MRS. JOHN DASHWOOD had so much confidence in her husband's judgment1, that she waited the very next day both on Mrs. Jennings and her daughter; and her confidence was rewarded by finding even the former, even the woman with whom her sisters were staying, by no means unworthy of notice; and as for Lady Middleton, she found her one of the most charming women in the world.
Lady Middleton was equally pleased with Mrs. Dashwood. There was a kind of cold-hearted selfishness on both sides, which mutually attracted them; and they sympathised with each other in an insipid3 propriety4 of demeanor5, and a general want of understanding. The same manners, however, which recommended Mrs. John Dashwood to the good opinion of Lady Middleton did not suit the fancy of Mrs. Jennings, and to her she appeared nothing more than a little proud-looking woman, of uncordial address, who met her husband's sisters without any affection, and almost without having anything to say to them; for of the quarter of an hour bestowed6 on Berkeley Street, she sat at least seven minutes and a half in silence. Elinor wanted very much to know, though she did not choose to ask, whether Edward was then in town; but nothing would have induced Fanny voluntarily to mention his name before her, till able to tell her, that his marriage with Miss Morton was resolved on, or till her husband's expectations on Colonel Brandon were answered; because she believed them still so very much attached to each other, that they could not be too seduously divided in word and deed on every occasion. The intelligence, however, which she would not give, soon flowed from another quarter. Lucy came very shortly to claim Elinor's compassion7 on being unable to see Edward, though he had arrived in town with Mr. and Mrs. Dashwood. He dared not come to Bartlett's Buildings for fear of detection; and though their mutual2 impatience8 to meet was not to be told, they could do nothing at present but write. Edward assured them himself of his being in town, within a very short time, by twice calling in Berkeley Street. Twice was his card found on the table, when they returned from their morning's engagements. Elinor was pleased that he had called; and still more pleased that she had missed him.
The Dashwoods were so prodigiously9 delighted with the Middletons, that, though not much in the habit of giving anything, they determined10 to give them a dinner; and soon after their acquaintance began, invited them to dine in Harley Street, where they had taken a very good house for three months. Their sisters and Mrs. Jennings were invited likewise; and John Dashwood was careful to secure Colonel Brandon, who, always glad to be where the Misses Dashwood were, received his eager civilities with some surprise, but much more pleasure. They were to meet Mrs. Ferrars; but Elinor could not learn whether her sons were to be of the party. The expectation of seeing her, however, was enough to make her interested in the engagement; for though she could now meet Edward's mother without that strong anxiety which had once promised to attend such an introduction, though she could now see her with perfect indifference11 as to her opinion of herself, her desire of being in company with Mrs. Ferrars, her curiosity to know what she was like, was as lively as ever.
The interest with which she thus anticipated the party was soon afterwards increased, more powerfully than pleasantly, by her hearing that the Misses Steele were also to be at it. So well had they recommended themselves to Lady Middleton, so agreeable had their assiduities made them to her, that though Lucy was certainly not so elegant, and her sister not even genteel, she was as ready as Sir John to ask them to spend a week or two in Conduit Street; and it happened to be particularly convenient to the Misses Steele, as soon as the Dashwoods' invitation was known, that their visit should begin a few days before the party took place. Their claims to the notice of Mrs. John Dashwood, as the nieces of the gentleman who for many years had had the care of her brother, might not have done much, however, towards procuring12 them seats at her table; but as Lady Middleton's guests they must be welcome; and Lucy, who had long wanted to be personally known to the family, to have a nearer view of their characters and her own difficulties, and to have an opportunity of endeavouring to please them, had seldom been happier in her life, than she was on receiving Mrs. John Dashwood's card.
On Elinor its effect was very different. She began immediately to determine, that Edward, who lived with his mother, must be asked, as his mother was, to a party given by his sister; and to see him, for the first time, after all that passed, in the company of Lucy!- she hardly knew how she could bear it!
These apprehensions14, perhaps, were not founded entirely15 on reason, and certainly not at all on truth. They were relieved, however, not by her own recollection, but by the good will of Lucy, who believed herself to be inflicting16 a severe disappointment, when she told her, that Edward certainly would not be in Harley Street on Tuesday, and even hoped to be carrying the pain still farther, by persuading her that he was kept away by the extreme affection for herself, which she could not conceal17 when they were together. The important Tuesday came that was to introduce the two young ladies to this formidable mother-in-law. "Pity me, dear Miss Dashwood!" said Lucy, as they walked up the stairs together- for the Middletons arrived so directly after Miss Jennings, that they all followed the servant at the same time:- "there is nobody here but you that can feel for me. I declare I can hardly stand. Good gracious! In a moment I shall see the person that all my happiness depends on- that is to be my mother!" Elinor could have given her immediate13 relief, by suggesting the possibility of its being Miss Morton's mother, rather than her own, whom they were about to behold18; but instead of doing that, she assured her, and with great sincerity19, that she did pity her- to the utter amazement20 of Lucy, who, though really uncomfortable herself, hoped at least to be an object of irrepressible envy to Elinor. Mrs. Ferrars was a little, thin woman, upright, even to formality, in her figure, and serious, even to sourness, in her aspect. Her complexion21 was sallow; and her features small, without beauty, and naturally without expression; but a lucky contraction22 of the brow had rescued her countenance23 from the disgrace of insipidity24, by giving it the strong characters of pride and ill-nature. She was not a woman of many words; for, unlike people in general, she proportioned them to the number of her ideas; and of the few syllables25 that did escape her, not one fell to the share of Miss Dashwood, whom she eyed with the spirited determination of
disliking her at all events. Elinor could not now be made unhappy by this behaviour. A few months ago it would have hurt her exceedingly; but it was not in Mrs. Ferrars' power to distress26 her by it now; and the difference of her manners to the Misses Steele, a difference which seemed purposely made to humble27 her more, only amused her. She could not but smile to see the graciousness of both mother and daughter towards the very person- for Lucy was particularly distinguished28- whom of all others, had they known as much as she did, they would have been most anxious to mortify29; while she herself, who had comparatively no power to wound them, sat pointedly30 slighted by both. But while she smiled at a graciousness so misapplied, she could not reflect on the mean-spirited folly31 from which it sprung, nor observe the studied attentions with which the Misses Steele courted its continuance, without thoroughly32 despising them all four.
Lucy was all exultation33 on being so honorably distinguished; and Miss Steele wanted only to be teazed about Dr. Davis to be perfectly34 happy.
The dinner was a grand one, the servants were numerous, and everything bespoke35 the mistress's inclination36 for show, and the master's ability to support it. In spite of the improvements and additions which were making to the Norland estate, and in spite of its owner having once been within some thousand pounds of being obliged to sell out at a loss, nothing gave any symptom of that indigence37 which he had tried to infer from it; no poverty of any kind, except of conversation, appeared; but there the deficiency was considerable. John Dashwood had not much to say for himself that was worth hearing, and his wife had still less. But there was no peculiar38 disgrace in this; for it was very much the case with the chief of their visitors, who almost all laboured under one or other of these disqualifications for being agreeable- want of sense, either natural or improved- want of elegance- want of spirits- or want of temper. When the ladies withdrew to the drawing-room after dinner, this poverty was particularly evident, for the gentlemen had supplied the discourse39 with some variety- the variety of politics, enclosing land, and breaking horses- but then it was all over; and one subject only engaged the ladies till coffee came in, which was the comparative heights of Harry40 Dashwood, and Lady Middleton's second son William, who were nearly of the same age.
Had both the children been there, the affair might have been determined too easily by measuring them at once; but as Harry only was present, it was all conjectural41 assertion on both sides; and everybody had a right to be equally positive in their opinion, and to repeat it over and over again as often as they liked. The parties stood thusThe two mothers, though each really convinced that her own son was the tallest, politely decided42 in favour of the other. The two grandmothers, with not less partiality, but more sincerity, were equally earnest in support of their own descendant. Lucy, who was hardly less anxious to please one parent than the other, thought the boys were both remarkably43 tall for their age, and could not conceive that there could be the smallest difference in the world between them; and Miss Steele, with yet greater address, gave it, as fast as she could, in favour of each. Elinor, having once delivered her opinion on William's side, by which she offended Mrs. Ferrars and Fanny still more, did not see the necessity of enforcing it by any farther assertion; and Marianne, when called on for hers, offended them all, by declaring that she had no opinion to give, as she had never thought about it. Before her removing from Norland, Elinor had painted a very pretty pair of screens for her sister-in-law, which being now just mounted and brought home, ornamented44 her present drawing-room; and these screens catching45 the eye of John Dashwood on his following the other gentlemen into the room, were officiously handed by him to Colonel Brandon for his admiration46. "These are done by my eldest47 sister," said he; "and you, as a man of taste, will, I dare say, be pleased with them. I do not know whether you have ever happened to see any of her performances before, but she is in general reckoned to draw extremely well." The Colonel, though disclaiming48 all pretensions49 to connoisseurship50, warmly admired the screens, as he would have done anything painted by Miss Dashwood; and on the curiosity of the others being of cours
e excited, they were handed round for general inspection51. Mrs. Ferrars, not aware of their being Elinor's work, particularly requested to look at them; and after they had received gratifying testimony52 of Lady Middletons's approbation53, Fanny presented them to her mother, considerately informing her, at the same time, that they were done by Miss Dashwood. "Hum"- said Mrs. Ferrars- "very pretty,"- and without regarding them at all, returned them to her daughter.
Perhaps Fanny thought for a moment that her mother had been quite rude enough; for, colouring a little, she immediately said,"They are very pretty, ma'am- an't they?" But then again the dread54 of having been too civil, too encouraging herself, probably came over her, for she presently added,"Do you not think they are something in Miss Morton's style of painting, ma'am?- She does paint most delightfully55!- How beautifully her last landscape is done!" "Beautifully indeed! But she does everything well." Marianne could not bear this. She was already greatly displeased56 with Mrs. Ferrars; and such ill-timed praise of another, at Elinor's expense, though she had not any notion of what was principally meant by it, provoked her immediately to say, with warmth,"This is admiration of a very particular kind! what is Miss Morton to us? who knows, or who cares, for her?- it is Elinor of whom we think and speak." And so saying, she took the screens out of her sister-in-law's hands to admire them herself as they ought to be admired. Mrs. Ferrars looked exceedingly angry, and drawing herself up more stiffly than ever, pronounced, in retort, this bitter philippic, "Miss Morton is Lord Morton's daughter." Fanny looked very angry too, and her husband was all in a fright at his sister's audacity57. Elinor was much more hurt by Marianne's warmth than she had been by what produced it; but Colonel Brandon's eyes, as they were fixed58 on Marianne, declared that he noticed only what was amiable59 in it, the affectionate heart which could not bear to see a sister slighted in the smallest point. Marianne's feelings did not stop here. The cold insolence60 of Mrs. Ferrars's general behaviour to her sister, seemed to her to foretell61 such difficulties and distresses62 to Elinor as her own wounded heart taught her to think of with horror; and, urged by a strong impulse of affectionate sensibility, she moved after a moment, to her sister's chair, and putting one arm round her neck, and one cheek close to hers, said in a low, but eager, voice,"Dear, dear Elin
or, don't mind them. Don't let them make you unhappy." She could say no more; her spirits were quite overcome; and hiding her face on Elinor's shoulder, she burst into tears. Everybody's attention was called, and almost everybody was concerned. Colonel Brandon rose up and went to them without knowing what he did. Mrs. Jennings, with a very intelligent "Ah! poor dear," immediately gave her her salts; and Sir John felt so desperately63 enraged64 against the author of this nervous distress, that he instantly changed his seat to one close by Lucy Steele, and gave her, in a whisper, a brief account of the whole shocking affair.
In a few minutes, however, Marianne was recovered enough to put an end to the bustle65, and sit down among the rest; though her spirits retained the impression of what had passed the whole evening. "Poor Marianne!" said her brother to Colonel Brandon, in a low voice, as soon as he could secure his attention; "she has not such good health as her sister,- she is very nervous,- she has not Elinor's constitution;- and one must allow that there is something very trying to a young woman who has been a beauty in the loss of her personal attractions. You would not think it, perhaps, but Marianne was remarkably handsome a few months ago; quite as handsome as Elinor. Now you see it is all gone."
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1
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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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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insipid
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| adj.无味的，枯燥乏味的，单调的 | |
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propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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demeanor
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| n.行为；风度 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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prodigiously
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| adv.异常地，惊人地，巨大地 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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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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procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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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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inflicting
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 ) | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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contraction
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| n.缩略词，缩写式，害病 | |
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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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insipidity
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| n.枯燥无味，清淡，无精神；无生气状 | |
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syllables
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| n.音节( syllable的名词复数 ) | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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mortify
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| v.克制，禁欲，使受辱 | |
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pointedly
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| adv.尖地，明显地 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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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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bespoke
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| adj.（产品）订做的；专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
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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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indigence
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| n.贫穷 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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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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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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conjectural
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| adj.推测的 | |
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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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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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disclaiming
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| v.否认( disclaim的现在分词 ) | |
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pretensions
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| 自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力 | |
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connoisseurship
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| n.鉴赏家（或鉴定家、行家）身份，鉴赏（或鉴定）力 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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delightfully
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| 大喜，欣然 | |
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displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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foretell
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| v.预言，预告，预示 | |
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distresses
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| n.悲痛( distress的名词复数 )；痛苦；贫困；危险 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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