CHAPTER XI
關燈
小
中
大
FannyturnedfartherintothewindowandMissCrawfordhadonlytimetosay,inapleasantmanner,“IfancyMissPricehasbeenmoreusedtodeservepraisethantohearit”when,beingearnestlyinvitedbytheMissBertramstojoininaglee,shetrippedofftotheinstrument,leavingEdmundlookingafterherinanecstasyofadmirationofallhermanyvirtues,fromherobligingmannersdowntoherlightandgracefultread.
“Theregoesgood-humour,Iamsure,”saidhepresently.“Theregoesatemperwhichwouldnevergivepain!Howwellshewalks!andhowreadilyshefallsinwiththeinclinationofothers!joiningthemthemomentsheisasked.Whatapity,”headded,afteraninstant’sreflection,“thatsheshouldhavebeeninsuchhands!”
Fannyagreedtoit,andhadthepleasureofseeinghimcontinueatthewindowwithher,inspiteoftheexpectedgleeandofhavinghiseyessoonturned,likehers,towardsthescenewithout,whereallthatwassolemn,andsoothing,andlovely,appearedinthebrilliancyofanuncloudednight,andthecontrastofthedeepshadeofthewoods.Fannyspokeherfeelings.“Here’sharmony!”saidshe“here’srepose!Here’swhatmayleaveallpaintingandallmusicbehind,andwhatpoetryonlycanattempttodescribe!Here’swhatmaytranquilliseeverycare,andliftthehearttorapture!WhenIlookoutonsuchanightasthis,IfeelasiftherecouldbeneitherwickednessnorsorrowintheworldandtherecertainlywouldbelessofbothifthesublimityofNatureweremoreattendedto,andpeoplewerecarriedmoreoutofthemselvesbycontemplatingsuchascene.”
“Iliketohearyourenthusiasm,Fanny.Itisalovelynight,andtheyaremuchtobepitiedwhohavenotbeentaughttofeel,insomedegree,asyoudowhohavenot,atleast,beengivenatasteforNatureinearlylife.Theyloseagreatdeal.”
“Youtaughtmetothinkandfeelonthesubject,cousin.”
“Ihadaveryaptscholar.There’sArcturuslookingverybright.”
“Yes,andtheBear.IwishIcouldseeCassiopeia.”
“Wemustgooutonthelawnforthat.Shouldyoubeafraid?”
“Notintheleast.Itisagreatwhilesincewehavehadanystar-gazing.”
“YesIdonotknowhowithashappened.”Thegleebegan.“Wewillstaytillthisisfinished,Fanny,”saidhe,turninghisbackonthewindowandasitadvanced,shehadthemortificationofseeinghimadvancetoo,movingforwardbygentledegreestowardstheinstrument,andwhenitceased,hewasclosebythesingers,amongthemosturgentinrequestingtohearthegleeagain.
FannysighedaloneatthewindowtillscoldedawaybyMrs.Norris’sthreatsofcatchingcold.
