sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第59节
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bedroom。
At last the affair was decided。 The ivory； the gold； and the
pearls； all received their appointment； and the gentleman having
named the last day on which his existence could be continued
without the possession of the toothpick…case； drew on his gloves
with leisurely care； and bestowing another glance on the Miss
Dashwoods； but such a one as seemed rather to demand than
express admiration； walked off with a happy air of real conceit and
affected indifference。
Elinor lost no time in bringing her business forward； was on the
point of concluding it； when another gentleman presented himself
at her side。 She turned her eyes towards his face； and found him
with some surprise to be her brother。
Their affection and pleasure in meeting was just enough to
make a very creditable appearance in Mr。 Gray’s shop。 John
Dashwood was really far from being sorry to see his sisters again；
it rather gave them satisfaction； and his inquiries after their
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mother were respectful and attentive。
Elinor found that he and Fanny had been in town two days。
“I wished very much to call upon you yesterday；” said he； “but
it was impossible； for we were obliged to take Harry to see the wild
beasts at Exeter Exchange； and we spent the rest of the day with
Mrs。 Ferrars。 Harry was vastly pleased。 This morning I had fully
intended to call on you； if I could possibly find a spare half hour；
but one has always so much to do on first coming to town。 I am
come here to bespeak Fanny a seal。 But tomorrow I think I shall
certainly be able to call in Berkeley…street； and be introduced to
your friend Mrs。 Jennings。 I understand she is a woman of very
good fortune。 And the Middletons too； you must introduce me to
them。 As my mother…in…law’s relations； I shall be happy to show
them every respect。 They are excellent neighbours to you in the
country； I understand。”
“Excellent indeed。 Their attention to our comfort； their
friendliness in every particular； is more than I can express。”
“I am extremely glad to hear it； upon my word； extremely glad
indeed。 But so it ought to be； they are people of large fortune； they
are related to you； and every civility and accommodation that can
serve to make your situation pleasant might be reasonably
expected。 And so you are most comfortably settled in your little
cottage and want for nothing！ Edward brought us a most
charming account of the place； the most complete thing of its kind；
he said； that ever was； and you all seemed to enjoy it beyond any
thing。 It was a great satisfaction to us to hear it； I assure you。”
Elinor did feel a little ashamed of her brother； and was not
sorry to be spared the necessity of answering him； by the arrival of
Mrs。 Jennings’s servant； who came to tell her that his mistress
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waited for them at the door。
Mr。 Dashwood attended them down stairs； was introduced to
Mrs。 Jennings at the door of her carriage； and repeating his hope
of being able to call on them the next day； took leave。
His visit was duly paid。 He came with a pretence at an apology
from their sister…in…law； for not coming too； “but she was so much
engaged with her mother； that really she had no leisure for going
any where。” Mrs。 Jennings； however； assured him directly； that
she should not stand upon ceremony； for they were all cousins； or
something like it； and she should certainly wait on Mrs。 John
Dashwood very soon； and bring her sisters to see her。 His manners
to them； though calm； were perfectly kind； to Mrs。 Jennings； most
attentively civil； and on Colonel Brandon’s coming in soon after
himself； he eyed him with a curiosity which seemed to say； that he
only wanted to know him to be rich； to be equally civil to him。
After staying with them half an hour； he asked Elinor to walk
with him to Conduit…street； and introduce him to Sir John and
Lady Middleton。 The weather was remarkably fine； and she
readily consented。 As soon as they were out of the house； his
enquiries began。
“Who is Colonel Brandon？ Is he a man of fortune？”
“Yes； he has very good property in Dorsetshire。”
“I am glad of it。 He seems a most gentlemanlike man； and I
think； Elinor； I may congratulate you on the prospect of a very
respectable establishment in life。”
“Me； brother！ what do you mean？”
“He likes you。 I observed him narrowly； and am convinced of it。
What is the amount of his fortune？”
“I believe about two thousand a year。”
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“Two thousand a…year；” and then working himself up to a pitch
of enthusiastic generosity； he added； “Elinor； I wish with all my
heart it were twice as much； for your sake。”
“Indeed I believe you；” replied Elinor； “but I am very sure that
Colonel Brandon has not the smallest wish of marrying me。”
“You are mistaken； Elinor； you are very much mistaken。 A very
little trouble on your side secures him。 Perhaps just at present he
may be undecided； the smallness of your fortune may make him
hang back； his friends may all advise him against it。 But some of
those little attentions and encouragements which ladies can so
easily give will fix him； in spite of himself。 And there can be no
reason why you should not try for him。 It is not to be supposed
that any prior attachment on your side—in short； you know as to
an attachment of that kind； it is quite out of the question； the
objections are insurmountable—you have too much sense not to
see all that。 Colonel Brandon must be the man； and no civility
shall be wanting on my part to make him pleased with you and
your family。 It is a match that must give universal satisfaction。 In
short； it is a kind of thing that”—lowering his voice to an
important whisper—“will be exceedingly welcome to all parties。”
Recollecting himself； however； he added； “That is； I mean to say—
your friends are all truly anxious to see you well settled； Fanny
particularly； for she has your interest very much at heart； I assure
you。 And her mother too； Mrs。 Ferrars； a very good…natured
woman； I am sure it would give her great pleasure； she said as
much the other day。”
Elinor would not vouchsafe any answer。
“It would be something remarkable； now；” he continued；
“something droll； if Fanny should have a brother and I a sister
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settling at the same time。 And yet it is not very unlikely。”
“Is Mr。 Edward Ferrars；” said Elinor； with resolution； “going to
be married？”
“It is not actually settled； but there is such a thing in agitation。
He has a most excellent mother。 Mrs。 Ferrars； with the utmost
liberality； will come forward； and settle on him a thousand a year；
if the match takes place。 The lady is the Hon。 Miss Morton； only
daughter of the late Lord Morton； with thirty thousand pounds。 A
very desirable connection on both sides； and I have not a doubt of
its taking place in time。 A thousand a…year is a great deal for a
mother to give away； to make over for ever； but Mrs。 Ferrars has a
noble
