第 16 节
作者:南方网      更新:2021-02-19 19:55      字数:9275
  were always the same; and though she did not oppose the parties
  arranged by her husband; provided every thing were conducted in
  style and her two eldest children attended her; she never appeared
  to   receive     more    enjoyment       from    them     than    she   might     have
  experienced in sitting at home;—and so little did her presence add
  to the pleasure   of   the   others;   by  any  share   in   their  conversation;
  that   they   were   sometimes   only   reminded   of   her   being   amongst
  them by her solicitude about her troublesome boys。
  In   Colonel    Brandon   alone;       of  all  her   new   acquaintance;       did
  Elinor find a person who could in any degree claim the respect of
  abilities;   excite   the   interest   of   friendship;   or   give   pleasure   as   a
  companion。   Willoughby   was   out   of   the   question。   Her   admiration
  and regard; even her sisterly regard; was all his own; but he was a
  lover;    his   attentions     were    wholly     Marianne’s;      and    a  far   less
  agreeable man might have been more generally pleasing。 Colonel
  Brandon;   unfortunately   for   himself;   had   no  such   encouragement
  to think only of Marianne; and in conversing with Elinor he found
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  the greatest consolation for the indifference of her sister。
  Elinor’s   compassion   for   him   increased;   as   she   had   reason   to
  suspect   that   the    misery   of   disappointed   love      had   already   been
  known   to   him。   This   suspicion   was   given   by   some   words   which
  accidentally dropped from him one evening at the park; when they
  were   sitting   down   together   by   mutual   consent;   while   the   others
  were     dancing。     His   eyes   were    fixed   on   Marianne;     and;    after  a
  silence of some minutes; he said; with a faint smile; “Your sister; I
  understand; does not approve of second attachments。”
  “No;” replied Elinor; “her opinions are all romantic。”
  “Or rather; as I believe; she considers them impossible to exist。”
  “I believe she does。 But how she contrives it without reflecting
  on the character of her own father; who had himself two wives; I
  know   not。   A   few   years   however   will   settle   her   opinions   on   the
  reasonable basis of common sense and observation; and then they
  may  be more   easy  to  define and   to  justify  than   they  now  are;   by
  any body but herself。”
  “This   will   probably  be   the   case;”  he   replied;   “and  yet   there   is
  something so amiable in the prejudices of a young mind; that one
  is   sorry   to   see   them   give   way   to   the   reception   of   more   general
  opinions。”
  “I   cannot     agree    with   you    there;”    said   Elinor。    “There     are
  inconveniences   attending   such   feelings   as   Marianne’s;   which   all
  the charms of enthusiasm and ignorance of the world cannot atone
  for。   Her    systems    have    all  the   unfortunate      tendency     of  setting
  propriety at nought; and a better  acquaintance   with  the   world   is
  what I look forward to as her greatest possible advantage。”
  After a short pause he resumed the conversation by saying—
  “Does your sister make no distinction in her objections against
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  a second attachment? or is it equally criminal in every body? Are
  those   who   have   been   disappointed   in   their   first   choice;   whether
  from      the   inconstancy        of   its  object;     or   the   perverseness        of
  circumstances;   to   be   equally   indifferent   during   the   rest   of   their
  lives?”
  “Upon my  word;   I   am not  acquainted   with  the   minutia   of   her
  principles。      I  only   know     that   I  never    yet   heard    her   admit     any
  instance of a second attachment’s being pardonable。”
  “This;”   said   he;   “cannot   hold;   but   a   change;   a   total   change   of
  sentiments—No;           no;   do   not   desire    it;—for     when     the   romantic
  refinements        of   a  young      mind     are   obliged     to   give   way;    how
  frequently   are   they   succeeded   by   such   opinions   as   are   but   too
  common;        and    too   dangerous!      I  speak     from    experience。      I  once
  knew   a   lady   who   in      temper     and    mind    greatly    resembled       your
  sister; who thought and judged like her; but who from an inforced
  change—from   a          series   of  unfortunate   circumstances”—Here                 he
  stopt suddenly; appeared to think that he had said too much; and
  by    his   countenance       gave    rise   to  conjectures;      which     might    not
  otherwise   have   entered   Elinor’s   head。   The   lady   would   probably
  have      passed     without      suspicion;     had     he   not    convinced       Miss
  Dashwood   that  what  concerned   her  ought  not  to   escape   his   lips。
  As   it   was;   it   required   but   a   slight   effort   of   fancy   to   connect   his
  emotion       with    the    tender     recollection      of   past    regard。     Elinor
  attempted no  more。   But   Marianne;   in   her   place;   would   not   have
  done so little。  The  whole  story  would   have been   speedily  formed
  under  her  active   imagination; and   every   thing   established   in   the
  most melancholy order of disastrous love。
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  CHAPTER XII
  s   Elinor   and   Marianne   were   walking   together   the   next
  Amorning the latter communicated a piece of news   to  her
  sister;    which    in   spite  of   all  that  she    knew    before    of
  Marianne’s imprudence and want of thought; surprised her by its
  extravagant       testimony      of   both。   Marianne       told   her;   with    the
  greatest delight; that Willoughby had given her  a  horse;   one   that
  he had bred himself on his estate in Somersetshire; and which was
  exactly  calculated   to   carry   a   woman。   Without   considering   that   it
  was not in her mother’s plan to keep any horse; that if she were to
  alter her resolution in favour of this gift; she must buy another for
  the   servant;   and   keep   a   servant   to   ride   it;   and   after   all;   build   a
  stable    to   receive   them;    she   had    accepted     the   present    without
  hesitation; and told her sister of it in raptures。
  “He intends to send his groom into Somersetshire immediately
  for it;” she added; “and when it arrives we will ride every day。 You
  shall   share its   use   with  me。   Imagine  to  yourself;   my   dear   Elinor;
  the delight of a gallop on some of these downs。”
  Most unwilling was she to awaken from such a dream of felicity
  to comprehend all the   unhappy  truths   which  attended   the   affair;
  and     for  some    time    she   refused    to  submit     to  them。    As   to   an
  additional servant;   the   expense   would  be a   trifle;   mama   she   was
  sure would never object to it; and any horse would do for him; he
  might always get one at the park; as to a stable; the   merest  shed
  would be sufficient。 Elinor then ventured to doubt the propriety of
  her   receiving   such   a   present   from   a   man   so   little;   or   at   least   so
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  lately known to her。 This was too much。
  “You   are   mistaken;   Elinor;”   said   she   warmly;   “in   supposing   I
  know very little of Willoughby。 I have not known him long indeed;
  but   I   am   much   better   acquainted   with   him;   than   I   am   with   any
  other  creature   in   the   world;   except   yourself  and   mama。   It   is   not
  time     or    opportunity       that    is  to   determine       intimacy;—it        is
  disposition alone。 Seven years would be insufficient to make some
  people acquainted with each other; and seven days are more than
  enough       for   others。    I   should     hold    myself     guilty    of  greater
  impropriety       in  accepting      a  horse    from   my    brother;    than    from
  Willoughby。       Of   John    I