第 27 节
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南方网 更新:2021-02-19 19:55 字数:9261
her want of thought could not be surpassed by his。 He coloured
very deeply; and giving a momentary glance at Elinor; replied;
“Yes; it is my sister’s hair。 The setting always casts a different
shade on it; you know。”
Elinor had met his eye; and looked conscious likewise。 That the
hair was her own; she instantaneously felt as well satisfied as
Marianne; the only difference in their conclusions was; that what
Marianne considered as a free gift from her sister; Elinor was
conscious must have been procured by some theft or contrivance
unknown to herself。 She was not in a humour; however; to regard
it as an affront; and affecting to take no notice of what passed; by
instantly talking of something else; she internally resolved
henceforward to catch every opportunity of eyeing the hair and of
satisfying herself; beyond all doubt; that it was exactly the shade of
her own。
Edward’s embarrassment lasted some time; and it ended in an
absence of mind still more settled。 He was particularly grave the
whole morning。 Marianne severely censured herself for what she
had said; but her own forgiveness might have been more speedy;
had she known how little offence it had given her sister。
Before the middle of the day; they were visited by Sir John and
Mrs。 Jennings; who; having heard of the arrival of a gentleman at
the cottage; came to take a survey of the guest。 With the assistance
of his mother…in…law; Sir John was not long in discovering that the
name of Ferrars began with an F。 and this prepared a future mine
of raillery against the devoted Elinor; which nothing but the
newness of their acquaintance with Edward could have prevented
from being immediately sprung。 But; as it was; she only learned;
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from some very significant looks; how far their penetration;
founded on Margaret’s instructions; extended。
Sir John never came to the Dashwoods without either inviting
them to dine at the park the next day; or to drink tea with them
that evening。 On the present occasion; for the better
entertainment of their visitor; towards whose amusement he felt
himself bound to contribute; he wished to engage them for both。
“You must drink tea with us to night;” said he; “for we shall be
quite alone—and tomorrow you must absolutely dine with us; for
we shall be a large party。”
Mrs。 Jennings enforced the necessity。 “And who knows but you
may raise a dance;” said she。 “And that will tempt you; Miss
Marianne。”
“A dance!” cried Marianne。 “Impossible! Who is to dance?”
“Who! why yourselves; and the Careys; and Whitakers to be
sure。—What! you thought nobody could dance because a certain
person that shall be nameless is gone!”
“I wish with all my soul;” cried Sir John; “that Willoughby were
among us again。”
This; and Marianne’s blushing; gave new suspicions to Edward。
“And who is Willoughby?” said he; in a low voice; to Miss
Dashwood; by whom he was sitting。
She gave him a brief reply。 Marianne’s countenance was more
communicative。 Edward saw enough to comprehend; not only the
meaning of others; but such of Marianne’s expressions as had
puzzled him before; and when their visitors left them; he went
immediately round to her; and said; in a whisper; “I have been
guessing。 Shall I tell you my guess?”
“What do you mean?”
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“Shall I tell you。”
“Certainly。”
“Well then; I guess that Mr。 Willoughby hunts。”
Marianne was surprised and confused; yet she could not help
smiling at the quiet archness of his manner; and after a moment’s
silence; said;
“Oh; Edward! How can you?—But the time will come I hope 。 。 。
I am sure you will like him。”
“I do not doubt it;” replied he; rather astonished at her
earnestness and warmth; for had he not imagined it to be a joke
for the good of her acquaintance in general; founded only on a
something or a nothing between Mr。 Willoughby and herself; he
would not have ventured to mention it。
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CHAPTER XIX
dward remained a week at the cottage; he was earnestly
pressed by Mrs。 Dashwood to stay longer; but; as if he
E
were bent only on self…mortification; he seemed resolved
to be gone when his enjoyment among his friends was at the
height。 His spirits; during the last two or three days; though still
very unequal; were greatly improved—he grew more and more
partial to the house and environs—never spoke of going away
without a sigh—declared his time to be wholly disengaged—even
doubted to what place he should go when he left them—but still;
go he must。 Never had any week passed so quickly—he could
hardly believe it to be gone。 He said so repeatedly; other things he
said too; which marked the turn of his feelings and gave the lie to
his actions。 He had no pleasure at Norland; he detested being in
town; but either to Norland or London; he must go。 He valued
their kindness beyond any thing; and his greatest happiness was
in being with them。 Yet; he must leave them at the end of a week;
in spite of their wishes and his own; and without any restraint on
his time。
Elinor placed all that was astonishing in this way of acting to
his mother’s account; and it was happy for her that he had a
mother whose character was so imperfectly known to her; as to be
the general excuse for every thing strange on the part of her son。
Disappointed; however; and vexed as she was; and sometimes
displeased with his uncertain behaviour to herself; she was very
well disposed on the whole to regard his actions with all the
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candid allowances and generous qualifications; which had been
rather more painfully extorted from her; for Willoughby’s service;
by her mother。 His want of spirits; of openness; and of consistency;
were most usually attributed to his want of independence; and his
better knowledge of Mrs。 Ferrars’s disposition and designs。 The
shortness of his visit; the steadiness of his purpose in leaving
them; originated in the same fettered inclination; the same
inevitable necessity of temporising with his mother。 The old well…
established grievance of duty against will; parent against child;
was the cause of all。 She would have been glad to know when
these difficulties were to cease; this opposition was to yield;—
when Mrs。 Ferrars would be reformed; and her son be at liberty to
be happy。 But from such vain wishes she was forced to turn for
comfort to the renewal of her confidence in Edward’s affection; to
the remembrance of every mark of regard in look or word which
fell from him while at Barton; and above all to that flattering proof
of it which he constantly wore round his finger。
“I think; Edward;” said Mrs。 Dashwood; as they were at
breakfast the last morning; “you would be a happier man if you
had any profession to engage your time and give an interest to
your plans and actions。 Some inconvenience to your friends;
indeed; might result from it—you would not be able to give them
so much of your time。 But (with a smile) you would be materially
benefited in one particular