sanditon(桑底顿)-第12节
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her two companions。—Certainly； there was no strain of doubtful
Sentiment； nor any phrase of difficult interpretation in Lady D’s
discourse。 Taking hold of Charlotte’s arm with the ease of one who
felt that any notice from her was an Honour； and communicative；
from the influence of the same conscious Importance or a natural
love of talking； she immediately said in a tone of great
satisfaction—and with a look of arch sagacity—‘Miss Esther wants
me to invite her and her Brother to spend a week with me at
Sanditon House； as I did last Summer—but I shan’t。—She has
been trying to get round me every way； with her praise of this； and
her praise of that； but I saw what she was about。—I saw through it
all。—I am not very easily taken in my Dear。’ Charlotte could think
of nothing more harmless to be said； than the simple enquiry of—
‘Sir Edward and Miss Denham？’—‘Yes； my Dear。 My young Folks；
as I call them sometimes； for I take them very much by the hand。 I
had them with me last Summer about this time； for a week； from
Monday to Monday； and very delighted and thankful they were。—
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For they are very good young People my Dear。 I would not have
you think that I only notice them； for poor dear Sir Harry’s sake。
No； no； they are very deserving themselves； or trust me； they
would not be so much in my Company。—I am not the Woman to
help any body blindfold。—I always take care to know what I am
about and who I have to deal with； before I stir a finger。—I do not
think I was ever over…reached in my Life； and That is a good deal
for a Woman to say that has been married twice。—Poor dear Sir
Harry （between ourselves） thought at first to have got more。—But
（with a bit of a sigh） he is gone； and we must not find fault with the
Dead。 Nobody could live happier together than us—and he was a
very honourable Man； quite the Gentleman of ancient Family。—
And when he died； I gave Sir Edward his Gold Watch。’ She said
this with a look at her Companion which implied its right to
produce a great Impression—and seeing no rapturous
astonishment in Charlotte’s countenance； added quickly—‘He did
not bequeath it to his Nephew； my dear—It was no bequest。 It was
not in the Will。 He only told me； and that but once； that he should
wish his Nephew to have his Watch； but it need not have been
binding； if I had not chose it。’ ‘Very kind indeed！ very
Handsome；’—said Charlotte； absolutely forced to affect
admiration。—‘Yes； my dear—and it is not the only kind thing I
have done by him。—I have been a very liberal friend to Sir
Edward。 And poor young Man； he needs it bad enough；—For
though I am only the Dowager my Dear； and he is the Heir； things
do not stand between us in the way they commonly do between
those two parties。—Not a shilling do I receive from the Denham
Estate。 Sir Edward has no Payments to make me。 He don’t stand
uppermost； believe me。—It is I that help him。’ ‘Indeed！—He is a
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very fine young Man；—particularly Elegant in his Address。’—This
was said chiefly for the sake of saying something—but Charlotte
directly saw that it was laying her open to suspicion by Lady D。’s
giving a shrewd glance at her and replying—‘Yes； yes； he is very
well to look at—and it is to be hoped that some Lady of large
fortune will think so—for Sir Edward must marry for Money。—He
and I often talk that matter over。—A handsome young fellow like
him； will go smirking and smiling about and paying girls
compliments but he knows he must marry for Money。—And Sir
Edward is a very steady young Man in the main； and has got very
good notions。’ ‘Sir Edward Denham；’ said Charlotte； ‘with such
personal Advantages may be almost sure of getting a Woman of
fortune； if he chuses it。’—This glorious sentiment seemed quite to
remove suspicion。 ‘Aye my Dear—That’s very sensibly said’ cried
Lady D—‘And if we could but get a young Heiress to S。！ But
Heiresses are monstrous scarce！ I do not think we have had an
Heiress here； or even a Co— since Sanditon has been a public
place。 Families come after Families； but as far as I can learn； it is
not one in an hundred of them that have any real Property；
Landed or Funded。—An Income perhaps； but no Property。
Clergymen may be； or Lawyers from Town； or Half pay officers； or
Widows with only a jointure。 And what good can such people do
anybody？—except just as they take our empty Houses—and
（between ourselves） I think they are great fools for not staying at
home。 Now； if we could get a young Heiress to be sent here for her
health—（and if she was ordered to drink asses milk I could supply
her）—and as soon as she got well； have her fall in love with Sir
Edward！’—‘That would be very fortunate indeed。’ ‘And Miss
Esther must marry somebody of fortune too—She must get a rich
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Husband。 Ah！ young Ladies that have no Money are very much to
be pitied！—But’—after a short pause—‘if Miss Esther thinks to
talk me into inviting them to come and stay at Sanditon House；
she will find herself mistaken。—Matters are altered with me since
last Summer you know。 I have Miss Clara with me now； which
makes a great difference。’ She spoke this so seriously that
Charlotte instantly saw in it the evidence of real penetration and
prepared for some fuller remarks—but it was followed only by—‘I
have no fancy for having my House as full as an Hotel。 I should not
chuse to have my two Housemaids Time taken up all the morning；
in dusting out Bed rooms。—They have Miss Clara’s room to put to
rights as well as my own every day。—If they had hard Places； they
would want Higher Wages。 For objections of this Nature； Charlotte
was not prepared； and she found it so impossible even to affect
sympathy； that she could say nothing。—Lady D。 soon added； with
great glee—‘And besides all this my Dear； am I to be filling my
House to the prejudice of Sanditon？—If People want to be by the
Sea； why dont they take Lodgings？—Here are a great many empty
Houses—three on this very Terrace； no fewer than three Lodging
Papers staring us in the face at this very moment； Numbers 3； 4
and 8。 8； the Corner House may be too large for them； but either of
the two others are nice little snug Houses； very fit for a young
Gentleman and his sister—And so； my dear； the next time Miss
Esther begins talking about the dampness of Denham Park； and
the Good Bathing always does her； I shall advise them to come and
take one of these Lodgings for a fortnight—Don’t you think that
will be very fair？—Charity begins at home you know。’—Charlotte’s
feelings were divided between amusement and indignation—but
indignation had the larger and the increasing share。—She kept
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her Countenance and she kept a civil Silence。 She could not carry
her forbearance farther； but without attempting to listen longer；
and only conscious that Lady D。 was still talking on in the same
way； allowed her Thoughts to form themselves into such a
Meditation as this。—‘She is thoroughly me
