第 82 节
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tomorrow would find her recovered; and the idea of what
tomorrow would have produced; but for this unlucky illness; made
every ailment severe; for on that day they were to have begun
their journey home; and; attended the whole way by a servant of
Mrs。 Jennings; were to have taken their mother by surprise on the
following forenoon。 The little she said was all in lamentation of
this inevitable delay; though Elinor tried to raise her spirits; and
make her believe; as she then really believed herself; that it would
be a very short one。
The next day produced little or no alteration in the state of the
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patient; she certainly was not better; and; except that there was no
amendment; did not appear worse。 Their party was now farther
reduced; for Mr。 Palmer; though very unwilling to go as well from
real humanity and good…nature; as from a dislike of appearing to
be frightened away by his wife; was persuaded at last by Colonel
Brandon to perform his promise of following her; and while he
was preparing to go; Colonel Brandon himself; with a much
greater exertion; began to talk of going likewise。—Here; however;
the kindness of Mrs。 Jennings interposed most acceptably; for to
send the Colonel away while his love was in so much uneasiness
on her sister’s account; would be to deprive them both; she
thought; of every comfort; and therefore telling him at once that
his stay at Cleveland was necessary to herself; that she should
want him to play at piquet of an evening; while Miss Dashwood
was above with her sister; &c。 she urged him so strongly to
remain; that he; who was gratifying the first wish of his own heart
by a compliance; could not long even affect to demur; especially as
Mrs。 Jennings’s entreaty was warmly seconded by Mr。 Palmer;
who seemed to feel a relief to himself; in leaving behind him a
person so well able to assist or advise Miss Dashwood in any
emergence。
Marianne was; of course; kept in ignorance of all these
arrangements。 She knew not that she had been the means of
sending the owners of Cleveland away; in about seven days from
the time of their arrival。 It gave her no surprise that she saw
nothing of Mrs。 Palmer; and as it gave her likewise no concern;
she never mentioned her name。
Two days passed away from the time of Mr。 Palmer’s departure;
and her situation continued; with little variation; the same。 Mr。
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Harris; who attended her every day; still talked boldly of a speedy
recovery; and Miss Dashwood was equally sanguine; but the
expectation of the others was by no means so cheerful。 Mrs。
Jennings had determined very early in the seizure that Marianne
would never get over it; and Colonel Brandon; who was chiefly of
use in listening to Mrs。 Jennings’s forebodings; was not in a state
of mind to resist their influence。 He tried to reason himself out of
fears; which the different judgment of the apothecary seemed to
render absurd; but the many hours of each day in which he was
left entirely alone; were but too favourable for the admission of
every melancholy idea; and he could not expel from his mind the
persuasion that he should see Marianne no more。
On the morning of the third day however; the gloomy
anticipations of both were almost done away; for when Mr。 Harris
arrived; he declared his patient materially better。 Her pulse was
much stronger; and every symptom more favourable than on the
preceding visit。 Elinor; confirmed in every pleasant hope; was all
cheerfulness; rejoicing that in her letters to her mother; she had
pursued her own judgment rather than her friend’s; in making
very light of the indisposition which delayed them at Cleveland;
and almost fixing on the time when Marianne would be able to
travel。
But the day did not close so auspiciously as it began。—Towards
the evening Marianne became ill again; growing more heavy;
restless; and uncomfortable than before。 Her sister; however; still
sanguine; was willing to attribute the change to nothing more than
the fatigue of having sat up to have her bed made; and carefully
administering the cordials prescribed; saw her; with satisfaction;
sink at last into a slumber; from which she expected the most
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beneficial effects。 Her sleep; though not so quiet as Elinor wished
to see it; lasted a considerable time; and anxious to observe the
result of it herself; she resolved to sit with her during the whole of
it。 Mrs。 Jennings; knowing nothing of any change in the patient;
went unusually early to bed; her maid; who was one of the
principal nurses; was recreating herself in the housekeeper’s
room; and Elinor remained alone with Marianne。
The repose of the latter became more and more disturbed; and
her sister; who watched; with unremitting attention her continual
change of posture; and heard the frequent but inarticulate sounds
of complaint which passed her lips; was almost wishing to rouse
her from so painful a slumber; when Marianne; suddenly
awakened by some accidental noise in the house; started hastily
up; and; with feverish wildness; cried out;—
“Is mama coming?—”
“Not yet;” cried the other; concealing her terror; and assisting
Marianne to lie down again; “but she will be here; I hope; before it
is long。 It is a great way; you know; from hence to Barton。”
“But she must not go round by London;” cried Marianne; in the
same hurried manner。 “I shall never see her; if she goes by
London。”
Elinor perceived with alarm that she was not quite herself; and;
while attempting to soothe her; eagerly felt her pulse。 It was lower
and quicker than ever! and Marianne; still talking wildly of mama;
her alarm increased so rapidly; as to determine her on sending
instantly for Mr。 Harris; and despatching a messenger to Barton
for her mother。 To consult with Colonel Brandon on the best
means of effecting the latter; was a thought which immediately
followed the resolution of its performance; and as soon as she had
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rung up the maid to take her place by her sister; she hastened
down to the drawing…room; where she knew he was generally to be
found at a much later hour than the present。
It was no time for hesitation。 Her fears and her difficulties were
immediately before him。 Her fears; he had no courage; no
confidence to attempt the removal of;—he listened to them in
silent despondence;—but her difficulties were instantly obviated;
for with a readiness that seemed to speak the occasion; and the
service pre…arranged in his mind; he offered himself as the
messenger who should fetch Mrs。 Dashwood。 Elinor made no
resistance that was not easily overcome。 She thanked him with
brief; though fervent gratitude; and while he went to hurry off his
servant with a message to Mr。 Harris; and an order for post…horses
directly; she wrote a few lines to her mother。
The comfort of such a friend