persuasion(劝导)-第24章
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sure she would be glad to get to a place where she could have
medical attendance at hand； in case of his having another seizure。
Indeed I think it quite melancholy to have such excellent people as
Dr。 and Mrs。 Shirley； who have been doing good all their lives；
wearing out their last days in a place like Uppercross； where；
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excepting our family； they seem shut out from all the world。 I wish
his friends would propose it to him。 I really think they ought。 And；
as to procuring a dispensation； there could be no difficulty at his
time of life； and with his character。 My only doubt is； whether
anything could persuade him to leave his parish。 He is so very
strict and scrupulous in his notions； over…scrupulous I must say。
Do not you think； Anne； it is being over…scrupulous？ Do not you
think it is quite a mistaken point of conscience； when a clergyman
sacrifices his health for the sake of duties； which may be just as
well performed by another person？—And at Lyme too；—only
seventeen miles off；—he would be near enough to hear； if people
thought there was anything to complain of。”
Anne smiled more than once to herself during this speech； and
entered into the subject； as ready to do good by entering into the
feelings of a young lady as of a young man；—though here it was
good of a lower standard； for what could be offered but general
acquiescence？—She said all that was reasonable and proper on
the business； felt the claims of Dr。 Shirley to repose； as she ought；
saw how very desirable it was that he should have some active；
respectable young man； as a resident curate； and was even
courteous enough to hint at the advantage of such resident
curate’s being married。
“I wish；” said Henrietta； very well pleased with her companion；
“I wish Lady Russell lived at Uppercross； and were intimate with
Dr。 Shirley。 I have always heard of Lady Russell as a woman of the
greatest influence with everybody！ I always look upon her as able
to persuade a person to anything！ I am afraid of her； as I have told
you before； quite afraid of her； because she is so very clever； but I
respect her amazingly； and wish we had such a neighbour at
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Uppercross。”
Anne was amused by Henrietta’s manner of being grateful； and
amused also that the course of events and the new interests of
Henrietta’s views should have placed her friend at all in favour
with any of the Musgrove family； she had only time； however； for a
general answer； and a wish that such another woman were at
Uppercross； before all subjects suddenly ceased； on seeing Louisa
and Captain Wentworth coming towards them。 They came also for
a stroll till breakfast was likely to be ready； but Louisa
recollecting； immediately afterwards that she had something to
procure at a shop； invited them all to go back with her into the
town。 They were all at her disposal。
When they came to the steps； leading upwards from the beach；
a gentleman； at the same moment preparing to come down；
politely drew back； and stopped to give them way。 They ascended
and passed him； and as they passed； Anne’s face caught his eye；
and he looked at her with a degree of earnest admiration； which
she could not be insensible of。 She was looking remarkably well；
her very regular； very pretty features； having the bloom and
freshness of youth restored by the fine wind which had been
blowing on her complexion； and by the animation of eye which it
had also produced。 It was evident that the gentleman； （completely
a gentleman in manner） admired her exceedingly。 Captain
Wentworth looked round at her instantly in a way which shewed
his noticing of it。 He gave her a momentary glance；—a glance of
brightness； which seemed to say； “That man is struck with you；—
and even I； at this moment； see something like Anne Elliot again。”
After attending Louisa through her business； and loitering
about a little longer； they returned to the inn； and Anne； in passing
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afterwards quickly from her own chamber to their dining…room；
had nearly run against the very same gentleman； as he came out of
an adjoining apartment。 She had before conjectured him to be a
stranger like themselves； and determined that a well…looking
groom； who was strolling about near the two inns as they came
back； should be his servant。 Both master and man being in
mourning assisted the idea。 It was now proved that he belonged to
the same inn as themselves； and this second meeting； short as it
was； also proved again by the gentleman’s looks； that he thought
hers very lovely； and by the readiness and propriety of his
apologies； that he was a man of exceedingly good manners。 He
seemed about thirty； and though not handsome； had an agreeable
person。 Anne felt that she should like to know who he was。
They had nearly done breakfast； when the sound of a carriage；
（almost the first they had heard since entering Lyme） drew half
the party to the window。 “It was a gentleman’s carriage—a
curricle—but only coming round from the stable…yard to the front
door。—Somebody must be going away。—It was driven by a
servant in mourning。”
The word curricle made Charles Musgrove jump up that he
might compare it with his own； the servant in mourning roused
Anne’s curiosity； and the whole six were collected to look； by the
time the owner of the curricle was to be seen issuing from the door
amidst the bows and civilities of the household； and taking his
seat； to drive off。
“Ah！” cried Captain Wentworth； instantly； and with half a
glance at Anne； “it is the very man we passed。”
The Miss Musgroves agreed to it； and having all kindly watched
him as far up the hill as they could； they returned to the breakfast
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table。 The waiter came into the room soon afterwards。
“Pray；” said Captain Wentworth； immediately； “can you tell us
the name of the gentleman who is just gone away？”
“Yes； Sir； a Mr。 Elliot； a gentleman of large fortune；—came in
last night from Sidmouth；—dare say you heard the carriage； sir；
while you were at dinner； and going on now for Crewkherne； in his
way to Bath and London。”
“Elliot！” Many had looked on each other； and many had
repeated the name； before all this had been got through； even by
the smart rapidity of a waiter。
“Bless me！” cried Mary； “it must be our cousin；—it must be our
Mr。 Elliot； it must； indeed！—Charles； Anne； must not it？ In
mourning； you see； just as our Mr。 Elliot must be。 How very
extraordinary！ In the very same inn with us！ Anne； must not it be
our Mr。 Elliot； my father’s next heir？ Pray sir；” （turning to the
waiter）； “did not you hear； did not his servant say whether he
belonged to the Kellynch family？”
“No； ma’am； he did not mention no particular family； but he
said his master was a very rich gentleman； and would be a
baronight some day。”
“There！ you see！” cried Mary in an ecstasy； “just as I said！ Heir
to Sir Walter Elliot！—I was sure that would come out； if it was so。
Depend upon it； that is a circumstance which his servants take
care to publish； wherever he goes。 But； Anne； only conceive how
extraordinary！ I wish I had looked at him more。 I wish we had
been aware in time； who it was； that he might have been
introduced to us。 What a pity that we should not have been
introduced to each other！—Do you think he had the Elliot
countenance？ I hardly looked at him； I was looking at the horses；
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but I think he had something of the Elliot countenance； I wonder
the arms did not strike me！ Oh！—the great…coat was hanging over
the panel； and hid the arms； so it did； otherwise； I am sure； I
should have observed them； and the livery too； if the servant had
not been in mourning； one should have known him by the livery。”
“Putting all these very extraordinary circumstances together；”
said Captain Wentworth； “we must consider it to be the
arrangement of Providence； that you should not be introduced to
your cousin。”
When she could command Mary’s attention； Anne quietly tried
to convince her that their father and Mr。 Elliot had not； for many
years； been on such terms as to make the power of attempting an
introduction at all desirable。
At the same time； however； it was a secret gratification to
herself to have seen her cousin； and to know that the future owner
of Kellynch was undoubtedly a gentleman； and had an air of good
sense。 She would not； upon any account； mention her having met
