第 91 节
作者:南方网      更新:2021-02-19 19:56      字数:9305
  therefore     watching   to   very   different   effect;  saw  nothing    in  the
  Colonel’s behaviour but what arose from the most simple and self…
  evident sensations; while in the actions and words of Marianne she
  persuaded   herself   to   think   that   something   more   than   gratitude
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  already dawned。
  At   the   end   of   another   day   or   two;   Marianne   growing   visibly
  stronger every twelve hours; Mrs。 Dashwood; urged equally by her
  own     and    her   daughter’s      wishes;    began    to   talk  of  removing      to
  Barton。 On her measures depended those of her two friends; Mrs。
  Jennings   could   not   quit   Cleveland   during   the   Dashwoods’   stay;
  and Colonel Brandon   was  soon brought;   by  their  united   request;
  to   consider   his   own   abode   there   as   equally   determinate;          if   not
  equally  indispensable。 At  his and   Mrs。   Jennings’s   united   request
  in return; Mrs。 Dashwood was prevailed on to accept the use of his
  carriage on her journey back; for the better accommodation of her
  sick    child;    and    the   Colonel;     at   the   joint    invitation    of   Mrs。
  Dashwood and Mrs。 Jennings; whose active good…nature made her
  friendly and hospitable for other people as well as herself; engaged
  with pleasure to redeem it by a visit at the cottage; in the course of
  a few weeks。
  The   day   of   separation   and   departure   arrived;   and   Marianne;
  after taking so particular and lengthened a leave of Mrs。 Jennings;
  one   so   earnestly   grateful;   so   full   of   respect   and   kind   wishes   as
  seemed   due   to   her   own   heart   from   a   secret   acknowledgment   of
  past   inattention;      and   bidding     Colonel     Brandon      farewell    with   a
  cordiality     of   a  friend;   was    carefully     assisted    by   him    into   the
  carriage; of which  he   seemed  anxious   that  she should   engross   at
  least half。 Mrs。 Dashwood and Elinor then followed; and the others
  were left by themselves; to talk of the travellers; and feel their own
  dullness;   till   Mrs。   Jennings   was   summoned   to   her   chaise   to   take
  comfort   in   the   gossip   of   her   maid   for   the   loss   of   her   two   young
  companions;   and   Colonel   Brandon   immediately   afterwards   took
  his solitary way to Delaford。
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  The Dashwoods were two days on the road; and Marianne bore
  her journey on both; without essential fatigue。 Every thing that the
  most zealous affection; the most solicitous care could do to render
  her comfortable;   was   the   office   of  each  watchful companion; and
  each  found  their  reward   in  her  bodily  ease;   and   her   calmness   of
  spirits。   To   Elinor;   the   observation   of   the   latter   was   particularly
  grateful。   She;   who   had   seen   her   week   after   week   so   constantly
  suffering;   oppressed   by   anguish   of   heart   which   she   had   neither
  courage to speak of; nor fortitude to conceal; now saw with a joy;
  which   no   other   could   equally   share;   an   apparent   composure   of
  mind;      which;     in   being     the   result    as   she    trusted     of  serious
  reflection;       must     eventually       lead     her    to    contentment         and
  cheerfulness。
  As   they  approached   Barton;   indeed;   and entered   on   scenes   of
  which   every   field      and    every   tree   brought      some    peculiar;     some
  painful   recollection;   she   grew   silent   and   thoughtful;   and   turning
  away her face from their notice; sat earnestly gazing through the
  window。   But   here;   Elinor   could   neither   wonder   nor   blame;   and
  when   she   saw;   as   she   assisted   Marianne   from   the   carriage;   that
  she had been crying; she saw only an emotion too natural in itself
  to raise any thing less tender than pity; and in its unobtrusiveness
  entitled   to   praise。   In   the   whole   of   her   subsequent   manner;   she
  traced   the   direction   of   a   mind   awakened   to   reasonable   exertion;
  for  no  sooner  had  they   entered   their   common   sitting…room;   than
  Marianne        turned     her   eyes    around      it  with    a  look    of  resolute
  firmness; as if determined at once to accustom herself to the sight
  of every object with which the remembrance of Willoughby could
  be    connected。—She           said    little;  but   every     sentence      aimed     at
  cheerfulness;   and   though  a   sigh  sometimes   escaped   her;   it never
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  passed   away   without   the   atonement   of   a   smile。   After   dinner   she
  would try her pianoforté。 She went to it; but the music on which
  her eye first rested was an opera; procured for her by Willoughby;
  containing       some    of  their   favourite     duets;   and    bearing     on   its
  outward leaf her own name in his hand…writing。—That would not
  do。—She shook her head; put the music aside; and after  running
  over    the   keys    for  a  minute;     complained       of  feebleness     in   her
  fingers; and closed the instrument again; declaring however  with
  firmness as she did so; that she should in future practise much。
  The    next    morning      produced      no  abatement       in  these    happy
  symptoms。        On    the    contrary;     with    a   mind     and    body     alike
  strengthened   by   rest;   she   looked   and   spoke   with   more   genuine
  spirit; anticipating the pleasure   of  Margaret’s   return; and   talking
  of   the   dear   family   party   which   would   then   be   restored;   of   their
  mutual pursuits and cheerful society; as the only happiness worth
  a wish。
  “When       the   weather     is   settled;   and    I  have    recovered      my
  strength;”   said   she;   “we   will   take   long   walks   together   every   day。
  We will walk to the farm at the edge of the down; and see how the
  children     go   on;  we    will  walk   to  Sir   John’s    new   plantations     at
  Barton Cross; and the Abbeyland; and we will often go to the old
  ruins of the Priory; and try to trace its foundations as far as we are
  told   they   once   reached。   I   know   we   shall   be   happy。   I   know   the
  summer will pass happily away。 I mean never to be later in rising
  than six; and from that time till dinner I shall divide every moment
  between       music    and   reading。    I  have    formed     my   plan;   and    am
  determined to enter on a course of serious study。 Our own library
  is   too   well   known   to   me;   to   be   resorted   to   for   any   thing   beyond
  mere amusement。 But there are many works well worth reading at
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  the Park; and there are others of more modern production which I
  know I can borrow of Colonel Brandon。 By reading only six hours
  a…day; I shall gain in the course of a twelve…month a great deal of
  instruction which I now feel myself to want。”
  Elinor   honoured   her   for   a   plan   which   originated   so   nobly   as
  this; though smiling to see the same eager fancy which had been
  leading     her   to   the  extreme      of  languid    indolence     and    selfish
  repining; now at work in introducing excess into a scheme of such
  rational employment and virtuous self…control。 Her smile however
  changed       to  a   sigh   when     she    remembered        that   promise     to
  Willoughby       was    yet   unfulfilled;    and   feared    she    had   that   to
  communicate   which   might   again   unsettle   the   mind   of   Marianne;
  and ruin at least for a time this fair prospect of busy tranquillity。
  Willing therefore to delay the evil hour; she resolved to wait till her
  sister’s health were more secure; before she appointed it。 But the
  resolution was made only to be broken。
  Marianne      had    been   two   or   three   days   at  home;    before    the
  weather was fine enough for an invalid like herself to venture out。
  But at last a soft; genial morning appeared;   such  as  might  tempt
  the daughter’s wishes and the mother’s confidence; and Marian