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！
“But why should such precaution be used？—Though it is not to
be supposed that Mrs。 Ferrars can have the smallest satisfaction in
knowing that her son has money enough to live upon；—for that
must be quite out of the question； yet why； upon her late
behaviour； is she supposed to feel at all？—She has done with her
son； she cast him off for ever； and has made all those over whom
she had any influence； cast him off likewise。 Surely； after doing so；
she cannot be imagined liable to any impression of sorrow or of joy
on his account—she cannot be interested in any thing that befalls
him。—She would not be so weak as to throw away the comfort of a
child； and yet retain the anxiety of a parent！”
“Ah！ Elinor；” said John； “your reasoning is very good； but it is
founded on ignorance of human nature。 When Edward’s unhappy
match takes place； depend upon it his mother will feel as much as
if she had never discarded him； and therefore every circumstance
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 331…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 331
that may accelerate that dreadful event； must be concealed from
her as much as possible。 Mrs。 Ferrars can never forget that
Edward is her son。”
“You surprise me； I should think it must nearly have escaped
her memory by this time。”
“You wrong her exceedingly。 Mrs。 Ferrars is one of the most
affectionate mothers in the world。”
Elinor was silent。
“We think now；”—said Mr。 Dashwood； after a short pause； “of
Robert’s marrying Miss Morton。”
Elinor； smiling at the grave and decisive importance of her
brother’s tone； calmly replied；
“The lady； I suppose； has no choice in the affair。”
“Choice！—how do you mean？”
“I only mean that I suppose； from your manner of speaking； it
must be the same to Miss Morton whether she marry Edward or
Robert。”
“Certainly； there can be no difference； for Robert will now to all
intents and purposes be considered as the eldest son；—and as to
any thing else； they are both very agreeable young men； I do not
know that one is superior to the other。”
Elinor said no more； and John was also for a short time silent。—
His reflections ended thus。
“Of one thing； my dear sister；” kindly taking her hand； and
speaking in an awful whisper；—“I may assure you；—and I will do
it； because I know it must gratify you。 I have good reason to
think—indeed I have it from the best authority； or I should not
repeat it； for otherwise it would be very wrong to say any thing
about it—but I have it from the very best authority—not that I
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 332…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 332
ever precisely heard Mrs。 Ferrars say it herself—but her daughter
did； and I have it from her—That in short； whatever objections
there might be against a certain—a certain connection—you
understand me—it would have been far preferable to her； it would
not have given her half the vexation that this does。 I was
exceedingly pleased to hear that Mrs。 Ferrars considered it in that
light—a very gratifying circumstance you know to us all。 ‘It would
have been beyond comparison；’ she said； ‘the least evil of the two；
and she would be glad to compound now for nothing worse。’ But
however； all that is quite out of the question—not to be thought of
or mentioned—as to any attachment you know—it never could
be—all that is gone by。 But I thought I would just tell you of this；
because I knew how much it must please you。 Not that you have
any reason to regret； my dear Elinor。 There is no doubt of your
doing exceedingly well—quite as well； or better； perhaps； all
things considered。 Has Colonel Brandon been with you lately？”
Elinor had heard enough； if not to gratify her vanity； and raise
her self…importance； to agitate her nerves and fill her mind；—and
she was therefore glad to be spared from the necessity of saying
much in reply herself； and from the danger of hearing any thing
more from her brother； by the entrance of Mr。 Robert Ferrars。
After a few moments’ chat； John Dashwood； recollecting that
Fanny was yet uninformed of her sister’s being there； quitted the
room in quest of her； and Elinor was left to improve her
acquaintance with Robert； who； by the gay unconcern； the happy
self…complacency of his manner while enjoying so unfair a division
of his mother’s love and liberality； to the prejudice of his banished
brother； earned only by his own dissipated course of life； and that
brother’s integrity； was confirming her most unfavourable opinion
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 333…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 333
of his head and heart。
They had scarcely been two minutes by themselves； before he
began to speak of Edward； for he； too； had heard of the living； and
was very inquisitive on the subject。 Elinor repeated the particulars
of it； as she had given them to John； and their effect on Robert；
though very different； was not less striking than it had been on
him。 He laughed most immoderately。 The idea of Edward’s being a
clergyman； and living in a small parsonage…house； diverted him
beyond measure；—and when to that was added the fanciful
imagery of Edward reading prayers in a white surplice； and
publishing the banns of marriage between John Smith and Mary
Brown； he could conceive nothing more ridiculous。
Elinor； while she waited in silence and immovable gravity； the
conclusion of such folly； could not restrain her eyes from being
fixed on him with a look that spoke all the contempt it excited。 It
was a look； however； very well bestowed； for it relieved her own
feelings； and gave no intelligence to him。 He was recalled from wit
to wisdom； not by any reproof of her’s； but by his own sensibility。
“We may treat it as a joke；” said he； at last； recovering from the
affected laugh which had considerably lengthened out the genuine