ELINOR, for some time after he left her, for some time even after the sound of his carriage had died away, remained too much oppressed by a crowd of ideas, widely differing in themselves, but of which sadness was the general result, to think even of her sister. Willoughby- he whom only half an hour ago she had abhorred1 as the most worthless of men- Willoughby, in spite of all his faults, excited a degree of commiseration2 for the sufferings produced by them, which made her think of him as now separated for ever from her family, with a tenderness, a regret, rather in proportion, as she soon acknowledged within herself, to his wishes than to his merits. She felt that his influence over her mind was heightened by circumstances which ought not in reason to have weight: by that person of uncommon3 attraction, that open, affectionate, and lively manner, which it was no merit to possess; and by that still ardent4 love for Marianne, which it was not even innocent to indulge. But she felt that it was so, long, long before she could feel his influence less. When at last she returned to the unconscious Marianne, she found her just awaking, refreshed by so long and sweet a sleep to the extent of her hopes. Elinor's heart was full. The past, the present, the future, Willoughby's visit, Marianne's safety, and her mother's expected arrival, threw her altogether into an agitation5 of spirits which kept off every indication of fatigue6, and made her only fearful of betraying herself to her sister. Short was the time, however, in which that fear could affect her; for within half an hour after Willoughby's leaving the house, she was again called down stairs by the sound of another carriage. Eager to save her mother from every unnecessary moment's horrible suspense7, she ran immediately into the hall, and reached the outward door just in time to receive and support her as she entered it.
Mrs. Dashwood, whose terror as they drew near the house had produced almost the conviction of Marianne's being no more, had no voice to enquire8 after her, no voice even for Elinor: but she, waiting neither for salutation nor enquiry, instantly gave the joyful9 relief; and her mother, catching10 it with all her usual warmth, was in a moment as much overcome by her happiness as she had been before by her fears. She was supported into the drawing-room between her daughter and her friend; and there, shedding tears of joy, though still unable to speak, embraced Elinor again and again, turning from her at intervals11 to press Colonel Brandon's hand, with a look which spoke12 at once her gratitude13, and her conviction of his sharing with herself in the bliss14 of the moment. He shared it, however, in a silence even greater than her own.
As soon as Mrs. Dashwood had recovered herself, to see Marianne was her first desire; and in two minutes she was with her beloved child, rendered dearer to her than ever by absence, unhappiness, and danger. Elinor's delight, as she saw what each felt in the meeting, was only checked by an apprehension15 of its robbing Marianne of farther sleep: but Mrs. Dashwood could be calm, could be even prudent16, when the life of a child was at stake; and Marianne, satisfied in knowing her mother was near her, and conscious of being too weak for conversation, submitted readily to the silence and quiet prescribed by every nurse around her. Mrs. Dashwood would sit up with her all night; and Elinor, in compliance17 with her mother's entreaty18, went to bed. But the rest, which one night entirely19 sleepless20, and many hours of the most wearing anxiety seemed to make requisite21, was kept off by irritation22 of spirits. Willoughby, "poor Willoughby," as she now allowed herself to call him, was constantly in her thoughts: she would not but have heard his vindication23 for the world, and now blamed, now acquitted24 herself for having judged him so harshly before. But her promise of relating it to her sister was invariably painful. She dreaded25 the performance of it, dreaded what its effect on Marianne might be; doubted whether, after such an explanation, she could ever be happy with another; and for a moment wished Willoughby a widower26. Then, remembering Colonel Brandon, reproved herself, felt that to his sufferings and his constancy, far more than to his rival's, the reward of her sister was due, and wished any thing rather than Mrs. Willoughby's death.
The shock of Colonel Brandon's errand at Barton had been much softened27 to Mrs. Dashwood by her own previous alarm; for so great was her uneasiness about Marianne, that she had already determined28 to set out for Cleveland on that very day without waiting for any further intelligence, and had so far settled her journey before his arrival, that the Careys were then expected every moment to fetch Margaret away, as her mother was unwilling29 to take her where there might be infection.
Marianne continued to mend every day; and the brilliant cheerfulness of Mrs. Dashwood's looks and spirits proved her to be, as she repeatedly declared herself, one of the happiest women in the world. Elinor could not hear the declaration, nor witness its proofs, without sometimes wondering whether her mother ever recollected30 Edward. But Mrs. Dashwood, trusting to the temperate31 account of her own disappointment, which Elinor had sent her, was led away by the exuberance32 of her joy to think only of what would increase it. Marianne was restored to her, from a danger in which, as she now began to feel, her own mistaken judgment33 in encouraging the unfortunate attachment34 to Willoughby had contributed to place her; and in her recovery she had yet another source of joy, unthought of by Elinor. It was thus imparted to her, as soon as any opportunity of private conference between them occurred. "At last we are alone. My Elinor, you do not yet know all my happiness. Colonel Brandon loves Marianne. He has told me so himself." Her daughter, feeling by turns both pleased and pained, surprised and not surprised, was all silent attention. "You are never like me, dear Elinor, or I should wonder at your composure now. Had I sat down to wish for any possible good to my family, I should have fixed35 on Colonel Brandon's marrying one of you, as the object most desirable; and I believe Marianne will be the most happy with him of the two." Elinor was half inclined to ask her reason for thinking so, because satisfied that none, founded on an impartial36 consideration of their age, characters, or feelings, could be given: but her mother must always be carried away by her imagination, on any interesting subject; and, therefore, instead of an enquiry, she passed it off with a smile. "He opened his whole heart to me yesterday as we travelled. It came out quite unawares, quite undesignedly. I, you may well believe, could talk of nothing but my child:- he could not conceal37 his distress38; I saw that it equalled my own; and he, perhaps thinking that
mere friendship, as the world now goes, would not justify39 so warm a sympathy; or rather, not thinking at all, I suppose, giving way to irresistible40 feelings, made me acquainted with his earnest, tender, constant, affection for Marianne. He has loved her, my Elinor, ever since the first moment of seeing her." Here, however, Elinor perceived, not the language, not the professions of Colonel Brandon, but the natural embellishments of her mother's active fancy, which fashioned every thing delightful41 to her as it chose. "His regard for her, infinitely42 surpassing any thing that Willoughby ever felt or feigned43, as much more warm, as more sincere or constant, whichever we are to call it, has subsisted44 through all the knowledge of dear Marianne's unhappy prepossession for that worthless young man! and without selfishness, without encouraging a hope! could he have seen her happy with another. Such a noble mind! such openness, such sincerity45! No one can be deceived in him." "Colonel Brandon's character," said Elinor, "as an excellent man, is well established." "I know it is," replied her mother, seriously, "or, after such a warning, I should be the last to encourage such affection, or even to be pleased by it. But his coming for me, as he did, with such active, such ready friendship, is enough to prove him one of the worthiest46 of men." "His character, however," answered Elinor, "does not rest on one act of kindness, to which his affection for Marianne, were humanity out of the case, would have prompted him. To Mrs. Jennings, to the Middletons, he has been long and intimately known: they equally love and respect him; and even my own knowledge of him, though lately acquired, is very considerable; and so highly do I value and esteem47 him, that if Marianne can be happy with him, I shall be as ready as yourself to think our connection the greatest blessing48 to us in the world. What answer did you give him? Did you allow him to hope?" "Oh, my love! I could not then talk of hope to him or to myself. Marianne might, at that moment, b
e dying. But he did not ask for hope, or encouragement. His was an involuntary confidence, an irrepressible effusion to a soothing49 friend, not an application to a parent. Yet, after a time, I did say, for, at first, I was quite overcome, that if she lived, as I trusted she might, my greatest happiness would lie in promoting their marriage; and since our arrival, since our delightful security, I have repeated it to him more fully50, have given him every encouragement in my power. Time, a very little time, I tell him, will do every thing; Marianne's heart is not to be wasted for ever on such a man as Willoughby. His own merits must soon secure it." "To judge from the Colonel's spirits, however, you have not yet made him equally sanguine51." "No. He thinks Marianne's affection too deeply rooted for any change in it under a great length of time; and even supposing her heart again free, is too diffident of himself to believe, that with such a difference of age and disposition52 he could ever attach her. There, however, he is quite mistaken. His age is only so much beyond hers as to be an advantage, as to make his character and principles fixed; and his disposition, I am well convinced, is exactly the very one to make your sister happy. And his person, his manners, too, are all in his favour. My partiality does not blind me: he certainly is not so handsome as Willoughby; but, at the same time, there is something much more pleasing in his countenance53. There was always a something, if you remember, in Willoughby's eyes at times, which I did not like." Elinor could not remember it; but her mother, without waiting for her assent54, continued: "And his manners, the Colonel's manners are not only more pleasing to me than Willoughby's ever were, but they are of a kind I well know to be more solidly attaching to Marianne. Their gentleness, their genuine attention to other people, and their manly55 unstudied simplicity56, is much more accordant with her real disposition than the liveliness, often artificial, and often ill-timed of the othe
r. I am very sure myself, that had Willoughby turned out as really amiable57, as he has proved himself the contrary, Marianne would yet never have been so happy with him as she will be with Colonel Brandon." She paused. Her daughter could not quite agree with her; but her dissent58 was not heard, and therefore gave no offence. "At Delaford, she will be within an easy distance of me," added Mrs. Dashwood, "even if I remain at Barton; and in all probabilityfor I hear it is a large village- indeed there certainly must be some small house or cottage close by, that would suit us quite as well as our present situation." Poor Elinor!- here was a new scheme for getting her to Delaford!- but her spirit was stubborn. "His fortune too!- for at my time of life, you know, every body cares about that;- and though I neither know, nor desire to know, what it really is, I am sure it must be a good one." Here they were interrupted by the entrance of a third person; and Elinor withdrew to think it all over in private, to wish success to her friend, and yet, in wishing it, to feel a pang59 for Willoughby.
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abhorred
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| v.憎恶( abhor的过去式和过去分词 )；（厌恶地）回避；拒绝；淘汰 | |
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commiseration
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| n.怜悯，同情 | |
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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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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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enquire
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| v.打听，询问；调查，查问 | |
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joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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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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intervals
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| 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 | |
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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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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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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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sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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requisite
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| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
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irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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vindication
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| n.洗冤，证实 | |
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acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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widower
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| n.鳏夫 | |
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softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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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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temperate
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| adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的 | |
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exuberance
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| n.丰富；繁荣 | |
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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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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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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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impartial
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| adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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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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justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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40
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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41
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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42
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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44
subsisted
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| v.（靠很少的钱或食物）维持生活，生存下去( subsist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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46
worthiest
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| 应得某事物( worthy的最高级 )； 值得做某事； 可尊敬的； 有（某人或事物）的典型特征 | |
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47
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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48
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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49
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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50
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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51
sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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52
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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53
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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54
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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56
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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57
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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58
dissent
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| n./v.不同意，持异议 | |
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pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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