sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第67节
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satisfaction。
“You reside in Devonshire； I think；”—was his next observation；
“in a cottage near Dawlish。”
Elinor set him right as to its situation； and it seemed rather
surprising to him that anybody could live in Devonshire； without
living near Dawlish。 He bestowed his hearty approbation however
on their species of house。
“For my own part；” said he； “I am excessively fond of a cottage；
there is always so much comfort； so much elegance about them。
And I protest； if I had any money to spare； I should buy a little
land and build one myself； within a short distance of London；
where I might drive myself down at any time； and collect a few
friends about me； and be happy。 I advise every body who is going
to build； to build a cottage。 My friend Lord Courtland came to me
the other day on purpose to ask my advice； and laid before me
three different plans of Bonomi’s。 I was to decide on the best of
them。 ‘My dear Courtland；’ said I； immediately throwing them all
into the fire； ‘do not adopt either of them； but by all means build a
cottage。’ And that I fancy； will be the end of it。
“Some people imagine that there can be no accommodations；
no space in a cottage； but this is all a mistake。 I was last month at
my friend Elliott’s； near Dartford。 Lady Elliott wished to give a
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dance。 ‘But how can it be done？’ said she； ‘my dear Ferrars； do tell
me how it is to be managed。 There is not a room in this cottage
that will hold ten couple； and where can the supper be？’ I
immediately saw that there could be no difficulty in it； so I said；
‘My dear Lady Elliott； do not be uneasy。 The dining parlour will
admit eighteen couple with ease； card…tables may be placed in the
drawing…room； the library may be open for tea and other
refreshments； and let the supper be set out in the saloon。’ Lady
Elliott was delighted with the thought。 We measured the dining…
room； and found it would hold exactly eighteen couple； and the
affair was arranged precisely after my plan。 So that； in fact； you
see； if people do but know how to set about it； every comfort may
be as well enjoyed in a cottage as in the most spacious dwelling。”
Elinor agreed to it all； for she did not think he deserved the
compliment of rational opposition。
As John Dashwood had no more pleasure in music than his
eldest sister； his mind was equally at liberty to fix on any thing
else； and a thought struck him during the evening； which he
communicated to his wife； for her approbation； when they got
home。 The consideration of Mrs。 Dennison’s mistake； in supposing
his sisters their guests； had suggested the propriety of their being
really invited to become such； while Mrs。 Jenning’s engagements
kept her from home。 The expense would be nothing； the
inconvenience not more； and it was altogether an attention which
the delicacy of his conscience pointed out to be requisite to its
complete enfranchisement from his promise to his father。 Fanny
was startled at the proposal。
“I do not see how it can be done；” said she； “without affronting
Lady Middleton； for they spend every day with her； otherwise I
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should be exceedingly glad to do it。 You know I am always ready
to pay them any attention in my power； as my taking them out this
evening shews。 But they are Lady Middleton’s visitors。 How can I
ask them away from her？”
Her husband； but with great humility； did not see the force of
her objection。 “They had already spent a week in this manner in
Conduit…street； and Lady Middleton could not be displeased at
their giving the same number of days to such near relations。”
Fanny paused a moment； and then； with fresh vigour； said；
“My love I would ask them with all my heart； if it was in my
power。 But I had just settled within myself to ask the Miss Steeles
to spend a few days with us。 They are very well behaved； good
kind of girls； and I think the attention is due to them； as their
uncle did so very well by Edward。 We can ask your sisters some
other year； you know； but the Miss Steeles may not be in town any
more。 I am sure you will like them； indeed； you do like them； you
know； very much already； and so does my mother； and they are
such favourites with Harry！”
Mr。 Dashwood was convinced。 He saw the necessity of inviting
the Miss Steeles immediately； and his conscience was pacified by
the resolution of inviting his sisters another year； at the same time；
however； slyly suspecting that another year would make the
invitation needless； by bringing Elinor to town as Colonel
Brandon’s wife； and Marianne as their visitor。
Fanny； rejoicing in her escape； and proud of the ready wit that
had procured it； wrote the next morning to Lucy； to request her
company and her sister’s； for some days； in Harley…street； as soon
as Lady Middleton could spare them。 This was enough to make
Lucy really and reasonably happy。 Mrs。 Dashwood seemed
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actually working for her； herself； cherishing all her hopes； and
promoting all her views！ Such an opportunity of being with
Edward and his family was； above all things； the most material to
her interest； and such an invitation the most gratifying to her
feelings！ It was an advantage that could not be too gratefully
acknowledged； nor too speedily made use of； and the visit to Lady
Middleton； which had not before had any precise limits； was
instantly discovered to have been always meant to end in two
days’ time。
When the note was shown to Elinor； as it was within ten
minutes after its arrival； it gave her； for the first time； some share
in the expectations of Lucy； for such a mark of uncommon
kindness； vouchsafed on so short an acquaintance； seemed to
declare that the good…will towards her arose from something more
than merely malice against herself； and might be brought； by time
and address； to do every thing that Lucy wished。 Her flattery had
already subdued the pride of Lady Middleton； and made an entry
into the close heart of Mrs。 John Dashwood； and these were effects
that laid open the probability of greater。
The Miss Steeles removed to Harley…street； and all that reached
Elinor of their influence there； strengthened her expectation of the
event。 Sir John； who called on them more than once； brought
home such accounts of the favour they were in； as must be
universally striking。 Mrs。 Dashwood had never been so much
pleased with any young women in her life； as she was with them；
had given each of them a needle book made by some emigrant；
called Lucy by her Christian name； and did not know whether she
should ever be able to part with them。
End of Volume II
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VOLUME III
CHAPTER I
rs。 Palmer was so well at the end of a fortnight； that
her mother felt it no
