Sir Walter Elliot, of Kellynch Hall, in Somersetshire, was a man who, for his own amusement, never took up any book but the Baronetage; there he found occupation for an idle hour, and consolation1 in a distressed3 one; there his faculties4 were roused into admiration5 and respect, by contemplating6 the limited remnant of the earliest patents; there any unwelcome sensations, arising from domestic affairs changed naturally into pity and contempt as he turned over the almost endless creations of the last century; and there, if every other leaf were powerless, he could read his own history with an interest which never failed. This was the page at which the favourite volume always opened:
"ELLIOT OF KELLYNCH HALL.
"Walter Elliot, born March 1, 1760, married, July 15, 1784, Elizabeth, daughter of James Stevenson, Esq. of South Park, in the county of Gloucester, by which lady (who died 1800) he has issue Elizabeth, born June 1, 1785; Anne, born August 9, 1787; a still-born son, November 5, 1789; Mary, born November 20, 1791. "
Precisely7 such had the paragraph originally stood from the printer's hands; but Sir Walter had improved it by adding, for the information of himself and his family, these words, after the date of Mary's birth-- "Married, December 16, 1810, Charles, son and heir of Charles Musgrove, Esq. of Uppercross, in the county of Somerset, " and by inserting most accurately8 the day of the month on which he had lost his wife.
Then followed the history and rise of the ancient and respectable family, in the usual terms; how it had been first settled in Cheshire; how mentioned in Dugdale, serving the office of high sheriff, representing a borough9 in three successive parliaments, exertions10 of loyalty11, and dignity of baronet, in the first year of Charles II, with all the Marys and Elizabeths they had married; forming altogether two handsome duodecimo pages, and concluding with the arms and motto:--"Principal seat, Kellynch Hall, in the county of Somerset, " and Sir Walter's handwriting again in this finale:--
"Heir presumptive, William Walter Elliot, Esq. , great grandson of the second Sir Walter. "
Vanity was the beginning and the end of Sir Walter Elliot's character; vanity of person and of situation. He had been remarkably12 handsome in his youth; and, at fifty-four, was still a very fine man. Few women could think more of their personal appearance than he did, nor could the valet of any new made lord be more delighted with the place he held in society. He considered the blessing13 of beauty as inferior only to the blessing of a baronetcy; and the Sir Walter Elliot, who united these gifts, was the constant object of his warmest respect and devotion.
His good looks and his rank had one fair claim on his attachment14; since to them he must have owed a wife of very superior character to any thing deserved by his own. Lady Elliot had been an excellent woman, sensible and amiable15; whose judgement and conduct, if they might be pardoned the youthful infatuation which made her Lady Elliot, had never required indulgence afterwards. --She had humoured, or softened16, or concealed17 his failings, and promoted his real respectability for seventeen years; and though not the very happiest being in the world herself, had found enough in her duties, her friends, and her children, to attach her to life, and make it no matter of indifference18 to her when she was called on to quit them. --Three girls, the two eldest19 sixteen and fourteen, was an awful legacy20 for a mother to bequeath, an awful charge rather, to confide21 to the authority and guidance of a conceited22, silly father. She had, however, one very intimate friend, a sensible, deserving woman, who had been brought, by strong attachment to herself, to settle close by her, in the village of Kellynch; and on her kindness and advice, Lady Elliot mainly relied for the best help and maintenance of the good principles and instruction which she had been anxiously giving her daughters.
This friend, and Sir Walter, did not marry, whatever might have been anticipated on that head by their acquaintance. Thirteen years had passed away since Lady Elliot's death, and they were still near neighbours and intimate friends, and one remained a widower23, the other a widow.
That Lady Russell, of steady age and character, and extremely well provided for, should have no thought of a second marriage, needs no apology to the public, which is rather apt to be unreasonably24 discontented when a woman does marry again, than when she does not; but Sir Walter's continuing in singleness requires explanation. Be it known then, that Sir Walter, like a good father, (having met with one or two private disappointments in very unreasonable25 applications), prided himself on remaining single for his dear daughters' sake. For one daughter, his eldest, he would really have given up any thing, which he had not been very much tempted26 to do. Elizabeth had succeeded, at sixteen, to all that was possible, of her mother's rights and consequence; and being very handsome, and very like himself, her influence had always been great, and they had gone on together most happily. His two other children were of very inferior value. Mary had acquired a little artificial importance, by becoming Mrs Charles Musgrove; but Anne, with an elegance27 of mind and sweetness of character, which must have placed her high with any people of real understanding, was nobody with either father or sister; her word had no weight, her convenience was always to give way-- she was only Anne.
To Lady Russell, indeed, she was a most dear and highly valued god-daughter, favourite, and friend. Lady Russell loved them all; but it was only in Anne that she could fancy the mother to revive again.
A few years before, Anne Elliot had been a very pretty girl, but her bloom had vanished early; and as even in its height, her father had found little to admire in her, (so totally different were her delicate features and mild dark eyes from his own), there could be nothing in them, now that she was faded and thin, to excite his esteem28. He had never indulged much hope, he had now none, of ever reading her name in any other page of his favourite work. All equality of alliance must rest with Elizabeth, for Mary had merely connected herself with an old country family of respectability and large fortune, and had therefore given all the honour and received none: Elizabeth would, one day or other, marry suitably.
It sometimes happens that a woman is handsomer at twenty-nine than she was ten years before; and, generally speaking, if there has been neither ill health nor anxiety, it is a time of life at which scarcely any charm is lost. It was so with Elizabeth, still the same handsome Miss Elliot that she had begun to be thirteen years ago, and Sir Walter might be excused, therefore, in forgetting her age, or, at least, be deemed only half a fool, for thinking himself and Elizabeth as blooming as ever, amidst the wreck29 of the good looks of everybody else; for he could plainly see how old all the rest of his family and acquaintance were growing. Anne haggard, Mary coarse, every face in the neighbourhood worsting, and the rapid increase of the crow's foot about Lady Russell's temples had long been a distress2 to him.
Elizabeth did not quite equal her father in personal contentment. Thirteen years had seen her mistress of Kellynch Hall, presiding and directing with a self-possession and decision which could never have given the idea of her being younger than she was. For thirteen years had she been doing the honours, and laying down the domestic law at home, and leading the way to the chaise and four, and walking immediately after Lady Russell out of all the drawing-rooms and dining-rooms in the country. Thirteen winters' revolving30 frosts had seen her opening every ball of credit which a scanty31 neighbourhood afforded, and thirteen springs shewn their blossoms, as she travelled up to London with her father, for a few weeks' annual enjoyment32 of the great world. She had the remembrance of all this, she had the consciousness of being nine-and-twenty to give her some regrets and some apprehensions33; she was fully35 satisfied of being still quite as handsome as ever, but she felt her approach to the years of danger, and would have rejoiced to be certain of being properly solicited36 by baronet-blood within the next twelvemonth or two. Then might she again take up the book of books with as much enjoyment as in her early youth, but now she liked it not. Always to be presented with the date of her own birth and see no marriage follow but that of a youngest sister, made the book an evil; and more than once, when her father had left it open on the table near her, had she closed it, with averted37 eyes, and pushed it away.
She had had a disappointment, moreover, which that book, and especially the history of her own family, must ever present the remembrance of. The heir presumptive, the very William Walter Elliot, Esq. , whose rights had been so generously supported by her father, had disappointed her.
She had, while a very young girl, as soon as she had known him to be, in the event of her having no brother, the future baronet, meant to marry him, and her father had always meant that she should. He had not been known to them as a boy; but soon after Lady Elliot's death, Sir Walter had sought the acquaintance, and though his overtures38 had not been met with any warmth, he had persevered39 in seeking it, making allowance for the modest drawing-back of youth; and, in one of their spring excursions to London, when Elizabeth was in her first bloom, Mr Elliot had been forced into the introduction.
He was at that time a very young man, just engaged in the study of the law; and Elizabeth found him extremely agreeable, and every plan in his favour was confirmed. He was invited to Kellynch Hall; he was talked of and expected all the rest of the year; but he never came. The following spring he was seen again in town, found equally agreeable, again encouraged, invited, and expected, and again he did not come; and the next tidings were that he was married. Instead of pushing his fortune in the line marked out for the heir of the house of Elliot, he had purchased independence by uniting himself to a rich woman of inferior birth.
Sir Walter has resented it. As the head of the house, he felt that he ought to have been consulted, especially after taking the young man so publicly by the hand; "For they must have been seen together, " he observed, "once at Tattersall's, and twice in the lobby of the House of Commons. " His disapprobation was expressed, but apparently40 very little regarded. Mr Elliot had attempted no apology, and shewn himself as unsolicitous of being longer noticed by the family, as Sir Walter considered him unworthy of it: all acquaintance between them had ceased.
This very awkward history of Mr Elliot was still, after an interval41 of several years, felt with anger by Elizabeth, who had liked the man for himself, and still more for being her father's heir, and whose strong family pride could see only in him a proper match for Sir Walter Elliot's eldest daughter. There was not a baronet from A to Z whom her feelings could have so willingly acknowledged as an equal. Yet so miserably42 had he conducted himself, that though she was at this present time (the summer of 1814) wearing black ribbons for his wife, she could not admit him to be worth thinking of again. The disgrace of his first marriage might, perhaps, as there was no reason to suppose it perpetuated43 by offspring, have been got over, had he not done worse; but he had, as by the accustomary intervention44 of kind friends, they had been informed, spoken most disrespectfully of them all, most slightingly and contemptuously of the very blood he belonged to, and the honours which were hereafter to be his own. This could not be pardoned.
Such were Elizabeth Elliot's sentiments and sensations; such the cares to alloy45, the agitations46 to vary, the sameness and the elegance, the prosperity and the nothingness of her scene of life; such the feelings to give interest to a long, uneventful residence in one country circle, to fill the vacancies47 which there were no habits of utility abroad, no talents or accomplishments48 for home, to occupy.
But now, another occupation and solicitude49 of mind was beginning to be added to these. Her father was growing distressed for money. She knew, that when he now took up the Baronetage, it was to drive the heavy bills of his tradespeople, and the unwelcome hints of Mr Shepherd, his agent, from his thoughts. The Kellynch property was good, but not equal to Sir Walter's apprehension34 of the state required in its possessor. While Lady Elliot lived, there had been method, moderation, and economy, which had just kept him within his income; but with her had died all such right-mindedness, and from that period he had been constantly exceeding it. It had not been possible for him to spend less; he had done nothing but what Sir Walter Elliot was imperiously called on to do; but blameless as he was, he was not only growing dreadfully in debt, but was hearing of it so often, that it became vain to attempt concealing50 it longer, even partially51, from his daughter. He had given her some hints of it the last spring in town; he had gone so far even as to say, "Can we retrench52? Does it occur to you that there is any one article in which we can retrench?" and Elizabeth, to do her justice, had, in the first ardour of female alarm, set seriously to think what could be done, and had finally proposed these two branches of economy, to cut off some unnecessary charities, and to refrain from new furnishing the drawing-room; to which expedients53 she afterwards added the happy thought of their taking no present down to Anne, as had been the usual yearly custom. But these measures, however good in themselves, were insufficient54 for the real extent of the evil, the whole of which Sir Walter found himself obliged to confess to her soon afterwards. Elizabeth had nothing to propose of deeper efficacy. She felt herself ill-used and unfortunate, as did her father; and they were neither of them able to devise any means of lessening55 their expenses without compromising their dignity, or relinquishing56 their comforts in a way not to be borne.
There was only a small part of his estate that Sir Walter could dispose of; but had every acre been alienable, it would have made no difference. He had condescended58 to mortgage as far as he had the power, but he would never condescend57 to sell. No; he would never disgrace his name so far. The Kellynch estate should be transmitted whole and entire, as he had received it.
Their two confidential59 friends, Mr Shepherd, who lived in the neighbouring market town, and Lady Russell, were called to advise them; and both father and daughter seemed to expect that something should be struck out by one or the other to remove their embarrassments60 and reduce their expenditure61, without involving the loss of any indulgence of taste or pride.
萨默塞特郡凯林奇大厦的沃尔特·埃利奥特爵士为了自得其乐，一向什么书都不沾手，单单爱看那《准爵录》。一捧起这本书，他闲暇中找到了消遣，烦恼中得到了宽慰。读着这本书，想到最早加封的爵位如今所剩无几，他心头不由得激起一股艳羡崇敬之情。家中的事情使他感觉不快，但是一想到上个世纪加封的爵位多如牛毛，这种不快的感觉便自然而然地化做了怜悯和鄙夷。这本书里，若是别的页上索然乏味，他可以带着经久不衰的兴趣，阅读他自己的家史。每次打开他顶宝贝的那一卷，他总要翻到这一页：
凯林奇大厦的埃利奥特
沃尔特·埃利奥特，一七六O年三月一日生，一七八四年七月十五日娶格罗斯特郡南方庄园的詹姆斯·史蒂文森先生之女伊丽莎白为妻。该妻卒于一八OO年，为他生有以下后嗣：伊丽莎白，生于一七八五年六月一日；安妮，生于一七八七年八月九日；一个男死婴，一七八九年十一月五日；玛丽，生于
一七九一年十一月二十日。
爵士录上原先只有这样一段文字。可是沃尔特爵士为了给自己和家人提供资料，却来了个锦上添花，在玛丽的生辰后面加上这样一句话：“一八一O年十二月十六日嫁与萨默塞特郡厄泼克劳斯的查尔斯·默斯格罗夫先生之子兼继承人查尔斯为妻”，并且添上了他自己失去妻子的确凿日期。
接下来便用惯常的字眼，记录了他那贵门世家青云直上的历史：起先如何到柴郡定居，后来如何载入达格代尔的史书，如何出任郡长，如何接连当了三届国会议员，尽忠效力，加封爵位，以及在查尔斯二世登基后的第一年，先后娶了那些玛丽小姐、伊丽莎白小姐，洋洋洒洒地构成了那四开本的两满页，末了是族徽和徽文：——“主府邸：萨默塞特郡凯林奇大厦。”最后又是沃尔特爵士的笔迹：
假定继承人：第二位沃尔特爵士的曾孙威廉·沃尔特·埃利奥特先生。
沃尔特·埃利奥特爵士自命不凡，觉得自己要仪表有仪表，要地位有地位，以至于爱慕虚荣构成了他的全部性格特征。他年轻的时候是个出类拔萃的美男子，如今到了五十四岁仍然一表人才。他是那样注重自己的仪表，这在女人里也很少见。就连新封爵爷的贴身男仆也不会像他那样满意自己的社会地位。他认为，美貌仅次于爵位。而书中两者兼得的沃尔特·埃利奥特爵士，一直是他无限崇拜、无限热爱的对象。
理所当然，他的美貌和地位使他有权利获得爱情，也正是沾了这两方面的光，他才娶了一位人品比他优越得多的妻子。埃利奥特夫人是位杰出的女人，她明白事理，和蔼可亲，如果说我们可以原谅她年轻时凭着一时感情冲动而当上了埃利奥特夫人，那么，她以后的见解和举止再也匆须承蒙别人开恩解脱了。十七年来，但凡丈夫有什么不足的地方，她总是能迁就的就迁就，能缓和的就缓和，能隐瞒的就隐瞒，使丈夫真的变得越来越体面。她自己虽说并不是世上最幸福的人，但是她在履行职责、结交朋友和照料孩子中找到了足够的乐趣，因而当上帝要她离开人间时，她不能不感到恋恋不舍。她撇下三个女儿，大的十六，二的十四，把她们托给一个自负而愚蠢的父亲管教，真是个令人可怕的包袱。好在她有个知心朋友，那是个富有理智、值得器重的女人，因为对埃利奥特夫人怀有深厚的感情，便搬到凯林奇村来住，守在她身旁。埃利奥特夫人从她的朋友那里得到了最大的帮助，她之所以能坚持正确的原则，对女儿们进行谆谆教导，主要依赖于这位朋友的好心指点。
不管亲朋故旧如何期待，这位朋友与沃尔特爵士并未成亲。埃利奥特夫人去世十三年了，他们依然是近邻和挚友，一个还当鳏夫，一个仍做寡妇。
这位拉塞尔夫人已经到了老成持重的年纪，加上生活条件又极其优越，不会再兴起改嫁的念头，这一点用不着向公众赔不是，因为改嫁比守寡还要使这些人感到忿忿不满。不过，沃尔特爵士之所以还在打光棍，却必须解释一下。要知道，沃尔特爵士曾经很不理智地向人求过婚，私下碰了一两次钉子之后，便摆出一个慈父的样子，自豪地为他的几个宝贝女儿打光棍。为了一个女儿，就是他的那位大女儿，他倒真的会做出一切牺牲，不过迄今为止他还不是很愿意那样做罢了。伊丽莎白长到十六岁，她母亲的权利和作用但凡能继承的，她都继承下来了。她人长得很漂亮，很像她父亲，因此她的影响一直很大，父女俩相处得极其融洽。他的另外两个女儿可就远远没有那么高贵了。玛丽当上了查尔斯·默斯格罗夫夫人，多少还取得了一点徒有虚表的身价；而安妮倒好，凭着她那优雅的心灵、温柔的性格，若是碰到个真正有见识的人，她一定会大受抬举的，谁想在她父亲、姐姐眼里，她却是个微不足道的小妮子。她的意见无足轻重，她的个人安适总是被撇在一边——她只不过是安妮而已。
可是对于拉塞尔夫人来说，安妮简直是个顶可亲、顶宝贝的教女、宠儿和朋友。拉塞尔夫人对三个女儿都喜爱，但是只有在安妮身上，她才能见到那位母亲的影子。
安妮·埃利奥特几年前还是位十分漂亮的小姐，可是她早早地失去了青春的艳丽。不过，即使在她青春的鼎盛时期，她父亲也不觉得她有什么讨人爱的地方，因为她五官纤巧，一对黑眼睛流露出温柔的神情，压根儿就不像他。如今她香消色退，瘦弱不堪，当然就更没有什么能赢得他的器重。本来他就不怎么期望会在那本宝贝书里别的页上读到她的名字，现在连一丝希望也不抱有了。要结成一起门当户对的姻缘，希望全寄托在伊丽莎白身上了，因为玛丽仅仅嫁给了一户体面有钱的乡下佬，因此尽把荣耀送给了别人，自己没沾上半点光。有朝一日，伊丽莎白准会嫁个门当户对的好人家。
有时会出现这样的情况：一位女子到了二十九岁倒比十年前出落得还要漂亮。一般说来，人要是没灾没病，到这个年龄还不至于失去任何魅力。伊丽莎白便属于这类情况。十三年前，她开始成为漂亮的埃利奥特小姐，现在依然如故。所以，人们或许可以原谅沃尔特爵士忘记了女儿的年龄，或者至少会觉得他只是有点半傻不傻，眼见着别人都已失去美貌，却以为自己和伊丽莎白青春常驻；因为他可以清楚地看到，亲朋故旧都在变老。安妮形容憔悴，玛丽面皮不光润，左邻右舍人人都在衰老，拉塞尔夫人鬓角周围的皱纹在迅速增多，这早就引起了他的担忧。
就个人而论，伊丽莎白并不完全像她父亲那样遂心如意。她当了十三年凯林奇大厦的女主人，掌家管事，沉着果断，这决不会使人觉得她比实际上年轻。十三年来，她一直当家作主，制定家规，带头去乘驷马马车，紧跟着拉塞尔夫人走出乡下的客厅、餐厅。十三个周而复始的寒冬，在这个小地方所能举办的令人赞赏的舞会上，她总是率先跳头一场舞；十三个百花盛开的春天，她每年都要随父亲去伦敦过上几个星期，享受一番那大世界的乐趣。她还记得这一切，她意识到自己已经二十九岁，心里不禁泛起了几分懊恼和忧虑。她为自己仍然像过去一样漂亮而感到高兴，但是她觉得自己在步步逼近那危险的年头，倘若能在一两年内攀上一位体面的准男爵，她将为之大喜若狂。到那时候，她将像青春年少时那样，再次兴致勃勃地捧起那本宝书，不过眼下她并不喜欢这本书。书中总是写着她的生辰日期，除了一个小妹妹之外，见不到别人成婚，这就使它令人厌恶。不止一次，她父亲把书放在她面前的桌上忘了合上，她躲开目光把书一合，然后推到一边。
另外，她还有过一桩伤心事，那本书特别是她的家史部分随时提醒她不能忘怀。就是那位假定继承人威廉·沃尔特·埃利奥特先生，尽管她父亲总的来说还是在维护他的继承权，但他却使她大失所望。
伊丽莎白还是做小姑娘的时候，一听说她若是没有弟弟，埃利奥特就是未来的准男爵，她便打定主意要嫁给他，她父亲也一向抱有这个打算。埃利奥特小时候，他们并不认识，然而埃利奥特夫人死后不久，沃尔特爵士主动结识了他，虽然他的主动表示没有遇到热烈的反响，但是考虑到年轻人有羞羞答答、畏畏缩缩的弱点，便坚持要结交他。于是，就在伊丽莎白刚刚进入青春妙龄的时候，他们趁着到伦敦春游的机会，硬是结识了埃利奥特先生。
那时，他是个年纪轻轻的小后生，正在埋头攻读法律。伊丽莎白觉得他极其和悦，便进一步确定了青睐他的各项计划。他们邀请他到凯林奇大厦做客。当年余下的时间里，他们一直在谈论他，期待他，可他始终没有来。第二年春天，他们又在城里见到了他，发现他还是那样和蔼可亲，于是再次鼓励他，邀请他，期待他，结果他还是没有来。接着便传来消息，说他结婚了。埃利奥特先生没有走爵士父女为他择定的做埃利奥特府第继承人的发迹之道，而是为了赢得自主权，娶了一位出身低贱的阔女人。
沃尔特爵士对此大为不满。他作为一家之长，总觉得这件事理应同他商量才是，特别是在他领着那位年轻人公开露面之后。“人家一定见到我们俩在一起了，”爵士说道，“一次在塔特索尔拍卖行（伦敦有名的马匹拍卖行），两次在下议院休息厅。”他表示不赞成埃利奥特的婚事，但是表面上又装作并不介意的样子。埃利奥特先生也没道歉，显示自己不想再受到爵士一家人的关照，不过沃尔特爵士却认为他不配受到关照，于是他们之间的交情完全中断了。
几年之后，伊丽莎白一想起埃利奥特先生的这段尴尬的历史，依然很生气。她本来就喜爱埃利奥特这个人，加之他是她父亲的继承人，她就更喜欢他了。她凭着一股强烈的家庭自豪感，认为只有他才配得上沃尔特·埃利奥特爵士的大小姐。天下的准男爵中，还没有一个人可以像他那样使她如此心甘情愿地承认与她正相匹配呢。然而，埃利奥特先生表现得着实下贱，伊丽莎白眼下(一八一四年夏天)虽然还在为他妻子戴黑纱，她却不得不承认：他不值得别人再去想他。他的第一次婚姻纵使不光彩，人们却没有理由认为它会遗臭万代，因此，他若不是做出了更恶劣的事情，他那耻辱也早就完结了。谁料想，好心的朋友爱搬弄是非，告诉爵士父女说，埃利奥特曾经出言不逊地议论过他们全家人，并且用极其蔑视、极其鄙夷的口吻，诋毁他所隶属的家族和将来归他所有的爵位。这是无可饶恕的。
这就是伊丽莎白·埃利奥特的思想情感。她的生活天地既单调又高雅，既富足又贫乏，她心思重重，迫不及待地想加以调节，变换变换花样。她长久住在乡下的一个圈圈里，生活平平淡淡，除了到外面从事公益活动和在家里施展持家的才干技能以外，还有不少空闲时间，因而她想给生活增添些趣味，借以打发这些闲暇。
可是眼下，除了这一切之外，她又添加了另一桩心事和忧虑。她父亲越来越为钱财所苦恼。她知道，父亲现在再拿起《准爵录》，乃是为了忘掉他的商人的累累帐单，忘掉他的代理人谢泼德先生的逆耳忠告。凯林奇庄园是一宗很大的资产，但是照沃尔特爵士看来，还是与主人应有的身分不相称。埃利奥特夫人在世的时候，家里管理得有条有理，需求有度，节省开销，使得沃尔特爵士恰好收支相等。但是随着夫人的去世，一切理智也便毁于一旦，从那时起，沃尔特爵士总是入不敷出。他不可能节省开支，他只是做了他迫切需要做的事情。然而，尽管他是无可责难的，可他却步步陷入可怕的债务之中，非但如此，因为经常听人说起，再向女儿进行隐瞒，哪怕是部分隐瞒，也是徒然的。去春进城时，他向伊丽莎白做了一些暗示，甚至把话说到这个地步：“我们可以节省些开支吗？你是否想到我们有什么东西可以节省的？”说句公道话，伊丽莎白在感到女性惯有的大惊小怪之余，却也认真思忖开了应该怎么办，最后提出了可以节省开支的两个方面：一是免掉一些不必要的施舍，二是不再为客厅添置新家具。这是两个应急的办法，后来她又想出了一个很妙的点子：他们要打破每年的惯例，以后不再给安妮带礼物。但是，这些措施虽说都很好，却不足以补救达到严重程度的窘迫。过不多久，沃尔特爵士便不得不向女儿供认了事情的真正严重性。伊丽莎白提不出卓有成效的办法。她同父亲一样，觉得自己时运不济，受尽了虐待。他们两人谁也想不出什么办法，一方面既能减少开支，另方面又不会有损他们的尊严，不会抛弃他们的舒适条件，以至达到无法容忍的地步。
沃尔特爵士的田产，他只能处理掉很少一部分。不过，即使他可以卖掉每一亩土地，那也无关紧要。他可以在力所能及的范围内向外抵押土地，但是决不肯纡尊降贵地出卖土地。不，他决不会把自己的名声辱没到这般田地。凯林奇庄园是如何传给他的，他也要如何完完整整地传下去。
他们的两位知心朋友——一位是住在附近集镇上的谢泼德先生，一位是拉塞尔夫人，被请来替他们出谋划策。沃尔特爵士父女俩似乎觉得，他们两人中的某一位会想出个什么办法，既能帮他们摆脱困境，减少开支，又不至于使他们失去体面和自尊。
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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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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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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borough
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| n.享有自治权的市镇；(英)自治市镇 | |
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exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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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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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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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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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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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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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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confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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conceited
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| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
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widower
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| n.鳏夫 | |
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unreasonably
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| adv. 不合理地 | |
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unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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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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solicited
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| v.恳求( solicit的过去式和过去分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求 | |
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averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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overtures
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| n.主动的表示，提议；（向某人做出的）友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 )；（歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的）序曲，前奏曲 | |
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persevered
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| v.坚忍，坚持( persevere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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perpetuated
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| vt.使永存（perpetuate的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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alloy
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| n.合金，(金属的)成色 | |
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agitations
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| （液体等的）摇动( agitation的名词复数 )； 鼓动； 激烈争论； （情绪等的）纷乱 | |
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vacancies
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| n.空房间( vacancy的名词复数 )；空虚；空白；空缺 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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52
retrench
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| v.节省，削减 | |
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expedients
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| n.应急有效的，权宜之计的( expedient的名词复数 ) | |
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54
insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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55
lessening
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| 减轻，减少，变小 | |
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relinquishing
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的现在分词 )； 放弃 | |
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condescend
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| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 | |
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condescended
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| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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60
embarrassments
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| n.尴尬( embarrassment的名词复数 )；难堪；局促不安；令人难堪或耻辱的事 | |
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expenditure
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| n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗 | |
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