曼斯菲尔德庄园 Chapter 11

CHAPTER XI ,The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived ¹ from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield. It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise. ,November was the black month fixed ² for his return. Sir Thomas wrote of it with as much decision as experience and anxiety could authorise. His business was so nearly concluded as to justify ³ him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November. ,Maria was more to be pitied than Julia; for to her the father brought a husband, and the return of the friend most solicitous ⁴ for her happiness would unite her to the lover, on whom she had chosen that happiness should depend. It was a gloomy prospect ⁵, and all she could do was to throw a mist over it, and hope when the mist cleared away she should see something else. It would hardly be _early_ in November, there were generally delays, a bad passage or _something_; that favouring _something_ which everybody who shuts their eyes while they look, or their understandings while they reason, feels the comfort of. It would probably be the middle of November at least; the middle of November was three months off. Three months comprised thirteen weeks. Much might happen in thirteen weeks. ,Sir Thomas would have been deeply mortified ⁷ by a suspicion of half that his daughters felt on the subject of his return, and would hardly have found consolation ⁸ in a knowledge of the interest it excited in the breast of another young lady. Miss Crawford, on walking up with her brother to spend the evening at Mansfield Park, heard the good news; and though seeming to have no concern in the affair beyond politeness, and to have vented ⁹ all her feelings in a quiet congratulation, heard it with an attention not so easily satisfied. Mrs. Norris gave the particulars of the letters, and the subject was dropt; but after tea, as Miss Crawford was standing ⁶ at an open window with Edmund and Fanny looking out on a twilight ¹⁰ scene, while the Miss Bertrams, Mr. Rushworth, and Henry Crawford were all busy with candles at the pianoforte, she suddenly revived it by turning round towards the group, and saying, "How happy Mr. Rushworth looks! He is thinking of November." ,Edmund looked round at Mr. Rushworth too, but had nothing to say. ,"It will, indeed, after such an absence; an absence not only long, but including so many dangers." ,"It will be the forerunner ¹¹ also of other interesting events: your sister's marriage, and your taking orders." ,"Yes." ,"Don't be affronted," said she, laughing, "but it does put me in mind of some of the old heathen heroes, who, after performing great exploits in a foreign land, offered sacrifices to the gods on their safe return." ,"There is no sacrifice in the case," replied Edmund, with a serious smile, and glancing at the pianoforte again; "it is entirely ¹² her own doing." ,He derived his enthusiasm for literature from his father. 他对文学的爱好是受他父亲的影响 。 来自《简明英汉词典》,Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？