sanditon(桑底顿)-第19节
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Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
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strict Medecinal page。—The corner house of the Terrace was the
one in which Miss D。P。 had the pleasure of settling her new
friends； and considering that it commanded in front the favourite
Lounge of all the Visitors at Sanditon； and on one side； whatever
might be going on at the Hotel； there could not have been a more
favourable spot for the seclusions of the Miss Beauforts。 And
accordingly； long before they had suited themselves with an
Instrument； or with Drawing paper； they had； by the frequency of
their appearance at the low Windows upstairs； in order to close
the blinds； or open the Blinds； to arrange a flower pot on the
Balcony； or look at nothing through a Telescope； attracted many
an eye upwards； and made many a Gazer gaze again。—A little
Novelty has a great effect in so small a place； the Miss Beauforts；
who would have been nothing at Brighton； could not move here
without notice；—and even Mr。 Arthur Parker； though little
disposed for supernumerary exertion； always quitted the Terrace；
in his way to his Brothers by this corner House； for the sake of a
glimpse of the Miss Bs； though it was half a quarter of a mile
round about； and added two steps to the ascent of the Hill。
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CHAPTER XII
harlotte had been ten days at Sanditon without seeing
Sanditon House； every attempt at calling on Lady D。
C
having been defeated by meeting with her beforehand。
But now it was to be more resolutely undertaken； at a more early
hour； that nothing might be neglected of attention to Lady D。 or
amusement to Charlotte。—‘And if you should find a favourable
opening my Love；’ said Mr。 P。 （who did not mean to go with
them）—‘I think you had better mention the poor Mullins’s
situation； and sound her Ladyship as to a Subscription for them。 I
am not fond of charitable subscriptions in a place of this kind—It
is a sort of tax upon all that come—Yet as their distress is very
great and I almost promised the poor Woman yesterday to get
something done for her； I believe we must set a subscription on
foot—and therefore the sooner the better；—and Lady Denham’s
name at the head of the List will be a very necessary beginning。—
You will not dislike speaking to her about it； Mary？’—‘I will do
whatever you wish me；’ replied his Wife—‘but you would do it so
much better yourself。 I shall not know what to say。’—‘My dear
Mary；’ cried he； ‘it is impossible you can be really at a loss。
Nothing can be more simple。 You have only to state the present
afflicted situation of the family； their earnest application to me；
and my being willing to promote a little subscription for their
relief； provided it meet with her approbation。’ ‘The easiest thing in
the World’—cried Miss Diana Parker who happened to be calling
on them at the moment。 ‘All said and done； in less time than you
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have been talking of it now。—And while you are on the subject of
subscriptions Mary； I will thank you to mention a very melancholy
case to Lady D。 which has been represented to me in the most
affecting terms。—There is a poor Woman in Worcestershire；
whom some friends of mine are exceedingly interested about； and
I have undertaken to collect whatever I can for her。 If you would
mention the circumstance to Lady Denham！—Lady Denham can
give； if she is properly attacked—and I look upon her to be the sort
of Person who； when once she is prevailed on to undraw her
Purse； would as readily give ten guineas as five。—And therefore； if
you find her in a Giving mood； you might as well speak in favour of
another Charity which I and a few more； have very much at heart：
the establishment of a Charitable Repository at Burton on
Trent。—And then；—there is the family of the poor Man who was
hung last assizes at York； tho’ we really have raised the sum we
wanted for putting them all out； yet if you can get a Guinea from
her on their behalf； it may as well be done。’ ‘My dear Diana！’
exclaimed Mrs。 P。—‘I could no more mention these things to Lady
D。 than I could fly。’—‘Where’s the difficulty？—I wish I could go
with you myself—but in five minutes I must be at Mrs。 G。—to
encourage Miss Lambe in taking her first Dip。 She is so
frightened； poor Thing； that I promised to come and keep up her
Spirits； and go in the Machine with her if she wished it—and as
soon as that is over； I must hurry home； for Susan is to have
Leaches at one o’clock—which will be a three hours business；—
therefore I really have not a moment to spare—besides that
（between ourselves） I ought to be in bed myself at this present
time； for I am hardly able to stand—and when the Leaches have
done； I dare say we shall both go to our rooms for the rest of the
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day。’—‘I am sorry to hear it； indeed； but if this is the case I hope
Arthur will come to us。’—‘If Arthur takes my advice； he will go to
bed too； for if he stays up by himself； he will certainly eat and
drink more than he ought；—but you see Mary； how impossible it is
for me to go with you to Lady Denham’s。’—‘Upon second thoughts
Mary；’ said her husband； ‘I will not trouble you to speak about the
Mullins。—I will take an opportunity of seeing Lady D。 myself。—I
know how little it suits you to be pressing matters upon a Mind at
all unwilling。’—His application thus withdrawn； his sister could
say no more in support of hers； which was his object； as he felt all
their impropriety and all the certainty of their ill effect upon his
own better claim。—Mrs P。 was delighted at this release； and set off
very happy with her friend and her little girl； on this walk to
Sanditon House。—It was a close； misty morning； and when they
reached the brow of the Hill； they could not for some time make
out what sort of Carriage it was； which they saw coming up。 It
appeared at different moments to be everything from the Gig to
the Pheaton； from one horse to four； and just as they were
concluding in favour of a Tandem； little Mary’s young eyes
distinguished the Coachman and she eagerly called out； ‘’Tis
Uncle Sidney Mama； it is indeed。’ And so it proved。—Mr。 Sidney
Parker driving his Servant in a very neat Carriage was soon
opposite to them； and they all stopped for a few minutes。 The
manners of the Parkers were always pleasant among themselves—
and it was a very friendly meeting between Sidney and his sister…
in…law； who was most kindly taking it for granted that he was on
his way to Trafalgar House。 This he declined however。 ‘He was
just come from Eastbourne； proposing to spend two or three days；
as it might happen； at Sanditon—but the Hotel must be his
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Jane Austen： Sanditon
