoke a word
  to   any    body     else。  Such     conduct     made      them    of   course     most
  exceedingly laughed at; but ridicule could not shame; and seemed
  hardly to provoke them。
  Mrs。   Dashwood   entered   into   all   their   feelings   with   a   warmth
  which left her no inclination for checking this excessive display of
  them。     To   her   it  was    but   the  natural     consequence       of  a  strong
  affection in a young and ardent mind。
  This   was   the   season   of  happiness   to  Marianne。   Her  heart  was
  devoted      to   Willoughby;      and    the   fond    attachment       to  Norland;
  which   she   brought   with   her   from   Sussex;   was   more   likely   to   be
  softened   than   she   had   thought   it   possible   before;   by   the   charms
  which his society bestowed on her present home。
  Elinor’s happiness was not so great。 Her heart was not so much
  at   ease;   nor   her   satisfaction   in   their   amusements   so   pure。   They
  afforded her no companion that could make amends for what she
  had left behind; nor that could teach her to think of Norland with
  less regret than ever。 Neither Lady Middleton nor  Mrs。   Jennings
  could   supply   to   her   the     conversation      she   missed;   although   the
  latter  was   an   everlasting   talker;   and   from   the   first   had   regarded
  her    with    a  kindness     which     ensured     her    a  large   share    of  her
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  discourse。   She   had   already   repeated   her   own          history   to   Elinor
  three   or  four   times;   and   had   Elinor’s   memory   been   equal   to   her
  means of improvement; she might have known very early in their
  acquaintance all   the   particulars   of  Mr。   Jenning’s last  illness; and
  what     he   said   to  his  wife   a  few   minutes      before   he   died。   Lady
  Middleton       was   more     agreeable     than   her   mother     only    in  being
  more   silent。   Elinor needed   little   observation   to   perceive   that   her
  reserve   was   a   mere   calmness   of   manner   with   which   sense   had
  nothing to do。 Towards her husband and mother she was the same
  as   to   them;   and   intimacy   was   therefore   neither   to   be   looked   for
  nor desired。 She had nothing to say one day that she had not said
  the day before。 Her insipidity was invariable; for even her  spirits
  were always the same; and though she did not oppose the parties
  arranged by her husband