【名著阅读】《理智与情感》第五章 第2节

来源:仪征中学 时间:2022-06-02
 

Mr.JohnDashwoodtoldhismotheragainandagainhowexceedinglysorryhewasthatshehadtakenahouseatsuchadistancefromNorlandastopreventhisbeingofanyservicetoherinremovingherfurniture.Hereallyfeltconscientiouslyvexedontheoccasion;fortheveryexertiontowhichhehadlimitedtheperformanceofhispromisetohisfatherwasbythisarrangementrenderedimpracticable.--Thefurniturewasallsentaroundbywater.Itchieflyconsistedofhouseholdlinen,plate,china,andbooks,withahandsomepianoforteofMarianne's.Mrs.JohnDashwoodsawthepackagesdepartwithasigh:shecouldnothelpfeelingithardthatasMrs.Dashwood'sincomewouldbesotriflingincomparisonwiththeirown,sheshouldhaveanyhandsomearticleoffurniture.

约翰.达什伍德先生三番五次地对继母说:她在距离诺兰庄园这么远的地方找了座房子,叫他不能为她搬运家具效力,真是不胜遗憾。此时,他良心上的确感到不安,他已经把履行对父亲的诺言局限在帮帮忙这一点上,想不到这样一来,连这点忙也帮不上了。家具全部由水路运走。主要的东西有家用亚麻台布、金银器皿、瓷器、书籍,以及玛丽安的漂亮钢琴。约翰.达什伍德夫人眼看着东西一包包地运走了,不觉叹了口气。达什伍德太太的收入与他们的相比,是微乎其微的,可她竟然能有这么漂亮的家具,怎么能叫她不觉得难受呢?

Mrs.Dashwoodtookthehouseforatwelvemonth;itwasreadyfurnished,andshemighthaveimmediatepossession.Nodifficultyaroseoneithersideintheagreement;andshewaitedonlyforthedisposalofhereffectsatNorland,andtodetermineherfuturehousehold,beforeshesetoffforthewest;andthis,asshewasexceedinglyrapidintheperformanceofeverythingthatinterestedher,wassoondone. --Thehorseswhichwereleftherbyherhusbandhadbeensoldsoonafterhisdeath,andanopportunitynowofferingofdisposingofhercarriage,sheagreedtosellthatlikewiseattheearnestadviceofhereldestdaughter.Forthecomfortofherchildren,hadsheconsultedonlyherownwishes,shewouldhavekeptit;butthediscretionofElinorprevailed.HERwisdomtoolimitedthenumberoftheirservantstothree;twomaidsandaman,withwhomtheywerespeedilyprovidedfromamongstthosewhohadformedtheirestablishmentatNorland.
  
这座房子,达什伍德太太租用一年,里面陈设齐全,她马上就可以住进去。双方在协议中没有遇到任何困难。达什伍德太太只等着处理掉她诺兰庄园的财物,确定好将来家里用几个仆人,然后再启程西迁。因为她对自己关心的事处理起来极其迅速,所以很快就办妥了。她丈夫留下的马匹,在他死后不久就卖掉了。现在又出现一个处理马车的机会,经大女儿恳切相劝,她也同意卖掉。若是依照她自己的愿望,为了使孩子们过得舒适,她还是要留下这辆马车,怎奈埃丽诺考虑周到,只好依了她。也是依照埃丽诺的明智想法,她们还把仆人的数量限制到三个——两个女仆,一个男仆,都是从她们在诺兰庄园已有的仆人中很快挑选出来的。

 
打印本页】【关闭窗口