persuasion(劝导)-第35章
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and at his death； about two years before； had left his affairs
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dreadfully involved。 She had had difficulties of every sort to
contend with； and in addition to these distresses had been afflicted
with a severe rheumatic fever； which； finally settling in her legs；
had made her for the present a cripple。 She had come to Bath on
that account； and was now in lodgings near the hot baths； living in
a very humble way； unable even to afford herself the comfort of a
servant； and of course almost excluded from society。
Their mutual friend answered for the satisfaction which a visit
from Miss Elliot would give Mrs。 Smith； and Anne therefore lost
no time in going。 She mentioned nothing of what she had heard；
or what she intended； at home。 It would excite no proper interest
there。 She only consulted Lady Russell； who entered thoroughly
into her sentiments； and was most happy to convey her as near to
Mrs。 Smith’s lodgings in Westgate…buildings； as Anne chose to be
taken。
The visit was paid； their acquaintance re…established； their
interest in each other more than re…kindled。 The first ten minutes
had its awkwardness and its emotion。 Twelve years were gone
since they had parted； and each presented a somewhat different
person from what the other had imagined。 Twelve years had
changed Anne from the blooming； silent； unformed girl of fifteen；
to the elegant little woman of seven…and…twenty； with every beauty
except bloom； and with manners as consciously right as they were
invariably gentle； and twelve years had transformed the fine…
looking； well…grown Miss Hamilton； in all the glow of health and
confidence of superiority； into a poor； infirm； helpless widow；
receiving the visit of her former protegeé as a favour； but all that
was uncomfortable in the meeting had soon passed away； and left
only the interesting charm of remembering former partialities and
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talking over old times。
Anne found in Mrs。 Smith the good sense and agreeable
manners which she had almost ventured to depend on； and a
disposition to converse and be cheerful beyond her expectation。
Neither the dissipations of the past—and she had lived very much
in the world； nor the restrictions of the present； neither sickness
nor sorrow seemed to have closed her heart or ruined her spirits。
In the course of a second visit she talked with great openness；
and Anne’s astonishment increased。 She could scarcely imagine a
more cheerless situation in itself than Mrs。 Smith’s。 She had been
very fond of her husband；—she had buried him。 She had been
used to affluence；—it was gone。 She had no child to connect her
with life and happiness again； no relations to assist in the
arrangement of perplexed affairs； no health to make all the rest
supportable。 Her accommodations were limited to a noisy parlour；
and a dark bedroom behind； with no possibility of moving from
one to the other without assistance； which there was only one
servant in the house to afford； and she never quitted the house but
to be conveyed into the warm bath。—Yet； in spite of all this； Anne
had reason to believe that she had moments only of languor and
depression； to hours of occupation and enjoyment。 How could it
be？—She watched—observed—reflected—and finally determined
that this was not a case of fortitude or of resignation only。—A
submissive spirit might be patient； a strong understanding would
supply resolution； but here was something more； here was that
elasticity of mind； that disposition to be comforted； that power of
turning readily from evil to good； and of finding employment
which carried her out of herself； which was from nature alone。 It
was the choicest gift of Heaven； and Anne viewed her friend as
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one of those instances in which； by a merciful appointment； it
seems designed to counterbalance almost every other want。
There had been a time； Mrs。 Smith told her； when her spirits
had nearly failed。 She could not call herself an invalid now；
compared with her state on first reaching Bath。 Then she had；
indeed； been a pitiable object—for she had caught cold on the
journey； and had hardly taken possession of her lodgings before
she was again confined to her bed and suffering under severe and
constant pain； and all this among strangers—with the absolute
necessity of having a regular nurse； and finances at that moment
particularly unfit to meet any extraordinary expense。 She had
weathered it； however； and could truly say that it had done her
good。 It had increased her comforts by making her feel herself to
be in good hands。 She had seen too much of the world； to expect
sudden or disinterested attachment anywhere； but her illness had
proved to her that her landlady had a character to preserve； and
would not use her ill； and she had been particularly fortunate in
her nurse； as a sister of her landlady； a nurse by profession； and
who had always a home in that house when unemployed； chanced
to be at liberty just in time to attend her。—“And she；” said Mrs。
Smith； “besides nursing me most admirably； has really proved an
invaluable acquaintance。—As soon as I could use my hands she
taught me to knit； which has been a great amusement； and she put
me in the way of making these little thread…cases； pin…cushions
and card…racks； which you always find me so busy about； and
which supply me with the means of doing a little good to one or
two very poor families in this neighbourhood。 She had a large
acquaintance； of course professionally； among those who can
afford to buy； and she disposes of my merchandize。 She always
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takes the right time for applying。 Everybody’s heart is open； you
know； when they have recently escaped from severe pain； or are
recovering the blessing of health； and Nurse Rooke thoroughly
understands when to speak。 She is a shrewd； intelligent； sensible
woman。 Hers is a line for seeing human nature； and she has a fund
of good sense and observation； which； as a companion； make her
infinitely superior to thousands of those who having only received
‘the best education in the world；’ know nothing worth attending
to。 Call it gossip； if you will； but when Nurse Rooke has half an
hour’s leisure to bestow on me； she is sure to have something to
relate that is entertaining and profitable； something that makes
one know one’s species better。 One likes to hear what is going on；
to be au fait as to the newest modes of being trifling and silly。 To
me； who live so much alone； her conversation； I assure you； is a
treat。”
Anne； far from wishing to cavil at the pleasure； replied； “I can
easily believe it。 Women of that class have great opportunities； and
if they are intelligent may be well worth listening to。 Such
varieties of human nature as they are in the habit of witnessing！
And it is not merely in its follies； that they are well read； for they
see it occasionally under every circumstance that can be most
interesting or affecting。 What instances must pass before them of
ardent； disinterested； self…denying attachment； of heroism；
fortitude； patience； resignation—of all the conflicts and all the
sacrifices that ennoble us most。 A sick chamber may often furnish
the worth of volumes。”
“Yes；” said Mrs。 Smith more doubtingly； “sometimes it may；
though I fear its lessons are not often in the elevated style you
describe。 Here and there； human nature may be great in times of
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trial； but generally speaking； it is its weakness and not its strength
that appears in a sick chamber； it is selfishness and impatience
rather than generosity and fortitude； that one hears of。 There is so
little real friendship in the world！—and unfortunately” （speaking
low and tremulously） “there are so many who forget to think
seriously till it is almost too late。”
Anne saw the misery of such feelings。 The husband had not
been what he ought； and the wife had been led among that part of
mankind which made her think worse of the world than she hoped
it deserved。 It was but a passing emotion however with Mrs。
Smith； she shook it off； and soon added in a different tone；
“I do not suppose the situation my friend Mrs。 Rooke is in at
present； will furnish much either to interest or edify me。—She is
only nursing Mrs。 Wallis of Marlborough…buildings—a mere
pretty； silly； expensive； fashionable woman； I believe—and of
course will have nothing to report but of lace and finery。—I mean
t
