第 59 节
作者:南方网      更新:2021-02-19 19:55      字数:9268
  bedroom。
  At   last   the  affair   was  decided。     The   ivory;   the  gold;   and    the
  pearls; all received their appointment; and   the   gentleman   having
  named   the   last   day   on   which   his   existence   could   be   continued
  without   the   possession   of   the   toothpick…case;   drew   on   his   gloves
  with   leisurely   care;    and   bestowing   another   glance         on  the   Miss
  Dashwoods;   but   such   a   one   as      seemed   rather   to   demand        than
  express admiration; walked off with a happy air of real conceit and
  affected indifference。
  Elinor lost no time in bringing her business forward; was on the
  point of concluding it; when another gentleman presented himself
  at her side。 She turned her eyes towards his face; and found him
  with some surprise to be her brother。
  Their   affection     and   pleasure     in   meeting    was   just  enough     to
  make      a  very   creditable     appearance      in   Mr。   Gray’s    shop。   John
  Dashwood was really far from being sorry to see his sisters again;
  it   rather   gave    them    satisfaction;     and   his   inquiries    after   their
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  mother were respectful and attentive。
  Elinor found that he and Fanny had been in town two days。
  “I wished very much to call upon you yesterday;” said he; “but
  it was impossible; for we were obliged to take Harry to see the wild
  beasts at Exeter Exchange; and we spent the rest of the day with
  Mrs。 Ferrars。   Harry  was   vastly  pleased。  This  morning  I   had   fully
  intended to call on you; if I could possibly find a spare half hour;
  but  one   has   always   so much  to  do  on  first  coming  to  town。   I   am
  come here to bespeak Fanny a seal。 But tomorrow I think I shall
  certainly  be able   to   call   in   Berkeley…street;   and   be   introduced   to
  your   friend   Mrs。   Jennings。   I   understand   she   is   a   woman   of   very
  good fortune。 And the Middletons too;   you  must  introduce me   to
  them。   As   my   mother…in…law’s   relations;   I   shall   be   happy   to   show
  them   every  respect。   They   are   excellent   neighbours   to   you   in   the
  country; I understand。”
  “Excellent       indeed。     Their    attention      to  our    comfort;      their
  friendliness in every particular; is more than I can express。”
  “I am extremely glad to hear it; upon my word; extremely glad
  indeed。 But so it ought to be; they are people of large fortune; they
  are related to you; and every civility and accommodation that can
  serve     to   make     your    situation     pleasant     might    be    reasonably
  expected。   And   so   you   are   most   comfortably   settled   in   your   little
  cottage      and    want    for   nothing!     Edward       brought      us   a   most
  charming account of the place; the most complete thing of its kind;
  he said; that ever was; and you all seemed to enjoy it beyond any
  thing。 It was a great satisfaction to us to hear it; I assure you。”
  Elinor   did   feel   a   little   ashamed   of   her   brother;   and   was   not
  sorry to be spared the necessity of answering him; by the arrival of
  Mrs。   Jennings’s   servant;   who   came   to   tell   her   that   his   mistress
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  waited for them at the door。
  Mr。   Dashwood   attended   them   down   stairs;   was   introduced   to
  Mrs。 Jennings at the door of her carriage; and repeating his hope
  of being able to call on them the next day; took leave。
  His visit was duly paid。 He came with a pretence at an apology
  from their sister…in…law; for not coming too; “but she was so much
  engaged with her mother; that really she had no leisure for going
  any   where。”   Mrs。   Jennings;   however;   assured   him   directly;   that
  she should not stand upon ceremony; for they were all cousins; or
  something   like   it;    and   she   should    certainly    wait   on  Mrs。    John
  Dashwood very soon; and bring her sisters to see her。 His manners
  to them; though calm; were perfectly kind; to Mrs。 Jennings; most
  attentively   civil;   and   on   Colonel   Brandon’s   coming   in   soon   after
  himself; he eyed him with a curiosity which seemed to say; that he
  only wanted to know him to be rich; to be equally civil to him。
  After staying with  them   half  an   hour;   he   asked   Elinor  to  walk
  with   him   to   Conduit…street;   and   introduce   him   to   Sir   John   and
  Lady     Middleton。      The    weather     was    remarkably      fine;   and   she
  readily   consented。   As   soon   as      they   were   out   of  the  house;    his
  enquiries began。
  “Who is Colonel Brandon? Is he a man of fortune?”
  “Yes; he has very good property in Dorsetshire。”
  “I   am   glad   of   it。   He   seems   a   most   gentlemanlike   man;   and   I
  think;   Elinor;   I   may   congratulate   you   on   the   prospect   of   a   very
  respectable establishment in life。”
  “Me; brother! what do you mean?”
  “He likes you。 I observed him narrowly; and am convinced of it。
  What is the amount of his fortune?”
  “I believe about two thousand a year。”
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  “Two thousand a…year;” and then working himself up to a pitch
  of   enthusiastic   generosity;   he   added;   “Elinor;   I   wish   with   all   my
  heart it were twice as much; for your sake。”
  “Indeed I believe you;” replied Elinor; “but I am very sure that
  Colonel Brandon has not the smallest wish of marrying me。”
  “You are mistaken; Elinor; you are very much mistaken。 A very
  little trouble on your side secures him。 Perhaps just at present he
  may  be   undecided;   the   smallness  of  your  fortune   may  make   him
  hang back; his friends may all advise him against it。 But some of
  those   little   attentions   and   encouragements   which   ladies               can   so
  easily   give   will   fix   him;   in   spite   of   himself。   And   there   can   be   no
  reason   why   you   should   not   try   for   him。   It   is   not   to   be   supposed
  that any prior attachment on your side—in short; you know as to
  an   attachment   of   that   kind;   it   is   quite   out   of   the   question;   the
  objections   are   insurmountable—you   have   too   much   sense   not   to
  see   all   that。   Colonel   Brandon   must   be   the   man;   and   no   civility
  shall   be   wanting   on   my   part   to   make   him   pleased   with   you   and
  your family。 It is a match that must give universal satisfaction。 In
  short;     it  is  a   kind    of  thing    that”—lowering          his   voice    to   an
  important  whisper—“will be   exceedingly  welcome  to all parties。”
  Recollecting himself; however; he added; “That is; I mean to say—
  your   friends   are   all   truly   anxious   to   see   you   well   settled;   Fanny
  particularly; for she has your interest very much at heart; I assure
  you。    And     her   mother      too;   Mrs。    Ferrars;     a  very    good…natured
  woman;   I   am   sure   it   would   give   her   great   pleasure;   she   said   as
  much the other day。”
  Elinor would not vouchsafe any answer。
  “It    would     be   something        remarkable;       now;”     he    continued;
  “something   droll;   if   Fanny   should   have   a   brother   and   I   a   sister
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  settling at the same time。 And yet it is not very unlikely。”
  “Is Mr。 Edward Ferrars;” said Elinor; with resolution; “going to
  be married?”
  “It is not actually settled; but there is such a thing in agitation。
  He   has   a   most   excellent   mother。   Mrs。   Ferrars;   with   the   utmost
  liberality; will come forward; and settle on him a thousand a year;
  if the match  takes   place。   The   lady  is   the   Hon。   Miss   Morton;   only
  daughter of the late Lord Morton; with thirty thousand pounds。 A
  very desirable connection on both sides; and I have not a doubt of
  its   taking   place   in   time。   A   thousand   a…year   is   a   great   deal   for   a
  mother to give away; to make over for ever; but Mrs。 Ferrars has a
  noble