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！
cottage and want for nothing！ Edward brought us a most
charming account of the place； the most complete thing of its kind；
he said； that ever was； and you all seemed to enjoy it beyond any
thing。 It was a great satisfaction to us to hear it； I assure you。”
Elinor did feel a little ashamed of her brother； and was not
sorry to be spared the necessity of answering him； by the arrival of
Mrs。 Jennings’s servant； who came to tell her that his mistress
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 252…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 252
waited for them at the door。
Mr。 Dashwood attended them down stairs； was introduced to
Mrs。 Jennings at the door of her carriage； and repeating his hope
of being able to call on them the next day； took leave。
His visit was duly paid。 He came with a pretence at an apology
from their sister…in…law； for not coming too； “but she was so much
engaged with her mother； that really she had no leisure for going
any where。” Mrs。 Jennings； however； assured him directly； that
she should not stand upon ceremony； for they were all cousins； or
something like it； and she should certainly wait on Mrs。 John
Dashwood very soon； and bring her sisters to see her。 His manners
to them； though calm； were perfectly kind； to Mrs。 Jennings； most
attentively civil； and on Colonel Brandon’s coming in soon after
himself； he eyed him with a curiosity which seemed to say； that he
only wanted to know him to be rich； to be equally civil to him。
After staying with them half an hour； he asked Elinor to walk
with him to Conduit…street； and introduce him to Sir John and
Lady Middleton。 The weather was remarkably fine； and she
readily consented。 As soon as they were out of the house； his
enquiries began。
“Who is Colonel Brandon？ Is he a man of fortune？”
“Yes； he has very good property in Dorsetshire。”
“I am glad of it。 He seems a most gentlemanlike man； and I
think； Elinor； I may congratulate you on the prospect of a very
respectable establishment in life。”
“Me； brother！ what do you mean？”
“He likes you。 I observed him narrowly； and am convinced of it。
What is the amount of his fortune？”
“I believe about two thousand a year。”
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 253…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 253
“Two thousand a…year；” and then working himself up to a pitch
of enthusiastic generosity； he added； “Elinor； I wish with all my
heart it were twice as much； for your sake。”
“Indeed I believe you；” replied Elinor； “but I am very sure that
Colonel Brandon has not the smallest wish of marrying me。”
“You are mistaken； Elinor； you are very much mistaken。 A very
little trouble on your side secures him。 Perhaps just at present he
may be undecided； the smallness of your fortune may make him
hang back； his friends may all advise him against it。 But some of
those little attentions and encouragements which ladies can so
easily give will fix him； in spite of himself。 And there can be no
reason why you should not try for him。 It is not to be supposed
that any prior attachment on your side—in short； you know as to
an attachment of that kind； it is quite out of the question； the
objections are insurmountable—you have too much sense not to
see all that。 Colonel Brandon must be the man； and no civility
shall be wanting on my part to make him pleased with you and
your family。 It is a match that must give universal satisfaction。 In
short； it is a kind of thing that”—lowering his voice to an
important whisper—“will be exceedingly welcome to all parties。”
Recollecting himself； however； he added； “That is； I mean to say—
your friends are all truly anxious to see you well settled； Fanny
particularly； for she has your interest very much at heart； I assure
you。 And her mother too； Mrs。 Ferrars； a very good…natured
woman； I am sure it would give her great pleasure； she said as
much the other day。”
Elinor would not vouchsafe any answer。
“It would be something remarkable； now；” he continued；
“something droll； if Fanny should have a brother and I a sister
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 254…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 254
settling at the same time。 And yet it is not very unlikely。”
“Is Mr。 Edward Ferrars；” said Elinor； with resolution； “going to
be married？”
“It is not actually settled； but there is such a thing in agitation。
He has a most excellent mother。 Mrs。 Ferrars； with the utmost
liberality； will come forward； and settle on him a thousand a year；
if the match takes place。 The lady is the Hon。 Miss Morton； only
daughter of the late Lord Morton； with thirty thousand pounds。 A
very desirable connection on both sides； and I have not a doubt of
its taking place in time。 A thousand a…year is a great deal for a
mother to give away； to make over for ever； but Mrs。 Ferrars has a
noble spirit。 To give you another instance of her liberality：—The
other day； as soon as we came to town； aware that money could
not be very plenty with us just now； she put bank…notes into
Fanny’s hands to the amount of two hundred pounds。 And
extremely acceptable it is； for we must live at a great expense
while we are here。”
He paused for her assent and compassion； and she forced
herself to say；
“Your expenses both in town and country must certainly be
considerable； but your income is a large one。”
“Not so large； I dare say； as many people suppose。 I do not
mean to complain； however； it is undoubtedly a comfortable one；
and I hope will in time be better。 The inclosure of Norland
Common； now carrying on； is a most s