sanditon(桑底顿)-第3节
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measured mile nearer than East Bourne。 Only conceive Sir； the
advantage of saving a whole Mile； in a long Journey。 But
Brinshore Sir； which I dare say you have in your eye—the
attempts of two or three speculating People about Brinshore； this
last Year； to raise that paltry Hamlet； lying； as it does between a
stagnant marsh； a bleak Moor and the constant effluvia of a ridge
of putrifying sea weed； can end in nothing but their own
Disappointment。 What in the name of Common Sense is to
recommend Brinshore？—A most insalubrious Air—Roads
proverbially detestable—Water Brackish beyond example；
impossible to get a good dish of Tea within three miles of the
place—and as for the Soil—it is so cold and ungrateful that it can
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hardly be made to yield a Cabbage。—Depend upon it Sir； that this
is a faithful Description of Brinshore—not in the smallest degree
exaggerated—and if you have heard it differently spoken of—’ ‘Sir
I never heard it spoken of in my Life before；’ said Mr。 Heywood。 ‘I
did not know there was such a place in the World。’ ‘You did not！—
There my Dear—（turning with exultation to his Wife）—you see
how it is。 So much for the Celebrity of Brinshore！—This
Gentleman did not know there was such a place in the World。—
Why； in truth Sir； I fancy we may apply to Brinshore； that line of
the Poet Cowper in his description of the religious Cottager； as
opposed to Voltaire—“She； never heard of half a mile from
home。”’—‘With all my Heart Sir—Apply any Verses you like to it—
But I want to see something applied to your Leg—and I am sure
by your Lady’s countenance that she is quite of my opinion and
thinks it a pity to lose any more time—And here come my Girls to
speak for themselves and their Mother （two or three genteel
looking young Women followed by as many Maid servants； were
now seen issueing from the House）—I began to wonder the Bustle
should not have reached them。—A thing of this kind soon makes a
Stir in a lonely place like ours。—Now Sir； let us see how you can
be best conveyed into the House。’—The young Ladies approached
and said every thing that was proper to recommend their Father’s
offers； and in an unaffected manner calculated to make the
Strangers easy。—And as Mrs。 P。 was exceedingly anxious for
relief—and her Husband by this time； not much less disposed for
it—a very few civil scruples were enough—especially as the
Carriage being now set up； was discovered to have received such
Injury on the fallen side as to be unfit for present use。—Mr。 Parker
was therefore carried into the House； and his Carriage wheeled off
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to a vacant Barn。
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CHAPTER II
he acquaintance； thus oddly begun； was neither short nor
unimportant。 For a whole fortnight the Travellors were
T
fixed at Willingden； Mr。 P。’s sprain proving too serious for
him to move sooner。—He had fallen into very good hands。 The
Heywoods were a thoroughly respectable family； and every
possible attention was paid in the kindest and most unpretending
manner； to both Husband and wife。 He was waited on and nursed；
and she cheered and comforted with unremitting kindness—and
as every office of Hospitality and friendliness was received as it
ought—as there was not more good will on one side than
Gratitude on the other—nor any deficiency of generally pleasant
manners on either； they grew to like each other in the course of
that fortnight； exceedingly well。—Mr。 Parker’s Character and
History were soon unfolded。 All that he understood of himself； he
readily told； for he was very openhearted；—and where he might be
himself in the dark； his conversation was still giving information；
to such of the Heywoods as could observe。—By such he was
perceived to be an Enthusiast；—on the subject of Sanditon； a
complete Enthusiast。—Sanditon；—the success of Sanditon as a
small； fashionable Bathing Place was the object； for which he
seemed to live。 A very few years ago； and it had been a quiet
Village of no pretensions； but some natural advantages in its
position and some accidental circumstances having suggested to
himself； and the other principal Land Holder； the probability of its
becoming a profitable Speculation； they had engaged in it； and
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planned and built； and praised and puffed； and raised it to a
Something of young Renown—and Mr。 Parker could now think of
very little besides。—The Facts； which in more direct
communication； he laid before them were that he was about five
and thirty—had been married；—very happily married seven
years—and had four sweet Children at home；—that he was of a
respectable Family； and easy though not large fortune；—no
Profession—succeeding as eldest son to the Property which two or
three Generations had been holding and accumulating before
him；—that he had two Brothers and two Sisters—all single and all
independant—the eldest of the two former indeed； by collateral
Inheritance； quite as well provided for as himself。—His object in
quitting the high road； to hunt for an advertising Surgeon； was
also plainly stated；—it had not proceeded from any intention of
spraining his ancle or doing himself any other Injury for the good
of such Surgeon—nor （as Mr H。 had been apt to suppose） from
any design of entering into Partnership with him—； it was merely
in consequence of a wish to establish some medical Man at
Sanditon； which the nature of the Advertisement induced him to
expect to accomplish in Willingden。—He was convinced that the
advantage of a medical Man at hand would very materially
promote the rise and prosperity of the Place—would in fact tend to
bring a prodigious influx；—nothing else was wanting。 He had
strong reason to believe that one family had been deterred last
year from trying Sanditon on that account—and probably very
many more—and his own Sisters who were sad Invalids； and
whom he was very anxious to get to Sanditon this Summer； could
hardly be expected to hazard themselves in a place where they
could not have immediate medical advice。—Upon the whole； Mr。
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P。 was evidently an amiable； family…man； fond of Wife； Children；
Brothers and Sisters—and generally kind…hearted；—Liberal；
gentlemanlike； easy to please；—of a sanguine turn of mind； with
more Imagination than Judgement。 And Mrs。 P。 was as evidently a
gentle； amiable； sweet tempered Woman； the properest wife in the
World for a Man of strong Understanding； but not of capacity to
supply the cooler reflection which her own Husband sometimes
needed； an
