ELINOR now found the difference between the expectation of an unpleasant event, however certain the mind may be told to consider it, and certainty itself. She now found that, in spite of herself, she had always admitted a hope, while Edward remained single, that something would occur to prevent his marrying Lucy; that some resolution of his own, some mediation1 of friends, or some more eligible2 opportunity of establishment for the lady, would arise to assist the happiness of all. But he was now married; and she condemned3 her heart for the lurking4 flattery which so much heightened the pain of the intelligence.
That he should be married soon, before (as she imagined) he could be in orders, and consequently before he could be in possession of the living, surprised her a little at first; but she soon saw how likely it was that Lucy, in her self-provident care, in her haste to secure him, should overlook every thing but the risk of delay. They were married,- married in town,- and now hastening down to her uncle's. What had Edward felt on being within four miles from Barton,- on seeing her mother's servant,- on hearing Lucy's message! They would soon, she supposed, be settled at Delaford:Delaford, that place in which so much conspired5 to give her an interest; which she wished to be acquainted with, and yet desired to avoid. She saw them in an instant in their parsonage-house: saw in Lucy the active, contriving6 manager; uniting at once a desire of smart appearance with the utmost frugality7, and ashamed to be suspected of half her economical practices; pursuing her own interest in every thought; courting the favour of Colonel Brandon, of Mrs. Jennings, and of every wealthy friend. In Edward, she knew not what she saw, nor what she wished to see. Happy or unhappy, nothing pleased her: she turned away her head from every sketch8 of him. Elinor flattered herself that some one of their connections in London would write to them to announce the event, and give farther particulars; but day after day passed off, and brought no letter, no tidings. Though uncertain that any one were to blame, she found fault with every absent friend. They were all thoughtless or indolent. "When do you write to Colonel Brandon, ma'am?" was an enquiry which sprung from the impatience9 of her mind to have something going on. "I wrote to him, my love, last week, and rather expect to see than to hear from him again. I earnestly pressed his coming to us, and should not be surprised to see him walk in to-day, or to-morrow, or any day." This was gaining something,- something to look forward to. Colonel Brandon must have some information to give.
Scarcely had she so determined10 it, when the figure of a man on horseback drew her eyes to the window. He stopped at their gate. It was a gentleman,- it was Colonel Brandon himself. Now she could hear more, and she trembled in expectation of it. But it was not Colonel Brandon; neither his air nor his height. Were it possible, she must say it must be Edward. She looked again. He had just dismounted: she could not be mistaken,- it was Edward. She moved away, and sat down. "He comes from Mr. Pratt's purposely to see us. I will be calm,- I will be mistress of myself." In a moment she perceived that the others were likewise aware of the mistake. She saw her mother and Marianne change colour,- saw them look at herself, and whisper a few sentences to each other. She would have given the world to be able to speak, and to make them understand that she hoped no coolness, no slight, would appear in their behaviour to him; but she had no utterance11, and was obliged to leave all to their own discretion12.
Not a syllable13 passed aloud. They all waited in silence for the appearance of their visitor. His footsteps were heard along the gravel14 path: in a moment he was in the passage, and in another he was before them.
His countenance15, as he entered the room, was not too happy, even for Elinor. His complexion16 was white with agitation17; and he looked as if fearful of his reception, and conscious that he merited no kind one. Mrs. Dashwood, however, conforming, as she trusted, to the wishes of that daughter, by whom she then meant, in the warmth of her heart, to be guided in every thing, met with a look of forced complacency, gave him her hand, and wished him joy. He coloured, and stammered18 out an unintelligible19 reply. Elinor's lips had moved with her mother's; and, when the moment of action was over, she wished that she had shaken hands with him too. But it was then too late; and, with a countenance meaning to be open, she sat down again, and talked of the weather.
Marianne had retreated as much as possible out of sight, to conceal20 her distress21; and Margaret, understanding some part, but not the whole of the case, thought it incumbent22 on her to be dignified23, and therefore took a seat as far from him as she could, and maintained a strict silence.
When Elinor had ceased to rejoice in the dryness of the season, a very awful pause took place. It was put an end to by Mrs. Dashwood, who felt obliged to hope that he had left Mrs. Ferrars very well. In a hurried manner, he replied in the affirmative. Another pause.
Elinor resolving to exert herself, though fearing the sound of her own voice, now said,"Is Mrs. Ferrars at Longstaple?" "At Longstaple!" he replied, with an air of surprise. "No; my mother is in town." "I meant," said Elinor, taking up some work from the table, "to enquire24 for Mrs. Edward Ferrars." She dared not look up; but her mother and Marianne both turned their eyes on him. He coloured, seemed perplexed25, looked doubtingly, and, after some hesitation26, said,"Perhaps you mean my brother: you mean Mrs.- Mrs. Robert Ferrars." "Mrs. Robert Ferrars!" was repeated by Marianne and her mother in an accent of the utmost amazement27; and though Elinor could not speak, even her eyes were fixed28 on him with the same impatient wonder. He rose from his seat, and walked to the window, apparently29 from not knowing what to do; took up a pair of scissors that lay there; and, while spoiling both them and their sheath by cutting the latter to pieces as he spoke30, said, in a hurried voice,"Perhaps you do not know: you may not have heard that my brother is lately married to- to the youngest- to Miss Lucy Steele." His words were echoed with unspeakable astonishment31 by all but Elinor, who sat, with her head leaning over her work, in a state of such agitation as made her hardly know where she was. "Yes," said he: "they were married last week, and are now at Dawlish." Elinor could sit it no longer. She almost ran out of the room; and, as soon as the door was closed, burst into tears of joy, which at first she thought would never cease. Edward, who had till then looked any where, rather than at her, saw her away, and perhaps saw, or even heard, her emotion; for immediately afterwards he fell into a reverie, which no remarks, no enquiries, no affectionate address of Mrs. Dashwood could penetrate32; and at last, without saying a word, left the room, and walked out towards the village, leaving the others in the greatest astonishment and perplexity on a change in his situation so wonderful and so sudden,- a perplexity which they had no means of lessening33 but by their own conjectures34.
收听单词发音 |
1
mediation
|
|
| n.调解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
eligible
|
|
| adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
condemned
|
|
| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
lurking
|
|
| 潜在 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
conspired
|
|
| 密谋( conspire的过去式和过去分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
contriving
|
|
| （不顾困难地）促成某事( contrive的现在分词 )； 巧妙地策划，精巧地制造（如机器）； 设法做到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
frugality
|
|
| n.节约，节俭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
sketch
|
|
| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
impatience
|
|
| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
utterance
|
|
| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
discretion
|
|
| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
syllable
|
|
| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
gravel
|
|
| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
complexion
|
|
| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
agitation
|
|
| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
stammered
|
|
| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
unintelligible
|
|
| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
conceal
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
distress
|
|
| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
incumbent
|
|
| adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
dignified
|
|
| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
enquire
|
|
| v.打听，询问；调查，查问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
perplexed
|
|
| adj.不知所措的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
hesitation
|
|
| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
penetrate
|
|
| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
lessening
|
|
| 减轻，减少，变小 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
conjectures
|
|
| 推测，猜想( conjecture的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |