sanditon(桑底顿)-第6节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
been so low in every worldly view； as with all her natural
endowments and powers； to have been preparing for a situation
little better than a Nursery Maid。—Clara had returned with her—
and by her good sense and merit had now； to all appearance
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 23…
Jane Austen： Sanditon 23
secured a very strong hold in Lady D。’s regard。 The six months
had long been over—and not a syllable was breathed of any
change； or exchange。—She was a general favourite；—the influence
of her steady conduct and mild； gentle Temper was felt by
everybody。 The prejudices which had met her at first in some
quarters； were all dissipated。 She was felt to be worthy of Trust—
to be the very companion who would guide and soften Lady D。—
who would enlarge her mind and open her hand。—She was as
thoroughly amiable as she was lovely—and since having had the
advantage of their Sanditon Breezes； that Loveliness was
complete。
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 24…
Jane Austen： Sanditon 24
CHAPTER IV
nd whose very snug…looking Place is this？’—said
Charlotte； as in a sheltered Dip within two miles of the
‘A
Sea； they passed close by a moderate…sized house； well
fenced and planted； and rich in the Garden； Orchard and
Meadows which are the best embellishments of such a Dwelling。
‘It seems to have as many comforts about it as Willingden。’—‘Ah’—
said Mr。 P。—‘This is my old House—the house of my
Forefathers—the house where I and all my Brothers and Sisters
were born and bred—and where my own three eldest Children
were born—where Mrs。 P。 and I lived till within the last two
years—till our new House was finished。—I am glad you are
pleased with it。—It is an honest old Place—and Hillier keeps it in
very good order。 I have given it up you know to the Man who
occupies the chief of my Land。 He gets a better House by it—and I；
a rather better situation！—one other Hill brings us to Sanditon—
modern Sanditon—a beautiful Spot。 Our Ancestors； you know
always built in a hole。—Here were we； pent down in this little
contracted Nook； without Air or View； only one mile and three
quarters from the noblest expanse of Ocean between the South
foreland and the Land’s end； and without the smallest advantage
from it。 You will not think I have made a bad exchange； when we
reach Trafalgar House—which by the bye； I almost wish I had not
named Trafalgar—for Waterloo is more the thing now。 However；
Waterloo is in reserve—and if we have encouragement enough
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 25…
Jane Austen： Sanditon 25
this year for a little Crescent to be ventured on—（as I trust we
shall） then； we shall be able to call it Waterloo Crescent—and the
name joined to the form of the Building； which always takes； will
give us the command of Lodgers。 In a good Season we should have
more applications than we could attend to。’—‘It was always a very
comfortable House’—said Mrs。 Parker—looking at it through the
back window with something like the fondness of regret。—‘And
such a nice Garden—such an excellent Garden。’ ‘Yes； my Love；
but that we may be said to carry with us。—It supplies us； as before；
with all the fruit and vegetables we want； and we have in fact all
the comfort of an excellent Kitchen Garden； without the constant
Eyesore of its formalities； or the yearly nuisance of its decaying
vegetation。—Who can endure a Cabbage Bed in October？’ ‘Oh！
dear—yes—We are quite as well off for Gardenstuff as ever we
were—for if it is forgot to be brought at any time； we can always
buy what we want at Sanditon…House。—The Gardiner there； is
glad enough to supply us。 But it was a nice place for the Children
to run about in。 So Shady in Summer！’ ‘My dear； we shall have
shade enough on the Hill and more than enough in the course of a
very few years；—The Growth of my Plantations is a general
astonishment。 In the mean while we have the Canvas Awning；
which gives us the most complete comfort within doors—and you
can get a Parasol at Whitby’s for little Mary at any time； or a large
Bonnet at Jebb’s—and as for the Boys； I must say I would rather
them run about in the Sunshine than not。 I am sure we agree my
dear； in wishing our Boys to be as hardy as possible。’—‘Yes
indeed； I am sure we do—and I will get Mary a little Parasol；
which will make her as proud as can be。 How Grave she will walk
about with it； and fancy herself quite a little Woman。—Oh！ I have
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 26…
Jane Austen： Sanditon 26
not the smallest doubt of our being a great deal better off where
we are now。 If we any of us want to bathe； we have not a quarter of
a mile to go。—But you know； （still looking back） one loves to look
at an old friend； at a place where one has been happy。—The
Hilliers did not seem to feel the Storms last Winter at all。—I
remember seeing Mrs。 Hillier after one of those dreadful Nights；
when we had been literally rocked in our bed； and she did not
seem at all aware of the Wind being anything more than common。’
‘Yes； yes—that’s likely enough。 We have all the Grandeur of the
Storm； with less real danger； because the Wind meeting with
nothing to oppose or confine it around our House； simply rages
and passes on—while down in this Gutter—nothing is known of
the state of the Air； below the Tops of the Trees—and the
Inhabitants may be taken totally unawares； by one of those
dreadful Currents which do more mischief in a Valley； when they
do arise than an open Country ever experiences in the heaviest
Gale。—But my dear Love—as to Gardenstuff；—you were saying
that any accidental omission is supplied in a moment by Lady D。’s
Gardiner—but it occurs to me that we ought to go elsewhere upon
such occasions—and that old Stringer and his son have a higher
claim。 I encouraged him to set up—and am afraid he does not do
very well—that is； there has not been time enough yet。—He will do
very well beyond a doubt—but at first it is Uphill work； and
therefore we must give him what Help we can—and when any
Vegetables or fruit happen to be wanted—and it will not be amiss
to have them often wanted； to have something or other forgotten
most days；—Just to have a nominal supply you know； that poor old
Andrew may not lose his daily Job—but in fact to buy the chief of
our consumption of the Stringers。’ ‘Very well my Love； that can be
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 27…
Jane Austen： Sanditon 27
easily done—and Cook will be satisfied—which will be a great
comfort； for she is always complaining of old Andrew now； and
says he never brings her what she wants。—There—now the old
House is quite left behind。—What is it； your Brother Sidney says
about it’s being a Hospital？’ ‘Oh！ my dear Mary； merely a Joke of
his。 He pretends to advise me to make a Hospital of it。 He pretends
to laugh at my Improvements。 Sidney says any thing you know。 He
has always said what he chose of and to us； all。 Most Families have
s
