登陆注册
4713700000003

第3章

MRS. BENNET. As regards the duties, she is very quick at learning anything new. Of course, at first -The sound of hammering again comes from the bedroom.

THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. Who is that hammering in her ladyship's bedroom?

MRS. BENNET. It is Bennet, Miss Edith. We thought it might be helpful: a few texts, hung where they would always catch her ladyship's eye. [She notices the look of doubt.] Nothing offensive.

Mere general exhortations such as could be read by any lady. [The Misses Wetherell look at one another, but do not speak.] I take it, dinner will be at half past seven, as usual?

THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. Yes, Mrs. Bennet, thank you. They will not be here till about nine. They will probably prefer a little supper to themselves.

Mrs. Bennet goes out--on her way to the kitchen. The Misses Wetherell look at one another again. The hammering recommences.

THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL [she hesitates a moment, then goes to the open door and calls]. Bennet--Bennet! [She returns and waits.

Bennet comes in.]

Oh, Bennet, your wife tells us you are putting up a few texts in her ladyship's bedroom.

BENNET. It seemed to me that a silent voice, speaking to her, as it were, from the wall -THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. It is so good of you--only, you--you will be careful there is nothing she could regard as a PERSONAL allusion.

BENNET. Many of the most popular I was compelled to reject, purely for that reason.

THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. We felt sure we could trust to your discretion.

THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. You see, coming, as she does, from a good family -BENNET. It is that--I speak merely for myself--that gives me hope of reclaiming her.

A silence. The two ladies, feeling a little helpless, again look at one another.

THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. We must be very sympathetic.

THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. And patient, Bennet.

BENNET. It is what I am preparing myself to be. Of course, if you think them inadvisable, I can take them down again.

THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. No, Bennet, oh no! I should leave them up. Very thoughtful of you, indeed.

BENNET. It seemed to me one ought to leave no stone unturned. [He returns to his labours in the bedroom.]

THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL [after a pause]. I do hope she'll LIKE the Bennets.

THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. I think she will--after a time, when she is used to them.

THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. I am so anxious it should turn out well.

THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. I feel sure she's a good woman. Vernon would never have fallen in love with her if she hadn't been good.

[They take each other's hand, and sit side by side, as before, upon the settee. The twilight has faded: only the faint firelight remains, surrounded by shadows.] Do you remember, when he was a little mite, how he loved to play with your hair? [The younger Miss Wetherell laughs.] I always envied you your hair.

THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. He was so fond of us both. Do you remember when he was recovering from the measles, his crying for us to bath him instead of Mrs. Bennet? I have always reproached myself that we refused.

THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. He was such a big boy for his age.

THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. I think we might have stretched a point in a case of illness.

The room has grown very dark. The door has been softly opened;

Vernon and Fanny have entered noiselessly. Fanny remains near the door hidden by a screen, Vernon has crept forward. At this point the two ladies become aware that somebody is in the room. They are alarmed.

THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. Who's there?

VERNON. It's all right, aunt. It's only I.

The two ladies have risen. They run forward, both take him in their arms.

THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. Vernon!

THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. My dear boy!

THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. But we didn't expect you -THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. And your wife, dear?

VERNON. She's here!

THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. Here?

Fanny, from behind the screen, laughs.

VERNON. We'll have some light. [He whispers to them.] Not a word-- haven't told her yet. [Feeling his way to the wall, he turns on the electric light.]

Fanny is revealed, having slipped out from behind the screen. There is a pause. Vernon, standing near the fire, watches admiringly.

FANNY. Hope you are going to like me.

THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. My dear, I am sure we shall.

THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. It is so easy to love the young and pretty. [They have drawn close to her. They seem to hesitate.]

FANNY [laughs]. It doesn't come off, does it, Vernon, dear? [Vernon laughs. The two ladies, laughing, kiss her.] I'm so glad you think I'm pretty. As a matter of fact, I'm not. There's a certain charm about me, I admit. It deceives people.

THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. We were afraid--you know, dear, boys--[she looks at Vernon and smiles] sometimes fall in love with women much older than themselves--especially women--[She grows confused.

She takes the girl's hand.] We are so relieved that you--that you are yourself, dear, FANNY. You were quite right, dear. They are sweet. Which is which?

VERNON [laughs]. Upon my word, I never can tell.

THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. Vernon! And you know I was always your favourite!

THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. Dear!

VERNON. Then this is Aunt Alice.

THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. No dear, Edith.

[Vernon throws up his hands in despair. They all laugh.]

FANNY. I think I shall dress you differently; put you in blue and you in pink. [She laughs.] Is this the drawing-room?

VERNON. Your room, dear.

FANNY. I like a room where one can stretch one's legs. [She walks across it.] A little too much desk [referring to a massive brass- bound desk, facing the three windows].

THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. It belonged to the elder Pitt.

FANNY. Um! Suppose we must find a corner for it somewhere. That's a good picture.

THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. It is by Hoppner.

FANNY. One of your artist friends?

VERNON. Well--you see, dear, that's a portrait of my great- grandmother, painted from life.

FANNY [she whistles]. I am awfully ignorant on some topics. One good thing, I always was a quick study. Not a bad-looking woman.

同类推荐
  • 翠虚篇

    翠虚篇

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 风俗通义

    风俗通义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 上方大洞真元妙经品

    上方大洞真元妙经品

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 根本说一切有部苾芻尼毗奈耶

    根本说一切有部苾芻尼毗奈耶

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 百丈清规

    百丈清规

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 不娇不惯富养女孩

    不娇不惯富养女孩

    本书语重心长地指出,对于女孩,父母可以给她爱,但是一定要有原则、理智地去爱。父母要充分认识女孩的性格特征、天赋和优势、缺陷与不足,并采取不同于男孩的培养方法,运用最契合女孩心理特征和成长规律的教育方式,才能培养出最优秀的女孩。富养不是娇生惯养,不是任意妄为,而是给孩子安静、平和、精致的生活,在这种健康的成长环境培养女孩的自信,让她从小懂得尊重他人,做一个有品位、有气质的独立女孩。
  • 成就孩子一生的好习惯

    成就孩子一生的好习惯

    好孩子成才私房书。少小若无性,习惯成自然。一本习惯养成心灵书,陪伴孩子的快乐童年,播下好习惯,收获好人生。
  • 改革再出发,你抓住机会了吗?

    改革再出发,你抓住机会了吗?

    笔者始终认为财经评论员的社会意义在于第一时间以最接地气的方式与大众分享财经时政背后的投资发展信息。财经评论通常没有高深的经济学理论,而是要给读者一个定制化的结论思考空间。相比提供较参考性的评论信息,通过财经评论让大家点燃投资发展的自信心则更为重要。房子、车子、票子,这些只有在各位读者建立起属于自己的投资价值观后才会离你更近一步。新常态,新心态,有一种希望叫做改革,改革不止,希望不灭。
  • 解放锦州(百城百战解放战争系列)

    解放锦州(百城百战解放战争系列)

    本书经纪实手法纪录了锦州攻坚战中,林彪指挥大挖交通壕:国民党明堡、暗垒逞淫威。蒋介石亲临葫芦岛督战,对拿下塔山信心十足。会战老城区解放军31小时全歼守敌十万,活捉范汉杰,锦州得解放……
  • 白日晴天逐影来

    白日晴天逐影来

    陈晴喜欢商陆,喜欢了17年,一腔孤勇去撞商陆的心门,试图让那扇门有丝缝隙让自己通过,却撞的头破血流。好不容易开了那么一丝小缝,眨眼间,那扇门为别人开了。但相信坚持就是胜利的陈晴,仍旧对那扇门不死不休奋勇拼搏!直到有天,她突然醒悟,捂住自己惨不忍睹的头,驾鹤西去了。
  • 阿毗昙五法行经

    阿毗昙五法行经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 始皇女帝

    始皇女帝

    她是飘飘起舞的纷纷白雪,是泰山之巅那一缕耀眼的明亮!她是乱世中一抹翩影惊鸿,无数生死都无法撼动心中梦想!将我手腕系上红绳,如你缚住我心魂,便让它融入这骨血,如你深藏我心间,一笔一划,一颦一笑,似你我初见!(这里有艰苦奋斗,这里有爱恨情仇,这里有一统天下的千古一帝——“始皇女帝”。这是一个王室公主一路杀成帝王的故事!)
  • 根本说一切有部苾芻尼戒经

    根本说一切有部苾芻尼戒经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 唤醒:激发你心中的潜能

    唤醒:激发你心中的潜能

    在生活中,一些人看到别人的成功,他们往往把其中的原因归结为自己能力有限,认为自己本就是不如别人。看到有些看似不如自己的人都活得比自己好,他们原因就归结为命运。其实,他人的成功并不是他天生就比你能力强,人生的暗淡更不是自己命该如此。强者之所以强,是因为他拿出了自己好的一面面对生活,因而他才超越了所有人,活得比其他人要好。不难看出,人潜在的能力是无可限量的,只是没有激发出而已。每个人都有好的一面,拿出自己好的一面去生活就是人生的成功。那么,我们如何去激发内心的潜能呢?《唤醒:激发你心中的潜能》将告诉你答案。
  • 百家姓

    百家姓

    本书图文并茂地介绍 了中华姓氏的起源、类别、特色、郡望和堂号,以及中华百家姓。