2023sense and sensibility英文书信欣赏

第页2023senseandsensibility英文书信欣赏senseandsensibility英文书信欣赏

"senseandsensibility"英文书信赏析

I

Elinorsaidnomore,andturningagaintothethreeletterswhichnowraisedastrongercuriositythanbefore,directlyranoverthecontentsofall.Thefirst,whichwaswhathersisterhadsenthimontheirarrivalintown,wastothiseffect.

Berkeleystreet,January.

Howsurprisedyouwillbe,WilloughbyonreceivingthisandIthinkyouwillfeelsomethingmorethansurprisewhenyouknowthatIamintown.Anopportunityofcominghither,thoughwithMrs.Jennings,wasatemptationwecouldnotresist.Iwishyoumayreceivethisintimetocomeheretonight,butIwillnotdependonit.AtanyrateIshallexpectyoutomorrow.Forthepresent,adieu.M.D.

night?AgainIdemandanexplanationofit.Iwaspreparedtomeetyouwiththepleasurewhichourseparationnaturallyproduced,withthefamiliaritywhichourintimacyatwretchednightinendeavouringtoexcuseaconductwhichcanscarcelybeecalledlessthaninsulting:butthoughIhavenotyetbeenabletoformanyreasonableapologyforyourbehaviour,Ianperfectlyreadytohearyourjustificationofit.Youhaveperhapsbeenminsinformedorpurposelydeceivedinsomethingconcerningmewhichmayhaveloweredmeinyouopinion.Tellmewhatitisexplainthegroundsonwhichyouacted,andIshallbesatisfiedinbeingabletosatisfyyou.Itwouldgrievemeindeedtobeobligedtothinkillofyou:butifIantodoit,ifIamtolearnthatyouarenotwhatwehavehithertobelievedyou,thatyourregardforusallwasinsincere,thatyourbehaviourtomewasintendedonlytodeceive,letitbetoldassoonaspossible.Myfeelingsareatpresentinastateofdreadfulindecision:Iwishtoacquityou,butcertaintyoneithersidewillbeeasetowhatInowsuffer.Ifyoursentimentsarenolongerwhattheywere,youwillreturnmynotesandthelockofmyhairwhichisinyourpossession.M.D.

II

Mydearmadam,

Ihavejusthadthehonourofreceivingyourletter,forwhichIbegtoreturnmysincereacknowledgments.IammuchconcernedtofindtherewasanythinginmybehaviourlastnightthatdidnotmeetyourapprobationandthoughIamquiteatalosstodiscoverinwhatpointIcouldbesounfortunateastooffendyou,IentreatyourforgivenessofwhatIcanassureyoutohavebeenperfectlyunintentional.IshallneverreflectonmyformeracquaintancewithyourfamilyinDevonshirewithoutthemostgratefulpleasure,andflattermyselfitwillnotbebrokenbyanymistakeormisapprehensionofmyactions.Myesteemforyourwholefamilyisverysincere:butifIhavebeensounfortunateastogiverisetoabeliefofmorethatIfeltormeanttoexpress,Ishallreproachmyselffornothavingbeenmoreguardedinmyprofessionsofthatesteem.ThatIshouldeverhavemeantmore,youwillallowtobeimpossiblewhenyouunderstandthatmyaffectionshavebeenlongengagedelsewhere:anditwillnotbemanyweeks,Ibelieve,beforethisengagementiffulfilled.ItiswithgreatregretthatIobeyyourcommandsofreturningtheletterswithwhichIhavebeenhonouredfrom,youandthelockohairwhichyousoobliginglybestowedonme.Iam,dearmadam,

Yourmostobedienthumbleservant,

JohnWilloughby

III

Bartlett’sbuildings,March

IhopemydearMissDashwoodwillexcusethelibertyItakeofwritingtoher:butIknowyourfriendshipformewillmakeyoupleasedtohearsuchagoodaccountofmyselfandmydearEdwardafterallthetroubleswehavewentthroughlately:thereforewillmakenowmoreapologies,butproceedtosaythat,thankGod!thoughwehavesuffereddreadfully,wearebothquitewellnowandashappyaswemustalwaysbeinoneanother’slove.Wehavehadgreattrialsandgreatpersecutions:but,however,atthesametimegratefullyacknowledgemanyfriends,yourselfnottheleastamongthem,whosegreatkindnessIshallalwaysthankfullyremember,aswillEdwardtoo,whoIhavetoldofit.Iamsureyouwillbegladtohear,aslikewisedearMrs.Jennings,Ispenttowhappyhourswithhimyesterdayafternoon:hewouldnothearofourparting,thoughearnestlydidI,asIthoughtmydutyrequired,urgehimtoitforprudencesake,andwouldhavepartedforeveronthespot,wouldheconsenttoit,buthesaiditshouldneverbe;hedidnotregardhismother’sangerwhilehecouldhavemyaffections;ourprospectsarenotverybright,tobesure,butwemustwaitandhopeforthebest;hewillbeordainedshortlyandshoulditeverbeinyourpowertorecommendhimtoanybodythathasalivingtobestow,amverysureyouwillnotforgetus;anddearMrs.Jenningstoo,trustshewillspeakagoodwordforustoSirJohn,orMr.Palmer,oranyfriendthatmaybeabletoassistus.-poorAnnewasmuchtoblameforwhatshedid,butshediditforthebest,soIsaynothing;hopeMrs.Jenningswon’tthinkittoomuchtroubletogiveusacallshouldshecomethiswayanymorning‘twouldbeagreatkindnessandmycousinswouldbeproudtoknowher.-mypaperremindsmetoconclude;andbeggingtobemostgratefullyandrespectfullyrememberedtoher,andtoSirJohnandLadyMiddletonandthedearchildren,whenyouchancetoseethem;andlovetoMissMarianne.Iametc.etc.

IV

DearSir,

BeingverysureIhavelonglostyouraffections,Ihavethoughtmyselfatlibertytobestowmyownonanother,andhavenodoubtofbeingashappywithhimasIonceusedtothinkImightbewithyou;butIscorntoacceptahandwhiletheheartwasanother’s.sincerelywishyouhappyinyourchoice,anditshallnotbemyfaultIfewarenotalwaysgoodfriendsasournearrelationshipnowmakesproper.IcansafelysayIoweyounoil