Читать книгу Sense and Sensibility / Чувство и чувствительность. Уровень 3 - Джейн Остин, Сет Грэм-Смит - Страница 18

Mrs. Dashwood was surprised only for a moment. Edward’s arrival was, in her opinion, of all things the most natural.

“What are Mrs. Ferrars’s views for you at present, Edward?” said she, when dinner was over; “are you still going to be a great orator?”

“No. I hope my mother is now convinced that I have no talents for a public life!”

“But how will your fame be established? How will you become famous? You may find it a difficult matter.”

“I shall not attempt it. I have no wish to be distinguished; and have every reason to hope I never shall. Thank Heaven!”

“You have no ambition, I know. Your wishes are all moderate.”

“As moderate as those of the rest of the world, I believe. I wish as well as everybody else to be happy; but, like everybody else it must be in my own way. Greatness will not make me so.”

“Yes!” cried Marianne. “What have wealth or grandeur to do with happiness?”

“Grandeur has nothing,” said Elinor, “but wealth has much to do with it.”

“Elinor!” said Marianne, “money can only give happiness where there is nothing else to give it.”

“Marianne has no shyness at all,” said Elinor.

“Shyness is only the effect of a sense of inferiority,” replied Edward.

“And you are reserved,” said Marianne, “and that is worse.”

“Reserved! Am I reserved, Marianne?” Edward asked.

“Yes, very.”

“I do not understand you,” replied he. “Reserved! How, in what manner? What must I tell you? What can you suppose?”

Elinor looked surprised at his emotion; but trying to laugh, she said to him,

“Do not you know my sister well enough to understand what she means? Do not you know she calls everyone reserved who does not talk as fast, and admire what she admires as rapturously as herself?”

Edward made no answer. His gravity and thoughtfulness returned on him, and he sat for some time silent and dull.