[Comprehensive classics] Darcy or Brandon

Anne's sudden visit surprised the Dasherwood family. Mrs. Dasherwood hurried downstairs with her two eldest daughters. After the three of them saluted everyone, Mrs. Dasherwood said: "I'm sorry, We are with Margaret."

"Of course, of course, we heard that Margaret was seriously ill and came to visit." Mrs. Jennings didn't care about this little impoliteness. She shook her head with a smile, then pointed to Anne and Lucy and introduced: "Oh, by the way. This is my youngest daughter, Charlotte, and this is her husband, Mr. Palmer. And these two are the Steele sisters. The one in the dark green dress is my sister Anne, and next to her Sister Lucy, they just arrived at Barton Manor at noon. You really should get to know them well, they are really lovely ladies."

"Thank you for coming to visit my little daughter." Mrs. Dasherwood bowed to everyone. She has long been used to a life of wealth and wealth, but at this moment, standing in this low and narrow house, her demeanor is completely She suppressed Mrs. Jennings, probably to show that she still maintained her own noble character even in such a difficult life. After she came down from the stairs, she kept her back straight and her chin up. It seemed a bit domineering, and even when she saluted politely, it didn't feel any less.

After thanking her briefly, Mrs. Dasherwood pointed to the two young ladies standing beside her and said, "The one with the black hair is my elder daughter Eleanor, the one with the blond hair is Marianne, and Margaret is upstairs. superior."

Eleanor and Miss Marianne wore fine satin skirts, straightened their backs like their mother, and lifted their chins, looking indeed well-bred and very noble.

At this time, the servant brought tea, and everyone moved to the living room. The three gentlemen sat or stood by the fireplace, and the ladies sat on the sofa. Mrs. Middleton remained silent, and Mrs. Jennings and Mrs. Mrs. Palmer and Mrs. Dasherwood began a lively conversation as soon as she sat down.

Anne and Lucy sat on the short sofa at the side, and Eleanor and Marianne sat opposite them.Eleanor took a sip of coffee and said, "Miss Steele, are you here for vacation? Barton's scenery is really nice, but the temperature is a bit too cold."

"Yes, Mrs. Jennings is really a very enthusiastic person. She invited us to come and play for a while." Anne picked up the coffee and said, "The temperature in Ramsgate is also very cold, so we don't think there is anything here Not well. Miss Dasherwood, where did you live before?"

"We used to live in Sussex, where it was warmer all year round." Eleanor said, and then she didn't know what to say. She was not the kind of person who was very good at chatting. Sisters Steele, who are complete strangers, do not know how to start a conversation.

Eleanor hoped that Marian could help her, because Marian was always better at finding topics, but Marian kept silent.Eleanor turned her head to look at Marianne, and found that Marianne's lips were tightly pursed at the moment, her eyes deliberately avoided the direction of the fireplace, and she seemed to be trying her best to endure herself.Eleanor sighed helplessly in her heart. She knew that Marianne was very annoyed by Colonel Brandon's pursuit, and she herself felt that the colonel was a bit too abrupt. After all, there was an age gap between Colonel Brandon and Marianne. Too big, Marianne was only sixteen, and Colonel Brandon was thirty-five, and besides, he was only five years younger than their mother.

"We're going to hold a ball in three days' time, Mrs. Dasherwood, you must bring two ladies to attend. Then the two Miss Steele will also attend, and then we will have four young ladies." " Mrs. Jennings said loudly with a smile, and then shouted at Sir John: "John, you will have to invite a few more outstanding young gentlemen when the time comes."

"Of course, of course, otherwise the ladies can't do without a partner," added Sir John, laughing.

Mrs. Jennings looked at Colonel Brandon, but looked at Marian meaningfully and said, "Miss Marian, you should dress up well then!"

Marianne took a deep breath angrily, and tried to suppress her anger. She really hated Mrs. Jennings for putting her and Colonel Brandon together as a joke, but this lady always talked like this .

When Eleanor found out, she immediately held Marian's hand, pulled her to stand up and said to everyone: "I want to go upstairs with Marianne to see Margaret, she may wake up soon, if you don't see She's going to be very upset when we're around her."

"Oh, let's go and see her together, poor child," said Mrs. Jennings, as if she hadn't noticed Marianne's anger at all, and stood up.

Mrs. Dasherwood didn't really want outsiders to disturb Margaret's rest, but she was too embarrassed to refuse Mrs. Jennings's kindness, so she had to take everyone to the second floor.

Eleanor pulled Marianne to the back. She took Marianne to a corner and whispered to her, "Marianne, don't be angry. Mrs. Jennings and Sir John have been helping us."

"But did you hear what she said? As if I should please Colonel Brandon, we have nothing to do with each other. This is really annoying." Marianne gasped angrily.

"If we're going to the ball, we should dress up, right? Marianne, just pretend you didn't understand what Mrs. Jennings said." Eleanor said, she was also because of Jennings at first. She was very angry at some of the words of his wife and Sir John, but she was always good at hiding her emotions, so people thought she was not angry.But then Eleanor realized that she didn't need to care about what these two people said at all, because they were really just joking, and it was useless even if they were angry, it would be better not to care about it.

"But…"

"Marian, you have to know that our life is not as good as before. If Sir John hadn't kindly rented us a house cheaply, we might have to worry about food and drink now." Eleanor said.

Marianne lowered her head aggrieved, "Eleanor, I understand, I won't be rude."

"Marian, if you really can't bear it, go back to your room first. I will tell mom that you were tired from watching Margaret for a long time last night." Eleanor patted Marian's hand soothingly and said.

"No." Marianne raised her head and said, "I want to go up, Eleanor. For the sake of our present life, I must learn to be patient."

"Marian..."

"Don't worry, Eleanor," said Marianne, and went upstairs first.

In the room, Margaret had already woken up, and was lying on the bed humming sadly. Seeing Mrs. Dasherwood enter the room, she immediately asked with a sob: "Mom, is the doctor here?"

Mrs. Dasherwood went to the bed and sat down, changed the towel on Margaret's head, touched her hot forehead, and said, "The doctor will be back soon, can you bear with me a little longer? You See Mrs. Jennings and they're coming to visit you."

"Will Edward come? He promised to give me the latest map." Margaret said in a daze.

"I believe he will come to see us as soon as he is free, and he will never forget to send you the map." Mrs. Dasherwood said.

Anne and the others were standing by the bed, and when they heard the conversation between Mrs. Dasherwood and Margaret, Mrs. Jennings whispered, "I guess this Mr. Edward is the gentleman that Miss Dasherwood has been refusing to tell us all this time. , I wonder if we can invite him to the ball if he comes."

Eleanor, who was walking to the door, paused. The uneasiness in her heart surged up again these days. At the beginning, Edward said that he would come to see them soon, but it has been more than a month now. Even if Edward has something to do temporarily, he should It should have been resolved a long time ago, but he has not shown up for a long time. Eleanor almost felt that the two fell in love in Nolan Manor back then, but she was just being sentimental.

"Mr. Edward, does it mean that Miss Dasherwood already has a sweetheart? Oh, then the two sisters don't have to worry about marriage." Mrs. Palmer said after hearing this. She had heard Mrs. Jennings say that Bran The Colonel, who was courting Marianne, thought they were already a couple.Because in any family with sisters, those who have older sisters usually marry first, and then those who become younger sisters get married again, so now it is logical for her to think that Eleanor already has a suitor.

"Yes, yes, such a beautiful lady doesn't need to worry about marriage. So, Miss Steele, do you have someone you like?" Mrs. Jennings asked curiously.

It is very impolite for Mrs. Jennings to ask such a question in front of so many people, and it is also very embarrassing to the lady who is being asked. However, Annie has roughly figured out the character of this family through previous contact. They don't care about these things. If Anne and Lucy are too serious, they are just angry with themselves, so Anne also jokingly said generously: "Mrs. Jennings, maybe we can meet a good friend at your dance party. gentlemen."

Mrs. Jennings was obviously a little surprised by Anne's attitude, she raised her eyebrows, and then said with a smile: "Oh, yes, we have many single gentlemen here, and I will let John choose The best invitation. Then you sisters should dress up properly, by the way, did you bring your dresses this time?"

Annie didn't want to continue this topic, and was about to evade it, but Lucy replied: "Of course we brought it, Mrs. Jennings. When we came, Mrs. Palmer told our wife that you are a very lively person, and you must There will be dances while we live."

Lucy was very happy when Mrs. Jennings said that she would invite a good gentleman. In her opinion, the only purpose of the dance is to meet a good gentleman. It would be great if there are kind elders who can help introduce them But that's all.

Marianne stood aside, and after hearing the conversation between Anne and Lucy and Mrs. Jennings, she felt disbelief. She felt that Anne and Lucy were rushing to ask Mrs. Jennings to help them get to know Mr. Jennings. It's such a shame.Marianne's desire to get in touch with Sisters Steele because she couldn't find any friends around the same age immediately disappeared. She looked at Anne and Lucy with some disdain and disgust, and swore in her heart I decided that I would never be friends with such a shameless young lady.

Marian's eyes quickly passed Annie and Lucy, but Annie just happened to see this, and couldn't help but feel a little angry.Lucy's behavior was indeed somewhat inappropriate, but it was not Marianne's turn to disdain, and her own etiquette might not be much better than Lucy's.