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！
condition； he says； she could hardly walk； and Nancy； she was
almost as bad。 I declare； I have no patience with your sister； and I
hope； with all my heart； it will be a match in spite of her。 Lord！
what a taking poor Mr。 Edward will be in when he hears of it！ To
have his love used so scornfully！ for they say he is monstrous fond
of her； as well he may。 I should not wonder； if he was to be in the
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 289…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 289
greatest passion！—and Mr。 Donavan thinks just the same。 He and
I had a great deal of talk about it； and the best of all is； that he is
gone back again to Harley…street； that he may be within call when
Mrs。 Ferrars is told of it； for she was sent for as soon as ever my
cousins left the house； for your sister was sure she would be in
hysterics too； and so she may； for what I care。 I have no pity for
either of them。 I have no notion of people’s making such a to…do
about money and greatness。 There is no reason on earth why Mr。
Edward and Lucy should not marry； for I am sure Mrs。 Ferrars
may afford to do very well by her son； and though Lucy has next to
nothing herself； she knows better than any body how to make the
most of every thing； I dare say； if Mrs。 Ferrars would only allow
him five hundred a…year； she would make as good an appearance
with it as any body else would with eight。 Lord！ how snug they
might live in such another cottage as yours—or a little bigger—
with two maids； and two men； and I believe I could help them to a
housemaid； for my Betty has a sister out of place； that would fit
them exactly。”
Here Mrs。 Jennings ceased； and as Elinor had had time enough
to collect her thoughts； she was able to give such an answer； and
make such observations； as the subject might naturally be
supposed to produce。 Happy to find that she was not suspected of
any extraordinary interest in it； that Mrs。 Jennings （as she had of
late often hoped might be the case） had ceased to imagine her at
all attached to Edward； and happy above all the rest； in the
absence of Marianne； she felt very well able to speak of the affair
without embarrassment； and to give her judgment； as she
believed； with impartiality on the conduct of every one concerned
in it。
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 290…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 290
She could hardly determine what her own expectation of its
event really was； though she earnestly tried to drive away the
notion of its being possible to end otherwise at last； than in the
marriage of Edward and Lucy。 What Mrs。 Ferrars would say and
do； though there could not be a doubt of its nature； she was
anxious to hear； and still more anxious to know how Edward
would conduct himself。 For him she felt much compassion；—for
Lucy very little—and it cost her some pains to procure that little；—
for the rest of the party none at all。
As Mrs。 Jennings could talk on no other subject； Elinor soon
saw the necessity of preparing Marianne for its discussion。 No
time was to be lost in undeceiving her； in making her acquainted
with the real truth； and in endeavouring to bring her to hear it
talked of by others； without betraying that she felt any uneasiness
for her sister； or any resentment against Edward。
Elinor’s office was a painful one。—She was going to remove
what she really believed to be her sister’s chief consolation；—to
give such particulars of Edward as she feared would ruin him for
ever in her good opinion；—and to make Marianne； by a
resemblance in their situations； which to her fancy would seem
strong； feel all her own disappointment over again。 But
unwelcome as such a task must be； it was necessary to be done；
and Elinor therefore hastened to perform it。
She was very far from wishing to dwell on her own feelings； or
to represent herself as suffering much； any otherwise than as the
self…command she had practised since her first knowledge of
Edward’s engagement； might suggest a hint of what was
practicable to Marianne。 Her narration was clear and simple； and
though it could not be given without emotion； it was not
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 291…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 291
accompanied by violent agitation； nor impetuous grief。—That
belonged rather to the hearer； for Marianne listened with horror；
and cried excessively。 Elinor was to be the comforter of others in
her own distresses； no less than in theirs； and all the comfort that
could be given by assurances of her own composure of mind； and a
very earnest vindication of Edward from every charge but of
imprudence； was readily offered。
But Marianne for some time would give credit to neither。
Edward seemed a second Willoughby； and acknowledging as
Elinor did； that she had loved him most sincerely； could she feel
less than herself！ As for Lucy Steele； she considered her so totally
unamiable； so absolutely incapable of attaching a sensible man；
that she could not be persuaded at first to believe； and afterwards
to pardon； any former affection of Edward for her。 She would not
even admit it to have been natural； and Elinor left her to be
convinced that it was so； by that which only could convince her； a
better knowledge of mankind。
Her first communication had reached no farther than to state
the fact of the engagement； and the length of time it had existed。—
Marianne’s feelings had then broken in； and put an end to all
regularity of detail； and for some time all that could be done was to
soothe her distress； lessen her alarms； and combat her
resentment。 The first question on her side；