language queries

[sharon]

Hi folks,
I'm hoping you could enlighten me as to meaning of certain words or phrases (in bold) in S&S. Sorry, I'm reading an ebook so I only have the % locations if it's not in the start of a chapter:

S&S queries

0) 9%
re: Lady Middleton
though perfectly well bred, she was reserved, cold, and had nothing to say for herself beyond the most common-place enquiry or remark.

What does well bred mean in this instance? Can a well bred person have nothing to say for herself?

1) 9.5%
in winter his private balls were numerous enough for any young lady who was not suffering under the insatiable appetite of fifteen.

Is this implying that 15 y.o.s are crazy for balls? They're not even out at that age, are they? How can they be attending balls already?

2) 10%
Ch 21 first par
The Palmers returned to Cleveland the next day, and the two families at Barton were again left to entertain each other. But this did not last long; Elinor had hardly got their last visitors out of her head, had hardly done wondering at Charlotte's being so happy without a cause, at Mr. Palmer's acting so simply, with good abilities, and at the strange unsuitableness which often existed between husband and wife, before Sir John's and Mrs. Jennings's active zeal in the cause of society, procured her some other new acquaintance to see and observe.

What does this phrase mean?

3) Vol2 Chap2
In a firm, though cautious tone, Elinor thus began.
"I should be undeserving of the confidence you have honoured me with, if I felt no desire for its continuance, or no farther curiosity on its subject. I will not apologize therefore for bringing it forward again."

Do I understand rightly that because Elinor is curious/wants to know more about the subject she's the right person to be told about it?

4) 38.6%
Lucy went on. "I am rather of a jealous temper too by nature, and from our different situations in life, from his being so much more in the world than me, and our continual separation, I was enough inclined for suspicion, to have found out the truth in an instant, if there had been the slightest alteration in his behaviour to me when we met, or any lowness of spirits that I could not account for, or if he had talked more of one lady than another, or seemed in any respect less happy at Longstaple than he used to be. I do not mean to say that I am particularly observant or quick-sighted in general, but in such a case I am sure I could not be deceived."
"All this," thought Elinor, "is very pretty; but it can impose upon neither of us."

What does this mean?

5) 52.5%
Like half the rest of the world, if more than half there be that are clever and good, Marianne, with excellent abilities, and an excellent disposition, was neither reasonable nor candid. She expected from other people the same opinions and feelings as her own, and she judged of their motives by the immediate effect of their actions on herself.

What does candid here mean? I don't see how it's related to expecting people to have "the same opinions and feelings as her own" or judging motives "by the immediate effect of their actions on herself."

Thanks!!

[Cinthia]

Mar 10, 2020 0:17:47 GMT -5 sharon said:

Hi folks,
I'm hoping you could enlighten me as to meaning of certain words or phrases (in bold) in S&S.

Hello, Sharon. Welcome. I apologize for this belated reply.

Please bear in mind English is not my first-language, but as a translator, trying to make sense out of a text is part of my job.

0) 9%
re: Lady Middleton
though perfectly well bred, she was reserved, cold, and had nothing to say for herself beyond the most common-place enquiry or remark.

What does well bred mean in this instance? Can a well bred person have nothing to say for herself?

In my understanding, it has to do more with exterior qualities, rather than inner qualities, she has only good exterior manners, nothing more substantial in her mind. Remember for example in Persuasion, what is said about "good society" vs. "best society".

1) 9.5%
in winter his private balls were numerous enough for any young lady who was not suffering under the insatiable appetite of fifteen.

Is this implying that 15 y.o.s are crazy for balls? They're not even out at that age, are they? How can they be attending balls already?

Don't 15 year-old girls in average long for balls no matter this century or two ago and also without being out or not out? More so if they are not out. Beside, as we know, altough in average not all girls would have been out at 15, Lydia Bennet was.

2) 10%
Ch 21 first par
The Palmers returned to Cleveland the next day, and the two families at Barton were again left to entertain each other. But this did not last long; Elinor had hardly got their last visitors out of her head, had hardly done wondering at Charlotte's being so happy without a cause, at Mr. Palmer's acting so simply, with good abilities, and at the strange unsuitableness which often existed between husband and wife, before Sir John's and Mrs. Jennings's active zeal in the cause of society, procured her some other new acquaintance to see and observe.

What does this phrase mean?

It is a judgement based on the behaviour he displayed in the previous two chapters, where Elinor could observe he was not so much lacking in intelligence, but soured by his discovery he had married a silly woman and how he acted because of that.

3) Vol2 Chap2
In a firm, though cautious tone, Elinor thus began.
"I should be undeserving of the confidence you have honoured me with, if I felt no desire for its continuance, or no farther curiosity on its subject. I will not apologize therefore for bringing it forward again."

Do I understand rightly that because Elinor is curious/wants to know more about the subject she's the right person to be told about it?

It's more complicated than that, remember Lucy has revealed to her (Elinor) the secret engagement with Edward, and Lucy told her because she had inferred Elinor was her rival in Edward's affections, Elinor was the "right" person to be told because the purpose was to alienate her from Edward, by claiming a prior commitment of his.

4) 38.6%
Lucy went on. "I am rather of a jealous temper too by nature, and from our different situations in life, from his being so much more in the world than me, and our continual separation, I was enough inclined for suspicion, to have found out the truth in an instant, if there had been the slightest alteration in his behaviour to me when we met, or any lowness of spirits that I could not account for, or if he had talked more of one lady than another, or seemed in any respect less happy at Longstaple than he used to be. I do not mean to say that I am particularly observant or quick-sighted in general, but in such a case I am sure I could not be deceived."
"All this," thought Elinor, "is very pretty; but it can impose upon neither of us."

What does this mean?

Elinor realizes not a word of this speech from Lucy is to be taken truthfully, quite on the contrary, Lucy is so much transparent that she knew nothing was the same with Edward, she was extremely suspicious about him and his affection for Elinor. So, Elinor does not feel she is to be forced to say or do anything about it so far.

5) 52.5%
Like half the rest of the world, if more than half there be that are clever and good, Marianne, with excellent abilities, and an excellent disposition, was neither reasonable nor candid. She expected from other people the same opinions and feelings as her own, and she judged of their motives by the immediate effect of their actions on herself.

What does candid here mean? I don't see how it's related to expecting people to have "the same opinions and feelings as her own" or judging motives "by the immediate effect of their actions on herself."

Quoting from the Oxford English dictionary on-line, on the meaning of "candid":
"Mid 17th century (in the Latin sense): from Latin candidus ‘white’. Subsequent early senses were ‘pure, innocent’, ‘unbiased’.

Thus, by now, we know Marianne was not exactly unbiased, on the contrary, she is quite biased by her feelings, there for not candid.

[juliep]

Cinthia, you'd never know that English wasn't your first language. Spot on!