persuasion(劝导)-第40章
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that we have been into most of the houses hereabouts and can
judge； there is not one that we like better than this。 Pray say so；
with my compliments。 He will be glad to hear it。”
Lady Russell and Mrs。 Croft were very well pleased with each
other： but the acquaintance which this visit began was fated not to
proceed far at present； for when it was returned； the Crofts
announced themselves to be going away for a few weeks； to visit
their connexions in the north of the county； and probably might
not be at home again before Lady Russell would be removing to
Bath。
So ended all danger to Anne of meeting Captain Wentworth at
Kellynch Hall； or of seeing him in company with her friend。
Everything was safe enough； and she smiled over the many
anxious feelings she had wasted on the subject。
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CHAPTER II
hough Charles and Mary had remained at Lyme much
longer after Mr。 and Mrs。 Musgrove’s going than Anne
T
conceived they could have been at all wanted； they were
yet the first of the family to be at home again； and as soon as
possible after their return to Uppercross they drove over to the
lodge。—They had left Louisa beginning to sit up； but her head；
though clear； was exceedingly weak； and her nerves susceptible to
the highest extreme of tenderness； and though she might be
pronounced to be altogether doing very well； it was still impossible
to say when she might be able to bear the removal home； and her
father and mother； who must return in time to receive their
younger children for the Christmas holidays； had hardly a hope of
being allowed to bring her with them。
They had been all in lodgings together。 Mrs。 Musgrove had got
Mrs。 Harville’s children away as much as she could； every possible
supply from Uppercross had been furnished； to lighten the
inconvenience to the Harvilles； while the Harvilles had been
wanting them to come to dinner every day； and in short； it seemed
to have been only a struggle on each side as to which should be
most disinterested and hospitable。
Mary had had her evils； but upon the whole； as was evident by
her staying so long； she had found more to enjoy than to suffer。—
Charles Hayter had been at Lyme oftener than suited her； and
when they dined with the Harvilles there had been only a maid…
servant to wait； and at first Mrs。 Harville had always given Mrs。
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Musgrove precedence； but then； she had received so very
handsome an apology from her on finding out whose daughter she
was； and there had been so much going on every day； there had
been so many walks between their lodgings and the Harvilles； and
she had got books from the library； and changed them so often；
that the balance had certainly been much in favour of Lyme。 She
had been taken to Charmouth too； and she had bathed； and she
had gone to church； and there were a great many more people to
look at in the church at Lyme than at Uppercross；—and all this；
joined to the sense of being so very useful； had made really an
agreeable fortnight。
Anne enquired after Captain Benwick； Mary’s face was clouded
directly。 Charles laughed。
“Oh！ Captain Benwick is very well； I believe； but he is a very
odd young man。 I do not know what he would be at。 We asked him
to come home with us for a day or two； Charles undertook to give
him some shooting； and he seemed quite delighted； and； for my
part； I thought it was all settled； when behold！ on Tuesday night；
he made a very awkward sort of excuse； ‘he never shot’ and he had
‘been quite misunderstood；’—and he had promised this and he
had promised that； and the end of it was； I found； that he did not
mean to come。 I suppose he was afraid of finding it dull； but upon
my word I should have thought we were lively enough at the
Cottage for such a heart…broken man as Captain Benwick。”
Charles laughed again and said； “Now Mary； you know very
well how it really was。—It was all your doing；” （turning to Anne）。
“He fancied that if he went with us； he should find you close by； he
fancied everybody to be living in Uppercross； and when he
discovered that Lady Russell lived three miles off； his heart failed
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him； and he had not courage to come。 That is the fact； upon my
honour； Mary knows it is。”
But Mary did not give into it very graciously； whether from not
considering Captain Benwick entitled by birth and situation to be
in love with an Elliot； or from not wanting to believe Anne a
greater attraction to Uppercross than herself； must be left to be
guessed。 Anne’s good…will； however； was not to be lessened by
what she heard。 She boldly acknowledged herself flattered； and
continued her enquiries。
“Oh！ he talks of you；” cried Charles； “in such terms”—Mary
interrupted him。 “I declare； Charles； I never heard him mention
Anne twice all the time I was there。 I declare； Anne； he never talks
of you at all。”
“No；” admitted Charles； “I do not know that he ever does； in a
general way—but however； it is a very clear thing that he admires
you exceedingly。—His head is full of some books that he is reading
upon your recommendation； and he wants to talk to you about
them； he has found out something or other in one of them which
he thinks—Oh！ I cannot pretend to remember it； but it was
something very fine—I overheard him telling Henrietta all about
it—and then ‘Miss Elliot’ was spoken of in the highest terms！—
Now Mary； I declare it was so； I heard it myself； and you were in
the other room。—‘Elegance； sweetness； beauty。’ Oh！ there was no
end of Miss Elliot’s charms。”
“And I am sure；” cried Mary； warmly； “it was a very little to his
credit； if he did。 Miss Harville only died last June。 Such a heart is
very little worth having； is it； Lady Russell？ I am sure you will
agree with me。”
“I must see Captain Benwick before I decide；” said Lady
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Russell； smiling。
“And that you are very likely to do very soon； I can tell you；
ma’am；” said Charles。 “Though he had not nerves for coming
away with us； and setting off again after
