Pride and Prejudice; Sense and Sensibility

Chapter 103 The Match of "Triangle"

Elinor's curiosity to see Mrs. Ferrars was satisfied.She found that this lady was worthless, and it would be very unsatisfactory to go to marry her under such circumstances.She had learned her arrogance, her meanness, her own self-importance, and she could understand that even if Edward were to be engaged to her unfettered, it would be met with obstacles that would only delay them. cannot marry.She saw it clearly, but she was almost congratulated for herself!By meeting one greater obstacle, she avoided encountering any other obstacle set up by Mrs. Ferrars, avoided enduring her capricious tempers, and saved her from painstaking efforts to win her favor.Or it may be thought that if she was not quite happy that Edward was in love with Lucy, she could at least be sure that she would have been if Lucy had been more lovable.

To Elinor's amazement, Mrs. Ferrars' politeness actually made Lucy flutter.Lucy was stunned and had a high opinion of herself, not knowing that Mrs. Ferrars was only courting her because she wasn't Eleanor, and Lucy took it as a compliment to herself--while in fact Mrs. Ferrars The reason for this is that he showed preference to her because he didn't know her details, and she was greatly encouraged by it.Lucy's mood was not only seen in her eyes at the time, but the young lady herself said it outright the next morning.Because she specifically asked Mrs. Middleton to let her off at Beckley Street, hoping to have the opportunity to see Eleanor alone and tell her how happy she was.

As it happened, not long after she arrived, Mrs. Palmer sent a letter asking Mrs. Jennings to leave.

"My dear friend," cried Lucy, as soon as the two of them were left in the room, "I have come to tell you how happy I am. Nothing could be better than the kindness Mrs. Ferrars treated me yesterday." Pleasant? How amiable she was! You know how frightened I was to think of meeting her. But the amiability of her manner when I was introduced to her certainly seemed to indicate: She's very fond of me. Isn't it so? You've seen it all, and aren't you greatly moved by it?"

"Of course she was very polite to you."

"Polite! Don't you think it's just polite? I've seen so much more!—she's never been so kind to anyone but me! She's not proud of me at all, and neither is your sister-in-law— —so amiable!"

Elinor would have liked to talk about something else, but Lucy pressed her to admit that she had reason to be happy, and Elinor was obliged to go on.

"There is no doubt that if they knew that you were engaged," she said, "they would be delighted to treat you so favorably! It is a pity that this is not the case—"

"I thought you'd say that," answered Lucy hastily, "and Mrs. Ferrars would never have liked me for nothing if she didn't know—that's more than anything else. Don't you Trying to turn my joy into my sorrow. I knew it was going to have a happy ending, and I was worried, when in fact there would be no difficulty at all. Mrs. Ferrars is a lovely woman, and so is your sister-in-law. They're both lovely ladies, indeed! I wonder how I never heard you say how lovely Mrs. Dashwood is!"

In this regard, Eleanor had nothing to say, and she did not want to express her position.

"Are you sick, Miss Dashwood? You don't seem to be in good spirits—you don't talk. You must be ill."

"I've never been this healthy."

"I am glad from the bottom of my heart, but you do look ill. I should be sorry if you were really ill—for you have been my greatest comfort! God knows what I would be without your friendship." How about it."

Elinor wanted to answer her politely, but doubted whether she could do it.Lucy, however, seemed quite pleased with herself, for she immediately said:

"Indeed, I am entirely sure of your interest in me, and besides Edward's love, your kindness is my greatest consolation. Poor Edward! But now--we shall see each other, and shall see often, Because Mrs. Middleton was very fond of Mrs. Dashwood, and we might be able to go to Harley Street often, and Edward to spend half the time with his sister. Besides, Mrs. Middleton and Mrs. Ferrars could also Exchange of visits. Mrs. Ferrars and your sister-in-law are so nice, they have said more than once that they are happy to see me whenever they see me, they are so nice. I believe that if you tell your sister-in-law what I think of her, then you say No matter how high you get, you can't get too high."

But Elinor did not want her to have any illusions that she would really tell her sister-in-law.Lucy went on to say:

"I know that if Mrs. Ferrars doesn't like me, I can tell right away. For example, if she doesn't say a word, but just nods to me stiffly, and then ignores me again, never again." Give me a pleasing look--you know what I mean--and I'd give up if I had been so dreadfully neglected. I can't stand her treating me like that. I know if she really If anyone hates it, it can be said to be abhorrent."

Hearing these polite and proud words, before Eleanor had time to answer, the door was pushed open, and the servant announced Mr. Ferrars' arrival, and then Edward walked in.

This is really a very embarrassing moment, which can be seen from everyone's face.They all looked very unnatural.Edward seemed to want to go in, but also wanted to escape.This embarrassing situation, which they had tried so hard to avoid, was now inevitable-not only did the three of them encounter each other, but there was no one else to help them out.The two ladies regained their composure first.Lucy felt that she shouldn't be the first, and had to keep it a secret on the surface.Therefore, she could only express her tenderness with her eyes, and she just exchanged a few words with him before she stopped making any further noises.

However, Eleanor wanted to say a few more words, and she was eager to do it properly for both him and herself, so she calmed down a bit, and pretended to be frank and generous, He welcomed his arrival, and after some hard work, he appeared even more at ease.In spite of Lucy's presence, and in spite of her knowledge that she had been mistreated, she said to him, "It was a pleasure to meet you, and I am sorry I was not at home when you were last in Beckley Street." Lucy's piercing eyes were staring at her stealthily, and she would never be intimidated by Lucy's watchful eyes from greeting him earnestly. She should still treat him with courtesy.

Her behavior relieved Edward's anxiety and worries a little, and he plucked up the courage to sit down.However, under the circumstances at that time, of course, he was still embarrassed. Although this kind of situation is not common for men, it is reasonable when it comes to him.For he was neither as indifferent as Lucy nor as content as Eleanor.

Lucy pretended to be demure and at ease, as if determined not to cause them trouble, and said nothing.Eleanor was almost the only one who really spoke.What about her mother's physical condition, how they came to the city, etc. Edward should have asked about these things, but he didn't, so Eleanor had to take the initiative to introduce them.

Eleanor's pains were not over here, and it was not long before she decided to go to Marianne on an excuse and let them stay together.She did so, and with the greatest generosity, for she lingered on the landing of the stairs for some time, with a most noble fortitude, before calling her sister.But as soon as his sister was invited, Edward's ecstatic energy would be over.It turned out that Marianne was very glad to hear that Edward was coming, and hurried to the drawing room at once.She had looked as happy when she saw him, as full of emotion as she had always been.As soon as she saw him, she stretched out a hand for him to hold, and her voice showed the deep affection of being a sister.

"My dear Edward!" she cried, "this is a time of great joy and happiness! You will make up for all the loss by coming!"

Edward wanted to return her kindness properly, but he dared not speak his mind in the presence of such people.Everyone sat down again and stayed in silence for a while.Marianne, meanwhile, looked affectionately now at Edward, now at Elinor, and her only regret was that Lucy, the wretch, had been caught in the midst of spoiling what should have been a happy affair.Edward was the first to speak. He said Marianne had changed, probably because she was not used to living in London.

"Oh! don't worry about me!" Marianne replied excitedly and sincerely, with tears welling up in her eyes as she spoke, "don't worry about my body. You see, Eleanor is all right. That's enough to make us feel Enough."

These words could not make Edward and Eleanor feel better, nor could they make Lucy feel good. Lucy looked up at Marianne with an unfriendly expression.

"Do you like London?" said Edward, wishing to divert the conversation by saying something casually.

"Not at all. I thought I'd have a lot of fun here, but I didn't have any. Seeing you now, Edward, is the only comfort London has ever given me. Thank goodness you're the same, no Change!"

She paused—no one said anything.

"I think, Elinor," she went on, "that we ought to ask Edward to take us back to Barton. I think we shall be gone in a week or two, and I am sure Edward will not be unwilling to accept this." Commit it."

Poor Edward muttered a little, but what he said, not only they did not know, but he himself did not know what.Marianne, noticing his agitation, was so tempted to attribute the cause to the matter which pleased her most, that she was quite satisfied, and at once began to talk of other things.

"Edward, what a waste of time we had in Harley Street yesterday. It was so boring, so boring! As boring as it could be, so boring that it almost killed me! I have a lot to say to you about it. Say, but not now."

Marianne took such admirable prudence that she did not wish to tell him yet: for she would say that she found their common relations less pleasing than they had been, and his lord mother in particular was more repulsive. .These words had to wait until they were alone together.

"Edward, why weren't you there yesterday? Why didn't you come?"

"I have an appointment elsewhere."

"A date! What kind of date would you have with friends like this?"

"Perhaps, Miss Marianne," cried Lucy, who was eager to get her revenge, "you think young people are not allowed to keep their promises when they are out of their minds."

Eleanorton was furious, but Marianne didn't seem to catch the sting in her words, for she answered calmly:
"I really don't think so. In fact, I'm sure Edward didn't go to Harley Street because he acted on his conscience. I also really think that he is the most conscientious man in the world. Insignificant, and scrupulously careful to keep his promises, no matter how contrary to his taste and pleasure. He is most afraid of pain, of disappointing expectations, and the most unselfish man I know. Edward, that is the truth, That's what I'm going to say. What! Don't you want to be praised? Then you must not be my friend, for anyone who wants to receive my friendship and respect must accept my public praise."

However, her compliment made two-thirds of her audience feel extremely displeased, and Edward was so displeased that he immediately got up and went out.

"Go away so soon!" said Marianne. "My dear Edward, it is impossible!"

She took him aside a little and whispered to him that Lucy would not stay long.However, her encouragement was useless, because he insisted on leaving.Originally, even if he stayed for two hours, Lucy would accompany him to the end, but now seeing him leave, they followed suit.

"Why does she keep coming here?" said Marianne, as soon as she was gone. "Can't she see that we want her to go away! What a disgusting creature to Edward!"

"Why? We are all his friends. Lucy has known him longer than anyone else. He wants to see us, so naturally he also wants to see her."

Marianne looked at her intently, and then said: "You know, Eleanor, I can't stand the way you say it. I think you mean to be contradicted by it, and if that's the case, you should Remember, I'd never do that. I'd never fall for your tricks and say mean nonsense."

She finished and walked out of the room.Eleanor dared not say anything more to Marianne, because she had promised to keep Lucy a secret, so she could not say anything convincing Marianne.Although it is painful to be misunderstood by her sister, and the consequences of going wrong are also painful, she has to keep her promise.She could only hope that Edward would not come so often as to embarrass her or himself by hearing Marianne's misunderstood warm words so often, or to revive the other pains of their latest meeting--which She had good reason to expect it.

(End of this chapter)