Pride and Prejudice; Sense and Sensibility

Chapter 90

Thus began Eleanor's conversation, saying in a tone both firm and prudent:
"It's an honor that you trust me. If I didn't want to talk about that incident last time, or didn't want to get to the bottom of it curiously, wouldn't it be a disappointment to your trust in me. Therefore, now I don't take the liberty to think about it again. Bring it up."

"Thank you for opening your mouth," cried Lucy excitedly. "You put me at ease by saying that. Because somehow I was still worried that I might offend you by what I said to you on Monday."

"Offended me! How can you think so? Believe me," said Eleanor with great sincerity, "I don't want you to have such a view. Don't you trust me and treat me like this, and you still have regrets?" I feel unseemly, unpleasant motives?"

"But, to tell you the truth," replied Lucy, looking at her meaningfully with those keen little eyes, "I do think you were a little cold and unhappy in your manner, which disturbed me. I think you must be mad at me. Ever since then I've been blaming myself for being so reckless and making you worry about me. Seeing now that it was just my illusion and you didn't really blame me , I am very happy. To tell you the truth, I am very relieved to have told you what I have been thinking about all the time. If you knew how I feel, you would sympathize with me and not worry about other things."

"Indeed, I can easily imagine that it is a great relief to you to tell me your situation, and to be sure that you will never regret it. Your situation is unfortunate. I see difficulties everywhere for you, which require you to love each other with all your heart." Mr. Ferrars is completely dependent on his mother, I think."

"He has only two thousand pounds himself, and it would be madness to marry on that. But for myself, I can give up all hope of greater prosperity without complaint. I have been accustomed to small incomes, He, I can live through all kinds of poverty. But I love him too much, and if he marry a wife who pleases his mother, he may get a lot of her property, but I don't want to lose it to Edward selfishly. We must wait, perhaps for many years. It is a chilling prospect to almost any man in the world. But I know that Edward's love for me will never be taken away from me. "

"It is vital to you that you have this belief. No doubt he will hold on if he has the same belief in you. In case there is a coldness between you—it will be It often happens to many people, under all circumstances, during their four-year engagement—your situation is indeed pathetic."

Lucy looked up at this.But Eleanor was so discreet that she did not perceive anything suspicious in what was said.

"Edward's love for me," said Lucy, "has been so sure of it since our engagement, and has stood the rigors of a long separation, that I now cannot forgive any doubts. I can say with absolute certainty, From the very beginning, he has never disturbed me for a moment because of this reason."

Hearing her say this, Eleanor simply didn't know whether to laugh or sigh.

Lucy went on: "I'm jealous by nature, because we live in different situations, he has seen a lot more than I do, and we are often apart, and I am always suspicious. When we met, his attitude towards me A slight change, or some inexplicable depression in his spirits, or he talked more about one woman than others, or he seemed less happy at Longstaple than he used to be, I can detect it immediately, and I must make it clear. I am not saying that I am usually very sharp, and my eyes are generally sharp, but I will definitely not be deceived in this kind of thing."

"That's a nice thing to say," thought Elinor, "but neither of us can fool the other."

"But," said Elinor, after a little silence, "what are your plans for the future? Or nothing at all, or a last resort, sad and shocking, and waiting for Mrs. Ferrars to die?" Could it be that her son is willing to suffer like this, making up his mind to drag you down, hanging on for so many years, living a boring life, but he is not willing to take the risk of offending her for a while, so he simply tells her the truth?"

"If only we could be sure that she was just having a moment of displeasure! But Mrs. Ferrars is a headstrong, self-important woman, and when she hears of this, she gets very angry, and is likely to hand over all her property to Robert. Thinking of this, For Edward's sake, I was so scared that I didn't dare to make a quick decision, so I acted hastily."

"Besides, this is for your own sake, otherwise your self-sacrifice would be unreasonable."

Lucy looked again at Eleanor, but said nothing.

"Do you know Mr. Robert Ferrars?" asked Elinor.

"Not at all--I've never met him. But I think he's very different from his brother--stupid, and a complete playboy."

"Very dandy," repeated Miss Steele, who had heard the words when Marianne's music broke off suddenly. "Oh! I dare say they must be talking of their sweetheart."

"No, sister," cried Lucy, "you are mistaken, our sweetheart is not quite a playboy."

"I can assure you that Miss Dashwood's sweetheart is not a playboy," said Mrs. Jennings, with a hearty smile. "He's the most humble, decent young man I've ever met. As for Lucy, though, she's a sly little sprite, and I don't know who she's fond of."

"Oh!" cried Miss Steele, casting a meaningful look at them, "perhaps Lucy's sweetheart is as modest and decent as Miss Dashwood's sweetheart."

Eleanor could not help but flush with shame.Lucy bit her lip and glared at her sister angrily.The two were silent for a while.Lucy was the first to break the silence, speaking in a low voice, though Marianne now gave them great cover with a most beautiful concerto:
"To tell you the truth, I have recently thought of a good and practical solution. Of course, I must let you know about it, because it concerns you. You have seen Edward often, and you must know that he likes to be a priest. My plan It goes like this: he received the ordination as soon as possible, became a priest, and then hoped that you would, out of your friendship for him and your concern for me, persuade your brother to give him the priesthood of Norland parish. I listen Said it is a very good job, and the current priest will not live long. Then we can guarantee our married life, and leave the rest to fate."

"I have always been happy to express my respect and friendship to Mr. Ferrars," replied Elinor; "but don't you think it is quite unnecessary for me to have any part in the matter? He is John Mrs. Dashwood's brother—her husband would have promoted him on that alone."

"But Mrs. John Dashwood does not approve of Edward's becoming a clergyman."

"In this case, I think it's useless for me to say it."

They were silent for a long time.At last Lucy sighed deeply, and said aloud:
"I think the most sensible thing to do is to break off the engagement, and put an end to the marriage at once. We seem to have so many difficulties and obstacles on every side, and although the breakup will be painful for a while, it will probably be happier in the end. But, Miss Dashwood, yes. Didn't you ask me to give me an idea?"

"No," replied Eleanor, with a smile that belied her excitement, "it is of course not for me to give you any advice on this matter. You know very well, and unless my opinion is what you want, Otherwise it won't work for you."

"Really, you have wronged me," replied Lucy solemnly, "and I have the most respect for your opinion of anyone I know. I do believe that if you said to me, 'I advise you to Break off your engagement to Edward Ferrars, and it will make you both happier.' Then I shall resolve to do so at once.",
Eleanor blushed for Edward's fiancée's insincerity, and replied: "If I had any opinion on the subject, I would be too frightened by your compliments to say anything. You have exalted my reputation too highly. There is nothing an outsider can do to separate two passionate lovers."

"Because you are an outsider," Lucy said with a bit of hostility, emphasizing the last few words, "your opinion is taken for granted by me. If I think you have any prejudice, there is no need to ask for it." your opinion."

Elinor thought it best not to justify these remarks, lest they become too free and free with each other.She even thought she would never mention it again.Therefore, after Lucy finished speaking, she paused for several minutes.It was Lucy who broke the silence first.

"Are you going to town this winter, Miss Dashwood?" she asked with her usual smug air.

"Of course not."

"It's a pity," replied Lucy, but her eyes lit up when she heard this. "How glad I should be to see you in town! But, for all that, you're sure I will. There is no doubt that your brother and sister-in-law will invite you to visit."

"Even if they wanted me to go, I couldn't accept it on my own."

"What a pity! I've been looking forward to seeing you in town. Anne and I are visiting relatives in late January, and they've been asking us to go for years! But I'm going just to see you. Edward. He's going there in February. Otherwise London doesn't appeal to me at all, I have no interest in the place at all."

Not long afterward, after the first game at the card table, Eleanor was called, and thus the secret conversation between the two ladies came to an end.But no one felt it was a pity, because no one said anything that could reduce their mutual disgust.Eleanor sat down at the card-table, judging sadly that Edward had no love for his fiancée, and that he would not be so happy in marrying her, as only her true love, Eleanor's, could have given him. His life brings happiness; and a woman who knows that the man is tired of the marriage contract, but still clings to it, it can only show that this woman is only doing this out of selfishness for her own sake. made.

Since then, Eleanor has never brought up the subject again, but Lucy seldom misses the opportunity to bring up the old story again, especially when she receives a letter from Edward, she always deliberately puts her happy things Inform her confidant girlfriend.Whenever such a situation came up, Eleanor could take it calmly and cautiously, and always put an end to these discussions as soon as possible without hurting the feelings.For she felt that such a talk was an undeserved indulgence to Lucy, and a danger to herself.

The time of the two Miss Steeles' visits at Barton Manor has been extended again and again, far exceeding the date set by both parties at the time of the initial invitation.They are becoming more and more popular, and they can't leave if they want to.Sir John was determined not to let them go.Although they have a lot of things that have been arranged in Exeter, they urgently need to go back to deal with them immediately, especially when the weekend comes, and there will be more things, but they still can't go.They were persuaded to stay in Barton Manor for nearly two months, and assisted the master's family to celebrate that important festival, Christmas. , because in order to show the importance of this festival, more family dances and large dinner parties are needed than normal festivals.

(End of this chapter)