曼斯菲尔德庄园 Chapter 37
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CHAPTER XXXVII 
Mr. Crawford gone, Sir Thomas's next object was that he should be missed; and he entertained great hope that his niece would find a blank in the loss of those attentions which at the time she had felt, or fancied, an evil. She had tasted of consequence in its most flattering form; and he did hope that the loss of it, the sinking again into nothing, would awaken1 very wholesome2 regrets in her mind. He watched her with this idea; but he could hardly tell with what success. He hardly knew whether there were any difference in her spirits or not. She was always so gentle and retiring that her emotions were beyond his discrimination. He did not understand her: he felt that he did not; and therefore applied3 to Edmund to tell him how she stood affected4 on the present occasion, and whether she were more or less happy than she had been. 
Edmund did not discern any symptoms of regret, and thought his father a little unreasonable5 in supposing the first three or four days could produce any. 
What chiefly surprised Edmund was, that Crawford's sister, the friend and companion who had been so much to her, should not be more visibly regretted. He wondered that Fanny spoke6 so seldom of _her_, and had so little voluntarily to say of her concern at this separation. 
Alas7! it was this sister, this friend and companion, who was now the chief bane of Fanny's comfort. If she could have believed Mary's future fate as unconnected with Mansfield as she was determined8 the brother's should be, if she could have hoped her return thither9 to be as distant as she was much inclined to think his, she would have been light of heart indeed; but the more she recollected10 and observed, the more deeply was she convinced that everything was now in a fairer train for Miss Crawford's marrying Edmund than it had ever been before. On his side the inclination11 was stronger, on hers less equivocal. His objections, the scruples12 of his integrity, seemed all done away, nobody could tell how; and the doubts and hesitations14 of her ambition were equally got over--and equally without apparent reason. It could only be imputed15 to increasing attachment16. His good and her bad feelings yielded to love, and such love must unite them. He was to go to town as soon as some business relative to Thornton Lacey were completed-- perhaps within a fortnight; he talked of going, he loved to talk of it; and when once with her again, Fanny could not doubt the rest. Her acceptance must be as certain as his offer; and yet there were bad feelings still remaining which made the prospect17 of it most sorrowful to her, independently, she believed, independently of self. 
In their very last conversation, Miss Crawford, in spite of some amiable18 sensations, and much personal kindness, had still been Miss Crawford; still shewn a mind led astray and bewildered, and without any suspicion of being so; darkened, yet fancying itself light. She might love, but she did not deserve Edmund by any other sentiment. Fanny believed there was scarcely a second feeling in common between them; and she may be forgiven by older sages19 for looking on the chance of Miss Crawford's future improvement as nearly desperate, for thinking that if Edmund's influence in this season of love had already done so little in clearing her judgment20, and regulating her notions, his worth would be finally wasted on her even in years of matrimony. 
Experience might have hoped more for any young people so circumstanced, and impartiality21 would not have denied to Miss Crawford's nature that participation23 of the general nature of women which would lead her to adopt the opinions of the man she loved and respected as her own. But as such were Fanny's persuasions24, she suffered very much from them, and could never speak of Miss Crawford without pain. 
Sir Thomas, meanwhile, went on with his own hopes and his own observations, still feeling a right, by all his knowledge of human nature, to expect to see the effect of the loss of power and consequence on his niece's spirits, and the past attentions of the lover producing a craving25 for their return; and he was soon afterwards able to account for his not yet completely and indubitably seeing all this, by the prospect of another visitor, whose approach he could allow to be quite enough to support the spirits he was watching. William had obtained a ten days' leave of absence, to be given to Northamptonshire, and was coming, the happiest of lieutenants26, because the latest made, to shew his happiness and describe his uniform. 
He came; and he would have been delighted to shew his uniform there too, had not cruel custom prohibited its appearance except on duty. So the uniform remained at Portsmouth, and Edmund conjectured28 that before Fanny had any chance of seeing it, all its own freshness and all the freshness of its wearer's feelings must be worn away. It would be sunk into a badge of disgrace; for what can be more unbecoming, or more worthless, than the uniform of a lieutenant27, who has been a lieutenant a year or two, and sees others made commanders before him? So reasoned Edmund, till his father made him the confidant of a scheme which placed Fanny's chance of seeing the second lieutenant of H.M.S. Thrush in all his glory in another light. 
This scheme was that she should accompany her brother back to Portsmouth, and spend a little time with her own family. It had occurred to Sir Thomas, in one of his dignified29 musings, as a right and desirable measure; but before he absolutely made up his mind, he consulted his son. Edmund considered it every way, and saw nothing but what was right. The thing was good in itself, and could not be done at a better time; and he had no doubt of it being highly agreeable to Fanny. This was enough to determine Sir Thomas; and a decisive "then so it shall be" closed that stage of the business; Sir Thomas retiring from it with some feelings of satisfaction, and views of good over and above what he had communicated to his son; for his prime motive30 in sending her away had very little to do with the propriety31 of her seeing her parents again, and nothing at all with any idea of making her happy. He certainly wished her to go willingly, but he as certainly wished her to be heartily32 sick of home before her visit ended; and that a little abstinence from the elegancies and luxuries of Mansfield Park would bring her mind into a sober state, and incline her to a juster estimate of the value of that home of greater permanence, and equal comfort, of which she had the offer. 
It was a medicinal project upon his niece's understanding, which he must consider as at present diseased. A residence of eight or nine years in the abode33 of wealth and plenty had a little disordered her powers of comparing and judging. Her father's house would, in all probability, teach her the value of a good income; and he trusted that she would be the wiser and happier woman, all her life, for the experiment he had devised. 
Had Fanny been at all addicted34 to raptures35, she must have had a strong attack of them when she first understood what was intended, when her uncle first made her the offer of visiting the parents, and brothers, and sisters, from whom she had been divided almost half her life; of returning for a couple of months to the scenes of her infancy36, with William for the protector and companion of her journey, and the certainty of continuing to see William to the last hour of his remaining on land. Had she ever given way to bursts of delight, it must have been then, for she was delighted, but her happiness was of a quiet, deep, heart-swelling sort; and though never a great talker, she was always more inclined to silence when feeling most strongly. At the moment she could only thank and accept. Afterwards, when familiarised with the visions of enjoyment37 so suddenly opened, she could speak more largely to William and Edmund of what she felt; but still there were emotions of tenderness that could not be clothed in words. The remembrance of all her earliest pleasures, and of what she had suffered in being torn from them, came over her with renewed strength, and it seemed as if to be at home again would heal every pain that had since grown out of the separation. To be in the centre of such a circle, loved by so many, and more loved by all than she had ever been before; to feel affection without fear or restraint; to feel herself the equal of those who surrounded her; to be at peace from all mention of the Crawfords, safe from every look which could be fancied a reproach on their account. This was a prospect to be dwelt on with a fondness that could be but half acknowledged. 
Edmund, too--to be two months from _him_ (and perhaps she might be allowed to make her absence three) must do her good. At a distance, unassailed by his looks or his kindness, and safe from the perpetual irritation38 of knowing his heart, and striving to avoid his confidence, she should be able to reason herself into a properer state; she should be able to think of him as in London, and arranging everything there, without wretchedness. What might have been hard to bear at Mansfield was to become a slight evil at Portsmouth. 
The only drawback was the doubt of her aunt Bertram's being comfortable without her. She was of use to no one else; but _there_ she might be missed to a degree that she did not like to think of; and that part of the arrangement was, indeed, the hardest for Sir Thomas to accomplish, and what only _he_ could have accomplished39 at all. 
But he was master at Mansfield Park. When he had really resolved on any measure, he could always carry it through; and now by dint40 of long talking on the subject, explaining and dwelling41 on the duty of Fanny's sometimes seeing her family, he did induce his wife to let her go; obtaining it rather from submission42, however, than conviction, for Lady Bertram was convinced of very little more than that Sir Thomas thought Fanny ought to go, and therefore that she must. In the calmness of her own dressing-room, in the impartial22 flow of her own meditations43, unbiassed by his bewildering statements, she could not acknowledge any necessity for Fanny's ever going near a father and mother who had done without her so long, while she was so useful to herself And as to the not missing her, which under Mrs. Norris's discussion was the point attempted to be proved, she set herself very steadily44 against admitting any such thing. 
Sir Thomas had appealed to her reason, conscience, and dignity. He called it a sacrifice, and demanded it of her goodness and self-command as such. But Mrs. Norris wanted to persuade her that Fanny could be very well spared--_she_ being ready to give up all her own time to her as requested-- and, in short, could not really be wanted or missed. 
"That may be, sister," was all Lady Bertram's reply. "I dare say you are very right; but I am sure I shall miss her very much." 
The next step was to communicate with Portsmouth. Fanny wrote to offer herself; and her mother's answer, though short, was so kind--a few simple lines expressed so natural and motherly a joy in the prospect of seeing her child again, as to confirm all the daughter's views of happiness in being with her--convincing her that she should now find a warm and affectionate friend in the "mama" who had certainly shewn no remarkable45 fondness for her formerly46; but this she could easily suppose to have been her own fault or her own fancy. She had probably alienated47 love by the helplessness and fretfulness of a fearful temper, or been unreasonable in wanting a larger share than any one among so many could deserve. Now, when she knew better how to be useful, and how to forbear, and when her mother could be no longer occupied by the incessant48 demands of a house full of little children, there would be leisure and inclination for every comfort, and they should soon be what mother and daughter ought to be to each other. 
William was almost as happy in the plan as his sister. It would be the greatest pleasure to him to have her there to the last moment before he sailed, and perhaps find her there still when he came in from his first cruise. And besides, he wanted her so very much to see the Thrush before she went out of harbour--the Thrush was certainly the finest sloop49 in the service--and there were several improvements in the dockyard, too, which he quite longed to shew her. 
He did not scruple13 to add that her being at home for a while would be a great advantage to everybody. 
"I do not know how it is," said he; "but we seem to want some of your nice ways and orderliness at my father's. The house is always in confusion. You will set things going in a better way, I am sure. You will tell my mother how it all ought to be, and you will be so useful to Susan, and you will teach Betsey, and make the boys love and mind you. How right and comfortable it will all be!" 
By the time Mrs. Price's answer arrived, there remained but a very few days more to be spent at Mansfield; and for part of one of those days the young travellers were in a good deal of alarm on the subject of their journey, for when the mode of it came to be talked of, and Mrs. Norris found that all her anxiety to save her brother-in-law's money was vain, and that in spite of her wishes and hints for a less expensive conveyance50 of Fanny, they were to travel post; when she saw Sir Thomas actually give William notes for the purpose, she was struck with the idea of there being room for a third in the carriage, and suddenly seized with a strong inclination to go with them, to go and see her poor dear sister Price. She proclaimed her thoughts. She must say that she had more than half a mind to go with the young people; it would be such an indulgence to her; she had not seen her poor dear sister Price for more than twenty years; and it would be a help to the young people in their journey to have her older head to manage for them; and she could not help thinking her poor dear sister Price would feel it very unkind of her not to come by such an opportunity. 
William and Fanny were horror-struck at the idea. 
All the comfort of their comfortable journey would be destroyed at once. With woeful countenances51 they looked at each other. Their suspense52 lasted an hour or two. No one interfered53 to encourage or dissuade54. Mrs. Norris was left to settle the matter by herself; and it ended, to the infinite joy of her nephew and niece, in the recollection that she could not possibly be spared from Mansfield Park at present; that she was a great deal too necessary to Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram for her to be able to answer it to herself to leave them even for a week, and therefore must certainly sacrifice every other pleasure to that of being useful to them. 
It had, in fact, occurred to her, that though taken to Portsmouth for nothing, it would be hardly possible for her to avoid paying her own expenses back again. So her poor dear sister Price was left to all the disappointment of her missing such an opportunity, and another twenty years' absence, perhaps, begun. 
Edmund's plans were affected by this Portsmouth journey, this absence of Fanny's. He too had a sacrifice to make to Mansfield Park as well as his aunt. He had intended, about this time, to be going to London; but he could not leave his father and mother just when everybody else of most importance to their comfort was leaving them; and with an effort, felt but not boasted of, he delayed for a week or two longer a journey which he was looking forward to with the hope of its fixing his happiness for ever. 
He told Fanny of it. She knew so much already, that she must know everything. It made the substance of one other confidential55 discourse56 about Miss Crawford; and Fanny was the more affected from feeling it to be the last time in which Miss Crawford's name would ever be mentioned between them with any remains57 of liberty. Once afterwards she was alluded58 to by him. Lady Bertram had been telling her niece in the evening to write to her soon and often, and promising59 to be a good correspondent herself; and Edmund, at a convenient moment, then added in a whisper, "And _I_ shall write to you, Fanny, when I have anything worth writing about, anything to say that I think you will like to hear, and that you will not hear so soon from any other quarter." Had she doubted his meaning while she listened, the glow in his face, when she looked up at him, would have been decisive. 
For this letter she must try to arm herself. That a letter from Edmund should be a subject of terror! She began to feel that she had not yet gone through all the changes of opinion and sentiment which the progress of time and variation of circumstances occasion in this world of changes. The vicissitudes60 of the human mind had not yet been exhausted61 by her. 
Poor Fanny! though going as she did willingly and eagerly, the last evening at Mansfield Park must still be wretchedness. Her heart was completely sad at parting. She had tears for every room in the house, much more for every beloved inhabitant. She clung to her aunt, because she would miss her; she kissed the hand of her uncle with struggling sobs62, because she had displeased63 him; and as for Edmund, she could neither speak, nor look, nor think, when the last moment came with _him_; and it was not till it was over that she knew he was giving her the affectionate farewell of a brother. 
All this passed overnight, for the journey was to begin very early in the morning; and when the small, diminished party met at breakfast, William and Fanny were talked of as already advanced one stage.

第三卷 第六章
克劳福德先生走了,托马斯爵士的下一个目标是让范妮思念他。虽然对于克劳福德先生的百般殷勤,外甥女当时觉得,或者认为是她的不幸,但是现在失去了这样的殷勤之后,做姨父的满怀希望地认为,外甥女会为此感到惆怅。她已经尝到了受人抬举的滋味,而且那种抬举又是以最令人惬意的方式表现出来的。因此,托马斯爵士还真是希望,她会由于不再有人抬举,重又落入无足轻重的境地,心里产生一种非常有益的懊悔之情。他抱着这个想法观察她——但却说不上有多大效果。他几乎看不出她的情绪是否有任何变化。她总是那样文雅怯懦,他无法辨别她的心情如何。他无法了解她,感到自己无法了解她。因此,他请求埃德蒙告诉他,这件事情对范妮的影响如何,她比原来快乐还是不快乐。
埃德蒙没有看出任何懊悔的迹象。他觉得父亲有点不大切合实际,居然指望在三四天里就能看出她的后悔来。
最让埃德蒙感到意外的是,她的朋友和女伴,克劳福德的妹妹,在这里时对她那么好,走后也看不出她有什么懊悔的。他觉得奇怪,范妮很少提到她,也很少主动说起这次别离引起的愁绪。
唉!现在造成范妮不幸的主要祸根,正是克劳福德的这位妹妹,她的这位朋友和女伴。要是她能认为玛丽未来的命运像她哥哥的一样跟曼斯菲尔德没有关系的话,要是她能希望她回到曼斯菲尔德跟她哥哥一样遥远的话,她心里真会感到轻松的。但是,她越回顾往事,越注意观察,就越认为事情正朝着克劳福德小姐嫁给埃德蒙的方向发展。他们两人,男方的愿望更强了,女方的态度更明朗了。他的顾虑,他因为为人正直而产生的顾忌,似乎早已荡然无存——谁也说不准是怎么回事;而她那由于野心而引起的疑虑和犹豫,也同样不复存在了——而且同样看不出是什么原因。这只能归因于感情越来越深。他的美好情感和她的不高尚的情感都向爱情屈服了,这样的爱情必然把他们结合在一起。桑顿莱西的事务一处理完——也许要不了两个星期,他就要到伦敦去。他谈到了要去伦敦,他喜欢讲这件事。一旦和玛丽再度重逢,接下来会发生什么事情,范妮可想而知了。他肯定会向她求婚,她也肯定会接受。然而,这里面还是有些不高尚的情感,使她为未来的前景伤透了心。不过,这伤心与她自己无关——她认为与己无关。
在她们最后一次谈话中,克劳福德小姐虽然产生过一些亲切的感情,有过一些亲热的举动,但她依然是克劳福德小姐,从她的言行中可以看出,她的思想依然处于迷茫困惑之中,而她自己却浑然不觉。她心里是阴暗的,却自以为光明。她可能爱埃德蒙,但是除了爱之外,她没有别的方面配得上他。范妮认为,他们之间再也没有第二个情愫相通之处。她认为克劳福德小姐将来也不可能改,认为埃德蒙在恋爱中尚且改变不了她的看法,制约不了她的思想,那在婚后的岁月里,他那么好一个人最终报废在她身上了。范妮相信,古时的圣贤会原谅她的这些想法的。
经验告诉我们,对于这种境况中的年轻人不能过于悲观,公正而论,克劳福德小姐虽说性情如此,还不能因此认为她就没有女人的那种普遍的天性,有了这样的天性,她也会接受她所喜爱、所敬重的男人的意见,将之视为自己的意见。不过,范妮有她自己的想法,这些想法给她带来了很大的痛苦,她一提到克劳福德小姐就伤心。
与此同时,托马斯爵士依然抱着希望,依然在观察,并根据自己对人类天性的理解,依然觉得他会看到由于不再有人迷恋,不再有人青睐,外甥女的心情会受到影响,追求者以前的百般殷勤,使她渴望再遇到这种殷勤。过了不久,他得以把没有完全地、清楚地观察出上述迹象的原因,归之于另一个客人要来。他认为这位客人的即将到来,足以抚慰外甥女的心情。威廉请了十天假到北安普敦郡来,好显示一下他的快乐,描述一下他的制服。他是天下最快乐的海军少尉,因为他是刚刚晋升的。
威廉来了。他本来也很想来这里显示一下他的制服,可惜制度严格,除非是值勤,否则不准穿军服。因此,军服给撂在朴次茅斯了。埃德蒙心想,等范妮有机会看到的时候,不管是制服的鲜艳感,还是穿制服人的新鲜感,都早已不复存在了。这套制服会成为不光彩的标记。一个人要是当了少尉,一两年还没升官,眼看着别人一个个提成了校官,在这种情况下,还有什么比少尉的制服更难看、更寒伧呢?埃德蒙是这样考虑的,后来他父亲向他提出了一个方案,让范妮通过另外一种安排,看看皇家海军“画眉”号军舰上的少尉身穿光彩夺目的军装。
根据这个方案,范妮要随哥哥回到朴次茅斯,跟父母弟妹共度一段时间。托马斯爵士是在一次郑重思考时想出了这个主意,觉得这是一个恰当而又理想的举措。不过,他在下定决心之前,先征求了儿子的意见。埃德蒙从各方面做了考虑,觉得这样做完全妥当。这件事本身就很得当,选择这个时机也再好不过,他料想范妮一定非常高兴。这足以使托马斯爵士下定了决心,随着一声果断的“那就这么办”,这件事就算暂时告一段落了。托马斯爵士有点洋洋得意地回房去了,心想这样做的好处还远不止是他对儿子说的,因为他要把范妮打发走的主要动机,并不是为了叫她去看父母,更不是为了让她快活快活。他无疑希望她乐意回去,但同样无疑的是,他希望还没等她探亲结束,她就会深深厌恶自己的家。让她脱离一段曼斯菲尔德庄园优越奢侈的生活,会使她头脑清醒一些,能比较正确地估价人家给她提供的那个更加长久、同样舒适的家庭的价值。
托马斯爵士认为外甥女现在肯定是头脑出了毛病,这便是他给她制定的治疗方案。在丰裕富贵人家住了八九年,使她失去了比较和鉴别好坏的能力。她父亲住的房子完全可能使她明白有钱是多么重要。他深信,他想出这个试验,会让范妮这辈子变得更聪明,更幸福。
如果范妮有狂喜之习惯的话,她一听明白姨父的打算,定会感到欣喜若狂。姨父建议她去看看她离别几乎半生的父母弟妹,一路上有威廉保护和陪伴,回到她幼年生长的环境中,住上一两个月,而且一直可以看到威廉,直到他出海为止。如果她有什么时候能纵情高兴的话,那就应该是这个时候,因为她是很高兴,不过她那是属于一种不声不响的、深沉的、心潮澎湃的高兴。她向来话不多,在感受最强烈的时候,总是默默不语。在这种时候,她只会道谢,表示接受。后来,对这突如其来的想象中的快乐习以为常之后,她才能把自己的感受对威廉和埃德蒙大体说一说。但是,还有一些微妙的感情无法用言语表达——童年的欢乐,被迫离家的痛苦,这种种回忆涌上了她的心头,好像回家一趟能医治好由于分离而引起的种种痛苦似的。回到这样一伙人当中,受到那么多人的爱,大家对她的爱超过了她以往受到的爱,可以无忧无虑、无拘无束地感受人间的爱,觉得自己和周围的人是平等的,不用担心谁会提起克劳福德兄妹俩,不用担心谁会为了他们而向她投来责备的目光!这是她怀着柔情憧憬着的前景,不过这种柔情只能说出一半。
还有埃德蒙——离开他两个月(也许她会被允许去三个月),一定会对她有好处。离得远一些,不再感受他的目光或友爱,不再因为了解他的心,又想避而不听他的心事,而觉得烦恼不断,她也许能使自己的心境变得平静一些,可以想到他在伦敦做种种安排,而并不感到自己可怜。她在曼斯菲尔德忍受不了的事,到了朴次茅斯就会变成小事一桩。
唯一的问题是,她走后不知是否会给伯特伦姨妈带来不便。她对别人都没有什么用处。但是对于伯特伦姨妈,她不在会造成一定的不便,这是她不忍心去想的。她不在的时候如何安排伯特伦姨妈,这是让托马斯爵士最感棘手的,然而也只有他可以做安排。
不过,他毕竟是一家之主。他要是真打定主意要做什么事,总是要坚持到底的。现在,他就这个问题和妻子谈了很久,向她讲解范妮有义务时而去看看自己的家人,终于说服妻子同意放她去。不过,伯特伦夫人与其说是心服,不如说是屈服,因为她觉得,只不过是托马斯爵士认为范妮应该去,所以她就必须去。等她回到寂静的梳妆室,在不受丈夫那似是而非的理由的影响的情况下,不带偏见地好好琢磨一下这个问题。她认为,范妮离开父母这么久了,实在没有必要去看他们,而她自己却那么需要她。至于范妮走后不会带来什么不便,诺里斯太太发表了一通议论,倒是想证明这一点,但伯特伦夫人坚决不同意这种说法。
托马斯爵士诉诸她的理智、良心和尊严。他说这叫自我牺牲,要求她行行好,自我克制一下。而诺里斯太太则要让她相信,范妮完全离得开(只要需要,她愿意拿出自己的全部时间来陪她),总而言之,范妮的确不是不可缺少的。
“也许是这样的,姐姐,”伯特伦夫人答道。“我想你说得很对,不过我肯定会很想她的。”
下一步是和朴次茅斯联系。范妮写信表示要回去看看,母亲的回信虽短,但却非常亲切,短短的几行表达了母亲在即将见到自己久别的孩子时那种自然的、慈母的喜悦,证明女儿的看法不错,与母亲在一起会无比快乐,并且使女儿相信,以前不怎么疼爱她的“妈妈”,现在一定会是一位热烈而亲切的朋友。至于过去的问题,她很容易想到那都怪她自己,或者是自己过于敏感。她也许是由于胆小无助,焦虑不安,而没去博得她的爱,要不就是她不懂道理,在那么多需要母爱的孩子中间,想比别人多得到一点爱。现在,她已经知道了怎样有益于人,怎样克制忍让,她母亲也不再受满屋的孩子没完没了的牵累,既有闲暇又有心情来寻求各种乐趣,在这种情况下,她们母女之间很快就会恢复应有的母女情意。
威廉对这个计划几乎像妹妹一样高兴。范妮要在朴次茅斯住到他出海前的最后时刻,也许他初次巡航回来仍能见到她,他将为此而感到无比的快乐!另外,他也很想让她在“画眉”号出港之前看看它(“画眉”号无疑是正在服役的最漂亮的轻巡洋舰)。海军船坞也做了几处修缮,他也很想领她看看。
他还毫不犹豫地加了一句:她回家住上一阵对大家都大有好处。
“我不知道怎么会这样想,”他说,”不过,家里似乎需要你的一些良好习惯,需要你的有条不紊。家里总是乱七八糟。我相信,你会把样样东西都整理得好一些。你可以告诉妈妈应该怎样做,你可以帮助苏珊,你可以教教贝齐,让弟弟们爱你、关心你。这一切该有多好,多令人高兴啊!”
等收到普莱斯太太的回信时,可以在曼斯菲尔德逗留的时间已经没有几天了。其中有一天,两位年轻的旅客为他们旅行的事大吃一惊。原来,在谈论到路上怎么走的时候,诺里斯太太发现自己想给妹夫省钱完全是白操心,尽管她希望并暗示让范妮乘坐便宜些的交通工具,但他们两人却要乘驿车去。她甚至看见托马斯爵士把乘驿车的钱交给了威廉,这时她才意识到车里可以坐下第三个人,便突然心血来潮要和他们一起去,好去看看她那可怜的亲爱的普莱斯妹妹。她表明了自己的想法。她要说她很想和两个年轻人一起去。这对她来说是件难得的开心事,她已经有二十多年没见过她那可怜的亲爱的普莱斯妹妹了。她年纪大有经验,年轻人在路上也好有个照应。有这么好的机会她再不去,她认为她那可怜的亲爱的普莱斯妹妹定会觉得她太不讲情意了。
威廉和范妮被她这个念头吓坏了。
他们这次愉快旅行的全部乐趣将会一下子破坏殆尽。他们满面愁容,你看看我,我看看你。他们提心吊胆地过了一两个小时。谁也没有表示欢迎,谁也没有表示劝阻,事情由诺里斯太太自己去决定。后来,她又想起曼斯菲尔德庄园目前还离不开她,托马斯爵士和伯特伦夫人都十分需要她,她连一个星期都走不开,因此只能牺牲其他乐趣,一心为他们帮忙。外甥和外甥女一听,真是喜不自胜。
其实,她突然想起,尽管到朴次茅斯去不用花钱,但回来的时候却免不了要自出路费。于是,只能任她那位可怜的亲爱的普莱斯妹妹为她错过这次机会而失望吧。说不定要见面还要再等二十年。
埃德蒙的计划受到了范妮这次外出去朴次茅斯的影响。他像他姨妈一样得为曼斯菲尔德庄园做点牺牲。他本来打算这个时候去伦敦,但是最能给父母带来安慰的人就要走了,他不能在这个时候也离开他们。他觉得要克制一下,但却没有声张,就把他盼望中的可望确定他终身幸福的伦敦之行,又推迟了一两个星期。
他把这件事告诉了范妮。既然那么多事情都让她知道了,索性把什么都告诉她吧。他又向她推心置腹地谈了一次克劳福德小姐的事。范妮心里越发不是滋味,觉得这是他们两人之间最后一次比较随意地提到克劳福德小姐的名字了。后来有一次,他转弯抹角地提到了她。晚上,伯特伦夫人嘱咐外甥女一去就给她来信,而且要常来信,她自己也答应常给外甥女写信。这时,埃德蒙看准一个时机,悄声补充了一句:“范妮,等我有什么事情值得告诉你,有什么事情我觉得你会想要知道,而从别人那里不会很快听到的时候,我会给你写信的。”假若她还听不出他的弦外之音,等她抬起眼来看他的时候,从他那容光焕发的脸上就能看得清清楚楚了。
她必须做好思想准备,以承受这样一封信的打击。埃德蒙给她来信,竟然会成为一件可怕的事!她开始感觉到,在这多变的人世间,时间的推移和环境的变迁在人们身上引起的思想感情的变化,她还得继续去感受。她还没有饱尝人心的变化无常。
可怜的范妮呀!尽管她心甘情愿、迫不及待地要走,但在曼斯菲尔德庄园的最后一个夜晚,她还是忧心忡忡。她心里充满了离恨别愁。她为大宅里的每一个房间落泪,尤其为住在大宅里的每一个亲爱的人落泪。她紧紧抱住了姨妈,因为她走后会给她带来不便;她泣不成声地吻了吻姨父的手,因为她惹他生过气;至于埃德蒙,最后轮到向他道别时,她既没说话,也没看他,也没想什么。最后,她只知道他以兄长的身份向她满怀深情地道别。
这些都是头天晚上的事,两人第二天一早就要起程。当这家子所剩不多的几个人聚到一起吃早饭的时候,他们议论说,威廉和范妮已经走了一站路了。



点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 awaken byMzdD     
vi.醒,觉醒;vt.唤醒,使觉醒,唤起,激起
参考例句:
  • Old people awaken early in the morning.老年人早晨醒得早。
  • Please awaken me at six.请于六点叫醒我。
2 wholesome Uowyz     
adj.适合;卫生的;有益健康的;显示身心健康的
参考例句:
  • In actual fact the things I like doing are mostly wholesome.实际上我喜欢做的事大都是有助于增进身体健康的。
  • It is not wholesome to eat without washing your hands.不洗手吃饭是不卫生的。
3 applied Tz2zXA     
adj.应用的;v.应用,适用
参考例句:
  • She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
  • This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。
4 affected TzUzg0     
adj.不自然的,假装的
参考例句:
  • She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
  • His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。
5 unreasonable tjLwm     
adj.不讲道理的,不合情理的,过度的
参考例句:
  • I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
  • They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。
6 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
7 alas Rx8z1     
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)
参考例句:
  • Alas!The window is broken!哎呀!窗子破了!
  • Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而,真理很少带有浪漫色彩。
8 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
9 thither cgRz1o     
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的
参考例句:
  • He wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate.他逛来逛去找玩伴。
  • He tramped hither and thither.他到处流浪。
10 recollected 38b448634cd20e21c8e5752d2b820002     
adj.冷静的;镇定的;被回忆起的;沉思默想的v.记起,想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • I recollected that she had red hair. 我记得她有一头红发。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • His efforts, the Duke recollected many years later, were distinctly half-hearted. 据公爵许多年之后的回忆,他当时明显只是敷衍了事。 来自辞典例句
11 inclination Gkwyj     
n.倾斜;点头;弯腰;斜坡;倾度;倾向;爱好
参考例句:
  • She greeted us with a slight inclination of the head.她微微点头向我们致意。
  • I did not feel the slightest inclination to hurry.我没有丝毫着急的意思。
12 scruples 14d2b6347f5953bad0a0c5eebf78068a     
n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 );顾虑,顾忌v.感到于心不安,有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • I overcame my moral scruples. 我抛开了道德方面的顾虑。
  • I'm not ashamed of my scruples about your family. They were natural. 我并未因为对你家人的顾虑而感到羞耻。这种感觉是自然而然的。 来自疯狂英语突破英语语调
13 scruple eDOz7     
n./v.顾忌,迟疑
参考例句:
  • It'seemed to her now that she could marry him without the remnant of a scruple.她觉得现在她可以跟他成婚而不需要有任何顾忌。
  • He makes no scruple to tell a lie.他说起谎来无所顾忌。
14 hesitations 7f4a0066e665f6f1d62fe3393d7f5182     
n.犹豫( hesitation的名词复数 );踌躇;犹豫(之事或行为);口吃
参考例句:
  • His doubts and hesitations were tiresome. 他的疑惑和犹豫令人厌烦。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The cool manipulators in Hanoi had exploited America's hesitations and self-doubt. 善于冷静地操纵这类事的河内统治者大大地钻了美国当局优柔寡断的空子。 来自辞典例句
15 imputed b517c0c1d49a8e6817c4d0667060241e     
v.把(错误等)归咎于( impute的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • They imputed the accident to the driver's carelessness. 他们把这次车祸归咎于司机的疏忽。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • He imputed the failure of his marriage to his wife's shortcomings. 他把婚姻的失败归咎于妻子的缺点。 来自辞典例句
16 attachment POpy1     
n.附属物,附件;依恋;依附
参考例句:
  • She has a great attachment to her sister.她十分依恋她的姐姐。
  • She's on attachment to the Ministry of Defense.她现在隶属于国防部。
17 prospect P01zn     
n.前景,前途;景色,视野
参考例句:
  • This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
  • The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。
18 amiable hxAzZ     
adj.和蔼可亲的,友善的,亲切的
参考例句:
  • She was a very kind and amiable old woman.她是个善良和气的老太太。
  • We have a very amiable companionship.我们之间存在一种友好的关系。
19 sages 444b76bf883a9abfd531f5b0f7d0a981     
n.圣人( sage的名词复数 );智者;哲人;鼠尾草(可用作调料)
参考例句:
  • Homage was paid to the great sages buried in the city. 向安葬在此城市的圣哲们表示敬意。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Confucius is considered the greatest of the ancient Chinese sages. 孔子被认为是古代中国最伟大的圣人。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
20 judgment e3xxC     
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见
参考例句:
  • The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
  • He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。
21 impartiality 5b49bb7ab0b3222fd7bf263721e2169d     
n. 公平, 无私, 不偏
参考例句:
  • He shows impartiality and detachment. 他表现得不偏不倚,超然事外。
  • Impartiality is essential to a judge. 公平是当法官所必需的。
22 impartial eykyR     
adj.(in,to)公正的,无偏见的
参考例句:
  • He gave an impartial view of the state of affairs in Ireland.他对爱尔兰的事态发表了公正的看法。
  • Careers officers offer impartial advice to all pupils.就业指导员向所有学生提供公正无私的建议。
23 participation KS9zu     
n.参与,参加,分享
参考例句:
  • Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
  • The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。
24 persuasions 7acb1d2602a56439ada9ab1a54954d31     
n.劝说,说服(力)( persuasion的名词复数 );信仰
参考例句:
  • To obtain more advertisting it needed readers of all political persuasions. 为获得更多的广告,它需要迎合各种政治见解的读者。 来自辞典例句
  • She lingered, and resisted my persuasions to departure a tiresome while. 她踌躇不去,我好说歹说地劝她走,她就是不听。 来自辞典例句
25 craving zvlz3e     
n.渴望,热望
参考例句:
  • a craving for chocolate 非常想吃巧克力
  • She skipped normal meals to satisfy her craving for chocolate and crisps. 她不吃正餐,以便满足自己吃巧克力和炸薯片的渴望。
26 lieutenants dc8c445866371477a093185d360992d9     
n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 );副职官员;空军;仅低于…官阶的官员
参考例句:
  • In the army, lieutenants are subordinate to captains. 在陆军中,中尉是上尉的下级。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Lieutenants now cap at 1.5 from 1. Recon at 1. 中尉现在由1人口增加的1.5人口。侦查小组成员为1人口。 来自互联网
27 lieutenant X3GyG     
n.陆军中尉,海军上尉;代理官员,副职官员
参考例句:
  • He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
  • He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官,递上了一张简短的便条进去。
28 conjectured c62e90c2992df1143af0d33094f0d580     
推测,猜测,猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The old peasant conjectured that it would be an unusually cold winter. 那老汉推测冬天将会异常地寒冷。
  • The general conjectured that the enemy only had about five days' supply of food left. 将军推测敌人只剩下五天的粮食给养。
29 dignified NuZzfb     
a.可敬的,高贵的
参考例句:
  • Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中,他始终沉默以保持尊严。
  • He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。
30 motive GFzxz     
n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的
参考例句:
  • The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
  • He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。
31 propriety oRjx4     
n.正当行为;正当;适当
参考例句:
  • We hesitated at the propriety of the method.我们对这种办法是否适用拿不定主意。
  • The sensitive matter was handled with great propriety.这件机密的事处理得极为适当。
32 heartily Ld3xp     
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很
参考例句:
  • He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿,就出去找他的马。
  • The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手,热情地和我握手。
33 abode hIby0     
n.住处,住所
参考例句:
  • It was ten months before my father discovered his abode.父亲花了十个月的功夫,才好不容易打听到他的住处。
  • Welcome to our humble abode!欢迎光临寒舍!
34 addicted dzizmY     
adj.沉溺于....的,对...上瘾的
参考例句:
  • He was addicted to heroin at the age of 17.他17岁的时候对海洛因上了瘾。
  • She's become addicted to love stories.她迷上了爱情小说。
35 raptures 9c456fd812d0e9fdc436e568ad8e29c6     
极度欢喜( rapture的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Her heart melted away in secret raptures. 她暗自高兴得心花怒放。
  • The mere thought of his bride moves Pinkerton to raptures. 一想起新娘,平克顿不禁心花怒放。
36 infancy F4Ey0     
n.婴儿期;幼年期;初期
参考例句:
  • He came to England in his infancy.他幼年时期来到英国。
  • Their research is only in its infancy.他们的研究处于初级阶段。
37 enjoyment opaxV     
n.乐趣;享有;享用
参考例句:
  • Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同,我们这次访问更加愉快了。
  • After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话,这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。
38 irritation la9zf     
n.激怒,恼怒,生气
参考例句:
  • He could not hide his irritation that he had not been invited.他无法掩饰因未被邀请而生的气恼。
  • Barbicane said nothing,but his silence covered serious irritation.巴比康什么也不说,但是他的沉默里潜伏着阴郁的怒火。
39 accomplished UzwztZ     
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的
参考例句:
  • Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
  • Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。
40 dint plVza     
n.由于,靠;凹坑
参考例句:
  • He succeeded by dint of hard work.他靠苦干获得成功。
  • He reached the top by dint of great effort.他费了很大的劲终于爬到了顶。
41 dwelling auzzQk     
n.住宅,住所,寓所
参考例句:
  • Those two men are dwelling with us.那两个人跟我们住在一起。
  • He occupies a three-story dwelling place on the Park Street.他在派克街上有一幢3层楼的寓所。
42 submission lUVzr     
n.服从,投降;温顺,谦虚;提出
参考例句:
  • The defeated general showed his submission by giving up his sword.战败将军缴剑表示投降。
  • No enemy can frighten us into submission.任何敌人的恐吓都不能使我们屈服。
43 meditations f4b300324e129a004479aa8f4c41e44a     
默想( meditation的名词复数 ); 默念; 沉思; 冥想
参考例句:
  • Each sentence seems a quarry of rich meditations. 每一句话似乎都给人以许多冥思默想。
  • I'm sorry to interrupt your meditations. 我很抱歉,打断你思考问题了。
44 steadily Qukw6     
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地
参考例句:
  • The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
  • Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。
45 remarkable 8Vbx6     
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的
参考例句:
  • She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
  • These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
46 formerly ni3x9     
adv.从前,以前
参考例句:
  • We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
  • This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。
47 alienated Ozyz55     
adj.感到孤独的,不合群的v.使疏远( alienate的过去式和过去分词 );使不友好;转让;让渡(财产等)
参考例句:
  • His comments have alienated a lot of young voters. 他的言论使许多年轻选民离他而去。
  • The Prime Minister's policy alienated many of her followers. 首相的政策使很多拥护她的人疏远了她。 来自《简明英汉词典》
48 incessant WcizU     
adj.不停的,连续的
参考例句:
  • We have had incessant snowfall since yesterday afternoon.从昨天下午开始就持续不断地下雪。
  • She is tired of his incessant demands for affection.她厌倦了他对感情的不断索取。
49 sloop BxwwB     
n.单桅帆船
参考例句:
  • They heeled the sloop well over,skimming it along to windward.他们使单桅小船倾斜适当,让它顶着风向前滑去。
  • While a sloop always has two sails,a cat-rigged boat generally has only one.一艘单桅帆船总是有两面帆,但一艘单桅艇通常只有一面帆。
50 conveyance OoDzv     
n.(不动产等的)转让,让与;转让证书;传送;运送;表达;(正)运输工具
参考例句:
  • Bicycles have become the most popular conveyance for Chinese people.自行车已成为中国人最流行的代步工具。
  • Its another,older,usage is a synonym for conveyance.它的另一个更古老的习惯用法是作为财产转让的同义词使用。
51 countenances 4ec84f1d7c5a735fec7fdd356379db0d     
n.面容( countenance的名词复数 );表情;镇静;道义支持
参考例句:
  • 'stood apart, with countenances of inflexible gravity, beyond what even the Puritan aspect could attain." 站在一旁,他们脸上那种严肃刚毅的神情,比清教徒们还有过之而无不及。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学
  • The light of a laugh never came to brighten their sombre and wicked countenances. 欢乐的光芒从来未照亮过他们那阴郁邪恶的面孔。 来自辞典例句
52 suspense 9rJw3     
n.(对可能发生的事)紧张感,担心,挂虑
参考例句:
  • The suspense was unbearable.这样提心吊胆的状况实在叫人受不了。
  • The director used ingenious devices to keep the audience in suspense.导演用巧妙手法引起观众的悬念。
53 interfered 71b7e795becf1adbddfab2cd6c5f0cff     
v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 );调停;妨碍;干涉
参考例句:
  • Complete absorption in sports interfered with his studies. 专注于运动妨碍了他的学业。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I am not going to be interfered with. 我不想别人干扰我的事情。 来自《简明英汉词典》
54 dissuade ksPxy     
v.劝阻,阻止
参考例句:
  • You'd better dissuade him from doing that.你最好劝阻他别那样干。
  • I tried to dissuade her from investing her money in stocks and shares.我曾设法劝她不要投资于股票交易。
55 confidential MOKzA     
adj.秘(机)密的,表示信任的,担任机密工作的
参考例句:
  • He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。
  • We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。
56 discourse 2lGz0     
n.论文,演说;谈话;话语;vi.讲述,著述
参考例句:
  • We'll discourse on the subject tonight.我们今晚要谈论这个问题。
  • He fell into discourse with the customers who were drinking at the counter.他和站在柜台旁的酒客谈了起来。
57 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹
参考例句:
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
58 alluded 69f7a8b0f2e374aaf5d0965af46948e7     
提及,暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • In your remarks you alluded to a certain sinister design. 在你的谈话中,你提到了某个阴谋。
  • She also alluded to her rival's past marital troubles. 她还影射了对手过去的婚姻问题。
59 promising BkQzsk     
adj.有希望的,有前途的
参考例句:
  • The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
  • We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。
60 vicissitudes KeFzyd     
n.变迁,世事变化;变迁兴衰( vicissitude的名词复数 );盛衰兴废
参考例句:
  • He experienced several great social vicissitudes in his life. 他一生中经历了几次大的社会变迁。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • A man used to vicissitudes is not easily dejected. 饱经沧桑,不易沮丧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
61 exhausted 7taz4r     
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的
参考例句:
  • It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长,到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
  • Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。
62 sobs d4349f86cad43cb1a5579b1ef269d0cb     
啜泣(声),呜咽(声)( sob的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • She was struggling to suppress her sobs. 她拼命不让自己哭出来。
  • She burst into a convulsive sobs. 她突然抽泣起来。
63 displeased 1uFz5L     
a.不快的
参考例句:
  • The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了,瞪了我一眼。
  • He was displeased about the whole affair. 他对整个事情感到很不高兴。
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