登陆注册
5409900000011

第11章

The Miss Bertrams were much to be pitied on the occasion;not for their sorrow,but for their want of it.Their father was no object of love to them,he had never seemed the friend of their pleasures,and his absence was unhappily most welcome.They were relieved by it from all restraint;and without aiming at one gratification that would probably have been forbidden by Sir Thomas,they felt themselves immediately at their own disposal,and to have every indulgence within their reach.Fanny's relief,and her consciousness of it,were quite equal to her cousins',but a more tender nature suggested that her feelings were ungrateful,and she really grieved because she could not grieve.‘Sir Thomas,who had done so much for her and her brothers,and who was gone perhaps never to return!that she should see him go without a tear!-it was a shameful insensibility.’He had said to her moreover,on the very last morning,that he hoped she might see William again in the course of the ensuing winter,and had charged her to write and invite him to Mansfield as soon as the squadron to which he belonged should be known to be in England.‘This was so thoughtful and kind!’-and would he only have smiled upon her and called her ‘my dear Fanny’,while he said it,every former frown or cold address might have been forgotten.But he had ended his speech in a way to sink her in sad mortification,by adding,‘If William does come to Mansfield,I hope you may be able to convince him that the many years which have passed since you parted,have not been spent on your side entirely without improvement-though I fear he must find his sister at sixteen in some respects too much like his sister at ten.’She cried bitterly over this reflection when her uncle was gone;and her cousins,on seeing her with red eyes,set her down as a hypocrite.

Chapter 4

Tom Bertram had of late spent so little of his time at home,that he could be only nominally missed;and Lady Bertram was soon astonished to find how very well they did even without his father,how well Edmund could supply his place in carving,talking to the steward,writing to the attorney,settling with the servants,and equally saving her from all possible fatigue or exertion in every particular,but that of directing her letters.

The earliest intelligence of the travellers'safe arrival in Antigua after a favourable voyage,was received;though not before Mrs Norris had been indulging in very dreadful fears,and trying to make Edmund participate them whenever she could get him alone;and as she depended on being the first person made acquainted with any fatal catastrophe,she had already arranged the manner of breaking it to all the others,when Sir Thomas's assurances of their both being alive and well,made it necessary to lay by her agitation and affectionate preparatory speeches for a while.

The winter came and passed without their being called for;the accounts continued perfectly good;-and Mrs Norris in promoting gaieties for her nieces,assisting their toilettes,displaying their accomplishments,and looking about for their future husbands,had so much to do as,in addition to all her own household cares,some interference in those of her sister,and Mrs Grant's wasteful doings to overlook,left her very little occasion to be occupied even in fears for the absent.

The Miss Bertrams were now fully established among the belles of the neighbourhood;and as they joined to beauty and brilliant acquirements,a manner naturally easy,and carefully formed to general civility and obligingness,they possessed its favour as well as its admiration.Their vanity was in such good order,that they seemed to be quite free from it,and gave themselves no airs;while the praises attending such behaviour,secured,and brought round by their aunt,served to strengthen them in believing they had no faults.

Lady Bertram did not go into public with her daughters.She was too indolent even to accept a mother's gratification in witnessing their success and enjoyment at the expense of any personal trouble,and the charge was made over to her sister,who desired nothing better than a post of such honourable representation,and very thoroughly relished the means it afforded her of mixing in society without having horses to hire.

Fanny had no share in the festivities of the season;but she enjoyed being avowedly useful as her aunt's companion,when they called away the rest of the family;and as Miss Lee had left Mansfield,she naturally became everything to Lady Bertram during the night of a ball or a party.She talked to her,listened to her,read to her;and the tranquillity of such evenings,her perfect security in such a tête-à-tête from any sound of unkindness,was unspeakably welcome to a mind which had seldom known a pause in its alarms or embarrassments.As to her cousins'gaieties,she loved to hear an account of them,especially of the balls,and whom Edmund had danced with;but thought too lowly of her own situation to imagine she should ever be admitted to the same,and listened therefore without an idea of any nearer concern in them.Upon the whole,it was a comfortable winter to her;for though it brought no William to England,the never failing hope of his arrival was worth much.

同类推荐
  • Tales from Tibet 阿里阿里

    Tales from Tibet 阿里阿里

    《阿里阿里》以一个女作家的独特视角完成了对西藏阿里地区的另一种书写,她把目光对准其他作品极少涉及的内地援疆干部,记录了他们与阿里人之间的悲欢离合,凸显了高原上人性的真实与纯粹。
  • 商务英语谈判900句典

    商务英语谈判900句典

    本书分为谈判前的准备和谈判进行中两个部分,其中的背景知识以中英文对照的方式让读者对商务谈判业务流程有清晰的理解。文中提供大量的典型范例,快速提高读者对商务谈判用语、常见问答的熟悉程度。同时配以“即学即用”,让读者感觉身临其境。本身旨在提高读者的自我表达能力,使读者能听得懂、说得出。
  • 英文爱藏:我在回忆里等你

    英文爱藏:我在回忆里等你

    杨一兰编著的《我在回忆里等你》是英文爱藏丛书之一,为中英双语 对照版,《我在回忆里等你》既是英语学习爱好者、文学爱好者的必备读 物,也是忙碌现代人的一片憩息心灵的家园,让读者在欣赏原法原味和凝 练生动的英文时,还能多角度、深层次地品读语言特色与艺术之美,再配 合文章后附加的多功能、全方位巩固题型,更有助于理解并学习英……
  • 翻开就能用 商务外贸英语

    翻开就能用 商务外贸英语

    本书收录了10个与本单元密切相关的单词。汇集了20个与对话相关的短语,包含上一部分的单词。经典、贴切、鲜活的两段对话。网罗了10到20个使用频率最高的句子,分门别类,增加读者的句式储备量。在英语学习的同时,增加一些与话题相关的小知识。活跃学习气氛。
  • 那些美轮美奂的舞台剧(每天读一点英文)

    那些美轮美奂的舞台剧(每天读一点英文)

    《每天读一点英文:那些美轮美奂的舞台剧(英汉对照)》收录了莎士比亚、萧伯纳、谢里丹等文学泰斗的经典戏剧。让你在感受舞台磅礴气势的同时,学会戏里戏外做人的道理!
热门推荐
  • 残王的盛世毒妃

    残王的盛世毒妃

    叶涵云因一场车祸意外穿越为楚国相府的三小姐,嫡母算计,姐妹欺压,她可不再是那个懦弱无能的原主,不就是她没有生母庇佑,没有后台,没有银子,任她们怎么欺负都不敢反抗吗,哼,想她堂堂二十一世纪中医世家的传人,银子还怕赚不到吗.不过,在古代,这个赐婚圣旨她该怎么反抗?定北王轩辕澈在五年前的一次战场失利后,重伤难愈导致现在的不良于行。他一直以为是敌军的毒害,哪知最终的真相却令他不寒而栗;他养精蓄锐,重回战场,拼杀出一番天下,怎知他为之倾尽一切的结局竟如此凄凉!片段一某女正在喜滋滋的数着差点亮瞎她眼睛的银子时,丫鬟风风火火的来报:“小姐,不好了,您被赐婚啦。”“哪个混蛋敢打老娘的主意?”“咳,小姐,是皇上将您赐给定北王做王妃了,而那定北王是个不良于行的残废啊。”“残废怎么了,残废也是人,残疾人也有理想,也有抱负,而且只要他们努力,甚至能够做得比正常人都好……”某女滔滔不绝,义正词严的将丫鬟教育了一番,然后将那个残废将是她的夫君的事情给忘了。某男得知后,冰山般的面容瞬间坍塌,一抹温柔袭上眉梢,两个影卫顿觉眼花,不自主的揉了一下眼睛,然后告诉自己刚刚定是在做梦,只是不久后,他们真的常常处在梦中了。片段二见到刚刚还满身杀气的刺客,在某女挥了挥衣袖后瞬间气绝,一众暗卫松了口气的同时当下心惊胆寒,决定以后宁可得罪皇上也不可得罪某人。“嫂子,你不是大夫吗?这毒使也很娴熟啊。”某男弱弱的道,深深的反思自己之前是否有得罪过某人,都说这世上唯女子与小人难养也,回想过往种种,他瞬间石化,死定了,呜他死定了。“医毒不分家,这你也不懂?”某女淡淡的语气中透着丝丝阴寒,在古代没有了诸多因数的制约,她研究起毒来甚是过瘾,至于试毒之人嘛,反正这些刺客时不时的出现,以后都会孝敬与他们的,还有眼前这两个毫无所觉的男人。某男云淡风轻的撇了眼稍稍后退两步的某人后,轻轻的握住佳人的柔夷,深邃的眼中染上一抹温柔,是大夫如何,是毒女又如何,她就是他的王妃,谁敢说她什么!片段三某丫鬟面对神色冰冷,一身肃杀的王爷,喏喏的不敢开口,在做了无数次心里暗示后才向王爷转达。“启禀王爷,王妃说王府门前的石狮不够气派。”“管家,去换个让王妃满意的石狮。”某王爷从埋首的奏折中抬头对管家吩咐到。“王妃说花园的假山不够大。”“管家,命人重新弄个更大的假山。”“王妃说王府的厨子做的菜她不喜欢。”
  • 高冷老公快点赞

    高冷老公快点赞

    豪门、私人会所。容湘踩着人生第一次穿的高跟鞋,底气不足的走在昂贵的地毯上。她心里直打鼓,……
  • 最妃

    最妃

    命运的齿轮转动,是一见钟情的缘,还是命中注定的劫?当小腹黑遇上大腹黑,谁黑了谁?———轻松宠文,看妖孽男主如何宠妃养成。【小剧场:】慕容妃姒:烬哥哥,我去了东宫,把太子妃打了一顿。南云烬:(神色淡然)打了便打了,让幻觉送点医药费去便是。慕容妃姒:你知道我为何打她吗?她骂我是狗!南云烬:(怒而拍桌)放肆!她当本王是死的吗!!慕容妃姒:嗯嗯,她太过分了,我说她太美了,亮瞎了我的狗眼。南云烬:……慕容妃姒:她说那我一定不是南凤国的,因为南凤国的狗长不出人模样。南云烬:!!!
  • 萝莉月老:浮生若梦,愿醉其中

    萝莉月老:浮生若梦,愿醉其中

    作为一枚月老,腹黑小萝莉无忧的生活并不单调。……“爱,就是我愿为你改变一切,直到变成你喜欢的样子。”这是夜棠对无忧的深情。“以后我就是你的姐姐,谁欺负你,告诉姐姐!本王让他投不了胎!”这是泠月对无忧的许诺。“徒弟只有一个,若是挂了,我们还怎么安心过二人世界?”这是流云、花颜对无忧的疼爱。
  • 妖孽我休了你

    妖孽我休了你

    宁采儿觉得自己很冤枉,从小被人当成杀手培养也就罢了,好不容易有个爱的男人,却为了金钱和权力而杀她。更可恨的是,无辜的她穿越到一个不知道什么地方的时空也就罢了,谁知一穿越过来就被自己所谓的夫君以通奸的罪名沉湖!刚死了一次,还要再死一次,所有人都当她宁采儿是软柿子吗!哼,敢惹我,我会让你后悔得罪了我!片段一:王爷:你这个贱人!宁:贱人,你说我是贱人,那你是什么,贱人的相公,贱货?片段二:宁:混蛋,居然敢打我,要知道打我宁采儿可是要付出代价的。轰,巨大的爆炸声在整个王府里想起,漓王居住的院子成了一片废墟,漓王艰难的从废墟中爬出来。王爷:飞扬,这是怎么回事?宁:没事,就是试试我的新武器力量够不够,不错不错,还能爬起来,看来威力还不够,得加强,哪天再给你试试!全场倒下一大片、、、、、这王妃、、、、片段三:管家:王爷,不好了王爷:不会是王妃又惹什么祸了吧!管家:王妃把陈大人的儿子给切了!王爷:、、、、、、、、片段四:宁:冷殇漓,他日我若归来,必覆了你这江山!王爷:王妃、、、、小妖创建了两个群,亲们可以进去,在里面聊聊各自的感想,当然也可以给小妖一些建议,谢谢大家。QQ:125849060MSN:http://m.wkkk.net敲门砖(文中任意人物名)
  • 大唐御史台精舍题名考

    大唐御史台精舍题名考

    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。
  • 培养青少年良好心态的故事(青少年健康成长大课堂)

    培养青少年良好心态的故事(青少年健康成长大课堂)

    本书以轻松快乐的语言,汇集了众多脍炙人口的小故事,将带领读者徜徉在一个多姿多彩、奇妙变幻的故事世界中。从故事中领略人生的真谛,从而调整心态,培养心态。拥有积极的好心态,就会拥有一生的快乐和成功。
  • 圈子圈套

    圈子圈套

    本书以两个大型项目的销售商战为主线,环环相扣,机变迭出,计谋重重,故事精彩,情节扑朔迷离。更因基于真实案例,令人信服,完全可以称得上供各行业广大营销人员研读的营销“胜经”。书中所涉及到的IT行业的残酷商战和外企圈子内幕均以真实事件为原型,基于作者深厚的生活积淀,生动描写了在华外企高层的各地各色人物。各行各业的广大从业人员及外企白领们,都会觉得小说真实而深刻、生动而亲切。
  • 云雀吁

    云雀吁

    爱不过人间一场及时雨义不如两人之间诺言词
  • 物流企业规范化管理全书

    物流企业规范化管理全书

    本书以管理理论为引入点,重点以管理制度、工作规范、岗位职责与管理表格等实用工具的形式,全面而具体地介绍了物流规范化管理要点。全书分为物流概论、系统与信息、采购、供应链、仓储、配送中心、运输、国际物流、成本与质量控制、内部职能管理等几大板块,全方位展示了物流企业实施规范化管理的各个方面与细节。