persuasion(劝导)-第42章
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come with her and stay at Uppercross； whenever she returned。
Captain Wentworth was gone； for the present； to see his brother in
Shropshire。
“I hope I shall remember； in future；” said Lady Russell； as soon
as they were reseated in the carriage； “not to call at Uppercross in
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the Christmas holidays。”
Every body has their taste in noises as well as in other matters；
and sounds are quite innoxious； or most distressing； by their sort
rather than their quantity。 When Lady Russell； not long
afterwards； was entering Bath on a wet afternoon； and driving
through the long course of streets from the Old Bridge to Camden…
place； amidst the dash of other carriages； the heavy rumble of
carts and drays； the bawling of newspapermen； muffin…men and
milk…men； and the ceaseless clink of pattens； she made no
complaint。 No； these were noises which belonged to the winter
pleasures； her spirits rose under their influence； and； like Mrs。
Musgrove； she was feeling； though not saying； that after being long
in the country； nothing could be so good for her as a little quiet
cheerfulness。
Anne did not share these feelings。 She persisted in a very
determined； though very silent disinclination for Bath； caught the
first dim view of the extensive buildings； smoking in rain； without
any wish of seeing them better； felt their progress through the
streets to be； however disagreeable； yet too rapid； for who would
be glad to see her when she arrived？ And looked back； with fond
regret； to the bustles of Uppercross and the seclusion of Kellynch。
Elizabeth’s last letter had communicated a piece of news of
some interest。 Mr。 Elliot was in Bath。 He had called in Camden…
place； had called a second time； a third； had been pointedly
attentive。 If Elizabeth and her father did not deceive themselves；
had been taking much pains to seek the acquaintance； and
proclaim the value of the connection； as he had formerly taken
pains to shew neglect。 This was very wonderful if it were true； and
Lady Russell was in a state of very agreeable curiosity and
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perplexity about Mr。 Elliot； already recanting the sentiment she
had so lately expressed to Mary； of his being “a man whom she
had no wish to see。” She had a great wish to see him。 If he really
sought to reconcile himself like a dutiful branch； he must be
forgiven for having dismembered himself from the paternal tree。
Anne was not animated to an equal pitch by the circumstance；
but she felt that she would rather see Mr。 Elliot again than not；
which was more than she could say for many other persons in
Bath。
She was put down in Camden…place； and Lady Russell then
drove to her own lodgings； in Rivers…street。
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CHAPTER III
ir Walter had taken a very good house in Camden…place； a
lofty dignified situation； such as becomes a man of
S
consequence； and both he and Elizabeth were settled
there； much to their satisfaction。
Anne entered it with a sinking heart； anticipating an
imprisonment of many months； and anxiously saying to herself；
“Oh！ when shall I leave you again？” A degree of unexpected
cordiality； however； in the welcome she received； did her good。
Her father and sister were glad to see her； for the sake of shewing
her the house and furniture； and met her with kindness。 Her
making a fourth； when they sat down to dinner； was noticed as an
advantage。
Mrs。 Clay was very pleasant； and very smiling； but her
courtesies and smiles were more a matter of course。 Anne had
always felt that she would pretend what was proper on her arrival；
but the complaisance of the others was unlooked for。 They were
evidently in excellent spirits； and she was soon to listen to the
causes。 They had no inclination to listen to her。 After laying out for
some compliments of being deeply regretted in their old
neighbourhood； which Anne could not pay； they had only a few
faint enquiries to make； before the talk must be all their own。
Uppercross excited no interest； Kellynch very little； it was all Bath。
They had the pleasure of assuring her that Bath more than
answered their expectations in every respect。 Their house was
undoubtedly the best in Camden…place； their drawing…rooms had
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many decided advantages over all the others which they had
either seen or heard of； and the superiority was not less in the
style of the fitting…up； or the taste of the furniture。 Their
acquaintance was exceedingly sought after。 Everybody was
wanting to visit them。 They had drawn back from many
introductions； and still were perpetually having cards left by
people of whom they knew nothing。
Here were funds of enjoyment。 Could Anne wonder that her
father and sister were happy？ She might not wonder； but she must
sigh that her father should feel no degradation in his change；
should see nothing to regret in the duties and dignity of the
resident landholder； should find so much to be vain of in the
littlenesses of a town； and she must sigh； and smile； and wonder
too； as Elizabeth threw open the folding…doors and walked with
exultation from one drawing…room to the other； boasting of their
space； at the possibility of that woman； who had been mistress of
Kellynch Hall； finding extent to be proud of between two walls；
perhaps thirty feet asunder。
But this was not all which they had to make them happy。 They
had Mr。 Elliot too。 Anne had a great deal to hear of Mr。 Elliot。 He
was not only pardoned； they were delighted with him。 He had
been in Bath about a fortnight； （he had passed through Bath in
November； in his way to London； when the intelligence of Sir
Walter’s being settled there had of course reached him； though
only twenty…four hours in the place； but he had not been able to
avail himself of it
