Pride and Prejudice; Sense and Sensibility

Chapter 78 The Secret in the Hair
The next morning, while Eleanor was walking with Marianne, Marianne revealed something to her sister.Eleanor had known for a long time that her sister had acted recklessly and without scheming, but she had gone too far in this matter, which surprised Eleanor greatly.Marianne told her sister with great joy that Willoughby had given her a horse, which he had bred himself on his estate in Somerset, for women to ride.Without thinking about anything, Marianne accepted the gift without hesitation.Nor did she think that her mother had never intended to have a horse—even if her mother had changed her mind and allowed her to accept the gift, it would have required buying another horse, hiring a servant to ride it, and eventually building a The stables!She didn't think about all this, and she actually told her sister about it in ecstasy.

"He's going to send his groom at once to Somerset to fetch the horses, and when they come we'll ride every day. You'll ride too. Come to think of it, dear Eleanor, in these little hills How beautiful it is to ride a horse and gallop across the field!" She didn't want to find out how much unpleasantness this would bring, lest such a happy dream be shattered, she didn't want to think about everything this gift brought for a long time as a result of.It wouldn't cost much to hire another servant, so Mother would have no objection.She believed that a servant could ride any horse, and she could get one at Barton Manor at any time.As for the stables, it was just a small shed.Eleanor then ventured to voice her misgivings, saying that she doubted it would be appropriate to accept such a gift from someone she didn't know very well, at least someone she had just met.This time, Marianne couldn't stand it any more.

"You think I don't know Willoughby very well, Elinor, you are mistaken," she said excitedly. "It is true that I have not known him very long, but besides mother and you, he is the person I love the most." People who understand each other. Familiarity does not depend on time or chance, but only on temperament. For some people, seven years may not be enough to achieve mutual understanding, while for others, seven days is more than enough. If I had taken one of my brother's horses, I would have felt I had done a wrong, more than Willoughby's. I did not know John well, though we lived together many years; Robbie, I've already figured it out."

Elinor felt that it would be best not to touch the subject again.She knows her sister's temper.Consistently confronting her on such a sensitive issue will only make her more opinionated.So she turned to trying to arouse her mother-daughter affection, showing her that mothers dote on daughters very much, and if mothers agree to increase the family property (which is very likely), it will definitely bring a lot of trouble to mothers. trouble.After saying this, Marianne softened immediately.She promised not to mention the present again, so as not to disturb her mother, and she promised to tell Willoughby when she saw him next time that he could not accept his presents.

Marianne did keep her promise, and when Willoughby came to visit that day, Elinor heard her whisper to him that she was sorry to have to refuse his gift.At the same time, she explained all the reasons why she changed her mind, so that it was not easy for him to make another plea.But Willoughby was evidently concerned about the matter, and after making his confession gravely, continued in the same low voice: "But, Marianne, although you cannot use the horse now, it is still yours. I will take care of it until you take it away. When you leave Barton to start your own family and be able to make your own decisions, the name of the horse that 'Queen Mab' Willoughby will give you. Will come to pick you up."

Miss Dashwood overheard all this.From the whole of Willoughby's speech, from the manner in which he spoke, from the fact that he called her sister by her Christian name, she saw at once that the two of them were so close, so frank, that they were perfectly compatible. .From then on, she no longer doubted that they had made a promise for life.The only thing that surprised her was the fact that both of them were so frank in their temperament that they didn't say a word to themselves (or their friends), so that people felt deceived, and she only realized it unconsciously. discovered the secret.

The next day, Margaret revealed something to her, which made the matter even clearer.When Willoughby had been with them the night before, Margaret, Willoughby, and Marianne had been alone in the drawing-room, and Margaret had taken the opportunity to observe.Then, when she was alone with her eldest sister, she put on a pompous air and gave her a word.

"Why, Elinor," cried she, "I want to tell you a great secret of Marianne. I am sure she will soon marry Mr. Willoughby."

"Ever since they met in High Church, High Church. This is the name of the hill. Hill," replied Eleanor, "you've said that almost every day. I remember, they knew each other In less than a week, you insisted that Marianne had a picture of him around her neck, and it turned out that it was just a miniature portrait of her great-uncle."

"It's a different thing this time, though. I'm sure they're going to be married soon, because he's got a lock of Marianne's hair."

"Be careful, Marguerite, maybe it's just one of his great-uncles' hair this time."

"Eleanor, I'll wager it was indeed Marianne's hair. For I saw him cut it. You and mother came out of the room after tea last night, and they whispered together, They talked as fast as they could. Willoughby seemed to be begging Marianne for something, and then he took your scissors and cut off a long lock of her hair, for it was all loose. In the back. He kissed the lock of hair and rolled it up, wrapped it in a white paper, and put it in his wallet."

Margaret spoke in such detail, so eloquently, that Elinor couldn't help but believe it.Besides, she didn't want to doubt anymore, because the situation was exactly the same as what she had heard and seen.

Margaret was not always so alert, and sometimes it was unavoidable to annoy her sister.One evening at Barton Park, Mrs. Jennings pressed her to reveal who Eleanor was interested in--a matter of which the lady had long been interested.Margaret looked at her sister, then replied: "I can't tell, can I, Eleanor?"

Needless to say, this remark caused a burst of laughter, and Eleanor forced a laugh too, but it was bitter.She knew who Margaret was going to talk about, and if the name of this person was spoken out by her sister, she could not calmly tolerate this name as Mrs. Jennings' eternal joke.

Margaret sympathized with her sister sincerely, but unexpectedly, her good intentions were not helpful. Eleanor blushed and said to Margaret resentfully:
"Remember, no matter who you guessed, you have no right to say it."

"I never guessed it," replied Marguerite, "you told me that yourself."

Everyone was even happier when they heard it, and they had to force Margaret to reveal a little more.

"Ah! Miss Margaret, please tell us all!" said Mrs. Jennings. "What's the gentleman's name?"

"I can't tell, ma'am. But I know his name, and where he is."

"Oh! We'll guess where he is if you don't tell me. It's at Norland Park, of course. Probably the curate of that parish."

"No, he isn't. He has no occupation at all."

"Margaret," said Marianne angrily, "do you realize that you are creating something out of nothing, that this person does not actually exist?"

"Oh, so he died not long ago? I do know, Marianne, that there was a man whose last name began with 'Fee.'"

At this moment, Mrs. Middleton said: "It's raining so hard!" This made Eleanor very grateful, but she also knew that Mrs. Middleton's interruption was not out of gratitude to herself. It is not because of her concern, but because she is deeply disgusted by her husband and mother's enthusiasm for such vulgar topics.Mrs. Middleton's suggestion was immediately picked up by Colonel Bland, because he always took care of other people's emotions on any occasion.So, the two talked a lot in the rain and in the rain.Willoughby opens the piano and asks Marianne to sit down and play a piece.In this way, everyone does their own different things.As a result, the conversation on the topic falls flat.But Eleanor became panicked after suffering from this false alarm, and it was difficult for her to regain her composure for a long time.

That night, everyone set up a sightseeing group, planning to visit a place with extremely beautiful scenery the next day.That place is about twelve miles from Barton. It is the property of Colonel Brand's brother-in-law. If the colonel is not interested, no one else can visit it at will, because the owner has left a message before going abroad. If there is no Brand No one is allowed to visit.It was said that the place was so beautiful that Sir John was full of praise.In the past ten years, the Jazz have organized at least two tours every summer, so it can be said that they have a lot of say.There are lakes and beautiful scenery here, and you can go boating most of the morning.Everyone brings a cold meal and just goes there in an open carriage.Everything is performed according to the usual garden tour specifications of the sightseeing group.

Several of those present thought the operation seemed risky, since it had been raining every day for two weeks because of the wrong season.Mrs. Dashwood decided to stay at home because of her cold, and was persuaded by Eleanor.

(End of this chapter)