MARIANNE got up the next morning at her usual time; to every enquiry replied that she was better, and tried to prove herself so, by engaging in her accustomary employments. But a day spent in sitting shivering over the fire with a book in her hand, which she was unable to read, or in lying, weary and languid, on a sofa, did not speak much in favour of her amendment1; and when, at last, she went early to bed, more and more indisposed, Colonel Brandon was only astonished at her sister's composure, who, though attending and nursing her the whole day, against Marianne inclination2, and forcing proper medicines on her at night, trusted, like Marianne, to the certainty and efficacy of sleep, and felt no real alarm. A very restless and feverish3 night, however, disappointed the expectation of both; and when Marianne, after persisting in rising, confessed herself unable to sit up, and returned voluntarily to her bed, Elinor was very ready to adopt Mrs. Jennings's advice, of sending for the Palmers' apothecary4.
He came, examined his patient, and though encouraging Miss Dashwood to expect that a very few days would restore her sister to health, yet, by pronouncing her disorder5 to have a putrid6 tendency, and allowing the word "infection" to pass his lips, gave instant alarm to Mrs. Palmer, on her baby's account. Mrs. Jennings, who had been inclined from the first to think Marianne's complaint more serious than Elinor, now looked very grave on Mr. Harris's report, and confirming Charlotte's fears and caution, urged the necessity of her immediate7 removal with the infant; and Mr. Palmer, though treating their apprehensions8 as idle, found the anxiety and importunity9 of his wife too great to be withstood. Her departure, therefore, was fixed10 on; and within an hour after Mr. Harris's arrival, she set off, with her little boy and his nurse, for the house of a near relation of Mr. Palmer's, who lived a few miles on the other side of Bath; whither her husband promised, at her earnest entreaty11, to join her in a day or two; and whither she was almost equally urgent with her mother to accompany her. Mrs. Jennings, however, with a kindness of heart which made Elinor really love her, declared her resolution of not stirring from Cleveland as long as Marianne remained ill, and of endeavouring, by her own attentive12 care, to supply to her the place of the mother she had taken her from; and Elinor found her, on every occasion, a most willing and active helpmate, desirous to share in all her fatigues14, and often, by her better experience in nursing, of material use.
Poor Marianne, languid and low from the nature of her malady15, and feeling herself universally ill, could no longer hope that to-morrow would find her recovered; and the idea of what to-morrow would have produced, but for this unlucky illness, made every ailment16 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 lamentation17 of this inevitable18 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 alteration19 in the state of the 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 unwilling20 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 exertion21, 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 compliance22, could not long even affect to demur23; 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 emergency. 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. Harris, who attended her every day, still talked boldly of a speedy recovery; and Miss Dashwood was equally sanguine24; but the expectation of the others was by no means so cheerful. Mrs. Jennings had determined25, very early in the seizure26, 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 judgment27 of the apothecary seemed to render absurd; but the many hours of each day in which he was left entirely28 alone were but too favourable29 for the admission of every melancholy30 idea; and he could not expel from his mind the persuasion31 that he should see Marianne no more.
On the morning of the third day, however, the gloomy anticipations32 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 auspiciously33 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 fatigue13 of having sat up to have her bed made; and carefully administering the cordials prescribed, saw her, with satisfaction, sink at last into a slumber34, from which she expected the most 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 repose35 of the latter became more and more disturbed, and her sister, who watched, with unremitting attention, her continual change of posture36, 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 awakened37 by some accidental noise in the house, started hastily up, and, with feverish wildness, cried out,"Is mamma coming?" "Not yet," cried the other, concealing38 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 soothe39 her, eagerly felt her pulse. It was lower and quicker than ever. And Marianne, still talking wildly of mamma, 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 she had 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 hesitation41. 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 obviated42; 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 fervent43 gratitude44; 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 at that moment as Colonel Brandon,or such a companion for her mother,- how gratefully was it felt! a companion whose judgment would guide, whose must relieve, and whose friendship might soothe her! As far as the shock of such a summons could be lessened45 to her, his presence, his manners, his assistance, would lessen46 it.
He, meanwhile, whatever he might feel, acted with all the firmness of a collected mind, made every necessary arrangement with the utmost despatch40, and calculated with exactness the time in which she might look for his return. Not a moment was lost in delay of any kind. The horses arrived, even before they were expected; and Colonel Brandon only pressing her hand with a look of solemnity, and a few words spoken too low to reach her ear, hurried into the carriage. It was then about twelve o'clock, and she returned to her sister's apartment to wait for the arrival of the apothecary, and to watch by her the rest of the night. It was a night of almost equal suffering to both. Hour after hour passed away in sleepless47 pain and delirium48 on Marianne's side, and in the most cruel anxiety on Elinor's, before Mr. Harris appeared. Her apprehensions once raised paid by their excess for all her former security; and the servant who sat up with her, for she would not allow Mrs. Jennings to be called, only tortured her more, by hints of what her mistress had always thought. Marianne's ideas were still, at intervals49, fixed incoherently on her mother; and whenever she mentioned her name it gave a pang50 to the heart of poor Elinor, who, reproaching herself for having trifled with so many days of illness, and wretched for some immediate relief, fancied that all relief might soon be in vain, that every thing had been delayed too long, and pictured to herself her suffering mother arriving too late to see this darling child, or to see her rational.
She was on the point of sending again for Mr. Harris, or if he could not come, for some other advice, when the former- but not till after 5 o'clock- arrived. His opinion, however, made some little amends51 for his delay; for though acknowledging a very unexpected and unpleasant alteration in his patient, he would not allow the danger to be material, and talked of the relief which a fresh mode of treatment must procure52, with a confidence which, in a lesser53 degree, was communicated to Elinor. He promised to call again in the course of three or four hours; and left both the patient and her anxious attendant more composed than he had found them. With strong concern, and with many reproaches for not being called to their aid, did Mrs. Jennings hear in the morning of what had passed. Her former apprehensions, now with greater reason restored, left her no doubt of the event; and though trying to speak comfort to Elinor, her conviction of her sister's danger would not allow her to offer the comfort of hope. Her heart was really grieved. The rapid decay, the early death of a girl so young, so lovely as Marianne, must have struck a less interested person with concern. On Mrs. Jennings's compassion54 she had other claims. She had been for three months her companion, was still under her care, and she was known to have been greatly injured, and long unhappy. The distress55 of her sister, too, particularly a favourite, was before her; and as for their mother, when Mrs. Jennings considered that Marianne might probably be to her what Charlotte was to herself, her sympathy in her sufferings was very sincere.
Mr. Harris was punctual in his second visit; but he came to be disappointed in his hopes of what the last would produce. His medicines had failed; the fever was unabated; and Marianne only more quiet- not more herself- remained in a heavy stupor56. Elinor, catching57 all, and more than all, his fear in a moment, proposed to call in further advice. But he judged it unnecessary: he had still something more to try, some more fresh application, of whose success he was as confident as the last; and his visit concluded with encouraging assurances which reached the ear but could not enter the heart of Miss Dashwood. She was calm, except when she thought of her mother; but she was almost hopeless; and in this state she continued till noon, scarcely stirring from her sister's bed, her thoughts wandering from one image of grief, one suffering friend to another; and her spirits oppressed to the utmost by the conversation of Mrs. Jennings, who scrupled58 not to attribute the severity and danger of this attack to the many weeks of previous indisposition which Marianne's disappointment had brought on. Elinor felt all the reasonableness of the idea, and it gave fresh misery59 to her reflections.
About noon, however, she began- but with a caution- a dread60 of disappointment which for some time kept her silent even to her friendto fancy, to hope she could perceive a slight amendment in her sister's pulse: she waited, watched, and examined it again and again; and at last, with an agitation61 more difficult to bury under exterior62 calmness than all her foregoing distress, ventured to communicate her hopes. Mrs. Jennings, though forced, on examination, to acknowledge a temporary revival63, tried to keep her young friend from indulging a thought of its continuance; and Elinor, coming over every injunction of distrust, told herself likewise not to hope. But it was too late. Hope had already entered; and feeling all its anxious flutter, she bent64 over her sister to watch- she hardly knew for what. Half an hour passed away, and the favourable symptom yet blessed her. Others even arose to confirm it. Her breath, her skin, her lips, all flattered Elinor with signs of amendment; and Marianne fixed her eyes on her with a rational, though languid, gaze. Anxiety and hope now oppressed her in equal degrees, and left her no moment of tranquillity65 till the arrival of Mr. Harris at four o'clock; when his assurances, his felicitations on a recovery in her sister even surpassing his expectation, gave her confidence, comfort, and tears of joy.
Marianne was in every respect materially better; and he declared her entirely out of danger. Mrs. Jennings, perhaps satisfied with the partial justification66 of her forebodings which had been found in their late alarm, allowed herself to trust in his judgment, and admitted, with unfeigned joy, and soon with unequivocal cheerfulness, the probability of an entire recovery. Elinor could not be cheerful. Her joy was of a different kind, and led to any thing rather than to gaiety. Marianne, restored to life, health, friends, and to her doting67 mother, was an idea to fill her heart with sensations of exquisite68 comfort, and expand it in fervant gratitude; but it lead to no outward demonstrations69 of joy, no words, no smiles. All within Elinor's breast was satisfaction, silent and strong.
She continued by the side of her sister, with little intermission, the whole afternoon; calming every fear, satisfying every enquiry of her enfeebled spirits, supplying every succour, and watching almost every look and every breath. The possibility of a relapse would, of course, in some moments, occur to remind her of what anxiety was; but when she saw, on her frequent and minute examination, that every symptom of recovery continued, and saw Marianne at six o'clock sink into a quiet, steady, and to all appearance comfortable, sleep, she silenced every doubt.
The time was now drawing on when Colonel Brandon might be expected back. At ten o'clock, she trusted, or at least not much later, her mother would be relieved from the dreadful suspense70 in which she must now be travelling towards them. The Colonel, too!- perhaps scarcely less an object of pity! Oh! how slow was the progress of time which yet kept them in ignorance!
At seven o'clock, leaving Marianne still sweetly asleep, she joined Mrs. Jennings in the drawing-room to tea. Of breakfast she had been kept by her fears, and of dinner by their sudden reverse, from eating much; and the present refreshment71. therefore, with such feelings of content as she brought to it, was particularly welcome. Mrs. Jennings would have persuaded her, at its conclusion, to take some rest before her mother's arrival, and allow her to take her place by Marianne; but Elinor had no sense of fatigue, no capability72 of sleep at that moment about her, and she was not to be kept away from her sister an unnecessary instant. Mrs. Jennings, therefore, attending her up stairs into the sick chamber73, to satisfy herself that all continued right, left her there again to her charge and her thoughts, and retired74 to her own room to write letters and sleep. The night was cold and stormy. The wind roared round the house, and the rain beat against the windows; but Elinor, all happiness within, regarded it not. Marianne slept through every blast; and the travellers, they had a rich reward in store, for every present inconvenience.
The clock struck eight. Had it been ten, Elinor would have been convinced that at the moment she heard a carriage driving up to the house; and so strong was the persuasion that she did, in spite of the almost impossibility of their being already come, that she moved into the adjoining dressing-closet and opened a window shutter75, to be satisfied of the truth. She instantly saw that her ears had not deceived her. The flaring76 lamps of a carriage were immediately in view. By their uncertain light she thought she could discern it to be drawn77 by four horses; and this, while it told the excess of her poor mother's alarm, gave some explanation to such unexpected rapidity.
Never in her life had Elinor found it so difficult to be calm as at that moment. The knowledge of what her mother must be feeling as the carriage stopped at the door- of her doubt- her dread- perhaps her despair!- and of what she had to tell! with such knowledge it was impossible to be calm. All that remained to be done was to be speedy; and, therefore, staying only till she could leave Mrs. Jennings's maid with her sister, she hurried down stairs. The bustle78 in the vestibule, as she passed along an inner lobby, assured her that they were already in the house. She rushed to the drawing-room: she entered it- and saw only Willoughby.
1 amendment | |
n.改正,修正,改善,修正案 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 inclination | |
n.倾斜;点头;弯腰;斜坡;倾度;倾向;爱好 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 feverish | |
adj.发烧的,狂热的,兴奋的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 apothecary | |
n.药剂师 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 disorder | |
n.紊乱,混乱;骚动,骚乱;疾病,失调 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 putrid | |
adj.腐臭的;有毒的;已腐烂的;卑劣的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 immediate | |
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 apprehensions | |
疑惧 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 importunity | |
n.硬要,强求 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 entreaty | |
n.恳求,哀求 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 attentive | |
adj.注意的,专心的;关心(别人)的,殷勤的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 fatigue | |
n.疲劳,劳累 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 fatigues | |
n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 );杂役;厌倦;(士兵穿的)工作服 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 malady | |
n.病,疾病(通常做比喻) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 ailment | |
n.疾病,小病 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 lamentation | |
n.悲叹,哀悼 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 inevitable | |
adj.不可避免的,必然发生的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 alteration | |
n.变更,改变;蚀变 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 unwilling | |
adj.不情愿的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 exertion | |
n.尽力,努力 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 compliance | |
n.顺从;服从;附和;屈从 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 demur | |
v.表示异议,反对 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 sanguine | |
adj.充满希望的,乐观的,血红色的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 seizure | |
n.没收;占有;抵押 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 judgment | |
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29 favourable | |
adj.赞成的,称赞的,有利的,良好的,顺利的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30 melancholy | |
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31 persuasion | |
n.劝说;说服;持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32 anticipations | |
预期( anticipation的名词复数 ); 预测; (信托财产收益的)预支; 预期的事物 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33 auspiciously | |
adv.吉利; 繁荣昌盛; 前途顺利; 吉祥 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34 slumber | |
n.睡眠,沉睡状态 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35 repose | |
v.(使)休息;n.安息 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36 posture | |
n.姿势,姿态,心态,态度;v.作出某种姿势 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37 awakened | |
v.(使)醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38 concealing | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39 soothe | |
v.安慰;使平静;使减轻;缓和;奉承 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40 despatch | |
n./v.(dispatch)派遣;发送;n.急件;新闻报道 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41 hesitation | |
n.犹豫,踌躇 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
42 obviated | |
v.避免,消除(贫困、不方便等)( obviate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
43 fervent | |
adj.热的,热烈的,热情的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
44 gratitude | |
adj.感激,感谢 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
45 lessened | |
减少的,减弱的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
46 lessen | |
vt.减少,减轻;缩小 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
47 sleepless | |
adj.不睡眠的,睡不著的,不休息的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
48 delirium | |
n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
49 intervals | |
n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 );间隔时间;[数学]区间;(戏剧、电影或音乐会的)幕间休息 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
50 pang | |
n.剧痛,悲痛,苦闷 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
51 amends | |
n. 赔偿 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
52 procure | |
vt.获得,取得,促成;vi.拉皮条 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
53 lesser | |
adj.次要的,较小的;adv.较小地,较少地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
54 compassion | |
n.同情,怜悯 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
55 distress | |
n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
56 stupor | |
v.昏迷;不省人事 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
57 catching | |
adj.易传染的,有魅力的,迷人的,接住 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
58 scrupled | |
v.感到于心不安,有顾忌( scruple的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
59 misery | |
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
60 dread | |
vt.担忧,忧虑;惧怕,不敢;n.担忧,畏惧 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
61 agitation | |
n.搅动;搅拌;鼓动,煽动 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
62 exterior | |
adj.外部的,外在的;表面的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
63 revival | |
n.复兴,复苏,(精力、活力等的)重振 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
64 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
65 tranquillity | |
n. 平静, 安静 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
66 justification | |
n.正当的理由;辩解的理由 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
67 doting | |
adj.溺爱的,宠爱的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
68 exquisite | |
adj.精美的;敏锐的;剧烈的,感觉强烈的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
69 demonstrations | |
证明( demonstration的名词复数 ); 表明; 表达; 游行示威 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
70 suspense | |
n.(对可能发生的事)紧张感,担心,挂虑 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
71 refreshment | |
n.恢复,精神爽快,提神之事物;(复数)refreshments:点心,茶点 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
72 capability | |
n.能力;才能;(pl)可发展的能力或特性等 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
73 chamber | |
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
74 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
75 shutter | |
n.百叶窗;(照相机)快门;关闭装置 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
76 flaring | |
a.火焰摇曳的,过份艳丽的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
77 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
78 bustle | |
v.喧扰地忙乱,匆忙,奔忙;n.忙碌;喧闹 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |