Pride and Prejudice; Sense and Sensibility

Chapter 80 Eleanor's Surprise
Colonel Bland's sudden termination of his visit to Barton Park, and his refusal to explain why, aroused the curiosity and suspicion of Mrs. Jennings, who speculated on the matter for two or three days.She was a fuss-prone woman, as is the case with anyone who is obsessed with noticing the comings and goings of others.She kept wondering in her heart: What is the reason for this?She was sure that he had bad news, and she thought over all the possible misfortunes that might befall him, and concluded that it was absolutely impossible for him to escape them all.

"I'm sure something sad has happened," she said. "I can see it in the Colonel's face. Poor fellow! I'm afraid he's not in a very good position. Come to think of it, Delaford." The annual income of the estate never exceeded two thousand pounds, and it was thrown to him after being made a mess by his brother. I think it's probably about money, or what else? I wonder if it's because of something like that. I'm going to find out anyway. Maybe it's something about Miss Williams--so it must be about her, because I mentioned her The colonel looked terribly unnatural when she was in town. Maybe she was sick in town, nine times out of ten, because I remember her always being sick. I'll bet it was for William Miss St. It seems unlikely that the Colonel will be in financial trouble now, for he is a shrewd man, and he must have managed the family property by now. I can't guess how it is! Perhaps His sister at Avignon was in a bad condition and told him to hurry. He walked away in such a hurry that it looked as if something like this had happened to him. Well, I wish him the best of luck and a marriage. Good lady."

Mrs. Jennings went on and on, so suspiciously.Her opinions fluctuated, she had a new conjecture for a while, and changed her mind immediately.And no matter what the guesswork was, it always started with a certainty.Although Eleanor sincerely cared about Colonel Bland's well-being, she could not be as surprised and suspicious of his sudden departure as Mrs. Jennings expected.Because in her opinion, the matter is not that serious, and there is no need to make such a fuss.Besides this, there was one thing that really surprised her even more, namely, the relationship between her sister and Willoughby, although everyone was very interested in it, and they knew it themselves, why? Everyone is surprisingly silent on this matter?The more they kept silent about it from day to day, the more strange it seemed, the more out of tune with their temperaments.Judging from their consistent behavior, it was a matter that everyone could see, but they didn't dare to point it out to their mother and her. Eleanor couldn't guess what was the reason for this.

Elinor could easily see that they could not marry at once, for Willoughby, though financially independent, could by no means be said to be wealthy.According to Sir John's estimate, his income from the estate is only about six or seven hundred pounds a year, but he spends so much that the income is almost beyond his means, and he himself is often crying poor.But what she really couldn't understand was that it was an open secret that they were secretly engaged, but they kept it a secret from her sister.This was so out of line with their usual thoughts and practices that she sometimes wondered if they were really engaged.With such suspicions, it was inconvenient for her to ask Marianne.

Willoughby expresses his deep affection to the Dashwood mother and daughter most obviously by his actions.How tender and gentle he was as Marianne's lover; and to the others he was as attentive as a son, brother, and younger brother.He seemed to regard the cottage as his own, and he was so attached to it that he spent more time here than in Allenham.If there were no great parties at Barton Park, he was out and about in the mornings, and nearly always ended up at the Cottage, with himself at Marianne's side, with his dog lying at her feet, to while away the whole day. sky.

Especially one evening, about a week after Colonel Bland's departure, Willoughby seemed to acquire an uncanny familiarity with his surroundings.Mrs. Dashwood inadvertently mentioned the plan to remodel the country house next spring, and Willoughby immediately expressed strong opposition, because he had already established a relationship with the place, and felt that everything was perfect, and it would be better not to change anything.

"What!" he exclaimed, "rebuild this lovely country house. No, no, I will never consent to that, and you must not add a brick or a stone or an inch to an inch if you have my heart in mind. "

"Don't you be afraid," said Miss Dashwood, "it can never be done, and my mother can never raise enough money to rebuild it."

"I am so glad, then," cried Willoughby, "that if her money is not put to better use, I hope she never has it."

"Thank you, Willoughby. Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt your or anyone I love's love for the place by doing anything to improve it. You can trust me when the accounts are settled in the spring." , no matter how much money is left, I would rather not use it than spend it on this matter to make you so sad. However, you really love this place so much that you think it has no shortcomings?"

"Yes," said Willoughby, "I think it is perfect. Well, besides, I think that only such a form of architecture can make a man happy. If I had money, I would put the place where I live at once A Coombe mansion was knocked down, and rebuilt in exactly the style of this cottage."

"Then I think there will be dark and narrow stairs, and a kitchen that leaks smoke everywhere," said Eleanor.

"Yes," cried Willoughby, with equal eagerness, "everything is to be exactly the same. There must be no slight difference in convenience or inconvenience. Then, only until Then, in a house like that, I might be as happy in Combe as I was in Barton."

"I believe," replied Eleanor, "that if you should happen to live in a better room and a wider staircase in the future, you will feel as perfect in your own house as you feel in this house now." The cottage is immaculate as it is.”

"Of course," said Willoughby, "there are circumstances which have made me love my own home very much, but this place will always hold me back like nowhere else."

Mrs. Dashwood was looking with pleasure at Marianne, who was gazing affectionately at Willoughby with Marianne's pretty eyes, which evidently showed that she understood him perfectly.

"When I came to Allenham at this time a year ago," continued Willoughby, "I wished Barton Cottage could be occupied. Whenever I pass the house, I always wonder where it is. I was very envious, and at the same time regretted that it was empty. I never expected that when I came to the country again, the headline news that Mrs. Smith told me was that the Barton Cottage was inhabited by the Lord! Immediately, I felt It is both satisfying and interesting. I can only describe this feeling as a premonition that I shall be greatly happy in it, or else it is inexplicable. Is it not true, Marianne? did you?" he said in a low voice to Marianne, and then resumed his old tone, saying: "But, Mrs. Dashwood, do you want to spoil the house? You want to ruin its simplicity and naturalness by some whimsical alteration. , and it was in this lovely parlour, where we first met and spent so many happy hours together, that you were not expecting to convert it into a common porch. Yet all yearn to enter the old The drawing-room, for it has always been a more useful and comfortable room than any room in the world, more splendid."

Mrs. Dashwood assured him again that there would be no such thing as alterations.

"You are a very good lady," replied Willoughby, excitedly. "Your promise has reassured me. I should be glad in my heart if your promise should go further. Promise me that not only will your house It will remain the same, and your family will remain the same as your house, and you will always treat me with kindness. This kind of friendship makes me feel that everything about you is so kind."

Mrs. Dashwood made the above promise at once, and Willoughby's behavior throughout the evening showed that he was both affectionate and gay.

"You'll come to supper to-morrow, won't you?" said Mrs. Dashwood, when he had taken his leave. "I don't ask you to come in the morning, as we must go to Barton Park and visit Lady Middleton."

Willoughby promised to come to them at four in the afternoon.

(End of this chapter)