第 19 节
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was agreed; that although happiness could only be enjoyed at
Whitwell; they might procure a tolerable composure of mind by
driving about the country。 The carriages were then ordered;
Willoughby’s was first; and Marianne never looked happier than
when she got into it。 He drove through the park very fast; and they
were soon out of sight; and nothing more of them was seen till
their return; which did not happen till after the return of all the
rest。 They both seemed delighted with their drive; but said only in
general terms that they had kept in the lanes; while the others
went on the downs。
It was settled that there should be a dance in the evening; and
that every body should be extremely merry all day long。 Some
more of the Careys came to dinner; and they had the pleasure of
sitting down nearly twenty to table; which Sir John observed with
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great contentment。 Willoughby took his usual place between the
two elder Miss Dashwoods。 Mrs。 Jennings sat on Elinor’s right
hand; and they had not been long seated; before she leant behind
her and Willoughby; and said to Marianne; loud enough for them
both to hear; “I have found you out in spite of all your tricks。 I
know where you spent the morning。”
Marianne coloured; and replied very hastily; “Where; pray?”—
“Did not you know;” said Willoughby; “that we had been out in
my curricle?”
“Yes; yes; Mr。 Impudence; I know that very well; and I was
determined to find out where you had been to。—I hope you like
your house; Miss Marianne。 It is a very large one; I know; and
when I come to see you; I hope you will have new…furnished it; for
it wanted it very much; when I was there six years ago。”
Marianne turned away in great confusion。 Mrs。 Jennings
laughed heartily; and Elinor found that in her resolution to know
where they had been; she had actually made her own woman
enquire of Mr。 Willoughby’s groom; and that she had by that
method been informed that they had gone to Allenham; and spent
a considerable time there in walking about the garden and going
all over the house。
Elinor could hardly believe this to be true; as it seemed very
unlikely that Willoughby should propose; or Marianne consent; to
enter the house while Mrs。 Smith was in it; with whom Marianne
had not the smallest acquaintance。
As soon as they left the dining…room; Elinor enquired of her
about it; and great was her surprise when she found that every
circumstance related by Mrs。 Jennings was perfectly true。
Marianne was quite angry with her for doubting it。
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“Why should you imagine; Elinor; that we did not go there; or
that we did not see the house? Is not it what you have often
wished to do yourself?”
“Yes; Marianne; but I would not go while Mrs。 Smith was there;
and with no other companion than Mr。 Willoughby。”
“Mr。 Willoughby however is the only person who can have a
right to shew that house; and as he went in an open carriage; it
was impossible to have any other companion。 I never spent a
pleasanter morning in my life。”
“I am afraid;” replied Elinor; “that the pleasantness of an
employment does not always evince its propriety。”
“On the contrary; nothing can be a stronger proof of it; Elinor;
for if there had been any real impropriety in what I did; I should
have been sensible of it at the time; for we always know when we
are acting wrong; and with such a conviction I could have had no
pleasure。”
“But; my dear Marianne; as it has already exposed you to some
very impertinent remarks; do you not now begin to doubt the
discretion of your own conduct?”
“If the impertinent remarks of Mrs。 Jennings are to be the proof
of impropriety in conduct; we are all offending every moment of
our lives。 I value not her censure any more than I should do her
commendation。 I am not sensible of having done anything wrong
in walking over Mrs。 Smith’s grounds; or in seeing her house。
They will one day be Mr。 Willoughby’s; and—”
“If they were one day to be your own; Marianne; you would not
be justified in what you have done。”
She blushed at this hint; but it was even visibly gratifying to
her; and after a ten minutes’ interval of earnest thought; she came
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to her sister again; and said with great good humour; “Perhaps;
Elinor; it was rather ill…judged in me to go to Allenham; but Mr。
Willoughby wanted particularly to shew me the place; and it is a
charming house; I assure you。—There is one remarkably pretty
sitting room up stairs; of a nice comfortable size for constant use;
and with modern furniture it would be delightful。 It is a corner
room; and has windows on two sides。 On one side you look across
the bowling…green; behind the house; to a beautiful hanging wood;
and on the other you have a view of the church and village; and;
beyond them; of those fine bold hills that we have so often
admired。 I did not see it to advantage; for nothing could be more
forlorn than the furniture;—but if it were newly fitted up—a
couple of hundred pounds; Willoughby says; would make it one of
the pleasantest summer…rooms in England。”
Could Elinor have listened to her without interruption from the
others; she would have described every room in the house with
equal delight。
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CHAPTER XIV
he sudden termination of Colonel Brandon’s visit at the
park; with his steadiness in concealing its cause; filled the
T
mind; and raised the wonder of Mrs。 Jennings for two or
three days; she was a great wonderer; as every one must be who
takes a very lively interest in all the comings and goings of all their
acquaintance。 She wondered; with little intermission what could
be the reason of it; was sure there must be some bad news; and
thought over every kind of distress that could have befallen him;
with a fixed determination that he should not escape them all。
“Something very melancholy must be the matter; I am sure;”
said she。 “I could see it in his face。 Poor man! I am afraid his
circumstances may be bad。 The estate at Delaford was never
reckoned more than two thousand a year; and his brother left
everything sadly involved。 I do think he must have been sent for
about money matters; for what else can it be? I wonder whether it
is so。 I would give anything to know the truth of it。 Perhaps it is
about Miss Williams and; by the bye; I dare say it is; because he
looked so conscious when I mentioned her。 May be she is ill in
town; nothing in the world more likely; for I have a notion she is
always rather sickly。 I would lay any wager it is about Miss
Williams。 It is not so very likely he should be distressed in his
circumstances now; for he is a very prudent man; and to be sure
must have cleared the estate by this time。 I wonder what it can be!
May be his sister is worse at Avignon; and has sent for him over。
His setting off in such a hurry seems very like it。 Well; I wish him
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