第 15 节
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“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