第九章

「歡迎您來到培頓莊園，威爾夫人」

威爾夫人被請到客廳上坐，她搖著手中的扇子，嘴裡毫不客氣地嚷嚷著：「天氣有點熱啊！懷特夫人」「是的，威爾夫人，最近不常下雨呢！連附近的小河都乾涸了，來，請喝杯茶」

威爾夫人接過懷特夫人手中的茶，喝了一口連忙說：「我記得安德魯已經過來了，不是嗎？」「是的」

懷特夫人對威爾夫人一向畢恭畢敬，畢竟威爾夫人有著極高的地位，更別提威爾夫人的產業有著她丈夫的三倍之多了。

「安德魯到外面畫畫去了，可能不會麼快回來」「那伍德小姐呢？伍德小姐在教室教導孩子們嗎？」「不！莎拉和安德魯道到外面去了」威爾夫人愣了一下，才緩緩問道：「莎拉常和安德魯在一起嗎？」懷特夫人想想才說：「是這樣沒錯呢！自從安德魯過來之後，兩個人幾乎經常聊天，不過莎拉並沒有忽略對我兩個女兒的責任……」

威爾夫人忍不住插嘴：「你要當心這兩個年輕人走得太近啊！愛情經常是一發不可收拾，尤其這兩個年輕人年紀相仿，一個２２歲，一個２７歲」懷特夫人警覺般：「是啊！我的確忽略了這可能性，原本我以他們如兄妹般相處融洽，這該如何是好呢？萬一他們互相喜歡對方，莎拉絕對無法通過我阿姨那關的，我阿姨要求我要幫安德魯留意適當的對象，而且必須是地位高尚的有錢人家或貴族世家的小姐呢！」

懷特夫人為自己疏於防範而驚嚇不已，威爾夫人便說：「別急，要看這兩個年輕人再說，或許你操之過急呢！」然後她接著說：「莎拉是個好小姐，但畢竟只是出身一般鄉紳家庭，而且家裡沒有多少產業，實在不足以配得上安德魯，而且安德魯以後要承襲他的父親伯爵爵位的，當然需要一名好對象才行」

懷特夫人靜靜聽著威爾夫人的談論，然後才發問說：「威爾夫人您有什麼看法嗎？」威爾夫人搧著扇子眉頭一皺：「沒事還是別讓他們老是湊在一起比較好，多找些事給安德魯和莎拉分頭去做，省得他們有多餘的時間搭理對方」懷特夫人高興地說：「這真是個好方法啊！」

威爾夫人微微一笑，自吹自擂地說：「可不是我誇獎自己，人人都說目前管理威爾家族的喬伊絲．威爾是精明的女士呢！雖然目前並不理了解年輕人已經走到怎樣的地步，總是得防患未然啊！」「您說得極是，威爾夫人」

正當兩位女士正在商量如何讓安德魯遠離莎拉時，安德魯這時剛好走進客廳來，安德魯看見威爾夫人連忙過來向威爾夫人致意，威爾夫人說：「安德魯，你畫畫如何了？」安德魯直率的說：「還在努力當中呢！夫人，我最新的作品可以請您評鑑一下」威爾夫人接過安德魯遞過來的一幅畫，是附近一座橋的寫生，威爾夫人裝作不經意地說：「這幅畫畫得很生動活潑，對了，聽你表姊說你最近常和伍德小姐一起出門？」

「是的」安德魯坦承而且毫無避諱：「莎拉經常陪我出門去尋找適合的畫畫地點，她對很多事物有著特殊的想法，我極喜歡她的陪伴」

這時威爾夫人向懷特夫人使個眼色，懷特夫人馬上會意過來連忙說：「最近我常接到康絲坦斯姨母的來信，她問你畫畫進行得如何，也問我是否給你介紹了好對象」安德魯立即皺起眉來：「表姊不是知道我對＂好對象＂的定義嗎？我並不喜歡被強迫去無法喜歡她深談的人啊！」

懷特夫人說：「但康絲坦斯姨母很重視你將來的對象，安德魯，我認為你該聽你母親的話，認真思考將來的對象才是」連威爾夫人也說：「像你這樣未來要繼承伯爵爵位的人來說，恐怕不能隨意就娶自己看上的小姐，這會辱沒你家族的名聲的」

安德魯毫無畏懼兩位女士的疲勞轟炸，「為什麼我必須娶有錢人家或貴族人家的小姐呢？她們我一個也不認識，就提上次在倫敦大宅子認識的那兩位小姐好了，一個大方有教養，說的話題總不離服裝或帽子的樣式；一個看似博學，但講出來的話讓人無法恭維，她平日的嗜好竟只是參加舞會和跳舞，這樣的對象實在稱不上是好對象，要相伴一生的人，不是應該很有話聊，很喜歡在一起嗎？我實在無法理解母親、表姊及威爾夫人對婚姻的想法」

威爾夫人和懷特夫人聽了面面相覷，懷特夫人顯然還沒放棄：「但安德魯，你還是要考慮姨母她的想法，如果不合她心意的媳婦，恐怕不會有好日子過」安德魯遲疑了一下，總算說出他的想法：「伍德小姐極有教養，而且比起富貴人家的小姐，她更善於理解我所有的想法，我相信，家母會更喜歡她的，毫無疑問」「可是安德魯……」懷特夫人仍然想說什麼勸服安德魯，卻遭安德魯制止：「英格麗表姊，我深知你的關心，也能了解威爾夫人的說法，但是我實在無法想像，沒有莎拉在我身邊的樣子。我極喜愛莎拉，她是我所見過最契合的女孩了，我不想放棄這樣一個女孩而跑去與別人聯姻」

「那麼莎拉對你又是什麼想法呢？」很久沒出聲的威爾夫人忽然丟出一個問題，安德魯誠實的說：「現在我還無法理解莎拉對我的感覺，但我知道她喜歡我的陪伴，其他的我不敢明說，怕嚇著她了」後面這段話令安德魯有點沮喪，畢竟在自己喜歡的女孩面前，還要隱忍那股感情是相當痛苦的，威爾夫人似乎明白般：「別急，安德魯，有一天莎拉會了解你的感情的，我和懷特夫人還有話要說，你可以退下嗎？」

安德魯向兩位女士鞠了躬便退出客廳，懷特夫人見安德魯走開才著急的說：「威爾夫人，看來安德魯對伍德小姐用情頗深呢？這該怎麼辦啊？」精明的威爾夫人果然立即想出辦法「唯今之計，只有從莎拉那邊下手了，安德魯早認定莎拉是他的對象，對莎拉當然用情很深，但莎拉那方面可能還未完全認定安德魯呢！別急，先從莎拉那邊著手吧！過幾天我會找藉口跟莎拉陪伴我去倫敦一趟，可能會讓她跟我住上一些日子，懷特夫人不會介意吧！」

「怎麼會呢？」懷特夫人感激的說：「很感謝威爾夫人的幫助，我還真不知道如何拆散一對年輕人呢！基於照顧安德魯的義務我必須對安德魯母親有所交代，看來，只能先用您的方法看行不行」「一定可行的」威爾夫人極有自信「感情因為分開兩地而容易有所變數，這是對年輕人最好的考驗了，說不定時日一久，兩人就互相遺忘彼此的存在了」

懷特夫人點點頭，她滿心希望結局最好是如此，雖然她很喜歡莎拉，但是喜歡莎拉是一回事，若要莎拉變成她的表弟媳，她也覺得莎拉一點也不夠資格成為未來的伯爵夫人。

待續~(107.9..28)

 ______________________________________________

Love in London 

CHAPTER IX

"Welcome to Peyton Manor, Mrs. Will"

Mrs. Will was invited to sit in the drawing-room, and she shook the fan in her hand, and unceremoniously shouted, "It's a little hot!" Mrs. White, "Yes, Mrs. Will, it hasn't been raining much lately!

Mrs. Will took the tea from Mrs. White's hand, took a sip and quickly said, "I remember Andrew was already here, didn't I?"

Mrs. White has always been deferential to Mrs. Will, after all, Mrs. Will has a very high status, not to mention that Mrs. Will's estate is more than three times that of her husband.

"Andrew went outside to paint, maybe he won't be back soon" "What about Miss Wood? Miss Wood is teaching the children in the classroom?" "No! Sarah and Andrew went outside" Mrs. Will was stunned for a moment before she asked slowly, "Is Sarah often with Andrew?" Mrs. White thought about it and said, "That's right, the two of us have talked almost often since Andrew came over, but Sarah has not neglected her responsibility to my two daughters......

Mrs. Will couldn't help but interject: "You have to beware of these two young men getting too close! Love is often out of control, especially when these two young men are the same age, one is 22 years old and the other is 27 years old" Mrs. White was alarmed: "Yes! I did ignore this possibility, I thought they got along like brother and sister, how should this be? If they liked each other, Sarah would never have passed my aunt's pass, and my aunt had asked me to help Andrew keep an eye on the right person, and it had to be a lady from a wealthy or aristocratic family!"

Mrs. White was frightened by her negligence, and Mrs. Will said, "Don't worry, it's up to the two young men, maybe you're in a hurry," and then she continued, "Sarah is a good young lady, but after all, she only comes from an ordinary squire family, and the family does not have much property, which is really not worthy of Andrew, and Andrew will need a good partner to inherit his father's title of earl in the future."

Mrs. White listened quietly to Mrs. Will's discussion before asking, "Mrs. Will, do you have any opinions?" Mrs. Will frowned as she pulled her fan: "It's better not to let them get together all the time, find more things for Andrew and Sarah to do separately, so that they don't have extra time to deal with each other" Mrs. White said happily, "That's a great way!"

Mrs. Will smiled slightly, and boasted to herself, "It's not that I praise myself, everyone says that Joyce．Will, who currently runs the Will family, is a shrewd lady!

Just as the two ladies were discussing how to keep Andrew away from Sarah, Andrew happened to walk into the living room, Andrew saw Mrs. Will hurriedly come over to greet Mrs. Will, Mrs. Will said, "Andrew, how are you drawing?" Andrew said bluntly, "It's still working on! Madam, I can ask you to evaluate my latest work" Mrs. Will took a painting handed over by Andrew, which was a sketch of a nearby bridge, Mrs. Will pretended to be casual and said, " It's a very lively painting, by the way, my cousin said you've been going out with Miss Wood a lot lately?"

"Yes," Andrew admits and doesn't shy away from it: "Sarah often accompanies me out to find suitable places to paint, she has a special idea of many things, and I really like her company."

At this time, Mrs. Will glanced at Mrs. White, who immediately came to her senses and hurriedly said, "I have often received letters from Aunt Constance, asking how you are doing with your drawing, and asking if I have introduced you to good objects" Andrew immediately frowned: "Cousin, don't you know my definition of "good objects"? I don't like to be forced to like people she talks to!"

"But Aunt Constance is very important to your future object, Andrew, and I think you should listen to your mother, and think seriously about your future object," said Mrs. Will, "and I am afraid that a man like you, who is going to inherit the title of Earl in the future, cannot marry the young lady he likes at will, and it will discredit your family."

Andrew was not afraid of the fatigue bombardment of the two ladies, why did I have to marry a young lady from a rich or aristocratic family? I don't know any of them, but I will mention the two young ladies I met last time at the mansion in London, one is generous and cultured, and the subject is always the style of clothing or hats, and the other seems to be erudite, but the words spoken are not flattering, and her usual hobbies are only to attend balls and dance, and such objects are really not good objects, and the person who wants to be with them all his life should not be very talkative, and like to be together? I really cannot understand the thoughts of my mother, my cousin, and Mrs. Weil about marriage."

Mrs. Will and Mrs. White looked at each other when they heard this, and Mrs. White obviously hadn't given up yet: "But Andrew, you still have to consider your aunt's thoughts, if you don't have a daughter-in-law who is in line with her heart, I'm afraid you won't have a good life" Andrew hesitated for a moment, and finally said what he thought: "Miss Wood is very cultured, and she is better at understanding all my thoughts than the young lady of a rich family, I believe that my mother will like her more, there is no doubt about it" "But Andrew ......" Mrs. White still wanted to persuade Andrew, but Andrew stopped her: "Cousin Ingrid, I know that you care and understand what Mrs. Will has to say, but I can't imagine that Sarah is not by my side. I love Sarah, she's the best girl I've ever met, and I don't want to give up on such a girl and run away to marry someone else."

"Then what does Sarah think of you?" Mrs. Will, who had not spoken for a long time, suddenly threw out a question, and Andrew said honestly: "I still can't understand how Sarah feels about me, but I know that she likes my company, and I don't dare to say anything else, for fear of scaring her" The latter paragraph made Andrew a little frustrated, after all, it is quite painful to endure that feeling in front of the girl she likes, and Mrs. Will seems to understand: " Don't worry, Andrew, one day Sarah will understand your feelings, Mrs. White and I still have something to say, can you step down?"

Andrew bowed to the two ladies and exited the living room, and Mrs. White said anxiously when she saw Andrew walking away, "Mrs. Will, it seems that Andrew has a lot of affection for Miss Wood? What should I do?" The shrewd Mrs. Will immediately came up with a solution, "The only way to do this is to start from Sarah's side, Andrew has long believed that Sarah is his object, and of course he has a deep affection for Sarah, but Sarah's side may not have fully identified Andrew! Don't worry, let's start with Sarah's side first!" I'll find an excuse to accompany me to London with Sarah in a few days, and maybe let her stay with me for a few days, Mrs. White won't mind!"

"How so?" Mrs. Wright said gratefully, "Thank you Mrs. Will for your help, I really don't know how to break up a pair of young people! Based on the obligation to take care of Andrew, I must give an account to Andrew's mother, it seems that I can only use your method to see if it works" "It must be feasible" Mrs. Weir is very confident, "Feelings are easy to be variable because of the separation of the two places, this is the best test for young people, maybe after a long time, the two will forget each other's existence."

Mrs. White nodded, she hoped that it would be the best, although she liked Sarah very much, but it was one thing to like Sarah, and if Sarah was to become her cousin-in-law, she also felt that Sarah was not qualified to be the future countess at all.

To be continued ~ (107.9..28)

因為用中文創作,再翻譯為英文,所以英文上的正確用詞無法翻譯出來,夫人可以意指"你的淑女身分"(代表的是當代的一種地位稱呼),公爵大人,伯爵大人,男爵大人等,小說中都有出現,抱歉,因為請Google翻譯翻譯的,而本人沒有從事過英文寫作,只想嘗試用英文表達整部小說的內容,敬請原諒!!謝謝!!

Because it is created in Chinese and then translated into English, the correct words in English cannot be translated, Madame can mean "your lady" (representing a contemporary status title), Lord Duke, Lord Earl, Lord Baron, etc., all appear in the novel, sorry, because I asked Google Translate to translate, and I have not been engaged in English writing, I just want to try to express the content of the whole novel in English, please forgive me!! Thank you!!

本小說創作如有雷同,純屬巧合,而小說寫作的年代約略定在與作家珍．奧斯汀同一年代

It is a coincidence that the novel was written in the same era as the writer Jane Austen