評(píng)論
打印
Edward had been staying several weeks in the house before he engaged much of Mrs. Dashwood's attention; for she was, at that time, in such affliction as rendered her careless of surrounding objects. She saw only that he was quiet and unobtrusive, and she liked him for it. He did not disturb the wretchedness of her mind by ill-timed conversation. She was first called to observe and approve him farther, by a reflection which Elinor chanced one day to make on the difference between him and his sister. It was a contrast which recommended him most forcibly to her mother.
愛(ài)德華在姐姐家盤(pán)桓了幾個(gè)星期，才引起達(dá)什伍德太太的注意；因?yàn)樗?dāng)初太悲痛，對(duì)周?chē)氖虑橐簿筒蛔⒁饬恕Ｋ皇强此宦暡豁懀⌒囊硪恚瑸榇藢?duì)他發(fā)生了好感。他從來(lái)不用不合時(shí)宜的談話，去擾亂她痛苦的心靈。她對(duì)他的進(jìn)一步觀察和贊許，最早是由埃麗諾偶然說(shuō)出的一句話引起來(lái)的。那天，埃麗諾說(shuō)他和他姐姐大不一樣。這個(gè)對(duì)比很有說(shuō)服力，幫他博得了她母親的歡心。
"It is enough, " said she; "to say that he is unlike Fanny is enough. It implies everything amiable. I love him already. "
“只要說(shuō)他不像范妮，這就足夠了，”她說(shuō)，“這就是說(shuō)他為人厚道，處處可親。我已經(jīng)喜愛(ài)上他了。”
"I think you will like him, " said Elinor, "when you know more of him. "
“我想，”埃麗諾說(shuō)，“你要是對(duì)他了解多了，準(zhǔn)會(huì)喜歡他的。”
"Like him!" replied her mother with a smile. "I feel no sentiment of approbation inferior to love. "
“喜歡他!”母親笑吟吟地答道。“我心里一滿(mǎn)意，少不了要喜愛(ài)他。”
"You may esteem him. "
“你會(huì)器重他的。”
"I have never yet known what it was to separate esteem and love. "
“我還不知道怎么好把器重和喜愛(ài)分離開(kāi)呢。”
Mrs. Dashwood now took pains to get acquainted with him. Her manners were attaching, and soon banished his reserve. She speedily comprehended all his merits; the persuasion of his regard for Elinor perhaps assisted her penetration; but she really felt assured of his worth: and even that quietness of manner, which militated against all her established ideas of what a young man's address ought to be, was no longer uninteresting when she knew his heart to be warm and his temper affectionate.
隨后，達(dá)什伍德太太便想方設(shè)法去接近愛(ài)德華。她態(tài)度和藹，立即使他不再拘謹(jǐn)，很快便摸清了他的全部?jī)?yōu)點(diǎn)。她深信愛(ài)德華有意于埃麗諾，也許正是因此，她才有這么敏銳的眼力。不過(guò)，她確信他品德高尚。就連他那文靜的舉止，本是同她對(duì)青年人的既定的看法相抵觸的，可是一旦了解到他待人熱誠(chéng)，性情溫柔，也不再覺(jué)得令人厭煩了。
