CHAPTER XVI
關燈
小
中
大
hatMr.KnightleyhadoncesaidtoheraboutMr.Elton,thecautionhehadgiven,theconvictionhehadprofessedthatMr.Eltonwouldnevermarryindiscreetlyandblushedtothinkhowmuchtrueraknowledgeofhischaracterhadbeenthereshewnthananyshehadreachedherself.ItwasdreadfullymortifyingbutMr.Eltonwasprovinghimself,inmanyrespects,theveryreverseofwhatshehadmeantandbelievedhimproud,assuming,conceitedveryfullofhisownclaims,andlittleconcernedaboutthefeelingsofothers.
Contrarytotheusualcourseofthings,Mr.Elton’swantingtopayhisaddressestoherhadsunkhiminheropinion.Hisprofessionsandhisproposalsdidhimnoservice.Shethoughtnothingofhisattachment,andwasinsultedbyhishopes.Hewantedtomarrywell,andhavingthearrogancetoraisehiseyestoher,pretendedtobeinlovebutshewasperfectlyeasyastohisnotsufferinganydisappointmentthatneedbecaredfor.Therehadbeennorealaffectioneitherinhislanguageormanners.Sighsandfinewordshadbeengiveninabundancebutshecouldhardlydeviseanysetofexpressions,orfancyanytoneofvoice,lessalliedwithreallove.Sheneednottroubleherselftopityhim.HeonlywantedtoaggrandiseandenrichhimselfandifMissWoodhouseofHartfield,theheiressofthirtythousandpounds,werenotquitesoeasilyobtainedashehadfancied,hewouldsoontryforMissSomebodyelsewithtwenty,orwithten.
But—thatheshouldtalkofencouragement,shouldconsiderherasawareofhisviews,acceptinghisattentions,meaning(inshort),tomarryhim!—shouldsupposehimselfherequalinconnexionormind!—lookdownuponherfriend,sowellunderstandingthegradationsofrankbelowhim,andbesoblindtowhatroseabove,astofancyhimselfshewingnopresumptioninaddressingher!—Itwasmostprovoking.
Perhapsitwasnotfairtoexpecthimtofeelhowverymuchhewasherinferiorintalent,andalltheeleganciesofmind.Theverywantofsuchequalitymightpreventhisperceptionofitbuthemustknowthatinfortuneandconsequenceshewasgreatlyh
