Читать книгу Sense and Sensibility / Чувство и чувствительность. Уровень 3 - Джейн Остин, Сет Грэм-Смит - Страница 22

The Palmers returned to Cleveland the next day, and the two families at Barton were again left to entertain each other. But this did not last long.

In Exeter, Mrs. Jennings met two young ladies, who were her relatives. This was enough for Sir John to invite them directly to the park. The young ladies arrived: their appearance was not unfashionable. Their dress was very smart, their manners very civil, they were delighted with the house, and in raptures with the furniture. Lady Middleton declared them to be very agreeable girls. Sir John went directly to the cottage to tell the Miss Dashwoods of Miss Steele and her sister’s arrival. They are the sweetest girls in the world! Sir John wanted the whole family to walk to the Park directly and look at his guests. Benevolent, philanthropic man!

“Do come now,” said he, “pray come – you must come – You can’t think how you will like them. Lucy is monstrous pretty, and so good-humoured and agreeable! The children are all hanging about her already. And they both want to see you, for they have heard at Exeter that you are the most beautiful creatures in the world. I have told them it is all very true, and a great deal more. You will be delighted with them I am sure.”

But Sir John did not prevail and only obtained a promise of their visit in a day or two, and then left them.

When their promised visit to the Park and consequent introduction to these young ladies took place, they found in the appearance of the eldest, who was nearly thirty, with a very plain and not a sensible face, nothing to admire. But in the other, who was not more twenty-two, they acknowledged considerable beauty. Her features were pretty, and she had a sharp quick eye, and a smartness of air. Their manners were particularly civil, and Elinor soon noticed that.

The vulgar freedom and folly of the eldest sister left her no recommendation, and as Elinor was not blinded by the beauty, or the shrewd look of the youngest, to her want of real elegance and artlessness, she left the house without any wish of knowing them better.

Not so the Miss Steeles. They came from Exeter to get new friends. Sir John was entirely on the side of the Miss Steeles. To do him justice, he did everything in his power to promote their unreserve.

Elinor did not suppose that Sir John would not laugh at her and Edward, as he did with respect to Marianne. Indeed it was his favourite joke of the two. In the eldest of Miss Steeles these jokes raised a curiosity to know the name of the gentleman.

“His name is Ferrars,” said Sir John, in a very audible whisper; “but pray do not tell it, for it’s a great secret.”

“Ferrars!” repeated Miss Steele; “Mr. Ferrars is the happy man, is he? What! your sister-in-law’s brother, Miss Dashwood? a very agreeable young man to be sure; I know him very well.”

“How can you say so, Anne?” cried Lucy. “Though we have seen him once or twice at my uncle’s, it is rather too much to pretend to know him very well.”

Elinor heard all this with attention and surprise.

“And who was this uncle? Where did he live? How came they acquainted?[13]”