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Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, Chapter 14

Chapter 14

The sudden termination of Colonel Brandon's visit at the park, with his steadiness in concealing its cause, filled the mind, and raised the wonder of Mrs. Jennings for two or three days; she was a great wonderer, as every one must be who takes a very lively interest in all the comings and goings of all their acquaintance.

She wondered, with little intermission what could be the reason of it; was sure there must be some bad news, and thought over every kind of distress that could have befallen him, with a fixed determination that he should not escape them all. "Something very melancholy must be the matter, I am sure," said she.

"I could see it in his face. Poor man! I am afraid his circumstances may be bad. The estate at Delaford was never reckoned more than two thousand a year, and his brother left everything sadly involved. I do think he must have been sent for about money matters, for what else can it be? I wonder whether it is so. I would give anything to know the truth of it. Perhaps it is about Miss Williams and, by the bye, I dare say it is, because he looked so conscious when I mentioned her. May be she is ill in town; nothing in the world more likely, for I have a notion she is always rather sickly. I would lay any wager it is about Miss Williams. It is not so very likely he should be distressed in his circumstances now , for he is a very prudent man, and to be sure must have cleared the estate by this time. I wonder what it can be! May be his sister is worse at Avignon, and has sent for him over. His setting off in such a hurry seems very like it. Well, I wish him out of all his trouble with all my heart, and a good wife into the bargain. So wondered, so talked Mrs. Jennings.

Her opinion varying with every fresh conjecture, and all seeming equally probable as they arose. Elinor, though she felt really interested in the welfare of Colonel Brandon, could not bestow all the wonder on his going so suddenly away, which Mrs. Jennings was desirous of her feeling; for besides that the circumstance did not in her opinion justify such lasting amazement or variety of speculation, her wonder was otherwise disposed of. It was engrossed by the extraordinary silence of her sister and Willoughby on the subject, which they must know to be peculiarly interesting to them all. As this silence continued, every day made it appear more strange and more incompatible with the disposition of both. Why they should not openly acknowledge to her mother and herself, what their constant behaviour to each other declared to have taken place, Elinor could not imagine. She could easily conceive that marriage might not be immediately in their power; for though Willoughby was independent, there was no reason to believe him rich.

His estate had been rated by Sir John at about six or seven hundred a year; but he lived at an expense to which that income could hardly be equal, and he had himself often complained of his poverty. But for this strange kind of secrecy maintained by them relative to their engagement, which in fact concealed nothing at all, she could not account; and it was so wholly contradictory to their general opinions and practice, that a doubt sometimes entered her mind of their being really engaged, and this doubt was enough to prevent her making any inquiry of Marianne. Nothing could be more expressive of attachment to them all, than Willoughby's behaviour.

To Marianne it had all the distinguishing tenderness which a lover's heart could give, and to the rest of the family it was the affectionate attention of a son and a brother. The cottage seemed to be considered and loved by him as his home; many more of his hours were spent there than at Allenham; and if no general engagement collected them at the park, the exercise which called him out in the morning was almost certain of ending there, where the rest of the day was spent by himself at the side of Marianne, and by his favourite pointer at her feet. One evening in particular, about a week after Colonel Brandon left the country, his heart seemed more than usually open to every feeling of attachment to the objects around him; and on Mrs. Dashwood's happening to mention her design of improving the cottage in the spring, he warmly opposed every alteration of a place which affection had established as perfect with him.

"What!

he exclaimed--"Improve this dear cottage! No. That I will never consent to. Not a stone must be added to its walls, not an inch to its size, if my feelings are regarded. "Do not be alarmed," said Miss Dashwood, "nothing of the kind will be done; for my mother will never have money enough to attempt it.

"I am heartily glad of it," he cried.

"May she always be poor, if she can employ her riches no better. "Thank you, Willoughby.

But you may be assured that I would not sacrifice one sentiment of local attachment of yours, or of any one whom I loved, for all the improvements in the world. Depend upon it that whatever unemployed sum may remain, when I make up my accounts in the spring, I would even rather lay it uselessly by than dispose of it in a manner so painful to you. But are you really so attached to this place as to see no defect in it? "I am," said he.

"To me it is faultless. Nay, more, I consider it as the only form of building in which happiness is attainable, and were I rich enough I would instantly pull Combe down, and build it up again in the exact plan of this cottage. "With dark narrow stairs and a kitchen that smokes, I suppose," said Elinor.

"Yes," cried he in the same eager tone, "with all and every thing belonging to it;--in no one convenience or in convenience about it, should the least variation be perceptible.

Then, and then only, under such a roof, I might perhaps be as happy at Combe as I have been at Barton. "I flatter myself," replied Elinor, "that even under the disadvantage of better rooms and a broader staircase, you will hereafter find your own house as faultless as you now do this.

"There certainly are circumstances," said Willoughby, "which might greatly endear it to me; but this place will always have one claim of my affection, which no other can possibly share.

Mrs.

Dashwood looked with pleasure at Marianne, whose fine eyes were fixed so expressively on Willoughby, as plainly denoted how well she understood him. "How often did I wish," added he, "when I was at Allenham this time twelvemonth, that Barton cottage were inhabited!

I never passed within view of it without admiring its situation, and grieving that no one should live in it. How little did I then think that the very first news I should hear from Mrs. Smith, when I next came into the country, would be that Barton cottage was taken: and I felt an immediate satisfaction and interest in the event, which nothing but a kind of prescience of what happiness I should experience from it, can account for. Must it not have been so, Marianne?" speaking to her in a lowered voice. Then continuing his former tone, he said, "And yet this house you would spoil, Mrs. Dashwood? You would rob it of its simplicity by imaginary improvement! and this dear parlour in which our acquaintance first began, and in which so many happy hours have been since spent by us together, you would degrade to the condition of a common entrance, and every body would be eager to pass through the room which has hitherto contained within itself more real accommodation and comfort than any other apartment of the handsomest dimensions in the world could possibly afford. Mrs.

Dashwood again assured him that no alteration of the kind should be attempted. "You are a good woman," he warmly replied.

"Your promise makes me easy. Extend it a little farther, and it will make me happy. Tell me that not only your house will remain the same, but that I shall ever find you and yours as unchanged as your dwelling; and that you will always consider me with the kindness which has made everything belonging to you so dear to me. The promise was readily given, and Willoughby's behaviour during the whole of the evening declared at once his affection and happiness.

"Shall we see you tomorrow to dinner?

said Mrs. Dashwood, when he was leaving them. "I do not ask you to come in the morning, for we must walk to the park, to call on Lady Middleton. He engaged to be with them by four o'clock.

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Chapter 14 Kapitel 14

The sudden termination of Colonel Brandon’s visit at the park, with his steadiness in concealing its cause, filled the mind, and raised the wonder of Mrs. Jennings for two or three days; she was a great wonderer, as every one must be who takes a very lively interest in all the comings and goings of all their acquaintance. ||fin||||||||||sérénité||||||||||||||||||||||||étonnement|||||||||||||||venements||allées|||| La cessation soudaine de la visite du Colonel Brandon au parc, avec sa stabilité à en dissimuler la raison, occupa l'esprit et suscita l'étonnement de Mrs. Jennings pendant deux ou trois jours ; elle était une grande curieuse, comme tout le monde doit l'être qui s'intéresse de manière très vive à tous les allers et venues de toutes ses connaissances.

She wondered, with little intermission what could be the reason of it; was sure there must be some bad news, and thought over every kind of distress that could have befallen him, with a fixed determination that he should not escape them all. ||||interruption||||||||||||||||||||||malheur|||||||||||||||| Elle se demanda, avec peu d'intermission, quelle pouvait en être la raison ; était sûre qu'il devait y avoir de mauvaises nouvelles, et réfléchit à toutes les sortes de détresses qui auraient pu lui arriver, avec une détermination ferme qu'il ne devrait pas toutes les éviter. "Something very melancholy must be the matter, I am sure," said she. "Il doit y avoir quelque chose de très mélancolique, j'en suis sûre," dit-elle.

"I could see it in his face. Poor man! I am afraid his circumstances may be bad. The estate at Delaford was never reckoned more than two thousand a year, and his brother left everything sadly involved. ||||||estimé||||||||||||| Le domaine de Delaford n'a jamais été estimé à plus de deux mille par an, et son frère a laissé tout cela tristement impliqué. I do think he must have been sent for about money matters, for what else can it be? Je pense qu'il doit avoir été convoqué à propos de questions d'argent, car que d'autre cela pourrait-il être ? I wonder whether it is so. Je me demande si c'est vrai. I would give anything to know the truth of it. Perhaps it is about Miss Williams and, by the bye, I dare say it is, because he looked so conscious when I mentioned her. Peut-être que c'est au sujet de Mlle Williams et, soit dit en passant, je parie que c'est le cas, parce qu'il avait l'air si conscient quand je l'ai mentionnée. May be she is ill in town; nothing in the world more likely, for I have a notion she is always rather sickly. ||||||||||||||||||||||malade Peut-être qu'elle est malade en ville ; rien dans le monde n'est plus probable, car j'ai l'idée qu'elle est toujours plutôt fragile. I would lay any wager it is about Miss Williams. ||||pari||||| Je parierais n'importe quoi que c'est au sujet de Mlle Williams. It is not so very likely he should be distressed in his circumstances  now , for he is a very prudent man, and to be sure must have cleared the estate by this time. |||||||||||||||||||||||||||liquidé||||| Il n'est pas si probable qu'il soit en détresse dans sa situation actuelle, car c'est un homme très prudent et il doit sûrement avoir régularisé la situation de la propriété à ce stade. I wonder what it can be! Je me demande ce que cela peut être ! May be his sister is worse at Avignon, and has sent for him over. Peut-être que sa sœur est dans un état plus grave à Avignon et qu'elle l'a fait venir. His setting off in such a hurry seems very like it. Son départ si pressé semble tellement comme ça. Well, I wish him out of all his trouble with all my heart, and a good wife into the bargain. Eh bien, je lui souhaite de sortir de tous ses ennuis de tout mon cœur, et une bonne femme en prime. So wondered, so talked Mrs. Jennings. Ainsi se demandait, ainsi parlait Mme Jennings.

Her opinion varying with every fresh conjecture, and all seeming equally probable as they arose. ||varie|||||||||probable|||se posaient Elinor, though she felt really interested in the welfare of Colonel Brandon, could not bestow all the wonder on his going so suddenly away, which Mrs. Jennings was desirous of her feeling; for besides that the circumstance did not in her opinion justify such lasting amazement or variety of speculation, her wonder was otherwise disposed of. |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||la spéculation|||||| Elinor, bien qu'elle se sente vraiment intéressée par le bien-être du colonel Brandon, ne pouvait pas attribuer toute l'émerveillement à son départ si soudain, que Mme Jennings désirait qu'elle ressente ; car en plus du fait que cette circonstance ne justifiait pas, à son avis, un tel étonnement durable ou une telle variété de spéculations, son émerveillement était autrement dirigé. It was engrossed by the extraordinary silence of her sister and Willoughby on the subject, which they must know to be peculiarly interesting to them all. Il était absorbé par le silence extraordinaire de sa sœur et de Willoughby sur le sujet, qu'ils devaient savoir particulièrement intéressant pour eux tous. As this silence continued, every day made it appear more strange and more incompatible with the disposition of both. |||||||||||||incompatible||||| À mesure que ce silence se poursuivait, chaque jour le rendait plus étrange et plus incompatible avec l'humeur des deux. Why they should not openly acknowledge to her mother and herself, what their constant behaviour to each other declared to have taken place, Elinor could not imagine. |||||reconnaître||||||||||||||||||||| Pourquoi ils ne devraient pas ouvertement reconnaître à sa mère et à elle-même ce que leur comportement constant l'un envers l'autre déclarait avoir eu lieu, Elinor ne pouvait pas imaginer. She could easily conceive that marriage might not be immediately in their power; for though Willoughby was independent, there was no reason to believe him rich. Elle pouvait facilement concevoir que le mariage pourrait ne pas être immédiatement en leur pouvoir ; car même si Willoughby était indépendant, il n'y avait aucune raison de le croire riche.

His estate had been rated by Sir John at about six or seven hundred a year; but he lived at an expense to which that income could hardly be equal, and he had himself often complained of his poverty. ||||évalué|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Son domaine avait été évalué par Sir John à environ six ou sept cents par an ; mais il vivait à une dépense à laquelle ce revenu pouvait à peine être égal, et il s'était lui-même souvent plaint de sa pauvreté. But for this strange kind of secrecy maintained by them relative to their engagement, which in fact concealed nothing at all, she could not account; and it was so wholly contradictory to their general opinions and practice, that a doubt sometimes entered her mind of their being really engaged, and this doubt was enough to prevent her making any inquiry of Marianne. |||||||maintenue|||||||||||||||||||||||contradictoire||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Mais pour ce genre étrange de secret qu'ils maintenaient concernant leur engagement, qui en réalité ne dissimulait rien du tout, elle ne pouvait pas comprendre ; et c'était si totalement contradictoire avec leurs opinions et pratiques générales, qu'un doute lui venait parfois à l'esprit quant à leur véritable engagement, et ce doute suffisait à l'empêcher de faire une quelconque enquête auprès de Marianne. Nothing could be more expressive of attachment to them all, than Willoughby’s behaviour. ||||expressif|||||||| Rien ne pouvait être plus expressif d'attachement envers eux tous que le comportement de Willoughby.

To Marianne it had all the distinguishing tenderness which a lover’s heart could give, and to the rest of the family it was the affectionate attention of a son and a brother. ||||||||||amoureux||||||||||||||||||||| Pour Marianne, cela avait toute la tendresse distinctive que le cœur d'un amoureux pouvait donner, et pour le reste de la famille, c'était l'attention affectueuse d'un fils et d'un frère. The cottage seemed to be considered and loved by him as his home; many more of his hours were spent there than at Allenham; and if no general engagement collected them at the park, the exercise which called him out in the morning was almost certain of ending there, where the rest of the day was spent by himself at the side of Marianne, and by his favourite pointer at her feet. Le cottage semblait être considéré et aimé par lui comme son chez-soi ; il y passait beaucoup plus d'heures là-bas qu'à Allenham ; et si aucune réunion générale ne les rassemblait au parc, l'exercice qui l'appelait le matin se terminait presque toujours là, où le reste de la journée était passé par lui-même aux côtés de Marianne, et par son épagneul préféré à ses pieds. One evening in particular, about a week after Colonel Brandon left the country, his heart seemed more than usually open to every feeling of attachment to the objects around him; and on Mrs. Dashwood’s happening to mention her design of improving the cottage in the spring, he warmly opposed every alteration of a place which affection had established as perfect with him. Une soirée en particulier, environ une semaine après le départ du Colonel Brandon pour la campagne, son cœur semblait plus que d'habitude ouvert à chaque sentiment d'attachement aux objets qui l'entouraient ; et lorsque Mrs. Dashwood mentionna son projet d'améliorer le cottage au printemps, il s'opposait avec chaleur à toute altération d'un lieu que l'affection avait établi comme parfait pour lui.

"What! "Quoi !

he exclaimed--"Improve this dear cottage! |s'exclama|||| s'exclama-t-il--"Améliorer ce cher cottage ! No. That I will never consent to. Not a stone must be added to its walls, not an inch to its size, if my feelings are regarded. |||||||||||pouce|||||||| "Do not be alarmed," said Miss Dashwood, "nothing of the kind will be done; for my mother will never have money enough to attempt it. |||inquiète|||||||||||||||||||||

"I am heartily glad of it," he cried.

"May she always be poor, if she can employ her riches no better. "Puisse-t-elle toujours être pauvre, si elle ne peut pas employer ses richesses mieux que cela. "Thank you, Willoughby. "Merci, Willoughby.

But you may be assured that I would not sacrifice one sentiment of local attachment of yours, or of any one whom I loved, for all the improvements in the world. |||||||||sacrifier||||||||||||||||||||| Mais vous pouvez être assuré que je ne sacrifierais aucun sentiment d'attachement local le vôtre, ou celui de quiconque que j'aimais, pour toutes les améliorations du monde. Depend upon it that whatever unemployed sum may remain, when I make up my accounts in the spring, I would even rather lay it uselessly by than dispose of it in a manner so painful to you. ||||||||||||||||||||||||inutilement|||en disposer||||||||| Comptez sur le fait que quel que soit le montant inutilisé qui pourrait rester, lorsque je ferai mes comptes au printemps, je préfèrerais même le laisser inutilisé plutôt que de le disposer d'une manière si douloureuse pour vous. But are you really so attached to this place as to see no defect in it? |||||||||||||défaut|| Mais êtes-vous vraiment si attaché à cet endroit que vous n'y voyez aucun défaut ? "I am," said he. "Je le suis," dit-il.

"To me it is faultless. Nay, more, I consider it as the only form of building in which happiness is attainable, and were I rich enough I would instantly pull Combe down, and build it up again in the exact plan of this cottage. |||||||||||||||||||||||||Combe||||||||||||| Non, de plus, je le considère comme la seule forme de construction où le bonheur soit atteignable, et si j'étais assez riche, je démolirais immédiatement Combe et le reconstruirais exactement selon le plan de ce cottage. "With dark narrow stairs and a kitchen that smokes, I suppose," said Elinor. ||||||||fume|||| "Avec des escaliers étroits et sombres et une cuisine qui fume, je suppose," dit Elinor.

"Yes," cried he in the same eager tone, "with all and every thing belonging to it;--in no one convenience or  in convenience about it, should the least variation be perceptible. |||||||ton|||||||||||||||||||||variation|| "Oui," s'écria-t-il dans le même ton désireux, "avec tout et tout ce qui lui appartient ;--dans aucune commodité ou incommodité, la moindre variation ne devrait être perceptible.

Then, and then only, under such a roof, I might perhaps be as happy at Combe as I have been at Barton. Alors, et alors seulement, sous un tel toit, je pourrais peut-être être aussi heureux à Combe que je l'ai été à Barton. "I flatter myself," replied Elinor, "that even under the disadvantage of better rooms and a broader staircase, you will hereafter find your own house as faultless as you now do this. ||||||||||||||||escalier|||||||||||||| "Je me flatte," répondit Elinor, "que même sous l'inconvénient de meilleures chambres et d'un escalier plus large, tu trouveras à l'avenir ta propre maison aussi parfaite que tu trouves maintenant celle-ci.

"There certainly are circumstances," said Willoughby, "which might greatly endear it to me; but this place will always have one claim of my affection, which no other can possibly share. |||||||||rendre cher|||||||||||||||||||| "Il y a certainement des circonstances," dit Willoughby, "qui pourraient beaucoup l'apprécier pour moi ; mais cet endroit aura toujours un motif de mon affection, que nul autre ne peut partager.

Mrs.

Dashwood looked with pleasure at Marianne, whose fine eyes were fixed so expressively on Willoughby, as plainly denoted how well she understood him. ||||||||||||||||cela|indiquait||||| "How often did I wish," added he, "when I was at Allenham this time twelvemonth, that Barton cottage were inhabited! |||||||||||||||||||habité "Combien de fois j'ai souhaité," ajouta-t-il, "quand j'étais à Allenham cet été dernier, que le cottage de Barton soit habité !

I never passed within view of it without admiring its situation, and grieving that no one should live in it. ||||||||||||être triste||||||| Je ne passais jamais devant sans admirer son emplacement et me lamenter que personne n'y vive. How little did I then think that the very first news I should hear from Mrs. Smith, when I next came into the country, would be that Barton cottage was taken: and I felt an immediate satisfaction and interest in the event, which nothing but a kind of prescience of what happiness I should experience from it, can account for. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||prescience||||||||||| À quel point je pensais peu à l'époque que la toute première nouvelle que j'entendrais de Mme Smith, quand je reviendrais dans le pays, serait que le cottage de Barton était loué : et j'ai ressenti une satisfaction et un intérêt immédiats pour cet événement, que rien d'autre qu'une sorte de préscience du bonheur que j'en tirerais, ne peut expliquer. Must it not have been so, Marianne?" speaking to her in a lowered voice. |||||basse| Then continuing his former tone, he said, "And yet this house you would spoil, Mrs. Dashwood? Puis, continuant sur le même ton, il dit : "Et pourtant cette maison, vous voudriez la gâcher, Mme Dashwood ?" You would rob it of its simplicity by imaginary improvement! Vous la dépouilleriez de sa simplicité par une amélioration imaginaire ! and this dear parlour in which our acquaintance first began, and in which so many happy hours have been since spent by us together, you would degrade to the condition of a common entrance, and every body would be eager to pass through the room which has hitherto contained within itself more real accommodation and comfort than any other apartment of the handsomest dimensions in the world could possibly afford. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||dégrader|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||dimensions|||||| Et ce cher salon où notre connaissance a d'abord commencé, et où tant d'heures heureuses ont depuis été passées ensemble, vous le dégraderiez au statut d'une entrée commune, et tout le monde serait désireux de traverser la pièce qui a jusqu'à présent contenu en elle-même plus de réelles accommodations et confort que n'importe quelle autre pièce aux dimensions les plus belles que le monde puisse offrir. Mrs.

Dashwood again assured him that no alteration of the kind should be attempted. "You are a good woman," he warmly replied.

"Your promise makes me easy. Extend it a little farther, and it will make me happy. étends|||||||||| Tell me that not only your house will remain the same, but that I shall ever find you and yours as unchanged as your dwelling; and that you will always consider me with the kindness which has made everything belonging to you so dear to me. |||||||||||||||||||||inchangé|||demeure||||||||||||||||||||| The promise was readily given, and Willoughby’s behaviour during the whole of the evening declared at once his affection and happiness.

"Shall we see you tomorrow to dinner?

said Mrs. Dashwood, when he was leaving them. "I do not ask you to come in the morning, for we must walk to the park, to call on Lady Middleton. He engaged to be with them by four o’clock.