The first event of any importance in the family was the death of Mr. Norris, which happened when Fanny was about fifteen, and necessarily introduced alterations and novelties. Mrs. Norris, on quitting the Parsonage, removed first to the Park, and afterwards to a small house of Sir Thomas's in the village, and consoled herself for the loss of her husband by considering that she could do very well without him; and for her reduction of income by the evident necessity of stricter economy.
The living was hereafter for Edmund; and, had his uncle died a few years sooner, it would have been duly given to some friend to hold till he were old enough for orders. But Tom's extravagance had, previous to that event, been so great as to render a different disposal of the next presentation necessary, and the younger brother must help to pay for the pleasures of the elder. There was another family living actually held for Edmund; but though this circumstance had made the arrangement somewhat easier to Sir Thomas's conscience, he could not but feel it to be an act of injustice, and he earnestly tried to impress his eldest son with the same conviction, in the hope of its producing a better effect than anything he had yet been able to say or do.
“I blush for you, Tom,” said he, in his most dignified manner; “I blush for the expedient which I am driven on, and I trust I may pity your feelings as a brother on the occasion. You have robbed Edmund for ten, twenty, thirty years, perhaps for life, of more than half the income which ought to be his. It may hereafter be in my power, or in yours (I hope it will), to procure him better preferment; but it must not be forgotten that no benefit of that sort would have been beyond his natural claims on us, and that nothing can, in fact, be an equivalent for the certain advantage which he is now obliged to forego through the urgency of your debts.”
Tom listened with some shame and some sorrow; but escaping as quickly as possible, could soon with cheerful selfishness reflect, firstly, that he had not been half so much in debt as some of his friends; secondly, that his father had made a most tiresome piece of work of it; and, thirdly, that the future incumbent, whoever he might be, would, in all probability, die very soon.
On Mr. Norris's death the presentation became the right of a Dr. Grant, who came consequently to reside at Mansfield; and on proving to be a hearty man of forty-five, seemed likely to disappoint Mr. Bertram's calculations. But “no, he was a short-necked, apoplectic sort of fellow, and, plied well with good things, would soon pop off.”
He had a wife about fifteen years his junior, but no children; and they entered the neighbourhood with the usual fair report of being very respectable, agreeable people.
The time was now come when Sir Thomas expected his sister-in-law to claim her share in their niece, the change in Mrs. Norris's situation, and the improvement in Fanny's age, seeming not merely to do away any former objection to their living together, but even to give it the most decided eligibility; and as his own circumstances were rendered less fair than heretofore, by some recent losses on his West India Estate, in addition to his eldest son's extravagance, it became not undesirable to himself to be relieved from the expense of her support, and the obligation of her future provision. In the fullness of his belief that such a thing must be, he mentioned its probability to his wife; and the first time of the subject's occurring to her again, happening to be when Fanny was present, she calmly observed to her, “So, Fanny, you are going to leave us, and live with my sister. How shall you like it?”
Fanny was too much surprised to do more than repeat her aunt's words, “Going to leave you?”
“Yes, my dear; why should you be astonished? You have been five years with us, and my sister always meant to take you when Mr. Norris died. But you must come up and tack on my patterns all the same.”
The news was as disagreeable to Fanny as it had been unexpected. She had never received kindness from her aunt Norris, and could not love her.
“I shall be very sorry to go away,” said she, with a faltering voice.
“Yes, I dare say you will; that's natural enough. I suppose you have had as little to vex you, since you came into this house, as any creature in the world.”
“I hope I am not ungrateful, aunt,” said Fanny modestly.
“No, my dear; I hope not. I have always found you a very good girl.”
“And am I never to live here again?”
“Never, my dear; but you are sure of a comfortable home. It can make very little difference to you, whether you are in one house or the other.”
Fanny left the room with a very sorrowful heart; she could not feel the difference to be so small, she could not think of living with her aunt with anything like satisfaction. As soon as she met with Edmund, she told him her distress.
“Cousin,” said she, “something is going to happen which I do not like at all; and though you have often persuaded me into being reconciled to things that I disliked at first, you will not be able to do it now. I am going to live entirely with my aunt Norris.”
“Indeed!”
“Yes, my aunt Bertram has just told me so. It is quite settled. I am to leave Mansfield Park, and go to the White House, I suppose, as soon as she is removed there.”
“Well, Fanny, and if the plan were not unpleasant to you, I should call it an excellent one.”
“Oh, cousin!”
“It has everything else in its favour. My aunt is acting like a sensible woman in wishing for you. She is choosing a friend and companion exactly where she ought, and I am glad her love of money does not interfere. You will be what you ought to be to her. I hope it does not distress you very much, Fanny.”
“Indeed it does. I cannot like it. I love this house and everything in it. I shall love nothing there. You know how uncomfortable I feel with her.”
“I can say nothing for her manner to you as a child; but it was the same with us all, or nearly so. She never knew how to be pleasant to children. But you are now of an age to be treated better; I think she is behaving better already; and when you are her only companion, you must be important to her.”
“I can never be important to anyone.”
“What is to prevent you?”
“Everything—My situation—my foolishness and awkwardness.”
“As to your foolishness and awkwardness, my dear Fanny, believe me, you never have a shadow of either, but in using the words so improperly. There is no reason in the world why you should not be important where you are known. You have good sense, and a sweet temper, and I am sure you have a grateful heart, that could never receive kindness without wishing to return it. I do not know any better qualifications for a friend and companion.”
“You are too kind,” said Fanny, colouring at such praise; “how shall I ever thank you as I ought, for thinking so well of me? Oh! cousin, if I am to go away, I shall remember your goodness to the last moment of my life.”
“Why, indeed, Fanny, I should hope to be remembered at such a distance as the White House. You speak as if you were going two hundred miles off instead of only across the park; but you will belong to us almost as much as ever. The two families will be meeting every day in the year. The only difference will be that, living with your aunt, you will necessarily be brought forward as you ought to be.Here there are too many whom you can hide behind; but with her you will be forced to speak for yourself.”
“Oh! do not say so.”
“I must say it, and say it with pleasure. Mrs. Norris is much better fitted than my mother for having the charge of you now. She is of a temper to do a great deal for anybody she really interests herself about, and she will force you to do justice to your natural powers.”
Fanny sighed, and said, “I cannot see things as you do; but I ought to believe you to be right rather than myself, and I am very much obliged to you for trying to reconcile me to what must be. If I could suppose my aunt really to care for me, it would be delightful to feel myself of consequence to anybody! Here, I know, I am of none, and yet I love the place so well.”
“The place, Fanny, is what you will not quit, though you quit the house. You will have as free a command of the park and gardens as ever. Even your constant little heart need not take fright at such a nominal change. You will have the same walks to frequent, the same library to choose from, the same people to look at, the same horse to ride.”
“Very true. Yes, dear old grey pony! Ah! cousin, when I remember how much I used to dread riding, what terrors it gave me to hear it talked of as likely to do me good (oh! how I have trembled at my uncle's opening his lips if horses were talked of), and then think of the kind pains you took to reason and persuade me out of my fears, and convince me that I should like it after a little while, and feel how right you proved to be, I am inclined to hope you may always prophesy as well.”
“And I am quite convinced that your being with Mrs. Norris will be as good for your mind as riding has been for your health—and as much for your ultimate happiness, too.”
So ended their discourse, which, for any very appropriate service it could render Fanny, might as well have been spared, for Mrs. Norris had not the smallest intention of taking her. It had never occurred to her, on the present occasion, but as a thing to be carefully avoided. To prevent its being expected, she had fixed on the smallest habitation which could rank as genteel among the buildings of Mansfield parish; the White House being only just large enough to receive herself and her servants, and allow a spare room for a friend, of which she made a very particular point. The spare rooms at the Parsonage had never been wanted, but the absolute necessity of a spare room for a friend was now never forgotten. Not all her precautions, however, could save her from being suspected of something better; or, perhaps, her very display of the importance of a spare room might have misled Sir Thomas to suppose it really intended for Fanny. Lady Bertram soon brought the matter to a certainty by carelessly observing to Mrs. Norris—
“I think, sister, we need not keep Miss Lee any longer, when Fanny goes to live with you?”
Mrs. Norris almost started. “Live with me, dear Lady Bertram, what do you mean?”
“Is she not to live with you? I thought you had settled it with Sir Thomas.”
“Me! never. I never spoke a syllable about it to Sir Thomas, nor he to me. Fanny live with me! the last thing in the world for me to think of, or for anybody to wish that really knows us both. Good heaven! what could I do with Fanny? Me! a poor, helpless, forlorn widow, unfit for anything, my spirits quite broke down; what could I do with a girl at her time of life? A girl of fifteen! the very age of all others to need most attention and care, and put the cheerfullest spirits to the test. Sure Sir Thomas could not seriously expect such a thing! Sir Thomas is too much my friend. Nobody that wishes me well, I am sure, would propose it. How came Sir Thomas to speak to you about it?”
“Indeed, I do not know. I suppose he thought it best.”
“But what did he say? He could not say he wished me to take Fanny. I am sure in his heart he could not wish me to do it.”
“No; he only said he thought it very likely—and I thought so too. We both thought it would be a comfort to you. But if you do not like it, there is no more to be said. She is no incumbrance here.”
“Dear sister! If you consider my unhappy state, how can she be any comfort to me? Here am I, a poor desolate widow, deprived of the best of husbands, my health gone in attending and nursing him, my spirits still worse, all my peace in this world destroyed, with hardly enough to support me in the rank of a gentlewoman, and enable me to live so as not to disgrace the memory of the dear departed—what possible comfort could I have in taking such a charge upon me as Fanny! If I could wish it for my own sake, I would not do so unjust a thing by the poor girl. She is in good hands, and sure of doing well. I must struggle through my sorrows and difficulties as I can.”
“Then you will not mind living by yourself quite alone?”
“Dear Lady Bertram! What am I fit for but solitude? Now and then I shall hope to have a friend in my little cottage (I shall always have a bed for a friend); but the most part of my future days will be spent in utter seclusion. If I can but make both ends meet, that's all I ask for.”
“I hope, sister, things are not so very bad with you neither, considering. Sir Thomas says you will have six hundred a year.”
“Lady Bertram, I do not complain. I know I cannot live as I have done, but I must retrench where I can, and learn to be a better manager. I have been a liberal housekeeper enough, but I shall not be ashamed to practise economy now. My situation is as much altered as my income. A great many things were due from poor Mr. Norris, as clergyman of the parish, that cannot be expected from me. It is unknown how much was consumed in our kitchen by odd comers and goers. At the White House, matters must be better looked after. I must live within my income, or I shall be miserable; and I own it would give me great satisfaction to be able to do rather more—to lay by a little at the end of the year.”
“I dare say you will. You always do, don't you?”
“My object, Lady Bertram, is to be of use to those that come after me. It is for your children's good that I wish to be richer. I have nobody else to care for, but I should be very glad to think I could leave a little trifle among them, worth their having.”
“You are very good, but do not trouble yourself about them. They are sure of being well provided for. Sir Thomas will take care of that.”
“Why, you know, Sir Thomas's means will be rather straitened if the Antigua estate is to make such poor returns.”
“Oh! that will soon be settled. Sir Thomas has been writing about it, I know.”
“Well, Lady Bertram,” said Mrs. Norris, moving to go, “I can only say that my sole desire is to be of use to your family—and so, if Sir Thomas should ever speak again about my taking Fanny, you will be able to say that my health and spirits put it quite out of the question—besides that, I really should not have a bed to give her, for I must keep a spare room for a friend.”
Lady Bertram repeated enough of this conversation to her husband to convince him how much he had mistaken his sister-in-law's views; and she was from that moment perfectly safe from all expectation, or the slightest allusion to it from him. He could not but wonder at her refusing to do anything for a niece whom she had been so forward to adopt; but, as she took early care to make him, as well as Lady Bertram, understand that whatever she possessed was designed for their family, he soon grew reconciled to a distinction which, at the same time that it was advantageous and complimentary to them, would enable him better to provide for Fanny himself.
Fanny soon learnt how unnecessary had been her fears of a removal; and her spontaneous, untaught felicity on the discovery, conveyed some consolation to Edmund for his disappointment in what he had expected to be so essentially serviceable to her. Mrs. Norris took possession of the White House, the Grants arrived at the Parsonage, and these events over, everything at Mansfield went on for some time as usual.
The Grants showing a disposition to be friendly and sociable, gave great satisfaction in the main among their new acquaintance. They had their faults, and Mrs. Norris soon found them out. The Doctor was very fond of eating, and would have a good dinner every day; and Mrs. Grant, instead of contriving to gratify him at little expense, gave her cook as high wages as they did at Mansfield Park, and was scarcely ever seen in her offices. Mrs. Norris could not speak with any temper of such grievances, nor of the quantity of butter and eggs that were regularly consumed in the house. “Nobody loved plenty and hospitality more than herself—nobody more hated pitiful doings—the Parsonage, she believed, had never been wanting in comforts of any sort, had never borne a bad character in her time, but this was a way of going on that she could not understand. A fine lady in a country parsonage was quite out of place.Her storeroom, she thought, might have been good enough for Mrs. Grant to go into. Inquire where she would, she could not find out that Mrs. Grant had ever had more than five thousand pounds.”
Lady Bertram listened without much interest to this sort of invective. She could not enter into the wrongs of an economist, but she felt all the injuries of beauty in Mrs. Grant's being so well settled in life without being handsome, and expressed her astonishment on that point almost as often, though not so diffusely, as Mrs. Norris discussed the other.
These opinions had been hardly canvassed a year before another event arose of such importance in the family, as might fairly claim some place in the thoughts and conversation of the ladies. Sir Thomas found it expedient to go to Antigua himself, for the better arrangement of his affairs, and he took his eldest son with him, in the hope of detaching him from some bad connections at home. They left England with the probability of being nearly a twelvemonth absent.
The necessity of the measure in a pecuniary light, and the hope of its utility to his son, reconciled Sir Thomas to the effort of quitting the rest of his family, and of leaving his daughters to the direction of others at their present most interesting time of life. He could not think Lady Bertram quite equal to supply his place with them, or rather, to perform what should have been her own; but, in Mrs. Norris's watchful attention, and in Edmund's judgment, he had sufficient confidence to make him go without fears for their conduct.
Lady Bertram did not at all like to have her husband leave her; but she was not disturbed by any alarm for his safety, or solicitude for his comfort, being one of those persons who think nothing can be dangerous, or difficult, or fatiguing to anybody but themselves.
The Miss Bertrams were much to be pitied on the occasion; not for their sorrow, but for their want of it. Their father was no object of love to them; he had never seemed the friend of their pleasures, and his absence was unhappily most welcome. They were relieved by it from all restraint; and without aiming at one gratification that would probably have been forbidden by Sir Thomas, they felt themselves immediately at their own disposal, and to have every indulgence within their reach. Fanny's relief, and her consciousness of it, were quite equal to her cousins'; but a more tender nature suggested that her feelings were ungrateful, and she really grieved because she could not grieve. “Sir Thomas, who had done so much for her and her brothers, and who was gone perhaps never to return! that she should see him go without a tear! it was a shameful insensibility.” He had said to her, moreover, on the very last morning, that he hoped she might see William again in the course of the ensuing winter, and had charged her to write and invite him to Mansfield as soon as the squadron to which he belonged should be known to be in England. “This was so thoughtful and kind!” and would he only have smiled upon her, and called her “my dear Fanny,” while he said it, every former frown or cold address might have been forgotten. But he had ended his speech in a way to sink her in sad mortification, by adding, “If William does come to Mansfield, I hope you may be able to convince him that the many years which have passed since you parted have not been spent on your side entirely without improvement—though, I fear, he must find his sister at sixteen in some respects too much like his sister at ten.” She cried bitterly over this reflection when her uncle was gone; and her cousins, on seeing her with red eyes, set her down as a hypocrite.
這個(gè)家族所出的第一個(gè)較大的事件是諾里斯先生的去世。事情發(fā)生在范妮大約十五歲那年,這不可避免地引起了一些變化和新鮮事。諾里斯太太離開了牧師住宅,先是搬到了曼斯菲爾德莊園,后來又搬到托馬斯爵士在村里的一座小屋。她為失去丈夫安慰自己,心想沒有他照樣能過得挺好;也為收入減少安慰自己,明擺著應(yīng)該更加節(jié)儉些。
這個(gè)牧師職位本應(yīng)由埃德蒙接任的,如果姨父早死幾年,埃德蒙還不到接受圣職的年齡,就由哪個(gè)親友暫干幾年,到時(shí)候再交給他。但是,姨父去世之前,湯姆即已揮霍無度,職位的下一任人選只好另找他人,做弟弟的必須為哥哥的尋歡作樂付出代價(jià)。其實(shí),他家還有另一個(gè)牧師職位給埃德蒙留著,盡管這一情況使得托馬斯爵士在良心上多少好受一些,但他總覺得事情做得不夠公平,便極力想讓大兒子也認(rèn)識(shí)到這一點(diǎn),希望這一努力能產(chǎn)生比他以前的任何言行都要好的效果。
“湯姆,我為你感到害臊,”他帶著極其莊重的神情說道,“我為我被迫采取這個(gè)應(yīng)急措施感到害臊。我想我要可憐你在這件事上作為兄長(zhǎng)所感到的慚愧之情。你把本該屬于埃德蒙的一半以上的進(jìn)項(xiàng)剝奪了十年、二十年、三十年,說不定是一輩子。也許我今后有能力,或者你今后有能力(但愿如此),給他謀到一個(gè)更好的職位。不過,我們決不能忘記,即使我們做出這樣的好事,也沒有超出我們做父兄的對(duì)他應(yīng)盡的義務(wù)。事實(shí)上,由于急于給你償還債務(wù),他現(xiàn)在不得不放棄的那份明擺著的好處,是什么也補(bǔ)償不了的?!?/p>
湯姆聽著這席話倒也感到幾分慚愧,幾分難受。不過,為了盡快擺脫這種心情,他很快便帶著樂滋滋的自私心理琢磨道:第一,他欠的債還不及某些朋友欠的一半多;第二,他父親對(duì)這件事嘮叨得夠煩人了;第三,下一任牧師不管由誰來擔(dān)任,十有八九會(huì)很快死去。
諾里斯先生死后,繼任圣職的權(quán)利落到了一位格蘭特博士身上,因而他就來到曼斯菲爾德住了下來。沒想到他竟是個(gè)四十五歲的健壯漢子,看來伯特倫先生的如意算盤是要落空了??墒牵安?,這人是個(gè)短脖子,容易中風(fēng)的那種人,加上貪吃貪喝,很快就會(huì)死去”。
新任牧師的妻子比他小十五歲左右,兩人無兒無女。他們來到這里,像以往的牧師初來乍到時(shí)一樣,人們都傳說他們是非常體面、和藹可親的人。
時(shí)至今日,托馬斯爵士覺得他的大姨子應(yīng)該履行她對(duì)外甥女的那份義務(wù)了。諾里斯太太的處境變了,范妮的年齡也漸漸大了,諾里斯太太原先反對(duì)范妮住她家的理由似乎已不復(fù)存在,并且似乎兩人住在一起才是最妥當(dāng)不過的。再說托馬斯爵士的西印度種植場(chǎng)近來遭受了一些損失[1],加上大兒子揮霍無度,他的境況已不如從前,因此他也并非不想擺脫掉撫養(yǎng)范妮的負(fù)擔(dān),以及將來供養(yǎng)她的義務(wù)。他深信必須這樣做,便向妻子說起了這種可能性。伯特倫夫人再次想到這件事的時(shí)候,碰巧范妮也在場(chǎng)。伯特倫夫人便平靜地對(duì)她說:“這樣看來,范妮,你就要離開我們住到我姐姐那里去了。你覺得怎么樣?”
范妮大為驚愕,只是重復(fù)了一聲姨媽的話:“就要離開你們了?”
“是的,親愛的。你為什么感到驚訝呢?你在我們這里住了五年了,諾里斯先生去世以后,我姐姐總想讓你過去。不過,你還得照樣過來給我縫圖案呀?!?/p>
這消息不僅使范妮驚訝,而且令她感到不快。她從未領(lǐng)受過諾里斯姨媽的好處,因此也不可能愛她。
“我離開這里會(huì)很傷心的?!彼曇纛澏兜卣f。
“是啊,我想你是會(huì)傷心的,這也是很自然的。我想,自從你來到這個(gè)家之后,還不曾有過什么事情讓你煩惱吧?!?/p>
“姨媽,我想我沒有忘恩負(fù)義吧?”范妮靦腆地說。
“是的,親愛的,我想你沒有。我一直覺得你是個(gè)很好的姑娘?!?/p>
“我以后再也不能住在這里了嗎?”
“再也不能了,親愛的。不過,你肯定會(huì)有一個(gè)舒適的家。不管你是住在這座宅子里,還是住在別的宅子里,對(duì)你來說都不會(huì)有多大差別?!?/p>
范妮心情沉重地走出屋去。她無法把這差異看得很小,她無法想象和大姨媽住在一起會(huì)有什么稱心如意的事情。她一碰到埃德蒙,便把自己的傷心事告訴了他。
“表哥,”她說,“就要發(fā)生一件讓我很不高興的事了。過去我遇到不高興的事,往往經(jīng)你開導(dǎo)就想通了,可這一次你就開導(dǎo)不通我了。我要住到諾里斯姨媽家去了?!?/p>
“真的呀!”
“是的,伯特倫姨媽剛剛這么對(duì)我說的。事情已經(jīng)定下來了。我得離開曼斯菲爾德莊園了。我想一等諾里斯姨媽搬到白房子,我就搬到那里去。”
“哦,范妮,要不是因?yàn)槟悴幌矚g這個(gè)安排,我還真會(huì)覺得好得很呢?!?/p>
“噢!表哥!”
“這個(gè)安排從各個(gè)方面來看都不錯(cuò)。大姨媽既然希望你去,表明她挺通情達(dá)理的。她選擇了你做朋友和伙伴是再合適不過了,我很高興她沒有因?yàn)樨澵?cái)而不選你。你做她的朋友和伙伴也是應(yīng)該的。我希望,范妮,你不要為這件事感到太難過。”
“我真的很難過。我不可能為此高興。我喜歡這座房子,喜歡這里的每樣?xùn)|西,而那里的一切我都不會(huì)喜歡。你知道我跟她在一起多不自在?!?/p>
“她把你當(dāng)孩子看待時(shí)對(duì)你的態(tài)度,我沒有什么好講的。不過,她對(duì)我們大家的態(tài)度也和對(duì)你一樣,或者說差不多一樣。她從不懂得怎樣對(duì)孩子和藹可親。不過,你現(xiàn)在到了這個(gè)年齡,需要?jiǎng)e人待你好些。我看她現(xiàn)在待你是好些了。等你成了她唯一的伙伴,她一定會(huì)看重你的。”
“我永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)被任何人看重的?!?/p>
“有什么事情妨礙你呢?”
“樣樣事情——我的處境——我的愚蠢,我的笨拙?!?/p>
“至于說你愚蠢、笨拙,親愛的范妮,請(qǐng)相信我,你一絲一毫也沒有這樣的缺陷,這兩個(gè)字眼用得太不恰當(dāng)。不管在什么地方,只要人們了解了你,你絕不會(huì)不被人看重。你通情達(dá)理,性情溫柔,我敢說還有一顆知恩圖報(bào)之心,受到別人的好處總想報(bào)答人家的恩情。照我看,作為朋友和伙伴,沒有什么比這更好的品質(zhì)了。”
“你太好了。”范妮說,聽到表哥的贊揚(yáng),不由得臉紅了,“你把我看得這么好,我怎么感謝你才好?。苦?!表哥,我要是離開這里,將永遠(yuǎn)記住你的好處,直至我生命的最后一刻。”
“哦,范妮,不過是白房子那么一點(diǎn)距離,我倒真希望你能記住我。聽你的口氣,你好像是要到兩百英里以外去,而不僅僅是莊園的那一邊。不過,你差不多和以往一樣,還是我們中間的一員。兩家人一年到頭天天見面。唯一的區(qū)別是,你跟大姨媽住在一起,必然會(huì)理所當(dāng)然地促使你早點(diǎn)成熟。在這兒嘛,人太多了,你可以躲在后邊??墒歉笠虌屧谝黄?,你就不得不替自己說話?!?/p>
“噢!不要這么說嘛?!?/p>
“我必須這么說,而且樂意這么說?,F(xiàn)在由諾里斯姨媽來照管你,比我媽媽合適得多。諾里斯姨媽有這樣的脾氣:對(duì)于她真正關(guān)心的人,能照顧得非常周到,還能促使你充分發(fā)揮你的能力。”
范妮嘆息了一聲,說道:“我的看法和你不一樣。不過,我應(yīng)該相信你是對(duì)的,而不是相信我自己。你想幫助我對(duì)注定要發(fā)生的事情想開些,我非常感激。如果我能夠設(shè)想大姨媽真正關(guān)心我,我會(huì)因?yàn)楦械竭€有人看重我而高興啊!在這兒,我知道我是無足輕重的,可我非常愛這個(gè)地方?!?/p>
“范妮,你要離開的是這座房子,可不是這個(gè)地方。這個(gè)莊園及里邊的花園你還可以一如既往地自由享受。對(duì)于這樣一個(gè)名義上的變化,即使你那小小的心靈也不必為之驚駭。你還可以照樣在原來的小路上散步,照樣從原來的圖書室里挑選圖書,照樣看到原來的人,照樣騎原來那匹馬。”
“一點(diǎn)不錯(cuò)。是啊,親愛的老灰馬。?。”砀?,我還記得當(dāng)初我多么害怕騎馬,一聽人說騎馬會(huì)對(duì)我有好處就嚇得不得了。噢!每次談到馬的時(shí)候,一看到姨父要張嘴說話,我就渾身發(fā)抖。再想想你好心好意費(fèi)盡心思地勸解我不要害怕,讓我相信只要騎一會(huì)兒就會(huì)喜歡的,現(xiàn)在我覺得你的話說得多么正確,我倒希望你每次的預(yù)言能同樣成真。”
“我完全相信,你和諾里斯太太在一起會(huì)對(duì)你的精神有好處,正如騎馬對(duì)你的身體有好處一樣——也對(duì)你的最終幸福有好處?!?/p>
他們的這番談話就這樣結(jié)束了,不管對(duì)范妮有沒有好處,其實(shí)本可以不用談的,因?yàn)橹Z里斯太太絲毫沒有接納她的意思。目前,她只想小心翼翼地回避這件事。為了防止別人打她的主意,她挑選了曼斯菲爾德教區(qū)可以維持上流社會(huì)體面的最小的住宅。這所白房子只容得下她自己和她的仆人,還有一個(gè)備用房間是專為一個(gè)朋友準(zhǔn)備的,而且她要不厭其煩地強(qiáng)調(diào)這一點(diǎn)。以前他們住在牧師住宅里從未需要什么備用房間,現(xiàn)在卻念念不忘要給朋友保留一個(gè)備用房間。然而,不管她怎么處心積慮地防范,還是免不了別人把她往好里猜想。她反復(fù)強(qiáng)調(diào)需要有個(gè)備用房間,也可能使托馬斯爵士誤以為真是為范妮準(zhǔn)備的。伯特倫夫人不久便把這件事明確地提了出來,她漫不經(jīng)心地對(duì)諾里斯太太說:
“姐姐,等范妮跟你一起生活之后,我想我們就不再需要雇用李小姐了吧?”
諾里斯太太幾乎嚇了一跳,說:“跟我一起生活,親愛的伯特倫夫人,你這是什么意思?”
“她不是要跟你一起生活了嗎?我還以為你跟托馬斯爵士早就談妥了呢?”
“我!從來沒有。我一個(gè)字也沒跟托馬斯爵士說起過,他也只字沒跟我說起過。范妮跟我住在一起!這是我決不會(huì)考慮的事,凡是真正了解我們倆的人,誰也不會(huì)這么設(shè)想。天哪!我把范妮領(lǐng)去怎么辦呀?我!一個(gè)孤苦伶仃的窮寡婦,什么事情都干不了,精神都崩潰了,叫我對(duì)這樣年齡的一個(gè)姑娘,一個(gè)十五歲的姑娘怎么辦呀?這么大的孩子正是最需要關(guān)心和愛護(hù)的時(shí)候,連精力最旺盛的人也未必承受得了呀。托馬斯爵士決不會(huì)當(dāng)真指望我做這樣的事情吧!托馬斯爵士是我的至親好友。我相信,凡是希望我好的人,都不會(huì)提議這樣的事情。托馬斯爵士怎么會(huì)跟你說起這件事的?”
“我還真不知道。我想他覺得這樣最合適?!?/p>
“可他是怎么說的呢?他總不會(huì)說他希望我把范妮接走吧。我想他內(nèi)心里肯定不會(huì)希望我這樣做。”
“是的,他只是說他認(rèn)為這很可能——我也是這么認(rèn)為的。我們倆都覺得這對(duì)你會(huì)是個(gè)安慰。不過,你要是不想這樣做,那就什么也不用再說了。她在這兒也不是什么累贅?!?/p>
“親愛的妹妹!你要是考慮一下我的悲慘情況,她怎么會(huì)給我?guī)硎裁窗参磕??如今我是個(gè)可憐巴巴的窮寡婦,失去了世界上最好的丈夫。為了伺候他,我把身體也弄垮了,我的精神狀態(tài)更加糟糕,我在人世間的寧靜全被摧毀了,只能勉強(qiáng)維持一個(gè)有身份女人的生活,不至于辱沒我那已故的親愛的丈夫——再叫我擔(dān)負(fù)起照管范妮的責(zé)任,我會(huì)得到什么安慰呀!即使我為了自己想要這樣做,我也不能對(duì)那可憐的孩子做出這么不公道的事情。她現(xiàn)在受到高貴人家的養(yǎng)育,肯定前程似錦。我卻得在艱難困苦中拼命掙扎?!?/p>
“那你不在乎孤零零地一個(gè)人生活啦?”
“親愛的伯特倫夫人!我除了孤苦伶仃還配怎么樣呢?我希望偶爾能有個(gè)朋友住到我那小房舍里(我要永遠(yuǎn)為朋友留個(gè)床位),但我將來的絕大部分歲月要在與世隔絕中度過。我要是能勉強(qiáng)維持生活,就別無所求了。”
“姐姐,總的來看,我想你的情況也不至于那么糟。托馬斯爵士說你每年會(huì)有六百英鎊的收入。”
“伯特倫夫人,我不是在訴苦。我明白我不能像過去那樣生活了,而要盡可能地節(jié)省開支,學(xué)會(huì)做個(gè)更好的當(dāng)家人。我以前一直是個(gè)大手大腳的當(dāng)家人,現(xiàn)在要省吃儉用也不怕人笑話。我的處境像我的收入一樣發(fā)生了變化。許多事情都是可憐的諾里斯先生當(dāng)牧師時(shí)招來的,現(xiàn)在不能指望我也去那樣做。素不相識(shí)的人來來往往,不知道吃掉了我們廚房里多少東西。到了白房子里,事情就得好好料理。我一定得量入為出,不然就要受苦了。坦白地說,要是能做得更好一些——到了年底能有一點(diǎn)積蓄,我會(huì)感到非常高興的?!?/p>
“我想你會(huì)的。你不是一直在積蓄嗎?”
“伯特倫夫人,我的目標(biāo)是給下一代人留些好處。我是為了你的孩子們,才希望能多有點(diǎn)錢。我沒有別人需要關(guān)照的,就想將來能給他們每人留下一份稍微像樣的財(cái)產(chǎn)?!?/p>
“你真好。不過不要為他們操心,他們將來肯定什么都不會(huì)缺的。托馬斯爵士會(huì)處理好這件事的?!?/p>
“嗨,你要知道,要是安提瓜種植園收益還這么不好的話,托馬斯爵士的手頭就會(huì)很緊了?!?/p>
“噢!這很快會(huì)解決的。我知道,托馬斯爵士正在為此起草什么東西。”
“好吧,伯特倫夫人,”諾里斯太太一邊說,一邊動(dòng)身要走,“我只能說,我唯一的愿望是對(duì)你的孩子們有些好處——因此,要是托馬斯爵士再提起要我把范妮領(lǐng)去的話,你可以對(duì)他說,我的身體和精神都不允許我那樣做——再說,我還真沒有給她睡覺的地方,我得為朋友保留一個(gè)備用房間。”
伯特倫夫人把這次談話的內(nèi)容轉(zhuǎn)告了丈夫,使他意識(shí)到他完全領(lǐng)會(huì)錯(cuò)了大姨子的心思。從此之后,諾里斯太太再也不用擔(dān)心他對(duì)她還會(huì)有什么指望,也不必?fù)?dān)心他會(huì)就這件事再提只言片語。托馬斯爵士感到奇怪的是,當(dāng)初她是那樣起勁地?cái)x掇他們領(lǐng)養(yǎng)這個(gè)外甥女,如今卻對(duì)范妮一點(diǎn)義務(wù)都不肯盡。不過,由于她提前告訴他和伯特倫夫人,她的所有財(cái)產(chǎn)都要留給他們的子女,這對(duì)他們既有好處,也是好大的面子,因此伯特倫夫婦很快便想通了,進(jìn)而也能更好地為范妮未來的生活做安排了。
范妮很快便得知,自己起先有關(guān)要搬走的擔(dān)憂是完全沒有必要的。埃德蒙本來在為他覺得對(duì)范妮大有好處的一件事沒能辦成而感到失望,不料范妮獲悉后卻喜不自禁,這也給他帶來了幾分安慰。諾里斯太太住進(jìn)了白房子,格蘭特夫婦來到了牧師住宅,這兩件事情過后,曼斯菲爾德一切如常地持續(xù)了一段時(shí)間。
格蘭特夫婦性情和藹可親,喜歡交際,使新結(jié)識(shí)的人大體上頗為滿意。兩人也有缺點(diǎn),很快就讓諾里斯太太發(fā)現(xiàn)了。博士非常好吃,每天都要美餐一頓;而格蘭特太太不是盡量節(jié)省以滿足他的需求,反而給廚子很高的工錢,簡(jiǎn)直跟曼斯菲爾德莊園給的一樣高,而且很少見她親臨廚房和貯藏室。諾里斯太太一說起這種令人憤懣的事情,或者一說起那家人每天耗費(fèi)那么多的黃油和雞蛋,不免就要?jiǎng)託?。“誰也不像我那樣喜歡大方和好客——誰也不像我那樣討厭小家子氣——我相信,牧師住宅在我當(dāng)家的時(shí)候,該享受的東西從沒缺過一樣,也從沒落得過什么壞名聲,但是像他們現(xiàn)在這樣胡鬧法,我可不能理解。想在鄉(xiāng)下牧師住宅里擺闊太太的架子,實(shí)在不相稱。我原來的那間貯藏室夠不錯(cuò)的了,我看格蘭特太太進(jìn)去一趟不會(huì)降低她的身份。我到處打聽,從沒聽說格蘭特太太的財(cái)產(chǎn)超出過五千英鎊?!?/p>
伯特倫夫人沒有多大興致去聽這種指責(zé)。她不愿過問持家人的過失,但她覺得格蘭特太太人不漂亮卻也能過上這么好的日子,這簡(jiǎn)直是對(duì)漂亮的人的侮辱,因此她經(jīng)常對(duì)此表示驚訝,就像諾里斯太太經(jīng)常談?wù)摮旨抑酪粯樱皇遣幌裰Z里斯太太那樣喋喋不休。
這些看法談?wù)摿诉€不到一年,家里又發(fā)生了一件事。這件事關(guān)系重大,自然會(huì)在太太小姐們的心事和言談中占有一席之地。托馬斯爵士覺得,他應(yīng)當(dāng)親自跑到安提瓜,以便更好地安排那里的事務(wù),并順便把大兒子也帶了去,想借此使他擺脫在家里結(jié)交的一些壞人。他們離開了英國(guó),可能要在外面待上將近一年。
托馬斯爵士本不愿離開一家老小,把正處于妙齡時(shí)期的兩個(gè)女兒交給別人指導(dǎo),只是從錢財(cái)角度看來必須這樣做,而且這樣做可能對(duì)兒子有好處,這才打定了主意。他覺得伯特倫夫人不能完全接替他對(duì)兩個(gè)女兒的指導(dǎo),甚至連她自己應(yīng)盡的職責(zé)都難以履行。但他非常相信諾里斯太太的謹(jǐn)慎小心和埃德蒙的審慎明斷,這足以讓他放心離去,不再為女兒們擔(dān)心。
伯特倫夫人壓根兒不想讓丈夫離開她,不過她之所以感到不安,既不是出于對(duì)他安全的擔(dān)心,也不是出于對(duì)他安適的關(guān)心。她屬于這樣一種人:只知道自己會(huì)有危險(xiǎn)、困難和勞頓,而別人全然不會(huì)遇上這類事情。
在這次離別中,讓人深為可憐的還是兩位伯特倫小姐。這倒不是因?yàn)樗齻優(yōu)榇藗模且驗(yàn)樗齻儾⒉粋?。她們并不愛她們的父親,凡是她們喜歡的事情,他似乎從來沒有贊成過,因而令人遺憾的是,父親出門遠(yuǎn)去,她們反倒非常高興。這樣一來,她們就從種種約束中解脫出來。她們不會(huì)因想做什么樂事而遭到父親的禁止,頓時(shí)感到一切可以由著自己了,完全可以恣意放縱了。范妮的解脫、欣慰之感絲毫不亞于兩位表姐,不過她心腸比她們軟,覺得自己這種心情是忘恩負(fù)義,并且為自己沒能傷心而感到傷心:“托馬斯爵士對(duì)我和我的哥哥弟弟有那么多的恩情,這次一去也許永遠(yuǎn)回不來啦!我看著他走居然連一滴眼淚也不曾流下!這簡(jiǎn)直是無情無義到可恥的地步。”況且,就在臨別的那天早晨,他還對(duì)她說,他希望在即將到來的冬天她能再次見到威廉,并囑咐她一聽到威廉所屬的中隊(duì)回到英國(guó)的消息,就寫信邀請(qǐng)他來曼斯菲爾德?!八麑?duì)我多么體貼多么好??!”他說那些話的時(shí)候,只需對(duì)她笑一笑,叫一聲“親愛的范妮”,她就會(huì)忘掉以往他對(duì)她總是皺著眉頭,言語冷淡。不過,他在那席話的最后加了幾句,使她感到不勝屈辱:“如果威廉來到曼斯菲爾德,我希望你能讓他相信,你們分別多年,你并非毫無長(zhǎng)進(jìn)——不過我擔(dān)心,他一定會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn),他的妹妹雖然已經(jīng)十六歲,但在某些方面還像十歲時(shí)一樣?!币谈缸吆?,她回想起這番話,痛哭了一場(chǎng)。兩位表姐看見她兩眼通紅,以為她在裝模作樣。
* * *
[1]安提瓜是英國(guó)于1632年在西印度群島建立的殖民地,到18世紀(jì),殖民地種植園的收益每況愈下,1807年種植園即已虧本生產(chǎn)。
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