Ahora instalada, la esposa de John, como la dueña de Norland
discutió con su esposo la idea de entregarles el dinero a sus media hermanas. Razonó
que semejante cantidad de dinero sería hacer peligrar el futuro del pequeño Harry
y que las hermanas se casarían más adelante con hombres ricos. John, aunque
decidido a entregarles una buena suma de dinero a las hermanas, ahora cambió de
idea. Le pareció que una suma bastante menor sería cumplir, igualmente, con la
promesa a su padre.
Mrs. John
Dashwood now installed herself mistress
of Norland; and her mother and sisters-in-law were degraded to the condition of
visitors. As such, however, they were treated by her with quiet civility; and
by her husband with as much kindness as he could feel towards anybody beyond
himself, his wife, and their child. He really pressed them, with some
earnestness, to consider Norland as their home; and, as no plan appeared so
eligible to Mrs. Dashwood as remaining there till she could accommodate herself
with a house in the neighbourhood, his invitation was accepted.
A
continuance in a place where everything reminded her of former delight, was
exactly what suited her mind. In seasons of cheerfulness, no temper could be
more cheerful than hers, or possess, in a greater degree, that sanguine
expectation of happiness which is happiness itself. But in sorrow she must be
equally carried away by her fancy,
and as far beyond consolation as in pleasure she was beyond alloy.
Mrs. John
Dashwood did not at all approve of what her husband intended to do for his
sisters. To take three thousand pounds from the fortune of their dear little
boy would be impoverishing him to the most dreadful
degree. She begged him to think again on the subject. How could he answer it to
himself to rob his child, and his only child too, of so large a sum? And what
possible claim could the Miss Dashwoods, who were related to him only by half
blood, which she considered as no relationship at all, have on his generosity
to so large an amount. It was very well known that no affection was ever
supposed to exist between the children of any man by different marriages; and
why was he to ruin himself, and their poor little Harry, by giving away all his
money to his half sisters?
"It
was my father's last request to me," replied her husband, "that I
should assist his widow and daughters."
"He
did not know what he was talking of, I dare say; ten to one but he was
light-headed at the time. Had he been in his right senses, he could not have
thought of such a thing as begging you to give away half your fortune from your
own child."
"He
did not stipulate for any particular sum, my dear Fanny; he only requested me,
in general terms, to assist them, and make their situation more comfortable
than it was in his power to do. Perhaps it would have been as well if he had
left it wholly to myself. He could hardly suppose I should neglect them. But as
he required the promise, I could not do less than give it; at least I thought
so at the time. The promise, therefore, was given, and must be performed.
Something must be done for them whenever they leave Norland and settle in a new
home."
Vocabulario:
Mistress – fancy
– alloy – dreadful
Temas principales:
¿Era lógico ceder semejante suma de dinero a medias
hermanas?
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