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書蟲5級《理智與情感》4.去與來

所屬教程:書蟲5級 理智與情感

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2022年07月23日

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4. Departures and arrivals

The next morning, Mrs Dashwood, with two of her daughters, went to visit Lady Middleton. Marianne wished to remain at home, and her mother, thinking that no doubt Willoughby had promised to call on her while she was alone, was quite happy to agree. When they returned from the Park, they found, as expected, Willoughby's carriage waiting outside the cottage. But what they did not expect, as they entered the house, was to see Marianne rush out of the sitting-room, sobbing uncontrollably, and run upstairs. Surprised and worried, they went into the room, where they found only Willoughby. His face showed signs of the same strong feelings that had moved Marianne.

Is Marianne ill?' cried Mrs Dashwood.

I hope not,' he replied, trying to look cheerful. 'Indeed, it is I who may expect to be ill, as I am now suffering under a very heavy disappointment. I am unable to visit you any longer. My cousin, Mrs Smith, has this morning decided to send me to London on business. As a poor dependent relation, I must do what she asks. I have already left Allenham, and now I have come to say goodbye to you.'

This is very unfortunate. But Mrs Smith's business will not keep you from us for very long, I hope.'

He reddened as he replied, 'You are very kind, but I have no hope of returning to Devonshire immediately. My visits to Mrs Smith are never repeated within the year.'

And is Mrs Smith your only friend? Is Allenham the only house where you are welcome? My dear Willoughby! Surely you do not need to wait for an invitation to Barton Cottage?'

His colour deepened, and, with his eyes fixed on the ground, he only replied, 'You are too good.'

Mrs Dashwood looked at Elinor with surprise, and Elinor felt just as astonished.

After a moment's silence, Willoughby added confusedly, 'At present—my—my time is not my own... I cannot hope...' He stopped. Then, smiling weakly, he said, 'It is foolish to go on in this manner. I will not punish myself any longer by remaining among friends whose society it is impossible for me now to enjoy.' Hurriedly he said goodbye and left the house. His carriage was soon out of sight.

Mrs Dashwood's concern and alarm at his sudden departure were too great for her to express. Elinor also felt extremely disturbed by Willoughby's changed behaviour. One moment she feared that he had never had any serious intention of marrying Marianne, and the next, that some unfortunate argument had taken place between him and her sister. But her strongest feeling was one of pity for Marianne, who must now be in the depths of the most violent sorrow; and her romantic nature would consider it a duty to feed and encourage her misery.

Soon Mrs Dashwood felt able to discuss the situation with her eldest daughter. She was now more cheerful, and had persuaded herself that Willoughby was only leaving Devonshire on the orders of his rich relation, because Mrs Smith suspected, and disapproved of, his engagement to Marianne. 'His dearest wish,' she went on, 'will be to return to Barton as soon as he can.'

Elinor, listening patiently, agreed that this was quite possible.

But if they are engaged,' she said, 'although it may be necessary to hide the truth from Mrs Smith, there is no reason to hide it from us.'

My dear child!' cried her mother. 'It is strange for you to accuse Willoughby and Marianne of hiding their feelings, when you have accused them of showing their feelings too openly.'

I want no proof of their affection,' said Elinor, 'but of their engagement I do.'

I am perfectly happy with both. Has not his behaviour to Marianne, for at least the last fortnight, shown that he loved her and considered her his future wife? Is it possible, Elinor, to doubt their engagement? Willoughby must be aware of your sister's love for him. How could he leave her, perhaps for months, without telling her of his affection?'

I confess,' said Elinor, 'that everything points towards their engagement, except for one thing—their silence on the subject—and for me that is the greatest difficulty of all.'

Oh Elinor, I do not understand you! You prefer to believe in bad rather than good. Do you suspect Willoughby? But is he not a man of honour and feeling? You cannot really think he is deceiving Marianne? '

I hope not, I believe not,' cried Elinor. 'I sincerely love Willoughby, and I find it painful to suspect his intentions. Perhaps, indeed, you are right, and there is a simple explanation for his strange behaviour this morning.'

They saw nothing of Marianne until dinner, when she took her place at the table without saying a word. Her eyes were red and her face pale; she avoided looking at anyone, and could neither eat nor speak. She continued in the depths of misery all evening. Any mention of anything to do with Willoughby made her burst into tears instantly, and although her family were most anxious for her comfort, it was impossible for them to keep clear of every subject which her feelings connected with him.

Marianne would have thought herself very insensitive if she had been able to sleep at all the first night after parting from Willoughby. She would have been ashamed to look her family in the face, if she had not risen from her bed more in need of rest than when she lay down on it. But there was no danger of this happening. She spent most of the night sobbing bitterly, and got up with a headache. She passed the rest of the day, and several more days after that, in feeding her sorrow, by playing all Willoughby's favourite songs, by reading the books they used to read together, and by walking alone on the hills where they used to walk, until her heart was so heavy that no further sadness could be added. No letter from Willoughby came, and none seemed expected by Marianne. Her mother was surprised, and Elinor again began to worry.

One morning, about a week later, Elinor persuaded Marianne to join her sisters in a walk. As they went along the road away from the cottage, they saw a gentleman riding towards them, and at once Marianne cried out in delight, 'It is he! I know it is!'

She ran eagerly to meet him, but Elinor called out, 'Marianne, I think you are wrong. It is not Willoughby.'

But Marianne would not listen, and continued running until she was quite near the rider, when she stopped suddenly. She had realized it was not Willoughby, and her disappointment was almost too great to bear. Just then, the gentleman called to her, and she recognized Edward Ferrars.

He was the only person in the world who could at that moment be forgiven for not being Willoughby, and she smiled at him, holding back her tears. After the greetings, however, she watched with growing surprise his polite and distant behaviour to Elinor, which was very unlike a lover's. And when she heard that he had already been in Devonshire for a fortnight, without coming to see Elinor, she almost began to feel dislike for him.

Have you been to Sussex recently?' asked Elinor.

I was at Norland about a month ago,' replied Edward.

How does dear, dear Norland look?' cried Marianne.

Dear, dear Norland,' said Elinor, 'probably looks much the same as it usually does at this time of year—the woods and walks thickly covered with dead leaves.'

Oh!' cried Marianne, 'those falling leaves gave me such delight! How I used to love seeing them driven around me by the wind! Now there is no one to watch them, no one to care.'

It is not everyone,' said Elinor, 'who has your passion for dead leaves.'

They all returned to the cottage together, where Edward received the kindest possible welcome from Mrs Dashwood. Under her warm influence he began to lose his shyness, or coldness, and to become more like himself, but he still did not seem cheerful. This was noticed by the whole family.

Well, Edward,' said Mrs Dashwood, after dinner, 'what are your mother's plans for you at present? Does Mrs Ferrars still want you to be a politician?'

No, I hope my mother realizes I can never do that. I am afraid she and I will never agree in our choice of a profession for me. As you know, I did not enjoy studying law. I have always preferred the Church, but that is too ordinary for my family.'

So how are you to become famous? Because that is what all your family wants, I understand.'

I shall not attempt it. I have no wish to be grand or important, and I have every reason to hope I never shall be.'

I know you are not ambitious, Edward.'

No. I wish, like everybody else, to be perfectly happy, but in my own way. Greatness will not make me happy.'

How right you are!' cried Marianne. 'What has wealth or greatness to do with happiness?'

Greatness has very little,' said Elinor, 'but wealth has much to do with it.'

Elinor!' cried Marianne, shocked. 'Money can only give happiness where there is nothing else to give it. Beyond answering our basic needs, money is of no use to us at all.'

Perhaps,' said Elinor, smiling, 'we may agree in the end. Your basic needs and my wealth are very much alike, I expect. Come, what is your basic figure?'

Two thousand a year, not more than that.'

Elinor laughed. 'Two thousand a year! One is my wealth! I guessed what you would say.'

And yet two thousand a year is not a large income. A family cannot live on less. The right number of servants, a carriage, and horses for riding, cannot be paid for with less than that.'

Elinor smiled again, to hear her sister describing so accurately her future life with Willoughby.

During Edward's visit, Elinor was careful to behave to him with her usual politeness and interest, but in her heart she was alarmed by his coldness towards her. It was clear that he was unhappy, and she doubted very much whether he still loved her. She could see, however, that his feelings were confused; sometimes, for a moment, he looked at her as he used to, and this gave her hope again.

The next day, as Marianne was passing some tea to Edward, she noticed a ring on his finger, and mentioned it.

I never saw you wear a ring before, Edward,' she cried. 'Is that your sister's hair in the ring? But surely hers is darker?'

Edward blushed deeply, and looking quickly at Elinor, said, 'Yes, it is Fanny's hair. It looks lighter than it really is.'

Elinor had met his eye, and knew the truth. She felt sure that the hair was her own, but it must have been taken from her without her knowing. She was not in the mood, however, to disapprove of this action, and changed the subject quickly.

The Dashwoods were sorry to hear that Edward had to leave them after only a week. Although he expressed his great pleasure at seeing such old friends, and could give no good reason for his departure, there seemed to be something forcing him to leave.

Elinor blamed his mother for his rather odd behaviour. His lack of cheerfulness could easily be explained by his lack of independence. She wondered when, if ever, his mother would finally drop all her ambitions for him, and allow him to make his own choices in life. A more comforting thought was the memory of his pleasant looks and words to her during his visit, and above all, the proof of his affection that he wore round his finger.

In spite of the painfulness of Edward's departure, Elinor was determined to hide her feelings, and show a brave face to the world. Doing this did not lessen her sadness, but at least prevented her family from worrying about her. Marianne could not admire such behaviour, so unlike her own; she believed that self-control was easy for calm natures like Elinor's, and simply impossible for passionate ones like hers.

One morning soon after Edward had left, Sir John and Lady Middleton and Mrs Jennings came to visit the Dashwoods, bringing with them Mr and Mrs Palmer. Charlotte Palmer was Mrs Jennings' younger daughter, but was completely unlike her sister, Lady Middleton, in every way. She was short and rather fat, had a very pretty face, and smiled or laughed all the time. Her husband was a serious-looking young man, who made no effort to please or be pleased. He read the newspaper for most of the visit, only lifting his head from time to time to give a cross, unsmiling answer to his wife's foolish questions. She, however, took an immediate liking to Elinor and Marianne, and spent much time in conversation with Elinor in particular. When Elinor realized that their home was in Somerset, near Willoughby's, she hoped to hear more about his character, so she asked Mrs Palmer if they knew him.

Oh yes, I know him extremely well,' replied Mrs Palmer. 'Not that I ever spoke to him, indeed, but I have often seen him in town. Everybody likes and admires him. I know very well why you ask. I am delighted that your sister is to marry him!'

You know much more of the matter than I do,' said Elinor, surprised, 'if you have any reason to expect that.'

Don't pretend it's not true, because you know it's what everybody in London is talking of.'

My dear Mrs Palmer!'

On my honour, they all talk of it. I met Colonel Brandon on Bond Street, and he told me of it immediately.'

You surprise me very much. I would not expect Colonel Brandon to give such information, even if it were true.'

Well, when I met him, I said, "Colonel, I hear there is a new family at Barton Cottage, and mama says the girls are very pretty, and that one of them is engaged to Mr Willoughby. Is it true?" And he said nothing, but from his expression I knew it was certain. Of course, I have known Coloner Brandon a long time. I believe,' she added in a low voice, 'he would have been very glad to marry me if he could. But mama did not think him a good enough husband for me. In any case, I am much happier as I am. Mr Palmer is just the kind of man I like.'

* * *

cousin n. a relative descended from a common ancestor, such as a grandparent, by two or three steps in a diverting line 遠(yuǎn)親

deceive v. to make someone believe something that is not true in order to get what you want 欺騙

bitterly adv. in a way that makes you very unhappy, or show that you are very unhappy 痛苦地

fortnight n. two weeks 兩星期

politician n. someone who works in politics, especially an elected member of a parliament or similar institution 政治家(尤指議員等)

accurate adj. accurate information, reports, descriptions etc are correct because all the details are true (信息、報(bào)道、描述等)準(zhǔn)確的

cross adj. angry or annoyed 生氣的,惱怒的

4.去與來

第二天早上,達(dá)什伍德夫人要和兩個(gè)女兒一起去拜訪米德爾頓夫人?,旣惏材认M粼诩依铮赣H知道肯定是威洛比答應(yīng)在瑪麗安娜獨(dú)自在家時(shí)來看她,所以就爽快地答應(yīng)了。她們從莊園回來時(shí),發(fā)現(xiàn)正如她們預(yù)料的一樣威洛比的馬車停在屋外。但令她們感到意外的是進(jìn)門時(shí)卻看到瑪麗安娜大哭著沖出客廳跑上樓去。她們吃驚而焦慮地走進(jìn)房間,發(fā)現(xiàn)威洛比獨(dú)自待在里面,像瑪麗安娜一樣神情激動(dòng)。

“瑪麗安娜病了嗎?”達(dá)什伍德夫人大聲問。

“我希望沒有,”他回答道,并盡力裝出快活的樣子,“其實(shí)我才快要病倒了,因?yàn)槲艺淌苤鴺O度失望的折磨。我以后不能來看你們了。我的親戚史密斯夫人今天早上決定派我去倫敦辦事。我只是她的一個(gè)窮親戚,凡事都得依靠她,因此必須對她惟命是從。我已經(jīng)離開了艾倫漢姆,我現(xiàn)在是來和你們告別的?!?/p>

“這太不幸了。不過但愿史密斯夫人的差事不會(huì)讓你和我們分離太久?!?/p>

他漲紅了臉答道:“您真是太好了,但我恐怕一時(shí)回不了德文郡。我一年內(nèi)都不會(huì)再來看史密斯夫人了。”

“那么你就只有史密斯夫人這一個(gè)朋友嗎?難道只有艾倫漢姆這一棟房子歡迎你嗎?我親愛的威洛比??!你來巴頓小屋做客用不著等我們事先邀請吧?”

他的臉變得更紅了,眼睛直勾勾地盯著地板,他只是回答道:“你們對我太好了?!?/p>

達(dá)什伍德夫人吃驚地望著埃莉諾,而埃莉諾也同樣感到吃驚。

片刻的沉默過后,威洛比語無倫次地補(bǔ)充說:“眼下,我,我不能自己支配時(shí)間……我無法希望……”他停住了。然后,他無力地笑著說:“繼續(xù)這樣說下去實(shí)在很傻。既然以后再也不能享受跟朋友在一起的快樂,再耽擱下去只是對自己的懲罰?!彼掖业氐绖e后起身離去。他的馬車很快就看不到了。

達(dá)什伍德夫人對威洛比突然離去的擔(dān)憂和驚慌已經(jīng)超出了她所能表達(dá)的范圍。埃莉諾也為威洛比的異常舉動(dòng)而心神不寧。她一會(huì)兒害怕威洛比根本就沒有認(rèn)真想過娶瑪麗安娜為妻,一會(huì)兒又擔(dān)心他們之間發(fā)生了一場不幸的爭吵。但她最強(qiáng)烈的情感是對瑪麗安娜的憐憫,她這會(huì)兒一定陷入了最深沉的悲傷;而她浪漫的天性只會(huì)加重她的哀愁。

達(dá)什伍德夫人很快就平靜下來,可以跟長女談?wù)撗巯碌那闆r了。她現(xiàn)在感覺好了一些,也已經(jīng)說服自己相信威洛比只不過是奉他富有的親戚之命才離開德文郡的,因?yàn)槭访芩狗蛉藨岩刹⑶也毁澩旣惏材鹊幕榧s?!八畲蟮脑竿?,”她繼續(xù)說道,“肯定是盡早回到巴頓來?!?/p>

埃莉諾耐心聽著,也覺得事情很有可能是這樣的。

“但是如果他倆真的訂婚了,”她說道,“盡管隱瞞史密斯夫人或許是必要的,但實(shí)在沒有理由不讓我們知道啊?!?/p>

“我親愛的孩子!”她母親大聲說,“你一邊指責(zé)威洛比和瑪麗安娜隱藏他們的感情,一邊又指責(zé)他們過于公開直露地表露感情,這實(shí)在是很奇怪?!?/p>

“對于他們之間的感情我不需要任何證據(jù),”埃莉諾說道,“但是我的確想要他們已有婚約的證據(jù)?!?/p>

“對這兩件事我毫不懷疑。難道他在瑪麗安娜面前的表現(xiàn)——至少是近兩周來——沒有證明他深愛她并把她當(dāng)成自己未來的妻子嗎?埃莉諾,我們怎么可能懷疑他們之間的婚約呢?威洛比一定意識到了你妹妹對他的愛情。他怎么能夠在向她表白之前離她而去,更何況也許一去要好幾個(gè)月?”

“我承認(rèn),”埃莉諾說道,“所有跡象都表明他們已經(jīng)訂婚了,除了一件事——那就是他們對這事三緘其口——而在我看來這是最大的問題所在?!?/p>

“哦,埃莉諾,我真的不明白你在想什么!你更愿意相信壞事而非好事。難道你懷疑威洛比嗎?難道他不是一個(gè)看重榮譽(yù)和感情的人嗎?你總不會(huì)認(rèn)為他在欺騙瑪麗安娜吧?”

“我希望他沒有,我也相信他沒有,”埃莉諾大聲說,“我真誠地喜愛威洛比,而且懷疑他的意圖也讓我難過?;蛟S你是對的,他今天上午的奇怪行為只是出于很簡單的原因罷了。”

她們直到吃晚飯的時(shí)候才見到瑪麗安娜,她一言不發(fā)地在餐桌旁找到自己的位置坐下。她雙眼發(fā)紅,臉色蒼白;她沒有抬頭看任何人,吃不下飯也不說話。她整晚都沉浸在痛苦中。一有人提起跟威洛比有關(guān)的事,她都會(huì)立刻痛哭流涕,然而盡管她的家人都非常體諒她的感受,但還是不可能避開所有讓她想起他的話題。

如果瑪麗安娜在與威洛比分開的第一個(gè)晚上還能夠安然入睡,她一定會(huì)覺得自己感情遲鈍。如果在起床的時(shí)候不比上床時(shí)更疲憊的話,她與家人四目相對的時(shí)候一定會(huì)羞愧難當(dāng)。但這根本不用擔(dān)心。她整晚都在痛苦地哭泣,以至于起床時(shí)頭痛得厲害。在這天剩余的時(shí)間里,以及接下來的幾天中,她彈奏所有威洛比喜歡的歌曲、讀他們以前一起讀過的書、獨(dú)自在他們以前經(jīng)常一起去的小山上散步,以此增加她的悲傷直到她的心沉重到無法承受為止。威洛比沒有來信,似乎瑪麗安娜也并不期盼他的來信。她母親感到很驚訝,而埃莉諾則再一次擔(dān)憂起來。

一周后的一天上午,埃莉諾說服瑪麗安娜跟她和妹妹一起出去散步。她們沿著屋外的小路往遠(yuǎn)處走的時(shí)候看到一位紳士策馬朝她們而來?,旣惏材攘⒖炭鞓返亟泻捌饋恚骸笆撬?!我知道那就是他!”

她飛奔過去迎接他,但是埃莉諾喊道:“瑪麗安娜,我想你弄錯(cuò)了,那不是威洛比?!?/p>

可是瑪麗安娜根本聽不進(jìn)去,她一直跑到離騎馬者沒多遠(yuǎn)的地方突然停了下來。她已經(jīng)意識到那個(gè)人并不是威洛比。她失望極了。就在這時(shí),那位紳士喊了她一聲,她認(rèn)出那人是愛德華·費(fèi)拉爾斯。

這一刻,他是世界上唯一一個(gè)能被原諒不是威洛比的人,于是她強(qiáng)忍住淚水向他露出微笑。然而寒暄之后,她卻驚訝地發(fā)現(xiàn)他在埃莉諾面前那種禮貌而疏離的舉止完全不像是一個(gè)戀人的行為。當(dāng)她聽說他已經(jīng)在德文郡待了兩周卻沒來看望埃莉諾的時(shí)候,她幾乎開始厭惡他了。

“你最近去過薩塞克斯郡嗎?”埃莉諾問。

“我一個(gè)月前去過諾蘭莊園?!睈鄣氯A回答。

“親愛的諾蘭莊園現(xiàn)在怎么樣了?”瑪麗安娜大聲問。

“親愛的諾蘭莊園,”埃莉諾說,“也許跟往年這個(gè)時(shí)候一樣——樹林里和林間小徑上都蓋滿了落葉?!?/p>

“哦!”瑪麗安娜大聲說,“那些落葉曾讓我如此地快樂!我過去最喜歡看到它們在我周圍隨風(fēng)飄零!現(xiàn)在沒有人會(huì)去欣賞和在乎它們了?!?/p>

“不是每個(gè)人,”埃莉諾說,“都像你那樣喜歡落葉?!?/p>

他們一起回到小屋,愛德華在那里受到了達(dá)什伍德夫人最熱情的歡迎。被她的熱情感染,他開始變得不那么害羞了,或者說不那么冷淡了,他自然了一些,但似乎還是心情低落。大家都注意到了這一點(diǎn)。

“那么愛德華,”達(dá)什伍德夫人吃過晚餐后說,“你母親現(xiàn)在對你有什么打算呢?費(fèi)拉爾斯太太仍然希望你從政嗎?”

“不,我希望我母親意識到我絕對無法從政。恐怕我和她在我職業(yè)的選擇上永遠(yuǎn)無法達(dá)成一致。您知道,我不喜歡學(xué)習(xí)法律。我一直更傾向于進(jìn)入教會(huì),但這在我家人看來太一般了。”

“那么你怎樣才能出名呢?因?yàn)樵谖铱磥磉@正是你家人所希望的?!?/p>

“我不會(huì)有任何這樣的企圖。我不希望出人頭地,而且我有足夠的理由認(rèn)為我永遠(yuǎn)都會(huì)做一個(gè)平凡的人。”

“愛德華,我知道你這人沒有野心。”

“我沒有。我希望跟別人一樣過得快樂,不過是以我自己的方式。出人頭地并不能使我感到快樂。”

“你說的太對了!”瑪麗安娜大聲贊同,“財(cái)富與出人頭地跟快樂又有什么關(guān)系呢?”

“出人頭地跟快樂沒有什么關(guān)系,”埃莉諾說,“但是財(cái)富卻和快樂關(guān)系密切?!?/p>

“埃莉諾,”瑪麗安娜震驚地說,“金錢只有在沒有其他東西能夠帶來快樂的地方才能帶來快樂。除了滿足我們的基本需求,金錢對我們來說毫無用處?!?/p>

“也許吧,”埃莉諾微笑著說,“我們或許最終能夠達(dá)成一致。我估計(jì)你所說的基本需求和我所說的財(cái)富基本上是一碼事。說吧,你說的基本需求折合成錢數(shù)是多少?”

“一年兩千英鎊,不會(huì)超過這個(gè)數(shù)目?!?/p>

埃莉諾笑了?!耙荒陜汕в㈡^!而我說的財(cái)富不過一年一千英鎊。我就猜到你會(huì)這樣說?!?/p>

“但是一年兩千英鎊并不算很高的收入。一家人是無法靠低于這個(gè)數(shù)字的收入生活的。適當(dāng)數(shù)量的傭人、一輛馬車還有馬,低于這個(gè)數(shù)目的收入就無法維持這些東西了?!?/p>

埃莉諾聽到妹妹如此精確地描繪未來與威洛比在一起的生活,再一次笑了起來。

愛德華做客期間,埃莉諾謹(jǐn)慎地在他面前表現(xiàn)出她一貫的禮貌和關(guān)心,但是對方的冷淡使她暗自警覺起來。他明顯情緒不佳,而她非常懷疑他是否仍然愛她。但她看得出來他的心中充滿了困惑;有時(shí)他會(huì)用從前看她的那種眼神望她一會(huì)兒,這重新給了她希望。

次日,瑪麗安娜遞茶給愛德華的時(shí)候,注意到他手上戴著一枚戒指,于是開口問他。

“我以前從來沒有見過你戴戒指,愛德華,”她說,“戒指上是你妹妹的頭發(fā)嗎?但是她頭發(fā)的顏色肯定比這更深?!?/p>

愛德華的臉漲得通紅,他很快地看了埃莉諾一眼,說:“是的,這是范妮的頭發(fā)??雌饋肀葘?shí)際顏色要淺些?!?/p>

埃莉諾已經(jīng)看到了他的眼睛并知道了真相。她確信那是自己的頭發(fā),但那一定是趁她不注意時(shí)剪去的。然而她沒有心情來譴責(zé)這種行為,于是很快轉(zhuǎn)換了話題。

達(dá)什伍德一家聽說愛德華一周后就要走都感到十分遺憾。他說與老朋友們重逢很快樂,但卻無法給出離開的合適理由,似乎有什么東西迫使他離開。

埃莉諾將他的反常歸罪于他的母親。他缺乏獨(dú)立才會(huì)這么悶悶不樂。她不知道他的母親何時(shí)才會(huì)放棄對他的所有期望,允許他自己選擇生活。讓她稍感慰藉的是回憶他做客期間令人愉快的外表和言語,最重要的是他對她感情的證明就戴在他的手指上。

盡管愛德華的離開令她感到痛苦,埃莉諾決心隱瞞內(nèi)心的感受,做出一副勇敢的樣子。盡管這樣做并不能減少她的痛苦,但至少能不讓她的家人為她擔(dān)心?,旣惏材葻o法欣賞這種與自己迥然相異的做法;她認(rèn)為自控對像埃莉諾這種天性冷靜的人來說很容易,但是對她那種天性充滿熱情的人來說簡直是不可能的。

愛德華走后沒多久的一天上午,約翰爵士、米德爾頓夫人和詹寧斯夫人前來拜訪達(dá)什伍德一家,與他們同行的還有帕爾默夫婦。夏洛特·帕爾默是詹寧斯太太的小女兒,但完全不像她的姐姐米德爾頓夫人。她個(gè)子不高,比較胖,臉蛋很漂亮,總是在笑。她丈夫是一個(gè)表情嚴(yán)肅的年輕人,他既不屑討好人也不屑被人討好。他在做客的多數(shù)時(shí)間里都在讀報(bào)紙,只是時(shí)不時(shí)地抬起頭來不耐煩地板著臉敷衍他妻子愚蠢的問題。不過他妻子很快就喜歡上了埃莉諾和瑪麗安娜,大部分時(shí)間都與埃莉諾交談。埃莉諾發(fā)現(xiàn)他們住在離威洛比家不遠(yuǎn)的索美塞,想更多地了解一下他的人品,于是問帕爾默夫人是否認(rèn)識他。

“哦,是的。我當(dāng)然認(rèn)識他,”帕爾默夫人說,“我沒有跟他說過話,但是我經(jīng)常在城里看到他。大家都喜歡他。我知道你為什么問我這個(gè)。我很高興你妹妹要嫁給他了!”

“如果你有充足的理由這么說,那你比我對這件事知道得還多?!卑@蛑Z吃驚地說。

“不要假裝這不是真的,因?yàn)槟阋来蠹以趥惗鼐褪沁@么議論的?!?/p>

“我親愛的帕爾默夫人!”

“我以我的名譽(yù)起誓,他們都是這樣說的。我在邦德街遇到了布蘭登上校,他立刻跟我說了這件事?!?/p>

“你讓我很吃驚。我沒有想到布蘭登上校會(huì)向你提供這樣的消息,即使這是真的?!?/p>

“當(dāng)我遇到他的時(shí)候,我說:‘上校,我聽說巴頓小屋里搬來了一家人,媽媽說那家的女兒們非常漂亮,其中一個(gè)已經(jīng)與威洛比先生訂婚了。這是真的嗎?’他什么都沒說,但是看他的表情我就知道這千真萬確。當(dāng)然,我跟布蘭登上校是老相識了。我相信,”她低聲補(bǔ)充說,“如果可以的話,他一定會(huì)很愿意娶我的。但是媽媽并不認(rèn)為他適合做我丈夫。不管怎樣,我現(xiàn)在很幸福。帕爾默先生正是我喜歡的那種男人?!?/p>

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