登陆注册
5409900000009

第9章

‘As to your foolishness and awkwardness,my dear Fanny,believe me,you never have a shadow of either,but in using the words so improperly.There is no reason in the world why you should not be important where you are known.You have good sense,and a sweet temper,and I am sure you have a grateful heart,that could never receive kindness without wishing to return it.I do not know any better qualifications for a friend and companion.’

‘You are too kind,’said Fanny,colouring at such praise;‘how shall I ever thank you as I ought,for thinking so well of me?Oh!cousin,if I am to go away,I shall remember your goodness,to the last moment of my life.’

‘Why,indeed,Fanny,I should hope to be remembered at such a distance as the White House.You speak as if you were going two hundred miles off,instead of only across the park.But you will belong to us almost as much as ever.The two families will be meeting every day in the year.The only difference will be,that living with your aunt,you will necessarily be brought forward,as you ought to be.Here,there are too many,whom you can hide behind;but with her you will be forced to speak for yourself.’

‘Oh!do not say so.’

‘I must say it,and say it with pleasure.Mrs Norris is much better fitted than my mother for having the charge of you now.She is of a temper to do a great deal for anybody she really interests herself about,and she will force you to do justice to your natural powers.’

Fanny sighed,and said,‘I cannot see things as you do;but I ought to believe you to be right rather than myself,and I am very much obliged to you for trying to reconcile me to what must be.If I could suppose my aunt really to care for me,it would be delightful to feel myself of consequence to anybody!-Here,I know I am of none,and yet I love the place so well.’

‘The place,Fanny,is what you will not quit,though you quit the house.You will have as free a command of the park and gardens as ever.Even your constant little heart need not take fright at such a nominal change.You will have the same walks to frequent,the same library to choose from,the same people to look at,the same horse to ride.’

‘Very true.Yes,dear old grey pony.Ah!cousin,when I remember how much I used to dread riding,what terrors it gave me to hear it talked of as likely to do me good;-(Oh!how I have trembled at my uncle's opening his lips if horses were talked of)and then think of the kind pains you took to reason and persuade me out of my fears,and convince me that I should like it after a little while,and feel how right you proved to be,I am inclined to hope you may always prophesy as well.’

‘And I am quite convinced that your being with Mrs Norris,will be as good for your mind,as riding has been for your health-and as much for your ultimate happiness,too.’

So ended their discourse,which,for any very appropriate service it could render Fanny,might as well have been spared,for Mrs Norris had not the smallest intention of taking her.It had never occurred to her,on the present occasion,but as a thing to be carefully avoided.To prevent its being expected,she had fixed on the smallest habitation which could rank as genteel among the buildings of Mansfield parish;the White House being only just large enough to receive herself and her servants,and allow a spare-room for a friend,of which she made a very particular point;-the spare-rooms at the parsonage had never been wanted,but the absolute necessity of a spare-room for a friend was now never forgotten.Not all her precautions,however,could save her from being suspected of something better;or,perhaps,her very display of the importance of a spare-room,might have misled Sir Thomas to suppose it really intended for Fanny.Lady Bertram soon brought the matter to a certainty,by carelessly observing to Mrs Norris,-

‘I think,sister,we need not keep Miss Lee any longer,when Fanny goes to live with you?’

Mrs Norris almost started.‘Live with me,dear Lady Bertram,what do you mean?’

‘Is not she to live with you?-I thought you had settled it with Sir Thomas?’

‘Me!never.I never spoke a syllable about it to Sir Thomas,nor he to me.Fanny live with me!the last thing in the world for me to think of,or for anybody to wish that really knows us both.Good heaven!what could I do with Fanny?-Me!a poor helpless,forlorn widow,unfit for anything,my spirits quite broke down,what could I do with a girl at her time of life,a girl of fifteen!the very age of all others to need most attention and care,and put the cheerfullest spirits to the test.Sure Sir Thomas could not seriously expect such a thing!Sir Thomas is too much my friend.Nobody that wishes me well,I am sure,would propose it.How came Sir Thomas to speak to you about it?’

‘Indeed,I do not know.I suppose he thought it best.’

‘But what did he say?-He could not say he wished me to take Fanny.I am sure in his heart he could not wish me to do it.’

‘No,he only said he thought it very likely-and I thought so too.We both thought it would be a comfort to you.But if you do not like it,there is no more to be said.She is no incumbrance here.’

‘Dear sister!if you consider my unhappy state,how can she be any comfort to me?Here am I a poor desolate widow,deprived of the best of husbands,my health gone in attending and nursing him,my spirits still worse,all my peace in this world destroyed,with barely enough to support me in the rank of a gentlewoman,and enable me to live so as not to disgrace the memory of the dear departed-what possible comfort could I have in taking such a charge upon me as Fanny!If I could wish it for my own sake,I would not do so unjust a thing by the poor girl.She is in good hands,and sure of doing well.I must struggle through my sorrows and difficulties as I can.’

‘Then you will not mind living by yourself quite alone?’

‘Dear Lady Bertram!what am I fit for but solitude?Now and then I shall hope to have a friend in my little cottage (I shall always have a bed for a friend);but the most part of my future days will be spent in utter seclusion.If I can but make both ends meet,thats all I ask for.’

同类推荐
  • 财务人员英语看这本就够

    财务人员英语看这本就够

    作为21世纪的财务人员,尤其是在外企工作的管理层,其职责已不再是单纯的数据记录、分类和汇总,更重要的是要进行经济现象分析,并参与企业运营和管理。这就要求财务人员具有较强的沟通能力,包括用英语进行沟通的能力。为此,创想外语研发团队根据长期的教学和实践经验编写了这本《财务人员英语,看这本就够》一书。该书内容丰富、风格新颖,英语用词专业、准确,既可满足从事财务管理、金融等工作人员的工作之需,也可为从事相关财务教学研究方面的人员提供参考辅助,为广大读者带来启发和裨益。
  • 老人与海(纯爱·英文馆)

    老人与海(纯爱·英文馆)

    围绕一位老年古巴渔夫,与一条巨大的马林鱼在离岸很远的湾流中搏斗而展开故事的讲述。
  • 小妇人:英文

    小妇人:英文

    《小妇人》讲述了美国南北战争期间马奇一家的故事。马奇先生远赴战场做了随军牧师,四个女儿和母亲在家里过着清苦的生活。她们坚强乐观,虽贫穷却乐意帮助比她们更需要帮助的邻居;她们充满幻想,希望能过上公主般的生活,而在现实中却依靠自己的努力来面对生活的各种艰难困苦。大女儿梅格生性爱美,对恋爱充满儿艾钟爱绘画。《小妇人》以家庭生活为描写对象,以家庭成员的感情纠葛为线索,描写了马奇一家的天伦之爱,描写了她们对家庭的眷恋,对爱的忠诚以及对亲情的渴望。虽然四姐妹的理想和命运各不相同,但是她们都具有自强自立的共同特点。在《小妇人》中可以读到初恋的甜蜜和烦恼,感情与理智的差异,理想和现实的距离,贫穷与富有的矛盾。
  • 那些激励我前行的身影(每天读一点英文)

    那些激励我前行的身影(每天读一点英文)

    精选历史名人、商界骄子、演艺明星的演说,让你在诵读名句中,领略成功之道!《每天读一点英文》是一套与美国人同步阅读的中英双语丛书,该丛书由美国英语教师协会推荐
  • 飘(下)(纯爱·英文馆)

    飘(下)(纯爱·英文馆)

    《飘》是美国女作家玛格丽特·米切尔(1900—1949)十年磨一剑的作品,也是惟一的作品。小说以亚特兰大以及附近的一个种植园为故事场景,描绘了内战前后美国南方人的生活。作品刻画了那个时代的许多南方人的形象,占中心位置的斯佳丽、瑞德、艾希礼、梅勒妮等人是其中的典型代表。他们的习俗礼仪、言行举止、精神观念、政治态度,通过对斯佳丽与白瑞德的爱情纠缠为主线,成功地再现了林肯领导的南北战争,美国南方地区的社会生活。
热门推荐
  • 一见钟情平民公主爱上学院校草

    一见钟情平民公主爱上学院校草

    当从小相依为命的姐妹爱上同一个男人,她们是否会反目成仇?究竟是哪一个先放弃,而他,会选择谁?
  • 弑神罗睺

    弑神罗睺

    诸神黄昏,在混沌空间中,沉睡着一只众神无法与之抗衡的恶魔,纵使它在沉睡期,但等它苏醒之时,世界必将不复存在!
  • 末世重生之与忠犬总裁一起打怪

    末世重生之与忠犬总裁一起打怪

    {架空时代文}前世栗安娜把白伟当做洪水猛兽,即使白伟对她感情昭然若揭,也不愿意相信。末世突临白伟依旧将栗安娜保护很好,但是栗安娜依旧不相信他的感情,直到她被人算计死去,白伟奋不顾身跟他死在一起这才相信。重生后的栗安娜决定接受白伟的爱意,与忠犬总裁一路打怪升级。ps:打打怪怪升升级温馨故事。喜欢的宝宝们可以加群,qq群,群号:540725802
  • 禁仙令

    禁仙令

    自己遭到各族追杀,试炼的炎族,初生的神族皆被无缘无故灭族,看神裔焰谷究竟能如何为两族家人报仇雪恨,屠尽天下各族,重新筑起炎族和神族的根基!焰谷拥有神裔之身,却坚持修魂。他一个聚魂者却到了世人皆炼体的大陆,战玄戮杀之体,战离魂尸身,战不死邪体,战怨恕怒者,战尽天下所有的体质,而他,却修的魂。统领数十种巅峰体质,以纯肉身战仙术,战法器,战仙人。焰谷布下仙族失传亿万年——禁仙结界,彻底封印了操控整个世界的仙族,世界一片和平!
  • 一遇顾少误终身

    一遇顾少误终身

    原本规划好的完美人生,被一场背叛彻底摧毁。设计好好的“殉情”却没想到半路杀出个顾绍白,莫名其妙求来的婚姻,让这个男人成了她的“债主”。更崩溃的是,她竟然感觉还不错。从此以后,她许安歌人生的终极目标就是——彻底瓦解顾绍白的一本正经,把他从大家眼中的正人君子,调教成她一个人的“衣冠禽兽”。某天清晨,男人捏起怀里狐狸一样笑的灿烂的女人下巴,咬牙切齿,“许安歌,你现在心满意足了?”许安歌转了转水眸,“如果有生之年听到一声姑姑,那就人生圆满,那才叫心满意足!”“……”“来,大侄子!叫声姑姑来听听,乖。”男人脸色迅疾骤沉,“许、安、歌……”
  • 搭建心灵沟通平台

    搭建心灵沟通平台

    本书告诉读者在遇到事情和问题的时候要善于和人沟通,这样才能使问题得到最好的解决。
  • 锦瑟无端

    锦瑟无端

    他十六岁,她十岁,花间相逢。他十九岁,她十三岁,白刃饮血。他二十四岁,她十八岁,长恨如歌。他二十七岁,她二十一岁,情深如许。
  • 青少年礼仪教育

    青少年礼仪教育

    本书作者为成都大学教师教育培训中心教师培训办公室副主任,副教授。长期从事社交礼仪的教学与研究,对青少年素质养成有较丰富的实践经验,本书针对青少年编写,具有非常好的教育意义。
  • 巫师神座

    巫师神座

    伟大,始于渺小。重生为一个对于整个世界而言,渺小到了极致的底层小贵族之子。冷酷黑暗的神灵,对人类虎视眈眈的异族,唯有巫师能够保证人类的繁衍和生存。艾尔行走于世界边缘,探索世界的奥秘,一步一步走上巫师的巅峰神座。新书《巫师再临》希望大家支持一下。
  • 入布萨堂说偈文等

    入布萨堂说偈文等

    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。