sense and sensibility(理智与情感)-第76节
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with a faint smile。
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“Aye； my dear； that I do； indeed。 And as to the house being a
bad one； I do not know what the Colonel would be at； for it is as
good a one as ever I saw。”
“He spoke of its being out of repair。”
“Well； and whose fault is that？ why don’t he repair it？—who
should do it but himself？”
They were interrupted by the servant’s coming in to announce
the carriage being at the door； and Mrs。 Jennings immediately
preparing to go； said；—
“Well； my dear； I must be gone before I have had half my talk
out。 But； however； we may have it all over in the evening； for we
shall be quite alone。 I do not ask you to go with me； for I dare say
your mind is too full of the matter to care for company； and
besides； you must long to tell your sister all about it。”
Marianne had left the room before the conversation began。
“Certainly； ma’am； I shall tell Marianne of it； but I shall not
mention it at present to any body else。”
“Oh！ very well；” said Mrs。 Jennings rather disappointed。 “Then
you would not have me tell it to Lucy； for I think of going as far as
Holborn to…day。”
“No； ma’am； not even Lucy if you please。 One day’s delay will
not be very material； and till I have written to Mr。 Ferrars； I think
it ought not to be mentioned to any body else。 I shall do that
directly。 It is of importance that no time should be lost with him；
for he will of course have much to do relative to his ordination。”
This speech at first puzzled Mrs。 Jennings exceedingly。 Why
Mr。 Ferrars was to have been written to about it in such a hurry；
she could not immediately comprehend。 A few moments’
reflection； however； produced a very happy idea； and she
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exclaimed；—
“Oh； ho！—I understand you。 Mr。 Ferrars is to be the man。 Well；
so much the better for him。 Ay； to be sure； he must be ordained in
readiness； and I am very glad to find things are so forward
between you。 But； my dear； is not this rather out of character？
Should not the Colonel write himself？—sure； he is the proper
person。”
Elinor did not quite understand the beginning of Mrs。
Jennings’s speech； neither did she think it worth inquiring into；
and therefore only replied to its conclusion。
“Colonel Brandon is so delicate a man； that he rather wished
any one to announce his intentions to Mr。 Ferrars than himself。”
“And so you are forced to do it。 Well that is an odd kind of
delicacy！ However； I will not disturb you （seeing her preparing to
write。） You know your own concerns best。 So good bye； my dear。 I
have not heard of any thing to please me so well since Charlotte
was brought to bed。”
And away she went； but returning again in a moment；
“I have just been thinking of Betty’s sister； my dear。 I should be
very glad to get her so good a mistress。 But whether she would do
for a lady’s maid； I am sure I can’t tell。 She is an excellent
housemaid； and works very well at her needle。 However； you will
think of all that at your leisure。”
“Certainly； ma’am；” replied Elinor； not hearing much of what
she said； and more anxious to be alone； than to be mistress of the
subject。
How she should begin—how she should express herself in her
note to Edward； was now all her concern。 The particular
circumstances between them made a difficulty of that which to
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any other person would have been the easiest thing in the world；
but she equally feared to say too much or too little； and sat
deliberating over her paper； with the pen in her band； till broken
in on by the entrance of Edward himself。
He had met Mrs。 Jennings at the door in her way to the
carriage； as he came to leave his farewell card； and she； after
apologising for not returning herself； had obliged him to enter； by
saying that Miss Dashwood was above； and wanted to speak with
him on very particular business。
Elinor had just been congratulating herself； in the midst of her
perplexity； that however difficult it might be to express herself
properly by letter； it was at least preferable to giving the
information by word of mouth； when her visitor entered； to force
her upon this greatest exertion of all。 Her astonishment and
confusion were very great on his so sudden appearance。 She had
not seen him before since his engagement became public； and
therefore not since his knowing her to be acquainted with it；
which； with the consciousness of what she had been thinking of；
and what she had to tell him； made her feel particularly
uncomfortable for some minutes。 He too was much distressed； and
they sat down together in a most promising state of
embarrassment。—Whether he had asked her pardon for his
intrusion on first coming into the room； he could not recollect； but
determining to be on the safe side； he made his apology in form as
soon as he could say any thing； after taking a chair。
“Mrs。 Jennings told me；” said he； “that you wished to speak
with me； at least I understood her so—or I certainly should not
have intruded on you in such a manner； though at the same time； I
should have been extremely sorry to leave London without seeing
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you and your sister； especially as it will most likely be some time—
it is not probable that I should soon have the pleasure of meeting
you again。 I go to Oxford tomorrow。”
“You would not have gone； however；” said Elinor； recovering
herself； and determined to get over what she so much dreaded as
soon as possible； “without receiving our good wishes； even if we
had not been able to give them in person。 Mrs。 Jennings was quite
right in what she said。 I have something of consequence to inform
you of； which I was on the point of communicating by paper。 I am
charged with a most agreeable office （breathing rather faster than
usual as she spoke。） Colonel Brandon； who was here only ten
minutes ago； has desired me to say； that understanding you mean
to take orders； he has great pleasure in offering you the living of
Delaford now just vacant； and only wishes it were more valuable。
Allow me to congratulate you on having so respectable and well…
judging a friend； and to join in his wish that the living—it is about
two hundred a…year—were much more considerable； and such as
might better enable you to—as might be more than a temporary
accommodation to yourself—such； in short； as might establish all
your views of happiness。”
What Edward felt； as he could not say it himself； it cannot be
expected that any one else should say for him。 He looked all the
astonishment which such unexpected； such unthought…of
information could not fail of exciting； but he said only these two
words；
“Colonel Brandon！”
“Yes；” continued Elinor； gathering more resolution； as some of
the worst was over； “Colonel Brandon means it as a testimony of
his concern for what has lately passed—for the cruel situation in
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which the unjustifiable conduct of
