CHAPTER XVII
關燈
小
中
大
nebothsistersare.”
“Both!no,no,thatmustnotbe.Donotgivehimahintofit.ThinkofMr.Rushworth!”
“YouhadbettertellMissBertramtothinkofMr.Rushworth.Itmaydohersomegood.IoftenthinkofMr.Rushworth’spropertyandindependence,andwishtheminotherhandsbutIneverthinkofhim.Amanmightrepresentthecountywithsuchanestateamanmightescapeaprofessionandrepresentthecounty.”
“Idaresayhewillbeinparliamentsoon.WhenSirThomascomes,Idaresayhewillbeinforsomeborough,buttherehasbeennobodytoputhiminthewayofdoinganythingyet.”
“SirThomasistoachievemanymightythingswhenhecomeshome,”saidMary,afterapause.“DoyourememberHawkinsBrowne’s‘AddresstoTobacco,’inimitationofPope?—
Blestleaf!whosearomaticgalesdispense
ToTemplarsmodesty,toParsonssense.
Iwillparodythem—
BlestKnight!whosedictatoriallooksdispense
ToChildrenaffluence,toRushworthsense.
Willnotthatdo,Mrs.Grant?EverythingseemstodependuponSirThomas’sreturn.”
“Youwillfindhisconsequenceveryjustandreasonablewhenyouseehiminhisfamily,Iassureyou.Idonotthinkwedosowellwithouthim.Hehasafinedignifiedmanner,whichsuitstheheadofsuchahouse,andkeepseverybodyintheirplace.LadyBertramseemsmoreofaciphernowthanwhenheisathomeandnobodyelsecankeepMrs.Norrisinorder.But,Mary,donotfancythatMariaBertramcaresforHenry.IamsureJuliadoesnot,orshewouldnothaveflirtedasshedidlastnightwithMr.YatesandthoughheandMariaareverygoodfriends,IthinkshelikesSothertontoowelltobeinconstant.”
“IwouldnotgivemuchforMr.Rushworth’schanceifHenrysteptinbeforethearticlesweresigned.”
“Ifyouhavesuchasuspicion,somethingmustbedoneandassoonastheplayisallover,wewilltalktohimseriouslyandmakehimknowhisownmindandifhemeansnothing,wewillsendhimoff,thoughheisHenry,foratime.”
Juliadidsuffer,however,thoughMrs.Grantdiscerneditnot,andthoughitescapedthenoticeofmanyofherownfamilylikewise.Shehadloved,sh
