AFTER some opposition1, Marianne yielded to her sister's entreaties2, and consented to go out with her and Mrs. Jennings one morning for half an-hour. She expressly conditioned, however, for paying no visits, and would do no more than accompany them to Gray's in Sackville Street, where Elinor was carrying on a negotiation3 for the exchange of a few old-fashioned jewels of her mother. When they stopped at the door, Mrs. Jennings recollected5 that there was a lady at the other end of the street on whom she ought to call; and as she had no business at Gray's, it was resolved, that while her young friends transacted6 theirs, she should pay her visit, and return for them.
On ascending7 the stairs, the Misses Dashwood found so many people before them in the room, that there was not a person at liberty to tend to their orders; and they were obliged to wait. All that could be done, was, to sit down at that end of the counter which seemed to promise the quickest succession; one gentleman only was standing8 there, and it is probable that Elinor was not without hope of exciting his politeness to a quicker despatch9. But the correctness of his eye, and the delicacy10 of his taste, proved to be beyond his politeness. He was giving orders for a toothpick-case for himself; and till its size, shape, and ornaments11 were determined12, all of which, after examining and debating for a quarter of an hour over every toothpick-case in the shop, were finally arranged by his own inventive fancy, he had no leisure to bestow13 any other attention on the two ladies than what was comprised in three or four very broad stares; a kind of notice which served to imprint14 on Elinor the remembrance of a person and face of strong, natural, sterling15 insignificance16, though adorned17 in the first style of fashion. Marianne was spared from the troublesome feelings of contempt and resentment18, on this impertinent examination of their features, and on the puppyism of his manner in deciding on all the different horrors of the different toothpick-cases presented to his inspection19, by remaining unconscious of it all; for she was as well able to collect her thoughts within herself, and be as ignorant of what was passing around her, in Mr. Gray's shop, as in her own bedroom. At last the affair was decided20. The ivory, the gold, and the pearls, all received their appointment; and the gentleman having named the last day on which his existence could be continued without the possession of the toothpick-case, drew on his gloves with leisurely21 care, and bestowing22 another glance on the Misses Dashwood, but such a one as seemed rather to demand than express admiration23, walked off with a happy air of real conceit24 and affected25 indifference26. Elinor
lost no time in bringing her business forward, was on the point of concluding it, when another gentleman presented himself at her side. She turned her eyes towards his face, and found him, with some surprise, to be her brother.
Their affection and pleasure in meeting was just enough to make a very creditable appearance in Mr. Gray's shop. John Dashwood was really far from being sorry to see his sisters again; it rather gave them satisfaction; and his enquiries after their mother were respectful and attentive27.
Elinor found that he and Fanny had been in town two days. "I wished very much to call upon you yesterday," said he, "but it was impossible, for we were obliged to take Harry28 to see the wild beasts at Exeter Exchange; and we spent the rest of the day with Mrs. Ferrars. Harry was vastly pleased. This morning I had fully29 intended to call on you, if I could possibly find a spare half hour, but one has always so much to do on first coming to town. I am come here to bespeak30 Fanny a seal. But to-morrow I think I shall certainly be able to call in Berkeley Street, and be introduced to your friend Mrs. Jennings. I understand she is a woman of very good fortune. And the Middletons, too, you must introduce me to them. As my mother-in-law's relations, I shall be happy to show them every respect. They are excellent neighbours to you in the country, I understand." "Excellent indeed. Their attention to our comfort, their friendliness31 in every particular, is more than I can express." "I am extremely glad to hear it, upon my word; extremely glad, indeed. But so it ought to be; they are people of large fortune; they are related to you; and every civility and accommodation that can serve to make your situation pleasant might be reasonably expected. And so you are most comfortably settled in your little cottage, and want for nothing! Edward brought us a most charming account of the place: the most complete thing of its kind, he said, that ever was, and you all seemed to enjoy it beyond any thing. It was a great satisfaction to us to hear it, I assure you." Elinor did feel a little ashamed of her brother; and was not sorry to be spared the necessity of answering him, by the arrival of Mrs. Jennings's servant, who came to tell her that his mistress waited for them at the door.
Mr. Dashwood attended them down stairs, was introduced to Mrs. Jennings at the door of her carriage, and repeating his hope of being able to call on them the next day, took leave. His visit was duly paid. He came with a pretence32 at an apology from their sister-in-law, for not coming too; "but she was so much engaged with her mother, that really she had no leisure for going any where." Mrs. Jennings, however, assured him directly, that she should not stand upon ceremony, for they were all cousins, or something like it, and she should certainly wait on Mrs. John Dashwood very soon, and bring her sisters to see her. His manners to them, though calm, were perfectly33 kind; to Mrs. Jennings, most attentively34 civil; and on Colonel Brandon's coming in soon after himself, he eyed him with a curiosity which seemed to say, that he only wanted to know him to be rich, to be equally civil to him. After staying with them half an hour, he asked Elinor to walk with him to Conduit Street, and introduce him to Sir John and Lady Middleton. The weather was remarkably35 fine, and she readily consented. As soon as they were out of the house, his enquiries began. "Who is Colonel Brandon? Is he a man of fortune?" "Yes; he has very good property in Dorsetshire." "I am glad of it. He seems a most gentlemanlike man; and I think, Elinor, I may congratulate you on the prospect36 of a very respectable establishment in life." "Me, brother! What do you mean?" "He likes you. I observed him narrowly, and am convinced of it. What is the amount of his fortune?" "I believe about two thousand a year." "Two thousand a year!" and then working himself up to a pitch of enthusiastic generosity37, he added, "Elinor, I wish with all my heart it were twice as much for your sake." "Indeed I believe you," replied Elinor; "but I am very sure that Colonel Brandon has not the smallest wish of marrying me." "You are mistaken, Elinor; you are very much mistaken. A very little trouble on your side secures him. Perhaps just at present he may be undecided; the smallness of yo
ur fortune may make him hang back; his friends may all advise him against it. But some of those little attentions and encouragements which ladies can so easily give will fix him, in spite of himself. And there can be no reason why you should not try for him. It is not to be supposed that any prior attachment38 on your side;- in short, you know, as to an attachment of that kind, it is quite out of the question, the objections are insurmountable- you have too much sense not to see all that. Colonel Brandon must be the man; and no civility shall be wanting on my part to make him pleased with you and your family. It is a match that must give universal satisfaction. In short, it is a kind of thing that," lowering his voice to an important whisper, "will be exceedingly welcome to all parties." Recollecting39 himself, however, he added, "That is, I mean to say- your friends are all truly anxious to see you well settled; Fanny particularly, for she has your interest very much at heart, I assure you. And her mother too, Mrs. Ferrars, a very good-natured woman, I am sure it would give her great pleasure; she said as much the other day." Elinor would not vouchsafe40 any answer. "It would be something remarkable41, now," he continued, "something droll42, if Fanny should have a brother and I a sister settling at the same time. And yet it is not very unlikely." "Is Mr. Edward Ferrars," said Elinor, with resolution, "going to be married?" "It is not actually settled, but there is such a thing in agitation43. He has a most excellent mother. Mrs. Ferrars, with the utmost liberality, will come forward, and settle on him a thousand a year, if the match takes place. The lady is the Hon. Miss Morton, only daughter of the late Lord Morton, with thirty thousand pounds. A very desirable connection on both sides, and I have not a doubt of its taking place in time. A thousand a year is a great deal for a mother to give away, to make over for ever; but Mrs. Ferrars has a noble spirit. To give you another instance of her liberality:- The other day, as
soon as we came to town, aware that money could not be very plenty with us just now, she put bank-notes into Fanny's hands to the amount of two hundred pounds. And extremely acceptable it is, for we must live at a great expense while we are here." He paused for her assent44 and compassion45; and she forced herself to say,"Your expenses both in town and country must certainly be considerable; but your income is a large one." "Not so large, I dare say, as many people suppose. I do not mean to complain, however; it is undoubtedly46 a comfortable one, and I hope will in time be better. The enclosure of Norland Common, now carrying on, is a most serious drain. And then I have made a little purchase within this half year; East Kingham Farm, you must remember the place, where old Gibson used to live. The land was so very desirable for me in every respect, so immediately adjoining my own property, that I felt it my duty to buy it. I could not have answered it to my conscience to let it fall into any other hands. A man must pay for his convenience; and it has cost me a vast deal of money." "More than you think it really and intrinsically worth?" "Why, I hope not that. I might have sold it again, the next day, for more than I gave: but, with regard to the purchase money, I might have been very fortunate indeed; for the stocks were, at that time, so low, that if I had not happened to have the necessary sum in my banker's hands, I must have sold out to very great loss." Elinor could only smile. "Other great and inevitable47 expenses, too, we have had on first coming to Norland. Our respected father, as you well know, bequeathed all the Stanhill effects that remained at Norland (and very valuable they were) to your mother. Far be it from me to repine at his doing so; he had an undoubted right to dispose of his own property as he chose. But, in consequence of it, we have been obliged to make large purchases of linen48, china, &c. to supply the place of what was taken away. You may guess, after all these expenses, how very far we must be
from being rich, and how acceptable Mrs. Ferrars's kindness is." "Certainly," said Elinor; "and, assisted by her liberality, I hope you may yet live to be in easy circumstances." "Another year or two may do much towards it," he gravely replied; "but, however, there is still a great deal to be done. There is not a stone laid of Fanny's green-house, and nothing but the plan of the flower-garden marked out." "Where is the green-house to be?" "Upon the knoll49 behind the house. The old walnut50 trees are all come down to make room for it. It will be a very fine object from many parts of the park; and the flower-garden will slope down just before it, and be exceedingly pretty. We have cleared away all the old thorns that grew in patches over the brow." Elinor kept her concern and her censure51 to herself; and was very thankful that Marianne was not present to share the provocation52. Having now said enough to make his poverty clear, and to do away the necessity of buying a pair of ear-rings for each of his sisters, in his next visit at Gray's his thoughts took a cheerfuller turn, and he began to congratulate Elinor on having such a friend as Mrs. Jennings. "She seems a most valuable woman indeed. Her house, her style of living, all bespeak an exceeding good income; and it is an acquaintance that has not only been of great use to you hitherto, but in the end may prove materially advantageous53. Her inviting54 you to town is certainly a vast thing in your favour; and indeed it speaks altogether so great a regard for you, that in all probability when she dies you will not be forgotten. She must have a great deal to leave." "Nothing at all I should rather suppose; for she has only her jointure, which will descend55 to her children." "But it is not to be imagined that she lives up to her income. Few people of common prudence56 will do that; and whatever she saves she will be able to dispose of." "And do you not think it more likely that she should leave it to her daughters, than to us?" "Her daughters are both exceedingly well married, a
nd therefore I cannot perceive the necessity of her remembering them farther. Whereas, in my opinion, by her taking so much notice of you, and treating you in this kind of way, she has given you a sort of claim on her future consideration, which a conscientious57 woman would not disregard. Nothing can be kinder than her behaviour; and she can hardly do all this, without being aware of the expectation it raises." "But she raises none in those most concerned. Indeed, brother, your anxiety for our welfare and prosperity, carries you too far." "Why, to be sure," said he, seeming to recollect4 himself, "people have little, have very little in their power. But, my dear Elinor, what is the matter with Marianne?- She looks very unwell, has lost her colour, and is grown quite thin. Is she ill?" "She is not well, she has had a nervous complaint on her, for several weeks." "I am sorry for that. At her time of life, anything of an illness destroys the bloom for ever! Hers has been a very short one! She was as handsome a girl last September, as I ever saw,- and as likely to attract the men. There was something in her style of beauty to please them particularly. I remember Fanny used to say, that she would marry sooner and better than you did; not but what she is exceedingly fond of you, but so it happened to strike her. She will be mistaken, however. I question whether Marianne, will marry a man worth more than five or six hundred a year, at the utmost, and I am very much deceived if you do not do better. Dorsetshire! I know very little of Dorsetshire; but, my dear Elinor, I shall be exceedingly glad to know more of it; and I think I can answer for your having Fanny and myself among the earliest and best pleased of your visitors." Elinor tried very seriously to convince him that there was no likelihood of her marrying Colonel Brandon; but it was an expectation of too much pleasure to himself to be relinquished58, and he was really resolved on seeking an intimacy59 with that gentleman, and promoting the marriage by every possible att
ention. He had just compunction enough for having done nothing for his sisters himself, to be exceedingly anxious that every body else should do a great deal; and an offer from Colonel Brandon, or a legacy60 from Mrs. Jennings, was the easiest means of atoning61 for his own neglect. They were lucky enough to find Lady Middleton at home, and Sir John came in before their visit ended. Abundance of civilities passed on all sides. Sir John was ready to like anybody; and though Mr. Dashwood did not seem to know much about horses, he soon sat him down as a very good-natured fellow: while Lady Middleton saw enough of fashion in his appearance to think his acquaintance worth having; and Mr. Dashwood went away delighted with both. "I shall have a charming account to carry to Fanny," said he, as he walked back with his sister. "Lady Middleton is really a most elegant woman! Such a woman as, I am sure, Fanny will be glad to know. And Mrs. Jennings, too, an exceedingly well-behaved woman, though not so elegant as her daughter. Your sister need not have any scruple62, even of visiting her, which, to say the truth, has been a little the case, and very naturally; for we only knew that Mrs. Jennings was the widow of a man, who had got all his money in a low way; and Fanny and Mrs. Ferrars were both strongly prepossessed, that neither she nor her daughters were such kind of women as Fanny would like to associate with. But now I can carry her a most satisfactory account of both."
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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negotiation
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| n.谈判，协商 | |
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recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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transacted
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| v.办理（业务等）( transact的过去式和过去分词 )；交易，谈判 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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imprint
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| n.印痕，痕迹；深刻的印象；vt.压印，牢记 | |
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sterling
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| adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑) | |
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insignificance
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| n.不重要；无价值；无意义 | |
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adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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bestowing
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| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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conceit
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| n.自负，自高自大 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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bespeak
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| v.预定；预先请求 | |
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friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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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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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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recollecting
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| v.记起，想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
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vouchsafe
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| v.惠予，准许 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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knoll
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| n.小山，小丘 | |
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walnut
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| n.胡桃，胡桃木，胡桃色，茶色 | |
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censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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52
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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advantageous
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| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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55
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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relinquished
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
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intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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61
atoning
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| v.补偿，赎（罪）( atone的现在分词 )；补偿，弥补，赎回 | |
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scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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