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！
“What do you mean？”
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 118…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 118
“Shall I tell you。”
“Certainly。”
“Well then； I guess that Mr。 Willoughby hunts。”
Marianne was surprised and confused； yet she could not help
smiling at the quiet archness of his manner； and after a moment’s
silence； said；
“Oh； Edward！ How can you？—But the time will come I hope 。 。 。
I am sure you will like him。”
“I do not doubt it；” replied he； rather astonished at her
earnestness and warmth； for had he not imagined it to be a joke
for the good of her acquaintance in general； founded only on a
something or a nothing between Mr。 Willoughby and herself； he
would not have ventured to mention it。
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 119…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 119
CHAPTER XIX
dward remained a week at the cottage； he was earnestly
pressed by Mrs。 Dashwood to stay longer； but； as if he
E
were bent only on self…mortification； he seemed resolved
to be gone when his enjoyment among his friends was at the
height。 His spirits； during the last two or three days； though still
very unequal； were greatly improved—he grew more and more
partial to the house and environs—never spoke of going away
without a sigh—declared his time to be wholly disengaged—even
doubted to what place he should go when he left them—but still；
go he must。 Never had any week passed so quickly—he could
hardly believe it to be gone。 He said so repeatedly； other things he
said too； which marked the turn of his feelings and gave the lie to
his actions。 He had no pleasure at Norland； he detested being in
town； but either to Norland or London； he must go。 He valued
their kindness beyond any thing； and his greatest happiness was
in being with them。 Yet； he must leave them at the end of a week；
in spite of their wishes and his own； and without any restraint on
his time。
Elinor placed all that was astonishing in this way of acting to
his mother’s account； and it was happy for her that he had a
mother whose character was so imperfectly known to her； as to be
the general excuse for every thing strange on the part of her son。
Disappointed； however； and vexed as she was； and sometimes
displeased with his uncertain behaviour to herself； she was very
well disposed on the whole to regard his actions with all the
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 120…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 120
candid allowances and generous qualifications； which had been
rather more painfully extorted from her； for Willoughby’s service；
by her mother。 His want of spirits； of openness； and of consistency；
were most usually attributed to his want of independence； and his
better knowledge of Mrs。 Ferrars’s disposition and designs。 The
shortness of his visit； the steadiness of his purpose in leaving
them； originated in the same fettered inclination； the same
inevitable necessity of temporising with his mother。 The old well…
established grievance of duty against will； parent against child；
was the cause of all。 She would have been glad to know when
these difficulties were to cease； this opposition was to yield；—
when Mrs。 Ferrars would be reformed； and her son be at liberty to
be happy。 But from such vain wishes she was forced to turn for
comfort to the renewal of her confidence in Edward’s affection； to
the remembrance of every mark of regard in look or word which
fell from him while at Barton； and above all to that flattering proof
of it which he constantly wore round his finger。
“I think； Edward；” said Mrs。 Dashwood； as they were at
breakfast the last morning； “you would be a happier man if you
had any profession to engage your time and give an interest to
your plans and actions。 Some inconvenience to your friends；
indeed； might result from it—you would not be able to give them
so much of your time。 But （with a smile） you would be materially
benefited in one particular at least—you would know where to go
when you left them。”
“I do assure you；” he replied； “that I have long thought on this
point； as you think now。 It has been； and is； and probably will
always be a heavy misfortune to me； that I have had no necessary
business to engage me； no profession to give me employment； or
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 121…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 121
afford me any thing like independence。 But unfortunately my own
nicety； and the nicety of my friends； have made me what I am； an
idle； helpless being。 We never could agree in our choice of a
profession。 I always preferred the church； as I still do。 But that
was not smart enough for my family。 They recommended the
army。 That was a great deal too smart for me。 The law was allowed
to be genteel enough； many young men； who had chambers in the
Temple； made a very good appearance in the first circles； and
drove about town in very knowing gigs。 But I had no inclination
for the law； even in this less abstruse study of it； which my family
approved。 As for the navy； it had fashion on its side； but I was too
old when the subject was first started to enter it—and； at length； as
there was no necessity for my having any profession at all； as I
might be as dashing and expensive without a red coat on my back
as with one； idleness was pronounced on the whole to be most
advantageous and honourable； and a young man of eighteen is not
in general so earnestly bent on being busy as to resist the
solicitations of his friends to do nothing。 I was therefore entered at
Oxford and have been pro