IN a firm, though cautious tone, Elinor thus began: "I should be undeserving of the confidence you have honoured me with, if I felt no desire for its continuance, or no farther curiosity on its subject. I will not apologise, therefore, for bringing it forward again." "Thank you," cried Lucy, warmly, "for breaking the ice: you have set my heart at ease by it; for I was, somehow or other, afraid I had offended you by what I told you that Monday." "Offended me! How could you suppose so? Believe me," and Elinor spoke1 it with the truest sincerity2, "nothing could be farther from my intention than to give you such an idea. Could you have a motive3 for the trust that was not honourable4 and flattering to me?" "And yet, I do assure you," replied Lucy, her little sharp eyes full of meaning, "there seemed to me to be a coldness and displeasure in your manner that made me quite uncomfortable. I felt sure that you was angry with me, and have been quarrelling with myself ever since, for having took such a liberty as to trouble you with my affairs. But I am very glad to find it was only my own fancy, and that you really do not blame me. If you knew what a consolation5 it was to me to relieve my heart speaking to you of what I am always thinking of every moment of my life, your compassion6 would make you overlook everything else, I am sure." "Indeed, I can easily believe that it was a very great relief to you to acknowledge your situation to me, and be assured that you shall never have reason to repent7 it. Your case is a very unfortunate one; you seem to me to be surrounded with difficulties; and you will have need of all your mutual8 affection to support you under them. Mr. Ferrars, I believe, is entirely9 dependent on his mother." "He has only two thousand pounds of his own; it would be madness to marry upon that; though, for my own part, I could give up every prospect10 of more without a sigh. I have been always used to a very small income, and could struggle with any poverty for him; but I love him too well to be the selfish means
of robbing him, perhaps, of all that his mother might give him, if he married to please her. We must wait; it may be for many years. With almost every other man in the world, it would be an alarming prospect; but Edward's affection and constancy nothing can deprive me of, I know." "That conviction must be everything to you; and he is, undoubtedly11, supported by the same trust in yours. If the strength of your reciprocal attachment12 had failed, as between many people, and, under many circumstances, it naturally would, during a four years' engagement, your situation would have been pitiable, indeed." Lucy here looked up; but Elinor was careful in guarding her countenance13 from every expression that could give her words a suspicious tendency. "Edward's love for me," said Lucy, "has been pretty well put to the test, by our long, very long absence, since we were first engaged, and it has stood the trial so well, that I should be unpardonable to doubt it now. I can safely say that he has never given me one moment's alarm on that account from the first." Elinor hardly knew whether to smile or sigh at this assertion. Lucy went on. "I am rather of a jealous temper, too, by nature; and from our different situations in life, from his being so much more in the world than me, and our continual separation, I was enough inclined for suspicion, to have found out the truth in an instant, if there had been the slightest alteration14 in his behaviour to me when we met, or any lowness of spirits that I could not account for, or if he had talked more of one lady than another, or seemed in any respect less happy at Longstaple than he used to be. I do not mean to say that I am particularly observant or quick-sighted in general, but in such a case I am sure I could not be deceived." "All this," thought Elinor, "is very pretty; but it can impose upon neither of us." "But what," said she, after a short silence, "are your views? or have you none but that of waiting for Mrs. Ferrars's death, which is a melancholy15 and shocking extremity16? Is her s
on determined17 to submit to this, and to all the tediousness of the many years of suspense18 in which it may involve you, rather than run the risk of her displeasure for a while by owning the truth?" "If we could be certain that it would be only for a while! But Mrs. Ferrars is a very headstrong, proud woman, and in her first fit of anger upon hearing it would very likely secure every thing to Robert; and the idea of that, for Edward's sake, frightens away all my inclination19 for hasty measures." "And for your own sake too, or you are carrying your disinterestedness20 beyond reason." Lucy looked at Elinor again, and was silent. "Do you know Mr. Robert Ferrars?" asked Elinor. "Not at all- I never saw him; but I fancy he is very unlike his brother- silly, and a great coxcomb21." "A great coxcomb?" repeated Miss Steele, whose ear had caught those words by a sudden pause in Marianne's music. "Oh, they are talking of their favorite beaux, I dare say." "No sister," cried Lucy, "you are mistaken there- our favorite beaux are not great coxcombs." "I can answer for it that Miss Dashwood's is not," said Mrs. Jennings, laughing heartily22; "for he is one of the modest, prettiest behaved young men I ever saw; but as for Lucy, she is such a sly little creature, there is no finding out who she likes." "Oh," cried Miss Steele, looking significantly round at them, "I dare say Lucy's beau is quite as modest and pretty behaved as Miss Dashwood's." Elinor blushed in spite of herself. Lucy bit her lip, and looked angrily at her sister. A mutual silence took place for some time. Lucy first put an end to it by saying, in a lower tone, though Marianne was then giving them the powerful protection of a very magnificent concerto23. "I will honestly tell you of one scheme which has lately come into my head for bringing matters to bear; indeed I am bound to let you into the secret, for you are a party concerned. I dare say you have seen enough of Edward to know that he would prefer the church to every other profession; now my plan is, that he should ta
ke orders as soon as he can; and then, through your interest, which I am sure you would be kind enough to use out of friendship for him, and I hope out of some regard to me, your brother might be persuaded to give him Norland living, which I understand is a very good one, and the present incumbent24 not likely to live a great while. That would be enough for us to marry upon, and we might trust to time and chance for the rest." "I should always be happy," replied Elinor, "to show any mark of my esteem25 and friendship for Mr. Ferrars; but do you not perceive that my interest on such an occasion would be perfectly26 unnecessary? He is brother to Mrs. John Dashwood- that must be recommendation enough to her husband." "But Mrs. John Dashwood would not much approve of Edward's going into orders." "Then I rather suspect that my interest would do very little." They were again silent for many minutes. At length Lucy exclaimed with a deep sigh, "I believe it would be the wisest way to put an end to the business at once by dissolving the engagement. We seem so beset27 with difficulties on every side, that though it would make us miserable28 for a time, we should be happier perhaps in the end. But you will not give me your advice, Miss Dashwood?" "No," answered Elinor, with a smile, which concealed29 very agitated30 feelings; "on such a subject I certainly will not. You know very well that my opinion would have no weight with you, unless it were on the side of your wishes." "Indeed you wrong me," replied Lucy, with great solemnity; "I know nobody of whose judgment31 I think so highly as I do of yours; and I do really believe, that if you was to say to me, 'I advise you by all means to put an end to your engagement with Edward Ferrars, it will be more for the happiness of both of you,' I should resolve upon doing it immediately." Elinor blushed for the insincerity of Edward's future wife, and replied, "This compliment would effectually frighten me from giving any opinion on the subject, had I formed one. It raises my influence much too high
: the power of dividing two people so tenderly attached is too much for an indifferent person." "'Tis because you are an indifferent person," said Lucy, with some pique32, and laying a particular stress on those words, "that your judgment might justly have such weight with me. If you could be supposed to be biased33 in any respect by your own feelings, your opinion would not be worth having." Elinor thought it wisest to make no answer to this, lest they might provoke each other to an unsuitable increase of ease and unreserve; and was even partly determined never to mention the subject again. Another pause, therefore, of many minutes' duration, succeeded this speech, and Lucy was still the first to end it. "Shall you be in town this winter, Miss Dashwood?" said she, with all her accustomary complacency. "Certainly not." "I am sorry for that," returned the other, while her eyes brightened at the information; "it would have gave me such pleasure to meet you there! But I dare say you will go for all that. To be sure, your brother and sister will ask you to come to them." "It will not be in my power to accept their invitation if they do." "How unlucky that is! I had quite depended upon meeting you there. Ann and me are to go the latter end of January to some relations who have been wanting us to visit them these several years. But I only go for the sake of seeing Edward. He will be there in February, otherwise London would have no charms for me; I have not spirits for it." Elinor was soon called to the card-table by the conclusion of the first rubber, and the confidential34 discourse35 of the two ladies was therefore at an end; to which both of them submitted without any reluctance36, for nothing had been said on either side to make them dislike each other less than they had done before; and Elinor sat down to the card-table with the melancholy persuasion37 that Edward was not only without affection for the person who was to be his wife, but that he had not even the chance of being tolerably happy in marriage, which sincere affec
tion on her side would have given: for self-interest alone could induce a woman to keep a man to an engagement, of which she seemed so thoroughly38 aware that he was weary. From this time the subject was never revived by Elinor; and when entered on by Lucy, who seldom missed an opportunity of introducing it, and was particularly careful to inform her confidant of her happiness whenever she received a letter from Edward, it was treated by the former with calmness and caution, and dismissed as soon as civility would allow; for she felt such conversations to be an indulgence which Lucy did not deserve, and which were dangerous to herself.
The visit of the Misses Steele at Barton Park was lengthened39 far beyond what the first invitation implied. Their favour increased; they could not be spared; Sir John would not hear of their going; and, in spite of their numerous and long-arranged engagements in Exeter, in spite of the absolute necessity of returning to fulfill40 them immediately, which was in full force at the end of every week, they were prevailed on to stay nearly two months at the Park, and to assist in the due celebration of that festival which requires a more than ordinary share of private balls and large dinners to proclaim its importance.
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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disinterestedness
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coxcomb
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| n.花花公子 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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concerto
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| n.协奏曲 | |
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incumbent
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| adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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pique
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| v.伤害…的自尊心，使生气 n.不满，生气 | |
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biased
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| a.有偏见的 | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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fulfill
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| vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意 | |
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