曼斯菲尔德庄园 Chapter 42

CHAPTER XLII ,The Prices were just setting off for church the next day when Mr. Crawford appeared again. He came, not to stop, but to join them; he was asked to go with them to the Garrison ¹ chapel ², which was exactly what he had intended, and they all walked thither ³ together. ,The family were now seen to advantage. Nature had given them no inconsiderable share of beauty, and every Sunday dressed them in their cleanest skins and best attire ⁴. Sunday always brought this comfort to Fanny, and on this Sunday she felt it more than ever. Her poor mother now did not look so very unworthy of being Lady Bertram's sister as she was but too apt to look. It often grieved her to the heart to think of the contrast between them; to think that where nature had made so little difference, circumstances should have made so much, and that her mother, as handsome as Lady Bertram, and some years her junior, should have an appearance so much more worn and faded, so comfortless, so slatternly, so shabby. But Sunday made her a very creditable and tolerably cheerful-looking Mrs. Price, coming abroad with a fine family of children, feeling a little respite ⁵ of her weekly cares, and only discomposed if she saw her boys run into danger, or Rebecca pass by with a flower in her hat. ,In chapel they were obliged to divide, but Mr. Crawford took care not to be divided from the female branch; and after chapel he still continued with them, and made one in the family party on the ramparts. ,Mrs. Price took her weekly walk on the ramparts every fine Sunday throughout the year, always going directly after morning service and staying till dinner-time. It was her public place: there she met her acquaintance, heard a little news, talked over the badness of the Portsmouth servants, and wound up her spirits for the six days ensuing. ,Thither they now went; Mr. Crawford most happy to consider the Miss Prices as his peculiar ⁶ charge; and before they had been there long, somehow or other, there was no saying how, Fanny could not have believed it, but he was walking between them with an arm of each under his, and she did not know how to prevent or put an end to it. It made her uncomfortable for a time, but yet there were enjoyments ⁸ in the day and in the view which would be felt. ,The loveliness of the day, and of the view, he felt like herself. They often stopt with the same sentiment and taste, leaning against the wall, some minutes, to look and admire; and considering he was not Edmund, Fanny could not but allow that he was sufficiently ¹² open to the charms of nature, and very well able to express his admiration ¹³. She had a few tender reveries now and then, which he could sometimes take advantage of to look in her face without detection; and the result of these looks was, that though as bewitching as ever, her face was less blooming than it ought to be. She _said_ she was very well, and did not like to be supposed otherwise; but take it all in all, he was convinced that her present residence could not be comfortable, and therefore could not be salutary for her, and he was growing anxious for her being again at Mansfield, where her own happiness, and his in seeing her, must be so much greater. ,"You have been here a month, I think?" said he. ,"No; not quite a month. It is only four weeks to-morrow since I left Mansfield." ,"You are a most accurate and honest reckoner. I should call that a month." ,"I did not arrive here till Tuesday evening." ,The German was moving to stiffen up the garrison in Sicily.德军正在加强西西里守军之力量 。,The nimble hero,skipped into a chapel that stood near.敏捷的英雄跳进近旁的一座小教堂里。