persuasion(劝导)-第26章
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which instinct supplied； to Henrietta； still tried； at intervals； to
suggest comfort to the others； tried to quiet Mary； to animate
Charles； to assuage the feelings of Captain Wentworth。 Both
seemed to look to her for directions。
“Anne； Anne；” cried Charles； “What is to be done next？ What；
in heaven’s name； is to be done next？”
Captain Wentworth’s eyes were also turned towards her。
“Had not she better be carried to the inn？ Yes； I am sure： carry
her gently to the inn。”
“Yes； yes； to the inn；” repeated Captain Wentworth；
comparatively collected； and eager to be doing something。 “I will
carry her myself。 Musgrove； take care of the others。”
By this time the report of the accident had spread among the
workmen and boatmen about the Cobb； and many were collected
near them； to be useful if wanted； at any rate； to enjoy the sight of
a dead young lady； nay； two dead young ladies； for it proved twice
as fine as the first report。 To some of the best…looking of these
good people Henrietta was consigned； for； though partially
revived； she was quite helpless； and in this manner； Anne walking
by her side； and Charles attending to his wife； they set forward；
treading back with feelings unutterable； the ground； which so
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lately； so very lately； and so light of heart； they had passed along。
They were not off the Cobb； before the Harvilles met them。
Captain Benwick had been seen flying by their house； with a
countenance which showed something to be wrong； and they had
set off immediately； informed and directed as they passed； towards
the spot。 Shocked as Captain Harville was； he brought senses and
nerves that could be instantly useful； and a look between him and
his wife decided what was to be done。 She must be taken to their
house—all must go to their house—and await the surgeon’s arrival
there。 They would not listen to scruples： he was obeyed； they were
all beneath his roof； and while Louisa； under Mrs。 Harville’s
direction； was conveyed up stairs； and given possession of her own
bed； assistance； cordials； restoratives were supplied by her
husband to all who needed them。
Louisa had once opened her eyes； but soon closed them again；
without apparent consciousness。 This had been a proof of life；
however； of service to her sister； and Henrietta； though perfectly
incapable of being in the same room with Louisa； was kept； by the
agitation of hope and fear； from a return of her own insensibility。
Mary； too； was growing calmer。
The surgeon was with them almost before it had seemed
possible。 They were sick with horror； while he examined； but he
was not hopeless。 The head had received a severe contusion； but
he had seen greater injuries recovered from： he was by no means
hopeless； he spoke cheerfully。
That he did not regard it as a desperate case—that he did not
say a few hours must end it—was at first felt； beyond the hope of
most； and the ecstasy of such a reprieve； the rejoicing； deep and
silent； after a few fervent ejaculations of gratitude to Heaven had
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been offered； may be conceived。
The tone； the look； with which “Thank God！” was uttered by
Captain Wentworth； Anne was sure could never be forgotten by
her； nor the sight of him afterwards； as he sat near a table； leaning
over it with folded arms and face concealed； as if overpowered by
the various feelings of his soul； and trying by prayer and reflection
to calm them。
Louisa’s limbs had escaped。 There was no injury but to the
head。
It now became necessary for the party to consider what was
best to be done； as to their general situation。 They were now able
to speak to each other and consult。 That Louisa must remain
where she was； however distressing to her friends to be involving
the Harvilles in such trouble； did not admit a doubt。 Her removal
was impossible。 The Harvilles silenced all scruples； and； as much
as they could； all gratitude。 They had looked forward and
arranged everything before the others began to reflect。 Captain
Benwick must give up his room to them； and get another bed
elsewhere—and the whole was settled。 They were only concerned
that the house could accommodate no more； and yet perhaps； by
“putting the children away in the maid’s room； or swinging a cot
somewhere；” they could hardly bear to think of not finding room
for two or three besides； supposing they might wish to stay；
though； with regard to any attendance on Miss Musgrove； there
need not be the least uneasiness in leaving her to Mrs。 Harville’s
care entirely。 Mrs。 Harville was a very experienced nurse； and her
nursery…maid； who had lived with her long； and gone about with
her everywhere； was just such another。 Between these two； she
could want no possible attendance by day or night。 And all this
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was said with a truth and sincerity of feeling irresistible。
Charles； Henrietta； and Captain Wentworth were the three in
consultation； and for a little while it was only an interchange of
perplexity and terror。 “Uppercross；—the necessity of some one’s
going to Uppercross；—the news to be conveyed—how it could be
broken to Mr。 and Mrs。 Musgrove；—the lateness of the morning—
an hour already gone since they ought to have been off；—the
impossibility of being in tolerable time。” At first； they were capable
of nothing more to the purpose than such exclamations； but； after
a while； Captain Wentworth； exerting himself； said；
“We must be decided； and without the loss of another minute。
Every minute is valuable。 Some one must resolve on being off for
Uppercross instantly。 Musgrove； either you or I must go。”
Charles agreed； but declared his resolution of not going away。
He would be as little incumbrance as possible to Captain and Mrs。
Harville； but as to leaving his sister in such a state； he neither
ought； nor would。 So far it was decided； and Henrietta at first
declared the same。 She； however； was soon persuaded to think
differently。 The usefulness of her staying！—She who had not been
able to remain in Louisa’s room； or to look at her； without
sufferings which made her worse than helpless！ She was forced to
acknowledge that she could do no good； yet was still unwilling to
be away； till； touched by the thought of her father and mother； she
gave it up； she consented； she was anxious to be at home。
The plan had reached this point； when Anne； coming quietly
down from Louisa’s room； could not but hear what followed； for
the parlour door was open。
“Then it is settled； Musgrove；” cried Captain Wentworth； “that
you stay； and that I take care of your sister home。 But as to the
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rest；—as to the others；—If one stays to assist Mrs。 Harville； I think
it need be only one。—Mrs。 Charles Musgrove will； of course； wish
to get back to her children； but if Anne will stay； no one so proper；
so capable as Anne！”
She paused a moment to recover from the emotion of hearing
herself so spoken of。 The other two warmly agreed with what he
said； and she then appeared。
“You will stay； I am sure； you will stay and nurse her；” cried he；
turning to her and speaking with a glow； and yet a gentleness；
which seemed almost restoring the past。—She coloured deeply；
and he recollected himself and moved away。—She expressed
herself most willing； ready； happy to remain。 “It was what she had
been thinking of； and wishing to be allowed to do。—A bed on the
floor in Louisa’s room would be sufficient for her； if Mrs。 Harville
would but think so。”
One thing more； and all seemed arranged。 Though it was rather
desirable that Mr。 and Mrs。 Musgrove should be previously
alarmed by some share of delay； yet the time required by the
Uppercross horses to take them back； would be a dreadful
extension of suspense； and Captain Wentworth proposed； and
Charles Musgrove agreed； that it would be much better for him to
take a chaise from the inn； and leave Mr。 Musgrove’s carriage and
horses to be sent home the next morning early； when there would
be the farther advantage of sending an account of Louisa’s night。
Captain Wentworth now hurried off to get everything ready on
his part； and to be soon followed by the two ladies。 When the plan
was made known to Mary； however； there was an end of all peace
in it。 She was so wretched and so vehement； complained so much
of injustice in being expected to go away instead of Anne；—Anne；
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who was nothing to Louisa； while she was her sister； and had the
best right to stay in Henrietta’s stead！ Why was not she to be as
useful as Anne？ And to go home without Charles； too；—without
her husband！ No； it was too unkind。 And in short； she said more
than her husband could long withstand； and as none of the others
could oppose when he gave way； there wa
