CHAPTER V
關燈
小
中
大
ertallherpowersofpleasingwithoutsuspicion.Allissafewithaladyengaged:noharmcanbedone.”
“Why,astothat,Mr.Rushworthisaverygoodsortofyoungman,anditisagreatmatchforher.”
“ButMissBertramdoesnotcarethreestrawsforhimthatisyouropinionofyourintimatefriend.Idonotsubscribetoit.IamsureMissBertramisverymuchattachedtoMr.Rushworth.Icouldseeitinhereyes,whenhewasmentioned.IthinktoowellofMissBertramtosupposeshewouldevergiveherhandwithoutherheart.”
“Mary,howshallwemanagehim?”
“Wemustleavehimtohimself,Ibelieve.Talkingdoesnogood.Hewillbetakeninatlast.”
“ButIwouldnothavehimtakeninIwouldnothavehimdupedIwouldhaveitallfairandhonourable.”
“Ohdear!lethimstandhischanceandbetakenin.Itwilldojustaswell.Everybodyistakeninatsomeperiodorother.”
“Notalwaysinmarriage,dearMary.”
“Inmarriageespecially.Withallduerespecttosuchofthepresentcompanyaschancetobemarried,mydearMrs.Grant,thereisnotoneinahundredofeithersexwhoisnottakeninwhentheymarry.LookwhereIwill,IseethatitissoandIfeelthatitmustbeso,whenIconsiderthatitis,ofalltransactions,theoneinwhichpeopleexpectmostfromothers,andareleasthonestthemselves.”
“Ah!Youhavebeeninabadschoolformatrimony,inHillStreet.”
“Mypooraunthadcertainlylittlecausetolovethestatebut,however,speakingfrommyownobservation,itisamanoeuvringbusiness.Iknowsomanywhohavemarriedinthefullexpectationandconfidenceofsomeoneparticularadvantageintheconnexion,oraccomplishment,orgoodqualityintheperson,whohavefoundthemselvesentirelydeceived,andbeenobligedtoputupwithexactlythereverse.Whatisthisbutatakein?”
“Mydearchild,theremustbealittleimaginationhere.Ibegyourpardon,butIcannotquitebelieveyou.Dependuponit,youseebuthalf.Youseetheevil,butyoudonotseetheconsolation.Therewillbelittlerubsanddisappointmentseverywhere,andweareallapttoexpecttoomuchbutthen,ifoneschemeofhappinessfails,humannatureturnstoanotherifthefirstcalculationiswrong,wemakeasecondbetter:wefindcomfortsomewhere—andthoseevil-mindedobservers,dearestMary,whomakemuchofalittle,aremoretakeninanddeceivedthanthepartiesthemselves.”
“Welldone,sister!Ihonouryourespritducorps.WhenIamawife,ImeantobejustasstaunchmyselfandIwishmyfriendsingeneralwouldbesotoo.Itwouldsavememanyaheartache.”
“Youareasbadasyourbrother,Marybutwewillcureyouboth.Mansfieldshallcureyouboth,andwithoutanytakingin.Staywithus,andwewillcureyou.”
TheCrawfords,withoutwantingtobecured,wereverywillingtostay.MarywassatisfiedwiththeParsonageasapresenthome,andHenryequallyreadytolengthenhisvisit.Hehadcome,intendingtospendonlyafewdayswiththembutMansfieldpro
