persuasion(劝导)-第21章
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nothing could be plainer； and where many divisions were
necessary； or even where they were not； they walked side by side
nearly as much as the other two。 In a long strip of meadow…land；
where there was ample space for all； they were thus divided—
forming three distinct parties； and to that party of the three which
boasted least animation； and least complaisance； Anne necessarily
belonged。 She joined Charles and Mary； and was tired enough to
be very glad of Charles’s other arm；—but Charles； though in very
good humour with her； was out of temper with his wife。 Mary had
shewn herself disobliging to him； and was now to reap the
consequence； which consequence was his dropping her arm
almost every moment to cut off the heads of some nettles in the
hedge with his switch； and when Mary began to complain of it； and
lament her being ill…used； according to custom； in being on the
hedge side； while Anne was never incommoded on the other； he
dropped the arms of both to hunt after a weasel which he had a
momentary glance of； and they could hardly get him along at all。
This long meadow bordered a lane； which their footpath； at the
end of it was to cross； and when the party had all reached the gate
of exit； the carriage advancing in the same direction； which had
been some time heard； was just coming up； and proved to be
Admiral Croft’s gig。—He and his wife had taken their intended
drive； and were returning home。 Upon hearing how long a walk
the young people had engaged in； they kindly offered a seat to any
lady who might be particularly tired； it would save her a full mile；
and they were going through Uppercross。 The invitation was
general； and generally declined。 The Miss Musgroves were not at
all tired； and Mary was either offended； by not being asked before
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any of the others； or what Louisa called the Elliot pride could not
endure to make a third in a one horse chaise。
The walking party had crossed the lane； and were surmounting
an opposite stile； and the Admiral was putting his horse in motion
again； when Captain Wentworth cleared the hedge in a moment to
say something to his sister。 The something might be guessed by its
effects。
“Miss Elliot； I am sure you are tired；” cried Mrs。 Croft。 “Do let
us have the pleasure of taking you home。 Here is excellent room
for three； I assure you。 If we were all like you； I believe we might
sit four。—You must； indeed； you must。”
Anne was still in the lane； and though instinctively beginning to
decline； she was not allowed to proceed。 The Admiral’s kind
urgency came in support of his wife’s； they would not be refused；
they compressed themselves into the smallest possible space to
leave her a corner； and Captain Wentworth； without saying a
word； turned to her； and quietly obliged her to be assisted into the
carriage。
Yes；—he had done it。 She was in the carriage； and felt that he
had placed her there； that his will and his hands had done it； that
she owed it to his perception of her fatigue； and his resolution to
give her rest。 She was very much affected by the view of his
disposition towards her； which all these things made apparent。
This little circumstance seemed the completion of all that had
gone before。 She understood him。 He could not forgive her；—but
he could not be unfeeling。 Though condemning her for the past；
and considering it with high and unjust resentment； though
perfectly careless of her； and though becoming attached to
another； still he could not see her suffer； without the desire of
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giving her relief。 It was a remainder of former sentiment； it was an
impulse of pure； though unacknowledged friendship； it was a
proof of his own warm and amiable heart； which she could not
contemplate without emotions so compounded of pleasure and
pain； that she knew not which prevailed。
Her answers to the kindness and the remarks of her
companions were at first unconsciously given。 They had travelled
half their way along the rough lane； before she was quite awake to
what they said。 She then found them talking of “Frederick。”
“He certainly means to have one or other of those two girls；
Sophy；” said the Admiral；—“but there is no saying which。 He has
been running after them； too； long enough； one would think； to
make up his mind。 Ay； this comes of the peace。 If it were war； now；
he would have settled it long ago。—We sailors； Miss Elliot； cannot
afford to make long courtships in time of war。 How many days was
it； my dear； between the first time of my seeing you and our sitting
down together in our lodgings at North Yarmouth？”
“We had better not talk about it； my dear；” replied Mrs。 Croft；
pleasantly； “for if Miss Elliot were to hear how soon we came to an
understanding； she would never be persuaded that we could be
happy together。 I had known you by character； however； long
before。”
“Well； and I had heard of you as a very pretty girl； and what
were we to wait for besides？—I do not like having such things so
long in hand。 I wish Frederick would spread a little more canvass；
and bring us home one of these young ladies to Kellynch。 Then
there would always be company for us。—And very nice young
ladies they both are； I hardly know one from the other。”
“Very good humoured； unaffected girls； indeed；” said Mrs。
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Croft； in a tone of calmer praise； such as made Anne suspect that
her keener powers might not consider either of them as quite
worthy of her brother； “and a very respectable family。 One could
not be connected with better people。—My dear Admiral； that
post！—we shall certainly take that post。”
But by coolly giving the reins a better direction herself they
happily passed the danger； and by once afterwards judiciously
putting out her hand they neither fell into a rut； nor ran foul of a
dung…cart； and Anne； with some amusement at their style of
driving； which she imagined no bad representation of the general
guidance of their affairs； found herself safely deposited by them at
the Cottage。
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CHAPTER XI
he time now approached for Lady Russell’s return； the
day was even fixed； and Anne； being engaged to join her
T
as soon as she was resettled； was looking forward to an
early removal to Kellynch； and beginning to think how her own
comfort was likely to be affected by it。
It would place her in the same village with Captain Wentworth；
within half a mile of him； they would have to frequent the same
church； and there must be intercourse between the two families。
This was against her； but on the other hand； he spent so much of
his time at Uppercross； that in removing thence she might be
considered rather as leaving him behind； than as going towards
him； and； upon the whole； she believed she must； on this
interesting question； be the gainer； almost as certainly as in her
change of domestic society； in leaving poor Mary for Lady Russell。
She wished it might be possible for her to avoid ever seeing
Captain Wentworth at the Hall：—those rooms had witnessed
former meetings which would be brought too painfully before her；
but she was yet more anxious for the possibility of Lady Russell
and Captain Wentworth never meeting anywhere。 They did not
like each other； and no renewal of acquaintance now could do any
good； and were Lady Russell to see them together； she might think
that he had too much self…possession； and she too little。
These points formed her chief solicitude in anticipating her
removal from Uppercross； where she felt she had been stationed
quite long enough。 Her usefulness to little Charles would always
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give some sweetness to the memory of her two months’ visit there；
but he was gaining strength apace； and she had nothing else to
stay for。
The conclusion of her visit； however； was diversified in a way
which she had not at all imagined。 Captain Wentworth； after being
unseen and unheard of at Uppercross for two whole days；
appeared again among them to justify himself by a relation of what
had kept him away。
A letter from his friend； Captain Harville； having found him out
at last； had brought intelligence of Captain Harville’s being settled
with his family at Lyme for the winter； of their being therefore；
quite unknowingly； within twenty miles of each other。 Captain
Harville had never been in good health since a severe wound
which he received two years before； and Captain Wentwor
