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Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Elinor saw, with great uneasiness the low spirits of her friend. His visit afforded her but a very partial satisfaction, while his own enjoyment in it appeared so imperfect. It was evident that he was unhappy; she wished it were equally evident that he still distinguished her by the same affection which once she had felt no doubt of inspiring; but hitherto the continuance of his preference seemed very uncertain; and the reservedness of his manner towards her contradicted one moment what a more animated look had intimated the preceding one.

He joined her and Marianne in the breakfast-room the next morning before the others were down; and Marianne, who was always eager to promote their happiness as far as she could, soon left them to themselves. But before she was half way upstairs she heard the parlour door open, and, turning round, was astonished to see Edward himself come out.

"I am going into the village to see my horses," said he, "as you are not yet ready for breakfast; I shall be back again presently." *

Edward returned to them with fresh admiration of the surrounding country; in his walk to the village, he had seen many parts of the valley to advantage; and the village itself, in a much higher situation than the cottage, afforded a general view of the whole, which had exceedingly pleased him. This was a subject which ensured Marianne's attention, and she was beginning to describe her own admiration of these scenes, and to question him more minutely on the objects that had particularly struck him, when Edward interrupted her by saying, "You must not enquire too far, Marianne--remember I have no knowledge in the picturesque, and I shall offend you by my ignorance and want of taste if we come to particulars. I shall call hills steep, which ought to be bold; surfaces strange and uncouth, which ought to be irregular and rugged; and distant objects out of sight, which ought only to be indistinct through the soft medium of a hazy atmosphere. You must be satisfied with such admiration as I can honestly give. I call it a very fine country--the hills are steep, the woods seem full of fine timber, and the valley looks comfortable and snug--with rich meadows and several neat farm houses scattered here and there. It exactly answers my idea of a fine country, because it unites beauty with utility--and I dare say it is a picturesque one too, because you admire it; I can easily believe it to be full of rocks and promontories, grey moss and brush wood, but these are all lost on me. I know nothing of the picturesque." "I am afraid it is but too true," said Marianne; "but why should you boast of it?" "I suspect," said Elinor, "that to avoid one kind of affectation, Edward here falls into another. Because he believes many people pretend to more admiration of the beauties of nature than they really feel, and is disgusted with such pretensions, he affects greater indifference and less discrimination in viewing them himself than he possesses. He is fastidious and will have an affectation of his own." "It is very true," said Marianne, "that admiration of landscape scenery is become a mere jargon. Every body pretends to feel and tries to describe with the taste and elegance of him who first defined what picturesque beauty was. I detest jargon of every kind, and sometimes I have kept my feelings to myself, because I could find no language to describe them in but what was worn and hackneyed out of all sense and meaning." "I am convinced," said Edward, "that you really feel all the delight in a fine prospect which you profess to feel. But, in return, your sister must allow me to feel no more than I profess. I like a fine prospect, but not on picturesque principles. I do not like crooked, twisted, blasted trees. I admire them much more if they are tall, straight, and flourishing. I do not like ruined, tattered cottages. I am not fond of nettles or thistles, or heath blossoms. I have more pleasure in a snug farm-house than a watch-tower--and a troop of tidy, happy villages please me better than the finest banditti in the world." Marianne looked with amazement at Edward, with compassion at her sister. Elinor only laughed.

The subject was continued no farther; and Marianne remained thoughtfully silent, till a new object suddenly engaged her attention. She was sitting by Edward, and in taking his tea from Mrs. Dashwood, his hand passed so directly before her, as to make a ring, with a plait of hair in the centre, very conspicuous on one of his fingers.

"I never saw you wear a ring before, Edward," she cried. "Is that Fanny's hair? I remember her promising to give you some. But I should have thought her hair had been darker." Marianne spoke inconsiderately what she really felt--but when she saw how much she had pained Edward, her own vexation at her want of thought could not be surpassed by his. He coloured very deeply, and giving a momentary glance at Elinor, replied, "Yes; it is my sister's hair. The setting always casts a different shade on it, you know." Elinor had met his eye, and looked conscious likewise. That the hair was her own, she instantaneously felt as well satisfied as Marianne; the only difference in their conclusions was, that what Marianne considered as a free gift from her sister, Elinor was conscious must have been procured by some theft or contrivance unknown to herself. She was not in a humour, however, to regard it as an affront, and affecting to take no notice of what passed, by instantly talking of something else, she internally resolved henceforward to catch every opportunity of eyeing the hair and of satisfying herself, beyond all doubt, that it was exactly the shade of her own.

Edward's embarrassment lasted some time, and it ended in an absence of mind still more settled. He was particularly grave the whole morning. Marianne severely censured herself for what she had said; but her own forgiveness might have been more speedy, had she known how little offence it had given her sister.

Before the middle of the day, they were visited by Sir John and Mrs. Jennings, who, having heard of the arrival of a gentleman at the cottage, came to take a survey of the guest. With the assistance of his mother-in-law, Sir John was not long in discovering that the name of Ferrars began with an F. and this prepared a future mine of raillery against the devoted Elinor, which nothing but the newness of their acquaintance with Edward could have prevented from being immediately sprung. But, as it was, she only learned, from some very significant looks, how far their penetration, founded on Margaret's instructions, extended. Sir John never came to the Dashwoods without either inviting them to dine at the park the next day, or to drink tea with them that evening. On the present occasion, for the better entertainment of their visitor, towards whose amusement he felt himself bound to contribute, he wished to engage them for both.

"You must drink tea with us to night," said he, "for we shall be quite alone--and tomorrow you must absolutely dine with us, for we shall be a large party." Mrs. Jennings enforced the necessity. "And who knows but you may raise a dance," said she. "And that will tempt you , Miss Marianne." "A dance!" cried Marianne. "Impossible! Who is to dance?" "Who! why yourselves, and the Careys, and Whitakers to be sure.--What! you thought nobody could dance because a certain person that shall be nameless is gone!" "I wish with all my soul," cried Sir John, "that Willoughby were among us again." This, and Marianne's blushing, gave new suspicions to Edward. "And who is Willoughby?" said he, in a low voice, to Miss Dashwood, by whom he was sitting.

She gave him a brief reply. Marianne's countenance was more communicative. Edward saw enough to comprehend, not only the meaning of others, but such of Marianne's expressions as had puzzled him before; and when their visitors left them, he went immediately round her, and said, in a whisper, "I have been guessing. Shall I tell you my guess?" "What do you mean?" "Shall I tell you." "Certainly." "Well then; I guess that Mr. Willoughby hunts." Marianne was surprised and confused, yet she could not help smiling at the quiet archness of his manner, and after a moment's silence, said, "Oh, Edward! How can you?--But the time will come I hope...I am sure you will like him." "I do not doubt it," replied he, rather astonished at her earnestness and warmth; for had he not imagined it to be a joke for the good of her acquaintance in general, founded only on a something or a nothing between Mr. Willoughby and herself, he would not have ventured to mention it.

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Chapter 18 Kapitel 18

Elinor saw, with great uneasiness the low spirits of her friend. ||||тривога|||||| Elinor vit, avec une grande inquiétude, le moral bas de son amie. His visit afforded her but a very partial satisfaction, while his own enjoyment in it appeared so imperfect. ||offrait||||||||||||||| ||надав|||||часткове|||||||||| Sa visite ne lui offrit qu'une très partielle satisfaction, tandis que son propre plaisir semblait si imparfait. It was evident that he was unhappy; she wished it were equally evident that he still distinguished her by the same affection which once she had felt no doubt of inspiring; but hitherto the continuance of his preference seemed very uncertain; and the reservedness of his manner towards her contradicted one moment what a more animated look had intimated the preceding one. |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||contradictait|||||||||intimait||| ||||||||||||||||виділяв||||||||||||||||досі||продовження|||перевага||||||стриманість|||||||||||||||||| Il était évident qu'il était malheureux ; elle souhaitait qu'il fût également évident qu'il la distinguait encore par la même affection qu'elle n'avait jamais douté d'inspirer ; mais jusqu'à présent, la continuité de sa préférence semblait très incertaine ; et la réserve de sa manière envers elle contredisait un moment ce qu'un regard plus animé avait suggéré le moment précédent.

He joined her and Marianne in the breakfast-room the next morning before the others were down; and Marianne, who was always eager to promote their happiness as far as she could, soon left them to themselves. ||||||||||||||||||||||||promouvoir|||||||||||| Il les rejoignit, elle et Marianne, dans la salle à manger le lendemain matin avant que les autres ne soient descendus ; et Marianne, qui était toujours désireuse de promouvoir leur bonheur autant qu'elle le pouvait, les laissa bientôt entre eux. But before she was half way upstairs she heard the parlour door open, and, turning round, was astonished to see Edward himself come out. |||||||||||||||||étonnée|||||| Mais avant qu'elle ne soit à mi-chemin dans les escaliers, elle entendit la porte du salon s'ouvrir et, se retournant, fut étonnée de voir Edward lui-même en sortir.

"I am going into the village to see my horses," said he, "as you are not yet ready for breakfast; I shall be back again presently." "Je vais au village voir mes chevaux," dit-il, "comme vous n'êtes pas encore prêtes pour le petit-déjeuner ; je reviendrai tout à l'heure." ***

Edward returned to them with fresh admiration of the surrounding country; in his walk to the village, he had seen many parts of the valley to advantage; and the village itself, in a much higher situation than the cottage, afforded a general view of the whole, which had exceedingly pleased him. Edward leur est revenu avec une admiration nouvelle pour le pays environnant ; lors de sa marche vers le village, il avait vu de nombreux endroits de la vallée sous un bon jour ; et le village lui-même, situé à une altitude bien plus élevée que le cottage, offrait une vue générale de l'ensemble, ce qui l'avait énormément enchanté. This was a subject which ensured Marianne's attention, and she was beginning to describe her own admiration of these scenes, and to question him more minutely on the objects that had particularly struck him, when Edward interrupted her by saying, "You must not enquire too far, Marianne--remember I have no knowledge in the picturesque, and I shall offend you by my ignorance and want of taste if we come to particulars. |||||||||||||||||||scènes|||||||||||||frappé||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| C'était un sujet qui assurait l'attention de Marianne, et elle commençait à décrire sa propre admiration pour ces scènes, et à l'interroger plus minutieusement sur les objets qui l'avaient particulièrement frappé, lorsque Edward l'interrompit en disant : "Tu ne dois pas t'enquérir trop loin, Marianne - souviens-toi que je n'ai aucune connaissance en matière de pittoresque, et je risque de t'offenser par mon ignorance et mon manque de goût si nous arrivons à des détails." I shall call hills steep, which ought to be bold; surfaces strange and uncouth, which ought to be irregular and rugged; and distant objects out of sight, which ought only to be indistinct through the soft medium of a hazy atmosphere. ||||||||||des surfaces|||rude|||||||||||||||||||indistinct|||||||brume| Je qualifierai de raides des collines qui devraient être audacieuses ; de surfaces étranges et grotesques, qui devraient être irrégulières et accidentées ; et d'objets lointains hors de vue, qui devraient seulement être indistincts à travers le doux médium d'une atmosphère brumeuse. You must be satisfied with such admiration as I can honestly give. I call it a very fine country--the hills are steep, the woods seem full of fine timber, and the valley looks comfortable and snug--with rich meadows and several neat farm houses scattered here and there. |||||||||||||||||bois||||||||||||||||éparpillées||| Je l'appelle un très beau pays--les collines sont raides, les bois semblent pleins de beau bois, et la vallée a l'air confortable et douillette--avec de riches prairies et plusieurs fermes soignées dispersées ici et là. It exactly answers my idea of a fine country, because it unites beauty with utility--and I dare say it is a picturesque one too, because you admire it; I can easily believe it to be full of rocks and promontories, grey moss and brush wood, but these are all lost on me. ||||||||||||||utilité||||||||||||||||||||||||||promontoires|||||||||||| Cela répond exactement à mon idée d'un beau pays, car il unit beauté et utilité--et je ne doute pas qu'il soit aussi pittoresque, car vous l'admirez ; je peux facilement croire qu'il est plein de rochers et de promontoires, de mousse grise et de broussailles, mais tout cela m'échappe. I know nothing of the picturesque." Je ne sais rien du pittoresque. "I am afraid it is but too true," said Marianne; "but why should you boast of it?" "J'ai bien peur que ce ne soit que trop vrai," dit Marianne; "mais pourquoi devriez-vous en vanter?" "I suspect," said Elinor, "that to avoid one kind of affectation, Edward here falls into another. "Je soupçonne," dit Elinor, "qu'en évitant une sorte d'affectation, Edward ici tombe dans une autre. Because he believes many people pretend to more admiration of the beauties of nature than they really feel, and is disgusted with such pretensions, he affects greater indifference and less discrimination in viewing them himself than he possesses. ||||||||||||||||||||dégoûté||||||||||ion|||||||possède Parce qu'il croit que beaucoup de gens feignent d'admirer davantage les beautés de la nature qu'ils ne le ressentent vraiment, et est dégoûté par de telles prétentions, il affecte une plus grande indifférence et moins de discernement en les regardant lui-même que ce qu'il possède. He is fastidious and will have an affectation of his own." ||difficile|||||||| Він вибагливий і матиме власну манеру поведінки". "It is very true," said Marianne, "that admiration of landscape scenery is become a mere jargon. |||||||||paysage||||||jargon "C'est très vrai," dit Marianne, "que l'admiration des paysages est devenue un simple jargon. Every body pretends to feel and tries to describe with the taste and elegance of him who first defined what picturesque beauty was. ||||||||||||||||||a défini|||| Tout le monde prétend ressentir et essaie de décrire avec le goût et l'élégance de celui qui a d'abord défini ce qu'était la beauté pittoresque. I detest jargon of every kind, and sometimes I have kept my feelings to myself, because I could find no language to describe them in but what was worn and hackneyed out of all sense and meaning." |déteste|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||usé|||||| Je déteste le jargon de tous genres, et parfois je garde mes sentiments pour moi, car je ne peux trouver aucun langage pour les décrire si ce n'est celui qui a été usé et épuisé de tout sens et toute signification." "I am convinced," said Edward, "that you really feel all the delight in a fine prospect which you profess to feel. ||||||||||||||||||prétends|| "Je suis convaincu," dit Edward, "que vous ressentez vraiment toute la joie d'un beau panorama que vous prétendez ressentir. But, in return, your sister must allow me to feel no more than I profess. ||||||||||||||professe Mais, en retour, votre sœur doit me permettre de ne pas ressentir plus que je ne le prétends. I like a fine prospect, but not on picturesque principles. J'aime un beau panorama, mais pas sur des principes pittoresques. I do not like crooked, twisted, blasted trees. ||||tordus||maudits| I admire them much more if they are tall, straight, and flourishing. |||||||||||florissant I do not like ruined, tattered cottages. ||||ruinées|délabrés| I am not fond of nettles or thistles, or heath blossoms. |||||orties||||callune|fleurs Je n'aime pas les orties ni les chardons, ni les fleurs de bruyère. I have more pleasure in a snug farm-house than a watch-tower--and a troop of tidy, happy villages please me better than the finest banditti in the world." |||||||||||||||||||villages||||||meilleure|bandits||| Ich habe mehr Freude an einem gemütlichen Bauernhaus als an einem Wachturm - und eine Schar aufgeräumter, glücklicher Dörfer gefällt mir besser als die schönsten Banditen der Welt." J'ai plus de plaisir dans une ferme confortable que dans un phare -- et un groupe de villages soignés et heureux me plaît mieux que les plus grands bandits du monde. Marianne looked with amazement at Edward, with compassion at her sister. Marianne regarda Edward avec étonnement, et sa sœur avec compassion. Elinor only laughed.

The subject was continued no farther; and Marianne remained thoughtfully silent, till a new object suddenly engaged her attention. |||||||||pensivement||||||||| She was sitting by Edward, and in taking his tea from Mrs. Dashwood, his hand passed so directly before her, as to make a ring, with a plait of hair in the centre, very conspicuous on one of his fingers. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||conspicueux|||||

"I never saw you wear a ring before, Edward," she cried. "Is that Fanny's hair? I remember her promising to give you some. But I should have thought her hair had been darker." Marianne spoke inconsiderately what she really felt--but when she saw how much she had pained Edward, her own vexation at her want of thought could not be surpassed by his. |||||||||||||||||||vexation|||||||||surpassait|| Маріанна не подумала про те, що відчувала насправді - але коли вона побачила, як сильно вона завдала болю Едварду, її власне роздратування через те, що вона не думала, не могло перевершити його роздратування. He coloured very deeply, and giving a momentary glance at Elinor, replied, "Yes; it is my sister's hair. ||||||||regard||||||||| The setting always casts a different shade on it, you know." |||donne||||||| Elinor had met his eye, and looked conscious likewise. Elinor avait croisé son regard et se sentait consciente également. That the hair was her own, she instantaneously felt as well satisfied as Marianne; the only difference in their conclusions was, that what Marianne considered as a free gift from her sister, Elinor was conscious must have been procured by some theft or contrivance unknown to herself. |||||||||||||||||||conclusions||||||||||||||||||||||||artifice||| Qu'il s'agisse de ses propres cheveux, elle se sentait instantanément aussi satisfaite que Marianne ; la seule différence dans leurs conclusions était que ce que Marianne considérait comme un cadeau libre de sa sœur, Elinor savait qu'il devait avoir été obtenu par un vol ou un stratagème inconnu d'elle-même. She was not in a humour, however, to regard it as an affront, and affecting to take no notice of what passed, by instantly talking of something else, she internally resolved henceforward to catch every opportunity of eyeing the hair and of satisfying herself, beyond all doubt, that it was exactly the shade of her own. ||||||||||||||feignant|||||||||||||||||dorénavant|||||||||||satisfaisant||||||||||||| Cependant, elle n'était pas d'humeur à le considérer comme une affront, et affectant de ne pas tenir compte de ce qui se passait, en parlant instantanément d'autre chose, elle résolut intérieurement à partir de ce jour de saisir chaque occasion de regarder les cheveux et de se convaincre, sans aucun doute, qu'il s'agissait exactement de la teinte de ses propres cheveux.

Edward's embarrassment lasted some time, and it ended in an absence of mind still more settled. ||||||||||absence||||| L'embarras d'Edward a duré un certain temps, et il s'est terminé par une distraction encore plus marquée. He was particularly grave the whole morning. Il était particulièrement grave toute la matinée. Marianne severely censured herself for what she had said; but her own forgiveness might have been more speedy, had she known how little offence it had given her sister. ||auraient||||||||||pardon|||||||||||||||| Marianne s'est sévèrement critiquée pour ce qu'elle avait dit ; mais son propre pardon aurait pu être plus rapide, si elle avait su à quel point cela avait peu offensé sa sœur.

Before the middle of the day, they were visited by Sir John and Mrs. Jennings, who, having heard of the arrival of a gentleman at the cottage, came to take a survey of the guest. Avant le milieu de la journée, ils furent visités par Sir John et Mrs. Jennings, qui, ayant entendu parler de l'arrivée d'un gentleman au cottage, vinrent faire un tour d'horizon de l'invité. With the assistance of his mother-in-law, Sir John was not long in discovering that the name of Ferrars began with an F. and this prepared a future mine of raillery against the devoted Elinor, which nothing but the newness of their acquaintance with Edward could have prevented from being immediately sprung. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||nouveauté|||||||||||| Avec l'aide de sa belle-mère, Sir John ne tarda pas à découvrir que le nom de Ferrars commençait par un F. et cela préparait une future mine de railleries contre la dévouée Elinor, que seule la nouveauté de leur connaissance avec Edward aurait pu empêcher de surgir immédiatement. But, as it was, she only learned, from some very significant looks, how far their penetration, founded on Margaret's instructions, extended. ||||||||||||||||fondée|||| Mais, comme c'était, elle ne savait que, d'un regard très significatif, jusqu'où leur pénétration, fondée sur les instructions de Margaret, s'étendait. Sir John never came to the Dashwoods without either inviting them to dine at the park the next day, or to drink tea with them that evening. On the present occasion, for the better entertainment of their visitor, towards whose amusement he felt himself bound to contribute, he wished to engage them for both. À cette occasion, pour mieux divertir leur visiteur, envers qui il se sentait obligé de contribuer au plaisir, il souhaitait les engager pour les deux.

"You  must drink tea with us to night," said he, "for we shall be quite alone--and tomorrow you must absolutely dine with us, for we shall be a large party." "Vous devez prendre le thé avec nous ce soir," a-t-il dit, "car nous serons tout à fait seuls - et demain, vous devez absolument dîner avec nous, car nous ferons une grande fête." Mrs. Jennings enforced the necessity. ||a souligné|| Mme Jennings a insisté sur la nécessité. "And who knows but you may raise a dance," said she. "Et qui sait si tu ne feras pas lever une danse," dit-elle. "And that will tempt  you , Miss Marianne." "Et cela va te tenter, Mademoiselle Marianne." "A dance!" "Une danse!" cried Marianne. "Impossible! Who is to dance?" "Who! why yourselves, and the Careys, and Whitakers to be sure.--What! ||||||Whitakers|||| Pourquoi vous-mêmes, et les Careys, et les Whitakers, bien sûr.--Quoi ! you thought nobody could dance because a certain person that shall be nameless is gone!" ||||||||||||sans nom|| Vous pensiez que personne ne pouvait danser parce qu'une certaine personne qui ne sera pas nommée est partie !" "I wish with all my soul," cried Sir John, "that Willoughby were among us again." "Je souhaite de tout mon cœur," s'écria Sir John, "que Willoughby soit à nouveau parmi nous." This, and Marianne's blushing, gave new suspicions to Edward. ||||||suspicions|| "And who is Willoughby?" said he, in a low voice, to Miss Dashwood, by whom he was sitting.

She gave him a brief reply. Marianne's countenance was more communicative. Edward saw enough to comprehend, not only the meaning of others, but such of Marianne's expressions as had puzzled him before; and when their visitors left them, he went immediately round her, and said, in a whisper, "I have been guessing. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||a|||| Edward a vu assez pour comprendre, non seulement le sens des autres, mais aussi certaines des expressions de Marianne qui l'avaient auparavant perplexe ; et quand leurs visiteurs les ont quittés, il est immédiatement allé autour d'elle et a dit, à voix basse, "J'ai deviné." Shall I tell you my guess?" Veux-tu que je te dise ma devinette ?" "What do you mean?" "Que veux-tu dire ?" "Shall I tell you." "Certainly." "Well then; I guess that Mr. Willoughby hunts." |||||||chasse Marianne was surprised and confused, yet she could not help smiling at the quiet archness of his manner, and after a moment's silence, said, ||||||||||||||malice||||||||| "Oh, Edward! How can you?--But the time will come I hope...I am sure you will like him." Comment peux-tu ?--Mais j'espère que le temps viendra... Je suis sûr que tu l'aimera. "I do not doubt it," replied he, rather astonished at her earnestness and warmth; for had he not imagined it to be a joke for the good of her acquaintance in general, founded only on a something or a nothing between Mr. Willoughby and herself, he would not have ventured to mention it. Je n'en doute pas, répondit-il, plutôt étonné par son sérieux et sa chaleur ; car s'il n'avait pas imaginé que c'était une blague pour le bien de sa connaissance en général, fondée uniquement sur quelque chose ou rien entre M. Willoughby et elle-même, il n'aurait pas osé en parler.