Pride and Prejudice; Sense and Sensibility

Chapter 105 So So So (1)
Mrs. Palmer was in good health two weeks after giving birth, and her mother felt that she would be relieved to visit her once or twice a day instead of being with her all day long, so Mrs. Jennings finished her nursing work and returned home to recover. previous living habits.She found that the two Miss Dashwoods were also eager to share their old pleasures again.

About three or four days after the sisters returned to Beckley Street, one morning, Mrs. Jennings went to visit Mrs. Palmer as usual. When she came back to the living room, she saw only Eleanor sitting there alone, and she was in a hurry and looked very proud. She walked over quickly, which made her feel that she was going to say something strange again.She gave her only time to bring the thought up, and immediately confirmed it:
"Dear me! dear Miss Dashwood! Did you hear the news?"

"No, ma'am. What news?"

"What a strange thing! But I'll tell you all. I was at Mr. Palmer's just now, and I found Charlotte very anxious for the baby. She insisted that the boy was very ill--crying and fussing, with long hair. It was full of pimples. I saw it immediately and I said, 'My dear, it's not urticaria papularis!' The nurse said the same thing, but Charlotte wouldn't believe it, so she went to get Donovan Sir. He happened to be just coming from Harley Street. He came over to see the baby immediately, and immediately said that there was no problem. It was just herpes, as we said, and Charlotte was relieved. Mr. Donovan just wanted Let's go, I don't know what I was thinking, but I remembered to ask him if he had any news. He smirked complacently, and then put on a serious look, as if he had something in his heart, and finally whispered came out: 'As I was afraid the two young ladies under your care would be distressed by the bad news of my sister-in-law's ill health, I had better say this: I see no need for a fuss, and I hope Mrs Dashwood is all right.'"

"What? Fanny's sick!"

"That's what I said, my dear. 'My God!' I said, 'Mrs. Dashwood is ill?' And then the whole thing came out. As I understand it, it went like this: Edward Fay Mr. Ruth, the gentleman whom I used to make fun of you (though I am glad that the jokes turned out to be groundless), it appears that this Mr. Edward Ferrars is engaged to my cousin Lucy. It's been over a year. Look, my dear, there's such a thing! Nobody knows a thing but Nancy! Can you believe it's happening? It's not surprising that they are in love. But it has come to a point where no one is suspicious! It's strange! I've never seen them together, or I would have seen it all at once. You see, they were afraid of Ferrars. Keep it absolutely secret, ma'am. Until this morning, neither his mother nor your brother and sister-in-law had aroused the slightest suspicion. By this morning, poor Nancy, you know she is a good-hearted woman, but she has no discernment and a brain. It's all gone. 'My God!' she said to herself, 'they're all so fond of Lucy, they won't get in the way.' So she goes to your sister-in-law, who is Sitting there alone sewing table rugs, no premonition at all, because just 5 minutes ago she told your brother that she wanted Edward to be paired with a lord's daughter, I forgot what His lordship. So you can imagine what a blow to your sister-in-law's vanity and self-esteem. She lost her temper hysterically and kept screaming. Your brother is sitting downstairs in the dressing room , wanted to write a letter to his housekeeper in the country. Hearing the scream, flew upstairs, and then a terrible scene happened, because Lucy just came, and she had no idea what happened. Poor man! How I pity her. I must say, I think she has been treated with great violence; for your sister-in-law yelled at her like crazy, and soon knocked her out. Nancy fell on her knees. , burst into tears. Your brother walked up and down the house and said he didn't know what to do. Mrs. Dashwood declared that they were not allowed to stay in her house for one more minute. Your brother had to kneel and begged her to promise to give It was time for them to pack their clothes before they left. Then she had another fit of hysteria, and he was so frightened that he sent for Mr. Donovan. Mr. Donovan saw the mess in their house. The carriage was standing at the door, waiting to take pity on me. They were just getting into the car when Donovan left. Lucy, he said, could hardly walk in those conditions, and Nancy was about the same. I think your sister-in-law is a real person. It's unbearable. I hope in my heart that they don't have to pay her the bill if they go ahead and marry them! Good God! How could poor Edward know that she treated his sweetheart like this! It is said that he He loved her very much, with all his heart. He would be very angry, no wonder! Mr. Donovan thought so too. I talked to him a lot about it. The funniest thing is that they still Let him go back to Harley Street again,so that when Mrs. Ferrars learns of it, he can be on call, for my cousin was sent for her as soon as she left, and your sister-in-law is afraid that she will get angry if she finds out--let her Send it, I don't care.I don't like them at all.

"I didn't expect anyone to make such a fuss about fame and fortune. It doesn't make sense why Edward couldn't marry Lucy; I believe Mrs. Ferrars is capable of taking care of her son; and Lucy She has almost nothing, but she knows how to make the best of everything, and no one else knows how to make the best of it. I dare say that if Mrs. Ferrars had only given her son five hundred pounds a year, she would have done as well. Eight hundred pounds live like that. My God! They could live in a cottage like yours, and be as comfortable as you want—or bigger, with two footmen and Two maids. I think I can get them a maid, and Betty we employ has a sister who's got nothing to do, and it'll be just right for them."

Mrs. Jennings said no more.Fortunately, Eleanor had enough time to calm down, so that she could react reasonably to this matter and talk about her opinions.She was pleased to find that Mrs. Jennings had no suspicion of being particularly interested in the matter.And, as I had often wished of late, the lady no longer thought she had anything to do with Edward.She was especially pleased that, in the absence of Marianne, she found herself quite free to talk about the matter without embarrassment, and to make a judgment on the conduct of everyone connected with it. Unbiased review.

How she wished the matter to end she could not have known for sure, though she tried to shake off the idea that it might have ended otherwise than Edward and Lucy were married.She was anxious to know what Mrs. Ferrars would say and what to do, though there was no doubt about it.She was even more eager to know how Edward would react.For him she felt deep sympathy.As for Lucy, she managed to squeeze out a little sympathy from her heart.She has no sympathy for the others involved.

As Mrs. Jennings was sure to speak of the matter, Elinor soon realized the necessity of preparing Marianne to speak of it.She could no longer be concealed from her, and the truth must be told to her at once, and she must not look sorry for her sister, or resent Edward for Edward, when she heard what was being said about it.

What Eleanor is about to do pains her.Because she firmly believes that the matter between her and Edward has always been her sister's main spiritual comfort, but she wants to tell her sister the truth, which is tantamount to destroying her sister's spiritual comfort, and she has to describe Edward's situation in detail. Will forever ruin my sister's good impression of him.Also, in Marianne's mind, the resemblance between the two sisters would rekindle her disappointment.But, as unpleasant as it was, it had to be done, and Eleanor hastened to carry it out.

She didn't want to talk at all about her own feelings, about her own suffering, because the restraint she had adopted since she first learned of Edward's engagement was enough to inspire Marianne to be more realistic about it.Her account is simple and clear, and though not entirely neutral, she is neither overly excited nor overly sad.On the contrary, it was the listener who was really moved and sad--Marianne listened in horror and wept bitterly.Eleanor, who was supposed to be comforted, became her sister's comforter: she comforted her sister when she was in pain, and comforted her sister when she was in pain.She comforted her sister willingly, assured her of her own peace, and painstakingly exonerated Edward, admitting only that he had acted rashly.

However, Marianne refused to believe the matter of those two people for a moment.Edward is like a second Willoughby.Since Eleanor confessed to having loved him, could she suffer less than herself?As for Lucy Steele, she didn't think she was cute at all.It is impossible for a sensible man to fall in love with her.Therefore, at first she couldn't believe that Edward fell in love with her, and then she couldn't understand what Edward did.She didn't even want to admit it was a natural thing to do.Eleanor had to let her know the inevitability of things through further understanding of the world, and only in this way can she be convinced.

Eleanor at first talks only about their engagement and how long it has been.At this moment Marianne, unable to bear it any longer, interrupted the conversation, and Elinor could not go on in her normal detail.For a while, Eleanor could only try to persuade her to be less miserable, less fussy, less resentful.It turns out that Marianne's first question leads to more details:

"Eleanor, how long have you known about this? Has he written to you?"

"I've known it for four months. When Lucy first came to Barton Park last November, she told me privately that she was engaged."

After hearing this, Marianne did not speak, but her eyes revealed a very surprised expression.She paused in surprise, then exclaimed:

"Four months! Have you known this for four months?"

Eleanor affirmed this.

"What! You nursed me while I was suffering, and then you had this grief yourself? And I blame you for being gay!"

"It's actually quite the opposite, but it wasn't convenient for you to know at the time."

"Four months!" cried Marianne again. "So calm! So optimistic! How can you bear it?"

"I feel I'm doing my part. I promised Lucy to keep her secret, so I'm responsible to her not to let the wind out; Worrying, I can't tell them the truth."

Marianne seemed greatly moved.

"I have often wished not to keep you and mother in the dark again," went on Eleanor; "I have tried once or twice, but I must break my word to convince you."

"Four months! And you still love him!"

(End of this chapter)