dá shí wǔ dé jiā zài sū sài kè sī dìng jū， kě yòu xiē nián dài liǎo。 jiā lǐ zhì xià yī gè ruò dà de tián zhuāng， fǔ dì jiù shè zài tián zhuāng zhōng xīn de nuò lán zhuāng yuán。 zǔ zǔ bèi bèi yǐ lái， yī jiā rén yī zhí guò zhe tǐ miàn rì zǐ， yíng dé liǎo sì jìn xiāng lín de jiāo kǒu chēng yù。 yǐ gù zhuāng yuán zhù shì gè dān shēn hàn， huó dào lǎo dà nián jì。 zài shì shí， mèi mèi cháng nián péi bàn tā， tì tā guǎn guǎn jiā wù。 bù xiǎng mèi mèi zǎo tā shí nián qù shì， zhì shǐ fǔ shàng fā shēng jù biàn。 wèile tián bǔ mèi mèi de kòngquē， tā jiāng zhí 'ér hēng lì ． dá shí wǔ dé yī jiā jiē dào fǔ shàng。 hēng lì． dá shí wǔ dé xiān shēng shì nuò lán tián zhuāng de fǎ dìng jì chéng rén， lǎo dá shí wǔ dé dǎ suàn bǎ jiā yè chuán gěi tā。 zhè wèi lǎo shēn shì yòu zhí 'ér、 zhí xí jí qí zǐ nǚ zuò bàn， rì zǐ guò dé dǎo yě shū xīn。 tā yuè lái yuè xǐ 'ài tā men。 hēng lì． dá shí wǔ dé fū fù bù jǐn chū zì lì hài guān xì， ér qiě yóu yú xīn dì shàn liáng， duì tā zǒng shì bǎi bān zhào yìng， shǐ tā wǎn nián xiǎng jìn liǎo tiān lún zhī lè。 ér nà xiē tiān zhēn làn màn de hái zǐ yě gěi tā de shēng huó zēng tiān liǎo lè qù。
hēng lì． dá shí wǔ dé xiān shēng tóng qián qī shēng xià yī gè 'ér zǐ， tóng xiàn zài de tài tài shēng liǎo sān gè nǚ 'ér。 ér zǐ shì gè tà shí tǐ miàn de qīng nián。 dāng nián tā mǔ qīn liú xià yī dà bǐ yí chǎn， dào tā chéng nián shí yòu yī bàn jiāo gěi liǎo tā， wèitā diàn dìng liǎo hòu shí de jiā dǐ。 cǐ hòu bù jiǔ， tā chéng liǎo qīn， yòu zēng tiān liǎo yī bǐ cái chǎn。 suǒ yǐ， duì tā shuō lái， fù qīn shì bù shì jì chéng nuò lán tián zhuāng， yuǎn bù xiàng duì tā jǐ gè mèi mèi nà yàng zhì guān jǐn yào。 zhè jǐ gè mèi mèi jiǎ ruò bù yǐ lài fù qīn jì chéng zhè bǐ jiā yè kě néng gěi tā men dài lái de jìn yì， tā men de cái chǎn biàn jiāng wēi hū qí wēi。 tā men de mǔ qīn yī wú suǒ yòu， fù qīn jǐn jǐn zhǎng guǎn zhe qī qiān bàng， ér duì qián qī lìng yī bàn yí chǎn de suǒ yòu quán zhǐ zài shēng qián yòu xiào， tā yī qù shì， zhè yī bàn cái chǎn yě guī 'ér zǐ chéng xí。
lǎo shēn shì sǐ liǎo， kāi dú yí zhǔ， fā xiàn gēn qí tā yí zhǔ yī yàng， jiào rén jì gāo xīng， yě shī wàng。 tā bìng fēi nà yàng piān pō wú qíng， hái shì bǎ tián zhuāng chuán gěi liǎo zhí 'ér。 dàn shì， yīn wéi fù yòu tiáo jiàn， zhè fèn yí chǎn biàn shī qù liǎo yī bàn jià zhí。 běn lái， dá shí wǔ dé xiān shēng xiǎng yào zhè bǐ cái chǎn， zhǐ shì gù niàn qī zǐ hé nǚ 'ér， ér bù shì wéi zì jǐ hé 'ér zǐ zhuóxiǎng。 dàn cái chǎn què piān piān yào shì xí gěi tā 'ér zǐ hé sì suì de sūn zǐ， zhè yàng yī lái， tā biàn wú quán dòng yòng tián zhuāng de zī cái， huò zhě biàn mài tián zhuāng de zī cái， lái shàn yǎng tā nà xiē zuì qīn jìn、 zuì xū yào shàn yǎng de jiā juàn。 wèile nà gè hái zǐ， quán pán jiā yè dōubèi dòng jié liǎo。 xiǎng dāng chū， zhè hái zǐ zhǐ shì 'ǒu 'ěr suí fù mǔ qīn dào nuò lán zhuāng yuán lái guò jǐ tàng， gēn qí tā liǎng sān suì wá wá yī yàng， yě méi yòu shénme yì cháng dòu rén xǐ 'ài de dì fāng， dà bù guò zhèng yá yá xué yǔ， bǐng xìng juéjiàng， hàowù zuò jù， ài dà chǎo dà nào， què bó dé liǎo lǎo shēn shì de huān xīn。 xiāng xíng zhī xià， zhí xí mǔ nǚ duō nián guān zhào de qíngfèn， dǎo biàn dé wú zú qīng zhòng liǎo。 bù guò， lǎo rén yě bù xiǎng tài kē kè， wèile biǎo shì tā duì sān gè zhàn niàn de yī piàn xīn yì， hǎo dǎi fēn gěi liǎo měi rén yī qiān bàng。
dá shí wǔ dé xiān shēng qǐ chū jí wéi shī wàng。 tā xìng qíng kāi lǎng， mǎn yǐ wéi zì jǐ néng duō huó xiē nián suì， píng zhe zhè me dà de yī gè tián zhuāng， zhǐ yào mǎ shàng gǎi shàn jīng yíng， shěng chī jiǎn yòng， jiù néng cóng shōu rù zhōng cuán xià yī dà bǐ qián， rán 'ér， zhè bǐ chí chí dào shǒu de cái chǎn zài tā míng xià zhǐ chí xù liǎo yī nián gōng fū， yīn wéi shū fù sǐ hòu bù jiǔ， tā yě yī mìng guī tiān， gěi tā de yí zhǔ hé nǚ 'ér men liú xià de cái chǎn， bāo kuò shū fù de yí chǎn zài nèi， zǒng gòng bù guò yī wàn bàng。
dāng shí， jiā rén kàn tā bìng wēi liǎo， biàn dǎ fā rén qù jiào tā 'ér zǐ。 dá shí wǔ dé xiān shēng jié jìn zuì hòu yī diǎn qì lì， xiàng 'ér zǐ zuò liǎo jǐn jí jiāo dài， zhǔ tuō tā zhào yìng jì mǔ hé sān gè mèi mèi。
yuē hàn． dá shí wǔ dé xiān shēng bù xiàng jiā lǐ qí tā rén nà yàng duō qíng shàn gǎn。 kě shì， cǐ shí cǐ kè shòu dào zhè bān zhǔ tuō， tā yě shēn wéi gǎn dòng， dāyìng jìn lì ràng tā men mǔ nǚ shēng huó dé shū shū shì shì de。 fù qīn tīng dào zhè fān xǔ nuò， biàn yě fàng kuān xīn liǎo。 yī shí jiān， yuē hàn． dá shí wǔ dé xiān shēng yòu kōng suàn jì qǐ lái： ruò shì jīng dǎ xì suàn， tā dào dǐ néng wéi tā men jìn duō dà lì liàng。
zhè wèi nián qīng rén xīn yǎn bìng bù huài， chú fēi nǐ bǎ lěng mò wú qíng hé zì sī zì lì shì wéi huài xīn yǎn。 zǒng de shuō lái， tā hěn shòu rén zūn jìng， yīn wéi tā píng cháng bàn qǐ shì lái， zǒng shì shí fēn dé tǐ。 tā ruò shì qǔ gè hé 'ǎi yī diǎn de nǚ rén， yě xǔ huì gèng shòu rén zūn zhòng， shèn zhì tā zì jǐ yě huì hé 'ǎi yī xiē。 wú nài tā jié hūn shí tài nián qīng， tài piān 'ài qī zǐ liǎo。 bù guò， yuē hàn． dá shí wǔ dé fū rén dǎo yě huó xiàng tā zhàng fū， zhǐ shì gèng xiá 'ài， gèng zì sī bà liǎo。
tā xiàng fù qīn xǔ nuò de shí hòu， xīn lǐ jiù zài pán suàn， xiǎng gěi tā mèi mèi měi rén zài bǔ tiē yī qiān bàng de shōu rù。 dāng shí， tā què shí jué dé zhè shì tā lì suǒ néng jí de。 tā chú liǎo mù qián de shōu rù hé mǔ qīn lìng héng bàn yí chǎn yǐ wài， hái kě wàng měi nián zài tiān sì qiān bàng。 yī xiǎng dào zhè lǐ， xīn lǐ bù jìn rè hū hū de， tā rèn wéi zì jǐ kě yǐ kāng kǎi yī diǎn。“ shì de， wǒ kě yǐ gěi tā men sān qiān bàng， zhè duō me kāng kǎi dà fāng 'ā： kě yǐ què bǎo tā men 'ān 'ān shēng shēng dì guò rì zǐ lā。 sān qiān bàng yā， wǒ kě yǐ háo bù fèi jìn dì shěng chū zhè me yī bǐ jù kuǎn。” tā zhěng tiān zhè me xiǎng zhe， jiē lián xiǎng liǎo hǎo duō tiān， yī diǎn yě méi fǎn huǐ。
fù qīn de sāngshì gāng bàn wán， yuē hàn． dá shí wǔ dé fū rén yě bù dǎ gè zhāo hū， jiù dài zhe hái zǐ、 pú rén lái dào pó pó jiā lǐ。 shuí yě wú fǎ huái yí tā yòu quán lái zhè lǐ， yīn wéi cóng tā gōng gōng sǐ qù de shí kè qǐ， zhè fáng zǐ jiù shǔ yú tā zhàng fū de liǎo。 bù guò， tā de xíng wéi shí zài tài bù wén yǎ， àn zhào rén zhī cháng qíng， rèn hé yī gè nǚ rén chù zài dá shí wǔ dé tài tài dāng pó mǔ de wèi zhì shàng， dū huì gǎn dào hěn bù yú kuài。 hé kuàng， dá shí wǔ dé tài tài shì gè zì zūn xīn hěn qiáng、 kāng kǎi dà fāng、 luò tuò bù jī de nǚ rù， duì zhè zhǒng táng tū wú lǐ de shì qíng， wú lùn shì shuí gān de huò zhě duì shuí gān de， tā dū huì gǎn dào shēn 'è tòng jué。 yuē hàn． dá shí wǔ dé fū rén zài pó jiā cóng wèi shòu guò rèn hé rén de xǐ 'ài， kě shì zhí dào jīn tiān tā cái yòu jī huì xiàng tā men bǎi míng： zài bì yào shí， tā wéi rén xíng shì kě yǐ quán rán bù gù bié rù de tòng yǎng。
dá shí wǔ dé tài tài yàn 'è zhè zhǒng mánhèng wú lǐ de xíng jìng， bìng yīn cǐ 'ér bǐ shì tā de 'ér xí。 yī jiàn 'ér xí jìn mén， tā jiù hèn bù dé yǒng yuǎn lí kāi zhè gè jiā。 zěn nài dà nǚ 'ér yī zài kěn qiú， tā kāi shǐ kǎo lǜ yī zǒu liǎo zhī shì fǒu tuǒdàng。 hòu lái yìng shì chū zì duì sān gè nǚ 'ér de 'ài lián， tā cái jué dìng liú xià lái。 kàn zài nǚ 'ér men de fèn shàng， hái shì bù gēn nà gè zuò gē gē de nào fān wéi hǎo。
dà nǚ 'ér 'āi lì nuò de quàn jiě zòu xiào liǎo。 āi lì nuò sī xiǎng mǐn ruì， tóu nǎo lěng jìng， suī rán nián jǐn shí jiǔ suì， què néng wéi mǔ qīn chū móu huá cè。 dá shí wǔ dé tài tài xìng qíng jí zào， zuò shì zǒng shì mào mào shī shī。 āi lì nuò wéi dà jiā zhuóxiǎng， jīng cháng chū lái quàn zǔ quàn zǔ。 tā xīn dì shàn liáng， xìng gé wēn róu， gǎn qíng qiáng liè， rán 'ér tā huì kè zhì zì jǐ， héng yī duì yú zhè héng shǒu， tā mǔ qīn hái yòu dài xué xí， bù guò tā yòu gè mèi mèi jué jì yī bèi zǐ yě bù yào xué。
mǎ lì 'ān gè fāng miàn de cái gān dū kān yǔ 'āi lì nuò xiāng pì měi。 tā cōng huì shàn gǎn， zhǐ shì zuò shénme shì qíng dū xīn jí huǒ liáo de。 tā shāng xīn yě bà， gāo xīng yě bà， dōuméi yòu gè jié zhì。 tā wéi rén kāng kǎi， hé 'ǎi kě qīn， yě hěn yòu qù， kě jiù shì yī diǎn yě bù jǐn shèn， yǔ tā mǔ qīn yī mó yī yàng。
āi lì nuò jiàn mèi mèi guò yú gǎn qíng yòng shì， bù miǎn yòu xiē dān xīn， kě dá shí wǔ dé tài tài què jué dé zhè hěn nán néng kě guì。 xiàn zài， tā men liǎng rén jí dù bēi tòng de qíng xù， hù xiāng gǎn rǎn， hù xiāng zhùzhǎng。 zuì chū de nà zhǒng bēi tòng yù jué de qíng zhuàng， yī chù jí fā， shuō lái jiù lái， fǎn fǎn fù fù dì méi wán méi liǎo。 tā men wán quán chén miǎn yú bēi tòng zhī zhōng， zhēn shì nǎ lǐ shāng xīn wǎng nǎ lǐ xiǎng， yuè xiǎng yuè tòng bù yù shēng， rèn dìng zhè bèi zǐ jiù zhè me liǎo jié lā， shuí lái jiě quàn yě wú jì yú shì。 āi lì nuò yě hěn bēi tòng， bù guò tā shàng néng dǐng dé zhù， jìn liàng kè zhì zì jǐ。 tā yù shì néng tóng gē gē shāng liàng zhe bàn， sǎo zǐ lái liǎo néng yǐ lǐ xiāng dài。 tā hái néng quàn shuō mǔ qīn yě zhè yàng zuò， qǐng tā duō jiā rěn ràng。
sān mèi mǎ gé lì tè shì gè kuài huó hòu dào de xiǎo gū niàn， bù guò yóu yú tā yǐ jīng rǎn shàng liǎo bù shǎo mǎ lì 'ān de làng màn qì zhì， ér yòu bù xiàng tā nà me cōng míng， chù zài shí sān suì de nián jì， hái bù kě néng gǎn shàng shè shì jiào shēn de jiě jiě。
By a former marriage, Mr. Henry Dashwood had one son: by his present lady, three daughters. The son, a steady respectable young man, was amply provided for by the fortune of his mother, which had been large, and half of which devolved on him on his coming of age. By his own marriage, likewise, which happened soon afterwards, he added to his wealth. To him therefore the succession to the Norland estate was not so really important as to his sisters; for their fortune, independent of what might arise to them from their father's inheriting that property, could be but small. Their mother had nothing, and their father only seven thousand pounds in his own disposal; for the remaining moiety of his first wife's fortune was also secured to her child, and he had only a life-interest in it.
The old gentleman died: his will was read, and like almost every other will, gave as much disappointment as pleasure. He was neither so unjust, nor so ungrateful, as to leave his estate from his nephew;--but he left it to him on such terms as destroyed half the value of the bequest. Mr. Dashwood had wished for it more for the sake of his wife and daughters than for himself or his son;--but to his son, and his son's son, a child of four years old, it was secured, in such a way, as to leave to himself no power of providing for those who were most dear to him, and who most needed a provision by any charge on the estate, or by any sale of its valuable woods. The whole was tied up for the benefit of this child, who, in occasional visits with his father and mother at Norland, had so far gained on the affections of his uncle, by such attractions as are by no means unusual in children of two or three years old; an imperfect articulation, an earnest desire of having his own way, many cunning tricks, and a great deal of noise, as to outweigh all the value of all the attention which, for years, he had received from his niece and her daughters. He meant not to be unkind, however, and, as a mark of his affection for the three girls, he left them a thousand pounds a-piece.
Mr. Dashwood's disappointment was, at first, severe; but his temper was cheerful and sanguine; and he might reasonably hope to live many years, and by living economically, lay by a considerable sum from the produce of an estate already large, and capable of almost immediate improvement. But the fortune, which had been so tardy in coming, was his only one twelvemonth. He survived his uncle no longer; and ten thousand pounds, including the late legacies, was all that remained for his widow and daughters.
His son was sent for as soon as his danger was known, and to him Mr. Dashwood recommended, with all the strength and urgency which illness could command, the interest of his mother-in-law and sisters.
Mr. John Dashwood had not the strong feelings of the rest of the family; but he was affected by a recommendation of such a nature at such a time, and he promised to do every thing in his power to make them comfortable. His father was rendered easy by such an assurance, and Mr. John Dashwood had then leisure to consider how much there might prudently be in his power to do for them.
He was not an ill-disposed young man, unless to be rather cold hearted and rather selfish is to be ill-disposed: but he was, in general, well respected; for he conducted himself with propriety in the discharge of his ordinary duties. Had he married a more amiable woman, he might have been made still more respectable than he was:--he might even have been made amiable himself; for he was very young when he married, and very fond of his wife. But Mrs. John Dashwood was a strong caricature of himself;-- more narrow-minded and selfish.
When he gave his promise to his father, he meditated within himself to increase the fortunes of his sisters by the present of a thousand pounds a-piece. He then really thought himself equal to it. The prospect of four thousand a-year, in addition to his present income, besides the remaining half of his own mother's fortune, warmed his heart, and made him feel capable of generosity. -- "Yes, he would give them three thousand pounds: it would be liberal and handsome! It would be enough to make them completely easy. Three thousand pounds! he could spare so considerable a sum with little inconvenience. "-- He thought of it all day long, and for many days successively, and he did not repent.
No sooner was his father's funeral over, than Mrs. John Dashwood, without sending any notice of her intention to her mother-in-law, arrived with her child and their attendants. No one could dispute her right to come; the house was her husband's from the moment of his father's decease; but the indelicacy of her conduct was so much the greater, and to a woman in Mrs. Dashwood's situation, with only common feelings, must have been highly unpleasing;-- but in HER mind there was a sense of honor so keen, a generosity so romantic, that any offence of the kind, by whomsoever given or received, was to her a source of immoveable disgust. Mrs. John Dashwood had never been a favourite with any of her husband's family; but she had had no opportunity, till the present, of shewing them with how little attention to the comfort of other people she could act when occasion required it.
So acutely did Mrs. Dashwood feel this ungracious behaviour, and so earnestly did she despise her daughter-in-law for it, that, on the arrival of the latter, she would have quitted the house for ever, had not the entreaty of her eldest girl induced her first to reflect on the propriety of going, and her own tender love for all her three children determined her afterwards to stay, and for their sakes avoid a breach with their brother.
Elinor, this eldest daughter, whose advice was so effectual, possessed a strength of understanding, and coolness of judgment, which qualified her, though only nineteen, to be the counsellor of her mother, and enabled her frequently to counteract, to the advantage of them all, that eagerness of mind in Mrs. Dashwood which must generally have led to imprudence. She had an excellent heart;--her disposition was affectionate, and her feelings were strong; but she knew how to govern them: it was a knowledge which her mother had yet to learn; and which one of her sisters had resolved never to be taught.
Marianne's abilities were, in many respects, quite equal to Elinor's. She was sensible and clever; but eager in everything: her sorrows, her joys, could have no moderation. She was generous, amiable, interesting: she was everything but prudent. The resemblance between her and her mother was strikingly great.
Elinor saw, with concern, the excess of her sister's sensibility; but by Mrs. Dashwood it was valued and cherished. They encouraged each other now in the violence of their affliction. The agony of grief which overpowered them at first, was voluntarily renewed, was sought for, was created again and again. They gave themselves up wholly to their sorrow, seeking increase of wretchedness in every reflection that could afford it, and resolved against ever admitting consolation in future. Elinor, too, was deeply afflicted; but still she could struggle, she could exert herself. She could consult with her brother, could receive her sister-in-law on her arrival, and treat her with proper attention; and could strive to rouse her mother to similar exertion, and encourage her to similar forbearance.
Margaret, the other sister, was a good-humored, well-disposed girl; but as she had already imbibed a good deal of Marianne's romance, without having much of her sense, she did not, at thirteen, bid fair to equal her sisters at a more advanced period of life.
hēng lì． dá shí wǔ dé xiān shēng tóng qián qī shēng xià yī gè 'ér zǐ， tóng xiàn zài de tài tài shēng liǎo sān gè nǚ 'ér。 ér zǐ shì gè tà shí tǐ miàn de qīng nián。 dāng nián tā mǔ qīn liú xià yī dà bǐ yí chǎn， dào tā chéng nián shí yòu yī bàn jiāo gěi liǎo tā， wèitā diàn dìng liǎo hòu shí de jiā dǐ。 cǐ hòu bù jiǔ， tā chéng liǎo qīn， yòu zēng tiān liǎo yī bǐ cái chǎn。 suǒ yǐ， duì tā shuō lái， fù qīn shì bù shì jì chéng nuò lán tián zhuāng， yuǎn bù xiàng duì tā jǐ gè mèi mèi nà yàng zhì guān jǐn yào。 zhè jǐ gè mèi mèi jiǎ ruò bù yǐ lài fù qīn jì chéng zhè bǐ jiā yè kě néng gěi tā men dài lái de jìn yì， tā men de cái chǎn biàn jiāng wēi hū qí wēi。 tā men de mǔ qīn yī wú suǒ yòu， fù qīn jǐn jǐn zhǎng guǎn zhe qī qiān bàng， ér duì qián qī lìng yī bàn yí chǎn de suǒ yòu quán zhǐ zài shēng qián yòu xiào， tā yī qù shì， zhè yī bàn cái chǎn yě guī 'ér zǐ chéng xí。
lǎo shēn shì sǐ liǎo， kāi dú yí zhǔ， fā xiàn gēn qí tā yí zhǔ yī yàng， jiào rén jì gāo xīng， yě shī wàng。 tā bìng fēi nà yàng piān pō wú qíng， hái shì bǎ tián zhuāng chuán gěi liǎo zhí 'ér。 dàn shì， yīn wéi fù yòu tiáo jiàn， zhè fèn yí chǎn biàn shī qù liǎo yī bàn jià zhí。 běn lái， dá shí wǔ dé xiān shēng xiǎng yào zhè bǐ cái chǎn， zhǐ shì gù niàn qī zǐ hé nǚ 'ér， ér bù shì wéi zì jǐ hé 'ér zǐ zhuóxiǎng。 dàn cái chǎn què piān piān yào shì xí gěi tā 'ér zǐ hé sì suì de sūn zǐ， zhè yàng yī lái， tā biàn wú quán dòng yòng tián zhuāng de zī cái， huò zhě biàn mài tián zhuāng de zī cái， lái shàn yǎng tā nà xiē zuì qīn jìn、 zuì xū yào shàn yǎng de jiā juàn。 wèile nà gè hái zǐ， quán pán jiā yè dōubèi dòng jié liǎo。 xiǎng dāng chū， zhè hái zǐ zhǐ shì 'ǒu 'ěr suí fù mǔ qīn dào nuò lán zhuāng yuán lái guò jǐ tàng， gēn qí tā liǎng sān suì wá wá yī yàng， yě méi yòu shénme yì cháng dòu rén xǐ 'ài de dì fāng， dà bù guò zhèng yá yá xué yǔ， bǐng xìng juéjiàng， hàowù zuò jù， ài dà chǎo dà nào， què bó dé liǎo lǎo shēn shì de huān xīn。 xiāng xíng zhī xià， zhí xí mǔ nǚ duō nián guān zhào de qíngfèn， dǎo biàn dé wú zú qīng zhòng liǎo。 bù guò， lǎo rén yě bù xiǎng tài kē kè， wèile biǎo shì tā duì sān gè zhàn niàn de yī piàn xīn yì， hǎo dǎi fēn gěi liǎo měi rén yī qiān bàng。
dá shí wǔ dé xiān shēng qǐ chū jí wéi shī wàng。 tā xìng qíng kāi lǎng， mǎn yǐ wéi zì jǐ néng duō huó xiē nián suì， píng zhe zhè me dà de yī gè tián zhuāng， zhǐ yào mǎ shàng gǎi shàn jīng yíng， shěng chī jiǎn yòng， jiù néng cóng shōu rù zhōng cuán xià yī dà bǐ qián， rán 'ér， zhè bǐ chí chí dào shǒu de cái chǎn zài tā míng xià zhǐ chí xù liǎo yī nián gōng fū， yīn wéi shū fù sǐ hòu bù jiǔ， tā yě yī mìng guī tiān， gěi tā de yí zhǔ hé nǚ 'ér men liú xià de cái chǎn， bāo kuò shū fù de yí chǎn zài nèi， zǒng gòng bù guò yī wàn bàng。
dāng shí， jiā rén kàn tā bìng wēi liǎo， biàn dǎ fā rén qù jiào tā 'ér zǐ。 dá shí wǔ dé xiān shēng jié jìn zuì hòu yī diǎn qì lì， xiàng 'ér zǐ zuò liǎo jǐn jí jiāo dài， zhǔ tuō tā zhào yìng jì mǔ hé sān gè mèi mèi。
yuē hàn． dá shí wǔ dé xiān shēng bù xiàng jiā lǐ qí tā rén nà yàng duō qíng shàn gǎn。 kě shì， cǐ shí cǐ kè shòu dào zhè bān zhǔ tuō， tā yě shēn wéi gǎn dòng， dāyìng jìn lì ràng tā men mǔ nǚ shēng huó dé shū shū shì shì de。 fù qīn tīng dào zhè fān xǔ nuò， biàn yě fàng kuān xīn liǎo。 yī shí jiān， yuē hàn． dá shí wǔ dé xiān shēng yòu kōng suàn jì qǐ lái： ruò shì jīng dǎ xì suàn， tā dào dǐ néng wéi tā men jìn duō dà lì liàng。
zhè wèi nián qīng rén xīn yǎn bìng bù huài， chú fēi nǐ bǎ lěng mò wú qíng hé zì sī zì lì shì wéi huài xīn yǎn。 zǒng de shuō lái， tā hěn shòu rén zūn jìng， yīn wéi tā píng cháng bàn qǐ shì lái， zǒng shì shí fēn dé tǐ。 tā ruò shì qǔ gè hé 'ǎi yī diǎn de nǚ rén， yě xǔ huì gèng shòu rén zūn zhòng， shèn zhì tā zì jǐ yě huì hé 'ǎi yī xiē。 wú nài tā jié hūn shí tài nián qīng， tài piān 'ài qī zǐ liǎo。 bù guò， yuē hàn． dá shí wǔ dé fū rén dǎo yě huó xiàng tā zhàng fū， zhǐ shì gèng xiá 'ài， gèng zì sī bà liǎo。
tā xiàng fù qīn xǔ nuò de shí hòu， xīn lǐ jiù zài pán suàn， xiǎng gěi tā mèi mèi měi rén zài bǔ tiē yī qiān bàng de shōu rù。 dāng shí， tā què shí jué dé zhè shì tā lì suǒ néng jí de。 tā chú liǎo mù qián de shōu rù hé mǔ qīn lìng héng bàn yí chǎn yǐ wài， hái kě wàng měi nián zài tiān sì qiān bàng。 yī xiǎng dào zhè lǐ， xīn lǐ bù jìn rè hū hū de， tā rèn wéi zì jǐ kě yǐ kāng kǎi yī diǎn。“ shì de， wǒ kě yǐ gěi tā men sān qiān bàng， zhè duō me kāng kǎi dà fāng 'ā： kě yǐ què bǎo tā men 'ān 'ān shēng shēng dì guò rì zǐ lā。 sān qiān bàng yā， wǒ kě yǐ háo bù fèi jìn dì shěng chū zhè me yī bǐ jù kuǎn。” tā zhěng tiān zhè me xiǎng zhe， jiē lián xiǎng liǎo hǎo duō tiān， yī diǎn yě méi fǎn huǐ。
fù qīn de sāngshì gāng bàn wán， yuē hàn． dá shí wǔ dé fū rén yě bù dǎ gè zhāo hū， jiù dài zhe hái zǐ、 pú rén lái dào pó pó jiā lǐ。 shuí yě wú fǎ huái yí tā yòu quán lái zhè lǐ， yīn wéi cóng tā gōng gōng sǐ qù de shí kè qǐ， zhè fáng zǐ jiù shǔ yú tā zhàng fū de liǎo。 bù guò， tā de xíng wéi shí zài tài bù wén yǎ， àn zhào rén zhī cháng qíng， rèn hé yī gè nǚ rén chù zài dá shí wǔ dé tài tài dāng pó mǔ de wèi zhì shàng， dū huì gǎn dào hěn bù yú kuài。 hé kuàng， dá shí wǔ dé tài tài shì gè zì zūn xīn hěn qiáng、 kāng kǎi dà fāng、 luò tuò bù jī de nǚ rù， duì zhè zhǒng táng tū wú lǐ de shì qíng， wú lùn shì shuí gān de huò zhě duì shuí gān de， tā dū huì gǎn dào shēn 'è tòng jué。 yuē hàn． dá shí wǔ dé fū rén zài pó jiā cóng wèi shòu guò rèn hé rén de xǐ 'ài， kě shì zhí dào jīn tiān tā cái yòu jī huì xiàng tā men bǎi míng： zài bì yào shí， tā wéi rén xíng shì kě yǐ quán rán bù gù bié rù de tòng yǎng。
dá shí wǔ dé tài tài yàn 'è zhè zhǒng mánhèng wú lǐ de xíng jìng， bìng yīn cǐ 'ér bǐ shì tā de 'ér xí。 yī jiàn 'ér xí jìn mén， tā jiù hèn bù dé yǒng yuǎn lí kāi zhè gè jiā。 zěn nài dà nǚ 'ér yī zài kěn qiú， tā kāi shǐ kǎo lǜ yī zǒu liǎo zhī shì fǒu tuǒdàng。 hòu lái yìng shì chū zì duì sān gè nǚ 'ér de 'ài lián， tā cái jué dìng liú xià lái。 kàn zài nǚ 'ér men de fèn shàng， hái shì bù gēn nà gè zuò gē gē de nào fān wéi hǎo。
dà nǚ 'ér 'āi lì nuò de quàn jiě zòu xiào liǎo。 āi lì nuò sī xiǎng mǐn ruì， tóu nǎo lěng jìng， suī rán nián jǐn shí jiǔ suì， què néng wéi mǔ qīn chū móu huá cè。 dá shí wǔ dé tài tài xìng qíng jí zào， zuò shì zǒng shì mào mào shī shī。 āi lì nuò wéi dà jiā zhuóxiǎng， jīng cháng chū lái quàn zǔ quàn zǔ。 tā xīn dì shàn liáng， xìng gé wēn róu， gǎn qíng qiáng liè， rán 'ér tā huì kè zhì zì jǐ， héng yī duì yú zhè héng shǒu， tā mǔ qīn hái yòu dài xué xí， bù guò tā yòu gè mèi mèi jué jì yī bèi zǐ yě bù yào xué。
mǎ lì 'ān gè fāng miàn de cái gān dū kān yǔ 'āi lì nuò xiāng pì měi。 tā cōng huì shàn gǎn， zhǐ shì zuò shénme shì qíng dū xīn jí huǒ liáo de。 tā shāng xīn yě bà， gāo xīng yě bà， dōuméi yòu gè jié zhì。 tā wéi rén kāng kǎi， hé 'ǎi kě qīn， yě hěn yòu qù， kě jiù shì yī diǎn yě bù jǐn shèn， yǔ tā mǔ qīn yī mó yī yàng。
āi lì nuò jiàn mèi mèi guò yú gǎn qíng yòng shì， bù miǎn yòu xiē dān xīn， kě dá shí wǔ dé tài tài què jué dé zhè hěn nán néng kě guì。 xiàn zài， tā men liǎng rén jí dù bēi tòng de qíng xù， hù xiāng gǎn rǎn， hù xiāng zhùzhǎng。 zuì chū de nà zhǒng bēi tòng yù jué de qíng zhuàng， yī chù jí fā， shuō lái jiù lái， fǎn fǎn fù fù dì méi wán méi liǎo。 tā men wán quán chén miǎn yú bēi tòng zhī zhōng， zhēn shì nǎ lǐ shāng xīn wǎng nǎ lǐ xiǎng， yuè xiǎng yuè tòng bù yù shēng， rèn dìng zhè bèi zǐ jiù zhè me liǎo jié lā， shuí lái jiě quàn yě wú jì yú shì。 āi lì nuò yě hěn bēi tòng， bù guò tā shàng néng dǐng dé zhù， jìn liàng kè zhì zì jǐ。 tā yù shì néng tóng gē gē shāng liàng zhe bàn， sǎo zǐ lái liǎo néng yǐ lǐ xiāng dài。 tā hái néng quàn shuō mǔ qīn yě zhè yàng zuò， qǐng tā duō jiā rěn ràng。
sān mèi mǎ gé lì tè shì gè kuài huó hòu dào de xiǎo gū niàn， bù guò yóu yú tā yǐ jīng rǎn shàng liǎo bù shǎo mǎ lì 'ān de làng màn qì zhì， ér yòu bù xiàng tā nà me cōng míng， chù zài shí sān suì de nián jì， hái bù kě néng gǎn shàng shè shì jiào shēn de jiě jiě。
By a former marriage, Mr. Henry Dashwood had one son: by his present lady, three daughters. The son, a steady respectable young man, was amply provided for by the fortune of his mother, which had been large, and half of which devolved on him on his coming of age. By his own marriage, likewise, which happened soon afterwards, he added to his wealth. To him therefore the succession to the Norland estate was not so really important as to his sisters; for their fortune, independent of what might arise to them from their father's inheriting that property, could be but small. Their mother had nothing, and their father only seven thousand pounds in his own disposal; for the remaining moiety of his first wife's fortune was also secured to her child, and he had only a life-interest in it.
The old gentleman died: his will was read, and like almost every other will, gave as much disappointment as pleasure. He was neither so unjust, nor so ungrateful, as to leave his estate from his nephew;--but he left it to him on such terms as destroyed half the value of the bequest. Mr. Dashwood had wished for it more for the sake of his wife and daughters than for himself or his son;--but to his son, and his son's son, a child of four years old, it was secured, in such a way, as to leave to himself no power of providing for those who were most dear to him, and who most needed a provision by any charge on the estate, or by any sale of its valuable woods. The whole was tied up for the benefit of this child, who, in occasional visits with his father and mother at Norland, had so far gained on the affections of his uncle, by such attractions as are by no means unusual in children of two or three years old; an imperfect articulation, an earnest desire of having his own way, many cunning tricks, and a great deal of noise, as to outweigh all the value of all the attention which, for years, he had received from his niece and her daughters. He meant not to be unkind, however, and, as a mark of his affection for the three girls, he left them a thousand pounds a-piece.
Mr. Dashwood's disappointment was, at first, severe; but his temper was cheerful and sanguine; and he might reasonably hope to live many years, and by living economically, lay by a considerable sum from the produce of an estate already large, and capable of almost immediate improvement. But the fortune, which had been so tardy in coming, was his only one twelvemonth. He survived his uncle no longer; and ten thousand pounds, including the late legacies, was all that remained for his widow and daughters.
His son was sent for as soon as his danger was known, and to him Mr. Dashwood recommended, with all the strength and urgency which illness could command, the interest of his mother-in-law and sisters.
Mr. John Dashwood had not the strong feelings of the rest of the family; but he was affected by a recommendation of such a nature at such a time, and he promised to do every thing in his power to make them comfortable. His father was rendered easy by such an assurance, and Mr. John Dashwood had then leisure to consider how much there might prudently be in his power to do for them.
He was not an ill-disposed young man, unless to be rather cold hearted and rather selfish is to be ill-disposed: but he was, in general, well respected; for he conducted himself with propriety in the discharge of his ordinary duties. Had he married a more amiable woman, he might have been made still more respectable than he was:--he might even have been made amiable himself; for he was very young when he married, and very fond of his wife. But Mrs. John Dashwood was a strong caricature of himself;-- more narrow-minded and selfish.
When he gave his promise to his father, he meditated within himself to increase the fortunes of his sisters by the present of a thousand pounds a-piece. He then really thought himself equal to it. The prospect of four thousand a-year, in addition to his present income, besides the remaining half of his own mother's fortune, warmed his heart, and made him feel capable of generosity. -- "Yes, he would give them three thousand pounds: it would be liberal and handsome! It would be enough to make them completely easy. Three thousand pounds! he could spare so considerable a sum with little inconvenience. "-- He thought of it all day long, and for many days successively, and he did not repent.
No sooner was his father's funeral over, than Mrs. John Dashwood, without sending any notice of her intention to her mother-in-law, arrived with her child and their attendants. No one could dispute her right to come; the house was her husband's from the moment of his father's decease; but the indelicacy of her conduct was so much the greater, and to a woman in Mrs. Dashwood's situation, with only common feelings, must have been highly unpleasing;-- but in HER mind there was a sense of honor so keen, a generosity so romantic, that any offence of the kind, by whomsoever given or received, was to her a source of immoveable disgust. Mrs. John Dashwood had never been a favourite with any of her husband's family; but she had had no opportunity, till the present, of shewing them with how little attention to the comfort of other people she could act when occasion required it.
So acutely did Mrs. Dashwood feel this ungracious behaviour, and so earnestly did she despise her daughter-in-law for it, that, on the arrival of the latter, she would have quitted the house for ever, had not the entreaty of her eldest girl induced her first to reflect on the propriety of going, and her own tender love for all her three children determined her afterwards to stay, and for their sakes avoid a breach with their brother.
Elinor, this eldest daughter, whose advice was so effectual, possessed a strength of understanding, and coolness of judgment, which qualified her, though only nineteen, to be the counsellor of her mother, and enabled her frequently to counteract, to the advantage of them all, that eagerness of mind in Mrs. Dashwood which must generally have led to imprudence. She had an excellent heart;--her disposition was affectionate, and her feelings were strong; but she knew how to govern them: it was a knowledge which her mother had yet to learn; and which one of her sisters had resolved never to be taught.
Marianne's abilities were, in many respects, quite equal to Elinor's. She was sensible and clever; but eager in everything: her sorrows, her joys, could have no moderation. She was generous, amiable, interesting: she was everything but prudent. The resemblance between her and her mother was strikingly great.
Elinor saw, with concern, the excess of her sister's sensibility; but by Mrs. Dashwood it was valued and cherished. They encouraged each other now in the violence of their affliction. The agony of grief which overpowered them at first, was voluntarily renewed, was sought for, was created again and again. They gave themselves up wholly to their sorrow, seeking increase of wretchedness in every reflection that could afford it, and resolved against ever admitting consolation in future. Elinor, too, was deeply afflicted; but still she could struggle, she could exert herself. She could consult with her brother, could receive her sister-in-law on her arrival, and treat her with proper attention; and could strive to rouse her mother to similar exertion, and encourage her to similar forbearance.
Margaret, the other sister, was a good-humored, well-disposed girl; but as she had already imbibed a good deal of Marianne's romance, without having much of her sense, she did not, at thirteen, bid fair to equal her sisters at a more advanced period of life.
yuē hàn． dá shí wǔ dé fū rén rú jīn dāng shàng liǎo nuò lán zhuāng yuán de nǚ zhù rén， tā de pó mǔ hé xiǎo gū men fǎn 'ér luò dào jì rén lí xià de jìng dì。 bù guò， zhè me yī lái， tā dài tā men fǎn dǎo wén jìng kè qì qǐ lái。 tā zhàng fū duì tā men yě hé hé qì qì de， tā chú liǎo duì zì jǐ hé zì jǐ de lǎo pó hái zǐ zhī wài， duì bié rén chōng qí liàng yě zhǐ néng rú cǐ。 tā pō wéi kěnqiè dì qǐng qiú tā men bǎ nuò lán zhuāng yuán dāng zuò zì jǐ de jiā。 dá shí wǔ dé tài tài jué dé yī shí zài zuǒ jìn zhǎo bù dào hé shì de fáng zǐ， bù rú zàn qiě dāi zài zhè lǐ， yú shì biàn jiē shòu liǎo tā de qǐng qiú，
duì yú dá shí wǔ dé tài tài lái shuō， dāi zài gè lǎo dì fāng， suí shí suí dì dōunéng huí xiǎng qǐ xī rì de huān lè， dǎo yě zài chènxīn bù guò liǎo。 pèng dào gāo xīng de shí hòu， shuí yě méi yòu tā nà yàng kāi xīn， nà yàng lè guān dì qī dài zhe xìng fú de dào lái， fǎng fó qī dài běn shēn jiù shì yī zhǒng xìng fú shìde。 kě shì yī yù dào shāng xīn shì， tā yě tóng yàng hú sī luàn xiǎng， shī qù cháng tài， tóng tā gāo xīng shí bù néng zì jǐ yī yàng， tā shāng xīn qǐ lái yě shì wú fǎ jiě tuō de。
yuē hàn． dá shí wǔ dé fū rén gēn běn bù zàn chéng zhàng fū zī zhù tā jǐ gè mèi mèi， cóng tā men xiǎo bǎo bèi de cái chǎn zhōng wā diào sān qiān bàng， qǐ bù shì bǎ tā guā chéng qióng guāng dàn liǎo má？ tā qǐng zhàng fū chóngxīn kǎo lǜ zhè jiàn shì。 zì jǐ de hái zǐ， ér qiě shì dú shēng zǐ， tā zěn me rěn xīn bō duó tā zhè me yī dà bǐ qián yā？ jǐ wèi dá shí wǔ dé xiǎo jiě yǔ tā zhǐ shì tóng fù yì mǔ xiōng mèi， tā rèn wéi zhè gēn běn suàn bù shàng shénme qīn shǔ guān xì， tā men yòu shénme quán lì lǐng shòu tā zhè yàng kāng kǎi de zī zhù？ rén suǒ zhōu zhī， tóng fù yì nǚ zhī jiān lì lái bù cún zài shénme gǎn qíng， kě tā wèishénme piān yào bǎ zì jǐ de qián cái sòng gěi tóng fù yì mǔ mèi mèi， huǐ zì yǐ， yě huǐ tā men kě lián de xiǎo hā lǐ？
“ wǒ fù qīn lín zhōng yòu zhǔ fù，” zhàng fū huí dá shuō，“ yào wǒ bāng zhù guǎ mǔ hé mèi mèi men。”
“ tā zhǔn shì zài shuō hú huà。 nà zhèn zǐ， tā shí yòu shì shén zhì bù qīng liǎo， yào bù rán tā jiù bù huì yì xiǎng tiān kāi dì yào nǐ bǎ zì jǐ hái zǐ de cái chǎn bái bái sòng diào yī bàn。”
“ qīn 'ài de fàn nī， tā dǎo méi yòu guī dìng jù tǐ shù mù， zhǐ shì lǒngtǒng dì yào qiú wǒ bāng zhù tā men， shǐ tā men de jìng kuàng hǎo yī xiē， tā shì wú néng wéi lì lā。 yě xǔ tā bù rú suǒ xìng bǎ shì qíng quán bù jiāo gěi wǒ。 tā zǒng bù huì rèn wéi wǒ huì dài màn tā men bā。 kě tā ràng wǒ xǔ nuò shí， wǒ yòu bù néng bù yìng chéng； qǐ mǎ zài dāng shí， wǒ shì zhè me xiǎng de。 yú shì， wǒ xǔ nuò liǎo， ér qiě hái bì xū duì xiàn。 tā men zǎo wǎn yào lí kāi nuò lán zhuāng yuán， dào bié chù 'ān jiā， zǒng dé bāng tā men yī bǎ bā。”
“ nà hǎo， jiù bāng tā men yī bǎ bā， kě shì bāng héng bǎ hé bì yào sān gān bàng， nǐ xiǎng xiǎng kàn，” tā jiē xià qù shuō dào，“ nà qián yī dàn pāo chū qù， kě jiù zài yě shōu bù mù lái liǎo。 nǐ nà xiē mèi mèi yī chū jià， nà qián bù jiù wú yǐng wú zōng lā。 zhēn shì de， zhè qián yào shì néng huí dào wǒ men kě lián de xiǎo 'ér zǐ shǒu lǐ……”
“ ò， dāng rán，” zhàng fū yī běn zhèng jīng dì shuō dào，“ nà kě jiù liǎo bù dé lā。 yòu cháo yī rì， hā lǐ huì yuàn hèn wǒ men gěi tā sòng diào zhè me yī dà bǐ qián。 tā yī dàn rén dīng xīng wàng qǐ lái， zhè bǐ kuǎn zǐ kě jiù pài dà yòng chǎng liǎo。”
“ shuí shuō bù shì ní。”
“ zhè me shuō， bù rú bǎ qián jiǎn diào yī bàn， zhè huò xǔ duì dà jiādōu yòu hǎo chù。 huì tā men yī rén wǔ bǎi bàng， tā men yě gòu fā dà cái de liǎo。”
“ ò， dāng rán shì fā dà cái liǎo！ shì shàng nǎ gè zuò gē gē de néng zhè yàng zhào yìng mèi mèi， jí shǐ shì duì dài qīn mèi mèi， lián nǐ de yī bàn yě zuò bù dào！ hé kuàng nǐ men zhǐ shì tóng fù yì mǔ guān xì！ kě nǐ què zhè yàng kāng kǎi jiě náng。”
“ wǒ zuò shì bù xǐ huān xiǎo jiā zǐ qì，” zuò zhàng fū de huí dá shuō，“ féng dào zhè dāng kǒu， rén nìngkě dà shǒu dà jiǎo， ér bié xiǎo lǐ xiǎo qì。 zhì shǎo bù huì yòu rén jué dé wǒ kuī dài liǎo tā men， jiù lián tā men zì jǐ yě bù huì yòu gèng gāo de qī wàng liǎo。”
“ shuí zhī dào tā men yòu shénme qī wàng，” fū rén shuō dào，“ bù guò， wǒ men yě fàn bù zhe qù kǎo lǜ tā men de qī wàng。 wèn tí zài yú： nǐ néng ná dé chū duō shǎo。”
“ nà dāng rán， wǒ xiǎng wǒ kě yǐ gěi tā men měi rén wǔ bǎi bàng， qí shí， jí biàn méi yòu wǒ zhè fèn bǔ tiē， tā men de mǔ qīn yī sǐ， tā men měi réndōu néng dé dào sān gān duō bàng， duì yú yī gè nián qīng nǚ zǐ lái shuō， zhè shì yī bǐ xiāng dāng bù cuò de cái chǎn lā。”
“ shuí shuō bù shì ní！ shuō shí zài de， wǒ kàn tā men gēn běn bù xū yào 'é wài bǔ tiē liǎo。 tā men yòu yī wàn bàng kě fēn。 yào shì chū liǎo jià， rì zǐ kěn dìng fù dé hěn。 jí shǐ bù chū jià， jiù kào nà yī wàn bàng dé lái de lì xī， yě néng zài yī qǐ shēng huó dé shū shū fú fú de。”
“ díquè rú cǐ。 suǒ yǐ wǒ zài zhuó mó， zhěng gè lái kàn， chèn tā men mǔ qīn huó zhe de shí hòu， gěi tā diǎn bǔ tiē， zhè shì bù shì bǐ gěi tā men gèng kě qǔ ní？ wǒ de yì sī shì gěi tā diǎn nián jīn shénme de。 zhè gè bàn fǎ chǎn shēng de liáng hǎo xiào guǒ， wǒ mèi mèi hé tā men de mǔ qīn dōunéng gǎn jué dé dào。 yī nián chū yī bǎi bàng， guǎn jiào tā men quándōu xīn mǎn yì zú。”
rán 'ér， tā qī zǐ méi yòu mǎ shàng tóng yì zhè gè jìhuà， tā yóu yù liǎo yī huì 'ér。
“ dāng rán，” tā shuō， zhè bǐ yī xià zǐ sòng diào yī qiān wǔ bǎi bàng yào hǎo。 bù guò， yào shì dá shí wǔ dé tài tài huó shàng shí wǔ nián， wǒ men qǐ bù shàng liǎo dà dāng。”
“ shí wǔ nián！ wǒ qīn 'ài de fàn nī， jiù tā nà mìng yā， lián zhè yī bàn shí jiān yě huó bù dào。”
“ dāng rán huó bù dào。 bù guò， nǐ liú xīn guān chá yī xià， rén yào shì néng lǐng dào yī diǎn nián jīn de huà， zǒng shì huó gè méi wán méi liǎo。 tā shēn qiáng lì zhuàng de， hái bù dào sì shí suì。 nián jīn kě bù shì nào zhe wán de， yī nián yī nián dì gěi xià qù， dào shí xiǎng shuǎi dū shuǎi bù diào。 nǐ bù dǒng zhè zhǒng shì， wǒ kě tǐ yàn dào gěi nián jīn de bù shǎo kǔ chǔ， yīn wéi wǒ mǔ qīn zūn zhào wǒ fù qīn de yí zhǔ， nián nián yào xiàng sān gè lǎo pú rén zhī fù tuì xiū jīn， tā fā xiàn zhè shì tǎo yàn jí liǎo。 zhè xiē tuì xiū jīn měi nián zhī fù liǎng cì， yào sòng dào pú rén shǒu lǐ kě má fán liǎo。 cǐ hòu tīng shuō yòu yī gè pú rén sǐ liǎo， kě hòu lái fā xiàn bìng méi yòu zhè huí shì。 wǒ mǔ qīn shāng tòu liǎo nǎo jīn。 tā shuō， tā de cái chǎn bèi zhè yàng cháng jiǔ guā xià qù， tā nǎ lǐ hái zuòde liǎo zhù？ zhè dū guài wǒ fù qīn tài hěn xīn， bù rán zhè qián hái bù dōushì wǒ mǔ qīn de， ài zěn me yòng jiù zěn me yòng。 jiā jīn， wǒ duì nián jīn zēng 'è tòu liǎo， yào shì jiào wǒ gěi nǎ gè rén fù nián jīn， wǒ shuō shénme yě bù gān。”
“ yī gè rén de shōu rù nián nián zhè yàng xiāo hào xià qù，” dá shí wǔ dé xiān shēng shuō，“ zhè dāng rán shì jiàn bù tōu kuài de shì qíng。 nǐ mǔ qīn shuō dé duì， zhè cái chǎn jiù bù yóu zì jǐ zuò zhù liǎo。 yī dào nián jīn zhī fù rì， dōuyào zhào lì zhī chū yī bǐ qián， zhèzhāo shí yòu xiē tǎo yàn： tā bō duó liǎo yī gè rén de zì zhù quán。”
“ nà hái yòng shuō。 jìn guǎn rú cǐ， nǐ hái bù tǎo hǎo。 tā men jué dé zì jǐ dào qī lǐng qǔ， wàn wú yī shī， ér nǐ yòu bù huì zài duō gěi， suǒ yǐ duì nǐ yā gēn 'ér bù lǐng qíng。 wǒ yào shì nǐ yā， bù guǎn zuò shí me shì， yī dìng zì zuò cái duó。 wǒ jué bù huì zuò jiǎn zì fù， qù gěi tā men shénme nián jīn。 féng dào mǒu xiē nián tóu， nǐ yào cóng zì jǐ de huā xiāo zhōng chōu shēng yī bǎi bàng， shèn zhì wǔ shí bàng， kě bù nà me róng yì。”
“ qīn 'ài de， wǒ kàn nǐ shuō dé duì， zhè shì hái shì bù gǎo nián jīn wéi hǎo。 ǒu 'ěr gěi tā men jǐ gè qián， bǐ gěi nián jīn yòu yì dé duō， yīn wéi qián gěi duō liǎo， tā men zhǐ huì biàn dé dà shǒu dà jiǎo， dào liǎo nián dǐ． yī gè xiǎo qián yě duō bù chū lái。 zhè shì gè zuì hǎo bù guò de bàn fǎ。 bù dìng shí dì sòng tā men wǔ shí bàng， zhè yàng tā men shénme shí hòu yě bù huì quē qián yòng， wǒ hái néng chōng fēn lǚ xíng wǒ duì fù qīn de nuò yán。”
“ dāng rán rú cǐ。 shuō shí zài huà， wǒ rèn wéi nǐ fù qīn gēn běn méi yòu ràng nǐ zī zhù tā men de yì sī。 wǒ gǎn shuō， tā suǒ wèi de bāng zhù， bù guò shì ràng nǐ hé qíng hé lǐ dì bāng diǎn máng， bǐ fāng tì tā men zhǎo zuò shū shì de xiǎo fáng zǐ lā， bāng tā men bān bān dōng xī lā， děng jì jié dào liǎo gěi tā men sòng diǎn xiān yú yě wèi lā， děng děng。 wǒ gǎn yǐ xìng mìng dān bǎo， tā méi yòu bié de yì sī； yào bù rán， qǐ bù chéng liǎo duō duō guài shì。 qīn 'ài de dá shí wǔ dé xiān shēng， nǐ zhǐ yào xiǎng yī xiǎng， nǐ jì mǔ hé tā de nǚ 'ér men kào zhe nà qī qiān bàng dé lái de lì xī， huì guò shàng duō me shū shì de rì zǐ 'ā。 kuàng qiě měi gè nǚ 'ér hái yòu yī qiān bàng， měi nián néng gěi měi rén dài lái wǔ shí bàng de shōu yì。 dāng rán lā， tā men huì cóng zhōng ná lái xiàng mǔ qīn jiǎo nà huǒ shí fèi de。 zǒng jì qǐ lái， tā men yī nián yòu wǔ bǎi bàng de shōu rù， jiù nà me sì gè nǚ rén jiā， zhè xiē qián hái bù gòu má？ tā men de huā xiāo shǎo dé hěn！ guǎn lǐ jiā wù bù chéng wèn tí。 tā men yī wú mǎ chē， èr wú mǎ pǐ， yě bù yòng gù pú rén。 tā men bù gēn wài rén lái wǎng， shénme kāi zhī yě méi yòu！ nǐ kàn tā men yòu duō shū fú！ yī nián wǔ bǎi bàng 'ā！ wǒ jiǎn zhí wú fǎ xiǎng xiàng tā men nǎ néng huā diào yī bàn。 zhì yú shuō nǐ xiǎng zài gěi tā men qián， wèi miǎn tài huāng dàn liǎo bā， lùn cái lì， tā men gěi nǐ diǎn dǎo chàbù duō。”
“ yō！” dá shí wǔ dé xiān shēng shuō，“ nǐ shuō dé zhēn shì yī diǎn bù jiǎ。 wǒ fù qīn duì wǒ de yào qiú， chú liǎo nǐ shuō de zhī wài， kěn dìng méi yòu bié de yì sī。 wǒ xiàn zài gǎo qīng chǔ liǎo， wǒ yào yán gé lǚ xíng wǒ de nuò yán， zhào nǐ shuō de， wéi tā men bāng diǎn máng， zuò diǎn hǎo shì。 děng wǒ mǔ qīn bān jiā de shí hòu， wǒ yī dìng jìn lì bāng tā 'ān dùn hǎo， hái kě yǐ sòng tā diǎn xiǎo jiàn jiā shí。”
“ dāng rán，” yuē hàn． dá shí wǔ dé fū rén shuō，“ dàn shì， yòu yī diǎn nǐ hái dé kǎo lǜ。 nǐ fù mǔ qīn bān jìn nuò lán zhuāng yuán shí， sī tǎn xī 'ěr nà lǐ de jiā jù suī shuō dū mài liǎo， kě nà xiē cí qì、 jīn yín qì mǐn hé yà má tái bù dū hái bǎo cún zhe， tǒng tǒng liú gěi liǎo nǐ mǔ qīn。 yīn cǐ， tā yī bān jiā， wū lǐ zhǔn bǎi dé kuò kuò qì qì de。”
“ nǐ kǎo lǜ dé zhēn zhōu dào。 nà kě shì xiē chuán jiā bǎo 'ā ! yòu xiē jīn yín qì mǐn sòng gěi wǒ men kě jiù měi lā。”
“ jiù shì má。 nà tào cí qì cān jù yě bǐ wǒ men jiā de piào liàng duō liǎo。 wǒ kàn tài piào liàng liǎo， tā men de fáng lǐ gēn běn bù yòng pèi bǎi shè。 bù guò， shì qíng jiù zhè me bù gōng píng。 nǐ fù qīn guāng xiǎng zhe tā men。 wǒ shí duì nǐ shuō bā： nǐ bìng bù qiàn nǐ fù qīn de qíng， bù yòng lǐ cǎi tā de yí yuàn， yīn wéi wǒ men xīn lǐ yòu shù， tā ruò shì bàn dé dào de huà， zhǔn huì bǎ suǒ yòu cái chǎn dū liú gěi tā men de。”
zhè gè lùn diǎn shì wú kě zhēng biàn de。 rú guǒ dá shí wǔ dé xiān shēng xiān qián hái yòu diǎn xià bù liǎo jué xīn de huà， zhè xià zǐ kě jiù tiě liǎo xīn lā。 tā zuì hòu jué dìng， duì tā fù qīn de yí shuāng hé nǚ 'ér， àn tā qī zǐ shuō de， xiàng lín jū shì dì bāng bāng máng yě jiù zú gòu liǎo； yuè cǐ léi chí yī bù， bù shuō yòu shī tǐ tǒng， yě shì jué duì duō yú de。
A continuance in a place where everything reminded her of former delight, was exactly what suited her mind. In seasons of cheerfulness, no temper could be more cheerful than hers, or possess, in a greater degree, that sanguine expectation of happiness which is happiness itself. But in sorrow she must be equally carried away by her fancy, and as far beyond consolation as in pleasure she was beyond alloy.
Mrs. John Dashwood did not at all approve of what her husband intended to do for his sisters. To take three thousand pounds from the fortune of their dear little boy would be impoverishing him to the most dreadful degree. She begged him to think again on the subject. How could he answer it to himself to rob his child, and his only child too, of so large a sum? And what possible claim could the Miss Dashwoods, who were related to him only by half blood, which she considered as no relationship at all, have on his generosity to so large an amount. It was very well known that no affection was ever supposed to exist between the children of any man by different marriages; and why was he to ruin himself, and their poor little Harry, by giving away all his money to his half sisters?
"It was my father's last request to me, " replied her husband, "that I should assist his widow and daughters. "
"He did not know what he was talking of, I dare say; ten to one but he was light-headed at the time. Had he been in his right senses, he could not have thought of such a thing as begging you to give away half your fortune from your own child. "
"He did not stipulate for any particular sum, my dear Fanny; he only requested me, in general terms, to assist them, and make their situation more comfortable than it was in his power to do. Perhaps it would have been as well if he had left it wholly to myself. He could hardly suppose I should neglect them. But as he required the promise, I could not do less than give it; at least I thought so at the time. The promise, therefore, was given, and must be performed. Something must be done for them whenever they leave Norland and settle in a new home. "
"Well, then, LET something be done for them; but THAT something need not be three thousand pounds. Consider, " she added, "that when the money is once parted with, it never can return. Your sisters will marry, and it will be gone for ever. If, indeed, it could be restored to our poor little boy--"
"Why, to be sure, " said her husband, very gravely, "that would make great difference. The time may come when Harry will regret that so large a sum was parted with. If he should have a numerous family, for instance, it would be a very convenient addition. "
"To be sure it would. "
"Perhaps, then, it would be better for all parties, if the sum were diminished one half. --Five hundred pounds would be a prodigious increase to their fortunes!"
"Oh! beyond anything great! What brother on earth would do half so much for his sisters, even if REALLY his sisters! And as it is--only half blood!--But you have such a generous spirit!"
"I would not wish to do any thing mean, " he replied. "One had rather, on such occasions, do too much than too little. No one, at least, can think I have not done enough for them: even themselves, they can hardly expect more. "
"There is no knowing what THEY may expect, " said the lady, "but we are not to think of their expectations: the question is, what you can afford to do. "
"Certainly--and I think I may afford to give them five hundred pounds a-piece. As it is, without any addition of mine, they will each have about three thousand pounds on their mother's death--a very comfortable fortune for any young woman. "
"To be sure it is; and, indeed, it strikes me that they can want no addition at all. They will have ten thousand pounds divided amongst them. If they marry, they will be sure of doing well, and if they do not, they may all live very comfortably together on the interest of ten thousand pounds. "
"That is very true, and, therefore, I do not know whether, upon the whole, it would not be more advisable to do something for their mother while she lives, rather than for them--something of the annuity kind I mean. --My sisters would feel the good effects of it as well as herself. A hundred a year would make them all perfectly comfortable. "
His wife hesitated a little, however, in giving her consent to this plan.
"To be sure, " said she, "it is better than parting with fifteen hundred pounds at once. But, then, if Mrs. Dashwood should live fifteen years we shall be completely taken in. "
"Fifteen years! my dear Fanny; her life cannot be worth half that purchase. "
"Certainly not; but if you observe, people always live for ever when there is an annuity to be paid them; and she is very stout and healthy, and hardly forty. An annuity is a very serious business; it comes over and over every year, and there is no getting rid of it. You are not aware of what you are doing. I have known a great deal of the trouble of annuities; for my mother was clogged with the payment of three to old superannuated servants by my father's will, and it is amazing how disagreeable she found it. Twice every year these annuities were to be paid; and then there was the trouble of getting it to them; and then one of them was said to have died, and afterwards it turned out to be no such thing. My mother was quite sick of it. Her income was not her own, she said, with such perpetual claims on it; and it was the more unkind in my father, because, otherwise, the money would have been entirely at my mother's disposal, without any restriction whatever. It has given me such an abhorrence of annuities, that I am sure I would not pin myself down to the payment of one for all the world. "
"It is certainly an unpleasant thing, " replied Mr. Dashwood, "to have those kind of yearly drains on one's income. One's fortune, as your mother justly says, is NOT one's own. To be tied down to the regular payment of such a sum, on every rent day, is by no means desirable: it takes away one's independence. "
"Undoubtedly; and after all you have no thanks for it. They think themselves secure, you do no more than what is expected, and it raises no gratitude at all. If I were you, whatever I did should be done at my own discretion entirely. I would not bind myself to allow them any thing yearly. It may be very inconvenient some years to spare a hundred, or even fifty pounds from our own expenses. "
"I believe you are right, my love; it will be better that there should by no annuity in the case; whatever I may give them occasionally will be of far greater assistance than a yearly allowance, because they would only enlarge their style of living if they felt sure of a larger income, and would not be sixpence the richer for it at the end of the year. It will certainly be much the best way. A present of fifty pounds, now and then, will prevent their ever being distressed for money, and will, I think, be amply discharging my promise to my father. "
"To be sure it will. Indeed, to say the truth, I am convinced within myself that your father had no idea of your giving them any money at all. The assistance he thought of, I dare say, was only such as might be reasonably expected of you; for instance, such as looking out for a comfortable small house for them, helping them to move their things, and sending them presents of fish and game, and so forth, whenever they are in season. I'll lay my life that he meant nothing farther; indeed, it would be very strange and unreasonable if he did. Do but consider, my dear Mr. Dashwood, how excessively comfortable your mother-in-law and her daughters may live on the interest of seven thousand pounds, besides the thousand pounds belonging to each of the girls, which brings them in fifty pounds a year a-piece, and, of course, they will pay their mother for their board out of it. Altogether, they will have five hundred a-year amongst them, and what on earth can four women want for more than that?--They will live so cheap! Their housekeeping will be nothing at all. They will have no carriage, no horses, and hardly any servants; they will keep no company, and can have no expenses of any kind! Only conceive how comfortable they will be! Five hundred a year! I am sure I cannot imagine how they will spend half of it; and as to your giving them more, it is quite absurd to think of it. They will be much more able to give YOU something. "
"Upon my word, " said Mr. Dashwood, "I believe you are perfectly right. My father certainly could mean nothing more by his request to me than what you say. I clearly understand it now, and I will strictly fulfil my engagement by such acts of assistance and kindness to them as you have described. When my mother removes into another house my services shall be readily given to accommodate her as far as I can. Some little present of furniture too may be acceptable then. "
"Certainly, " returned Mrs. John Dashwood. "But, however, ONE thing must be considered. When your father and mother moved to Norland, though the furniture of Stanhill was sold, all the china, plate, and linen was saved, and is now left to your mother. Her house will therefore be almost completely fitted up as soon as she takes it. "
"That is a material consideration undoubtedly. A valuable legacy indeed! And yet some of the plate would have been a very pleasant addition to our own stock here. "
"Yes; and the set of breakfast china is twice as handsome as what belongs to this house. A great deal too handsome, in my opinion, for any place THEY can ever afford to live in. But, however, so it is. Your father thought only of THEM. And I must say this: that you owe no particular gratitude to him, nor attention to his wishes; for we very well know that if he could, he would have left almost everything in the world to THEM. "
This argument was irresistible. It gave to his intentions whatever of decision was wanting before; and he finally resolved, that it would be absolutely unnecessary, if not highly indecorous, to do more for the widow and children of his father, than such kind of neighbourly acts as his own wife pointed out.
duì yú dá shí wǔ dé tài tài lái shuō， dāi zài gè lǎo dì fāng， suí shí suí dì dōunéng huí xiǎng qǐ xī rì de huān lè， dǎo yě zài chènxīn bù guò liǎo。 pèng dào gāo xīng de shí hòu， shuí yě méi yòu tā nà yàng kāi xīn， nà yàng lè guān dì qī dài zhe xìng fú de dào lái， fǎng fó qī dài běn shēn jiù shì yī zhǒng xìng fú shìde。 kě shì yī yù dào shāng xīn shì， tā yě tóng yàng hú sī luàn xiǎng， shī qù cháng tài， tóng tā gāo xīng shí bù néng zì jǐ yī yàng， tā shāng xīn qǐ lái yě shì wú fǎ jiě tuō de。
yuē hàn． dá shí wǔ dé fū rén gēn běn bù zàn chéng zhàng fū zī zhù tā jǐ gè mèi mèi， cóng tā men xiǎo bǎo bèi de cái chǎn zhōng wā diào sān qiān bàng， qǐ bù shì bǎ tā guā chéng qióng guāng dàn liǎo má？ tā qǐng zhàng fū chóngxīn kǎo lǜ zhè jiàn shì。 zì jǐ de hái zǐ， ér qiě shì dú shēng zǐ， tā zěn me rěn xīn bō duó tā zhè me yī dà bǐ qián yā？ jǐ wèi dá shí wǔ dé xiǎo jiě yǔ tā zhǐ shì tóng fù yì mǔ xiōng mèi， tā rèn wéi zhè gēn běn suàn bù shàng shénme qīn shǔ guān xì， tā men yòu shénme quán lì lǐng shòu tā zhè yàng kāng kǎi de zī zhù？ rén suǒ zhōu zhī， tóng fù yì nǚ zhī jiān lì lái bù cún zài shénme gǎn qíng， kě tā wèishénme piān yào bǎ zì jǐ de qián cái sòng gěi tóng fù yì mǔ mèi mèi， huǐ zì yǐ， yě huǐ tā men kě lián de xiǎo hā lǐ？
“ wǒ fù qīn lín zhōng yòu zhǔ fù，” zhàng fū huí dá shuō，“ yào wǒ bāng zhù guǎ mǔ hé mèi mèi men。”
“ tā zhǔn shì zài shuō hú huà。 nà zhèn zǐ， tā shí yòu shì shén zhì bù qīng liǎo， yào bù rán tā jiù bù huì yì xiǎng tiān kāi dì yào nǐ bǎ zì jǐ hái zǐ de cái chǎn bái bái sòng diào yī bàn。”
“ qīn 'ài de fàn nī， tā dǎo méi yòu guī dìng jù tǐ shù mù， zhǐ shì lǒngtǒng dì yào qiú wǒ bāng zhù tā men， shǐ tā men de jìng kuàng hǎo yī xiē， tā shì wú néng wéi lì lā。 yě xǔ tā bù rú suǒ xìng bǎ shì qíng quán bù jiāo gěi wǒ。 tā zǒng bù huì rèn wéi wǒ huì dài màn tā men bā。 kě tā ràng wǒ xǔ nuò shí， wǒ yòu bù néng bù yìng chéng； qǐ mǎ zài dāng shí， wǒ shì zhè me xiǎng de。 yú shì， wǒ xǔ nuò liǎo， ér qiě hái bì xū duì xiàn。 tā men zǎo wǎn yào lí kāi nuò lán zhuāng yuán， dào bié chù 'ān jiā， zǒng dé bāng tā men yī bǎ bā。”
“ nà hǎo， jiù bāng tā men yī bǎ bā， kě shì bāng héng bǎ hé bì yào sān gān bàng， nǐ xiǎng xiǎng kàn，” tā jiē xià qù shuō dào，“ nà qián yī dàn pāo chū qù， kě jiù zài yě shōu bù mù lái liǎo。 nǐ nà xiē mèi mèi yī chū jià， nà qián bù jiù wú yǐng wú zōng lā。 zhēn shì de， zhè qián yào shì néng huí dào wǒ men kě lián de xiǎo 'ér zǐ shǒu lǐ……”
“ ò， dāng rán，” zhàng fū yī běn zhèng jīng dì shuō dào，“ nà kě jiù liǎo bù dé lā。 yòu cháo yī rì， hā lǐ huì yuàn hèn wǒ men gěi tā sòng diào zhè me yī dà bǐ qián。 tā yī dàn rén dīng xīng wàng qǐ lái， zhè bǐ kuǎn zǐ kě jiù pài dà yòng chǎng liǎo。”
“ shuí shuō bù shì ní。”
“ zhè me shuō， bù rú bǎ qián jiǎn diào yī bàn， zhè huò xǔ duì dà jiādōu yòu hǎo chù。 huì tā men yī rén wǔ bǎi bàng， tā men yě gòu fā dà cái de liǎo。”
“ ò， dāng rán shì fā dà cái liǎo！ shì shàng nǎ gè zuò gē gē de néng zhè yàng zhào yìng mèi mèi， jí shǐ shì duì dài qīn mèi mèi， lián nǐ de yī bàn yě zuò bù dào！ hé kuàng nǐ men zhǐ shì tóng fù yì mǔ guān xì！ kě nǐ què zhè yàng kāng kǎi jiě náng。”
“ wǒ zuò shì bù xǐ huān xiǎo jiā zǐ qì，” zuò zhàng fū de huí dá shuō，“ féng dào zhè dāng kǒu， rén nìngkě dà shǒu dà jiǎo， ér bié xiǎo lǐ xiǎo qì。 zhì shǎo bù huì yòu rén jué dé wǒ kuī dài liǎo tā men， jiù lián tā men zì jǐ yě bù huì yòu gèng gāo de qī wàng liǎo。”
“ shuí zhī dào tā men yòu shénme qī wàng，” fū rén shuō dào，“ bù guò， wǒ men yě fàn bù zhe qù kǎo lǜ tā men de qī wàng。 wèn tí zài yú： nǐ néng ná dé chū duō shǎo。”
“ nà dāng rán， wǒ xiǎng wǒ kě yǐ gěi tā men měi rén wǔ bǎi bàng， qí shí， jí biàn méi yòu wǒ zhè fèn bǔ tiē， tā men de mǔ qīn yī sǐ， tā men měi réndōu néng dé dào sān gān duō bàng， duì yú yī gè nián qīng nǚ zǐ lái shuō， zhè shì yī bǐ xiāng dāng bù cuò de cái chǎn lā。”
“ shuí shuō bù shì ní！ shuō shí zài de， wǒ kàn tā men gēn běn bù xū yào 'é wài bǔ tiē liǎo。 tā men yòu yī wàn bàng kě fēn。 yào shì chū liǎo jià， rì zǐ kěn dìng fù dé hěn。 jí shǐ bù chū jià， jiù kào nà yī wàn bàng dé lái de lì xī， yě néng zài yī qǐ shēng huó dé shū shū fú fú de。”
“ díquè rú cǐ。 suǒ yǐ wǒ zài zhuó mó， zhěng gè lái kàn， chèn tā men mǔ qīn huó zhe de shí hòu， gěi tā diǎn bǔ tiē， zhè shì bù shì bǐ gěi tā men gèng kě qǔ ní？ wǒ de yì sī shì gěi tā diǎn nián jīn shénme de。 zhè gè bàn fǎ chǎn shēng de liáng hǎo xiào guǒ， wǒ mèi mèi hé tā men de mǔ qīn dōunéng gǎn jué dé dào。 yī nián chū yī bǎi bàng， guǎn jiào tā men quándōu xīn mǎn yì zú。”
rán 'ér， tā qī zǐ méi yòu mǎ shàng tóng yì zhè gè jìhuà， tā yóu yù liǎo yī huì 'ér。
“ dāng rán，” tā shuō， zhè bǐ yī xià zǐ sòng diào yī qiān wǔ bǎi bàng yào hǎo。 bù guò， yào shì dá shí wǔ dé tài tài huó shàng shí wǔ nián， wǒ men qǐ bù shàng liǎo dà dāng。”
“ shí wǔ nián！ wǒ qīn 'ài de fàn nī， jiù tā nà mìng yā， lián zhè yī bàn shí jiān yě huó bù dào。”
“ dāng rán huó bù dào。 bù guò， nǐ liú xīn guān chá yī xià， rén yào shì néng lǐng dào yī diǎn nián jīn de huà， zǒng shì huó gè méi wán méi liǎo。 tā shēn qiáng lì zhuàng de， hái bù dào sì shí suì。 nián jīn kě bù shì nào zhe wán de， yī nián yī nián dì gěi xià qù， dào shí xiǎng shuǎi dū shuǎi bù diào。 nǐ bù dǒng zhè zhǒng shì， wǒ kě tǐ yàn dào gěi nián jīn de bù shǎo kǔ chǔ， yīn wéi wǒ mǔ qīn zūn zhào wǒ fù qīn de yí zhǔ， nián nián yào xiàng sān gè lǎo pú rén zhī fù tuì xiū jīn， tā fā xiàn zhè shì tǎo yàn jí liǎo。 zhè xiē tuì xiū jīn měi nián zhī fù liǎng cì， yào sòng dào pú rén shǒu lǐ kě má fán liǎo。 cǐ hòu tīng shuō yòu yī gè pú rén sǐ liǎo， kě hòu lái fā xiàn bìng méi yòu zhè huí shì。 wǒ mǔ qīn shāng tòu liǎo nǎo jīn。 tā shuō， tā de cái chǎn bèi zhè yàng cháng jiǔ guā xià qù， tā nǎ lǐ hái zuòde liǎo zhù？ zhè dū guài wǒ fù qīn tài hěn xīn， bù rán zhè qián hái bù dōushì wǒ mǔ qīn de， ài zěn me yòng jiù zěn me yòng。 jiā jīn， wǒ duì nián jīn zēng 'è tòu liǎo， yào shì jiào wǒ gěi nǎ gè rén fù nián jīn， wǒ shuō shénme yě bù gān。”
“ yī gè rén de shōu rù nián nián zhè yàng xiāo hào xià qù，” dá shí wǔ dé xiān shēng shuō，“ zhè dāng rán shì jiàn bù tōu kuài de shì qíng。 nǐ mǔ qīn shuō dé duì， zhè cái chǎn jiù bù yóu zì jǐ zuò zhù liǎo。 yī dào nián jīn zhī fù rì， dōuyào zhào lì zhī chū yī bǐ qián， zhèzhāo shí yòu xiē tǎo yàn： tā bō duó liǎo yī gè rén de zì zhù quán。”
“ nà hái yòng shuō。 jìn guǎn rú cǐ， nǐ hái bù tǎo hǎo。 tā men jué dé zì jǐ dào qī lǐng qǔ， wàn wú yī shī， ér nǐ yòu bù huì zài duō gěi， suǒ yǐ duì nǐ yā gēn 'ér bù lǐng qíng。 wǒ yào shì nǐ yā， bù guǎn zuò shí me shì， yī dìng zì zuò cái duó。 wǒ jué bù huì zuò jiǎn zì fù， qù gěi tā men shénme nián jīn。 féng dào mǒu xiē nián tóu， nǐ yào cóng zì jǐ de huā xiāo zhōng chōu shēng yī bǎi bàng， shèn zhì wǔ shí bàng， kě bù nà me róng yì。”
“ qīn 'ài de， wǒ kàn nǐ shuō dé duì， zhè shì hái shì bù gǎo nián jīn wéi hǎo。 ǒu 'ěr gěi tā men jǐ gè qián， bǐ gěi nián jīn yòu yì dé duō， yīn wéi qián gěi duō liǎo， tā men zhǐ huì biàn dé dà shǒu dà jiǎo， dào liǎo nián dǐ． yī gè xiǎo qián yě duō bù chū lái。 zhè shì gè zuì hǎo bù guò de bàn fǎ。 bù dìng shí dì sòng tā men wǔ shí bàng， zhè yàng tā men shénme shí hòu yě bù huì quē qián yòng， wǒ hái néng chōng fēn lǚ xíng wǒ duì fù qīn de nuò yán。”
“ dāng rán rú cǐ。 shuō shí zài huà， wǒ rèn wéi nǐ fù qīn gēn běn méi yòu ràng nǐ zī zhù tā men de yì sī。 wǒ gǎn shuō， tā suǒ wèi de bāng zhù， bù guò shì ràng nǐ hé qíng hé lǐ dì bāng diǎn máng， bǐ fāng tì tā men zhǎo zuò shū shì de xiǎo fáng zǐ lā， bāng tā men bān bān dōng xī lā， děng jì jié dào liǎo gěi tā men sòng diǎn xiān yú yě wèi lā， děng děng。 wǒ gǎn yǐ xìng mìng dān bǎo， tā méi yòu bié de yì sī； yào bù rán， qǐ bù chéng liǎo duō duō guài shì。 qīn 'ài de dá shí wǔ dé xiān shēng， nǐ zhǐ yào xiǎng yī xiǎng， nǐ jì mǔ hé tā de nǚ 'ér men kào zhe nà qī qiān bàng dé lái de lì xī， huì guò shàng duō me shū shì de rì zǐ 'ā。 kuàng qiě měi gè nǚ 'ér hái yòu yī qiān bàng， měi nián néng gěi měi rén dài lái wǔ shí bàng de shōu yì。 dāng rán lā， tā men huì cóng zhōng ná lái xiàng mǔ qīn jiǎo nà huǒ shí fèi de。 zǒng jì qǐ lái， tā men yī nián yòu wǔ bǎi bàng de shōu rù， jiù nà me sì gè nǚ rén jiā， zhè xiē qián hái bù gòu má？ tā men de huā xiāo shǎo dé hěn！ guǎn lǐ jiā wù bù chéng wèn tí。 tā men yī wú mǎ chē， èr wú mǎ pǐ， yě bù yòng gù pú rén。 tā men bù gēn wài rén lái wǎng， shénme kāi zhī yě méi yòu！ nǐ kàn tā men yòu duō shū fú！ yī nián wǔ bǎi bàng 'ā！ wǒ jiǎn zhí wú fǎ xiǎng xiàng tā men nǎ néng huā diào yī bàn。 zhì yú shuō nǐ xiǎng zài gěi tā men qián， wèi miǎn tài huāng dàn liǎo bā， lùn cái lì， tā men gěi nǐ diǎn dǎo chàbù duō。”
“ yō！” dá shí wǔ dé xiān shēng shuō，“ nǐ shuō dé zhēn shì yī diǎn bù jiǎ。 wǒ fù qīn duì wǒ de yào qiú， chú liǎo nǐ shuō de zhī wài， kěn dìng méi yòu bié de yì sī。 wǒ xiàn zài gǎo qīng chǔ liǎo， wǒ yào yán gé lǚ xíng wǒ de nuò yán， zhào nǐ shuō de， wéi tā men bāng diǎn máng， zuò diǎn hǎo shì。 děng wǒ mǔ qīn bān jiā de shí hòu， wǒ yī dìng jìn lì bāng tā 'ān dùn hǎo， hái kě yǐ sòng tā diǎn xiǎo jiàn jiā shí。”
“ dāng rán，” yuē hàn． dá shí wǔ dé fū rén shuō，“ dàn shì， yòu yī diǎn nǐ hái dé kǎo lǜ。 nǐ fù mǔ qīn bān jìn nuò lán zhuāng yuán shí， sī tǎn xī 'ěr nà lǐ de jiā jù suī shuō dū mài liǎo， kě nà xiē cí qì、 jīn yín qì mǐn hé yà má tái bù dū hái bǎo cún zhe， tǒng tǒng liú gěi liǎo nǐ mǔ qīn。 yīn cǐ， tā yī bān jiā， wū lǐ zhǔn bǎi dé kuò kuò qì qì de。”
“ nǐ kǎo lǜ dé zhēn zhōu dào。 nà kě shì xiē chuán jiā bǎo 'ā ! yòu xiē jīn yín qì mǐn sòng gěi wǒ men kě jiù měi lā。”
“ jiù shì má。 nà tào cí qì cān jù yě bǐ wǒ men jiā de piào liàng duō liǎo。 wǒ kàn tài piào liàng liǎo， tā men de fáng lǐ gēn běn bù yòng pèi bǎi shè。 bù guò， shì qíng jiù zhè me bù gōng píng。 nǐ fù qīn guāng xiǎng zhe tā men。 wǒ shí duì nǐ shuō bā： nǐ bìng bù qiàn nǐ fù qīn de qíng， bù yòng lǐ cǎi tā de yí yuàn， yīn wéi wǒ men xīn lǐ yòu shù， tā ruò shì bàn dé dào de huà， zhǔn huì bǎ suǒ yòu cái chǎn dū liú gěi tā men de。”
zhè gè lùn diǎn shì wú kě zhēng biàn de。 rú guǒ dá shí wǔ dé xiān shēng xiān qián hái yòu diǎn xià bù liǎo jué xīn de huà， zhè xià zǐ kě jiù tiě liǎo xīn lā。 tā zuì hòu jué dìng， duì tā fù qīn de yí shuāng hé nǚ 'ér， àn tā qī zǐ shuō de， xiàng lín jū shì dì bāng bāng máng yě jiù zú gòu liǎo； yuè cǐ léi chí yī bù， bù shuō yòu shī tǐ tǒng， yě shì jué duì duō yú de。
A continuance in a place where everything reminded her of former delight, was exactly what suited her mind. In seasons of cheerfulness, no temper could be more cheerful than hers, or possess, in a greater degree, that sanguine expectation of happiness which is happiness itself. But in sorrow she must be equally carried away by her fancy, and as far beyond consolation as in pleasure she was beyond alloy.
Mrs. John Dashwood did not at all approve of what her husband intended to do for his sisters. To take three thousand pounds from the fortune of their dear little boy would be impoverishing him to the most dreadful degree. She begged him to think again on the subject. How could he answer it to himself to rob his child, and his only child too, of so large a sum? And what possible claim could the Miss Dashwoods, who were related to him only by half blood, which she considered as no relationship at all, have on his generosity to so large an amount. It was very well known that no affection was ever supposed to exist between the children of any man by different marriages; and why was he to ruin himself, and their poor little Harry, by giving away all his money to his half sisters?
"It was my father's last request to me, " replied her husband, "that I should assist his widow and daughters. "
"He did not know what he was talking of, I dare say; ten to one but he was light-headed at the time. Had he been in his right senses, he could not have thought of such a thing as begging you to give away half your fortune from your own child. "
"He did not stipulate for any particular sum, my dear Fanny; he only requested me, in general terms, to assist them, and make their situation more comfortable than it was in his power to do. Perhaps it would have been as well if he had left it wholly to myself. He could hardly suppose I should neglect them. But as he required the promise, I could not do less than give it; at least I thought so at the time. The promise, therefore, was given, and must be performed. Something must be done for them whenever they leave Norland and settle in a new home. "
"Well, then, LET something be done for them; but THAT something need not be three thousand pounds. Consider, " she added, "that when the money is once parted with, it never can return. Your sisters will marry, and it will be gone for ever. If, indeed, it could be restored to our poor little boy--"
"Why, to be sure, " said her husband, very gravely, "that would make great difference. The time may come when Harry will regret that so large a sum was parted with. If he should have a numerous family, for instance, it would be a very convenient addition. "
"To be sure it would. "
"Perhaps, then, it would be better for all parties, if the sum were diminished one half. --Five hundred pounds would be a prodigious increase to their fortunes!"
"Oh! beyond anything great! What brother on earth would do half so much for his sisters, even if REALLY his sisters! And as it is--only half blood!--But you have such a generous spirit!"
"I would not wish to do any thing mean, " he replied. "One had rather, on such occasions, do too much than too little. No one, at least, can think I have not done enough for them: even themselves, they can hardly expect more. "
"There is no knowing what THEY may expect, " said the lady, "but we are not to think of their expectations: the question is, what you can afford to do. "
"Certainly--and I think I may afford to give them five hundred pounds a-piece. As it is, without any addition of mine, they will each have about three thousand pounds on their mother's death--a very comfortable fortune for any young woman. "
"To be sure it is; and, indeed, it strikes me that they can want no addition at all. They will have ten thousand pounds divided amongst them. If they marry, they will be sure of doing well, and if they do not, they may all live very comfortably together on the interest of ten thousand pounds. "
"That is very true, and, therefore, I do not know whether, upon the whole, it would not be more advisable to do something for their mother while she lives, rather than for them--something of the annuity kind I mean. --My sisters would feel the good effects of it as well as herself. A hundred a year would make them all perfectly comfortable. "
His wife hesitated a little, however, in giving her consent to this plan.
"To be sure, " said she, "it is better than parting with fifteen hundred pounds at once. But, then, if Mrs. Dashwood should live fifteen years we shall be completely taken in. "
"Fifteen years! my dear Fanny; her life cannot be worth half that purchase. "
"Certainly not; but if you observe, people always live for ever when there is an annuity to be paid them; and she is very stout and healthy, and hardly forty. An annuity is a very serious business; it comes over and over every year, and there is no getting rid of it. You are not aware of what you are doing. I have known a great deal of the trouble of annuities; for my mother was clogged with the payment of three to old superannuated servants by my father's will, and it is amazing how disagreeable she found it. Twice every year these annuities were to be paid; and then there was the trouble of getting it to them; and then one of them was said to have died, and afterwards it turned out to be no such thing. My mother was quite sick of it. Her income was not her own, she said, with such perpetual claims on it; and it was the more unkind in my father, because, otherwise, the money would have been entirely at my mother's disposal, without any restriction whatever. It has given me such an abhorrence of annuities, that I am sure I would not pin myself down to the payment of one for all the world. "
"It is certainly an unpleasant thing, " replied Mr. Dashwood, "to have those kind of yearly drains on one's income. One's fortune, as your mother justly says, is NOT one's own. To be tied down to the regular payment of such a sum, on every rent day, is by no means desirable: it takes away one's independence. "
"Undoubtedly; and after all you have no thanks for it. They think themselves secure, you do no more than what is expected, and it raises no gratitude at all. If I were you, whatever I did should be done at my own discretion entirely. I would not bind myself to allow them any thing yearly. It may be very inconvenient some years to spare a hundred, or even fifty pounds from our own expenses. "
"I believe you are right, my love; it will be better that there should by no annuity in the case; whatever I may give them occasionally will be of far greater assistance than a yearly allowance, because they would only enlarge their style of living if they felt sure of a larger income, and would not be sixpence the richer for it at the end of the year. It will certainly be much the best way. A present of fifty pounds, now and then, will prevent their ever being distressed for money, and will, I think, be amply discharging my promise to my father. "
"To be sure it will. Indeed, to say the truth, I am convinced within myself that your father had no idea of your giving them any money at all. The assistance he thought of, I dare say, was only such as might be reasonably expected of you; for instance, such as looking out for a comfortable small house for them, helping them to move their things, and sending them presents of fish and game, and so forth, whenever they are in season. I'll lay my life that he meant nothing farther; indeed, it would be very strange and unreasonable if he did. Do but consider, my dear Mr. Dashwood, how excessively comfortable your mother-in-law and her daughters may live on the interest of seven thousand pounds, besides the thousand pounds belonging to each of the girls, which brings them in fifty pounds a year a-piece, and, of course, they will pay their mother for their board out of it. Altogether, they will have five hundred a-year amongst them, and what on earth can four women want for more than that?--They will live so cheap! Their housekeeping will be nothing at all. They will have no carriage, no horses, and hardly any servants; they will keep no company, and can have no expenses of any kind! Only conceive how comfortable they will be! Five hundred a year! I am sure I cannot imagine how they will spend half of it; and as to your giving them more, it is quite absurd to think of it. They will be much more able to give YOU something. "
"Upon my word, " said Mr. Dashwood, "I believe you are perfectly right. My father certainly could mean nothing more by his request to me than what you say. I clearly understand it now, and I will strictly fulfil my engagement by such acts of assistance and kindness to them as you have described. When my mother removes into another house my services shall be readily given to accommodate her as far as I can. Some little present of furniture too may be acceptable then. "
"Certainly, " returned Mrs. John Dashwood. "But, however, ONE thing must be considered. When your father and mother moved to Norland, though the furniture of Stanhill was sold, all the china, plate, and linen was saved, and is now left to your mother. Her house will therefore be almost completely fitted up as soon as she takes it. "
"That is a material consideration undoubtedly. A valuable legacy indeed! And yet some of the plate would have been a very pleasant addition to our own stock here. "
"Yes; and the set of breakfast china is twice as handsome as what belongs to this house. A great deal too handsome, in my opinion, for any place THEY can ever afford to live in. But, however, so it is. Your father thought only of THEM. And I must say this: that you owe no particular gratitude to him, nor attention to his wishes; for we very well know that if he could, he would have left almost everything in the world to THEM. "
This argument was irresistible. It gave to his intentions whatever of decision was wanting before; and he finally resolved, that it would be absolutely unnecessary, if not highly indecorous, to do more for the widow and children of his father, than such kind of neighbourly acts as his own wife pointed out.