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！
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 serious drain。 And then I
have made a little purchase within this half year； East Kingham
Farm； you must remember the place； where old Gibson used to
live。 The land was so very desirable for me in every respect； so
immediately adjoining my own property； that I felt it my duty to
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 255…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 255
buy it。 I could not have answered it to my conscience to let it fall
into any other hands。 A man must pay for his convenience； and it
has cost me a vast deal of money。”
“More than you think it really and intrinsically worth。”
“Why； I hope not that。 I might have sold it again； the next day；
for more than I gave： but； with regard to the purchase…money； I
might have been very unfortunate indeed； for the stocks were at
that time so low； that if I had not happened to have the necessary
sum in my banker’s hands； I must have sold out to very great loss。”
Elinor could only smile。
“Other great and inevitable expenses too we have had on first
coming to Norland。 Our respected father； as you well know；
bequeathed all the Stanhill effects that remained at Norland （and
very valuable they were） to your mother。 Far be it from me to
repine at his doing so； he had an undoubted right to dispose of his
own property as he chose； but； in consequence of it； we have been
obliged to make large purchases of linen； china； &c。 to supply the
place of what was taken away。 You may guess； after all these
expenses； how very far we must be from being rich； and how
acceptable Mrs。 Ferrars’s kindness is。”
“Certainly；” said Elinor； “and assisted by her liberality； I hope
you may yet live to be in easy circumstances。”
“Another year or two may do much towards it；” he gravely
replied； “but however there is still a great deal to be done。 There is
not a stone laid of Fanny’s green…house； and nothing but the plan
of the flower…garden marked out。”
“Where is the green…house to be？”
“Upon the knoll behind the house。 The old walnut trees are all
come down to make room for it。 It will be a very fine object from
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 256…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 256
many parts of the park； and the flower…garden will slope down just
before it； and be exceedingly pretty。 We have cleared away all the
old thorns that grew in patches over the brow。”
Elinor kept her concern and her censure to herself； and was
very thankful that Marianne was not present； to share the
provocation。
Having now said enough to make his poverty clear； and to do
away the necessity of buying a pair of ear…rings for each of his
sisters； in his next visit at Gray’s； his thoughts took a cheerfuller
turn； and he began to congratulate Elinor on having such a friend
as Mrs。 Jennings。
“She seems a most valuable woman indeed。—Her house； her
style of living； all bespeak an exceeding good income； and it is an
acquaintance that has not only been of great use to you hitherto；
but in the end may prove materially advantageous。—Her inviting
you to town is certainly a vast thing in your favour； and indeed； it
speaks altogether so great a regard for you； that in all probability
when she dies you will not be forgotten。—She must have a great
deal to leave。”
“Nothing at all； I should rather suppose； for she has only her
jointure； which will descend to her children。”
“But it is not to be imagined that she lives up to her income。
Few people of common prudence will do that； and whatever she
saves； she will be able to dispose of。”
“And do you not think it more likely that she should leave it to
her daughters； than to us？”
“Her daughters are both exceedingly well married； and
therefore I cannot perceive the necessity of her remembering
them farther。 Whereas； in my opinion； by her taking so much
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 257…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 257
notice of you； and treating you in this kind of way； she has given
you a sort of claim on her future consideration； which a
conscientious woman would not disregard。 Nothing can be kinder
than her behaviour； and she can hardly do all this； without being
aware of the expectation it raises。”
“But she raises none in those most concerned。 Indeed； brother；
your anxiety for our welfare and prosperity carries you too far。”
“Why； to be sure；” said he； seeming to recollect himself； “people
have little； have very little in their power。 But； my dear Elinor；
what is the matter with Marianne？—she looks very unwell； has
lost her colour； and is grown quite thin。 Is she ill？”
“She is not well； she has had a nervous complaint on her for
several weeks。”
“I am sorry for that。 At her time of life； any thing of an illness
destroys the bloom for ever！ Her’s has been a very short one！ She
was as handsome a girl last September； as I ever saw； and as likely
to attract the men。 There was something in her style of beauty； to
please them particularly。 I remember Fanny used to say that she
would marry sooner and better than you did； not but what she is
exceedingly fond of you； but so it happened to strike her。 She will
be mistaken； however。 I question whether Marianne now； will
marry a man worth more than five or six hundred a…year； at the
utmost； and I am very much deceived if you do not do better。
Dorsetshire！ I know very little of Dorsetshire； but； my dear Elinor；
I shall be exceedingly glad to know more of it； and I think I can
answer for your having Fanny and myself among the earliest and
best pleased of your visitors。”
Elinor tried very seriously to convince him that there was no
likelihood of her marrying Colonel Brandon； but it was an
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 258…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 258
expectation of too much pleasure to himself to be relinquished；
and he was really resolved on seeking an intimacy with that
gentleman； and promoting the marriage by every possible
attention。 He had just compunction enough for having done
nothing for his sisters himself； to be exceedingly anxious that
everybody else should do a great deal； and an offer from Colonel
Brandon； or a legacy from Mrs。 Jennings； was the easiest means of
atoning for his own neglect。
They were lucky enough to find Lady Middleton at home； and
Sir John came in before their visit ended。 Abundance of civilities
passed on all sides。 Sir John was ready to like anybody； and
though Mr。 Dash