Pride and Prejudice; Sense and Sensibility

Chapter 100

Miss Dashwood promptly related the details of this conversation to her sister, but the effect was not quite as evident as she had hoped.It seemed that Marianne did not suspect any element of untruth in it, for she listened to the whole story very calmly and obediently, without contradicting, expressing an opinion, or defending Willoughby, as if only with tears. Show that she finds it intolerable.Still, this act of Marianne convinces Eleanor that she does realize that Willoughby is guilty.Elinor was satisfied to see her words come to fruition, for when Colonel Bland came to visit, her sister no longer avoided him, but was willing to speak to him, and even initiated a conversation, with some sympathy and affection for him. Respect.Eleanor also found that her sister was not as moody as before.But, for all these signs of improvement, Marianne saw no improvement in her depression.Her heart calmed down, but she was still so pessimistic and frustrated.It seemed to her more intolerable to find Willoughby completely dehumanized than to lose his heart.Willoughby's seduction and abandonment of Miss Williams, the poor girl's misfortune, and perhaps he had some bad ideas for herself, all made her feel so painful that she dared not even confide in her sister.She kept her grief in her heart, which hurt her sister more than she could express it directly and promptly.

To describe Mrs. Dashwood's moods and words when she saw and answered Eleanor's letter, it is only necessary to repeat those of her daughters earlier: her disappointment was hardly less painful than Marianne's, and her The level of anger was even deeper than that of Eleanor.She wrote long letters one after another, telling them of her anguish and thoughts, expressing her fears for Marianne, and imploring her to forbearance in the midst of her misfortune.Even her mother advised her to be strong, which shows how much Marianne's torture made her grieve!Even the mother hopes that her daughter will not be too remorseful, which shows how painful and embarrassing the incidents that caused these remorse are!
Mrs. Dashwood disregarded her daughter's wishes, and decided flatly that Marianne could be anywhere at present, but don't go back to Barton.Once she returned to Barton, she would think of the past no matter what she saw, and the image of Willoughby would appear before her eyes as often as before, and the result would cause great grief. Therefore, she persuaded the two daughters not to shorten their relationship with Janning Mrs. Smith's visit.The duration of their visit was never specified, but they were expected to stay at least five or six weeks.At Barton everything was monotonous, but at Mrs. Jennings there were diversions, people and events, and associations which, she hoped, would at times give Marianne an unusual interest, and even a sense of Kind of fun, though the idea might now be dismissed by Marianne.

In order not to meet Willoughby again, her mother considered her at least as safe in the city as in the country, for those who claimed to be her friends must now have cut off Willoughby.The two of them would never be brought together on purpose, not even by accident.In contrast, London is bustling and bustling, so they are less likely to meet each other, and because Barton is relatively secluded, maybe when he visited Allenham by car after his marriage, he might just be bumped into by Marianne.It might be inevitable, and Mrs. Dashwood at first only foresaw the possibility of such an event, but the more she thought about it, the more she became convinced that it would happen.

She wanted her daughters to stay where they were for another reason: John Dashwood had written that he and his wife would be in town before mid-February, and she felt that the daughters should visit them from time to time. brother.

Marianne, who had long ago promised to act on her mother's advice, obeyed without objection, though it was contrary to her expectations.In her opinion, her mother's opinion was completely wrong.To keep her in London deprived her of her only chance of assuagement, of the loving care of her mother, and to place her in such circumstances, dealing exclusively with such people, would give her a moment's restlessness.

However, to her great comfort, what did her misfortune could do her sister good.But Eleanor, finding it impossible to avoid Edward entirely, comforted herself by telling herself that, though staying here longer would be a hindrance to her own happiness, it was more important to Marianne than it was to stay here. Better go back to Devon at once.

She guarded her sister carefully, that Willoughby's name should not be mentioned, and her efforts were not in vain.Marianne, though ignorant of it, profited from it; for neither Mrs. Jennings, nor Sir John, nor even Mrs. Palmer ever mentioned Willoughby to her.Elinor wished they had been so reserved with herself, but it was impossible, and she had to listen to their outraged denunciations against Willoughby day after day.

Sir John could hardly believe such a thing could happen. "A man we've always looked up to! Such a docile man! I said he was the bravest rider in England! It's so inexplicable. I really hope he goes away. I won't say anything." Will speak to him again, see him again, I'll do that wherever I am. No, I won't speak to him even if we're together for two hours by Barton Woods. He's such a badass Such a dishonest scoundrel! When we last met, I offered to give him a Futura puppy! Now we have to let it go!"

Mrs. Palmer, in her own way, was equally outraged. "I'm determined to cut him off right away. I've never had anything to do with him, thank God. I really wish Combe House wasn't so close to Cleveland, but that doesn't matter because it's too far to visit. I hate him so much that I'm determined never to mention his name again. I tell everybody I think he's a good-for-nothing fellow."

Mrs. Palmer was also sympathetic, trying to gather details of the impending wedding, and to convey them to Eleanor.She would soon tell in what garage a new carriage was built, by what painter Willoughby's portrait had been painted, in what drapery shop Miss Gray's dress might be found.

Elinor was often disturbed by well-meaning attentions, because they were fragmentary and noisy.At this time, only Mrs. Middleton's indifference and politeness gave her some comfort.She was sure that there was at least one person in the group who was not interested in the matter, and it was a great comfort to her to see that this person was neither inquisitive nor worried about her sister's health.

Sometimes, no matter what the qualifications are, they will be restricted by the conditions at the time and cannot be raised to the height they should be.Elinor was sometimes so distressed by overly attentive consolation that she thought that good breeding was more necessary to comfort than good temper.

If the matter was brought up frequently, Mrs. Middleton expressed herself once or twice a day: "What a shock!" From the beginning they were indifferent to the matter, and it soon became apparent that they hadn't said a word about it.Having thus defended their feminine dignity, and rebuked the wrongdoings of men, she felt that she might take care of her party, and decided (though against Sir John's wishes) that since Mrs. Willoughby was to be A rich and elegant woman, then as soon as she gets married, Mrs. Middleton will send a business card to express her greetings.

Colonel Bland's greetings were always so thoughtful and discreet that they never bored Miss Dashwood.He had been greatly favored by his friendly and zealous efforts to assuage her sister's frustrations, and had well earned the privilege of speaking with her on the matter in such a cordial manner that the two always talked with each other from the bottom of their hearts.His chief reward for pouring out his sad past and present disgraces was that Marianne sometimes looked at him with sympathy, and whenever (though rarely) she was compelled or voluntarily When talking to him, the tone is always so gentle.These actions convinced him that his efforts had increased Marianne's affection for him, and gave Elinor hope that it would increase still further in the future.But Mrs. Jennings knew nothing about it. She only knew that the colonel was still as unhappy as ever, and that she could never persuade him to propose in person, and he would never entrust her to do so.So after two days the lady began to think: They will not be able to get married before the summer solstice, they must have Michaelmas Day on September 29.No.After a week, she thought about it again, thinking that they would never get married.The sympathy between the Colonel and Miss Dashwood seemed to indicate that the pleasure of enjoying the shade of the mulberries, the canal, and the old yew was about to be given up to her.For a moment Mrs. Jennings forgot all about Mr. Ferrars.

In early February, within a fortnight of Willoughby's letter, Elinor had the embarrassment of having to tell Marianne that Willoughby was married.She had given notice that the news of Willoughby's marriage should be conveyed to her as soon as it became known, as she did not want her sister to get it first from the papers--which Marianne read anxiously every morning. , check the news.

Marianne heard the news with great composure, she made no comment, and at first shed no tears.But after a while, she suddenly burst into tears, and kept crying for the whole second half of the day, her pitiful appearance was no less than the appearance when she first heard that they were going to get married.

The Willoughbys left town as soon as they got married.Elinor, seeing that her sister had not been out of the house since her shock, and that she was now in no danger of seeing the Willoughbys again, persuaded her sister to go out again gradually, as before.

It was about this time that the two Miss Steeles, who had not long ago been guests at the house of their cousins ​​at Matrick House in Holborn, came again to visit two more dignified houses in Condit Street and Beckley Street. Relatives, received an extremely warm welcome by the hosts.

Eleanor alone did not want to see them.She always felt pain every time she saw them.Lucy could not help being delighted to see that she was still in town, and Elinor simply did not know how to respond politely.

"I'd be very disappointed if I didn't find you still here," repeated Lucy, biting the "yet" hard, "but I always think I'll see you again, and I'm almost sure, You won't be leaving London just yet. You know, you told me at Barton that you wouldn't be in the city for a month. But I was thinking at the time that you might change your mind then. Not waiting for your brother It's a pity that you went away when my sister-in-law came. You must be in no hurry to go now. I was surprised and delighted that you didn't do what you said."

Eleanor knew exactly what she meant, and had to restrain herself with all her might, as if she didn't understand her words at all.

"Well, dear," said Mrs. Jennings, "how did you get here?"

"Let me tell you, we didn't take a stagecoach," replied Miss Steele at once, solemnly. "We came all the way by stage coach, and we were looked after by a very handsome young man. Dr. Davies will to town, so we thought of coming with him in the stagecoach. He's quite respectable, and paid ten shillings more than we did, perhaps twelve."

"Ouch!" said Mrs. Jennings, "that's a marvel: he's a bachelor, I assure you."

"You see," said Miss Steele, with a mocking smirk, "everybody keeps making fun of me about the doctor like that, and they don't know why. My cousins ​​say I must have got him. But , I want to declare publicly: I don't think about him all the time. That day, my cousin saw him crossing the road towards her house, and she said to me: 'My God, here is your soulmate, Nancy. ' I said, 'My crush, really? I can't figure out who you're referring to. The doctor is not my crush at all.'"

"Well, that's a nice thing to say--but it's no use--I think he's your beau."

"No, it's really not!" Her cousin and niece replied pretending to be anxious to defend, "If you hear anyone talking about me like that again, I beg you to refute the rumors."

Mrs. Jennings agreed with her, and Miss Steele was delighted to assure her at once that she would never deny the rumour.

"Miss Dashwood, after your brother and sister-in-law enter the city, I guess you are going to reunite with them." After the insinuating bickering between the two sides was interrupted for a while, Lucy launched an attack again.

"No, I don't think we will."

"Oh, I bet you would."

Eleanor did not want to argue with her any further.

"I'm so glad Mrs. Dashwood is willing to let the two of you be away from her so long!"

"Why, it's been a long time, really!" interposed Mrs. Jennings, "their interview is only beginning!"

Lucy was left speechless.

"Unfortunately, Miss Dashwood, we cannot see your sister," said Miss Steele, "she is not well, and we are sorry for that." It turned out that Marianne had left the room as soon as they arrived.

"You are very kind. My sister would also be sorry to miss your chance meeting, but she has been suffering from severe nervous headaches lately, and she is not fit to receive visitors and cannot speak."

"Oh, dear, that's a pity! But Lucy and I are old friends, and I think she'll see us. We'll try not to say a word."

Eleanor declined the offer very politely: "My sister may be lying in bed, perhaps still in her dressing gown, and therefore cannot come to see you."

"Oh, if that's all," cried Miss Steele, "we might as well go and see her."

Eleanor felt that this was too abrupt and rude, and she couldn't help her temper. However, thanks to Lucy's sharp reprimand to her sister, Eleanor saved herself from struggling to restrain herself.Lucy's reproach, as on so many occasions, though it brought little loveliness to her own manner, was effective in checking her sister's impertinence.

(End of this chapter)