Разум и чувства / Sense and Sensibility

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�What magnificent orders would travel from this family to London,’ said Edward, �in such an event! What a happy day for booksellers, music-sellers, and print-shops! You, Miss Dashwood, would give a general commission for every new print of merit to be sent you – and as for Marianne, I know her greatness of soul, there would not be music enough in London to content her. And books! – Thomson,[20 - Thomson – Джеймс Томпсон (1700–1748), шотландский поэт и драматург, прославившийся своими описаниями природы и пейзажей.

] Cowper, Scott – she would buy them all over and over again: she would buy up every copy, I believe, to prevent their falling into unworthy hands; and she would have every book that tells her how to admire an old twisted tree. Should not you, Marianne? Forgive me, if I am very saucy. But I was willing to shew you that I had not forgot our old disputes. ’

�I love to be reminded of the past, Edward – whether it be melancholy or gay, I love to recall it – and you will never offend me by talking of former times. You are very right in supposing how my money would be spent – some of it, at least – my loose cash would certainly be employed in improving my collection of music and books.’

�And the bulk of your fortune would be laid out in annuities on the authors or their heirs.

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�No, Edward, I should have something else to do with it.’

�Perhaps, then, you would bestow it as a reward on that person who wrote the ablest defence of your favourite maxim, that no one can ever be in love more than once in their life – your opinion on that point is unchanged, I presume?’

�Undoubtedly. At my time of life opinions are tolerably fixed. It is not likely that I should now see or hear any thing to change them.

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�Marianne is as steadfast as ever, you see,’ said Elinor, �she is not at all altered.’

�She is only grown a little more grave than she was.’

�Nay, Edward,’ said Marianne, �you need not reproach me. You are not very gay yourself.’

�Why should you think so!’ replied he, with a sigh. �But gaiety never was a part of MY character.