Pride and Prejudice; Sense and Sensibility

Chapter 121 Edward's Reflection (2)
Lucy asked Thomas to send them a message to deceive them, and with the intention of maliciously slandering Edward, which Elinor fully understood.As for Edward himself, after he has thoroughly seen through Lucy's nature, he now believes without hesitation that Lucy has an evil and surly temperament, and can do any despicable and vicious things.Although he saw Eleanor's ignorance and narrowness in some of her opinions long before he knew her, he believed that it was due to her lack of education.Until his last letter he had thought her a kind and kind girl, and had been very fond of her.It was only because of this belief that he did not break off the engagement, which had been a source of trouble and regret long before his mother found out and raged against him.

"When I was ostracized by my mother and looked helpless," Edward said, "I felt it was my duty to refrain from whatever my true feelings were and let her decide whether or not the engagement should continue. I was in that situation Nothing seems to excite anyone's greed and vanity, and she insists so earnestly and fervently on sharing my fate, how can I not believe that her motives are not pure and selfless What about her love? Even now, I cannot understand her motives for doing so, or what she imagines it will do her, to be tied to someone she doesn't love at all, and who Only two thousand pounds of property, though. She could not have foreseen that Colonel Bland would present me with a vicarage."

"She couldn't have foreseen it, but she was probably thinking that things might turn out to be in your favour. Sooner or later your family might show mercy. In any case, it would do her no harm not to break off the engagement, because her actions It has been proved that the marriage contract can neither restrain her intentions nor her actions. The marriage contract certainly appeared to be very respectable, and it may have won her the understanding of her friends: if no more favorable circumstances arise, she will marry you. It's better than being single."

Of course, Edward realized at once that nothing was more natural than Lucy's actions, and nothing more obvious than her motives.

Eleanor reprimanded Edward severely, saying that he should have felt that he was incapable of love after spending so long with them at Norland Manor.She reproached as women always reproach men for indiscretions, which exalt a woman's worth.

"Your conduct was, of course, very wrong," she said, "because--not to mention my own thoughts, our relatives have been delusional because of it, expecting something that, in your circumstances, was absolutely The impossible happened."

Edward had no choice but to say that he was too ignorant to believe in the power of the marriage contract.

"It was too easy for me to think that I was engaged to someone else, and there was no danger in being with you. The mere thought of engagement made my heart as safe as my dignity. I felt that I adored you, But I kept thinking to myself that it was just friendship. I didn't realize I had gone too far until I started comparing you to Lucy. I figured I shouldn't have stayed in Sousse after that Kex did not go, and the reason why I was willing to stay there afterwards was nothing more than this: the danger concerns only myself, and I do no harm to anyone but myself."

Eleanor smiled and shook her head.

Edward was glad to hear that Colonel Bland was coming to the cottage.In fact, not only did he sincerely desire to become intimate with Brand, but he wanted to take the opportunity to convince him that he would no longer be displeased by the colonel's gift of Delaford's chaplaincy.He said: "I thanked him very rudely at the time, and now he must think that I have never forgiven the salary he wanted to give me."

It was only now that he was surprised that he had never been to that place.The fact, however, did not interest him very much at the time, and he owed all his knowledge of the houses, gardens, grounds, parish limits, conditions of fields, and tithe rates to Eleanor.She had heard a great deal from Colonel Bland, and listened as carefully as a housewife, so she knew everything about the matter.

After this there was but one question left between the two of them, one difficulty to be overcome.They were united because of their love for each other, and won the praise of their confidantes and friends.They knew each other so well that they undoubtedly would have been happy, but the only thing they lacked was living expenses: Edward had two thousand pounds, Eleanor a thousand, plus Delaford's clergyman's salary. is their entire property.For it was impossible for Mrs. Dashwood to finance them any longer, and they were not so infatuated with each other that £350 a year would give them a comfortable life.

Edward felt that a little change in his mother's attitude towards him was not entirely hopeless.He counted on his mother to get some of their income from her.Elinor, however, had no hope of this, since Edward could not marry Miss Morton, and Mrs. Ferrars had preferred to choose Lucy Steele in his choice of Eleanor. If she was less harmful, she could not help fearing that Robert's offense to his mother in this way would have no effect but Fanny's advantage.

The arrival of Colonel Bland, about four days after Edward's arrival, added to Mrs. Dashwood's satisfaction, for the first time since her removal to Barton she had been honored to have so many guests that she The family couldn't accommodate it.Edward enjoyed the first-come privilege, and Mr. Bland had to go to the old lodgings at Barton Manor every night, and often returned early the next morning, just in time to interrupt the lovers' first love conversation before breakfast.

Colonel Bland had spent three weeks at Delaford.During this period, every night, when he had nothing to do, he always thought about the incongruity between the age of 35 and the age of 17.He came to Barton with this mood.Only the sight of Marianne restored to strength, her softened face, and her mother's encouraging words could cheer him up.Sure enough, when he came among such friends and received such kind treatment, he became excited again.The news of Lucy's marriage had not yet reached him, and he knew nothing of the circumstances.He therefore spent the first few hours of his arrival listening to the news, and being amazed by Mrs. Dashwood's introductory introductions to him, and his discovery that he had done Mr. Ferrars some favors, Eleanor benefited from it in the end, so now there is all the more reason to be glad.

It is needless to say that the closer the association between the two gentlemen, the greater the mutual affection grew.They are similar in morality and reason, temperament and way of thinking, even if there is no other attractive force, it is enough to make them get along well, because they love their two sisters deeply, and they are very good two sisters, which is enough to make their two sisters Mutual respect has become imperative and inevitable.Otherwise, it will have to wait for a long time to see people's hearts.

The letters from the city, which would have excited every nerve in Eleanor a few days ago, read it now without showing much excitement, just joy.Mrs. Jennings wrote to tell Eleanor a strange story, venting her righteous indignation against the betrayed woman, and expressing her deep sympathy for poor Mr. Edward.Mr. Edward, she was sure, had spoiled the little slut too much, and now at Oxford everyone said his heart was breaking with grief.

"I don't think," she went on, "that anything was ever done so cunningly, since Lucy came and sat with me for two or three hours only two days ago. No one has ever suspected it, She didn't even know that poor little Nancy! She came the next day crying, pitifully frightened, afraid of Mrs. Ferrars trying to get her back, and not knowing how to get to Plymouth. See It seemed that Lucy had borrowed all her money before she went to her marriage, and we suppose she intended to show off, but poor Nancy had less than seven shillings left. So I happily gave her five shillings. and send her to Exeter. She wants to spend a few weeks there with Mrs. Burgess, hoping, as I say, to meet the doctor again. Lucy, it should be said, does not take It is very bad to go with Nancy in the carriage. Poor Edward, I am always thinking of him, and you should send him to Barton, and Miss Marianne must do her best to comfort him."

The tone of Mr. John Dashwood's letter was more serious.Mrs. Ferrars was the most unlucky woman--poor Fanny was in terribly emotional pain--and he was thankful and amazed at how lucky they were to be alive after being so devastated.Robert's crime is unforgivable, but Lucy's crime is even more heinous.They never mentioned either of them to Mrs. Ferrars again.Even if Mrs. Ferrars ever forgave her son, she would never acknowledge his wife as her daughter-in-law, never allow her to appear in her presence.The fact that they did it secretly was justly regarded as adding to the crime, because if it aroused suspicion, steps would be taken to prevent the marriage.He asks Eleanor to join him in expressing his regrets: it would be better for Lucy to marry Edward than for her to cause such greater misfortune to the family.John went on to write:

"We are not surprised that Mrs. Ferrars has never mentioned Edward's name till now. We are greatly surprised, however, that at such a time there has been no scrap of paper from Edward in the family. However, he may have refrained from writing for fear of offending his mother, so I thought of writing to Oxford to suggest to him that his sister and I thought he should write a fair appeal to Fern. Annie, too, and no one will be surprised if she passes it on to his mother, for we all know Mrs. Ferrars is soft-hearted, and she wants above all to be on good terms with her children."

This passage is of great importance to Edward's future and actions.This passage made him decide to try to negotiate a settlement, although not exactly in the way his brother-in-law and sister pointed out.

"A fair pleading letter!" repeated Edward. "Do they want me to intercede, that is, to beg mother to forgive Robert's ingratitude to her and his treachery to me? I cannot compromise. I am neither ashamed nor Regret it. I feel very happy, but they won't be interested in it. I don't know what I'm asking for."

"You may, of course, ask for forgiveness," said Elinor, "for you have offended her by a mistake. I think you might as well be bold now, and express your disquiet at having offended your mother by that engagement. "

Edward agreed that it could be done.

"When she has forgiven you, you may speak of the second engagement with a little humility, for it seems to her almost as frivolous as the first."

Edward did not object to this, but he still refused to write any pertinent intercession letter.He declared openly that he would rather make such an unseemly concession than put it on paper.So, to make it easier for him, it was decided that instead of writing to Fanny, he would go to London and ask her to do him a favor.

"If they were really willing to intervene and make this settlement," said Marianne, with rediscovered candor, "I should think that even men like John and Fanny are not for nothing."

Colonel Bland stayed only three or four days, and the two gentlemen left Barton together.They went at once to Delaford, in order to show Edward himself the prospect of his future lodgings, and to help his benefactor and friend to decide with him what improvements were still to be made.Edward will stay there for two nights before he departs for London.

(End of this chapter)