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！
“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
gaiety of the moment—“but； upon my soul； it is a most serious
business。 Poor Edward！ he is ruined for ever。 I am extremely sorry
for it—for I know him to be a very good…hearted creature； as well…
meaning a fellow perhaps； as any in the world。 You must not judge
of him； Miss Dashwood； from your slight acquaintance。—Poor
Edward！—His manners are certainly not the happiest in nature。—
But we are not all born； you know； with the same powers；—the
same address。—Poor fellow！—to see him in a circle of strangers！—
to be sure it was pitiable enough！—but upon my soul； I believe he
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 334…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 334
has as good a heart as any in the kingdom； and I declare and
protest to you I never was so shocked in my life； as when it all
burst forth。 I could not believe it。—My mother was the first person
who told me of it； and I； feeling myself called on to act with
resolution； immediately said to her； ‘My dear madam； I do not
know what you may intend to do on the occasion； but as for
myself； I must say； that if Edward does marry this young woman； I
never will see him again。’ That was what I said immediately。—I
was most uncommonly shocked； indeed！—Poor Edward！—he has
done for himself completely—shut himself out for ever from all
decent society！—but； as I directly said to my mother； I am not in
the least surprised at it； from his style of education； it was always
to be expected。 My poor mother was half frantic。”
“Have you ever seen the lady？”
“Yes； once； while she was staying in this house； I happened to
drop in for ten minutes； and I saw quite enough of her。 The merest
awkward country girl； without style； or elegance； and almost
without beauty。—I remember her perfectly。 Just the kind of girl I
should suppose likely to captivate poor Edward。 I offered
immediately； as soon as my mother related the affair to me； to talk
to him myself； and dissuade him from the match； but it was too
late then； I found； to do any thing； for unluckily； I was not in the
way at first； and knew nothing of it till after the breach had taken
place； when it was not for me； you know； to interfere。 But had I
been informed of it a few hours earlier—I think it is most
probable—that something might have been hit on。 I certainly
should have represented it to Edward in a very strong light。 ‘My
dear fellow；’ I should have said； ‘consider what you are doing。 You
are making a most disgraceful connection； and such a one as your
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 335…
Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 335
family are unanimous in disapproving。’ I cannot help thinking； in
short； that means might have been found。 But now it is all too late。
He must be starved； you know；—that is certain； absolutely
starved。”
He had just settled this point with great composure； when the
entrance of Mrs。 John Dashwood put an end to the subject。 But
though she never spoke of it out of her own family； Elinor could
see its influence on her mind； in the something like confusion of
countenance with which she entered； and an attempt at cordiality
in her behaviour to herself。 She