第 81 节
作者:
南方网 更新:2021-02-19 19:56 字数:9297
recommended by so pretty a face; was engaging; her folly; though
evident was not disgusting; because it was not conceited; and
Elinor could have forgiven every thing but her laugh。
The two gentlemen arrived the next day to a very late dinner;
affording a pleasant enlargement of the party; and a very welcome
variety to their conversation; which a long morning of the same
Classics in Literature: Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 340…
Jane Austen: Sense and Sensibility 340
continued rain had reduced very low。
Elinor had seen so little of Mr。 Palmer; and in that little had
seen so much variety in his address to her sister and herself; that
she knew not what to expect to find him in his own family。 She
found him; however; perfectly the gentleman in his behaviour to
all his visitors; and only occasionally rude to his wife and her
mother; she found him very capable of being a pleasant
companion; and only prevented from being so always; by too great
an aptitude to fancy himself as much superior to people in general;
as he must feel himself to be to Mrs。 Jennings and Charlotte。 For
the rest of his character and habits; they were marked; as far as
Elinor could perceive; with no traits at all unusual in his sex and
time of life。 He was nice in his eating; uncertain in his hours; fond
of his child; though affecting to slight it; and idled away the
mornings at billiards; which ought to have been devoted to
business。 She liked him; however; upon the whole; much better
than she had expected; and in her heart was not sorry that she
could like him no more;—not sorry to be driven by the observation
of his Epicurism; his selfishness; and his conceit; to rest with
complacency on the remembrance of Edward’s generous temper;
simple taste; and diffident feelings。
Of Edward; or at least of some of his concerns; she now
received intelligence from Colonel Brandon; who had been into
Dorsetshire lately; and who; treating her at once as the
disinterested friend of Mr。 Ferrars; and the kind confidante of
himself; talked to her a great deal of the parsonage at Delaford;
described its deficiencies; and told her what he meant to do
himself towards removing them。—His behaviour to her in this; as
well as in every other particular; his open pleasure in meeting her
Classics in Literature: Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 341…
Jane Austen: Sense and Sensibility 341
after an absence of only ten days; his readiness to converse with
her; and his deference for her opinion; might very well justify Mrs。
Jennings’s persuasion of his attachment; and would have been
enough; perhaps; had not Elinor still; as from the first; believed
Marianne his real favourite; to make her suspect it herself。 But as
it was; such a notion had scarcely ever entered her head; except by
Mrs。 Jennings’s suggestion; and she could not help believing
herself the nicest observer of the two;—she watched his eyes;
while Mrs。 Jennings thought only of his behaviour;—and while his
looks of anxious solicitude on Marianne’s feeling; in her head and
throat; the beginning of a heavy cold; because unexpressed by
words; entirely escaped the latter lady’s observation;—she could
discover in them the quick feelings; and needless alarm of a lover。
Two delighful twilight walks on the third and fourth evenings of
her being there; not merely on the dry gravel of the shrubbery; but
all over the grounds; and especially in the most distant parts of
them; where there was something more of wildness than in the
rest; where the trees were the oldest; and the grass was the longest
and wettest; had—assisted by the still greater imprudence of
sitting in her wet shoes and stockings—given Marianne a cold so
violent as; though for a day or two trifled with or denied; would
force itself by increasing ailments on the concern of every body;
and the notice of herself。 Prescriptions poured in from all
quarters; and as usual; were all declined。 Though heavy and
feverish; with a pain in her limbs; and a cough; and a sore throat; a
good night’s rest was to cure her entirely; and it was with difficulty
that Elinor prevailed on her; when she went to bed; to try one or
two of the simplest of the remedies。
Classics in Literature: Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 342…
Jane Austen: Sense and Sensibility 342
CHAPTER VII
arianne got up the next morning at her usual time; to
every inquiry replied that she was better; and tried to
M
prove herself so; by engaging in her accustomary
employments。 But a day spent in sitting shivering over the fire
with a book in her hand; which she was unable to read; or in lying;
weary and languid; on a sofa; did not speak much in favour of her
amendment; and when; at last; she went early to bed; more and
more indisposed; Colonel Brandon was only astonished at her
sister’s composure; who; though attending and nursing her the
whole day; against Marianne’s inclination; and forcing proper
medicines on her at night; trusted; like Marianne; to the certainty
and efficacy of sleep; and felt no real alarm。
A very restless and feverish night; however; disappointed the
expectation of both; and when Marianne; after persisting in rising;
confessed herself unable to sit up; and returned voluntarily to her
bed; Elinor was very ready to adopt Mrs。 Jennings’s advice; of
sending for the Palmers’ apothecary。
He came; examined his patient; and though encouraging Miss
Dashwood to expect that a very few days would restore her sister
to health; yet; by pronouncing her disorder to have a putrid
tendency; and allowing the word “infection” to pass his lips; gave
instant alarm to Mrs。 Palmer; on her baby’s account。 Mrs。
Jennings; who had been inclined from the first to think
Marianne’s complaint more serious than Elinor; now looked very
grave on Mr。 Harris’s report; and confirming Charlotte’s fears and
Classics in Literature: Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 343…
Jane Austen: Sense and Sensibility 343
caution; urged the necessity of her immediate removal with her
infant; and Mr。 Palmer; though treating their apprehensions as
idle; found the anxiety and importunity of his wife too great to be
withstood。 Her departure; therefore; was fixed on; and within an
hour after Mr。 Harris’s arrival; she set off; with her little boy and
his nurse; for the house of a near relation of Mr。 Palmer’s; who
lived a few miles on the other side of Bath; whither her husband
promised; at her earnest entreaty; to join her in a day or two; and
whither she was almost equally urgent with her mother to
accompany her。 Mrs。 Jennings; however; with a kindness of heart
which made Elinor really love her; declared her resolution of not
stirring from Cleveland as long as Marianne remained ill; and of
endeavouring; by her own attentive care; to supply to her the place
of the mother she had taken her from; and Elinor found her on
every occasion a most willing and active helpmate; desirous to
share in all her fatigues; and often by her better experience in
nursing; of material use。
Poor Marianne; languid and low from the nature of her malady;
and feeling herself universally ill; could no longer hope that
tomorrow w