persuasion(劝导)-第11章
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her； I know； but I just give you this hint； that you may be upon the
watch； because； if you see anything amiss； you need not be afraid
of mentioning it。”
Again； it was Mary’s complaint； that Mrs。 Musgrove was very
apt not to give her the precedence that was her due； when they
dined at the Great House with other families； and she did not see
any reason why she was to be considered so much at home as to
lose her place。 And one day when Anne was walking with only the
Musgroves； one of them after talking of rank； people of rank； and
jealousy of rank； said； “I have no scruple of observing to you； how
nonsensical some persons are about their place； because all the
world knows how easy and indifferent you are about it； but I wish
anybody could give Mary a hint that it would be a great deal better
if she were not so very tenacious； especially if she would not be
always putting herself forward to take place of mamma。 Nobody
doubts her right to have precedence of mamma； but it would be
more becoming in her not to be always insisting on it。 It is not that
mamma cares about it the least in the world； but I know it is taken
notice of by many persons。”
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How was Anne to set all these matters to rights？ She could do
little more than listen patiently； soften every grievance； and
excuse each to the other； give them all hints of the forbearance
necessary between such near neighbours； and make those hints
broadest which were meant for her sister’s benefit。
In all other respects； her visit began and proceeded very well。
Her own spirits improved by change of place and subject； by being
removed three miles from Kellynch； Mary’s ailments lessened by
having a constant companion； and their daily intercourse with the
other family； since there was neither superior affection；
confidence； nor employment in the cottage； to be interrupted by it；
was rather an advantage。 It was certainly carried nearly as far as
possible； for they met every morning； and hardly ever spent an
evening asunder； but she believed they should not have done so
well without the sight of Mr。 and Mrs。 Musgrove’s respectable
forms in the usual places； or without the talking； laughing； and
singing of their daughters。
She played a great deal better than either of the Miss
Musgroves； but having no voice； no knowledge of the harp； and no
fond parents； to sit by and fancy themselves delighted； her
performance was little thought of； only out of civility； or to refresh
the others； as she was well aware。 She knew that when she played
she was giving pleasure only to herself； but this was no new
sensation： excepting one short period of her life； she had never；
since the age of fourteen； never since the loss of her dear mother；
know the happiness of being listened to； or encouraged by any just
appreciation or real taste。 In music she had been always used to
feel alone in the world； and Mr。 and Mrs。 Musgrove’s fond
partiality for their own daughters’ performance； and total
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indifference to any other person’s； gave her much more pleasure
for their sakes； than mortification for her own。
The party at the Great House was sometimes increased by
other company。 The neighbourhood was not large； but the
Musgroves were visited by everybody； and had more dinner…
parties； and more callers； more visitors by invitation and by
chance； than any other family。 There were more completely
popular。
The girls were wild for dancing； and the evenings ended；
occasionally； in an unpremeditated little ball。 There was a family
of cousins within a walk of Uppercross； in less affluent
circumstances； who depended on the Musgroves for all their
pleasures： they would come at any time； and help play at anything；
or dance anywhere； and Anne； very much preferring the office of
musician to a more active post； played country dances to them by
the hour together； a kindness which always recommended her
musical powers to the notice of Mr。 and Mrs。 Musgrove more than
anything else； and often drew this compliment；—“Well done； Miss
Anne！ very well done indeed！ Lord bless me！ how those little
fingers of yours fly about！”
So passed the first three weeks。 Michaelmas came； and now
Anne’s heart must be in Kellynch again。 A beloved home made
over to others； all the precious rooms and furniture； groves； and
prospects； beginning to own other eyes and other limbs！ She could
not think of much else on the 29th of September； and she had this
sympathetic touch in the evening from Mary； who； on having
occasion to note down the day of the month； exclaimed； “Dear me；
is not this the day the Crofts were to come to Kellynch？ I am glad I
did not think of it before。 How low it makes me！”
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The Crofts took possession with true naval alertness； and were
to be visited。 Mary deplored the necessity for herself。 “Nobody
knew how much she should suffer。 She should put it off as long as
she could；” but was not easy till she had talked Charles into
driving her over on an early day； and was in a very animated；
comfortable state of imaginary agitation； when she came back。
Anne had very sincerely rejoiced in there being no means of her
going。 She wished； however to see the Crofts； and was glad to be
within when the visit was returned。 They came； the master of the
house was not at home； but the two sisters were together； and as it
chanced that Mrs。 Croft fell to the share of Anne； while the
Admiral sat by Mary； and made himself very agreeable by his
good…humoured notice of her little boys； she was well able to
watch for a likeness； and if it failed her in the features； to catch it
in the voice； or in the turn of sentiment and expression。
Mrs。 Croft； though neither tall nor fat； had a squareness；
uprightness； and vigour of form； which gave importance to her
person。 She had bright dark eyes； good teeth； and altogether an
agreeable face； though her reddened and weather…beaten
complexion； the consequence of her having been almost as much
at sea as her husband； made her seem to have lived some years
longer in the world than her real eight…and…thirty。 Her manners
were open； easy； and decided； like one who had no distrust of
herself； and no doubts of what to do； without any approach to
coarseness； however； or any want of good humour。 Anne gave her
credit； indeed； for feelings of great consideration towards herself；
in all that related to Kellynch； and it pleased her： especially； as she
had satisfied herself in the very first half minute； in the instant
even of introduction； that there was not the smallest symptom of
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any knowledge or suspicion on Mrs。 Croft’s side； to give a bias of
any sort。 She was quite easy on that head； and consequently full of
strength and courage； till for a moment electrified by Mrs。 Croft’s
suddenly saying；—
“It was you； and not your sister； I find； that my brother had the
pleasure of being acquainted with； when he was in this country。”
Anne hoped she had outlived the age of blushing； but the age of
emotion she certainly had not。
“Perhaps you may not have heard that he is married？” added
Mrs。 Croft。
She could now answer as she ought； and was happy to feel；
when Mrs。 Croft’s next words explained it to be Mr。 Wentworth of
whom she spoke； that she had said nothing which might not do for
either brother。 She immediately felt how reasonable it was； that
Mrs。 Croft should be thinking and speaking of Edward； and not of
Frederick； and with shame at her own forgetfulness applied
herself to the knowledge of their former neighbour’s present state
with proper interest。
The rest was all tranquillity； till just as they were moving； she
heard the Admiral say to Mary—
“We are expecting a brother of Mrs。 Croft’s here soon； I dare
say you know him by name。”
He was cut short by the eager attacks of the little boys； clinging
to him like an old friend； and declaring he should not go； and
being too much engrossed by proposals of carrying them away in
his coat pockets； &c。； to have another moment for finishing or
recollecting what he had begun； Anne was left to persuade herself；
as well as she could； that the same brother must still be in
question。 She could not； however； reach such a degree of
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certainty； as not to be anxious to hear whether anything had been
said on the subject at the other house； where the Crofts had
previously been calling。
The folks of the Great Hou
