第 63 节
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displeased with Mrs。 Ferrars; and such ill…timed praise of another;
at Elinor’s expense; though she had not any notion of what was
principally meant by it; provoked her immediately to say with
warmth;
“This is admiration of a very particular kind!—what is Miss
Morton to us?—who knows; or who cares; for her?—it is Elinor of
whom we think and speak。”
And so saying; she took the screens out of her sister…in…law’s
hands; to admire them herself as they ought to be admired。
Mrs。 Ferrars looked exceedingly angry; and drawing herself up
more stiffly than ever; pronounced in retort this bitter phillippic:
“Miss Morton is Lord Morton’s daughter。”
Fanny looked very angry too; and her husband was all in a
fright at his sister’s audacity。 Elinor was much more hurt by
Marianne’s warmth than she had been by what produced it; but
Colonel Brandon’s eyes; as they were fixed on Marianne; declared
that he noticed only what was amiable in it; the affectionate heart
which could not bear to see a sister slighted in the smallest point。
Marianne’s feelings did not stop here。 The cold insolence of
Mrs。 Ferrars’s general behaviour to her sister; seemed; to her; to
foretell such difficulties and distresses to Elinor; as her own
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wounded heart taught her to think of with horror; and urged by a
strong impulse of affectionate sensibility; she moved after a
moment; to her sister’s chair; and putting one arm round her neck;
and one cheek close to hers; said in a low; but eager; voice;
“Dear; dear Elinor; don’t mind them。 Don’t let them make you
unhappy。”
She could say no more; her spirits were quite overcome; and
hiding her face on Elinor’s shoulder; she burst into tears。 Every
body’s attention was called; and almost every body was
concerned。—Colonel Brandon rose up and went to them without
knowing what he did。—Mrs。 Jennings; with a very intelligent “Ah!
poor dear;” immediately gave her her salts; and Sir John felt so
desperately enraged against the author of this nervous distress;
that he instantly changed his seat to one close by Lucy Steele; and
gave her; in a whisper; a brief account of the whole shocking affair。
In a few minutes; however; Marianne was recovered enough to
put an end to the bustle; and sit down among the rest; though her
spirits retained the impression of what had passed; the whole
evening。
“Poor Marianne!” said her brother to Colonel Brandon; in a low
voice; as soon as he could secure his attention;—“She has not such
good health as her sister;—she is very nervous;—she has not
Elinor’s constitution;—and one must allow that there is something
very trying to a young woman who has been a beauty; in the loss of
her personal attractions。 You would not think it perhaps; but
Marianne was remarkably handsome a few months ago; quite as
handsome as Elinor。— Now you see it is all gone。”
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CHAPTER XIII
linor’s curiosity to see Mrs。 Ferrars was satisfied。—She
had found in her every thing that could tend to make a
E
farther connection between the families undesirable。—
She had seen enough of her pride; her meanness; and her
determined prejudice against herself; to comprehend all the
difficulties that must have perplexed the engagement; and
retarded the marriage; of Edward and herself; had he been
otherwise free;—and she had seen almost enough to be thankful
for her own sake; that one greater obstacle preserved her from
suffering under any other of Mrs。 Ferrars’s creation; preserved her
from all dependence upon her caprice; or any solicitude for her
good opinion。 Or at least; if she did not bring herself quite to
rejoice in Edward’s being fettered to Lucy; she determined; that
had Lucy been more amiable; she ought to have rejoiced。
She wondered that Lucy’s spirits could be so very much
elevated by the civility of Mrs。 Ferrars;—that her interest and her
vanity should so very much blind her as to make the attention
which seemed only paid her because she was not Elinor; appear a
compliment to herself—or to allow her to derive encouragement
from a preference only given her; because her real situation was
unknown。 But that it was so; had not only been declared by Lucy’s
eyes at the time; but was declared over again the next morning
more openly; for at her particular desire; Lady Middleton set her
down in Berkeley…street on the chance of seeing Elinor alone; to
tell her how happy she was。
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The chance proved a lucky one; for a message from Mrs。
Palmer soon after she arrived; carried Mrs。 Jennings away。
“My dear friend;” cried Lucy; as soon as they were by
themselves; “I come to talk to you of my happiness。 Could
anything be so flattering as Mrs。 Ferrars’s way of treating me
yesterday? So exceeding affable as she was!—You know how I
dreaded the thoughts of seeing her;—but the very moment I was
introduced; there was such an affability in her behaviour as really
should seem to say; she had quite took a fancy to me。 Now was not
it so?—You saw it all; and was not you quite struck with it?”
“She was certainly very civil to you。”
“Civil!—Did you see nothing but only civility?—I saw a vast
deal more。 Such kindness as fell to the share of nobody but me!—
No pride; no hauteur; and your sister just the same—all sweetness
and affability!”
Elinor wished to talk of something else; but Lucy still pressed
her to own that she had reason for her happiness; and Elinor was
obliged to go on。—
“Undoubtedly; if they had known your engagement;” said she;
“nothing could be more flattering than their treatment of you;—
but as that was not the case”—
“I guessed you would say so”—replied Lucy quickly—“but
there was no reason in the world why Mrs。 Ferrars should seem to
like me; if she did not; and her liking me is every thing。 You shan’t
talk me out of my satisfaction。 I am sure it will all end well; and
there will be no difficulties at all; to what I used to think。 Mrs。
Ferrars is a charming woman; and so is your sister。 They are both
delightful women; indeed!—I wonder I should never hear you say
how agreeable Mrs。 Dashwood was!”
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To this Elinor had no answer to make; and did not attempt any。
“Are you ill; Miss Dashwood?—you seem low—you don’t
speak;—sure you an’t well。”
“I never was in better health。”
“I am glad of it with all my heart; but really you did not look it。 I
should be sorry to have you ill; you; that have been the greatest
comfort to me in the world!—Heaven knows what I should have
done without your friendship。”—
Elinor tried to make a civil answer; though doubting her own
success。 But it seemed to satisfy Lucy; for she directly replied;
“Indeed I am perfectly convinced of your regard for me; and
next to Edward’s love; it is the greatest comfort I have。—Poor
Edward!—But now there is one